Post by Naucoaran on May 1, 2006 20:48:19 GMT -8
ERBIS
Dagoron paced back and forth in the underground room. He had sent for Bessain months ago, and he was wondering if she had gotten the message yet and if she was even coming. He could not wait much longer, or rather his father could not wait much longer. He was quite old and was now on his death bed. The old dwarf had told Dagoron that he had a final parting gift for him, but he would not get it yet. After much pestering the weary dwarf gave in and told him what it was.
Apparently the family had hidden away a cache of jewels, armor, coins, and weapons. The wealth of the Ironaxe family ran deep and on his final bed the elderly dwarf had told his oldest son about it. All that was left that pointed to it was an old map and a tale of lore where most of the words had been lost with the family members. Now Dagoron had the map and after much thought he chose Bessain, of all people, to take with him on the journey.
But Bessain was late on her arrival, and Dagorons father would have much liked to meet the infamous elf who Dagoron so loved to pester. "Durned lass," he grumbled as he paced again in the chamber where his father lay, his last moments clear on his face. "She'll be here pop, dun worry, she can’t be far." he said as he took his fathers strong hand in his. The tired warrior looked up at his son with dull eyes, "Ye make me proud son, find the horde and bring it ter the clan ere and share the wealth. Were a family and all our jewels belong to everyone." he said then laid back on the bed. "Hurry Bess," Dag said to himself as he saw his father starting to slowly fade into the after life.
BESSAIN
"What does he want?" Bessain grumbled to herself, holding the letter out in front of her. Her old dwarven friend hadn't known where to find her, so he had sent a summoning letter to most of her ex-employers asking for her whereabouts. She had been in Gondor at the time and even turned down a job so she could run halfway across Middle Earth to make sure that her friend wasn't in trouble. "He better have a good reason for this..." she thought to herself. There was quite a bit of distance between Gondor and Erebor, and the trip wasn't cheap. She had had to buy a messenger's horse along the way because her other one had thrown a shoe and split its hoof down the middle! He was defintely going to replenish her purse! She'd make sure of that.
She stood along the border of Erebor and gave her new horse a pat. He wasn't made for her heavy saddle and packs. She was forced to walk for long periods of their trip because she didn't want to ruin another horse. Tugging on the reins she entered the dwarven territory. "Dwarves..." she muttered to herself in disgust. Bessain found the majority of dwarves rather annoying and really couldn't stand the fact that she was about to walk into a kingdom full of them.
Studying the ground, she took note of the old foot prints in the dirt. Obviously, this trail was used during patrols. It looked like a couple days had gone by since someone last used it. A guard should be here shortly. Atleast they would if it was an elven kingdom. Bessain had never been in Erebor and didn't know her way around. She was even less familiar with dwarven customs. She couldn't count on the fact that someone would be along shortly. These were dwarves... the word shortly could translate to 'a few hours' or 'after the next few drinks'. Sighing, she pulled her horn from her pack and blew three times. It wasn't too long before she could hear the soft footfalls of tiny hooves approaching.
Coming over the rise of the next hill, a trio of dwarves mounted on three stocky looking ponies appeared. "Not bad for dwarven timing," she thought to herself, moving to stand in plain sight so as not to alarm them. Hesitantly they neared the lone elf. She brushed off her hood to show her face and held out her hands as a sign of friendship. The youngest of the trio squinted at her for a moment. He dismounted, then squinted again. Bessain stared at him and he stared back. Finally, his face lit up. "Oy!" he exclaimed. "I know ye!"
At his outburst Bessain stared a little harder. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. Eventually it hit her. She sighed and tried to hide her disgust. "Suilad Rubble,"she mumbled in greeting. He had grown quite a bit since the last time she saw him. His beard was thicker, his voice deeper and he was even a little taller.
He chuckled and moved to slap her on the back, as was their normally violent custom.
Bessain had no intention of being slapped until she looked back at the two older dwarves who had seen her disgusted look when she recognized Rubble. Apparently they were offened and weren't going to lightly give her their trust. So she let the little dwarf clap her shoulder, had even knelt down to help him out. The two other dwarves approved, but were still a little wary. "So Rubble," Bessain said, attempting to break the ice. "Is Dagoron around?"
"Aye, that he is. C'mon lass we'll take ye to em'!" he said and bounded back to his pony.
She stood, mounted and pulled up alongside Rubble. The two older dwarves though, fell behind and rode side by side in the rear.
ERBIS
Dagoron was starting to loose hope that Bessain would not show at all but suddenly a dwarven patrol member came into the room and informed him that an elven lass was seen in the lands and was being escorted here as they spoke. Nodding Dagoron turned to his father, "She is almost here pop, jus a lil bit longer." he said gruffly as he clasped the old ones shoulder and squeezed it lightly.
Soon enough the elf was escorted into the room, a foul mood on her expressions. She started to huff and puff about her adventure and that Dag didn't look like he was in trouble and some thing about a horse. Finally seeing that Dagoron had not turned to greet her she quieted and walked over next to him.
"He en't got long, wanted ter meet ye befer...well." he said then looked at the tired dwarf.
"He had hoped to meet the infamous Bessain, yer well known here." he said with a light chuckle, "He wanted to see if you were made o' the right stuff ter go w'me on this quest." he said then looked up at the taller of the two of them. Before she could reply the older dwarf whispered "Come closer lass, lemme have a look at ye." he said as he sat up a little in his bed. "Pop ye shouldn't be movin'!" Dagoron exclaimed as he moved to help the old one sit up. "I still got strength left in me ole bones." he grumbled.
Pulling Bessain down lower with his still strong arm Dagorons' father looked at her as if he were inspecting a worked piece of metal or a gem. "Well I guess yer fine, but dun be puttin any o' yer elven charms on 'em." he said then gave a weak laugh that grew into a cough. "My time here is short, speak quickly if you have any questions Bessain the Elf." he whispered then started to lay down and his eye lids began to droop.
BESSAIN
"Excuse me sir?"Bessain asked with a puzzled look on her face. "But what am I fine enough for? What quest?" She wasn't even going to comment on the "elven charms" bit... atleast not yet.
What was this all about? Shouldn't this be a father-son moment, and not a father-son's friend moment? She realized that the answer to her question might have to be a long winded one, and the old dwarf didn't look like he had it in him to give such an answer... but what else did she have to ask? This was the first time she had ever seen this dwarf, and the fact that he wanted to see her before he died was a little disturbing.
The old dwarf touched lightly on the subject of their quest, seeming to leave the rest for Dagoron to explain later on.
ERBIS
"Ye see Bess, me family has a cache o' goods and I can't well get it me self. Naturally I thought, 'hey, what could Bess be doin? She’s ne'er busy.' So I wrote ye. Pops wanted to approve anyone goin along, t'make sure they are a trustworthy bunch. So I figured I could trust ye with me family secrets." he said then turned to his father who was lying on the stone bed looking paler by the minute. "I'll let ye thing bout it," he said then ushered her out of the room. After she left Dagoron went to his father and sat by his bedside. "I'll find it pops, then ill bring it back ere an' out family will once again use the weapons o' ole and reclaim our lost jewels. His father looked up at his sons face sitting proud and sturdy. "I know ye can do it me boy." he said softly then clasped his shoulder. Then he was gone.
Dagoron sighed and crossed the dwarfs’ arms over his chest and muttered a short speech in their dwarven tongue. Sorrow was plain on his face but he did not shed a tear for the loss. It was not a sad moment but a proud one. Soon his father’s spirit would be resting with his descendants. Dagoron clasped the shoulder of the dead dwarf and then stood up and walked out of the room. Nodding at the guards standing outside next to the door he continued on to see where Bess wandered off to as the guards went into the room.
Finding the elf Dagoron lightly slapped her back. "Have ye thought bout it Bess? If ye do come and we find it ye will get a share o' the goods. Maybe even a good blade that'll do yer hand good." he said with a light chuckle. "C'mon Bess, it's not like ye got much else t'do," he said as he leaned against the wall as a troupe of dwarves passed by to go out on their guard shift.
BESSAIN
"'It's not like Ive got much else to do'?!" she mimicked back. Since Dagoron was out here with her, she had to assume that his father was no longer around. She tried to calm herself. His dad just died, so she needed to be patient with him. But this irritating little dwarf was just so...well... irritating!
She realized that it wouldn't do anyone any good if she were to rant about all the things she had been doing before she got his letter... he probably wouldn't even listen. With a sigh she gave in and answered. "It's just me, you and a group of dwarves? Dag, am I here for social diversity, or is your game of 'torture the elf' really that amusing?" Since she was already here, it was obvious that she was expected to come along. "Alright! I'm coming! But we'll need to stop in Mirkwood first to get a new horse. Atleast they'll be cheaper there..." she grumbled to herself. She considered the fact that her road from here on out might be all tunnels, in which case she would not need a horse. No matter, she'd let Dagoron finish up with the briefing part, the start of every journey.
Dagoron paced back and forth in the underground room. He had sent for Bessain months ago, and he was wondering if she had gotten the message yet and if she was even coming. He could not wait much longer, or rather his father could not wait much longer. He was quite old and was now on his death bed. The old dwarf had told Dagoron that he had a final parting gift for him, but he would not get it yet. After much pestering the weary dwarf gave in and told him what it was.
Apparently the family had hidden away a cache of jewels, armor, coins, and weapons. The wealth of the Ironaxe family ran deep and on his final bed the elderly dwarf had told his oldest son about it. All that was left that pointed to it was an old map and a tale of lore where most of the words had been lost with the family members. Now Dagoron had the map and after much thought he chose Bessain, of all people, to take with him on the journey.
But Bessain was late on her arrival, and Dagorons father would have much liked to meet the infamous elf who Dagoron so loved to pester. "Durned lass," he grumbled as he paced again in the chamber where his father lay, his last moments clear on his face. "She'll be here pop, dun worry, she can’t be far." he said as he took his fathers strong hand in his. The tired warrior looked up at his son with dull eyes, "Ye make me proud son, find the horde and bring it ter the clan ere and share the wealth. Were a family and all our jewels belong to everyone." he said then laid back on the bed. "Hurry Bess," Dag said to himself as he saw his father starting to slowly fade into the after life.
BESSAIN
"What does he want?" Bessain grumbled to herself, holding the letter out in front of her. Her old dwarven friend hadn't known where to find her, so he had sent a summoning letter to most of her ex-employers asking for her whereabouts. She had been in Gondor at the time and even turned down a job so she could run halfway across Middle Earth to make sure that her friend wasn't in trouble. "He better have a good reason for this..." she thought to herself. There was quite a bit of distance between Gondor and Erebor, and the trip wasn't cheap. She had had to buy a messenger's horse along the way because her other one had thrown a shoe and split its hoof down the middle! He was defintely going to replenish her purse! She'd make sure of that.
She stood along the border of Erebor and gave her new horse a pat. He wasn't made for her heavy saddle and packs. She was forced to walk for long periods of their trip because she didn't want to ruin another horse. Tugging on the reins she entered the dwarven territory. "Dwarves..." she muttered to herself in disgust. Bessain found the majority of dwarves rather annoying and really couldn't stand the fact that she was about to walk into a kingdom full of them.
Studying the ground, she took note of the old foot prints in the dirt. Obviously, this trail was used during patrols. It looked like a couple days had gone by since someone last used it. A guard should be here shortly. Atleast they would if it was an elven kingdom. Bessain had never been in Erebor and didn't know her way around. She was even less familiar with dwarven customs. She couldn't count on the fact that someone would be along shortly. These were dwarves... the word shortly could translate to 'a few hours' or 'after the next few drinks'. Sighing, she pulled her horn from her pack and blew three times. It wasn't too long before she could hear the soft footfalls of tiny hooves approaching.
Coming over the rise of the next hill, a trio of dwarves mounted on three stocky looking ponies appeared. "Not bad for dwarven timing," she thought to herself, moving to stand in plain sight so as not to alarm them. Hesitantly they neared the lone elf. She brushed off her hood to show her face and held out her hands as a sign of friendship. The youngest of the trio squinted at her for a moment. He dismounted, then squinted again. Bessain stared at him and he stared back. Finally, his face lit up. "Oy!" he exclaimed. "I know ye!"
At his outburst Bessain stared a little harder. He looked familiar, but she couldn't place him. Eventually it hit her. She sighed and tried to hide her disgust. "Suilad Rubble,"she mumbled in greeting. He had grown quite a bit since the last time she saw him. His beard was thicker, his voice deeper and he was even a little taller.
He chuckled and moved to slap her on the back, as was their normally violent custom.
Bessain had no intention of being slapped until she looked back at the two older dwarves who had seen her disgusted look when she recognized Rubble. Apparently they were offened and weren't going to lightly give her their trust. So she let the little dwarf clap her shoulder, had even knelt down to help him out. The two other dwarves approved, but were still a little wary. "So Rubble," Bessain said, attempting to break the ice. "Is Dagoron around?"
"Aye, that he is. C'mon lass we'll take ye to em'!" he said and bounded back to his pony.
She stood, mounted and pulled up alongside Rubble. The two older dwarves though, fell behind and rode side by side in the rear.
ERBIS
Dagoron was starting to loose hope that Bessain would not show at all but suddenly a dwarven patrol member came into the room and informed him that an elven lass was seen in the lands and was being escorted here as they spoke. Nodding Dagoron turned to his father, "She is almost here pop, jus a lil bit longer." he said gruffly as he clasped the old ones shoulder and squeezed it lightly.
Soon enough the elf was escorted into the room, a foul mood on her expressions. She started to huff and puff about her adventure and that Dag didn't look like he was in trouble and some thing about a horse. Finally seeing that Dagoron had not turned to greet her she quieted and walked over next to him.
"He en't got long, wanted ter meet ye befer...well." he said then looked at the tired dwarf.
"He had hoped to meet the infamous Bessain, yer well known here." he said with a light chuckle, "He wanted to see if you were made o' the right stuff ter go w'me on this quest." he said then looked up at the taller of the two of them. Before she could reply the older dwarf whispered "Come closer lass, lemme have a look at ye." he said as he sat up a little in his bed. "Pop ye shouldn't be movin'!" Dagoron exclaimed as he moved to help the old one sit up. "I still got strength left in me ole bones." he grumbled.
Pulling Bessain down lower with his still strong arm Dagorons' father looked at her as if he were inspecting a worked piece of metal or a gem. "Well I guess yer fine, but dun be puttin any o' yer elven charms on 'em." he said then gave a weak laugh that grew into a cough. "My time here is short, speak quickly if you have any questions Bessain the Elf." he whispered then started to lay down and his eye lids began to droop.
BESSAIN
"Excuse me sir?"Bessain asked with a puzzled look on her face. "But what am I fine enough for? What quest?" She wasn't even going to comment on the "elven charms" bit... atleast not yet.
What was this all about? Shouldn't this be a father-son moment, and not a father-son's friend moment? She realized that the answer to her question might have to be a long winded one, and the old dwarf didn't look like he had it in him to give such an answer... but what else did she have to ask? This was the first time she had ever seen this dwarf, and the fact that he wanted to see her before he died was a little disturbing.
The old dwarf touched lightly on the subject of their quest, seeming to leave the rest for Dagoron to explain later on.
ERBIS
"Ye see Bess, me family has a cache o' goods and I can't well get it me self. Naturally I thought, 'hey, what could Bess be doin? She’s ne'er busy.' So I wrote ye. Pops wanted to approve anyone goin along, t'make sure they are a trustworthy bunch. So I figured I could trust ye with me family secrets." he said then turned to his father who was lying on the stone bed looking paler by the minute. "I'll let ye thing bout it," he said then ushered her out of the room. After she left Dagoron went to his father and sat by his bedside. "I'll find it pops, then ill bring it back ere an' out family will once again use the weapons o' ole and reclaim our lost jewels. His father looked up at his sons face sitting proud and sturdy. "I know ye can do it me boy." he said softly then clasped his shoulder. Then he was gone.
Dagoron sighed and crossed the dwarfs’ arms over his chest and muttered a short speech in their dwarven tongue. Sorrow was plain on his face but he did not shed a tear for the loss. It was not a sad moment but a proud one. Soon his father’s spirit would be resting with his descendants. Dagoron clasped the shoulder of the dead dwarf and then stood up and walked out of the room. Nodding at the guards standing outside next to the door he continued on to see where Bess wandered off to as the guards went into the room.
Finding the elf Dagoron lightly slapped her back. "Have ye thought bout it Bess? If ye do come and we find it ye will get a share o' the goods. Maybe even a good blade that'll do yer hand good." he said with a light chuckle. "C'mon Bess, it's not like ye got much else t'do," he said as he leaned against the wall as a troupe of dwarves passed by to go out on their guard shift.
BESSAIN
"'It's not like Ive got much else to do'?!" she mimicked back. Since Dagoron was out here with her, she had to assume that his father was no longer around. She tried to calm herself. His dad just died, so she needed to be patient with him. But this irritating little dwarf was just so...well... irritating!
She realized that it wouldn't do anyone any good if she were to rant about all the things she had been doing before she got his letter... he probably wouldn't even listen. With a sigh she gave in and answered. "It's just me, you and a group of dwarves? Dag, am I here for social diversity, or is your game of 'torture the elf' really that amusing?" Since she was already here, it was obvious that she was expected to come along. "Alright! I'm coming! But we'll need to stop in Mirkwood first to get a new horse. Atleast they'll be cheaper there..." she grumbled to herself. She considered the fact that her road from here on out might be all tunnels, in which case she would not need a horse. No matter, she'd let Dagoron finish up with the briefing part, the start of every journey.