Of Wraiths and Kings, and Friends and Rings (Calling All Nazgul)

[Rían]

Wednesday, mid-morning
Itazel and Danor's house

RÃ*an was standing by the window, gazing thoughtfully at the life going on outside of the room, when Tyaron woke for the second time. He watched her silently for a few minutes while he grew more and more awake. The memories came slowly but relentlessly crowding back, sharp and clear, up until after the animal attack and the painful ride back to Tharbad. He faintly remembered the coming of the dawn and seeing the city, but after that, it was a confused blur. He remembered enough, however, of what had taken place on Monday night, and of the conversation of RÃ*an and Alagos just a short while ago, to make him wonder what he was going to do... but tired and weak, he decided to give it up for now and worry about it later.

He stirred slightly at the pain in his leg, and RÃ*an turned quickly around with an anxious look on her face. Seeing him awake, she approached his bed with a smile and a gentle, "How are you feeling, Tyaron? We were worried about you!" She sat down next to him and took his hand.

A voice inside of him said, "Take your hand away! You don't deserve to touch her anymore!", but another voice said, "Later! Get better first, and then you'll be able to tell her more clearly - IF it's the right thing to do. You should think about it... don't be too hasty..."

"What happened?" he finally asked. "I remember getting close to Tharbad, and then ... I just ... what happened? How did I get here?"

RÃ*an explained the events of the morning, and he nodded his head as her recital tied the vague images in his mind together into a coherent picture. "You're looking better already - you have more color than even an hour ago," she added, touching his cheek where a little color was showing now. The odd look in his eyes made her draw back awkwardly, and there was an uneasy pause as each remembered things that they had rather not remember. Both of them wished ferverently for Alagos's neutral, cheerful presence.

"I, um, had better get you something to drink," said RÃ*an a bit awkwardly, standing up abruptly. "The doctor said to give you as much fluids as you could take. Are you OK by yourself for a few minutes?"

"I'll be fine," he answered evenly, and RÃ*an quietly left the room and headed downstairs.

[Lady Marion Magdalena]

Wednsday, around Sevenish

Mahta began back to the university, the savor of their parting kiss still lingering. Smiling to herself she shushed the furiously babbling voice in the back of her mind. It was warning her. Reminding her that loving a mortal was risky, foolish even, especially at their ages.

So what.

Iluvatar knew immortality hadn’t done her any favors. One lost love after another, and the losses not limited to romantic love either. She'd lose him eventually too. Why not have some happiness, some comfort in the meantime?

Well… grief and madness to follow was why not. But grief and madness followed just about everything in her experience. It wasn’t as if she was going to get any madder or more grieved than she had before.

For once she felt relief in remembering the past. So what if she was in love with a mortal? The worst that could happen was the worst that had happened before. Nothing to lose if you thought about it that way.

Up ahead she heard the bells ringing to wake the University for another day. Silently wishing Shah’s patrol good luck she pushed the thoughts of love and its consequences to the back of her mind and shifted her thoughts to her classes.

[Grey_Wolf]

Wednesday, 8.15 AM.

A group of men, dressed in black coats and armed with silver crossbows, led by a tall dark-haired fellow approached the Western Gates.

On pounding on the wooden doors, the guards open the hatch and asked for their business.

"I'm Aragorn and we are the Kravens. We heard about your vampire-problem and have come to offer our services to the King." the tall man replied to the guard's question.

Meanwhile, the Kree Spirits flowed about in the City, impatiently waiting for their intended victim to reappear. A few more unexplained murders occured, and the Tharbad Gendarmerie was still no closer to an explanation and the solving of them.

[Gordis]

Tuesday, late evening, Jas's apartment

"YOU DON"T EXIST!" cried Jas again at the top of his voice.

One should know that yelling at a nazgul is not the best course of action. To begin with, nobody likes to be yelled at, but, moreover, nazgul have extremely sensitive ears, and yelling at a close range hurts them. Of course, poor Jas was unaware of this simple truth; he had never learned proper ways of dealing with nazgul and had no idea he was facing one of the Nine.

The Chancellor was far from being a phlegmatic, though he managed to appear cold and calm almost in any situation. Almost. The present one was clearly not the case. The last bits of his patience evaporated. The Morgul Lord's hands clenched into fists, and his eyes burned with a fell light. Even the biggest stupidest Cave Troll would have fled at top speed from the light of those eyes, but Jas was oblivious to the danger. Eyes tightly shut, he chanted like a demented cockerel.

"You-don't-exist you-don't-exist, nasty-figment-of-imagination, you-don't-exist, you..."

"Stuffed frog you called me," hissed the nazgul, "look now at yourself!" The rest of the Chancellor's words Jas didn't understand.

A stub of pain went through Jas's brain, and he felt...sort of QUEER. Cold and damp. The hapless professor looked down at his body, that seemed now naked, and was startled by the green hue of his skin. Incredulous, he brought his webbed long-fingered hand to his eyes for closer inspection. Then he looked down at his lower body. It was still its original size, but otherwise remarkably frog-like.

The dream has become a nightmare. Jas opened his mouth to protest.

“Croak!�

"That will teach you a lesson, Professor Fernik," the Chancellor said smugly.

The huge frog uttered a mournful "Blorp."

"I wish you good evening, you croaking, blurping mess of pond slime", said the Morgul Lord pleasantly and left the room.

Jas The Frog watched the closed door for several minutes, croaking angrily.

The spell which the Morgul Lord laid on Jas didn't actually turn him into a frog. To all eyes he appeared exactly as he had always been. But in Jas's own bewitched imagination he was now a slimy frog, croaking and blurping, a very cold and frightened unhappy amphibian.

[Grey_Wolf]

Aragorn and his men was escorted to the Palace where they instead was met by a major domo.

"The King is indisposed. He's not meeting anybody for moment. Wait here and I'll send down an assistant."

Soon an assistant to the Governor arrived.
"How do you do." he said shaking hands with the rangers."Please follow me. I'll be escorting you to the Governor's Palace."

By the able assistance from the assistant they were soon at the Governor's Palace at Menotar Street.

[The last sane person]

Wednesday night
Half way to Lond Daer

The wary feelings of the men of second patrol grew along with the shadows. Shah and Raendil, though not showing it, were growing more aprehensive as well. Night had fallen, and the men were still riding. Raendil rode up to Shah, not entirely to just get orders as to hear another human voice. They had ridden mostly in silence since they had met up with Marthalion's patrol once it had done the circut of the city.

"Captain, about how far away from our target are we?" Ray looked at his captian, and Volricom snorted, but kept quiet. Everything was quiet. Not man or beast made a sound, and the silence was deafening as Shah calculated the distance in his head.

"Little over half way. We made good progress. Send two men ahead a ways to find defensable shelter, and we will let our horses rest and drink.

"Very good sir." Ray rode back to the column of 12 men and gave out orders. Soon, the men with the two freshest horses rode forward and were soon lost in the blackness of night. The rest were ordered to dismount and stretch. Shah and Raendil too dismounted, loosening their tack and removing their helms, they led their horses for a drink.

Looking up, Shah found that Raendil had made a second torch and stuck the but of it in the embankment to give illumination for his men, and also to read his map. He had chosen to stand under the bank, so none but his own men saw the light.

He knows what he is doing, and no mistake...though war is over, battles must still be fought. And it is the younger ones that must take up the spear... Shah sighed, and frowned as he shook his head. Or be speared.

"Find anything of use on that map? You stare enough to burn a hole in it." Shah peered over Ray's shoulder wearing his trademark half grin. He had guessed what was on Raendil's mind, "Boy, you have a certain woman on your mind?"

Ray blushed slightly, "Yes, though before you go pointing fingers, I know for a fact that you do as well! That wasn't a friendly little peck on the cheek you gave Mahtaliel."

Shah laughed softly, raising his hands admiting defeat. "True enough, true enough. What would we ever do without them? But all the same, we both have to take more care to be focused." Ray nodded, and mounted up when the scouts returned, his mind, despite his best efforts, wandered off when it the patrol came to the shelter where they were to bed down. He nodded off to sleep shortly after laying down his blanket.

His dreams were most pleasent.

[Grey_Wolf]

After Aragorn and his men had had their meeting with the Governor they were housed in a inn nearby. There they planned their crusade against the vampires.

Later that evening they went out for their first forray against the horrid creatures, bagging two.

On returning to the inn Aragorn said."Well that was easy, 2 down, 10 to go."

[Grey_Wolf]

Next evening they were out again, succeeding in downing a further 6. And the remaining four was dispatched the following night.

The Tharbad populace could finally walk the city streets without fear again.

The next morning Aragorn and his men left the city as anonymously as they had come.

[Lotesse]

There was an uneasy feel to the atmosphere all afternoon, and as the day edged toward evening the vibe seemed to gradually intensify. Viv had been much too distracted to think about school, and had spent the better part of the day in invisible mood, trying to amuse herself by flitting around the town of Tharbad looking for something, anything interesting to do, or to find, or to see. Finally she got tired of her attempted shenanigans, and eased back into full visual form, and took her horse Laslech out of the Orrodel stablehouse for a long walk, past the city borders and into the gentle countryside.

They found a secluded spot in a hidden glade of wildflowers, and while Laslech sniffed around and daintily grazed on the beauty surrounding them both, Viv laid her riding cloak out and made herself cosy upon it. The silence and peace was a refreshing release from the weird tension in the air back in town. She lay on her back, watching the unusual, smoke-like cloud formations drift by, and replayed the events of the previous evening in her mind.


She Thinks Back to Tuesday, around six in the evening...

After putting Laslech up in Ray's stable with Volcirom, Viv came 'round to the door. Ray hadn't heard her arriving. The door was slightly ajar, and sounds of things cooking mingled with their respective delectible scents wafted outside. She could hear him humming some song, which she vaguely recognised as if from some place in her own past from too many long years ago, but it sounded cheerful, and thoughtful, coming from Raendil.

Viniglaen, with all her skills at silent approach, crept into his house, and approached him from behind. For a moment she stood there, a little smile playing upon her face, just watching him cook, watching his powerful shoulders move and shrug as he tended his sauce in the pan. Then, after another few seconds, his humming and sauteeing stopped, and he sensed her there. He slowly put his cooking spatula down, turned around, and faced her, a beautiful smile lighting up his face.

"Figured that was you," he said.

Without a word, she went up to him and hugged him, standing on tiptoe and grabbing him around the neck, and pushing her face into the sweet smelling side of his neck.

"It's only been a few hours," he laughed, as he pulled her arms off. "Here, taste this -"

Raendil filled a small ladle with a tasting bit of the Southern Gondorian style puttanesca sauce he had bubbling in one of the pots upon his stove. He carefully raised it to Viv's little lips, and she half-closed her sapphire eyes and sipped.

"So good!" she said.

"Of course so good," he replied, "and you ain't seen nothing yet, my lovely!"

"What's that incredible smell coming from the oven, Ray?"

"Wouldn't you like to know!"

"That's why I'm asking," she bantered back, as Ray made a theatrical motion to open the oven and extract a roast beef, perfectly formed and dark and aromatic, surrounded by baby root vegetables and pearl onions. He set the great roast upon the kitchen sidetable, and reached back in to retrieve a baking tray of tiny, perfectly puffed and golden pudding pastries to accompany the meat.

"Oh, Ray!" is all she could think of to say. He beamed with pride, and set about opening a bottle of old-vine Gondorian reserve red.

The sumptuous dinner went on for a long, luxurious hour, maybe longer. They spoke of so many things together, leaning comfortably into each other over their plates of food, elbows upon the thick oaken table, faces illuminated by the beeswax candles at the center. The conversation was so intense and happy, so alive, that the food and the wine played second fiddle, and as the evening deepened, so did the latent, simmering pull of physical want that invisibly linked the two of them. They never spoke of the tug of lust that seemed to drag them both inward from the navel toward each other, like a polar force, but the more they never spoke of it, the more overwhelming it became, until even conversing became difficult to concentrate upon.

[The last sane person]

tuesday evening
Raendil's house

Ray's mind wasn't in his final class, commerce, and all the pretty girls' attempt to flirt were brushed off like autumn leaves. His mind was more on what to wear and what to cook for Viniglaen when she came over. Oh crap, I have to clean the house! It might be good enough for Marty or Val to visit, but not her! After class, Ray bid his farewells to Valandil and Marty, both of them grinning at his good luck.

"Val! I'll see you at the bon fire party, if you dont see me before then!" Ray called to Val over his shoulder as he ran down the street to his house. Volricom nickered as Ray came careening into the stables and up into his house, a whirlwind of cleaning and reorganizing. It didn't take him long to clean up, as he was clean enough for a bachelor.

He quickly jumped into a bath and got his clean clothes, and brought out the packages that were delivered to the house. "Ah, Karin, I owe you big time!" He had gone to the butcher shop right before heading on to Commerce, ordering roast beef and all the ingredients he would need and having them delivered to the house.

He hummed along with an old song which he had learned on one of the patrols of his father's thranedom, lost in thought.

I think I love this woman...No wonder Marty grins at me so, I am totally out of anything that is not Viniglaen....I hope my grades dont suffer. He had finished the roast beef and was waiting for the Gondorian sauce he had prepared to come to a finish.Oh who gives a damn!

He had left the door ajar so the house wouldn't be filled with the smell of his cooking, and soon he sensed some one in the house. He didn't even think about it, nor did his movements betray him, but his hand unconciously went for the fillet knife that was next to his spatula.

Ah, lady fair, lady mine, right on cue! And indeed, there was the object of his thoughts standing infront of him, with that beautiful half smile of hers.

"I figured that was you." Without a word she reached up and hugged him, her face in the side of his neck. He held her close and laughed.

"Its only been a few hours-" His body was loathe to seprate, and Ray had a new feeling that he knew all to well come and make itself comfortable in his guts. Oh boy...

"Here, taste this." He brought a taste of the sauce to Viniglaen's small lips, and she delighted in the taste. Ray couldn't tear his gaze from those half lowered saphire eyes.

"So good!" She liked it. Yes! He wanted to hold her close, but thought the better of it, now that the little beast had taken up residence in his stomach. It growled its disapproval.

"Of course so good," he replied, "and you ain't seen nothing yet, my lovely!"

"What's that incredible smell coming from the oven, Ray?" She had followed her nose to the main course.

"Wouldn't you like to know!" He was proud of his roast, and wasn't about to reveal his master piece.

"That's why I'm asking," she bantered back. He grinned and made a theatrical motion out of opening the oven and withrawing both the roast and the pasties that went with it. His work was not lost on an unapperciative audience.

"Oh, Ray!" That was all she could think to say, and he beamed with pride. Times spent learining the the kitchens were never lost! He took the food and wine to the table, pouring her a glass of his special Gondorian reserve.

Somehow, I think she is taking this well! The actual dinner went on for about an hour, where in they talked about many things, and as good as the food was, it was secondary on their mind, seeing as neither of them were that interested in the food.

They were both hungry for something of a different sort. Easy Raendil! You ar a gentle man, not a cad, slow down ere you scare her away! Again that logical side of him spoke up. But the wine, mood and the sight of Viniglaen gave that side the boot.

[Gordis]

Wednesday morning - early hours of Thursday, University.

Wednesday morning was sunny with a strong steady wind blowing from the South-West. The wind carried with it the smell of the Sea, which always made the Morgul Lord withdrawn and irritable.

Shortly before nine, a young soldier marched into the Chancellor's office bringing excuse notes for several of the students, including masters Marthalion and Raendil. According to the Captain Shah's letter, the students were on patrol somewhere in the wilderness, so had to be excused from lessons on Wednesday and Thursday. The Chancellor's frowned angrily.

"I have never allowed any of my students to serve in the City Guard! What they do in their free time is none of my business, but they have no call to miss classes for any reason whatsoever!"

The young soldier paled. The Icy Chancellor was every bit as intimidating as rumour told. Moreover, he was the King's cousin! Cringing slightly, the youth replied

"I beg your pardon, lord Chancellor, but I know nothing on the matter. I was only ordered to deliver the note. I am sure, when Captain Shah returns, he will give all the necessary explanations".

"And when may that be?" drawled the Chancellor. "Where did they go and why?"

"They have ridden out of the West Gate this morn, in great haste, my Lord. I heard there might be trouble by the mouth of the river. That is all I know". The soldier was eager to tell the news, hoping to get permission to withdraw from this room and out of range of the piercing silver eyes.

The Chancellor dismissed the soldier with a curt nod and sat alone in his office, deep in thought. He needed no map of the area, as it was forever burned in his mined, since the time when he had first planned the raid. The road to Lond Daer lay on the South Bank of the Gwathlo, but the patrol had chosen to take the shortest route, following the dirt track along the North bank. The country was very flat for almost two-thirds of the way, wet fields devoid of trees had succeeded to vast forests that covered the area back in his time. In his mortal time...

"It will be rough going anyway", thought the Chancellor, "and if it rains, the fields will become a mire of dirt, where the horses will sink down navel-deep."

Already with the steady wind blowing against the slow current, the waters of the Gwathlo had risen and started to overflow the shallow banks.

Calculating the time and distance in his head, the Morgul Lord decided to start the rain late at night. By this time, the patrol would be far away. They would be stuck, and the return journey would take several days.

***
The day seemed unending, but finally it drew to its close in the whistling of the wind, which had grown even stronger by nightfall.

This very night, the Morgul Lord stood again on the flat roof of Minas Aran, his arms outstretched towards the South-West, and his long dark mane streaming out in the wind.

He chanted a powerful spell, and the heavy clouds, laden with rain, came inland from the Sea. In an hour, the first droplets hit the Chancellor's face. By the time the Morgul Lord reached the Palace, the downpour began, water streaming down in torrents. The thought of the patrol, now drowning in mud, brought an evil smile to the Morgul Lord's lips

[Rían]

Wednesday night,
Itazel and Danor's place

RÃ*an awoke for the third night in a row with a wildly beating heart, looking around her room in terror and gasping for breath. Shaking, she quickly left her room and went to her brother's room.

Alagos was at the window, fully dressed, looking out into the windy night. He turned to look at her as she entered, concern written on his face. She ran to him, and he held her close, trying to calm her down.

"Did it happen again?" he asked quietly.

"Yes," she answered, still shaking. "It was even worse this time. This time, Galadannun ..." She stopped, unable to continue.

"You don't need to say it. Just know that it's only a dream, it's only a dream," soothed her brother as RÃ*an started crying quietly.

Later, after she had calmed down, Alagos decided to bring up the subject that had been keeping him up that night. "RÃ*an, I think we should leave here. I just ... I don't know, I'm just uneasy. I don't like it here - things just don't seem to - things just don't mesh. I can't put my finger on it, but I really feel that we should leave, and soon. Tyaron's a fast healer - he was a lot better just a few hours ago when I checked in on him, and today the two horses that I asked Raendil to get for us arrived. We can leave in the morning, riding slowly and taking our time. With three of us, I don't think we'll be in danger of any animal attacks, and even that attack was odd ... I don't think it will happen again, but let's head the other direction."

He put a finger under her chin and lifted up her face. "We have a lot of catching up to do, you know, we three," he said with the smile that his sister loved.

"All right," she said. "Let's just go - I think I need some time away from Tharbad. Some time under the stars, out in the open. Maybe then the dreams will stop... sometimes they even come in the day, very faintly..." She shuddered at the memory.

Alagos's eyes narrowed. He wanted very much to have a conversation with Galadannun involving metal, but that would only cause trouble and keep them in Tharbad. Sighing, he gave up that pleasant thought and turned to the practicalities of leaving.

"OK, then," he said, "let's write some notes to the people that we'd like to know, and then just leave. And if you want to try to get any more sleep, why don't you stay here, and I'll watch over you - I don't need sleep now, I need action. I'll pack up for the three of us, OK?"

"OK - oh, but I'll miss Eärniel so much, and the jewelry making class, and Professor Mahtaliel!" She added in her mind, "...and Valandil," but somehow she felt less than she thought she would at the thought of leaving the King. Curious ...

"And I'll miss Eärniel, too, and Raendil and Marthalion, and that Captain this morning seemed like a good fellow, too! But I think this is best for us all. And we might be back someday. And besides, we know where Eärniel lives. We can always come and visit her. So let's just go, OK?"

RÃ*an nodded her agreement, and in the early morning, as the Morgul Lord was calling up the rain from the sea, three figures on horseback left the city in the opposite direction.

[Udukhaturz]

Wednesday afternoon

A rapping at the front entry of Orrodel Mansion brought a servant quickly to the door.

“Yes? Who shall I say is calling, sir?�

“I am a messenger sent to deliver a letter to the Lady Lilaenwen. I would be most appreciative if you take it to her at once,� the dark-eyed, olive skinned man said with a slight accent.

“Yes, sir,� she said. “I will take it to her right away.�

“Thank you. Good day to you,� the man said and turned and walked away.

The maid quickly ascended to the upper level and knocked at Lilaenwen’s door. After a bobbed curtsy, she gave the letter to Lilaenwen, and after being dismissed, she returned to her other duties.

Taking the letter back to a desk, Lilaenwen drew a letter opener along the edges of the wax-sealed envelope, took out the missive and began to read:

“My dearest lady Lilaenwen,

I can no longer hide my feeling for you, no matter how hard I might try. They boil up inside me and rage like a wild fire of passion. I find myself thinking of you constantly. I lie sleepless upon my bed, unable to sleep, longing to hold you.

You have possessed me, bewitched me and left my emotions a reeling torment of desire for you! I am drunk upon love for you, sick unto death! Every moment apart from you is agony! I ache for you, long for you, yearning to kiss your lips, to touch your lovely hair with my hands, running my fingers through your tresses, feeling the softness! Oh, Lilaenwen! How you have left a king a senseless fool!

There is nothing that can bring me peace and happiness save the glorious sight of you! My heart will surely break and I shall perish if you deny me that!

I must meet with you tonight, my beloved. How it hurts me that the meeting must be in secret, for if I were able, I would proclaim to all the world my deep and enduring love for you. To do this, though, would attract far more public attention than either you or I would want. Oh, why can the world not leave us in peace, my beloved?

Darling, come to me tonight! I have arranged through a devoted and trusted friend the use of his house for the evening. Rest assured that he is most discreet and would never betray the secret of our tryst. It troubles my heart that we must meet this way, but perhaps in the future, a way will be found.

The house is the triangular shaped one on Menetar Street, near the livery stable. I have planned a pleasant dinner for us with the best of food and wine. Though flowers of exquisite beauty might sit in crystal vases upon the table, none could ever compare with the beauty of your face.

I await, my heart, for you to meet me there at 7 o’clock. If you do not, I feel that I will be so overcome with grief that I might throw myself upon my sword.

Your most appreciative and loving admirer,
Valandil

***

Udukhatûrz sat in his great hall in his new house and began to chuckle when Ulfang told him that the message had been delivered to the lady.

“Ulfang, an old colleague of mine will be here tonight to welcome the lady,� he laughed. “You and one other of my trusted men are to wait outside to keep watch; the other three are to be ready. I do not expect any trouble, though,� the tall, handsome Numenorean smiled. “My associate and I are quite able to handle all eventualities.�

“Yes, my lord,� the man replied. “All will be done as you requested.�

“One other thing,� Udu said. “When the lady is secured, stay clear of the dungeon until I give you permission to enter. Things could get a little, ahmmm.... warm there.�

[Lotesse]

****

[Lotesse]

Vivvie's repose in the wildflower glade was beginning to feel prematurely chilly. Her reverie was broken by the worried, gentle muzzling on her upturned face by Laslech, her beautiful gift from Raendil. It was probably only nigh upon four in the afternoon, but the fleeting clouds in the sky she'd been gazing at for so long had taken on a much thicker, darker hue, and the whistly, windy sound of nervous nature chilled her human form to the bone. Shuddering, she sat upright, and Laslech made a motion with her head to Viv to remount, and head back home.

Gathering her heavy black cashmere cloak about her shoulders, after shaking out the bits of grass and flowers, and tying it neatly at her chest, Viv took Laslech's mane in her right hand, and with her left steadied her body at the horse's back as she lightly jumped up and swung her leg over. She disliked riding with tack all the time, and this Wednesday afternoon she's decided to go without, in keeping with her generally restless and I-don't-care mood. The rapport she had with her mare negated any great need for tack, anyway, on leisurely outings like this.

With her cloak billowing fitfully around her, Viniglaen upon the majestic black Mearas struck quite a silouette, if anyone but her omnipresent owl and a butterfly or two had been observing them. Afternoon fantasies aside, Viv felt very keenly that something was in the process of happening, and maybe not just one thing, but many things, things which had to happen and were "in the plan," but things she had put aside processing until the time was urgent and undeniable. She reached into her kidskin bag, which she always kept slung across her shoulders when going out, and plucked out her pocketwatch - only five o'clock. Why did it feel so much ominously later?

"I feel I'm late for being needed," she thought, and chiding herself inwardly, she bade her mare go quickly back into town.

Her owl, who had spent the afternoon with her, was suddenly nowhere to be seen, but as yet, Viv didn't notice. All the ride back, she couldn't shake Ray from her mind. It was driving her mad. She needed him, and she detested needing anyone at all.

[Serenoli]

The afternoon sky was overcast, and gusty winds swept through Tharbad. Tolvadok was seated in the kitchen of Orrodel, exhausted from a morning of running around... for Lily, still angry at him, had taken this oppurtunity to give him as many menial tasks as possible, and in front of the other servants, too, so he could not even refuse. He had delegated as much as he could to the maids under him as soon as her back turned, but even then, running a hpusehold was no easy job. Supervising the washing, drying and ironing of every scrap of clothing that Lilanwen could find, had taken all morning. And then getting the lazy cook to prepare brekfast and lunch was made harder by Mistress Lilanwen's sudden demand for oysters.

Still, now she was upstairs and for the time being, quiet. And he was having a peaceful lunch, with the best wine he could find in the cellar. He was starting to understand why Buz was forever found getting out of the cellar. Even he, who disliked drinking, except when required to, socially, was feeling the need for something strong. Pity he could not get drunk...

He heard the front door open, and murmured words. He got up and went out of the kitchen into the corridor, from where he could see the hall. One of the maids, (what was her name again?) was taking an envelope from a man. Shutting the door, the maid, Silla, turned to ascend the stairs.

"Silla, what is that?"

She paused on the bottom stair and waited as he came up to her. She had already been scolded thrice by Tol for being lazy, and had quite lost the flirtatious air with which she had greeted his arrival.

"Its only a letter for the Lady Lilaenwen, so you needn't look so suspicious."

"Who is it from?"

"Didn't say. Why are you so interested, hmm? You're just a housekeeper, now, and i'm not showing it to you, if that's what you're thinking."

"Fine, go up and deliver it to her."

"That's what I was doing before you came interfering."

He waited until the maid had gone and come down, and the went up as well, using the service stairs. The door to Lily's boudoir was slightly ajar, and approaching, he peeked in. She was at her desk, her back to him, reading her letter. He decided there was no point sneaking up to her and trying to read it. He had better try the straight method. Either way, he meant to get that letter.

Gathering up courage, he pushed the door open.

[CrazySquirrel]

Orrodel, around five PM, Wednesday.

Lilly's heart was singing as she read.

"Wild fire of passion.... A reeling torment of desire! ....I ache for you, long for you, yearning to kiss your lips, to touch your lovely hair with my hands, running my fingers through your tresses, feeling the softness!... The secret of our tryst... loving admirer, VALANDIL !!!

At the last word, Lilly emitted a happy girlish squeal and jumped up in triumph. Eyes flashing and cheeks aflame, she danced across the boudoir undulating sensuously, till she suddenly bumped into somebody. There frozen, peering at her in wonder and disapproval stood Tolvadok, obviously somewhat at a loss.

When Lilly was happy, she loved the whole world. Gripping Tol's neck, she claimed his lips in a sensuous kiss. Taken unawares, Tolvadok struggled like a beached fish, till he finally broke loose, flushed and angry.

What... what in Angband, Lilaenwen? he hissed shakily. His need for a strong drink suddenly became overwhelming.

"I thought you came to finish what you started yesterday," replied Lilly frivolously. She laughed at the blushing Third. "But don't fret, baby. I have no time for you now. Another lover, far more important than you, awaits me."

Moving past Lilly, Tolvadok snatched the abandoned letter from the table and retreated in haste towards the door. He had no time to read it, but one glance at the signature was more than enough.

"Give me that letter, you, spawn of a warg!" yelled Lilly in frustration.

Tol slammed the door in her face and turned the key, which, luckily, was inserted outside. Lilly's weight crashed into the door; the heavy oaken doorframe shuddered, but withstood the assault easily.

Then Tolvadok rushed to the door of Buzukkumarz's room and locked it as well, before Lilly could collect her wits and remember she could exit this way, passing through her bedroom and Penny's room. Tolvadok congratulated himself that he took time yesterday to survey the layout of the house. Feeling smug, Tol pocketed both keys and added spells to reinforce the doors.

"You will go nowhere, Lilaenwen" he said sternly in thought-speech. "I will not allow you to meddle in the Captain's designs. The King is not for you."

A string of muffled curses was heard behind the door. Then, loud sobs followed. Tolvadok grinned. Only Buz was fool enough to get swayed by Lilly's display of emotion. But, luckily, Buzukkumarz was away drinking somewhere at the docks, as usual. Unmoved, Tolvadok went downstairs to read the letter in peace.

Hmm. It was a strange letter. Strange letter coming from a Dunedain King, that is. Tolvadok had seen many Faithful in his life, mostly on the other side of a dungeon grate, of course, but he came to know their unflinching morality and pigheadedness. Hardly any of them would try to seduce an innocent maiden, least of all the King. And there was not a word about marriage in this letter. Yes, it was strange...

On the other hand, who knows what tricks of shameless seduction had Lilly already played on this Valandil? Perhaps it was all her fault, if he thought her a cheap easy toy...

Or... what if Lilly, indiscreet as she were, made someone guess her identity, and now the King was alerted, and a trap set in that mysterious triangular house? If Lilly were captured, she would surely betray them all... and that was the end of the Quest!

At this last thought, Tolvadok felt a cold sweat on his forehead. He had to go and check this house himself, right away, before the enemy was ready. He went into his room and prepared himself for all the eventualities. A long stout sword at his belt. His Morgul knife. Knives in his boots. Several more unobtrusive, but effective weapons, mostly designed by himself, tucked everywhere. Several razor-sharp blades in his hat. Mailed gloves with secret poisoned spikes.

Finally, when the clock in the dining-room chimed five, he quietly slipped out through a back door and headed towards Manotar.

***
Ten minutes after Tolvadok's lean figure dissolved into the shadows of the back street, the sound of hooves was heard from the Augon Vin square in front of the house. Lilly rushed to her window that looked onto the square, and saw Vivvie approaching astride her beautiful Meara.

Lilly waved frantically and cried in the thought speech "Viv, my darling little sister! You are here in the nick of time. Come and rescue me! That stupid Tolvadok locked me in my room!"

She saw Viv frown, but wave back. Never before Lilly felt such love towards Vivvie. It was nice to have her sister at her side...

[Udukhaturz]

The Triangular House
Wednesday afternoon

Maethor had just put the finishing strokes to the letter he was writing as the warrior Ulfang stood waiting, arms folded, off to the side. Maethor blotted the ink and then rubbed a finger over the writing. He bowed his head, intoning a few words. “There, that should do it. Should this letter fall into the hands of mortals, they will see the words as a mere innocent invitation to dinner. To those of my own kind, though, the message will be far different.� He chuckled as he read over the contents of the letter.

“My Lord Khamul,

The trap has been laid, the bait has been placed; all that needs be done is just spring it. Go to my house on Menetar Street about 6:30 tonight. You cannot miss the building - it is the triangular one by the livery stable.

If at all possible, arrive a little early, and we can have a few drinks and discuss our plans. Perhaps later we can celebrate our victory with a late night toast.

Since you have not previously viewed it, I am sure that you are curious about the facilities that I have had constructed. There is a large central chamber with cells on two sides. Fine, well-built racks rest upon one side, along with other needful instruments. These cells are quite satisfactory to contain mortals, but they were never designed with the intent to hold any of our kind.

That matter has been taken care of with the construction of two other cells, down a corridor removed from the others. These chambers have been heavily enspelled, unescapable to anything or anyone other than those that should have more power than do we. As we both know, dungeons can be rather noisy. I have eliminated the possibility that screams might be heard outside by enspelling all of the walls so that no shrieks can escape and be heard.

There is another rather cunning feature about one of the cells. I call this, for lack of a better word, the ‘Quiet Room.’ When the doors are locked and sealed with spells, anyone or anything imprisoned inside will find their wails of agony reflected from the walls, floor and ceiling until the sound becomes so great that their minds are rendered with agony or their hearts burst with the sheer pressure of their own cries. I think you will find this room ingenious.

I shall expect you around 6:30.

Your colleague,
Udukhatûrz the Seventh�

Turning to Ulfang, he handed him the letter. “Take this to the Lord Khamul. If anyone should dare ask you the purpose of your business with him, tell them that the letter is a dinner invitation.

“Here, let me give you something before you leave,� he said as he took a strange glowing charm from inside his robe.

“You know that I am a wizard and associate with other wizards. You know also that some of us have the powers to be either visible or invisible. Take this charm with you. Keep it concealed inside your cloak. Should you feel a warmth emmanating from the object, you will detect upon a close inspection that it glows with a strange flickering light. By this sign, you will know that another of my order is close. Then I would advise you to steal away secretly for such a one is far more powerful than you could ever dream.�

“Yes, my lord, I understand,� the man bowed, backed away three steps, and then turned and walked out the door.

After the man had gone, Maethor heard a door opening behind him and the sound of footsteps approaching.

“My lord?� Tatyana said questioningly as she put her arms around his shoulders and kissed him. “Do you expect any trouble?�

“No, my love,� he said reassuringly, reaching up and taking her hand in his. “Should there be any, though, do not have any doubts that the Lord Khamul and I can handle it adequately. Now,� he smiled, “there is a little time remaining for us to spend together... privately.�

“Yes,� she replied in a husky voice. “Time just for us.�

[Lotesse]

During the half-hour trot home from her secret spot outside town, Viv let her mind savour the best bits of her tryst with her lover the previous evening. She'd been deflowered, finally, and her mind felt like it was exploding with the onslaught of new and complex and amazing feelings for this mortal, this man that she had given herself so wholly to. Viniglaen had gifted him with a family heirloom, a locket on a chain, made of expertly smooth-hammered mithril and inlaid with wisplike strands of brilliant gold in the lionshead and rearing stag pattern of her now ancient and long gone Numenorian family's crest. It had been given her by her own, true mortal mother, when Viv was only thirteen and her mother was dying of the wounds of a broken heart. 'When you find your man,' her mother had said to her that day, 'Never let him die, dear daughter. Never let your true love die, as your father has done to me.'

As Viv approached Orrodel, still lost in her thoughts, her mind was urgently interrupted by a frantic and frustrated Lilaenwen. Viv glanced up, and spotting Lil in the window, gave her a quick wave and mentally let her know she was on her way. 'Jeez, what now?' Viv was thinking; 'Where's Buz when we need him?'


Buzukhumarz had been out all day having a great time drunk-hunting with some fun locals. The men had made a testosterone-charged and ale-fueled day of it, out hunting for stag, and Buz was having so much fun that he hadn't noticed the day go by. But as the day grew more weird and blustery, the mortals he was out hunting with all rather lost their jollity and the drink lost its fun effect; a sort of pall had settled upon the hunting party, and they all decided to call it a day after no one had managed to bag a single animal and the winds and chill started whipping up.

[Lotesse]

Viv dismounted outside the entrrance to the stately Orrodel stablehouse, and handed Laslech over to the earnest, tow-headed young stableboy whom Rian had hired. The young man had been quietly and beautifully maintaining the entire grounds and gardens of Orrodel House, in addition to keeping the town's second largest and most architecturally impressive stablehouse in top, fresh form. It wasn't a terribly difficult task, anyway, as there were very few horses to occupy the huge stables, and no one ever bothered the boy. In fact, hardly anyone but Viniglaen ever even gave him any notice, or realised he was there. His name was Frankie Gladheart, but no one except Rian who'd hired him, his mother who lived down the way and made her living as a seamstress, and Viniglaen, who entrusted the lad with her most prized possession the Mearas Laslech, knew what his name was, and what he did.

She entered the mansion through the garden to kitchen entrance, next to the wine cellar door, like she often did when coming home. Wasting no time, she headed through the house and to the ornate, sweeping staircase, and swiftly and noiselessly as was her style, she swept upstairs, and made a beeline for Lil's boudoir. Taking a tanzanite-inlaid mithril barrette from her windswept locks, she deftly picked Lil's door, and as soon as she stepped over the threshold Lilaenwen was all over her, hugging her too tight and frantically going on about the terrible, warg-breathed Tolvadok, uncaring Buz, Kings, true love, and letters.

"What's this about the King, Lil; didn't I tell you what my owl learned of that kinglet you want so badly?"

"NO!" cried Lil, both surprised and angry. "No, you DIDN't, Viv! You know something, you learned something for me and you forgot to tell me? How could you forGET?!" Lil, confused about which emotion to fake for effect, just stood there and started to shake a little, as her real emotions took center stage. Great interest, a bit of annoyance, pleasure at her little sister's having followed through on the promise, and anxiety that the news may be coming at an inopportune time, all wracked Lilaenwen's sexy, towering body, and anticipated excitement shone through her tremendous green eyes once again.

"TELL ME!" she demanded, as she took Viv by her shoulders.

"ReLAX, Lilly! What is WRONG with you?" snapped Viv, firmly pulling Lil's long, slender paws off her shoulders. Viv ran a hand through her hair, sighed, and headed to one of Lil's huge, salmon-velvet cushy chairs and fell in with a tired thwomp.

Lil waited, looking at her expectantly. All trauma of having been locked in her room was irrelevant for the moment. All she wanted to hear was trusty Vivvie's inside scoop.

"So, this is what my owl reported to me," began Viv. "Marty said to Ray, in a private conversation they had yesterday, about you, that, and I quote, 'She is a social climber, and that kind of woman cares nothing for others but just about how to get to the top. I avoid women like those.' That's what the guy said. "

"Viv, I could care less about that silly boy! Don't you realise the King, the King himself, wants ME?!"

Viv raised one quizzical brow at Lil. Lilly huffed and shook her fists down in aggravation at that little response.

"What do YOU know, Vivvie! NOTHING, that's what!"

"Well, I'll tell you one thing, the entire feminine enrolled population at the University of Tharbad was either all over that King or attracting his attention in some way," said Viv, "and it was Aiwendis for whom he honestly looked taken with. He couldn't get enough of her, they say, and I have to admit I do believe that our Gor is under orders, or something, from our Lord, to bag that King herself. How else to explain her way with him? She's a pro, but we all know she's been fruitlessly in love with our Lord since day one, so... think about it. There's a reas- "

"I don't want to HEAR any more of this!" yelled Lil. "You know NOTHING!" Now she was really getting warmed up. "He - the King, Valandil himself, wants ME, that's right, ME, to visit him tonight at his private residence!"

"Really?" Viv was genuinely surprised and curious about this. "He invited you to his home?"

"Yes, that's right." said Lil petulantly. "Shows how much YOU know, miss smarty pants."

"Hmm."

'Well, 'Hmm' all you want Vivvie, because guess what? I need to get changed and dressed to meet him in less than an hour, and if you don't believe me, well all I can say is just you wait and see."

'You don't have to prove anything to me, Lil. I believe you, O.K.? I'm just kind of puzzled, is all. Plus I've got a lot going on in my own private love life lately, so... you know, the world doesn't revolve around just you, Lilaenwen."

Lil was pulling her mother-of-pearl brush through her luxurious flame-coloured hair, irritatedly listening.

"Ray and I - last night - we... we, you know. We got together."

The brushing stopped. Now, THIS was news! Lilaenwen came up to her sister, still encased in the plush chair. She knelt down next to her, beaming, and gently took Viv's hands.

"Our little Vivvie is growing up!" she said, "well, it's about time!"

Viv rolled her eyes, and pulled her hands away a little, tsking. "It's not like that, and you know it. I love this man," said Viv. "I really want to keep him."

"Keep him!" Lil tried not to laugh. "He's a mortal, you silly child! How long have you been here as one of us, and you still don't get it?"

Viv was quiet for a moment, looking down. She fidgeted with her fingers in her lap.

"Don't you have dresses to put on and cosmetics to apply right now," Viv said, trying to take the subject of conversation away from her precious Ray and the sanctity of her personal experience.