Sands of Harad: RPG

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa felt horribly guilty and extremely annoyed. Horribly guilty because she'd abandoned her new-found friends. Extremely annoyed because yet again her feet had made a decision without her.

She huddled down a short distance away from Bayhas and his men. It seemed the safest place and as long as they didn't notice her, all would be well.

However, her luck seemed to be in short supply as of late.

[Acalewia]

The storm hit. But instead of being buried in sand, it seemed to flow and swirl above their heads and around them.
"What the blazes?" Curamir wondered aloud. Elnar was frowning in the general direction Nessa had fled. It was too late to protect her and the fact that he didn't know where she had disappeared didn't help.

[rohirrim TR]

The night fell deadly quiet, a drastic change after the violence of the storm. Atarion stared at Elnar with awe, and the others with relief.

"I think we should keep moving" said Curamir " I don't think that Bayhas and his tribe will attack us at night -some superstition of theirs- but come morning they'll have no such hesitations."

"I agree" assented Elnar

"Once again I apologize for interupting, but where exactly are we moving on to? after all we didn't really get much help from the desert man and furthermore had he told us more I'm not sure I would have believed him he had rather crafty eyes."

"ahh yes there is that" replied Curamir reflectively "I say we should make for Umbar, its the center of trade so I believe there must be an unofficial truce or neutral government perhaps we can get the help we need there, what do you say Elnar?"

"well seeing as our guide has left us, and the tribesman being decidedly unfriendly, I fear that is our only option, save wandering around aimlessly."

"Then its agreed"

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa slipped between the tribesmens' horses without a sound. She whispered to them with soundless words. The horses heard and understood.

Come dawn, they would be far away from Bayhas and his clan.

Nessa smirked. Sometimes being nice just didn't work.

For herself, she took Bayhas's horse and led him away into the desert. She mounted at a safe distance then spurred the stallion into a gallop.

After all, she had to catch up with her new found friends. Nessa didn't feel like losing them as of yet.

[rohirrim TR]

"We need to find shade so we can rest during the day, that way we can travel at night and keep our chainmail" said Hluor at about ten of the clock that morning, it was the time in the desert when the cool sand turned into a giant kiln.

"I agree, and we need water and-" said Curamir.

"ha look who's coming from the southwest" Elnar interupted pointing.

"my eyes are not so farsighted as yours half-elf all I can see is a small puff of dust"

"It's our guide, returning to us perhaps"

"Perhaps, or perhaps she has been in leage with the sand men from the beginning I wonder" replied Curamir putting his hand to his eyes to reduce the glare.

"Only time will tell, do nothing to make her think we suspect her it would ruin all, and if she is not betraying us it would only insult her" counseled Elnar with a knowing look.

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa swung off her horse at full gallop and landed in front of Elnar. "Merry meet, my lost companions!" she said loudly, bowing to them all. "Terribly sorry about my sudden disappearance. My feet often make decisions without me."

"Good to know you have our back in a tight situation," Curamir noted dryly. To the surprise of the company, Nessa's cheeks turned a deep scarlet.

"I really didn't mean to leave you," she murmured, her voice terribly soft. "I seem to always disappoint the people I want to help." Nessa turned from him and, unknown to all but Elnar, blinked back the sudden tears. Old wounds from old days. "Now," she said, the former power in her voice having fled, "Let us retire to the oasis just behind that sand doon. It will be cooler there."

She led her horse in that direction and Elnar stared after her. "Fascinating," he whispered.

"Do you think we can trust her?" Curamir asked him quietly.

"I think we can trust her, Curamir. However, her feet are another matter entirely."

[rohirrim TR]

"Well, Curamir you know what they say, 'go not to elves for counsel, for they say yes and no' " said Hluor laughing quietly.

[Udukhaturz]

"Bayhas, some rogue stole your gray stallion last night!" Fawzan fairly shouted out the news. "When we catch the thief, we will boil him in his own juices!"

"I think I know who took him, but I have other mounts equally as good," Bayhas replied.

"What about the Gondorians?" Fawzan had that gleam in his eye that meant only one thing - he was thinking about unpleasant, slow ways to kill them all.

"We will follow them a while before we do anything," Bayhas explained quietly. "Which way have they gone?"

"West, towards the city."

"Tell the men to separate into small groups. Follow the Tarks and stay at a good distance. With only a few riders widely apart, there will be lest chance they can see the dust that is raised."

"Aye, Chieftain. It will be done as you say. What about the woman?"

"Let no harm come to her. Now order my sorrel stallion saddled. I want an extra skin of water, though I doubt I will need it, since I know where all the waterholes from here to the City of the Corsairs are located. Fill one of my saddlebags with ample quantities of dried fruit and cheese... the other with the ceremonial dagger, a few burnooses, and a phial of poison for the arrows... I plan to catch up with the Tarks and volunteer to be their helpful guide."

Fawzan smiled that wicked smile of his.

[Acalewia]

"I've heard that as well, Hluor." Elnar said. "Is it that obvious I have elf blood?"

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa stared up into the starry sky. It had been a long day of travel, even for her. She'd driven them all very hard.

Yet it had been worth it. In the morning, it would only take three hours to reach the city of Umbar. Nessa closed her eyes and took three deep breaths.

There was someone following them. Small dust clouds had haunted her group throughout the day. She'd pointed them out to Elnar. His eyes seemed to be a bit sharper than hers.

"Do you think he seeks vengeance?" She smirked.

"Curamir asked that of me before. I still think Bayhas means me no harm. As for the rest of you..." Nessa shrugged.

Elnar sat beside her and looked up at the stars. "You are a most remarkable woman, Nessa. Loyal and disloyal. Gentle and rough. Kind and ruthless. It is nearly impossible to make out your true character."

"I suggest you discontinue that particular search, Elnar. Even I have not found the answer and I have lived with myself for over two decades." He smiled faintly.

"You remind me of a woman I met once. She had lost her memory when we found her. That look of searching never left her eyes. She found her memories again but even now, her eyes still carry that shadow of need. The desire to know herself." Nessa looked at him carefully.

"A most tragic story, Elnar. What is your point?"

"My point, Lady Nessa, is that sometimes it is not maybe in order to find yourself, you must look." She rolled her eyes.

"I think I could have figured that one out."

"Oh, really? Then why haven't you done it yet?" He stood up, smiled at Nessa and then walked away. She frowned after him.

"Next time I travel, I'm going to the coast. Bloody desert riddles are driving me mad."

[Acalewia]

Elnar chuckled to himself. He had heard her remark, he was sure she didn't mean for him to hear. He sat down next to Cumaar's litter and watched Nessa.

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa rolled her shoulders, trying to get rid of the feeling that she was being watched. It wasn't surprising, though. After her little stunt during the sand storm, she'd have people watching her, too. You never want to leave your back open to a potential enemy.

Bayhas could be a potential enemy. She'd been showing him her back for about two days. If he did overtake them, for whatever reason, she would keep a sharp eye on him.

No man was so good in bed that he could cloud her better judgment.

[Acalewia]

Elnar leaned back, resting his head on his folded cloak. And closed his eyes.

"You severly overestimate your strength, pitiful immortal. You shall learn what it is to die," taunted Alateriel.

She grabbed hold of Elnar, and brought his face next to hers. The elf felt his body almost totally collapse...she grinned.

"NO!" screamed the Southron, leaping onto both of them.

Narya blazed, and Curmaar felt his feet grip the Icedrake. It roared, but could not throw him. Elnar grabbed ahold of the creature, using all of his strength.

"Elnar!" shouted the Southron. "Get off, now!"

Elnar nodded.
"You will need this!" he said as he tossed one of his elvish knives to Cumaar, the blade white-hot. Then he released his grip on the Icedrake and fell.

Elnar started awake. The last battle Cumaar fought. He glanced at his friend's body. "Lle ume quel" he said, under the hearing of the others.


*You did well

[Udukhaturz]

The cloudless desert night presented a splendid opportunity to look at the stars, an activity which Bayhas was engaging in as he brought the mouthpiece of the wineskin to his mouth.

"Bayhas, the men are growing irritable. They say that we are upon a fool's errand and going nowhere. They are concerned for their flocks and herds and their families. Five hundred men are too many to take so far away from the territory of our clan and leave it exposed to our enemies." Fawzan was upset to be the one to bring this news to his chieftain.

"Let them return, then," Bayhas muttered as he passed the wineskin to Fawzan and kept his gaze upon the sky. "We are going someplace, Fawzan. It is obvious to me that those we follow are moving towards the city. Do you wish to return, too?" Bayhas asked nonchalantly.

"No, of course not, and ten others besides me say that they will continue with you. The others say that they will return should you need their help. I question your reasons for following the Tarks. Is it the woman? Is it something about the corpse the Tarks carry with them?"

"Perhaps it is the woman, or perhaps I merely wish to see my old enemy meet his final reward. My reasons are my own, Fawzan. I am glad that the eleven remain true. Fawzan, now if you will pass the wineskin to me..."

[rohirrim TR]

Curamir and Atarion stood first watch that molrning while the others rested.

"Captain? why did you volunteer for this mission?" asked Atarion suddenly.

"Good question, perhaps for the same reason you did, to prove worthy to do something without a steward or a King or a brother, watching your every move. Or maybe I didn't have a choice perhaps it is my destiny, I know not, only that I must finish, what I promised to do, even if i'm not quite sure what that is. does that answere your question?".

"I think so" the young man replied, though he was silent and thougtful for the rest of the day.

[Udukhaturz]

That morning, Bayhas and Fawzan watched as the chieftain reviewed the over 500 warriors rode by them. Then, raising their spears high over their heads and shouting their war cry, "Death to all enemies!" the warriors galloped across the wasteland, and then after executing a magnificent right wheel, they rode back and halted in front of the two men.

"Hail, Chieftain Bayhas! Hail!" came the exultant cheers of the warriors.

Bayhas raised his hand high in the air as a blessing and farewell and then observed them as the men turned and galloped away.

"Bayhas, now what?"

"We ride to the city."

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa watched the city of Umbar with a sense of unease. She'd barely slept the night before and her shoulders were tensing today. Her feet, as well, were itching like mad.

They wanted to be gone from this place.

"Are you all right, Nessa?" Elnar asked, seeing her tension.

"Hmm? Yes, I'm fine."

No, she couldn't fail her friends again. Nessa spurred her horse toward the city.

[Acalewia]

Elnar did not know what was making Nessa tense. But she seemed to tense more and more the closer to Umbar they got. He rode close to Nessa and asked in a voice meant for her ears only, "Are you able to sense danger?"

[Lady Willow Rose]

Nessa rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the tension. "My feet have never liked cities. Not enough room to roam about in."

"That is not all," he insisted.

"No," she admitted. "I have the worst feeling that we're walking into a trap."

[Acalewia]

"Do you think your 'friends' have made it to the city before us?" Elnar didn't trust Bayhas as far as he could toss him without the aid of his power.