BoldItalic
First Post
The journey back to the tower was uneventful and they evaded the Wrongwraiths by the simple ruse of keeping right. As they marched along, with Sam and Od arm-in-arm, Herewulf took the opportunity to relate their recent adventures to their new companion. Strider flatly refused to believe a word of it until they got to the part where the phase spiders attacked. Then he grew thoughtful and commented that it explained something that had been worrying him for some time - the problem of what had become of the spawn of Shelob. But he wouldn't explain who Shelob was or why it mattered. Herewulf was beginning to think that Strider was a trifle too taciturn to be much fun to be around but he kept that opinion to himself out of politeness. Snappy agreed with him, though.
Back at the tower, Nord and Jeli weren't speaking to each other. They were having a lovers' tiff. Sam tried to console Jeli and Od tried to cheer up Nord but all that achieved was to make the pair even more angry with each other than they were already. "It's not usually like this," said Herewulf apologetically.
"There is no time," announced Strider abruptly. "This ancient tower is not safe from prying eyes. Come, we must travel by night to evade our foes, for they are all around us. With luck, we should reach our destination by sunrise but tarry not, for the danger is great and we must make haste."
"What destination?" asked Od innocently, disentangling himself momentarily from Sam's embrace, "I thought we'd given up trying to get to Conyberry after Xena and the others got there first?"
"The power of Mordor extends further than you imagine, young hobbit," replied Strider. "You do well to remember the peril that threatens us all - man, elf and halfling alike. Even the dwarves in their halls of stone are not safe."
Yes, but where are we actually going?"
"That must remain a secret known only to ourselves, for there are spies everywhere. When the sun sets behind the hills and the clouds cover the moon, then must we strike out, o'er mountain and dale, through flood and forest, and take always the hidden ways far from the ken of the orc lords."
Od looked at Herewulf, who shrugged. "Don't ask me," he said. "By the way, how are you feeling now? Arms and legs working better?"
"Yes, thanks," replied the diminutive bard, "Sam has been rubbing me with ointment, haven't you, my love?"
Sam smiled and produced a jar of something. "My auntie's recipe," she said proudly. "Goose grease and pig fat with powdered daffodil. Want to try some?"
"Perhaps later. It might not agree with my chainmail. Although ..."
"Hist!" warned Strider suddenly in a low voice, "There is something moving around outside!" and he flung himself at the doorway where ...
Back at the tower, Nord and Jeli weren't speaking to each other. They were having a lovers' tiff. Sam tried to console Jeli and Od tried to cheer up Nord but all that achieved was to make the pair even more angry with each other than they were already. "It's not usually like this," said Herewulf apologetically.
"There is no time," announced Strider abruptly. "This ancient tower is not safe from prying eyes. Come, we must travel by night to evade our foes, for they are all around us. With luck, we should reach our destination by sunrise but tarry not, for the danger is great and we must make haste."
"What destination?" asked Od innocently, disentangling himself momentarily from Sam's embrace, "I thought we'd given up trying to get to Conyberry after Xena and the others got there first?"
"The power of Mordor extends further than you imagine, young hobbit," replied Strider. "You do well to remember the peril that threatens us all - man, elf and halfling alike. Even the dwarves in their halls of stone are not safe."
Yes, but where are we actually going?"
"That must remain a secret known only to ourselves, for there are spies everywhere. When the sun sets behind the hills and the clouds cover the moon, then must we strike out, o'er mountain and dale, through flood and forest, and take always the hidden ways far from the ken of the orc lords."
Od looked at Herewulf, who shrugged. "Don't ask me," he said. "By the way, how are you feeling now? Arms and legs working better?"
"Yes, thanks," replied the diminutive bard, "Sam has been rubbing me with ointment, haven't you, my love?"
Sam smiled and produced a jar of something. "My auntie's recipe," she said proudly. "Goose grease and pig fat with powdered daffodil. Want to try some?"
"Perhaps later. It might not agree with my chainmail. Although ..."
"Hist!" warned Strider suddenly in a low voice, "There is something moving around outside!" and he flung himself at the doorway where ...