The Pendant of Lamendon

[Rhiannon]

*Stirrs a little. A sharp pain in her left shoulder almost makes her faint.* Eo!? Brenda! *Falls asleep again*

[Rhiannon]

*Wakes up, already feeling better than she had for weeks. Remembers her injured shoulder in time before doing any quick movements. Checks it. A dislocation. The rest of her left side looks badly bruised but no broken bones. Looks around. The fire has died down and there is still no sign of her companions. Well, rangers are used to help themselves anyway. Turns to her saddle and manages to untie her rope. Opens one of the bags and rumages for the pouches containing a ranger's first aid kit of herbs and potions. Finds the small leather wrapped parcel she's looking for. Takes everything to a near tree with low but strong branches. With only one arm to use it takes a while but manages to tie the rope to a branch. Takes a piece of dried T'Olran mushroom from the parcel and puts it between her lips. Carefully measures some distances, then wraps the right lenght of rope around her left arm. Checks the setup then starts to chew on the mushroom piece. A few seconds later, she can feel a soft darkness closing in again. *

[Luthien]

*Luthien rounded a bend in the road and felt her horse stiffen and prick up it's ears as it spotted another horse further along the track. At first glance she believes the horse is alone and must have unseated it's rider but on closer inspection she spots a girl crouched on the ground as if in pain.*

Hello?

*She brings her horse to a halt but remains some distance away, fearful she could be walking into a trap.*

Are you hurt?

[Rhiannon]

*The veil lifts again. T'Olran, quick to come, quick to go. Hooves in front of her face. Somebody talking to her. Feels her mind become clear again and looks up. An elf!. Relaxes and grins. what must she look like: a bruised and dirty ranger lying on the earth with her left arm tied to a branch - ah, yeah. Gets up slowly and feels for her left shoulder. Everything seems to be in place again. Tries small movements. Still hurting but not unbearable. Looks at the elf.* Er, thank you, I'm already feeling better. But - by any chance - did you see my two comrades? All I can remember is that my horse slipped, I fell.. and then I woke up beside a fire. *Spins around* My horse... ARIAN! ARIAN?! *Relaxes as she hears a familiar neigh from behind a small group of trees. Turns to the elf again.* I'm sorry. I didn't get your name. I'm Rhiannon.

[Luthien]

*Luthien slid off her horses back and ran to the side of the stricken ranger.*

Try not to move Rhiannon. You may have broken something.

*She gently pushed the ranger back down while she checked her over for injuries.*

I'm Luthien Tinuviel from Dorian. I have been riding this road for most of the day and have encountered no others. I'm surprised your friends didn't come looking for you.

[Rhiannon]

I just don't know where they could be... Ouch! *Tries to shift her weight more to her right side.* All I remember is falling off my horse. And then from when I woke up again.

[Luthien]

*The elf nodded in understanding at the rangers words whilst her hands worked quickly on the wounds. A bright light seemed to shine from the very palms of her hands creating a warm, soothing sensation that eased away all pain.*

Tell me where you were heading?
This road is ill used this time of year.

[Rhiannon]

Gondor. I was called to help a friend of my family. It's pretty urgent and - er, do you have some water, please? I'm terribly thirsty.

[Imrel]

*A crunching of dead leaves causes them both to jump slightly. An elegant bay horse comes to a halt by the camp. His rider is a young man with dark eyes and a mop of wheat colored hair; Bretha. He blinks suddenly, and stirs as if coming out of a trance.*

Rhiannon! You are awake!

*He hastily dismounts, almost tripping on the stirrups, and puts down the small sack he has been carrying.*

The Lady Eowyn and I were most worried after that spill you took-

*Catching sight of Luthien, he breaks off.*

Who is your companion?

[Rhiannon]

*Gets up.* Brenda! Where have you been? How long was I asleep? It's so good to see you. I was getting really worried. *Waves at the elf* This is Luthien Tinuviel from Dorian. She arrived a few minutes ago and helped me.

[Imrel]

*He churns out a hasty greeting to Luthien.*

A pleasure to be in the company of one of the Fair Folk, Lady Tinuviel.

*Grabbing his bag back up, Bretha goes to kneel by Rhiannon, and goes into a breathless account of what has happened at the same time as rummaging through the sack. He produces various pouches of herbs, and a flask of water that he holds to Rhia's lips.*

When you fell, Lady Eowyn and I decided we couldn't go on further until you had recovered, so we lay you on Arian and guided her to the nearest site where we could set up camp. We tried to tend to your injury, but alas, we are neither of us skilled physicians and did not know if we were even doing any good, and you wouldn't wake, least not more than for a few minutes.

*Letting Rhiannon hold the flask, he turns gratefully to Luthien.*

Thank you kindly for all your help, m'Lady.

*He starts to carefully pack away the herb packets he has spilled.*

You still want to know, no doubt, where the Lady and myself disappeared to. Lady Eowyn, I can tell you, went for more wood to keep the fire alive. And I... I am not sure why I went. Or where I went.

*He leans forward to hide his face with the fabric of the bag, so as not to let the ladies read the confusion in his expression.*

I suppose I went to seek out the Lady Eowyn, as she was, to my tired mind at least, a long time in her expedition. It was irresponsible of me to leave you alone, I know.

*Finding a few crumbling leaves of a dark green hue in his hand, he ponders them for a moment.*

It looks as though I found some new herbs on the way.

*He looks up to Rhiannon and Luthien, and laughs uncertainly.*

Funny. Weariness had clouded my mind so that I can barely remember events of mere hours ago.

*Finishes repacking his bag.*

Enough of my rambling; how is your shoulder? Lady Tinuviel, is the injury serious?

[Rhiannon]

It was just a dislocation. Ranger's first aid may be a little on the rough side but it works. *Takes another sip from Bretha's bottle* I think we all could use some rest. We'll have to wait for Eowyn anyway.

[Imrel]

Aye...

*He nods gratefully, clearly exhausted by days of travel without rest.*

Perhaps, if she was not soon returned, one of us should seek her out.

*By the time his statement is finished, however, he has drawn his knees up to his chest and laid his weary head on them, ready to doze as soon as his heavy eyelids drop.*

[Rhiannon]

*Nods weakly* Let's...... all..have some........rest... *Curls up again*

[Imrel]

*The three of them rested, but Eowyn did not return. When Bretha woke, it was to find Rhiannon and Luthien dozing, and Eowyn still absent. He was worried. Dawn was stretching her arms out from behind a distant horizon, ready to shake off sleep and wake up the dreaming world.

*His lord needed them, just as urgently as he had when Bretha had first set out. They had slept, and Rhia had been given time to heal. There could be no more delays; as reluctant as Bretha was to admit to it, they would have to carry on as soon as the dawn had broken fully into the weary sky, and leave Lady Eowyn behind.

*Bretha yawned, his greedy lungs pulling in all teh oxygen they could summon, and heaved himself to his feet. He cast a glance over the two women, and sighed, loath to awaken them when they looked so peaceful. After a few minutes of pressing silence, he knelt by each of them and shook them lightly by the shoulder, waking them with quietly stern words.*

We must away soon.