- This topic has 81 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 6 hours, 26 minutes ago by
.
-
Posts
-
ha!
I guess that is what he says.
I drink tea, even if he doesn’t.
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
@ellette-giselle @koshka @keilah-h @hybridlore @theducktator @anyoneinterested
Some days we kinda forget,
Some WIPS will never go on.
Gotta get the rest of it done,
All the way to the Silver Star.
(Far away, through writer’s block so bold.)
*cough cough*
Although it’s been neglected, it has not been abandoned. We have another chapter!
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
In Which Trees are Dangerous, and Aenwest Considers Doubles
Chapter 7
The closer we got to the Dell, the more tangled the trees became. It should have been much like the woods around Multnomah Falls, WA, but years ago, as I told Dwogin when he tripped over an exposed root, the Rangers had planted saplings between the older trees and woven them with the older branches. Now the forest was strangely impassable except on the Ranger Roads, if one could find them.
Dwogin was not impressed. More’s the pity. I have wanted to rant on Ranger brilliance for months. But sometimes we writers just have to rant to our pillows. Not that I could really blame Dwogin. As the trees grew more tangled and the path wound ever closer to an unknown number of Rangers, the little warrior became grumpier. He marched behind Randal with his thick red brows so drawn together I couldn’t see his eyes. We went on for at least an hour ignoring the invisible stormcloud building.
Randal finally asked what was wrong, although I knew he knew what we all knew. Dwogin huffed and Dwogin rumbled, but only Randal dared to understand his meaning. The old Lorekeeper looked up into the trees and sighed.
“Yes, dwarves have rarely been friends here. But there have been a few worthy characters among them, and I think,” There was a mischievous light in Randal’s eye as he surveyed the dwarf. “You are not the worst they have made friends with.”
And that was that. Dwogin shot off into a monologue on the loyalty and honor of his family, and how much they had given up when the main dwarf bands turned over to darkness. The others ahead of us slowed a bit until we were all within a comfortable earshot of each other.
“Yes. It is a good family.” Randal began, but seemed to lose his train of thought. He studied the dwarf reflectively for a moment. The laughter in his eyes was well hidden.
“You are with me, Dwogin. It may not count for much, but the elder of the bands were my friends before you were born.”
“Besides.” Travenor called over his shoulder. “If Onnendel can tolerate you, we Rangers have no excuse.”
The elf laughed, but Travenor had a point. Imraldis’ heir had of all people the most to blame the dwarves for. Dwogin scowled determinedly into the distance, his hand on his axe.
The woods had grown thicker, and the ground rougher. We followed our unflappable guide down washed out embankments and up mossy boulders. He went on with an eager spring to his movements, leading us through the thickening shadows. He had probably played in these woods as a kid long before he accepted the wandering life. It was nice to have someone on the team who knew where to go.
Darkness was stretching between the trees, filling the brush around us till the wood began closing like a great rustling wave. Soon I found myself shuffling along behind Dwogin’s glinting helmet in a useless effort to not trip on the thousand invisible roots my favorite people had littered the place with. Somewhere outside this tangled wilderness, the moon had slipped behind the Misted Mountains on its way to the sea. It would be a cold night here in the foothills.
Eventually my eyes adjusted to starlight, but not before I had scraped a knee and bruised an elbow in a mostly silent crash landing. An owl hooted deep in the woods, but I don’t think it was laughing at me. The air smelled heavy of mulch and damp leaves. I smiled.
And narrowly avoided slamming into the dwarf in front of me. We’d stopped, just as I’d gotten my sight back. I glanced around mildly perturbed, then blinked and looked again. I knew this place although I had never seen it in real life before. A slightly clear space opened up before us, hemmed in by a clump of darker, older trees.
My pulse kicked up.
“Follow me closely, and do not speak until I say it’s safe.” Travenor paused outside that wild tangle of foliage. It was nothing compared to the knotted excitement that gripped me. We were literally walking into the ancient stronghold of the most fantastic sneaks in Middle Earth.
We had only taken a few steps when our Ranger halted us again, an odd look on his face.
“Stay here.” He murmured. “I need to speak with the watch.” The next moment he’d disappeared into the shadows. We hung back with the creaky sounds of woodsy nightfall filling the silence around us. I cut a quick glance at my companions.
Dwogin stood stoically with his axe slung over his shoulder and a hand on his bow. Onnendel was leaning against a tree as if he had grown up in the place along with the saplings. His dark hair shone in the starlight. I caught Randal’s eye and smiled back. He had taken a place as near the forward path as he could find. We stood in silence as the minutes ticked by.
The tree trunk behind me dug into my side as I leaned against it. I didn’t move, giving in for a moment to the day’s weariness and my quietly aching feet. My excitement dwindled. My skinned knee stung. Worse, something niggled at the plotline in my head, which was more irritating than helpful. This wasn’t how I’d planned things. We would have been escorted by Travenor’s kindred, no need for waiting around in mildly creepy woods. My idea would have been a good deal more comfortable.
Something moved with a sound not entirely nightish. My senses, after over a week spent in the wild, came alive. I froze.
“Come in and welcome.” A gentle voice called through the gloom. A kind, feminine voice no one had expected. I pushed up on my tiptoes to see over Randal’s shoulder. In the dim light, all I could make out of our host was a faded green cloak. Her face was in deep shadow from her hood, and a thatch of undergrowth hid her boots. Still, I knew who she was by the half smile on Travenor’s face as he followed her back.
The tension in the group slipped away through the night. Travenor actually gave a low chuckle as he took his place at Onnendel’s side. The two exchanged a quick word, and I just caught the smile in Onnendel’s voice as he turned to the lady ranger.
“Mae govannen!”
“Namarie,” Her reply was a soft laugh. “It is good to see you again. You kept Travenor alive?”
“For the most part.” The elf shrugged.
“We all thank you. Father especially. It would be dreadfully unwise to feed the wargs.”
“Certainly not yet.” Travenor agreed. “The poisoning would kill them.”
They laughed, which drew Dwogin’s attention. He shot them a suspicious glance and then turned to mutter something. He must have caught sight of my grimace when he did. He looked back at me with a raised brow.
How could I help it? That conversation was not as funny as when I had first penned it. A dreadful feeling told me it was now a running joke that I would never escape. My poor characters.
I needed to work on my wit.
The path twisted around to reveal a narrow door. Dark ivy hung over it in thick, sweeping curtains, casting the place in shadow. Venere stepped forward and pushed back her hood.
“Brother Warden. We have brought Travenor’s companions.”
There was silence as a vague shape stepped into view behind the ivy. Steel flashed in its hand before disappearing entirely. Probably one of many weapons I had decided were cool enough for the Ranger-Wardens. The green curtain swished out of our way. He surveyed us a moment more before stepping back to let us pass. His voice grated through the night air.
“Welcome to the Dell of Exiles.”
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
Some reads we never forget
Some books we never forgive
Haven’t seen the end of this yet
We’ll write as long as we live.
All eyes on the hidden door
To the lonely laptop borne
We’ll ride in through the scribbling storm
Till we write our long forgotten WIPs…
First Grand Historian of Arreth and the Lesser Realms (aka Kitty)
Fork the GorkThat’s perfect! I love it.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
I have wanted to rant on Ranger brilliance for months. But sometimes we writers just have to rant to our pillows.
Lolol.
Great section!
"Don't shine so that others can see you. Shine so that through you, others can see Him." ~ C. S.
I LOVE THIS!!!
Now go write more! Now!
🤣
I must know what happens!!!! *sob*
No half-heartedness and no worldly fear must turn us aside from following the light unflinchingly.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.