Chapter 2-Chaos in Order

Er, hello. Many thanks to WargishBoromirFan for pointing out my innability to spell. English is my 3rd language so please bear with me. That being said, here's chapter 2.

"Under Cirion, the city of Osgiliath fell into ruin, having been attacked by Orcs, Uruks and foul creatures. The city of Osgiliath was once a source of pride for Gondor, but also a source of shame, as it was the second major city after Minas Ithil, now called Minas Morgul to fall to the shadow in the east. The loss of Osgiliath was a blow to Gondor's pride, and Cirion and the council of elders agreed to send a force of 20,000 into Ithilien. The army, consisting of 10,000 footsoldiers, 3,000 medium calvery, 4,000 heavy calvery, 3,000 archers, and cooks, stable hands, surgeons and others needed to keep an army running were sent to Ithilien.

Now an army needs provisions, a lot of provisions. Listhfor was more than happy to oblige. Now a sucessful buisness needs a product, in this case food, a market, in this case the defending army in Ithilien, and happy employees. Listhfor was smart. The previous foodstuff merchants had only paid the farmers a mere 35% of the profit, and did not pay for seed, animals, and equipment repairs. Listhfor, using Torlic's money, paid the farmers 50% of the profit, paid for seed, animals, equipment repairs, firewood for the winter, left more than enough food for the farmers to feed themselves, and provided free transportation of crops to the market. The farmers were grateful, and were more than happy to meet their quota, instead of making excuses about flood, drought, bandits or the like." Alwhich began the next morning.

The night before, after tucking the young girl into bed, Alwhich went from her father's house to his own. Once the door was tightly shut and the locks and traps bypassed or reset, Alwhich took a candle, lit it, and sat down at the table in the middle of the one room house. His age was beginning to take its toll. He had looked old for years, his hair had been white since before the War of the Ring, but his had never felt old. Decades after the war against the shadow, Alwhich had been able put in a full day's work on his plot of land by himself, but today of all days, he felt exhausted. It was the beginning of the planting season, and so Alwhich was plowing his east field, but he had two strong oxen, and didn't exert much work.

"Hm. I don't recall moving that rug over to that corner." Alwhich thought to himself. "I remember it was over there."

Alwhich walked over to the rug, lifted it up over his shoulder and heard a crash behind where the rug was resting.

"That's odd. What could it be?" he thought.

When he went to inspect, his pupils dilated, his heartbeat increased, and his brain began to churn faster. He reached down, picked up the object that had falled, and reverently placed it back on the small table it had fallen off of. Alwhich then walked over to the candle, blew it out, and went to bed.

The object that had fallen was a sword, a one-handed sword made in the Beirland fashion. The scabbard was made of fine, polished oak and bound with strips of polished brass. Wrapped around the handguard was a red ribbon.

"Uncle Alwhich! Please wake up!" the young girl pleaded.

Alwhich woke up with a snort and said "Sorry?"

"You fell asleep." the girl said factually.

"I'm sorry. Army, Ithilien, provisions...Ah farmers. Now the food had to be transported to Ithilien, as the settlers there could not feed both themselves and a full quarter of the Gondorian army. That is where Crazon entered the scene. It was Crazon who set up supply lines and personally oversaw that they never ran dry. Crazon organized a guard system for the shipments of goods, so bandits, wild beasts and foul creatures would not interfere. In doing so, Crazon established close relationships with the cooks, the stable hands, and some officers, particulary the quartermasters.

Cimban, ever the soldier, because of his close relationship with those who fed the army, was allowed to meet with the top generals in charge of the Gondorian troops. Cimban was the one who advised the generals where to place forts and fortified areas, near rivers, on mountian foothills, Due to his abilities, Cimban was given a title and a rank equivilant to a general.

Even Torlic found use for the soldiers that left. Soldiers need entertainment. Ithilien was beautiful, but hardened warriors could only look at the scenery for so long. So Torlic smuggled dice, and dice handlers into Ithilien, hidden under Crazon's shipments. In addition to that, almost all of the soldiers came from Minas Tirith's garrisons, leaving the white tower weakened. Once Minas Tirith was weakened, Torlic was quick to establish gambling halls, entertainment houses, and stores that sold less than reputable goods. The city council and the steward Cirion tried their best to shut down Torlic's illegal enterprises, but the people in Minas Tirith protected them, hiding them in the homes of the people, and even in the soldier's garrisons."

Now all this good fortune could not last forever. Soon other famlies began to see that Gondor was weak, and capitolized on that. Soon other, rival businesses were set up. Buisnesses that did everything from importing illegal substances, to contracting assassins, to running gambling and female entertainment houses. The four brothers were now getting old, the oldest, Cimban was almost 60, and began shifting the family buisness to their sons.

"That's enough for tonight" Alwhich said. "I'll tell you more after supper tomorrow. Sleep tight."

"Mmm..." the young girl said, half asleep on a chair.

"Come on, wake up!" Alwhich shouted, shaking her shoulder.

The young girl rubbed her eyes, said "G'night" and limped off to her side of the house.

"Cute girl." Alwhich said as he walked out the door into the chilly, starless night.

Well there's chapter two. Please read and review!