A Distant Land Chapter 8
Arrivals
By: Gypsy and Jaya
As they traveled across the land moveing ever on towards the city of Cirlaneva that was always their final destination, each harbored their own pains and doubts at the events that had taken place and those unfolding around them in the prsent. The death of Legolas for most in many minds could not be denied. however there was another hurtle that presented it's self not far into their journey, and that was the concepted of Slavery.
The idea that this was a culter with a sperpate class of people who were born into a life of servituded. That the people here saw nothing wrong with such a way of life, for they were born to it, and raised to see nothing wrong with such policies. Though at one point Merry and Pippin had been mistaken for slaves them selves was slightly more disterbing. But it was perhapse the late night conversation between the four friends that helped to settle things.
It had taken place a few days past. Inside Aragorns room, after a slightly heated discussion over a dinner that no one but Merry and Pippin had eaten much of. Though even they had not been to inclined to eat everything that was insight for once.
After a moment Aragorn turned from he'd been staring out the window, to let his gaze encompase the rest of the room and those that resided within it's limits. The two hobbits were seated quietly upon the bed once more, while Gimli was pasing near the door a restless look on his face. Something that did not quite rest well upon the dwarf's shoulders nor the normaly cheerfull faces of Merry and Pippin that were some what less then this night. Though he knew his own countenance was less them merry in it's apperance, and long had it been since the joy of a smile had resided there.
"Aragorn I did not like this." Gimli spoke first, and there was anger in the dwarfs stance not to mention the flames like the forges beanth the earth that burned brightly in his eyes. "I do not like the thought of this at all. I did not like this place much before, call it the bitterness at the lose of a friend, or call it what you would. But this only does more to unsettle my heart to this place and it's people. Tierny and Verin are fine men do not mistake me, however this matter..."
"Is out of our hands." Aragorn spoke quietly with a sigh. "There is nothing we can do to change this thing Gimli, even though we might wish it. If Tierny had thought it would bother us so he would have spoken before."
"You think I do not know this?" The dwarf growled angrily as he began pacing agian. "I know that, but it does nothing to change anything."
"Gimli stop pacing." Pippin muttered irtably from the bed. "You are giving me more of a head ache then I already have."
Merry eyed his younger companion. "It is making me fair dizy." He said quietly, giving the dwarf a pleading look.
With a growl Gimli, set himself down in a chair oposite from Aragorn; however it did nothing to smooth the anger that radiated from him. Silence that sat between the four members of the company was heavey though none seemed at all eager to break it's opressive berdian.
"I do not know.." Merry began a few minutes later. "But I do not like the thought of a people being raised to serve another. It is unsettling, though Tierny says that it is illeagle to enslave anyother people... It still does not seem right to me..."
"Nor I." Pippin said. "If Merry and I were mistake for slaves, what does that say?"
"It says nothing good." Gimli said angrily but quieter then he had before. "I wonder what kind of King this ...... is if he turns a blind eye to such abomidable acts."
"Not even a King can be every where at once Gimli." Aragorn who had so far been quiet, pointed out in a tired voice.
"You seem to manage quite well." Offered Pippin.
"Perhapse it may seem so." Was the reply. "However even I can not see to everything Pippin, if it were not for the help of trusted advisors and friends such as your selves..." He let his words trail off with a shrug, turning back to the window that seemed to hold much of ineterest this night even when nothing could been seen in the darkness. "Gimli to not judge .... to harshly till you have met the man." Though even Aragorn did not speak of the miss givings that echoed in his heart for he was not of a mind to do so. "We may not agree with the beliefs or practiaces of these people, however it is not for us to say who is right or who is wrong. It is their way of life and their lives; can we truly condem them all when it is the way they are brought up from birth?"
***
Aragorn stared up at the city walls that loomed before him and the rest of the company. They had been traveling for quite sometime now, but even what he had seen of the rest of the company, he hadn't imagined what it would be like to look upon Cirlaneva, and now here it was sitting before him. It could not match the White City for her beauty but there was an unmistakable something about this city as there was bout each great sity of each land. Whether they be beautiful, havens for the more dispicable or something else all together. Each city has her own flavor, taste and smell. But Cirlaneva was like nothing else he had seen in his travels he had to admite that. Though somehow he lacked the heart to appriciate her beauty as he stared up at her.
He glanced back over his shoulder at the rest of the small group that was making their way slowly towards the great gates. The friendly banter that pasted between Merry and Pippin, though the awe at the city was evident upon their faces. Gimli who was trying not to show the fact that he was rather impressed with the great arching structured walls of the city as they moved closer with each step. Nor did he miss the smile upon Tierny's face as he leaned over to say something to Verin who replied with a smile of his own. ~They are glad to be home.~ He thought, trying to quell the bitter feeling inside himself, Aragorn found his mind traveling to what Legolas might have thought of the city if he were still...
The sound of horses on the cobble stone street that lead into the city pulled Aragorn out of his thoughts as he realized they had passed through the great arch a few minutes past. Shaking his head, he focused on the things around them, instead of his thoughts for they only served as a distraction for the moment. Though he was worried about what was to go, Tierny and Verin had nothing but good to say about the King, however he was uneasy and unsure what to expect.
But he was not given long to brood over such thoughts, for shortly after they passed nito the city the gaurd met them. With little adue, Tierny talked with their captain who bowed lavishly to Aragorn in solemn greeting before they were on their way again. A horse had been brought for the King to ride whoever he declined polightly, content to continue walking with his companions for the time being. Besides Aragorn had always perfered being with the people to being above the people; one did not become King by setting ones self apart and stay a King. And so they passed through the city quickly, without much adue soon finding them selves being ushered into the palace, which sat near the heart of the city. It like the rest of the place was beautiful in it's workings and carvings.
The King found himself watching the people, the darker skinned slaves as they hurried about their duties. He tried to turn his thoughts from them finding that none would meet his gaze, instead he found himself studying his companions. The two shorter Hobbits who in the years since the ending of the fellowship had once again returned to their normal weight, the sparkle of wonder was in their eyes as they took in everything. Aragorn felt a little smile ghost across his features as he watched them, only to catch Gimli's gaze for a moment and the drwarf returned his smile with a nod. Finally Aragorn looked to where Tierny was talking to someone, a little ways away, every now and again he would catch a bit of their conversation. Though despite what little Tierny and Verin had tired to teach him and the others, he did not understand much, it was more like a few words here and there.
After a moment of pause Teirny came over to where Aragorn, and his three friends were waiting. He smiled with a nod of his head. "You will be shown to rooms, and given time to rest and wash up... The King has requested that you join him and his children for dinner." He paused before adding. "Verin and I will be staying with you for a while, to deal with the langues differance."
Aragorn returned the smile though with less truth to it. "I would be glad to have you and Verin about longer." He replied. "I have come to value your judgement in matters."
"Then I am honored." Tierny said as Verin came over to join them. "Come I will walk with you."
***
Before long, Legolas found himself tethered to a horse drawn cart and headed out of the city by the opposite gate. He was not allowed to ride, and even his swift elven feet had trouble keeping the pace of the cart without faltering. When he did, Brolin would let him be dragged for a few
moments-but not for too long, not wishing too much damage to be done to the fair skin of the elf. There were less men with them now-only six, seven if you counted their leader. Four rode in the cart with Brolin and one on either side of it on horseback.
It was a beautiful day. The sun shown brightly in the blue sky, its rays hot against Legolas' skin. He squinted against its light, head hung as he trudged along after the cart. They stopped at one point to rest the horses, and Legolas was allowed to collapse as well and take a moment's solace. Brolin came to him again, looking down at him.
"Not so high and mighty now are you?" he asked, speaking in a language the elf could understand. Legolas simply glared at the man, fire in his eyes. "That's right, you hang on to that hatred. Essex likes 'em with fire, harder to break, more fun that way. You'll do nicely I think, he's been on the lookout for a trinket like you for quite some time. Enjoy this while you can-because you'll look back on it in the weeks to come and wish you had it so good."
Legolas looked away from him, making no response. Brolin just laughed and moved away. He barked some orders and a skin of water was brought to Legolas-it was place to his lips, but he refused to drink. The man looked annoyed and finally gave up trying. He walked back over to his comrades, leaving the elf where he was tethered. Legolas' mind was sifting through what Brolin had said. Perhaps it was only to attempt to frighten him (and it had) or perhaps he spoke the truth. Either way, Legolas knew he would die before he would let…the elf let that thought trail off.
The rest he was allowed was not long, soon the cart was moving again and Legolas had the choice of getting to his feet and following or being dragged along. His fair skin already stung from the few times he had been dragged, so he managed to gain his footing again and did his best to keep up with the pace. He had never been so humiliated in his long life. Led about like some…animal. The men that rode next to him on horseback taunted and tormented him as much as they could before Brolin would call them off angrily. Legolas did his best to ignore them, which was hard when it got physical. It did not seem to bother them that he did not understand their language. One thing they did not realize though was that over the past few
days he had spent with them, Legolas had been picking up a few words and phrases. His sharp ears and quick mind helped him. He had not been consciously doing it-but he realized at some point some of their words made sense. Not enough, not nearly enough, but some.
**
They reached their destination, or what Legolas assumed was their destination, a few hours after the sun had been chased from the sky by the moon. He could see the keep in the distance, it was not a palace, but it was impressive in its own right, and very obviously built by someone with power or wealth, most likely both. Had it been different circumstances, Legolas could have found the structure quite beautiful, but as it were, he knew what fate most likely awaited him there, and it held no beauty or wonder for him.
A wall had been built around the keep, topped by blazing torches. The gate stood open to visitors, but it was not unguarded. It was here that Brolin, and those accompanying him, were stopped. Legolas took those moments to lean against the cart, to rest. He could not remember having ever been this exhausted, it was exhaustion not just of the body, but of the spirit as well. The pain in his arms had subsided to a dull, almost numb feeling-the elf knew this did not bode well, but there was little he could do to remedy the situation.
Arrivals
By: Gypsy and Jaya
As they traveled across the land moveing ever on towards the city of Cirlaneva that was always their final destination, each harbored their own pains and doubts at the events that had taken place and those unfolding around them in the prsent. The death of Legolas for most in many minds could not be denied. however there was another hurtle that presented it's self not far into their journey, and that was the concepted of Slavery.
The idea that this was a culter with a sperpate class of people who were born into a life of servituded. That the people here saw nothing wrong with such a way of life, for they were born to it, and raised to see nothing wrong with such policies. Though at one point Merry and Pippin had been mistaken for slaves them selves was slightly more disterbing. But it was perhapse the late night conversation between the four friends that helped to settle things.
It had taken place a few days past. Inside Aragorns room, after a slightly heated discussion over a dinner that no one but Merry and Pippin had eaten much of. Though even they had not been to inclined to eat everything that was insight for once.
After a moment Aragorn turned from he'd been staring out the window, to let his gaze encompase the rest of the room and those that resided within it's limits. The two hobbits were seated quietly upon the bed once more, while Gimli was pasing near the door a restless look on his face. Something that did not quite rest well upon the dwarf's shoulders nor the normaly cheerfull faces of Merry and Pippin that were some what less then this night. Though he knew his own countenance was less them merry in it's apperance, and long had it been since the joy of a smile had resided there.
"Aragorn I did not like this." Gimli spoke first, and there was anger in the dwarfs stance not to mention the flames like the forges beanth the earth that burned brightly in his eyes. "I do not like the thought of this at all. I did not like this place much before, call it the bitterness at the lose of a friend, or call it what you would. But this only does more to unsettle my heart to this place and it's people. Tierny and Verin are fine men do not mistake me, however this matter..."
"Is out of our hands." Aragorn spoke quietly with a sigh. "There is nothing we can do to change this thing Gimli, even though we might wish it. If Tierny had thought it would bother us so he would have spoken before."
"You think I do not know this?" The dwarf growled angrily as he began pacing agian. "I know that, but it does nothing to change anything."
"Gimli stop pacing." Pippin muttered irtably from the bed. "You are giving me more of a head ache then I already have."
Merry eyed his younger companion. "It is making me fair dizy." He said quietly, giving the dwarf a pleading look.
With a growl Gimli, set himself down in a chair oposite from Aragorn; however it did nothing to smooth the anger that radiated from him. Silence that sat between the four members of the company was heavey though none seemed at all eager to break it's opressive berdian.
"I do not know.." Merry began a few minutes later. "But I do not like the thought of a people being raised to serve another. It is unsettling, though Tierny says that it is illeagle to enslave anyother people... It still does not seem right to me..."
"Nor I." Pippin said. "If Merry and I were mistake for slaves, what does that say?"
"It says nothing good." Gimli said angrily but quieter then he had before. "I wonder what kind of King this ...... is if he turns a blind eye to such abomidable acts."
"Not even a King can be every where at once Gimli." Aragorn who had so far been quiet, pointed out in a tired voice.
"You seem to manage quite well." Offered Pippin.
"Perhapse it may seem so." Was the reply. "However even I can not see to everything Pippin, if it were not for the help of trusted advisors and friends such as your selves..." He let his words trail off with a shrug, turning back to the window that seemed to hold much of ineterest this night even when nothing could been seen in the darkness. "Gimli to not judge .... to harshly till you have met the man." Though even Aragorn did not speak of the miss givings that echoed in his heart for he was not of a mind to do so. "We may not agree with the beliefs or practiaces of these people, however it is not for us to say who is right or who is wrong. It is their way of life and their lives; can we truly condem them all when it is the way they are brought up from birth?"
***
Aragorn stared up at the city walls that loomed before him and the rest of the company. They had been traveling for quite sometime now, but even what he had seen of the rest of the company, he hadn't imagined what it would be like to look upon Cirlaneva, and now here it was sitting before him. It could not match the White City for her beauty but there was an unmistakable something about this city as there was bout each great sity of each land. Whether they be beautiful, havens for the more dispicable or something else all together. Each city has her own flavor, taste and smell. But Cirlaneva was like nothing else he had seen in his travels he had to admite that. Though somehow he lacked the heart to appriciate her beauty as he stared up at her.
He glanced back over his shoulder at the rest of the small group that was making their way slowly towards the great gates. The friendly banter that pasted between Merry and Pippin, though the awe at the city was evident upon their faces. Gimli who was trying not to show the fact that he was rather impressed with the great arching structured walls of the city as they moved closer with each step. Nor did he miss the smile upon Tierny's face as he leaned over to say something to Verin who replied with a smile of his own. ~They are glad to be home.~ He thought, trying to quell the bitter feeling inside himself, Aragorn found his mind traveling to what Legolas might have thought of the city if he were still...
The sound of horses on the cobble stone street that lead into the city pulled Aragorn out of his thoughts as he realized they had passed through the great arch a few minutes past. Shaking his head, he focused on the things around them, instead of his thoughts for they only served as a distraction for the moment. Though he was worried about what was to go, Tierny and Verin had nothing but good to say about the King, however he was uneasy and unsure what to expect.
But he was not given long to brood over such thoughts, for shortly after they passed nito the city the gaurd met them. With little adue, Tierny talked with their captain who bowed lavishly to Aragorn in solemn greeting before they were on their way again. A horse had been brought for the King to ride whoever he declined polightly, content to continue walking with his companions for the time being. Besides Aragorn had always perfered being with the people to being above the people; one did not become King by setting ones self apart and stay a King. And so they passed through the city quickly, without much adue soon finding them selves being ushered into the palace, which sat near the heart of the city. It like the rest of the place was beautiful in it's workings and carvings.
The King found himself watching the people, the darker skinned slaves as they hurried about their duties. He tried to turn his thoughts from them finding that none would meet his gaze, instead he found himself studying his companions. The two shorter Hobbits who in the years since the ending of the fellowship had once again returned to their normal weight, the sparkle of wonder was in their eyes as they took in everything. Aragorn felt a little smile ghost across his features as he watched them, only to catch Gimli's gaze for a moment and the drwarf returned his smile with a nod. Finally Aragorn looked to where Tierny was talking to someone, a little ways away, every now and again he would catch a bit of their conversation. Though despite what little Tierny and Verin had tired to teach him and the others, he did not understand much, it was more like a few words here and there.
After a moment of pause Teirny came over to where Aragorn, and his three friends were waiting. He smiled with a nod of his head. "You will be shown to rooms, and given time to rest and wash up... The King has requested that you join him and his children for dinner." He paused before adding. "Verin and I will be staying with you for a while, to deal with the langues differance."
Aragorn returned the smile though with less truth to it. "I would be glad to have you and Verin about longer." He replied. "I have come to value your judgement in matters."
"Then I am honored." Tierny said as Verin came over to join them. "Come I will walk with you."
***
Before long, Legolas found himself tethered to a horse drawn cart and headed out of the city by the opposite gate. He was not allowed to ride, and even his swift elven feet had trouble keeping the pace of the cart without faltering. When he did, Brolin would let him be dragged for a few
moments-but not for too long, not wishing too much damage to be done to the fair skin of the elf. There were less men with them now-only six, seven if you counted their leader. Four rode in the cart with Brolin and one on either side of it on horseback.
It was a beautiful day. The sun shown brightly in the blue sky, its rays hot against Legolas' skin. He squinted against its light, head hung as he trudged along after the cart. They stopped at one point to rest the horses, and Legolas was allowed to collapse as well and take a moment's solace. Brolin came to him again, looking down at him.
"Not so high and mighty now are you?" he asked, speaking in a language the elf could understand. Legolas simply glared at the man, fire in his eyes. "That's right, you hang on to that hatred. Essex likes 'em with fire, harder to break, more fun that way. You'll do nicely I think, he's been on the lookout for a trinket like you for quite some time. Enjoy this while you can-because you'll look back on it in the weeks to come and wish you had it so good."
Legolas looked away from him, making no response. Brolin just laughed and moved away. He barked some orders and a skin of water was brought to Legolas-it was place to his lips, but he refused to drink. The man looked annoyed and finally gave up trying. He walked back over to his comrades, leaving the elf where he was tethered. Legolas' mind was sifting through what Brolin had said. Perhaps it was only to attempt to frighten him (and it had) or perhaps he spoke the truth. Either way, Legolas knew he would die before he would let…the elf let that thought trail off.
The rest he was allowed was not long, soon the cart was moving again and Legolas had the choice of getting to his feet and following or being dragged along. His fair skin already stung from the few times he had been dragged, so he managed to gain his footing again and did his best to keep up with the pace. He had never been so humiliated in his long life. Led about like some…animal. The men that rode next to him on horseback taunted and tormented him as much as they could before Brolin would call them off angrily. Legolas did his best to ignore them, which was hard when it got physical. It did not seem to bother them that he did not understand their language. One thing they did not realize though was that over the past few
days he had spent with them, Legolas had been picking up a few words and phrases. His sharp ears and quick mind helped him. He had not been consciously doing it-but he realized at some point some of their words made sense. Not enough, not nearly enough, but some.
**
They reached their destination, or what Legolas assumed was their destination, a few hours after the sun had been chased from the sky by the moon. He could see the keep in the distance, it was not a palace, but it was impressive in its own right, and very obviously built by someone with power or wealth, most likely both. Had it been different circumstances, Legolas could have found the structure quite beautiful, but as it were, he knew what fate most likely awaited him there, and it held no beauty or wonder for him.
A wall had been built around the keep, topped by blazing torches. The gate stood open to visitors, but it was not unguarded. It was here that Brolin, and those accompanying him, were stopped. Legolas took those moments to lean against the cart, to rest. He could not remember having ever been this exhausted, it was exhaustion not just of the body, but of the spirit as well. The pain in his arms had subsided to a dull, almost numb feeling-the elf knew this did not bode well, but there was little he could do to remedy the situation.
