Amras the Stableboy
Chapter 10
x
x x
x x x x x
x x
x
Falagar of Lossarnach rode comfortably with his retinue to Dol Amroth, in the afternoon sunshine. He and his son had just lunched well, and all was right with the world. Falagar stifled a contented burp. He always made it a point never to travel without his three favourite cooks.
Falagar glanced at his son, who was riding by his side, and beamed with satisfaction. The valiant Forlong was invincible with an axe in hand, and he had grown rather handsome, too. The lad looked dashing in his maroon cloak, his smart moustache, beard and flowing ponytail. The oval gemstone dangling from his ear glittered in the sunshine. And he was growing sturdier by the day. Why, he'll soon be as fat as I am, thought Falagar of Lossarnach, with fond paternal pride.
x
"An Oliphaunt! An Oliphaunt!" cried an unidentified voice.
Snapping out of his reverie, Falagar turned to the soldiers in his entourage. "Search the forest," he ordered. Taking up their spears and axes, his soldiers rushed to do his bidding.
"Not all of you," snapped Falagar, his chins quivering in indignation within the depths of his luxuriant beard. "Have you no sense of responsibility? Do you not realise that some of you should stay here to guard us?"
A section of the guard obediently started to trace small circles around Falagar and Forlong's horses, while the others set off to comb the forest in search of the Oliphaunt.
x
A young farm hand named Hamfast, hidden behind the hedge, watched in horrified fascination.
"You're in trouble!" chuckled his friend Japheth, in obvious delight.
"Shut up," hissed Ham, clapping a trembling hand over Japheth's mouth.
Seeing two portly horsemen making their stately progress down the road, Ham had not been able to resist comparing them to an equally portly animal. But his voice had unfortunately carried a little farther than he'd intended it to.
Ham and Japheth hid behind the hedge for what seemed like hours as Falagar's men searched the forest on the other side of the road. But the soldiers finally reappeared, to report that the elusive company of Haradrim, presumably waiting in ambush with an Oliphaunt in tow, was nowhere to be found.
Falagar and his men resumed their journey to Dol Amroth.
x
As they approached the outskirts of the city, Falagar's thoughts turned to the royal family of Amroth.
"Adrahil is a good man," he said to his son, "but not assertive enough. He has become so accustomed to licking Lord Ecthelion's shoes, that he no longer has a mind of his own. Why, he's even started discussing important matters, such as Finduilas' marriage, with his wife and daughter!"
Forlong nodded in agreement. He, too, had been surprised at the extent to which Prince Adrahil consulted with his wife and daughter.
"It is strange, father, that Finduilas should be allowed to voice an opinion on the matter at all," said Forlong.
'She will no longer be allowed to do so," chuckled Falagar. "I've taken care of everything, my boy!"
x
Forlong grinned. His father was a genius. He had sent a messenger to Lord Ecthelion of Gondor, to inform him that Forlong and Finduilas were engaged. "That, my boy, will take care of everything," his father had said. "Once Lord Ecthelion congratulates Prince Adrahil on the happy news of your engagement, the good Prince will no longer have the courage to say that his daughter and his wife have not yet given their consent to it."
x
"But I was worried, father, when you sent that messenger to Lord Ecthelion…" said Forlong.
Falagar smiled knowingly. "You mentioned your fears to me. But I told you they were unfounded."
"Lord Ecthelion is our liege lord," said Forlong. "We are obliged to obey his every command. If he had commanded us to break the engagement, in order that Finduilas might marry his own son, we would have had no choice but to obey…"
"You do not know Lord Ecthelion, my boy," said Falagar. "He is obsessed to a fault with the high ideals of the Kings of old. He would never abuse his authority over men like us." Falagar of Lossarnach grinned. "In this case, his ideals of justice and fair play work to our advantage."
"But would it never have occurred to him to have his son betrothed to the most beautiful Princess of these regions?" asked Forlong.
"Strangely enough, I don't think the idea has ever occurred to him, my boy. Lord Ecthelion is so obsessed with matters of state – military matters – that he gives little thought to the needs of his son."
"Fortunately for me," said Forlong, thinking of the beautiful princess with whom he was genuinely in love.
"And do not forget, my boy, that you, unlike Denethor of Gondor, have a father who is aware of your needs."
Forlong smiled. "How can I forget it, if you never allow me to do so?"
"Ha! You jest!" said Falagar good humouredly. He could never be angry with his own son.
x
x x
x x x x x
x x
x