Author's note: Since everyone was wondering about Traag, I'll be nice and
let Rion meet him
***
The torrential rain beating against the window meant that they couldn't go outside. It had been raining seemingly non-stop for three days now. Rion and Mir sat in Rion's room, looking out the window. The orchard below was looking bare and desolate, the trees having had their leaves battered from them by the rain.
Rion was still feeling depressed, and the image of those dead eyes returned all too often to his mind. But Mir was right. His father wouldn't break down over this, so he couldn't. He had to be strong. Like his father would want him to be. His sleep had been disturbed by foul dreams in which he killed again and again, but during the day he talked with Mir and was able to dismiss those thoughts.
The guards let Mir come to Rion's room as well as the other way round now. Rion thought the king might be trying to make up for accusing him of murder, and wondered how much else he might be allowed to get away with. He stared thoughtfully out into the rain and Mir watched him, curious.
"What are you thinking?" Mir asked.
"I've had an idea," Rion replied and walked over the door. He knocked, and Mir came to stand behind him, a puzzled expression on his face.
The guards outside opened the door, but stood their blocking it so they couldn't get out past them. Rion thought they looked as puzzled as Mir.
"Princess Ariessa said she would show me the library," said Rion, as though he had every right to make such a request, "but since she hasn't come I was wondering if you take me there anyway. Then when she is finished with whatever duty detains her she may join me." He kept his tone polite, as though he didn't care the outcome. He was expecting them to just close the door in his face, and so was very surprised when they actually stepped aside to let them through.
Rion glanced at Mir and saw he was just as surprised, though rather more curious. Neither said anything as they walked between the guards along the corridors. Rion's eyes were watching out for anything memorable in case there was a way to escape here, so that they could find it again.
The library when they reached it was impressive. Oak bookshelves covered all the walls, and in racks between them were racks filled with scrolls and papers. There were tables and chairs between the racks. Rion thanked the guards, and they went to stand by the door, close enough to watch the boys but distant enough to give them privacy.
"Why did we come here?" Mir asked quietly.
"I was wondering something," Rion replied, pulling scrolls out of the racks and putting them back after a brief look.
"What are you looking for?"
"This," Rion said, pulling out the right scroll at last. He sat at one of the tables, Mir beside him, and spread the scroll out between them. A map showed three islands very close together, and across a long expanse of ocean to the east of them was a coastline familiar from the maps in Minas Tirith. The western coast of Eriador.
"So we're north west of Gondor," Mir said.
"A long way judging by the amount of sea here. It would be a very dangerous crossing." A very long trip to make just for the sake of capturing two children. Especially since the king apparently had no use for them now they were here. Rion stared at the map, wondering.
"What are you thinking about now?" Mir asked.
"I'm wondering why we were brought here."
"You needed to come to the library to wonder that?"
"It was a long journey to make, and a dangerous one, just to get us. And they haven't done anything with us since we were brought here. The king said he wanted information but we both refused to tell us anything and he hasn't done anything to make us. It just seems pointless."
"You think he has some other motive?" Rion nodded.
"I just can't think what it might be," he said. He sighed and looked at the second piece of parchment in the scroll. This was another map, but one showing only the three islands. A legend across the top read 'Tharden' so Rion guessed the three islands together comprised the kingdom. The largest island was the most eastern, and the palace was on the eastern coast, a large town behind it. A mountain rose up in the centre of the island.
The other two islands were close to the north west and north east. The map showed a lot of harbours along the coasts were the islands were closest together. There was probably a lot of travel between the three.
"I don't see how this helps us," Mir said, "What we need is a plan of the palace, and I doubt we'll find that here."
"We need every bit of information we can get," Rion said, "since we have no way of knowing what will happen in the future." He wasn't entirely sure how knowing the islands would help, but if they were able to escape the palace they might need it to find the way to a harbour. The harbour closest to the palace was undoubtedly the one they had been brought to when they arrived.
There were other maps in the bundle showing the islands in more detail, or showing one or other of the towns. But none showed the interior of the palace. After a time both boys were sick of staring at maps and Rion put the scroll away. Instead he wandered the bookshelves, reading titles. Though there were some in a language he didn't recognise, most of the books were in Elvish.
He pulled out a volume of songs and looked curiously at the first few pages. It was the Lay of Luthien, the son his father liked to sing to him when he was little. Mir saw his expression and came over to have a look.
"What is it?" he asked, and Rion showed him.
"Ari mentioned something about elves coming here," Rion said, "but this suggests it's more than just an occasional visit. Why would the elves deal with a king so dishonourable?"
"I don't know."
The door opened and both looked across. Ari entered and walked towards them. Rion felt Mir tense beside him, and knew that recent events had only served to increase Mir's animosity towards her.
"What do you want?" Mir demanded.
"The guards said that you would be waiting for me here," she said smiling. She held out the circlet to Rion. "You forgot this."
"I didn't forget it," he replied, taking it from her but not putting it on.
"You ought to wear it," Ari said.
"Why? Why does everyone think it's so important?"
"Because you don't want to anger Traag."
"And who's Traag? You've mentioned him several times, but you've never said who he is."
"You really want to know?" she asked, smiling mysteriously.
"Yes." Ari smiled and went to the door to speak to the guards. "They wish to return to their rooms now." She turned back to Rion, "You can take the book with you if you like." They had no choice but to return separately to their rooms.
Later, as Rion sat by the fire reading, the rain lessened to a steady drizzle. It seemed the storm was passing. He might be able to go outside tomorrow.
***
The next day Rion was given a larger breakfast than usual, and the servant laid out a cloak along with clean clothes. He had only just finished getting ready when Ari arrived, also wearing a thick cloak.
"What's going on?" Rion asked.
"You said you wanted to see Traag," she replied, looking over at the circlet which rested as always on the dressing table. Rion put it on without a fuss, since he was beginning to get answers and wanted to make sure it stayed that way.
Ari led the way out of the palace. Rion tried to remember the route, the corridors they had followed, the stairs they had gone down, the doors they had passed through, but before long the memory was muddled up and he knew he'd get hopelessly lost if he tried to come this way again.
The guards followed closely behind as they went outside. The rain was falling only in the occasional heavy drop now, but a chill wind was blowing and Rion was glad of the cloak. They walked up a steep slope and as Rion looked back he could see the towers of the palace looming over a sprawling town, and beyond that the sea. How much further beyond that, he wondered, lay his home?
They walked up a steep path towards the central mountain. It was difficult going, as the path was slippery with mud and there was very little to hold onto for balance. The hem of the cloak was covered in mud and his boots caked in the stuff before they had gone very far.
Soon he was tired, but Ari kept going and he wasn't going to admit being weaker. He supposed she might be feeling the same way, but if anyone gave in and suggested a rest it wouldn't be him.
After far too long, they came to a doorway in the side of the mountain. Ari opened this and walked into a small entrance chamber carved out of the rock. She lit a lamp that stood on a table and then took off her cloak. It was warmer in here than inside, but still cold. Rion probably would have left his cloak on, but Ari seemed to know what she was doing.
He hung the cloak on a hook set in the wall. Another door led into a dark corridor, and this was where Ari led him next. The guards waited in the entrance chamber, and to Rion's surprise Ari left the lamp.
The corridor was dark, but as they walked along it a red light like fire grew up ahead. It was also getting hotter, and Rion silently admitted that Ari had been right to leave her cloak. Rion wondered where they were going, and what lay at the end of the corridor. It must be a huge bonfire of some sorts, to account for the heat and light.
At last they came to the end of the corridor, and Rion looked out over a huge cavern. The red light glittering off a mass of gold and jewels, came from the scaled form of a sleeping dragon.
***
Author's note: Anyone who guessed Traag was a dragon gets ten points. They don't mean anything and you can't do anything with them, but you can have them.
Please keep reviewing.
***
The torrential rain beating against the window meant that they couldn't go outside. It had been raining seemingly non-stop for three days now. Rion and Mir sat in Rion's room, looking out the window. The orchard below was looking bare and desolate, the trees having had their leaves battered from them by the rain.
Rion was still feeling depressed, and the image of those dead eyes returned all too often to his mind. But Mir was right. His father wouldn't break down over this, so he couldn't. He had to be strong. Like his father would want him to be. His sleep had been disturbed by foul dreams in which he killed again and again, but during the day he talked with Mir and was able to dismiss those thoughts.
The guards let Mir come to Rion's room as well as the other way round now. Rion thought the king might be trying to make up for accusing him of murder, and wondered how much else he might be allowed to get away with. He stared thoughtfully out into the rain and Mir watched him, curious.
"What are you thinking?" Mir asked.
"I've had an idea," Rion replied and walked over the door. He knocked, and Mir came to stand behind him, a puzzled expression on his face.
The guards outside opened the door, but stood their blocking it so they couldn't get out past them. Rion thought they looked as puzzled as Mir.
"Princess Ariessa said she would show me the library," said Rion, as though he had every right to make such a request, "but since she hasn't come I was wondering if you take me there anyway. Then when she is finished with whatever duty detains her she may join me." He kept his tone polite, as though he didn't care the outcome. He was expecting them to just close the door in his face, and so was very surprised when they actually stepped aside to let them through.
Rion glanced at Mir and saw he was just as surprised, though rather more curious. Neither said anything as they walked between the guards along the corridors. Rion's eyes were watching out for anything memorable in case there was a way to escape here, so that they could find it again.
The library when they reached it was impressive. Oak bookshelves covered all the walls, and in racks between them were racks filled with scrolls and papers. There were tables and chairs between the racks. Rion thanked the guards, and they went to stand by the door, close enough to watch the boys but distant enough to give them privacy.
"Why did we come here?" Mir asked quietly.
"I was wondering something," Rion replied, pulling scrolls out of the racks and putting them back after a brief look.
"What are you looking for?"
"This," Rion said, pulling out the right scroll at last. He sat at one of the tables, Mir beside him, and spread the scroll out between them. A map showed three islands very close together, and across a long expanse of ocean to the east of them was a coastline familiar from the maps in Minas Tirith. The western coast of Eriador.
"So we're north west of Gondor," Mir said.
"A long way judging by the amount of sea here. It would be a very dangerous crossing." A very long trip to make just for the sake of capturing two children. Especially since the king apparently had no use for them now they were here. Rion stared at the map, wondering.
"What are you thinking about now?" Mir asked.
"I'm wondering why we were brought here."
"You needed to come to the library to wonder that?"
"It was a long journey to make, and a dangerous one, just to get us. And they haven't done anything with us since we were brought here. The king said he wanted information but we both refused to tell us anything and he hasn't done anything to make us. It just seems pointless."
"You think he has some other motive?" Rion nodded.
"I just can't think what it might be," he said. He sighed and looked at the second piece of parchment in the scroll. This was another map, but one showing only the three islands. A legend across the top read 'Tharden' so Rion guessed the three islands together comprised the kingdom. The largest island was the most eastern, and the palace was on the eastern coast, a large town behind it. A mountain rose up in the centre of the island.
The other two islands were close to the north west and north east. The map showed a lot of harbours along the coasts were the islands were closest together. There was probably a lot of travel between the three.
"I don't see how this helps us," Mir said, "What we need is a plan of the palace, and I doubt we'll find that here."
"We need every bit of information we can get," Rion said, "since we have no way of knowing what will happen in the future." He wasn't entirely sure how knowing the islands would help, but if they were able to escape the palace they might need it to find the way to a harbour. The harbour closest to the palace was undoubtedly the one they had been brought to when they arrived.
There were other maps in the bundle showing the islands in more detail, or showing one or other of the towns. But none showed the interior of the palace. After a time both boys were sick of staring at maps and Rion put the scroll away. Instead he wandered the bookshelves, reading titles. Though there were some in a language he didn't recognise, most of the books were in Elvish.
He pulled out a volume of songs and looked curiously at the first few pages. It was the Lay of Luthien, the son his father liked to sing to him when he was little. Mir saw his expression and came over to have a look.
"What is it?" he asked, and Rion showed him.
"Ari mentioned something about elves coming here," Rion said, "but this suggests it's more than just an occasional visit. Why would the elves deal with a king so dishonourable?"
"I don't know."
The door opened and both looked across. Ari entered and walked towards them. Rion felt Mir tense beside him, and knew that recent events had only served to increase Mir's animosity towards her.
"What do you want?" Mir demanded.
"The guards said that you would be waiting for me here," she said smiling. She held out the circlet to Rion. "You forgot this."
"I didn't forget it," he replied, taking it from her but not putting it on.
"You ought to wear it," Ari said.
"Why? Why does everyone think it's so important?"
"Because you don't want to anger Traag."
"And who's Traag? You've mentioned him several times, but you've never said who he is."
"You really want to know?" she asked, smiling mysteriously.
"Yes." Ari smiled and went to the door to speak to the guards. "They wish to return to their rooms now." She turned back to Rion, "You can take the book with you if you like." They had no choice but to return separately to their rooms.
Later, as Rion sat by the fire reading, the rain lessened to a steady drizzle. It seemed the storm was passing. He might be able to go outside tomorrow.
***
The next day Rion was given a larger breakfast than usual, and the servant laid out a cloak along with clean clothes. He had only just finished getting ready when Ari arrived, also wearing a thick cloak.
"What's going on?" Rion asked.
"You said you wanted to see Traag," she replied, looking over at the circlet which rested as always on the dressing table. Rion put it on without a fuss, since he was beginning to get answers and wanted to make sure it stayed that way.
Ari led the way out of the palace. Rion tried to remember the route, the corridors they had followed, the stairs they had gone down, the doors they had passed through, but before long the memory was muddled up and he knew he'd get hopelessly lost if he tried to come this way again.
The guards followed closely behind as they went outside. The rain was falling only in the occasional heavy drop now, but a chill wind was blowing and Rion was glad of the cloak. They walked up a steep slope and as Rion looked back he could see the towers of the palace looming over a sprawling town, and beyond that the sea. How much further beyond that, he wondered, lay his home?
They walked up a steep path towards the central mountain. It was difficult going, as the path was slippery with mud and there was very little to hold onto for balance. The hem of the cloak was covered in mud and his boots caked in the stuff before they had gone very far.
Soon he was tired, but Ari kept going and he wasn't going to admit being weaker. He supposed she might be feeling the same way, but if anyone gave in and suggested a rest it wouldn't be him.
After far too long, they came to a doorway in the side of the mountain. Ari opened this and walked into a small entrance chamber carved out of the rock. She lit a lamp that stood on a table and then took off her cloak. It was warmer in here than inside, but still cold. Rion probably would have left his cloak on, but Ari seemed to know what she was doing.
He hung the cloak on a hook set in the wall. Another door led into a dark corridor, and this was where Ari led him next. The guards waited in the entrance chamber, and to Rion's surprise Ari left the lamp.
The corridor was dark, but as they walked along it a red light like fire grew up ahead. It was also getting hotter, and Rion silently admitted that Ari had been right to leave her cloak. Rion wondered where they were going, and what lay at the end of the corridor. It must be a huge bonfire of some sorts, to account for the heat and light.
At last they came to the end of the corridor, and Rion looked out over a huge cavern. The red light glittering off a mass of gold and jewels, came from the scaled form of a sleeping dragon.
***
Author's note: Anyone who guessed Traag was a dragon gets ten points. They don't mean anything and you can't do anything with them, but you can have them.
Please keep reviewing.