And Drink To Me Yet
Chapter 10 - Mixed Emotions
The idea of a mortal sacrifice had hit Pippin, the only mortal present, full on immediately, and it was starting to show its effects on his immortal and half-mortal friends. He looked at Waen, and saw a dullness in her eyes such as he could remember a'times in Frodo's. For one wild second, he thought that it meant Waen had once been a Ringbearer, though he quickly remembered that the Ringbearers had all already sailed off. It was, he decided, the cursed palantìr, which was perhaps now one of the most powerful tools of magic left in the world. And all its evil weight now rested on the unprepared shoulders of the young Elven maiden before him.
A sharp rap on the door brought them all back into attention. Waen adjusted the Seeing-Stone where it was hidden among her robes, so that the sligth bulge that had marked its shape disappeared. With that she silently slid to the door and unlatched it, Pippin unconciously gripping his swordhilt.
The door swung wide open, and Pippin found it at once filled by the formidable figure of the High Prince. He saw Waen shrink back a halfstep as Aglareb's eyes swept over the three of them, and noticed that Draug's scowl had returned.
Alglareb smiled slightly coldly at them, taking a step into the room. "My father the King Elessar requests the presence of his second child, Draug Naurcarag, in his study immediately." Pippin felt Draug flinch beside him at the words. Aglareb turned to Waen, continueing in his haughty voice, "And my mother the Queen Arwen Undomiel wishes the audience of Lady Agarwaenloth Darkwind in her reception room, as she pleases."
Waen and Pippin exchanged a look, but neither of them could think of a way out of the situation. After a second's silence, Waen tried lamely, "I know not the way to Her Ladyship's recpetion room."
"I will take you." Aglareb smiled a little more warmly, but Pippin still didn't like the look of the High Prince. He watched Waen smile weakly in return, and take the arm offered her by Aglareb. He swept her out of the room, pausing only long enough to shoot a glance back at Draug and say, "To father with you."
However, Draug remained in the room a few moments after Aglareb's departure. Pippin could tell that he was thinking furiously, and stood on in respectful silence. He was still halfshocked at the idea of mortal sacrifice. But then, if worse came to worse, Aragorn was only mortal...
Draug's voice broke the silence, filled with subtle loathing. "I hate him."
"Who?" Pippin looked up at him, "Your brother or your father?"
"Both." Draug replied, before glideing from the room reluctantly. Pippin found himself alone, and turned once more to the window. He found himself humming a snatch of tune that he had once written and amused Waen with.
"Here's to the friendships
That we once had
With age they only get better
They never go bad..."
A noise at the door made him break off his humming. Wipeing a tear from his eye, he turned and found himself face to face with Merry.
((dumdundu!!! lol... Heeeeeeeere's Merry! Keeping in mind that Merry is evil now, this could get interesting... Also, so far people have voted thus for the sacrifice: 1 vote for Merry. Not to be sacrificed: 2 votes Gimli, 1 vote Aragorn, 1 vote all the royal kiddies. Go Gimli! only a few more chapters, 3 counting this one I think, to cast your slot about who will live and who will... well, quite frankly, not live. If you've already voted, you can do so again, but only one cast per chapter. And keep the good old fashioned R&Ring coming too!))
Chapter 10 - Mixed Emotions
The idea of a mortal sacrifice had hit Pippin, the only mortal present, full on immediately, and it was starting to show its effects on his immortal and half-mortal friends. He looked at Waen, and saw a dullness in her eyes such as he could remember a'times in Frodo's. For one wild second, he thought that it meant Waen had once been a Ringbearer, though he quickly remembered that the Ringbearers had all already sailed off. It was, he decided, the cursed palantìr, which was perhaps now one of the most powerful tools of magic left in the world. And all its evil weight now rested on the unprepared shoulders of the young Elven maiden before him.
A sharp rap on the door brought them all back into attention. Waen adjusted the Seeing-Stone where it was hidden among her robes, so that the sligth bulge that had marked its shape disappeared. With that she silently slid to the door and unlatched it, Pippin unconciously gripping his swordhilt.
The door swung wide open, and Pippin found it at once filled by the formidable figure of the High Prince. He saw Waen shrink back a halfstep as Aglareb's eyes swept over the three of them, and noticed that Draug's scowl had returned.
Alglareb smiled slightly coldly at them, taking a step into the room. "My father the King Elessar requests the presence of his second child, Draug Naurcarag, in his study immediately." Pippin felt Draug flinch beside him at the words. Aglareb turned to Waen, continueing in his haughty voice, "And my mother the Queen Arwen Undomiel wishes the audience of Lady Agarwaenloth Darkwind in her reception room, as she pleases."
Waen and Pippin exchanged a look, but neither of them could think of a way out of the situation. After a second's silence, Waen tried lamely, "I know not the way to Her Ladyship's recpetion room."
"I will take you." Aglareb smiled a little more warmly, but Pippin still didn't like the look of the High Prince. He watched Waen smile weakly in return, and take the arm offered her by Aglareb. He swept her out of the room, pausing only long enough to shoot a glance back at Draug and say, "To father with you."
However, Draug remained in the room a few moments after Aglareb's departure. Pippin could tell that he was thinking furiously, and stood on in respectful silence. He was still halfshocked at the idea of mortal sacrifice. But then, if worse came to worse, Aragorn was only mortal...
Draug's voice broke the silence, filled with subtle loathing. "I hate him."
"Who?" Pippin looked up at him, "Your brother or your father?"
"Both." Draug replied, before glideing from the room reluctantly. Pippin found himself alone, and turned once more to the window. He found himself humming a snatch of tune that he had once written and amused Waen with.
"Here's to the friendships
That we once had
With age they only get better
They never go bad..."
A noise at the door made him break off his humming. Wipeing a tear from his eye, he turned and found himself face to face with Merry.
((dumdundu!!! lol... Heeeeeeeere's Merry! Keeping in mind that Merry is evil now, this could get interesting... Also, so far people have voted thus for the sacrifice: 1 vote for Merry. Not to be sacrificed: 2 votes Gimli, 1 vote Aragorn, 1 vote all the royal kiddies. Go Gimli! only a few more chapters, 3 counting this one I think, to cast your slot about who will live and who will... well, quite frankly, not live. If you've already voted, you can do so again, but only one cast per chapter. And keep the good old fashioned R&Ring coming too!))