******
Old Guy retired to the library to search for any more information on the banishment. I kept my laptop close to me. I didn't want anyone running the battery down. The only way I could charge it was by the truck battery but I wasn't in a mind to waste it just yet.
The Sues argued and fought for about two weeks. Finally, they managed to choose 5 from among them to sue for peace. (Pun intended). I'd given up on going home anytime soon and tried to figure out this whole banishment thing.
Hairy seemed content to keep an eye on Blondie, which was just fine with me. He was our ace in the hole so to speak and we couldn't risk a covert strike to grab him from under our noses. (Not that all the Sues together could plot such an undertaking but one could never be too sure.)
Of course, both of them were pretty pissed when they found out about the negotiations. Gorgeous couldn't believe that I had sold him out. (He didn't exactly say it in that way but I knew what he meant).
"Suck it up, man!" I scolded him. "It's not like we're REALLY going to turn you over. We are just using it as a ploy to figure out how this banishment thing works. It was just to buy some time."
Hairy grinned with appreciation of the plan. I told him in no uncertain terms to not let Blondie out of his sight. If that guy bolted, we were all screwed.
Negotiations for Blondie's release began on the 15th day from our arrival in the city. Of course, the Sues demanded to see him first off before any negotiations took place. (To make sure he was ok. Right. My ass!) A quivering Gorgeous was hauled before the gathered assembly, the dutiful Hairy right by his side. I gave Hairy a big thumbs up sign as I watched the proceedings from the wings. Blondie had put on his most impressive garb and even his little Princely headband for the occasion. The Sues shrieked with joy, two wept openly and one fainted dead away. (OK, he IS fine, but fainting? Get a grip!)
We had Scruffy and Supermodel negotiating for us. Both of them smart and Supermodel could be quite ruthless I had a feeling. The Sues didn't stand a chance. However, finding the actual banishment ritual or whatever it was turned out to be much more difficult than we had initially thought.
The Old Guy wasn't having any luck and neither was anyone else. I can't say we were desperate. After all, if we didn't find a way to banish the Sues, we were still negotiating for their withdraw from Middle Earth.
Of course, Blondie wouldn't like the outcome but the needs of the many (that would be us) outweigh the needs of the few (that would be him). And it could have been worse. It wasn't like they were going to kill him or torture him. They just wanted to, well . . . YOU KNOW, him to death. (Hmmm. Maybe to him that would be torture. I must test this theory!)
******
Notes: "Sold him out" – Turned him in, gave him up.
YOU KNOW him to death – hey, if you're a fangirl (or even not) you know what this means and I don't have to explain it.
***
Old Guy retired to the library to search for any more information on the banishment. I kept my laptop close to me. I didn't want anyone running the battery down. The only way I could charge it was by the truck battery but I wasn't in a mind to waste it just yet.
The Sues argued and fought for about two weeks. Finally, they managed to choose 5 from among them to sue for peace. (Pun intended). I'd given up on going home anytime soon and tried to figure out this whole banishment thing.
Hairy seemed content to keep an eye on Blondie, which was just fine with me. He was our ace in the hole so to speak and we couldn't risk a covert strike to grab him from under our noses. (Not that all the Sues together could plot such an undertaking but one could never be too sure.)
Of course, both of them were pretty pissed when they found out about the negotiations. Gorgeous couldn't believe that I had sold him out. (He didn't exactly say it in that way but I knew what he meant).
"Suck it up, man!" I scolded him. "It's not like we're REALLY going to turn you over. We are just using it as a ploy to figure out how this banishment thing works. It was just to buy some time."
Hairy grinned with appreciation of the plan. I told him in no uncertain terms to not let Blondie out of his sight. If that guy bolted, we were all screwed.
Negotiations for Blondie's release began on the 15th day from our arrival in the city. Of course, the Sues demanded to see him first off before any negotiations took place. (To make sure he was ok. Right. My ass!) A quivering Gorgeous was hauled before the gathered assembly, the dutiful Hairy right by his side. I gave Hairy a big thumbs up sign as I watched the proceedings from the wings. Blondie had put on his most impressive garb and even his little Princely headband for the occasion. The Sues shrieked with joy, two wept openly and one fainted dead away. (OK, he IS fine, but fainting? Get a grip!)
We had Scruffy and Supermodel negotiating for us. Both of them smart and Supermodel could be quite ruthless I had a feeling. The Sues didn't stand a chance. However, finding the actual banishment ritual or whatever it was turned out to be much more difficult than we had initially thought.
The Old Guy wasn't having any luck and neither was anyone else. I can't say we were desperate. After all, if we didn't find a way to banish the Sues, we were still negotiating for their withdraw from Middle Earth.
Of course, Blondie wouldn't like the outcome but the needs of the many (that would be us) outweigh the needs of the few (that would be him). And it could have been worse. It wasn't like they were going to kill him or torture him. They just wanted to, well . . . YOU KNOW, him to death. (Hmmm. Maybe to him that would be torture. I must test this theory!)
******
Notes: "Sold him out" – Turned him in, gave him up.
YOU KNOW him to death – hey, if you're a fangirl (or even not) you know what this means and I don't have to explain it.
***