Chapter 7 - Snow and Ice
"You will come with us."
Barda reached quickly for his sword but found the head of the crossbow bolt pressed against his chest. He reluctantly raised his palms to show that he surrendered.
Amid the whirling snow Barda found it hard to make out the face of their antagonists. Each of them were clad in thick white cloaks, rimmed with fur, that almost made them invisible in the snowy surroundings. They all carried weapons, some crossbows and some spears. And beneath the hoods their shadowed faces seemed cold and unkind.
Barda motioned to Lief and Jasmine to surrender their weapons. It was a hopeless position. If they fought the men and won, they would freeze in the harsh conditions anyway. It was better to take their chances with these new acquaintances and hope they would take pity on weary travellers.
"What business have you in the south land?" the first man asked, motioning for his men to surround the small group.
"We are travellers," Barda replied, unwilling to say more of their errand or their homeland.
"There are no travellers here," the stern-faced man said. "These mountain paths are our lands. You should not be here."
"Barda felt Lief step up beside him. "You must forgive our ignorance. We did not intend to trespass. We became lost and disorientated by the weather and were not prepared for such conditions."
"That at least is plain," the man said, and there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he surveyed their thin cloaks.
"Please," Lief began, and Barda could hear his teeth chattering with cold. "Will you help us?"
The man seemed to consider for a very long time, and Barda was sure they would freeze before he would have decided.
"I will take you to a shelter of ours close by," he said at last. "Though you must understand that no stranger has ever been allowed to see the road."
"We thank you," Lief said, taking a step towards the man. But he pulled up short when he found a firm hand on his chest. "No man... or boy," he said, regarding Lief's height, "may see these paths."
"We are no spies," Jasmine said with sudden anger. "People should not own land. We have just as much right to be here as you do."
"You should watch your tongue, girl," the man growled, hefting his crossbow, "lest it get you into trouble."
"Please," Lief interrupted, placing a firm hand on Jasmine's arm, "We are tired and cold, do not take offence."
"Our rules are strict. You must not see the path."
Barda thought for a moment that Jasmine was going to speak, but instead she reached out for support. Lief grabbed her before she fell, his own strength also weak and struggled to hold her.
"Kaif," the man said to one of the other men, "You will carry the girl."
"No he will not!" Lief said, resisting the man angrily.
"I will take her," Barda said, and Lief let Barda relieve him of Jasmine's weight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The snowy path was slippery and treacherous beneath their feet. More than once Lief almost stumbled into the ravine to their left.
The tall man had ordered them to be blindfolded to prevent them from seeing the path on which they travelled. Not being able to see made the journey even more tiring and difficult. The man holding his arms was neither patient nor gentle, and Lief could only hope the mens' haven was close by.
It seemed hours before the ice beneath their feet suddenly turned to rock and the chill wind diminished. Lief could hear voices from somewhere ahead, and was reminded of the time he had entered Doom's resistance stronghold. Their blindfolds were removed and Lief blinked in the light of the candles around them. They had been brought to a circular cave beneath the mountain. Tables were arranged in a random patten throughout the space, and on each was a tall candle stick. Many of the men seated glanced in their direction as their entered and Lief felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny.
The tall man led them to a small alcove to the left of the cave. Men entered baring trays of dried fruit and some sort of crumbly biscuit. There was only one seat at the side of the room and this was taken by the man who had removed his cloak and laid aside his weapon. Lief seated himself and helped Barda to lie Jasmine upon the rug on the floor.
Lief saw that the man was much younger than he had at first thought. Now removed from the company of his men he seemed to be barely twenty five years of age. He leaned forward eagerly as Lief set down his empty tray.
"There is not much we can tell you beyond our names," he began. "I am Lief, and this is Barda and Jasmine." He could see no reason why they should not use their real names.
The man said nothing for a moment, and Lief shifted uncomfortably under the stern gaze.
"I am Jovan, son of Galma," he said at last. "It is my task to protect the borders of this land from spies and invaders from the south."
You need not fear us," Barda said. "We are no spies, and are only desperate travellers seeking answers."
"What answers do you seek? And what do you believe I can do for you?"
"Provide us with some warm clothes and we will be forever grateful." Lief swallowed a mouthful of the dark liquid he had been given. He breathed in suddenly at the warm fluid rushed through his body and warmed him.
"If you cannot tell me of you errand, then I can give you nothing." The words were said with regret, but Lief did not miss the hidden threat. If they did not tell this man something he had all the strength of his men to force them to tell, or simply to kill them. Looking into the man's eyes Lief could not believe Jovan would do anything to harm them, but how could he be sure?
Not the greatest ending ever but I've already written half of the next chapter and thought this would be the best place to stop. This chapter was written in New Zealand while I was holidaying but now I'm back! (with plenty of ideas!) Thanks so much everyone for all your reviews - you're all fantastic! hope you enjoyed it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pen2* - that in such a nice thing to say ^.^ makes me very happy :D I've finnaly got myself an original character (after all your new creations I can't compete!) but thankyou for always being there and reviewing! As I've been in NZ for 2 weeks I've probably missed one of your chapters but I've stuck your fic on my faves list now so I'll check it soon! thanks :D
*PastaPrincess* - yay is a great word! you can't use it too much! yep LOTR is my greatest obsession - take a look at one of my fics if you find the time (you'd probably like Twisted Fate best if you like anyone in the fellowship) Glad you're enjoying my story! :D
*lozza-pilgrim* - ah, glad you're still here and enjoying the story! hope you liked this chap! thankyou :D
*Jasmine101* - glad you're liking the story! hope you can review from now on, it's great to hear what everyone thinks! thankyou :D
*ariel* - well hear's your 'more'! hope you enjoy!
*Fuu-chan* - ohhh! so many reviews! thankyou so much for reviewing each one! and great to hear you're enjoying it! - hope you have read on and are up to this!
*Eldainwe Aduial Elenath* - no cliffhanger this time. glad you're liking it! I think it is very important to keep the dialogue and everyone's characters the same as the original - glad you think i do it well! thanks :D
*lexi* - hope you havn't died of waiting for this update - glad you're enjoying the fic! - hope u liked this chapter!
*Black Fury* - hehe cute name :D I don't mind when u review as long as you do! thankyou for your email - I'll get around to checking out your fic soon. I hope I can write when I'm older but it's such a hard job to get into proffesionally. glad you think I could! thankyou!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You will come with us."
Barda reached quickly for his sword but found the head of the crossbow bolt pressed against his chest. He reluctantly raised his palms to show that he surrendered.
Amid the whirling snow Barda found it hard to make out the face of their antagonists. Each of them were clad in thick white cloaks, rimmed with fur, that almost made them invisible in the snowy surroundings. They all carried weapons, some crossbows and some spears. And beneath the hoods their shadowed faces seemed cold and unkind.
Barda motioned to Lief and Jasmine to surrender their weapons. It was a hopeless position. If they fought the men and won, they would freeze in the harsh conditions anyway. It was better to take their chances with these new acquaintances and hope they would take pity on weary travellers.
"What business have you in the south land?" the first man asked, motioning for his men to surround the small group.
"We are travellers," Barda replied, unwilling to say more of their errand or their homeland.
"There are no travellers here," the stern-faced man said. "These mountain paths are our lands. You should not be here."
"Barda felt Lief step up beside him. "You must forgive our ignorance. We did not intend to trespass. We became lost and disorientated by the weather and were not prepared for such conditions."
"That at least is plain," the man said, and there was a hint of amusement in his eyes as he surveyed their thin cloaks.
"Please," Lief began, and Barda could hear his teeth chattering with cold. "Will you help us?"
The man seemed to consider for a very long time, and Barda was sure they would freeze before he would have decided.
"I will take you to a shelter of ours close by," he said at last. "Though you must understand that no stranger has ever been allowed to see the road."
"We thank you," Lief said, taking a step towards the man. But he pulled up short when he found a firm hand on his chest. "No man... or boy," he said, regarding Lief's height, "may see these paths."
"We are no spies," Jasmine said with sudden anger. "People should not own land. We have just as much right to be here as you do."
"You should watch your tongue, girl," the man growled, hefting his crossbow, "lest it get you into trouble."
"Please," Lief interrupted, placing a firm hand on Jasmine's arm, "We are tired and cold, do not take offence."
"Our rules are strict. You must not see the path."
Barda thought for a moment that Jasmine was going to speak, but instead she reached out for support. Lief grabbed her before she fell, his own strength also weak and struggled to hold her.
"Kaif," the man said to one of the other men, "You will carry the girl."
"No he will not!" Lief said, resisting the man angrily.
"I will take her," Barda said, and Lief let Barda relieve him of Jasmine's weight.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The snowy path was slippery and treacherous beneath their feet. More than once Lief almost stumbled into the ravine to their left.
The tall man had ordered them to be blindfolded to prevent them from seeing the path on which they travelled. Not being able to see made the journey even more tiring and difficult. The man holding his arms was neither patient nor gentle, and Lief could only hope the mens' haven was close by.
It seemed hours before the ice beneath their feet suddenly turned to rock and the chill wind diminished. Lief could hear voices from somewhere ahead, and was reminded of the time he had entered Doom's resistance stronghold. Their blindfolds were removed and Lief blinked in the light of the candles around them. They had been brought to a circular cave beneath the mountain. Tables were arranged in a random patten throughout the space, and on each was a tall candle stick. Many of the men seated glanced in their direction as their entered and Lief felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny.
The tall man led them to a small alcove to the left of the cave. Men entered baring trays of dried fruit and some sort of crumbly biscuit. There was only one seat at the side of the room and this was taken by the man who had removed his cloak and laid aside his weapon. Lief seated himself and helped Barda to lie Jasmine upon the rug on the floor.
Lief saw that the man was much younger than he had at first thought. Now removed from the company of his men he seemed to be barely twenty five years of age. He leaned forward eagerly as Lief set down his empty tray.
"There is not much we can tell you beyond our names," he began. "I am Lief, and this is Barda and Jasmine." He could see no reason why they should not use their real names.
The man said nothing for a moment, and Lief shifted uncomfortably under the stern gaze.
"I am Jovan, son of Galma," he said at last. "It is my task to protect the borders of this land from spies and invaders from the south."
You need not fear us," Barda said. "We are no spies, and are only desperate travellers seeking answers."
"What answers do you seek? And what do you believe I can do for you?"
"Provide us with some warm clothes and we will be forever grateful." Lief swallowed a mouthful of the dark liquid he had been given. He breathed in suddenly at the warm fluid rushed through his body and warmed him.
"If you cannot tell me of you errand, then I can give you nothing." The words were said with regret, but Lief did not miss the hidden threat. If they did not tell this man something he had all the strength of his men to force them to tell, or simply to kill them. Looking into the man's eyes Lief could not believe Jovan would do anything to harm them, but how could he be sure?
Not the greatest ending ever but I've already written half of the next chapter and thought this would be the best place to stop. This chapter was written in New Zealand while I was holidaying but now I'm back! (with plenty of ideas!) Thanks so much everyone for all your reviews - you're all fantastic! hope you enjoyed it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pen2* - that in such a nice thing to say ^.^ makes me very happy :D I've finnaly got myself an original character (after all your new creations I can't compete!) but thankyou for always being there and reviewing! As I've been in NZ for 2 weeks I've probably missed one of your chapters but I've stuck your fic on my faves list now so I'll check it soon! thanks :D
*PastaPrincess* - yay is a great word! you can't use it too much! yep LOTR is my greatest obsession - take a look at one of my fics if you find the time (you'd probably like Twisted Fate best if you like anyone in the fellowship) Glad you're enjoying my story! :D
*lozza-pilgrim* - ah, glad you're still here and enjoying the story! hope you liked this chap! thankyou :D
*Jasmine101* - glad you're liking the story! hope you can review from now on, it's great to hear what everyone thinks! thankyou :D
*ariel* - well hear's your 'more'! hope you enjoy!
*Fuu-chan* - ohhh! so many reviews! thankyou so much for reviewing each one! and great to hear you're enjoying it! - hope you have read on and are up to this!
*Eldainwe Aduial Elenath* - no cliffhanger this time. glad you're liking it! I think it is very important to keep the dialogue and everyone's characters the same as the original - glad you think i do it well! thanks :D
*lexi* - hope you havn't died of waiting for this update - glad you're enjoying the fic! - hope u liked this chapter!
*Black Fury* - hehe cute name :D I don't mind when u review as long as you do! thankyou for your email - I'll get around to checking out your fic soon. I hope I can write when I'm older but it's such a hard job to get into proffesionally. glad you think I could! thankyou!
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