Chapter II: Old and New
Celebdraug pulled her sword from the man's body and looked it over. The blade hissed as the heat that rose from the inner flame evaporated the blood that was on it. She felt a hand touch her shoulder, and she whirled to look down into the face of a strong-jawed man.
"Excuse me, my lady," he said, his voice calm and filled with authority, "I am Lèofa, the leader of my people.
We are forever indebted to you and the others. We are your humble servants."
Celebdraug sighed as she slid her sword into the sheath on her back. She glared into the dust that was beginning to settle.
"You could start by finding my stupid cousin," she muttered to herself. She turned back to the man and spoke in accented Common Speech.
"Please wait here. I shall return shortly to thee."
Celebdraug whirled and stomped into the dust, muttering elvish obscenities under her breath. Suddenly, Mordae appeared in front of her, his arm outstretched, holding one of her short-swords to her neck.
"Agarwaen Udun1!" Celebdraug shrieked, striking her cousin roughly on the arm. "Don't do that!"
Mordae looked innocently at her, "Do what?" he asked with a playful grin.
Celebdraug sighed. "Oh, never mind. You thought you could just run away and leave me to deal with these losers?"
Mordae glared in mock anger, "You've discovered my evil plan! Now what am I supposed to do?"
"Oh, shut up."
He grinned. "No, I'm just trying to find your stuff. I intended to come and assist you as soon as you were done and didn't need me anymore."
Celebdraug yanked the sword out of Mordae's hand and placed it into its sheath.
"Fortunately for you, I wanted to share the experience."
"I'm so touched," Mordae said sarcastically.
Celebdraug looked over her shoulder, then back to Mordae. "Come on, those blithering children are getting ready to mess themselves in honor of us back there. We should go and deal with them."
Mordae drew his sword and began stalking ominously towards the men, his intentions obvious.
"Not that way, though it would be fun," Celebdraug said, catching his arm and pulling him back.
She grabbed his other arm and attempted to take his sword. He pulled away and raised his arm to full extension, reaching nearly nine feet high.
"Jerk," spat Celebdraug, who felt that it was very unfair that Mordae was so tall.
"You never want me to have any fun," he whined.
She ran a finger down her cheek. "I feel terrible for you," she said in an irritatingly high voice,
"Come on."
Side by side, the elves strode as gracefully as possible to the waiting men. Their smiles had been replaced by solemn, wise, looks.
Lèofa bowed to them as they approached. "My lady, my lord. We are your humble servants."
"Stuff it," Mordae whispered.
The beginning of a smile flickered on Celebdraug's face, but she quickly shut it down.
Responding quickly so as not to make a fool of herself, Celebdraug spoke to Lèofa, "We require nothing from thee, save perhaps water for our canteens and thy allegiance."
Lèofa insisted, "Please, you must stay a night with us and let us prepare you a feast. You must be tired. We could provide rooms and perhaps warm baths."
Mordae began to refuse, but was cut off by Celebdraug. "Thy gratitude is appreciated. We shall agree to grace thy halls for a night, but come the rising of the sun, we must continue on our journey. I am Celebdraug Nauraumo, and this is my cousin, Mordae Conanoren," she said, gesturing to her companion.
Lèofa gave small bows to each of them. "Does he speak the common tongue as well?" he asked, gesturing slightly to Mordae.
Mordae barely looked down. "I do not speak unless it is entirely necessary to do so. A loose tongue spreads destruction."
"Perianquende2," Celebdraug whispered to Mordae. "I can barely get you to shut up, half the time."
Lèofa did not notice her response, but nodded sagely. He smiled again. "Come, my lieges, soon you will see the splendor of our city. We will need to travel a bit farther than the village, to our capitol, as the lodging in the village is destroyed." He glanced sheepishly away from the elves.
"'Tis better that thou should retreat to safety as it is. These are dark times," Mordae answered.
Lèofa nodded again and turned to organize his people.
Celebdraug turned to Mordae. "You are so full of it," she said.
"I know, but he thinks I'm cool," Mordae responded with a mockingly arrogant toss of his long brown hair.
"At least somebody does," Celebdraug retorted, reaching up and pulling his hair, which was tied back in a ponytail of sorts, to prevent it from getting in the way while he was fighting, "Girly man."
Mordae looked hurt. "That's the last time I save your little butt."
"Ha!" Celebdraug spun, "You saved me? I don't think so, buddy."
He grinned, "Oh, you know I did. Where would you be without me?"
"Sane," she muttered. Turning, she began to walk off toward Lèofa.
"Why does everybody hate me?" he asked in a whining voice.
Celebdraug stopped and turned back, placing her hand reassuringly on his shoulder.
"'Cause you're stupid."
She shrieked as he swatted at her and bolted off, Mordae close on her heels.
1 Bloody Hell
2 Hobbit tongue. One who speaks too much.
