Characters in Chapter-
King Elessar Estel (Aragorn)
Prince Eldarion(El-dar-ion
Royal Guards
Maeglin(May-glin)
Saira(Sae-rah)
Enelya(N-ae-lee-ah)
Nessa(Ne-essa
Orel(Or-eel)
Me: I is back!
Drake: I am too, don't everyone come love on me at once now. crickets chirp
Me: For those of you who came back, thanks a bunchies. And those who didn't come back... Well I'd be wasting time writing stuff for people who won't be reading it.
Drake: So... Wouldn't that be everyone?
Me: Go to your cave!
Drake: Goes to cave and sulks
Me: I'm sorry this wasn't up on Saturday, but I've been really busy taking care of my new horse. But anyways here it is! Chapter Two! I hope you enjoy it.
Chapter Two
As Saira headed back to her... well, cave the next day from her earlier excursion into the market; she noticed the people busily following her orders and doubling guards and other responsibilities. Once in her cave she changed into a rough peasant's dress with a head scarf and no shoes. When she was fully dressed she snuck out of the thieves city through a secret exit in the back of her cave. Saira walked swiftly up the stairs and out the door, she was in a back alley behind the market only a few blocks from her destination.
She ran to the corner she was supposed to meet her friend and dropped to the ground and leaned against the wall casually with a sack at her feet for the more generous people to drop coins into. "Hello, Lessien." A deep voice said.
Saira looked up and smiled happily. "Tathar! You're late." She teased the new arrival. He had curly brown hair that hung in his eyes, dark skin, and his clothes were worn.
"No, you are merely early, Lessien." He retorted, his blue-grey eyes sparkling. She shrugged, grinning.
"Perhaps. Where are we going today?" It was their tradition to go to a predetermined place for the midday meal and to talk. Today was Tathar's turn to choose where to go.
"The Scarlet Dragon." He said, and his choice chilled Saira, if she was recognized there would be trouble. Nevertheless, she nodded her assent and they fell into step as they strolled leisurely through the streets of Gondor. Saira contemplated their friendship; she had been in this same disguise and they had caught each other picking their pocket several months ago. They had been close friends ever since, although they each had their secrets. Neither spoke of their childhood through a silent agreement, but they were still close. He spoke as one more highly educated than a commoner of Minas Tirith, a noble maybe. And she was sure that he knew that she was no common commoner. Whatever it was, their strange relationship worked for them. No they were not romantically involved, just close friends.
When they entered the tavern Orel, Nessa, and Uruviel were all sitting there deep in conversation. They looked up when Saira and Tathar entered and moved to get up, recognizing Saira as she had expected of her friends and followers. Almost imperceptibly she shook her head, signing go back to your seats.
Reluctantly her friends sat back down but kept an eagle eye on the pair. Despite how quickly this had happened Tathar had noticed, and though he made no mention of it he did keep his eye on the trio during the entire meal.
After their meal they strolled through the market and conversed casually during their walk through the city. They talked about politics, the city, the news, weather, whatever else they could think of. After a long while of comfortable silence Tathar announced that he had to leave.
"Very well," Saira said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Tathar." He nodded and strode off, his form becoming smaller and smaller from the distance.
Almost immediately after he was out of sight she was ambushed by her three friends. Saira sighed and allowed them to drag her off, questioning her the entire way back to the tavern.
"Who was that?" Orel asked poking Saira with each word.
"Tathar."
"Who's that?" Uruviel asked.
"A newcomer."
"From where?" Asked Nessa.
"I haven't asked."
"Why not?" The three chorused.
"Maybe cause I don't want to be paranoid all the time? Maybe cause I just want a friend without worrying about who or what he is. Maybe I want to try my had at being normal!" Saira stormed ahead to the hidden city.
Saira was... sulking in her cave when the three came in. "We're sorry Saira." Nessa said.
"We shouldn't have bothered you like that." Orel agreed.
"What's wrong with having a friend after all?" Uruviel asked, half grinning.
"No, I'm sorry." Saira said. "I shouldn't have snapped at you."
"It's alright. We understand that you're under a lot of stress, being a queen is a lot of work, especially a queen of thieves." Orel said.
"I didn't-" Saira started to protest; but Nessa interrupted her.
"We know you didn't ask to be queen. It's just a title really; you know that, Saira. You're a chieftain, more like. Your people just choose to call you Queen Saira, it's a-"
"Sign of respect, so don't complain. I know Nessa, I just can't help it sometimes though." Her friends all rolled their eyes, but before they could say something a sentry from the Scarlet Dragon entrance came rushing in.
"My lady!" The man gasped as he caught his breath. Saira stood up in alarm.
"What is it?" She asked him as his breathing evened out.
"Intruders are in the tavern's cellar, they appear to be trying to find the entrance." Saira went pale.
"When did this start?"
"About twenty minutes ago, we thought it was a drunk at first, or..." The man's pale cheeks flushed red under the dirt. "Or a couple having a quick tumble in the dark."
"Alright." Saira stood up straighter. "I want two groups of guards to protect the entrance in case they find the way in. Make sure they know to defend themselves and the city. Once the threat has been removed destroy the entrance and leave no sign at all. Understood?" The man bowed.
"Understood, My Lady."
"You may go." The man left to spread Saira's orders.
"You see?" Orel said. "These people respect and trust you. Under your leadership you have formed these people into a well moving group of people, instead of an uncouth gang of drunken thieves."
"Yes, I know. Go on, get yourselves armed incase there are more men than we expect." The three left to do her bidding. Saira sighed and went to her wardrobe; if the men invading were led by who she thought it was, it would be no good to appear as a poor beggar and let a better dressed, more innocent woman take the blame.
Eldarion walked into his father's chambers once again to report his findings.
"Elda!" King Elessar said happily. "To what do I owe this honor, my son?" Eldarion went to where his father was standing by the window, looking over his city.
"I believe I have found the thieves stronghold, Father." The king looked at his son in surprise.
"Start at the beginning, Eldarion." Elessar said. "Tell me everything." Eldarion leaned against the wall before beginning his story.
"Yesterday I went for a ride on Pelennor Fields disguised as a common man to enjoy the fresh air. When I returned to the city I decided to stop for a drink at the Scarlet Dragon; while I was there I saw the group of people I mentioned to you earlier. I watched them while enjoying my drink, when they got up to leave I followed them. They went into the cellar; when I followed them I saw that they went to a far wall I was not in time to see what they did, but there was an open doorway that seemed to lead underground into the mountain that the city rests on. By accident I bumped a clay mug, it fell down the rest of the stairs and got the attention of the group below. I hurried up the stairs and hid in a corner of the tavern before they saw me, when they went back down I came home."
"Why are you just mentioning this now?" Elessar asked his son.
"Because when I was in the city today I overheard bits of conversation that led me to believe that they may be closing the entrance and that it might be our last chance to catch the majority of them today." Eldarion replied; Elessar nodded thoughtfully and leaned against the wall next to his son.
"Very well, you will lead a group of city guards to arrest these thieves." Elessar half smiled. "You'll leave in an hour." Eldarion nodded.
"I shall go and prepare to leave, Father." Elessar nodded and hugged his son tightly.
"Be careful, Elda. They will most likely fight back to protect themselves." He picked up the pendant that Eldarion wore from his son's chest. It had once been his, and before that it had been Arwen's pendant. "I hope that this will give you as much luck as it gave me."
"I promise I'll be careful, Father." Elessar nodded and motioned for him to go.
Eldarion smiled to himself as he donned his armor; not his ceremonial battle armor, but the lighter city guard's armor. Now he would find out if his suspicions were correct.
The occupants of the Scarlet Dragon watched in surprise as their prince led a group of twenty guards through to the cellar. The few people in the tavern who lived below hurried out to other entrances to warn their people.
Once the entire guard were in the cellar, Eldarion turned to address them. "There is a hidden door in here, in fact I am standing right in front of it. What I did not see was where the catch was, see if you can find any irregularity in the walls, that will be the catch. We don't know how the people will react; if they run capture as many as possible, if they attack defend yourselves. Understood?"
"Yes, Your Highness." They all responded.
"Good, go." Eldarion joined them in their search for the catch to open the door.
Saira was sitting in the dining hall eating a quick bowl of warm stew when Maeglin came running in carrying a light black fabric in his large hands. "Maeglin! What's going on?" She demanded as he came to a stop before her.
"Saira, for your own safety I demand that you wear this veil." Maeglin ordered, tossing the black veil onto the table. Saira stood up indignantly.
"Why do you order this?" She heard a man call Maeglin and she got no response as Maeglin donned his own mask and ran out of the hall. Saira took long enough to put the veil on before chasing Maeglin to find out just what is going on.
After a while that made Eldarion wonder about the intelligence of his guard they found the catch and opened it. Immediately Eldarion led a charge into the thieves city. They were met by a group of twenty-five fighters led by a twenty-sixth man; he was masked and obviously a capable fighter. "You are all under arrest for stealing from the people of Minas Tirith. If you lay down your weapons now that will be taken into consideration at your trial. If you attack it will be seen as an assault on myself and also taken into consideration at your trial." Eldarion waited for their response.
The masked man turned to his people. "Well, it seems like his Exalted Majesty wants us to surrender and go quietly to jail. Obviously he doesn't know us to well, does he men?" The fighters all laughed.
Eldarion motioned for his men to attack and capture the thieves. Immediately the guards started to charge the still chuckling men, mostly more intent on causing physical harm for coins lifted than capturing the men. Eldarion also began forward to help arrest the men.
"Hold it right there!" The masked figure said in a disguised voice as he came up behind Prince Eldarion; he suddenly wrapped an arm around the prince's shoulders and held a long dagger to the young man's throat. "Everyone back away now or your precious prince won't live to rule the city!"
"What's going on here?" A voice demanded as a veiled figure came storming in. "Captain! Would you care to explain why you are holding the prince hostage?"
The man holding Eldarion stuttered. "W-well S- I mean My Lady, they were trying to get entrance to arrest us all." The woman sighed, she was dressed in a simple scarlet dress with a black veil to hide her face.
"Captain, next time you order me to cover my face, I want to know why!" The man bowed, pulling Eldarion along with him. "Now, release the prince and follow procedure." She turned to go and when she was at the doorway she looked over her shoulder. "Oh, Captain... Try not to kill anyone please."
"Yes, My Lady." The man said and bowed, once again pulling Eldarion along with him. The prince pulled away from the man and walked to the city guard.
"Attack only to capture." Eldarion commanded the city guard before he felt a prick on the back of his neck where there was no armor. His vision swam and he and his men passed out on the dirt floor.
There it is, Chapter Two.
I'm not positive when the next chapter will be up; hopefully within the next 7-10 days. Tentative post date is next Monday, I hope it'll be up by then.
Preview:
"Tathar!" Saira called when she caught sight of him. He turned and looked at her in surprise.
"Lessien." He said. "I was worried when you didn't show up yesterday. Are you alright?" His voice was so concerned that Saira almost felt sorry for deceiving him.
"Yes Tathar, I am well. But I need your help."
There ya go, review please!
Ja ne