My first attempt at a multiple chapter story. I have an outline for the story but have not written all the chapters. I love reviews but I love concrit even more!
Faramir accidentally discovers the underground world of Minas Tirith that none knew to exist and becomes more submerged in the affairs than he would like to be.
Edited once for spelling and vocabulary
CHAPTER 1
Questions
'At two in the morning most people are asleep,' was the only thought of a particular young man as he marched determinedly towards the sixth level. But then again, most people were not the King's scribe, and most people were not required to be at the immediate bidding of the King and his Steward. Sighing to himself, the young man entered into the labyrinth commonly known as the Houses of Healing.
He could not believe what he had heard, but the Steward himself had proclaimed it true! The young scribe had been charged to record one of the most shocking and unbelievable tales, yet it was not a tale, it was fact. How could no one have noticed this activity, surely someone would have reported it. 'Well,' the scribe reminded himself, 'some of the guards were involved, and it being a time of war an all, people were more concerned with happenings outside the city walls rather than within them.'
"Findegil! What in the name of all that's good are you doing here? And at this time of night too! Be gone, I have patients to attend to."
Turning abruptly and nearly knocking to elderly healer off her feet, Findegil turned to meet the person he had been looking for.
"I'm sorry if I've disturbed you ma'am, but I had to see for myself if it was true."
"So the Steward's word isn't good enough for you any more, is it?"
Chuckling to himself, Findegil replied, "Surely Ioreth you should know by now us scholars are never satisfied. We are always looking for answers, even though there may be no question."
Ioreth shook her head at the scribe and offered him a sad smile. "Come, we will talk over a cup of tea. No good will come from discussing this matter in the cold night."
"But ma'am it is mid spring, the weather is not so cold."
"And I am not so young! Come boy; help an old woman to the kitchen will you?"
Smiling to himself, Findegil offered his arm and guided the woman down the hall to the healer's kitchens.
xxxx
"Now what is it you want to know?"
The healer's kitchen was small and industrial, not the cozy little cottage kitchen he had originally pictured years ago, but Findegil had grown accustom to the clean and proper feeling that spread through the Healing Wards. His discomfort was a speck of dust compared to the misfortune of those he would soon be writing about.
"Is she really here?"
"Yes….and she's not the only one. Members of The Ring are here as well until they are fit be relocated to the prisons. Though they know they've been disbanded, many still have a mouthful to say to our King, I tell you. It's all I can do not give them an overdose of their potion!"
"Extraordinary!"
"Humph, if that's what you call it." Ioreth began washing the mugs and put the kettle away. "The girl will recover no doubt…but every time I rebind her wounds," Ioreth began scrubbing harder at the mug, "I can't believe what I'm seeing! The King is completely justified in his anger as far as I'm concerned. He should have been informed immediately!"
The healer was scrubbing so hard at the mug it was a surprise the thing didn't break in two. "And do what," Findegil replied calmly while removing the mug from Ioreth's hands, "no one could have guessed the extent of this when Faramir first stumbled upon it. The King would have gone to the tavern with his Steward and a couple men, at most, only to be slaughtered!"
"Oh you're right as usual," Ioreth sobbed, "and the poor Queen would've been left at the hands of whoever entered the hall first! And Rohan! It had never crossed my mind before, but surely we would loose them as an ally if The Ring had gotten it's way. The men from the north are so kind too."
During her speech Ioreth had led the way out of the kitchen and back down the hall until the pair stopped infront of the room where Ioreth had been working until interrupted by Findegil. Eyeing the scribe skeptically the healer warned, "I'll let you see her, but if she doesn't want to answer any of your questions you let her be you understand?"
Nodding in agreement, the scribe cautiously went into the room. Though dimly lit, Findegil still made out the form lying on the bed. She was awake it seemed. Before the scribe could begin his questioning, the woman made eye contact with the man. Backing slowly out of the room, Findegil quietly excused himself and made his way back to his apartment. That one look had confirmed what he wanted to know. The horrors Lord Faramir had been describing were not embellished, and were in fact all too real.
TBC...
Well, hopefully some people find this somewhat interesting. Please tell me what you think short I know. The next chapter we'll jump back in time to the beginning of these events.
