Chapter 4; Help:
Just a short little chapter to set up how Raelynne ends up in Smaug's layer, establishing herself as a person a bit more before we shove her into a very precarious situation. But it should be a bit of fun.
I need to make a grevious apology to you all. I kept you all waiting for so long for this chapter. I had become so busy and, admittedly, lazy. But inspiration came and beat me over the head to finally write another chapter for you all! I will be working immediately on the next chapter after I publish this one, and so hopefully that one will be coming out soon, but I shouldn't make promises, because I have trouble keeping them to you my dears. But still, enjoy!
I give thanks to all those who made reviews, I read them all and all make me smile! Hopefully I can return the favor with this chapter!
The evening was dying upon the mountain, gold rays stretching over its cragged sides. With no life of green to taint its dismal crags, the sunset's casting was merely a shade of passing beauty over the scorched land, fleeing as low hanging clouds covered the sun from the squalid sight of it. No hint of the warm firelight of a home dared be present to the mountain's shadow, as if all live had been banished from the face of it by a curse. Truly a most empty place in the pitch black of approaching night, a land few, and foolish, travelers would traverse only under the most dire of fortunes or miseries.
"Of all the damned luck…I still have no inkling as to where I am going." Sighed Raelynne to herself as she stopped to breathe along the path she had chosen to follow, somewhat regretful of that decision now.
Overlooking the landscape around her, she recognized only a few sights, namely that of the Lonely Mountain and the small speck that was Lake Town in the distant body of water below. She decided, once finding herself by chance making it out of the forest, to travel by the mountain path. She had thought its giant face would protect her from the chill of the wind, and its view might offer her a chance to spy any sight worthy of her fascination, such as a better path to take.
But having wandered this path for the better part of the afternoon and now into the faltering evening, she had yet to see a rabbit trail let alone another route. At this rate she would be coming across the ruins of Dale, and then there would be nothing for her but to turn back and hope that she had missed an alternate course.
"But, indeed not all who wander are lost, and so, wander on I must." She heavily sighed with a wearily cheery smile as she spoke out loud this false bravado, hoisting her bag unto her shoulder with the difficulty of one that was tenderly aching from travel, "I will eventually come across a village needing a minstrel with sore feet and a sore back, it's only ever a matter of time."
Pressing her hands to the small of her back to stretch as she began walking once more, Raelynne released a grateful groan as some stiffness there decided to snap out from her spine. It was the least one could expect though, from sleeping up in the thick branches of a tree. A good, if somewhat sore, habit, as it kept her thin frame from off of the cold ground, and also from the fat jaws of whatever beast, or man, who would try to take advantage of her sleeping state.
Such cleverness on her part though, did not keep a small pebble from taking advantage of her shuffling steps, causing her to stumble before she ungraciously recaptured her balance.
"Oh, damn this mountain! And damn this path, if it even is a path!" She shouted rather childishly as she sought to punish the stone that had bothered her, kicking it away venomously. Her echoing voice stilled her however, as in answer to the shrill reverberation there came the sound of tumbling, and heavy, boulders.
She breathed quietly for a moment, listening. The cascading sound was distant, and lasted only for a moment as the mountain settled back into itself. After listening for a few more moments, Raelynne allowed herself to continue on, her lips pressing tightly together. As difficult as it was for someone like her, she would need to keep her voice silent. Unlike the other lost travelers who had traversed this path before her, she did not fear the superstition of stirring the dragon of legend from his sleep, as the story warns, but she did have a terrible dislike of the thought of being buried alive by a mountain side.
Ah, but the legend of the Red Dragon was not a legend, according to Lady Bern if memory serves correct. Amusing how some people were able to hold fast to their faith in magic and stories, even into their skeptical years. Raelynne herself was not certain how the entire story went herself anymore; it had been so long since she heard it.
How did it go?…With scales of red and eyes of fire, with a treasure as deep as the seas themselves, there lies the Red Dragon named…named…
Hm, how odd. She could not recall the name. She was certain the dragon had a name, something terrible and ancient no doubt. And that if anyone traveled into his domain, they risked waking him if they were not careful. And should one also be foolish enough to steal some of the treasure, they were assured a fate of crimson and flame. Such was the fate of all thieves in stories, with dragons or not, which was never a comfort to Raelynne. But if part about the treasure was true however, it was all too understandable to someone like her why so many had so foolishly risked everything for a chance of luxury.
But no, why should it be true? Stories, especially the fantastic ones, rarely were. No matter how many superstitious villagers or hopeful little girls believed them to be. Not even if stories of handsome princes and virtuous maidens, of monsters and knights, of strange men with the eyes of trapped skies falling to earth to love a mortal.
That last train of thought left Raelynne smiling with a sad recollection. Hadn't been her little sister who had made that one up? She did have such an imagination, to scheme up such stories while they used to lay beneath the juniper tree, wasting summer days with idle cares…
Her sentimental smile turning itself into a bitter frown, Raelynne hushed her thoughts. It would do her no good to think any more about such things. It would always lead to the same end, with her regretting her decisions and wishing idly.
Such a pattern she had often repeated, but it never did her any sort of goodness. Regretting was something for those who were at least able to consider rectifying for their mistakes, and her time for such was long past. But even if all she had left to claim were mistakes, if there was but one lesson Raelynne took with her, it was that life is made in the mistakes, especially from those you learn from. And she had learned plenty, from how to sing, how to fend for herself, how to steal…
On reflex, a hand reached to clutch at the center of her chest, her fingers finding a circle of metal that lay beneath the layers of her clothing. Gripping it firmly, she was once again reminded of how small the item was, how lightly it hung around her neck. And yet the small thing was truly the heaviest of burdens. In her most lonely hours, the thing seemed to sear itself into her, leaving a burning scar to match alongside the others she had earned from those she had lov–
No, that's enough of that now. Enough for now and forever.
After realizing she was sinking back into the very thoughts she was trying to push away, Raelynne huffed out a frustrated sigh. Her mind was going about in circles of remembering and denying, and she was in great need of a distraction. Today was just one of those times when she felt like her skin was the only thing that kept her from going everywhere else, as it always was for her when traveling with no destination in mind.
Daring to risk the instability of the mountain's rocky side, Raelynne dug through her bag to search for something to divert her mind. Finally, she decided upon playing her small cittern, and her hands took their positions on its slender body with proficient instinct.
Raelynne, though still vehemently against whistling while traveling, thought playing a whole other matter.
Though knowing a score of many sonnets and songs, Raelynne began to sing a particular composition she had been creating of late. It was a pretty enough ditty she thought, fast paced and quick to inspire a hastening stride in her steps. As she experimented with changing the tune or tempo, Raelynne felt herself fall back into a thoughtless calm.
Music was a balm to a soul as hers, restless and erratic. It could always tame whatever plagued her, be it her thoughts, or her guilt. Perhaps that old saying held truth, that music could soothe any savage beast, even the one inside a troubled mind.
"Hello?"
Immediately Raelynne paused in her playing, becoming motionless in confusion and surprise. Looking about her, she searched for the voice that had just called out. It seemed her usually skittish senses had failed to warn her as they usually had, but as she came across no inkling as to the source of the voice, Raelynne allowed herself the hope that it was her imagination.
"Hello? Anyone there? Please do help!" Called the voice again, and this time it was easy to pinpoint. Cut below the stony path she took, there was a small crevasse, no deeper than a sapling tree. Its sides were sharp, and prodding out from them was a desperate and dirty hand, waving and clutching stones as if to claw its way out.
As many travelers would tell, it was always safest to continue forth whenever one heard that most troublesome word, help. It often times lead any and all good Samaritans to certain misfortune. Whether by brining themselves into danger or by falling into some kind of trap, it mattered little, as the end was always the same.
But still, Raelynne found herself peering down the edge of the small cavern, trying to justify herself for such a lapse in her usually unwaveringly cold reasoning.
Curiosity. Nothing else. Maybe the poor unfortunate has a rich fortune on them…
"Yes?" She called down in answer to the voice that still called out panickedly. At the sound of her own though, the man, as there was only room enough for one to be trapped in that dark, tight space, seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.
"Why, thank the ancients! I feared that my luck had run out and I might be lost within this mountain scape forever!"
Raelynne, despite the possible severity of the situation, could not stop her smirk.
"I am compelled to say sir, it was not luck that happened you upon me, but rather, I by chance just happened to hear your femme shrieks for assistance first in the middle of a desolated wasteland paraded by many a foul beast."
With that, she took a few steps back, digging into her wondrous bag of tricks. Pulling out a thin cord of rope, she promptly began wrapping one end around her waist. She was not strong, but she was clever with the leverage of her body, and should the poor unfortunate prove to not be too heavy, her rescue should be a success.
"Here, grab the end and climb out." She called out as she leaned low towards the small crevasse, with legs staunched.
In an instant she felt a desperate, almost greedy tug at the end of the rope she offered. For a moment, she feared she might have indeed been tricked and was about to be pulled down into some fellow thieves lair. But she steadied herself, digging her heels into the ground, and after a few huffs and groans, the poor unfortunate had made his way out of the dark.
Unfortunate indeed. As the man, hunched and wordlessly communicating that he needed to catch his breath for a moment, was a very interesting specimen. His eyes were large and gleaming, like a rodent's, and there seemed to be a downy caterpillar who had taken permanent residence on his brow. Clothed entirely in black with stringy hair sticking out from underneath a curiously shaped hat, Raelynne surmised him to be a rather funny sort of being, but so far, wheezing and pale as he was, he seemed harmless.
"Oh, thank you." The man finally spoke, tone full of gratefulness "Such luck. Yes, I was lucky. More lucky to chance upon someone out so far."
Taking out a skin of water and handing it to the still gasping man, which he accepted greedily, Raelynne noticed the man possessed nothing but the robes on his back. To be without a weapon while about in these times, let alone without a travel sac, was either foolish or scheming, and since the man had neither, suspicion rose within Raelynne, and she began to search for other hints of trouble. Finding none as the man successfully drained the skin she had given him, she meet his wide, shiny eyes as he then spoke again, voice now less horse.
"Once again, I thank you, kind stranger. I was on my way to make for the other side of Lonely Mountain, when a band of barbarians seized the chance to rob me of my horse and my purse. They left me in the hole in which you found me in, certain to die if it had not been for your kindness."
Raelynne smiled at the man for his thanks to her, which made him smile in return, a very unlikable sight to be sure. For a second, she thought she recognized the sight of the man, or at the very least that of his more...distinctive features.
"Where are you bound?" He continued, handing back the water skin to her, distracting Raelynne from her thoughts.
"Anywhere familiar." Was her politely smiling, if vague, reply. The man narrowed his large eyes in humor.
"Ah, so you are lost then as well. That answers the question why you would be traveling these dangerous, lonely parts."
Raelynne remained silent for a moment, suspicion still playing at the forefront of her mind. But, with one last summation, she deemed him not a threat. He had spoken freely of his coming to be in the situation she had found him in, and his story had credibility, as she had heard rumors and warnings herself in Lake Town about such road side robberies within these parts, and it explained his lack of travel items. However, he looked relatively unharmed, something that rarely, if ever, happened when one encountered 'barbarians'.
"Not so much as I do not know where I am, dear sir, more of where I am going. But I can return you to Lake Town, if that is what you wish." She finally replied, and her offer seemed to ignite the man's already shimmering eyes.
"Oh, by all means, please!" He answered with that unlikable smile. The man seemed to see nothing but kindness in Raelynne's guiding march back down the path she had taken to him, and strode by her side. But there was a less foolish motivation on Raelynne's part for her actions.
For one thing, the man might be so grateful of her actions that perhaps he just might find the need to repay her. Though he testified that he had no money on him, the man's extravagant, if slightly dirtied, cloak of black fur was worth a hefty sum. It would only take a moment on her part to free the owner of such a heavy item once he was fully indebted to her. Raelynne did think it curious that the so called barbarians that had taken advantage of this man before her did not think to take it, but then again, not all thieves are perfect at determining the price of everything as she was. Another reason was that Raelynne, though unliking of the travel itself, was never one to share the road with anyone. She wandered alone. Company was most unwelcomed in every degree. The sooner she got him on the path the better for her.
Regretfully though, the man sought the need to hold a conversation as the two reached a turn of the cliff side path they shared.
"Pardon, but, was it you who was playing that music before I was rescued by your company?" He asked, his eyes trained on her face with mild curiosity. Seeing no reason to be uncivil, Raelynne answered.
"Yes…though that was a newer piece of mine, and I fear it is not yet finished."
"I knew it! I recognize you! You were preforming at the Two Headed Rat on Ciar Day!" Suddenly yelled the man, a bizarre excitement crossing his face.
Raelynne stiffened. The man recognized her. Under the dirt that was always smeared across her face from her night in the forest, under the loose clothes that hid her body so well, under the wide brim hat that shaded her eyes, the man recognized her. There were many things to worry about on the road, from thieves, untamed weather, and the like, but nothing was more dangerous than being a young woman, traveling alone, and someone, a stranger, realizing it.
"Oh, you were most spectacular, truly." Continued the man, his version of a flattering smile forcing Raelynne to quickly disguise her grimace.
"I thank you kind sir." She kept walking on, the man following after her heartedly, not noticing the way Raelynne's change in demeanor nor the new tone her voice took. Though after a moment of just the sound of their footfalls, Raelynne forced herself back into a calm state.
Ever cautious, Raelynne had already calculated that if worse ever came to wear, she could certainly out run the thinly frail, and scrawny man, or use the sharp edge of the small knife she kept under the folds of her tunic to deter him from any successful attempts to do her ill. But this man, if he still be some chance was planning to do her unkind, he was playing the part of the helpless idiot ingeniously well. And the difference between stupidity and genius was that genius has its limits, and it seemed to Raelynne that this man had no limits. It was with this reasoning she had calmed herself with; no need to strain herself.
"And you have yet a different instrument in your hands. Tell me, how many can you play?" Asked the man, continuing the conversation Raelynne felt was turning into a friendly interrogation.
"As many as I can carry." She replied, patting her large bag that swung heavily at her side. The man beamed, showing off a set of white, crooked teeth.
"That's marvelous. Simply marvelous. And you sing and dance. Marvelous. So many talents."
Raelynne nodded politely at the flattery, feeling the need, despite her dismissal of the man as a threat to her, to space herself from him. Compliments were one thing, and in her profession she had gotten many, but out right slimy obsequiousness, well it just seemed that this man made a living off of his toadyism as she did her music.
This man is a might peculiar to say the least. And a bit unpleasant as well.
The man, finally taking notice of Raelynne's increasing discomfort with his company, animatedly dug into his robe's pocket, sudden remembrance coming over him.
"Oh! Here, please take this." He put forth his hand towards once done fishing something out of his robe, a glint of gold showing through his pale, clenched fingers, "For showing me the way back."
Raelynne felt no scruple about accepting the gold, and almost in an instant it was out of the man's hand and in her own.
Well, perhaps he is not all that detestable. Though it was rather sloppy of those 'barbarians' he talked about to leave even this much behind. I certainly would never leave a scrap of a penny behind…
But her fleeting thought on the sloppiness of the bandits the man had reported to her was gone as her palm weighed the few disks of gold, a smirk of success coming over her as her eyes spotted a familiar ridge just ahead.
"How kind of you sir, to gift me with the sweet clank of coinage for so little a trouble. We are already at the path that heads straight to Lake Town."
Pointing down the path and past the ridge she had spied, there laid a twisted dirt path that lead straight down to the forest that could finally be seen, though it was still some distance away. But it was indeed the same path Raelynne had just scaled up herself not a few moments before finding the man, and now it would serve as their parting, for she planned to continue up the mountain, feeling her luck of finding a new town laid there.
The man though did not immediately start down the path she pointed to, but instead turned to face Raelynne.
"Then perhaps for such an amount, you may permit me to bother you with a few more questions?" He asked, only polite curiosity to be seen in his features.
"…certainly." Was her hesitant answer only muttered but for the temptation that was the coins she now placed in her pockets. Perhaps the man was looking for information, something those in her profession were good for at a price. The man saw her answer very much satisfactory though, and proceeded to step closer as he spoke, something new in his glossy eyes.
"You obviously travel alone. But have you never had any suitors or lovers?"
Well, that was hardly what Raelynne was expecting. Her surprise though was quickly hidden, but she couldn't help a nervous chuckle as she took a step away from the man. And worryingly, her cautious eyes detected a change in his demeanour. He still smiled that sickeningly flattering smile, and his posture slumped and unassuming. But something had changed. He was standing between her and the pathway down back to Lake Town, almost like he was cutting her off even from the very sight of it.
"Some men break your heart in two, some men fawn and flatter, some men never look at you; and that cleans up the matter." Raelynne responded with a smile that grew faker and faker as her hand made to subtly move towards the place under her robes where laid her knife. Perhaps it was her own stupidity that had no limits, as finally the familiarity she had felt for the man came forth as she recognized him as the man who had shared the hospitality of Lady Bern only the night before, the man in the corner who had been watching her. With him here though, there was no excuse for coincidence, and Raelynne felt all her suspicion flood back into her now racing mind.
"Oh, yes." The man laughed flatteringly, taking one step forward to erase the distance Raelynne was trying to make between them "How clever. That is a most welcome trait as well. I take it you know some more clever sayings? Riddles perhaps?"
"A few." Raelynne took another step back, and the man took another towards her. She threw out pretense of politeness as she made to turn away. "Now, dear sir, if you just follow this path, I am certain you will reach Lake Town within a day. Perhaps sooner if you left. Immediately."
The man seemed to completely ignore what she had said though, focusing on nothing but her face, much to Raelynne's increasing discomfort. He was scrutinizing her, summing her up, and she did not like the conclusion he came to.
"And so beautiful as well. Why, just look at your eyes…"
Repelled, and now becoming fearful, Raelynne averted her eyes. Making the mistake of turning away from the man completely in order to hide what he was admiring, she was about to start her calculated plans of retreat. Walking away with a feigned calm, Raelynne made her voice firm for their parting.
"Sir, I fear this is when we become better strangers and part ways. I would say it was pleasant, if not for the fact that it decidedly was–"
Her voice cut from her at the shock of a force that took her to the very ground, Raelynne felt all her faculties detach from her mind. A warmth spilled over her face, one that sickened her with its copper taste when it made its way to her gasping lips. But all thoughts of disgust, of the harsh ground scraping her face, and of the man that now stood over her stopped as a creeping darkness took her from the imminent danger of her reality…and into sleep.
With a bored sigh, the man tossed aside the leather blackjack he had just used on the girl. Without a glance towards her now worryingly still form, he marched off of the path. Within a few moments, he produced two horses that were patiently waiting in the hidden habitation he had left them in merely an hour before.
Leading one horse right to the unconscious girl, he let go of the reins to then take hold of the travel bag that girl was clenching. With a careless shove of his foot, he managed to tear the bag away from the girl, rolling the girl over as well so she faced the sky. Gently, he tied the sack in place behind the saddle, opening it up briefly to check over the contents.
Next, the man turned to kneel down beside the girl. A moment was taken to push away the wide brimmed hat that had blocked most of the view of her face, spilling her hair out from underneath it and revealing all of her charm to him. A smirk of victory came over the volatile man.
"Come now then, song bird. We must will away to your new master."
Ah, poor Raelynne, her greed got the best of her. I like how my character is overly cautious, and yet, she has the great weakness of her temper and her greed. In a way, she has many traits like Smaug, which I wanted, as it's something they will connect over, but it plays in to the story in many other ways.
I really didn't like writing this chapter. It took me so long to write it, but I really wanted to establish Raelynne as a character before she and Smaug met. I didn't like it that I had Alfrid in it and Raelynne had to have such a lengthy conversation with him (as that is the identity of the man who was with Raelynne, and if you hadn't figured that out until now, ah, my poor child). But oh well, in the next chapter we will all have a bit of fun as Smaug and Raelynne finally meet!
The instrument Raelynne used in this chapter is a cittern, descendant from the Medieval citole, or cytole. It's kinda of like a mandolin really, and it hails such lovely, sharp, quick and yet earthy notes.
Join me next time as we visit Lonely Mountain, where Smaug waits impatiently for his song bird to arrive. Will he be pleased with who Alfrid has brought him? Or will Raelynne end up as a dragon's charred dinner? Till next time my eager kiddies…
And yes, I quoted Tolkien there. I couldn't help myself. I had to.