A CHANGE IN PLANS
April 11 - 16, 3020

After riding all night, the small band of Vardamir, Ceolwulf, Candon, Debanni and Adibe had halted near a small stream running down the western side of the Hills of Tarnost. At first, Ceolwulf planned to journey far to the west where The Captain had told him that he would find a trail, marked by three lightning struck pines, leading to a pass through the White Mountains west of the River Lefnui.

When they first got there, Ceolwulf had heard the sound of a rushing stream nearby and had gone there to drink, wash away some of the grime of the trail, and he had hoped to clean some of the walnut stain that he used to try to disguise his blonde hair and beard. In a foul mood when the water had failed to take off the stain, he had cursed and his mood had turned even darker as he neared where the others were resting. A somber, brooding man, he had often gone away by himself for long hours at a time. Vardamir had come to know that often when Ceolwulf had been by himself for a long time, his mood turned fey, but always before, Ceolwulf had come out of these dark moods after a time.

Vardamir took him aside after Ceolwulf came back and the two men had discussed their plans. Vardamir favored going towards the west and finding the path marked by the three trees, but Ceolwulf suddenly said that no, they were going to take another path, a path much more hazardous and one greatly feared but he would take it just the same. The two women, Debanni and her mother, Adibe, became very frightened of Ceolwulf and began to look towards Vardamir as their true protector. The boy, Candon, whose grandfather had entrusted him to the charge of Vardamir and Ceolwulf to take him to freedom in the north, became frightened and began to cry in alarm.

Ceolwulf shunned the fears of the women and boy and the advice of Vardamir. When Vardamir tried to stop Ceolwulf from going, Ceolwulf had hit his friend in the face, something he had never done before. Vardamir knew there was no reason for this and that a fey mood had come upon him. He could only hope that it would pass as the others had always done.

Then at Ceolwulf's bidding, the group mounted their horses and set out north. For five days they journeyed, going steadily with no sign of pursuit, until on the fifth day when they neared Erech, Ceolwulf's horse became lame. There was no remedy for the horse's discomfort except unsaddle the beast and turn him loose. As the travelers sat upon their horses watching Ceolwulf unsaddle his, Ceolwulf said to Vardamir, "The boy will now ride double with you. The pack horse cannot carry both me and our gold and supplies, and I will not part with any."

Although the boy did not weigh much, still the extra burden began to tax the already travel-weary steed, and the speed of their travel was slowed by the encumbrance. On they rode through the lonely territory of the Blackroot Valley, once home to many farmers and villagers, but now virtually abandoned since the Dark Plague had struck in May of the year before.

Ceolwulf called a halt for the night near the hill of Erech. In the faint light of the waning day, they could see the round, black Stone, as tall as a man, atop the hill, standing as a reminder of Isildur who, it was said, had brought it from Numenor. Ceolwulf pointed to the stone and said, "This is the guide. Tomorrow we go north along the Blackroot River and to the Paths of the Dead, which will be marked by an arched doorway, so it is said. Now let us make camp and rest for the evening, and we will see what the morrow brings."

Debanni portrayed by Madurz
Adibe and Candon portrayed by Eowyn
Vardamir portrayed by Hobbitness
Narrator and Ceolwulf portrayed by Angmar

Narrator: *After unsaddling the horses and tying them to picket lines for the night, Ceolwulf and Vardamir go to the nearby woods and gather twigs and sticks to build a fire.*
Narrator: *Soon, they have a roaring fire going and then they unpack the food from the pack saddles and spread the dried meat, fruit, bread and cheese out on a blanket on the ground.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir has not spoken much to Ceolwulf in these last few days, for it is almost impossible to have a conversation without inciting him into a rage. When they do talk, they only argue more about Ceolwulf's choice to take the Paths of the Dead. Tonight Vardamir avoids Ceolwulf's eyes, glancing occasionally over to him, sometimes with resentment, sometimes with concern.*
Adibe: *Adibe sits upon the ground, staring into the fire with reddish, tear-swollen eyes, grieving greatly, for she shall never see her little son again. Food is before her, but she does not feel like eating; she glances over to her daughter, hoping that she can stomach the food better than she. Debanni misses her brother and her home greatly; it is obvious, for she seldom speaks and ever is an expression of fear and sadness upon her face, ever since they were taken captive by the brigands. Adibe feels much in the same, though she tries to hide it from her daughter; she also knows that only more misery waits for her if the brigands were to return them to their home. She turns her head, for she feels the stinging pains return to her eyes; grief, loss and fear. She musters her will to keep herself from weeping.*
Ceolwulf: *Ceolwulf eats nothing but instead takes a whetstone from his saddlebag and stands near the fire, honing his sword* My people are in great fear of this place and I daresay that I have the feeling too of dread and gloom
Adibe: *She overhears the man's words, and glances at him out of the corner of her eye. This place frightens her, too; it has a feeling of darkness about it. Even though they are in a mountain vale and the shadows from the two mountains on either side make the air seem cooler than out in the open fields, still there seems something unnatural and quite peculiar about the chill in the air. A prickle goes down her spine, and she looks away again.*
Debanni: *Again they sat to rest. A most unusual crew they were. A boy who seemed to appear out of nowhere. And who he belonged to..she did not know. He seemed too friendly towards the one to be a captive. The dark haired man seemed to try to be a voice of reason or one of levity. But she still did not trust him. And this other man...who seemed so quiet at first then gave into a fit of rage. His eyes made her nervous. Could either of them be as Algund? Would they hurt her like that? She would have to be prepared that they might be.*
Debanni: *Her mother, she saw, was breaking more and more, and so was Debanni. They both tried to put on a mask of bravery for each other, but they were giving into their real feelings of terror now. Her mother looking at her and then almost crying. It broke her heart and they both wanted to see Atar and knew they could not. She hoped they would be able to stay together.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir looks around at the dismal group and bites back a groan of frustration. Adibe and Debanni are probably grieving themselves to death, Candon huddles fearfully at his side and Ceolwulf, the blue light still glowing faintly in his eyes, is only making the situation worse.*
Vardamir: *Wearied with travel, worry for his charges, and grief for Ceolwulf and his lost friend Aldir...and maybe that minstrel girl who sang for him...Vardamir is not in much better shape.*
Vardamir: *But it is up to him to care for the others. Forcing a merry smile, he squeezes Candon's shoulder, looks reassuringly to the women, then turns to Ceolwulf* Well, we could still turn back. But perhaps it is good that no one shall look for us in these mountains. At any rate, my friend, you shall be unfit to fight any fiends we meet if you do not eat. Perhaps I can use the powers of my elvish blood to cast a strengthening spell on our food *he jests*
Ceolwulf: Vardamir, do not deceive yourself! *Ceolwulf exclaims as he continues to work the whetstone over the edge of his sword* I would wager that Lord Ashtum's men are on our trail right now with hounds!
Ceolwulf: *Finally satisfied that his sword is sharpened sufficiently, he wipes the blade off on an oily rag and places it back in the hilt. Then he stands there silently for a while, lost in thought. He unfastens his sword belt and puts the sheathed blade against a nearby tree. He looks at those gathered around the campfire, all of them lost in their own thoughts. Then he goes over to Debanni* Does the lady mind if I sit near her?
Debanni: *Debanni toyed with the food in front of her, taking a drink from the wineskin once in a while. Staring ahead with an aching stomach into the fire. Shivering uncontrollably at times despite the heat from the flames. She must have been so deep in her own thought in her mind and feelings from her heart that when she heard the man speak she jolted in her spot and gasped. His voice had taken on a different tone now and when she looked at him briefly before she lowered her head, his eyes did not have the same wild stare. She had to remind herself of his question and then to answer.* Sit. Go ahead *she bit her lip*
Ceolwulf: If you are unwilling *he says as he stands there and looks down at her* I will sit elsewhere *he says coldly*
Adibe: *Adibe looks up at the man who stands above them; her swarthy cheeks have a shimmer in the hazy gloom, the light of the fire reflecting off the trails of her tears. She does not approve of him wanting to sit so near to her daughter, for though this man seemed tolerable at first, she had later discovered that he was prone to fits of madness. And he was not one of their people and therefore untrustworthy; he was strange, tall, with pale skin and light eyes, not a bit like a man of Harad.*
Adibe: *His nearness to them and his interest in Debanni make her nervous, moreso than she already is. She knows how terrified his presence makes her daughter, she can hear the fear in her voice. She narrows her eyes slightly at him, studying his every movement with a sharp and keen gaze. But what could she do, she, a woman, not much less terrified than her daughter, in the presence of two strong and treacherous men of the West?*
Debanni: *Perhaps she just should have let him move away from her but she did not want to offend him or upset him. She nods* Sit here if you wish *she gazes into the hypnotic fire*
Vardamir: *Vardamir scoots a little closer, his eyes on Ceolwulf, who seems threatening...but Vardamir is not sure what he will do. Beads of sweat form on Vardamir's forehead. There is no way to predict what Ceolwulf's mood will be, whether or not he will be violent, how he will act in any situation anymore...and Candon constantly needs comforting... but Vardamir must tell him lies about this. Now he decides to make sure Ceolwulf does not harm the women...just in case.*
Ceolwulf: *The night is quiet, except for the sounds of birds far away and the chirping of night insects. One of the horses snorts as it eats grass and gets a bit of dust in its nostrils.*
Ceolwulf: I have never seen a woman like you before *he says softly as he looks into her eyes, sparkling with the glow of the fire* you are so different from the women of my land.
Debanni: *Debanni looked over to him and met his eyes and she felt like it was all happening to her again. Algund, though his mannerisms were more leering and his tone more of a taunt, had spoken of her appearance and of her culture. He showed his hate for her people. Took out his hate on her. He hated her too. And she felt her heart pound, thinking it was to be the same with this man too. She wanted desperately to believe it would not be true. To his statement she did not know how to respond. She only looked over his face and then back to the fire.*
Ceolwulf: *He clears his throat* Lady, there are only seventy miles between us and freedom. Why are you so frightened of one who would give that to you? *he says as he stares into the fire*
Vardamir: *Vardamir shakes his head. Ceolwulf can be so imperceptive sometimes. The girl has a brother and a father--does Ceolwulf not still miss his brothers and father?*
Adibe: *Adibe shifts her position upon the ground, protectively drawing nigh to her daughter. She continues to stare at the man, both fear and warning in her gaze.*
Debanni: *She rolled his words over in her mind. She did not expect him to understand. After all he was her captor. She ran her hands up and down her arms. Still there on her upper arms were small bruises from Algund's painfully tight grip. She was thankful for the darkness. She kept her hair down and in the way of her face at times for her cheekbone was slightly discolored from where he had struck her a few times. Beneath her necklace, a scab had formed where Algund had teased her with the tip of his blade while taunting her and laughing....so heartless....his stare down to her....and this is why she feared. And this is why she would fear him. There was no reason at this point to not be cautious*
Ceolwulf: *He looked at the woman sitting close beside him by the fire, her face in profile now. He had seen her dark hair, now uncovered by a veil, and he wondered at the deep color of it, so unlike the manes of the Rohirric women, and her dark eyes, touched with khol hinted of dark, exotic things in far away lands. But still... she was a barbarian, one of the enemies of Rohan, but still, he felt a fascination for her*
Ceolwulf: Lady *he said* I am taking you to Rohan. You will be free there
Adibe: *"Free in Rohan?" Adibe thinks. "Free to die from other causes than age, childbirth, pain, loneliness or grief. What freedom is that? Just a different method of death. There is no freedom there, and we will all perish."*
Vardamir: *Still watching Ceolwulf's eyes, Vardamir is surprised at the gentleness, almost reverence he sees there. Suddenly he finds his own throat tightening inexplicably as many images flood his mind at once: the smile of Sidhiel, the laughter of Ceolwulf during the time when he still possessed some mirth...the tender affection between Aldir and Lilandra, and images of his own family, and his home in Gondor.*
Ceolwulf: Vardamir *he tells him * the horses should be moved. They have eaten all the grass where they are tethered. Take them and move them away. *For some reason, he feels uncomfortable with his friend so close*
Vardamir: Very well *Vardamir nods and gets up. Candon rises too and looks at him, so Vardamir takes the boy's hand. They go to the horses together*
Vardamir: *Vardamir unhitches the horses' tether lines. He takes one and hands the other to Candon. They start walking to a different area with more grass, leading the horses.*
Vardamir: Well *he sighs a little wearily* this is turning out to be quite an adventure, isn't it?
Candon: *Candon walks over the damp grass, the moisture from the dew seeping in through the seams in his leather shoes. He looks up to Vardamir, and asks in a whisper, concern in his voice* What is wrong with him... with Cearl? *worry and fear are in his eyes*
Ceolwulf: *"The woman does not like me," he thinks. "But what should I expect? Elfhild did not really care for me, or at least she never gave heed to my advances, or any indication by look or words that she felt the same for me that I did for her. Perhaps that is part of my curse - that all women will shun me. If it is, then so let it be!"*
Ceolwulf: *"But still, the dark haired woman is very fair," and he wishes to reach out and touch her hand, but does not, for he knows the rebuke that would come.*
Vardamir: Well...*Vardamir tries to think of words that will be truthful, but will not scare Candon.*
Vardamir: *He tries to keep his tone calm and even, in time with their steps* Our friend has suffered many long torments and grievous tortures, and it has made him.....ill.
Candon: Ill? *he asks*Vardamir: *Vardamir lets out a long breath through rounded lips. Why must Candon ask so many questions?* Yes, ill...in his mind, in the way he sees things.
Debanni: *Adibe continues to stare at the light haired man as he gazes at her daughter. Though she knew not what she could do if the man was to attempt anything with her. Protest and surely they would both be killed. Debanni watched the little boy disappear with the other man. He seemed very comfortable with him. She felt her skin seemed to be burned with the eyes of the man next to her and also her mother. She looked at Adibe and tilted her head to the side and let her lips curl up into a soft smile. Trying still to bring comfort to the woman she adored so much. Adibe's eyes seemed to brighten for a moment. Debanni turned her head to the man next to her. His eyes were on her and she did not know what to say. His expression did not seem mad anymore, but melancholy*
Ceolwulf: *"But still, maybe, just perhaps, there would be no harm in the attempt. I doubt, very much, that Vardamir will bludgeon me over the head with the flat of his sword, and," he thinks and laughs, "my friend is not so reckless, and if he did, I could soon show him who was the stronger. Perhaps Elfhild was so cold because I did not show her more attention. Who knows what this woman is used to. Who knows the way of the Southrons? I will see what she will do."*
Ceolwulf: *He reaches his hand out tentatively, and runs a finger across the top of Debanni's hand, gently stroking.* Lady, are you afraid of me? I assure you I will not hurt you by touching your hand. A touch is but a small thing *he says softly*
Candon: You mean he is mad? *Candon asks Vardamir fearfully*
Debanni: *Adibe shifted from her relaxed position to more upright and gasped softly, tense in sudden fear at the man's action. She knew Debanni had suffered some terrible fate when with the captor who found death, and she felt guilt and sadness for not being able to do something about it. Debanni's eyes widened and looked to the hand that rested on hers then to his eyes. She wanted to find her voice now*
Debanni: You...are not going to hurt me? *her voice is soft and a bit uneven and she shivers*
Ceolwulf: Does this hurt you? *he asks as he continues to stroke the top of her hand* If you do not want me to do this, I will stop *he says and smiles to himself*
Vardamir: *Vardamir pauses long before answering Candon's question, for he has difficulty saying the words* I fear that he is. *he sighs* He is mad sometimes...but sometimes he is not. He is a melancholy man by nature, but on occasion he can jest, and his heart is good and loyal. You need not fear him.
Vardamir: *Vardamir thinks but does not say: And I will protect you from him when you do need to fear him. I fear that his times of sanity are becoming few and far between.*
Candon: *Candon gasps, then his voice lowers to a whisper* He was cursed by a dragon, I just know it. Or perhaps doomed to be cursed by a dragon. Both will drive a man to madness, tis said. *he nods to himself, pleased with his own judgment upon the matter.*
Ceolwulf: Lady *he says* when I first beheld you, your face was covered by a veil. Then when it was taken away from you, I beheld your beauty. And indeed you are very lovely, if I may be so bold as to say it. Such beauty should not be hidden, but should be displayed so all may look upon it and marvel
Vardamir: *Vardamir laughs* Not exactly cursed by a dragon...but...*lowers his voice dramatically, realizing the boy will like this* cursed by the Dark Lord himself!
Vardamir: *And so am I, Vardamir thinks...I wonder when the doom shall overtake me in my turn.*
Candon: Oh! *Candon gasps* then it is an evil doom indeed. No wonder he is mad!
Adibe: *Adibe twitches, gnawing on the inside of her cheek. This strange man is taking far too much of an interest in her daughter. She hesitates to speak, for she fears that it would incur his wrath and send him plunging into another fit of madness.*
Adibe: *But she must do something. She speaks in a low, quiet voice, measured and calm.* Please, sir, you are frightening my daughter.
Adibe: *He is also acting like a barbarian, but she dares not say that.*
Ceolwulf: My lady, *he says to Adibe* if I have offended, I am indeed sorry *he says and withdraws his hand* Perhaps I should take my blanket and rest. It does not seem that my company is welcome around this campfire!
Debanni: *He speaks of her veil and she has not been without it in company of others since she was younger. She hears her mother's interjection and looks to her and then back to the man as he immediately takes his hand off of hers and does not cause a scene in doing so. He seemed more taken aback and hurt rather than angry*
Debanni: *Her eyebrows furrow in confusion. She knows Algund would have quickly hit her mother and then her and do more than touch her hand. She clears her throat and feels awkward*
Ceolwulf: *Ceolwulf sighs. Another failure. Why does he bother? Failure at everything, failure in battle, failure with Elfhild, failure at shaking off the voices he hears constantly in his mind. A failure. That is what he is. He cannot even touch the hand of a woman without failing.*
Adibe: *Adibe looks up at the man, studying his face to see if his expression changes to one of twisted, contorted raging fury. At least he pulled his hand back and quit touching her daughter's hand unbidden when she had asked, which had been surprisingly courteous for a brigand and a man of the West, but it could be just the calm before the storm, a time of peace ere madness strikes. She does not know what to say to him, how to temper her words for his ears, or if this is some trick or treachery. She continues to look at him warily, waiting to see what he will do.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir and Candon tie the horses' tether lines to trees in a short expanse of grass. Then the two start back for the camp.*
Vardamir: *Before them they can see Adibe and Debanni and Ceolwulf, who hangs his head, looking crushed by some defeat. Another sigh escapes Vardamir.*
Candon: *Candon walks at Vardamir's side through the twilit haze of the night, the world shades of dim and dark, with the nearby mountains black as coal sticking up in sharp peaks. The lad looks at Ceolwulf's dusky, brooding form in the flickering campfire, and he thinks of the legends that he has heard of Turin the Dragonslayer, and how he was led by a cruel doom to tragedy and death. And this man was cursed by a - he shudders - Dark Lord too. His eyes widen and he wonders if he will suffer the same fate? But Turin died by his own hands; he prays that will not happen to Ceolwulf and that he shall slay the dragon (should he meet one) and live to tell the tale!*
Ceolwulf: *Sighing in frustration, Ceolwulf gets to his feet* The night is upon us... we have a long journey tomorrow.... into what, I do not know... but it is my advice that we all get such sleep as we might before we face the unknown path before us. There are blankets in the packs of the sorrel mare. Take one and go to such place as you find comfortable.
Ceolwulf: *He looks at Debanni and her mother, then fetches his sword and sword belt where he had placed them by the tree, walks to the pack saddle on the ground, takes out a blanket, walks into the woods and makes his bed for the night.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir stoops to Candon* I am going to talk to him for a bit. Stay here; it won't take long.
Candon: *Candon nods* I do hope he shall not go mad again! *..."and slay you unwittingly like Turin did Beleg..." comes the grim thought but he quickly shakes it away in a shudder.*
Debanni: *She watches as the man walks away from her just like that. No advances or grins or lecherous stares. He did not ask her to follow her or try again to touch her. She watched the breeze blow his long, light hair and went to her mother and hugged her. The man's uncertainty and tone about their journey filling her with dread. She did feel tired and wondered if she would find a peaceful sleep. She stood and made her way over to retrieve a blanket and smoothed her hands through her hair and rubbed her hands over her face and winced as she touched the bruise on her cheek. Her fingers lightly pass over it and she sighs and meets her mother who walks over by her and gives her the blanket and then gets another for herself*
Ceolwulf: *Ceolwulf spread his blanket upon the ground and lay down upon the side, then pulled the other side over him and lay there looking up at the stars. On either side they were flanked by the dark shapes of the eaves of the White Mountains. He looked over to his right where his sword belt lay and reached out his arm and lay it over the hilt. He felt comfort at the closeness of the sword and hoped this night would pass peacefully and that his Ring would not start speaking him again or the voices echo in his head as they did every night when he tried to sleep.*
Vardamir: *Vardamir walks over to Ceolwulf and kneels next to him. Vardamir feels a twinge of fear when he notices his friend's hand on his sword, but he brushes it away. He gets up his courage and whispers* Ceolwulf?
Ceolwulf: What is it, Vardamir? *he asks with irritation*
Vardamir: *Normally, the graver the situation, the more Vardamir jests about it; it lightens his spirit and the spirits of others. But now he does not jest, for he knows it would only anger Ceolwulf...and he does not feel much like joking anyway. He does not remember ever having to bear such a heavy burden--Ceolwulf's madness, the boy, and the women of Harad.*
Vardamir: *He sits back on his heels and speaks in a gentle tone* You said tonight that this place casts a gloom upon you...and we all feel the same. We all fear tomorrow's journey. There is a possibility that we will get ourselves and the others killed. Why not turn back?
Vardamir: We have made it thus far. We can support the women, the boy, and ourselves on what food we catch and gather. We have learned well over this last winter *he smiles* We have all the time in the world...and we have proven good at evading our pursuers, as well. Let us go by the safer route, my friend. Do you truly want to risk death? Is that really what you want, to die? Would you not rather go back to Rohan?
Ceolwulf: Go back, Vardamir, and kick out the fire. Perhaps we never should have built one at all. But go back, I tell you! *he says wildly* Saddle the horses! Keep the girth loose! Something stalks the night!
Ceolwulf: *He pulls himself into a sitting position and looks into the dark* Die! *he says* Yes, I want to die, but not now. Do as I said, or I will get up and do it myself! *His voice is filled with wild emotion*
Vardamir: *Ceolwulf's looks and words send pangs of grief through Vardamir's heart. He jumps backwards in surprise and fear* All right!...I am going!
Vardamir: *He holds his hands before him, palms out defensively, and backs toward the fire. Then he turns and quenches the flames with a bucket of water from the stream. He looks around their surroundings frantically, searching for an intruder, then worriedly back to Ceolwulf. Candon comes up beside Vardamir again, and he puts an arm around the boy's shoulders.*
Debanni: *She shakes out the blanket and the bunches it up in her arms and looks over to the two men. They are for the most part out of earshot but she watches their mannerisms. All seemed fine until the scene looked like it turned tense and the dark haired man walked quickly and heavily with an expression of upset and disappointment to the fire and dumped water on the fire. Just when she finally felt a calm come over her and ready to rest, it was extinguished as quickly as the burning flames and she was once again nervous*
Adibe: *The sudden stir amongst the camp is greatly disconcerting to Adibe.* I wonder what is going on? *she whispers, more to herself than to anyone*
Vardamir: *Vardamir watches Ceolwulf sadly, but despairs of persuading him to think any differently. He looks down to Candon and attempts another smile without much success.* Well, we might as well go to bed. It's late, and I doubt there will be any more dramatics tonight *he jokes but his voice trembles.*
Vardamir: *He fetches two blankets, one for himself and one for Candon. They settle themselves a short distance from Ceolwulf and the two women. They lie on their sides, facing each other.*
Ceolwulf: *Somewhere, far away in the distance, a hound bays, and Ceolwulf is quickly on his feet. He reaches down and grabs his sword and fastens it about himself* Vardamir! *he shouts* Fetch the horses! Get the women mounted! We must ride! They have found us!

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