7 Fourth Age: At Glaring Noon

7 Fourth Age: At Glaring Noon; [open]
Topic Started: 24 Feb 2009, 11:48 PM (91 Views)
Deleted User	24 Feb 2009, 11:48 PM Post #1
Deleted User	The sun flash was bright above the Misty Mountains in sky clear as the diamond once mined so far below. The wind here was a gentle updraft and the blue firmament was absent of clouds; cerulean above, turning to the color of sheep’s wool on the horizon. It was cool this far up above the crags, though the sun came down in all brightness, and glared off of the snow capped peaks of the mountains. At glaring noon, the eagle was a golden form in the sky. Gwaihir’s eyes shone as dark crystals. Just beneath him were the rock prows and cirques that hid the mountain inhabitants from his view in the daylight. He knew the foul orcs and goblins hid from him, for his presence was omnipresent in these parts. The only thing visible was blue-white snow light giving way to the paw prints of wolves. Letting out a loud clack in the empty sky, he now surveyed the forest to the west of him, which further off gave reign to fields and grasslands. Winds came from thirty six directions, and ruffled feather, and his eyes focused in on a songbird flying far below. Beneath he surveyed the moving canopy of forest, and he swooped lower. He was hungry, and perhaps now he would hunt a deer, for his beak longed for the tearing of flesh, and the taste of meat. If all else failed and the animals of the forest were successful in their hiding, the shepherds herds awaited him to the west. He began to circle more lowly, awaiting a smell or a sound on the air, but none were to be had.
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Deleted User	8 Mar 2009, 04:29 PM Post #2
Deleted User	The young messenger by the name Esra had been riding hard and with only little sleep for several days in order to reach the Misty Mountains in his search for the Gwaihir, the greatest eagle of them all and lord of the sky, as fast as possible. He did not know why he had been given this mission, but the King had made it absolutely clear that no time could be wasted as he had entrusted the letter intended for Gwaihir to the messenger's custody and stricktly instructed him not to open it until he found himself face to face, if a word like that could be used when describing a bird, with the great creature itself. It was noon now, as far as he could tell from within the shadows of the forest, the Sun’s beams only forming scattered pieces of light on the ground here and there, making it difficult to actually determine the exact time of day. However, the border of the forest seemed to be close at hand, so the uncertainty would not last much longer. Luckily. The darkness of the forest made him feel strangely uncomfortable. Esra had had to be on constant guard throughout the entire trip, for orcs were still to be found in these parts. Therefore, the messenger did not carry the common __ of a Gondorian traveler; it would draw too much attention to him and if there was something he did not wish for on this trip, it was attention. Especially of the unwanted kind. And so it was that the Gondorian brought the mare to a halt once he was free of the shadow of the trees, thus able to see the vast sky once more. The sky seemed .. somewhat higher there, up in the north. And the autumn air was much fresher, all crisp and light. The messenger smiled, but at the sound of a loud clack coming from above, Esra rose his eyes, squinting them slightly and putting a hand against his brow in order to shadow them from the beaming light of the Sun. And there, quite far up above his head, he saw it, wild and wonderful he was to behold. As a child he had heard many stories about this legendary figure and his hands trembled slightly at the mere thought of actually meeting the giant. But there was no time to waste and therefore he filled his lungs with air in order to address the bird. “Gwaihir, Lord of the Sky! I bring words from King Elessar, High-King of Gondor and Arnor! I must speak to you!”
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Deleted User	15 Mar 2009, 04:18 PM Post #3
Deleted User	Bodhaer sat with his back against a tree and a small fire burning before him. A few strips of rabbit meat lay well cooked on a rock by the fire, and his mouth chewed at another. The rabbit meat was now several days old, carefully preserved, but it had lost most of its juicy goodness. Nevertheless, the sustenance was welcome. Bodhaer relished the peace where he sat on the Misty Mountains. Nothing but the sounds of nature, the whispers of the wind and the cry of an eagle surrounded him - no orcs or goblins bothered him, and most fortunately no manic ents were assaulting him. Months if not years had passed since then - Bodhaer could never be sure, for time seemed so ephemeral to him these days - but he still felt wary of enticing the wrath of another shepherd. The call of a young man disrupted the silence and startled the mage. In a moment he had swiped his remaining meat from the rocks and extinguished the fire. He had strung his bow and laid the tips of his fingers on the fletching of an arrow before he laid eyes on the source. The man announced himself as a Gondorian messenger seeking the Lord of the Sky. Bodhaer's eyes traced the gaze of the young man upward, and indeed a great eagle soared above them. He relaxed his grip on the bow and let his other hand fall free of his quiver. The great eagles were good creatures, and as of yet Bodhaer had no reason to suspect the messenger of ill intent. Bodhaer rested a hand against the tree and watched the two thither, curious as to the message born by the young man. He took no great pains in hiding himself - even if he did, it was as likely the eagle would spy him, and even more likely arouse wrong suspicions.
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Deleted User	16 Mar 2009, 05:52 PM Post #4
Deleted User	Then he heard it, Lord of the Sky, he summoned by a messenger of King Elessar. He glanced, and there in a space between the trees, he saw the man who had announced himself. Though King Elessar had no rule over the birds of the sky, he was a friend of Gandalf, and Gwaihir was loyal to him. Gwaihir had known Elessar since the days when he had been Chieftain of the Dunedain of the North. In an instant, the great bird circled once, then streamlined his body, and came swiftly to the ground, aiming for the space between the trees, talons outstretched to catch himself in the dirt. The man would have enough sense to give him room, he hoped, for who would stay in the way of such a great predator? As the bird's talons sunk into earth, he ruffled his feathers, then gave Esra a great bow. "Greetings, messenger of Gondor," the eagle said, in a voice as of a human, but deeper, and shrill as a birds call at the same time. "What news from the South is important to those of the skies?" he questioned tilting his feathered head. Just then Gwaihir turned to the right. He smelled another; there was more than one human, though the other must be hiding himself in the woods. The Sky Lord knew instantly that they were not traveling together, for the manner of dress and the scent were not of the same. "And you, traveler, announce yourself as well," he said, looking straight at the man standing by the tree.
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