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| 6 Fourth Age: Returning Home; [ Open ] | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: 14 Oct 2008, 07:06 PM (663 Views) | |
| Deleted User | 13 Nov 2008, 03:29 PM Post #11 |
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Milo glanced around the Green Dragon. Hobbits had gathered tonight, like many nights, to enjoy a pint and good company. The usual cacophony of singing and dancing was coupled with the chatter of many excited voices. “I will tell you all I know, but mind you I left Gondor three months ago. My news may be outdated or even irrelevant now, though I think it is not.” Milo leaned closer to Pippin, his face grave and his voice lower than others in the tavern. This was not information one shared in a loud voice or spread to the wrong people. Whether the coming darkness spread north remained to be seen. Until then, Milo would not trouble the Shire with it. “It is said that not all of Sauron’s servants were destroyed. I do not mean Orcs and Wargs, Pippin. They call this servant the Lieutenant of Barad-dur. He walks abroad now, and has even sent Orcs to Ithilien and Rohan.” Milo’s voice lowered even more, so that he was barely whispering. This was news he wanted no one in the Shire to know, except those few who might understand the world beyond and that Milo was not mad. “What is more, Pippin, there is a magician in Eriador. I saw him with my own two eyes. At Weathertop, he abducted my companion. Though she was returned by morning, she was not the same. She has spoken of his to King Elessar, but … I am not sure where she is or if she is well.” The Hobbit paused before going on. He did not want to overstep his bounds with the Thain, but if he did not say this now, he would never have the courage to speak the words again. “I believe that Gondor now needs all its Knights.” |
| Deleted User | 14 Nov 2008, 11:50 AM Post #12 |
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”I will tell you all I know, but mind you I left Gondor three months ago. My news may be outdated or even irrelevant now, though I think it is not.” The urgency of the news seemed to outweigh its expiration date, although Pippin did not say so, fearing that the interruption would lead to silence. No doubt that it was an important matter that they were now discussing; not pleasantries that were meant to pass on and forget a week later. He stiffened as Milo leaned in, praying that the two of them didn’t look too suspicious, although they were well out of the view of others. “It is said that not all of Sauron’s servants were destroyed… They call this servant the Lieutenant of Barad-dûr. He walks abroad now, and has even sent Orcs to Ithilien and Rohan.” The lively atmosphere of the tavern seemed to dull with Milo’s words. Pippin's face seemed to pale, in the wake of this ill news. Lieutenant of Barad-dûr? he thought, his brows now furrowed in thought and worry. No doubt this moniker deemed him a wicked man. In addition, but this man was able to compel the orcs to enter the realm of Gondor – under King Elessar himself, no less. Not only that, but the Rohirrim was no easy lot to deal with, either. He trembled inwardly as he pictured the destruction that the orcs were now creating, ravaging the countryside unchained and free to do as they pleased. “What is more, Pippin, there is a magician in Eriador. I saw him with my own two eyes.” “Magician?” he whispered back, alarmed at this news as well. A pit settled deep in his stomach as he listened to the rest of Milo’s explanation. No doubt that this anonymous figure would be a threat to the Shire if he managed to come here from Weathertop. At least he knew that the King was informed. ”I believe that Gondor now needs all of its Knights.” The Hobbit blinked in surprise at Milo’s words, unsure of how to respond. How he longed to leave the Shire and experience adventure once more. Now would be the time. A chance was in his grasp – the ill news would be the perfect excuse for his leaving… and yet… He looked down worriedly, his eyes making contact with Milo’s map once more. “This magician of yours concerns me…” Again, he thought of the tragedy that could potentially befall the Shire if he appeared in their midst. He couldn’t possibly venture out now… not when this ominous threat was in the vicinity of Eriador. Silently he wished that Merry was here at the moment… The Hobbit was bright and sensible at times of distress such as these. He was quiet for a moment before he resumed, maintaining eye contact with Milo once more. “Did you catch sight of any of these dangers you speak of?” he inquired. “And what of the magician… surely you know of his appearance…?” |
| Deleted User | 18 Nov 2008, 03:42 PM Post #13 |
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Pippin said he was concerned about the Magician, and rightly so. The Wizards, like Gandalf, declared themselves as users of magic. This one, however, had slunk through the shadows and abducted a girl. The threat recalled the time when Big Folk had invaded the Shire and locked him in Michel Delving. Milo flushed when Pippin asked him for specific details. He felt sure other Hobbits who left the Shire would have had something to show for their disappearance. Bilbo had returned with treasure, Merry and Pippin had come back taller, even Sam Gamgee had been able to grow a new Party Tree. “The Magician … it was dark when I saw him. He looked like any of the Big Folk, I suppose. They all look the same to me.” It was a terrible thing to say, and his mother had slapped him on the wrist many times for using that phrase. In truth, Milo had been too afraid to catalog the Magician’s features. He’d been scared out of his wits and had run away. “Of the dangers in Middle-earth, few have seen any proof in the form of Orcs and destruction. What I did see was the fortified gate of Minas Tirith closed and a battalion of Rangers reassigned to Arnor. Talk in the streets is that King Elessar believes there is a threat. That is good enough for them.” |
| Deleted User | 22 Nov 2008, 12:35 PM Post #14 |
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“The Magician… it was dark when I saw him. He looked like any of the Big Folk, I suppose…” The Big Folk? Pippin thought. What on earth are they doing near the Shire? He knew that the Shire was no longer the secluded realm he had left six years ago, but it was a curious thing that anyone would be inclined to visit an area whose populace was mainly made up of hobbits. Not only that, but the Big Folk tended to stay near the areas of Bree… Normally Pippin was against such language, but he was so troubled with the news that he paid no mind to it. “… What I did see was the fortified gate of Minas Tirith closed and a battalion of rangers reassigned to Arnor. Talk in the streets is that King Elessar believes there is a threat…” This news certainly alarmed Pippin more than it should have. “The gates are closed.” It was more repetition for his sake than a question. After the War, he presumed that Minas Tirith was always open to travelers, and yet… This was grave news, indeed. Now what to do with it? Surely he did not have the utmost power to do something about it alone. Am I to tell Sam about it? he thought to himself. Or perhaps Merry? Or even both? Certainly it would be the most sensible thing to do, but the news would surely cause a ruckus in the Shire that hadn’t been known for nearly half a decade already. No, he wouldn’t say anything about it until a clear sign of danger appeared in the Shire… Something abnormal that would never happen otherwise. “Unnecessary panic would be unwise,” he said at last, although he couldn’t help but sense a small irony come in. He wondered briefly what Gandalf would say… Would the Wizard find it humorous that Pippin was telling another what was wise and unwise, seeing as how the Hobbit was a fool himself? “I shall keep silent and wait for danger…” His voice faded abruptly, unsure of whether or not it was the right decision. Mentally he instructed himself to tell Merry at the very least of what he heard… but even that option seemed to crumble in its resolve. He let out a sigh. “And what of you, Master Brandybuck?” he said, shifting the conversation to, perhaps, a lighter atmosphere. “Will you remain as well?” |
| Deleted User | 3 Dec 2008, 02:10 PM Post #15 |
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Milo let Pippin mull over the thoughts which must be filling his head. The affairs of rulers, and the decisions they must make, were not his realm. He quietly finished off the last of his ale while the other Hobbit came to some conclusion. Pippin suggested remaining silent unless danger presented itself, and Milo could not argue with that. “I will take my lead from you then, Pippin. I’ll not speak a word of it until you do.” The Hobbit thought briefly of his siblings, though he shrugged off the idea of telling them. While he was sure they would be tolerant of their eldest brother, he was not entirely confident tolerance meant they would allow him to leave again if he told them about the true dangers of Middle-earth. “No,” Milo said quickly, “I will not remain here for long. The Shire is my home, and I love this land very much, but there is a world beyond our borders that has seen far too few Hobbits.” A new inspiration had struck him. He would not just journey across the lands of men and dwarves learning from them, but would bring Hobbit-lore to them. “We are woven into the tales of men and dwarves. Now it is time for them to hear some real Hobbit lore from a real Hobbit. I shall do my best to share what knowledge I have.” Milo set down his empty mug and grabbed the straps of his satchel. “I’ll take my leave now, Pippin. I will stay in the Shire for a few weeks yet, I think. If you are around Bucklebury or Brandy Hall, perhaps we will meet again.” |
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