Weather Hills

[Alcorad]

The name among Men for the north-south range of hills that lay in central Eriador, and in ancient times marked part of the border between the lands of Arthedain and Rhudaur. Weathertop, or Amon Sûl, lay at the southern end of the range. Amon Sûl has been restored and once again stands as a great watch tower to the men of Arnor

[Boobers]

The Eagle that had taken Albesteen from Annuminas perched lightly on the top of Amon Sul's tower. Albesteen dismounted it and waved to it after a short farewell. The Tower was heavily defended by Trebuchets and hot oil that would be poured onto any enemies that would attempt to climb the newly built walls around the tower.

Albesteen found a bed that had seemingly been prepared for him by Arnor's guard at the tower. It seemed that Doren had already sent word of his arrival as if he half expected the acceptance of the wizard. He shook his head, chuckling to himself. Doren was indeed an odd man, but a noble man none-the-less. The Wizard layed down on the bed removing his outer robes and placing his staff against the bedpost. When he closed his eyes he could see the hosts of the enemies tearing through he realm of Middle Earth. He knew there would be an attack. They all knew but some dark force did not let them see it. He walked to the small arched window of the tower and gazed towards the full moon that now seemed to look to the northern lands of Angmar fenced by the Misty Mountains and the Ettenmoors. Albesteen quickly walked towards his robes wich were carelessly flung onto the floor. He fumbled through them and picked up the palantir. If Morsereg did have one then things needed to be arranged. Hopefully he had infiltrated Angmar's inner circle....

[Alcorad]

CONTINUED FROM "THE INN AT THE PRANCING PONY"

Doren smiled at the thought of hunting in the exotic lands of Haradwaith but understood it's dangers. The Haradrim were natural enemies of Gondor and were not often friendly to rangers or any people of the West for that matter. He remembered tales shortly after the war of the ring when he had travelled to Ithilien and shared tales with Faramir about ventures they had with their comrades. The ambush on the traveling armies of Haradwaith was the most interesting of all news, and of course Doren had his own stories to share of orcs that ravaged the lands of Arnor, and the great hunts he lead against them with many of the Dunedain, but all of these were frail in comparison to the stories that Aragorn had shared with them concerning the hunt for the wretched creature that was known as Gollum. In the days shortly after Aragorn's corronation there was not a care in the world. At least not for Doren.

"I see that hunting in the far south is far more interesting than in the north. Surely you cannot deny the thrills of the Vales of the Anduin. The fear of being ambushed by men of Dunland or by orcs from the mountains, while hunting vicious wargs that could rip your flesh from your body without even straining their necks. Truly a thrilling hunt."

He found himself wondering when they would arrive. He had often travelled to Weathertop but not recently on foot. He often had his companion, Alafas to ride with, or another trustworthy horse from the stables of Annuminas. It was good to have the company of another that could speak with him, though Doren did feel he had a special connection with animals.

[Foxfoot Lonebuck]

Fox was suprised that the ranger kept pace, figuring the man was used to riding most places. Fox, on the other hand, walked everywhere he went. Sure, he was skilled at riding. But, when you have eternity, there is never a point in getting somewhere to quickly. Thats how Fox saw it anyway. "Do you have horses waiting at Weathertop? If not I have quite a sum from selling my furs in Bree. If we are lucky, maybe we'll run into some traders willing to part with a pair of steeds."

[Alcorad]

"There are stables at Weathertop and if the stable boy received word from Annuminas then my horse, Afalas should be waiting there aswell as a fine group of other steeds. The Dunedain have become more than vagebond travellers since the corronation of King Elessar. Bright days are in store for the race of men."

Doren could feel small rain drops fall on his shoulder and with the the dropping temperature it would snow soon. He drew his hood further over his face and quickened his pace. "Come we should press onward before it begins to snow. If we are forced to seek shelter for the night I don't beleive we'll be eating dinner."

[Foxfoot Lonebuck]

A gust of cold air swirled by as the icy rain began to fall harder. As the wind changed direction Fox keen sense of smell picked up musky odor, not far away. "If you don't pick up the pace a bit more, you may just BE dinner." Fox pulled the bow from his back, nocking an arrow as he passed Ilus.

[Alcorad]

Doren heard a slight rustling in the leaves behind him and quickly unstrapped his bow and notched an arrow. His keen hearing traced a moving figure near them and from behind them Doren could feel the cold stare of familiar yellow eyes. He turned to see a starving warg approaching them, snarling feircely. "Stand still and it won't hurt."

[Foxfoot Lonebuck]

Fox spun around and let loose an arrow into brush behind Ilus' back. A shrill welp echoed through the air and the bushes waved back and forth as the wounded wolf fled. He nocked another arrow as he kept moving, wondering how long Ilus would aim at the starving beast in front of him before he released the arrow. "Would you hurry up? We're almost there."

[Alcorad]

(NO WAY I'M GETTIN ME A PET WARG!! AND I'M NAMING IT ELMO!!!)

"I feel sorry for it." Doren lowered his bow and replaced the arrow in his quiver. "This poor beast is no danger to us. In fact I think we should help it rather than let it die in disgrace."

(Keep in mind wargs are not necessarily evil. they are mockeries i think of wolves but the're just wild animals. Doren is a goody goody.)

[Foxfoot Lonebuck]

As Ilus lowered his bow, the staving beast leapt and lunged for his throat. Fox did not hesitate, letting loose an arrow that pierced the beasts eye, killing it instantly as it fell inches from Ilus' feet. "There you go, a quick and merciful death. Better for him to die here and now than to spend the last days of his life so sick from starvation that he cannot even walk. That wrag was walking dead, only a matter of time for him."

[Alcorad]

(HEY!!! I WANTED TO KEEP IT!!)

Doren looked at the pathetic creature and shook his head in sorrow. The wilds were dangerous and survival of the fittest applied to all aspects of wild life. He searched the brush for tracks and found none. It was only a few stray wargs that had wondered from the mountains.

Doren leaned down over the beast and looked towards Fox. "We can either make for Weathertop and leave this beast where it lay, or we can cook it and try and find shelter for the night. Whatever suits you best."

[Foxfoot Lonebuck]

Fox looked at the sickly creature and thought of how bad it would taste. "I doubt your stomach could handle it, and besides, that other wrag will be back. Better he come along and feast on his friend than one of us in the night." The feezing rain had now turned to falling snow and Fox's thick cloak was nearly soaked through. He looked around at the forest floor, all the kindling and windfall wood was soaked completely. "If I'm to be cold, wet and miserable, I may as well be walking too."

[Alcorad]

Doren sighed and progressed through the forest, taking not of any impressed mud, or any shifted leaves. There weren't many paw prints yet but the warg was sure to return for them. Doren looked up towards the sky and noticed that the stars were veiled as was the moon. It would be a long and dark night.

"I take it you have travelled in such conditions often. It would be quite a change to our surroundings if I were to accompany you to Harad. From the northern winter frosts to a land that knows only Summer. Quite an adventure I'd say."

[Foxfoot Lonebuck]

Fox frowned, getting a bit annoyed. "Indeed, many times.... and its just as miserable as it always is.....I would welcome the blistering Harradrim sun....." He muttered to himself, quickening his pace even more. In the distance he caught a tiny flicker. A grin might have crept across his face, that is if the snow hadn't picked up even more. "We are here, I see a fire on the horizon."

[Alcorad]

Doren continued through the trees and passed into a clearing. It seemed that a new path had been cleared recently and the journey would have been much more convenient had the located it sooner.

"I see the soldiers of Amon Sul have made us a path. I am greatful to them but I would be many times more if we had actually travelled along it." Doren sighed and fount his way into the hills and at the top for all to see were the bright lights of Amon Sul. Weathertop.
"It seems we have arrived my friend. The journey is shorter than I remember but I am not complaining." He gestured for the elf to follow as they made their way towards the stone gate that had been built around the Hill.

The moon shown bright in the sky, seemingly warding away the clouds. It's light illuminated the snow flakes as they walked and it seemed to all that witnessed that scene, that there were thousands of lights dancing as they descended to the warm earth."Behold the beauty of the North. It is unlike anything you've ever witnessed, is it not?"

The guards of Amon Sul looked out to see Doren and Foxfoot approaching. They approached them with weary eyes and rested their hands uneasily on the hilts of their swords. "Who goes there?"
Doren smiled and held his hand up in a gesture of friendship. "A traveller from Annuminas hoping to find shelter."
The guard understood and led them to the gates. He tolled the bell and the gate was quickly opened so that the ones outside of it could move quickly into shelter.