O Emira, Where Art Thou?

[Vilik]

In spite of Vilik’s sincerest effort this would be yet another sleepless night in succession of many others. His long talk with Envin had been quite unsettling and Vilik could no longer bare lying in bed waiting for the green eyed woman or the one he called Dindaedel to find him. He and the paladin agreed upon setting forth to Minas Tirith and thus he would have little time to find Emira in the morning. And so, wrapping his cloak around him, Vilik crept quietly out his window down to the street below.

The hour was late and Vilik found himself alone as he slipped through the shadows. Even had the streets been crowded he might have gone unnoticed as he hurried from one dark corner to the next. He had a gift for being stealthy. When he was a boy he used his talent to surprise his friends, or scare them out of their wits. As he grew older he found the talent useful when he was down on his luck and in need of a quick meal or a few coins. He had become so good over the years that he could move around almost as if he were invisible when need be. And with the likes of the shape shifter and silver haired man on his trail, invisible was exactly how he wished to remain.

A quick once over of the street assured Vilik that he’d not been followed. Without another thought to those that might pursue him, Vilik slipped past the sleeping night watchman and into the stable door. As one might expect, Edoras’ stable was huge. It had to be, for unlike most towns where owning a horse was a luxury, even the poorest of Rohan’s peasants seemed to own a horse.

A lamp would have sped his search, but given him away. And thus he crept from stall to stall, softly whispering Emira, in hopes she would respond to his familiar voice. His search was for naught though. With every stall he passed his call was met by silence or the occasional neigh of a startled horse not his own. Emira was nowhere to be found in the city stables… at least the public ones. There was the matter of the Rohirrim camp outside Edoras’ gate however. There were horses to numerous to count grazing the pastures outside the city, and many more were sure to be stabled in the camp as well.

Gaining access to those stables was a whole other mater though. He would not be so lucky to find a Rohirrim asleep at his post. And even though he was confident enough of his ability to sneak into the camp, if he were to be caught the Rohirrim would not look kindly upon someone they perceived to be a horse thief. Alas, all his plotting was moot now, for the first rays of the morning sun began to spill over the window into the stable. If he was hesitant to breech the camp at night, it was out of the question to do so in broad daylight.

A feeling of utter defeat came over him as sat down on a bundle of hay. He’d know all along that he had but a snowflake’s chance of finding his wayward horse, but, until now he hadn’t lost hope. Perhaps it was time to accept the loss. With the gold the old man had given him he could buy a fine new horse, ride away from this entire mess and be better off for it. And he would do just that if not for the feeling deep within his gut that it would do nothing to solve his problems. No, he could not lose hope just yet. He had to find Emira.

[Rhiannon]

Rhiannon had woken from a long night of semi-peaceful slumber. She had been roused from time to time but she hadn't quite been able to account for it. All in all, what was left of her night had been a restful one. Even now, as the maiden made her way to Edoras' grand stable, she felt refreshed. The street was still deeply shadowed, as the sun had not quite risen enough to give light to the world. As she reached the building's entrance, the guard posted outside was just beginning to awaken.

He leapt up when he realized Rhiannon was approaching and gave an embarassed nod of greeting. Rhiannon returned the gesture, surpressing her grin as she slipped into the stable. Lighting a lantern, she began to make her way down one of the long rows of stalls toward where Antherne was being kept.

That was when she heard the sound.

Instinctively, Rhiannon hesitated and her hand wandered toward the dagger that hung loosely to her belt. She moved slowly forward, and as she rounded a corner, she came face to face with Vilik. A soft yelp of surprise escaped the maiden's lips as she took a step backward, but when she realized who it was, she rolled her eyes. "M'lord, you should at least make yourself known when someone approaches." She laughed softly and glanced over her shoulder. "Still on your search for that horse, are you? Or have you found her?" Rhiannon looking briefly into the stalls nearby wondering if one of them held the fellow's reclaimed mare.

[Vilik]

Vilik’s jerked up as he stable’s large door creaked open. Though the sun was rising and it would not be uncommon for someone to be fetching their horse, Vilik had to be sure his pursuers had not caught up with him. The stable was designed such as to have a long wide path down it’s middle with row after row of stalls jutting off to the sides. Vilik crept slowly towards the main path , crouching low as to be hidden by hay and horses. When he neared the edge stood with his back to a large pillar and peeked out around the corner. In the down the path there approached a woman, though it was not yet light enough to see her face. The woman’s figure was not unlike that of the green eyed lady and this thought made Vilik for his dagger.

When he stepped out from his hiding spot it was with great surprise that found Rhiannon, and from the look upon her face, it was with great surprise that she had found him.

“Forgive me, m’lady, if I startled you.” He smiled, relieved that it was her and not the other. “And yes, it seems my search continues. Emira is not here, I have checked every stall.” He shook his head, “It was a fool’s hope to think she would be I suppose. That horse could be leagues away from Edoras, or even gone from Rohan all together by now.”

[vanya]

But while he spoke to the beautiful Lady of Rohan, he felt a familiar sense creeping cold over his skin and a soft voice, only heard by him whispered into his left ear: "I am with you..." A quiet giggling followed this words and there was no indication that neither, the voice or the the laughing was come from the Lady in front of him.

[Rhiannon]

Rhiannon laughed softly, still relieved that it was Vilik and not some assailant. She nodded at his apology to show him that she accepted it. The maiden loosed her grip slightly on the lantern that she held in her hand, then carefully hung it up on one of the hooks aligning the stall in which Antherne was being held. "Well, do not give up hope, m'lord. I imagine you will find her when the time is right."

She rested a hand atop the stall door, unlatching it and taking her bridle down from the hook outside of it. "So, to where were you travelling before this mishap?" Idrial slid the bridle up over Antherne's pearly white head. "Was it to Edoras anyway?" There was a casualness to her voice as she asked the questions out of mere curiousity -- not an ulterior motive.

[Vilik]

Vilik looked around as Rhiannon spoke, searching for the voice's origin. Rhiannon, it seemed, had not heard the voice though, and so, not wanting to be rude, he dismissed it from his thoughts for the moment.

"What my destination was to be seems of little importance now, for now my plans have changed." Though Vilik's words were directed to Riannon, the message that he spoke was truly a response to the whisper. "My comrade -- the strange fellow from the bar last night," he interjected, "and myself are to travel to the province of Dale. It seems he has some manner of business there and asked that I accompany him along the way."

Vilik's hoped his lie would be enough to send the green eyed woman and her chilling whispers away from their true destination. The paladin had an aura about him, and somehow Vilik knew that the woman's seemingly all seeing eyes could not have penetrated that aura to hear their plotting the night before. With any luck it would at least throw her off enough to buy them time to learn more.

"And you? Have you already seen all of Edoras that you wished to see? Or do you not trust that the people of Rohan can care for you horse, and have come to check on his safety?" He smiled as he jested with her.

[Rhiannon]

Rhiannon frowned ever so slightly as she noted the brief bewilderment that showed upon the man's face. Inwardly, however, she shrugged it off and smoothed Antherne's forlock over his bridle. The horse whickered softly in response, and nudged her with his head. With a laugh, Rhiannon fished a bit of carrot from her pocket. Antherne grasped it in his teeth eagerly.

"You head to Dale then? I don't believe I've ever been there. I'm sure it is an interesting enough place, though." Rhiannon shrugged as she turned to face him. When he spoke of horses, a smile crept onto her face. "Oh, I know all too well how fully capable the people of Rohan are in caring for a horse. I have never feared for Antherne's safety here." She paused, pondering his earlier question. "My stay in Edoras I had already planned to be brief. From here I head southward to Gondor. Minas Tirith, in fact."

[Vilik]

"I have traveled there twice before. You should try and visit it sometime." He then changed the subject, not wanting to elaborate any more on the lie he had already told. "So, what takes you to Minas Tirith? Will your stay in the White City be as brief as it has here, or will you take your time and experience all the city has to offer?"

[Rhiannon]

Rhiannon glanced up as she listened to the man speak. She fiddled with the material on one of her long, tan sleeves before forming a reply. "I am a wanderer, Vilik. I stay in no one place longer than I desire or need. I have been to Minas Tirith many times, but the length of my stay I will not know until I have arrived. Though, I imagine it will be longer than my stay here in Edoras. I find it a great city." She smiled, her thoughts wandering for a moment before a second nudge from Antherne brought her back to the present.

Rhiannon looked up again, her eyes full of curiosity. "What about you? What takes you to Dale? Certainly interesting business for an interesting place," she added with a laugh as she led her white steed out from the confines of his stall. Rhiannon tethered him deftly in the hallway and slipped past Vilik for a moment to fetch the horse's saddle. Swiftly, she swung it up onto his back -- it was a light one, you see -- and paused to glance over her shoulder so that she could view Vilik's response to her questions.

[Vilik]

"Oh, interesting I suppose..." He scratched the back of his head, thinking. "To be honest, I am not quite certain of my friends business, only that he desired company on his journey." Vilik reached up and pet the stallion's mane as he grew restless in his stall. "It seems that you are not the only traveler." He smiled, "I believe he is ready to depart. I shouldn't keep you, and I myself have much searching to do and little time to do so. Fare the well on thy journey, m'lady." Vilik gave a short bow before turning to leave. He hated to be rude, but the matter of finding Emira was a pressing one... and besides, this was not the last he was to see of Rhiannon. Of that he was confident.

[Rhiannon]

Rhiannon looked up from adjusting her saddle on Antherne's back as the gentleman began to excuse himself. She nodded in response, glancing over her shoulder as he turned to leave. "I wish you well in your travels. And also in the search for your mare. May you find her soon," Rhiannon smiled and returned her attention to the fastening of the saddle as Vilik disappeared through the stable door. Once she'd finished, Antherne stepped forward anxiously. "Yes, boy," she whispered into his ear. "We leave soon." The maiden gently patted the stallion's cheek.

Swiftly, she ducked beneath his head and walked a short distance down the stable aisle. She halted her steps at the front of a new stall and opened the door easily. Rhiannon unhooked a second bridle from outside the stall and slipped it over the head of a roan colored mare. This horse, she was to deliver to the stables in Minas Tirith. The beautiful mare belonged to a friend in the White City, and she had only to return her.

Carefully, Rhiannon lead both horses out of the stable and into the ever brightening streets. As she'd expected, Vilik was nowhere to be seen. It seemed he'd meant it when he'd said that his companion was eager to depart. His steps had been hurried. Rhiannon shrugged the thought aside and swung up onto Antherne's back easily. She tethered the reins of the mare to her saddle and the second horse lead easily alongside as they began to pick their way through the streets of Edoras. Rhiannon gave one finaly sweeping glance to the city as she reached the gates, before she rode out onto the plains. And thus began her journey to Minis Tirith.

[Vilik]

Vilik watched from his perch atop the stable as Rhiannon galloped away with not only her own steed, but another marvelous animal in tow. It seemed her fortune was doubly better than his own. He might even have chanced to ask if he could ride along with her to Minas Tirith, being that she did have an extra stallion at her disposal. Chances are she would have gladly lent him use of the steed, but he dare not ask. She had been kind enough to lend him a ride here and he would not repay her with the perils they might face if she where to become entwined in this dark plot as well.

Soon Rhiannon was out of sight and Vilik climbed down from his hiding spot and set off to continue his search. The sun had risen fully by the time Vilik made his way to the Rohirrim camp just outside of town and he knew he had little time left to find the mare.

The search proved difficult though, as none of the Rohirrim he questioned knew of any stray mares in their possession. Nor were they willing to let a stranger as himself wander through their stables in search of such a mare. This left him with little choice but to sneak past them and into the stables. Though, before his search was barely underway something crashed into the back of his head. He spun, disoriented, and found himself face to face with a Rohirrim guard with a plank in his hand. Before he could think to run or fight the man swung again and when Vilik awoke he found himself bound and gagged. A group of soldiers were arguing nearby over what should be done with him. One fellow felt the punishment for a horse thief should be death… the other felt chopping off his hands would be sufficient punishment. Either way it seemed, what was left of Vilik’s luck had finally run out.

[vanya]

A hissing startled the Rohirrim. It came from everywhere and grow to an earsplitting noise. The air went cold and the men could see their breath. They looked at them self and down to Vilik, not knowing what to do. Green mist rouse and filled the air and the cold was going to be biting sharp.

The men got worried kicked Vilik and tried to run, but the mist was getting thicker and gloomed. A trembling and panic befell them and they fell to their knees, begging for help, but the fog covered them and in its mid the shapes of creatures appeared. Vilik couldn't see what happened to the men, only their desperate scared cries he heard. And after a short while silence fell and the fog dissolved into thin air, leaving just the corpses of the Rohirrim on the ground.

[Vilik]

Vilik's eyes widened as the green mist withdrew, sucked back into the nothing from which it had come. In it's wake were the scattered corpses of the men, their faces ghost white with the expression of terror now etched upon them forever.

Vilik struggled against his binding, but to no end. The Rohirrim had not been lax on tying the ropes about his wrists and ankles, and with arms and legs pull tightly behind him, there was no chance of reaching his dagger.

He grew exhausted of the struggle and then resigned himself to his fate. He breathed heavily for a time, then a smile formed on his lips and he began to laugh.

"Bravo, you wench!" He hissed out. "Now I am to be held accountable for not only horse theft, but for murder as well." He laughed more. "How nicely doth that fit your wicked scheme?" A look of defiance spread across his face, and his voice grew bitter. "Alas, even with my death you will have the idol, wench. Of that I assure you."

It became aparent after some time that the wench had left Vilik. He lay there, resigned to his fate, waiting for the next watch to come along and find him here along with their fallen comrades. Envin, he thought, would have to see through the remainder of the journey without him... or would he? A light went off in Vilik's mind as his thoughts turned to the paladin. He prayed (an act he had never resorted to before) as he rubbed the jewel atop the ring given to him the night before. If ever there was a time he needed the paladin to rush to his aide, it was now.

[Envin]

Envin stumbled as he hefted up his mace. He had only felt the pull of the ring once before, far in the north, but he knew its feeling by now. Alarms went off in his mind as he realized that his friend was in need. He let loose another oath and then took off as fast as he could, toward a place he had not yet tried. He ran as often as he could, walking only when he might be observed, and at last he arrived near the stable. He neared the Rohirrim camp, and swore yet again as he realized what Vilik had gotten himself into. Watching carefully the movement of pickets and patrols, he snuck in past them, around the tents where men were camped, and made his way into a stable. Soon enough he found Vilik bound before him. He chuckled in spite of himself as he set about releasing the man's bonds. "Next time wake me," he chided with a grin, "I'll not miss a little lost sleep."