RP#56-Mists Unknown (private rp)

[Anamatar IV]

A warm, sunny day was blooming in Dol Amroth. The gulls were plentiful and the waves crashed upon the shores with pleasure. Men, women, and children worked and played on the beaches. But one dock man spied from afar four black ships coming. They approached the shores at great speed. The children were silent, the ship-wrights idle. Soon the black ships sailed up onto the shore and stopped.

The man who had seen them walked up to one of the ships.

"Greetings, fellow sailors," he called to the deck of the ship. "What brings you here to Dol Amroth?" The man fell dead with three arrows. Out of the four ships sprang hundreds of hideous Orcs, clad in black mail and bearing great scimitars, axes, and bows.

Women and children screamed and tried to flee. The Men grabbed knives and charged at the oncoming Orcs. But all would die.

The Orcs torched small homes and sunk great ships. They cruelly slew and then hacked the bodies of men, women, and children alike. They tore apart docks and burned the boats with people in them. They ravaged the shore line.

When the Orcs felt that they had caused enough death and destruction they boarded their great ships and set sail again.

As the ships sailed beyond sight, a great cavalry of the house of the Prince of Dol Amroth rode from the castle. But they were too late. When they reached the shore they saw a dismal sight. Houses were still on fire, tips of boats still sinking were seen in the water. And bodies littered the sand. No one was alive who had seen the attack; no one there was who survived it.

[Galdor]

The knights of Dol Amroth walked across the dismal land, searching for at least one survivor, but none could be found. Amongst the Knights who had ridden out were some Elves of the Grey Havens who had come under the leadership of Prince Galdor to help with the ship building projects that Anamatar, Herald to the Prince of Dol Amroth and captain of the armies of Amroth, had been supervising.
And so the Knight and Elves alike began picking up the bodies and taken them to where some of the other knights had already began to dig graves. Others still were digging through the ashes that had once been people's homes. Many of them cried as they worked, for most had had friends and family who had been killed.

Galdor had been searching through the bodies, hoping to find one that was still alive whom he could heal. But soon it became apparent that there were no survivors. And so he instead sought out Anamatar, it wasn't long before he found him. He had just sent out some men back to the castle to give news of the tragedy.
"Where did they come from Galdor? How many wars will we still have to fight with orcs? Who now has now the power to command them? Sauron is no more, and the Mithril Knights vanquished the Blue Wizards many years ago. How could there be such an army of these vile creatures living undetected in this world?"
"I know not my friend, there may be none who can answer these questions. But if none know where the orcs have come from, then they must be found and destroyed. That, is the one thing I can tell you for sure now. Indeed, there have always been to many questions without answers, to many." Galdor trailed off sadly as he looked around him once more.
Anamatar looked up once more, his face was set like stone.
"Well, it will do us no good standing here talking about questions that have no answers, let us help our men."
With that Galdor and Anamatar grabbed some shovels and began to help with the many graves that had to be dug.

[Arathin]

Anamatar's personal bodyguard, Urolòkëo Suule, picked up a shovel and joined him in the grim task of buring the dead. Her visage was as hard and cold as stone, but from one of her fine grey elven eyes a single tear fell into the grave she was digging. Urolòkëo Suule keeps pausing in her work and gazing about her and out to sea. She was extremely careful to keep her task of protecting Anamatar as her first priority as the Prince of Dol Amroth would have no hurt to him that she, Urolòkëo Suule, could prevent.

The noon day sun continued to drift through the sky, as if it was unconcerned about all the dead the Knights and Elves were buring far below it.

[Anamatar IV]

Soon the many bodies were burried and great mounds raised. Anamatar set torch to the few Orcs who fell do to stray arrows of their fellow attackers.

"Galdor, Orcs as ruthless as these will not stop at one attack. They will come again," Anamatar spoke to the Elf standing near to him. Anamatar stooped and lifted a great shield borne by one of the fallen Orcs. It had no marking or design. It was just a plain grey, round shield.

"There are no tokens on this Orkish armor that would lead us to know whence they came," Anamatar continued. He turned and looked at a burning home with a man kneeling by it-The skulls of the occupants sticking through the window. anamatar walked to the weeping man's side.

"Take rest, Aden, Swift-handed. You could not have protected your family throughout the entire attack, no matter how valiant indeed you are."

[Arathin]

Urolòkëo Suule stood gazing out to sea. She still kept half an eye upon Anamatar, but she knew there was nothing truely left in this ruined village to harm him... "Unless..." she thought ruefully to herself. "He decides to through himself into one of those burning homes... but then not even I can help him fore he will truely have lost his mind." Urolòkëo Suule shrugged and continued to gaze out to sea. Suddenly she left the shore and came to Anamatar's side. "We must leave this village soon. If we hope to find out whence these Orcs came from, we must leave soon and follow them into the sea."

[Nenya Evenstar]

But Anamatar did not seem to hear, for he was gazing upon the young man before him, pity in his eyes.

"My Lord," Aden wept, "this is a hard blow to bear! If only I had reached here sooner I could have saved some of them... but no, there was nothing I could do! I was only able to save a few, my family not included. Your compassion, my Lord, is comforting." Aden bowed his head.

"Come, Aden Swift-handed," Anamatar told the kneeling man, "on your feet! I believe that I am going to sea. To sea to find these infidels and avenge our kin! I feel that you would like to take part in this venture to avenege your own family?"

Aden stood on his feet, his grief plain to see, but through his pain could be seen resolution and hate -- hate of the foul creatures who had done him so much harm. "Yes, my Lord," was all he said.

[Anamatar IV]

"Fetch your sword, Aden." Anamatar told him. Aden dug around in the ashes of his home. The fires and coals seemed not to burn him-or the pain of his loss was greater than the heat. He pulled a glistening sword out from the grey dust. The sword was yet unscorched and it gleamed in the sun. And it was at that moment that Anamatar beheld that in light of the attack the sun still shined down upon the tilled earth.

"Galdor!" Anamatar called. "Away at my docks I believe there may be ships unspoilt. Please set sail with one ship and any of your Elves that are willing to risk the calling of the sea." Galdor walked off.

Anamatar paced to the surf of the waters. The foam, stained with blood, laped at his feet.

"Lord?" Anamatar heard a voice from behind. He turned. "Lord, where wilt thou go?" Urolòkëo said. "Surely thou doth not know from whence these fell beings came and the Sea is great."

To which Anamatar replied:

"We go where the winds lead us. Ossë will be behind us and the clear waters before us." Anamatar suddenly glanced to the inland. He saw from afar the castle of the Princes of Dol Amroth and a lone rider coming swiftly. He soon reached the shores and dismounted. A stout dwarf trodded the sand.

"Who dare rides in the land of Amroth in wake of devestation?" Anamatar cried to the Dwarf.

[Arathin]

Urolòkëo Suule came to stand beside Anamatar. She was silent, but her hand was upon her sword beneath her cloak. She waited for the dwarf to answer her lord, reithing at the fact that until then she could do nothing.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

The Dwarf dismounted his grey steed, tears were upon his face. His mithril jacket was broken and stained with travel, its once radiant gleam had faded to a dull shean only visible in the afternoon sun. His helm was twisted and dented, his gauntlet missing from his left wrist. The one thing that would distinguish this Dwarf from a weathered statue was the gleaming axe upon his back. Its surface was perfect and shone almost as radiant as the Sun herself.

"Lord Anamatar," the Dwarf bellowed admist tears, "I am Lord Dain Ironfoot of Erebor, I have travelled many leagues for 180 days, but it seems I am too late..." With that, Dain Ironfoot wept at Anamatar's feet. Urolòkëo looked upon the Dwarf, at disgust, her hand clutched her sword as she remembered that horrible day, so long ago.

"Stand up, Dain, tell me what you mean when you say 'I am too late,'" Anamatar commanded. A cold fury was in his eyes. Aden stood by a ruined building a sword in his hands, the same fury in his eyes, yet colder. The Dwarf told of his encounter with the mysterious messengar upon his mountain and his offer of wealth for the destruction of Dol Amroth, of the Orcs that attacked the next day after his refusal, of the Dwarf blood spilt at the hands of the Orkish invaders. Dain told the Lord of the many perils he overcame on the journey from Erebor, and how he gave the lordship to his wife, Dame Kilease.

Dain looked around in awe, guilt rose up inside him as he saw the many burnt corpses and ruined houses.

"I have failed, Anamatar, I have failed, and my journey has been in vain!" cried the Dwarf, whom wept once again upon the blood-stained sands.

[Anamatar IV]

"Though the purpose of your journey has gone in vain your journey will be all the more fruitfull for vengence upon these attackers," Anamatar spoke. He motioned for Aden and Urolokeo to lower their swords and then continued.

"What can you tell us, Lord, of the messenger? Would that the messenger wore no cloak and presented himself it would do us great help." The Dwarf looked up.

"His voice was raspy, as a windy day on the beach it seemed. As if mines of salt blocked his voice. And he was tall. Twice the size of me! And I am no short Dwarf, mind you," Dain said stoutly. "He was vieled in a cloak but his eyes were uncovered. They were grey...and cold like the stones of Erebor."

"Bore he any weapons?" Anamatar inquiried.

"Naught but a sheathed knife-shorter than the mattocks of the Dwarves," the king of Dwarves replied.

"And what of the Orcs that attacked you?" Anamatar asked another question.

"They bore no token of identity. Their shields were great and they were clad in heavy mail. They were shorter than the messenger yet tall still. Nothing more can I tell you."

[Arathin]

Arathin obliged Anamatar by removing her hand from her sword hilts, but she scowled down upon the Dwarf in such a way as to assure him that she bore him nothing but ill-tidings and mistrust. She drew herself up to her greatest possible height, towering over the Dwarf. All pallour drained from her visage leaving it to look colder than the ice that formed every winter upon the tips of the mountain home of the Dwarves that had attacked her people. She held herself stiffly, appearing as hard as dragon's heated scales and harder than tempered steel mixed with iron. Her grey eyes flashed with a flame that had been fueled her whole long life upon vengance and hatred. Anamatar glanced at her and saw her great mistrust, but didn't understand it. She had adamently refused to tell me any of her past beyond the absolutely necessary.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain looked up uncomfortably at the tall Elf-maiden in her fury. Her eyes were like the embers of a great forge, boring deeper and deeper into the Dwarf's soul, her anger ripped through him like an evil storm. Dain had never feared an Elf in his long life, but he feared this maiden almost as much as he feared the moving trees in Fangorn Forest.

"Lord, if I may, I would like to aid you in tracking these Orcs. Not only have they attacked your fair city, but mine as well. I propose an alliance between Dol Amroth and Erebor, an alliance that will bring our cities together to combat this menace as one. I am not proposing war, nay, but if you ever need assistance, Lord Anamatar, Erebor will be at your side. I will be at your side. Elves and Men are fine companions in a quest for vengeance, but a Dwarf is always a useful friend in need," requested Dain. Urolòkëo rolled her eyes at the Dwarf, Dain snorted in response. "I will go repair my armor in the remains of your smithery," Dain said, looking around at the ruined city, "Now where--?"

"Over there, Master Dwarf," said Anamatar extending a long arm in the direction of a half-burned building. Dain trotted away, sadness and determination in his eyes.

[Anamatar IV]

As the Dwarf turned away to the smithies Anamatar spun around and faced his guard.

"I know not your past," he said harshly, "nor for what reason you wish to pluck this Dwarf's meat from his bones but let it stop, please."


Begging your pardon, Lord," Aden said, "but I don't trust this Dwarf as far as I could throw him. What makes you not believe he is a servent of those that we pursue? How know we that he does not lead us to a trap?"

To which Anamatar replied: "A Dwarf who journeys to Amroth never has dealing with Orcs." Aden argued against this and Urolokeo supported him and yet still Anamatar argued against they. The debate continued for some time.

"He will claim lordship of Amroth when he strikes down the Prince," Urolokeo said. "He comes to claim the throne!"

As Anamatar started to answer this remark the blast of horns was heard. A grand ship was sailing to the shore. Its hull was white and its masts tall. The saild glinted in the sun for they were indeed studded on the edges with diamonds and pearls. Galdor had come with a ship wrought by the elves of wood and silver. On the ship with Galdor came ten Elven sailors.

[Nenya Evenstar]

"My Lord," Aden said, his voice earnest, "I will follow you wherever and to whatever end -- even with this dwarf."

Anamatar nodded, but his attention was now upon the beautifully gilded ship sailing into harbor. Aden, upon seeing that his master's mind was turned elsewhere, ran to the dock and began yelling orders to the few men that remained to man the ships that came into the bay. The ship's anchor was thrown down, and the boards were thrown out from the ship's side for its sailors to reach the land. The Elven folk walked down the plank, their Elvish faces glinting with wisdom. "Perhaps," Aden whispered to himself, "perhaps they will know if the dwarf is true."

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain's eyes gleamed with greed and excitement. Even at times of despair, when all else is lost, a Dwarf's heart can be corrupted by so much as the glint of a gold coin. The smithery was ruined, but the forging tools and anvils remained unharmed. These tools were of fine quality and they would serve their purpose for the repairs Dain had need of. He first removed his helm, copper it was still, but its terrible golden horns had chipped and twisted in many long battles with stray Orcs and wild Men. His jacket was next laid upon the largest anvil in the smithery, its mithril links broken and dull. His gauntlet was missing from his left arm, the result of a near-fatal encounter with a pack of Wargs. His other was full of teeth marks, and was laid along with his jacket.

The Dwarf removed a small obsidian hammer from his remaining gauntlet. "Felak! Work your magic, uzbad ai-menu!" Dain bellowed, and the hammer obeyed. Instantly, the Dwarf and his crafting tool moved together as easily as a seagull glides through the ocean air, and Dain hammered every dent and chip from his helm, every link into place, and made every scratch unoticable. He forgot all his troubles and sorrows while he worked, the very fires of Aule seemed to encompass him with a desire to make things beautiful and full of new life. His jacket was brushed clean with a wire-brush lying upon the scorched earth, a gauntlet for his bare arm was reforged with melted iron found in the ruined store-room. The Dwarf walked out of the smithery, shining as bright as a strain of mithril in the lost mines of Moria. Shadows had started to grow on the east side of the burned buildings, noon had passed, the day was growing late. Dain trotted over to the company, a look of determination upon his haggard face. He was eager to leave this ruined wasteland of death and despair.

[Arathin]

Urolòkëo Suule didn't walk forward to greet these elves, for they were Sinda Elves and she a Dark Elf. The two factions hadn't spoken to either's knowledge for many generations of men, but knew she would rather speak to one of them than that Dwarf, whatever he may be good or ill. She remained very near Anamatar as he greeted Galdor and the other elves. Urolòkëo Suule herself exchanged respectful nods of elder elven fashion with the elves, but spoke no words. She secretly knew that to bandy too many words with these elves might reveil her hidden past. As the Dwarf returned from the forge, Urolòkëo Suule scowled darkly at him, but made no attempt to speak out against him nor more Anamatar away from him. She was satisfied to note that a few of the other Elves were exchanging dark looks over the presence of a Dwarf.

[Galdor]

Galdor greeted Urolòkëo and then went on to greet Dain, and even exchange a few words with him. Much to Urolòkëo's displeaser he persived. As everyone prepared the ship Galdor kept a close eye on the dark Elf, there was something about her that he didn't trust, he could feel darkness lomming inside of her. And though he didn't think she was evil he privitely instructed his Elves to treat just as they would the others, but to keep a close eye on her.

Galdor pushed through the crowd of workers until he found Anamatar.
"Come, I have many maps laid out in my cabin. We will need to study them and prepare what courses we will take before we set sail."
Galdor and Amanatar boarded the ship and made there way to Galdor's cabin where they began to plot there courses on the maps.

[Anamatar IV]

After long words with Galdor Anamatar came back out from the ship.

"Urolokeo, Dain! Come! We leave soon," He called aloud. Galdor strode off of the ship behind Anamatar.

Suddenly a harsh yell was heard and Galdor screamed.

"Demon of the sea!" a woman wearing green and brown clothes snarled with her sword against Galdor's throat. "I will kill you and all your plumagers one by one." With that she raised her sword swiftly. The Elven sailors fitted arrows. Anamatar drew his sword.

And things might have gone ill, had it not been for Dain Ironfoot. For at that moment the Dwarf tackled Galdor's attacker to the white sand and took away her sword. But the woman struggled.

"One who killed the innocent is upon us and you hold me down like a beast?" She cried. Urolokeo muzzled the woman's mouth with her hand. Anamatar walked over to the woman, now calming down.

"Do you know not the difference between the Orcs and Elves?" Anamatar said softly. "For this is not the race that attacked Amroth but rather the race that repelled Orcs throughout the ages. Speak! Who are you and why do you draw swords upon a prince of Elves?"

To which the woman replied: "I am Drusilia Thorngage. I was born on these shores and it does not bring me joy to see the white sand stained with blood. I attacked this Elf for he comes from the sea and he bears a sword-as did the Orcs."

"well fear not, Drusilia, for Galdor, nor any of his sailors are Orcs yet we seek the Orcs. You have a fire in your heart that yearns only for the fell blood, wilt thou not come with us on our voyage?"

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia slowly calms down, and ceases to struggle.
"If it's a voyage to put the souls of those who were so brutally slaughtered here to rest, it is a voyage I want a part of.... on two conditions. One, my sword is returned to me, and two, the dwarf releases me."
A smile slowly spreads across her face as she looks up at the dwarf, who still has her pinned to the ground.

[Nenya Evenstar]

"My Lord," Anamatar heard a voice in his ear, "the ship is ready to sail." Anamatar looked towards Aden at his side and then back at the pinned woman on the ground.

A small smile played on the corners of Aden's mouth as he looked down at the lady. "Who is this, Dain, that you pin so?"

Dain said nothing but loosed his hold. Aden held out a hand to the lady and helped her to her feet. "Come now, I think this was just a misunderstanding... what do you say, master dwarf? Shall she receive her sword?"

[Arathin]

Urolòkëo came to stand beside Anamatar. Leaning close, she whispered. "If we mean to leave, then it must be soon. Our time on these barren shores have been too long, and our querry is gaining upon us even now. One thing my father taught me was to never stay in the same place too long when hunting. You will lose your querry. As it seems we never had it to begin with, we must leave." Urolòkëo knew full well that not the Dwarf, not the Elves, nor even some of Anamatar's own men, many of whom had seen her in battle beside Anamatar, trusted her. The Dark Elf thought silently on this with a grim smirk upon her lips. Her father Adrian would have left out over the sea upon the wing after the black ships immediately upon reaching the shore and seeing what had happened, she thought her to self, inwardly disgusted at the long delay.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Drusilia glared at the Dwarf, her blue eyes aflame with anger and confusion. Dain glared back at her, drawing himself up to his full height, her sword still grasped firmly in his hand.

Aden, wishing to end the conflict before it started, pushed the Dwarf in front of the woman saying, "Thank you Master Dwarf for returning the sword to its proper master." Dain did so reluctantly, mumbling under his breath.

"All board the ship!" Anamatar yelled. "We leave to find these Orkish invaders and avenge Dol Amroth!"

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia brushes the white sand off of her, still shooting glares in his direction every once in a while, not quite trusting him yet. She followed the others to board the ship. As she walked along, she noticed the man in front of her was the one who had ended the problem between her and the dwarf. She sped up a bit and walked next to him.
"And who," She said with a sarcastic tone as she caught up with him, "might be the starnger who came valiantley to my rescue not so long ago?"

[Nenya Evenstar]

"Why so sarcastic, lady?" Aden asked, "I merely saw a lady in a rather uncomfortable position. I did not think she was being treated with the due respect, especially seeing that she was a rather beautiful lady." He smiled at the blush and frown which crept over Drusilia's face. "That, is who I am: simply a man who rescues those whom he sees need rescued."

Drusilia rolled her eyes. "Enough of this banter!" she said, "I have asked you for your name, not for any of this other useless talk."

Aden grinned mischeiviously and looked down at her, "I am called Aden the Swift-handed, and I am a member of this expidition to hunt the orcs. I am a sailor and will be running much of the ship. Is that explicit enough for you, my lady?" He grinned yet again.

[Anamatar IV]

A shrill horn blared. Shortly after another one rung out across the sea and back. And another and yet one more. And finally one louder than all the rest sang clear in the wind. At the blare of this final horn Aden, Urolokeo, and the men of Amroth who stood by saluted this horn for it was the trumpet of Dol Amroth. Indeed this very horn had sounded clearer than any others when Sauron was overthrown. And now Anamatar blew this horn from the deck of the great ship. Vingilot, the Elves named it, after the ship of old that sailed to Aman across the sea. Aden and Drusilia quickly borded the ship as it slowly pulled away from the shores.

Anamatar summoned all the sailors to the deck.

"We do not stop the ride of our boat! We will sail across smooth waters and choppy ice, if need be. We will sail to the ends of the world before we stop! Vengeance is the flame that give us hope in our hearts and vengeance is the wind that drives our ship forward! May the winds of Osse guide us!" As Anamatar spoke these words the sailors cheered and returned to their work. Anamatar was the last on the deck. He looked up at the darkening sky and saw a flock of white gulls fly just above the masts. Silently they flew, to the horizon and out of the sight of mortal men.

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia walked slowly acrossed the ship, thinking about Anamatar's little pep talk. She then spotted Aden and walked up behind him.
"As you may have heard, my name is Drusilia Thorngage, and I am not one to be crossed." She said in a loud, strong voice. She watched him turn around to look at her, and did her best to keep her voice steady as she thought of something clever to say.
"Nor am I anything of a damsel in destress. I need not any saving. However, we'll see how many times I may have to save you on this voyage."
She raised her eyebrows and smiled playfully, then turned and made her way swiftly in the oposite direction, smiling at the smooth introduction she had just made for herself, and trying not to look back as she went.

[Arathin]

Urolokeo stayed close beside Anamatar. She was glad to be gone from these dismal shores and on the way to venge those lost, but an uneasiness grew slowly within her. She felt a presence near that she had not felt in a long long time. She kept casting glances up toward the sky as if expecting to see her adopted father, the dragon Adrian, on the horizon. 'That would give them all a scare.' She thought to herself, smiling grimly, but no dragon appeared. The uneasiness grew, but she knew not what was causing it anymore. She decided to turn her thoughts from this and to other matters. Anamatar had expressed, though not entirely aloud, that he wished to know what caused her hatred of Dwarves, her vengence against them. How could she tell him? Would he believe that she was raised by a dragon? Would he order her kill then and there? What would his reaction be? Adrian's teachings were no good to her now, and those were the only ones she had. Dark Elf lore would do her no good. Urolokeo silently mused on these things, waiting almost impatiently to be questioned by Anamatar.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain had always been wary of the Sea, her waves and waters were treachorous and full of wrath, and worst of all, they made the Dwarf sick to his stomach. Dain Ironfoot hated the Sea, but he was overcoming his fear for the sake of his people, and the people of Dol Amroth as well.

The Elves and the Men stayed to themselves, with the exception of Anamatar, and paid little or no attention to the Dwarf. Dain felt like an entire day had gone by, but the Sun had barely moved in the afternoon sky. To keep himself busy, Dain started carving Khuzdul runes upon his Dragon-helm for his love for Kilease, his wife whom was ruling Erebor in Dain's place. A dreamy look came upon the Dwarf's eyes as he thought of his wife alone back in Erebor, her beard trimmed and braided with the finest gold in all of Middle Earth. All of a sudden the sunlight was blocked from the sky, Urolokeo loomed over the Dwarf like an angry tree, her eyes fixed upon the Dragon-helm, anger upon her dark face.

Thinking the Dark Elf had deciphered his secret runes, Dain immediatly hid the helm behind his figure; its golden horns still visible from Urolokeo's position.

She snickered, "A curse upon Dwarves and their rash thoughts, and murderous ways!" She walked away, leaving the Dwarf confused and alone once again.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar snuck up quickly behind Urolokeo and pulled her around by her shoulder.

"The eyes of the Men of the Sea never sleep nor dismiss turmoil on their vessels," he spoke harshly. "Speak! What have you against this Dwarf? Surely a lord of Dwarves out of the North should recieve less hostility from the proud inhabitants of Gondor!"

Urolokeo stuttered at first. Slowly the eyes of the sailors were turning towards her and Anamatar. Anamatar had calmed his voice.

"Urolokeo, speak. Stay your fear-there is nothing you can tell me that would cause you ransom of your life."

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden concentrated on the ship's wheel. The ship was heading due south-east at the moment, straight towards the lands of Harad. The wheel groaned, and the rudders of the ship heaved. There it was finished. Wiping his hands on his trousers, Aden looked across the ship's deck below him and through the tall masts with their magnificent sails. He could see the hatch going down into the body of the ship, see the rope and paraphernalia scatter about the deck, and see the sailors and captains going about their work. His eyes settled on a hunched figure, back towards him, staring across the deck and out into the sea. He shook his head. Now there was a woman with pride and a temper. He grinned, and made his way down a short flight of stairs. Suddenly, he noticed that everyone in that portion of the ship had stopped moving and that they were all focused on two people: Anamatar and Urolokeo. Aden's curiousity pricked up, and he too, stopped and listened.

[Galdor]

Galdor walked quickly over to Anamatar and Urolokeo.
"This is not the place for such a talk. Go to my cabin, none will disturb you there." He then directed his gaze to Urolokeo and said quietly.
"I know not what your quarrel with Dain is. But whatever it be I exspect you to treat him civil, whether you like him or not. And if you still will not treat him as I have ask, then as Master of this ship I will have you confined to your courters. Though it would pain me to do so, you would leave me no other chioce."

With that Anamatar led Urolokeo to Galdor's cabin where they remained for quite some time.

[Arathin]

As soon as Urolokeo and Anamatar entered Galdor's cabin, she jerked her arm from his grasp and threw herself in a chair. Anamatar persisted though. "Tell me what you have against this Dwarf or anyother!" He finally ordered. It was a direct order. Urolokeo couldn't refuse to answer that. "Very well," She muttered as she stood up from the chair. "I will tell you, but you should sit down. It is a long tale." Anamatar sat down in the chair that Urolokeo had recently risen from, and she began to pace the small cabin. "I was born in a small village of Dark Elves up North. Very near this very Dwarf's kingdom, in fact. You see my tribe and a group of Dwarves, I don't know which groups as I was extremely young, constantly fought. The Dwarves razed my entire village. I was the only one to survive. My parents hid me in a tree trunk. I was found two days later, still in the tree trunk, by..." Here Urolokeo paused. She leaned against the desk, as if she had lost all strength. She heaved a mighty sigh, and continued. "I was found by a dr-dragon name Adrian." Now that this was out, she became proud in her past. "He raised me like I was his own daughter, and he became the father that was killed when I was so young. You see that is why I have the elvish name Urolokeo Suule. It means Dragon's Breath. My true name is Kristakana, but none except you and Adrian now know that. I was taught well by Adrian, and when I was old enough, found another tribe of Dark Elves to live with, but I always returned to be with Adrian. The last time I saw him, he told me to leave him. He told me to go to Dol Amroth and put myself in the service of its ruler. I did so and now I serve you as your bodyguard. You yourself know how long ago it was that I came to this land, but I cannot forget my family. You may not understand this, but do try. I had to watch in silent horror and agony. I had to watch the Dwarves kill my parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles, and the rest of my entire tribe. I had to bury their mammed bodies with Adrian after he found me. I had to live my early years with a dragon learing at me in the dark and muttering his wonderings on if I was fat enough to make a mouthful yet. I was feared and almost banished by my own people for being raised by a dragon. All because of Dwarves. Answer me how can a simple farming tribe threaten an entire Dwarven kingdom?!?" Urolokeo fell to the floor, leaning upon the desk. Hot tears of long held fear, hatred, and sorrow coursed down her cheeks. Great heaving sobs shook her whole body. She seemed, to Anamatar, to be a child weeping over her parents' bodies. This was the first real emotion he had ever seen her have, and he now knew she truely was of flesh and blood.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain had known about the Dark Elves since he was a Dwarf-lad, for his folk were from the line of Durin the Deathless, and were blessed with long life. Ereborain history tells of when Dark Elves began to populate the Lonely Mountain and at that time, many Dragons started to appear and assail the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, plundering and burning its stony halls until naught was left but ash and ruin. Nain Ironfoot, the Lord of Erebor at the beginning of the Dragon epidemic and Dain's father, accused the Dark Elves of plotting with the Dragons to destroy the Dwarves upon the Lonely Mountain and rob their treasures. Such was the greed and rashness of the Dwarves, that they made war upon the Dark Elves, and savagely murdered the peaceful folk; men, women, and children alike. Dain had even taken sport in killing an Elf at times in his youth, for his father had told him they were servants of the Darkness.

The Dwarf's eyes widened with horror upon hearing the Elf's story as he listened through the door. After the Dragon Wars, the Dark Elves were vanquished from Erebor utterly, for they were conspiring with the Dragons, or so the Dwarves thought. Dain felt pierced by a blackened dart, the poison ripped through his soul as he began to contemplate the great wrong he and his race had done. He leaned against the door, Dragon helm in hand, and knew his people were the cause of this woman's terrible grief, yet knew not what to do to fix this terrible mistake.

In his horror and shock at this new discovery, he let his helm drop upon the deck with a great bang, and the door was opened. Urolokeo's hand was at her sword, her eyes full of wrath.

[Galdor]

Galdor heard shouts coming up from his cabin. Yelling for three of his crewmen to follow him they ran to his cabin, knives drawn. Urolokeo's sword was at Dains throat ready for the kill, and Anamatar was trying to stop her. Galdor summed up the whole sence in a glance and decided that Dain must have come down to evesdrop but was caught. At a word from Galdor two of the elves restrained Dain and one took the sword from Urolokeo's hand.

"Take Dain and Urolokeo to thier courters and place a guard on both of their doors." Galdor waited until the Elves had left with the elf and dwarf before turning to Anamatar.
"Tell me, did Dain over hear something that justified Urolokeo's actions?"
"He overheard the story of her past. A past that she has kept secret from all until now. And therefore though I don't think that it was someting to kill Dain over, I do understand her feelings I so ask that she is not connfined to her room, but rather alowed to roam the ship freely."
"I will trust your judgement my friend, go to her room and tell the guard that she is to be let free by my command. And then bring her here, I wish to speak to both of you as to Dain's fate."
"I will take a few minutes to speak to her about this, and then bring her here." Anamatar said as he went to get Urolokeo.

[Nenya Evenstar]

"Sir," Galdor heard a voice behind him. Turning around he saw Aden standing there, concern on his face. "I do not understand why you are speaking of the dwarf's fate... he did nothing, my Lord, only eavesdropped. Is that so great a sin?" Aden looked at the elf in front of him to gauge is reaction. "I saw the whole thing, my Lord, from up in the mast." He pointed above his head towards the largest mast. "This dwarf was overcome with grief from what he saw... it was not anger. He dropped his helmet and the door opened. The elf had her sword drawn. Dain is innocent!"

[Galdor]

Galdor turned to Aden.
"I gave my word to Urolokeo that she could speak to Anamatar freely without fear of being disturbed. What she told Anamatar was something that she wished none other to know, she was loathe to tell Anamatar himself of whatever it was that they spoke of. I gave my word to Urolokeo, and Dain broke it. I gave Dain the freedom to roam the ship as he would, and he broke the trust I had in him by evesdropping on Urolokeo, it does not matter whether what he heard grieved him or not. And now he has only given Urolokeo more reason then she once had to hate him. Of the things I have charged him with, he is not innocent. I do not wish to keep him in his courters for long, indeed, I do not wish to keep him there at all. I will speak with Anamatar and Urolokeo, and may bring Dain to speak with us as well."
Galdor saw the question in Aden's eyes that he wished to ask but was afraid to voice. "Yes, you my join us also if you so wish."

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia noticed a lot of yelling and commotion coming from the area around Galdor's cabin. Though she longed to know what was going on, she thought it best if she stayed away from it for now. She would ask someone later what was going on. She instead took out the diary she had gotten from her father just before he went off to war and began to write in it about the happenings of the day so far. She paused after the first few sentences, knowing there would be even more to write about later, and put it away again. She sat silentley and looked out over the ocean. She thought about everything this voyage was for, the importance of it. She realized the over all goal for a lot of people here was to acheive vengence. That included herself. She closed her eyes, smelled the sea, and imagined herself when she was very young, playing in Dol Amroth when it was a peaceful, happy place. Before she knew it, she was nodding off, right there on the deck, drifting in and out of dreams of her childhood.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar walked to Galdor quickly.

"I have had too much grievance for one day already. The shores of Amroth have been ravaged and we seek the ones who did it!" he said with hostility in his voice. "And the Prince of Dol Amroth will be worried indeed when he finds his herald and several captains of his navy gone! We will not bring back tidings to him of turmoil on a ship nor of slayings! We are distracted by a petty fued that neither you nor I should have any say in. Our sailors have not turned course once in the past day and a feeling in my heart bids me that we go ever in the wrong direction. I have not summoned you to bring this ship for a pleasant sailing on the smooth oceans! I requested this vessel to sail the choppy waves and strike down each Orc that come between us. Long ago Vingilot sailed to Aman beyond the confines of the world and I will have this Vingilot do the same, if need be.

So please concentrate on the oceans. I would like for both you and I to be present when Urolokeo and Dain talk to keep peace but I wish not for either of us to interfere."

[Arathin]

Urolokeo went to her quarters quietly with the elf, but only after she demanded and recieved back her sword. She sat with the elf outside her door, muttering to herself about Dwarves. Her mutterings sounded horrible to the elf outside her door as they were in Dragon speech, but the elf was not knowledgeable in such things. She silenced her musings as she heard Anamatar outside her door, speaking with the elf. He entered and Urolokeo stood, bowed, and waited silently to be banished from Dol Amroth, sent from the ship, or worst of all, killed so that she might never ever have a chance to see her dear Adrian again.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain was easy to take back to his quarters, for he did not struggle or try to break free. After the Elves left, the Dwarf sunk to the wooden deck like a great shining stone that had fallen upon the Sea floor, never to surface. His eyes were sullen with grief and his mind wandered to the days where he would sit upon his father's knees, watching the Dark Elves being executed.

"I believe this is yours, Dwarf," said Aden with a quick smile, and threw in the Dragon-helm at Dain's feet. Its malicious horns and eye sockets glared at Dain, reminding him of his murderous past. True, the Dwarves were saved from the Dragons, but the Dark Elves had done naught wrong, and Dain's spirit was broken in grief and despair. As much as he hated the Sea and its tossing and turning, Dain needed fresh air to give way to a fresh thought. He broke open the door with the blunt of his axe, and walked up to the deck. He walked towards the silver rail, helm in hand, and looked upon the blue Sea glittering like a thousand sapphires under the evening Sun. Without a second thought, Dain hurled the helm into the water, one of his most prized possessions, after his wife and axe. But now it was naught more than a symbol of the greed and rashness of the Dwarves, which Dain had come to despise. He would have to prove to Urolokeo on this voyage that Dwarves were not the murderous folk she thought they were and their mistake of attacking the Dark Elves so long ago. Most importantly he would have to prove himself, even if he must die doing it.

[Galdor]

"Indeed, our efforts should be concentrated on finding where the orcs came from, and not dealing with petty fight amonst those on this ship. But I am master of this ship, and everything that goes on in this ship is my business. I wish to get this issue resoloved as soon as possible, but I won't let it go on unchecked. You may not like the choices I have made, but that is why I wish to speak with all of you on this matter. So hold your hostility to those who are your ememies, we have been through much together and I would not that our friendship end over such a petty matter." Galdor looked up and saw Urolokeo walking towards them, stone faced "Ah, here comes Urolokeo now. Let us go into my cabin, I will send for Dain shortly." Galdor called for the guard who had been at Dain's door and told him to bring him to his cabin in a few mnute. The four people then entered Galdor's cabin and started talking of the fights between Dain and Urolokeo.

A few minutes later the Elf entered the cabin and said, "Captian, the Dwarf broke out of his room while I was here, he went to the deck and through something into the sea, but he has been restrained." Galdor looked up in suprise and frustration.
"Things would be a lot easer for all of us if that Dwarf wouldn't keep getting himself into trouble. Bring him to us here."
The Elf hurried up on deck to have Dain brought down to Galdor's cabin.

[Arathin]

Urolokeo sat in a chair. Her visage was grim, hard as steel, and cold as marble, but when she heard of what the Dwarf had done, a sneer spread over her lips. "As if one would, or could, expect anything, but greed, cheating, mischievous, and death." She snapped angrily. Her nerves were on edge. She was waiting for the fear, anger, hatred, banishment. It always came once her past was learned. Once it was learned that she was Dragon raised, she was feared, hated. It seemed her name Urolokeo Suule never made sense to people until they knew her past, then they spat it at her like an insult. That was what the Dark Elves had done, that is what all who knew her past had done, that is why she refused to tell her past to anyone in Dol Amroth. Now Anamatar, the man she guard with her life, knew. Now death or at least bannishment would follow, she knew this for a fact.

[Galdor]

Galdor caught Urolokeo's eye and held it, boring deep within her. Finnaly he said. "You look as if we are about to kill you, or do something horrible to you, why? The most I would do to you is have you connfined to your courters, and I doubt very much that I will be forced to do that. The reason you are here is so that we can work things out between you and Dain. As we can't have petty fights amounst ourselves keeping us from performing our best in this mission. Whatever your quarrel with Dain is I ask that it be worked out here in this room as soon as he arives. There is no need for you to fear us."

[Arathin]

Urolokeo snarled at Galdor and stood up from her chair. "You would fear me, if you knew my past. Think well on my name, Urolokeo Suule. I was given it in scorn with good cause by the Dark Elves. You know its meaning. Dragon's Breath. I was raised by a dragon, after that fool Dwarf's race killed my entire farming village of Dark Elves. I had to watch in silent accordance and horror from a tree trunk as they maimmed and murdered my people! My Family!!!" Urolokeo's rage mounted as Galdor's eyes widened. "How do you presume to work out murder? How do you presume to smooth over every hardship, hatred, bannishment, and scorn I have recieved because of these foul Dwarves and their undying greed?" As Urolokeo growled her comments from snarling lips, Dain and Aden entered the small cabin. She shot the Dwarf a glare that was pure venom and daggers; then threw herself into her chair again, refusing to speak a word with the Dwarf or Aden in the room unless commanded to do so by Anamatar.

[Galdor]

It took Galdor a few seconds to get over his shock, but he got himself under control and his face became completely void of emotion. He motioned for Dain and Aden to sit before replying to Urolokeo, and when he did his voice was quiet and kind "Interesting, I have never heard of a Elf being raised by a dragon before. I am very sorry about what happened to your people." Galdor's voice was full of genuine care and earnist desirer to help her. "The village I once lived in was destroyed by orcs, only my sister and I survided. My mother, my father, my family, my friend, all killed by a band of orcs looking for slaughter. I understand also your hate, because of that, and later my sisters death I hate orcs more then you could possibly imagine. But unlike Dwarves I know of no orc who has done any intensinal good. Where there are many Dwarves who have done much good., should who hate all Dwarve because of the few that caused you harm? I can tell you of many Dark Elves who have done great evil, but I do not judge you for what others have done. Think of how you've felt every time someone has judged you because of your past before they gave you a chance, or even after they were your friend? I know how it makes you feel, I can see the pain, and the hate in your eyes. Think of how they made you feel, and then think of how you are doing the same thing to Dain, judgeing him because of what others of his kind have done. I ask only that you don't do to the Dain what you hate, give the Dwarf, and the rest of us a chance to prove our good will and tp help you before you judge us."

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden struggled to keep his emotions from rising. He was angry, and he knew it. He knew for a fact that his anger showed on his face. However, he was able to keep from bursting forth in a splurge of the words he wished to utter -- barely. His face grew red. What was this? He had thought that elves were one of the wisest races! But what was this? He could not and would not ever respect the choices this elf, the Captain of the vessel he was on, had made. Choices that should not have been made. He was keeping a dwarf in custody for eavesdropping... even the very thought made Aden rebound off his seat for a moment with supressed anger. For eavesdropping? Who did this elf think he was? It was most certainly NOT his business to punish a grown dwarf for a simple fault. The dwarf was accountable to himself and no other! He certainly did not need to ask permission of the elf to listen through the door, and he certainly did not need to fear punishment because of it. And then... Aden clamped his mouth shut and his ears popped. Then this elf had the nerve to actually think he could solve this fued between Urulokeo and Dain! What was this? Obviously this stemmed deeper and further into the heart than any fireside discussion could tell. Aden could see the pain written on Dain's face as that noble dwarf sat next to him. He could also see the pain written on Urulokeo's face as she sat spouting out her bitter words. This went far too deep for even one of the Eldar to root out. No, this would take time and sacrifice on both sides. This would take more than a simple talk. And making the two root out their differences in such a fashion would only cause them to become more bitter. Aden could not understand why Galdor could not see things this way. He simply could not. He still did not understand why the two were being punished in any way. Urulokeo's past and feelings were not the elf's business... neither was Dain's. What had already happened in the past had already happened, and there was nothing that Galdor, Anamatar, or he himself could do to stop the passions and emotions that would overflow from such cuts as had been administered. Only time and understanding on the parts of the elf and the dwarf could heal the wounds. Aden coughed from supressed rage.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar placed his hand on Galdor's shoulder.

"Friend," he whispered in his ear, "I will go up deck and steer this ship as I seem fit. I trust you to keep this cabin clean of blood while I am gone." With that Anamatar left the cabin and returned to the deck. He climbed the rungs of the ladder up to the tallest mast and looked out upon the sea. The sun was setting and a golden mist lay about the horizon. He called out to the several sailors working on the ship.

"Hearken sailors!" he cried. "The sun sets beyond the sea and we will sail to it no longer. Turn south and to the east and we will sail this course until the sun climbs above Middle-earth at dawn." He climbed down the ladder as the sailors started turning wheels. The ship turned slowly.

When the boat had fully turned the sky had darkened and the stars sparkled brightly. He espied the bright star of Earendil.

"It is a strange fate," said he, "that on a vessel of like name that Earendil sailed the seas ages ago I see his star in the black sky." Anamatar sighed heavily and leaned over the rail of the ship. A breeze blew his hair back. He followed the bright star with his eyes down to the waters. Where his eyes met the water at the side of the boat a glint caught his eye

"Bring me a rope!" he called. An elf handed him a long rope. He threw it down into the water and fished for it many times. Soon he pulled the shining thing from the water.

[Galdor]

Galdor nodded as Anamatar left and then turned to Dain.
"I am sorry if I have angered you by placing you in your room under guard, but I have no intention of holding you there any longer, or even having to do such a thing agian. I only did so to give myself some time to think about this before I came to a dissision. Aden was angry at me for placing you under guard for only evesdropping, and it seems that he still is." He said throwing a glance in Adens direction. "But you have lived many years and can take resposiblity for your actions. You knew that Urulokeo wanted none to hear her secrets, and you knew also that I asured her that none would bother her in my cabin. Therefore you broke the promise I made to Urulokeo, broke my trust in you, and purposefully listened to what you knew you were not to hear." Galdor turned so that he was looking at both Urulokeo and Dain.
"But as for me the actions of both of you are forgiven, my only request is that you treat each other civily. I understand that your wounds, Urulokeo, go deep, and they will take long to heal. But I do not exspect you two to become friends in a day, indeed I do not even exspect you to ever become friends, though in time you may learn to like each other, who can say? I ask only that you be civil with each other and try to get along. But if you wish to deep on hating each other, then so be it there is nothing I can do to change that. But as I told Anamatar, this is my ship, and whatever goes on in it is my business and respossiblity. So as long as you are on this ship if you still wish to hate each other, then you are to keep it private and between only the both of of you. You are now both free to roam the ship as you will. Any objections to my judgement?" He ask looking around the room.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

"Yea, I would like to speak a few words to ease my pain," said the Dwarf standing up, leaning on his axe. "What happened in the past is true," he said with great pain, "and I have now learned the true nature of the Dark Elves upon Erebor. I cannot change the past, nor can I change your suffering, milady. But I swear to you, I will protect your life with my axe and risk my own if need be. For that is the only way I can bring peace to myself, and hopefully to you as well." The Dwarf sat down, his eyes fixed upon Urolokeo. She stared back at him, cold and fierce, like blackened ice and Dain could not return the glare, for he was overcome with guilt.

"Well then, the matter is settled," said Galdor. "You are both free to go, and let this not happen again."

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden stood up, his anger somewhat abated towards Galdor. The judgment he had given was sound to his mind, though he still did not understand why any judgment had to be given. He left the room, for he felt he was not wanted there anymore and indeed he felt at odds between the stares of Urulokeo and Dain. A cold shiver ran up his spine and he departed.

To feel the salty sea breeze upon his face felt good again after the close confines of the cabin. Aden's sharp eyes spotted Anamatar standing and gazing at something. The sun glinted off what appeared to be some metal lying in the Lord of Dol-Amroth's hands, and Aden's swift feet took him towards his lord. "My Lord," he said breaking the stillness, "we are heading south-east... have you spotted anything that could lead us to our enemies? Is this thing you bear something that could be a clue?"

Anamatar gazed at Aden and shook his head. "Nay," he said, his voice curiously strange, "this is no clue... it is a dwarf helm!"

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia's eyes snapped open, her breathing quick and shallow, a cold sweat on her forehead. She sat up quickley, slowley realising where she was, and trying to remember why she felt so scared.
A few moments later, she remembered the dream she had been having. She had been sitting just here on the deck, when all of a sudden a storm had come up. It came from the south-east and swiftley grew strong and violent. She had felt a great sense of fear and helplessness. she had been... tied down in some way. Paralyzed. She could only watch as the ship went down with all of the peole in it. There had been nothing she could do or say to stop it.

Dru wiped the sweat of her forehead with a cloth from her pocket, and her breathing returned to normal. She stood up and looked around her. She remembered that there had been something going on by the cabins before she fell asleep. But how long had she been sleeping? She looked up at the sky and noticed she must have been sleeping a while, it was dark. She began to walk. In no partcular direction, really. Something caught her eye after a little ways that seemed to be catching the light of the moon. As she got closer, she saw Anamatar and Aden standing together, Anamatar holding something in his hands. The object was something of a helmet, the helmet being what had caught her attension. She wished not to interupt anything important, but wished also to know if she had missed anything important. She approached them slowley.
"Excuse me," She said when they were in earshot, "but I heard a lot of commotion going on earlier.... would someone mind informing me of what I have missed?"

[Arathin]

Urolokeo glared at Galdor. "You have no idea how deeply." She snarled. "It isn't necessarily against ALL Dwarves I hate, but this very Dwarf was raised in that land, and probably joined in on the killings." She shot a dagger glance at Dain and then stormed out of the cabin. Dain had risen to his feet as she had spoken. As she stormed past, he had to quickly sit down again before he was flattened by the enraged Elf. As she marched up onto the deck, she noticed that Anamatar and Aden looked over at her. She glared at them in the dark, and completely ignoring Anamatar's request to speak with her, she lithly pulled herself up into the rope of the main mast. When she reached the highest point of the main mast, she sat there all night, wishing to be left alone. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she unwillngly remembered the torments of her childhood. As she remembered Adrian's last words to her, and the threat of the Dwarves to his life. She wept upon her perch as she recalled he was more than likely dead already and had been for years. Then her rage against Dain and all his Dwarves of Erebor surmounted her sadness. Just another person whom I love that those cursed Dwarves have killed indiscriminately. Urolokeo was so enraged, she wept, but found no relief in crying.

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden heard Drusilia's voice speaking quietly. He turned around to face her just in time to see Urolokeo storm out of Galdor's cabin. Anamatar beckoned towards the elf and said softly, "Urolokeo!" She merely ignored him and swiftly climbed the tall main mast. Anamatar stared after her for a moment before sinking down onto a ledge on the deck, his eyes lowered deep in thought. Aden gazed up at her as well and then down at the woman at his side. He smiled, the lines of his face softening in the moonlight, and then shook his head as he glanced towards the cabin where he knew Dain was still sitting. "Nothing has passed that I can tell you," he said softly, "for it is not my place to say."

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia nodded. She was dissapointed, but she understood. Apparently something was wrong with the Dark Elf, but she knew it wasn't her buisness. She looked up at Urolokeo.
"At least she has a nice place to watch the moon from tonight," Dru thought to herself. She looked back over at Anamatar. She had something she wanted to say to him, but she caught a glimpse of Aden's face out of the corner of her eye, and suddenly forgot what she had on her mind. So instead of asking questions and receiving answers, she stood in silence, arms folded over her chest, the ocean breeze whistling softly in her ears as she searched her mind for anything to say to the others, though comming up empty every time.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

He was alone in the cabin, the others had left him when the Dark Elf departed in her fury.

Alas! Dain thought to himself, quietly stroking his axe, Alas for this poor Dwarf! I have done everything I could, and Aule knows a Dwarf of the line of Durin the Deathless never goes back on his word. For I will right this terrible wrong, as long as I stand. He left the cabin, relieved but not yet free of guilt and misery, for his mind dwelt on Kilease and his people. How did they fare in time of war? Had Kilease's axe been called upon to battle the Orcs? Had Kilease fallen?... nay. He could not bear to think of the consequences of his absence, not yet, there were other things at hand.

Even while the Dwarf's mind wandered on black things, he spotted a black mast in the distance. At first he thought it was a trick of the moonlight reflecting upon a pinnacle far off in the distance, but nay it was a great mast of black, like a terrible spike of obsidian it was. It seemed to be fashioned after the Tower of Isengard in days of old, but all knew now that Saruman was defeated and dead. But perhaps it was still a trick on his mind in his grief and confusion, only the eyes of an Elf could see for sure. Not wishing to awake anyone, Dain climbed to the crow's nest to see for himself what the black spike in the distance really was.

[Arathin]

Urolokeo was still upon the highest point of the main mast. When Dain climbed up and perched himself in the crow's nest, she was just above him and watching. She silently climbed down and landed without a sound behind him in the crow's nest. She could have killed him then. All she had to do was push him. Everyone, or almost everyone, would believe the dwarf had truely fallen on his own. The thought flinted through her head and was gone almost as fast. She had to know. She must find out if... She forced herself to say it in her mind.... I must find out if Adrian is dead. She grabbed the Dwarf's arm and spun him around. "Now look here. I want nothing to do with you, but this one question I must ask." She growled. Dain looked taken aback. "Have you, or anyone of your people, killed a dragon that lived up in the moutains to the north of you? A red dragon with orange belly?" Fear gave her fingers biting strength and added an extra edge to her voice, but her eyes were pleading. Begging the answer to be no, though she already knew it was yes.

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden was trying to puzzle out the odd look he had seen on Drusilia's face. It seemed as though she had faltered for a minute upon his face and slightly blushed. He grinned, glad to think that he had made such an impression on the pretty girl. He cocked his head to one side and studied her face. Yes, she was rather pretty, wasn't she! Suddenly, Aden noticed that Drusilia was looking at him. He merely grinned.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Her grasp was cold and fierce, as were her eyes. Her question was sudden and abrupt, and Dain could see she had been crying. His mouth opened, yet no word would come to his lips, for he knew the answer was not the one she wanted to hear. How could he possibly tell her that his Dragon-helm was fashioned after Adrian himself? That old dragon had been the hardest earned kill in his life, and if she heard that she would hate him more, and possibly kill him. Finally he said, "Nay, I have never slaughtered a dragon with an orange belly... only golden and ice-blue." Urolokeo's eyes lit up with exctiement and her sorrowed face radiated with joy. She leaned over the crow's nest, smiling to herself, but careful not to show emotion in front of the murderous Dwarf. But her inner joy soon turned to caution, as she spotted the black glimmer hidden on the vast sea.

"What is it! What do you see, maiden?" the Dwarf asked, leaping up and down in an effort to see over the rail.

"Aden!" she yelled, "I spot an enemy ship starboard! Alert Anamatar!" She leaped off the nest, knocking Dain on the floor, but she cared not. Anamatar came out of his cabin and gazed warily at the black ship on the sea.

[Nenya Evenstar]

The ship was sailing directly toward them towards the light of the westering moon. Aden took one glance at the distant ebony mast and, giving Drusilia one little look, fled down a short flight of steps towards Anamatar. The Lord of Dol-Amroth was gazing towards the ship, eyes a mixture of interest and wariness. "Aden," he ordered, "put men at their posts. We must be prepared for battle." Aden nodded and ran off to perform his orders. The ship approached, and soon it became aparent that its entire body looked to be made out of the same ebony as the mast. To the eyes of those who had seen the Tower of Orthanc, the ship looked to be made of the same materials. What magic or devilry caused it to float under such a weight was beyond any of their minds.

Silence filled the ranks of the ship, and all means of defence and attack had been procured. No one spoke or moved. The approach of the black ship, like a hole in the night, came ever closer. Soon its flag could be spotted, hanging losely in the windless night, though it was too dark to see what symbol was upon it. The ship did not appear to be prepared for a battle at all. In fact, it did not even raise its defences. Suddenly a deep voice in the language of Harad was heard shouting orders, and an anchor was thrown down. The ship kept sailing for a moment, and then, jerking on its anchor chord, stopped. As the white ship from the Gray Havens slowly sailed passed the stopped ship, its men could see that the men on the black ship did not even seem to see them. They merely went about their business. Finally, as the Dol-Amrothian ship was about to pass by, a lone man could be seen standing on a high deck near the back of the ship. A light was shining behind him to reveal his shaved head and strange dress. He held out his hand in a token of parley. "Men of the West!" He cried out in the Westron speach, "I have need of words with you! Great peril lies before! We seek your aid!"

[Galdor]

Galdor ran quickly on deck, and hearing the mans call for parley ordered his sailers to lay anchor to talk with the Haradrim. When the Elven ship stopped along side the Haradrim's ship Galdor held a quick talk with Anamatar and then raising his hand in the same token of parley as the man on the other ship had used.
"Since you have called for a parley you must come to my ship, you may take only two men with you. They can be armed but you must laeve your weapons behind."
"I agree to your terms." The man replied and then dissapared below deck.
"No one is to draw a weapon unless one of them do first, but stay weary. I feel no evil intent from them but Harad has never been alies with the west." Galdor ordered his sailers while the Haradrim man was below deck. Sortly he reapared with two men caring a large plank to span the gap between the two ships. As soon as it was in place the three men began walking slowly to the white elven ship.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

The Dwarf did not like the looks of these men. They had darker skin and wore no gear of war, for by the looks of it, this ship was used to quickly trasport things, whether it be men or cargo. The captain of the black ship came aboard after Galdor had extended a plank to the other side. A woman from the opposite ship lashed the plank onto the black ship with a link of chain, and came over herself. Behind her came another man in similar stature and face.

"Hoy travellers, my name is Jalek, a captain of the Haradrim navy. This is Helenna and Heredda, twin sailors of the Eastern Seas. They are my personal bodyguards and can wield a sword better than any Elf of old," he smirked, looking at Galdor and the other Elves. "However, your ship is entering perilous waters, for we were almost discovered by an Orkish fleet not but a half day ago. They were headed from the burning of Dol Amroth."

"How did you know of the ruin of Dol Amroth?" Aden asked. The Haradrim woman shot a quick glance to her captain and replied, "We did not know... you were the ones from Amroth. I overheard of the ruin from a passing Orc ship when we hid behind that pinnacle, and we would like to help you for they know you are tracking them." Her voice was clearer and deeper than a normal woman's, yet it had a commanding tone, and it seemed to Dain as if her words had a certain sway over his mind. "We would like to help you on your journey, but you are going the wrong way and should turn back. The Orcs turned back to the shores of Amroth to slay the remaining soldiers, and it is there that you should follow them," Helenna said, smiling the whole time. Dain looked around him, the others had a blank look upon their faces, and nodded their heads. This was madness! The Orcs would not turn back to attack twice! This woman, she was talking with a forked tongue, similar to Saruman in the Third Age, but his spells did not work on Dwarves for they were of stout heart. That would explain the black mast resembling Orthanc. "But let us retire to our beds, and discuss these matters tomorrow when the Sun shows her burning face," she added, and the Haradrim turned back to their ship. The company upon Galdor's ship did likewise, and there was a foul mood in the air. Dain spotted eyes of Men on the other ship, and they talked in hushed whispers amongst themselves. Something was going on, and he had to tell someone about it. He rushed to Aden's cabin.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar lingered on the deck after the Haradrim returned. He had remained silent during the parley and had concealed the dragon-helm from all eyes. No he spoke aloud to Galdor.

"Amroth prepared for battle can fare its own. We sail to the docks of this Orkish fleet--not to the tall masts! I do not trust these sailors of Harad and would that they had not held hand to parley I would have slew then swiftly! But come, we restart sail. My heart tells me we are going in the correct direction and a sailor of Harad would not likely help a lord of Elves." With that Anamatar order for the anchor to be raised. He walked to the rail of the ship and called to the black boat.

"Fools of crooked tongues! How much of the gold ravaged from Amroth were you promised for your trickery? Would that you fire showers of arrows upon us now we would fare better than returning to the Burned Shores, as ever now they will be called. We set sail now again to our own path and it would fare you well to return to your own havens--for if you follow us I will slay each of you gladly, and if you sail to Dol Amroth you will be burned with your ship!" As Anamatar said these last words Vingilot started pulling away. Men on the black ship grabbed great bows in anger but their captain stayed them.

Anamatar looked upon the Dragon-helm once again. A prize of greater worth than halls of gold he held. Yet it was not his.

[Galdor]

As soon as Anamatar spoke the womens spell left those of the crew who were taken over by it, and the elves rushed to weigh the anchor.
"Fools, all they have done is make us aware that the orcs know we are following them, or at least exspected someone to follow them. And that these orcs have an allience with Harad, unless it is only this ship that they made a deal with. But either way we know now that this is not just a band of orcs looking for blood. There is someone greater and wiser then orcs in charge here."
Galdor rased his voice so that all could hear him.
"From now on we must be weary. Everyone must keep a bow and quiver near at hand from now on. If they laid one trap for us there will be more, and unless my wisdom fails me each one will be greater then the last."

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia ran her hands slowley through her hair as she tried to sort out everything that had just occured. She was very troubled by the fact that some of the crew was so easily taken by the spell. Though no one around her could hear it, she was arguing with herself inside the solitude of her mind.

"Bow and quiver indeed! I've only used them once or twice before, my sword will do me just fine!"

"But I can't throw my sword! What if the attack was from another ship that had archers?" The others can have their bows and quivers, besides, I have my throwing knives!"

"But I have only three!"

"Well I remember WHY it's always three! Father always said that three is the luckiest number in the world for throwing knives! The first one is always way off, the second closer, but the third is ALWAYS the one that makes the clear hit!"

"I can't count on that to work every time!"

"Why am I even thinking about this?? It's not as important an issue as others!"

Dru was brought back from her thoughts by a sudden shiver from the cold. She realized it was rather cold out, and she had no cloak.

"If I cannot be of any service just now, I'll be off to my cabin. That's where I'll be if anyone needs me."

She walked briskley to her cabin, a lot of things on her mind. After entering her cabin, she slammed the door behind her quite loudley. She didn't really know why she had done this, so she ignored it and laid down on her bed. After a few short minutes, she realized she was in no mood to sleep. She sat up on her bed, propping herself up against the wall. She wrapped a blanket firmley around her shoulders and tried to set her thoughts in order. She found no luck in this, either. She instead closed her eyes, trying to clear her mind entirely, though she caught herself thinking out loud a few times.

[Nenya Evenstar]

But the obsidian ship did not follow the white Elven ship. Instead, it stayed in the waters where it had been. Words were passed amongst the seamen of Harad of the cruel words of the man of Dol-Amroth. The captains had a hard time to supress the growing anger and hate that swelled up amongst the ranks, but they succeeded. Anger and hate could not be a part of this mission! Helenna spoke to the ship's sailors with fair words and laid the spell of her voice upon their hearts. There could be none of this overwhelming hate for the men of Dol-Amroth amongst the ranks! The powerful voice of Helenna rang out across the ship. "Come! Our mission cannot fail, be the Dol-Amrothians hard-hearted or not!"

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar walked slowly across the deck. The ship of Harad slowly dissappeared over the horizon. A cold wind blew across him and he shivered. He held out the dragon helm once more. he sighed heavily and walked to Dain's cabin. Anamatar knocked softly and slowly pushed open the door. The Dwarf was sitting in his bed with his face in his hands.

"What troubles you, friend?" Anamatar asked.

To which Dain replied: "My life deserves to be tossed into the tempest sea. I killed Urolokeo's dragon father! Indeed it was he who the dragon helm was crafted of! And now the helm is tossed to the waters instead of my being-which deserves to more. To make amends with urolokeo would indeed bring me to partial content." With that Dain weeped.

Anamatar kneeled to one knee.

"Lord of Dwarves, confront Urolokeo while Earendil shines down upon you from the heavens. The light of the Silmarils do not blur or give false impressions. It will let her see your good nature. Tell her of her father...and give her this." Anamatar extended his arms outward and held the Dragon-helm before Dain. The Dwarf looked up and his eyes got wide. he gasped and rubbed his eyes. As if afraid of it, he touched it gingerly.

"How come you by this?"

[Arathin]

During the confrontation with those of Harad, Urolokeo had pulled her hood and cloak close about her to hide her figure. She had taken up her constamary position just behind and to the left of Anamatar, but now that it was over, she again climbed up and this time huddled in the crow's nest alone. She wept in confusion. She was releaved and over-welmingly happy that Adrian was alive, or at least that the Dwarves hadn't killed him, but for some reason... She couldn't place it, but something about what the Dwarf had said hadn't sounded right... And where was his precious Dragon's helm all of a sudden? That one that looks so much like..... Urolokeo's head snapped up, pain and shock cut deeply on her face. That dragon's helm that looks so much like Adrian. She concluded, still huddled in the crow's nest with her cloak close about her.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

"Why I merely fished it out of the open Sea, master Dwarf," said Anamatar, a smile across his face.

"Captain, I would like to thank you, for this helm was precious to me. Also, if I may add, what you said to the Easterlings was astounding! I had thought I was the only one who was not under sway by the woman's tongue," said Dain, a look of wonder in his eye.

"Nay, Dain, you are not as stout as you think. For others upon this ship are just as stout, yea, perhaps even more than you," Anamatar said with a wink and left the cabin. The words of Anamatar left Dain feeling exposed and insecure, yet he knew they were truth. He was used to being in control of his people and his emotions, but on this voyage everything was going askew. He would have to prove himself to the crew in time, but to the Dark Elf, he would have to strive for the impossible. His thought was set in stone, and he left his cabin, helm in hand. He climbed the mast to the nest and found the Elf weeping once again.

"The moon is almost spent, Urolokeo, but I cannot lie to thee any longer, for my guilt has been stronger than even Kheled-bruk and my mithril jacket," Dain said hesitantly, "I killed Adrian, your Dragon father." The wind ceased to blow, the waves crashing against the boat stopped their joyful mirth. Urolokeo stood up slowly, a fire slowly raging inside of her, waiting to burst from the depths of her being. Her face contorted into a mess of wrath and anger, her eyes twitched with rage. Her hand slowly went to her waist, but Dain spoke before his head was severed from his shoulders.

"Nay, hold your blade Lady, for your father was a respectable Dragon, but a killer of my kin. He was no mere trophy, he had to be stopped, and my axe did so. True, us Dwarves may have deserved to die for what we did to your kin, but that is the past," Dain choked, tears in his eyes, "What I did, it was unexcusable, and I will pay for it in the halls of Mandos when Aule sends me into the realm with the Black one, but I ask, nay, I beg of you to spare my life for the present, as I will prove my honesty and loyalty to you. I swear by Durin the Deathless himself." With his last statement, he gave the Dragon helm to her, for it was fashioned after Adrian's head himself. She took it, ready to hurl it into the sea, but something held her back, perhaps it was her anger.

[Arathin]

Urolokeo glared upon the helm in her hands. Her eyes liturally ablaze with her anger and hatred. The longer she gazed upon the helm, the more it looked like Adrian. She remembered when she was little, he use to say. "Now listen well. This you must always remember, my precious little one..." "Yes, papa?" She loved to call him papa. It made his eyes glow with pride and love. "You, little one, must always remember that I love you." "I know that, papa!" "Yes, but you must also remember that any person of any race will only swear by that which they put the most faith in. An Elf by Valar or Eru, Dwarf by Durin their Deathless, Dragons by our lord, Aslan. Always remember that little one." "Yes, papa. Always." Then she remembered hugging Adrian and falling asleep under his wing, pressed close to his warm body. The heat beneath his scales keeping her always warm no matter how cold it was. He was gone, she realized. She looked down at the helm. "How much of this was made from Adrian?" She asked sharply. Dain stumbled over his words and muttered. "The spikes about the base are his teet and the horns are the tips of his own horns, my lady." Urolokeo scowled darkly at the Dwarf, then kissed the "nose" of the dragon's helm and handed it back to the Dwarf. "I have a grave favor to ask of you, you slimy deceitful monster of a Dwarf." Dain flinched, expecting death, but he took the helm none the less. "I wish you to craft a necklace from the teet in his helm. From his horns, I wish you to carve two daggers with ornate symbols and such. Do this and you won't die by my hand." With that she jumped from the crow's nest and ran to her cabin. Once there she throw herself upon her bed and wept ficously.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain trotted back to his cabin and immediatly set to work. As soon as he pulled Felak from his armor, all of his guilt seemed to wash away with the roaring Sea. He was in a crafting mood, all other things were unimportant and the Dwarf's entire mind was set on creating something for the Elf. With a few taps from the small hammer, the teeth and horns fell from the helm and onto the small table. With a grinding stone in his sash, he made the horns sharper, and flattened them with his hammer. He did this many times, until the horns had been made larger into two glittering daggers of golden hue, and he inscribed them with Dwarven symbols representing "Dragon Daughter." With the teeth he fastened together with a single thread of mithril from his jacket, and fashioned a golden clasp with the thread from his beard. All that was left was a copper helm with eye sockets, so Dain crafted it into a set of golden-red claws for Urolokeo to fasten upon her lithe wrists to use in melee combat. They were fashioned with another thread of mithril, so they would be very durable and very deadly.

Dain, his work complete, lay exhausted on his cabin floor, and fell asleep. He dreamt of Kilease.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar stood on the deck of the ship, sleep over coming him. An elven sailor nearby noticed him.

"Lord, will you not take rest? You are weary."

"Sailors sleep and ships sink," Anamatar replied swiftly. "I will rest only if we lower anchor, and put armed guards atop the masts." The Elf looked hesitantly to Galdor and back to Anamatar. He walked swiftly to his captain and spoke softly. After moments of converse the Elf gave orders for the anchor to be dropped. The Elf disappeared in a cabin and came out moments later, girt with a long sword.

"Wilt thou take rest now, lord? The ship is stopped, the seas are still, and the Elves are armed with both sword and bow."

Anamatar knodded his head and retreated to his own cabin.

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden wandered the decks and the lower parts of the ship in a circular motion. Back and forth he walked, going up steps and down, for he was feeling restless and knew not why. His mind kept resting upon the Lady Helenna, for though he knew that his Lord had deemed the Lady to be evil, he himself had thought her... what had he thought her? Surely she had not laid a spell upon his mind! But no, it was just a passing thought. Now the welfare of his lord, Anamatar, overshadowed all things in Aden's mind. He thought of how much help his lord would need in the times to come, and he decided with a stout heart that he would use his swift hands to protect Anamatar when need be. But most of all Drusilia rested upon the heart of the wandering seaman. Why he knew not, but he only knew that a picture of her standing next to him with the wind blowing her hair had been branded onto his heart.

[ILLOTRTM]

After about an hour of silent meditation, thoughts of the day's events began to creep back into Drusilia's head. She thought again of Helenna. What had happened during the day had worried her. She wondered how many of the men on board she had successful trapped under her little spell. he wondered which of the men. She wondered if Aden had been influenced. A strange look came over Dru's face. The thought that the elven woman may have held sway over his mind troubled her very deeply, though she was not sure why. She tried to set her mind to other things, but the thought of Aden kept coming back. She then heard footsteps outside her door. Someone seemed to be pacing. Curiosity getting the best of her, she got up and went over to the door.
Drusilia opened it and stepped outside. A chill breeze came over her once again, and she folded her arms for warmth. She looked around, and noticed Aden wandering aimlessley. He looked up at her, and she felt her face grow hot.
"I heard someone walking around outside my cabin." She said, acting casual. "Wondered who it was. It gets lonely sitting in that room for so long. However, if you wanted to be alone, I will leave..."

[Nenya Evenstar]

"No!" Aden said quickly, "you are not intruding. You are more than welcome! I know how it can be to sit alone in a room for hours upon end. Come! Would you like to walk with me?"

Drusilia seemed to hesitate for a moment, but then she nodded. She and Aden walked off together across the ship, deep in discussions which brushed both their lives but never actually went to the core of their feelings.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

The night had reached the middle of its life, and dawn would come in a few hours. The black ship sailed silently behind the Elven ship of Dol Amroth. Never before had anyone rejected Helenna while under her spell, a spell she had learned from a man from Isengard long ago. And to be rejected by a simple Man! But she had to keep her anger in control, as her crew did not need to see their captain blinded in rage. The mission had to succeed, the price promised was too great to ignore, as well as the persons who had issued it.

"Jalek, come hither!" said Helenna. The man who had pretended to be the captain earlier came to his true captain, bowing his head. "That Elven ship sails fast, yet it is no match for the Othgola, for our hull has been made from bits of the tower of Orthanc itself. We will fell these petty voyagers, and make sure they do not track the Orcs that marauded their fair city. Position the men and women for stealth combat. We are boarding the ship and killing those aboard!" Helenna did not need to use her poisioned voice to give commands to her crew, for they were evil rogues such as herself.

She smiled in anticipation of the upcoming slaughter, and she herself would slay the captain that had called her a fool. Nay, Helenna was no fool, she was a decietful snake whom had recoiled, preparing for the final strike. The dark-skinned people aboard her ship adorned themselves in light chainmail colored red and black, and red swords and daggers stained with blood. Three strong men bore great chains, and waited for the ship to get closer to the other. The ship silently approached in the darkness of early morning, and pulled up to the starboard side of the white ship.

"Deploy the grappling hooks! Hold your tongues and tread lightly! Bring back only their heads, plunder the rest," Helenna commanded, and the rogue sailors, twenty-two in all, crawled silently onto the Elven ship. The ambush had begun.

[Anamatar IV]

The Elves had been standing watch atop the masts. It was a black night and many stars were masked. None indeed saw the black ship pull towards Vingilot. But suddenly one heard a foot step on the deck. He turned his eyes towards the deck and gave a cry.

The 10 Elven sailors leapt from the masts. 5 drew swords and 5 fitted arrows. They ran to the invaders.

Aden saw these Elves running past him and turned his head. He and Dru saw the men of Harad boarding their ship.

"Go wake Anamatar!" Aden yelled to Drusilia as he drew his own sword and ran to the skirmish.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar shot up in bed. Drusilia had burst through his door.

"Lord, come! Bring your weapons! The sailors of Harad are come!"

Anamatar leapt to his feet. He pulled his Mithril hauberk over him and drew his sword. There was no need to bring his sheath, for he would not use it.

Anamatar ran to the nearby door of Galdor.

"Come! We are being attacked!" Galdor hurried to his feet. As they ran to wake Dain they saw he was already up. His axe in his hands.

Anamatar and Galdor looked in awe at the Dwarf, for he wore a helm...with no markings. Just a copper helmet. And all three stood as if stricken. but the sound of battle roused them.

With a yell, Anamatar led Galdor into the battle but Dain turned aside and ran rather to the masts.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Dain ran as quickly as his stout Dwarf-legs could carry him to the tall white mast; Urolokeo's new gear of war in his arms.

"Urolokeo! Awake! Awake Dragon's Daughter! We are under attack by the black ship of the East! Arise and avenge your father with the new gear I have prepared for you!" Dain bellowed. As if the wind itself, Urolokeo sprang from the nest and stared at Dain, a gleam of appreciation in her eyes. But Dain did not wait to see if she approved of her gear or not, for he ran back to the battle, his axe, gleaming pale in the moonlight, was ready to taste blood of the Harad. Anamatar and Galdor were fighting fiercely, but they needed help. Already, bodies lay sprawled about the deck, but Dain could not tell who they were for the night was still dark. "Baruk Khazad!" Dain yelled, and leapt into battle, a fury shone in his eyes even in the dark of night.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Several of her men lay wounded or dead about the white deck, their blood staining the ship an odd shade of crimson. Yet she remained undaughted for a few of the Elves were surprised and felled in the initial assault on the ship. If they were wounded or dead, she knew not, but she had her own agenda. She lithely boarded the white ship and she unsheathed her red rapier. Scanning the ship with her black eyes, she found her prey, suited in a mithril hauberk and wielding a shining blade.

"Man of Dol Amroth! Come hither and show me your skill with a blade! I, Helenna, Rogue Woman of the Seas, challenge thee to a duel!" Helenna shouted, her voice rose above the clang of blade and axe, and the battle cries of the warriors. She would have her revenge.

[Arathin]

Urolokeo quickly scanned the items the Dwarf had made her. She slipped the necklace of teeth over her head, placed the claws over her hands, and ran into battle wielding her father's horn daggers. 'All I kill now til my death, will be to avenge my father, Adrian's, death.' She silently vowed, slashing throats and hammering her fist into the faces of several Harad. Then she heard Helenna's challenge ring out above all these. She turned her eyes and saw Anamatar moving to accept! She slashed another Harad throat, 5 for Adrian's soul, and ran like the wind to Anamatar's side. "Let me, m'lord. As your bodyguard, I cannot let you fight this duel." She cried, bloodlust plain in her eyes. "No," came his soft reply. "This is my fight." "But, m'lord." She began. He held up his hand to silence her. "You can do your job by assuring that no one intervenes with us in our fight. Do that and if I die or not, you will have done your job." Urolokeo nodded her head in silent acceptance, and followed Anamatar to a small area of the ship's deck with no one yet fighting on it. There stood Helenna, waiting for Anamatar...

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar glared at the woman of Harad, captain of the vile ship.

"Never before have I smelt the stench of the seas," Anamatar spoke, "until I laid eyes on you! A crooked tongue you have and you deserve no less than to be burned with your ship." Helenna looked angry.

"You are skilled with words but worse skill than I in fight!" With that she charged at the Man of Amroth, who was awaiting her sudden fury.

Anamatar swung his sword at her rapier and they two blades clashed. The weapons were held there, grappling with one another for some time, until Helenna retracted her blade.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Their blades, red upon silver, met with the fury of vengeance. Helenna glared at the Man in his mithril armor, and knew she would have to aim for his neck or legs. She pulled away her sword and laughed, like harsh ice on a cold winter floor. "You are mistaken fool, for I am not with the Haradrim!" she taunted, whilst defending Anamatar's thrusts, "I am allied with none, save my crew, and have been sent to kill you and your troublesome crew! Thou shalt never discover the truth!" she yelled. But her yell turned to pain, for in her mirth, Anamatar cleaved a great gash in her arm. Blood spilt from the wound, but Helenna cared not. She instead swung low with her rapier, making Anamatar stumble backwards as the blade raked across his outmost shin. She was still in control of the battle.

[Arathin]

Urolokeo stood watching the fight in furstration. She wanted to intervene so badly, but no! She had sworen to do as Anamatar had told her, and he had told her to keep everyone, including herself out of the fight. As Helenna screamed in pain, Urolokeo noticed one of her crew had gotten it into his head to intervene. She yelled at him to halt. When he didn't she tripped him, and punched him in the face with her claw, 6 for Adrian. She noticed that several others Harad and Dol Amroth had noticed their leaders fighting. Urolokeo stood ready to keep everyone from trying to interupt the fight going on behind her, while still keeping watch on it. She had no intention of letting Anamatar die.

[Galdor]

Galdor stood watching the fight, he had a small cut on his leg from a stray arrow, and his sword Aicanáro glowed with a blue light in his hand. He beckoned to one of his elves and ordered him to notch an arrow and to shoot the woman if Anamatar went down, but not to intervene until then. He then took a second to look around him, two elves were dead, and three lay wounded on the deck. Many more were the number of dead from the Haradrim crew. He turned his attention back to the duel taking place, the woman was obviously a skilled fighter, but Galdor was the sure that Anamatar was greater.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

The Elf sailor next to Dain fell as a dark woman thrust a dagger into his throat. Pride shone on her face, but the glory was short-lived, for Aden's sword hewed her head from her shoulders. About the deck lay sixteen dead of the invaders, and two Elves and three wounded. Dain's axe cleaved yet another head from a body, but the dying rogue stabbed his dagger into Dain's shoulder, piercing the iron shoulder-guard. The Dwarf bellowed in pain as blood poured forth from the wound, his mithril jacket broke and fell off his shoulder and hung to his waist. The red dagger was none other than mithril itself, and cut right through the clasp that held the jacket. Dain saw Urolokeo standing beside the duel, punching and slicing the men that tried to interrupt the battle. Dain trotted over and stood next to her and said, "Well Dragon Daughter, it seems you came here to protect your master, but I have come to protect you."

"My name is Urolokeo, and perhaps I will slay you yet with the metal from your own helm!" she said, calmly raking a man's eyes out with her new wrist-claws.

"Oh well, Urolokeo, I will call you Dragon Daughter henceforth, whether you deem it fit or not," Dain replied with a wink admist the heat of battle.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar grasped his burning leg and looked up with fury. Suddenly the tone of his voice turned to wrath.

"Life should not have been granted to thee! Death will be thine soon!" He charged at the woman and swung his sword fiercly. Helenna had trouble keeping up with his strikes. At last Anamatar was too fast for her and he cut her cheek, to the bone.

Anamatar relaxed his sword arm and awaited the woman who was clutching her face. It was his chance to kill her and rid the world of her.

As he raised his sword for the kill the woman shot her sword arm up and her rapier struck with much force. Anamatar's sword fell from his hand and the woman stepped on its hilt. She put her blade against his throat.

"A fool dies not die from a cut on her face, but not Helenna! A fool in battle dies!" With that she raised her sword for the kill.

[Arathin]

Helenna's words caught Urolokeo's attention. She whorled about and was faced by her master, Anamatar, at this vile woman's mercy. She couldn't let him die. Urolokeo started to leap to her master's aid, when Dain grabbed her about the waist and pinned her to the deck. She fought against him, but he went right for her wrists, so keep her claws at bay. Unfortunately for the Dwarf, before he could grab her right wrist, she gave him a deep scratch on his left cheek. A scratch that would leave a scar for the rest of the Dwarf's days. The two continued to fight, rolling about on the ground, grappling with each other.

[Galdor]

As Anamatar and Helenna were fighting Galdor took the momentery pause in the battle to carry the wounded down below with one of his elves. He returned to the deck just in time to see Helenna force Anamatar to the ground.
"Shoot her!" he cried to his archer, but even as the elf drew back the arrow a man tackled him and raised his sword to stab the stunned elf. The arrow flew by Helenna's head and inbedded into the wood behind her. Three of the Haradrim had snuck around to where Galdor and the other elf had been standing and to attack the crew from behind. Quickly he drew and through a knife into the back of the man on the elf. But that second cost him, for even as he had thown his knife the second man stabbed for his heart, Galdor tried to duck but the man's sword still went deep into his shoulder. As the man was drawing his sword from Galdor's shoulder, Galdor's sword removed his head. The other elf made quick work of the last man.

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Could not the Elf see that in her fury, she would disrupt an honorable duel? Nay, Dain could not let her disrupt it, no matter who the victor would be. Her claw bit him in the cheek like cold fire and that made the Dwarf even more enraged. The two wrestled upon the deck, but they saw Anamatar pinned to the deck as well; Helenna's sword at his throat. Urolokeo, now desperate to save Anamatar sprang backwards with her powerful legs, bringing both Elf and Dwarf on their feet. But Dain, forgetting his oath to protect the Dragon Daughter, charged at her full speed with his head lowered. With a great gasp, the air was knocked out of Urolokeo as she stumbled backwards in confusion.

But Urolokeo grabbed hold of the Dwarf as she fell, and the two adversaries fell into the form of Helenna, bringing her to the deck with their combined weight. Helenna vainly clutched for her sword, but Anamatar quickly kicked it out of reach.

[Anamatar IV]

Anamatar sprung to his feet and grabbed Helenna by the back of her neck. He threw her against a wall and grabbed her larynx. He thrust her to the rail and dangled her above the water.

"Please," Helenna pleaded, "spare me! I do not deserve to die!"

But Anamatar spoke not to Helenna.

"Great Sea, take now the filth which has sailed ye ever! The filth which has plagued thy waters. Take now the life of she who has spoilt the waves and brought turmoil to the winds!" and with that Aamatar let go of Helenna's throat and she fell to the angry waters, and the sea took her.

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden was standing there with his mouth wide open. It seemed to him that a madness had strayed amongst the crew, a madness that had almost cost his lord's life. His sword hung limply in his open hands, stained red with the blood of the attackers, but his left arm was around Drusilia. He did not know why, and only just realized that it was so. Hastily he drew his hand away, and with a quick look into Dru's eyes, ran towards Galdor who had captured two of the Harad men. The elf was attempting to get the two men to talk. Perhaps they knew something of the orcs who had attacked Dol-Amroth?

[Dáin Ironfoot I]

Helenna fell like a shining red stone into the hungry Sea. She thrashed her arms wildly, trying in vain to stay afloat. But her red chainmail weighed her down, and the Sea pulled down on her like a thousand Men of great strength. "Thou shall burn like your peopl--" Helenna cried, but a great wave smashed her against her own boat, crushing her body and staining the black hull with crimson blood. Her ruined body sank into the depths of the Sea, never to be found again. Dain looked down at her, disgust in his eyes. The battle had gone ill for the Rogue warriors of the Black Ship, and their captain lay dead on the Sea floor. All but two of the attackers were slaughtered, and if it had not been for the Elves alerting them of the ambush, the crew would certainly be dead in their beds right now. But the relationship between him and the Dragon Daughter was beyond repair now, Dain feared. She glared at him, her eyes as sharp as the claws that he had fashioned for her.

But Dain did not worry for her now, his wound stung with great pain, and he felt very weary. The red blade of the Rogue had been poisoned, and Dain passed out upon the blood-stained deck, and saw no more.

[Nenya Evenstar]

Aden and a few of the men of Dol-Amroth rushed to Dain's side. His face was pale and drawn, and he seemed to be in pain. "I do not know how to help him!" Aden looked up from the dwarf's body. One of the seamen shouted towards Galdor to come take a look at the dwarf.

"Take him to his cabin!" Galdor shouted back. "I will come as soon as I can!" The good elf was in the middle of a fierce conversation with the two captured prisoners. Snarls arose from the throats of the captured.

Aden nodded. "Come, let us move all the wounded into the cabins!" He ordered. The men then went and produced cloaks on which to bear the wounded, and they made slow work carrying those injured or dead into places of rest. The sailors bowed their heads whenever they came upon the fair face of an elf lying with glassy eyes and, covering the dead's face, they would bear him to a bed where he could be honored at another hour.

[Galdor]

dead bodies covered the blooded deck, most of the elves had boarded the Haradrim's ship to search it for anything that might help them find where the orcs had come from. And the ones who weren't on the other ship were clearing the deck of the dead with the men of Dol-Amroth. Galdor finally decided that he wasn't going to get anything out of the prisoners for now and he needed to go heal the wounded.
"Dru." Galdor yelled "See if you can get these men to talk, if not then get some help and tie them up and put them some where. I need to tend to the wounded." He walked over to where Anamatar, his leg was covered in blood from the wound but he was still trying to help clear the deck. "Come my friend, let me help you to your room where I can tend to your leg."
"No." Anamatar replied. "I am not badly wounded, tend to the others first."
"As you wish, but you one of my elves will help you to your room and begin to tend to you until I can come."
Anamatar started to object agian but when annother elf come and began to forcefully lead him with Galdor to the stairs he gave in and went willingly. When they reached his room Galdor once again ask to heal him but the noble man was unwilling to be healed until all the others had been tended.

[Anamatar IV]

As Anamatar was led to his cabin he bowed his had. Blood was spilt on this grand ship as never should have happened. The gems of it would be dimmed.

When Anamatar reached his cabin he told the Elf to tend to his own wounds, for he was hurt.

"The high blood is skilled in healing, though oft the skills of Galdor surpass mine. I have a minor wound, go treat others!" The Elf obeyed and walked away. Anamatar started to tend his cuts.

[Nenya Evenstar]

"You will speak!" growled Aden, holding the man in front of him by the jaw. The man merely stared back at him, eyes filled to the brim with fear and defiance. Aden's hand tensed and he shook the man's face. "Speak! Now!"

"Aden!" Drusilia's voice broke through the man's anger. "Perhaps if you were a little more gentle the man would speak! But then perhaps he does not deserve to be treated gently...." Her voice trailed off sharply. The man simply glared at her.

The other man, who was tied to some railing on the deck of the ship, laughed out loud in a rather gruff and taunting manner. "What exactly are you trying to get out of us, Son of a Cat?"

Was that supposed to be an insult? Aden let go of the man's chin and let him fall onto his back on the deck. "Nice try at an insult," he jeered angrily. "It's not going to work! Now please!" Aden made an effort to be calm. "Why were you sent to attack us?"

For a long time Aden and Drusilia stood next to the men and tried to get them to speak. It was not until Aden thrust his sword close to one of the men's cheeks and scratched him that they began to get results.

[ILLOTRTM]

Drusilia was begining to breathe heavily with frustration herself. The captives were showing no cooporation, complicating everything. She was also having a hard time concentrating. She had been thinking about the end of the battle, the way she and
Aden had ended up. Why had that happened? Did Aden have the same attraction to her as she did to him? Or was it all a mistake? She shook her head several times, trying to stay focused on her current task. Dru realized she was breathing loudley now. She tried to keep her anger with the men to a minimum. That's when Aden brought out his sword and showed a real threat to one of the men. He stammered a little, obviously starting to get worried. Dru decided to go along with it.
"Will you now tell us what we wish to know? Because if you don't, I think you can see what the results will be." She gestured towards Aden's sword, which was still against the man's cheek. There was a small trickle of blood running from the scratch.
"I would suggest you tell us now all you know."
The man swallowed hard, a sweat begining to form on his brow.
"I... I don't know as much as you think!" He cried, his voice cracking. Dru said nothing, but looked expectantly at him, her face unchanging.
"Sh... she was right, you know. When she said she was not with the Haradrim. We were alone. She and the crew were on their own. We have no allies!"
He relaxed a bit, thinking that would be enough to satisfy them.
However, Dru wasn't through with them. Not at all.
"It is no suprise to me, that no one would be an ally of yours, for your crew is weak and untrustworthy! If you had no allies, no leaders, then who was it that sent you? Who was it that sent you to ambush us?"
The man was silent, but was apparently struggling with himself, debating on whether or not to answer that.
Dru folded her arms, trying to be patient as she waited for an answer to come.

[Nenya Evenstar]

The man seemed to struggle within himself for a moment, but then the lines on his face became firm and a scowl creased his forhead. "By my life or death, I will not tell!" He screamed. Aden took the sword and threatened to cut his arm. Then, grimacing in disgust, Aden stepped back.

"You are impossible!" He said quietly. "Impossible and beyond my skill to force to speak. You are going to speak with Anamatar of Dol-Amroth and Galdor of the Gray Havens!" Both men stared at him defiantly. "Come, Dru! Let us go find Anamatar!"

[Arathin]

Urolokeo had lain on the deck in a daze for many long minutes after the Dwarf's attack on her. Finally, after the Dwarf was carried to his cabin to await healing, she grunted in pain and attempted to stand. An Elf came to aid her, but she pushed him away and stood on her own power. Slowly she made her way back to her own cabin to rest, but then a thought occured to her. At the last moment, when no one was around, she turned aside from her room and made her way into the Dwarf's cabin. Dain lay on his bed all alone in his room. There was no one there at the moment. Urolokeo could see, even as he was unconcious, that the Harad's blade had been poisoned. 'He was dying terribly, but dying none the less.' She thought in triumph. 'I could ease him into the hereafter for his just punishments with but a few quick herbs. No one would ever know it wasn't the poison on the blade.' A thought flinted across her mind. 'I could also heal him. I know what poisons the Harad use.' She had made up her mind to kill this pesky Dwarf and was reaching into her herb pouch, when suddenly Galdor stepped most unexpectly into the room. Luckily, he couldn't see Urolokeo's face as he entered and she had time to hide her moment of death triumph. "What are you doing in here, Urolokeo?" He questioned, his voice lined with suspicion. She smiled coldly, grimly at him as she turned. "The Dwarf is dying, and I doubt very much that you know the antidote for Harad poisons. I do." With that she reached into her pouch and pulled out the true antidote, not the poison she had meant to use. 'Why am I doing this?' She asked herself. "I could still use the poison. No one could blame me. They would just assume that these Harad had used a different type of poison then what I treated against.' To her surprise, she gave Dain the correct antidote and waited. Within moments he gasped for breath, life restored. The first thing he saw was Urolokeo. "You... healed... me." He gasped. She glared at him. "Don't be so grateful." She snarled viciously. "I only did it because you stink enough in life. Your people must truely have a stench after death. I don't want your dead carrcus filling this ship with your putride reek after you are gone." She laughed harshly, sounding the most like the dragon Adrian, Dain had ever heard her sound. She stalked out, harshely pushing Galdor ou