8/13/2008
================== Eldarin Calendar <in Sindarin> ===================
IC time is: Dawn < About 6:17 AM >
IC day is: Orithil <Moon-day>
IC date is: 20 Iavas <Autumn>
Moon phase: Last Quarter <HIDDEN>
Earendil: Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is: Loa 20 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor <TA 3044>
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RL time: Tue Aug 12 13:45:52 2008
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Outside the South Gate

To the west and the north lies the village of Bree, chief seat of the Bree-lands. The town is nestled under the western
flank of Bree-hill, a sizable mass against the skyline. The Great East Road crosses by a causeway into Bree, which is
surrounded by a large hedge. Where the road pierces the hedge, a wall thirty feet wide and fifteen feet high has been
erected. The stones are set well, with little mortar, but obvious care. Inset in the middle of the wall, under an arching
row of stones, is a sturdy wooden door with two windows: one high, one low.

Behind the gate and hedge, the higher slopes of Bree-hill rise up. The Road runs south from the gate, in a straight line,
before bending southeast around one of Bree-hill's 'feet'.

The day sky is cloud-filled and gloomy. The dawn autumn air is cool but pleasant around you.

Contents:
Galharth
Maglind
Cordelia

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The sun rises in the east, flashing its rays from the horizon. The town of Bree is beginning to wake: smoke puffs from the
chimneys, suggesting a morning meal; a dozy guard stands at the gate.

The sound of hoofbeats echoes on the road as three horses trot in from the south. There is one, the grey steed, that
suddenly canters forward. Its rider is swathed also in grey, and his bright eyes scan along the wall, searching.

The middle horse of the three riders is a plain brown mare, its pace sedate. It carries two smaller riders, the one in front
obviously a child--a sleeping child at that, held tightly by a young woman swathed in a grey cloak behind her. A few strands
of black hair peek out from under the hood that covers her head.

Looking to the west, as if to greet the rising sun, a tall figure turns to the sound of hoofbeats. Silvery hair flutters in
the breeze as the Tailor lifts his chin as if to concentrate upon the sound and to search for signs of who these travelers
might be.

Catching sight of a grey steed, and the cloaked rider, a smile forms upon Galharths lips. Lifting a hand to the approaching
figure, he calls out in Sindarin, "Well met returning hunter!"

Dismounting swiftly, the first rider steps off the Great East Road, fingers searching among the trees and grasses for
something. He need not search, for suddenly a voice calls out to him, and Maglind turns. "Good morning, Galharth," he calls
back in the same language. "I trust all is well?"

Turning to the remaining horses, the Elf waves a hand, beckoning them forward.

From under her hood, Cordelia scowls, the low rising angle of the sun casting her face into shadow and hiding her
expression. Brown eyes stare at Galharth, and she shifts uneasily in the saddle, not daring to ride closer.

"All seems well and our journey home has only been renewed one day," The Craftmaster calls out as his eyes turn to look upon
the riders of the other horses. It is upon the second figure that Galharth gaze remains fixed. Crystal blue eyes grow
narrow, and a hint of anger color's the firstborn's cheeks. "Glad though I am that you caught her," he says to Maglind,
while continuing to stare at the woman, "I suspect she'll find a way to excuse her behavior and flee once more from the good
people of this town."

Pausing a moment longer, his words turn to the common tongue. "Miss Wood..." he says softly, as if straining to speak to the
woman at all.

"I have spoken to her," Maglind answers calmly, receding into the trees. "You may speak with her if you wish."

As Galharth looks at her--and continues to look at her--Cordelia lowers her eyes, not meeting his gaze. It's several
minutes, in fact, before she responds to her name. "I will answer your questions," she says finally, quietly. There's a note
of resignation to her fate in her voice nad her face, as if she has given up fighting. "Will someone take my sister so that
I can dismount?" Liuni sleeps in her arms.

Hesitant at first, the Tailor steps forward and lifts his hands to accept the sleeping child. So gentle is Galharth's touch
that the child makes no sound and shows no hint that anything disturbs her sleep as she transfers into the firstborn's arms.
"What answers you might have are questionable, Cordelia. There is little point to question one who has made an art form out
of mingling the truth with lies." the Tailor says flatly, offering a calmly delivered insult. "It is for the people of Bree
to decide your fate, for I'll not remain here long enough to witness nor participate in the process of their justice."

"Bree? The people of Bree?" Hope clearly returns to the young woman's voice. "You'll deliver me to the guards there?"
Cordelia slips out of the saddle after making sure that Liuni is safely in Galharth's arms. "SHe won't wake if you set her
down," she notes.

Nodding, Galharth bends carefully and lays the child down upon a patch of soft grass that lays near the road. Pausing a
moment to assure that all is safe where she's lays, he turns to look upon the woman. "There is littl more that we can do,
save to break their laws ourselves by taking action that is not our place to take." The Craftmaster says as he turns to look
upon the gate and it's gaurds. Looking back to Cordelia, he pauses his words as if to consider what more he might say. "I
warn you though, should we meet again, I'll hold you as I do any threat against our land." Frowning deeply, he glances at
Maglind and then back to the seemingly harmless woman. "I have felt first hand what you are capable of, and how easily
others turn to do your bidding. A mistake once made is never repeated."

"What..." Cordelia is quiet and hesitant, glancing warily to the elf and then quickly away and then back again, as if she is
fearful of what she is saying. "What did Mara do to you?" Brown eyes flick once more to Galharth and then right back to the
grass.

Striding from the trees, Maglind takes his own mount by the mane and leads it gently back off the road. Hardly a glance is
lent Galharth and Cordelia, though he might be close enough to hear what passes between them.

Silence meets Cordelia's question, and the Craftsmaster folds his arms tightly over his chest. "The name itself brings forth
a number of memories," Galharth says with a cold glare. "Should the Mara be the same as the one I've met, then I assure you
that only terror and pain linger in your future in such a way that any punishment the folks fo Bree would give you would
seem as a soothing pat upon the head." The arms folded over his chest seem to fold tighter, and the frown upon his face more
severe. "She is a wicked beast that seeks to control any and all around her. Anything more I will not say, for my memories
are my own, and I share them with only those who I hold in trust."

"I don't know if it's the same woman or not," Cordelia answers, her tone gone flat. She scuffs at the ground with the toe of
her boot, the action betraying nervousness. "I do know that she would slit the throats of my sisters--Liuni and the ones
still with my father--if I didn't do what she wanted. So...I did." Her brows knit--there's remorse buried in those words,
and deep bitterness.

Passing by the conversation, Maglind pauses by the smaller, sleeping girl. His head tilts in contemplation, for a moment,
and then he steps away, into the camp of the elves.

Galharth snorts harshly. "Are you such the fool? Are they even still alive?" Lifting a hand he halts the conversation
between them. "Enough, the pettiness of humans is beyond me. Take your leave, the guards await you." With that a pair of
humans step forward so to take custody of the woman and Galharth turns and retreats to the tents.

The Breeguards lead Cordelia into the town gates, the girl looking over her shoulder to make sure they also bring in her
sister and her horse, which wasn't stolen, after all. She turns, though, pausing to consider Galharth, then laughs and
tosses her hair as the guards lead her in.