|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:01 pm
 Fletcher | Thatcher | Thorin | FrerinThis is a private RP for Nisshou H's soquili. I know you love them all but please refrain from posting without permission.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:18 pm
It had happened suddenly, like a summer thunder storm. No alarm had sounded. Life seemed to be carrying on as usual for all of the dwarves living in relative peace in their own little mountain valley. The day was normal enough even for Thorin Oakenshield, the king with only a lost kingdom. He stood patiently listening to reports on how food stores were holding up so far this winter. It was early in the season yet but a frost had come far too quickly in the fall killing some of what they had counted on being around until the spring. Despite the bleak outlook then things seemed to be holding together well enough. They would simply have to suffer through a few tasteless meals. Thorin was preparing to listen to the next report when he caught sight of a golden-brown shape racing towards him. His younger brother.
Thorin excused himself politely knowing that his council had everything under control for the time being. He hastened away from the other stallions to meet his brother not too far from a large, bare branched, oak tree. It was unlike his brother to show any interest in the inner workings of ruling over an entire people. The look on his face confirmed that Frerin's presence was because something had happened. "Dis?" Thorin questioned urgently trying to pinpoint the reason for Frerin to come all this way. "Her boys?" Something twisted anxiously in Thorin's stomach. Their people were not known for baring many young as most preferred to keep to their work rather than search for their One. Their sister had found her's almost accidentally and had been blessed with two sons. Two sons to continue Durin's lineage.
Thorin could scarcely imagine what would happen if anything had happened to the three of them but at the same time it was the only thing he could think of that would bring his brother so far from their dwelling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:39 pm
Thorin was not a difficult dwarf to find. It wasn't just because the stone around his neck shone like a fire in the night either. It was because Frerin's elder brother had a commanding presence that could take away the breath of lesser dwarves. It was a regal aura that radiated around him far brighter than any star. It also didn't hurt that, despite Thorin's best efforts to isolate himself, the dwarf king was constantly surrounded by other horses. There was always someone clamoring to get his attention for whatever reason. Some wanted his approval for projects, some wanted him to take preventative measures for some trouble or another, and some simply wanted him. Frerin always found that his aura helped him stand out in the great crowds around him though which was why Frerin was able to find him so quickly today. It was a good thing too.
As soon as Frerin was certain that Thorin saw him too he picked up speed. Thorin needed to know, now, before too many others heard and they were sure to hear. Frerin came to a stop beneath the bare boughs of the tree and listened as Thorin voiced his concerns. Frerin shook his head quickly to quell his brother's troubled heart. "They're fine, Thorin. So far as I know Dis still has them out by our pool making them recite...everything, until their diction improves." He watched as he brother's eyes relaxed ever so slightly. Frerin understood. Out of their family line they were all that was left (save for their cousins) they couldn't afford to lose anyone else.
"It's..." Frerin paused. He'd been so sure of what he was going to say before that his sudden awkwardness seemed entirely ridiculous even to himself. "Thorin, there are elves on the northern slope." Frerin said cautiously knowing his brother's detestation of the kind. "At least, we think they are. Just the two of them. They wear crowns in the shape of leaves and have antlers...and long flowing hair." Frerin was starting to slip into more mocking tones as he described the pair and cleared his throat to get control over himself once more. "Anyway, I thought you would like to hear it first, before word spreads around."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 4:55 pm
Thorin frowned at his younger brother. This wasn't something to be taken lightly and Frerin was making jokes. "This is no laughing matter, Frerin." Thorin scolded his voice a bit harsher than Thorin had meant for it to be. "They could be scouts. From Thranduil." Things had not improved between the dwarf and elf king after their last encounter. Thranduil had let several of Thorin's soldiers die slow and bloody deaths. He had refused to help them when their home had been attacked years beforehand. There was no telling if he had plans for them with them being so close to his borders here. "Has anyone else been informed of this?"
Frerin balked at his brother's tone. "I told the border guards, Thorin. I wouldn't put our people in danger. You know that. Right?" Frerin peered into his brother's eyes. They hadn't always looked so tired and lost. "We don't think they're Thranduil's. They look different. Come, I'll show you." Frerin turned slowly keeping his eyes on Thorin until he was facing the northern slopes. Showing Thorin directly would put him more at ease than any amount of reassuring.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 6:45 pm
Lorenna had been behaving strangely. She used to enjoy all the little tricks they came up with. Perhaps enjoy wasn't the right word. She had never gotten angry enough hover a few feet above them before though. All they had done was wake her up early one morning by screaming...and then the morning after that by knocking a pine branch of snow on her head...and there was that moment where they pretended to have eaten the poisonous berries that she told them not to. Come to think of it she probably had very good reason to be upset with them after all.
Thatcher sighed. They had been kicked out for the time being. Lorenna had said they could return whenever they decide to start behaving but for the life of him Thatcher couldn't see Lorenna letting them come back in any less than two or three weeks. She might have loved them more than a lot of things but that seemed to have limits. They were grown stallions. They could take care of themselves for a while.
In their temporary exile the two had opted for venturing into the mountains and they headed for Padmapani territory. It was nice scenery and a welcome change from the wide plains that separated the hot springs station from the central Padmapani one. They could enjoy themselves and then send message to Lorenna once they arrived in a network hot zone again. She could come get them or send instructions from there if she wanted to find them. They had both found it to be a brilliant plan.
"Do you think she'll keep us out here long?" Thatcher ventured hopping over a fallen log that would have been just as easy to step over.
"I doubt it." Fletcher said stepping around the same log. He knew all about Lorenna's soft spot for the two of them. She had stopped hunting for their mother a long time ago and ensured they were well cared for herself. Their real mother was lost to the wind as far as any of them could tell but that was okay. Fletcher and Thatcher had Lorenna and she was more than enough for them. "She'll probably be waiting at Padmapani by the time we get there."
"Yeah?" Thatcher sounded a little too hopeful even to himself. "Do you think she'll still be angry?" His ears flicked back and his head drooped at the thought. Pranking Lorenna was fun. Upsetting her was not.
"Hard to tell. We'll just have to see." Fletcher gave his younger brother what he hoped was a reassuring look before wrinkling his brow. Something wasn't right. Fletcher's head turned this way and that, his ears swiveling.
"Something wrong, Fletcher?" Thatcher asked lifting his nose to scent the air for predators. His tuft of a tail slowly began to lift off his rear.
"I'm not sure. Everything just got...very quiet."
Thatcher frowned. Quiet never meant anything good. It meant everything had gone into hiding. "We should go." He said lowering his voice. Fletcher nodded in agreement and the two started turning away from their current trail.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 7:01 pm
From where Thorin stood he could clearly see the pale hides of the two bucks. Frerin had been right, they did look remarkably like elves. The way their hair hung free in pale, silk-like strands that caught the light. They looked like they could easily be forged from the starlight the elves all seemed to worship. What they didn't seem to be doing was heading in any sort of logical pattern towards the current home of the dwarves. They also looked exactly the same.
"What do you think?" Frerin asked quietly. "Some of Thranduil's after all?" He didn't want the answer to be a yes. They had brought enough dwarven horses to take down a pair of elves easily enough but strictly speaking it didn't seem like a good idea unless they wanted to start a war.
Thorin shook his head. "No, they are not Thranduil's." If he had to make a wager he would say they were free folk. Or else, some trick. Then they abruptly changed course. Thorin stiffened. The two were heading straight towards the waiting dwarves. "Form ranks." Thorin ordered taking a fighting stance in clear view of the approaching woodland creatures. Frerin took his place at his brother's side as the other stallions came together behind them. If the two deer were smart they would leave.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 30, 2013 6:58 am
Two identical tails shot straight up as the brothers dug into the earth to stop their progress. They stared wide-eyed at the group in front of them where two bulky stallions stood ahead of two lines of similarly bulky stallions all standing shoulder to shoulder. This would have been terrifying to the cerynei brothers if not for one tiny detail.
"They're like Lorenna's size!" Thatcher cawed before falling into a fit of raucous laughter. Even the tallest stallions there would only just reach the twins' jaws and the twins were far from even average height for males.
Fletcher shot his brother a look to try and remind him of his manners. It only served to make his little brother laugh harder. Sighing the elder of the two turned back to look at the strange group before them, blocking their path. It stood to reason that they were the reason everything had gone silent. "I'm sorry." He called. "Have we passed into protected borders? That wasn't our intent!" Even on their own they were still representatives of Lorenna and her cause. It wouldn't do to make more enemies out of otherwise peaceful folk. Or at least Fletcher hoped they were peaceful.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 2:38 pm
Thorin's jaw tightened. He knew of no one named Lorenna but it was impossible to miss that it was a joke about their stature that was being told. They were mocking the dwarves and it infuriated Thorin. The second was behaving in a more dignified way but it was too late for manners. Thorin would not be mocked or listen to others scorn himself or his people. "Whether it was your intent or not you have passed into my lands and I will not suffer the frivolities of elves here." Thorin could hear his own voice raising the longer he spoke and he was well aware that every eye was on him listening intently to the ruler of these lands.
Frerin didn't sigh even though he wanted to. Such an act would show that he disagreed with Thorin and Frerin would not do such a thing in front of Thorin's subjects. They could bicker over everything and anything all they wanted in the privacy of their own home but doing it in public could send waves out doubt around. The last thing anyone needed was for the people to doubt their king even the slightest bit. So, for now he would act as though he supported his brother entirely.
Stepping forward to move attention to himself rather than Thorin, Frerin called to them, "Leave now or face the consequences!" He was well aware that he sounded like a child at play but it was all he could think of to say for the time being.
Thorin glanced at his brother looking like Frerin's order was causing him physical pain. In a way it was. He was developing a slight headache from it. Frerin was meant to be a leader to the people almost equal to Thorin. Yet, his younger brother never stepped up to his responsibilities and when he did it almost felt like Frerin was trying to make a mockery of everything. Thorin loved his younger brother dearly but there were moments when he wished that Frerin had been blessed with his sister's wit instead of his sister. Dis hardly needed it with the calculating ferocity she had also managed to inherit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 2:56 pm
Thatcher's laughter died out quickly when he realized they were actually being threatened. Thatcher took a nervous step backwards. They had never received a greeting quite like this before. With Lorenna things had always been a bit tense for the three of them. They were almost constantly wandering into new territories with unknown inhabitants. Some were displeased to see them but they'd never been met with battle ready forces before. At least not battle ready forces that were so against having wanderers passing through.
"Is this because I laughed at them?" Thatcher asked his brother quietly.
Fletcher shook his head slowly but he didn't feel particularly confident in his answer. The laughter had definitely set them off but something about what the black one had said troubled him. "We will leave!" Fletcher called back as politely as he could. "But, we are not elves. We are cerynei. We're peaceful I promise!"
"I'm sorry I laughed! You just look like someone we know!" Thatcher added earning himself a small kick from his older brother. Thatcher flinched and glared at his twin. Fletcher ignored him.
"We were only heading to a herd east of here. We did not mean to trespass!" Fletcher continued. He wanted to make sure that they didn't leave with more enemies than they had arrived with. They didn't need more allies but having more enemies would make life a lot harder than it already was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:21 pm
"Cerynei. Elves. I see no difference." Thorin challenged. They said they would leave and yet they stood still as stone speaking to those that did not wish to converse. One apologized with no trace of sincerity in his voice and only a poor explanation on why he acted in such a way to begin with. "If your friend in the east is Thranduil then you may inform him that he and all of his kin are still unwelcome here. We do not take kindly to these intrusions."
Frerin frowned. It was difficult not to. The two were prolonging their stay when it would have been better to just leave. Trying to talk to his brother more at this point would likely only anger the stallion further. Frerin loved his brother dearly but the stallion had all the patience of a starving cat with a fish in front of it. That patience was clearly being tested. Frerin could tell. Thorin's bright eyes were unusually dark beneath his brow at the moment. It was a clear sign that a storm was coming.
"Thorin, let's have a more proper conference with them." Frerin suggested quietly while nodding at the men still standing in ranks behind them. If Thorin was going to lose his calm Frerin would rather not have the men behind him egging him on.
Thorin answered Frerin's suggestion with a sharp look that softened after a moment. He turned to the men gathered behind him. "We are done here." He proclaimed. "Return to your posts. Watch for others trying to slip by." The soldiers bowed before tromping off to get back to their proper positions. Thorin watched them go before turning back to the two intruders. He would make sure that they left before he would leave himself.
"Thorin?" Frerin ventured as quietly as a mouse's breath.
"I said we are done, Frerin." Thorin replied coldly. "There will be no conference with the enemy. Not today. Not ever."
Frerin finally allowed himself to sigh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 3:59 pm
Things were not going well. Both of the twins could see that. Every attempt they made to make things better seemed to backfire spectacularly. Neither would say it but they both wished that Lorenna was there to help them figure everything out. She was very good at negotiating these things. They mostly stood off to the side talking to the younger crowds that showed more interest in them than contracts. It might have been beneficial to have paid more attention to everything Lorenna had been saying and doing all those times.
"But we don't know any Thrandwheel!" Thatcher protested helplessly looking just as lost as Fletcher felt. Fletcher nudged his brother's shoulder with his own gently. It was time for them to move along. Thatcher ignored him. "And I don't know what elves are either!" He said locking all four feet stubbornly into the ground before looking to his brother for answers.
Fletcher shook his head. He didn't know any better than his brother. Whoever the short stallions were they weren't keen on explaining what they knew. They didn't look like they actually considered the pair a threat anymore either. Most of them were heading off in separate directions leaving only the two leaders standing in the same places. It was enough of a victory for Fletcher's liking.
"Let's just go, Thatcher. We can ask Lorenna later." Fletcher tried to push his brother in the other direction but just as Thatcher started to budge he rooted himself again. With a determined look he turned around to stare at the stallions down the slope.
"But what's are elves?!" Thatcher demanded angrily not willing to let the subject drop. Fletcher lost his patience. A few of the stallions that had left were starting to turn back their way. He headbutted Thatcher's side and kept doing so until his brother was moving. It would definitely turn into a fight later but at least they wouldn't be in any real danger from others. Fletcher loved his brother but he could be a pain.
Thatcher did not love his brother at all at the moment but he couldn't manage to turn around to face Fletcher without getting rammed with his antlers again. Eventually Thatcher gave up trying and took to springing out of Fletcher's way. His wonder over what elves were was all but forgotten.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
