*As the servant left, and they were about to follow, Sen ran his hands down Deawen's hair, and, with concentrated flame, cleaned all the dirt off of it, leaving it shining in the afternoon sun.*
You mean like this? Yes, my love. I will not scare the lord of this town, especially with the tension there already is. A word for both of us; we must contain any sort of... negative emotion, no matter how uptight or snobbish this Lord Andur is.
*Sen stood at the door, and offered his arm.*
Shall we, my love?

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"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Deawen laughed " yes like that" She took his offered arm smiling. THey follwed the servant to a small chamber that she took as a study. WHen they entered Deawen's face no longer showed any emotion.
Lord Andur stood at a window staring into the white blizzard that raged.
He looked over at them with intrest. " Lord Sen and Lady Deawen, we were not expecting you for another three weeks, I trust the journey was pleasant?" he said politely. Deawen inclined her head " We have few numbers, the journey was uneventful" she said leaving out the attacks.

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Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

*Sen continued where Deawen left off.*
Indeed, Lord Andur, your hospitality is welcome. The cold was hard on the way here. A warm fire is most welcome.
*Sen inclined his head slightly, as a show of respect. He could see that Lord Andur was rather susceptible to subservience.*

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"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Lord Andur smiled " It is given freely, we don't get visitors much, so we have developed the courtsey to always welcome guests...even if they come bearing ill news" he said walking away from the window to a small table that held a decanter. He poured three goblets of a strang liquor. He offered both eSen and Deawen a goblet, Deawen accepted but didn't drink. She needed a clear head not a muddled one.
" It is only ill news when one refuses to yeild" Deawen said calmly. Lord Andur laughed clearly not used to Deawen's bluntness. " Forgive me I had forgotten that your wife here has a way with words... which i find rather odd" It was meant as an insult to both Sen and Deawen, implying that Sen was weak in letting Deawen step outside her place.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

*Sen smiled diplomatically, as he accepted the cup. He to, did not drink. Liquor never crossed his tongue, and it never would...*
Lady Deawen holds her own council, Lord Andur; as do I. We both come as representatives to you, to ensure that the message we bring is heard. It is up to you to heed our words, my lord. It is a simple yes or no question that we ask, and we need to see it answered before we leave, with all due respect.

_________________
"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Lord Andur cleared his throat and smiled. " Of course" he said,
"we've backed him into a corner" Deawen warned to Sen,
" King Elessar Asks that you cease the attempt to revolt, and that you resume sending the yearly taxes..." Deawen said, Lord Andur stared at Deawen without emotion. " THen tell Your King Elessar that i will not submit like a whipped dog.." he said slowly to give emphasis. Deawen sipped the drink, hiding her eyes rolling. " He is not my king" she hissed into her drink. " I emplore you to reconsider, Lord Andur... You risk a war, " she said cooly as if it wasn't a big deal. A long pause spaced. " The mountains will protect us. No army can travel up these mountians without losses" Deawen sipped her drink again, it had an odd flavor to it made from a strange fruit she supposed. " Don't be so sure it will be an army he will send" Deawen warned.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

*Sen set the cup down lightly on the edge of the table. His face was unreadable, as he replied.*
You bring doom upon yourself and your people. There are forces at King Elessar's request that once called mountains like these home. Please, my lord. Think of your people. Why do you not acknowledge Elessar's rule? What is behind your reason? Though, for a moment, let us give this matter a rest, before words are said that cannot be taken back. We also come for another reason. Lady Deawen, what we seek is yours to say.
*Sen added at the end, playing on Lord Andur's previous statement.*

_________________
"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Deawen scowled at Sen slightly " I thought we promised not to bring that matter up!" she lsaid with slight panick in her head. She took a deep breath before continuing. " As of late the clouds of winter refuse to leave the lands plunging the lands into a winter that seems imprenatrable. It is rumored that something in these mountains control the lasting winter" she said dully, Lord Andur looked startled for a second before quickly recovering. " There is nothing of the sort in these mountians.." he tried to chuckle " Seems you have been listening to old wives tales" Deawen shook her head but said nothing. She raised her goblet to her lips and suddenly felt dizzy. She shut her eyes and it passed.
She began to shake slightly, she sat down trying to calm herself down. " Lady Deawen what is the matter?" Lord andur asked concerned.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

(Sorry for the short post...)
*Sen turned to Deawen, as he felt her shudder slightly.*
Are you alright, Lady Deawen? What ails you?
*Sen glanced out of the corner of his eye towards Lord Andur.*
My love, what is the matter? Can you stand, or should I help you to the room?
*Sen turns up to Lord Andur.*
I'm sorry, my lord. It must be the cold coupled with the heat that makes her so.
*Sen says, as he puts a supporting arm around Deawen.*

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"True Evil cannot be reckoned with. Only Defeated." - Sen L I Starfire

(Banner thanks to Imlosiel the Lost! )

Waking from her peaceful rest, Imlosiel looked at the sky outside her window and realized that several hours had gone by since she had first lay down. Rushing to ready herself for the meeting, she pulled one her cloak and made a few futile attempts at flattening her free-spirited red hair.

As she turned the corner into the corridor where the meeting was to be held, Imlosiel's heart sank when she saw that the large wooden doors were closed tightly and that voices could be heard from within. Disappointed with herself for missing the commencement of the meeting, and not wanting to interrupt, she took a place outside the room and waited for the others to emerge.

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Anira awoke with a start. "Oh no," she muttered to herself. "The meeting must have started." Quickly rising from the bed she hurriedly readied herself, cursing her carelessness under her breath. Throwing her cloak over her shoulders, she exited the room and walked with all due speed to the location of the meeting. As she entered the corridor where the meeting was being held, she saw Imlosiel waiting outside. "Guess we missed the start..." she said a bit sheepishly as she stood beside the other woman.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

Deawen shuddered again, she tried to smile but the dizziness returned. Lord Andur flung open the doors to the study and called for a servant. Deawen was glad for Sen's support, she rested against him as the room began to spin. She continued to walk forward with Sen's help to their room. When they left Lord Andur reached into his pocket and glanced at a black vial. He looked up and saw Imsoiel and Anira he shoved the vial into his pocket and cleared his throat. " you must Be Lord Sen and Lady Deawen's companions?"

Upon reaching the room Deawen's knees buckled. " I don't know whats wrong with me..But I have a feeling.." He thoughts were chopy as if she hard a hard time thinking. " I think lord Andur poisoned that blasted drink..." she growled She got to her feet again with energy that was waneing fast. She managed to get into the bed and crawl under the covers as chills took her.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Anira looked up with a start as the doors to meeting room were flung open. Her eyes widened as she saw Lady Deawen being led away with Lord Sen's support. "By the Valar..." she muttered and turned to look at Lord Andur in time to see him holding a vial of some sort, but his hand darted quickly into his pocket before she could get a good look at it.

"You must be Lord Sen and Lady Deawen's companions?" he asked them.

Anira studied him for the briefest of moments, her suspicions about the lord suddenly aroused. "Yes, we are." she said impassively, not wanting to appear suspicious. "What is wrong with the lady?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

" It seems lady Deawen's health is not stable..." he said deeply. " I have no answers only that she became unwell during the meeting..." he said smoothly.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Anira slowly nodded before shifting her gaze down the corridor where Sen and Deawen departed. How strange, she thought to herself with a slight frown. Deawen was fine just moments before. "Did something happen in the meeting that upset her, my lord?" she inquired, forcing herself to keep an impassive tone as she returned her eyes to him.

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AWESOME set by the AMAZING Lembas!!!

He shrugged slightly, " It is hard to tell with Lady Deawen... She shows little emotion, save for anger.. Due to her shifty past i suppose..." he paused as if gathering his thoughts. He gestured that they were welcome to come into the study. " I had been told Lady Deawen was a mercenary for both sides before the war, I find that rather interesting... both sides. "
" I am astonished at her skill with masking all emotion. Makes me wonder why any one would want to be like that.."

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home