A Quest Through the Mountains

[Wingfoot]

((This was a really fun RP I did with someone, might have been Draco...I forget. Basically a team of people are meeting in a ruined town in Rhun, and then are journeying through the mountains and caves to discover the old Rhun Kings' lost treasure. They aren't sure who, or what inhabits the lands guarding the treasure. This takes place very early 4th age, when Baranor was alive and young. Please someone join...))

It has been 5 weeks since Baranor set out from the gate of Minas Tirith. He had just recently passed into the realm of Rhun, and the air quickly cooled and thinned. Trees became scarce as mountains and rocks took over the land. The wind blew hard now and Baranor has to steady the reigns.

He continued riding, looking for this village he was told about. "A treasure...a great treasure, buried in the depths of the mountains, guarded by things no human can touch" said the people. Baranor, being the curious man he is, hoped to quest and find this treasure, knowing others knew about it as well.

He spotted a very small village a mile or two away. It was located right under a large white mountain range, and a small, ugly forest lay to the west. He pulled the reigns harder ashis horse galloped across the plateu and towards the village.

When he reached the village, it was dead quiet. He knew this village was abandonded, but it still looked in tact and there was bound to be some travellers staying in. He slowed the horse and trotted through it's one street, looking at the few wood buildings on his right and left. He felt alone and isolated, and sighed. I hope more will show, he though, this journey was not meant for one man.

He tied his horse to the railway of a building and jumped off. He opened the flap of a tent and walked inside. No one was there, but by the smell of it, someone had been there. He smiled and found a bench to sit on. He waited.

[eleryn]

Nauriel peeked out from behind one of the buildings and looked the newcomer over. He appeared to be waiting, and since there were no others around, and she was supposed to meet up with a team. I guess this is my team... she thought.

Quietly she stepped out from behind the old building and walked toward the man. It was strange meeting someone you were going to work with for the first time, and she prayed she wouldn't do anything stupid.

Her horse followed her, and was in no way quiet in doing so. She reached the man and tripped on a rock, and grabbed the bench to keep from falling. In doing so, she got part of her short green dress caught on the edge, and it ripped. Thank Eru I have pants and a shirt on underneath this... was the first thing that went through her mind.

"Sorry, I am Nauriel.. I am hear to explore the old caves and things..." she said quickly, taking out a needle and some string. She sat on the bench and began to mend the torn hem.

[Wingfoot]

Baranor laughed as the woman's dress tore. There was something about her, that made him smile. "I am Baranor, Captain of Gondor. The throne is rightfully mine, but I dare not seek that much power as of yet. I enjoy travelling.
Anyways, we'll wait tonight out, and if no others come by dawn, it is just us."
Baranor reached out his hand.

[eleryn]

Nauriel shook it awkwardly. "I enjoy travelling as well." she said, then continued her mending. Her bright red hair fell in her face so she tucked it behind her pointed ears.

"Do you have a camp in mind? Or do we have to make it still?" she asked without looking up. She was glad that the man wasn't angry with her clumsiness, it was a nice change. Clumsy elves are few and not well liked.

[Wingfoot]

"Camp?" He answered, "This is our camp! We stay here tonight, and only for tonight. Tomorrow at dawn we leave for the mountains, bring limited supplies, it will be a long and hard trek to the treasure."

Baranor smiled at Nauriel and walked into one of the tents. He gathered his things for tomorrow and places them by the door. He stepped out of the tent, and waved to Nauriel. He then quickly lied down and went to sleep.

[eleryn]

Nauriel was shocked by two things:

First, that this man gave up his tent for her. Most of the human race she had met in her life were very selfish people.

Second, that he fell asleep so quickly.

She finished mending her dress and then timidly stepped inside with her things. Using her cloak as a pillow, she laid down on the ground and looked up at the ceiling of the tent and sighed. After awhile she fell asleep, and began to dream about Mirkwood.

[Wingfoot]

Baranor awoke to the clatter of raindrops on his face. He wrinkled his nose and slowly rose to his knees, looking around disoriented. He had dreampt about something, something sweet and special, though he could not put his finger on it. He cracked his neck and grabbed his gear on the ground. He hastily snapped on his garments (not in the presence of Nauriel of course) and walked out to his horse, Roheryn. He whistled, trying to get the attention of both his horse and the Elf. He gazed out North to the beautiful white mountains that lie before him. "Soon we will journey", he thought, "It will be a good one at that."

[eleryn]

Nauriel heard a whistle and woke immediately. She could hear rain pattering on the roof of the tent and could see it trickling down the sides. She changed quickly and put her cloak on, pulling the hood up as she walked outside.

She walked to her horse, Laire, and put her things in the saddle bags. Nauriel then turned to face Baranor.

"How long has it been raining? Did you have to sleep in the rain?" she asked, looking concerned. She was afraid that by giving up his tent he had recieved no sleep.

[Wingfoot]

Baranor smiled and looked at Nauriel. "I got plenty," he said, "when I dream a good dream, I know I have gotten sleep." He untied Roheryn from a nearby tree and jumped atop him. He attached his thing's to the horse's torso and reached down for Nauriel's hand. "Do you not have a horse?" He asked. Eoden pointed to a large rock face before the mountain range begun. "We make for that area," he told, "once there we shall plan, and hopefully quicken our pace. The treasure lies in the mountains, and I plan on findin' it."

[eleryn]

"I have a horse, thank you though." she says, mounting Laire. "And thank you for the tent last night as well."

She looked up at the rain and took off her hood. Nauriel enjoyed rain, and didn't mind it at all. The rain would have soaked through her cloak anyway.

She then looked toward the area that Baranor was pointing at and smiled. "Then lets go!" she said excitedly, ready to go and explore things long forgotten. That was her purpose; to find out what had long since been forgotten and lost.

[Wingfoot]

Baranor winked and fiercely whipped Roheryn as he stood on his hind legs and roared through the morning sky. The horse galloped forward out of the village and into the open plains, moving closer to Baranor's goal. He looked back to make sure Nauriel was following him and yelled in the wind "Follow me!" Baranor rode faster towards the rock face.

When he reached it, the world seemed to dim darker, and the sound of birds had stopped. The rain had also ceased its downpour. He turned and gazed back and saw Nauriel a ways back riding through the plains. He hopped off his horse and onto a rock, waiting for her to come.

[eleryn]

Nauriel followed at a slower pace, and when she reached Baranor she became aware at how different it felt. It was no longer raining, though she could hear the rain behind her and it was still cloudy.

It feels dark here she thought to herself. Dark and tense and lonely.

"You took off pretty fast" she said, looking at him curiously. "Did you see anything, or are you just anxious?"

[Wingfoot]

Baranor narrowed his eyes and looked beyong the rock face towards the mountains they'd soon be travelling. "Call it a Gondor man's intuition. I just feel that if we had left any sooner, something wouldn't have gone our way."

Baranor leaped up and saddled Roheryn again. He grabbed two rocks and smashes them together, igniting a spark which then lit the stick he has previously snatched. "We may need light guidance" he said "Who knows it there is anything but darkness in the depths of the mountains."

Baranor told Nauriel the outline. They were to ride through the mountains and caves, searching for the treasure. It was rumoured that it was on the Eastern side of the mountain range, in a tunnel somewhere. "We'll check out that side first, "he spoke as he pointed, "Come Nauriel, we must hasten."

[eleryn]

He sure is in a hurry she thought to herself as she began to follow him again. She looked toward the mountains again and smiled. The thought of being one of the first to discover the long forgotten stories, treasure, and lore of the people that lived here made her happy. Made her feel useful.

She followed slightly behind Baranor, not quite used to his eagerness for buried treasure quite yet. While she was behind she thought about what they might find, and maybe if there was a reason why it was lost.

[Wingfoot]

Baranor slowed his pace as the terrain got rougher. He turned back to make sure Nauriel was there. "You know" he said as he contiued riding, "Great beasts and creatures guard that treasure. Creatures that were not bound to Sauron, so did not die after the war." Baranor could sense Nauriel was a little nervous about the journey ahead.

"Did I forget to mention to you, we are not the only ones? We are just the first to cross these lands. That is why you've brought your weapons."