(OOC: related story : Hallathor - Dealing with a shady past.)
It has been a week since they reached Snowbourn. Behind the walls of this town Daellas found a safe haven for his family, and a place where his newborn can grow up. It is finally time to settle down and live a normal life. No more blood and despair, no more ill adventures, we had seen enough of the misery in this world. Arunel feels the same way, we can build up a normal life here. Looking after each other, it’s all we need. Yet there is one thing we wanted to do, visit the place where we were born and raised: Garsfeld.
They both rode slowly through the grass plains northwards. A winding path brought them through the many farming crofts that lay scattered around the landscape. At one farm we stopped and asked if they knew someone called Brenthelm. The farmer nodded and pointed us a bit further north. We rode slowly to the appointed place and the familiar sight shot through me like lightning. Our old farmhouse was still standing. We slowly rode closer and looked at a man that was carrying a shovel. The man froze a moment as both brothers dismounted. We walked up to him as he narrowed his eyes "Who are you, what do y.... ". I smiled as I recognized his face "Uncle it is us... your nephews". The shovel dropped to the ground out of amazement as he walked towards us "How.. how can this be? You are still alive!". He embraces us both and invited us inside to talk.
Brenthelm looked delighted as he poured in three glasses of tea for his guests. We told him where we had been the last twenty years and about the harsh journey back to Rohan. When he learned of the death of his sister, tears ran over his face. And the shadow over this man’s life became apparent. Brenthelm looked much older than he actually was and way too skinny for his own good. He told us he is married and has three daughters, but they now all live in Snowbourn. So far the riders of the Sutcrofts provided protection to most of the crofts, but the threat of the enemy is ever present nowadays.
Daellas was pondering over one thing, “Uncle, all this time I never really knew why our mother brought us all the way to Bree. What was her motive?”. Brenthelms sighed “I used to believe she left out of grief of the death of your father…. But since last year I am not so sure”. Daellas frowned “What do you mean?”. Brenthelm walked to a chest and returned with an old journal in his hands “Do you remember Argyll? The brother of your father?”. Daellas and Arunel nodded. Brenthelm continued the story “I believe he killed your father.. But let me start from the beginning. Your mother and I are bastard children of Lord Fernmir of Gondor who stayed in these parts to set up a trade agreements with the horse breeders. Besides that he invested in this farm of which we paid him 30 % of the annual profit. Argath tried to banish Fernmir after a long list of incidents between them two. Argath had the favor of the local thanes and nearly managed to ban Fernmir away from these lands. If it was not for the early and way too convenient death of Argath and his eldest son. Argyll brought us the news of his death showing little remorse. The strange thing though that Argyll got more money than he could drink after Argaths death, while Argath left him no heritage.
Brenthelm drank some more tea as both Arunel and Daellas listened closely as he continued “ Yes Argyll was a drunk and he still is, but also a formidable fighter. Your mothers leave with you two was most suspicious, she left without saying anything to us, never to return again. But the evening before she left, she had a big fight with our father Fernmir. I never really understood what it was about until now”. Brenthelm opened the journal of Argyll and took out a letter and start reading it.
~ Argyll,
On the next ride to the north send your brother ahead to the gap between the rocks, orcs will ambush him there. If you make sure this goes according to plan, you will be rewarded handsomely. Make it look like an accident. I will deal with Freia. ~
Brenthelm closed the journal again and whispered “This small note is the answer to all the doubts. My tyrant father had planned this all along, the death of your father and the ldissapearance of Freia. I know for sure Fernmir is behind all of this misery, he ruined the life of the entire family.” Arunel smacked his fist on the table and bellowed “Where is he now? Let’s show this piece of ***** that he messed with the wrong men!” Brenthelm said in a low voice “He is hard to reach in his tower in Dol Amroth, but I am sure we can find a way to….” A sudden knock on the door distracted him.
Brenthelm walked to the door and opened it slowly. The door smacked open with a bang and there was a flinging sound, a blade was coming out of Brenthelms back. Brenthelm just stood there as blood was running out his mouth, he dropped to the ground as the sword that impaled him was withdrawn. Arunel jumped up and drew his sword, but a cloaked and hooded figure appeared behind him out of the darkness. Before Arunel could react his throat was slit. Arunel couldn’t scream or move as blood was flowing fast out of his neck. Daellas stood up and drew his sword but a joint of pain filled his back. Another man appeared out of nowhere behind him stabbed a dagger in his back and stabbed again and again and again… The world turned hazy as Daellas saw his brother fall to the ground, a tear rolled over his face. Daellas fell to his knees and looked up at his attacker. The dark skinned assassin smirked and grabbed his chin firmly and spat in Daellas his face “Fernmir sends his regards!”. A final stroke with his dagger in the neck made Daellas fall close to his brother. Life slowly ebbed away as the attackers all left the farmhouse. A fire started and soon the farmhouse was burning brightly in the night.
Darkness. Nothing…
A light. Starlight.
White shores. Shapes of two men.
Brother.. Father…
