For far too long uncertainty, doubt and fear had gripped the family of Ingfled of Bree. Mysteries abounded as the young girl's brother and aged mother both were slain by Brigands, seeking some as yet unknown dark goal, apparently tied to enemies far away.
The leaders of these mysterious Brigands, a Southron man of dubious nature, had even grown so bold as to challenge Ingfled and her allies on several occasions right in the confines of the Prancing Pony, filling the girl with foreboding with his cryptic threats.
This had been slowly growing intolerable for the huntress Xanderian, who upon the death of her elder brother Ackerley had proclaimed that she would act as the girl's sibling in her late brother's stead, tending to her as an older sister. She had watched as the girl had grown more and more depressed and troubled by the loss and fear, unsure of what her future held.
It was reaching the point that she could not bear to watch poor Ingfled be dragged inch by inch into despair and shadow and doom, as she had watched so many others sons and daughters of her people be. She longed to take some action at long last.
One night, matters came to a head in the Pony as a party of friends and allies were gathered together, drinking and discussing the state of the war. Xanderian stood with her sister Ingfled, near at the hand of her leige the Lady Arahen of Orodreth. Two of the Lady's comrades, Kalvur of the Iron Hills and Aierwyn of Cliving were also in the merry company as were the young elf Cagor and Aeglorond of Gondor, better known to the company as Egg for reasons best left to the imagination in polite company.
Tension was running high as several men of Southron origin, including this mysterious brigand leader, had been seen or felt around the Pony that night. It had been the strategy of Ingfled's allies to delay any confrontation until more could be learned, but patience and forbearance was running thin after too much provocation. Slowly the conversation of the company turned to theses strange matters that seemed to hang like a curse over Ingfled's line and Xandarian tried as best she could to lay out what was known and what was still a mystery.
As she laid out the facts in her soldierly fashion Ingfled startled, woken from the comfort of having so many allies around her by a troubling thought...she had not seen her aged father all day which was most peculiar, and remembering the fate of her mother had suddenly filled her with dread.
Indeed, that fact coupled with all the Southrons lurking about moved her to insist that she must go to find her father at their farmstead....immediately.
Needless to say this met with both concern and protest from the company, and from Xanderian most of all. If Ingfled was in some way the target of these Brigands, for her to expose herself needlessly would be folly. However it was finally agreed that as long as she did not go alone, then such a mission may be wise to allay her fears, and if worst came to worst, to hopefully aid her father should he be in danger.
Ingfled sighed "Th' fac' that I aven't seen em' all day worries me. I don' need everyone wit' me.. some shoul' stay ere' if one of those buggers come back."
The Lady Aierwyn placed a gloved hand on Ingfled's shoulder. "Are you sure?" The Breelander simply nodded...afraid but resolute. "'Aye.. if ye' ear' anything' see anythin'.. be sure t' tell the others."
Aeglorond of Gondor stepped forward protectively, bowing to Ingfled who blushed from the gesture."I will be part of the escort." It was a statement, not a request.
The girl looked at him gratefully, with a secret smile despite her fears. She then turned to Xanderian, not even thinking to ask but knowing what her sister would wish. "Fine. I'll take ye' both wit'."
Kalvur flexed mightily and laughed, bowing deeply to Ingfled, 'I'll stay - if they come back, they'll find my axe waiting'
Cagor stood beside him and saluted the Breelander. "I stand with the Dwarf!" Kalvur was too courteous to snort, but Xanderian could tell he wished to, and smiled.
Kalvur bowed again. "Fare you well, Lady. Be safe'"
As the threesome moved out of sight into the center of Bree and towards Ingfled's farmstead, the Lady Aierwyn could have sworn she heard Xanderian's voice whispering in her ear, saying "Watch over the Lady Arahen for me...this matter darkens.'" Such a message filled the woman of Rohan with a sense of foreboding...and she began to prepare her horse to follow.
As the threesome arrived at the seemingly deserted farmstead, Xanderian's noted movement in the shadows. Sending Egg silently to accompany Ingfled up the front path, Xanderian slipped away into the shadows herself and drew Heartbreaker from her shoulder, holding it loosely in her right hand as she moved silently
Lurking near the high stone foundation of the farmhouse, confident that we was well hidden, an armed man of eastern look watched the woman and her escord as they arrived...he gripped the hilt of his blade as a voice just a few meters away from him spoke in low, even tones, freezing him in his tracks.
Xanderian smiled, her lilting voice oozing sarcasm. "Hail friend...what news from the Mark?" She had one long, deadly arrow already nocked, aimed at the ground between herself and the mysterious intruder.
The dark man stood there unmoving, but after the initial shock he did not seem surprised that the elf had found him. He slowly cracked his knuckles and turned to smirk at her. "Keen sight pointed ears." He shook his head "This one was wondering when you would catch on. Bring the girl, this one only wishes to speak."
Xanderian drew the nocked arrow back and aimed at the dark man, 'You can speak once you are dead...'
The intruder carefully and obviously released the hilt of his blade. "You dare strike when this one does not strike back? This one misjudged your honor. But if this one dies... more will take his place."
Xanderian's eyes grew darker, the tension of the bowstring causing Heartbreaker to moan softly. "Good...I will slay them too...As for honor, I am a soldier, honor is for greater folk."
The dark man smiled. "It has come to blows then?"
Xanderian simply nodded. "I grow tired of these words and posturings...if you and your cronies are so eager to die..come, I await you with death in my pocket."
"Then you do not know us." The dark man snorted derisively.
The huntress smiled coldly. "I have known you for hundreds of years...you are all the same, and when I have killed you not even the dogs that eat your remains will remember you have lived."
The dark man frowned...this was not seeming to go as he had expected. "But our master is higher, higher than riddles. Higher then pretty words.. step aside. This one is tired. This one needs the girl."
"Then bring your master..." said Xanderian, her eye unwavering. ""this one" will have what I give it and no more."
The dark man shook his head and spoke more softly, more slowly...trying to buy time. "Master is far away, but here we also gain our own desires."
Xanderian tilted her head. "And those are?"
Sensing a break, the dark man reached for his bow slowly. "'Power. But it seems you are eager to spill blood. This one could have given a peaceful transition."
Aeglorond, having made certain the Ingfled was well hidden, now came around the side to witness the scene, his own bow drawn. The dark man and Xanderian didn't take their eyes from one another, however.
Xanderian smiled, her voice soft and almost sweet. "What peaceful transition do you offer...and if you touch that bow I will put out your eyes, the left one first." From the tone of her voice it was clear to anyone who knew her...Xanderian was done playing.
Aeglorond aimed his bow at the stranger, sensing that things were about to reach a climax as Xanderian continued, her voice still light and smooth. "Say your piece now...you may yet live till noon."
The dark man had also apparently reached the end of his patience. "Give this one the girl and she will not be harmed. This one did not come to spill blood.. and if you do not give her to this one. He will find her and kill her and another will serve her purpose. This one's arrows are poisoned."
Aeglorond was horrified and shook his head. "You aren't in a position to negotiate."
Xanderian however simply nodded and smiled. "Then tell your master...the answer is no." and released the bowstring.
The long shafted arrow took the man in the left eye as promised with a sound like heavy velvet being ripped in two, the jagged edged point cleaving through brain and bone to come to a stop 4 inches out of the back of his head.
As his body twitched, hand still reaching towards his own bow in a final spasm, Aeglorond fired his own arrow into the back of the man's right knee, knocking the corpse to the ground..
Aeglorond dropped his bow and looked all around. "I hear hooves."
Xanderian simply nodded, drawing a second arrow from her quiver. "My Lady and Aierwyn approach...'
At that moment Arahen's horse vaulted the far fence, the Lady of Orodreth holding the reins in her teeth, her bow at the ready. Aierwyn rode close behind, sword drawn.
Xanderian nudged the remains of the man with her boot, then laying her bow aside set her foot on the man's chest and pulled the arrow back out of his skull with a squelching sound, wiping it clean on the tall grass . She then quickly and professionally went through his pockets and pouches. Without turning around she said "Egg...see to Ingfled" and walked to the two women on horseback slowly.
She dropped to one knee before Arahen who was carefully viewing the scene, turning round in the saddle and scanning for enemies along the treeline.
Aierwyn asked, "Where is the girl?"
Xanderian looked up, "Within I believe, my lady....when we arrived I came directly here to discuss matters with this gentleman'
Arahen sighed. "We must see to Ingfled. She must be watched always. The last place she is safe is here!"
Nodding, Xanderian leafed through notes she had found on the body...then hands them to her Lady. "The Egg man is seeing to my sister and seeking out her father who seems to be slumbering within. These were on its person, Lady...from his markings a man of Rhun, but beyond that I know not."
Arahen glanced through them, then handed them back. "I can't make any sense of much of this. Perhaps you might. And I confess I could not tell a man of Rhun from any other sort."
Xanderian sighed and pocketed the notes for study later. "I admit I lost my temper my Lady...I am sorry."
Arahen slid from her horse and touched her squire's face tenderly, concerned. "Lost your temper?"
The huntress nodded. "I had hoped to keep him speaking longer...but...I failed." She shrugged and slid the now cleaned arrow back into her quiver. "I did not learn the one thing I truly wished from him...". She paused, seeming to be in the throes of a memory.
Arahen listened in silence, still touching her face. She knew that at these moments, it was best to let Xanderian wrestle her own demons.
Xanderian looked up to meet her eyes. "He confirmed what I suspected...they serve a dark master far away...but I was hoping for a name. The notes mentioned a man called Aquill...a name of Harad, but he is not what I seek."
Arahen grimaced, "The name of their dark master is plain enough. I will not utter it without need."
Xanderian shook her head and looked back to where Egg and Aierwyn comforted the shaken Ingfled and her father, who had been sheltering in the farmhouse. "Nay...between the dark lord and this Aquill there must be another, lurking in the shadows...we must face that one, before this matter will end."
Xanderian met Ingfled's eyes, who gave her adopted sister a weak, hopeful smile of gratitude. The elf sighed and smiled back, but when her eyes returned to Lady Arahen the smile was gone. "IF it ever ends..."
