Family

Arantion and his younger sister Irhiel sit on a richly ornamented stone bench in a mansion’s garden in Minas Tirith on a hot summer’s day. No clouds can be seen, except for the dark land in the east – there thunderclouds jam the sun’s way to the ground, and fiery thunderbolts flash.

The hammer fit well into his hand, the warm wooden handle bending to the will of the ancient Master who had used it to craft many things, both of beauty and of death. Solemnly it was raised, and for the first time in this Age it fell like bells ringing against glowing steel. Flakes of ash splintered from the bent ingot and littered the anvil, the old familiar stain, the old familiar shape. Again and again the hammer-bell tolled, and the blade that was its toil came into view. Every chime was a funeral dirge, and the Master wept.

((At the Willowshade Estate in Belfalas. (In a splintered timeline from anyone who is ignoring the advancement of the game's story). ))

Zagzeroth moved through the halls and up the stairs, upon finding the most recent love of his long life, Ivmin Willowshade of Bree, he frowned slightly the sorrow of what he must now say and do pressing down heavy upon his heart and mind...

Gilsel lay on the bed beside him, on him in part, and he hugged her tightly against his side. Since she had taken the habit of sleeping with him, and furthermore since they got married, he was finally able to sleep peacefully. That night, though, her soothing presence was not enough to dismiss a feeling of uneasiness, but he blamed that on the fact that it was one of the last nights they were going to spend in Bree-Land. For the next two weeks, at least.

Arenborn spent a long time in Bree. He spent a lot of it with Tosie, and a little with his extended family, though he didn’t spend too long with them.

The long ride took Arenborn north along the Anduin, following the mighty river to the capitol city of Minas Tirith. He stayed a few days, mostly residing in the taverns. He avoided the Knights of the city. They were everything he had ever wanted to be. They looked so tall and proud, Arenborn just couldn’t handle being near them.

Pain. Unbelievable, agonising, burning pain. Then darkness.