It was late morning when Appoline woke. She was suprised that she had slept so long. Where were the morning sounds of Minas Tirith? "The people must be at a meeting." said Appoline, to herself. She began to get ready, putting on a knee-length emerald tunic and pulling her coppery brown hair back with a gold ribbon. As she prepared breakfast, she noticed several odd things. There were no birds on the trees, and the doors were open. The crime level had risen significantly, and now noone in Minas Tirith left the doors open when they were away from home. Knowing that something was wrong, Appoline tied her sword around her waist, and ran outside, looking for a trace of life. Everywhere she turned, silence greeted her. Fustrated, she ran to the center of the city and cried "Where have they gone?". And all went black.

Haradwen had been walking through the streets of Minas Tirith all morning, even since before the sun had risen. She had been there for a few months now, and had made some accquaintances. But she still valued time to herself greatly. She walked towards the city's center, and saw another girl, human, as far as she could tell, in the middle of the street. She didn't look very good. Even though back in the Harad, she might have left the person alone, that sort of thing was unacceptable in Gondor, or at least, it wouldn't look very good. And she was trying to make a good impression on the people there. If they liked her, her job would be so much easier. So she walked up to the girl and asked, "Are you all right?" She tried to put a note of concern into her voice, but it didn't work too well. It had been so long since she had been truly concerned about something that she didn't really remember what her voice sounded like under stress. She touched the girl's shoulder and then asked, "What happened to you?"

Appoline woke up in a small room with a fire blazing. There was no furniture, save for a bed and a table with two chairs. By the door there was a rack with a cloak hanging from it. It was probably an inn room. Where am I?, she wondered.

When the girl had not responded, Haradwen brought her to her room at the inn and tried to make her comfortable; she felt it was her duty, as she had already gotten involved. She noticed the girl was stirring after a while, and feeling she ought to be friendly asked, "Are you alright? You had collapsed, and when you didn't respond, I brought you to my home to make sure you were ok."

Appoline turned and saw a tall, thin woman with dark hair and eyes. "Yes," she said, muttering, somewhat to herself, "I'm fine. I probably had a fainting spell. Yet, it felt like the presense of something evil in the city. I'm not sure what it was." Then she realised that she had not introduced herself. "I am Appoline Onassis, the last of my family. May I ask who you are?"

Haradwen wondered if the evil presence might be her... but probably not, as Sauron was always sending spies to this place. "I am Haradwen, maiden of the South. I come from far away." She then asked, hoping that she seemed like a normal person, "Do you know where everyone is today? I was looking for some friends I have made, and couldn't find them. Is there some sort of holiday or whatnot?"

"I am honored to meet you Haradwen," she replied. She seems a bit nervous, Appoline thought, but she is new here. "There aren't any holidays, or anything of that sort, and won't be for a while. I thought that maybe the adults had gone to a meeting, but everyone's doors were open. No one does that in Minas Tirith anymore. I wish I knew where they had gone!"

Haradwen thought about this for a moment... perhaps Sauron had sent something in the night... the Nazgul, maybe, but not likely. They were too important for the wars. She said, "I wonder also... do you want to go look for everyone? I will help you, if you want."

"Yes," said Appoline, "That would be good. Maybe we will also be able to find out about that presence. We can go to my home and get some things." She got out of the bed and began to get ready.

"Alright," agreed Haradwen. While Appoline was getting ready, she stood up, donned her cloak, and made sure her scimitar was at her side. She almost never went anywhere without it. She hoped that she wasn't the prescence Appoline had been talking about, but her worry did not show on her face. I wonder what it's like to have a normal life, she wondered, hoping her face did not appear troubled. She waited a few minutes and then asked, "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes," replied Appoline after she had put on her cape and re-tied her sword, "I just need to go home to get some supplies, and then we can go." Life had always taught her to be prepared. She led Haradwen throuh the streets untill they arrived at her home. The old house was small, but still large. She showed Haradwen to the library, her pride and joy, while she got her bow and arrow, along with food, a change of clothes. her bow and arrow,and several other things and placed them in a rucsack, except for the bow and arrow. She returned to the library where Haradwen was immersed in a book of old stories. "Alright than, I suppose we are ready. But where should we go?"

Haradwen had picked up a book while Appoline had been gathering things. She opened it up to a random page. It was telling about the sack of Ost-in-Edhil in the Second Age. She had heard of Celebrimbor before, of course, as he was the most important of the Mirdain, but she had always been taught that he was a bad person. This book said that Sauron had betrayed the Mirdain and had tortured and brutally killed Celebrimbor. It didn't match up with what she had heard...
Appoline's voice shot through her thoughts- Where should we go?- and Haradwen snapped the book shut, having been slightly suprised. "Well, I don't know. Perhaps we should go down the first circle of the city and look for anyone in the Pelennor. What do you think?" she asked. She decided to keep what she had just read to herself for a while.

Appoline was slightly suprised by Haradwen's reaction to her question, but she herself had also been suprised when she was reading. "That's a good idea," she said, "I have provisions to take, and if you're ready, we can go." And they left the house to begin their search for the people of Minas Tirith.

Haradwen followed Appoline out of the house and into the street. She gradually got in front of her, and led the way to the lowest circle. They got to the parapet of the city's wall and looked out. There were all the people, gathered on the Pelennor, but most were very close to the wall. Haradwen could see Denethor farther out than everyone else, talking to four men. Two of them were his sons Boromir and Faramir, as far as she could tell. "Well, what do you know?" she said. She racked her brains for a minute and then said, "By the gods! Appoline, do you remember all that talk of battle in Osgiliath? Perhaps the Lord Denethor sent for his sons to come back from the fighting, or perhaps they are the only survivors!" She thought some more, then said, "Yes, that must be it! Why would everyone be out there then, unless they were expecting all their friends and relatives to be returning from battle?"

"You're right," she said, "That must have been what happened. It is good to know that the people are here. I was worried. This is good knews for our city. Thank you!"

Haradwen nodded in return to the thanks. But something was bothering her. Not that she was really worried for the survival of Minas Tirith, but the batttle affected her side as well. What if her father had been there? She said in return, slowly, "But why would all the city be here to see the return of four men? The battle must have been lost, and they are the only survivors... all the people must have been expecting most of the soldiers to come back, and were waiting for their return," she said again, pondering what it could mean for Sauron's cause if Osgiliath had indeed fallen... but what if he was the wrong side? What he had done to Celebrimbor had bothered her- betrayal was something that made her angry, which was why she wasn't being a spy, just a disturber of the peace...

"I do not know," said Appoline,"but Boromir and Faramir are Denethor's sons, so that would give the people a reason to come. Sometimes news is late to reach Minas Tirith, and all of the people thought the soldiers were coming. It is still confusing. Why were all of the doors open? Maybe we should ask some of the people?"

"Yes, that would be a good idea," replied Haradwen. They walked down from the parapet and went out the gate of the city into the throng of people. Haradwen was looking for someone from the guard, who might actually know what was going on.

"Wait, Wait! you two women over there!" Appoline heard a voice call out, and turned. It was Faramir, Lord Denethor's son, racing towards them. What is he doing running towards us?, Appoline wondered. She voiced her thought to Haradwen, who could not tell either, but looked nervous. "Excuse me fair maidens, but I have been with Gandalf, and he has told of you. I have reason to believe that you can save our city from certain dooms that may be approaching it. Are you Appoline Onassis and Haradwen of the South?" his words seemed hurried and anxious. "Yes," said Appoline,"we are. But why us?"

Haradwen stared at Faramir in disbelief. To help save Minas Tirith would be nothing short of betrayal, and that was something she could not abide. And yet why did she owe her allegiance to Sauron anyway? Because she had been raised like that. And hadn't Sauron done terrible things that she had never been told about? Hadn't he? If he had been so cruel to Celebrimbor as it said in the book, surely he had done much more terrible things as well? Her thoughts were swirling around in her head; how could she leave Sauron's serivce without him finding out and killing her? And yet what did she do for him anyway? Try to confuse people. And yet had she ever succeeded? Her mind felt it would break in half from the confusion... and the moment she realized that, she knew what her choice would be.
"Yes, m'lord," she replied to Faramir, echoing Appoline. "What would you have us do?"

First let us go somewhere private." said Faramir. He led them to his home and into a study with a magnificent view. After the two were seated, he began to speak.
"As you know, my brother and I were sent to fight in the battle at Osgiliath. On the way, Gandalf joined us. He told us that strange things were happening in Gondor and Rohan, possibly a plot to take over our lands. But with this news he brought tidings of joy. There was a girl and a woman who could save us. He entrusted me with the task of finding you and asking you to help us. Now that I have I have finished the first part of my task, it is time to complete the second. Will you, Appoline Onassis, and you Haradwen of the South, help us to save Gondor? It is your choice."

Appoline could only stare at him with a stunned expression on her face.

Haradwen saw that Appoline was completely shocked and temporarily unable to answer. She herself was more confused than shocked. Faramir had not told them what they were to do, only what he had been told to do. She spoke slowly in reply to his question, weighing each word carefully before letting it fly- she had learned to do this the hard way. "My lord, Appoline and I are willing to help, but you have not yet told us what it is that you want us to do... I think I speak for both of us when I say that we will do whatever we can to ensure the survival of Gondor and Rohan, but what must we do?"

"It is not much," said Faramir, "but I will tell you. "The Orcs have been coming into our lands, killing and kidnapping the people. They have terrorized the citizens. If they continue, Gondor and Rohan will fall into despair. Gandalf believes that there is a force behind this, for the Orcs would not do this without a reason. He also believes that you have certain gifts, talents that will allow you to find out what this power is, and defeat it."

"But what are our gifts?" Appoline asked.

"Ah," said Faramir, "Gandalf has told me that, firstly, it will be those things taught to you when you were young. but secondly, there will be talents that you discover on your way to Isengard. We leave in three days time."

"Yes my lord, and thank you," said Appoline, "We will be ready by then."

"Yes, thank you, mi'lord," said Haradwen. She bowed and started walking out the door. She looked back over her shoulder and saw that Faramir was busy studying a map, presumably of Rohan. Haradwen turned to Appoline and whispered, "Shall we go prepare for our journey? I do not have much to bring; I have always lived off the wild. Are you going to go back to your house and pack?"

"Yes, that is what I will do," Appoline replied, "Since we do not leave for a while, you may stay at my home. It would be nice to have some company." The sky was dark as they walked backto her house. Appoline lead Haradwen to a bedroom where she could rest for the night.

That night Appoline had a strange dream. She stood on the top of a dark tower. As she looked down, she drew her breath. It was so tall and gigantic. On the ground fires were burning, and all the forests were cleared. "Where am I," she asked, "Is anbody here?!" She slipped and fell, falling through darkness.
She heard screaming and woke up. The screaming was hers.

HOLD IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!


How did I miss this!!
this needs to be sorted out!!!!!!!!


I am not at all sure this is authorised!!!!



This is not public information!!!


Give me a summery of what you kinow and what youre plans our@!!

Ok Ellie. I changed some of it so that they don't know so much.

this still makes no since to me....... but then, you are very small. Perhaps its ok. :P

At any rate you dont seem to be upsetting anything... but you do need authorization in the future to play important npcss... since the board is new ill let it slide but im keeping close watch on this topic.

((OOC(ok Ellie. we won't do it again, i promise.
also, i'm just starting from when Appoline wakes up...)))

Haradwen had been sleeping fitfully in the bed of the room Appoline had led her to earlier; she still couldn't get around the fact that by helping Sauron's enemies after swearing allegiance to him was something of a treachery... but his treachery had been worse. Her dreams were filled with images of the Elf Celebrimbor being tortured, and she tossed and turned, waking at frequent intervals when she felt Celebrimbor's pain the keenest. She had just woken up from the worst dream yet and was lying in the bed, staring at the ceiling and thinking Am I going to spend the rest of my life feeling this guilt? I'm ruining myself; yet I am simply no longer Sauron's servant; I've just quit his service- surely that is no treachery...

Haradwen heard a scream from a room down the hall. "Appoline!" she cried, jumping out of the bed and running from the room. She had been shown which room Appoline was sleeping in earlier, but still had to follow the sreams. What's happened? she thought. Has there been some sort of attack? She enetered Appoline's room and saw she was awake. "Are you alright?" she asked, somewhat breathlessly, leaning on a chair near the bed, her black hair falling in her face.

"I'm fine," Haradwen said, regaining her breath. "I was just scared when I heard your scream, that's all..." There was no way she was going to tell Appoline about her dreams, because then she would have to reveal her old identity, something she was desperately trying to leave behind.
"If you're sure you're ok, I'll just go back to my room, if you don't mind- there are still many hours till morning," she yawned.

"That's alright," Appoline said, "We both need some rest. You can go to bed, I'll be fine."

She noticed how nervous Haradwen had been since she had met her. It was a littel strange, but alot of things had happened since she met Haradwen. Appoline decided to worry about it in the morning and went to sleep.

((ooc(the guest was me, my comp screwed up.))

Haradwen nodded and left the room. She returned to her bedroom and laid awake the rest of the night, even though she was exhausted. She was engaged in a furious mental battle. Even though she hadn't really had a moral code before, it went against her grain to betray anyone, even Sauron, if only out of fear of the punishment if she were ever found out. And yet treachery had been fine for Sauron. And she couldn't let Appoline, Faramir and the rest of the people in this part of Middle-Earth down, not after she had promised to help them... keeping promises was something she also felt strongly about. She began to get a headache from the two powers striving within her: that of good and that of malicious intent.
When dawn finally came, Haradwen was sick from her confusion and worry.

Appoline woke up. The rest of the night had been peacefull for her, but she had felt that something was not right. She decided to check on Haradwen; she had looked very nervous that last night. She walked down the hallway quicky, something did not feel right to her. The door was open, but even so, she knocked before coming in.

She gasped when she came in. Haradwen was sweating, and it had been a chilly night. "Are you all right?" she asked, grabbing a towel and dipping it in the basin from the bedside table. She ran it over Haradwen's forhead and wondered what the cause of her illness was.

Haradwen was grateful for Appoline's concern, but was not willing to reveal what she thought the reason for her illness was. "I think I'm just concerned about our upcoming journey. This sometimes happens before I go travelling..." I'm such a liar, she thought. What a great way to begin this all... She coughed and shivered slightly, even though her nightgown was drenched with warm sweat.

"Alright," Appoline said, "But even so you should rest. We still have two days before we leave. I'll go get you something to eat."

Appoline was a little bit concerned; Haradwen seemed to be hiding something. Appoline had her own secrets, and she didn't expect Haradwen to reveal any of her secrets. She just hoped that Haradwen didn't have any dangerous secrets.

She returned to Haradwen's room with some broth and a peice of bread. "Is there anything else I can get you?" she asked.

"Oh, thank you, but no. I'm sure I'll be fine once I eat a bit... I haven't eaten since yesterday morning, come to think of it..." she replied, taking the broth and bread from Appoline. Maybe it wasn't guilt making her sick after all- maybe it was hunger- and yet somehow that would be a comforting thought. She began to sip the broth and smiled wanly in thanks.

Appoline returned the smile. "If you need anything, you can just call me. I'll be in my room. I'm still a bit tired. Also, feel free to explore the house."

She went to her room, but could not fall asleep. She hoped Haradwen would be alright; a lot of things had happened since they had met. "Don't worry," she said to herself, "Haradwen's older then you are, she can handle this." Finally she fell asleep.

((ooc(My comp screwed up again. that was supposed to be me, not Desdemona!))

Haradwen finished her bread and broth slowly. The broth felt really really good on her throat and the bread helped to ease her hunger. She lay in the bed for a long time before she decided on something to do. She felt better and wanted to go back to the library- she hadn't been able to read all that she had wanted to about Celebrimbor.
She didn't want to bother Appoline, who seemed tired and had already gone enough out of her way for her, and so wandered through the house until she found the library again. She walked down the rows of books, reading the titles and trying to remember the book she had found the day before. She finally found it and went to curl up in a chair in a corner. She opened it to the story of Celebrimbor. It told that Sauron had wanted to take control over Middle-Earth and knew the Elf-kingdoms would be hardest to overcome, so he went to each in turn, trying to sway the Elves to his side. But he was not straightforward in this and disguised himself and eventually won over the Elves of Eregion, Celebrimbor being held in high esteem among them. Sauron taught the smiths of Ost-in-Edhil to make the rings of power and helped them with the Nine and the Seven, but Celebrimbor made the Three by himself. Sauron returned to Mordor and using the knowledge he had gained from watching the Mirdain (jewel-smiths) and his own information forged the One Ring that would control the others. But Celebrimbor knew of this and discovered he had been decieved and revolted against Sauron. Sauron invaded Eregion and captured Celebrimbor, torturing him to find the location of the rings he had not found, but Celebrimbor would not tell. When Sauron killed him, he then used Celebrimbor's body as a banner...
At this, Haradwen snapped the book shut and nearly vomited. This was horrible and she could read no more. She rose slowly and returned the book to its place on the shelf. Then she looked some more and found a book of songs of Numenor and of Gondor. Feeling they might cheer her up, she returned to the chair and began to read, sometimes trying to fit melodies to the words.

After a while, Appoline woke up. She washed her face, put on a silky white gown embroidered with silver flowers, and neatly braided her hair. She walked down the hallway and into a room near the library. As she passed the library door, she saw Haradwen reading a book. Once she was inside of the room, she looked around.

It was an old, dusty room that looked as if it had been untouched for years. The walls and carpet were a dark red, and the furniture was of a dark wood. Appoline sat on a chair in front of a small table, and remembered many memories.

She had used to sit here and look at her father's books, while her mother, sisters, and aunt would make embroideries in the corner near the fireplace. At the desk, her father would sit and draw maps and write the tales of the people of Middle Earth. That was the way it was, before her uncle was drawn under the spell of evil, Sauron's evil and killed them, right before her eyes.

Appoline tried to stop the flood of memeories, but there were too many. She began to cry silently, and shivered.