The Helm of Peace

[Eclecticon]

Arbogast gives a cautious nod as Grimbeorn and Bandy speak.  May we all beware, he thinks.  The dead are unlikely to care for the Helm, be it ever so well-fashioned.  I fancy they desire more the warmth and life of he who must bear it beneath the earth...

[Telcontar]

Bandy strode from the smoke filled hall as the big folk demurred about the upcoming journey across the narrows. The Hobbit thought that they were all mad to willingly seek the crypts of the dead who were known to not to be peacefully in their slumber. At first the Hobbit had intended to only get a breath of fresh air outside of the doorway, but soon Bandy was equally tortured by the idleness of standing. He decided then and there if the big folk went blindly into danger he would not and set out to finds  Ingomer.

The Halfling soon found the aged man, but in a short conversation soon realized that all of his knowledge, thin though it was, was based more upon legend and story than anything the Hobbit could actually use. In a short time the feet of the Hobbit were turned to the path that led to the Brown Wizards house.

As he approached he saw the tall dense copse of woods that the Brown Wizard had used as his only permanent dwelling. Tugging up his pants the Halfling stepped upon the path that wove its way through the woods intent on reaching the house of the wizard. Bandy was aware that he made no progress, like all of those who wished to seek the Wizard when uninvited or escorted that woods seemed to bend and change so that the traveler always seemed just inside the woods when they turned around, no matter how far they had intended to go. With dogged persistence the hobbit tried it several times, and on the third try heard a voice in the woods, "who?"

Bandy stopped and addressed the darkness, "It is I, Bandy of the Shire. I wish to speak with you Radagast."

"Who."

This time the Hobbit took it for a statement rather than a question and realized that the speaker was not the wizard concealed in the wood, but instead an owl. Knowing that the wizard often used the creatures of the wood the Halfling proceeded with his errand.

"Well good sir, good night to you. If you happen to see our mutual friend would you relay some information to him?"

The owl blinked in the night.

"Tell him that Bandy the Hobbit, in the company of his companions, has headed east through the narrows. The big folk have gotten it into their heads to make offerings to the dead and his help may be required since his advice was not available. If you please."

The owl blinked again at the curious Hobbit.

Feeling as though he had done all that he could the Hobbit turned and left the wood.

"Didn't see the Brown fellow did you," said a gruff accented voice from the dark.

"Who's there?" the hobbit replied.

The Hobbit turned and looked and saw a man lounging on the rocks. He had a large mug of ale at his side and what looked like a skin of wine hanging from his shoulder as well. 

"You don't know me Halfling, but I know you. You're one of the company that follows around the ranger girl."

"Yes, what of it?' sad Bandy hesitantly, "and what business is it of yours to spy on me?"

"Your manners and good cheer seem to have left you Master Hobbit when you are not so close to your friends and the fire."

The hand of the Halfling strayed to the knife at his side. "few in the Wilderland have manners when challenged in the dark."

The man laughed, "true enough, true enough. I am Garrick though more often than not you know whom I serve. Mogdred, the master of the Southern Wood. The doorwardens of Ingomer were not kind and refused to let me enter. Though I have not roof or wall, will you share a drink with me here under the stars?"

The Hobbit was still wary, the name of Mogdred did not engender kindness or sympathy in any of the Woodmen.

"Why were you refused entry to the hall? All are welcome there."

"No, no they are not. Despite how it may appear to you and your friends. I am often left out of doors or denied entry, whether through my looks or the names of may masters I do not know, perhaps both. My boon companions are the stars, my furniture the rocks, and my drink what I can get sold to me through a window or a door as long as I agree to leave."

"Then I see why you question the hospitality of others Master Garrick."

The man laughed at the words. "Oh no small one. I am master of nothing, least of all where I am sent to go. Though in this alone I am lucky for it is to you and your companions I was bid to see."

Bandy was still cautious of the man and didn't trust him, even more so now that it appeared as though he may be spying on the company as well as trying to discern the whereabouts of the Radagast.

The Halfling weighed his options, but decided to sit with the man.

"Well Garrick I will accept your offer of a drink as readily as I accept your rebuke for being discourteous." The Halfling moved to take a seat upon a rock adjacent to the man and took an offered cup. The cup was battered and travel worn, but would hold the wine that the man steadily poured from out of the skin.

"I doubted you would accept my offer, and I thank you. Many here would have dismissed me and sent me away without a thought, but you reconsidered. I'll not inquire as to why, but I thank you none the less."

The two sat for a moment in the silence of the night.

"My lord Mogdred wishes to invite the Lady Esgalwen to come to him in his hall for the winter. He extends the offer to all of her companions if that is the price of her coming and would welcome your swords and axes in his constant fighting in the south. Even now in the winter we are beset and have little respite, and all of our enemies are not the orcs of Fenbridge. We have found little help from the Woodmen of the north and the scattered people of the south from many places are often our enemies as they are likely to be our allies. The weapons and armor that the Lady brought north have been one of our chief strengths in not falling under the sway of others."

The grizzled man barred an inch of steel at his side and the Hobbit knew it to be a fine sword from the south.

"Despite our appearance and our pasts we will not be slaves again and now we have the weapons to insure that our strength matches our will. Forgive me Master Halfling, I have strayed from my purpose and the wine has loosened my tongue overmuch. Will you deliver my message to the lady so that I may return to my own land?"

"I will, and let us each dispense with the masters, I am simply called Bandy."

 The man from the unknown south laughed at the Halfling's words and it contained in it a true mirth, regardless of what his real intentions may have been.

"Well Bandy I also have this," and the man rummaged in the gunney sack at his hip quickly pulling out a packet.

"I had intended to keep it after my rebuke at the door, but in truth it came from Aldwyn with the well wishes of two boys, Acca and Kenway. I was bid to give it to you if I found you."

The Halfling had not yet undone the wrapper when he smelled the scent of pipe weed. The smell was not that of Longbottom leaf, but it was pipe weed none the less. Bandy laughed and smiled.

"Well now this is great gift and long it must have traveled to reach here. I thank both the giver and the deliver."

The Halfling was over joyed at the prospect of smoking again and his natural good cheer and generosity came to the fore once again. The Halfling broke off a chunk of the pressed cake and handed it to Garrick. He also took his spare pipe from his belt and handed it to him.

"Take these as a delivery fee and as a gift for the better nature of us all."

The man took the gifts from the Hobbit and said nothing. The two parted then and the Halfling left to relay the message to Esgalwen, only after his pipe was filled and well lit.

 Who knew how this act of friendship and kindness between the two would impact events to come.

[tomcat]

I will have to work this in to our new thread, but excellent post!!

For a minute there, I thought you were introducing a young Aragorn into the story. 

[Telcontar]

  lol, not all who wander are Aragorn!