We're going on an adventure!

[instride]

Who: Middle-Earth cast!
What: Mission: Ossidia's quest
When: A couple days after the first week
Where: Castle Dyspros
Rating: PG-Hobbit

[A wizard and a man. Two dwarves. Three hobbits. The similarities catch the ranger's eye but his mind can't be fooled. This isn't home. He's had a week to come to terms with this peculiar reality, and as much as oddities abound in his world, this is unlike anything he's ever seen. Questions remain unanswered—concerns and fears and doubts unresolved—and it's hard and it's harrowing and yet they must move on.

Which brings them here, in the Castle, all reunited for an unusual quest. The change of scenery would have been a most welcome breath of fresh air were the times not so dire in Middle-Earth, and instead it is but a mere distraction, pulling them in a direction they have not chosen. Aragorn's heart is not fully present, but he does his very best to focus—he's used to prioritizing whatever the moment calls for, but this is strange and rather taxing, and he can see the same apprehension in the eyes of his companions. He doesn't flinch, keeping his own torments to himself, and after the brief reprieve they have allowed themselves in the nearest tavern, it is time to face their first adventure in Goldvale.

Aragorn stands tall before the group, hand on the hilt of his sword. There's nothing but determination in his gaze, and he looks at each one of them as if they all possess the same strength. As if he has complete faith in them, and he does.]

Do not wander too far. You may encounter creatures you've never before seen in these halls. [He nods towards the dwarves, a sign of both encouragement and respect.] Proceed with caution. [Wisdom over recklessness; the resolve in his gaze gives no room for arguments.] We shall meet again in one hour's time. [With or without rat tails. There's a brief exchange of glances between the ranger and the wizard, a silent acknowledgement, and he doesn't turn until the dwarves are out of sight, guiding the hobbits towards the first door.]

Comments

[uluithiad]

[ Samwise found himself faring no better then Strider.

Staying in his chosen guild was no difficult task; Gandalf was there, and he was thankful for the companionship the wizard provided him. But his worry for Frodo, for this place and for their escape was constant. Being so decisively separated from Frodo, and indeed, Gandalf's presence itself, didn't help his own conclusions and suspicions as to the nature of the city. The wizard was comforting enough, and the familiarity was welcome to Sam, but there was a creeping sensation of dread to his presence. Uncertainty as to his fate, his presence and his state of being that put him at ill ease. Even if he were closer to his master, Sam suspected it would do him little good. Frodo's presence in this place alone ate at him, as did his apparent unawareness of his state - their state - in Middle-Earth. Sam had no idea what to think about anything he'd experienced in Goldvale yet; vaguely familiar, but different enough to be strange to him.

He kept his hand on his sword's handle as he filed inside of the castle; close behind Aragorn. There were dwarves with them, and another hobbit. Thorin Oakenshield and Bilbo Baggins, supposedly, with the dwarf from earlier who had claimed to be Kili. This stole the luxury of coincidence from under Sam's feet rather easily; when he'd only known of Kili the dwarf, he had eased himself slightly with the assumption that it was simple coincidence. It was hard to do the same when two very similar happenings had cropped up twice in one pub sitting. Their presence was one that made Sam uneasy. He wasn't sure on the workings of this place, nor of much else concerning it, but he was sure of what he knew. And he knew well what had happened to the three.

While he hadn't meant to feel so, Aragorn's warning smacked of a sardonic sort of humor to Sam. He'd encountered much already that he'd never seen; inside the castle and out. ]

Clear lack of things I have seen before since I come here, if I might say.