wondered how hard it would be to sleep when they no longer needed to be watched over. Author’s Note: The Ranger song is a filk of “Kitty”. The version I used is performed by the Pogues, but it’s a traditional song. 95
My Beloved by Athelas63 I sit at the foot of the bed and watch him sleep. He lies on his stomach, his dark blond hair fanned across his face, moving gently with each soft snore. I had nearly given up on his coming. Early in the evening, I had heard the trumpets announce his arrival into the city, immediately followed by the deeper note of his own horn. I waited, hoping. But the hours had passed and he did not come, so I prepared for bed. Just as I bent to blow out the candles, he came through the door. I hugged him close, and he laid his head on my shoulder. I could feel his weariness. He was so exhausted he merely pulled off his clothes and collapsed into bed. Now, I sit and watch my beloved at rest. He has bathed, and carries no weapon, so I know he has already been to the Citadel and made his report to his father. I know hours have been taken from my time with him so that he can give the same information that he has been giving for years. The darkness is growing, the enemy is gaining strength. What point is there to once again say it? What good to repeat the same story? I sigh. Taking a bottle of oil from the shelf behind me, I pour a generous amount into my hand and begin to massage his shoulders. The muscles are tight and as I rub I hear his soft groan. “Shh, rest,” I whisper, working my way down his bare back and running my hand across his ribs. I marvel again at the many scars, some so old they are faint and white, some new enough to be pink and puckered. All his life he has known only battle, and he bears the marks of many struggles. I work the oil into his flesh, feeling the knotted muscles relax. When I’ve finished his back, I move down to his legs. They are hard bunches of muscle, perfect for the work of carrying armor and bearing him toward war. His feet are flat and calloused. I knead the oil in between each toe and am rewarded with a sigh of pleasure. When at last I finish with his feet, I pour out more oil and return to his back, moving slightly lower as I go. He shifts slightly. An invitation? I see a slight smile on his lips, and so I return to my work. Soon the groans are more urgent, and suddenly, with astounding quickness, he turns and grabs my wrist, pulling me down onto the bed beside him. Propping himself up on his elbow, his soft, sleepy eyes smile at me. “Can a man not get any sleep here?” “I’m sorry, my lord.” I smile back. “I thought only to make your rest more… pleasant.” 96
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Table of Contents Introduction by C
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Introduction by Cressida and Lilan,
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EdorasLass I've been writing LOTR f
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Nancy Brooke Like many I first came
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They talked a little while eating,
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An Ill-Conceived Notion by Illwynd
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“Gailon, have you any liquor in y
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in this condition, Ciryandil could
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The rest of the night passed withou
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Boromir was already about to give a
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Grief by Gwyneth The person sitting
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23 Boromir averted his eyes from t
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she is gone, and all your hopes and
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Sea Food by Annmarwalk Author’s n
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Summer 2990, T.A. Rumours and Memor
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“Is that true?” “Aye. I read
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Journeys in High Places by Illwynd
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“I know your excuses by now. You
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They walked through ever-changing l
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chirped. It was a silence like of t
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covering of snow; the ever-blowing
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Several hours later, Boromir sat hu
- Page 46 and 47: “I cannot spot them; can you see
- Page 48 and 49: Faramir thought for a moment, then
- Page 50 and 51: him more terrible than to die in ba
- Page 52 and 53: numbed, and their feet, kicking thr
- Page 54 and 55: Leaves on the Wind: Signaling Storm
- Page 56 and 57: and you under the sun. It puts me i
- Page 58 and 59: door. Still, I will take comfort, a
- Page 60 and 61: The time of our separation is over,
- Page 62 and 63: They began to pass through the main
- Page 64 and 65: "But...have you ever done this befo
- Page 66 and 67: snip "I don't think so, little brot
- Page 68 and 69: Faramir looked at the table beside
- Page 70 and 71: alongside him. The warm breeze stir
- Page 72 and 73: son," he said. "May I assume this h
- Page 74 and 75: Denethor did not seem at all surpri
- Page 76 and 77: An observer might wonder what it wa
- Page 78 and 79: name. Better to be Anárion and die
- Page 80 and 81: another thing he’d learned from M
- Page 82 and 83: So this must be the guest from Roha
- Page 84 and 85: Boys at Play by Khorazîr 83
- Page 86 and 87: I did not know any Rangers; I hoped
- Page 88 and 89: They saw guards of the Citadel and
- Page 90 and 91: to identify plants by their leaves,
- Page 92 and 93: Elchim did not laugh, though Halhig
- Page 94 and 95: “You cannot wander about alone at
- Page 98 and 99: He laughs, showing fine straight te
- Page 100 and 101: sadness. I wish that we could have
- Page 102 and 103: I pack my things into a few small b
- Page 104 and 105: Boromir dragged a chair to the wind
- Page 106 and 107: ‘No, Boromir, that was not why I
- Page 108 and 109: The grime idea had come to Faramir;
- Page 110 and 111: To their great dismay, that proved
- Page 112 and 113: Something in his face clearly made
- Page 114 and 115: Finally, they were at the door to t
- Page 116 and 117: ‘Something tells me you are not a
- Page 118 and 119: His eldest was lying sprawled acros
- Page 120 and 121: ‘Awaken your brother, ’tis rath
- Page 122 and 123: oof and cracked it in several place
- Page 124 and 125: "Do the young men of Gondor think o
- Page 126 and 127: I see it." They walked to the great
- Page 128 and 129: "To the new year!" the guests repea
- Page 130: Still, Mithrandir thought, it had b
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