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Voyage of the Rowan
Second of the Journey Series
A Burping Troll Adventure
Begun August 2002
On the Netscape Lord of The Rings board
Latest editing 9/30/02
All Inaccuracies are the fault of the
Compiling editor – Sevilodorf
Cast:Celebsul, Gambesul, Aerio, Meri, Erin, Sevilodorf, Anoriath, Camellia, Milo, Warg,
Virtual Characters:Gubbitch, Titch, Hooknose, Arth, Rob, Bob, Balrog, Gilraen, Elros, Halbarad, Hulda, Gafler, Torval, Tark, Anardil, Thoran, Bard, Tharaf, Marthan, Rachela, Rowan, Leofstan, Coenhelm, Eadric, Leofsgird, Jasimir, Jareth, Pansy
Table of Contents:
3Chapter 1: Rowan Rolls
17Chapter 2: Sev Arrives
24Chapter 3: Departure from the Troll
30Chapter 4: The Road South
37Chapter 5: Launch of the Rohan
46Chapter 6: Departure from Allenham
51Chapter 7: Star Gazing
60Chapter 8: Perils in Pelargir
77Chapter 9: Stranger in the Rain
87Chapter 10: To The Mouth of the Anduin
99Chapter 11: Tolfalas
112Chapter 12: Ship Building 101
127Chapter 13: Night Music
135Chapter 14: Return to Belville
146Chapter 15: A Promise, A Ship, A Party
159Chapter 16: Return to the Mainland
167Chapter 17: The Rohirrim Encampment
181Chapter 18: The Road to Pelargir
191Chapter 19: Interlude
202Chapter 20: Farewell
210Chapter 21: From the White City to the Crossroads
218Chapter 22: In the Morgul Vale
228Chapter 23: Return to Henneth Annun
241Chapter 24: Journey’s End
250 Who’s Who for Voyage of the Rowan
Journey Two: Voyage of the Rowan
Chapter 1: The Rowan Rolls
The Day after Deby’s Departure August 3rd
The three elves were once again working on the ship. Celebsul, dressed in his usual grey, had his hair braided in the normal manner. Warg, after her early morning walk, lay contentedly in the yard, watching the elves toil. They were heaving the ship out of the workshop. The vessel had been built upon a low, sturdy carriage with small wheels, which allowed it to be moved with relative ease. Once clear of the doors, Aerio and Gambesul began rigging up the block and tackle device, which would be used to support the carriage while larger, road-going wheels were attached in place of the smaller ones.
Warg watched the wheels going on. "What kind of a contraption is that?" she asked.
Celebsul raised one eyebrow, peered at the carriage, then turned to Warg. "It may be an unconventional design, but it will enable this equally unconventional ship to be transported as quickly as possible to the Anduin."
"You going to push it or pull it?" Warg grinned.
"I think you're about to find out." Celebsul had heard a commotion coming up the road.
Within a few minutes, a familiar, crooked figure entered the yard, followed by two more leading strings of three mules each.
Celebsul hailed them, "Gubbitch, Titch and Hooknose, well met."
Three orcs grinned, revealing the full glory of their multicolored teeth.
Gubbitch spoke. "Ee by gum, tha's got a reet good bo-at there, thy 'as. A've brung thee sum mules frum ro-ad gang, like tha wanted. Titch an' 'ooknose 'ere are goin' wi me."
"Good." Celebsul said. "And here come the other travelers."
Two wiry, aging men rode into the yard on ponies. Celebsul greeted them warmly and made the introductions. Arth and Rob were cousins, and once shipwrights, but they now built boats and fished the Anduin around Cair Andros. He had known them in the past, and had sent word to them of his needs. They had been prewarned of their travelling companions on the coming journey, but still peered suspiciously at the orcs.
Gambesul and Aerio brought bottles out of the workshop and offered drinks to all the new arrivals, then they took the mules and ponies for feeding and watering. While the men and orcs drank, Celebsul ran through the plan once more. "Tomorrow you five set off with the ship. Gubbitch will be in charge of the journey, and Arth and Rob will be in charge of the ship."
He looked at the men. "You can finish the last of the fitting and rigging on the journey. I'll hand the plans over when we're through here. It should take you about five days to get to the Anduin, if all goes well. I'll set off on horseback, with Aerio and Gambesul, three days from now. We'll meet you either on the road or at the river. Then with your help, we'll launch the Rowan. After that, Gubbitch, Titch and Hooknose will return here with our horses and the mules, and you two can go back to your fishing."
The elf looked at each the five travelling companions. "I don't have much by way of gold to reward you all, but I will see you repaid for your help."
Gubbitch snorted. "Tha'll do no such thing. A'm doin' this in return for the 'elp tha's given me, and these two'll just do wot ah tell 'em." Titch and Hooknose both winked.
Arth spoke. "We want nothing either, only a chance to repay what you did for our grandfather." Rob nodded.
Celebsul smiled at them all. "We'll see. Let's at least find you something to eat and a bed for tonight. Then we can get everything here ready for the morning."
As they walked towards the Troll, Arth spoke quietly to the elf. "You take a great risk going to the sea, unless you don't intend to return."
"It is my intention to return, Arth, but I travel lightly, just in case, and take only my two young apprentices with me."
"If you're prepared to listen to the advice of a human, take something with you, or better still, someone, that you absolutely must bring back."
Celebsul grinned at this remark. "Who would be fool enough, these days, to go to sea with elves?"
***
The newcomers easily found seats in the Troll, as it was well before the lunch hour. But it was just in time for elevensies, which meant that the hobbits Milo and Camellia were smiling at each other over the last of a shared slice of strawberry pie. Meanwhile Meri and Erin picked up their own empty plates, and they grinned and giggled knowingly behind their hands. Hearing the door open they looked up, then Erin squeaked and dashed for the kitchen. Meri paused long enough to smile and wave a cheery welcome.
"Sit anywhere, it makes no matter. We have soup and pie, and all sorts of cold cuts. Sit, sit!"
Then she vanished into the kitchen, as well.
"Hobbits?" murmured Rob in surprise. "Away out here?"
"Yes, we have hobbits," Celebsul replied fondly, as he swept a hand for his companions to chose their seats. "And our merry Meri is the best cook within many leagues. She thinks even elves need five good meals a day."
Almost before they were settled, the food was coming at them. Erin thumped Celebsul's first dish to the table with a sloshing thunk that made him flinch, but he was nonetheless pleased to receive a bowl of thick cabbage soup made rich with chunks of beef and potato. Meri returned with a platter of radishes, sliced carrots, and celery to dip in a cucumber sauce, while Erin brought another tray laden with one small meat pie for each of them - although upon delivery Celebsul's pie almost skidded off the plate into his lap. He glanced up in surprise, but Erin was dashing off after more. Next there followed cheeses and sliced meats, warm bread and sweet butter, and for each of them a small plate of fresh greens with grated carrots and hulled sunflower seeds on top. Celebsul's plate mysteriously shed sunflower seeds all down his front, as Erin swept it to the table before him. However, he carefully swept them off his tunic onto the floor, for the Warg's later attention. Hasty little hobbit today, he mused, as he watched Erin flee back into the kitchen once again.
Arth stared as one plate followed another. "Do we have to eat it all?"
"At least try!" said Meri with a wink. "You want to make the cooks happy, don't you?"
And for dessert they found raspberries with a bowl of cream on the side, some hazelnuts, and several golden-rosy peaches. Gubbitch and his lads seemed particularly taken with the peaches, which they popped into their mouths in one gulp, and chomped slurpily, pits and all. And next the hobbits will have lunch; Celebsul mused, and chuckled to himself. Perhaps it was a worthy philosophy of life, though; if one ate well, it naturally followed that all other good things were possible. Bounty in food meant bounty of the spirit, and as proof the talk around the table rang merrily. The hazelnuts began to attract attention last, and while Gubbitch and his lads could eat them whole, the jaws of Elves and Men were not meant for such work.
"Erin," Celebsul finally called. "Do you think you might please find the nutcracker?"
Erin turned from wiping down a nearby table, and flitted off. Seconds later she reappeared - and flung the nutcracker half the width of the room. Celebsul caught it easily, but found himself staring after yet another flying hobbit retreat. Slamming, spilling, and throwing were not Erin's usual modes of conduct, no matter how hasty she got. Curious ...
"The mules are all shod, then?" Arth asked, still eyeing Gubbitch somewhat askance. "We shan't have means to replace shoes on the road."
"Good iron," Gubbitch said, peach pulp dribbling down his chin. "'Ot off the forge, saw it m'self. Tha's nowt to fret aboot. An' if they's 'un goes lame, Titch 'll take 'is place!"
Hooknose and Gubbitch whooped and haw-hawed uproariously, whilst Titch sank gloomily in his seat.
"Good iron," he said, twisting his gnarled hands fretfully. "Good feets."
"Then we're set for tomorrow," said Rob. "Earlier the start, the better, I reckon, eh?"
"Aye," said Arth. "I'd think we'd make the best time in the cooler parts of the day."
"Does our best work in the dark, we does," said Gubbitch, and grinned with peach pulp caulked between his snaggled tooth.
"Er - right," said Arth. "Say, Celebsul, whom do we ask about rooms?"
"Ah, yes. Let me inquire." Celebsul rose and walked to the kitchen door. There he peered in to see Meri bent at the oven, from whence succulent scents of baking wafted. He opened his mouth to speak - and Erin abruptly popped out the pantry at his elbow.
"Oh!" she squeaked.
"Steady on, lass, I didn't mean to fright you."
"Oh, no, I -." Then she clamped her mouth tight shut, and simply looked at him.
"I wonder if we have a room for my friends out there? Arth and Rob will just be here the one night."
She looked at him. And said nothing.
"Erin?" Celebsul stooped slightly in an effort to look her in the eye, but she found something of sudden interest on the floor.
Behind her, Meri was turning from the oven with a curious look on her face, as well. Erin looked past Celebsul towards the common room, then down the hall, then towards the stair.
"Oh - rooms. Yes. Yes, we have rooms. I'll - um, towels. They'll want towels."
Celebsul looked over the befuddled hobbit's head to Meri, but Meri only gave him an enigmatic shrug. Out of my hands, she seemed to say.
"Are you all right, Erin?" the elf asked. "You seem a bit distracted."
"Distracted?" Suddenly he had her full and undivided attention - and he was just as suddenly not so sure that was a good thing. "Distracted? What ever should I be distracted about? Nothing unusual around here, no sir! Everything is quite ordinary. Just a great bloody ship growing like a great bloody mushroom in that shop of yours, and all of a sudden there she is in the middle of the yard with wheels under her - who ever heard of wheels under a ship?"
"Er - well, those are just for pulling it outside. The road-worthy wheels will be -."
"WHEELS, Celebsul!" Eyes snapping, the hobbit planted both hands on her hips. "You're taking that thing away! You're taking it off down the road and away down to the river - don't think I haven't seen you and Aerio and Gambesul with your maps - and here you haven't told a single, living soul what you intend to do with it! And now you want rooms for one night - for what? So you and your friends can leave without saying anything, tomorrow?"
Celebsul simply stood and blinked, whilst the Troll echoed with a silence so profound he heard one of the Orcs picking his teeth. Nor was Erin quite through.
"Well, you have another think coming, Master Elf!" she snapped, and abruptly whipped off her apron. "You're not taking that ship one INCH out of this yard, without I know just what you're up to! In fact, I don't think the lot of you have enough common sense to get the job done, without starving or getting completely lost before you get there - wherever in Middle Earth 'there' is!"
Then she flung the apron into his chest, and was gone out the back door like a hobbit-sized cyclone. In her wake, Meri still stood in the kitchen, now holding a tray with oven mitts.
"Was it something I said?" asked Celebsul, clutching the apron in both hands.
Meri shrugged. "Want an ale cookie? They're Pippin's recipe."
***
Celebsul took a cookie, thanked Meri, then followed Erin out of the back door.
He found her standing beneath a tree, her stiff back towards him and both hands on the trunk.
"I've brought you a cookie." There was no reply.
He sat cross-legged on the grass and looked up at the hobbit. "Erin. I can see I've upset you, so I owe you an explanation. I'm not going anywhere in the morning."
Erin turned to look at him, but remained standing with her arms tightly crossed, as she waited for further explanations. Nor did her expression indicate that she expected to like what she heard. Nonetheless, hobbits were nothing if not practical creatures, and so, adopting his most matter-of-fact tones, Celebsul outlined his plans for getting the ship to the Anduin.
In conclusion he said, "Then I will follow, and meet them on the river in three days to see the ship launched."
Now Erin knelt before him, her demeanor not exactly soft, but at least a little less suspicious. "Where are you going from there?"
"Down to the Bay of Belfalas, to an island called Tolfalas. I've some personal business there, but I will be coming back."
He emphasized that last, but Erin's eyes had been widening with every word. She leant forward and put a hand on his arm. "How can you be sure of that? The Sea, Celebsul. We have all heard how it calls elves into the West."
She was repeating the fear that Arth had spoken. The elf recalled his words, 'take something with you, or better still, someone that you absolutely must bring back.' He imagined the reaction of a hobbit given an invitation to several days on a ship, then decided to see if he was right.
Laughing softly, he took her small hand from his arm, and captured it in both of his. "Oh Erin, if you are so worried about my old hide, come with me and keep me out of trouble."
Her eyes widened in the most alarming way and she tried to snatch back her hand.
He held on. "I thought so. The sea has different effects on different peoples, does it not?"
Erin tried to reclaim her hand again. This time he let her. She sat back on her heels. "I'm not afraid of the sea. You just surprised me." Her chin abruptly firmed itself in stubborn lines. "And that invitation better be good, because I'm accepting it."
It was Celebsul's turn to be surprised, then he grinned. "That's settled then. Here, have this cookie and let's go and sort out a room for Arth and Rob."
Erin took the cookie and rose to follow the elf. 'What have I got myself into?' she thought.
***Two Days after Deby’s Departure August 4th
Never in all the Ages had the far marches of Ithilien or its creatures seen what stood in the yard of the Burping Troll the next morning. A ship, an Elven ship of gracefully unique lines, and yet she rested not upon water but rather upon a clever contrivance of wheels and blocks and wooden framing, with six stout mules standing ready in harness. Instead of a captain on her decks, there sat Arth upon a seat at her prow, with the lines in his gnarled hands and a pipe in his teeth, and a pocket full of pebbles to encourage lazy mules. And instead of a crew of Elven sailors, there stood alongside the slouching Orcish forms of Gubbitch, Hooknose and Titch, with the fisherman Rob awaiting nearer the road to guide them out.
"Don't forget," Celebsul told Gubbitch. "Water the tree every other day. I shan't want to get there to find naught but a dried twig."
"No worry, guv'nor," Gubbitch nodded, although he scratched on notched ear in puzzlement. "Tree be just fine. Though why tha wants to tote a tree in a bucket is past me."
The elf looked up into the Rowan, where the frail-seeming green branches of his namesake sapling waved gently over the rails. The sapling rode well-secured on the polished decks, but Celebsul nonetheless cocked an eyebrow at the old Orc.
"Consider it an Elvish whimsy. Just don't let it perish of thirst."
"Tha owes me a good sit-down, then" said Gubbitch with a grin. "I'll keep the cribbage board 'til yer's back."
"Done!" Clapping Gubbitch on the back, Celebsul then turned to the others.
"I may catch you before you reach the River," he said. "But if not, await me there, and I'll be not long behind."
"She'll be ready," said Arth, and smiled as he slapped a hand to the long leather tube slung from one shoulder. "Rob and I have your plans almost memorized after last night, and she'll be wanting only your hand on the rudder, when you find us."
"I have no doubt." The elf smiled as he held up that hand to clasp in farewell. "Good journey to you, then, and try not to fright too many horses off the road with this contraption."
"Ent the horses tha needs t' worry aboot," said Gubbitch with a grin. "It's them what's ridin' 'em. They won't know who's more daft, you for drivin' this boh-at over dry land, or theyselves for seein' it!"
"So long as they give me a clear road," said Arth, and then with a wink he firmed his grip on the lines. "HUP, lads, git up!"
With a jerk and a rumble and a jangle of trace chains, the Rowan began to roll. Curious were the eyes that watched, as 45 feet of gracefully sculpted Elvish craftsmanship swayed towards the gate and slowly lurched away down the road. A sight such as this was supremely rare, all agreed.
"I seen it," said a tinsmith, who had been a guest of the Troll over night. "With my own eyes. And I still don't believe I seen it."
"Nor I," said his companion the goat farmer. "And the pity is, no one else will believe us, either."
"In about fifteen minutes," said a nearby Dwarf. "Somebody pinch me."
Celebsul, however, retreated to the porch with a smile of supreme satisfaction, and watched the ship's lumbering form out of sight.
"You have to admit, a ship looks awfully ridiculous on wheels," Aerio observed.
"Yes, it's hard to imagine now how she'll look upon the water," said Gambesul.
"Like a swan, a hawk, a thing of flight," said Celebsul, then reached both arms to clap his apprentices on the shoulder. "Come, now, we've things to do. I believe the shop could use a thorough cleaning up about now, don't you? Sweep, dust, all that."
The two young elves exchange glum looks, then sighed in unison, "Yes, Master Celebsul."
"Then while they do that," piped a sudden voice, and the elves turned to see Erin with a paper and pencil in hand. "I'll want to see you about a list."
"A list?" asked Celebsul.
"Why, yes!" Erin looked at him with owlish astonishment, pencil poised as if to begin writing that instant. "Surely you don't think you could pull all the provisions and necessaries for a voyage all the way to Tolfalas out of your head, do you?"
"Well, actually, most of the provisions are already on board, and I -."
"But you didn't think of all the little things," she finished briskly. "Now, Aerio, Gambesul, you run along, Celly and I have some discussing to do."
Smothering their grins rather unsuccessfully, the younger elves departed, leaving their master with a slightly befuddled look on his face. Whether they needed one or not, it seemed he was going to have a list, and Erin was already beginning to tap her foot, waiting.
"Right, then," he said. "You don't mind if I have a Cherry B for all this planning, do you?"