Welcome to LotR Online

[Baralai]

A lithe yet tall figure trekked through the thick woods at a quick and constant pace that, overall, would have left the figure undetected; save for the eye-catching alabaster hair that peaked out of the contrasting hooded cloak. Tiny rays of light seeped though the treetops reflecting off of silver studs in the figure’s ear. As the sky darkened the onyx hood gradually slipped off of the figure’s head unveiling very tan skin and a head of spiky alabaster hair. The figure was unmistakably male and embodied stunning, dark emerald orbs that wandered over the area with great intensity. Finally he sat down at the bottom of a large tree. Hmm… this is definitely far enough. He had been traveling in Fangorn Forest for days driven by bloodthirsty bounty hunters and orcs into hiding, for there was a great price upon his head. Baralai… the half-elf. Someone to be feared. Someone of great power… He smirked. Humans are so easy to scare. All it takes is one who uses their strength among them for fear to assail their hearts… How much has he done to install that fear. The fear that many decided to call him a demon for. A pirate… an assassin. And on top of all that he was a half-elf. At birth he was made to be an outcast.

Not many would think that anyone with elven blood running through their veins would be as indifferent and cruel as he, but the answers laid in his past... the answers laid in his childhood. He was born into a cruel world, and he intended to make sure the acts of others would not torment him any longer. He would do as he pleased. For now he was free. And nobody... nobody would ever take that away from him.

Baralai climbed up into the tree took out some dried meat and ate his light meal. Once he finished he began to relax... and with both eyes open he fell asleep...

[Arvedui]

Arvedui had been following a shadow for many miles now. He was an experienced tracker and Ranger, one to be reckoned with if you had secret business to attend to. He made it his business to know everything about everyone who had dark business. He had his own contacts and his own sources, but this following was of his own accord.

He had left his wife in Bree, leaving her to travel with her own Rangers, and left Cield with the dark woman, Khamuli, who was apparently a Southerner. He smirked slightly as he ducked behind a tree, ducking and weaving, but still hot on this stranger's path. He was imagining how flustered Cield would be. Not outwardly, but inwardly. Cield was always one for a plan. Arvedui was always the random one. Or maybe it was just the alcohol.

Arvedui kept his movements quick and decisive. The one mistake he had made constantly as a younger man was to not know exactly what he was going to do. That led to fear and self-consciousness. He watched the shadow form, not knowing exactly what it was. Could it be some new devilry from the hand of Mordor, some creation of the Orcs whom had no guidance in these matters? Or was it something older and deeper than the Firstborn?

The slightly grizzled Ranger unsheathed his sword silently and purposefully stepped on a twig, making it snap, the loudness echoing in the depths of Fangorn Forest. He felt the ancientness simply emanating from the trees and prayed that there would be no bloodshed between himself and whatever the shadow creature was. He did not want to awaken the forest.

[Baralai]

At first it seemed that the sleeping body did not sense a thing, but once the Ranger unsheathed his sword a metallic sound seemed to echo in the half-elf's ear... soon following it was the irritating snap of a twig. The green eyes that seemed dazed if looked upon suddenly seemed sharply perceptive. What the hell was that? Out of the corner of his eye he saw the obscure clothing of a Ranger. Damnit! How could i have missed him? He rebuked himself mentally. I must be getting lazy.
A slight wind coming from the east rustled the leaves of the trees as Baralai exhaled exasperatedly. Well, at least it was a good tracker, instead of an amateur. He smirked, and then leapt down silently upon the soft ground of the mystical forest, dashed towards the human ranger so that he would be behind him and unsheathed his sword holding it at the neck. "Well, well, well. How nice of you to join me." A sadistic smirk was on his face as he voiced the words menacingly...

[Arvedui]

Arvedui gripped his sword even tighter, bracing himself. He was almost glad that he had interacted with sneaky elves before. He remembered how inanely creepy it was when they happened to sneak up on you. He definitely underestimated the sneakiness. But the Ranger wasn't quite the observant one when it came to elves or part-elves and so he was barely able to veil his surprise at seeing the elf suddenly behind him.

He smirked. "Indeed." He replied, switching his sword hand. His left was more for defense and his right was his offense. Though evil had quite toned down since the war, one could never be sure. Arvedui had no idea if this man was a potential friend or foe. He sized up this man. He was much more leaner and sinewy, but Arvedui was tall and broad, a true Dunedain. He hoped that his years of experience of this kid would be helpful.

"Are you loyal to King Elessar?" Arvedui asked, bringing his sword blade up to caress the other man's face.

[Baralai]

The actions of the ranger caused the half-elf's smirk to broaden and a mischevious twinkle became present in his emerald orbs. How bold. The blade at his face made the halfling feel elated, he thought about the ranger's first words to him. King Elessar? Hah! As far as i'm concerned no one rules me. The look upon his face darkened. "I have no king." Sharply he tapped the sword away from his face as if he was swatting away a fly.

[Arvedui]

Arvedui could have honestly laughed. Not in mockery of this stranger, but in the memories of which this one's tone brought to him. It reminded him slightly of his wife, but it was strange that he would be thinking about her, since he hadn't seen her in only six months. But the main difference between his wife and this stranger was if it was Adelina, his back would be making sweet contact with the ground right... now.

Arvedui cleared his throat, smirking slightly at this one's boldness. Some would have been insulted and gone into some large speech about how one should always be loyal to the king, but he almost respected this stranger for his frankness. Most would be intimidated by Arvedui, Ranger-ness and all, but this one was... a half elf. Oh joy was just overflowing from his heart. He didn't like elves, except King Legolas, only because Legolas had given him so much to playfully tease Brenwian about and it was just so much fun.

The Ranger's mind returned to the situation. "Indeed. Well then, let me rephrase that." His voice was condescending and snarky at best. "Are you a friend or foe, and shall I be needing this sword anytime soon?"

[Baralai]

OOC: he reminds you of your wife?! >_< lol

Baralai noticed the laughter that was hidden in the Ranger's face. Along with remembrance... he thought nothing of it. As long as this human wasn't causing himself to be to much of a bother than maybe he'll leave him alone. "It depends..." Baralai drawled. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took on a more serious demeanor. "What were you doing tracking me?"

[Arvedui]

[Of course. :P]

Arvedui exhaled in amusement at the drawling tones of this half breed. He felt the threat of danger in the pit of his stomach, and his adrenaline started to rush through him. He adopted the slightly crazed look he always did before and during a battle, the one that made him look more than slightly cracked. He wrested control from his instincts before he attacked this potential powerful ally.

"I am a Ranger. It is my duty to... destroy those who threaten my countrymen. I have seen naught of you before. Who am I to label a foe from an ally?" He raised an eyebrow as he took a quick scan of his surroundings.

It was Fangorn Forest, and the air was compressed. There was nothing but trees for many miles, and he knew it was folly to awaken the Ents. Though they had been freed of Isengard, they still were wary of humans. He let his attention wander for but a second, looking for the easiest escape route if this turned bloody.

[Baralai]

OOC: ok here's the deal, if i don't post by April 6th then i'm on vacation & i won't be able to post until April 15th...

A bemused smirk appeared upon the half-breed's face. "Threatened your countrymen have I? What was it this time? Did i happen to scare a couple of your said countrymen?" He said mockingly. "Do you just happen to stalk anyone that catches your interest?" He ceased the mocking, now noticing the crazed glint that seeped into the Ranger's eye. He smirked. "Oh... so you're feeling up to a fight are you?" If not, I'll fight him anyway. Besides i haven't had any fun for a while. He pulled back his blade from the human's face, and changed his grip. It now looked like he was prepared to fight. "Let's have a little..." His grin took on a fanatical look. "...fun." He sent a sudden slash towards the Ranger's right arm...

[Arvedui]

Arvedui wisely held his tongue. His thoughts immediately went to Cield and how the much calmer Ranger (if that's not an oxymoron, Arvedui didn't know what was) would react. He always had been the impulsive one, and he found it hard to stay still and not lash out with his sword or his tongue. Well, he no longer had to make that decision, for the half elf had tried to take his arm off.

Arvedui took a neat step sideways and caught the elf's blade almost lazily in his own. Of course, it was slightly an effort, seeing as how the half elf did have some of the super strength elves seemed to possess. He planted his feet and held his ground. Escape was not necessary. In his pride, he felt he could take this adversary. It was not an unreasonable thought. After sixty years of Rangering about and fighting for his life, he hoped he would be able to take this puny elf wanna-be one.

"Perhaps we shall." He replied, his tone still conversational, despite the insanity that was quickly taking over his reactions and instincts. He shoved the half elf's blade away and used his advantage in weight to direct his blade with force towards the torso of his opponent.

Perhaps it was good his wife could beat him in a sword fight. You know, to train him up for this.