19. Wayward
Prompt: Misty Mountains: Write a story or poem or create an artwork in which a character unaccustomed to acting as a leader must make an important decision.
In Anduin's rushes lay two men, one asleep, the other fretting: river or road?
Anduin's a sure way south, guarantees water. The road...
Ailos longs for its evenness – and its bridges. Could they swim those east-running streams?
He considers his companion. He's no Westron: "Sunny," Ailos calls him, for his praying sunward, dawn and dusk, and daily aches from helping Sunny hobble along.
A lamed Southron, can't walk, can't talk, likely can't swim...
Tears threaten. Why's everything on me? He's so tired...
Too tired: 'tis Sunny or Anduin...
"Damn you," Ailos whispers.
Next morn, he leaves Sunny sleeping...
Author's notes: Sequel to Beyond the Pale
This is a work of fan fiction, written because the author has an abiding love for the works of J R R Tolkien. The characters, settings, places, and languages used in this work are the property of the Tolkien Estate, Tolkien Enterprises, and possibly New Line Cinema, except for certain original characters who belong to the author of the said work. The author will not receive any money or other remuneration for presenting the work on this archive site. The work is the intellectual property of the author, is available solely for the enjoyment of Henneth Annûn Story Archive readers, and may not be copied or redistributed by any means without the explicit written consent of the author.
