| Subject: A fresh start, a new life? |
Author:
Harion
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Date Posted: 21:40:16 06/21/02 Fri
The huge city gates of Minas Tirith towered high overhead. Harion craned his neck
backwards to admire the stone carving on top. He had never seen a structure so high,
at least one that was not natural. Tearing his eyes away from the gate posts he forced
himself to stride into the city. The hustle of the market place stole his attention.
hundreds of people in one place, more than he had ever seen before in his life. Gossip
flew in and out of the crowd, he picked up something to do with fires at the palace.
His green eyes widened as he took in the stalls displaying exotic food. Traders
shouted out their wares and people gathered around, parting with precious coins.
Harion’s eyes gleamed as he saw the riches being passed around. His sister was right.
The city was a place where a man could get rich. His stomach began to grumble at
the sight of all the food, he hadn’t eaten for the last couple of days. He felt the
familiar pangs of hunger, nothing new there, only here he was tempted with real food.
A small wizened woman on a stall caught sight of the tall young man backed against
the wall. Her eyes gleamed as she recognised a potential customer. She waddled
towards him, greasy grey hair hanging down her double chin, a toothless beam
splitting her face in two. Harion saw her approaching and tried to back away. “Come
back me loovie” she lisped, “I’m sure I’ve got something that will suit the likes of
you” He backed up against the wall, mouth going dry. “I...I haven’t got any money”
She approached even closer. Far too close for comfort. He could see the warts on her
face bounce as she chuckled. “They all say that, they do, don’t they” she muttered
loudly. “No one wants to help an old woman stay alive, they don’t.” She grabbed his
arm and began dragging him back towards her stall. “Let me see what I’ve got for
you, now, let me see” She halted and pinched his cheek with an iron like grip. “I’ve
got something that will make all the young girls flock to you, yes, flock to you they
will if you give old Meg a few pennies.”
“I’ve told you, I don’t have any money, I’m looking for a job.....” his words were lost
on Meg as she rooted through her stall, emerging with a bottle continuing a clear
liquid. “Only four pennies” Meg lisped approaching closer and closer. Harion’s blond
hair flipped into his eyes as he started backing away again. “I’ve told you. I don’t
want....” he cried desperately. Meg could sense her victim’s lack of experience with
traders. “Only four pennies, and all the girls will flock to you.” The hard, wooden
edge of the next stall pressed against Harion’s back as he couldn’t retreat any more.
His cloak caught against the corner as he tried to slide away. Still Meg approached,
rapidly losing her beam. Harion had had enough. He turned and fled, powerful legs
striding, his cloak entwined around the stall, sent it crashing to the floor. The
smashing of pottery caused every face in the market place to turn in the direction. The
owner of the stall shrieked as her wares tumbled into the dust. Harion spun around
and realised what he had done. “I’m sorry” he stammered. The crowd of onlookers
pressed closer, shopping forgotten as they enjoyed the entertainment.
The stall owner stepped over the remains of her stall and stood next to old Meg.
“What’s my husband going to say?” she shrieked, her high pitched voice rising above
the murmuring of the crowd. “You’ll pay for this!”
Harion felt sweat break out on his forehead, the contents of the stall would cost a
fortune. He was here to make money, not increase the rising tide of debt which
burdened his sister. He knew no one in this city. He was alone and in trouble already.
“I...I..I can’t” he eventually stammered. The storeowners eyes narrowed. The crowd
waited expectantly.
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