(Amintatook-atyourservice) Aminta wasn't one to listen. The dwarfs had decided to wait out a Storm in a rather large cave filled with caverns. They had told her not to wander off, but she had decided to explore, which ended with her becoming lost. Wandering through the caverns, she saw some light ahead and was sure she felt a breeze. She left the cave to a brilliantly sunny day, an a world that she was sure wasn't Arda. She walked away from the cave, hoping to find something to help her.
Where she headed was no more than a desert. Dunes upon dunes of sand as far as the eye could see, except of course for the sandstone structures in the distance.This serene look at the world was quickly obscured by a monstrous creature’s tail snapping down near the hobbit. The being before her could only be described as a giant, half human, half scorpion form.
“There are more of you?” The captain scowled deeply. Looking up at one of her guards, she shook her head. “I don’t trust the dwarf’s word. They could easily be thieves. Search them and strip them of their weapons.”
Aminta squeaked in fear, though the only weapon on her was a small dagger. Dwalin was a much more difficult search. He’d been ready to protest when he and Aminta were grabbed. He tried to fight off those who held him, but there were too many, “How could either of us be thieves?” he hollered, “We get lost in your land, nearly killed by that creature, and this is how you treat us?”
“A very likely story.” The lead guard rolled her eyes, piking up Dwalin’s weapon to examine it. “You are not from our lands which means you cannot be trusted. Of this you are guilty. It will be up to our queen what happens to you next.” Handing the weapon off with only one stern look at the two smaller creatures she turned back to her underlings. “We will take these thieves back to town. Have them locked up. Should they put up a fight you know what to do. Now move.” And with that Dwalin and Aminta were hauled toward a sandstone wall, stories tall. It was perfectly designed to blend in with the desert around it, though that might not always have been it’s design.
Aminta did little more than squeak in fear and follow along, deciding it was better to be compliant than chance having to face the wrath of these soldiers. Hopefully the queen would listen to reason, as this group wasn’t so inclined.
Dwalin on the other hand, continued to put up a fight, hollering insults and throwing punches where he could. “You certainly know nothing of honour and courtesy! You’re lower than the basest of goblins!”
“Captain–” Was all on of her underlings could utter out before the tattooed woman swooped down and grabbed Dwalin by the shirt and nearly lifted him off the ground with a single hand, the other was preoccupied with pointing a spear tip at the dwarf’s neck.
“You know nothing of honor or security, fool. You would be dead if it were not for us. It is your fault for being on our lands. This is my land to protect and I protect I shall, especially from loud mouthed, would-be thieves who having nothing but sand in their head!” The woman growled, staring daggers at the dwarf before her. “Now I suggest you be a little more compliment or I shall see to it you are treated like the scum I suspect you to be.”
Dwalin would have continued to throw insults if the woman hadn’t been cutting off his windpipe. The lucky wench had also grabbed him just after one of her underlings had managed to strap his arms together to keep him from attacking. He could do little more than glare at her as his face slowly turned red.
Aminta, who would normally have stayed quiet, stood as tall as she could and addressed the tall woman, “Now just a moment! You may have saved our lives, and for that we’re grateful, but other than the fact that we’re strange to you, we’ve done nothing to earn your suspicion.”
She stepped closer to Dwalin, “Had you been a little less harsh in your accusations we would have been more than willing to go with you to speak to your queen. We are, in fact, just lost and hopeful we can get back to our companions and on our way to Erebor as soon as possible. I’d prefer it if you let Dwalin down so we can be on our way sooner, which would likely suit all of us better.”
“Strange is cause for suspicion.” The woman huffed, only giving an annoyed glance at the tiny creature before dropping Dwalin. “If you continue to resist this will all be more difficult than it need to be. It is for our queen to decide when you may leave, but if this scum cannot refrain himself I will personally see to it that you both, and whatever gaggle that trails behind looking for you are locked up.” Standing to her full high she called up to the wall scouts to open the gates.
Inside, what parts could be seen between the circle of guards carefully surrounding the pair, was a bustling, sandstone city. Faces, some with tattoos or piercings like the woman who saved and captured them, but with not nearly as many. All, however, tried to sneak a peak of the small creatures entering the town. It was always a shock to see newcomers, and never had they been anything other than human or witch.
