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The number called was B15.
My cards and prompts were:
13th March 3019: The Pûkel-Men hold a council
Poetic Forms: Alliterative verse (because I haven't written enough of that already this month)
Economy: Taxation
Faramir: Diplomat
Write what you know: A favourite quote from a political or historical figure

The Way through the Woods

Now the shadow-veil lay on the Stonewain Valley.
Now came the Wild Men, cunning Woses,
Woodcraft-wise, wary of horsemen.
Hard news they bore of a host-blocked road;
In the mountains beyond, Mundburg was burning.

Long was the lane lost to thorn and to thicket.
Longer since the Sea-kings carved those stones.
Yet goat-footed Ghân, faithful friend and orc-hater,
Led horse and horseman, scout and spear,
Under gloom-grey trees where the trail had grown over.
Pale light brought fresh wind and the plain way forward.

Grave thanks were given. Thus Thengel’s son
Rode forth to the out-walls, and feared no darkness.

Death and Taxes

Númenóreans can’t cheat death, but can they get a rebate?

*

“Secondly,” the Prince of Ithilien said, as he passed the King of the West in the corridor, “it affords protection against cheaper and inferior Haradric produce.”

“Fourthly,” he added at the butts the next morning, “the money only comes back to our reconstruction work. Why tax the source?”

“Seventhly,” (murmured to both King and Queen before the speeches began at Merethrond), “the personal fortune of the House of Húrin has been much depleted over the years.”

“And, finally,” said Elessar Telcontar to his Council the next day, “we come to the levy upon oil from the olive presses of Ithilien...”

Date: 2012-03-14 08:48 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] katlinel.livejournal.com
The line beginning with 'pale light' is just perfect. I also like the double meaning of 'Grave thanks'.

And the second one makes me think that somewhere the Haradrim are composing an embassy to the King of Gondor, along the lines of "It has come to our attention and to our great displeasure that a vassal of Gondor has been slandering our people and products..." and such an embassy would be accompanied by a vat of Haradric olive oil, as a gift to the Queen "worthy of her incomparable beauty and heritage".

Date: 2012-03-15 04:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] altariel.livejournal.com
I'm so pleased you picked that line! That's the one that took the most work, fiddled with it for ages.

I bet Haradric olives have a distinctive and extremely tasty flavour. Yum, olives.

Date: 2012-03-15 03:32 pm (UTC)
ext_15862: (Default)
From: [identity profile] watervole.livejournal.com
I am becomming seriously fond of alliterative verse.

Date: 2012-03-15 04:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] altariel.livejournal.com
I'm getting quite hooked too.

Date: 2012-03-16 06:52 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] lame-pegasus.livejournal.com
Ahhh...verses that sound like drums and rolling thunder. (I read them aloud to myself, weird as I am. *grins*) Absolutely marvellous.

And the tax and olive oil matter makes me grin. :-)

Date: 2012-03-18 05:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] altariel.livejournal.com
I read it out loud too. In fact, I made Mr Altariel read it out loud! :-D Very glad you liked it. And I had too much fun with the tax one!

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