B2MEM 2012 - March 14th

[altariel]

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...”