Day 213: Respect

[tanaquiljall]

phyloxena wanted a companion piece to The King's Justice showing what folks in Gondor's taverns thought and said about Denethor before the war. Gondor is emphatically free under the Stewards, but Denethor commands certain... healthy respect :)

Day 213

Respect

Cullas flopped down on the bench and silently accepted a tankard of ale. Draining half of it in one greedy swallow, he wiped a hand across his mouth. "Ah, needed that!"

"Bad day?" The man to his left raised an enquiring eyebrow.

"Aye. The Lord Steward was in a rare foul mood, even by his standards. Chewed the Captains out in council."

"They say he wrestles in thought with the Enemy."

"Nah." Cullas drained the rest of his ale and called for more. He added with pride, "Even his black bastardness couldn't stand up to our Denethor in a temper."

Comments

[elena-tiriel.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can sooooo empathize with Denethor in this one... this has been such an awful day, after being sick for weeks, that I'm in a fulminatingly frothing-at-the-mouth foul mood...

Black bastardness... love that! Just suits my mood, too ;-)

Well done, Liz!

- Barbara

[tanaquiljall]

Thanks, Barbara. Sorry about the bad mood, but I hope the drabble lifted it a bit. {{{hugs}}}

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

This made me laught.Most enjoyable !

[tanaquiljall]

Thanks, Linda! It was fun to write.

[phyloxena.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! Incidentally, "even by his standards" is currently a by-line of my life. But do they drink ale, or wine in Gondor?

[tanaquiljall]

Thanks - glad you liked it.

And they drink ale and wine....

'Bring wine and food and seats for the guests,' said Denethor, 'and see that none trouble us for one hour.'

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

They got there bread, and butter, and cheese and apples: the last of the winter store, wrinkled but sound and sweet; and a leather flagon of new-drawn ale, and wooden platters and cups.

The Return of the King, LoTR Book 5, Ch 1, Minas Tirith

[(Anonymous)]

"Even his black bastardness couldn't stand up to our Denethor in a temper."

*snorfle!* Ah, how different things might have turned out if it had been true...

I can definitely see this kind of pride in their stern/harsh Steward, even as they wince at the backlash. Very good job with Cullas's voice.

Denise

[tanaquiljall]

Thanks, Denise. And yes, I can see a certain pride in how tough and ornery Denethor is. (Which is, of course, a contrast to Faramir, who was clearly loved enough that people wept for him. Can't see them weeping for Denethor...!)