Revenant: Ghosts of the Past - Part II

All was not well; a shadow did hang over our unity. She was the daughter of a Gondorian nobleman and I but a soldier of the people, a mere pawn; a commoner in the eyes of the noble houses. Our love for each other knew no bounds but there was fierce contest among the noble houses for the hand of the fair lady and we, as lovers were forced to court in secrecy. I knew our tryst could not last forever but fate was to deal her hand more swiftly than I anticipated. Her father, Malrond of the house of Cirdain, learned of our meetings and, outraged and humiliated, he punished his daughter, locking her away, forbidden to leave the family estate until further notice. Using his power and political sway with the council of Gondor and the noble houses, Malrond orchestrated my fall from grace and esteem and I was exiled from the city and ordained to a life of servitude in the defense of the forsaken city of Osgiliath. I used what favour and leverage I had from my time serving as a captain under Gondor’s banner and stole into the city, eventually making my way to her quarters under cover of darkness. She promised herself to me then and we embraced with the passion of heavenly beings, swearing never to be parted again. We fled the city that night with the hope of a new beginning, both having sacrificed all for each other… Malrond restrained his fury and in the confusion that followed the disappearance of his daughter, he set in motion a malicious scheme that would in his eyes restore the honour of the family name and enact his revenge. Before the day was out, word soon spread of the brutal murder of one of Minas Tirith’s esteemed aristocrats and the warrant for my apprehension was issued, decreeing that not only was I responsible for this murder but that I had fled capture and abducted Malrond’s daughter, fair noble maiden of Cirdain. Under Malrond’s orders, a fierce band of mercenaries was recruited and tasked solely with my apprehension, dead or alive…