Erulaitalë - Midsummer

[Arnyn]

Kaylin

Unfortunately for her, she had quite missed the kiss between the two people who were their topic of conversation. "Hmm. Obvious doesn't sound right for her, no." She had to laugh when he said Macardil and Karis were slightly more reserved than they had been. "Slightly?" she asked him, as he brought her hand to his lips and her eyes lit in turn. "Slightly, Bregedyr?"


Macardil

When she called him the finest fiddle player, he thought himself undeserving of such a compliment, but it warmed him nonetheless that she would think - or at least say - so. When she held his face, he was reminded of when she had done the same in his dungeon cell. When she had started a sentence with 'if you were my soldier'. A strange feeling pinched in his chest when a realization struck him, and it deepened when she touched his lips with her own - the touch was short but sweet, and he looked into her laughing face with wonder in his own.

"Yes," he said quietly, unphased by her slight shove. He did not take it as rejection, but as Ziranphel being... playful, almost. "A promise is a promise." He swallowed, succeeding in making it look like the natural version instead of it signalling he was holding back emotion. He needed water for more than one reason by this point. "I should hurry," Macardil said, lingering a moment longer to gauge her expression. "You are welcome to join me as I find some water, but if you would rather take your time..." He smiled faintly, and then moved to turn and indicate he would be heading to the drinks.

Once she had made her choice, he quickly made his way over to the table in question, where apparently Thûllir and Kaylin were talking. Macardil nodded at them with a polite smile. "Kaylin. Thûllir." He spoke their names in a friendly manner, making eye contact with both, his eyes resting on Thûllir's slightly longer since he had not yet been able to greet the man. "Good to see you have also joined in on the festivities." After pouring two glasses of water - one of which he would be offering to Ziranphel (if she had chosen to walk with him) - he regarded them both. "I saw you two enjoying the music earlier. Not only ranger skills, then?" One corner of his mouth lifted, before he set the glass of water to his lips and quickly downed half of it.


Kaylin

She had been so wrapped up in her amusement and her husband that she startled slightly at Macardil's greeting. While she was not yet entirely comfortable in the man's presence, but somewhat cautious still, she returned his nod and smile. "No, of course not," she then grinned, casting a sidelong glance at Thûllir. "Just like you, it seems. I have yet to meet another ranger who plays the violin, let alone like that. You make good music," she added simply.

[Karis Ziranphel]

Karis Ziranphel

Ziran appreciated that Macardil invited her to join him even though she would not have faulted him for leaving right away. “I will join you that far at least, Macardil.” She smiled and stepped out alongside him. Although it was a little difficult to keep up with his long strides, Ziran managed sufficiently well so that she wasn’t trailing behind as they walked quickly off the dancefloor and over to the beverage table, nodding agreement with a smile at Kaylin and Thûllir as Macardil greeted them. She could see by the laughter in their expressions that they had been having a good time.

Accepting the glassful of water that Macardil graciously handed her, Ziran took a good gulp to take the edge off her thirst before slowing down to sip at the water. “Playing and dancing is thirsty work, even if we weren’t dancing quite as energetically as you two.”


Thûllir Bregedýr

Thûllir grinned back at Kaylin, enjoying her laughter. They both well knew that they hadn’t been anywhere near subtle in showing that sparks were flying, and he had been more audacious than ever before in his life. He would have been surprised indeed if his cousin had been the same, yet one never knew what might happen.

When Macardil greeted them with Ziran close behind, Thûllir had to tear his gaze away to meet Macardil’s gaze openly, tilting his head in acknowledgement of the greeting. He paused as Kaylin replied firs,t before adding with a smile, “We have indeed been enjoying the festivities and the music you have been providing! It has added energy to the musicians’ selections, and is very appropriate for this day of celebration. As to the skills…Ziran here started me on my way, but Kaylin provided the inspiration to really enjoy the dancing. I think you might know what I am talking about.” He knew Macardil likely didn’t have time to stand around talking, but couldn’t help adding the slightly teasing observation to both of them.

[Arnyn]

Macardil

Thûllir's bearing was not only friendly, like Kaylin's, but Macardil found it more open than the redhead's. Kaylin seemed to be reserving her judgment for now, which he didn't fault her for. Of course, little did Macardil know she was usually very quick to peg people and he formed an exception. If he had known that much, perhaps he would have found that worrying. Be that as it may, he was strangely relieved that Thûllir seemed to have no qualms. Thus far.

Macardil nodded his thanks graciously for the compliments. At the last sentence from Ziranphel's cousin, he did not hide his amusement. He looked at Ziranphel briefly, a soft smile on his face, before returning his attention to Thûllir. "Indeed." He did not think he would easily engage in the kind of dancing Thûllir and Kaylin had been doing, though. "Though I must say, I prefer the slower dances to the more... exuberant ones. For more reasons than one."

He finished the remainder of his glass. "I am afraid I must excuse myself. Prior commitments are calling." He bowed his head to Kaylin, then Thûllir, and then turned to Ziranphel. His voice was quiet as he spoke to her and briefly touched her arm. "If you wish to wonder off, please come find me when the music stops." His eyes held at least one promise, perhaps more.

Then he turned to stride back to the musicians, and to take up his violin again.

The afternoon was shifting into evening, however, and the number of people near the food and beverages was increasing by the minute.

OOC note: The musicians do take requests, if any of your characters have one.
+ This time the first person to post about the music may choose ("godmode" - although it isn't godmoding when you have persmission, I guess) what kind of tune is next (without having to make an IC request): slow or energetic!

[Pele Alarion]

"Well. See?" Pele said to the guard in agreement to Arnyn's words and lifted her chin slightly to look at him, as she folded her arms and tapped her fingers impatiently on her elbows in the rhythm of the merry tune that had started up. "It is as I said. Either you dance, or I'll find someone else and you'll just have to run in circles around the dance area to keep up your watchfulness."

The guard frowned and then rolled his eyes seeing that the two women had banded together against him. "Fine. Just one dance, mind you," he eventually agreed finding no other way of the situation and thinking that they both would keep pressuring him either way - and he could not get away. Offering his arm to Pele as was proper and causing her to grin somewhat mischievously, they headed off to join those dancing.

"All right. One dance it is," Pele agreed, as she let him lead her in a series of energetic steps and spins. Although Pele had not danced for years, it seemed that she had not forgotten how, even when she had done everything in her power to avoid parties with dancing for a long time. She had to admit to herself that it felt much better than she had expected, and her own wish to avoid dancing had left along with the unexpectedly successful attempt in trying to get the guard to do something fun. He was a good dancer, though Pele wondered how much of his attention was taken away from observing surroundings to avoiding stepping on her toes instead.



As the day approached towards the evening, Shamara grew ever more bored and restless. Carefully she approached the fields a little closer to take a better look at the situation and see whether there was anything she could do without putting herself in danger. From her new spot she finally determined the locations of the few Rangers with whom she had had any run-ins. Avoiding both the tables and the dance area, she observed a group of young people, and another young guy (@Isolde Alarion ) watching them.

Padding up to Mourgan she stopped a step or two from him and ventured a light-hearted question: "Good evening to you. Why such a long face on such a merry occasion?"

[Ercassie]

Iole and Unalmis

“Well I didn’t want her to blame you to death,” Unalmis retorted back, in a response to Trevadir’s own mumble, and it might have sounded almost childish in the delivery, but that Eryn swiftly remarked on the matter before they could turn it toward further dissension. “It was a stupid thing to do,” Nal admitted in reply to her, and without looking all that sorry about it at all. In fact there was the prospect of amusement and a side laugh as he recounted the scene. “Forget that our efforts to make our own glue and fix it, had already made a far worse mess of the place than ever the broken pottery had managed,” he informed Eryn and unconsciously reminded Trev, and himself, in return. “Everything we touched was soon sticky, and I … can’t … recall who wanted to see if it was strong enough to stick a shoe to the ceiling … just to test it .. But anyway its no wonder Grammyu all but chased me out of her house.” The image of his friend’s grandmother, leaping out of her skin, in mid rant at the two small boys because a shoe had dropped onto her shoulder with comedic timing from the ceiling while they failed not to laugh … it was too much, and Unalmis didn’t even get to the part of the story where they’d manipulated ways to win his way back into being allowed to play at Trev's house again afterward.


“Sometimes the fight chooses you,” he shared with Eryn, and in general; having grown ever more unwilling to maintain this state of conflict any longer. For he certainly had never asked for it. Trevadir seemed equally unhappy as though they had indeed become entangled in an argument, without either one's permission. It really was far too nice a day to get worked up. That was the exact opposite of why he’d wanted to attend this event.


As Cali tugged hard on their collective heart strings, Iole wiped at a genuine tear and realised she’d forgotten to perpetuate her more 'dramatic' weeping 'for effect'. Now there was a very more real cause to succumb to emotion and she was dehydrated. Taking up her rather warm now juice, she cast a subtle eye toward each of the two idiots. They were slowly finding themselves steered, not exactly delicately, but still quite effectively, toward what they both clearly wanted, what the entire group wanted. To see no more hurt and upset come between them. The juice tasted good. Quietly she returned the glass onto the table, and dared to hope for a similarly sweet scene to fall into place before her. The soundtrack was already out in force, after all ..

Unalmis had lost his smile as the subject turned to Ryndir and the funeral he hadn’t even been well enough, personally, to attend. As their small group each stood in a private silence of reflection, it felt almost as though they were laying tribute to their lost friend anew. Of course Ryn would have literally knocked their two heads together if he had been there, not to mention insisting that they stop wasting so much time which they could be spending doing some great idea he’d just thought up ..

Then Trevadir spoke up, almost as though their friend had somehow endowed them with such a notion from beyond the grave. The sullen attitude was gone. The defensive readiness to cut and run was gone. All obstacle to their owed resolution was also, in a very short time, gone. ‘Friends forever .. No matter what becomes of them ..’ So went the words. It was the latter part of the sentiment which coursed through the Ranger then, like lightning. What had become of them, of they two, .. that what had been before should not be able to now overcome ? Unalmis found the musician voicing his regret and admitting a not so tremendous mistake .. But Trev had not been alone in that regard. And as for realising it after the fact ?


“Well you know by now I never stop to think,” Nal offered to the broken ice. “If I had .. well, I could have been smarter,” he watched his friend fidgeting, unhappily, and threw his own head back upon his neck. “I don’t even think I was ever really angry at you … not really,” he tried, as though composing a song of his own and seeking for the lyrics that would fit. And when no immediate response of ‘well you sure did a good impression of it until now ..’ was hurled back to assail him, there was time enough allowed to press on. “I mean, I was angry,” Unalmis acknowledged, stopping short for a moment in surprise at the revelation. “But mostly I was angry at that .. thing that happened” he declared, without the actual declaring of it. The last thing he wanted to do now was revisit that entire disaster. “And it had the audacity to come between us, out of nowhere. Well, I wasn’t expecting it. Nothing had ever ..” A pause allowed him the courage to face Trevadir at last with no further glancing aside. He required to find his friend, in all sense of the word, though he was stood not feet away from him. “Nothing should. Ever,” he concluded, with a non-committal shrug which failed entirely to convey the fortitude behind the statement. Unless a person knew him well. Unless a person knew him as well as he knew that Trevadir did.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

| |
Erynneth | Calithilidis | Trevadir

A tiny grin tugged at Trev's face, hearing Nal say that 'it was a stupid thing to do'. "I think just about everything we did as children was probably pretty stupid." he pointed out with a faint smile. "But it was so much fun." He grinned briefly before looking back down, working on putting his flute back together, and back in his pocket, thoughtful as he reminisced about their childhood adventures. He still remembered their failed plan of blaming the stickiness on his little brother, thinking the younger boy would make a perfect scapegoat for leaving a sticky mess everywhere, but unfortunately for them, his grandmother had caught them in the act, and Toby had been nowhere near.

Trev scoffed in amusement when Nal said he couldn't remember whose idea it had been to glue a shoe to the ceiling. "You don't remember, huh?" He glanced at Nal with a raised eyebrow and a half-hidden smirk. "I bet you don't remember whose shoe it was, either?" It had seemed ideal, with the plan to frame his little brother for the glue itself, to then use one of Tobedir's shoes to further incriminate him, although it really wasn't the best test of the glue to use the smallest one available to them. Obviously the glue hadn't held together well enough, though, since it fell off. He wondered if the discolored splotches were still visible on his grandmother's ceiling, and smiled faintly. After a brief pause, he asked, slightly hesitant, "How is my grandmother? And..Toby?" He'd been dying to ask about them, but the.. problem with Nal earlier had prevented him from having a good opportunity.

Listening to the two guys talk, Eryn laughed lightly to hear the two talk about some of the fun times they'd had, while inside she could have cheered. They were smiling, they weren't snapping at each other anymore, and they were talking about old memories they'd shared together. There was a brief silence that fell between them all, and Eryn understood exactly why. The silence was mutual among them all, and for Eryn's part, she was thinking on her own memories of the friendly young ranger recruit who had been so nice to her when he used to come around and train with her father.

Taking a brief glance around, Cali slowly exhaled a breath she had been holding. Strange... any other time, bringing up any mention of the funeral would have been too painful for her, yet this time she was the one to bring it up, and it was like a clincher for bringing the two friends back together. She grew thoughtful as they all took a moment to think on the one who wasn't there. But, she reminded herself with some effort, he was still with them, in their hearts, and in their memories. And Ryn, what would he do if he were sitting there among them? He'd 'suggest' they stop being all mushy and go have some fun, she thought with a faint smile.

Closing her eyes, she took a slow breath, releasing it slowly before opening her eyes again. "Well, I think it's about time we went and did something fun," She spoke up after allowing both a moment of silence for the others, and a moment for herself to pull herself together again, offering a small smile. "But first...I suggest a toast." She glanced around, and picked up the one untouched glass she had set aside earlier. "To Ryn.. and unbreakable friendship." She took a drink of the juice, pineapple, and then offered it to the left. Left, because Ryn had been left handed, and it seemed fitting.

Not wanting to keep dwelling on the issue that had come between he and Nal, Trev nodded slightly in response to what Nal had said, about how nothing ought ever come between them. It had been stupid and foolish, and he was glad they had managed to work it out. They'd both managed an apology and acknowledged they'd been wrong and stupid. He was more than happy to move on, and so he received the glass from Cali, giving a nod of approval of her idea. The glass, treated as if it were Ryn's drink, shared among his friends in honor of his memory. "To Ryn," He repeated quietly. As often as the five of them had shared everything, including lunches at school, toys, germs, and anything else that came to their hands, he had no hesitance in taking a drink from the glass and passing it to his left.

Eryn watched them curiously and hesitated slightly when the glass came to her, glancing at the others a little uncertainly, wondering if she was meant to be included in this, as it seemed somewhat personal to the group of friends who had grown up together.

"Go ahead," Cali spoke up, noticing her hesitance. "I believe we'd all agree you're a good friend to us all." She added with a knowing smile, and a sky glance toward Iole whom she knew would agree. After what Eryn had helped them accomplish today, she most certainly counted as a friend among them, even if the boys didn't know her part in it. "You were also a friend of Ryn's..." Cali added as an afterthought. "I remember sometimes he'd speak of an Erynneth, when he'd come home from training." She said softly. "He thought of you as a friend, though you were much younger than him." It was something she hadn't thought much about at the time, and she'd never met the girl back then, but she remembered her name later, after she met her at the armory recently.

Glancing at Cali in surprise, Trev then directed his surprise toward Eryn, trying to recall this info. "Ohhh," Now that he heard Cali mention it, he did have a faint memory of something like that, that his friend had said something about a little girl who'd been around a lot when he was going through a lot of his training, but it hadn't really been a thing that stuck in his memory. Trev was more interested in hearing all about the stuff Ryn had learned, not the kid who hung around watching. "You're.. that Erynneth.. right." He nodded thoughtfully. Most of what he recalled about that, was himself once or twice making a comment that maybe Ryn should bring Toby with him sometime so the younger kids could play together, and then Trev could have some time away from the little brother he used to find so annoying.

"Yes.." Eryn smiled, somewhat surprised, as she had thought that she was the only one of them who knew she'd known Ryn, since she hadn't even mentioned that to Nal. "Ryn was always nice to me.. I miss him," She added quietly with a small sigh. Thinking on old memories, she took a sip of the juice before passing it on to the next person. "What sort of fun thing could we do?" She wondered, glancing around.

"Hmm.. maybe we could dance?" Trev commented, noting that a nice lively tune had begun. "That'd be fun, don't you think?" He looked toward the girls he knew better, particularly Iole since she was always the more girlish between the two.

"Well, there's a problem with that," Cali commented with a slight frown, glancing around at their group. "There's three of us girls and only two of you boys...If we pair off, someone would get left out." She wouldn't have minded sitting out, except for that little deal she had with Nal.

"Oh, um, I.. don't know how to dance," Eryn mentioned, shyly looking down. "But, it's alright if you four want to.. don't let me ruin your fun. I don't mind," She said, though she actually did, slightly. Still, she didn't want to stand in their way of having fun together.

[Ercassie]

Iole and Unalmis

“It is rather incredible that we grew up to be so responsible and sensible really,” Unalmis put in as Trevadir took attention to be both toward his instrument. Given who had given the treasured flute to him, it was small wonder that the musician’s mind had turned upon it in that particular moment.

“Incredible,” Iole mouthed, beside him, and he returned with a silent ‘What’ ? that she knew all too well. But she did not linger overlong on anything that would take from this moment. A small smile was returned by the young woman, in kind toward Cali, and in quiet pride of what could not have been easy for the Smith to speak. Give that formidable smith a hammer and Cali would take on any army, undaunted. But force her to face her feelings … yeh. Even the memory of Ryndir was both the strength and the weakness of pretty much everybody in their group. Sometimes Iole felt like she was the only one amongst them who ever wanted to talk their way to the root of anything .. but that was what probably came of having a parent who performed grief counselling for a living, for so long. She had never been able to master the art of helping her friends through Ryndir’s death. Probably because she was internally appraising her own thoughts and emotions on the matter. He had been her friend as well, after all.


When his friend asked after the family he’d walked away from, Nal took a very deep breath and smiled. “I see Tobe about the place sometimes. Though he has grown so much I am not even sure the guy I’m waving at is actually him,” he subtly gave warning to his friend. Time had changed them all since the war and a small count of years could make a not so small difference. He knew that Trev’s brother spent a lot of time in Dol Amroth as well, with his cousins. “My father stops by Grammyu’s occasionally. I think just to check on her, the way she used to check on him back in the day. I went with him .. at least .. twice,” the admission was not much to be proud of. But “I didn’t know what you’d told her and I didn’t want to undo any alibi,” he confessed without pretense. I mean, he was taller and a Ranger now and sometimes even clean these days, but still that old woman would always see right through him as though he was still six years old. Whatever Trevadir had or hadn’t told her, he did not want to make it any worse. Who knows, maybe he even was somewhat more sensible these days. He could not be any less.

“To Ryn” he said, in echo of Cali when the moment usurped all else in a tide of grave importance. Rather unsure how Trev would respond and only certain that he hoped it would not end badly, .. Unalmis was keen when they were summoned to remember what mattered more.

“To unbreakable friendship,” Iole then repeated, with a solemn nod of her head, even as Nal dabbed at her wet cheek with a tut. She swatted him away lightly, and missed him entirely, but he grinned and she followed suit. It was not the first time that their party had attempted a ceremonial moment in the name of friendship, but the toast did feel somewhat more grown, and progressive than their melodramatic past. At least if anything was spilt this time, it would be juice, and nothing life threatening.

Iole had been relieved to realise that Trevadir had never met Eryn before this day either, for she had begun to feel a little left out with learning how easy Nal and Cali were in the company of a relative stranger. With both Unalmis and Cali caught up with their duties at the Ranger Barracks, she had personally found herself rather undone and it would have been far too easy for her to be envious of their new mutual friend. So it was a shock and a struggle now to put together what Cali was saying; that the younger girl had been introduced to them before they’d even been aware of her properly ? “Noone is going to gainsay Ryndir’s opinion,” she offered what wisdom she could, and accepted the juice with grace from the Ranger’s daughter.

Unalmis found himself somewhat in a daze as he tried to work out what he’d thought he’d known with what was truth. He refrained from out and out counting out the numbers of reckoning on both hands, but only barely. “Wait ..” he held up a palm as Iole offered him the juice. Having taken her moment of silent contemplation and respect to those departed, and she was not even all that fond of pineapple, for it was too sharp … ; Still, the young woman sighed rather audibly and tried again. “That was you ?” the young man wondered of Eryn. Until finally he was forced to accept the juice as the last in their company to do so, and he drank deep. To drown both confusion and all contemplation behind a simple action. He handed the ‘momentous’ object back to Cali right about the time that Trev proposed they move their celebration in a different direction.


“Well it’s about time that you guys no longer outnumber us,” Iole laughed. Retrieving Trev’s hat from the table, she placed it determinedly upon his head, and elected to choose the .. least complicated .. option in a dancing partner. She certainly had too much history with Unalmis to put either of them in such a situation. The music already had her tapping her toes, and as the bright day threatened to go down upon the arguing and all the awkwardness, the virgin eve beckoned with a cool breeze that encouraged animation. Iole extended one hand toward the musician and the other plucked up the hem of her dress. “I think that would be fun,” she agreed, and led him to demonstrate whether he could dance as well as he could play.

“Well now that won’t do at all,” Unalmis decided, glancing toward Cali and Eryn in turn. “It isn’t fun if you don’t break the … bend, bend the rules,” he corrected himself, belatedly, under the smith’s knowing expression. “Just a little,” he winked at Eryn. “And the only way to get around not knowing how to do a thing, .. is to give that thing a chance.” Stepping forward he offered an arm to each of his remaining options.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan
@Rillewen
@Pele Alarion

He watched the group over the rim of his mug. He watched them as they seemed to resolve their differences in whatever matter they were discussing. He could only pick out a few sentences but he got the jest of it, reconciliation. It seemed the group had a falling out, he didn't know the details, but all seemed better now. His dark eyes watched as a couple (Trev and lole) headed for the dance floor. He stopped mid swallow, dancing? He forced the rest of the liquid down his throat as he turned his eyes onto Unalmis who was offering his arm to both Cali and another young woman he didn't know.

He was about to rise from his seat when he was caught unawares by someone talking to him. He set his mug down and looked at her. He struggled a moment to recall what she'd asked him. "I'm a ..sorry. I didn't see you there." He admitted. "Long face?' He clarified. "I didn't realize I was wearing one." He reached up and ran his fingers over his his stubbled chin. Not wanting to be rude but still very much wanting to go ask Cali to dance he tried not to seem eager to leave the table.

He seemed caught between the two ladies. If he stayed to speak with the lovely lady before him he would miss his opportunity with Cali. He let out a sigh. "I'm very sorry but please excuse me, I have to speak with someone." His tried to offer a small apologetic smile. "Bad timing I'm afraid but if you're going to be around here we can talk later, I'd like that. " He stood and offered her a light nod of his head. "Pardon me." He turned away from the woman (Shamara) and found his steps taking him straight to Cali, Unalmis and the young lady(Eryn).

Unalmis stood with his arms offered to the two ladies. His steps quickened and he slipped up beside his fellow Ranger, his eyes set upon Cali. A somewhat lopsided smile spread over his lips. "Unalmis, nice to see you." He slipped his hand into his fellow Rangers, the hand closest to Cali. Although he spoke to Unalmis his eyes never left the Smithy. "Do you mind if I cut in?" He asked as he gave the mans hand a shake before it went to his side. "Hello Cali, would you like to dance?" He asked through the same smile. He then remembered the other young lady. "Forgive me. I'm Mourgan, Alarion. Very nice to meet you. You are?" Normally a somewhat reserved person he felt a sense of urgency in asking Cali. What if she wanted to dance with Unalmis? For some unknown reason that didn't sit well with him.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis with Cali, Eryn and Mourgan

If there was going to come an objection to his offer, Unalmis had expected it would come from Cali, although the matter of her hammer did lend hope that she might submit. Not that he wouldn’t have ever not returned her tool. He’d never even taken it out of the armoury in fact. But some people wouldn’t simply consider all the places that it could be hid and he was almost insulted that she hadn’t managed to find it. Still, she had come, she was finally seeming to enjoy herself, and hopefully she wanted to dance by this point for dancing’s sake, rather than out of some assumed obligation.

Mourgan’s intervention was unexpected, Nal hadn’t even realised his fellow Ranger was there, much less come so close to them without being noticed. But things had become rather engaging at their table. “Mourgan, a surprise,” he admitted, as his hand complied with the traditional gesture of agreement, “to see .. ” but the other young man wasn’t even looking at him. It was difficult to keep a straight face, as Unalmis glanced with him, toward Cali. “Well, perhaps you can get her to smile ?” he laughed, not unkindly, when the ask came of cutting in. Unalmis watched Cali curiously. One eyebrow rose to the question of what she felt on the matter. Her friend knew after all, that she would likely make her mind known. I mean, it was Cali.

He nodded just once although decidedly in response to the whisper she set about his ear*. It would be rude to debate the matter openly here, and she rarely required his opinion on anything anyway. The answer was not difficult. Despite the recent experience she and Iole had undergone. Mourgan was someone whom Unalmis didn’t know extremely well, but enough. He trusted him.

“What do you think, Trouble ?” he turned to Eryn then, after introductions were further made. “Think we can manage dancing, just us ?”

Addhor Raxëlilta and Narradir Korsey
with Ilisys Azrubêl
On the far side of the field

The noon sun had begun to flag but not so Narradir Korsey who yodelled his way to the conclusion of the final song, changing the words once again as he had for every slightly different performance so far. The puppets had played out their parts six times this day and some of the children had sat through it several times. But their cries of “Again ! Again !” from some of the most vocal meant that the father of five could not resist.

“It’s educational,” he had explained to his wife, as she looked on with exasperation.

“I’ll educate you if I don’t get to dance with my husband this day !” she muttered back in his direction, though her face was fighting a smile. Serenda did not mind the deviance of tending her (now grown) daughters at home, or other peoples’ children here for a change of scenery. One of the older children had even been helping her to hand out refreshments, and she was grateful for the assistance for she only had so many hands and not nearly enough. She had always liked having a lot of people around her, and marriage to the noisy forester had made that a frequent wish fulfilled. He was certainly enough entertainment to equal an entire group of friends.

But now as the light began to falter, the most conscientious of parents had sensibly led their offspring back to find some of the feast while it lasted. Others wandered away to hunt out some new form of entertainment. And Narradir knew what manner of entertainment he would engage next.

“Come then woman,” he scooped Serenda up with ease, and deposited her over his shoulder as he had so often with his giggling gaggle of daughters over the years. “You shall dance with me, before this husband of yours objects,” he laughed, and strode across the field, as his wife laid her head back and cared none what people would say.


Addhor was not unexpectedly left in the lurch, it happened all the time. And it was impossible to be annoyed with Narradir, well .. most of the time. Thankfully he was distracted from the impromptu departure, and not too disinclined to pack up their little puppet theatre alone. For he was not exactly alone. Isys for one, was still sat there on the grass, her chin on both raised knees as she watched him going about the business as though it was a part of the show. And the older boy, Tobedir, was .. loitering as well. He'd proven extremely helpful thus far and the former Ranger had the vague impression that the youth was loitering with a certain intent. But given that he’d spoken with Ullothel on the matter himself, it was not a surprise, nor unwelcome.

As he safely set the wooden puppets in their box, Addhor cast another suspicious glance toward a tree not far away. He’d supervised the children who wanted to ‘meet’ their horse, while there was still a crowd of children. He’d taken a walk around the field, just to be certain and now he was convinced.

“There is someone in that tree,” he told Ilisys, suddenly. To her credit the woman did not immediately look. He had counted on her managing to not. She did rise though, and wandered with an apparent aimlessness over to join him.

“All these puppets have green eyes,” she observed, with a randomness that would have fooled other people who had not known her as long as he had. An innocent smile met a knowing expression and yet did not falter.

“He has a spyglass, and he’s watching .. ” Addhor demonstrated that his eyes and senses still worked, retired or else, and Isys might have been surprised except that she had come to know him over recent years as well as he believed that he knew her. The carpenter nodded his head in the direction of a lone woman who was now making her way across the field, and the dark cloaked figure which leapt lightly out of the tree as soon as she had passed him, and took off rather clandestinely in her wake.

“The show .. it has begun,” the Ehtyar remarked rather mysteriously. And with a pat upon the man’s shoulder she strode off herself towards the feast. Maybe to intervene, maybe to find some food. He had no means of knowing for sure. She still surprised him, often. But given the recent events which had injured his son’s two female friends at a similar event, Addhor could not have not brought it to somebody’s attention.


She had known he was in the tree, as soon as she caught Addhor subtly investigating it. And although she had not observed Shamara, the presence of the man she’d asked to track her, could only mean one thing. Glad that Addhor was not left alone, when young Tobedir was present, Ilisys set off with a capricious skip about her gait. She had borrowed some of Iole’s dark and traditional clothes for the occasion as she did not want to stand out, and her new young shop assistant was oddly competent in understated garb, whether she was aware of it or no.

The sight of Pele, dancing, caused the Ehtyar to pause momentarily and smile, despite all things. It was an awfully unfortunate time to have to do this, but .. needs must. @Arnyn was not difficult to find, with her glorious golden hair, and so it was but moments before the Belfalasian sidled up beside the Lieutenant and stood without introduction beside her.

“Here,” was all she said, without turning her gaze to meet the other woman’s expression. Except for “Now” she further, if at all, clarified. Quietly.


**(As agreed with Rillewen in message/planning)

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Isolde Alarion

| |
Erynneth | Calithilidis | Trevadir

Eryn hesitated as she saw that the information had caught Nal quite by surprise. "Um, yes, that was me," She answered with a shy nod. "My father taught him a lot of things. He'd come to our house a lot and practice things... archery, daggers, forest stuff..." She smiled faintly. "And he was always a lot of fun to talk to." She wondered if she ought to have mentioned this before now, but, somehow it never really seemed easy to bring up.

"I'm pretty sure you boys were more interested in him passing on anything he'd learned from her father, than anyone else he talked about." Cali mentioned with a small shrug. She gave a small laugh after Iole's comment. "Yes, it is a bit nice to have the odds turned around for a change, isn't it?" She hadn't even thought of that until Iole brought it up, that all through their childhood there had been only the two of them while there were three or four boys, depending on whether Trev's little brother was with them or not.

"Who says we've become responsible and sensible?" Trevadir wondered, glancing over at Nal with a grin as he stood and offered his arm to Iole. The grin then faded somewhat as his friend mentioned having been unsure what Trev had told his family. "Oh." He fidgeted at that, suddenly overcome with a fresh wave of guilt, proving therefore that he had indeed been irresponsible, at least in that regard. "That was..probably good thinking, yeah." He said a little awkwardly as he dropped his gaze down, knowing full-well that he hadn't told them anything. At all. In fact, he had not contacted them one time since the day he left, partly out of not having much of a way to send any letters, but also, he'd not known what to say if he did write. And now, he felt even more unsure about returning. What must his grandmother think, after all this time? Toby must hate him, after how he ditched him like that, and left Toby to explain to everyone why Trev wasn't with him like he was supposed to be. And anyway, they must all be ashamed to be related to him, after news must have reached them about where he'd been, and who he'd been associating with.

Somehow, though, he couldn't bring himself to admit as much to his friends, having a suspicion they would find this upsetting. They'd all been upset enough, and he didn't want to add any more to that. Deciding to evade the subject entirely, he turned to lead Iole to the dance lawn, but his steps were interrupted as a sudden motion caught his eye. Turning, he blinked in surprise as he watched a large, muscular guy rush toward Nal, Cali, and Eryn. Almost subconsciously, Trev tensed as his right hand slid toward the inner pocket on his vest, watching in case there was trouble of any sort that he might have to come to his friend's aid.

With a light laugh, Eryn felt her face growing warm again as Nal offered an arm to both she and Cali. Though she really didn't know how to dance, she was quite happy that Nal had so swiftly rejected the idea of leaving her behind. Standing, she smiled as she took his arm. "Well, alright. I'll try," She decided, trying not to seem too happy about the thought of dancing with him.

"Nal's right," Cali declared, standing after she carefully stacked the empty cups. "No one gets left out of the fun today." Although, she wasn't sure how Nal planned on dancing with both her and Eryn at once. She was about to take the other offered arm, when another young man quite suddenly appeared beside Nal, asking to cut in. Even stranger, his gaze never left her. The entire thing was so unexpected, she took a second to place where she'd seen him before, but thankfully, before she had a chance to respond, he had the courtesy to introduce himself to Eryn.

"Oh, hello... it's nice to meet you, Mourgan," Eryn smiled politely, though she was just as caught off guard by his sudden appearance as the rest of them seemed to be. "I'm Eryn," She replied. "Um, Erynneth Raedor, that is." Though, from the way he was looking at Cali, Eryn couldn't help wondering if he might not have even heard, or cared what she said her name was. She glanced toward Cali, wondering if she'd snap out of her surprised-looking state.

"Um..." Cali blinked a couple of times. This was absolutely unexpected. "Hello, Ranger Mourgan," She answered, remembering her own manners. "I didn't know you were here, today." She paused, hesitating further. His question required a little more consideration. Dance with him? She hardly knew him. She'd only even spoken to him a couple of times, at the armory, which had been all about fixing armor. But that told her nothing really about him, aside from the fact he was a ranger, which didn't seem like quite enough for her. "Um.." She shifted her bare feet awkwardly on the grass, a little uncertain about how to respond. "May I just.. speak to N-Unalmis for a second?" She smiled slightly at Mourgan before reaching out to take hold of Nal's arm to pull him close enough for a whispered 'conference'. "Do you know him, well I mean? Enough to trust him?" She murmured quietly, trying to keep it quiet enough for only Nal's ears. He would know why she asked, but she didn't know if Mourgan would understand.

Upon seeing Nal's nod in reply, Cali nodded slightly. "Alright." Turning back to Mourgan, she took a deep breath and smiled faintly. "Thank you for asking, Mourgan. Um, yes, sure. If you don't mind..well," She gestured toward the soot on her dress, with a small shrug. "I might get you a little dirty. I wasn't exactly expecting to come to this today..." She explained, a little self-conscious now that there was another joining them besides her closest friends. In fact, she wasn't entirely sure whether she would have accepted the offer to dance, if it hadn't been for her agreement with Unalmis, but luckily for Mourgan, she had made that agreement and so she tentatively reached to take the other ranger's arm, though a little puzzled about why he'd come to ask her to dance when there were plenty other young ladies all around.

"What was that all about?" Trev asked quietly, with a surprised glance at Iole, then back toward Cali and the unknown guy. "Who is he?" Relaxing, since no one else had seemed alarmed, Trev was now left wondering just how much things had changed since he'd been gone.

A slight grin crept onto Eryn's face, watching Mourgan ask to dance with Cali. While unexpected, it was very sweet, she thought. And it certainly brought no objection from Eryn, as that meant she would get to dance with just Nal. Grinning back at her friend, she nodded in reply to his latest question. "Maybe? I mean, I may step all over your feet, but I'll try my best not to step too hard." She answered with a small laugh, accompanied by a faint blush, which she tried not to let show.

Tobedir Thôrmaetha

Toby never would’ve imagined, in a million years, that he would have even considered any sort of job that put him anywhere in the vicinity of Unalmis’ father. After the horror stories his brother, and Trevadir’s friends, had told Toby growing up, he’d been convinced the man was a terrible monster of some sort, that he went around at night stealing legs from unwary sleepers and that he had some sort of gruesome workshop where he cut up bodies, or something equally horrifying. To say Toby was nervous, some months back, when his grandmother had sent him to ask the one-legged man to come and fix something at their home would have been a vast understatement.

Having his grandmother hinting that he ought to then ask Addhor for a job had left Toby in somewhat of an awkward position, being so nervous about all the rumors he had been told about the man as a child, yet he couldn’t deny that he had been trying to find a job which he could work in the afternoon, without quitting school, so he might help with the household income. So, he’d finally agreed to give it a try today. With so many others around, he figured that surely he would be safe enough, even if all those tall tales were true, which he was honestly beginning to feel at least a little doubtful about. After all, Addhor came to visit Toby’s grandmother now and then and he never acted mean and grouchy then, and he sure never acted like someone who chopped off people's legs. Maybe, Toby considered, Grandma was right when she assured him that whatever Trev had told him about Addhor was all made up.

So far everything was going fine, and Toby was even having a nice time at this event. After helping set up the puppet stage earlier in the day, Toby hadn’t much else to do until later when it would then be taken down. So, he stood off to the side watching, having volunteered to help Serenda with the task of keeping the children occupied during the puppet show. Occasionally stopping the smaller children from peeking behind the curtains, now and then shushing the ones that got a bit unruly, and otherwise helping to keep the children’s attention focused on the show rather than on any mischief.The latter wasn't that difficult, as the show was indeed captivating to the young audience. Some ways on the other side of the field from the puppet stage, the musicians were playing, and Toby let his thoughts stray briefly to thinking of his brother, missing him, but he didn’t want to let sad thoughts invade on a day like this.

Toby didn’t notice when Unalmis wandered over, being busy at the time trying to deal with a couple of kids that had tried to sneak behind the stage to see who was operating the puppets. He finally got the two small boys to sit down and accept some cups of juice, and stepped back to the side, glancing over the whole assembly. Curiously, there was a woman sitting there among the children, seeming interested. Even more curious, Toby was fairly sure he had seen her in Dol Amroth before, during one of his visits to his other grandparents, but he didn’t want to bother her by asking if she’d ever been there, or if he had met her before. The lady looked entranced by the puppet show, so he left her alone, and scanned over the group again. Some of the parents were beginning to come and collect their children, and as the crowd of small spectators thinned, Toby had less need to assist the adults.

Seeing several empty(or almost empty) glasses strewn about where the children had left them, Toby hurried around gathering them up once the audience had dispersed. He could just imagine his grandmother fussing about how dangerous it was leaving glasses lying around like that. After making several trips to turn in the empty glasses at the drink station, Toby got a fresh glass of juice for himself. And, as an afterthought, asked for another. He had no idea which flavor to choose for Addhor, but he’d caught sight of the man starting to pack up the puppets and other things, and remembered his grandmother’s advice to try not being afraid of the man. What better way to ease his nervousness than to try and gain the favor of the one he was so nervous of? With that thought in mind, the fourteen-year-old picked a juice at random and set off back that way with both glasses.

Returning to the mostly vacated puppet area just about the time the woman was wandering away at last, Toby paused to take a deep breath before approaching, all too aware of the fact he was now alone here with Addhor. “Um... Sir?” He began, and held out the extra glass, a little timidly. “I.. uh, thought maybe, you might be thirsty?” Now, with no one else really around, it was more difficult not to let his imagination run away, coupled with the ridiculous things his brother used to tell him, but he tried to restrain his fears, at least somewhat. Spotting another puppet mostly hidden under a fold of the curtains, he scooped it up to add to the box and join its fellows. “Um...what can I do to help?” He added after a moment, with a glance around the abandoned stage and other things left strewn about, unsure where would be the best place to begin disassembling the stage. Or perhaps there was something else needing to be done first.

[Arnyn]

Arnyn

She was watching Pele and her guard and the other dancers. Once in a while Arnyn scanned the larger surroundings. She had not been kidding when she'd told the guard she would keep on eye on things from her position. This would be an opportune moment to make a move against Pele, in a way - a big crowd, lots of strangers... But, luckily, there were also plenty of Rangers around.

When Isys came to stand next to her, Arnyn's eyes touched on the Ehtyar for but a moment, before returning to their previous activity of watching the Captain and those around her.

"Here," the Ehtyar said. In her peripheral vision, Arnyn could tell the woman was not looking at her, and so she did not need to look back - since there was no look to return.
The word could mean anything, really. Was Isys simply announcing she was present? Nay, that would be superfluous, and Arnyn had gotten the impression previously that very little the Belfalasian did or said was, in fact, superfluous. She would admit that Isys seemed the most mysterious to her out of all the Rangers.
"Now," the black-haired woman added, and then it started to dawn on the former Hyandaner that Isys was not at all being casual.

If Isys had felt the need to come and tell her something was happening here, now, or someone was here, now - it could but pertain one subject. There was only one active problem, so to speak, where they were both closely involved and which had been discussed only recently as to warrant such limited narration. Isys was talking about either Relic or Shamara.
Arnyn tucked a lock of blonde hair behind an ear, and touched one of the flowers just an inch higher. "Hmm," she replied, as her mind still processed. Isys had the best idea of what Shamara looked like, not Relic. And she had that man trailing Shamara. Not Relic.
It had to be Shamara.

"Here covers a lot of ground," Arnyn said after a moment of silence. "Anything more specific?" Her dark eyes sought out the location of the other Rangers she knew were present. Unalmis, there. Thûllir... and Kaylin... there. Karis, over there. Pele, dancing. Mourgan... about to dance. And Isys, of course, right there with her.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan
@Rillewen

He heard Eryn and paused a moment in his thinking. Raedor? How did he know that name? It would come to him sometime. His dark eyes narrowing a bit in thought as he looked at the young Eryn while Cali seemed to need a moment to confirm with Unalmis.

Whatever she’d asked him he seemed to agree to so his smile broadened when she agreed to dance. He didn’t mind that she had some soot on her dress. He could tell she seemed a bit self conscience so he tried to set her at ease.
“I don’t mind getting some dirt on me, especially if that’s the price for dancing with you.” His smile was genuine and he offered his arm to her. She took it and he was sure he was ten feet taller at that moment. He motioned her to join him as they moved toward the dance floor along with several other couples.

“Just so you don’t have any high expectations I’m not very proficient at dancing but I can push you around the dance floor well enough I suppose.” He grinned trying to make her smile.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis

Giving a small smile back to the ranger, Cali let him lead her to the dance lawn. His comment about the price to dance with her seemed slightly unusual to her, and she couldn't quite think of what that could mean. But she decided that maybe he was meaning to compliment her.

It seemed a little strange to even consider dancing. After all this time, everything that had happened... she had once believed there would never be any happiness in her life again. Now dancing? She wasn't sure how she had arrived at this place, but tried not to think about it too much. "Oh, that's alright," She assured Mourgan with a smile, after his warning that he wasn't the most proficient dancer. "I can't claim to be that good at it either. It's been.. many years since I even thought about dancing," She gave her own admission. "I'm not even sure whether I remember how, but.. I guess I won't know if I don't try." There was an unfamiliar sense of shyness, mixed with nervousness, that had settled over her... even a slight reluctance. All she could really find for an explanation for these feelings was that it simply felt strange to break out of the pit of grief she had once burrowed deep into.

With a small amount of self-consciousness, Cali tried not to think of all the other folks around(and especially her friends watching) as she nodded to Mourgan to signify she was ready. She dug deep in her memory, drawing upon happier times, before any tragedy had found her family. When one or both of her older brothers would sometimes come in from working in the forge, and dance with her and Iole, pretending to be princes at the little girls' imaginary balls, and they'd all have a lovely time, despite the younger boys' teasing them. And there were other times, later, when Cali and Iole tried to teach their male friends how to dance, insisting it was something they would thank the girls for someday. There were enough of those memories left that she was able to follow Mourgan's lead well enough, and tried not to worry too much about it if she messed up.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele had decided that she would relax just a little bit while dancing, trusting that combined watchfulness of the guard with her and Arnyn not far away would be enough to keep any trouble at bay for those few moments. Along with that decision, and the skillful guidance of her dancing companion, she found that the initial apprehension and unwillingness to enjoy this activity gave way to quiet joy and a slight sense of mischief, as she stopped observing the other people and gave her guard a sideways look.

"Listen," she began somewhat hesitantly and holding back laughter at how the situation appeared to her. "What do you say to us amending the terms of our previous agreement. One more dance after this?"

"Only this one, Captain," the guard did not relent, even though it seemed to Pele that he did not really mind dancing that much.

She was silent for a while, and then spoke again, her blue eyes glinting: "What difference does it make to you if you do your duties just standing there in one spot like an old unmovable Ent, or if you move along the dance area? I am right here after all, and you can oversee things well... Only one more, and that's it for tonight, no?"

"You said just one before this. So I don't know," the guard muttered, though no longer sounding too categorical.



It seemed that the guy she had aimed for already had other matters in mind, and Shamara looked after Mourgan as he left and headed straight for the small group of people he had been observing before her approach, apparently to ask one of the girls for a dance.

"Pfft. Whatever," she grumbled under her breath and rolled her eyes. She'd just have to find another way of entertainment it seemed.

At a leisurely pace she moved for the furthest end of the food tables, as far away as she could from where she had seen Kaylin before. If she could not find herself a guy for the evening, she could at least enjoy some of those Gondorian delicacies, and perhaps strike up some small talk with people around the tables.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

Erulaitalë was a marvel and an adventure for the young Swanknight. It was a chance to shed the lingering shadows of the past from the fringes of his mind and for Abrazimir to truly bask in the hard-won newfound peace that the Realm now enjoyed. Music and food, cheer and mirth, the years of the War of the Ring had been bereft of such things in quality and quantity. Now it seemed an overabundance. And the man of Belfalas was happy to indulge. It was high summer and even the nights were warm.

It was his second cup of strawberry flavored ale, the small fruit lolling within his tankard. It was impossible for a foolish grin not to be fixated on his features. There was no longer any clink of chainmail or weaponry about him, the figurative and literal shedding of such necessities of war having him feeling uplifted and carefree. He had only just arrived, and spent so much time at the first stall drinking and chatting up the proprietor he seemed to forget there were many more attractions to see. Maybe he felt a little guilt at having taken off and separated from his family but the world seemed so much more a bigger place. There was time to relish in everything and yet hardly any time to see it all.

He had no inkling of what might be brewing as he came to the edges of the dance. He saw some familiar faces already embedded. There could be no potential for trouble therefore, right? Any who might make eye contact with him and notice, he would give a small nod and toast of his tankard in acknowledgement, though he didn’t move to interrupt anything. He wasn’t aware of any eyes fixed on him though. Why should they care to look? He was just a simple man from Belfalas in these days, rank and duty behind him in the past.

He did notice Captain Pele on her own, with a guard nearby. Now that was interesting. He could not fathom the necessity for a guard. Perhaps she was the trouble-maker for once and put under some kind of restriction? The thought was foolish and yet humorous, but now his mind was fixated on finding some answer to such a riddle, so he strolled over towards Pele. ”Hail, Captain. What’s afoot with you?” He offered in greeting, making a pun in regards the footwork of the nearby dancers, and what might perhaps be the reason why she was on the outskirts.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan Alarion
@Rillewen

With a smile in his eyes he nodded lightly his understanding when she told him she hadn't danced in years, it had been years since he had also danced with someone. He usually avoided such events and chose to take someones guard duty so they could attend. He could see this was making her almost uncomfortable but she agreed to try. "That's all we can do." He shrugged as they moved to join others on the floor.

He made sure not to crowd her, he realized this might be hard for her and he didn't want to seem to take all the air from between them. He offered the palm of his hand and lightly rest his other hand on her side as he held her at arms length. When she signified she was ready he waited for the right beat and with a light nod of his head his smile widened and with a little guidance on her side from his hand they set off.

Within a few steps they were in tune with the flow of dancers. It didn't take him long and he recalled the steps to this particular dance. "I think you're doing fine." He offered encouragement as he moved them into a a turn. As they moved he tried not to stare into her eyes although he was finding it very hard not to. He didn't know why he was drawn to the woman. He barely knew her and it wasn't like he was looking for anyone but he found she fit nicely in his hands, almost as if she was meant to be there.

He decided to make conversation, both to distract her from any concerns she may be having and to keep his mind on talking and not just wanting to stare at her like a fool.
"How long have you known Unalmis and the others?"

[Ercassie]

Unalmis with Eryn

“So she did find some innocent bystander after all,” Unalmis grinned, as he watched Mourgan lead Cali into the throng and Cali allowing for it. He may have been waiting to catch the smith in a smile, like she’d used to manage so easily, but now he was smiling himself. For now there was absolutely no way his friend could be angry at him for ‘encouraging’ her to come out today !

“Oh, ‘maybe’, is it ?” the Ranger queried, as he took Eryn’s hand, rather than leave her arm simply slipped over his. “Knew I could count on you !” The music was quite vigorous and he was going to need a better hold on her than that if he didn’t want to lose her. The last time he had tried dancing, he had twirled Iole out and she’d gone askance, sailing perilously close to hitting the far wall when he was unable to draw her back to him ! There were, thankfully, no walls to hand today.

“Now, if it were a slower song, or even if I’d remembered to wear shoes, I’d say step right up and stand on my feet and we’ll dance you about that way. But for this ..” Nal’s free hand indicated the lively tune and he shook his head silently. “There is nothing for it but to hold on, have fun, and forget that anyone else is here. If you are going to vomit, try to give me fair warning. Is it a deal ?”


Somewhere between a gallop and a romp, the young man drew his friend into the thick of the frivolity. The trick of managing fast dances, if he had learnt anything of dancing, which was doubtful, was to spin in one direction until the want to fall over was convincing enough to change direction. Aside from going faster the longer that it went on at all, it was no wonder that the only girl who’d never danced with him before was the only one left and willing to give it a try today.

Thankfully Eryn had proven many times that she would not say no to a challenge, and he had no doubt that she would keep him on his toes, if she did not end up there herself. A moment of hesitation took him in the briefest moment before they began, her dismissive words about leaving earlier on, all that about just walking without even trying … it was so completely disjointed from everything he had thought he knew about her. And he hoped it was some odd attempt to try and fit in with his friends, perhaps just even saying along the same lines that Cali had been saying and .. even that was not the Eryn he had felt he knew. She had always followed her instincts, rather than fall in with a mob .. but for what he knew to make sense, then everything else did not align with what had recently happened ...

The massive tornado of Narradir gushed past then, with his wife shrieking like an excited seven year old in his grasp; and stealing all but wonder and a bark of a laugh from the Ranger in response. And with that due distraction, the music took it’s turn and thoughts beside trying to stay upright and avoid colliding into everyone who came too close were all that he could think upon. For now.

Iole with Trevadir

Iole saw Trevadir’s reaction before she caught sight of the cause. When familiar voices spoke unfamiliar words close by, the young woman turned, and considered them. With as great a wonder as she might have observed strangers. Were these friends of hers strangers now ? Wordless, she brought up her hand and caught Trev’s; slowly braiding her fingers amongst his. His desire to defend Cali was as blatant as his instinct to move for a weapon, first, of all things. That loyalty was still there, but it had honed an edge in his absence. The young woman watched him carefully, as she attempted to draw his hand down to her waist, and away from whatever he had thought he was going to do. She could appreciate his want to protect Cali but she did not want him to get into any trouble.

“I could not tell you,” Iole admitted in a rather quiet voice, and turned him at the chin with her hand until he was looking back at her. And if it sounded as though she were keeping a secret for Cali, that might have been what she would have preferred. The truth was that she had never seen Mourgan before, to the best of her knowledge. And she certainly hadn’t heard Cali speak about any .. fellow whom she might be doing things like dancing with. When it appeared that Nal knew him as well, she guessed the stranger must be another Ranger. But she was painfully glad, all of a sudden, to find that Trev was as unfamiliar as she was. If she was on the outskirts of her friends’ lives, she was clearly not the only one. But there of course was not the only thing they had in common.


“I was hoping you would come back,” she said, as she patiently adjusted his hands to hold her where they should. “It is different I know. For all of us. But it is easier together.”

So too was dancing, at least when one of the pair had some idea what they were doing. She did not imagine that Trevadir had gotten much chance for dancing for a long while, given where he’d been the last so many years. Still Iole favoured the slower and more intimate dance than this rowdy, riotous anarchy which surrounded them. So she walked her friend through a few paces first, counting with him, slowly, before they should set out at a swifter pace and with a better understanding of how to without falling over. In the very last moments before they bravely embarked on that adventure, she spoke once more, confident that the reeling and whoops of merriment all about would shield them from being overheard.

“If you need someone to speak to your grandmother before you face her, I can do that for you. Or I could go with you. For what you did for me. In Pelargir ?” There was a sincerity about her words, the way she fell to tucking her thick dark hair behind her ears again. She was not shy because this was a young man and she was a young woman. She was sensitive, because he was a dear friend, and she knew how his head must be full of uncertainties. A friend should want to help him be at peace. “I told Nal, but you'd already gone again by then. Any way I would be happy to tell your grandma, and Toby too, how much you helped me and my parents, if you let me. For do you even have a place to stay otherwise ?” Blue eyes blinked like an eclipse, as Trev’s friend asked what none of them had dared to ask of him yet. “You are going to stay, aren’t you ?”


As though she were afraid to hear his answer, Iole rolled them then into the tide of dancers who had begun to make waves all about the crowd. Spinning and dashing her feet like a teasing tide, she both encroached upon and avoided, in turn, the tread of his boots with her bare feet.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis

The dancing was swift, and while others were swirling around and having much fun, Cali was focusing at least half of her attention on not letting her feet get under anyone else's. She had left her boots back at the bench, and her feet were bare, and less used to being so than her friends were. She let out a short, somewhat skeptical laugh as she heard Mourgan tell her that she was doing fine. "Thank you, but I think you may be exaggerating slightly," She answered with a faint smile. "I think you're better at this than I am." She added, as she slightly stumbled, but caught herself mostly due to his hold on her side, and her hand in his. "Sorry," She added, slightly embarrassed at seeming a little clumsy.

Despite her concerns about getting stepped on, Cali found the dancing felt a little easier after getting re-acquainted with the steps, and the feeling of dancing. It was not something she had given a lot of thought toward, in recent years, but she had not entirely forgotten how. His question brought a slight smile to her face. How long had she known them? She almost couldn't remember a time when she had not known them. "All my life, it seems," She answered thoughtfully. "The five of us have been very close for almost as long as I can recall... We were all very young..." the exact time frame was of little importance, but she thought she was about five when she and Ryn first met the others. They had all certainly been very young when their friendship was forged, and so it was a relief to have saved one even older; for she knew that Unalmis and Trevadir had known one another long before Cali and her brother entered their lives.

After a brief pause, she wondered if she ought to try and keep a conversation going, but what was there to talk about? There was little need to ask how Mourgan had come to know Unalmis, since they were both rangers, it stood to reason that was how. She had little idea of what to speak about, right now, and so resorted to the only thing she could really think of that she and Mourgan had 'in common', though she wasn't sure if it was really a suitable topic, at a dance such as this. But she asked anyway. "Um, how is your helmet holding up?" Since repairing the dent, she had felt some concern about the metal having worn thin in the spot, and so it was a legitimate inquiry, yet she wasn't quite sure whether 'business' was best left for another time.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Erynneth

Eryn grinned, pleased to hear Nal say that he knew he could count on her. Once, she recalled, he had declared that he was counting on her help him as he guided a group of evacuees to Lossarnach, just before the war, and she had been glad to feel included in something so important. Today, it was merely a dance, but it was still very nice to know that he still counted on her, and hoped that was a sign that her "threat" to abandon their friendship, was forgotten, or at least forgiven. She had been very worried about that, and didn't want to even think of how things might be, now, if that whole thing had taken a wrong turn. It was well enough to know that things seemed to have worked out.

She really had no idea he meant about Cali finding an innocent bystander, but that really didn't matter much to Eryn. She was merely thrilled by the idea that she and Nal were going to dance together, and she took his hand eagerly, laughing as he led her (or almost dragged, rather) out toward the dance lawn. She vaguely wondered if they might get a chance at dancing to a slower song, but tried not to dwell on that hope, lest it bring a blush to her face. "It's a deal," She agreed with Nal's request, with yet more giggling, halfway wondering if he was exaggerating, or if it might really be as likely as he implied. Clutching his hand tightly, she hoped neither of them would lose their grip as they set off into the midst of everyone else, swirling and dancing around them.

It didn't take long at all before she had decided that this was just as thrilling, maybe even more so, than running. Spinning, twirling, hanging onto Nal to avoid flying across the lawn... it was all great fun and she couldn't stop grinning and laughing. Her hair was swinging through the air with every spin, and she only hoped it wouldn't get caught on anyone else's clothing, though she didn't spare much thought toward such a thing happening. She was mostly focused on the fun of dancing, and hoped it wouldn't end too soon!

Trevadir

Finding his hand captured by Iole's, before it could ever find the item tucked away in his inner vest pocket, Trev did not resist, though he didn't turn his gaze from the scene, slightly puzzled by it all. Since when did men go around asking Cali to dance... and since when did she start accepting such requests? He couldn't really remember Cali ever being the one to instigate any of the attempted 'dancing lessons' the girls had imposed upon the boys, growing up. She had gone along with Iole in such endeavors, certainly, but unless he remembered wrong, Cali had more eagerly gone along with the boy's suggestion of having a race, instead, or re-enacting a battle of some sort.

He could also recall, in their teens, the girl rolling her eyes whenever any boys at school had expressed any interest in her romantically, and telling them to get lost, that she didn't want to get their cooties, or something of the sort. As Iole turned his head to look back at her, Trev was still thinking upon those memories, especially about the time their teacher at school decided the whole class needed some dance lessons, and Cali had gotten stuck paired up with a boy none of the group liked, and how she had actually tried to pull her sleeves up to cover her hands so she didn't have to touch his hands. He could remember it well, because he and Ryn and Nal had thought it hilarious. She didn't pull her sleeves over her hands today, Trev noticed.

Iole's words eventually drew him from his puzzled contemplation about their other friend. He was slightly surprised, yet pleased, to hear that she had been hoping he would return. "You were?" He gave a small smile, obligingly letting her adjust his hands to how he was supposed to hold her. Dancing was not a thing he had spent much time practicing, even before leaving the city. Much less in the years since.

“It is different I know. For all of us. But it is easier together.”

Trev nodded slightly, thinking about that as he set off, for now staying near the edge of the dancing, grateful that Iole, at least, knew how to do this thing. He was momentarily taken back in time to those 'dancing lessons' the girls had tried to impose on them. The fact that his grandmother had been strongly in favor of that very thing, had not helped his case any, yet he had still managed to wriggle out of the worst of it. Which meant, his remembrance of the dance steps suffered, now. He kept glancing down at his feet, in an attempt to watch where he stepped, and not tread upon hers, yet this actually caused him to put her delicate feet at greater risk of the very thing he sought to avoid... until, eventually, he felt he had the hang of it. Somewhat.

Bringing his gaze up to meet hers, he hesitated, missing a step for a moment before getting back on track, the best he could. He hadn't expected her to bring up that incident in Pelargir. "You don't owe me anything for that, Iole," He assured her, puzzled that she would feel she had some debt to repay to him. He cleared his throat. "Anyway.. I don't think my grandmother would want to see me, now. Not after..everything." He dropped his gaze down to their feet again. "She must be unbearably ashamed of me," He added quietly. "And Toby... I'm sure he hates me for abandoning him as I did...I can't blame them, really." He sighed but shook his head. "I'd rather they not hear about any of..that stuff." He doubted there was any way that Iole could spin the tale and not include what had brought him in the vicinity to have been of aid her and her parents, to begin with. And that would be a painful reminder to his family, of what sort of life he had taken up... of what, and who, he had abandoned them for. Things he wanted, more than anything, to put behind him.

Her inquiry as to whether he was staying, gave him pause. Caught by the intense blue stare she had turned upon him, Trev briefly stumbled and cringed as he feared he may have stepped on her foot, yet it could very well have been someone else's, for all he knew. Before he had a chance to answer her, they swung further into the midst of the dancers. He was half-tempted to call out a warning to anyone near him, but decided against it. He'd rather not call attention to himself, and so he tried to keep up the best he could, and not lose Iole amidst the mob of other dancers.

As he grew more comfortable with the steps and the pace of the dance, a smile slowly emerged. Finding that it was not so difficult after all, once he got the hang of it, Trev relaxed slightly, worrying less about getting it right, or the others around them. He had certainly developed a certain skill for footwork, during the last couple of years on the ship. This was far less dangerous than some of the dueling, or even practice dueling, he had been through while on board his father's ship. Yet, Iole's question still echoed in his thoughts, and he knew she would want an answer. And he intended to give her one, only he was struggling, somewhat, with what he did plan to do, from this point.

"I've been living in Harlond, ever since.. you know," He admitted at last, when he had a chance while she had moved closer. "I.. uh.. expect I will not exactly be welcome, in the city," He added afterward, with a brief glance in the general direction of the city, before returning his focus upon his friend. "At least, I'd rather not risk whatever welcome the city guards may offer me." He clarified, quietly, with a quick glance around, just in case. He had no desire to be arrested, yet he also had even less desire to stay with the pirates who had, apparently, caused him to end up in the wanted posters. So they had informed him, at least, and he wasn't eager to test whether it was the truth or not. "I play, just about every night, at a tavern out by the docks," He added after a moment, unsure whether Iole was wondering how to locate him, should any of them wish to do so. It was a way to earn money, and honestly. A start toward reclaiming the life he had once known, anyway.

[Pele Alarion]

Assuming that the guard's words did not necessarily mean a strict no to another dance, Pele did not press the matter any further for the time being. When they had come closer to the edge of the dance area, and the guard seemed to freeze suddenly, Pele frowned and turned to see what had caused him to become all so cautious.

"Oh, for crying out loud... nothing to worry about here," she told the guard and held out her hand to keep him where he was and from advancing on Abrazimir with a sword. She took a couple steps aside so she was out of the way of other dancers and then looked at Abrazimir with a grin and a slight tilt of her head.

"Well, nice to see you, Abrazimir," she responded and glanced over her shoulder at the guard who stood an arm's length from her with his hand on the sword hilt in readiness to fight off any danger. "I had talked the guard here into dancing, and we were all into it, but it seems that he was greatly distracted by the sight of you and perceived you as a threat to my wellbeing. So... any ideas of how to remedy the current situation, hmm?" Pele laughed light-heartedly, as she folded her arms across her chest and looked at the people who still enjoyed dancing.

@Lantaelen



Having picked a couple delicious looking cookies from three different platters, Shamara turned this way and that looking for company, yet it seemed that most people were already in small groups together with her friends, and she did not feel comfortable pushing herself on any of those.

Then her eyes fell on a lone tall man (Abrazimir) who had just left one of the stalls offering drinks and did not seem to be accompanied by anyone. For a few moments she looked him over and found him quite handsome, so she moved to intercept him in hopes of having some pleasant company instead of drifting through the fields by herself, most of the time. She was just a few steps too late though, and he passed her heading for the dance ground. Shamara followed him a little ways, but seeing that he was going straight for Pele, stopped abruptly and with a sigh looked after him. Usually she was not this unsuccessful in a... hunt.

Savouring one of the cookies she had picked, she then turned around in a circle to evaluate any other options and wondering if she should return to the tables or go back to her goats.

[Ercassie]

An ‘Interested Party’. Finding Shamara
@Pele Alarion

It had been opportune weather for nearly a week, opportune for the citizens of Gondor, hanging out their clothes all on a laundry line, to see them dried well by the fair, warm wind. Opportune for seizing countless and convenient desguises, for the man who was tailing an artist of disguise herself.

The cloak had kept him concealed when he required to walk in shadows, so she would not see him. It had cast his face into ambiguity, when he had chanced near enough that she might see him, and hopefully know him not. For know him she did, or seen him before, she at least had. Back in Umbar. At a time when they each worked for others, who had conjured a want to work in tandem. Back then, it had been his job to get her attention. These days he had taken on the job of avoiding that same.

Still he had to admit, the cloak, taken with the aim of keeping him from notice, now was drawing a few glances as he strode across the field, decked out like some artful knave. A flourish and a flurry of his arms ensured that the incongruous covering was discarded. For to walk unseen meant to walk as though he were one of them. She knew it, he noted. As the woman sidled leisurely about the throng of people with scarcely a one noting a hint of her true nature. Was she aware of his presence ? Had she been aware, and this was now her means of drawing him out into the open ? Ever a bold one, this woman. Dark eyes watched as Shamara set her sights on first one young gentleman, and then, her efforts thwarted, a second soon after. She was likely to be put off, if she were determined. And he knew what happened when she bred determination.

But he also knew that he was not alone in this. He had spotted with his spy glass, not only his prey, but also the predator whom had set him upon the pursuit in the first place. Though he had spent hours in that solitary tree, observing Shamara mind her goats, he had by the art of his spy glass, and the bright sunlight, sent a beacon out toward the one whom he wished to observe him. The Belfalasian. It was not her who had first caught the glint of his signal, but it had worked to gather her attention all the same. Through another set of eyes, who he was glad to see were no longer caught up within the equation. Or too far enough away to pose a problem. He disliked interference, after all. He was fortunate that damned City Guard hadn’t managed to show up, as he somehow kept managing to. For all that Sauron had been thrown down, it seemed that those of his former servants who were left, alive, still had their ways and means of getting what they wanted.

Today was his turn. If it were not to be her’s. Shamara .. Her quiet pursuer could not wait to see if the next man would fall afoul of her curiosity. He knew what would occur if that should be the case. Like a spider she was, casting out a net of apparent innocence, and then reeling folk in. He was on more than one level impressed. Except that it would not make this easy.

In the end he abandoned all hope that she would not recognise him, for if the clothes, the gait, the wig, did not all lend the man an air of otherness about him, he had never managed to disguise his voice. And she would know his voice. He wondered if she knew that he had been behind her escape from the dungeon ? Either way, there was no chance he could delay any longer.

“How does it taste ?” the man came up close behind her, even as she slowly surveyed her surroundings, and surely she had sensed his approach at the last. Still he did not note her stiffen. She was sly this one. And he knew better than to underestimate her. “The food ?” he clarified. “Freedom ?” A tanned hand waved dismissively in a slow circle, as though there might come other options he would ask her of. “A woman like yourself should not be left to wander this sort of place alone. I know how much you appreciate .. company. May I provide you some ?” He was stood close enough to grab her, for a dance, or something else. But he did not. He did not imagine that she might run. Or do anything else which would draw attention to herself. Which was fortunate, as there was a slight breathlessness about his conversation, since he had been forced to sprint across the field to be here. She was forcing his hand. He hoped it were not literally the case. That this was all her design, that she and not he, were the one directing their little encounter. Was she bored and wanting a challenge ? How was he going to signal the Belfalasian , now that the sun was going down ?

“Third time lucky, they say ?” he said with a shrug of rounded shoulders. Without any real clarification at all about the thing.

[Ercassie]

Addhor with Tobedir

Addhor had of course recognised Tobedir when the adolescent had first wandered over to the puppet theatre. He had visited the boy’s grandmother enough times out of courtesy by now to have seen the lad before at her house. The boy, who had grown rather more towards being a young man in the interim of years, though, had never come over and sat with them, which he could not really be blamed for. Youthful pursuits no doubt meant things to be about outside, instead of playing polite always in the company of people more than twice his age. Which was fortunate; because if the boy had any idea how much of their conversations would involve Ullothel fretting over her grandsons in particular, Tobedir’s poor ears would have turned red.

It had started with the matter of Trevadir of course; who had run off out of the blue one day and never returned. And who had left his remaining brother trying so desperately, so the old lady said, to become the man of the household before he was ever really yet a man in truth, and all with no responsible male role model on hand to show him example. Addhor could understand that. He recognised it in fact, for it was near enough his own same experience that his long time neighbour was describing. Years ago, the now former Ranger had once repeatedly tried to get a job after school to help his single mother make ends meet. Ullothel must have known .. all of that, although she brought it up of her grandson so oblivious now in conversation. Maybe she had forgotten, she was not so young herself now. But still, Addhor rather suspected that the old lady knew exactly what she was doing, and there was no mistaking it. By the time she started hitting with less subtlety about her hopes and suggestion for Tobedir to learn a skill, and to think about what he wanted to do with his life. She was not going to be around forever, after all .. Addhor even recalled her telling him. And as poignant as that realisation had been, he could not have done aught else by that point than taken up her meaning. He had promised her to take the matter under consideration although, in truth, he had never really sat down and done so. There always seemed too much else to call for his attention.


He had not therefore anticipated seeing the lad this day. He might have deemed Tobedir too old to be drawn to a children’s puppet theatre, but there again, Ilisys had seemed to enjoy it well enough, and she was closer to his age than the youth’s. But even less so did he expect to observe Tobedir’s approach, just coming right along and getting on with things, without ever stopping to ask whether his assistance was required or even welcome. It was a smart ploy, the man marked in silent contemplation, for sooner or later the adults had simply gotten used to having the young man help them out, and they were certainly glad for the (albeit unlooked for) assistance. They had thus answered positively, to a question which the boy had never even had to ask aloud.

Ullothel had no doubt been readying Tobedir just as effectively as she had been readying Addhor, about the matter. Smoothing the edges of all the pieces involved, so that they would fall into place together and fit, just as she wanted. At some point during the day, that was just what had happened without any of those involved outright declaring it their want. But now, the carpenter was going to have to say something to the lad. Because it had struck him, during the course of the day, how many things he would have needed to attend to, that Tobedir had taken on himself. It was as though the decision had been gifted to him, wrapped and presented before he’d really thought how useful it would be, as a matter of fact. He half expected to find the old lady half hid in a bush nearby watching with an urging gesture and an approving smile.

Which was how he had come to notice the thing which had proved a distraction. The stranger. Addhor had cast eyes about the festivities for a certain somebody of course, but then he had promised to help Narradir with the puppet theatre. And he could hardly have expected that Nell might have wished to spend her day so locked to the single entertainment, just because he had committed himself to the show. It was a decision he had, since observing Ilisys, regretted at least looking into more efficiently. Even Unalmis had wandered over randomly away from all his friends, at one point, but it seemed not for the show and not, of course, to speak with his father. For his part, Addhor had neither looked to console or advise his son, rather more biding his time ... That was how they worked, and clearly putting faith in the young Ranger had bourne fruit, because Nal had found a way to work through what he’d been thinking upon and return back to his friends. Narradir’s singing of course, could also have been the driving force that saw the Ranger depart without ever breaking words.


The mystery of the man in the tree had drawn the former Ranger’s attention, far more than the show he had seen in all it’s many countless renditions and rehearsals. So he had made that his primary concern, since it seemed not to be anybody else’s, and it did not seem right to ignore. What was all the more unusual than a grown cloaked man in a tree, watching a goat-herder, was the way that the same man kept employing his spy glass as a means to glance in the opposite direction, toward the puppet collective. The fact of Ilisys immediately springing into action as though she knew full well what was going on, explained why it made no sense to Addhor. Part of him yearned to run with her, and perhaps in his more reckless youth he might have done so. But there was much to mind and manage and pack neatly away. So he had stayed. He might certainly have drawn more attention to the Belfalasian’s whatever-that-was anyway. People would scarce look twice at the reputed eccentric skipping through the fields. His own urgency and lack of speed despite of that would only have garnered a different sort of attention. One he was not keen to partake of.

So all that left was he and Tobedir, alone for the first time since it had been put to him that he should speak with the young man. Circumstance had provided both coincidence and convenience at once. And as the helpful youth brought over a cold drink at just the point when Addhor had swept the back of his hand over his brow, he afforded the adolescent a careful dose of scrutiny.


“It is rather too late for all that,” he observed, placid. “You have been helping without any need for instruction, for some hours now.” That demonstrated the ability to take one’s own initiative. And the confidence and ethic both to get on, without needing to be told all of the time. But there was no need to jump to conclusions, where all was still much up in the air.

“You can sit, and take a rest,” Addhor suggested. “For a start,” since that was what he intended on doing first. “For you are right,” he graciously accepted the drink that was offered. “I am thirsty. You must be too.”

Common ground had been ascertained long before that moment in time, but it remained to be seen what could become of it. “Why ?” he wondered aloud, upon reflection and without really planning to ask it aloud. He meant why had the boy helped, rather than why was he thirsty. Although to be fair, aside from the weather, the answer to both questions was like to be the same thing.

[Ercassie]

Ilisys with @Arnyn

If she hesitated to respond it was because this ought not be observed as a conversation. Particularly when she could not confirm the exact location of Shamara, which was the second and more compelling reason. Ilisys had followed Arkadhur, and only he in turn had seen the one whom was more keenly sought. In taking a moment to make Arnyn her neighbour, the Belfalasian had lost sight of even the acquaintance she had followed here. There were so many people hereabout, she recognised, remorsefully. Which of course made it all the more certain that this was a prime ‘hunting’ spot for the Umbarian. As well as potentially precarious for a far greater count of civilians than Isys was comfortable with. They had asked if her ally in this would intervene at need, and she had no doubt that he would do so. But the man was equally as versed at acclimatising to a crowd, to his advantage. He had done it before. And not so long ago.

The noblewoman trusted in the man’s motives, but not necessarily his means. A fact she had not shared with the private council, for she could have also said the same of some of the Rangers who had been within that private council. People were always the factor that you could not count on, for even the most sensible had feelings to strengthen and weaken their resolve. You could only hope to become familiar with their personal tells. Which was why she had made a life out of behaving as abstruse as she possibly could manage.



***
“I did not tell you to release her from the dungeons,” she had admonished the man, the memory assaulting her now in the violent hindsight of her private mind’s recollection.

“You wanted her to lead you to Relic,” his cool reply. “And if I may say, my lady, your words are rarely less than cryptic. Sometimes we all require to know somebody who will do what we know that we will not ourselves. Sometimes there is no need to ask, in order to see it accomplished, when even asking is beyond you.” He’d bowed. He’d actually bowed, as though this were a civil conversation !

The former Swan knight had been schooled by her mother how to respond with grace under pressure. “It would be unwise then to ever presume, sir,” she had smiled vacantly, in response, “that you are properly acquainted with what is beyond me, Since I am so rarely less than cryptic ..”
***



A sudden interruption drew her back to the present dilemma, in more ways than one, and far more effectively than if she had shrugged off how surely she was trying the Lieutenant’s patience. After all, all things given enough time, will become apparent. A young man, trying to be courteous, picked up what looked like a discarded, hooded cloak. He poked his closest neighbour and offered it, assuming they had dropped it. The debate then as some others were embroiled in refusing to claim the cloak as their own, did not give rise to a single one of them puzzling .. over who would even wear a cloak on such a day as this ?

She knew. She had followed that cloak. And thanks to it's appearance even in such unimportant circumstances, she knew also that the man who had escorted it to the field was evident. In the way he ignored all the chatter and confusion going on behind him. In the way that he was far more interested in the woman he’d engaged in conversation. Though she was clearly very beautiful and more than half his age, all chances seemed unlikely that he could keep her attention for any time at all. Unless he were and she were who they actually were. So as swift as Ilisys knew Arkadhur’s voice, so swiftly did she note who the woman he was speaking to must in honesty be.

It would not have been obvious who either of the two Umbarians were, by simply looking at either one. But the two together ..

She did not require to point, her grey eyes were affixed upon the pair of them. “Do you know ?” she hesitated before resuming, never letting her eyes leave the couple who were not far from the edge of the dancing nor the refreshments, and equally capable of making a dart into either crowd at hand, “I could not specifically state whether I would be more inclined this moment to take in a dance, or else a drink ?” She pondered, apparently. And not at all. “You are known for your decisiveness,” she smiled, disarmingly without ever turning to face Arnyn with the simultaneous compliment. “Would you care to make a suggestion ?”

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Tobedir Thôrmaetha

Too late for all of that? Toby hesitated, staring back at the man with some uncertainty about what he might mean. Belated, he recalled that he had asked Addhor what he could do to help, and hoped that was all he meant. The puppets were all stored, already, after all. And there was only the stage to take down. Having been informed that Addhor had need of some extra help with this event, Tobedir had tried his best to be helpful in whatever ways he could. But the carpenter had looked busy, and he had been hesitant to go and bother him, or at least ask him, whether he required any particular assistance. Until now, when there was no real way around it, being just the two of them. And now it was too late, apparently. But the latter part of the man's comment made him wonder if perhaps he had done well in doing so.

Once relieved of the extra drink, Toby gave a small nod. "Yes, sir." He admitted, with a slight indication of the other glass he'd gotten for himself. "It is rather hot out," He glanced around for a suitable spot to sit and rest, as had been suggested, and found a shaded spot by the wagon. It was strange, now he thought about it a little more. Unalmis' father was much, much different these days, than what Toby remembered from when he was a small child, trailing after his brother on the many occasions Trevadir wound up at Nal's home. Toby had always fled from the frightful Lump which would occasionally stir from beneath the blankets on the sofa, to scold the older boys for whatever they were getting up to. His imagination had been aided greatly by the horrific tales Trev and Nal cooked up, sometimes with some aid from Ryn as well, about what sort of dreadful doings the man achieved during the nights when all slept.

For someone who had become, in Tobedir's mind, like some sort of boogieman who would 'get him' if he came too close, it seemed sort of unreal, to actually be speaking to him here, as if he were just an ordinary person. Which of course, he was. For, now that he was no longer an alcoholic, he seemed like a completely different person now, a man who smiled and laughed with friends, as Toby had seen him do today, and spoke with kind-sounding words, rather than what Tobedir remembered of the heap under the covers off in the corner of Nal's front room, grouching at anyone who dared disturb his rest. Still, this only served to add some amount of confusion to the young man, who had once hung on every word his older brother said, and believed it all to be the honest truth. Because it was his big brother, and why should his brother lie to him? But then again, why did he leave?

Drawn back to the present, Toby blinked in confusion as he heard Addhor ask 'why?'. Why? Why what? He waited for a second or two, in case there was more to the question. Like, 'why.. did you___?' But nothing else followed, leaving Toby to his own interpretation of the inquiry. The last thing mentioned, of course, had been their being thirsty. But no one would really need to ask why anyone was thirsty, especially on a hot day like this. That would just be ridiculous. So then, he must be asking why Toby had not come sooner to ask for instructions. With a slight fidget, he tried to figure out the best way of going about what he had to say. Or rather, ask. Or something like that. Answer the question, first, he told himself.

"Well, sir," He began, then hesitated before continuing. "When I got here to help this morning, you were talking with your friend, so.. I didn't want to interrupt by asking what you needed me to do. And, at the time, it wasn't hard to see what needed doing. Then after the stage was put together, there didn't seem like much left to do, so I just.. found stuff to do. To be helpful." He explained, shrugging. "Now I guess it's time to take it down?" He motioned toward the stage. "Only your friend's gone now, so I figure you'll need more help now, and I don't know how to begin taking it down..." He paused, realizing he might have just said more words to this man in one breath than he ever had in his life. A moment later, another thought occurred to him, and he paused with his glass of juice halfway to his mouth. "You...you did mention to my grandma about wanting some help today... didn't you?" He wondered, unsure whether there could have been some misunderstanding.

[Arnyn]

Arnyn

While she waited for a reply from Isys, Arnyn watched as Pele was approached by one familiar of face and posture. Abrazimir, she remembered, and it was good to see the guard had taken notice and seemed ready to act, even though there was no reason to in this particular instance.

As such, her eyes were on Pele, her guard and Abrazimir, while the Belfalasian's eyes were caught by the matter the discarded cloak. Isys' question - Do you know? - did finally draw Arnyn's eyes to the Ehtyar, and so she followed the other woman's gaze to some people in between the drinks table and the dancing lawn, at the same time Isys said she was torn between a drink and a dance, thus putting into subtle words where she wanted to direct the Lieutenant's attention. The wheels in Arnyn's mind went spinning, looking for a young and beautiful woman as Pele had described, and a man - since that was all she had learned from Isys previously about her tail on Shamara. One pair in the throng fit the description best, and Arnyn looked down to brush at the skirt of her pale green dress before laying eyes on the pair again.

You are known for your decisiveness. Would you care to make a suggestion?"

Where she otherwise might have laughed quietly at the statement made by the Ehtyar, the situation had removed humor from the equation for the Lieutenant. This was business, and a serious one at that, and while her facial expression remained neutral, a well of earnestness lay beneath. She did not hesitate to believe Isys, as the Ehtyar had not yet given her any reason to doubt her abilities or conviction in the matter. Quite the contrary, actually.

"I do believe both at once is an option," Arnyn said, a deceptive lightness to her tone. Now that Abrazimir was with Pele, the Captain already had an extra set of eyes in addition to her guard, even if the Swan Knight was not in the know of the situation, and Arnyn deemed it acceptable to leave her current post. "Although four hands would be more helpful than merely two. One pair of hands might move to fetch drinks, while another pair might wave through the air in the joy of a dance. Mine would be willing to assist yours in this endeavour, and meet in the middle. To avoid to let the joy of the celebration escape us altogether." Thoughts continued to tumble. "You are more likely to draw the attention of our redheaded friend by the drinks, an eventuality I would rather avoid - or at least postpone - at present. Given how hot the weather is, I would like to keep the heads involved cool." Not to mention, Kaylin was a face Shamara would definitely be trying to stay clear of.

[Pele Alarion]

She had hesitated in choosing her next direction, and it had proven long enough to be caught, though perhaps it was different than she expected. For quite some time Shamara had suspected that someone was shadowing her steps, yet she had not been able to pinpoint specifically who it was. Judging by her previous experiences, she assumed that Rangers would confront her head on if they recognised her, and Relic would have found her much sooner without having to track her if she cared enough to do so, and thus she had been at a loss for who might have a need to follow her. Now that Arkadhur was here, it gave the matters a somewhat different twist which she still had to figure out.

"Have you not tasted the food yet? Certainly delicious," Shamara said lightly and made no sign of escaping his closeness. "Unless you are not into Gondorian food, and instead of enjoying your own freedom rather prefer making sure I enjoy mine to the fullest?" While she was not locked up in the dungeon cell and could enjoy relative sense of freedom, the Umbarian still did not feel completely free, and instead of making it away from Gondor at first opportunity had felt obliged to remain for some reason or other.

Her dark gaze scanned the nearest gatherings of people before looking back at Arkadhur. "Anything you suggest," she spoke again, smiling. "Other than offering your company in the meaning of simply standing here and doing nothing? A bite of something delicious perhaps?" Shamara demonstratively finished the cookie she had half eaten. Whatever else might happen, she intended to have as much fun as possible if she could. And for the time being, it meant that she should retreat to a different location, a little further away from the Rangers - in her chase for company she had come too close to them for her liking.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

When the guard tensed and looked upon him with hostility, Abrazimir nearly retreated a full step, spreading his arms somewhat to show he was unarmed, innocent, and harmless. Well maybe not really. Times of peace did not necessarily mean he was no longer combat-able. Well, maybe tonight, given the beverages he had imbibed so far. But he had no intentions causing any of that here! Pele was quick to flag her protector down and Abrazimir only offered an inquisitive raise of his eyebrow in curiosity.

”I think he prefers a different sort of dance.” He remarked, eyeing the guard’s grip on his sword handle. Was that necessary? Here of all places? He averted his gaze back to Pele as she explained her situation, though not why the guard was necessary here. ”Me, threat to your wellbeing? Hardly. Never.” Abrazimir grinned and raised his cup to drink, half-toasting the guard to further indicate how he could be anything but that to the good Captain.

He knew where her gaze was looking. He knew what a gentleman and knight was compelled to do. ”Well if caution of me provoked his inaction, he can see by now I offer nothing of the kind.” He gave the guard a pointed look, then glanced back at Pele. ”Or…we can certainly justify his worry, if you wish to partake with the dancers with myself. I am accustomed to the more…sombre dances of the Prince’s court, but I’m sure I can manage the footwork of this well enough.” He offered himself as tribute and volunteer.

If she agreed, he would extend his hand. And once they had some distance of the guard, he would politely inquire why the guard’s presence was necessary at a festival such as this, in the very heart of Gondor. Surely all was well and safe in these times of peace after the fall, but maybe Abrazimir had been too long away, with his head in the sands, proverbially.

[Pele Alarion]

"I did manage to get him to agree to one dance at least," Pele confessed to Abrazimir, lowering her voice, yet loudly enough for the guard to hear. "He surely knows the moves; however, I am sure he is more concerned with the guarding duties and might end up chasing off everyone who would dare to approach. Even if I felt a liking to socialise a bit and approached someone myself." Meanwhile the guard towered just a step or two behind her and frowned disapprovingly, clearly annoyed about Pele's attitude.

At Abrazimir's offer for a dance, Pele hesitated slightly and looked over her shoulder at the guard. She had come here in an attempt to try and relax a little, and surely she could allow herself a moment's distraction from constant watchfulness when there was a guard, and Arnyn, and... Isys. Pele looked at the two Rangers who seemed to talk of something together and look somewhere at the small collection of merrymakers between the dance lawn and the tables. Well, if there was anything of concern they would surely let her know.

"I'd say..." she turned her attention back to Abrazimir. "Why don't we test if you really can adapt to these merrier tunes."

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan w/ Cali
@Rillewen

He was just about to argue the point of himself being better then her when she stumbled and he moved to catch her both by bracing the hold he had on her. When she apologized he could see she was a little embarrassed. He answered with a smile and a shrug. "It's alright, just promise to catch me when I stumble and we'll call it good." He tried to make light of it.

Her answer to his question didn't really surprise him. They seemed a tight knit group and a part of him envied their shared history and closeness. He really never acquired any such close friendships. He was always more content to have his nose in a book. The pause between them saw him moving the hand he had at her waist to tuck a wayward tendril of her dark hair back behind her ear after it was cast adrift by a quick turn of their dance. He replaced his hand to guide her in through a few more steps.

When she asked about his helmet he felt a sense of relief that at least she could think of something to talk about. "Really well." Despite his best efforts to dent the thing. Once more wanting to use it as an excuse to see her but he did think she would suspect something if he brought the same helm back two or three times. "It fits much better with the new padding as well. " He half grinned. "I didn't realize how uncomfortable it was till you fixed it but I still have some other pieces to bring in. " He kept the window of opportunity open for a reason to return to the forge.

Being so focused on asking if she would dance with him he really didn't have a plan for what to do if she agreed so he found himself feeling a bit adrift in the sea of merry dancers. He was enjoying the dance but thought maybe they might like some time to talk without having to avoid colliding with another couple.

He looked down at her. "Cali, would you like something to drink?..or we can continue dancing if you like." He added to give her the choice which he was good with too.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis

Cali laughed slightly at what Mourgan said. "Sure, I'll try my best," She agreed with a smile, though she wasn't sure that she'd actually be able to catch him. It seemed a bit more likely they might both fall over, if he were to stumble, but hopefully that wouldn't happen. The dance was lively, yet she was able to keep up once she'd gotten the hang of it again. Her hair had started out this morning in a sort of knot-bun, but by the time she marched angrily down to the field earlier, the bun had slipped down so that her hair was merely tied in a loose knot. And by now, that knot had worked itself out, leaving her hair to flow freely down her back.

She was slightly surprised when Mourgan brushed a lock of her hair back from her face, yet didn't really mind. It reminded her to pull it back after they'd finished dancing, but that could wait. She was glad to hear that the helmet not only was doing fine, but fit him better. "Good!" She smiled, genuinely pleased to hear such a report. "That's fine, bring the other pieces whenever you have some time." She answered. It was always nice to hear that her work was holding up well. "I wonder if it would be good to have all you rangers come by at some point to have your gear checked.. but then, I'm not sure if that would go over well." She frowned thoughtfully. "Maybe I worry too much..." She added, with a soft sigh.

The question about getting a drink was a bit unexpected, and she took a moment to consider it. She was a bit thirsty, now that she'd been dancing and moving around and all. But she hesitated for a moment, giving it a little more thought than was probably necessary. Her gaze swept across the dancing lawn, searching out her other friends. Trev and Iole were over there, dancing. And Nal was swinging Eryn around the place so much she wondered how they weren't dizzy, although the girl didn't seem to mind too much. And Cali then reminded herself that Nal seemed quite convinced of Mourgan's character being one to trust. He'd never yet given her any reason to think otherwise, in the times he had come to the armory. "Sure," She answered, giving a small smile. "A drink would be nice, now that you mention it."

Stop being so paranoid, Cali mentally scolded herself, frustrated that she was being this way. That she even felt any concern about such things. On such a lovely day, with her friends all around, and so many rangers nearby, surely there was no cause for her to be so nervous? Whatever happened to the carefree girl who never thought twice about taking any kind of risk? She knew the answer without having to even ask the question, of course. A silent sigh, when he was not looking, made her shoulders drop ever so slightly as she followed Mourgan.

Realizing that if she let that mood seep in, she was likely to be a wet blanket for everyone else, Cali decided she should try talking about something enjoyable, to lift her mood again. She tried striking up the conversation again, once they were further from the dancing, and could hear better. "I don't know if this is anything you'd find of interest," She mentioned, "But I can do a lot more than simply making repairs to weapons and armor." She hesitated, then clarified, "Like making customized gear.. things made specifically to order, that sort of thing, you know?" She smiled slightly. "Obviously, that takes more time than selecting already-made gear from the armory, but.. I just thought I'd let it be known that it is an option."

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

A quirked eyebrow was all that met Pele’s response about the guard. Not a very jolly or good humored one, but were they supposed to be, if their duty and obligation was grave and solemn? On one hand, the protection of a friend, if that’s what it really was for, was definitely important. But during a festivity such as this? Perhaps it was a bit overboard with the seriousness. It was definitely a time to mingle and laugh. Hard to do that with a grim faced warrior glaring at everyone his ward attempted to approach.

But! Abrazimir couldn’t find fault. After all, it was for the protection of a friend, for whatever reason. But…why? He would get an opportunity to ask, as Pele agreed to the dance. A test. ”Hopefully not on too strict a grading?” He just smiled with raised eyebrows. He glanced at the guard with the same quirked eyebrow, as if asking for his consent to take his ward. But he didn’t need it. Nor would he care. The Captain had precedent.

Once she was ready, they strode to the group of dancers on the designated lawn, Abrazimir momentarily watching some of the menfolk to get a feel for their style and groove. The only real dancing he was apt at was…swordfighting. And there hadn’t been any of that in a while. I’m going to fall and trip, aren’t I? Well, if you can’t laugh at yourself…

”So?” He eventually asked Pele once they were a bit away from the guard. He just used his eyes to glance in the direction of the guard, hoping she would understand his meaning and query. So why was he necessary? ”Or wait, let me guess…you’ve done something terrible and you’re actually under supervision? I’m not breaking a King’s law by proffering you with this, am I?” He broke into a grin of jest and tease. But really, why was a guard necessary at a festivity and function such as Erulaitalë?

[Pele Alarion]

"Perhaps I won't be too strict unless you trip me up or something, and make my guard rush over and thwack you on the head with the flat of his sword," Pele laughed, her blue eyes glinting with merriment. "Though I rather intend to have a little bit of fun, and a bit of dance since..." she broke off the sentence and looked away for a moment, noting the guard's intense watchfulness as he moved along the edge of the dance area to always have them both in his sight.

Pele was quiet for a few moments as she looked from Abrazimir to the guard and back again. "Well... I would rather prefer having guarded for some mischief or other, but alas." Her voice lowered slightly so that no one else would overhear her. "I have enemies who might attack me anywhere and at any moment, and might use a gathering of people such as this to get close to me. So yes. King's orders."

"But I don't think you have overstepped any orders, no," she smiled lightly and looked down a bit to make sure she placed her feet carefully and didn't trample on Abrazimir's toes.

[Winddancer]

Liriel and family

"I don't think it's possible to be any more happier.." Liriel said with a soft content sigh as she moved her gaze from the boys to her husband. Returning her smile he looked down at her as she lay with her head propped up on his left leg, rough hand softly caressing her cheek in a wordless response. While it had been an ordeal lugging 8 children, blankets and whatever else was needed all the way down to the fields, they had quickly claimed their spot on the grass and had been thoroughly enjoying the day and the food.

The twins were sat close to her stretched out body, both boys having learned how to sit and happily stuffing their faces with a piece of sweet bread. Dina was sat in the furthest corner of the large blanket, serious blue eyes watching everything as she slowly nibbled on her own piece of bread. It broke Liriel's heart that the girl refused to play with the other children, but she was still glad that the girl was "on" the blanket. Not long ago that would not even have occured. Where Berrik was, was anyone's guess. Though Liriel secretly hoped he was out socialising with others his own age. While she loved him for how well he cared for Dina, she wanted him to be happy as well.

A screech from one of her other boys made her turn her head in their direction and bellow after them "Oi! Calm down!!" Not that they heard as they darted around, the youngest just 2 struggling to keep up with his older brothers. As for Gellir, her oldest she did not know where he was either. That was until she saw him carefully carrying 4 cups of juice coming their way.

"Oh darling, thank you!" she said as she sat herself up and carefully distributed the drinks as the young boy sat down. Another one she would worry about, watching as he quietly sat down next to Dina, making sure not to touch her. Her heart went out to them both, watching the pair out the corner of her eye. Both of them sat quietly, watching the festivities and dancing going on around them with serious faces. Eradan saw the look and smiled, giving his wife a hug as he pulled her closer. "Worry not, my love. They will be just fine" he whispered softly into her ear.


Naela & Berrik

She had been beaming all day, her face sore from smiling so much. Erulaitalë was by far her most favourite holiday and she still could not believe her luck that she was able to come, given that the Houses of Healing needed covering at all times. Pushing back a strand of hair that had escaped the braid and readjusting a flower that was about to fall out, she breathlessly made it to the bar. Mouth open to call out an order, she was taken aback when a cup suddenly appeared before her. Following the hand that held it, she turned to see a young man with a huge grin.

"Lemonade, not too sweet and not too sour." He nodded his head impishly to get her to accept it.

"I uh.." Naela saw the barkeep heading further away from her and chewed on her lip for just a second before taking the cup. She was dying of thirst, who knew when she would be able to catch the barkeeps attention. "Thank you.." she drew out the last part as if hoping to get a name.

"Berrik, the name is Berrik" he responded quickly before adding "and you are.."

"Naela" she replied with a smile, her eyes glinting as she lifted the cup to her lips and took a small sip. Her eyebrows shot up as the cooled liquid entered her mouth, it indeed being just right and not too sweet or too sour. "Mmm!" she exclaimed as she took a bigger gulp to Berrik's delight.

"Told ya.." he grinned.

[Ercassie]

An ‘Interested Party’. with Shamara
@Pele Alarion

She did not seem fazed at all that he was there, not that he ought to have been surprised. It was just as likely that the woman had been well aware of his stalking her for some time and took it as some sort of a compliment for the attention. You could say a lot of things about Shamara but ‘ruffled’ was not usually one of them. You did not last long in a job such as hers, by allowing yourself to become easily ‘ruffled’. By anything. By anyone. He could appreciate that. As much as he quietly acknowledged it.

“I shall take your word for it,” Arkadhur countered to the woman’s idle chatter about the food. For the manners typical in Dol Amroth had schooled him well and there he could tune out all that he had no care for, seizing only upon the things that might prove of a use to him. “Although no,” the man appeared to relent after a moment of thought. “Pick out something to satisfy me then. Since you are the expert. Go on, your choice ..” It would do her no harm after all to giftwrap the illusion that she was in charge and he all too willing to oblige her.


“Well I must say that I was somewhat surprised,” he confessed, watching the poise and stance about her as the woman shifted with an uncanny means to showcase herself at her most appealing. He had no doubt that her appearance had thrown off some of the most determined foes before now, and now that he was stood close enough to properly admire her, he had to admit, she really was alluring. He would have to be careful to keep her all to his self here, for surely there were many who would obliviously wish for a chance to dance with such a beautiful woman .. “To find you standing here, still, and doing nothing ?” He watched her devour the cookie, if not the criticism, unashamedly. Either she was demonstrating that he would not stop her enjoying herself, or else she was intent on enjoying as much as she could before she suspected the fun may run out. “I thought you would have taken your leave some while ago now, and be safe and sound and .. home … far from all this .. excitement,” Arkadhur fanned his face briefly with the flat of his hand.


“But perhaps you’d rather not miss out on something .. delicious ..?” He was no longer speaking of the food. Though he would willingly accept anything she offered him, albeit stowing it about a pocket for a feast at a more opportune time. Right now, keeping her attention was his prime concern and falling to the gluttony of cuisine was surely a good way to lose himself that. “To that end, I might indeed, make some suggestion myself.”

He had seen her subtle glances about the place, and knew better than to show that he had any real interest. But certainly there must be guards about the event, even if he did not personally know well enough to recognise quite who was, and who was not. You could tell sometimes, by the posture alone. The trafficker had more cause than he to have come familiar with the Gondorian military, particularly here in Minas Tirith. She had after all been subject to custody at their pleasure for a good long while. He might have known the faces of more than one reveller at the event himself. But he was awarding all of his attention currently, upon her.


“If I said 'come with me to speak more privately behind that very impressively staged bonfire', would you think my gentlemanly manners were in question ?” he offered his fellow migrant just exactly what he supposed that she wanted. To stand less so exposed than they currently did. “I did not see you from your cell, after all," he added in a whisper at her ear, watching close at the rest of her face for any reaction, "to watch your eye fall upon other men ..”

It was not a coincidence that he suggested now some element of flirting toward her. She might be susceptible to that as much as she clearly might benefit from curiosities he could satisfy. It may have been that she had in fact guessed on her own, that he'd had a hand in her escape, although he had not been there in person. Her rather offhand remark about his interest in 'her enjoying freedom' may have, after all, been but the tip of a very cool iceburg. Shamara was not unlike that other potentially deadly peril of the sea. Most dangerous in what you did not see of her, beneath a very deceptively calm surface. It was very often a trait of folk raised in their mutual homeland.

[Winddancer]

Dina

Berrik was the only one she could rely on. The one who protected her, fed her and ensured that she stayed warm as much as their cicumstances had allowed. He was also the one that had finally secured a job with Liriel and her family, allowing for them to stay in the shed out back. It wasn't much, by any means, but to her it was home and a place she finally felt safe. It also helped that Liriel was not one to push her to do anything she did not want to do, nor press her to talk or partake if she did not wish to. Four of her boys soon came around to her not wanting to play with them, albeit often encouraged by a swat of a broom or a light smack on the head to stop, from Liriel herself. Other than Berrik, the only other person she spent a lot of time with was Gellir. Content to sit near his small "office, she would patiently watch as he meticulously entered the numbers into the tiny boxes, taking such great care to not write outside of it. Thankfully for Berrik and Liriel, Gellir did not mind the quiet company. In fact he seemed to enjoy having Dina around.

As Gellir sat back down next to Dina, ensuring that he did not accidently touch the girl while doing so, Liriel missed how Dina's demeanor changed. It was by no means obvious, unless one was extra observant. But the change was there. It was as if the young girl slowly relaxed, like letting out a held breath. The clutch on the doll in her lap lessened and she even took a small sip of the juice Gellir had brought back. While many mothers would see the two youngsters sitting on the blanket and wonder why they were not out playing with all the other children, the two were in fact content to merely sit and watch without participating.

Naela and Berrik

Naela flashed a smirk back at Berrik, her cheeks warming slightly as his grin widened. Taking another slow sip, she utilised the time to fully look the young man over. His wild curly hair could do with a cut, his clothes threadbare and patched, but clean. There was a seriousness in his eyes, despite glinting with a smile and it made her want to know why. It seemed there was more to him than just a handsome face.

Berrik could feel her eyes on him and for a split second he wanted to run. He still couldn't believe that he had plucked up the nerve to approach Naela, especially given that he did not even know if she was spoken for or not. However there had not been someone that she returned to after each dance, not that he had been stalking her mind you. He had however watched her dance, swinging her arms outwards care free, laughing as she spun around allowing her pale blue dress to flare out around her. Her genuine happiness enticed him, yearning to be a part of it. To feel that himself. Not that he was unhappy. A thought crossed his mind and he momentarily turned his head, his dark brown eyes quickly searching for and finding the area where Dina was sat. For just a split second their eyes met before someone stepped in their way. Turning his attention back to Naela he was smiling, though there was a tinge of sadness in his eyes.

Naela's observant eyes had followed his gaze and seen the change in his eyes. "Everything alright?" She asked, worry written all over her face.

"What? Yeah, yeah I am fine!" He exclaimed, sorry that he was causing her concern. "I uh.." his eyes flicked towards Dina, though he stopped himself from looking. He wasn't quite sure it was the right time to divulge that he was the guardian of a little orphan girl, that refused to speak, just yet. "I uh was wondering if you wanted to go get something to eat.." he finished lamely, his face growing hot as he fidgetted nervously and cursed himself for likely blowing it.

While still concerned about the change in his eyes and the obvious deflection, she gave him a smile as she replied. "Sure, I am famished. I hear the meat pies are delicious. Lead the way."

Relief flashed across his face and he immediately extended his arm for her to take, delighted when she threaded hers into his. "Meat pies it is!"

[Ercassie]

Ilisys Azrubêl with @Arnyn

As Arnyn took her turn in observing the pair of Umbarians, Ilisys was relieved at her chance to recognise Abrazimir joining Pele and her guard. She knew that, forewarned or no, the other Belfalasian could handle himself. And it wasn’t so much that she had learned of any cause to distrust the man who was officially guarding the Captain. But that she knew nothing about the assigned guard, any more than any of them. Abrazimir on the other hand .. Isys knew beyond almost all doubt that they could trust him. The man’s moral compass was imperishable. If they were fortunate, maybe others of their military number might equally observe the Knight’s unexpected return, and gather even more attention of their watchful contingent upon him and Pele. Rather that than divide their limited resources by following the expected move against Shamara. Relic herself after all, might still be anywhere.


Thannkfully, Arnyn had evidently picked up what the Ehtyar had put down. Isys recognised the Lieutenant’s due efforts to meet her double meaning in kind, and recognised as well that it must not be easy, for one such as the officer, who was more naturally succinct. The important thing was that they had understood one another. At least it seemed so.

“You are correct of course,” she approved, airily. “That there might be very few cool drinks .. left .. at the refreshment table, .. by this point of the day,” Isys sighed, puncturing her sentence at certain points to clarify her intended direction. The Redhead though was, even Arnyn seemed to comprehend, somewhat of a loose cannon. Even if Kaylin had not been imbibing the most potent brews on hand, which was another possibility. They were not on duty after all, but rather in a more celebratory state of affairs this beautiful day and It would be unwise to even lend her stare overlong in Kaylin’s direction, to try and better judge. Isys had heard rumours. Since the recent meeting, she had made sure to listen out for them.

“But you do have a stronger stomach than me in that regard,” she laughed, almost girlishly, and abruptly toward Arnyn. “For I do find that stirring any length of time at a heated beverage does not take much of the bite out of it’s burn. Indeed I have been known to tire first of the efforts against any vain hope of it cooling down.”


There was of course a chance of Kaylin recognising Isys amidst the crowd here. But the two of them had each now met Shamara face to face, on more than one occasion. And although the Ehtyar had elected to forego her own style of appearance of late, she was not convinced the Umbarian could not make her face out in a crowd all the same. She had better approach this, personally, from outside the Trafficker's line of vision.


“You have convinced me then,” she nodded, resolutely “that I would be .. not wrong .. to meet the music, waving hands and all the like,” she determined, apparently decided and, again, using a very particular pattern of hesitating, to emphasise her intended direction. For Arkadhur was stood with his back to the drinks table, while Shamara was clearly more concerned on regarding Kaylin, who the man had no foreknowledge of. Did Shamara know Arnyn by sight as well ? Isys tugged at a hair of dark hair on one side of her head, as though she could extract an answer from some memory. The lieutenant had of course been with Pele for much of the cruise, but the Trafficker seemed not to have noticed her target on that occasion. So .. maybe the blonde officer had as yet escaped the Umbarian’s scrutiny as well.

“Alf and Hildy provide of fine elixirs any given day of the week. While music of this calibre,” the Ehtyar’s eyes could not keep from drawing upon the figure of Macardil in particular, as she pretended to care for the tune, and one elegant eyebrow took to flight even despite her best efforts, “indeed be such a rare spectacle to behold,” she concluded until adding a further consideration. “It should be a shame if that activity were concluded too prematurely for all to enjoy it properly.” But suddenly the Belfalasian stalled, waving one hand before her face, to ward off some imaginary insect thereabouts.

“I wonder if we will not meet upon the other side of our deviance, with a fair and thrilling account of each experience,” she supposed. “I’d venture a destination where we might converse with more ease and less noise about us of course.” Planting and then wiggling one finger in her ear, she tried to convey quite how concerned she was about the potential for more innocents to get caught up in any confrontation.

Sometimes a plan could only be enacted by their coming at it, after all, from different directions. And Isys was heading now in a ‘not wrong’ – which could even be called ‘right’ – direction, leaving Arnyn to veer toward what was ‘left’ upon the table of refreshments.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

He shared Pele’s merriment at the teasing (or very real) threat of having her guard rush over to make amends over a trip up during dancing. ”I might like that. Remind me of more exciting times.” Abrazimir smirked back. Been a while since he had been hit with a sword. And while such violence was no longer necessary, he found himself feeling nostalgic for it, the swordplay and artform of it all. He quirked his eyebrows when Pele trailed off as she voiced her intentions to have fun. Oh, and…?

Well, she told him. No, it was not something so innocent as her being in trouble, but because…someone else was bringing her the trouble. A little muddled by the drinks he had so far, Abrazimir could not conceal the furrowing of his brow in alarm and concern at her confession, though he did manage to resume an air of mirth a few seconds later. If anyone was watching. Someone was out to get her. Again. Even in these days of peace, some could not let the old grudges go.

”Heh, let’s hold off on making any statements about overstepping just yet.” He remarked, as they joined the dance and flowed with the steps to the particular tune ongoing. ”And you think this danger is present here?” He asked in a quieter tone. He glanced around, seeing some faces he knew. ”You really think they would try here, in the midst of all our friends and power? They must be bold indeed. Or powerful…” Abrazimir mused. He knew Pele had some bad history with folk from Umbar. He did as well. But they would be mad to dare something and break the King’s peace, here in the very center of Gondor.

”Well, let us laugh and smile. Show any so-called enemies that they mean no threat to us. Or that their challenge lacks bite and provocation. And when they think us unawares…” Then boom, we get them. Abrazimir didn’t know what plans might be in place, but he had a few tankards enough to put him in a rowdy state of mind for such a thing. But not enough to misstep – yet. Hopefully luck and good graces remained with him for the most part.

”They really tidied this place up after the Pelennor.” He noted in small talk, referring to the great battle that occurred here, voice leveled, as he gazed about. But he wasn’t really looking at that. He wasn’t looking to see if anyone was watching them. Besides her angry faced guard of course.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan dancing with Cali
@Rillewen

He nodded when she suggested to bring the rest of his armor to her. He'd be certain to do that. "I can suggest it to a few." He answered when she spoke of having other Rangers bring their gear to get checked. He wasn't sure what she said to herself so he let it go.

She seemed unsure when he asked about getting a drink and he noticed she looked around somewhat to find her friends, he wasn't sure if she was thinking of denying the request or if she didn't trust him but then she agreed to it. He smiled in response and slowed their dancing till it was safe to guide her from the frenzied dance floor to where the drinks were being offered.

He slowed enough to walk beside her once it was clear to do so and listened as she spoke of being able to make customized gear. Hearing this he inwardly winced. He hadn't told her of destroying the helmet she worked to fix for him. It'd been a couple days ago and didn't have the ump to take what was left of the helmet to her, maybe he didn't want to have to explain that he let anger get the better of him. "I think I'd like something more customized come to mention it. " He smiled at her. "I wouldn't mind being a walking advertisement for you."

They'd reached the drinks by then and he stopped, turning slightly towards her. "What would you like to drink?"

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Calithilidis

Cali tilted her head, looking up at Mourgan with a small smile. "That would be nice, if you could convince a few to come by the armory sometime. I'd feel a little better if I checked the armor and weapons that are in use. I've went through everything that was already in the armory, but I have no idea what sort of condition the things people are currently using are in, you know?" She attempted to explain, unsure if Mourgan could truly understand. The reason she had gotten started in smithing at all... it was something she couldn't tell anyone, except the most trusted of friends. And even some of those didn't know everything. Then again, she wasn't sure if it really mattered whether Mourgan understood. What mostly mattered was ensuring that the gear was sound and well-made.

Growing thoughtful after mentioning the possibility of custom gear, Cali smiled to hear the ranger say he would like to have something custom made. "Please, don't feel obligated, simply because I mentioned it." She added, a little amused, as well as hesitant. She didn't want him to feel as if he must, but perhaps he was truly interested, for the sake of having the gear. It was hard to tell, since she didn't know him all that well. "But if you really are interested," She continued, "then I would ask that you to buy the metal needed. Aside from that, all it would cost you is a bit of your time. So I can get your measurements, find out what you'd like with each piece, and all that." She explained, with a little laugh as he said he wouldn't mind being a walking advertisement. "Well, perhaps, one day, I'll be working from my own forge. But until then, my primary focus is on ensuring that you rangers are properly equipped, and well protected." She shrugged. "But, a little advertisement wouldn't hurt..." Cali grinned slightly, looking forward to the day when that lease was up for that renter, but until then she had a very good goal to focus on, and intended to do her best at achieving that goal.


"...far from all this .. excitement..."

As the two approached the table with refreshments, Cali suddenly stopped in her tracks, whirling around to sweep her gaze around at the nearby folks. She'd heard a snatch of conversation from somewhere, and while she couldn't swear to it, she was more than half certain that she'd heard that voice before. A slight chill raced down her back as she swiftly scanned the crowd, trying to spot a face she was certain she would never forget. Yet, she didn't see it. A small frown crossed her features, trying to pinpoint where that voice had come from, fighting a sense of anxiety that threatened to swell up and overwhelm her.

"...rather not ... something .. delicious..?"

There was no mistaking that voice! It had to be him! Though she only heard bits and pieces, Cali was certain she'd know that voice anywhere, after what happened last Autumn at the Eruhantale Fayre...


“She fainted..." The stranger declared, with apparent concern. "I think perhaps the heat, the crowds.. ” He had introduced himself as Lowendir. “She has been crying,” He informed Cali, as the young woman knelt by her unconscious friend with great concern. “She argued, with.. well you probably can guess who. We came to the fayre to try and cheer her up. And then .. well, .. ” he trailed off, before suggesting, “Perhaps she needs some water?”


The memory of the brief conversation she'd had with the stranger, who had posed as a friend of Iole's, flashed through Cali's mind as if it had happened but yesterday. Just before the solid whack on the head from something very hard, while she was focused upon her unconscious friend. The last thing she'd heard before being rendered unconscious, herself. His voice. Cali stood very still, her whole body tensed, her dark gaze landing at last on the man whose mouth moved in sync with that voice.

"Come with me to speak more privately behind that very impressively staged bonfire..."

She heard him say this line, and watched his mouth move along to match. He was mostly turned away from Cali, but what she could see of his face was different than that of the man who had attempted to ship her and her friend off to Umbar. That seemed a little puzzling, but it had to be him. Everything else matched up. His posture, the hunched shoulders. The fact he was trying to get some unsuspecting woman to trust him, just as he had done to Iole...

Fury began to bubble up inside the smith's daughter at this man's audacity to try this same trick on someone else... at yet another big festival event! What was worse, both she and Iole had done their best to put that ordeal behind them, had come to this festival in the hope that no such thing would happen again... trusting that it had only been a one-in-a-million chance that they would have fallen afoul of such a person. Yet, here it was happening again, unfolding right before her eyes... only to someone else this time. The creep was even lurking near the drinks! Cali knew now, of course, that Iole's "fainting spell" had been induced by whatever he had slipped into her drink, which Iole had so trustingly accepted from the stranger. It had been unwise on her friend's part, of course, and a harsh lesson to learn, but that didn't mean he ought to be allowed to get away with it! Which he had. Up until now. He was whispering something in the woman's ear now, probably trying to charm her, like he'd done to Iole... just before drugging her.

Eyes narrowing, Cali dark brown eyes smoldered with fury... which served to override her anxiety and fear. She was so intent on watching(or perhaps glaring at) the man whose name was surely not really Lowendir, she almost didn't even hear Mourgan's question. Drinks.. yes, that was what they had come for. But, despite her mouth feeling very dry suddenly, she couldn't think of drinks at a time like this. And Iole was over there, dancing happily in blissful unawareness... would he try to finish what he started, if he saw either of them here? And how could she forget him trying to force her and Iole into those empty barrels... planning to load them on board the ship as cargo, as if they were nothing more than a couple of sacks of flour! And the threats he had issued... while holding none other than her slain brother's missing dagger in front of her face! "Mourgan..." Cali's strained voice was so hushed, he might not have heard, as she absently reached out to take hold of his arm, gripping a little tighter than she realized. Her heart was racing, while rapidly trying to think what to do. "That man..." She murmured, edging closer to the muscular ranger beside her. "I-I.. can't explain, no time, but... he's.. I think he's planning to abduct that woman."

Despite her shock at seeing the bold abductor here in the midst of all these otherwise pleasant festivities, Cali managed to have enough presence of mind to keep her voice hushed, so that Mourgan would have to move closer to hear her. If she could recognize his voice, it stood to reason he might also recognize hers. And she thought it might be best not to alert him yet to the fact he had been spotted, and recognized. She risked tearing her gaze away from the man, to glance at Mourgan, an imploring look mingling with the other emotions showing in her eyes. "Want to do a little investigating?" She whispered, before glancing again toward him, to make sure he hadn't already managed to slip away. Investigating was what rangers did, right?

[Pele Alarion]

"It is not that I have tried everything on that table anyway, but you can definitely taste one of these cookies. They seem to be perfectly baked, as far as I am concerned," Shamara offered the mentioned cookie to Arkadhur and ate the last one she had herself. Seeing that he was intent on engaging her in conversation, she was not too interested in returning to the tables.

Her dark eyes examined the man's face when he continued to speak, though she was careful not to show her thoughts. "What do you mean by me standing here and doing nothing?" she finally responded as if she was offended by such an idea. "I was just looking for something interesting to do and evaluating the available options. As for the idea of heading home... I did intend to leave at first, but then reconsidered."

Shamara shifted as if to head back to the table of delicacies, but then turned back to Arkadhur. "Oh? And what is that deliciousness you speak of?" she could not help but feel genuinely curious, now that it was clear beyond doubt that he had been behind her release. She knew that the man did nothing without a solid reason so she wondered whether he was acting on Keket's orders or he had come up with something of his own.

"If you can give me a good enough reason to not look at other men..." she said with a somewhat impish grin, and then shrugged. "Sure, we can discuss it." Yet she suspected that whatever he had in mind would likely not hold any tangible benefit for her though he did speak of delicious. She turned towards the bonfire, glad of the possibility to resume a place which would not put her where she could be spotted by people she did not want to encounter.



While Pele did trust her guard and the other Rangers to have her back, she still found it hard to let go of the constant watchfulness, so her gaze drifted towards people closest to the dancing lawn now and then as she responded: "Danger might show up when the least expected," she remarked. "I doubt they would just barge in with brute force; they are both daring and incredibly sneaky, so I would not exclude a subtle means of approach even here. Subtle. Unobtrusive. Unobserved. Or so they think."

Pele made sure to adapt her steps to Abrazimir's guiding and the tune, as she added in the same quiet voice: "I am doing my best to relax and smile, but can't say it comes easily even when I know I am protected. But yes, have to enjoy some of the good things!"

"Yes, the fields out here are very lovely!" she agreed, now speaking more loudly. "Lush and blossoming, and very fruitful. The land must surely be happy to breathe freely again, and farmers have done what they can to make it prosper as well."

The captain's blue eyes looked for her guard, and then sought out Arnyn and Isys to make sure briefly that nothing had changed, and then returned to look at Abrazimir. "How are matters by the sea? Prospering and happy?"

[Arnyn]

Arnyn

While Arnyn would not dare claim to discern all the subtleties of the Ehtyar's convoluted way of speech - she understood enough. As Isys set off to the right, Arnyn set off in another, heading left to the drinks.

Appreciating Isys' wish not to involve bystanders, and indeed approving of it, Arnyn was however unsure of how they might move Shamara away from the crowd without drawing attention. She had spent years as a Ranger and had actively participated in the Tower Guard, but her extensive experience did not extend to clandestine operations as such. She had never been interested in the Muinamacar's business, nor would she have been interested in Karis' version of the Tírdinen - Arnyn had always preferred a direct, open approach. However, she would admit that this left her with a distinct disadvantage in situations such as these. She wondered if Isys had any experience or ideas to avoid making a scene out of apprehending Shamara.

The Lieutenant glanced at Pele. Abrazimir and the Captain were dancing. Pele's guard was watching. Good. Eyes aplenty.

Her dark brown eyes scanned the area for Mourgan and Kaylin next. Mourgan at least would not know what this Shamara looked like. Kaylin, however... Yet both of the rangers who'd let their anger get the better of themselves after that meeting, seemed rather wrapped up in others. Arnyn couldn't help a small smile from appearing on her face, although it faded when she glanced back at the couple Isys had (not literally) pointed out to her. The woman had just turned toward the bonfire. Arnyn reached the refreshments and poured herself some water, seemingly looking at the festivities all around her as she wondered whether it might indeed be possible that the exact issue which was beyond her experience, would simply resolve itself.

She sipped her glass. It was worth biding their time a moment longer to see if that would be the case.

[Lantaelen]

Abrazimir Dimaethor

Pele’s remarks about the lack of subtlety on behalf of the unseen danger had Abrazimir smirking with a hint of mischief. It was nice to be the devious sort for once. It also seemed an intense game of subterfuge and maneuver, both sides seemingly attempting to outplay and trick the other into overextending, and making that one critical error that would bring about a complete collapse of their schemes and plans. And then there was Abrazimir, too at peace in these days, bumbling into it all with drink and dance.

At least he was doing his part to keep the Captain entertained and distracted right? Relax, smile, laugh, dance. And so far, no crushed toes, for either of them. ”When confronted with such ungainly tasks, sometimes it’s best to just get stuck in and get it all over with.” He half suggested to her. Why not fall for bait, take the bite, but deliver a stronger response? At least the anxiety of uncertainty would be removed. And the present danger confronted. But not everyone operated that way. Or preferred it. And with so much won and gained in the past few years, who wanted to risk it all so plainly?

He had to agree with her though. Abrazimir had made the journey many times between Belfalas and Minas Tirith but he had never seen it so prosperous and bountiful. ”It’s a marvel, truly. The King and Queen have given our people, our land, even the air we breathe, some sort of renewal. Long may they reign.” He grinned with a measure of patriotism in his reinvigorated Kingdom. Ten years ago he never would have believed it. And one could look east and not feel the dread or terror as it once had been. Was it truly gone? They said patrols ranged as far as the volcano now. Never would have imagined that even centuries ago.

”Well, the sea is the sea. Loud in the mornings, quiet at night, and sometimes angry for no reason. But yes, the horizons are looking bright.” He smiled, noting that the present tune was coming to an end and there would be a brief respite between the next, where dancers could switch partners, get a drink, catch a breath. ”Rumor of new, and old, ports to be reopened. Might be able to sail to new shores without having to go as an armed party expecting war or violence. And new markets mean…exotic foods.” He wiggled his eyebrows enticingly. Oranges, figs, coffee beans even.

He cast his eyes about, expression serious a moment as his thoughts returned to the present, unseen danger. ”Any inkling of whether our special guests are among us, perhaps hiding in plain sight?” Any suspects so far? Or just rumor?

[Ercassie]

An ‘Interested Party’. leading Shamara to behind the bonfire
@Pele Alarion

He took the cookie although, after watching her devour the last of her own, the man seemed to reconsider yet again, and stowed his own baked gift, untouched, into a pocket at his hip. She might laugh at his not trusting anything she handed him, but trust did not rank high where they came from. She might just as soon think him a fool for not being more careful, otherwise.

“Of course, I should know better,” Arkadhur supposed, as Shamara played at umbrage. “You are quite incapable of doing .. nothing,” he admitted, that she was usually up to something, however it might appear to the contrary. Her remark about ‘reconsidering’ had put the man about his guard. For he had seen her meet with no one of interest during the time he had watched her; which was not to say that she hadn’t managed it without his knowledge. Had she done an about turn back to the White City, because she’d figured out that she was being followed ? Or maybe she had received some last minute orders .. ?

When she turned her attention upon him, the Umbarian dropped all thoughts he had been brewing, and instead allowed for a picket line of teeth to reveal themselves, hungrily. “I can not describe ‘delicious’,” he pointed out. “You will have to taste it for yourself. But as far as having your whole attention, I would venture that I am owed that much at the very least. I will not keep you long, I am sure. But we may never have this opportunity again ..”


Offering his arm, and a subtle bow of his head, the Umbarian seized Shamara’s arm, a little less gracefully than a gentleman should. But he of course was no gentleman. No more than she was a lady. And as far as it had suited him at the time to have her released from her cell, it now was his mercurial desire to undo what had been done.

Perhaps it had been but an adrenaline rush, to see if he could truly manage the feat. After all, it had been many years since he had tried that particular challenge; until her. He had always lived somewhat dangerously. But he was not afraid of this woman. He was as convinced as likely she was of him, that she could handle the situation. Shamara had already turned toward their destination so he had only to hasten her a little more determinedly than she might have expected across the grass. But it was likely not the first time that the beautiful woman had known men to seem quite so keen to be alone with her.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan w Cali
@Rillewen

He nodded in understanding as they walked. He liked her focus and attention to detail when it came to her work. They were nearing the drinks when Cali stopped suddenly and he turned and looked at her. He didn't know what had happened but she stood there seemingly in a trance. She said nothing but he could tell from the look on her face something was happening.

She gripped his arm a little tight and as she moved closer to him. He had to lean in to hear was she was saying , her voice low. He followed the direction of her gaze then back to Cali as she glanced at him. "Yes, what do you have in mind?" He asked now joining her gaze as she looked at the unfamiliar man. Whatever the history was with this person it was enough to upset Cali and fear for the safety of the woman he was talking to who now he seemed to recognize.

"That's the woman I spoke to before asking you to dance." He pointed out, now wanting to investigate more.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Cali Dringolben
Attempting to shadow the suspicious pair, with Mourgan

"What do you have in mind?"

Mourgan's question caused Cali to hesitate. What did she have in mind? Nothing, actually, but she just felt compelled to do something, whatever she could, to stop this man. He had gotten away before, less than a year ago, but now, she had a chance to do something to prevent him from taking another victim. Maybe? Could she stop him? She certainly couldn't do it by herself; she'd tried to fight him before and failed. But circumstances were different now. Cali wasn't unsuspecting of him this time. She wasn't unconscious, tied up, or barely waking from unconsciousness, this time. She wasn't at his mercy, with her friend held at knife-point, this time. And she wasn't alone, this time, either.

Her gaze flicked toward the dancers on the lawn, searching for her friends. Nal and Eryn were still dancing, having a great time by the looks of it. Trev and Iole seemed happy too, also dancing. She didn't want to interrupt Nal's enjoyment, and Eryn was a bit young to be getting her dragged into anything potentially dangerous. And Iole.. Cali didn't want to put her friend through any more distress than she already had been, so there was no calling for Trevadir's aid. But Mourgan... her gaze returned to him. She didn't know him all that well, but he seemed quite capable of handling himself. And he was a ranger, so one could assume he was trained to deal with things like this. No need to interrupt her friend's fun, if there was a possibility she and Mourgan could handle this together.

As she hesitated, trying to think of what exactly she did have in mind, Cali watched the man set off with his intended victim, and frowned to hear Mourgan comment that he had spoken to her, before. "Do you know her?" She wondered curiously. Cali was certain she'd never seen that woman before, but she also didn't find that surprising. This was Erulaitalë after all, and there were a lot of people here whom she was unfamiliar with. As the pair set off, strolling arm in arm toward a more secluded area, Cali made up her mind, and glanced at Mourgan. "I.. I think we shouldn't let them out of our sight," She whispered. Realizing she had gripped his arm somewhat tightly, she let go. "Sorry," She mumbled, feeling a little embarrassed. She sure didn't want him thinking she was some weak, fragile girl who frightened easily. It was just such a shock, seeing that man here, of all places. But then she took his arm again lightly, to give the appearance that they were simply there as a couple, in case the man happened to glance their way.

The kidnapper and his 'intended victim' had strolled away a bit by now, and Cali had to remind herself not to rush to catch up. Let them get a bit ahead, so he wouldn't know he was being followed. She was careful to keep her steps from seeming hurried, but slowly trailed along, heart racing. Hopefully they could prevent another kidnapping. And hopefully, with Mourgan's help, they could apprehend the kidnapper and prevent him from trying this again with anyone else! As she walked, she glanced toward her new accomplice, figuring she ought to give him at least a basic rundown of what they might be up against. "That man," She whispered, "Beware of him... he's dangerous." She frowned. "He's got some sort of connection to people in Umbar," She revealed, speaking softly as she kept close to his side. "And he's quite good at deception, too." She added, remembering how he had fooled both her and Iole. "He's.. um, also been known to slip something into his victim's drinks, that makes them pass out." She continued with a frown, trying to think of anything else useful, and remembering that she had seen some food exchanging hands between the two. Who knows if he may have already given the poor woman his knockout potion...

[Ercassie]

Addhor with Tobedir
@Rillewen

Tobedir was regarding him with rather more confusion than Addhor had anticipated. Which proved beyond all doubt that they had each been played like a fiddle by the younger man’s grandmother. With a rather amused sigh which he hoped that he’d hid well enough from worrying the lad, Addhor set himself down at the back of the wagon, where the tailboard hung down, as weary as they. And as his unexpected assistant found a resting spot close by, each allowed for the drinking of respective juices to bridge any awkward silence.

The carpenter caught the occasional glance amidst a very pensive expression from the youth. Content to wait, he allowed for the other’s response first, before he rightly laboured any more In private assumptions of his own. Wholly oblivious to the lengths that his son and Nal’s friends had gone to, to discourage Tobedir from tagging along on sleep overs and the like, Addhor could not have recognised that the youth was, or ever had been, scared of him. There were fair manners there, he could not help but note, a credit to Úllothel indeed, but as to anything else, he merely assumed that the young man was just shy. Very unlike his elder brother who had regularly rivalled Unalmis in rousing Addhor from an afternoon hangover, back in the day. And been told, in no uncertain terms, to go make their relentless noise somewhere else.

The lad’s now explanation though didn’t quite cover the ‘why’ that the former Ranger had sought ; very likely as he had not vocalised that ask particularly well yet. So Addhor paused, and drank deep (of juice, these days), when faced with the chance to now reveal the truth. Had ‘he’ in fact asked Úllothel to send her grandson over to help him out ? Well, no. Not in as many words. Although admittedly, he had allowed the old lady to believe he was not against the idea. She had done her best to convince him though, that it had all been the boy’s idea ..


The question which the man’s decision hinged upon the most was still that actual case of why. Why had Tobedir come and done as his grandmother had asked him to ? Was this a case of Tobedir actually having an interest in woodworking, as the tradesman had been given cause to believe was the boy’s personal ambition ? Or was it in fact simply good manners in doing as his grandmother had asked him, with no greater goal than to please her ? Or rather more the case that the lad was being punished into performing such errands, for some undisclosed misdemeanour ?

Addhor would have suspected the last perhaps if it had been the other brother set in this predicament. But most of his knowledge of Tobedir was down to the woman who had clearly sent him here. Which led him more toward the other two possibilities. But there was a very discrete difference between the lad wanting to do a good job for one particular afternoon, and his wanting to potentially commit to a similar work ethic on a long term basis. Maybe he really was reading too much into this.


“You have certainly been very helpful today. And I am very grateful .. to you and to your grandmother, for demonstrating just how useful.” The tradesman allowed for the condensation on the drinking glass to wash his fingers, with purpose to allow the young man a chance to absorb his meaning, now he was getting to it properly. “It would certainly be swifter and safer to deconstruct the puppet theatre with two, rather than just one set of hands. As it was constructing it in the first place.”

Addhor shifted over a little on the wagon, so that he could stretch out somewhat more comfortably where he was sitting. “But Narradir will come back this way by and by. And I can wait for him, or see it done more slowly by myself. If you wish to enjoy the rest of the fayre before it is all over ?” An escape was offered, and all that remained to be seen was whether the bird did in fact wish to fly away. Did the lad have friends he’d rather be spending his day with ? Addhor had only ever seen him with Úllothel, or tagging after his now errant brother. Maybe he was not, then, stealing the boy from other pursuits after all.


“Though I must admit, now I may have to look into fixing on an extra pair of hands, more frequently in the future,” he supposed, truthfully. With a subtle side glance to glean the reaction. And maybe for the first time, with any real intention about the thought. For the idea of sharing his skills, such as they were now, had been a nagging passenger at the back of his mind since Erynneth had broached a similar matter with him before now. Her particular case had required him, in all conscience, to refuse, in favour of her own father standing the educator. The last thing that the man wanted to do was interfere where there was no call for it. But still Eryn’s ask had awoken a want to have such of an impact upon the learning of others, as he had of old. His Ranger skills might be a little rusty these days, but the old dog had been forced to learn new tricks. And while Unalmis scarcely stood still long enough to listen to him, Tobedir had no father around to teach him much of anything at all.

It had only now begun to strike at Addhor just how well this supposed arrangement might actually benefit him in his labours, as much as it would simply serve the education of the boy and keep him out of trouble. Any notion that Úllothel had been implying that the man needed help though, he could only partly hold against her, since it might be more the grandmother herself who was asking him to help her. But well, it was said now, as much as he could say about it. Beyond "What do you think ?" He put it to Tobedir to decide. Or run for all that he was worth.

[Ercassie]

Iole with Trevadir
@Rillewen

Her friend had seemed so surprised to hear that she was glad to see him again. Iole couldn’t imagine why, but then she had not told him something yet which might still change his mind. The situation with the boys had gotten rather ‘heated’ in Harlond, to say the least, though that seemed to have worked out, with a little work. So maybe this was a good time to confess .. that other thing.

There again, the spirit of the dance made conversation somewhat difficult. No doubt why Trevadir of all people had suggested it in the first place. She did not recall his being especially keen on it before, although that might have been to save face in front of the other two, older boys. There was a keen musicality about Trev, which she could not deny was very satisfying to see him engaged in some activity which he enjoyed. Maybe he would rather be making the music now, than reacting to it, but he was managing very well regardless. She supposed that, given all his time at sea, he must have honed a fair sense of balance by now. And very effectively avoiding her question. He was certainly looking at their feet more than she suspected he needed to.


All the fears he had voiced, before plunging into their dance, played upon her mind as they spun. The thoughts as much as their speed making her dizzy. Still, he was a grand partner to make merry with and it felt good simply to see him again. No matter how nervous she was about admitting the other thing .. She’d missed him. They needed him.

Even seeing Cali now, dancing with her handsome stranger, made Iole extremely possessive. They were a close-knit group of friends, always had been. And she disliked the idea of losing Trevadir even more than she concerned over Cali finding someone else to spend all of her time with. They were grown now of course, adults, officially. She shouldn’t want to keep them all for herself. Gads, she was as bad as Unalmis and his stubborn refusal to accept that things must change. She’d always known that they would, must, grow up though. She’d just thought that they’d all grow up .. together. She had never expected for strangers like Eryn and now this other fellow to infiltrate their group. That wasn't so bad, if their group was merely expanding .. She had never expected for Ryndir to die .. Clutching hold of Trevadir, the dance and it’s intensity veiled her concerns that he might be lost to them too. Where was his answer ? Where was his assurance ? Why was there even a need to ask him, if he was going to stay ?


And then, suddenly, as the crescendo broke and partners were catching their breath some, Trevadir gave up his own concern. It went so much further than worrying that his grandmother would be ashamed of him, He thought he was unwelcome ?

“We didn’t tell,” Iole corrected not Trev’s dancing this time, but his assumption. That he would be arrested. “Not even Nal. Not even when you two were ..” she swept her hair out of her eyes, and all danger of revisiting that recent pothole. Though she remained nervous now for her own part. Because she knew what she had to let him know next, and she wasn’t sure what he would think about it. Would he be cross ? What if he got angry at her now ?

“And I .. that is, Cali and I, we went to speak with your grandmother," she disclosed, slowly, cautiously. "Before Nal was ever put on the spot and came up with,well, who knows what stupid .. nonsensical .. alibi for where you’d gone,” she forced a smile, stronger now, for sure she did not have to remind Trevadir how terrible their friend was at lying. “We let your grandmother know that you’d gone away, to sea. It wasn’t really a lie .. it was only a half-truth. I think she believes you enlisted with the navy out at Pelargir. That’s why, I thought .. if I told her now, about what you did during the war as well, .. well it would only make her more proud of you than she is already.”


She gave him a moment to consider this, even as they’d slowed almost to a stop in the middle of the dance floor. The crowds did not notice, or react to them in any way, no doubt expecting that the young couple were about to kiss or something equally as unlikely for them in truth. But she did not let go of his hands, afraid he might run if she gave him the chance. It would not be the first time. “I understand if you are not ready to come home, and act like nothing changed. You’re a grown man now,” The young woman slid a hand across his hair to better see his face. “If you like Harlond best, .. its not so far away. But you’re still a part of ‘us’, Trev". Tears brimmed about Iole’s wide blue eyes as she squeezed his both hands. Knowing how like he was to take flight. Knowing how like she was to succumb to emotion. And knowing that it might be best to hold off mentioning, she kept back her idea to bring his family to hear him play in Harlond, just so he could not now make her promise not to. Sometimes boys, men, idiots, did not know what was good for them.

“Welcome home,” she planted her head across his shoulder, as though she might anchor him thus.

[Ercassie]

Ilisys with @Arnyn

So as a pair, they embarked, in their opposite directions. What brief conversation had passed between them had taken the Lieutenant exactly where Isys had imagined Arnyn meant to go, which was a relief. As it was far from a wise decision for the Ehtyar to have headed there herself. And any eyes that were watching might simply assume that the two women had found no want to share more than the lightest of small talk to be polite. Which, given how little they knew one another, seemed entirely plausible.

The dancefloor, or stage, or space rather .. was a sprawling hot mess of activity. Presenting as idle, the Ehtyar sidled about it’s periphery, singing softly to herself as she might and had done so on many occasion, and in far grander environments. As she passed Narradir, the burly forrester extended her the offer of his hand, and a wink, and was duly smacked for even this goodnatured gesture by his wife, appearing from behind the absolute bulk of him. To compensate moments later, Serenda threw her arms around her husband’s wide neck, as he allowed her to raise feet from floor, and spin from where she hung. But although there were occasional whoops and cries of delight from the merry couple, and many countless other revellers, Isys filtered out that noise in fear of a very different kind of shout or crying out.


She looked through the merriment, grey eyes catching glimpses, under arms, and around whirling torsos, of those far too concerned with their fun to pay her any heed. Her attention skimmed for one moment about the hub of folk orbiting the refreshments table, but Shamara and Arkadhur looked to have no want to keep close quarters with the high count of Rangers in that locale. Which was not entirely surprising.

Kaylin, Mourgan and Karis could be included in that throng that the Umbarians were suddenly evading. And they were not alone by a fair shot, but the three of them in particular, in the same vicinity did cause Isys to hasten in her step. The Belfalasian’s trust in her peers had been perilously shaken in the recent meeting and she had no inkling what the three most likely vigilante’s might attempt .. but neither did she especially wish to find out. Here ? Now ? No.


If she continued around the bonfire on it’s right side, and Arnyn’s swiftest trajectory was from where she stood, to the left, they would hopefully come at the couple out of general sight, in a pincer movement, behind the unlit bonfire. Whichever of the Rangers then might be seen and raise their target’s alarm first, the Umbarian should turn to find the other woman blocking an escape. And with Arkadhur at hand also, Isys was hopeful that they could contain Shamara swiftly and maybe even quietly, without causing anarchy.

A skip, a spin, she seemed as though frolicking alone in a half orbit of the dancing, until she stopped so suddenly she almost spilled over herself, and was forced to feign picking some grass blades, with the same delight as though they were real flowers. Mourgan, accompanied with a young woman, had just set out from the drinks table, as shadow to Shamara. If Ilisys had ever learned to curse, this might be the best time to practice. But as it was, and since she hadn’t, she merely sped up. Either Mourgan was acting with purpose, or he was likely to find himself in the right place and the wrong time.


A race had begun, to see whom might first meet their target beyond the bonfire. And whomsoever got to her first would likely determine what became after that point. That was, of course, presuming Shamara was permitted to even get that far ..

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Tobedir Thôrmaetha
Across the field somewhere with Addhor

His question, about whether the man had actually requested Tobedir's aid for this event, remained unanswered. That certainly didn't help in clearing up the confusion. Feeling somewhat perplexed by the whole situation, Toby frowned as he sipped on his juice, listening as the carpenter spoke of how helpful he had been. The glass was more than half empty by now, and soon he'd have nothing left, but he didn't mind too much. It was nice to hear the man's praise of his helpfulness, but it still did not quite clear up the confusion. He cast his gaze over toward the puppet stage as Addhor mentioned it. Of course it would be easier with more than one person doing it, that much was easy enough to see even to a very inexperienced person such as Tobedir. He couldn't quite imagine having to take that thing apart, and carry all the parts over to the wagon, all by himself.

Yet, for a moment, it sounded as if Addhor was encouraging him to go on and leave him to do that very task, all on his own. Toby turned his head back to look at him, finding that rather odd. Did he then not want Toby to help? Had his grandmother misled him? He tilted his head curiously as Addhor went on. Narradir would return.. eventually? But what if he didn't? "Swifter and safer," Addhor spoke. Safety hadn't even been a thought that had occurred to the young man, save for his own safety in being here by himself with the man he had harbored such fear toward, since his earliest memories. But the former alcoholic wasn't acting in any way threatening or fearsome. He was even suggesting that Toby could go off and enjoy the festivities, as if there was anything really for him to do. But then that would mean he could not enjoy the festivities himself, if he were stuck here trying to take this thing apart by himself, or waiting for Narradir to come back and help him. The sooner it was done, the sooner they could both go on to enjoy whatever there was to enjoy, right? Not that he'd seen much of anything to enjoy, aside from maybe the food.

Toby glanced down to locate the source of a tickle on his ankle, and flicked away a curious ant. "I've got nothing else to do," He shrugged, quietly taking a look around where he was sat, to ensure there weren't any of its friends lurking around to pester him further. "None of my friends live around here, and dancing's for older folks who've got someone to dance with." He pointed out, before looking back up. "I mean... not that the people over there are old, just.. older than me," He tried to clarify, in case any offense might have been taken from his statement.

The next moment, he paused in mid-sip of his drink, and came close to choking on it. Recovering quickly from that, he blinked, slightly stunned as he heard the man speak about 'fixing on an extra pair of hands in the future'. What did he mean by that? Briefly, Toby imagined a strange contraption where the man had some sort of extra pair of hands attached to his arms, taken from some unsuspecting person... the boy's gaze inevitably drifted down to the man's legs, at the foot that was visible peeking out from the bottom of his trouser leg, where no foot should have been. Wild, far-fetched tales flitted back through his memory, about the man's nocturnal exploits, and his search for a new leg to replace the one he'd lost. After a hard swallow, Toby realized, seconds later, how completely absurd such an idea was. Probably. Instead, he tried to think more logically. Addhor had just been speaking about Toby helping him with the stage, how it would be easier to have two pairs of hands rather than one. Surely, he did not mean that literally.

"What do you think?"

The question was not expected at all. Toby was still trying his best to figure out exactly what he was being asked, and hesitated briefly before admitting, quite honestly, "I.. think you'd look awfully strange with an extra pair of hands on your arms. Sir," He blushed faintly afterward, immediately hoping he had not said the wrong thing. But he would like to make it known that such a thing would indeed bring some odd looks, if that was what the man had in mind. Which it surely wasn't, so he tried to figure out a proper answer. What was he asking though? As the most obvious answer finally occurred to him, he looked more seriously at the carpenter, brown eyes widening slightly, almost hesitant to voice what conclusion he had (finally) drawn from this discussion. "Do you mean... a job?" He wondered, fearing he may have misunderstood, yet again. "I've been trying to find one," He admitted, as well as explained his reason for coming to such a conclusion. Just in case that was not actually what Addhor was asking him about after all.

"It seems no one's got any need for help.. or don't want any, or they expect the work done in the morning hours, rather than the evening." Toby went on, dropping his gaze down at his glass. "And my grandmother insists I must stay in school, all the way through." He explained, shoulders slumping slightly. It was probably because of Trevadir, he figured. He'd run off just short of finishing his own schooling, and it had been more than a little upsetting to their grandmother. He could hardly blame her, after all the tuition fees she had paid to ensure that both of her grandsons would have a proper education. He intended to honor her wishes and stay in school, but it certainly made things much harder when he wanted to help out by providing a little extra income, to lessen the burden on his aging grandmother.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Trevadir dancing with Iole

As his friend clutched at him, as if fearful he might flee this very moment, Trev felt guilt tugging at him yet again. He knew he had waited far too long to give her an answer. Yet, the circumstances were difficult, and it was not an easy question to give an answer to. The news that he was living, for now at least, in Harlond, hopefully would reassure her to some degree. Not only did he worry what sort of reception would await him, should he venture into the White City, but the matter of his and Unalmis' argument, before, had quite snuffed out any thoughts of trying to make any sort of return to the city of his birth. Now, after all that had been said today, there was a glimmer of hope that sometime in the future, perhaps he might reconsider. But as for whether he was staying? Well that largely depended on just what Iole meant.

The news which was then delivered was a great relief. That his friends, who knew the truth, had refrained from spilling it to anyone, not even his grandmother. Not even when he and Nal were at odds? He paused, letting that sink in for a moment before exhaling slowly in relief. "I'm glad for that," He muttered. He couldn't actually say that he was overly surprised by that, after all the times the friends had covered for each other over the years, to one another's parents and grandparents. It made sense then that they would not have hurried to report what they knew to any authorities, or even to his grandmother. Still, they weren't the only ones who might have spread the word, and while he appreciated the knowledge that no one would have heard about his 'adventures' from them, there was still no guarantee that the news had not made its way from the harbors and others who knew of his involvement in certain matters. And he still held the guilt of not even contacting his family, not even to tell where he had gone.

Yet, Iole was not finished with delivering her news. As she continued, Trev slowed his movements and blinked at her. She'd gone to speak to his grandmother? His heart leapt slightly, but he wasn't sure if it was for joy, that his grandmother had been told something at least, despite his own negligence in taking on that responsibility, or if it was for fear of what she had been told. Holding his breath now, he wondered just what sort of tale the two girls had managed to concoct between the two of them, if they didn't tell his grandmother the facts. A faint little smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth at her mention of Nal and his nonsensical alibis. Ah, how well he remembered those. Had it been left up to the three of them, Trev, Nal, and Ryn would have been in trouble at least four times as often as they were. It was always the girls who came up with the clever tales, the ones their parents might actually believe, and kept them out of trouble as much as they could. What would they have done without Cali and Iole?

As Iole continued to explain what tale she and Cali had delivered this time, Trev's jaw slowly dropped. He stared in disbelief at the delicate, fair-skinned girl who had, so many times before, helped him and the other guys out of some sort of predicament with such quick thinking and devious ideas. Did she really just say... yeah. She definitely did say that. A short, astonished laugh burst from his gaping mouth. "The navy?" He repeated, amazed, with another short laugh. "You told her I..." He trailed off as the amusement quickly turned to something else. Not anger, not annoyance, nor even irritation. Rather, his throat felt suddenly too swollen to allow further speech at the moment, and he felt a tingling at the corners of his eyes, as if tears were threatening to emerge, unbidden. Taking a deep breath, he struggled to keep them at bay, unwilling to let any emotions spill out. Yet he couldn't help a thought forming in his mind; that all this time, he had believed that his grandmother would be ashamed of him, that she must have heard by now what he was involved with... and it turned out she'd been led to believe he was in the navy all this time, and she might actually be proud of him! That is, if she hadn't heard some contrasting bit of news... and what if she had? What if she knew that the girl's cover story was a lie. What if...

'Welcome home,' Iole spoke as she placed a hand on his shoulder, looking as if she might just become a fountain of tears, herself. He was still part of 'us', she said. Of course, that would never change, but it was reassuring to hear it said, aloud. No one in their group would ever not be part of it, not even in death. Their overlapping initials, the sign of their friendship, they had deliberately shaped it in such a way that you could not remove one initial without breaking the entire symbol, he recalled. And he had wanted to come home for so long... it had been all he could think about for the last few years. Could it really be happening?

Trev was suddenly feeling quite overwhelmed, unsure how exactly to react to all of this. For lack of anything better that he could think of to do, he pulled Iole into a tight hug, wrapping his arms tight around her... partly to express his gratitude when he couldn't make words happen, but also to hide his face, lest it betray him and reveal how dangerously close he was to tears. He mustn't let her see that. If there was anyone at all who could read the emotions playing out across his face, it was sure to be Iole, the most emotion-sensitive one in their group, so it was vital that he kept her from getting a look at his face until the emotional storm inside him had calmed. He just needed a moment to recover.