Ranger Commons II

[Arnyn]

Summer
@Rillewen


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office

A friendly, neutral expression regarded Duinion and Eryn as they engaged in what sounded like... well. Arnyn wasn't too sure who sounded more like the parent, Duinion or Eryn. They were both being stubborn, albeit very polite. Arnyn did not interject when Eryn asked if Duinion could sit, nor did she respond when Duinion beat her with his obstinate reply. The Lieutenant simply watched, without judgment, still standing behind the desk. She simply tilted her chin when Eryn said she hoped Arnyn had had a nice morning. Luckily, the way she spoke and immediately turned her attention back to her father, said the question was entirely rhetorical.

"Goodbye, Eryn", was all Arnyn said when the girl bid her goodbye and turned to leave, at Duinion's behest. The Lieutenant's eyes settled on the Tirdinen as he watched his daughter walk out the door and then turned to face her and comment on Eryn's behaviour. Arnyn nodded, understanding it must be difficult to believe your own child thought you helpless and in need of assistance with mundane tasks. She noticed his glance to one of the chairs in front of the desk, and as he indicated he would rather sit, Arnyn walked from behind the desk toward the door, which was still open as it had been before.

"Of course," she said, on her way to the door. "Feel free to take a seat." The Lieutenant cast a look into the main room of headquarters while she softly closed the door and returned to the desk. She sat down herself, where she had been sitting before Eryn's knock had come. She waited for Duinion to settle in his chosen chair, not fixing her attention entirely on him, but glancing to the papers in front of her as he claimed his seat and found what he wanted to do with his crutches. Then Arnyn nodded at the crutches, since he had referred to them himself in his last sentence. "When we spoke at the farm, you said you had to stay off it for the time being. And that the healers said it could be another two or three months before it is fully healed. Do they mean for you to use the crutches until that time? Might it help speed your recovery along if you use them longer rather than only for as long as minimally required?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office

"Thank you," He answered softly. Carefully maneuvering himself into the nearest chair, he leaned the crutches against it. It occurred to him he hadn't quite planned well here; he had to hold his foot up off the floor. Perhaps he should have let Eryn bring the pillows like she'd suggested, but at the time he had insisted he planned to stand the whole time. Yet... he couldn't actually know how long this was going to take with Arnyn. Eventually he carefully pulled his ankle up and rested the area above where it was injured, on the knee of his other leg. It wasn't the most comfortable position but it was better than holding his foot hovering over the floor like that.

Glancing behind to see what Arnyn was up to, he was glad to note that she had taken a look out the door, as if to check that Eryn was gone, and then closed it. There would be no spying daughter lurking around then, unless she put her ear to the door and listened. He didn't think she'd do a thing like that though. Besides, she did say she had some errands she wanted to accomplish while he was meeting with the lieutenant. Watching the lieutenant return to her desk, he noticed, now that he no longer had his daughter distracting him, that she was wearing heavy, metal armor. As that seemed rather strange to him... he couldn't help wondering why, but didn't get a chance to ask before she was asking him a question.

Arnyn's inquiry about his foot brought a shrug in reply. "I really don't know about that. I'm scheduled for a checkup tomorrow morning." he answered. "We'll see what they say about it." He was hoping more than anything that they'd tell him he could ditch the crutches soon. But he sort of doubted that, and it did still hurt to put weight on it. "So, are you expecting trouble?" He half-joked as he took a glance around the office, his gaze resting on the window for a moment before turning his attention back to Arnyn. "You mentioned that you had some ideas about ways that I could still be useful, though I'm out of action for a bit? What is there that I could do?" He wondered.

@Ercassie

Erynneth Raedor
Outside the Ranger Commons

After leaving her father, Eryn let out a long sigh, and went back to the wagon parked outside the door. "No milk deliveries today, Smoke." She patted the grey horse on the neck. Walking around to the other side of the wagon, she glanced toward the ranger barrack's area, and took a careful look around to watch for any sign of the other lieutenant, before venturing cautiously around behind them, to the spot where she had run into Nal and Trastion that one day. She wasn't sure which window was his, but she had a far more distinctive manner of getting his attention. Taking a wooden whistle from her pocket, she blew a couple of times, making the call of a yellowhammer bird. After waiting a moment, she repeated the call, then took a look around, nervously watching out for any unwelcome someone who might come to investigate the sound.

Having spoken with Nal about this scheme yesterday, she was pretty sure that she had it all worked out. The deal with her father had been the hardest part of it all, but miraculously, she had gotten him to agree and now it was just a matter of getting the last few things settled. She hoped she hadn't forgotten any details, but with any luck, Nal wouldn't be busy and they could go sit down somewhere and work out any of that stuff. Thankfully, she had left Hattie at the farm today, because she sure didn't want to cause any further chaos with that lieutenant, and the dog was certainly skilled at creating chaos.

[Arnyn]

Summer
@Rillewen


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office

"Ah," she merely said in response when Duinion said he had a check-up tomorrow. "That is two days in a row to the city for you then." If he would have said something about that back at the farm, Arnyn would have let him combine his appointment at the Houses of Healing with him reporting to her at Headquarters. But since that ship had sailed, she chose - perhaps wrongly - not to mention it. She did not want to make him feel like it was a missed opportunity. And, in the end, perhaps it just might fit into what she had in mind. Although... she did want to give him the chance to wrap his head around it first.

Duinion's question about whether she was expecting trouble made her laugh briefly. "As a rule, yes." She noted his look around the office and his pause at the window. "Useful, in a way," she spoke more slowly, as if thinking about the words as they came. Then she returned to her normal pattern of speech. "At the farm I told you I wanted to get to know you better, get a feel of who you are. So that I may get to know you and so that I may learn how to better interact with you and so I can help you grow as a Ranger; all important tasks of anyone in command." Her expression changed as she was already steeling herself against the backlash that would likely follow. There was simply no way that she would luck out twice in a row.

While Arnyn was willing to be viewed as demanding and even borderline mean if that meant she was actually helping in the long run... she far from enjoyed it. And she could not help but wonder what Mourgan, Karis, Kaylin and Isys would think of the way she had pressed Pele in that meeting to open up to them about deeply buried feelings. Her persistence in her questions to Isys had been nothing compared to what she had asked of Pele to share. Luckily... that had turned out as well as it possibly could have - at least for Pele's personal progress in the matter as well as for Pele and Arnyn's friendship. The gamble had been sustantial. But so had the stakes. Arnyn had challenged fate with her long-time friend, and the results were mainly positive. Much better, in any case, than if she had let the matter be. However. Pele knew her. Pele had known her for years. Pele would know Arnyn's purpose. And the two of them had spoken of Pele's trauma on many occasions, in private. Also, Pele had asked for Arnyn's help in dealing with the matter more than once.

Yet, now... She had only really shared one conversation with Duinion. Granted, it had been a good conversation. At least, Arnyn had thought so. Yet a large part of her feared that the conversation they were about to have right now would erase all the progress they had made just a few days ago. Duinion had only known her for the blink of an eye, compared to Pele. Duinion did not know Arnyn for who she was. Not yet.

It was at times like these (though not limited to times like these) that Karis' words rang truest in her ears. I don't envy you the work. Arnyn would have preferred to get to know Duinion better before having this conversation with him. However, she felt that the matter could not and should not wait, since any progress in the matter would assuredly be slow. And things could not stand as they were.

Thanks to years of practice with command, her facial expression was now composed. Unyielding. Those who knew her well, however, would notice the inner turmoil in her dark brown eyes. What Duinion might see, was anyone's guess.

"From what Pele has told me, from your ranger file and from what I learned during our conversation a few days ago, I want you to know I respect your skills and your experiences. They have shaped you into a capable protector of what we love: Gondor, and even more so, the people in it. Your Tirdinen skills in the way of survival, trapping, tracking, scouting, camouflage. Your marksmanship with the bow. Your training and experience with the staff, knives, daggers. All excellent skills to have as a ranger."

"I must admit there are a few things that weigh on my mind. Too many people close to you and you would have to remove yourself from their midst. What of larger battles, where you have comrades and enemies left and right? Does being uncomfortable mean you have a larger chance of losing your focus on the fight? Does that mean you are more likely to suffer wounds when fighting together with others in close quarters? Perhaps battle changes things." She hoped it did, but...
"Moreover, you cannot sleep indoors. Even at the farm where your own daughter resides, Duinion, you choose to sleep outside. For missions, this is..." she shook her head slowly. "... I find it inadvisable to maintain that status quo."

"Which is why I have called you in. At the moment, there is little you can do in the way of patrolling and training yourself or others. This makes this the ideal time to try and make some progress in this other regard." Arnyn drew in a breath. He would probably suspect where she was going with this, although he probbaly would not dare speculate yet what she was about to say, because of denial, fear or some other emotion she could not entirely predict. Here we go...

"I want you to spend one night a week at a room in the barracks, Duinion. An empty room if you prefer it. Or Unalmis' room, for example, if you prefer to have someone there whom you know and trust. With Beren being on leave, there is no other ranger in his room at present, so it would just be the two of you." Arnyn paused, to let it sink in. She carefully watched his response.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer quarters, Room 3

Having tested out all sorts of options in finding more privacy and space, Pele had found that staying in her room proved to be the best option when she had had enough of being watched constantly since the guard was stationed outside, out of view, behind closed doors. And now when she had a little bit of time, she had headed up again to rest.

The door shut, Pele stood in the middle of her room and sighed contentedly. Opening the window to let in the sunshine and fresh breeze, she leaned on the sill and observed the leaves on the tree growing outside fluttering and reflecting the sun.

"So..." she said to herself, turned away from the window and considered for a while how she should spend the moments of freedom. After a moment's hesitation she began collecting all of her blades and set them out on the floor along with the tool kit for cleaning and sharpening. Then she settled down cross-legged on the rug by her bed and humming a merry melody to herself drew her sword from the scabbard and raised it up, inspecting the blade of the weapon for any damage. Taking a soft rag from among the tools, Pele proceeded to run it gently from the hilt up to the tip from one side and the other to remove away any impurities and oil residues. Lifting the sword up, she inspected it again. Noticing a tiniest chip on the edge a couple inches from the tip, she frowned thoughtfully. It seemed small enough that perhaps a more thorough sharpening would take care of it.

Casting a glance at the array of all the bladed weapons around her, Pele knew that inspecting and taking care of them all would not be possible in the bit of time she presently had, but at least she could start with the sword. Making sure that whetstone was covered with a bit of oil, Pele took to the sharpening process working patiently and making sure to be focused solely on the work at hand, using it as great means to shut out all other matters that usually occupied her mind.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office

He let out a sigh at the mention of 'two days in a row', but didn't comment further about that. He'd been somewhat annoyed when Eryn told him when his next appointment was to be... after he had already spoken with Arnyn. And he'd been even more unhappy to learn that it had been deliberate on her part. And now, here he was. He listened quietly, giving a small nod as Arnyn began, repeating what she'd said at the farm. He wasn't sure what that had to do with any of this, but some gut instinct told him that there might be something unpleasant coming along in the near future. Trying to fight the sense of anxiety that slowly swelled in his chest with every word, then settled down in his stomach, he tilted his head slightly with skepticism, as well as some minor suspicion, as she went on to praise his various skills, and his ability as a ranger. He was waiting for the 'but'.

And then it slowly arrived, though not quite how he was expecting. He frowned slightly at the mention of battles, and started to open his mouth to answer about that, to set things straight on that matter... it seemed he had been slightly misunderstood about that, but he didn't get a chance to speak as she continued with what she was trying to get to. The other issue. The knots in his stomach tightened. He sat quietly with a neutral expression, listening with a growing sense of dread at whatever was about to come next. How he wished he could walk around.. he'd have gone over to the window to get some fresher air. But he was stuck here in this chair, for now. Waiting tensely, his mind racing over all the possibilities of what she might say, and what this meeting was really about.

When she spoke again, revealing what she had in mind, Duinion was very still, staring for several long seconds after the bomb had been dropped on him. After a while, he silently dropped his head, staring down at his lap. Closing his eyes, he exhaled very slowly, trying to breathe out the tension and anxiety that had been knotting up in his stomach for the last several moments. A night in the dorms was.. unpleasant, but not so terrible a thing as he had been dreading. He cast a glance back over his shoulder toward the door, wondering just how many others were in this conspiracy Eryn had contrived. It was almost laughable, although he didn't feel like laughing about it. His daughter certainly had plenty of determination, he had to admire that about the girl. Then the other part of what Arnyn said hit him. One night..a week. A week? That wasn't part of the deal! His gaze snapped back up at Arnyn as that part registered. He struggled not to appear alarmed, but those same words slipping out before he'd quite realized it. "That wasn't part of the deal."

His frown deepened as he shook his head slightly. "I know you must be in cahoots with my daughter.. but our deal was only for one night... and only one night." He informed her, somewhat troubled by this whole thing. Why was Eryn getting Arnyn involved with this scheme of hers? Then he reminded himself that she was one of his commanders, and she could change the deal if she wanted. It was fortunate for him that he was sitting down, because he felt like he was reeling, struggling to get his mind to stop spinning. Deep breath. It wouldn't be the end of the world. He wasn't getting kicked out of the rangers. It was only... one night a week... in a dorm. One night without sleep each week wouldn't kill him... but for how long? He drew a slow breath, deciding he ought to check into that. "H-how long are you talking about?" He asked, softly, trying to be mindful how he spoke to her, reminding himself she was a lieutenant, and his second in command. He couldn't quite tell in his current state whether his tone had been too sharp before, when he spoke about that not being part of the deal.

"I have fought in battles, by the way." He added as an afterthought, suddenly a bit anxious to clear up that issue. "I was.. quite involved in the one we had here in the Pelennor recently, and I got through that well enough." He took a slow breath, held it a moment, and let it back out. He shrugged slightly. "As I told you the other day at the farm, I can work through problems as I need to. I endure such things when necessary, just as you get through things that you find unpleasant, or that make you uncomfortable. That armor you're in, for instance.. I can't imagine it's terribly comfortable to wear, yet you wear it." He pointed out, with another small shrug before looking down again, and sighed, feeling frustrated by all of these things which he couldn't control, and couldn't change, and couldn't fight. "Fighting all those monsters out there was far more preferable to me than being trapped in the city, even just for a few hours." he muttered, memories of that battle entering the swirl of other thoughts flooding his mind.

[Arnyn]

Summer
@Rillewen


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office

Duinion seemed... Arnyn was not quite sure what the right word was for the stare, the lowering of his head, the closing of his eyes, the breath he let out so slowly. The man was damaged. That much was obvious. The Lieutenant was careful to keep her face unreadable when he cast a glance at the door - right before he suddenly made eye contact with her for the first time since she had stopped speaking.

"That wasn't part of the deal."

That was a confusing sentence, although Arnyn did not let that show. What deal? She did not have to wait long, however. Duinion lifted a tip of the veil on the matter, which told Arnyn several things. First of all, that Eryn was the one who had made some kind of deal with her father. Second, that Duinion had agreed to spend exactly one night in the city, perhaps the barracks even. Thirdly, Arnyn deduced that one night was acceptable to him, but that he deemed her orders - which involved one night a week - much more demanding. Fourthly, he assumed that Eryn had approached her to include her in this deal. And last of all, that Duinion also assumed that Arnyn would simply agree to be part of such a deal. Behind Duinion's back. And with his daughter.
Arnyn stiffened slightly.

Regardless, Duinion did not seem to protest directly. He asked how long she meant for him to do this, and the words came quietly and carefully now. Followed by an explanation that seemed almost anxious, about his history fighting in battles.

The Lieutenant let silence claim the office for a while, as she deliberated on how to respond. In this time, her expression was neutral, perhaps only gauging as she looked at the Tirdinen sitting on the other side of the desk.

"I am well aware of your battle history." Her words were deliberate, although they did not come more slowly than they usually would. Her tone was not at all explanatory, nor was it exactly strict. It was calm. So calm that one might worry what was hidden behind it.
"Well enough," she repeated his words. "You might be content with 'well enough', Tirdinen Raedor. I, however, am not. There are enough factors beyond our control in battle as it is. Too many. Adding anxiety to that, about having too many people around you..." She shook her head. "Duinion, can you guarantee me that your personal struggle will not affect you if the need arises to close in around the enemy, comrades fighting so close to you that you have to careful not to shake their balance by bumping into them too hard? Can you guarantee me that under no circumstances would this cause you to panic? Or to get uncomfortable? Even if you do not panic, even if you get through it well enough, it is a distraction that I would prefer you not to have." Some feeling was slipping into her words now, despite her best efforts. Some warmth. Some heat. Driven by conviction. "You're right; this armor is uncomfortable. And I wear it now so I may get used to that feeling. So it does not present a possible distraction or liability when I'm in a life of death situation."

"My mission is not simply the one that is passed along by the King or by our Captain," she continued. "My mission is to prepare you. All of you. From the newest recruit to the most seasoned ranger. So you may have the best chance of survival that you could possibly have. And survival is not limited to skills in combat or in the wild." Arnyn now felt the heat fusing into her words, which caused her to refrain from elaborating further. She needed to stick to the heart of the matter. Without showing too much of her own. In this instance, Duinion needed to see her as second in command, first and foremost.

"As for this deal you are referring to," she said, coolly, "I reject your assumption." In fact, if he had known her better, Arnyn would have been hurt. Considering their limited interactions, she knew not to take it personally. Yet she wanted to make clear that this was not in her nature, and that she was not amused by his assumption. "I would never take part in making a deal about someone's issues behind their back. I would not do so with a fellow ranger or a close friend. Let alone your daughter, whom I barely know. The only one whom I might discuss such matters with, is our Captain. Because that mission I mentioned earlier, is a joint one." Arnyn's dark brown eyes were dead serious as she looked at him. "Whatever deal you made with your daughter, has nothing to do with this."

The Lieutenant drew a deep breath, composing her inner self to match her outer appearance. "As for how long..." She momentarily lifted her hands, as if to say that would depend. "However long it takes for you to actually be able to sleep. I'm not doing this to vex you. When a situation requires you to sleep indoors, close to your comrades in arms, on the eve of battle, I want you to sleep, Duinion. Not go into the fight overtired because for some reason you could not sleep outside. I want you rested."

[Isolde Alarion]

Ranger Mourgan Alarion
Barracks Room 3 w/ Recruit Trastion

Mourgan waved it off when Trastion mentioned the loan being an inconvenience, if it were he wouldn’t have mentioned it. On the topic of the girl Mourgan could see his Roommate was hesitant to speak of her, poor kid. Drawing skills? Hearts most likely. He recalled a time when he too drew silly little hearts with he and another’s name on them but he quickly shook those thoughts away. That seemed a life time ago.

He took back the offered bottle and took a quick swig of the alcohol inside as he listened to Trastion but when he mentioned her father he groaned and leaned his back against the wall alongside his bunk. Fathers. He cursed under his breath. He listened to his roomies predicament as he took a deeper drink to wash the bitterness off his tongue the word had left there.

“Well, sounds like quite the predicament you have there. They won’t deliver mail not addressed to you nor will they release it to you for delivery.” He thought on it a moment. “I have an idea, you could have it addressed to my mothers bakery. She won’t mind holding it for you and she’ll understand your predicament, trust me.” He knew his mother would help since she knew how fathers of daughters could be.

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

Hesitation and reluctance caused her to slow her step on the way to the officer quarters of the barracks. At the entrance to the hallway in question, she lingered, fidgeting with the nails of her left thumb and index finger.

Kaylin drew a deep breath. The dust over the meeting had settled somewhat. Thûllir had helped her channel her anger, although he had confronted her with things she had not wanted to hear. Surely, her own situation had been entirely different. Yet as the days had passed Kaylin had come to realize that perhaps that was exactly what Pele had been thinking. Kaylin had always known her friend to be considerate to the point of it being ridiculous. Pele would never intentionally have kept this from her, not had she known she would react the way she had. And... as Arnyn had keenly pointed out recently, Kaylin's reaction would not be conducive to people actually sharing things with her in the future. Damn that woman with her undeniable logic!

Despite knowing deep down she'd been in the wrong to react as she had, Kaylin was still unwilling to admit it, however. But it was not in her nature to be at odds with her friends. For minutes, perhaps - a brief explosion of emotion which would then quickly be covered with the healing sands of reason and good cheer - but not as it had been now, for days. It unsettled her. It ate at her.

Frustrated, she thudded the outer side of her fist against the wall. Then Kaylin flicked her hair back over her shoulder, straightened slightly and walked resolutely down the hall to room number 3. Pele's room.

She knocked on it three times, loud and clear.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3
@Arnyn

Her mind fully focused on the single task at hand, Pele worked on the blade with even, smooth strokes. The sound of joint singing of whetstone and sword blade, as well as the repetitive and practiced movements of her hands seemed soothing. The loud knocking on her door suddenly broke through the calm and quiet atmosphere in her room, and Pele halted in her work for a few brief moments, just enough to call out: "Come on in!"

She resumed the work of sharpening right after, and, assuming that it was the guard troubling her for some insignificant reason again, she said after hearing the door open: "What is it this time? Don't tell me there are meetings I've forgotten about and have to attend." She did not want the man to assume that she had complete disregard for him and did not appreciate his loyalty and watchfulness, Pele looked up just to find that her assumptions had been wrong.

"Ah, thought it was my guard..." she grinned apologetically at Kaylin, stopping her work yet again. She was glad to see her friend, though now she felt reminded that she should probably apologise for the long months of silence and excluding her from such important matters - though Pele was not quite sure just what to say and how. "Feel free to sit on my bed, or chair, or... floor," she offered with a quiet smile.

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

When the invitation to enter came, Kaylin's eyes flicked to the guard next to the door. She did not wait for permission, rather than watched whether he would move to stop her. Since he did not move a muscle, the Hyandaner opened the door.

She might have grinned at Pele's exasperated words, clearly meant for the man outside, but not today. Pele did grin, although it soon quieted down into a smile. Kaylin entered and closed the door behind her with a pointed look at the guard. Pele's designated watchmen were always so serious and quiet - they had never responded in kind to her cheerfulness in the past - so she figured this one could not fault her silence this time around.

"No, not your guard," Kaylin said neutrally upon turning back around to face her friend. Pele had stopped her work with the wetstone on her blade, watching Kaylin with what seemed like uncertainty. Kaylin raised an eyebrow at the collection of blades on the floor. "I can stand," she said simply, moving to lean the back of her shoulders against the wall next to the door. She crossed her arms, looking at the weapons rather than her friend and Captain's face. "Keeping yourself busy, I see." Of course Pele would know the smith at the armoury could very well do all of this for her, so obviously she had chosen to perform the task herself.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3
@Arnyn

"I by no means doubt your ability to stand, Kaylin," Pele said, just a touch of tease glinting in her eye. "Though feel free to do so if you prefer it to sitting."

The Captain felt that her usually jovial friend was not up to joking, so she did not pursue that line of conversation any further, nor did she feel that she could continue with her sword care routines. Stretching out her legs she placed the weapon across her lap with much care, and examined Kaylin's expressions for a few moments.

"This is simply my way of both finding solitude and trying to switch off my mind," she eventually explained as she gestured at her arrayed weapons. "Not that I have enough time to polish all of these to perfection if they happened not to be so. Found a small notch on my sword at any rate." She paused, considering how to direct the conversation from here, and then said: "But suppose you did not come to examine my collection of blades? Is it about THAT matter?"

Pele turned to exploring her own hands as she decided to get to it without beating around the bush and spoke in more quiet tones, sounding regretful: "Look, Kaylin... I know my course of action had not been the best. Just seemed right at the time, and... I'm sorry it angered you so."

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

She nodded when Pele said she was free to stand if she wished. When her friend fell silent, Kaylin still avoided looking her in the eyes. Her gaze still went from one weapon to the next, even though she had already got a first look at all of them by now. The debate of how to proceed was still raging in her head. One of the downsides of letting instinct guide her was that her mind couldn't always follow. One instinctual decision thus tended to lead to another. Instinct was all that could keep up with itself.

Pele's words registered but sort of passed her by, until she asked whether Kaylin had come to talk about that matter. That question made the Hyandaner finally fix her eyes on Pele's, an answer in and by itself.

And it just so happened that this was the time when Pele averted her own gaze, to look down at her hands. Kaylin's expression remained the same for a moment after Pele's quiet words. A light frown settled on her brow. Sorry it had angered her? Two feelings welled up at the same time. Annoyance - that it was not an apology for not telling her sooner but rather an apology for the way Kaylin felt about it. That was not a real apology. And amusement - that this would likely have been the way she would have 'apologized' to Pele if the roles had been reversed.

"Pele," Kaylin began, before falling silent until they had established eye contact. The grave look in Kaylin's eyes did not disappear as they looked at each other. She couldn't figure out what she wanted.

Tell Pele that part of her understood, and that she herself had not told her everything either?

Admit that another part of her was hurt that Pele didn't feel like she could trust her enough to let her help?

Tell her both of those things?

Just breeze by it all and suggest they go grab a drink and some food in the mess? And let it be?

She sighed. No, not the latter. This was not the time to shy away from emotion. Not if they were to try and mend this. Words calmly spoken by Arnyn replayed themselved in Kaylin's mind. 'Mutual understanding between the two of you is too important to let things fester beneath the surface.' Her instinct told her to listen to them.

Kaylin could still not help a shrug - although the words that left her lips next were as serious as they came. "That they are after you still, even now, angers me more than anything. I haven't told you everything, either. And yet I could not help but feel hurt by what felt like a lack of trust. Whether it's logical or not..." She shrugged. "Even though I know that it wasn't necessarily about not trusting me." Kaylin not telling Pele everything was certainly not about a lack of trust. There was simply little Pele could do about the matter, and it hadn't really come up in any way while they'd been hanging out.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3
@Arnyn

It took quite a while for Pele to look back up at Kaylin in response to her name being spoken. Even though the meeting had opened the door for her to finally share more freely, it was not that easy to switch her patterns of thinking and feeling around to follow the new direction. Even though she might have let go of one sort of guilt, she had felt herself slip towards another - the meeting seemed to have upset the previously solid relationships, and she felt responsible for it.

"I definitely appreciate that sort of anger," Pele finally said, having thought over Kaylin's words. She wondered briefly what was it that Kaylin had not told her, though she assumed she'd share it if it was essential to know. However, Pele was very well aware that her situation was different, and her silence had a much broader impact.

Holding back a sigh, she tried to explain: "I hoped to handle it all myself and protect others from it; seemed appropriate at the time. It was definitely not the lack of trust, and I'm sorry that my decisions have made it look like that." Pele found it rather difficult to find a way of expressing herself as she wanted to without seeming that she was just trying to present a wall of excuses. "Forgive my misjudgement, overprotectiveness and... I do trust you, even with my very life."

The more Pele spoke, the more she felt entangled in her own words and was unsure of whether they even conveyed what she wanted to make clear, so she eventually shook head and searched Kaylin's eyes for understanding.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office
With Arnyn

The silence that stretched between them was a little uncomfortable, for him at least. He resisted the temptation to fidget, until at last she began to speak. As she did, saying that 'well enough' wasn't good enough, Duinion sat quietly, listening with a sinking heart. Not good enough. After over twenty years of this, he still wasn't good enough? Although that wasn't exactly the words she used, he couldn't help feeling that was what she meant, and it hurt, more than he liked to admit. As that thought slipped, unbidden, into his head, a heavy sense of disappointment settled into his stomach, deepening the more she spoke about why his personal issues were such a problem. He assumed that the questions were rhetorical, not that he felt able to answer them at the moment, anyway. Despite wanting to speak up to defend himself in this matter, he couldn't come up with the proper words to do so.

As Arnyn then denied any part of the 'deal' he'd made with Erynneth, a confused expression came to his face. That didn't make sense, but he couldn't see any reason for her to lie about it. A moment later, it occurred to him that his reaction may have offended her, and that was not at all what he'd intended. He hadn't taken the time to think before speaking, and that was somewhat unlike him. He dropped his gaze down to rest on his lap, and his foot. She claimed she was not trying to vex him, but rather to help him. But she didn't really understand...she couldn't, without knowing all the details, and he wasn't willing to try and explain those details. It seemed every time he did try, he was misunderstood, and then the results were... this. He had decided it was best to keep quiet from now on about things of this sort. In fact, he wished he'd never said anything at all about this topic, and had been regretting it almost as soon as he spoke to her the other day, at the farm.

So, now she had a plan to try and push him into getting over this issue of not sleeping indoors... but he couldn't help wondering, privately, what she planned to do about his discomfort around crowds. Did she intend to make him sit in the middle of a large crowd for several hours, until he was comfortable in their midst? Or did she think getting to where he could sleep indoors was going to fix that issue too? Perhaps she thought the two were linked. He didn't dare ask, in case it gave her any more ideas. Instead, he kept all those thoughts to himself.

"I want you rested." That seemed to be Arnyn's ending statement on the matter.

'And what about everyone else?' Duinion wondered, inwardly. When it seemed she had finished talking, he inhaled slowly, taking a deep breath, and let it out again, slowly. "One night a week, for..however long that takes." he muttered softly. He might have to release Eryn from her part of their deal, he realized, regretful. As much as he would like to hold her to it, he wouldn't feel right when he now had orders to do exactly what she had asked him to try. And somehow, Lieutenant Dealedhwen had nothing to do with Eryn having the same idea, strangely enough. "I apologize for my assumption before, Lieutenant," He mentioned quietly, uncomfortable at the thought of having offended a superior officer. "It's just so coincidental, and... well, if you didn't speak with Erynneth about this, then.. I can't think where in the world she got this idea." He explained, truly puzzled by this as he glanced up again.

Then, realizing that she wouldn't actually know what he was talking about, he divulged further, "You see, yesterday morning, my daughter popped up with this whole idea about how, since my appointment was so early, and since the ranger barracks were 'right there', and since Unalmis has no one sharing his dorm, that it would all be just 'so perfect' if I just spent the night here in Unalmis' dorm, and she'd apparently already suggested the idea to him, and he was in favor of it, and..." He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "Anyway, we spent the rest of the day.. um, negotiating about it, until I eventually agreed just for this night... So, then, when you spoke of the exact same arrangement..." He dropped his gaze again in embarrassment. "I should have paused to think before I spoke, but, I guess I was so startled by the similarity between both of your..suggestions, it seemed the only logical explanation. So, I admit that I jumped to conclusions, and I'm truly sorry for assuming such a thing of you." That revelation might also give some further explanation into why he had seemed somewhat cross with Eryn, before, too. After giving his apology, Duinion fell quiet, his mind reeling with everything that was happening and that had been said.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Trastion Leithor
New recruit - beginning of the month long room inspections
Barracks; Room 3

"Sounds like quite the predicament you have there," Mourgan declared.

'More than you know,' Trastion thought with a soft sigh. "Yeah..." He agreed, out loud. He thought about flopping down on his bed again, but those sheets and things were still all over the floor. He figured he'd better go ahead and get them picked up and try to figure out this bed making thing. It never had been a thing he put any thought into, before. Why should anyone care how he kept his bed, except himself? If he was married, that'd be different, the wife might care. But he wasn't, and he was the only one going to be sleeping there, so why should Brian care? He rolled his eyes as he grabbed the bundle of sheets and tried to figure out which end was which.

Mourgan's suggestion stopped him in surprise. "Your mother?" he turned to look at him, curious. "Would she be alright with something like that?" He wondered, curious what Mourgan's mother might be like. His own, well, she'd never go for anything like that, but Mourgan said she would understand the situation. "If you're sure she wouldn't mind, that could work out," He added thoughtfully. "A bakery, huh? Is it near the clothing shops?" It might work out perfectly, to stop in there to meet Mourgan's mother, after getting a few new clothes.

Shaking out the sheet, he found one of the corners and grabbed it before he lost it again in the folds of the large cloth. "Right, so... how is this thing supposed to go on here? I know this end goes by the pillow," He frowned and attempted to smooth it out, but it seemed the sheet was determined to have a wrinkle in it somewhere. Maybe, if he tossed the blanket on top, it would hide that? "Dunno why it should even matter," He grumbled under his breath. Maybe this was why Unalmis had thrown his bedding and stuff out of the window, he thought with amusement.

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

As she watched Pele, Kaylin could find nothing in her friend's gaze or expression that betrayed an outright lie. The redhead drew a deep breath and let it out slowly as she nodded.

"I forgive you your misjudgment. Irmo knows I'm no stranger to that error. Your overprotectiveness is more difficult to forgive, since I think you were selling me short there." Her voice got more quiet. "But are you sure you are not leaving out one of the reasons, Pele? Did you in part also keep most of it to yourself because you were afraid I would look at you differently if I were in the know?"

"Did you fear I would think less of you if sharing what was happening would would even hint at the damage this Relic has caused you?"

[Arnyn]

Summer
@Rillewen


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office

His slow inhale and exhale allowed Arnyn to prepare herself for the reaction to come. She was not sure what to expect, since she did not know the Tirdinen well, but she had experience with all sorts of responses.

His soft muttering, however, surprised her somewhat. Even if she did not let it show. As he spoke up to apologize for assuming she had made some sort of agreement with his daughter behind his back, Arnyn frowned thoughtfully. She heard him out, noting when he looked at her and when he dropped his gaze.
"I understand," she said slowly. "The timing is very coincidental and we don't know each other that well yet. I accept your apology and thank you for having the grace to offer it."

Then Arnyn leaned forward. "Duinion, I realize very well that me asking this of you won't make things easy between us, at least not anytime soon. It might drive you not to share anything personal with me again... which would be a great loss in many ways - and then I could only hope that as you come to know me better you would reconsider such a decision." She sighed openly. "It would have far been better if we had more of a history together already, for then at least a part of you would know what is truly driving me to do this. But I suppose that 'should haves' and 'would haves' are not worth much." She shook her head at herself. She just could not help being proactive about these things. Arnyn wanted the rangers under her command to live long lives and die a boring death in their beds. And she would do close to anything to facilitate that.

"Erynneth pushed you to spend one night in the barracks. And you spent the whole day negotiating with her about it. And now I want you to spend not just a single night at the barracks, but one night every week. And negotiating with me would be bad form, so you feel stuck between a rock and a hard place." Her dark eyes held Duinion's. "Trapped?"

Regardless of his answer, she decided to make an offer. "If there is anything I can do to make this... less demanding... You may speak freely. I will not hold it against you, and perhaps we can come to an agreement."

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3
@Arnyn

Pele found some amount of relief in the first few words spoken by Kaylin, though she objected meekly to the following part: "Not really selling you short per se, I only like you too much to wish harm upon you. Or any other of my friends, skillful Rangers or no. Or at least that is how the thinking went."

It seemed that her friend could read well beyond the surface and into the heart of the matter, and Pele could not help feeling cornered and facing the same feelings she had been fighting so long. Sliding the sword into the scabbard and leaving it on the floor, Pele got to her feet to place herself on Kaylin's level and get herself out of the position on the floor which suddenly made her feel vulnerable rather than comfortable.

"You know me too well," she concluded, standing in the middle of the room, hands loosely at her sides, and facing Kaylin. "I've tried to look strong while feeling broken and wounded inside, and I thought I would manage to deal with the stuff all by myself. I saw myself as unfit, and yes - I feared that everyone else would see me that way as well. Perhaps even you." Pele paused and then admitted somewhat unwillingly, "If I had not ended up in a talk with the King that earned me these guards... and if Arnyn had not accidentally come by that note - I am not sure how much longer I would have carried the burden all by myself and made things even worse than they are now. "

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

Well. Liking her too much to wish harm upon her? That wasn't all that bad. Though Kaylin's mind still protested: Pele would not wish harm upon anyone, friend or not. And if she did not trust in skilled friends to help her, then in whom did Pele trust at all? It was obvious that help was needed. Pele's following admissions made Kaylin nod. But then something in her mind clicked.

Kaylin's lips parted. Perhaps Pele was having the most trouble admitting that it was help that she needed. Could that be at the bottom of all this? Admitting she needed help to anyone would make her look weak, and so she had not been admitting as much to herself and had simply tried to do it alone? Now that... That was something Kaylin could understand. And relate to.

Apparently, two players had been instrumental in helping Pele move forward, at least a bit. Their new Lieutenant was one of them. Of course. Was there anything Arnyn wasn't involved in? In any case, Pele still seemed very troubled and unsure about the whole affair. Small steps, hmm?

"Right," she said, taking a step away from the wall and toward her friend. "Evidently you are much more stubborn than I had thought. But you being unfit is ridiculous. That thought has never crossed my mind, not even when I was most angry with you." She assessed Pele's expression and nodded once more. "Let's put this behind us. I do not like being at odds with you. What do you say?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office
With Arnyn

He listened as the lieutenant spoke, hearing all that she said whilst keeping his peace. A rock and a hard place, indeed. But he felt sure that she didn't really understand. He wasn't sure if trapped was the right way of putting it, exactly, but he was definitely unhappy about the situation, and yet there was little he could say, since she was a superior, though she offered. Yet he could think of nothing he had to say. There wasn't much that he could say that was likely to make a difference, and he could think of very little she could do to make this easier on him, since he doubted she would ease up from the idea. But then, if she wasn't going to hold it against him, it couldn't hurt to ask, he reasoned, a moment later. A vague smile touched his face. "I don't suppose you'd consider any less often to start out... like perhaps once a month... Or every other week...?" He had to try.

With a small frown, he looked down at his foot thoughtfully. "I'll admit I don't like this at all. And to be further honest, I don't think it's going to help much... but, at the same time..." He let out a sigh, "I know I have put off making an attempt, for far longer than I should have." He added slowly, the frown deepening slightly. He didn't try to give any reason for that, since he had none that he could put into words. For a moment, he debated mentioning that he hoped she wouldn't be offended if he chose not to confide in her in the future, but that was somewhat hard to put into words, and so he decided not to say it. But she was right on that; his level of trust for her had lessened somewhat and he couldn't be sure of what she might do if she learned anything further, so, he had no intention of revealing any other information that could later be used against him. He shouldn't have told her anything to begin with, he thought, annoyed at himself for having done so.

After a little pause, he continued quietly, "I came into town today already expecting to remain overnight, after my appointment with the healer tomorrow. For my daughter," He admitted quietly. "Because she..made some very good points and sounded very much like her mother, and...because she wouldn't leave me alone." He added the last part with a little smile of amusement. Actually, thinking about it a bit, he probably would have eventually agreed to the one night, even without her end of the bargain, although it had been pushed on him rather abruptly, but the 'negotiating' was a way of fighting it, as well as finding out how serious Eryn was about the matter. Still, he didn't like being pushed into it, and especially made to feel he had no choice. With a small shrug, he mentioned, "I don't think there is anything you can do that will make this 'less demanding', as you put it. I can think of nothing that would make it easier. Unless you would consider letting me take..smaller, slower steps."

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3
@Arnyn

"Me? Stubborn? I don't know about that..." Pele said in a surprised tone and offered Kaylin a rather sheepish grin. The whole thing had taken years, and it would surely had been much better if she had mustered courage enough to be open about it much sooner, yet there was nothing she could do to fix the past except looking forward into future with more hope, and letting people see her for who she was, trouble and all.

She made a couple steps to come within arm's reach of Kaylin and searched her eyes for confirmation to the words, as she nodded firmly and extended her hand. "It would definitely take some of the burden off my shoulders if we did not have a disagreement looming between us," she added eagerly. While she generally preferred to be on good terms with all people as much as possible, being so with her friends held a much greater importance.

"Should we seal this with some sort of a toast?" a small laugh escaped Pele, as she offered the option. "In a mess?"

[Arnyn]

Summer
@Rillewen


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office

When Duinion asked whether she would consider less frequent stays at the barracks, rather than once a week, her expression grew thoughtful. Determined to give Duinion the opportunity to speak his mind, the Lieutenant held her peace for now.

He didn't like it. Nor did he believe it would help much.

A normal, emotional response, although Arnyn had never liked people discarding possible self growth that way. Too often individuals connected the unwillingness to do something with the belief that doing it would not help matters anyway. How could they be sure, when they had never given it a proper chance? However, it gave Arnyn hope that Duinion admitted to procrastination on the issue. That was something.

Arnyn listened. And then she considered what he had suggested.

Duinion did not know that her first idea had been much more severe. She'd first wanted to have him spend every other day at the barracks, instead of only one day a week. But she had told herself that this would likely be entirely too demanding and that it would poision Duinion against her entirely. His trauma seemed to be settled so deeply.

Going from a night every second day, to one night every seven days, had already been a big concession in her opinion. She had thought that the idea of 'one time a week' would be very acceptable. Part of her felt, therefore, that she had already reached out her hand, but Duinion was not content with this gesture.

Then again, Arnyn thrived on reason and seeing things from different points of view. Enough so to realize that Duinion had no idea of her train of thought: not of her initial idea, nor the reasons why she had diluted her first idea, nor her opinion that one night a week should be feasible. And while she had not expected Duinion to try and barter down the frequency, but rather the conditions surrounding it, she had in fact told him to speak freely. And it went without saying that she would honor her promise that she would not hold his words against him.

Deliberating thus and weighing the possibilities, Arnyn kept her gaze on the Tirdinen in front of her. Finally, she spoke.

"The more detailed idea was to have you spend one night a week in the barracks. This could be a night of your choosing, so one week you might pick the first day of the week, the next week you might pick the fifth, and so on. Since you have bi-weekly appointments with the healers, I would assume that you coordinate these according to the night you would spend in the barracks. The requirements would have been for you to have the dinner meal in the barracks mess, sleep in the dorms, have breakfast in the mess, go to your appointment every other week - and then you would be free to leave. Unless of course other duties might present themselves."

She paused to gauge his expression before she continued.

"But, yes, I am willing to consider an alternative. Bi-weekly. However," she added quickly, with the necessary emphasis to avoid Duinion getting too excited straight away without hearing the rest, "in this case you will choose a fixed day, and you will spend the whole day in the city, including at least breakfast and dinner in the barracks mess. Then spend the night at the dorms and once again break your fast in the mess the next morning. Go to your healers appointment and return for the midday meal. Then you are free to leave if your duties allow."

She was sacrificing an extra night this way, but on the other hand he would still have at least four meals at the mess. And meals at the barracks were an excellent way for Duinion to get to know his fellow rangers, of whom he currently only knew a few and which was part of the reason why he didn't feel like he belonged. In addition, he would spend more awake time in the city, probably around rangers as well. And the Lieutenant definitely saw the benefits in that.

"Can you ride a horse?" she asked.

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta
Outside Lieutenant Brian’s Office. In the Barracks.
On the day of Duinion’s meeting with Arnyn

It had begun with enthusiasm, and a jaunty herald to announce his presence. It had evolved into an impatient repetition, designed to drive almost any within hearing, to annoyed response. It had fallen toward boredom for a time then; a lacklustre, only half-alert almost habit with no real recollection of the motive. And finally Unalmis reached the point where he had tired of trying to knock for Lieutenant Brian’s attention. If the Barracks Master was actually hid behind his office door, then he had recently developed far more tolerance than the Ranger gave him credit for. More likely he was off performing room inspections.

The young man tried the handle of the door; admittedly, belatedly. But it was locked, of course. And in preference to sliding down the wall onto the floor in despair, nor wasting any further of his time, the Ranger shrugged and set off toward the staircase. Wondering quite why the Officer even had an office, save to lock away confiscated goods. Enquiring minds might have wondered why Unalmis of all people would be purposely seeking out the man who was ever less than enthused to encounter him. Any other day of the week they might have assumed that the youth was merely bored, or chalked it up to his tendency to apparently look for trouble. But this particular day he had a valid reason. And, not unlike every other hope he had that involved the petty Officer, it proved a disappointment.

Room 1, South Wing >>>> The Grounds, outside the Barracks
Meeting with Eryn, as per arrangement.
@Rillewen

There was little that the Lieutenant could have found to complain about in Room 1. For the most part that was due to how empty it now (still) stood. Fresh bedding of course was not an issue, and for the most part of what the Ranger had flung out of his window, ought never to have been in the room at all. The notion of random pieces of wood and various dog toys now cluttering up Brian’s office instead, with their captor thinking that this was some kind of a penance, Nal found rather amusing. Hattie hadn’t missed the toys that had been taken, was fully capable of taking on new toys of any size and shape as she came across them, and had happily settled into the ‘new’ blanket that she’d been gifted down at the farm.

He was rather more annoyed that Trastion’s possessions might have found their way into Brian’s lock-up. At least partly from a place of guilt, since Hattie had outright robbed the recruit in the first place. That little injustice was on Unalmis, who ought to have been responsible for the dog, or at all, and better not to have had the dog on the grounds in the first place. Recovering what treasures might have been took of his new friend was a part-time plot that took up much of the Ranger’s now waking hours. Thanks to Ilisys, a good portion of those waking hours were now spent in more productive matters. But there was still enough time to keep his mind as much as his body busy, outside of the training grounds.

He had certainly been adding to his water bottle collection. There currently stood 54 carefully sealed bottles of water beneath the Ranger’s bed and every time a stern escorted walk to the bathrooms saw them all poured away, the next day they were back, refilled, and more of them to boot. The culprit was fairly certain it was driving the Barracks Master to distraction as that determined inspector tried to work out what the young Ranger was up to, and how it could be considered against some rule or regulation. As if driving the Lieutenant to distraction were not enough for Nal to be up to, in and of itself ..


An equally agreeable distraction was served up to Unalmis himself, when the young man recognised the sound of a bird which did not frequent even the small grounds outside of his window. Ah, his little yellow hammer, he realised. It was later than he’d thought it was then. And it was largely the prospect of Lieutenant Brian being so unaccounted for this morning, that saw the Ranger set off at a run. The door of his room he left, as ever, wide open in his wake, with nary a glance behind him.

All thoughts of having to admit that he had not yet gained Brian’s permission, for Eryn’s idea, were flung far from his concern. And Nal was entirely prepared to swear that he had gone above and beyond to try and talk to the Barracks Master about it. But anyway, it could hardly be a problem if he were now to be found ‘keeping’ another Ranger in his room, could it ?

He found the horse and cart before he found their owner, but took them for substantial evidence to her being about the place. Figuring that Eryn would return to them sooner or later, he elected to spy out for his accomplice then from that vantage point.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office

So, it came with requirements as well. Not only did he have to spend a night in the dorms, but there was more? She hadn't mentioned that before. Duinion's frown deepened as he heard the lieutenant's requirements. She was willing to agree to every other week, but it came with far more demanding requirements. This was beginning to seem absurd to him. He should've kept his mouth shut. Now he had to spend even more time in the city. However, he noticed that she at least didn't insist that he had to spend the whole day in a particular area. It occurred to him he could visit a friend during that time, perhaps. That might help some, but then.. he was all the way down on the second level. That would be a long trip, and with these crutches, might take the entire time between one meal and the next. Well, maybe they'd figure something out.

"Ride a horse?" He repeated, a bit caught off guard by that question. "Of course." He answered without delay, a little puzzled why she was asking. Then, recalling his current predicament, he quickly added, "Oh.. well... not at the moment, I should say." He gestured with slight frustration toward his foot. "I imagine it wouldn't be all that good for my injury to be bumped and jostled against the horse's side, not to mention how difficult it would be getting on it." He gave a wry smile at that. "But, I'll get an update tomorrow about what I can or can't do." He shrugged, then tilted his head slightly at the lieutenant, curiously. "Why do you ask about that?"


@Ercassie

Erynneth Raedor
Outside the Ranger Commons

She waited for a moment, then sighed and headed back to the cart to wait, figuring he must be busy elsewhere. And then, to her surprise, found him waiting there by her cart. She laughed lightly and hurried over to meet him. "Hi! How's your day been?" She asked cheerily. "I was waiting for you out behind the barracks." She grinned. "It looks like you-know-who's gotten the ground all patched up, at least." She mentioned, knowing that Nal would know exactly whom she was referring to, then worried that there might be some trouble come from this scheme of theirs.

"Did you get it all cleared with him?" She wondered, climbing up to the back of the wagon, as she would if she were getting out a milk delivery. This delivery was not dairy, but rather a bundle of blankets and things, which she held down for Nal to take from her. "Dad's agreed to give it a try... for just one night." She informed him, though with slightly less triumph than she might have had. It had come at a cost, which she was reluctant to admit. "He's in there talking to the lieutenant, now. The other one," She added quickly. "Not... him." She grinned as she grabbed his small pack and hopped down again. "He wasn't happy about any of this," She sighed. "And I hated pushing so hard." She frowned down at the ground. "I'm afraid he's rather upset at me."

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta
Outside the Ranger Commons with Erynneth
On the day of Duinion’s meeting with Arnyn
@Rillewen

Unalmis had known that his friend would not abandon her horse overlong, at the least because a certain Barracks Master was liable to make complaint about the wagon ‘blocking’ access, which it didn’t at all. Still he stood sentry in case explanations were required. And until the Ranger smiled to observe Eryn emerge from around a corner, her surprise evident about the girl’s face as she approached.

“I heard you,” Nal complimented her birdcall, genuinely impressed, for it had improved; for all that it was not so ‘exciting’ a skill as others she had a want to perfect. “But I haven’t seen him,” he was forced to admit as she ascended into the wagon. “So it has been a good day so far, and also not so much, all at once. I think our favourite gardener might be avoiding me,” he laughed, receiving the goods which were passed out a moment later. “He’s certainly made sure to remove all sign that Hattie was ever here,” the young man sighed. “Though if your horse has need to make with business, I happen to know of a perfect patch of his garden right outside a certain office window which could benefit from some fertiliser !”


Unalmis readied to help Eryn down back to ground, but she was still hunting for something that was yet to be unloaded. “I knocked on that particular office door for hours,” he confessed, “but I guess he might have started his inspections early today, or started at the other end, for a change.” It was not beyond a stretch of the imagination that Lieutenant Brian had opted to leave Room 1 until last. Nor that the Ranger had not looked to carry out his part of the plan until the last minute. But they had only come up with it about a day ago. And in the space of time it must have taken Eryn to convince her father, Unalmis had gone through a day of training with Ilisys and then the awkward weekly dinner with his own father. By the time he had gotten in the night before, Lieutenant Brian was to bed, even if Unalmis was not.

“You really can do anything,” he marvelled though, on hearing that Duinion had been convinced, or more likely worn down by the girl’s impressive tenacity. She did not seem too happy about the success however, and Nal gave her a concerned glance. “Well if it was at all easy for him, then we would not have to resort to all of this in the first place,” he reminded her. “Sometimes parents need a push. Trust me. I don’t think he’s upset with you, not really. It’s the situation that has him unhappy.”


When Eryn hopped lightly down by herself, small pack in hand, Unalmis pondered her report of where her father was right then. “The other one ...” he considered Lieutenant Arnyn. “She’s certainly more reasonable. At least Trastion says so,” he shrugged, unable to offer a more devout opinion of an officer he scarcely knew. “I was going to suggest we broach the Captain, but if the new Lieutenant is the one on duty today, maybe she can help chase down our missing barracks master, or act as authority in his stead,” Nal supposed. It would be especially satisfying to report to the Barracks Master, if he complained about an overnight guest, that the other officer had already given authorisation, when her more finicky peer had not been available in time to deny it.

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

The grin did not yet appear in full on her face, although the set of her eyes and the hint of a smile around her lips betrayed a thawing in the right direction. Kaylin's eyes remained on Pele's face even as she grabbed the Captain's arm in response to her extended hand.

"Aye," she agreed. "A toast seems apt." Her blue-grey eyes narrowed slightly. "But no tea, Pele. Show me you are serious. Some ale, at the least. Or wine. Agreed?" For some reason, Kaylin felt that Pele's acquiescence to this small request would seal the deal. It would be against her friend's regular habits, and this would prove Pele's will to make things right between them with more than just words. And it was not a big ask, really.

***


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office
@Rillewen

He was discontent with her requirements. That much was obvious.

He was not putting much of his discontent into words, unless she prompted him directly. Even now, Arnyn figured she would have to ask again in order to get any verbal acknowledgement of his body language, if she wanted any. However, she decided she would not tell him once more that he could speak his mind. He could - respectfully. But he should know that he could by now. He was a man grown, quite a bit older than she was herself. Spelling things out for him over and over was unnecessary. In fact, Arnyn figured it was a deliberate choice of his to remain silent. Probably the first consequence of the demands she had for him today.

The Lieutenant was about to nod when he said that yes, he could ride, when he backtracked and said he could not at the moment. Arnyn blinked. Of course she had meant whether he was able to ride with his foot in his current condition - she knew very well he could ride when unencumbered. She sat still as Duinion explained why not. When he said he would get an update from the healers tomorrow, she finally gave the nod she had intended to give.

"I asked because I hardly expect you to go up and down six circles on crutches, Duinion," she said, frowning. "Think of me as demanding, if you wish. But I am not cruel. I would seek to give you transportation. Hence my question."

"So," she said, returning to the heart of the matter. "Which will you choose? One evening, night and early morning every week, or a full day, night and entire morning bi-weekly?" The Lieutenant slanted her head. "There is no negotiating on these terms. However, if I can do anything within these terms to make your stay more agreeable, whichever option you choose, please tell me. And if you prefer to take some time to think it over and make your choice in the morning, I can be here both before and after breakfast."

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3
@Arnyn

Pele tilted her head slightly at Kaylin's request as she considered it; she would have chosen tea most certainly, especially when it was likely that she would have to handle more duties later. Yet she much rather preferred to have their relationship sorted to adhering to her usual principles and way of life since a glass of a stronger drink was not likely to change much.

"All right, I could give up my most treasured tea for a glass of red if they have any and if you consider it sufficient," she finally said, a merry glint in her eyes. Her voice was serious though, as she continued: "I might have kept silent for too long, but will do my best not to hide anything of importance from you. So... if there is any further information you need or such, just ask." Pele could not help but feel that by saying this she had burned the bridges behind her and cut off the way to retreat from the commitments made and the course of more transparency she had chosen to stick to. Yet, it seemed fitting and would also ensure accountability if she were ever tempted to shut herself off again.

"If you ever notice that I'm not sharing what ought to be shared, feel free to kick me or something. Yes?" While the words seemed to convey a touch of joking, she meant it and sought confirmation in Kaylin's eyes.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office

Duinion let out a slow breath, thoughtful as he listened to Arnyn. At least he was given a choice about it, but neither option was very appealing. But it was somewhat reassuring that he could choose one or the other. But which to choose? His frown grew slightly as he pondered about that matter. In the meanwhile she spoke of transportation. "I can ride in with my daughter, on the dairy cart. As I did today," He assured the lieutenant. He paused, thinking about that a bit more, as one potential conflict occurred to him. "I suppose we will have to work that out among us.. but I'm sure we can simply arrange for one of the days that they don't need the cart for any deliveries."

She was still waiting for an answer about which option he'd go with, he knew. He hadn't forgotten, merely put that off a few moments. And he still didn't have an answer. How did one pick between two unpleasant choices like that? He held back a sigh, but couldn't figure out which would be less unpleasant. "I'd like to think on it overnight." He answered at last, finding it impossible to reach a decision at the moment. Such things seemed best if not rushed, he felt. And that way he could take his time thinking it through and weighing the options, and wrapping his head around the whole thing.

@Ercassie

Erynneth Raedor
Outside the Ranger Commons

Eryn was pleased to hear him say he'd heard her. She could only guess he meant the yellowhammer call, and was happy to take that to mean she was getting better at using it. She still didn't have her father's skill at making various bird sounds with just his mouth, sometimes with the aid of his hands, but she was making steps in the same direction. She really did hope to be as skilled as him, someday, but knew that she still had a long way to go in that regard.

As Nal revealed the amount of time he had spent knocking, Eryn paused and looked at him in slight amazement. "Did you think he was just ignoring you?" She wondered with a laugh. And he said she was tenacious! She grinned and took a glance at the horse at Nal's suggestion. "I don't think it would be wise to antagonize him," She replied, shaking her head, though with great amusement. "I left Hattie at the farm to avoid that very possibility, in fact." She was half-apologetic about that, knowing that Nal would have very much enjoyed seeing his dog, but still... after the last time she, Hattie, and Nal had been around the barracks, and considering their intention to make a request of the barrack's master... she definitely thought it best to leave the dog where she was less likely to get into trouble. At the moment she was Aggie and Cailon's problem.

Eryn then gave a small laugh at Nal's proclamation she could do anything, but grew serious again shortly after. "Well..." She paused, then figured she might as well reveal, "It came at a price. But I hope this will do something to help him... and so, then it will be worth it. I hope." She answered with a shrug. "And he's the one who was worrying about it, anyway, so..." She trailed off, deciding she ought not speak too much about how she'd come to know about this in the first place. She hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but she hadn't quite expected him to have company that late, either. "I know he isn't upset at me," She assured Nal, though sighed. "He's frustrated about the injury, being unable to get around like he wants to... and I think, maybe a little guilty too," She added quietly, hesitating. "I don't think he'd admit it, you know, but I think.. as much as he hates this injury and all, he feels guilty if he makes any complaint about it, because... you know. Your father..." She mentioned, revealing some of what she had been thinking about in the last few weeks... trying to find a deeper understanding of her father and the way he'd been being lately.

"I don't know how long his meeting is going to last," She mentioned with a glance toward the building. "Should we wait, you think? Or, maybe go for a walk or something?" Since Duinion hadn't known what to expect from the meeting, Eryn had no idea how long he might be. "Or, since you couldn't find Lieutenant Brian, you might have to go ask Lieutenant Arnyn, instead." She wondered if she would be able to take care of it, or if they had to talk to Brian about it. It would definitely be more favorable to talk to Arnyn, she figured, especially hearing that Nal's friend Trastion had good things to say about her.

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters
@Pele Alarion

"Very good!" Kaylin said, regaining some of her usual flair as she released her grip on her friend's arm. "I shall join you and also have a glass of red. Not a half bad idea." She looked over at Pele's weapons collection, still spread out over the floor of her room. "You are leaving this... like so?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. She would be fine with doing so if it were her weapons and her room, but she wasn't convinced Pele would be able to leave it spread out like this.

At Pele's next comments and her short question at the end, Kaylin gave her a thoughtful look. "Well. I can ask. Now I know what to ask for, at least." She paused a moment, considering something. "Kick you when I notice you're withholding information you shouldn't be?" she repeated questioningly, and shook her head. "To that I will only happily comply if you make sure to inform the Lieutenant first. As I wouldn't want her to misunderstand my boot and all," Kaylin said in a casual tone of voice, shrugging as she moved to open the door.

***


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office
@Rillewen

"Very well." Since he had not said whether he would prefer to come in and give her his decision before or after breakfast, she decided that one for him. "Then I will come here after breaking my own fast in the mess tomorrow morning. You can relay your choice to me then." And depending on his choice, the logistics would be slightly different, so she could hold off on those until the decision was made.

"You are dismissed," she said more quietly, slowly rising to her feet. "Unless there is something else you would like to say." Her brown eyes searched his expression. She suspected that her demands had taken him aback and there would be little else on his mind at the moment - but you never knew. If there was nothing else, however, she would open the door for him on his way out, and then leave it as such and continue her paperwork.

[Arnyn]

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Barracks - Common room
Early evening, before dinner is served at the mess
- Open -

The common room was shadowy and quiet. The hour was one of late afternoon or early evening, before dinner was served at the mess. Arnyn's duties for the day were taken care of, and Pele was well guarded. Weirdly enough, this gave her some free time. It had been a while since she'd had free time. She wasn't entirely sure what to do with it.

After moving into the barracks, she had thrown herself into her new role. It had been mere moments ago that she had realized she could do something else than either sit in her room or go about the city. The common room was like the barracks' living room, wasn't it? When people didn't particularly feel like being alone, anyway.

She was out of luck in that it was empty. It was a bit early, perhaps. Back in the ERC, she frequented the Hyandaner common room the most, when every division had their own space. But she also made appearances in the general common room, which... had a striking resemblance to this one. It felt familiar, even though it was in an entirely different building and even on a different circle of the City. Arnyn sighed, smiling, and lit one of the fireplaces. Then she chose a book from the case, and leisurely lay down on the sofa closest to the fireplace she had lit. Her boots were dangling out of the sofa, as to avoid getting any dirt on them, even though her boots were clean. Her head was resting on the arm support. Soon she lost herself in the story. She would have to be careful not to miss dinner.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Headquarters - Captain's office

Dismissed, just like that. But, at least it wasn't THE dismissal which he had feared. That was a relief, at least. Letting out a slow breath that somehow felt as if he'd been holding it the entire meeting, he watched her stand up. What happened to the ideas of productive things he could do? While he could sort of gather that she figured this was in some way productive, it wasn't at all the sort of thing he had anticipated. Was that the only 'useful' thing she could come up with for him? That... was rather disappointing. And not only did he not have anything to do to keep occupied while he was healing.. but he had to be here where there was even less to do. He couldn't help having a suspicion that this was going to make things worse, rather than better, but he thought it best not to say so out loud. As the lieutenant asked whether there was anything else he'd like to say, Duinion hesitated briefly, considering asking her something, but then gave a small shake of his head after deciding he might not want to hear whatever her answer would be. "No, nothing." He confirmed quietly.

Mind racing with all everything that had transpired in this meeting, and all the thoughts that accompanied it, Duinion slowly stood as well, balanced on the one foot as he picked up his crutches and positioned them. "Tomorrow after breakfast," He repeated, although it was hard to tell if he was saying this as his parting words, or speaking with a sense of doom that he had to give a decision by that time. He wanted more than anything to be able to walk out of the office, after all that. But instead, he made his way out slowly, and a bit awkwardly, on the crutches, with a small nod of gratitude when she opened the door for him. At least he had plenty to think about and keep his mind occupied during this long night ahead of him, he thought wryly as he moved slowly toward the exit.

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta
Outside the Ranger Commons with Erynneth
On the day of Duinion’s meeting with Arnyn
@Rillewen

“At first,” Unalmis conceded. “And while I would not put it past him to purposely ignore me, I do think he could not have held out for as long as I tested,” the young Man looked almost proud of his claim. But as Eryn went on to suggest that they probably ought not antagonise the Barracks Master, the Ranger supposed it was possibly even not such a bad thing that Lieutenant Brian had been out and away during the recent ‘visit’. It clearly was not difficult to antagonise the officer even when they were not trying. He might deny them the request on pure spite. And yet, this time they had reason and rules on their side, for perhaps the first time ever. The Barracks’ main function was to house Rangers, after all, and Duinion was a bonafide Ranger. The fact that he chose to reside with his family was the Tirdinen’s choice. But given that there was a medical appointment early the next day, that the man was scarcely mobile right now, and the healing houses were not far from the barracks … well, it defied all logic to deny a Ranger what should by rights be the man’s very right anyway. They could not be refused. If Duinion himself could be convinced of the plan’s merit, then anybody could.


Nal's accomplice, the greater conspirator of course, was rather more evasive where the conversation took them afterwards. As to why she was so keen to have this opportunity for her father in the first place. Apparently Duinion was fretting for some reason that his prolonged injury would see him kicked out of the Company, or something. As though the injury would not in fact ever heal. Having endured the frustrating wait of recovery himself, some years back, this concern made sense, in as far as Unalmis could understand it; but still he was quite looking forward to having the Tirdinen around the place. There was some degree of excitement about it, even. Almost as though he doubted if Duinion had ever been house trained, or something, which of course he must be. But Unalmis had never seen his father’s friend sit down and eat at a table, or sleep in a regular bed, or curl up with a book in the commons room … His experience of Ranger Raedor was out camping, hunting, roaming, hiking .. Even when he ‘visited’, the older Ranger was obviously antsy and all too eager to be gone. It had been great to observe him so much more relaxed when they all had travelled to Rohan together in the Spring. Nal was keen to return to that sense of comradery they'd experienced on the trip, besides wanting to help out friends who were as good as family.


“I’m not sure we should go too far, if we don’t know how long before your father is finished with the Lieutenant,” Unalmis changed the subject, from his own father, to the more preferable one which Eryn had giftwrapped. “I could show you the Commons Room ? It’s close enough that if we keep an eye out for the HQ door, then we will see when they’re finished up. I might worry about leaving your horse here, but maybe that will get our errant Barrack Master’s attention and bring him ..” Nal paused, on the cusp of having suggested, yet again, that they should hope to antagonise Lieutenant Brian. As though deeds that would rile the officer might raise him out of thin air ! To be fair, having a civilian in the Common Room at all was just as liable to turn the Barracks Master’s face new shades of the rainbow. But Eryn would surely want to give her father his things and no doubt bid him well and such things, let alone stay to see he was alright after this meeting.

Unalmis did not really expect that the outcome of the meeting could really be so bad as Duinion or Eryn feared. But from the look on the Tirdinen’s face when they did find him shortly afterwards, it did not seem as though it had gone all that well either.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Officer Quarters, Room 3

“Great!” Pele said, satisfied that they had agreed to an appropriate type of drink, and then glanced at the weapons. “Suppose I should put these away, lest Lt Brian decide to spring a room inspection on me, though I doubt he would dare such a thing…”
It did not take her long to sheathe all her blades appropriately and store them away in the cabinet, and she made sure to double check so that nothing was forgotten. That done, the room looked orderly yet again, and Pele turned back to Kaylin.

“All things considering, I might notify Arnyn,” she noted, and a merry spark appeared in her eyes as she imagined a situation of actual kicking. “Though I doubt she would understand the application of a literal boot. Anyway…” She gave her room another look and then opened the door and nodded at her ever present guard who snapped to attention by the door.

~~~~~
Common Room, joining Arnyn

Pele was returning from the washroom having rinsed off the results of hours spent on the training grounds. She did not really care that other Rangers, or her guards, or anyone else in the barracks saw her dressed in anything else but impeccable uniform, and whistling a merry tune she walked through the hallway dressed in simple leggings, tunic and oversized sweater. She was still drying her hair in the towel, as she shuffled along in her house slippers.

She was intending to go straight for her room, but a random glance towards the door of the common room told her that someone was inside – she could see a glimpse of a dancing shadow on the wall from a flame in the fireplace. Interested, Pele turned away from her intended course and stood in the open doorway.

For a while she stood observing Arnyn with a smile, and eventually declared in a loud voice: “And they lived happily ever after! Right?”

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Barracks - Officer Quarters - Mess hall
@Pele Alarion

"You should be inspecting Lieutenant Brian's room, not the other way around," Kaylin mumbled as Pele was putting away the weapons, although it was satisfying to hear that the barracks master probably wouldn't dare inspect the Captain's quarters.

As they left Pele's room and went into the hallway of the officers' quarters, Kaylin pretended to be shocked. "What? Arnyn wouldn't understand a literal boot?! Why in Middle-Earth not? Surely, if it's a clean one?" She made a face at Pele's guard, hoping this one would ease up a little. His face had gotten familiar throughout the past months, as many of the faces had. It was a sadness that they were mostly taciturn - and serious to a fault.

After entering the little mess (it was not mealtime), Kaylin eagerly went to pour two glasses of the red wine that was usually available, greeting the few rangers she encountered on the way. The wine at the mess was very decent, even enjoyable - not something that was expected perhaps but true all the same. There were pubs that carried less savoury vintages. The Hyandaner offered the Captain one of the glasses and then raised her own. "To friendship! And taking care of each other!" Kaylin peered over her glass at Pele.

***


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Headquarters - command office
@Rillewen

Leaning against the doorframe, Arnyn watched Duinion leave. Her expression was thoughtful, almost absent-minded. Depending on his answer tomorrow, she had a few ideas to keep him occupied. But as of now, his head was too full. This was not the time. He needed to process what she wanted him to work on, first and foremost.

Her dark eyes made sure no one was around to see it, and only then did she sigh wearily and retreat into the office. She left the door open as she first poured herself some water and downed the glass. She touched a small pouch at her weapons belt, as if to ascertain its contents were still there. There would also be another topic to broach in the morning. She could not forget. Should not.

Her hand ran through the hair on her head, even though it was pulled back into a side braid. Back to the paperwork. A break from the complexities of human nature seemed like a good idea.

***


Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Barracks - Common room
Early evening, before dinner is served at the mess
- Open - & with Pele

The sound of a voice didn't startle her. In fact it took a few moments to realize it was probably aimed at her and no one else, as she pulled herself from the story and focused on the common room, and, eventually, the figure standing in the doorway.

Arnyn grinned. "Ah. I do not yet know, but I should hope so. Sad endings generally feel like a waste." She straightened partially, into a very casual seated position with one leg partially pulled up onto the sofa and still heavily reclined, instead of lying down as she had been doing. Pele had clearly just washed up. Arnyn moved her head as if looking behind her friend. "They don't follow you into the wash room, do they?" she laughed quietly, referring to Pele's perpetual guards, although simultaneously worrying that if they did not, it was an ideal situation for someone to target Pele.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Duinion and Erynneth Raedor
Outside the Ranger Commons

As Nal suggested that they ought not venture too far, Eryn nodded, conceding that he was right on that point. "True, I just wish I knew how much longer before he'll be finished." She grinned though at the offer to see the common room. "Is it allowed?" She wondered, curious. It would be fun to get to see the inside areas of the ranger headquarters, but if it was likely to antagonize Brian, she thought of all days, this would not be the best one to choose to do something that might make him deny their request simply because he got upset. "I'd love to see it, but.. perhaps not.." She hesitated. "Maybe when we get everything settled, you can give us both a tour?" She wasn't sure if her dad had ever been in the living areas of the ranger's headquarters, so it would be nice to see whatever places there were that he could go to while he was here.

Letting out a little sigh of slight impatience, Eryn glanced toward the building, wondering how long his meeting would last. Just at that moment, she saw the door starting to open. She straightened, watching, debating if she ought to go over and open for him, but then thought, if it wasn't her father, whoever it was might find it a bit strange. Then, seeing her father slowly emerge on his crutches, she was slightly annoyed at herself for not going over to help him. He would have gotten annoyed at her for doing it, but that wasn't really that big of a deal. He was hurt, and mobility was difficult for him right now. While she knew he was able to manage on his own, she wanted to help him in any way possible, and it was hard watching him struggle like this. But she tried to remind herself he didn't like her trying to be so helpful, and turned back to Nal, after a brief inner debate.

"He doesn't look very thrilled," She commented softly, a little uneasy about what he might say. She knew he was upset with her, or at least with the situation, but she wasn't sure how things had gone inside. "What do you think happened?" She whispered, slightly anxious for her father's sake. The wait for him to join them seemed almost painfully long, as he progressed forward with the crutches, but at last he stopped by the wagon. "I thought you would have been gone," Duinion mentioned, hesitant.

"I was waiting..." She answered with a small shrug, glancing at him curiously. The unspoken question in her eyes was asking, what had happened in there?

Duinion leaned against the side of the wagon, letting out a small sigh. "Hello, Unalmis," He greeted the younger ranger, and close friend of the family. "I'm..glad you waited, Eryn." He added, turning to his daughter again. "I... um. I shouldn't have been so...upset toward you, earlier. I'm sorry."

Eryn blinked, caught off guard by this sudden apology. "Um. It's fine. I knew you weren't really upset at me, so much as..other stuff." She shrugged, shifting a little awkwardly. "Dad, um, Nal wasn't able to find the barrack's master, so..."

"So, you haven't managed to get permission for your scheme?" He asked with a wry smile. "I have a feeling that all is taken care of, in that regard." He sighed softly. "Which, brings me to that matter..." He hesitated. "I..uh... as much as I wish I didn't have to do this.. I must release you from your end of our deal, Eryn." He met her gaze briefly before looking down with a frown. "The whole thing is, regretfully, void now."

"Dad, no.. you can't back out now!" Eryn frowned, folding her arms. "I know you don't want to do this, but-"

"I'm not backing out," He assured her, putting up a hand to stop her. "Lieutenant Dealedwen had the same idea as you, oddly enough. Only... she's made it an order. And I can't go against an order from a superior." He explained with a frown. "So... I don't feel right holding you to your end of that bargain, now." He sighed.

Eryn's eyes widened slightly, stunned for a moment. She wasn't sure what to say to that, except, "Oh." She stared at him in silence, thinking about that. After a moment to let it sink in, she glanced at Nal, then back at Duinion, frowned, then hugged him lightly, careful of the crutches and his foot. "At least it's just one night, though." She mentioned tentatively, trying to give some sort of silver lining.

Duinion let out a little laugh, but without much humor in it. "It's a lot worse than that, dear..." He informed her, his frown deepening slightly as he returned her hug.

Eryn looked up at him, worried. "You don't have to move in here?" She asked, unsure what sort of drastic thing might have been demanded of him. He definitely didn't look happy, and that was the first thing that jumped to mind.. other than the other thing he'd expressed concern about. But he didn't act as if that was what had happened.

"No! not that bad," he assured her, quickly. "Thank goodness. But let's not say that too loudly, alright? I don't want to put the idea in her head." He added with a brief glance back toward the building with the office. "Let's get the wagon over by the stables before someone complains about it blocking traffic, and then I'll fill you both in." he suggested, gathering his crutches under his arms again so he could move out of the way.

[Ercassie]

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta
with Erynneth and Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
After Duinion’s meeting with Arnyn
@Rillewen

Caught between the prospects of getting Eryn too excited about a tour, and nonetheless keeping her distracted from worrying about her father, Unalmis opted to simply smile, and put his attention into admiring the horse. His friend had showed off her own horse, Buttercup, to the Ranger more than once, but he was less familiar with this one.

Duinion emerged from the Headquarters building not long after Eryn had let out a sigh. But he did not look to give her any more cause to relax. That awkward uncertainty kept them company, the one where helping and not helping both might have wrought equal upset, but the Ranger was slightly more practiced in the situation than his friend. He was impressed that she did not immediately fly to greet her parent. No doubt the look about the Tirdinen’s face was inspiring all sorts of possibilities.

It was clear that the taut emotion between father and daughter required to be amended, so Nal suddenly could not give the horse enough attention, after but a nod and a smile to acknowledge Duinion’s greeting. There were times when it was wise to interject a little light heartedness, and even he knew that right now was not one of those occasions.


When the Man though spoke of their conspiracy being ‘void’ and his daughter protested, Unalmis could not help but find his mind heralded back to their conversation, which he ought not to be listening to really. But, he was there. And could not really help the doing so. When Duinion mentioned the horse, as aware as the younger folks had been, that it might not be best to leave there overlong, Unalmis saw his chance to intervene without really interrupting. Hopefully, it would be a remedy of sorts.


“If I show you where the Commons room is, in the Barracks, you can sit down and talk with a little more privacy ?” the Ranger suggested. “Barracks are just across the courtyard there,” he pointed out the fairly short distance which he had frequently sped across in order to attend meetings at the HQ building. “The Commons Room has chairs and its enormous. Twenty different groups of people could all be having their own private meetings in there, and all not disturb one another at all. There are plenty of windows, for reading all the books and things, and it’s on the ground floor,” he put in, with purpose, although tried on some level to sound rather more careless about the reference. With luck it would make Duinion happier about sitting indoors, and Eryn’s curiosity had clearly been raised before, to see the interior.

“I’ll bring the bags, Eryn. Just watch out for mad squirrels that might dash out and knock your father over,” he grinned, though well aware that the Tirdinen was used to Hattie dashing all about. “Once you are settled and sat down, I can see the horse to the stables. You can keep each other company and it won’t take long,” he shrugged.


Clearly there was much required to be said between father and daughter, and his loitering would potentially be a hindrance, as much as he had promised to help. He knew that the two had a very close knit relationship and as envious as that sometimes left Nal, he was equally uneasy about being caught up in it, as though a third wheel. The news that Lieutenant Dealedwen had suggested something ‘of a similar’ strain to Eryn’s plot, gave the young man hope that Lieutenant Brian would already have been spoken to by the other officer, or at the least that the Barracks Master was no longer such a required stop. That was fantastic news. No doubt for everyone concerned.




Inside the Barracks ..


“The Commons Room is here on your left,” the Ranger played tourguide, once they had all come through the Barracks doors. As promised there was an avenue of long windows stretching the length of the room, with occasional fireplaces to rally warmth and comfort, that the many comfortable armchairs, and low tables already emitted for their own part. Nal set down the luggage that he’d carried for Duinion, and glanced about for what else he ought let them know.

“The mess hall is across there,” an arm extended to the equally large room which sat on the right hand side of the ground floor. “And that .. is Lieutenant You-Know-Who’s office,” he turned his head in a warning, to the door which sat more central, between the two. “The sleeping quarters are all upstairs, women on the one side, men on the other. Mine is the very first room you come to on the first floor,” he winked. Admittedly he recognised just afterwards that might have looked suggestive towards the young girl, so quickly glanced toward her father. “It’s the least amount of stairs and the least amount of corridor away, in terms of sleeping quarters,” he put in, better making his point than perhaps the previous description.


Unalmis had not missed the part where Duinion had prophesised disappointing news to come, but whether the Tirdinen was going to stay over or not, he could currently sit down, have a private chat with his daughter, and feel hopefully not awash in such a large place. Perhaps Lieutenant Deadledwen had already explained all of this, but she could not have shown him, since the two had not left the office until they’d finished. And even if Duinion was not staying overnight now, it was not entirely beyond reason for the young man to show off where he lived, even a little.

“There is food in the little mess, there,” he promised, pointing it out. “If you want a drink. Else I’ll fetch you something when I get back. Got to see to the horse,” he called this last over his shoulder, heading back out, as he left the father and daughter to take in the enormous sitting room.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Duinion and Erynneth Raedor
Outside the Ranger Commons
Directly after meeting with Arnyn

Unalmis' suggestion to show them to the common room wasn't too bad an idea. Duinion gave a small nod in agreement with it. "Alright, that doesn't sound too bad." He agreed. "You'll have to show us the way, I've never been in the buildings on that side before," The realization hit him even as he was saying it. This was all new. Trying to think of it as some sort of adventure, he gathered the crutches again under his arms, trying to keep in mind not to rush it. That was a good way to fall down, and he definitely did not want to fall down. Not only would it hurt, but it'd be embarrassing as well.

"Wow, that sounds huge," Eryn commented, after Nal's description of the place. Glancing at her dad, she wondered if he'd mind this place so much once he'd seen it. Maybe it was just the idea of it that he was opposed to? She was quite curious to see it for herself, at any rate. She smiled at the talk about the wild squirrels, and took an exaggeratedly careful look around. "I don't see any, but thanks for the warning." She grinned, and walked slowly alongside her father to keep an eye out in case he looked like he might lose his balance. But all went smoothly, and soon she was holding the door open for him, waiting patiently as he moved through on his crutches.

In the Common Room

The bright sunlight was cut off as Eryn let the door close, once the three of them were inside the darker entryway. Duinion stopped, blinking several times, feeling blinded by the sudden contrast. After a few seconds, his eyes adjusted, and he looked around at the various places Nal was pointing to. Common room, left. Mess hall, right. Seemed simple enough. And then Nal uttered a dreadful word, which Duinion hadn't even thought about until that moment. Stairs. Turning to stare at the ominous stairway leading up to the dorms, he didn't even notice Nal's possibly questionable conduct. "Upstairs?" He sighed heavily. Seriously? As if this whole thing wasn't bad enough already!

Her father's tone caught her attention, and Eryn realized immediately this could be a problem. She hadn't actually realized the dorms were ALL upstairs. "Oh... um.. don't worry, we'll help you with it, right Nal?" She mentioned, suspecting that such a thing would be rather tricky with crutches. And to her knowledge, he had yet to encounter any stairs since he'd been stuck using them, so... he had yet to gain any sort of experience in this. Possibly more worried than her father was about the thought of him falling, she was glad to hear there was only the one flight of steps he would have to conquer. "It shouldn't be too bad, right?" She tried being optimistic about the whole thing, although she felt bad that she hadn't known about that obstacle when she arranged this.

Making a small huffing noise, Duinion moved into the common room without a word, breathing slightly easier when he was greeted with a row of many windows, allowing the cheery sunlight to stream in and brightening the room considerably more than the entry had been. Once he had sunk down into the nearest chair, Eryn took the crutches and held onto them for him, looking in the direction that Nal had indicated for the 'little mess'. She wondered who came up with a name like 'mess' for a place where people ate. It seemed odd, but she didn't remark on that. "Thanks, Nal." She smiled after him as he set off to deal with the horse. Turning to her dad, she remained close to his chair so they could talk privately together while waiting for Nal to return.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Duinion Raedor
Captain's office, after breakfast

The revelation that the barracks were upstairs had been rather jarring to Duinion. But, somehow, after a long day that seemed to drag on and on forever... he had made it up there, got through the night, then managed to get back down again without incident. Largely due to some aid from Unalmis, of course, although the young man was kind enough not to make it terribly obvious. At last, it was time for the breakfast meal, and he had only to wait until it was over. Unalmis had rushed off to do some training with Ilisys, and Duinion couldn't help envying him a little. He was more than ready to get outside, and do something, yet there was nothing that he could do but wait. He couldn't even pace around impatiently, which made it even more difficult. He could hardly wait to get all of this over with, and go home.

At last, the breakfast meal had concluded despite his barely picking at it, and waited a few minutes to give Arnyn time to be in the office. He'd taken a glance around the mess hall, but hadn't seen her. As large as the place was, he wasn't surprised, and he had chosen a less populated area in which to sit. She might have been on the other end of the hall, and he wouldn't have seen her, so he had no idea whether she was there or in the office, or elsewhere. Once outside the barracks building, he paused and took a deeper breath. Taking his time to cross the courtyard, he enjoyed the feel of sunlight on his shoulders, inhaling the somewhat fresher air, and taking in the sight of the trees and grass, before arriving at the door to the next building. He got through the door with only a little difficulty, though he nearly dropped one of the crutches in the process. Then approached the office and knocked, hoping she was already there... if not, he would lean against the wall beside the door and wait for her.