Minas Tirith Streets and Levels (Free RP)

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan Alarion

Third level ~ early evening

2 days after the Midsummer event

@Rillewen

He looked at her when she asked about peeling potatoes. He flicked off another peel. "Your mother is right, but I want to mash some of these, so they don't need the peel." He returned to his potatoes and nearly chuckled at watching her chasing after the carrot pieces trying to escape. He had to chase a carrot or too himself and could sympathize with her.

He then waited to see what her plans for the masque were. Although her answer was a bit of a disappointment, he did his best not to show it. Instead, he returned her grin with a smile. He shrugged at her question. "I know that's the purpose of them but..."He shrugged." It would be nice to have someone I knew to talk to is all." He returned to scalping another potato. He was quiet for a moment. "Speaking of pounding hot metal and watching sparks fly, the first time you were burnt by one of those sparks did you put your hammer down and quit? Something made you try again, didn't it? You also wouldn't be dancing with a stranger, well, not a complete stranger anyways." He offered her a friendly smile.

Before she could answer he turned to the boiling pot. " I think I should check that."

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Cali Dringolben
Third level - early evening
2 days after the Midsummer event

She nodded in understanding as he explained about the potatoes. "Makes sense," She agreed. She was somewhat curious about how to make this. She'd never been deeply involved in the cooking at home when she was growing up, since she was more often out playing with the others or hovering over her dad's shoulder watching him work. Then, at Ivornith's house, something like this would have been too bothersome and time consuming, so they would go with something simple and easy, because either Cali didn't know how to do much else, or Ivornith was too tired to do much else, after working all day.

When Mourgan asked her about the sparks burning her, she was a little puzzled. She glanced at him and started to mention that the sparks were fairly harmless, and that she wore a leather apron to protect herself from things like that anyway. It was the slag and things like that, that you had to watch out for.. And sure, she'd gotten a few burns, not to mention cuts and smashed fingers, and other small injuries over the years working at the forge, but that was a lot different from going to some dance where she would feel totally out of place and awkward, around people she didn't know, and couldn't even be sure of who they were. Smithing was something she did because she enjoyed it. Going to parties and dances.. not so much.

But before she had a chance to give an answer, he took off to go check on the pot. She kept her thoughts to herself for the moment, and worked in silence until all of the vegetables were properly chopped. Eventually, the shepherd's pie came together and was ready to go into the oven. Cali gathered some dishes and utensils, and set the table while Mourgan was putting the pie in to bake. Though she kept quiet during all that time, her thoughts were very busy. Once the food was in the oven and all that was left to do was wait, she sat down at the table. This felt like a really, really long day.. glancing over at the back door, she almost couldn't believe that only a few hours ago, Mourgan had broken the door in and set off all of those crazy traps. In retrospect, she realized what a hazard those had been, and decided it would be best not to do any more traps in the future. But, they also needed some way to defend themselves. She held back a sigh as that thought came to mind. She didn't really know what to do, and felt that locks weren't enough.

Aside from that, she also felt like maybe some more explanation was owed, to Mourgan. She glanced at him. "I was nervous, you know," She mentioned quietly, returning to the topic from earlier, feeling as if she was breaking a long silence. "At the midsummer thing, the other day, when you asked me to dance. I.. didn't really come there to dance or anything." She smiled a bit shyly as she looked down at her lap. "I only went there at all because.." She laughed faintly, "Nal hid my hammer, and I came to demand it back. Then he.." She sighed, with a hint of exasperation, "He talked me into sticking around, and.. then all that other stuff happened, and.. and ever since, it's just been... I don't know." She ended with a huff of frustration, as she couldn't quite find the right words. "Anyway. The point I was trying to get to, is that.. that makes the second time now that I've gone to some festival thing, with a lot of people around, and that man showed up, and things ended terribly." Both times, because of that Arkadhur guy. Just because they had him in custody now, didn't make her feel completely safe. What if he escaped somehow?

She shook her head slightly to try and dispel such thoughts, then turned her head to look at the oven, as if to see how the pie was doing. Despite the fact that she couldn't actually see it. It was more because she didn't want to be looking directly at Mourgan as she spoke again. "I used to think I was this.. really tough girl, you know.. that no one could mess with me or my friends." She went on, quietly. "And, then.. well, the one time I actually really needed to defend my friend.. I tried.. but I was.. I felt.. useless, and terrified. And weak. Not at all brave and strong like I wanted to be." She sighed and rubbed at her eye as subtly as she could manage. "My brother once taught me some basic self-defense moves, and.. I could barely remember how to do even one of them. He'd probably be really disappointed with me," She muttered, frowning as she looked down. "I.. tried to fight the guy, but I didn't know what to do, and all I succeeded in doing was making him so angry he broke my arm. And he might have killed Iole.." She sighed, putting her head in her hands with her elbows resting on the table. "I don't ever want to be in a situation like that again."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

There was still a bit of bafflement, as well as doubt, lingering in the corners of Trastion's mind as he made his way back up through the levels. This time, not only was he wearing all the gear he had worn to this morning's training session, but he also carried his pack along. It was quite heavy. He was very glad he hadn't had to carry that along each morning during the past several days. But it was necessary now, since he had new orders for his temporary living situation. He wondered how long this was going to last.

That seemed like the worst part; having to go back to how things had been before he joined the rangers; being unsure where he would be sleeping from week to week. But it was only temporary, he reminded himself. He took a slow breath in as he paused at the fourth level, waving to Eryn as she went on toward the sixth level for her healer training. He'd been to his training session with Arnyn earlier, before dawn, then had time to return to Duinion's camp, explain the change of situation to him, and then gather up his things. He'd also taken the time to assist Eryn with some of her chores and then, since he was going back up this far at about the same time she was heading up to the houses of healing, he had agreed to 'escort her' up as far as this level, despite her insisting she didn't need an escort. But they'd been going the same way for most of the trip, so as he had pointed out, why not walk together? To that, she had agreed.

He checked the address on the paper he had written down, then adjusted his pack a little higher on his back. He felt a bit like a turtle, carrying everything he owned on his back like this. With a little smile of amusement at that thought, he set off down the correct street, glancing frequently at the numbers on the row of houses, looking at each one until he found the right number. Fortunately, he had met Tercen already, so it wouldn't be totally awkward meeting the guy and informing him of the orders he'd recieved from Arnyn. Still, he was reminded of when he had been sent to find his dorm, and met Mourgan for the first time, and informed him he was to be his new roommate. Trastion smiled faintly at the memory, and could hardly wait until his banishment was over, and he could go back to the barracks, and back to living with his roommates. Just about a week left to go, he thought with relief.

Stopping at the correct house number, Trastion double-checked to be sure it was the right house, then lowered his heavy pack to the ground with a little sigh. He'd nearly forgotten how heavy it could be, and it hardly seemed like the same load he had carried from home, all the way here to Minas Tirith. But, well, he had added a few things since then, he recalled. With his pack leaned against the wall beside the door, Trastion straightened and swept a hand through his hair briefly, then knocked on the door. It wasn't so drastically early that he ought to fear waking the guy, right? He hoped not. Whatever the case, he waited, a bit nervous of how well he would be able to manage this new assignment from the lieutenant.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

It took a while. But finally the door opened. Tercen looked curious upon seeing Trastion, right before recognition dawned on his face. "Oh, you! Um..." He seemed to still be linking Trastion's face to where he remembered it from. "Yes - Arnyn's trainee! Right?"

He opened the door a bit further and leaned against the door frame with one shoulder and his upper arm. "Can I help you? Did she send you to fetch something?" That didn't really seem like her, though...

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He waited, and waited.. beginning to wonder if maybe Arnyn's brother was either still asleep, despite it being late morning, or if he might have even stepped out. Perhaps he'd gone to get some breakfast or something. Trastion was beginning to wonder if he should just go on and try again later, when the door did finally open. He smiled when Tercen did at least recognize him, though he didn't seem to recall his name. "Right. Trastion," He supplied with a nod of confirmation.

The next question caused him to hesitate slightly. How to explain this? "Um.. well, yes, she did send me," He agreed, slowly. "But, not to fetch something." He tried to explain, and cleared his throat. "She, uh.. well, since you're staying here alone, and.. I um, I have another week before I'm allowed back at the barracks, she suggested I could stay here with you, and sorta be roommates, temporarily." He shifted a little awkwardly. "Actually, it was more of an order than a suggestion." He added, looking vaguely puzzled, as if he couldn't figure out why she would have given such an order. "Maybe she thought you might need someone to show you around the city or something?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Tercen was looking at Trastion with a thoughtful frown as the young man put on a puzzled look and tried to guess at Arnyn's reasons. "Someone to show me around the city," he repeated, deadpan. "Sweet Yavanna," He then added with a sigh, and he shook his head. "Sis must eat you alive whenever you try and lie to her."

Pushing away from the doorframe, he stepped back, holding out his arm toward the small hallway. "Come on in, Trastion." Something about what the young man had said, had drawn his attention, though. "Another week before you're allowed back at the barracks?" AfterTrastion had grabbed his pack and had come inside, Tercen closed the door behind him. A cloak had fallen from a peg, now lying on the floor somewhat haphazardly. Tercen preceeded the young man to the main living room of the house, where a few glasses stood on the low table in between the couch and the armchairs, along with an empty plate which had clearly been eaten clean the day before.

"Can I get you anything to drink or eat?" he asked Trastion attentively. "Until you're accustomed to where everything is, I'm willing to play the host, even if this is not my own house," he laughed.

[Ercassie]

Private with @Isolde Alarion

Addhor Raxëlilta, on a Saturday Evening
At home on the 2nd Circle. With Nelladel Alarion

He had directed his guest toward the more comfortable chair, to start with, to help settle them in. The peace, the quiet between them seemed almost deafening. But not so much that he wished to fill it. More that he wished to indulge in it and almost regretted that each moment must move on unto the next. Was it possible to yearn for the chance to reflect back on the moment, bask in it, and anticipate it .. all at once ? Addhor focused first on pouring out a sample of the earthy red elixir for each of them, as Nell unwrapped the bread from her basket.

“I bet .. you have been saying that all day,” he harboured a guess and handed over a half-filled wineglass with a short wide stem. “Tonight you relax,” was all that he asked, gently, of his guest. “Let somebody else cater to your needs for a change.”

Since the dinner seemed to be proceeding without threat of bursting the kitchen into flames, he lowered into the green seat beside her, for what time he would be able to, amidst the preparations. “You are nervous,” he observed then after a moment. And in case this might have been quite rude to state so, he added, “I am not sure if it will make you feel better or worse to know I am too.”

It was a relief to sip from the Carathôn, rather than be seen to await her reaction to it’s charms. “I am not so very familiar with this,” he confided, raising his drink with meaning in a half-hearted toast of sorts, as the sentiment of what he was not used to ... could have more than the one meaning. And would still be just as true. “But I am told that it goes well with the wild mushrooms in a rabbit pie. And also with company,” he added, a moment later.

Having betrayed any mystery over the main course, Addhor leaned back, glad he had forgone his one weekly drink at the inn, this week. So that he could indulge now, instead. One drink had, after all, been the rule until one had eventually become a longtime habit. Of course these days there were other temptations which ruled his waking hours. She the foremost and most pleasant, of course.

“I am sure your bread will prove just as fine a match,” he nodded, with admiration toward the baker’s offering. “You do eat .. rabbit ?” The question was as much a belated concern as a try at evolving the conversation from mere niceties. He had heard from Beren, .. possibly .. that Nell had lived for some part of her life on a farm, and hoped the dish was therefore not an entirely foreign or abhorrent prospect for a non-ranger.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Well, it seemed his attempt at not telling Tercen the lieutenant's actual reasons for sending him here.. had failed. Still, he didn't want to risk insulting the guy by telling him 'she said you're a total slob and asked me to make sure you don't wreck her house while you're here'. Instead, he merely shrugged and grabbed his pack, glad he had not been told to 'go away', at least. He gave a little half smile as he followed him inside. "I don't," He informed him, in reference to the 'trying to lie to her' comment. "I mean," he added with a little hesitation, as Tercen closed the door behind him. "I tried it one time in my first week here, and learned pretty quickly not to try it again." He explained with a slight grin.

As Trastion took a glance around, he paused to set his pack down, hang up his cloak, then picked up the other one and returned it to the hook it must have fallen from. Grabbing his pack again, he followed Tercen into the living room and had to make his best effort not to shake his head in amusement as he noticed the used dishes lying around. Arnyn sure wasn't exaggerating. "Oh, yeah.." He answered, as Tercen inquired about his comment concerning the barracks. "I was banned for two weeks." He shrugged and lowered the heavy pack to the floor once more. "There was an.. incident, involving alcohol.." He admitted. Though he didn't actually want to tell anyone about that, it would be beneficial to his purposes, to do so. He cleared his throat and fidgeted uncomfortably. "So.. I'm not allowed back for another week. I spent all last week camped out in the Pelennor.. first by myself, then with another ranger."

The inquiry of whether he wanted anything to eat or drink made him pause. He was actually a bit thirsty, though he couldn't help a brief glance toward the glasses on the table. "If there's any clean glasses left.. maybe you could show me where to get some water?" He asked hopefully. "It's a bit of a long walk down from the sixth, out to where Ranger Raedor lives, and then back up to the fourth," he explained with a slightly apologetic smile.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He smirked when Trastion said he'd tried lying to Arnyn once. "Yeah, she'd make sure you learned that lesson," he added with a grin. He looked at Trastion curiously when the younger man said he was banned for two weeks after something happened that involved drinking. "Ahh," Tercen said, nodding slightly. "The best of us can sometimes get carried away by that," he said good-naturedly. "But maybe you enjoyed the change of scenery? I can't imagine living in those barracks." Crowded into a small room with several other guys? No thanks. "Honestly, camping sounds preferable."

Frowning lightly at Trastion when he wondered if there were any clean glasses left, Tercen blinked. Then he offered the other man a shrug. "Sure, there are more glasses? Right this way. And yes, that is a long walk," he agreed as he led Trastion into the kitchen. "Here you go." He pointed out where things were, taking Trastion through the whole of the kitchen at once. The counter held more dishes, and the small kitchen table was covered in random items, from papers to a kitchen towel and even a shirt. Who knew if it was a clean one...

"So, she sent someone about ten years my junior to babysit me?" Tercen asked, leaning against the wall with one shoulder while Trastion got himself some water. Rather than annoyed, though, he looked and sounded rather amused. "How do you feel about this?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Trastion grinned. "Well. I was my idea to camp.. instead of staying at an inn. I figured.. I love camping. This won't be so bad. But.. well, it just so happened that I was already scheduled to begin training more specially, with your sister, the next day." He explained, as he followed Tercen into the kitchen. "So. This happened really late at night, right? And... well, I didn't really get much chance to pick out a good, comfy place. I.. really didn't get much sleep that first night. And then.." He cleared his throat. "Well, I thought I was late, and I ran all the way up to the sixth.. and wow, was that a lot more than I expected. I really did not think that through.. and she saw me running and decided, 'yes. Do that from now on.' So, I've had to do that, EVERY DAY." He let out a sigh. "In full gear." He grimaced slightly in mock dismay. "The worst part is..I wasn't even late that day!" He added. "It's so hard to guess when it's time to get up when you're not where you usually sleep, and don't have the bells to mark the hours, you know?

"With that, along with being banished from the barracks and mess hall.." He shrugged as he looked around the kitchen. "And all the extra duties that I had to take on as additional punishment," He continued after taking note of many unwashed dishes, "Getting something to eat throughout the day was a bit challenging before one of the other rangers, who lives in the Pelennor, took pity on me and suggested I could stay with him for a few days." He located a glass from the cabinet, and filled it with water before taking a long drink.

It was nearly half gone by the time he lowered it again. About the time Tercen was asking if Arnyn had sent him to babysit. He blinked, giving the guy a puzzled look. "Um.. what?" He asked, giving him a strange look. The question seemed to have caught him by surprise. "You.. need babysitting?" He asked slowly, with some skepticism, as if finding that to be rather.. odd. "Actually.. I assumed she was thinking of it the other way around..." He replied, with a confused look before taking another drink.

After swallowing, he continued. "See.. I um, well I have a sort of.. knack for finding myself in trouble." He explained with mild embarrassment. "No matter how hard I try to avoid it, it seems to come after me in some form or another." He shrugged. "Well, you know her better than I do I guess.. I just figured maybe she sent me here, hoping you might be able to help her keep me out of trouble," He let out a faint laugh before finishing off the rest of the water in the glass. He really had been rather thirsty, but that had been enough.

"Thanks, by the way." He mentioned with a little nod toward the glass, to indicate his appreciation for showing him where to get things. He glanced around briefly with the empty glass in hand. "There is a basin for washing dishes, right?" He asked uncertainly. If that had been included in the tour, he seemed to have forgotten.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Tercen listened to Trastion with no small amount of amusement as he pulled out a chair and sat on it - backwards, one forearm leaning over the top of the backrest. He chuckled when Trastion said so emphatically: 'EVERY DAY'. "Wow. You must have really been acting the fool," he commented through some muted laughter. "Arnyn pulled some things in her day. She must have really thought you'd crossed some sort of line." He looked thoughtful. "Maybe because of the alcohol. She never really understood why people let go so much. And then get into trouble because of it. And then why some people, weeks or months later, just repeat the same cycle. Maybe she wanted to make sure you wouldn't make the same mistake again," he offered, taking the defense without consciously even realizing it.

He was watching the young man closely as the latter looked puzzled. When Trastion said he'd figured it would be more the other way around, Tercen almost scoffed. As if Arnyn would ever let him babysit anyone. A light frown settled on his face when Trastion continued that he was always getting in trouble. That might be a possibility. Tercen was, if anything, not a troublemaker.

"There is a basin for washing dishes, right?"

The question made Tercen's eyes narrow. "Yes," he drawled, "there is." He indicated something - where most of the dishes were stacked on and around one another. His eyes narrowed a bit further as he eyed Trastion carefully. "As for your earlier question, I do not need babysitting, thank you," he said, slowly. "A housekeeper, maybe." Then his face cleared and he grinned broadly as realization dawned upon him. "That's what you are, isn't it?" The very thought made Tercen roar with laughter. "Oh, my man," he finally managed, wiping his hand underneath his eyes. "She really doesn't go easy on you, does she?"

When the bout of amusement subsided, he gave Trastion a lazy grin. "Think about it this way, Trastion. She hasn't stopped to consider all the things we could talk about. While you're cleaning up after me." He chuckled.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Shrugging, Trastion decided not to go into detail about what he had done, exactly. But he gave a vague enough answer to explain, "There was a line that was crossed, yes. I'd rather not talk about that," He cleared his throat a little uncomfortably. "But I have no intentions of touching alcohol ever again." He added with a determined sound to his voice.

As the washbasin was pointed out to him, he let out a little laugh. "Oh. I didn't even see it there," He smiled his thanks before going over to wash the cup. Yet, when Tercen decided that he must be a housekeeper, Trastion turned with a frown. "What.. no!" He sounded appalled at the very idea of that. "I am not a housekeeper!" He insisted with a little bit of effort not to take offense at that. He took a slow breath, and let it out while shaking his head. "I don't know how to clean. I just figured I should put the glass back where it belongs, you know.. trying to be respectful of Arnyn's things and all that." He tried to explain, and let out a sigh. "And I know better than to put a used glass back in with clean ones.. I've gotten in trouble for that before." He admitted.

"But seriously.. no. I'd be a terrible housekeeper. I don't know how to do things like that.. You know, my roommate at the barracks actually had to teach me how to make a bed?" He rolled his eyes. "The barracks lieutenant insists on all the beds being made with perfect neatness. Which is stupid.. I mean, what's the point?" He asked, turning back to wash around the rim of the glass, then grabbed a towel to dry it. "You're just going to sleep in it again when night comes around again. It's just a waste time, doing all that just to undo it again as soon as night comes again. Shouldn't we be trying to be more efficient with our time? Not wasting it doing nonsensical things that don't matter."

Rolling his eyes, he shrugged. "But dishes, well that's not the same. I figure it's easier to wash one cup right now, since it only takes a few seconds. I've been on dish duty at the mess hall.. ugh. That's a nightmare." He made a face. "Having to wash all the dishes from everyone.. it takes forever. I hate doing that."

After returning the washed and dried cup to where he had found it, he leaned back against the counter, facing Tercen with his arms folded. "What sort of things?" He wondered, thinking about the bit he'd said about what all they could talk about. He didn't remark on the 'cleaning up after me' part, however. "You mentioned earlier she had 'pulled some things' in her day?" He asked with a slightly intrigued smile.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He couldn't resist laughing at the young man when he insisted so emphatically that he was not a housekeeper. "Even if you do not know how to clean, I still think you were placed here to either try and whoop some tidiness into me, OR to ensure tidiness in my wake. So to speak. Also, Trastion... I hope you are not suggesting that you are above the useful and meaningful tasks of as housekeeper?" Tercen asked, tilting his head. "And how can you not know how to clean? The basics are pretty self-evident."

He shrugged at Trastion's comments on the barracks master and his ridiculous demands. "Who knows. Maybe it gives him a sense of accomplishment. Or maybe he feels like the whole barracks are 'his place' and you lot being untidy reflects badly on him. Or... maybe he hopes you'll be less inclined to have stray food lying around if you're forced to keep things clean." He shrugged again. "You know. Rats and all that. I imagine that's a big thing in a city like this, especially in a big place like the barracks."

He eyed the pile of dishes wearily. "Are you suggesting I do the dishes, now?" he asked, clearly having zero interest or motivation. "You're right, though. The task seems much too daunting. I refuse to do it alone." He raised an eyebrow. "If you help though... I might be persuaded. And we can talk in the meantime." He'd just have to make sure not to spill any of his sister's better kept stories...

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

As Tercen guessed at the reason Arnyn had sent him here, Trastion made no reply, deciding to neither confirm nor deny it. But the rest of what he said made him fall quiet more than the other. He paused at the guy's comment about whether he was above the tasks of a housekeeper. He hadn't meant to have such an attitude, but perhaps he had, without realizing it. Also.. that comment made Tercen seem a lot more like his sister than before, and the thought made him smile faintly.

"No," He answered thoughtfully, after a moment to consider his own feelings on the matter. "It isn't that I think I am above being a housekeeper. But, most anyone who knows me will tell you that I would not be the least bit qualified for such a job." He tried to explain, with a little laugh at himself. "Especially lieutenant Brian." While he did not say anything further concerning why Arnyn may have sent him, a part of him hoped that might dissuade Tercen from his previously expressed suspicion.

He shrugged slightly at the almost defense of the barracks master and his rigid demands. "Have you met this guy though?" He asked, raising an eyebrow. "I think he just enjoys making rules so he can assert his authority and make sure we do as he says." He shrugged slightly. "But he did risk his life to save the barracks when it was on fire, so.. I can't help but respect the guy for that." He added, sighing softly as he thought again of that awful thing he had said.

Tercen's inquiry about whether he was hinting anything made Trastion hesitate. Well, technically, yes. He was. But he had hoped he was more subtle than that. Apparently, not. But, it seemed to work! Though he was pleased inwardly to hear him declare that he was right.. and that the guy might be persuaded with help, Trastion was careful not to smile or smirk or any of that. He nodded slightly. "Alright, I don't mind helping," He agreed. "Let's gather all the dishes from the other room.. or rooms? and see how daunting a task this will be." He suggested. "By the way," He wondered suddenly, "Do you know how to cook?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

"I have not met the Barracks Master, nor do I intend to," Tercen said with a half grin. "He'd probably have some sort of bias against me just for being Arnyn's brother. She's told me that even though the man is competent and has many qualities, they..." His voice trailed off, suddenly unsure of how much Arnyn would like him to say on the subject. To one of the rangers. He had probably already said too much, come to think of it. "That the two of them are very different people," he tried to salvage the situation. Inadequately.

With a laboured sigh, as if he had been washing dishes for an hour already when he hadn't so much as lifted a finger yet, Tercen rose from his chair. "Fine. I will retrieve the dishes." He pointed out where Tras could get soap and the water to fill the basin. When Trastion asked about cooking, though, Tercen's face brightened. "Yes!" he replied, happily. "I definitely know how to cook." It was a skill he was far better at than his sister, and he might enjoy that just a little too much. "Do you?" he returned the question, grinning by now. "If not, maybe I can treat you to a few of my favorites while you're staying here. It is more fun to cook and eat when there is someone around to talk to. Especially since having someone around also mean you can split the dishes afterwards," he laughed, on his way out of the kitchen.

He soon returned with the dish- and glassware from the living room. "There. Um... you wash, I'll dry?" Tercen suggested. "Then I can put them away and if you watch you'll learn where things go, too."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Trastion couldn't help growing curious as Tercen started to talk about something that seemed to involve something Arnyn had said about lieutenant Brian. But then he stopped before he said whatever it was, and the trainee was mildly disappointed. He did not let it show on his face, however. Only lingering curiosity. "I'm not sure the guy could dislike me anymore than he already does, so you'd probably be safe," He offered as some sort of reassurance, with a little grin.

When Tercen consented to getting the dishes, Trastion merely gave a small nod as if to say 'alright', and turned to grab soap. Inside, he was grinning. Quite pleased with his success. But outwardly he was trying to maintain a collected appearance.

As Tercen answered the question about cooking, Trastion turned again, and smiled in a different way, seeing that the other guy seemed to almost be excited. "Not at all," He replied with a little laugh, when the question came back to him, and shook his head as if to emphasize that was a negative on his cooking skills. "I mean, I can.. get stuff cooked over a campfire, so that it's edible. But.. that's about it." He admitted freely, and listened with a little smile as Tercen suggested the idea of cooking some of his favorite dishes while Trastion was here. "That'd be great," He agreed happily.

He filled the basin with water while Tercen was gathering his dishes, and considered the suggestion that the other guy had made when he returned. "Alright, sounds fair enough." He agreed, although technically it wasn't exactly 'fair' since none of these dishes were his. But he didn't want to push his luck too far. "So, why'd you come, anyway? if you don't mind me asking, that is." He added as he began washing the first dish. "Checking she's really alright, after that wolf attack?" He ventured a guess without thinking, as the probability of that seemed to him the most likely.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Taking a dish towel, Tercen grinned. "So - you can cook food, but you cannot actually cook. And we agree there is a difference. Excellent. Maybe I'll teach you a thing or two, hmm? You can help me cook if I'm helping with the clean-up, after all. You know. As long as your duties allow for it, of course." He knew better than to make any different demands.

He was thinking about how to answer Trastion's question about why he'd come to Minas Tirith, when the trainee's own suggestion distracted him. Distracted him very much. A silence fell, until he had processed this new bit of information. "What?" The question came out as stunned as Tercen felt. "What wolf attack?"

His thoughts raced back to how Arnyn had seemed the times he'd seen her since his arrival. "Why wouldn't she be alright? She seemed alright. Did she get hurt? Were you guys out on a mission in the woods or something?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He was about to comment back 'That'd be nice, thanks' in reply to him maybe learning a thing or two about cooking, but the other comment that Trastion had made seemed to have a stunning effect on the other guy. He looked over at him, slightly confused by his silence, and then as Tercen finally spoke with a stunned 'what?', Trastion realized he should not have mentioned that. He mentally cringed, but outwardly, blinked as he turned to stare at him, mind racing as he tried to figure out how to retract that statement. 'Forget I said that' wasn't going to work, he guessed.

"Uh.." He cleared his throat awkwardly as Tercen continued asking more, with that 'worried big brother' sound in his voice. "Sorry.. I shouldn't have said... I mean, I thought she would have told you about that by now," The words spilled out, then slowed as he added, "but apparently not..." Judging by the stunned look on Arnyn's brother's face. He suddenly imagined how he might feel if he was in his place, and heard something alarming about his own little sister. "Yes, of course she's alright. She's fine, really," he hastily assured him. "She kinda saved everyone, actually. You should be proud, she's quite a hero." He tried to offer the positive parts of the story up, first.

As for the rest of the questions... well, he wasn't sure how reassuring it would be to hear that no, they were not in the woods, and actually right here in the city, in the ranger's barracks of all places. But to lie about that would surely only make things worse, especially as he was almost sure to hear the truth at some point anyway. He tried not to squirm in his shoes at the way Tercen looked at him when he began trying to avoid answering. He was somewhat reminded a little of the way Arnyn would look at him when he tried to avoid answering something. He sighed.

"I'll tell you what happened, at least, as much as I know, but you gotta promise not to tell her I told you, please? If she didn't tell you about it, she probably wouldn't be happy with me if she found out that I did." He looked at Tercen imploringly. He definitely did not need to have Arnyn upset with him again.

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn
Cpt Pele Alarion in conversation with Lt. Arnyn Dealedwen
Walking up from the Training Grounds

Pele did not hurry to pull away from Arnyn's hand, soaking up all the wordless support she sensed - even though she liked to look tough and self-sufficient, there was still a plenty of vulnerability left, and she knew to appreciate deep friendship.

"Ah, it is always easier for me to choose life when it mostly concerns others, but I still often dwell in the shadow and even self-imposed suffering when it concerns myself. And I see..." her blue eyes smiled at Arnyn's brown ones. "You will probably be satisfied when I live it rather than present nice words, yes? But getting there, slowly, steadily. I hope. And if Keket appeared here..." Pele's brows knit threateningly. "I could really not guarantee that he would live." She paused a while and then smiled slowly again. "No, I do not think I will return to the shadow. And I will not be upset if you make me turned around should I drift towards it again with my back turned to life."

They resumed walking again, and Pele breathed deeply a few times, the smile lingering on her face before she addressed the matter that had peaked her interest.

"That other thing. I want to know how is Trastion doing?" she glanced at her friend. "While I have not seen overly many complaints on him - yet I gathered that Brian is not happy with him. How is his training coming along? His development process? We have not formed a close connection, and it is difficult to evaluate it without pressuring him with many questions. But you work with him closely - so what are your thoughts?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Trastion's halted mumbling made his expression go from stunned to impatient to almost ominous - in case Tras would be trying to avoid the proper explanation, that is.

Tercen was frowning. Even though he had seen her and spoken with her, and she had looked physically fine at the very least, the younger man's reassurance that Arnyn was alright did take the edge off a little. His frown deepened, though, when Trastion said she had 'kinda saved everyone' and that he should be proud of her. He even dropped the word 'hero'. It made Tercen scowl, especially after Trastion required him not to say anything to Arnyn if he shared what had happened.

"That is the whole problem with my sister!" he responded, his voice rising a little. "That tendency of trying to go and pull things no one in their right mind would try, just because she thinks it might save others!" Tercen slapped the dish towel onto the edge of the kitchen counter and then threw it onto the table. He crossed his arms and leaned against a wall. "For all of her logic and her insistance on applying reason - she can just throw it all out the window and endanger her life... Even on the off chance it might just save even one other person! And she knows how I feel about her pulling crap like that, and so she no longer tells me!" He pushed away from the wall, uncrossed his arms and started pacing through the kitchen.

"If you don't tell me what happened, I swear to Mandos..." Realizing he was letting his anger get the better of him toward a guy who couldn't help it that Arnyn was so tight-lipped, Tercen caught himself. He took a deep breath, held it, and let it back out slowly. "Okaaay," he drawled. "It's just that..." His hand rubbed over the lower half of his face. "I don't get to see my sister every week, obviously. But that doesn't mean I don't love her."

He returned to the chair he'd been sitting on earlier, turned it the normal way and sank down onto it. "Okay. I'm calm. I'll be calm. I promise." He sighed. "It just gets to me how careless she can be with her own safety," he added in a mumble. He looked at Trastion, making direct eye contact. "I won't tell her you told me."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He was beginning to feel like he couldn't say the right thing here to save his life, as his words to try and reassure the guy only seemed to upset him more. Still, the man's display of anger surprised Trastion. He hadn't expected a.. dare he call it a tantrum? He had been about to pass him a clean dish to dry, but when Tercen slapped the towel on the counter and then threw it, Trastion thought better of offering him anything breakable. He held onto it, for its own safety. Perhaps his own too? He wasn't really sure what to expect from this guy, he realized. Funny, he thought, how alike the brother and sister could be in some things, and yet very different in others.

For a moment, he thought that Tercen was actually going to threaten him, though he didn't know what he meant to do, if Trastion refused to tell him anything. But a moment later, he seemed to calm himself with some effort. Trastion watched him silently as he went over to take a seat and declare that he was calm. So.. he was already done helping with the dishes? Trastion idly thought... but tried not to worry about that. He set the clean glass down on the counter, where it wouldn't be in danger of being knocked over. After Tercen assured him that he would not tell her, he gave a small nod. Then he went over to join him at the table, and took the next seat, turning so he was facing Tercen. "I get that." He told him quietly. Though it slightly killed him inside not to be able to mention anything about how much he missed and worried about his own little sister, he refrained.

He paused, trying to think of how to explain this. Because it was really difficult to explain the whole 'sorceress shapeshifter' thing and not be ridiculed, but it was the truth. "It's hard to properly explain," He frowned. He would not be telling the excited, thrilling version of the tale here, as he suspected that would be less appreciated with this current 'audience'. "It's going to sound crazy, I guess. I thought it was, and I hardly believed it, until I saw it with my own eyes." He shrugged. "But there was this enemy who had come to the city with really evil intentions. She wanted.. to kill rangers, I guess, and she had... like, dark magical powers. Somehow she had the ability to change her form, and appear like anyone she wanted to be." He shivered slightly. "She even impersonated me at one point." He cleared his throat, a little uncomfortable to speak of that. "She nearly killed me, I had a horrible concussion after, and.. well I'm really lucky." He left it at that. "My sis, Kaylin, spoke to the imposter and didn't even realize it wasn't me." He added, to help the guy realize how close the impersonations were.

"Anyway, so she'd managed to infiltrate into the midst of us rangers," He went on. "And while they were pretty sure who she was, they weren't really completely sure, so.. it really made it difficult to do anything to stop her. Because if they were wrong and made a move.. not only would it be not good for the innocent person, but also, that would let her know that they were aware she was there.. make sense?" He checked, realizing it could sound a bit confusing.

Once confirmed that the situation had been explained well enough, he went on, "So it all came to a conclusion one day, really early in the morning. This was in July," He added, and proceeded to explain about the fire and then how, coming into the mess hall to get some salt barrels, he had been stunned to find TWO Arnyns, wrestling together on the floor, along with the rest of the scene that had met him there. And how, when he returned a few moments later after being sent away from the fire... this time, instead of a duplicate Arnyn, there had been an enormous wolf... which the two women(Arnyn and Cali) were fighting.

"And.. well it was all over just about the time I came in, actually," He cleared his throat, deciding not to describe her actual actions that had defeated the wolf. "About the time I came in the last time, Arnyn was slaying the wolf, with a little assistance from the lady smith. And then I helped them to the houses of healing, and we all got checked out and were released within about an hour or so." He shrugged, making light of all of their injuries. "So, not only saved Mourgan, by keeping the evil woman from finishing him off, and enabling the captain to take him to the healers.. she also saved Cali, who would've been wolf's breakfast otherwise, but also.. like, everyone else who would have been the sorceress's victims."

He paused. "Not because she was being impulsive and reckless, or trying to do anything crazy and impulsive, but because she did what she had to do to protect her rangers." He also tried to emphasize. "We take an oath when we enlist here, you know." He added quietly. "Anyway, she says the rangers are like family. She believes that, and so, she would do whatever she has to do to protect any of us. Same as she would do if you were in danger." He added. He didn't have to wonder about that, as he knew Arnyn fairly well by now to be fairly sure of what she would do if her actual brother were in danger.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Tercen's brows first rose and then knitted together in an increasingly deepening frown while Trastion told him what had transpired. An enemy. Whose enemy? Gondor's? Yet he did not ask, not wanting to interrupt. An enemy with dark magical powers, who could change her appearance... in a believable way. He noted the trainee's genuine shiver. How bizarre. Yet he had seen the army of the dead as well. It was not impossible to imagine after that. Right?

He filed the information away that Trastion had a sister as well, and that her name was Kaylin. Then this enemy must have been very good at her impersonations, if she'd even been able to fool Trastion's own sister. Tercen found himself swallowing as he listened how this enemy had infiltrated the rangers and they had not taken action on the chance they were wrong about who had been the enemy. His right hand, which was resting on his knee, balled into a fist. July. Two Arnyns. An enormous wolf, against a smithy and a lieutenant.

For crying out loud. How did his sister keep getting into these situations in the first place?

He watched Trastion carefully as the young man spoke and explained the situation and the aftermath to him. The frown slowly faded, to a mere but intense narrowing of his light brown eyes. Arnyn hadn't been reckless, Trastion said. She did what she had to to protect 'her' rangers, he said. They took an oath, he said. Arnyn believed the rangers are like family and did whatever it took to protect any of them, he said. Like she would protect him - her own brother by flesh and blood. He said.

His eyes were still narrow and staring at Trastion as Tercen took a deep breath through his nose and then slowly let it out the same way. "You admire her." It sounded like a statement. But it was in truth a question.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Having concluded the story, which was far different from his usual way of telling it, Trastion watched to see how Tercen had taken it. Normally, he would have told the tale with excitement, highlighting the thrilling battle and its concluding moments, emphasizing the daring, brazen move of the lieutenant as she defeated the monstrous wolf and brought about the victory for the rangers. In this instance, however, Trastion did more to downplay that very thing; to show how necessary Arnyn's actions had been. Trying to explain that the situation had played out in such a way that Arnyn had ended up being the only one in the room who COULD fight that battle. And also how much he wished he had not been needed elsewhere, so he could have helped.

He had observed the man's hand closing into a fist, and he was not sure whether he was still 'calm' or who he wanted to use his fist on; the long-vanquished enemy, or the one telling him the tale. He hoped not the latter. Thankfully, the frown eventually faded into a more thoughtful look, but he still wasn't sure what to expect. The words that did come out, finally, were not at all what he expected. He blinked, caught by surprise at what seemed to him like a realization.

"Well.. yes," he answered, mildly surprised to hear him say that. "Of course I do." He didn't really have to give that very much thought. Why wouldn't he admire her? It occurred to him though, that Tercen may find it surprising that anyone found his little sister admirable. "Have you ever seen her fight?" He wondered. "She's amazing." He grinned, recalling the duel he had witnessed between her and Kaylin.

"But it's more than that, of course," He added, shrugging as he let the grin fade to a more serious expression. "I mean... she's just.." He couldn't quite think of how to explain it, and leaned an elbow on the table, resting the side of his chin on his fist thoughtfully. "it's like.. I can come to her with any problem, and I know she isn't going to make fun of me or act as if it's an imposition that I'm bothering her or something.. that she'll help me figure it out, whatever it is. I know I can trust her with anything. And.. she seems to always know just what to say, whatever the situation... it's almost uncanny at times," He laughed lightly. "Sometimes I've wondered if she can read minds."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He shook his head lightly. "I know she's good. She's been doing this for so long, no one can get by for that time on luck alone. And she keeps... rising through the ranks. I'm not daft," he mumbled. "She's obviously got skills. And I cannot hold a candle to her, that much I know. And I know she has developed her own style over the years. But I haven't seen her fighting an enemy or sparring with another ranger or soldier, no." Non-rangers were not allowed at the training grounds, and Tercen had never been in any military structure. He had fought at the culimination of the war, like most able-bodied Gondorians had done, of course. But nowhere near his sister. "Amazing, huh," he repeated, his tone deadpan, wondering at the trainee's grin.

Watching Trastion attentively as the young man tried to explain what it was about Arnyn that he appreciated so much, Tercen's fist loosened and he slowly spread out his fingers over his knee. He smiled with understanding at the last part. "Uncanny is the word," he agreed. Tercen only seemed to have the same talent when he was talking to Arnyn, himself. Apparently his sister had made a connection like that with this Trastion as well. It made some more sense to him now, that she had sent him to take up residence here. Even if it was only for a short while.
He wondered then, if his little sister had come to think of this young man as a little brother of sorts. She did believe the rangers were family, as Trastion had also pointed out. Maybe she did not categorize it. But she was teaching him her style. She had invited - or ordered, whatever - him to stay at her house. He couldn't imagine her doing either of those things with any ranger. She never had before, he knew that for a fact. She cared for the rangers, each and every one. But this felt different.

He leaned back in his chair. "She's never done this before, you know. Send a ranger to stay at her place. Or training one if her personal techniques. She's trained a lot of rangers - but never in her style specifically. What I saw her showing you a few days ago - I know that is not just the technique she usually teaches. She's shown me a few things over the years, but even I only get glimpses." They talked about that, when they did see each other. "It's hers. It's personal." He paused, wondering. "And she decided to share it all with you."

[Arnyn]

@Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Captain Pele Alarion, end of August, Walking up from the Training Grounds

"Show, not tell," Arnyn agreed with a smile. "Actions speak louder than words, Pele." She nodded when her friend and Captain mentioned Keket. One of the few for whom Arnyn had specifically requested a kill order from the King. She understood Pele's reasoning as well as her sentiment there. "Neither could I," Arnyn mused thoughtfully. "Unless specifically ordered to keep him alive if at all possible. But only you or the King could command me as such." The times were rare - but sometimes... sometimes it was interesting to find yourself high-up in the chain of command.

It was good to see Pele smiling as she was, though. Arnyn was glad to see it, and it warmed her. The inquiry about Trastion made the smile of the Lieutenant's face brighten. She nodded, first, collecting her thoughts before she gave her answer.

"When we started training in the spring, there was still so much for him to learn..." Arnyn frowned slightly, thinking back. "Hard to believe, in a way, that it has been half a year already. And yet, we have gotten to know each other very well. He and I have been mostly working on his endurance, swordsmanship and archery. Trastion told me he'd sparred with Mourgan several times - before Mourgan got injured early this summer. I had him working with Duinion on survival skills, as well. And - by his own initiative, he's also been taking axe lessons from Pelecconner Orla." She paused, but only briefly before continuing to deliver her report.

"The past month, I have been working him rather hard. He and I still meet twice a week: one session for agility and balance with and without the sword, another session for endurance training and archere. He meets with Kaylin to work on sword skills once a week. And with Mourgan for strength training at least once a week and either with or without Mourgan a second time a week. Since sparring isn't an option for Mourgan yet, I set up a weekly arrangement with one of the other male Hyandaner for Trastion, as well. He still meets with Duinion biweekly to continue to hone his survival skills, though Duinion has told me they have gone into the advanced skills already. He's already completed his weapons and armour care training as well as his horsemenship and horse care training."

"If you agree, Captain, I think he is ready to move on from Recruit to the rank of Trainee. He is twice the ranger he was compared to when he joined," the Lieutenant stated confidently. "And while he is not Brian's favorite person, it is almost a prerequisite, is it not?" Arnyn hid a grin, a half smile surfacing instead. "Trastion has proven himself to me on more than one occasion, Captain."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Trastion had no idea whether Tercen knew anything about fighting and stuff like that, aside from what little banter he'd heard between him and Arnyn the other day. So, he was glad the guy at least knew that Arnyn was highly skilled. He nodded slightly as he pointed out that one didn't survive this long on luck alone. "I have seen her spar.. against Kaylin." He mentioned. "You probably don't know her. But she's.. kinda known around the city. They call her master sword, and not without good reason." He explained. "Arnyn beat her in a sparring duel. It was.. wow." He shook his head in amazement. "Kaylin.." He let out a little laugh. "I mean, she looked like she had put all her effort into trying to win that duel, and she looked pretty worn out by the end of it. But Arnyn? She made it look effortless." He tried to explain. "I can't really explain it properly. But, it's a real shame you've never got to see her fight." He meant that sincerely.

He sat back as Tercen began to talk, then. And listened to him explaining that Arnyn had 'never done this before'. For a second, Trastion wasn't quite sure what he meant, but it wasn't long before Tercen clarified; not just having anyone stay at her house, but training them the way she was training him. The fact that she was sharing with him something she'd never shared with anyone before. He blinked, taking that in. It sounded.. like something not to take lightly. He hadn't been taking it lightly, but still.. hearing Arnyn's brother telling him this.. it was a lot to absorb. He was quiet, considering all of that for a long moment.

After sitting quietly for a few seconds, thinking about all of that, he glanced up at Tercen again, and gave a faint smile. "Then that's another reason not to let her down, then." He replied seriously, then straightened up in his seat and motioned toward the washbasin. "Let's see if we can wash and dry all these dishes without breaking any." He suggested with a grin to show he was joking about breaking any, as he hopped up, trying to encourage the other guy to return to the task. "And then, maybe we'll have enough dishes to eat from, for lunch." He added, figuring it would surely be lunch time in just a couple of hours or so.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Tercen nodded when Trastion said that was another reason not to let Arnyn down. But Tercen soon rolled his eyes when the trainee returned to the topic of the dishes. "So fixated on the dishes, man," he mumbled. But then he flashed a grin and stood from his own chair, as well. "Alright. But - for the record - there are still enough dishes for lunch."

As they got started on the dishes, Tercen asked about this Kaylin person. He remembered talk of a few master swords over the years, but he hadn't remembered the name 'Kaylin', so didn't think he'd actually heard of her. But when Trastion mentioned she was a redhead, Tercen's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, her?!" The name, apparently, hadn't stuck - but the description had. "Oh yes - there were some excellent stories circulating about the Red-headed Master Sword. It had more than one meaning, if I'm not mistaken," Tercen added with a grin, given Trastion a sidelong glance to see if there was any truth to that. "And Arnyn beat her?" he repeated Trastion's earlier words before falling silent, seemingly processing. "Maybe I should try and see her fight sometime myself," he mumbled after a while. "It's such a big part of her life... But I'm sure she wouldn't agree to..." He shrugged. "You know. Put on a show." He grinned at Trastion. "Don't know if you've noticed, but Arnyn can be a bit... reserved."

"In any case, if my sister is actually that good, and she's teaching you... You probably feel pretty good about that, and the potential skill level you'll achieve, right? You'll probably end up stronger than her, in the end," Tercen mused out loud. "But, anyway. Other than helping me out with dishes, what is this little arrangement going to be like, hmm?" He asked, gesturing between them, the towel momentarily thrown back over one shoulder, a crooked smile on his face. "Are we going to mostly avoid each other? Or do you want to hang out? I just came here for a little vacation, so I have loads of time. When I'm not pestering my baby sister, that is."

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn
Captain Pele Alarion in conversation with Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Walking up from the Training Grounds

"There may not be a command to the contrary even if I take preserving life more seriously than taking it, as you know," Pele added quietly and thought that perhaps even she would have to rely fully on the King to hold her back from killing Keket. She did not think she had the right to dish out death easily, but she did not see any possibility of the man changing his ways. Nor many of the Umbarians she had ended up meeting. She had not even visited Shamara once to avoid the possibility of the woman provoking her to reckless anger. Not yet, at any rate.

Leaving the tougher matters be for now, Pele focused on what Arnyn had to say on behalf of Trastion and received quite a comprehensive report.

"If I did not know any better," she began, holding back a hearty laugh that threatened to escape. "I would think that you have been preparing this speech well in advance so that you could easily recite it at just a time like this."

"I see that you have been putting his youthful abundance of energy to good use to form him into a Ranger with well-rounded abilities," she then continued, the smile remaining on her face. "From what you say I assume that he is very teachable and willing to work with any trainer assigned to him. Very good." She considered the request of having Trastion climb to the next step of the ladder towards earning his full Ranger title. "I don't see any reason to hold him back from a well-earned reward. If it is as you say, he surely deserves being a Trainee. Even if Brian might have other ideas."

Pele gave Arnyn a sideways glance and a grin, as she added an after-thought: "I am not sure there is any one Ranger who has not been at odds with the Barracks Master at least once."

[Arnyn]

@Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
With Captain Pele Alarion, end of August, Walking up from the Training Grounds

Arnyn smiled as she narrowed her eyes at Pele with a kind of look you only saw among friends. "As if I would not know my own recruit's training schedule, Pelepele," she teased. "And yes, that was the idea. He is eager to learn." He has to learn, she thought, but the reasons why it was possibly a matter of life and death, was not meant for Pele's ears. Arnyn had made a promise. "I had to set some expectations in the beginning, because he seemed a bit too aloof at first. But that changed quickly. I think we've come to understand each other, and he gives his all in every training session."

The Lieutenant coughed lightly when the Captain made her last comment. "Present company included," Arnyn grinned. "Speaking of the Barracks Master - I was thinking about a little bonding exercise during your visit to Lond Col," she said vaguely. "And while Lieutenant Brian might not overly enjoy it taking place within his domain, I can assure you all the paperwork is in order. And it will only have a positive influence on the budget. With your permission, I will promote Trastion then, Captain."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

Trastion laughed at the joke about him being fixated on dishes. He preferred to think of it like, he wanted to accomplish his mission successfully. "Would you rather wait until all the lingering traces of food has dried up and become hard on the plates? It's harder to wash them then, you know." He pointed out with a little smirk as they got to work.

When Tercen didn't seem to know who Kaylin was, Tras wasn't too surprised, but gave a general description just for reference. Then, it seemed that Tercen had heard of her, just didn't recognize the name. He grinned slightly as he asked about the red head thing having a double meaning. "Yeah, she's got a temper," He agreed. "Another thing she's pretty famous for," he added with a little laugh. He nodded in answer to the guy's next question. "Yeah. She beat her." He confirmed.

When he mentioned that Arnyn was a little reserved, he glanced over at Tercen with a mock surprised expression. "No way. You're kidding me, right?" He grinned back. "Yeah. I've noticed." He added afterward. "In fact, I don't even know if she knows that I saw that duel," He mentioned, thoughtful. "If I knew when there might be another sparring match like that, I'd see if I could somehow sneak you in," He mentioned with a grin. "But I wouldn't have seen it at all, except I was training nearby and heard the swords, and Duinion suggested I go closer to test my stealth skills," He explained.

He focused on scrubbing some dried up stuff off of a plate while Tercen spoke again, and glanced at him thoughtfully. He shrugged slightly when the guy mentioned he would probably end up being stronger than Arnyn. "I don't know about that," He said with a little laugh, skeptical, as that seemed like a very high goal to aim for. He smiled slightly as he recalled their conversation that day in the forest. "It was after I saw that duel, between them, that I told her I thought her style was the best, and that was how I wanted to fight." He mentioned with a little smile.

As he handed a clean plate to Tercen to be dried, he paused at hearing the question about their arrangement. He had not quite thought about it, really, until now. "Well, I don't mind hanging out," He grinned, but then shrugged. "but I don't know how much time I'll have," He added with a sigh. "Part of my punishment was also that I have to pick up any extra duties that don't involve the barracks and mess hall. On top of other training and stuff. So, my schedule's pretty full, starting with the pre-dawn training that you caught the end of that one day. But it would be nice." He smiled again. "What sort of stuff do you usually do for fun?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

"No," Tercen replied pointedly to Trastion's question of whether he'd prefer to wait. "I would prefer not to have to do them at all. The more they pile up, the less motivation I become." He shrugged. "I know it's my own fault. He chuckled when Trastion said Kaylin had a temper. "Yeah, I heard about that," he easily laughed along with the trainee. It was interesting to hear Arnyn had beaten a hot-tempered master sword. "Does Arnyn beating a master sword, make her a master sword as well?" He shrugged. "I'm not too clear on how all that works."

He couldn't help but chuckle at Trastion's response concerning his sister's reserve. "I don't know where she gets that from," he said lightly. "I probably couldn't be much less reserved, in fact. It might be a way to protect herself from other people's scrutiny? I find she's much more concerned with how other people perceive her than I am. Then again, I suppose I was never an officer or anything," he shrugged. "So it doesn't matter much what some load of rangers thinks of me."

"You think you could sneak me in?" he pondered out loud. It might be worth considering. Trastion had made him rather curious, and Tercen found himself wondering why he'd never felt the need to watch his sister in her element before. "Well. If you ever do hear something about a sparring session like that, and I happen to be around..." He didn't finish the sentence, but the rest was easy enough to figure out.

Drying the plate handed to him, Tercen nodded. "Well. What time you do have, and when you want to hang out, odds are I'll be around. Since this is a vacation for me, I like to take it easy. Maybe go exploring in the city. I tend to take my sister out to eat a few times, too, or cook for her here. She enjoys my food, but not the mess I tend to create making said food though..."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trainee Trastion Leithor
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

He considered the question for a moment while he worked on washing another dish. "Well, I'm pretty sure that Hyandaner actually means master sword, right? And Arnyn was and is a hyandaner, before being lieutenant." He shrugged. "Aside from that, I'm really not sure how it works, either." He admitted. But it wasn't really something he was all that worried about figuring out. He figured both Arnyn and Kaylin were both exceptionally good at their chosen weapons, and the title 'master' seemed to suit them both, in his opinion.

He went through a few more of the dishes while they talked, and then let out a little laugh as Tercen asked if he could sneak him into the training grounds. "I'm sure it could be done," He grinned. "But the problem is, of course, that." He shrugged. "I mean, like I said, they didn't announce the match ahead of time, before. And I don't know if they'd do another, and if so.. when such a thing might happen. It would be great for you to get to see her, I mean.." He stopped himself from mentioning that he would enjoy seeing his little sister accomplish something of that sort, if that was in her interests. "she's really impressive." He said, instead.

As the pile of dishes dwindled, he nodded at the mention of it being Tercen's vacation. That made sense. "I've been here in the city several months. I could show you around if you like," He offered with a smile, then laughed. "What, don't tell me you leave the mess for her to clean up?" He asked, incredulous. He didn't want to dwell on that topic though, and tried to think of some things to do here that might make Tercen's vacation more fun, sort of to compensate for the unfun dish washing. "How about, when we finish with these, I could show you around the city, and see if we can find something fun to do?" And later, they could either get lunch, or else come back here to make something.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Sept 15th - Late morning
Arnyn's house, Fourth level

"I like your confidence, trainee!" Tercen laughed after Trastion said he was sure he could smuggle Tercen into the training grounds somehow. "You'll just have to keep your ear to the ground then, whenever I'm in the city." He winked. "Which is not that often, luckily, so there'll be no need for you to start walking with your ear pressed to the cobblestones."

"I always enjoy seeing the city from someone else's point of view," he agreed. "I do know it reasonably well. But I'd be interested in learning what your favorite places are and where you enjoy spending your free time. There's always more to learn about a place."

He waved a plate around at Trastion's incredulity. "What? It's only fair. if I cook for us - she cleans up for us." He left it unsaid that the clean-up often involved dishes and such from his previous, solitary meals as well. There was no need for Trastion to know about that, really. Tercen grunted in response to the suggestion of fun. "By the Valar, yes," he said emphatically. "I'll be able to use some fun after this, for sure..."

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan

Third level - early evening

2 days after the Midsummer event

@Rillewen

They worked in companionably silence as the pie was prepared then he turned to put it in the oven. The door creaked as he shut it. Dusting his hand off as he stood he looked at the oven. "That won't take long. Most everything in it is already cooked." He spoke then turned to see Cali at the table. She looked tired. It had been a long day really. He couldn't blame her. He was about to turn his attention back to the oven, more to have something to do, when she spoke.

He looked back at her, listening as he turned to face her and the table. He went to take a seat across from her as she explained her feelings at the dance. He settled in as she continued, his arms rest on the table as he interfolded his fingers. A small sound of amusement came from him hearing Nal had hid her hammer. Sounded like him but it faded as she explained about the man and how he'd shown up twice now. This caused his brows to knit together with concern.

She turned to look at the stove but felt somehow it was more of a way not to face him as she continued. He could tell she was uncomfortable with the telling. Perhaps thinking he would think less of her for not being able to fight off the man. He looked at his hands for a moment as she put her head in her hands and rest her elbows on the table. He wasn't sure how to comfort her. He wanted to take her hand and hold it but thought better of it.

He started slowly, unsure if any of his words would help. " The first time I went into battle I was fifteen and my armor hung on me, ill fitting. I barely had the strength to swing my sword, which once came out of my hands and landed point first at my Commanders feet. My Commander was Pele. I nearly stabbed my Aunt. " He offered a small smile before continuing. "The point is I might have had plenty of enthusiasm, but I knew nearly nothing about fighting. The first enemy I came face to face with scared the life out of me and I stood there, frozen. I managed to fumble my way through that first fight, and it cost me my first taste of steel." He reached down and pulled his shirt up just enough to show the 4-inch scar on his right side.

He let his shirt fall as he continued. "Even with armor and training I still managed to nearly get myself killed. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself Dringolben, it sounds like that man has years of experience like the one I faced on the battlefield. We were simply outmatched, that's all." He paused for a moment. "You know, I might be able to help you there. Teach you a few things? With practice it will become second nature. Muscle memory I think they call it." Just then he caught a whiff of their baked pie. He rose from the chair to check on it. "I wouldn't mind helping." He offered with a small shrug. "I think our dinners ready." He turned towards the oven.

He pulled the door open, giving her time to think over his offer. He inhaled deeply as he looked over the golden baked potato crust. "Oh ya, it's done."

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn
Captain Pele Alarion in conversation with Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Walking up from the Training Grounds

"I still have to see that one recruit training under you whom you would not have well in hand and pushing to the limits," Pele teased back and barely refrained from nudging her friend with her elbow.

She was quiet for a while, still smiling, and then said: "It does seem appropriate to promote Trastion, yes, having learned everything you have told me of his progress this far. Hopefully that will be a good reward for his effort."

They were going up the circles at quite a steady pace, yet rather than being exhausted Pele felt quite invigorated by it. She let her gaze roam up towards the sky for a few moments as she considered the bonding exercise. "I don't know what you have planned, Nyn," she glanced at Arnyn sideways and grinned. "But it sounds something along the lines of mischief, even if paperwork is sorted. Lieutenant Brian probably does not know what he's in for... Just don't make the man have a heart attack, yes? Or I will never hear the end of complaints upon my return."

They had reached the barracks sooner rather than later, and stopping at the door of her room Pele said: "Right, I better see if I have any clothing appropriate for something that is not duty, or else go on a dress purchasing round through the city. And... thanks for that sparring, and chat, and all." Giving Arnyn another bright smile, she disappeared into the room to start on her preparations for travel.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Cali Dringolben
Third level - early evening
2 days after the Midsummer event

Cali's gaze slowly shifted to rest on Mourgan as he began talking about his first time going into battle. She frowned slightly. Fifteen? That seemed so young. That was how old she had been when she lost her first two brothers.. in battle. She understood that sort of thing all too well. But the part about nearly killing his commander by accident.. and that the commander had been Pele.. his aunt, Cali lifted her head from her hands, and looked at him with slight surprise. She didn't comment though, since he seemed to still have more to say.

She was a little concerned, seeing the scar that she showed her, but nodded slowly. "I'm glad you didn't," She told him with a faint smile, sincerely. If he had gotten himself killed back then, well.. not only would that have been sad for his family, but then she would never have met him. And he seemed like a very nice guy; one that she liked knowing.

As Mourgan went on to tell her not to be so hard on herself, Cali smiled faintly, appreciative of the thought behind his words. It was much easier said than done, of course, but.. she shrugged slightly. "You're probably right," She admitted with a little sigh, looking down as she thought about that. Iole was not hurt, nor killed. She shouldn't keep fretting about all of the 'could haves' and 'almost dids' like that. Mourgan's offer caught her by surprise. Cali looked back up, partially checking if he was serious. He would help her? She blinked slowly as she let him finish what he was saying, thinking about it. "Thank you.. maybe that would help. If you're sure?" She checked, mainly to make sure he would actually have time for that. "I don't want to take up too much of your time, of course.. I know you have duties and all, but if you really don't mind helping me a little, maybe I would feel a bit better. Safer.. you know." She paused for a moment, thinking.

"I.. don't actually know if I'm allowed to use any of the training areas for the rangers," She realized thoughtfully, as he went to check on the food. She turned in her seat to keep facing him, but she could tell he didn't really need any help getting the pie out of the oven. It wasn't exactly a two person job, after all. She knew she wouldn't be permitted on the training grounds, but there was that little training area outside the armory, and yet.. not being a ranger, herself, she wasn't sure whether she'd be allowed to use it for this sort of thing. "But, there is the garden out here.. I suppose that could work?" She looked toward the window that gave a nice view of the overgrown garden in the backyard. "Oooh, that smells so good," She commented as he pulled the pie out of the oven.

The shepherd's pie looked and smelled delicious, and Cali had hardly realized how very hungry she was until it was being cut and served. While they ate, Cali and Mourgan talked a bit more about this new idea, and arrived at satisfactory arrangements for when and where was most convenient for them both. By the time the meal was finished, those plans were established, and they had chatted about a few other things as well. After cleaning up the dishes from the meal, Cali was feeling much better about things in general.

Realizing how long it had been now, since that morning in the armory, it occurred to Cali how tired Mourgan must be by now. She had slept for several hours, but he had stayed alert, watching in case of trouble. "You must be exhausted, Mourgan." She frowned slightly in concern. "You should go get some sleep, now. Nal will surely be here any moment, so I'm sure we'll be alright." She didn't know what was keeping him, actually, but she didn't want Mourgan to feel obligated to stay any longer than he already had. "You definitely can't stay on guard duty all day and all night." And it was getting fairly late by now. Besides, with Iole's news earlier, it seemed unnecessary to have him standing guard, now. "Your turn to get some rest now, right?" She smiled at him as she recalled his words to her earlier about not being at your best while sleep deprived.

"Seriously.. you've done so much, I don't know how else to put this.. but, well. Thank you so much, for staying with me all this time.. and putting up with my paranoia," She added with a slightly embarrassed laugh. "annnd risking your life, getting me inside." She added with a little blush, remembering the unfortunate trap situation. "And cooking supper.. Really, I don't know what I would have done without you, today." She smiled at him. "I'm very glad I met you, Mourgan."

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan Alarion

Third level~ early evening

2 days after the Midsummer event

@Rillewen

She look surprised by his offer to help her. He half understood, she didn't know him. He got the sense that she'd not had a lot of offers of help. He was glad when she took him up on the offer. "I'm sure, I can always find the time." If need be, he would shift around some of his duties, trade with some others to have the time when she needed it. He'd work it out. When she recommended the garden as a place to train he smiled. "That's a great idea, it'll be perfect. ' He started to dish out the pie.

He enjoyed their talk and the plans they made as they ate their meal. So soon their meal was finished, and they cleaned up the kitchen and the dishes. He was putting the last dish away when she mentioned how tired he must be. He hadn't thought about it but now with a full belly and some plans under his belt he'd relaxed just enough for it to creep in. He nodded in agreement and with the reassurance of Nal being home soon and the fact she wasn't here alone he conceded. "I am tired now that you mention it." He hung up the dish towel.

He smiled at her compliments. "I'm glad to have met you as well Cali. It was an interesting evening, I've actually enjoyed it, despite the traps." He chuckled lightly. "Well, get some sleep yourself. Have a good evening." With that he gave a small nod and headed out the front door, lightly closing it after him.

[Isolde Alarion]

Nelladel Alarion, on a Saturday Evening

At the home of Addhor, 2nd Circle

@Ercassie

He was right, she had been saying that all day. His guess made her smile and it turned thankful as she took the offered wineglass. "I will do my best." She answered through her smile before lowering into the green chair he offered her. She found it to be comfortable and inviting. Her free hand came to rest in her lap as she looked at the red liquid swirling in her glass. His statement caused her to look back to him. Was she that obvious? Hearing he was nervous also caused her to breath out a sigh of relief.

She joined him in taking a sip. It was earthy and crossed her palate with a smile. She was lowering her glass as he raised his slightly. She couldn't say she was familiar with it either with her limited experience of various wines. Hearing it went well with mushrooms in a rabbit pie as well as company she had to offer her own evaluation. "I don't have a lot of experience, but I think it's rather good." She joined him in leaning back against the cushion, she could feel herself relaxing.

"I agree." She grinned at him and raised her glass for another sip but soon he asked if she liked rabbit. He seemed concerned so she lowered her glass to answer him as she nodded. "Oh yes, I do." she hoped to ease his concern. "I find it very versatile. I've eaten it my entire life I believe." she chuckled lightly. "Some of my best memories as a child are going rabbit hunting with my brothers." Her features became mischievous for a moment. "Of course they didn't enjoy having their little sister tagging along, scaring off the rabbits with her endless chattering but they tolerated me. As good brothers do I suppose." Her smile returned as her nervousness had melted away.

[Lantaelen]

@ercassie

Lord Abrazimir of House Dimaethor
Visiting the home of Isys, Fifth Level, Minas Tirith, Gondor
Shortly after Midsummer, Fourth Age

[Arriving from Houses of Healing, here]

From the Sixth Level, Lord Abrazimir Dimaethor descended down into the Fifth, walking along the battlements to gaze over the Pelennor until his instructions and navigation took him deeper into the city, where he was informed the domicile of Lady Azrubêl was located. It was quite impressive, as the levels of luxury and comfort seemed to rise with every level one ascended in the White City of Gondor. They were hundreds of feet off the ground, far from sea level, and even he could feel the change in the air this high on the mountain shelf that the city was located in.

Coming to the doorway, he knocked three times and stood back, gazing up at the exterior of the stone home. The stonework was ancient and superb, built in the days of power of their kind. It was like living history, despite the stone being inert and inanimate. Three thousand years of living history… And who knows what sort of discussions, conversations, plotting, scheming, might have been done here, throughout the lifespan of Gondor, where decisions that could have changed the whole course of the Kingdom may have been conducted.

He knocked and waited, for some sign or presence of his kinswoman to appear. He had a lot to discuss with her and he hoped she could guess by his presence what it would be about. Had she heard of Arkadhur asking directly for him?

[Pele Alarion]

&
Captain Pele Alarion & Cadil
Gate to the Third Circle

Cadil was not sure that he had managed to sleep at all even when he had kept his eyes closed for that hour or two after he had carefully packed his bag and set it in readiness by his bed. He kept glancing at the darkness outside the window though it was a useless exercise since the timing he had been assigned still fell within the timeframe when everything was still dark. Eventually he had decided it was better to be early than late and got out of bed. A heart breakfast later and after checking and rechecking himself in the mirror to see that his simple set of black trousers and grey long-sleeved shirt with a leather jerkin over it looked impeccable, he pulled on his boots and shouldered the heavy backpack. He left the house as quietly as he could so that the others would not be roused, and headed through the dark streets towards the gate. To shorten the time, he set his bag by his feet and engaged in a light-hearted conversation with the guards on duty, chatting of this and that.

After what seemed like forever, approaching leisurely footsteps echoed through the empty nearby street, and eventually Pele appeared within sight. She did not wear any armour over her uniform and had packed her own bag as well in an attempt to match the requirements she had set for Cadil. However, her provisions looked to be half in size when compared to Cadil's.

"Good morning," she greeted the guards and Cadil, and the young man straightened up as tall as he could and tried to pull in his belly a bit as he returned the greeting, without the salute offered by the guards who said nothing of their observations that the Captain was out and about much earlier than usual.

Her attention now fully on Cadil, Pele looked him over briefly and then frowned at the size of his backpack.

"Cadil, have you brought half of your house in that bag? I told you to bring what you need for three days, not for a month," she said as she lifted her gaze from the bag to look him in the eyes. "I am not all that sure that you are in condition to carry this at a steady pace for any great distance and still be able to fight effectively after. I stand by this opinion, unless you can prove me wrong."

"But I might need all this, Captain..." he objected in relation to the contents of the bulky bag, not daring to counter her judgement on his ability to carry it.

"Fine," she shrugged. "If you need this, you will also have to carry it without complaint. Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed, though he suspected that he was getting himself deep into trouble. He doubted that the Captain of the Rangers would be more merciful to him and his burden than Nal had been on their venture to leave the city for some fun.

"Right. Let's get moving then," Pele turned and set off at a more steady march through the gate to head down the remaining levels of the city towards the training grounds and expected the prospective trainee to pick up his bag and join her.

[Ercassie]

Private with @Isolde Alarion

Addhor Raxëlilta, on a Saturday Evening
Rooms above ‘Wood Works’ Shop, Marketplace, 2nd Circle
With Nelladel Alarion

Having invited his guest to relax, Addhor found that her doing so gave him cause to also. And her approval of the meal he’d selected soon gave rise to easy conversation. The image of Nell’s childhood rabbit-hunting escapades raised her sweet smile into a wider animation and he naturally mirrored the sentiment. “I doubt that they minded you tagging along so very much,” he assured her, sincerely; only half lost in the endearing image of her younger self skipping along beside her brothers. “Besides, your chatter can not really have impeded their hunt, if you say the dish was one you have enjoyed so often. You have ..” he tried to remember, “was it .. three brothers ?”


As he made the casual enquiry, the scent of home cooking encourage him to rise calmly from his seat and look toward the stove. The apartment was not so large that his doing so would distract from their talk. So her response would be easily learned without even a need to raise voice.

“I have only the one, by blood,” the carpenter admitted, in his own turn, “although a second, by .. well, bond.” The man’s voice carried easily above the sounds of his checking on their food, and readying to serve it onto the prepared plates. “When we were young, a neighbour was also around so often, that was almost like having a little sister too,” Addhor smiled at the memory, barely registering that he was sharing such details of his life with Nell, without even thinking about it. “She would have set free any rabbits that we caught though,” he realised, acknowledging the thought with a silent pang as he set about straining and spooning the food onto plates for them.


“Maybe the next time I go out to catch supper, you’ll have to come along, and we can judge how much of a .. distraction .. you might prove,” he suggested, with a light hearted lilt toward the conclusion of such a thought. And just a moment of doubt and surprise as the man acknowledged he had spoke the notion aloud. But it was too late to regret it now. And honestly, he did not really, he was somewhere between enjoying the easy pleasure of Nell’s company, and setting the table ready for her.

Judging the table to be fit, the man looked to invite his guest from her seat to her dinner. “That is, presuming that this evening doesn’t put you off, of course ..” he tried to convey the suggestion with humour, although certainly he was nervous that it would not go horribly.


“Your table awaits,” he found Nell at her seat, and offered a hand to see her rise and join him at the modest table’s fare. Once there, he reclaimed his half-emptied glass from the counter, to sit beside a plate. “The pie is rabbit with wild mushrooms, in a celery and fennel sauce.” Somehow Addhor felt obliged to forewarn his guest, or else let her know what the food was, in case it seemed uncertain. He’d cooked for family, frequently, which meant those he catered for tended to know what to expect. He so rarely had guests, probably as rarely as Nell had somebody cook for her; an expert as she stood in that regard. Still the two plates framed the local, simple cuisine, each with readied cutlery to hand. There were also two smaller, empty plates, close to the flowering carafe, which the baker’s own offering might improve.

“Carrots, green peas and some small radishes,” he outlined, without pointing, what she could expect, pulling out a dining chair, to seat her if she did not mean to run away. “Dessert is .. a surprise,” he promised, as though that sort of mystery might prove a hope of enticement.

[Ercassie]

Behind Closed doors - Part 1



Ilisys Azrubêl and Arkadhur Halsad
at the former’s residence, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith.
The eve of the day after Erulaitalë, – attended by Lotte and Gildolen

The plates were discs of polished pearl, rimmed with a single band of gold. Lotte bore them through the house, one to each palm, and each of them festooned with a fair feast of sliced cold meats and grapes. The housekeeper manoeuvred her way through swinging doors with the practiced ease of an elbow here, a foot there. She had no need to estimate steps up and down, beyond the skirts which hid the floor from sight. Her dance was a practiced feat of balance. For service grew only more instinctual, as far as she was concerned; it did not grow infirm. And Lotte had served this family, her family as she liked to call them, since she had first been permitted the honour, at a modest thirteen years of age.

Entering the drawing room, she found Gildolen like a proud young tree, sprouting out of the polished floor with his head thrown back on his neck, and a small silver tray entirely bereft of reason to bear it in both hands. The evidence was found in the possession of the Lady and her guest. A flute of red wine apiece which each of them employed in various intentions, save to drink. With a kindly sway of her head, Lotte set a plate before each of the diners, and took up the young valet’s place. After all, their lady ought never be left alone and unchaperoned in the company of a gentleman. Not if they were later interrogated on the matter by the Lady Eressild. And in particular .. this guest .. The Lord that was not. Not by any means. Not a gentleman. Lotte knew. And she had instructed Gildolen to be upon his guard, as much as on his best behaviour.


"Dusk has turned to day, and back again to dusk. And still you can not bring yourself to ask me ?” Arkadhur discarded the untouched wine, relieved for the distraction to raise a fork instead and chase a grape around his platter. This was managed without great thought toward piercing it, but rather more that there might be something dissolved subtly in the wine.

For a long moment the lady did not answer, and then without glancing up, she wondered. “What would you have me ask you ?” Her guest did .. glance up. As though to check whether she had just truly spoken. Just in time to see her lower her own glass, though she equally ignored the food.

“Whether I did it,” he shrugged, flippant. Determined to inspire a fury out of her. Any sort of a reaction. What she must be thinking .. he could not know. “Do you believe what they say ?”


Lotte did not trust herself to look, either toward the younger lady or toward he that sought her answer. Quite what had occurred at the festival, she had gathered from other sources since. The false lord had apparently helped the guard to recapture a fellow Umbarian. And had just as apparently committed assaults and attempted abductions of Gondorians the year before. On which counts he had never been held responsible. Counts which stood him guilty of the same thing that his re-imprisoned countrywoman had done. Without proof, which was meanwhile being sought for, he had not yet been arrested. Though he was very much expected not to leave town, while the City Guard looked into the new allegations.

“It matters to you,” Isys glanced up, weary, yet resigned, “whether I believe you ?”

Arkadhur put down his cutlery. “You have believed me before,” he reminded her.

“That was before ..” she agreed. It had been .. before she had realised that the man was not simply posing as an Umbarian, but rather was born of Umbar, and instead merely posing as a Gondorian. To say that this fact had made a world of difference was, though, to still touch only on the very edge of the problem.

“I do not know how we have come to the after,” the man conceded confusion.

“Because I believed you,” the lady recalled. And set grey eyes unto him as she added “when I should have not”.

“I believed you too ..” The Umbarian tried, raised both hands in surrender of that effort and began anew. “When it comes to regrets .. it is you who was the prophet of false hope ..” he accused her.

“I gave you a chance,” Isys reminded him. Of her understanding, of what had occurred.

“You gave me nothing,” Arkadhur scoffed, without shame.

“I gave you every .. chance” the lady disagreed albeit without losing her temper, as words instead failed to properly convey her frustration.


It was at that point when the young valet, Gildolen, returned. Citing a caller at the front door, as the cause for his interruption. When the lady of the house enquired as to the identity of her late night caller, she was informed. It was Raxelilta. Domanol she deduced, then. Having directed her staff to see the latest houseguest to the parlour, Isys rose from where she had been sat.

“Take yourself upstairs,” she decided, of the Umbarian. “You shall remain upstairs, until I am done with matters .. downstairs. Lotte, please relieve Gildolen and tell him that Lord Menilzir is to be bathed.”

“You had me bathed last night,” the man reminded his hostess, failing to halt Lotte meantime.

“I did,” the lady did not sound uncertain, though her agreement did not explain. . So she sniffed at her houseguest somewhat disdainfully, before waiving him into the custody of the freshly arrived Gildolen. “Still a second shall do you no harm,” was the mistress’s conclusion. And rather an easier admission than her want to keep him as far from able to flee about the streets. In a bathtub, he was as vulnerable as she could render him. For howsoever long it might take.


Yet the bathing was not what would prove the problem. No sooner had the valet escorted their Umbarian ‘guest’ back up the stairs, but Lotte had swiftly returned with words to press upon her mistress's ear.

“My lady, there is a caller come,” the elder woman announced, meeting a resounding stare from the noblewoman.

“Yes, yes. Raxelilta,” Isys recounted. “In the parlour, I am aware. Thankyou Lotte.” The noblewoman sat down at the now abandoned table, picked up a grape and discarded it.

The servant stalled, just long enough to breed doubt in all those who observed her expression. “Yes, it is Raxelilta” Lotte agreed. “But this one is at the kitchen door. The other ..”

Together Isys and Lotte rose and peered around the door: in the direction of the parlour, then afterward, toward the kitchen.

“So .. Addhor ? At the kitchen ..” the younger lady supposed, and was met by a nod that inspired no gladness. “And Domanol is in the parlour ..” There was now an estranged brother at each of the two ends of her house. And an Umbarian in the washroom upstairs … Of course she could not afford for any one of them to be aware of any other one of them.

“Lotte” Isys smiled calmly, even as she met the other woman’s eyes. “Do not let either of our guests know that the other is here. Or who is upstairs. Oh, and Lotte ?”

“Yes, my lady ?”

“We are going to need more tea,” Isys imagined. She blinked twice as the other woman absorbed the ask.

“Yes, my lady,” Lotte bobbed an assent then and hastened off to be about her dual task. Life was never simple. Life was never boring.

[Arnyn]

Early-Mid November, after this

It would be best if he heard from her.

It was her only option. Really.

If word got to him through a different agent... There would be no hesitation. The order would be given. And her life would be forfeit.

She swallowed as she wound her way through the corridors, until she emerged into a bar-like setting, though it was far from public. She wore green, as she knew that was the colour he prefered for her.

"Lord Hand." The greeting was subservient, as was the curtsy that she offered him, her head lowered. Thus, she waited.

"Jade." His voice was non-committal. Even though he had raised her himself. Or possibly because he had. She had never been able to tell.

Her throat was bone dry, yet she summoned the velvet in her voice. She had to tread carefully, however. She only had a small chance. While she had convinced the client, she had yet to convince her boss. And he would doubtlessly be the most difficult.

[Arnyn]

Early-Mid November
The streets of the city, in the darkest hours of the night

Every step she took, reverberated through her body. She hugged one forearm against her by using the other; her hand hand cupping her left elbow. To offer what support she could to her left shoulder. It hurt to hold it, and she needed no further explanation as to why than the black and blue bruises that adorned her left arm.

At least... at least he had not punished her through the cold bite of steel. "I do not want to hinder your effectiveness, my little jewel." A mercy to be thankful for.

Her left arm and her back had taken the worst of it. "You will need this arm the least, yes?" The cold, almost lifeless words ran down her spine like ice - even now, even hours after the words had been uttered near her ear. "You will need your back, though, I imagine?" A tsk-ing sound. "Unfortunate. Let's hope you already convinced your lordling well enough for it to stick." The last word had been so artfully punctuated that the memory made her wince even as she walked down the cobblestoned streets of the White City past the witching hour.

Thank Estë that he had not touched her ankles. Or she would never have been able to return to her lodgings. She would have crumpled right here, in the middle of the street.

Her eyes pricked, but she refused to let the tears fall. She was stronger than this. She was stronger than breaking apart over her guardian's... harsh response... to her failure.

She had much to be thankful for. The bruises would heal. Her abused shoulder would, too. No cuts meant no scars. She'd suffered no breaks.

She was still alive.

Clearly, Torthon Talven had proven his agreement to maintain his contract with them - and more precisely, with her. If he would not have answered the Hand's other agent favourably, she would not be walking here or possibly be crumbling onto the pavement. If he had not agreed to that, she would never have left the compound. She owed him - his ability to grant her a second chance - her life. Damn. A tear escaped her right eye as the wind wipped at her face.

Not that she would ever be allowed such a thing, but... at times like these, she could really use a home. Somewhere to go that wasn't just warm because of the fire in the hearth. Somewhere, or someone.

[Ercassie]

Behind Closed Doors – Part 2



Arkadhur Halsad, in the Fifth Circle residence of Lady Ilisys Azrubêl,
Ushered upstairs, out of the way, and attended by Gildolen
The day after Erulaitalë/the evening before his arrest

For twenty years, give or take, he had observed the Noble folk of Belfalas and, for the majority of that past twenty years, he had observed in a capacity where it would mean his life lost, should they ever notice his intrigue. Still the curiosity abounded, as though he stood spectator to some previously undiscovered species. Their habits, their patterns, their entire sense of being .. there was always some new element to be gleaned from playing audience. And this evening was no exception.

‘We will need more tea’ Ilisys had suggested, and Lotte had immediately gathered up the plate and wine glass from before their ‘guest, hesitating for only as long as it took him to release his fork from grip. A very distinct clearing of the woman’s throat then, prompted the Umbarian to surrender the knife he had slipped into the cuff of his fine jacket sleeve. He offered no apology, and Lotte wasted no time in chiding, as though he would listen regardless. The steely silence somehow gave off a matronly air, which supposed that he was being sent to bed without supper. Quite literally. Then meeting her mistress’s grey eyes as she bobbed a dignified farewell, the maid departed. No doubt her attentions would be replaced all too soon by the valet.


“Both Raxelilta all at once,” Arkadhur thus remarked, while he had his hostess all to himself. “You ought call for Lord Dimaethor to come over, that we might have a right reunion,” he smiled, clearly unconcerned by the thought of standing so outnumbered in that company. Because they had not killed him the last time ?

Isys calmly laid down her own cutlery, as though it had never yet been touched. She raised a silken napkin from her lap and calmly smoothed away any clue of her fingerprint imprinting upon the polished crystal. A reunion, she noted silently quite what the man supposed. Then he did not realise that the two Raxelilta were more sure to be the two brothers. By rights a ‘proper’ reunion of their little group, from the fateful sea voyage some years ago, would require both the father and his son. But Isys knew enough of Unalmis that he would not likely come angry to her door, when he would rather comfort the alarm of his friends. Then Arkadhur was not aware that Domanol had returned to the city ?


“What questions will you have for them, I wonder ?” the false lord mused, almost envious that the Gondorians would have the lady’s company soon, in his stead. And sure enough Gildolen came swiftly, to replace Lotte with a secretive nod toward Ilisys before he waited by the man’s chair, quite pointedly.

“It would seem you serve me this eve, as the last,” he mentioned to the male servant, even as he rose, begrudgingly. “A cause then, perhaps finally .., for a valet else residing in a masterless residence ..,” Arkadhur showcased his understanding of the hierachy and various expected roles, even as he gave himself up into the younger man’s custody.


It was to the young man’s credit that he did not rise to the Umbarian’s bait. Even to declare that Ilisys had refused to demote her new member of staff to the role of ‘footman’. After all, young Gildolen had served as a respected valet to the late Lord Heledir Estennin of Dol Amoth. And he had since assured Ilisys in a private confidence that he recalled ‘Lord Hollin Menilzir’ paying a call to his master on the fateful day that same master was found at the foot of his balcony with a broken neck. No, there was no call for the proud young man to take umbrage at the false lord’s taunt. He would wait to speak his piece when it would be most damning for the Umbarian. And the anticipation of that moment would keep his patience until then.

The two men then rounded the table from which the lady rose not, and both of them struggled to keep from a glance in reaction, before they departed. Despite his broaching the conversation, Arkadhur seemed of no mind now to keep on at it. Their ascent up the stair case was cloaked in an awkward silence.

If the liar would seek to manipulate the young man, he would wait until they were alone.

---

@Lantaelen

Lady Ilisys Azrubêl, at her Minas Tirith residence, Fifth Circle.
Receiving a visit from Lord Abrazimir Dimaethor
approximately a week after Erulaitalë/Arkadhur’s stay at the same address

Though she now resided within the city of Minas Tirith, Isys had brought more than simply clothes and furnishings from her hometown. The small quota of staff numbered less than four, but their assistance easily allowed for all that the Lady required. Albeit if some of the traditional job roles were here adapted with a refreshing flexibility toward requirement. What her mother knew would not hurt either of them.

On most occasions then, that Lotte answered the front door, it was because and to inform whoever was paying calls that, the Lady was not at home. Either that or to delay them under the deception that the lady was in fact at home, when she was not. But this week had seen an almost unprecedented lengthy stay from the Ehtyar and rare had been her time alone in that duration. So if the lady’s maid opened the front door without surprise, her face did wrinkle into that emotion, as she recognised the nobleman from ‘home’.


“Lord Dimaethor,” Lotte managed somehow without blushing before the handsome young man, to take the door wide for Abrazimir. “Are you come to see Lady Azrubêl ?” she ascertained, before waving him within. “Do allow me to bring you to the .. parlour,” she decided on the most appropriate room with only a short pause.

[Lantaelen]

@ercassie

Lord Abrazimir of House Dimaethor
Visiting the home of Isys, Fifth Level, Minas Tirith, Gondor
Shortly after Midsummer, Fourth Age

The door was soon answered after his knock, revealing it to be Lotte, the old attendant and helper to the Azrubêl family. She had been a mainstay in Abrazimir’s youth, especially those occasions when he visited or journeyed across the river to the lands of the Azrubêls. He esteemed her as one might an Aunt, and he bowed his head courteously despite the obvious difference in rank, offering up an equally gracious smile as she guessed at his intentions. She was always so keen.

Lord Abrazimir had no clue or inkling of the tension and secrets and conspiracy within the house at present. And he was bringing more, quite possibly.

”Correct, ma’am. I am here to see the Lady Azrubêl. Can you tell her I’ve arrived? If it isn’t too much. I’m happy to wait.” He confirmed, eyebrows raised a little cheekily, knowing how much Isys felt about such labels and terms. Helmet tucked under an arm, in full kit, he allowed himself to be led into the parlour of the small home, though he chose not to take any seat, standing near one of the windows instead. He doubted the furniture here could withstand the weight of his full gear and kit. One arm held his helm under arm, the other hand rested lightly on his sword – a relaxed posture.

Despite the reason and motive for coming here, and how serious it was – a murder investigation and more! – he couldn’t help but feel wonder and curiosity at the home. Within Minas Tirith itself! He wondered how long Isys had lived here, how much it cost, and so forth. He wouldn’t mind a place such as this within the city.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Her home at the Fourth Circle - Second half of November
joined by

Kaylin

She pursed her lips as she regarded the cake. It was overly large, considering. Then again, it also needed to accommodate twenty tiny little candles. And when was a chocolate cake ever too large, really? The little candles jutting out from swirls of sugared whipped cream were as of yet unlit. She would wait on that until her guests had arrived.

Neither of them was really aware of why she had called them back here today. It had only been a day since they'd met here, so they would likely figure she wanted to follow up on that conversation for some reason. Walking out of her kitchen and into the living area, she assessed her work. Silly little flags in many colors, along a few long pieces of string. A mysterious box on one of the side tables next to the couch.

A knock on the front door made her startle, even though she'd been expecting it. Arnyn swiftly went to open the door, finding a half-curious, half-worried looking Kaylin on her doorstep.

"What is it?" the redhead asked. "Did something happen, or did you figure out a hole in our story?"

"Neither," Arnyn proclaimed, gesturing for Kaylin to step inside. When Kaylin was inside, Arnyn closed the door and preceeded her to the living area.

Kaylin looked around with a frown. "Flags?" She circled a finger around the room. "What's going on? It's not my birthday or anything. Also, I'm not five."

"I know it's not yours," Arnyn said patiently. "But it was Trastion's. Recently."

Blinking at Arnyn, Kaylin took a deep breath. "Ooooh," she drawled, looking at the flags again. "Hmm. Well. I suppose he is five."

"I have cake."

That seemed to garner more interest. "A-ha! A good one?"

"Chocolate," Arnyn offered, bettering the deal.

Kaylin gave her a thumbs up. "You should have said something earlier, though. Now I didn't have the chance to get him a gift or anything."

"Don't worry," Arnyn said quietly. "I've gotten the impression he isn't partial to the material things. He'll just appreciate that you're here. I don't think he's done much for a birthday ever since..." She gestured vaguely, seeing no point in finishing the sentence.

"Right. Damn." The redhead shook her head. "Okay." She seemed at a loss of what to say. She couldn't imagine not having anyone do anything for a birthday. "I'm a huge fan of birthdays. I take it he's been keeping it a secret?"

Arnyn nodded. "He only ever let it slip once, to me. I don't think anyone else even knows. And they probably shouldn't, since it might give him away to someone who is looking for him."

"Agreed," Kaylin said quickly. "But just two people... I mean... birthdays should be a party."

"If you're going to be negative, you might as well leave," Arnyn said, raising an eyebrow. "I want positivity. Not..." She indicated Kaylin. "Whatever this is."

"Right, right. Sorry," Kaylin apologized. "When is he getting here?"

"Any minute. Want a drink?"

"Varda's stars, yes. Maybe something to take the edge off first. Then coffee."

"I don't have any alcohol here, Kaylin."

The redhead rolled her eyes. "You don't make it easy, do you?"

Arnyn just smiled.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trastion
Arnyn's house

He was rather mystified. What could this be about? They'd talked about everything and more, yesterday. Had they somehow forgotten something? He didn't think it possible, as many topics as it felt like they'd covered when he, Arnyn, and Kaylin had met here yesterday. Yet, for some unknown reason, Arnyn was asking him to come here again, today. Maybe there was something she'd meant to talk to him about, that she forgot? It didn't seem likely, though. His thoughts flashed back to when the lieutenant had tasked him with the difficult job of keeping her brother from trashing her house, but she had made it perfectly clear what she'd expected, then. This... well, there had been nothing to explain it. Just.. 'come at this time'.

Given that he had no idea what to expect, Trastion had made sure to arrive as promptly as he could. He'd already finished all scheduled training for the day, so he had also cleaned up before coming. He hoped he wasn't going to need his armor or anything, since he hadn't brought those.. but he figured if she was requesting him to come for any sort of training, she'd have said to meet her at the training area, right? So, hopefully, he hadn't guessed wrong, and this was only some sort of follow-up thing from their secret talk the day before.

Pausing at the doorstep, he tried to mentally prepare for whatever might be coming, then knocked on the door, then stepped back to wait. Whatever this was about, it would undoubtedly be explained soon enough.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

|
Arnyn | Kaylin
Arnyn's home at the Fourth Circle - Second half of November

She'd just finished making the coffee when a knock on the door made them both look up. Arnyn gestured into the general direction of the door. "Can you let him in, Kaylin? Then I'll finish in here."

Shrugging, Kaylin headed for the front door, opening it wide to find Trastion on the other side. With a broad grin, she sized him up and let him sweat a little. "Well, come on in, little brother," she finally said, stepping aside with a chuckle and gesturing inside. "Come on. Arnyn is waiting. She's very impatient," Kaylin said lightly. "Though she couldn't be bothered to come and open the door herself." A sigh. "Take from that what you will." Biting her lips but giving into a grin almost straight away, Kaylin followed Trastion into the living area of Arnyn's house.

Having waited until she heard them entering the living area, Arnyn came out of the kitchen, not with coffee for Kaylin, but with the chocolate cake. A cake, big enough for eight people. A cake, with twenty lit, tiny little candles. With a smile, and as of yet no words, Arnyn slowly brought it over to the coffee table. After straightening her back, she shrugged a bit awkwardly, looking at Trastion. "Figured you had a few birthdays we need to make up for," she said quietly. "I hope you don't mind, Taras..."

Uncharacteristically, Kaylin stayed put, not moving from where she was when Arnyn had stepped out of the kitchen with the delicious-looking chocolate cake. Even more uncharacteristically, she remained quiet. It almost seemed as if she was barging in on a moment between the other two. She smiled softly.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trastion
Arnyn's house - 2nd half of November

Trastion was surprised to see not Arnyn, but Kaylin, open the door. He smiled, though it was a slightly surprised/puzzled sort of smile. "Hey, sis." This made it all the more baffling, though he did feel like it confirmed his suspicion that Arnyn had something more to discuss with them concerning what they'd talked about yesterday.

Stepping inside, he frowned a bit when Kaylin mentioned Arnyn being 'very impatient'. That... did not seem like Arnyn. Was everything alright? He glanced at Kaylin as she mentioned that, despite her impatience, Arnyn 'couldn't be bothered' to come to the door herself. This was even stranger. "Right.." He frowned, feeling extremely confused about this whole thing.

Entering the living room, he stopped in further confusion as he took notice of the decorations. What was all this about? He was busy trying to make sense of the little flags, when Arnyn emerged into the room. With a cake. With candles on it. He stared at the lieutenant in wonder as she carried the cake over to the table, but she didn't leave him wondering for very long. He could hardly believe it. He dimly recalled, a couple of months ago, during one of their training sessions, when he had mentioned his birth date, but it had seemed like such an insignificant mention... he should have known she would remember that, though. Given who she was. But still!

"This.. is for me?" He blinked and looked from the cake to Arnyn, then Kaylin, and back to Arnyn. Feeling a little choked up, he cleared his throat quietly and let out a soft little laugh. "I.. don't know what to say.." A smile grew on his face. "No, I don't mind." He assured her with a little shake of his head. After a slightly awkward hesitation, he walked over and hugged her. "Thank you." He stepped back, running a hand through his hair as he hoped that hadn't been out of line to do that. Then he grinned toward Kaylin. "How long did you know about this?"