The Library, the Journal and the Old Man

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

"No," Brooke laughed lightly. "not a joke. But he was just being silly. He was dealing out cards for him and Seri to play something, and she was still busy doing something else and hadn't come over to play yet. So while he was waiting, Chewy came and sat down where she would've been sitting," She explained. "So, then he laughed and asked if he was going to play, but then Chewy grabbed some of the cards and ran off. We had to chase him down to get them back. He thought he was really funny," She added, petting him lightly while shaking her head.

"The cards weren't too badly damaged, though." Gwestion added, in case Celume was concerned about that. "But he learned not to leave them where the dog could grab them, after that." He shrugged as he moved another piece, claiming one of Celume's. "But neither I, nor Brooke, were very interested in cards." He glanced at Brooke curiously. "Would you be interested in learning, if one of us were to help refresh your memory?" He asked. "If your mother taught you as young as you say.. then it sounds as if maybe that was something she thought was important." He mentioned, not trying to pressure her, but offering a reasonable cause for her to at least try.

Brooke hesitated, thinking about that for a long moment, as she watched him set the captured piece aside. There were a lot of ways this could go. Trying to consider all of the results her different reactions might bring, she bit her lip and remained silent for a few seconds before finally giving a hesitant answer. "Maybe..? But.. I probably wouldn't be very good at it." She shrugged slightly and turned her attention down to Chewy for a bit, wondering how bad it might be if she just played a game or two.. it wasn't like she'd win or anything, but it might be more interesting than playing against herself when no one else was around.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - just past noon

Ah. Then Seri had played cards with him. Arnyn relaxed slightly. That was good. Blossom had seemed nice enough to oblige him from time to time, even if she didn't particularly feel like it - and this made more sense than everyone in their party just telling him no all the time. The story about Chewy and the cards made her smile as she looked at the dog and leaned over to pet him for a moment, as well. A laugh escaped her when Brooke said Chewy thought he was really funny. "Well, I bet you are really funny," she told the dog.

Chuckling a bit at how Gladhron learned not to leave the cards lying around where Chewy could get at them, she didn't seem too bothered when Gwestion took one of her pieces off the board. It didn't take long before she made her own move in return, claiming none of his pieces. Not yet. Her set-up was almost where she wanted it to be, though.

"It was only a suggestion," she said mildly, when Brooke seemed very hesitant. "If it doesn't interest you... but if I may..." She focused more fully on Brooke. "Thinking you would not be any good is not a reason to skip out on it. No one is good at chess at first. Only those who stick with it, who practice, who learn, get beyond the basics of the game. So the question is..." Arnyn gestured at the board. "Would you like to be good at it? Do you think you would enjoy the thinking, the planning, the weighing of your options and how any and all of them might play out?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

As Celume commented that Chewy probably was really funny, he wagged his tail and leaned into the petting hand. Almost as if saying, 'of course I am!'. He looked a bit disappointed when she stopped petting him, but then he returned to leaning against Brooke's knees.

Brooke, meanwhile, was watching the board a bit intently, paying attention while Celume made her move. She glanced over at Gwestion, wondering what he would do in return. It was clear they were both quite skilled at this, and it was interesting to observe them.

Sitting back slightly, Gwestion tilted his head in thought as he studied the layout. His eyes narrowed ever-so-slightly, as he became aware of what she was doing. He didn't plan on letting that happen, but first he had to evaluate what he could do, and what would benefit him. Could he still make use of his earlier intention to trap her, or should he abandon that idea? He momentarily tuned out the other two as he mentally plotted out his moves.

Brooke blinked and looked away from the board, turning her head to look instead at Celume as she asked her question. Momentarily at a loss for how to respond to that, Brooke bit her lip and looked down as she fidgeted with her fingers in her lap. Of course, Celume couldn't know that she already did exactly that. And was doing that right now, even. Trying to figure out how would be best to reply to that question. None of the answers she could think of would really work, and after a moment, she just shrugged and said nothing.

While Brooke was debating, Gwestion formed a plan he thought would work, and made his move. Only then did he glance over, curious what Brooke might reply to the question. "I think you would be quite good at it, just for the record." He mentioned, having spent quite a while around the girl during the journey here. He had come to notice that she often tended to overthink things, and he figured, something like this could maybe help her channel that tendency, and put it to good use.

Looking up again, unsure if Celume was still looking at her, Brooke wasn't quite sure what to think of what Gwestion had said. She noticed that he had made his move already. And it was not the best one; she was pretty sure Celume would likely win after another couple of moves, but she said nothing.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - just past noon

Arnyn watched Gwestion make his move with a calm, thoughtful expression. She had warned him before, but that had been a one-time deal. She would not give him another. Wondering whether he was planning something that she was missing, she went over the options again. And again. But she always arrived to the same conclusion. He had made a mistake. And if he missed that mistake during his next two moves... the game would be hers. She moved her knight, taking his rook.

Meanwhile, she felt Brooke didn't like talking about it. So Arnyn decided to shift the subject. Just a little. Or a lot. "How is Mael?" she asked Gwestion, tapping her black knight with a faint smile.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

The moment Celume captured his rook, instead of the move he had anticipated, Gwestion frowned and sat back to study the board. What had he missed? It took him a moment to spot it, and then, he could have facepalmed. But he didn't. Instead, he gazed at the board with the same expression, rapidly trying to think how to save himself from that mistake. He shouldn't have let himself get distracted. Had it really been that long since he played Celume? Or was it simply the fact he'd been out of practice all that time?

"Mael? She's fine," He answered, just a bit distractedly as he studied the board. "She and Gaeroch both, quite well. And Narsule?" He asked, with a brief glance up at her before he moved a piece, which he hoped would help him recover. Then, glancing thoughtfully at Brooke, he looked back at Celume while thinking about a plan. That might work, he thought.

Brooke relaxed slightly as the matter seemed to drop. She leaned forward slightly, one hand rubbing Chewy's fur as she watched the game. Her gaze turned to Celume once Gwestion had made his move, and waited to see the move that she expected would inevitably follow.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - just past noon

Her eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly at Gwestion's frown. When Gwestion made his move, she quickly checked whether or not this foiled her plans. It didn't. She played out a few more scenarios in her mind, of what he might be planning to keep her from fulfilling her plan. While she could not combat all of them with her next move, she could choose to combat a few... or take the chance and move what she'd been intending to move earlier. Whatever Gwestion might be up to... he wouldn't be able to take her down anymore anytime soon. He'd have to campaign to do that. If there was any time to risk the aggressive approach, it was now.

Her hand went from her knight to her queen, and she took one of Gwestion's knights, seemingly out of nowhere. "I'm glad to hear those two horses are well,' she said, even as she put her opponent's white marble horse down to the side of the board. "So is Nársulë," she drawled with a little smile. "Though I think he was happiest when we were on the road, travelling, rather than mostly stabled. Even if I do take him out of the city every day."

"What were you planning on doing with your time while Ms Seri learns what she set out to learn from our Houses of Healing?" she wondered. "Are you planning on escorting Brooke to the library every day?" Celumë gave Brooke a smile and slanted her head. "While you play phantom chess?" Gladhron had said the brothers had each had their own plans.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

Watching as she claimed his knight, Gwestion didn't react with surprise or dismay. He had begun to suspect that he'd lost the game, and actually he did not mind too much. He nodded to hear that Narsule was well. "I'm sure." He added, thinking he ought to make sure and take Mael out for a ride tomorrow, so she wouldn't become restless, being cooped up in the city stable. He made another move; an attempt to fight to the end, even though he knew she'd beat him in this next move.

"Actually," He answered her other question, glancing up. "I had no idea there was a chess board here in the library, until a few minutes ago." He shrugged. "I don't plan to spend every day here, no. I did want to have a look at the library, so I came with Brooke today. But I hoped to speak to the captain of the rangers in this city, in hopes that Gladhron and I may gain access to whatever training facilities exist around here.. I'm sure there must be somewhere. If that doesn't work.. well, maybe we can find somewhere isolated to practice. I don't intend to let him sit around the inn's common room and be lazy the whole time we're here," He added with a hint of a smile.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

"Still as stoic as you used to be, I see," she commented quietly as she watched him make his move. She moved her rook. "Check mate." With a smile, she held out her hand to him over the chess board. "Good game."

His admission about seeking out the Captain of the Rangers to acquire permission to use the training grounds, startled her, but she showed nothing of it on her face. "Ah." If Gwestion was doing that... he might just catch her in the office instead of Pele. She couldn't help but think that might not go over well. She looked away, her left hand playing with a lock of her hair. "Were you planning on doing that today, too?" she suggested. She wasn't on duty today. That way there was no chance of suddenly running into him before she could tell the brothers herself. She should probably tell them when she had them together, too. "You'll need to go up to the Sixth for that."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

"Good game, indeed." He clasped her hand over the chessboard, nodding. "It has been quite a while. It seems I may have gotten a bit rusty," He admitted, shrugging, as if it was no big deal. He would have to sharpen his skills again.

As for the ranger training grounds matter, he thought her reaction was a little curious, glancing away. The hair could have simply been because it was in her way, but still. He wondered at that. "I suppose I could," he answered with a little nod. "Assuming they allow it, then it would give Gladhron and I a chance to get out and do some training this evening, to make up for him sleeping late today, as I know he did." He smiled faintly in amusement. "I was planning to wait until tomorrow, and walk Ms. Seri up to the houses of healing, but perhaps it would be helpful to get familiar with the route, this evening." He shrugged.

Then, turning to Brooke, he presented an idea he had thought of earlier. "Did you still want me to get that book from the high shelf for you?"

Blinking at the sudden change in topic, and as the attention returned to her, Brooke nodded. "If you would, please?"

He nodded. "And, when we leave here, you'd like me to check out two books, on your behalf. Yes?"

Brooke nodded slowly, wondering what he was leading up to.

"I have a proposition then," Gwestion mentioned. "How about you and Celume have a game, while I get that book down for you? And if you will at least give it a try, then I will check out those two books for you. Assuming Celume is agreeable?" He added, glancing over to check with her.

Brooke stared at him, eyes widening marginally. She had not seen that coming at all. She glanced from him to Celume, and to the board, and back. While they waited to hear what Celume would say about it, she was thinking over all the options, and trying to decide what to do.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

She had to grin when Gwestion said Gladhron had slept in late today, and that he knew about it. She thought there was no way Gladhron would agree to late evening training, unless Gwestion really made a serious effort out of it. But since it did not serve her purposes to comment just that, she didn't. "There is usually someone in the office until dinnertime," she told him. "Just in case you want to go up there today. The Rangers here take things pretty seriously. They don't just leave headquarters by the fourth bell after noon, or anything."

She didn't interrupt his exchange with Brooke, but her eyebrows lifted slightly when Gwestion so seemlessly suggested she and Brooke play a game of chess together. The game would take longer than however long it would take Gwestion to get that book. She narrowed her eyes then, wondering what he was up to. But then she shrugged. "I'm up for it, if you are," she told Brooke, while busying herself to put all the chess pieces back in their rightful place. Game or not, she'd leave the board properly set up.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

With a little nod, he acknowledged her words about the office, while making a mental note of how familiar she was with the routines of the rangers here, and the fact she spoke of this city as if it was her home. He had found it a bit doubtful, before, that she came from Rohan, despite speaking the language. So, he was a bit curious why she had been so reluctant to let them know where she did come from.

As Celume gave her answer, that she was alright with the chess arrangement, Gwestion's attention was on Brooke, though his hands deftly placing the pieces back where they belonged on his side. Soon, the board was reset, and he looked back to Brooke, awaiting her decision.

After weighing all of the options and angles she could think of, Brooke's desire for more books to read finally won out over everything. "Alright." She agreed quietly. As Gwestion stood up to offer his seat to her, Brooke hesitated for a moment before she left one comfy chair to claim the other.

"Where is the book?" He asked. After she had told him the title, and explained about the stack of books she had left in the aisle to mark the spot, he nodded and set off after a brief glance toward Celume, hoping she'd know that he would try to explain a bit of his motives later. Hopefully, Brooke might feel more comfortable about this without him around, or something. He wasn't really sure what was making her hesitate so much, but at least he'd nudged her to try it. As Celume said, he thought it was the sort of thing that would be right up her ally.

"No, Chewy," She stopped him from trying to put his paws up on the chess table, which would have knocked it over. "Lie down." She requested, and then sighed in relief when he did so. Turning her gaze now to the board, she hesitated. She'd watched them play, but the pieces still looked a bit unfamiliar. "So.." She hesitated, a little awkward about this. And how much should she pretend not to know, she wondered?

Picking up one of the rooks, she examined the piece thoughtfully, then looked at where it had been placed. "... a rook, right?" She set it down and pointed to the horse. "And knight, obviously.. and these.. must be bishops?" The piece looked odd from what she was used to, but it was in the place where the bishop belonged. "King and queen, of course.." She muttered to herself, turning to the ones with the crowns. The pawns were obvious, of course. Looking up, she fidgeted slightly in her seat. "I.. I was used to seeing them as different things," She explained. "Buttons for pawns.. a seashell for the king.. a thimble for queen, that sort of thing."

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

Arnyn was about to explain which pieces were which, when Brooke just filled everything in herself. She hummed thoughtfully. "Gwestion's set is made of pebbles with markings," she told Brooke. "It takes a bit of time to get used to a different visualisation. But less than you tend to think it does. Do you know how all the pieces move, Brooke?" She put a finger on one of the pawns. "Pawn. Moves how?"

She went over all the different pieces like that, letting Brooke say it where she could, making her guess where she couldn't, and possibly (in case she got it wrong anywhere) supplementing the info when Brooke indicated she didn't know.

"Did you have a favorite, in your mom's version?" she asked Brooke with a little smile.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

She may have identified the pieces a little too easily, Brooke realized a bit too late. But that was easy to do when they were all in their rightful places. Once they were scattered about the board.. she wasn't sure how easy it would be to remember which was which. However, as Celume asked her how each piece moved, she hesitated and appeared uncertain. She decided the pawns were easy enough, and answered that they could move one space forward. And neglected to mention the two spaces on the first move, nor the way they shift diagonally to capture a piece. But with the others, she merely shrugged slightly and kept her gaze downward as she studied the board. When Celume told her how to move them, she gave a small nod and repeated back the information quietly. "Right, I think I got it." She said when they had gone through all of the pieces.

At the question about her mom's version, Brooke smiled slightly and looked up, then. "My favorite?" That didn't require much thinking at all. She pointed to where the Rooks were placed in their lineup. "These.. we used tiny pinecones from an Eastern hemlock for those. I always liked them, they were really cute and tiny." She smiled a bit shyly. "I don't really remember what they're called for real, I always called them the pinecones. She painted one white and left the other brown." After a little pause, seeing that she was white, she cleared her throat softly and looked up at Celume again. "Earlier, I noticed Gwestion started the game.. that's cause he was the white side, right?" She checked. Once that was confirmed, she nodded slightly and looked at the board for a moment before moving one of the pawns forward.

About the time they had finished going over the basics, Gwestion silently reappeared in the doorway, and without a word or other sound, he set Brooke's stack of books on the floor to the side of the doorway, then leaned his shoulder against the side of the doorframe to watch them, hoping not to alert the shy girl to his having returned. Curiously, he watched from there, hoping she would end up enjoying the game.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

It felt a bit strange to Arnyn, how Brooke couldn't remember how all the pieces moved, while she said things like 'I always liked them' and 'I always called them the pinecones'. She couldn't imagine Brooke sitting with her mother and just talking about the chess pieces without actually playing. And if Brooke and her mom used to play together, why would Brooke use the word 'always' if it had not been a frequent activity? But Arnyn figured she was probably overanalyzing the situation again.

"Go ahead," she encouraged Brooke. They had set up the board the way they had found it, so... "Yes, white makes the opening move."

After Brooke made the first move, Arnyn made hers. She watched the board rather than Brooke, trying not to put too much pressure on the girl.

"Did your mom have to repaint the white pinecone from time to time?" she asked as she waited. "I can imagine the paint flaking off something like a pinecone more easily."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

After Celume had made her move, Brooke looked at the board, thinking about her next move. She didn't want to let on how much she really did remember how to play, and so, she would need to make sure she played as someone who didn't really know how to play. And that required almost as much planning and thinking as it would if she really was an amateur trying to play well.. so that worked out well, she supposed.

While she was thinking, Celume's question distracted her slightly, making her think back about that, instead. Tilting her head slightly, she frowned slightly as she tried to remember. "I.. don't know." She admitted at last. "I mean.. maybe? It was a long time ago.. I don't really remember much. I was.. like five or six..."

Returning her attention to the board, she pointed to the knights, "these were little nails, bent into horseshoe shape. And these were corks, like from a bottle," She indicated the bishops. She had already mentioned seashells for the kings, and thimbles for queens, and of course, the pawn buttons. Focusing again on the board, she tentatively slid a piece forward. "Is.. that right?" She asked, referring to whether she had moved the piece correctly. It was not a very useful move, but it was at least correct.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

Amused when Brooke said she didn't remember much, Arnyn smiled. "You mean remembering exactly what your mother used to represent each piece, and what their names are, isn't much?" To her it sounded like Brooke was underestimating herself again. She'd gotten that impression in Bree, too - or something similar. Like Brooke thought less of herself than she should. "You remember quite a lot, for playing a few times when you were five or six."

"Yes, that's correct," Arnyn confirmed, when Brooke checked. They played a while, but it truly did seem to have been a very long time for Brooke. Arnyn made a few moves that might actually help Brooke here and there - moves that postponed Arnyn's win, or different moves than ones that would quickly remove Brooke's important pieces. But Arnyn also didn't want to draw it out for too long and make it too obvious that she was doing that. Really, she was trying to give Brooke a bit more time to learn, and not immediately shower her with advice or point out what she was doing wrong.

Arnyn was frowning lightly by the time they finished. Because she had taken Brooke's king, while Brooke could have still moved him to the square to her left. It just seemed so obvious. And the King was her most important piece. But then... maybe Arnyn was just too used to facing more experienced players.

She cleared the frown from her face and held out her hand to Brooke with a smile, just like she had done with Gwestion. "Good game."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn
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Gwestion, Brooke & Chewy
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

Giving a little shrug, Brooke wasn't quite sure how to reply to it, since she had not really thought a lot of it, until Celume said that. But maybe she had let on that she'd remembered more than she ought to. It was too late now. "I have a good memory, I guess," She replied quietly, and hoped the other woman would let the matter slide. As the game went on, she noticed a couple of times when Celume was trying to take it easy on her. And that.. well, she didn't know quite what to think of that, either.

There were a couple of times during the game that genuinely had to remind herself which pieces were which, muttering something like, 'that's one of the corks' or 'that one is the pinecone..' here and there. As the game went on, she ignored the danger to her king, as if she didn't realize there was any. When Celume captured it, she debated whether to ask if that meant the end of the game or not, but Celume spared her having to decide, by offering out her hand. Same as she had done to Gwestion.

"Oh," She looked at the board. "That was the king?" She smiled shyly and took the offered hand for a handshake. "Thanks.. you too," She added. "You're really good at it." In a way, she was relieved.. both that it had gone well, and that it was over.

Gwestion softly cleared his throat, alerting the girl to his presence. "She is," He agreed. "It's an excellent game to encourage careful thinking, you know." He moved further into the room. "With practice you could get really good, if you wanted to." He shrugged and glanced at Celume briefly, then to Brooke. "How do you like it? Think you would play it again?"

She bit her lip lightly, glancing from him to Celume, and back. "Maybe.. I don't know." She stood up, then hesitated and turned to Celume. "Thanks for.. um, helping me through it," She smiled faintly. "I.. I think I'm going to get a few more books.. I only have six so far," She edged away from the chess table. "Should I meet you back here?" She asked with a glance to Gwestion. When he nodded, she smiled and hurried off. Chewy hastened after her.

After she had gone, Gwestion sighed and looked at Celume as he moved into the seat Brooke had abandoned. "I apologize for putting you on the spot like that.." He said as he began to work on resetting the game board.

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

She kept smiling when Brooke asked if that had been the king. She nodded as they shook hands. At Brooke's compliment, Arnyn slanted her head slightly. "That's a very nice thing to say," she said quietly. Not looking over at Gwestion when he spoke, agreeing with Brooke, Arnyn lowered her gaze from Brooke to the chess board. And therefore did not return Gwestion's glance. As the question was posed to Brooke whether she had liked the game and whether she would like to play it again, Arnyn did look at the girl again, assessing her expression as she answered.

Arnyn's smile was kind when she nodded to Brooke's words of thanks. "You are welcome," she said quietly, before focusing back on the board with a slight frown. Once Brooke had left the cosy corner, and when she was surely out of hearing range, Gwestion's sigh made Arnyn look up at him from her seat. As he reclaimed the seat opposite from her, apologized and started resetting the board, Arnyn gave him a thoughtful look.
"Don't worry about it." She was waiting for some kind of explanation, though. More than anything else, because she'd gotten the feeling Brooke might know more than she was letting on. "I'm not sure I believe she didn't know that her king was in danger. She hadn't moved the piece for the whole game, and pointed it out to me in the very beginning. She told me that in her mother's version, the king was a seashell. She watched me put my bishop in direct line of sight of her king. She had just moved her bishop before that, too - she couldn't have forgotten how it moved in that short of a time." A slight frown settled on her face. "Or am I expecting too much?"

Maybe whatever Gwestion was going to say next, might lift a tip of the veil, and explain whether she was just being paranoid or whether there might be more to it. "Why did you want her to play against me?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

Glancing up at Celume when she mentioned about the king situation, Gwestion looked thoughtful as she listed her thoughts behind the statement. As she mentioned that she couldn't have forgotten in that short of a time, he gave a wry little half-smile. "You've clearly never tried to play with Gladhron," He mentioned, before shaking his head slightly and resumed a more serious expression. "I don't know." For him, it was a bit hard to imagine not knowing all about it. But for someone who was just starting to learn.. or remembering after many years of not playing? Maybe it would be easy to get confused. Yet, somehow, he found it doubtful that Brooke would have gotten so confused. Not knowing her as he did.

Her question made him think for a moment on how best to answer it. He glanced back toward the doorway, checking that she was no longer within earshot, before turning back to Celume. "I hoped that it might help her, somehow." He admitted. After a little hesitation, he backed up slightly to give more explanation. "You know how long it takes to travel from Bree to here," She obviously did, as she had done so before. Twice, as it turned out. "But our journey to get here took us much longer than it would have, with only Gladrhon and me." He shrugged. "We had a wagon and three ladies who were not accustomed to lengthy travel, so we stopped frequently, and traveled slower than normal. In that time, I have gotten rather familiar with them all." He drew a slow breath. "Brooke and I get along quite well. I've noticed that we share similarities in some ways, just as you and I do. But, I have also noticed a few other things. Seri has told me a little, also."

He frowned at the board between them and debated how much to tell her. With a questioning sort of motion toward the board, he silently indicated the question of if she'd like another game. When she nodded, he moved one of the recently reset pieces to begin the game. He intended to take more care this time, and not make any mistakes. "She seems to struggle with believing in herself, for one thing," Celume had surely noticed that. "But also.." He frowned, trying to think how to put his thoughts about this into words. "It's as if she is too nervous of not being able to do something perfectly, that she doesn't want to try and do it at all. If that makes any sense," He shrugged.

"It seems to me as if she is constantly overthinking and fretting about the littlest things.. I couldn't guess at what's going on in her head, but it's easy to tell. Maybe she's unsure of herself, but anytime it comes to making a choice about something, as if she's weighing all the options very carefully before making a decision.. as if it's the most vital choice she's ever made." Sighing softly, he sat back. "I don't know if she would come to enjoy the game or not, but I wanted her to at least try it. It seemed to me like an excellent way to help her channel that natural tendency to think so carefully. But.. getting her to actually agree to try it.. that's more difficult." He glanced at Celume. "She usually seems to be more at ease with women, so I thought she might be more comfortable with you."

[Arnyn]

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Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

She couldn't help the grin that mastered her features when he said she'd clearly never tried to play Gladhron. Did.. Gwestion.. just... crack a joke? Perhaps there had been some evolution in his manner, then? Was he allowing himself more? Or was it simply one of those rare moments he'd started to have near the end of her time with them too, years ago?

Arnyn waited to make her own move until Gwestion seemed to be done speaking. She didn't comment on what Gwestion thought of Brooke having a lack of faith in herself or overthinking everything, instead focusing on the part of how someone might help her work through all of that. "I don't think she felt more at ease with me," she said apologetically, moving one of the paws. "Which makes enough sense to me. This is only the second time we've seen each other. You, however, have been on the road with her for months." She considered something. "If she won't open up enough to you, does she open up to Seri?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

"Hmm," He nodded thoughtfully as he considered what she had said, as well as the move she'd made. "Perhaps it wasn't the best idea." He acknowledged with a small shrug. After he made another carefully calculated move, he sat back in his chair. "I don't know," He answered, about Seri. "I would imagine she might.. and if not her, perhaps Aislin. She considers her as a sister. But, I would also assume that anything she may have confided to either of them would not be passed on to anyone else, such as myself."

As he watched for Celume to make her next move, he was thinking about what she had said before. "Do you really think she may have deliberately let her king be captured?" He wondered, frowning slightly as he couldn't really imagine why anyone would do that. "She is smarter than she often lets on, and more so than she gives herself credit for, but.. that seems.. excessive?" He frowned. "Of course," He hesitated. "She did say she was very young when her mother taught her to play." He recalled. A moment later, he tilted his head as something else occurred to him. "Yet, I also noticed that she neglected to mention anything about how old she was when she last played," He added thoughtfully.

[Arnyn]

(Private with @Rillewen )

Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

"I can't really be sure," Arnyn said about the king piece. "Maybe it's just me overthinking it. But everything you're saying does seem to fit with it. Anything is possible." She chuckled when Gwestion started analyzing everything, too. "Maybe Brooke, you and I should start a club. Analysis Anonymous."

After performing her own little analysis of the board, Arnyn played her second move. "So you were thinking that maybe if she played chess, then she could channel her tendency to overthink and overanalyze everything into playing," she mused out loud. "Which could work," she agreed. "But it doesn't seem like she wants to play." Frowning, she looked up from the board at Gwestion. "It might bring back too many memories," she considered quietly. "I don't know what happened to her mother, but I'm assuming she is no longer in the picture in any case."

In her mind, she went over the options she might consider. And then shared them. "Channeling a tendency is one option. Leading by example is another. Send her along with Gladhron for a while, let her see how things still turn out alright when someone goes with their gut," she smiled. "Or - have her experience for herself that overthinking everything isn't necessary. Have you considered... maybe creating a few situations - about small things at first, so she doesn't shut down completely - where she is forced to make quick decisions and where she cannot overthink? That way she might come to the realization that not every choice is vital, all by herself."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

Gwestion seemed to actually consider the suggestion of a club. "Hmm, unfortunately, I don't think it would work out. It would take too much planning to organize when and where to conduct the meetings," He answered with a straight face. "Besides, we would only end up analyzing how much time we were wasting with every meeting, and how we could make better use of the time, and so forth." He shrugged, looking down to hide a faint smile.

He studied the board critically after her move, and considered what she had said. Memories. Hm, maybe. He found it hard to tell at times, as Brooke could be very guarded about such things. Much like himself and Celume, he acknowledged. "Her mother died," He answered softly, supplying what information he did have. "That bag she keeps at her side.." He was sure Celume must have noticed it, as Brooke had had it back when they first met her in Bree, and again, today. "She mentioned at one point that she'd had it since she was ten years old. And that her mother had given it to her, which is why it's so special to her." He thought for a moment, considering. That was all the story that he knew, and the rest he could only guess at. "It is also possible.. that her mother tried to teach her when she was very young, and that she didn't stick with it. Maybe she really didn't remember much about it." He shrugged and moved his pieces.

As she suggested that he send Brooke with Gladhron, he looked up from the board with surprise. "I want to help her be able to make choices without suffering from anxiety.. not encourage reckless and impulsive behavior." He pointed out. Sitting back, he tilted his head curiously at the suggestion of creating situations. "What sort of situations? How could I 'create' something of that sort?"

[Arnyn]

(Private with @Rillewen )

Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

"Meeting on the topic on how to meet more efficiently," she nodded stoically. "Sounds about right." When Gwestion looked down, hiding his amusement no doubt, Arnyn narrowed her eyes at him with a smile of her own. As she beheld and thought of what he was doing in trying to help Brooke, rather than focusing on maybe helping himself - as she saw how he still did not wish to show it when he was amused... It saddened her. But she also knew that this was part of who Gwestion was. Just like focusing on others rather than take an inward look at her own problems, was very much a part of who she was, herself.

That Brooke's mother had died, was not a surprise. It had been one of the options she had been considering. She nodded in agreement. "It is all possible."

She sighed a little at his next words. "I'm sure she wouldn't jump to reckless and impulsive behaviour just from spending a little time with him," she mumbled. But what was bothering her more was Gwestion saying he wanted to help Brooke without creating anxiety. "If Brooke has a troubled past..." she paused, remembering what Brooke had looked like in Bree, years ago. The way she had acted, spoken, everything. A 'troubled' past seemed a mild way of putting it. "Her overthinking things could be a trauma response." She was no stranger to trauma responses, being a ranger officer for years upon years. "If so.. If so - you will have a hard time pulling her out of that. Especially if you're not willing to push her a little bit. It's quite likely that any choice she is presented with, already gives her anxiety. I know you have the very best intentions, Gwestion. But it is worth considering that your best intentions could result in prolonging her present daily anxiety for much longer than it needs to." It was a difficult balance. A difficult choice.

His question about possible situations, made her smile faintly. "Start small. Make her choose where to sit at the table first, before you and the others sit down. Have her go 'secure a table' in a crowded common room, where if she delays too long, the table could get swiped away from under her nose. Stuff like that. Choices that don't really hold much meaning. And when you get there - acknowledge it. That she succeeded - but also that it wasn't worth fussing over too much. 'Nice table, Brooke. Though I guess they're all nice enough, really.' She'll think about it. Like she thinks about everything. It could sink in." Arnyn took a deep breath. "It depends on how deep her reasons for overthinking go... on how quickly you could take it further."

"But these are nothing more than suggestions, Gwestion. I'm just saying that is probably what I would do." She made her countermove, smiling at him a little.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

As Celume spoke up with her own thoughts and advise on the matter, Gwestion looked up from the chess board and gave her his whole attention, listening. His gaze remained focused on her the whole time, with a thoughtful look in his blue-grey eyes. He nodded slowly as she pointed out a few things he had not thought of, and thought about those, now. He did not know all of the story with Brooke, but he knew she had been very afraid when he had first met her, years ago. And that she had seemed as if she wanted to stay near him in order to have protection... protection from someone she barely knew. Simply because he had been kind to her. That alone had troubled him, and he remembered how he had thought then that she'd been nervous about something.

Yet, he did not want his attempts at helping her, now, to cause her more anxiety. That was exactly why he had not tried to push her too much about things. At least, if it wasn't necessary. Their river crossing, of course, had been necessary, but despite her obvious fear and stress about that, she had gotten through it. He thought about the suggestions that Celume gave, about asking her to get a table or simple things like that.

He nodded slightly as Celume emphasized that these were only suggestions. "Of course," He acknowledged. "Perhaps, I should suggest this to Ms. Seri. She may be able to help, too. I believe she has made a lot of progress with her, since she came to live with Ms. Seri. Chewy is a great help to her, also. I've noticed that he calms her a lot when she begins to feel stressed."

Looking down as she made her move, he considered how it altered the board for a moment. "I imagine she would enjoy seeing you again, if the two of you hit it off at the masquerade." He moved one of his pieces, so that now he had a clever strategy in play that would make it difficult for her to get out of. "You could join our whole group for a meal, whenever is convenient for you, if you like?" He knew Gladhron would be thrilled to have her join them, and it would be a good chance for Celume to meet the healer in an unmasked environment, where they could likely talk more freely than they had, last night. "No cooking together, unfortunately, as I imagine the inn would frown upon starting a campfire in the room, but they do seem to made excellent food, themselves." He smiled faintly.

[Arnyn]

(Private with @Rillewen )

Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

She nodded. Asking the lady Brooke had been living with, seemed like an excellent choice. She would probably open up a bit more to her, anyway, right? "Asking her seems wise. In fact, she might not appreciate you doing something like that without her consent - or at the very least, without discussing it with her first."

Her slight smile grew a little when Gwestion said Seri would enjoy seeing her again. The way he said 'hit it off', amused her. But it did not distract her from the move he made, and although the smile remained, Arnyn narrowed her eyes at the board. "I don't know if I would say we hit it off," she said pensively, analysing the game. "But I suppose we did." Gwestion's following invitation made her glance up, though. Slightly surprised. When she had returned north and they had left the area entirely, she had reminded herself she'd spent less than two months with Gladhron and Gwestion. That the situation was to be expected, in a way. So it was one thing to run into each other by happenstance and have a happy reunion. But it was another altogether for the brothers to invite her to spend time with them again. Their entire party, even. And now both of them had done so.

His addition about cooking convinced her it was an honest offer on Gwestion's part, too - and not one he was only making out of some sense of propriety or need to be polite. That faint little smile made her own version of it grow, into something heartfelt. "No campfires, no," she said so quietly that it was barely audible even to Gwestion. "But I would like that." Her genuine smile turned amused, though she did not explain why. "I have plans with my brother this evening, and am too busy at lunch tomorrow. But... tomorrow evening?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

Gwestion shook his head slightly. "She asked if I might be able to help Brooke in ways that she hasn't been able," He explained. Shortly after their journey had begun, the healer had put the request to him, as she had taken notice that he and Brooke got along well and shared some similarities in personalities. And he had been trying to do so, he just didn't know exactly how to help her.

As he had not been there at the dance, he had only assumed by her earlier words that she and Seri had struck up a friendship, which to him seemed like hitting it off. She didn't deny it, anyway, so he nodded slightly. If that were the case, then Seri would surely be glad to see her again. He figured she would likely enjoy the company of another woman, after so long traveling in the company of only the girls and the brothers. He watched for Celume to make her move on the game, and once she had done so, his gaze swept over the board to make sure that her move hadn't messed up his plan. It did not seem to have, but he didn't make his move just yet, as he was currently paying more attention to Celume's reaction.

As she glanced up in what he thought might have been surprise, Gwestion watched her curiously. He wasn't sure why she would be surprised, but it seemed like she was. Nor did he understand the hint of amusement that came into her expression, but he didn't ask about that, either. As she responded very quietly to his comment about the campfire, he heard, but only barely. And she had accepted the invitation, so he was glad. He had, in fact, missed her company more than he had expected to, when she left. It wasn't often that he made such a friend.. and they rarely had anyone to join them for as long as she had done.

Hearing that she had plans with her brother, he nodded in understanding. "Of course," He wouldn't think of trying to intrude on something like that. "Tomorrow would be just fine," he assured her. "We are staying at the Wayfarer inn, by the way. I'll let the others know to expect you to join us for supper." He was pleased that she had accepted, and he was sure that Gladhron would certainly be delighted, too. As for the rest of them, he figured they shouldn't have any objections. However, he was aware that the afternoon was slipping by, and he didn't want to waste the whole day away, regardless of how enjoyable it was to play a couple of games of chess.

"Speaking of plans.." He changed topic slightly, "I suppose I ought to go now to get that permission if I hope to get into the training grounds this evening." He moved his piece. "Checkmate." He sat back, inwardly satisfied to have won this game, after losing the first. "See you tomorrow, then?" He added, holding out a hand to shake hers.

[Arnyn]

(Private with @Rillewen )

Arnyn
The day after the Masquerade - past noon

"Thank you for the invitation, Gwestion," she told him genuinely. "I'm looking forward to it." She was amused at him saying he'd inform the others of their plans. Odds were Gladhron had told a few of them by now, at least.

It was almost a relief to hear what Gwestion was planning on taking care of next. Today. With Pele in the office. Thank Manwë. She needed more time to think of how to tell them about what she did here, and that her actual name wasn't Celumë. "You probably should," she agreed. When he declared he had her cornered, Arnyn frowned slightly and checked the board. Clearly... she had been too distracted by their conversation to pay the necessary attention! This time, at least. A slow grin spread across her face. "Oh. Oh but this is - excellent." She was still grinning when she looked back up at Gwestion and reached out in turn, to shake his offered hand. "Well played!" Her grin gentled into a smile again. "Yes. Tomorrow."

Arnyn rose from her seat as well. "I will need to leave with you two. I did promise Brooke I would check out five books for her..." After retrieving the three books from beneath her seat, where she had stowed them, Arnyn walked with him. She would ask the librarian to put these three aside for her next visit. And to check out only those books Brooke wanted to take with her to the inn.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - after noon

"Is it?" He asked, mildly surprised to hear her announce that it was excellent that she had lost the game. "You played well, yourself." He returned as he shook her hand, offering a faint smile. "I will look forward to seeing you then." He took a moment to reset the board so that it would be ready for the next person, then he stood up.

"You needn't leave right now," he told her, as she mentioned needing to leave with them. "I'm only going up to talk to the person in charge at the ranger headquarters. I will be returning here to find Brooke when I'm done," He shrugged. "But, I suppose I might as well bring these along and leave them at the front desk for her." He added, then picked up the stack that Brooke had collected, which he had brought into the room for her. She had left it there, apparently figuring to return to find them there after she found another three books.

After Celume had taken care of the necessary business of checking out five of the stack, at the front desk, Gwestion did the same with the remaining one, and asked that the stack be held for when Brooke was ready to leave. Then, after establishing a specific time for them to meet for supper the next day, Gwestion bid farewell to Celume and set off toward the upper levels, quite pleased to have encountered their old friend.

[Rillewen]

(private conclusion)

Gwestion
The day after the Masquerade - sometime later

The business at the ranger HQ did not take overly long, and Gwestion was pleased to have a signed permission slip, granting both of the brothers access to the training grounds for the duration of their stay in Minas Tirith. He had that paper tucked safely away where it would not be lost or damaged, as he made his way back down to the second level, and into the library. Unsurprisingly, the stack of books waiting for Brooke was still where he had left it. And the librarian had dozed off again, he noticed with a little amused shake of his head.

Stepping quietly, he set off on a search of the aisles to locate the girl for whom he felt a certain responsibility. It would be supper time before long, and he suspected that she would lose herself in reading, or else exploring the labyrinth of books. And he knew this place thrilled her to no end, so he figured he ought to pull her from the depths before she was entirely lost in it.

It took him a while to locate her, and when he did, he was quite surprised. Slowing his pace as he approached as silently as he could manage, Gwestion watched from the doorway of the small chess room, observing with curiosity. Her back was to him, and Chewy seemed to have dozed off in boredom at her side, so he was able to remain undetected for as long as he kept quiet enough not to alert her to his presence. But what he was seeing left him a bit confused, as well as intrigued.

---

|
Brooke & Chewy

After roaming the library for a while, Brooke had found very little staff present. Either most of the librarians were having the day off today, or the sleepy old man at the front was the only one. She'd had a disappointing amount of luck in getting the information she was hoping to find, here in the biggest library she'd ever seen. So, she decided she might have to ask someone who lived in the city, if there was any place around here like she needed. She wished she had thought to ask Celume about that.

When she had returned to the chess room, Brooke had found it empty, and her stack of books also gone! But any alarm at this was alleviated swiftly when she went to the front and found it waiting there for her. She'd missed them, then. While she didn't know where they would have gone, Brooke quietly set her other books on the counter, careful not to wake the librarian. Then she went exploring again.

It was a little while later that she found that her steps had, almost involuntarily, drawn her back to that little room. She glanced down at Chewy, thoughtful, rubbing around his ears. "Guess we could, now." She muttered softly. They were alone here, now. She had no idea where Gwestion, nor Celume, had gone. Sliding into the seat, she softly coaxed Chewy to lie down, then she turned her attention to the board. And began to play a game against an imaginary opponent. She had done this a lot, after her mother died. It was one of the ways she had found to help keep her memory close to her, and yet.. someone else had turned her against the idea of playing against someone.

Yet.. today she had. Brooke thought about that while she moved another piece. She'd played against someone for the first time since.. then. And everything had been fine. Celume was nice. Brooke remembered how kind she had been, years ago when she first met her. How Celume had given Brooke her donut. Which, to the woman, probably had not seemed like much. Just a donut. But to Brooke, it had been a lot more. Just like this game, today, had probably seemed like nothing to Celume. Just a game.. yet more than that for Brooke.

---

| |

Slowly backing away into one of the aisles of bookshelves, Gwestion thought about what he had seen. She was playing that solo game with much more skill than she had displayed, before. He frowned, thinking, wondering what that was about. But he could come up with no answers. After a moment, he decided not to let her know. From a couple of rows away from the room, he called softly, "Brooke? Where are you? Brooke?"

Startled, Brooke jumped, glanced around, then swiftly moved all the pieces back to their starting points before she nudged Chewy to wake up. She peeked out of the little room, and was a bit relieved when she didn't see Gwestion anywhere around. She practically tiptoed across to the nearest aisle of bookshelves, while Chewy trotted along beside her, yawning. He wagged his tail as he looked up at her, wondering if this was some new game. She waited for a moment, realizing it was probably silly and a bit absurd to anyone else.. but she was reluctant to have him or anyone else know she had been doing that, and preferred to keep it her secret, for now anyway.

"Brooke?" Gwestion called again, after waiting a moment and getting no answer. He knew she had to have heard him.

"Over here," She answered, and moments later, came around the bookshelf's end, to find him moving toward it, following the sound of her voice. "I.. um, I thought you'd left." She said, a little surprised to find him back so soon.

"I did, for a bit," he answered. "I had some errands. It's nearly time for dinner now, and Seri would be upset with me if I didn't make sure you came out of here long enough to eat. Did you find enough books?"

She nodded, smiling slightly. "Yes, and I saw that you and Celume had checked out the ones I had already. Thank you."

"No problem." He motioned toward the front. "Shall we go, then?"

She cast a longing glance back toward the library, then sighed and nodded. There was always tomorrow.. unless someone dragged her off on a tour of the city.. but there would be other days too. And she had plenty of books to read until then, too, so that made it much easier to leave. "Yeah, but let's send Chewy out before we wake up the librarian..." She suggested, glancing down at the dog with a little amusement.

Gwestion nodded. "I was thinking the same." He agreed. Together, they left the library after getting the other three books checked out, and set off for the inn to join the others for the afternoon meal.

[Ercassie]

Iole Ishen and Gildolen Lhacrist
Alone together. December 26th. Part 1 - PRIVATE
(The day after the Park/the day before the Guesthouse)

This was her sanctuary, her private place. Albeit that it was a public building. It was where none of the people whom she spoke to chose to come. And she in turn chose not to speak to any of the people who did come here. For that was not the appeal. The absolute opposite of human interaction was the whole attraction.

She had heard Cali speak of ‘feeling back at home’ when at work in the ‘comfort’ of the busy Rangers forge. She knew that Trev left them all mentally behind when he heard music, and lost all sense of what else was around him. She knew that running through the woods, where roads and orders and rules all fell away .. was Nal’s most valued waste of time. But this, this here was her’s. And stepping through the monumental doors, which were large enough to admit a giant with ease, Iole felt dwarfed by the immensity of the city library. She could stalk the aisles without ever gaining anybody’s notice. She could revel in the beauty of words that had been passed down through time, by generations. She could .. be at peace here.

She came at least once a day, turning in her awed steps through the mighty papered maze, as though she was a small flower slowly turning in the breeze. To sit in the sun’s reflection through the stained glass windows was a great delight. To trace the colours that danced across the long empty tables with the fingers of one hand, turning the pages of some timeless verse with her other.

She had no idea that he came here as well.

---

He had no idea that she came here as well.

It was not necessarily what he might have expected of himself either. But the library was the one place in all the city where he could relax without Claery come to plant herself down beside him, prattling about who knew what this time. Possibly he ought to have told her outright that he was not remotely interested .. in how much the price of apples had risen, on what the newest hats in the market looked like these days, in which of the gate guards was sweet on her, in her opinion anyway …. anything at all that the young maid seemed to chew on air about. He had nodded politely at first, only at random intervals until even that effort of pretense became too much. It was a lie, and he did not like lies. So he had started reading books. A genuine distraction, and it seemed to repel the young maid as though he’d strung orc skulls around his neck. The more he read, the more his colleague had relented to leave him alone. And the more she left him alone, the more he didn’t even notice for now .. he was caught up in reading of the books.

Turns out that reading in Minas Tirith was the only thing that was not different from Dol Amroth. He could bury himself in the words and pretend that the scenery was as it always had been before. He could sit at a long empty table and feast still on engaging conversations set in ink, free from people who raised eyebrows at his accent, and questioned the purpose of his entire (‘ridiculous’ they called it here) career. He could study the history of this city and go then to locate the places which he read about, laying a hand upon history itself.


The tales from home made him homesick but there was nobody in the library who stopped to ask after his expression. Today he had come, sure that nobody here would even note his bruised face or care to make assumptions of how it had come to be so. He had a plan that went beyond simple escapism today. He was going to think on what he would say to her. The girl with hair as dark as her eyes were blue. Iole. Maybe that was another type of escapism. But Lady Gaelanna had already promised to speak to Lady Ilisys. And the concept of the two grand women troubling themselves to make an introduction for him to his heart’s desire .. therein lay the problem.

Because he had perfected the art of ignoring Claery or Lotte, but .. Iole ? He was going to have to say something to her, when they were properly introduced. In front of two expectant women he respected, he could scarcely stand there gaping like a fish ! Surely in a hall of words though, an absolute edifice of sentences, a monument of learning and wisdom .. there would have to come some inspiration of what he might utter in her illustrious hearing. Beyond just ‘hello’.

Last time he had not even gotten that far.

[Ercassie]

Iole Ishen and Gildolen Lhacrist
December 26th – Alone together. Part 2 - PRIVATE
(The day after the Park/the day before the Guesthouse)

Not a single solitary book had given him the answer that he sought. The tomes of romantic poetry which he had picked up with thoughts to discover what to say, had only convinced him that he could never live up to what had already been accomplished before he ever had been born. If all the best verse had all already been written, and he had just spent nearly two hours coming to that conclusion, then what hope could he ever have but to be ever second best ? Maybe not even any type of best. Certainly not good enough for the lady he was seeking to impress

And then, turning the corner, after placing his redundant prose back in their place, he saw her. Here ! Sitting at a table, engrossed in a book .. well. Obviously. But .. a book of poetry. Gildolen found a smile that he had not known was a part of his repertoire. And, encouraged by the fact that he had already read through the book she now was reading .. the young Belfalasian found his opening. His introduction.


“Forgive me. Do you mind if I sit here ?” He summoned a chair out to seat himself, as Iole slowly raised her notice beyond the book she was focused on.

Forgive him ? For sitting … ? In a public space ? She could hardly see how she would manage to stop him ! He was already sitting, regardless. He’d already decided to do so, however she may feel about it. And honestly, she was not sure .. what she might feel about it. Would it be exceedingly rude if she were now to get up and sit somewhere else ? Her decision to drop gaze back into her reading, could be considered as a nod to his approach. But did that mean she forgave him, or that she did mind .. anybody really .. sitting here ?


The young man half rose and then sat again, nervously, as though there was a fellbeast perched upon the table, rather than a quiet girl who offered what might be a smile .. or was it simply what she was reading that was making her smile, or the fact that he was so nervous ?

“I apologise for the intrusion,” he decided, rising after clearly too much thought upon it. Her refusal to engage was probably a wish that he would leave her be. Again. “I shall leave you to your ..” With a nod toward her book, and within the motion of then turning to depart, Gildolen glanced back. To .. see if she seemed happy or .. indifferent perhaps to his departure. She had looked up, and glanced swiftly back down at her page when she noted that he was looking.

“You do that a lot,” Iole did not lower her book, but spoke from behind it, as though it were her shield.

“Perhaps I feel that I have some cause to say sorry,” he frowned. “Perhaps ..”

“Watching,” she corrected him, then lowering the book ik her grasp. “I see you always looking. Watching.”

“I did not know that you saw me,” the young man paused in his flight now that there were actual words between them. “Seeing .. you ..”


The young woman planted her top row of white teeth into her bottom lip, and twisted each of her ankles in the large boots which she was wearing. That were far more ungainly and practical than the rest of her outfit. “I saw,” she admitted. For she had certainly done naughtt else. “So I feel that perhaps I have some cause to say sorry as well. I am sorry about your .. eye.” The last word was a whisper, as though it was considered some insult. Still he sat down, and not so he could better hear her at that volume.

“I would still apologise for disturbing you by .. looking,” he faced the table, as though he might find his own reflection in the wood, to judge how sincere this appeared. “I wish that I could promise I would not do it again.” Slowly Gil raised his brown eyes to find her blue. “But I might just as soon ask for the flowers to not turn their heads in worship of the mighty sun. You are like .. And I .. please do not tell me that you have not become used to it by now. I am certain that I can not be the first who could not help themselves but notice you ..”


Iole closed the book she had come close to splaying open on the table top before her. Rising from her seat, she calmly nodded once in a dismissal and fled around the shelter of the closest stack. Once there, she brought one hand up, to try and quieten her throbbing heart. The other clutching numbly at the tome she was afraid to discard. For she must not be unarmed. She must be ready. She must be careful. She had not .. before. And see how that had turned out ?

Puzzling, the young man sank his head into both hands and leaned out over the table. What had just .. ? He’d complimented her. Had he not ? Do ladies here not like to be complimented ? Do they not wish above all things to be the centre of all attention ? This was very .. confusing. A tap on his shoulder brought the presence of the librarian into the scene. And, though the young man looked to his elder for some sort of wisdom or counsel, all he got was a scowl and an instruction that this was not the place to go sleeping on the tables. Reluctantly, but unsure what else there was left to do, Gil prepared again to leave.


By luck, or fate, or ill fortune, for who knew what force was guiding their meet here, the two young people almost collided as they each made for the exit urgently. Calls came from the irate Librarian once more, as he bade the young woman now to not take the book with her, without checking it out .. properly at the desk. The staff member strode over and accepted the book back, with neither of the two young folks granting him much notice at all.

“I must apologise at least .. once more,” Gil stepped back, and snaked one arm around his back, respectfully. “For my terrible apology ..” he tried, almost jesting. And earned himself this time a real undeniable smile.

She could not help herself. The situation was become quite that ridiculous now. And Iole cleared her throat calmly as the librarian scurried off with the book he had just taken back from her. “You really are rather terrible at apologising,” the young woman agreed with a sigh. Though she brought her gaze back up under long lashes. “Though it seems a habit all the same. Might I suggest avoiding any cause to need to ?” She stepped back as well as he had before. And they both inspected the space that now stood between them. “I do not appreciate being stalked and spied upon ..” She admitted out loud. As quietly as could still be heard.


A battle raged then between his private want to argue .. that such underhand measures never had been his intention .. and his shocked recognition that was how it must have looked .. “So have dinner with me,” was .. the end result that Gil had hoped to come to, by some far more eloquent and natural evolution. Still, he’d already begged her pardon, several times already. And that .. this .. was all else that mattered. All that remained left unspoken. All that he had long wanted to say to her before her friend had leapt out out of nowhere and smacked him in the head for ‘harassing’ her. It was not like he could make things any worse at this point. “Just once. Tomorrow. There’s a lovely restaurant up on the Fourth. And I promise, .. one last chance to improve on my thus far truly terrible apology. After that I do vow, I shall never knowingly set eyes upon you again.” Her eyes had focused ever more about his as the invitation was offered. If such a thing were possible, they were even more blue .. and beautiful. The young man smiled, nervously. For it was too late now to make better of his desperate last plea. “I would leave your city whole behind me. Though I may else fear to ever look upon another woman again. If it renders this much .. damage ..”


“No,” her answer was quiet, if somewhat urgent in it's delivery. And the young man did not dare ask aloud if she meant no, she would not have dinner with him, or no .. he should just stop now. Maybe both in fact. The hand she moved towards his, and then reclaimed back against her hip, .. stole all other thoughts from his mind all of a sudden. “I can’t.” Her two small words then rallied his objection and he opened his mouth to ask why. But could not bring that argument to voice. He closed his mouth again, and stepped back with a drop of his head.

“So be it,” he accepted his penance. His probably resigned decision to return back to Belfalas. There was still a chance that Lady Gael would permit him a new position in her home. Though who knew what that position might be in the current state of things. Babysitter ? He had already dropped down to ‘footman’, in all but name, by the lack of gentlemen for him to serve on, where he was. He could leave .. he could leave all thought of her ..


“I have already promised to attend my brother’s performance at the Guesthouse tomorrow,” Iole spoke her truth, and resurrected hope in the face which returned to her, in moments. That was the cause for her rejection ? That was why she had said no ? The location ?

“Then I shall meet you there,” the young valet leapt upon the even half vague possibility of an acceptance. This was really happening ! She had said yes !?! "Anywhere that you may wish .."


“It begins about when the bell tolls for dusk,” Iole confirmed her commitment. And with a small nod, then took advantage of his shock to flee from her sanctuary. Who knew now whether she could ever deem it safe enough to return, if he were to ever still dog her steps and set those eyes upon her from the shadows, lurking .. always watching .. never even speaking .. except. That he just had .. He had instigated the conversation in fact. Even after what Sorrel had said to him .. after what Sorrel had done to him ... And the promise he had made; no .. she corrected herself mentally. The vow .. that he had just made unto her. Did that really just happen ? In real life ??!! Stars, how unexpected ! But if he meant what he’d said .. if he really would leave her alone, then one awkward dinner would be worth it. She would be free of him thenafter.

She had already rushed too swift from his side now to rescind her acceptance anyway.

[Vardarianna]

(Private)

Vardarianna


Library of Minas Tirith
3 Cermië 42 IV

Visiting the library was a favorite pastime for me, and I wandered in quietly, light of foot as to not disturb the elderly librarian who seemed to sleep with one eye open.

"Law books again Lady Vardarianna?" the librarian said in a rough voice even as he looked asleep.

"Yes sir... you know me."

"Maybe one day the great library of Osgiliath will be rebuilt, though it may be hard to rebuild the Dome of the Stars." he said as he tipped his head down into a snore.

"Maybe one day." I say as I step down the dusty row I had grown accustomed to. I was soon seated at an old table in my favorite worn chair, thumbing through the accounts of Firiel, daughter if King Ondoher, and the legality of the claim her husband Arvedui to the crown of Gondor. I would have to also find the accounting of Lord Steward Pelendur as to why he refused the claim by Arvedui. I am to write an essay on the event for school, and being I have deep interest in these matters, it will keep me coming here to the library a lot.

The sun had westered when I walked out from the back. The librarian was sitting in his chair watching the sun shadow move on the floor.

"All back in order m'lady?" the librarian asked with a croak.

"Yes sir. I also dusted the shelf some." I say in a chuckle as I held up my arm to show the dust on the sleeve of my midnight blue dress. "I will write some in my journal before I return home. May you have a good evening, sir."

I bow to him before walking over to the podium where a massive tome rested. I find my color... the color of my dress.... and I find a blank page...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Journal

I have been spending a lot of time here at the library, for there is much to study. One can get lost among the archives down the stairs. What I am studying is law. I have had some deep conversations with my father, and with Eowyn when I go and stay with her and Faramir and Elboron on laws of succession of Rohan, of Gondor and Arnor, and of Numenor. Sadly, much was lost in the downfall, and little remains of the deeper lore of Numenor. But what is clearly known was they had succession of the eldest child. I ask myself why this was not brought forth into exile? I could very well be the heir to the throne and be ruling queen if the laws of this new reunited kingdom allowed for it.

I have petitioned my father and mother to allow me to travel north to Arnor for the winter, because I wish to experience the winter wonderland I heard so much about. I doubt I will be allowed to go, even though there is a party of Arnorians setting out for the north before the summer is over. I will have to say farewell to my friend Marciel who was allowed to stay in Gondor for a year. My argument that I was not the heir to the throne should allow me more freedoms, but though I nearly had my dad convinced, my mother put her thumb down on it as she mumbled something about my grandmother Celebrían. Maybe next year.


~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I set the ink back and treat the quill before turning to walk to the door. The evening was warm as the shadows grew long. I went to see Marciel and her family before I went home, for they were leaving the city tomorrow. We talked and joked about me stowing away, but as twilight spread ever darker over the city, we hugged and cried and said our farewells until the next time we meet.

[Hanasian]

On a quiet end of the Second Cirlce, far from the hustle and bustle of the
Marketplace sits a building tucked away. As you venture up the wide, marble stairs, framed with
white columns, there is a set of thick wooden double doors with brass handles.
The sign above reads: "Library of Minas Tirith."

Hanasían


(Private)

Minas Tirith - Royal Library
28 Víressë - 1 IV


_____________________________________________

Hanasian walked into the great Library of the 6th level and admired the place for a moment. He gave the old man a nod before making his way to the great journal that was ensconced on a podium in the center of the floor. He thought he'd set some thoughts into record he had already written in his own private journal. He would be leaving the White City soon, so it was now or whenever he passed this way again.

Yes, a new age. it was a time of peace and celebration as King Elessar proclaimed a New Reckoning of Days beginning this new age. Mettarë, the last day of the year, and Yestarë, the first day of the year would now be in spring instead of winter. The two holidays would now be between the end of Súlimë and the first of Víressë. Tuilérë, a spring festival day proclaimed by Steward Mardil's Reckoning of 2060 III, would now be the two-day changing of the year holiday. It would take some getting used to, so the 'old Steward's Reckoning' would still mark the year as 3021 III until the last day of Ringarë. Wars it seemed were done, though many were still deployed to the far reaches of the kingdom. This new age would still have its troubles, but for now, the celebrations of peace and the new reunited kingdom continued into the second year.

I, however had not ruminated through all that time. Many the Dunedain of the north that had ridden south in haste to aid Aragorn in the war had returned home, escorting the body of Halbarad, their fallen comrade. Some stayed on to serve their former chieftain, now king. and some resigned from the service. Myself, I took up a new commission with the king, and I had recruited many veterans of the war from many lands. I can say no more of this at this time, but the annals will be kept in detail. I leave for Pelargir tomorrow where we will gather just inside the west gate. There I will vet those who have signed on before we get to work for our king.

Hanasian put the pen down and thought about what he wrote. He had half a mind to tear out the page, but that would be sort of like defacing library property. Once the words were written in this journal, they became part of the library record. He had one more day in Minas Tirith, and wanted to make the most of it. He turned and walked steadily out the door. He had someone he needed to visit...

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Dolûzor Solis. An unlikely visitor.
December 29th.

It had not been difficult to find the library, for it was almost certainly one of the largest buildings in the Second Circle. Dolûzor had travelled most of the previous day about the circles of the city, by rooftop. It was the easiest means he had found, in any place really, to observe without being observed. And, despite the occasion assault by pigeon, it was usually worth the trouble.

Entering the library of Minas Tirith was definitely worth the trouble it had taken to push the great doors aside. He had done so with as much bravado as he might muster, convinced that at any moment some shout would go out, or a heavy hand would find his shoulder and steer him assuredly back out into the street. But no. There were no guards, no locks .. no questions. Nobody even looked up from whatever text they each were astutely engrossed in. And after the shock had been allowed a moment to settle, the Umbarian dared steps about this vast centre of knowledge. Where information was freely available. It was so unlike home that he could scarce believe his luck.


Having dwelt some years now in Harlond, and some months since then in Lossarnach, Dolûzor had little but Umbar itself to compare this massive Gondorian city to. And the comparison … well it was immense. This meant that finding a specific address of course, was more challenging than it certainly would have been, even in the small harbour he could no longer show his face in. The fact that most of the street names in the White City were marked up in Elf-tongue was a grating annoyance. For he had been chosen to his role for his looks, not his education. He could read and write of course, in the common speech. And since these folk were willing to be so generous with their knowledge, it would be a missed opportunity to ignore what he had come upon. Mastering a language that his people were raised to abhor was not his ambition though.

There were even reams of tomes about the histories and culture of his homeland. Here ? For Gondorians to read about ? He had not expected that. It was beyond the Umbarian to pass by without at least tugging open one .. and though he glanced about him, wary to be witnessed demonstrating any sort of interest .. he found that anyone at hand was sat at long tables, head bowed over their own intrigue of texts. For a moment he considered such a recreation himself. But there really was not time. If the books had been smaller or lighter, he might have stowed several under the crook of his arm, or elseways out of sight for long enough to liberate them from these halls. But further scrutiny brought his eyes to observing the number of statued faces, carved into the columns, and at irregular intervals about the place. He was being watched after all ! The fact of his audience being largely stone did not make him feel any happier, nor slow his hasty dismissal of the volumes he’d found interest in exploring.


It took, all in all, an hour or more, to locate the aisles where maps were kept. And once he had scoured several of the more recent versions of the city’s reaches, Dolûzor was forced to recognise that this place he needed to find, ‘Pelennor’ … was not inside the city at all ! It was the extensive spread of fields and farmlands beyond. Another hour was spent in scaling tall bookshelves and scrambling over wide scrolls which repeatedly rolled back up, and required constant anchoring with other books to keep it exposed and accessible for reading proper.

Finally, the Umbarian had located what he thought was information enough to locate the address which the butcher boy had given him. Just in case though, he took a last look around before tearing a large piece out of one hallowed resource. Folding it over and over until the paper was small enough in size to square away out of sight, he put his gathered books and scrolls back onto shelves located far from where he had found them, and then shot a dirty look at the disapproving stone grotesques before helping himself to a coat someone had left over the back of a chair.


It would be cold outside. And it looked like he would have quite a way to travel. Further than he had expected, and a field on top of that.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie
(private, just a reaction to the previous post)

She had long since discovered, that if she didn't draw attention to the canine tagging along at her side, and if she kept to herself (which she always did anyway) that most people didn't even notice him, or at least, they didn't say anything if they did. Brooke, on the other hand, often looked at everyone who passed near her. It was a habit, she supposed, from the days when she used to live with her father and stepmother. One had to be quite vigilant and aware of their surroundings, in that household, and that was a habit that was hard for her to be rid of.

She had found, in addition to the long tables with chairs at which people could read with their heads bowed down over their books, there were also comfortable chairs tucked into some of the corners near windows, where a person could curl up with a book and read by the daylight, so long as there was daylight coming in through the window.

As someone passed nearby, she peeked over the top of her book to see who. As she spent so much time here, she had begun to recognize those who came most frequently, even if she never spoke to them, and didn't know their names. This was someone she had never seen before. She blinked, then subtly watched him wander around the library for a while. Of course, she swiftly returned her eyes downward to her book anytime the stranger turned his gaze in her direction, but from what she could tell, he seemed to be focused on whatever he was looking for. Maybe he wouldn't notice her over here. She was good at being invisible, if she kept quiet and still. Whoever he was, she couldn't help feeling uneasy.

The stranger wasn't always in her line of vision, of course, but now and then he'd come out of an aisle and go into another, and she was in just the right position to observe when he did so. She returned to her own reading when the stranger was no longer in view, but then when he walked back into her sight, she'd lift her eyes up from her book again. Thus, she saw it when the stranger tore a page out. Her eyes widened slightly, then as the man took a glance around, she focused her gaze on the pages before her. Still, she was shocked. Who would do such a heinous thing?! What kind of monster would rip a page out of a book?

Her frown deepened slightly as she watched the man take a coat which she had seen laid over a chair by another library patron. But, she didn't want any trouble.. she didn't want the man to take any notice of her. So, she kept quiet, and merely observed. Hoping he wouldn't notice that she was observing him. He was soon gone, and she breathed a little easier. She couldn't really explain why, but there was something about that man that made her uncomfortable, and she was glad he was gone now.

And now, her curiosity was aroused. Sticking a bookmark into the one she was reading, Brooke set it down. "Come, Chewy," She whispered, then went to the spot where she'd seen the stranger put all those books and scrolls. What had he torn a page from? It took her a while to find the book with the missing page, but when she did, she tried to make sense of it. After looking over the things for a while, Brooke spent a bit of time putting everything back where it belonged, then she thoughtfully returned to her seat, and to her reading. Maybe it didn't mean anything.

Maybe it was all just a matter that didn't concern her, but she still didn't like that he'd torn the page out. She hoped that creepy guy wouldn't ever return to the library, and she wondered if she ought to report him to a librarian. But, what would they do? Probably nothing. She sighed, and resumed her reading, trying not to let it bother her.

Shortly after, Gwestion approached, stepping quietly. He had gone to do an errand while Brooke was here, reading. "Time to go home for supper," He announced softly. He had learned, after a day or two, not to ask if she was ready to go. Because Brooke was never ready to leave the library. Instead, he simply informed her that it was time to go.

"Let me just get to the end of this chapter.."

"How long until the end?" He asked, holding back a sigh.

"Right here," She pointed to the end of the page. It took about thirty seconds before she put in a small piece of paper, set the book onto its shelf where it belonged, and then stood up, ready to go.

Gwestion noticed her taking a glance around, with a vaguely worried look that was easy to miss if one did not know her somewhat well. "Everything alright?" He asked cautiously.

"Um.. yes." She put on her coat, then wrapped her arms around herself, as if she were cold despite the coat, before even stepping outside.

"Has someone upset you?" Gwestion frowned, lowering his voice somewhat.

Brooke hesitated. "Well.. there was a man here earlier," She admitted.

"Did he do something to you?" Gwestion asked, inwardly a little alarmed and beginning to berate himself for leaving, even for an hour or two.

"No," Brooke hastened to assure him. "He just.. well, he tore a page out of a book." She frowned.

Gwestion relaxed inside. "I see.. which offended you personally, because you love books more than life." He lightly teased.

Brooke didn't smile. "He stole someone else's coat, too." She mentioned, frowning.

"Are you sure?" He frowned at that.

"I watched him do it." She insisted, as she and Chewy followed Gwestion toward the door. "I saw one man when he laid the coat over a chair, and he was over there, reading some scrolls and stuff." She pointed. "And then, later, this other guy came in, looked around for a while, and then started looking at maps. He tore the page out, dumped everything on a shelf where they didn't belong, and then grabbed the other man's coat and left. A little while later, the other man was looking for it, and I felt really bad for him. But, I mean, there wasn't anything I could do to stop the thief guy, so.."

"No, I'm glad you didn't." Gwestion replied, shaking his head. "What did he look like?" He asked.

Brooke paused, frowning a little. "Um. Strange.. the way people look when they're a bad person," She answered, a bit puzzled. "I mean.. I don't really know how to explain it..." She mumbled.

Gwestion frowned slightly in puzzlement as well, trying to understand. "Dark hair? Light hair? About how tall?" He wondered. "Did he have any facial hair... was he old or young? I mean, could you tell me his physical features..? Would you recognize him if you saw him again?"

"Yes, of course I would." She frowned. "I'm really not very good at describing people though," She frowned. "He had dark hair, though. I.. I guess he was sort of young, but older than you, and um... yeah, he needed a shave." She made a guess about how tall he was, based on the height his head had come to on the bookshelves.

"You noticed all of that from a few glances?" Gwestion asked, raising an eyebrow curiously.

"No.. I um, sort of watched him, whenever he was in my line of sight." She explained quietly. "He made me uncomfortable, I guess, so I wanted to make sure of what he was doing and where he was, you know?"

Gwestion nodded slightly, escorting her and Chewy out while trying to decide whether this coat theft was anything that ought to be reported or not. In the end, he decided to hold off, as he did not want to make them late for supper. But he thought he might mention it to someone, at least.