@Arnyn @Pele Alarion
Common room, around supper time
Dec 23 (2 days after Midwinter)
"Ah, there you are, Aislin." Seri smiled to see her other niece arrive. "Did you have a good time? See anything exciting?" She asked, motioning for the girl to join them at the table.
As Aislin joined them, asking about the guys and the food, Brooke pointed to the front door. "They just went out.. actually, Gladhron went outside. Gwestion was already out there, about to come in. But Gladhron wanted to tell him something." She glanced that direction, wondering if it could have anything to do with something she had learned at the library earlier. "I've only been here a few minutes, myself." She added, then put a ribbon into the book and slid it into the leather bag at her side.
"We haven't ordered any food yet, because not everyone was here yet." Seri added. "I'm sure it won't be long, although I'm not sure when uh.. Lady Fairy will arrive." She said with a little amusement, as she had not been informed the lady's actual name. She glanced around, then at the two young ladies in her care. "Perhaps we could order some drinks while we wait. What would you two like?"
"It's fine," Gladhron assured her, when she apologized for interrupting. Although he was somewhat regretful that he had not been able to prepare his brother for what it sounded like she was about to tell them. As she went on, his suspicion was confirmed.. and he was actually relieved to hear her telling them this. Because he had wondered whether she would tell them, or keep it from them. He was glad for the former. Her explanation was quite understandable, in fact, and he couldn't really harbor any resentment toward her for that.
He remained quiet while she was speaking, giving her the chance to finish all that she wanted to say. He nodded a little here and there, silently encouraging her to go on, or to show that she still had his attention. As she mentioned that it had become harder to maintain this, as they became friends back then, he felt a bit saddened for her sake, that she had apparently been stressing about this. That she must have felt she could not tell them her real name, once she had gotten to know them more. And that she felt that she needed to filter her words and actions so much in the first place.. that was also saddening.
The explanation about where 'Celumë' had actually come from was rather enlightening, although it seemed like a bit of a mouthful, really. He preferred just 'Celume', although he wasn't sure whether she would prefer that they continued to call her that or her real name. Something to ask her, he supposed. Finally, as she referred to what he had said at the masquerade, smiled slightly. "Of course, I meant it, Arnyn." He assured her easily. He cleared his throat. "Anyway, I actually uh.. I already knew about your real name, as well as your position as lieutenant." He admitted with a little shrug.
Gwestion was rather puzzled. First Gladhron wanted to talk to him in private, now Celume wanted to talk to them both in private.. and he had no idea what either were about. He folded his arms, mostly to keep his cloak held close around him. He gave Gladhron a sidelong glance, wondering how his brother was not starting to feel the cold by now. Maybe he was, and was simply not willing to admit it.
Mentally shrugging that away, Gwestion turned his focus toward Celume, listening with a small frown as she talked. He was inwardly surprised at how quiet Gladhron was being, but he was glad for Celume's sake that he was not interrupting her, but rather letting her get through all that she needed to say. Gwestion did the same, quietly processing all that she was telling them. He kept his own expression mostly neutral all throughout her speech. Even when she admitted to having used a false name, he did not have a visible reaction.
When she offered up her proper name, he mentally repeated it a couple of times, but outwardly only nodded slowly, once. That she held the rank of lieutenant was more of a surprise, but he only blinked at that, and glanced slightly toward Gladhron, as if curious how he was taking all of this. His brother seemed.. strangely unruffled by any of this news. That surprised him almost as much as the news of their friend having become a lieutenant of the King's rangers since they last saw her. As she concluded, basically asking if they still considered her a friend, he tilted his head slightly as if in thought. After taking a moment to think of the best way to give his response, he was just opening his mouth to speak it, when Gladhron spoke first.
At his brother's words, Gwestion turned to him in clear surprise. "Wait.. you
knew?" He asked, blinking. How could he have known this?! "How long have you known, and why didn't you mention it to me?" He added, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, I was about to!" Gladhron protested. "I just found out this morning, so it's not like I've been keeping it from you for days or anything. Anyway, that's what I was about to tell you, but then.." he motioned to Celume vaguely to indicate that she had arrived too soon. "I'd have mentioned it earlier, but I couldn't find you before." He added, as if that made it all better.
Gwestion continued looking at him with a raised eyebrow for a moment. "You might have tried the library," He pointed out, since he was sure that Gladhron must have known that was a very likely place to find him. "Oh, but that's right.. you're probably afraid you'll burst into flames if you set foot in a building devoted to books." He added dryly, with a hint of a smirk. Clearing his expression as he shook his head, Gwestion then turned back to her as he resumed a more serious expression. Behind him, Gladhron rolled his eyes.
"
Anyway..." Gwestion cleared his throat, addressing the woman's concerns first. "As for your question.. yes, I agree. As you should know already. We never did know where you came from, and yet we considered you a friend, did we not?" He pointed out, confused why she would feel the need to question it. "Just as
you never knew where
we came from, nor much else about us other than our names and our personalities and the goal we shared in dealing with those bandits." He paused. "Anyway... while I didn't actually
know that Celume was not your real name, I did always sort of
suspect it might not be." He admitted quietly. "And I can't blame you for that, really. Meeting two strangers in the middle of the woods? After getting to know you better, I might have been disappointed in your lack of caution, if Celume
had turned out to be your actual given name." Shrugging, he went on, "Besides... I might have given false names for ourselves as well, except that option was taken away before I had the chance." He did not mention any names, but his eyes cut over to his brother, rather pointedly, before returning to Celume's. "It's not that uncommon for rangers in the north to do that, you know. Our father often used other names while he was away from home.. and others that we have met do the same. Even our king did so, as I hear." He shrugged, having heard that King Elessar had gone by many names, like Strider, Longshanks, and the like, while in Bree. And other names like Thorongil while doing missions in other lands.
He shifted, clearing his throat. "To be further honest.. I can't say I'm all that surprised to learn you had been a commander of rangers, either." He informed her with a small shrug. "The way you pushed us to do better in sparring, taught us more about tracking and other skills, offered your aid and expertise in the bandit matter... it was not terribly obvious, but there was something about all of those things which led me to suspect that you were familiar with teaching others such things as those, and perhaps even giving orders and such. So, now, hearing that you were a commander just before you met us? It explains a lot." He offered a small smile. "Also... congratulations on your more recent title of lieutenant."
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