The Wayfarer's Inn

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

"Oh.. I forgot," Gladhron mentioned, remembered when Seri asked if she was a ranger, that he had forgot to mention that when he introduced her. "Celume's not only a ranger, but the lieutenant of the rangers here in Minas Tirith." He informed them, almost seeming as if he were proud for having this knowledge.

Seri glanced at him, somewhat surprised by this little tidbit, then back at Arnyn. "Well, then I suppose you know all of the rangers," She realized with a slight laugh. "But, why is that unexpected?" She asked Arnyn with a slightly puzzled smile, curious what she found so amusing, or surprising, upon hearing that it was Gwandhyra who had been showing her around the city. "He has come from the north." She pointed out, which would be explanation enough for how she knew him. "And he grew up in this city, and has been back for nearly a year now, so he knows it well." She sipped her tea carefully after checking that it was cooled enough to drink.

Hearing that there was a bookstore, Brooke sat up a fraction more than she had been, quite intrigued to hear this. "Where?" She asked, eyes widening a little. She glanced at Aislin with a bit of excitement gleaming in her eyes. "We'll have to find that when we go exploring tomorrow." She declared eagerly. When Arnyn asked whether it was the binding, however, Brooke hesitated, her eagerness fading as she was somewhat saddened at the recollection of her precious book's condition. "A bit more than that.." She answered remorsefully, fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth in her lap.

Seri glanced sympathetically toward her niece, knowing how upset this matter made her. She spoke quietly to give a brief explanation to Arnyn, "A few years ago, before she came to live with me, her stepmother ripped all the pages out of the book... out of spite, I think." She frowned. "Several pages were damaged, and the cover was also damaged... we aren't sure how difficult it might be to repair.. but we hoped there would be a place here that might be able to do it." She smiled slightly. "It would be nice if they can fix it. The book belonged to Brooke's grandfather... my father." She smiled a little sadly.

Brooke was quiet while Seri was speaking, giving a little nod to confirm what she was saying. The book was currently packed carefully into a little wooden box, so that all of the parts would be contained together with no risk of being lost.

Hearing Aislin speak of imagining Celume almost as a dragon slayer, Brooke smiled slightly to hear Arnyn deny having slain any dragons. "I bet Gladhron's glad of that," She mentioned, amused as she recalled his dragon outfit for the masquerade.

This brought a laugh from him. "Absolutely! I would be most embarrassed to be slain by a fairy." He joked, grinning toward her. "Although I'm sure she could 'slay' me with her dancing skills, in a contest." He tried to turn the words into a pun, but he wasn't sure he quite succeeded.

Gwestion had sat quietly, listening to all of the conversation without commenting. But when Celume spoke of the various enemies she had faced, and listed a shapeshifter wolf.. he looked at her with a bit of surprise. "I'm sorry.. a what?" He asked, partly to make sure he had actually heard that correctly.. and if so, what exactly she was talking about.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

She gave Gladhron a bit of a searching look when he told Seri she wasn't 'only a ranger, but the lieutenant of the rangers' here in the city. What was that tone? Was he bragging about her position? Because they were friends and she was 'someone' here? But the look was brief, and she didn't want to pay more attention to it than what was absolutely necessary.

"Well, I know of all the rangers here," Arnyn countered Seri's laughing statement a bit more soberly, though she was smiling as she spoke. "And yes, I know many if not most of them. But the rangers in the north are a different matter. It surprised me that for one, his name had never come up before." She did not think either of the brothers had ever mentioned the name Gwandhyra to her. Otherwise it would have rung a bell when she had spoken with Duinion earlier in the year, and when he had asked about her knowing his friend. "And it can be strange how small and interwoven the world is," she added, which was really the main reason for her amusement. To think that of all people, it was Unalmis' uncle who would be showing Seri around... Sipping her water, Arnyn gave Seri the kind of half smile women sometimes had when talking about things. "Was he the one you were dancing with at the masquerade, later in the evening?" It was an innocent enough question to ask among company.

Turning to Brooke, Arnyn took a breath to figure how to best explain the store's location. "From here, turn right up the main street, toward the marketplace - which is on this level. At some point you'll pass by a side street with a store that sells leather items - loads of bags and belts and such in the display. Turn into that side street, and the bookstore is just a few houses down, to your right. It's called Shelf Life." She smirked a little at the name, which she thought was rather apt. "The owner is pretty humorous," she added, sipping her water again. Listening to Seri's additional explanation, she nodded slowly. "Well, I think Shelf Life is the best place in the city where you could go to ask. The man is very skilled. Be sure to mention the damage is not your doing, though," she warned Brooke. "Or he will have an instant dislike of you and might even refuse your business."

She laughed a little when Brooke said Gladhron would be pleased she wasn't a dragon slayer, but made a face at him the very next moment. "Not a fairy," she reminded him, even though she obviously understood the reference. Arnyn shook her head wordlessly when he claimed she could slay him in a dancing contest. "Not planning on entering any dance battles," she reassured him. "You're safe."

Meanwhile, Gwestion's question caught her off guard, and she looked over at him with a light frown. As if it was hardly news. Or anything special. "A shapeshifter wolf," she repeated more slowly, enunciating every syllable rather carefully, as if he had simply not heard her well rather than being surprised at the meaning behind the word. "That was over the summer," she added, and subconsciously ran a hand over her one side of her lower neck - where nothing was visible, however, with her collaredblack shirt and long fall of blonde hair covering up any evidence. "Bizarrely, not the hairiest situation I have been in," she said drily. She sort of hid her amusement at the pun behind her glass. She shrugged. "What? You and Gladhron fought and killed wolves before, too."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Gladhron shrugged slightly in answer to Celume's comment to Seri, that they'd never mentioned Gwandhyra. "We only see him now and then, so I guess it just didn't come up. But we definitely knew him then, because.. wait, actually, I thought I did mention him?" He asked, confused for a moment as he tried to think back. "I'm almost certain I mentioned Bel having had a run in with bandits, and that he'd saved her..." He couldn't quite remember how that exact conversation had gone, however.

Seri returned the smile that Arnyn gave her. "Yes, that was him." She confirmed with a little nod, her smile growing slightly. "I didn't expect to find him there, since I didn't think it seemed like.. his sort of thing. But it turns out, his brother, nephew, and cousin had pressured him into going so they could all dress alike." She explained. "And then we found one another, and I was more than glad that Gladhron talked me into going to the dance." She smiled at Gladhron, who grinned back.

As Arnyn answered Brooke's question about the bookstore, Brooke listened very closely to her directions, nodding slightly as she tried to commit it to memory. "Thank you, I'll be sure to look for that." She promised with obvious excitement shining in her eyes. Seri's quiet explanation about how the book had become damaged had Brooke looking downward, but soon she looked back up again, nodding seriously when Arnyn warned her to let the book seller know right away about the damage. "Thanks, I will." She said softly, then looked at Aislin, the excitement returning as she was now looking forward to their explorations even more than before.

Gladhron grinned back at Celume, but made no more comments about fairies.. for now. "Is that even a thing?" He wondered, trying to imagine someone using dance as a way to fight someone. But then he grew interested in the question Gwestion had asked, recalling that he had not been there when Kaylin was telling the story about that. He glanced briefly toward Celume, wondering how much she would tell his brother, but it seemed she was not planning to tell him much of anything about it. Hmm.

A shapeshifter wolf? Gwestion would think it was some sort of joke, if it wasn't Celume.. Arnyn.. telling him this. He frowned slightly as she went on to say that it was over the summer. The addition of the little pun made him smile faintly, recalling how much she enjoyed doing that. "We have fought wolves, yes." He answered thoughtfully. "But.. a shapeshifter wolf?" He asked, frowning as he tried to imagine that. "What is that? Are they something common to this area?" He couldn't help wondering if they might run into something of the sort, and how to go about defeating it, and so forth.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

She did remember the story about Bel, but... no mention of the name Gwandhyra. Perhaps she had forgotten. The name wouldn't have rung any bells at the time. And that time had been years prior to her hearing it again. "Then maybe I simply forgot the name," she allowed, although her tone betrayed she wasn't entirely convinced. Arnyn nodded when Seri confirmed that Gwandhyra/Domanol had been the man she'd been dancing with. "Unexpected reunions are the best," the blonde stated before sipping her water, not looking at either brother as she made the statement. "I'm glad for that you could have yours at a place like that." It must have been pretty perfect, right? If Domanol was the man she was interested in, and against all expectations he had turned up at such an event? With the fancy clothes, the music - not to mention the food. Although Arnyn wouldn't have pegged Domanol as someone who would attend such a function, Seri soon spontaneously offered how he'd wound up there. Family. With a little smile, Arnyn realized she wasn't one to talk (if she'd been planning on commenting, which she wasn't). Hadn't Gladhron said something about 'not knowing whether that was the sort of thing she'd be interested in', herself? People could surprise you, and apparently she was no exception.

When Gladhron asked whether dance battles were even a thing, Arnyn shook her head with an expression that conveyed she had no idea. "Just seemed like a funny thought. Don't go getting any ideas," she laughed,meanwhile hoping Gwestion would drop the whole wolf thing. She shouldn't have added the shapeshifter part. But the word had spilled from her lips more quickly than she'd been able to stop it. Perhaps she should be just a little more careful in her conversation with the group. It was easy to revert to a less guarded position in the brothers' company, she noted mentally. Too easy.

Of course... Gwestion didn't quite let go of the topic. Even so, she was so amused when he asked if shapeshifter wolves were common in this area, that her next sip of water almost went down the wrong way. After a few small coughs, which she hid behind her arm, she shook her head with a little grin. "No. No, not at all common." She chuckled. "By the Valar, could you imagine? No," she repeated, her expression sobering as she tried to think of how to tell Gwestion enough to satisfy his curiosity - without making it seem like a huge deal.

"It was the first and hopefully the last time that a creature like that turned up in Gondor," she told him, to indicate it really was not at all ubiquitous. "Further to the south, sometimes people have... strange abilities. Old sorceries. This shapeshifter wanted to weaken the rangers here in Minas Tirith. Her ability to turn into anyone she liked, came in handy. When our Captain forced her hand, it came down to a confrontation. So we took her down. I helped." That ought to do it. There was no need to mention much more, right? Maybe it would still be best to introduce a different topic, however. Something else Gwestion would want to talk about.

"What do you think about our training grounds?" she asked him, figuring he would definitely be a fan of such facilities.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn
Aislin
Common room - December 23

Aislin listened carefully to the directions Arnyn gave of where to find the shop to see if Brooke's book could be fixed. She had actually ventured into the leather store and even got herself a belt decorated with several White Trees and stars. The item had greatly depleted the savings she had made towards the trip, even with the discount she had bargained for, yet she did not regret the purchase. She had not ventured as far as the book-binding shop, though; but apparently it was almost right there and she was sure she could easily find it. She flashed a hearty smile at Brooke, glad that there might be a way to redeem the book of so much importance to her 'sister'. Besides, it might make Brooke willing to explore a bit more, even if Aislin suspected that it might be difficult to pry her away from anything book-related.

The young woman was as much interested in what Arnyn shared, though it was a far cry from a comprehensive and slightly embellished story. "Why... that is a... collection of things... beings... stuff," she put in with a sideways glance at Seri. She was supposed to be the healer's assistant, and it probably meant not being too eager to hear of things being killed. She could not help being curious though - the adventurous side of her urged her to find out more all about it. She reached for her tea, trying to keep herself from asking too many questions - it appeared that the Ranger Lieutenant was not all too eager to share that shapeshifter - how could that even be real - story in too much detail. Even though she had decided not to ask questions, she glanced towards Gladhron and Gwestion to see if they would find a way to flesh out this story, and perhaps some more in addition.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

"Aren't they?" Seri agreed, smiling as Arnyn mentioned that unexpected reunions were the best.

"Agreed," Gwestion mentioned. "If it hadn't been for one such reunion, none of us would have made this trip to Minas Tirith."

"Right!" Gladhron realized. "We ran into Emma unexpectedly, and she mentioned that she was looking for someone she could trust to escort her mother to Gondor," He explained, since he figured Celume would probably be curious about that. "And here we are." He grinned happily.

Seri smiled at the added comment about having her reunion with Gwandhyra at such a place as the masquerade. "It was wonderful." She agreed happily. "I had been getting rather worried about him, so it was also good to learn what had been delaying him from returning, for so long."

Gladhron smiled when she said not to be getting ideas. "Don't worry, I wouldn't want to challenge you." he assured her with a little grin. "Dance lessons, perhaps. Battles, no." He could tell by how Gwestion was looking at Celume that his brother was extremely curious, and perhaps debating whether to ask anything more about the subject. As for Gladhron, he was debating whether to tell him the story he'd heard, or to keep it to himself.

Gwestion was glad to hear that the wolves were not common, but he still didn't quite know what a shapeshifting wolf was, exactly. Obviously, it was a wolf that shifted its shape, but that told him very little, really. So, when she mentioned people having strange abilities, and something about a shapeshifter turning into different people, he blinked in further confusion. So.. it was a person? Not a wolf? Before he could figure out how to ask for more details, she had turned the subject toward asking him about the training grounds.

He gave her a thoughtful look for a second. Was she trying to avoid further questions on that subject? Trying to change the subject, perhaps? He cleared his throat and tried to push the curiosity down as well as he could. "I will let you know when I manage to go there." He answered dryly with a partial side glance toward his brother. "My permission slip was missing, this morning. But, perhaps it will have miraculously reappeared, by the time I get to the room." He shrugged.

"Strange abilities indeed," Seri commented with a concerned frown, somewhat caught up with that bit of information. "Are you saying this person could not only change into any person she liked.. but animals, too?" She couldn't imagine trying to combat something like that. "How could you even know if someone was such a being, in that case?" Her eyes had widened slightly. "Was there some sort of 'tell' to help you detect her?"

Meanwhile, Brooke listened quietly to the talk of all this, quite curious even if she didn't speak up. At Seri's question about how to tell if someone was real or not, she frowned slightly in mild puzzlement, but looked down and said nothing.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Emma. Right, she'd heard that name before. She couldn't help but glance at Gladhron at the name, and then at Seri. "Prudent of your daughter, to make sure you had a suitable escort," Arnyn told the healer. She looked a bit dubious when Gladhron mentioned dance lessons, but thankfully Gwestion soon answered her question about the training grounds. With a rather unexpected reply. "You have not been there?" she asked, surprised at that. When Gwestion had been so eager to obtain the permission slip... Hadn't he mentioned, the day before, he had wanted to go to the grounds as quickly as possible? When he added he hadn't been able to find his permission slip, and how it might miraculously reappear, along with the look he gave Gladhron, made Arnyn give Gladhron a thoughtful look of her own. Why would Gladhron even take Gwestion's permission slip? He had one of his own, didn't he? Yet Gwestion was obviously suspicious of him - even if it made no sense to her.

Even though the change in topic had seemingly worked on Gwestion and Gladhron, it apparently had not worked on Seri. Arnyn drew in a deep breath before answering Seri's first question with a faint smile. "Yes, she could turn into different people. As for animals, I only saw the wolf. I have no idea of whether she could turn into any others."Arnyn's gaze lowered to the table as the questions continued. It reminded her of all the questions when she had been talking to the rangers about Relic, in small groups, before her demise. Or those at the debrief, when the threat had been dealt with. Arnyn was someone who wanted to have all the answers - but the fact of the matter was that it was often impossible to have them. She did not have a palantir. So, as for Seri's other questions, she shook her head. "Beyond asking something only the real person could know or something similar, I'm sorry to say I don't know. Nor am I aware of a way to learn the answer to either of those questions." All she knew was, she would rather not fight a sorceress like that again. It had been jarring to have to fight herself. And, some nights, she still saw yellow fangs and a red wolf.

Getting antsy and throwing out the only line she could think of at the moment, she turned to Gwestion."Why do you think Gladhron took your permission slip? What purpose would that even serve?" she wondered out loud, glancing at Gladhron. "Did you?" she asked the latter, point-blank.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Seri smiled proudly at the mention of her daughter. "She is very thoughtful. She would have escorted me here, herself, but she stayed behind to temporarily take my place as healer. I wouldn't have gone if it meant leaving the people of Bree without anyone to help if they got sick or injured."

When Celume expressed surprise that he had not yet been to the training grounds, Gwestion shook his head slightly, but he didn't get a chance to elaborate at the moment, as the topic returned to the shapeshifter. He listened curiously, since he had wanted to ask about that as well. Mentally, he took note of what she said about that. The initial idea he'd gotten about the 'shapeshifter wolf' had been a wolf that could somehow change into..something else. But as it turned out, it sounded more like a person who could change into other people, as well as a wolf. That somehow made more sense than what he had first thought, but he also could understand how difficult it would be to try and fight someone like that.

Watching while Arnyn answered her question, Seri suspected that she shouldn't have asked anything further about the matter. She didn't quite seem like she wanted to talk about it, and so after hearing what she said about the woman turning into other people, and so on.. she nodded and suppressed any further questions, although she was quite curious. "That must have been a difficult matter to deal with, I'm glad you were successful."

Soon enough, Gladhron was put on the spot when Celume turned to Gwestion and asked why he thought Gladhron had taken his paper.. and then asked Gladhron directly. He blinked, surprised by her asking that.. and thinking fast about what to say as he glanced at Gwestion and then back. "I.. did go out to the training grounds earlier.." He admitted. "The papers were stacked together, so I must have grabbed them both by mistake, not realizing. I wasn't fully awake yet, I guess, so I didn't look too closely at them." He shrugged. "Sorry." He said to Gwestion.

Gwestion stared at him in surprise. "You went to the training grounds.. early in the morning?" He asked, a bit astonished.

"Yeah.. so?" Gladhron glanced around. "Is that our food I smell cooking? It smells delicious. I hope they're bringing it out soon."

Gwestion narrowed his eyes slightly, thinking that sounded a bit like an evasion from his brother, but he decided to drop it. "It does smell good." He agreed, instead. "What did you practice, at the grounds?"

Gladhron took a drink of water to stall for a few seconds while he thought about how to word it. "Different things.. stealth, forest maneuvering.. that sorta thing." He smiled. "It's a really large place. There's even a forest in there. It's a nice place." He added, answering Celume's question to Gwestion, instead. "I was just curious to see.." He looked at Gwestion. "I'm sorry I kept you from getting to check it out, though. I wasn't intending for that."

Brooke had been listening quietly while absently petting Chewy while the others were talking. When Gladhron mentioned the food, she glanced toward the kitchen thoughtfully, wondering if he had any indication that made him think they were about to bring the food out, or if he was only stalling. "Um, Arnyn? I was wondering, is the.. the field area outside the gates, the Pelennor? is that a good place to take Chewy for walks?" She asked once there was a little pause, figuring she ought to take him someplace to let him run around and stuff, after she'd spent so much time in the library lately.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

When Seri acknowledged it must have been difficult to deal with such a foe, Arnyn didn't reply one way or the other. She just shot Seri a quick glance and gave the smallest nod that might be humanly possible. She couldn't quite smile at the other woman's added sentiment, that she was glad they had been successful. The more time passed, the more the rangers who had fallen in the process seemed to weigh on Arnyn. The positive feelings about having defeated Relic was fading much faster, at least, than the negative feelings about having lost those people.

Gladhron's admission that he had been to the training grounds earlier, had Arnyn giving him a thoughtful look. Gladhron, at the grounds, without Gwestion? Somehow, Gladhron visiting training grounds alone did not quite add up to what she remembered of his character. Gwestion seemed to agree. What Arnyn really picked up on, however, was how Gwestion mentioned Gladhron had gone early in the morning. Her eyes narrowed minutely as the wheels of her mind started turning. She'd come to recognize deflection rather well, and what Gladhron was doing was all too clear to her. Gladhron saying he'd practiced stealth.. and forest maneuvering... Arnyn clasped her hands together on the table. So Gladhron had known about her name, and her rank. He had known since that morning, he had said. He had been out on the training grounds in the morning, as well. Now he mentioned there was a forest in there and that he'd been practicing stealth there. And she had been right on the edge of that forest, sparring with Kaylin. The question she had been too stunned to ask, outside of the inn, was answering itself pretty easily. He had seen her there. He must have.

"I was just curious to see.."

Amused, it wasn't lost on Arnyn that Gladhron did not finish his sentence. She was about to ask him something, when Brooke asked her about a good place for walking Chewy. Deciding to answer Brooke first, Arnyn looked to the young woman. "You wouldn't have to go out there to take him for a walk or let him run around a bit," she shared. "It seems like you have been very cooped up in our library." Arnyn grinned. "We have plenty of parks in the city where you could let Chewy spend his energy. If you're in the city, you'd have to make sure to clean up anything 'special' he decides to dump on pathways or grassy areas - but other than that... No one will be dismayed at a dog running around a park. You could also take him out to the Pelennor. The area outside the gates is less interesting than a park would be, though. It's just an open area, not much there. Chewy might enjoy bushes and trees and such a bit more, maybe?"

Looking over to the other end of the table then, to Gladhron, Arnyn propped her elbow up on the table and rested her chin onto her loosely formed fist. "And," she started, finding his eyes with her own, so she could assess his response as well as she could. "Did you enjoy the show, this morning?"

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn , @Rillewen
Aislin
Common room - December 23

Aislin sat and intently listened to all the conversations though she did not become involved in any of the ongoing. She cast an admiring side glance towards Arnyn though she was perceptive enough not to ask more about this certain shapeshifter wolf any more, nor did she dare ask about all the other beings. Perhaps in time, when she felt more confident asking random questions.

She did perk up at the thought that taking Chewy for walks might lure Brooke out more often, and a playful smile touched her lips though she did not remark on it.

"The show?" she did ask eventually, glancing from Arnyn to Gladhron. "Like... A theatre play?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

As Arnyn answered with a suggestion about the parks, Brooke nodded slightly at the explanation, but she wasn't really sure how to exactly explain, in more depth, about what she had been trying to ask. She had been to the park near here, so Chewy could get out and do what he needed to do and all that, but she had thought he might like a bit more open space to run around and chase things like squirrels or whatever. She mentally debated with whether to try and say anything further, but the topic soon returned to the topic which Gladhron seemed reluctant to speak about, so her weak attempt at diverting the attention had failed. She looked down and focused her attention on Chewy for a bit, while she listened curiously, scratching around Chewy's ears.

The mention of a 'show' had Gwestion glancing curiously across at his brother, as well, while Seri turned to look at him questioningly, also. Suddenly the center of attention, concerning a matter he had not meant to bring up, Gladhron had to decide whether to feign ignorance, or admit that he had witnessed the 'battle'. Smiling innocently, he first responded, "What show?" But it was quite evident that Celume wasn't about to buy that, and neither was anyone else at the table, he suspected. So, he shrugged, giving in to the inevitable. At least, he would do his best to not let her know that Tercen had been there, too. However.. while he didn't know Kaylin all that well yet, he didn't think she seemed like she'd mind if he let Arnyn know that she had said something about the sparring match. Grinning, he gave a little laugh. "Alright.. you got me." He shook his head in reply to Aislin. "Not a theater show, but rather a show of fighting skills. And yes, it was excellent.. a much better 'show' than she promised it would be."

"She?" Gwestion frowned. "What 'she'? What show?" He glanced from Gladhron to Celume, then back to Gladhron. What was all this about?

"Ummm, Kaylin." Gladhron confessed. "You didn't meet her. She joined me and a couple others for a drink, yesterday.. and when she was leaving, she mentioned that she had a sparring match with the lieutenant in the morning. And she may have sorta, practically suggested that I come watch this match." he cleared his throat softly. "I had no idea then that the lieutenant she spoke of would be you." He added to Celume, quietly. "When I saw you though..." He shrugged and let her fill in the rest. Meanwhile, he was thinking hard to make sure that nothing he'd said earlier, nor just now, would tie Tercen to the event, because he didn't want his new friend to have his sister annoyed at him or something.. or possibly worse. Would there be any sort of repercussions to a civilian who sneaked into the training grounds? He wondered.. maybe he should have questioned that beforehand? Too late now, though...

"You didn't mention anything about it." Gwestion commented, although whether he was annoyed, offended at being left out, or simply making an observation, it was hard to tell.

"Well, you weren't around then." Gladhron shrugged, unsure whether Gwestion was trying to say that he would have liked to come, or what. But he realized, perhaps, that he might have wanted to. Except he would not have gone along with the whole.. Tercen thing.. so that would have made things difficult. Plus, if he had been there, they wouldn't have been able to sneak Tercen in using Gwestion's papers. So.. yeah.

Gwestion quietly shrugged and sipped his drink, trying not to let it show that he was a little saddened that his brother didn't think to include him, or else.. had deliberately avoided including him. He didn't think he'd been all that hard to find, and yet that was the second time today that he had been 'unable to find him'. Not to mention that he must have already known about this when he went to bed last night.. and he'd had a chance to talk to Gwestion then. And yet he didn't. Had he deliberately taken Gwestion's permission papers along with him, to prevent Gwestion from going? He was confused about that point, and wondered what purpose Gladhron would have for wanting to keep him from the training grounds that morning. Trying not to focus too much on those thoughts, he cleared his throat quietly as he set the glass down. "So.. how did the sparring go?" He wondered, directing the question at Celume, not Gladhron. Having not met this Kaylin person, he had no idea what sort of sparring partner she might be, nor how she compared to Celume, but he remembered that she was exceptional at fighting.

Sipping her tea while listening, Seri glanced from one ranger to the other, somewhat curious about this 'show', herself, although she also got the impression that Gladhron would rather not dwell on that subject, and it was hard to tell if Gwestion was upset at being left out, or not.. but she knew the two somewhat well enough to guess that he might be, at least. She tried to subtly steer the conversation to a slightly different matter. "It must be quite nice to have a designated place for training like that," She mentioned, thinking of how things were so different in the North. "Are there places for shooting arrows, too? Not that I'm interested doing in that, myself, although Aislin has some interest in it." She nodded slightly toward the slightly younger of her two nieces. "We have a target behind the barn, made of straw, but when my daughter got a bit more skilled at it, she used to practice out in the woods, trying to shoot the leaves off of trees." She explained with a little smile. "That was before she went off to become a ranger, like her father. She lost many arrows that way, but then she just made that into another sort of training for herself... like tracking, or something like that. Do the rangers here do that sort of thing?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

When Aislin, sitting next to her, asked if she meant a theatre show, one corner of Arnyn's mouth quirked up a little. She glanced at Aislin before focusing back on Gladhron. What would he say?

When he asked 'What show?', she just gave him a look. As if she would be satisfied by such an answer? She didn't think so. And Gladhron seemed to understand her wordless communication, because he gave up on his act shortly thereafter. As he mentioned a 'she', Arnyn narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. He did not mean...

But of course he did. Kaylin. Rolling her eyes as Gladhron disclosed that part of it in reply to Gwestion's question, Arnyn took another sip of her drink. "I might have known," she sighed, thinking it was just like Kaylin to join someone she hardly knew for a drink and immediately tell them about her upcoming sparring match. "Not that the sparring match was meant to be a secret, or anything," she clarified, mostly for Seri, Aislin and Brooke's benefit - since they did not know her as well as the brothers did - "but I do prefer not to be disturbed during such a thing." She glanced back at Gladhron. "Which, I'll grant you, I wasn't. Not half bad, with the 'forest maneuvering', then." As an afterthought, she added: "I told you you'd meet 'Lady Butterfly' if you spent enough time at the Wayfarers or the Guesthouse. I bet you and Kaylin got along pretty well, didn't you?" Blabbermouths, the both of them....

Watching and listening to the following interaction between Gladhron and Gwestion, Arnyn felt a bit bad for the younger brother. She could imagine a few reasons, though, why Gladhron might have chosen not to inform Gwestion. Kaylin had probably mentioned something about staying out of sight, Arnyn figured. Kaylin knew Arnyn well enough by now to know her preferences. Would Gwestion have been on board with watching the match in such a clandestine fashion as Gladhron clearly had? Or would Gwestion have admonished his brother for wanting to do something they both realized she might not appreciate?

Taking all of that into account, Arnyn's gaze was observing Gwestion as she lowered her glass back to the table and he asked her how the sparring went. "Kaylin is..." Arnyn paused briefly, looking for the right words. "Spontaneous. And rebellious. For example, I can well imagine she told Gladhron to make sure to stay out of sight, if he wanted to watch. She's well aware I don't like an audience. And she obviously did not know that Gladhron and I already knew each other." A half-grin appeared on her face. "She's also spontaneous in her fighting. She's an excellent swordfighter, with great technique and impressive stamina. Her unpredictability makes it interesting to spar with her, too. It was very close. Closer than last time we sparred. She almost had me. I learned more from the match than I'd expected." She smiled. "It was a good match."

Seri's question drew her attention, next. "Of course. The grounds house several archery lanes, with targets at different distances, as well as different kinds of targets. However, the training grounds are only for enlisted rangers -or those who have acquired the necessary permission from the Captain." She had to smile a little at the following question. "Tracking?" she repeated, slightly unsure if that was what Seri actually meant to ask, since the answer simply seemed so obvious to her. "Yes, we practice that, too. Tracking, scouting, navigation, finding and building shelter, finding water and food, keeping yourself warm... Stealth. Camouflage. Fighting with several kinds of weapons. Some degree of healing - at least first aid, if not more. Riding and taking care of a horse, plus how to fight from horseback. Those kinds of things are the basics." It was an easy list to run down in her mind, since she helped keep the records on every one of the rangers. "Other skills are optional."

Still somewhat amused, she glanced at Gladhron again. "Anyway, when I told you at the masquerade that my attendance at big social functions like that are somewhat expected... A lot of rangers attend, and they expect to see their officers - for the most part. With it being a masquerade this time, I had the option of skipping it. But Kaylin made sure of my attendance. She wanted to have her husband search for her and see through her disguise. And she all but begged me to be her accomplice," she admitted, giving Seri a look as she spoke, since the woman had been in the know about that already.
And even though she had now answered a question Gladhron had posed at the masquerade,and which she had requested to answer later, Arnyn chose not to call him out on their agreement that once he learned more about her, he would also answer the questions she'd asked him, and which he had preferred not to answer at the time. It seemed wiser to ask about it when they weren't surrounded by others, at any rate.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Gladhron had to struggle not to smirk when she said that his 'forest maneuvering' was 'not bad'. Not only him, but Trastion and Tercen, too. But he couldn't say that without potentially getting the other two into trouble with her, and he didn't think either of them would like that. "I'm glad I didn't disturb you, at least." He smiled slightly, deciding not to even mention that there was anyone else with him. "Kaylin said she thought she'd do better with an audience, so she practically begged me to come watch." He shrugged and smiled slightly. "Yes, we did get along pretty well," He agreed, thinking back to the meeting here in the common room.

As Arnyn/Celume went into explaining about Kaylin and her fighting style, which also described her personality fairly well from what Gladhron had observed of her, he gave a little nod here and there to support the bit about her being an excellent swordfighter, and how it was such a close match.

Gwestion saw him nodding periodically, with his peripheral vision, but he was mostly keeping his attention focused on her. "It sounds as if you enjoyed it a lot," He commented, thinking that seemed positive, anyway.

"Ohh, what was really interesting to see," Gladhron put in, leaning forward a bit with a slightly excited expression, "was that Kaylin wasn't even using a sword. She had this.. sort of.. double bladed spear pole type thing..? That could separate and become two daggers, or.. something." He glanced at Celume, not really sure what to call it, then turned back to Gwestion and the other ladies, "and then, Celume used her own swords.. a short sword and a long sword, right?" He checked with her briefly before resuming, grabbing the knives from his and Gwestion's silverware sets, "and made a temporary version of it, like this," he mimicked the weapon with the two dinner knives, the handles held together in one fist with the blades pointing out on either side of his hand, basically creating a mini version of it. "It was incredible!"

Briefly imagining how that must have worked, Gwestion's gaze sought for her hands, but he couldn't tell if she had any cuts on her hands or not.

Knowing a little about swords, herself, Seri also had that thought and raised an eyebrow slightly in mild surprise. "You were able to avoid the blades?" She knew how sharp these warrior types tended to keep their weapons, and how easy it was to cut yourself on them accidentally, so she couldn't help feeling some concern about that. Surely, the woman across from her knew to clean any cuts she may have gotten, though, and she hadn't observed anything that caught her eye, so she tried not to be too concerned about it.

As Arnyn answered her question about the training grounds, Seri nodded. "Oh, yes, I knew it was only for rangers," She assured her. "Although, I do wonder if there is someplace else, where Aislin could practice while she's here, if she wanted to?" She added, with a glance toward her younger niece. She hoped Aislin wouldn't mind Seri asking on her behalf, since she was present and could ask for herself.. she was not as shy as Brooke, but sometimes Seri found it difficult to turn off her 'mothering mode'. Hearing the list of skills that the rangers here learned, Seri was somewhat surprised to hear horse riding included as a basic. With a soft laugh, she realized perhaps she should clarify her question, however. "I was actually curious whether you use 'hunting for arrows' as an opportunity to practice tracking skills," She explained, smiling slightly. "I think.." She glanced at the brothers for a bit of confirmation on this fact, "for the Northern rangers, many of those skills are rather fundamental for daily life, right?"

Gwestion nodded slightly. "For us, anyway. We learned most of those things as children.. just a basic part of our education. Although.. there is always room for improvement." He shrugged slightly. Tracking, for instance, was something that Celume had taught them more about, but he still felt that he and Gladhron both fell a little short in that area of knowledge. Even their fighting skills had been sharpened a little, thanks to her.

Hearing that the big social functions were something that many rangers attended, and that the officers were expected to attend as well, Gladhron was a little surprised. Things seemed so different here than where they were from. "You have events like that regularly, and you're expected to go even if you don't want to?" He asked, trying to imagine what that would be like. "I.. think Bree has some sort of harvest festival in the autumn.. and I know Rohan has a Spring festival. But.. we don't often have a chance to attend either." He shook his head slightly in a little amusement. "And I don't know if the folks of Bree would welcome very many rangers at their festival."

"Probably not many of them, sadly." Brooke mentioned quietly. "But you haven't really missed much," She told Gladhron with a little shrug. "Although, some people are finally starting to realize that the rangers are good guys, so there's that, at least." She smiled faintly. "It helps that someone told Mr. Butterbur that one of the rangers who used to frequent his inn's common room, had turned out to be the king."

Seri smiled in amusement, trying to picture the innkeeper's face when he learned that bit of news. "Yes, he's repeated that information often to anyone who'll listen. He seems rather proud to tell people that "the king himself used to sit right over there' or that his drinks are a favorite of the king, and other such things." She laughed softly. Then, returning her attention back to Arnyn when she explained about Kaylin, and the reason why she had begged Arnyn to attend. "Ah.. yes. And he did realize it was her, right?" She recalled meeting Sir Wolf, and she thought she remembered seeing him and Butterfly together the rest of the evening, so that would be logical to assume. "And.. she is the same one whom you sparred with this morning?" She asked, now that she had at least half a face to put with the name.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Mulling over how Kaylin had apparently requested Gladhron to be her audience, Arnyn's first response to Gwestion's comment about having enjoyed the match was a confirming hum. But then she turned toward him, smiled and gave him a little nod. "Yes. I like it when I really have to push my own limits."

Switching to Gladhron as he spoke of Kaylin's new weapon, Arnyn's smile faded a little, though she seemed more amused. "Our smith designed it. Kaylin fell in love with it and really wanted to use it in our sparring match. I figured, why not?" When Gladhron continued to speak of how she'd used her own weapons to make a temporary similar version of Kaylin's weapon, she let go of her glass and touched her fingertips to the palm of her hand. She had to snicker at how Gladhron used two knives to show the others what he meant. At Seri's question, Arnyn blinked. "I was holding them, not avoiding them," she replied, entertained by the question. "My hands weren't bare," she explained. "My winter training gloves took most of the damage," she reassured the woman, remembering she was a healer. As proof, she put both her hands down on the table, between Seri and herself, palms up. Her left hand showed no signs at all of what Gladhron had just described. Her right hand had a reddish line across the palm, but it didn't qualify as a cut. "I switched back once I felt it was time," Arnyn told the other woman, tapping her right hand with her left index finger before pulling her hands back in.

The question whether Aislin could practice archery somewhere while she was here, made Arnyn's expression grow thoughtful. "You'd have to use someone else's private setup, I suppose," she said, turning to Aislin, her words sounding thoughtful. "There are no public archery lanes in the city or in the pelennor... that I know of. And I imagine I would know of them if they existed. But..." Arnyn glanced at Seri. "Domanol has a friend here called Duinion. Duinion and his daughter live on a farm out in the Pelennor. I know she practices there. You could look into that." She smiled at Aislin. "Eryn is very friendly. I think she probably would not mind someone joining her, though of course I cannot speak for her."

"As for hunting for arrows as a tracking exercise... That seems more of a searching exercise than a trackingone." Arrows don't leave tracks on the ground, and other than a nicked leaf somewhere... which would be like searching for a needle in a haystack unless it went right through... "I don't use it, myself, no. Though I do want the people I train to retrieve their arrows. One way or another." They mostly trained at the archery lanes, though, which made that a lot easier. And there was not much game to hunt in the training grounds woods.

Arnyn laughed quietly at Gladhron's surprise in regards to the social functions. "It's not a prescribed rule, or anything," she clarified. "But yes, it is an expectation. The midwinter dance, the midsummer celebration. Other events, depending from one year to the next." She shrugged. "Many of the rangers are pretty close. It's like family hoping you will go, so they can enjoy it with you..."

"He did," she answered Seri's question in regards to Kaylin's husband. "And yes, she is. They make an interesting couple. The effervescent and the calm, brought together."

Amused to hear them talking about the owner of the Prancing Pony and the way he now spoke of the King frequenting his establishment, Arnyn leaned back in her chair to watch the rest of the group. "Listening to you speak about the innkeeper of the Pony, reminds me of another northern inn," she finally put in. "How have things been for Bel and the Forsaken Inn?" she asked, opening the question up to all of them. "She told me once it could get rather lonely. Has that improved at all?" She casually glanced at Gwestion.

At that time, their orders arrived. Alf and another server brought out all of the plates together, each of them carrying three plates in that way only professionals could, one plate balancing on their left arms. Arnyn couldn't help but smile happily as they seemed to remember which order had been for who without needing to verify. Once everyone had their orders in front of them, Alf asked whether he could get them anything else.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn
Aislin
Common room - December 23

"Ohhhh, a fight... show," Aislin drew out the words quietly, as if wondering mostly to herself. Keen interest appeared in her brown gaze as she took in as many details as were given by all involved parties, and her high regard for the Ranger Lieutenant formed by Gladhron's stories rose a notch higher. "Amazing," she noted, not specifying any further so that the flow of conversations would not be interrupted.

She sat up straighter on her chair when Seri's asking about the place to practice archery garnered a response with possible options. While Aislin had done some exploring she had not thought that she would actually be able to try her hand in archery here - all levels seemed to be swarming with people - though she could not really speak about the Seventh Level, since she imagined she would never even be allowed there. Being able to visit the Sixth was already an achievement, though then again the Houses of Healing stood there, making it available for exploration.

"Perhaps it would be worthwhile asking," she noted, once again, not really clarifying which subject she was referring to.

When the innkeep and his assistant arrived with food, Aislin let her voice be more audible as she asked: "Is there anything of the sweet kind at hand, kind sir?" She glanced at Seri as if to ask for permission belatedly, and then looked around at others to see if they were only interested in the main dish and not in the dessert.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Gwestion nodded slightly with understanding when she mentioned that she enjoyed pushing her own limits. That was certainly something he could understand, although it wasn't all that often that he got the opportunity to do so in training situations. Typically, it tended to happen most often during actual life-and-death situations, so he was fortunate to have succeeded in it, so far. However, being here, he was hoping to make use of the training ground for such an occasion as that. He was looking forward to getting the opportunity to explore it and make use of it, and hopefully, find some other rangers who could help him improve the skills that he had. Perhaps, Celume could help in that, he thought, recalling how she had helped them both before, pushing them in sparring sessions to help improve their skills.

With a little nod, Seri observed the line on Arnyn's hand, realizing that no, she had certainly not avoided putting her hands on the blades. "Apologies, healer-ing is a habit," She smiled apologetically. "It tends to be my automatic response to any potential injury. I'm glad it didn't get cut you any worse than that.. but even a cut from paper can be very.. unpleasant and irritating. And easily infected. As I'm sure you know," She hastened to add, lest the woman think she was lecturing or something. "I was only concerned, is all."

Her inquiry about archery seemed to interest Aislin, and Seri smiled at her when she noticed her sitting up and listening more eagerly. Arnyn's reply made Seri's smile increase a tiny bit. "I have heard much about Duinion, although I have not yet met him." She answered. "I'm looking forward to it. Gw..Domanol," she corrected herself, remembering to use the name he was more known by in this city, while here, "has certainly mentioned Duinion, and I can tell that they are very close. Perhaps I will meet him soon." She smiled with a little nod to Aislin. Perhaps she and this other girl would become friends and could practice together.

As the other woman explained more about the arrow and tracking thing, Seri nodded slowly. "I see.. perhaps 'tracking' is the wrong term." She shrugged. "I don't know a lot about it, myself. I only know basics of archery.. enough to help a beginner.. well, begin." She smiled slightly. Having once given some basic instructions to her daughter when she wanted to learn, Seri had, over the years, watched Emma become far better at archery than Seri could have helped her to be. And when Aislin came to live with her and had shown interest in the bows that Emma had 'outgrown', she had given the same help to her 'adopted niece', just enough to get her started, and once again, let Aislin go from there. Gwestion's visit in the summer had provided Aislin with much more aid than Seri could offer. But as for what skills one used when searching for lost arrows, she wouldn't know.

Despite her words about attending these functions not being a rule, Gladhron still found it a bit incredible to think of the differences between things here, versus in the North. Things were getting to be a bit different there, now that the King had returned and was unifying all the lands of his kingdom, but he couldn't quite imagine any sort of fancy parties like that happening in the northern lands, much less even being invited if there was one. He'd enjoyed the masquerade, and he had been pleased that he was able to go, but it had only been a coincidence about the timing of their arrival.

Gwestion was thoughtful about what Celume said about that. He could certainly understand her feelings about wanting to take advantage of the opportunity to not go to something like that, if she had the chance to not go. He hadn't wanted to, after all. He also quite understood the reference to 'family hoping you'll go'. His gaze briefly drifted to Gladhron at that, recalling how much he had tried to talk Gwestion into going. Thankfully, he had gotten out of it, himself. He kept quiet, listening as the talk moved to people he had not met, and so he had little to offer to the conversation at the moment.

However, when the talk switched to 'another inn in the North', and more specifically, Bel and the Forsaken Inn, Gwestion paused for a second with his drink halfway to his mouth. Celume seemed to be asking him, he decided, and so he lowered the glass back to the table. "She is... as stubborn as ever." He replied quietly. "She won't even consider moving closer to other people, and she insists on staying to run the inn." He explained, unhappy with this decision, as he felt that it left her vulnerable and potentially in danger from any ruffian who might pass by... and to be honest, he didn't exactly like the topic coming up, as it reminded him of his concern about leaving her for so long without anyone to check up on her. He kept his expression as neutral as he could, however, and picked up his glass again to take the sip he had been about to, before.

"While we're away, Emma and her husband promised to make a trip out there each week to check on her," Seri mentioned, unsure if Gwestion knew that, but she figured that ought to help him feel a bit better for Bel's sake. "Also, she has hired a man to help out with some of the heavier work, so she isn't there all alone, anymore." Despite her words, Gwestion's expression didn't change one way or another.

As Celume spoke of Lady Butterfly and her husband being 'an interesting couple', and 'the effervescent and the calm, brought together', Gladhron couldn't help a soft snicker as he was reminded of another pair much like that. He cast a quick glance toward his brother even as the topic shifted toward Bel, knowing that he wasn't satisfied with this 'hired hand' fellow. But Gladhron soon shifted his own attention toward their arriving food, letting that matter drop for now. "Ahh that smells amazing!" He sat up eagerly, waiting for his own plate to be set in front of him.

"Don't fill up on sweets." Seri gently chided Aislin, smiling with amusement. "First, eat your meal, and get something nutritious in you, then we'll see about sweets." She could understand wanting to enjoy something sweet, of course, since that was often a bit more for special occasions back home, but she didn't want either of the girls to get too carried away with the excitement of being in the big city that they neglected to take care of themselves nutritionally.

Brooke had kept quiet throughout all the recent talk, but as their food arrived, for real this time, she smiled as she sat up a little straighter. Aislin beat her to making a request of the servers, to ask about sweets, so she waited for her own chance to make a request. Once she had a chance to, she half-raised her hand. "Um.. sir? Could I have a bowl of water please, for my dog?" She asked quietly, having remembered the one thing she forgot to ask for. She'd ordered her meal with enough meat to share with Chewy, but she had forgotten his drink, since she'd already had her own ordered when they came to take their food order.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

"Don't worry," Arnyn tried to reassure Seri. "I've been around my share of healers. In fact, our Captain is one," she said, sounding proud. Not that those around the table would fully understand why. Arnyn had seen Pele grow into herself and then battle her inner demons, after all she had been through. The way the woman had transformed from the wide-eyed trainee and aspiring Hyandaner, into the Captain she was now... Arnyn smiled softly as her eyes dropped to the table for a moment. "Your concern is appreciated," she added as she looked up again, giving Seri a thankful smile.

Frowning slightly, curious as to what Gwestion meant when he said Bel was as stubborn as ever, she slanted her head as she looked at him, sitting next to her and wearing that emotionless expression she knew so well - from her own frequent use of it. She sighed mentally and glanced at Gladhron before watching Gwestion sipping from his glass. That didn't sound like he had made much progress there. Not with Bel, nor with himself. Lightly biting her lip in thought, trying to figure out how on earth she might be able to offer some modicum of help with that, Arnyn looked over at Seri as she said her daughter and her husband were checking on Bel and the inn once a week and that Bel had hired someone to help out at the Forsaken Inn, as well. Gwestion was still wearing his 'mask' when the food arrived. She wondered whether or not to let it go so soon.

When Aislin asked about sweets, Arnyn blinked and turned to the young woman on her other side. "You... Your food just got here?" she asked quietly, not understanding why she would ask about dessert at this point. She might be too full after finishing her plate to consider dessert, right? Or... Arnyn's lips curved into a half-grin. "Always room for dessert, then?" She knew a few rangers like that. And honestly - she knew she always had room for dessert, herself. Leaning in a little, her grin grew. "I'm the same way," she whispered confidentially, before sitting up straight again.

Meanwhile, Alfric nodded at Brooke's request. "Of course, young lady! I will find something suitable for his water," he promised her. "As for sweets," he said, looking at Aislin, "my wife would knife me in the dark if I ran an inn that did not offer dessert! So there is no reason for despair," he grinned. With a nod at Seri, he added: "Once you have finished your meals, I will gladly inform you of your options, miss." And with that, he nodded his head to them and retreated.

As they started eating, Arnyn was still wondering how to approach the subject of Bel with Gwestion without having him shutting down completely or even leaving the room. Anything was possible with him in that regard, she thought. After swallowing one of her bites, she glanced at the ranger next to her. "What you said about Bel being as stubborn as ever?" She waited for Gwestion to look back at her. "Sounds a lot like a northern ranger I happen to know," she said casually, lifting an eyebrow, making sure he'd realize she was talking about him. "She insists on staying to run the inn, in the middle of nowhere - first alone and now with this helper. And you insist on rangering across the middle of nowhere and anywhere, just you and your brother." Arnyn shrugged. "Two peas. Your stubbornness might even be stubborn enough to rival my own." She sipped her water. "Did you teach Bel some swordfighting, then?" she transitioned smoothly, curiously. "You asked me about that in Bree, remember," she explained her question. And since some years had now passed... "Has anything come of that?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Smiling slightly, Seri nodded when Arnyn said that she appreciated the concern. "I've been around my share of rangers, as well." She mentioned, in reply to Arnyn saying she'd been around her share of healers. She cast a brief glance toward the brothers sitting to one side of her, Gladhron next to her, and Gwestion across from him, but said nothing as she returned her attention to the food that had been set in front of her, smiling slightly as Arnyn spoke to Aislin about dessert. It made her smile to see how much healthier both girls were now, compared to when she first met them. Even if Brooke still had a ways to go on her self-esteem and anxiety, even she had made a lot of progress in the past few years.

As the innkeeper declared that his wife would knife him if he didn't offer dessert, Brooke smiled slightly. She had heard the response that Aislin got, for asking about dessert, so she didn't bother asking, herself. But she was very interested in knowing what sort of sweets might be available, too. "Thank you." She answered when he said he would get some water for Chewy. Once the guy had gone off to see to that, Brooke returned to 'listen' mode while she cut the chunk of meat on her plate into chunks so it could cool enough to give some to Chewy.

Gwestion breathed in the wonderful aroma of his chicken pie as he broke open the top crust, letting the trapped steam exit. There was no way he would risk taking a bite just yet, as hot as it clearly was. Fresh out of the oven, and perfectly flaky... distracted from his food by Celume's words, he glanced over at her as she brought up Bel once again. He knew without her having to say it, that she was referring to him when she mentioned 'a northern ranger she knows'. A tiny frown crept to his features. Surely, she couldn't possibly think that was the same? Ignoring Gladhron's quiet snicker, Gwestion took a moment to think carefully before he answered, as he didn't want his words to be misconstrued. He remembered all too well the misunderstanding they'd had, back at the Prancing Pony so soon after meeting her. Especially since she brought up that very topic, once again.

While Gwestion was thinking about how to respond, Gladhron smirked slightly. "We've taught her a little bit," He answered for him. "Mostly Gwestion. She's.. alright." he shrugged. "Wouldn't you say so, little brother?" He asked with a little smile toward Gwestion.

Gwestion glanced at Gladhron with a slight frown, wondering if he was making fun of him, or Bel, or both. Or maybe he wasn't. He couldn't be sure. "I wouldn't want to think of her having to fight an orc or anything," He answered slowly. "She's learned some, but.." He hesitated, unsure how much he wanted to talk about this. "I'm glad that Emma and Darius are checking on her regularly. I did worry about that." He concluded, eventually.

"You know why she insists on sticking with the inn, right?" Gladhron asked, looking over at Celume. "She says someone has to run the place, and she wants it to be someone who's friendly to rangers. She wants there to be someplace we can stop in and rest from our travels, get news, and leave messages to one another without worrying about it falling into the hands of bandits or such." He shrugged. "So... I have to agree, it is for a good cause that she does it. We do all the 'dangerous rangering stuff', and she keeps a place where we rangers can go for a sort of.. rest from it in safety. It's much better than when those Greylake folks were running it," He scoffed at the memory of their attitudes toward rangers.

Gwestion focused on his pie, cautiously testing if it was cool enough to eat yet, and refrained from mentioning his thoughts and concerns about it, thinking that Bel would be safer if she would turn the task over to someone more capable of handling danger... and who wasn't likely to attract bandits if they realized that a pretty young lady was living out there practically alone and defenseless.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

She noted Gwestion's frown, of course, and tried to keep her own expression clean as she ate and listened to Gladhron's input. Arnyn had to smile at his words, remembering how nice Bel had been to her when she'd spent a night there by herself. She'd certainly appreciated the fact that Bel had been able to tell her at least something about what the brothers had been up to, and that Bel had been able to say the bandits had no longer been a problem.

Making eye contact with Gladhron, Arnyn nodded in a way that might tell him she understood. "Makes sense to me," she added verbally once her mouth was empty. Given how Bel's father had been a ranger... and how Bel had now fallen for a ranger... Arnyn glanced at Gwestion. "I do realize Bel learning a few things from you is not the same as putting a well trained ranger in her place," she said, more slowly, looking at her plate as she was cutting a piece of meat. "It would be much better if she had someone like that around - most of the time at least." Trying to keep her own face neutral now, was getting much harder. She innocently put the bite in her mouth, glancing first at Seri and then Gladhron, before turning her head slightly to look at Gwestion. She swallowed. "I'm sure Bel wouldn't mind having you around, Gwestion."

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn , @Rillewen
Aislin
Common room - December 23

Aislin's cherished hope of sneaking in a bit of sweet morsel before the main meal appeared to have crushed, from three directions, no less. She sighed and grinned lopsidedly, though her brown gaze showed no remorse on having the hope. She was glad to see that Arnyn seemed to understand her, even if not share her desire in full.

"Yes, there's always room for it, and even before the main meal," she confessed to Arnyn with a side-ways glance at Seri.

It seemed though that Brooke was more concerned for Chewy's wellbeing than filling her own belly, and Aislin knew to appreciate that. She thought that Brooke had a heart of gold, though she might not have said that in those words, or maybe not at all.

"But suppose I have no options than to get to the filling and nutritious part of the meal first," she said with a tiny bit of regret, though the aroma of the food wafting up towards her nostrils made her stomach growl impatiently.

She began to eat a bit, munching both on the food and on the information from the talks around her. Eventually she turned to look at Arnyn at an opportune moment when she was not directly engaged in a conversation. "Say... how can a healer be also a captain? How is it possible for someone who heals to also use the same hand to kill? I thought that it was either one path or the other?" the questions popped forth one after another. She could not quite imagine Seri running off into the woods with a sword in her hand. "See... I think those are quite opposite things to do."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Seeing her nod, Gladhron smiled slightly before busying himself with eating his food. Her words to Gwestion made him want to snicker, but he somehow managed to refrain. However, noticing his brother's sullen look as he kept his gaze stubbornly down at his food, he then had to refrain from rolling his eyes.

Gwestion, however, did not find it so funny. He wanted to move away from this topic entirely, and was not really sure how to do so without it being obvious. Clearly, she didn't understand. And he didn't really expect her to, or anyone else. Yet, it was still frustrating. And he had to struggle for a brief moment not to let the comments get to him too much. He wasn't sure how to respond.. or if he should. Rather than mumbling the comments that came to mind, he kept his gaze and attention on the chicken pie in front of him. He did not want to upset anyone with his words or actions, and so he deemed it best if he just kept quiet for now. He was rather glad when Aislin spoke up with a completely unrelated question, and he hoped that it would sufficiently distract everyone from the other topic.

Seri was well aware of the particular dynamic between Bel and Gwestion, and she was also familiar with how stubborn he could be. She smiled slightly when Arnyn looked over at her, but had little to add on that. As Aislin spoke up with her question, Seri looked at her with a little surprise. She tried to think back if she had ever given her the impression that one could only do one or the other. She didn't think she had... and while she was not personally a warrior type, and didn't know much about how to use weapons, she would do whatever she had to, to protect these two girls in her care. If something were to threaten them, she'd take up whatever weapon she could find and fight to the best of her ability, if necessary. Briefly, she thought back to the first night she met them both, and was very glad that Gwandhyra had been there, so Seri hadn't have to worry about trying to defend anyone.. except from the cold.

"Emma is fully trained as a healer, yet she is a ranger." She pointed out, giving the first example she could think of for someone who had a foot on each side of the path, so to speak. "If I did not think her capable of taking my place as a healer for the Bree people, then I would not be here. And yet.. she is also quite capable of defending those same people if there were some sort of unexpected invasion of enemies." She shrugged. "Many warrior type folks also learn how to heal." She motioned to Gwestion as an example.

"When one spends most of their time out in the wild, fighting orcs or bandits or whatever, it's a good idea to know how to patch yourself up." Gwestion mentioned quietly, agreeing. "You never know when it might save your life, or a comrade's." He looked at Arnyn then. "I assume your captain probably feels the same?" He asked, hoping to drop the other subject.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

It had only been the very last of her words which might prove problematic. Where she had said Bel surely wouldn't mind Gwestion's presence. And Arnyn had not laughed, nor had the tone been mocking. However, knowing what she knew... after that talk with Bel... she had to give it a try. Gwestion was being stubborn as a mule. And Arnyn knew a thing or two about that, herself.

Gwestion was clearly not going to respond to her words nor her implications, and she could feel some of his tension- it was almost radiating off him, and hard for her not to notice since they were sitting side by side. Well, alright then. Enough of that. Whether Aislin had noticed as well, Arnyn wasn't sure. But the young woman surely chose an opportune moment to ask about how one could combine being a warrior and a healer.

Arnyn was still thinking on how to offer a cohesive reply, when Seri gave some welcome input. To Arnyn's surprise, so did Gwestion. When she looked over at him, and saw the look in his eyes, she nodded slowly. Perhaps he would realize she was agreeing to both his questions: the spoken and the unspoken.
Returning most of her attention to Aislin, Arnyn smiled thoughtfully. "In my opinion, they are not opposite at all. Even if I am no healer myself. I have great respect and admiration for those who manage to acquire high levels of skill in both, because... they are the epitome of what a true warrior should represent."

She paused, thinking about her words before she spoke them aloud. "For me, and for many of us here - we do not take up our weapons so we can fight. We learn to wield them because we wish to protect. Even if I'm a swordswoman, it would be better to think of me as a shield. A true warrior isn't looking for a fight, isn't looking to kill. A true warrior seeks to protect and to save lives. Just like a healer wants to protect and save lives. We all choose that same light. And those, like my Captain, who choose to train themselves in both..." Arnyn's smile grew a little. "They should make any country very proud of them." Arnyn smiled at Seri. "And any mother."

As she continued eating, she recalled something Gladhron had said at the masquerade. After swallowing her current mouthful and taking a sip of her drink, Arnyn addressed the older brother. "So. I do believe you mentioned you'd share some stories about what you and Gwes have been up to these past years?" she reminded him with an expectant smile.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Seri was slightly surprised when Arnyn said that she didn't think the two were opposites, but rather very similar in a way. Yet, as she went on to explain her thoughts about it, Seri had to agree. She smiled, nodding slightly. "Well said." She declared, smiling at the little addition of 'and mother'. She certainly was proud of her daughter. Turning to the younger of her nieces, she added, "I also have not discouraged you from learning archery if you want.. rather the opposite." She mentioned, with a small shrug. "And if Brooke wants to learn more about using her dagger, I think it's a good idea." She added, glancing at her next.

At the mention of her dagger, Brooke glanced up slightly from giving Chewy another piece of meat, and shifted slightly in her seat. She usually preferred people not to know she had a dagger, but she figured it was probably alright with the present company. She nodded slightly to Seri, but didn't make any comments about it.

"Yet I also think that it is good for everyone to learn at least basic healing skills. I agree," Seri went on, looking back across at Arnyn, "healing certainly should go hand in hand with fighting.. though not necessarily in reverse." She smiled, finding it hard to imagine herself taking up weapons and going off to fight in battles. "I did learn a few things from my late husband, mostly just a few basics about this or that." She shrugged. "But that was only for defense, just on the chance that I might need to know such things at some point." She didn't know whether she remembered any of those things well enough to put them into practice if need be, but he had taught her a couple of things, at least.

Gwestion merely gave a small nod when Celume nodded, and he was glad she dropped the other matter. Listening to the reply that she gave to Aislin's question, he liked the comparison of her being a shield. Quietly, he nodded his own agreement to that description, but he saw no need to offer anything else in words. Briefly, as he turned his focus back toward his food, he thought of his own mother, who had been well-versed in herbs and their uses, and had taught him much about such things. Thanks to her, he had learned a great deal about medicinal plants, and that knowledge had been invaluable over the years since her death.

While the others were talking, Gladhron kept quiet, instead taking the opportunity to eat his food. He was really hungry, so it was disappearing rather quickly. While the others were talking, he couldn't help thinking that he'd sort of like to swap seats with Gwestion.. or maybe Seri. Then again, he also wished there had been a round table available instead of this rectangular one. Ah well..

He was over half done with his food when Celunyn turned to him and reminded him about stories. Fortunately, he was in between bites, having paused to take a drink, and had just set the glass back down. "Ah! I did." He recalled, smiling.. and ignoring the somewhat questioning glance from Gwestion. "Right, so, let's see." He paused to think about where to begin, but it wasn't long before he launched into a tale about one of the adventures they'd had shortly after parting from her, which had taken them to the area near Tharbad to investigate some trouble from Dunlendings. Whenever he came to an opportune place in the story to take a dramatic pause, he would take another bite, thus making them wait to hear what happened next.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

"Right," Arnyn nodded at Seri's words about learning just a few things about self defense. "Rangers here are all taught some basic healing. How to apply first aid, let's say," she told Seri. "Because when you're in a bad situation, you want to be able to at least keep a comrade from bleeding out, for example. I'd say my own knowledge is also elementary, so it's not as if every ranger running around in Minas Tirith is half a healer," she shared with a little smile. "Still, there are several here who are more knowledgeable than I. Their knowledge always proves valuable. It's probably an area I should improve in," she admitted. Even if she had once cleaned and stitched up a wound for Gwestion, she still considered that to be rather elementary. But finding the time for that would cut into either sleep or the limited time she actually had to herself. She had to make sure not to overload herself - and that was already challenging as it was.

When Gladhron launched into a story involving Dunlendings, Arnyn listened while eating. He'd already told her a made up story at the dance, about a raccoon and a fairy, but this was a story involving his brother and himself, and she was curious about what they had been up to. At some point, she forgot to eat for a bit as she listened. But by the time Gladhron finished up the story, her plate was empty. She looked quite pleased, but whether the story or the meal was the main reason for that, was difficult to say.

"Do you have a story you haven't told Seri, Brooke or Aislin yet?" Arnyn asked Gladhron, with a half smile that suggested she thought that would be unlikely. "About your adventures?" she specified. She looked at Brooke and Aislin. "Or... maybe one of you particularly enjoyed one he told you on the journey over here, that you might 'recommend'?" she asked, kind of amused at how she was trying to find out what they'd been up to. She wasn't trying to hide her curiosity, nor her amusement with it, though. "I promise not to ask for a third..." she grinned, before shrugging lightly. "Not this evening, anyway."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Finally finishing off the last of his food, Gladhron had to take a moment to think about that. He had told a few stories to the ladies during their journey here, so it was hard to think of any good ones that they hadn't heard. And yet, he recognized the reason why she might ask about that; because if they had already heard the story, they might find it dull to hear it again. Or, if they had heard it, and had requested to hear it again, then that meant they liked it enough to hear it again. Smart thinking from her, he thought.

After a brief glance at his brother, recalling the topic that he had so clearly wanted to drop earlier, Gladhron inwardly smirked. Outwardly, he nodded. "Ooh, yes. I've got one." He declared, then took a drink to get his mouth ready for some more talking. Then he launched into the tale of a dreary, stormy morning when the brothers rode up to an inn, hoping to wait out the rain there. He described the setting so that it was easy to imagine the miserable wetness, the rolling thunder and flashes of lightning across the morning sky.

Gwestion looked up at him with a frown as Gladhron went on to describe another scene; a dark-haired young woman going out to the smokehouse for a cut of meat to cook for one of the guests, only to encounter a savage wolf that had somehow gotten into the building. Gladhron told, with much flourish, of how a certain gallant young ranger(Gwestion) had rushed to her rescue at the last moment, just as it was about to lunge at her, fighting off the beast with his sword.

About the time he came to the wolf in the story, in the back of his mind, Gladhron remembered the tale about Arnyn and her wolf, and mentally cringed for selecting this, but there was no backing out of it now. He moved the story along, telling of how Gwestion had practically carried the distraught young lady back inside to recover from her fright, and helped her to the fireplace to dry off, while she offered to get him a towel. And then how his brother had tried, in vain, to convince the innkeeper of the danger, begging him to take some precautions to keep the inn's occupants safe, yet the man was determined not to believe it because he had not seen the wolves himself.. because the howling was just the wind, obviously. He rolled his eyes at that.

Switching to his own part in the tale, Gladhron told how he, himself, had braved both the storm and the wolves to go out and make sure that horses and other livestock were safe in the barn. Ignoring the incredulously raised eyebrow that Gwestion was giving him by now, Gladhron went on to tell of how, as he emerged from the barn, that he discovered that the wolves had him surrounded, and were closing in on him.. and that all he had with him was his bow and arrows, and that he had his arms full of things he had been bringing in!

He told how he had flung his heavy gear at the lead wolf just as it was leaping toward him, then managed to shoot off a couple of arrows before help arrived. As it turned out, their friend, Gwandhyra, (at this, he flashed a little smile toward Seri) had happened to be at the inn too, and at that point, he and Gwestion both rushed out into the storm to assist him. Gladhron continued on to describe the remainder of that somewhat intense battle, and any other interesting points about the aftermath of it*.

*that part of that story has not yet been RPd so i can't offer any further detail than that, sorry


Seri listened quietly, smiling faintly as she recognized, by the description, that the young lady was Bel. She had to frown slightly in concern as she heard some of the more frightening parts of the story, although the mention of Gwandhyra made her smile again. While their storyteller was talking, she steadily ate her food as she listened, and occasionally, out of habit, glanced to see whether the girls were eating as well.

The story sounded quite frightening, to Brooke. She could appreciate the exciting way that Gladhron told it.. it was like one of the stories she liked to read. But she was quite sure that she would have been terrified in the same situation. She absently hugged Chewy lightly to her side, while listening. For the moment, she was too caught up in the story to think about eating, but after seeing Seri glance at her, she took another bite or two before getting distracted again.

Gwestion, meanwhile, had finished his food, and now sat back in his chair. Arms folded, he listened to the way his brother spun the tale, not interrupting him with any corrections. He waited for him to finish, while thinking about how much he ought to correct his version of events. He wore a mostly unreadable expression for a moment after Gladhron had finished. He finally cleared his throat. "That was a.. very interesting, partly fictional tale, Gladhron." He decided, laying emphasis on the word to make sure that the others knew there were certain inaccurate details involved there.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn
Aislin
Common room - December 23

Aislin had stopped eating for a while, as she eagerly soaked up the answers given to her question, and even though they came from three different people they seemed to lead to the same answer. Apparently, a healer could also be a warrior and vice versa, and she should have thought of Emma herself. Perhaps she should ask more questions once she saw her. Or... perhaps she could question Arnyn? Her brown eyes looked at the woman next to her inquisitively, yet it took quite a while for her to sort all the information before she could ask anything. Also, it was true - she had been practicing some archery, though mostly as a challenge to see how accurate she could get her aim to be rather than with any purpose of using the bow as an actual weapon to fight, or even to hunt. She looked back to her food thoughtfully as she wondered how did people manage their feelings in case they had to kill someone - even if it was to save someone else. But before she could ask the question, the conversation had already moved away from the topic, and Gladhron was telling a story. Perhaps she will have a chance to ask later.

Now, she attended to her meal, savouring each bite, while she listened to the stories, a small smile lingering on her face at the man's storytelling abilities. She suppressed a chuckle when Gwestion expressed his assessment of the story in one short sentence. Aislin had learned that apparently Gladhron was often adding in exaggerated details to make the story sound more exciting, and she loved the way he tended to spin the tales. And, thinking of wolves, she wondered about the scanty details of Arnyn's story. There had to be more to it, but the Lieutenant was clearly unwilling to elaborate.

"Perhaps stories should come with a warning that some details are fictional," Aislin laughed, as she pushed her now emptied plate slightly away from herself so she would not tip it over and off the table by accident. "Though sometimes I am not sure if it really matters."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Settling a bit differently into her chair as Gladhron said he had another story, Arnyn glanced at Brooke and Aislyn before focusing her attention back on the older brother. She had greatly enjoyed hearing him tell stories in the north - and it was no different here in Minas Tirith. As he set the scene, Arnyn's eyes went to Seri. Had she heard it? Or did she know who Gladhron was talking about?

It didn't take long before she knew, as well. Bell. And the story.. it was how Bell had met the two. With them fighting off a pack of wolves at the Forsaken Inn. She'd only heard about it in about a two-sentence summary - if that. And now, here she was, being treated to the full detailing. Having to smile at the way Gladhron kept the story exciting and his audience curious all the way through, Arnyn glanced around the table from time to time. Even if it was about wolves, it was decidedly not about evil and powerful sorceresses. Therefore, she was not bothered. To the contrary, she quite enjoyed the tale. It was action-packed, and well told (though she had expected no less). Next to her, Gwestion was sitting back, arms crossed. Sceptical?

Once the story had finished, Gwestion's comment seemed to explain his reserve. Partly fictional, he said. Arnyn raised her eyebrows while Aislin commented something that made it clear she thought people should always realize stories had a bit of a fictional element. While Arnyn didn't mind some embellishment in a good story - except when she was involved herself - she wasn't sure whether she agreed with Aislin that it didn't matter. Maybe when the story was just innocent entertainment. As this one had been, mostly. Then again, it had involved Bell, Gwestion, Gladhron, Gwandhyra... It might be interesting to know what hadn't exactly been true.

"I don't know," Arnyn therefore said in reply to Aislin's last comment."When the story involved all these familiar people... I'd like to know just a tad more, I think." Arnyn clasped her hands together on the edge of the table in front of her. "Which parts took a bit of a run with reality, then?" She'd asked Gwestion, since it was probably the younger brother who'd spill about that the easiest, but she also shot a questioning glance at Gladhron.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Gwestion glanced at Arnyn when she mentioned that she would like to know 'a tad more', specifically, which parts had deviated from the truth. He looked at Gladhron with a raised eyebrow, questioning.

"Oh?" Gladhron sat back wearing an innocent expression, as if he couldn't quite think of anything he had fibbed about. "Yes, please share with the rest of us, brother." He invited, with a little wave of his hand as if to turn this thing over to Gwestion.

Brooke watched the two brothers, trying to make sense of what was going on between them. It seemed like some sort of... battle was too unfriendly of a word. She took a moment to mentally try and think of what the right word would be, but after a bit she gave up as she didn't want to miss any of the conversation by getting wrapped up in something that didn't actually matter.

"Are you sure?" Gwestion asked, inwardly surprised that Gladhron would so willingly agree to let him offer contradictions to his tale.. especially when some parts that Gwestion might tell would likely make him look bad. Perhaps he wasn't thinking about those parts?

"Please, do tell. What did I get wrong?" Gladhron sat back expectantly and nodded to invite Gwestion to go ahead. He had deliberately altered a few key points of the story in order to provoke Gwestion to correct him concerning Bel's parts in some of it. It seemed like a great way to get him to talk about her a bit more, and maybe think about how he felt about her.. and maybe he'd realize how much he does care about her. That was his hope, anyway.

Turning to the others after a long look at his brother, Gwestion cleared his throat. "Well. To begin with, the reason we separated at the door of the inn, which he so conveniently 'glossed over', was that he pushed off the job of stabling the horses on me.. so that he could rush to get inside before the rain got too bad. Which is why I happened to be outside at the right time to hear Bel scream," He explained, with a side glance toward Gladhron. His expression had changed from almost smug, to something more like, 'oops'. Most likely, Gwestion figured, he had forgotten about that. Gwestion ignored that and continued, "And furthermore.. Bel did not practically faint." He scoffed at the very idea of it. "She's not that.. fragile. She was a bit shaken after the wolf incident, but all I did was help her up, and then she went inside on her own, while I returned to the barn to finish with the horses."

"Ah, is that how it happened?" Gladhron asked, choosing not to address the first part. "I could've sworn you told me the other way.."

"You know good and well I did not." Gwestion replied, rolling his eyes. "You also failed to mention that the reason you ended up facing the wolves without your sword was because you carelessly forgot to bring it with you when you went to get your things.. which you wouldn't have had to do if you had just put your own horse in the stable to begin with."

Gladhron cleared his throat, unsure now whether he should have given Gwestion the 'go ahead' to tell the others what he had altered about the story. "That was a few years ago.." He muttered.

"And you also left out how Bel saved my life." Gwestion added quietly. "She ran outside in the midst of our fighting the wolves, and threw a sword to me after I lost mine.. if not for that..." He hesitated, well aware of how that could have turned out. "Then a couple of the wolves started after her, and she could have been killed." He kept his voice quiet and seemingly calm, but he was frowning. That troubled him very much.

"I thought I did tell that part?" Gladhron feigned surprise. "Didn't I mention that?" He glanced at the others, although he knew perfectly well he had deliberately omitted that part, because he had hoped that Gwestion would 'remind him' about that. Which he had. So it worked. He was pleased, inwardly.

"You also didn't tell about how she killed one of them that nearly got inside the inn..." Gwestion frowned, feeling somehow annoyed that Bel's part in that whole thing had been rather diminished.

"Right! With a steak knife, wasn't it?" Gladhron put a hand to his forehead as if he'd just remembered that. "Right, that was pretty impressive, although I only got to hear about it. Still, how could I have forgotten that?" He turned to the others and then detailed the scene, telling about how Bel, watching through the window, had watched the rangers fighting. How, during the fight with the beasts, Gwestion had gotten knocked down rather roughly, and the wetness of the rain and mud had caused him to lose his grip on his sword. How Bel had grabbed her father's sword, a family heirloom of hers, and called to Gwestion before tossing it. How Gwestion had managed to fight off the wolves just before they would have ripped him to pieces.. while Gladhron and Gwandhyra had been too occupied to aid him.

Then the wolves, being more numerous than the rangers, had split up. A couple of them had split off from trying to kill the rangers, and had chased Bel as she ran back for the inn. She had made it inside, but one of the wolves had thrust its head in just as she was trying to close the door, and managed to prevent the door closing all the way. She had, alone, struggled to push the door closed, while the wolf struggled to force its way in. Gladhron paused to mention that there had been not only the innkeeper and his wife there, but their two little boys, too. He went on to tell them how, as the wolf got its shoulders partway in, Bel had reached as far as she could while using her body weight to keep the wolf from fully getting inside, and grabbed a steak knife that had been left on the nearest dining table. How she had used it to stab and slash at the wolf until she managed to wound it enough that it withdrew, but in its attempt to pull itself back out of the doorway, it got its head caught by the door, the edge of which was pressing into its windpipe and choking it. He told them how Bel had seized that opportunity to trap the wolf, then stabbed its throat while it was caught in a vulnerable position, thus managing to help the rangers out by killing one of the vicious monsters. One less for them to have to deal with had been some help, at least.

Gwestion nodded slightly, feeling much more satisfied with hearing him tell that, since it didn't give the impression that Bel was some dainty little thing that fainted at the least little trouble. He wasn't sure what Gladhron was playing at with the first version of that story, but he thought the truth made for a better story, anyway. "The Graylake family, I might add, were all hiding behind the counter by that point." He couldn't help but mention, finding it rather absurd that the man had cowered behind the counter the whole time Bel was doing all of that. The children and their mother, he could understand, but.. well, some men just weren't born to be fighters, he had to tell himself.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Arnyn's eyes lingered thoughtfully on Gladhron after he invited Gwestion to share which parts of his story were inaccurate. Why was he so unbothered by that? She would have expected some protest. Whenever she had known Gladhron to fib or exaggerate in the past - or at least if Gwestion thought he had and commented on it - Gladhron had never welcomed it. Now, he was. And Gwestion was as surprised as Arnyn was suspicious...

Was Gladhron working an angle? If he was, she couldn't quite figure out which one. But she had not forgotten the way he had deliberately changed the story of how they had met in the north, in an attempt to draw her out, at the masquerade.

As Gwestion shared his first addition to the story - for it was an addition rather than a correction - Arnyn leaned back in her chair and loosely folded her arms. She'd seen Gladhron doing similar things to his younger brother, whilst travelling with them. She'd also noticed it had been happening less frequently by the time she had left them. This was a story of a long time ago, she reminded herself. Not recent. Hopefully, Gladhron had not taken any steps backward on that front, in recent years...

What followed, made her even more suspicious. Gladhron was definitely up to something. But what? He was focusing on the part about Bel - but that could easily be explained by him wanting to keep the spotlight off his own less desirable behaviour. Was that all there was to it, though?

When Gwestion threw in another note about Gladhron's own actions, and Gladhron cleared his throat, Arnyn was quite amused. She hid most of it, but couldn't help the twinkle in her eyes as she looked from Gwestion to Gladhron. "A valuable lesson, I'm sure," she managed gently, and - to her credit - she managed not to chuckle. (Although she wanted to.)

Learning that Bel killed a wolf with a steak knife, had Arnyn raising an eyebrow. Bel did that? Intrigued, she listened and watched Gladhron as he launched into telling that new part of the story, a slow smile spreading across her face. "Sounds like Bel can handle herself, to me," Arnyn noted drily, before finally switching her focus from Gladhron to Gwestion. "As for the Greylakes, they lost any respect I might have had for them after I heard the way them talking about the two of you." Just to say that she wasn't surprised they let everyone else take care of the trouble. To then badmouthe them after...

Feeling her mood threatening to turn remembering what that encounter had been like, she signalled Alf behind the bar and looked to Brooke and Aislin. "I say it's just about time for dessert. What about you two?"

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn
Aislin
Common room - December 23

"Perhaps so," Aislin allowed when Arnyn said she would prefer more unexaggerated detail when stories were told about familiar people. Truth be told, she tended to form opinions on people from the stories she had heard told about them, and it was more than likely that those opinions were exaggerated either towards the positive view or the negative.

She leaned forward slightly, placing her forearms on the table and glanced between Gladhron and Gwestion as they then proceeded to handle the requested clarification of details. Her eyes narrowed when she perceived that Gladhron was apparently playing some sort of a game, yet she could not quite pinpoint it even when it seemed that they had finally reached some sort of agreement and closure to the story.

"Aye, pretty awesome bravery, isn't it. I mean - Bel," she finally said. Needless to say she was not impressed by Greylakes at all, though she did not mention it and rather focused on the new option of finally getting a dessert.

"Oh yes! There's definitely some space left for a sweet thing in my belly, though the food was awesomely good," she said happily and sat up straight in expectation.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Noting how Arnyn seemed so impressed to hear that Bel had done what Gladhron told about, and her comment that she could 'take care of herself', Gwestion hesitated, not wishing to take away from what she'd done, but he did want to clarify. "It was a desperate situation," He pointed out. "The three of us were occupied fighting the rest of the pack, and she could not rely on us to help her." He shrugged. "If she had not had the door between her and the wolf, however..." He trailed off, not wanting to think about that. "I do feel better about her ability to defend herself, now that we've taught her a bit." He added, with a little glance toward Gladhron.

"She's much less vulnerable now than she was then, that's for sure." Gladhron agreed. "He gave her a short sword to practice with," he added with a little grin. "And she's gotten fairly good with it. Nowhere near as good as you or Kaylin," he made clear with a light laugh. "But I think most folks would regret trying to mess with her, at least."

The topic of the Greylakes was enough to sour most conversations, and Gladhron was eager to agree with the idea of dessert. But, since she had not asked him, he refrained from answering.

Brooke had long since finished her meal (shared with Chewy, of course) and had been leaned forward with an elbow on the table, her head resting in her hand as she listened. She seen the couple in question around town, and she silently agreed with Arnyn's opinion of them. They were very ugly type of people, in her eyes, and it seemed that their two sons were growing up being influenced by their parents to be just as ugly. She was definitely in favor of a more pleasant topic. "Dessert, yes." She agreed, quieter but no less enthusiastic, sitting up a bit straighter in anticipation of something yummy. She wondered what sort of desserts they might have, and if it would be anything familiar.

"I think we're all ready for something sweet," Seri spoke up, pushing her own empty plate aside. "Those were very interesting stories, Gladhron! Thank you for them." She added, smiling. "Perhaps we'll hear some more, later."

He grinned. "I'd be delighted. And, perhaps you'll get a chance to meet Kaylin.. Lady Butterfly.. while we're here. She's an excellent storyteller, too!" He mentioned, recalling how enjoyable it had been to hear her telling some. He didn't often get to meet someone else with that sort of skill!

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

It was a good thing Brooke, Aislin and Seri all agreed to dessert. Arnyn figured it was best to put a close to the topic of both Bel and the Greylakes, at present. Give Gwestion a break. She had not meant for her inquiries or comments to bring the overall mood down or to annoy Gwestion. So this felt like a good point to turn the conversation into a different direction - before any of that really happened.
And even if the men at the table hadn't responded to her words about dessert, Arnyn assumed Gladhron was always up for it, and Gwestion... well. Who knew what Gwestion would do? He might refuse, but that was alright, too. As long as he did not free the table and the inn's common room too soon...

Alf, who had caught Arnyn's earlier signal, had found his way back to the table. "What will it be, ladies and gents?" he asked kindly, hands clasped together in front of him. "If you are ready for dessert -" he glanced at Arnyn and caught her smile, "we have fruits, cheeses, honey cake, chocolate cake, custard tart..." He had to think a moment. "Some pastries, still, I believe, as well. Some people like it when we sugar fruit or stew some in wine?"

As he gave the table some time to think, Arnyn asked for a piece of custard. And coffee with milk to go along with it. Once everyone had decided on their order, and Alf had left them be, Arnyn smiled a little as she reflected on Gladhron's last comment before the innkeeper had shown up at their table. "It's true, Kaylin is an excellent storyteller. But she also has a penchant for exaggeration," Arnyn warned. The warning might not come through as well as she would have liked, though, since she was still smiling. "Also, I've gotten the impression she has a whole load of stories about me - but most of them are not events she has witnessed first-hand. And we all know how stories can escalate..." Figuring Gwestion was most likely to agree with her on that, she glanced at him as she said that. "So if Kaylin drops in and finds out you know me... And starts sharing stories..." Arnyn shrugged, and started fidgeting with the nails of her right thumb and index finger. "If she did not already?" she inquired, trying to keep her tone light as she shifted her attention to Gladhron. He was the only one who had spoken to Kaylin after the masquerade, right? "Share stories about the Lieutenant she was going to spar with?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Gladhron wasted no time in asking for some chocolate cake, and some raspberries to go with it, if they had any, although if the winter months meant there were none available, he would understand. How they'd managed to have fresh berries available at the masquerade was a bit beyond him, but then the winters were considerably milder here than he was used to. So, he didn't question it.

Seri took a moment to think before asking for some chocolate cake, also, then indicated for the girls to order what they liked. "Well, I will certainly have to meet Kaylin properly at some point, and ask for some sort of story." She smiled at Arnyn. "Although, if you'd rather we steer clear of stories about you, we can specify." She added.

While listening to the others give their orders, Brooke thought about what she wanted. She was most definitely not going to ask for fruit in wine, and thought that sounded like a terrible waste of good fruit. But she didn't say as much. And she wasn't really sure why cheeses would be listed among the desserts, but kept that thought to herself, also. While everything else sounded really good, she eventually settled on something. Once Aislin had given her order, Brooke quietly asked for a piece of custard tart.

Gwestion remained quiet while Gladhron and the ladies placed their order, subtly rolling his eyes at the fact that his brother was so eager to place his dessert that he forgot to wait for the ladies to go first. Gwestion refrained, which worked out well enough, as it gave him time to think about what he would like. When it did finally come around to his turn, he asked for one of the pastries Alf had mentioned.

At the mention of stories escalating, Gwestion nodded slightly when he noticed Arnyn looking at him. "Indeed, they do, depending on who is doing the telling." He agreed with a little glance at Gladhron.

Smiling innocently, Gladhron sat back and sipped his drink, pretending like he wasn't getting obvious glances from the others. However, when Arnyn seemed to inquire.. almost nervously? whether Kaylin had told any stories about her, Gladhron thought immediately about the wolf one. He wasn't sure whether he ought to tell her he'd heard that one. "She did tell a little bit about the lieutenant," He answered, a bit unsure how to answer that. "But she didn't stay long, as she wanted to be well-rested for the sparring match in the morning." He paused, thinking. "I don't think it was anything you need to be worried about."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

"Well, it's not just about stories escalating. And it's also not that they are necessarily bad stories," Arnyn admitted, mumbling a little, which wasn't exactly characteristic. Kaylin could make almost any story sound good, and Arnyn knew the redhead would have gathered a good many about her by now, both old and recent. "It is rather that they could paint a skewed picture... if not juxtaposed with how I usually handle matters." The need to be credible as a young female officer still ran deep, despite the reputation she had somehow managed to build for herself. Yet Arnyn was all too aware that not all of the current rangers knew how she ticked. As even recent interactions with her own brother showed, it was easy for people to get the wrong idea about her, based on a few stories. Even Tercen had jumped to conclusions about her being too rash 'all the time' - but that was because he did not see her handling the day to day. Because he was unaware of her usual method of operations and work ethic.

Arnyn eyed Gladhron suspiciously. Nothing to worry about, he said. Right. They were talking about Kaylin, however. Mentally, she debated on whether she could let this go: both not knowing what Kaylin might have said, as well as Gladhron being evasive yet again, after the way he had dodged a few of her questions at the masquerade. Deciding she could grow as a person, and try to let it be, she forcefully shut the door on her need for knowledge. It was a strength, but it could also be a pitfall. She did not wish to stumble into any holes this evening. She was simply glad to see the brothers again, against all odds, and grateful for their acceptance of what she had hidden from them until now.

"Alright," she agreed, confirming verbally that she was dropping the matter. Yet a change in subject would be helpful, and so her expression changed a little, growing more relaxed again, as she looked around the table. "With you all visiting Minas Tirith for the first time - or at least, properly visiting for the first time," she added, "I feel like it is important you do not miss out on the best sights," she said with a smile that spoke of her pride in the city she called home. "I've lived here for most of my life, and I can tell you that the view over the city and the Pelennor is the very best when the sun appears over the horizon and just starts its climb into the sky. Even in winter. I mentioned it to Gladhron already, at the masquerade," Arnyn glanced at him with a little nod, "and he for one seemed interested - if he manages to get out of bed early enough," she couldn't help but tease him a little. "I know the best spots, if anyone else wants to join?"

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn , @Rillewen
Aislin
Common room - December 23

"I wouldn't even know what I'd do if I ended up facing a wolf," Aislin said, thinking some more of the stories and Bel's ability to handle herself. "Probably would become wolf chow."

She then observed the others around the table, and then laughed. "What's this? Lady Butterfly, Lady Fairy... such deceivingly gentle and delicate imagery for ladies who can handle weapons like heroes and face any sorts of monsters and come out winning," she said, and regretted not having been at the ball to see all the costumes even if she would not have known many people there. And she did not say so, but now she really wanted to meet Kaylin just to hear some stories told.

When Alf came with offers of desserts, she thought for a while, and then chose what sounded the best for the present: "Some chocolate cake and two apples, if you please, kind sir," she flashed a hearty grin at him. While she felt full from the main dish, there was still room for sweets; besides, they surely were not in the hurry and there would be time enough to enjoy it slowly and with proper relish.

Aislin then turned slightly to look at Arnyn. "Ah, sunrise. I haven't thought of getting up this early to explore," she commented. "The white of the streets must look amazing in the sunrise. I'd definitely be in for it! What's the sleep of a few hours to be sacrificed for amazing views. No?" She looked especially at Brooke and Seri to see whether they were of a similar opinion or if they rather preferred to stay put early in the mornings.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Gladhron was sort of glad that she seemed willing to let the matter of the stories go, at least for now. Mostly because, given the way she had spoken about it, he somehow got the idea she would not really like for him to mention that he had heard the tale about the shapeshifting wolf, as that would no doubt draw forth a multitude of questions from Aislin and the others, and he'd probably end up being begged to repeat the tale. And he didn't want to upset Arnyn.. therefore, the fact that he knew the story seemed best to keep from the curious young ladies present.

However, the next moment his thoughts were quite disrupted when he heard Arnyn's invitation extending to the rest of the group. To watch the sunrise. He fought a sense of disappointment, which only deepened when he heard Aislin eagerly accept the invitation. Taking a sip of his drink, he wondered if anyone else would take her up on it, too. And would that also mean others would be joining in the ride in the Pelennor, afterward? He offered a little grin when she added 'if he manages to get out of bed early enough'. "Don't worry about that. I will." He assured her. Even if they would have company, he would not back out of it, now.

Gwestion tilted his head thoughtfully as Arnyn spoke of making sure they all got to see the best sights of the city, and then commenced to invite them to all to join her and Gladhron in watching the sunrise. The fact that Gladhron had already agreed to it.. was a little surprising. Gwestion glanced at his brother, then at Arnyn. Gladhron was going to get up before dawn, in winter, while on vacation, to watch a sunrise with her? He looked a bit longer at Gladhron and was thinking about how to reply when Aislin gave her answer.

"What day were you thinking of?" Seri asked, since that information had not been given. "It does sound nice, but I may pass, if I have other plans for that day." She explained. She did have some plans already with a certain northern ranger who wanted her to meet others of his family and friends, or simply to spend time with him, alone. She would prioritize that above everything except healer business.

Next to Seri, Brooke switched her gaze thoughtfully from Arnyn, to Gladhron, then to Aislin, and back to Arnyn. Brooke had seen the sunrise already plenty of times, even a couple of times already while they'd been here in the city, since she rarely slept, and was usually already awake long before dawn, waiting for the sunlight to provide enough light for her to read by. But she'd only seen it from the second level, where their inn was located. Would it be any different, if they went someplace else to watch it with Arnyn? She looked at the ranger brothers next. Thinking. Gladhron had talked about it to Arnyn.. at the masquerade? And he was planning to get up that early? When he didn't have to? That was.. unusual, from what she had learned of him during their trip to Minas Tirith. He was not the sort of guy to willingly get up early when he could sleep late. Unless he had good motivation. He'd spoken of Celume often, she recalled, and had been quite happy to learn that she was here in the city. She considered those facts briefly, trying to decide how much connection there was between them.

Not wanting to stare at anyone in particular, Brooke looked down and focused her attention on Chewy for a few moments as she tried to sort some things in her head, listening to Seri's reply. Good point, they didn't even know when, yet. She could take a little more time to think about it in more detail. "Um, maybe?" She replied tentatively, at last. "I.. guess it would depend on when you're thinking of doing it." She agreed with Seri's comment. Not that Brooke had any particular plans other than exploring the city with Aislin tomorrow, and maybe taking Chewy out for a good long walk somewhere. But this answer still left her with the option to say yes or no, when she had learned more about the situation. And whether she would be welcome to join or if she'd end up feeling like she shouldn't have intruded. Of course, if Aislin was going to be there, she might not feel too out of place. But she'd rather know more before deciding.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Arnyn gave Aislin a half grin. "I agree," she told her. "I really disliked the Fairy business, especially at first. I suppose it sort of grew on me during the night, but it doesn't really fit, does it?" She laughed. "Especially now I don't have the wings anymore." Aislin also seemed to like the idea of watching the city in the sunrise. "The white of the city can look pink or golden in the first light," Arnyn said more softly. "It's really amazing. I really can't oversell this." Although she did give a more thoughtful now, thinking of a few downsides. "Of course, it will be really cold," she acknowledged. "But not like the cold you are used to near Bree. And you might lose some sleep, if you don't usually rise before dawn." Even if dawn was on the late side, this time of year - they were all on vacation, were they not?

She returned Gladhron's grin when he promised he would manage to get up early. "We'll see," she said, amused. "I wouldn't be surprised if Gwestion ends up having to wake you..." Glancing at the younger brother, she caught him looking at Gladhron rather pensively. He was probably also considering whether Gladhron would actually get up by himself, without needing at least a little push.

Seri asked what day they might be doing this, and Arnyn fought a little sigh as she pulled a small notebook from the inner pocket of her red vest. "Well," she mused, opening it up to today (which was filled to the brim with plans and to do's) and leaving onward. "I usually have pre-dawn training with Trastion every morning," she went on. "But I do give him a break every so often." Yesterday's session had been cancelled, but that had been due to the masquerade the day before, and hadn't been a part of their usual rest schedule. "It would be easiest for me if we could do it on one of those break days. Or I'd have to juggle things around and then I am not sure if I can agree on a date this evening..." If anyone were to dare a look at her calendar, they'd quickly see the problem. Many if not most of the slots were filled up already. Even days ahead.

"So... How about three days from now?" Glancing up from the notebook, Arnyn's dark eyes flicked around the table. "Is that an option at all?"

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn
Aislin
Common room - December 23

Aislin looked around at other people gathered and wondered that there seemed to be a lack of excitement for the option of seeing the city in sunrise. As if they were all here to do serious business and could not afford some time off. Or maybe she was the only one taking things easy and floating along from one day to the next, enjoying everything that came to happen that day. She could understand though that Seri was more interested in learning all she could from the Houses of Healing while she was here. And Brooke preferred library. But...

"Yeah, right," she chuckled and found a way to glance at Gladhron. "If you beat me and get up before me on that day I'll buy you something delicious as a lost bet on my part."

The way she was leaning on the table, it only took a slight angling and she could see most of Arnyn's notebook when the woman looked for sunrise watching availability. Realising that such curiosity was perhaps not very polite, Aislin sat back up.

"I suppose that would work perfectly, yes?" she glanced at Seri to see if she would be allowed to wander away and not engage in any apprenticeship duties on that day.

"By the way... When do you sleep in?" she asked Arnyn. "Do you even do that on those days when you let Trastion off the hook?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

As Arnyn pulled out a notebook and seemed to be trying to find a day when she'd be free, Gwestion couldn't help raising an eyebrow slightly in surprise. He was not trying to be nosy, but he couldn't quite help catching a look at how full her schedule seemed to be. "It does sound interesting," He commented, thoughtful. "Although, there is also no guarantee that the day you've chosen will not turn out overcast, or perhaps even raining." He pointed out quietly. Or snowing, he mentally added, although he didn't know if it would be quite cold enough for that. Still, it was worth mentioning that there was a chance they would not even be able to see the sunrise at all on that day. "It might be a wise idea to prepare for that possibility, as well." He concluded with a little shrug.

"Who is Trastion?" Brooke asked quietly, curious since she had mentioned training with this guy, but the name was unfamiliar to her. As for the sunrise thing, she considered that. Three days from now. She debated about that. Three days gave them plenty of time to figure things out. "Is the sunrise much more different, watching it from the room here at the inn, than wherever you watch it from?" She asked Arnyn, unsure what would make it so much more special.

"Three days." Gladhron repeated, wondering what else could be taking up her time so much that she couldn't squeeze in the sunrise until then. Of course, then she mentioned pre-dawn training sessions with Trastion. He smiled slightly when Brooke asked who he was, but he refrained from offering an answer, as he wasn't quite sure yet that he ought to let her know that he'd met the guy. He didn't want to risk getting him into any trouble, for his part in the training grounds thing. Plus, if she was to learn that he was there, then she might manage to get more information from him than what Gladhron would offer. Such as who else was with them. "That's fine with me," he added, realizing she'd asked if that was alright with them all. "But that is a good idea," he added with a glance to Gwestion. "In case it rains, and there isn't any sunrise to see.. or something like that." He shrugged.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Aislin's question caught her a bit off guard. "Sleep in?" she repeated. When was the last time she had slept in? "I guess I don't really sleep in anymore," she replied. In fact, she somtimes found she could stand to sleep a little more, on weeks where she had things to do in the evenings and that ran late. Or when she was drawing and time got away from her. But the hours of the day always flew by so fast...

She offered Brooke a little smile. "Trastion is a trainee with the Rangers. I am overseeing his training and since a few months ago I set daily sessions for us in the early mornings, so I could get him used to a routine and make sure we could do swordwork every day, regardless of any other duties or training he may have during the more typical hours. That way wecan spend more time on his training together and he will progress faster." She glanced back at Aislin. "Of course, those sessions mean that I have much fewer opportunities to go out in the early morning to watch the sunrise." A bit self-conscious, she smiled. "It's... a bit of a peaceful moment, before the demands of my day, I suppose? So every day I don't have a session with Trastion, I wake up early anyway... To verify whether the weather is suitable... And when it isn't, well, then I'm up anyway. And just do something useful, instead."

Of course what the guys said about the weather, was undeniable. "So yes, the weather can be disappointing. But if we don't try, we won't know. And I cannot cancel my sessions with Taras just because the weather is nice," she said, with some amusement at that idea. "If the weather is bad..." She took a moment to think about that. "Maybe we can just have breakfast at my house, or something, instead?" Arnyn offered. "Unless, if that's the case, you would rather return to bed and have breakfast here at the inn with your group when you wake up," she added with a smile. "Which of course I would understand. Then you can simply sleep in. It's not because I won't be going back to bed, that you should have to, after all! Then I'll just get my exercises out of the way before my day begins, and before I take Nársulë out on the Pelennor." Bad weather had never stopped her from doing that.

Considering how to best answer Brooke's question, since she wasn't sure yet where exactly she'd be taking them, Arnyn tilted her head. "Well.. The higher up in the City you go, the better the views. It's not just about watching the sun itself - it's also the view over the fields and the city. So the higher up you are, the better the view is. So as far as I'm concerned, it's very different. I could at least take you up to one of the best viewpoints at the Fifth Circle - that is much higher than where we are now. I'm not sure I could get you all up to the Seventh at that hour. The Sixth... perhaps. That's from where I usually watch."

Suddenly, Arnyn breathed out a little laugh. "But I hope I'm not making you all feel like you have to go, simply because I am asking?" She wondered if some of them felt pushed, since only Aislin had readily agreed, in addition to Gladhron. "It's just a suggestion. You are very welcome to join me, but you shouldn't feel like you have to," she tried to clarify. "I'd be trying to watch it anyway. Company can be nice, but you shouldn't feel like you'd upset me if some of you or indeed all of you refused." Arnyn wondered if she was making sense to them, because sometimes things like these were difficult to explain, especially if people didn't take your words at face value.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn
Aislin
Common room - December 23

"Oh..." Aislin breathed out; perhaps sleeping in was a luxury reserved for those living in the middle of nowhere and without anybody, not even a hungry creature, waiting for them early in the morning.

She then resisted an eye roll when it seemed that the others were still rather reluctant to make use of an opportunity to observe the sunset. How often would there be a chance to do something like that? After all they would be going home sooner or later.

"Oh, but it is outdoors, Brooke," she said with a small smile. "It is definitely different. I much better enjoy a sunrise or a sunset outdoors than through the window. Imagine all the colours not muted by a window?" It seemed that they preferred different things, and Aislin was fine with it, for it made days much more interesting.

"What's a little overcast weather anyway?" she countered the others on what if it was not sunny on that day. "I figure the sun might look even more amazing if it peeked through the blanket of clouds. Even if it doesn't... I'm definitely in!" Her enthusiasm radiated from her, as she had forgotten about her dessert for a moment in favour of a possibility to ensure that this watching expedition happened and that she was included in it. "I wonder if people at the Houses of Healing watch sunrises - they are up on the Sixth."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Brooke smiled faintly at Aislin's enthusiasm of being outdoors. Aislin always enjoyed being outside, but Brooke took a bit more encouragement. Seri often suggested that she spend more time outside, to get some fresh air. She said it would be good for her lungs. But the cold air made it difficult for her to breathe at times. As did dry air. Or when there was smoke in the air. Not to mention the fact that their neighbors made her very reluctant and uneasy with the idea of roaming too far from the cabin on walks. Therefore, Brooke almost always asked Aislin to accompany her whenever she took Chewy for a walk. Or Seri.

As for this situation, she wasn't even sure she would even be available to join Aislin and the others on the day in question, and she glanced tentatively toward Seri. She knew that her aunt had some plans of her own that may involve Brooke coming along with her to the houses of healing, but she had no idea what day that might happen, or if it would even interfere with this sunrise thing.

Seri had remained quiet and thoughtful while the talk about the sunrise was going on. It was no secret that Aislin wanted to do it. She could not quite tell what Brooke might be thinking, which wasn't too uncommon with the quieter girl, but she also caught the little glance Brooke sent her. And it sort of clicked, why Brooke was reluctant to commit to the idea. As Arnyn mentioned maybe getting up to the fifth, or possible even the sixth, Seri smiled. Especially after Aislin's comment about wondering if the healers watched the sunrise. "There is a lovely garden behind the houses of healing, which overlooks the Pelennor, and a part of it even looks eastward." She mentioned. "Perhaps that would be an excellent place for us to meet?" She suggested with a little nod to Brooke, then Aislin, and finally, smiled at Arnyn. "Then we should all be rather close to wherever we each need or want to go, afterward. Right?"

Mentally, Gladhron grumbled at the fact that Aislin seemed determined and quite excited to go and watch the sunrise. He couldn't quite tell what the others might be thinking, but it seemed also that Brooke might be considering it. He held back a sigh, realizing maybe he shouldn't have started hoping that it might be just he and Arnyn. But how was he to know that she would invite the others? He sipped his drink while thinking, and decided that he might as well accept the fact that it seemed there would be a larger group joining in, since Seri spoke up with her suggestion. Ah well.. it wasn't like he disliked their company, it was just not quite how he'd hoped that morning would go. There was still the riding that he and Arnyn had agreed, for after. The ladies wouldn't join them for that, surely. Seri and Aislin would have their business at the houses of healing, and Brooke wouldn't get on a horse even if she had one, he was pretty sure of that. That only left...

"I didn't say no," Gwestion pointed out, in response to Arnyn's words about saying they didn't need to feel obligated just because she'd asked. "I only pointed out the possibility of it being overcast, so that Aislin would not be too disappointed if it turned out there was no sunrise visible, that day." He explained. Taking a moment to glance around, he noted the fact that Aislin, Seri, and Brooke seemed to have at least tentatively, if not enthusiastically, agreed to join. Which meant that he would surely not be intruding, if he also joined them. Even if Gladhron might have preferred less company, it wouldn't really make much difference by this point. And somehow, he felt somewhat reluctant to be left out. "Thank you, Arnyn. I'd like to come along as well, if you really don't mind the extra company."

That sealed it. Gladhron mentally shrugged, trying not to let it bother him too much. So, he'd try and find another opportunity to spend time with Arnyn, without the others around. In fact, he was already starting to get an idea or two forming in his head. He smiled slightly to himself and sat back. "Well! Then, that should be fun." He declared. "Any chance we might see you around, before then? Or is your schedule too busy for such things?" He wondered, trying to get an idea of whether she might be welcome to seeing any of them at other times, or even having a brief visit at wherever she might do her work, or some other such thing.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Aislin's enthusiasm really struck a note, and Arnyn couldn't help but smile when she looked at her. "It can be spectacular with some clouds," she agreed, "and I hope that plenty of people, or at least those who are staying at the Houses of Healing and who can get up and manage it, would step out to the gardens to watch it," Arnyn told Aislin before looking over to Seri. "It's definitely what I would do, in such a situation." It would surely make her feel better, right? If she were stuck in there with some injury or illness?

"It does sound like the perfect place," Arnyn added her approval to Seri's idea. Because there was no way she would manage to get this group up onto the barracks rooftop without being discovered - and she wasn't about to risk giving away her favorite spot to Lieutenant Brian.
She was about to reply to Seri's question, about everyone being close to wherever they would each need or want to go, afterward, when Gwestion spoke up, to clarify he had not refused her invitation. Somehow it reminded Arnyn of that evening they had years ago at the Prancing Pony, and mentally she shook her head at the memory, glad that was all well and far behind them, now.

She made a face as he called her Arnyn - it just sounded bizarre, everytime he or Gladhron used it - but it was easy to smile when Gwestion also agreed to join them. That meant everyone was interested, and they would all be going together. Part of her wondered if they would chance running into Pele, who was Master Healer, after all. Would anyone comment on them being in the garden when they were not patients? With Seri learning things there, perhaps not. And most of the healers and staff knew Arnyn, too. That's what happened when you made a point of visiting rangers who were spending time there- at least those who had to spend any number of nights there.

"I really don't mind the extra company," she said emphatically, knowing it was best to clearly spell that out for Gwestion, so he wouldn't start second-guessing things.

She nodded when Gladhron stated it should be fun, but his question made her gaze drop back to her notebook. She visibly hesitated. "Before then?" That left the 24th and the 25th. "Things are looking pretty packed for tomorrow, as well as the day after," she said with a little frown at her notes. It didn't help that Shamara was still locked up under headquarters, either. It ensured that Arnyn had grown to taking on more 'shifts' at headquarters than she had done before the woman had been recaptured. "I'm not even sure I'll make it out of headquarters before it's afternoon, then," she added in a bit of a mutter. After the crazy day she'd had today, she would have to spend a big part of tomorrow planning and delegating a few matters. That meant she would have other things to catch up on the next day. Most of which would be paperwork. Arnyn ran a hand through her hair. "Most of my free time is probably during the evening, as a rule," she mused, flipping through a few of the pages. "My mornings are filled with those training sessions, a quick breakfast at the barracks mess and then usually I take Nársulë out for a ride on the Pelennor. That also takes time. Then the myriad of other duties that fall to me as second in command of the rangers... Taking care of things at the house. Usually most of my evenings would be taken up by my brother, with him visiting, but it's one of those times where he's found someone else to prioritize," she said, not annoyed but in fact rather amused. "Which gives me some peace, at least."

"If any of you would like to give your horses some exercise, you can pretty much count on me and Nársulë coming down to the Great Gate at the City's entrance around the third bell every morning. It's a habit I only break when I have to schedule other things at the time, but that doesn't seem to be the case the coming week or two. At present, anyway." That could always change, it something unexpected reared its head, of course. "I know Gaeroch and Mael are here," she added, and then looked questioningly at Seri. "Is Nutmeg, too?" Arnyn smiled, looking between Seri, Gladhron and Gwestion. "I should say I tend to combine exercising Nársulë with some... networking, I suppose you could call it. The guards at the gate and along the Rammas Echor are not typically rangers. They're with the Tower Guard, and it really pays to have them know me by more then hearsay, not to mention it can be quite helpful for me to know them, as well." It had already helped a little with the diplomacy between the guard and the rangers in the past, but Arnyn had thought to pay more attention to the practice ever since she'd heard about a certain guard by the name of Aderic Androllius, who had been playing everyone - or so it seemed - besides Unalmis and his closest friends.

Alf brought over the first couple of desserts then, first serving Seri and Arnyn, then Brooke and Aislin. He then quickly excused himself, adding he would immediately return with the rest of their order. Arnyn smiled at him and offered a word of thanks.

"So, to return to your question..." She glanced at Gladhron. "The next two days are basically made up of morning training, clean-up and breakfast at the barracks, my morning ride, and then I have to start my shift at headquarters from the late morning until late afternoon. Tomorrow, I have visits to make at the houses of healing after that time, and the day after tomorrow I still have a different work meeting before I can call it a day," she explained as succinctly as she could. "The 26th I have some time booked at the training grounds myself, too," she said, flipping over the page, "and then the 27th..." She blinked, unsure if she was seeing it right. Just a shorter shift at headquarters that day? "Then I seem to have most of my afternoon free," she said with a little frown. Unusual. Had she missed something? Well, it would probably fill up soon enough, right? Looking up from her schedule, she shot an apologetic smile at Gladhron. "Very different from your day-to-day here..."

The innkeeper brought over the brothers' orders then, along with the drinks some had ordered alongside it. Arnyn gave a grateful look at the coffee she'd ordered, but refrained from going for it right away, as to not appear too greedy. "This all looks great," she said genuinely. "Enjoy," she added with a little grin, before reaching out for a cup.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

"Well, then," Gwestion nodded. "we shall plan on it." He agreed, pleased when she said that she really didn't mind. Actually, it was more Gladhron he was worried about minding, but he didn't comment on that. Nor did he even risk a glance over to his brother. "I'll look forward to it." Afterward, he hoped to be able to go to the training grounds for a while, which he still had not been able to explore. Hopefully, by then, he would have.

As she began to list how filled up her days were expected to be, for the next two days, Gladhron listened, inwardly frowning. And thinking about what Tercen had said this morning, when they'd talked. He gave a slow nod, already beginning to think about an idea. But, with a brief glance around, he decided not to make any mention of anything he might think of in that regard.

In fact, when she mentioned joining her for some horse riding, he caught his breath, careful not to look annoyed that she seemed to have extended that invitation to the others, too. Although.. maybe with her mentioning that she combined the ride with some business, it would deter any of the ladies from asking to join. He already knew that Brooke wasn't likely to get on a horse without it being extremely necessary. But he wasn't sure what to expect from Aislin.

"Nutmeg? Yes, she is." Seri answered Arnyn's question, mildly surprised that she knew her horse's name. "I didn't realize that you were acquainted with my horse," She mentioned curiously.

Thinking briefly about it, Gwestion recalled when the acquaintance had been made. "Ah.. if you recall, that time we asked you about borrowing your cart, to bring supplies to Bel?" He mentioned. "Celume.. Arnyn.. was with us when we took those supplies out to her. She helped with caring for her, while we were at the inn, and until we returned Nutmeg to you." He explained.

"Ah, I see!" Seri smiled. "It's a shame I didn't get to meet you, then." She mentioned, feeling as if she may have missed out a bit. "I am glad that I was able to be of help to you three, as well as to Bel." She added. Smiling as she accepted her dessert, she thanked Alf and looked admiringly at the chocolate cake set before her. Looking back at Arnyn, she was a little amazed at the full schedule the woman described. "Your days are very full." She remarked. "Is it always that way, or is this only a busy time of year?" She wondered, also somewhat curious what she might do to relax, and when. The healer part of her mind couldn't help thinking of the poor woman's health and stress levels.

As their desserts arrived, Brooke smiled slightly at the innkeeper. "Thank you, sir." She said softly, sitting up a little more. The cream tart looked amazing, and yet, she almost wished she'd asked for some sort of candied fruit to put on it. But, she'd figured it would be some extra trouble, and didn't want to be a pest or anything. But this would still be delicious. She continued listening as the others talked about plans and such. Having nothing really to contribute to that, she smiled at Aislin, sort of wondering what she meant to do with two apples. Surely, she wasn't still hungry enough to eat both of those, and her chocolate cake? Still, Brooke didn't question it out loud. Having been through plenty of years of hunger, Brooke couldn't blame anyone for wanting to stash away food when they could get it. Aislin had once been there, too, she knew. "Want to swap a bite?" She asked in a whisper, leaning across the table toward her 'sister'. They had been given extra forks, so she figured that if Aislin was willing to give up a bite of her cake, Brooke wouldn't mind giving her a bite of her tart in return. That way they could each try a bit of the other's dessert.

"Curious," Gladhron spoke up, addressing Arnyn, "you mentioned having some time booked at the training grounds on the 26th?" He paused, aware that his brother would likely want to join in too if she answered yes, but he figured he'd ask, anyway. "Would you be opposed to me or Gwestion joining you, or is that something more.. private with your trainee, or something of the sort?" He asked. Because, if she was fine with them joining her, that might be nice.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

"Well, I was trying to find tracks while these two went to ask you about the cart, and the supplies," Arnyn added, nodding to Gwestion and Gladhron's side of the table, to help fill in some of the blanks for Seri, perhaps. "But it would have been nicer if I could have met you, instead," she agreed with a genuine smile.
At Seri's question, her expression grew thoughtful. "It sort of came with the officer's position, I suppose. Around the middle of Narië." She tried to smile it off as she looked at the woman sitting across from her. "I've been there before. It's not exactly new. But I'll grant you that it has been a very busy summer and fall season. I am not sure if the winter will bring much improvement. It might." If nothing new came up, she could focus on Tras' training, the ship training and wrapping up the planning for the Umbar mission. That would keep her busy enough, of course. But there was only so much planning you could do, so far ahead of time. Typically, the coldest months of the year were a little slower when it came to new business. She could probably use it, too. Not that she would readily admit to that.

Slicing off a piece of her dessert with her fork, Arnyn glanced up at Gladhron when he asked about her planned visit to the Training Grounds. "Trastion isn't coming," she replied. "I was planning on running the obstacle courses and doing some shooting, actually. You two are always welcome to join if that interests you." Meaning, she was not about to change her training plans to swordplay, for example, if that interested them more. But if they wanted to join her with what she had scheduled, she was not opposed to company. Arnyn smiled at Gladhron, some amusement and perhaps even a bit of a challenge shining in her eyes. "We could compare and contrast."

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn

Aislin
Common room - December 23

It seemed that the idea of the Houses of Healing was not all that off, though Aislin had not been able to explore the extent of the garden yet though she had heard of it. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity to do that, with a nice company of people too. So she only smiled happily, seeing that it was all but settled. She did give ear to the possibility of exercising horses, but did not voice any claims on it at the moment. She was not too willing to give up that many early morning sleeps, besides... there was issue of having a horse to take out. She had only basic knowledge of horsemanship and that might not really qualify her to take off on any horse that was not her own.

The arrival of desserts by means of the kindly innkeeper took her thoughts off of plans on managing any horse riding, and she licked her lips slightly as her gaze settled on the delicious looking items. "Thank you!" she called out merrily to the innkeep.

She was about to attack the plate with her chosen dessert with gusto when Brooke suggested taste-swapping.

"Mmm," she murmured, assessing the food on her plate and that on Brooke's. "Well, why not? Yours looks delicious too!"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

"Ahh, right." Seri nodded as Arnyn explained about what she had been doing when Gwestion came to ask her about the cart. She didn't fault her at all, of course. She was glad to hear that the three of them had managed to be so efficient, in fact. It was also curious to hear that Arnyn had been in command of rangers in the past, but she didn't inquire further into it, merely nodded as she explained that it wasn't new. "I hope the winter will be less busy, then." She mentioned genuinely. "I always feel the same about healing, so while it isn't the same, I do understand."

While halfway listening to the others talk, Brooke passed a bite of her cream tart over to Aislin, then glanced over to them as she waited for Aislin to do the same with her cake.

"Obstacle courses?" Gladhron repeated, a little surprised to hear that they had such things as that in their training grounds. And also sort of trying to picture it.

"That sounds very interesting," Gwestion mentioned, turning a bit more toward her. "And.. you said courses? As in.. there are multiple ones?" He asked, a bit impressed to hear that.

Gladhron grinned at her. "You and Gwestion could probably beat me at archery, but I don't mind a bit of competition." He answered. "Who knows.. maybe I'll even surprise myself." He shrugged and glanced at Gwestion, curious if he wanted to join them.

"I'd like to join, certainly." Gwestion answered the unspoken question, while hoping Gladhron's glance hadn't meant that he didn't want him to come along. "I'm curious about these obstacle courses, actually. I don't know if I've ever seen one of those.. what is it, exactly?" He hoped that wasn't a dumb question, but he was getting a feeling that his and Gladhron's training had been quite different from the rangers' here in Gondor, and it was rather intriguing to learn more about it.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

Her smile lingered, as she noted both Gwestion and Gladhron sounded and looked interested. "Multiple ones, yes," she confirmed for Gwestion, and there was a blend of amusement and pride in her tone. Arnyn grinned at Gladhron. "Maybe you will," she said about him surprising himself. "Maybe Gwestion can give us some pointers," she half-teased, certain that Gwestion had probably tried to help Gladhron improve his aim many times, and guessing the older brother simply hadn't been all that interested in his brother's tutelage.

She almost laughed out loud, realizing how much easier it had been to get Gwestion to agree to an outing to the training grounds than the one to watch the sunrise. The contrast was simply so big, she couldn't help the amused grin that lingered on her face as he asked about the obstacle courses. "You will simply have to come and see them, I suppose," she said, slightly lifting one shoulder before pouring some milk into her coffee. "There is a balance-oriented course, there is an agility course - and there are a few that combine some of everything. Balance, strength, agility... I'm sure it will make perfect sense once you see them. Or once you've run them." Arnyn sipped her drink carefully, not wanting to burn her lips or tongue. "Don't worry. I'll run them first. Show you two what the idea is." She lifted an amused eyebrow. "Then I can watch you give it a go."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn@Pele Alarion

Common Room, Dec 23

Gwestion managed to refrain from scoffing at the notion of him giving Celume or Gladhron pointers, although he did manage a small hint of a smile at the small pun she had made. Arrows.. pointers. "Perhaps." He agreed non-committally. He doubted Gladhron would pay any attention to him if he did try, and he didn't think that her skills were much below his own.

Hearing about the multiple types of obstacle courses, he tried to imagine it, but without anything to base his imagining on, he found it rather difficult. "It sounds interesting." He would certainly be coming out to try it. And, hopefully, his pass wouldn't go missing again.

"It might be a bit like the uh.. playground we had, growing up." Gladhron mentioned to Gwestion with a little grin, then turned to Celume. "Our father set up these various things for us to play on.. ropes to climb, a narrow log to balance on, stumps of different sizes and such, to hop from one to the other... things like that. So that, as we grew up and played on them, we'd be developing skills that he figured might be useful as rangers." He explained.

Gwestion turned to focus on his dessert for a moment, feeling slightly saddened by the mention of their father. He briefly thought back to those days of childhood.

"Well, one of you will have to tell me who does better than whom, at this obstacle thing," Seri mentioned, amused. "At least between these two," She motioned to the brothers with a slight smile, while looking at Arnyn. "It sounds very intriguing, although I wouldn't want to try it, myself, even if I was allowed there." She grinned. "I'm quite happy with simply exploring the houses of healing, and this amazing city."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Celumë/Arnyn
December 23rd, evening

She nodded when Gladhron suggested it might be similar to what they'd played on when he and Gwestion were little. "That is a very good comparison, actually," she agreed with a smile. "That's pretty smart," she remarked. Setting up something like that for kids to play on, to improve their motor skills while all they were doing was playing. "We had something similar in Ithilien, growing up. Several of the parents, not just mine, helped set it up. Hoping it would help keep the younger children occupied, and closeby, rather than off playing in woods that were getting increasingly more dangerous. Who could go the fastest quickly became a popular game. We were constantly challenging each other."

Grinning back at Seri, Arnyn nodded. "Well, I'm sure they will tell you." Neither of the brothers would lie about which of them was better at it. "But if you'd like an answer void of any exaggeration, or without having to pry for it - I could let you know, as well," she added, trying to tamp down her grin a little. When Seri spoke of exploring the city, Arnyn smiled subtly. "I'm sure Domanol could help you explore the city, right? And whenever he can't, I'm sure Gladhron is quite willing to explore with you?" she looked over at him, to check.