Rangers: Training Grounds

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

|
Gladhron | Trastion
Training grounds, secret spectators of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

As the sparring went on, both Gladhron and Trastion found it harder and harder to look away. Trastion widened his eyes slightly when he saw the near head-strike to Arnyn. Gladhron, meanwhile, tensed slightly. His stomach felt like it clenched up into a ball, watching how close that strike had come to seriously injuring her. And yet, she seemed completely unphased, just stepping out of the way as she blocked what could have so easily become a serious accident.

Gladhron had his arms folded under him, half-propped on his elbows. His hands gripped handfuls of the cold dirt beneath him, watching as Kaylin managed to get a strike in on Celume's side. Now that he knew who she was.. he wanted her to win. He did not like that the red-haired ranger had managed to get the first strike in, even if he did already consider Kaylin a friend. And seeing the bear strike to her head was even harder to watch.

Trastion was a little hesitant to answer Tercen's question. Remembering the guy's temper when it came to Arnyn and danger, he took a moment before slowly shaking his head. "No, not without helmets." He whispered back. "I'm guessing that was unintentional." He tore his gaze away from the fight for a quick moment, to see how Tercen might be reacting, then resumed watching. "Going that fast, it can be hard to stop instinctive attacks and things, you know?" He tried to defend Kaylin. "Takes a lot of control," He murmured, knowing quite well, by now, how much control Arnyn's fighting style took to master.

Letting out a slow breath after seeing Celume..Arnyn.. whatever, finally land a rather crippling blow to Kaylin, Gladhron felt a little wave of satisfaction, for her sake, as he released his grip on the dirt. But now.. with Kaylin wielding that crazy-looking double-bladed staff thing... he wondered how well Celume was going to do against that.

[Arnyn]

vs
Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr sparring with Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

It didn't take long before Arnyn was marveling at how skilled Kaylin was at wielding that double-bladed staff. After only having had the weapon for... what? 6 weeks? If it had even been that long?

One thing to be thankful for was that Kaylin's range wasn't nearly as long as it would have been with an actual polearm. In fact, Arnyn's range with her longsword was still slightly longer, because Kaylin wasn't putting her hands on the blade that was closest to her at any one given time - her hands were always on the middle of the weapon. The problem was that, with a blade at either end, Kaylin had more options for offence than Arnyn was used to. She knew how to work against a weapon that had one pointy end. Not two. A weapon that had a cutting and slashing blade on one end. Not on two ends. And Kaylin was making excellent use of both of them.

As she was trying to get a feel for the way this new weapon could be used, Arnyn was on the defensive more than usual. She was feeling Kaylin out, of course. How and when did she switch sides? How long did it take? How long was the range, exactly? How much could Kaylin jab it forward without putting her hands on the blade on the other end? Instinct, formed by years of sparring against different kinds of rangers, all with their own specialties and their own peculiarities, drove the Lieutenant into more of a curious state than an anxious one. Arnyn's curiosity had her fighting Kaylin off in a way that allowed the redhead to showcase her skills with this new weapon. Meanwhile, Arnyn was studying her. Learning. Strategizing.

Kaylin had gained the upper hand. She could feel it in the way she was gaining ground. She could see it in the way Arnyn's movements had changed. They were just a little less polished. Just a bit more abrupt. Pleased with this deduction and excited by what it meant, Kaylin pushed herself. She hadn't forgotten the small audience they were supposed to have, either. And there was one thing she wanted very badly in this moment, and that was to win. One blade came up - Arnyn parried it and counterattacked - but Kaylin's hands shifted faster than Arnyn realized and the other end of the double-bladed axe hit the Lieutenant solidly against the upper arm. Kaylin grinned. "Two," she announced triumphantly, spinning the weapon around toward Arnyn, who slammed it aside with her longsword. A rather uncharacteristically sweeping move for the Ranger Lieutenant.

A move which preceeded Arnyn drawing the shortsword that had still been sheathed at her belt.

Kaylin did not let up. She could almost touch her victory in this match, and she wasn't planning on giving Arnyn any time to try and sway the score back her way. Kaylin engaged again immediately, For a few heartbeats, the fight turned into Kaylin's Maethyr against Arnyn's hand-and-a-half sword and shortsword. But suddenly Arnyn no longer seemed to be holding two separate weapons at all.

Arnyn had reversed her grip on her shortsword, had grabbed it lower - by the blade - and had placed the hilt of her shortsword on top of the blade of her longsword. Both her hands had shifted, one hand now wrapped around the shorter sword's hilt and the longsword's blade, her other hand around the longsword's hilt along with the shortsword's blade. Effectively creating her own, temporary version of Kaylin's weapon. The training gloves Arnyn wore were thick winter leathers, and she didn't care about the possible bite of the blades. It shouldn't cut through the leather with her simply grabbing onto the blades like this. And if it did.. well, she'd have had much worse. And Arnyn did not waste any time either. She launched into the offensive, in a way that had Kaylin stepping back, her only possible response to defend.

What was Arnyn doing? How - how was she holding her swords? What?! Kaylin's mind was spinning as much as Arnyn's swords were.


@Rillewen

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds and secret spectator of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Unintentional. Unintentional?! He wasn't sure whether that made it better or worse. Tercen rubbed his mouth with his hand, mentally swearing. But as he tried to calm himself down and just watch the two utterly cracked women on the sparring field fighting each other like they were rivals battling for some kind of badge of honor... he couldn't help but wonder whether whatever bragging rights they were each trying to secure, was worth taking these kinds of risks for? Would they really chalk it up to this being 'just a learning opportunity'? Did either of these women really still need to improve much about their fighting at all? Tercen sure didn't think so.

Kaylin got in another hit. He had hardly seen it, but he'd heard the sound of metal against metal, and since it was Kaylin who had said something, he figured it was her hit. "That was Kaylin's, right?" he checked, not really leaning toward either Trastion or Gladhron as he asked, his eyes too focused on the match in front of them. Kaylin was close to winning. And Tercen wasn't sure whether he liked that.

As his sister drew her shortsword, Tercen shifted slightly. Two weapons? That might help, he supposed. But then why had Arnyn waited this long to draw her shortsword? When Arnyn changed her grip on her weapons, combining them into a strange hybrid, his lips parted and his jaw dropped. What was... He couldn't even really tell how she'd put the two swords together or how she was holding them exactly - because both Kaylin and Arnyn as well as their weapons were moving too fast, never stopping, never slowing. "If there ever was a time I'd wish for Elven eyes, this might be it," Tercen mumbled under his breath. Even if he could hardly make out who had the upper hand, or who was close or far from hitting the other, the dance the two rangers were involved in was mesmerizing. He couldn't look away, not even in surprise or frustration when he heard the sound of metal against metal again - with no one saying anything about it. Did that mean it had been Arnyn, not Kaylin? Could he assume they were only going until one of them had three strikes? If so, then the last one had to have been a strike for his sister... Or Kaylin would have won and the match would have ended. Instead, it went on. He could hear a grunt of frustration coming from Kaylin upon her next attack, followed by aggressive small shouts every time Kaylin tried to land a blow.

Rather than it sounding silly or ridiculous, though, it unnerved him. The aggression. The increased speed and power Kaylin seemed to draw from working herself up into some kind of anger. Meanwhile, Arnyn did no such thing. Her speed remained as it had been. Her attempted strikes did not hit any harder. Tercen's frown deepened. Arnyn did not seem to feel the pressure Tercen was feeling. And he was sitting all the way out here, not even the direct target of Kaylin's aggression... Tercen reminded himself to breathe. "Come on, sis," he mumbled, hardly realizing it.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

|
Gladhron | Trastion
Training grounds, secret spectators of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

"That was Kaylin's, right?"

Trastion wordlessly nodded, too engrossed in watching the battle to look away, or even speak. As if speaking, even in a whisper, might cause some unwanted distraction that would impact the battle out there in the sparring ring. He was only guessing that it was Kaylin, however, based on the fact that she had grinned and seemed triumphant.

On the other side of Tercen, Gladhron vaguely heard him say 'come on, sis' but didn't let on that he'd heard. His own thoughts were going 'come on, Celume!' over and over. When she got hit on the arm, he cringed and hoped that it wasn't too hard of a blow. Her armor would protect her, right? He breathed out slowly, trying to tell himself that she could still manage a win. He had no idea what would bring about the end of the match, but he guessed, based on the rules they had used in the north when he and Gwestion used to spar against Celume, that the winner would be the first to achieve three strikes.

The sweeping move was quite surprising. Trastion blinked, shifting just a bit to try and get a better angle to see what was going on. That was a bit unlike her, he thought, to do that. And how did she end up with her swords like that?! Eyes widening, Trastion found it impossible to look away even to glance at the other two, to see if they were as amazed as him. Of course, they must be. Right? Why wouldn't they be amazed? Anyone would be!

Gladhron stared at the scene before him as Celume.. Arnyn.. suddenly ended up with a temporary version of Kaylin's weapon. He watched in surprise, then concern as he continued to watch. Was she.. actually gripping each weapon by the blade? Holding each blade against the handle of the other sword? He couldn't get a very good look, as both women were moving around, and spinning their weapons around so fast it was hard to actually see what she was doing, but he couldn't think of any other way she would have a grip on them. And that worried him, thinking of what that could do to her hands. Still.. the very idea that she would do such a thing, just to defeat an opponent using that sort of weapon... it was kind of impressive in a way. Especially when he heard another blow strike... since Kaylin didn't comment or grin, he hoped that meant it was Celume's point. He wondered what she might pull off next...

[Arnyn]

vs
Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr sparring with Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Arnyn didn't much care for this improvised weapon. It didn't have the versatility or range of motion she liked. And the novelty was wearing off.

After working herself up into an angry sweat, Kaylin's next charge at the Lieutenant was a work of art. Her anger lent her strength she otherwise never would have, and she kept up her speed, not losing her technique. The clash was rough, Kaylin ramming into the blades Arnyn was holding with a force that Arnyn had not expected. It made her longsword's edge press dangerously hard into her leather glove with the force of it.

Arnyn 'unlocked' her swords and returned to dual wieling her shortsword and longsword. Kaylin also unlocked the blades, the fight now two weapons against two.

Kaylin's anger as she fought was impressive to behold. Arnyn's continued calm in reponse to that tempest, was as well.

"Your anger will make you slip," Arnyn warned.

"My anger gives me an edge!" Kaylin disagreed vehemently, whirling her blades in an onslaught that looked crazy.

Arnyn stepped back, but steadily deflected and parried Kaylin's attacks. They were too rhythmic, too predictable. Even if it probably looked cool. As long as Arnyn kept her head steady, she wouldn't be intimidated by flashy moves like this. She tried to disarm Kaylin again, as she had done the last time they fought, but Kaylin had learned, it seemed. The Hyandaner did not let her do any such thing.


@Rillewen

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds and secret spectator of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

If he hadn't been able to keep track of their moves before, he was entirely lost now. Tercen blinked at the scene, shaking his head slowly.

At least he now knew... what his sister could do with her weapons. At least he now knew how good she was. He was glad to see how calm she was, too, how level-headed. It put the story about that wolf-shifting sorceress into a new light. If his sister could keep calm in this cracked sparring match - then if she took a risk in a different situation, he now realized that it would at least be a calculated risk. Kaylin had nearly taken her head off earlier! The redhead was angry and her attacks was insane. And still, Arnyn didn't flinch. Even if his heart was going into overtime watching them, he felt a sort of calm descending over his thoughts. Part of him felt that there would be less of a need to worry about Arnyn now.

"I can see why you'd want to learn her style," he whispered at Trastion, though he didn't take his eyes off the fight.

Suddenly, both women seemed to freeze. Tercen's mind almost jarred with the sudden stand-still. They were standing close enough to each other that they were both in reach of the other. Four blades were suspended in the air. He couldn't.. he couldn't see. What blade was where? He narrowed his eyes, but all four of the blades lowered before he could make a proper assessment. Tercen blinked. He'd heard no clash, this time. No sound of steel against steel to indicate a hit. Why were they stopping? Who had won?!

|
Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr | Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Kaylin lowered her weapons, sighing in between the deep breaths she was taking. She was spent, having burned through all her energy without any kind of conservation - since she had known from the start this wouldn't be a long battle, but a relatively brief fight.

Similarly, the sparring match had left Arnyn rather drained. Kaylin had presented a bigger challenge than she had been in the summer. And that weapon... was a menace. Slowly, the Lieutenant sheathed her swords, one after the other.

Kaylin gave Arnyn a glare, but it soon softened. "Well. There we have it."

Arnyn nodded. "Yes. Good match, Kaylin."

"You too, Arnyn." Kaylin put the blades together so they formed a staff again. She retrieved her water bottle from the grass and drained it to the last drop. Her eyes scanned their surroundings, though they didn't linger anywhere overlong. "I'm heading out." What point was there in staying at the training grounds if you weren't going to train anymore?

Arnyn nodded. "I'm staying just a while longer. See you around, Ruin."

"Ruin?" Kaylin raised an eyebrow.

Arnyn grinned. "Look it up."

"I know what it means." Kaylin flashed her friend and Lieutenant a grin, bid her goodbye, and after a forearm bump, Kaylin was on her way.

Arnyn didn't feel like going up all the levels of the city just yet, and settled against one of the posts around the sparring area. Sitting down, her legs stretched out and crossed at the ankles, face turned up into the sun. She'd catch her breath first. Calm down - on the inside.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

|
Gladhron | Trastion
Training grounds, secret spectators of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

The battle was over before they knew it. Trastion had only just nodded in a silent answer to Tercen's comment, when suddenly both Kaylin and Arnyn froze. He frowned, catching his breath as he wondered what this meant. He hadn't heard any more blows. Mentally, he went through his memory, and could only count up two hits for each of them. What was going on? Then, they sheathed their swords? Puzzled, he glanced over at the other two, wondering if they had seen or heard something he hadn't.

Gladhron was also frowning in confusion. They were clearly treating it as if someone had won, but who? How had the match ended? He hadn't seen or heard anything to indicate another strike on either one. He glanced toward the other two, but saw only puzzled expressions on them as well. Looking back forward, he watched as Kaylin took off, and then Celume/Arnyn settled down on the ground. He watched her, his brow furrowed as he tried to see, from here, if she maybe had any sort of injury. Had Kaylin drawn blood? Had that been the terms for winning? Or had she been the one to put a scratch on Kaylin? Or was that even what they were going for? He felt very confused.

"I'm gonna see if I can get any answers," Trastion muttered under his breath, leaning toward Tercen to let him know. While Arnyn had her eyes closed, he slowly, carefully, rose up a bit. Being extra cautious not to make any noises that might alert her to his presence, he kept half an eye on her, sitting on the ground at the far end of the sparring ring, and then applied all of the stealthiness that he had been learning from Duinion, and began to move slowly away from the area. Only once he was a safe distance from the vicinity of that sparring area did he move faster, making his way around it, and toward the entrance of the training grounds, then set off at a run in hopes of catching up with Kaylin. Spotting her almost at the entrance, he whistled to get her attention, rather than calling out across the distance.

Back at the log in the woods, Gladhron remained unmoving, quietly looking across at 'Celunyn', wondering if she was alright, hoping she hadn't gotten any injuries that had caused the battle to end so abruptly. And still trying to sort all of this out in his mind. He halfway remembered something she'd said during the masquerade, and it made a lot more sense now. "Can I request you let me be simply the Celumë you knew for one more evening?" So, did she plan to tell them at dinner tonight, about her real name? He was half-tempted to go out there and speak to her, right now. But he also didn't want to put her on the spot, and he realized that might make her uncomfortable. Especially if she realized he had watched that fight. And he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. And Tercen couldn't let her know he was here, because then they would both probably be in a lot of trouble. Best to just stay quiet and wait for her to leave.. but in the meanwhile, his thoughts were racing.

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

At the sound of a whistle meant to draw someone's attention, Kaylin glanced around to see if it might be directed at her. When she saw Trastion bolting toward her, she smiled with a shake of her head and slowly drew to a halt. She put one end of the Maethyr down on the ground and leaned one hand on it casually.

"Ah, little bro," she greeted him with a lazy grin once he got close enough. "You managed to hide and watch, then? What did you think?"

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

After about ten minutes, Arnyn slowly got up and retrieved her own water bottle. She emptied it, just like Kaylin had done earlier. Then she took off the plates around the arm Kaylin had hit earlier. She stretched it out and seemed to check it over briefly, before putting the plates back on. Then she took off her leather gloves to check the palms of her hands, one by one. The left was fine. The right hand had an angry red line straight across the palm, but it hadn't split the skin. Neither of her gloves were fully intact, but that had been expected. After pulling the gloves back on, she walked away from the sparring area, heading for the entrance, herself. She had a busy day ahead of her.

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds and secret spectator of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

When Trastion told him he would try and find out what had happened to conclude the match, Tercen nodded slowly. He watched as the young ranger moved away from them, until he was out of sight. Then Tercen glanced back at Arnyn, who was still sitting in the sun. She didn't appear to be harmed. That was good, right? And even if she had lost - it was obvious to him that the two women were equally matched. So it hardly mattered which of them had been the first to get in a third strike, he supposed.

Looking at Gladhron, Tercen thought he looked very... thoughtful. It was a rather new expression on Gladhron's face - at least it was for Tercen. But that made sense, since they'd only known each other for like a day and a half. "Is it just me," Tercen whispered to him, trying to lighten the apparent serious mood a little, "or was that kind of crazy?"

Arnyn soon rose, making Tercen lower his head just a little more. Since Gladhron was still staring at her, there was no need to alert his friend. "Dude," Tercen whispered, nuding Gladhron with his elbow. "Why are you staring like that?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trastion
Training grounds entrance
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

He slowed to a stop as he caught up to her, hardly out of breath since he'd only ran a short way, although the cold in the air made his breath show up in tiny puffs of fog. "First of all," he began, "let me just say... that weapon? Amazing." He grinned. "And you, with that weapon... even more amazing." He took a quick assessing glance over to see if she had any noticeable injuries. "That being said.. what happened?" He asked, keeping his voice down but clearly puzzled. "I couldn't really see much of what happened, your blades were all going so fast.. but you looked a bit.. upset for a moment. Did you lose?" He figured if she hadn't, she would surely be quick to deny it.

---

Gladhron

Arnyn/Celume did not seem to be in any hurry to go elsewhere, so he had little choice but to wait. It was not the most comfortable spot, lying on his stomach, propped halfway up on his elbows. His shoulders were starting to ache a little from being stuck in that position. His legs and back were getting cold, despite his cloak. And his ribs weren't thanking him for the continued weight resting on them, either. He was tempted to shift his position, but he didn't dare. Remembering a lesson his father had once taught him about keeping still, because even the slightest movement could give you away to whomever you were hiding from. So he held still, hoping he wouldn't have to for much longer. Surely, she wouldn't wait that much longer, right?

While he waited, he was watching her. Celume. Arnyn. Trying to distract himself from the uncomfortable position, he let his thoughts take their course. Thinking about the times that they had spent together in the North, hunting bandits, learning a lot of things from her, and wondering whether any of that would have been different if they had known exactly who she was. And who was that, exactly? Didn't Tercen say something about her being a lieutenant here? Was that why she wanted to just be Celume, the night of the masquerade? He wondered, would she have sang in the tavern to get chocolate, if she had been using the name Arnyn? Would she have swam in the creek with him and Gwestion, and given him that drawing, if they'd known her real name? What difference did it make, really?

He was trying to make sense of why it would matter so much to her, when Tercen's muttered words broke into his thoughts. Crazy? He smiled faintly. "No, not just you," He promised, keeping very quiet. Then, she finally stirred and rose to her feet. He kept his gaze on her while she seemed to check herself for injuries. And he felt himself tense just a little. Was she hurt? Did that arm bother her? Was her hand injured? From here, he couldn't tell much, but he didn't see blood anywhere, so that was a good sign, right? After replacing her gloves, she finally walked away, leaving just the two guys.

Gladhron pushed himself upright with a quiet groan, as he had begun to feel just a bit stiff, lying there so long. Shifting around to rest his back against the log, he rolled his shoulders a bit, then glanced at Tercen as he asked why he had been staring like that. He realized that it must seem odd to him, Arnyn's brother. Gladhron let out a quiet laugh and pulled a little twig from the top of his boot that had gotten stuck there. "You're not gonna believe this." He informed Tercen, shaking his head slightly as he tossed the twig off into the woods. "Arnyn, your sister. The ranger.. lieutenant? who just fought against a master sword, and proved herself at least her equal, if not better..." He paused for breath, looking at Tercen, his expression somewhere between 'serious' and wanting to grin, "is also the woman I know as Celume."

[Arnyn]

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

She grinned more broadly when Tras called her amazing, and her in combination with the Maethyr, even more amazing. "Thanks," she said, evidently pleased with his assessment. But when he said she'd looked a bit upset, and then asked her if she'd lost, Kaylin let out an annoyed sigh and rolled her eyes. "Of course I did. Your mentor's a bloody maniac," she complained. But before Trastion could even react to that, she grinned again. "What did the other boys think?" Her use of the term 'boys' was intentional, as it amused her to think of the three of them hidden away somewhere like three school children trying to hide from the teacher.

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds and secret spectator of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Once Arnyn was far enough, once Gladhron repositioned himself, Tercen did the same. He grunted quietly as he shifted to a seated position as well, facing his friend. He was glad, at least, that he wasn't the only one to have been so impressed with the fight. Then again, that also meant that by ranger standards, Kaylin and Arnyn were pretty skilled, right? Since Gladhron was a ranger in the north.

Tercen raised his eyebrows as Gladhron said he wasn't going to believe whatever he'd be saying next. He nodded as the guy spoke about his sister, saying things they both knew already. Yeah, what about her? he wanted to ask. Get to it, man! But when Gladhron finally said it - when he claimed Arnyn and Celume were one and the same - Tercen frowned. "But..." he blinked, looking back at the direction where Arnyn had last been headed. But... they had agreed they couldn't possibly be the same person. That meant... Arnyn had spent weeks on end with Gladhron and his brother? That meant... Frowning, he thought back. When had Arnyn been away for a long time? Gladhron had said: years ago. And yeah, she had travelled multiple long periods of time, some years ago. Before Dhalion's death. After Dhalion's death. And then after the war. "Was this before or after the war?" he asked suddenly. "That Celume... Arnyn... travelled with you and your brother?"

Even as he waited for an answer, he shook his head at the thought that meant that Arnyn had sung in a tavern. "Are you sure?" he had to ask. "Like... the distance couldn't be throwing you off, or anything?" And if it was true... did that mean his new friend had a thing for his SISTER?!

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trastion
Training grounds entrance
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Trastion raised an eyebrow at the declaration that Arnyn was a maniac. "What exactly did she do?" He asked, dying to know. "I mean, all we could see was that you both froze and then it was like, you mutually sheathed your weapons and said goodbye. It was.. very abrupt and confusing." He asked with a slightly puzzled look.

When she asked what the other guys thought, he shrugged with a little grin. "I think they were impressed. I mean, I was pretty involved with watching the fight, myself, so I didn't look over at them all that much, but it seemed like they couldn't take their eyes off the battle, either." He answered, unaware of Gladhron's reasons for that. "It was extremely impressive, you know." Of course she knew, how could she not know that! "Sooo.. how did she manage to pull off her win against you?" He wondered, hoping to get an answer that he could take back to the other guys.

---

Gladhron

Surprisingly, Tercen didn't seem to disbelieve him as much as Gladhron would have thought. He waited while the other guy seemed to sort through the surprise and whatever else was going through his mind. The first question to come from him was not one that Gladhron expected. He blinked, briefly caught off guard by that. But he needed no time to think back. "Shortly before." He paused. "Rather.. before the end of it, I guess I should say." He then gave the exact year that it had happened. "She was with us from around the end of June, all through July, and.. then she left." He answered, unsure that he wanted to go into the reasons why she had left. Not right now. "She was with us during my birthday that year." He smiled slightly, remembering the nice day they'd had, and preferring to remember the better days, rather than the parting.

And then came the question he had expected. Was he sure? He held back a laugh, nodding. "I'm certain, Tercen. I saw her face.. I heard her voice. And I saw her fight." He paused. "I've never seen anyone fight like Celumë. If that was not her... then I have to ask; are you sure your sister doesn't have a long-lost twin?" He joked. "Seriously though. I'm certain." He nodded and rested his head back against the tree limb, thinking how else he could convince Tercen there was no doubt. "Tell me.. what's your sister's horse's name? Is it Nársulë? Because Celumë has a beautiful destrier she loves very much, by that name." He described the horse briefly, from memory. Because horses were something he took much notice of. "Also, I couldn't see her longsword all that well from here, but I thought it looked like the one Celumë used, from the looks I got of it while it was sheathed."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Kaylin shrugged. "It wasn't meant to be abrupt. But there was simply no point in continuing. She had her blade where she could have ended it. I was close to doing the same, but inches away. I saw her blade coming and knew I was too late. We both knew. There was no reason for her to hit me anymore." She sighed deeply, but then her expression brightened. "BUT - I got much closer to winning than I did last time," she declared, blue-grey eyes twinkling. "Next time, I could have her." She made a face. "Maybe."

Her easy grin returned when Trastion said he thought the other two guys were impressed. When Trastion asked how Arnyn had managed to 'pull of the win', though, she just laughed. "She was better," she shrugged. "I don't know. What makes one excellent sword fighter win against an other?" Yet the set of her lips betrayed there was more to say, and Kaylin finally rolled her eyes at Trastion's hopeful expression. "My attention slipped for the smallest moment. I was getting too worked up. And your trainer... well. If I'd compare the both of us to anything, then I'd be fire but Arnyn would be steel. Nature of the beast, I suppose. Both on her part and mine." She made a face. "Does that give you enough to report back to the other two?" she teased.

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds and secret spectator of Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

He was frowning deeply as he tried to think back of the times his sister had been off who knew where. Did it fit? He thought so... He was still trying to come to grips with everything it implied. Still, two people could fight sort of the same, right? It was possible someone else had developed a similar style, somewhere? Someone who looked very aline. Someone who sounded like her? When Gladhron asked about the name of Arnyn's horse though, but then immediately supplied it himself, and moreover correctly described the stallion, Tercen groaned as he shifted to lean against the log, next to Gladhron. "Yeah," he confirmed. "A dark bay stallion called Nársulë. That's Arnyn's horse."

There could hardly be any question left, could there? At the mention of her sword, Tercen glanced at his friend from the side. "So I suppose Celumë's sword has a ruby set in it, as well?" he had to ask.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trastion
Training grounds entrance
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

The explanation made him nod in understanding. Ahh.. so that was why there had been no strike. And he also couldn't claim to be terribly surprised, since he knew the level of control Arnyn had with her weapon. She could easily stop her sword just short of making contact, and make it appear effortless. Trastion was working on that, himself, but it was a lot harder than it would seem.

When Kaylin declared that she might just manage to beat Arnyn next time, Trastion grinned. "Who knows?" He replied, in a tone that suggested he was hopeful for Kaylin's sake, while still being neutral about who he actually thought would win. To be honest, he really found it hard to take any sides in this. Both of them were extremely skilled, and he found them both very impressive in their own way.

To hear Kaylin acknowledge that her anger had been the thing that cost her the win, he struggled not to grin or smirk at that. "What? You mean.. Arnyn was actually right?" He asked teasingly, referring to what he'd heard her say about how her anger would make her slip. Out of all the words that had passed between them during their battle, that was the one thing that he had actually managed to catch.

While trying not to seem too amused about that, he considered the other part of Kaylin's words, then shook his head slightly, more thoughtful now. "No," He disagreed, speaking slowly in thoughtfulness, "I would say.. water. Not steel." He shrugged slightly. Besides.. steel could be melted and burned in fire. Water could extinguish fire. So, to him, that made more sense, considering Arnyn had defeated Kaylin.. however close the battle had been. He laughed then at her question. "Yeah, I guess I do." He grinned. "See you around, Sis?"

---

Gladhron

Gladhron nodded with a tiny smile. "Right, a sleek, hand-and-a-half sword with a black leather handle with a straight cross-guard, and yes.. a ruby, right about here," He confirmed while pointing to the corresponding spot on his own sword. He had sparred against her, and fought alongside her, often enough to remember what her sword looked like, as he had always thought it was very nice-looking, and well suited to her.

It was, in a way, good to hear it confirmed that the horse's name had not been fake, at least. He let out a little laugh. "Why didn't we think to bring up those things the other night, when we were trying to figure this out?" He asked with a grin, shaking his head in amusement at their failure to come up with anything definite. "And.. she mentioned having a brother, too." He recalled with a little smile. "Never mentioned your name, but she did speak of you, now and then while we were traveling together. She mentioned how close you two are."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

She lightly slapped him on the shoulder when he teased her that Arnyn had been right. It was annoying, but the woman usually was. When Tras disagreed with her comparing Arnyn to steel, Kaylin snorted. "I dunno. While I see your point.. water has no 'barrier'. You can just delve right in. You can't do that with steel. Or with Arnyn. She's pretty guarded, isn't she?" Kaylin shrugged. "Maybe there's a bit of both in that Lieutenant of ours."

Grinning at his eagerness to be off again, she waved him away from her. "Yeah, yeah. See you around. Go tell your friends all about my defeat. Just remember - it was really close..." With a little chuckle, she turned around herself without waiting for Trastion to do the same. "Byeeeeee," she called out without looking back. And left the training grounds. Even if she hadn't won, it had really been so close this time that she felt rather good about herself.

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

"Right," he mumbled at the correct description of his sister's sword. Tercen had to laugh quietly as well, in agreement with what Gladhron said next. "Yeah, we're idiots, evidently." It was kind of dumb they hadn't thought to talk about her horse or sword at the masquerade, when they were comparing Arnyn and 'Celumë'.

That Arnyn had spoken of him to Gladhron and his brother while she was going by 'Celumë', made Tercen smile faintly. That was nice to hear. "I'm sure it wasn't all positive," he said, still smiling faintly. "I can be a pain, I'm sure. Especially for someone as organised as she is."

He let out a heavy sigh, and frowned thoughtfully as he looked at Gladhron more carefully. So Arnyn had actually gotten to know his newest friend before he had. And his newest friend... Tercen's frown suddenly cleared as he started laughing and clapped Gladhron on the shoulder. "Man," he said, in between volleys of laughter, "I'm sorry but - you're so screwed..."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trastion
Training grounds entrance
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Trastion took the slap on the shoulder with a little grin, then shrugged as she mentioned the thing about water having no barrier. "Yeah, maybe both." he agreed, a bit amused. "I'm no smith like Cali, so I couldn't really be sure. But I am pretty sure steel is like.. harder and tougher than other metals, isn't it? So, that also works," He mused thoughtfully, thinking of how tough the lieutenant could be, and the whole, keeping a blank expression thing could seem 'hardened' in a way.

Moving on from that, he laughed as she reminded him that it had been really close. "Yeah, no kidding." He grinned. "Since I couldn't even be sure who'd won, remember?" He shrugged, then waved at her before they each turned to go their separate ways. He headed back to the sparring area with the intention of going back to where the other two were, but seeing, from a distance, that Arnyn was still sitting there with her eyes closed, head turned up to the sun, he hesitated and glanced past, toward the forest.

Instead of trying to sneak his way back to where he had left the other two guys, he decided to go for a walk along one of the trails in the woods, and figured that should give Arnyn time to move on so he could rejoin the other two without worrying about them being discovered. It would mean that he wouldn't see when exactly Arnyn left, but he figured that would be fine. And if Gladhron and Tercen left the training grounds before he returned, he pretty much knew where to find both of them afterward, anyway.

---

Gladhron

He laughed at the comment 'we're idiots, evidently'. "Evidently," He agreed with amusement. "Well, my brother seems to think so most of the time, so don't let him hear you say that." He smirked. "Can't have him thinking he's right about something, you know." He had no idea whether Gwestion would say 'I told you so' or just shrug and not comment, but either way, Gladhron was sure he would be thinking it, at least.

As Tercen mentioned that he doubted it was all positive, Gladhron grinned. "Well, she did mention something about her brother not liking to clean, but then.. who does?" He shrugged, then smiled a little as Tercen added the mention of her organization. "Yeah, I remember that. She and Gwestion could form a club about that." He rolled his eyes but with a smile. "You should hear how he gripes at me if I leave even one shirt lying around, or if I don't put my shoes together all neat and tidy." Snorting a little, he shook his head, thinking back about how very organized Celume had been during their travels together, always keeping her pack and saddlebags tidy, everything folded and stored in its rightful place, and so forth. Somehow, it seemed right for her. Even when she teased him about his own disorganized mess, he didn't mind as much as when Gwestion bugged him about it.

Tercen's sudden laughter confused him, however. "What?" He asked, glancing around to see if there was something he was missing. What was so funny? When Tercen clapped his shoulder and managed to speak between his laughter, Gladhron gave him a very confused look. "Huh? Why..?" He wondered, speaking slowly in confusion as he tried to understand what was making Tercen laugh so hard. "What do you mean?"

[Arnyn]

Tercen
with Trastion and Gladhron
Illicit visitor to the training grounds
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

Gladhron's confusion made Tercen laugh more. "Oh, buddy, come on," he managed, before calming down a little and wiping a tear from laughter fromhis upper cheek. "It was so obvious at the dance that you had a thing for this 'Celume'. You just couldn't let the topic go, and went on and on about her. And then the look on your face when you told me yesterday that the Fairy was, in fact, Celumë? While I now definitely believe you about nothing having happened between you two in the north and everything, let's be honest. You're into her." Tercen shrugged, not seeing any reason to be delicate in his wording. Surely, Gladhron knew himself, right?

"And while most would probably expect me to now get all big-brothery and ask you what your intentions with my baby sister are..." he said with a half-grin, "I know there's no need for any such thing. Arnyn is hardly..." He thought about how to phrase it right. "...Susceptible... to that kind of attention." He shrugged. "Some tried, when she was younger, before she got all high-ranking and everything. Girl's got walls higher than the Rammas. She doesn't need my protection. You need my sympathy. You probably couldn't have picked a bigger challenge even if you'd tried." He shook his head, amused but also genuinely sympathetic. "Soooo.... good luck with that."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron
Late December, on the second day after the Midwinter Ball

As Tercen explained what he had observed and how obvious it was.. Gladhron inwardly cringed. He cleared his throat and looked away, a bit awkwardly. But he smiled in amusement, as the other guy's laughter was rather contagious. He sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Was it really that obvious?" he asked with a slightly awkward laugh, a little unsure what to think of that. "I mean.. I knew Gwestion was aware, but.. he's my brother. He knows me better than anyone." He shrugged. "But you... I just met you. And you could tell, too..?" He'd known Tercen for barely two days, and he had apparently realized it from the first few minutes of having met him!?

Turning partially toward Tercen as he went on to explain why he was not worried about 'his intentions', Gladhron hesitated, wondering what he meant about her not being 'susceptible' to that sort of attention. "Do you think she knows..?" He asked, trying to decide what to think about that. Did she know how he thought of her? Had she known all along and simply ignored the fact in hopes that it was her imagination, or thinking that he would lose interest, or what? Letting out a little sigh, he shrugged slightly at the wording of 'a challenge'. "I've never been one to back down from a challenge," He mentioned with a joking smile. "Although, I don't know if I want to think of it that way. It's not like this is some sort of challenge I've decided to take on and 'conquer'," He added, wanting to clarify a bit, because that wording didn't sit well with him. "It's more like..." He hesitated as he ran out of words, then pulled one knee up and draped his arm over it as he turned a bit toward Tercen, the other hand on the ground to hold him up.

"I don't know quite how to explain it. When she joined us, I know this might sound stupid, but it felt almost like she was meant to join up with us.. and I enjoyed having her around. It wasn't long before it was like.. I almost couldn't imagine her not being with us. As if she just fit there, like a puzzle piece that's been missing and finally.. there it is." There was a lot more he could say about that, but he decided not to. "When she left, I.. thought I'd never see her again. And.. that.." He hesitated. "tore me up inside, thinking that I was losing her forever. Maybe it's ridiculous, but.. I wanted to go after her. I.. wanted to ask her to stay with us, or to go with her, or.. anything, if it meant that we didn't have to part. Saying goodbye was.. so hard. But," He drew in a slow breath. "I don't know. It felt wrong to ask her to stay, when she was.. grieving and all. She'd lost a close friend, apparently, back home.. here, that is. And I know what it is to grieve," he added quietly. "So, I tried to be.. unselfish, you know. I let her go, without saying anything about.. how much I wanted to ask her not to go." There had been so many times he'd wondered whether he had made the right choice there, but there was no way to go back and undo that.

He frowned and looked off in the direction Arnyn had gone. "Later.. I tried to stop missing her, to stop thinking about her, and how great it was when she was around." He went on, quietly. "But I just.. couldn't. And she had been so.. closed-mouthed about where she came from, I had no idea where to even try to look for her." He huffed a breath out that was a half-laugh, half-scoff. "As it turns out, I never even knew her real name, either." He added with a little frown, but it soon cleared away. "After I knew that was her at the masquerade, I kept expecting to wake up and find that I'd dozed off while I was getting ready to go to the dance, and that it was all some crazy dream my mind conjured up out of the hope of seeing her again." He admitted with a little sigh, and a tiny half-smile.

Tercen's sympathy was not very encouraging, but he tried not to let it bother him. "She seemed to enjoy dancing with me the other night," He commented, choosing to look at the positive. "Even though I'm not that great at it." He added with a little self-mocking grin. After a little hesitation, he decided to risk asking, "I.. don't suppose you might be able to offer any help there? I mean.. it'd be nice if I could learn to dance better, so maybe I could surprise her with that... although, well.. actually, the dance is over now, so.. maybe that's pointless, anyway." He added, a little downcast at that realization.

Sighing, he leaned back against the tree trunk again. "I don't know what to do." He admitted, shrugging. "I care for her a lot. I can be as patient as I need to be, if there's any hope she might come around to feeling anything more than friendship toward me.. but I don't want to make her feel awkward by telling her how I feel, you know? Especially if it's.. liable to make her withdraw from being around me or something." He let his head rest back on the trunk, staring up at the bare branches above. "Or, am I absolutely crazy for even considering there could be any hope?" He asked with a little laugh, attempting a little humor, to break up the serious atmosphere he felt had settled over him.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Illicit visitor to the training grounds
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

"I mean..." Tercen nodded toward his shoulder, making a face. "It was kinda obvious. To me, anyway. Then again, maybe I'm just really perceptive," he grinned. When Gladhron asked if he thought whether Arnyn knew, Tercen had to bit the inside of his cheek not to burst out laughing, and just smiled with continued sympathy as his new friend joked he wasn't one to back down from a challenge... Which he immediately corrected. Tercen grew a little less amused and a little more thoughtful at Gladhron's next words, giving the northern ranger an assessing look while the man tried to explain himself better.

It was hard to believe how open Gladhron was being about this. Tercen had never known anyone to be so straightforward about such a subject, especially not so soon in a friendship. Even though Tercen was a pretty open book himself, he still wasn't sure whether he'd be so willing to share so much. Especially not to the brother of the woman in question. It was... really surprising. Then again, everything he was hearing... if he didn't know any better, he might have said Gladhron had rehearsed it in front of a mirror or something... Wasn't this just the kind of stuff women liked to hear? Tercen scratched his neck, wondering what he could even say in response to such words.

"Listen. I'm not sure what I can tell you without going overboard. She'd hate me saying anything, probably. But... I also think you need to know a few things, given how..." He gestured toward Gladhron, not even knowing how to properly finish the sentence. "Anyway. I'm as sure as I can be that she has no clue. My sister is a strange creature. Guys basically have to serve their interest up on a silver platter for her to notice. That's why I said she wasn't 'susceptible' to attention," he explained. "She never assumes anyone is interested because she has a hard time believing anyone could be." He shrugged, stopping himself there before he could say that her self confidence in such matters was surprisingly low. It's not like he knew Gladhron all that well. And Arnyn would absolutely kill him if she ever learned he'd spilled that.

"Also..." He hesitated, but still continued after a moment's deliberation. "I never liked that she became an officer as young as she did. I know a good number of those rangers she was in charge of.. is in charge of... think she's supertough and amazing and what have you," he added, clearly not that enthused, "but to me it was as if... my little sister lost some of her spark, you know? She started laughing less. Walls started going up." Tercen shrugged again. "I'd hoped it would get better when she resigned her post as commander," he added. "She passed by Ithilien before setting out to her travels then, and I think it was some months after that that she must have met you and your brother. Judging from what you told me it seems like she regained some of her old self a little, at least. Like I said, Arnyn singing at a tavern? I thought it was impossible. Even if she gave you a different name, it sounds like you got to see sparks of her less guarded, less self-conscious self showing through." He wondered how much Arnyn had relaxed during that time. Maybe Gladhron knew her as a bit of a different person than who she was here?

Part of his mind filed away that Arnyn apparently had taken their leave of Gladhron and Gwestion when she'd gotten the news about Dhalion. "She stayed with me in Ithilien a short while after traveling back home when the news about her... friend's... death reached her." Tercen looked pretty unhappy, thinking back on that. She'd been an absolute mess, he remembered. "As you say, she was grieving. But at least her walls were down, and she let me be there for her. Unfortunately, she didn't stay long. When she returned about a season later - all of her walls were back up. And stronger than ever." He shook his head. "She wouldn't even talk to me about where she'd been. That seems to add up to what you're saying about her not talking about where she was from, at least," he said drily. Then again... maybe it had been her way to escape. A path that had allowed her to relax. Take some distance from herself. He frowned, thinking about that, but keeping that thought private.

"So... About what to do..." Tercen raised his eyebrows, then let out a deep breath. Kind of impressed with Gladhron's ability tro try and laugh it off, Tercen smiled a little as he looked over at the guy. "Don't people say there is always hope? It's what Arnyn would tell anyone else if they came to her with something like that. As long as she knew she wasn't involved," he added with a little joke of his own. He blinked at Gladhron then. "Are you seriously asking her brother for advice on how to approach her?" he asked, more serious. After a long pause, Tercen shoved at Gladhron and chuckled. "Cause if you are, that'd be very wise," he continued good-naturedly, and probably quite unexpectedly. He considered Gladhron's questions, wondering if he should answer them.

He had absolutely hated the idea of his sister with someone like Dhalion, the last guy who Tercen had thought was into her. The Dol Amrothian had never come out and said it, and Arnyn had called Tercen a fool for suggesting it, but that had never changed Tercen's mind about it. Gladhron, though... he was almost Dhalion's opposite, in many ways. One guy had been brooding and quiet. The other was optimistic and sociable. One guy had magnified Arnyn's proclivity to duty and self-sacrifice. The other might just show her it was okay to keep just a little slice of life for herself. And that was exactly what Tercen wanted for her.

He sighed dramatically. "Aaaaaaaaaaalriiiiiiiiiight," he drawled. "You're gonna need all the advice you can get anyway. And in the end it's still up to her," he reasoned out loud. "So... Aulë's beard, no, don't go and just tell her how you feel," he told Gladhron, raising his eyebrows to show he was serious. "She'll probably think it is some sort of practical joke. And since she probably doesn't know how she feels herself, she won't know what to say." That probably needed some clarification, he figured. Trying to come to her defense a little, he added: "Arnyn's really good at not exploring her own feelings, especially when there is a chance those feelings might make her more vulnerable." Thinking, he crossed his arms as he leaned back against the log. "But not doing anything is no good either. The last guy I thought had a thing for her was always just right and proper... He never did anything to make her think." His eyes widened a little. That was it, of course. "You know how analytical she can get, right?" he checked with Gladhron. "Maybe that's the key. She won't believe you if you just tell her. You'll have to engage the logical part of her mind. You have to make her think about it, you have to have her analysing stuff." Tercen grinned, excessively proud of himself. "Do you see where I'm going with this?"

"It's not like it would be a sure way in, of course," he added quickly. "Even if you get her to think it through and come to the logical conclusion that you want more than to just be friends... That's only the first step." There would still be no telling if she'd feel the same, and all that. "But you can't run before you can walk - or something like that. Right?"

"In that respect, you could be on to something with that dancing idea?" he questioned out loud. "Besides, what does it matter that the masquerade is over? It's not the only place you can dance." He smirked. "Really, you can dance anywhere. Especially when you're trying to make a woman realize you're into her, without actually forcing an immediate response..." Tercen wiggled his eyebrows. "Still not one to back down from a challenge?" he asked mercilessly, grinning. He supposed he'd see what Gladhron was really made of, soon enough. If he backed down now, then that was that. Arrow dodged for his little sister, anyway!

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron
Late December, on the second day after the Midwinter Ball

When Tercen said it was obvious to him, and that he was 'really perceptive', Gladhron immediately thought about Celume/Arnyn, and how extremely perceptive she could be about things. He wasn't sure what to think of that, and also wasn't sure whether he would rather she did or didn't know. But, soon enough, Tercen assured him he was quite sure that she was not aware, and for some reason he felt a bit relieved to hear it. Maybe because that meant she wasn't deliberately ignoring the fact or something.

Nodding slowly in thought as Tercen explained why he'd said she wasn't susceptible to that sort of attention, Gladhron considered that as he listened to the rest of what his friend said. Hearing that she would not even consider that anyone would be interested, he frowned. That sounded.. a bit like someone else he knew. And that seemed sad. He found that he wanted to try and figure out a way to help her get over that. As the topic shifted unexpectedly to her being an officer, and the results that had had on her, Gladhron's frown deepened further. Laughing less. Walls going up. That also sounded.. painfully familiar, though this time it reminded him more of Gwestion. It was sad to hear, especially realizing that she had been that way before meeting them. But, it seemed that she had lowered her walls a bit around them. Or was it.. him? He thought back to the first few days of getting to know her, and how there had been at least a couple of times when it seemed like she was about to part from them on account of Gwestion. So, perhaps it had been himself she had relaxed around, rather than them both?

It was also sad to hear that she had put her walls up again, stronger than ever. So, was that why she had wanted to be so well disguised, at the dance? He grew more thoughtful the more he heard about this, then smiled slightly at the mention of 'there's always hope'. "Sometimes." He answered quietly, preferring not to get into the topic of hopeless matters. This situation must have a glimmer of hope, he was sure of it. And according to Tercen, his own sister would agree.

When he asked if Gladhron was seriously asking her brother how to approach her, Gladhron blinked at him in return. "Well.. you would know her better than anyone.." He pointed out, unsure for a moment, before the playful shove, which made him grin and relax as he went on to say that it was a wise thing to do. "See? I can be smart." He smirked, joking a bit in return.

Fortunately, it seemed that Tercen was willing to offer a bit of advice! Gladhron was relieved that not telling her had been the right choice. Although it was a bit sad to think she would think it was a joke. So, when Tercen suggested trying to help her arrive at the realization on her own, through logic. Yes... that made sense. He nodded thoughtfully as he began trying to think about that. Too bad it was winter, as he doubted there were many flowers available. But maybe that would be too much. "Yeah," He nodded as Tercen asked if he saw where he was going.

"Right, of course." He agreed about that only being the first step. He could try to show her that he cared for her, but even if she realized it.. he knew that didn't guarantee that she would return the feelings. He could only hope for the best outcome. He grinned a little at the thought of dancing with her again. "Maybe, if I learned a few more dance moves, I could say something about it, and ask if she'd like to have me show her what I'd learned." He suggested with a little grin. As he was asked whether he was still up for the challenge, Gladhron's grin grew a bit. "Absolutely. I may actually stand a chance, at this point." He laughed.

Then, as something else hit him, he laughed again. "You know, I stand by what I said to her at the dance." He smirked as he recalled it. "She said something about how her brother would say that a road is much more suitable for dancing than people might think, and I told her that her brother sounded like a smart guy." He grinned in amusement, that at the time he'd said it, he'd had no idea who her brother actually was. As it turned out, he had already met the guy without knowing it!

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Illicit visitor to the training grounds
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

So optimistic. Tercen regarded Gladhron, amused and puzzled at the same time. Well, Gladhron surely didn't seem to be thinking about backing down too easily. That told Tercen a few things he thought boded well. He raised his eyebrows a little at Gladhron's suggestion about offering to show Arnyn what he had learned, if he did manage to learn more on his own. "Maybe," Tercen allowed. "If you get your timing right." Whether he was teasing with that or being serious, was hard to tell.

Shaking his head with a little grin when Gladhron said he might actually stand a chance now, Tercen crossed his arms and closed his eyes, relaxing against the log. Even though he was trespassing in the whole area, he didn't seem too bothered with it now. "I like positive thinking," he stated simply. "Just remember there is a thin line between bravery and stupidity," he added, peeking thourh one eye at Gladhron, to see if he might get swatted at by his friend for that comment.

"Ha!" Tercen let out along with his breath when Gladhron shared something he'd said to Arnyn at the dance. "Well, I'm pleased I do not disappoint. About helping you with your dance moves - and those will be the only kind of moves I'll be helping you with, Gladhron - I'm busy for the rest of the day," he said with a little smirk. "But my schedule is pretty open starting tomorrow. At the moment, anyway. That could all change as the day progresses." If Ava and he were to make additional plans...

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron

He snorted lightly at the comment about bravery and stupidity. "Yeah, so I'm often reminded." He replied, and smirked. His own brother said things like that, although it was generally more referring to things to do with fighting and facing enemies, not to do with romance. Something Gwestion did not know much about, himself. He even wondered, given Cel-Arnyn's interest in trying to help Gwestion and Bel work out, perhaps he could somehow try to use that to aid in his own 'mission'. He just had to figure out how to make it work.

He laughed a little as Tercen said he'd only do dance moves. "Right, obviously." He cleared his throat. "And sure, that's fine, I didn't mean today or anything," He assured him. "Tomorrow's fine, or whenever. I might try to get one of the girls to help out.." He added, since he did not expect the other guy to act as a dance partner for him. Although he suspected that Brooke would be difficult to convince, and he didn't know if Aislin would be busy with Seri or something, but he'd figure something out. "Anyway, I've got a few things to do later today, too, so that works out. Maybe we could plan to meet somewhere tomorrow, if you're free?"

Looking up, he noticed Trastion approaching them through the woods. "Ah, here comes our young friend again." He sat up slightly while he waited for the young ranger to reach them. "I wonder if he found out what happened with the sparring match?" He was rather curious about that.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Illicit visitor to the training grounds
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

"Tomorrow is probably fine," Tercen nodded. "How about in the afternoon? Since you need a little floor space,I don't think your and you brother'sroom at the inn would be very easy to work in," he mused casually. "And we obviously cannot do it at Arnyn's place, in case she drops in." Given it was her house, that was a likely option. "If it doesn't rain or anything, I could show you a few things in a park." He shrugged. "Plenty of those around the city, with little corners that won't have everyone gawking at you, if that should be a concern. All we'd have to do is brace the cold." Gladhron made a good point about something else, though. "If one of them would be willing to come along, that would really help matters along," he agreed. He grinned. "And allow us to stay very tough and manly," he added with a laugh.

He didn't sit up when Trastion came into view, like Gladhron did. All Tercen did was cast a look over his shoulder. Arnyn was definitely nowhere to be seen. "Tras!" he therefore greeted Trastion loud enough so the young ranger could hear if, even if they were stilll a distance away. "What'd she say?" he asked when Trastion had gotten a little closer. "Why did they stop?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

"Afternoon at a park," Gladhron nodded. "Sounds like a plan. And yes, I agree, the rooms at the inn are not really big enough. I can verify that..." He added with a little laugh, recalling his and Seri’s attempts at practicing the dance steps before. And he also agreed about not going to her place to practice this stuff, although he was a bit curious to as where she lived. "The cold isn't as harsh here as it is where I come from," He mentioned with a little smile. "Although the snow the other night was a bit surprising, it was nowhere near as much as we typically get up north. So yes, a park should be fine for me." He grinned, further amused by the mentioned of staying 'tough and manly'. "Definitely." He agreed. "I wouldn't ask that much of a favor from you," He laughed. "Anyway, if something comes up and you need to adjust the plan, you know where to find me, or at least where to leave a message." He added, just in case Tercen's plans were to be altered.

---

@Arnyn

Trastion
Joining the Gladhron and Tercen

Trastion waved and hastened to rejoin them, smirking slightly as he heard Tercen's question.

"Indeed! What happened, did you find out?" Gladhron asked, eager to hear.

"I did." Trastion leaned against a higher part of the log that they seemed to be turning into a couch. "So.. they stopped because one of them won." He answered. "Case to guess which one?"

"Ce- uh, Arnyn?"

Trastion paused, looking at him. "Which are you guessing, Kaylin or Arnyn?" He asked with a little amusement, mishearing the name Gladhron had nearly said.

"Arnyn." Gladhron insisted, but hesitated. "But there was no sound of a hit, so.. how did either of them win?"

Trastion folded his arms as he rested his shoulder on the tree trunk, glancing at Tercen. His smile grew more pleased when he heard that he also agreed. "Well, I'm sure she'd be pleased to hear you both have so much confidence in her... especially you," He added to her brother. "Not that I'm going to be telling her we watched this, but still..." He grinned. "You're right, it was Arnyn who won."

"Aha!" Gladhron grinned, feeling quite triumphant and happy for Celume for that, then returned to feeling a bit puzzled. "But still.. how?"

"Well, apparently, she got her sword in a position to strike Kaylin, seconds before Kaylin would've done the same. And they both knew that Arnyn had the hit even though she has enough control to stop her sword before actually making contact." Trastion explained, with a hint of admiration evident in his tone. That Arnyn could pull off such control even despite the swift flurry of attacks she'd been throwing, that seemed far more impressive than most other things he'd seen during the sparring match. "But Kaylin said to make sure and tell you guys that it was really, really close." He added with a little grin.

"It sure was," Gladhron agreed, thoughtful as well as noting the sound in the younger ranger's voice. He was impressed, it was pretty clear. And he should be, of course. Arnyn/ Celume was a very impressive lady, which Gladhron had taken note of the very first day he met her. He smiled, inwardly pleased for her sake that she had won, even if she would probably say that it didn't matter that much which of them won or not.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Illicit visitor to the training grounds
Late December, on the second day after Midwinter

"Right. There are several places on the second level that would work, but they are rather busy. Lots of eyes," Tercen told Gladhron. "There is a much quieter park on the Fourth. And even if you're used to being outdoors long times when it is much colder than this, I'm not. If we do it on the Fourth level, we can still go warm up at Arnyn's house when I get cold," he said with a little laugh.

When Trastion said the women had stopped sparring because one of them had won, Tercen blinked. "Really?" He frowned in thought while Tras asked Gladhron who he thought had won. He rolled his eyes when Gladhron said he thought Arnyn had won, but he still got why. Tercen wouldn't bet on anyone else, either. Besides, Kaylin had seemed much too expressive not to cheer or something in case she had won. And he hadn't seen or heard anything to declare the redhead's victory. Hence...

The explanation of how Arnyn had won, made Tercen shake his head. Clearly, Trastion was still finding new ways to be impressed by his sister. Though,honestly... Tercen got that much better, too, having seen this sparring match. He had to laugh at hearing what Kaylin had wanted Tras to tell them. "Of course," he grinned. Finally moving, he slowly got up to his feet, slightly stiff from holding the same positions for a while. The cold didn't help, either. "Well. I had best get out of here, before my luck runs out and I'm discovered," he said, using an ominous tone on the last word.

When it turned out they would all be leaving, they headed for the exit together. On the way out, Tercen asked Trastion a few questions about what Arnyn had been teaching him. Tercen was both interested to know and figured that it would be smart to be talking about 'rangery' stuff, in case anyone would be passing them by. He also asked Gladhron, who had previously shared 'Celumë' had taught him and his brother some things during their time travelling together, whether she'd taught them anything like what they'd seen here today. Tercen pulled up his hood, so his blonde hair was mostly hidden, to lessen the impression that might leave.

And that is how they walked out of the gates to the grounds, offering no more than a passing nod to the guards.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Training with Abrazimir
@Lantaelen

"Nah-ah," Pele had responded to Abrazimir's suggestion that they should avoid hits to head and neck to avoid marring their pretty faces. There was no time for her to explain that she was rather concerned about becoming healer-turned-patient and enduring endless waiting hand and foot on her by other healers. What were a few bruises in comparison to ending up in this position?

Her thrust was thrown aside, as was she when Abrazimir's shoulder collided with hers. She put effort into turning the initial stumble into a dancing retreat, readjusting her grip on one end of the staff and taking a few deeper breaths to steady herself. Her blue eyes glared icily at the knight when he asked about the status of her arms. She had learned to handle impact with her sword, making it dissipate as much as possible, but this did not seem to work that well on the staff, and she felt her arms wearying sooner that she would like.

To make the strength of her arms last longer Pele made good use of her footwork, avoiding the first attack, while she parried the second. That made her misjudge the third incoming strike, and she fell for the feint. It was too late to bring her staff around, and to avoid being hit she jumped as high as she could and felt Abrazimir's staff graze her foot when she came back down.

"Sneaky," she breathed, and made a brave attempt to step on the end of Abrazimir's staff unless he lifted it before she could execute her plan. Without undue hesitation, she went for a double attack, aiming first for his shoulder, and after a spin striking at his midriff with the same end.

[Lantaelen]

@Pele Alarion

Abrazimir Dimaethor
Sparring with Pele Alarion, Training Grounds

Silence met his taunting query. What did he expect, she was a veteran and an officer, that wouldn’t work on her! Still, he continued to grin, shameless in his playful ploy to try and get in her head. Yes, look at my stupid smile, come and hit it. That didn’t work either to provoke a challenge, as she dodged his first attack, and deflected the second, and he almost managed to knock her footing out, though she nimbly leapt over it.

And came down with her boot on his stick. Abrazimir pulled, but she had more anchorage than he realized! And finally, she was on the counter attack. She didn’t even need to hit him for him to lose his smile and he successfully ducked the first swing at his shoulder by dropping to a crouch closer to his pinned quarterstaff. But the second blow had him stuck. He raised his forearm to block it. And it hurt! It was instinctive. He was not wearing the heavy gauntlets of a knight. And having dropped down to one knee, her second blow, originally aimed at his midriff, would have struck his head. Her quarterstaff struck his forearm with a loud whack and it throbbed with pain.

He gasped, before clenching his teeth, and replied with a hard shove of his forehead into her midsection in reply, hoping to dislodge her enough to pull his quarterstaff free and spring back. Well, he got a taste of it! And though it hurt, he was soon smiling again. That…got the blood flowing. ”Ouchie.” He said very cheerily, as he shook his arm and had clear discomfort in his limb, but kept a brave face on it, as he wielded his quarterstaff one handed for a moment, trying to keep her at a distance until things got more leveled in his arm. They both got a hit, though hers was much more devastating than his. But not for long!

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Training with Abrazimir
@Lantaelen

Abrazimir was no trainee just out of parents' nest, so Pele did not go easy on him with her attacks. However, as she turned back around along with her staff she found it going straight for his head. He raised his arm to intercept the attack before she could counteract and do her best to divert the hit or lessen its strength. The turn of events had taken her slightly by surprise, and she stepped back when he headbutted her.

"I might have to bandage you up in calming ointments after we finish," Pele said, a twinkle in her blue eyes. Yet they were not done, and she might end up having to soothe bruises of her own before long. "Sorry," she added as an afterthought leaving him to guess whether she meant the attack to the head or the promised bandaging.

The Captain did not press any further attacks, moving this way and that just out of reach of Abrazimir's staff, occasionally reaching out with hers to move it away when it got too close for comfort. Yet eventually she tested him with a stab towards his knee, extending the staff as far as it could reach as she gripped it firmly with both hands at one end so as not to offer Abrazimir a chance to disarm her too easily.

[Lantaelen]

@Pele Alarion

Abrazimir Dimaethor
Sparring with Pele Alarion, Training Grounds

As they separated from the recent bout, Abrazimir took a moment to shake his forearm, as if that might further dispel the throbbing ache that still resonated in it from the block he had thrown up. It did not. But it didn’t make his limb useless. Just another nagging sensation to distract the mind, which he was used to pushing aside. Soon he had both hands gripping his quarterstaff again, ready to reengage, as the Captain threw a playful taunt his way.

Best part about training with Pele is that she’ll put one back together again after unraveling them apart. His narrowed his eyes with scrutiny at her apology, though he didn’t lose his smile. She was playing the mental game on him, wasn’t she? ”You think you’re so funny, Captain.” He remarked with dry humour. ”Your bandages couldn’t hold me!” He declared, rather nonsensically, as he advanced on her presence.

She jabbed at his knee and he quickly sidestepped, returning a whack of his own towards her forearms, indeed in an attempt to disarm her. But he missed, their sticks striking together with dull thuds and strikes. Abrazimir pivoted and used the rear end of his quarterstaff to strike across her chest, then again with the other end, trading blows right and then left, left and then right, looking to find a break in her guard.

He twirled his staff horizontally for the final strike, deliberately slamming it into her staff, hoping the unorthodox shove might cause her own staff to strike her own forehead, unless her stance was rooted better than trees in the ground.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Training with Abrazimir
@Lantaelen

"Couldn't they now?" Pele queried with a shadow of a smile playing about her lips though her attitude was not at all nonchalant and she eyed her sparring partner like a hawk watching for his attacks which shortly followed.

Abrazimir's stature and approach was imposing, and rather than stand against him full on, Pele made use of the available space to retreat slowly even while she countered his strikes. She made sure to be aware of her surroundings so that she would not end up backing against a tree or a fence or anything else solid that would restrict her movements. The last shove did catch her slightly unprepared, and she reacted by sliding one of her hands up along the staff as she leaned back. It caused her to almost taste her own left thumb as it hit her chin, stopping the pushed staff right before her face.

Another half a step back and readjustment of her hands further apart on the staff was all the preparation for a counterattack that Pele needed, and then she finally moved forward aiming to engage Abrazimir's staff at an angle that would push it slightly upwards and away. In the case her plan came to be she was prepared to strike out with her foot for his knee, while being ready to retreat again should he have expected her move and push back down on her staff immediately without giving her a chance for a kick.

[Lantaelen]

@Pele Alarion

Abrazimir Dimaethor
Sparring with Pele Alarion, Training Grounds

Abrazimir was well aware he had the size difference and intended to exploit it as much as he could. Was it fair? Obviously not, but neither was most warfare and violence, so the best way to learn was to be put in such unfair positions to begin with. To learn. But the Captain was already a veteran when he had just taken up his knighthood. She endured his onslaught, spared herself the worst excesses of his power, and shifted into a decisive counterattack of her own.

His staff was already in an awkward position from his risky gamble of an assault and she took full advantage, hitting it upwards to put it away from where it was most effectively defensively. Being bigger and taller, he was also aware his center of gravity was much higher, and therefore he was weaker and unsteady more towards the ground. Which is where she then threatened, sending alarm bells all up through his body and mind. Trying to parry down on her quarterstaff would have exposed him elsewhere. And having jeered and taunted her, playfully, he was not about to let himself be flattened in the sands so soon after!

So he was already in a mind to retreat himself, in a flighty way, though her foot would connect with his knee as he got back out of range from any further attacks. It stung, but didn’t make his joint useless or keep him out of the fight. Springing back, Abrazimir gave his leg a little shake, as if brushing off the blow, and resumed his smile. ”Not bad, Captain.” He said to her. Twirling his quarterstaff, he took hold of it near one end, wielding it like an oversized sword now, and he did a skillful lunge and pounce over the sands, intending to strike her head on with the opposite butt right onto her midsection.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Training with Abrazimir
@Lantaelen

Pele only offered a slight nod instead of responding with words as she was now wholly focused on any forthcoming attack. She remained at the ready adjusting her posture ever so slightly with how Abrazimir moved. Yet perhaps all that pouncing he did caused her to react at the last moment when he did eventually attack, and the staff grazed along her leather armoured waist as she pivoted out of the way of direct hit.

Seeing an opportunity, she held her own staff near the middle with one hand, tucking the nearest end under her armpit for better control as she freed the other hand to grab at Abrazimir's staff to give it a pull and see if she could unbalance him. However, she decided against trying to wrestle the weapon out of his hands and soon after released it in favour of handling her own staff two-handed again. Without further delay she aimed a hit towards his arms or back intending to keep him busy for a while longer before she moved backwards out of immediate attack range again.

[Lantaelen]

@Pele Alarion

Abrazimir Dimaethor
Sparring with Pele Alarion, Training Grounds

His pounce missed the Captain by the breadth of a hair and before he could recover his stance and guard, Pele had seized his outstretched quarterstaff with a firm grip, trying to yank him forward or off-kelter. Like a dragon, Abrazimir huffed through his nostrils at the challenge and in this regard he had the advantage in being bigger, anchoring his feet and pulling back against her grip, not budging an inch.

No, he was more like a bear, trying to swat a more nimble bee. He managed to yank his weapon back and only barely got it upright in an awkward position to block her next attack. She still had the hit against him from earlier and was up on the invisible scoreboard kept in their minds. He couldn’t let her get another before he evened it up a little! There was a momentarily huffed expletive as he barely blocked her attack and he recovered, swinging his quarterstaff above his head for a tremendous parry…that again missed Pele by a hair’s breath as she moved backwards.

The stick sang through the open air with a whoosh. That hit would have definitely caused damage if it landed.

But Abrazimir needed to calm down. He was overextending and being ridiculous. He adopted a more suitable grip with the quarterstaff, hands spaced apart, holding it diagonally across his body as he faced the Captain down. He took the initiative again, springing towards her, using the center of his staff between his grip to bash and shove against her own guard, trying to force an opening, using the ends of his staff to bash at her sides right after striking her own weapon.

[Pele Alarion]

Captain Pele Alarion
Training with Abrazimir
@Lantaelen

Calm calculation seemed to reflect in Pele's blue eyes as she assessed the vigour with which Abrazimir dealt out his last strike against her. If there were more of these to follow it would be best if she kept her wits about her and did not lose vigilance even for a moment else she would end up having to give a lengthy account of how the latest injuries were acquired because healer Linaiwe had a way of sniffing out even the smallest issue related to Pele's health regardless of levels of secrecy she managed to set up.

Thus, she eyed her opponent from a safe distance only for a moment before he came at her again. Abrazimir came against her with such intensity that she could barely deflect most of the onslaught feeling somewhat trapped in a fight which was too close for her comfort and made it difficult to evade and escape to a more comfortable distance easily. While she did her best to manage the quarterstaff as well as she knew how, one of the hits landed against her side and made her breathing stall for a moment - it hurt even with the padding and leather armour, and she was sure there'd be a nice bruise after.

Disregarding the discomfort from the hit, Pele breathed out slowly even as her hands worked quickly to return a strike towards Abrazimir's legs and one towards his abdomen as she attempted to make space enough to disengage and regain some distance and find a moment or two to recover.

[Lantaelen]

@Pele Alarion

Abrazimir Dimaethor
Sparring with Pele Alarion, Training Grounds

The Captain was regarding him with scrutiny now, Abrazimir assuming she was making combative calculations based on some invisible rubric in her mind. The more he waited and marshaled his strength and stamina, the greater a web of schemes and ploys could be woven against him. He had to strike fast! Make use of his advantages before she nullified his brawn with her brain.

He bore down upon her with a massive onslaught and with his impetus, managing to score a hit on her side, with a not so silent whack. That made him at once feel bad for striking a woman but everyone consented to this, right? Now they were tied but Abrazimir was singularly focused on the bout. Pele launched a counterattack that at once faltered his attacks and put him on the defense. His lower guard was absent and he in fact moved his leg outwards to meet her blow there, eating it though it was quite painful. But he had his quarterstaff still up and ready for her strike to his abdomen, which he parried easily.

Once again, he swung up for a great counter attack of his own, but Pele evaded back and his stick swooshed through the air with tremendous effect, but ultimately, futile. She had shifted away in time.

She backed off and Abrazimir began to circle, though within two steps he felt the lance of pain in his leg. He tried his hardest to play it off like it was nothing. All apart of the plan. No, they were tied! Definitely not two-to-one for her. ”How’s the ribs?” He tried to deflect any attention on his leg by referencing the hit he got on hers. Hopefully not too painful, but hard enough to count as a hit. ”A hit to the other side, everything will return to equilibrium. I promise.” He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously. This time he would wait for her onslaught. She might scheme up something in that time but it was worth the risk to get his leg to simmer down a little.

[Rillewen]

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground entrance/gate
December 26th, early afternoon

"What do you mean, you still can't let me in?" Gwestion demanded with a hint of frustration. "I have the permission slip, today." He held out the paper which he had already handed to the guard, and which had been handed back to him, all while trying to make sense of why he was being denied access, yet again. "Does that not say that I have the captain's permission to enter?" He managed to keep his tone calm and level, betraying only a hint of the annoyance he was keeping in check.

"It says that a ranger of the North, by the name of Gwestion, has permission." The guard agreed. "But we already let that fellow through, the other day. And he didn't look anything like you."

His partner nodded in agreement. "That's right. I remember them well, and you were not one of them."

Gwestion lowered his hand, and the paper in it, to his side. Staring incredulously at the two men. Were they playing some sort of prank on him? But why? Why would they? They didn't know him. Had Gladhron put them up to it? He would not put it past his brother, but this seemed to be carrying it a bit too far. "I am Gwestion." He informed them, frowning slightly. "Do I not sound like I have come from the North?" He pointed out what should have been obvious to the men.

"Accents can be faked," One shrugged. "Besides, you already came by without a permission slip, and now you come back with the same one we saw another fellow using. How're we to know you didn't steal it off of him?" The guard raised an eyebrow challengingly.

Gwestion folded his arms and stared at him, meeting the challenge with a skeptically raised eyebrow. Mentally, he encouraged the fellow to use his brain to solve this issue without Gwestion having to spell it out for him. Obviously, one of those had been Gladhron. So, if the other fellow had used Gwestion's permission slip to gain access, then he would have been claiming to be Gladhron's brother. But did that fellow look anything like Gladhron? That ought to have been a rather obvious flaw in this whole thing, right? And yet, the guards were refusing to let Gwestion through, when he clearly looked and sounded like his brother? Really?

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds entrance/gate - December 26th, early afternoon

She hadn't exactly been meaning to listen in. It was kind of difficult not to, though. The discussion between the guy she didn't know and was trying to get onto the training grounds, versus the guards, was getting a little louder the longer it continued.

And as Kaylin heard more of the exchange, she tilted her head. It was not that difficult to put two and two together, given that Gladhron and Tercen had basically discussed using Gladhron's brother's permission slip to get Tercen into TG. She felt kind of bad for Gladhron's brother - Gwestion, the exchange between him and the guards reminded her - but...

Bah, whatever.

Finally stepping forward, she made a half-apologetic, half-impatient face at the guards. "Hey, fellas. Just trying to get in - d'you mind if I just go on ahead and leave you to... whatever this is?" she asked them.

One of the guards glanced at her and nodded. "Oh, hey K. Sure, go on in."

She shot a curious glance at the stranger, turned away and - then turned back. "Wait... Gwestion?" Not giving him so much as a moment to respond, Kaylin laughed heartily. "Fancy seeing you here! So you made it, huh?" Smiling, she faced the guards. "What's wrong? Did the command not sign their names on the dotted line or something? You do know they're really busy, right? Perfect penmanship probably isn't high on their priority list."

The guard who'd told her to go right in, looked confused. "You know him? It's just that - he has a permission slip that was used by someone else, just a few days ago. Someone who came along with another guy, who had a permission slip of his own."

Kaylin looked unimpressed. "Well - I don't know who you let in 'a few days ago', Ron, but I can tell you that this is definitely Gwestion," she told him and his companion, while gesturing at the man next to her. Who she'd never set eyes on before. "So stop being a pair of asses and let him go through, alright? I'll keep an eye on him, if it'll set your minds at ease." Kaylin raised an eyebrow. "Unless you're questioning whether I'm telling you the truth?"

The guard stared at her, clearly no longer knowing what to do. The second guard looked doubtful. "But if you are Gwestion," he said, looking at the Northern Ranger, "then who used your permission slip to get in, before?"

Kaylin laughed. "Umm, how is he supposed to know that? Besides, do you really think someone stole his permission slip to get in here, and after 'committing the crime' actually returned it to the rightful owner? The other guy, whoever he was, probably used a forgery. Either way, I see no reason to judge the actual person who rightfully obtained permission to train here. Do you?"

"Guess not," the guard mumbled. "Sorry," he added, to Gwestion.

Kaylin clapped Gwestion on the shoulder and grinned at the guards. "I'm sure it's no trouble," she stated confidently, looking at Gwestion as if checking for confirmation. "We cleared it right up, didn't we? Come on, let's go in! It's too cold to chit chat while standing still out here." After guiding him through the TG entrance, she leaned in a little to talk to him quietly enough so the guards would not hear, in case they were still paying attention. "Hey. I'm Kaylin. I met your brother already. Nice to meet you, too, Gwestion," she grinned, before taking her hand off his shoulder. "So, what were you looking to do out here?" she asked him.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground entrance/gate
December 26th, early afternoon

As a woman stepped up asking if she might get in, Gwestion stepped slightly aside, not wishing to hold up any others from entering. He did not know why the guards were being so difficult about letting him through, but apparently, they had no such problem with this woman. He was considering whether he ought to give an apology to her, in case she had been waiting to get around him for long; he hadn't noticed her standing there until she spoke, and he hoped he hadn't been blocking the way for long. But then she suddenly addressed him by name as if they were old friends, startling him.

Gwestion blinked in confusion as the woman he did not know then proceeded to turn to the guards.. and defend him. While his first instinct was to go 'Sorry, do I know you?´ He deemed it best to wait and see what was going to happen, first. And to his amazement, not only did she claim to know him, but then convinced the guards to let him through. With a not so completely honest story, but one that worked, just the same. Gwestion tilted his head slightly as he regarded her, wondering why she had come to his aid, and yet at the same time, grateful.

When the guard, Ron, asked 'then who did we let in?' Gwestion kept quiet. In fact, he was pretty sure he knew exactly who it was that had used his permission slip to get in, although he couldn't have said why... but he also felt it best not to get Gladhron's new friend in trouble. That was likely to make him rather unpopular with both his brother, and Celume's brother. And the guy had been nice and friendly to Gwestion, despite whatever Gladhron had probably told him about him. So, Gwestion simply remained quiet and let.. K? do the talking here.

It seemed she was rather quick-thinking, which brought a hint of a smile to one corner of his mouth, but not enough for the guards to take much notice of. He kept his gaze on them while inwardly wondering who in Middle Earth this red-haired woman might be. Upon receiving a mumbled apology from the guard, Gwestion merely nodded. "No hard feelings." He assured the man. He had been somewhat annoyed, but it wasn't as if he wasn't used to that, thanks to his brother. While he wasn't really expecting her to clap his shoulder like they were good buddies, he gave no indication of the fact he had never met this woman before. Also, he had no arguments when she suggested going on in, and gladly started through the gates with his unknown ally, intending to ask her a few questions once they got through.

However, a thought struck him as he passed the guards, and he paused to speak to them. "One moment," He said, thoughtful. "This fellow who.. forged my permission slip and entered, using my name," He paused. "You said there were two men? What about the other fellow, who must have been an accomplice to the other? Wouldn't he have to have been involved in this deception? It seems to me he must have known what the other was doing." He asked. "Wouldn't you say that is an infraction of the rules?" He asked innocently.

"Uh, yes. Of course, you're right." The man frowned.

"Yes, I thought so." Gwestion answered, a hint of mischief glinting in his eyes, though he hid it pretty well. "Then, the next time that fellow tries to come through, whether his slip is genuine or not.. I would recommend denying him entry, same as you did me just now." He shrugged casually. "But, that is only my suggestion. I cannot tell you what to do." He added, leaving it up to them.

"That is an excellent idea, sir." The guard agreed. "We'llmake sure he doesn't get past us, next time. Have a good day."

Gwestion dipped his head and hid a little smile as he turned away. "Thank you. You, as well." He replied politely. No, he didn't snitch on his brother or his friend. But that didn't mean Gwestion couldn't get a little innocent payback on the one who was behind this all. Let Gladhron be inconvenienced for a little while, in return.

As he and 'K' got past the guards, Gwestion wondered what she might be about to say when she leaned in to speak to him. Perhaps she would not like what he had done there. But, if she was, at the moment, anyway, she only seemed interested in introducing herself and asking about his goals here today. "Pleased to meet you, Kaylin. And thank you, for that." He added, with a small gesture back toward the gate to indicate what he meant. Kaylin? He had heard that name, not that long ago. That, put together with the knowledge that she had met his brother... he gave a little nod. 'Lady Butterfly', he recalled Celume telling him was the lady's real name.

As for what his goals were for the day, he took a look around briefly. "Well, I am meant to be meeting C-" He quickly caught himself, "Your lieutenant, Arnyn Dealedwen, at the obstacle course, later. But I wanted to come early to get a look around." He had brought both his bow, and his sword. "I hoped to try out the archery range she spoke of, for a little while at least. But I would also like to check out anything else there is. A bit of sword practice would be surely not be remiss, or... I don't know what else this place has to offer, actually. This is the first time I have been able to get inside." He explained.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds entrance/gate - December 26th, early afternoon

"You're welcome," she said lightly when Gwestion thanked her. "Oh, you're meeting with Arnyn?" She frowned. "How did that happen? I thought neither you nor your brother knew her? Did you get into trouble already?" she laughed quietly. "Or did she want to speak with you for herself, since you'll be using the grounds?" That last suggestion did sound like an Arnyn thing to do. To make sure everything was on the up-and-up.

When Gwestion said he was curious what kind of things they had here, Kaylin gave him a curious look. "Well... we have everything, I guess. The archery range is as good a place as any to start your exploration." Kaylin tapped the end of the shortbow sticking out above her shoulder. "I was planning on going there today, too. If you'd like some company?" With a brief gesture of her hand, she indicated she would lead the way. And if he didn't wish for company, she could just take a lane further away from him or something.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground entrance/gate
December 26th, early afternoon

Gwestion glanced at her curiously when she expressed surprise that he would be meeting with Arnyn, and furthermore, when she mentioned that she thought they didn't know her. He tilted his head with a bit of curiosity of his own, wondering where she had gotten that idea. "Did Gladhron tell you that?" He asked neutrally, unable to think of anywhere else she would have gotten such information. He debated whether to mention that they had known her for a while, in the North, but then... he didn't really know this lady. Even if she knew Arnyn, he didn't know how much he wanted to tell her. "She was interested in seeing how well my brother and I managed the obstacle course," He answered simply, deciding not to mention anything else about it, and also assuming that there was only one course.

Hearing that they had 'everything', he gave a slow little nod, inwardly a bit amused. "I suppose you do," he agreed. "I'm not sure what 'everything' entails, however." He explained apologetically. "You see, I've never been to a.. training grounds, such as this. Aside from the things my father built for us when we were growing up, to practice on, I mean." He added, to clarify. "But that was.. nowhere near so extensive as this."

The archery range was indeed a good place to start. He nodded his agreement. "That sounds good," he agreed, motioning for her to lead the way. "And no, I don't mind company." He replied, finding it rather easy to see why Gladhron had apparently befriended her so easily; she was much like him, from what he could tell. And, while he wasn't planning on telling her anything personal, he didn't mind having a bit of company while seeing what the training grounds had to offer. After all, this wasn't really the same as encountering a random stranger out in the wilds, who could turn out to be anyone. They were in a closely guarded training area that was specifically designated for rangers, and the guards had clearly known her. And Celume also knew her, he recalled.

It must be nice, he thought absently, to work around so many others who were comrades, and who you knew well enough to know you could trust them. It was so very different from what he and Gladhron were accustomed to.. and he could already imagine it would be difficult for his brother to leave, when the time came.

As they reached the archery lanes, Gwestion stood for a moment, a bit impressed by this place. The many lanes, allowing for so many archers to shoot at once. It was much better than he had expected to find. "Any particular rules I ought to know about?" He asked, glancing at Kaylin to check, as he paused to set some of his things aside and ready his bow. After all, this seemed a bit more formal than anywhere he'd ever practiced, before.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds entrance/gate - December 26th, early afternoon

Kaylin shrugged at Gwestion's question. "There was talk about Arnyn at the inn, a few days back," she said, trying to avoid mentioning Arnyn's brother, since he was the one who'd used Gwestion's permission slip. "The day after the dance. Gladhron said something about being interested in meeting her. So, one would assume? Was he lying about that?" she asked Gwestion with an expression that told him she thought that would be very bizarre. "Why would he lie about knowing someone? Especially knowing Arnyn?" She rolled her eyes. "Almost everyone knows her, or of her, at least. Was he trying to figure out what we really thought about her or something?" That could be it, she supposed. But he'd seemed so genuine! Then Gladhron was an excellent liar, and she'd have to remember that.

She blinked at his explanation about never having been to any sort of training grounds. "Oh," she said, wrapping her mind around that. "Oh. Okay. Then you should love this," she promised, a grin spreading across her face. Happy when he said he wouldn't mind company, Kaylin happily guided him to the archery lanes. They passed a training area with several training dummies on the way, as well as a collection of bars at different heights. "Great! I come here often, like every ranger here does - but I alone is just that," she explained. "It's always better with some company."

When they arrived at the range, she grinned as she watched Gwestion ogling it. When he asked about the rules, she raised her eyebrows minutely. Then she grinned again. "Rules?" she asked, laughing. "Well, I don't know. Shoot the targets, not people?" Snickering, she chose one of the nearby lanes and unhooked her bow from the quiver on her back. Drawing an arrow from her quiver, she nocked it, took aim and released. The result was satisfying enough, only slightly off the bullseye - and the target was pretty far away in her lane. "Come on," she urged Gwestion. "Want to have a little competition? I promise I'm not a sore loser." Kaylin grinned. "Kind of an annoying winner, maybe."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground entrance/gate, then archery range
December 26th, early afternoon

Listening to her explanation about how that matter had come up, Gwestion nodded slowly as they walked. Her question about whether Gladhron had been lying, however, made him shake his head. "No, he may exaggerate with details a bit too often, but he does not tell deliberate lies," he assured her. He considered the situation for a moment. "I'm sure that the reason he said he did not know who Arnyn was, is because he did not know who Arnyn was." He explained, although with a nearly imperceptible emphasis on the second 'Arnyn'. "We are not from this area, after all." He reminded her of what he figured his brother must have already made known. "While you would, obviously, know your lieutenant quite well, we have only been in town for a few days. I, for instance, had never heard that name before three days ago."

Along the way to the archery range, he glanced around, taking in the various sights, and wondered about the bars at different heights that he saw in one of the training areas, but he didn't ask. "It does make it difficult to train in some things, alone." He agreed with her comment. This place was excellent, he decided, after seeing only a few things.

He was a bit puzzled why she laughed when he asked about rules, but it seemed like there were nothing unusual, at least. He nodded when she mentioned not shooting people, and he allowed a faint smile. "I'll try my best." He answered, drawing an arrow from his own quiver. Her suggestion of a competition made him pause before he had placed it on his string. Competition, hm. He wasn't willing to judge her skill based on that first arrow, and therefore didn't dare assume that he would be the better archer between them. A competition might be interesting. "Alright, sure." he agreed, curious how that would turn out. "Closest grouping of arrows wins? Or do you have another idea?" He asked. "Also, how many arrows do you have? We should each have the same number," He explained his reason for asking. Since he kept as many arrows as he could fit into his quiver, he had little doubt that he had more than she did. He took out as many of his arrows as he needed to remove from his quiver, and set them aside so that they would have the same number.

Once a few little details had been decided, he took aim and fired. It was quite a satisfactory shot, he thought with a tiny nod, upon seeing where the arrow went into the target. He'd made sure that his worst arrows were the ones that he removed, so that he had less need to worry about that. His quiver was full of assorted arrows that he had gathered from wherever he could acquire them, and he'd spent plenty of time familiarizing himself with how each different arrow type affected his aim.

The next one was very close to it. And the one after that. The fourth didn't fly as straight, to his annoyance, but the next one made up for it. By the time he had shot all twenty-four arrows, one after the other in quick succession, Gwestion was beginning to find it difficult to see the center of the target, for all of the arrows sticking in it. Once he had finished shooting his arrows, he lowered his bow and looked to see how she was doing.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds - December 26th, early afternoon

"Okaaaaay," she drawled, giving him a curious look. "So he did not know who she was. Then? And now he does? But it surprised you to hear me saying he did not know her, even though you'd never heard her name three days ago." She shrugged. "Alright. Keep your secrets," she told him, making a face. "As for me knowing her, it's been a bit of a ride," Kaylin laughed. "I think I've gotten to know her. Some parts better than others." She shrugged again. "The Lieutenant can be rather unpredictable. Which means, I guess, I don't really know her all that well, yet? I like her, though." Even if it had gone back and forth once or twice, in recent months her opinion on Arnyn had settled firmly on the positive side. "For your sake, though, I hope you are on her good side." She flashed Gwestion a grin.

"Sounds fine to me," she agreed easily to his suggestion of how to determine the winner. After telling him she had two dozen arrows, she watching him take out a bunch of arrows from his quiver and move them aside. She also watched his first few shots, before nodded with a resigned expression on her face and preparing her second arrow.

He was better. Better than her. She could tell from glancing over to his target after a few arrows. And again after yet a few more. She was decent, good even, having received more than a little instruction from Thûllir. Her arrows did not go beyond the second closest ring to the center. But Gwestion's arrows were all clustered within the center and the first ring. Very closely together indeed.

"Well," she said easily, lowering her bow as she looked away from the targets and gave Gwestion a broad smile. "Congratulations! You've got me beat." There really was no question. "I can also see why you obtained access to the grounds, even though you're not one of ours," she complimented him amicably. Tilting her head as she looked at the sword by his side, her smile changed a little. "Want to try something else, next?" She tapped the short sword at her belt and indicated a sparring area on the far side of the range.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground archery range
December 26th, early afternoon

"Did I sound surprised?" He asked genuinely, trying to think back. He hadn't meant to inflect any surprise into his tone, but he may have done so, unintentionally. He offered a faint smile when she said 'keep your secrets'. He intended to do just that, and therefore offered no further explanation. Gladhron would probably explain it all to her next time he saw her, if he knew his brother. So, she would surely hear about it sooner or later, but he didn't see any reason to tell her anything that she really had no reason to know.

He listened, while shooting his arrows, as Kaylin spoke about how well she knew, or didn't know, the lieutenant. Gwestion nodded thoughtfully in agreement. "I know what you mean," He mentioned. He had also thought he knew her rather well, in the North. But now, coming here to her home city, he had already seen bits and pieces of her that seemed rather different from the Celume he knew then. Of course, it had been years, and it wasn't as if she were totally different, but there were small differences. As far as being on her good side or not, Gwestion glanced sideways at her briefly. "Why? What does she do to those she dislikes?" he inquired, curious whether she had any interesting insights as to what one might expect, if they were on her 'bad side'. He had very nearly been there, once or twice, himself. And he had seen how she was toward enemies like bandits. But that was different than being annoyed or angry with a comrade.

Once their competition had concluded, he was glad to note that she was true to her word, and not a sore loser. "You're very good," He complimented her shooting, meaning it sincerely, although he wasn't entirely sure what she meant about being able to see why he'd gained access to the grounds. That was because he was a ranger, even if not a ranger of Gondor, not because he could shoot well. But he didn't ask about what she meant. When she tapped her sword and suggested trying 'something else', he gave a little nod. "Yes, that would be nice." he agreed slightly eagerly. "I haven't had a chance to practice against someone else in some time. Let me get my arrows, first, though." He added, preferring not to leave them in the target and go off elsewhere.

Once the arrows had been collected from the targets, he let Kaylin lead the way over to the sparring area. "How do you usually go about your sparring?" He asked, on the way. "The way that my brother and I practice may not be the same way you do, but I will adhere to whatever you prefer." He laid his bow, arrows, and any other things aside, so that he had only his blades, and looked toward Kaylin to see what sort of gear she was keeping on her, and what she was laying aside, as well as wondering how much armor she intended to wear for this. As for his own armor, he had only what he was wearing; a leather jerkin, archer's gauntlets, and boot coverings to protect his shins.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds - December 26th, early afternoon

"The fact that you asked made you sound surprised," she told him. "Not so much your tone." She played with tone often enough to know how all that worked... "Although," she reconsidered thoughtfully, "perhaps you were talking in disapproval rather than surprise?" Kaylin was testing, trying to get a response. "But that seems less likely... Since you claim your brother does not lie..."

Kaylin laughed at his question. "She impales them and then roasts them over a fire," she joked. Grinning, she shrugged. "I guess it's not that important since you're not actually serving under her authority. She could get you kicked out of this place with a flick of her finger, though. Unless -" Kaylin began, her blue-grey eyes sparkling a little. "Unless you want to be friends with her. Which you obviously wouldn't be able to do if you're on her bad side." She made a face. "I know she's my ranking offcier and all. But we've also become friends. I imagine it'd be rather... unpleasant... to get iced out." She was convinced Arnyn would be very good at that.

"Thank you," she grinned at his compliment about her shooting. "You're better than good. You shoot like my man does. His primary weapon is the bow. He taught me a lot." She retrieved her own arrows while Gwestion was retrieving his, and she watched more carefully than she was letting on as he added the other arrows back to his quiver as well. The ones he had removed.

At his question about the sparring, Kaylin hummed thoughtfully. "Well... you and I are only wearing leathers," she stated her observations. "So either we use practice swords... Or we gear up with the armour available here." She gestured at the shack positioned in between several sparring areas. "There is a lot in there. Even more in the mail building," she nodded to the structure removed a good ways off. "Last time I sparred here, it was against the Lieutenant actually. We geared up fully so we could use our actual weapons. It's more risky, of course. Maybe we should wear helmets, this time, if we do that," she added with a little mumble. "I may have gotten carried away for a moment..."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground archery range
December 26th, early afternoon

Gwestion thought back to the question. He had asked if Gladhron had told her that they didn't know Arnyn. "I don't like to assume things," He explained. "I guessed that Gladhron must have been the one who told you that, since I can think of no one else who would have been told you such a thing, but I only wanted to confirm that it was him." He answered, while still neither confirming or denying whether it was true.

Her jest about what Arnyn does to those she dislikes made him a bit amused inwardly. He looked down as he focused on how he arranged the arrows he returned to his quiver, in such a way that the arrows that didn't fly as well would remain on the outer edges, so he could more easily tell them from the better ones, which would remain in the center. "Well, then," He glanced up at Kaylin after finishing, a little glint of humor showing in his eyes, as the only hint to betray his humor, "Thank you for the warning. I shall do my very best not to get on her bad side. Given the choice between getting cooked, getting iced, or being her friend... the latter seems the most appealing choice."

He was a bit curious when she mentioned him shooting 'like her man', who had taught her a lot. "I can tell you've been taught well." He mentioned. "He must be quite good. Is he also a ranger?" He wondered, curious how many other rangers there were, here, and how many he might end up meeting.

As she debated about whether to use practice swords, or to gear up with other stuff, Gwestion glanced toward the shack she had indicated. He considered that for a moment, then tilted his head when she mentioned helmets. "Carried away?" he wondered, raising an eyebrow curiously. After a brief pause to consider the options she had mentioned, he spoke up with his own suggestion, "Perhaps...practice swords, then? I don't know how well I would manage, wearing unfamiliar gear." He explained, just a bit awkwardly. He indicated what he was wearing. "This is all I have, so to add a lot of things I'm not used to.. it wouldn't give the best representation of my skill. And, since those items would be remaining here after I leave, it doesn't seem to me that it would be very productive to train while wearing gear that I wouldn't be wearing, in a real situation." He tried to explain his thinking in a way that would make sense to someone besides just himself.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds - December 26th, early afternoon

"You have a sneaky way with words," she told him, although she did not sound judgmental about it. It was merely an observation she made. She didn't understand at all what Gwestion was getting at in regards to not knowing Arnyn - it all seemed very confusing to her. But since she wasn't really invested, and the man was clearly not inclined to share, what did it matter? She could just let it go. At least he seemed to have appreciated her joking about not getting on Arnyn's bad side.

"He is excellent," she said proudly, with a smile on her face. "And yes, he is," she confirmed. "He used to be a ranger of Ithilien while I was a soldier in the army. Now we're both in the King's rangers," she gave a brief summary.

Kaylin shrugged. "That can happen," she said about getting carried away. After listening to his reasoning, she nodded. "That's true. Practice swords then. And then we won't need to waste time with the armour, either."
After taking off her bow, quiver and her sword, she put them all together at one edge of the sparring area. "Shortswords, I imagine?" she asked, not expecting him to contradict it, since she'd taken note of the sword he carried. And it was all the same to her. After a brief search in the shack, she closed it behind her and presented Gwestion with one of the practice weapons. Kaylin was grinning. "So how good are your skills?" Her grin broadened. "Should I be holding back, ooooooor?" she teased.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground sparring ring
December 26th, early afternoon

A sneaky way with words? Gwestion considered this, wondering if she meant anything by it, but she did not seem annoyed or suspicious or any such thing. It sounded like just an observation. He offered a faint little smile, and was glad when she seemed to drop the matter. He was reluctant to go around telling everyone he met that he knew Arnyn, and from where, and anything else that might come up from that. If Kaylin did not already know that her Lieutenant had made some friends whilst traveling in the north, then was it really for him to tell? Therefore, he was glad that she did not press the issue.

Hearing that she had been in the army, he was slightly surprised, but listened curiously as she spoke of being in the King's rangers, now. "It seems there are many of you in the King's rangers," he commented curiously. "I had no idea there were so many, until I was at the headquarters, obtaining permission to use the grounds here," He explained. "Do you enjoy it?"

It seemed that she appreciated his logic concerning the practice swords, so he was glad they agreed about that. "Yes, a short sword, please." He answered her inquiry, and while Kaylin went to get those, he set his own sword aside near the rest of his gear. When she returned and offered him one of the practice weapons, he took it with a grateful nod and took a brief moment to inspect it, and to get a feel for the weight and balance.

Her question gave him pause, however. That was a tricky question, since he did not know what her skills were, either. He couldn't exactly give a comparison of his skills versus hers, without that knowledge. He looked up with a thoughtful tilt of his head before replying. "I suppose we'll find out, won't we?" He certainly wasn't about to boast of his skills being this or that, nor did he want to downplay his abilities and give her a false impression of what he was capable of. So, he preferred to let her draw her own conclusions while they sparred. "If I need you to hold back, I will let you know," he added, unsure whether she might be the same skill level as Arnyn, considering they did train at the same place. At least, if that were the case, he had some prior experience with sparring with Arnyn, and so he should know what to expect. Hopefully.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds - December 26th, early afternoon

"Many, and yet not so many at the same time," Kaylin said with a shrug. She was ill inclined to dive into the subject too deeply. She still missed the camaraderie she had known between the regular soldiers, to be honest. It felt a little different now. Thankfully, some of the other soldiers she knew had also become rangers. Still, it wasn't the same. "It has its advantages." Like having her husband home with her. And being able to retain most of her activities as a soldier, even if it was a different kind of unit. That Pele had been made Captain, was pretty great, too. And she'd warmed up to Arnyn, both as a Lieutenant and a friend.

When he replied to her questions about his skills and whether or not she needed to hold back, she held herself back from laughing a little and just grinned. The grin grew when he told her he would tell her if she needed to hold back. "Well aaaaaalright. I just hope you're good, then," she mumbled with a lopsided grin.

At the very least, she offered him the chance to adopt a fighting stance before she stepped forward and launched a flurry of attacks on him. Her sword almost seemed to whip, rather than slash, and pierce rather than stab. He had basically said not to hold back, hadn't he? Kaylin wouldn't want to insult him by holding back anyway - without him requesting it from her. She did note that she was more often than not whipping and piercing the air rather than his practice sword. Gwestion was doing a pretty good job at evading her attacks, weaving and stepping out of the way, circling around the area. But Kaylin was experienced, and she did not easily let him escape the range of her own practice weapon. He was outmatched - but there was no panic in his expression, and he did not quickly call for a halt. Kaylin liked that. It showed character! He would lose this, though. There was hardly any doubt about that...

(Gwestion's actions were agreed upon with Rillewen)

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground sparring ring
December 26th, early afternoon

Many, and yet not so many at the same time. Her answer was just the sort of answer that he might have given, and he appreciated that. He thought about that for a moment and could sort of see how both could be true. He gave a slow nod as he considered the fact that, compared to what it must have been like before, compared to now. For him, to see several rangers all in one place together seemed like a lot. But he had seen, briefly anyway, how many people there were fighting, during the war. For Kaylin, being from here, compared to before, this must not seem like very many at all.

The way she grinned after saying she hoped he was good made Gwestion wonder what he was missing. But he was about to find out, so he didn't ask. And it didn't take long to find out, either. It was hard to even keep track of her sword, it moved so fast. Gwestion was forced to back away and dodge as fast as he could, and although he did manage to block some now and then, mostly he was having to retreat and circle away from her.

It didn't take very long before he was tired, but he did his best to remain focused and calm, and not let himself give in to any sense of panic. It was only a sparring session, but staying calm in practice was how one stayed calm in a real situation, after all. Even though he knew from the beginning that he was outmatched, he still tried his best to keep from getting "killed" too soon. In a way, it reminded him of that first night when Celume had joined them in escorting the Millson's back to Bree, when that bandit Ruby had attacked. Though it had been years ago, he still remembered that desperate fight, and how he'd had to have Gladhron's help in defeating her. That had been for real. This, thankfully, was not. But that didn't mean he was willing to give up just because it wasn't real. That's what training was for, right? To test yourself, and push yourself beyond your limits.

Ducking, dodging, weaving, circling, pivoting.. it was wearing him out, tiring him quickly. He was breathing hard, and there was barely a chance to even try to block anything. Only occasionally did he manage to do so, but several times, while attempting to block, he felt the edgeless practice sword strike his fingers, because he didn't get his sword up to block quite fast enough, and he knew he'd be missing some fingertips by now if they had been using sharpened blades. His fingers were stinging, but that only told him he needed to block faster, next time.

He didn't call for a halt despite how much he wanted to. It wasn't like an enemy in a real situation would let up on him, after all, so it was still good for training, right? As he grew tired, and a bit more desperate, he tried to pull off a few more daring techniques that he hoped she might not expect, but in the end, it would come as no surprise to either of them when Kaylin inevitably won the round with a circular move that flipped his sword out of his hand, sending it partway across the ring. His instinct would have been to duck past her and try to retrieve it, but before he could do anything, he found his way blocked by the point of her sword at his neck.

Gwestion was breathing hard as he gave a little nod to acknowledge her win. Holding his stinging fingers in his left hand, he took a moment to try and catch his breath. "I'm glad we're on the same side," He told her with a little amusement, taking a moment to then wipe a little sweat from his forehead, with his left hand, trying to ignore the fingers of his right that felt bruised. "Perhaps, you might hold back just a bit?" He added, acknowledging that her skill far surpassed his own.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds - December 26th, early afternoon

She did start wondering if he was ever going to ask her to hold back. But since he didn't... Kaylin didn't, either. Well - holding back could be a debatable term, she supposed. It wasn't like she was pulling out things like she would if this were a life and death fight. Or like she was fighting like she'd needed in the match with Arnyn. Since Gwestion was less of a threat, she didn't exactly need to pull out all the stops.

He made a few moves she hadn't seen before, though, which interested her. And which she would not have seen if she'd chosen to end the fight sooner. She liked swordplay, though, and saw no reason to end it quickly. What would either of them learn, then, anyway? Save for the fact that she was more advanced in this?
At some point, however, she could not resist. She used one of the disarming moves she liked best, and a pleased smile spread across her face when it worked. She didn't let her smugness distract her, though, and with a sharp move of the practice blade, she had the end pointing just at the base of his neck.

She chuckled at his words. "Surprised?" she asked, tilting her head as she raised her own weapon and casually rested the practice blade on her shoulder. "Perhaps I should have said that the sword is my expertise..." She nodded at his request to hold back a little. "A bit," she repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What does that mean?" Already trying to reach a decision on her own, she slid the sword back off her shoulder while she deliberated. "You did a few things I'm not very familiar with," she told him, "Near the end. If there is anything I did you are interested in, maybe we could show each other," she suggested. "It can serve as a little break of sorts, before we try again?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Visiting Ranger of the North, Gwestion
Training Ground sparring ring
December 26th, early afternoon

Was he surprised? Gwestion both was, and wasn't, in a way. Considering the way she had seemed so eager to get into swordplay, he realized that he ought not be surprised. And the fact that Arnyn came from here. Maybe all of their rangers were this skilled with a sword. The thought of that made him feel rather inadequate, in comparison. But at the same time, he'd had no way of knowing that Kaylin would be this skilled, nor that sword was her specialty, apparently. "I suppose 'surprised' is one way of putting it," He admitted with a tiny little upward tilt of one corner of his mouth.

As for what 'a bit' meant, he hesitated as he tried to think. What did he want? "Maybe... enough that I don't have to focus entirely on evasion?" He suggested, unsure of the best way of putting that. "While I feel there are benefits to training against someone more skilled than I am," He said as he went to retrieve his sword, "it is also good to be able to focus on technique, too."

Wiping a bit of dust from his blade, he turned back to look at her, at her suggestion. An exchange of knowledge? That was an excellent idea, he thought. "A breather would be nice," He agreed, still catching his breath. "What things were you not familiar with? There were some of yours that I had never seen before, either. I am always eager to learn new things, especially things that could safe my life, or other's lives, out there." He made a general nod in the Northward direction.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Hyandaner Kaylin
Training Grounds - December 26th, early afternoon

Kaylin tried to explain two things he had done that was new to her, trying to reproduce it with what she had seen. She more or less managed from the first try with one of the moves, but some additional correction from Gwestion was definitely still called for. For the second move, he had to show her again before she could try and reproduce it, but Kaylin was clearly having a good time learning something new. She grinned easil and laughed amiably more than once, and when the time came that Gwestion asked her about some of her own moves, she happily showed him a few things in return, making sure he could mimic them properly before moving on.

She found Gwestion to be rather different from what she'd seen of his brother at the inn, even though she realized it might be an early conclusion based on meeting both of them just once. Yet even if her first impressions were correct, Kaylin didn't think much of it. Gladhron was more like her, and Gwestion more like Thûllir, as far as she could tell. And if one set worked well together, why wouldn't the other? Of course... the relationship was... wildly different. Grinning at this thought, she stepped back from the northern ranger. "Want to try again, then? I'll try and hold back enough so you don't have to run away from me anymore..." With a grin, she shrugged... sort of apologetically.