Minas Tirith Streets and Levels (Free RP)

[Rillewen]

@Lantaelen

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Dulinneth, Toggornir, & Eryn Raedor
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meeting Brooke, Chewy, & Gwestion
Dec 24, afternoon
2nd level, outside the dress shop

Brooke was a little relieved when Gaer said that they didn't mind, and even went so far as to say that she was glad to meet new people. She smiled faintly as Linn spoke up in agreement, then her smile grew a bit more as she was surprised to hear Gaer speak in elvish! To Chewy. "You speak elvish?" Brooke asked, also reverting to the elven speech. Did this new acquaintance speak it fluently, or did she only know a few phrases? Brooke was curious to know.

It was even more of a surprise when she invited Brooke to join them in the dress shop. But she didn't actually have money to go buying new dresses and such, and Brooke hesitated at the offer, a little unsure whether she ought to. Yet... she did have a few things she'd like to talk to Eryn about. And she remembered Aislin's hopes of practicing archery, and Arnyn's suggestion to ask Eryn about joining her...

"Yeah, you should join us, if you aren't busy!" Eryn agreed, sort of glad that Gaer had made the suggestion first. Since Eryn was here at the other girl's invitation, she wasn't sure if it would have been proper for her to invite someone else. "Does that mean you come from up North? Do you know Dessy?" She wondered.

Brooke nodded with a little smile. "Yes, I do." She answered, relaxing just a bit. She glanced at Gwestion, briefly. But he merely gave a little shrug. Brooke took that to mean that if she wanted to join the other girls, he had no objection. "Well.. alright." She decided, nodding as she turned back to them.

Eryn couldn't help a little grin. "Good! Oh, hey.. does Chewy get along well with other dogs? Maybe he and Hattie could be friends."

"He does," Brooke answered, standing up and smiling slightly. "I mean.. he's always gotten along well with Aunt Seri's dog, anyway. Is Hattie your dog?"

"Sort of, she lives at my house." Eryn answered. "She actually belongs to Nal.. Unalmis, that is. Have you met him yet? He's Domanol's nephew."

Brooke shook her head slightly. "No, but I probably will soon." She answered, since she, Aislin, and Seri had been invited to meet his family at dinner this very evening.


Having stood off to the side all this while, observing, Togg cleared his throat quietly. "How long do you expect to be in the shop, m'ladies?" He asked. "It sounds as if you might be quite a while.. perhaps I could wait for you across the street at the cafe there?" He nodded to indicate the place in question. This way, he could allow 'generously' them a bit of freedom, while keeping an eye on the shop for any sign of trouble. And if they should have need of him, he would only be across the street.

Linn had been mostly letting the others talk while she petted Chewy, up until then. She straightened. "I'm sure that would be far more interesting than lingering around a dress shop." She smiled at her brother. 'Off you go', she thought with annoyance. "How very thoughtful of you, brother."

He returned an equally feigned smile. "Of course, dear sister." He turned to Azrain, though, and bowed to her. "My lady. If you have no objection, I shall wait for you there." He really didn't want to have to sit around while they did all their fittings and trying on and such. When Azrain had given her reply in the affirmative, Togg bowed again and then gave a smile and nod in parting to each of them. "Ladies." He said, before setting off across the street.


As he set off, Brooke couldn't help a little shiver after he had passed her. She absently bent down to pet Chewy, comforted by his presence. Then she realized that he probably wouldn't be welcome in the shop, and frowned slightly as she wondered what to do about him.

"Are you cold?" Gwestion asked her, noticing the slight shiver. They had been out in the park for a while, and he wasn't sure how cold she might have gotten. "Go on inside and get warm." He suggested. "I can keep Chewy occupied, out here." He offered. It was nice to see Brooke making friends, and he saw no cause for concern from these young ladies. So, he was willing to make it possible for her to spend time with them without worrying about being denied entry to the shop because of Chewy. "In the park, perhaps." He could keep the dog from getting into trouble for a little while, surely.

Brooke considered that for a moment, then slowly nodded. She could be without him for a little while. "Thank you." She smiled at Gwestion before kneeling to pet Chewy briefly. "You be good, alright?" She instructed him, scratching around his ears. "I'll be alright." She said quietly in his ear, then smiled at the other girls.

"Let's get inside, before we freeze to death." Linn suggested jokingly.

Eryn laughed. Being the closest to the door, since she had arrived first, she opened it and gestured for the others to go in, while she held the door.

---

@Ercassie

Renia
Sundial Court Park. Second Circle. Dec 25th

"You are indeed!" Renia agreed, when Airelen declared herself to be a crown. "A princess couldn't ask for a prettier crown, either." She tilted her head up to grin at the little girl. She did not seem much bothered by how wet the girl's skirt was, so long as it was from the grass, and not from.. another source that was less pleasant to think of. But she couldn't really deny the parent's concern about their child getting a chill. It was cold, after all, and the girl was quite small.

"Come with you? To your home?" Renia asked, somewhat surprised by the 'invitation', and thought how to decline since it had not come from the adults who had the say in the matter. "Well, I'd love to, but I have to go save my castle from the sea dragons, remember?" She said in a conspiratorial tone. "I'll have to muddle through somehow without you, now that they're taking away the brave little warrior." She pouted, playfully.

At that moment, Claery suggested a race, in order to 'beat the sea dragon'. "To the castle!" Renia repeated Airelen's cry, and laughed as she sprinted off toward the swings, careful to keep a secure hold on her small rider. She did not have any skirts to have to gather up out of her way, and her boots were now securely laced up so she had no need to worry about tripping. Her only real disadvantage to Claery, was that she had an extra weight on her back to be mindful of.

---

Trevadir
By the swings

"Cats, especially." Trev nodded in confirmation. "Most animals, or at least.. the furry sort." He grinned with amusement. "Her father wouldn't let her have any furry-type pets growing up. So.. us guys thought we'd offer her another solution. We gave her a turtle. But she didn't really seem too thrilled about it, for some reason. So me and my brother took it, instead." He shrugged. "So, now that she and Cali are living in their own place.. honestly, I'm surprised they only have the one cat." He realized, wondering just how long it would be before they found another poor little furball that 'had nowhere to go' and decided that they might as well take in another.

The reply he got in response to his offer of salve or ointment, however, caught Trev off guard. He blinked, wondering what the other guy would do with that knowledge. Surely, he wouldn't 'invite' those fellows to a duel, as he had Trev? He hesitated slightly, considering that. "The first is named Samroth," He admitted quietly, with a frown. "And I most definitely would not recommend seeking him out for any reason, if that's what you had in mind. Not unless you plan to bring a couple of skilled fighters along as back-up." He advised, though he remained wary about all everything he said. Still, he wasn't going to lie...

"The man is a member of a ruthless pirate crew, or he was, at the time that Iole encountered him." He explained quietly, then drew a slow breath. "Last time I encountered him, he caught me off guard and would have killed me, if not for him," At this, Trev nodded to indicate Anardil, who was approaching. "And also a friend of his, whom I don't know. I'm very grateful to them for intervening." He shrugged. "As for the other, the one who gave me a black eye..." He gave a wry little smile at that. "That was a fellow named Scar... or maybe that was Grisly?" He paused, thinking back before admitting, "I don't remember which one I was fighting at the time it happened."

He was about to say that he didn't think they had any cause to worry about any of them venturing into the city, or coming after Iole... but then he remembered the plan Renia had said she overheard Dev and Jay discussing. The masquerade was over, but if Dev was willing to risk sending his right-hand man into the city with nothing but a mask to shield him from arrest... who's to say he wouldn't try something even more desperate when that didn't work? Trev felt a little chill at the thought of how close Jay had been to Trev's grandmother's house. To Toby.

Before Trev could decide whether to say anything else, Nardy arrived, declaring his intention to return home. Trev straightened a little and smiled as he became aware of Renia, apparently racing against Claery. She was laughing and carrying Airelen on her shoulders as attempted to slow, but started slipping on a patch of ice. Trev hastily caught her around the waist, and made sure that neither of them fell, and they both laughed as she fell against his side, instead of onto the ground.

He looked up at Airelen, who still sat on Renia's shoulders, and smiled. "Sorry, but I think you have to get down now." He told her. He reached up to offer to help her down, and if she accepted, he would lift her off of Renia's shoulders and then 'fly' her around briefly before placing her on the ground again.

Lady Gael's comment brought an even bigger grin from Trev as he looked at the lady. "Indeed, she definitely is that." He agreed happily as he turned his smile toward Renia, thinking of all the times she had helped him through very hard times, and also how she had recently risked her own self, trying to find him.

Anardil's warning made Renia smile. "That is the plan, anyway." She told him, her arm wrapping around Trev's side, so that they held each other. Knowing now what she knew, she didn't plan on letting him get into any sort of danger with his father or that crew. "It was very nice meeting all of you." She added with a smile. "Now, if I ever need any more help slaying sea dragons, I know exactly who to ask." She grinned at Airelen.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Pelennor Fields, Gondor

Gaer looked up with a big smile when Brooke spoke to her in the elvish tongue, locking eyes and then giving a vigorous nod. ”Yes! It is the primary language used around my home. You speak it very well.” She complimented the other woman, switching between Sindarin and Westron with the same ease as breathing. Outside of Belfalas, the greatest number of Sindarin speakers would surely be here in the City.

Eryn was also receptive to Gaer’s suggestion of Brooke joining them, See, even more possible connections they might have! And their dogs could be friends, too. Now Gaer was getting a little jealous. She never had a hound of her own. Father would say play with the hunting dogs, but they were grown, had their own minds and established routines, and were not exactly…cutesy or enticing to a young noblewoman with no taste for blood or pursuit.

Gwestion – Brooke’s…father, brother or guardian or chaperone – was indifferent to Brooke joining them, which was counted as a yes, since it certainly wasn’t a protest. Toggornir though was quick to interject his own insistences. That he would wait across the street at the café. Gaer was glad for the distraction of Chewy. Her own brother had waited inside with them. He loaned credence to the seriousness of the girls. Made sure the chief dresser wouldn’t try to swindle them or act impudently. Why couldn’t Toggornir do the same?

Linny was far more diplomatic, accepting his offer to leave them alone, and that was probably for the best. Gaer did not make any answer or response, verbal or otherwise, to Toggornir’s curt Ladies acknowledgement to them. And he was gone.

”If they let dogs inside, we would certainly have bought Chewy his own scarf. Sorry for making you wait, Sir.” Gaer addressed Gwestion, as the other girls went inside. She was the oldest and the adult, and probably the real chaperone here, so she carried herself with some dignity and respect for others. She gave him a polite incline of her head, a wave to Chewy, and soon followed after the other girls into the dress shop.

Now thankfully, for Gaer’s worries of being swindled, the chief dressmaker had done his own research in the two days since the girls were last here. Dimaethor and Talven were indeed prestigious names from west and south, in the heartland of Gondor. These were girls of noble rank and pedigree. And their friends too, surely! ”Welcome, welcome, good afternoon, my ladies.”

”Mae govannen.” Gaer answered formally in the elvish tongue first. ”We’re here for our second fitting, for myself, Lady Gaerlothriel, Lady Dulinneth, and Lady Erynneth. And this is our companion as well, Lady Brooke.” Gaer introduced them all. The other two might not be nobles but Gaer was adamant they would all be treated as such, as the same level, regardless of where they came from. And the chief dressmaker, wanting his sales, was sure going to indulge them, seeing nothing but coin behind his eyes.

”Of course, my Lady. Your commissioned dresses require but one final fitting for you three, for any final adjustments. And by tomorrow noon all changes should be finalized and ready for their debut.” The dressmaker replied in superb elvish of his own. Very…cosmopolitan, which almost threw Gaer for a loop, her Sindarin more rustic and rural. Slower in pronunciation. City folk were always in a rush, Abrazimir used to comment sometimes. ”The two women here will assist you with changing. Give me but a moment to prepare your respective outfits.” He said, gesturing to some helpers around the store, who did the stitchwork and tailoring.

”Thank you kindly, Sir.” Gaer beckoned and the man acknowledged her gratitude with a nod. Then they went into the back to find the work-in-progress dresses, leaving the four girls alone a moment at the front, surrounded by bolts of cloth in many hues, completed dresses on display, and shelves of other accessories like shoes, hosiery, gloves, scarves, hats, individual jackets and skirts, gowns for all occasions, and trinkets to adorn all of the above, for all kinds of fashion needs.

”So your Aunty,” she looked at Brooke first, ”is marrying her Uncle?” She looked at Eryn next. ”Your…almost-uncle, you said. If they ever get married. That would be so nice. I haven’t been to a wedding since before the War.” She glanced at Linny real quick, wondering if the next might be Gaer’s own…to that man outside.

”Brooke, you live here in the City, yes? Have you ever been to a show at the Hall of Songs?” She inquired to fill the lull with some conversation, wanting to know the new girl.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Airelen and Claery, with Lady Gaelanna and Anardil Thavron
bidding Gildolen Lhacrist depart from a meeting with Trevadir and Renia
Sundial Court Park, Second Circle. On December 25th.

They had given her .. a turtle ? Gildolen was finding this unexpected conversation full of equally unexpected information. Iole’s ‘family’ seemed quite an extraordinary group of people. And this evolving opinion was further supported when Trevadir divulged the information Gil had asked for. The name of the rogue who had apparently caused such a distress to the lady he admired, so much so in fact that she and all her associates were still quite clearly left in a state of odd defensive behaviours since.

Samroth. He filed the name away for future reference, even as the other young man began to regale him with advice on how to, or not to, deal with the .. pirate ??!! That was nothing like what he had been expected. Did pirates even come this far inland ? The valet had heard that Umbarian corsairs had been stopped before they ever reached the Pelennor, back during the war. Of course he knew of at least one Umbarian who had made it as far as Minas Tirith, but .. pirates ?? Here !!! The young man’s brow crinkled in more confusion than concern over the revelation. For it even sounded as though the group had encountered this Samroth on separate or at least more than one occasion !


“I assure you I was planning no such thing,” he waved off Trevadir’s concerns. “But it does not hurt to be aware, as we have surely recognised thus far.” At least now he would not obliviously drop the antagonist’s name – which was thankfully not one which he was familiar with. Nor bring up the subject in conversation and see the lady upset, nor stand confused if she were to faint dead away at the mention of .. pirates. Pirates. Wow. That was not what he had been expecting .. at all.

The conversation served up even further wonder as Trevadir implied that Anardil had also contested these pirates .. and before Gil could ponder overly on the only such vile scum he'd heard before that the squire had encountered .. Trevadir was struggling to remember which of the many men that he had apparently fought had which name, and which had been the one responsible for his own black eye … The valet’s silence was all that could speak for him in response.

---

Airelen scarcely had time to pout over the news that she would have to come down from the mermaid princess’s shoulders, before Trevadir was ‘flying’ her about in his arms, to her great and whooping delight. Not so her father’s however.

“I will take that,” Anardil mentioned, reaching out with his hands, having already begun to step in when Renia looked likely to fall, and now before the small girl could vomit on everyone close enough. It was bad enough with Claery spun the chid about so, but Trevadir was stronger and could keep her aloft longer, and higher in fact. “Thankyou,” he made clear to the young man, even as the man was permitted to take back his small daughter into a far more stable hold. “I am very glad to hear it,” he put in, to Renia’s remark, with a thankful nod, meanwhile.


“I think we can agree that an occasional rescue, from sea dragons, or whatsoever else can be forgiven, despite how perilous it may prove,” Gael then pondered aloud, without meeting anybody’s face in particular. That they could have seen beneath her veil anyway. “If he ever brings you to Lond Col, you must both come and see us,” she extended an invitation. That a year ago she would not have dared to. But a lot had happened in the last year, the last couple of months even ..

“We live at the castle,” Airelen informed them. “The one with the gold sun on the blue sea on the flag,” she stuttered a little slowly over the recall. “Not the one with the gold sun on the blue sea with the silver and the ship, on the flag. That’s the other castle,” the child explained. “Ours is newer,” she added, with a proud grin, which did not die even after her father gave her a slow shake of his head. It was not as though Trevadir didn’t know all too well already. But the small girl had been learning her heraldry and the difference between the two great families of Lond Col had been the first and foremost.

“I shall go on and let them know you’re coming,” Gildolen let the Squire and his family know, quite unsure what else to say to Trevadir or his female friend .. who apparently hunts sea dragons ?? He left them, still quite stunned, with a respectful bob of his chin to impart a final farewell on his behalf. It was not as though there was really anyone back at the house to let know, but it was second habit to term it that way. He’d have to light the fire himself and the stove. For though the kitchen was not his domain, neither of the women left in the house knew how to light it. Claery was near scared to even try. When the maid reached to take Airelen from her father’s hold, Anardil gestured that he had it. So the younger woman hovered close to Gaelanna, in case the more careful footed lady might slip.

“Be brave, Princess Renia ! ” Airelen called in a farewell, from her perch, and twisted to try and see over her father’s shoulder one last look .. “Trev can be your hero now.” she allowed, as though she had any such say over the matter. And then in no time after, they were gone. An enjoyable outing accomplished before they would be heading home, in not so many days.

[Rillewen]

@Lantaelen

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Dulinneth & Eryn Raedor
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meeting Brooke, Chewy, & Gwestion
Dec 24, afternoon
2nd level, outside the dress shop

Brooke was a bit surprised by the compliment, for she knew her own elvish was nowhere near as fluent as she would like. Her mother had taught the language to her when she was young, but they had not been permitted to use it when her father was around, and then.. when her mother died, there had been no one to practice the language with. Until she met a couple of people with whom she could practice with, a few years ago, but she had been very rusty with it, then. Now, she could carry on a conversation, or read in the language, but she felt that there was certainly room for improvement. Still, she smiled shyly at the compliment. "Thank you, though I'm sure I'm not really all that good." Brooke shrugged self-consciously.

At her apology to Gwestion, and the comment about buying Chewy a scarf if he were allowed inside, Gwestion gave a vague little smile as he shook his head. Having heard that Sindarin was the primary language in her home, he responded in that language, speaking it more fluently than Brooke had, though there was a trace of Rohirric accent mingled in with his Sindarin speech. "It's quite alright, miss. He would only destroy such a scarf, no doubt. But the thought is appreciated," He glanced at Brooke briefly.

"Very much." Brooke agreed. "But yes.. he does tend to chew things up, or get them muddy."

With a little nod back to the young ladies, Gwestion watched as they went inside the shop, while holding onto Chewy to keep him from trying to follow. He whined, looking after them, then at Gwestion, and whined again. "You must wait, she will be fine." He told the dog quietly, before leading him across the street again.


Inside the shop, Eryn and Brooke were both a bit surprised to be introduced as 'lady'. Eryn held back a grin, while Brooke looked down a little awkwardly, wondering if she ought to point out that she was hardly any sort of Lady, like the other two seemed to be. But since Eryn didn't speak up to correct it, she thought it might be best to keep quiet.

When the shopkeeper spoke back to Gaer in elvish, Eryn blinked. She hadn't understood anything that had been said outside between Gaer, Brooke, and Gwestion. And she didn't understand anything the shopkeeper was saying, now. Then the shop people went away, and left them there. Eryn glanced around, suddenly feeling like the one out of place here, for the other three seemed to understand all of that. "Um, what's going on? Where are they going?" She asked, glancing from one friend to the other.

"Oh.. they're going to get the dresses." Linn answered, realizing that there was one member of their party who did not speak elvish, and took mental note of that. "Sorry." She smiled at Eryn. "Me and Gaer have to try ours on again, but I think they have some ready-made dresses that shouldn't need too much adjusting." She realized, of course, that if Eryn was going to get one of the dresses to match, that it would likely be a rush job for the seamstresses to tailor it, but maybe there would be one that didn't need tailoring.

Gaer's question caught Brooke a little off guard, and she realized maybe she hadn't been clear enough.. as usual. "Oh.. no," She shook her head. "I mean, last I heard they aren't.. um, engaged, I guess would be the term?" She added, a little unsure what terms the people around here used. "But I mean, they've been seeing each other seriously for years, so.. I don't know." She shrugged and then wrapped her arms around herself. "Sorry, I guess I shouldn't have said anything about that. I haven't heard any talk about them getting married, anyway. I was only saying.. if they did.. then he'd be my uncle. But that's a 'maybe someday' sort of thing. At least, as far as I know."

The next question also surprised her a little. "Live here? No, I'm only visiting for a while, with my aunt and sister." She explained. "Sorry.." again, she had messed up. "We're not even from Gondor.. we come from the Breelands, up north."

"Right, Dom is a ranger of the North," Eryn mentioned, to help Gaer and Linn understand a little more. "Or at least, he has been for like.. ages. He grew up here, but then he went North. And apparently met her aunt.."

Brooke nodded slightly. "Yes. She's a healer in Bree. She missed him when he'd been gone for a long while, and then she found an opportunity to take a trip here herself, so she took it. Hoping she might find him, but also she wanted to meet with the healers of Minas Tirith, and sort of.. compare techniques or something, I guess. See if they can learn from each other, that sort of thing."

"Oh!" Eryn widened her eyes, realizing something. "I think I've seen her around the houses of healing, yes."

"A healer? Interesting." Linn mentioned, thoughtful as she looked at them. "Are you also a healer? Learning from her?" She asked Brooke.

"Um.. well, no. I mean.. I've learned a little bit, mostly from reading her medical books and things, but.. my sister Aislin's the one who's learning to be a healer. She's Aunt Seri's apprentice and assistant. I'm.. not really sure what I want to do." She admitted, shrugging slightly.

---

@Ercassie

Trevadir & Renia
Sundial Court Park. By the swings
Second Circle. Dec 25th

Trev had to admit that Gil was right about that; it didn't hurt to be aware of a few things. Information could be very useful. But he didn't like talking about pirates if he could help it, nor his own past involvement with such people. He was glad to have the topic dropped.


When the family was readying to leave, it was clear that Airelen was not going to be happy to leave Renia's shoulders. Perhaps, watching Renia and Claery playing with the girl had relaxed Trev a little, seeing that her parents had not protested her climbing around and hanging upside down and riding around on Renia's shoulders and such. So, swooping her around a couple of times had not seemed like such a big deal, and he didn't intend to 'fly' her too high or fast.

But it didn't take long at all for Nardy to make it clear enough that he might not be too pleased. Was it just Trev? Or the activity? The musician was really unsure, but he surrendered the giggling child over to her parent without delay. "Sorry." He uttered, deciding to try not to dwell upon that question. Better to just apologize for whatever he'd done wrong, and hope that everyone else would move past it, too.

Giving Trev's waist a little squeeze as she wrapped her arm around his side, Renia smiled at Gael's reply. "Thank you, I'll be sure and remember that." She answered to the invitation, although she sort of hoped that Trev had no plans to leave the safety of Minas Tirith until his father was no longer a threat to him. Airelen's input brought widened eyes and a very impressed expression from Renia. "Ooh really? That sounds lovely! No sea dragons guarding it, right?" She asked with a little grin. "I've seen it before, actually." She added. "Never been there, but it looks very nice."

Gil's words of departure were not aimed at Trev or Renia, but Trev glanced at him again anyway, with a little smile. "It was good to meet you, Gildolen." He waved with his free hand as the other young man made his departure.

Renia grinned at Airelen's words. "Thank you. You be brave, too!" She replied. As they all parted ways, she gave a little laugh as she turned to Trev. "That was fun. I've never played with a kid before, that I know of. She's so adorable."

Trev smiled as they resumed walking along the path. "She is. It's hard to believe Nardy could have ended up with a kid so.. energetic and fun, though." He shook his head in wonder. "He still hasn't lost his skill to kill all the fun with nothing but a look, though."

Renia rolled her eyes. "Well, it's not that unusual for a kid to be totally different from their parent." She pointed out. "Look at you and.." She waved a hand vaguely, without finishing that sentence. "Anyway... so what was all that I heard about you and that other guy planning a duel over a girl?" She asked with a raised eyebrow and a lightly teasing tone in her voice.

It was Trev's turn to roll his eyes, then. "That Claery said that, I guess?" He shook his head. "A misunderstanding, that's all." He paused. "He's interested in Iole. I was.. warning him that he'd better not hurt her. That's all."

"Hmm, and are you satisfied that he's no threat to your sister?"

"For now, yeah." Trev nodded thoughtfully. "He seems alright. Maybe just what she needs to overcome her fear." He added softly. "But, we'll see." He sighed, shrugging. "If he does anything to hurt her, can I count on you to be present for the duel?" He added jokingly.

Renia laughed. "I'll even let you use my sword." She grinned jokingly. They moved into other topics as they chatted together, walking around the path until they had come back around to the park's entrance. Then they, too, went home for supper.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Kaylin
Fifth Circle, Macardil & Ziran's house - December 28th, afternoon

"Embezzlement?" Kaylin supplied, looking thoughtful as she looked at Wisteria. "If you could prove it, yes," she continued, more slowly. "But how would you ever be able to find out whether she actually does it? Never mind proving something that?" she wondered out loud.

She blinked when Eryn looked at her the way she was. "What?" she asked, feigning innocence. "What are you looking at me like that for?" Did Eryn know about her more clandestine abilities? She tried to remember whether she'd ever mentioned anything to her friend which she probably shouldn't have.
"Maybe you could leave an anonymous tip about her with some officials," she suggested. "Wherever she gets the city funding from, for example. If they look into things, like her books, maybe some discrepancies will come to light. Then they might actually be the ones to seek a replacement for her. Or is it her own orphanage? I'm really unclear about the details on this whole thing..."

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Pelennor Fields, Gondor

”Practice makes perfect! And we can practice as much as you like, if you like.” Gaer grinned at Brooke and patted her shoulder in assurance. The other too, Gwestion, also spoke the elven tongue! Again, with that strange yet familiar accent. Could it have been him at the masquerade in the dragon masque? Maybe she could ask Brooke about it after, and how they might know one another and such.

But maybe not right now, as Eryn was not fluent in the language, and it would be rude to not include her in the conversation. The talk with the dressmaker befuddled her but Linny explained it to the other girl, why they were here and all. And they were getting Eryn a dress as well, to match with them and Wisteria! It was going to be so coordinated and epic. Gaer had to fight not to squeal with excitement.

Gaer nodded along to Brooke’s explanation of her aunt’s relationship. Courting, engaged, marriage, so many labels for so many different points. For those not born in the noble class, it was much more simplified and without ceremony. It sounded so…liberating, in a way. ”Don’t worry about it. Just making conversation.” She assured Brooke again, not wanting her to feel put off by not having the exact answer or anything.

At least her next answer was more indulging. Not from Gondor at all but…far off to the North. Beyond Rohan even. Breelands! And that her uncle is a Ranger of the North. The Northern Dunedain of the lost realm of Arnor? No, he grew up in Gondor, but went north. To join them. Still amazing! Gaer’s eyes were wide as hen’s eggs for a moment, in utter astonishment. ”Like the King?” She asked quietly and surprisingly. ”He must be really noble and regal and all.” She pondered aloud, remembering the brief sight she had of the King during the masquerade.

Brooke’s aunt was a healer in Bree. Gaer only had a faint understanding of locations and distances of such places. ”Oh, that’s nice. In these times of peace, there can be a lot of people moving around. Not just for war but learning and friendship and even love.” She said at the story of the two searching and finding one another. Brooke knew a little about healing but it didn’t seem something she wanted to do always. ”We’re from down south. Linny lives a bit closer to the City but I grew up by the sea. It’s like we’ve grown up an entire world apart and got to meet here, at this point. Exciting.” She grinned at everyone.

”Well, don’t rush. You’re young and got a whole life ahead of you.” Gaer again assured the other girl. ”I will be starting my own lessons there too, eventually. At the Houses of Healing. My father says all girls should know a bit about the healing arts. Something about…tradition.” She rolled her eyes jokingly. ”Maybe I’ll meet your Aunt and sister!”

The dressmaker returned, being ready to receive one of them for tailoring and final adjustments. ”I’ll go first.” Gaer volunteered, before tapping Linny’s shoulder a moment. ”Maybe we should invite her to come to the show?” She whispered to her best friend, referring to Brooke, who seemed very friendly and kindly enough, that they ought to extend her an invite to their box! They could still fit several more people! But if Brooke couldn’t make it, it would be understandable.

Gaer would be gone for about forty-five minutes, as she had to undress, try the new dress on, be measured and asked about the snugness of the material, then undress and redress into her current outfit, and return.

[Rillewen]

@Lantaelen

| |
Dulinneth, Eryn Raedor & Brooke
Dec 24, afternoon
2nd level, outside the dress shop

Brooke was curious about Gaer's curious reaction to the news that 'Dom' was a northern ranger. Like the king, she asked. "Oh.. yeah, I guess so." She realized that might seem like a big deal, here. Which was a bit strange, given the opposite sort of reactions rangers tended to get back home, at least before people knew what the rangers really were. "He knows the king.. or, sort of knows him, I guess. He was a member of the Grey Company, that rode with him on the paths of the Dead and sailed corsair ships and everything." She mentioned. That had been a very exciting tale to hear about, when he came back from all that. "He came here to give a report to the king or something, about the stuff going on up North." She explained. "Only, he took so long in coming back that Seri got worried."

As for being noble and regal and all, Brooke wasn't sure whether she meant the king, or Gwandhyra. She thought for a moment on how to reply there. "If you mean.. Dom," She used the name that Eryn had used for him, "Umm..." She couldn't help a little laugh there. "'Regal' is not exactly a word I would use to describe him, but he is very nice, and funny. And he once saved me and Aislin and.. another friend, from a really scary guy who was going to kill us." She shivered a little at that memory.

"But if you mean the king.." Brooke paused, shrugging. "I used to see him pass through Bree at times, back before he was king. I never met him, but I always thought he looked like a nicer sort of guy than.. other people I knew. I haven't actually seen him since he became the king, but.. back in Bree," She hesitated, unsure how to word this so it didn't sound like she feared it would sound. "Well, if you had ever seen him there, as a ranger.. I mean, most people never imagined he would someday be the king." She explained, smiling slightly. "Almost everyone there was shocked when the travelers came back and said that 'Strider' was the king now... I mean, he didn't go around in fancy clothes. More often he looked like he'd been traipsing through mud for weeks," She said with a little amusement. "And no one really knew his real name.. that's why they called him Strider. But, they've come to accept it by now." Thinking a moment, she added, "Gwestion and his brother are also northern rangers, by the way."

"OH!" Eryn grinned as she realized something. "Wait, is his brother's name Gladhron?"

"Yes.." Brooke looked curiously at her, waiting for her to go on.

"Aha, yes. I met him, earlier today!" Eryn said. "I kept thinking there was something familiar about Gwestion, but I couldn't place it. Gladhron is really nice, and fun."

"Yes, he is." Brooke smiled. "He's hardly been around us much, since the masquerade. He found an old friend, and a new friend. So, that's kept him pretty busy."

Eryn grinned. "Yeah. I know the feeling." She smiled at her new friends, having just spent the earlier part of the day with an old friend she'd found. "So, Gaer, you're going to apprentice at the houses of healing?" She asked, intrigued. "That'll be fun! Maybe we can spend more time together, then. Does that mean you'd be staying here?" She asked, curious. "If so... maybe you could join me more often for archery practice!"

Brooke bit her lip, remembering the conversation they'd had just last night. She hesitated, trying to decide whether to mention anything. She didn't want to interrupt the other girl's, already established thing, but she was here and Aislin was not...

About that time, however, it was time for Gaer to go off with the seamstresses. Linn was a little surprised by the whispered suggestion. She hesitated before answering in a quiet whisper as well. "Maybe... but would it be polite to invite her and not her sister?" She wasn't entirely sure about all of this. And would that also mean they would need matching dresses? She thought about that while Gaer went off to be measured and such, deciding not to rush anything and invite her when they hadn't fully thought it through.


As Gaer paused to whisper something to Linn, Brooke timidly reached out and tapped Eryn's elbow.

"Yeah?" She turned to Brooke with a smile while the other two were whispering.

"Sorry.. I was um, well, C- Arnyn, I mean, we were talking with her last night." Brooke explained. "And, see, Aislin, my sister, was wondering if there was anywhere around here that she could practice her archery. And Arnyn mentioned that we ought to ask you.. only we hadn't met you yet, so we were going to wait until Gw- I mean Dom, had introduced you and your dad. But, since you're here.."

"Ohh, that'd be great!" Eryn answered cheerfully. "So, Aislin shoots, too?"

"Yeah, she got interested when she went to live with Seri, and saw Emma's old bows lying around. Emma's Seri's daughter," Brooke explained. "Also a ranger.. or used to be, anyway."

"Right. And what about you?" Eryn wondered. "Do you shoot, too?"

"Oh.. no. I never really tried it, myself." Brooke shook her head a little. "But, Aislin likes to shoot."

"We're planning to have another sort of.. group archery practice thing, in a few days. Why don't you both join us?" Eryn suggested. "Even if you don't shoot, you can still come and talk with us. Your dog and Hattie would probably get along great." She added with an amused grin.

Brooke smiled slightly. "I'll tell Aislin, then. And yeah.. Chewy kind of gets along with anyone and everyone, so long as they aren't threatening toward me." She smiled slightly and had to stop herself from reaching down to pet him. She was so used to him being right there... she was already missing her dog.

One of the shop helpers came over about that time and mentioned that, since they had a while to wait, if they would like to sit down, there was a seating area off to one side where they could sit more comfortably, so the group migrated toward these and sat in a small semicircle.

"So, are you and Gaer staying together, Linn?" Eryn asked, since she'd hardly seen one without the other, and remembered hearing something about them going together to wherever Gaer was staying.

"No, I wish." Linn answered. "My family's staying at an inn on the upper levels," She explained. "My mother isn't well, though. So, they let me stay overnight with Gaer, so I wouldn't disturb her as much. My governess wasn't able to come with us on this trip, so at least this way, my mother can be sure that Gaer will keep an eye on me." She rolled her eyes but smiled. "They worry a bit too much about that sort of thing."

"Sorry to hear about your mother." Eryn frowned sympathetically. "I hope she'll feel better soon, so she can enjoy the trip more."

"Oh.. thanks. It's.. well, she hasn't been well for a long time. I was glad she was able to go to the masquerade, but she had to leave early because she was feeling poorly." Linn sighed. "I wish she would get better, too. But we don't even know what's wrong."

"Oh." Eryn frowned. "Has she been to the healers here? Perhaps they could help?"

"Not here," Linn answered, shaking her head. "She's had a few healers and nurses tending to her for the past few years, but none can figure out what's wrong." She frowned, troubled. "I'm worried about her. But there isn't anything I can do, so.." She shrugged, sighing. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bring that up.."

"That's alright." Eryn assured her. "I'm a healer apprentice.. so, I couldn't help but ask." She shrugged.

"The healers here might be able to figure out something that others couldn't?" Brooke suggested timidly. "I mean.. it couldn't hurt to check, right?" She paused. "What's wrong, anyway? I mean.. as far as you know. Maybe I could mention it to Seri, and she might have some ideas?"

Linn tilted her head, a little surprised by that suggestion. She knew her mother probably wouldn't be pleased to have her discussing it, but decided, if it could help her mother, why not? "Well... she gets really short of breath at times, and it's like she can't get a proper breath, you know? And she has to stop and rest, like if she's walking, and she has to hold onto my father's arm, for instance. She gets headaches a lot, and she often gets lightheaded, and like, her heart will be going really, really fast." She frowned. "And, her face gets all flushed, and she gets weak and tired often, and sometimes she feels like she might throw up." She paused to think if she had missed anything. "Oh, she has a lot of problems with her sinuses, too. That stuff troubles her so often, I nearly forgot about mention it."

"And she's had that going on for.. how long?" Eryn asked, a little amazed, and concerned.

"Years," Linn answered sadly. "Ever since.. shortly after my brother died. At first, she was only tired, and seemed sad and uninterested in anything. We all thought it was only grief. Then, it seemed like she got better, and then.. my other brother went missing, and it all came back. It wasn't until later that the other stuff started happening."

"Years.. wow." Eryn frowned. "That's really concerning. I don't really know as much about the healing stuff as my teachers, obviously, but.. you really should have her come see a healer. Maybe Pele can help her? Or Linaiwe.."

Brooke frowned as she heard all of this, thinking hard about all of what she had said. After a moment of indecision, she finally spoke up. "This might sound... um, well.. don't take this the wrong way, but, is there any chance that there's any places in your house that has gotten wet, and no one's noticed?" She asked tentatively. "Particularly, where your mother sleeps?"

Linn looked at her, confused. "Um.. I don't know.. I don't think so? Why?"

She fidgeted. "Well, it's just... most of what you described sounds.. really familiar to me." She admitted. "I mean.. struggling to get her breath, her heart racing.. feeling weak and lightheaded sometimes. Sometimes feeling like you need to hold onto something.. sinuses acting up, and feeling sick..." She bit her lip, her eyes moving down to her lap. "I used to live in a.. pretty bad place," She mentioned softly. "My room was.. damp all the time, because the roof leaked badly. And, uh, the window was broken, and it got pretty hot in the summer, and cold in the winter. Anyway. I had some days that were worse than others, but when I eventually went to live with Seri, I started to get a lot better. Just from not living in that room anymore." She looked up. "I still have trouble breathing sometimes, but mostly it's only if something triggers it. Like, if I was sitting around a lot of hay, and the dust got stirred up, or.. if I was trying to run around in cold air, that messes with my throat. Or, if I come across something moldy and get a breath of it. But it's nowhere near as bad as it used to be... and Seri figured out that it was because my old room had a lot of mold in it, and I was constantly getting sick and that was why."

"Mold?" Linn frowned, thoughtful. "Wow.. I doubt anyone would have thought about that being a possibility." She thought for a moment. "I'll definitely check that! I mean, I don't think there'd be any mold in our house, but.. it doesn't hurt to check and be sure."

"I could be totally wrong," Brooke shrugged. "I mean, I'm not a healer, but.. it did sound really similar to what I experienced, so... I don't know."

"No, thanks for mentioning it. If that isn't the problem, at least that's something else to cross off the list, right?" She smiled. "And if it is the problem.. then we may have solved a mystery, and maybe she can start getting better." She couldn't imagine there would be any sort of mold growing in her house, but she would definitely look into it!

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

|
Eryn & Wisteria
Fifth Circle - Joining Kaylin for plant care
Dec 28th, Afternoon

"Embezzlement," Wisteria repeated thoughtfully. "Maybe that is it. But I really wouldn't know how to prove it." She said with a little shrug. "I don't live there anymore, and haven't for the last few years."

Eryn laughed. "Just wondering if you have any ideas," She answered Kaylin. It seemed she did have one, at least. She considered the anonymous tip thing. "Hmm, we'd have to look into it a little more, you know. Make sure she actually is doing that, and if we have enough suspicion, then maybe, do that." She nodded thoughtfully, then frowned at the last question, and glanced at Wist. "I don't think it's hers, right? I mean, I remember Aunt Aggie saying that they'd replaced the lady who used to run it. My dad actually made sure she got replaced, after he got out of there. But I'm not really sure who actually own it... the city? The king? I'm not really sure about that either, but I don't think it belongs to the person who runs it, though."

"Oh, no, it's not hers." Wist confirmed. "I guess the city owns it, or something.. I'm not really sure how that works. But you're right, it was run by someone else before Esme. Whoever's in charge of city stuff appoints someone to be in charge, I think? I mean, I know she always got funding.. before we had to leave the city, I think it came from the steward, to keep us fed and housed and all that. I have no idea about how it is, after the king came." She looked around. "Is there any more plants to water?"

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Pharak Halsad and an unconscious Addhor Raxëlilta - FLASHBACK
With Ademar Androllius. In an abandoned stable, the First Circle. 6 years ago

Pharak quietly considered the young man’s enquiry. Had Raxëlilta taken the Umbarian’s brother from him ? Not exactly. In fact, Domanol had never even met Salukhatar, to the best of his knowledge. Still … “My brother was a fool,” he disclosed, unashamedly. “And my enemy necessitated my being abroad, to deal with him, where I could not protect my brother. From himself,” he explained, as much as he felt was pertinent. What was far more interesting to the Blood Priest of course, was that the set of brothers he had just been introduced to were rather more unique than most. To have a second soul who so resembled you .. he had heard such things were possible of course. Twins .. But he had never seen it himself. This young fellow was growing quite undeniably more interesting by the minute.

Calmly the Burned man had swum through the shadows of the stable, to join his new associate back on their bench. Yes, it was confessed as it was clear; the Gondorian’s brother was a guard. And also that this brother ‘would not dream of harming anyone’. Would in fact even ‘rather apologise to a bully for getting beat up by them ..’ That did not sound like the temperament of Guards such as Pharak knew, but maybe people, even Guards, were less disposed toward violence in general here. A worthy fact to remember … His present company not included, obviously. But this one was not a Guard. He simply resembled one .. to a nerve-startling degree …


“Where I come from, a guard does what he must to protect his city, even if it means protecting people from themselves,” the Umbarian disclosed. “They do not always see, do they, the surest cause to their long term salvation ? Most would plant their head into the sand and let the world decide their fate for them. But fear, I find, can often drive a man toward what must be done, with far greater an ease, with far greater a speed, than might the slow unfolding of reason they have not the patience to hear.” Pharak glanced back to this strange young Gondorian, as often as he tried to turn away. The answer was staring him in the face, to a question he had never thought to ask even himself.

“It is not your brother who I would think to ‘invite’ unto my any thought,” the Blood Priest realised, even as the words tumbled out of the twisted remnants of the Burned Man’s lips. “But you,” The one eye which yet managed sight was fixed upon the remaining twin. The compelling, interesting, and more so packed full with great potential, twin ... “You I think are unlike to him, in all of the ways that matter." Pharak confided, with a confidence which had come upon him more with every passing moment. And as much as he wished to ask for the young stranger's name, he understood that it did not make a difference. He already knew. "You .. are Nâluthor,” he had no doubt.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Ademar Androllius, FLASHBACK – 6 years ago
Minas Tirith, a stable on the First Circle

“My brother was a fool,”


This news brought a wry smile to Mar's face. "Must be a 'brother' thing," He muttered, thinking the same of his own silly brother. After all, who else but a fool would constantly try to be friendly to people who hate him? And if he had to be honest, he would have to admit that Ric was a fool for letting himself be so easily manipulated and deceived, brought to confusion and all that. If only he could have felt sure that Ric would go along with him in that whole scheme, years ago, there would have never been any need for deception. They could have made an amazing team. But instead... Ric was too worried about those stupid 'morals' everyone else was always whining about. Doing what's right, telling the truth, blah blah.

He glanced questioningly at the man when he began talking about guards, and how they did their job and protect people from themselves, even. He wasn't very interested in talking about guards, he wanted to be rid of this problem who lay unconscious on the floor nearby. But the talk of people sticking their heads in the sand made him think of Ric, and the times the weaker half of the pair had hidden away from everyone, until Mar came to find him and assure him that everything would be alright. They'd had a secret spot in the woods, where Ric always went off to. Where neither Father nor Mother ever ventured. Mar was the only one who knew how to find him when he was upset, and he was the only one who could console his brother in those times. If not for Mar, Ric would have stayed hidden until hunger drove him to emerge and come home to face their parents. Hiding in the sand, indeed, except there wasn't much sand around these parts, unless one went to the beach.


Some years prior...

“You’re a mess.” Mar said to Ric, sitting down across from him in the little alcove beneath an overhanging rock. They were about nine or ten. Ric had been over an hour late coming home from school. Then, he hadn't shown up to help in the field, and their very strict father was furious. He had eventually sent Mar to find him. His brother had mud on his hands and feet, tear streaks down his face, and mud streaks from where he had tried to wipe his face with muddy hands. “What took you so long getting home?”

“It was your fault,” Ric muttered, sniffling. “You forgot to tell me about something from history class. About.. when Minas Tirith was first built.” He glanced at Mar unhappily. “Teacher called on me to say who was the one who built it, and I didn’t know. So, then I had to stay late to copy that whole chapter.. because I should’ve known all about it.” He sniffled and tried to wipe his nose again. “And.. They were mean to me, again.” He added, looking down.

Mar frowned, realizing he'd messed up and forgotten, because he had been busy thinking up ways to torment his enemies or something. “Sorry, I forgot about that.” He admitted. “But it was their fault.” He muttered, frowning. “They kept throwing things at me, all through history class. I couldn’t focus.” He explained, lying. “And, every time the teacher looked over, they played innocent, of course. I couldn’t really focus on what the teacher was saying, that’s why I didn’t remember any of it to tell back to you. I'm really sorry.”

Ric glanced at his brother, hesitating. He looked down at his knees and stared for a long moment. “Why do they call us 'Rip'?” He asked quietly. “They wouldn’t tell me.”

Mar blinked, staring at him for a moment. He turned away, scowling off into the woods for a moment before answering. “I ripped my pants one day, by accident.” He said at last, frowning darkly. “I’ve asked them to stop, but they just laugh at me and keep calling me that.” He focused on his own lap, frowning. “I hate them.” he muttered.

“Did you do anything to them?” Ric asked, looking over at him.

“Do anything?” Mar glanced up. “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know. Did you.. retaliate or something? Did you ever.. stand up to them, like Father says we should?”

“Stand up.. to them?” Mar frowned and gave a little incredulous laugh. “They outnumber us, Ric. We’re only ever there one at a time. There’s five of them, remember? That's why we call them the Five.”

“Well, what about trying to reason with them? Ask them to stop being so mean...” Ric contemplated the possibility.

“Reason? With them?” Mar scoffed. “Believe me, Ric. They don’t want to reason. They just want someone to bully. That’s all they are, a bunch of bullies. Even that blue-eyed sniffly girl, don’t let her teary-eyed act fool you. She’s just as mean and spiteful as the rest of them. She’ll make up lies about us, tell the teacher anything to get us in trouble. She’s done it, you know. Just last week, she told the teacher that I pulled her hair, and I never even went near her! She just wanted to get me in trouble, for no reason.”

"Are you sure?" Ric asked, frowning. "I mean... really sure? That you've never done any of the things they said we did?"

"Of course I'm sure," Mar replied with a little laugh. "Don't you think I'd remember if I did? I don't have any gaps in my memory, like..." He paused without finishing that sentence, then, looking at Ric more closely. With a concerned look. "Why? You don't think you might have done something to them without remembering it... do you?" He asked in a serious, but concerned, tone.

Ric looked up, shaking his head. "No.. I.. I don't think I did."

"You're certain there's no... gaps in your memory you can't explain..?" Mar asked, as if checking to make sure there was no cause for worry.

After a little hesitation, Ric shook his head. "No. Nothing like that." He assured Mar, though there was a hint of doubt in his voice. “It's just..." Ric hesitated. "Why are they always saying ‘we won’t fall for that again’ though?” Ric looked puzzled and unsure.

“They’re just trying to get in your head.” Mar sighed. “They’re trying to make it seem like they’re the victims, and you’re the one in the wrong. But we know the truth. Don’t we?” He leaned closer to him. “Believe me, Ric. We can’t trust anyone but each other. We don’t need anyone but each other. But.. if you ever do have any more of those.. lapses of memory, tell me. But.. not anyone else, they might try to lock you up for insanity or something.” He added softly, debating whether he ought to cause such a 'memory gap' happen, as he had done a couple of times before. He knew where to find the plants for it.

Ric frowned uneasily, but he slowly nodded. “Yeah.. I guess you're right. I just wish we could both go to school at the same time, that would help things so much.” He sighed. "Then they'd finally believe that we're actually twins, you know?"

Mar looked at him for a moment, wondering whether there was any danger in that actually happening. He gave a little shrug. “Well. We can’t. So, we’d best just try to make things work for us the best we can.” He said at last, trying not to seem troubled by it.

Ric nodded slightly but said nothing. It was dark by now, but the moonlight managed to get through the branches enough to mostly see each other. After a long moment of silence, Mar noticed Ric draw in a shuddering breath and wiped his eyes before looking up. He frowned. "Why’re you still crying?” He asked quietly, trying not to sound exasperated.

Ric sniffled. “I.. can’t help it,” he mumbled apologetically. “No one likes me, no one wants me… I just..”

“Are you calling me 'no one'?” Mar frowned, then smiled and moved to sit next to his brother, putting an arm around him. “Come on.. who said that?”

Ric managed a little smile. “You’re not no one,” He assured him. “I didn’t mean you.” He looked down sadly. “The Five said it.” He answered softly. “I went over to them today, and told them I wanted to be friends.”

Mar tensed slightly to hear that. “And?”

Ric sniffled again. “And.. they told me to go away. Said they didn’t like me, and no one does, and.. and they said no one wants to play with me.” He rubbed his eyes. “And someone took my sandwich from my lunch pail, and put frogs in instead…”

“Frogs?” Mar frowned, staring at him. “Who put frogs in your pail?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ll bet it was Ryndir…” Mar muttered with a slightly curled lip. “He’s always catching snakes and frogs and stuff like that...”

“I don’t know who it was, Mar.” Ric frowned. “I didn’t see who did it, but they got a lot of mud in there, too. I'm going to have to clean out the pail before I can use it tomorrow.” He rubbed his eyes, frowning. “No one at school likes me.”

“Listen, Ric.” Mar sighed. “Stop listening to those idiots. They just like to hurt us. We should hurt them back,” He scowled.

“No,” Ric shook his head. “That wouldn’t be right. We’ll just try to stay out of their way,” He sighed. “I just shouldn’t have gone over there. It was stupid of me, I just hoped..”

Mar frowned. “They're never going to be our friends, Ric. They're stupid and spiteful, so just ignore them. And ignore whatever they said.”

Ric sighed. “But it wasn’t just them. Mother was in an ill mood when I got home earlier. She yelled at me for tracking mud in.. and complained about how we're always making messes, and how she never wanted to have kids or leave the city, or...”

“When is she not in an ill mood?” Mar interrupted, scowling. “Ignore her, too. And Father, too.. just a warning, he's probably going to yell at you when he sees you, but try not to let it bother you. It's just his way, you know. Thinks he has to keep us 'in line', like we're in his own little 'army' or something." He sighed, rolling his eyes. "I don't understand why it matters so much to you whether they're pleased or displeased with you, Ric. I mean, neither one of them can even be bothered to keep up with which one of us they're talking to. How many times have you or I been called, ''Adewhatever'? Or, Ade..whichever-one-you-are'? Or the other's name instead of the correct one..." He scoffed. "They clearly don't care much about us, and as far as I'm concerned, they don't matter." He looked at his brother. "You and I are the only ones who matter, Ric. We don’t need anyone else but each other.”

Ric gave a weak smile. “I just wish Father didn't treat us like we were soldiers or something.. and that Mother didn't act like we're a burden all the time... And I wish they didn't argue all the time.. And I wish we had friends, you know?” He looked down and sighed heavily.

“We don’t need friends.” Mar told him. “We have each other. That’s all we need.” He insisted.

“Yeah, I guess so. But it’d be a lot easier if we could both go to school at the same time, you know?” Ric sighed. “I wouldn’t have to sit off to the side, alone and bored..”

“Do you want me to go to school for you, tomorrow?” Mar offered, thinking again about what he might do to the Five next time he saw them. Retaliation for those frogs, and so on...

Ric considered, but shook his head. “No. I’ll go. I just.. wish you could go, too.”

Mar gave his brother a fake smile. “Me too.” He lied, then sighed. “But, you know what Mother and Father would say. We can’t. So, we have to just get through individually. But at least we’re together, here.” He mentioned. “Come on. We're supposed to be doing our chores... you already missed supper, but I'll sneak you some of what I saved from my plate, so you can eat something before bed,” He whispered conspiratorially. “I’ll even steal a little honey from the jar Mother thinks she’s got hidden away.” Mar grinned, pulling Ric to his feet. "I could use some help drawing water for the animals. Then, you'd better clean up outside if you don't want to upset her again. Come on, let's go."


The memory flashed through his thoughts swiftly, and then in a blink, Mar was drawn back from his reminiscence when his new ally assured him that he had no thoughts of inviting Ric into whatever his plan was. That was good, since he knew his brother would be against anything the two of them had in mind. He was rather surprised, though, to hear the man's words.

“You I think are unlike to him, in all of the ways that matter."

There was no denying, however much it irritated him, that Mar and Ric had grown a little apart ever since Mar dropped out of the guards, refusing to be transferred to the very city he had sought to leave behind him. And Reilly had taken Mar's place as the person Ric was closest with. After all the years he had spent making sure that none of those other kids took his brother away from him, it had happened anyway... just when he'd thought the danger was past. And while he hated Reilly for taking his place as Ric's new 'favorite person', Mar couldn't really do much about him without Ric becoming aware of it, now. If he did anything to turn Reilly against him now, then Ric would surely realize that he had done the same all through their years growing up. Ric would then turn against Mar, he had no doubt about that. Clearly, Ric didn't think Mar was the only one who mattered in his life. And, knowing how Ric felt about everything, Mar had carefully suppressed his true self over the years, for fear of his brother turning against him. He'd fooled even his parents and teachers with his fake act, mimicking the 'good boy' routine that he saw Ric live daily, all so Ric wouldn't dislike him.

And now, here was someone who had glimpsed Mar's true self, and yet appreciated him.. not despite it, but because of it. This was.. very new. It was difficult to get his head around the fact that this stranger actually seemed to approve of him, for the very same reasons that he'd always felt his brother would reject him. Mar sat back, arms folded as he looked at the guy, trying to hide his amazement. His own words from years ago flitted back to his memory. 'We can’t trust anyone but each other. We don’t need anyone but each other.' Mar had only said that to persuade Ric to forget trying to find friends elsewhere. And Ric hadn't believed it anyway, apparently. While he had never considered becoming close to anyone besides his brother, Mar now felt a strange sort of connection to this guy, which he'd never had with anyone else, not even Ric.

The last bit of what the stranger said, however, left him confused, and a bit wary. "Naluthor?" He repeated slowly, the word rather strange to his tongue. What in Middle Earth did his ally just call him? "I'm.. not familiar with that term." He admitted, speaking slowly with thoughtfulness. Was it an insult? A compliment? Some sort of adjective meant to describe Mar? He couldn't place what sort of meaning it might have, nor even what language it was from. The school here in the city had taught them elvish, but that was all. Then, he remembered that there were more pressing issues to worry about.

"But, what about your plan?" Mar gestured to the unconscious invalid on the ground. "You mentioned making him so wrecked, that he'd want to take his own life. How?" He frowned. "Leaving him on the stable floor to wallow in horse manure isn't likely to do the trick, and someone's bound to come looking for him, sooner or later," He pointed out. "They'd probably clean him up, too, so there's not much hope of him being embarrassed to death." He added in disappointment.

Then he leaned forward as hope, sparked by what seemed to him like a great idea, lit in his eyes. "Perhaps.. he could awaken tomorrow to find that his entire family had been horribly murdered, and it appears as if he was responsible?" He suggested with a grin. "That'd be very interesting to see... I might even consider taking my brother's place, just to get a chance to see the drama unfold, firsthand.." He commented with a little laugh, toying with the idea curiously. Taking Ric's place... now that he was a guard? Could he? Would he be able to fool Reilly, though? And how could he keep Ric from finding out..? Hmm. It was worth considering, anyway, but would it be necessary?

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Kaylin
Fifth Circle, Macardil & Ziran's house - December 28th, afternoon

As they all finished up the plants in the room, Kaylin peered around. Whether it was because she was curious to look through some things (and couldn't, with the two others present) or whether it was to ascertain that they had in fact watered all the plants which needed watering, was probably a toss-up.

But when Wist asked if there were more plants to water, at least, Kaylin shook her head. "No, I think we're all done here. Come on," she urged the others before leading them back to the kitchen. Kaylin found a towel to dry the items they had used and put them back where they'd found them. "I guess that's it," she mumbled, taking a look around the kitchen with her hands propped on her hips. She thought it was a rather big house, for two. And even though Ziran had spoken about the possibility of a family... Kaylin found it hard to imagine, for some reason. She shrugged. "Let's go," she prompted. "Probably shouldn't tempt myself overlong, unnecessarily."

As they left the house and Kaylin locked the door behind them, she added: "If there is anything you think I might be able to help with, practically, when it comes to the whole orphanage thing, you can always ask." Right now, she just wasn't at all sure what that might be.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Pharak Halsad and an unconscious Addhor Raxëlilta - FLASHBACK
With both Ademar and Aderic Androllius. An abandoned stable, the First Circle. 6 years ago

“I called you Nâluthor” he corrected the young Gondorian. “Not Naluthor.” A shake of his head betrayed some notion of despair at the less than perfect pronounciation. “The wise might wonder at a people who teach their future nothing of their past,” he allowed for a sigh. “The language is Adunaic, the tongue that our forefathers shaped into words, before they ever found too great a want to flatter the Eldar. Before they ever began to adopt the customs and colloquy of strange folk they would mimic like awed slaves, and left their own once proud heritage to fall down in the street like an old man.”

The Umbarian might have launched into some tirade of what education the folk here were clearly lacking, but that was not the purpose of this visit. And the young non-Guard was evidently eager to be about the violence he had confessed to crave, and duly been promised. Admittedly the surprise intrusion of the Guard and all that had revealed of what prize he’d stumbled onto .. had taken Pharak somewhat off course, and toward ambitious thoughts of greater, wider schemes. The fact was undeniable; that he had been awaiting all this time for one of his sons to step up and profess themselves worthy of being his acolyte … only for the best chance for the Cause to literally spring up from the last place the Blood Priest would have expected. But the Temple’s heir would be the hope of his great mission, and the notion that it’s influence might spread beyond the borders of his city .. this was how. This was the answer. This was the proof. That people were only unaware, that they required teaching … until all recognised the true way.


The young man’s hasty reference to the oblivious Drunk, ‘wallowing in horse manure’ caused even the Umbarian to rise up from his seat and meander over to ensure their intoxicated tool was still at hand, and ill equipped to contribute anything concerning to the situation. But his zealous accomplice earned back all the Burned Man’s focus of attention when he began to theorise now his own ‘ideas’ and ‘hopes’ of what might be managed. Patience, it seemed, might have to be the first lesson taught with this one. Still he was reluctant, especially at this early stage, to quench that unexpected fire and possibly hobble his new find before it had time to evolve.

So the Burned Man listened without interruption. He humoured the younger man with all the restraint that any father must employ. And in doing so, he was rewarded, as the non-Guard pondered posing as a Guard, his twin; exploiting what he had deemed a hindrance to be an advantage instead. Yes, this one was a fast study. He must be the one that had been foretold.


“His family can not die here,” Pharak was forced to make clear and then added, purposely casual in the delivery that .. “Plans have been made already and preparations begun. If you wish to bear witness to the end of the one I shall take, then you shall have to come along and see for yourself what can truly be achieved when you dare stand, while all others about you fall unto their knees.” He did not turn to gauge the other’s reaction to that. But he tensed, enough to note a change in the youth’s breathing. That could often speak more honestly than words.

“That is not to say we couldn’t theorise that this wastrel did away with his own son. You might warn him,” he kicked the prone boot of the fallen veteran to serve his point, “that to speak at all of what you fear he’ll share about you .. would only spur on your efforts to see him arrested for murder. For who would ever believe him, or anyone else he might rally, if they spoke out against .. the very Guard who had brought him to justice ?”


The wild hypothesising was served out as bait, to learn how the Gondorian might react to that possibility. It was not as though he had planned for this any intervention. But he’d taken each step as he found it before now. After all, who can predict your next move, when you do not even know yourself yet ? Only the Great Powers that guide all are so all knowing.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Ademar Androllius, FLASHBACK – 6 years ago
Minas Tirith, a stable on the First Circle

The correction was not the reply he had expected. Mar frowned in thought as his ears noted the difference in what the scarred man had said, and what Mar had repeated back. Nâluthor. Soon enough, the stranger explained that it was Adunaic. Of course he had heard of it, and he'd learned all the history attached to that, as well as the ancient Numenoreans, and all that. But never had he had any cause to learn the language. But that still did not tell him what the word meant. Still, rather than asking, he decided to try and learn from another source. Because how else would he be sure that his ally had not lied to him about the meaning of it? "Alright, Nâluthor." Mar answered, thoughtful. Were there books in the library from which he could learn that?

But before his interest dwelt upon that matter very long, it was drawn toward the rest of what he was saying about their forefathers, and how they left their own heritage to 'flatter the Eldar'. That was a different view than any he'd ever been taught. Mar tilted his head curiously at the implication that they had become slaves to them, and frowned slightly. Was that really the case? He didn't like the thought of that.

He pondered it in silence while his companion went to check on the unconscious member of their 'gathering'. As far as he knew, no elves had been spotted anywhere in the area for decades and decades, maybe even centuries? He was pretty sure they'd all fled off to hide in holes after that big war thing happened. As if they'd just went off and abandoned their human allies. So, why were people still so caught up with tales of elves, and using their language, and so on? It was a strange thing, come to think of it.

As the very interesting stranger returned to the bench, declaring that the invalid's family could not die here, Mar's shoulders sank slightly in disappointment, only for him to straighten his posture again the next moment, at what sounded like an invitation. And not just any invitation, but, remembering that a short time ago, he had said that the son was the one he had 'chosen' for his purpose, Mar quickly put together that he was being invited to witness the end.. of Unalmis! "Can I?" He asked, eyes widening in surprised hope, as an eager smile began to show on his face. "If it involves the end of Analmess, I'm absolutely in." He grinned.

Glancing down then at the drunk, Mar considered the suggestion with amusement. "That's.. a funny thought." He admitted with a chuckle. "I mean, I've lost track of how many times I've spoken of the fact that the man doesn't want anything to do with his own son... that he'd probably rather his son was gone from his life..." Because of course Mar knew quite a bit about his enemies, having eavesdropped on the Five at times they did not realize he was near, so he could have better ammunition to hurl at them and inflict hurt in as many ways as he could. He smirked, feeling fairly sure he'd gotten under Nal's skin with that at least some of the time, even though he didn't like to let on while Mar was around. In fact, to make such a claim might not be too unbelievable around the city, after so many years of ignoring his son and wishing him to get out of the house and leave him alone, right?

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

|
Eryn & Wisteria
Fifth Circle - Joining Kaylin for plant care
Dec 28th, Afternoon

Following Kaylin to the kitchen, both girls helped to dry the things they had used for plant watering, and soon they were ready to leave. Wist cast a last look around, as this was one of the very few times she'd been in anyone's house, let alone one so rich. She smiled in agreement with Kaylin, when she spoke of not tempting herself too long. "Right." She grinned. The big open spaces seemed almost begging her to try a few pirouettes or something, but she'd promised not to.

Once the three had exited the house, Eryn grinned at them both. "I'm so proud of you two." She joked. "Kaylin didn't snoop, and Wist didn't knock anything over while dancing..."

"I would have been careful!" Wist protested with a smile.

Kaylin's words then got Eryn thoughtful again while she watched her lock up the house. "Well, I can't think of anything off hand, but thanks." She smiled. "I do appreciate you helping with the brainstorming. I just wish I knew more about what to actually do."

"I just think it's really nice that someone is trying to think of ways to make things better for the orphans." Wist mentioned, smiling. "I mean, it wasn't bad there, just.. not great, you know? I do think maybe a second one might help with overcrowding, at least."

"Yes, but that means someone would have to run it," Eryn mentioned. "And there would have to be money to take care of things, long term, not just.. the initial cost of starting up. But maybe some ideas could come up." She nodded thoughtfully, then smiled at Kaylin. "Thanks for that idea!" She added with a grin. "I'll think on it all a little while longer. We'll be going on to the park now, unless you'd like help with anything else. Want to join us?" She asked. "Wist is going to practice some stuff for this audition thing she's got coming up, but I was just going to hang around and watch, and keep her company." She explained. It might be a bit more fun for Eryn, if Kaylin was willing to hang out, but she'd also understand if she didn't want to, or if she had somewhere to be.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Minas Tirith Streets, Gondor

Brooke’s remarks about Dom seemed equally legendary. Folk from a lost, mythical Kingdom, surviving this whole time, the rumour mill perhaps spicing it up further in fantastical tales of these lone Rangers waging private wars against the forces of evil, each one equivalent to a whole company of Gondorian soldiers. The impressive status and standing of the King no doubt embellished those who rode with him.

It was an astonishing thing, to hear the stories of their King-come-again, doing such simple things like traveling through Bree, being kind and nice, so inconspicuous and yet doing the most grave, solemn things. Gaer struggled to wrap her mind about it. Her father and brother could no doubt comprehend everything Brooke was describing, probably even knew the right questions to ask to get the most of this information.

”Strider…” Gaer repeated, something clicking in her mind. ”That’s…that’s what the King is calling his line and Royal House. Telcontar. It means Strider, in the high tongue.” She murmured, as if in a daze, referring not to the well known language of Sindarin, spoken casually amongst many Gondorians, but the older language. Quenya. She always thought the dynastic name of Telcontar was strange but hearing it’s origins, it all made sense. He was a Ranger, a traveler, an expert in the wilds, going from one end of the land to the other. The King chose his dynastic family name in modesty and respect of his origins. So very humble.

Eryn though helped ground Gaer back from her mind drifting to the clouds in ponderance of such things, asking about her upcoming internship at the Houses of Healing. She smiled and inclined her head. ”Yes. My father says it’s to be the final part of my education, before I… to learn the healing arts and such.” She changed the topic, feeling a little embarrassed to mention her marriage, and that it would be to…that rude boy outside.

”I don’t know where I will be staying though. My father is still working that out. He…might live here too, or perhaps I will stay with a kinswoman of mine who has a house here.” She explained, clearly hoping for the latter, as the former would mean her life and activities here would be restricted with her overbearing father watching her every move and step. ”But you better believe it Eryn, I would love to spend more time with you! To practice and play with Hattie.” She cast a grin at Linny too, wondering if it will be the same for her, to get to do some apprenticing at the Houses of Healing when she was a bit older. Maybe…they both could run away from their stuffy families and work together as healers and make their own way in the world. Hah, what a ridiculous fantasy…

But afterwards, when she learned those arts and skills, she would finally be ready…to be married off and begin her new life as a woman of Gondor and of the world, as so many have done before her. And yet there were other ways a woman of Gondor could live, too. Gaer just had to reach out and take it, if she dared. If she dared her father’s wrath and mother’s disappointment.

She had to leave the choice of invitations to Linny as Gaer went into the back to try on her new outfit, and be measured for any discrepancies or otherwise that might still linger after a second fitting. It went better than expected though with little alteration or adjustment required. She got try the whole outfit on, hat, gloves, shoes, able to examine herself before a mirror. She really did look like a young woman of the world, so liberated and free. It…actually made her a little sad. It would be the last and only time she would get to enjoy such a freedoms from traditions and expectations. Alas, it is what it is.

Gaer changed back, thanked the seamstresses profusely, and returned to the front where the other girls seemed deep in a vivid discussion. They had been moved to a lounge, Gaer plopping down into an open seat with a long but happy sigh. ”I’m back! They’re going to call you in soon, Linny. They’ve done an excellent job. Hardly any fixes needed on mine. I am very confident everything will be ready for tomorrow’s show.” She explained to her friend first. Another moment or two, the Chief Dressmaker would come and request Linny’s presence.

Halfway through speaking though, Gaer noticed a little disquiet in her best friend’s face. They had known each other for years, since Linny was a small girl, and Gaer came to recognize various emotions and changes in her. There was a dark cloud on her friend’s mind and heart, but what it’s cause and source was, Gaer could not fathom, unless told of it. She microscopically shifted closer to Linny, as if to lend comfort by her presence. Linny should know that she could talk to Gaer about anything, now or later. Gaer was there to help and support her friend however she might.

”What is Bree like, Brooke?” She inquired of the other girl as they sat. ”Is it a big country or just a small city? What manner of folk live there? I have never been out of Gondor myself, so hearing about new places and meeting new people is quite riveting for me. How long was the travel from there to here?” Gaer inquired, mentally restraining herself as she no doubt asked plenty of Brooke in those few lines. There was so much she wanted to ask though. Did she meet a lot of elvish speakers up there? Was it threatened during the War like many lands were? What did she know of healing, from her sister or Aunt, and what was Gaer to expect in her own lessons and training? And so on.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir “the Dauntless”
January, Minas Tirith, Gondor

It pained him to have to wait a day to answer the missive, from a certain Lady of quality. But as Abrazimir had told her, the night before his departure, duty and obligation to Realm and King would always come first. As it did upon his arrival from the mission out to sea.

Arriving at Harlond, after unloading their passengers and overseeing the routine of resupply, the Captain of the Bregolalph as usual stopped at the offices of the Harbour Master to see if there was any news for him, official or otherwise, while he had been away. Apparently they were on the watch for him. There were a few of the usual letters, from home, from his family, but there had also been a curious one. From her. From…Torniel.

He read it three times in rapid succession, frozen to the spot like a lifeless statue, save for the darting, fugitive movements of his eyes as they moved back and forth upon the parchment. Then he folded it up and placed it in a pocket close to his breast. Intimately.

But he couldn’t see her…that day. That day he had to go up higher into the City, to the Headquarters of the Ranger, and there compare notes and discuss the final report of the mission with other officers. It would be late when he finished, and Abrazimir himself felt the exhaustion of even a meagre two weeks at sea, and knew he would be useless if he went to see her then.

The next day, early, refreshed, he went to the designated address, having memorized it three more times since first receiving the letter. He did not have much in the way of good garments. He wore a puffy shirt, over trousers, with an unadorned leather jerkin, and a heavy navy-blue cloak. Sword as always girted at his side and hip. It was the best he had. Cleanest. Well, what could he say? He was a knight in service to Gondor. Knight in shining armour, the uninitiated would say sometimes. But a knight in shining armour, Abrazimir knew, was simply a man who hadn’t gotten down to business in the mud and gore of battle and violence. He had.

This would be a different battlefield though, as he strode to the address. It seemed a workshop of some kind. Made sense, given what little Torniel told of her business endeavours but it was indeed something like this that he envisioned. Merchandise or import/export business or something. A mercantile woman.

More importantly…it was deserted, as he stepped towards the front door, seeing no one else about outside or in, and cast his head off. His clothes might be a little ill-kept but at least his hair was groomed and his face freshly shaved, for the occasion. His jaw and cheeks kept a little rough. He stepped through the door, a gloved hand grasping the handle of his blade, the other running through his hair and lingering there, grip tight on both, as he felt a measure of anxiety and anticipation at what he would find waiting for him…

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Kaylin
Fifth Circle - December 28th, afternoon

"I don't need help with anything else," she assured Eryn with a smile. "Thanks, ladies," she said genuinely. At least their company and their questions had made a boring task - well, less boring. At Eryn's invitation, she pursed her lips in thought. "Maybe I do want to join you," she agreed. "For a little while, anyway. It's too cold to spend too much time outside in the park," she pointed out. "Much better indoors. With a hot drink," she added.

Curiously, she looked at Wisteria. "For what kind of dance thing are you practicing in a park? Or do you like to show off your skills in random public spaces or something?" she inquired with a smile.

[Rillewen]

@Lantaelen

| |
Dulinneth, Eryn Raedor & Brooke
Dec 24, afternoon
2nd level, inside the dress shop

Eryn smiled to hear that Gaer would eventually begin training at the houses of healing too. "Well, you could always ask to stay in one of the healer quarters, perhaps?" She suggested. "If that would be allowed... I mean, I don't know your father. But they do have some of those. One of my friend's mother's lives there, she's a nurse." She added. "But if you already have a relative you can stay with, then that is probably better for you."

Linn was glad to hear that Gaer's dress was so well. "That's good." She smiled, but was still a bit preoccupied, thinking about the things Brooke said. When her friend shifted closer, she glanced at her and gave another little smile. "I didn't, yet," She whispered. "Got distracted." She would explain later, but hopefully that was enough to let Gaer know that she hadn't yet asked their new friend to join them, but the 'yet' should tell her that she intended to. But she had no time right now, because the dressmaker had arrived and asked for her to come try on her dress. She smiled. "I'll be back!" She declared, then hurried off, sort of glad for a little time to think about all this information.

Once Linn had gone off to get fitted, Brooke was a bit caught off guard by the questions about Bree. Yet, it made sense. She was from a place they had never been to. She hesitated. "Well.. it's..." She frowned, unsure how to answer whether it was big or small. "Gondor is bigger. But, I hear the whole kingdom is reunited now, so... maybe it's all one thing now?" She wasn't entirely clear about that, to be honest. "But, um. So the 'Breeland' is actually bigger than just Bree.. that's the main city in the area, but there's also Staddle, Combe, and Archet included in the Breelands." She explained. "And the Forsaken Inn is also included there. It's about a day's journey from Bree. But Bree itself..." She paused. "Well, it could probably fit in the first circle of Minas Tirith... this place seems enormous compared to Bree."

"I heard that there's some hobbits there, is there really?" Eryn wondered, adding to Gaer's question about the type of people who lived there.

Brooke nodded. "Yes, most of those that I know are nice enough. There's one old fellow who runs a general store, Mr. Tunnelly, and he's really nice." She glanced down at her hands, which she was fidgeting with in her lap. "Before I went to live with Seri, I used to have to run errands for my stepmother at times, and I'd always go there to get supplies, if I could. He'd let me warm up by the fire, during the winter, and he'd sometimes even give me extra food. Sometimes he'd ask me to help with things, like reaching stuff on the high shelves, you know, and then 'pay' me with a bit of extra of the things I was getting."

Eryn smiled at that. "That's nice of him." She commented, curious about that 'before' situation, but she didn't ask, as she didn't want to make her uncomfortable. "And the people who aren't hobbits?"

"Oh, well there's the fols like us, that they call 'Big Folk'... some are nice, and others are..not." Brooke continued, frowning. "The tanner for instance, he was horrible," She shivered. "And some others were just.. really ugly. Some even looked something like.." She stopped and thought better of what she had been going to say, and looked away instead. "Well, um, there was an elf I was friendly with, too." She changed to another topic. "Fuin. She was friends with my mother, before she died." She added softly. "She wasn't there all the time. Only once every few weeks, maybe. She ran a blacksmithing stall, but she lived in Rivendell. She'd come out to run the stall occasionally. Sometimes it was someone else though. But when Fuin was there, I'd go and talk with her, and that was how I used to practice elvish." She explained. "But... she hasn't been there in a long while."

Brooke shifted as she considered the other question. "Ummm, it took us months to get here, but.. we were traveling pretty slowly. We had a wagon and all, for me and Aislin and Seri to ride in, plus our luggage and all. But Gwestion and Gladhron rode alongside, on their horses. And we'd make camp early each day and stop often for breaks, that sort of thing. So, I'm not sure how long it takes to travel for someone who can ride more steadily or whatever. How long did it take you to get here, from where you live?" She asked, curious about Gaer's home, too.

---

@Arnyn

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Eryn & Wisteria
Fifth Circle - With Kaylin, following some plant care
Dec 28th, Afternoon

"You're welcome!" Eryn and Wist both said at once, then grinned at each other. And it was even more cause to smile when Kaylin decided to join them. "Great." Eryn nodded though, agreeing that it was too cold to stay too long. It would be dark before long, too. "Maybe we could go get some hot chocolate after," Eryn suggested, liking the mention of a hot drink.

"Oooh, that'd be so yummy." Wist happily did a spin as she set off toward the park, remembering the hot chocolate from the other day. Kaylin's question brought her back around to face them, walking backwards now that she'd gotten ahead of them some, in her enthusiasm. She grinned. "It was Eryn's idea, actually." She explained. "I didn't even realize there were so many lovely parks now, because I hardly ever get much time to get out and explore. And since I'm training for this audition coming up, she mentioned that I could practice and stuff outside, instead of always being cooped up inside. So I thought that seemed like a nice way to do both."

"She'd spend the whole day in the Hall of Song if I didn't drag her out," Eryn laughed. "That's why I had no idea she was still living in the city at all, until recently."

Wist blushed faintly. "Well. There's going to be a performance, I don't remember if it'll be for the spring or summer, but they have to hold auditions now so they have plenty of time for everyone to learn their parts so well they could dance it in their sleep." She explained with a grin. "Anyway, I plan to get one of the parts. And no one's supposed to know what the dance is going to be, yet, but.." She gave a little mischievous smile. "As the cleaning girl of the place, I happened to get a sneak-peek at the performance plans."

"Ooooh, nice." Eryn grinned as she walked along with Kaylin, inwardly marveling at Wist's ability to walk backward without tripping or running into anything. "So, you have a bit of an advantage. Good for you!"

"Yeah," She sighed as she turned back to face forward, hopping from one stone to the next with some sort of ballet steps. "It sounds really interesting, but I'm not sure if I can get a good part. I mean, like I said, I'd be thrilled just to get any part at all. But the leading lady will be fighting battles and stuff with a sword and all!" She found that exciting, but also disheartening for her own chances. "A prop sword, of course. And the battles would be choreographed, obviously. But I think it's a bit unlikely that I'll be able to do well with that. Last night after I read the plans, I tried swinging one of the prop swords around, and it seems.. like it'll make dancing kind of tricky." She frowned, unsure how to explain that. "Not that I'd expect to be cast as the leading lady role, being so... completely unknown to anyone, you know? But.. well, I don't think anyone's going to be impressed."

"A sword?" Eryn asked, surprised. "In ballet? Huh.. that does sound challenging... but it also sounds like an exciting story. I didn't know they had exciting stuff in ballet. But that one we saw the other day was nice enough." She added, although she had honestly not been paying the most attention to it. She'd been mostly there for the company of the other girls, though. Not for the dancing on the stage.

Wist smiled. "Very exciting, yes! Anyway. I figure I'll keep practicing my pirouettes and things, and see if I might be able to get some sort of part. If I could just get in the cast at all, it could really help me get started into a career as an actual professional dancer." She glanced at them with an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I guess neither of you are very interested in hearing me ramble on about ballet and dancing.." She realized. "There's the park, just ahead."

Eryn couldn't help but grin a little. If Wist only knew who she was talking to... but she managed to refrain from glancing over at Kaylin. She didn't want to hint. If her ranger friend wanted to help, she wasn't at all shy about offering her help to someone, so Eryn wasn't going to put her on the spot or anything. But she did hope that she might offer to help the girl out. "Swinging a sword around while piro-whatever-ing? Can that even be done?" She commented, tilting her head curiously. "I mean, how could someone even make that work?"

"Pirouetting!" Wist corrected with a laugh, shaking her head in exasperation. "And.. I don't know. That's the problem, I don't know how to make it work. And I don't know anyone that can help me figure it out, either. Which is why I really doubt I'll have much of a chance at the lead part. It'll probably go to one of those dancers who's been around for ages, and who has all the experience and fame." She shrugged as if it was no big deal, and leaped gracefully over a puddle on the sidewalk that looked suspiciously like it might be ice, landing safely on the other side. "Look, there's a nice open area that'll be perfect!" She declared happily, pointing to a wide, open area paved with smooth stones that formed provided some seating for people who wanted to rest or just sit and enjoy the outdoors.

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Torniel
January - Third Circle, Minas Tirith

It was a day as any other, as far as she knew. There was no known timing for Dauntless' return, nor was it set in stone how quickly he may or may not be able to even show up here - at the address she had left for him with Harlond's harbour master. However, the way she had been raised had ensured that she always made sure to look good. Her best, preferably, in fact. In that respect, she had thought to herself at one point, her upbringing did have one similarity with that of a noble girl. Wasn't it considered their job, or duty, or something - to always look nice, as well?

The desk in the so-called office, as well as the chair behind it, was empty. Her lush, dark brown hair was loose as she sat in the very comfortable couch positioned along one of the walls. She was reading the White Tree journal, her legs propped up on the soft cushions as well, her shoes lying on the floor. She had no business with the Hand today, and she had foregone the green that he liked so well on her. Instead, she'd chosen a deep red dress with a flowing, long skirt. The dress buttoned up along the front of the bodice. While it showed no unseasonal amount of skin, it still showcased just how alluring her silhouette was - tailoring like that was an art, and she had long ago found the city's tailors who were most skilled at such things.

Near the desk were several book cases- partially filled with books on branding, sales and marketing, on contract law and customs, as well as tomes on cloth and tapestries, on wine and liquors. The rest of the shelves were filled with folders, labelled with different names of people and businesses.

When the door to the space opened, Torniel looked up from the newspaper curiously. Only one person had entered in the past week or so, since she had set this place up. One single agent of the Hand - to come take a look at her front, deem it acceptable - and that had been that.
No one actually had any business here, of course, but there was always a small chance that some business owner might actually walk in, in some search for more business visibility or what not. In which case, she still was not certain what kind of impression she would want to ma--

Oh.

"Dauntless," she said while breathing out, as she took in his luxurious curls and strong form. Torniel's legs moved off the couch as she sat up and then moved to stand, making sure to move deliberately as she rose to her shoeless feet. The White Tree Journal was all but forgotten in the fingers of one hand as she gave him a dazzling smile - a truly genuine smile. Finally. On her way to him, the newspaper was dropped, in return for one hand on the leather jerkin covering his chest, the other lightly touching his jaw. "You found it," she added quietly, elated.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Kaylin
Fifth Circle - December 28th, afternoon

A sneak peak at the performance plans! Kaylin grinned. "I like you," she stated, pointing at Wist. Life tended to reward people who really went after what they wanted, after all, and Kaylin appreciated entrepeneurship and a good amount of passion. Wisteria definitely seemed to have both when it came to dancing.

Interested when Wist mentioned the leading female part would require performing mock battles with a prop sword, Kaylin raised an eyebrow and glanced over at Eryn. "Well, what are the chances of you two running into me," she drawled, but when Eryn's surprise made it apparent that it was news for her as well, Kaylin instantly dropped the suspicion she'd momentarily harboured. And giggled when Eryn said she hadn't known ballet could be 'exciting'. "You went to see the ballet?" Kaylin asked her friend, it now being her turn to be surprised. "Did you invite her or something?" she asked Wisteria, because that seemed like a likely explanation for why someone outdoorsy like Eryn was suddenly watching indoor dancing performances. It didn't exactly scream Eryn.

"When are the auditions?" Kaylin asked, not really remembering whether Wist had already mentioned it. If she had, it had gone in one ear and out the other, alas. As they entered the park, Kaylin was subtly on the lookout for something. Soon, Wist pointed out a spot that looked good to her, Kaylin pursed her lips briefly. "Okay. You two go on ahead, I'll be right there!" she promised, before hurrying off onto the grass and in between some trees a bit further away.

Upon her return, she was carrying a branch that was about the right length of a shortsword, and straight and sturdy enough to be used for what she had in mind. Her smile grew into a grin as she approached the girls. "What you might not know," she told Wisteria, as if she was about to reveal something very amazing, "is that you have just met a Master Sword of the White City!" she went on to declare boldly, with no trace of shyness (nor any sense of humility, really). "And although I'm not a ballet dancer... I do have excellent footwork," she grinned. "Think I can help you out, miss ballerina?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

|
Eryn & Wisteria
Fifth Circle - With Kaylin, following some plant care
Dec 28th, Afternoon

Wist couldn't help but grin when Kaylin declared that she liked her. "Thanks," She smiled. After all, it was always nicer to hear that someone liked you, than the opposite. She wasn't quite sure what she meant though, when she mentioned how coincidental it was that they had run into her. She glanced curiously at Kaylin, then Eryn, but she didn't want to interrupt what Eryn was saying, and the moment passed before she could ask.

Eryn shook her head when Kaylin asked her about going to the ballet. "Actually, another friend invited me, as well as Wist. And I was going to turn it down, but then they mentioned having invited Wist already, and that was how I learned she was still around. And.. I figured, whatever, I hadn't seen Wist in forever. Gaer, the one who'd invited me, had reserved a box seat, and there were several of us going." She explained. "So, I mostly went along just to hang out with the other girls, and that was fun." In fact, it was one of the very, very few times she had ever had any chance to do something that was just 'hanging out with other girls'.

Wist smiled while moving along with them, though she was doing small dancing steps as she 'walked' with them. "It was absolutely amazing, to get to see it from the audience for a change!" She declared with a happy sigh. "Usually, I only get to spy from backstage..." She happily spun across a couple of the cobblestones, then turned when Kaylin asked about the auditions. "Oh, that's in the first part of January." She answered. "So, really soon." She added.

As she started toward the open spot, she glanced back when Kaylin said she'd be right back. Glancing at Eryn proved that the other girl had no idea what Kaylin was doing, so they exchanged small shrugs at each other and continued onward, as Kaylin said to do.

Eryn took a seat under a tree that was the focal point of a flowerbed there, around which some benches had been made. "Hey, Wist... be careful you don't fall, alright?" She suggested. "Cause if you fall down here, it's really going to hurt." She pointed out the fact that there were stones, here, rather than grass.

"I know." Wist smiled. "Don't worry. I've been practicing, and I'm getting a lot better at my spins." She assured her. And to prove it, she moved to the middle of the open area and did one quite smoothly. "See!?" She grinned, pleased, then started practicing another few things while they waited for Kaylin.

Wist was practicing doing a line of pique turns, traveling in a wide circle around the tree, when Kaylin returned with... a stick? When she noticed her returning, Wist paused in her spinning, and came to see why she had brought a stick over. Then, her eyes widened in surprise to hear that Kaylin was a Master Sword. "Oh!" She glanced at Eryn, who was trying not to grin, then back at Kaylin. "I had no idea.. I hope you don't think I was hinting.." She hastened to assure her, but the offer had her eyes widening, regardless. "Oh... would you really?" She asked, stunned by the offer. Then a delighted grin spread over her face as she nodded eagerly. "Yes, thank you! That would be so great!"


Watching as Kaylin began to show her friend some things about using a sword, Eryn couldn't help but smile happily. It had been completely unexpected, that they would run into Kaylin, but it seemed to have worked out excellently, at least for Wist. And she thought the girl could use some help in achieving her dreams. Eryn felt so lucky to have her dad, to help her with her own goals in life. Even if he was against the idea of her becoming a ranger, at least he was willing to help her learn things. And she'd had him, her aunt and her uncle to help her learn all sorts of other things as she grew up. Wist hadn't had anyone, for most of her life. And if Eryn had known she'd been sent off to live on her own, back then, she felt sure she would've tried to get her family to help her somehow, but alas... things hadn't worked out that way.

---

By the time the three of them were ready to call it a day, Wisteria was beaming, and had learned a few useful tips on how to handle the 'sword' and not let it throw off her balance. After she'd gotten the hang of that, Kaylin had then showed her a few flashy-looking moves that would certainly appear impressive to anyone watching. Some of these even involved spinning, which worked out great for Wist's purposes.

"I think it's about time we go get those hot drinks," Eryn declared, after a while. It was growing dark by now, and she would be glad to get inside somewhere, and have something to warm her up. She was starting to feel the cold, although she hadn't merely remained sitting off to the side, watching. She'd gotten involved as a practice partner for Wist, and had been paying close attention to all that Kaylin taught them, so Wist was not the only one learning a few things here. Besides, this way, she and Wist could practice a few of this stuff together, before her audition.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Kaylin
Fifth Circle - December 28th, afternoon

"I'd only be flattered if you were," Kaylin said with a smile, "hinting, I mean." When Wisteria displayed such surprised and asked if she really meant it, Kaylin laughed. "Of course! It's a chance to brag about my excellent sword skills, isn't it?" she asked with a casual shrug.

The practice was a little strange. Kaylin had taught soldiers before, and more recently rangers in training, but she had never taught a dancer who was just trying to pick up a few moves. It did, however, allow Kaylin to teach Wisteria some flashy moves that Kaylin thought looked great but didn't really work in an actual, gritty, dangerous fight. During practice, Kaylin made Wist promise she would let her know how the audition went, once Wisteria had heard back herself, of course.

At long last, Eryn's suggestion made Kaylin let out a long breath even as she rubbed her gloves hands together. "Yes, please," she agreed vehemently. "So, where are we going?" she inquired, as the three of them got up to leave the park and find something warm to drink.


(the end]

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Her house, 5th level

The walk back to her house was mostly quiet. Ava was not really in a mood to talk, while walking down from the sixth to the fifth, and she also wasn’t entirely sure about Tercen’s mood. It struck her that she really didn’t know that much about him. What was he like when he was angry about something? What sort of behavior would he display when upset or frustrated or..whatever? She had only really seen the charming side of him, when he was happy, and in a good mood, or when he was being romantic.

Edwyrd was away, investigating properties in Pelargir for her, so in his absence, he had hired a temporary butler to see to Ava’s needs here for the remainder of her stay. The temporary guy was eager to prove himself worthy of the job, and he was watching for her return through the side window. He opened the door the moment Ava’s foot touched the top step of the porch. Bowing, he welcomed her and her gentleman home and took their coats before asking if they needed anything else.

“No, thank you.” She answered. Being distracted by other matters, she found herself having a momentary lapse of memory concerning what the man’s name was. Glancing briefly at Tercen, she then turned to her employee. “You may have the rest of the day off, I won’t have any further need of you today.” She told him. After all, the chances that she would have any visitors were practically non-existent, and if anyone did happen to show up at her door, she could go and answer it herself. “Will you tell Muriel and Shiarra the same?” She added. If she got hungry, she’d figure out something. Maybe go out to an eating place.

“Yes, my lady!” He answered, surprised but happily so. He bowed and went off to find the maid and cook, and soon they would all be gone.


After dismissing the staff, Ava drew in a slow breath, taking a few seconds to think. “Perhaps, we ought to talk.” She said softly, unsure what room would be best for it, but she felt a sense that Tercen was upset, and she wasn’t sure what to make of it, nor how to fix it. Maybe he was so upset that he wouldn’t even want to still be together with her anymore… and the thought of that upset her.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Ava's house, Fifth Circle - December 30th

He used the walk from headquarters to Ava’s place to try and get his thoughts and feelings in order. Since it was very clear to him that they could not talk until they were behind closed doors, he tried to use this time he had to try and calm himself.

Tercen found it very difficult to think reasonably, however. It was a start, he supposed, that he at least was aware of that fact. It frustrated him, in a way, that he felt so strongly about the woman by his side - the lady holding his arm, which he had wordlessly offered after still holding the door for her on their way out of the ranger buildings - that he could not just calmly think this through. He was not used to women having such a strong effect on his state of being.

Tercen murmured some kind of thanks to Ava’s new, temporary butler as the man took their coats. He watched as she dismissed him and told him to dismiss the others, as well. That made him hopeful that she at least wanted to talk about this with him, today - rather than wait until tomorrow. For he was not sure if he was able to even manage waiting that long, even if Ava had expressed her wish to do so back at headquarters, and even though he had agreed to it, at the time. If he could find the patience, then surely he wouldn't be able to spend the rest of the day with Ava. Otherwise, it would just be looming over them.

‘Perhaps, we ought to talk.’

Her words were so quiet, and there was something about her tone that made him want to pull her into a hug and tell her it would all be alright... But he couldn’t do that… not now. Becaude he had no idea if it would really be alright. Tercen swallowed, nodding. “Where?” he asked, his voice just as quiet as hers had been.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Her house, 5th level

After a glance at him, trying to read just how upset he might be, Ava took a second to think before deciding on the blue-toned parlor. Blue was supposed to be a calm and soothing sort of color, so if there were going to be any tempers flying around, maybe that would help calm things down. And besides, hadn’t he shown some interest in that room when she took him and his sister on a tour?

She led the way to that room, therefore, and went to draw back the curtains a bit to allow some natural light in from the garden, or what would have been a garden if it had not been winter outside.

While she was standing near the window, she noticed a slight draft from it, where the panes were missing a bit of the stuff that sealed them at the edges, or something. She’d have to mention that to someone, so they could have it fixed, but obviously it couldn’t be done today. She'd just stay close to the fire, then.

She then turned and glanced toward the other side of the room where the fireplace was, noticing with a small frown that it wasn't lit. And she hadn’t brought anything to light a fire with. “I didn’t realize it would be cooler in here,” She mentioned, debating whether to switch to another room… unless he would offer to build a fire for her. She wondered if he still would, without her asking. Or was he too upset at her, after what had transpired at headquarters? Was he angry at her, she wondered, or was it more that he was upset about the entire situation?

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Ava's house, Fifth Circle - December 30th

He followed her to the room, only realizing she was taking him to the blue parlour once they had arrived. He could feel his own anxiety as he watched her approach the window. It had started to form at headquarters, slowly growing as the meeting there had progressed. During his talk with Ava in the hallway, when she had told him 'no', it had taken the shape of a knot in his chest, and it had only grown tighter and harder since that moment. However much he swallowed, though, he couldn’t get it to go down and be rid of it.

The way she looked at the fireplace, along with that comment, made him take a step toward it even without thinking. Once he realized what he was doing, though, and what she had just done, his movements slowed a little. She was trying to get him to light the fireplace - in the same way she had tried to get him to do things for her since the very beginning. Even as early as the masquerade, the night they'd met. Hinting, without asking. To see if he would spot her wish, and whether he would oblige her. It had never bothered him before. And while it did not bother him now, either, he did wonder whether he should still be so accommodating to her wishes, if she wasn't willing to do the same for him. If she didn’t want to be with him badly enough to accept him going to her home with her.

After a few heartbeats, where he considered this, Tercen continued on his trajectory toward the fireplace. He didn’t have it in him to speak, because his throat had closed up a little. Grateful that he could focus on building a fire instead of looking at Ava for a while, he wished that the time it took him to get a fire going would be enough to pull himself together. Because he was... all over the place.

Once the hearth was lit, he cleared his throat and he rose to his full height before turning back toward her. His light brown eyes focused on her face, and he was a bit at a loss of how to even start.

“I don’t want us to say goodbye,” was the best he could come up with, in the end.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

(This, and some following posts will be a collaborative effort between both of us)


Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

Watching as he went without a word to light a fire, Ava realized that there were some fire-making supplies there, near the hearth. She was also somewhat relieved to see that Tercen was still willing to do things like that for her, and that made her feel a bit better. That he wasn’t so upset that he would tell her ‘too bad’ or ‘I don’t care’ or something like that.

While he worked on the fire, she let her gaze focus on the pattern of the carpet, and tried to think of how to go about this… this talk. It seemed to be looming over them both, and she didn’t like it. They’d had nearly a whole week of seeming bliss, enjoying their time together. And now… what was going to happen? She had little experience with relationships. In fact, none, to be honest. She had no idea what to expect, but she tried to remember his words, at the masquerade. About how he didn’t know where this would all lead or what it could end up being, but he had wanted to find out. She felt the same sort of feeling, right now.

Hands clasped in front of her, she looked up with a tiny smile of gratitude when he turned back to her, the fire burning behind him. She was about to say thank you, when he spoke. And left her briefly stunned with what he said. She blinked, and felt a rush of relief that he felt the same as she did. And that he did not want to end things with her. Though she hadn’t quite been conscious of her shoulders being tensed, she became aware when they relaxed slightly. She stepped closer and reached to take his hands. “Neither do I.” She assured him, her relief clear in her voice.

“Then let me come with you,” he said, managing to keep himself from sounding like he was pleading with her. He wanted to sound reasonable, not desperate.

A frustrated sigh escaped from her as she heard his request. Not that she hadn't been expecting it, but still. Why did he have to be so persistent? “Tercen… please, haven’t we been through that already?” She asked with a hint of annoyance, hating to have to be the one to tell him no. And wishing this didn’t have to be a thing. She was fearing that it was going to end up coming between them, and she didn’t like the thought of it. She didn't want to end things, and she also didn't want to argue about it.

He shook his head, undeterred by her visible frustration. “No. We never finished our conversation. I told you days ago - I don’t play games. I told you at headquarters that what I wanted wasn’t going to change. The walk from there to here didn’t change anything.” He raised their hands to his chest, taking a step closer to her, even. “I don’t want us to part ways. Going with you seems like the best solution, at the moment.”

Her eyes dropped down to their hands as he stepped closer. She frowned, even as a mixture of emotions welled up in her own chest, and she didn’t know quite how to label all of them. She agreed with what he was saying, and that frustrated her even more. Because she also knew, far better than he did, how dangerous it was for him. For them, really. But especially for him. And he had no idea what he was asking. What he might be getting into. And she didn’t want him to have that knowledge, either. Now it was her turn to sulk, and she pressed her lips together in resolute stubbornness, unwilling to give in on this. How could she convince him to drop this?

After taking a moment to think, she replied to him saying it seemed like the best solution. “It isn't though. I told you that there are too many dangers there.. for you. That I would rather you remain in Gondor, where I would know you were safe.” She said unhappily. “It’s hard enough, suddenly realizing that I have to return so soon…” She glanced up with sadness in her dark eyes. “I suppose I lost track of how much time had passed. I thought there was at least another week…” She managed a faint little smile at that. As if she couldn’t possibly imagine where that week had gone.

It still seemed unreal that she'd been having such a nice time that she actually miscalculated how much time she had left. If Arnyn hadn't brought her attention to it... she didn't want to think of how much longer she might have gone without realizing. That could have been very bad... not so much for her, but for her people. Either way, even if it was safe for him, she had reasons why she would rather he wouldn't be there. So why couldn't he just respect that?

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

The way she pressed her lips together, already told Tercen she was going to dig in her heels. Sadness dragged his eyes down to their joined hands, seeking a brief escape from her expression. An expression that told him she was not going to change her mind and agree to let him travel back with her to Umbar.
Her words proved him right. Damn it. He had so wanted to be wrong.

Her attempt at distraction, if that is what it even was - it felt like that to him, regardless - failed to bring about any kind of response. They weren’t talking about the time they had left, right now, or about how she’d miscalculated. Even if he thought they still had a few weeks, which had now been reduced to a few days - there was nothing to be done about that. No matter what they decided, no matter what they did, no one could change that. His focus lay on what still could be decided. On what he would be doing. On where he would be. For those were things they could control.

“I would rather you remained here, where I would know you are safe as well,” he threw back, still managing o keep his voice steady and calm, even though some indignation was seeping in. “What danger would I be in, that you wouldn’t be in, when you return?” he added defiantly, lifting his gaze back to hers.


Ava’s frown deepened at his words. Of course he would rather she stayed here. She would rather stay here, too! Who wouldn’t want to stay in a wonderful place like this, when going home meant… death and horror and violence all around, and having to do terrible things, and… being away from him. She also didn’t appreciate him asking about the danger that she was worried about for him. She pulled her hands away from his, and folded her arms as she turned away. Instead, she aimed her frown at the fireplace and took a few slow breaths to try and figure out what to even say to him. How to answer a question like that? He had no idea how difficult this was! Why did he have to make it more difficult?

She refused to answer that question though. He did not need to know what sort of danger might await him. She didn’t want to give him nightmares, after all. “Would you rather I leave the others to whatever fate Umbar has in store for them?” She retorted at last, instead. That was the only thing she could think of she was willing to say in reply to any of what he’d said.


Tercen felt a surge of panic when she pulled her hands from his, but tried not to make it too obvious. Calm, he reminded himself. Calm. Calm… But she did more than just pull her hands away. She folded her arms and turned away from him. Bereft, his hands now empty, he automatically reached out for her, but stopped himself before his fingers could make contact. He could tell she was at the very least annoyed, and quite likely upset with him, for not letting this go. For not simply agreeing to let her walk off into that cesspit.

The fact that she wanted him to just give up and let her do just that, definitely rubbed him the wrong way. As if he would not care enough to try and stop that from happening? As if he did not, or should not, care enough to want to keep her safe? Or to at least go with her, to try and help her in whatever way he could? Why couldn’t they just go and face whatever all of it was, together?!

Instead of reaching out to her, Tercen rubbed a hand across his face. He turned away from her as well, walking a few paces toward the window as the thoughts were jumbling up in his mind and he was scrambling to make sense of them - to rearrange them into some sort of order, again. In between all the emotions that were threatening to derail him, on top of that.

Then Ava referenced the others at her estate. He frowned. He was not asking her to stay anymore, he thought that had been clear. He had just said he would have preferred her to stay here, safe, just like she would prefer him to do. But he was letting her go. Exactly because of those people back at her estate! His whole point, rather, had been that she should let him come with her!

Frustrated, he gritted his teeth as he looked out the window, without really seeing anything. When he turned around to face her again, he was frowning. Ava was a smart lady. She was trying to bring this into their discussion so he would start agreeing with her, wasn’t she?

“I’m not saying -” He halted himself, because he knew he still really did want her to stay. “Mordor’s pits, Ava,” he swore, his voice getting a bit louder as he tried to stay calm, and realized he was failing. “Of course I don’t want you to be some heartless woman who leaves all those people to some terrible fate you don’t want to even talk about to me,” he threw back. “I don’t like heartless. It’s because you’ve shown so much heart that -” He threw his hands up a little, not finishing that sentence.

“But you know what? When it comes down to it?” He stopped himself yet again. He didn’t want to say anything, now, in the heat of the discussion, that she might blame him for, later. He didn’t want to say anything he didn’t really mean, or which would fester between them. But he couldn’t just let this go, either. He couldn’t just roll over and let her win. He wanted them to stay together.

At a loss of how to continue in a reasonable fashion, Tercen let out a frustrated breath as he stared at the fire.


“What?” Ava spun back to face him, frowning. “When it comes down to it… what?” She demanded, arms still crossed over her chest, waiting. Was he actually calling her heartless?! Because she was trying to keep him safe? Because she couldn't bear the thought of him being hurt or killed - or even sacrificed - because of her?


Her question fuelled Tercen's frustration, now plainly audible in his words. “I..” He pulled his gaze away from the fire, to see her defiant expression and stance as she frowned at him. “When it comes down to it, I haven’t fallen in love with any of those others. Just you. If it’s ever a choice -” His frown deepened. The fire inside of him wanted to say they could burn for all he cared, as long as she was safe. But he didn’t… really… mean that. Did he? And even if he might still feel that way when he was calm, he didn’t think she’d like to hear something like that. He wouldn’t like hearing anything like that, either, he thought.

“I don’t love them,” he repeated, averting his eyes, and swallowing. He did love that she was trying to protect them, though. But his throat was closing up again, and he couldn’t really find a way to phrase everything he wanted to without it sounding bad. It had probably already sounded bad enough. Mentally, he swore.

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

She was all set to get upset at whatever he was about to say. Because she was sure he was going to say that she was being heartless, and she was prepared to argue that such an accusation couldn’t be further from the truth. But she didn’t know how to make him see her side of it, and that was even more frustrating.

But what he actually said… Ava was absolutely not expecting that. At all. Fallen in love? In love?! Her arms unfolded and dropped slowly to her sides as she stared at him. Stunned. Reeling a little inside. Her lips parted in surprise as she absorbed the words he had just said. Trying to wrap her head around it. Love. Love! Did he really mean that? He wouldn't say it if he didn't, right? He really had said it. And not just once! Twice!

Ava blinked after a couple of seconds, still speechless as she watched him turn his head away. For the moment at least, her upset and anger melted away. She stepped closer, then stopped. What does one even do in response to that? She had definitely never expected this. Her throat felt very dry, suddenly, as she realized she had no idea how to reply to that.

After a few heartbeats’ hesitation, she closed what gap was left between them, stepping softly, and reached out to take his hand. She still couldn’t find her voice at the moment, but she gazed at him with a wondering sort of look in her big, dark eyes. Her teeth caught her bottom lip lightly as her mind was racing with the enormous news he’d just dropped on her.


At least she wasn’t getting upset for him throwing this at her, now. He looked back at her when she took his hand, seeing the wondering expression on her face. “It's alright if you don’t,” he said quietly. “Yet,” he added, with a half smile, finding at least some of his usual self in between the maelstrom.


Swallowing, Ava fought to try and keep her emotions in check, but with what he’d just said… it was a challenge. And then he said it was alright if she didn’t return the feeling. And her heart ached a little at those words. “I…” She tried to say something, but stopped when she realized she didn’t even know what to say. Her throat didn’t want to let her speak. It was swelling up with a lump. She swallowed, looking down at their joined hands for a moment as she took a couple of deep breaths. Then she tried again, looking up at him. Her Sunshine. That thought brought the smallest hint of a smile to her face. “I don’t know what to say.” She admitted softly, almost feeling guilty for that, but she was relieved that he didn’t seem to expect her to say the same thing back.

“I.. don’t know if what I feel for you is love.” She continued, almost in a whisper. Her throat was making speech difficult again. She swallowed again and took a shaky breath. Be strong. She mentally scolded herself for letting her emotions make her want to get tearful. She didn’t cry... not in front of people! But Tercen wasn’t ‘people’. He was her Sunshine. That was… different. Right? She wasn’t entirely sure about where to hold back with him, and how much to let go of her ‘walls’. Instincts made her want to keep them up. He made her want to lower them. It was.. confusing to say the least.

Looking up at his face again, she put much of her efforts into maintaining the strong outer appearance. “I do know that I care for you very much. More than I've ever cared for anyone... Too much to let you be endangered unnecessarily.” She went on softly. “That’s why I’m trying so hard not to be selfish. It would be selfish, wouldn't it? To bring you along into danger, just because it would be nice to have you with me?" She shook her head. "I couldn't.. I don’t know what I’d do…how I could endure it… if anything happened to you, Tercen. I don't want you to be hurt in any way.” She hesitated, her hand squeezing his lightly. “And that's why, even though it would have been the easiest solution, I couldn't bring myself to hurt you with a lie, back there at the headquarters. When you asked if I wanted this.. us.. to end. Because I most definitely do not.” She wanted to make sure he knew that.


His half smile remained, though it wasn't his usual kind of smile - it wasn’t the kind that made you want to smile right along with him. There was a sadness to it, now, a concern - and something else that he couldn’t quite pinpoint himself. He raised his other hand to lightly brush the side of her face as he nodded. “Thank you for not lying. For not lying at headquarters, by saying you didn’t want me, even though that would have… quite effectively… ended the discussion right then and there. And thank you for not lying now, by saying you love me back, even when you don't.” He leaned in, closed his eyes, and touched his forehead to hers. It wasn’t her fault that he had fallen like a brick for her. Even if the feeling was new to him, as well, sane people probably took a little longer, right?

“But we do have a problem,” he said quietly, not moving. “I don’t know how I could endure it if anything happened to you, either. But if I am here while you are there, I… I won't even know what is happening or not happening to you… and to see that you are so afraid about what might happen to me, it…” He drew in a breath, keeping his eyes closed, focusing on the contact between them. “It makes me fear what might happen to you, in turn, Ava.” He wrapped his arms around her, as if he was scared someone might pull her away from him, as if this could be the last time he was holding her.


Ava frowned a bit at what he said. At the sad little smile on his face. At the way she felt almost hurt that he had taken a different meaning from what she’d said, than what she intended. But she hadn’t quite decided whether she should correct him or let it be, when he rested his forehead against hers, and returned to the problem she wished had never come up. She held back a sigh, feeling half-tempted to tell him he could go, then leave without telling him when she was going. But, again, that would involve a lie, and deceit. The very kind of ways she wanted to abolish and not fall into, herself. That was one of the things she disliked about the people of her homeland; the fact that almost everyone had fallen into such ways. Which led to cruelty and violence and suffering. No, she did not want to be like that. And being with Tercen, she felt as if his presence helped to remind her of that, and to help her not fall into those habits.

“That is a problem.” She agreed, quietly sliding her arms around him, while her forehead remained touching his. This was certainly not how she had ever expected her ‘vacation’ to go, when she left home. Nor had she expected that attending the masquerade ball would bring about something like this. This whole matter was... both wonderful and upsetting, all at once.

After a moment, Ava looked back up at him. “I did not say that I don’t love you.” She stated quietly, deciding that she preferred to address that topic than the other. “I.. simply am not sure how one knows if they are in love.” She tried to explain, frowning slightly in confusion. “That has never happened for me, nor did I ever expect that it would.”

Ava drew a slow breath, taking a moment to think about her feelings a bit more carefully, while looking into his eyes. How she had been attracted to him from the moment they first spoke. How disappointed she had felt when he suggested going to dance with others for a bit. How anxious she had felt about telling him each new thing about her, feeling sure that he would decide he no longer wanted to be with her. And how relieved and happy she had felt when he didn’t reject her. Not after finding out she was from Umbar. Nor after everything else she’d told him, each thing seeming worse than the last. And she thought of how upset she had felt a little while ago, when she thought he might be upset enough to break things off with her. And how he had held her and comforted her when she was stressed and upset after that first meeting with Arnyn turned into an almost interrogation. And how the thought of him getting hurt made her feel almost sick with worry. She had never experienced such feelings about anyone else. And she herself had told him that she’d never felt such a connection with anyone before. Was that what love felt like, or was she only trying to tell herself that it was love? She didn't want to deceive him or herself, if it turned out that she'd misunderstood these feelings.

She bit her lip, all of that flashing through her mind in a moment before deciding to speak of it more. “If what I feel for you is not love, then… how does one even know what is?” She said at last, tentatively. “I have very little experience with such feelings, Sunshine.” She still couldn’t quite get over him saying that he was in love with her. So openly. Not that it was such a surprise that he would be so open about something, but it was so… vastly different from how she tended to be. She swallowed. “I am..not used to speaking so freely. So.. carelessly, if that’s the right word. I’m used to keeping my guard up high, not letting anyone in. I.. don’t know how you’ve managed to make me lower them so quickly. I don’t show my feelings easily.” She stopped, unsure how to make him understand that. She looked down and fought to keep her throat from swelling up with emotion.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Minas Tirith Streets, Gondor

Nothing would have elated Gaer more than to stay by herself in a healer’s quarters. No oversight or watchdog. Just freedom to move and be as she wished. It was both an exciting prospect and a little frightening. To go on her own after being sheltered for the first twenty years of her life. But it was about that time to learn, right? She remembered Wisteria, living on her own as an orphan and all. She was so strong and brave. Gaer wished she could emulate the other young lady’s strengths.

But indeed, a relative, especially a distant kinswoman like Isys, would be much preferable. Living alone had it’s perks. Living with a celebrity would be divine. And maybe Gaer could learn something by watching the older woman, who was a famed knight and veteran and all. It didn’t filter into her mind that she could ask her brother these same things. But he was a boy. It was different, learning from another woman. They understood better.

She nodded to Linny’s quick message about an invite to Brooke, before her bestie went off to have her fitting next. Gaer then wondered why Brooke was a little put off by Gaer asking about her hometown, the Breelands as it was called. Was it unusual for someone to take interest or had there been some trouble or embarrassment? Gaer hoped she wasn’t provoking any unpleasant memories in the other girl. Sometimes her own curiosity could backfire like that. Stupid she mentally kicked herself.

It might all be one reunited Kingdom but the Breelands seemed new. Wouldn’t they feel differently or put off by being forced to become apart of a distant kingdom out of the blue like this? Surely they would get a say or something. That was a political question though and something for smarter minds like her father’s or the King and his Council. ”Sounds bigger than my home at least. Well, my family’s half of it.” Gaer commentated, when Brooke explained all of Bree could probably fit in just the first circle of Minas Tirith. Lond Côl combined though was probably a bit larger than Bree. Gondor was a lot more developed and continuously inhabited than Eriador was by the Dunedain.

But then Eryn asked one of those questions that just turned Gaer’s mind and heart into mush. There were…hobbits that lived in Bree! ”You mean the Periannath You met them??” She said in amazement after Eryn’s comments, using the Sindarin name for them. Their Prince had been among the defenders of Minas Tirith during the War, it was said. And others who went into…yonder land eastwards and toppled the evil Dark Lord himself. And so many other fantastical things.

Brooke explained it to them, the ones she knew, who seemed so kindly and welcoming. Just as Gaer imagined them. She stared and listened with attentively eyes as Brooke spoke about the other type of menfolk who lived there though. They seemed like humans everywhere. Some nice, others…unpleasant. ”We got plenty of those here in Gondor too.” Gaer huffed. But they had more than that there. Elves too, who had been the one to teach Brooke the elvish she knew. That’s way her dialect seemed a bit off from the accent used in Gondor. It might be more pure if she learned from an elf direct. That was fascinating to Gaer.

Distance was another thing that was lost on Gaer. Maps usually ended with blank spaces north or westwards of Rohan and Gondor. Rarely eastwards beyond the Great River. And the south, always the endless sea. Gaer had no clue of the lands and rivers and valleys and hills between the Isen and the Breelands. Apparently it all used to indeed be one Kingdom, Gondor and Arnor, the Realms in Exile.

”It’s a few days by water. One week by land. But we have roads and inns and towns everywhere. I imagine it was through rough country for you.” Gaer answered, knowing little of the old Royal Highway that used to run from Minas Tirith all the way to Fornost in Arnor, now known as the Greenway. ”But you must have seen many wonderful sights, of pure nature and wilderness. Or were there folk and other nations between Rohan and the Breelands?” She asked again, before having to stop herself and give an apologetic chuckle.

”Sorry I’m asking so much. I never get to travel. This is my first time here in the City too. I have only been to three other places outside my home and only briefly. Dol Amroth, by the sea. Ossarnen in the White Mountains, but only because of the War. I was sent there to take refuge. And then of course to Dulinneth’s home. You have traveled far more in one instance than I have in my whole life. I hope you’ll understand my inquisitiveness.” Gaer explained to Brooke, hoping she wasn’t put off too much by the questions.

”Your elvish is wonderful though. We’ve been speaking it in my home for generations. We learn it before the common tongue, actually. I’m from Lond Côl, in the Belfalas province, which sits at the mouth of the Ringló, the Chillflood, as it empties into the Great Sea. There’s a great castle there on the river, that stops enemy ships from sailing up the river and attacking the interior. My family has been guarding one side of it for centuries.” She explained to Brooke, and to a lesser extent, Eryn, who might be hearing this detail for the first time. Gaer rarely had an interest in this heritage as a child, as it wasn’t destined to be her profession to serve or upkeep the river-fort and it’s sea-chain. But it felt…prideful now to explain it. Her family’s small part in the great struggle against the forces of darkness.

”Dol Amroth is another great castle and bastion, that is to the south of my home, and is the dwelling of Prince Imrahil. It is a wonderful place, of beauty and art. Many artisans of many professions live there. Oh! We’re also going to the local theatre here as well, at the Hall of Songs. Have you ever been to such a thing, here or back home?” She inquired of Brooke, abruptly changing the topic. If the other girl hadn’t, Gaer would love to share the first time experience with her.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir “the Dauntless”
January, Minas Tirith, Gondor

What he would find waiting for him. Was her. He found Torniel upon a couch, draped in royal crimson, tight fitting to her figure, her features so smooth like silk and her hair arranged like velvet curtains. She was reading and a brief glimpse showed a variety of titles and subjects, showcasing a mind that was vastly intelligent and consuming. But it was her eyes that held the most attention from Abrazimir, dauntless in staring so unwaveringly at them as he smiled at her approach and greeting.

Hands brushed his chest. And cheek. Both of his, worn and callused, but gentle, rose to cup her cheeks both in reply. ”I found you.” He reiterated after her quiet acknowledgement. By the Valar, it took every ounce of strength and willpower not to pounce on her right then and there. Instead…he dared for a light kiss, chaste and brief, upon her lips. They had already known each other in more intimate ways.

Drawing back from the kiss, he lowered his hands, first to her shoulders, then down along her arms, to take hold of her hands lightly in his own. Holding them at their sides as he peered down into her face. He couldn’t help but smile so broadly for her. There was no helping that. So long at sea, surrounded by endless multitude of water, and yet his thirst seemed only to sate when looking into her eyes. Deep as the sea they seemed. And so full of secrets.

”This is your shop, huh.” Abrazimir noted, glancing left and right, eyebrows piqued with appreciation and amazement. So much! Books and trinkets and odds and ends. Seemed a typical import/export business, bringing goods in for clients, moving goods out for clients. She was at the core of it all, selling, retailing, bookkeeping, wholesaling. That’s what he perceived, with all his own business acumen, running an estate and battleship with all it’s logistics. All her. By herself? He was so impressed. How did she come across this formidable woman?

His eyes were back on her. Shamelessly, they gave her a once over, roaming down her figure and dress, and back up again, meeting her eyes once more. ”Keeping up on current events too, huh. Any tales of brave or heroic knights, I wonder?” He noted the journal she had been perusing, laying on the couch. She had so much literature. Did she know every page and chapter? He wanted to pry. He could learn something from her.

”Will you show me around? I’m dying to know how you have been since we last met.” Yes, how little he knew, that people actually did, quite literally, die from meetings with her. But he had no inkling. Abrazimir did wonder if he might see something here, a document or letter, that might have hints as to what her real name was. Because he knew Torniel was just a moniker in reference to her secretive ways.

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Torniel
January - Third Circle, Minas Tirith

He had found her, he said, when he had his hands holding her face. The soft kiss left her more breathless than was logical. Was this what being wanted - for more than a quick, good time - felt like? Or was he just playing her? Why put in the effort, then, though, when he could simply have her without bothering with any of the rest of it?

She held herself back from sighing as his hands travelled to her shoulders and down her arms to her hands. She returned his light hold with her own hands even as she returned his gaze. A slight blush appeared on her cheeks under his assessment. He had eyes like storm clouds. But they held nothing ominous when he looked at her.

Her smile deepened when he stated this was her shop, and she let out a small sound of amusement. "It is," she agreed quietly, watching him taking it in, before he looked her over. One of her eyebrows was raised when his eyes met hers after that. "Current events, at times, have their effects on business," she told him, with an enigmatic smile, before her upper teeth caught her lower lip. "Like what you see, Dauntless?" she asked him, though whether she meant the shop or herself, was for him to fill in.

She pulled him along lightly, in the direction of the desk. "I'm afraid there is not that much to show you," she answered thoughtfully, looking around. "I don't imagine that contracts, agreements and accounting books are of much interest to you," she half-said, half-asked. "Unless you would like spend your time with me by perusing numbers and conditions?" Her eyes sparkled.

"I could offer you something to drink, or eat," she suggested, instead. "I have a living space - upstairs. One of my contracts is with an excellent vinyard," she promised. "I have a few bottles up there that may pass the muster of a southern knight used to royal vintages," she teased him coyly.

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

Tercen was surprised, but through all his other feelings it was muted. He did lift his forehead away from hers to look at her, because of what she said, and he let her speak, staying silent, listening, until it appeared she was done, for now.

He considered all of her words, and the nature of his smile changed a little. One of his hands softly rubbed up and down her back. “Thankfully,” he began, quietly, “I have a lot of experience with walls, and trying to at least peek behind them, if not lower them.” He meant Arnyn, of course. “So I am alright with… your walls. And I can handle you trying to manage them, whether it is you trying to keep them up or trying to lower them for me.” He shook his head a little, the movement slow, thoughtful. “Don't you have songs in Umbar, Temptress? Stories? Poetry?” For those would help her determine her feelings, wouldn't they?

When he said he had a lot of experience… Ava thought for a second he was going to say ‘with relationships’. And she was going to give him a little tease and say ‘So I’ve heard’. But that wasn’t what he said after all, so she let that thought fade away. Instead, she nodded slightly when he spoke of walls. She guessed he must mean his sister. So, it was good that he wasn’t put off by her walls, at least. That he was alright with them.

Then he mentioned songs. And poetry, and stories. She looked at him, briefly puzzled, until she realized why he must be asking. “Of course we do, some anyway.” She answered thoughtfully. “Hearing or reading about someone else falling in love doesn’t tell me much about how it actually is, however.” She frowned,hesitating a moment before speaking again. “I thought I was in love, once. A long time ago. But… it was only a crush.” She shrugged slightly and looked away. “I didn’t think I’d ever let myself get so..” She briefly struggled for the right word. “Attached… to anyone else. Ever again.” She said, glancing at him with a faint smile tinted with sadness. “I.. didn’t want to be hurt again, so I haven’t gotten involved with anyone… until now.”

“It's different for everyone, I imagine,” Tercen said. “But since I fell for you, I do understand them better. The songs.. and everything.” He brushed some hair away from her face. “You were hurt by a crush?” He wondered. “A crush is how it starts,” he added, with a half smile.

“The crush isn’t worth speaking about,” Ava said softly with a little shrug, not really wanting to get into that whole thing. Maybe some other time, but not today.

She was shutting him out again, and Tercen wasn’t stupid enough to miss that - but as he had just said, he had experience with walls. He let it go. For what did that old crush matter? They were talking about the two of them. Not about others.

“Maybe I still have a crush on you, as well. But it is more than that.” His smile grew. “When we were dancing, last night. I knew.”

Ava looked up at him with a curious little smile at these words. “You knew?” She asked, intrigued by that. “How did you know?” She moved her hands to rest on his chest, tempted to lean in and kiss him, but she refrained.

Tercen played with a lock of her hair as he looked into her eyes. “When we were dancing at the tavern… it was more than just ‘nice’. It felt just right. I remember thinking I could spend a lot of evenings like that. And I worried about how few of those evenings we had left. When we were dancing, when I had you in my arms… when we were standing at the bar, looking at the others, me holding you…”

This was not easy to explain, he had to admit. “I felt… like I had arrived. At wherever I was supposed to go, in life. As if all the pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place. And while I was looking at you, and marvelling at the feeling of my heart growing a size… My mind kept circling back, again and again, to the moment when you would have to leave. When I would lose everything I had just gained. And I knew it would…” He stopped himself then, realizing where he was going. But he did not want to put that burden on her. If he could help it, if he could stay in control enough, he did not want to saddle her with any kind of weight or responsibility. It would feel like blackmail. Even if it was just him being honest.

“I just knew, Temptress.”

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

His answer was more lengthy than she expected, but it was also wonderfully heartfelt. Ava felt as if her own heart swelled slightly just hearing him, and tears pricked in her eyes. She blinked to chase them away, then lowered her head to let her forehead rest softly against his chest, her hands sliding up from his chest to loop around his shoulders. They were practically in a dancing pose now, she realized with a soft smile.

Her smile faded though as she thought back to the mention he had made of the moment when she would have to leave, and he would lose everything he’d just gained. She let out a little sigh, sinking against him slightly. “Just because I'm going home for a little while doesn't mean I will never come back.” She told him softly, then looked up again. “I did say I was planning to keep this house, remember? I intend to return.”

When she leaned into him the way she did, he adjusted her hold on her, feeling that wave of contentment wanting to wash over him again. It was tainted, this time, however, by what was looming on the horizon - just a few days away, now. “I have no reason to doubt your intentions of returning,” he murmured. But that was not all of it, was it? Ava seemed so afraid for everyone at her estate, if she did not go back in time. She had literally said at headquarters that she had no idea what the state of things would be for her, back in Umbar, too. What if it had all gone terribly wrong, or what if it all went terribly wrong once she got there?

“And besides,” She continued, a sad little smile played on her lips. “As it turns out, I can’t actually go with you to see Ithilien, this time. So that alone gives me plenty of incentive to return.” She gave him a teasing little smile. “And next time, I won’t tell your sister, so she can’t tell me I can’t go.” She joked. As if that were the reason she couldn’t go, and nothing more serious like a potential spy lurking around watching her.

Her serious tone and expression returned the next moment. “I was so looking forward to that, you know.” She frowned, almost pouting. But she knew that Arnyn was right. If there was a spy watching her, following her without her knowing, and learning things to report back to Umbar… she definitely didn’t want them finding out where Tercen lived.

He only had a faint smile for her joke, feeling sad still more than anything. But by the Valar, how sure he was that he loved her when she said she’d been looking forward to Ithilien as much as she had, and when her face did that thing. “So was I,” he wanted her to know. “Even if all I had to show you, was a simple life… I wanted to show you, anyway. Share it with you. I wanted you to know that part of me, too. See the more beautiful, and also less beautiful, parts of it.”

“You leaving would have been… difficult…” Tercen sighed, leaning back a little and shifting so she would also lift her head, so he could look at her. “Very difficult. No matter the circumstances. But, Ava… This was all…” He wet his lips, unsure of how to continue. Or rather, whether he wanted to continue. He did not want to steer them back into the discussion. He much preferred it when they were in harmony. When they were enjoying the moment together. Not when they were disagreeing, especially not about an important topic such as this one. A vital topic. The freaking most important topic… which was exactly why he could not avoid it. His voice was only a whisper, when he continued. “That was all before the meeting at headquarters. That was all… before… I heard… how dangerous it would be for you to even simply go back to your home.” His eyes grew wider. “I don’t doubt your intentions of returning, Temptress,” he whispered. “But now I…” He had told her, hadn’t he? The previous evening? Of how scared he was for Arnyn, if she were indeed planning to go there? Because she’d definitely be risking her life? And that meeting at headquarters had made it all too apparent to him that Ava would be doing the exact same thing, even if she lived there, even if she was a local, even with… everything. Did he have to tell her, literally, how scared he was?

She sighed again. He was not letting it go, not that she expected him to. She looked up at him as he leaned back slightly in a way that encouraged her to do so. And she heard what he said. Understood it. But she knew also that he wasn’t asking her to stay, he was asking her to not oppose his going. And that was what troubled her.

She was tempted to pull away from his arms, to make it easier to once again say no. But she also enjoyed having his arms around her, and it was comforting, too. She turned her head to one side, gazing into the fire as she rested her head against his chest. Listening to his heartbeat. Watching the fire that he had made, simply because she hinted for him to. She took a few deep breaths, not wanting to delve into this topic, but knowing that it must be done.

And she figured the best way to go about it was to do as he was doing; being open and honest. It was more challenging for her, having not grown up in an environment that encouraged such traits. But she would try. “I would love to be able to show you my home, too.” She began softly. “But, while you would like to show me all of your homeland, both the beautiful and the ‘not beautiful’, I would really rather you did not see the latter, in my homeland.” She told him, frowning. “And I really have no idea whether there is any danger.” She turned her head to look at him again. “I keep thinking that all should be fine, that I should be able to go home and everything should be just as I left it. But then I remember that spy, or maybe spy, or whatever he was… and I have no idea what I might be returning to. And because of that, Sunshine, I don’t want to risk… you.”

She hesitated. “But there’s more than that. There are.. Things that I must do, which are not pleasant. And I know it may sound harsh but I would rather keep you out of that part of my life.” She bit her lip, desperately hoping he would understand. “I’m afraid you wouldn’t like the person you might see, in Umbar. The person I have to pretend to be when others are watching.”

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

“The temple,” he said with a nod, picking in on her later words. “You have already told me about that,” he reminded her. “What difference would it make if I were here, knowing that was something you would have to do there, or if I were there, at your estate, knowing that was something you were doing? Unless you were planning on dragging me to that place? For I can assure you, I have no inclination to see such a thing for myself,” he muttered. “I know who you are,” he insisted. “What does it matter that you have to put up some facade in front of others?”

Ava sighed in frustration. "Of course I wouldn't drag you there," She replied with a frown. That was almost an absurd thing to say. She did pull away from him then, and turned away, huffing another sigh. "You're not getting it." She declared, not quite sure how to explain any further without, literally, explaining further. And she didn't want to have to spell it out for him. “This is literally the worst part of my life, Tercen.” She certainly didn't want him to have to share in it! She frowned. “And I don't want you to even have to be anywhere within reach of that place."

Something about his words, or perhaps simply the fact he was not folding, was frustrating her. It was clear as day. Her ensuing retreat was not just physical. He could feel it, in more ways than one. No, no, no… His hands were still raised a little, as they had been when she’d still been within his embrace. Slowly, he lowered them, and his expression fell along with them. “You’re right,” he agreed with her. “I’m not getting it. I’m not getting how being apart would be better than being together. Because it could never be better, Temptress. You won’t be able to convince me otherwise.”

“The worst part of your life - it is still your life. I am not shying away from that. All of it has made you into the woman you are.” The woman he loved.

It was all so clear to him. Why couldn’t it be clear to her, too?

It’s because she doesn’t love me, his mind whispered. That’s why. If she loved me, she would know what being in love felt like. She wouldn’t have to wonder if ‘this’ was it. If she loved me, she wouldn’t fight me on this. But he understood her not being there yet. She was on the right path - that was enough. If he didn’t mess everything up. That brought him up short. Was his fear of being apart from her, while she was in that terrible place, ruining what they might have together, someday?

“If your estate is safe, if you are safe - then I should also be safe there,” he whispered.

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

“That is not the whole issue.” Ava frowned, arms folded stubbornly as she looked back toward him, but remained turned toward the window. She felt the need to move around, and walked over to the window while trying to think. Why couldn’t he just let it go? She was getting frustrated now, but she didn’t want to hurt him with anything she said. But she was struggling with how to explain. Because she didn’t want to actually have to explain. She didn’t want to tell him about any more of the horrors that she had to face regularly, there. Things that she didn’t want him to be exposed to. She didn’t want to have to tell him about what kind of state she would be in. That every month, when she returned to her estate, she was in no state to want to be around anyone else. And she wanted, even less, for him to see her in that sort of state.

If she hadn’t been so frustrated about how stubborn he was being, she would have found his words to be very sweet. But she couldn’t think about that right now. Instead, she tried to focus on the actual issue. “Of course I don’t want us to be apart. That isn’t why I don’t want you to go with me.” Not now, at least. Perhaps someday. When the temple was gone. When her enemies were dealt with. “Please, Tercen.” She begged, for the moment unable to turn back toward him. “Both the captain and lieutenant agreed it was best if you did not come.” Please, she thought. Don’t make this any harder.

She didn't want them to be apart, but still didn't want him to go? He frowned, failing to understand what she was saying as he stared at her back, since she was still facing the window. “I don't care what they think,” he said, finding some more fire. He had begged, before. She hadn't buckled. Why should he, this time? “Why?” He demanded. “Why is it then, that you don't want me to go?”

She tightened her arms against her chest. She was not going to tell him that. She wasn’t. No matter how much he asked, she refused to tell him about…that. But she had to answer something. She frowned and stared out at a barren-limbed tree outside the window. “Because,” She began, but paused, unable to think of anything reasonable to say that was not… that.

“Because, what?” he reiterated, getting frustrated. “I don't mind walls, generally. But that doesn't give you an excuse to just demand things without explaining yourself. Not when it's this important. That isn't how a relationship works, Ava.”

She spun away from the window to face him, her temper flaring a bit at what felt like an accusation. Though, what exactly she felt ‘accused’ of, she couldn’t quite put into words. “Because it is this important.” She retorted, annoyed. “It’s so important that I return, that I can’t stay here no matter how much I want to. And… I..” She bit her lip, trying to find the words she wanted. “I know you don’t want to be away from me, but I need to be able to do what I need to do. Without.. any distractions.”

Her words felt like a slap in his face. He was stunned into silence. Is that what he was to her, in the end? A distraction? Tercen had to resist taking a step backward.

Seeing the look on his face, and the silence that met her response, Ava bit her lip. She felt as if she might have hurt him, and that was not what she had meant to do. She took a slow breath, trying to push away her anger, and ventured a step or two toward him. “Tercen…” She began, her voice quiet and a little wavering. After a hesitation, she went on. “Do you have any idea what it is that I must do, when I’m there?” She asked, looking at him, her eyes searching his face. And filled with worry as she desperately hoped she had not pushed him away from her just now.

“I would - if you told me.” His tone was measured, but only because he didn't want to sound angry. Though he was starting to get there.

She frowned at that. “And I would rather not tell you.” She answered, then took a deep breath and sighed, and stepped closer, closing the gap she had put between them a moment ago. She spoke quietly still. “One of the things I found so attractive about you, Sunshine, is that you don’t know about the sort of things that are… so common to folk in Umbar.” She admitted, unsure how he might take that. “It may sound silly, but I’d never before known anyone who had to ask why a temple was a bad place,” She smiled a bit sadly. “Or why an auction block in the marketplace would be… unpleasant.” That lump was returning to her throat, now. She swallowed. “Is it selfish of me to want to keep you from all of that?” She reached out to caress his face.

“Perhaps, you would be safe in my estate. Assuming nothing has gone wrong in my absence, anyway.” She said softly. She had places to hide him, even if things did go wrong. Plenty of guards to get through, if someone tried to invade. “But even there, you hear about things. People talk about what went on at the market today, or what they heard through the grapevine, and so on.” She hesitated, troubled about what sort of things he might have to hear about, if he was at her home. But she didn’t know what more to say, without risking it coming out wrong.

In other words, she found his naivete attractive. What could he even say to that? “So, either I learn more about your life and you lose interest? Or I learn nothing more and…” He didn’t know how to finish that sentence, and his expression mirrored all too clearly that he couldn’t make any sense out of that. He felt like she was setting him up to fail, no matter what he did!

Her mouth parted in surprise at those words. “That is not what I meant!” She spoke before he could get much further. She sighed, frustrated at this entire conversation. “I would not lose interest in you, but-”

“But what?” he asked, getting exasperated.

“But..” She tried to think how to word what was in her head, but her frustration was getting her thoughts a bit jumbled. “But I want to-”

“Shelter me?”

Ava frowned at that, but she couldn’t really think of how to protest. Because that was pretty much it. “Why do you want to go so badly?” She asked, changing tactics a little. Even though she knew the answer, she wanted to try and make a point.

“Because I don’t want us to have to say goodbye!” he repeated stubbornly. “And because whatever you are walking into, I want to walk into it - with you - together!”

Tercen took a deep breath in, trying to calm himself. But it wasn’t working. “Because - because -...” He raised and dropped his hands again, frustrated. “Aule’s hammer! Because I’ll go mad staying here - not even knowing what is happening to you!”

"And.. because you want to protect me?" She prompted softly, guessing.

That was a difficult question to answer. “Of course I want to protect you,” he said, “but you’ve made it clear that I can’t. The only way I have of protecting you is by convincing you to stay here. You have said why you cannot stay here - and I accept that therefore I cannot protect you in the only way that I can.” His gaze dropped to the floor. “I’ve already told you,” he continued, his tone unhappy, “that I’m not delusional. If they come for you in Umbar and they were to be able to beat down your guards, and the rangers going with you, what good could I do? Stand in their way for another heartbeat? Of course - I would, there is no doubt about that, Temptress - but…” He gritted his teeth. “I know I can’t protect you over there. As much as I hate to admit it.”

She shook her head as he got past 'of course I want to', but he kept talking. So she waited until he had finished. And while it was a very sweet notion, that he would stand in the way of anyone seeking to harm her, that wasn't really what she was trying to get him to say. She hesitated, and laid a hand on his arm gently. "My point was that you would want to protect me." She repeated. "And therefore, why should I not want to do the same? To protect you from.. not just physical harm, but..." She trailed off with uncertainty, not sure how to put it in words. "But from.. other things." She finished, though it wasn't as eloquent as she'd like.

[Rillewen]

@Lantaelen

| |
Dulinneth, Eryn Raedor & Brooke
Dec 24, afternoon
2nd level, inside the dress shop

Brooke was slightly surprised by how impressed Gaer was, to learn that she had met hobbits. But then, to her, it was sort of an everyday thing. They did fill up about half the civilization where she was from. She nodded in answer. "Yes, I've met several of them." She answered with a small shrug.

It was regretful, though not surprising, to hear that Gondor also had plenty of the not-so-nice people, just like Bree. Brooke nodded, taking note of that. She was really hoping she wouldn't end up running into any people like that.

Eryn made no comment about it, herself, though she did nod in confirmation with Gaer's words. She'd had such an encounter, only a few months ago, but she didn't want to frighten the other two by mentioning it.

As for her journey, Brooke gave a little nod. "Well, there is a road," She said hesitantly. "But there's a lot of it that's all overgrown, or broken up. Honestly, if we hadn't had our ranger escorts to guide us, I'm not sure Seri, Aislin, and I could have made it here by ourselves." She smiled a little at the mention of the sights. "We did, yes. Gwestion and Gladhron had traveled through the Northern lands, and Rohan, plenty of times. So they knew the way really well, and they knew a few good spots to point out to us as we passed, and that sort of thing." She fidgeted with the flap of her bag, having no dog around to pet. Why couldn't the shop have let Chewy in, she wondered? But she knew why. Too many pretty dresses that he might ruin.

"I've only gotten to travel a little bit, too." Eryn mentioned sadly. "I went to Rohan once, about a year ago. And to Lossarnach.. during the war." She explained. "Both times were definitely exciting," She added with a little laugh. "But that's still nowhere near as far as you've traveled!"

Brooke smiled faintly. "I don't mind," She assured Gaer, when she asked forgiveness for her inquisitiveness. Though, she looked surprised to hear that her elvish was 'wonderful'. "Oh.. really?" She wouldn't have thought that, herself. "I mean.. I thought yours sounded better," She shrugged, not quite willing to accept such a compliment that she felt was undeserved.

"You learn elvish before you learn the common?" Eryn asked Gaer in surprise. "Wait... I wonder. I met a knight once, or I sort of met him, and he couldn't seem to speak Common at all." She mentioned curiously. "Is it like that in Belfalas? Where elvish is more common than.. well, Common?" She asked. "I mean... around here most people speak in Common, but the rangers use Sindarin to communicate while they're doing missions and stuff, so the enemy won't understand them you know? And kids who go to school in the city, they learn it. But I was homeschooled.. and my aunt never learned that, so she couldn't teach me. And my father was away on duty a lot." She explained, then glanced at Brooke. "And, how did you learn it?" She wondered, curious, since she found it strange that someone who lived so far away would know the language.

"Oh.. well, my mother..." Brooke hesitated, but then decided, why not tell them? She continued. "Her father was a ranger, and he taught her. I think it was her first language too, maybe? I'm not sure. Anyway... she taught me when I was very little, and we used to speak in elvish when it was just us." She paused and focused her gaze on the floor as her voice grew quieter and sadder. "But.. then she died when I was still very young. And.. my father didn't.. allow..." She bit her lip and stopped, then looked up at them. "It was several years before I met Fuin. And, she helped me brush up on it, but I was pretty rusty at it by then. And then.. she stopped coming around, so..." Shrugging, she let that speak for itself. "But Gwestion and Gladhron have helped me practice talking in Sindarin, and I've even found some books in Sindarin here in the library.. one that I found was even written in Ancient Sindarin." She smiled at that. "That was a challenge to translate, but between me and Gwestion, we managed it well enough." Her smile grew bigger as she spoke about that.

Then, as Gaer spoke about her home, Brooke listened with great curiosity. "You live in a castle?" She asked in amazement. She couldn't remember ever seeing a castle in her life, but she'd read many tales that had castles in them, and it sounded wonderous to think of a real person actually living in one.

"What about the other side?" Eryn wondered, thinking about Osgiliath, and how one side of it had at one time been claimed by the enemy, while the rangers held the other side, for as long as they could.

As Gaer spoke about artisans and performers, and mentioned the theater, Brooke shook her head at the question that followed. "No.. well, I mean, not here." She answered. "Back home, we uh, don't really have a theater. Not in a building, anyway... we have like a.." She paused to think of the right word, but she didn't have one. "Well, it's really just a crude stage with some benches in front of it, outside." She shrugged. It was nothing like the theaters they would have here, surely. "Whenever some actors come along, they perform there, or sometimes they might perform at one of the inns, if there's room for them in the common room. My cousin, Emma, is married to an actor. They travel around different places and perform shows. I've seen some of those, but that's all. I actually didn't even know they had a theater here." She admitted.

"We have two, actually." Eryn mentioned. "There's the Hall of Song, and then almost across from it is the White Tree Theater. The first one does mostly concerts and dance performance things, so musicians and dancers can perform the stuff that they learn there. And the theater is mostly for actors to do plays and that sort of thing. In fact, both of them are putting on shows. The Hall of Song has a ballet show or something for a couple of nights, then the Theater has a play they're doing, the next couple of nights. Apparently, they coordinated their show times so visitors who were willing to stay that long after the masquerade, would be able to go see both options." She explained, then glanced at Gaer. "I've was talking to Wist earlier," She grinned. "She's all excited about the ballet show coming up."

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

She had been the one to close the gap earlier, but neither of them had reached out to touch each other, as of yet. Tercen was starting to feel hopeless. Would they ever agree on this? It was looking less and less likely that they would, the longer this was going on. Then Ava softly touched his arm, and his gaze was drawn there even as she spoke. Her words made him lower his head further. They were at an impasse. He couldn’t see this discussion ending well. That saddened him more than anything, and kept him quiet for a long moment.

“I want to protect you by keeping you here. You want to protect me by keeping me here. You have a desire to look after those at your estate, so I respect that you cannot stay. I have a desire to look after you–”

Ava put her head in her hands and sighed in frustration. “This is going around in circles.” She groaned in aggravation.

“I know,” he whispered, finally reaching out to her in turn as he touched her other arm. “I don’t want to fight, Ava.”

She dropped her hands from her face and looked at him unhappily. “Then why can't you just accept that…” She stopped herself from saying ‘I don't want you there’. Because she did, and yet she didn't. “That it would be better if you don't go along?” She finished, instead.

He wanted to drop it. He wanted to be able to drop it. He really did. Both his hands reached out to her now, lightly stroking her arms before he put one hand on her back.The fingers of his other hand grazed her cheek. “Because I don’t agree,” he whispered, staring into her eyes. “Because it would be hell, for me.” The hand near her face touched her shoulder, her hair, then her chin. “I can beg you again,” he whispered. “I’ll do anything if you’ll let me come with you.”

“But that's the problem,” She smiled a little wryly. “For I would ask you to stay-”

“Anything,” he repeated, pulling her in a little closer. “If you let me go with you.”

She trailed off as he repeated his last statement and pulled her closer. Wrapping her arms loosely around him, she was about to say something else when he spoke again, first.

“Don’t you want me to comfort you, there?” he asked her quietly. “Because I could. Don’t you want… someone who can make you smile? Because I could. Someone who can…make you forget about everything else, even if just for a little while?” He touched her lip. “I could do that too, Temptress.”

She was torn on what to say, and mostly, she didn't want to say the wrong thing that might hurt him. She looked at him for a moment in silence as she mentally wrestled with her thoughts.

"You said your big rooms lacked joy and merriment, didn't you? You said I looked like I could fit in anywhere I wanted, didn't you?"

When he continued, she closed her eyes briefly, taking a slow breath in as she tried to keep tears from her eyes. “But I.. yes, I said that,” She acknowledged, sighing. “But it's… more complicated than that, Sunshine.” She frowned and rested against him, wishing they could just settle this and stop circling around it.

“It doesn’t have to be,” he pressed, feeling like he finally had a foot inside the proverbial door. Hope flared and his pulse was racing.

“But it is,” she insisted, before he went on.

“Introduce me to Izre. Show me your pools. No more loneliness. Not for either of us. We can talk whenever you want. I can hold you whenever you want. I don’t care if your walls stay up or come down.” His hands were on her shoulders, now. “I’ll be there for all of it, Ava.” His eyes gleamed with withheld emotion. “Please,” he whispered, and his hands travelled down her arms as he lowered himself to his knees. Soon, he was looking up at her.

All the things he mentioned sounded nice, but that just couldn’t happen. Could it? She did want to let him meet her tiger. She did want to let him enjoy the pools at her estate, and everything else. She’d enjoy having him around.. Most of the time. But there was just that one time that she knew would be there… and that was the block. She shook her head slightly, her throat swelling again as she watched him get on his knees, even, and beg her. “Tercen…” She bit her lip as he listed so many good things that he could bring to her estate. And she was struggling now, because a big part of her wanted to say yes.

He was humiliating himself. He was begging her - he was literally on his knees in front of her. But he had to try.

If he didn’t try, and she never agreed to let him come with her… he would regret not trying it more, later, than he would ever regret embarrassing himself like this in front of her.

His hands had lowered enough to take hers in his. “We can both put on whatever show we need to, for anyone else. And behind closed doors, we can have whatever we want. Honesty. Affection. Good conversation. Companionship. Passion. Consolation. Joy. Support. Happiness.” He felt so bare, so vulnerable, but this was the last thing he could think of to try and convince her. He had tried reasoning with her. He had tried to present decent options, and he felt like he’d been successful. He had been honest with her about how he felt. About why he wanted to go. He had told her how he could help, while he was there. He had tried calm reason. He had tried honesty about his emotions, his intentions. All he had left… was this. “Please, Ava. Let me go with you.”

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

Everything he was saying sounded nice. She closed her eyes, remembering how lonely she had felt so often, despite having plenty of servants around to talk to. It wasn’t the same as what she and Tercen had. Even though she’d only known him for about a week, it felt like she’d known him much longer. As if he was the thing that had been missing from her life, all this time. And she thought of how long and dull the days sometimes felt, even despite having plenty of things to do. Her swimming, her tiger to play with, her exercises to keep up, and her other activities to learn. She hadn’t felt the least bit bored since spending time with Tercen, and she couldn’t imagine being bored if he was there, at her estate.

But she had to keep reminding herself of that one part of all of this, that would not be good. And that made it difficult to remain calm because she was fighting against what her own heart wanted, because she knew it was for the best. “How many times do I have to tell you ‘no’?” She asked, frowning. Her voice betrayed some of the exasperation she was trying to hold back, as she fought for her stance on this matter. “Just.. stop, please.” She begged him in turn, and drew in a shaky breath before opening her eyes again to look at him pleadingly. “As much as I would love to have you there, it just… I… don’t think it would be a good idea.”

He was on his knees, he was begging her - and the first words that fell from her lips were: ‘How many times do I have to tell you ‘no’?’ It was like a punch in the gut. His eyes sought refuge, away from her face, and he had to fight both his humiliation and the invisible cut those words left. He had to fight those feelings from turning into powerlessness, because he knew that would only lead to anger. No… she was going to keep telling him ‘no’... What she had said after, didn’t quite register yet, and he could feel that he was losing. Nevertheless… it was now or never. Gritting his teeth, he tried to hold onto the last bit of energy he had to fight for this. And he pushed past his own boundaries for one last effort...

“Why, Ava?” he asked. Pressed, as he looked back up at her. “Why not? What is it that is holding you back? There has to be something. Clearly, there is something. Is it that you don’t… trust me? To keep seeing you?” For who she was?


"Because..I..." She stopped, her throat feeling choked up. She sighed and looked away as she struggled for an explanation that he might accept..

While she had trouble speaking, he was still parsing through her words. His head and heart were both racing a hundred miles a minute. The other things she’d said were finally sinking in. She had said… she had said… she would love to have him there. So, it was not her heart that was opposed? It was her head? What could it be? What did she think would be so terrible?

He frowned, trying to keep his mind straight, and attempted to reason it out. What did the head do? The head was what raised the walls. The head was what kept the walls up, too. Walls, which, she had said, were so necessary to survive, in Umbar. She also kept saying she lowered her guard around him. But it didn’t seem like she never wanted to do that around him - just not there, where others would see. But they needn’t see, even if he were there. They could keep that for their private moments. He knew she could. He’d seen it. So what… what was it?

He changed his grip on her hands as he looked at them, and desperately tried to figure it out. Suddenly, he raised his gaze to her face again. “You don’t want to offer me a look behind certain walls,” he said. “Do you?”

She avoided his gaze as he made a guess that was… pretty much on the mark. She wasn’t sure how to answer that, and so instead, she kept quiet and only squeezed his hands lightly.

Tercen held his breath. Was he… on the right path?

Slowly, he shifted his weight and got back to his feet. “You.. you don’t want me to see how much it drains you?” he asked quietly, frowning with concern. “You don’t want to be having a hard time - see me - and fall apart?” he continued, in a whisper, partially fearing she might blaze at him for even suggesting that she might. “Even when we are alone?”

Ava looked up at him then, a little stunned how closely he had gotten with his guess. She bit her lip, then let out a sigh. “All of that, I suppose,” She admitted, frowning. “But also…” She hesitated, unwilling to go on. To admit the rest. She kept quiet instead, for a moment. He wasn’t letting it go, and she was realizing he wasn’t going to. Alright, fine. Fine! She felt a flare of annoyance hit her. “I… I don’t want you to see me fall apart,” She relented at last in an annoyed tone, frowning as she turned away from him. She stared sullenly away from him. There, happy now? She thought with annoyance.

“Ava..” he said quietly when she turned away from him, and he tried to put an arm around her. “Even the strongest people fall apart.” He hesitated, unsure how much he should say. “I’ve seen it happen. I would not judge you for it. Falling apart doesn’t mean you’re weak.” She had mentioned, days before, how important it was to her not to be perceived as weak. “I could never think you are weak,” he whispered, gently trying to turn her back toward him.

She didn’t fight him when he tried to turn her toward him again, and ended up resting her head against his chest. “I just… don’t want you to see the state I might be in,” She murmured, the annoyance fading away. “After… the thing.” She frowned, aware that she was often not in a good condition, emotionally, after that… horror. When she got behind closed doors and didn’t have to keep up her walls anymore. “And it isn’t something that I want to talk about, ever.” She added, before he could get any ideas about asking her to talk about it.

“After… the temple,” he clarified, just to be sure.

She nodded slightly, reluctant to have to explain about the temple, but she tentatively offered a little glimpse of what it was she was so reluctant for him to witness; “I ... I don't want you to see if I… end up crying, or have a nightmare, or… anything. When I get home…” she trailed off and kept her gaze downward. Unwilling to bring up that she would probably need a bath after her trip to the temple.

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

He didn’t want to say the wrong thing. Somehow he felt like this moment could be pivotal. That this would make or break his chance, if he had ever had one. But Tercen wasn’t the kind of man to weigh his words and cherry pick which ones might get the best results.
“So…” What could he say so she would understand he was willing to just give her what she needed, when she came back from that horrid place? “So, we won’t talk, afterward,” he suggested. “We’ll… I’ll help you -” He was softly stroking her hair as she was leaning against him. “I’ll help wash away the…” Oh, screw it. He should just say what they were both dancing around, shouldn’t he? “The blood. I’ll help wipe away your tears. And we’ll dream of the day it will never happen again.” And what he was about to add next - that was the whole point. “Together.”

She lifted her head and looked at him with amazement as he spoke of the very things she had been trying not to mention… because she didn’t want to paint too horrible an image for him. Her lips parted in surprise. “How.. did…”

“You’ve never said. But a man can guess,” he said quietly. “And…” He hesitated. “Maybe I… since I figured you were clearly not going to tell me… maybe I did some research at the library,” he added in a whisper. “About blood cults. Since you… mentioned the ‘blood’ guard. And that they answered to that priest. And that you had to bring him sacrifices. I mean - it wasn’t all that hard to put together,” he admitted.

Her eyes widened slightly upon hearing that. He’d done research!? She nodded slowly as he went on, explaining. Her throat felt a little dry as she listened, wondering what exactly these books had to say about it all. And what sort of horrors he might have read about. But she kept that thought to herself. Drawing a slow breath in, she let it out even more slowly. Then she swallowed as she took a moment to think. “I didn’t realize your library would have any books about that.” She mentioned quietly. “So, you have some idea about…?” She swallowed again at the distasteful subject matter. Were those books up to date? Did they tell details about the way Pharak did things? She didn’t know if she even wanted to know…

“They’re books on… history and different cultures, that kind of thing. Gondorians have a natural inclination to look back.” He cleared his throat. “So, I have some idea, yes,” he confirmed, speaking slowly. “I have to admit, they didn’t go into great detail.” Honestly, he was glad they hadn’t. “It seems that the general idea of the - um - worshippers - is mostly to offer some sort of living… sacrifice. And usually it involves some kind of ritualistic blood… thing. Whether it’s someone drawing on someone else or themselves with the blood or whether it’s just...” He didn’t like talking about this.

After listening for a moment, Ava put a finger up to his lips to shush him from going on any further. “It’s enough to have a general idea.” She whispered softly, a bit stunned by the fact that he had decided to read about it at all. So much for not telling him things to keep him from having to know about things no reasonable person would want to know about.

Tercen nodded, more than a little relieved he wouldn’t have to go on about all he’d read.

Ava sighed softly, looking down as she rested her forehead on his chest. Thinking. Trying to find any further reason to keep saying no about him coming along. He had surprised her tremendously by already knowing things about the sacrifices. She swallowed again, realizing she was fighting a losing battle. More than half of her actually wanted him to be there for her, at her estate. And yet, she still knew it was not a good idea. Still… what real cause did she have to keep denying him? Every excuse she had offered had been taken away. Even the danger aspect, since he insisted he would rather face the danger with her than not know what was going on. Because… he loved her. She frowned as she considered all of this for a long moment, trying to come up with something that he couldn’t argue against. But finally, she sighed as she realized that she could not really take away his own choice in the matter, and now… she didn’t even have the excuse of ‘he doesn’t know what he would be going into’. “So… You read all of that, and you still want to go?” She asked softly, looking up at him, marveling at this revelation.

He let out a slow breath. The moment was pivotal. “I’m telling you,” he whispered,looking perfectly serious. “I love you.”
Didn’t that say it all?

She studied his face for a moment. He absolutely meant it. And she already knew how resolved he was, since they’d been arguing about it. Now she knew that he wasn’t just begging to go without knowing what he might be getting into. She ran a hand lightly along the side of his face, caressing his cheek and jaw. How in the world had she ended up meeting such an extraordinary man? That he would be willing to venture into all of that, just to be with her? Just in case she needed him, for anything. From protection, to comforting. Amazing. Almost unbelievable, in fact. But her heart warmed at the thought of it, even though it meant that he might be in danger. She held back a little sigh. “I suppose nothing I can say is going to change your mind, then.” She frowned thoughtfully. “Even if I remind you about that man back home? The one who assassinated the man I was once betrothed to?” She mentioned softly. That was definitely something she was concerned about.

He shrugged lightly. There were things she could say. But, hopefully, those would be lies, and so hopefully, she wouldn’t say them. Did he want to tell her, now, how close he had been to giving up on the conversation, just minutes ago, when he’d been on his knees? But then she’d spoken the words ‘as much as I would love having you there’. And those had given him something very important to hold onto. He was about to speak, when she revisited the topic of the Umbarian who was after her hand, and who had already assassinated another - because he and Ava had been betrothed. Tercen considered that, once again, frowning slightly as he did so. When he thought about that, he didn’t really see how this guy would be able to even find out about him. Or how this man could send someone into Ava’s estate to kill him. He had tried before to infiltrate her estate, she’d said - and he had failed. And Ava would be adding security, not lowering it, now. So, he nodded. “Nothing you can say will change how I feel about you,” he told her instead, honestly.

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

She watched his face while he was answering. She thought he seemed to hesitate, like he was thinking about something before speaking, but the words he said at last brought a tiny smile to her face. Just the same, she wasn’t quite sure how to feel about it. A part of her was pleased by his words, and the sentiment behind them. The fact that he was willing to go into anything, for her. To be with her. Because he loves her.

The other part of her was sorry that it seemed impossible to change his mind about going along, and regretted the fact that his life might be endangered because of her. She sighed and looked down for a moment as she thought carefully before speaking again. “Well.” She said at last, looking up at him again. “Then, I suppose there is nothing that will stop you.” She gave another little sigh, then. “You’re plenty capable of making your own decisions, of course.” That was what Arnyn had said, even. “And I will not take away your freedom to do so… I just wish you would have changed your mind.” She frowned slightly. “Of course, if it does turn out to be too dangerous at my estate, we can just simply come straight back to the ship and return to Gondor…” She added thoughtfully,

His eyes widened minutely. Was that her way of telling him… “So,” he said thoughtfully, trying not to look too hopeful - and partially failing - “this means I won’t have to hide myself on the ship?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood a little, even though it might really be too soon for that.

Ava couldn’t help a little smile at the way his face changed with hopefulness. And a breath of a laugh escaped her at his joke (hopefully joke?). “Well, it’s obvious that I can’t stop you or talk you out of it.” She pointed out. “And I think you would be much more comfortable in a cabin, than hiding in a cargo hold or something.” She added with a little smile, though she wondered if he was actually serious about stowing away. Still, whatever the case… she realized that she wasn’t likely to convince him otherwise. So, why make it into a big issue and keep arguing about it?

“That is true,” he agreed, about the cabin. “Can I share yours?” he asked, the corners of his mouth pulling up a little.

A little smile lingered on her lips at that question. “Well, there aren’t many other options. Your friend and his brother will likely have to share the only other,” She shrugged. She still wasn’t sure how she felt about him coming along, but some part of her felt a bit of a weight lift from her chest. Yet that also put another sort of weight on her. A responsibility… to make sure that he would be safe the entire time he was there. “Only… I do have conditions to this.” She mentioned quietly, unwilling to agree to him coming, without him also agreeing to these.

Still trying to wrap his mind and his heart around this huge turn around, Tercen was wondering how healthy it was that he was feeling almost deliriously happy about going somewhere as dangerous as Umbar was for Gondorians. “Yeah?” he asked her with a slowly growing smile on his face, just about ready to agree to anything. That is what he had promised, wasn’t it?

She drew a slow breath, wondering how he would react to her conditions. “If I tell you to stay on the ship, you stay there and wait.” She said, without breaking eye contact with him. “And at the estate, if I tell you to hide, you stay hidden.” She watched him anxiously, hoping he wouldn’t fight her on that. She would show him the hiding places he could use, in case of such an occurrence.

Stay on the ship? “You mean, stay on the ship temporarily?” He asked, slowly.

Ava nodded. “Until I am sure if it’s safe for you to go to the estate. Once I’m sure of that, then you can join me. But if not… then we’ll figure out the next step from there.” Which would probably be to go back to Gondor, maybe tell the rangers about the development, and figure out what to do next.

“How-” He stopped himself, debating inwardly. Trying to balance out the huge gift she had just given him with his need to make sure she was the one who would be alright. “How would we know it is safe for you?” He finally asked, the words slow.

Ava considered that question. Honestly, it was a strange situation. And one she had never had to deal with before. She hesitated as she tried to think of how to answer him. “I think… I will know when I get there,” She said at last. “I have people who listen to the rumors going on around the city, and if anything is being whispered about, I’ll hear about it.” Of course, if Pharak had information from a spy and there were no rumors, and he had been keeping it all under his hat, then she didn’t think there was any way for her to know whether he had heard anything. But she hoped that Tercen wouldn’t think of that. “I’ll have those two rangers along with me,” She reminded him. “Your friend, and his brother. That is why Arnyn wanted them to go with me. To protect me, right? They say they can manage stealth, so unless they’ve exaggerated, then they should be able to get into the estate with me. And we can find out what the situation is, hopefully without anyone outside the estate even knowing that I’m there yet.”

“Right,” he mused. “And how long do you think, if things go more or less as you would expect, would that require me to stay on that ship, waiting for news?”

She paused. That question had been a bit unexpected. She took a moment to try and remember how long it took to get from her estate, across the land, and to that particular spot on the coastline. Then she doubled that time, plus adding in a bit about an hour or so to ask around and talk to servants… “It’s hard to say… a few hours, to half a day, perhaps?” She tried to guess. “If I leave the ship at nightfall, I should be able to get back by dawn, I think.”

“Agreed,” he said quickly. “I'll wait. And if you tell me to hide at the estate, I'll hide. Okay?”

She felt a sense of relief that he had agreed to those terms so quickly without putting up a fight. She smiled slightly. “Good.” She brushed a hand along his jaw again, smiling. “I don’t know how you managed to convince me… but I’m glad we aren’t still arguing.” She said softly. After a pause, she added, “Of course… your sister isn’t going to like this.” She felt a bit guilty now, after having asked for Arnyn’s and Pele’s opinion about it… and to back her up on it all. And now she’d ended up caving in, and agreeing to it anyway. She wasn’t quite sure how to make them understand, but hopefully they wouldn’t be terribly upset about it.

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

He couldn’t keep from smiling at her comment about him convincing her. “And I didn't even have to take my clothes off,” he joked, grinning now.
When Ava mentioned his sister, he nodded, and the grin subdued into a smile. “She won't,” he agreed. “But I don't like everything she does either. We have an understanding, she and I. We offer opinions and advice, but we respect the choice. Even if we get emotional about it sometimes. Well, that's mostly me.” He raised an eyebrow. “Maybe she'll crack this time and show some emotion too. But we will be fine.” He slanted his head. “She might not be crazy about you agreeing, too, for a while though. I know you wanted to be friends…”

Ava laughed at the first comment, then she sighed at the rest, nodded slightly, thinking for a moment about that. “I will tell her the truth.” She declared softly. “That I tried my very best to convince you against going, and that you would not take no for an answer.” She gave a little sigh, then led him toward the sofa so they could sit. “I don’t know if she would ever consider me a friend, though. I think she is still suspicious of me.”

“It's her job,” he reminded Ava as he followed her to the sofa. “You will have her trust once you prove yourself in her eyes. Once she can no longer see any option of you trying to deceive her. Problem is, Arnyn's mind is.. very analytical. She often sees options I do not.” He shrugged, sitting down. “But once she is convinced… she is convinced. It could still happen, I think. And she's a great friend.” He smiled. “Or a great sister, at least.”
Returning to another train of thought, he shrugged. “It sounded like she won't wait that long to come and see for herself.”

She nodded with understanding, settling against his side on the sofa. “I know it’s her job. I don’t blame her, of course. I just…” She paused, trying to think how to put it into words. “I’d hoped she might warm to me a bit more, once she got past the… initial shock of it all.” She shrugged slightly. “After the next day, when we spent so much time in the exercise room.” She watched fire across from them, thoughtfully, remembering when she’d actually come up and hugged Ava.

“I am really hoping that all this… anxiety about danger will be for nothing.” She admitted. “I’d really like for this to simply be a chance to have some guests stay at my estate, and I’d like to have a chance to show them how nice it is at my place, compared to… the rest of the city.” She bit her lip lightly, then smiled over at him. “You too, since it seems I can’t talk you out of coming.” Now that it was decided, she couldn’t help but begin to feel a little excited at the thought of showing him around, and having him there, meeting Izre, and everything. She was already wondering how comfortable he and Izre would be with each other, and so on. And at the same time, worrying about his safety in case anything went wrong.

“It probably will be,” he tried to reassure her, and he pressed a kiss into her hair. His smile was hard to wipe off his face, and honestly he didn't feel like trying much. “I bet your estate is amazing,” he whispered. “And even if Izre will probably scare the wits out of me at first, it will be exciting to get to see and be around such a big cat. Even if he doesn't purr.” His smile grew a little. He was going. He was going with her! And she was agreeing to let him come! They wouldn’t need to be apart, and he would know that she was alright. And even if the worst should happen and everything were to go wrong, if she wouldn’t be alright, then he wouldn’t be alright either. But at least they wouldn’t be alright together.

She couldn't help a little smile at that comment about her estate. It was very nice, she couldn't deny that. “Don't let him frighten you.” She advised with a lingering smile. “He's just an oversized kitty cat who loves water.” She grinned, wondering how that meeting would go. She was also eager to reunite with her “kitty cat”, since she'd been away from him for weeks now. She sighed softly as she went quiet for a few moments after that.

Now that she realized she only had a few days before she would have to leave, Ava's mind was racing with all the things she was going to have to do before leaving. And then she thought of the plans they had already made for this evening. The play. She took his hand lightly and guided his arm around her shoulders, still holding his hand after. “I still want to see that play, you know.” She mentioned quietly. “I suppose that will be the last thing like that that we'll be able to do together, before we have to leave.” She frowned slightly. “And I will need to leave soon. Five days is the latest for when I need to go, but now that I've realized how close it is… it would be best if I didn't wait until the last moment.. I don't like cutting it that close.”

She glanced at him as she thought of a possible flaw in him coming with her, which she had overlooked before. “What about your life back in Ithilien? Won't you need to… I don't know, check on your home? Water plants or something? Didn't you say you have some cats that you feed?”

“I’ll see soon enough,” he stated, rather content with that idea. The trepidation would come later. For now, he was still overwhelmed with the notion that he wouldn’t have to be saying goodbye to Ava, and that he wouldn’t be left behind going completely out of his mind.
Tercen needed little guidance once he understood she was trying to put his arm around her. He looked at her when she spoke of the play they’d been planning to go see. After which… it took her no time at all to get practical. He groaned, though he made it sound funny. “Did we arrive at logistics, already?” he half-complained, half-teased her, before taking a moment to think.

“We should still go to the play,” he agreed. “At least… I don’t think Arnyn will want to talk business so late in the evening.” She’d looked pretty tired, actually. Even if she wanted to, it would be better if she slept. Hopefully she would see that, herself. Remembering that she, also, had been planning on seeing the play, along with Gladhron and his group, Tercen frowned a little. “Besides, she was going too,” he added, more thoughtfully. “As for Ithilien…” He sighed. “I had been planning to return and make some arrangements,” he drawled. “The cats who come by, can fend for themselves when I am not there - I needn’t worry about them,” he reassured Ava with a smile, knowing how much she cared for animals in general, and cats in particular. “But there were a few orders I intended to put a finishing touch on and deliver…” He sighed. “Not sure yet how I can work that out, in just a few days, though.” Hearing his own words, he shifted slightly, and hurried to add: “But I’m sure I can find a way to handle it, before we go.”

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

His groan made her glance questioningly at him, but she smiled at his words. “Why not?” She asked, a bit amused when he questioned her arriving at logistics so soon. She had such little time in which to ensure that everything was done, so… yes, it made sense to begin now.

But she was glad that he didn’t oppose the idea of still going to see the play. “Speaking of that, I was thinking,” She mentioned, letting him in on her plan… on her thoughts. “I’d like to get one of those balcony seat box things. And then us, and Arnyn and Gladhron and the others,” whom she had not yet met, “can all sit there together, and none of them need to pay for their tickets.” She held his hand as she spoke, lacing her fingers loosely between his. “And we won’t have to be all.. crowded up with a lot of other people.” She added softly, remembering what Arnyn had said about him being uncomfortable with that. “Only those that are invited into our area.”

When he assured her that the cats would be alright, she smiled at him and rested her head against his side, listening as he spoke of intending to go and finish a few things. Her forehead creased slightly in concern as she thought of that. One of the primary reasons she had, reluctantly, agreed about herself not going to Ithilien, was for fear that there might indeed be a spy watching her, who might then learn where Tercen lived. What if that was true?

He repositioned a little to be able to look at her more easily. “A box?” he repeated questioningly. “Are you sure? I know you have money, but it would cost you a decent amount to do that. For people you hardly know.” He watched her lacing her fingers through his, and flicked his eyes to her face at the words that followed. That they wouldn’t be crowded by other people. “True,” he said quietly, wondering where she’d gotten that idea from. Had it been something he’d said? Perhaps…

She merely shrugged, and smiled at him. "Why not? I would rather be more comfortable, and I would imagine you would also be more comfortable. I would probably do the same if it were only you and I going. But I like to be generous, and it will give me a chance to get to know these two who will be coming with me, a little better." She pointed out the various reasons for why, without adding that she'd remembered hearing something that indicated that Gladhron and his group may not have much money.  "Besides, I certainly have the money for it." 

"I would,” he admitted,in regards to being more comfortable. He wasn’t about to lie to her. “And though I’m not sure how much occasion you’ll have to get to know Gwestion and Gladhron while watching a play - but you are very generous, regardless.” He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.

She smiled softly at his words. She was mostly glad to hear that he would be more comfortable. That alone made it worth it to her. He was only going to the play for her after all. 

She remained quiet for a few seconds while considering the possibilities about him going to Ithilien, and trying to see things from different vantages. But in the end, she couldn’t help but feel worried about it. “Do you have to? Go to Ithilien, I mean?” She asked softly, at last. 

Tercen took in the expression on her face, and let the tone of her words seep into him. “You would prefer otherwise?” he asked, guessing that was really what she was saying.

“I am… concerned, that’s all.” She turned her head to glance at him. “I still don’t know whether there is, in fact, a spy. But if there is…” She bit her lip. “I was just thinking, if I were a spy, working for someone such as Pharak… and I had seen a prominent citizen of Umbar here, going around with someone like you.. and if I was watching them to see what they were up to… I would want to find out who you were, and all that I could about you and why this person would be spending time with you.” She explained. “And if you were to unexpectedly leave town after we’ve been.. well… mostly inseparable since meeting…” She smiled faintly at that wording as she glanced at him. “Well, I might be curious enough to follow you, to see where you were going and why you were parting from me. To see whether there was anything worth reporting back to Pharak about. Especially if that citizen had the sort of family history I have.” She sighed softly.

“I just… worry.” She said apologetically. “I have accepted that it is unwise for me to go with you to Ithilien, for that very reason. But…” She hesitated, unsure how to explain her concern, without repeating what she’d already said.

His light brown eyes sparkled. “Well, if you were the spy, of course you would want to know more about me,” he grinned.

Ava laughed at that, amused despite the seriousness of it all. “You know what I meant, silly.” She grinned, before resuming a more serious expression.

“Yes,” he said. “I know what you mean.” He took a moment to think on that. “You would worry… sort of like I would have worried about you, if you had gone back to Umbar alone,” he said slowly, reasoning it out. And then giving her a questioning look.

She hesitated, glancing at him as she wondered if he was thinking it was justified or something. “I’m not asking to come along,” She told him softly. “As much as I would like to,” She sighed. “I can see the sense in not pushing my luck too far. Assuming there is a spy at all, it’s a bit… fifty-fifty whether he would follow you or stick with me. But… I would feel better if you weren’t alone,” She mentioned tentatively, then tilted her head curiously as she looked at him. “Do you carry a weapon when you travel?” She wondered suddenly. Would he even be able to defend himself if someone attacked him, unexpectedly? If he didn’t have a weapon… that was an interesting question.

He was very interested in her reply, searching her eyes as she said she was not asking to come along, even though she wanted to. When she said she’d feel better if he weren’t going alone, at least, Tercen’s expression softened further and he briefly tightened his arm around her, to show he appreciated the sentiment. At her question, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes,” he said emphatically. “I might not be the smartest guy around, but I’m not a complete idiot,” he added, as if reassuring her. His tone had been light-hearted, but it sounded a bit more serious as he continued. “All the parents in Ithilien taught their children to carry a weapon when out and about in those woods. While I don’t while I’m within the safety of the Rammas, and especially not while I’m within the walls of the City, I do when I venture beyond. And while I’m no warrior, I can handle myself well enough.” His eyes trailed off as they narrowed a little. “In general. Not sure how I’d fare against a spy or anything.” Obviously, if some kind of bandit group were to come upon him, he’d also be in trouble. He was just one guy, after all. But he needn’t mention that, he figured.

Ava listened as he began to answer, and nodded with a small smile when he assured her that he did. Good. Of course, she remembered what Arnyn had said about Tercen and their mother, but she didn’t bring that up, obviously. And he had told her before about learning to handle weapons while growing up. But learning to use them, and carrying one, was not the same. Strangely, she sort of had a bit of trouble picturing him with a weapon. He seemed like such a gentle, non-violent sort of guy, that it wasn’t something she’d easily imagine him carrying. But she was still glad to hear that he didn’t travel without a weapon of some kind. “Good.” She said quietly, squeezing his hand lightly.

She paused, debating about something for a moment before adding, “Would it help rest your mind about this whole thing, if I told you that I can fight? And… quite well, if I may say so myself.” She admitted, curious what he might think of that...

[Arnyn]

Ava & Tercen
Ava's house, 5th level - December 30th
- A collaboration with @Rillewen -

He raised his eyebrows. “Is there anything you can’t do?” he asked her first, teasing a little. “Well, alright. I must admit, I’m curious. What’s your weapon of choice, Temptress?”

She grinned slightly. “Of course not.” She joked, then paused to consider the other question. It wasn't the one she would have expected him to ask, and she smiled slightly. “Hmm…” She had to think about which one she typically preferred training with, and compared to which she usually carried. “Blades, in general, I suppose.” She answered at last, thoughtfully. “It really depends on…what I'm doing, or what the goal is. Daggers are best if I'm doing a burglary,” She explained quietly. “But if I intend to go around as a vigilante, defending the helpless and such, then I will likely carry a sword for that.” She paused. “But I can use a wide variety of weapons.”

He shook his head a little. “Didn’t see that coming, have to say,” he admitted with a small shrug. “But… it does… I don’t know. Reassure me? I’m glad you know your way around blades?” Tercen made a face. “Everything I’m saying sounds like a question. But that is mostly because I don’t know if I’m translating my thoughts correctly. As long as you promise not to pull your blades on me, I’m good,” he grinned. “And it’s honestly reassuring to know you can pull them on anyone else,” he added.

She smiled at the comment that he hadn't seen it coming. “I generally don't make it known, for that very reason.” She explained, then listened as he tried to find the words for what he felt about it. It seemed he was mostly relieved to know it, from the sound of it. So that made her feel less apprehensive about mentioning it. Before, it had been her secret. Now… it could be their secret, maybe?

Then he made that comment about her not pulling her blades on him, and she couldn't help a teasing grin. “Well, as long as you don't make any sudden movements, you should be fine.” She replied with amusement. “I did promise to keep my claws sheathed, remember?”

“That, you did,” he said, amused to think back to that comment at the masquerade. It had meant more than he had thought, then. He did feign a pout. “No sudden movements at all? But what if I want to sweep you up or dip you like when we were dancing?” He asked. “Not interested?” His expression was merry as he continued. “Don't tell me you feel threatened by someone as innocent as I, Temptress?”

She laughed, finding it quite amusing to think back to those first words they had spoken together, at the masquerade. She tilted her head and pretended to take a moment to consider his question. “Hmm, well, I suppose that’s alright.” She grinned.

Then a thought struck her, and she looked at him with a different sort of questioning in her expression. “You don’t distrust me at all, do you?” She asked quietly, realizing how completely trusting he had been with everything he told her about himself. With no reservations, as far as she could tell. Not that it was the first time she’d noticed it, but it was sort of hard to get over it, she supposed. If she really had been a spy, she could probably get all sorts of information from him if she played it right. Not that she was interested in doing that, but she could completely understand why his sister would be… concerned.

He raised his eyebrows at her question. He hadn’t expected her to change topics, least of all to something like that. He smiled, and shook his head. “I don’t see why I shouldn’t trust you?” he asked her. “I mean…” He grimaced. Soon, though, his grimace made way for a more thoughtful expression. “I’m aware it’s definitely a good thing that Arnyn is very serious about her professional secrecy, not just with others but with me as well.” He shrugged. “It’s not my job to think about national safety and all of that. That is her thing. All I’ve needed to worry about for years now is her and me - and, now, you.” A little grin mastered his features. “I’ll admit that, maybe, I’m not the most careful man around?” His grin grew a little, but the look in his eyes was soft, his tone teasing. “Messing around with an Umbarian Temptress.” He wasn’t just ‘messing around’, of course. Even if maybe it had started out that way. He had just been pretty clear, he thought, that was definitely no longer the case. “Not to mention telling her all my secrets whenever she asks,” he added, his voice a bit lower as he looked intently into her eyes. His free hand travelled to her knee which was closest to him. “Want to ask me anything, Temptress?” he murmured, letting himself be pleasantly distracted from talk about Umbar and spies and risks.

She smiled softly at his answer, still a little amazed at how completely trusting he was with her. Caressing his jaw lightly, she leaned in and kissed him softly. “Only how you plan to get back to Ithilien, finish your things, and get back by the time I must leave.” She said, half teasing. “I suppose we could arrange a rendezvous,” She added, thinking. “My ship is waiting closer to your land than here, after all. I didn't want an Umbarian ship hanging around the harbors in Gondor, just in case it was not welcome.” She explained.

He hummed at her words, rather focusing on the lingering feeling of that kiss, than the boring realities of planning. “Oh yes, a rendezvous. I’ve read good stories about those,” he teased back, gently pulling her onto his lap.

Ava laughed lightly at his joke about the rendezvous. “Oh, have you?” She grinned, then smiled as she snuggled against him, now sitting in his lap.

“Maybe I don’t have to go back at all,” he murmured as he nuzzled her neck. “Or maybe I will, and we can do that meet-up,” he added with a shrug. The important part was that he was going with her. “Where is your ship waiting, anyway?”

Ava paused as he asked that. “I don't recall what the place is called, but I could point it out on a map.” She shrugged, playing with a bit of his hair behind his neck. “I could go and get a map, if you really want to know?” She offered as she raised an eyebrow with a teasing smile, since she'd just gotten comfy in his lap.

“It's somewhere around the beginning of the river, where there's a lot of islands all clustered together. The plan was for me to take a ferry down the river and meet the captain at a little fishing town close to there, where he'll be waiting.” She paused, looking at him. “These are not corsair sailors, I should clarify. They are under my employ, and they had better be behaving themselves while they wait.”

“Nooooo,” he said slowly with a lazy grin. “No maps yet. You are not going anywhere at the moment,” he declared happily. “you're staying right here, on this sofa. Unless… you're thirsty or hungry. Then we should go scavenge something in your kitchen pantry." It had been a long morning at headquarters, and the impactful conversations had honestly been draining. Tercen knew he was still riding a high at the moment, after having come to an agreement with Ava on going with her to Umbar, but he wasn't at all convinced that she was riding the same wave, so to speak.

He hummed at the additional information about her ship. “I assumed they weren’t corsairs, Temptress,” he replied, once again proving how much trust he was extending to her. Because why would she deal with them, when she did not like them? “Is it actually your ship, too? The vessel, I mean?”
He smiled as he breathed in the flowery scent she always seemed to exude. “Did I mention you smell great, again?” He asked her. He wondered what her house smelled like, in Umbar. What the gardens smelled like. What her bedroom smelled like. “Will I be able to sleep next to you at night, at your place, you reckon?” The question was quietly spoken, but since his lips were close to her ear, she couldn’t miss it.

Ava laughed softly. “Oh, so you’re holding me hostage now?” She teased, grinning at him. She thought for a moment at the added bit about if she was hungry or thirsty. “Mm, it is about lunch time, isn’t it?” She mentioned, and remembered that she had dismissed her cook already. So, scavenging in the kitchen would be necessary, indeed.

She gave him a small, pleased smile when he mentioned having assumed that they weren’t corsairs. “Yes, I own it.” She answered, nodding, and then gave a soft laugh as she realized something. “You know…” She started to say, but then he commented on her smell, and she looked at him with amusement. “Hmm, no, you did not,” She answered. “Unless, you count just now. And last night. And the day before that. And... shall I go on?” She smirked lightly as she teased about the fact that she was pretty sure he’d said something like that every day so far.

But she soon grew a little more thoughtful at the last question. Would he be able to sleep next to her, at her home? That was something she hadn’t quite considered. Here, she had no tiger roaming around, so it hadn’t been something she’d had to even think about. But there… She tilted her head thoughtfully, looking at him. “Well, that… isn’t entirely up to me,” She admitted with a slightly uncertain smile. “Izre does sometimes sleep in my room,” She explained. “But not always. So… if he objects to sharing me with you…” She gave a little shrug with an expression of ‘I don’t know’. “But, if he is not there, certainly.” She added, tracing a line down his jaw. “Either way, I will see that you have a room to yourself. You can use it if you like, or not.” He could store his things there, or just spend time there, if she was busy. Or he could roam around the estate or something. Whatever he wanted to do. “And I’ll make sure it’s close to mine.” She added with a little smile.

“I’m strongly suggesting,” he corrected with a grin. “I’d never actually hold you hostage.” When she said he hadn’t mentioned it yet, unless she counted… well, all the previous times he had, his grin grew. “Well then. You smell amazing. Very tempting,” he told her. “It’s a good thing I have willpower,” he teased back.

That she owned the ship was not exactly surprising, but he had to admit he hadn’t expected it, exactly. “Do you own more than one ship?” he asked, kind of curious. “Do you have your own personal armada, Lady Ava?” Suddenly, he realized something. “Is there more to your name, actually? Than Ava?” He had never asked. “In Gondor, the nobles like their long names,” he explained the question. “I never really thought about it, until now.”

As she spoke about the room ‘situation’, Tercen raised an eyebrow. “Second fiddle, huh?” he asked, but he was still grinning.

[Rillewen]

A collaboration between myself and @Arnyn

Ava & Tercen
Her house, 5th level

Ava laughed at his reply that he would never hold her hostage, and she couldn’t help remembering that day when he had taken her to the restaurant and had asked if she intended to keep him, and her response to that. She smiled as he re-emphasized his compliment about her scent. “Well,” She smiled as she leaned closer to his ear. “Thank you, Sunshine.” She snuggled against him comfortably. “I do appreciate compliments, but then you knew that.” Hadn’t that come up at some point during the masquerade? Still, it was nice to know that she smelled nice, rather than the opposite.

When he asked her more about her ship, and then began asking about her name, she nearly laughed again at the rest of his questions. Not because he was asking silly or ridiculous questions, but because she had literally been about to comment on the fact that neither of them had ever thought to ask about the other’s full name. She bit her lower lip as she grinned, letting him finish his questions. Then she nodded, still wearing her half-amused smile.

First though, she couldn’t help a little laugh at the comment he gave about Izre. “Afraid so.” She told him apologetically, though still smiling. 

“As for your questions,” She returned to that, smiling a little wider. “Yes, sort of, and yes.” She grinned. “I was actually just about to mention how funny it is that after all the time we’ve spent together… and especially everything that was said today,” she added that part more softly, “that neither of us has ever bothered to ask about the other’s whole name.” Strange, only asking about this now, after knowing each other over a week now…

“Ava, actually, is short for Avalêazar. My family name is Hazadazra,” She smiled with a glint of amusement still gleaming in her eyes. “Which means ‘seven seas’. It comes from an ancestor from many generations ago who supposedly sailed all over the world, and claimed to have sailed on seven different seas. People began to call him that almost as a nickname until it stuck.” She shrugged. “From his voyages, he acquired a great deal of wealth, and invested it into turquoise mines, then when he retired from sailing, he bought the land on which his estate was then built.” She explained. “By my grandfather’s time, the family’s business had expanded to own more things, including many ships. I mentioned, before, that my father had captained a ship, which was how he met my mother. It was sort of a custom for several generations, that the sons of the lord would get experience on the sea before ever inheriting anything.” She shrugged. “Of course, in my grandfather’s time, these ships were sailed by corsairs, and their voyages mostly involved plundering and raiding, and bringing slaves and other goods back to Umbar.” She added with a frown. 

“He was.. not a nice man, my grandfather, I’ve heard. But when my father was in charge, things had changed. For one thing, during the battle in which my grandfather was wounded, many ships were destroyed. And then my father came home with his wife, my mother. And she was opposed to the entire slave market, and didn’t want to have any part in contributing to it. So, my father made some changes, initially just to make her happy, but later, when he came to believe in her way of thinking as well, he even stopped hiring the same sort of crews.” She paused, deciding that was probably enough of her family history, unless he asked for more. 

But now, she was curious about him. “And what about you, Sunshine?” She asked with a smile. “Do you have a family name? Is Tercen short for anything?” She wondered, hoping to learn a bit more about him. 

“Avaleazar Hazadazra,” he repeated slowly, checking her expression to see if he was saying it right. “Does Avaleazar mean anything?” he wanted to know. “And if it does, does it break up into different parts? Of meaning?” He shrugged. “We’ll get to my boring name in a minute.”

“Avalêazar,” She spoke more slowly, with the accented syllable a little more emphasized, but then she smiled softly. “It does. It means…” She paused and wondered just what he might make of this, but she didn’t blush about it. “Avalêa means ‘goddess’.” She told him with a faint smile. “And ‘azar’ means star. So, you could say it means ‘star goddess’ or ‘goddess of stars’ or something like that…”

He grinned, broadly. “Your parents must have had a gift for names, Temptress. Avalêa. Very apt. I love it.” He gently pressed a kiss into her neck. “I can be your Sunshine. And you can be my Starlight.”

She gave a little laugh, but it was clearly a pleased sort of laugh. “That is wonderfully clever.” She grinned. “I like it. Now, what about your “boring” name?” She added determinedly, smiling still as she waited for him to tell her about his own name.

“Tercen’s not short for anything,” he said, with a smile. “I’m a simple man, you know.” He laughed quietly into her neck. “I was told, by my mother, that it means ‘insight’. Apparently, she wanted me to have some. In life.” He grinned again. 

Ava smiled as she closed her eyes, thinking about that. Insight. She nodded slowly. “Interesting.” She pondered on that, and looked at him, giving a little nod. “Yes, you do have your own variety of it, at least, in my opinion.” She decided, still wearing a little smile. “Anything else?” She wondered, since he had not answered about a family name. “Doesn’t your sister use another name besides Arnyn?” She was trying to remember what it was, or where she’d heard that.

“You are too kind, Lady Hazadazra,” he said in a feigned formal tone. In reply to her question, he gave her a half smile. “Sorry to disappoint, Starlight. Arnyn might have picked something fancy up along the way - but I have always simply been Tercen, son of Narûel. And that suits me just fine. It’s nowhere near as eloquent as Seven Seas, of course… You really do have a beautiful name. Almost as beautiful as the rest of you,” he added, the last two sentences sounding much more serious than the light-hearted tone he’d been using before that. 

She smiled as he said her name was beautiful. It was different, hearing him call her Starlight instead of Temptress, but it was a nice sort of different. It made her smile. Still, she was curious about the other name he’d just said. “Naruel,” She repeated softly, unsure if she said it right. “That is your.. father?” She guessed, pretty sure this was the first time she'd heard either of  his parent's names spoken. 

“Yes, my father’s name was Narûel. My mother’s was Kadya,” he told her, even if he did not particularly like to dwell on their memory - for all it did was remind him of how much he missed them. 

Ava nodded slightly as he told her his parents’ names. Not that she had been asking him to, but she appreciated that he was willing to share that with her. And the names were interesting, too. She hoped she would remember them, and tried to mentally repeat them a couple of times to help them stick in her memory. 

“In Umbar, when I tell people who I am, I say that I am ‘Lady Avalêazar Hazadazra, Granddaughter of Lord Zagarôth Hazadazra’,” She said, using a feigned ‘important’ tone as she gave the whole name. “I use his name because of his reputation as a harsh and fearsome sort of man, who was once a corsair captain and all that. The kind of man people tend to think a lord ought to be. Not very kind at all, from all that I’ve heard.” She shrugged and gave a slightly sad smile. “But I would rather say, ‘daughter of Zôrrôth and Lôminzil’.” She smiled faintly as she gave her parent's names. “But, because of how things are, it seems better if I appear to have rejected my parents' beliefs.” She knew she had told Arnyn all of that, while he was there. But she had not included any names when she'd told any of this before. 

“I’m not sure I will remember all of those names, Temptress,” he laughed quietly. He would already have to be careful to remember her own long name, he knew. “But I can try. And thank you for telling me.” He let out a little sigh of contentment. “How about something to eat, then?” he segued, preferring not to go into that topic any further. “I have cooked for you here before,” he smiled. “I’m sure you have plenty to work with.”

As he mentioned cooking, her smile returned, wider. “Absolutely.” She agreed, somewhat glad for a change of topic, as well as a reason to put the rather emotional topics away to revisit some other time, if they wanted. She was just a bit reluctant to get out of his lap, but she did, and took his hand to tug him off the couch, grinning lightly. “And I won’t ask you to wear the apron this time,” She added teasingly. 

The rest of the afternoon seemed to fly by, and before they knew it, it was time to get dressed for the play and meet the others at the theater to secure their seating arrangements. 

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
From Arnyn's house, Fourth Circle - on her way to the White Tree Theatre, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

She was absolutely exhausted. Even though her body seemed to be slowly adjusting to taking the poison, and she had been able to eat some of Pele's snacks at headquarters as well as a small, light meal at her house this evening; the past three nights had not provided the necessary rest. And that was a mild way of putting it. And in spite of the state she was in, she had spent the entire day working. Training Tras in the morning, going to the Guard headquarters and the gates, the endless meetings at Ranger headquarters... The meetings had also not been the easiest meetings. They would have been tiring even if she had been sleeping well.

It would probably be wiser to simply stay home and rest. But Arnyn was a firm believer that a person was only as good as their word. Besides, she was the one doing this to herself. She had promised to attend this play - and it had been her choice to try build up resistance to deadly nightshade. Hence she would still be attending. It wasn't as if she was passed out on the floor, after all. Yet, some sarcastic part of her brain said.

All things considered, Arnyn had little energy to spend as she pulled open her closet door and looked at her clothing options. Without giving it much thought, she chose a green, long-sleeved dress. She did not feel like doing much with her hair either, so she pulled the front of her hair to the back of her head and pinned it there without any further fuss. All that was left from the curls the evening before, were soft waves. They fell partially over her shoulders, to the front, but mostly down her back. That would simply have to do.

Downstairs, she pulled on her warmest winter coat, stowed her coins and key away, and headed outside. The cold and the wind did her a service and unbeknownst to herself, brought a blush to her otherwise pale complexion. Arnyn didn't have to think about where she was heading, at least, and her mind was jumbling with everything she still had to look into and take care of before the rangers left on sea training, and before Ava and those going with her, would leave for Umbar. A sigh escaped her right as she approached the gate to the Fifth Circle.

[Rillewen]

Gladhron
On his way to Arnyn's house, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

He'd set out while everyone else was still getting ready, and had declared that he would meet them at the theater. Gwestion may have a guess about where he was going, but he hadn't told anyone. Hopefully, no one would make a big fuss about it or anything. After stepping outside, Gladhron was glad to have brought his cloak, since it was rather cold. However, he walked briskly down toward the fourth level, and soon he was almost feeling warm. Almost.

He couldn't quite get the memory out of his mind, of how he had found Celume collapsed on the floor in her house, only last night. And she'd said she was feeling sick, and hadn't eaten. He'd watched and made sure she ate at least a little something, during their meeting today, but he couldn't help feeling just a little worried about her anyway. Besides, he wanted to walk with her. And he hoped that she might begin to get the idea he was trying to convey, without him having to say anything.

As he approached the gate, however, Gladhron slowed his steps as a little smile, partly of relief, spread onto his face. "Celume." He greeted her, partly to draw her attention to him in case she wasn't paying attention. He knew how difficult it could be to focus on things, when sick, and he wasn't sure how tired she might be. He realized she might question his choice to come down a level, only to walk right back up, just to walk with her. He smiled as he paused until she had joined him, far enough away from the gates to not risk being overheard by the guards there. "I was.. well, I wanted to check and make sure you were alright." He said quietly. "And I thought it would be... better, if I did that when none of the others was around." He explained. "How are you? Still feeling ill, or..?" He raised an eyebrow hopefully. Maybe she was feeling better.

"And um, as long as I'm here, may I walk you the rest of the way?" He added, smiling as he offered his arm. Which, of course, was his real main purpose in coming all the way down to the fourth level when he could have just met up with her at the theater.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir “the Dauntless”
January, Minas Tirith, Gondor

Her little squeal of amusement nearly had him rippling with laughter. Pure laughter, from sincere and genuine happiness. Abrazimir was glad to be here, to see and learn, to know more about the woman he dubbed Torniel. And hoping too this might be the time he learned her true name. She was very careful but he supposed he was starting to understand. Look at the business she had, and the success, and luxury. She had a lot to lose. And one bad rumour could bring it all down.

Yet caution was drowned by sheer desire and sensationalism. Her eyes were so vivid and expressive. Her cheeks so soft. Her smile so pure. It had to be just as sincere, right? Unless she was a very good actress… Her reading the tabloids was a thing of business acumen, not just interest. He nodded in understanding to that. Did he like what he saw though? He had been speaking about her store. And she asked if he liked that.

But his intense eyes instead roamed down her figure, and back up again, and piqued his eyebrows with a mischievous smile. ”I like what I see.” He jested with a wide smile. No, no, of course she didn’t mean herself! Or maybe that’s what she intended, but Abrazimir was not as smart as he thought he was, and any red flags that might be waving were so easily ignored with the veil of her face occupying his thoughts.

He allowed himself to be directed and yeah, contracts and ledgers were not exactly his interest. He dealt with his own, concerning the logistics of his battleship and crew, and worked all day with that. He didn’t want to come here and spend more time doing that! He wanted to spend it with her. ”Depends on what canvas those numbers might be writ upon.” He joked again, eyes once more roaming on her figure, indicating just what sort of canvas he would prefer.

Abrazimir laughed though at the offer of wine that may just impress a southern knight. He waved his hand dismissively. ”Please, you overestimate me. A parched man should have no qualms about what he is given to drink, I reckon. But yes, a meal, and a sip, would be welcomed. Shall we?” He said, allowing himself to be led upstairs to her private quarters, though he cast a look about the shop one last time. Surely they’d hear if anyone entered while only a floor above, right? But he hoped for no interruptions.

And upstairs, her private living quarters, just a short step away from the… ”You have quite a life here. And you did this all on your own or do you have partners? I can’t imagine doing so without partners. These business cliques can be more cutthroat than war.” He joked a little morbidly, not know how close he was to the truth. And how cutthroat the truth really was with her.

”Little by little, you become unraveled to me, Torniel. But I think the mystery will never end, Valar willing.” Abrazimir said, knocking on some wood as they came to her quarters.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Minas Tirith Streets, Gondor

She wanted to know everything about every Periannath that Brooke had met and known, not being a thing that was common until the last year or two in Gondor. Or that they even existed outside fairy tales! But maybe that would change. New ambitions entered Gaer’s mind as she heard of the road, fading in and out of the wilderness, proofs of her people’s ancient glory and prestige. She wanted to travel up it. See this enigmatic land that Brooke talked about. Maybe there was good reason girls like Gaer needed to be chaperoned. They got ideas.

Gaer nodded in affirmation of her statement that Brooke’s elvish was very good. ”Mhm.” She nodded again when Eryn this time asked that Sindarin was her native language more than the common tongue they were speaking now. ”Oh yes, plenty of folk in Belfalas do so as well. I guess it’s just been an unbroken tradition for us since the first Numenoreans landed. But there are many as well who hold to the Mannish ways as well. My father is one. My mother is more of the elvish tradition. I actually have two names because of it, Azraindil and Gaerlothriel. Both mean Seaflower.” She explained about the language use in her home region and a bit about herself. She wasn’t shy about the dual naming like her brother was.

”My father says Minas Tirith has the most amount of Sindarin speakers outside of Belfalas. And the King and Queen, he says, speak a more ancient language, called Quenya.” She added, also nodding to being homeschooled. Gaer never attended an academy or institution like they have in Minas Tirith or Pelargir or Dol Amroth or any of the big cities.

She listened to Brooke about the Rangers, and if they were anything like the King, then no doubt they were all polygots with their knowledge of multiple languages. The Gondorians ancient kin from the North Kingdom. And was Brooke a Dunedain like them as well? Her father was one, and perhaps her mother was of those tribes as well, and maybe that explained why a kinship and comradery seemed so fast to grow between them all. She couldn’t wait to tell her father all this. It seemed such an advancement from the dark years of her youth where people didn’t really move around as much, crafting new links and bonds. Everyone was just so distrustful and wary.

Gaer also wondered how Dulinneth was doing. It was a sisterly concern, wondering if there was perhaps some wardrobe malfunction and Gaer should go help. She had a responsibility to check in after her younger friend.

Then Brooke brought Gaer back by asking if she indeed lived in a castle. And who dwelt on the other side then if her family only controlled the half. ”Well it’s not a very grand castle, certainly not as big as this City. You could fit it in a corner of the First Level, much like Bree.” She chuckled a little. ”Our neighbours are the House Azrubel, and their castle is slightly larger, though it’s newer than ours is. Mine is at least two millennia old, or so the records go.” When the first troubles began between Gondor and corsairs of the south and there was need for forts and protections along the many riverways of Gondor.

”Well a little is better than none. Have you ever been?” She said in reference to the small, rudimentary theatre Brooke spoke about in Bree. And her cousin was married to an actor and performer too! Oh, that was amazing. There were no artistic people in Gaer’s family, really. Her father unfortunately didn’t consider it a money maker or prestigious profession for his daughters. It would have been nice to try. That is why the upcoming ballet they were going to was so exciting and important for Gaer.

She gave the appropriate hums of acknowledgement and affirmation as Eryn talked about the theatres in the City, being from here and more knowledgeable about local traditions. Gaer was surprised to learn there was an entirely second theatre too! Her eyes lit up with Eryn spoke about meeting Wisti earlier. ”I hope she is doing well. I’m excited to see her.” She grinned, loving how all her new connections were connecting with each other.

”Actually, if you’re around too tomorrow, maybe you’d like to attend the ballet with us?” She turned to Brooke. ”You and a friend or two, if you like. We’ve reserved a large box for ourselves, seats up to ten, though we hardly occupy half of that with our current numbers. We’re getting coordinated dresses but that’s not required or necessary. That was just us being a little silly. But if you are not preoccupied with another obligation or anything, you should join us, Brooke!” She extended the offer, even if they just met today and all. Though it was a rather popular time of the year and all, it was unlikely that folk would have free time with all the ado going on.

”Allow us to show you our theatre and one day maybe you can show yours to ours. I bet they have lovely tales up North, of a kind we do not have here. Everything here can be a bit…formal, or stuffy, sometimes.” Gaer said, speaking from instinct, ingrained into her even as she critiqued that sort of life.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - On her way to the White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

Hearing her name, she knew who it was by the sound of it before her eyes settled on him. "Gladhron?" she greeted him, somewhat questioningly. Why would he come down a circle, only to go back up right away? As it turned out, there was no need to verbalize the question. He offered the answer himself once she reached him, as if he knew she would be asking.

He had wanted to see if she was doing alright - without any of the others around. He was definitely right if he was thinking she wouldn't want to discuss it in front of anyone else. It sounded like Gladhron had not forgotten she had told him that much, the evening before. That it was herbusiness, and no one else's. She had asked him not to speak of it to anyone else - not even Gwestion. He seemed to be holding to his promise. And his interest in her wellbeing was... considerate.

When Gladhron smiled the way he did and asked if he 'might walk her the rest of the way', holding out his arm, Arnyn stared at it. It was just an interest in her wellbeing. Right? After learning she'd fallen the evening before, he was probably just worried she might fall again. He'd want to prevent that, because that's just the kind of man that he was. After a moment, she decided this poison business was probably the only thing making her even consider it might be anything else. All the little things he had done, some of the things he'd said - it was all a coincidence. It was all a friend just being nice.

"I'm..." she began, still looking at the arm he was offering up, wondering whether he'd be upset if she declined. And also wondering what the others would think if she accepted and they would see Gladhron and her arrive like that. "Feeling better. In the sense that I've been able to eat a little, today, at least." She no longer saw the point in being closeted about how she was doing, to him. There would be no denying it, after last evening. The only thing she still planned on keeping to herself, was the reason for how badly she had been feeling. "Still did not sleep well, though." Saying she was 'tired' would have been a wild understatement, after three nights with as little sleep as she'd had. And she didn't really want to say how exhausted she felt, because she didn't want to be babied or advised to go back home. "Thank you for asking. In private."

"Worried I'll fall again?" she finally asked, raising an eyebrow as if challenging him to say she might. And her own question helped her to - finally - decide. She did end up taking his arm. If only to prove she would not be leaning on him at all this time. If only to prove she was indeed doing better. It would reassure him more than just words, she figured. And reduce the risk of him trying to coddle her.

"Are we passing by Isys' place?" she inquired as they walked. "Or are we meeting the others straight at the Theatre?"