The Tower Guard

[Ercassie]

@Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta, Interview room 4
with Guard Rallick / Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
after the Play drama. Dec 30th. Late.

The Guard had returned, with refreshment. Both for himself and for the man who refused to give him a straight answer. Was this the latest ploy to try and prove that they could work together, to put this all right ? Domanol resisted the temptation to yawn. What time even was it at this point ? The bells did not sing out, not late at night. It was left to the stars, a silent means of determining the hour, without the risk of waking anyone .. and he could not see the stars from where he was sat.

He had not expected that he would see the Ranger Lieutenant before the night was out either. Though even when the officer arrived, her intended audience was not sure he was not hallucinating. The drama of her demanding their privacy did not make the man sit up any straighter in his seat. But he uncrossed his arms, and he scrutinised the abrupt arrival. If he had never seen the woman before now, he would still have thought her less of a stranger than he did to note the alteration.


She went straight to business and, though all hint of humour, or even personality, was absent here, now, there remained an inescapable efficiency about the woman which saw the man’s brown eyes focus. Her own eyes, .. hmm. He narrowed his to observe the change. For a means of providing some answers, so far she had roused in him only more questions. But Arnyn clearly had a piece to say. And so Domanol took to the glass of water which Rallick had left him, letting the flow of refreshment and the meagre weight of the distraction keep his voice or hands from else expressing himself. In this way he was able to not interrupt even once, until the woman was done.

It was only her direction, that it was then his ‘turn’, which convinced the man that she was done. Because, honestly, he had not yet heard anything of the sort of explanation which Gwestion had given him cause to believe would be forthcoming. To his credit the retained man did not blink, nor offer her any indication of a confusion. It was becoming, by this point, altogether too familiar to undergo such an accounting of things, that he was very fortunate he did not yawn.



“I can see how you would not have dedicated any sort of urgency towards disclosing such an embarrassing admission to me, until you were forced to,” he conceded, though there was a distinct lack of humour about his eyes also. As he continued. “But let’s be honest here. You didn’t come here to have any sort of conversation where you attempt to justify to me quite why you have let even a potential agent of the enemy, go gallivanting all about a city which you readily admit she might mean harm to. No, you knew even before you walked through that door that you were not going to be able to make me understand why anyone, least of all the one person who has been handed every possible advantage of information from all those who have fallen prey to deceitful Umbarians before, would fall for exactly the sorts of measures which you have been warned that they employ. The only reason you came here, Lieutenant, was to try and stop me from revealing this frankly reckless state of affairs to anybody outside of your little group of collaborators.”

Domanol turned the now part emptied glass of water in a small rotation with his other hand and took a deep breath. He knew enough of Gwestion, from recalling the man's response to learning of slaves in the corsair ship at Lond Daer, to know why he would have fallen over his feet to get a chance to act. He had been denied that the last time, after all. And clearly Gladhron, if the recent revelations at the Wayfarers Inn were any indication, would have leapt into Mount Doom if the object of his affection even hinted she might be impressed to see if he died by doing so. As for Tercen ... well. Domanol's own use of a particular cuss word directed at Ava had proven that the Lieutenant's brother was foully affected by the sheer stupidity of lust himself. If it had been a case of the Umbarian woman blackmailing Tercen, as the Ranger had feared at first, then the man’s reaction would not have been so … . Yeh. Not Domanol’s finest hour, to be sure. But it had told him what he had wanted to confirm. He could not regret it for that reason.


“I could, in turn, explain the very valid reasons why I know for a fact that this woman’s ‘claims’ which you so desperately cling to, are unlikely to make any sort of difference to the goal of resolving Umbar. But you are in no state to even hear me, let alone consider the truth with the manner of gravity that is required." She was pristine in her apparel of course, but there was no way that eyes of experience, let alone the blessings of a Dunedan ancestry would miss the other elements about her appearance. Domanol's eyes narrowed. "I can only hope that the reason you are so evidently exhausted as to fall asleep in the middle of a public performance, when someone you should have been at the very least keeping an eye on was left entirely unsupervised enough for this to occur at all, is because your recent poor decisions have been keeping you awake at night. But that would imply that you have even the slightest grasp of what it is you are even contemplating here. Honestly it seems as though your any decision on this matter has rather more to do with placating the wants of your brother’s puppy dog infatuation than demonstrating any sort of professional sense.” he offered a convinced opinion, for standing up to even figures of authority had never been an issue, when he believed they were wrong. And this ? Yes, this was every type of wrong.

“I can assure you that I am going to speak to the King at the earliest opportunity,” he flung the water glass away from him across the table, for fear that if he did not, his frustration might crush it with the pressure which was rearing to escape him. “And I assure you that I will make him fully aware of exactly what sort of fire you are playing with here. It is an understatement to admit that I am disappointed in you. I would almost prefer that you were a shape-shifting sorceress of Umbar, standing here in the real Lieutenant’s place, because that would at least make more sense to me than Arnyn Dealedwen .. believing any of what you say that this woman has said.”


A slow shake of the man’s head was hardly required to make clear his feeling. So he stretched out his legs underneath the table, and hooked them together at the ankle. There was, in his opinion, no cause to demonstrate respect to someone who was absolutely incapable of returning the favour.

“I have committed no wrong here, and you know it. The Guards know it. I have only acted in the defence of my people. I have approval to bear my weapon, and I did no more than warn an identified subject of concern that any threats against Gondor would not be tolerated. To which she responded by, at the very least, equalling my any hostility. Your decision not only to delay telling me, but to keep any of the people who honestly care about the welfare of this kingdom in the dark about .. your deluded ambition is .. .. I can’t even. What’s the point. Go on. Get out. Don’t waste any more of either of our time.”

A dismissive clicking noise from his tongue and a clear tilt of his head, indicated to the officer where the door was. As far as he was concerned, yeh, she could go.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Room 4
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

She did not flinch when he shoved the glass, though she half expected it to slide off the table. Didn’t blink when he stung. Not even when he told her to go. When she was dismissed. Arnyn simply waited, her back still straight. Still standing.

Though she couldn’t quite feel her hands anymore.

She let the silence settle, just for a moment. The pounding in her head had deepened to something low and resonant, like distant war drums. Don't be offended, she told herself. He doesn't know you. Yet his words settled somewhere inside her, and they were sure to come back and haunt her thoughts, later.

“You said I knew you wouldn’t understand—” She nodded, just once, but not sharply. “I considered it a likely possibility. Given your past. Your losses. The things you’ve seen.” She let the pause speak for itself. There was respect in it, strangely. And it was sincere. Bizarre, perhaps, after the way he had just spoken to her with an apparent lack of the same. But she had learned long ago, not to mirror her own behaviour off of others. “But I didn’t know. Not for certain. I am not one to claim to know what others might think or feel or do, especially when I do not know them personally.” The comment was likely not very subtle. But it was still true. And she had a right to say it.

“You said I delayed telling you.” Her tone stayed even. Measured. But the exhaustion and the side effects demanded their toll, and there was a flicker in her eyes, a crack in her usual unreadable armor. Embarrassment, maybe. Shame. But not for what he thought. But because… she had fallen asleep. In a public theatre. In front of everyone in that box. “This became a problem late last night. I spent this entire day in briefings. With the Guard, instructing them not to let Ava leave the city, in case she tried. With Captain Pele. With Ava - and my brother, considering his... newfound attachment. With Gwestion and Gladhron. The only person outside those meetings I had time to see was Kaylin. And she was informed.”
"Once I learned you were attending, which I was only informed of when we were already at the theatre, I wished to speak to you before the play. That didn’t work out. I was planning to do so, then, at the intermission.” A faint twist of her mouth. “You’ll recall the problem there.” Obviously. Her voice never rose. But it firmed.
“If you hadn’t appeared at the theatre, Domanol, I don’t know when we would have spoken. Not because I don’t respect your stake in this. But because my priority would have been the Rangers — those actually taking the risk of landing in Umbar proper. You weren’t ignored. There just wasn’t time.”

“You said the only reason I’m here is to stop you from reporting this.”

She raised her brow, ever so slightly. It was almost wry.

"Since the mission to Umbar as a whole is being kept secret to avoid word getting out, and is also being kept secret from the Guard given the suspicions their leadership is under, clearly I did not want anyone to reveal the state of affairs to them, no. When it comes to the rangers who will be undertaking the mission, they will definitely be informed. When they will be told, if they are to be briefed as a group, has not yet been determined. That would be a matter decided by the Captain. So no, I am not here to ask you to play the quiet game." She was leaning on the chair, now. More than she wanted to show. But her posture was still straight-backed, at least. '"I'm here because you deserve the truth, given the... fast escalation. And because you’re not just a pawn. We want the same things. We want to bring an end to the same practices. We want to take down the same people. I'm here because we are on the same side.”

“So if you think I give a damn about keeping this quiet for the sake of my ‘little group of collaborators,’ you’ve misread everything about me.”

The Lieutenant finally pulled out the chair across from Domanol and sat. Slowly. Her knees did not like the angle. But at least they were no longer in danger of buckling. If they did that now - if she fell now... whatever understanding there had once been between her and Domanol, whatever cooperation there might still be... it would be even more precarious, she suspected, if she fell to pieces in front of the man. It was always the same story, so why would this be any different? The odds of understanding and empathy seemed extremely small, at least, based on what she had seen. It would likely only lead to more questions, and more 'disappointment'. So, she absolutely refused. Her body demanded rest. She could give it a seat. For the moment.

“You want to speak to the King?” she asked, calmly. “Then do it.”

She didn’t blink as her eyes held his. Not with fire or ice. Just quiet. Eyes dark and bottomless as a winter sky. “You’ll find the report already there. Hours ago - before the theatre. Fully documented. No summons has arrived since. Not for censure. Not for demotion. So by all means—pass along your evaluation of my decision-making process and my analytical capabilities. The Captain has cleared it. I’ve made no move outside the chain of command. There is still time for the King to call it off.”

Her voice changed slightly as she continued. Not... softer, not exactly. But ballpark. “Let me ask you this," she posed to the ranger in front of her as she clasped her hands together in front of her, upon the table. Still. Controlled. Even now. Even sleep-deprived. Even poisoned. Even stressed out of her mind. Even after having been chewed out. "If it makes no sense to you that I believe anything of what Ava has said, then why assume that I am doing just that?”

"The nuance is, that while I am not inclined to automatically deny her trust simply because of where she is from, I am also not inclined to simply hand it over to her. Does it sound like she is on our side? Yes. Has she been able to prove it? No."
"What I want you to understand is that this isn’t about me — or Captain Alarion, or anyone here — trusting Ava. It’s about putting her in a position where her loyalties are forced to reveal themselves."

“No matter how you look at it, objectively speaking -- Ava is a leak. Whether she’s telling the truth or not. There is no situation here, where there is no risk."

"If she’s false, and we hold her here—Umbar already knows she came. They might assume she has been questioned and broke, or that she switched sides. They will tighten their defenses; take all sorts of precautions that we would be entirely unaware of. Meaning: if we keep Ava here, that does not neutralize the risk; it only renders the risk invisible."

"If she’s false and she returns without oversight, then we’ve handed the game over. That’s not happening."

"But if she’s false, and she returns with us watching her, then we can confirm it. And if it comes to it, we can end it. Quietly. Without leaving Gondor’s fingerprints anywhere near her body. And all the enemy patterns we know and have witnessed, will remain intact."
"And if she is false, returns, and we cannot take her out before she informs them somehow, then we can still adapt the mission accordingly. Worst case scenario, the three of us do not return. Then the Captain, the King - and you - can adjust the mission accordingly."

"You are right to worry, Domanol. I have been worrying about this entire endeavour since it took its first, vague shape." Arnyn leaned forward a little, willing herself to keep her voice steady. And succeeding, but barely "This isn't some kind of blind faith, on my part," she continued. "It is strategy."

Arnyn took a slow breath in. She looked right at him. Exhausted, yes. But unshaken. “You said you’ve done nothing wrong. I’m not here to dispute your release, but to expedite it, if anything."

"Now." By the Valar. She was barely holding on. How was she doing this? Purenecessity? Fear for what would happen if she broke? "With what I've heard from Gwestion and Tercen, there was clearly a misunderstanding at the theatre. One that made you see your enemy, and one that made Ava see not a man loyal to Gondor but one loyal to the Temple. From what I've heard, it's no wonder you were both almost at each other's throat. But is this really about what she says or does not say, for you? Or is it simply about Ava being Umbarian? Is it true that you followed them behind that curtain, knife drawn?"

"I'll take over your stage a moment," she continued, now slanting her head. "If someone's father deals in evil practices, the son or daughter does not necessarily follow in their footsteps. If someone is born in a dark place, their soul does not necessarily bear the same color. Nor does being born in a place of light, mean that they will do good. Perhaps Unalmis has told you a bit about one of his friends? Surely Duinion has told you all that has been discovered about the Androllius twins, as well." Was Domanol so blinded by his hatred of all things to come from Umbar, that he could not see the reverse might also be possible?"

"I've taken a chance on someone in the past, who, based on his whereabouts the years prior, based on his company the years prior, and based on his father's actions, was more likely to be a safety problem than an ally. But he turned out to be immensely cooperative in return for being given simply a chance to prove himself."
"If Ava is true to her word, she could prove a valuable resource as well. We can verify her maps of the city and the area in person, for one. Through her presence we could scout the city, the temple, their guard movements and rotations, and gain current information - instead of information that is at least a year old. I'm not saying it's a given. But it's an option. And I'm not willing to condemn her entirely simply because of where she was born."

She paused one last time, drawing breath.

“You said I’m in no state to consider your reasons. That’s not for you to judge.” Her chin tilted up a mere fraction. “I’m listening.”

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta, Interview room 4
exasperating an exhausted Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
More drama after the Play drama. Dec 30th. Late.

Ugh, the man rolled his eyes as the Ranger refused to leave. He was too angry to conduct himself more agreeably right now and she apparently didn’t care. Well, then she would have to suffer the consequences. The calm manner which she was exuding now was quite infuriating in itself. As if this was all nothing to really trouble over. As if she had a handle on it. It was hardly a surprise of course for the Lieutenant to stand so; for this was her job, her life, managing things, people .. and not accepting any insubordination. But he was not one of her Rangers and even if he had been, Domanol entirely believed that he would still have spoken up, because this mattered ! Damn to manners and protocol. This was too important to sit and be polite about. And she was acting like it was all under control. If it was, she wouldn’t be here. Not a one of them would.

He turned his gaze away as she sat down, unwilling to meet her even with his eyes. And yet the steady stream kept on. Like a tide, relentlessly lapping at some exposed shore, content in the knowledge that time will eventually erode away all of the rough edges. He managed to scoff only once, when Arnyn informed him that the Umbarian had claimed that he was the servant of that Temple ! Oh, and then the Lieutenant implied that he was a racist. The man slowly shook his head by the end, even as he failed to glance up from staring hard through the scored table surface.


“The matter is not that you did not tell me before now,” he drew a deep breath and raised eyes to note if she was really taking this in. Listening, she said. Maybe she was. But she was not hearing what he said regardless. But if she really wanted to rake over this all, now, with tempers raw, and tired minds … again .. not exactly a fine example of stellar decision-making. “It is the fact that you are here, now, having to sort out a mess when it should never have even come to this. That woman should never have been at that theatre. Let alone allowed to bear a concealed weapon. You don’t interrogate a cause for concern, Lieutenant, and then take them out for dinner and a show ! That’s … insane ! If you even remotely believed, as you claim that you do, that she even might be here with some ill intent, then it is entirely irresponsible of you to take her into an oblivious public domain and then not even mind where she goes or what she does there ! You say that you took steps to stop her leaving the city, but you didn’t do a single thing to protect that same city from her, did you ?”

Domanol stopped just short of asking if the officer had thought it would be ‘nice’ to take her little guest on a tour and pointed out anything of note while she had been here. But only just .. and partly because by this point he was afraid she might admit that she had done just that ! And he knew that there was no way he would be able to keep his temper, which was yet barely in check, if that had been allowed as well.


“You are still trying to confirm that I won’t talk about this, to anybody you don’t want to know,” he decided, unfazed by her patient denials. “Only now you are using far more careful words to do it,” he added, in a lower mutter. “I had absolutely no idea of course that my ever reporting her as a potentially hostile agent, loose in Minas Tirith, might alert the Guards to the fact that any missions for our King to contest Umbar even existed. But now, because you and Gladhron have apparently brought her into your Headquarters and examined maps and talked about your targets with her, well now of course she is a damn leak ! How am I to know what or if she has been told about my own plans against Umbar ? I told those to you in a confidence and now I find out you are talking in confidence with someone who has the capacity to sabotage the entire thing !” One hand got part way toward reaching to retrieve the glass of water and then realised it probably would not be a good idea. Fingers closed that hand into a fist instead and Domanol dragged it back toward him, nursing it safely in the grasp of his other hand, on his lap.

“It isn’t just a case of our having mutual enemies,” he tried to make her see, since she was acting like she even cared .. now .. to hear it. “What you do or don’t do regarding Umbar affects my plans against Umbar as well. Not to mention that you letting that woman socialise in the city like she was a damn tourist has endangered Seri and the girls as well now ! Did you even stop to think about that ? That if she is false, she may get word to that Priest about someone else I care about, after all he has done to my known family already ? You’d have your proof then, that your little gamble was bad strategy. But you would have no way to be sure it wasn’t too late for someone you practically introduced her to, to pay for it. You know what happened to Heraasi. And to Nera. Stars sakes woman. Unalmis, Eryn. … I’m not paranoid. This happens. It keeps happening. Every time they find out about somebody who matters to me .. Innocent people, Lieutenant. You are going out of your way to try and preserve some hypothetical innocents in Umbar who you don’t know for sure even exist. What about the innocents of this kingdom ? Of your kingdom ? What about your brother's safety ?” This last, he threw out almost without fanfare. The surprising complication of Tercen being clearly so keen on Ava .. Domanol had not mentioned loud until now. It was personal to her, not him. But if it was the only way to have her realise ..


“You asked why I would assume that you believe anything that Ava says, since that makes no sense to me that you would do that,” Domanol managed to recall, and rolled his head all the way around of an orbit on his neck now, as though it might release this sort of a tension. “Well, I’m sorry,” he stopped his head from motion, and was not apologising. ”But the notion that you would ever go ahead with even humouring this woman if you don’t even believe for certain what she says .. that makes even less sense !” He frowned openly, at what was frankly astounding that she couldn’t see it.

“Does that make it easier for you to pass off my entire objection now as some irrational prejudice ?” He looked her dead in the eyes for that one. He took his turn at standing up, although he never left his side of the table, as though the piece of furniture marked the opposing sides they stood upon. “If I gave any care about where people were raised and who influenced them, I would never have married Heraasi, after all that I suffered at Harondor’s deluded hands. I would never have trusted my daughter’s life to a survivor of the House of Mole. Maybe it would interest you to know that I clocked your Umbarian at the Masquerade. An entire week ago. Did I immediately denounce her for the sake of her mere origins ? No. Did I run for the guards or create a hue and cry ? Not simply because I realised she was Umbarian. No. It was not until tonight that she gave me cause to be further convinced of her likely fell intentions. You must have missed all of that actually passed between us, of course, before we even left the box. She was the one who threw this hornets nest out of the tree. Not me. She gave me no choice. ”


His voice was rising now the more that he was thinking, and saying, the harder it was to not think about it. About it all. She had troubled over this ? For how long ? Less than a year. He’d lived and breathed and fought against this dread and nightmare for nearly two decades …

“I already knew from the masquerade that she was apt at avoiding a straight answer,” he sat back down. More a symptom of exhaustion than any true hope that he was settling down any at all. He did not stretch his legs this time, curled them instead about the legs of his seat, as though he thought it might keep him in check. But his tongue .. there was no hope there. If she wanted him to tell her what he thought, then she was going to have to hear it. “So when, after telling the group she was heading for a washroom, I saw her sneak instead into a curtained off area of the theatre where neither she nor anyone else had reason to be ? Yes. That was suspicious. So I, now how did you put it ? Ah yes, I ‘put her in a position where her loyalties were forced to reveal themselves’. You know, since it was isolated at that point from any likely interruption or outside interference.”

There was no smug as the man threw the officer’s own words back at her. A deep shudder of emotion ran through him, along the carry of his spine, and back up. Like electricity to fuel his wrath. And yet his words were slow. Pronounced. As though speaking them more slowly to somebody who could not easily comprehend.


“I don’t care that she’s an Umbarian, Lieutenant. I care that she is an Umbarian liar. That she clearly employs underhanded means to get what she desires. That, rather than request an official audience with the king, she somehow knew to come at you after first compromising the integrity of your loved ones’ affections. She bore concealed weapons, not to mention planned with enough forethought to perfect an accent so that she would evade any scrutiny whatsoever .. The fact that she heralds from a place which is intent upon the ruin of our entire kingdom is a supporting aspect but not the sole cause to doubt how far she ought be trusted, if at all.”

And in case it was unclear whether he might erupt into yet another phase of verbal assault, Domanol indicated with one hand for Arnyn to take up and try answering to that much of the rant he had allowed her to see. Now that he was allowing her to get a word in edgeways.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Room 4
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

She raised her eyebrows slightly when he claimed the problem was not that she had not told him sooner. For that surely was what it had sounded like just a moment before. But it seemed like she had counterargued that to his satisfaction then, at least, since IF he thought it had been a problem, then he now claimed he no longer thought it was one. But those same eyebrows came down enough to form a mild frown when he continued. And said Ava should never have been at the theatre. But what was there for Ava to learn? That some Gondorians liked theatre? That they had decent actors amongst them? What was the problem, when there had been three people in the know, in the full know, present?

Furthermore, Arnyn had not allowed Ava to carry any sort of weapon... Gwestion had told her, back at the house, about the small concealed blade Ava'd had in her dress. It was most definitely a disappointment - Arnyn was not about to pretend that it wasn't. When looking at it from Ava's point of view - both if she were true and if she were false - it made sense. For if she were telling truths, then she had been frightened from someone even at the masquerade. Which now turned out to be Domanol. And if she were spinning lies, she would want a fighting chance if her cover was blown.
But the only way Ava carrying a weapon would have been safe - were if it had already been proven beyond any doubt that Ava was on their side. And that was a problem. Because when looking at it from the Gondorian viewpoint, it made her more dangerous if she turned out to be false. And the fact of the matter was, of course, that they were not sure of that. Yet.
And Arnyn had indeed not body-searched the woman at her house, for example, before she'd been allowed to step out onto the streets that evening...

She wanted to protest when Domanol said she had not done a single thing to protect the city from Ava, however. Even so, she held back, deciding to wait and see what else he would say, first. The Lieutenant's frown deepened at his complaint she was still trying to get him to hold his silence. Hadn't they just covered that? She wanted to pinch the bridge of her nose between her fingers, because her headache was only growing worse. It felt like they were going to go around in circles. They'd already begun, hadn't they?

The accusation that she and Gladhron... (what was that about?!)... had brought Ava to ranger headquarters and had told her everything there was to know, however, made her gaze sharpen. Arnyn shook her head, and resisted the urge to fold her arms. Of course none of them had done that. Not her, not the Captain - and Arnyn had made sure to talk to Gladhron and Gwestion first, exactly to make sure they would also mind their tongues and keep their silence on any of that. It seemed that Domanol was unaware of that. That was a point she would definitely need to clarify. She had not breathed a word about his plans, Ava could not even so much as guess at his plans.

But it was his next point. That was the one that really landed home. Like a blade, sinking through skin and muscle. It was not his mention of Tercen that did it. She had considered him - it was just that he had clearly decided on his own path. But - Seri... Brooke... Aislin. Did you even stop to think about that ? That if she is false, she may get word to that Priest about someone else I care about, after all he has done to my known family already ? You’d have your proof then, that your little gamble was bad strategy. But you would have no way to be sure it wasn’t too late for someone you practically introduced her to, to pay for it. You know what happened to Heraasi. And to Nera. Stars sakes woman. Unalmis, Eryn. … I’m not paranoid. This happens. It keeps happening. Every time they find out about somebody who matters to me .. Innocent people, Lieutenant.

Arnyn remained silent, but she stopped breathing for the space of several seconds as he finished his argument, and her own counterarguments to what he had said before that, and what he was saying after, blurred. Her eyes stared. At Domanol. Or perhaps simply at the air between them, as if his words were still floating there. Like knives.

Seri and the girls. Brooke. Aislin.

A slow, sickening realization of just how badly she’d failed them, seeped through her. Like a certain poison she had come to know all too well. She had not thought about it. She had missed it.

She hadn’t even thought of their safety in that way. And that wasn’t just carelessness. That was something worse. She felt it in her stomach - a sudden, acidic plunge. Cold behind the ribs. Arnyn still stared, tried to draw breath and found her chest too tight to move properly. Her palms were damp.

He was right.
He was so — painfully right.

It hit her again, harder now. Arnyn felt her neck grown hot. Then her cheeks.

I missed it. He told me, in September. And I. Did. Not....

She’d planned around Ava’s possible deception. She had questioned her. Deconstructed everything the woman said. But she hadn’t followed her, until the meetings at headquarters today. Hadn’t kept eyes on her at the theatre, either. While she should have.

She hadn’t once paused to assess the risks to the people she’d brought into proximity, other than her brother, Gladhron and Gwestion. She hadn't thought about the civilians they were all close to. Those who could be used as leverage, as revenge, as...
She had let it happen. And she’d done it with her eyes wide open.

Manwë's breath.

Arnyn had been so sure she'd been careful enough with Ava. But Domanol had just made her realize she hadn’t been.

Ava had met them. Seri, Aislin, Brooke. Ava had been right there. Laughing. Watching. Absorbing. And if Ava was false… if she had already passed that knowledge on—
The redness disappeared from her face as her skin blanched again almost just as suddenly. The physical translation of her shame making room for fear.

Arnyn blinked once, hard, as if she could erase the thought. But it was already blooming behind her eyes. Her lips parted. No words came. For the first time in months - years, maybe - Arnyn didn’t feel like a ranger or a strategist. She felt like a crack in the dam. A fool. It was a long silence. Then, quietly, ragged at the edges, but honest, came her verbal response.

“I didn’t see it.”

She exhaled. Finally. Her voice didn’t rise. But it was thin. Strained with how tightly she was holding herself together.

“I thought I’d accounted for everything. For Ava’s possible lies. For what we said to her, what we didn’t." The Lieutenant's eyes darted, unfocused, like trying to trace back the exact moment she failed. “I questioned her. I found ways to verify at least parts of her story. I kept her away from the mission plans. We kept her out of the plans, the mission details - she doesn't even know for sure anything is even happening. And she most definitely does not know our course, our target, the number of people involved.” Arnyn shook her head, trying to ban the jumble of thoughts pressing into her skull.

"But. Seri, Brooke, Aislin. And their connection to you. And that if Ava is false, then --"

She stopped. Her eyes lifted to meet his. Hers were unsteady. Wide. So very, very tired. “I thought I was being careful.” It came out like a confession. "But I... didn't see it." A pause. She looked down, jaw tight. “You’re right," she mumbled, large eyes now drilling a hold into the table. "You’re right.” Her voice caught on the repetition, turned rough. She couldn't control it by this point, she matter how hard she wished to try. “But I wasn't careful. Because I - I didn’t see the risk to them. I didn’t see the way Ava might… witness them. Attach names to faces. Work out their importance to you.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper. Her gaze, to the table.

“And then I left.” A bitter sound escaped her. More than a breath of disbelief. She was stunned. By her own behaviour. “I left her there. With Gwestion as the only other person there who was fully in the know." How unfair that had been of her, toward Gwestion, as well. Arnyn's heart thudded fast and hard now, painfully loud in her own chest. It wasn’t just adrenaline. It was dread. For the truth settled fully into her gut like a stone:

She had not just dropped the ball.

She had crushed the ball.

She had exposed people.

She stared at the grain of the wood, trying to fix her gaze on something steady when her thoughts were anything but. “You’re right to be furious. I would be too.” She couldn’t even blame him for it. She couldn’t build any armor to block his blow. She hadn’t earned that luxury. His fury was justified. So was her guilt. The sensation of failure.

The feeling of utter incompetence burned quietly beneath the shame of her failure and the fear of its consequences. Her eyes had completely lost their focus.

And the failure: it wasn’t tactical, wasn’t a misstep of strategy. It was foundational. Arnyn had believed herself to be someone who saw clearly. Someone methodical, deliberate, analytical. The kind of officer who anticipated threats before they emerged.

But this? This had slipped right through the net.

Her whole body ached, not just from the belladonna’s aftermath, but from the emotional fracture now cutting through her. She owed them all an apology - Domanol, Seri, Brooke, Aislin - but even if she gave it, it wouldn't undo the exposure. It wouldn't protect them if Ava was playing them. And if anything happened…

She couldn’t finish the thought.

Would she have been able to forgive him if the roles were reversed? Would she have looked him in the eye? She didn’t even know. She couldn’t fathom it.
Her composure broke just a little more. She ran a hand over her face, pressing her palm hard against it. As if she could wipe this shame away. For just a heartbeat she hid there, then forced herself to lower her hand, to meet Domanol’s gaze.

Her black eyes were raw and unguarded. What lay in them wasn’t defensive. It was guilt. Stripped bare. Scraping her from the inside.

“It doesn’t fix... anything,” she said quietly. “But... I am so sorry.”

She couldn’t add anything else for a long moment. Couldn’t speak. Could barely sit still. Her thoughts turned over and over, like something broken trying to right itself.
But in the space that created, the time both of them needed to process this rather unexpected response from her... Arnyn found a last sliver of resolve. And she reached for it. Even though her voice was no more than a whisper, it was loud enough in the painful silence of the room.

“It probably does not mean much to you now," she recognized, "but... If anything happens to them..." By the Valar. How had this been able to happen? Her fingers tightened into her palms. Dimly, she noted the sting. "- If any of them are hurt because I failed to consider the full cost, then I will answer for it. In whatever way you - and they - then see fit.”

And even as she said it, something new opened within her. A quiet, gnawing doubt. Because if she had missed this... what else had she missed? Where else had her logic failed? And worse yet, could she still trust herself now to make the right call, next time?

The thought settled like frost along the back of her neck. Her thought came to a slow halt, too, as if they were freezing over. The cause - doubt. Part of her immediately started to fight it, but it was weak. She'd come here with borrowed energy, as it was. And now... How could she ever stand in the same room with any of them again, and not feel as shire and incompetent as she did in this very moment?

[Ercassie]

@Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta, Interview room 4
witnessing a very weary Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
More drama after the Play drama. Dec 30th. Late.

He paced. He'd been unable to sit still. So he'd stood back up. And as the moments ticked by and the woman slowly unwound at least part of what he'd been trying to tell her ... he paced. Still on his own side of the table, where little enough space was allowed for him to try and unleash all that was brewing beneath the surface. He could have filled the room with it. But he’d spilt only a little and already … the woman was .. shocked ? That she could be wrong ? That she could make a mistake ? That she was .. human ?

At least there was small doubt that she was sorry. But that was not what mattered, after all. That was hardly the point. He didn’t for a moment think that she would have accomplished such a mess on purpose. Any more than he would believe she was anything but sincere, in her apology. Or that she was not trying her best here. Still .. that didn’t change things being .. what they were. And it certainly wouldn't make either of them feel any better.


“I am not here to judge you,” he sought to have her realise, even as it was difficult to say. And though the words implied it, there was no mention allowed of him forgiving her either. “It is not as though I want you to be wrong. And I’m damn sure not interested in trying to punish you.” To be fair, she was probably doing a fair enough case at trying that one herself. Whether she had expected it, or not. Maybe it had started as a hope for good things, great ambitions. Idealism always hit that same brick wall. Of reality, of endless overwhelming obstacles. And in the face of all that, what did they have, but a fractured small source of people all coming at the same problem from different sides.

“All I am trying to do, believe it or not, .. and even now. I am trying to help you.” Domanol finally made himself look at her. Brown eyes hurled their attention toward the woman, sat still .. stunned ? At the table. “You’re just making it unbelievably difficult ..” He turned back to his pacing. Even though the room was not nearly large enough, to contain all of the .. everything. And the more they breathed out of problems into the open, the more crowded thoughts became. No sooner had Domanol pushed himself with trembling hands behind him, off one wall, but he came face to face with the other .. brick wall. Like a caged beast, his frustration roiled through his veins like lava, seeking for some outlet, some escape. But there was none.


“We are on the same side here, you said so yourself. And yet you are making decisions based on what a woman who you know that you can’t wholly trust has told you, and taking time you do not have to escort her and your brother about on a date, as though keeping her happy is more important than speaking to the King, or myself, or anyone more relevant than Kaylin who apparently was simply fortunate enough to idly chance by at the right time.” Brown eyes found the ceiling and then fell back to the table top as though they had, like his hopes, been swatted. Hard.

“You could have had this Kaylin come find me, or have her, if not the both of us keep watch on Ava tonight. In some safe place. While she brought me up to speed. While you went to speak to the King in person, or at the very least, got yourself some rest. I mean, you look like … ” Words failed to conjure up a fitting description of how the officer appeared. Even before she had seemed to be ‘thrown’ by something unexpected. He could not feel sorry for her though. Would not. He’d carried out too many interviews, interrogations, of his own. In rooms just like this one. And in Harondor … Pharak had looked broken by the end of it. Two days, two nights, relentlessly interrogated. And they had thought that, once he had been outnumbered, exposed, and surrounded, battered by the Gondorian’s questions and the Harondese .. ways .. they had believed that he had broken down, that he could be believed. And it had cost so many lives … However bad the Lieutenant was feeling now, it could be so very much worse. It might still. No. Arnyn looked upset. But Domanol had seen upset before. Maybe the state of her was why she had not wished to speak to the King herself though. If Aragorn saw her like ... this .. ?


“I can only hope that the only reason you have not received any ‘denial’ or ‘summons’ back from His Grace on any of this, is because you went out after simply leaving him ‘a message’. Of this magnitude ! There might be even now, a messenger searching all about the streets trying to find you because you weren’t, and now again aren’t, to be found at home.” What began as an erratic flinging out of fingers at their sockets, evolved into a full out stretch and straightening of the man. He glanced down at the chair, sighed deep and managed to tug it toward him, and sit down. Before he lost his grip on the flagging resolve not to pick it up and hurl it at the wall. Hard.

“If this Ava, if that even is her real name, was anywhere near as trustworthy as you want to believe, then she would have understood your reservations. And I might have been able to tell you why you ought to have restricted her experience of this city. As if I should even have to tell you !” Both hands escaped from any means of restraint and flew up, each to a side of the man’s face. As he shook his head between them, stunned for his own sake. “You have told me that there is an advantage to be found, in our people going to Umbar, and seeing all that they might see and learn by walking the streets in this woman’s company. And it never once occurred to you, that this is the same advantage you have been allowing her to enjoy ? Here ! She’s been here a week, at the very least. And you only found out yesterday ? And you believe that in the space of just over a day you have found out more about her entire life than she has discovered by walking these streets for a week ?”

A bitter laugh was liberated at that point, as Dom fought the urge to hit his head against the table top. How could such an intelligent, educated woman, who committed such care to the defence of this kingdom .. have allowed this ? Brown eyes sought her own out, as though he might work out by a more focused inspection whether this was even her …


“At the very least,” he sighed his way through yet more reams of disbelief. “if you don’t think that Ava has the slightest idea that the King has plans in motion to take Umbar back in check, then what do you imagine she thinks is the reason you are agreeing to send Rangers of Arnor back with her, much less intending to go to Umbar yourself ? For a vacation ?” There was no humour in the jest. “No, Lieutenant. She knows. And even if she is not vindictively manipulating all of this, even if she would not be standing here herself, but that her father was murdered and her mother was poisoned … and the Priest has now threatened to hurt the only person in all the world that she has left, if she does not do as he asks, … it does not mean that we can let it happen. Of all the people in the world that I might have imagined would be the most careful, you and Gwestion are right up there !” Dom raised a hand above his head, and shook even the flattened palm to indicate some level of hope.

“Were,” he corrected himself, dropping that same hand like a lead weight. “But now .. ?” The dark head shook, slowly. Not forlorn but rather disbelieving. “I have said I intend to speak to the King, and I mean it. I may be sorry to do it, but that doesn’t mean I won’t. You’ve given me no choice. Because I have yet to hear a single reason which could justify what you have ‘accomplished’.” Never had the word ‘accomplished’ sounded less convincing of it’s own definition. “Don't you dare sit there, and give me your damn permission to 'worry'. To be angry .... " A deep breath. Failed to calm him down. "If that’s all that you have, best run off to take your duplicitous little pet home and tuck her in. Perhaps the only good thing to come out of this evening is that she believes we are all so gullible to let her get away with this. Because there is no chance in Angband that I am going to not keep up my part of the mission now. It seems as though there is more need than ever for the rest of us to do what we can. What you clearly can not.”

Arms crossed. Words had already battled. But hurt could spur on hours more. If they had the time to waste on blaming one another. On blaming themselves.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Room 4
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

He wasn't there to judge her. His words filtered in slowly, even as Domanol went on to do exactly that. Judge her. Judge her capabilities.

Not that he was wrong to judge her. Not that Arnyn cared much whether he did or did not judge anything about her. Given his words and his anger, she figured that seeing eye to eye with Domanol would probably be a lost cause, now. Even on the long term. Not that she would be against trying to mend whatever trust she had broken between them. She always wanted to be on the same page as others; always opened herself up to different viewpoints if they made sense; she did not shy back from reviewing her own opinion if someone else's rang true.

But seeing his reaction, recognizing his anger threatening to make him burst apart against the walls of the room, and realizing the danger she had put Seri, Brooke and Aislin in — in this moment Arnyn simply could not see how Domanol would ever forgive her. Not even if Ava proved all she claimed to be. All Arnyn hoped Ava would prove to be. And the Lieutenant knew what kind of strain that would put on the understanding between Domanol and herself. Not to mention that Domanol's view of her wits had just crashed down into a very dark abyss.

Not to mention that Arnyn's own view of her wits had just tumbled down straight after. Domanol's ongoing tirade outlined harshly what she could have done differently. What she should have done differently. Arnyn was already down in the mud. Domanol's lecture pushed her in deeper. Face first. Hard.

She was too raw, too battered to fight it — to mount any full or coherent defense. She did not care about the comment concerning how she looked - she wasn't that shallow. The force of the rest of Domanol’s words, however — especially his 'What you clearly cannot' — did not simply land. They buried themselves in her. Further eroding who she thought... had thought... she was.

However, even in this hollowed state, she wouldn’t just sit there and take it all without a single response. Not because she had the strength to fight back anymore — for she didn't — but because she was still trying to cling to some sliver of clarity. To something — anything — she still knew to be true.

While Arnyn fought an inner struggle with herself, desperately searching for a foothold now the rug of her identity had been pulled out from under her, the room was a graveyard of her silence. Domanol’s words echoed like steel striking stone. Final. Unforgiving.

And she could not refute most of it. Not when it rang so horribly true.

Even so, Arnyn didn’t lower her head. Her voice didn't break as she finally answered the storm that currently was the Raxelilta in front of her. As she tried to claw her way out of the mud.

“You might also consider you do not yet know everything I included in my report to King Elessar, before you make assumptions as to why he has not yet sent for me." Her tone was not defiant. Not even defensive. It was rather void, as if she were disconnected from a crucial part of herself. There was no edge. No bite. Simply... the truth as she saw it.
"I can assure you that my report was very extensive. And included my planned whereabouts not only for the rest of the day - which included the theatre, and also Ava's presence there - but also for the days to come," she informed him. Before allowing: "Then again, you are right in that my current visit here was not listed. I was only able to include what was planned and known at the time I sent my report, this afternoon, and I certainly had not guessed then that you would all end up here. "

The Lieutenant did not raise a hand to stall Domanol's response, for she assumed he would allow her space in turn, as she had allowed him. It sounded like he had lost much if not all of the respect he might have had for her, but it would be no more than the very basics of polite conversation. She still deserved that much... didn't she? In light of what she was about to share now, though, he might just decide she did not. If so, it was already out of her hands. Between all the options she could see, now, the only way forward was to lay it all out on the table for him. Clearly the abridged version was not doing anything good. The extended version may lift his fury up even higher - but at least he would know all there was to know. Arnyn had been planning on informing him, as it was, in the few days she had left to do so. And she had him here, now. This might be her best chance. And given his anger, now, it might be her only chance to tell him what she wished for him to know, before he acted on his own.

"I found out about Ava four days ago," she told Domanol. That information was going to send him into a new fit, probably. It would surely make him think even less of her. If that was possible. Because she had had four days to inform him of an Umbarian presence, not one. But it had not mattered until the night before. Or so she had thought. She was too spent to contemplate that, now. Too spent to try and analyse it all yet again. All she could do now was to inform the man across the table from her in full. Now that they were here. So he could decide just how angry he was, with all the data. So he could offer what insight he could, with all the data. It was clear to her now that she could use more insight. It was something she had been craving for a while now, but had been blocked to obtain. For the only person she could discuss things with, was Pele. And two minds...were not enough. Yet there were no other officers within the ranger unit. And Arnyn didn't like to play favorites. She knew that doing anything that even smelled like favoritism usually hurled itself right back into an officer's face.

"Four days ago," she repeated, "when my brother invited me to dinner at a house on the Fifth." Arnyn's black eyes looked empty as she met Domanol's. "Which Ava apparently purchased. The tour she gave me made it clear she had money. A lot of it, too, for not only did she purchase a house to spend a short time here, the number of furnished and decorated rooms..." Well, whatever. Adding more information on that did not matter much, so Arnyn did not elaborate.

"After dinner was over, she told me about a project of hers." Arnyn resisted tightening her hand into a tightly balled up fist. Instead, she slowly breathed out. "She claimed that project was helping the slave population of Umbar cross the border and return to their actual homes." Ava had claimed it -- over coffee. "Which... changed the tone of the evening." Dramatically. And suddenly. Not that Domanol would or should care. So Arnyn did not elaborate on that, either. "Since that confirmed where exactly she was from."

"I questioned her, that night. About that 'project'. About her 'plans'. She laid them out for me - a network of safe houses from Umbar to Gondor, purchased and staffed by her. I thought it was too much of a coincidence she had somehow found me, given my position, to 'help' with that project. Tercen said Ava had told him about those same plans - before he had told her about who I was," she also dimly recalled. Not that that didn't mean Ava couldn't have already known, of course. "I thought the timing of her arrival was uncanny, so I questioned her about why she had only come now, and not any sooner. Her response to that was that it was becoming too difficult to hide the growing number of people at her estate. That the need to bring a group of them back to Gondor had started to outweigh the danger to her own safety. And it seemed to me that the rumour of the midwinter masquerade helped, too. The notion of a dance clearly intrigued her." As shallow of a reason as it was. "She said we might help each other. She mentioned the risk to herself, mentioned the possibility of spies, she mentioned enemies - so I questioned her about that, too. How she thought she might help me. What she wanted from me. Whose spies she meant. What enemies."

"She mentioned you," Arnyn told Domanol,hervoice almost deadpan as she continued to lay it all out for him. "Not by name. But how she danced with a man at the masquerade. About how he had your accent. How he might be a spy for Umbar. Of course I knew you were not, but I did not tell her or Tercen that. I told her nothing. If she does turn out to be true to her word, that means it would make sense for her to have shown you hostility, given the way you... engaged in conversation, at the theatre."

"Ava admitted she did not know how she could help me. Only that she wanted to help, if I could use it." Arnyn glanced at her hands, still on the table. "I did not ask her for help with anything, although I did ask many more questions, that night. Questions which prompted her to tell me about the Temple and Pharak - how her project would be neverending if that cult was not completely removed. How he was the real problem in Umbar, according to her. She spoke of how she's been trying to combat his influence in different ways and how she has been failing. And she claimed she finally came to Gondor, because she is getting desperate. She spoke of how her mother was allegedly murdered, how her father started working in secret against the powers in Umbar - how supposedly Pharak Halsad's first act as priest was to have her father executed at the temple, after having learned of his... activities. She also mentioned that Pharak's unlikely survival after being burned alive, helped convince people he was deserving of the position as Blood Priest. I did not let on I knew anything about that."

How to continue, now, however? Admitting to how she had left Ava's house - was that something she wanted to do? Inwardly, part of her laughed coldly. What did Domanol's perception matter, now? It was already shattered.

"I had more questions, but my own brother threw me out once I asked if Ava had ever killed anyone." Even this admission did not carry any emotion. Her delivery was near deadpan.

"Clearly, neither Ava nor Tercen was comfortable with my... interrogation of her. To Tercen, it seemed heartless. To Ava - who knows. It all depends on her true nature, I suppose," Arnyn added. "I left. Because we were meeting again the next day. And because I had not heard anything that proved she meant to do anyone harm - even though I had no proof that her claims were true, either. I had told her nothing." Arnyn frowned. Heartless in the eyes of my own brother. But not careful enough, then.

The Lieutenant took a deep breath and continued, in that same toneless quality. Her black eyes were dull but steady, as if the truth was all she had left to give. The only nail left in the coffin she had built herself.

"I spoke to Ava alone, that next day. Without Tercen present. To ask the rest of my questions about who she is, her motives, her plans. I was trying to discern to what extent she might be a threat. I will freely admit I wanted to believe her. I still want to. I still hope there are people in Umbar who want better things for themselves and their countrymen." He could accuse her of being naive. It appeared that she was. A pitfall of her idealism, then?

"She claimed she did not immediately reveal her heritage or accent to me, the night before, because she was afraid I would refuse to hear her out - or worse. That where she came from, people were put in the dungeons without any proof they had done wrong. But that she also did not wish to deceive me, which was what led her to tell me about her plan and where she was from, once we'd had dinner." She looked back up at Domanol. "It reminded me very much of your nephew's friend's situation. He also feared he would end up encarcerated, if he ever returned here. He was also very... uneasy... to speak to me, because of his years-long association with pirates. It reminded me of how I had wanted to judge him - for his character and his intentions, and not for his father or his past."

The Lieutenant blinked. Had... that... all... been misplaced? Had that also all been a risk she should not have taken? A risk that could now condemn everything?

It had turned out well, so far, with Trevadir. But could she be sure, Arnyn now suddenly wondered? Should she doubt that decision, as well? Should she have Trevadir watched, now, too? With every passing minute, the doubts at her decision-making were growing more numerous.
What if Trevadir was lying? What if he, in truth, still reported back to Devedir? What if Devedir was blackmailing him with something, or someone, so Trevadir could feed him information about all the rangers were planning?

If that was the case, then she had told Trevadir much more dangerous things than she had told Ava.

But Trevadir cooperated, her mind whispered at her. He told you so many things that would damn Devedir, and Umbar. He offered you valuable information.
Cold sweat ran down her back. But so had Ava. Panic threatened to surge, to engulf her and drag her into the depths.

Nothing other than sheer willpower kept her from drowning down that line of thought. Though the panic remained, shoved down hard to the back of her mind, behind a wall of unyielding steel. Later, she ordered herself. One failure at a time. That was all she could handle right now.

"That day, just like the previous evening, Ava could not offer any real proof, to back up her claims," the Lieutenant said. Just like Trevadir had not exactly been able to offer proof. Had he? Arnyn shook her head - once. Mentally, she reinforced the wall.

"Though she told me several things that I found interesting. Her description of setting free a certain woman in Umbar, years ago. Which matched perfectly with another story I knew. Down to details that could impossibly be known to anyone other than the woman who had been set free, and the person who'd set her free. I also learned she was willing to meet this woman." A breath. "Her story about a couple that had returned with her from Umbar, whose daughter she hadn't been able to find - whose name and age corresponded with a 'gift' to the Captain from the slaver who replaced Relic. A story which I have written up orders for, so we might verify that one as well. Ava had someone from her staff give me the location of the parents, so we can reunite them. She told me some things about Jenahda, too. That the Blood Guard is really hers,not Pharak's, for example." Again, supposedly. If they could believe her.

"I figured that if she wanted to harm just me, as the Ranger Lieutenant, or my brother, the previous evening had been her perfect opportunity. When I still knew absolutely nothing, and when both of us were eating her food, consuming her drinks. She could have just poisoned the both of us then. And not have bothered with the complicated backstories, the challenging charade. I concluded that if she was playing me, she was playing at a much bigger game. And given everything she told me, in such a short span of time - she would have to be a very good and a very prepared actress. It did not sound contrived, or rehearsed. Not for a second." She'd always prided herself on being a good judge of character. Domanol had just pointed out to her why that was such a naive thing to do, though. So the words were said without sounding like she was defending her choices. It sounded like nothing more than what it was: Arnyn simply informing the ranger in front of her of the same things she had reported to the King.

"Be that as it may, I told her nothing of our plans concerning Umbar. But I did tell her that Relic could shapeshift, and that the slaver died when she had come here - with steel through the heart. One reason for that was so I could see how Ava would react. She was very hung up on the shapeshifting. Apparently that wasn't commonly known in Umbar, either. Unless that is also a lie. Ava claimed she had only heard some rumours."

Part of Arnyn's old self returned then, to assess Domanol's gaze. "And that she had heard strange rumours about the Priest, as well. That he supposedly has dark powers. Just like his apprentice. How it had all sounded like nonsense, to Ava. But since that I was then claiming that the rumours about Relic were true, how she did not longer know what to believe about the rumours about Pharak or 'Naluthor'. She mentioned the rumour that the Priest knew everyone's secrets." She paused briefly. "I told her nothing of our own conversation, or what doubts I may or may not have about that after what you have told me. I simply told her that he could be bluffing. And that in my own personal experience, you don't need dark powers to have a good network of spies." Ironic. How terribly and painfully ironic that was, now.

"I did tell her that the rumours she'd heard about Naluthor being able to be in two places at once, was a lie. And when she asked what I knew about him, I told her I knew he has been active in Umbar and here in Gondor, betraying kin and country. So if she is a spy, she could report back that his cover is blown." Her index finger brushed across the tabletop. She didn't realize. "I figured I would give her some things - small tidbits of information that would interest her but not really give much of anything away. Like knowing Naluthor is Gondorian. Relic's shapeshifting. Knowing where that couple's daughter was. Some information about how my mother died. In my own attempt to get her to open up more, but also to make it less apparent that I was holding much more important things back. For I know that I am a bad liar. She had asked about the best location for a recovery house in Gondor, the night before. I told her Pelargir, that next day. For it would be ideal if her plan was true, and if it was false then Pelargir still has a strong Guard in place, as well as a naval force."

"I asked her, again, that day, whether she had killed anyone herself. She claims not to have killed anyone with her own hands or weapons, but admitted that she has been sending sacrifices to the temple, as demanded by the priest of the Umbarian nobility. That she tried not to, once. That he simply took someone in her service, instead. And demanded a larger sacrifice next time. Ava claims she has her people looking for murderers, and that she offers them up to the Temple." Arnyn had been dismayed, when Ava had told her. Her idealism had yelled for punishment, then. She had called Ava out on it. She had been angry.

Then.

But now, Arnyn had nothing. For if she let any more emotion in now, she'd crumble. And she. Refused. To. Crumble.

Not here.

And sure as hell not in front of Domanol Raxelilta.

"The next time I saw Ava, was when my brother and I had agreed to go dancing, and he brought her. Despite the reservations I had already voiced, the night I met her, about him strutting her around town. Apparently her concern about spies was lessened after meeting me. Or Tercen was making her forget. That, or she was never really concerned at all. Who knows." The latter would fit with the idea of Ava playing them.

"Tercen and I were away from the table when Ava apparently dropped her Gondorian accent in front of Gladhron. He asked her about where she was from, and by the time my brother and I returned to the table, Gladhron asked if she was helping me with the Umbar thing." Arnyn's fingers pressed briefly to her temple, as if holding the pain in — or trying to keep it from leaking further out. "Nothing else was said, that evening. Cue the endless meeting at headquarters today, in the Captain's presence."

"I called Gwestion and Gladhron in first. To brief Pele and them, first. To introduce the brothers to the Captain. To inform Pele of how I knew them. That you knew them, as well. To clear up for the Captain how the brothers had apparently found out about the Umbar 'thing' in the first place." Another mistake, then, to lower her guard with them? Even as little as she had done, here? Apparently even that had been too much. For if she had kept up her walls, her full walls, she wouldn't have said anything at all regarding planning a mission. Or what she knew about Umbar. Then they hadn't been able to piece it together, and Gladhron had never asked Ava what he had, at that tavern.

"And to discuss Ava, and what she might take away from what Gladhron said and how much of a problem that is. About how no one could say anything about any sort of mission to Umbar - in front of anyone, let alone in front of Ava. That any confirmation of what could only be a suspicion or a hope on her part, at present, would be detrimental. Gladhron and Gwestion... they... offered their help. To the mission."

"Then Ava and Tercen were brought in. Nothing was confirmed. She still does not know anything. She can guess. She can hope. She can wonder if there is a plan involving Umbar. But she cannot know if there is a plan, or a mission, let alone what the plan or mission might be. We - I... never gave her that.” She took a breath. It didn’t help. Not really.

"I laid out for everyone there, though, what the problem now was with Ava going back to Umbar. The problem - as far as I could see it. At the time," she amended.

"Option one: That we weren't planning anything, and my questions to Ava were fuelled by nothing more than my incessant need for information. Which, several of the rangers could tell anyone, is definitely part of my personality. Option two: That we were planning something, and my questions were fuelled by the need to make as good a plan as I may. Which, several of the rangers could tell anyone, would also align with my personality."

"I explained to everyone there that; if there was no plan at all - how, even if Ava was being honest with us, and even if she believed there was in fact no plan, she is only human. How the possibility would still exist that she might slip up and mention something, and that rumour could spread. Such a rumour, even an unfounded one, could then lead to retaliation against Gondor. About how the possibility also existed, that there are Umbarian spies here. And that it would be known where Ava was. How the possibility existed that Ava would be taken upon her return to Umbar, and that she would be pressured into talking. Through threats, against her, or against the people she was trying to protect. Through torture, of herself or of the people she was trying to protect. That would also likely lead Ava into mentioning she thought there was a plan - at least for a moment. And that, again, could be enough for the powers in Umbar to retaliate against Gondor. About the possibility that she was not being truthful with us at all. And that, upon her return, she would simply report back. And how that option was still one we had to consider. Because I had not been able to verify her claims objectively."
"I also explained to them that the same went in case there would in fact be a plan. Even if she was being honest with us and she was on our side, the possibility still existed that you she slip up and mention something. Which could not only lead to proactive retaliation, as I had already mentioned, but also to preparations that would surely see the plan fail before it was even set into motion. Leading to the deaths of anyone of us who might be participating in such a plan. The same possibility of her being pressured into talking also existed then, with the same possible consequences of relaliation and preparation and losses on our side. And if she was not being truthful with us - well. I didn't want to repeat myself, and I didn't have to."

"I told them that... The odds that, upon her return, she would not slip up, would not be found out and pressured, and would not report back anything - all of those together, were small. And the odds of any of the other possibilities - all of those together, were much higher."

"That it would have already been risky to let her return to Umbar as she had planned, before she started wondering about any possible plans. But now that you was in fact wondering, everything had changed. Because the risk, given the unacceptable consequences, was too high."

"Ava brought up her concerns over the people at her estate. Who would suffer if she did not return to supply the sacrifices demanded by the priest. The Captain... did not seem inclined to put Ava behind bars or keep her from returning to Umbar. And I was not inclined to fight it, either, because I figured... I figured Ava might prove an invaluable resource. If she truly did not mean us any harm. And while I could not be sure... yet... I figured I could be, in a few weeks time. I figured locking her up now would sour relations entirely, even if Ava meant to turn things around in Umbar. It would probably quench any and all of her willingness to help, even if she truly wanted change."

"I had been thinking, before that meeting at headquarters, about the possibility of sending a few rangers back to Umbar with Ava. To make good use of the possibilities such an 'in' would provide. Current information. Current lay outs. Current habits, rotations. Eyes on the ground. The possibility to refine my plans to such an extent that the odds of leaving with as many lives as possible intact would... increase exponentially. And it would allow us to watch Ava, too. Protect her, if she was true. Take her out, if she proved false."

"I asked to speak to the Captain alone, for I could tell she did not like the idea, for the danger the idea would pose to the rangers going with Ava." Arnyn's throat was dry. So dry, by now... Yet Arnyn ignored it. And continued.

"I reminded the Captain that we have no way of knowing whether or not Ava was telling the truth. That we could not just let her walk out of the city, where she might divulge the wrong information to the wrong people."

"I informed the Captain ofmy visit to the Guard Headquarters, and that I had given them Ava's description. How they had agreed to my request of not letting Ava leave the city. How I had also spoke with those who were already posted at the Great Gates. If she tried to leave, they would hold her and send word."

"I laid out how we had two choices. Either not let her go back... which she would fight. And if she did mean well, it would cost us an ally. Or - to monitor and steer her return as much as we could, by sending the right people with her. How I felt it was an option worth exploring seriously. Besides monitoring Ava's intentions, being more able to stop her from giving anyone information we wouldn't want getting out, and being able to provide additional protection from anyone who might try to take her in for questioning, it could give us a huge planning advantage. How I'd been wishing for ways to get a proper look at things there, like the harbour, the market, the temple. How it would be such an added value. I volunteered for it myself. Since it seemed, at the time, that Ava would only be returning after our own return from the sea training expedition. The Captain was not eager to let me go, given the dangers. I counterargued that was exactly why it should be me. To show everyone else that even though we think it is dangerous, it isn't hopeless. To show that the use outweighed the danger. To let our actions speak, not just our words."

"Ava and Tercen were also planning to take a little trip to Ithilien. Which I advised against," she added, as an almost sudden interjection, but it wasn't, since it led upto something else. "And I asked for permission to have rangers watch Ava, here, as well. In addition to the guard not letting her leave the city or the pelennor, and in addition to them keeping tabs on her whereabouts as she passed through this or that inner gate - that we could have a few rangers watching her, without her knowledge.To see she does not leave her house in the night. To see she does not try to make a run for it. But also to see whether anyone tries to enter her house in the night, without her knowledge.

"The Captain agreed, then. On me and some other rangers going back to Umbar, with Ava. On having someone verify the story of Ava's - about the parents and their daughter. On assigning rangers to watch her while she was still here. I issued and dispatched the first orders after the meetings - two of the unit have been watching her since this late afternoon."

Arnyn's eyes lowered again. "The Captain also asked for my opinion on Gladhron and Gwestion's earlier offer of help." Domanol was their friend, too, after all. "I could not paint them in a bad light," she admitted. "And had no professional reasons to advise the Captain against excluding them." The words tasted like ash. Given what had happened next... "I also told her that if we did not accept their offer, I was sure they would make the same offer to you, if they learned of your role in it all."

"We called the others back in, then. But Ava asked to speak to the Captain and myself alone, first. She wanted to discuss Tercen's request with us. Apparently he had asked her if he could join her in Umbar. And that she turned him down. But was torn about it and wanted our advice." But that was probably not relevant to Domanol. So Arnyn stopped there, abruptly, on that subject.

To return to the other. "Amidst that conversation, Ava mentioned that the temple demanded monthly sacrifices. I assumed that Ava could have some proxy arrange what was necessary in her absence - for otherwise we would no longer have weeks all of a sudden, but mere days. She disillusioned me rather quickly. Which also meant I could not both attend the sea training and go to Umbar with Ava. And as soon as we mentioned that in front of the brothers..." Her voice trailed off, even as she slowly shook her head. "They volunteered," she finally finished.

"It was agreed on. As well as that I will join them, after the training has been completed. Ava gave us maps. To help me find my way, to otherwise give us more information about the city and surrounding area, if we could use it."

"Ava and Tercen left. Pele made sure the brothers knew the danger, before she left as well. And then I spent hours filling them in. On everything. Given what they are about to undertake." A mission she did not want them to undertake.

"And after that, I wrote up the orders. To verify the story. To have Ava watched. Dispatched them. I met with Kaylin. Asked for her help when I would be venturing to Umbar, later. She refused. I wrote up the report to the King." The Lieutenant fell silent. What had she missed? She frowned in thought. But found it hard to dig into any more memories...

[Ercassie]

@Arnyn @Rillewen

Domanol Raxëlilta, Interview room 4
No more happy to be here than Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
For the interviewing drama after the Play drama. Dec 30th. Late.

Somehow he sat, somehow he managed to stay .. silent. Somehow he allowed her to perform her entire ‘recital’, as though he believed that it might, even now, make any difference. Maybe that was a mistake, allowing her to believe that anything she could say at this point would negate all that he had heard so far. Might be though, a part of him wanted back that same Lieutenant who had filled him with such optimism at the outset of their first meeting. When she had managed to convince him that she knew what she was getting into. That she had overcome bad .. before. That everything that so many of them had confided in her had made her wary … But it was becoming more and more evident to Domanol that Arnyn was in way over her head with this one. Somehow it hurt worse, now, to realise that he had been wrong to believe better.

So he waited, as she stood behind a wall of details, an ‘extensive’ account .. or so she believed. The man’s left elbow planted itself on the table before him, propping up the brow which he lowered, slightly offside, into it’s crutch. He did not meet her gaze throughout the ensuing exposition. He drummed the fingers of his right hand idly on the table top as if that would make this any easier to sit through. And then finally, she was done. He gave her a moment, in case she was just pausing for dramatic emphasis. But .. no. That seemed to be ‘it’. Domanol ceased with the ripple of his animated fingers. He raised his head out of it’s weary cradle, and sat up. Leaned back in his seat and gave the officer a long hard look.


“You really want to do this ?” The exclamation was devoid of all enthusiasm. The man blinked, quite deliberately, and leaned in across the table as though he might observe something he had so far missed. And then frowned, leaned back again where he sat. As though he was considering a thing he could not rightly comprehend. Domanol made a show out of his struggle, somewhere between disbelief and disappointment. He shook his head at the wall as though it were an empathetic eavesdropper.

“Well, everybody knows the Lieutenant likes questions. Why don’t we try some questions ?” The offer might have seemed as though his tone was softening, towards some far more ‘friendly’ exchange between them. At least he had simmered down enough now to mute his volume. But there was no missing the warning in the false ‘agreeable’. “Since doing so will keep you from liberating that woman out of Guard custody for as long as I can possibly detain you.” His gaze flicked momentarily toward the door, as though awarding the officer, one last chance. “Oh, but I’ll be the one asking the questions,” he clarified. “Since we’ve just heard the ‘extent’ of all those which you could conjure. Even with four days to play with ..”


There was absolutely no way that she could have imagined he was about to let that go, without remark. “Four days,” he repeated as she had herself, perhaps more quietly, and then blew a long slow whistle as he knitted the fingers of both hands together now, and cupped his chin atop their little height. “Even though you had the gall to stand there and tell me moments ago, that there had simply been no time to tell me she was here. Because apparently, you had not realised there was a problem, until .. last night ? That’s what you said.” One brow rose, pointedly. “And, turns out, this woman told you four whole days ago, not only where she was from, but enough of a timely and far too convenient backstory to make you court suspicions. If you’re waiting for the first actual question, by the way, here it comes now.” So far he’d been no more really than confirming that he’d understood correctly. But the questions commenced quickly on the tail of his warning. “Why did you wait until today, to tell your Captain about what you’d found out ? About Ava. Why was it almost the very last thing that you say you took care of, to get approval for the Rangers to watch her ? Why, Lieutenant, when those sorts of measures should have been almost the very first ?”

The man’s head quirked first left, then right, as though he was seeking to find the most comfortable rest in his position. Before he decided he had given her enough time. To hear him. “Were you simply ‘bedazzled’ by all the ‘number of furnished and decorated rooms’ ?” Fingers vibrated with animation at the word ‘bedazzled’. Not just once. “So bedazzled that you took her word that she had actually bought the property, on the fifth circle ? That she took you on a tour of riches that she wanted you to believe, and you took it at face value, never even considering that the remains of a real, legal owner of that property might have in fact been festering down in the cellar while you all dined upstairs ?” Domanol took a deep breath, as though he required to recall the need; to remember to breathe, to keep some reins over the anger which he was riding.


“This woman showed you what she wanted you to see, and told you what she knew you’d want to hear. And you didn’t even stop to question the how and why behind it all. How did she even manage such a purchase without first committing to great time and research in the city ? And if, just now, you’re ready to regale me with a reminder that she had been planning countless ‘safehouses’ throughout the kingdom, I should point out a few things. First being that that would mean she has almost certainly been conducting research on the various places in Gondor for some time, that she invariably must have accomplices and other contacts already, and that .. oh, did I forget to ask if you even know for sure when she did arrive in Minas Tirith ? If she had company ? Have you checked with the gatehouse reports for any suspicious activity or observations ? Did you even ever ask her how long she has actually been in Gondor, or if this is even her first visit ? I mean, you might not have ever known she was here this time, except that she wanted you to find out. Because she needed something from you.”

A shivering wave of something carried down the whole of the man’s face and he took a short time to recover his diatribe. Not to give Arnyn any chance of answering yet. She might try to intervene, but he was not in any mood to hear what could only be more worthless apologies.


“None of us considered that the turncoat lieutenant had any assistance here in Gondor, until a mysterious woman was witnessed in the act of helping his high jinks at the South gate, just months ago,” he raised the subject now, knowing she was already familiar with it. Or ought to be. “But ought that not to have alerted you, to the fact that others could do similar ? If not why the stars did it not ? And if it did, which it ought to have alerted you, did you even look into whether this Umbarian woman of yours is in league with any others of her ilk ? I mean, Eryn was so convinced that Androllius intended to come back, after he abducted her in September. She took things of his, she said. Evidence, that he most certainly sounded keen to retrieve. And though she and her father may be more wary now in case he ever shows his face again, is it entirely improbable that such a traitor could send someone else, someone who is not so obviously aligned with him .. to do his dirty work for him this time ? Someone who the girl would not realise was a threat ? Someone like, I don’t know .. ‘Ava’ ?”

“So here we come back to the fact that this Umbarian, who you were already suspicious of, your words, has been wandering the streets which Eryn frequents almost daily, passing back and forth to work on the Sixth Circle ? As does little Toby, who that arsehat pirate has threatened to abduct already and we’ve all been trying to keep watch for here ? Not to mention Trevadir for that matter, who you swore to protect ? Forget me and mine for a minute here. Did you give anybody vulnerable to being attacked, abducted, or at the very least spied on, a heads up that an Umbarian whose motives you aren’t sure about has been roaming the streets of the city here unchecked ? Especially the one who put his life into your hands. He who you find such comfort in reminding me about, as though the exception is the rule where it comes to trusting dubious folk ..”

Dom watched for the woman’s any reaction. “You say you’re sorry, that you didn’t even see the risk in Ava merrily socialising with Seri and the girls at the theatre. But it’s the very same risk you have ignored, every single moment that you delayed to tell anybody about this woman abiding in the city. You were suspicious, and you questioned her. But you didn’t stop asking because you were satisfied. You only stopped because your brother was upset with you. So, if you weren’t happy she was not a danger, why were you so arrogant to assume that you could handle this all by yourself ?”


It was a lot of questions, and he had hardly begun. Might be it was some sort of eerie possession that had just reclaimed him. For, the last time he had been in a room like this .. he had been fervent in his pursuit of the truth, and justice. To the detriment of many a disheartened criminal who had been forced to endure his animated enthusiasm. So this was not over, not by any means. It was merely a warm up ..

“Lets go back to the masquerade, and your opinion that a dance ‘clearly intrigued’ her. Even ignoring the question of how she found out, beforehand, that such an event was taking place, in a city some hundreds of miles from her own; there is still the undeniable fact that she was drawn to an event where she could move with a certain degree of secrecy and deceit regarding who she was. A tempting notion, to be sure, but it was probably the disguise rather than the dance itself which seemed so appealing. How many people were also at the masquerade, beside the King himself, who our Enemy might have been interested to note, or follow home afterwards ?

And here we have the interesting point that she claims to have noticed me there. From what ? My accent ? And that was enough to alarm her. And yet, even after hearing me speak to her, she was the one proposing that we dance together. Does that sound like somebody who was scared for her life ? Would someone in disguise, and in fear of being recognised, not only suggest we spend more time together but also, when I fell to a form of dancing which my first wife taught me in Harondor ... this same woman in disguise, apparently afraid of me .. not stand back in surprise or horror .. but instead move fluently and practiced along with what I was doing ?

Because I’ll tell you what that says to me. That suggests that she was looking for somebody else in disguise, to give her clues that they were the somebody she was looking for. I don’t think she was afraid of me, at the masquerade. Sounds to me as though she knew exactly what she was doing. And all this malarkey about being frightened only came up afterwards. When she’d clearly gotten nothing but a dance and some smalltalk out of me. So she moved on. To your brother. All the twaddle she has been peddling you ever since about her concern about agents or spies, was likely to either have been a try at prompting you to tell her what you know about spies and agents of Umbar at large in this city. You know, besides her. Or she was quite deliberately trying to turn the King and his Rangers with suspicion against me instead of her ? Sabotaging our any collaboration. They know I’m here, that little weasel of a traitor will have told them by now. And Ava even told you that Pharak’s influence had increased in Umbar, because of the injuries which I saw inflicted upon him years ago ! That sounds like a fairly damning case of slander to me !”


A pause allowed the man to offer Arnyn a wilting expression of disgust, and to tend to a private suspicion of guilt for his own sake, at the notion. But there was no time to worry if that were true now. And even that could not quiet his rant for long, particularly if a new train of thought might chase the old off it’s tracks with a distraction.

“Let’s face it, if she realised that I was not who she’d hoped and she realised I might have noted her .. for the southern dance themes .. she would likely want somebody to stand between her and I. Boy did Tercen ever fit the bill ! She must have been just absolutely made up, when she learnt he was the Ranger Lieutenant’s brother ! No wonder she has been working on him devoutly ever since. She has even been making good use of him against you. I mean, you say yourself, you stopped questioning her, even at a significant point, because he told you to leave. You allowed her the entire night to think of a suitable answer to the question she now knew you would ask her again. Had she killed anybody ?”

“And what was her answer ? Yes. She admitted outright to you, that she had done something she did not believe in, because it was the only way to survive. So how can you know that she is not doing the very same thing here ? Her parents were killed. By Halsad. Do you think he let her live out of the goodness in his heart ? That man is conniving, evil. There is no way he would let the daughter of known traitors live, or at the very least go about Umbar as unsupervised as you have allowed her to here. If she is here, he knows that she is here. He probably was the one who sent her here.”


“One of your arguments for letting this woman go back to Umbar, not only with the potential hostages of close friends to the both of us, but potentially also with your brother as well .. ” The fact that Tercen had asked Ava about going back with her, combined with the voracious devotion Dom had seen first hand .. sounded like the Lieutenant was deluding herself if she didn’t think her brother would be also taking ‘the trip’. “ .. is the fact that if you keep her here, then Umbar will know we, Gondor, are suspicious that they sent her here.” An entirely astounded face was plastered for the Lieutenant’s notice. “Do you really think they don’t already expect some retaliation from us ? That they would not already be making preparations even as we speak, regardless of if she failed to go home ?” Normally he would have left it there. Made his point. But given what he’d heard tonight, it clearly might be required to explain a few very obvious facts.

“The King’s treaties for peace were openly assassinated in the Umbarian city square,” Dom raised a finger, to start his count along. “A legendary Slaver of Umbar came here, presumably to be avenged on the now Captain of the Rangers who had escaped slavery in Umbar, and that slaver is now dead.” Another finger rose. “How many of your Rangers, even beside your leader, have personal conflict with this colony ? You have no less than two identified Umbarian agents locked in dungeons in Gondor. I told Androllius that we have Pharak’s heir apparent in our hands, and Androllius has of course scarpered off, after being unveiled as a traitor as well. The pirate’s son came home, with all that he knows, and the chandlery operation out in Harlond has been rendered into tatters.” He was running out of fingers, so it was a relief for more than one reason that Domanol halted his count there. “To imagine,” he concluded, wearily, “that Umbar will not be at the absolute very least expecting any aggression from this kingdom is not even a joke at this point. And if they noted that your captain went to a joust in Lond Col and that their greatest nautical opponent has docked in your harbours here at least twice since then .. yeah, if I have noticed his ship, don’t think any agents they have here will not have recognised it also. Do you really believe that, given all of that, Umbar do not already know we are plotting something ? What possible reason is there for Ava to not be held here, at this point, save for you to try and prove that you were right about her ? Is that worth all that you are risking by letting her go home, with all that she has learnt here ?”


“And even overlooking the fact that you say she has already gleaned things from Gladhron’s error and even from your own line of questioning, you think that sending he and Gwestion into the reach of Umbar is a good idea ?Forget even the fact that doing so puts them into a situation you can not possibly foresee until they get there. You are sending them because you worry that, even if she is aligned with your way of thinking, she is still only human, and might falter if faced with an interrogation, Umbar style. But regardless of what she might be able to tell of what she’s seen here during all her unsupervised gallivanting. What do you think the risk is of Gladhron or Gwestion falling into the hands of an Umbarian interrogator ? Even if they were infallible against such torture, you are risking it. And all that they could reveal about Arnor in addition !” Domanol took the half emptied glass of water back into his possession, and turned it, as he had at the outset of their ’conversation’, in both hands.

“All that you have managed here is to question a known liar, so that her any answer you must admit might well be untrue anyway. You have verified that she has helped a Ranger Captain, of all people, who would be exactly the sort of individual she would need to convince to trust her, if she was false. So that could be a set-up. You think she might have recovered Gondorians out of Umbar, but we know for a fact that other Umbarians, namely Arkadhur have done exactly that much for our people before now, more for his own sake than theirs. So that can hardly verify her as credible or trustworthy either. The maps she gave you match information that you had previously gathered, which means it is old information and her allies in Umbar who probably sent her here would now be updating their positions and defences even as we speak, while she hands you outdated, inaccurate intel.

Meanwhile if you had bothered to tell me about Ava before I found out about her in the worst possible circumstances, then I might have mentioned the risk in allowing such a suspicious entity to even enter the White Tree theatre, where another known Umbarian was squatting for over a year. I mean, how could you have known else whether she might have designs to retrieve something he’d left behind there ? Let alone .. ” Dom paused, and took a deep enough breath to compose himself before continuing.

“Was it Ava’s idea to go to the theatre or did she simply jump at the chance when someone else suggested it ? Was it her idea to get a private box, or merely your brother’s preference ? Can you tell me why neither you, nor Gladhron nor Gwestion were sat even behind her, if not directly beside her, in the dim-lit environment ? Why she was surrounded by civilians ?! Is not a box of seats with a balcony a far easier place to escape from, than crowded amongst the seats below ? Would it have been impossible for her to remark about heading for the washroom, and then stab each of the three of you ‘guards’ in the back of the neck as she passed by, or were you and Gladders just pretending to be asleep, to lull her into a disarming sense of opportunity and see what she might do ? Is it even possible that the dog went for her, out of everybody else there, because dogs have a heightened smell and other senses that allowed him to notice what nobody else did ? And was her chance excuse after that to go to find a washroom merely an alibi to go dispose of or hide, that same possible something .. like a concealed weapon ..?”


“Do you believe that this woman would be capable of losing your brother in a crowd if she so wished ?” He wondered, with a narrowed gaze in her direction. “And how would he have had a hope to keep an eye upon her in the washroom when she would have gone into the room for ladies, which he could not enter with her ? For all you know, this entire ruse about her ‘hopes and dreams’ to take out a mutual enemy of yours, was all merely the cunning machinations to cause a distraction in a highly social setting and have the already understaffed City Guard run to try and contain that .. while some accomplice she has that you had not even yet considered might exist .. is off committing who knows what other deed elsewhere in the city ?”

The man’s decision to raise the glass of water now could have been taken as a hope for some reprieve, as Domanol quenched a suddenly dry throat before returning the now barren glass back between both the hands it took to hold it in place.

“There is entirely no good reason why that woman ought to have been in the theatre this evening. Besides your brother wanting to go on a date. And that hardly negates the absolute mountain of reasons why it was the very latest in a whole series of bad ideas. This is in fact the exact same sort of idiocy which allowed for another Umbarian who you also knew full well was at large in your city, to murder two guards and injure at least two more, including a civilian, and burn down half of your barracks. How many more innocent people have to die, before you realise that you need to act against these people ? Not merely react after they have already unleashed mayhem. It is too late if the damage has already been done.”

A loud crash halted the tirade at that point. Not because there were no more recriminations that the man could have conceived to hurl at the beleaguered woman. But because, in his latest excitable flurry of gesturing, he had inadvertently sent the emptied drinking vessel flying off the table. Not to be outdone by even the insane monologuing that the room was hosting so far, the glass first struck hard against the wall, and only then crashed to the floor and splintered there in many many pieces. While Domanol’s chest heaved in a silent attempt to control or recover himself.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Room 4
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

'You really want to do this?'

The truth was that, no, she did not want to do this. Not at all. Not even the tiniest bit. She did not want to continue this conversation, if that is what it could be called. She did not want to continue to feel like a child being chided by a severely disappointed parent. She did not want to continue to feel like a rag on the floor which was at this point rather discarded than washed, for all the grime and dirt it had collected. She did not want to feel this incapable. She did not want to feel this useless. She did not want... any of this.

The analytical side of her mind told her that this was such a bad time to crumble on the inside. That her doubting herself mainly served their adversaries. Not Gondor. That Domanol's experiences had led him to paranoia, and that it was a veil that coloured all of his thinking. And all of his words. That he had lost the ability to hope, and saw everything with the worst possible outcome in mind.

And yet. It was part of her job to properly consider the worst possible outcome, as well. Arnyn did not answer Domanol Raxelilta with anything other than a deceptively calm look in reply to his hard gaze. Whilst trying to ignore the ever increasing throbbing at the base of her skull.

Not even when he mocked her tendency to ask questions. While, with his next breath, condemning her ability to ask any good ones. Not even when he basically accused her of being blinded by riches, like a little girl who was impressed by a pretty dress and jewelry. Not even when he put words into her mouth which she had not said. Not even when he demanded her to have done things she could not have without some kind of magic at her disposal. Not even when he accused her of endangering people like Erynneth Raedor, or Trevadir's little brother, and Trevadir himself. Not even when he threw in her face that she stopped questioning Ava because Tercen 'was upset' with her. Not even when he called her arrogant. After having already basically accused her of being careless, unthinking and emotional, not to mention derelict in her duties. based off his other words and questions. Which were clearly not Arnyn's type of questions - for Domanol's were entirely rhetorical. And served no purpose other than making her feel terrible about everything she had done - and more pointedly, everything she had not done.

'He was not here to judge her,' he had said. Those words had left his mouth just a short while ago, really.

What a joke that had been.

Even so. The Lieutenant did not snap back. She did not raise her voice. If she felt any agitation at his words, it translated into a quiet, hollow anger that was mostly directed at herself. If there was any agitation, it was drowning in her internal collapse. Slowly. Invisibly. For there was no shouting, nor any sobbing. No wetness around her eyes. No tremble in her hands. Even though the floor dropped away from beneath her feet, her boots were still anchored onto the stones.

The Ranger Lieutenant was still performing her role. But inside, everything was falling apart. It was over. Not the mission. Not the war. But something was. Arnyn couldn't be sure what had snapped — only that it was loud in her chest, and silent everywhere else.

You’ve done enough damage already, she told herself. So much for a thread of understanding between this man and me.

She had laid it all out — the meetings, her reasoning, her own relentless caution that clearly hadn’t been cautious enough. Her work hadn’t mattered. She’d told the truth — and Domanol had stomped all over it like it was trash.

That look of disgust on his face...

Arnyn had been holding herself together with stubborn will and a sense of duty. But now... Domanol essentially told her she was a danger to the people around her. A danger to those who placed their trust in her. And the worst part was… right now... she believed he might be right. She was no longer sure her own reasoning was sound. No longer sure anyone was right to trust that she would help them.

Her eyes narrowed at the comment that Domanol had told Androllius they had Pharak's heir apparent in their hands. On any other day, she would have stopped him there. She would have asked what in the world he meant. She would have insisted on the full picture of whatever had happened, there. But she was empty. Spent. The best she could do at this point, was to file it away. For later.

Meanwhile, Domanol continued. He relentlessly poured salt into the very open wound that represented the situation where Gladhron and Gwestion had volunteered to go to Umbar. Which they had done mainly to help her, she knew. Because they were friends. And they had seen her problem. Both of them had offered to help fix it. For her. Risking their lives. To help. Because somehow she had transfered her hopes onto them. About Ava, and about what Ava's cooperation could mean for the success of the mission. And after pouring in the salt, Raxelilta pushed down a dirty finger into it, crushing the grains into the raw, open flesh. What if the brothers fell into the hands of an interrogator? What would they lose? How would they return? If they returned at all?

She did not answer any of the following plethora of questions, either. What was the point? They still sounded rhetorical. Not answering them would likely confirm whatever assumptions he already held. But answering them would only deplete her further, and would clearly still do nothing to change his mind. Not right now.

And then, by some cruel twist of fate, Domanol Raxelilta could not even stop there. He had to go back in time, to the day she still had nightmares about. To the months before, where decisions had been made that had led to that day in question. When people had died because of those decisions. The King's guards. Two of their rangers. Clearly Domanol did not even have the full picture. But he knew enough to make it hurt, nonetheless. He knew enough to shove the knife in deep.

The glass — it broke like a void punched through the world. One of the pieces hit the back of her boot as it rebounded.

Arnyn still sat there, back straight, shoulders square. As if she might still be holding some scrap of authority, some remnant of purpose. She clamped her jaw shut against the threat of emotion welling up. And became very still.


@Rillewen

Tercen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

Gwestion's answer gave Tercen pause. Gwestion had agreed to go to Umbar, first and foremost because he considered Arnyn a friend, and his friends were rare. Because his friend had been faced with a dilemma. And because Gwestion and his brother could help that friend solve that dilemma. Gwestion had agreed to go, to help Arnyn, because Arnyn had helped him and Gladhron, years ago. Years ago. And because Gwestion felt like he owed her.

Tercen frowned a little as he thought about that. Gwestion had said two of his limited number of friends were in that room. And if Tercen knew anything about Arnyn, she wasn't about to see eye to eye with the man Tercen had seen at the theatre. "She'll fix it," Tercen repeated the words he had spoken earlier, though he did not sound as convinced anymore. Considering how this Domanol had reacted to Ava. Considering how Gwestion and Tercen were, at times, 'treated' to the sound of a male voice coming from within, which did not exactly sound calm.

Both of them fell silent then, and Tercen would not be shy to admit he was listening to any and all of the sounds he might pick up from what was going on in that room. His gaze lifted to meet Gwestion's, once in a while, as the Gondorian contemplated just how close friends Arnyn was with these two northern rangers. How much of a friendship had they developed, over the course of - what? Two months? He also considered what Gwestion had said about Arnyn helping them. And teaching them. It sure sounded like something she would do. Make herself useful, even during her attempt at escape from the responsibilities of command which had started to weigh too heavily upon her shoulders here in Gondor. He remembered how she had insisted on returning north, after processing the news of Dhalion's death, even upon winter's doorstep. How he had tried to stop her and how she'd had none of it. How she had returned shortly thereafter, half frozen in more ways than one.

He opened his mouth as he drew in breath, about to speak. But whatever he had been about to say to Gwestion shattered to pieces along with the sound of something breaking violently behind the door they were lingering by. Tercen's heartrate spiked as his eyes shot to Gwestion's. Concern for Arnyn coursed through him. He couldn't imagine her losing her composure. So it had been the guy in there with her...?!

Half a heartbeat later, his hand was on the door. Another heartbeat and he had one foot inside the room. His hand was still on the door. Eyes wide - as he sought to inspect whatever was happening between this man he did not know and Arnyn. Because in this moment, he had quite forgotten she was the Ranger Lieutenant. In this moment, Arnyn was simply his little sister.

But the scene he saw was... confusing. For both Domanol and Arnyn were seated at the table, and at first glance it all seemed perfectly civil. Until his eyes found the countless pieces of glass scattered across the floor. The way Domanol's chest was heaving with every breath he took. The unnatural stillness that enveloped his sister, who - contrary to the man opposite the table from her - hardly seemed to be breathing at all.

"Arnyn?" Tercen finally ventured, his voice much more uncertain than he would have liked for it to be.


@Ercassie @Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

The air coming in from the hallway hit her like cold water — not physically, but in exposure. Tercen was there, filling the doorway. Arnyn did not need to turn her head to know he was.

She didn’t speak right away. Her eyes remained on Domanol's a while longer. It probably looked, to him, to Tercen, to anyone else looking in - Gwestion, perhaps, and possibly the guardsman - that she was considering her options. Demanding that Tercen leave the room and let them continue. Ordering Domanol to remember some basic sense of decorum. Laying consequences of his words upon the man.

In reality, she was contemplating none of those things. In reality, she was looking ahead. What did she need to do, to move forwards, not backwards?

She was not sure how she did it. Could not fathom where she found the energy. The willpower. Nonetheless, Arnyn rose from her seat, eyes still on the King's agent in front of her. "I will see to it that you are allowed to leave forthwith," she informed him. Not clipped, but with a raw kind of formality. "So you may rest before you meet with the King."

The Lieutenant turned, approached the door - and her brother. She did not meet his gaze, and simply paused in front of him. Waiting for him to move out of the way.

Tercen took a half step toward her, then halted. Something in him wanted to help, to speak, to move. But he hesitated.

Arnyn wasn’t sure if it was fear, to cross some kind of line she'd painted with invisible ink — or whether it was respect for her composure, that kept him at bay. Once he cleared the doorway, Arnyn stepped out quietly. Not withdrawn — but no longer filling space the way a commanding officer should. The weight of her sense of incompetence sat just beneath the surface of her skin. Anyone who knew her well would see at once that something had gone very, very wrong, in that room. Her exhaustion did not allow her to veil it completely.

Out in the hallway, she turned to Gwestion with the strange, mechanical steadiness of someone still inside her own command mask. Her eyes burned, but no tears came. She wouldn’t let them.
He and Domanol were friends, too. Gwestion might want to talk to him, as well. Explain himself to Domanol, perhaps, in some kind of attempt to verify whether Domanol was upset with him for the small part Gwestion had played in all of this. She could only hope, for Gwestion's sake, that the man still sitting in that room would focus his anger on her. Not on their mutual friend. "Tread carefully with him, tonight," she told Gwestion quietly. For Gwestion deserved to know his friend's state, in case he was thinking about engaging in conversation this evening - but that was all she would say on Domanol's behalf. Or indeed on her own.

She did not know what Tercen or Gwestion had heard. She didn't ask. Her fingers brushed briefly down the seam of her trousers, like checking for blood.

She moved on before either Tercen or Gwestion could say or ask anything. Heading for the command office without a word. Every step felt like wading through the mud of her own failure. The tightness in her throat spread like poison. Ironic. Her legs didn’t feel quite stable under her as she walked. The sound of her own boots on the stone seemed distant, foreign.

The scrape of her knuckles against the doorframe was brief. She didn’t wait to be invited in.

“Raxelilta is leaving,” Arnyn told Sergeant Hâdhon flatly. “You’ll let him walk. He’s not to be charged with anything.”


@Rillewen @Ercassie

Tercen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

As Arnyn brushed past, all clipped formality and barely-held composure, Tercen stepped aside — almost unwillingly. His hand flinched, tempted to reach for her, stop her, say something — but then his gaze darted to her eyes. And what he saw there halted him cold.

Not rage. Not frost. Not command.

Just… emptiness.

Seeing his sister like that — not wounded, not defiant, not defensive, but hollow — struck at something primal in him. He'd always known her to be guarded, yes, but sharp, certain, and present. Just now, she wasn’t. Not really.

It felt like watching her drown, inches below the water's surface. Feeling a pane of glass between her and him. Seeing her mouth move, but unable to hear the scream. As if he could see her reach out to him, but he couldn't catch her hand.

He watched her go without a word. Watched her ignore him entirely, and watched her say a few words to Gwestion. Too low for him to catch. And then she was gone. He thought of the play. The laughter. The warmth. The way Arnyn fell asleep on Gladhron’s shoulder. And how that small softness now felt like a thousand years ago.

Tercen let out a sharp breath. His jaw worked overtime as he glanced at Gwestion. There was tension in his gaze, coiled and bristling. A rare thing for him.

Hard eyes turned to Domanol. He wanted to ask what was going on. He wanted to demand what in the world had happened on this side of the door. He wanted to know what in Angband Domanol Raxelilta had done, had said - but one look at the man and Tercen knew it was freaking pointless. Even if the silence was eating him alive.

He walked out, following in his sister's footsteps. Cursing himself. For that was his sister, who'd already disappeared from view ahead of him. And he had no idea how to help her.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Ercassie

Gwestion
Guard HQ, waiting in the hallway outside room 4
Dec 30/31, night

"She'll fix it."

Tercen's statement sounded far more confident than Gwestion was feeling about this. But maybe it was a statement to the faith he had in his sister. As well as the lack of knowledge he had about Domanol. Having seen the way Arnyn looked tonight, Gwestion wasn't entirely sure what to expect. She didn't look well, that was for sure. And, given the level of upset he had observed in Domanol earlier, Gwestion had a feeling this meeting may not go... swimmingly.

His attention was focused mostly on the door, and on any noise he could hear. He was anxious about this. He was also... curious. Where were those rangers who were supposed to have been watching Ava? Now that it was all a bit in retrospect, he was wondering why no one had shown up when Dom and Ava confronted each other, behind the curtain. Would it have gone against their orders to do so? Perhaps that was it. Their orders were simply to observe. But why then, hadn't they reported anything to the lieutenant about it? He was pondering about that, when the sound of glass shattering.. shattered his line of thoughts. Gwestion immediately straightened slightly from where he had been leaning against the wall, alarmed by that noise. That sounded like trouble.

Before Gwestion could fully realize what Tercen was doing, the guy had already rushed for the door, yanking it open to come to his sister's aid - for that was the only logical assumption for what he intended to do - and then stopped to stare in confusion. Gwestion stepped swiftly forward, a hand stretched out for Tercen's arm or shoulder, though he let it drop before ever touching the blond-haired man. As far as his actions went, it would seem that he had come to try and gently guide Tercen away. They were not really supposed to go in there, after all. But honestly, he was also pretty curious about what was going on. He could arrive at a guess, by the clues he had; Dom had apparently been ranting, based on the bits and pieces of his voice that had been heard, and the way he was now looking. It seemed logical to assume that he had broken the glass.

Arnyn's words were quiet, after a long moment of staring at Dom with such stillness, one might even mistake her for a statue. She was ensuring that the guards let Dom leave. Gwestion stepped back, seeing that there was no sort of intervention necessary, to prevent any harm coming to either of his friends. Not that he had really expected there to be any sort of violence. He didn't think Dom would attack the ranger lieutenant, after all. But hearing the glass breaking had worried him, briefly.

Tercen was more reluctant to move, until his sister was actually standing in front of him. Gwestion watched her with growing concern. The more he observed of her, the more concern he felt. She had looked terribly pale and sick even before she went into that room. Now... it was as if something had snapped inside, and left her like a shell of herself. He did not like to see that.

He expected her to stride off down the hallway. Maybe even to leave. By all rights, she should be going home by now. To sleep. And perhaps, to keep sleeping until tomorrow morning, by the looks of her. But instead, she turned to him... to give a warning. He was a bit stunned. His mouth opened slightly, as if he might respond, but he could think of nothing really to say. What could he even say? That he very much regretted waking her, tonight? That was the main thought in his mind, at this moment. But she had turned and walked off before even the first word could begin to form. He watched his friend go off down the hallway, concerned for her, but feeling completely clueless and helpless to do anything for her, since he had no idea what was even wrong with her.

Still feeling a little stunned by it all, Gwestion remained where he was, even as Tercen strode off after Arnyn, muttering what sounded like curses under his breath. Perhaps that was the best solution. Let her brother try and figure out what was going on with her. He was likely to have more success than Gwestion; a sibling was bound to be closer to her than a friend, right?

After they had both went around a corner, out of sight, Gwestion turned his gaze toward Dom, wondering if there was even anything to say. His thoughts, at the moment, were rather preoccupied with Arnyn, and whatever was wrong with her tonight. But he also assumed that, if Arnyn was fixing it so he could go, then Dom would want to go straight to the house where Seri and the girls were, so he could ascertain for himself that they were alright. And Gwestion would be going there himself, so they might as well walk together, he figured.

---

Sergeant Hâdhon barely got any warning before the woman burst into his office. He straightened in surprise, then blinked at the way she looked. What the... was that really the lieutenant? She looked like a wraith or something. He hardly had time to think about any other comparisons for her appearance before she was making demands. Let Raxelilta go? No charges.

Hâdhon opened his mouth, closed it, then cleared his throat. "No charges." He repeated, almost with a hint of skeptisism, but he managed not to make it sound like a question. "Alriiight. And what about the woman? Shall we keep her here?" He asked, sitting back and toying with a pencil in his hands. "She made a statement during her interview, saying that she intended to leave town in a couple of days. Thus, we felt it best to hold her until you could be informed, ma'am." He explained. "Seeing as you recently made a request that we not to let her leave town..."

[Ercassie]

@Arnyn @Rillewen

Domanol Raxëlilta, Interview room 4
After an interview with Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Dec 30th. So very late now.

The shattered glass lay neglected on the floor. It was not the only thing in that room now rendered unto pieces. Somehow those pieces carried on, as though there was anything more than protocol holding her together. The Lieutenant. The ‘Blonde’. Domanol ignored the mess and waited for the woman to .. well, who knew, at this point ? Their previous conversation had not been fun and games, but compared to this one .. They might as well have been entirely different people.

She didn’t chastise him for the noise, the mess, the emotion which had carried the small drinking vessel to it’s end. She looked as though she was the one who had been knocked against the stone, against the floor. And yet, pristine, poised and polished. There was just no heart to be seen in her tonight.


Her brother on the other hand, was undeniable, and urgently at hand, with Gwestion close behind him. Any other day of the week, Dom would have asked them if they’d had ears set against the door. But they would not have needed to this night. Not after the recent crashing finale of this conversation.

So Arnyn rose, she explained what was going to happen now, and then she left. As if what anybody else might think or say would not make any difference. She clearly was not about to wait around to hear any more, from any of them.


Domanol did not raise his eyes to watch her leave, nor to meet the reaction of her brother. He got out of his seat though, even as the Lieutenant shared something spoken with Gwestion, that he did not quite catch. He focused with a frown upon gathering up the small pieces of the broken glass, his one hand holding the collected shards, the other shaking more than it ought as it gathered them. The powers of emotion running their last vestiges through him. Until the floor was cleared.

Moments later the fragments of the thing were laid out in the middle of the table, altogether again but still not at all as they had been. And Dom met the expectant gaze of Tercen before that man reasoned he ought go after his sister. Neither man was the other’s concern. Gwestion though remained, looking almost lost. The absence of the Northerner’s brother was not lost though, on the remaining Southerner.


Gladhron wasn’t here, and Arnyn was … barely what could be described as 'present'. Dom glanced now belatedly in the direction that the siblings had departed and moved to stand beside Gwestion suddenly so that the younger would find him, stood almost too close, when he turned back around.

“Your brother .. he is safe ?” was the first thought and question that Dom put to his friend. After all it had been largely fear and horror which had steered the anger. “I hope he hasn’t got himself a case of whatever that one has tonight,” he decided, and closed the door to interview room 4 behind him. The pair had both been asleep at the theatre after all. But Gladhron had been tired also, just days ago at the inn .. The thought dashed the man over with a bracing acknowledgement. Had that been a dream, or was this the nightmare ?

“Just one week with ..” he started theorising on what factor had changed in the time that at least the officer’s demeanour had .. and then stopped. As another obstacle occurred to him and his shoulders noticeably slumped. A curse got caught behind the man’s teeth as he fought with an indecision. His knife. He was going to have to go find the front desk, fill out a form, ..


Except .. no. Actually, he could not care in the slightest about a small knife. Maybe that was what Arnyn had told their mutual friend. That at least he was not armed now .. As if any Ranger was ever really ‘unarmed’. He would worry about the knife tomorrow. If it were not already tomorrow now … for there were things to be done. More important things. At least he had ensured that ‘Ava’ was kept off the streets for several hours. And Thorley had sworn he would see Seri and the girls got home .. safe. But .. they still didn’t know.

“I’m to the girls,” he mentioned without quite determining if it was a dismissal or an invitation to the other man. It probably would not be a surprise to Gwes, that Seri was his first concern. Or that Domanol was leaving the building now that he’d had even half an indication that it was permitted. After all, as far as he was concerned, he had at least four days damage to try and undo. His brisk walk to the door broke into a run as soon as boots struck the paved street outside.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie @Rillewen

|
Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen | Tercen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

~ Office ~

Sergeant Hâdhon seemed skeptical about the 'no charges' part. The Ranger Lieutenant's voice was low, and by some grace of the Valar, firmer than she would have expected. “There’s nothing to hold him on. No additional complaints will be filed.” A momentary silence, as the man studied her for a long second. Searching her face, perhaps for a crack, perhaps for a reason to argue.

But there wasn’t one.

And so he agreed.

She nodded once, already moving, but his question about Ava stopped Arnyn again before she had even turned away. The Sergeant was asking questions which were to be expected. But questions she still had to think through. While she did not feel capable of thinking much, if at all. While she currently opinionated she should not be making any decisions alone, anymore.

Self-doubt was still spreading through her veins, possibly poisoning her much worse than the measured dose of belladonna ever could.

And yet -- Arnyn was not new at command. This was not her first test of willpower - not the first bolt of lightning to strike at her in an attempt to set fire to her mental strength.

"I will inform you about her, once she and I have spoken," the Ranger Second in Command informed Guard Sergeant Hâdhon. She could not find the empathy or diplomacy to thank or praise him for the decision to hold Ava until the Guard could inform her, however. Even though she appreciated it, and it had been the right call. Or so she thought.

Instead of turning then, Arnyn drew in a slow breath, black eyes staring at the man seated at the desk. "I know the Guard is having issues with the chain of command. And that I am not technically in it," she pointed out. "Call it advice, if you must - but treat it as an order. Stop using glass. Or at least stop handing it to whoever you bring in here." A pause. A muscle in her cheek tightened. "There is a mess in room 4. Avoid the mess in the future, Sergeant. Put in an order for wooden cups."

~ Hallway ~

Tercen was waiting for her outside of the office. Her hollow gaze met his, but her steps only slowed for a heartbeat. Before he could say anything, her boots were striding down the hall. She could see the blatant concern in his eyes. It told Arnyn how awful she must look. Not her uniform, not her posture, because both of those were impeccable - but the rest of her, she supposed. But she had to keep going. She had to. Because if she stopped, if she took a moment to breathe, if she let her walls down now...

She had the very uncomfortable and very unusual feeling that she wouldn't be able to do anything else, anymore.

Not... tonight.

But Tercen hurried after her, trying to catch her arm. When she pulled it away from his fingers, Tercen sped up his steps, until he was blocking her way, forcing her to draw to a halt. He tried again, both hands lifting to settle on her upper arms. "Arnyn..."

His voice was rough. He was clearly seeing... too much.

And she was still here. Still at Guard Headquarters. In the middle of a mess which still needed sorting. The first part of which - Domanol - she had not been able to improve on, at all. A mess, which - as usual - could not wait. When I wait, it slaps me in the face soon after. Which put her in a dilemma, of course. For Arnyn now either had to be decisive, and make a call, NOW, while it had been made very clear to her that she was missing things in her decision-making; or... she had to delay making the decision until she could discuss it with Pele, or the King - because who else was there, even, if she didn't want to start playing favorites among the rangers? - and not acting quickly enough was another failure which had been pointed out to her this evening.

She could not win.

Despite everything she had done. Despite all of the work she had put in. All of the reasoning, the thinking, writing it out, trying... All of the trying. All of the interviews. Conversations. Meetings.

By the Valar.

She could not - win.

She shook her head, so minutely that some people might have even missed it. Avoiding her brother's gaze as she did so. "No..." she exhaled. "Please..." she appealed to her brother, in no more than a whisper. This was not the time. This was not the place.

Tercen stared at her. At a complete loss of what to do with this. Arnyn looked like she was drowning, but she was telling him that him reaching out a hand to her and her accepting his hand now, would ensure she'd slip beneath the ice? "I..." What could he even say? Was there anything he could do? Anything she would allow for him to do?

"Just... Tell me... How can I help?" It was the only question he could think of, that might still be worth asking.

Her eyes closed. Just about as long as it took for them both to breathe in and out again. Then she looked up at him. Something cold stung at Tercen's heart.

"I don't know," she whispered. The words fell like a veil between them. How Tercen could help her was just about the last thing she needed to think about, now. She could still hear Domanol’s voice, low and unwavering even when filled with fury. The valid points he had made - in between the paranoia that stemmed from his fears. His trauma.

And he wasn’t wrong. Not entirely.

Seri, Brooke and Aislin had walked into that theatre, into what they thought was an ordinary night. Any one of them could have been caught in the fray. Or still could be, at some future point in time. If Ava had a hidden blade beneath her civility, beneath her claims — and Domanol clearly believed she did — then Arnyn had allowed a possible enemy to walk freely through Gondor's capital, under her watch.

She pressed a hand to her brow.

Then again... Ava had also come to her. Ava had offered information no one asked for. Had requested help, not leverage. She had revealed her Umbarian origins from their first meeting, just as she had with Tercen, and she'd admitted to surviving Pharak Halsad's demands by offering him what he craved. Was that trust? Guilt? A strategy?

And then there was the estate — the dozens of lives Ava claimed were sheltered there. Men, women, children - human lives, people who loved other people, people who were loved by other people, just like Domanol loved those in his own circle - who could be smuggled away from Umbar, from the slave markets, from the auction blocks. The twenty or so people which Ava claimed she had already smuggled back to Gondor, with her arrival. Arnyn had not verified it. Not yet. But only because it had been impossible to, for now. The orders had been sent out earlier that day, with Pele's approval, to verify at least one of Ava's stories. But it was impossible for them to have results before Ava claimed she needed to leave.

Ava had said it: she had to return. If she didn’t, all those people could be lost. Slaughtered. Upon the altar. Or otherwise.

It could be a lie. But what if it wasn’t?

Arnyn shifted.

Tercen's hands carefully released her. His lips parted, but he did not know what to say. He recognized her expression. She was thinking something through. And he had no clue of what she still had to consider before she could finish what had to be done here. And as much as Tercen wanted to help Arnyn... there was someone else on his mind, as well. Ava, still being held in one of these interview rooms. Arnyn had to figure out how to proceed, he realized. She was asking him not to distract her from that. Not now. Not yet.

Arnyn's hand dropped back to her side. She swayed a little with the sudden movement, her balance absolute crap. But she stayed upright. She knew what Domanol wanted, when it came to Ava. Absolute caution - zero risks. Detainment. Interrogation. Assurance that Ava would not be allowed to slip through their fingers. His arguments echoed louder than most people's would — he’d lost two wives to Umbar’s cruelty. He saw ghosts in every dark corner, and Arnyn could not tell him he was wrong. What right did she possibly have to tell him that?

Which brought her to the next problem. Ava had committed no crime within Gondor. None that Arnyn could prove. No blood shed here. No laws broken. Ava had not even resisted being interrogated. She had not resisted the idea of sending rangers back with her, even. And Gondor was not a kingdom that held people based on their background alone — or it should not be. Arnyn had fought too hard, too long, to live by a code of shadows and fear. That path had led to everything she did not want - not for herself, not for the rangers, not for Gondor.

If Ava was telling the truth, she was risking her life to send others home. If she was lying, she was doing it with the skill of someone born to deception.

Reason demanded caution. Her instincts demanded action.

Arnyn exhaled and looked over Tercen's shoulder, down the hallway, where Ava waited in room 3. And the Lieutenant thought of the spring.

They could use eyes in Umbar. It would give them such an advantage. It would greatly improve their chances of success. They could use someone who could get them past the blood-soaked thresholds of Pharak’s temple. Into the heart of the city without rousing the hornet’s nest too soon. Ava could offer that.

And yet…

Arnyn closed her eyes. The ache behind them had only grown worse. It was the lack of sleep, she knew. Her body needed the sleep to combat the nightshade.

She would speak to Pele. And to the King.

This decision had never been hers alone. Pele had agreed to it, earlier that day, already. Arnyn had reported everything to the King. But they would discuss it again. Amongst the three of them. One way or another, it was now guaranteed. For even if the King did not summon her on account of her report, even if he did not demand a meeting after Domanol's complaints - Arnyn would.

But until then — she had choices to make.

Arnyn swallowed, and something in her expression steeled over even as she was still looking at her brother.

"You can help," she decided, her voice still quiet, but her tone reminiscent of the one she had used with the night Sergeant. "By not fighting me on what I am about to tell Ava."

Tercen blinked. What was he supposed to do with that? What had she decided? What was she about to tell Ava?
"I'll try," he whispered, nodding hesitantly.

Arnyn took a steadying breath, rolled her shoulders, and mentally prepared to engage in yet another conversation. I can do this. I can do this. She blinked, trying to bring the hallway back into focus. She frowned, took hold of Tercen's arm and turned him around, to walk with her. While she held onto him. I can do this. I can, damn it. And she only let go when they had reached the door to the room Ava was in. Arnyn let go of Tercen's arm, and it was the Lieutenant who knocked on the door and immediately moved to open it, without waiting for a reply.

~ Room 3 ~

To find Ava with the guardsman whom Arnyn had thrown out of the room Dom had been in, as well.

"Hello," she greeted the room. Offering more than she had the last time. "Hallway, please," she requested of Rallick. Again, it was... more. "And take the glasses with you."

Rallick resisted making a face, and sighed as he got to his feet. No glass was left in the room, and the guard stepped out. Waiting just outside, to see if Tercen would enter, or not.

Arnyn glanced back at her brother, after she stepped into the room and her hand held the doorknob. "Wait here."

Tercen did not fight her on it. He merely nodded.

Arnyn's eyes flicked to Rallick. "You, as well. If your duties allow it. If not, send another."

She closed the door, leaning on the doorknob heavily before forcing herself to walk and sit in the chair opposite Ava. Thank the Valar there was a chair. Her gaze fixed on Ava. She did not speak yet, nor ask any questions. While it might have been a tactic on any other night, to see what Ava might say spontaneously, and while Arnyn's silence probably looked like that was exactly what she was doing - the Lieutenant needed a moment.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gwestion
Guard HQ, waiting in the hallway outside room 4
Dec 30/31, night

Gwestion couldn't seem to shake the feeling that there was some cause for concern for Arnyn. There was something... very off about her. Something that made him worry for her. The woman who had traveled, camped, and fought alongside he and Gladhron for weeks, who had taught them much-needed skills, had helped them through a challenge that they might not have managed alone. He thought of the dinner they'd all had together, just a few days ago, at the Wayfarer's common room. And then how she had shown them all the sunrise from one of her favorite vantage points.

And then, over the past few days since then, something had changed. She had looked weary this morning, but he had attributed that to the fact that she'd probably been up late, and then had to get up early. She had obviously been exhausted this evening, but again... he hadn't thought too much about it, since they'd all had a long, tiring day. But when he saw her tonight... looking like that, he had been startled by her appearance. Something was definitely wrong, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what. And when she emerged from the room, after speaking to Domanol... he couldn't explain it. But he was worried.

But her brother had hurried after her, which meant that Gwestion had no business intruding, friend or not. Her brother was surely better for that... he would know how to deal with this better than Gwestion, surely. He drew a slow breath, trying to convince himself that she would be alright. That Tercen would make sure she was alright. He would take care of his little sister.. right? A brief wave of sorrow twisted up in his stomach, but he swiftly changed his focus toward his other friend.

He turned to find Domanol beside him now, after apparently picking up all of the pieces of glass. Gwestion felt a slight bit of guilt, for if he had noticed him doing that, he would have gone in to help him. But it was too late for that. He was a little surprised by the question. Was Gladhron safe? "Yes," He answered, quietly. Arnyn's warning prevented him from asking about whatever may have transpired in there, to make Arnyn look so... he couldn't even find the right word to describe it, to be honest. Not even in his own thoughts. And he was distracted from trying, when Dom expressed concern about whether Gladhron had gotten a case of whatever was ailing Arnyn.

Gwestion frowned at that, recalling Tercen's reaction when Gwestion had suggested the possibility that she might just have an illness of some sort. Something nagged at the back of his mind, but he couldn't quite place what it was. "He was still mostly asleep when Tercen and I left Arnyn's house," He explained in brief, with a fleeting thought that, if the circumstances were different, Domanol would have surely been far more appreciative of the humor from earlier. And he would probably have enjoyed hearing all about it, too, except he was probably not in any sort of mood for such a thing. Not right now. And now, Gwestion felt a little guilt for even coming close to laughing earlier, while there were such serious things to deal with, and with Arnyn obviously not well. While Gwestion was reflecting on that, Dom started to say something which he then abandoned before the thought was made clear. One week.. what? Then some thought made his shoulders drop in apparent disappointment, but Gwestion did not ask about that.

Instead, he was contemplating how to apologize for having failed to tell him anything that might have prevented this whole mess, when Dom suddenly declared that he was off to see about the girls, and set off at a brisk pace. And while this wasn't surprising, for Gwestion had already assumed he would want to check on them as soon as possible, he wasn't even sure how late it was by this point. Although that was currently where Gwestion was staying, he didn't know if any of the servants would be awake, but at least he had a good guess that Brooke would be able to let them in, even if no one else was up. Gwestion hastily caught up with Dom before he had reached the end of the hallway, but the moment they stepped outside, he watched as Dom broke into a run. Unsure if that was really the best idea, since the sight of them running through the streets in the middle of the night after having just left the guard building, might inspire other guards to think they ought to be brought right back there... Gwestion let out a short sigh before hurrying to catch up with his friend, preferably before he lost sight of him.

Since Domanol knew this city, and had grown up here, not to mention having spent the past year or so here... he certainly had the advantage of knowing all the shortcuts and passageways that would take him to the destination far quicker than Gwestion might arrive, on his own. So, he tried to keep up, and felt glad that at least it wasn't a busy time of the day, when they might have to be worried about bumping into others. At this pace, it wouldn't be long before they reached the house on the fifth, but what would they do, then?

---

Ava
Interrogation room 3 - getting some news at last
December 30/31, night

Ava was growing quite bored, sitting here in this room. On this uncomfortable chair. There was not much to do. The guard was not talkative, and she did not feel inclined to strike up much of a conversation with him. She was not certain if she trusted the glass of water, and so she had left it on the desk as she sat back, arms folded loosely over her chest. It seemed like ages before the knock came, and then the door opened, to admit...

Was that Arnyn? Ava blinked as she took in the sight of her, then sat back in wonder at the change in her appearance since the last time she had seen the woman. A change for the worse. She recalled thinking she looked tired back when she had seen her in the theater lobby, but... this was a whole new level of... something else. For a heartbeat, her breath caught in her throat as she recalled the ranger's words, questioning whether Ava had drugged the lieutenant. Not to mention remembering.. other things, which troubled her to consider.

Silently, Ava observed intently while Arnyn instructed the guard to go. And take the glass. One of Ava's eyebrows raised upward, slightly. Intriguing. She didn't know quite what to think of that, to be honest. The fact that she asked both Tercen and the guard to wait outside, made Ava further curious. What was this about? She briefly met Tercen's gaze, feeling glad to see him. Then she turned back to Arnyn as the door cut off her view of him.

Seriously, what was going on with her? She looked terrible. As Arnyn sat down across from her and fixed her unusually dark gaze upon her, Ava waited for a moment to find out what she planned to say. When nothing was immediately forthcoming, Ava laced her fingers together on the desk as she leaned her arms on the edge of it. "I heard that you had disappeared from the theater." She remarked neutrally. "I will admit, I was a bit concerned about what may have happened to you. I would say that I'm glad to see that you are well, but..." She paused, tilting her head. "Well, you really don't look well." She informed her, frowning slightly. Though she rather doubted that she'd get any sort of explanation, she couldn't help but fish for one.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Room 3
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

If there had been room in Arnyn's mind for any considerations beyond what absolutely must still be done this very night, if there had been any remnant of spare energy, she would have blinked. Or narrowed her eyes in thought. Or something. For over the course of a very short amount of time, she had now encountered someone who did not care two figs about her physical, mental or emotional state; another who cared altogether too much to be helpful at the moment; and now a third person who Arnyn had no clue about what she did or did not care about. And despite Domanol and Ava being on opposite ends of an altercation that evening, despite the fact they both had very different claims and viewpoints about how the situation that presented itself should be treated — there seemed to be only one thing they agreed about. Her appearance.

As it was, there was no room. No energy. And so Arnyn simply met Ava's gaze, without any response to Ava's claim that she had been 'a bit concerned' when she'd heard Arnyn had left the theatre. Without any response to Ava's comment that she did not look well. Again, if Arnyn had had more mindspace, more sleep - she might have thought that people this evening sure were paying a seemingly strange amount of attention to how she looked. She might have wondered what the big deal was if she looked a little tired. She might have wondered just how much of her inner state was being translated to her outward appearance.
As it was, however... None of that pushed through.

She was hardly holding herself together. The only chance she had of getting through the rest of the night, was by focusing on the primary issue. So that is what she did.

Arnyn thus began, at this point not exactly willfully ignoring what Ava had said, but simply no longer able to conjure up much of a response to it at all (not mentally, let alone verbally): "I cannot let you move freely any longer. Not after tonight." Not after some of the things Domanol had pointed out to her. And not after realizing a few more things, which he had not pointed out to her. For his emotions were running high, his fear skimming just beneath the surface of his anger. It wasn’t only about what Ava might do if she were lying to them — even though it was, very much, also about that — it was, in addition, about what Domanol or someone like him might do to her. And what both of those scenarios might mean for everything that was to follow.

"The man you and Tercen had words with." By Manwë. She was so tired. Ava's face blurred. It was all Arnyn could do to fake that she was fine. "If what you have been telling us is true, all of us are on the same side. I am not here to offer apologies I don't have any right to give. But I will say this: I don't believe he speaks for all of Gondor. Nor does he speak for me."

"But it has been pointed out to me, nonetheless," Arnyn continued, her voice firm, but still... missing something, "that I have been remiss." Negligent in her duties. When it came to Ava, and limiting her access.

Arnyn was speaking plainly. Like a woman carrying the burden of lives on both sides of a coin that refused to land.

"You won't be returning to your house on the Fifth tonight."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Interrogation room 3 - getting some news at last
December 30/31, night

Ava blinked as Arnyn, rather than responding to what she had said, simply stated that she could not allow her to move freely anymore. There was no more of the friendliness that had existed before, in the theater's lobby. She remained still, as if frozen in place. Even her breath was still for a moment. Not move freely anymore? What did that mean? She slowly moved her hands from the top of the desk, to rest in her lap. Thus, enabling her to sit with a more proper posture, as Arnyn went on.

Arguments wanted to surface. She wanted to protest. She had done nothing wrong. Why should she be locked up? The ranger's captain had not seen fit to have her locked up, so why now? Still, she bit her tongue, figuratively. Listening to the rest of what the lieutenant had to say. When she had said it, Ava felt her heart drop a little. At the same time, somehow, her pulse sped up a bit. She wasn't letting her return to her house? Then where would she spend the night? In a cell? That wasn't fair!

Beneath the desk, in her lap, Ava's hands tightened on each other. Briefly, the image of herself, huddled in some cold, dark cell, shivering and wondering when they were going to let her out, flashed through her mind. With a blink, the image cleared away. "I... see." She answered slowly, although it wasn't entirely accurate. She was trying to see, to understand why this sudden change. Why she was to be imprisoned, suddenly. While at the same time, her thoughts were racing, scrambling to put together some sort of plan for escape if it came to it. Hopefully it wouldn't. But having been in her 'cat burglar profession' for some time now, it was a first instinct by now to ensure that she had a way out of a bad situation.

Softly clearing her throat, Ava fought to keep her mind ordered and maintain an appearance of calm, despite the frantic turmoil happening inside. "Shall I assume, then, that I am to spend the rest of this night in the keeping of the guards here?" She inquired, inwardly struggling against the panic that was inspired at the thought of being locked up in a cell. The thought of what might happen to everyone back home, if she didn't return, inspired even more anxiety. Though her voice sounded calm and civil enough for the ordinary person to hear, there was still a hint of an edge there, which she couldn't prevent from creeping into her tone.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Room 3
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

While Arnyn would have usually picked up on the edge in Ava's voice, it went over her head tonight.

Arnyn shook her head. "No. No shackles. No cells." But - confinement.

"I will have you escorted — discreetly — to a secure house. With rangers posted on the inside and the outside." A place quiet enough to monitor her, but comfortable enough not to violate the law or the spirit of what they were trying to preserve. "No arrest," she told Ava. "Just precaution."

“It’s not your house, but it's a proper house. With hearths, a real bed, and separate rooms for privacy. And with guards—yes. Rangers. They’ll watch the entrances and the street. They will keep your presence discreet.”

Ava's face finally came back into focus. For how long? Arnyn wondered.

"You have told me you fear for spies. From what I heard about your reaction at the theatre, you think it is entirely possible such spies will move against you here, too, if they see an opportunity. The safe house will provide you with additional protection against such threats. Tercen, as well. He can join you, if he pleases." Arnyn did not doubt that he would.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Interrogation room 3
December 30/31, night

Ava sat back and looked at the lieutenant with a small measure of surprise, though her expression would show mostly intrigue. She was not to be locked up? Not being arrested? She listened with a lingering sense of skepticism as Arnyn explained that she was to spend the night at a guarded place... for her own protection.

A small part of her remained suspicious. It could be a trick, whispered a voice at the back of her mind. Had she offered too much trust already? She tried to remind herself of why she had done so.. and recalled that it was because of Tercen, more than anything. And the fact that she had come here hoping to find help. Because she had felt desperate to find someone. Because, after finding Tercen, it had seemed almost as if 'fate' had put them together. Perhaps she had been too hasty in deciding to extend that trust to his sister...

Then Arnyn spoke of her fears, about spies and that she thought it possible they might move against her, even here. Ava let out a slow breath, which she hadn't noticed she was holding. "I did not, before," She admitted. "I assumed that they would report back to him. That they would not make me aware of their presence. But then..." She trailed off. "I do not know. The.. incident which occurred tonight has left me rather confused, and I no longer know what to think about any of it." She didn't elaborate on that, assuming that Arnyn would have some idea what she meant, if she'd heard about it.

The fact that Tercen could join her made her feel a little less leery of the 'secure house' idea. She gave a slow nod. "If he may join me, then that is agreeable." She answered quietly. Partly because she thought it far less likely that it was any sort of deception, designed to trick Ava into confinement, if Tercen was going to be with her. And if there was any sort of trick involved, she had a feeling that he would offer far stronger protests than even Ava would. Of course, a main reason that she wanted him with her was simply because she wanted to be with him.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

Arnyn rose slowly from the chair opposite Ava, her legs feeling like they were missing their bones. She leaned a moment against the desk, steadying herself before she spoke.

“Good. I’m glad you see the sense in it. It will not be for long, one way or the other." The King would decide the rest. Whether Ava would indeed return to Umbar. Or what would happen to her, if she was required to stay in Gondor.

The Lieutenant gestured toward the door. “Come with me.”

Rallick and Tercen stood where she had left them, Rallick watchful, Tercen tight-lipped and expectant.
Arnyn did not have the energy to tell them much. “We’re finished here," she did manage to give them. "Sergeant Hâdhon is next.”
Tercen glanced from her to Ava, clearly wanting to ask—but didn’t. Arnyn was grateful.

Alas, the corridor felt longer than it was. The air was thick with lamp smoke, the smell of steel and sweat that never quite left a guardhouse.

The night-sergeant’s chamber felt more cramped than it had just a short time ago. The three others - Rallick, Tercen, Ava - were instructed to wait in the waiting area of the guard headquarters. Arnyn did not particularly want them to overhear. Nor did she want anyone breathing down her neck. The Lieutenant informed Rallick that Ava and Tercen were allowed to talk, if they wished- so the guardsman needn't worry about it if they would.

Once the others had walked away, Arnyn turned toward Hâdhon. “The woman, Ava, will be transferred to Safe House Seven on the Fourth. Effective immediately. She is not to leave the Fourth Circle without ranger escort, nor the City, nor the Rammas. All gate guards will need to be informed.”

"If former Guardsman Domanol Raxelilta makes any inquiries concerning the matter, in case he chooses to wait here in the morning for the ladies who are still to give their testimonies, you and your men can only inform him that, even though you are not still holding Ava, she is still in custody. If he wants more specifics, refer him to me." If the man really wanted to know more about where Ava was and what had been done with her, he could come and ask her. If he could get his head out of his ass, first.


@Rillewen

Tercen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

By the Valar, he was tense. Arnyn... Arnyn was clearly unwell. He didn't know whether it was exhaustion or illness or both, but he assumed it was a combination of the two. And Ava... He had seen her looking at him before the door closed. He had tried flashing her an encouraging smile. Tercen wasn't completely sure, however, whether or not he had succeeded in that.

The time he spent outside of the room with the guardsman, was tense as well. Neither of them really felt like talking, it seemed. Tercen was too wound up to notice Rallick's crossed arms were mostly a sign of the guard being uncomfortable.

Once the door opened and Arnyn appeared again, his eyes searched hers carefully. At the words that 'they were finished', his light brown eyes moved to Ava, who was behind his sister. He did not open his mouth to speak and ask verbally. But once Arnyn had passed, he slanted his head at Ava. The question was silent. Are you okay? Even if Arnyn wasn't, at least the other of the two people he cared about, might be.

Once they reached the night sergeant's office, Arnyn coolly instructed them to go to the waiting area. It was only once they had arrived there, that Tercen reached out for Ava's hand. "What happened?" he whispered to her, not really wanting to share the conversation with Rallick. The guard had taken up position off to the side of the waiting area that was closest to the exit.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Interrogation room 3
December 30/31, night

Though she still did not know what to make of Arnyn's appearance, Ava gave a small nod in reply to her. Yes... it wouldn't be long. But she wondered whether the plan would have changed or not. Still, she relaxed somewhat as she was asked.. or rather, told.. to come along. That meant she would be leaving the guard's building, at least. She wouldn't need to escape from them, at least.

It still remained to be seen whether she would need to escape from the next place. She rose and stepped outside with the lieutenant, managing to offer Tercen a reassuring smile, however faint. Just to let him know that she was fine. But that was about all she could manage right now. As much as she wanted to believe that Arnyn was not her enemy, and that she could trust the woman... Ava still thought it best to remain wary, and to keep her guard up. There was just something... she couldn't put her finger on it... but there was something that made her feel as if something had changed with her.

Once they were seated in the waiting area, Ava let him take her hand. She remained silently thoughtful for a few seconds, thinking over how to even answer 'what happened'. "I'm to spend the rest of the night in a safe house. Guarded by rangers." She answered him softly. "You're welcome to join me if you like." She added, trying her best to be careful not to let it show in her eyes, nor be heard in her voice, that she really, really wanted him to join her.

---

Sergeant Hâdhon

More interruptions. Hâdhon was getting pretty tired of all the 'excitement' tonight. As the lieutenant came into his office again, he held back a sigh as he decided he'd never again complain about the night shifts being dull. At least she told the rest of the group to wait outside the office, but he was eager to have this whole matter be over. He was already going to have to deal with all sorts of paperwork.

"Safe house?" He frowned in some surprise as the lieutenant made demands. He sat back, listening as she went on to tell him what to do about Domanol Raxelilta. And there was mention of yet more people coming to give testimonies. He held back a sigh. At least he'd be off duty by then, but without the captain or a lieutenant to defer the matter to... he would have to look over all the paperwork. He was starting to think the sergeant's pay wasn't worth all this extra effort.

Flipping to a fresh, non-doodled page of his notepad, the sergeant began to jot down the information being hurled at him by the ranger lieutenant, nodding now and then as she continued. "Right. Thank you, lieutenant." He said as he set his quill in its holder. "I'll see that the message is passed to all the gate guards." He assured her. He had just the guard in mind to pass that message along, as soon as Arnyn and the others had left. Rallick would have to go through several gates in order to get back to his patrolling anyway, right?

"Is there anything else, lieutenant?" Hâdhon asked, hoping she'd say that was all. So he could get started on filing all the necessary paperwork and get the necessary messages sent out, and so forth.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

"No," Arnyn replied, sounding infinitely more certain of that than she felt. "That will be all, Sergeant. Thank you." With a grim nod, she turned to leave the office.

After stepping out, once she was out of sight, she took a moment to lean against the wall. Took a deep breath. Held it. Exhaled. Waited. Breathed in again. Held it. Breathed out again. Waited.

It was too quiet now.

The kind of quiet that followed grief, or fire, or the severing of something you didn’t know you valued until it pulled away from you, bleeding.

Domanol had left with rage held on a leash, and Ava had hardly shown emotion — lips slightly pressed together, chin high, eyes watching Arnyn like she expected shackles or mercy. Or both.

Her throat closed. She swallowed hard and forced her breath out slowly through her nose. She felt like she was walking a blade that was balancing on its edge. Barefoot.

Once she moved again, she passed straight by Tercen, Ava and Rallick. "A moment," she ordered them, before walking onward. Into the night air beyond the entrance to the guard headquarters. The darkness outside looked too wide, too vast, after the muffled weight of the stone hallways.

The Lieutenant let the door close, her hand still resting against it. She exhaled once, sharp, then lifted two fingers to her lips and blew a low, trilling whistle.

The answer came almost instantly. A shadow peeled from the mouth of a nearby alley: a ranger in the dark cloak of his rank, the moon catching in the whites of his eyes. And from above, another dropped noiselessly from the edge of a low roof, landing in a crouch before straightening to his full height.

The first came forward, saluting her with a fist touching his heart. "Lieutenant," he said quietly, smiling at her, though it faded when he caught her own expression.
Arnyn inclined her head. "Vorondil. Calan," she acknowledged the other man, who gave her a silent nod. Both of the rangers waited, disciplined, steady as stone.

Arnyn drew herself upright, hands clasped behind her back to keep them from trembling.

“The Umbarian woman is to be escorted to Safe House Seven on the Fourth. You will guide her and my brother there. Post yourselves at the house — one within, one without. Keep it quiet.”

Vorondil studied her, just long enough that she felt the weight of it. “As you command. If you’d prefer, Axinecelumë, we can take them from here. See them settled without you.”

It wasn’t quite a question. Not quite pity, either. Just the simple offering of an old friend, who’d seen her steady through hell.

Arnyn almost accepted. Almost. The fatigue dragged at her bones, and the thought of climbing the circles of the city to the Fourth made her stomach sink. But she straightened, iron stiffening her spine. Where else was she going to go, anyway? “No. I’m bound for the Fourth myself. We will all go.”

Vorondil inclined his head again, expression unreadable, but she caught the faintest glint in his eyes. Respect. Trust. Nothing more. “As you will, Lieutenant.”

It was the first time that seeing trust in a friend's eyes felt like a stab. Because he shouldn't.

She issued the rest of her orders. No more unaccompanied movement. Any future walk, conversation, or errand would need to be approved, and would happen under escort — visible or otherwise. Continued surveillance — but closer. No longer two rangers from afar. Now, one at her shoulder.

Was it enough? Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe it was too much.

Once Vorondil and Calan were brought up to date, Arnyn went back inside guard headquarters. To pick up the required keys. To send Rallick to his Sergeant. And to bring Ava and Tercen back out. Toward the waiting rangers.


@Rillewen

Tercen
Guard Headquarters - December 30th/31st, night

"A safe house," he repeated softly, drawing out the vowels of the last two words. What Arnyn had told him earlier, right before she had stepped into the room with Ava, replayed itself in his mind. 'You can help by not fighting me on what I am about to tell Ava.'

This is what his sister had meant. Not fight her on the safe house. Tercen's face grew more thoughtful. Why would Arnyn even think he might fight her on that, though? All he wanted was for both Arnyn and Ava to be safe. Placing Ava in a safe house would ensure half of that, wouldn't it?

His eyes snapped to Ava's when she said he was welcome to join her. "I don't mind," he responded. "I mean - yes, of course. I'll join you there." His thumb stroked over her hand. "I don't care what house we're in, really," he added with a shrug. The only problem was... how worried he was about Arnyn. Could he just let that go? Could he just let her go about her business?

The safe house and the rangers would keep Ava safe. But who would do the same for his sister?

His concerns kept him quieter than usual, as he sat with Ava. Waiting for what was to come next. He watched Arnyn pass them by. After a while, she returned to disappear into a different corridor again, but only briefly. When she came back, she finally waved them along with her. And when Tercen held the door for Ava and then stepped outside, he saw two cloaked and hooded figures standing on either side of his sister. Quietly. In the dark. Tercen swallowed, but he pretended to feel more comfortable than he really did as he offered Ava his arm whilst Arnyn gestured minutely. One of the cloaked figures took the lead, while the other and Arnyn took up position behind him and Ava.

Well.

At least they'd left guard headquarters.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel

|
Halberion Veranis & Aderic Androllius
Arriving at the Guard HQ - Dec 28
continued from here

The trip to Minas Tirith was lengthy, but it was also very nice. Hal was glad for the chance to get up and walk around now and then. After so long being unable to do anything of the sort, it was a bit strenuous, and it would likely be that way for a while. He was feeling the ache in his muscles already, by the time the carriage rolled into the city. He had watched out of the window as much as possible when he wasn't engaged in conversation. The fresh air, despite the cold, was wonderful. And seeing sunlight, and feeling a breeze... he still half felt as if he were dreaming.

He was also quite glad that Macardil spent some of the ride in the carriage with him. While he knew that Ric was completely different from his brother, and that he was not his brother, it was still a bit difficult to look at the same face as his long-time tormentor sitting there across from him. He had to constantly remind himself that he had this young man to thank for getting him rescued from that place, but even so, it was hard sharing a carriage with him and no one else. So, he felt much more comfortable whenever it was Macardil riding with him.

Now, as they finally arrived, he felt just a little stiff as he exited the carriage, and finally got to stand on the cobblestone street of Minas Tirith. He hadn't been here since before the battle of the Pelennor had occurred, so he had not seen the damage that was now repaired. But he could see that the city had changed some in the last five years, if his memory was accurate. He let his eyes roam as he eagerly took in the sights around him, while waiting for the last of their party to exit the carriage so they could go inside and get this guard business over with.


As they drew up to the headquarters of the guard, Ric was feeling extremely anxious. He tried to stay calm, but having a guard escort follow them from the gates did not help very much. He was glad, at least, that he was inside the carriage as they rode through the streets, so no one would see him. He wasn't even sure what to expect when the general public saw him, but he was guessing it would not be favorable. But alas, now it was time to come out of the carriage and face... his fellow guards. Or perhaps, former coworkers was more accurate. He was dreading this moment. What were they going to do? Say? Would they all scorn him now? Would they look at him with hatred, or.. what? He felt a bit frozen, as if he had somehow turned to stone while riding along. After letting Hal exit the carriage ahead of him, Ric hesitated for a long moment before drawing a deep breath before forcing himself to follow.

He felt... uneasy, or foolish perhaps, thinking of how he had supposedly outranked most of the guards whom he was now about to have to face. Another conflict had been battling inside him for the past couple of days, too. He still hadn't reached a decision on whether to tell them what he had learned concerning his supposed rank of lieutenant, or to keep that to himself. On the one hand, he felt that he should tell someone, but on the other hand, he felt as if he would be betraying the captain if he did. And yet, the man was clearly not doing things right, or it never would've happened... thus, Ric felt torn and could not make up his mind about that.

As he stepped down from the carriage and looked up at the guard tower, his mind went back to the last time he had been here, when he had left feeling as if his whole world had been flipped upside down and trampled upon. He really did not want to return. Especially after declaring in writing that he would not return until he had the true culprit in custody. He did not, yet. Every part of him wanted to refuse to enter. The whole trip, he'd wanted to leave. To somehow go off and continue his search for his brother. But he had given his word that he would not try to flee. And besides, he'd reminded himself many times during the trip that he didn't even know where to go, nor did he have a horse, nor any sort of forest survival skills. So, here he was, with a sinking heart and knotted stomach as he walked into the guard headquarters with his travel companions, trying to inwardly brace himself for whatever might be thrown at him. Possibly literally.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Ercassie

Lord Macardil Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

He tried, over the course of the travel, to juggle the delicate balance of… everything. Making space for Hal to rest, making sure Ziran was spared the worst of the emotional strain, and making certain Aderic didn’t accidentally provoke his friend into old wounds. Not that the latter seemed likely. The man had about as much fight in him as a ragdoll, it seemed. Which was a positive, since Aderic was really in no position to be making demands.
Trading off riding his mare and sitting inside the carriage turned out to work better than he had expected; Hal noticeably relaxed whenevr Macardil shared the carriage with him. Good. Let the man rest without those Androllius features across from him the whole way.

Part of Macardil wished he could order Aderic to wear a sack over his head until this was all resolved. Purely for therapeutic purposes.

On the final morning, as the road narrowed and the white walls of Minas Tirith finally appeared through the day's winter haze, Macardil felt a tightness knot behind his ribs. Halberion had seen stone walls for years, but not ones that meant safety.

They made sure Aderic was inside the carriage by the time they came close to Minas Tirith. It was where Aderic would remain until they arrived at Guard Headquarters, to avoid anyone recognizing him and panicking, Guard escort or not.
Hal emerged from the carriage while Ziran and Macardil were tethering their horses. Macardil didn't fail to notice his friend's eager eyes. Nor did he miss Aderic trying to appear composed, but radiating just about the same energy as an animal about to be gently but firmly prodded into the shearing pen.

Macardil straightened his cloak and squared his shoulders. He glanced at Halberion, and after a little nod to his friend, Macardil stepped ahead of his companions into the entry hall. Any recollections of his time in the dungeons; of washing his only set of clothes in a bucket with soap and cold water and then having to put them on again while they were still wet; of the way the guards had never spoken a single word to him until the day of his release... Macardil shoved them down deep. He was not the disgraced Ranger Lieutenant any longer. Besides, he had come as a Lord today. One Lord returning with another, and accusing a third, while vouching for the latter's twin brother.

It was almost as if he were reading a tabloid. Which he, of course, never did.

The air inside was warm. A pair of guards stood at the main desk. Macardil didn’t give them time to speak up before he did, first. “Good afternoon,” he said, his deep voice carrying with an authority that came naturally to him while Ziran, Halberion and Aderic followed. “My name is Macardil, head of House Himhathol of Belfalas," he declared. "I am joined by Lady Karis Ziranphel, Cúner Ranger of Gondor. We are both here to present evidence regarding the Ansellidus affair,...”

The nearest guard’s brows shot up.

“... to confirm the continued life and sound mind of Lord Halberion Veranis,” Macardil went on, gesturing for Hal to step forward, “and to request parole consideration for Aderic Androllius.”

Macardil kept his posture steady and his expression calm in the beat of silence which followed.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel

City Guard Thorledhos Darthor with Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
On the afternoon of December 28th

It was true of nearly any business in the city, that you could not predict who would next walk through your door. But when it came to the City Guard Headquarters, having a man who your entire company had been seeking .. for months now .. walk in the door of his own accord ? That was nothing less than miraculous. The quartet which made their entrance on that winter’s afternoon were flanked by a Guard escort, who Thorley recognised had been assigned to the Great Gate today. And at least three of the four given names were familiar, even if but two of the faces were.

Thorley watched the eyebrows of the guard escort rise in what he could only presume was surprise. Or perhaps confusion, given that ‘Ansellidus’ was an unknown element to their understanding. Dropping his own grey eyes toward the desk, the older Guard rounded that hardy furniture, with a side tilt to his head as he returned gaze to the arrivals. The group’s introduction had been courteously made. If not a little confounding. But Thorley did not return Macardil’s ‘good afternoon’. He was not sure yet whether it would be any sort of a good afternoon now, given such extraordinary circumstances. Androllius’s return .. in any capacity .. was a matter not to be sneezed at, but at the same time, facing him after all they had learnt since the man’s absconding .. was not exactly a joyous reunion.


Sorrela’s eyes had not managed to leave the sight of Aderic .. if it were truly even he .. since the man had entered. Her youth and rather recent enlisting, in contrast to her colleague, perhaps robbing her of the cynical ‘seen it all’ expression which Thorley had mastered after decades of manning gates and all their daily ‘excitement’. More than that, this was the man who had spent days, nights, training her .. or was it ? She was an enthusiast of facts. And where it came to this man .. facts offered nothing of the reassurance they were supposed to. The very opposite in fact. But unravelling mysteries was half of their job description. It simply wasn't the norm for one of their own to be such an enigma.

The Recruit’s expression thus rode a gallery of surprise, relief, and suspicion before settling somewhere around a mask of unsettled discomfort. Stepping in toward her superior, the young woman muttered something incomprehensible close to his ear. To which the Guard shook his head without turning to meet her reaction. Brown eyes reeled in place then, though the Recruit held her ground. It might have been a reach to say that she was happy to defer to her comrade, to face this, but she was certainly glad to have not been confronted with this on her own.


“Our Acting-Captain Ostoher is currently away from his desk,” Thorley let them know, once it became apparent there was no more to be presented to them. Not that what had been presented was not .. a lot .. already. And more than half of it made little sense at this point. So of course this would occur while their new acting command had accompanied a patrol out across the Rammas. Greeting Lords and ladies was not usual for Thorley’s experience, but they did occasionally pass through, and the official remembered his manners enough to duck his chin in some reverence of their title. As far as he knew there was no cause to cast aspersions in their direction. Save for their companion of course .. But they did appear to have brought the man to face justice. And Ranger involvement was certainly welcome, given that the accused was not only one of the Guard's own, but also suspected of crimes which far exceeded their own city jurisdictional limits.

“My Lords, Lady Cúner,” the Guard acknowledged all of the odd party, save for Androllius. “My name is Thorledhos Darthor. We will of course do our best to assist you. Though I should say that you will have to outline what in fact the ‘Ansellidus affair’ might involve,” he admitted. “And also I will point out that it is not customary to request parole for a man who has not yet to my knowledge ever been incarcerated in our custody. However, Aderic Androllius has been a long time wanted in line with numerous matters of enquiry, so it would be my recommendation that he be accommodated in one of our interview rooms, for everybody's safety, before we proceed any further. Perhaps your concern also calls for some privacy.”

With a glance to Sorrel, Thorley indicated at least the first of several doors which might be required to open. And the Recruit readied to oblige.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Ercassie

|
Halberion Veranis & Aderic Androllius
Guard HQ - Dec 28, Early afternoon

As the group made their way inside, Hal glanced over at Ric, who was trailing behind the rest of them. Sandwiched between those two guards. He looked.. discouraged, and nervous. Though Hal did find it a little difficult to look at the young man, with his face looking exactly like that of the one who had tormented Hal and his family, he also knew that he was not that same young man who had done those things. This young man had been a friend of Reilly's, not merely pretending. And he had been instrumental in Hal being here, now. He hung back a few steps, taking a moment to speak a few words to him softly, which no one else would hear, then gave a brief smile before moving to catch up with Macardil and Karis. As well as he was able, with his movements still so slow and stiff.

Clutching his notebook close to his chest, Ric stared ahead of him, feeling like his mind was racing with a multitude of conflicting thoughts as they started going inside the place where he had worked for the last several years. He was not expecting this to turn out very well for him. That was a big part of why he had left to begin with, although that wasn't the only reason, of course. Hal's words surprised him, as he hadn't expected it. He looked after him for a moment, then drew a slow breath and nodded slowly even as the man was walking away. With the guard escort flanking him to ensure that he didn't try to run away... as if there would be anywhere for him to go? Ric went inside the headquarters building, a couple of steps behind Hal.

Upon entering, he managed to keep his expression from showing how surprised he was to find none other than Sorella Korsey there at the desk. Not that he was surprised she was still in the guards, but simply the coincidence of her being one of the first to see him return. His gaze lingered on her briefly, trying to decipher what she might think of him. Did she believe what he'd said in his letter? Had she even gotten the letter? Or had she come to believe that he was as terrible as the Five claimed? He watched while her expression shifted from surprise to suspicion. As she moved to whisper in the older man's ear, Ric found his gaze dropping away. He couldn't tell what the whispering was about, but he had a feeling it had something to do with warning her comrade to beware of him. Probably warning him about his supposed lies. Ric held back a sigh as he focused hard on keeping his expression from reflecting how he was feeling. They must have managed to confirm all of the accusations against him, by now.

While he hadn't ever had very much to do with Guard Darthor, he did know who he was, enough to recognize him. They seemed somewhat surprised, or confused, or possibly both, by Macardil's announcement. Ric couldn't really blame them, he supposed. Not many of the folk of Minas Tirith would be familiar with any business concerning the Ansellidus family, unless they happened to be familiar with Lossarnach. And no one, as far as Ric knew, was at all aware that there was anything amiss, nor any trouble associated with that family name. So, the guards would surely be wondering what that was about. Naturally, the eldest of the guards was the one who spoke up to deal with the situation. No surprise there. Thorley seemed far more knowledgeable about how to handle this situation than Ric would have felt, he inwardly noted.

That made him feel worse, in fact. The lieutenant promotion should have gone to someone like him, with more experience. Before his mind could run off with the memory of that injustice, he was startled by the first bit of information that Thorley dropped. Acting captain? Ostoher? Who was that? Ric's gaze snapped up again in surprise at this news. When did this happen? What had happened to Bealthor? He wanted to ask. Was he no longer with the guard? Had he died or something? What if Mar had done something to the captain, in Ric's absence? His mind began to race with a variety of possibilities, and yet, he felt somehow like he ought to keep quiet. Still, he cast a brief, curious glance toward Macardil and Karis, wondering if they were also surprised by this news, or if that had been the situation when they left the city a few days prior.

Hal cleared his throat quietly as the guard spoke of taking Ric to an interview room. For everyone's safety. "I believe that the 'Ansellidus affair' will become clear once we've given our statements," He mentioned. "It is very closely tied to all of the others, but it is also a bit of a complicated tale. To 'outline it' would likely only bring more confusion, I think." He smiled wryly. "In the meanwhile, I would like to state for the record, that this young man saved my life, and has since come here with us, bound only by his word that he would do so without trying to flee." he mentioned, indicating Ric, who had become thinner since he was last seen here. "He's come here knowing what he will likely face, and he hasn't made any attempt at escaping or running. And he's had plenty of chances, I might add." With all the times they'd stopped to rest on the way, and all the times Macardil had let him use his horse, Ric hadn't taken advantage of any of those potential opportunities. Instead, he had dutifully continued to travel along with them, despite whatever awaited him here.

The thought had certainly crossed his mind on multiple occasions, in fact. But Ric had continually reminded himself that he had promised. He'd given his word, and while that meant breaking his word in another vow he had made, he recognized the foolishness in attempting to run. And there had been the faintest hope that maybe things wouldn't turn out as bleak as he was expecting them to. But now that they were here, in the guard headquarters, it was all starting to feel a lot more real. Especially when he heard that little add-on. For everybody's safety. That stung slightly. Even though he couldn't blame Gaurd Darthor for it, given all he must have heard about the "evil Androllius guy", by now. Ric couldn't even guess at most of it. Still, until now, he had somehow clung to the ridiculous, unlikely hope that maybe they'd have found some sort of proof that he was innocent, and that maybe they'd have somehow realized that it was someone else who had committed those crimes. But obviously, he'd been foolish to entertain such a wild dream.

Closing his eyes briefly, Ric felt his heart racing as he committed himself to his fate. Whatever it was to be. His only hope now, really, was that the guards would accept the tales of the lords and lady, and that he would be cleared. But, given the history of how this tended to go, he just couldn't bear to let his hopes rise too high in that regard. Too many times, he had tried to convince someone that he was innocent of something. Too many times, he'd tried to tell them about his brother. And too many times, he'd been scorned and called a liar, until he gave up on trying. And he didn't even know what to expect with Guard Darthor, except the man's reputation for insisting on paperwork being done. With his notebook held in his arms, Ric glanced at Sorrela as he moved to go along with her to the interview room, and he wondered whether she would ask him the question. Had she even received that letter? Did she remember it, with it having been about six months ago? Had she thought it wasn't really important? He had been thinking about it a great deal during the last few hours riding in the carriage, and he'd made sure he remembered the answer he was meant to give if she did ask... but would she?

Hal watched them go, then turned back to the remaining guard, Thorley. "Last time I was here, nearly six years ago, I think it was.. I spoke with Captain Baelthor. He's no longer here?" He asked, curious. "I came here asking for update about my son, which was an active missing person case." He mentioned quietly, explaining what it had been about. "Anyway... I can now provide information to close that case." He drew in a long breath. "It really is a lot to tell. Perhaps it would be best if we could sit down somewhere to speak about it?" He suggested.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Ercassie

Lord Macardil Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

Macardil was content to listen to the proceedings unfold themselves. The name or face of Thorledhos Darthor rang no bells. In return, as well, there was no flicker of recognition, no guarded glance that said ah, you’re that one. Nor did the younger guard's eyes betray any spark of memory. The realization settled like a quiet mercy.

Good, he thought. It was a relief he had not known he had been holding his breath for.

Still, the timing was abysmal. The acting captain not being present at headquarters... was not ideal. The guards who were present might not feel comfortable with letting Aderic walk out of headquarters without their captain's approval. It would not be unreasonable, Macardil mused. It would be careful. What exactly would happen was impossible to say until the moment arrived, however.

Thorledhos’s comment about parole being irregular - given that Androllius had never formally been held - was technically correct. And technically absurd. Had Aderic been in the city at any point during the past months, with the evidence presently accumulated against him and no counterproof offered, he would have been lodged either here or below without much ceremony.

The younger guard stepped forward, indicating the interview room and started to lead Aderic that way upon Guard Darthor's indication. Macardil shifted just enough to catch Aderic’s eye and gave him a single, measured nod.

After Halberion had spoken, Macardil inclined his head. He folded his hands behind his back, posture composed, voice even. “Lord Veranis, Lady Ziranphel, and I would like to give our account together. The events at Castle Ansellidus in Lossarnach are not best understood in fragments.”

“Our statements will concern the unjustified imprisonment of multiple individuals at that estate,” he continued, “the circumstances under which we encountered Aderic Androllius, and the role he played in securing Lord Halberion Veranis’s survival and release. We will also explain why we believe Aderic Androllius is not responsible for the crimes presently attributed to him.”

Macardil slowly cast a look around them. "Would you like to lead us to an interview room, as well? Or would you prefer we lay this out for you in this hallway?"

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn @Rillewen @Ercassie

Karis Ziranphel, Lady Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

When Macardil led the way into Guard Headquarters, Ziran nodded the other men forward before following behind and in front of the guards, only stepping up beside her husband when he gave introductions. She saw the flicker of surprise on the faces of those present. The young guard seemed to display a wide variety of emotions before reining them in and speaking in an undertone to the older guard present. Both looked familiar to Ziran, but she did not know them more than in passing. The man introduced himself but not his companion, after indicating that their acting captain was away. Were they entirely devoid of officers? She noted his comment that Aderic should be taken to an interview room “for everyone’s safety,” causing her brows to draw together in a frown. Were they so little in control of their own people and that afraid of Aderic’s reputation that they were afraid of conflict here in the main room, or was this a ploy to arrest him and separate him from their own custody? Her hands flexed where they hung at her sides, as she resisted the temptation to cross her arms or prop her hands on her hips, as she did not want to cause any confrontation.

The young guard was quick to answer Thorledhos’ direction in taking Aderic to an interview room without the rest of them. While part of her knew that it was an interview technique to see who said what, Ziran was still wary of the guard’s reasoning. Ziran appreciated Macardil’s summary after Halberion’s statement, and she nodded in confirmation that she wanted to not be separated from the others for the discussion. “While we do have evidence of crimes that have been committed, some of which we believe were also lodged with you, you will soon know why we are certain they were not committed by the man who came here with us.”

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel

City Guard Thorledhos Darthor with Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
On the afternoon of December 28th

It was evident in very little time that Thorley was facing a group of people who were used to giving commands, and having those commands followed without question. Nobles. Rangers. Androllius had thankfully complied with the Guard’s direction thus far without any defiance or else difficulty, which at least supported his companions’ faith in him. But there was no sense in letting one’s guard down. Especially when one was a Guard, and the occasion was entirely uncertain still. The four of the arrivals apparently believed that they knew exactly what had happened. The most senior Guard present, which was to be fair not saying much, knew only that he did not know nearly enough. And also that he could not be expected to, at least not yet.

“I am sure the young man appreciates your speaking out for him,” he responded to the offered opinions on the suspect’s character. “It is a Guard's job to receive and process the evidence, provided by all of those involved,” he seemed to agree whilst making clear his role here. Whatever their opinions about the circumstances were, all accounts would be received the same. Including that of the suspect himself. But whatever the end decision on the matter proved to be, it would not be Thorley whom they would have to convince. He harvested the information. He could not make the final judgement, especially in this case.


This other man was the father of Reilly Veranis though, Thorley deduced by a process of elimination even before Halberion went on to mention his son. The Guard paused in remembering, although not because he had known Reilly particularly well. The missing Guard had not been amongst their number in Minas Tirith for long at all. But his disappearance had been a case which Aderic Androllius had gotten very personally involved in. Feirion had remarked upon it to Darthor more than once. And given what had been thrown up around the young Lieutenant since then, it had come back around to Thorley's consideration. Of course, not all of the facts had added up correctly, which seemed to be a pattern where Androllius was involved. The young woman who had reported her fiancé missing had likewise disappeared herself since then as well …

“Captain Bealthor is unavailable at present,” he gave no more detail out to the civilian who’d made enquiry. “But I assure you that Acting Captain Ostoher has made it his business to be kept abreast of all our active cases. An official will hear you out, I promise.” He nodded minutely, appraising the stranger silently. Veranis did .. not look in good health, unusual for a Lord. His movements were more stiff, his skin more pallid. The Guard calmly registered without comment that the request to be shown to somewhere they might sit .. might be in fact less about expected manners and more about physical need. Though quite why there might be any cause to report on the man’s sanity or existence .. Thorley could not fathom at all. Until Lord Himhathol and the Lady Cuner had added their pieces. The nobleman was possibly a victim then of the mentioned ‘unjustified imprisonment’ ? It would certainly align with his appearance.


The remaining party of folks did at least seem to be aware that the errant Guardsman’s return would be problematic, even if they did not seem to agree it ought to be. He wondered what Androllius had told them. He wondered more than he wished to .. who it actually might be .. sat in that interview room. But when Sorrela had queried about whether she ought ask her readied question, from the strange letter .. her colleague had advised against it. He was not a gambler but he knew the value of not playing an ace too soon.

Sorrela had busied herself getting Aderic a drink of water, although she left it on the table before him, before retreating to stand on the outside of his interview room door, rather than trust herself to ask the man any premature questions. Her observation of the fellow told her only that he looked thinner than she recalled. And that notebook he was clutching .. she was curious. But no. She had learnt what following her instincts led to before now, before due experience had begun to hone those instincts better. The recruit was thus committed to obeying the instructions of her mentor, which was no longer Aderic. Biting her lower lip, rather than let some word spill out, Sorrela went out of the first interview room, and positioned herself just outside.


“Yes, we can offer you all somewhere to sit, and there speak more privately,” Thorley agreed, as both the gentleman seemed to ignore he had in fact been the very first among them to broach speaking someplace rather more confidential than where any member of the public might walk in at any given moment. “I should mention of course, that it is customary to surrender all weapons unto the Front desk before entering an interview room. It goes without saying that the gate guards would have searched Androllius’s person upon their joining his escort ?” he seemed to be educating the recruit by tacking in this last remark, although in doing so was able to gain a nodded reassurance from the escort without outcry. “No Guard will bring a weapon into an interview room either,” he made clear the fair balance of the request.

“If you will come with me then,” Thorley led the three informants then to a second interview room, just a little ways down the corridor from the first. After gathering more chairs and enough water to accommodate all three, he closed the door and left them to settle in. “Find Ostoher,” was the Guard’s first suggestion to the escorting guard when they asked whether they ought loiter. To keep from the Guards being outnumbered in their own headquarters. But Thorley did not fear that there would be much of an uprising from those who seemed most eager really to have their accounts heard. “Let him know what has happened, as soon as you can. He is accompanying the Rammas patrol but he would rather attend this I think.”


As the escort took off, Thorley found Sorrela looking to him from across the hall. “What do you think ?” she found the courage to meet him back at the desk and ask, now they would not be overheard.

“That is the same Cuner who reputedly secured the release of one of those same gentleman from a case of wrongful imprisonment,” her mentor relayed to his apprentice, now that it would not be impolite to do so. The Recruit had been too green about the business to be assigned to the dungeons while Macardil had been there, and Thorley had always found himself scheduled to gate duty. Mostly because it messed up his requests to spend time with his daughter .. But the officer who had always made that call to ruin his day .. was no longer making any such decisions. Noting that the young woman was still expecting some wisdom or word from him, the elder Guard sighed. “I think it would be foolish not to take their visit seriously, but I do doubt that we have any form ready which will adequately cater to whatever they have come to tell,” he diagnosed, non commitally.


“I just hope it will be sorted, it will all be over. For everyone,” Sorrel voiced, and found a rare smile in the older man’s jaw, if only for a moment. For some, he knew, it would never be over. But it could be sorted, yes. There was bound to be some substantial amount of paperwork before this was all put away.

Once Ostoher arrived, Thorley could make with the suggestion that they update the Ranger Lieutenant. Androllius was of course suspected of several international affairs, which called for the Kings Rangers. Matters affecting Lossarnach did not technically even come into the City Guard's jurisdiction. But since the death of Forlong in the war, did that mean that Ansellidus was the only other nobleman to lead that fief ? That did not bode well at all. Maybe the Cuner had already sent word to her own superiors, of course. It made no difference. For the decision was not this Guard’s call to make. Since the King had assigned them a new acting Captain, they must stand by whatever action that captain chose.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Ercassie

Guard Headquarters - December 28th, afternoon

To those in the interview rooms, it would have seemed like a long enough time. In truth, Ostoher made excellent time once word reached him of both Lieutenant Aderic Androllius' reappearance and the willingness of the lords and a King's ranger to give testimony.

Upon entering Guard Headquarters, he listened to Thorledhos' brief summary, which was only slightly longer than what the guard who had found him had shared. Upon Darthos' suggestion to send up word to the Ranger Lieutenant, Acting Captain Ostoher determined they would do so [!]after[/i] all statements had been taken, and all interviews had been conducted. It would be better to send one, complete message, rather than two separate ones, to his mind.

He sent in one of the guards who had branched off the patrol alongside him to go to Androllius. Ostoher would first hear these lords and the ranger, before busying himself with the accused Lieutenant. The two doors opened, and closed once more, almost simultaneously.

***

It was perhaps an hour later when the messenger arrived. A King's ranger, dressed in one of their black uniforms. The woman was neither old nor young, of the kind of age that was most difficult to discern. Her dark hair was tied back with leather, and none of it impaired her vision as grey eyes settled on Guardsman Thorledhos Darthor. Uon her approach, she produced a thick envelope from her cloak. "I come bearing a message from Lieutenant Dealedwen," she announced, figuring she needed no additional details to refer to her second in command, even if this was a different headquarters than their own.

She presented the back of the envelope to him first, showing the seal the Ranger Lieutenant used, unbroken - her signature just above it. Then she turned it over, placing it upon the desk in front of the Guard. Since Arnyn's penmanship was excellent, the ranger did not feel the need to read the words on the front of the envelope out loud.

'To Captain Ostoher and the Guards involved
in the investigation of Lt. Androllius and Lt. Feirion'

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel

City Guard Thorledhos Darthor with Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
On the afternoon of December 28th

As one of the very few impartial officials available, Ostoher's arrival was a welcome relief to Thorley and Sorrela. There would be no danger now of any bias in receiving any of the accounts. Thorley was reassured by Ostoher's decision making so far.

Sorrela prepared all of the Androllius and Veranis files for their new leader. Just in case Ostoher might want to reference or clarify anything they had already been told, during the new interview/s. Then she and her mentor returned to guarding the front desk. They could continue to catch up on their own paperwork. That is what they had been doing before all the visitors arrived.


Noone had left either one of the two interview rooms yet, when a messenger from the King's Rangers entered. The messenger delivered a very official looking correspondence to Thorley. The Guardsman turned the envelope over once himself. Just to ensure there was absolutely no further instructions on the back. He also took a closer look at the unbroken seal. Thorley felt very reluctant to open the sealed letter. Even though one might argue he counted as one of the listed recipients. But there was no clue written on the envelope. Nor was there any mention by the messenger, to suggest that the contents were urgent. So the Guard decided it could wait for their leader's attention.

"I will ensure that it reaches Acting Captain Ostoher's attention, as soon as his present business allows him," he promised the Ranger. Presumably the Lady Cuner had sent word on up to her superiors. Otherwise this was an extremely timely arrival.


As soon as Ostoher had concluded his business in the interview room with the very keen trio of informants, Thorley walked over to him and presented him with the envelope, still unopened. Sorrela did her utmost best to try and look as interested in the work at her desk. She was more interested in what might be in the mysterious letter.

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Guard Headquarters - December 28th, afternoon

Upon opening the envelope, Acting Captain Ostoher would find several pages, written in Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen's neat, slightly slanted cursive.

To Captain Ostoher and the Guards involved
in the investigation of Lt. Androllius and Lt. Feirion

Given new information which has come to my attention, this letter seemed like the fastest way to communicate it to you and yours. Since I firmly believe in the value of continuing the cooperation between the Guard and the King's Rangers on the investigation referenced above.

It is clear that it is also tied to several other investigations and incidents - I can only hope this letter can be of aid to you in these matters, as well.

Through my - extensive - report on the abduction case of Erynneth Raedor, the Guard has already been made aware of certain facts, yet I wish to repeat some of those below, and add to them now, in light of everything I have learned since then:

• Erynneth Raedor claimed to have found Calithildis Dringolben's missing report about her own and Iole Ishen's abduction, or attempt thereof, on the premises of the former Androllius family's abode in the Pelennor, along with additional papers, the then discovered body, and a dagger identified as belonging to Ryndir Dringolben, who was murdered years ago. Since this abode is in ruins and freely accessible, of course anyone could be using it - logically, that it is the old Androllius family residence would not necessarily imply their involvement. (However, other facts do point to this being the case.)

• Calithildis Dringolben's report, which is missing from the Guard records, was discovered there in full. The last page of this report was found twice: one copy referring to Lieutenant Aderic Androllius as being on duty at the South Gate that day, and a second copy referring to Lieutenant Feirion as being on duty at the South Gate that day. Both copies have the exact same handwriting, and both copies carry Guardsman Garthain Berian's signature.
  Since Calithildis Dringolben has confirmed in person, several times over, that it was Lieutenant Aderic Androllius who was stationed at the Gate in question, and since her original report has been missing, the logical conclusion is that the copy carrying the name of Lieutenant Feirion is a forgery, and he is to be cleared in this matter. Someone was keen on hiding the fact who was really stationed at the gate during the attempt at abduction of Calithildis Dringolben and Iole Ishen. And ready to offer up Lieutenant Feirion as the culprit, instead.
  I will reiterate that the duplicate pages are currently in my possession, and are available for the Guard's perusal.
  Consulting with Guard Berian might also be advisable, if this has not yet been accomplished.

• Erynneth Raedor also claimed to have discovered transfer requests:
  Several from Guard Aderic Androllius, requesting he be transferred to another city. All of these were unsigned by the Captain for approval. Given everything, I am inclined to conclude that Aderic Androllius in fact requested these transfers, but they either never reached Captain Bealthor, or Captain Bealthor handed them over, unsigned, to a different party, who hid them in the ruins of the former Androllius abode. The rest of my letter will help point out why.
  A transfer order concerning Guardsman Reilly Veranis: the order stated a change in Veranis' posting, from Minas Tirith to one of the beacons of Gondor. This order did bear Guard Captain Baelthor's signature. Given that Guard Berian's signature has been copied exactly on the two diverging reports referenced above, I dare conclude that the Guard Captain's signature was also forged on this transfer order. Specifically, since the records at Guard Headquarters bear no further reference to the transfer fo Guard Reilly Veranis, and given that any parties making inquiries regarding Guard Veranis' case, have been reassured that no such transfer order was given, despite the claims of Miss Amy Nerennia.

• Erynneth Raedor also stated she found a dagger last known to have belonged to Ithilien Ranger Ryndir Dringolben, brother to Calithildis Dringolben. The dagger was unique and therefore easily recognizable. Since his dagger was found at this location, and given that Ranger Ryndir Dringolben's other dagger was previously discovered to have been used by the criminal Arkadhur, currently being held prisoner for his crimes in the Fiefdom of Dol Amroth, and that Arkadhur claims he was given this dagger by Lieutenant Aderic Androllius, it stands to reason to suspect Androllius of having been in possession of both daggers. This is also why I reckon Erynneth Raedor and possibly also Ranger Duinion Raedor have reported their belief that it was Aderic Androllius who is responsible for the death of Ranger Ryndir Dringolben.

• Tirdinen Ranger Duinion Raedor was with Ranger Ryndir Dringolben during his last moments. Ranger Raedor has stated to me (and likely, not only to me) that Ranger Ryndir's last words were as follows: "Rip wasn't lying, he does have a brother."'Rip' is the nickname that Ryndir Dringolben and his friends used to refer to Aderic Androllius when they attended school together as children.

• This naturally leads to the speculation that Guard Lieutenant Aderic Androllius does not only have a brother, but a twin brother. For this would explain varying behaviour by 'Aderic Androllius' as early on as his school-going days.

• It would also explain many entries of the discovered journal delivered to me by Guardsman Thorledhos Darthor, wherein Lieutenant Aderic Androllius claims to have a brother named 'Mar', skilled at pretending to be him, skilled at forgery of handwritings and signatures - and where he discribes several instances of being granted time off, unrequested, and upon his return it seems like his colleagues believed Aderic was still in Minas Tirith and actively performing his duties.

• It would also explain the contents of Lieutenant Androllius' letter to Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey, wherein he begs her to reassure herself, when she should see him again, that he is in fact Aderic Androllius, and not someone else.

In addition, I wish to disclose that sources have also informed me that who they assumed was Aderic Androllius has been operating in Umbar. Not to Gondor's benefit, but to its detriment. His reported behaviour there should be called psychopathic, and nothing less.
Yet it never made much sense to me how a Guard Lieutenant could both be performing his duties here, and yet spend stretches of time as far away as Umbar. Upon checking the records at Guard Headquarters past September, I did not find a single stretch of time off granted to Lieutenant Aderic Androllius that could allow him to travel to Umbar and back, let alone spend any time at all there. It seems as if Aderic Androllius has hardly been granted any time off at all, in fact - whereas his personal journal does reveal he has been granted time off now and again - although that time off was almost always unrequested by him.

The theory that Aderic Androllius has a twin brother, who can fool others into thinking he is, also, Aderic Androllius, would make sense of the time discrepancies. It also opens up two possibilities:

1. One of the Androllius brothers is still a law-abiding citizen of Gondor. While the other could be placed on trial for not only one but many deaths in Gondor, as an accomplice in the attempted abduction of Iole Ishen and Calithildis Dringolben, as welel as being involved in the escape of the Umbarian Shamara from the Guard Dungeons, violence against and the abduction of Erynneth Raedor, as well as the attempt at framing Lieutenant Feirion, as well as identity theft of his twin and willfully impersonating a Lieutenant of the Guard of Minas Tirith.

• Both Androllius twins are involved in nefarious activities and both could be placed on trial. The recovered journal and the letter to Guard Sorrela Korsey may have been planted to throw any investigation off track.

The recovered journal which supposedly belonged to Lieutenant Aderic Androllius, contained information which I have in part been able to verify by checking the Guard records myself, this past September. Yet so far I could not claim for it to be true beyond a doubt - since it may still have been planted. One of the entries, however, referred to Aderic Androllius, 'Mar', and Reilly Veranis all being stationed at Pelargir for Guard training.

Therefore, this past November, upon return from a Ranger mission, I took the opportunity to pass by Pelargir Guard Headquarters. Unfortunately, the Guard Sergeant responsible for recruit training was out of town. I then left him a message.
Today, Drill Sergeant Galion from the Pelargir Guard, having received my message, reported to the Ranger Command Office on Sixth. Thus prompting this - lengthy, I do apologize - letter.

Yet the gathered and now confirmed information is important enough to connect to all previously gathered data.

• Drill Sergeant Galion has confirmed that, six or seven years ago, he trained Reilly Veranis, Aderic Androllius - and Ademar Androllius. He brought files on all three of them, and I was able to look into them and receive copies of all three.
  If the Guard wishes to look into these, I will gladly make them available upon official request.

• He thus confirmed that Aderic and Ademar are twin brothers, and that Ademar, during training, had a penchant for impersonating his brother, Aderic. That Ademar showed to have issues with authority as well as anger, and wouldfor example steal, then later pretend to be Aderic -until Aderic was also brought before the Sergeant. While Aderic was quiet and easily fooled and convinced - manipulated, even - by his brother.

• Sergeant Galion stated that former Guard Captain Androllius had brought both his sons to the training program in Pelargir. The Sergeant wonders why the father did not bring them to the training program in Minas Tirith.
  The reason, however is obvious, when we combine the journal, which has now been rendered much more credible, with statements made to me by (amongst others) Ranger Unalmis Raxelilta and by Trevadir Thormaetha - and I imagine anyone else going to school with them at the time. I have also reached out to the school in Minas Tirith in question, for them to lend confirmation, which they have:
  All points to the fact that only one of the twin brothers attended school here. Under the name of Aderic Androllius. Their father took them to Pelargir, for he did not wish for their deceit to become known in Minas Tirith. Both brothers alternated going to school, while theparents only paid for tuition for one. This also explains statements of wildly varying behaviour from 'Aderic Androllius' while attending school.

• The Sergeant informed me that Ademar Androllius quit the Guard program when they received their orders to transfer from Pelargir to Minas Tirith. Either their father refused to let him transfer and risk the school fraud of coming out, or Ademar himself had reasons of his own not to follow his brother and Reilly Veranis to the capital.

Given that we have a Guard Lieutenant under suspicion of several crimes and instances of miscoduct, and it has now beyond a doubt come to light that this very same Lieutenant has an identical twin with a proclivity for manipulation, I deem this information to be crucial to you and several of your investigations, including (but possibly not limited to) the abduction off Calithildis Dringolben and Iole Ishen, the escape of the Umbarian Shamara, the murder of Ithilien Ranger Ryndir Dringolben, the disapperance of Guard Reilly Veranis, the murder of Lowendir, the murder of the woman found in the ruins of the former Androllius family's abode and the abduction of Erynneth Raedor.

You will note I also mentioned the disappearance of Reilly Veranis. Which may very well be tied into all of this. Reilly Veranis was the only person in Minas Tirith who was aware of Ademar Androllius, and who might easily make it come to light that Ademar could be impersonating Aderic. In addition, he could have cast a very knowledgeable light on the difference between the two twin brothers.

Although - I should amend this. I am afraid I do not have the time at present, this could also be confirmed with Amy Nerennia. The journal mentions she was a healer apprentice, but unfortunately the Houses of Healing have not employed her in years. The Guard has spoken to her before, in the case of Reilly Veranis. But the journal also claims she knew both brothers. She may also confirm this fact, if the Guard manages to speak with her for additional evidence in this regard.

Moreover, given Ranger Ryndir Dringolben's last words, he also appeared to have been aware - at least shortly before he was killed. I do not believe I need to say more.

What I would also like to offer for your consideration, is how useful it would be for an agent of Umbar to be able to abuse his brother's position as a Lieutenant in the Guard.

What makes me believe this is in fact the case, in addition to all of the above, is noting that several cases in which 'Lieutenant Androllius' has been made suspect, are cases related to Umbar; cases where an agent of Umbar would find it very useful to be able to impersonate or otherwise use a Guard Lieutenant's uniform, face, voice, and authority.
The case of Shamara - which is in and by itself related to the case of Lowendir.
In the abduction of Calithildis Dringolben and Iole Ishen, other than aiding Arkadhur in passing through the gate, I should also note pirates were involved with known ties to Umbar.
Other cases seem more related to keeping the knowledge of the existence of a twin, a secret. Cfr. the murder of Ryndir Dringolben, the disappearance of Reilly Veranis - whom I would also sadly conclude, is no longer among the living.
The case of Erynneth Raedor could be an instance of her and Ademar encountering each other at the wrong place, at the wrong time. It would be logical, given Aderic Androllius' escape from the City, that Ademar, upon learning his brother - and 'cloak' - was too compromised, was returning to his hiding place at the former family abode, to retrieve items such as those Erynneth found there, to be planted as evidence to further implicate his brother. Or possibly to try and frame Lieutenant Feirion in his stead, so Ademar might continue to use his brother's position to his own gains.

As to the investigation of Lieutenant Feirion, I should like to reiterate that the forgery of his name on the report of Calithildis Dringolben indicates that this particular suspicion that may have been cast upon him, is unjustified. I should also mention that the dungeon logs on the very day of the Umbarian named Shamara's escape, showed that Lieutenant Feirion was present, yet Lieutenant Feirion claimed to have that week off. It is the same week that Aderic Androllius claims, in his journal, to have received time off, as well.
Both men seem to have been fooled, if we are to believe the journal - which has held up to every scrutinity so far. I would tread carefully in Feirion's investigation. Perhaps you might speak with the guard on duty for the logs at the dungeons that day: for the journal claims the guard on duty reported that the Lieutenant checking in for Shamara, was young and wearing a helmet. Whereas I gather Lieutenant Feirion is older - and the helmet rendered him further unrecognizable.

This brings us to the matter of how we might determine which twin is which:

• Sergeant Galion revealed that Aderic Androllius is rather sensitive to blood. As in; he gets sick and might faint at the sight of a lot of it. I realize this is not the easiest way to ascertain anything. Ademar would also be aware and might fake a response to make us believe he is Aderic.

• However; Erynneth Raedor slashed the arm of her abductor with a blade. It was a deep gash, and should leave a scar on that arm. Her dog bit the other arm of her abductor, to such an extent the dog's teeth would also have left scars. It is possible that one of both twins might seek to duplicate the scars on the one who does not yet bear them. But if we find one of them, and his arms bear no such scarring, it would at least tell us beyond a doubt that this was the twin who was not involved with Erynneth's case.

• In addition, Sergeant Galion also mentioned Aderic knows short-hand, while Ademar does not. Or at least, he did not, at the time they were training in Pelargir. This may also be useful in this regard.

Sergeant Galion also stated both Aderic and Ademar Androllius were skilled with a sword - but that Ademar had the higher skill. It also appears both brothers were taught a hand-to-hand fighting style by their mutual friend, Reilly Veranis. I mention this here, not to be able to tell them apart, but because it would of course benefit all players involved to know what kind of skills the enemy possesses.

Given everything else in the journal has either been proven correct or has not yet been proven wrong, I might also point out that Aderic was looking into the matter of the guard laundress, Ms. Irma, possibly committing fraud. While I assume the matter of fraud has meanwhile been resolved, perhaps that bit of knowledge could also be used to tell them apart - in case Aderic has not spoken to his brother concerning the matter.

Given my authority as Ranger Lieutenant, if either twin brother is found, I would advise immediate custody. The rangers will at least be briefed as such. Either twin is to be held until, at the very least, it is determined beyond a doubt which twin has been found.

If Ademar Androllius is found, he is to be imprisoned and put on trial for much more than only the ongoing Guard cases, given his involvement in Umbar. Without entering into too much detail, I might reveal it pertains to human trafficking and blood sacrifice. Which, I may point out, at least proves that Aderic Androllius is not the twin responsible for those heinous activities - since Sergeant Galion has attested to Aderic Androllius' physical reaction to blood.

If Aderic Androllius is found, he is to be at the very least protected - from his own twin and possibly other agents of Umbar. If word were to reach Ademar or his Umbarian associates that Aderic has returned to Minas Tirith and will no longer be useful to him, or indeed merely that we have been putting too much information together concerning the two of them (which he may already well know, given that the very pirates he has been known to associate with, know that Androllius has been reported on concerning his Umbarian activities), he may wish to dispatch his own brother, before Aderic can disclose too much information on him. Or simply to tie up loose ends.
Placing him under watch would also enable us to easily determine Ademar is in fact Ademar - should we encounter another bearing their face, elsewhere.

I do apologize if this report contains superfluous information or if I have repeated the same facts multiple times over. It has been a long day.

In case the Guard is in need of clarification, I will do all I can to make myself available.

Sincerely,
Ranger Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn @ercassie @Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen

Roquen Ostoher son of Aithion, Acting-Captain of the Tower Guard
Tower Guard Headquarters, Minas Tirith, Gondor
Afternoon, December 28th, Fourth Age

His reassignment from Guard of the Fountain Court to Acting-Captain of the Tower Guard couldn’t have come at a better time. Having spent a lifetime, four decades, in service of the White Tower, from across the Great River and down to the Ethir Anduin, to the Andrast and wastelands of Harondor, as soldiers, squire, knight, and finally the prestigious and pious role of permanent guard of the White Tree, the holiest of holy relics of the ancient Kingdom, to now the glorified warden and administrative oversight of crime in the City seemed a foul way to end an illustrious career. But the King Himself had asked. And Ostoher, having believed and waited all his life for such a sign, had been all too ready to accept the commission. As always, he was a loyal and obedient son of Gondor. He goes where he was sent.

The White Tree was in bloom. The first time in centuries. And here he was. At a desk. His ohtar, Farion, a young lad short of his twentieth year, in the somber livery of the Tower, black and silver, had filled and ignited the grizzled old veteran’s pipe, with leaf sourced from the Shire of the Periannath, which cost a fortune to acquire, and inhaled once to ensure it’s function before passing it to the new Acting-Captain. Smoke and the scent of burning leaf began to fill the offices, as Ostoher opened the letter presented to him by Guardsmen Thorledhos. Guard Recruit Sorrela also stood by, both before him, while Farion flanked the Acting-Captain’s shoulder, waiting for more personal duties and instructions. Finally, there was the Ranger messenger, who would require a return answer upon receipt and reading of the letter borne hither.

On the desk, hefty files regarding the open cases of Androllius and Veranis, which Ostoher had yet to acquaint himself yet fully. He had barely been in his new role a quarter of a year, with constant day-to-day work and oversight keeping him from catching up with the considerable backlog of open cases. He worked late hours, slept even less, and sustained himself with a diet of sesame bread, lentil soup, pipe-weed, and Dorwinion cognac. Lots of it.

He puffed, and smoked, and read the considerable letter, the pipe eventually running dry and being handed back to Farion, who took out a special cloth to clean the ivory mouthpiece and tuck it away within a black leather pouch. There was no sound, except for the clinking of armour, Ostoher still wearing to this day his heavy and elite Fountain Guard harness and gear. His winged helmet sat atop the corner of his desk, as a rudimentary paper weight.

In the corner of the room, upon a file cabinet, sat a grey furred cat with green eyes, who watched, equally as silent. Before, the cat had been forbidden from entering the headquarters, always outside and about the premises of the building. But on his first day, Ostoher and Farion had found it awaiting them on the front steps. The Acting-Captain had merely plucked up the feline, tucked it under an arm, and bore it around with him on the first day. Like a steward, Ostoher had dubbed the cat Hurin, and it faithfully awaited him at the start of each new day and saw him off at the end of each work day.

After a long silence, Ostoher placed the final sheet of paper upon the others and folded them up on the center of his desk. He then intertwined his hands together and set them conjoined upon the folded letter from the Ranger Lieutenant, sighing heavily through his nose as he gazed critically at the two Guards before him.

”Our primary concern is the apprehension of Ademar Androllius. The impersonation of an officer of the Tower Guard is a seditious transgression that threatens to undermine the security concerns and measures of all the defenses of Gondor. All other matters are secondary to this new priority. A memorandum shall be prepared and issued to all stations within the City and to all security forces across the Kingdom. One copy shall even be sent northwards to our friends in Rohan, in case our culprit attempts to flee in that direction.” But Ostoher figured, if he were long gone by now, they would have crossed the Great River and made their way southwards to their friends in Umbar. The rats.

”Lieutenant Feirion shall remain under house arrest for the duration, in case of the need for further questioning, to determine his participation whether willing or otherwise, and determine his degree of guilt.” Ostoher added, his one good eye flickering between the two Guards. Who knew how deep this conspiracy and sabotage ran within the Guards. It made sense then why the King had appointed an outsider like Ostoher to command, as he had no connection or link to any of these conspiracies. But he himself did not know just how deep it went and who else may be involved. There might be many more. Even these two in front of him might be suspect. He would get to the bottom of this and the rot would be cleared out.

”Thank you Ranger for the letter.” He said to the messenger. ”You may inform your Lieutenant that I would like a word with her and her superiors at first light. You may go.” He dismissed the messenger. And when the ranger departed, shown to the door courteous by Farion, Ostoher stood up.

”Have Aderic Androllius brought in.” He instructed Thorledhos and Sorrela. ”Lord and Lady Himhathol, and Lord Veranis, may wait outside for now. Make sure they are provided for.” He added in an aside to Farion in Sindarin, who would make sure the married couple and the elderly Lord had drink and any food, if necessary. Have to treat the nobility correctly.

Ostoher remained standing behind his desk, one hand resting on the pommel of his sword, other on the desk, while Aderic Androllius was brought in. ”It seems you have friends in high places, Androllius.” Ostoher said to the man, minus his rank. ”Were it not for the writing of Lieutenant Dealedwen of the Rangers you would be finding yourself in a dungeon at this very moment.” He tapped the hefty, folded letter on his desk with a gloved finger while his one eye, unblinking, bore into Aderic. The man had been through some woes and troubles. Well, they weren’t about to end anytime soon.

”Don’t get comfortable, I am not being magnanimous. While the information contained therein might alleviate you of suspected crimes, you are decidedly not free to go. You are being confined to protective custody by my command. On the outside, it’ll look as if you are being stripped of rank and command and being held under guard in preparation for trial and judgement but it is not so. You are being put under watch for your own safety and kept restricted to the confines of the City. You will give your word of oath here and now that you will not depart the City for any purpose or reason, lest this agreement be null and void.”

Ostoher came around the desk and stood in front of Aderic, looking him more intently in the face. ”And breaking this oath will lead me to conclude that you are aiding and abetting your brother in every way and I will seek the maximum penalty and consequence for you as I am doing so for him.” He let his words sink in. Aderic did not have a choice really. Fate has been most cruel to the poor man. ”Failure to agree to this oath before you depart this office will see you consigned to a dungeon before daybreak, for the remainder of the duration of the case, and perhaps afterwards as well. Do you understand?” He declared, moving to complete his rotation around his desk and return behind it, where Farion as ever stood silently at the Acting-Captain’s flank.

”I will have your answers now, Aderic. Your word of honour and oath to not leave this City until this investigation is completed. There has been too many shortfalls in vigilance and duty in the previous administration and I will not be granting any form of clemency or generosity until it is resolved. Unfortunately, you have been involved, perhaps against your will or knowledge, and this may come as cruel or vindictive, but I cannot allow any more chances or risks to be taken. My decision is final in this. So decide, whether it be oaths, and somewhat comfortable living in the City under watch. Or a dungeon.” Ostoher concluded, balling his gloved hands into fists, putting them upon the desk, and slightly leaning forward on them as his eye flickered between the two.

”What say you?”

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn @Rillewen @Lantaelen @Ercassie

Karis Ziranphel, Lady Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

It had been hours. First sitting and waiting while the Guard Captain was found and summoned from his patrol and then sharing all their observations, statements, and conclusions before waiting further while he ruminated. Likely in his office, as he had been gone from the room for some time. She thought she recognized the man from the Fountain Guard, but couldn’t entirely be sure since in that position they were always masked, despite the distinctive scarring by his right eye. The bright sun of the afternoon had dimmed to the twilight of late afternoon as the sun dipped behind the mountain and cast deep shadows through the city, only broken by the light of lanterns and torches that had been lit to stave off the quick dark of the winter. Ziran had given up on sitting once the interrogation was over, having grown sore and stiff from riding in the cold and then being forced to abide a hard chair without moving, alternately standing and slowly pacing the side of the room.

She usually could count on her patience enduring longer, but it had been worn rather thin by their travels and the drop in adrenaline after recounting their stories. There was a part of her that just wanted to be home again, even though they would have to trek up through the city still and arrive at a cold and dark house. One no longer filled with the light of the sun. At the same time, she knew that both men were likely even more attuned to the deepening dusk and time spent in this room that was growing more stale the longer they occupied it, so tamped down on that feeling.

Her head lifted swiftly at the opening of the door, and she angled her body toward the young man that entered and then stepped to the side with a gesture of deference. “Captain Ostoher thanks you for your patience, Lord Veranis, Lord and Lady Himhathol, and invites you to take your ease in the waiting area. I am Ohtar Farion, and will bring some refreshment if you desire. We have a humble mess, but there is always something fresh.” Ziran straightened with a slight smile. “Thank you, Ohtar Farion. That would indeed be preferable.” She looked to Macardil and Halberion to precede her with a motion of her hand, even though it broke with their traditions. She would take the rear rather than the lead in this instance, and thought it better if Hal set the pace. It would be a relief to have her blades returned that she had surrendered before entering, and at the very least the foyer had more space even if there weren’t any more cushions.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Ercassie @Lantaelen

Halberion Veranis
Guard HQ - Dec 28, Evening now

It was quite trying for Hal, having to sit and wait. And then to sit around some more, talking to the guard captain when he finally arrived. While they were supplied with water, he was extremely weary of being stuck in a place like this. Especially with the light swiftly fading. Though he knew that this had all been necessary, he was, nonetheless, disappointed not to have been able to see the city while the sun was shining. He dimly remembered how lovely it had once looked, with all that white stone gleaming in the sunset colors. While he told himself there would be other days, it did not quite console him to feel as if the entire afternoon had been wasted here. Waiting.

Having heard that the captain was out with a patrol in the Pelennor, he was somewhat impressed by how swiftly the man managed to get back to the city, once news reached him. But to those sitting in the room waiting, it felt like an eternity. He was very grateful that he did not have to sit in there alone, like Ric. He thought about the young man, and hoped that the guards would not be too harsh with him.

During the hours that followed their arrival to the guard headquarters, Hal had to get up to stretch his legs, to work his muscles now and then, although he didn't do any pacing like Karis did. Having been liberated at last, he was determined to never again let his muscles lose their strength. Which meant he did not wish to remain unmoving for too long a time.

The captain's arrival was a relief, as well as a bit of a surprise. That he would come personally to take their statements, rather than sending a subordinate who would then report to him. Good, perhaps he was taking this whole thing very seriously, then. Hal hoped so. He had a great deal to tell, so when it was his turn to speak, Hal gave him as much information as was relevant to the cases he knew anything about.

He told the captain about how Ademar had forged documents which tricked Reilly, Hal's son, into rushing off for the beacon with the belief that he was being reassigned and was going to be late in arriving to his new post. And how Ademar, pretending to be his friend, had lured him and drugged him and then took him prisoner.

He told how his own family had been taken captive by the same deceiver, and how they had been tormented and held captive in a cave, until his wife and son were ultimately murdered by Ademar.

He also relayed the tale of Amardir Ansellidus, how his family was ambushed... not by orcs, as everyone had been led to believe, but by Ademar. Who then tortured the young man to get every bit of information he could from him, and took his place as the heir to the Ansellidus line.

Hal explained how his daughter was forced to marry the fake lord while Hal had been held captive in the castle, to ensure that she 'behaved'. And that she, now, was missing somewhere after Mar whisked her away the moment he suspected that people were onto him.

Once Hal had told all that he could about Ademar's crimes, he then told about how Aderic had tried to help him. How, according to Ric, he had gone to the castle to arrest his brother, only to end up drugged and locked up in a room under guard. That, for the past six months, that was where he had been, and they had witnesses back at the castle to attest to that fact.

He also told how, after Ric's first attempt at escaping had led him to encountering Hal, and after he had been recaptured, the young man had insisted that they give Hal regular meals. That he had used his brother's own orders, that he was to be kept in good health, to ensure that Hal was given better treatment. How he had refused to eat his own meals until Hal was given one as well. And, given the fact that Aderic was thinner now than he had been a month ago when he made those demands, Hal believed that he had done exactly what as he said.

He also told how Ric had vowed to get help for Hal. And he told how the young guard had launched a risky plan of escape, fought his way past several castle guards, and had raced across the ice-covered bridge to fulfil that promise, determined to make someone aware that Hal was there in the dungeon.

He went on to tell about, when Macardil and Karis had asked that Ric come to Minas Tirith, despite his obvious reluctance, he had kept his promise and had not tried to run away despite plenty of opportunities to do so. Despite the uneasiness because the young man currently in the other interview room looked exactly like his brother, Hal recalled that he and Reilly had been close friends. And, he recalled that Ric had gone searching for his friend. He had truly been a friend to Hal's son. He was the one who had gone with Amy to insist that the guard look into it. As Hal recalled, the lieutenant on duty at the time had mainly shrugged it off as a desertion until Hal and Macardil had showed up, demanding that they give the case proper attention. He could not help but bring that up, with an obvious hint of bitterness about the fact that none of the guards, except for Ric, had ever bothered to look into that missing person case. He couldn't blame the captain here, of course, for he was new to this posting, but he did want that fact to be known.

By the time Hal had nothing left to tell, he was quite weary. But he was glad to have it all in an official report. He did hope that the captain would take it all into consideration when deciding how to deal with Ric, because although it was difficult to see his face, after all that Hal had been through... he did not want this young man to suffer any more for his brother's crimes. He didn't want anyone else to suffer from that maniac's crimes.

At last, they were released from the interview room. Although he had gotten up and taken a few steps now and then, during the course of it all, he still felt stiff as he got up to leave. To his slight surprise, Karis indicated that he and Macardil should precede her. Although it went against the 'ladies first' rule, he nodded to her in gratitude before making his way out into the lobby of the guard's headquarters. From there... he had no idea where they would be going, but the young guard Farion had offered to bring some refreshments, and Hal realized how hungry he had become as the hours slipped by.

---

Aderic Androllius

He had hoped that Sorrela would stay. Perhaps.. talk to him a little bit. But she left the room rather quickly, and with that, Ric was left there alone. He stared at the table, fighting inwardly to not take it personally. Trying to convince himself that it didn't necessarily mean that she hated him. Still, the seed of the thought had taken root, and he couldn't help but wonder if there was any truth to it. It had happened so many times before, he wouldn't be surprised. Nor would he really blame her, after all he had begun to learn about his brother. Things made sense now. Galudor, who had once tried to be friendly to him, only to hate him a week later... because of things Mar had done to him. The Fearsome Five, who even knew all the things Mar had done to invoke such hatred from them.

He realized, belatedly, that he was still clutching his makeshift journal. He laid it down on the desk and held onto the seat of the chair on either side of his legs, taking slow, deep breaths. The waiting was awful. The silence. He got up and paced around, then sat down again and stared at the glass of water. Finally, he took a sip of it.

The glass had been slowly sipped down to nearly empty by the time the door opened again. Ric looked up, but he did not recognize the guard who entered. He sat back in his chair. It seemed, at last, that someone was coming to talk to him, but he had no idea whether it was to take his statement, or to.. interrogate him as a suspect. He wouldn't really blame them too much for the latter, of course, given... everything. But that didn't mean he was looking forward to it.

Quite some time later, Ric was left alone again. He was not really sure of the outcome of the questioning, for the man had not given any indication as to whether his answers satisfied anything. Not even when he asked Ric to roll up his sleeves and show him his arms. Regardless, Ric complied with everything asked of him, answered everything as honestly as he could, and remained polite and did not make any sort of emotional outbursts throughout the process.

Once left alone, Ric paced around the room a few times, wondering what it all meant. He did not know anything about this acting captain, nor did he know why Baelthor was not here anymore. He wasn't even sure whether it this was good or bad for him, to be honest. A part of him was actually relieved that it was not Baelthor. But the other part... was nervous because of the uncertainty this brought into the situation. He had no idea what to expect of this guy. Was he better or worse than the old captain?

It seemed that Ric would soon find out. After what seemed like a long while, someone came to the room again. The acting captain had sent for him. Ric went along without protest to meet the new captain.

The first thing to notice upon entering the room was the smell. Ric had to fight not to cough, but after a few moments he grew accustomed to it. The first thing that he saw upon entering the room, was the helmet. That was a fountain guard helmet, he couldn't help but note. As Ric had never been up to the seventh level, he had rarely seen one of the more elite guardsmen, but he had glimpsed them enough to recognize their gear. That was.. impressive.

The next thing he saw, when he raised his gaze up from the helmet, was.. the cat. He blinked in surprise to recognize the feline which had hung out around the guard tower for years. Unknown to anyone, Ric had often slipped bits of food out to it. In fact, he even suspected it might just be the same kitten he had once rescued from a tree, only to have Cali attack him and snatch it away from him. It was hard to be sure, of course, but he strongly suspected it, and he liked to believe it was the same one. He was surprised to see the little furball inside, but he was glad, too. Captain Baelthor had never allowed the cat inside, and had often shooed it away from the window when it begged to come in.

These observations only took a brief second, before the man behind the desk spoke and drew Ric's attention to him. He was somewhat surprised to see the way the man's face looked, but he kept his surprise from showing on his own face. Instead, confusion flitted across, at the man's words. Friends in high places? Lieutenant Dealedwen? He did not understand what in the world Ostoher was talking about. "Sir? I don't understand. I have no friends..." He explained. "Nor do I know lieutenant Dealedwen." Furthermore, he knew nothing of a letter. He did know who she was, of course, but he was fairly sure he had never once met the ranger lieutenant. Nor could he remember every even having a single conversation with her, so why would she be writing a letter to help him? To spare him from the dungeon?

In fact, he was surprised. He had come with the lords and lady because he gave his word that he would, but the entire trip he had been dreading the moment they arrived, for he had feared that he would end up in the dungeon, just as the captain was saying. He had dared to hope, now and then, that things might be different with Macardil, Hal, and Karis speaking on his behalf, but he had also been fully aware of the charges against him, and the evidence piled against him, and the witnesses testifying against him. And he was fully aware of how bad it must have looked to everyone back home, when he fled town just as all those things came into the light. Now, there was a letter that alleviated him from all of that?

As his gaze fell to the letter Ostoher had tapped, and Ric wondered about it, the new captain went on to say that Ric was not free. He brought his gaze back up to meet the one-eyed gaze of the other. The man might be unfamiliar to Ric, but the stern, unforgiving tone was not. Confined to protective custody? Under watch for his own safety? It didn't really sound like he was all that interested in Ric's safety. In fact, it sounded to Ric like he was about to be put back into the exact same situation he had managed to get out of. And yet, he couldn't say he was surprised. He had expected this from the moment the others had insisted he had to come back to Minas Tirith with them. Albeit, he had not expected a better option than the dungeon, but still.

With his heart sinking, Ric couldn't find any words to say, at first. He wasn't surprised, but he was disappointed, and those little hopes he had dared to entertain were crushed underfoot. It was difficult to make himself form words in that moment. Which gave the captain a moment to come around and walk over to him, to stare him in the face. As if he were on autopilot, Ric found his posture straightening just a bit. His shoulders squared back slightly, without him consciously telling them to do it. He could almost imagine his father standing there, getting up in his face to yell at him. To belittle him, criticize him, and demand he try harder. To speak up and not mumble.

His heart sped up at the memory of those miserable moments in childhood, and he anticipated this man doing the same. Blinking, Ric forced himself to let out a breath slowly, then draw another one. He focused on what the man had said. He'd be stripped of his rank, his command, in addition to being held in custody. Sure, he said 'to the outside' but Ric assumed that was only to placate him so he wouldn't make a fuss. He still felt his heart wrench at the words, however. He supposed the captain must be aware that Ric had been a lieutenant, and he wondered if he was surprised, when Ric came in, to see how young he was. Twenty-three.

He stared in silence as his gaze dropped to the desk for a moment, recalling the last time he had been in this office. With Captain Baelthor. Accompanied by almost the same emotions. Dimly, through the storm of emotions inside him, Ric listened as Ostoher went on to assure him that if he failed to agree to giving his oath, he'd be put in the dungeon. That if he broke the oath, he'd be assumed guilty of everything.

He could only manage a tiny nod when asked if he understood. He should've said 'yes sir', but his throat was too tight. He expected to be admonished for it, but the captain only demanded that he give his answer now, whether he would give the oath or not. Whether he would be imprisoned in the dungeon, or in some more comfortable place. As if anyone would be stupid enough to not choose the latter. He didn't even give Ric a chance to answer though before he had moved on to assure Ric that he wouldn't be giving any sort of clemency or genrosity. Ric swallowed, trying to make his throat work well enough for him to speak. It took the rest of the acting-captain's speech. The captain had come to stand beside the other guard, who had been standing there so quietly, Ric had nearly forgotten was there. He wasn't much younger than Ric, he couldn't help thinking idly. He wondered if he was Ostoher's son, or nephew or some such relation. Not that it mattered.

Clearing his throat quietly, once it was clear that he was being given a chance to actually give the answer the captain was asking for, Ric drew in a deep breath and let it out a bit shakily as he raised his gaze up from the desk. "Sir," he began, testing out whether his voice would obey him. He paused, decided that his voice seemed alright, and went on. "I resignd the rank of lieutenant six months ago when I departed from the city." He explained in a quiet tone. "So, there is no rank to strip me of," He hesitated. "That being said.." He swallowed, trying to make that annoying lump in his throat disappear. "I will give my oath," Neither option was a good one, but at least that was the better of the two. Even though his heart sank further than he thought possible at the thought of having to be locked up again. The worst part of it, he thought, was that this meant he would not be able to do anything to search for Alyssa. "You have my oath, sir, that I will remain in this city and that I will not try to leave, so long as this investigation is ongoing. Upon my word of honor."

Once he had given his oath, he would keep it no matter how much it pained him to do so. Still, he had a request. A plea, even. "I.. I would ask one thing, however," He added tentatively, his gaze flicking briefly from the young man to the older. There was a sad, pleading look in his eyes. "If I am to be kept in confinement," For he assumed he would not be free to roam around the city, and that he would be kept someplace where they would guard him to make sure that he didn't try to escape, "would it be too much to ask for.. someone to come and talk to me, just for a little while, each day?" He had mentioned to the guard who interrogated him, that he had spent the last six months held a prisoner in his brother's ill-gotten castle, but he did not know whether that had been reported to the captain. He wasn't even sure whether the man he had talked to had believed him about any of it. But he was not sure he could endure another.. who knows how long.. without anyone talking to him at all.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @lantaelen

City Guard Thorledhos Darthor with Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
On the afternoon of December 28th

They waited while the Captain read the letter from the Ranger Lieutenant. Sorrela spent the duration of that time trying to keep a straight face as she watched the cat. Thorley’s attention was held rather more by the feathered helm that sat on Ostoher’s desk. When Ostoher finally spoke, both of his subordinates pulled their attention back unto him. And, whatever was in that mysterious, long, letter from Arnyn Dealedwen, the two Guards could conclude a few things from their new leader’s announcement.

Firstly, Ademar Androllius was still at large. Between the interviews and the letter, it seemed that there was now a certainty of who exactly had walked into the headquarters that afternoon: it had to be the real Aderic Androllius. And .. Lieutenant Feirion was to remain still under house arrest, still not cleared. Neither of the Guards offered an opinion on the command’s plan of action. Particularly since Ostoher had made clear his intention to speak with the Ranger commanders in the morning. Which meant that further decisions were potentially still in the making. Probably involving the Ansellidus situation out in Lossarnach. Maybe the correspondence to securities throughout the kingdom as well. Both of those things were beyond the usual scope of the city’s guard. But not much had been usual for a long time now.


When the Ranger messenger was sent back to the Sixth Circle, with an authorised response, Farion was endowed the honour of tending to their patient guests. Sorrela and Thorley were entrusted to usher Aderic to speak with Ostoher. A shift change meant that there was now a competent replacement Guard stationed in their stead, to cover at the front desk, while Thorley and Sorrela set about their latest orders. If there was a new reassurance cradled in the eyes of the young recruit, or any relief at all in the heart of her mentor, when they escorted the confirmed Aderic from his interview room, neither of them showed it. Neither one was willing to break from professionalism in the presence of the other, by embarking on a conversation. Until they had delivered the former officer to the new Captain’s office and the door closed on whatever matter was discussed within.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Lantaelen

Lord Macardil Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

Macardil had easily been the one amongst the three of them that had moved the least. Who had remained still. Composed - at the very least, outwardly. He had claimed a chair and had done no more than slightly shift his position upon the piece of furniture, every so often.

After waiting for a guard to come and take their statements, it was a surprise to find that it was the Guard Captain himself who chose to come and hear them. It took all of two minutes for Macardil to be firmly reminded of Commander Amathen. Ostoher's manner - even the way he spoke - was... so similar. Macardil had to remind himself not to stare. Thankfully, a lifetime of practice with etiquette made sure none of those present would notice Macardil's mental response.

Even when Captain Ostoher had left them once more, Macardil stayed seated, quietly sifting through his own thoughts and emotions. Even as he watched his wife's patience wearing very thin indeed. After they had all spoken so much to the Captain before, Macardil was not very talkative once Halberion, Ziran and himself once more found themselves in the room without any guardsmen. He wondered what Ostoher would do with all this information.

When the door opened, Macardil's reaction was slower than Ziran's. Once it was clear they were allowed to leave the room, Macardil slowly rose from his seat, hiding any stiffness that may have claimed his limbs during the hours he had moved so little. With a nod, he lent his agreement to Ziran's words, and despite his instincts to have Ziran go first, at her behest he followed Halberion out of the room, toward the waiting area. Upon their arrival, Macardil turned to Farion. "We would be most appreciative of water, and something small to eat, since we have just returned from a lengthy journey. We thank you and your Captain for sharing your mess' resources with us."

Even though the waiting area had chairs of its own, Macardil did not sit down. He had had quite enough of that, for the moment. Himself, he was not thinking about weapons being returned - for he had brought none inside with him. His axe was still strapped to Duath, for she would surely snap her teeth at anyone who would make a move for it - anyone who was not Macardil, anyway.

As he thought about what would happen after they would - at last - take their leave from the Guard Heeadquarters, Macardil thought (with no small amount of irony) that servants might actually have been very useful in this situation. For then the house would be warm, clean, and the pantry would be stocked. Food would have been prepared for them. Baths could have been drawn. Macardil frowned slightly as he looked at his best friend and his beloved. "There is hardly any food, at the house," he noted. "Yet both your bearings are telling me it is unlikely either of you wishes to dine out, this evening. Unless I am mistaken."

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn @ercassie @Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen

Roquen Ostoher son of Aithion, Acting-Captain of the Tower Guard
Tower Guard Headquarters, Minas Tirith, Gondor
Afternoon, December 28th, Fourth Age

Aderic Androllius looked every inch a beaten dog. And it wasn’t his fault. He had a malicious brother who stole his identity, dragged his name through the mud, hurt his friends, disgraced his Kingdom, sullied his honour, and rank, and that of the whole Tower Guard. And it wasn’t over yet. Ostoher had zero qualms about the fact that Ademar might try to implicate and use his brother’s identity again. There could be no room for mistakes or errors, and in order to ensure the cessation of any further confusion. Enough damage had been done. Aderic was staying in custody, for his safety, and the safety of the remaining Tower Guard agents and personnel. Until such time that Ostoher deemed the threat had been eliminated.

The man muttered some preambles, about not knowing Lieutenant Dealedwen of the Rangers or that he resigned his rank and commission half a year ago, before Ostoher’s time. But the oath was given, on the man’s honour, that he will remain in the City and not attempt to leave while the investigation was being pursued. That seemed to be the conclusion of their matter and Ostoher sat down, ready to get to the next issue, but Aderic was not finished. He asked…a pitiful request. That he not be left alone. Ostoher looked at him critically. Didn’t he just say he had no friends? Ostoher couldn’t make anyone be his friends.

But it would be cruel to point out the man’s own words back to him.

Ostoher sighed exasperatedly through his nose and shook his head, clasping his hands together. ”There will be a shift of guards who will keep an eye on you. I do not intend either to keep you holed up here in the Headquarters. There are numerous households within the City that are vacant or abandoned. The Guard will recommission one and you will be housed therein. You are not under house arrest either. You may…move around, freely, under watch, in the level of the city you will be contained in. You can…make new friends.” Ostoher trailed off. Aderic had given his oath, so he could be trusted with some freedom of movement, especially with a guard to shadow him. The gate wardens on each level could also be informed to keep an eye out.

”Guardswoman Korsey,” Ostoher then snapped, summoning Sorrela to come forward. ”Escort Aderic to a room here. He is to spend the night. Tomorrow morning I will petition the King and an assigned safehouse can be utilized for his lodgings in the duration of this investigation. See to it that he is comfortable and is given food and drink.” Ostoher instructed the Guard Recruit. ”And keep an eye on him around the clock. You will be relieved at dawn. Dismissed.” He waved them off, before adding. ”Oh, and Androllius, this might seem like another nail in the coffin, but rest assured I am seeking the light at the end of the tunnel with all due diligence and vigour. Go on, now.” Ostoher added, as if that might give the man some small encouragement. The end of his woes were being sought out with the full resources and strength of the Tower Guard, and more.

”Guardsman Darthor, you may have Lord and Lady Himhathol and Lord Veranis brought in. They will be eager to leave after a long day. Make sure everything is in order once I’ve had a final word with them.” Ostoher issued his next instruction, rising from his chair and approaching the corner file cabinets, where Hurin lay, having observed all, the Acting-Captain beginning to tickle the feline under his jaw with a finger. Almost through the day. And then tomorrow the real labours shall begin.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Ercassie @Lantaelen

Halberion Veranis
Guard HQ - Dec 28, Evening now

Their arrival in Minas Tirith wasn't as thrilling as it might have been, had they not had to stop at the guard headquarters and spend so much time there. But Hal did recognize the necessity of it, even if he was quite ready to leave. But that brought the question to his mind, where exactly he was going to go. While he did not doubt that his friend would ensure that he had somewhere comfortable to go, he realized that he had yet to actually broached the topic of where he would be staying, so he didn't want to make any assumptions.

As he took rest upon one of the seats in the waiting area, he turned his thoughts toward that question. He supposed it would be necessary for him to spend some time at the houses of healing, but he did not really know what the healers would decide. Perhaps he would live there for a while, or perhaps they wouldn't find it necessary to keep him there. He had no idea.

As he was pondering about this, Macardil spoke up to mention that there was little food at his house. Hal smiled, a bit tiredly. "We have been offered food here," He pointed out. "We may as well eat what they offer us, while we wait." As he spoke, someone came bringing refreshments for the three of them. Hal thanked the guard who had brought the food. After they had been left to continue their wait, Hal was quite content to eat what they had been brought, and figured it would be plenty for himself, though he wasn't sure about Macardil and Karis.

"I suppose I should've asked this before now," Hal mentioned, glancing toward Macardil after settling back with a plate of snacks. "But I haven't given it any thought until just now. Anyway.. where do you plan on me staying?" Whatever his friend had in mind, Hal trusted that it would be suitable and he would have no complaints, but he did figure he ought to find out what to expect.

---

Aderic Androllius

For a moment, he felt as if he was left hanging from the edge of a cliff, holding his breath as he waited for the captain's answer. He saw him shake his head, and Ric's heart threatened to drop right through the floor. He half-expected him to say that no, he would not be allowed any visitors at all, that all who guarded him would have orders against speaking to him, that he was to have no contact with any other person. The same situation he had just come from, more or less. He felt his heart pounding at the thought of spending... who knows how much more time, in yet more isolation. He didn't think he could bear that.

When the captain spoke, after what felt like a really long moment of pause, Ric wasn't surprised to hear that there would be guards to watch him, but as the captain went on, explaining that he was not to be contained in a cell or even under house arrest, but that he would be free to move around the level he was housed in... Ric was surprised. He slowly released a breath and felt the tension in his shoulders and chest relax as relief washed over him. He mentally disregarded the comment about him making new friends. That was... not really possible, he figured. Not while Mar was at large, anyway. Not when there was any chance that his brought might come and ruin any friendship he attempted to forge. His memories flashed through several people he had tried to befriend, who had turned toward hating him. He knew now that it aligned with days when Mar had swapped places with him.

He wasn't sure if he would dare trying to make any friends. But he could walk around the city. Talk to people. Visit shops, maybe. The relief was almost overwhelming, and he bowed his head for a moment while he took a couple of seconds to process it. He looked up after hearing his orders to Sorrela. And then focused on the captain again, as he addressed Ric once more. "Thank you, captain." he managed to say, though with a bit of emotion lingering in his voice. He prepared to go with Sorrela, to whichever room she would be taking him to. As he glanced back toward the captain before leaving the room, he saw the man petting the cat, and a tiny smile found its way onto Ric's face at the sight.

Then he went along with his former trainee, feeling somewhat awkward, not knowing quite what to say or what she might think of him by now. And he had many questions he wished to ask, but hesitated to speak up. One of the most prominent question was, why had she not asked him the question he'd asked her to ask him? He began to worry that maybe his letter had never reached her, but he was hesitant to ask. Hesitant to seem too eager to answer the question he wanted her to put to him. But it was troubling him, to think that his letter may have been intercepted. Perhaps Mar had somehow gotten it? Just like he suspected his brother had managed to steal his journal. His thoughts felt jumbled as they leaped from questions to concerns to everything else in between.

[Ercassie]

City Guard Thorledhos Darthor with Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
On the afternoon of December 28th

The two Guards had not been told to wait. They had in fact only just decided to go and find something more productive to do with their time. There was plenty of paperwork needed finishing from recent patrols, just for one example. But it turned out that Ostoher had a need of them still. So Sorrela first, and then Thorley stepped in to the Captain's office, as they were each called. They did this to accept the new orders which were now assigned to them by the captain.

The instructions for the Recruit in particular, outlined what had been decided in private between Ostoher and Ric.


A 'room for the night', tended to mean one of the holding cells. Under ordinary circumstances, anyway. But the Captain had also indicated that the former Lieutenant be made comfortable, and catered to with refreshments. So Sorrela nodded her compliance towards Ostoher. But she also met the eye of Thorley, her mentor, as she turned to lead Ric to his next destination.

Having received his own orders as well, Thorley saluted to their commander. And then he turned to follow the other two down the corridor from the Captain's office. As before, neither of them spoke to Aderic now either.


They got as far as the part of the corridor which had not yet opened out into the main lobby. That was where/when Thorley called Sorrel's attention to an interview room there. Rather than them having to walk with Ric back into the more public arena near the front desk. Which was near the front door ... where any member of the public might walk and see him ..

"I guess this is it, for now" she agreed then, letting her charge into the room and following him in immediately afterwards.


"See him settled, and I'll come check if you need anything once I'm done escorting the others to the Captain," Thorley advised the Guard Recruit. Hopefully it would not take long. Sorrela nodded. And with that, Thorley left the two younger folks in that interview room. Sorrela closed the door to the room behind them. Thorley proceeded further down the corridor alone, and into the main lobby. This was where the Lords and Lady had clearly been attended to already with refreshments, by Farion.


"Captain Ostoher would like to speak with all three of you in his office, before you leave, " Thorley cleared his throat and then reported the message. He did this without any hint or mention of the orders he had personally heard in regard to Aderic's situation. It was not the Guardsman's place to exposite information he had not been told to share, nor to voice any opinions over what their new guard leader wanted to speak with them about now. "His office is this way," Thorley prompted as he led the three people to find their new destination. He did this as soon as they indicated they were ready to go. "It is not far," he did mention though, for Lord Veranis's sake, as the man seemed the worse for physical wear, out of all of them. If they had any questions, they would have to wait for Ostoher himself to answer them though.



Back in the closed interview room, Sorrela indicated a chair where Ric could make himself as 'comfortable' as one might manage to, in an official guard headquarters building. She wanted to tell him that she'd handed the letter he had sent her, to Thorley. And she wanted to tell him they'd found his diary. And that it had been handed in to the Ranger Lieutenant months ago.

But she had heard from her current trainer that one ought not to offer up any known information until the member of the public indicates they are already aware of it. In this case it seemed particularly important. It was everything to do with timing, technique and other things she apparently still had to learn. Which made every sort of sense to her. But also did not help in the least to alleviate the awkward situation.


"Do you need anything that I can provide you with ?" she tried her best, at both being hospitable and also practical. Sorrel had been assigned to make her former trainer comfortable, but also to not take her eyes off him. And there was not a single way that she could think of, to accomplish both those things all at once.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Aderic Androllius
One of the interview rooms. Again.

The walk down the hall was silent, and felt awkward to Ric. He had been down these halls so many times in the past years, he knew exactly where they were going. After what Captain Ostoher had said, and the fact that he knew what would be found in this hallway, Ric didn't have a chance to think that he might be being taken to a cell. He was, however, wondering just how he was meant to spend the night in an interview room. But, he supposed he would manage well enough.

The chair that was in the room was not exactly Ric's idea of a comfortable place to sleep, but there was little else there in the room. He almost wanted to laugh at the irony, that he'd had much more comfortable furnishings in the rooms where he had been held prisoner these last few months. But he didn't laugh. There were far too many other things on his mind, at the moment, to find much humor in that.

As she asked whether he needed anything, Ric turned to Sorrela. She did not sound like she was suspicious of him, nor that she held any sort of grudge or resentment toward him, or anything of the sort. He hoped that was a good indication. "I.. would like something to eat, please, if it isn't any trouble." He replied quietly. "Also..." He hesitated a moment. "If you are able, and allowed to tell me, I'd like to know about some things that have happened while I was away." He added with a little frown of concern. "What's happened to Captain Baelthor, for instance? Is he.. has something happened to him?" He would certainly understand if she were not permitted to tell him such things, but he was very anxious to know why there was a different captain now than when he left. Acting captain. "And.. why is Lieutenant Feirion under house arrest? If I may ask, that is..."

He hesitated again. "Also... I would like to apologize to you, for my abrupt departure before." He added, as his gaze dropped down to the floor. "I realize, now, that it was not the best move on my part, but it felt like the only thing I could do, at the time. I do hope that no trouble came to you, on account of me." He meant that sincerely, and had often wondered whether she was alright, and whether he had made a right choice in leaving a message for her at all.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Lantaelen @Ercassie

Lord Macardil Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

Macardil hummed when Halberion said they had been offered food here. It might be no more than a small snack, however. They had, as of yet, no clue. He did realize, as he thought that over, that for Hal, a small snack would be more than enough. For Ziran and himself, however, it would not exactly be ideal.

After they had received some food and drinks, Macardil was mostly silent as he tried to pace himself as he emptied his cup and his plate. He raised his eyebrows at Halberion's question. "Well," he drawled, "while it is true that the spare rooms are unfurnished as of yet," he made eye contact with Ziranphel, as they had already discussed the matter on the journey to Minas Tirith, "we do have a rather spacious and comfortable couch. I do not know what the healers will ask or recommend, but if they do not insist on a stay at the Sixth, we certainly do not intend to put you up anywhere else than at our home." A room could be furnished quickly if you had enough coin. Which the head of House Himhathol obviously did.

One of the guards returned then. It appeared that the Captain wished to see them in his office. "Of course," Macardil replied courteously, moving to place his empty dishes on the side table of the waiting area, while giving the guardsman a questioning look, to verify whether this was appropriate.

As they were shown into the Captain's office, Macardil swallowed at the lingering smell and smoke in the room, although he knew better than to show any viisble reaction. "Captain," he greeted the man once they had all stepped into the office. They would now hear what had been decided, then.

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn @Lantaelen @Rillewen

Karis Ziranphel, Lady Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

Ziran had nodded in response to Macardil’s comment about not looking like they wanted to dine out that evening, but she remained quiet for a few moments in thought over the dilemma of dinner while Halberion and Macardil discussed food and lodging. She was in agreement that it would really be nice to get a hot meal, and yet didn’t really feel like either cooking or spending time in a restaurant when they could be warming up the house and relaxing. Halberion’s comment about the refreshments being enough for his meal reminded her that he still had a limited appetite, which definitely was a reason to be seen by the healers in her mind.

The coffee, biscuits, and cheese brought out were of good quality, but lent the air of “welcome but don’t stay too long.” Ziran had often survived on similar fare, and it definitely helped tide her over when she took a selection of each to try with her coffee, but she knew that after trekking up through the city she and the others would likely feel the need for something a bit more substantial for the evening meal. Several of the Inns she favored served excellent food, but the drawback was people often expected one to hang around and socialize when stopping in those locales. There were a couple stalls in the market that offered hearty meat and vegetable or cheese and onion pies in addition to their sweet offerings. “We can stop by the market or send a trusted runner with our orders to meet us with them so that we can proceed more directly home to start the fires.” Her suggestion was a quiet aside.

She listened more closely when Hal asked about lodging, with his interesting phrasing about what their plans were for him, and she caught Macardil’s meaningful look as he replied. Nodding slowly as she swallowed the coffee she had just drunk, Ziran affirmed her husband’s words. “Yes, you are welcome to stay.” She was not keen on it being a permanent solution, but agreed in sharing hospitality, as much because Hal had lost everything as for his and Macardil’s friendship. Besides which, she thought about the timing for upcoming events that she had been briefed about, she had a training voyage coming up soon and then a mission of unknown length into enemy territory to follow soon after. The men could keep each other company as they sought answers. The thought caused a restlessness inside her even as the weight of the mission and the weariness from their recent journey tugged at her.

Their summons to appear before the captain in his office was timely, and Ziran followed Macardil’s lead in returning dishes after collecting Hal’s as well, and then filed into the office. Her greeting was a crisp and precise tilt of her head in the direction of Captain Ostoher as she settled into her standard position of alert rest. What had he concluded?

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
An interview room, with Aderic Androillius
Later in the afternoon of December 28th

The room was not exactly designed for overnight stays, not beyond an occasional all-night interrogation anyway. And in those circumstances, noone was expected to get any rest, let alone sleep. The prospect of spending the entire night there with her former Mentor was going to be awkward on top of uncomfortable for both of them. But she had not been told to take him to a holding cell or a dungeon, and unless they wanted to curl up and doze under a desk where the guards worked on their paperwork, this was the only really  viable option.

"I'm not supposed to leave you by yourself," Sorrela reminded Ric gently. "But Thorley did say he'd check in when he next has chance, and I'm sure he can bring some food and drink to us back from the kitchen if we ask him. He makes a better brew than I do anyway."


Of course, the Guard Headquarters was no more a restaurant than it was a hotel. But a lot had changed of late and it seemed that the functions of places as well as people must be adapted in order to accommodate as required. As a Guard, former or whatever else, Ric knew what simple fare to expect in that regard at least.

It felt strange for the Recruit to now be left in charge of her former mentor, but she supposed that they were at least of a similar age, and his rank was now nullified, even if his prior experience remained. Probably the Captain had felt she would be a less intimidating company for the unfortunate Ric than some of the other guards might have proven.


There were also a few things which remained up in the air, between the two of them of course. And with Thorley no longer standing there with his over vigilance of procedure, the younger Guard was more inclined to indulge her curiosity. Within reason. Still, she didn't want to give up any information that was pertinent to the Androillius case itself. The letter .. the diary ... no. Thorley had told her to give the man no such knowledge. Just in case. Maybe the lieutenant's letter had already allowed Ostoher to address those things officially, when he had spoken to Aderic in private.

She was not surprised at Ric's curiosity about the chain of command. Although she was surprised he hadn't asked these questions when he was interviewed. Maybe he had. Maybe he wanted a second opinion. Or to merely see if she would tell him. Maybe the interviewer had refused to tell him .. but if they were sure that this was Ric ...


It took a moment of hesitation before Sorrela had decided whether or how to answer. And she took that time to sit down on the chair at the door side of the table. Her hands with interwoven fingers rested out on the table.

"Do you remember the last time we saw one another, before today ?" She put another question of her own to him instead. Not entirely to disregard what he had asked, but because if the last day he had seen her had also been the same last day that she had seen 'this' him, then he might be able to work out the answers to the questions he had just asked, himself.


"I imagine there will be a lot of apologies owed. And the hardship I have faced from this mess has been far from the worst that has been endured," she considered, candidly. Her gaze investigated his, although in silence for a time. "I hope whatever happens next is not as bad as whatever convinced you to come back."

She leaned back in her chair, regretted it and sat back upright again.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Ercassie @Lantaelen

Halberion Veranis
Guard HQ - Dec 28, Evening now

He couldn't help but smile at his friend. "A spacious and comfortable couch will be a vast improvement from my last residence." He assured him with a little grin. "Thank you." He looked at Karis to make sure she knew the thanks was also directed at her. He did hold back a sigh though, at the mention of the healers. He supposed that would be the next step on the itinerary, and he knew it was probably necessary, but that didn't make it any more desirable.

As he had been away for so long, Hal had no idea what sort of food options one could get from the market, but the suggestion sounded good to him. The snack brought to them by the guards was enough to last him for now, but he realized too, that he didn't know how much longer the guards would keep them. Nor how long it would take to reach Macardil's home. He wasn't sure where in the city his friend lived, anymore.

In fact, Hal had only managed to eat a small amount before the other guard came to summon them to the captain's office. Hal gave a small nod in reply to Guard Darthor's assurance that it was not far. He was tired from the events of the day, particularly the last few hours since they had arrived in the city. But he would manage a short walk down the hall. He was determined that he would.

And so he did, without taking many pauses, and was greeted by the smell of.. burning. Something he could not identify. Was it incense or something? Instantly, he was reminded of the smell from years ago, when his family's apple orchards, burning. His home, destroyed, burned. Hal caught his breath for a moment as he steeled himself, making sure not to show any adverse reaction to the smell in the office. It was not the smell of trees burning. He slowly let out a breath through his nose and blinked a few times as he focused his eyes upon the room and its contents. Upon the present, not the past.

Remembering the friendship between his son and the young man who had traveled to the city with them, and also the things Ric had done to help him, Hal was rather interested in knowing what had been decided, since they had not seen the young man since he was taken off to an interview room. He knew nothing about this captain, but he hoped that he was a better captain than the last one had been. But for the moment, he decided to wait to find out why the man had asked for them.

---

Aderic Androllius

Ric nodded when she explained that she was not supposed to leave him. He could appreciate that she had orders to follow. And he also knew what food would likely be offered, but he would be glad for anything they might bring him. It had been hours since the last meal that he'd had, with the others in his traveling party. And he was quite hungry for something to eat, especially since it seemed that he would be here at least until morning.

But he was also hungry for some answers. For a moment, he wasn't sure if she was going to answer him. As that moment extended, for the length of time it took for her to cross the room and claim the seat opposite his, Ric worried that she was going to start giving him the same treatment that everyone back at Mar's castle had given him. But then, she answered his question with one of her own. Ric breathed out slowly, trying not to let on how very relieved he was, not to be ignored. "Of course." He glanced around briefly. "I believe it was in this very room, in fact." He paused, realizing that there was a possibility that she might be seeking to verify.. which one he was. "We were interviewing Ms. Ishen," He added, and dropped his gaze to the table. "And it was due to her testimony that I set off to arrest my brother, for I knew that it was he who had been responsible." He looked up to meet her gaze, hoping she would believe that.

"I did not come back here of my own accord," Ric assured her with a small frown. "For I had no intention of returning until I had my brother in custody, so that he could be tried for his crimes. I thought.. I would be back in a day or two, with him." Here, he let out a sigh. "But, alas, he was a step ahead of me, it seems. And I was imprisoned," He paused and looked at Sorrela. She had not been there, during the interview between he and the guard who had questioned him. So, he realized it was very likely that she knew nothing of that. "I have been held captive at my brother's home all this time." He informed her. "And it was during that time that I discovered Lord Veranis, also being held captive there, though in a far worse place than myself." He frowned and his gaze found the table space between them. "When Lord and Lady Himhathol arrived, they rescued us from our imprisonment."

He drew in a slow breath and sighed it back out. "I thought... I thought I would go on with hunting for him, after they took Lord Veranis back to the city with them. But.. they insisted that I must come back to the city with them. I tried to explain that I had made a vow, that I would not return without my brother, but... they were more persuasive, and I deemed it wisest not to resist them." He explained softly. "But he is still at large, somewhere. And... he has at least two captives with him, both of whom I care about a great deal." He kept his gaze fixed on the table, feeling rather miserable. "Now, I am bound to staying here until they find him. The captain made me give my word that I will not try to leave the city. But I don't know anything that's happened since I've been gone."

He ventured to look up again, coming back to the question he had asked. "The last time I was here.. after the... interview with ms Ishen... Captain Baelthor asked to speak to me, and I went to his office and we spoke for a while." He wasn't about to reveal any of that conversation, but that much was easy enough to speak of. "Then, I went home, and.. and then I packed my things and left to go after my brother." He concluded. "So, as far as I knew, all this time, Captain Baelthor was still here, running things." He frowned in confusion.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Guard Recruit Sorrela Korsey
An interview room, with Aderic Androillius
Later in the afternoon of December 28th

Sorrela did not quite react when Ric confirmed that he had been stood with her, in this very room, back when she had asked her mentor to oversee her first interview. The Guard Recruit did, however, focus her attention. Between what she recalled of his behaviour at school, and later when they worked together .. she had never been sure what to expect from him really. Her entire working experience with the man had been a continual anti-climax. Every day suspecting to see some semblance of the bully who had sent so many home in tears .. every day holding back from quite lowering her defences. And every day he had always been polite, instructive, as far as she could recall, while they were Guards together. She had been torn between the opinions that he either wanted to start over, or that he didnt care to imagine his past deeds required any sort of apology. They had simply never referred to it aloud, although the past, and the upset of her friends, her younger sisters, even to this day, had leant an undercurrent of trepidation. However much the man had acted, almost over compensating in his courtesies.


And then there had been that day, that particular interview. When Sorrela had asked Ric to oversee her taking Iole's statement, about the Umbarian's involvement in her disappearance the year prior. Sorrel had asked him in, because she had grown to trust him. Slowly, carefully, but assuredly. Until that day ... when Ric had seemed as surprised as Sorrel, when Iole had alleged the lieutenant's involvement, his wanton negligence. His probable alliance with her abductors...

But Ric had provided a watertight alibi. One that they all knew now had been a lie .. and Sorrel could not reason that Iole would tell such a damning lie. It had been confounding, to say the least.

The young woman considered the earnest pleas which the man was now throwing her way, and she wanted to immediately retort that he could have, should have, told someone where he apparently had already known that his brother lived; so that the criminal could be caught rather than disappear and cast aspersions on his own innocence. But then sense and hindsight stalled her. Who could he have told ? Bealthor ? Feirion ?


When Ric explained that he had been held captive, by his brother, and the Veranis lord had as well, until they'd been found and released by the Himhathol's .. experience called for Sorrela to ponder how the other brother might have been found there and claimed to be the innocent himself ... until she acknowledged with a slight swallow that this man had been questioned. They were sure. This was Ric. Stand down, Sorrela.

As someone who had clearly known both brothers, without ever having realised at the time, it was going to take some getting used to.


"You are not the only guard who has earned suspicions against his name," Sorrel allowed eventually, but still remaining as conscious as she could be of the delicate situation. "After Iole accused you of being at the gate, last year, do you remember how Captain Bealthor provided you with the relevant old rota from his files ? A rota which stated that it had been Lieutenant Feirion who had stood sentry on the gate that day, not you. Feirion's signature was also given by the Guard who escorted that Umbarian trafficker out of the dungeons, allowing her escape, just the day before the gate incident.

Then the other escape conspirator, the false lawyer, Lowendir, was found dead a day or so after. His wife was missing .. It is believed he was blackmailed into compliance. And so it has been also supposed that Feirion was involved in both crimes which also involved Umbarians, either willingly or having been blackmailed into such deeds. He was placed under house arrest while the matter was investigated. It was one of the last orders which came from Captain Bealthor. Because soon after you left, well .. . Captain Bealthor sort of just stopped coming in to the office. So that was .. "


Suspicious. Concerning. Bewildering ... She had not missed the part where Ric admitted speaking to Bealthor himself, the last thing he did before leaving. She wanted to ask what they'd spoke on. Sat here, in an interview room, it seemed natural to try and get to the truth. But the truth was, it was not her investigation. So she stemmed that desire. Albeit reluctantly.

It genuinely seemed as though Ric was concerned for their former leader's welfare. But there was not much that she could tell him about it, even if she wanted to. "So then with both Lieutenants unavailable and Sergeant Hadhron declaring that 'if it didnt happen on the night shift, then it wasn't his job' .. well .. noone was sure who exactly to report the Captain's absence to, .. in his absence. We didn't want to cause a panic if the public found out. We didn't have anyone with the password to access a visit to the King .. "


The Recruit frowned at the memory of those difficult months and could see no obvious reason why it would be wrong to share that much of the truth of it with Ric. He was clearly already aware that the former Captain and Lieutenant were not as he had left them. The account stalled nonetheless, as the Guard Recruit almost laughed. Here she was, giving her testimony, in an interview room. But since she couldn't exactly talk to the former Lieutenant about anything more personal. Work .. was all they had in common to discuss. Just not his case ... except .. honestly she'd already probably just said too much in that regard. But .. it was Ric .. ? Right ? So. Really, what harm could come from it ? Unless, was he now unconsciously interviewing her for the information he wanted ?


"Then something happened in september," she admitted, noticeably more wary in the slowing of her tale. "A rather complex crime which by chance a few rangers helped out with the investigating of," she deliberately did not give the particulars of the case in question. But it had undoubtedly been the turning point ... "So that's when Thorley spoke to the Ranger lieutenant about that case, and mentioned that we'd appreciate if a Ranger Officer could speak to the King on our behalf. About how we should try to manage, going forward. Which, I gather, she did," Sorrela was not giving to shrugging her shoulders. But her expression currently gave off that same sentiment.

"After that, the King set about sending us Captain Ostoher to stand in Bealthor's absence," she summarised. "The Ranger Lieutenant has come by a few times too. Finally we have people in place who can re-establish some sort of real order that people can trust. Everything is getting investigated now," she let him know. With no small amount of meaning in the statement. They were none of them above suspicion, and well .. fair enough. Given the mess which had been caused. As a Recruit and fairly newcomer to the Guard, albeit her arrival clashed with both the dungeon escape and the abduction last year .. Sorrela's name was easier to disregard, than others. "It's all getting righted," she diagnosed with a try at expressing relief.


She meant this understanding of new resolutions to be reassuring for the young man. If he was as innocent as she hoped, then it might be. If he were not, at least the news would be disheartening to the criminal brother.

"You say he has two .." she began though, in recall of Unalmis's constant nagging at her, whether they'd found the identity of the mysterious girl, involved in the September incident.

But it was in that moment that Thorley knocked on the door and then abruptly entered, when there came no immediate response. He had taken up the emptied plates that the nobles had left in the lobby and seen them to the kitchen, before coming to check on the young pair.


"You didn't answer, when I knocked," he pointed out, looking to Sorrel more expectantly than toward Ric.

"Sorry," the recruit came close to blushing. Looking almost as though she'd just been caught doing something she ought not to. Maybe she had said too much already .. "You didn't really give me chance," she added more quietly.

"Sorry," the older guard then offered in his turn. And paused to consider the scene he'd entered. Without shooting any especially disparaging look in Ric's direction, Thorley did seem now uncertain what to do or say next. There was no book or procedure which could prepare him for how to deal with what they were now dealing with.

Taking this to be an expectant pause, Sorrela rose up from her chair, to stand a little more professionally. "He's not eaten," she declared. "Can we get some food brought in ?"

"I'll see what's in the kitchen," the elder guard agreed. And managed to shake himself out of looking at Ric rather blankly. "It probably won't be anything spectacular," he warned them ? Reminded them ?

Sorrela was on the cusp of asking for a blanket for the twin as well, but couldn't form the words. Not after last time.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Aderic Androllius

A part of him expected the recruit to inform him that she could not tell him anything at all, and that he should just be quiet. But instead, she answered. Ric listened, his blue-green gaze steady on Sorrela, as she explained that other guards had had suspicions thrown against them. He frowned to hear this, but he remained quiet for now and listened to the rest. Silently, he gave a nod when asked if he remembered. Yes, of course he remembered that. At the time, he had thought the paperwork was all in order, for it looked right to him. But now... now, he couldn't help wondering whether Baelthor had altered the rota, or Mar. He hated not knowing.

A soft little snort of disapproval escaped him, as his eyes rose to the ceiling in exasperation, at the mention of how Sergeant Hâdhon dealt with the matter... or rather how he had managed to avoid dealing with it. Half a year ago, Ric would have wondered how in Arda that lazy man had managed to get the position of sergeant, but... knowing what he knew now? He didn't bother wondering.

Then, hearing that Feirion's signature had also been found on the log for the dungeon.. well, he could understand how that would look bad for the man. But he also felt bad to know that the lieutenant had been under house arrest all these months. Especially if he was innocent. And did he live alone? If so... did he have anyone who came to visit him? From everything he knew of Feirion, he did not think he was the sort of man who would be involved in something like this, and he certainly wouldn't wish such isolation on anyone. He frowned thoughtfully as he considered these things. He didn't think he would be involved in anything shady... but he wouldn't have thought that of Captain Baelthor, either. Until a few months ago.

Holding back a sigh, Ric folded his arms on the desk as he looked at the guard recruit opposite him. It was strange to think that they were the same age. He often tended to think of her as being a little older than him. Probably because he and his brother had been a year behind in school, and she was significantly taller than every other girl he knew. It also seemed strange to think about that, given the fact that he had been her trainer for some time, before his departure. Ric had set out into this occupation at the age of sixteen, while Sorrela had only joined the guards, what, a year ago? She was the newest member of the guards, and yet... she was the one he knew best. He had never really become close with any others. Not that he considered them 'close', but he had gotten to know her a little bit during the time they had spent together in training. He hadn't ever really spent that much time with any of his other colleagues. Therefore, he had realized, ever since that talk with Baelthor, that he didn't know any of his fellow guards well enough to know whether they were shady or not. But not Sorrela. She, being the newest, was the only one among them that he felt could be trusted not to be involved in anything underhanded. And that saddened him tremendously, but he couldn't say anything.

He drew a slow breath as she went on to explain about the Lowendir guy, and his wife. This bit of information made him frown thoughtfully. The frown deepened further as he heard that the captain had not been seen since shortly after Ric had left town. That was... indeed, whatever she would have said, if she had finished that sentence. One could fill in the blank with almost anything. 'Concerning' was the first word to come to his mind. While there was no way he could be sure of anything, it crossed his mind that Mar may have... done something. He could think of at least one reason why his brother might want to get rid of the man, and that thought made his stomach sink to his boots.

"Has anyone ventured to check the captain's house?" He asked hesitantly, not wishing to seem like he was trying to push his way into the investigation or anything, but he was growing quite alarmed by all that he was hearing. "Did he tell anyone where he was going, or why he was leaving?" He had to ask. Ric had done that, after all. He'd left a letter, addressed to the only person he felt could be trusted, trying to explain why he was leaving.

Now, Sorrela was talking about something which had happened in September. Or, rather, she sort of... danced around saying what had actually happened. Ric got a feeling maybe this 'something that happened' may be something she wasn't supposed to tell him about. Which led him to begin wondering if it had something to do with his brother. Maybe... something Mar had done? The recollection flitted into his mind, of Macardil mentioning something which had happened which had resulted in his brother having scars on his arms, but he hadn't gone into specifics. Only something about an angry girl with an angry dog. But he didn't ask if that was the incident to which she was referring.

He tried not to let his mind race off with those thoughts, and instead focused on what Sorrela was saying, now. About how the rangers had gotten involved, and the ranger lieutenant having come by a few times. The ranger lieutenant? The one who had written that letter, which had apparently had something to do with him? He wanted to ask more about that, but he didn't interrupt as Sorrela continued, telling about how Captain Ostoher had been assigned. How everything is finally getting investigated. He sat back slowly, letting his arms drop from the desk's surface, to fall into his lap. He couldn't help but feel a little stunned by this news. All these months, and nothing had been investigated yet?

Just as she was asking him about the two hostages he had mentioned, a knock interrupted any answer he might have given, and before either could give an answer, Guard Darthor came in. Sitting back slowly, Ric's gaze shifted from him, to Sorrela, and back. Was the older guard trying to catch her doing something she shouldn't? Saying something she shouldn't? It did seem that way, the way he had burst in, with hardly a warning.

The former lieutenant kept quiet while they talked, half-wondering if there was something going on that they were keeping from him. But the topic turned to food, and he gave a small nod in reply to Darthor. "I recall what sort of food is available, and I would be very grateful for whatever you might manage to bring me." He answered the man quietly. He had spent much time here ever since becoming a guard. He had often taken his meals here, rather than an inn's common room. Partly because trouble often seemed to find him whenever he stayed too long in a public place. The last time he had ventured to eat at an inn, he'd nearly gotten beat up. By Sorrela's father, in fact...

Clearing his throat quietly as he put aside that memory, Ric tentatively ventured another request, addressing it to Darthor. "Would it be a great deal to ask for... a jacket or something, as well? For warmth?" He didn't expect they would allow him a blanket or a cloak, but the stone structure could get rather cold. The interview rooms had no fireplaces in them, for they were usually only used for a short period of time. So he imagined that spending the night in here would become quite chilly, and he was already cold, though not quite to the point of shivering. Still, he knew from past experience, having worked long hours and late into the night at times, how cold it could get here at night. Especially in the winter. He had a suspicion the night was going to be quite uncomfortable, but a jacket might make it just a bit less cold, at least.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen

Roquen Ostoher son of Aithion, Acting-Captain of the Tower Guard
Tower Guard Headquarters, Minas Tirith, Gondor
Afternoon, December 28th, Fourth Age

As Lord Halberion Veranis, Lord Macardil Himhathol, and Lady Karis Ziranphel filed back into the room, Ostoher stayed a moment by the file cabinets, pipe in mouth, scratching Hurin under his chin a moment longer before he turned and faced the trio. He had to issue silent prayer of thanks that these strangers from distant fiefs and promises had been so instrumental in resolving this conspiracy and determining the truth of the Androllius brothers. Ohtar Farion moved to take a position by the door, where he could open and close to allow others entry or exit, now that the other Guardsmen were given other tasks. Everything seemed to be running like well greased wheels on a new carriage.

”Gentlemen, my Lady, thank you for your time and patience. You will not be kept any longer.” Ostoher began, taking the pipe out of his mouth. ”I have made my decision regarding the information presented by you and others. The actions of Ademar Androllius were most damaging and seditious to the Realm and will be this Guard’s primary target onwards. By your selfless actions, you have cleared the name of Aderic Androllius and rescued him from a dreadful fate. The Guard thanks you for your valour.” Ostoher informed them, moving to stand behind his desk now, ignoring the mewling protests of Hurin who was left without pets. The feline though didn’t budge, eyeing the strange newcomers from his vantage point.

”That being said, Aderic’s life is still in danger and at risk of harm, and will be kept as a guest of the Tower Guard for the time being. The Androllius estate will also be put under watch, by the Tower Guard, with cooperation of the local Lordship. For all intents and purposes, to any looking from the outside, we have the primary suspect Ademar in custody and any contradiction will lead to confusion. My hope is that this news will grant the real Ademar a sense of over-confidence and bring him to expose himself, in the guise of his brother, to which he can be tracked or apprehended.” As we know where the real Aderic is and Ademar will hopefully assume his brother had been imprisoned under the other’s identity. Ostohor described only a modicum of his strategy for now. He didn’t need them to understand it fully. Just to accept something was being done about it.

”There are two options before you. I want you three to either say nothing of what happened here today and swear an oath of secrecy until this matter is resolved.” That was the most obvious resolution to their participation, something that should not be difficult to true sons and daughters of Gondor. But he also knew, looking at these three…they were tremendous assets and allies, that could be helpful in more ways than one. ”Or more, to perpetrate this disinformation in order to encourage our suspect into a false sense of security.”

”With that being said, once your oaths are given, you are free to depart from here. Guardsmen Thorledhos will see to returning your belongings.” Ostoher tapped the top of his chair as he stood behind it, eyeing each in turn with his one good eye. ”Any questions or final remarks you have for me before our business is concluded tonight?”

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Lantaelen @Ercassie

Lord Macardil Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

The Captain was given them all the polite thank yous that were to be expected. Macardil nodded in acknowledgment, even if he found that the man was laying it on rather thick. Better that way than the opposite, though. Much better, actually. And if anyone should be given props for their valour, their time, and their patience... Macardil's eyes flicked to Halberion. Five years, he spent down in that cell. What was five hours at guard headquarters, by comparison? If it had even been that long.

He listened thoughtfully as Ostoher declared that Aderic would remain 'a guest of the Tower Guard'. His expression and bearing gave nothing away as to how he felt about that. In truth, it was not his call. And even if Lieutenant Dealedwen had spoken to him of Reilly and of Androllius - he assumed that either Ostoher, or Karis, or indeed the both of them - would be taking that up with the Ranger officer. Although... if Macardil was truly being honest with himself, he did still feel indebted to Arnyn after how she handled the matter with his friend, Trevadir. She would want to know.

The news that it would be the Tower Guard who would put the Androllius estate under watch, was a little surprising. Macardil's blue eyes flicked to Ziranphel, wondering how she would indeed react to that.

When the acting Captain of the Minas Tirith Tower Guard had stated his wishes - for they were, in fact, no more than that, since Macardil did not fall in any way under his chain of command, and neither did Halberion or Ziranphel - Macardil was once again reminded of Amathen. "We hear your wishes," he could still not help but point out that little nuance. There was some pride in him, still.

"We also thank you for your time, and hearing our statements yourself, and so promptly," he began, returning the courtesy the Captain had shown them.

"I am no pretender of falsehoods, so I swear I will not speak of the matter to others, barring those present in this room at this very moment and the Ranger Command, meaning Captain Alarion and Lieutenant Dealedwen." He assessed Ostoher's good eye as he continued. "The latter visited me earlier this month, given some findings and questions she had in regards to Reilly Veranis - given that she learned he was my Valar-child." Macardil's gaze briefly flicked to Hal, then back. "She also mentioned Androllius. And the possibility of him having a twin, although she had yet to determine whether the possibility, or the assumption, was actual fact, at the time."

He figured that was all that was to be said, for his part. The nod he gave, made it clear he was now leaving the floor to Ziranphel and Halberion.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Ercassie @Lantaelen

Halberion Veranis
Guard HQ - Dec 28, Evening now

Hal glanced briefly at the young guard, Farion, when he moved over to guard the door. The recently liberated prisoner had to remind himself that it was not to keep them in, and therefore, he forced himself to relax. Only a little.

Instead, he focused on Captain Ostoher as the man said he had made a decision. He was glad to hear that Ric had been spared from 'a dreadful fate', although Hal wasn't entirely sure he liked the sound of the young man being 'kept as a guest of the Tower Guard'. At least he did add 'for the time being'. He wondered how Ric felt about it, but he made no comment.

He did, however, feel a need to set one thing straight. He frowned at the captain's use of the words 'Androllius estate'. "I believe you mean the Ansellidus estate, Captain." Hal corrected him. He did understand, of course. The two names were quite similar, and since Ademar had been using the name of Ansellidus, one might easily come to think of them as interchangeable. But Hal's testimony here had included the fact that the last heir of the Ansellidus family had been tortured and murdered by Ademar, who then took over his identity... it did not sit well with him to hear the name of the imposter being used in place of the victim's.

"Also, that estate is already under watch by the guards of Imloth Melui, and they have sworn to keep it secure until the king can deal with the matter. Since there is no local lordship there, anymore, we turned the matter over to the guards of the nearest settlement." He explained. "So that should ease your mind on that matter, captain." He wouldn't blame captain Ostoher for contacting the captain of the Imloth Melui guard, to confirm this, of course.

Holding onto the back of a chair, Hal was starting to feel the weariness of it all taking its toll on him, yet he did not wish to sit down and rest, yet. He could push himself to remain standing a bit longer, so not to appear as weak as he felt, in front of the captain. He frowned slightly at the words of the captain, speaking about how he was going to pretend to the public, like they had Ademar in custody. "What does that mean, for Aderic?" He had to ask. "Is he to be kept a prisoner, then? And is he in agreement with this plan?" He had been hoping the young man would have his name cleared, and that things would turn out well for him. But if they were going to pretend that they believed they had Mar in custody, then he would have to be treated as a prisoner. Which was not fair to the young man, who had already been held prisoner for months, without cause.

And he was asking them to not only keep it a secret, what had happened, but to also help spread the lie that Ademar had been caught. Hal was not really in favor of that. While he did not know everyone who had been a victim of that imposter, he could imagine how many of those people would feel if they saw Ric, and were told that he was Mar. The one who had done this or that to them. And he could also understand that many such people, if they'd had anything close to the experiences that Hal and his family had had... might feel inclined toward expressing violence toward the young man.

Hal's expression remained somewhat frowning, although he was inwardly pleased to hear Macardil's response to the captain's wishes. Well put, he thought. The mention of his son's name brought that familiar little ache in his heart, but enough time had passed since his death that the father could put aside his grief over that loss, to focus on the matters at hand. Hal waited while his friend spoke, while trying to think. The captain would make his own decisions, of course, for this was his command. But Hal did want him to consider all of the possible outcomes of that decision.

Hal cleared his throat quietly, once Macardil had finished speaking. "You mentioned the concern of Aderic's life being at risk," Hal spoke up again. "I assume you mean from his brother? Has it occurred to you that there are more immediate risks to his safety if people are led to believe that he is the criminal responsible for... everything he's accused of?" He leaned a little on the chair, but he did not sit. "Not everyone has a proper level of restraint, if they feel they deserve some revenge against wrongdoing. And all for the hope that Ademar may turn up, if he believes his brother has been arrested?" He frowned. "I detest that twin with everything in me.. but I will say this for him; he is not stupid. I've spent five years as his prisoner, Captain." His hands gripped the chair back, though he did not have much strength in his grip. "My guess is that the reason he fled the estate months ago, when his brother turned up, was because he knew the game was over. That's why he took off, and hasn't been back in months. With my daughter, Alyssa, as a hostage." That pained him. It pained him even more to know that he, Hal, did not have the physical ability to go looking for her, yet. That he was going to have to take some time to recover from his long imprisonment, before he could even consider such a search.

He was getting a little worked up, Hal acknowledged. He took a slow breath, regaining his calm. "I suffered greatly at his hands, captain. My family has suffered. My son, my wife, murdered before my eyes. My daughters.." He paused to swallow down a lump swelling in his throat. "The point is, regardless how I feel about Ademar, Aderic is innocent. I believe he has a good heart, and he's tried his best to do the right things. He was a good friend to my son, and he did all he could to get me help, to free me from that terrible dungeon." He had to speak on the young man's behalf, feeling a certain debt to him for that. "And I know this is your decision to make, but personally, I don't like the idea of it. I am not in favor of it, and I will not go along with it." And he did not have to, either, he added mentally. They could not hold them here, after all, so they could really leave anytime they wished. It was a courtesy that they had waited this long, as far as Hal saw it. More for the sake of knowing what would happen to Ric, than anything.

"And to be honest, I also don't think it will be very effective." He continued. "From everything I have been hearing since being freed from that place, Ademar has every reason to suspect that he will be arrested on sight, if he should ever turn up in Minas Tirith again. He has people who work for him, who can keep him informed about what's going on, and if he has anyone here in the city, they're bound to let him know that Ric has been arrested, so he'd have to be awfully desperate to come around, unless he can disguise himself extremely well." He sighed. "Honestly, I think the only reason he would risk coming here at all anymore, is if he believed that he could get something that he wants very badly." Hal frowned thoughtfully. "I hate to say this, but I don't think he cares about his brother enough to risk himself to help him. He's thrown Ric to the wolves over and over, all their lives. So why should he care if Ric might suffer for his crimes? He's been doing that to the poor guy for all their lives, from what I understand." Hal shook his head slowly. "I don't think he's likely to come around here unless he thinks Ric has been cleared of everything. If he believes that no one believes the twin story, he'll think he can still pull off a swap whenever he wants. If he thinks that Ric is cleared of all charges, and back instated as a guard, he might think he could resume taking advantage of that position."

He slowly pushed off from leaning on the chair, and reached for his friend, deciding he would like to leave now. And he might as well use his weariness to help achieve that goal. "I think I should get some rest, my friend." he admitted quietly. "It has been a long, taxing day, and I have yet to even see a healer since arriving," He explained to the captain. "Good evening, captain. If you wish to speak to me further, I will be staying with Lord and Lady Himhathol for the time being."

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Lantaelen @Rillewen @Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel, Lady Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

It had begun with pretty words of thanks for their time and efforts, but as she listened to the rest of What Captain Ostoher laid out, any ease Ziran had was quickly replaced. She’d kept her silence by a practiced method of pressing her tongue against her teeth while the Captain gave orders veiled as suggestions and the men with her raised good points of their own about those suggestions before Halberion deemed to speak for her by declaring an end to their meeting. Ziran had been staring at the Captain and then the feathered helm on his desk after a brief perusal of his office with her head slightly tilted forward in a listening posture, but she now lifted her hand in a staying gesture. “Wait.” She knew Veranis was likely just tired, but she wasn’t going to be silenced by either him or the guard captain. She concurred about his points regarding Aderic, but couldn’t let the other part rest. Macardil had, in his usual fashion, been very polite and the epitome of nobility. She…well she wasn’t by a long stretch. Ziran knew enough about the workings from her former time as commander to know when someone was claiming more authority than they were granted, even with the reorganization under Aragorn. His words had been all politeness and brushed away the rest of the issues.


She straightened to level her gaze at Ostoher and spoke clearly but not loudly. “With all due respect, Captain. You are stepping beyond your jurisdiction to command me in these matters. I realize you are new to your post, but know this, Your purview does not extend beyond Minas Tirith or to the Rangers unless they break the laws of the city. The Rangers report to the King independently of the Tower Guard, and I must report to my own captain and the King about what I shared with you and further actions taken within on the King’s behalf as a Ranger. In doing so I must be able to speak about these matters. Yet I am not loose lipped, and will not speak with anyone who does not need to know. It has been out of courtesy and so that you might be fully informed so as to treat Aderic rightly that we spoke with you today and given of our time. The Rangers will be the ones to follow up with the Guards of Imloth Melui as the King sees fit, as Lord Veranis mentioned.”


Pausing, Ziran did not flinch from meeting Ostoher’s gaze. She had been as succinct as possible rather than couching her meaning in pleasant phrases, and she wasn’t sure how he would take it. “In other words, I decline both of the options you put forth, Captain. Will you forbid us leave?”

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen @Lantaelen @Ercassie

Lord Macardil Himhathol
Guard Headquarters - December 28th

Macardil's throat bobbed when Halberion spoke. For even after all his friend had experienced, despite how tired Halberion must be, despite the way Hal despised Ademar - he was still finding the empathy and the energy to speak further on Aderic's behalf. Sapphire eyes focused keenly upon his friend. The way he was standing. The tone of his voice.

The point made about others seeking vengeance against Ademar, if word spread the Guard had him under arrest, made Macardil tilt his head. Yes... but only if Aderic would be allowed to roam the city. And based off the Captain's words, it had sounded more like they were going to keep Aderic locked up. Not in a cell, perhaps, but still kept off the streets. For how would the Captain otherwise be able to support the claim that they had arrested Ademar?

Hal's other points were much more intriguing, however. Macardil could not imagine they would not give Captain Ostoher pause. Macardil held back a smile then, proud at his friend for having, apparently, lost absolutely none of the 'fight' he had in him, mentally. If that even needed to have been made any clearer, after the way Halberion had kept it together for years in that dank dungeon.

Halberion did not agree to perpetuate the ruse. And, Macardil noted, he did not swear he would not speak of it, either. That gave Macardil pause. Was Hal wiser not to swear what Macardil had sworn? A face suddenly popped up into his mind. Trevadir. Now Macardil could not tell him anything about this. And neither would he be able to correct his friend, if he said anything about it. Or answer him, if he asked. Macardil's brows drew together in a frown.

When Hal reached for him, Macardil reached back without thinking. He nodded at Hal's words, but his eyes flicked over to Ziranphel. If he knew her at all.. she would still have a few things to say, as well. For while Macardil was no longer a ranger... his wife most definitely was.

It was soon time to hold back yet another smile. For Ziranphel did not disappoint. She was very clear in her outlining of the Captain's jurisdiction, and rebellious in the way she refused to heed his.. commands.. wishes... - whatever one might choose to call them. What she said was true, but her delivery was very... well. Her. Even if he was not entirely sure what to think about it. She was also much more vocal than Halberion had been in the refusal to swear anything, and hold herself to either of the two options presented.

Well well.

Macardil let out a thoughtful hum. "I do not believe he can forbid us," he mused quietly, but loudly enough for all in the room to hear. "I have sworn - and while Lord Veranis and Lady Himhathol have not, neither falls under the Captain's command, nor have any of us committed any sort of crime."

He aimed an apologetic smile at Ostoher. "I apologize for what may be considered as my companions' lack of cooperation, Captain. One of the matters my Lady has just pointed out, might be of some comfort, however: I am sure that neither of my companions will speak of this to anyone who would not be on a strict need-to-know-basis. Such as the Lady's own commanding officers. In truth, that is basically the same as the oath you have received from my own lips," he sought to clarify, and possibly smooth over at least that part.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn @Karis Ziranphel @Rillewen

Roquen Ostoher son of Aithion, Acting-Captain of the Tower Guard
Tower Guard Headquarters, Minas Tirith, Gondor
Afternoon, December 28th, Fourth Age

The Lord and knight, Macardil was willing to give his oath to respect the sensitive need of the case, and Ostoher was gracious to his soldierly responsibility. But the other two proved troublesome. ”I will be speaking to the King regarding it’s wardenship, so you may rest your mind on the matter. The estate is crucial to the outcome of this investigation.” He informed Lord Veranis, who began to inquire about Aderic’s status and condition. He seemed to not believe the Tower Guard capable of securing Aderic’s life and safety. Moreso, he seemed to be very knowledgeable about Ademar’s intentions and motives, to an almost suspicious point of awareness. And yet failed to understand the complexities of Ostoher’s scheme to draw Ademar out. Ostoher chalked it up to the man’s weariness and waved his hand to indicate Lord Veranis’ concerns were duly noted.

But he was right. It was Ostoher’s decision to make. And he was really going to talk about the danger from within to Aderic’s life, so tastelessly, next to a man who stabbed his very captain in the back? Did the old Lord not hear himself speak? He must be very, very tired. Ostoher just gave him a sad smile. Locked up for five years, he really was above his head in all this.

Lady Karis was a lot less helpful, citing boundaries and jurisdictions, prattling like some ridiculous lawyer. This was not a trial or court case, this was the chain of command. He was an officer. She was not. Yet she acted like she was above both law and duty to Gondor, their shared Kingdom and home, and that she didn’t need to abide by the wishes and requests of an Captain of the Crown and a knight of the White Tree. What, was operational security about a sensitive, serious ongoing investigation and a promise not to discuss it too arrogant for her to simply accept? It was nothing short of selfish conceit that rolled from her lips and Ostoher just rolled his one good eye and tapped the backrest of the chair before him idly, letting her finish her tirade.

Lord Macardil tried to soften his wife’s meaning. I apologize for what might be considered as my companions’ lack of cooperation. ”Not considered.” Ostoher corrected sternly. ”Is.” Ostoher pointed out. It is a lack of cooperation. He fully regarded it as the opposite and it would be noted. ”I understand if a simple verbal promise to maintaining silence on an active case is too difficult for you. Not everyone has the understanding of the need or necessity for guarding sensitive information. A shame and a deep vulnerability for the safety of the Realm. But I will take care of this breach.” He grinned ruefully. ”You can spare me your entitled grandstanding, Ranger. We serve the same King. My purview does not extend beyond the City, fine. But neither does yours extend to within the city. This is my case to handle and if you will not cooperate, then you will simply not be involved. And your insubordination to a superior officer within that City will be duly noted to the proper authorities in this matter. And there will be consequences.” He guaranteed to them all, looking at each in turn.

But then he gave a smile again. ”With all due respect, of course.” He mimicked the words, as if they meant anything after the obstinate way they reacted to a simple oath of secrecy regarding these affairs. Guess they weren’t invested in resolutions after all. Just their own personal aggrandizement and self-importance. But he was done humouring them. ”Now, you may all leave my office and attend to your own affairs. It has been very clearly demonstrated your priorities in this matter and it is not for the sake of law and order within Minas Tirith. So be gone. And whatever happens next, remember, you caused this rift with your hysterical lack of tact and respect. Dismissed, gentlemen.” Ostoher dismissed them and gestured to Ohtar Farion to let them out, who opened the door expectantly for them.

When they had gone, Ostoher sighed and strode back to Hurin, tickling the observant feline under his chin again, thinking about the conversation and the information received therein. A deep and powerful lesson to be learned here about the selfishness of institutions and it’s servants, always looking to put their own needs forth before the needs of the whole. Pride and vanity, that would always be the bane of the Dúnedain. He smiled slyly over to his squire. ”Some folk are just destined to remain strangers to honour.” The old knight chuckled.