Midwinter Masquerade

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"The same as you, unfortunately," she told him in response to his question. "They look like such majectic animals in the drawings, though," she mused. "Perhaps we will both yet see a lion in the flesh, one day. Who knows." The Fairy noted that the way the Lion spoke, was rather formal. The way he formed his sentences, some of his vocabulary. Not formal in that he was unfriendly. But formal in a way that reminded her of... what the nobility tended to call 'good breeding' and a 'fine education'.

"What kind of animal would you most love to see, then?" she asked. "Is it the lion? Or another one?"

She smiled faintly when the Lion claimed the dress looked good on her. When he rephrased it, turning the idea around, she wasn't immediately sure what to say and she was grateful for the mask covering most of her face. She wasn't used to men commenting on her outward appearance - other than when she looked too bloody to be deemed safe, or when she looked exhausted after nights of too little sleep. If they even dared comment at those times.

Thankfully he was amused by her request for more dancing and less talking, and proceeded with stepping up their dance moves. Her smile returned, pleased. She wouldn't have figured that someone would just spontaneously ask her to dance. Let alone that if anyone would, they'd turn out to be an excellent dancer! Quite enjoying herself, she matched his steps, easily keeping up with him. And shot him a little grin. "That's more like it," she said, her approval obvious.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Swan

Sir Fox had some kind, parting words for that particular topic. And of all the anecdotes and hopeful messaging she received about the entire affair of marriage, his seemed the most resonating. It was not much in fact but it was…solid. It came down to just speaking with one’s intended. But it was so hard, when these things were arranged by parents, sometimes before those intended to be wed even understood the whole concept. And then it was tradition not to mingle or consort with the opposite gender anyways. She knew nothing what to expect, except by what she learned at these events and functions.

The worse being that…there was so much better out there. And she was stuck with that.

Sir Fox took notice too of what drew Swan’s eyes, after which he once more regained the fascination of earlier in those eyes when he gave a guess. ”The Queen…and the King?” Swan said with hushed excitement, eyes wide and mouth ajar as she gazed at the other couple. Yes, the Queen held more fascination than the King in her mind, as evidenced by the ordering of the pair. ”Can we get closer?” She inquired of Sir Fox, hoping he might put that fox wit to good use somehow, forgetting that she wasn’t supposed to be getting any closer to this young man but the excitement of a scheme together somehow just felt right. Like she had done it before, or something. Just this one thing, then you can get rid of me and we can succour our reputations back.

---

@Rillewen

King Cheddar

Of course Lady Cat didn’t let the argument go. He had to smile at her pride and audacity. Some just had to have the last word. But Cheddar shrugged, because he was not that man, and he knew to let a lady win the first round or two. But maybe not this time. ”Divine luck.” He reiterated. ”One beautiful lady after the other. I do not usually manage this. Surely you’ll be last, to leave the most lasting impression on what the standards of beauty ought to be, my Lady.” Well, truthfully, he never managed it at all, which is why he felt the importance of it all the more keenly.

She then asked what it is that he did. And she used the word confidential. It made his eyebrows pique to their highest level, his eyes looking at her most curiously. Yes, he was here indeed on very confidential business. It was a strange thing too, pleasure before business, enjoying this function and masquerade before the actual, more serious obligation. But he wasn’t going to tell her that. He didn’t want to sound rude or haughty either. Look how important I am. Never that. He just smiled politely and shook his head.

”Please, I am not that important.” He said humbly about himself. ”Just delivering a few sealed missives, from one officer to another, across the Realm.” He wiggled his eyebrows to jokingly emphasis how serious that is. Depends on the content of the message. ”And you, you’ve come a long way just to dance and make friends. Are you sure there isn’t another alternative?” He queried her back playfully, dodging the query about his business by asking about her own.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Sir Lion

He considered the comment about the lion being majestic as they danced. "Perhaps so, but I would not like to get too close to one, lest it tear my flesh from me." He laughed softly. "As for what animal I would most like to see?" He shrugged. "I don't really know. I haven't really thought much about animals, but I have always had a certain admiration for wolves. Not that I want to meet one up close, but they are very impressive creatures." He debated mentioning that he knew a young girl who would love to see any and all sort of animals, but decided that it was not really very useful to the conversation with this lovely lady.

As she expressed her approval of his dancing, he grinned and continued in that level of dancing, keeping up with the timing of the music while still managing more complicated steps. The fact that she kept up with his lead was also impressive. "You have an exceptional level of skill, my lady." He commented.

---

@Lantaelen

Sir Fox

"I could be wrong," He warned her, but it did seem quite likely that it was, indeed, them. Why else would so many be moving out of their way, and stopping to look their way, and so forth? When Lady Swan requested to move closer, he took a glance around before adjusting the path of their dancing steps, so that it would bring them a bit closer. "It may get crowded," He joked. "Seems everyone wants to move closer and get a good look at them," He grinned. Of course, he was also curious, but he also lived and worked mostly in the sixth circle.

Soon, their slow rotation of dance had brought them as near as he dared to get, and in fact, he felt as if a citadel guard was likely to swoop in out of nowhere and insist that they move further away. He'd never been so close to the king before, and he was one of his rangers! Though he kept his attention on the lady he was dancing with, he couldn't help but take quick glances their way. He let her twirl, slowly, so that she could get another look at them while she was twirling.

The path of their dancing inevitably took them away from that spot again, but it had been a bit of a thrill while it lasted. "Well, now you can say you've danced close to the king and queen," he mentioned with a grin. A moment later, the song came to a soft end. He smiled and bowed to her. "It has been a pleasure dancing with you, Lady Swan." he declared. "May I escort you back to your table?" He asked, offering his arm to do just that.

---

@Lantaelen

Lady Cat

"If you say so," She accepted with a little smile, as he insisted it was divine. She refrained from rolling her eyes, however. Divine, sure. She smiled, however, despite the ridiculous claim. "Hmm, yes, that is the best sort of impression for a lady to give, isn't it?" She was always in favor of compliments. Although she found it a rather doubtful that he seriously considered her more beautiful than his elf queen, she didn't object to him saying such things.

When she asked about his profession, he seemed surprised, or curious, or something she couldn't quite place. But he denied being anyone important, and spoke as if he were merely a messenger of some sort. She tilted her head. Those words only made her more curious, and she couldn't help wondering about those messages he was delivering. From whom, to whom, and what did they contain? But of course.. that was probably a hint that she ought not ask more about it.

As for her own business, she smiled back coyly. "What makes you think I would have any sort of business?" She asked. "It's a time of festivity, isn't it? Why should anyone have alternative reasons to come and enjoy a dance such as this?" She looked around with a smile at the decorations before looking back at him. "Are you are least enjoying it, Messenger boy?" She asked teasingly, just as the music was coming to an end. She glanced toward the musician stand, slightly surprised the song was over so soon, then turned back to Sir Cheddar, curious if he would answer her question.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen

The Gilded

“She gets a couple apples a day if I can help it,” Gilded said with a hearty smile. “And a cube of sugar whenever I can get my hands on it without being chased by an angry cook for snatching such a precious food item only to feed it to a horse. She’s rather spoiled, but then again she is very sweet too, and very gentle.”

She shrugged, as much as the dancing position permitted her to, and raised an eyebrow when it appeared that Teal thought a kitten and a round-about way counted as outlandish.

“You could say so, probably. Besides, I’m sure you have figured out some of my strangest traits while we were adventuring,” she chuckled, happily dancing away and not being in too much hurry to fetch a drink.

Red Rooster

Rooster tilted his head with a smile and nodded as he agreed: “Sure, there’s always Pelennor. A plenty of trees there for sure, and everything else green and blooming.”

“A good age then, not too ancient,” he laughed then at her vague answer. “Else it would make me ancient too, you know.”

He looked into his cup thoughtfully for a few moments when Orchid spoke of her archery skills, and then smiled again at her. “And I was always told: don’t aim at people or animals. Apparently, that would depend on circumstances now when I am no longer a child.”

@Rillewen

Meadow

“There is that, true,” Meadow agreed to Dragon’s considerations on dancing – rather not dancing – with Nymph. “At least I did dance with her, though it was a very silly dance.”

Meadow laughed softly and shook her head. “I know nothing much of you, Sir Dragon. But who wouldn’t like good food, I wonder?” she said merrily. “I have not eaten that much yet. Then again – what have I been doing?” She looked most thoughtful for a while, and then laughed.

“I only finished that hot chocolate, then there was dancing, and some talking. No, not much food, truly. Perhaps it should be remedied,” she stated eventually.

@Arnyn

Black Lips

“A warrior it is,” she confirmed, and an amusement lit her blue eyes when he mentioned gloom and lack of fun. “Really? Is that a thing, Mr Sunbeam? The profession necessitates a lot of seriousness, but without any fun at all it would be horrible.”

In her mind, Black Lips thought over all the comrades trying to fit someone to the description of Sunbeam’s sister. “Hmm,” she mused. “You will not tell me who your sister is, no? Else it is difficult for me to judge if I am like her. Though perhaps I am. I do like a little bit of fun, occasionally… I guess… Though people are surely to say it is way too little.”

“Fine. Some spinning – if you keep me from falling. And jokes are all right,” she agreed. She tilted her head slightly at his joke though and said: “Errr… Hunched over? Stressed out?... I don’t know. You tell me.”

@Arnyn

Amethyst

“He seemed very much composed, love,” Amethyst laughed softly. “Lord Dimaethor. Though who knows what went on behind that exterior. Intimidated… It seems to me that they are very much in awe rather.”

For a few moments Arwen simply looked at her husband with a smile, and then lowered her voice to near whisper: “I am very much satisfied with the love of this mortal man. What else does a queen even need?”

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

What the Lion said about admiring wolves, combined with his comment about lions just a moment before - that he wouldn't want a lion to tear his flesh from him - it made her neck stiffen. Once she'd forced herself to relax her muscles again by taking slow, deep breaths, which would not be noticable to her dancing partner, she smiled faintly. "You think a wolf would not tear your flesh from you, sir?" she asked, trying to ignore the sudden itch she got on the skin between her neck and shoulder. "Though I cannot deny that was you say is true. A wolf is an impressive creature, indeed." She remembered that gaping jaw, those teeth - but most of all, the saliva dripping down on her...

His compliment on her dancing fell on half-deaf ears as the Fairy tried to keep her hands from touching her neck - from wiping at something that wasn't there. "So do you," she managed, however, and she was rather relieved at how polite and friendly it sounded. As if she wasn't distracted at all.

It was as if the musicians could feel the shift in her thoughts. The song came to an end, and offered her the perfect reason to disengage from this gentleman. While he was friendly, she could use a moment by herself. Even if it was only a minute. The Fairy stepped back, looking ever as poised as before. And curtsied slightly - and elegantly. "I appreciate the dance, sir," she told him genuinely.

---

@Pele Alarion

Golden Sunbeam

His eyes sparkled when she said he was right in his guess. A warrior, then! He shrugged at her question. "It seems to be a thing for a good number of you. Probably not all. I can only speak to my own experience, of course. Alas! I cannot tell you who my sister is," he said regretfully. "Or she will surely have my guts for breakfast, tomorrow."

Black Lips did not have to tell him more than once that she agreed to spinning. Even while she took a guess at his joke, he spun her around while he was grinning at her guesses of why Mithrandir was hunched over and stressed out. After he had spun her three times and then safely returned her to his arms, he chuckled. "He was under-staffed."

That seemed to line up with the end of the song, too. He couldn't have timed it any better if he'd tried. He stepped back, only holding onto her hand with his as he bowed to her. "At least we managed a bit of spinning before the end of the song, Lady Warrior. Allow me to escort you off the dancefloor? I no longer see your friend by the bar, but feel free to tell me where you would prefer me to unleash you upon the rest of the unsuspecting crowd?"

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

King Cheddar

”So, a party is your business, huh? I must wonder…how does one enter this line of work full time.” Cheddar snickered, giving a roll and shrug of his shoulders. No, she was right, did people need any other business to latch on to the activity of a festival? It was good that people could come to Gondor for merriment and not just…war or trade. It made all the sacrifices of the last ten years all the more worthwhile to see these changes. Though he didn’t intend to, a slight gleam of sadness came into his eyes, though his expression remained smiling and courteous. So many who would not get to know such peace and happiness…

”I have enjoyed it to the fullest, my Lady.” He replied back graciously, ignoring the teasing barb of being called a messenger boy. Nothing done in the service of the Realm could ever shame him. Or so he thought thus far. The music came to an end and Cheddar could see his parents by the threshold, making their departure, and he knew he ought to follow suit in the next few moments, as a responsible man would do. He raised up Lady Cat’s hand and pressed a kiss to the back of it, before clasping his other hand upon hers to give it a squeeze.

”You have been a most delightful partner and companion for this dance and song. I fear no other shall come near to it in style.” He praised her with a broad grin. ”But I fear for this messenger boy, he must be away to the land of slumber, else he might sleep past his obligation and forget he has duties still to attend to. Thank you for tolerating me, my Lady.” He said and released her hand, taking a step back and giving her a courteous bow, allowing others to step up to claim her for a dance, or not. Once she said her parting words and any other follow up questions, he would return to the table he had seen his sister at and collect her and others to take their leave for the night.

But first…one more drink for the road.

---

@Rillewen

Lady Swan

”We’ll just take a quick peek and then beat a hasty retreat.” Swan encouraged Sir Fox, giving a broad smile. How often did one get to see royalty? Let alone the Return of the King. And his elf queen! Her father and brother had seen them. Why not her as well? Sir Fox was elegant though, leading her through a slightly more vigorous pace to allow them to drift nearer through the crowd and leaning in close to her dance partner, Swan spied on the royal couple for several good seconds, utterly drinking in the vibe and look of them.

Everything she ever imagined of a King and Queen.

Eventually, they drifted away and her disquiet lingered on her. She felt like a moth, having drifted to close to a flame, and now felt so spent. Like all her senses were simultaneously overwhelmed and needed a rest. ”I will say so, often and plenty.” She joked about the claim, the song coming to an end. She felt an exhaustion deep in her limbs and a growing heaviness on her eyes. As stunning and gorgeous as the party was, she was nearing her limits. And in her exhaustion she might do something unladylike, like trip or step on someone’s toes! She needed to be responsible.

”Thank you, Sir Fox. Yes, you may escort me back.” She perked up, returning to use of the elvish tongue as she wrapped both her hands around his arm. His bicep specifically, impressive as it was to her experience. She walked with him in a comfortable silence and bliss, feeling like she was being carried in a dreamlike state, all her actions dependent on this man’s steadiness. She panicked though, when she saw her brother ahead and already on his way to the table where Nymph was, his back to them. She didn’t want another embarrassing encounter…! So she halted there, a dozen paces away and released herself from Sir Fox.

”You are most kind and gracious, my Lord Fox. I hope you come to the fullness of the happiness owed to you.” She said in an elegant farewell, stepping back one pace and performing the best curtsey she might ever imagine, eyes demur for the gesture, back straight, her poise flawless and smooth, like water. Will she ever see him again? It seemed all the young men who left such a sensation on her mind came and went so fast. It was doubtful.

With the final words said and their backs turned to one another, Swan approached her brother and Nymph at the table. She smiled at her friend and sat next to her with a sigh. ”I am beat.” She said exasperated to her friend. ”You were able to get permission to spend the night with me?” She asked Nymph with some renewed excitement, as she had seen the other talking to her parents, but they were gone, and Nymph was still here, so that must mean she had been given permission.

Soon Cheddar returned. ”Did the pretty boy say his farewells?” Cheddar asked with a laugh as he sat down at their table, having detoured to snatch a cup of wine from a passing waiter and sipping on it, now arriving seconds after Swan to the table.

Swan looked aghast. How did he know? He was facing the other way! ”He’s not a boy. You are!”

The barb didn’t work, Cheddar having been called that already and perhaps worse this night. He shrugged. ”Father and mother are gone. Let us be away as well. I have things to do on the morrow and I cannot leave without you.” He said rather seriously. His eyes were steely.

”A moment.” Swan said, leaning towards Nymph, using her as cover so that she might raise her masque up and rub her eyes quickly, out of sight to all. And for a moment she felt a pang of sadness, truly not wishing to depart, but she knew neither her or her brother had the leeway for more in this beautiful hall and party. And then she rose, once everything was adjusted and offered her arm to Nymph as well. "I'm not ready to go but I can't keep my eyes awake." She lamented.

”And did you have fun too, little lady? Ready to go home?” Cheddar asked to Nymph, putting away the half cup of wine, not wanting anymore, rising to his feet and ready to lead them away and towards their rented home on the Pelennor.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Sir Lion

He paused to consider the question. "Well, I suppose it would," He acknowledged. "I didn't necessarily mean that I wished to encounter any wolves. But if I were going to admire any such predator from afar, at a safe distance.. I prefer wolves to any sort of feline. However," He smiled, "I was told this mask would look good on me, so I agreed to it." Actually, he had not gone with a wolf because he didn't want anyone to make any connections between that and his family crest. Perhaps he ought not have even mentioned it, but he didn't think the woman was very likely to make any such connection, even if she were from Belfalas.

Her return compliment about his dancing made his smile widen a bit more. "Thank you, my lady." He replied, pleased to hear such a compliment. He was glad for a chance to show off his more advanced dancing skills, as he hadn't been able to do much earlier. But alas, just then, the song came to a close. He hid his disappointment with a polite smile, bowing to the lady as she curtsied. "It was a pleasure, and a rare one at that, getting to dance with a fairy," He grinned and offered his arm to her. "Shall I return you to where I found you, my lady?"

After she had indicated her consent on that, he led her back to the bar where he had first approached her. Elegantly, he bowed once again, and held onto her hand briefly, to place a light kiss upon the back of it. "I hope the rest of your evening is as pleasant for you, as that single dance was for me." He declared, gazing at what he could see of her face. He wished he could see her eyes, but alas, that strange mesh hid them from view.

After moving away from the lady, he began to search for his next dance partner. The woman in red was dancing with some other fellow now, much to his disappointment, so he scanned the ballroom for anyone else that might be without a partner at the moment. As his gaze spotted a rather pretty lady standing, alone, near the dance floor, he smiled in satisfaction and directed his steps that way.

---

@Lantaelen @Arnyn

Lady Cat

A party, business? She considered how to comment to that, but before she could make any reply, the song was ending. She grinned slightly. "That will simply have to remain my secret, I suppose." She answered teasingly, instead of anything else she might have said. How to enter full time into the line of party business, indeed. She thought briefly about the conversation she'd had with.. well, the queen, as it turned out. It still seemed a bit unreal, to think about.

As the gentleman kissed her hand and declared he had enjoyed the dance, and that she had been a delightful partner for the song, she dipped into a small curtsy. "Thank you for the dance, sir." She replied courteously, then smiled as he thanked her for tolerating him. "Of course. But I would not wish to delay you from your very important message deliveries," She added with a twinkle of amusement in her dark eyes. "Have a good night, messenger boy." She couldn't resist a final teasing comment, since he had not objected to the words before.

And then he turned and headed off to a group by the tables, leaving her there on the dance floor. Lady Cat watched after him for a few seconds, frowning in thought, then she glanced around herself briefly before stepping off the dance floor. The song had ended, and it seemed that a few other pairings were breaking off and swapping up. She still looked thoughtful as she considered those last few moments. Wondering about a few things, she moved a few paces away from the dance area and took another glance around. As her gaze swept across the various people in masks, she took note of where a few particular ones were, before she caught the gaze of another that brought a small smile to her face.

She'd only made about a half step in his direction, thinking she might manage to meet up with him about the time he'd parted from the lady he was currently dancing with, when another man stepped into her view. His appearance caught her slightly off guard, but he greeted her politely. She blinked, observing the lion mask, and her smile widened just a touch as she greeted him back. As he asked to claim her for the next dance, Lady Cat found she could not resist a chance to dance with someone wearing a lion mask.. after all, it was highly amusing that the two felines should share a dance together. So, she agreed, and joined him onto the floor as the next song struck up its first chords.

---

@Lantaelen

Sir Fox

He nodded as the lady agreed to be escorted back to her table. Her Foxglove friend had found a young man to dance with, it seemed, but the younger one, Nymph, was sitting there waiting. He felt a bit bad for her.. he had not seen any boys about her age around here this evening, and he wondered if it would be too amiss or improper to offer her another dance. Yet, at the same time, something in the back of his mind was warning him not to have too much contact with his sister, lest she figure out who he was.

So, it was probably a good thing that Lady Swan stopped their approach to the table before they had arrived within speaking distance. He smiled at Lady Swan's words, bowing politely to her. "Thank you, my lady. I wish the same for you," He added, meaning it sincerely. He figured kissing her hand would be inappropriate, considering they were both betrothed to someone else, so he did not, but he did smile at her. "It has been a great joy to dance and talk with you, this evening. I hope you enjoyed it as well." Giving another final bow, he took his leave of her as she went to join her younger friend. And.. the older gentleman who had come back over there, curiously enough.

After withdrawing to the buffet table, he glanced back their way as he absently added a few morsels of food onto a plate, and hesitated as he noticed that guy in the orange sash was with them again. They were leaving together. He tried not to stare at them, but he couldn't help sneaking glances their way as the trio made their way toward the exit together. He was fairly certain he knew who the fellow was... and if his young sister had been entrusted to the care of both him and lady Swan, then.. then that meant that her parents knew and trusted them well. So, did that mean..? He stared toward the door for a little while even after they had gone, frowning slightly as he thought back over everything that had been said between he and lady Swan, particularly in that last dance.

---

@Lantaelen

Forest Nymph

It seemed like she had, only a few moments ago, gotten permission to stay later, when it was time to leave, again. Fighting disappointment, Nymph watched Swan's brother approach, but Swan got to her first. "Yes, I did!" She answered Swan happily. "They even checked it with your parents, and they said it was fine, so I get to go back with you." She was delighted by that, for it meant they could have more time to do things together.

When Swan's brother joined them and teased her about Sir Fox, Nymph merely rolled her eyes, but she had nothing really to comment on the matter, so she said nothing. When Swan leaned closer, she thought for a moment she was going to whisper something, but then the girl realized she was only rubbing her eyes. Nymph kept quiet, pretending as if her friend were imparting some important secret meant for her ears only. She even gave up a fake giggle as if Swan had said something funny.

And then, it really was time to go. Nymph took her friend's offered arm, stifling a yawn of her own as she stood up. "I know what you mean," She admitted regretfully. She did not usually get to stay up this late, but she did occasionally sneak out of her room, back home, to snoop around the estate in secret... trying to play detective about a certain matter after she was meant to be in bed asleep. But they couldn't leave without making some effort to say goodbye to their new friend! She glanced around, trying to catch Foxglove's attention as she was dancing with the young man she had just begun to dance with, with the beginning of a new song. Fortunately, the other girl was turned to face them, and Nymph waved after she'd caught her attention. Seeing Foxglove sneak a little wave back with her hand that was on the young man's shoulder, Nymph was satisfied that her friend knew they had to leave now.

As Swan's brother directed a question to her, Nymph smiled up at him, following the other two as they moved toward the door. "I did, indeed! I had a very nice dance with that young man in the fox mask," She grinned at Swan before returning her gaze toward Cheddar. "He's very nice and polite. And I made several new friends, as well.." And that reminded her of something, suddenly. She turned then to Swan, "Oh! I was going to tell you!" She said excitedly to her friend as they made their way to the door. "I was talking with Foxglove while you were dancing, and she realized that she actually does have the morning available.. she doesn't have to start working until the afternoon." She explained. "And I figured that works out perfectly, because the other girl, the one in pink that I told you about," She caught a brief glimpse of that girl as she turned at the door, and saw her dancing with someone as well. "She'd said she wouldn't be able to meet with us until the afternoon. So.. I think it'll work out perfect." She was quite pleased about that, and as the three of them exited from the masquerade, the two young ladies were already eagerly discussing their plans for the next day.

---

@Pele Alarion

Teal

"Two apples a day?" He asked, in mock amazement. "And sugar cubes! What a spoiled thing she is," He laughed. "I wonder how difficult it is to get apples around here? They do have all those farms and such, just outside the gates. I bet they have all sorts of fruit like that. Do horses like pears, by the way?" he wondered, pretty sure he'd heard something about various orchards, including pears.

He smiled as she mentioned having figured out some of her strangest traits. "Perhaps so. And you have figured out a lot about me." He shrugged as well as he could while dancing. "I still can't believe you get to stay here in this city for as long as I am. I was so excited that I was getting to come here and experience all that Gondor has to offer.. but it's that much nicer to have a friend along for the journey." He smiled. "I mean, it's great that we have two friends here, already. But it's not the same as bringing a friend along. You know?"

---

@Pele Alarion

Yellow Orchid

"Green and blooming.. except for right now." She corrected, with only a mild hint of regret. "It's a shame I could not have come during the spring or summer.. there aren't any balls in those seasons, are there?" She frowned slightly, having not heard about any if there were. Still, it would be nice to get to see the farms and orchards anyway, even if all the trees and plants were dead or dormant at the moment.

The comment about his age made her laugh lightly. "No, I don't think you're ancient, certainly." She agreed. "Unless you might be an elf?" She added, looking at him as if taking a good look to decide if he could possibly be one such being. She had never seen one herself, but her uncle had apparently received a visit from an elf lord once, while she and her female cousin were out shopping one day. She had heard all about it, but if not for that occasion, she'd begun to believe they were only legends. Apparently, however, there were some who had come to aid Gondor in the battle, but that, too, was only a story to her.

When Sir Rooster mentioned his own experience, being told not to aim at animals or people, Orchid smiled faintly and looked down at her glass. "I'm sure it was very different for you, growing up here in the city." She acknowledged. His parents had probably provided him with all he needed, so there was no need to hunt for food, or wonder when he might get something to eat again. Or, worry about strangers coming up to their door, for that matter. "Anyway, that was all far in the past." She mentioned with a little shrug, looking up again. "Though I do think it would be a good skill to have, I suppose it isn't really very necessary for me, anymore."

---

@Pele Alarion

Green Dragon

"A silly dance," He smiled. "Well, I hope she enjoyed it." He added, assuming that since the young lady in question seemed to be a child, she would certainly enjoy such things. Considering the music, the setting, and the other couples dancing, he also assumed that it would probably be frowned upon if he and Lady Meadow were to strike up a similar dance of silliness. Perhaps, if they encountered one another on another occasion, such a thing might be acceptable, but he figured he ought to behave like a proper gentleman for this evening. With that thought in mind, he refrained from suggesting that they might venture any sort of silly dancing, as well.

Hearing that she had not had much to eat, he was surprised. "Well, then you are certainly missing out!" He declared, widening his eyes slightly. "You must certainly make a visit to the buffet tables, before you become weakened from hunger." He joked. "If you permit me, I shall escort you there personally, to see that this be remedied." He grinned and gently guided the lady into a spin, just as lady Butterfly had helped him to learn, earlier.

When the song did eventually come to an end, he smiled as he did a small but polite bow, and offered his arm to her. "Well, what do you think, m'lady? Shall I take you to the banquet, so that you may enjoy the work of the city's finest chefs? After all, we wouldn't want them to be offended by having too many leftovers." He pointed out jokingly.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen

The Gilded

“Oh… I have already figured out where to get a constant supply of apples from,” Gilded confessed in half whisper as if it was a great secret. “One of the farmers selling his produce in market. He happily gives me all the slightly damaged apples buyers frown at – just to get rid of them by the end of each day.”

“Pears? I was taught that horses can have some pears but not too many because those are sweeter than apples. Then again sugar cubes are even sweeter than that…” she cut herself short before she went off speaking of horses for the rest of the evening.

She flashed a hearty smile at Teal then. “Aye. A friend to share a journey with is quite a value. All the experiences just wouldn’t be the same all alone, right?”

Red Rooster

“Well, yes, not now,” Rooster agreed with a small shrug and looked at Orchid thoughtfully. “That is not exactly an official fancy ball,” he then spoke up. “But there is a great Midsummer celebration usually, lots of fun, bonfire, and also some dancing. You could come to that and see the Pelennor since festivities are out there.”

“Ha! Do I look like an elf?” he exclaimed in some amusement and posed slightly as if pretending to be one. “If you would want to see one, look to our Queen.”

“Past is the past, I guess. But if you like archery, perhaps it’s worthwhile sneaking out to do it. Or not,” he said, unsure of whether Orchid preferred to have her ladylike reputation unmarred.

@Rillewen

Meadow

“I simply didn’t have much time to eat yet,” Meadow laughed, “And I partly blame gentlemen for that – though eating can certainly be postponed for the benefit of dancing, in my books.”

“If you insist I should eat, I will,” she agreed with the Dragon, curtseyed and gratefully took his arm. “I doubt much will be left over,” she wondered. “And perhaps it would be best to taste the variety of foods while there is any choice left, yes? Anything in particular you would recommend, Sir Dragon?”

@Arnyn

Black Lips

Black Lips took full advantage of the spinning with quiet enjoyment, doing her best to apply all the gracefulness she could. She did not comment on the possible response Sunbeam’s sister might have if he disclosed her identity, though her blue eyes glinted with amusement. It sounded like what she could do to her own sister come tomorrow, though perhaps not…

“Under-staffed. You don’t say,” she chuckled softly, as she smoothly went into a small curtsey in response to his bow.

“I wouldn’t mind a bite of something delicious,” she disclosed her choice of destination. “Though hopefully my unleashing will not harm any hungry souls there. Thank you for a dance,” she did not hesitate to add. “You did manage to add more joy to my evening.”

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

He remained gallant down to the goodbye. The Fairy smiled, glad to have had this interaction. How unexpectedly... what would pass as 'normal' for many, right? She even had to laugh at him using 'fairy' this time, despite the memories from the past summer barging into her mind. "Indeed," she smiled. "And while I've danced with wolves myself, it was a new experience to dance with a lion. And a good one, at that." His second bow was amusing, but she had to admit it went over well. The light kiss on the back of her hand was unexpected, however, and she had to remind herself it was part of 'good manners' for some people after dancing with a lady. She was grateful for the mesh over her eyes, though, so she could quite intentionally look away from his eyes as he dropped yet another compliment. He was toeing the line between acceptable and overly flattering. Instead, she just offered a smile and a grateful nod. "You are too kind. May you enjoy the rest of your evening as well, sir."

Once he stepped away, she thankfully turned toward the bar, and one of the bartenders, who was looking at her expectantly. The Fairy still had to think about her order, though, and blinked at the man. She was still thinking about a particular wolf. Her gloved hand finally reached up to lightly touch the skin between the gems dazzling low around her neck and part of her shoulders. To touch her scars, however difficult they were to notice with the jewelry covering it- distracting from it. After taking a deep breath, she shook her head at the bartender. "Choose for me," she told the bartender distractedly.

Of course that resulted in the Fairy ending up with her second alcoholic beverage of the evening. No red wine this time, but white. She had not the gall to tell the poor bartender that she wanted something else. She should have simply picked her own order, then. So all she did was gave him a grateful smile. For his willingness to go along with her demand, if nothing else. The fingers of her other hand lightly curled around the drink as she took a moment to center herself.

---

@Pele Alarion @Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

The lady's amusement at his joke was noted, as well her smooth curtsey. The lady was versed in more than fighting. Golden nodded at her choice of destination, and promptly offered her his arm, to guide her toward the food displays. His smile was literally beaming as the lady claimed he had added more joy to her evening. "A dance very well spent, then!" he declared happily. "I do hope the trend continues, lady warrior," he told her. On their way off the dance floor, his eyes caught someone else's. And lingered on her. Two steps. Four. Six... before a man came up to her. Golden glanced ahead of him - yes, they were still on the right itinerary.

Golden and Black Lips reached the food tables, and he politely stepped away with a small bow. "Enjoy your meal, my lady," he wished her. "As well as the rest of your evening. I can really recommend the pastries!" After one last smile, he turned away, walking a few aimless yards while he sought to relocate whom he sought.

He found her - on the dance floor yet again. In the arms of the man who'd approached her. One of the muscles in Golden's jaw ticked, and he had to shake his head at himself. He retrieved a glass of water from the buffet table. He held it with one hand, the other leisurely tucked into one of his pockets. He walked along the room without hesitation now, subtly following the trajectory of the dancing couple. When his glass was empty, he left it on one of the tables closest to the dancefloor, hardly looking to see if anyone was sitting there. His attention was elsewhere. Not to mention that he was listening rather closely for the end of the song...

[Rillewen]

@Pele Alarion

Teal

"Really?" He asked, surprised. "I would've thought there would be no apples this time of year, but then.. I don't really know how long they'll keep." He had never really given a lot of thought toward it. No one had apple trees up in the mountains where his home was, so he had only rarely gotten any, growing up. "I haven't really checked out the marketplace that much, so I have no idea what they might have around here." He shrugged. "Perhaps I should."

He wasn't sure about the pear thing, but decided to join her in letting that matter drop. Here they were at a masquerade, and they were talking horses? He could have laughed. "If we're not careful, people might figure out where we're from," He joked, as if it wasn't already obvious enough. At least for him, with his blond hair. But then, there was another fellow he'd seen around here somewhere, with blond hair. He was curious if he was also from the same place, or elsewhere. But he doubted he'd have a chance to ask.

---

@Pele Alarion

Yellow Orchid

"Oh.. a bonfire? That sounds interesting." She looked curious. "What do you do at a bonfire? Roast things? Or.. just watch the flames?" She wasn't sure if she had ever seen one, but she had heard some things about them. "Do you dance around the fire, or is that done someplace safer?" She wondered, as he had mentioned dancing, and she was trying to imagine it. It seemed like it was certainly less fancy and proper than this event, which she wouldn't mind at all.

She laughed lightly as he asked if he looked like an elf. "Well, I don't know." She turned
to see where he meant, when he mentioned looking to the queen. After realizing that there was a couple on the dance floor who seemed to be drawing a lot of attention, her eyes widened slightly. "Is that her?" She asked in a whisper, leaning a bit closer to Rooster. "My cousin said she was supposed to be here tonight, but I.. wasn't sure if she actually would show up."

---

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn

Green Dragon

"Ah... so it is my fault?" He asked, teasingly. "That's alright, I suppose I must accept some of the blame, for I did ask you to dance twice." He added with a gleam of amusement in his eyes. He smiled as she accepted his arm and then set off toward the food tables. He caught a glimpse of his new friend, Golden, and nodded to him, but it looked as if the other guy was rather distracted. He didn't mind, for there were plenty of distractions all around.

Dragon stopped at the buffet table, thinking about the various options he had tried. "Well, I thought everything was incredible. Everything I tried, anyway, but then, I suppose it depends a lot on your own preference." He shrugged. "Perhaps you ought to start with these?" he indicated some delicious bacon wrapped things. "I'll eat just about anything, so I don't know that my recommendations are really worth listening to, however." He laughed. Stepping back, he bowed politely to her. "I hope you enjoy your meal, and the rest of your evening, lady Meadow." He told her, smiling. "I've developed a bit of a thirst that I would like to be rid of, if you'll excuse me."

He continued smiling as he parted from her and turned his steps toward the bar. It was no lie that he was thirsty, and he was figuring on getting a glass of water, or perhaps water with some fruit in it, as he had seen others drinking. His smile grew, however, upon noticing the lady who was standing at the bar, so he adjusted his course so that he would end up near her, rather than a few feet away. She looked a bit distracted, but he hoped that it was merely a moment of thoughtful reflection. "Enjoying the dances still?" He asked Fairy as he approached, secretly a little glad to see that the other guy who had been dancing with her had gone away now.

His gaze took in the glass she was holding, and he paused for a moment. Hadn't she once said.. yes. That she doesn't drink. He remembered being surprised by that, as it was yet another way that she and his brother were alike. "Is that.." He tilted his head. "Have you changed your opinions on drinking?" He asked in a quieter tone, curious as well as a bit confused to see what appeared to be wine in her glass. "Or, are you holding that for someone?" That would explain it, of course.. although he had to wonder who she might be holding it for?

[Arnyn]

Lady in Red

The Lady in Red enjoyed basking in the attentions of a man - especially after suffering a few rejections earlier. Her current dancing partner was showering her with compliments and trying to bend over backwards to impress her, and she didn't mind that in the slightest. He looked handsome and he was clearly fit, but he did seem like another one of those decent blokes - and she was beginning to wonder whether the men in the City of Kings had gained better morals in the past few years. She didn't remember them being this proper when she had spent her teen years and early twenties here. Then again... perhaps her 'uncle' had only exposed her to a rather different type of men? Was that even possible - that they were not all the same?

When she felt the man's hand sliding a little lower onto her back, she mentally rolled her eyes. Perhaps they were all the same, to some greater or lesser degree. Not that his hand was in an improper place. But it was clearly a message. Perhaps she wouldn't be going to her room alone tonight, after all.

---

@Rillewen

The Fairy

The question seemed so sudden, as it pulled her from her thoughts. The Fairy startled just a little, but once she realized who it was, she smiled. And quickly dropped the hand that had been lingering along one side of her lower neck. "Yes," she confirmed. "I helped one lady drag another lady onto the dancefloor," she admitted. "There might have been a moment where four of us were dancing all together - some in a rather silly fashion. I soon escaped, however," she said as her smile grew into a momentary grin. "Though it is amusing to think about it now. It must have looked entertaining. Just got back here from dancing with the gentleman in the lion's mask. He was very polite, if a bit too complimentary. Who did you dance with?" she inquired.

His hesitation at her drink made her huff out an awkward laugh. "Ha.... yes. No, no - I have not changed my opinions," she denied, amused by the idea. She lowered her voice as well, so she wouldn't alert the bartender to her mistake. "But after that dance with the Lion, I was distracted when the bartender was asking for my order, and I gave him free rein. Not the wisest choice, evidently... But I don't want to make the fellow feel bad for guessing wrong. It's my own fault." With a lopsided smile, she shrugged lightly. "I might finish it at some point throughout the night?" she sort of mocked herself.

---

@Pele Alarion

Aragorn

He sighed lightly, not seeing what there was for anyone to be in awe about, really. A ragged ranger turned king? Perhaps it was the rags to riches story that appealed so to them? Or perhaps it was merely Arwen Evenstar whom they so admired. And that, he found only right.

"Composed is good," he judged with a smile as he looked at his lady wife. "Especially since he will follow in his father's footsteps. He will need composure." But enough talk of the realm. Arwen seemed to agree. "If you need nought else, my Lady, then might I have completed my life's purpose?" He twirled her around before catching her in his arms again.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

"That sounds like a lot of fun," He agreed with a little laugh, as Fairy mentioned helping one lady to pull another onto the dance floor. "And probably very amusing to see, yes.. I regret that I missed it," He gave a brief, mournful shake of his head, but that passed swiftly. "Escaped? Whatever for? Don't tell me you're opposed to having fun, like you-know-who." He teased lightly, leaning one arm on the bar as he faced her. He nodded as she mentioned the gentleman in the lion mask. "Yes, I glimpsed you dancing with him," He mentioned. He wondered what she meant about 'too complimentary'.

"Me? Oh," he glanced around but didn't see the first girl anymore, "There was a young lady in a white dress, with a big white feather on her mask. But I don't see her anymore," He mentioned, "and then the lady in green and gold, over there by the food more. She seems very cheerful." He mentioned, recalling with amusement that she had mentioned mud fights and such. He had meant to ask her more about that, but had forgotten about it by the time he asked her for the second dance.

As she replied about the wine, he raised an eyebrow.. not that it was likely very visible, with the mask on. So, she hadn't changed her opinion, yet she was holding a glass of wine.. he was confused for a moment, until she explained. "Ah.." He nodded his understanding, then let out a little laugh as she mentioned that she might try to finish it at some point. "Well, yeah. You could do that. Or," He offered an alternative option, "you could give it to someone who doesn't have a problem actually drinking it." He pointed out. "I mean, I came over here for a drink. I was going to get water, but..." He shrugged one shoulder. "If you don't want it, I can certainly ensure that it doesn't go to waste." He offered with a little grin. Inwardly, he was wondering what had transpired during her dance with the lion that would've distracted her so much.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"I'm not opposed to having fun," she said with slightly narrowed eyes. Which was conceiled behind her mask and the mesh in front of her eyes. "But circling around me with flapping hands -" she breathed a laugh at the recollection. "Well... mask or not, if there had been less people around..." she shrugged lightly. "Maybe I would have felt less self-conscious."

Turning more fully toward him, the Fairy smiled while he told her how he'd danced with two ladies. "Cheerful sounds right up your alley," she nodded as her eyes found the lady dressed in green and gold by the buffet. The Dragon's laughter made her look back at him rather than the food tables, and she smiled curiously while he seemed to be working up to an alternative to her forcing the wine down herself over the course of the evening. Or night. She was just about to say she wasn't planning on taking a survey of people at the bar to see who happened to have a craving for a glass of white, when he surprised her by suggesting he could take it off her hands himself.

"But you were going to ask for water?" she inquired, still surprised. She slanted her head, clearly considering whether or not to take him up on his offer. "I could go for that water instead of this wine... if you really don't mind?" Slowly, she slid her wine glass partway toward him.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He paused as he thought of something. "Huh.. interesting. Lady Meadow mentioned having a silly dance with the young girl who was here," He commented, with a curious glance at Fairy, wondering if there was a connection between the two silly dances that were mentioned.

The question about the water brought a shrug in reply. "I was, sure. But I can drink both, you know." He added with a little grin. He turned and got the bartender's attention. "Two waters, please." He requested, then as the man nodded and got some glasses, Dragon turned back to smile at Fairy. "Of course I don't mind. If I did, I wouldn't have offered," He pointed out, accepting the glass that she had half-slid toward him. "What else are friends for, after all?" He joked, claiming the glass. It wasn't what he would have chosen for himself, of course. But it was there, unwanted by its recipient. And he had no issue with drinking it, while he knew that she did. So, as both she and his brother would have agreed, the most logical thing to do was for him to take it.

---

@Arnyn

|
Sir Lion & Lady Cat

Ironically, the lion was completely oblivious to being 'stalked' as it were, by the other fellow. He enjoyed the dance with the pretty young woman, and found that she was quite good at following his lead. She had evidently learned to dance quite well from somewhere, and he was as curious about her as he had been about Fairy. Though he didn't find out anything about who she might be, nor where she came from, he enjoyed the dance with her. Yet the song ended far sooner than he would have liked.

As for Lady Cat, she had caught glimpses of him now and then, and she had to hide a little smile every time she caught him glancing this way. She was not quite sure what to think about sir Lion, however. While the gentleman was charming and had excellent dance skills, she preferred dancing with the white and gold man. Throughout the dance, Lion kept his attention on her, complimented her often, and yet.. she couldn't quite place the feeling he gave her. It was different from the uncomfortable sense she had gotten from the night sky fellow.. this was not quite a sense of a potential danger.. but there was something there that she couldn't put her finger on, and it bothered her.

As the song came to an end, she offered a very small curtsy. "You are an excellent dancer, sir." She declared. But she was eager to return to dancing with the other guy, though she did not say that.

"Thank you, my lady." He smiled and bowed in return, yet held onto her hand as he brought it up to kiss the back of it. Lifting his gaze up at her while he still held her hand captive, he smiled at her while totally ignoring the fellow who seemed to be approaching from behind the lady. "Would you do me the honor of sharing another dance with me? For the last song seemed disappointingly short.. and it seems unfair to have to end our enjoyment so soon, don't you agree?"

Lady Cat looked at him a moment, inwardly wondering about the way he said that, but she offered a polite smile in reply to his words. "Thank you very much, sir. I shall take that as another compliment," She answered with a pleased smile, and giving a pause just long enough to watch him begin to look smug as he assumed her acceptance, before she went on, "However, I have already promised the next dance to another gentleman." She eased her hand out of his as she stepped back, offering another small curtsy. "Fear not, sir Lion." She offered encouragement in a lightly teasing tone, "I doubt it will be a challenge for a man of your skill and charm to find another dance partner." She declared with amusement, preparing to go and find out where Sir Golden had gotten off to...

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

Fairy laughed quietly. "Lady Meadow? Yes, she was involved. Along with the lady with the black lips, and a very young lady we called Miss Nymph."

When Dragon said he could drink both wine and water, she grinned with amusement. "What was I thinking? Of course such a skill would be one of the many you possess," she teased lightly. The grin softened into an appreciative smile when he ordered two waters and at what he said to her next. "Thank you, then, friend," she told him gratefully. "Even if you do not mind doing it, it makes a difference to me. You're being very helpful."

Once the two waters had been placed before them, the Fairy gratefully took one and drained half the glass. "Dancing is thirsty business," she explained as she put the glass back down onto the bar. Especially when topics came up she would rather not revisit. She would rather talk about something else entirely, especially on an evening like this, which had been designed for fun and relaxation. "Did you get into any shenanigans since I last saw you, sir?" she thus asked the Dragon.

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

He was ready to make his move when the song drew to an end. Even if it was unusual, Golden weaved his way through the couples dancing to the last notes - a clear end goal in mind. He did not wish to give another fellow an opening to ask Lady Cat for a dance before he could do so himself. And he would also like to prevent the Lion to monopolize Lady Cat's time any further with a second dance, if he could help it. Though he knew the latter would be difficult to time just right. If the man was smart, he would ask before the end. Or at least before Golden could intervene.

During the last yards of his approach, he removed his hands from his pockets and smoothed over his costume. He saw the Lion kissing the back of Lady Cat's hand. Golden quickened his pace, before stopping not far behind Lady Cat, closer to her right hand side than her left. Catching her reply to whatever it was that the Lion had said - or, as it turned out - had asked, Golden's lips curved up into a smile. She did not want to dance with the Lion again, for whatever reason. And that pleased him.

She even took a step back, now placing her even closer to Golden as she curtsied slightly to the other man. While she was trying to soften the possible blow to the other man's ago, Golden was less interested in that, and he was looking at the Lion as he spoke - though is words were directed at the lady and not at the gentleman. "I am honoured you remember, Lady Cat," he rumbled from his position right behind her. Even as he was still speaking her name, Golden took the slightest step forward - all that was left to separate him from Lady Cat - and slowly and lightly placed his one hand on the side of her waist while reaching for her other hand with his other as well. Such actions were a risk, he knew. Would she startle at his presence - suddenly so close? And step away from him, just as she had stepped away from the Lion? Would she balk at his presumption and choose to punish him for it? All of it and more was possible.

But oooohhhhh if his risk panned out... how enjoyable it would be... It would appease the mood that had befallen him as he watched her dancing with these other gents. And it would change the tone between them in the exact way he felt like doing.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

"Ahh, yes, I saw that girl," He answered with a nod. "I thought she might have been Lady Meadow's sister, but she said she was not. I must have just missed seeing you dance with them.. alas." He doubted he could get her to agree to a rerun of that, so he didn't bother asking, even jokingly. He looked out across the room as his gaze sought the other lady she had referred to. "I think I have seen her around, but somehow I have not managed to find her for a dance." He shrugged, not that concerned about it, however. He had danced with several ladies, and now he really only felt like dancing with one in particular.

He laughed as she commented that of course it would be a skill he possessed. "Of course." He grinned, then nodded as she thanked him. "Well, I do aim to be helpful." He answered with a smile, taking the other water in his other hand, so that he held one glass in each hand, now. "I still can hardly believe that you're here," He told her with a smile. "I mean.. I don't even want to try and figure out the odds of that happening," He rolled his eyes, imagining that his brother probably would do so. "I'm just really glad to have found you."

---

@Arnyn

|
Sir Lion & Lady Cat

Just as Lion was fighting a smirk as he thought the lady was agreeing to another dance, while the man who had come up behind her would be left feeling like an idiot for having come up so boldly... the lady's reply made him blink. Had she just toyed with him, deliberately? He managed not to frown, but merely kept a polite smile as he offered a nod of his head. "Of course, my lady." He responded cordially, although he couldn't help feeling inwardly annoyed as he watched her turn.

After delivering her parting words, Lady Cat had not even had a chance to turn to seek the one she was hoping to dance with next, when his voice sounded, revealing that he had already appeared at her side. Though surprised by this, she did not appear to be startled. After all, she had observed him looking over often while she danced with the lion. Instead, she merely blinked before she turned smoothly to face him, smiling at him. "Did you think I would forget?" She asked him with amusement sparkling in her eyes, pleased that he could read the situation so quickly and simply go with it like that. How long he had been standing there? Obviously, long enough to hear her telling the lion she was already claimed for this dance. And as he took her hand and put his other at her side, with such gentleness, her smile grew a little as she rested her other hand on his shoulder. Sir Lion ceased to exist as far as she was concerned.

Sir Lion cast a rather unamused glance at the blond-haired fellow before turning to seek out another dance partner, as it became obvious that she had lost interest in him in favor of the other.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"Then you have succeeded," she confirmed, about his aim to be helpful. It was a bit amusing though, to see him standing there with a drink in each hand. "It's harder to believe you are here," she told him. "You didn't know where I lived, I'll grant you that - but as far as I knew you two ranged from the north to Rohan, and that was pretty much it... Though I suppose," she added, more thoughtfully, "You did mention considering going to a smith in Gondor... but I remember that striking me as odd, given you were near Bree. To go that far for a smith, I mean." Finally, she just tilted her head and smiled at him. "But I guess it doesn't matter which one of us is more surprised."

Him mentioning something about not wanting to figure out the odds made her shake her head. "Too much unknown data," she said, in all seriousness. Such an endeavour would be impossible unless you had certain numbers available to you... But what he said next, distracted her from that. "To have found me?" she asked, laughing lightly. "Don't say that as if you were looking for me, Gladhron," she chided lightly. "That is to say - before you started wondering if all this -" she gestured at her dres - "might possibly be me."

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

In a slightly different situation, perhaps with a different lady, Golden would have likely smirked at the Lion - but he was too busy looking into Lady Cat's eyes to give the other man any of his attention. Especially when she did not move away from him, and instead turned into him and placed her free hand on his shoulder. Ready for their next dance. Satsifaction rippled through him, curving his lips upward. "Truly forget? With a mind like yours?" he asked her. "Never. But you could choose to 'forget', if you had meanwhile decided against it, my lady." His hand on the side of her waist moved - with a light caress - to the small of her back, while he carefullly judged her reaction in her brown eyes. "Which I would have respected, of course. I am merely glad you decided to remember." He slowly started them off to the next song. "I will admit to... regretting my choice to let go of you earlier, my lady," he told her candidly. "While every lady here surely has her charms, yours seem to have made the biggest mark."

---

Lady in Red

They had thanked each other for the dance when the song ended, but Red had seen that look in his eyes. That look which told her she could make him come running again, if she wished it so. Thus she took her leave from him now, knowing that doing so would only make him want to be in her presence all the more. Men liked their women not too needy.

Pleased, she slowly made her way closer to the musicians. It was best not to be seen by the bar too often.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen

The Gilded

“Apples can become pretty wrinkly but in right conditions they can be preserved and are still delicious in winter,” Gilded claimed and added with a light laugh. “I like to spoil horses, so I know a thing or two. I guess market is the only other place I’ve explored quite well besides Sugar’s stall.”

She let her gaze roam to other dancers for a bit before returning to Teal. “Eh, I’m not even hiding where I am from, so I guess people I talked with have already figured it out. Though then again my looks might confuse them,” she said. “But who cares, no? Besides, we’re just mostly dancing and talking with each other.”

Red Rooster

“It’s a reaaaaaally huge bonfire,” Rooster remembered to remain empty-handed as he reached his arms up as high as he could. “I think everything would be turned to ash and embers if anything was to be cooked on it.”

He flashed a grin at Orchid. “But dancing around it can be managed if at a safe distance. Though there’s enough space for it a bit further away. And lots of food,” he mentioned a part of celebration which he thought important.

When he saw that Orchid was rather interested in finding the Queen among people dancing, Rooster studied the people she seemed to be looking at with a slight tilt of head. “I think so, our King and Queen,” he replied quietly and then glanced at her sideways. “Should we go and bump into them so you can exchange a few polite words?” he offered, his grin even toothier and his eyes laughing merrily.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He shrugged and took a sip of the wine. Then followed it with a sip of water. He probably looked silly, but when had he ever cared about that? He smiled at Fairy as she mentioned having thought it odd that they'd mentioned the possibility of going to Gondor for that repair work. "Well, that was because we didn't know if there was a smith in Bree, as there wasn't any permanent smithy established there, when we were there years before." He shrugged. "And besides, the sword originally came from a smith in Minas Tirith, so if I remember rightly, we weren't sure whether we might have to go that far to get it fixed." He explained. "Fortunately, as you know, we didn't have to."

He laughed lightly as she actually offered a reply about figuring out the odds, but then the topic shifted to his comment of his having found her. He was a bit surprised by what she said in reply to it, and for a moment, he wasn't entirely sure how to reply. Because he had wanted to find her, often. And he had often wanted to return to Bree whenever they had the opportunity, in the unlikely hope that she might have come back there, but the opportunity had not come as often as he would have liked. Still... their latest trip to the area had resulted in their being asked to make this trip to Gondor, so.. he supposed it had, in a roundabout way, brought about this result. Finally.

But as for actively looking for her.. he'd had no starting point to even begin looking. So, no, he had merely had to rely on the hope that maybe, one day, something like this would happen. But he wasn't sure if he wanted to tell her all of that. While he decided how to respond, he took a sip of whichever glass was in his right hand, and found it to be the water.

"Well.. I had no idea you lived near here, nor that you would have any interest in attending a ball of this sort. So.. I was not looking for, or expecting, you to be here, no." He shrugged, but then smiled. "However, I did figure out you were you, despite the fact you were hiding your identity from all these people who knew to expect you here," he vaguely motioned one hand(glass and all) in a circular motion to indicate the general crowd of people. "That has to count for something, right?" He grinned.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

Her smile widened into a pleased grin as he replied with a compliment to her mind. She hadn't heard many of those kinds of compliments, tonight or otherwise. It was already quite clear that the guy thought she was attractive to look upon, so.. while it was nice to hear such things, it was a different sort of feeling to find that he considered her intelligent as well, and she found it quite pleasing.

His admission caused her grin to soften into a more curious kind of smile. "Oh?" She asked, inwardly pleased to hear that he had regretted parting from her earlier. "I promise I have kept my claws sheathed, as you requested..." She replied with a playfully innocent tone, about her having made the 'biggest mark' on him. Her eyes showed a teasing glint in them as she did.

Afterward, the teasing look melted away as she closed a little of the space between them. "Actually, I suppose I could say the same about you," She confessed. "I have danced with a number of men this evening, and yet.. there is only one of those with whom I would agree to a second dance." She informed him, smiling softly at him. "Much less, a third."

---

@Pele Alarion

Teal

He was a little curious how she knew that about the apples, but it made sense when she mentioned that she liked to spoil horses and therefore had learned things like that. "So, if Dusty starts expecting twice as much spoiling, I'll know you've been giving him things behind my back." He teased, grinning.

As for her identity, he shrugged. "I'm not really hiding, either. I don't know many people, so why should I? If someone who knows me were to see me and come talk to me, then I would be glad of it." He smiled at her. "Like you." He was very glad that he had been able to recognize her so easily. When she mentioned that they had mostly been dancing talking with each other, he wondered if she would rather split up and find other dance partners for a bit. "Hmm, that is true." He looked around. "Do you think we ought to branch out..?" He asked, a bit hesitant and uncertain. If she did, then he wouldn't protest, but he was rather enjoying the way things were right now.

---

@Pele Alarion

Yellow Orchid

As he held out his arms, her eyes grew a bit wider. "That must take a lot of wood!" She declared, trying to picture it. A fire so big, and so hot, that dancing must happen a good distance away? She wondered how far away. "I hope I might be able to see that sometime. Perhaps my uncle could bring us to that, as well." She mentioned, thoughtful. "I'll have to ask him."

As he confirmed that the couple she had spotted were indeed the king and his queen, she tried to sit up a bit taller on the stool, to try and see better. But then she turned back to him, wide-eyed at his suggestion. "Oh, no... I wouldn't dream of doing any such thing." She hastily assured him. "I don't know that I'd even know what to say.." She shrank slightly down again, blushing a little in shyness. "It's just.. I mean, I have never seen an elf before.. I wondered if they are really as fair as the stories say."

She looked again at Rooster, hoping he had only been teasing about that suggestion. "You must see them all the time, don't you? Living here in the city and all.. I heard there were many who came for the war.. and my uncle says that silvery stuff on the first gate is Mithril, and that elves put it in there?" She asked, wondering if Rooster had seen any of this and could tell her anything about it.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"That's true." Neither brother had had a clue, she supposed. Having been more careful with her accent, and having avoided any direct references to where she came from. It helped that she didn't look particularly Gondorian either, she imagined. And events like these hadn't exactly come up during their travels through the woods of the Breelands. Why would they have?

So what he said then, did give her pause. Even given she had been less guarded while speaking to him than to others this evening, it was still... impressive that he had figured it out. Despite having no reason to expect her to be here. Had she done something to remind him so strongly, that he had grown suspicious? Nothing he had said earlier seemed to provide that strong a trigger to think about someone who once travelled with you three years ago. On the other hand, she'd been able to recognize him primarily by hearing that particular accent. Frowning slightly as she sipped her own water, she let out a thoughtful "hmm" at his last question. "I suppose it does," she finally agreed. "Like I said before... you're much more perceptive than you made yourself out to be, back when I tavelled with you and Gwestion. I think you might be the only one who has recognized me this evening. Or the only one who has let on that they have." She smiled at the Dragon. "So, well done!"

"You didn't reply to my question, though. Did you get into any shenanigans since I last saw you, Gladhron?"

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

At her words and the subtle way with which she closed some of the distance between them, his smile grew into an obviously contented grin. One which he made zero effort to hide. Why would he?

"Is that right..." he half-asked, half-stated, in a quiet voice, before twirling her around slowly and replacing his hand on the small of her back. "A man might be tempted to ask why you would bestow such an honor on a craftsman from Ithilien, with hardly any accomplishments to his name, other than not dying in the War." He looked truly amused, even if he did not sound it at the moment. "But I would not wish to tempt fate overly much," he added, turning the both of them around in a quicker spin that guided her just a little closer still, before resuming the normal steps. "So I don't think I will ask at all."

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. "What is it that they say? Third time is the charm?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He merely gave a little smile when she mentioned that he had shown himself to be more perceptive than he'd let on, back in the North. "I suppose I noticed a few things." He shrugged. "But then, I suspect you did, too." He added, taking a little sip of the wine. That drawing could not have been a last-minute thing she'd done, he had decided, after studying it for weeks. The amount of detail she had put into the sketch spoke of how much attention she had put toward the drawing, and toward getting all those details right. He didn't make any mention of it, just as he had not done back then when she was still with them. But he hoped that she might catch onto what he was referring to without him having to mention it.

Her 'well done!' brought a grin to his face as he lowered the glass. "Well done, yourself, for having such a tough disguise to figure out!" He laughed. "I didn't really do much for a disguise, myself.. I actually didn't expect to encounter anyone here that I knew, other than.. Lady Blossom." He added, wondering where she had gotten off to. He caught a glimpse of her dancing again, and was glad for her sake.

"Oh," He blinked as she reminded him of a question he had neglected to answer. "Of course, I did." He laughed. "You really have to ask?" He shrugged, smiling. At the moment, he was drawing a blank on any particular adventures that would be worthwhile to tell her about, however. "I'm almost always up to some sort of shenanigans, you know..." He had an idea and smiled as it hit him.. a perfect way to ensure that he would get to see her again! "Hey.. would you like to join us for supper sometime, while we're in town? I could tell you some stories about some of our latest adventures, then." He suggested with a grin.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

Lady Cat flowed with the twirl easily, smiling softly as she enjoyed the slower pace of the twirl, as compared to some of the other twirls she had managed during the evening. "Must I have a reason?" She asked amusedly, although it was more out of amusement that he would consider himself so under par from others. As they glided a bit closer together, during a swifter spin, she was debating how she might answer the question. But then, he declared he would not ask it at all. One eyebrow rose slightly, surprised as well as intrigued that he had sort of asked the question, while saying he wasn't going to ask. Did that mean he did want to know, or that he did not?

Before she could get hung up on that decision, she pushed it to the back of her mind. There were many other things she would like to learn about him, too. For one, she was also somewhat curious what aid he had offered to Gondor, during the war. As he had spoken of his occupation being that he made furniture, it hadn't quite occurred to her that he might also have some training with bearing arms as well, despite the fact that he definitely had the muscles for wielding some sort of weapon.

She was trying to think of whether she wanted to inquire about that, when he leaned in to whisper to her. Forgetting all thoughts of what she had been going to ask, she listened to what he said, a slow smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "I believe the charm is all from you." She replied softly, with a grin and a light tap on his shoulder with the hand that rested there.

"You speak of me and my mystery, and yet you have some of your own, you know." She informed him quietly, with a certain level of intrigue in her voice. "You have maintained all evening that you are a mere craftsman, a carpenter of furniture. And yet now, you reveal that you are also a warrior?" She asked, shaking her head in wonder. A small smile played at her lips. "Now, don't tell me," She began, with a little glint of mischievous humor lurking in her eyes, "let me guess.. you fought off waves of orcs using only your hammer and nails? Or, perhaps you built catapults...?" She tried to imagine him switching from building tables and chairs, to building catapults and trebuchets and the like.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

When he said he'd noticed a few things in the north, but that he suspected she had as well, the Fairy smiled. Well. "I notice a lot of things," she said in a way that didn't make it very clear whether she thought that was more of a positive or a negative. "Sometimes it'd be nice to be able turn it off, actually." She gave him a thoughtful look - even though she imagined most of her expression was getting lost, with the mask. She really wanted to know more about how much he did notice, and why he chose to hide it so adamantly. Even with Gwestion, it seemed. But she had agreed to not pressing the matter, at least until she was willing to share more about herself as well... So, instead, she smiled at his compliments about her disguise. "Most of it is thanks to Lady Butterfly," she admitted freely. "She wanted people to be unsure of who we both were - and so she made a whole thing of it. I wasn't at all sure about playing along, especially at first... but it proved a good deal of fun." She nodded, seemingly happy with how all that had worked out. "I'm glad she pulled me into it." Her smile grew into a grin. "And that it proved more challenging for you to figure out. That was particularly fun."

Chuckling when the Dragon confirmed he had indeed gotten involved in shenanigans, the Fairy shook her head with amusement. The way he spoke reminded her of the stuff the rangers in her old unit got up to.. including herself.

But what he suggested next, distracted her, and the grin faded for a moment while she processed that. While she looked at that grin of his, which looked rather pleased. After three years, he was inviting her to join his travel group for supper? Just like that?
Granted, it fit his outgoing personality. And he had been eager to have her join him and his brother for a meal at the Prancing Pony too, and they'd only known each other for like a day at the time. This shouldn't surprise her, really. Even if they'd probably mostly forgotten about her a few weeks after she'd left them, it was always nice to catch up with people.
Besides, she wanted to say yes. He had only just asked her, and already she was looking forward to seeing not only Gladhron but also Gwestion again. She wanted to hear all about what they had been up to, how things were going for them, whether they had come up with any new leads on their personal quest, and whether or not Gwestion had made any progress at all with Bel. She would just have to... try and find a way to talk to them separately first. Somehow. So there wouldn't be any surprises if someone came up to her. And because.. sooner was probably better than later. But she could figure that out later.

"Yes." The word tumbled from lips now curving up into a brilliant smile, as she chose to focus on how nice it would be to catch up with them. "I would like that." She slanted her head. "I'm assuming you'll be a little less tight-lipped then than you are tonight?" she asked pointedly. "This is the second topic you are dodging this evening," she told him. "Not something I was used to, from you?" To the contrary, she had always really appreciated how forthcoming and trusting he had been with her... But it was probably the passage of time, she realized a bit too late - after having already asked the question. Their lives had intersected briefly and then they had separated again. As they had always been destined to do. It wasn't like she had done anything to try and facilitate them meeting up again later, either. To the contrary, really - she'd given away little to nothing about her home. At least not consciously. So she understood. "But that's alright," she added more slowly, not wanting to put him on the spot, before sipping her water. After swallowing down her water and whatever else that was bugging her, she made a suggestion of her own. "I have plans with my brother tomorrow evening. But I'm free the evening after that. If that works for you and your group?"

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

He chuckled low at her reply, his mouth still close to her ear as he did so, and his retreat was slow while she continued and said he had some mystery of his own. Golden looked into Lady Cat's eyes when she guessed at what he might have done in the war, and even though he had to grin at the picture she painted about him fighting off enemies with his hammer and nails, his eyes got more serious as she broached the subject.

"No mystery, my lady," he denied, speaking more quietly. "For I do not dance around your questions when you ask them, but choose to answer them with nothing but candor and truth. I am as I said - a craftsman of furniture. Only - no one grew up in Ithilien without learning to defend themselves. Not even the girls. And all of the boys, as well as the girls who wished to and whose parents did not object, were taught more than the basics. Ithilien was dangerous territory near the end of the Third Age."

He fell silent for a few turns, and he stretched the fingers of his hand resting on her back. He did not break eye contact, however. "After the Steward had ordered the evacuation of Ithilien, my family and I joined many others in the contingent that reinforced the garrison at Osgiliath. Even though I managed to stand my ground during the fighting, I found no glory or satisfaction in it. Only misery and terror. And then, after our retreat to the City, I found it again and again - as the gates fell. One by one."

"I have boundless respect for those who chose to take up arms much earlier in those dark times - I will never understand how they were able to do it and not completely lose themselves. Years on end. I still greatly admire those who do it now, to ensure that what threats remain, do not grow into new dangers too wild to control." Golden shook his head. "I will fight when the enemy is on my doorstep, yes. But I am no warrior, my lady. If that disappoints you, it would be best for you to walk away from me when this dance is over."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

Thoughtfully, he sipped from the glass of wine while considering how to reply to the comment of how she wished to be able to turn it off at times. He wished he could see more of her face, so he could try and make sense of her expression. But her smile was easy enough to detect, and he smiled back as she spoke about Lady Butterfly and her part in all this. "I'm glad your friend helped you enjoy yourself, and I hope to meet her at some point after all this." He declared, recalling how friendly the lady had been when he talked with her before.

When Fairy's grin faded, after he'd asked to see her again after the dance, he was a little unsure what to make of it. Was that an indication that she didn't want to see him or his brother again? He held his breath briefly while he waited for her response, while a part of him wondered if perhaps she was not so eager to see him as he was to see her. Or, maybe she had something against seeing his brother? He didn't recall them parting on a bad note, but maybe he was wrong? So, what had made her grin fade when he asked about her joining them for supper?

His uncertainty melted away as soon as her expression changed to a bright smile, and he let out his breath silently in relief when she answered yes. "Good!" He smiled happily. So, maybe there wasn't anything to worry about. Letting out a little laugh at her next words, he tilted his head slightly. "Am I being tight-lipped? I guess maybe it's the atmosphere of the evening, but I wasn't intentionally being evasive." He shrugged and glanced around at the room full of masked people. "I don't mind talking more openly, now." He smiled. "Would you like to go and sit down somewhere? Or.. maybe another dance?" He asked, curious about what she might prefer. "Or are you content to stay here at the bar?" He was unsure whether she would pick, as all of those options seemed equally good as an option.

"The evening after tomorrow is just fine," He agreed happily. "I hope you have a nice time with your brother. Do you still only see him occasionally?" He wondered, as he remembered her mentioning something about that, now and then during their travels together. "Is he in town now? Or are you going to wherever he lives to see him?" He couldn't help being curious, as she had never talked much about her life and family, before, except for a few mentions of a brother. It might be interesting to meet her brother at some point, but he also didn't know if she would agree to that.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

The serious look in his eyes made her curious. Her own expression grew more serious and thoughtful as she gazed up and met his eyes, listening as he answered with a surprising level of solemnity. She had not expected that, and remained silent while he spoke, giving a more lengthy reply than she had anticipated. As he talked of how both boys and girls had learned to defend themselves, in Ithilien, she nodded slightly in understanding. She knew somewhat about that, as she too had grown up learning those same sort of skills.

When he spoke of having to evacuate, and the fighting.. the misery and terror of it all, the lady felt sorry for having brought up this line of topic. She had not been involved in any of that, and this was her first time ever being in this city. Imagining it under attack, the gates falling to the enemy, she wondered how they'd managed to repair it all to be so impressive in so few years.

She let her gaze drift downward for a moment the solemnness of the topic settled over her, raising it slowly again as he spoke of his respect and admiration for the warriors who continually stand against the enemies. Finding him still looking down at her, she gazed into his eyes as he concluded with words that surprised her. Such open, honest words. Her lips parted as she started to reply with something, but she paused to think more carefully about it, and lightly bit the lower lip while she considered her words.

Drawing a slow breath, she gave a slow shake of her head. "I was only teasing, when I asked about you building catapults," She told him with a faint smile, before adding, softly, "I apologize if my question brought up unpleasant memories for you. It merely surprised me, and I wished to learn more," She explained. Her hand that rested on his shoulder lightly brushed against the fabric, almost absently while she was thinking. "It seems to me that each person must fight their battle in whatever way they see fit." She commented with a shrug of one shoulder. "And why should I blame anyone for wishing to cease fighting, once they have no need to continue?" She asked quietly.

Yet, there was something else he had said which somehow.. troubled her a little. She thought about his words for a few moments longer before speaking again, softly. "You say.. that you do not dance around the questions. Perhaps, it is for that reason why I feel drawn to you." She spoke quietly, looking thoughtful as she considered this possibility. "You have answered everything I've asked you so openly, and freely.." She hesitated as she looked up at him, her eyes searching his. She gently slipped her other hand out of his, stepping closer to him as she loosely joined both of her hands together behind his neck. "Does it bother you that I do not return the same candor to you?" She wondered, hesitating for a moment before she continued. "I.. might be convinced to tell you some things..." She told him softly, hardly more than a whisper as she kept her gaze on him. "Though.. not here, with so many others around." She cast a brief glance around at the various people around them before returning her gaze to him, wondering how he might respond.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"I'm sure you'll meet Lady Butterfly if, during your stay here, you spend some time around places like the Wayfarers or the Guesthouse," the Fairy mused.

"Just a tad," she responded with an amused smile about him being a bit close-mouthed this evening. So far, anyway. When he said it could be the setting, the Fairy couldn't help but take a look around the room. That... was another possibility, she supposed. That he immediately followed it up by agreeing to talk more freely, drew her eyes back to his masked face. Whether he actually meant that, remained to be seen.

The suggestion of another dance made her very lightly tap one of the two glasses he was holding. "You still have two drinks," she said with amusement. Her glass, however, was near empty. "Then again, I didn't come to a dance to sit at table or stand by a bar." The Fairy didn't rush as she finished the last of her water and put her empty glass atop the bar. "So I suppose that brings me to two questions to return to you," she said with a smile. "One: What will you do about your drinks? And two: have you thought of that fairy story you promised?" Hadn't she established that as a prerequisite for another dance with him, at some point?

At the question about her brother, she nodded. "We see each other a few times a year. He tends to visit me-it is easier for him to come to the city than it is for me to go see him. Midwinter is a staple for us. I suppose it is that way for many families."

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

He watched the way her lips parted, as if she was about to say something. But she seemed to change her mind, to bite her lip instead. His gaze stayed there for a moment, before almost reluctantly returning to her eyes when she started to speak. He was keenly aware of her hand brushing at his shoulder. Her words indicated she was not inclined to walk away at the truth he had just offered to her. That was good.

"You need not apologize," he told her, his voice still quiet. "Though I should mention I am not inclined to speak of those experiences in any more depth." A faint smile was his response to her understanding words - that everyone fights their battle in their own ways, but even more so that she didn't blame anyone for wanting to stop fighting when there was no need for them to continue. He nodded at this, pleased that she really did seem to mean those words.

When she spoke of his honesty and how maybe that quality was why she felt drawn to him, Golden didn't shy away from her gaze as it searched his. That she stepped in closer and let go of his hand to join her hand with her other one - behind his neck - thrilled him. Her admission that she might be willing to tell him more about herself, only added to that sensation. He could feel the appreciation that wanted to well up. He had not expected for this very private lady to tell him anything, really. He had accepted that she wouldn't. But now she was opening up possibilities. Possibilities to which he was, apparently, not opposed.

"I offer what I offer," he told her, settling his newly freed hand on her waist. "Freely. And without expectations." His hand slowly slid up the center of the back of her dress, until the very tips of his fingers found the bare skin just above the edge of the fabric. Then stopped, as he was content with this new position. Embrace. "You are free to do the same. So no, it does not bother me. On the other hand... I am also very willing to hear anything you wish to share." His fingertips lightly grazed her skin. "Anytime and anywhere you wish, Lady Cat." He could wait. He could hear it now. "Lady's choice," he whispered at her.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

"Oh? Well then, I suppose I have nothing to worry about on that end." He mentioned, curious why she said that, but decided not to ask. So not to take the surprise out of everything, maybe. He sipped from the wine again as he tried to think about what topics he had avoided.

When she reminded him that he had two drinks, he laughed lightly. "That's no problem." He assured her, grinning a little in amusement. He looked at how much wine was left, and took another big drink of that one, leaving just about another mouthful. While he was swallowing that, she reminded him about the fairy story he had promised. He had, hadn't he? He blinked and swallowed the rest of the wine in his mouth. "Right." He looked off toward the dance floor, thinking fast. He had been a bit occupied up until now, and that had slipped his mind somewhat.

"I shall give you your story, lady Fairy," He promised with a grin. He finished the wine and set the glass down, then took another sip of water to wash it down while thinking. Meanwhile, she responded to the question about her brother, and he smiled at that, pleased to hear that she got to see him at those times, at least. "Would you object to hearing it while we dance?" He asked, hoping she would agree. After she had given her agreement to that idea, he smiled wider and finished off his glass of water in one last gulp. Setting the glass with hers at the bar, he offered his arm and smiled. "Then, shall we?" He could take the time to think of a story while they were walking to the dance floor.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

She nodded in understanding as he mentioned being unwilling to speak in depth about those experiences. Who could blame him for that? She could imagine the horror of all of that, and had no wish to make him relive it through retelling, nor did she want to hear about such awful things. Especially not on a day meant for joy and happiness.

As she moved her arms around his neck, she could feel his hand joining his other at her back. Then sliding up her back. Since her hair had come around to one shoulder during that last twirl, she could feel his hands brushing the skin where the top of her dress ended in the back. She smiled softly, making no move to reposition again, content to remain as they were, dancing more slowly and leisurely than before. Almost as if they were lost in this moment together.

That he didn't feel bothered by her lack of forthcomingness, nor did he expect anything in return for his own, that made her smile increase a bit. And then he left the choice up to her. She blinked as she heard this, wondering what to do with that. He really seemed to mean it, too. She considered that for a moment, mentally toying with both options, trying to decide. She could choose not to tell him anything at all. But her mind replayed what he had said a moment ago, the hint of uncertainty in his eyes when he offered her the chance to walk away, if she did not want to be involved with a man such as himself. He deserved the same chance in return.

Drawing a slow breath, Lady Cat told herself it would be best, if she was going to do it, to do it before any further interest had developed between them. Like pulling off a bandage, right? She had never backed away from that before, and did not intend to start now. But she didn't answer right away. Instead, she enjoyed the slow rotations of the dancing, their arms around one another, for a few moments while she gathered her thoughts. It was a little difficult, with his gaze on her like that.

A little smile played at the corners of her mouth as she thought of an idea. "Well, if this Sunbeam can keep a lady warm, despite the frigid wind which sweeps through the levels of this city," She used the name she'd heard being referred to him with a little smile of amusement, "perhaps we might step outside for a brief walk together, so that we might speak in private?" She found it quite amusing that he would have come to be called a sunbeam, and could not resist that slight pun. "After this song," She added, having no desire to cut this dance short. If he chose to walk away after she had told him about herself, then at least they would have enjoyed this last dance. If he did not lose interest... then they could return for more dancing. Which is what she hoped, but she really had no idea what to expect from him.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

The Fairy raised an eyebrow behind her mask when the Dragon claimed that his two drinks were not a problem. He actually looked amused, and what was visible of her face looked incredulous as he took a big gulp of his wine and soon promised her that fairy story. She took a deep breath, as if curious how he was going to solve both questions as quickly as he seemed to be planning.

But soon the wine was completely gone (!) and he was asking her to listen to his story during their dance rather than up front. Considering that, she figured she might as well agree. Knowing Gladhron, the story would be a good one. By the time she had nodded, he was finishing his water. Blinking at the two suddenly very empty glasses on the bar, then at his readily offered arm, the Fairy could think of little else to do than to curl a hand around his arm, and to allow him to guide her out to the dance floor.

"What kind of fairy story will it be then?" she asked him. "A story about flying fairies? Fairies dancing around in the woods? Or a fairy falling for a mortal, perhaps?"

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

The fact that she did not shy away from his embrace and his fingers on her skin... but that she smiled instead... could only be taken as a positive. He saw it as a signal, too. If she did not flinch or move away now, that could mean she might not mind him daring another step, later. He could see her surprise when he left the ball entirely in her court about her sharing anything personal about herself, but he did not fill the silence with more words of his own. He would not mind dancing with her like this - holding her like this, and looking at her like this - for a good while longer.

His lips curved into a smirk at her words. "A Sunbeam can try," he answered, before his face became more serious again. "But, yes - after this song." He continued to slowly turn them around, and had to hold himself back from leaning closer to her again. Clearly, whatever she wanted to discuss was important enough to her that it could not wait even another day. That meant it held significance. And he should wait. Until he had heard whatever it was she wished to tell him. "Will the lady accept the use of a cloak to keep her warm?" he asked, venturing another smile while his hand at her upper back stroked over her shoulderblade to the back of her shoulder. "Or am I only allowed to use my own warmth? Does it count if the cloak I give you is mine?"

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

King Cheddar & Lady Swan

Cheddar nodded politely to Nymph’s telling of her own events and happenings throughout the night, her making of new friends almost as productive as his own efforts. He smiled and opened his mouth to reply, but that was his error, chaperoning two young women who were very close friends, as both forgot he seemed to be there when Nymph turned to Swan to speak of a mutual acquaintance of theirs. It was all good, he just smiled and let them have their enjoyment.

Swan was first pleasantly surprised that Nymph had gotten permission to stay with her over night, now was equally astonished when it was revealed Foxglove would also be able to meet with them on the morrow before her obligations. ”Oh, that is wonderful. I know just the signal we need to showcase ourselves.” She said, dipping her head forward a little to showcase her peahen feather.

And then more amazing news followed, with another rendezvous with a certain lady in pink who might be able to teach them a special trick or two, involving bows and arrows. Mostly just their handling and operating, which would already be a tremendous boon for the young women. Swan glanced back at Cheddar, who was half listening with a scrutinising look but he said nothing nor offered any protest about these conspiracies. They really weren’t that deep to him. As long as they were safe and happy, he supposed. He judged the girls to be too lacking in any deviousness or deviancy to do something foolish anyways and he would be right. Just harmless, childish fun these so-called grown young women were discussing.

”You are a mastermind genius, my friend!” Swan praised Nymph linking arms with her friend and walking out ahead of their escort, absolutely pleased with how the night turned out overall. Yes, very pleased.

At the doors, Cheddar paused and looked back, eyes sweeping over familiar and strange forms. Yes, events of this night might ring out far and deep into the annals of time…or not…

King Cheddar, Lady Swan, and Forest Nymph exit.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

With a little laugh, he set off toward the dance floor, smiling. "Perhaps it will be all of the above!" He answered. Honestly, he still didn't know. He was still thinking about it as they walked, but some of those key elements began to take their places in the tale that would soon be coming into existence.

As they took their position to begin dancing, he smiled at her, and couldn't help thinking of what Golden had said earlier, about how it was surprising that they'd never done any dancing together while they were out in the woods. That it had never come up. It was a shame, he thought. That might have been nice.

"Alright," He began talking in a lower voice, so not to disturb other dancers nearby, launching into a tale made up on the spot, about a young fairy who liked to dance in the forest. She liked to fly around and hop from leaf to leaf, spinning and twirling all about the woods, until one day, an evil witch decided to curse her, because she didn't like how happy and free the little fairy was. She took away the fairy's wings and used them for herself, so that she could fly around. But she used the wings to go around cursing the inhabitants of the forest, darkening the land with her evil.

He paused at that point, to try and gather his thoughts for the next stage of the story, and also to sort of check whether she was even still interested in this story or not. And also to give her a twirl so that she didn't get bored of the dancing.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

She gave an amused little smile at his words. Indeed, a sunbeam could indeed try. But she was glad that he agreed to finishing this song. She was quite content to continue this dance with him, slowly moving around together on the floor. Gazing up at each other. She let all the other thoughts fade away for now, just enjoying this moment.

When he asked about whether she would accept a cloak or not, she gave a soft laugh and thoughtfully bit her lip again. Glancing off to one side for a moment while she considered the question, she let her gaze focus on a distant chandelier for a couple of seconds before shifting back to find his eyes again. She grinned at him. "Gentleman's choice." She replied back in a quiet tone, turning his own earlier reply around at him, while trying not to give in to the smirk that wanted to appear on her face.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

With one hand in his, the other on his shoulder, she wondered whether or not it was supposed to be awkward to find herself dancing with the same person not one, not twice, but three times. But she didn't feel awkward at all under his thoughtful-looking smile. It felt easy. So she smiled back at him, unreserved, waiting for him to start the story which he had promised.

She had always liked watching the play of animation on his face while he spun his stories, and mask or not, tonight was no different. She could still see his eyes, which were pivotal in his renditions. Even if he couldn't use his hands to support his story-telling this time, he was still doing a good job of it, using intonation and inflection, and she could conjure a mental image of the little fairy twirling around leaves in the woods as he described it to her. Her smile faded when the story took a turn for the worse, but that had nothing to do with the way he was telling the story.

After the Dragon paused and a moment passed, she was about to prompt him to go on when he twirled her around. That brought back a smile. "What happened next?" she asked once they were stepping and turning in sync again.

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

She was biting her lip again. Her reply made him grin, though. "Fair enough, Lady Cat," he agreed, not fighting her choice to leave that up to him. He most definitely would take his cloak out for her, in this cold. He didn't twirl her for the rest of the dance, not wanting to risk her not returning both hands behind his neck. He was enjoying that way too much.

While the Dragon and the Fairy were making their way to the floor to start their dance, the current tune came to an end, and Golden couldn't help but feel a bit bereft in anticipation of her having to pull away from him. Instead of waiting for that, though, he slid the hand he had at her shoulder along her arm, his other hand soon doing the same along her other arm, and he slowly removed her arms from around him, letting her hands slide down his chest as he did so. He said nothing, but kept looking into her eyes. Placed one of her hands on his arms. And wordlessly led her to the entrance, where he retrieved his cloak. He had it slung over his other arm, not yet putting it around her as they moved to step outside.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He was inwardly pleased that she seemed interested enough to ask what happened next. Good, he had wondered, since he was absolutely making this up as he went along. Clearing his throat, he continued to tell how the little, wingless fairy had mourned over the decaying, darkened forest, and then when some of her close friends were turned to stone from the witch's curse, she set off on an epic quest to put a stop to the evil witch and try to restore her loved ones. A task which would have been simple, if she'd had wings, became much more challenging as she had to go on foot, climbing up tall trees she would have normally flown up to the top of, and so forth.

While he told the story, he tried to be mindful of how he was stepping, so he wouldn't accidentally step on her feet. Yet that didn't distract him too much from weaving his tale. As he continued, the fairy became trapped in an enchanted cage just before she could achieve her goal, and it was beginning to look as if she would completely fail in her task, and she was feeling quite dispirited and defeated. Then he paused again. Thinking, briefly. What else had she suggested? Ah.. right. Falling for a mortal. The one element he had not yet included. He took a few more seconds to consider the best way to make it fit together in the story.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

She succumbed to a grin as he answered her. And she wondered what he would choose. And, if he was going to get his cloak, she wondered if she ought to mention the fact that she had one in there as well. Letting those thoughts drift away, lady Cat decided to simply enjoy the remainder of that dance.

As the song drew to a close, she refrained from sighing. It was all the closer to the deciding moment. As he slid his hands down her arms and slowly took her hands in his, she maintained eye contact, a little smile lingering on her face, as if wanting to be sure she would not forget every detail about this.. the evening, him, their dance together, and so forth. Glancing up at him as they walked together, her mind was racing as she thought about all that she intended to tell him. And wondered what he might do or say. Should she bring her own cloak, just in case he did walk away?

When they reached the attendants, however, she made her choice; she did not ask for her own cloak, and tried to convince herself that she would not need it. Because she wanted to believe that he was better than others she had known before. That his interest in her might be enough that he would not lose it so swiftly.. and she hoped she was right. Smiling softly, she moved with him toward the outside, trying to stifle the nervousness trying to rise up within her.

(temporary exit)

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Ziranphel

It took them a little while to wind their way through the tables to the dance floor, and when they turned to face one another Ziran couldn’t help but notice the slight tilt of Macardil’s mask and the direction of his gaze as she lifted her hand to rest on his firm shoulder once more. With a low laugh at his question that confirmed her guess, her lips shifted in both amusement and delight in a failed attempt to hide her smile before she replied. “After a fashion, but not quite so directly. Thank you, Macardil. I am glad you appreciate it so.”

Her dark brown eyes smiled up at him as they swept into the dance. Ziran felt entirely secure in her husband’s love and care displayed in so many ways, and secure in his arms. The steps flowed one into another, but her attention was fixed on Macardil as her gaze traced his features, both hidden and visible, with appreciation, enjoying once more how the blue of his cravat and detailing on his mask and coat emphasized the vivid hue of his eyes. “Tonight you may look dangerous and ever so striking, but your kindness is just as attractive, hervenn. Kindness to me and to others you meet.” Her voice was low but warm, and she paused briefly to just smile at him before continuing. “Was there anyone else that you wanted to speak with or be seen by this evening?”

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

Grinning, she shook her head at the way he was weaving the tale. It was obvious from what he had said before that this was a brand new story, and she was impressed by how he was - as they'd discussed before - 'winging it'. Would he get stuck at some point? Get himself into some plotline he couldn't find his way out of?

It was as if they had an unspoken agreement not to leave the dancefloor when the song ended. It was only logical - the story wasn't finished and the Dragon didn't pause, so they just kept moving steadily, into the next song as he continued. When he did pause a moment, she took the opportunity to interject. "I had not forgotten you were very good at this," she told him - as had been evidenced much earlier in the evening as well, because of the way she had commented on how he'd looked more like a story-teller than a singer, "but I had almost forgotten how entertaining it was to hear you telling a story." She hadn't really been able to appreciate it before, since the story he'd told then had involved her - and had been altered. "I'm glad you are reminding me... So, what happened to the little fairy, next?"

---

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil

He enjoyed bringing a smile like that to her face, which was reflected in the way he was smiling. He narrowed his eyes a little at her description of his attire, but his eyes softened when she spoke of his kindness to those around him. Everyone deserved kindness, he thought. Most people could use a bit more kindness, he found, and it warmed him that she had not only noticed but also chosen to comment on it.

Her question made him laugh quietly. Macardil shook his head. "Only you, now, my Ziran." It was a short reply, yes, but it was true. They had found her cousin, both before and after he had found his wife. There had been the pleasure of eating at a table with a friend and his lady. That was enough for him. "I know of one friend at least, who is in the city for this evening's event - but he has our address now, since our visit to Lond Col. He can come by, later. This evening is ours more than anyone else's."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He couldn't help but grin back at her when she commented on how she had not forgotten that he was good at storytelling. "And I'm glad to remind you." He answered to her last comment, quite genuine as he said so. He was indeed, for it had been very nice to have such an eager audience to hear his stories, back then. When she had spent so many evenings camping with them, hunting bandits with them.

"Well," He cleared his throat as he prepared to return to the story. "Just as she was beginning to give up hope..." He continued, and proceeded to tell how the fairy was unexpectedly aided by a raccoon who was able to open the latch on the cage and helped her escape. They teamed up and quickly became very close friends as they worked together, trying to get to the magic wand, which they needed to stop the witch and reverse her dark magic."

He paid no attention to the changing of yet another song as he reached the most exciting part of the story; The witch arrived just at the pivotal moment, and went to throw a spell at the fairy that would have killed her! But the raccoon leaped and attacked her, fighting her as well as a raccoon could do, thus buying the fairy enough time to grab the wand. She used it to cast a spell to trap the evil witch into her own book of dark spells. The raccoon had taken the deadly spell in her place, however, and he was dying... And there he paused for a dramatic effect.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

She had to smile when he brought in a raccoon. It worked though, and it was weirdly intriguing to hear how the fairy and the raccoon became friends as they took on the mission of stopping the witch together.

The Fairy's propensity for watching the people around her was therefore on the passive side while she was actively listening to the Dragon's story. She wondered, and not for the first time, if he wouldn't have rather been sitting down for this, since dancing with her was keeping him from using much of the body language he otherwise might employ to gave his story just that little bit extra. But he hadn't said anything as another song had ended - and if he didn't mind, then why should she? It wasn't as if she 'went out dancing' regularly. Her brother would drag her out a few times a year in his attempts to get her to let loose a little - but that had been mostly it the past few years. And even if she were to go out more - in what world would she dance this much in one evening? The Fairy figured she should make the most of this unexpected opportunity. Especially since there would be no one to spot her and possibly bug her about it later.

Well. other than the Butterfly. And given that the redhead had shown her 'true colours' by now, the Wildflower and the Snowflake. That felt like too many people already, honestly. But they had an understanding about the evening. The Fairy figured that understanding would be enough for Snowflake and Wildflower - but Butterfly was always a bit of a wildcard.

There was little time to consider those thoughts, however, with the story building up to what sounded like the finale. It was turning into a proper fairytale - using familiar spins - but still she found herself hanging onto his every word, rooting for the raccoon and the fairy. She was curious to see where he would choose to take this invented story. Especially when he revealed the raccoon had been hit by the witch's spell, which was killing him. Would the Dragon actually choose to kill off the heroic little raccoon? Part of the Fairy's mind laughed at herself. An invented raccoon in a fairytale that was being made up on the spot... Well, it was definitely different from pirates and human traffickers...

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Night Sky Courtier 2 - Bearded, dancing with Blossom

“Things are ..” the Night Sky Courtier began, and then struggled to give a proper adjective which might do the situation justice. “Welllll .. he has let me stay beneath his roof,” the answer seemed unsure. “Though that may be as much to try and keep a control over me, than for the pleasure of my company !” he laughed then, unconcerned, or else amused by the very notion.

“I rather favour being myself right now also,” he observed of her opinion. “Luckiest man in all the room.” He raised his left hand, ran the soft twirls of her ribboned decoration between one finger and thumb. “Though if I were to say that your fine apparel has but one disadvantage; that it has taken me so great a portion of the evening to discover that you were come here ! It is .. you, .. under there, is it not ? Maybe I need check ..” Moving in for a closer inspection, the man stalled only long enough to note the lady dressed as a cat, leaving … with the same golden haired gentleman she had danced with before. Chances were that the two did know one another then. Relaxing further, rather than removing in the stranger’s wake, he smiled even more comfortably than before.


“My family,” was the confession then, “for the most part. My brother, and .. I don’t know who he has paid to take him out for a turn this eve,” he gestured with his chin from that direction to another and continued to name secret identities, now that it was more certainly safe to do so .... “That one .. over there is my nephew .. with the young lady in pink. And there, our cousin, with his wife. From Belfalas. My daughter, of course you may recognise, ..” he rolled eyes while adding “showing off her new husband …. ”
Brown eyes narrowed as they marked the flowering crimson stain on his young son-in-law’s costume. And it wasn’t until he noted the quite animated way in which the newlyweds were cavorting, that he was convinced, no secret stabbings had occurred. “You may come to know them also, if you feel brave ...” he watched for Blossom’s reaction, expectantly, before throwing her a lifebelt. “But I should like to keep you all to myself for a little while first,” He seemed most keen upon this course, of course.

“I mean, you’ve come all this way,” the man marvelled anew. “Do you even have a place to sleep tonight ?”

---

Night Sky Courtier 1 - Youngest, dancing with the Pink-painted Wildflower

It was an evening of mystery indeed, where even when the painted lady chanced a look about the young man’s feet, she did not see the difference. Which of course he could scarcely expect her to, when she was not familiar with how he usually stood. Even one who was, would have a difficulty, given the length of the trousers and the subtlety about the boots themselves. And so she asked. It seemed that she was doing all the asking, and he all of the answering. Clearly proving how unprepared for the nature of this event he truly was. So rather than meet her enquiry with a firm denial, this time he simply stalled in giving any response until it had been so long that she surely must assume he had not heard the question.

The jest soonafter, about their hiding from anyone who might even try to throw them out for wearing so unique a disguise; it was a good diversion. Although it was diverting in the sense that it was much worse, and completely dwarfed the previous risk of causing offence, when an innocent suggestion was not so innocently mistook.


“Well, that was ..” the young man began, almost mirthfully calling back his notice from the departing teases to his pretty young partner in (absolutely no) crime .. until the amused smile died on his face. The grin at hearing just how silly the giggling twosome were .. withered all to naught in the awkward silence that was waiting for him. Biting at her lip in an apparently stunned silence, there were both shock and apparent horror on his dance partner’s artistic face, which soon mirrored in his own, as he belatedly realised. She hadn’t found what the Plume and Bouquet said, in any way or shape, amusing. Wait .. had she taken them seriously ? Did she think .. that he might think .. ? Well of course she might think .. that ! For she honestly did not know him at all, and the young man might have groaned aloud. Here the poor girl was, probably miles from home and hoping for some nice dancing at her first ever ball and now .. now she thought some stranger wanted to drag her under the table and touch her feet.

“Oh. No .. No, I really didn’t mean it like that,” he worked overtime to be as convincing and sincere as he was in truth. I mean, she did not know him. If she’d had any inkling at all .. she would never have ever thought so. Presumably. He could not know for sure, because .. he didn’t even know her name, could only guess at where she’d come from, and there was no guarantee at all that he’d ever see her again after this night. The risk she uttered of ‘rumours’ then, confused him a little. As her identity was clearly a close kept secret. And while he had not undertaken any mastery of subterfuge really, there was confusion enough in his family’s uniform attire that he could deny the whole thing.


“Don’t worry, your feet are safe from me,” he vowed. Privately beginning to wish that there was any way at all that he could run and hide under the tables now. From her. From all of this. It was where he and his friends had aways snuck away to, in the face of threats that they’d be thrown out, for being someplace they had no place being .. And what was he even doing here ? What was even the point of any of this ? It could not lead anywhere. She was a stranger. And he was either saying the wrong thing, or looking .. maybe noticing too much that she was beautiful, when they were simply dancing and there was no distraction to save him. From putting any sort of hope to this. I mean, why ? What for ?

Somehow he had let the Starlit Lady convince him that he could just .. move on, grow up, be ready ... But clearly it was not going to be simply the first stranger who happened to catch his eye. Who happened to (very probably now) think that he was someone he was really not. A part of him wanted to declare, with the natural instinct to laugh it off, that this was just ridiculous, that they ought let the silly insinuating fools think whatever they liked .. and what did it matter anyway ? Except that it clearly did matter .. to her. She was embarrassed because of him. Meanwhile he was simply losing his will over this entire rigmarole. He did not dress like this, or dance like this, .. he didn’t want to be this. He wasn’t .. this. So she wasn't going to be the one. She was just, a very pretty, but still inaccessible .. someone. After all, he'd probably never see her again after tonight. And if he was going to ever .. really mean it .. with anybody .. it would be with someone he knew would still be there the next day.

“Maybe it would be safest to revisit the buffet ?” he shrugged.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

Even as he was telling the story, Dragon recalled the cause for their parting, years before. A death of a close friend. He would not have dared leave this story on a similar note, especially since he was already thinking of how much his little cousin would enjoy hearing this tale. He'd try to remember to jot down the basic footnotes later, so he wouldn't forget the basic bones of the story. But first, he had to finish telling it!

After taking a breath, he launched into the conclusion. Things were looking very glum, and then suddenly.. everything started to crumble around them. The fairy tried to shield her dying friend from further harm. As it turned out, the raccoon sacrificing himself to save the fairy was in fact, the very thing needed to undo all of the witch's evil magic! Thus, proving love and friendship to be a more powerful magic than evil. As the fairy watched, her new friend changed before her eyes... into a handsome young man. And his injury was healed! As it turned out, he had been cursed by the witch, turning him into an animal. And as he changed back into a mortal man, the fairy got her wings back as well, as the curse on her was lifted.

But they were not out of danger yet! They hurried out of the witch's crumbling fortress, just in the nick of time. After they got out, they found that everything else was restored to the way it had been, and there was no more trace of the witch's evil anywhere in the forest. The man and the fairy decided they didn't want to part ways, and so, they didn't. They set off traveling and having more adventures together.

As he paused to consider whether to add anything else to the story, he watched her face and was glad that it appeared like she was enjoying it, at least. "The rest of their adventures will be future stories." He decided with a little grin. "Well... I suppose it may be a bit silly, but.. I hope you enjoyed the story, lady Fairy." He stepped back slightly and guided her into a twirl, which he had not done since close to the beginning of the tale.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

Lady Cat was shivering slightly despite Sir Sunbeam's cloak as she stepped in from the frigid outdoors, with a light dusting of snow on her shoulders and hair. After reluctantly relinquishing the cloak to the attendants, she frowned slightly at her cold hands. The lacy gloves were pretty but did very little to aid in warmth, yet they could hardly be blamed for that, since they were not designed to keep hands warm.

They had only been gone for the length of two or three songs, perhaps, and yet the fresh sight of the ballroom almost felt like seeing it all anew. It made her smile to be reminded of the splendor of the decor and the joy on the faces of the people enjoying the event. The warmth as they returned to the indoors was perhaps the most pleasing aspect of returning to the indoors, however.

Her hands still feeling a little stiff from cold, she slipped one around his arm and clasped both hands together around it. "I suppose I should've b-brought my own cloak," She murmured, half-regretful. "I quite underestimated how c-cold it would be out there," She shivered and moved just a tiny bit closer to his side as he would lead them toward the bar. Of course, it had not been quite that cold when she'd arrived earlier in the evening, and it seemed that the temperature had dropped as the night progressed. Regardless of feeling half-frozen, she was quite pleased with the results of their talk in private.

---

@Ercassie

Blossom

Hearing that it sounded as the matter were still uncertain, Blossom nodded slightly. "I hope it is for the latter, rather than the former," She replied sincerely, but with a gentle smile despite the seriousness of that particular subject. She often wished she could have had a chance to meet the sister she had never known, but at least she was able to know her somewhat, through the daughter that sister had left behind.

As the Night Sky Courtier switched to another topic, she took the cue and left that matter alone for now, and instead gave a wider smile as he declared himself the luckiest man in the room, while toying with the ribbons and such at the side of her mask. "It is me," She assured him with a little laugh. "Had I known that you were here, I would have sought you out immediately." She promised. "I was not even sure if you were still in this city, nor where to send any letters to try and contact you. I even worried that you may have already set off to return North, and we may have passed by one another along the way without realizing." She admitted. "My escorts thought it unlikely that you would have remained too close to the road, and we had little choice but to do so." She did not mention the other, less pleasant possibilities that had occurred to her.

For a moment, she thought it seemed as if his attention had been drawn elsewhere, but before she could wonder at that, he began to point out his various family members to her, with a smile of amusement as he joked about the lady his brother was with. Her gaze followed his subtle indications as he pointed out this one and that one, nodding slightly in understanding as the mystery of those few began to fade away. The mention of his daughter's new husband brought another little smile. She had gone through a similar experience when her own daughter married, although she had been a few years older than his daughter was even now. "They look very happy," She commented with a smile, turning back to him. "I can't wait to meet them. All of them." She told him, genuinely eager for a chance to meet those she had, thus far, only heard about. And he ought to know she was not lacking in bravery, unless he had forgotten much since they last saw one another.

She didn't comment on that, but rather focused on the comment that followed, as he mentioned he would like to keep her to himself for a while. "I can hardly blame you, there." She added softly. After all, they had not seen one another for many months! "I have had enough of dancing with strangers." It had been amusing, even a bit fun, dancing with the few gentlemen who had approached her this evening, but it was most thrilling to have found the one she most wanted to dance with. She smiled up at him, her own brown eyes looking into his lighter ones. Once he had let go of her hand after kissing it, she returned it to his shoulder, so that both might join loosely behind his neck, even as she noticed his hands had settled about her hips, rather than her waist.

With a little laugh, she offered a little teasing reply to his latest question, "Worried I'm sleeping in an ally somewhere?" She grinned, and shook her head. "Actually, I'm staying at an inn called the Wayfarer, just past the second gate." She answered, curious what opinion he may have about the place. "Is it a good one? All the inns we could find on the first level were completely full, and there were only two rooms left in that one. The girls are with me," She added softly, to let him know. "And two young men, friends of my daughter's, who brought us safely from Bree." She explained, deciding not to reveal just yet who those two young men were. "I was going to get one room for the girls, and another for me, but we were lucky to get one to share." She gave a little shrug in a 'what can you do?' sort of manner. "I had no idea we would be arriving just when a lot of people were coming into town for a dance... I heard that the higher up the levels you go, the more expensive things are, so.. I thought we'd better grab those rooms while we could. But yes, I have a place to sleep," She assured him. "It is to be hoped that it won't be long before more rooms become available." She concluded, more quietly.

---

@Ercassie

Pink Wildflower

Just as swiftly as the evening had begun to seem like a wonderful dream instead of the initial disappointment that she had begun to believe it would be.. it took another turn, this time in the wrong direction. Everything had been going so wonderfully while she danced with him, she'd completely lost track of time. Until, suddenly, the dream seemed to come to a screeching halt after those silly girls had to go and make fun of him.

As the apologetic words tumbled out of his mouth, with a look of worry, she was at first a bit confused. Had she not just said that she was sure he didn't mean it like those girls had implied? Yet, he seemed to think she thought the opposite. Of course, the mask hid a great deal of facial expressions, which did not help matters. As he then assured her that her feet were safe, the Wildflower had to stop herself from pointing out that she hardly cared what might touch her feet. He, of course, did not know that she was the same girl who roamed barefoot, all about a dairy farm, on a regular basis!

She cast another sidelong glance after where those girls had gone, inwardly fighting the instinct to be upset at them. Instead, turning back toward him, she started to open her mouth to try and reassure him that she really did believe he wasn't trying to suggest anything improper, but she found that she didn't know how to do that without revealing that she knew more about him than a stranger ought to. Again, she was half-tempted to reveal to him who she really was.. but suddenly worried that he might think it was some sort of joke at his expense. That those other two had been in on it. That this was all some sort of set up. Even though it wasn't! So, yeah, this would be about the worst timing for her to reveal her true identity, she realized. But how could she smooth this whole misunderstanding out without slipping out of character? He was clearly not interested in the outdoorsy, adventurous girl who had spent nearly every day with him for the past three years. He preferred the lady from Dol Amroth, and that was what the Wildflower was trying to mimic, as well as she could. Why had she chosen to use a Rohirric accent instead of learning a Belfalas one, anyway?

As he continued by saying that the buffet might be safest, after she had suggested they stick to dancing.. she was at a loss for words. Her confusion doubled. What? Safest? She could have scoffed at that. As if she was the sort who shied away from anything unsafe. He was sounding a lot like her father, there. The thought might have made her laugh in any other situation. She might have teased him about it, and they would have had a laugh. Tonight, she was not finding it very funny, because of the situation. It seemed evident to her that he wasn't interested in the girl didn't mind a bit of danger. The girl who trained with weapons, and planned to one day become one of his comrades in arms. Sure, he encouraged her, spent a lot of time around her, but she had hoped that he might come to see her differently after tonight.

And just when she'd begun to think her plan had worked.. this happened. Now, he wanted to return to the buffet rather than dance. Did this mean.. he no longer wanted to dance with her? Somehow, she was getting the impression that he hadn't suddenly become hungry. But it wasn't very long ago that he had been telling her how she had stopped him from leaving early, and he thought she was pretty, and all that. Had she done something wrong, or...

She didn't know what to do, what to say. If she were being herself, she would have told him not to be stupid, to ignore them, and that they were having a wonderful time dancing and not to give those two another thought. But she was sure that wasn't how a proper Noble lady would reply, and she was trying to be that sort of lady. Only she didn't exactly know how she ought to respond. How would the Starlit Lady respond, she wondered? The situation felt as if it was spiraling downward, and she didn't know how to recover it. But she had to answer him before the pause drew out long enough to become awkward. Maybe it already had.

Drawing a slow breath, she offered a weak but polite smile. "The buffet is quite exquisite, and certainly would be safe, I'm sure." She agreed quietly, trying her best not to look disappointed. "If you desire refreshments, sir.." She was even trying to use slightly fancier words, trying harder to be 'proper' and 'mature', like the woman he was so caught up with. "by all means, let us go and see what remains." It was a bit difficult to keep from suggesting they check whether there were still any berries left. It was also tempting to giggle at the memory of that game they sometimes played while roaming about the fields together; throwing berries and trying to catch them in their mouths. But it would surely not be proper to throw berries at each other, and she certainly couldn't imagine the Starlit lady doing such a thing. So, she tried not to give up hope. Maybe the situation was not lost entirely, and going to the buffet would help matters somehow.

---

@Pele Alarion

The Fox

They had left the dance, but not his thoughts. In fact, he could hardly stop thinking about them. All of them. All for different reasons. He aimlessly strolled along the length of the buffet table, without really seeing any of the delicious offerings spread out upon it. He really shouldn't let it bother him, should he? But it did. The thoughts that were going around and around in his head and he didn't know quite what to do about it. He needed to distract himself. And, he realized, he had spent most of the evening so far dancing with her. Swan. She had been his first dance of the evening.. and the next couple of dances, then his last dance.

Maybe he should find someone else to dance with? After all.. his family had been here, and so had hers. That one woman had given him an uncomfortable feeling, asking about his eyes, and while he tried to tell himself it was probably only a little paranoia, he couldn't help thinking that it might be good to think about what someone might think if they were watching him. It might even look as if he had intentionally sought her out! Which he hadn't, but how could someone else know that, if they knew who they were to each other? If they were looking for any sort of sign like that...

Yeah. He couldn't leave so soon after she had left. And what had she meant with that whole thing about her betrothed not finding her? Why would she expect him to, he wondered? Or was he completely wrong? He began to doubt himself. Maybe it wasn't actually her. Maybe it was all some strange misunderstanding... closing his eyes, he took a slow breath in, trying to find some semblance of calm despite the whirl of thoughts jumbled around in his head.

Opening them again after inhaling an exhaling a couple of times, he looked around. A couple of ladies had arrived at the buffet, one dressed in bright and cheerful yellows and greens, and the other in gloomier-looking hues of red and black. He was nearer to the latter. They both appeared to be reasonably older than him, but it should be fine to ask for a dance, right? Or even just a conversation. He took another slow breath in, then smiled as he stepped a bit nearer to the nearest one(Black lips). "Have you tried these?" He pointed out one of the items he remembered trying earlier, which he'd thought was really good. "But then everything that I tried earlier was delicious, so I don't think you'll be disappointed no matter what you try." He added, smiling, while making sure to maintain the Linhir accent, as he had been doing all evening.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

She had been smiling at the story, laughing a little when he described the raccoon turning into 'a handsome young man'. Of course he did. She rolled her eyes at the rather typical trope, but the Dragon kept things exciting enough with the crumbling fortress and the way he described them getting out by the skin of their teeth. And the ending was just right. Amused at what he'd come up with on the spot, with hardly any time to really think about it, the Fairy grinned when he called the story 'a bit silly' before he twirled her around again.

When she put her hand back on his shoulder, she was still grinning. "I suppose it was a bit silly," she agreed, "but that doesn't mean it wasn't any good. Because it was," she complimented him. "Good, I mean. Besides -" the Fairy smiled as she leaned in a little, as if sharing a secret. "I'm a sucker for happy endings." Withdrawing again, she was still smiling, and she patted his shoulder once with her fingers. "So thank you. I enjoyed that. You met my challenge - and delivered."

Sighing lightly, she shook her head, though she was still smiling. "I still can't quite believe you and brother are here, in Minas Tirith... How have you both been? I'm glad to see you're still in one piece, at least. I assume Gwestion is, as well?" Otherwise, the Dragon would have surely mentioned something by now... right? "Your brother's old injuries have healed well? And no new ones for either of you? You don't seem too bothered by anything, at least," she assessed, almost automatically looking him over.

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

Once they came back inside and the lady offered his cloak back to the attendants, Golden brushed at his arms a little. He had best get those tiny snowflakes off before they melted... but then he realized he would look pretty ridiculous trying to brush himself off entirely.

Even though he was sort of freezing, not having put on a cloak at all - since he'd granted it to Lady Cat instead - he took off his suit jacket and had the attendants store it along with his cloak. For if he was cold, then so was she. And he couldn't exactly warm her up wearing cold and especially not damp clothes. And he was more concerned with the lady than he was with himself.

The way she clasped both hands around his arm was - admittedly - rather satisfying. But once she spoke, the satisfaction all but evaporated. She was stuttering and shivering. He had not done his job of keeping her warm enough out there. His steps were quick as he led them to the bar. "What kind of hot drink would you like, Lady Cat?" he asked her, in an attempt to save them time at the bar. If he knew beforehand, he could instantly deliver her order, after all...

Once they arrived at the bar, he asked for the lady's choice of drink, warm apple cider*, ordering two of those rather than his first idea for his own drink. He turned to her, took both her hands off his arm to gather them together, cover them with his own hands and bring them to his lips. To breathe warm air into them. "I didn't mean to give you chills," he teased lightly, trying to distract her a little.

*agreed with Rillewen ooc

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He was pleased to see her grin. That seemed like a good sign that she had enjoyed the story. Even if she agreed it was silly. He didn't mind, for he hadn't really been trying to go for some really serious tale. Just something to amuse her, but it had also been fun, telling it and making it up as he went. "Thank you," He grinned as well as she declared that it was good. That was that really mattered; that she liked it. "I'll probably save that one, to tell my little cousin next time I visit," He added with a little laugh. "She'd love something like that, I imagine."

When she leaned in a little closer, he was curious what she would say. Hearing her admission that she enjoyed happy endings, his smile grew just a little. "Me too," he confessed. That should be no surprise to her, of course. He still wore the smile as she complimented him on meeting her challenge. "Have you ever known of me to back away from a challenge?" He asked with a laugh, amused. "Especially involving a story."

Shrugging, he continued to slowly move them around the dance floor, wishing he knew more than these very basic steps and a twirl. He didn't want to overdo the twirling, but also didn't want her to get bored of dancing with him. When she returned to the topic of their being in the city, his smile returned. "We've been fine." He assured her. "Yes, he's good. I just couldn't talk him into coming to the dance." He sighed, shaking his head a little in mock exasperation. "You probably remember how he is.." He rolled his eyes with a little amusement, then shook his head in answer to her question. "No, he seems to have healed quite well." He assured her, then paused to think about the other part of the question. "Nothing really worth mentioning," he answered. There had, of course, been a few minor injuries between the two of them, but nothing he could really think of at the moment and therefore, not worth remembering.

"What about you?" He asked in return, eager to hear whatever she might tell him. "Clearly, you're doing alright healthwise," At least, she hadn't appeared to have any noticeable wounds bothering her or anything. "but what about.. you know, just.. daily life? Everything going well for you there?" He wasn't really sure what her daily life would involve, as he guessed it was different for her here than it had been in the north. But he was curious to hear whatever she might be willing to tell him.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

What kind of hot drink? Lady Cat let her gaze drift over the crowd as she thought about that. She could have coffee at any time, and while cocoa was delicious, it was also easy enough for her to acquire whenever she liked. Tea, depending on the flavor, was also easy to find. She recalled seeing another drink, however, at various points throughout the evening so far. One with a sweet, fruity smell blended with spices of some sort. That had intrigued her, but up until now she had not been in the mood for a hot drink. Now was a perfect time to try that delicious-smelling drink. "Is the cider as good as it smells?" She asked, glancing back toward him. As he replied that there is only one way to find out, accompanied by a little smile and wink, she smiled in amusement. Indeed, she would find out for herself. She was looking forward to learning the answer to that, too.

After he had placed their request with the bartender, she watched as he covered her hands with his own, a little smile of appreciation showing on her face as he used his breath to warm them. Yet she couldn't help feeling further amused when he said he had not meant to give her chills. "Oh? You didn't?" She asked in an equally teasing tone, as she stepped a little closer to him. "For a moment, out there, I could've sworn you were trying to..." She let her head tilt slightly to one side, as if to remind him what she was referring to, or maybe she was only in contemplating something.

Her gaze dropped to their joined hands, and she smiled softly, leaning closer to him as she looked up at his eyes again. "Thank you, for letting me use your cloak." She told him quietly, on a more serious note. She had meant to say that when they returned inside, and it had slipped her mind in her eagerness to get further into the warm ballroom.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"Good idea," she agreed with his idea to tell the same story to his little cousin. While she was a bit unclear on the details about his cousin, she didn't feel like it was the right time to ask about that, so she didn't. Instead, she laughed quietly at his question. "Involving a story, no," she agreed. "But beyond that... Haven't I?" she wondered, her smile a bit sly. "I don't exactly recall you jumping at my suggestion you might conquer the stage earlier. Perhaps I should have phrased it in a more challenging manner, then, for it to count?" she teased.

So - they had been doing 'fine'. "Fine?" she inquired, slanting her head. "Not well?"

She nodded, though, as he spoke of his brother. "I remember, yes. So that hasn't changed? I'd hoped he might have allowed himself a bit more... with the passing of the years." The last sentence was spoken a bit more quietly. "But I'm glad to hear he's healed well physically, at least." She smiled again. "And I'm also glad to hear neither of you sustained any other crazy injuries." Her thoughts returned to when she'd spoken to Bel, and how the woman had told her the story of how Gwestion's leg had gotten so hurt. How Bel had described the brothers' arrival - and that Gwestion hadn't been the only one with injuries. And how Bel had told her of the things that had happened next. Despite of Gladhron's very talkative nature... he hadn't breathed a word of any of that to her.

If she hadn't been thinking about that, she would have laughed when Gladhron said something about her 'clearly doing well healthwise'. As it stood, she managed an amused smile. She was doing well now, at any rate, and of no mind to point his attention to injuries that had healed enough to be of no more consequence. "I am," she confirmed. "As for daily life..." Those words had come more slowly, and quite thoughtfully. As if she were deliberating something. Which she most assuredly was. She did not want to tarnish the evening by telling him too much and inviting a possibly bad reaction. Many people would consider what she had done as outright lying, wouldn't they? But she did not want to lie to him. Omission... was all she would allow herself.

"It's going well enough. I have a house here - on the Fourth Circle. Which I like. I still start my days with training," she said with a grin, remembering her teaching him and his brother and sparring with them most mornings during the weeks they'd travelled together. "Of course, here I can always clean up after. Does wonders for my mood," she said, her tone obviously amused. "My other commitments keep my days - and many an evening, I guess - rather full. Of course I take Nársulë out for a ride almost every day. And the downside of a house is you also kind of have to keep it up," she mused. "Cleaning, replacing things, all that. I mostly eat out because I have little time to spare to actually prepare three meals a day. Then there are things like this... Time with friends. With my brother - when he visits."

"City life is pretty different from the woods," she noted, slanting her head and giving him a thoughtful look. A slow smile spread across her lips. "Wonder how long you'll last?"

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

He chuckled when she tilted her head the way she did, making that comment. A reply popped up into his head, giving him a rush of adrenaline. It was witty... in a way. And yes, she had given him no reason to doubt she was interested in him. To the contrary, in fact. However - the reply was beyond flirtatious. It would either draw her in completely - or backfire immensely. And the latter was a risk he was not willing to take. So - while his light brown eyes sparkled with mischief, he did not speak the thought aloud. He would keep it for his private amusement. For now, at least.

Instead of replying, he just grinned and warmed her hands with his breath a second time.

She leaned in toward him and looked him in the eyes, to thank him for his cloak. He appreciated the way she was so comfortable standing this close to him. "Of course," he said with an open smile. "You're welcome to it, any time." He spotted the bartender placing their drinks on the bar with a nod. Golden returned it. He slowly let go of Lady Cat's hands and took one of the ciders to then offer it to her, instead of keeping it to himself and letting her take the other. "Your warm drink, Lady Cat. I hope you like cinnamon." Once she took the drink from his hands, he picked up the second serving for himself and smelled it. "A wonderful scent," he said casually, before taking a slow sip to gauge just how hot is was. Perfect drinking temperature.

As he lowered the cider, he shifted just enough so he could lightly place a hand on the center of her back. He leaned in himself. "Doesn't live up to yours, though."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He blinked in confusion when she mentioned him not jumping at the suggestion of taking the stage. "Did you mean it as a challenge?" He asked, a bit unsure if she was actually serious or teasing. "Do you actually challenge me to get up on the stage?" He laughed. "I have a feeling some people may not like that." He pointed out, a glint of amusement in his eyes. "However, if you want to make it a challenge, then I would issue one back to you." He smirked.

The question about 'fine' versus 'well', he hadn't exactly expected her to analyze it so deeply, but he should have remembered that about her. Shrugging, he amended, "We've been great. Still traveling all around, hunting bad guys and fighting the evil things that remain, protecting innocents, you know." He smiled, then focused on the other question. "But, no.. hasn't changed much." He shook his head slightly. "A little, but not as much as one would hope."

He went quiet then so that he could listen to her reply to his own question, and was glad to hear that she was in good health. However, the way she said 'as for daily life' made him wonder if maybe that wasn't going so well. He remained quiet, listening to what she would say. Well enough. He nodded as she mentioned having a house here. He wasn't surprised, as he had gotten the feeling that she lived here in the city. Yet he didn't know much about the structure of the city, so all that really told him was that she lived one level below where they currently were.

That she trained each morning did not come as any surprise, and he grinned as he remembered her typical routine even when they were out in the woods. And as for keeping the house up, he smiled. "At least, being in the city, it should be easy enough to get what you need, or hire someone to fix things." he mentioned, thinking that must be quite convenient. When she asked how long he thought he'd last here, he laughed. "Me? I'm enjoying it already!" Grinning, he shook his head. "I suspect Gwestion won't want to be idle for long, though. I'll give it a couple of days before he starts wanting to drag me off to do 'something useful'." Rolling his eyes, he smiled back at her. "I'm quite content to stick around for a while and just.. enjoy the change of scene."

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

There was a twinkle of mischief that seemed to be lurking in his eyes, which made her curious. As he breathed onto her hands again, she watched him with a lingering smile, until he slowly released her hands, in favor of picking up one of the drinks that had arrived. That he handed the first one to her made her smile increase just a fraction. She accepted the cup from him, her fingers brushing over his as she did. "I do enjoy cinnamon," She assured him as she wrapped her hands around the mug, raising it up close to her face, maintaining eye contact with him for a moment before looking down at the cider. The cup was nice and warm, and felt very nice against her hands as they were beginning to regain warmth.

Inhaling at the brim of the mug, she let her eyes close as she tried to distinguish all of the scents, trying to pick out what spices might be in the drink, before trying a sip. Sweet, mingled with spicy, and yet fruity. "Mmm." She was about to declare that the cider was delicious, when he leaned in closer, with a hand on her back. His words brought a slow grin back to her face as she lowered her mug slightly. "Oh? Doesn't it?" She asked, pleased as well as a little amused. "Are you sure? The cider is.. quite delicious." She took another slow sip, while smiling at Golden.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

She was seriously considering issuing the challenge, grinning broadly. "I'm sure I would like it," she laughed. If not because it was nice to listen to, then surely because of the endless amusement it would provide. Who knew? Maybe he was underselling his voice? "Other people can suffer for a few minutes..." When he promised he'd issue a challenge in return, though, she rolled her eyes (invisibly) and clacked her tongue. "Ugh, no. There is no way I'm singing in public," she told him outright, assuming that would be the challenge. "Non negotiable. If you promised to issue a different challenge, though..." That might have been a challenge in and by itself.

It was good to hear they were doing great, though. She gently squeezed his shoulder when he said not much had changed with his brother. A little... a little was something at least. She wanted to say she was sorry about that - or that it was a shame, or too bad, something - but it all sounded too judgmental in her mind. Which she wasn't. Not about this, anyway. She supposed that also meant things between Gwestion and Bel had mostly stayed the same. That was... unfortunate. And honestly, kind of sad. Wouldn't they both be happier if Gwestion just... The Fairy sighed mentally. Sometimes people could get in their own way, though. She was no stranger to that, and probably understood Gwestion better than most.

His excitement about the city brought her smile back. "Honestly, I was just poking some fun at you, Gladhron. I figured you'd thrive here. A place with this much to do? Endless opportunities for activities and shenanigans? Stay too long, sir Dragon, and you might not even want to leave anymore," she warned him with a bright grin.
"Seriously, though. The City is beautiful. So is the Pelennor, really. You could visit Ithilien too - though it is more beautiful there in different seasons than winter. Still, it's not that far if you have a yearning for the woods all of a sudden. You could visit Harlond if you want to watch the ships. We have almost everything here within reach," she said proudly. "Even though I'm obviously biased toward my home... That doesn't make it any less true," she added.

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

Retreating back to a normal spacing and removing his hand on her back as well, Golden shrugged lightly. "Have I lied to you so far?" he merely asked in return. When she declared the cider was delicious, he raised his eyebrows behind his mask. "Are you asking me to compare taste now, Temptress?" He shook his head. "Cheeky."

He sipped the cider as he briefly took in the people around them before returning his attention to Lady Cat. "You know as well as I that I can make no such comparison." His eyes rested on hers, flicking down for a second, then returning to that black lace mask. "As of yet."

"So, you like apples, and cinnamon," he stated thoughtfully, in an attempt to steer the conversation away from anything too tempting. "Why don't you share some of your other likes with me, Lady Cat? Such as..." He tilted his head, thinking. "Your favorite dish. Your favorite colour. Or what you like to do for fun?"

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Ziranphel

It was always delightful when he relaxed enough to laugh freely, even if it was quietly. His words wrapped her in warmth, and the last vestiges of her previous touch of melancholy scattered to the night as she allowed her heart to follow the soaring sweep of the music. It still filled her with wonder how it could make such a difference to belong with someone. She had felt a different sense of belonging with friends or comrades, but this was entirely and wonderfully new.

While she would have been content enough to visit with others if he had wanted to, she was thus quite pleased to hear that she would have Macardil to herself for the rest of the evening. Friends would be visiting, but another time. Tonight was theirs as he had said. Ziran was more than content with that idea, and her soft smile in answer reflected that as she looked at him, trusting him to guide them through the intricacies of the dance. She would be happy to stay dancing thus until her feet complained of the unusual exercise. “It is indeed.” Her reply was soft after several turns. “Then let us dance to a few more songs while it is still a pleasure, and then make our way home.” There were signs of snow to make the evening yet more cozy. “I begin to tire of my mask, despite enjoying the music.”

The Wolf

"Weren't you speaking with her earlier?" Kaylin asked, her grey-blue eyes widening as they focused back on Thûllir. "Did you know she was the Queen?" Thûllir smiled at the widening of her eyes and the look on her face, before giving a slight shake of his head. “We did speak, yes, but I did not know her identity, although I did have some suspicions from the color of her eyes, as well as her manner of speech and carriage.” He breathed a laugh. “I was polite enough, but more focused on finding you than on figuring out whether I was speaking with the Queen. She also was looking for her love, and we wished one another well in our searching.”

His smile gentled as he glanced over to where Arwen and Aragorn danced. “I am glad for her that her search is at an end, as much as she enjoyed the festivities, and wish them both joy immeasurable.” Bringing their joined hands to his shoulder, a slight burr found its way into his voice. “She has found her forest king, and I my lilac lady butterfly, flame that you are.”

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Night Sky Courtier 2 - Bearded, dancing with Blossom

He had put no further words to voice, in concern of his relations here in the south. Name them he could of course, and recognise them all and each, now at least. But seventeen, maybe nearer to eighteen years .. it was a great count of time to try and put right in no time at all. Honestly he had presumed he cold resort to set out, sail off, and right what wrongs had come to them because of his past deeds. If he could safeguard their lives by risking his, it was the very least he could do. Except it was not as simple as all that, and it had been complicated enough before. But more people now were involved in it all than he knew how to deal with by himself. Chances were the choice had been removed of him already. But that was not a subject for such a place, for such a face ..

“It has become second nature to not hand the means to anyone for knowing where I am, or how long, or with whom,” he admitted, with an almost embarrassed laugh. “Sometimes I forget. Though I ought to have recalled how great a draw this city has become, particularly to young ladies, since the Return of the King !” With a laugh he expected she should put him to rights on that assumption. “She is happy here,” the father smiled, as talk turned toward his daughter. “It has been a time since I saw her smile. So I must be happy. And he is nothing terrible beyond their being so young.” With a sigh, the Bearded managed to close in the small gap which existed between he and his dancing partner. Under the guise of remaining private about their conversation. Although he would rather amend the subject somewhat.


Blossom's talk of an escort evolved into a reference then of the ‘girls’, so that he could at least guess some of her own companions. The two she had taken in, no doubt. For he could not imagine the lady before him leaving either one or both of them at home alone. Quite who the friends of her daughter might be though, remained a diverse cast of possibilities. The young woman did have a good many acquaintances, he knew.

“Then we are neighbours,” he celebrated, with a growing smile and a growing line of thought .., as his dancing partner confessed where she had reserved a room for the night. “My brother now runs a shop in the Marketplace, and has rooms above it,” he whispered, leaning in closer, where his beard would normally tickle her ear. If it had not been so groomed as he currently found himself. “It is true that things do grow less common as one ascends. As this fair setting no doubt proves. But I was born and raised in the First, my lady, and I can assure you, that even the lowest rung of this fine city has it’s charms.”


As they turned in easy rotation, he caught the glance of his cousin, also in an orbit of some close by constellation of choreography. Those grey eyes dropped toward the Bearded fellow’s hands, and rose again with urgency, in warning, which the other simply shook his head with mirth and ignored. “Ought I to be spying for your two sweet girls, and their kindly gentleman escorts, someplace here about the floor this eve ?” he enquired then, in a purposely more stateful tone of address. Was she here as chaperone or for her own amusement ?

---

Night Sky Courtier 1 - Youngest, retreating .. with the Pink-painted Wildflower

If their efforts in conversation had been sparse before, they now surpassed all levels of discomfortable silence. He had warned her from the outset that he was not known for being careful. And still he had been .. not careful enough, apparently. Whether his apparent thoughtlessness had surprised her, or she had simply realised that she was dealing with some sort of amateur here .. well, it had been nice while it lasted. For a moment he had even begun to believe that he had understood the rules of this strange social experiment. Stop trying to learn who she was and simply enjoy being in her company .. Well, yes. For certainly the Wildflower was extremely beautiful, and it had been no lie, that she had managed to distract him from his thoughts about leaving. Of course, maybe he should have just left, when he had first thought it was the time. Because this .. now .. This was exactly why he did not bother with this sort of thing.


As they made their way from the dancefloor back toward the buffet, it was more of a hesitant stop and start, many times over. As though their path were throwing out obstacles to try and hinder their escape. Ever since she had begun fretting over ‘rumours’, of things that had not even occurred. And it had grown harder to overlook how much she had been concerned with ‘whether she looked pretty enough’ and why he had chosen her … All her questions, which he had supposed might be her trying to work out if they had anything in common .. now had started to pile up as mindless smalltalk. He still knew next to nothing about her, at all. I mean, there was mystery ... and then there was misunderstandings. This felt rather more like the latter.

Somehow he’d clearly failed to live up to her hopes. Perhaps by laughing initially at the giggling girls’ poor taste, rather than .. presumably running right over and demanding they apologise or something quite as ridiculous. I mean, this was not Belfalas ! He had spent more than a week trying to help the Starlit Lady remember that little fact, and had somehow ended up, spending his time with yet another girl who cared more than anybody ought to over things that did not matter. It felt like retracing his steps back to the beginning, and wondering if there should ever come an end. It went from meeting a girl, to learning you had no place being with that girl, and then right back to wondering if it was worth any of the hassle at all. So far, it seemed not so.


Maybe the buffet would give them a new subject to try and turn the tide. Because when he stopped talking, he could not help but get caught up in the way she looked, and by the stars … she was astounding. And .. he was sure that a certain friend would smack him for not acting on it. But there had to be more to it than just how she looked, right ? Except when it came down to conversations .. they were coming at it seemingly from their entirely separate nations. As though neither one of them spoke the same language at all. She was being too careful. She was not comfortable. She wanted to dance .. and she had gotten a dance maybe more than one, he’d lost count actually, .. but beyond that ? Was there anything beyond that ?


As she fell into what sounded like a deliberate attempt to be even more careful and polished .. the Youngest Courtier swallowed down a groan before it escaped him. The bowl of berries was screaming at him to try and take her by surprise, to throw some at her and see what she did .. but of course, that was just going to be a disaster. She wasn’t his friend. She was a stranger. And she was acting more and more to his mind like the very lady who had urged him to find someone else, someone more suited to him.

Did he require refreshments, she asked. No, he required to have fun with somebody that he did not have to worry about all these airs and graces for. He required .. to go home and be himself. It was not even like he’d come here to find somebody to spend time with. He’d come here for friends. For family. And none of those here required his aide any longer. But maybe he could help this pretty miss find someone more suitable than he so that her evening could be saved. She had come all this way, after all. It was not like he was the only person here who could see to her fulfilling her goal for the evening. To dance ! His feet were beginning to bother him anyway. And her chances of being approached by some alternative escort would increase, now that she was clearly less engaged with him.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

As she declared that she would like it, he grinned. If he did not feel as if it would likely disrupt the event, he might have been tempted to do it, just at her request. But without knowing if the king and queen would be displeased... well, he wouldn't want to annoy either of them. It was a bit of a relief that she rejected the challenge he had been going to issue, before he had even given it. Grinning, he shook his head. "Nope, that would be the challenge. So, can we agree that neither of us will be doing that?" He asked with a little grin.

He let the topic about his brother slide away, as he would rather talk about happier things. That was something to maybe talk about later, right? When she admitted she was teasing, he grinned again. "I figured you were. I've hardly even had a chance to explore yet. But from what I have seen of it, yes.. it is beautiful." He smiled. "Much nicer than the last time I was here." He admitted, having been quite glad to see the changes and repairs done, since those days.

Her last words were a bit amusing, as she clearly intended them to be. "You? Biased?" He asked in feigned shock. "No... I never would've guessed." He shook his head, then laughed lightly. "Perhaps, if you have time in between your daily routine, you could offer a tour to an old friend?"

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

As he shifted back away a little, she wondered if her comment had been too much. "You haven't," She answered with a little smile, confirming that he had not lied to her. That was a very good quality about him which she much appreciated. At his next comment, she bit her lip lightly and met his gaze for a moment before turning her gaze away with a little smile pulling at her lips. Looking down at her cider, she took a slow sip while debating whether to give an answer to that, or not.

Lady Cat was a bit surprised by the question about her other likes and interests. She lowered her mug, looking at him thoughtfully, and smiled slightly. So, he was interested in knowing more about her. That was good, right? She assumed that was a good thing. Yet it took her a moment to think about how to reply. "My favorite dish," She repeated thoughtfully, taking a glance around to see how close other people might be to them. "I doubt you would have ever heard of it. It is served mostly on special occasions. Holidays, birthdays, that sort of thing." She explained. "It is.." How to explain, she wondered? "It may sound strange to you," She added, almost hesitant. "Walnuts and chicken, stewed with pomegranate sauce, as near as I can describe it." She set her mug down, thoughtful. "Tonight, the Winter Solstice, is one of the main occasions when it would be served."

As for what she did for fun, she smiled softly. "I enjoy swimming very much." That was the first thing to come to her mind. And that also led to her favorite color. Leaning a little closer to him, she smiled. "And in my opinion, the color of a blue-green lagoon is one of the most beautiful colors there is. And you?" She grinned. "If I were to guess, I would say your favorite color is the green, as of trees. Am I right?" She wondered, although she couldn't make any guesses about his favorite dishes or activities.

---

@Ercassie

Blossom

Nodding slowly, Blossom heard as he spoke about why he had not sent any word. She understood, although understanding had not made her miss him any less. Still finding it hard to believe they had actually found him, she listened as he spoke about his daughter and new son-in-law. It was different, being on the other end of it for a change. "At least you are happy for her, and not making things harder for them," She mentioned softly, glad for his daughter's sake for that. "My grandparents didn't give the same courtesy to me and the young man I eventually married," She mentioned, though she couldn't recall if she had ever told him that story.

As he mentioned the city being a great draw to young ladies, she gave a little laugh. "Perhaps to some, the city, or even the king, is the draw. To me, it was your houses of healing." She explained with a smile. That ought not surprise him, of course. "To one young lady, the draw was your city's immense library. The other, I suppose it was more the draw to see new places, explore, and perhaps have a bit of adventure." She smiled, figuring he would know which of the two were which.

Hearing that they were neighbors, she was surprised, until he explained that he was not staying at the inn, but rather in rooms above a shop in the market. "Oh? What does your brother sell in this shop?" She wondered, curious. "I spent only a little time in the market yesterday, but I only looked at a couple of clothing shops." With a glance down, she indicated the gown she was wearing. "I hardly spent any time in the level below, as we were anxious to find an inn. Perhaps you could show me around the levels?" She smiled at the thought of seeing the city where he had grown up, with him there at her side to show her everything.

Wondering at some exchange which she did not see, she briefly glanced to try and see who he was trying to communicate with. He successfully distracted her from that, however, by asking if her girls were present. With an almost regretful sigh, she shook her head. "No, they wished to remain in the room tonight. Neither had any interest in the dance. Sir Dragon convinced me to come, mainly so he would not be the only one here that he knew," She let out a little laugh. "Although he seems to have made a great many friends already, so I don't know why he felt that he needed a familiar face here." She grinned. "He would be pleased to see you though, I think. But, as you said a little bit ago.. I would prefer to keep you to myself for now."

---

@Ercassie

Pink Wildflower

The walk back to the buffet felt way too awkward. More awkward than she'd ever felt with him, and she was at a loss for how to fix this. What had gone wrong? Everything was going so well, and then... she just felt confused. The dance had been wonderful.. up until the disastrous moment when those girls had laughed. So, was he embarrassed by that? She wasn't sure what to say that might fix the problem. She had already told him that she didn't think he had meant it that way, so why was he fretting about what she thought he'd meant?

She tried to think of how someone like her would handle this situation. Of course, the Starlit lady would have been trained in all such matters since she was a child, while Miss Wildflower had never once been to a dance before. As they reached the buffet, she smiled as she turned to him. "Thank you for the lovely dance." She did her best curtsy, which seemed like the proper thing to do. She'd seen others doing it, so that must be the thing to do, right? "I hope you enjoyed it as well, despite.." Whatever it was that had gone wrong, she was at a bit of a loss for how to label it. Hesitating, she found that she didn't know what else to say.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

The Fairy

"In that case, we can most definitely agree neither of us will be doing that," she confirmed, amused by the way he'd gotten out of that one.

"When were you here last?" she inquired, rather curious. She grinned when he pretended shock at her bias. "I usually try to keep an open mind to things. But when it comes to Minas Tirith, nothing quite compares. Though I realize taste is subjective," she allowed right away. "You know how that goes," she said, somewhat apologetically. "Once you really fall in love with something, it's hard to think anything could replace it and live up to it." She paused briefly. "Guess I never had much of a chance," she grinned, "being born and half-raised in the most beautiful city on Middle-Earth." That much, she could tell him already, after all. That much was safe enough to be sure not to ruin a nice evening.

His suggestion of a tour made her mentally picture her schedule. "Well, I'd like to," she agreed thoughtfully. "I'll have to set aside the time rather than wait for an opening," she mused, before realizing she might be getting into dangerous territory, thinking out loud like that. She had free time tomorrow, yes, but she needed that to figure some things out. Then the next day was seriously booked solid: Tras' early morning training, sparring with Kaylin, an afternoon shift at headquarters, then having supper as agreed. Again, she wondered if either of the brothers would even still be interested in making plans with her once they realized how much she'd been hiding. People could be very testy about that. Herself included. "How long did you say you'd be here, again? Maybe we could talk about when I could show you around when I join your group for supper the day after tomorrow?" she suggested carefully. And then thought of something else. "Oh - since I assume you brought your horses, they might enjoy a break from the stables? You and your brother are welcome to join me sometime when I take Narsulë out for a ride on the Pelennor." That wouldn't even take much more time out of her schedule than usual, right? Even if it took maybe one hour longer, that would be doable. Win win.
"And then there is the matter of that sunrise - best not forget that one. A quintessential part of the Minas Tirith experience!" she reminded him of something they'd talked about earlier, figuring it might have escaped his mind again.

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

She really needed to stop biting her lip like that, he mused mentally while sipping his cider. After she described her favorite meal, he smiled. "It doesn't sound strange. It sounds great. Even if I'm not sure what pomegrenate is... In any case, even if you cannot have it tonight, I suppose you can have it any other day you like, right?" he inquired. She had made it seem like she had money, and plenty of it. Surely she could have that meal whenever she wanted to, and she wasn't really missing out.

Swimming. She enjoyed swimming. And leaned in closer to him again. The image she had created in his mind, of her swimming in a blue-green lagoon, was wildly distracting. It took a moment before he realized she had asked him a question in return. "What, me?" he asked, using the question to regain his equilibrium. "Yes. Green." He grew a bit suspicious of her grin, then. She knew exactly what she was doing, didn't she? She was far too clever not to realize.
He didn't shy back from her as he returned her look. "When I'm taking a break from my carpentry, I like lying down in the green grass of Ithilien in the sun. Especially in summer." He flicked at his shirt, near the neck. "Less clothes required when it's nice and warm." A hint of a smirk pulled at his lips. "You're not the only one who likes the sun."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

Dragon grinned, satisfied with the results. While he didn't really understand why she was so opposed to singing, he had suspected that she would be unwilling to do so here, even though some people had sung a song together, earlier. Having heard her sing before, he knew she could do it quite well, so he didn't understand why she seemed to feel so self-conscious about doing so. Yet, he let the matter drop.

When she asked about when he had been here before, he hesitated briefly. "During the battle of the Pelennor." He answered quietly. "The siege, and all that. Not a pleasant time, to be sure. So much death and destruction..." He shook his head slightly. "I'm glad to see the repairs were managed so well since that time."

He was glad to move on from that gloomy topic, and smiled as she replied about her being biased. Yet, when she mentioned something about falling in love with something, how nothing can quite replace or live up to it, he blinked, then nodded. "Yes," He answered with understanding. "I know exactly how that is." He smiled. She was talking about a place, but he was not. "It is a beautiful place, I cannot deny that." He added, agreeing with her.

He stepped back slightly so that he could give her a twirl, smiling as he brought her smoothly back to the previous position. There were moments throughout the evening when he started to wonder if it was all a crazy dream. But it couldn't be. He could feel her hand in his, his hand at her back, and the various other things that let him know he was definitely awake and that this was real.

As she mentioned that she might have to set aside some time in order to do a tour, he couldn't help some curiosity about what might have her so busy. But he remained quiet to let her do her thinking, with only a little nod. As she asked how long they would be here, he smiled and gave a little shrug. "No idea." He admitted with a light laugh. "But I would imagine.. a couple of weeks, at the very least? I seriously doubt that.. lady Blossom.. would only want to spend a few days here, then turn right around and go all the way back. It was, as you know, a very long trip." He mentioned. "So, I'm sure there'll be time. That'd work just fine," He concluded with a happy smile, about the idea of discussing it further at supper two days from now.

"Yes, we have our horses in the stable," He answered next, nodding. He smiled at the idea of going for a ride with her. Not only would he enjoy that, but he figured his horse would also enjoy that. And not just because of the exercise, he figured the horses might enjoy seeing one another again.

The reminder about the sunrise made him grin. He had temporarily forgotten that, but now that she mentioned it, he did remember that talk. "Absolutely." He agreed. "When do you suggest we plan for that, my lady?" He asked with a grin. "That way I can be sure to prepare accordingly." By that, he meant sleeping until quite late the day before, so that he could stay up all through the following night and be awake for the sunrise in question.. and make sure not to have any plans for that following day since he would then be sleeping quite late, again.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

Her smile widened as he declared that it did not sound strange, but rather great. The fact he did not know what a pomegranate was made her give a soft laugh. "I am not surprised," She answered with a little smile. "It is a fruit," She explained, taking a moment to try and describe the somewhat odd fruit with 'arils' inside, rather than the way most other fruits were made up. "The stew is a bit rich, with a combination of sweet and sour which I enjoy." She smiled. "There are layers of nutty, earthy flavors from the creamed walnuts, and a sort of tanginess from the pomegranate molasses. I find it makes the perfect comfort food for the colder months." She thoughtfully ran her thumb lightly along the handle of her mug, nodding. "I can have it at other times, yes." She agreed. "Skipping a meal, even if it is my favorite, was well worth it in exchange for the enjoyment of this evening." She assured him, smiling.

As he returned an answer to her question about his favorite things, she smiled a little more.. inwardly satisfied to have been right about his favorite color. Based on the description he had given of the beautiful green forest where he lived, she would have been surprised if he'd said another color. But that was as far as she could guess.. which was in fact the point of asking. The image of him lying on a patch of lush green grass, was quite intriguing. The added thought of him being shirtless while doing so, well, she could only imagine the muscles he must have built, working with wood and cutting down trees and whatever else work was involved in making furniture.

A slow smile grew on her face at his concluding words. "Indeed," She agreed softly, amused at something she thought of to say, but refrained from it. "Although, I must admit.. Sunshine can be a bit distracting, too." She added with a teasing smile at him, before explaining. "Outside, you asked me about something.. Do you remember?" She asked in a quiet tone, raising her mug up for another sip. After taking the sip, she let her gaze sweep over the dance floor slowly before returning to him, giving him time to think about it.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen

The Gilded

“I might have been spoiling Dusty too, and then again I might not have,” Gilded replied with a hearty grin. She intended not to share too much on the topic, not just yet, since they were supposed to steer clear of horse-talk.

She then gave Teal a sideways glance when he asked if they should branch out, and then replied wholeheartedly: “Noooo. I’d rather not, else I’d have to go searching for you among all this crowd again. But perhaps we can talk to some other folks, though I am not sure how to initiate that. What do you say?” Her brown eyes studied him carefully before she ventured: “Or would you rather not do any of that?”

Red Rooster

“Well, yes. Lots of wood, and better not be directly next to that fire,” Rooster said happily, remembering the fun of the event. “You should definitely convince your uncle that it is an event worth attending. Make puppy dog eyes at him if it helps any.”

“Eh…” the young men murmured, as he observed the royal couple dancing for a few moments before he glanced back at Orchid and shrugged one shoulder lightly. “Not that they can be seen on any street at any given time. I’m not even sure I’ve seen them before, not so closely without a wall of people standing in front of me.”

He leaned closer to Orchid as if entrusting a secret. “I bet most elves are lovely to look at, don’t you think our Evenstar is shining the brightest here? And that Elessar looks the most bravest?” He pondered for a while, and then added: “I suppose Mithril it is that’s on the gate, though I am not sure what was built by elves and what was built by dwarves, or by our own hands.”

@Rillewen

/
Black Lips & Meadow

They both ended up being released by their respective dance partners and almost side by side at the buffet tables.

“Well?...” Meadow began, as she turned expectantly towards Black Lips and then paused as she saw the Fox come up on Black Lips’ other side and address her. “I think I see this tasty morsel over there,” she said meaningfully to her sister as she made her way off to the furthest end of the buffet table, deciding to postpone the intended discussion rather than give up on it.

Somewhat amused, Black Lips looked between Meadow and Sir Fox a couple of times, eventually focusing on the table for a few moments.

“Do you mean the chicken leg, or this roll of bacon filled with delicious goodness, or the pastry?” she asked, going over the selection of foods in the immediate vicinity of where Fox had pointed. “And no, I have not tried any of these yet,” she admitted. “This is a different section of the table than the one I had raided before.”

@Arnyn

Amethyst

Arwen nodded in quiet agreement on Abrazimir’s need to fit into his future role, and seeing that Aragorn did not pursue the topic any further, so she did not as well.

“Your life’s purpose even?” she then said gently, her eyes locked on his. “Are you telling me you wouldn’t need anything or anyone else as soon as you saw that I was content and happy?” She knew well that she did not need to remind him of his kingly duties, but she could not also resist finding satisfaction in this idea, no matter how selfish it might appear.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

The Butterfly aka Kaylin

"It takes a smart man to know his priorities," she complimented him with a very Kaylinesque smile, as he claimed having been more focused on finding her than he had been on figuring out whether he'd been talking with the Queen. "I'm also glad for them." They looked... relaxed. If that was even possible.

She made a face when he called her his lilac lady butterfly. "Yeah, that is not a name I'll be looking to hear much again after this evening, Bregedyr. Though I think Wolf of the Blue Moon might be a keeper." She grinned at him. "Just between us."

Taking a moment to look around at the others around them, she grinned before returning her attention to her Wolf. "Some others are starting to loosen up a little," she observed, amused. And she had also seen the Fairy dancing with the Dragon - again, and even more surprising, still - but she couldn't very well comment on that without sort of outing her identity to Thûllir. And she had promised not to.
"The stick-up-their-butts will probably start leaving soonish, if they haven't already," she figured. "Unable to stand for the slack on people's morals brought about by the lateness of the hour." That being said, Kaylin was clearly unimpressed as of yet.

---

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil

She looked... at ease. At peace. At home, in his arms. It made him smile. And all too eager to follow her suggestions. "I know better than to deny my lady warrior," he said with a dip of his chin, in deference to her wisdom. "It shall be as you say." It was easy to agree. He would enjoy more dancing. He would enjoy the cold walk home. He would enjoy warming her up, afterward.

---

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

"Distracting?" he questioned, feigning he had no clue what she was talking about. "However might Sunshine manage that?" he asked, more quietly, a soft smile on his lips.

Her question distracted him in turn. Golden tilted his head in thought. "As I recall, I asked you plenty of things," he mused out loud. "But yes, I realize which question you must be referring to." He would admit, if she pressed the matter further, it had no longer been on the top of his mind. He drank from the cider again, more deeply now as his own gaze scanned the room. She had been looking at the dance floor, so that is where he looked now. Searching for those he could find of the four who were all dressed the same. Several of them were on the dance floor, as it appeared. Hadn't she mentioned a beard, as well?

"Can you tell me which one you meant, my lady?" Golden asked quietly. Just so there would be no misunderstandings. If he was to take Lady Cat out for another spin on the dance floor... they had best steer clear of the one that worried her so.

---

@Rillewen

The Fairy

The set of her shoulders changed a little when the Dragon mentioned he had been at the city during the battle of the Pelennor. He and his brother had been here, too? Just like she and her brother had been? Remembering the chaos all too well, though, and given the endless amount of things that had needed doing, it was hardly a surprise they had managed to completely miss each other. Yet... "You two came to help?" she asked quietly. It was one thing to roam the lands and engage in skirmishes... it was another entirely to lend aid in a large scale battle or a siege. "Thank you," she all but whispered. "We needed all the help we could get." They let the matter drop in mutual agreement, though, not delving into the topic on a night meant for joy rather than revisiting bad memories.

That they were staying a couple of weeks, at least, was a good thing. That way there should be plenty of time to do all of those things - if she planned it right. "Yes," she said thoughtfully, "it is a very long trip." She knew that all too well, unfortunately, having wasted months on a next-to-useless trip once. Even if it had been nice to talk to Bel...

His question about when they should plan for that, made her hum. She should probably have her calendar with her when discussing these things. "I'll bring my schedule with me," she said pensively. "Tomorrow evening. For the ride. As for the sunrise - we'd have to decide that at least a few days in advance." She would need to give Trastion a heads up about his morning training, which would need to be cancelled... That was not ideal. Especially not since they had just cancelled tomorrow's session, as well. But he might enjoy the break, the Fairy told herself.

"By the way - sunrise these days isn't actually that early," she thought to say, remembering how they had talked about Gladhron pulling an all-nighter. "Though I suppose that would depend on your definition of early," she grinned. "But it's definitely much later than it is around summer. It might be a bit too much to actually turn around your whole sleeping schedule just to watch the sunrise. Besides, you might fall asleep while you're watching the sun climbing the sky. That would be a terrible waste."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Green Dragon

He gave only a little nod when she asked about them having come to help during the fighting, seemingly in surprise. Part of him wanted to ask whether she had been involved in the fighting, or if she had been sent away with the others who had been evacuated during all of that. While he didn't imagine she would be willing to be sent away for her own protection, he could also imagine she might agree, for the sake of protecting those others. But he didn't ask, because he would rather not either of them be reminded of all of that. Not tonight, especially.

As she spoke of bringing her schedule along, to figure out when they could arrange for a ride together, he nodded slightly, still curious what could have her schedule so full that she would need to consult it in order to make time for some time with friends. Yet, he tried not to let his thoughts venture toward the idea that she might not want to spend time with them. He brushed all such thoughts away as fast as they tried to enter his mind. She had been happy to see him. She had hugged him, after all. People didn't generally hug people they don't want to see, right?

"Oh.. I know," He let out a little laugh as she warned him about the sunrise being a bit late, this time of year. "I've had to take on the last watch now and then, during this trip. Not as often, but occasionally." He smiled. His brother did prefer to take the last watch but on a few occasions it had simply worked out otherwise. "But don't worry, I wouldn't dare fall asleep and waste an opportunity to see the beauty which you promise will be there." He assured her with a smile, although personally, he was not really talking about the sunrise.

"Ohh," An idea hit him. "Perhaps we could plan the sunrise and the Pelennor ride to be on the same day?" He wasn't sure if that would make things easier for her, or not, but it seemed like it was worth mentioning. Of course, if he did that, then he would probably go to sleep early so that he could wake up early and then be awake for the rest of the day.

---

@Arnyn

Lady Cat

Turning her gaze back toward him, she considered him while fighting a smirk. "Oh, I think you know quite well." She answered him with amusement, rather than listing the many ways he had distracted her just since they had been inside. She had been meaning to mention this matter even before they got their drinks, and now she was nearly finished with hers, and only now managed to find an opening to actually bring it back up.

With her gaze focused on the dance floor, she had to wait for a moment before the couple in question moved into sight among the swirl of dancers. Finishing the last of her cider, she set the empty mug on the counter, then turned back to face Golden. "Do you see the lady over there, in the flowy, pale pink and gray dress, with the silvery flowers embroidered on the bodice?" She asked softly, with a tiny nod of her head in the direction she meant. "It must be him, for the other who looks like him is still with the same woman he has been with all evening. Unless they switched.. which seems unlikely."

---

@Pele Alarion

Teal

As she responded with a wholehearted 'Noooo', Teal couldn't resist his smile widening slightly. He was quite glad to hear that, as he had hoped she wouldn't be growing tired of him. And the fact that she mentioned that it would mean having to find him again made him happy as well, since that meant that she would want to find him again even if they did split up. Not that it ought to be all that hard for her to find him, he thought. And he was quite sure that he would be able to find her easily enough, now that he knew what she was wearing. But he wasn't too eager to part from her, so he didn't suggest it again.

"I don't really know much of anyone else," He replied with a little shrug, glancing around slightly. "I wouldn't mind saying hello to someone I know, if I could be sure it was them, but.. I'm not. Not really." He answered. He thought that one guy who had just went over there to the buffet tables might be Nal, but he wasn't really sure, with all these disguises and such. "I'm quite content just dancing with you." He said, turning his gaze back to her, smiling.

"So... has the evening turned out to be as nice as you'd hoped? Worth all the trouble and fuss and expense of getting a fancy dress and all that?" He wondered, curious if she felt the same about it as him. Of course, her dress seemed far nicer than what he had, and probably much more expensive. He hoped she wouldn't be too financially hurt because of it.

---

@Pele Alarion

Yellow Orchid

Joined by

"Lady Forget-Me-Not"

Orchid tried to imagine a fire so big you couldn't even stand close to it. It must be immensely hot! She was more familiar with small campfires, but even with those, it had been a long while since she had been near one. Then there were fireplaces, and those were nice to stand by and warm up in front of, in the winter. As Rooster strongly recommended that she convince her uncle, she nodded with a smile. "I'll do my best." She gave a soft laugh, trying to imagine herself giving her uncle that sort of pleading look that he described. She didn't usually ask for things.. but maybe she would, for this.

Looking toward the king and queen once more, she quietly admired them both for a moment before turning back to Rooster, a bit shyly. "Perhaps.. we oughtn't stare," She whispered. "After all, they've come here to enjoy the evening, same as everyone. I bet they'd rather not be the center of everyone's gawking." She wasn't sure how if what they were doing would be considered 'gawking', but she did recall her aunt's lessons about how staring was impolite.

Shrugging, she was about to reply to his comment about the mithril and gates and such, when an all-too familiar voice burst in from beside her.

"There you are!" Breathless, a young lady around the same age as Orchid appeared next to her, beaming as she twirled herself around so that it made her very full skirt swirl around her, as it must have done while she was dancing. "I've been having so much fun! Isn't this all just so.. magical?" She asked with a dreamy sigh, before seeming to realize that her cousin was not sitting alone. She aimed her smile at Rooster then. "Ohh, hello." She smiled brightly at him. "Did I interrupt something?"

"Oh... hello." Orchid greeted her, a bit surprised by her sudden appearance. "Um, this is my cousin," Orchid explained to Rooster with a faint smile. "Cousin, this is a friend I've met here.. sir Rooster."

With a little giggle, the girl in the blue dress adorned with dainty silk flowers curtsied to him. "Very pleased to meet you, sir."

"Did you need something?" Orchid asked quietly, unsure what had brought her cousin over to her out of nowhere. Didn't she have plenty of young men waiting in lines to ask her to dance? It had seemed that way for most of the evening so far, anyway.

"Oh, I was thirsty, and in need of a little break from all this dancing! And then I saw you and thought I'd come say hello." The flowery girl explained, with a casual little toss of auburn curls, then she smiled at Rooster again. In truth, she was intensely curious about the guy that had been spending so much time with her cousin, and hoped she might satisfy that curiosity by coming over. Getting a drink was only an afterthought, or possibly an excuse. "Would you recommend something for a thirsty young lady, sir Rooster?" She asked, curious what he might suggest.

---

@Pele Alarion

The Fox

Sir Fox paused as the lady asked him if he meant this, that, or the other. He belatedly realized that he had been rather vague with pointing out the food item he had been referring to. "Ah, the bacon wrapped ones," He answered, unsure of the official name for the item. "I recommend them." He re-emphasized, without realizing he had failed to actually say what he had meant to say before, about thinking that particular item was good. "Of you like bacon wrapped things, anyway." After the lady had selected whatever items she wished to take from the trays, he took a few things as well, figuring he could do with another little snack, and the stuff was delicious, after all.

Yet, after saying that, he realized he had very little clue what to say now, as he didn't know her. And the other lady had apparently found an excuse to leave after seeing him approach, for which he felt a little bad, if they'd been intending to talk together. He glanced toward where Meadow had gone, then back to the Dark Lady. "I.. didn't intend for your friend to feel that she needed to flee," He mentioned, then offered a small smile. "I promise, I'm not a hostile fox..." He attempted a bit of a joke.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Golden Sunbeam

He smirked rather openly when she said she thought he knew exactly how he'd been distracting her. Once she'd described a lady, he looked for that description, then nodded once he found her - dancing with one of the four men who were dressed alike. "Yes, I see her," he responded quietly. After taking a brief measure of the man she was dancing with, he returned his attention to Lady Cat. And finished his cider, to leave the mug on the bar.

"We'll stay away from him, then," Golden declared, light brown eyes looking at those lace cat ears before finding her gaze. "Does he scare you enough not to dance with me while he is still out there?" he asked, stepping closer to her and lightly touching one of those lace ears before moving on to brush the lace of the mask at her temple. His words didn't sound like a challenge, because he was serious about letting her assess the threat to her own safety. She had declared herself an independent woman, after all. And if there was one type of woman he knew well, thanks to his sister, it was the independent one.

---

@Rillewen

The Fairy

She smiled at his promise not to fall asleep. "Alright then. I'll leave you to decide what works best for you," she said with a little laugh. "If you do fall asleep, I can always poke you awake. Or throw some water on you." That'd soon leave him frigid in the outside temperatures... "You think Lady Blossom would also like to see it?" she asked. "If so, she is welcome to join of course. We can ask at supper tomorrow," she decided.

The suggestion of combining the sunrise and the ride on the Pelennor, made her nod slowly. "That could be arranged, as long as that works for everyone else. Might make it easier on my end," she thought out loud. If she cancelled Tras' morning session that day, but could soon add on her ride with Nársulë... then she could pick a day where she had the afternoon shift at headquarters. As long as nothing unexpected came up, then it shouldn't be too hard to pick a day. It might even line up with one of Taras' days of rest. Then she wouldn't even have to cancel anything. Her thoughtful smile brightened at that idea. "Yes, that sounds good, actually."

"You seem to have the dancing down, too," she told him. "You seem secure in your movements, at least. Your twirls are good, too. Lady Butterfly did a good job." She grinned. "Not bored with me yet, though?" She realized they'd been dancing for multiple songs. "I'm not," she added, for clarification's sake. "Bored with you, or the dancing, I mean. But if you want to go eat or drink something, or just sit down - I would be okay with that, as well. Wouldn't want you dropping down on the floor from starvation, thirst or exhaustion," she teased.

---

@Ercassie @Rillewen

It had been a nice enough evening, so far. He'd asked a few young ladies to dance, though not too many. If he were honest, he'd been holding out a while to ask this one specific young lady... dressed in a very exotic pink dress. With the most beautiful long, dark hair. He'd tried not to be too obvious in his glances, because he knew that wasn't really appropriate. But his brown eyes had always returned to the young lady. Trying to get a better look at those roses painted on her face. Spotting how polite she was. How she had herself under such perfect control. She was more than simply lovely. She was admirable.

Standing over by the buffet, he'd just finished a small plate of food while standing, and was now pouring himself some water. He didn't feel like turning around just yet. The lovely young lady was still dancing, anyway. He'd have to wait for an opportunity. He emptied his glass at once, steadily drinking from the glass until it found itself back on the table, next to the other empty glasses.
Hearing the song was ending, he turned, already taking a step away from the buffet table. His eyes went to the dance floor, to try and find the young lady. He couldn't spot her right away, and he angled off to the side as he walked...

Until he almost bumped into someone. He barely managed to freeze in time. "Oh!" His sudden surprised escaped him, and he immediately took a step back. "I apologize, sir," he offered the youngest Courtier of the Night Sky, even though he had not actually touched him. And then it dawned on him. This had been the gentleman dancing with the rose-painted young lady! His eyes widened minutely as he caught sight of her - so close to him, now! "M- my lady," he stammered, caught off guard for just a moment. "Are you enjoying your evening? The both of you?"