@Rillewen
Celumë
Common Room
When Gwestion decided on tea all of a sudden, Celumë raised an eyebrow. Guess he'd changed his mind. After failing to get the waiter's attention, Gladhron seemed to take up the big brother mantle. Celumë smiled faintly as he asked Gwestion what kind of tea he wanted. His response made her realize Gwestion hadn't really been wanting tea but rather the honey. For the cut on his cheek. Gladhron didn't have to ask what the honey was about either - so either he'd figured it out or he'd decided not to ask if he hadn't - and then just approached the waiter rather than letting Gwestion try and get the man's attention again.
She raised an eyebrow when Gladhron claimed he'd forgotten about the honey upon his return. It seemed plausible. He had forgotten about her water, too, after all. Gwestion's expression in response was, however,
pretty funny. Soon enough, Gladhron revealed it was a joke, which drew a chuckle from Celumë. "Incorrigible," she muttered - though with a smile.
About halfway through her coffee, she figured it was time to at least try and see about the chocolate. "Well," she said, her tone rather serious as she rose to her feet. "Wish me luck on my quest." She flashed the two a smile. "I'll be back," she promised, not wanting Gwestion or Gladhron to think she was no longer interested in their company.
Picking up her cup of coffee, Celumë started weaving her way through the different groups of people, stopping here and there. Several times, she started a conversation with a few people, but she was too far away from Gladhron and Celumë for them to overhear. Most conversations were brief, and even though they ended in smiles and nods, she didn't seem to have any success on the chocolate front.
To be honest - and despite her smiles - this wasn't something Celumë particularly enjoyed. Striking up conversation with random people, just because she wanted something from them if they happened to have it...
Finally, someone pointed her to the one person in the inn who was most likely to have what she was looking for: a hobbit called Doderick Brandybuck. "He's always got all kinds of exotic things in his pockets when he's around," one of the men joked. Celumë raised an eyebrow at him. "I am assuming you are a fan?" The man laughed and waved her off. "Go on, lady. But even if he has it, there's no guarantee he'll hand it over. Just so you know."
The man wasn't wrong. The hobbit seemed nice enough, but his eyes spoke of mischief as well as him being used to getting what he wanted. After she'd offered polite greetings and introduced herself, Celumë told Doderick she was really enjoying the inn's coffee but that she felt like some chocolate would really 'elevate the experience'.
"Chocolate, hmm?" he asked with a grin. "It's true, it's an excellent pairing with coffee. Or tea. Or milk."
"Someone told me you might have some," she explained. "I would of course pay you for it if you were willing to make the transaction. I wouldn't ask you to just give it to me for free."
Doderick narrowed his eyes even as a little grin appeared on his face. "You want chocolate. And you want to pay for it. But I want the chocolate too, and I do not particularly want any more coin."
"Ah," Celumë said, disappointed.
The hobbit raised a finger into the air. "However! There are other things I may want, Lady of the Golden Hair!"
Celumë looked like she was suspicious ahead of time, as if something was telling her that, whatever it was, she wouldn't like it. "Celumë," she corrected him. "And is there anything you'd be willing to trade your chocolate for?" she inquired, her voice now neutral.
"Oh, careful -" the hobbit said, "I liked the
previous tone of your voice much better than this deadpan version. Because - yes! There is! You want chocolate. I want song. At present, neither of us have either. But you're nice on the eyes, I dare say, and I liked your voice before you got all... careful. You need someone to give you the chocolate. That someone could be me. I need someone to sing us all a song or two. That someone could be you."
Celumë just stared at him.
Doderick shrugged. "It's a transaction I would readily agree to."
"I don't sing in public," Celumë said, though she was clearly on the fence.
"Ahaa!" the hobbit exclaimed, getting excited at the prospect he might actually get to hear a song. "But you
do sing!"
"Not really. Only when I'm
alone," she emphasized.
The conversation continued a while, as Doderick tried to convince Celumë that she should agree. How, even if she was off key from time to time, he would still give her the chocolate. How there was a lutist over there, and he could provide the necessary music to whatever song of her choosing. He asked whether she knew too many people here and was embarrassed? No? She wasn't even from around here? Then what risk did she think she was taking?
The two other hobbits who were in Doderick's company joined in then, and started talking so loudly that a few of the other nearby patrons started encouraging her as well. One waved over the lutist. "Maybe she needs to hear what you can do, sir!" someone called out to the lute player. He gave a shrug and turned to Celumë. "If you say no, I can still play some songs and sing myself."
Doderick Brandybuck cleared his throat. He shrugged his shoulders when Celumë looked at him. "But no chocolate for you then, m'lady."
Celumë glanced at the table where Gwestion and Gladhron were sitting. A small chance, she had told them. And here it was. She only had to reach out. And take it.
They did not know who she was, she reminded herself. They did not even know her real first name. They lived in Eriador. Everyone she knew was back in Gondor. Maybe... maybe it really did not matter.
"Fine," she said. A small but hearty cheer rose from the hobbits, and the lute player smiled happily. Celumë turned to him and they spoke quietly between them. Then he started playing a slow little intro, that soon changed to something more cheerful. At the same time, Celumë started singing along with it.
Dragons in the sky, the fighting has begun
Shadow versus light, and who will stand when it is done?
Magisters and fright, his destiny it calls
Inquisitor your hand will reprimand before he falls!
Now are the days of wine and gilded arms
Now are the days when magic is reborn
Seal up the breach, the evil is no more
Once and for all, we close the darkened door
Peril in their eyes, the battle has begun
Death becomes the ashes of the evils yet to come
Inquisitor's delight, a destiny it shines
Magister your ancient hand is broken in the light
Now are the days of wine and gilded arms
Now are the days when magic is reborn
Seal up the breach, the evil is no more
Once and for all, victory is ours!
Darkness never ever rise again
Darkness never ever rise again
Dragons in the sky, the fighting has begun
Shadow versus light, and who will stand when it is done?
Magisters and fright, his destiny it calls
Inquisitor your hand will reprimand before he falls!
Now are the days of wine and gilded arms
Now are the days when magic is reborn
Seal up the breach, the evil is no more
Once and for all, we close the darkened door
Darkness never ever rise again
Darkness never ever rise again