Minas Tirith Streets and Levels (Free RP)

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trevadir
Late morning, Urimë 16 (3 days after the fire)
Cali and Iole's house - Third Circle

The suggestion that Rip would list his father as an emergency contact, was not one that Trevadir had ever thought about, nor was he really sure what would be the point of it. But he didn't comment. "Maybe?" He shrugged. "I mean, he was apparently a captain several years ago, so they surely have some information about him from then. There's probably even some guards around who remember him from before he retired." He added.

After a little silence, the lieutenant addressed him, and he thought she seemed a little hesitant. He waited to hear the whole inquiry, and considered with a thoughtful frown. How to reply to that? He gave a small nod when she added that he was a civilian; a nice thing to hear, after having feared for so long that he was a fugitive and criminal. A small smile followed, when she mentioned he had been an excellent informant, and he looked down at the table.

Before he could figure out how to reply, the door opened, but by the time Trev had looked up, Nal had already retreated. He looked at the door, a bit puzzled, and wondered whether Nal had expected them to have gone away, and when they hadn't, he'd changed his mind and backed out? He hid his amusement at that thought, and looked back toward the lieutenant when she went on to point out that he would not be allowed to participate in any action. He let out a little laugh at that. "Actually... I was a little nervous you might ask me to help..." He admitted, a little relieved that the opposite was the case. "I've had way more than enough 'action' to last me a lifetime, especially when it comes to these pirates." He assured her. "I have no interest in being involved in any fighting or anything of the sort. I mean.. I can fight, if I have to. But I don't really like to, you know? I really just want to write poems and songs, and play music." He smiled a little shyly.

He shifted slightly in his seat. "As for the other thing," He hesitated and watched as Nal finally emerged and passed through to the kitchen with an empty cup. If Trev didn't know that Cali had had a cup of tea when they left her in there, he would almost think Nal had brought her the one, and then stayed to wait while she drank it. He watched the cat run to catch up to Nal as he headed for the kitchen, meowing as she hastened along at his feet. Trev tried not to grin as it appeared like the cat was doing her absolute best to trip him.

While Nal and 'Nalcat' were in the kitchen, Trevadir turned his attention back to Arnyn, trying to venture a reply on the first part of her question. He took a deep breath. "As for strangers.." he hesitated, finding it difficult to speak openly about his thoughts on this. "Well, I hadn't really thought a whole lot about it before.." He frowned and focused on the table in front of him. "Abrazimir Dimaethor has persecuted Dev and his crew for a long time. But.. I knew him. I mean, I sorta knew him.. he lives across the water from my grandfather, so I always knew who he was. So, he wasn't a stranger." He slowly reached out and picked up one of the pastries, after seeing Arnyn do so had reminded him that they were there.

"I think..." He began quietly, unsure how much time they'd have while Nal was in the kitchen, "I think I'd actually prefer that it was strangers. People I don't know, because then.. I won't be worrying about Dev and the others hurting anyone that I care about..." After saying it, he wondered whether that sounded like he didn't care about strangers getting hurt.. which was not the case, but he didn't know how else to put it. He continued on, "But," he glanced toward the kitchen with a little sigh. "I'm guessing at least one person, whom I care a lot about, may want to be involved in going after them, because of caring about me.. if that makes sense." He shrugged and nibbled on the sweet in his hand while he tried to think of how else to explain his thoughts, and how to explain some of the reasons for his concern about Nal.

"Thing is," He added quietly, hoping Nal couldn't hear him from the kitchen, "Dev knows who he is, and I'm sure he'd recognize him if he saw him." He explained, nodding toward the kitchen to indicate what 'he' he was referring to. "And I don't doubt that he's an excellent fighter, but.. unexpected things can happen." He explained, a little uncomfortably. "Plus, I think he would know that Pharak would really like to get him back, too. I suspect he's considered the idea of trying to kidnap him before, actually." He frowned, recalling something Dev had said a few years ago... "But as worried as I am about that, I also figure he'd be offended if he was told to stay out of it, so I wouldn't dream of suggesting that. I just.. I can't help worrying." He shrugged slightly. He felt a little awkward speaking about his feelings about that, but she had asked.

---

@Ercassie

Cali
Late morning, Urimë 16 (3 days after the fire)
Cali and Iole's house - Third Circle
In the living room with Unalmis

Cali would indeed have been very grateful to know that Nal was not planning on tickling her. Since she didn't know he had even considered it, though, she had no reason to be worried. And, of course, if he had dared protest to her throwing a pillow at him, she would probably have told him it was to help him practice his reflexes. So, really, she was only helping him with his ranger skills. A bit of Nal's own way of thinking thrown back at him, as it were. In fact, she was almost regretful that he didn't protest, because now she had no reason to come back with that reply.

Instead, he tucked the pillow behind her head, as if.. was he being nice, or.. wait, he wouldn't dare tie knots in her hair, right? She tried to twist around and see what he was doing after he'd lingered for a bit longer than she thought he should. By then, his attention had been diverted back toward the door where Trev and Arnyn remained. Before she could ask, in some amazement, how it was taking so long, Nal had done it again. He distracted her with some silly question about sending the cat into the kitchen as a spy. "Ah, how did you know?" She teased back with a little grin. "I'll have to be more sneaky next time."

She was shaking her head slightly in amusement as he set off toward the next room. Only to return immediately. Cali gave him a slightly puzzled glance, but soon enough the reason for it became evident, yet difficult to believe. To her everlasting shock, Unalmis actually thought of picking up the dirty cup. Of his own accord. Without being asked. Cali stared after him in astonishment as he then left her to wonder if some other entity had taken control of her friend's body, and where the REAL Nal might be.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie @Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn
Third Circle - Cali and Iole's house
Trevadir's report

Arnyn nodded at the added information about Androllius' father. If he used to be a captain of the Guard, then her odds of finding out were he lived were not bad. If this Aderic was indeed such a convincing liar, it would be wise to get as much information as she could. A visit to his father would fall under due diligence.

His reply surprised her a little. He thought she would have asked him to help? "Asking you to help would mean endangering a civilian," she said gently. Needless to say, that was not really her thing. "I was rather worried you would fight me on my wish to leave you here, where you are safe," she explained with a soft smile, relieved that the opposite was true. "Writing song and playing music sounds much better, in any case."

With Unalmis in the kitchen, and Trevadir's admission that he would prefer his friend to stay home as well, Arnyn sighed lightly. Trevadir's concerns were valid, of course. Regardless of which Rangers would undertake the campaign, it would be very dangerous. Let alone for someone whom the liked of Pharak already knew and wanted to get their hands on. Now. Arnyn could have said she would keep an eye on Unalmis. She could have said she'd take care of him. But she would do the same for others, too. It would not do to make Trevadir think Unalmis would receive any special treatment. Or indeed, that Unalmis would require it.

The Lieutenant nodded. "You are a good friend to worry. But do not fall prey to despair: he has proven himself to become a Ranger. That is no easy feat. And he has been training hard." She paused, but only briefly. "I believe he needs to do this. And I believe he can do this."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trevadir
Late morning, Urimë 16 (3 days after the fire)
Cali and Iole's house - Third Circle

Trevadir blinked in surprise at the Lieutenant's words. He almost laughed, but didn't. "You actually thought I'd want to come along and face him?" He asked, slightly incredulous. He shook his head. "No way. I don't want to see that snake again as long as I live." He declared, frowning. Trev wanted to believe he would never fall for Dev's lies again, but he was also a little afraid to test his resolve, if he should ever encounter the man again. He looked down at his flute as he recalled the last encounter he'd had with his father. He figured if anyone had been eavesdropping, they probably would have thought Trev was only being a stubborn kid and refusing to forgive his father for some trivial thing. A part of him almost felt guilty for how he'd responded to Dev's pleas to come back and give him another chance. But, at the same time, he knew that was Dev's plan. That's exactly what he wanted. He probably hoped that Trev was feeling guilty, and that he'd end up crawling back apologizing for it. And he was used to getting his way. What would he do, Trev wondered, now that his plan hadn't worked? He thought about Nal's words in regard to Dev not getting his way about everything, and drew in a slow breath. There was no way he was going to give in, he was sure of that.

"I know he has," He answered the lieutenant, when she spoke about Unalmis proving himself a good, capable ranger. But then, so had Ryn, he thought briefly, but swiftly pushed away those thoughts. "That's why I wouldn't ask that." He smiled faintly. "Besides, if anyone tried to tell him to stay out of it, it'd probably just make him want to do it all the more." He joked, despite the fact that he had a suspicion that Nal would not want anything to do with Umbar or the Halsads.

Trev looked at Arnyn thoughtfully as she mentioned that maybe Nal needed to do this. For a moment, he was quiet and thoughful, considering her words. That he not only needed to, but that he could. After a moment, he gave a little wry laugh as he returned to what she'd said before about not falling prey to despair. "Despair has tried to consume me before, plenty of times. I've always beat it in times past, and now I have more hope than I ever had before. So, don't worry about me." He smiled faintly. "But I won't be able to keep from worrying about my friend." He sat back, and shrugged. "But that's all still only 'if', right? Because.. you still have to do some things and get the 'go ahead' before you can start any sort of mission to go after Dev... right?" So that meant there would be some time to prepare, and Nal wasn't about to rush off on some dangerous mission any moment.. he hoped not anyway.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie @Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn
Third Circle - Cali and Iole's house
Trevadir's report

"Most people I know are that way," she explained with a half smile. "They want to be where the action is. Or feel like they need to be there, even if they do not want to." And that group included herself. "We have to be where the trouble is. To try and make a difference." It was no surprise, of course. Why else would someone become a Ranger and, even more so, stay a Ranger?

She smiled pensively when Trevadir said Unalmis would probably want to go all the more if someone told him to stay. Arnyn resisted any further analysis of Unalmis' character, and instead drank some more water. "It is an if, still," she agreed. "Like I have said from the start, I am in no position to unilaterally decide on a large campaign such as this. I have my work cut out before me." Falling silent, the Lieutenant's gaze strayed to a random spot on the wall somewhere next to Trevadir. The list never grew shorter. Only longer.

Who would have thought she'd be committing herself to such a tumultuous ride? Not Arnyn. And upon her own demand. Yet, she was convinced it was for the better. That good would come of this. Even if it might chip away some of her own sanity.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Unalmis Raxëlilta – returned to Trev's report.
at Cali / Iole’s house, on the Third Circle
The Morning of Urimë 16 (three days after the fire)

Managing to leave the living room (and Cali), without any item flung in his wake, Unalmis did not immediately raise eyes to the table where Trev and Arnyn were still occupied in the dining room. Raising the empty cup as a silent alibi, he nodded once and briefly in due acknowledgement of their presence, but otherwise passed through to the kitchen without pause. A slight and sudden deviation of footwork was required at the kitchen door, as the cat made a dash between the young man’s legs to get through first. But evading the sudden pet took less attention than keeping the door from yawning wide open. But he was fairly sure that whatever the pair had started speaking about, the moment they were left alone again, they would be more caught up in that than whatever he was up to.

The sight of the state of the crockery and clutter was not unlike facing the mess that they all had found themselves entangled in, in the wider sense. The prospect of lifting up any single object promised to topple and unbalance a precarious pile of delicate matter. But there was not time enough to tackle the kitchen now, or even maybe .. without help. So, once he’d managed to guide the cat safely through the many hazards, out onto the window sill, he waited to see the silly creature pounce and frolic at the flowers in the small garden beyond. Then there was truly nothing to keep him and so, Nal passed back into the room of reporting.

The expressions that he found on returning were of little use in determining what he may have missed. But it appeared that the Lieutenant had recovered some at least from the news of the more unexpected traitor in their midst. Devedir she had of course come here with some foreknowledge about. ‘Rip’ though .., for all that a disliked member of the Guard had been alluded to, and even though Arkadhur had already claimed the petty Guard Lieutenant was far more involved than anyone had perceived, it had still taken the proverbial rug out from under each person who heard Trevadir’s accounting. What that whole uncensored nightmare might mean to a person not amongst their close-knit group of friends, he could not guess. Every time he was forced to consider it, still felt like the first overwhelming moment when he had found out himself.

“You two look like you’ve been dipping pastries in your tea for tasting,” Nal remarked, as casually as he could muster, and refrained from re-taking his seat though he returned to the table. He didn’t smile although an attempt was made, a glance rested longer on his friend than his superior. “Cali’s all topped up with tea and treats,” he relayed his own brief report which was not really required. “So, here we are,” he supposed. And awkwardly but in due time, and lacking any obvious reasons why he should not, he sat back down.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie @Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn
Third Circle - Cali and Iole's house
Trevadir's report

She might have wanted to snort at Unalmis' comment about dpping pastries into tea. If she'd been in a slightly different state of mind. "Here we are," Arnyn agreed, the words leaving her lips slowly. Thoughtfully.

Quite at the end of her ability to sit through such a mealstrom of information, it was fortunately that the source of the intelligence itself was about tapped dry. There was, for the moment, only one question that remained to nibble at her thoughts. So, it would be best to ask. But after that... a reprieve, perhaps. She could always ask more, later. If anything else came to mind.

"I believe I only have one question left at present," she introduced it honestly, and offering the other two the same hope she harboured - that this meeting would soon be drawing to an end. "Unalmis, earlier you mentioned that... Naluthor... Aderic... Rip... has already come off his leash. So to speak. What made you say that?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Trevadir
Late morning, Urimë 16 (3 days after the fire)
Cali and Iole's house - Third Circle

"They want to be where the action is. Or feel like they need to be there, even if they do not want to. We have to be where the trouble is. To try and make a difference."


The Lieutenant's words brought a tiny smile to his face. Trev nodded slightly in understanding. "Yeah. I've been there plenty of times," he admitted quietly. Not wanting to be in the midst of trouble, but being there anyway, sometimes against his will, but other times... solely with the hope of accomplishing something for the sake of good. Though, of course, he knew his own experiences weren't the same as what she meant, but he knew what she meant, and felt he could relate in his own way. Even though he wasn't a ranger. In fact, he had once, long ago, as a child, entertained the idea of joining the rangers along with his two friends. Until he got older, and came to realize that sort of life wasn't really for him.

Despite having no desire to be a member of the rangers, himself, Trevadir still had much admiration and respect for those who were, such as Unalmis... and this lieutenant. And he was glad to help them anyway that he was able, especially if it meant bringing an end to the horrors he had witnessed at the hands of his own father and those who served in his crew, and those Dev worked for. Remembering the two crew members he'd run into at the Siren's Embrace, and the things they'd called him, Trev held back a sigh. They could call him whatever they liked, but his loyalty was, and always had been, to his friends and family, and to Gondor.

As Nal returned to the room with a comment probably meant to lighten the mood, Trev managed a faint smile as he glanced over at his friend. He gave a small nod at the news about Cali and refrained from asking how her leg was doing. He had asked her so many times, and fussed over her, she was probably sick of him. But he couldn't help being concerned.. it wasn't everyday one's friend got attacked by an enormous, magical wolf-creature, after all.

While he was at a loss for what to say in reply to that, the lieutenant filled the gap, by stating that she had only one more question left. Trevadir sat back in his chair, quietly sipping what was left of his lemonade while he glanced toward Nal, waiting to hear what he would reply, but also, sort of checking to see how he was doing. If he could tell anything just by looking, anyway. Still, the promise that this would be the last question, that brought hope. Hope, that this meeting was nearly concluded. And all the questions were nearly answered, and now they would have all the information they needed to finally put an end to the horrors of Umbar, and the nightmare still prowling the sea.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Unalmis Raxëlilta – for Trev’s report
at Cali / Iole’s house, on the Third Circle
The Morning of Urimë 16 (three days after the fire)

Wherever ‘here’ was, it did not seem to be the satisfying conclusion for anyone concerned. What had been shared was as hard to hear as to tell, and the cost of the conversation was quite evident in the contrast between the room’s climate now, and back when they had first embarked upon their errand. Then Arnyn dangled the prospect of an ending, even in the same breath as announcing another obstacle. One more thing. Just one more. Unalmis fed his fingers into a knitted wall on the table before him, and then glanced up surprised when the Lieutenant directed this last question toward .. him. Brow furrowed, the young man sought to recall the point she was revisiting. When had he said .. what he had said ..

“Well .. Trev said, before, that ‘Rip was being held back from doing all that he clearly wanted to do to him, when they were both in Umbar, because Pharak had his apprentice on a leash, so to speak.” Nal felt almost like a teacher had just called on him in class, and he was unprepared. Which had never been to say that he couldn’t think of some answer and, in this case, there was still something which he had failed to disclose as yet, and maybe ought to ? This might be the last chance, or it might be rather less well received news, if he had to confess later to Arnyn that he had not told her when she was giving them this opportunity. “And that’s probably true enough, over there. In Umbar. After all, over there, ‘Rip’ is the apprentice, the acolyte, the disciple, Pharak’s lackey almost. He’s a Gondorian in an Umbarian temple, surrounded by fanatics of a cult he’s probably only pretending to believe in.”


Brown eyes avoided either of the two expressions as he stumbled over his words, eager to have it all over with now they were on the home stretch. And in particular to hopefully avoid inciting a whole new slew of questions. About to delve from the recounting though, to the actual point of his concern, Unalmis drew his recently refilled cup in close and held it in both hands, as though it were some comfort or support to him somehow.

“Here in Gondor though,” he resumed with a growing frown, “‘Rip’ was a lieutenant. And over here there has been no one to keep him on a leash. He's done whatever he wanted, flouting the law to get his own way, instead of using it to keep the city safe. I’m not sure how he got himself the rank in the first place, but Sorrel once let slip once that she’d heard he’d transferred in to the Guard here, after training at another city. She didn’t know which city, or she didn't tell me anyway. But who knows what he might have managed over there, certainly nothing that would have gained him such a grand promotion. His Father though, used to be a Captain of the Guard here. I’m talking twenty or so years ago now. Maybe the family name simply still means something to the current Captain, or perhaps his father managed to give him enough inside information or something for leverage to convince even the current Captain not to cross him ? ” A sigh and slight shake of the young man’s head escaped him as he added then a further opinion to the guesswork.

“Anyway, he became almost untouchable in local legal matters, so to speak. if it hadn’t been the likes of Abrazimir and Ilisys who had pushed what Arkadhur claimed about ‘Rip’, with all their money and influence of their noble houses behind them, I expect no one in the Guard would have even bothered to investigate what some lying Umbarian had claimed about their rat-brained Lieutenant. They would have brushed off any such claims if they had come from the likes of me. They have done, in the past.”


With the conclusion of their conversation now clearly on the horizon, Unalmis decided he ought to drink some of his water. At least it might help to refresh him, with all the talking which had begun by now to sluice out of him, like some unstoppable leak. A short time passed where he drank in one motion more than would be counted normal. He did feel better afterwards though. At least for a moment.

“So on that subject and, before we finish up, I guess I should probably be upfront about something, which you might come up against if you look into him. Every time I've tried to tell someone what I know about him, he's shut me down by claiming it was a lie. A grudge. People have believed him. Because, the truth is that ‘Rip’s father sort of got my Uncle suspended, back in the days when they were both City Guards. The way I heard it, the two of them apparently had opposing statements over quite what had happened during the arrest of a Ranger, of all things. And at the end of the day, 'Rip's father outranked my uncle, and it all got quite ugly when my Uncle refused to back down. Soon afterwards, they both left the Guard, my Uncle went off with the Rangers instead and disappeared, bumped into Pharak as it turned out and then properly disappeared. ‘Rip’s father supposedly retired or something, now that he was, you know, a father.

So I know how it works with the City Guard, or at least how an Androillius works out in the Guard. It means they can chose which crimes to pursue and which ones to bury. Which crimes they inform you about and which ones they commit themselves. He is following in his father's footsteps. I didn’t even bother filling out a report for them, of what happened last year. Even though I saw ‘Rip’ fail to investigate Arkadhur’s stolen wagon when he had abducted the girls, and he didn't search the Umbarian for concealed weapons either. They spoke together for some time and then he let him go. Cadil and I had happened at that same gate not an hour earlier you see, and our unfavourite City Guard had hurriedly detained us in his gatehouse. On some shamelessly trumped up false allegations of outstanding arrest warrants against me, and encouraging Cadil to offer him a bribe to pass, which was clearly to entrap him too. Then he said we refused to submit to being searched.


That's just what he does, Lieutenant. That's what he's been doing, here. Not in Umbar,” Nal glanced up from his cup sharply then, as though the thought had just occurred to him, “I swear that the things he alleged that day were all a load of nonsense. I mean, he never filed any charges against either Cadil or I for any of that, which kind of proves he didn’t want a paper trail or any proof that any of us had even been there. Easier for him then to later say we were just making it all up. You know already that Cali reported what had happened to her and Iole, and strangely her report went missing, didn’t it ? I knew it would all come to nothing. Always does where he is involved. Somehow the evidence disappears or gets turned back around on us. My Father and I tried to report what had happened with the Burned Man, six years ago, for instance. We later received word that we were unreliable witnesses, due to our compromised cognition or something at the time of ‘the event’, and they said any testimony just wouldn’t stand. It was all thrown out.”

A pause allowed for Unalmis to realise he’d finish taking sips throughout and now had finished all of his drink. And more than he'd ever intended to admit. With a small sigh of dejection, he figured it was more than time to finish up the revelations as well.

“What I’m saying then, I guess, is that ‘Rip’ may not have done anything but watch and learn from crazy Occultists, when he was in Umbar, but I think that even getting to do that much … that was his reward from Pharak. For what he managed over here. For having proved his worth to their cause. By managing things like allowing for Arkadhur to get through that gate with the girls, or even that Shamara prisoner escaping from the Dungeon, or maybe as bad as ensuring that Relic snuck into the city in the first place. If ‘Rip’ wasn’t outright behind it himself, then he was probably involved somehow. He’s the Guard who has been breaking the law here, repeatedly, and I dread to think of all the things he’s managed which we don’t even know about. Noone has ever spoken up about him before. Noone whom would be taken seriously anyway. He only shows his true colours to the people who he knows can't do anything about it.

So, while he may still be out there, somewhere, I guess at least he’s no longer able to accomplish any of that any more," a shrug betrayed the move back toward hope. At the end of all things anyway, a slender gleam of hope ... "Personally, I hope that Pharak will find that one of his little Gondorian 'pet's is less useful to him now. If we're really lucky, he might decide the only thing left for the traitor to do is give his whole life, and I mean quite literally, to the cause.” There was little need for Unalmis to clarify his meaning at this last, though of course the sentiment did little to desguise a possible bias against this absent antagonist.

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie @Rillewen

Lieutenant Arnyn
Third Circle - Cali and Iole's house
Trevadir's report

She nodded her understanding when Unalmis painted the scene Aderic Androllius belonged to in Umbar. There, he was a servant. An obedient servant - and an outsider, even. All things considered. Even if he fit in with whatever he had that passed for a personality, he was not in charge of any of the decision-making.

It was difficult to hide the disdain from her face as the younger ranger speculated how Androllius might have obtained his Lieutenant's rank within the Guard. However he had done so... she supposed, in the end, the result was the same. Yet the possibility of more corruption within the Guard, did not sit well with Arnyn. It was clear, in any case, that Unalmis had little faith left in the Guard as a whole. And surely, everything Arnyn was learning now, did not help with her own views of the organisation.

That Aderic's father had gotten Unalmis' uncle suspended - over the arrest of a Ranger - with Aderic's father outranking Unalmis' uncle... resulting in both leaving the Guard... Arnyn held back a sigh. Family grudges were involved, as well? She resisted to urge to massage her temples.SO Androllius had picked on Unalmis, Trevadir and their friends when they were little... and there was a history with a father and an uncle. Great.

"Manwë's breath," she mumbled however, though the fact that the words were well pronounced enough - even in her mumble - displayed she had come to trust both Unalmis and Trevadir enough to show such a response to begin with. She nodded in quiet resignation when Unalmis seemed to instantly jump into the defensive, and raised a hand to signal him he could stop. As it turned out, he had not intended to say much more on it, though, since he moved his focus back to Androllius.

The Ranger Lieutenant eyes Unalmis wearily as he went over some of the things the Guard Lieutenant had a hand in, as if to sum up his worth to the likes of Pharak. Did she look a little sad as Unalmis expressed his hope that Androllius might find his end at the hand of the Umbarians because he was now much less useful to them? Did she think he had too much in common with rangers like Kaylin? Perhaps she did.

"I believe you," she merely said, in the end. For what else was there to say? She did. And she felt like there was a need to state it clearly. Like Unalmis and Trevadir would have the need for her to state it as such. They had revealed so much to her, with no small risk to their own reputation in the process. Arnyn picked up another pastry and made quick work of it. "That helps," she noted, her tone suddenly lighter.

"You two have given me much to think about, and work with," she added more slowly, before rising to her feet. "And while this ending may seem abrupt... I doubt it will look it to Cali." Arnyn smiled, slightly amused, and started gathering her things. The ledger, the writing equipment, the loose pages of her own notes and those Trevadir had supplied.

She also removed one other item from her pack, putting it on the table instead of keeping it to herself. And sliding it toward Unalmis. "You spoke of a kind of memorial book for fallen Rangers," she told him in a different tone. Much more quiet. Respectful. "I do not know if you had anything specific in mind. But this..." she resisted the urge to shrug one shoulder, and merely left a pause before she continued. "This is my own, personal version. It is very important to me," she admitted. "But could serve for some inspiration. If you can keep quiet about its specifics to others, and return it to me in the same condition, feel free to look through it. And return it to me later." Arnyn sought out Unalmis' brown eyes with her own, but then gave him little time to respond before she put her pack over her shoulders.

"I'm almost afraid to say it," she said with a half smile, unexpected amusement bringing up a few fine laugh lines around her eyes, "but if you think of anything else... You know where to find me, yes?"

Moving to the door to the living room, she pushed it open with one hand. "Thanks for the drinks and the pastries. It was a nice touch." She stepped out into the room where Cali was still sitting, and retrieved her sword from the wall. "Thank you, Cali, for providing a place for... all this. I hope your leg feels better soon."

Soon enough, she had left the house. The need to return to her many, many duties... was already calling. There was little time left for Arnyn to spend on pleasantries today.

[Arnyn]

@Pele Alarion


King Aragorn Elessar
&

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
The Citadel, Seventh Circle

Arnyn's eyes briefly flicked from the King to Pele when her friend said she did not want to go to Umbar. That, in fact, she wanted to be as far away from Umbar as she possibly could be. But the words which followed made Arnyn tilt her chin up with some satisfaction. Not that any of the latter showed in her expression as she focused back onto the King, who was still assessing the Captain.

"Perhaps," he agreed with Pele's opinion. He seemed doubtful, still. "Take me through it all again, Lieutenant." This time, he did ask questions. Many of them. At the very least, Arnyn had found her match - or indeed, her superior in the matter! Was this how she had made Trevadir and Unalmis feel?

Aragorn went back to his window, his arms crossed as he thought it all over. Meanwhile, Arnyn shot Pele a questioning look. Did she know what the King was likely to decide?

"If a few small things go south... or one important element goes awry... None of you may return," he spoke. Yet, rather than displeasure or outright refusal, Arnyn thought she heard... a warning? She shifted forward in her seat. Did this mean he would sanction the plans?

"Meet with Abrazimir Dimaethor," Aragorn decided. "Perfect your plans, Lieutenant, as much as you may. Those who wish to go with the Captain and yourself, may go. However, I require you to indeed fully inform them of the danger, and not to merely focus on the honourable goal of these plans. None are obligated to join you. And you may only go yourselves if you find enough Rangers and reinforcements to go with you. I will not send my Captain and Lieutenant into a hopeless situation."

Arnyn stared at him wordlessly for a moment. "Thank you, your Grace," she said quietly, before she looked at Pele again and seemed to hesitate. "There is... another request I would make of you, King Elessar."

With a surprised frown, he turned back toward the two women seated in front of his desk. "Indeed?"

Rising from her seat, Arnyn bowed her head respectfully. She swallowed back her reservations and steeled herself before looking up at those discerning grey eyes. "Some of the men we have discussed. Pharak Halsad, the Burned Man. Keket, his son." She paused to bite down hard on her own teeth. "Possibly even this supposed Naluthor - Aderic Androllius. We have so much information on them, my King. Every bit worse than the last."

Aragorn's eyes narrowed slightly. "Yes, Lieutenant?"

"I would ask your permission to end their lives outright." She could hardly believe she'd gotten out the words as confidently as she had.

A long silence fell as Aragorn Elessar studied the Lieutenant, who marvelously did not shy away at his direct gaze. "Instead of arresting them," Aragorn finally added.

Arnyn nodded. "Yes, King Aragorn. They are far too dangerous. And too much depends on their removal."

Frowning, Elessar returned to his own seat. "And you would not ask this of the others? This Uhta Halsad? Matsu Halsad? Devedir Thormaetha or any of his crew? This Arkadhur? The other slavers you will encounter?"

The Lieutenant met his gaze boldly. "In case we encounter Matsu, perhaps yes, I would also ask to add him to the list. And you know as well as I, my King, that anything can happen in battle. If the death of any of these others safeguards our own, I will always choose the former. The difference I am asking you to... allow... is that if we have the option to capture these specific men - with a good possibility of success, even - that we may be allowed to... not take it. That you would grant us permission to remove the threat they pose in an immediate and more permanent fashion."

"I do not remember you like this, Arnyn." Aragorn frowned slightly as his gaze shifted between the two officers.

"I have learned much of who they are and what they have done to others," the Lieutenant stated, focusing on the steel within. Focusing hard. It was... extremely difficult. For the King's words had stung. "Too much, your Grace. To bring them to trial would only be a waste of resources and a dangerous game, to boot. Pharak, Matsu, Keket - their souls are lost to the darkness. Without a sliver of hope for a return."

"As for the Guard Lieutenant, you are less certain?"

Arnyn hesitated. "A part of me would still like to question him, my King. Despite all the advice I have been given not to. Logically, it would be safer for everyone not to risk anything and end his life as well. If we find ourselves with the opportunity. Yet, something tells me not to follow that particular thread of reason in this case, but rather to follow another. There are too many things that raise questions about him still..."

"Which would rather put him in the same boat as this Arkadhur individual," Aragorn mused. "Captain," he asked once more, turning to Pele. "What do you make of Lieutenant Dealedwen's... request?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn @Ercassie

Trevadir
Late morning, Urimë 16 (3 days after the fire)
Cali and Iole's house - Third Circle

Trev remained quiet while Nal spoke, explaining the whole matter to Arnyn. There were even a few bits he'd half-forgotten about, and one or two things he hadn't even known. The bit about Rip transferring, for instance. He kept his gaze down and focused on his flute, listening thoughtfully while his friend gave his extended answer to the lieutenant's question. Her last question, she had promised, though he suddenly became worried that whole other can of worms might open up, once Nal made mention of his uncle running into Pharak. Would she recall the thing he'd told her before, about Nal's family sword, and his uncle?

He didn't dare look up at her to try and find out whether this had made her curious enough to inquire about the matter. Hopefully, not. He really didn't want that topic brought up at all, not after the results it had had, last time it came up between he and Nal. He gave a few supportive nods now and then, when Nal spoke about how Rip did this or that, and the sort of things he'd accomplished even here in the heart of Gondor, in the middle of the Tower Guard. He honestly felt that he couldn't have said it better than Nal did. And then, at the conclusion, he struggled to hide a little smile at Nal's hopeful comment. Yes, that would solve a lot of problems for them all, wouldn't it? He didn't dare speak his thought out loud, but he did look down to try and hide the amusement at hearing Nal say it.

He was relieved, in the end, to hear the lieutenant declare that she believed Nal. He took it to mean that she believed both of them. He glanced up then and gave a small smile. A different sort of smile than a moment ago. And almost before he had time to realize it, she was saying her goodbyes, preparing to leave. Trev blinked, and watched her gathering her things. "Well, glad it helped, then." He replied, a little unsure what else to say. Soon, she was passing something to Nal, and taking her leave. But not without a comment to let them know they could come find her if they thought of anything else. With a little grin, Trev nodded. "Yes ma'am," He answered, and watched her pass through to the next room.

He was quiet for a moment, then turned to Nal. "She left pretty fast... think she got scared we might think of more stuff to talk about?" He asked, with a little laugh, but honestly he was quite relieved that it was all over. He sat back and let out a little sigh. "We probably ought to clean up the kitchen.." He acknowledged reluctantly. "But.. maybe we could just take little a break first..." He felt like the report had dragged on for days, even weeks... and he just wanted to put it behind him now, and do something fun to relax. "Think the girls would mind?" He asked with a little smile, raising an eyebrow questioningly.

---

Cali

In the other room, Cali looked up from her book and smiled when Arnyn came into the room. "You're quite welcome," She answered to the thanks. "And thank you. It's getting better, just.. they're fussing a little more than they really need to." She rolled her eyes. "I should be back to work in a day or two." She shrugged, thinking it was little inconvenient to have to stay off her leg for a few days, but at least she had her friends to help her through it.

After bidding the lieutenant goodbye, she glanced toward the door to the dining room, wondering about the boys, and then put her book aside and lay back to try and get back to that nap.

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn

Captain Pele Alarion
The Citadel, Seventh Circle

Pele listened carefully as Arnyn and the King went over the information and the plans they had this far without interrupting or adding much else input. And the more she listened, the more it seemed to bring up unwanted memories from her experiences in Umbar making their plans look dangerous to the point of almost impossible. And yet - if they did succeed, it might save a great many lives, so she did not really have the right to give in to fear and back down, did she? A barely visible shake of her head and a slightly doubtful look was what she gave when Arnyn checked in with her as they waited to see what the King's decision would be.

"Even if the plans are worked out to perfect detail, something unexpected can always happen," she noted quietly. "I don't think there is any way we can fully remove the factor of extreme danger no matter what we do." It appeared that she only stated the obvious, and she considered that it was only fair that the King required any willing Rangers to be fully informed of the level of danger. Neither could she find arguments against them not being allowed to set out without sufficient support.

When Arnyn stated that she still had another request to make of King Elessar, Pele looked at her questioningly and for a good long while searched her friend's face as she spoke before looking back to the King. The matter came as a surprise to her since she assumed she knew Arnyn's nature quite well. And yet... it somehow resonated within her and awakened cold anger. It reflected in her blue eyes as she thought back to what had seemed like endless days and nights of torment. How many times had she tried to snatch at least a few moments of sleep only to be jolted out of it by more pain? How many times had she wished for death to come before she could end up giving in and breaking? Who knew the count of people who had gone through this before her and most likely after? How many fingers had Keket cut off? How many had ended up as sacrifices?

"The healer in me would say that all life should be saved no matter of its state of being, your Grace," Pele spoke in reply to the question addressed to her, the voice steady and not holding any hint of the flash of anger she had experienced just moments ago and that could still be discerned in the icy glint of her eyes. "But I also doubt any amount of opportunities and time given to those people would see them turn from their ways. Pure evil in human form, much like Relic. Even if they were left to rot in dungeons for the rest of their lives, it would be like cherishing a snake in our bosom - cherishing and not knowing when it could still strike us even if it is contained."

Pele sighed and took a small sip of the water before she continued: "I cannot claim that I understand the games Arkadhur is playing at all, and the matter with this Guard Lieutenant seems complicated. I would not strike too hastily here."

[Arnyn]

@Pele Alarion


King Aragorn Elessar
&

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
The Citadel, Seventh Circle

"Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear," the King mumbled, as if he were remembering something. "I will admit it is difficult not to grant your request, given all that you have shared with me today." He fell silent for a while, deep in his own thoughts. "Yet, I do not freely condone the taking of lives. I will need to think on this. And take council. When did you say you would be meeting with the young Lord Dimaethor, Lieutenant?"

Arnyn clasped her hands together behind her back. "In a bit more than a month, your Grace."

Aragorn nodded. "Then let us leave the matter be at present. And look to what Captain Alarion has brought us to soften both of your requests - for in truth, neither were expected, nor sought after." Before Pele or Arnyn could ask anything, he added: "I will render my decision concerning your second request before your meeting with Abrazimir, Lieutenant."

While the cakes brought some reprieve, it was difficult for any of them to make small talk after the broaching of such matters as had been discussed. And as for Arnyn, once Pele and she stepped out of the Citadel, it felt as if a giant weight had been lifted off her shoulders. Approval for an impossible mission... they had acquiered it. Yet the reprieve lasted for but a moment. Soon, it was replaced with a weight of a different sort. The weight of perfecting the plans. The weight of discussing it with those rangers who might be interested to go. The weight of taking people into an impossible situation - and maybe not getting them back out of it.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Unalmis Raxëlilta, and Iole Ishen
at Cali / Iole’s house, on the Third Circle
Much later now, on the Morning of Urimë 16 (three days after the fire)

Unalmis ‘might’ have gotten a little carried away with the speculation over what ‘Rip’ ‘might’ have managed in the city. But just because there was so little proof of this entire nightmare, that meant that they could only guess at how far it did in fact extend. There had been shocks and surprises emerging out of nearly every conversation that he’d struggled through this year. During one of these earlier and no less mind-blowing conversations, Arnyn had asked Unalmis why he tended not to think that people would believe him, or take him seriously. At the time he couldn’t have answered fully, was startled that she’d even noticed or taken the time to wonder about it. Perhaps he had never even registered the habit, himself. But it was all too apparent now. And somehow still. She believed him. Even though she had seen none of all this with her own eyes, was taking it entirely on what she was being told, by people that she barely knew. And the Lieutenant was right. It did help. He could only imagine how much greater a burden that must be lifted from his friend. Because without proof, there was only trust. And today trust had nurtured hope.

Meeting Trev’s eyes as Arnyn began to gather up her things, he met that friend’s smile with it’s reflection on his face. “We’ll keep up the watch in the meantime,” he promised. “Friends have eyes, and the First never really sleeps. You know that ..” That their native Circle of the city was rather renowned for being a rambunctious locale was no secret. The first port of call for visitors to Minas Tirith, and the last, there was always something going on. But those who were raised there, who lived there, they were known there. And if there was ever trouble, it took little for more folk than ever were involved to jump in and ‘help’. Or merely let off steam.


He noted the Lieutenant removing something from her bag then, and in the same moment that he began to concern whether there would now come some last minute surprise, … there did, in fact. And of all the things it might have been, he would never have ever suspected the truth. As Arnyn explained herself, the younger Ranger found he did not have the words that ought to have been forthcoming, and polite. He could only stare as she calmly made her farewells and excused herself.

At the debriefing, Arnyn had said they would ‘speak later’ about his proposal of some memorial for the fallen. But he had never expected for an officer, for this busy an officer, to follow through with her promise on such a level. To loan him something that was so important to her, personally ? To share that she was of a similar mind in that regard. She was not just hearing them out. She had heard them. She had made it her problem, not just listened to them complain about theirs. And this, she was sharing something of herself in return. Duinion and Isys had both expressed to Unalmis before now that Arnyn had showed a rather forthright interest in their lives, but they had made it sound like an intrusion. Personally, this felt to him rather more like an inclusion. Perhaps he was simply more naïve and trusting than either of the other, older, Rangers, but it seemed that he was happier that way and felt it was a shame that not everyone could not perceive the interactions in so innocent a light.


While Trevadir let out a laugh, Nal looked down at his own feet, wondering when he had (apparently subconsciously) stood up, to mark their guest’s departure. Was his friend right though ? Had the Officer fled in fear of learning what even further answers could come, out of having asked her questions ? “She’s very efficient,” he replied with a shrug. “I expect she wants to get right on with the organising and planning. I mean, we just did send her off with a ton of homework already ..” And maybe she had felt a little self conscious after risking the last minute gift, .. after revealing a little of the person behind the title ? Stealing an unobserved glance after the Lieutenant and Cali’s brief exchange, Unalmis let the door back to the dining room come to a subtle close. If it had all been an act, as he had assumed at the start, merely to put the anxious at ease, then it now felt like perhaps the Lieutenant had had to ease herself into it too. She’d called Dev an ‘ass’. She’d .. had that been a curse emitted at some point ? He pushed the cogitation away. Trevadir had undergone a trial of a morning, and certainly a little distraction was called for.

“Well, we can’t tackle the kitchen right now,” he shook his head however, at the idea. “Cali is just settling down now for a nap, at last. It just wouldn’t be kind at all to keep her awake with clatters and more crashing about.” The grin revealed the absolute lack of disappointment which this excuse was evoking. “The girls don’t have to know ..” he started.


“The girls don’t have to know .. what ?” Iole’s voice disturbed them from the kitchen window, where a pile of unwashed dishes had veiled her approach. The back door though allowed for the shopworker to properly address her friends. With the cat in both hands, she faced them both, suspecting some kind of conspiracy. After an uneasy silence which did not offer immediate excuses, Iole just sighed. “Close the window at least,” she asked of them. “This little one is not meant to be outside, for six weeks at least. So he can get used to the smell of home and know where to return,” she threw out what she’d clearly read in a book recently. Several books about cats and their habits and their histories had been brought home since the feline had, and there had been no end of useless facts and trivia and information about them announced of late. Iole for all the fact of never having been allowed a cat when growing up, had decided to become an expert now that she was able.

“Probably the smell of this place which drove him outside in the first place,” Nal remarked, having beaten Trev to rush and close the kitchen window rather than be subject to Iole’s response, or her entire lecture. As it turned out though, that little was, for now, all there was of it. Recalling what had been scheduled for the morning, and seeing the tell tale plates and cups about the table … Iole quietly handed the cat to Nal and moved her whole attention onto Trev.


“It went well ?” she sought for confirmation from the musician, as Unalmis held the cat out in front of him and in both hands, as one might hold a sack of potatoes, if they had no clue how to properly hold a sack of potatoes. It did not take long before the animal escaped and started scratching at the door, and the far more fitting company of Cali. Dusting off his hands as though he’d instigated the rejection, Nal then carefully picked up the book which Arnyn had left and jerked his head sidelong to prompt Trevadir, towards escape.

“Do you have a bag ?” he asked their hostess, who confused, quite clearly.

“What now ?” she managed.

“Baaaaaag,” Nal repeated, this time more slowly, and quite deliberately. And somehow he did not recoil when Iole scowled as a consequence. “You put things in it for safe keeping .. then you carry it .. you know ?” he shrugged. “A bag”.

Without a word, but a sigh, the young woman removed her own bag off one shoulder and began to take out the (several more !) books on cats which she had taken to work to entertain herself. It was not as though they had a lot of customers, after all.

“Iole, you’re a peach,” was the enthused reaction as she handed it over. “I’ll bring it back .. after we .. deliver this extremely important item to a safe and location. Ranger business, you understand.” And before she could ask whether he honestly thought that she believed him, or what it might all be about, Unalmis had raised a finger before his lips. “Shhhhhh,” he advised, rather unnecessarily. “Cali is asleep in the lounge.” Well, she might have been by now …


By the time that Iole had stooped to gather up the cat, and save the dining room/lounge's door, Nal had already led Trevadir to an escape out of the back/kitchen door. With a resigned shake of her head, the young woman managed to juggle the cat as she picked up one of her books, and went to sit quietly in the front room with her less exhausting friend. Whatever had occurred in that house that morning, it was over now. And all seemed to have come through it in one piece, albeit for some further dirtied dishes adding to the quite precarious piles that needed cleaning still, in the kitchen.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Trevadir
Late morning, Urimë 16 (3 days after the fire)
Cali and Iole's house - Third Circle

"It just wouldn’t be kind at all to keep her awake with clatters and more crashing about."

The excuse brought forth a grin to Trev's face. "Oh yeah, definitely." He agreed, with a poor attempt at hiding his amusement. Somehow, Nal always could find a way to get out of doing chores, it seemed. Although he did let out a little snort as his friend went on to claim that the girls wouldn't know. As if they wouldn't notice the piles of dirty and broken dishes cluttering the kitchen?

But before he could make a comment to that effect, Iole's voice interrupted. Trev's grin swiftly faded swiftly as he looked toward her, suddenly at a loss for words. He glanced at Nal, waiting for his more practiced mind to come up with something. Having been out of the loop for so long, Trev didn't yet have the experience to know how to deal with matters of this sort. It was different with Dev. Much different.

“It went well ?”

Iole's question stirred him out of his silence. "Oh.. yeah," he found words at last. "Well enough, I guess. The lieutenant took lots of notes, and I think she's already working on plans to take out all the pirates. So, it should soon be safe to go to the beach again." He smiled reassuringly at her, though he didn't quite feel convinced of the whole thing yet, himself.

Listening as Nal requested a bag, and proceeded to explain to their confused friend what a bag is, Trev stifled a snicker, watching the exchange between them. He couldn't help smiling, thinking about how much he had missed them all. And this. Their interactions. The group dynamic. All that sort of thing, he had missed tremendously. Even as Nal shushed Iole, claiming that Cali was asleep, Trev could not have smothered his smile if he'd wanted to. Ranger business? Amusement gleamed in his dark brown eyes as he nodded his unspoken agreement, despite the fact that ranger business wouldn't actually involve him. Iole must know that, and yet, the two didn't give her a chance to point it out.

They were out of the house before she had time to protest. And then... the two were off, just like they used to do in the old days, when the friends used to sneak past their respective grandmothers. With the weight of all the information finally passed on to someone who could actually put it to good use, and all the weighty, depressing news and topics behind the two, Trev felt hopeful that he could actually, finally, just relax and spend the rest of this day with his best friend, doing anything that was fun and carefree, just like when they were kids.


(The end!)

[Pele Alarion]

@Arnyn

Captain Pele Alarion
Leaving the Citadel, the Seventh Circle

The whole Umbarian matter lay heavily on Pele, and even the sweetness of cakes could not lighten it much, though she appreciated the few moments of non-business they managed to have no matter how awkward it seemed after their serious discussion. Yet, all in all Pele was quiet, not going beyond the necessary phrases of politeness and information related to the subject.

The relative silence continued as they finally left the King's premises, though Pele did cast a few searching glances at Arnyn now and then. She had been very well aware of how much work her friend had invested in searching for various links leading to the slavery matter, meeting people, planning the possible courses of action. Even though it seemed clear that this all could not leave anyone unaffected, yet the changes she saw had surprised Pele.

"Nyn," the Captain finally said, reaching out gently to place her hand on her friend's arm and stopping a while where she considered them to be away from the earshot of the gate guards and any other curious ears. "Thank you for all that work, for putting your heart into that matter. Just... don't let Umbar take residence in it and in your mind - it has a rather subtle way to enslave you even when you are not there in person."

Realising that her words might come across as a lecture, Pele shrugged lightly and let a hint of a smile linger on her face. "Takes nearly a whole eternity to get rid of that influence, but then again... I'm sure you know it all and don't need me to point out the obvious. Perhaps now it is my turn to say: don't take all the tings on all by yourself?" She paused a moment, and then added: "Care for a meal at some inn and some unrelated chatter this evening, or some other time?"

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie

Macardil
Fifth Circle - home

Macardil was just about ready to step outside for a morning run when a knock made him look over at the door. He finished the laces on the last shoe before crossing the final few yards to the door and opening it. What was it with surprise morning visits, lately?

As he looked outside and the chill of the morning greeted him through the open doorway, his eyes first laid sight upon... nothing. Then they were pulled down to find -

"Ranger Unalmis?" Macardil asked, the surprise clearly showing in his voice and the set of his brows. His shoulders stiffened slightly, unsure what to expect. What was this about? Was the other shoe finally about to drop, despite the multitudinous tying of laces? Was this then the ranger who had come to his door to tell him that he needed to stay away from those he cared about - in this case, Trevadir?

[Ercassie]

@Arnyn

Ranger Unalmis Raxëlilta
At the house of Macardil, Fifth Circle
(at some point between Trev’s reunion at the Inn and the mass migration to joust in DA)

He was caught a little short of standing back up, and so Unalmis retreated a small step at the same time that he finished straightening, rather than crowd the (clearly startled) houseowner. It was not difficult for him to recognise the former officer, who had stood up upon podiums and handed out assignments during their mission to Poros. The young Ranger was rather surprised however that Macardil recalled or even knew his name. There had been so many Rangers about their group quest and it was not like he had ever stood out as anyone remotely significant.

“Lieu-” he began after a moment, and before recalling the King’s decree. That the former Second in Command was not to be referred to by his ex-rank any more. This, unlike the former officer’s sentence, had never been revoked and the younger man tugged at his lower lip with his teeth unhappily. For to greet the more senior and almost stranger by his given name, as merely ‘Macardil’, it felt rather too familiar for two men who had scarcely exchanged more than ten words, ever.


“Good Morning,” he tried then and threw in some honesty to try and counter the shock. “I overheard the other .. that is, Lieutenant Dealedwen giving your address to Trevadir,” the explanation rushed like rainwater over a staircase of rocks, and the fact that he had expected that he’d know what to say without ever thinking it out properly was now beginning to feel like a grave error in judgement. “I wasn’t spying or anything,” Nal put in though, rather suddenly. “I was standing there, and they both knew it. I won’t, you know, share it around or anything, you have my word. Privacy is important. And .. I’m probably invading yours right now. Sorry about that.”

The fact that he had not yet really explained his even being here dawned upon Unalmis who fused his hands together, behind his back rather awkwardly but in some hope of lowering alarm.

“What it is .. is, that, well, I know what you did. And .. also what was done .. to you. That must have been .. ” he stopped again. This really was not going very well at all. “No doubt something you don’t want to talk about. But, why I came though, we’re not friends.” If the ground could have swallowed him whole it would not have been enough. “Still you were a friend, to my friend, at a time when he could not even put trust in those he knew best. He was a stranger to you, and still you convinced him .. somehow, that things could be better. You made sure things got better. You talked him into coming home, a feat that none of the rest of us managed. Somehow.”


If there was a hint of jealousy hiding amidst the admission, it was hastily expelled. Brown eyes closed as the Ranger took a fresh breath and returned his gaze earnestly to the unfortunate audience. “So my Grams always used to say that people are too fast to shout their complaints and too slow to share a compliment. She didn’t send me or anything. She’s umm .. probably turning in her grave right now with embarrassment for what a mess I’m making of all this.” He almost laughed, but didn’t. It would have been highly inappropriate. But he was unusually nervous.

“I’m saying thankyou,” he explained, what might not have been at all clear based on the performance itself. “What you did, for him and for all of us that care about him. It was an awful lot, actually and it can not have been easy. In my book what a person chooses to do, means far more than what they have no control over. So, sorry, really, for inflicting this on you, and so early in the day, .. but thank you. For what you did. I'll never forget it.”

He held out a scarred palm, eyes dropping to mark the act, an invitation for a handshake. Very proper, and the perfect prelude to stealing into a manly and well-meant hug, if that unwary recipient did not know better than to flee fast from the initial contact with all haste.

[Arnyn]

@Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Seventh Circle


When Pele put a hand on her arm and drew to a halt, Arnyn turned to her friend, a silent "yes?" on her face. Her friend's words were unexpected, and they gave Arnyn pause as she tried to figure out how to respond. Yet Pele seemed to realize that predicament, and softened her statements soon enough. Hesitantly, Arnyn nodded. But before she could even reply verbally, Pele asked whether she'd like to go grab something to eat and just talk - not about work, but about other things. And if not tonight, then perhaps some other evening.

"We can do that," she agreed. "And we can go this evening, if you like. But please tell me you don't have any big news or unexpected tidings to share..." she mumbled, as she started them off again toward the gate to the Sixth.

---

@Ercassie

Macardil
Fifth Circle - home

Whatever Macardil had been expecting - this had not been it. Unalmis was showcasing a strange blend of rambling and halting speech, explaining how he knew the address and why he had come. Hold on. Unalmis had come to thank him? For speaking to Trevadir? For helping him?

Frozen with the realization and - once the words were literally spoken - soon the added confirmation, Macardil could hardly believe his ears. And it was no simple thank you, either. It was elaborate. It was... something Macardil greatly appreciated. Needed, even, with the way the relationships with his former friends had withered and died.

"Do not apologize, for your words are very well received," Macardil replied quietly. There was therefore only one option, when Unalmis held out his hand. The left hand - which Macardil only registered once he himself was about to raise his right one in return - and figured that would not work at all. So, instead, he raised his left hand in return. Unalmis' scar struck him, since he had seen something very similar on Trevadir. Yet Macardil had never asked, and Trevadir had never told.

He took Unalmis' hand and shook it, expecting the contact to come to an end there. The slight pull and step forward taken by Unalmis therefore caught the former lieutenant entirely off guard. The Ranger pulled Macardil into a tight hug. It was brief, but long enough for Macardil's stiff shoulders to relax at the honest and simple warmth of the gesture. Before Macardil knew it, the young man before him had once more stepped back and silently turned on his heels to hurry off and away. To whatever destination expected him next.

Lingering a while longer in the doorframe, Macardil watched Unalmis go. A slow smile came to brighten his expression, before he finally shook his head with disbelief and even flashed a grin before stepping back into his home. To seek another cup of something warm. He had been about to step outside for his run, but what had just transpired was worth taking the time to process. What a peculiar exchange. Yet he was absolutely sure that nothing would be able to ruin the rest of his day.

(Hug and leave-taking cleared with Ercassie)

[Rillewen]

Ryndir - Second LevelRyndir Dringolben
Raxelilta residence - First Level
Several winters ago, during a rare snow

"Please, can Nal come out with us?" Ryn added once it seemed a little safer to do so, looking imploringly up at the woman. Curious as to why it seemed so cold in Nal's house, Ryn spared a glance toward the fireplace, noticing it was unlit. He couldn't help noticing the pieces of the chair in there, also, but seemed to dismiss all of this, and instead turned back to Nal's grandmother.

"Really, we've a school assignment we must accomplish, ere we return." He invented this new story on the spot, to better convince the woman that they ought to be released into the city, and that it was alright to leave them to their own devices for a while. "You see," he carried on, around a mouthful of sandwich, "the teacher gave us each a whole list of experiments we're to carry out while we still have snow, but it must be done outside, with the snow... and it could take all day..." He might have carried on a while longer with his tale, but there was no need, for Nal's father came to their rescue, in his own way. They had won!

(a portion from a post made a while back, from a story which has yet to be concluded)

---

(Private - solo post. Flashback from several years ago)

Ryndir - Second Level
Ryndir Dringolben
Dringolben Smithy/Residence - Second Circle
Sometime later that night

All was quiet in the Dringolben household, by now. Everyone had gone to bed. The covers were cozy and warm, but Ryn's mission was more important than his own comfort. He waited for a long while, listening to the breathing of his brother, over in the bed across their shared room. At least he didn't have to worry about Dawion, who was off on his own now, with a wife and everything. But if Berthion woke up... well, Ryn would think of something. He'd say he was going to the outhouse or something.

He took extra care to be quiet as he slipped out of bed. Then, after glancing at Ber's sleeping form, he hesitated. Should he stick some pillows under the covers? He considered this for a moment, then figured maybe he'd better. Just in case. Soon, there was a fairly good impersonation of Ryn's sleeping body, lying under the covers that he was a little reluctant to leave. At least that should delay any potential trouble. Besides, Berthion would usually cover for him, so he wasn't tremendously worried. With that accomplished, the boy quietly picked up his coat, boots, mittens, scarf, and hat, and tiptoed out of the boy's bedroom and stopped off at the pantry to grab a few things before he moved stealthily down the stairs from the family's living area. He knew exactly which steps to avoid, and where to step to prevent the telltale creaking.

It was still pleasantly warm in the forge. The white stones making up the forge normally glowed a wonderful reddish hue, but the fire was put out for the night. Only a residue of heat remained, and it was there that Ryn hastily put on his outer gear, where it was less likely to awaken any other members of the household, should he drop something or make an unintentional noise. Not only was it extremely against his parent's rules to be sneaking out after bedtime, but he was currently in very big trouble after the shenanigans from earlier. Grounded for two months! Still, it was worth it. He smiled as he remembered the glorious fun they'd had, sledding down the sloped streets, riding on the shields, the frigid wind in his face, his friends laughing and shrieking with joy...

He did feel a bit bad about getting his father's shields scratched up, of course. He hadn't anticipated that happening, but he supposed he ought to have considered the possibility. Anyway, he had something important to do right now, so forget being grounded. This mission of his... it couldn't wait two months, or even until tomorrow. This was probably the coldest night Gondor had ever had in all its history! (As far as the boy could figure, anyway)

Having hastily bundled up, Ryn stepped over to where his father kept his store of unused coal for the forge. He had a pillowcase in hand, sneaked out from the linen closet, and he quickly filled it with coal, until it was almost too heavy for him to carry in one hand. That should be enough, surely. After a brief pause, listening to make sure that no one was stirring upstairs, he let himself out the back door of the forge.

The temperature had dropped by several degrees since he and his friends were playing, earlier. The moon shone overhead, making the glistening snow seem to almost glow with a light of its own. It was beautiful, but breathtakingly cold. The boy shivered, his breath puffing out in a little white cloud. And there, he paused at the doorstep as he was presented with a slight problem for a moment. How was he going to get from the door to the street without leaving any tracks? He frowned, one hand gripping the top of the heavy, coal-filled pillowcase, while the other carefully held another bundle wrapped in a blanket.

The resolution came quickly after, when he spotted some tracks of his and Cali's from earlier. Smiling, Ryn carefully fitted his boot into his own tracks, and carefully followed his own trail out to the street. He paused as he passed their little man made of snow. "Shh, don't tell anyone," He whispered with a glint of amusement in his brown eyes, then grinned and set off down the street to accomplish his mission.

* * *

Ryn had never attempted to sneak around the city at night before, and found that there were quite a few more guards patrolling the streets than he would have expected. Several times, he had to dodge into some dark alcove to avoid being spotted, and then wait with hammering heart until the guard had gone past. Then he would continue onward, each step crunching noisily in the snow that had hardened with the lowered temperature as night fell. At last, arriving at the gate that separated the first circle from the second, Ryn hoped that his pre-meditated excuse would work. When questioned by the frowning guard, one he wasn't familiar with since he had never come through this way at this hour before, Ryn informed him that he had a job at one of the shops, and gave him some story about how he'd been kept late by his employer, and now he was very eager to get home to supper. To his great relief, they let him through without too many more questions about his story.

Ryn found Nal's house quiet and dark, just like all the rest of them on the street. That was no problem; he had no intentions of waking anyone, but hoped, actually, to avoid doing so. Except... well, maybe one person. He tiptoed up to the porch and peered in through a window. Ah, no need to waken anyone; someone moved past the window just as he looked. Ryn hastily drew back from the window before he could be spotted, and waited for a moment, ducked down below the windowsill, as he waited and listened. All seemed well. He crept toward the door, placed the pillowcase/sack full of coal down, carefully leaned against the doorframe so that it wouldn't fall over when the door would eventually open. The other bundle he set down on the porch in front of the door, in plain sight of anyone who opened the door. Wrapped in it were a few basic food supplies that he'd pilfered from his mother's pantry. Some dried beans, and flour, sugar, potatoes, and a bottle of milk, and a few other things that Maeth always kept on hand. Enough to make a few meals, he hoped, although he wasn't all that knowledgeable about cooking and that sort of thing.

Once his gifts were in place, Ryn paused, took a deep breath, and knocked lightly on the door. He'd already seen someone moving around inside, so he knew they ought to hear it, but hopefully the noise wouldn't reach Nal's room and rouse him. Having knocked, the boy swiftly darted off the porch and around to the side of the house, ducking around the corner so he was out of sight. He was already shivering, having been outside for a little while now, and he had no idea how cold it might be in their house by now, if they still had no fire lit. While he had not let on that he'd noticed the lack of fire earlier, nor even the fact that they'd taken to burning their furniture just to keep warm... he had definitely noticed. Young though he was, Ryn was very concerned about his friend, and his family, being warm enough. Tonight, of all nights - the coldest of the century, possibly!

Cautiously peeking around the corner, he watched as the door opened, and once the items were brought in, he smiled to himself and drew back into the shadows, out of sight. Hopefully, that would keep them warm and fed for a week or more, at least. Now... how to get back to the second level? He realized he hadn't thought that far in advance, but hurried that way anyway. Maybe they'd believe it if he told them he forgot something at his 'job'... but whatever the case, he needed to get back before anyone found out he was gone.. and he got into even more trouble.

* * *

Ryn quietly put his coat back on the hook, and gently set his boots into their spot. Trying to make sure he put everything back exactly as it had been before he left the room, he nearly forgot that he was still wearing his hat. He yanked it off and then stuffed it back into his coat pocket, where it had been before, and then tiptoed back to his bed. Berthion was still lying on his side, facing the wall, softly snoring in his sleep. Ryn smirked to himself, pleased that his absence had been undetected, as he fixed up his bed back like it ought to be. Finally, he happily snuggled down into the covers. He and Cali had recently had a birthday, and had both received some nice presents... but this felt much more thrilling than any birthday present he could have received. With a happy, satisfied feeling inside, he quickly fell asleep with a little smile on his face.


(Was just rereading the RP from the quote, and remembered I had intended for this to happen at the conclusion of it... so I wanted to go ahead and do it before I forgot again. Enjoy!)

[Rillewen]

|
Trevadir and Tobedir
1st circle, Ullothel's residence. Tree house in the back yard
Sept 1st, late afternoon
(the same day as their reunion)

“I can’t believe this place is still standing,” Trev laughed as he followed Toby cautiously up the rickety ladder going up to the tree house. Building this tree house seemed so long ago, it might as well have been lifetime ago. The wood planks had been scavenged from anywhere the friends could get them; primarily from Iole’s father’s stash of damaged coffins and their lids. The nails and other fittings, of course, came from Ryn and Cali’s father’s shop. Other items had been pilfered by Trev and Nal, and together the five had worked to build the hideout which had somehow survived even the onslaught of the invading armies. Then again, Ullothel's house hadn't suffered too much damage, either.

As Trev climbed, Toby called down to warn him about the third step on the ladder that was ‘loose’. In fact, the short piece of wood nailed onto the tree trunk tilted to one side as Trev put his weight on it, and he hastily gripped the boards above him when he nearly fell. “Thanks.” He halfway remembered that step being a little wobbly the last time he had been up here, so it must have worked itself looser since then. A few pounds with a hammer on the nail holding the plank to the tree ought to fix it, but Trev didn’t have one handy.

Reaching the top, he climbed through the opening and sat cross-legged with his back to the tree trunk. “Wow. I thought I would never be sitting here again.” Trev smiled as he glanced around, fond memories swirling around in his mind. With some less fond ones mingled in, as he recalled the weeks after Ryn’s death, while Nal was in the houses of healing. Trev had barricaded himself up here, refusing to come down or talk to anyone, until at last Nal, released from the houses, had come himself and assured Trev he was not on his death bed. It seemed like ages ago, now, yet he remembered it like it was only last week. The two friends had spent long hours here, talking about things that were very hard to talk about.


“Remember this little guy?” Toby interrupted Trev’s reminiscing. He grinned proudly as he went over to one corner of tree house, where a tortoise was resting. It had looked up inquisitively at them when they entered and started moving toward Toby.

“Fasti!” Trev exclaimed in surprised joy.

With a little grunt, Toby lifted the large, but not full-grown, creature. He brought him over and set him down in front of Trev. “He weighs a ton now.” He complained. "Twenty pounds I guess, at least."

“I can’t believe he’s still here!” He laughed and rubbed the tortoise’s shell. “I’ve missed you, old buddy. Toby’s been taking care of you, I see. Look how big you’ve gotten!” He looked up at Toby, wide-eyed. "He was only this big last time I saw him," he held up his hands to show the approximate size he recalled the tortoise being.

“I know, he keeps growing.” Toby sat down beside Trev and patted the shell with a smile. 

“Does Grammy know about him?”

“Ummmm.” Toby blushed lightly. “She does now.”

“Oh?” Trev glanced at his brother questioningly. 

“He uh.. sorta busted through the floor one day, a couple of years ago.” Toby explained, pointing to another corner of the tree house that had been blocked off with sturdy branches cut from the tree. “He wasn’t this big and heavy then, thankfully. She was in the garden when he came tumbling through and landed right on top of her. Knocked her to the ground, and kinda got his feet and head all tangled up in her shawl and hair, so she couldn’t even get him off of her. She screamed so loud the neighbors thought there was an attacker there, and they called the guards and everything. There was a big commotion and I bet it drew half the block here to watch. I was at school when it happened.  If Nal hadn’t come along when he did, who knows what might’ve happened to Fasti.” He admitted. “When I got home, Nal was helping to get him out of grandma’s hair, while the guard was assuring her that monsters were not falling from the sky.” He grinned a little sheepishly. “They were both trying so hard not to laugh.”

Trev was laughing without restraint by this point, picturing all of it. “Oh, wow. I bet grandma wasn’t so amused.” He commented with great amusement, himself. 

“No, she wasn’t.” Toby grinned. “But at least she broke his fall. Can you imagine how badly he could’ve been hurt, falling out of the tree like that? That’s a long ways for a little guy like him! He might’ve busted his shell.”

Trev nodded, thinking of how differently that tale might have been if the tortoise had been heavier. He lost the laughter at that thought. “So what happened then?”

“Oh, Nal helped me get him back up here and blocked off the weak part of the floor. I told Fasti to stay over here where the floor is stronger. But he’s broken out a few times since.” He frowned. 

“I think he needs to be on the ground.” Trev mentioned, frowning as well. 

“Grandma won’t let me have him in the garden, though. She says he’ll eat all her flowers.” Toby frowned and watch Fasti examine Trev curiously. He wondered if the tortoise remembered his brother, since he’d been Trev’s pet before Toby took over caring for him. “Do you think he’ll get any bigger?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t expect him to get this big, to be honest.” Trev answered with a thoughtful frown. He wondered if there was anyone who would know the answer to that. “But if he does fall again, he could either hurt himself, or someone. Imagine if he’d weighed this much when he fell on grandma.” He frowned. “She could’ve been really hurt, Toby.”

“Yeah...” Toby frowned too. “But I can’t just get rid of him. You know?”

“Yeah. I know.” Trev smiled, thinking about how long the tortoise had been part of their family, without their grandmother knowing. He also thought about how they’d come to have the tortoise in the first place. Ryn had first found him in the Pelennor as a hatchling, and tried to give him to Iole since her father wouldn’t let her have any pets with fur. But she didn’t want a dirty, scaly thing for a pet, and Ryn’s parents wouldn’t let him keep the little guy. Trev had quickly piped up to ask if he could take him, and since GrammyO had already heard about it and given a firm NO to Nal taking the creature for a pet, the friends had decided to just not ask Trev’s Gram, and had just sneaked the tortoise into his room. Later they’d moved him to the tree house… 


“You know,” He looked up. “I just realized. He was my pet for five years. And now he's been your pet for five years. What now?”

“He’ll be our pet. For however much longer he lives.” Toby smiled at Trev. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.” Trev grinned back and put an arm around Toby, hugging him lightly with one arm. “I think I’ll let you be the main caretaker though. You’ve taken good care of him, and I haven’t got anywhere to keep him.”

“You could live here again.” Toby suggested with a hopeful smile. 

Trev hesitated, then shook his head slightly. “No, I don’t think so. I’m going to find my own place, eventually. But, I can come over here as often as you like. Well, after I’ve talked with Gram…”

“I’m about to be gone for a couple weeks, though.” Toby told him, disappointed at first, then brightened. “Oh! What if you come with me?”

“Gone? Come with you... where?” Trev frowned, briefly confused. 

“To Grandpa and Grandma’s house. In Lond Col.” Toby grinned, getting excited. “They’d just love to know you’re safe, and we’ll get there just in time to see the jousting!”

Trev hesitated. “Jousting..?” Their grandparents in Lond Col might not be pleased to see him at all, he thought with some concern. “I don’t know, Toby. They might not be as happy to see me as you think.”

“Come on, of course they will. Besides, I hate to leave when I’ve just found you. But I’ve been so looking forward to this. I’ve never seen a jousting before. Please? Won’t you come along? It’d be just like old times, when we used to go to visit every summer.”

Trev considered his brother’s pleas while he traced around the ridges on Fasti’s shell. If Toby was going there, would he be safe from Dev? If there was even a vague possibility that Dev could suspect Toby was going there, would he think of making good on that threat he used to make, about grabbing Toby to use instead of Trev? He suddenly realized he didn’t like the idea of Toby going there alone, without knowing what Dev might do. “I guess I could go along.. see if they still even want to see me.” He finally gave in hesitantly, feeling very uncertain about his paternal grandparents’ disposition toward him. 

“Yay!” Toby threw his arms around Trev and hugged him. “We’ll have a great time, I promise!”

“When are you leaving?” Trev wondered with a little smile. 

“Um. Tomorrow. Is that alright?”

Trev blinked, realizing how close he’d come to missing this reunion with his brother. “Um. Sure, I think I can manage that.” He smiled and messed up Toby’s hair. “I'll just let Nal and the girls know I’ll be gone a few weeks." The brothers had talked for hours at the diner, so Toby already knew that Trev was staying with Cali and Iole. "It’s a little sudden but I think they’ll be glad I’ve finally talked with you. And that we’ll be together, having fun and bonding and all that.” He laughed softly as Toby quickly fixed his hair. His younger brother then pushed him lightly so that Trev swayed to the side briefly before righting himself.

“I’ve missed you so much, Trev.” Toby couldn't stop feeling as if it was a dream and he'd wake up any moment and find it wasn't real. 

“You have no idea how much I’ve missed you, Toby.” Trev answered quietly, fighting emotion. “Really, I never realized how much.. I mean.. well it’s just,” He cleared his throat and looked down. “I never realized how much you meant to me until I thought I’d never see you again. So..”

“It’s alright, Trev. I get it.” Toby said softly. “I sometimes wondered if I’d ever see you again, too.”

Trev smiled faintly and nodded. “Well. I better get out of here before Gram comes home. And Toby, remember. Don’t tell her about me. I mean it.”

Toby sighed. “I think you should, but fine.”

“Not until we get back.” Trev decided a little awkwardly. 

“But that’ll be weeks from now! Why can’t we just tell her now? She misses you too.”

Trev sighed, trying to think how to explain his reasoning to Toby. “Do you remember when I left?” He asked quietly. 

“Of course.” Toby answered, also quiet. He’d never forget that. It had been a terrible day for him. The coming home was even worse, when their grandmother discovered that Trevadir had not been with Toby all the time he was gone. The fear and panic, wondering if he was alright… realizing he'd been missing for weeks without anyone noticing...

“I realize now what a terrible thing I did, disappearing like that. I’ve thought about it so many times, imagining how worried she must’ve been when I didn’t come home with you, and you must’ve told her about that note I left, claiming I got sick, and.. I can only imagine how much distress and worry I put her through. You too, for that matter.” He glanced over at his brother, who nodded silently.

“I’m sorry for that, by the way." Trev went on. "But..for me to show up the day before you’re about to go visit grandpa and grandma again, and say that I’m going with you…” He hesitated. “I don’t know. It just seems.. I don’t think she’d like it. She’d probably be wondering if I’m going to abandon you again like I did before, and plus she might feel hurt that I’m leaving so soon, after all these years.. I don’t know. It just seems better if we don’t tell her just yet. Then, when we get home, I’ll find her and tell her how sorry I am for everything. She can just.. assume you found me and brought me home with you. How’s that seem?”

Toby nodded slightly. “That makes sense. I get that.” He held out a hand. “I won’t tell her if you promise you’ll talk to her as soon as we get back. Deal?”

Trev looked at his hand, then smiled and gripped his hand and gave a firm shake. “Deal.” 

[Isolde Alarion]

Third level - early evening

2 days after the Midsummer event

@Rillewen


Even though she'd absolved him of the damages to the door it still sort of bothered him but he would let the matter rest for now. It amused him to see her reaction to the news that he could cook. He knew many men thought it to be womans work but he seen it as a way to feed himself. He stepped up next to her as she explained her cooking wasn't great and that her sisters-in-law was better received then her own. He was sure it was better than anything he'd eaten while out on a mission. "I'm sure it's better than any of the cooking I've had while out on mission. Camp cooks aren't the best always." He half grinned.

He looked from her to the now open pantry door and to the pantry with all its contents. She asked for his thoughts. First thing he noticed was a turnip. He reached for it and lightly rolled it around in his hand. "A lonely turnip? Who eats turnips?" It was more of a statement then a question. He looked back into the pantry and put the turnip back. "Well, I see some dried meat." He took it and some potatoes, two lengthy carrots and reached for then opened a container. He shook it lightly, inspecting its contents. Dried peas. "Hmm." He decided they would work and after grabbing up a few other things like some flour and lard he turned from the pantry to set the armload down on the table.

"Well." He put his hands on his hips. "I think I have the makings of a Shepards pie here if you've a taste for it?" He half grinned at her.

[Isolde Alarion]

Nelladel, on a Saturday Evening
Rooms above ‘Wood Works’ Shop, Marketplace, 2nd Circle
Entering the charming home of Addhor Raxelilta

It seemed like the wait for him to answer the knock had taken a lifetime. Had she knocked too loudly? Not hard enough but then would that make her seem too eager or demanding even? For the time it took before she heard the click of the handle, she waged war within herself. She fidgeted with the basket for a moment as her mind argued with itself. Too much? Not enough? Should she knock again? All the questions were answered with the opening of the door, and she found herself standing there returning his own welcoming smile with one of her own.

His question and following words caused her smile to brighten if that were even possible as he stepped back to bid her enter. "Thank you." She said softly both for the kind words and the welcome as she took a step through the threshold and into the familiar shop. She moved a bit further to allow him space to close the door as she cast her eyes around the shop. As usual it was neat and tidy. Everything in its place. She understood the need for this. It made work easier and more efficient.

She heard the door close and turned back to him at hearing the slight sound of the lock and watched him pull the blind. She briefly cast her gaze down to her basket as she adjusted it on her arm slightly. She looked back at him when he indicated the stairs. She took the invitation and headed up at a leisurely pace. They reminded her of her own so there was no need to watch her step, instead she found herself intrigued by the scene coming into view.

Her eyes moved over the space, taking it all in. The cozy chairs by the fire with the table between them, the books on the bookcase, the writing table with its smaller chair. As she moved further into the room, she saw the open window and then the small tidy kitchen much like her own above the bakery. She noticed the table setting and her smile widened at seeing the lovely flowers. She was taking in the rest when she noticed him gesture towards the chairs. She took the gesture and stepped toward the chairs as he spoke. She noticed his glance around the place. She was sure he shared his space with very few and felt honored to be welcomed into his private sanctuary.

"It's lovely." She assured him as she set her basket down on the table lightly. He told her to make herself comfortable and offered a little Carathon while he finished up. "That would be nice, thank you." She answered him as she unwrapped the bread, an oblong loaf with a light golden crust. Perfectly sized for the two of them. She found herself straightening up the cloth to present the bread in its best light. A bit of fidgeting with it perhaps but it had to be perfect, she took a moment and ran a hand down the front of her own dress to straighten any creases the basket might have caused. She brushed at what she thought was a crumb briefly before turning her attention back to him. Her hands clasp before her as she watched him get their drinks. "Is there.." She motioned towards the kitchen. "Anything I can help you with?"

[Rillewen]

(private)

September 2nd, evening

Mar knew this was a bold move. But then, he’d always been rather bold, if he did say so himself. He had his disguise and it had worked well enough with the guards at the Rammas Gate nearest to Harlond, when he entered the Pelennor. He hoped it would work as well here. He’d trusted his luck and that had held, so far. Not only did he have a fake beard, but his hair was much darker, as well as a good deal longer, than usual. He was dressed in old farmer's clothes, although he had been forced to change shirts after the encounter with that girl and the mutt. The one he'd been wearing earlier had been torn into strips to use as makeshift bandages. He also had a hat pushed down on his head, casting his face into shadow as well as he could. Merilda had assured him that he looked drastically different, and a few of his other servants had not recognized him, either. He took that as a good sign.

It had been the end of July when he was last in Minas Tirith, and that was shortly before Ric had left town. Just before that treacherous Umbarian, Arkadhur, sold him out and forced him to flee town. But Mar had an informant here in town, which he had placed here before that happened. There had been several servants that came with the Ansellidus castle, and there were many others that he had hired personally, because they were just the sort of people that he needed for a particular job. Some time ago, he had sent one of these into the city to keep an eye on the goings on that Mar was interested in, so that he could keep himself informed about things even when he was busy elsewhere. When Ric had fled the city, Mar had sent a message to his informant, requesting specific information about what guards would be working what shifts and what posts. He knew there were some who were less likely to recognize him than others, and so Mar had been waiting for the perfect opportunity to accomplish what he needed to do. According to his source, the guards posted at the Rammas Gate today, and at the main gate, were unfamiliar to him. Which meant that they would be unfamiliar with him or Ric, also. While the timing wasn't the most convenient, considering there was a joust going on that Lord Ansellidus was expected to attend... this was his best chance to get through without being recognized.

It was also a bit risky bringing the girl along, but he felt sure that she was so afraid of what he might do to her dumb family, she wouldn’t dare step out of line. He didn’t like having to rely on her for aid in pulling this off, but it would be much easier with a little help, and he felt sure she was the best choice for the part. So far, she had been a tremendous help, even if she was annoying. He had a plan for how he could use her to cause a distraction at the gate, to keep from getting searched. Because if they found the dagger on him, that would be disastrous. It had worked fairly well for Domanol and his friends, after all, even when Ric was on the gate. So, he figured it ought to work for him too with these less-experienced guards.


He trudged along, shoulders bent, looking weary and worn as he followed a real farmer. Mar trailed behind the wagonload and fruit heading for the market. He kept back just far enough not to draw any attention from the farmer who was driving the cart, and close enough to appear to others as if he was with him. There were baskets full of apples placed at the back of the wagon, closest to him. Looking at the apples ahead of him made Mar think about the apple orchards he had once destroyed, and he smiled as he remembered how satisfying it had been to watch everything burn. Those were fun times, even if it hadn’t gotten him the results he wanted.

As they approached the gate, Mar made sure to keep his head down so that his hat would keep his face shadowed. He held his breath, feeling a little anxiety. What if she messed up her part? What if the distraction didn't work? A few other 'what if's ran through his mind. Then, before the guards had a chance to speak to the farmer, let alone ask to search the wagon, there came Merilda, following Mar’s instructions.

“Help!” Merilda called, running up to the guards, out of breath and sounding frantic. “Please, someone help!” The guards manning the gate immediately looked to see who was calling for help. Once she had their attention, Merilda began urgently pointing back the way she had come. “There’s a big fire, back that way!” She told them breathlessly. “Someone’s house, I think, or their barn, and it looks like it’s spreading fast.. the whole Pelennor will be in flames soon! Please, hurry!”

The guards swiftly turned their attention toward this emergency. With all the dry grass across the Pelennor, a fire could swiftly spread and destroy many homes, and it would become a repeat of the destruction that had swept through only a few years before, when orcs set fire to the fields. Dealing with a spreading fire would take precedence over almost everything else.

One of the guards hastened off with the girl to see what he could do to stop the fire, while the other guard, knowing they couldn't both leave their post, was now busy trying to find folks to send out to help with the fire. The farmer was in a hurry to get to the store and sell his crops before they were closed for the night, and in the confusion, the young guard saw no reason to search a cartload of vegetables when there was a far more important matter to deal with. He waved them through and began trying to get the attention of a couple of patrolling guards to come help, or anyone else who was out in the streets and might be willing to help. But unfortunately it was the time of day when most people had already gone home, so there weren't many people out on the streets.


The fire turned out to be just a little patch of dry, autumn grass that ‘somehow’ caught on fire, and the guard was able to stamp it out before it spread very far and became disastrous. Embarrassed, Merilda apologized for raising the alarm over something so small, and received a stern warning about not exaggerating things so much, in the future. According to the plan, Merilda then returned with the guard, where she was to join Mar in the second circle, and the incident was filed as a minor misunderstanding that was quickly resolved. The two guards were rolling their eyes about the silly girl overexaggerating a little fire she could've put out on her own, by the time she hastened off toward the second circle to catch up with her employer.


Meanwhile, Mar was feeling quite pleased with his success so far. Now, he just had to get past the second circle gate without that cart being searched. That, he figured, should be easy enough. Even without his informant telling him who would be on duty at which gates today, Mar was familiar enough with the guard’s usual posting schedule. He knew that at this time of day, the guard who was posted at the gate between the first and second tended to be somewhat lax and didn’t bother to check folks hardly at all. Only when a superior was nearby, as he had noticed in times past. That was good, but he did worry that things may have changed since he was here last.. with the lieutenant having been under suspicion, suppose the others had stepped up security? He was relying on his disguise, now, since Merilda wouldn’t be able to cause a distraction at this gate.

The farmer approached the gate to pass through to the second level, still unaware of Mar tagging along with him. Mar glanced up under the brim of his hat to take a peek at the guard. Just as his source had said, it was the guard who didn’t check people, and to his relief, the young guy merely nodded and greeted the farmer as if he saw him pass through frequently. The guard hardly even glanced at Mar as he passed through the archway into the second level. He had hoped that he would appear as if he were a hired hand to the farmer, so hopefully it had worked. Mar let out a slow breath of relief, glad that nothing had gone wrong. Once he was out of sight from the guard, he stepped closer to the wagon. He watched the farmer for a moment. He still wasn’t paying attention. He didn’t even seem to notice that Mar was behind him. Mar was almost amazed how anyone could be so oblivious to their surroundings, and found it a bit amusing. Still, the horse drawing the cart didn't seem to like the city and had become fidgety. That was taking the man’s full concentration to keep it under control.

With a little smirk, Mar reached into the straw packed between two baskets full of apples, drawing out a bundle wrapped in an old blanket. Then he veered off to the side and slipped away into a dark alley, out of sight. A smile crept over his face as he peered out, watching the farmer drive onward, toward one of the shops in the marketplace, where he surely intended to sell his apples to one of the grocer’s shops. Whichever one he sold to would have a fresh load of goods to sell in the morning. But that wasn’t any concern of Mar’s; he was only a means for Mar to get his bundle smuggled past the guards without having to carry it on his person. Now, it was time for his plan to go into action.

[Rillewen]

(private)

|
September 2nd, evening
Second level - marketplace

“Any trouble?” Mar asked, when Merilda joined him in the alley.

“They weren’t very happy with me,” She answered, a bit anxious. “Said that if I ever overexaggerated something like that again, they’d arrest me for disturbing the peace, or something of the sort. Is that really something they’d do?” She asked with wide eyes.

Mar rolled his eyes. “Probably. Come now, I need to hurry or this will have all been for nothing.” With that, he pushed the bundle into Merilda’s arms and set off toward his first destination. What else were servants for, after all, than to carry things and do stuff for him?

“What’s in here?” Merilda wondered as she hurried to keep up with him, carefully carrying the rolled-up blanket. She could tell there were items wrapped up inside, but she couldn’t tell what they were.

“Nothing you need to know about. Now, keep quiet, will you?” Mar answered abruptly. He took her along several back streets to keep off of the main one, and therefore, keep out of sight as much as possible. In fact, this was the reason he had come back to his old childhood home, and to the city, in the first place. He had two things he wanted to accomplish here, and it would be much easier to do it without having to keep answering Merilda’s questions. The way he figured it, if some evidence turned up to throw suspicion on someone else for the crimes that Ric had been accused of, then that ought to take the heat off of his brother. Finding the girl there at his old house had been an unexpected bonus, of course. Now, he figured he could accomplish both his own personal goals, and one of the things Pharak had tasked him with, all at the same time.

As for his own plans, he had considered the idea of planting the evidence of Ryn’s murder in the home of the former ranger lieutenant. The one who, as rumor had it, had murdered his own commander. That would’ve been a perfect frame, except for one thing. The guy’s record was spotless up until that point, and in checking a little deeper, Mar caught a flaw in the idea of framing him; he’d found a record showing that the guy had been involved in some mission far away from where Dogboy died, at the time it happened. And there were too many witnesses involved in the mission as well that could probably collaborate that, if anyone looked into the matter. Too bad. He didn’t want anyone to find any flaws in this frame job, so he decided to pass on that idea.

Had he known that Trevadir had recently befriended that very same guy, Mar might have taken the time to alter those records with his excellent forgery skills, and dig a bit deeper to check into whether any of those witnesses were still alive to confirm anything. But, without knowing that Trevadir had become friends with him, Mar didn’t want to take the time, and it hardly seemed worth the effort. He had very little time to spare at the moment, so instead he chose a better candidate to take the blame. Lieutenant Feirion, whom he had never liked. He was the same one whose name Mar had forged on the logbook the day he helped break Shamara out of the dungeon. The guy had been off that day, by coincidence. Furthermore, Mar had altered the records of the duty roster, almost a year ago, to show that Feirion was the one on duty the day that Arkadhur smuggled those two girls through the gate. There were also a few other subtle ways he had used Feirion's name to implicate him in things, before. So, this seemed like the perfect way to tie up that loose end.

At last, Mar stopped in an alley, and looked one way, then another. “Come.” He ordered, before approaching the apartment building next to them. Merilda followed a little nervously, looking around as she kept close to him, wondering what he was doing and who lived here. To her surprise, he pulled out a key and let himself into one of the apartments. Merilda glanced around nervously before following him in, a bit uncomfortable about this.

“Ah.. so good of my brother to leave his uniform on hand, and ready to go.” Mar mentioned with a smug smile as he saw a guard uniform hanging, clean and neatly pressed, where Ric had left it.

Merilda’s eyes widened in surprise. This was Lieutenant Aderic’s apartment! or.. just Aderic, she corrected herself, recalling that he had asked her not to call him lieutenant anymore. Well, at least she knew the occupant wouldn’t come home and find them trespassing, but it felt wrong to be here.

“Put that down, and help me.” Mar snapped.

Merilda jumped, then hastily went to put the bundle on the table, but in her haste, she was a bit clumsy in doing so. Something fell out from the blanket, and a sheathed dagger clattered to the floor at her shoes. She jumped in fright and stared down at it, a little bit confused.

Mar clenched his teeth angrily, but knew it would hurt his arm, and cause unwanted noise, if he struck her. “Pick it up and don’t drop anything else.” he growled quietly.

“Yes, m’lord,” She murmured anxiously. She tucked it back into the blanket roll, then turned to him and waited for further instructions, though kept her gaze downward.

“Come here and help me. Prove you aren’t useless, will you?” He grumbled. He was having a little difficulty, due to his arm.

Merilda nodded and hastily went to assist him, though she considered reminding him that he had thought her quite useful before when he wanted to find that leather scroll case, which she'd already found. She kept quiet as she helped him, and eventually stepped back. He looked just like a guard.

“Do I look like my brother?” Mar demanded to know.

“Um.. not really, m’lord.” She answered slowly, a little unsure whether he would be upset by this. “Lieutenant Aderic doesn’t wear a beard.. And his hair’s lighter, and..” She hesitated.

“And?”

“And...” She fidgeted. “Well, he just.. he looks… neater.” She tried to explain, a bit awkward.

“Good.” Mar nodded in some relief. The shop he had in mind was only a couple of blocks from here. He went over to the table and unrolled the bundle, took the scroll case out, and then wrapped up everything else securely. Especially the dagger. He didn't want that falling out anywhere. He took a deep breath. “Your job, now, is to follow me at a distance, watch for any guards that might come my way, and do whatever you need to do to distract them and keep them from coming toward me.” He instructed.

* * *

They arrived without any problems. Mar hadn’t really expected any, since it was the time of day when most folks have already gone home for supper, but it seemed smart to have a backup plan, just in case. The store was one that his informant had checked out for him, and had told him the owner tended to deal with a lot of the shadier type of folks. According to Mar’s source, the man didn’t tend to ask too many questions, and bought goods from whomever wanted to sell them. In the past, sometimes items that had been stolen would turn up in the possession of people who insisted they’d bought the item from this shop. Mar planned to use that information for his own plan.

Leaving Merilda outside, Mar straightened his borrowed uniform and stepped inside. Ric was unlikely to have ever set foot in a place like this, so he wasn’t terribly worried about the shopkeeper recognizing him. Still, there was a bit of a risk involved in his plan. It was a risk he needed to take, however, in order to try and take some of the heat off of his brother. And, by extension, himself. His brother being on the guard's wanted list made it rather difficult for Mar to operate as he was used to doing. And it made it even more difficult to accomplish the things that Pharak wanted him to do. And if Pharak wasn't happy with him, that was a problem. And if anyone were to ever piece together his connection with the Ansellidus castle, that would be even more disastrous. He was hoping to solve his problems by framing the other lieutenant.


Entering the establishment, Mar greeted the shopkeeper in a cordial manner. That, at least, was something he had plenty of practice at doing.

“How can I help you, lieutenant..?” The shopkeeper asked after an exchange of polite greetings, recognizing the insignia on the uniform as that of a Lieutenant guard. He looked slightly wary, but wasn’t foolish enough to be openly rude to a guard. Much less a lieutenant.

“Feirion,” Mar claimed was his name. “Lieutenant Feirion.” He figured the real Feirion had it coming. The old guy had been in the guard since before Mar’s father retired, and it had taken many years for him to reach the rank of lieutenant. Therefore, he had seemed very put out about the fact that Ric achieved the same status in such a short time. Ric and Mar’s age was less than the number of years Feirion had been a guard, after all.

Mar set the bundle on the counter. “I have a few things I need to get rid of.” He explained. “They were just cluttering up my house, and I don't need them. Might as well get some money, right?” He smiled and unrolled the blanket to show the man the dagger once belonging to Ryn, and a few other items that had once belonged to Reilly Veranis; a few small things he’d had on him the day he vanished.

The shopkeeper examined the items with a practiced eye, making little ‘hmm’ sounds now and then as he checked the quality of the merchandise. “You’re sure you want to part with these?” He asked, raising an eyebrow. “That’s a nice dagger there, and this isn’t just any ring,” He commented, tapping a ring that had belonged to Reilly. It had the Veranis family crest pictured on it.

“I’m sure.” Mar replied. Although Alyssa would probably have rather had the items that belonged to her brother, Mar needed to get rid of this stuff before it came back to bite him someday. And what better way than to make it look as if Feirion was responsible. He had been a guard back in the days when Reilly was here, after all. He could take the blame for both young men's deaths.

The man considered each item, mentally weighing how much he thought he thought he could get for them, and how low he might be able to buy them for. After taking all of these things into consideration, he made an offer for the whole lot.

“Done.” Mar answered immediately. He might have been able to haggle and get a bit more money, but he felt like it might work better for his plan if he seemed just a bit too eager to sell, at any price.

The man looked a little surprised, but gave a little nod. “Alright then, I’ll just need you to sign the bill of sale.”

“Of course.” That was what Mar was counting on. He refrained from smiling as he carefully signed the receipt.. using the signature of one ‘Lieutenant Feirion’ of the city guard. The same signature which had appeared on the dungeon’s register the day a certain Umbarian prisoner had escaped, nearly a year ago. The same signature he had occasionally ‘borrowed’ to forge official documents and assignments, like the one sending Reilly on an assignment from which he never returned.

“Alright, here you are." The shopkeeper counted out the money, and the transaction was complete. "Thank you, lieutenant.” The shopkeeper seemed quite happy with his purchase, and Mar wasn’t very surprised; he’d gotten an exceptional bargain for those things.

“Thank you.” Mar smiled as he bid the man farewell, then left the shop. He’d gotten there just in time; the man walked him out and locked up after him. Now, he had to return to Ric's apartment and change back into the other clothes. After that, he had one more stop to make before he left the city.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Iole Ishen, with Cali and Trevadir
Late at night, at home. After Trevadir's report.

Though it had initially been her idea, Iole began to doubt the need to waken the young man. The inconvenience of this occurred at about the time that she was faced with stirring him from what rest he might have finally found upon the sofa. Ever since his arrival, Trev had refused to take over either of the two girls’ bedrooms, and see them share, so he might enjoy a real bed. They had fussed, with regard to his stitches but in truth, the first almost whole week that he had been back, their entire group had all slept in the downstairs room together: and slept less but rather talked all night. To the point that she’d had to ward off some serious yawning at work in the days after.

Then after Cali herself had been injured, their guest would not hear of putting her out and even Iole had to agree that it made little difference, by now, whether he slept downstairs or upstairs, as far as nosy neighbours were concerned. It might have made a good deal of difference to the young man’s comfort of course, but he had assured them he had slept in far worse places than their living room. And the awkward acceptance of that sorry truth had more or less ended the debate, even had their guest’s stubborn temperament not been already known. And although she may not have admitted it aloud, Iole had slept more soundly in the knowledge that not only was her friend safe and sound and back home at last, but also that there was a young man overnight in the house, a man who she trusted which was rare these days to say the very least, just in case any cause for alarm present itself. Cali may have kept her trusty skillet close to hand, even at night, but Iole knew nobody could make it up the stairs to reach them, without disturbing their guest/guard on the ground level.

To have to wake him now at all, might have lessened her faith in Trevadir’s alertness. But it was a relief to see him sleeping at all, rather than scribbling down his notes at all hours. The young woman had just parted her lips to tell Cali they should leave him be, when the little cat she had in her arms, had leapt from grasp and decided to walk the length of the sleeping (maybe not for long) musician.

Her bare feet had been thrown into shoes without socks, but Iole otherwise stood in her long white nightgown, sleep-tousled dark hair crowding both shoulders. The pained expression that even the dim light of their candles could not hide was more so from the feline’s bad behaviour, rather than the urgent cause she’d found to rise from bed at all. “I heard something from my window,” she whispered nonetheless, dragging the reluctant cat away, damage already done. “Outside,” she exchanged a glance with Cali and then perched on one arm of the sofa. “I think there’s somebody creeping about outside.”

[Rillewen]

(private)

|
September 2nd, evening
Second level - marketplace

Mar returned to Ric’s apartment, leaving the uniform hanging just as he had found it, and took great care to avoid any accidental run-ins with the landlord or other tenants. He was still a bit annoyed that Arkadhur had managed to squirm his way out of the accusations against him, and even more irked that he'd even passed those accusations on to Ric! Which meant that planting the first dagger on him had been useless. Still, at least it had been used to terrorize the Mutt’s own sister, he thought with a smirk. That part was satisfying, although if ever met Arkadhur again, the man would regret it.

Once back in his farmer's garb, he grabbed the scroll case, wrapped it in the blanket, and set off again. He needed to hurry, but he also had to make sure that he didn't get too hasty and make a mistake. Merilda tagged along after him, clueless where they were going next. He was glad she at least had the sense to keep her mouth shut while they walked, and not keep pestering him with endless questions.

Mar was about ninety percent sure that the captain wouldn’t be home, but he wanted to make absolutely certain. Though he had a fairly good idea of the man’s schedule, both work-wise and after work, he wasn't willing to take any chances with so much at stake. He stopped in the alley beside the tavern which he knew Baelthor usually frequented after work. He hadn’t spent all that time impersonating Ric for nothing, after all. "Time for you to be useful again," He said to Merilda. "I need you to go inside and take a look around for someone. Then come back here and tell me whether you saw him in there." He gave her a quite detailed description of the guard captain, then sent her in to look.

* * *

"Well? Was he there?" Mar asked as soon as Merilda returned.

"Yes. He seemed quite busy.. drinking." Merilda reported quietly, feeling more and more uncomfortable about whatever he might be planning to do next.

"Perfect." Mar smiled. "Let's go."

Not long after, they were standing before the guard captain's house. "You stay out here and watch for him. If he starts coming this way, you find a way to distract him," Mar instructed the servant girl. "No matter what, don't let him go inside until I'm finished in there." He gave her a stern look. "Don't forget, this is all to help my brother, remember?"

"Yes, sir," Merilda answered in a whisper, having a very bad feeling about this. She wanted to help Aderic, but this seemed... well, very illegal and immoral. All of it. And she didn't think Aderic would be pleased about whatever his brother was up to. But she stationed herself where he said to wait, and watched carefully.

Leaving her there, Mar went around to the back of the house, where it was darker. Using a spare key (which he had swiped at some point months ago when the opportunity presented itself), Mar let himself in through the back door of the man’s house, pausing to listen. Just to be sure. Then, he got to work. He would need to find a place to put the papers. Someplace where they would be pressed flat, and yet where the man was unlikely to stumble across them prematurely. He didn't want them to be found until the time was just right.

After a few minutes of looking around the house, he spotted a book case in the study. It didn't look as if it was used very frequently. He ventured over to look, and smiled when he saw a large book wedged into the furthest corner of a bookshelf. The top was covered in dust.. evidence of the rarity of which it was used. Mar guessed it likely hadn’t been touched for a couple of years, at least. Perfect.

Carefully, he eased the book out of its space without touching the top, careful not to disturb the dust, and left it standing upright, just as it was, while he opened the scroll case that he had carried inside with him. Inside were certain reports which had mysteriously gone missing from the file room some time ago. Thankfully, though the dog had chewed the outside of the case, the slobbery jaws of the canine hadn't managed to damage the papers inside.

He spread the papers out flat on the floor, briefly checking that the most important ones were there. A report from Cali about the man who had attacked her and Iole. He had taken it nearly a year ago, so he could change the name of the guard she had named as being posted on the gate at the time of their abduction. Now, he began searching through the papers that he had in his hands, and grew somewhat alarmed as he couldn't find that particular page. Either one; the real one that Garthain had written when he took down her story, nor the forged one that Mar had written and switched names with Feiron. He checked through everything he had there with him, and cursed under his breath. The ranger's daughter must have taken those pages! He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He couldn't do anything about that, now. He'd have to get them back from her later, but it would have to be after he returned from Lond Col. He'd figure out a plan to ensure that the correct page found its way to join the rest of the report, but he'd figure that out later.

After that, he took the time to check each of the other items. The papers concerning Reilly's false transfer to that non-existent post, out in the middle of nowhere. The multiple reports and requests that Ric had filed which the captain never received, and all the other things which, if found here, would look extremely incriminating against the captain. He carefully opened the back cover of the book just enough to tuck the thin stack of papers into it, and pressed it closed. It wasn't too bulky for the book to still fit into its slot, thankfully, and he had very little difficulty in replacing it on the bookshelf. Once it was back in place, he checked again to make sure it didn’t look obviously disturbed. It didn’t. Perfect. Captain Baelthor would have a hard time explaining all of this, he thought with a smirk.

His work done for now, Mar stepped back and took a careful look around the room to make sure nothing looked disturbed. With a smug little smile at his cleverness, he left the house without touching anything else, making sure to lock the door behind him again so there would be no indication that anyone had been in there.

Eventually, the time would be right for those reports to be discovered. Maybe there would be an anonymous tip to have the captain's house searched, or something like that. Not right away, of course. It wouldn't be as effective without that forged page that was missing, but once he'd figured out a plan for that, the second stage of his plan would be set in motion. Whatever the case, this evidence would certainly come to light eventually, and it would make everyone believe the captain was covering up for Lieutenant Feirion, who would be looking very guilty for the crimes that Ric was being accused of. And, hopefully, it would also look as if Baelthor and Feirion were the ones trying to frame Ric for their crimes.

By the time Mar had finished with them, they'd both look so bad, everyone would be apologizing to Ric for even suspecting him. And if the matter of the bribe ever came up, no one would even believe the claim that Ric had bribed Baelthor for the lieutenant position (which, of course, Ric didn’t), but rather it would seem more like Baelthor was trying to pull some sort of extortion or blackmail scheme on a young, impressionable guard after giving him an undeserved promotion. Guilt him into doing favors, things of that sort. That was Mar's plan, anyway, and he believed it would work.
He rejoined Merilda outside, handing her the empty tube to carry. "There. All done."

“Now what?” She wondered, but shrank back when he gave her a dark look. “Sorry, m’lord,” She mumbled nervously.

"Let's get out of here." He would be relieved to get out of the city and on his way. He was getting a bit pressed for time, but they would still have to stop somewhere for the night. And he still had to set up a trap for those rangers who would inevitably come looking for that nosey girl. He still could hardly believe his luck in coming across her like that. It was an opportunity that couldn't be passed up, after the failed attempt at capturing Dom months ago.

* * *
Leaving the City - Pelennor

The lazy guard was still on post at the second gate, so they had no trouble at all in leaving the second circle. But he wasn't very worried about the main gate, this time. He no longer had anything incriminating on him, and he felt that his disguise was good enough. The guards posted there didn't know him or Ric, so they probably wouldn't have recognized him even without his disguise.

Once past the main gate, Mar walked briskly down the road for some way, as Merilda hastened to keep up. After a while, he paused to look down the lane that led to the dairy farm. They would probably be getting concerned about the missing girl by now, but he figured it was too dark by now for even the best ranger to try and pick up a trail, especially without even knowing where to begin looking.

With a smug smile, he continued on his way down the road toward where he had left his horse. It smelled like it was about to rain, and while that would be excellent for covering up the trail he didn't want to be found, he was hoping not to get caught in the rain, himself. He had only a short walk from the city to get to his horse, but he still had a long-ish ride to get back to his childhood home, where he had left the girl's horse tied. From there... he had thought of the perfect place to spend the night. It amused him quite a bit to think of using that place to lay the trail he wanted the ranger to find...

(continued in the second half of this post)

(All things in this post concerning Captain Baelthor were cleared/plotted in advance with @Winddancer)

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

| |
Trevadir | Cali | BeBe the Cat
Night following their report with Lt Dealedwen

A noise reached his ears through the fog of his dreams, and Trevadir couldn't quite make sense of what it might be. Bells, which were all too common to hear around the harbor? No. Was it the jingle of keys, which he heard so often when they tossed him in the brig? That didn't seem right, either. Was someone yelling? No, it wasn't the bellowing of orders or the angry sounds of his crewmates. It troubled him, being unable to place what the sound was. In his dreamlike state, Trev felt lost and confused. What was that sound? Where was he? Trev was growing more frustrated and distressed, unable to place where he was, and whatever that noise was, he couldn't quite place it. He couldn't seem to see anything around him, and felt as if he was locked up in the dark or something.

Suddenly, a weight crashed into his stomach, like when he used to be kicked awake by the boatswain or other crew members. He was on the ship? No... he couldn't be back there! No, no! He didn't want to be there. Why? how did he get there? Hadn't he left this, nearly a year ago? Had all that just been a dream? All of that flashed through his head in the second before he jolted awake, startled by the weight which had moved to his chest now. Opening his eyes in confused alarm, Trev found himself staring up at pretty blue feline eyes, set in a face of silky silver and white fur.

"Bebe..." Trev realized, letting out a breath of relief as he recognized the feline, and knew where he was now. He wasn't on the ship after all. He was safe in the girl's house, in the third level of Minas Tirith. About the time these facts became clear in his mind, the cat was lifted off of him. He looked after her, and up at Iole. Cali was over by the window, gripping the skillet in one hand as she cautiously peeked around the edge of the curtain.

It took him a moment longer to register what his friend/blood-sister had said. Someone creeping around outside?! Trev leaped off of the sofa immediately. "Where?" He asked in a whisper, while quickly picking up his notebook and the piece of charcoal he used as a pencil, both of which had fallen to the floor when he jumped up.

"Around back, I think," Cali whispered. "There's no one out here." She confirmed, though she wasn't totally certain; it was awfully dark out there.

"Are you sure it wasn't a cat or racoon or something?" Trev found his flute from between the cushions, where it had slid after he dozed off. "Maybe Bebe has a boyfriend who was looking for her?" He suggested.

"No, I heard it too..I don't think it was a cat." Cali whispered as she limped over to join Trev and Iole. She glanced at the feline who was snuggled up in Iole's arms, then back at Trev. "I wasn't asleep.. my leg was hurting, and I couldn't get comfortable. I looked out my window and I saw a shadow.. like a person's shadow. I'm sure someone was in the garden." She explained, somewhat nervous about the idea of it. She had been a bit surprised to come out of her room and nearly crash into Iole as she was also rushing out of her room, but the two had quickly agreed that they heard something, and promptly made their way downstairs, together. "Maybe... maybe they were just cutting through, but.." Cali trailed off. She didn't want to be paranoid about it, but.. it hadn't been difficult to pick up on the fact that Trev had clearly been nervous about his father finding him, or sending someone after him. And then there were other things to make her a bit tense about the idea of someone hanging around their house in the middle of the night.

"I'll check it out." Trev assured her in a whisper. "You two stay here," He cautioned. His heart was racing. Who could be lurking around outside? Who all knew where any of them were? How could anyone have found out, for that matter? He rubbed his eyes with one hand, trying to rid himself of the last traces of sleepiness. If someone was lurking in the back, and the front was clear, then he thought it might be better to sneak around the back and see if he could catch them off guard. With that thought in mind, he glanced again at the girls, as if to check that they were both alright, then he moved for the front door.

Watching Trev ease open the front door and slip out into the dark night beyond, Cali clutched the handle of her skillet "weapon", wishing she had something better to use in case there was some dangerous prowler hanging around. Still, she remembered Guard Korsey's cautionary words against using a knife to defend their home. At least the skillet was of a hefty weight, and she suspected she could do some damage with it if necessary. Maybe she ought to consider bringing home a mace or club from work, just in case. Quietly, she put an arm around Iole, feeling glad that it wasn't just the two of them here. Trev would keep them safe. She just wished Nal hadn't left after the lieutenant had finished taking Trev's report.

Outside, the stones of the street felt quite cool beneath his bare feet. The warmth of the day had faded when the sun fled from the sky. He'd nearly forgotten how cold it could get at night in the city cut from the stone, even in late summer. On the nights following the hottest days, at the peak of summer, the stones would retain the heat for a while and would actually stay warm for a few hours after sundown. But by this point of the year, the days were already beginning to gradually shorten, and summer's warmth was fading, preparing to give way to autumn. It was a seasonal routine which Trev had grown out of touch with over the past few years. When he was sailing with Dev, he never knew whether he would be up North or down South, or somewhere in between, at any given point of the year.

Keeping focused on the situation at hand, Trev drew in a slow breath as his right hand tightened its grip on the flute which doubled as his weapon of choice. He cautiously moved toward the gate in the archway that led into the garden. His mind was racing with all sorts of possibilities and scenarios. Had Dev found a way to track him down? He didn't believe the pirate captain would have come, himself, into the city, but he could have sent someone. Someone who wouldn't be arrested on sight. He would have to be cautious, because if it was someone Dev sent, they might be dangerous. And they might not be alone, either.

Opening the gate in the archway, Trev glanced around warily as he entered the garden, then stopped and listened. He heard nothing except his heartbeat, pounding in his chest. He stopped a few steps into the garden, letting his gaze scan slowly over the plants and bushes. He had spent some time pulling weeds and trimming dead things off of the plants, and in the daytime it looked much neater than when the girls first rented the house. Yet, in the dark, with the thought of someone lurking around out here, the place seemed like a wild jungle, potentially filled with hostile, hidden enemies waiting to jump out from behind the next bush or tree.

He saw no sign of any prowlers, however. Trev moved a few more steps further. He didn't cross over to the table on the patio, feeling like it would be too open. Instead, he kept close to the pathway, stopping near a cluster of bushes. He could see the back door from here. And next to it, the window. There was someone in the kitchen, he saw! The only light from within was dim, as if someone were using a hooded lantern perhaps. A burglar? Someone snooping around, looking for him? Catching his breath, he moved a few steps nearer, one slow step at a time, drawn toward the window like a moth to flames.

When he actually got near enough to get a view of the figure moving around in there, as well as what they were doing, Trev's jaw dropped in surprise. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, as if they might be playing tricks on him, and he almost laughed, an amused grin growing on his face. He let out soft a breath of relief, letting his tense muscles relax. Just at that moment, a hand clapped over his mouth and strong arms began pulling him abruptly backward into the deeper shadows.

Panic flared up just as swiftly, and his left elbow jabbed sharply backward into his assailant, hoping to catch him in the ribs or gut, or somewhere that would hurt enough to release Trev. He immediately followed up with a sharp downward swing with his flute, aimed for man's leg, in hopes to unbalance him enough for Trev to twist himself free.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Iole Ishen, with Cali and Trevadir
Late at night, at home. The last week of August

It was not so much the late hour, and more so their mutual concern of an intruder, which held conversation to a whisper. Iole scrutinised the blue eyes of the cat in her grasp, when Trev alleged it may have been to blame. BeBe though simply blinked back in a slow innocence which earned her a series of slow stroking. It likely calmed Iole as much as the cat of course. Cali had swiftly supported her suspicion, which would normally be a good thing except that being right about this was no comfort at all. Unalmis was the one who would usually convince them that it was only paranoia, no cause for concern. But Unalmis was not here.

“Perhaps it is only Sorrel, conducting a search with our safety in mind, if she’s assigned to a night patrol,” the rather desperate effort to tone down the threat herself, was too late. And, given that she'd had a hand in raising the alarm herself, it lacked conviction now to change her approach. Still Iole tried it out on her fellow-insomniacs all the same. Trev, as expected, resigned himself to the role of sentry, which was wise, as he was the most experienced of the three residents to counter any threat. Of course, the chances of someone creeping around were much higher that it might be someone targeting him specifically. “At least wear some shoes !” she called after their houseguest, because she could not bring herself to beg him to be careful. That wish was rather redundant, when it might have been safer for them all to stay together inside. Still he headed out of the front door.

“And where are you going ? To watch from the safety of the kitchen window ?” she challenged the cat who reacted to her call out, by fleeing with greater speed. Before Cali could take offence or assume that the questions were being laid upon her, Iole pointed toward floor level and then followed the cat through the door to the dining room. It was in the darkness of that room, when she realised she ought to have brought a light. The cat’s cry though, from the kitchen now, was answer enough to the young woman’s enquiry. And there was already a dim light emanating from that direction ...


Facing what she found then in the kitchen, Iole managed to stifle her instinctive scream, and instead simply held the door open for Cali as she called back over one shoulder in a half shocked, half still-hushed summons. “Cali ? You’d better get in here .. ”

---

Unalmis Raxëlilta, discovered by BeBe the Cat.
In the Kitchen. Shhhhhh !

It was not as though he had set out with any really elaborate plan. He’d simply failed to be able to shake the sense of guilt he’d felt, in running off with Trevadir, immediately after the Report. At the time, it had been foremost in Nal’s mind that his friend required a change of scenery, an altered ambience, and not a small celebration either, that the effort which had been such a trial of the soul for what seemed like weeks now … was finally over. On the other hand, he had promised Cali that he would clean up the mess that they’d made in the kitchen when larking about in there before, had been another, earlier, distraction.

All joking aside, he was amazed to arrive back at the house and find that the Smith had not yet resorted to the task herself, so she could berate him over it later. But she must have been as tired as she’d claimed she was not, or about as stubborn as usual. Either way, the errand was still available to be accomplished. And since the young Ranger knew he would not sleep now regardless for thinking about it, and he had to literally pass the place on his way back to the Barracks, the discovery of Iole’s house key, left in the bag she’d loaned him, seemed like it was a sign of sorts.


Clutching the precious means of breaking, or well .. just entering really .. his friends’ house, Unalmis had shrugged off that now familiar feeling that he was being followed, on his way back to the house. The content of the conversation earlier, he decided, had put him on edge. That’s all it was. For all the dread in exhuming the matter of Umbar, and Pharak, there had been no sign of the Burned man in five years. He would have assumed that he never should need worry about any of that ever again, until Trev had broken down that apparent delusion. But still, he’d felt a sense of being watched and followed for months now, and absolutely nothing had come of it. So it must be merely paranoia and naught more.

At least the book which the Lieutenant had loaned him, was in a safe place, and could not fall prey to any ‘excitement’ which the night might promise. So, convincing himself that in all honesty, he was just doing his friends a favour by ‘testing’ their defences, Nal quietly let himself in the back door of the house, and proceeded to analyse where to start. If he was going to have the kitchen be a sparkling surprise, come morning, he was going to have to work quietly and quickly. A rarely successful combination. Still, it was not without opportunity to hone his own skills somewhat, or so he (also) managed to convince himself. Most importantly, it was the fulfillment of a promise made to a friend. One had been managed already this day, so it was only fair the other was kept then, that same night.


He had stalled where he stood, a spoon in one hand and a dish cloth in the other, when he heard the steps on stairs, and then some brief discussion in muffled tones from the lounge. But that seemed to have quieted now, with what sounded like a check at the front door. So the ‘helpful intruder’ missed the emergence of either Trevadir, or the man who actually had been following Nal earlier, arriving in the garden. He was far more concerned with the arrival of BeBe the cat. Who had, it seemed, escaped the girls’ clutches a second time, and now was stood at the young man’s feet, meowing for food or who knew what really, as he tried to quiet the creature, with no hands free to attend to it.

---

Domanol Raxëlilta
In the Back Garden. With Trevadir

He had told himself to stop doing this sort of thing. That he was testing fate, and risking discovery every time he ventured out. But reuniting with Duinion had been such a relief and joy that clearly a little risk was worth it. He couldn’t not check in on his daughter either, even if it meant turning down her invitation to stay with them, every time the two spoke. It got harder every time, as though the practice counted for nothing. Meanwhile the stray girl who had joined him in squatting at the shop had gone upon her way, once chance had finally allowed her. And as it turned out, the man was lonelier than he might have expected, facing the long hours of observation alone. People-watching in a place with such crowds was more engaging and more isolating than spying out rare visitors in the north had ever been. Still, it had to be this way, until he made himself known proper.

Ever since Duinion had pointed out his nephew at the farm one night though, Domanol had marveled that he’d ever believed even for a moment that the imposter had been who he had claimed. And the more that he followed Unalmis about the city after that, the more he wished he did not have to. But there was a case of course to be made, of checking that the young man was not being followed .. by anyone besides him. There was at least one other person abounding who might commit such a deed, and now Domanol knew what He looked like, even if he knew not who He was, exactly. All that Strawberry had given him to go on was more questions, and Duinion had managed to provide no answers.


Following Unalmis was becoming an addiction. Often Dom had turned the corner to find the younger man had disappeared. Thankfully the older Ranger was equally inconspicuous enough at need, to blend in with a crowd. He would not be here, in this city or even in this world perhaps, if he were not so able. Once though he’d fallen to temptation and picked up something the young man had dropped, which caused him to be stopped due to it’s contents at the gate. The amount of time which his nephew had lingered just in sight of that same gate, while Thorley covered for Dom, might even have let the hunter think it might have been a deliberate attempt to catch him in the act ! Another time, the former Guard had taken what he knew from years past, to have been a trusted short cut, and found that the siege of Minas Tirith had since blocked that route, which cost him any hope of keeping up with his quarry. He lost the young man’s progress just as often as he was able to be lost himself rather than revealed. Still he could not help himself and the test of whether he could keep up was as telling about the younger man as it was improving the elder’s reacclimatising with the city. All in all, the game amused him more than he was willing to let on, regardless of whether he was the only one who knew he was playing. He liked to imagine that his nephew was aware on some unspoken level, and it was consensual between them somehow. But there was only one way to find out for sure, and that would likely mean an end to the thing, which he was not ready for.


This night he had headed back late from the farm, and might have stopped at his now empty haunt at the marketplace. If he had not seen the young man, that is, striding with what seemed like purpose through the streets at such a late hour. Convincing himself that he would simply ensure that Nal made it safely back up to the Sixth, Domanol had been forced to cut short his path long before then, when the younger Ranger cut down a back alley on the Third. His curiosity piqued, the Uncle followed suit, his footsteps carefully masked by those he pursued. The garden was rich enough in foliage, that he found an apt space to stow himself amidst the shadows of the night. Just as his nephew began to let himself in the back door, something caused him to glance up and over at the very area where a mirror of brown eyes were lurking. Domanol had been forced to throw a stone across the garden, in order to divert his nephew's attention, and then ducked down ever more so before the young man looked back to try and pinpoint the location of 'some shadow' for a second time. With a shrug, Unalmis eventually slipped inside of the house, just as curtains twitched at an upstairs window, keeping Domanol ducked down in his cloistered stoop.

He might have assumed his nephew safe then, perhaps conducting a clandestine visit to a young lady which no uncle ought stay and observe, when a new element entered the equation. He heard the third man to enter that garden only seconds before he saw him, which was a testament to this one walking barefoot, the watcher noted. And any thoughts now that this was a second guest come to some secret rendezvous, departed the paranoid man’s mind, when the latest arrival stalled and stayed about the shadows of the garden in his due turn. But was this fellow following him, or his nephew ?


Brown eyes narrowed as the muted light of the downstairs window suddenly illuminated his nephew, in what looked to be a kitchen full of crockery. The man serving as obstacle between Dom and the showcase seemed to stall at the sight too, and that silhouette betrayed a weapon of some description in this mystery’s hand. All thoughts of maintaining his position were forgotten as Domanol made his decision.

Drawing out from the shrubbery, the Ranger of the North approached the latest prowler from behind. His left hand wrapped around to still the stranger’s mouth, even as his right curled around the unidentified torso from the other side and pulled close. Drawing his right arm downwards in front of the slighter and, he observed, younger assailant, Domanol crushed the potential for the weapon to be employed without limit against him. But before he could congratulate himself, an elbow from the other, apparently unarmed, side where he manipulated less control, managed to jab with intent back into his abdomen. A grunt escaped the older man, as his face lurched forward, close to the other’s ear, even as the identified weapon took full advantage of this momentary surprise, and swang. A cumbersome and quick-footed dance was the result as Dom moved to evade a blow. He nonetheless took the two of them with a small crash into the bushes behind him as the unwieldly and locked-together, two-headed beast that they two had become ... lost all sense of balance.


In the Kitchen, Unalmis had already turned at the door opening, to face the cat at just the very moment required to miss seeing what occurred through the window. By the time that Iole had followed BeBe, found Nal and called out for Cali, Domanol had recognised the young man he was crushing in the undergrowth, and rolled off him, shaking his head in amazement in an effort not to laugh aloud.

“You ?!” he let wide, brown eyes pore over Trevadir, even as one hand flicked mud off fingers carelessly about where he sat. And then those same eyes narrowed. “What do you think you’re doing ?!”

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Cali
Moving into the kitchen
(the night following their report with Lt Dealedwen)

"It'll take him a while to get used to that," Cali muttered, knowing their friend's habit of either forgetting his shoes, or intentionally neglecting to wear them. It was the same as when they had all been children, and she remembered how, due to his grandmother's lack of funds, Trev had been obliged to store back his shoes when the months became warm enough to not wear them, so that they would not wear out by the time he really needed them, later in the year when it turned cold again. Not that he'd ever complained, of course. They had all shared the tendency to shed their shoes, whether for the sake of making sure that none of them felt like the odd one out, or because it was simply more fun to run around with their feet freed from such confinements. She figured the young man was even less used to wearing anything on his feet now, after so long aboard a ship that frequented warm climates, occasionally even spending time on beaches.

In fact, Cali was guilty of having gone many a summer without bothering with her own boots, when she'd lived with Ivornith. The house was right on the beach, so the only time she really bothered was when she had been working in the forge built by her late brother, teaching his son the family craft, and on the few occasions when she had taken a trip into town.

Tonight, she was grateful for the nice, soft rugs that blanketed the cold floor. Her own bare feet, having been forced to abandon the warmth of her bed, stepped softly on the carpet as she followed her friend toward the kitchen. "What is it?" She responded anxiously. Having heard her friend's summons, she moved as swift as she could manage, despite the limp which she could do nothing about. Iole's words did not sound panicked, but Cali was still worried, and held her weapon raised up in preparation to attack, in case it was some intruder that had broken into their home.

When she met her friend at the doorway, peering over her shoulder, Cali's mouth dropped open, stunned as well as baffled. "What..." She lowered the skillet a few seconds later, realizing there was no need for it, and blinked at their friend. "You're very lucky, you know." She informed him, eyes narrowing as she placed her free hand on the respective hip. "I was ready to whack anyone who didn't belong here, right across the head, with this," 'This' being the skillet she briefly waved for him to see, before letting it fall to her side again. She let out a breath that was a mix between a sigh and a laugh, shaking her head slightly. "But what in Arda are you doing here, at this time of night, silly?" She wondered, relieved to know that it must have only been Nal they had heard, and whose shadow she had seen crossing the yard.

---

Trevadir
Outside... with the Attacker

The attacker was trying to limit his ability to fight; hindering the use of his flute as a weapon. Did that mean he already knew how well Trev could use it, then? Was this one of his former crew mates? But how could he have found Trev? As his adrenaline spiked in the heat of the struggle, Trev felt some satisfaction in hearing the man's grunt when his elbow made contact, and he thought his flute must have struck the man's leg as well, but before he could do anything else, the attacker's fall dragged Trev down with him.

He had no idea whether the pirate.. for it must be a pirate, right? Who else would have stalked him, laid in wait for him, and then dragged him away from his friends with a hand over his mouth to keep him from raising the alarm? He had no idea whether the pirate intended to kill Trev, or merely subdue him and drag him back to Dev; for it seemed some of his father's crew were not as keen to obey Dev's orders as others... but either way, Trev was not willing to let either happen. At least not without a good fight.

Frantically, he squirmed under the man's weight, trying to find some way to get his arm free, or maybe flip them around so he could get the upper hand, or at the very least, get his mouth free so he could call out. Nal was just a stone's throw away, he would come to Trev's aid if he could just call for help... but the attacker was strong and knew what he was doing. He had Trev pinned in such a way that he couldn't pull off any of the moves he could think of, which would have otherwise enabled him to get out of such a situation. That was another reason he felt sure it was someone familiar with Trev's fighting style. Someone he had probably sparred with on a regular basis, perhaps, and yet he couldn't see the guy's face to know who it might be. Regardless, he tried his best, squirming and struggling to get free.

Desperation drove him to try and bite the (probably filthy) hand covering his mouth, but even as he tried to accomplish this, the weight of his attacker suddenly abandoned all attempts at restraining Trevadir, and then.. spoke accusingly? Demanded to know what he was doing? While the light must have shone down on Trev's face, enough for the stranger to recognize him, it was the opposite for Trev; the light was behind the stranger, and cast his face in even deeper shadow.

As the hand pulled away from his mouth, Trev's first instinct, of course, was to take in a deep breath and then yell as loud as he could for Nal. But, upon drawing that breath, he stalled after he noted a familiarity in the voice that had spoken. That.. didn't sound like any of his father's crew, but he had heard it before. Where? He stared in silence for a couple of seconds as he tried to place the unusual accent.

When it finally hit him who it was, the breath that he'd been holding finally burst out in the form of a short, incredulous laugh. "Seriously?" He asked in a slightly hoarse whisper, amazed to find that it was the ranger whom he had last seen in Pelargir, just before the ships all sailed off to save the day in the Pelennor. Although, despite his astonishment, he was also incredibly relieved to realize that it was not an enemy, trying to capture or kill him, after all. He pushed himself upright, hardly able to believe it was really him.

"I came out to investigate a prowler my friends heard in their backyard.. what do you think you're doing?!" He demanded in a whisper. Although, really, he wasn't sure now why he was whispering. "Trying to scare the daylights out of me? And the girls?" He remembered them belatedly, recalling how terrified they had been at the thought of someone snooping around, possibly planning to break in.

"What happened to you coming back home, anyway?" Trev demanded right back, with a scowl as he remembered a few things. "You said you were going back to Minas Tirith, that you were going to find your family and all that stuff... but when I told Nal I'd seen you, he had no idea you were even still alive, and didn't believe me. He even got angry at me for mentioning you at all.. we nearly broke off our friendship over that stupid misunderstanding!" Though he kept his voice to a whisper, he was struggling not to let his temper get too hot, but really, the guy had it coming, right? Maybe that whole argument with Nal wouldn't have happened, if his uncle had done what he said he was going to do!

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Iole Ishen and Unalmis Raxëlilta, with Cali Dringolben
Late at night, at the Girls’ House, Third Circle. The last week of August

There was in fact a lot to get used to which might take a while. Trev being around friends again, and on land for that matter. His friends .. getting used to having him back. It was all good things, but the adjustment was nonetheless .. a thing. Iole cast a glance down at her own, shoed, feet, and felt conscious as usual of how fortunate she had been growing up, to never have to worry about not having protection for her feet. As an only child whose family never had known financial hardship, it was her experience to make fair use of the things which her father spent good money on. Else she would be considered ungrateful. Her’s was not her friends’ experience, she knew well. Though she had always enjoyed running barefoot around the Pelennor. But in the city, it felt, or so she felt, more ordered and responsible. Besides the practicalities of more people around, most of the time, with their own booted feet to stamp down obliviously .. there was broken glass and stone was not as soft as grass … And also, they were not children any more. Although the notion of their having all grown up was being tested even now, by the idiot in their kitchen.

“You’re lucky it was only me,” Unalmis shrugged, shameless at his misdemeanour, although eyeing the skillet from a safe distance. “Maybe you should lay some pebbles out in the garden, build a path or something, so that you could better hear someone approaching from out there. That or ..”

“No more traps,” Iole put in, glancing to her fellow housemate who she felt sure would share the opinion. After what had happened the last time.


“I’m just doing what you told me to,” Nal turned to Cali more specifically as the inevitable questions came. “You told me to clean up the kitchen,” he reminded her. “And I meant to .. earlier, I really did. But I wanted to spend time with you all when you were awake, Trev too, .. and, well I figured since you’d all be sleeping now, I would be able to get to this.” He considered the nonplussed reactions of his friends, and cast brown eyes down to the dish cloth apologetically.

“But why aren’t you sleeping right now ?” Iole put in sensibly. And earned herself another shrug in response. “It’s not like you were bored because we were all sleeping like normal people, is it ? That you knew the noise .. ” she indicated the crowd of crockery that sat all around the room, and proved she knew her friend, “would wake us up so that you would have someone to talk to ?”

“Noooo .. that would be just plain crazy,” the young man shook his head in some amazement. As Iole picked up the cat so that she wouldn’t be tempted to throw something.

---

Meanwhile … Domanol Raxëlilta, with Trevadir
In the Back Garden. Yes, it’s another Reunion

The young man drew in such a breath at first that Domanol feared he might have hurt him. But when a laugh was the first emission to follow that, the older man relaxed, though his brow was furrowed in confusion. “Wait, what girls ?” was the first thought out of his own mouth in response. A swift glance to where it looked like his nephew was undergoing some similar interrogation in the kitchen answered his question, at least in part. But before he could explain that he had thought Trevadir was the ‘prowler’ .. that runaway pirate had begun with firing accusations at him. Causing the elder to raise a finger to his lips in warning, despite the whispering. They seemed, by the content, like the sorts of whispers which might easily increase in volume at any moment.

Holding one hand up, as though he awaited official permission to speak, Domanol still found himself distracted enough to brush leaves off him, as though it would somehow improve his rather dishevelled appearance, as the younger man continued to speak. And before the Ranger could respond to the first slough of curiosity, the remarks about Unalmis growing ‘angry at even the mention of him’ stole all want and will for the estranged Uncle to express himself for a short time. He took his intrigue meanwhile toward the ‘weapon’ he’d identified, and this time recognised it to be a musical instrument.


“Evidently I did come ‘back home’,” he observed a moment later, indicating his person with one hand. “This is Minas Tirith, is it not ?” he smiled some, glancing eyes about with meaning as he simultaneously disagreed but also attempted to settle the other’s outrage. Drawing both feet in, he manipulated himself into a more calm, cross-legged pose and pressed both hands together in his lap. As though he conducted clandestine reunions in other peoples gardens every other night of the week.

“And as long as we are speaking about failures to follow through ..” he started, and raised an eyebrow whilst diverting the subject from his own shortcomings. Leaning back, the man turned sidelong to gauge Trev and glanced away after a stunned recall of the other’s barefootedness. “I had all but convinced myself that you were one of the spectral host, when you suddenly proved to be less than corporeal and disappeared on me back then.” After a moment allowed for that delivery to be absorbed, Domanol blinked back to focus. “There was only the sword to prove you’d ever been there at all,” he recounted. “I didn’t get a chance to thank you for that, by the way,” he admitted, and laid both palms flat before him.


With a tilt of his head he directed the focus back onto Trevadir. Failing to appear angry at all, but rather more providing a chance for the young man to explain himself. Or at least, to go first.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Cali
Moving into the kitchen.. literally?

"Maybe you should lay some pebbles out in the garden, build a path or something, so that you could better hear someone approaching from out there."

Cali made a scoffing noise at Nal's suggestion. "Why bother? You'd just avoid stepping on the path, or practice walking quietly on it, or something of the sort." She pointed out, rolling her eyes. "We aren't here to provide you with a training ground, you know. I'm pretty sure you have one of those, already. Outside the city. Remember?" Then she nodded in agreement with Iole. "Yes, definitely no traps." She echoed, adamantly. The incident with Mourgan had put Cali off from using traps to defend from intruders, however useful they might be. "Trev's rat traps were bad enough," She made a face at the memory of their other friend's attempt at dealing with the mouse problem. The buckets full of live mice who had 'walked the plank' were just far too unpleasant to have around the house. So, after that, the girls had unanimously declared no more of that sort of thing.

Folding her arms, the skillet half-tucked under one arm, Cali regarded Nal with an eyebrow raised skeptically, as he explained he was 'only doing as she said'. Iole made a good point in asking why the silly ranger wasn't doing his own share of sleeping, though Cali could also understand if the matters dredged up during that report might have put him out of any sort of mood to think about sleep. While she hadn't heard any of it, she could guess, based on things she knew or halfway knew, and things that Trev had been jotting down and things the four of them had discussed during the last week and a half. And, judging from the way she and Iole had found Trev dozed off with his notepad in hand, as if he'd nodded off while working on something, she could only assume he was equally unwilling to actually make an attempt at sleep, tonight.

Shifting so that her weight was only on the uninjured leg, Cali leaned her shoulder against the doorframe and let out a little sigh. "Well, we're all awake now, so I suppose we could keep him company while he works. And we might as well turn up the light a bit, too." She pointed out with a little smile. She wasn't at all suggesting that the girls could supervise the cleanup efforts as if he were a toddler. Nope, not at all. "Besides, I mean, we all know that none of us is exactly 'normal'." She reminded them with a little smile, and a glint of amusement in her brown eyes as she left the doorway for a moment, to disappear into the darkness of the dining room.

A moment later, she returned, dragging the nearest chair so that she could have somewhere to sit. The table and all other surfaces seemed to be taken over by dishes that were somehow, beyond all reason, all dirty. She gave these a puzzled glance as she positioned her chair in the least-cluttered looking place that she could find. Where did all of these dishes come from, anyway? Cali had no idea they'd even had this many dishes, and yet somehow, it appeared that all of them had somehow gotten used and required washing? She shook her head slightly in private amusement as she remembered the time the boys dragged out all of the cookware and tried to use it for a drum set. Best not to remind Nal of that occasion, or he was likely to want to repeat it, for 'old time's sake'...

---

Trevadir
Outside... reuniting unexpectedly

What girls? Trev blinked as he stared back at Domanol, confused how he could not know that this was where Cali and Iole lived, if he was hanging around the place. Or, wait, how did he find his way here, anyway? He frowned slightly at that thought, but put the question off to the back of his mind as he waved a hand vaguely toward the kitchen window, even as Domanol looked that way of his own accord. "Cali. Iole. Our 'sisters'." By 'our', of course, he was referring to himself and Nal, not Domanol, but of course he should know that.

As if to remind the man of what he meant, Trevadir held up his left hand so that his scar was displayed in the moonlight which had illuminated his face earlier. He remembered telling the story, a few years ago when he met the man, about how the friends had all copied Domanol and his best friend in forming a pact of siblinghood between the five friends. He had also told him about how GrammyO had been so upset at them all, because not only were they not meant to overhear her telling GrammyU that story, but also because of the fact that, upon hearing the story, they had all decided to do exactly the same thing rather than picking up on the fact that the grandmothers both agreed that it was a bad idea.

Seeing the finger raised to Domanol's lips, Trev paused in puzzlement for why they needed to remain hushed. Because of neighbors? Well, yes, he didn't want to bring complaints against Cali and Iole about the noise in the middle of the night. But he hadn't been all that loud, had he? Before he could ponder on that thought any longer, he found himself frowning in brief confusion as Domanol declared that he did come home. Evidently. Trev's mouth opened to protest that he hadn't done so when he was supposed to, but before he could get any words out, the ranger's continued words cut him short.

'And as long as we are speaking about failures to follow through...'

Right. He was aware that his disappearance must have been puzzling, and perhaps even disappointing, to the man. Trev's dark brown gaze broke away from Domanol's, cast downward and off to one side, suddenly saddened by that reminder. "That.. wasn't my doing." Trev began, then let out a little sigh, and tried to shift a little further away from the bush that kept poking his side. He winced as the movement alerted him to the fact that at least a couple of the stitches in his side may have pulled loose. Probably from the fall. Keeping his movements slower and more careful, he repositioned so that he sat further from the bush, and so that he had a better angle to see the late-night visitor. "I had every intention of coming along with you. I really wanted to, but.. apparently, my father was not ready to let me go." He admitted sadly. "It's a long story. But to shorten it until a more convenient time for the whole story... I woke up sometime after all the ships had gone, and Dev was there with captain Uhta, telling me you rangers had all turned against me and a lot of other nonsense. And they weren't happy with me," He added, bringing his gaze back up to meet the other's.

"But, for what it's worth.. you're welcome," He added with a little shrug. He hadn't really gotten the sword for Domanol, of course... he had intended to bring it home and return it to Nal's family, personally, but it was undeniable that it would be far more useful in the hands of the long-estranged member of that family who took it away from that home in the first place. And with a battle about to break upon the very walls of his home city, it would have been foolish to refuse to turn the weapon over to someone who had a rightful claim to it.

Glancing again toward the kitchen, he let out a little sigh. "Look, they're going to expect me back any moment. But why don't you come along?" He suggested, suddenly thinking of the best possible way he could prove to Nal that he wasn't lying. "Nal's right there," He nodded toward the window, then turned a hopeful look toward the other. "Come on, you could talk to him right now, and prove to him that I wasn't lying, and that it wasn't some sort of trick. Then.. we could finally put that matter to rest, and I won't have to worry that he might still be upset at me... I really hated having my best friend angry at me over some stupid misunderstanding." What a simple solution that would be! They could finally clear up that one little issue that remained between them, and all would be well again. "Please?"

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Iole Ishen and Unalmis Raxëlilta, with Cali Dringolben
Late at night, at the Girls’ House, Third Circle. The last week of August

Unalmis had teetered at the point of retorting that he had meant they need a stone path to warn them about intruders, not to warn them about him. But Cali had already loaned her voice to the ‘no traps’ chorus which Iole had introduced. And that was when the Ranger noticed something was off. The rat traps which were mentioned brought it to light, and he puzzled, glancing past the girls to seek for Trevadir, even while Iole pursed her lips at this apparent avoiding of the rather essential lecture.


Turning to release more light out of the hooded lantern, at the very least because Cali was now dragging furniture around, Nal relented to the company without protest. There was another specific advantage which he had just lost, when gaining himself an audience for the errand. That one lay in whether or when the two girls would realise quite how many of the ‘dishes’ were in fact bottles and various drinks containers which he’d had to start collecting from sources outside the Barracks kitchen. Lieutenant Brian had started getting far too interested in how often Sergeant Pete let the young man get away with taking such things up to his room. And since Unalmis was not of the tendency to adjust his behaviour when he saw no cause to, he all the same had been forced to adjust the direction of his supply. Many of the donated items were currently taking up space in the girls’ kitchen. Yet another reason why he had been dragging his heels and dissuading anyone else from actually catering to the growing clutter. He could not sneak it all into the barracks at one time ..

“You said we’re all awake, but we’re not all here,” he pointed out, as Cali made herself comfortable, and Iole stroked the cat with the attention of a distracted movie villain. “Is Trev so exhausted now he's properly sleeping or did you send him out on rat removal duty ?” He asked, primarily because it was yet another distraction of the two young womens’ relentless scrutiny. But also because ..particularly after the day they had just had, he wanted to be certain that his friend was close and safe.

---

Meanwhile … Domanol Raxëlilta, with Trevadir
In the Back Garden. Yes, it’s another Reunion

The keepers of the house having been identified, it at least explained what his nephew had been doing, coming here, although not really why at such an hour. Domanol was ready to nod at the young man before him nonetheless, but the unveiling of that young man’s palm and the scar thereabouts .. made the elder pause some.

He remembered the tale that this same young man had told him, back in Pelargir. And it had rung true at the time, tying in the tale of his own escapade with Duinion when they’d been young in body as much as in heart. But he knew of course, it had been made inescapably apparent since then, that the enemy were very well informed. His faith having been shaken by another young man who had known a lot about his family and friends .. the Ranger of the North did not immediately relax, and in fact, swallowed hard, when presented by this ‘proof’ by the supposed son of Olthel. Dom had only ever heard the sequel’s tale from this same specific young man, whom he had met fresh from leaving the company of that same enemy. The scar too, he had only seen on this young man, having never had a chance to examine his real nephew’s hand. For all he knew it was the spin of an informed ruse, inspired by a convenient laceration caused by unrelated ship’s rigging.

His face was thus thoughtful and suitably grave as Trevadir gave up his account, in brief, of why the youth had absconded from their plan to return together to the city, some years previous. He caught the words ‘woke up’, which went some way toward explaining, that the young man had been apparently knocked unconscious, so he claimed, and by his father then ? It was not unlikely, given Devedir’s involvement. But it seemed rather awfully convenient. Or the absolute opposite. “You are here now,” he shrugged. “The journey home is not always as simple as setting one foot before the other, is it ?” When the youth suggested then, that they go into the house though, together .. that would certainly do more than prove to Unalmis that Trev had not been lying .. It would also prove to Domanol that this was even Trevadir at all. It seemed the obvious solution.


“I’d be lying if I said that wouldn’t solve a lot of problems,” he admitted, and for a real moment he even believed that he might let it happen. That he could call this young man’s bluff at the very least. That he wanted .. oh more than he could say, to just have it be that simple. But still Domanol grimaced, even without any torn stitches, as he faced that young, hopeful expression and had to dash it with disappointment. “It’s just .. I’ve stayed away for so long, for a reason, you know ?” It seemed like a lacklustre excuse. “For good reason. It wasn’t just because somebody told me I’d be in a lot of trouble if I showed my face back here,” he tried to explain and hoped that it was even a concept the young man could entertain.

“You implied, when we met in Pelargir, that my kin could have used my being here, rather than away. And it’s true, I know that now beyond all doubt. But what I might have spared them by being here, I might just as easily have brought down on them anyway. I thought by coming home, finally, I could make it right, somehow,” he sighed, speaking to his hands rather than meet the face that he had just refused. “At least we would all face it together. At the very least I need to ask their forgiveness. But .. I have learnt since returning to the South, that my friends, my family are still the bait. They are the trap. I am not the only one who has been watching and following from the shadows, for months now,” brown eyes glanced beyond the bush and found nothing discernible to serve as evidence of course. “I would claim that you don’t know what my enemy is capable of. But perhaps you do. Perhaps you know all too well.” Domanol pulled at his chin idly as though he could scare off the frown which had taken up residence on his lantern jaw.


“So I keep watch. I stand ready to step in. Just in case. Waiting for .. just in case. But you know this,” he shared, the dejected tone falling flat as his whisper had dropped ever quieter. “I know that you know what is holding me back. You know it even as you harbour it for your own sake. Else I would not so frequently overhear your brother, talking to my own, about how much and how ardently, he wishes you’d come home to him.” Turning both palms over, inspecting them, as though an answer might be found, Domanol leaned back with nothing substantial to show for his trouble.

“How long have you been here, Trevadir ? You may have trusted in your friends, but you have not told your family that you’re here either, have you ?” He asked. He knew. He understood. And knew that Trevadir would understand as well. He was perhaps the only person who really could. “If that were your brother, if it were your grandmother, just across the lawn, on the other side of a mere window, .. would you go to them if I asked you to ? Because all the reasons you will not, are the reasons I can not. And here we are.” he sighed.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Kaylin
Third week of August
Heading home from the Wayfarers

She appreciated the way Thûllir pulled her close to his side, offering support as much as she needed or wished while presenting a very united front to anyone who might be wondering if the events at (and outside of) the inn would rattle their relationship. One arm wrapped around him, her other hand still lightly on his chest, though more to the side she was closest to, Kaylin was still tense as they set out.

When he bent his head next to hers, she braced herself. Would he berate her as he had her friends? Would he express disappointment with her choices? Neither would be out of line, she knew. She blinked at the water threatening to pool in her eyes. She'd been such an idiot. It's just that… Thûllir's words of disappointment with her, or his anger at her… both would cut her like a rusty blade.

“It's a good thing we are going to Linhir. I need time with you Kaylin. Just us. For a while at least.”

She blinked, turning her face just enough to look back at him. What…? He was talking about their upcoming trip? Well... That would be just them, yes, but... Was Thûllir jealous? Or was he simply glad they could leave the city and everyone else in it - thugs included - behind for a while?

His continued murmur about him wanting to take care of her at first almost sounded like he would take care of an invalid, and Kaylin wanted to protest. But then his lips came close to her ear and his next words made her miss a step. The redness on her neck disappeared into a blush that she could feel spreading from the top of her chest, up her neck and tinting her face. All the more because she knew he could deliver on such intentions. Kaylin swallowed in the space of his pause. That was not what she had expected. Instead of him punishing her in some way for the bad choices she’d made in the inn, he intended to do the opposite? How was she supposed to find any words in reply to that?

“I… - You… wh-” Her thoughts were stuttering, and she hated that it translated into her speech. “Why?” The disbelief in her tone was blatantly obvious. Why would he reward her with nothing but love and affection, after such a royal mess-up?

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Cali Dringolben
Third level - early evening
2 days after the Midsummer event

As Cali and Mourgan looked over the contents of the pantry, she was a little confused when he asked about a turnip, and glanced over his shoulder. "I don't remember buying a turnip," She commented. Especially not just one. But then, she had been really tired and somewhat stressed, yesterday. It was yesterday when they went and bought groceries, right? She suddenly found that she couldn't quite remember, and decided not to bother trying to remember. "I wouldn't be surprised if that was Nal's doing," She shrugged, although she really couldn't say. Between her, Iole, and Nal, he was the one most likely to dig root things up out of the forest. Or out of the back yard, for that matter...

Looking at the pantry now, it didn't look like they had as many groceries in the pantry as she would have thought. But then, they'd only bought enough basic supplies to get them through what had, initially, been meant to be a few days. Now, it was going to be her and Iole's home, so it occurred to her they should get more supplies. She tilted her head thoughtfully as she studied the contents of the pantry, and was trying to think of what could possibly be made with what they had. Dried peas could make some pea soup, but that was so boring, and she didn't really want to do that.

She was trying to think of other ideas, when Mourgan suggested shepherd's pie. "Oh, that sounds nice." She smiled, glad he had a better idea than she'd had. "I can prep the veggies?" She offered. "I don't think I've ever made this before, so you'll have to tell me how they should be prepped."

[Karis Ziranphel]

Thûllir Bregedŷr
Third Week of August
Heading home from the Wayfarer’s Inn - streets

The blushing reaction to his words that Kaylin couldn't hide was satisfying to say the least. Thûllir could tell he had surprised her though by her tone and words that fell halting from her lips. He turned his head slightly to brush her temple with his lips for a brief moment. “Because I love you, Kaylin.” It was initially as simple as that truth. He breathed out a sigh. “And that, back there, scared me. I could have lost you.”

Thûllir had to clear his throat past the lump that instantly formed at the words. “I didn't, but could have, and that…that terrified me.” He had just described the scene to Alf, but that time he had been blocking the full emotion, just as he had needed to do in order to fight properly. This time the kick hit him, along with the relief that she was okay.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Kaylin
Third week of August
Heading home from the Wayfarers

The sweet and light kiss against her temple, accompanied by the statement that he loved her, lifted her heart. When he continued, though… Kaylin never wanted to scare him like that. But she had. “I’m sorry,” she said, lowering her head and staring at the stones in front of her feet as they walked. “I feel like an idiot.” A weak idiot, too. How could she have let herself get into that position?

Her eyes widened. When exactly had Thûllir arrived? Her brain worked hard to try and put it together. She’d left the inn, she’d been trying to hold off Elmir and Balthor - and then one of them had grabbed her in that choke hold from behind to drag her around the corner. That had been when her vision had started to go. Until the hold on her throat had slackened. The guy had let go of her and she’d sunk to her knees. And then she’d knifed the guy’s knee. Thûllir had been there by then. Thûllir…

How much had he seen? Was he responsible for the thug releasing her? Her heart sank. None of this should have happened. “You shouldn’t have needed to see… that,” she mumbled. Part of why he loved her was her strength, right? Her street smarts… despite her impulsivity and enthusiasm. Both her skills and smarts had been lacking back there, though. She’d been in such a weak position. “You’re not… angry with me?” she asked hesitantly.

[Karis Ziranphel]

Thûllir Bregedŷr
Third Week of August
Heading Home from the Wayfarer’s Inn

Thûllir hugged her a little closer at the words of apology, but remained silent as she processed. Not quite sure how to respond right away, especially when she spoke about how she felt in the wake of the events. He caught her mumbled words about not needing to see that, and almost snorted as she asked if he was angry.

Mentally he sighed again, although it wasn't apparent outwardly. “Angry with you? No.” Thûllir's voice was matter of fact but gentle. “I may wish it hadn't gotten to that point, or that you were ever in such a position, but I am glad I got there when I did. As such I needed to see it.”

A few more steps fell before his next words. “Things happen. As far as I could tell you were fighting the whole way through, and your only weakness was due to the earlier drinks. A high price for over imbibing, but I am truly relieved, not angry.”

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Cali
Cali and Iole's house - 3rd circle
In the kitchen

Cali let out a little sigh as Nal reminded them all about their currently absent friend. "No, he volunteered for prowler-removal-duty," She corrected him, with a small frown. "Which means, he's probably still out there looking for whoever we heard snooping around," She realized, feeling bad now that they had awakened him from what little sleep he was finally getting, to send him outside on a wild goose chase. She glanced at Iole with a somewhat regretful expression, then turned to Nal with a small frown.

"Which is your own fault, for sneaking around like a prowler," She added in a scolding tone. "Poor Trev had finally dozed off and then you came poking around in the middle of the night, scaring us half to death, and.. I guess someone better go call for him to come back in," She realized, hoping maybe Nal would volunteer since he was closer to the door and all.. and didn't have a leg injury to hinder his walking abilities. "Someone like, the one who scared us all out of sleep in the first place." She added, as a not-so-subtle hint, followed by a smile at the friend she was referring to.

---

Trevadir
Outside in the back yard. Under the bushes, in the shadows

"The journey home is not always as simple as setting one foot before the other, is it ?"

That comment made Trev pause, reminded of just how difficult it had been for him to return. How much it had taken to persuade him that it was safe. Not once, but twice, in fact. For the man in front of him had once convinced him to give it a try, years ago. If only he could have come then. He might have been spared years of misery, but then again.. he remembered that he had saved Iole from even worse misery, the same day that he doomed himself to those other years of captivity. So, it worked out better this way in the end, he supposed. But in those years, Dev had focused even harder on instilling the idea into Trev that he could not come home, that it had been much more difficult to agree to trying.

As Domanol spoke about having his own reasons for not coming back, he reminded Trev of what little he had told the man, back then, about why he was worried about coming home. He had only been worried then. He nodded slowly as Domanol went on to explain more, and felt a growing sense of worry hit him as Domanol mentioned that his family and friends were still bait, to the enemy.. that he was not the only one who had been watching and following. Following? Trev glanced around, and realized he didn't have to ask what he meant. He must have been following Nal. How did Nal not notice that, he wondered.. but put that thought aside for now.

He could definitely understand Domanol not wanting to draw his enemies to the ones he loved most. Especially, since Trev had told Domanol briefly about the terrible thing that had happened to his nephew, on account of Pharak trying to get the ranger to come to Nal's rescue. He swallowed quietly and nodded, at the latter part. "I know," he confirmed softly. Perhaps more, even, than Domanol knew, he added in his thoughts, but he didn't say so. It wasn't like it was some sort of competition. If Trev had reason to suspect that any harm might come to his friends or family because of him being here.. he would get away from them, despite how much it hurt to do so. He understood then, Domanol's reason. But it troubled him to hear that he knew for a fact that the enemy was watching, and even following Domanol's family. That meant Nal's family. Shouldn't Nal be warned about that?

Just as he was thinking of how to ask Domanol how he knew this, and who was doing it, and anything else he could think of to try and learn what the threat was.. the man said something which startled Trevadir out of his thoughts. Tobedir? Domanol had seen Toby? Heard him saying how much he wanted Trev to come home? He... well, he wasn't sure what to think of that. It sounded too good to be true, and also... how would Domanol even know what Toby looked like? He found that part rather puzzling, since Toby hadn't been born yet when Domanol was last in town. He hadn't even known, until Trev met him a few years prior, that Trev had any siblings, or that their mother had died, or any of that. All he knew from then, was that Trev had a little brother. He couldn't even remember for sure whether he'd mentioned that brother's name.

Just as eagerly as the hope and excitement had flared up, upon hearing these words, Trev stamped them back down deep, and tried his best to lock up those hopes up with an imaginary key. The man could be making this part up, although why he would do such a thing, Trev didn't know. He knew that this was definitely Nal's uncle, or he might even begin to grow concerned in that regard. Trev had been satisfied with the evidence that this man was, in fact, Domanol, when he met him before, in Pelargir. Otherwise, Trev would never have relinquished the legendary Raxëlilta blade to the man. But he couldn't make sense of how he would be able to recognize Tobedir, and so as much as he wanted to believe it, he was unwilling to let himself. Not yet.

Besides... he reminded himself about the other reasons he had not approached either his brother or his grandmother yet. That fear of his, which he had thought was coming true just a few moments ago. When asked how long he had been here, Trev muttered, "A week and a half." But he wasn't sure if the question was rhetorical or not, so he fell silent as the man continued. His gaze found the ground between them rather more 'interesting' than the brown gaze across from him. Eyes that matched those of his best friend's. That reminded him of how much he had to lose if he went back inside talking about Domanol being out in the garden. Because the ranger would likely disappear the moment Trev had gone, and so it would either make Trev seem as if he were absolutely nuts, or.. lying. And he couldn't handle another round of that accusation.

He let out a sigh. "Yeah. I thought you were one of my father's crew, come to snatch me away and drag me back to him, when you grabbed me like that." He confessed, in his own way letting Domanol know he was right about Trev being worried about enemies finding him. "I've been half-expecting something like that ever since I left Harlond." He wished he had just come to Minas Tirith back in the autumn, when the girls asked. But there had been reasons not to. And he also wished he had come after the midsummer event, but again.. he had been too afraid. And now, he realized that if he had come at any of those other times, then Dev would not have found him still hiding out in Harlond, and then he might not have any knowledge of Trev's current whereabouts. Now, he would almost have to know that Trev had finally come to Minas Tirith. With Macardil. Dev had known about him, Trev recalled with a bit of concern.

But Domanol's words about 'all Trev's reasons were the same as his own' for not going to his family.. that made him frown slightly. He wasn't so sure about that, and felt that the man couldn't possibly even know all of Trev's reasons. "I can't." He said quietly, struggling to keep the emotion out of his voice. "I want to, but.." He drew in a slow, slightly shaky breath. "Have you ever had someone tell you, that.. that you wouldn't be welcomed by your closest relatives? That your own family would tell you to go away, and never come back.. and," He swallowed. "that they're ashamed of you, and.. don't even want to be related anymore?" He cleared his throat and quietly rubbed one of his eyes as he looked away, sighing. "I just.. I guess I still have a lot of things to work through. Stuff that's probably all in my head.. stuff that he's said to me so many times, probably just to keep me from coming back here. But every time I start considering maybe trying to go and find out, I can't help thinking.. what if he's right? What if that wasn't something he made up? I don't think I could endure it, if they rejected me." He looked up at Domanol, wondering if he really understood what Trev was saying. Or, if there was anyone who could understand that.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Kaylin
Third week of August
Heading home from the Wayfarers

Not angry. He was not angry. He was not angry? A bit stunned, but also grateful, Kaylin watched Thûllir's profile for a bit. She couldn’t find it in her to ask if he was disappointed, though. So she didn’t. “Thûllir…” When their eyes met, she flushed again. Feeling her face going red, she swiftly looked ahead and reverted back to silence.

The fresh air didn’t really seem to do much for her headiness due to the drinks. She’d felt suddenly much more drunk upon setting foot outside of the inn, and even though she felt better after emptying part of her stomach over Elmir’s head, the feeling hadn’t dissipated. The walk was helping in different ways, though. At least the unsteadiness that was to blame on the situation she’d found herself in, was slowly wearing off. She’d started off a bit shaky, almost, but that was fading now.

“So am I,” Kaylin finally said, her voice still quiet. “Relieved,” she added, thinking it was probably best she clarified after not speaking for quite a while. “Did you... get some sort of sixth sense alert?” It might be too soon for even the smallest splash of humour, she knew, which explained the hint of hopefulness that'd seeped into the words. But she had to try. For both their sakes.

[Karis Ziranphel]

Thûllir Bregedŷr
Third Week of August
Heading Home from the Wayfarer’s Inn

He still thrilled to see her blush. Perhaps because it was so rare, but also because he knew it was most likely a response to his earlier words when mingled with silence. Thûllir smiled softly as they continued without speaking for a while. It was a good quiet, laced with things other than anger and pain. When Kaylin spoke of her relief as well, he nodded once in acknowledgment, knowing it was not an easy admission for such as herself. The corner of his lips turned up further in a wry smile at her question about a sixth sense alert, and he laughed softly before shaking his head and looking ahead at the broad flagstones they were crossing. It felt good to laugh, but it still felt a little fragile. “Perhaps, I don’t know.”

The smile was still in his voice when he answered. “I was heading home from my own training at the field and thought to stop by the Inn first before home. Just to take the edge off my appetite after running that course so many times, and get a hot drink…maybe see you if you happened to be there as well, instead of going the whole way home first...” His voice fell away for a few steps as he sobered. “You were already fighting, but I didn’t know it was you in the scuffle until I heard you call Cadil’s name…and then you were being dragged away. I heard you call out again, and then you were gone and all I could do was run.” The remembered fear had him pausing briefly. “He had you from behind against the wall when I rounded the corner, and I lost it. Took down the knife holder and hit the other one…you mostly know the rest.” Thûllir looked over at her finally and the smile returned with a hint of irony. “I must admit the timing was good, so maybe that was the sixth sense. If I had arrived earlier you might have said you didn’t need my help.”

“Call it what you will, perhaps the boy inside me who still wants to impress and protect his girl, but I am glad I was able to be there when you did need my help, and I could protect you with my skills and strength. I love that you are so strong and skilled, Kaylin, and can knock me on my ass if you wish, as well as most out there,” his brow lifted at her, “but I still will always want to be your shield and protector as well, to the best of my ability. That you so rarely need me to be that doesn’t take away my desire to care for you in every way I may…including in the ways I mentioned earlier.” His voice dropped suggestively at the last line to return some levity to what he had otherwise brought back to serious topics.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Kaylin
Third week of August
Heading home from the Wayfarers

Thûllir’s short but soft laugh was a good sign. They were both looking in front of them rather at each other as he explained how he had seen the scene unfolding. When she could feel him looking at her, she tentatively looked back. Would she have claimed not needing his help? If she’d have been sober, certainly. But this time? Kaylin doubted it. She was impetuous yes, and confident… and had been up until the moment she’d been dragged outside and the fresh air had hit. So it would have depended on when exactly Thûllir might have arrived, if he had indeed arrived sooner.

She bit her lip when he spoke of ‘the boy inside him who still wanted to impress and protect his girl’, returning his gaze without looking away for so much as a moment. It might have been better to glance ahead of them every few steps - but that didn’t seem like a priority at the moment. The confirmation that he loved her strength and skills warmed her. The statement that he still wanted to be her protector as well, made her teeth bite down harder on her lip. And this time, she did not look away when he alluded to the words he had so quietly whispered to her before. The words that had made her flush so profusely, twice already. Finally, she released her lip.

“You might say you ‘lost it’, but if you did - it was only for a moment. How you held yourself back just moments after… Despite what you had just seen and what they said.” She shook her head slowly. “I’ll never know how you do it, hervenn. The way you can turn your burn into ice. The way you can control your anger. But I admire it.” She paused in brief hesitation. Could she tell him how it was as if the power of his control had been rolling off him in waves? Her words were little more than a whisper. “It’s very attractive, too.”

“I don’t want you to wash me like an invalid,” she said suddenly, though her tone was more humorous than rebellious, before it changed completely to a rather specific one she only ever used with him. “But I’m sure we can make it work, somehow. And I have no objections to your other suggestions." She cleared her throat. "Do you remember that night at the garrison in Osgiliath?”

When he said he remembered*, she returned her gaze to him. She wasn’t usually shy with him as it was, but this time the alcohol was still warming her blood, too. “Good.” Her voice was low. “I remember as well.” A needless confirmation. “You were the only thing and everything I needed then. That hasn’t changed.” She brushed a hand through her hair. “It might be wiser for me to wait with saying more until I’ve at least brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth with something,” she grinned, unashamed.

*Agreed with Karis

[Karis Ziranphel]

Thûllir Bregedŷr
Third Week of August
Heading Home from the Wayfarer’s Inn

It warmed him that she didn't shrug off his mention of protectiveness, instead giving him quiet regard with her lip caught by her teeth. Her expression of admiration of his dearly bought restraint made it worthwhile. Attractive. The word had him humming a note of questioning confirmation. The whisper and look in her eyes appeared to confirm it further, and his lips tilted in a smile that broke into a grin when she continued. His eyes were alight with warmth when he murmured his reply. “Not like an invalid, no.” Did he remember Osgiliath? Her next question caught him off guard slightly, but he remembered well, and his voice held a warm edge as he replied simply. “Aye, I remember.”

Thûllir gave a low laugh of amusement at her comment about brushing her teeth before saying anything else. The street did seem overly long with her making such comments to him that built a thrum of anticipation. Hearing her express her delight and satisfaction in him couldn’t compare to anything, and he had noted the sweep of her gaze. “You are going to make it difficult for me to walk.” He murmured the light hearted accusation to her before tugging her over towards a stand selling soft salted pretzels. His stomach had reminded him that he was still hungry, and it would serve the additional purpose of helping her get rid of the less pleasant flavors left from her alcohol consumption and expulsion. He made the purchase one handed and offered her one as they set off again. The seller had taken his coin with only a slightly odd look at their somewhat disheveled states.
His voice was serious when he spoke again, despite his earlier laughter, although he kept his voice low and private. “I revel in the freedom and security of our love, Kaylin. You bring out a fierce desire to bring you as much joy as you give me.” Despite the scare and despite the state they were in, the day had turned out okay.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Iole Ishen and Unalmis Raxëlilta, with Cali Dringolben
Late at night, at the Girls’ House, Third Circle. The last week of August

Unalmis glanced out of the window when Cali let him know where Trevadir had gone. But with the kitchen lit up, and the garden in darkness, all he saw was their small group reflected in the glass, framed by all the crockery. There was not much of a front yard to search, so he imagined that their missing member might find or have found his way to the proper back garden sooner or later, and if so, the improved illumination of their scene inside, should alert him to the arrival inside.

“You didn’t check all the doors downstairs before you sent him out ?” he asked, somewhat needlessly. For if that were not the case, they surely would have found him before Trev went out. “See ? This is why you need a false alarm. You’re safest inside the house, if you hear somebody outside. You should be blocking doors, not heading outside without any clue of what you’re walking into. It’s the middle of the night .. have things to hand to make a lot of noise and alert neighbours, in case someone dangerous does find their way in ..”


The tirade of advice was met by a hiss from Bebe the cat, which the Ranger returned without hesitation. Somewhat stealing from an otherwise show of sensibility. “He probably only fiiiiiiinally got to sleep because you two were bugging him for details about the report all night,” he threw back even as Iole opened her mouth to protest the hiss wars.

“Are you going to go find him then ?” she asked, without responding to the almost inevitable diversion from the point. “I promise we won’t touch any of your precious dishes until you return ..” she smiled, and tickled the cat under it’s chin. With a roll of his eyes, Nal headed for the front door.


“If you see him round the back before I get there, flag him in at least,” he suggested. To which Iole tucked dark hair behind one ear, nodded in agreement and then turned to meet Cali’s expression with her similar. She didn’t hear the front door open or close however, so knocked the inner door aside briefly to check the young man had really gone out, and not caught himself up in further mischief. Finding no sign of him still inside, she turned back and leaned against the table near where Cali was sitting on a chair. Some dishes trembled in their tower on that table so that she hastily uprighted, and held her breath until nothing crashed.

“How is your leg now ?” she asked then, given all the unexpected moving about and dragging furniture.

---

Meanwhile … Domanol Raxëlilta, with Trevadir
In the Back Garden. Because it’s never simple ..

A tide of unspoken emotions clearly leaned in and then fanned back out, like deep breaths of an ocean, as the young man took a time to process the hushed words, and find his own. Domanol did not rush him. It was not easy to judge the younger man’s expression in the muted light and the elder did not really know Trevadir well enough to try with too much confidence. Still, a week and a half of being back in the city. A week and a half since apparently leaving his father’s company, and sounded like none too amiably .. and the youth expected to be snatched up and dragged back still.

The Ranger of the North could have apologised, for grabbing Trevadir so roughly, but he did not. He’d done what needed doing in the moment. It did not always make him the nice guy, though he was sure the lad wasn’t unused to worse. Especially if he’d not managed to get away from the pirates till only a week or so ago.

“Well, I’m glad you’re not with that lot any longer,” Domanol admitted, more honestly than he had realised at the outset of saying so. “Looks like you’re headed in the right direction, even if its slow steps to get you there safely. And, hands up, I promise, I’m not going to take you any place you don’t want to be going,” he vowed, indeed holding both hands up, and hoping that the question about family would not have fuelled that new fear in the flighty young fellow. There were a few things that Domanol could never claim to have been, and a telltale was very high amongst those. “Well, besides the bush,” he remembered, and half laughed. “Didn’t break your whistle there, did you ?” he nodded a dark shaggy head of hair in the direction of the flute.

“Oh, I know,” he agreed, with a sigh. “The old ‘I want to, but’,” he shook his head in mutual despair. “I really do know,” a glimmer of empathy showed itself perhaps belatedly, but still it showed up in the end. “And for what it’s worth, .. I have as well. Had someone tell me that I’d be shunned if I dared come home again: that and all the rest.” The last sentence better explained the one before it.


“Told me I’d be seen as a traitor to my entire people,” he recalled the Elf’s unhappy prophecy, when a very much younger Gondorian had talked about coming home. “Said that the Steward would see me in a gibbet, or clear flung from the peak .. my family would be ruined .. and, well, he would know ..” Domanol paused in his recollection of the dread he had lived with for near decades. But a surviving Mole of Gondolin must know something about what it was to face the hope for forgiveness from his people. And Erfaron had not had fair report to share on that score from his experience. So why should Domanol have expected any more ? He had not, for the longest time.

“There’s a king now though,” he reminded them both. “And I’ve hope in that one. Sometimes a long shot really does come through, and make a difference. Still .. ” the man’s smile faded. Brown eyes closed and a deeper darkness passed over his face as he leaned back. “I did not make it back in time for my mother. Now I can’t ever know if she would have forgiven me or not. Don’t wait till it’s too late, Trevadir. Just .. be wary not to rush them.” He allowed a scoff at his own contradicting advice. “And why should you listen to an old fool like me, when I’m no better qualified ? Clearly. At least know you’re not all alone in going through it. Whichever of us dares first, the other shall follow through, what do you .. ?”


Domanol was going to say the word ‘say’, but he spoke instead only silence, and moved to clap a hand again over the younger man’s mouth without warning. His head cast momentarily sidelong, indicated the arrival of a fourth silhouette to enter the garden that night, though it was in fact the first one come around again. Unalmis was stood at the gate now, glancing with hope into the garden for any sign of his friend.

“Trev ?” the young man called out, not overly loud as though to wake the neighbours, but in a sort of muffled summons all the same. The Ranger narrowed his eyes and scanned the scene.


Behind the bushes, Domanol realised in an instant that he could test whether this was truly Trevadir and remind Unalmis to be careful walking around at night, all at once. Without a word of warning, he gave a shove at the young man who was still in the bushes with him, ducking further back into the undergrowth himself as he sent in the craziest scenario, the young man rolling out of the bush in clear view and, at the very least, the bush itself a frenzied motion which anyone on the alert in the garden would be hard pushed (sorry-pun) to ignore.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Cali
Cali and Iole's house - 3rd circle
In the kitchen

"Well, it's too bad you weren't here with us, so you could have imparted this extremely valuable information while it was still relevant," Cali pointed out, with a touch of sarcasm, while keeping a straight face, while sitting back with arms folded, leaving the skillet comfortably resting in her lap. This comment was followed by an eyeroll as her friend then displayed his maturity.. or lack thereof.. by hissing at the cat. "Bebe doesn't seem impressed," She commented, as her amusement threatened to show in her expression, despite her attempt to hide it behind a neutral one.

As Nal requested that they get Trev's attention if they happened to see him, Cali left that to Iole to reply to, since Cali couldn't see much of anything from where she was sitting. While their friend went outside, she quietly picked up a bottle from the pile on the table near her, and gave it a somewhat puzzled look as she tried to imagine where it might have come from. It definitely didn't look familiar, and she didn't recall having seen anything of its sort here in the house when they moved in.

"Does any of this look familiar to you?" She wondered, baffled, just about the time that Iole was coming back to lean on the table. The precariously piled dishes threatened to tumble to the floor, and Cali swiftly moved her hands as if to somehow try and catch it, should the table tip too much. But the crisis was averted, thankfully. "I'm starting to think maybe we ought to package up all of these good dishes left here by Mrs Amaure, so we don't have to worry about them getting broken..." She mentioned thoughtfully as she frowned at a stack of teacups and saucers across the room, which looked dangerously close to falling over at the slightest bump. She tentatively placed the bottle back into an empty spot on the table, holding her breath as she watched for a moment to make sure that the whole thing wasn't going to collapse. "I could make some simple tin dishes instead. Those are much more difficult to break," She mentioned, although if she knew Nal, he was sure to give it his best try. She shrugged to herself and turned away from the endangered teacups to answer Iole's inquiry.

"Oh, it's.. alright," She answered with a little shrug, as she glanced down at the limb in question. "It still hurts when I put weight on it, like.. the bones are sort of.. bruised, maybe? Mother says that can happen. But nothing is broken, or I wouldn't be able to stand on it. The pain is sure to fade soon enough, she says. I think she said it's probably from the.. compression or something, on the bones." She shrugged, unsure how else to explain it. "I'm lucky, I suppose, that the wolf didn't get a chance to bite down fully. I have Arnyn to thank for that," She recalled with a small smile. "I'll be alright, don't worry." She added, more to soothe her friend's worry than anything, although the statement applied to more than just her leg. "It'll heal much quicker than my arm did." She didn't mention that at times, her arm still bothered her at times, like if she had been hammering metal too long, or lifted a lot of heavy weapons or armor at a time. Iole didn't really need to know about that, she figured. It would only make her worry about that, too.

---

Trevadir
Back Garden, flung from one Raxëlilta... to another

As Domanol spoke of being glad that Trev wasn't with them anymore, a faint smile found its way to his face. "Me too," He agreed. Especially since some of 'that lot' apparently wanted to kill him, he thought, but didn't say it out loud. Nor did he mention that the ranger's face was smeared with mud. Trev had first noticed it when he moved to sit at an angle where he could make out his features, but at first he wasn't sure why his face seemed so dark. By now, it had become clear that it was smeared with mud, and he wasn't sure whether it was done intentionally or during their fall into the mud together. Given the way that it appeared to help his skin blend with the night, Trev suspected it was deliberate. But it also made him look somewhat like a raccoon, he thought with amusement.

He gave a small nod in return for the promise that he would not take Trev anywhere that he didn't want to go. Given how little he knew this man, he didn't put a tremendous amount of stock in the words, but he still smiled in slight amusement as the ranger added 'besides the bush'. With a soft exhale that resembled a soft laugh, Trev shook his head as he lifted his flute in his right hand. "It'd take a whole lot more than a fall in mud to break this," He assured the man, with a subtle sense of pride behind the statement. His flute had been through plenty of adventures, including fights. A little mud definitely wouldn't ruin it. Of course, he was going to have to clean it, now...

The tiny bit of humor had broken the moment of emotion that had threatened to come over him, so when Domanol brought the topic back around to the words Trev had spoken moments ago, he was mildly surprised, not only that he brought it back to the subject, but that.. he had been there, too? He listened, quietly stunned, to hear that someone had told Domanol some of the very same things that Dev had told Trev so often. He nodded silently, swallowing down a lump that rose into his throat as it struck him how very similar their experiences were. He hadn't quite realized that, before.

Mention of the king brought a somewhat wry smile to Trev's face, but he didn't get a chance to speak of the thoughts that jumped to his mind at that topic. Perhaps, some other time, he would explain how Dev had even managed to twist Trev's perception of the king, until someone else managed to straighten things out for him. He was so very grateful to Macardil, for that as well as all of the other things he had done for Trevadir. But now he was nodding in agreement as Domanol spoke of how 'a long shot' can make all the difference. Yes, exactly. He had taken a long shot in trusting Macardil, and vice versa.. and it had paid off so much for Trev, he could hardly believe it, sometimes.

The sorrow then hit him as Domanol mentioned that he had not made it back in time for his mother. GrammyO, yes. Trev inwardly cringed at that; when he saw Domanol in Pelargir, he'd had no idea the woman had died, of course. And Trev had told him a few stories involving Nal, and her, and how she was like another grandmother to Trev, thinking that he would enjoy hearing news about his family. Later, learning that she had died right about the same time as all of that was happening, Trev had felt terrible for possibly getting Domanol's hopes up at reuniting with his mother, and then thinking of how they must have been dashed to learn she had so recently died.

But Trev's own grandmother was still alright, he knew. He had glimpsed her from afar, going to and from work. It was easy to believe that she would always be fine, going about her daily routine, but Domanol's words served to remind him that he should not assume that things could not change. Nal's grandmother had seemed fine, until one day, she was not. He let that thought absorb for a moment as he considered how it must feel to never be able to know for sure.. to always wonder. Just as Domanol was speaking of what sounded like a proposition for making a deal with Trev, the man, instead, suddenly lunged forward and startled Trev with a hand covering his mouth, once again. At least this time, it wasn't an unknown person snatching him from behind for unknown purposes, but it was still quite unexpected, and a bit alarming. Trev blinked at him in the dark, baffled as he made an attempt to push the hand away.

Just as he was thinking to ask what on Arda the ranger was doing now, his name was called softly into the night. Nal had come out to find him. Trev had meant to go back in before the others became worried, but it seemed to be too late, now. What to do? For a brief second, he debated whether to call out and get Nal over here, so he could see his uncle for himself.. or to sneak away and join his friend, without breathing a word about the uncle. As it turned out, he wasn't given the chance to choose either option. While he was distracted, looking toward where his friend's voice had come from, he didn't see Domanol making his move.

Trev tumbled forcefully out of the bushes and straight into the path of the garden, right into a clear patch of light, without ever intending to do so at all. Uttering a surprised grunting noise, he landed unceremoniously on one side, sprawled in the dirt. He winced and lay still for a moment, fighting back the immediate feelings of irritation toward Domanol for doing that. Of course, he couldn't have known that Trev had a partially healed wound on his side that was already feeling like it might have torn open a little. And, of course, he would have to land on the sore side. So much for getting up carefully so not to make it worse. "Over here," He called back to Nal, softly, with a slightly pained note in his voice as he tried to gently press his right hand to the wound on his rib area, under the left arm. "Oww." He muttered the complained under his breath as he slowly shifted onto his knees so he could attempt getting up carefully.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen

Iole Ishen, with Cali Dringolben
Late at night, at the Girls’ House, Third Circle. The last week of August

“We do seem to have gathered up far more bottles than I remember us ever using ..” Iole frowned, thoughtfully. There were a few reasons she could come up with to explain that but she shared only one. “I expect they’re collecting them to brew lemonade for selling on the street like back when we were ten ..” A smile recalled the memory.

“We shall have to make sure that no more break while they are cleaned first,” the cat sprang from arms, and sidled her way across the table, tail winding every which way so that Iole reached out after BeBe, warily. As though insulted by this doubting of her agility, the feline meowed in protest. As Cali came close to seeing another pile teeter also, the more timid of the two young women caught a gasp and swallowed it belatedly. “Accommodating his behaviour only will encourage him to test the indestructibility of tin dishes,” she supposed, with a small sigh. “Better we come up with some forfeit he will wish to avoid, in payment for each breakage. That way he will try harder and learn better.” She nodded resolutely. There was no doubt who she was referring to as 'he' and 'him'. It was as though 'he' was being so childish on purpose .. just because she'd asked if he seriously wanted any woman to even consider ever marrying him ...


Of course, it was not only for the thought of their calamitous friend that Iole wished not to see the Smith toward extra work. The shop worker had no concept of course, that Cali had struggled on the longest or more tiresome days at the armoury. But there had been undeniably not one but two considerable injuries in the space of a year. It was perhaps not only Unalmis who tended to be reckless.

“I am glad that you are taking it easy,” she agreed then, although her friend had not exactly said that she would take anything … easy. “You would be rather more difficult to replace than a bunch of crockery, you know,” the sentiment was quiet but not timid or meek in the least. It was most sincerely meant.

---

Unalmis Raxëlilta, with Trevadir.
Finding a Friend, in the Girls' back Garden

For all that he had come into the garden, full on expecting to find his friend there, Unalmis had not foreseen any incidents of erupting shrubberies. Trevadir thus all but rolled out of the shadows, and made the younger Ranger step back out of the reach of .. well his friend, as it turned out. The recently narrowed eyes flew wide, and a moment allowed for belated recognition. He peered toward the bushes where Trev had sprung out of, but turned full attention onto that friend instead, at the sound of a pained grunt and groan.

“Trev ?” he marvelled, quite sure that it was Trev, but rather less sure why and how what had just happened .. had. “What do you think you’re doing ?” he asked, already closing the gap between the two of them. And then, as though he’d been merely questioning the other’s attempts to struggle back upright without aid, Nal offered out a pair of hands for Trev to take and haul himself to rights. The guy still had stitches and still he had just ... umm what ? Well, sure .. Unalmis had once tightrope-walked a tree branch with a still broken shoulder to join his friend in the treehouse. He could not exactly take the high road here. “If that was a try at jumping out to surprise me, I think you missed,” he observed instead, with a slow shake of his head. He didn’t quite smile, for the other did not look entirely alright.


Only when Trevadir had found his feet, did Unalmis release him, and then readied to catch his friend again a moment later when it looked like he might be required to. “I was in the neighbourhood, and ..” he began, and then broke off unable to keep up even the thought of a ruse. “Do you need a moment before we head in ?” he wondered. Well aware that their ‘sisters’ would fuss and be all frantic when they found their houseguest in this state. "You know that they'll kill you for getting hurt all over again," he rolled brown eyes.

---

Domanol Raxëlilta,
taking his (turn to up and) leave.

Having seized on every second that was given him, to alter his position, Domanol would not be found now where Trev had last seen him. Still he was yet within hearing distance for the time required, and a shaggy head tilted to observe his nephew recognising Trevadir. That was for sure then, he realised, and relaxed. Until Trevadir, thrust out into a better light, looked suddenly so more worse for wear that it surprised him. It had not been a cruel shove and should not have caused a proper injury .. but apparently Unalmis was less surprised by his friend’s dilapidated stance. Belatedly, the older man cursed, turned as If to reveal himself, and hesitated at the last.

There was nothing that Domanol could do in this moment that would not make things a hundred times worse. He could not know yet whether Trevadir would still try to force a reveal. After that rather unexpected bush shove, actually Dom would not have really blamed him. And the longer that he loitered, the more likely it was that he would be discovered. Part of him would be extremely sorry for leaving the young sailor to explain himself, but this time, it was the older man’s turn .. to disappear without warning. And so, after waiting just long enough, he did.

Keeping family at a distance had become so much a habit, it was a habit that he clove to without properly even thinking it through any more. Seemed like he was not the only one.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie

Cali
Cali and Iole's house - 3rd circle
In the kitchen

Cali smiled at the memory that Iole had just brought up about the lemonade. "Oh, remember how Toby kept wanting to help, and he ended up getting us a lot of sales because he was so cute when he'd run up to people and ask them if they wanted to buy some.. what was it, memmalade?" She giggled. "He must've been what, like.. two?" She tried to recall. That seemed right, because, if she and Iole were ten, then Trev would have been around eight.. so yes, two sounded about right for Toby, she figured. "And remember when we were making it, how Trev kept squirting lemons at him when he wasn't looking," She added, rolling her eyes at the memory. Every time Toby had turned to see what just squirted him, Trev and the other two boys had acted totally innocent, which further confused the poor toddler, until Cali and Iole had to bring little Toby over to sit by them. She also seemed to recall one of the boys trying to eat handfuls of sugar, but she couldn't quite remember which one. "Didn't they also play some sort of silly game with the seeds?"

She giggled yet further as Iole suggested a way that they might manage to train Nal not to break dishes. "Ohhh, I know," She laughed. "We could take one of his pinecones away if he breaks a dish. And, alternatively, if he does really well and doesn't break any, he gets a new one." Very few would know the significance of Nal's pinecones, but among the friends, it was well known how attached he was to those things. Mainly though, it amused her to think of ideas as if he was a toddler or something.

Catching her breath then as Bebe decided to prove her skills as if the table were an obstacle course, Cali brought her hand down near the leg of her chair and tapped on it to get Bebe's attention. "Here kitty," She called softly, hoping to lure the feline away from the breakables. Bebe blinked at her, then took a deliberately long time sniffing the top of one of the bottles before brushing her cheek against it. The bottle wobbled and she gave up, deciding it was not suitable for rubbing against. Instead, she hopped down to the floor and wandered over to see whether Cali had a treat in her hand. Finding that she did not, she nonetheless rubbed her head into Cali's hand, and purred as fingers gently scratched around her ears.

Cali smiled softly once Bebe had decided she needed more attention, and leaped into her lap for more snuggles and scratches. Hearing Iole's other comment, she kept her gaze down at the cat for a moment, blinking back a light mist in her eyes. It meant a lot to hear that, though of course, she shouldn't need to hear it. Still, there had been times during the past six or so years that she had felt like maybe she wasn't part of the group anymore. Even before she moved away to live with Ivornith, she had wondered a time or two whether she had been replaced in their group. She had been so lost in her grief for a while, she wouldn't have quite blamed them if they did seek another, more cheerful friend to take her place. "Thank you," She spoke softly, and smiled faintly as she looked up at her friend. "I'm so glad to be back home."

---

Trevadir
Back Garden, with Nal

A faint laugh escaped from Trev, as he heard the very same words uttered by his friend, that had only recently been spoken to him by that friend's long lost relative. As Nal reached out to offer a hand to help him up, Trev gladly accepted, as he let the other assume that the laugh was merely due to his comment about Trev trying to jump out and surprise him. "Sorry," He answered, slowly straightening with one hand gently pressed to his ribs. "I.. no, I wasn't trying to surprise you." He stopped for a second or two as he thought swiftly how to explain this to his friend without lying. He had determined, a few years ago, that he would not do anything like Dev would do, and Dev wouldn't think twice about lying. Therefore, he would not lie.

Yet, at the same time, he couldn't just tell Nal everything. Not only would he not believe Trev if he told him his uncle Domanol was hiding in the bush next to them, but.. well, the ranger had presented good enough reasons why he did not make himself known to his family. He cleared his throat. "Well, I thought there was someone lurking around.. besides you.. but it turned out to be just.. a raccoon," he explained, with a little cough that might possibly have concealed amusement.. or maybe Nal would read it as embarrassment. He glanced toward the bushes but saw no sign of the ranger, anymore. That didn't mean he wasn't still there, of course. "We um, had a bit of a misunderstanding at first, but I believe we've got an agreement now." He added, without trying to keep his voice down in hopes that Domanol would hear, and realize that particular comment was directed at him. Meanwhile, that would hopefully explain his rather disheveled appearance to Nal. "Anyway, then I uh, seem to have tripped, trying to get back out." He added, with a glance down at the ground after waving vaguely toward the bush. Seem to have tripped, he made sure to say, since he hoped it might have appeared that way to Nal.

When asked if he'd like to take a minute, he hesitated, but shook his head. "I'd better get cleaned up and check on my stitches." Still, he was rather muddy now, after rolling around in the dirt and all that... so there was no way he could walk past the girls and not have them fuss over him. "You can keep the girls occupied watching you wash dishes, right?" He added with a little grin, revealing that he knew what Nal had been up to, and that no excuses were needed. "That way, maybe I can sneak in and get cleaned up before they hear about this... just like we used to do with the Grammys." Of course, if Cali and Iole had heard him making such a comment, they might have thrown things at him for insinuating they were like grandmothers, but that wasn't what he meant at all. Thankfully, they weren't out here to hear it. "Can you cover for me?" He asked hopefully, figuring they could slip in the front door, then Nal could go on to the kitchen while Trev went to the washroom.

[Arnyn]

|
Kaylin | Macardil
Macardil's house, Fifth Circle - Sometime in the first half of August

When he opened the door and found - of all people - Kaylin on his doorstep, Macardil was able to put all his mother's training to good use. He did not so much as miss a beat. "Good afternoon, Kaylin. If you have come looking for Ziran, she has unfortunately left a few hours ago."

Kaylin nodded, unperturbed. "Yes, I know. She's on duty. I didn't come to see her." The redhead raised one eyebrow. "I came to see you." Then the other eyebrow joined the first, as she revealed a bottle from behind her back and lifted it up between them with an instant change of expression from seriousness to almost mischievousness. "You're marrying my cousin-in-law, after all. If I'm to stand with her at your wedding, at the very least you and I need to have had one proper conversation." She lowered her eyebrows again. "Right?"

Macardil had slanted his head, giving Kaylin a friendly but thoughtful look. "Of course." He stepped back into the hallway and opened the door wide. "Please, come in."

Lowering the bottle to her side again, Kaylin stepped inside and didn't hide that she was taking in as much of the house as she could. "Karis mentioned you live rather comfortably."

Macardil closed the door with a little shake of his head. "I suppose so, yes." He was not sure what to think of this particular visit. He had asked for Ziran's hand over a month ago. He thought he remembered Ziran saying she had spoken to Kaylin rather quickly after that. Had Kaylin really waited this long on purpose? Or was there more than one reason she was now here, as a very unexpected guest?

Kaylin pointed at the open door ahead as she turned back around to face him. "Unless you want me to continue straight and walk into what looks like your bathroom, you may want to direct me somewhere?"

Holding back a sigh, he shook his head a little as he opened the double doors to the living room. "This way, Ms Maethyr," he offered, with a sweeping gesture of his hand.

Kaylin grinned and walked into the space that served both as a living room and a library. "Ahh. This is the library that won Karis over," she said lightly, grinning at Macardil before flopping down on the very large couch. "Glasses?" she suggested, unabashed, holding up the bottle again and shifting it to one side and back a few times.

He approached and held his hand out for the bottle instead. "I will pour them in the kitchen," he offered.

Kaylin frowned up at him. "My mother taught me never to accept drinks from strangers if you don't see them pouring it."

Macardil narrowed his eyes minutely. "I still count as a stranger?"

She shrugged. "I only have second-hand information on you, and the fact you made me and about twenty others breakfast once."

He flashed a grin. "If I were going to poison you, would you not think I would have done so sooner rather than later?"

Kaylin eyeballed him for a moment. Then her face split into a grin as well. "Fair enough."

It did not take long before they were both sitting down with a glass in hand. "So," Macardil said thoughtfully. "It was the library rather than my person that won over your cousin."

Kaylin looked around and made a face, as if to say 'well, look at this place'. She sighed and sipped her glass. "Well, it definitely was not the nobility factor that got her going, Macardil." At his frown, Kaylin shrugged. "She told me you had an unexpected, wicked sense of humour. Does that only apply to her, then?"

He gave her a half smile. "No. You simply speak as if we are fast friends. I must admit it is an unusual experience for me."

"To have a fast friend?" Kaylin inquired, with what might be seen as rather the inappropriate jab - considering his situation. "Or to have someone you hardly know speaking to you as if they were one?"

After taking a drink from the glass, Macardil gave her an indecipherable look. "At this point, possibly both."

That made Kaylin lower her own glass. Her demeanour become more serious. "I'm sorry to hear that, Macardil," she said honestly. "You deserve better."

His smile could hardly have been any more faint. "Perhaps."

"For sure," she said firmly. After a short silence, she shrugged. "You know. It might not count, since we're going to be family of sorts. And it sounds kind of blah to say about myself, but..." Another shrug. "I'm a very loyal friend." Kaylin grinned at him. "If you play your cards right."

"Do you think I play cards?" he asked casually.

"Do you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

Macardil rose from the couch, put down his wine glass and moved over to an empty chess table. He reached underneath the table top for something as he sat down on one of the two chairs. Then he lightly thudded a deck of cards onto the chessboard, twice, his face unreadable. "Are you going to play me today, or...?"

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan Alarion

Third Level-early evening

2 days after Midsummer event

@Rillewen


He was pleased she seemed to like his suggestion of the shepherd's pie. "Alright, well you can start by washing those carrots then just dice everything up. Bite size I'd say. " He moved his hands from his hips and looked around for a wash basin. "Let me wash my hands and I'll start on that meat." Before that he turned to stoking the stove and building some heat in it. He'd knelt down to put the wood in and when he was satisfied with its progress, he brushed his hands together. "That's going good now. " He stood up and locating a pot he poured some water out of a pitcher into it for the meat. While it heated, he went to wash his hands.

Turning from the pitcher as he dried his hands on a cloth his eyes found the peas. They would need more time to cook then everything else, so he set to putting some in the pot of heating water. He turned from that back to the table and took up a potato and started peeling it. He wasn't sure how to broach the subject on his mind but figured he might as well throw it out there. "So, I hear there's going to be masquerade." His hand was steady at peeling the potato as he continued. "Have you ever been to one? I think I went to one when I was a kid. It was more of a birthday party. It was fun though. " He paused a moment to give her time to absorb his words while the peel slipped off his knife.

"I hear there's going to be dancing too. A real party...for adults, not a kid's birthday." He gave a half chuckle. "I'm thinking of going, I like to dance when I get the chance." He started to peel another potato. "Do you think you'll be going?" He tried not to sound too inquisitive. Tried to sound casual but his breath silently hung on every moment it took her to answer.

[Rillewen]

@Isolde Alarion

Cali Dringolben
Third level - early evening
2 days after the Midsummer event

Cali nodded and got started washing the carrots. She glanced over as Mourgan started a fire in the stove. She could've done that, but she hadn't thought about it. Oh well, it was done now. She found a cutting board, once the carrots were washed, and put the knife to good use. She found it somewhat interesting that he'd said to wash the carrots, but was peeling the potatoes, and wondered if there was some reason for it. "Do you always peel potatoes?" She wondered, curious. "I'm not sure I've ever seen anyone do that, to be honest." She added, in explanation for why she'd asked. "My family has always just washed the dirt off, and leave the skin on. My mother says all the vitamins and such are usually in the peelings of fruits and vegetables."

As she worked on chopping carrots, Cali had to hastily catch some of the pieces of carrot that tried to roll away as soon as being separated from the rest of the carrot. After getting the first carrot chopped up, she paused to consider what to do with the end, which had a piece of stem attached. She wasn't too inclined to use it for the pie. At Ivornith's house, Rissy would have asked to feed it to her pet bunny. But Cali had no pets, here in Minas Tirith, and it was much too far away to go to Dol Amroth. After a moment, she shrugged and set it aside to think about that later.

As she was grabbing the next carrot to start chopping, Mourgan spoke up and mentioned something about a masquerade. Cali blinked in surprise at that random topic, and glanced at him curiously. She wasn't sure quite how to respond at first, and remained quiet, except for the sound of the knife chopping through the carrots, as he went on. She thought she might have heard some vague rumor about this thing, but wasn't it months away? She smiled faintly as he mentioned having gone to something like that for kids, back when he was a kid. She vaguely wondered if he had grown up around here, and whether she'd ever met him before without remembering.

After he had spoken about that for a moment, Cali smiled slightly as he mentioned how he liked to dance whenever he could. That would explain why he'd wanted to dance with someone, the other day at the midsummer thing. She paused slightly in chopping the carrot as she wondered, suddenly, whether Nal might have put him up to asking her to dance. He had been rather insistent on extracting a promise that she would have one dance, after all.

Her suspicious pondering was interrupted suddenly by Mourgan's next comment. Asking if she planned on going to this thing. Cali blinked, returning her thoughts to the conversation at hand, and glanced at him. She hesitated. "Oh.. I don't know," She replied, slightly unsure why he was even asking. And besides, considering how things had gone the last time she was somewhere with dancing, she wasn't sure it was a good idea to try another. Besides... "Those sort of things, well.. aren't really my sort of thing." She shrugged. "Dressing up all fancy, dancing with strangers.." Wondering if the Umbarian was hiding behind one of those masks... "I'd rather pound hot metal with a hammer and watch sparks fly from the grinding wheel." She grinned, half joking. "Why, are you wondering if you'll know anyone there?" She added, going back to the carrot. "I'm pretty sure the masks are meant to keep you from knowing if you know someone, aren't they?"