Minas Tirith Streets and Levels (Free RP)

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

Her lips tilted up in a soft smile of appreciation when he took her hands in his and blew his warm breath on them, amused at his phrasing and pleased at his action. It took a second to register who he was talking about when she met his gaze, but once it did, the smile first grew and then dimmed. It was good to hear that his visitors were well, but what kind of news could provoke such a response from her stalwart love. Threw him? She mulled over the words but couldn’t think of anything that might shake him that could have come up in the few short months since they were at the joust.

Macardil’s following frown had her smile disappearing altogether as she watched his face and she slid her arms around his waist in response to his loose embrace of her. Ziran’s brows drew together slightly as she followed his words and recalled what he had told her of his close friend Helberion and family and the tragedy of their deaths. Her fingers tightened on his shirt when he spoke the amazing words that one of the young women was alive, and her brows lifted in amazement, but then her fingers loosened to slowly soothe light strokes up and down his back at seeing the depth of his frown. The self-recrimination was evident on his face despite the joyful news that one who was thought to be dead was still alive, and she slowly recalled his promise to be the guardian of Halberion’s family. So he thought he had failed Alyssa?


Ansellidus? The name brought back vague memories of the man she had not been pleased to look at given the manner of the rider he sponsored, even if she had assessed him nonetheless. It was the first time she had ever seen such fury on Macardil’s face. Ansellidus was Alyssa’s husband? And the father of her child? One would assume so given Amrothian society, and she knew no reason to think otherwise. Ziran blew out her breath on a sigh and gave a wondering shake of her head. Whether it was a love match or a political one for land acquisition, it still seemed an odd choice to her despite the man’s looks that likely had some girls tittering over him. Her hands stilled as she searched her husband’s gaze, and asked quietly. “How could you have known when you weren’t there, and all reports were otherwise?” She knew he would want to verify everything himself, as she too would have questions. “I am surprised no one mentioned it to you when we were in Dol Amroth, and that the man wouldn’t have known that you were a great friend of his wife’s.” Her voice trailed off briefly, and her head tilted slightly in question before she continued. “What do you want to do?”

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

"Alyssa was not present at Lond Col, and you know I only had one - quite brief - conversation with Amardir Ansellidus," Macardil mumbled thoughtfully as he kept his eyes on Ziran's. "As for Brenior, he had written to me when he had first heard about Alyssa's survival. Years ago. Obviously, the letter never arrived. And once a young lady marries, her father or guardian's duties are transferred to her husband," he explained. "I am sure people simply assumed that I was aware." He looked rather unhappy about it all. "And even though I was - am - overjoyed to hear the news that Alyssa was not at her family's estate during the fire's destruction..." Macardil slowly shook his head. "What Brenior could tell me did not fit what I remember of my friend. Alyssa was only sixteen at the time; and Halberion had supposedly sent her to the Ansellidus estate with a governess. Or that is how Brenior remembers it, at least. However, I cannot imagine Halberion agreeing to a betrothal for Alyssa at that age without even so much as mentioning it in conversation or a letter; nor can I imagine him giving his approval that she would travel without him or her mother to visit this betrothed."

Macardil took a moment to think about Ziran's words. "It does seem strange that Amardir did not mention anything," he agreed quietly. "The more I ponder on the situation, the more it concerns me, Ziranphel..." He dearly hoped his assessment was wrong, that he was being paranoid. "Meressel and Dinalogassel have hardly seen Alyssa in Belfalasian society," he told her. "Given that she is the wife of the Lord of his House - ever since the older Lord Ansellidus passed..." He did not finish the sentence, for he knew it was unnecessary. Alyssa was the Lady Ansellidus. She needed to make certain appearances.

Her last inquiry almost made him smile. Did she suspect what he wished to do, already? "Now that this has come to my attention," he replied, "I wish to see her. I wish to speak with her. Hear her story, from her, with my own ears. I wish to tell her why I have not come to visit her sooner. I wish to reassure her I have not forgotten about my promise to her father. And that she has a friend and a protector in me, if she so wishes it." Macardil offered Ziran a faint smile. "I cannot visit the young lady by myself, however. It is not considered proper. I will need a lady's company..." He hesitated, bringing one hand up to touch the side of her face. "I understand if your duties were to keep you here, of course... Even though I would prefer your company to my mother's..."

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

Listening quietly as Macardil explained some of how he had missed hearing about the events, including a missing letter and change of responsibility, Ziran absorbed the information and let it settle in her mind. It tugged at her heart to see him so unhappy, even as she understood the wish to have acted sooner. It was, after all, one of the recriminations she would occasionally level against herself in quieter hours over different matters. The details that he continued to share were concerning, regarding what should have been if there had truly been a betrothal, and she felt further disquiet on behalf of Alyssa. Belfalassian society was one thing, but wasn’t Lossarnach closer to Minas Tirith? “More a wonder that you have never seen her here in the city.” Her words were a quiet murmur. It was easy to not see those you don’t expect, but the young lady would have known the look of Macardil well enough. It appeared she was kept quite reclusive at the estate. Normal for farmers and unusual for nobility. Even she was learning that she would now have to show up for expected things now that Macardil had reemerged as the Himhathol and she was now his lady. He had lain low for many years while in the Rangers. Her eyes narrowed slightly in thought for the briefest of moments, but Ansellidus had seemed quite confident at the joust those months ago, not like one unused to society.

Macardil finally answered her question about his intent, and she felt herself relax a bit to hear that he had a direction, nodding slowly as she listened. His wanting to investigate and see for himself as well as assure Alyssa of his care and protection as her father’s good friend fit with all she knew of his heart and sense of honor. She paused slightly when he said he needed a lady’s company during the visit, and her smile mirrored his when he mentioned that pesky word proper. Aye, it wouldn’t be proper for him to make a formal or informal visit without a lady present, especially if he had no official role as her guardian.

Ziran pondered whether she could go with him, and leaned her cheek slightly into that brush of his hand. It wasn’t a case of not wanting to go. She wasn’t sure if her duties would allow, yet she also wasn’t aware of anything officially planned before the mission to Umbar. Lossarnach was not far and likely wouldn’t take long to visit. She nodded once somberly and then smiled back at him more fully. “I agree that it would be good to go and see her for yourself, and I would like to meet Halberion’s Alyssa. Two are better than one, and I will come with you if I can. I’ll need to ask permission, but I don’t know any reason at this point for my request to be denied. Besides…,” the tenor of her smile changed slightly, “...we haven’t yet had a honeymoon. It wouldn’t exactly be the same, but perhaps we can use part of the trip for that if I am allowed to go. I have glimpsed some of the beauty of those mountain vales before in spring and autumn, but have not visited in winter for many years. Would you want to go soon?”

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Lady Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
The night somewhere between Dec 26th and 27th

It was dark when Ava woke, abruptly sitting up with a racing heart after having grown increasingly more restless in the last few minutes of sleep. Her breath came in rapid gasps as if she'd been running hard. All around her was dark, except for a dim glow from the fireplace which had nearly gone out, but she could tell she was in bed. She was shivering despite the covers which she now pushed away from her. Honestly, she suspected that her trembling had little to do with the temperature. The light from the dying fire made everything look a shade of red that did not help to alleviate her from the imaginations running wild through her mind. With a sense of panic lingering in her mind, her gaze moved hastily to the bed as she checked the sheets around her, half-expecting, and dreading, to find herself sitting in a blood-soaked bed. But it seemed dry, and she could see no hint of red, aside from the hue cast over them from the dark glow of fire from the other side of the room.

Next, she focused her gaze onto Tercen, sleeping beside her. Just sleeping.. right? Even though she could see and hear him, and knew that he was breathing, she placed a slightly trembling hand lightly on his chest, leaning close to him for a moment, feeling for a heartbeat. Just to assure herself that he was unharmed. To her immense relief, nothing seemed amiss.

Except for the fact that she had somehow ended up in bed while still in her dress from the evening. Once the initial reaction to her nightmare had begun to wear off, Ava frowned at the realization of this. She was still in Minas Tirith, of course, although her dream had her convinced for a moment that she had already returned home. That proved that the dream was only that; a dream. So, there was no need to fear. Right? She sat still for a moment with her hands clasped tight in her lap as she debated whether to curl up and go back to sleep, or get up and change into something more suitable for sleeping.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

His blue eyes lit when she not only agreed his plan to visit Alyssa in person was a good one, but also that she wanted to meet the young lady herself. "I wholeheartedly agree," he said. "Two are better than one." Hope that it would be Ziran who could accompany him bloomed, and it was reflected in the way he looked at her, and the way the worried frown on his face softened. Especially when she mentioned they had not yet had the delight of a honeymoon.

While it was a challenge to jest, he somehow managed. "Not one away from home, at least," he murmured more quietly at his wife, allowing for a little smile on his chiselled features as he reached behind him to pickup her mug of tea and offer it to her.

"I would like to leave sooner rather than later." He was unsure whether that would be a positive or negative thing for Ziranphel. "Apparently, it was already known that Alyssa was with child when we were at the joust." That meant she would at least be five months pregnant now, and possibly longer already. "I would prefer not to impose on her in the very last stage of her pregnancy, if it can be helped," he explained. He had heard that could be a challenging time for a woman.

"It would be expected of me to send word to the Ansellidus estate," Macardil continued, turning partially toward the table and writing supplies, thus explaining what he had been working on upon her entrance. "Yet... With everything I heard, I may be tempted not to," he admitted. "What if Lord Ansellidus refuses? What if Alyssa does?" he added, more quietly. "They would be far less likely to turn us away when we are already on their doorstep." He glanced away, uncomfortable with the idea of intentionally not honouring a custom, simply to turn a situation to his favour.

---

@Rillewen

Tercen
Ava's house, Fifth Circle
Evening of Dec 26th

Something touching his chest half pulled him out of the dream - if that is what it could be called. Now in between the dream world and the waking world, he fully realized what he was dreaming about, and groaned unhappily as he shifted in the bed, turning his face partially into the pillow, his hand fisting next to it. The sensation of the fabric against his face contradicted the visual in his mind's eye, and he rolled back onto his back, slowly opening his eyes. To find himself staring at a dimly lit ceiling. And to see someone sitting upright next to him.

Ava.

Thank the valar. Ava had not yet returned to Umbar at all. Ava was still right there, with him, in Minas Tirith. She had not been summoned to that strange Tower, nor had she been violently taken prisoner upon leaving the structure. She hadn't been thrown into a cold and damp cell somewhere, where men would..- No. None of that.

But she was sitting up, he realized. Not sleeping. Tercen pushed himself up on his elbows, then his hands. "What's wrong?" he whispered, putting a hand on her leg that was closest to him. His gaze fell on the fire. "I'll take care of the fire, if you don't want it to go out?" he guessed.

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

She was glad to see the slight easing of the concern on his face, and the barely-there smile that lifted his lips when he teased her back about her honeymoon comment. Knowing amusement flashed in her eyes as she brought her uninjured right hand up to accept the mug he offered, and she lifted a brow at him while taking a sip of the steaming liquid that had steeped nicely. They had been able to take a couple days to themselves at home between the wedding and the masquerade yesterday, so she was in no way complaining. It could serve as a valid reason if one was needed, however, to leave the city any time soon.

Ziran nodded slightly in acknowledgement when Macardil said that he wanted to leave sooner than later and then listened quietly as he continued, nodding again in more agreement when he explained his reasoning. She could see how that could influence their timing. She turned slightly with him to glance at the parchment and ink that were laid out, and took another contemplative sip. Studying the implements, she processed his words and ideas, hearing his discomfort with both the expectation and the idea of breaking courteous traditions for possible over-caution. Yet she found that she shared those concerns, and appearances could be changed and crafted if prior knowledge of their arrival were to be received. “Hmm.” She hummed quietly in thought. “Perhaps…” she began and then paused again.

“Perhaps, you can write with the news of our wedding and that you have just discovered her status, but not reveal directly that we might visit? Is there any reference you could use to hint at it, such as saying how much I would like to meet her to celebrate together, without stating that we would go there? It could almost sound like an invitation to come here, without saying either way.” Ziran looked up at him again. “Or, travel immediately and excuse the break with tradition by our hasty travel being just as fast as any courier.” Her brown eyes were completely serious by now. “If our concerns are valid, I agree the latter would be the better course. Even if they are unfounded, it can be excused, but the element of surprise reveals much that may otherwise be hidden.”

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Lady Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
The night somewhere between Dec 26th and 27th

Ava focused on taking slow breaths in and out, trying to calm her racing heart. At the moment, she really didn't feel like trying to go back to sleep, lest she slip back into the nightmare she had just awakened from. She ought to go to the washroom, she figured, but that would involve getting out of bed. And if she was going to do that, she might as well change into something more comfortable, but again... that involved leaving the warm covers.

When Tercen groaned and rolled over partially, Ava turned her gaze down to him, glad to see him stir, even if it might mean he was not sleeping as soundly as he might be. Still, just to see him move helped to confirm in her mind that he was alright. When he sat up, she managed a little smile as he offered to take care of the fire. So thoughtful of him, to think of that. "I didn't mean to wake you." She apologized softly, wondering suddenly whether she had made any noises or movements while in the midst of her dream, which she might rather she had not. Although he had slept here almost every night since they met... she was not used to there being anyone else in her room aside from her tiger, when she was sleeping. It was not something she had given thought to, before, and now she wondered. But he had not awakened until after she did, so she probably had not been being noisy in her sleep. Thankfully.

As for what was wrong... she wasn't really willing to tell him about her dream. "Nothing," She answered quietly, although not really truthfully. She smiled faintly at him and tried not to look as shaken as she had felt a moment ago. She didn't feel like she was trembling anymore, at least. But if she was, a little, then perhaps he would think she was only cold. "It is a little chilly," She answered, not specifically asking him to take care of the fire, but sort of hoping he might. More because she did not care for the lighting it cast about the room, but also so it wouldn't get any colder in here. "I was actually thinking of going to the washroom, though." She added, then leaned a little closer and kissed him softly, squeezing his hand lightly before pulling away. "I'll be right back." She assured him, before slipping out from the covers, and grabbed a nightgown to change into, as that would be more comfortable to sleep in than the gown she had worn for the dinner.


In the washroom, she took a few slow, deep breaths and rested her hands on the rim of the basin, leaning her weight into it. Even though she knew it was only a bad dream, it stuck with her. And the scariest part about it was that she felt that it was highly possible that it could become reality, if things went badly. Maybe not everything, but some of it, anyway. And what could she do? What would she do? Ava frowned thoughtfully down at the water in the basin and wondered about that. What would she do, if he were threatened? Would she fight for him? Would she be able to fight to save him, if necessary? She had only known him a few days, and yet, she didn't want to lose him. She hoped that she would never have to deal with that situation, but sometimes things happened that she had no control over.

She drew another slow breath. There was no sense in worrying about things that hadn't happened, and which may never happen. She finished up in the washroom and returned to the bedroom after changing, leaving the dress hanging on a hook, where a servant would gather it for cleaning, later. At the moment, she just wanted to curl up under the covers and forget the unpleasantness for a while. With any luck, maybe she could sleep more peacefully throughout the rest of the night. Maybe, with Tercen there to hold her, she would manage.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

He appreciated her thinking alongside of him, looking for options he might be more comfortable with. Yet... "I do not wish to lie," he said honestly. "Our travel could not be as swift as a courier's. On the other hand, I do wish to use the element of surprise, for the exact reason you have just named." He sighed. Sometimes, it would be a lot easier if he did not hold himself to such high standards. However, that was not reason enough for him to change his ways.

"I can deliberate on the matter further, while you seek to obtain permission from your command," he suggested.

---

@Rillewen

Tercen
Ava's house, Fifth Circle
Evening of Dec 26th

"Don't worry," he smiled at her when she apologized. "I don't mind being awoken." Especially not from what he'd been dreaming about, but there was no need to trouble her with that. Surely, she had enough concerns of her own. He didn't need to add his to hers.

At her reply that nothing was wrong, he raised an eyebrow. He did not challenge her, however, instead taking his from her leg and gently rubbing it along her back. When she said it was a bit chilly in here, he nodded. That told him what he needed to know about the fire. Even if he didn't particularly agree that the room was on the colder side - he was used to much worse than this - he wanted her to be warm and comfortable. He smiled a little when she leaned in, and kissed her back, pretending to be relaxed even though he wasn't. Not quite yet. "Alright," he murmured as she slipped out of the bed, to take some nightclothes and leave the room.

Tercen watched the door for a moment, a slow frown forming on his face. He drew in a deep breath and let it out with a sigh. And swore out loud. Then he got out of the bed himself. Even though he was still dressed in his pants and shirt from the evening before, which were now looking rather crumpled, the chill of the room did hit him more fully now he'd left the warmth of the bed. He made quick work of the fire, and it was already happily crackling by the time Ava returned, now wearing a lovely nightgown. He turned toward her with a soft smile. "More sleep?" he suggested, keeping his voice quiet, holding out a hand to her as he approached the bed.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Lady Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
The night somewhere between Dec 26th and 27th

She smiled as she entered, pleased to find that he had built the fire up, so that it no longer cast an ominous hue about the room. The cheery warmth of the fire made the room feel much cozier. Ava smiled as she went to take his hand, nodding tiredly as they got back under the covers. "Thank you, Sunshine." She said softly as she snuggled close to him, and eventually dozed off. She slept peacefully in his arms through the rest of the night.

---

Ava
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

They slept late the next day, well into late morning. Ava wanted to be rested up in preparation for the day to come, what with the exercising that was planned, as well as the questions that were inevitable. And, she did not mind staying curled up with Tercen for a while longer. But, eventually, they got dressed and went down to eat brunch. Ava wasn't entirely sure when to expect Arnyn to arrive, so she wanted to make sure that they were ready and not still curled up in bed when she arrived. After a light meal, there was still a little time left to sit and chat while finishing their coffee. She figured on offering coffee to Arnyn too, when she arrived.

She made no mention of the nightmare, and hoped that he wouldn't ask. For the most part, Ava was a bit apprehensive and uncertain about what to expect when the lieutenant came. One part of her mind even worried that the woman might show up with guards and arrest her, but she tried not to listen to that part of her mind. Tercen wouldn't let that happen, right? "Do you think she will still come?" She asked suddenly, looking up at him over the rim of her mug as the thought occurred to her that she might have decided against coming, after all.

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

Ziran smiled slightly at Macardil’s comment, nodding with complete understanding that he didn’t want to lie, but amused that he said they couldn’t travel as swiftly as a courier. She attempted to lighten his mood after that sigh by teasing him mildly. “We could travel as swiftly, but not do so and arrive in the proper state as Lord and Lady Himhathol, this is true.”

She glanced out at the golden light that would soon fade from the skies despite the early hour. If she left soon, perhaps she could catch Captain Pele in the office. “Aye,” she agreed to his suggestion, “I know you’ll find something you are comfortable with. I’ll go now before I lose all momentum and decide to stay indoors where it is warm. Here’s hoping the captain is still in a good mood from yesterday and I’ll return with news shortly as to whether we need to adjust plans or not.” Turning, she placed a light kiss on his cheek before reluctantly drawing back from his warmth and drinking the rest of her tea and then heading for the hallway. It was time to put the warm layers back on and head out, although she would leave her bow behind.

Halting suddenly, she backtracked and selected a small bag of iced spice cookies from the cupboard shelf, casting Macardil a mischievous smile as she headed back out again. It was best to come armed with the right type of ammunition.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Tercen
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Naturally, he had had no objections to sleeping in late. It was an absolute luxury to fall asleep with her in his arms, and to wake up with her nestled against him. Just sharing a bed with a woman, to sleep, had never felt this... peaceful?

Anyway. He could unpack that later. Because Ava was clearly getting more concerned or insecure or something, with every hour that passed. Was his sister really that intimidating? As they were having coffee after their late lunch, Tercen gave Ava a thoughtful look at her question. "She's not one to break her word," he said, smiling softly. "You're not concerned about her coming to drag you off to the dungeons or anything, right? You've done nothing wrong... within her jurisdiction, that is," he added, his tone slightly teasing.

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

She'd been in a mood as she'd left this house, the evening before. She'd been in a mood at the tavern to get coffee, and she'd been in a mood when she'd crawled into bed at her own place. She'd been in a mood when she'd awoken, too - and Trastion had been the participant in an even more strenuous training session than he was (by now) used to. Arnyn had not been mean, but she'd spoken less, and the training had been rougher.

Whatever else had happened between the end of that training session and the afternoon hour in which Arnyn was making her way to Ava's house on the Fifth, hardly mattered. If her mood had been lifted by some miracle, it was now once again spiralling down as she remembered the way her brother had first set her up to meet Ava under a sociable guise, only to then try and drop more work into her lap, apparently assuming she would have no questions for an Umbarian trying to set up an underground slave escape route, to then talk to her like she was being a stone-hearted shrew - and dismiss her.

She wasn't wearing a dress under her winter cloak today, though she was still garbed in full black. It was training gear she used when she trained without armour, fitting but comfortable enough to move with her, along with a thick extra layer in the shape of a black wool sweater. Her facial expression was neutral as she knocked on the door. The look in her eyes, however, made it rather clear that she had not come to play.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Tercen's question made her blink slowly. Was it that obvious that she was growing concerned about that? Or... was he teasing her? A faint smile crossed her face as she then decided that yes, he probably was teasing. Hopefully. "Right." She wasn't entirely sure how to answer that, and blew over the surface of her coffee without taking a sip. Should she tell him that things didn't really work that way, where she came from? That one didn't necessarily have to be guilty of a crime to be locked up in the dungeon? She considered it briefly, but decided that he might rather not be aware of that. In fact, the less he knew about Umbar and its ways, the better she liked things. She gave a little smile as she set her mug down.

Before she could say anything else, the knock alerted them to the fact that someone was at the door. Ava glanced toward the hallway, but through the open doorway, she saw Edwyrd already moving for the door. She drew in a slow breath and reached out for the third cup that she'd had brought to the table, along with the coffee. "I guess we're about to find out whether she's still upset." She mentioned with a little glance toward Tercen, placing the cup at the empty spot next to her, where it would be clear that it was for Arnyn.


When Edwyrd ushered the lieutenant in, after greeting her cordially and putting away her outer wraps, Ava rose with a smile to hide her nervousness, as she faced her returning guest. "Arnyn... or do you prefer lieutenant?" She added the latter part, a bit uncertainly, before continuing, "Welcome back." She greeted her politely, extending a hand with a smile, in a hopeful gesture of at least good will, even if friendship may no longer be an option. "Would you like some coffee?" She motioned to the table, indicating the third setting of cup, near the coffee pot.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

|
Tercen | Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Tercen shifted in his seat when the knock came. His little joke earlier had fallen a bit flat. Maybe Ava wasn't as grateful anymore for his intervention the previous evening...

Arnyn was nice to Edwyrd, greeting him and asking him how he was today. The smile she gave him, however, did not reach her eyes, and when Edwyrd showed her to the room where Ava and Terven were, a set of unyielding brown eyes focused on the owner of the house. She nodded in response to the 'welcome back'. Saying 'thank you' or anything else that might indicate she was happy to be here, seemed like too much of a lie. "Ava," she said while she shook Ava's hand with a firm grip. "Arnyn is fine." At the offer of coffee, she bit back a comment about not wanting to repeat the last time she'd had coffee here.

Pushing the snarky comment down proved to be more difficult than she would have thought after all the practice she'd had over the years. Yet she managed anyway, meanwhile claiming the seat next to Ava, where the empty cup stood. "Yes, please." Her brother had not been polite, the evening before. That did not mean she had to follow in his footsteps.

"Did you sleep well, last night?" Tercen made a feeble attempt. Arnyn looked at him for the first time. Even though she made eye contact, her gaze was cold. It made him lean back a little, unused to receiving such a look from his sister. Damn. Definitely still upset. He cleared his throat.

"Let us not pretend like I was on your list of priorities last night, brother."

His eyes went wide and his lips parted, and he found the whip of her words had slapped any possible reply from his mouth.

Her cup now filled, Arnyn did not ask for milk before sipping it once and putting it back down on the table. She returned her focus to Ava, but said nothing. Arnyn did not believe the ball was in her own court.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

The tension seemed rather thick, Ava noted. It was clear that Arnyn was still upset at her brother. And Ava was not sure if that annoyance was extended toward her, as well. As she retorted at him after his inquiry, Ava began to question why she had thought it would be good to place herself between them, which put the siblings across from one another.

A large part of her was wishing she could go back to the previous evening and simply undo the part where she had revealed where she was from. Everything had been going well, up until then. If only she hadn't done that... what was she thinking, anyway? Trying to be honest and open, like Tercen... It hadn't really gone well, had it? Feeling a sharp pang of disappointment, she had to remind herself that the whole 'honest and truthful' thing had turned out well, the night of the masquerade. When she'd told Tercen the same thing. Why couldn't his sister react the same way? Why couldn't she at least give her a chance? Fighting a surge of frustration, Ava sipped her coffee as Arnyn looked back at her.

This wasn't exactly the afternoon get-together that Ava had hoped for, when she invited Arnyn here today. She didn't really like sitting here, feeling like she was being judged, condemned, and whatever else. Feeling awkward. She used the sipping of her drink to stall for a moment while she tried to think of what she, as the host, ought to do. This was definitely not an ordinary situation, and she wasn't even accustomed to those. Trying to ask herself what her mother would do in her place, didn't really yield any aid to the matter. Her mother had never had any situations like this, nor could Ava really remember much about it anyway, if she had. Instead, she tried to think of what she had learned from some of her servants, in preparation for coming here. Expectations and 'rules of politeness' for Gondor. She also reminded herself of what Tercen had told her, about how his sister appreciated honesty.

After a brief pause, she set her cup down and turned to Arnyn. "I apologize for last night." She began quietly, leaving the apology rather open-ended, so that it should cover everything that may have bothered the woman. The way she had dumped everything onto her, the way Tercen had basically told her to leave... and anything else. She decided to try and explain a little. "I had asked to meet you because I truly wanted to meet Tercen's sister. He speaks highly of you. I.. was nervous, however. I didn't know if anyone besides Tercen would automatically reject me, because of where I am from. And.. after hearing what you do, who you are, I had thought that you might be just the person to come to, to ask for help. Yet... I was uneasy about coming to your ranger office." She paused to take a little breatth. "Where I am from, people can end up in dungeons whether they have done anything wrong, or not." She didn't say whether she thought it might be different here or not. She also didn't glance over to see if Tercen now understood why she had not responded to his joke as he might have expected.

"So," Ava let out a little sigh. "I invited you to come here, where I could try and make you comfortable, where I would be more comfortable, and.. well, I wanted to host something, and to show you that I was not evil." She spoke the last part more quietly, looking downward. "I did not want to reveal where I came from, in fact. But I thought it would be best all around, if I did not maintain any deceit." She made herself look up again, finding Arnyn's gaze. "I feared you would leave as soon as you found out where I come from.. or refuse to partake of dinner, or... I don't know."

Clearing her throat to get away from that uncomfortable admission of feelings and fears, Ava clasped her hands in her lap. "You asked me some things, last night, which I did not have a chance to answer." She reminded the lieutenant, needlessly. She didn't doubt that the woman remembered all too well. "While I was not anticipating you leaving so abruptly," She refrained glancing at Tercen at this, "perhaps, it was good for us to take a break." She suggested, in hopes of putting a positive light on the whole thing. It had given her a bit of time to recover, to rest from an emotionally wearying few hours, and most importantly, to consider how to answer the tough questions she had been asked. "I will answer your questions as well as I can," She went on, "But, perhaps instead of.. an interrogation," She offered a small smile, hoping she woulld be favorable to this idea, "You might try to get to know me? Are you still interested in joining me in the exercise room?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

|
Tercen | Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

An apology. From Ava. Not her brother. Arnyn looked thoughtful as Ava explained. When the woman stopped speaking, Arnyn nodded slowly.

"My problem with last night was not about where you are from, Ava. The two of you did blindside me, however." She would never say she had felt a bit used. Even though she did. "I was expecting a social gathering. To meet the woman who'd captured my brother's attention. We were having a nice time, I thought. Someone wanted to meet me because I was just a person, not a Lieutenant. And then the dinner suddenly turned into very serious business. Suddenly it looked like the social aspect of the gathering had been little more than a ruse to get me here. Did you even want to meet me before you knew what my profession was?" Arnyn inquired, well aware how easy it would be to lie. Still, it was a question she wanted to ask.

"The end of a long day turned very serious, very unexpectedly. Regardless. I went with it. Because I had to make sure you did mean well before I could leave, anyway. Or I would be shirking my responsibilities. But then my brother..." Arnyn still did not glance at him. "...dismissed me. He decided I was being too... something. While I was only asking what I was asking because I was forced into it first. If either of you believe I enjoyed putting you through that, you are wrong. But if either of you thought I would simply take one look at you in this lovely house with my brother and go 'she must not be a threat if she looks and sounds this nice and if Tercen likes her', you are also wrong. I don't do things half-assed."

Arnyn took another sip of coffee, still focusing on Ava, not Tercen. "That being said... I can imagine your uneasiness to come to headquarters. I've seen it before," Arnyn said, thinking of Trevadir. "When someone else was afraid they would end up encarcerated. They did not know much about me, or about how things work here. They had been fed lies about the King and about how he operates, and given that the Rangers are under the King's command, this person was very... uneasy, as you call it." She wanted to show Ava she was not unfamiliar with such a situation. And that Ava was not alone, either. "I didn't blame them for that. Neither do I blame you for that. But just as I did with this other person, I need to make sure I believe what you say holds true. I need to trust in your good intentions. You shouldn't feel like you've already lost, simply because you have told me where you are from. This other individual had been associating with pirates for years. I wanted to judge their character, though. Their intentions. Their heart. Not their past."

"So yes, I do want to get to know you. Especially since you and my brother have a connection. And yes, I do want to join you in that exercise room." At this point, Arnyn finally turned her attention upon Tercen. "But not when you are there. That is my condition. I want to be alone with Ava. You can stay in any other room of the house, if you like. Wait for us, if you wish. But Ava and I need to get to know each other without whatever it was what prompted you last night." She regarded them both, now. She had put forth her condition. Now it was up to them to accept or refuse it.


At Ava's glance, Tercen looked down at the table. While Arnyn was talking, he kept his gaze down, only now fully realizing his mistake. While he knew that he was important to Arnyn, of course, he... well he hadn't realized, not really, how much value she put in... well. Their relationship, he supposed.

When Arnyn said she would only stay if he was not with them - so he would not... interrupt - Tercen looked up, startled. He hadn't expected her to make any such demand. Was this her revenge? Tercen bit the inside of his cheek. "I'm sorry," he mumbled. 'I didn't realize... Sorry."

His sister nodded, but didn't amend her condition. Right. "I don't mind," he mumbled, looking a bit downcast.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava was a little surprised to hear that Arnyn's problem was not about where Ava was from. That... was unexpected, and a little confusing, since it had certainly seemed that way. She decided to try and assess whether she was really telling the truth about that. While she believed that Tercen was not one to lie, that didn't necessarily mean his sister was the same. She didn't know Arnyn, any more than Arnyn knew Ava. However, as she explained more, Ava began to realize why she had been so upset, and nodded slowly. She held back a sigh, wishing more than ever that she could undo the turning point of the evening before. However, when Arnyn asked a question of her, Ava gave a nod. "Yes, I did." She answered without hesitation. "I believe I expressed interest in meeting his sister on more than one occasion. He told me what sort of person you are, and I thought you sounded like the sort of person I would like." She explained. "Then, the fact that you and he.. seemed to get along so well, and have such a friendship between you," She paused with a brief glance at him and back to her, hoping very much that she had not caused some sort of wedge to drive between them... "made me very curious to meet you." She concluded. "I have no siblings," She added softly. "And, most of my peers who do have them, they can hardly tolerate them. There is rivarly between them. They have.. a far different sort of relationship than what Tercen described as existing with you and him. So, yes.. I was curious to meet you before ever knowing what you do."

She took a thoughtful sip of coffee as she considered the rest of Arnyn's words. She nodded slowly as Arnyn assured her she did not do things halfway. She was not really sure how to make a reply, just yet, and so she kept quiet and let the other woman speak. As she revealed that she was not the first who was uncomfortable with coming to the headquarters, Ava was mildly surprised, but tried not to show it on her face. She listened, curious and intrigued to learn that it was someone who had associated with pirates for many years. She didn't know who that might be, but that wasn't too surprising, since Ava did not tend to associate with many of those types. She nodded thoughtfully, again, as she considered this. And was glad to hear that Arnyn did intend to get to know her, and to join her in the exercise room. Perhaps this would not turn into another uncomfortable day of interrogation, after all.

When she laid out her condition, Ava kept her gaze on Arnyn for a few seconds as she tried to gauge what she had in mind. As it turned out, apparently, she preferred not to have Tercen interrupting again, or anything else. If there were any other ulterior motives behind it, Ava could not discern them. But she didn't feel intimidated by this request. In fact, in a small way, she was relieved... while she had found that it had been nice to have Tercen there, yesterday, she had also felt somewhat hindered by what she felt comfortable saying. There were some things... well, she did not want to taint his imagination with the horrors she had grown up seeing as commonplace. The man did not even know about the slave market before she said something about it, much less what sort of abhorrant things go on in that temple. She had no wish to fill in those gaps in his knowledge... she realized that was one of the things she liked about him. That he was unaware of those things.

But the question was.. would he protest? She turned to look at him, to try and gauge his reaction. He looked startled.. perhaps guilty.. even a little hurt, maybe? Disappointed, perhaps. But he agreed. Ava reached out to rest a hand lightly on his arm and smiled softly. "There is a small library, upstairs," She told him softly. "The door across from the upstairs washroom." Which was also the first door to the right, upon leaving her bedroom. But she thought it would be more tactful to make reference to the washroom, given the present company. "You're welcome to use it if you like." She told him, recalling that he had mentioned enjoying books. "There aren't a lot of books, but there are some, and you are welcome to them."

Having given him a little smile, she then turned to Arnyn again. "I accept your terms." She told her, in case her words to Tercen had not made it clear.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

|
Tercen | Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Tercen offered a few nods of confirmation when Ava answered Arnyn's question. "She did express interest in you, even during the masquerade already. When I told Ava you were very independent, and strong-willed... along with your other qualities," he mumbled.

When Ava put her hand on his arm, he finally looked back up, meeting her gaze. He smiled faintly at her suggestion about the library next door to her bedroom. He nodded. He would go there, then, and peruse the shelves until the two women were done... Hopefully he would find something that caught his interest enough to read. Teren had a feeling Ava and Arnyn might take a while.

Since both of them had agreed, one more confidently than the other, Arnyn nodded. "Good," she stated, thawing just a little - even though she thanked neither for their agreement. "Can I bother you for some milk, then?" She tilted her head. "Do you need to change clothes before we go to your room of wonders, by the way?" Arnyn inquired of Ava, mildly curious.

---

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Sixth Circle, at the Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

Getting ready in the morning was a routine that didn't take much thought. Not even braiding her hair the way she so often did required much attention. She whistled the notes to a song as her fingers deftly maneuvered the hair strands around. Over, under, adding a piece, over, under, and so forth. Her thoughts were with the song more than with the motions of her hands and fingers, and she finished the tune singing the words rather than whistling as she put on some of her black leather armour. She wouldn't need it to watch the sunrise, of course, but since she wasn't planning on making a long stop here (or possibly not any stop here) before taking out Nársulë to the Pelennor, she already put on the gear she wanted to have on while riding along the guard posts of the Rammas. Arnyn found that it helped to wear it. The guards had come to expect the black attire, the leather armour, the long blonde braid, the big warhorse. It was part of who she was, to them. And it made her feel the part just a bit more, as well.

After making the hot chocolate in her kitchen and immediately cleaning up after herself, she grabbed not six, but seven cups, just in case Seri might bring along Domanol. Even if Arnyn's gut told her the man would not be likely to agree, she would not mind either way, and it was always better to be prepared. Arnyn poured the warm beverage into two different canteens. Those would need a thorough cleaning afterward... But that was for later.

Her winter coat wasn't comfortable when riding, so she only grabbed her riding cloak on the way out. Along with a thick wool scarf which she curled several times around her neck, so it also covered her mouth and ears when she lowered her chin a little.

Under the cover of darkness, the Lieutenant made her way through the Gate from the Fourth to the Fifth, greeted politely and with a routine that betrayed she almost always came through at this hour. When she reached the next Gate, from the Fifth to the Sixth, she found she was still early, for the first morning bell had not yet rung. Which rung at six. She couldn't be that much earlier, however.

Striking up conversation with the guards at the gate was easy since their jobs at this hour were not just slow but painstakingly boring, and they were very glad for the distraction. As the conversation progressed, she explained she was meeting some friends from out of town at the gate, because she'd sold them on the view of the sunrise. One of the guards had apparently spent some time in the Houses of Healing, years ago, and he'd gone out to the gardens to watch it a few times, himself. The guard was poking some fun at himself and his injuries, much to the other guard's - and Arnyn's - amusement. She did like it when someone laughed at themselves more than at others. "Too bad you can't join us now," she told him.

"Aye. Duties and all that," he said regretfully.

"Luckily you could do that any morning you wished," Arnyn tried to encourage him.

"True enough. If the weather allows." The guard peered up at the sky. "It looks like a good morning, today. The rare cloud, here and there. You and your friends will get a splendid view!"

The other guard crossed his arms, as if to make a point. "Pretty darned cold, though. Standing still here is already cold enough. How you'll do it at the edge of the wall..." he shook his head. "Enjoy."

Arnyn smiled.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava was inwardly glad when Tercen spoke up to confirm what she had said. While she couldn't specifically remember if she had said, on the night of the masquerade, that she would like to meet his sister, she had been intrigued by his talk of her. She gave him a little smile and lightly squeezed his arm that she still had her hand resting on, when he nodded in answer to her suggestion of the library. While she did not mind if he wanted to wait in any of the rooms, she suspected he would enjoy that one the most.

As Arnyn asked about some milk, Ava turned back to her. "Of course." She reached over to the tray containing the coffee pot and other things that went along with it, and selected a small pot containing milk, which she set before Arnyn. Then, at the question of her clothing, she shook her head and smiled in amusement at the way she called it the 'room of wonders'. "No, I'm ready to begin whenever you are," She assured her. She had put on a sweater to keep herself warm until she was warmed up through exercise, but once she had got started, she would be taking it off. Aside from that, she wore a similar kind of outfit to the one she had worn the other day when Tercen found her there, except today she wore blue.

While Arnyn added milk to her coffee, Ava smiled faintly and decided to take care of a couple of last minute things. She had already arranged for a pitcher and glasses of water to be waiting for them in the exercise room, but she had not known then, that Tercen would not be joining them. Ava excused herself for a moment, going to speak to Edwyrd to ask that he ensure that Tercen had whatever he'd like while he waited in the study/library, or whichever room he chose to wait in.

She returned to the table and turned to Tercen as she reclaimed her seat, taking his hands lightly as she faced him. "Sorry it worked out this way, Sunshine," She murmured to him. "But don't worry." She smiled at him softly. "I'll be alright." She assured him. "And, there will be other days." She added, in case he was feeling disappointed about not joining them. She didn't know whether his sister would want to come back to join her in the future, but if so.. there might be another opportunity for him to join them then.

Having said that, she turned back to Arnyn as she prepared to stand and head for the exercise room. "Well, shall we?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

|
Tercen | Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

While Ava stepped out momentarily to spead to Edwyrd, Arnyn finished her coffee. Now with milk. She didn't rush, but she preferred to drink the warm beverage rather than converse with her brother.

The latter was, by now, feeling very guilty. He was trying to make eye contact for a while, so he could then start to talk - but Arnyn waited a good while before giving him the opportunity. "Sister..."

Arnyn just looked at him.

"I didn't mean to take you for granted. I really am sorry."

"Thank you for saying that," Arnyn acknowledged, more quietly than she had been speaking before. "I understand it was not fun for Ava to be on the receiving end of my questions. But it was not fun for me, either. Let alone once you basically told me to leave."

"I didn't, though... tell you to leave..." Tercen tried.

"Please," Arnyn interrupted whatever excuse would be forthcoming. "You wanted no more questions and you wanted to talk to her in private. I'm not an idiot, Tercen."

"No," he said quietly, looking at her. "You are most definitely not an idiot, sister. You're right, I just..."

"You've fallen for her," Arnyn told him. "Hook, line and sinker."

"Well, I don't know about that..."

Arnyn raised an eyebrow at him just when Ava returned to the room. As she addressed him, Tercen shook his head with a little smile. "It's alright," he told her. "Perhaps just as well, that I won't be there. You two will probably work this out faster with just the two of you, without my interference." He lifted one of her hands to his lips, to press a light kiss on its back. "I'll see you afterward. Though.. maybe Arnyn will let me make it up to her, this evening, somehow?" he suggested, looking at his sister at those words.

"We'll see," Arnyn said, not committing to anything just yet. First, she wanted to see how the afternoon with Ava went, and how much she felt like socializing with Tercen after that. In response to Ava, she nodded. "Yes, we shall."

And so Tercen made his way to the little library Ava had mentioned, while Ava and Arnyn went to Ava's exercise room.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava couldn't help giving a pleased smile as Tercen kissed her hand. The same gentlemanly sort of actions he had done at the masquerade. Her smile was even wide enough to show off the whiteness of her teeth as he did that. "See you later, Sunshine." She murmured softly, giving his hand a light squeeze before he went to find the library.

A little smile still lingered on her lips as she finished the last little bit of her own coffee, then led the way to the exercise room. Hopefully, she wouldn't be frowning and unhappy by the time she emerged from it. As she opened the door to the room, she was pleased to see a tray on the side table near the entrance, containing a large pitcher of cool water, and three glasses, as she had been expecting there to be three of them. There were also some soft, clean towels in a stack to one side, in case they wanted one to dab at sweat or whatever.

"How do you normally begin your warm-up?" Ava asked, her way of inviting the lieutenant to begin, and hoped she would feel comfortable enough to go about her usual routine. She had made sure there was a couple of extra mats laid down on the floor for her guests to use, for stretching or other floor-based activities, and there was also a mattress positioned under the silk strips, in case Arnyn wanted to try it. This would provide a bit of padding, in case of any accidental falls. She certainly didn't want Tercen's sister to end up getting injured, and then Ava possibly get blamed for it by others.

"You know," She added quietly, as Ava moved onto one of the mats to begin stretching. "In a way, I am glad that he is not here." She admitted. "Last night... while I appreciated his presence.. his arm around me," She looked down, "at the same time, I felt a little... hindered." She looked up, seeking to explain a little better. "I.. appreciate the fact that he is so.." She paused to seek the right word. "blissfully unaware of things that are so commonplace, in Umbar." Ava smiled faintly, but with a touch of sadness behind it. "While I don't doubt that he could handle learning about such things, I would prefer to keep him from knowing about any of it, if I can. I.." She swallowed. "I hoped to spare him from as much of the details, as I could." She looked at his sister, hoping she would agree. And, wondered also, how much about all of that Arnyn might already know, herself.

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd afternoon

It was just under an hour from when she left that Ziran re-entered their home, breathing a quiet sigh as she closed the door behind her and feeling some of her muscles relax. Her movements were a bit slower this time as she removed and stowed her winter outer garments and boots, feeling the tug of weariness as well as a certain restlessness that always accompanied a new mission, even if this wasn’t an official one. It would be new to go on a trip alone with Macardil, even going to visit others. Their past travels had been very well accompanied.

Her lips tilting in a small smile at the thought, she peeked into the kitchen first to confirm her husband wasn’t still there, and then went directly up the curved staircase. He was likely in the bedroom or his study, and packing for him would be the same whether she or Silivren were to be his companion. She, on the other hand, would have more difficult choices to make. Hearing slight movement within, Ziran’s eyes gained a twinkle as she stepped through the doorway with a nonchalant air before her smile appeared again as she located him. “Permission granted. Looks like I’ll be going with you, Macardil.”

[Ercassie]

Flashback – The Blood Temple, Umbar. Six years ago

She came in a time of darkness, not at night. But the deeper sort of darkness which feels as though it will never leave. She brought the sort of light with her that can not be put out. A softness. Kindness. The things in life that he had begun to forget existed beyond the box. Beyond the blood. And .. all of it.

She spoke. Not the cold uncaring kinds of conversation he had overheard going on above, debating who, how many .. would be next. She spoke from a place of surprise and sadness, as though she knew just how he felt. That it ought not to be this way.

Her dark hair fell like a veil of dark feathers, and her skin was freckled with stars. Her dark eyes wept, and the light that bordered around her silhouette cast away all that he knew existed still behind her. He knew who she must be, as much as he had been taught since he was old enough to understand.

Tintalle. The kindler of stars. If not her, then one sent on her behalf. For she kindled a renewed hope in his heart. With every word she gave, a gift. An exchange with another living soul. Someone who knew he was there, and cared. She had no crumb of food that first time that she paid her visit, but she managed water. When pouring what small amount she could spare saw him panic, at the memory of what had previously come dripping and sluicing through the grate … So she tore a sliver of her dress, the cleanest portion she could find, and soaked that in the precious refreshment instead.

From that small offering, he sucked and somewhat soothed the throat which had begun to stifle into sandpaper. And when he fretted that she was come, because he was already dead .. He didn’t want to die, not here !! .. Not like this .. She would have him recall. That it is not only dead things that are placed underfoot. Seeds too are planted, deep in darkness, and they one day reach out and know the sun on their face. So would he too.

---

Lady Gaelanna Estennin, arriving at Minas Tirith with her family.
to a fond reunion with Unalmis Raxelilta.
Two weeks before the Midwinter Masquerade

The carriage leapt back into life as the gate guards admitted their passage, and the small party of visitors advanced into the Second Circle. Airelen had clambered onto her father’s lap to better see out of the window and watch the white city wind ever higher about their ride. Gael had unclasped her hands now that they were within the City Gates, the harbours of Harlond and all that might slink in there from the sea, shut out.

It had been more than a year since she was last here, and still she felt as nervous as though it were the first excursion. For last time had been to visit Isys in her new home. This time .. had a rather even more exciting ambition. As they passed by shop after shop, the simple woodworking establishment did not stand out any more than did any other. Save that it bore the sole door which a soul startled forth from, almost as though he had been flung out into the street.


With a glance toward her husband, the lady nodded, with a small smile. And as he tapped up on the ceiling of the carriage, and the driver called their ride toward a halt, the lady readied to open the door. It took a moment or two for the young man to catch them up, and in that time more than one curious face peered toward curiosity of who might be in such a fine transport. The youngest Lady Azrubel had sent it down personally to meet them and bring her family straight up to the Fifth Circle. Gael had been glad she would have no need to evade the staring and the whispers that struck even in their silence from behind raised hands. And now she recalled, belatedly, that she was exposed. They would see her face .. Hands flew to reclaim the veil which was fashioned about her hat. In the very same instant that the person they had stopped for in the first place caught up to the waiting carriage. And flung both arms about her so that she was unable to conceal her .. anything. Cheeks blushed, eyelashes fluttered as the lady was not quite sure what to do and her husband, judging that no harm was abounding, focused on keeping the small child from leaping out of the carriage to greet their happy welcome as well. For she was already over-excited. Though she was perhaps not the only one.


“I’m so glad you came,” Unalmis could not exclaim until he’d released his cousin’s wife.

“Your letter was quite convincing,” she smiled. “It would have been more difficult to refuse.”

“It’s not like I’m hosting the thing,” he laughed. “I’m fair sure that you would have heard about it one way or another.”

“Well it was nice of you to think of us,” she felt it was only fair to say. "Such encouragement .."

“They’re going to be expecting us up at the house,” Anardil could not help but mention. “We really ought not be late.”

“Who said that ?” Nal played innocent before glancing further into the carriage. “Hiya Aire” he grinned and waved. To which the small girl wriggled anew to be free of her father’s grasp.


“He’s right, of course,” Gael admitted, recognising the danger of the small girl escaping the safety of the carriage. “Will you come and see us at the house ?”

“Of course,” the younger man grinned.

“Once we’ve settled, of course,” the lady’s husband added, beginning to feel as though he were the parent of all three of those at hand.

“Of course,” his kinsman said again, rolling his eyes though this time.

“You had better,” Gael warned him kindly.


As their carriage soonafter re-commenced driving up toward the upper circles, Unalmis felt his smile somewhere deep inside his chest. She would have a good time. She deserved such a good time. And once Nardy had shaken off the rigors of perfecting their travel and arrival .. he might relax as well. After all, how could he not be anything but glad, in the company of the most beautiful woman on the planet ?

Anardil glanced at his wife as she reached out across the cushioned seat and took his hand, with a smile now sitting by his side. And he wondered if she realised, she had been within view of people and had not cared to cover her face ? Perhaps this had been a good idea after all. He really really hoped so. For he was as anxious as his cousin was optimistic. Both wanted nothing but the very best for her.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

"By stretching," Arnyn said, which clearly aligned with how Ava handled her own warm-up. Arnyn claimed one of the mats to begin. "This isn't my first bout of exercise for the day," she mentioned. "I have training with a trainee of mine almost every morning. Trying to build his strength, stamina and up his sword skills." Taras had really made enormous progress over the past few months in all three. The morning sessions were clearly paying off.

Ava's admission wasn't all that strange, Arnyn supposed. "I understand that, I think. You like that he cannot even imagine the cruelty, right?" she paraphrased, to make sure she understood correctly. "Because I am pretty sure he cannot," she agreed with that part. "Tercen has seen things in the culmination of the war - things that highlight how cruel the world can be, but..." Arnyn paused as she stretched out her legs. "It was only a few days. I think he has suppressed most of it." She glanced at Ava. "I have seen more, over a much longer period of time. But even so..." She held back a sigh as she changed positions. "Battle is... unreal. It's chaos. Sweat, blood - and other things - turning solid ground into a terrible kind of mud beneath your feet. People are merciless." Rolling her neck, Arnyn started stretching her shoulders. "But everyone is fighting for their lives, in that moment. Everyone is just trying to live. Survive. Get through it on the other side. So it is very different from a situation where someone has calm around them, with no imminent threat to your their own life, and yet that someone still chooses to hurt, maim or even kill others."

"I have seen a few things. I have heard a whole lot more. But every new thing I hear..." Arnyn shook her head. "How does it make you feel?" she asked Ava, curious. "Some of the things that go on in Umbar."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava smiled to hear that Arnyn began the same way as her. Good. That was something they had in common, at least. Stretching one leg out to the side, she leaned toward the foot while she listened to Arnyn speak of what she had already done today. "You must oversee many of your rangers' training, I suppose." Ava commented, somewhat curious about what exactly the woman did, generally. While just about everyone in Umbar knew of the rangers of Gondor, it was not something that existed for those of Umbar, which made the concept a little odd to her.

"I have been a bit more.. lax in my usual routine, this past week," Ava admitted in return, with a tiny smile. She had gotten some exercise in, but she had spent a lot of time with Tercen, instead, after meeting him. Not that she minded one bit. Besides, she was on vacation. Right?

Switching to stretch the other leg out, she listened as Arnyn responded to what she'd said about him, and nodded slightly. Yes, she thought Arnyn put it quite well. That Tercen just could not imagine it. As Arnyn went on to speak of the battle, Ava went through a few stretches without having to think, while her gaze remained on Arnyn, listening. By the time she had finished speaking of what a battleground was like, Ava slid one foot forward until she rested in the splits, and frowned as she leaned forward over her front leg. "I am fortunate, that I have never had to experience that type of battleground," She mentioned quietly with a slight shiver at the imagery. She closed her eyes briefly and took a slow breath, carefully trying to block out the mental image, in favor of something more pleasant.

Switching to have the other leg stretched forward, she considered Arnyn's question as she leaned over it. "It makes me.. sad," She said softly. "But also angry. And sickened, and.. frightened." The last word came as more of a whisper, as she found it difficult to admit that. She kept quiet as she went through a couple more stretches, before speaking again. "I don't like causing unnecessary harm to any creature. Killing something for meat, I understand. But for anything else.. I disapprove." She frowned slightly. "I have very few garments of fur, for instance..." She mentioned. "In fact," She smiled faintly. "The only thing I can think of at all, is a pair of boots that Tercen insisted on, which are lined in rabbit's fur. And the salesperson assured me that the fur came from rabbits which had already been killed for their meat... so the fur would have been merely wasted if it was not used for something." She paused from stretching, realizing that might be a common enough thing for Arnyn. "That is often not the case, where I come from. My cat, for instance," She mentioned. "I rescued him from people who intended to buy him simply to take his fur when he was grown, to use for a rug." She huffed in disgust at the thought of it, and moved to sit on her knees on the mat. "Despicable."

After going through a few basic stretches to start, Ava began to combine stretching with more challenging poses that brought about a bit of tremble in whatever muscles were engaged. Soon, she began to feel warm enough to pull off her sweater, which she tossed off to one side so that it was out of the way. "I think, the hardest thing about it," She mentioned with a small frown, as she shifted carefully onto her forearms, so that her weight rested on them, "is that I have to hide how much it all bothers me." She slowly brought both legs straight up so that she was balanced on her forearms, then with careful control, she let her legs fall into splits, one forward, and one back. She held the pose for several seconds before bringing them back together, then switched. After about the same amount of time, she carried the forward leg back and over, to join the other, so that both ended up behind her, and she shifted smoothly into a backward bridge. "It's... like, I have to put on this mask whenever I go into public." She looked at Arnyn, upside down. "I can't risk even a flinch, if I should happen to see someone strike a slave. I have to constantly pretend like none of it bothers me," She sighed and lowered down to rest on the mat. "But it does. Very much."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Arnyn laughed briefly when Ava said she hadn't maintained her usual training schedule over the last days. "My brother wouldn't have anything to do with that, would he?" she asked, amused. "Though... I am sure he would like to watch you," she added. He had also liked watching the ballet dancer practice, she remembered. Of course, that had not lasted very long. Arnyn had seen enough to know Tercen was more serious about Ava than he had been about previous... conquests. But she did wonder how serious Ava was about him. But she did not ask. It was not the time.

Arnyn did some more less impressive stretching exercises with her neck, arms and shoulders while Ava moved into the splits and answered her question. She nodded thoughtfully at what the woman told her, keeping an eye on her while she spoke, to try and gauge the truth behind it. It all sounded sincere. She blinked when Ava said some people had wanted to turn a cat's fur into a rug. "Turn a cat into a rug? Wouldn't that be more like a doormat?" she wondered out loud. "Not that I would ever kill a cat for either," she added quickly. Her face showed a disgusted expression. "You don't mean to say that these people purchase a whole bunch of kitties just to sew them together for a rug, right?" The thought did not sit well, even if it could hardly compare to sawing people in half. Arnyn swallowed away her revulsion. Or at least, she tried.

Returning to stretching her legs and also her back now, Arnyn still watched Ava intermittently, including when she moved into a balancing pose onto her forearms. Oh. She was good. A little smile spread across her face, despite the topic, even though she composed her expression again swiftly. Arnyn hid most of her approval when Ava moved into the bridge, and when the woman paused on the mat, Arnyn did the same pose as she had done - the only difference being that she rested her weight on the palms of her hands instead of on her forearms as Ava had done. Arnyn moved both legs up straight, the tips of her feet now pointing to the ceiling. "That has to really suck," she commented matter-of-factly, before shifting her weight increasingly to one arm, carefully adjusting the way her torso and legs were pointed to accommodate for the one-armed hand stand she was moving into. She didn't talk when she moved her left hand off the mat. It was actually harder on the mat than on solid ground, and she couldn't hold it for very long. Soon, her feet were back on the mat, and she was standing upright.

"I've heard snippets about some things. Some of what happens at the temple. And the... 'Chamber of Song'." What a terrible name, that. She supposed whoever had started calling the torture chamber that, had thought it was poetic. "I share your sadness. Your revulsion." She made eye contact with the Umbarian woman. "The endless ways in which humanity seeks to harm itself - it's not specific to Umbar, you know," she told Ava. "But it sounds like one of the places where it is at its worst." Arnyn hesitated while she took off her own sweater. "I also share your fear," she said slowly. "Even if for a different reason. It frightens me to know that humanity is capable of such things." It also frightened her that she was planning to do something about it. Because doing something about it, meant going there. Along with a group of people she would rather not endanger. She could not, and would not, speak of that, however.

Arnyn averted her eyes from Ava, to the silks. "Can you show me?" she asked Ava, whilst nodding at the cloth. "What you do with that, exactly?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava laughed softly. "Perhaps, just a bit." She replied, a bit teasingly. She smiled then as Arnyn mentioned that he might like to watch. "He has watched me, once." She told her. "He did seem rather fascinated." She admitted with a little grin, then added, "Seems like he mentioned then, something about how his sister would be interested in this room, in fact." Unless she was misremembering.

Arnyn's reaction about the rug comment brought a tiny smile to Ava's face. "Your brother said almost the exact same thing," She noted with mild amusement. Shaking her head, she slid into a center split and leaned her torso first toward the right leg, then toward the left, while she spoke. "No, my kitty is... not exactly average." She explained with a mysterious little smile. She leaned forward on her forearms. "He's much bigger than a regular feline. He's a tiger." She straightened slowly and went through a few more stretches while considering Arnyn's inquiry. "You know... I would not really put it past the people of Umbar to do a horrid thing like that," She frowned, also repulsed by the idea. "Particularly, some... but, no, as far as I know, that has not been done."

"One day, a few years ago, I was in the market, just looking at some jewels or something," She mentioned, as she went to the balance beam to begin a routine of basic exercises that she did often. "Normally, I would not have gone over to the auction area.. I don't like it there," She frowned. "But, that particular day, I heard some words and phrases often repeated, about 'fur' and 'pelt' and rug', and that piqued my curiosity. I wanted to know what they were auctioning, because it was certainly not a.. person." She focused her gaze on a particular spot so that she wouldn't lose her concentration. "When I saw this.. tiny newborn creature.." She sighed softly. "I just could not let him fall into the hands of others." She risked a glance at Arnyn and nearly wobbled, but managed not to lose her balance entirely. "He was so small, he fit into my hands." She said softly.

Hopping down as she decided that she was not entirely focused enough for the beam, with the tale she was telling, Ava went on with a glint of anger in her eyes, "And the people around me were talking about how they would keep him in a cage until he'd grown... some planned to hunt him for sport, or turning his pelt into a rug.. or turn him into some.. trophy of sorts, to make it look as if they'd killed a tiger in the wild, I suppose... to impress others, no doubt. I could not bear to let that happen." She shrugged and took a sip of water from one of the glasses. "So, I waited until the bidding had come to an end, and then I doubled the last offer, and took him home. He has been with me for about seven years now." She smiled slightly. "He's an absolute sweetheart, by the way.. very loving and affectionate."

She leaned against the balance beam sipping her water, watching while Arnyn went into a pose on the floor, smiling faintly in approval to see that the other woman was also quite good at this sort of thing. She even went to just one hand! Ava had not tried to do that, before. As the other spoke of sharing her sadness and revulsion, Ava gave a tiny nod. That she had heard 'snippets' about things, Ava took another sip, then clasped her glass in both hands, nestled against her torso, debating how to reply. She finally nodded slightly. "It is one of the worst, if not THE worst." She agreed softly. She had some things in mind to say, to tell Arnyn, but she had not decided when would be the best time.

When Arnyn requested to see what she did with the silks, Ava smiled and put those topics away for later. "Certainly." She agreed, pleased that there was interest. Setting her water down, she moved toward the strips of cloth. "This is something I began doing as a way to increase my ability to climb ropes, for.. certain purposes." She explained with a little smile as she assumed Arnyn would surely catch onto what she was referring to. "And then, I began figuring out more interesting things that I could do, and played around with it until I realized that I could also incorporate those stretches and poses that I do on the mat, into this." She grinned and grabbed up above her head, then climbed up a little bit before going into a brief sequence which involved several splits poses. From there, she began to wrap the cloth deliberately around her ankles in a specific way. After a moment, she went into a forward split, holding it for a moment before bringing one leg through the gap made between her other leg and the cloth, and returned to the splits, but now a bit of the cloth had wrapped around her other leg. After a few similar motions like that, which she made look very elegant and almost danceresque, Ava maneuvered around and adjusted the cloth before dropping into a center split, while hanging upside down.

"It is both challenging, and relaxing, in a way. As well as fun." She commented with a little grin. "And, I enjoy feeling confident that I can maneuver my way around ropes and things so well, either up or down." She smiled and then pulled one leg in toward her before unwrapping the cloth from it. While one leg was held out straight, suspended by the cloth, she brought the other up high and arched her back so that she was briefly upside down like that, but then moved into another series of moves in which she wrapped the cloth around her legs, torso, and even one arm, in a rather complicated-looking manner, while spinning slowly. Once she'd held the final pose for a few seconds, she let go of the cloth she was holding onto, and let herself unwind, only to catch herself before hitting the floor.

After a couple of breaths, Ava went for one last sequence. After climbing back up near the top, she did a couple of quick poses before ending up sideways, with one leg hooked around the cloth and the other pointed to the floor, while she wrapped the cloth rather precisely around her middle once more. As she straightened the other leg out so that she was in the splits, she moved it around to the other side of the cloth so not to risk getting tangled, then moved one hand away from where she had been holding the silk against her torso, and let herself unwind like a pinwheel. Just before she would have hit the ground, she hooked a leg around the cloth again, to catch herself, and hung suspended there for a moment before repositioning to stand upright, and eased herself to stand on the mattress. "That... is an example of what I do with this." She declared with a little grin as she waved a hand toward the silks. "Would you like to try?"

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

He had not heard her quiet steps on the stairway over his packing, and glanced at the door when he finally did hear her. Ziran had a casual air about her, and he dared to be hopeful when she smiled, even if it might be a smile preceeding an apology...

It was not, however. Her succinct words brought a smile to his face, as well. He left his bag for a moment, crossing the room over to his wife and embracing her happily. "And you have been cleared to leave soon?" It was slightly surprising, but he was all the more glad for it. He had dearly hoped she would be able to accompany him. The news brought him joy, which was clearly visible on his face when he pulled back to touch her cheek. "If so, I was planning to make use of the last few hours the shops are still open, to purchase what we need before we may leave." He definitely needed some gifts, for instance. "I can pack any hour of the day, and it will not take me long to decide on matters such as clothes and essentials." He knew the clothes would be a different matter for Ziran. "Is there anything you would like me to pick up for you?" he inquired softly, still smiling at her.

---

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

"Tercen knows I am into things like these," she confirmed, gesturing at the mats and the balance beam. "So he probably guessed I would also be interested in the rest, as well."

She smiled a little when Ava said her brother had almost the same response. "Well," Arnyn drawled, "we aaaaare related," she said with a half-smile. But when Ava said she owned a tiger, this left Arnyn baffled. "A tiger?" she repeated, incredulous. "You have a tiger?" she repeated, again. "A. Tiger?" She listened with interest to the full story of how the Umbarian stretching in front of her had acquired the feline. She was amused when Ava said she had waited for the bidding to come nearly to a close before doubling the last offer and taking the baby tiger home. Perhaps that had been unnecessary, and a bit of a waste of money. But it was already pretty clear to Arnyn that Ava had more money than she could think of what to do with. So her time probably cost more.

"Seven years," Arnyn mused. "And he has never hurt you? Or anyone?" That was interesting. She would believe Ava, however, if she replied in the affirmative. After all... "I have seen it done with wolves," Arnyn told her. "When raised by the right people from the time they were cubs. Even though the fact you have a tiger threw me - if wolves can be raised to play nice with humans, then why not tigers, I suppose," the blonde said with a little shrug. "It is only strange because tigers are so exotic to us, here. I can believe it, but it is difficult to imagine," she said with a faint smile. "I won't deny the thought is intriguing."

Arnyn approached the silks a little when Ava did the same. She still kept a respectable distance, though, to give Ava whatever room she might need. Arnyn listened and observed. For a moment, she looked doubtful - when Ava said she had started working with the cloth to improve her rope climbing for 'certain purproses'. She was not all that sure what to make of that, yet.
Soon, though, Arnyn was staring at how Ava worked the contraption. She kept any obvious tells from her face, and did not let her lips part or her eyes get too wide. But her eyes stayed on what Ava was doing the entire time she was showcasing her skills. For a moment, she worried Ava would not catch herself in time as she whirled downwards. But the woman did.

One corner of her lip curled upward at Ava's question. She held back one comment ("Show off"), and only offered a reply to the question. "Obviously," Arnyn said. For who was she to blame the woman for showing what she could do with those long pieces of silk? It was something she probably did several times a week. Just like Arnyn did with her own arm balances. It would not feel like showing off. Like her one-armed hand stand hadn't felt like it. Even though... Arnyn would admit, she had chosen that particular one rather consciously.

She frowned slightly as she approached. "How... do you wrap this around yourself?" she asked Ava. It had all gone a little fast.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

The reaction about her having a tiger brought a little smile. In fact, it seemed that the sister showed more curiosity and wonder, while the brother had seemed mostly just.. worried. Or at least, that was how she perceived the reactions in comparison with each other. "Yes, a tiger." She confirmed. When asked if he had never hurt anyone, Ava smiled and shook her head. "No, he is really quite gentle, actually. He's such a sweetheart, and he really acts like he thinks he's just an ordinary housecat." She laughed softly. "He doesn't even hunt, and I've tried offering him live prey before. He isn't interested. In fact, he once befriended a goat that was given to him to be prey. He seems to prefer meat that comes from the butcher." She shrugged. "Mostly, he just likes to swim and lounge in the shade, and curl up with me."

As Arnyn stepped up and asked how to wrap it around herself, Ava first had her try a few simple things to get a feel for the way the silk might swing or spin, while asking a few questions concerning what Arnyn was capable of, as far as her grip, and things relating to parallel bars and such. She had already seen what she could do as far as handstands, so she had no concern, there. Once she had a good idea of what the other woman could do, she decided to demonstrate a simpler pose which Ava figured would be better to begin with than the things she'd shown her before. "I'll show you what I call a 'scorpion'," She said with a grin, climbing up the ropes. She paused near the top. "I have never.. shared this with anyone. So, please forgive me if I am not very good at teaching, or explaining." She tried to go through it slowly and list what she was doing at each step. Once she had returned to the ground, she stepped clear of the ropes with an inviting gesture of one hand. "Now, your turn to try." She smiled, feeling rather curious to see someone else try it, for a change. She could see how it looked from a spectator's point of view.

"Actually, returning to the topic of tigers," She said, as she watched Arnyn closely to make sure she was getting the cloth wrapped correctly around her legs, "They are rather exotic for Umbar, too. I suppose that's why folks were so eager to have a tiger-pelt rug." She made a face of disgust. "His mother was brought there, by one of the ship captains." She sipped water while keeping an eye on Arnyn's progress. "Now, part the cloth and pass your upper body through it, yes," She nodded. "Bend in half and take hold of the 'tail' of the cloth that is trailing out from your ankles," She directed. "And from there, you should be able to open into the splits."

She returned to what she had been saying, "The poor tigress was sold to the man who owned the pits at that time," She explained with a frown, unsure what Arnyn may know about that. "They did not know, or perhaps not care, that she was pregnant. Izre was the only cub to survive, and his mother died soon after he was born, from injuries sustained in the pits. They had no need for a newborn cub, and no desire to devote the time into raising him to adulthood. So, they decided to gain some profit by auctioning him off. Which is how I came to acquire him." She concluded the tale.

"Now, arc your back and bring your legs backward, and hold onto the tail of the cloth," She proceeded with directing her through the sequence. "I did ensure the mattress was put down, in case of any accidental falls, but it is still preferable not to fall." She mentioned with a slight smile. Arnyn may recall that the mattress had not been there, the day before when she had seen the room. At last, as the other woman successfully went through the sequence and had returned to the floor, Ava grinned. "You did that wonderfully. And it was very nice to get to see it done by someone else, for a change."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

"Befriended a goat," Arnyn repeated, her tone almost deadpan. A tiger. Befriended. A goat. Was nurture then so dominant over nature? She thought about Ava, and how unusual she claimed to be compared to the rest of the ruling class in Umbar, and how Ava herself had been... brought up. Her mother had been different, she had told Arnyn the previous evening. Her father... had gone on a bit of a journey.

Letting that simmer in the back of her head for a while as Ava showed her the 'scorpion', Arnyn tried to pay as close attention as she could. It seemed doable - at least the poses did. As long as she got the cloth positioning right.
So when it was her turn, Arnyn did not feel all that nervous. What was the worst that could happen? A tumble onto the mattress? That was nothing. Moreover, she did not have much to prove to Ava. She had nothing to prove, actually.

She listened to Ava while going through the motions, aided by the woman once in a while when she hesitated about what to do with the cloth. With the additional instructions, Arnyn managed to move through the different positions. It was interesting. Similar and yet so different from doing the splits in the air or on the mat. With the cloth wrapped around her legs like that, it required a different kind of restraint.. if she did not want to overstretch. But it was... fun. It was new.

Once her feet were back on the floor, Arnyn grinned at Ava's compliment. "How about something else?" she suggested, kind of wanting to try more.

"Also... you said something about the pits?" she asked, a bit more carefully. "Fighting pits?" she ventured. "Do you attend?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava couldn't help smiling as she watched the other woman go through the moves. It did look really neat, from an observer's point of view. At least, she thought so. She was also rather impressed by how little help she actually needed. It surely helped that she already had plenty of practice with holding such poses, already, and doing other such things that required strength and focus, as well as flexibility and agility.

When Arnyn asked, with apparent eagerness, to try something else, Ava smiled. "Sure." She agreed readily. It seemed that she had enjoyed it. She was briefly distracted from selecting one, when Arnyn asked about the pits. She hesitated and gave one little nod. "Fighting pits, yes," She said with a bit of disgust. "No. I avoid the place.. I have no interest in that sort of 'entertainment'." She answered the second question with a disdainful note to her voice. "I've heard plenty of awful things about it, however. Enough to know that I want nothing to do with such a place."

Climbing up the silk strips, Ava began going through another routine that she figured shouldn't be too complicated for someone just beginning to do this, and again, talked through what she did at each of the steps as she went. After going through it twice this time, she slid down to the floor and stepped off of the mattress to let Arnyn try it. After a moment, she ventured to speak up again, "I would like to say," She began, hesitantly, "I have not always been as I am now. I was.. more selfish, some years ago. My.. fight against the temple was driven by revenge, more than the desire to help others."

She leaned against the nearest piece of equipment while she watched Arnyn work through the sequence. "That piece there crosses behind you," She offered helpfully, when it looked like she was trying to recall what to do next. "After what happened to my father, thought the only thing I cared about was bringing down the temple, and destroying the Halsad family, and the others who follow them." She explained, a bit tentatively. "I don't know how much I actually cared about anyone, during that time. When I began robbing the rich men of Umbar, part of me.. was doing it for spite, for a way to rebel against their ways.. and.. well, for the thrill of it," She gave a little smile and shrugged slightly. "I had no need for their money. I just didn't want them to have it. I wanted to strike at them with a blow that would leave them stinging for some time. To their treasuries, as well as to their pride."

After a little pause to gather her thoughts, Ava added, "Don't forget to keep your knee bent so it hooks around the fabric.. yes, like that." She smiled faintly before going back to what she had been saying. "A few years ago, during one of my burglaries.. something happened which caused me take a closer look at what I was doing, and for what reasons." She explained quietly. "And, I realized that I had been neglecting to actually try to help anyone, except for myself... and that I was not doing much to achieve the goal my mother sought to achieve, which my father had died trying to carry on." She frowned as she moved herself up to sit on the beam. "And I thought about all of the opportunities I had passed up, in which I could have helped people, but did not. Because I was focused on the wrong goal."

She looked at Arnyn, hoping she could see the sincerity in her expression, and in her eyes. "From that point on, my goals and plans shifted to align back to how they should be. You asked me, last night, what I do with the money I steal from the men of Umbar," She was sure that she didn't need to remind the woman, but she only brought it up so that she could give an answer, now. "I use their money to fund the operation I spoke of, last night. Not that I need to use their money," She added, "but it seemed.. fitting, to me." She smiled wryly. "To use their own money to make it possible for their slaves to escape from them.. and to get home."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

She had to admit - this was much better than the pointed back-and-forth from the evening before. This felt less like work, too, and more like... getting to know someone.

Regardless, Arnyn made sure not to forget the possibility of danger and some kind of double-cross. Even if she did not feel that to be likely - at least not during this particular meeting. Because - if Ava truly had bad intentions toward Gondor, then Arnyn was convinced the woman would be playing a longer game than trying to come at her today.
Not everyone would agree with that. Pele, for instance, would not have trusted the woman for a minute. But if Ava had meant to harm only Arnyn and her brother, then she would have simply poisoned the food or drinks the night before. There would have been no need for an additional meeting, today. No. If Ava was tricking them, she meant to get much more out of it than simply a ranger lieutenant.

That being said. None of it felt like a trick. So if it was... Ava was very good.

Not going to the pits fit with the impression she was trying to make. Was making. Arnyn gave a little nod at that. "What do you say when others invite you?" It seemed like a thing that might happen among the wealthier Umbarians, didn't it? "It would not surprise me if some of the wealthy men would try to impress a lady like you by inviting you to some sort of special seating. With the best view and refreshments, or some bull like that," Arnyn remarked drily. She wondered how Ava turned them down, if that were the case.

After paying close attention to the next routine Ava showed her, Arnyn stepped back up to the silks and started wrapping it around her the way Ava had done. She paused momentarily when Ava spoke of how she had changed as opposed to years ago. That was very interesting. She had touched on that point, yesterday, as well. And Arnyn was eager to learn more about that, for sure. Arnyn resumed wrapping the cloth, however, after her brief pause. Naturally, she was much slower with it than Ava was - even when the Umbarian had been doing it more slowly herself in order to show Arnyn. Once Arnyn was off the ground, and after a much-needed tip from Ava, Ava continued.

It was not easy, combining the listening and the analysing of what was said with trying to copy the routine Ava had shown. She couldn't focus enough on the routine to remember everything right. But that was less important than being able to gauge Ava's character and her intentions. She processed everything Ava had said while completing most of the routine.

Hanging up in the cloth, Arnyn changed the routine and dropped herself upside down. She grinned briefly at that, and then made eye contact with Ava, while she was still upside down. "So what happened?" Arnyn asked. "What was this big catalyst to change your focus from revenge on the culprits, to helping the victims?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Arnyn's question was interesting, and a good one. Ava transitioned from sitting on the balance beam, to slowly rising to her feet. "Well, it depends on who would pose the invitation." She admitted, slowly beginning to go through some moves that challenged her balance. "The man who was selling the tiger cub, for instance, when he suggested that I attend some night, like my grandfather used to do, I flat-out told him that I had no desire to see his idea of 'entertainment'." She put one foot forward, arms stretched forward as well, and leaned forward so that she ended up with her hands down, and carefully pushed off with her back foot so that she ended up doing a splits in the air while in a handstand. She held it for a moment before swinging into another pose, with her legs forming a V, extending out on either side of her arms that supported her weight. "There are not many others interested in pursuing the daughter of a heretic." She explained, slowly coming out of that position so that she returned to her feet. "There have been a few expressing interest... clearly only after my money," She rolled her eyes. "But, there is one who has been rather persistent," She said with a weary sigh. "I despise him, and I have turned down his every advance." She looked over at Arnyn. "I have good enough reason for that, too, even without my personal feelings against the cruel and despicable sort of man that he is." She didn't elaborate on that, but continued back to the original question.

"Generally, whenever anyone tries to make some invitation for me to join him, I make some excuse that seems reasonable and fitting at the time. I'm busy, or I have to deal with such and such issue that has arisen, or whatever happens to be convenient enough." She shrugged. "But, really, it hasn't come up often." She was glad for that, at least. "I am... also known for being rather eccentric," She added with a little smile, before moving to one end of the beam, with the majority of the beam behind her. She took a pause to gather her focus, while Arnyn was working through a portion of the routine that she didn't need much help with. Then she performed a back handspring, smiled in satisfaction at having executed it smoothly, and then glanced to see how Arnyn was proceeding.

Seeing her hang upside down like that, Ava grinned. "Fun, isn't it?" She commented, slightly amused. But the smile faded slightly then, as the woman asked about 'what happened'. She performed a cartwheel forward to bring her back to the end she had been at a moment ago. She hopped down and went over to take a sip of water. "Well," She hesitated briefly, to think how to begin explaining. "The persistent man that I mentioned, I had decided to rob his home," She took a cloth and dabbed some sweat from her forehead, then held up a fresh towel to offer to Arnyn, in case she'd like one. "He.. needed to be taken down a few notches, I felt." She explained. "So, I plotted it all. Got a plan of his estate, observed the place in secret for a few nights, to see what his security was like, all the works. I got onto the grounds, but then.. there was a specific door that I needed to get through, which would give me the best access to his treasury room." She watched the woman carefully, still a bit unsure how she would take all this 'openness' and 'honesty' about her thievery. "There were guards at the door, however. And I needed some way to draw them away from it." She paused as she brought the towel over to Arnyn when she indicated her acceptance.

"As it happens.. he had purchased a new slave earlier that day. Only, this woman," She gave a faint smile, "She must have been quite defiant, for he had her locked in a cage.. and hoisted up high over the gate. It was.. extremely hot, that day. I remember it was summer.. about the beginning of July, I believe. She must've suffered terrible burns from the hot metal," She mentioned softly. Her gaze drifted downward. "I decided to use her for a distraction, so.. I opened the lock on the cage, gave her some food and water... because she was in poor condition," She added, "Then gave her the best instructions I could on how to get away and when to make her move. And, then I moved into place to wait for the guards to notice she had escaped." She explained, then hesitated. "Don't get me wrong," She looked up again. "I truly did hope she would get away, but I have often thought, later, that I ought to have done more to help her. I could have. I could've brought her to a safe place to hide, brought a healer to her, ensured she would have proper food and drink as she recovered... all that. And I... didn't. I released her, but then I left her to fend for herself." She returned the eye contact with Arnyn. "I have felt bad about that, ever since."

Continuing, she returned the towels to the table after Arnyn had finished with it, and then went over to one of the bars and swung up so that she was holding herself up by the arms, her pelvis resting against the bar, and held that position, just to practice how long she could hold it, while she spoke. "I successfully robbed him of everything of value that I could carry," She smiled a little mischievously. "I even stole the silk sheets off his bed. Simply because I could," She informed her, looking amused. "I'd have loved to see the look on his face when he saw that.." She added with further amusement, before she became more solemn again. "But, I wondered about that woman, if she had made it to safety.. or if she had perished in the desert without anyone to aid her. I later learned that someone even worse than Gimlan was seeking her, although I have no idea how he managed to acquire a slave belonging to Relic." She dropped to the floor with a little shiver, deciding it would be good to rest her arms for a moment, and wrapped them around herself as if cold. "I never really learned whether she got away or was recaptured. I hope she did get away."

"But... that was not the worst of it," She frowned. "Also, as a result of my burglary that night, I learned that terrible punishments were dealt out to all of his slaves, as if it were their fault for allowing his home to be robbed." She sighed and leaned against the upright pole supporting the bar. "And, he also did something to the qanat.." She paused, seeking a translation word. "A tunnel system, which brings water to the citizens. He had the flow of water stopped, so that the citizens of the city were denied water. In the hottest part of summer." She sighed. "Realizing that these things happened as a result of me... and thinking about that woman whom I had failed to help as much as I might have.." She shrugged as she let her gaze rest to the floor. "I realized that I should re-evaluate what my actual goal was, and what I really wanted to accomplish."

She looked up again. "It was very, very soon after that, that the end of the war came about, and the ambassadors came back declaring that there was a king in Gondor, and that they had made peace with him. That part of the agreements for peace was that all slaves were to be freed, and no more were to be taken, and so forth." She explained, then hesitated. "Those men were assassinated before the following day had dawned, but I resolved that I would uphold that as well as I could." She reached up to let her hands grasp the bar over her head, in preparation to swing up again and practice some combinations. "So now," She hesitated. "While I do still take money from these men, I now focus more on 'stealing' their slaves away, whenever I can." She said. "I hide them, and give them food, drink, clothing, a healer... all that I should have done with that woman in the cage. "

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

"Better not tell Tercen about that one," she commented, holding back a little smile when Ava spoke about one of the men in Umbar who was 'persistent' in his advances. "Unless you want to make him jealous." Arnyn could not help but wonder whether or not Ava was the type of woman who would enjoy that, to some degree. She also wondered what jealousy would look like on her brother. Because she had never seen it on him before.

Playing around in the silks a little, Arnyn grinned when Ava asked her if it was fun. It was. And she knew she didn't have to verbally confirm that for Ava to notice she agreed. The grin faded when Ava started answering her question. About what had made her approach change. About what had made her perspective change. She was curious. A lot would depend on how believable this part would be.

She didn't miss the fact Ava definitely knew what preparation was. She had gotten the plans of this man's estate. She had watched the comings and goings of the guards, to plan for her best entrance as best as she could. Arnyn could appreciate that. She slowly unwound the cloth from herself, to accept the towel Ava offered her. She wiped off her face and neck. Her movements, however, slowed as Ava spoke of a woman hoisted up in a cage over the gate.

Hoisted up into the air. In a cage. Memories of a specific conversation trickled from the back to the top of her mind. Arnyn was dead quiet, her dark eyes fixed on Ava as she went on to mention the time of year. Summer. How Ava had unlocked the cage and given the woman something to eat and drink. Some instructions. How Ava then had moved on, to let the woman try her escape. And serve as Ava's distraction.

Well... well... surely... there would not only be one slaver in Umbar with such an idea. Right? And even if... even if that were the case, surely this man would not have stopped at hoisting one particular slave up to that spot. Right? The man could have put more than one female slave there. More than one woman could have proven defiant. But how many would have been released by some sneaky stranger?

When Ava made eye contact with her, Arnyn was staring back. Her experience with keeping her thoughts to herself ensured a neutral expression, despite the unrelenting, thoughtful stare. It was... impossible.

Ava returned the towels to a table and swung up onto one of the bars, but Arnyn didn't move. Her expression remained what could be at the most called 'thoughtful' when Ava said she'd robbed the man of everything valuable that she'd been able to carry. Arnyn swallowed when Ava looked amused at having taken the expensive sheets from his bed. That would have amused her, if she hadn't been fiercely trying to put things together. If she hadn't been furiously trying to calculate the likelihood of this all being a coincidence. If she hadn't been trying to think of what to ask to be able to separate possibility from fact.

'I later learned that someone even worse than Gimlan was seeking her, although I have no idea how he managed to acquire a slave belonging to Relic.'

Arnyn's eyes widened minutely at the first name. Her lips parted silently at the second name.

It was... possible.

She had to focus on the rest of what Ava was telling her. Arnyn forced herself to focus. On what the woman toldher about how Gimlan had punished his slaves. How he punished the citizens by keeping water from them somehow. How Ava had felt responsible for that. How leaving the woman up to her own devices, and how seeing what Gimlan had done to people after being robbed, had changed Ava's perspective. Arnyn's throat was dry. She swallowed. Part of her mind was asking: What do you mean, you still take money from these men? But another question drowned it out. Entirely.

It wasn't just possible, was it? There was no way that... that all of these similarities were one huge coincidence. Was there?

"Do you recall," Arnyn asked slowly, fighting - fighting hard - to keep her voice as it had been before, as if she were unaffected by anything Ava had said, "what the woman in the cage looked like? At all?"

Her mind was racing. What could she ask? That not just anyone would know? "How did you do it?" she asked. "How exactly did you open the cage if it was hoisted up into the air?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

She gave a little smile in response to the comment about not letting Tercen know. She didn't see where he had any cause to be jealous. She had no interest in Gimlan, and she thought she'd made it quite clear how very interested she was in Tercen. But she saw no reason to say all of that aloud. Although she was just a bit curious what he might do if he did become jealous. No, she changed her mind a bit. She'd rather not have Tercen try to go against a man like that, in case things did not turn out well in his favor. Because she knew that man, and while he was not a warrior of his own, he kept bodyguards around and had them do his fighting for him. She didn't want there to be any sort of fight between Tercen and anyone of that sort.

She noticed that Arnyn had given her whole attention to what she was saying about the incident, and so she did not try to swing up onto the bars while she spoke, returning the same level of attention to what she was telling. When she asked Ava if she remembered what the woman looked like, she blinked. "Looked like?" She tilted her head questioningly. "It was dark, I could not see her fully." She mentioned thoughtfully. "What difference does it make?" She shrugged, thinking back. "Seems her hair was a bit lighter than I expected, for a Gondorian." She answered. "But then," She smiled faintly. "So is yours, and your brother's. But, not as light as yours and his." Shrugging, she let go of the bar over her head, and folded her arms comfortably against herself, thinking. "I recall that she was injured. And when she spoke, she sounded like a woman from Gondor. At least, as well as I could tell, from speaking in whispers. I could not see the color of her eyes, but I could see a.." She paused to think how to describe it. "Spark of determination. Fierceness."

As far as how she'd done it, Ava looked a tiny bit curious as well as amused. "That was easy enough. There was a chain hoisting it up," She held one hand up as if it were the cage, "which was attached to a point, here," She pointed just above it. "Then, the rest of the chain stretched down and secured to a point, here," She moved her hand down as if to the 'ground' of her attempt at illustrating. "I just went as close that point as I could and waited for the guards to begin their patrol back the other direction, then I let the cage down to ground level. Picked the lock. Handed her a canteen, and a small sack of fruit and nuts, then told her what was going to happen. I left the door unlocked, hoisted it back up so it was level with the wall, and told her to wait until the guards had begun their patrol the other way, again. Then, she'd have plenty of time to climb out of the cage and onto the wall. I told her to be careful of the sharp things on the walltop, and that there was a low place around to the side where she could probably hop down." She took a moment to think back further. "Oh... and I warned her that he has dogs. They're trained to follow scents, and how best to avoid them." She couldn't think of much more to tell.

"You see, Gimlan.. does not have the best security team," She added in further explanation, half-amused. "They follow a very set patrol schedule, and don't deviate from it. And, he does not encourage any sort of.. individual thinking, so they don't dare take the initiative, and so, when something like that happens, they have to consult with him before any decision can be made, or they risk invoking his wrath. His dogs are even limited their handlers," She scoffed and shook her head. "Idiot. It makes him a good target, except for the reaction it tends to bring, afterward."

---

Gladhron, Brooke, & Chewy
Wayfarer Inn, 2nd circle of MT
December 26th - sometime in the middle of the night

“I don’t know how you do this all the time,” Gladhron muttered, shaking his head in amazement, draining the last of his coffee. He immediately poured another cup.

Brooke shrugged slightly and sent a marble speeding toward the others, spread out within a circle on the floor of the inn's hallway. “I don’t know why you can’t just go to sleep and let Gwestion wake you when it’s time to get up.” She mentioned quietly.

“And give him the satisfaction of having to wake me?” Gladhron raised his eyebrows in feigned horror. “Never!”

“Shh,” She reminded him, glancing at the doors around them. She listened for a moment, but she heard no sounds to indicate that they had disturbed anyone else that were sleeping in the inn's rooms, while she and Gladhron sat quietly across from each other, in the hallway.

“Besides,” he went on in a whisper, “He might just decide not to wake me at all, just to have a prank or something. Or, wake me late, or... whatever.”

“I doubt that,” She replied. “He wouldn’t do anything so mean, would he?”

Gladhron smiled and took his own turn at the marbles, satisfied when he managed to knock one out of the circle. “Nah. Probably not.” He leaned back against the wall while Brooke prepared her marble. “I wonder what time it is?” He frowned as he glanced around, noticing that there were no windows that he could see from here.

“I’d guess, a little after three,” She answered after a moment. “At least... it feels like it’s around three.” She added, with a bit of uncertainty creeping into her tone.

“You think so?” He asked, looking at her in wonder. “I’ve done many night watches in my life, but I always need stars or the moon or something to look at, or I lose track of time. How does it ‘feel’ like it’s around three?”

Brooke bit her lip and fidgeted with the marble in her hand. “It’s.. hard to explain. It just.. I don’t know.” She looked thoughtfully at the marble. “It just… does.” She paused, then glanced up. “I’ve never slept very much, ever since I can remember. I spend a lot of nights without sleeping. It just… it’s just how I am. I’m not very good at… well, falling asleep.” She mumbled, looking down at her marble again. "So, I can usually make a pretty good guess at what time of night it is." She shrugged.

“Right.” He nodded slowly. “I think that’s a great skill to have, being able to tell the time by.. feel.” He shrugged. “But, sorry you have trouble sleeping.” He added sympathetically. “I’ve rarely had that trouble, but Gwestion usually does. So, you aren’t alone.”

Brooke smiled faintly and nodded, then took her turn at the marbles. “So, still plenty of time left to kill.” She concluded, based on her estimation of the time.

---

“What time is it, now?” Gladhron asked, after completing a lengthy story, which Brooke had listened to with great interest.

Brooke blinked, mentally withdrawing from the excitement of the tale she had been immersed into, and looked around. Chewy was sleeping soundly beside her. They’d played marbles for a while after the last time he asked, and then he had told a couple of stories, and she took all of that into account with her guess. “Sometime after four, I think.” She said tentatively. After a moment, she stood up slowly, taking a moment to stretch. “Not yet half-past, but it’s close… if I’m right.” She added, uncertain about that.

Sensing her motion, Chewy stirred and looked up sleepily at her. As he sat up, Brooke smiled faintly and rubbed around his ears lightly.

Gladhron got up as well, finishing off his other cup of coffee. “We’d better clean up all this stuff, then.” He decided, gathering the marbles into a pouch. He took that, and a few other things that he’d brought out to the hallway, and quietly slipped into his and Gwestion’s room again to put his things away.

While he was doing that, Brooke took the mugs, empty coffee pot, and tea kettle back to the inn's kitchen as quietly as she could, and washed and put them away while hoping she didn't disturb the innkeeper or his wife, before going back up the steps to the hallway, as Gladhron was stepping out again.

“You’re right,” He whispered. “I looked out the window, and it does seem to be somewhere between four and four-thirty.” He said, rather impressed.

She smiled faintly and gave a tiny shrug. “Well, um..” She hesitated, a little awkward and unsure if he would mind if she asked him to accompany her. “I’m going to just.. grab my coat and things.” She declared. “I’ll take Chewy to the park near here, but I’ll be back before it’s time to leave...” She assured him.

“Uhh, no, you’re not.” Gladhron protested with a frown. “You aren’t going alone, I mean. No way am I letting you wander around the city at night, alone. Besides, the cold will help wake me up more.” He pointed out.

She relaxed slightly, inwardly relieved that he would be going along with her. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely.” He insisted. “Get whatever you need from your room, but I’ll be waiting right here.”

“Thanks.” She smiled faintly, then paused, looking back at him. “Um… aren’t you going to put on a coat or anything?” She asked, a bit surprised.

He paused, then shrugged. “Nah. I’ll be fine. I already risked waking Gwestion up once, if I go in there a second time, he might wake up and be annoyed at me.”

Brooke gave him a skeptical look. “I.. I think you’d better at least get a coat, Gladhron.” She told him softly. “Anyway… I’ll be a few minutes...” She added. “Stay out here, Chewy.” She said softly to her dog, then went into the room she shared with Aislin, tiptoeing as quietly as she could as she readied herself for going outside, and for meeting with Celume, later on.

After considering her words, Gladhron looked a moment at Chewy, who was gazing at him as if waiting expectantly for something. “What?” He asked, shaking his head a bit in amusement at the fact that he imagined the dog giving him a look, as if to guilt him into taking Brooke’s suggestion. “Alright, fine.” He gave in after a moment. “I’ll get a coat.”

---

Gladhron held the door for Brooke and Chewy, and stepped out with a little shiver. “Brrrr. It’s chillier than I thought it’d be,” he acknowledged. “I mean, I’m sure it’s colder back in the north, but…”

“Good thing you got a coat, after all.” Brooke mentioned quietly, wrapping her cloak snugly around herself. Having spent far too many years going cold in the winter, having barely any sort of warm-weather gear, she was quite happy to have the option to wear a coat, a cloak, and whatever else she felt was reasonable. “Did you leave a note or anything for Gwestion?” She asked, glancing over at him.

“Uh… no.” He answered, glancing at her as they headed for the nearest park. “Why?”

“Well.. you know, in case he wakes up and…” She trailed off. “Nevermind, it’s probably fine.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “I left a note for Aislin, anyway. To let her know I was taking Chewy for a walk, in case she wakes up and wonders where I’m at.”

“Ah… maybe I should’ve, after all.” He shrugged, then gave a little smile. “I’m sure it’ll be fine.” He paused. “Unless… we don’t come back to the inn after the park?” he mentioned thoughtfully. “In fact, we could stop off at several parks along the way, if you like, and just work our way up to the sixth?” He rather liked that idea, as it meant that maybe they could actually end up getting to the meeting point before the others, and he could impress Celume with how early he got there.

Brooke considered that, then nodded slowly. “I think Chewy’d enjoy that.” She agreed. “But, we should let the others know what we’re doing...”

“I could run back real quick and leave a note at the desk.” Gladhron suggested. “I’ll only take a moment.”

Brooke hesitated, glancing around. “We’re not that far, yet. We can both go back.” She suggested, instead. It was still dark out, and she had no idea whther there might be anyone lurking around, waiting for some sort of opportunity like that.

It didn’t take long to retrace their steps, leave a note under a paper weight at the front desk, and set out again to carry out the plan of visiting multiple parks along their way up to the sixth, which would use up plenty of the remaining time. Then, by the time they reached a park on the fifth level, they could just make sure that they left there in enough time to make it to the sixth gate by the sixth hour.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

'What difference does it make?' Only all the difference in the world.

The hair description matched, even if Ava hadn't seen the color of her eyes. Not that the hair description was very precise - at all. That would not convince her. Arnyn was thinking of what else to ask. Perhaps what food Ava had given this prisoner, for she'd always thought it a bit peculiar that it had been fruit and some seeds or what had it been ---

But then Ava supplied a description of how she had set the woman free. A description that... matched. Every detail Ava gave her, matched with what Arnyn had been told. What had been shared with her, so reluctantly. Including the detail about the fruit. And nuts.
And how could Ava know such things, if she was not telling the truth? Any other witness, anyone other than the person setting the prisoner free and the prisoner herself, surely would have raised the alarm. Arnyn couldn't imagine her friend telling anyone else. She had very reluctantly shared things with Arnyn, as it was... And Ava knew.. everything.

She was looking at the woman who had helped Pele escape the second time.

Her wits told her that, even if Ava had set Pele free from that cage, that did not mean that the rest of what Ava was telling her, was true. Ava had her own agenda back then: she had wanted a diversion so she might be able to steal from this Gimlan. Ava might have her own agenda even now. Trying to worm her way into their confidence to set up something that would do more harm than good to Gondor and its citizens. She still had no guarantees.

But... this was... Arnyn could no longer say it was impossible. She might say it was too coincidental for it to be true. But then HOW would Ava KNOW what she knew?

No - instead, it was... so unexpected. Unbelievable, almost. And yet - Ava knew things she would have no way of knowing otherwise. Right? Right?!

Arnyn opened her mouth, but no words came out. She took a step toward the woman, instead. Then another. And another.
Until Ava would find herself standing there with Arnyn's arms wrapped around her. "Thank you." The words came in a muffled mumble. Arnyn wasn't letting go. "Thank you."

Who knew what would have happened to Pele if Ava had not opened that cage? If she had not told her what she had told her? If she had not given her that water and that bit of food? Pele might have claimed a few pages in that simultaneously dreaded and beloved book Arnyn kept. Next to too many others.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava felt confused by the way Arnyn was looking at her. She could read nothing from her expression, and this made it very difficult for her to know why the woman was simply staring at her wordlessly. What was going on in her head? Ava had answered her questions as honestly as she could manage. Had she not liked something she had said?

As she began to walk toward her, one step, then another, Ava looked at her while trying to think of all that she had recently said. Had she spoken too boldly of her thievery? But since Tercen's reaction had been positive, and she had not done any such thing here in Gondor, she felt it was best not to continue to beat around the matter. She was trying to follow Tercen's example, and to be open and honest. He had said his sister would appreciate that, hadn't he?

So, what was the problem? As Arnyn came up close to her, she was trying to brace herself for... whatever. Maybe she wanted to look Ava in the eye, to determine if she was lying? Maybe she would throw some sort of accusation, or...

Or.. hug her? As Arnyn threw her arms around her and hugged her, Ava blinked once, stunned by this unexpected action. She blinked a second time, wondering if she was supposed to return the hug. For a moment, she held her arms out away from her sides in surprise. Thank you? For what? Ava blinked a third time as she said thank you, not once, but twice. "You're... welcome?" She answered uncertainly, while her hands came up slowly, to tentatively pat the other woman's upper back, unsure quite what else to do. What was this about? She could think of nothing to explain this. Except, perhaps...

The woman's hair had been lighter, just as theirs. She recalled having offered that detail. She wondered, could that be some sort of relative to her and Tercen? She considered asking if they had another sister, or a cousin perhaps. But, instead, she posed a different question. "I'm sorry, but... what exactly are you thanking me for?"

[Karis Ziranphel]

@Arnyn

Karis Ziranphel
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd afternoon

Ziran grinned as he crossed to her with that smile on his face, and she happily returned his embrace. She listened quietly to his questions, unsurprised that he would want to pick up provisions and perhaps hostess gifts. “Captain Pele granted leave immediately, so I thought perhaps we could leave in the morning unless further time is needed to prepare.”

“Hmm.” she thought for a moment. Her wardrobe had been extended greatly upon becoming Macardil's betrothed and then bride, between what she had needed to acquire for the trip to Belfalas and the wedding. She had a wealth of choices, so her difficulty would be choosing the right combination of attire to pack. She didn't really need anything, but that hadn't been his question. Ziran chewed on her lip briefly and then smiled again. “If you find yourself anywhere near the chocolatier before they close, I'd like some of those dark chocolate ones with almond paste inside. Perhaps two packages, so we can share the delightful treat with Alyssa.” She lifted her hand to cover his on her cheek. “I trust your decisions for the food and other provisions. Have you decided how we should travel? It will determine somewhat how I pack.”

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron, Brooke, & Chewy
Approaching the sixth Circle Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

"It's so cold," Gladhron muttered, glad he had elected to wear his cloak, as well as gloves and other gear that Brooke had reminded him to get, before stepping out of the inn.

"It's because we're so high up," She replied softly, equally bundled. "I was reading that each level is a hundred feet higher than the last, so by the time we get to this level.. we're like six hundred feet above the main gate. It's so.. amazing, really, to think about it." She added.

"What books were you reading, to learn about that?" He asked with a baffled little laugh. "The History of Minas Tirith?"

Brooke glanced up at him, pausing. "Well... yeah. How'd you know that?"

"Really?" He blinked. "I was.. nevermind. Why read that when there are surely plenty of fun story books to read?" He asked, puzzled.

"I like history.." She answered, a little hesitant. "And, well, we are staying here for a while, so... it seemed like it'd be nice to learn more about it." She added in a mumble.

Gladhron paused as he glanced at the girl, seeming to consider. "That is actually an excellent idea, Brooke. I should've thought of that, myself, I guess."

She looked up, half-wondering if he was teasing, but he looked serious. "There were a lot of interesting things in it, you know."

"Really? Like what?"

For the rest of the trip through the fifth level, Gladhron listened as Brooke told him one of the tales that she had read in the book, inwardly smiling at having gotten her to talk about something for more than a few words. And, in fact, she even seemed excited as she did, which helped to pass the cold walk through the fifth level. She was concluding the tale as the pair approached the gate.

Chewy had happily trotted alongside her, looking up at Brooke as often as he could. He even seemed, almost, as if he was also listening to the story. As they approached the tunnel that went through the rock that split the city in two, Chewy let out a bark and began wagging his tail as he smelled a familiar person.

"Chewy, shh," Brooke scolded softly. "People are sleeping around here, I'm sure."

"He saw Celume ahead," Gladhron grinned, waving as he recognized the lieutenant standing there with the guards. Though it was dark still, there were lanterns, and he recognized her lovely blond braid even from here. It didn't take the small group very long to close the rest of the distance between them. "Good morning!" Gladhron greeted her, first, before nodding a friendly greeting to the pair of guards as well. "The others will be along soon," He quickly assured Celume, before she had a chance to ask. "Brooke needed to walk the dog, so we just went ahead and came up this way, once that was done." He explained.

Chewy eagerly went over to get some pets from Celume, wagging his tail.

"Hi," Brooke smiled a little shyly and debated for a few seconds before posing the question she'd been wondering about; "So, um. I meant to ask, the other night.. but um, should I also call you Celume? or Arnyn?" She wondered, a little unsure about that. "I didn't think to ask, the other night." She explained quietly.

[Arnyn]

@Karis Ziranphel

Macardil
Home, Fifth Circle, Minas Tirith
December 22nd

"Immediately?" That was even more surprising. "Whether we can leave in the morning depends on how smoothly preparations go," he spoke his thoughts out loud. "But if we do set out sometime tomorrow, then we should be able to arrive sometime the day after that. With such swift travel... I can also send out a messenger to the castle this evening, without the message arriving long before we do, ourselves." That would severely limit any 'preparation' time on Lord Ansellidus' part. In case he would otherwise be planning on it. It would also allow him to adhere to the custom, while also having a socially acceptable excuse not to wait longer before following his message. He was, after all, Alyssa's father's chosen guardian. No one would blame Macardil for not exercising more restraint. In fact, he might rather be blamed if he did wait.

One might even blame him for only now finding out about Alyssa's survival.

"Chocolates with almond paste," he repeated. "Consider it done, my lady. As to luggage and our mode of travel... I do not wish for you to have to limit yourself, Ziran. Pack what you believe you might need. If you can finish tonight, then we can decide what arrangements we need to make in the morning. We would be fastest without a wagon, but since the distance is not that great, and given that we have proper roads all the way to our destination, a light wagon would not delay us overly much. There are also a few establishments in between Minas Tirith and the Ansellidus property which can offer us food and a decent place to sleep for the night." She would need to be aware of that for her packing. "And if we do happen to extend our travel a bit, afterward," he added with a charming smile, "then I do not intend to make my wife sleeping outside, in the freezing winter cold." He kissed her lightly. "Ranger or not."

That being said, he let go of her and stepped away. The shops, first. Before he lost the light - and their opening hours.

(to be continued)

---

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Sixth Circle, at the Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

The barking echoing through the tunnel made her look back over her shoulder. "Ah. There they are, now," Arnyn told the guards.

One of them raised his eyebrows. "Your friends brought a dog?"

Arnyn turned back to him, slanting her head. "It's not like they can leave the dog unattended at the inn," she said, her tone thoughtful.

The other shrugged. "Yeah, they couldn't do that. Besides, Damros - if the Lieutenant thought the dog would run amock, surely she would not have agreed to meet in the Sixth."
Damros didn't need to give it much more thought, it seemed, because he just lifted one shoulder in agreement and nodded. "True enough." He grinned at Arnyn. "You do have a rep for dotting your i's and crossing your t's."

Arnyn smiled. If the guard was trying to tease her by giving her a compliment, that was fine by her. Mostly, she was glad she would not have to pressure the guards to let Chewy through. She repositioned herself so she'd be watching the newly arrived people, rather than facing the gate. Taking up position next to the guards more than in front of them. Wait - only two? Brooke and... Arnyn blinked. Gladhron was the early bird? The bell for six o'clock had not even rung yet! She waved back as they approached.

"Good morning," she returned Gladhron's greeting, some surprise lingering and showing in her tone. She smiled and nodded at Brooke, and crouched a moment to rub Chewy behind the ear as his greeting. "You're early," she noted, glancing up at Gladhron, figuring that would explain whatever surprise they might have picked up on. If anyone would have been early, along with Brooke, Arnyn had figured it would have been Gwestion.

"You may choose, Brooke," Arnyn said with a smile as she straightened again. "Brooke, Gladhron - these are Damros and Artagil, two of the City Guard's finest." Damros grinned broadly, while Artagil gave Brooke and Gladhron a half smile. Arnyn continued: "Artagil and Damros, meet Gladhron, Brooke and Chewy. Friends I met up north."

"North, ey?" Artagil inquired, somewhat interested. "How far north?"

"The Breelands," Arnyn answered, while she picked up the pack that she'd lowered to the stones at her feet, slinging the strap over one shoulder, which made her black cloak open up enough to show part of the White Tree that had been etched into her black leather cuirass. .

"Wow, that counts as 'north' alright," Damros said. "What brought you so far south, then? For that is no brief journey! Visiting the Lieutenant, here?"

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

She wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, really. So she did neither, and just hugged the woman - even if that woman had no idea why. Once Ava asked Arnyn what she was thanking her for, the Gondorian withdrew, releasing the Umbarian from the result of her lapse in emotional control. Arnyn took a step back, her body language regaining its composure even if her expression betrayed the jumble of emotions that lay beneath easily enough. A rare thing, as a rule - and the first time Ava would have seen it on her.

"I know the woman you helped escape," Arnyn told Ava, her voice quieter than before. "She did, you know. Escape." A slow shake of her head, then, at the nearly unbelievable coincidence. "Found her way back home. To her friends, to her family. You made that possible. Who knows if she would have gotten another opportunity, if it had not been for you opening that cage..."

It just figured, didn't it? That Pele had been involved in Ava's change of perspective? A faint smile came to Arnyn's lips. How fitting, really. That Pele - the healer, the protector - would cause a shift to that helpful approach in another?

"So, thank you," Arnyn reiterated, still wearing that faint smile as she regarded Ava. "Even if you meant to use her more as a distraction, at the time."

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Ava was quite puzzled, watching as Arnyn eventually stepped back, with.. a surprising display of emotions, however hard she had tried to conceal that. Despite having only met her the night before, she felt as if that might be an unusual thing, for the woman in front of her. What was going on, here? She watched her with a rather questioning look on her own face.

Until she finally explained. Ah.. she knew the woman. Ava's puzzled look cleared away, replaced with understanding. And then a smile as she heard that she had, indeed, escaped, and had returned to her friends and family. "Did she?" She asked, quite pleased. "I'm very glad to hear that." Especially, if it meant that she would be in more favor, now. Not that that was why she had done the act, nor was it quite why she had told her. For how could she have, not even knowing that it would have been someone Arnyn knew? Still, she was glad now, that she had told her.

As Arnyn briefly speculated about whether the woman would have had another opportunity, Ava hesitated. "I.. doubt it," She admitted, quite honestly. "I have, since that night, had a chance to speak with others who were slaves of his at the time. Some have spoken about the sort of things they overheard, and it did not seem at all favorable for her." She explained, without wishing to go into more details.

She paused then, a smile returning as Arnyn said 'thank you' yet a third time. "You're very welcome." She said softly, now that she knew what the thanks was for. "I truly am glad that she was able to find her way home."

---

@Arnyn

Gladhron, Brooke, & Chewy
Approaching the sixth Circle Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

"You seem surprised," Gladhron remarked, grinning as he closed the distance, when she spoke of them being early. He gave a friendly nod to the two guards, smiling at each of them as Celume introduced them. "Pleased to meet you both!" He declared, offering a gloved hand out to each in turn.

Meanwhile, Brooke nodded in response to Celume's answer, and mentally decided to stick with Celume, since that would be less confusing. If the ranger brothers were going to be calling her Celume, and she had specifically asked them to, then it seemed logical for her to do the same.

Having faintly caught the echoing voices of the guards discussing her dog, she took a leash out of her bag and knelt by Chewy to clip it onto his collar. "Just for a little while," She promised him in a whisper, then stood up and slid her wrist through the loop at the other end. "I'll make sure he doesn't get into any trouble," She promised softly, speaking to the guards since it had been one of them who had expressed concern about that. Her other hand clasped the elbow of the one with the leash, as she listened in silence to the others talk.

Gladhron was about to reply to Artagil's question, when Celume did for him. He grinned. "Thereabouts, yeah." He nodded, figuring it was close enough. "We... that is, my brother and I... are rangers out of the Northern lands." He explained. "We're visiting the city for a while, while Miss Brooke's aunt has some business here. We were asked to escort the lady and her nieces during the journey, to ensure their safety."

He realized that Seri had already been through this gate at least once before, that he knew of, and early in the morning, too. "Ah, you might have even seen the lady, in fact. She's a healer, and she wanted to spend some time at your houses of healing, learning a bit from your healers, that sort of thing." He informed them, then grinned. "Visiting the lieutenant was an unexpected bonus, for I did not know she lived here, until we were already here." He added with a smile at Celume.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Sixth Circle, at the Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

"Probably because I am," she admitted freely, with a little, amused smile at Gladhron. "It is not even six, yet. Not that I thought Gwestion would need to drag you all the way over here - but I did figure he would need to steal your blankets or something to wake you up in time," she added, wanting to grin. Instead, she adopted a casual air.

Artegil chuckled. "Well, well. Not used to being wrong, I bet, Lieutenant?"

Arnyn shot him a grin, unbothered. "No, not at all."

Damros noted Brooke putting a leash on the dog and smiled at her. "Good," he responded to her promise. "Between you and the Lieutenant, I am sure it will be fine, miss." He looked thoughtful at Gladhron's remark about perhaps seeing the lady they escorted from north to south already. "We were just given the early morning shift for the coming days," he told the northern ranger. "If she came through early in the last few days, it wouldn't have been us at the gate."

Artegil raised an eyebrow at hearing they had not known Arnyn lived here. "How can you not know where a friend lives?" he asked spontaneously, in obvious disbelief.

Arnyn gave the guard a steady look. "I never told them."

"Oh." Artegil's gaze flicked between Arnyn, Gladhron and Brooke - before he glanced at Damros and then back to Arnyn. "Right." A pause. "Of course. Well, at least it was a nice surprise then," he tried to recover, clearly hopeful he hadn't just said the wrong thing for a second time.

"It was for me," Arnyn confirmed with a genuine smile at Brooke and Gladhron, causing the guard to visibly relax. The bell rung in the distance, telling them all it was six. Arnyn nodded. "The others should not be long, now," she said. "We agreed on ten past six, didn't we?" she checked with Brooke and Gladhron. Then she turned to the guards. "Do you mind us crowding your tunnel? Or would you prefer for us to wait on the other side of the gate?"

Artegil glanced at Damros, who shrugged. "It's fine. This is a boring shift. I'm not mad at some company. Even if it is just ten more minutes."

Glad to hear that they would not be hindering the guards in their duties, Arnyn rubbed her gloves hands together. "How did you manage to wake up before your brother, anyway?" she asked Gladhron, unable to stifle her curiosity. She remembered her joking suggestion at the masquerade that since he was on vacation, he could do whatever he wanted - even stay up all night. But surely, he hadn't actually done that...

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Arnyn's faint smile grew more pronounced. "Do you wish to meet her?" she asked Ava, more curious about the woman's reply than she was letting on. "I can't not tell her about you," Arnyn explained. "Knowing her, she might like to meet someone who showed her some kind of kindness - someone who was willing to help. For whatever reason."

Having a need for it, Arnyn poured a glass of water. Then poured a second one and offered the first to Ava, before picking up the other glass herself. She drained half of it, then returned it to the table, using these actions to help herself regain her full composure.

And... Arnyn wondered whether Ava thought she was 'in the clear' now. Wondered if the Umbarian no longer thought of her as someone who might act decisively in case Ava would turn out to be something else than what she was claiming to be. Simply because Ava had helped out someone who was important to her.
For that, most certainly, would not be the case.

More 'the Lieutenant' now, rather than Arnyn, the blonde Gondorian slowly approached the balance beam. "You mentioned Relic," she said, while she lifted herself onto the beam in a sitting position. "Do you know?" she inquired of Ava, while standing up onto the beam. "About what happened to her?"

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

The offer to meet her surprised Ava. She had certainly not expected that. And, it even occurred to her that Arnyn seemed almost careless in making the offer. What if she had been trying to find out where that woman was, for some nefarious purpose? Not that she was, of course, but still...

She hesitated briefly, caught by surprise. Arnyn went on to say that the woman might like to meet Ava. This was all an unusual concept, given the surroundings that Ava had grown up into. Doing things for others was not a typical thing, and thanking someone for having done anything.. well, it was non-existent since the act causing the thanks was unlikely to have happened in the first place.

"Perhaps," She answered softly after a few second's pause, to consider. "If she would like to meet me, then I would not object. But, if she does not.. I would not press her to endure the company of someone who may remind her of an unpleasant time." She explained as she accepted the glass of water with a little nod of thanks.

She lowered the glass after a small sip, when Arnyn returned the conversation to Relic. One of the last topics she wanted to discuss, but she was the one who had brought the name up in the first place. A slip of the tongue, she noted, as she had initially not meant to mention names. But, too late now.

"Everyone knows she's dead, if that's what you mean, although how it happened, and other such details, are not known." She replied, not looking terribly upset about that, either. "News of her death spread like wildfire in the streets, as soon as someone reported that she was dead. People immediately began scrambling to take over her.. business." She explained, setting her water down. "A man named Dahak claimed it for himself, in the end. He killed a few of the.. competition, to make a point." She added with distaste. "The man rebranded all of the slaves who had previously belonged to her, and now he's established himself as the new master slaver."

She took hold of the bar over her head and swung up, hooked her legs around, and hung from the backs of her knees so that she hung upside down. "He hasn't been in charge of the place long enough for me to have gained a proper evaluation of how he compares to her, however. But it seems like it will still pose a challenge, trying to get slaves away from there." She let her arms hang down for a moment, letting her back stretch for a moment, then grasped the bar on either side of her knees and swung upward, beginning a few basic exercises on the bars as she waited to hear whatever else Arnyn may want to know about that.

---

@Arnyn

Gladhron, Brooke, & Chewy
Approaching the sixth Circle Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

Gladhron made an exaggeratedly 'offended' expression when she declared she was surprised. "You didn't think I'd be late, did you?" he asked, then grinned as he shook his head. "No, Gwestion didn't have to do anything like that," He assured her with amusement. "In fact, I didn't even need his help in waking up." he added, pleased to be able to say that.

Brooke rolled her eyes slightly with a tiny smile, but she kept quiet about that. She gave a little nod when the guard assured her that it'd be fine for Chewy to come through, and was glad for that.

When the guards seemed surprised by the fact that they'd never learned where Arnyn lived, Gladhron shrugged, but smiled with a nod when the guy mentioned a nice surprise. "Very nice, yes!" He agreed, while Brooke mumbled something under her breath about how she hadn't told anyone where she lived, either. Though, Gladhron doubted anyone else would have heard her.

"Yes, the others should be here, soon." He answered Celume. "We left them a note at the front desk, to let them know that we were going on ahead after walking Chewy. So, unless for some reason they don't get that note... they shouldn't be waiting around, and should come along soon." He really hoped the innkeeper hadn't failed to get them the message, anyway.

As the bell rang to announce the hour, Brooke settled down to sit off to the side, against the wall, and focused on petting Chewy while they waited. The tunnel did block out the wind, as long as it didn't blow into the tunnel, but it was still quite cold, and it was darker in the tunnel. But, at least she knew Celume and Gladhron, and the guards seemed nice. They weren't giving her any uneasy vibes, at least.

"How?" Gladhron looked at Celume as she posed her question. "I.. well, Brooke needed to take Chewy for a walk," He tried to explain, with a little shrug. "And, obviously, I wasn't going to let her go off in the night, alone. So, I volunteered."

"He was already awake," Brooke volunteered softly, then ducked her head apologetically when Gladhron shot her a look.

But then he shrugged and grinned at Celume. "Alright, yes. I was already awake." He admitted, confirming Brooke's statement.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

"I am quite sure she would like to meet you," Arnyn said with a little, knowing smile. Ava did not need to know that Pele would want to meet her for more than one reason. Nor did she need to know that Pele was the Ranger Captain... not yet, anyway. "But I will ask, of course. To make sure."

Arnyn nodded to confirm that she indeed meant Relic 'being dead'. When Ava said she did not know how Relic had died, however, the blonde started a balancing routine on the beam, with slow cartwheels, handstands and one-legged balancing positions. "Relic was killed here, in Minas Tirith," Arnyn said, while taking note Ava was telling the truth about that new slaver Dahak. He had informed Pele of him filling in Relic's vacant position, himself, after all. "Did you know she could shapeshift?"

"It is unnerving to fight yourself," Arnyn mentioned while walking a ways across the beam on her hands. After returning to her feet, she lifted up one leg behind her, slowly higher and higher, keeping both legs straight. "I'm not sure whether it was a relief when she shifted into an animal." Arnyn transitioned into a cartwheel, and rotated back off the balance beam, to lean her elbow on it as she regarded Ava. "She died all the same, though. Steel through the heart has always worked for me, so far."

---

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Sixth Circle, at the Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

"Not necessarily late," she said with a little smile. "But nowhere near as early as you were," she also admitted. Gladhron saying he hadn't needed Gwestion's help in waking up, made her wonder whether he had asked Brooke to wake him, instead. Especially after she'd seen and heard the way he had tried to talk his way around bringing the food to headquarters, the day before.

"A note at the desk?" she repeated a bit questioningly. If it had been her, she'd have left the note on her bed, where her brother would surely look first. Then she imagined how untidy the sheets would be on Gladhron's bed. And how easily a note in that mess could be missed. Well, on the pillow, then. "Your brother might not think to go out to the front desk immediately," she mentioned, although she figured it would probably be in vain. And once Gwestion didn't see a note anywhere in the room, the front desk would be the next place to go, right? "I hope it will not make the others late," she mumbled. The sunrise waited for no one. And once it was a little past ten past six, she intended to pass through the gate, regardless of who was or was not there.

Arnyn narrowed her eyes in thought when Gladhron evaded her question of how he had managed to wake before Gwestion. He had answered - but the answer was not one that fit the question. Did he think she wasn't about to catch that? Distract her with what was obviously a good thing - that he had not let Brooke go out alone at this hour, to walk Chewy?

Brooke's input made Arnyn's lips curl into a half smile. "Already awake," she repeated. "Already awake, when? When Brooke needed to take Chewy out for a walk - or already awake well before that?" she asked Gladhron pointedly. Part of her somehow half assumed this was the moment the others might choose to appear, if only to give Gladhron an excuse not to answer her properly...

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Since Arnyn seemed confident that her friend would, indeed, like to meet Ava, she gave a little nod. "Then... I would be happy to meet her." She said with a little smile, while holding a handstand on the bar, then switched her hand over so that she turned to face the other direction. "To see that at least some success has come of my attempts, even if it was not the best effort." She swung down from the low bar she had been on, then flipped around the bar before landing on it with her feet, still holding on with her hands as she executed a smooth flip around the bar in that pose, and immediately launched herself toward the high bar as soon as she had completed the flip.

As Arnyn informed her that Relic had been killed here in Minas Tirith, Ava stalled the motions she had intended to do, upon hearing the next thing out of the ranger lieutenant's mouth. Shapeshift? She let her body swing back and forth for a moment to lose the momentum she had built up, while looking over at Arnyn. Was she serious? This conversation had just taken a surprising twist, and she didn't know how well she could focus on her actions while hearing things like this. Not wanting to risk an accidental slip up, she dropped to the mat and looked at her guest. "Shapeshift?" She blinked, even more stunned to hear the woman speak of 'fighting herself'. Wait, what? She couldn't help but stare as Arnyn went on to talk of her shifting into an animal, and then.. how she had killed her. Steel through the heart.

Ava was not quite sure what to make of what she'd just heard. Why was Arnyn telling her this? She had not really asked for details about the slaver's death. Was it meant to be a warning of some sort? Or was she curious how Ava would feel about it? Was she tried to test her or something? Whatever the case, it was very interesting to learn that Arnyn herself had been the one to bring it about. But really, the thing that had her mind reeling was the bit about shapeshifting. "Sorry, hold on.." She said, with one hand held up as if to request a halt, "Go back to that bit about her shapeshifting?" She requested, still baffled by this and trying to wrap her head around that concept. Ava took a couple of steps nearer while looking at Arnyn closely to make sure she wasn't pulling some sort of joke. She did look quite serious, however. "You're telling me that she, Relic, became... you? And then an.. animal?" She asked a bit skeptically, trying to make sure she'd heard correctly. "How is something like that even possible?"

---

@Arnyn

Gladhron, Brooke, & Chewy
Approaching the sixth Circle Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

"At the desk, yeah," Gladhron confirmed, then paused as she mentioned that Gwestion might not think to go to the desk. "Well... I.." he hadn't really thought of that, but now there was not much he could do about it.

"I left a note for Aislin, in the room," Brooke mentioned softly. "Telling her I was going to walk Chewy. So, they'll know that we've left the inn."

"Right," Gladhron smiled, glad to be reminded about that. "Anyway.. they'll be here." He assured her. He knew that even if Gwestion did intend to wait, he wouldn't wait all morning, and would eventually come along anyway, escorting Seri and Aislin. When she asked about whether he had already been awake at the time Brooke needed an escort, or well before that, he offered a vague, "Yep." Which could easily mean either or both of those possibilities.

Scratching around Chewy's ears, Brooke shook her head lightly in amusement, but didn't give anything away. As Chewy let out an excited bark, Brooke looked where he was looking, and saw the silhouettes of three people approaching, but it was too dark for her to tell much else aside from the fact that it appeared to be one male, and two females. "I think.. the others might be coming." She mentioned quietly.

"Ah! Told you they'd be here." Gladhron was relieved, in fact, that his brother had been predictable enough to do exactly what he'd expected he would do. "Now, we're all here. Well, as soon as they catch up to us here." he smiled. It would only take a short time for the others to reach them, but they were still a bit too far to be calling out a greeting, since it would be rude to those on the fifth circle who were still sleeping at this hour.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Somewhat amused, Arnyn nodded at Ava's stunned reaction. "Well, first she looked like a girl she had apparently taken from Gondor," Arnyn recalled, as if she was discussing something as trivial as the weather, or what she'd had for breakfast that morning. "Then she made herself look like me. Used my appearance to kill two of our rangers. Almost killed a third. And then when we had her pinned, she chanted something and shifted into some kind of wolf. Which was much stronger than I, unfortunately."

She shrugged when Ava asked how that was possible. "Relic did not exactly bother to explain anything. I've only found a few obscure references to sorcery in our library. Never much of anything useful, I'm afraid."

"This wasn't commonly known?" she asked, slanting her head. "Too bad. If Relic could do such things and hid it, then more could be doing the same," Arnyn mumbled unhappily.

---

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Sixth Circle, at the Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

Arnyn crossed her arms beneath her cloak when Gladhron simply answered 'Yep'. She considered that reply for a moment, before taking a step closer and lowering her voice as she fixed her eyes on Gladhron's. "You are acting the same way you did when you were trying to talk your way out of how, where and with whom you figured out who I am here," she told him matter-of-factly. "If you think I won't figure this out either, you don't know me very well."

Damros raised his eyebrows while he glanced from the two toward Artegil, who just grinned back at him and shrugged.

After Brooke's statement, Arnyn stepped back and fixed her attention upon the approaching people.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Ava
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

"No... I knew nothing about this ability." Ava answered, shaking her head slowly. She frowned, catching the muttered words. "That is... unsettling," She agreed softly, uneasy about that thought. That meant.. that if there were others with such an ability, then could they impersonate one of her servants? And the knowledge that she could turn into an animal... did that mean that even Izrazor could be impersonated? The implications of people having such skills were rather jarring.

She was quiet for a moment as she absorbed this bit of information, looking out of the window thoughtfully. "I am sorry that two of your people were killed." She mentioned softly. "I had heard a few rumors about her, but I disregarded them as superstition. There are similar rumors about the priest, and even about the young man who serves him at the temple," She shrugged. "But.. I don't know how much of those rumors may actually be true, now." She frowned. "I certainly never believed that the Dark lord had anything to do with Pharak Halsad surviving a fire that should have killed him, but.. at the same time, I don't know how he did survive." She said, a bit uneasily. "And, if she truly did have strange powers," She turned back to look at Arnyn. "Are you certain she is dead?"

"I know you said a moment ago that you had killed her, that you had driven a blade through her heart," She went on. "And while that is a very impressive accomplishment... and while the news of her death was possibly the best news I had heard all year... are you certain?" She asked, somewhat concerned. "I mean, if Pharak Halsad could mysteriously survive being burned alive, then what else might be possible? I have also heard frightful rumors about wizards casting spells and even stranger tales, of trees becoming animated and sent to fight in battles, and spirits of the dead being roused, to slay enemies." She folded her arms, frowning slightly. "It all sounds like a load of nonsense, but... now, I don't know quite what to believe."

---

@Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Gladhron, Gwestion, Seri, Brooke, & Chewy
Approaching the sixth Circle Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

Gladhron smiled innocently at Celume. "You wouldn't want me to be all boring and just give you the answer to your puzzle, would you?" He teased. "I did promise to distract you, remember?" He added in a quieter tone, smiling.

Brooke got to her feet again, as it became clear that it was indeed the rest of their group coming to join them. "He just doesn't want you to be upset when you find out that he didn't sleep." She mentioned to Celume with a little shrug.

Gladhron's mouth dropped open. "Brooke..!" He protested, then sighed, since he couldn't really deny it. "Thanks."

She hugged her arms around herself and looked downward, wondering if he was upset at her now. "Sorry." She muttered.
 
"Good morning!" Seri called out in a cheerful, but hushed tone, as they approached. "Good, they are already here." She commented to the other two with her, smiling.

"I don't know whether to be worried that the world is ending, or proud of my brother for actually waking up, without aid, before dawn." Gwestion commented in amazement, then gave a brief nod of greeting to the two guardsmen. "Hello, Celume. How are you this morning?" He greeted her. Then, to Gladhron, "Are you feeling alright?"

Gladhron rolled his eyes. "I'm fine. Let's go, before we miss the whole sunrise, standing here in this tunnel." He suggested, hoping to put off any questions about his choice to not sleep last night.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle, Ava's house
Dec 27th - Early Afternoon

Arnyn gave a little nod at Ava's words regarding the rangers Relic had killed. The slaver could have done much worse, Arnyn knew. They had been so lucky the damage had not been far greater. The tiny hairs on the back of her neck rose at Ava's next words. "Similar rumors about the priest and the young man who serves him at the temple?" she asked."Do you mean Naluthor?" That couldn't be. Surely they were not into dark sorcery themselves? If they could do similar things to what Relic had done, then... "What rumours?" Arnyn asked, worry surging. "Any others besides surviving that fire?" she added. "Because surviving a fire doesn't necessarily have anything to do with sorcery." People diedin fires, but people also survived fires. "He could have just spun that story to fit his goals."

"As for Relic -" Arnyn paused to take a deep breath. "She is most definitely dead. The blade was in her chest, for a good while. She shifted back to what she actually looked like, according to my friend you freed. The life left her very strange eyes. And her body. Her breathing stopped and did not resume." There was probably no need to add that there had been blood everywhere. "Her body was burned, after." What had been done with the ashes was not known to anyone except for Kaylin and Pele.

Arnyn smiled a little at Ava's description of what she assumed were Ents and the Army of the Dead summoned by the King to fight at the culmination of the war. "What is considered impossible does not only exist for the wicked of heart," she said softly. "Or so it seems." She slanted her head, looking at Ava. Did the woman have to sit down? "Are you alright?" she checked, slightly annoyed at herself that she felt the need to ask.

---

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Sixth Circle, at the Gate
December 26th - before sunrise

"You wouldn't want me to be all boring and just give you the answer to your puzzle, would you?"

Arnyn narrowed her eyes at that innocent smile that was so obviously teasing. Was being honest something he considered boring? No - she knew that was not true. He had been so open with her, years ago. But he seemed to have changed a little, in that regard. She frowned a little as her mind raced, trying to unpack that thought.

Gladhron hadn't answered a few of her questions at the masquerade, such as about his observational skills and about what he and his brother had been up to the past few years. That had surprised her. He had also been avoiding telling her the full truth about how he'd learned of her name and rank.

Then again, he had told her what she'd wanted to know at the masquerade - later. He had told her about what he and Gwestion had been up to the past few years when she'd come for dinner at the inn with everyone. And he had also told her quite a few very personal things when he'd visited headquarters - including about why he hid being observant. Maybe he had wanted to keep things light at the dance. That was not so odd.
It had also become clear he had been avoiding telling her the details of how he'd figured out about her name and position in order to keep Tercen from getting in trouble about visiting the Training Grounds. She understood that motivation well enough.

But there had been a few other things. Even though he'd shared much more personal things at headquarters, he hadn't been eager to tell her the full truth about the steps preceeding that visit... Now, that was the puzzle, wasn't it? Why had he not wanted to tell her something as simple as that, then - or why did he not want to tell her something as simple as when or how he'd woken up early, now? It made no sense.

"I did promise to distract you, remember?"

That surprised her. She wanted to shove him for thinking that more 'puzzles' was what her brain needed. But she also wanted to smile at him for trying to get her mind off the heavier burdens that lay upon her shoulders.

Brooke's intervention made her tip toward smiling. Especially when Gladhron's jaw dropped and he reacted the way he did. "Yes, thanks, Brooke," Arnyn said, quite pleased, while she smiled at Gladhron. She wanted to say more, but Seri was already calling out, and Gwestion's words - while very amusing - did make Arnyn hold back on revealing to him that Gladhron had not slept at all.

Gwestion's comment had her grinning at Seri, Gwestion and Aislin. "Good morning. Seems like we are ready to get going, then," she agreed with Gladhron.

The guards let them through the gate, then, and they made their way to the gardens of the Houses of Healing.

[Ercassie]

Flashback – A modest family residence, First Circle.
Cousins Anardil Thavron and Unalmis Raxelilta
Six Years ago

If he didn’t look, if he simply listened .. he could make pretend that it was his friend lying asleep on the other bed, like Ryndir had in fact, oh so many times before. But it wasn’t Ryndir in the spare bed. He would never come and sleep over there again. There was only Nardy. And this truth became only too impossible to ignore once that Belfalasian sat up and spoke to prove he was awake as well.

“Are you well ?” The elder cousin had not missed the way that the patient, his responsibility, was sat up on his own bed, trying to edge the top drawer of a dresser open. One handed. It was taking longer than it normally would to manage it quietly, or at all. But the poor choice of diction occurred to Anardil only after it was too late to retract it. Thankfully he met no return other than silence. And so decided to try again. “Your arm, is it hurting ?”


As it turned out, this was just as unwelcome an enquiry. For Unalmis was awake, so of course the answer to the second question was ‘yes’. His shoulder would have to stop hurting at some point, he was sure. He didn’t know how he could stand it if not. But in the meantime .. “Only so much that I want to tear it off and throw it across the room,” he gave back before thinking. And then added “Just a little,” but did not have the energy to fake a smile as well. Instead he focused upon working on the drawer.

“Well I don’t think .. whatever that is that you’re up to .. is going to improve the pain issue,” he was informed, as his cousin rose and started to perfectly make his bed. “You’re meant to be resting. Come on,” Anardil came over, opened the drawer proper, and waited to see what the younger man would retrieve from it. Nothing, as it turned out. Unalmis turned a few things over with the hand which no sling impeded, but soon afterwards gave up. “If you tell me what you’re looking for, maybe I can help you find it ?” The elder suggested, carefully.

“You’ll think that I am crazy,” Nal gave up his reasons for holding back still on the secret.

“I already think you’re crazy,” he was reassured.

“Rude ..” Brown eyes rolled.


Arms were crossed. Eyebrows dropped. “If you need something I can get it for you.” the caring guest vowed, either ignoring or having entirely missed the recent bid for independence. “That’s literally why I’m here. Come on, get back into ..”

“I can’t just lie here !”

The outburst was atypical. And shouldn’t require any explanation. Since the ‘well’ cousin had been ‘caught up’ on exactly what had happened. “I apologise.” the Belfalasian uttered, wondering if he could honestly say anything right.

“No, this one’s on me,” Nal sighed. “I’m just fed up. And I had this dream. It made me want to find, I don’t know. Proof. Or something.”

“So what were you hoping to find in the drawer ?” he was asked.

“I keep having this dream. There’s a girl,” Nal began, and noted the look of comprehension fall unto his cousin’s countenance. “No,” he shook his head. “Not like what you’re .. It wasn’t like that. She was there. In .. When I was there,” he endeavoured to explain. “She saved my life, made sure I had water, even food sometimes. There was a scrap of .. I don’t know, it was soft. She gave it to me, like a handkerchief. But I think it was a part of her dress. And I kept remembering it, and her. I think Elbereth in her mercy sent her to save me. Or something. Crazy right ?”

“I didn’t say so,” his cousin was relieved to acknowledge, this time.

“Well, I thought so. I’ve been thinking so. But then .. I counted. Eighteen days, that’s how long. And that’s .. I should be dead,” he said the words aloud.

“You very almost were.”

“But I’m not,” Unalmis uttered, uncomfortably. More so now than ever that he knew .. it could happen. It had happened. To his friend. To more sailors than he wanted to recall ... “The only reason I was still .. there, when they came to get me, is because of her. So if she kept me alive, then she must have been real. And I know I had that piece of soft .. sleeve or whatever it was .. it was wrapped around my hand, so I wouldn’t lose it.”


As the pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place, the Belfalasian brought out his favoured tools. Reason. Fact. “Your hands were infected,” he delivered the reminder. “They were a bloody mess, from when you tried to claw your way out. They had to wash, and bandage them. Several times.”

“I know. But I thought .. I don’t know what I thought. I have to know if she was really .. real. They wouldn't have thrown it away, would they ?”

The adult sighed, facing the likelihood. Imagining the state of the lost piece of 'soft' “What did it look like ?” he made himself play along, regardless.

“Soft,” Unalmis was sure of that much, less so the rest of the details. “I think it was silver, like shimmering fish scales. And it had stars on the edge.”

“Wait .. what did you just say ?”


Something about the urgency in his cousin’s tone, caused Unalmis to hold off from answering straight away. This wasn’t Nardy being cross. This wasn’t even Nardy being patronising. And those were the man’s two main flavours, as far as his younger kinsman was concerned. But this .. this was Nardy .. astounded.

“Gael” the Belfalasian swallowed, and took moment to be sure himself, before he said the words aloud.. “You saw Gael. She is still alive ?" He caught Unalmis by both arms, and immediately released him, but did not seem to relax any. “Tell me !”

“I don’t … ” Nal urged his tender shoulder away from any chance of another excited grasp. Just in case. As he dared to ask, “Wait, who is Gael ?”

---

Lady Gaelanna Estennin with her family
meeting a further fond reunion. At a more impressive residence this time, on the Fifth Circle.
Two weeks before the Midwinter Masquerade, current day.

They’d filed out of the carriage, with the lady knocking on the door herself. Her husband had his hands full with their daughter, who wanted to climb up and sit on one of the carriage horses.

“Good afternoon, my Lady,” the valet opened the front door, and stepped back, so that he could properly take in the sight, and know it to be true. She was wearing a veil, but he had been forewarned of that, he’d heard what that beast in Umbar had done to her. The young man blinked away his emotion, and made room for Gaelanna to enter the porch.

“Gildolen Lhacrist !” he was recognised, although he too had changed with the passing of several years. “Now I feel right at home,” Gael smiled, and even beyond her pretty shroud, joy ebbed from her every word. He’d worked for her father. He’d worked in their house .. when it had still been their house. And here he was, older, taller, but still a piece of the past preserved.

“My Lady Isys is in the drawing room,” the young man conveyed his duty, albeit with a wider smile than he tended to. “Do come in, please. We are all very excited to have you stay.”


“We’re staying through new year,” Airelen swiped her fallen loose hair back out of her small face with a full flat palm and offered the tall young man a ribbon she had been sucking the end of for who knew quite how long. Gil received the offering with a straight face as Anardil lowered the child from his arms down to her feet. But when the small girl glanced back over her shoulder, the younger man winked at her before moving to collect the luggage from the coachman. Anardil already had begun to unload the ladies’ cases and aided their migration to indoors. Airelen though followed after her mother, calling out for Gael to "Look ! Look" as she did her best to try and wink as well. The lady smiled, as she reached out her hand and led the girl to find their hostess.

“Your family is in the drawing room,” Isys wandered out a short time afterwards, to admonish her oldest friend.”Leave those there. Come, both of you," she urged the men with an authoritative air that he words totally negated. "We are having cakes.” The invitation was suggestive of a secret shared. And the squeals of excitement which escaped the drawing room, led the dawdlers to catch up with their kin. As he was ordered to release all thoughts of obligation, at least in favour of a fond reunion, Anardil was ushered in, in front of Gil, to where the women awaited them. As the valet quietly poured out a round of drinks, Airelen wasted no time in clambering into the lap of Isys, and Gael slid her hand into the strong comfort of her husband’s, leaning her head against his shoulder. They sank into a seat of soft furnishing together. The man smoothing his wife's soft hem of her sleeve in between his fingers.

It was going to be a good time. They were all here now, together, and it was going to be a good time.