Minas Tirith Streets and Levels (Free RP)

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

|
| | |
Gladhron | Gwestion
Ava, Seri, Brooke & Chewy
with Aislin, Arnyn, Tercen, & Domanol
White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

Glancing up at Dom's offer, Gwestion gave a small shake of his head as a way of turning down the offered coat, not deeming it necessary. He made sure to crouch low so not to obstruct anyone's view of the stage below, which then resulted in Chewy deciding that Gwestion wanted to play. Though he managed to get a grip on the canine's collar, he lost his balance slightly and fell slightly against the railing of the balcony. For a brief second, he feared he might actually go over the railing, but he managed to stay put. But once he was on the floor, he managed to hold the dog secure until Brooke could fasten his leash to the collar.


Brooke was starting to panic a little, however, as she dug into her bag, and could not find the leash! Just as she was growing quite worried, she let out a sigh of relief when she located it, shuffled down to the bottom of the bag. "There it is," She muttered in relief, giving an apologetic glance toward her sister before she knelt down to join Gwestion. "You have to be good if you're going to be here, Chewy." She whispered to him, frowning a little as she fastened it on. "There..." She sighed, straightening with an awkward glance around. "Sorry... everyone.." She mumbled, feeling that everyone must be quite annoyed with her and Chewy. Especially Ms Ava. Brooke felt bad for letting this happen, wondering if maybe she shouldn't have come at all. She'd had no idea Chewy would show up, of course, but she should have just stayed home with him, right? Or, well. Home away from home. Whatever.

She nearly laughed when Dom offered his coat... his fancy, very dressy-looking coat! Where had he even got that, she wondered? It was strange, seeing him all dressed up like that, when she was used to seeing him after he'd been in the wild for days or weeks at a time. She had to agree with Gwestion, however. "Umm.. yeah, Dom... he'd probably only get your coat all muddy.. best keep that away from him," She suggested. Then, as if her own words made her realize, she felt a fresh wave of anxiety as she glanced worriedly toward Lady Ava's dress, and at her lap. Her heart sank as she saw it, despite the light being dim. "Oh no..." She bit her lip, feeling even worse. "I'm so sorry.. I better get you something to clean that," She mumbled, though what she planned to do, she wasn't sure. Go down to the lobby and ask for a damp rag? Would they even have something like that?


Ava had watched the others wrestle with the over-excited dog, half amused, and half wondering how the canine even managed to get in here. It didn't even occur to her to look at her dress until Brooke drew her attention to it. Then she blinked as she looked down at herself. There was mud on her dress. She caught her breath, and hastily reminded herself that it was not actually Brooke's fault. Nor could she really blame the animal. He had not, as far as she could tell, had any hostile intentions. His only crime seemed to be, actually, that he was too friendly. Next, she reminded herself that they were in a mostly dark room. And that, when they left this room, they would be wrapping up in their coats. The mud would be covered. And, she had little doubt that if she asked Tercen to retrieve her coat before they left from the box, he would do so.

She put on a smile, only slightly forced, and shook her head slightly to reassure the young woman. "No need for that, Brooke." She assured her softly. "Really. I'm not upset." She waved a hand dismissively, making sure to keep her voice to a whisper, so not to disturb Aislin, who was clearly more interested in the staged drama down below, than the real drama going on around her. "Don't worry about it. I'll only be covering it up with my coat when we leave. And I won't be wearing it very long after that, anyway." She would be going home when she left here, and then she'd take it off. And if her servants couldn't get the mud cleaned off, oh well. She could always buy another dress. "Let's all just... try to enjoy the play," She suggested, motioning to indicate that they all return to their seats.

The fact that Brooke also knew the man, and had even called him by name, had not escaped her. Dom? She mentally filed that away, while wondering how a man with traces of a Haradrim accent in his voice would be so well known to these people from the North. As far as she understood it, the people of the Northern lands had far different accents. Seri, Aislin, and Brooke all did, anyway. Gwestion and Gladhron's were quite different from everyone else's, however, and she didn't know whether it was a Northern thing or what. But that was beside the point. She was beginning to feel quite puzzled by the man seated behind her. Was he a spy for Pharak? Or was she simply being paranoid and jumping to conclusions that were not true? She decided to remain wary, yet not let on as if she was nervous or worried. She shouldn't have, before. She mentally chided herself for that. But, she would also be very carefully maintaining her Gondorian accent throughout the rest of this evening, just as she had done during the masquerade...


Gwestion, meanwhile, had stood back up when Brooke seemed to have her dog under control. With a mumbled apology to Aislin, he stepped back over the currently empty seats, and paused as he looked at the sleeping pair, almost incredulously. Arnyn had shifted so she was almost snuggled against Gladhron, her hand resting on his leg. And, while they had been busy dealing with Chewy, Gladhron had shifted and now had his hand resting over Arnyn's. He looked almost absurdly happy in his sleep. Shaking his head slightly, Gwestion was careful not to jostle or bump either one as he stepped over his brother's leg and returned to his own seat. He settled back with a glance to make sure he hadn't wakened Gladhron. He found it a bit amazing that they both managed to sleep through all of that. Glancing over, he wondered if Seri had noticed them, but he found that she was a bit more interested in looking toward Dom. He shrugged slightly to himself and turned his attention back toward the stage, though he had completely missed a lot of what was happening.


Seri, meanwhile, had watched and listened to all that passed between Brooke, Ava, and the others. When Brooke observed that there was mud on Ava's dress, a fact which Seri could not see from her angle, behind the other woman, she was worried how the lady would react. Since Seri didn't really know Ava, she had no idea. But when she waved it off and proved to be a good sport about it, Seri relaxed and glanced at Dom with a bit of relief showing on her face. He might think it was all very funny... she wasn't sure.. but Seri was worried. Ava had been very kind in inviting them all to join her in her box, sparing them the cost of tickets, and she did not want to repay that kindness by damaging her clothing or something, even if it were by accident.

Once it all seemed to be resolved at last, and everyone was returning to their seats, Seri settled back in her own, relaxing slightly as she wrapped her hands around Dom's arm. She really was glad he had come, even if it had caused a bit of a stir. She couldn't help but smile faintly at Arnyn's joke about him swinging in from the rafters or something. She wanted to mention that to him, but she feared causing even more disruption, so she refrained and just leaned contentedly against his side, smiling as she tried to figure out what was happening on the stage, and wondering just how much of the story they had all missed.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Ercassie @Pele Alarion

Tercen
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

As Chewy was 'restrained' and, wonder above wonder, did not start barking his protest, Tercen was still trying to figure out how careful he and Ava needed to be around this man - Dom, according to Brooke. He did not get much farther than earlier, however, other than the fact that clearly Brooke knew him, and it seemed like Gwestion did, as well. And if Tercen had learned anything about Gwestion from Gladhron, then it was that Gladhron thought his brother was so cautious that it was boring. So... this 'Dom' could not be a spy, could he? Unless he was good enough to fool Mister Caution.

When things seemed to be settling down, Tercen once again settled his arm around Ava, though most of its weight was settled on the top of the chair's back support and not on the lady beside him. The Gondorian lightly pulled Ava against him, and moved his face so he could whisper to her, and her alone. "Whoever he is, you are not alone," he promised her. "And... Mud or no mud, your dress is still the most beautiful one here," he breathed. "And I'll enjoy taking it off you just as much, later," he added even more quietly, if that was even possible. He couldn't help the little grin that curved his lips.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Domanol Raxëlilta
Seated in the Balcony with ‘the group’, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

Neither Gwestion or Brooke seemed willing to accept his generous offer of the coat, almost as though they realised it could not have been his own. Still Domanol was beginning to suspect that he was the least concerned person in the entire theatre might be, about a little mud. Second only to the dog, naturally. And between all the ‘shhh’ and the ‘sorry’s, the man was probably closest to Chewy in thinking they were all making a big fuss over nothing. It was a little mud. Not blood.

But when the hushed hiss of ‘you have to be good if you’re going to stay here’ was uttered, he sighed and sank back in his seat. It wasn’t like he’d even done anything wrong. The dog had been already here before he got here. He’d reached down to pick up his coat. And he’d whispered to his partner here no more than others were whispering amongst themselves. But apparently this ‘Ava' must be a big to do. Everyone seemed to be falling over themselves to ensure she wasn’t the least bit offended. Noble, his brain immediately assumed, but refrained from rolling eyes. And when the woman herself mentioned that she ‘wouldn’t be wearing the apparently ruined dress for very long after the show anyway …’ Domanol did outright stare. He had never heard of a noblewoman who’d say such a risque thing in public ! So maybe he was wrong about her.


Seri settling against his arm, made it so very easy to see how Gladhron and Arnyn had already succumbed. The dim light and the warmth of so many bodies inside of the theatre was conducive toward sleepiness. So he figured it would be no hardship to simply lean along with the beautiful woman beside him, before she ordered him out or found a leash for him as well. The show down on the stage had somehow managed to go on regardless of all the shifting and shushing that had occurred in the box. But the stranger in their midst was become more interesting by now. Not in the same way that he found Seri interesting, of course. But the notion that everybody else here knew something he apparently did not .. he couldn’t shake it.

The more that the unfamiliar brunette spoke, the more she sounded familiar. And finally he struck upon that moment of realisation. He had seen her before. He recognised that voice, though it certainly had a more stress about it now than it had purred it’s way about a certain dance floor recently. No wonder the dog had leapt on her. That, he grew more convinced by the moment, that was the odd Miss Kitty from the other night !


A soft kiss was laid upon Seri’s brow, an unspoken promise that he recognised her want for peace to resume. The woman not only had Gwestion to the other side of her, she had her young nieces nearby. And such company was unlikely to induce her toward mischief. Disappointing. But as tempting as it was to lay his feet upon the head rest of the seat in front, he did not. As tempting as it was to motion to his date that the couple in front were back to whispering .. again ! .. He did not. The realisation that a likely native of the South was sat at such proximity .. he pressed his skin against the knife which always was in reach, and out of sight. And he squeezed Seri’s fingers softly between his. Determined from that touch to be prepared to protect her from harm, should any become apparent.

He could wait until the intermission. He certainly would not be able to risk falling asleep now though. There was some compelling acting going on from those committed to their charade. And not all of those ‘at play’ here were down on the stage.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

|
| | |
Gladhron | Gwestion
Ava, Seri, Brooke & Chewy
with Aislin, Arnyn, Tercen, & Domanol
White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

It seemed that things were finally settling into some form of quiet, thankfully. Seri was happy to lean against Dom, hoping that would be the last of the trouble for the evening. It was fortunate that Ava was not upset about having her dress smeared with mud, especially with Seri knowing how Brooke tended to react to herself making any sort of mistake or not doing something just right. As if she expected to be reprimanded or degraded for every little thing she might do. Not that Seri found that surprising, given what she knew of the family she'd come from, but it was a relief that their host had not done any such thing.

The healer of Bree glanced over to check on her niece once everyone had quieted down, and saw that Chewy had situated himself in the chair beside Brooke again, and that Brooke had an arm around him to hold her beloved dog to her side. Smiling faintly, she then looked over to check on Aislin, then relaxed more fully against Dom as she felt him softly squeeze her fingers. Completely unaware of the fact that he had a hand on a concealed weapon, she thought how nice it was that all the tension had gone and that everything was fine, now.


Ava, on the other hand, did not relax, not even when Tercen put his arm around her again. She remained slightly tense as she tried to keep mindful of what the man behind her was doing. So far, there was no immediate threat going on, but for how long? Perhaps he was only waiting for an opportunity. Perhaps, he had contrived all of this just for a chance to get close and get a chance to kill her. But so many things still did not make sense, and she did not have anywhere near enough information to make anything actually make sense.

Tercen's reassurance, that she was not alone, brought a faint smile to her face. Still, she could not help but feel concerned, nonetheless. But before she could let her mind venture too far along the path of wondering how much danger he might be in, already, because of her... his following, quieter words served to distract her just enough for a little grin to break through. She had made the comment about her dress earlier, deliberately vague so that to most it should sound only as if she meant that she would be changing her clothes when she left the theater. Which seemed like a perfectly reasonable assumption for the average person to make, given the time it would likely be, by the time they left here. Most people would probably change into whatever they sleep in, right? But of course, Tercen knew otherwise. She appreciated the fact that he kept his voice low enough that she was the only one who would hear him, though.

She tried to pay attention to the play going on below, but by now, she was too worried and stressed to fully enjoy and appreciate the acting going on below. In fact, she was far more occupied, wondering who that man behind her might be, and wondering if he really was an agent of Umbar, and if so... how had he managed to fool everyone? Could it be, that he had somehow contrived all of this? Could he have somehow guessed, or expected, that Seri would end up meeting Ava at some point? She couldn't see how he would have known that, nor why he would have chosen her as the most likely option to arrange to be here in this situation.

She'd been sitting there wondering about all of this, when she realized that the scene had just ended, and the curtains were drawing closed. She blinked, momentarily wondering if the play was over already. Hadn't they just left it with the plot unresolved? She hadn't been paying the closest attention, due to the matter that was keeping her mind preoccupied, but she was pretty sure that the story couldn't be over.

Then, someone stepped out onto the stage in front of the curtain and made the announcement that there would be a brief intermission, during which time people were encouraged to seek refreshments or perhaps even purchase memento trinkets from the sales counter in the lobby. Ava glanced at Tercen. She hadn't quite expected that, when she said no one would be seeing her dress. Well, that made things tricky, didn't it?

She was reluctant to leave the box, partly because of that, but partly also because she did not trust that man. But then, her logic reminded her, everyone else seemed to know him, and even if their trust was misplaced, perhaps he would want to keep up whatever guise he had, so not to alert them to his true nature. Unless, maybe he wasn't pretending? Even Arnyn had made some reference to him, she remembered suddenly. As if she knew him. She'd joked about him swinging in from the rafters or something, right? Ava felt more confused than ever. She needed to think, and maybe talk this through with someone. Maybe, being able to speak her thoughts out loud and discuss this puzzle with Tercen would help her to figure something out?

She drew a slow breath, deciding that she definitely needed to get some air. "I think that's a good time to find someplace that I can clean up a bit," She murmured to Tercen. "You know this place better than I do, perhaps you can help me locate a washroom?" She suggested in a quiet tone, hoping he would catch on to the fact that she wanted to speak with him, away from the others. She wasn't really sure what else to do, but if he was actually after her, and if he intended to cause any harm to her, he surely wouldn't dare go after her while she was in the middle of a lot of people all swarming the lobby, right? Besides, if nothing else, maybe Tercen could help her with cleaning the mud off.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Ercassie @Pele Alarion

Tercen
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

He noted she remained a bit tense. So she definitely did not trust the man behind her - regardless of whether the others did. When the intermission was announced, and she glanced at him, Tercen smiled faintly. He would have offered to get her some refreshments and bring them back here, so she would not have to make an appearance in her now muddy dress if she did not wish to - but there was no way he was straying from her side when she was this concerned. For she obviously was. And he honestly could not blame her. The more he heard about Umbar, and what Ava must have grown up in... the more surprised he was of how 'acclimated' she was, for the most part.

When Ava suggested they find a place where she might clean up a bit, Tercen nodded slowly. Was it really about her cleaning up her dress? Or was it an excuse?

It dawned upon him that, if he managed to take Ava somewhere that was rather out of the way, where the theatre's guests were not expected to go... and if this man followed them, alone... that would tell them something. Even if it might be dangerous... and there could be safety in crowds. Tercen smiled at Ava. "Alright, Temptress," he agreed, even though he'd only been here a few times in his entire life. He rose from his seat and offered his hand to help her out of hers, like a proper gentleman. When she'd gotten up and they stepped away from the seats, he placed his hand at her back, and leaned in to whisper to her as they left the box. "Are you armed?" he whispered. For he sure was not. He'd never figured he needed to be! But perhaps... perhaps Ava was. Would Arnyn be armed? He actually had no clue.

Once they had left the box and had made their way back to the foyer, where people were pouring in from the main seating area below, Tercen hesitated for a moment, before he guided Ava behind a heavy curtain that separated the main foyer from a small unused area that held a multitude of empty coat hangers. Did the theatre have more than one 'showroom'? If so, he had not been aware. If not, then wouldn't they need every coat hanger?
He supposed it hardly mattered. When they were through, his hand dropped the heavy curtain, and it fell closed, softly swaying until standstill.

"Are you alright?" he asked Ava, assessing her eyes with no small amount of concern. "Do you want to leave?" he asked, a bit more quietly, taking her hand in his again. "Or do you want to speak to Arnyn?" He hadn't wanted to wake her if he didn't need to, but it did seem like the need was getting a little too big to ignore.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Domanol Raxëlilta
intermission at the Balcony / ‘the group’, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

Just when he had managed to grasp where the play below was taking them, it stopped. And Domanol had been engrossed enough in the balcony goings on, to believe the man on stage had come to publicly ask them all to please shush. But it seemed as though the pause was perfectly normal and nothing to do with them. Which did not mean that it would not affect their unusual party. The sudden departure of reasons to stay quiet and cloaked in the darkness would certainly give rise to opportunity. The only question was quite what sort of opportunity ?

Domanol had grown quite settled in his seat, beside his sweetheart, well aware that the woman sat in front of them had more care for what was happening behind her than down on the stage. At the masquerade she had exuded confidence, stalking about behind a mask. Tonight she was poised for alarm. Like a gazelle which suddenly catches a predator’s scent on the breeze. The man had been both hunter and hunted in his time. He knew the signs and the fact that she was uncomfortable, he was not ashamed to acknowledge, made him feel that his instinct was spot on.

That strained demand earlier had come from a place of more fear than anger. And everyone had been so worried about her precious dress, but she only seemed to care about everybody not making a fuss. Like she did not want to draw attention to herself. The exact opposite of the woman he had met about a week before. But it was her, he was sure of it. The cat had merely lost her calm, but he had seen how cleverly she could play with people, like toys.


And sure enough, as soon as opportunity presented, the stranger made to take flight. Dom was just about to reason that going out to find a washroom would see the most people notice her supposedly damaged state. But when Ava turned to her escort (Tercen, he reminded himself), it was evident that she was not really thinking about her gown at all. She might be going to run. She might be set on speaking more clandestinely with him. For it was apparent that Dom’s rather than the dog’s arrival had been what had unsettled her. If she had a plan here, he’d just thrown it into a state. Good ...

“You know me," the ranger turned to Seri as the other duo made their exit. “Can’t be making an entrance without a little flair,” he grinned. “My apologies .. about the dog, Brooke,” he felt that he ought to make some sort of an explanation. “He was already leading the theatre attendant in a game around the foyer when I arrived. Thought it was better to bring him where he’d settle, with you girls, than simply bail on you all. So, everybody having a good time ?” he made his congenial enquiry, glancing about the group and raised an eyebrow toward Gwestion even as he raised his chin in a tilt toward the sleepers at the other end of the row.


Ava and Tercen had not long made their departure from the balcony when Dom rose to his own feet then, gathering up his coat as an alibi, in as casual a manner as he could manage. The girls would be safe here with Gwestion. He could take the time. Moreover, it felt like the best time to figure what was going on here. And he doubted anybody left in the box seats was likely to be privy to that information. The queen of high alert herself was unconscious .. He had no choice.

“So that is Blondey’s brother ? And his date ?” he looked to affirm what he had already assumed by process of elimination. “I’d better go add my apologies to the mix, since everybody else already did,” a slight roll of brown eyes indicated that his intent in that act was far from serious. ”Pretty sure I was meant to check this in before I came in too,” he recalled, with apparent natural progression to that thought. “Dog distracted me. I’ll be back.”


On any other given day he would have asked if he could fetch them back something in the way of snacks. But he could not afford the distraction now. And if what occurred did not prove too absolutely insane, then he might be able to bring some back with him anyway, to explain any more inexplicable delays that an encounter might incur. So with a reassuring glance, Dom set out after the pair who’d recently made their exit. The stairs were an easy take, and he allowed his time to quietly migrate his knife closer to hand, before he broke into the crowd below.

They were not difficult for keen eyes to spot, the fair-haired man standing out like a straw in soot amongst the people milling in the foyer. And while Dom had entertained thoughts of heading first to make his alibi with the usher from before, he figured it would be best to save excuses until after he might need to make more of them. Who knew where this might lead to ?


The couple he noted then slip through a curtain where nobody else seemed to be heading, and that was odd in itself. A couple. That a woman such as he suspected Ava to be would be so close with a man who must be a native .. Must have picked him up at the masquerade, the man supposed. There had been a blonde man there, if memory recalled. More than one. And though he had not seen Tercen’s face on that occasion to be able to assure him now, nor had he even shared a conversation with him .. not then … still the frame and build were about right. Looked strong but not overly statured as might a soldier, the Ranger considered. Still appearances he knew could be deceptive. Tercen’s colouring made the woman's choice of him stand out, but perhaps she had figured that would detract some attention from herself. If so, she had been wrong. And if the lieutenant’s brother was not complicent or at least aware of the woman’s likely allegiance, then he was a shield. He was in potential peril, as much as anybody else inside the theatre house tonight.

The fact that this was taking him away from time with Seri made Domanol more urgent about his task. Because for the sake of her safety, and his chances of spending the rest of the evening with her, instead of .. who knew what .. he wanted this dealt with. Whatever it was.


It was easy to take himself through the same veil he’d seen them use before him. And since it was apparent straight away that they were the only ones in there, the three of them, the man dropped his brother’s coat along with all pretense, and revealed, freed up both his hands, for the short but serrated knife which was now presenting in his right.

“We didn’t get a chance to make proper introductions before,” he mentioned, eyeing their reactions because that was half the reason for his dare. How the pair each responded to this behaviour would likely tell him more than her lips ever would. And honestly, forcing their hand seemed the most efficient way of going about this. He’d seen how evasive the woman could play back at the dance. He didn't have the time for that.

"Of course I know who you are, in some respect. ‘Miss Ava’.” He gave her name in a tone not remotely similar to how the others had used that moniker in the balcony, dripping in some disbelief at her audacity. “Found somebody you could really take a dance with, I see ?” he indicated Tercen briefly. For there was a harbouring sense of guilt there. The man had seemed altogether agreeable before. But that meant nothing. Domanol had learned. Who knew what the blonde man even believed was going on here !

“Did you know then, or not until now, who I really am ?” he was unclear on that much still.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Ercassie

Tercen
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

Someone else had followed them behind the curtain. Tercen's gaze shifted to the newcomer - the man who was Seri's date. Dom. Light brown eyes flicked to the relinquished dress coat, on the floor already. To the knife, in his hand - and that is where his eyes lingered.

Adrenaline spiked as fear gripped him. Ava had been right - this man meant her harm! He swore out loud, right before the man spoke, about 'proper introductions'. Tercen should have trusted Ava's gut instinct. They should have woken Arnyn right away, when she had first suggested it. He took a step forward, placing himself partially in front of Ava, and definitely between her and the knife-brandishing individual.

Yet, the man did not address him. He addressed Ava. And what on earth was Tercen even supposed to say?!

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Ava

She was somewhat relieved when Tercen agreed so readily to go along with her. She gave a little smile as she took his hand and gathered her skirt, trying to arrange it in such a way that the mud would be folded inward, and she could hold the skirt in such a way that it would only seem natural to avoid it getting stepped on as she went down the steps. She probably should say something to the rest of the group, but she was too caught up in her own thoughts and fears to think about anything like that.

Tercen's question made her glance at him, somewhat surprised. He had never asked her that before, and a part of her was slightly reluctant to answer it. But she had confided to him that she knew how to fight, only a few hours ago. "Only slightly," She murmured, wondering if she ought to retrieve the small knife she had. But she was very reluctant to do that if she could help it. After all, the man had, so far, made no threatening moves toward anyone. He had not even truly threatened anyone, verbally, for that matter. And if he did, would it even be wise to draw a weapon in return, here in the middle of the theater? With people around, whom she would not wish to be harmed by mistake?

She let him lead the way, trusting that he knew the theater better than she would, for she had never been there before at all. He had, right? Or maybe he hadn't, she realized, since he did prefer not to go to such things. But he soon led her to a quiet area which, if she had to guess, might be either a backup coat room, or perhaps where the staff hung their uniforms when they were not at work. She had no idea, but it hardly mattered.

She let out a slow breath of relief once they were alone in a private setting. She let go of her skirt, so that the hem joined the rest of it with a soft swish of fabric. "I..." That was as far as she got in answering his questions, before.. suddenly, they were no longer alone.

Her eyes widened in alarm as the very man she had been hoping to avoid, suddenly slipped through the curtain. He had followed them? Correction... he had followed her. And now he openly wielded a knife!

Startled, Ava once again caught her breath, her eyes widening as her gaze fixed on that, briefly, then returned to him. To his face. As Tercen moved in front of her, Ava felt a surge of alarm.. for his safety. "Tercen, get out of here," She hissed under her breath, slightly annoyed that he had put himself in the middle... yet at the same time, it was touching that he would do that, to protect her. But she wanted him far away from this situation, so he would not be hurt!

When he refused to leave*, Ava knew this was going to be difficult. She could not let this... spy? assassin? do any harm to him, but that would be harder if he insisted on sticking close to her. Or in front of her. While she could probably draw her weapon while Tercen was shielding her from view, she did not want to escalate things any further, by adding another weapon into the mix. Instead, she stepped around Tercen without taking her eyes off of this 'Dom', and came to stand in front of Tercen as she faced Dom. She watched him, ready to fight, if she must. If he moved to attack her, she knew plenty of ways of disarming him... as long as Tercen did not interfere. Meanwhile, her heart was racing with the possibility that they were all in great danger. That she could be killed here. Or that Tercen could be.

The spy's question then left no doubt to Ava that he knew exactly who she was. She frowned. "I could ask the same of you, in regard to myself." She responded, without bothering to hide her accent now. There was a harder edge to her tone, as well. "Regardless.. we have a problem." She informed him, eyes narrowing. "For I cannot allow you to pass on to your.. boss.. whatever information you have about me; the fact that I am here, my doings while I have been here, or.. any of that." She had no idea how much he had actually learned, nor did she want to offer anything he may not have already known. She only hoped that he had not already sent any such news.. that would certainly be a problem! And if he had come to kill her... well, she wasn't going to make it easy for him.


(*as discussed with writer)

---

|
| |
Gladhron | Gwestion
Seri, Brooke & Chewy
with Aislin, Arnyn, Tercen, & Domanol
White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

As the play took a pause for intermission, Seri sighed and was preparing to settle back and speak to Dom, figuring this would make a good opportunity to, first of all, fill him in on everything, but also, introduce everyone around. And maybe offer another apology for all the disruption. But no sooner had they been dismissed for their break from entertainment, than Ava decided it was a good opportunity to clean up her dress. Well, they could do introductions when she returned, Seri decided.

Dom soon offered up an explanation of his own, helping them all to understand how Chewy had come to be there, and Seri gave an amused shake of her head. "He was supposed to stay at the house," She sighed, but she couldn't really be upset about it. "Perhaps we should have just brought him to begin with," She admitted, feeling in part responsible for the chaos the dog had caused, in trying to reunite with Brooke.


Were they having a good time? Brooke bit her lip, unsure if everyone could give the same answer to that. "It's interesting, for sure." She answered, referring to more than just the play going on. But, when Dom offered an apology to her, Brooke shook her head slightly. "It's not your fault," Brooke assured him.


"It seems they are, at least." Gwestion remarked softly, with a nod toward the sleepers that Dom had also just given a nod toward. He was a bit amazed, really. It was one thing that Gladhron had dozed off. He could understand that, for his brother was the sort who could fall asleep just about anywhere, within only a few minutes. But Arnyn? In all the time they had spent traveling together, hunting bandits together, he had never known of her to be that sort. He also couldn't help wondering, given the fact that she had put her head on Gladhron's shoulder to sleep... was it a coincidence, or had a relationship been growing between them, since the masquerade? He knew that would make Gladhron extremely happy, but he had somehow thought it would take a lot longer for Arnyn to come around to that.


"That's right," Seri confirmed with a little smile, when Dom asked whether that was 'Blondie's brother' and his date. "Tercen and Ava," She let him know, since he mentioned giving his own apologies to them. Before she could offer any more information, he had declared that he would be back. Of course, he had forgotten to leave his coat with the attendants. Not that it was really that big of a deal. It was only more convenient to not have to keep up with coats and such, while sitting in the theater. It would have been more of a problem, of course, if they had been down in the main seating area.


With two of their number dozing, and three others off doing other things, Seri wondered whether they should see what sort of snacks might be available in the lobby. Since they hadn't had to buy tickets, she had plenty of money left for other things. "Brooke, Aislin, how about we go see about getting some snacks or something to drink?" She suggested quietly. Turning to Gwestion, she added, "We can leave your brother and Arnyn here, I think they'd rather not be bothered." She whispered, a bit amused.


Brooke nodded her own agreement. "Snacks would be nice," She agreed.

Gwestion stood quietly and moved to open the door for the ladies, so that those who were leaving the box could do so ahead of him. He would go along, figuring that at least until Dom rejoined them, he could accompany the ladies. He could help carry food or drinks, if nothing else.


Chewy, however, had other ideas than getting cleaned up. As everyone began getting up and moving around, he got excited at the idea that they would now be going home and getting supper or something. While Brooke was trying to carefully move around Gladhron and Arnyn without disturbing them, Chewy started over to them, as if he thought he would 'help' by waking them. Before Brooke realized, and could stop him, the dog had managed to swipe his tongue over Arnyn's hand and pushed his nose against Gladhron's arm, where Arnyn's other hand rested. As if he was investigating what that was about.

"Chewy, no!" Brooke whispered as soon as she realized he had strayed from her side, hastily trying to pull him away from the sleeping pair. She cringed, then hastened to leave the box, with her dog in tow. "Umm, I think I'd better get him cleaned up," She mumbled as she glanced at her mud-covered canine. "He must have run through a dozen mud puddles or something, on his way here." She shook her head a little in astonishment. She wondered if they might all get kicked out, if it was discovered that they had a dog with them. "Maybe.. I could try to sneak him into a washroom... if I could find one that's maybe a little more hidden away or something. Wanna come with me, Aislin?" She invited, although Aislin was also perfectly welcome to go with Seri, or even stay here if she preferred.

Chewy looked puzzled at why they were leaving the others behind, but he followed and gave her no more trouble about leaving.


(edit: fixing some sentence problems)

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Ercassie

Tercen
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

When Ava hissed at him to get out of there, Tercen frowned. Yet he did not take his eyes off Dom. He did not so much as glance at Ava. Instead, he flat out refused her 'request'. First of all, by staying right where he was. Second of all, with a tense: "No."

Something protective in his chest protested and poked at him when Ava stepped around him. And in front of him. His frown deepened, yet he knew she was more skilled at fighting than he was. At least, she had told him that she was. And he had no reason not to believe her. So what in Angmar's name was he meant to do, now? He had refused to leave her alone with this man, to protect her. And she had refused to let him stand in front of her, to protect him. He could not blame her, without blaming himself as well, he figured.

Tercen startled, though, when Ava dropped her Gondorian accent. His gaze flicked to her as she stood half in front of him. Why would she do that? If there was ever any doubt in the spy's mind about who she was, it would be fully erased now! And was she now threatening the man, by saying she could not allow him to pass any information onto his boss?

Would anything he said even matter to either of these two? Probably not, for they seemed to be in a world entirely their own. Whatever world it was that Umbar belonged to?

Even so, Tercen could stay silent no longer. "Whoever you are," he said, stepping to Ava's side as he regarded Dom, "the knife feels like you are threatening her. Which I do not appreciate." Tercen had never thought he was going to be the one to call for 'manners' this evening... but here he was, doing just that. In... the midst of a... standoff?!

---

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

The sound of muted voices and the scent of pine trees registered in the depths of her mind as consciousness beckoned. Yet it took the wet feeling of Chewy's tongue over her hand to really pull her back. The canine's lick was momentarily confusing. Arnyn automatically tried to move both hands, then; her left was impeded from lifting much by Gladhron's hand covering it, but her right hand, dangling in the now small space between her chair and Gladhron's did lift enough to smack against one of the chairs. Arnyn let out a brief, quiet groan at that unexpected smack of her hand against wood, and her eyelids opened and closed a few times. What was with the pines? She turned her face toward the scent.

It came to her, all of a sudden. The theatre. Gladhron. Wait, what? Gladhron?! Her eyes opened wide as she realized her head was on his shoulder, and her hand was partially on his arm and partially on his leg. His shoulder! His leg! But, wait - his head was also resting against hers?

She blinked, otherwise frozen for a moment. And then the thaw seemed to set in, and Arnyn carefully worked her head away from his own, and away from his shoulder. And, as if an afterthought, she slowly pulled her hand out from under his.

"I..." How in the world had this even happened?! Clearly, I was much too tired to make an appearance here, tonight! "I'm sorry," she mumbled, putting her hands together in her lap, her pale hands a sharp contrast to the deep emerald of her dress. "I did not mean to... be a bother. Or fall asleep," she added apologetically, glancing at Gladhron. She was blushing from embarrassment. Since the rest of the seats were empty, that also meant that everyone else had seen her. Asleep. On Gladhron.

Her blush deepened along with her embarrassment as she assessed the room below. The play was not over. Too many people were still seated and strolling about down there. Intermission.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta
Condemning the suspicious lovebirds, at Intermission
At the White Tree Theatre, Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

Though Tercen cursed and the two of them seemed far from glad to see him, one fact was undeniable. Neither of the couple seemed entirely .... surprised ... to see him here. Not even to find him armed and antagonistic. In fact, the questions that were returned to him suggested that they would not have really expected anything less from him. So yes, clearly Domanol had his first answer. They knew who he was. Or believed that they did. For there was no cry of 'what do you think you're doing ?' There was no horrified belief that 'you must be mistaken'. No desperate claim that 'you have the wrong person ..' And so he concluded that he was not therefore mistaken. Which was a relief, in at least that his actions were justified here.


In the days since the masquerade, Dom had allowed his brother to at least start to convince him that he might just, once again, be courting paranoia, over the oddity he had observed. Which, true, given all that their family had seen and suffered over the last near score of years would be similarly justifiable. In context. But was this woman simply a refugee from an estranged colony of the Crown as he had been encouraged to consider ? The doubt he had been nursing ever since the two had 'blindly' met .. was clearly validated now ! This was not .. nothing. It was not harmless. It ought not be brushed off or dismissed. Sometimes fearing the worst was simply accepting the truth !

And as far as accepting unfavourable truths went, Tercen looked certainly determined to remain, his loyalty to Ava, even as a Gondorian, made clear. As clear as it was also confirmed now, that this was certainly a woman of Umbar. For who else would present that way, with that accent, in this situation, if they were anything else ? She was certainly not Gondorian as she had clearly pretended, proving that she had something to hide. As others had pretended before her. And paid the price for their deceit. Ava, if that even was her real name, had lied about who she was, where she came from. But not to Tercen. The blonde man did react to his cohort's altered accent, but did not look as though he hadn't heard it before. So. He knew then ... something, at least.


"There she is," Dom acknowledged aloud, quite clearly smug if only to his own amusement, that he had been proven right. "Kitty cat showing her claws." the rogue Ranger did not alter his stance or relax his nerve.

"You are not wrong about a problem," he levelled the warning in return, his smile souring. "For any leniency that I granted you the last time shall not be repeated." He left the insinuation of a 'history' between him and the wench for Tercen in particular to mull over. Testing quite how strong this probably recent attachment might be, in truth.

The woman's confident reference to his .. 'boss' though threw Domanol a curveball in return. And he paused, even momentarily. Whoever or whatever she thought him then, clearly, she was mistaken on one count. That he took somebody else's orders ? A ludicrous notion. Unless the woman was referencing the King himself ... ?


Dom gave a moment to try and register the assumption. If they believed he was not working alone, they could not simply dispatch with him without expecting repurcussions. Which might explain their hesitation thus far. While Ava had inferred she could not let the Ranger thwart her plans, Tercen's motive might also be tied to her plans, or simply to the pretender herself. But though they had Dom outnumbered, they had only promised resistance, and had not acted upon it yet. Maybe they were awaiting to see if he revealed some back up of his own, waiting in the wings ?

"Whoever I am ?" Domanol returned in response to the clearly confuddled citizen. "Do you have no clue just who or what she is ?" the question was almost incredulous. As though he wished to be convinced of the other fellow's innocence. For he had to at least be certain on that front. Seri had assured her lover that this mutual play critic was Lieutenant Blondey's brother. Which did not mean that it was impossible he was entwined with hostile forces. Devedir had proven that much, to their detriment, already. And the other, Aderic or his apparent brother .. equally embarrassing for their more faithful countrymen. But still.


"How many of our people have you beguiled, Umbarian ?" he alleged now openly, categorising Ava's accent as the very same as Pharak's when the priest, too, spoke in his true colours. "Oh she will find out exactly how threatening my blade may feel, if either one of you thinks I'm about to just stand aside and let "the fact that she is here and all of her 'doings' while she has been here" go unanswered." He threw each of their own accusations back at them, with a bitter snort of amusement.

"So you, what ? Drugged the Lieutenant ? Or is she simply blinkered to the folly of a loved one ?" She would not be the first, alas. But certainly it was out of character for what he knew of Arnyn to prove so inattentive in any social situation. In any situation at all in fact.

Which only further proved the severity of this circumstance in his opinion.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Ava

As Tercen was behind her at the time she dropped her accent, Ava did not notice his reaction. And she saw no point in keeping up the false accent, for it had been obvious the man knew exactly who she was, and to try and convince him otherwise would have been a waste of everyone's time. This was a threat that needed to be dealt with quickly... somehow. But how? Even if she wasn't opposed to killing, she couldn't exactly just kill the guy. Right here, in a public place, with all these people around. With Tercen here. Even if she was open to the idea, it wasn't an option.

That left... what? If Tercen refused to leave, then she couldn't send him to retrieve his sister, or even the two rangers. It struck her as ironic, as well as a little concerning, that the two ranger brothers seemed on friendly terms with this man, or at least, Gwestion and other members of his group were familiar enough with 'Dom' to not seem the least questioning when he entered the box earlier. Which set her mind to wondering... how well could she trust them? Perhaps they were all in cahoots! Or at least, perhaps the brothers and this man were allies. Which made her thoughts race with questions, like.. why did Gladhron and Gwestion so readily agree to go with her to her home? Was Gladhron's 'blunder' really that, or had it been deliberate? So many things began to come to mind, making her doubt and question all of what had happened lately.

But she didn't have time for that. The man made it perfectly clear that not only did he know that she had been 'lady cat' at the masquerade, but that he was, indeed, the same one she had danced with at the masquerade. The one who had made her feel so uneasy, despite her efforts to pretend otherwise. The one she had come to believe was a spy. And had been worried about, ever since. She had tried to convince herself, for a while, that it had all been just her being anxious and paranoid, jumping to untrue conclusions, and reading more into things than were really there. Obviously, that was not the case.

As the spy/assassin agreed that they did have a problem, Ava was swiftly trying to decide what to do. There was no backup. This was something she had to handle herself. Or... with Tercen? And what did the man mean about leniency? That he didn't try something like this then, at the masquerade? Or... did he mean that there had been other occasions when he could have done this, and had not? She still didn't even know exactly what he was trying to do. Kill her? scare her? Let her know he's aware of her? The fact that he said he did not plan on giving her any 'leniency' this time, implied that he likely intended on killing her. He was not planning to let her leave the theater, was he? Though tempted to hold her breath, she forced herself to maintain calm and even breaths, even as the spy/assassin rounded on Tercen, as if.. in disbelief. Ava fought the temptation to step in front of him again, and instead, merely frowned at the man. What did he mean, 'who or what she is'? She was aware that Pharak and his agents would surely consider her a heretic and a traitor, and who knows what else. That must be what he meant, right?

She let one hand rest on her hip lightly, as he demanded to know how many of their people she had beguiled. Her eyes narrowed. What did he mean, exactly? Because, well, honestly... she'd like to believe that she'd managed to 'beguile' all of them. But she wasn't about to admit that to him! And anyway, he probably already knew the answer to that anyway. Therefore, she did not give an answer to that question. If he was here to kill her, he must know far too much about her secret operations. "Clearly, not you." She decided on saying, instead. The fact that she hadn't "beguiled" Pharak's spy made her stomach twist up in anxious knots. Did that mean that Pharak was also aware of her doings? Did he already know all of it? Perhaps there was a trap waiting for her, at home?

But that didn't make sense. Why would he make himself known to her, to make her aware of the possibility of that? As Tercen stepped to the side of her and declared that he did not like the man threatening Ava with a knife, she felt a strange mix of feeling pleased and concerned at the same time. Pleased, that he would speak up in defense of her, that he cared so much about her that he would stand up to this man. And concerned, that he had probably made himself more of a target by doing so.

The man made his threat clear then. He intended her harm, definitely. He was going to 'punish' her for the things she had done, apparently. She was going to have to fight him, and she had no idea whether he might outmatch her skills. While she did feel like she was quite advanced in that area, she had never actually had to go up against an assassin. Could she handle this? She'd feel so much better about it if Tercen wasn't in danger. An assassin of Umbar wouldn't care if he killed him in addition to his actual target, she was sure. It would probably serve to make it look like they'd simply been mugged or whatever. "That is a problem, indeed," She agreed, while keeping a close eye on him, watching for the slightest movement. "For I don't intend to let you accomplish that." She declared, though she didn't even know exactly what 'that' was meant to be.

However, his next words about Arnyn brought a confused look to her face. "Drugged?" She repeated in surprise, with a glance at Tercen, wondering if he was as surprised by that suggestion as she was. Drugged?! What!? She had found it to be quite unexpected to see the woman actually sleeping on Gladhron's shoulder, but it had not even occurred to her that there could have been some outside influence involved. Until now. Yet, she couldn't spend the time to ponder on that now. She snapped her gaze immediately back to the spy, unwilling to let her attention drift away from him. It could be a distraction he was trying to create, just to get an opening to attack her! "If anyone drugged her, my suspicion is on you." She flung the accusation right back at him, eyes narrowed. After all, if he had been watching her for the past week, then he must know how often she had been speaking with the lieutenant. And he would have been smart to learn whatever he could about this lieutenant. Therefore, it would also be smart to make sure that she was rendered useless at the time when he planned to confront Ava.. or whatever this was.

---

Gladhron
with Arnyn
White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

Something cold and wet touched his arm. Gladhron instinctively shifted to pull away from it, not realizing it was only the dog's nose. When the cold, wet thing didn't persist, and quietude filled the room, he let out a little sigh of contentment, quite happy to breathe in this lovely, soothing smell of roses for a while longer.

Until his 'pillow' was yanked out from under him. Gladhron's head dropped, with nothing there to support it now, thus waking him with a jolt. He blinked in confusion as he looked around, then glanced down when he felt Arnyn moved her hand from under his. His befuddled gaze caught a glimpse of her hand withdrawing from under his, then he looked up at her. "What happened?" He barely even registered her apology. Why was she apologizing? He looked out at the stage, and noticed that the curtain was drawn, and people.. were leaving? He rubbed his eyes as he sat up a bit more. "Oh.. I missed it." He realized, feeling a bit bad for apparently having slept through the entire thing? He looked back at Arnyn, dimly recalling that she had fallen asleep first. On his shoulder.

"Wait, huh?" He wondered, trying to make sense of what she was saying. "What do you mean, being a bother?" He asked, actually sort of regretful that she had awakened. And that he had awakened. And not quite understanding why she thought she was a bother. He rubbed a hand over his face, trying to wake up a little more. Too bad he didn't have some water at hand, to splash on it. He smiled faintly at her, and couldn't help thinking how very pretty she looked. That lovely dress. Her dark eyes, and fair skin, the light blush...

Belatedly, he realized, upon seeing her blush, that she must feel quite awkward about falling asleep on him. And, of course... he realized that everyone in their box must have seen them. They were very likely in for some teasing, later. He leaned back in his seat, trying to clear his thoughts. Trying to push aside the feeling of happiness that lingered, from having her head on his shoulder. Trying to stop focusing on how lovely the woman beside him happened to look. Trying to think.. what she must be feeling.

"It's alright, Celume." He sought to assure her, softly. "I don't mind.. really. I mean, I was obviously almost as tired as you were..." He pointed out with a little shrug and reassuring smile. Then he hoped that hadn't come off as uncaring for how she felt, realizing that if she did not feel the same way toward him, that waking up in that manner might have been awkward for her. "I.. am sorry, if I um, if you were uncomfortable, though. I mean.. with me, and.. with the whole..." He trailed off, unsure exactly what to apologize for, nor what to exactly call it. Incident? Accident? He hadn't meant to lean his head on hers... it had just happened without him realizing it.

"Regardless... you shouldn't apologize for falling asleep." He added more quietly, trying to encourage positivity. "I mean, you were exhausted, apparently, and you had a really long day. And you aren't feeling well," he recalled, then gave a little apologetic smile. "My only excuse for falling asleep here, is that I hardly got any sleep last night..." He admitted, though he didn't mention why. "Sorry I umm, used your head for a pillow." He added with a little awkwardness. "But, I don't mind that you used my shoulder for one," He tried to reassure her, offering a little smile. "You can lean on my shoulder anytime," He added, before realizing maybe he should add more so it didn't sound.. weird. "That's what friends are for, right?"

Of course, this might have made an excellent time to tell the average woman how he thought of her, and how he felt toward her. But with her, the last thing he wanted to do was make her even more awkward and uncomfortable. So, it was probably best to change the subject and try to move on. He cleared his throat, looking around. "Looks like everyone left without us," He remarked, frowning a little, and wondered whether they could still catch up to them. "Should we go too? I can't believe we both slept through the whole play."

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn , @Ercassie
Aislin
White Tree Theatre
December 30, evening

Having been disturbed from the intent focus on the play on the stage, Aislin now struggled to concentrate and occasionally turned her head to see what all the others were up to, as if she was afraid to miss out on something important. Though she wondered why there should be something else to be busy about when they had come here for the theatre after all. Even so she made sure to be mostly focused on the story played out below.

When the intermission came, she stretched, reaching her arms up and lengthening her back; while the chair was comfortable, she could feel the need to move around a bit.

"Sure, I can go and see if I can help you with Chewy the restless," she said, having stood up and observed that some had already been gone. "Though snacks sound enticing too. Just... how do you figure to sneak him into the washroom? He's not exactly a small chicken size..." she wondered, once she caught up with Brooke and the dog.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Ercassie

Tercen
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

This 'Dom' spoke of some kind of history between him and Ava, but Ava had shared her thoughts and concerns about this man with Tercen already. He frowned. "Leniency? You mean not stabbing her at the masquerade?" he demanded, gesturing at the knife.

He flat out scowled when Dom suggested they had drugged Arnyn. "I would never drug her," he stated firmly. "And neither would Ava. And if you managed such a thing..." His knuckles went white as he clenched his fists.

At the question directed directly to him, the blond man tilted his chin. "If you truly know who Ava is, and you intend her harm - then that tells me everything I need to know about you." His words were deceptively calm, a feeling which was not reflected in the way his heart was beating in his throat, or the way his stomach seemed to be tying itself into a knot. "If you know who she is, and you still intend her harm, then you do not have anyone's wellfare in mind, save for that of a maniacal family. And I will gladly report that knowledge to my sister. So she can take you down a notch. How do you even know everyone?" He was on a roll now. "How did you deceive everyone? How did you deceive Arnyn?"

If anything, stalling the man from making a move against Ava while she tried to figure something out, might be his best shot. She was more used to situations like these, right? Tercen certainly had no clue of what to do. His lack of experience with high stress situations like these, suddenly proved a painful handicap.

---

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

He did not understand how she had been a bother? "I fell asleep on you," she voiced the all too embarrassing reality. "With no regards, apparently, for your... personal space. It couldn't have been a very comfortable position for you to be in," she added, averting her eyes.

Yet, he was sweet enough to try and reassure her. Saying it was alright, and he hadn't minded. Arnyn sighed lightly. That was nice of him to say, and she figured it came from a place of understanding on his part. And possibly concern as well. Lingering concern - after finding her unconscious on the floor of her house.

Mentally, Arnyn swore. After that first, very embarrassing, incident the night before - now she had pulled off this? She was utterly embarrassed by having fallen asleep, for it was a blatant loss of control of her own faculties. What would Gladhron even be thinking of her, now? If he had figured she'd had it together years ago, when they'd met in the north, her behaviour in the past few days must be annihilating that first impression. And everyone in the box must have seen her, too. Not just Gladhron, this time.

Her little downward spiral was interrupted by Gladhron's own apology. Looking back at him, Arnyn frowned a little. He was sorry if she had been uncomfortable? Strangely enough, it had been unexpectedly comfortable. She wanted to tell him it was fine, but his follow up statement, about how she could lean on his shoulder anytime, suddenly reminded her vividly of how she'd cried all over Gladhron's shoulder after Tamrin had come to find her in the northern woods and had shared his 'news'. Arnyn held Gladhron's eyes for a moment, before she looked back down at the rest of the hall. She had used this man's shoulder twice, now. "Right," she whispered, when he said that was what friends were for.

White it was a relief that Gladhron really did not seem to mind, Arnyn herself was still very much bothered by the fact that she had fallen asleep in public - and on someone else, to boot.

She shook her head at Gladhron's comment about sleeping through the whole play. "This looks like the intermission," she corrected him gently. "We missed half." She did rise from her seat, however, and took a step or two away from her chair. "But I should probably go, regardless, and miss the rest of it as well." Clearly, she was currently unfit for this kind of outing. "Will you say goodbye to the others for me, in case I don't see them on my way out?" she requested.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta
Intermission from the Balcony / ‘the group’, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

Having proven his point, that the woman was of Umbar, Domanol was not quite clear at first what his next move ought be. For in his mind, the Lieutenant’s brother should have been shocked to the core. An Umbarian here ? After that colony had rebelled against the Crown's mercy and declared themselves still hostile .. post-war ? Any Gondorian ought to have been outraged at the reveal, hopefully foregoing any further allegiance to the lying wench. But Tercen was not doing anything of that sort. The Ranger had just called Ava out for just what she was, and her plaything had not even blinked ! What had she done to him ? Was there blackmail involved ? Perhaps he was being forced to protect Ava, for the sake of protecting someone else, someone he truly cared about. Because this could not be simply as it appeared on the face of it. The Lieutenant's own brother ?? Unless he was another party to the ever growing, ever more alarming contagion that was infecting their lands like a new plague. If this nonsense of his countrymen taking up the wrong side kept up, Gondor would be looking at a second kinstrife !

Reason made him consider though, even if it were the case. Or in fact if the mismatched pair before him had only just met at the masquerade, then this was an acquaintance of days, barely more than a week. And even if they had been meeting in secret for longer than that, just what had the Umbarian been doing at a Gondorian masquerade in the first place ? Bit of a long way to come for a spot of dancing, wasn’t it ? No, there was definitely some underlying cause that must have driven her all this way, in the face of what would occur if she were discovered. And Dom was determined to find out what it was. Not to mention why this Tercen would not forsake her, even now when it should have been safe for him to do so.


“Believe me when I say it was not for this one's sake that I refrained the last time,” the Ranger rolled his eyes at the other man’s jibe. The thought of what might have occurred, if he had attacked the woman at their first encounter, reverberated through his senses like a jolt of lightning. Gael had been at the masquerade, had been the reason in fact that Dom and his kin had attended in foursome force, to ensure her protection and peace of mind. But it was more than that. Forget that his family had been there, his daughter even .. and forget that his lover had unexpectedly shown up as well .. the King and Queen themselves had been there. Stars ! No. That had been far from the time or place to stab anybody. Such actions required some sort of proof beyond gut instinct. The sort of proof that Ava had just handed him by dropping her accent, revealing exactly what she was. He had been right. She was one of ‘them’. And he’d learnt what comes of allowing ‘them’ to go about their business, Particularly here, where they had no business being at all.

He had foregone responding to their now mirrored accusations about drugging Arnyn. Forget pointing out that the lieutenant had already been asleep before Domanol had even ever gotten to the theatre. It was, he realised, probably not wise to remind anyone that he had been so late arriving. For how fast they had been to turn the allegations of poisoning back around upon him. Who knew then what they might go on to suspect had been the true cause for his unexplained delay ?


“Not me,” he echoed, albeit more vehemently, to the woman’s acknowledged failure at having beguiled quite everybody .. else. “I have everybody here’s welfare in mind,” he corrected the deluded blonde man. “Save hers,” He pointed directly toward Ava on delivering that last word, with the hand holding his knife extending it out toward her now, even as he stepped back slightly, eyes narrowed. If only momentarily. “And if it takes her end to ensure that no other meets theirs, so be it. Didn’t even need to drug you, did she ?” he scoffed in barely veiled derision at the other man. "I'd ask what lies she’s told you, but I don't doubt that she leaned on far less 'wordy' means of gaining your compliance. And look where it's gotten you."

Fear and fury were both effective tools, the Ranger knew. He was not above employing either for his advantage. Each of those two emotions were fully capable of rendering a person to reveal more than they might else. And the knife, yes. The knife he had brought to the encounter, to encourage both fear and fury to stand a part of this conversation. It would seem that his own emotions were at least partly fuelling the subject, as though the man himself was too distracted to care or admit. But he was not the only one.


“You dare to threaten me with ‘the wrath of Arnyn’, even as you stand here and defend .. all that your sister stands against ?" Domanol unleashed a brief, astounded laugh, scarce able to believe his ears. For had he not met with the Ranger officer himself, several months ago ? Had he not heard her views on opposing slavery and all the rest of it that Umbar practiced ? And as for .... maniacal family ? Maybe his weren't perfect but he would never betray kin as this blonde fool was doing ! Unless .... she could not be in on it too ? The 'other Gondorian 'lieutenant' was .. his mind whispered, unhelpfully. And you told her ... everything .... But no. Sense prevailed. The King trusted Arnyn. Therefore Domanol would too. He had to draw a line somewhere and Aragorn stood firmly on one particular side of that line. “I have known any single one of the people in that box far longer than I’d wager you have ever even believed that you know this lying whore. You are in over your head, boy." It was not entirely accurate to name the blonde man before him as a 'boy', but Dom believed that he did exceed Tercen in age, and if it helped to point out who was the more experienced in this sort of thing .... "Show some sense before it is too late and walk away. While you still can,” he urged the idiot.

The Ranger turned his attention back to Ava, rather than say more else than would be wise to. He had spent much of his speech so far on the man, on the one he believed was even maybe capable of listening. Because if it came down to it, he would not have it said that he did not try … But he had never let the suspicious woman from his sight, and it was not lost on him that if he could only get her under control, that Tercen perhaps would no longer be any issue. The other Gondorian might even be relieved ! Although, if either one of them were lying, then their chicanery would have earned each a place on the stage this night ! For now though, they would have to make do with a smaller and less receptive audience of one.

“You, .. really shouldn’t have come here,” he told Ava. “You really want to make me show you why ?”

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening


Ava

Tercen's flat out denial that she would have had anything to do with the possibility that Arnyn had been drugged, left Ava with a small happy feeling that she could not quite pinpoint as any particular emotion. It was nice to hear him say that. Yet, there was no time to really, truly process everything going through her mind. Tercen was asking some of the very same questions Ava had been wondering about, but she wasn't really wanting to stand here and converse lengthily with this assassin.

She was growing more convinced by now, that was what he was. Not merely a spy, but a man sent to put an end to her. The timing, in fact, made her stomach twist into a knot. At the masquerade, he had seemed more like he was fishing for information, as if trying to confirm her identity. She hadn't seen any more indications that she'd been watched or followed, and had even begun to wonder if it was all just a strange misunderstanding. And then, earlier this very day, she and Tercen had sat in the ranger headquarters, with Gladhron and his brother, and Arnyn and the captain. There had been a great deal of very sensitive information delivered in that room. Information which, if it fell upon the ears of her enemies, could bring terribly devestating results to everything she had worked toward.

Mere hours later, this man shows up, clearly with intentions to kill her. And now he was even admitting that he had known Gladhron and Gwestion for a very long time. So, did that mean they were spies, too!? Had Gladhron been faking his friendship to Tercen all along, just so he could try and get the very information he had managed to get? It didn't escape her notice that the supposed 'northern ranger' had become friendly with Tercen around the same time that he became involved with Ava. And that, last night, he had 'conveniently' dropped information 'by mistake' which had pushed Ava and Arnyn into convening at headquarters this morning. Was it all an elaborate plan, contrived to bring them to this very moment? And what about their volunteering so readily, to go with her back home? As her 'bodyguards'? Was it, perhaps, really just so they could get her alone? So they could kill her or something? Or... deliver her to Pharak? But then, why now was this man confronting her, instead of lying low and biding his time? Wouldn't that have been smarter?

Her eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he assured Tercen that it was not for her sake that he had refrained from slaying her at the masquerade. She let her hand drop from where it rested on her hip, and slightly raised both, briefly. "Well, what's stopping you now?" She asked irritably, watching him carefully for any move. While she would obviously rather not have him actively try to kill her, especially with Tercen there and potentially where he could get hurt by mistake. But if he was going to do it, then why not go ahead and try to do it? She'd feel better if she could get him disarmed, or contained somehow.

When he pointed the knife at her, Ava fought the temptation to try and grab his arm and wrest the knife from him. He'd stepped back, as if he guessed she would try it. It was not the right time to try anything of the sort. Only if he actually attempted to attack her, she told herself. Until then, he was only waving it around. Not favorable conditions, but.. wait, was he stalling? Was that it? She considered the possibility, even as he turned his words toward trying to provoke Tercen into a reaction. Ava felt her irritation levels rising, but she forcibly reminded herself that was his goal. He wanted to make them angry, to invoke emotions that would make it easier to defeat them. She wouldn't let it work. Not for herself, anyway. Yet... she knew as soon as she heard certain words come out of his mouth, that Tercen was not going to be pleased. She swiftly put a hand out to rest on his arm, hoping to stall him from reacting rashly, perhaps doing something which could get him killed. She gave him a half-warning, half-pleading glance. Stay calm, please.

"Obviously, you don't know the lieutenant as well as you think you do," She retorted, turning back to Dom, although she wondered what exactly he thought the woman stood for. For a moment, she even wondered whether she had misjudged her... could she possibly be working for the wrong side? No... surely not. She had merely been deceived by the brothers, and the people from the North. Clearly, this man had connections to the north. He had probably sailed there on multiple occasions, and had made some friends. Met Seri, and either he really did care for her, or he was leading her to believe so. Whatever the case, Ava didn't think Arnyn was a part of the deception. If she was, then she had her own brother fooled, too.

In an effort to keep him from overreacting, Ava shrugged, almost deliberately making a show of not caring what this man called her. "You can call me names, or even kill me," She declared with her head held high, although her heart was racing as she hoped that wouldn't come to that, "but you cannot kill an idea. Nor can you take away that which I believe in... or the contempt I hold toward you people." She declared vehemently, feeling both exhilarated and frightfully anxious at the same time, to be making such a bold confession toward one she believed to be working for her enemy. Because if she couldn't prevent him from reporting back to Pharak, she was as good as signing her death warrant. Yet, to finally be open about her allegiance felt.. great. "And one day," she went on, with increasing satisfaction, "whether by my doing, or another's... you and the one you serve, and everyone else who serves him, will all be defeated. Somehow, someday... someone will bring it all crashing down around you, and then everything will finally be the way they should be. The way it should have been for years." She declared, careful to avoid giving any hint that there were already plans in the works, but she could not help but return a bit of the goading.

Let him wonder what sort of following she might have here, and whether there could be further rebellions about to spring up in the city, or something like that. As long as he already knew what she really stood for, then she may as well make it clear that she truly believed in her cause. If she was really fortunate, he wouldn't have yet had a chance to send any of his information back to Pharak. And if she was even more fortunate, she could manage to prevent him from ever doing so, even if it meant ensuring he was locked up in the jails here in Gondor, or something. But she had no idea how to achieve that without having to make a lot of uncomfortable explanations. Maybe something would somehow work out?

---

Gladhron

Gladhron thought about her explanation for why she felt she'd been a 'bother'. Because she'd fallen asleep on him? He could have laughed, but he did not. "Well.. I sorta fell asleep on you, too." He reminded her quietly. "Does that mean... you consider me a bother?" He asked with a little frown, unsure about what she might say in response to that.

He paused for a moment when she said it couldn't have been very comfortable, trying to decide whether to tell her that it actually had been quite comfortable, or to leave that unsaid. After a small shrug, he decided on something to say. "Well, clearly I was comfortable enough to have fallen asleep, too." He offered a small smile. "But I couldn't say much more than that." He remembered feeling very content and relaxed, and pleased, but he thought it best not to say that.

He was hoping she would simply accept that it was fine, and that everything would be alright. That she'd agree that it wasn't really her fault and that they could finish the rest of the evening with no more awkwardness. Especially when she corrected him and said that the play was only half-over. Intermission? He hadn't realized it was a thing. And then, he was a bit dismayed to hear her say that she was going to leave. Leave!? With some effort, he managed not to look crestfallen at this news. The whole reason he'd wanted to come to this thing tonight was because he wanted to spend time with her. To sit next to her, and maybe try to get through to her how he felt toward her. And now she was going to leave.

"Why... because you fell asleep?" He frowned, not quite understanding why she needed to leave. "I mean, if that's the case, then I probably should go, too." He pointed out. "I mean, I think I was out before they even finished introducing the play." He gave a little laugh. "Maybe I should walk you home, and we can try to find and say goodbye to the others on the way out." He suggested, hoping to get a chance to at least see her arrive home safely. "After all, what if I let you go off on your own, and then later, I learn that you ended up falling asleep on the way home, and spent the night in some alley or worse." He joked. Half-joked, anyway. "Wouldn't be very 'gentlemanly' of me, would it?" He gave a slightly awkward laugh, then covered a yawn that took over before he could stop it. "See?" He added, once he'd recovered control of his mouth. "Still tired."

---

|
Brooke & Chewy

Brooke looked thoughtfully down at her dog, then at Aislin. "Well, I guess there's not much chance of hiding him. We'll just have to bring him into the washroom and hope that no one makes a fuss about him. I just want to make sure his paws are clean, at least." She explained.

She made sure to keep Chewy's leash tight so he couldn't get too far from her as they got down the stairs and into the majority of the crowd. They got a few looks from various people, but they managed to locate the washroom and get into it. Fortunately, there wasn't anyone else in there at the moment. Which was.. odd. Brooke glanced around. "I thought Ms. Ava was going here to clean her dress?" She mentioned, puzzled. The lady had left just ahead of them, and she didn't think she could've had enough time to have finished and left the washroom already. She paused, thinking about it. "Well... I guess there might be another washroom." She realized the possibility.

"Sit, Chewy." After he had done so, she got a small hand towel and dampened it, then got started. "I feel so bad that he put mud on her dress," She sighed as she picked up his first paw and began cleaning him. "And also that he caused some of us to miss some of the play." She looked apologetically at Aislin. "I hope you didn't miss too much of it."

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen @Ercassie

Tercen
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

By the Crown... Tercen was afraid. This man was not backing down. They were stalling, but who would think to look behind the curtain, unless they made a scene? And a scene would be bad, right? Not as bad as Ava getting knifed, his mind objected. Right - that much was true. But would the crowd beyond the curtains even hear them, with the multitude of people talking in the foyer? It was creating a lot of noise... Anxiety had him running a hand through his hair. Crap. They needed someone to sort this out. Gladhron, or Gwestion, or - preferably - Arnyn. For if this man in front of them, claimed he had known Gwestion and Gladhron for a long time, then they would be ill inclined to just believe him and Ava if they claimed that Dom was a traitor and working with the evil powers in Umbar. And Arnyn would at least believe him, if not Ava. Even if she also seemed to know the man. Arnyn was his sister. Arnyn would stand by him. Besides, Dom had just confirmed, by his 'Not me', that he had in fact not beguiled Arnyn at all!

Then again... how did his sister seem to know him, anyway? And did she, really?

Through the insane pounding of his heart, through the strange rushing feeling that was flooding his mind and impeding his ability to try and think straight, Tercen tried - tried - to think. Despite the knife which was now pointed at the woman he had fallen for. Even though that very same beauty was now trying to goad the man opposite from them into coming at her! Tercen swore, but whether he had just been thinking it or whether he had said it out loud - he couldn't say. This whole time, he had been thinking about how Arnyn would handle this situation, for she was the person Tercen knew best who would know what to do in situations like these. And what does Arnyn do, always? Arnyn stays calm. Arnyn thinks it through. Tercen tried to take slower, deeper breaths. He tried to calm himself down. I need to get a grip.

And some of the things that were being said by this man... Tercen frowned. They were not making sense, were they? If he had everyone's wellfare in mind who was here... then he would not be coming after Ava. It would not take Ava's death to ensure no one else would not meet theirs. What was this man talking about? Ava was trying to help people, not kill them! Which was exactly the reason why a spy would want to kill her in the first place, because a spy for that blood priest would not want Ava stopping him. No, the priest would want a steady flow of sacrifices.

His jaw almost dropped, though, when Dom claimed Tercen was defending everything Arnyn stood against. "I am not defending what she stands against!" he blurted out, unable to keep his silence, and even raising his voice as he clenched his hands together more tightly, his fingernails digging into the skin of his palms. "Stop trying to confuse us!" Even if it drove him insane that Arnyn was so ready to give her life to protect others, it was something he admired in her, regardless. "You have not known Arnyn longer than I!" he countered the man's claim of him knowing everyone in that box for longer than---

His lips pressed together into a tight line. His chin dropped a fraction as he levelled a stare at the man opposite from him and Ava. Whatever words were cast about about him, he could shrug off. As if he cared what anyone thought about him, let alone some asshole looking to hurt Ava and possibly defame his sister! And talk about slander ------- WHAT did he just call Ava?!

The touch on his arm was a nuisance. He almost swatted it away, but realized just in time that it had to be Ava. He was not willing to glance aside at her, because he figured that is exactly when this 'Dom' might make his move. No, he was not taking his eyes off the dark-haired man for so much as a moment. He could imagine why she had put her hand on his arm, of course. Ava was much like Arnyn when it came to her outward responses. She wanted him to stay calm.

Well, that ship has freaking sailed.

Yet, he knew what Ava wanted. Even if he couldn't be calm, she wanted him to let her take the lead. Just like Arnyn would want him to. He managed to stay quiet, this time. But screw that guy.

He only dimly heard Ava as she tried to verbally parry the man's words. She didn't care about what he called her. Or so she claimed. But Tercen freaking cared. And he had heard when she voiced what she thought about the Halsads and their ilk. He had to resist glancing aside at her, then. That.. was unwise. Wasn't it?

His anger overruled his panic. A clear path opened up before Tercen. The wise thing, now, then... would be to apprehend this man before he could get away.!

"F*** this. And f*** you," Tercen said, his voice loud but his tone dangerously low as he pointed at Dom to punctuate the latter word. "I'm calling in the guards - or my sister - or BOTH," he stated. "I am done listening to you." He moved toward the curtain in a way that would take him to his goal with several yards between him and the man. If nothing else, they could rush at the guy from two sides, right? And if he could call for guards, that would be good, too. If... if they got here in time. By the Valar. Hopefully Ava is as good at fighting as she made it sound. But he had learned to trust a woman when she made such a claim, after watching Kaylin and Arnyn's sparring match. And he knew Ava would not be upset at him for leaving her with Dom. She had just wanted him to do just that, moments ago, after all. He had refused, before - but him staying here was not getting them anywhere. It would be best if he got reinforcements!? Right?!

---

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

She shook her head a little. "I was the one who invaded your space," she said quietly. "I was already in yours when you... found a way to make the best of it." She was no where near sure whether that properly explained what she meant, or whether he would take offense at the phrasing. "But at least it seems like we both agree neither of us..." she fell silent, trying to think of a good word to finish the sentence. If I cannot even speak properly anymore... I really am exhausted. "...overstepped," was the word she settled on. Though she was far from convinced it was the right one. It felt like it fit there. And she couldn't think her way through it anymore, to be honest.

Gladhron looked like he hadn't expected her to say she was leaving. "Well, yes," she said emphatically. "Falling asleep in a public place?" she asked him, as if confounded he did not think that was reason enough. "Obviously means I should go to bed." Arnyn nodded a little when he pointed out that meant he should probably go to. "And it probably means you should too," she agreed with him on that much, with a small but amused smile.

She blinked, however, when he mentioned walking her home before he would be going to sleep. Two faint lines appeared between her brows as she frowned slightly. "Me?" she asked. "What about you? You fell asleep, just like I did. And you are planning not only to walk one circle down, but then back up again, too? Who is to say you won't fall asleep on your way back up to Isys' place?" she demanded, crossing her arms in front of her, still standing just a few feet away from her chair as she looked at Gladhron, who was still seated in his. "Letting you do that, would hardly be responsible of me, would it?" she mirrored his question back at him.

"This is my city," she declared, though she had to resist yawning in turn, after watching him do so. Instead of raising a hand to her face to hide it, and make it all too obvious, she held it back, which in turn made her eyes water a little as the yawn broke somewhere in between her throat and her head, without her opening her mouth. "As the 'host', I should be looking after you. Not the other way around. Even if that is what you already did, yesterday." For a fraction of a moment, her eyes widened a little as she realized what she had just said. Damn. I really need sleep.

Arnyn turned toward the box' exit, not wanting to make eye contact after that. "If you're leaving too, let's go. We'll have more luck spotting the others if two sets of eyes are looking around. There'll be a lot of people downstairs." She opened the door to the stairway, holding it open and waiting for Gladhron to catch up, casting a glance back at the box over her shoulder to see if he was moving.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta
Intermission from the Balcony / ‘the group’, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

When the woman strove to what .. ? Rouse him .. into some sort of impassioned charge ? Domanol raised one eyebrow even as he half-spat out a silent but astounded, breath. If he had not already been convinced, this new desperate baiting for blood would have assured all of his suspicions. Such a want to fall to violence, such a typical Umbarian reaction ! It had probably been quite a trial for the woman to survive this far into the evening, without falling to such base instincts.

“Used to giving orders aren’t you ?” the Ranger shook his head slowly, almost sadly. “People here though, they don’t have to jump when you say the word,” he informed her, making no small deal about the patronising undertone of his tease. “Nobody is stupid enough to care what you say. Well ..” He was about to correct himself that most folk here would not be. The Blonde man still present though gave him reason to pause. And so an unimpressed sigh ended that line of thought instead.


As the woman then gave her permission for him to do .. well, things he had already made clear he would do, regardless of her opinion about it .. Domanol outright rolled brown eyes. Though when the pair started up with their ‘you don’t know the Lieutenant as well as you think’ and ‘I’m not defending what she stands against’ … those same eyes darkened. The great emission was headed his way now, he could almost taste it. He did not want to hear it, but when did anything go easy in this world ? You have to suffer the sting to taste the honey, after all. So, now they’d try to convince him not to believe his allies. “Lies,” he laughed back at them, clearly amused by their efforts. "All lies."

It would be a wonder of course, if they even marked his disbelief. Partly because Ava had just found her soapbox and was now conducting a bold speech about what Umbar intended to rain down upon the Reunited Kingdom. Partly also because Tercen had just clearly broken down from reason to wrath for his own sake. The outraged fellow’s swearing was not new, but it was now of another level. And Domanol glanced from the one to the other, with an apparent mild surprise that he had managed to inspire such performances out of the pair of them.


When Tercen made as to force an exit, the other man did not move any to try and stop him. At all. He instead glanced from the departure of his fellow Gondorian to the now abandoned Umbarian. “That is probably the smartest thing that he has done since you tip-toed the toxic fumes of your foul venom into his deluded little head,” Domanol almost applauded. He had no cause that he could conceive of to fear either the Guards or the Lieutenant. The latter might not be best pleased that she would have to wake up and deal with this disaster. The former would no doubt moan about staffing levels and all of the paperwork. The news that another citizen of Gondor had fallen afoul of evil forces though, was never going to be an easy thing to hear. Particularly for Tercen's sister. Thankfully, it would not be the first time that Domanol had been forced to tear down that particular brand of hard truths. Hopefully though, it would be the last time.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Minas Tirith Streets, Gondor

”Mhm.” Gaer hummed in agreement to Linny. Her half-brother’s presence felt like an ominous cloud every time. Like a coiled snake ready to lash out, often unfairly. And now they had to go back to him. With Eryn returned to showcase her dress, and gone back again to change, they could pay up whatever fees were incurred on the tailoring and new purchases, then step back into the cool winter air of Minas Tirith. It was around noon, when the Sun was strongest, so it was fairly pleasant. Gaer bundled up her coat and scarf more around her face as they all gathered outside to discuss what’s next.

”Until the spring. I see!” Gaer nodded to Brooke, doing some quick calculations in her head concerning the calendar and her own near-future plans. ”I might actually be back here, in time for my apprenticeship at the Houses of Healing. Perhaps I will catch you again before you set off back north to Bree and your home.” She said, nodding and agreeing with Brooke to the struggles of winter travel. They went by ship, the Anduin relatively free of ice due to the strength of it’s flowing waters, and even then it was still a labour. She could imagine the difficulty of traveling north through sheer wilderness and few warm places between Rohan and Bree.

”Sometimes it does not even snow down in the south. If it does, rarely, it does not last more than a day or two. Usually a thing for celebration because of it’s rarity. This is the more snow I’ve seen since my visit to the Ered Nimrais.” Gaer outlined the extent of her own winter experience. Probably a candle against what Brooke knew. It was a whole other mode of living that just astonished Gaer’s imagination.

”But if there’s time before I return South, or if my return visit in the Spring coincides your final days, we can certainly meet up, to discuss history and the library! I guess I’ll be taking your old spot there. I’ll keep it warm for you.” Gaer smiled at Brooke, happy to have a new friend with such amazing interests!

Eryn suggested they move on to the café across the street, for some hot chocolate and warmth. And to return to their menfolk and chaperone. ”Let’s go. Lennath nith.” She said, in westron and Sindarin. Careful of traffic, the four girls could cross over to the café, thinking they find Toggornir and Gwestion together. Hoping they got along. Instead, as Gaer entered, she immediately spotted the pair seated at different tables!

How…odd. ”Why are you sitting separate?” She inquired of Toggornir first, passing by his table. Now, he might have expected the women, at least Gaer and Linny, to sit with him. But instead…Gaer moved on, to join Brooke and Eryn at Gwestion’s table. Whom, despite knowing him for less than a hour total, seemed far more interesting, and certainly more tolerable, to sit with. Toggornir can join them. She wondered then, if her initial concerns were merited. They had argued or Toggornir said something foolish. It was odd they were seated separate.

Did Toggornir not even see Gwestion at his own table? Why else would they be apart if they had not argued about something? ”Hello.” Gaer beckoned to Gwestion, giving him a little wave as the girls rejoined him. ”Is everything…alright?” She inquired cautiously.

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir “the Dauntless”
January, Minas Tirith, Gondor

The mention of play hardly registered to him, given what Torniel said next. Not like he was rushing to discuss his family, when he could be discussing something far more interesting…that which was before his eyes and touch. Threatening that her other pieces were more daring and the opposite of scandalous did not in any way cause Abrazimir to shy from the notion. It certainly encouraged the inverse. And no doubt that was her intention. And he bought it completely. Maybe he will be so lucky in the near-future as to be graced with the sight of them. Even given what he had seen so far.

It was not a traditional thing perhaps for a man to aid in the cooking and prep. But Abrazimir was a soldier. He knew the wilds and to camp. He knew as a soldier how to sustain himself. He was no stranger to the cooking pot. Though, he’d hardly consider his skill at it to be anything considerable. It was fuel, not a form of art. But if it was an activity he could do with Torniel, he sure was going to make it as artful as he might. Put a smile on her face.

Though his was momentarily wiped when she twirled a knife before him, skillfully, holding it by the tip when he boasted of his modest talent with one. It took a heartbeat for him to register, before he snatched it up, fast as a pouncing snake, disappearing it to his side as he wondered at her. Okay, that took more than just a hand at cutting vegetables to do a thing like that. But he recalled she was a woman who dared to wander the roads of Harlond at night, a place known for vagrancy and criminality. Maybe he should watch his tongue around her! But he figured she probably wouldn’t like that, given how it could make her smile. It was all about making her smile.

He put a cutting tray before him. Whatever vegetable was placed, he would begin to cut into suitable portions as necessary for Torniel’s recipe, as she talked about being neighbours. The type that were…overly familiar with each other’s property. Abrazimir snorted with amusement, a half smirk growing on his lips at the image she invoked. ”The very same.” He said about that kind of neighbour. ”Choke they certainly might. Choke me they definitely will. But it would be worth it.” And if he died with such a sight in mind, he would take it before the Valar, if such a thing truly did occur upon death, and boast of the reason that brought him before Them.

His eyes were upon her. He was definitely…imagining. ”Maybe a little announcement might be preferable. Maybe I would like to put on something daring.” He wiggled his eyebrows mischievously at her, as they stood side by side, hip to hip, at the kitchen counter. Playfully backtracking. This was all joke and jest, right? Or perhaps a true and honest craving. ”Though I believe you’ve seen the best I already have to offer.” He licked his lips, turning back to his cutting work. He was slow at it, certainly someone with bare experience at such a thing, but he was managing, without injury or harm. It was not the type of cutting he was used to.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening


Gladhron

Gladhron had to stop himself from rolling his eyes in reply to the idea that she had 'invaded' his space. Honestly, did she actually think he minded that? If he had, he would have simply eased her over to lean against the wall, wouldn't he? Make the best of it? Really? He gave a little shake of his head to try and assure her that he was not upset.

But really, he was disappointed that she was talking about leaving. He had to smile a bit when she agreed that he should go, too. "Right. I'd hate to end up snoring and everyone turn to look up here and see who's making all the noise," He joked, laughing lightly. "All our group would be embarrassed to admit that I'm with them." He grinned slightly. "So, yes... I probably, definitely, need to go." He stood up, but paused when she insisted that it would not be responsible of her to let him walk her home and then go back. So, what? He wasn't supposed to walk her back to her house? But... he'd worry about her. Honestly, after finding her passed out like that...

Fortunately, for his peace of mind, she didn't shut him down on the idea of him walking her back. Not entirely. He gave a little smile of amusement when she suggested that she walk him home. "Maybe we can figure something out." He shrugged, when she said 'let's go'. He went ahead a few steps, opening the door to the box for her. "I wonder where everyone went, anyway?" He mumbled, curious. He held back a yawn. He was tired, having not really slept much the night before. But he also figured that she must be much more tired than him. He seemed to recall, from the time spent together in the north, that she had been a rather light sleeper, and not the sort to get to sleep easily. She was, again, more like Gwestion in that regard, than Gladhron. But now, she was falling asleep in the theater, and crashing onto her floor? Yeah, she really wasn't feeling well. And he wanted to make sure that she reached her house safely and had no more incidents of passing out.

"Wow, you weren't kidding about there being a lot of people," He remarked, as they came into the foyer where the people were crowding to buy snacks. He hesitated briefly before offering his arm. "So we don't get separated," He explained, in case she might wonder about the gesture. That way, they needn't worry about being pulled apart in the crowd as they navigated their way through to the coat room, where he asked the attendant for their coats.

---

|
Gwestion & Seri

On the way into the lobby, Gwestion kept an eye on each of his 'charges', until the girls split off to slip into the washroom. He wasn't entirely comfortable with them all splitting up, but he also couldn't exactly tell the girls that they couldn't go to the washroom. Besides, Chewy was with them, and he knew the dog was fairly adept as a protector. So, he tried to relax, and stayed with Seri as she went to get some snacks. They should run into Domanol in the lobby, after he had finished putting his coat away, and he wanted to try and speak with him the first chance he got, so this seemed like the best chance he would have of that.

It took a while to get through the line, but Seri and Gwestion came away with a small load of snacks, enough for the whole group to share. She had tried to select things that would be enjoyed by everyone.. or at least, everyone that she knew well enough to make guesses. She'd even gotten a little meat thing, for Chewy.

As she did not know what everyone would like, Seri had simply asked for containers full of water, lemonade and hot chocolate. She knew that everyone in her party liked the latter, and figured everyone would likely enjoy the former, too. There were enough mugs and glasses for everyone. Gwestion carried that tray, as it was heavier than the other. Seri had a tray with various snacks, of the sort that were easy to eat without a table and place settings and such.

Seri was a little curious what had kept Dom from joining them at the snack counter, but she figured he may have gone back to the box after taking care of his coat. Attempting to avoid the majority of the crowd still waiting in line and doing other things, she chose a course that took her near where a curtain made up part of the wall. She was keeping an eye out for a washroom, since that was where the girls had gone, and took note of where another line had formed which looked to be aimed for such a place. She wasn't sure whether they were finished, but hopefully, they would get Chewy cleaned up without any trouble, and get back to the box before the play resumed. And, hopefully, the cause for the line was not due to Chewy...

Meanwhile, Gwestion's focus was, primarily, on making sure that he did not bump anyone, nor spill any of his burden. While also keeping an eye out for Dom, or the girls. He was keeping close to Seri, walking single file with her in front of him, when his ears caught a snatch of words, from a raised voice. A voice that sounded.. somewhat familiar.

"I am not defending what she stands against!"

Gwestion paused, tilting his head slightly, then glanced at Seri. Had she heard that? It had been very faint, only just audible to him. But he was sure he'd heard that voice before...

"Stop trying to confuse us!"

That was Tercen, wasn't it? Gwestion glanced more directly toward the curtained area, mentally making note of its location, before he hurried to catch up with Seri, who had kept going. She clearly hadn't noticed anything. Not surprising; while she did have Dunedain heritage, just like Gwestion, she did not spend her life in a way that required training her ears to hear the slightest noises that could mean danger, or listening for noises which could make a life or death difference, depending on the situation. The last snatch that Gwestion caught hung in his ears as he strode down the hallway toward the stairs;

"You have not known Arnyn longer than I!"

Something was definitely going on. Gwestion frowned as he followed the healer who was like family to him. Should he investigate this matter? Perhaps Tercen would not appreciate interference in what sounded like some private argument. But he was concerned, too. Stop trying to confuse us? Us? Who? Tercen and Ava? Gwestion had agreed to act as protection for the lady of Umbar, hadn't he? At the same time, he had also agreed to keep an eye on her, in case of any sort of trouble. Last he had seen of Tercen, he had been with Ava. So, if she was involved, and there was a chance that there was trouble, then shouldn't he check that into it? Yet, he also couldn't exactly leave Seri and the tray, without cause to believe there was an urgent need to do so.

He pondered on this as he went up the steps. As he and Seri entered the box, he was surprised to find it empty. Where was Gladhron? And Arnyn? His thoughts returned to that argument. Was Gladhron involved, then,, rather than Ava? Or perhaps they were all involved? Maybe he should hurry to check into it. Maybe whoever was involved would not thank him for intruding, of course. But he was concerned, now. He set the tray down on a little table on one end of the row of seats. There were still a few minutes left before the play resumed, he was pretty sure. "I'll be back." He told Seri, and without further explanation, he left.

---

Ava

It was, in a way, an immense relief when Tercen decided to go for the guards. She had wanted him to get out of this situation right from the beginning! Now, at least, he could take himself out of harm's way, while also doing something to help the situation. Contain the danger, right? That was what she wanted to do. To get this man where he could not harm her, nor send word to the Halsad clan, nor do anything to damage her efforts. If it wasn't already too late, that is.

The assassin's insulting words about Tercen's intelligence did more to irritate her than anything he'd said about her, but Ava had practice at keeping her emotions hidden behind a wall. She'd let that wall down during this past week, but she found it was easy enough to raise it again, when the need arose. She did, however, wonder why he seemed so convinced about Arnyn. Or, was he merely trying to convince her that the lieutenant was corrupt? To plant a seed of doubt in her mind, to make her worry that she had trusted the wrong people? Well, apparently, she had... or at least, the lieutenant had. She wanted to believe that Arnyn had no idea that the brothers she had trusted with Ava's plans, were actually in league with this man. She wanted to believe that the woman was unaware, and that her own trust had been misplaced, not Ava's. She just couldn't quite believe that Arnyn was on the wrong side, after the conversations she'd had with the woman. No... this guy was only trying to confuse her, like Tercen said.

"My 'toxic fumes'? 'Foul venom'?" Ava repeated with an incredulous laugh. "You're the ones who-" She stopped abruptly as she caught sight of the curtain move aside, and another man entered the scene. One which she did not consider welcome, anymore. Her eyes narrowed even as Gwestion quietly cleared his throat.

"Forgive me if I'm interrupting... but, is everything alright?" He asked uncertainly, glancing from one to the other questioningly, his gaze lingering on the knife in Dom's hand as an uneasy feeling settled in his stomach. "Ms Ava? ...Dom?" He looked a little puzzled, as well as concerned, about what was going on here. He knew he'd heard Tercen's voice before... so where was he, now?

Ava swiftly reassessed the situation, her heart now racing. Now, it was two against her, and Tercen had left. Granted, he had gone for reinforcements, but still... she wasn't even sure whether she could trust the guards, to be honest. And how to even handle this? "It will be, soon." She answered slowly, dark eyes flicking from one man to the other. Suddenly, she felt a bit trapped here, with the two of them blocking her way out. But she had not been exaggerating when she assured Tercen that she could fight well. If they tried to attack her, she would be ready. She wasn't about to make the first move, but if they both rushed at her at the same time, she wanted to be ready for that, or anything else they might try.


(edit: correcting a few things I didn't notice before, added a few bits that I neglected originally)

[Arnyn]

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

When he opened the door, her eyes narrowed a little as she looked at him. Instead of commenting on it, however, she answered his question, instead. "They are probably buying something to drink and eat, downstairs." Arnyn headed down the stairs, then, politely waiting for Gladhron at the entrance to the foyer. She nodded at his statement about all the people. "A lot of people fit into the theatre." She stared at his arm as he offered it to her and her gaze did not shift as he explained why. "You always seem to find a reason," she noted. Even though he had a point, he should just go sleep, while she did the same. No one needed to walk anyone anywhere. They should each be taking their shortest path. Arnyn sighed lightly. "Single file will get us there faster," she countered, and instead grabbed his hand with hers as she started leading the way through the crowd milling about. No matter how large the space was, all the people in it were still making it feel small.

It was impossible to talk on their way to the counter in front of the coat room - the din around them was too loud and she didn't want to pause their advance to discuss the matter while they were still in a place that would require them to constantly repeat themselves over the noise of the room. Arnyn waited for Gladhron to hand over their ticket to the attendant. At least Gladhron had only had their coats, and they needn't worry about inconveniencing anyone else from their party. "I don't see anyone," Arnyn told him, trying to cast a wide look over the room. It was difficult, with the multitude of bodies. "Trying to find anyone could take us a long time," she noted. "Or we have to wait until intermission has ended, so we know they'll be back in the box." Stifling a yawn, she swayed slightly on her feet, and instinctively gripped the counter just as the attendant handed over their coats. Yeah. Not an option.

Arnyn beckoned over the attendant, sharing words with the young man which Gladhron could not hear over the din. Finally, she reached into the hidden pocket of her dress and retrieved the small pouch she had used for her keys and money the night before as well. She took out some coins and handed them to the attendant. "Immediately after intermission," she said, loud enough this time for Gladhron to catch the words. The young man bowed lightly. "Yes, Lieutenant Dealedwen." Arnyn smiled. "Thank you."

Then she turned to Gladhron and tilted her head toward the exit, before grabbing his hand again with an unusual lack of patience, and tugging him along, once more single filing through the crowd.

Once they stepped outside, the cold and the silence of the dark streets settled all around them. Arnyn let go of Gladhron's hand and drew in a deep breath. Almost pointedly, she put on her coat by herself, before fixing the friend beside her with the unyielding look of someone who was used to command.

She'd had time to think about what he had said. 'Suggesting' he walk her home. That 'joke' about her falling asleep on the street. "You do not trust me to get myself home safely," she deduced. Can I really blame him for that, though? a small voice in the back of her mind asked. After what he walked in on, last night? After me falling asleep on his shoulder just now?

Arnyn tilted her chin up a fraction. Yes, she could. She'd fought battles while this tired. She could walk down a damned circle of the city.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta, causing a raucous behind a curtain.
During intermission from the Balcony / ‘the group’, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

The woman did not look all that concerned to be left alone with him. Perhaps because she no longer had anybody to even feign the slightest restraint for any more. And as she scorned his opinion of her, Domanol leaned back in his stance, more convinced than ever when she startled, in mid stream, at the emergence of a new arrival. The older man did not even look to conceal his blade.

Not Tercen, but Gwestion. Ava’s antagonist calmly watched her reaction, as the Northerner .. ‘apologised’ .. for interrupting ? Dom had known the other long enough that he would not have ‘interrupted’ at all, unless he felt that something was not right. Of course, in this case, there was something very not right. And he was staring, unblinkingly .. right .. at .. her. As the woman’s sudden wary glance seemed to register that she knew the odds had just shifted, still she could not help her mouth.


“Don’t .. bet on it,” the now only Gondorian at hand warned the lying wench, and did not bother to do so under his breath. “’Ms Ava’ here,” he all but sneered his way through the ‘polite’ address to such an unworthy individual, “if that even is her real name, is an Umbarian. As you will have noted on your entry from the lilt of her recently revealed accent,” he pointed out. Just to start with. “Quite different to the way she presented herself in public, is it not ?”

Brown eyes did not seek out Gwestion’s reaction, for Domanol felt assured that he knew what that would be. Exactly what he had thought Tercen’s would be. What in fact the opinion of any sane individual who has ever heard of the cruel Corsair colony should be. He kept his stare affixed upon his enemy.


“She has clearly deceived the Lieutenant’s brother,” he continued to allege, relentless, “through means that I doubt I shall even need to insinuate. Moreover she has admitted to being here, in Gondor, for the sake of ‘doings’ that she shall not reveal any more fully than that. Save to profess that even if I cause her to cease, then some other whom she is in league with shall take up ‘what she believes in’ and continue to bring about the downfall of the entire West.” At the conclusion of such a claim, Domanol shook his head slowly at the conniving woman.

“Her lovefool ran to fetch a Guard, or his sister .. I forget which,” the rogue Ranger shrugged. “Maybe he had simply had enough and, faced with the sad truth of her contrivance .. he simply just … ran .. away ..” he left the notion to taunt Ava.


Raising his chin, his rant having reached fair point to pause, Domanol still did not turn to Gwestion, but made clear who he was addressing, when he asked the younger man, in Rohirric to “Tell me that the girls are safe ..”

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening


Gladhron

Gladhron kept quiet when she commented that he 'always seemed to find a reason' to offer his arm. He wasn't sure what to reply, exactly, nor whether he should. Thankfully, she seemed to drop the matter, and instead, to his surprise, grabbed his hand. He kept close to her as she led the way, not protesting at all. He was fine with this arrangement, even if it did seem a bit as if she was annoyed. Maybe it was only because she was so tired. Whatever.

He assumed, when she spoke with the coat attendant, that she was asking for a message to be passed on to their group to let them know where they had gone. That was a good idea, he thought approvingly. He probably would not have thought of that. Not of asking the coat attendant, anyway.

Soon, they were walking out again, with her still gripping his hand. Gladhron couldn't help but smile faintly, though he tried to keep from letting it get too noticeable. Once they were outside, however, he felt the smile slip away when she accused him of not trusting her to get herself home. No... that was not what he'd meant to imply! Not at all. Especially knowing how she felt about people thinking she wasn't as capable as anyone else.

He shook his head while swiftly trying to think of how to clear up that confusion. "No, Celume." He said softly. "It isn't that I don't trust you." He hesitated, tucking his now empty hand into his pocket as he shrugged, feeling a bit uncomfortable trying to explain himself. "It's just.." He paused, then sighed. "Do you know why I'm so tired, tonight?" He asked, before telling her. "Because I couldn't sleep last night." He shifted his feet, uncomfortably. "Because I was worrying.. about you," He admitted. "I just.. kept thinking, what if you fell down the stairs trying to get to your room, or.. I don't know. I just couldn't sleep. And if I don't see for myself that you get home alright, tonight, then I may not have enough peace of mind to get any sleep tonight, either. It's not that I don't trust you, Celume." He re-stated. "It's just that I care too much about you to just.." He hesitated, pulling his hands out of his pockets and gestured in the air, a bit unsure how to finish that sentence without potentially insulting her. "Sorry." He concluded, instead, looking down. "I know you're perfectly capable of taking care of yourself. It's just, I'm worried." He couldn't help it. And he couldn't explain it, knowing it was a little silly, but it's just how it was.

---

|
Gwestion & Ava

As Dom declared to him that Ava was Umbarian, Gwestion stared at him. Amazed, impressed, and a bit dismayed that it had taken so little time for him to realize that fact. He wanted to run a hand over his face and groan. How? How did the man manage to figure it out so easily?! This could all go very badly, very quickly. He made an effort to keep from cringing at the near disaster at hand, especially upon hearing that Tercen may have gone to get the guards! Of course, the younger ranger could easily see Dom's side of this. It was completely understandable that he would be reacting like this, to realize that the woman was Umbarian. But there were plenty of things which he clearly did not know, which Gwestion did.

He made no comment throughout his friend's 'reveal' about all he thought he had figured out about the woman before them. While Dom spoke, Gwestion stepped over to stand at his side, while trying to think quickly to figure out what to even do here. At the last addition, in the language of his mother's people, Gwestion couldn't help but feel faintly impressed that Dom had remembered any of what he and Gladhron had tried teaching him of that language, and just a little surprised at how well he managed the question, given the limited amount of the language he thought the other man knew. Unfortunately, Gwestion could not actually grant his request, since he did not have any knowledge of the girls at this moment. For the moment, he focused on the more urgent matter, although his friend may feel the other was more urgent.

"I am aware of where she's from, as well as her plans." He assured Dom, calmly laying a hand on the other which brandished a knife. Encouraging him, with gentle pressure, to lower the knife. "As is the lieutenant-" He added quietly, before Ava interrupted,

"The West?" She stared at Dom, when he professed what he believed her intentions were, with an expression that suggested he might be crazy. "I know nothing about whatever lies westward. I have no interest in destroying anything there. My enemy resides South... back home. As you surely know, since those two must have told you all about it." She looked suspiciously between him and Gwestion, unsure what sort of game they were playing at. "Or has he got agents out that far, now?" She wondered, worried now that it would be much more difficult to ruin the priest, if he had already spread his blight out toward the west.

Gwestion looked at her, then back at Dom. Obviously, there was some misunderstanding here. Although he did not entirely discount the possibility that Ava could have confessed to some nefarious scheme in which she really had deceived the lieutenant and her brother, he found it rather unlikely that anyone as smart as he suspected Ava to be, would make such a confession, so easily, in the middle of a public place, to someone she barely knows. "Listen," He turned back to his friend, "I'm sorry that no one had a chance to give you any warning about this.. but this is not the time, nor the place for this. Please, I understand why you wouldn't trust her, but trust me," He urged. "I've earned that, have I not?" He asked, hoping that Dom would agree that their past adventures together should have earned that much trust, to at least hear him out.

He gave a sigh, glancing at Ava then, and back to Dom. "Yes, she is from that place, but no one is meant to know that, it was supposed to be kept quiet. It's imperative that this remains a secret," He added, trying to convince him to keep this thing quiet. "If Tercen is bringing Arnyn, she can explain it all, but if he brings guards..." He gave a shake of his head. "It could be catastrophic to make this known to them or the general public. I'll try to explain everything later, if I can, but please..." He glanced toward the curtain, feeling as if they were too close to the rest of the theater-goers. "We should find someplace more private to talk about this..."

Ava huffed at that. "You actually think you'll talk me into going off somewhere 'private' to 'talk' with you two? As if I don't know your real motives?" She frowned distrustfully at them both. "I suspected there was at least one spy here, following me," She said, leveling a glare at Dom, before turning her gaze onto Gwestion. "But I must admit, I never suspected you and your brother of being in league with him, until this evening."

Gwestion blinked at her, surprised. "Spy? What?"

"Oh, don't play ignorant," She retorted. "He's already said what good friends he is with you and Gladhron, and now it all makes sense. That the very same day that you both learned all about me, suddenly, here he is, come to kill me before I can get home to do any of the things we discussed in headquarters. Maybe assassin is a better word, I don't know.. I just know the timing is too 'coincidental'." She frowned at Dom, making it clear she was accusing him of such titles. She looked then at Gwestion. "I suppose Gladhron's merely pretended to be friends with Tercen, just to gain information about me?" She guessed, feeling quite disappointed and saddened for his sake, if that were true. "And to think, I actually believed you were going to help me..." She shook her head, feeling annoyed at herself for believing that. "One thing I don't understand though, is why you chose to attack me tonight?" She asked, with a glance at Dom. "Why not just let me go home thinking everything was alright, so I wouldn't suspect it was a trap? It would have been much smarter on your part..."

"Ava," Gwestion shook his head, a bit unsure how she could have arrived at this conclusion, but he glanced at Dom with a raised eyebrow. The irony of the situation even struck him as amusing, except he didn't laugh. "You are wrong in these accusations. And I don't think Dom came here to kill you, nor did he even know that you were going to be here." He looked pointedly at him. "Right?" He sought for confirmation, hoping that he would agree.

"As for the girls," He added quietly to him, in Rohirric, "They were headed for the washroom, last I heard." He answered. "I've just come from the balcony seats, however, and it was empty when I got there." He answered, back in Westron now, thinking that Dom knew that he and Seri had been together, so he did not think to clarify that she was there, now.

"Empty?" Ava repeated, a bit alarmed, as well as suspicious about whatever they were saying in another language. "What about Arnyn and Gladhron?" She instantly began wondering whether the latter could have taken the former hostage or something. If they were the sort of people she thought them to be, then that could definitely be a possibility, right? And with the suggestion of Arnyn having been drugged... she couldn't stop herself from thinking the worst. "What have you done with her?" She demanded, frowning. No wonder Dom hadn't minded the thought of Tercen going to get Arnyn...

Gwestion held back another sigh as he marveled at the levels of paranoia going on here. And Gladhron said he was paranoid and over-cautious? "Ms Ava... while I appreciate your caution... I assure you that no one here has done anything to Arnyn, least of all my brother." He told her, barely managing not to scoff at the very insinuation that Gladhron of all people, might have harmed her. “It would seem that 'confusion has made itself the captor of us all,'" He quoted his friend's own words from the first time they had met, many years ago. "I suggest we try and clear away the mist, as well as we can." He looked from one to the other, hoping for some sort of agreement from both, to try and sort through the mess.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Domanol Raxëlilta, causing a raucous behind a curtain.
During intermission from the Balcony / ‘the group’, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

If Tercen’s non-reaction to the news of an Umbarian, here .. in Minas Tirith .. had surprised him, then Gwestion’s own placating efforts rendered Domanol acutely stunned. He heard the words which the younger man put to him, and he bristled at the almost careful tone that the Northerner used, as though Dom was a child. Was everybody here very very drunk ? What in the name of all that was good was wrong with everybody ? And since when did known members of a hostile force have the approval of Rangers and Ranger Lieutenants to go strolling all about a Gondorian city, amidst oblivious citizens, dancing and .. dating … ??

When Gwestion led the older man’s armed hand toward a less dangerous, floor-facing stance, Dom did not stop him, but he did step back. As though the man he’d thought was his friend had just punched him in the face.


Facts fell into a line. Gwest was ‘aware’ of where the woman was from, and he knew what her plans were, and so did … the Lieutenant ? Waiting for the explanation then which might try to compensate for that shock … he was handed nothing more. A secret. A secret ??!! And that’s all that he would say about it ? What ?! Just .. what ?! If the man knew what in the world was going on then he ought spit it out already ! But no. His friend did not do that. “Damn be to Arnyn. You tell me !” he fumed. "Right now !

Wide eyed, the Gondorian was scarcely aware that his breathing had begun to deepen. His head felt like a hornets’ nest that somebody had given a sharp kick. He managed to tune out the lying wench’s protests but focusing on what his friend said .. what his friend was now telling him … nothing that he wished to hear at all as it turned out. Noone could know what she was ? They were protecting .. her ??? !! Seriously ??!! Dom brought up his emptied hand with a flat palm upraised, warning the Northerner to halt such a web of nonsense. “Don’t,” he warned Gwestion. “Just .. don’t.”


The ask, for trust .. incited a slight flare in the older man’s nostrils. Trust him ? He couldn’t bring himself to look at Gwestion right now ! It was only that he had ever trusted the man at all that he could keep the knife down by his haunch. Because right now Domanol was not sure whether he was more likely to turn it against his friend, or the woman, or himself.

The younger man looked focused upon placating the woman now. And every time that Gwestion referred to her as ‘Ms Ava’ .. Domanol wanted to explode. Honestly he was not sure how he had managed not to yet. And when the Umbarian turned her demands from the Northerner to Dom himself, the latter dropped his jaw. “Just the one thing you don’t understand ?” he acknowledged, unsure whether he ought laugh or leave. When she outright started trying to tell him what a smarter assassin would have done in his place .. when he was not even anything like that ?! He turned away, now it was apparently safe enough to at least face the curtain.


The brief excursion into a Rohirric tongue had earned him one thing at least. The girls were in the washroom. And Brooke would not have gone anywhere without that dog of hers, as this evening proved beyond all doubt. So that was something. If they were lucky they would get thrown out because of Chewy, and have to go back home. Away from the lying invader who was stood here acting as though she was the victim in all of this. Outrageous !

“She shouldn’t be here,” he managed to utter, although somewhat in a daze now and whether Dom meant Ava or any of the other women who had formed their ill-fated party, was not really clear. But when his friend resurrected a memory from their first meet, the older man could not help but raise one eyebrow at him. Really ? Did he not recall at all what that circumstance had brought them to ? Corsairs ! Umbarians trespassing in Lond Daer … Was that supposed to be a warning ? Was he secretly trying to inform Dom more than he could say aloud ? Did that make any sense ? No. None of this did.


They all knew about this Umbarian .. who she was, why she was here ... They clearly didn’t see that it was a problem. And they hadn’t told him. Yes, he turned his back on both of them, hurled his knife in a flurry toward the floor and crouched down moments later to retrieve a now-limp mouse. The serrated blade had staked through it’s small form, silencing it’s squeak, as though that convenient outlet had been his plan all along. Strangely, whether it had been intentional or not, it did not make him feel any better at all. Ignoring their any reaction then, he separated mouse from metal and wiped the meagre amount of blood on one dark-clothed thigh before remembering. He’d borrowed the clothes from his brother. He should have listened to Addhor. He never should have come. The reason that he had come was the only thing which kept him from walking out of the entire playhouse.

“I’ll be going to the washroom then,” he decided, suddenly. Not exactly asking for permission but with a tone that suggested mightily they ought not try to stall him. The only thing of importance now was to convince Seri and her nieces that it was no longer safe for any of them to be here. Because if his past had taught him one thing above all others, it was … never again. He was not going to lose them too.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

The first sentence Gladhron offered as a reply made Arnyn frown slightly. If he trusted her to get herself home, then what was it? Tired as she was, the shrug had become such a tell on him for her, that it was impossible not to notice. It usually preceeded or followed a statement he was trying to make light of, or that made him uncomfortable to talk about. Or both, even.

She didn't shake her head when he asked if she knew why he was so tired this evening. Arnyn simply waited for him to continue, as she was still waiting for whatever would explain his wish to walk her home as if she was a person who did not have a decade of battle experience, and who had handled much worse things than walking while hardly having the energy for it. Of course, I wasn't poisoning myself at the time. Details.

Gladhron's admission that he hadn't slept because he had been worrying about her, shifted her expression from a frown to quickly hidden surprise. It was a flash - then it was gone in favour of more neutral lines as she listened to him lining out the possibilities that had been going through his head and hadn't allowed him to sleep much. Or at all, according to what he was saying. She averted her eyes from his, her gaze jumping over the cobblestones around them as she tried to reason through the alleged fact that he had been so worried that he hadn't slept. Some worry, she had expected. He had found her unconscious, after all. But not sleeping because of it seemed out of proportion, didn't it? Especially for someone like Gladhron, who loved to sleep, and in her experience was actually astonishingly good in putting concerns aside.

"It's not that I don't trust you, Celume. It's just that I care too much about you to just.." Her dark gaze flicked back to her friend at those words. Considering. Debating. Watching how he gestured into the air, seemingly looking for words he could not find, before he apologized, looking down, and stated he knew she could take care of herself, but that he was just worried.

But Arnyn was exhausted. She wanted to go home and sleep. Gladhron's concerns were currently an obstacle, which stood in the way of that goal. And Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen was nothing if not efficient. So her mind was already directed its last pieces of energy into finding a solution that would work for both of them, so she could just sleep already.

"You walked me home yesterday, as well," she noted slowly, clearly still thinking even as she already started speaking. For she thought it would be unkind to leave too long of a silence after words like those. "And you say you still did not sleep, given your... concerns. What would be different about walking me home, today, before turning back?" She put the question before him. "The only difference would be you won't see me passed out on the floor of my house, before you leave," Arnyn added, wincing a little, but still laying out the facts. She sighed, crossing her arms in front of her, as she was trying to think it through and combat the cold at the same time. "I can't invite myself to another person's house,' she stated matter-of-factly. "But I do have two spare rooms at mine. If you're looking for options I agree with, I can present you with two. One - you let go of your concerns and go straight to Isys' to sleep, as would be expected of you by the others. Two - you prioritise your concerns over others' expectations, and I will let you walk me home and I will let you sleep in one of those spare rooms. That way, you'll know if something is amiss. With stairs, or whatever. So you should be able to sleep."

She wouldn't be up retching anymore, right? She hadn't, the night before. It was a bit risky, perhaps. But it should be fine. Honestly, she just wanted to go home and get into bed. Well. After her daily dose, anyway. And what were the odds of Gladhron really accepting her offer, anyway? Pretty darned small, she figured.

"So," she prompted, uncrossing her arms again, and raising her hands at her sides outwards just a few inches. "What's it going to be?"


@Ercassie @Rillewen

Tercen - with Guard Rallick and a (so far) unnamed second Guard
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

"Not so fast," Guard Rallick stated. He had just entered the space beyond the curtain, and his fellow patrolman appeared beside him as he spoke. Tercen was close behind, and he quickly shot a look past the guards, noting that now Gwestion was here, as well. But the blonde man hardly gave Gwestion the time of day. Instead he gave Ava a quick onceover, needing to verify she was still in the state that he had left her. She appeared to be. Thank the Valar. Trepidation danced in Tercen's eyes as his gaze flicked between all parties now involved.

Rallick's eyes soon fell upon the knife in Domanol's hand, which - even though it was now clean - was still out in the open. "Ah." His eyes flicked to Ava, and he saw no weapon in her hands. That part seemed true, then. He put a hand on the sword by his side.
But his fellow guard put a hand on Rallick's arm. "Hold on," he muttered to Rallick, before frowning at Dom. "Domanol?" For the second guard was older, and most definitely recognized the man, even in the finer clothes. "This man's story can't possibly be right," the guard stated, tilting his head to indicate Tercen, whose jaw dropped. The guard continued, steadfast: "What is going on here?" He was clearly asking Domanol.
Rallick frowned at the senior guardsman, but did not contradict him, and waited for any forthcoming clarifications.

Meanwhile, Tercen slowly made his way back to Ava's side. The slower he moved, the less threatening he'd be, he figured. He soon had one arm wrapped around Ava's waist. "I'm sorry," he said. For leaving. "I just didn't see another way... You alright?" he whispered, touching his lips to her temple. Then he turned his attention to Gwestion, and raised an eyebrow. Was Gwestion, who was supposedly one of Arnyn's friends, helping? If so - the next question was, of course, just who he was helping...

[Arnyn]

@Lantaelen

Torniel
January - Third Circle, Minas Tirith

When he confirmed that,yes, his parents might choke - and that they would definitely choke him, Torniel laughed quietly as she peeledand sliced carrots. Just before, she had presented Dauntless with some potatoes. He said it would be worth it. Bravado, probably. Flattery, most definitely. It still made her smile, regardless. "Because I am no suitable match," she said. It was no question. They both knew she was not. And Dauntless did not even realize just how unsuitable she actually was. Both of them were playing with fire, here.

Torniel glanced at him from the side when he seemed to reconsider, and that he might prefer a warning beforehand. His next words made her grin, broadly and genuinely, and Torniel made a quarter turn to face him completely, her knife resting on the counter, though still in her hand. "Oooh, I would not mind dropping a note first, with such a result in mind," she agreed easily. The statement that followed, had her slanting her head at him whilst she bit her lip. "You have never not been daring in front of me," she agreed, her free hand snaking up the side of his back closest to her. "One way, or the other." Maybe, she should show some of the same daring.

"Jewel," she said, more seriously and more quietly, after a moment of silence. "That was the first name my uncle bestowed upon me. When I was just a little thing, and he had just taken me in." His little jewel. She resisted a shudder. "When I was in my mid teens, he changed it to Jade." How bad could it really be, telling him those names? What could he really figure out by knowing them? Nothing, right? Still... it felt... dangerous. She knew the Hand would not want her here, with this man. He would also definitely not want her telling him what he called her. She put her chin on Dauntless' shoulder. "I still prefer Torniel," she whispered, watching his work with the potatoes.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening


Gladhron

He wasn't sure if he was saying the right thing, or if he should have just kept his mouth shut. But a part of him kept hoping that maybe, if he kept hinting at his feelings for her, she might finally pick up on it without him having to simply spell it out for her. Would that work? Could it? He had no idea. And what if it didn't work out the way he hoped? He really had little experience with this sort of thing, and even less with someone like her. But he was willing to keep trying to make her catch on if it could mean the results he hoped for.

He also had no idea how to resolve this matter. He wanted to see her safely at home, and she thought it was silly for him to bother doing so. When she offered to let him stay in a spare bedroom for tonight, he blinked at the simplicity of that solution, and took a few seconds to think. When she asked 'what's it going to be?' he gave a little shrug. "Well, it isn't like your brother's likely to be needing it," He agreed, realizing that was a rather easy solution there. "If you don't mind, then sure." Of course, it didn't actually occur to him that he wouldn't actually have anything to wear except what he had on. Unless Tercen had left some things there, and if he wouldn't mind him borrowing something.

---

Gwestion

Gwestion was a little stunned by Dom's reaction. He had thought, after what they had all been through, he would have been able to trust that Gwestion had reasons for what he was asking. Instead, it seemed as if he were now upset at him. For trying to resolve this! Gwestion held back a sigh when he demanded to know. Right now. Did he not hear the part about 'not the place' and 'secret'? He couldn't just blurt out everything right here! He wasn't Gladhron, after all. And really, Gwestion thought.. hoped.. that after everything that he'd heard in headquarters today, that even Gladhron wouldn't do that.

He was startled by the flick of the knife, which slew a small rodent that he had not even noticed. He had no idea whether that had been coincidental or intentional, but it hardly mattered. Either way, it was perhaps a way for the ranger to vent his frustration. Gwestion understood that. But he did not quite understand why he seemed suddenly set on rushing away. Gwestion was feeling quite at a loss for what to do, and he had no idea how to handle this at all. It seemed the only way to actually calm Dom about this, was to tell him most, if not all, of the situation. And even then, would he even accept it? His memory flashed to that first day he met the man, when they had gotten on board the ship. The way he seemed to snap into a world of his own as he went about slaying the sleeping corsairs, until Gwestion had spoken up and brought him back to their real purpose for being aboard.

He cast a glance at Ava, and had just made up his mind to go and follow Gwandhyra.. thinking, perhaps if they got into the washroom and it was empty, he could tell him as much as he needed to. Only because it seemed more dangerous to not tell him anything, than to tell him some of it. But no sooner had he taken a step to follow, than a new voice broke in.

"Not so fast..."

Gwestion stopped short as three men entered the scene, two of which were guards. And Tercen. Of course, Gwandhyra had said he had gone for guards. But this was bad timing. Shoot. He held back a groan of dismay at the way this situation seemed to be getting worse. While Gwestion had not done anything to cause trouble, nor had he been any part of whatever was going on, he didn't know what sort of things Ava might say that could get him into trouble with the guards. She seemed to be highly suspicious of them all, now... thanks to whatever Gwand had said to her. Gwestion thought swiftly, glancing at Gwand. What was he going to say? He needed to tell him at least.. something to convince him not to tell the guards what he'd figured out about her.

Oh, and of course the man was still holding that knife. Great. This was bad. Gwestion glanced at each of the guards. Neither were any that he had met before, so they probably would not know that he was a ranger. "Officers." He greeted them politely, while wondering just how much he should try and get involved here, to try and work this out. He didn't want to get dragged into trouble with anyone, but he did want to sort this whole thing out before it came to any serious trouble...

And there was still the worry that Gwand might say something that he shouldn't, in his zeal to ensure the Umbarian was 'dealt with'. Something which could ruin Arnyn's plan and goals. Making sure not to make any sudden movements, Gwestion stepped close to him, leaned close, and whispered something short to him before stepping away, keeping his gaze on him in the hope that he had understood. And that he would have the sense to keep from demanding more answers right now... While he was aware of Tercen's gaze on him, he didn't respond to him.

---

Ava

Ava was watching both men very closely, half-expecting one or both of them to attack her. Gwestion seemed intent on trying to convince her that they were not here to harm her, but that couldn't be true. Especially not when the first man suddenly flung his knife at the floor, impaling a mouse no one had noticed until then. She caught her breath when he made the motion, but otherwise, made no movement. She was trying to decide whether she could flee while they were distracting each other. But, seeing how adept he was at throwing knives, she thought perhaps it would be best not to turn her back on him.

Then, to her confusion, he started to just.. leave? She did not understand this at all. Perhaps he was as crazy as his employer, only in a more insane sort of way? But she still did not quite get how Gwestion and Gladhron came into this. Were they friends of Arnyn's, or friends of this madman? Was Gladhron really, truly a friend of Tercen's, or had he been faking it all along? And what about Seri and her nieces? Ava couldn't help but question whether she had been played by the whole group, into paying their way for the theater. Perhaps Gladhron had manipulated the whole thing, as some grand scheme to get her into this very place, but why? Her mind was swirling with possible plots and schemes, and wondering what else she had fallen prey to, and whether she had been a complete fool to be so trusting...

Then the guards arrived, with Tercen not far behind. Ava let out a slow breath of relief upon seeing him, and felt her shoulders relax slightly. She let her hand drop from where it had rested on her hip, and as he came to her side, she reached for his hand. "I'm alright," She murmured, as he kissed the side of her head. Given the presence of the guards now, she made sure to use her practiced accent. "But he says that Arnyn and Gladhron are no longer in the box," She added under her breath, with concern in her eyes as she gave a small tilt of her head, indicating Gwestion. "How well do you really know them?" She added softly, for his ears alone. Because she was really starting to question this pair of brothers and whether they should have put so much trust in them.

As the older guard addressed the 'assassin' and accused Tercen's story of being wrong, Ava frowned slightly. Surely, he didn't have even the guards here under his sway?! But why not, she thought then. He seemed to have contacts everywhere. And Pharak did as well. What better way to undermine the city of Gondorians, than to plant agents in key places of the city. Like the guard. She felt a chill of anxiety in her stomach at that thought, and tried to think of the best way to handle this.

Turning to Tercen, she took his hand and gave it a light squeeze as she looked up at him with uncertainty. Then she turned to the first, younger guard. The older was probably under the sway of her enemies, so... she appealed to the younger. "We stepped back here to be alone, and he.. followed us, and drew a knife, and.. I believe he was threatening us." She informed him with a frown aimed at Dom. While she did consider getting all teary and sounding frightened for a more dramatic effect, she decided it would be better not to put on an act. So she did not. "I didn't know what to do, or what he meant to do..."

"I believe he was only intending to hunt rodents," Gwestion interjected while pointing down to the dead mouse, hoping to help smooth this whole thing out. "To spare any ladies from the sight of them..." He looked at Dom as if to signal him to agree or confirm that... so that hopefully none of them would end up getting arrested.

Ava paused and glanced at Gwestion with a raised eyebrow, and made no further comment... yet. She waited for now, unsure whether to persist in her accusations. Instead, she listened to what everyone else might say, trying to hear what would be revealed.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

Arnyn snorted when Gladhron mentioned Tercen. "He has only spent one or two nights there since the masquerade. And that was while Ava was out of town. And even if he shows, by some miracle - like I said, I have two spares." So it hardly mattered. Tercen could still sleep at her house, if he wanted to. Not that she thought it likely.

When Gladhron agreed to the second option, Arnyn's gaze softened. She nodded and turned into the direction that would lead them to the gate to the Fourth Circle. "Great," she said, relieved he had decided quickly and hadn't drawn out his deliberation. One step closer to sleep.

She started walking, not offering Gladhron much of a chance to offer his arm to her again, if that was what he'd been thinking about doing - or if he still dared to, after her last comment about it. When their path had taken them a few buildings away from the grand structure of the Theatre, she realized that, although the others in the box would receive word that Gladhron and she had left to go sleep, the note had of course not specified Gladhron would end up going anywhere else than Isys' abode on the Fifth. That may cause his group some concern, in turn. Though, she could also see Gwestion figuring Gladhron had worked something out. After all - there was not much that could go wrong while they were still in Minas Tirith.

Part of her also realized that some people might also draw the wrong conclusion. Just like they might have about Gladhron joining them to go dancing, the night before. She considered whether or not to make a joke about it. It would lighten the mood a little. He had been so serious, just now, and it had clearly been uncomfortable for him to admit he'd been so concerned the night before that he hadn't gotten any sleep. A joke might be just the thing he needed. Yet, some instinct she didn't quite understand at the moment, told her not to. So she refrained from doing so.

In the silence, her mind went back to the night before. When he had told her he hadn't simply been worried when he saw her on the floor. He had been scared. Arnyn gave her friend a sidelong glance. She must have really scared him, if he hadn't slept. Maybe it was best that he could spend the night at her house. See for himself that there was nothing to worry about. Looking ahead of her again, she suddenly realized that his presence would make it harder, perhaps, to take her daily dose of belladonna. Tired as she was, she tried to come up with some ways to still take it, without Gladhron getting suspicious. She had come this far, and the worst did seem to be behind her, since she had been able to keep the crackers down the night before, and had had a few light things to eat throughout the day which was now nearing to its end. She couldn't falter now, or everything would have been in vain.

"I'll probably have some tea and then go to sleep," she finally told him, by the time they got to the gate. "It's somewhat of a ritual. But you do not have to stay up for that, if you'd rather go straight to bed. I can show you the room while the water is heating up."

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Guard Thorledhos Darthor finding Domanol Raxëlilta,
Involved in a raucous behind a curtain, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

The Guard ought not to have been surprised, to find who they did, causing a scene just for a change. But ‘threatening a lady with a knife’ had certainly not brought Domanol to Thorley’s mind at all. He was genuinely more surprised to find that his old friend was even at the Theatre in the first place. But night patrols did not exactly lend to the mundane in Minas Tirith. Anything and everything could turn up and, if even the last year or so had been any indication, it usually did turn up. But .. that was why he had enlisted with the organisation in the first place.

This however .. he could have done without.


“You think I know ?” Dom almost laughed, in a highly unamused way, to find his old Guard partner now joining the confusion. Asking him to explain this ? The Ranger honestly could not, and had also all but groaned aloud as the company behind their curtain grew, keeping him even longer from seeking to find the girls. And getting the hey away from .. whatever this mess was. He certainly didn’t feel like being around any one of these deluded lunatics for a moment longer. But even as Rallick clearly observed his knife in hand, Domanol did not try to deny the weapon. At this point, putting the blade away .. would not make any sort of situation better. He didn’t move, but not in a frozen alarmed way. More in a weary complacent acceptance that things kept on getting worse.

Gwestion had politely acknowledged the two guards, while Tercen and Ava reunited. And all that was running through the mind of the man holding a dead mouse was how Gwestion had said earlier: ‘And if he brings Guards ..?” before he had concluded with a head shake, and the prophecy ‘that would be catastrophic ..’ so .. this really was as bad as it looked then. As if things had not been bad already, apparently they had just gotten worse for everybody concerned.


When Ava turned to the younger Guard, describing, to be fair, exactly what had happened, but without explaining the ‘why’ at all, Domanol ignored Gwestion’s attempts at defusing the situation. The Gondorian generally put a lot of stock in loyalty to his friends, it has to be said, but one subject – that being, Umbar - did tend to always make him rather less cooperative. To say there was a history there was to put it extremely mildly. As the Northerner, if Gwest recalled the events of Lond Daer at all, would definitely have cause to realise. The fact that Gwestion had saved Dom’s life on that previous occasion, after the older man had gotten too caught up in tending to his past grievances .. would have done well for the latter to recall too. But right now, his own life was not foremost on Dom’s mind. Any more than it had been back then.


“Domanol here is a Ranger of the North, who came in the King’s company to defend Minas Tirith, back in the Battle of Pelennor Fields,” Thorley allowed Rallick due chance to understand his own hesitation, in the face of such a scene as they now faced. And if Dom glanced up, with a hope of support from at least one friend tonight, it soon was wiped right off his face by what the Guard spoke next. “He is currently in the city in service to his Grace. Which means Domanol should know better than to brandish a dangerous weapon in a public setting, and risk mis-representing the laws of this kingdom, without a very good cause.”

Whereas Dom had only scoffed at what Gwestion had whispered to him, in such haste, he could nonetheless only push his tongue into the side of his cheek as Thorley stuck his oar in as well. With a deep breath, Domanol bore a stare hard through the floor, and fed his every will into not responding. So, to protect a secret that he was not even privy to, he was now going to be arrested. Fantastic. Thankyou Gwestion ! Thanks a bally lot !


“Gwestion is also a Ranger of the North,” Domanol put in, instead. “And that one is Lieutenant Dealedwen’s brother,” he offered up due warning with a jerk of his chin in Tercen’s direction. To his credit, Thorley was far more practiced in refraining from cursing in public. The older Guard waited a moment longer, expectant for some sort of impassioned argument from the man he had thought he knew .. and was given little to work with. The fact that Dom had ignored any attempt to excuse his actions or give up who he at least thought this woman was … made the Guard curious. And concerned. But clearly no better informed.

“Alright. Well, any public altercation where dangerous weapons are in hand and civilians are at risk .. merits a little conversation at the Guard Headquarters,” Thorley recited from the law he lived by. “So, first things first, every one of you please raise your hands where they can be seen.” He turned to Domanol first, to make clear nobody was getting special treatment here. “Hand it over,” he advised the knife bearer, even as he readjusted his own grasp on his duty spear, to accept the blade. But was forced to pull a face instead as his old friend offered first the dead mouse toward the Guard.


“Someone needs to look at controlling the rat situation in this city,” was all Domanol gave up, straight faced. And the lack of humour in the sentiment was both evident and alarming in itself. The want to shoot a look at Ava during this, albeit brief, outburst was almost too much.

“That is a mouse,” Thorley pointed out the fact. And earned himself an unbothered shrug in answer. Followed by a very reluctant surrender of the former Guard’s knife. “Now you,” he gestured toward Gwestion, after indicating for his fellow Guard to attend to checking the other pair. The law keepers may have been outnumbered here, but nobody seemed too keen on attacking anybody. The mouse was the only injured party so far. “Our interest here is public safety. So before we leave this place, we shall conduct a brief body search on each of you,” he proceeded by the book, giving them fair warning. “And I’d advise you not to fail to give up willingly what you won’t want to be found on you otherwise.” Against his every want to do so, Thorley then deposited the dead mouse in his pocket, evidence was … evidence, after all.

Stars, he really could have done without this ! But if they could at least control the situation whilst remaining out of sight, there was every chance the foyer would have cleared and all persons out there returned to their seats, hopefully none the wiser, by the time the guards should try to migrate their trouble down to HQ and get this all cleared up.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening


Gladhron

Gladhron wordlessly followed along with Arnyn, without offering his arm this time. He thought maybe he'd been doing it a bit too much, the past couple of days, and he didn't want to overdo it and make her feel weirded out or something. He was so relieved that he could make sure that she got home alright, it never occurred to him to think of what anyone might think about him sleeping over at her house. It seemed like a simple, easy solution.

He remained quiet for a while as they walked, until she broke the silence by mentioning her routine of having tea. He glanced over, finding that curious. He didn't recall her mentioning that she enjoyed tea, when they used to travel together. But then, that had been a different situation. They'd been limited by what things they had, then. Here, she was in her own home. "Tea might be nice," He answered with a little nod, then added as an afterthought, "I mean, if you have enough for an extra cup?"

---

|
Gwestion | Ava

Gwestion was almost wishing he had not actually come to investigate this thing, but at the same time... glad that he had. In a strange, confusing way. Because of course, if he hadn't, he was sure that things would have ended up much worse by now. Because, as far as he could tell, it could actually be worse. Somehow. If Gwand had declared just what he knew about Ava, then that news was likely to spread, and that would not be good. But he was also starting to get worried that they were all going to end up in jail or something.

Ava was still trying to figure out the 'hunting rodents' comment, wondering if Gwestion had intended it as an insult to her, or if he had genuinely meant the mouse in Dom's hand, when the guard dropped a shocking piece of news. "A ranger?" Ava repeated in surprise before she could stop herself, then glanced at Tercen, wondering if he was as stunned by this as her. Surely, that wasn't right? A ranger, in the king's company? In service to the king!? She turned to look at the man in question again, finding this news quite astonishing, given what she had thought. "You mean you aren't..." She stopped herself abruptly, not wanting to say what she had thought, in front of the guards. But did she dare believe this, though? What if the older guard was making it up, to cover for him or...

She continued to stare at him for a few moments while he declared Gwestion's status as a ranger as well, all the while her thoughts were racing, wondering whether to believe this new information or not. Was it all true, or was it all a lot of lies? But really, what were the chances that so many people were in on such a collaborative lie? Just then, her new flood of thoughts were interrupted by the guard asking them all to raise their hands. Ava blinked and drew her gaze away from the man she had thought was an assassin, and looked at the guard. Did he mean she and Tercen, too? Why? They were the victims here!

Gwestion merely gave a small nod in the affirmative when Gwand named him a ranger of the north as well. While he could have also added that he, also, was present at the battle of Pelennor, but he wasn't into boasting, and he didn't see where it was relevant anyway. He did, however, raise his hands without protest when asked. "I have only a small knife, which I always carry," He admitted quietly. "I have to put my hand down to get it," He warned, before moving his hand down to remove the blade from his belt, and turned it over, with faith that it would be returned once all of this was cleared up. At least, he hoped so, for it was a tool of his trade, one might say.

Meanwhile, Ava had also raised her hands after realizing that yes, they did in fact mean all of them. Still, she made no move to retrieve any weapons from her person... because she felt pretty confident that they would not find anything on her. She even doubted Tercen would find any weapons on her, unless he was really trying. She certainly couldn't afford to get into trouble and risk being detained here in the city. She needed to leave in the next few days, after all!

---

@Lantaelen

| |
| |
Dulinneth, Eryn Raedor & Brooke
Gwestion, Chewy, & Togg
Dec 24, afternoon
2nd level, inside the dress shop

"Wow, lots of new apprentices at the houses of healing!" Eryn declared in surprise, upon hearing that Gaer was also going to be. "It's a nice place to learn, that's for sure. It'll be nice having you there!"

"Aislin has been spending time there too, with Aunt Seri." Brooke replied. "I'm not sure exactly when in the spring, but hopefully we'll get to see you when you come back here, then." As they all started out of the shop, Brooke gave a little smile at the description of how much, or rather, how little, snow they got there. "I've noticed there's barely any snow here." She nodded. "Back home, by now, it'd be ankle deep at least, and the snow stays for weeks." She paused, looking down as she walked. "Once, me and Aislin and another friend, were all out in the snow way too long, and we nearly froze and stuff. If it hadn't been for Gwandhyra.." She hesitated. "I mean, Domanol."

"Were you lost?" Linn asked, a little wide-eyed. "That sounds scary."

"It was.. but, um," She paused. "Well, yes.. we were sort of lost, I guess." She acknowledged. "Anyway... everything worked out. And.. um, yeah, if you want, maybe we could go to the library together?" She said to Gaer, pleasantly surprised to find someone else with such an interest in books. "It's so huge, I never imagined there could be so many books all in one place! It's amazing." She sighed. "You're so lucky," She told Eryn. "Having all that available, all the time."

"Ummm, yeah." Eryn shrugged, not mentioning that she'd only really been in the library once that she could recall, and that was to pick out some books for her injured father. They crossed the street to get to the cafe, and entered all together.

Brooke paused and glanced around, spotting Gwestion sitting off to the side, with Chewy perking up happily as soon as he saw Brooke enter. She smiled to see him, then her smile faded when they passed Linn's brother and she caught sight of him. Brooke shivered a little and hurried past to join Gwestion at the table.

Togg stood up as soon as he saw the ladies enter, and smiled, watching Gaer approach. Then she walked past him. He was puzzled by her words, and turned to see where she was going. That was the first he noticed the ranger, and blinked in surprise to watch the four young ladies go over to where he was sitting. Togg stared for a few seconds before picking up something from the seat beside him, while trying not to frown as he followed. "How was your shopping?" He asked, stopping near the group.

"Hello." Gwestion replied, sitting back, while Chewy happily went over to Brooke and the other girls for some attention. He let his gaze linger briefly on Togg when Gaer asked if everything was alright, but not long enough that it would be too noticeable. "All is well with me. And you ladies?" He replied politely. "Would any of you like me to order you anything?" He asked, indicating the order counter where they could ask for pastries or drinks like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, or whatever else the place served.

Togg cleared his throat, trying to get Gaer's attention. "I have something for you, lady Gaerlothriel." He informed her, trying to draw her attention back to himself.

"Oh, thank you, Gwestion. But my brother can do that." Linn replied to Gwestion with a little smile as she thought of a way to get her brother to go away for a bit. "Right Toggornir? Why don't you get us all a cup of hot chocolate?" Linn suggested in a sweet tone, smiling. "We can pull up a table and all sit together, right?" She looked around to check that no one else objected to that.

Togg frowned at Linn.

She gave him an insistent look. "You don't mind, do you?" She asked with a determined smile. Really, after the last time he tried to give Gaer a gift, he wanted to try it again? And again, in front of people!

Togg shifted his weight and smiled back. "Of course I don't mind. Hot chocolate for my dear sister. And for the rest of you?" He asked, focusing his gaze on Gaer first. After she had said what she'd like, he turned to Eryn and Brooke.

"Oh, um," Eryn paused, hesitating a moment. "Hot chocolate sounds fine. If you're sure you don't mind?"

"Not at all, miss Eryn. And for you?" He turned to Brooke.

"N-No thank you." She mumbled awkwardly, taking a tiny step closer to Gwestion, while nervously reaching down to rub Chewy's ears.

"Fine. And you, sir? Shall I get you anything?" He asked Gwestion last.

Gwestion gave a little shake of his head, then glanced briefly at Brooke as Togg went to go to the ordering counter. After watching him go, while wondering quite what was going on there between the brother and sister, Gwestion got up and pulled another table over to the one he had been sitting at, to make room for all of them to sit together. "Ladies." He gestured for them to take whatever seats they liked.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Returning home
December 30th, evening

"Sure. What kind would you prefer: a fruity mix or a herbal mix? And what I'm having, doesn't matter. I can just put the mix in a small dispenser in the cup. It's no bother," she added, before he would say something along the lines of what she would otherwise expect him to say. (Something close to: 'It doesn't matter to me.' or 'Whatever you are having.')

She made small talk about the play with him, and about what kind of plays each of them had seen, before that evening. The funny part was that neither of them had seen tonight's play, obviously - not even the half they had still been at the theatre. But Arnyn had seen it in the past, and she did try to tell him the story, and to somewhat do it justice. She was no storyteller like Gladhron or Kaylin, however, no matter how much she tried.

Soon enough, they had arrived at the door to her house. It felt almost like a déjà vu to Arnyn - her looking for her key as he stood nearby and waited. Only, this time, she did not turn in the doorway, and instead she walked in and held the door open for him. Once Gladhron had entered, she closed to door, and made sure she did actually lock in. She left the key in the lock, before turning toward the entrance hall and removing her coat and shoes, and putting them in their place. "I'll get started on the tea," she declared. "I'll bring it out to the living room."

Just so she might have some private time before he perhaps figured he might prefer following her into the kitchen rather than sitting down already, Arnyn headed straight for the kitchen. The first thing she did was take the belladonna from its hiding place in one of her cupboards, and take an appropriate (small) amount of it to put in one of the small dispensers. She stored the rest of the leaves away again, quickly, focusing hard not to be careless in her exhaustion as to avoid knocking anything over or missing something important. It was the right, small dose. She had chosen the only dispenser she had with a particular pattern on it. Then she put it aside in a brown-glazed cup, started boiling water, and then she got out the mix Gladhron had chosen, to fill a different small dispenser, and drop it into a second, green-glazed cup.
There. No way she was mixing them up, now. Hyandaner brown for her. Forest green for Gladhron.

She let out a little sigh of relief, glad this part had worked out, for she'd been stressing about it a little on the way back here. As she waited for the water to heat, she stepped out to the living room. "You're not asleep yet, are you?" she asked, a little grin on her lips, and honestly half expecting him to be.

@Ercassie @Rillewen

Tercen & Guard Rallick
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

He took Ava's hand in his own, the one that hadn't slipped around her, and he managed a wobbly, faint smile when she told him she was alright. Tercen blinked when Ava informed her that, according to Gwestion, Arnyn and Gladhron were no longer in the box. His first thought, despite the testy situation at hand, was the question of whether Gladhron had managed to convince her to go somewhere? Or maybe both of them had awoken and simply decided to look for an actual bed to sleep in? The latter, at least, was what Tercen would expect Arnyn to do, if she woke up after falling asleep in a public place. At Ava's question, however, Tercen's lips parted with surprise, and he gave her a bewildered look. "I..." he whispered, not really liking the answer to her question. Not at the moment. Then again... He had known Gladhron for just as long as he had known Ava...

He nodded when Ava described what had happened: how they had stepped behind the curtain, how Dom had followed them, had drawn a knife, and how he had threatened her. For Dom certainly had. That was also just about what Tercen had told the two guards himself. The two of them had given him a strange look, of course, and the younger one had demanded of Tercen what on earth had pressed him into leaving his lady friend alone with someone who was threatening her. Tercen had said something about it not having completely escalated yet, but that it had looked like it could at any moment. So he had figured to call in guards. If he could find any quickly enough. Thankfully... he had.

Gwestion's claim that Dom had only been hunting rodents, had Tercen narrowing his eyes at the younger man. Was he calling Ava a rat?!

Yet it was the other Guard's clarification about who the knife-wielder was, that had Tercen widening his eyes in confusion. A Ranger, who had come with the King to defend the city during the Battle of the Pelennor?! Tercen swallowed, his need to protect Ava and everything Dom had said to her and about her now warring with the unimaginable gratitude he had toward the King and the Rangers in his northern company for arriving at that Battle when they had. Their arrival had... saved countless lives. It had turned the tide of the battle. It had prevented.... Mentally, Tercen swore. What in Middle-Earth was he supposed to do with this information?! If... it was true, of course...

Meanwhile, Rallick raised his eyebrows at Thorley, before glancing an assessing look first over Domanol, then Gwestion, and finally, Tercen. Dealedwen's brother? Crap. This was the kind of thing Rallick would prefer to happen during other guards' shifts. Not his. Yet, with everyone having been presented, more or less, Rallick was only left to wonder about one of their number. The lady. The very one who had been threatened.
Another rather important detail the younger guard took note of, was that Domanol did not deny having pulled a knife - which was unrefutable, obviously - but he also did not deny having threatened her.

Thorley made his intention clear to take them all to Guard Headquarters. Rallick held back a sigh. Well. He supposed at least the shift wasn't boring. It did seem like it would make for a good story, didn't it? Considering the people involved?

Tercen shrugged and raised his hands when the older Guard demanded it. But, for the first time, he wondered just how much Arnyn would want him to tell the Guard. He swallowed. Honestly he had hoped they could have called in Arnyn, shortly after the guards. But Ava had meanwhile told him she was gone. Maybe she had only gone to the washroom?

Rallick approached Tercen and Ava, following his senior guardman's lead. His attention first fell on the blond man. "Weapons?" he asked. Tercen shook his head. "I don't have any." Rallick nodded, but patted him down regardless, paying more attention to places he had learnt were typical to carry a blade of some sort. Rallick shot the man a faint smile when he was done, and had indeed found nothing. Then the guard turned to Ava. "And you,....?" he asked, clearly also fishing for some way he could address her. He did not enjoy doing body searches on women, as a few of the other guys claimed they did. He hoped she would give any weapons up willingly. "What can we call you? And do you have any weapons to surrender?"

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Gladhron
Arnyn's house, 4th circle

He was about to say 'whatever you're having' but then she said that it didn't make any difference about how much bother it was. "Uh," He considered the options she'd given. "Maybe the fruit one." He decided. Fruit was good. He knew he liked fruit, while he didn't know as much about what herb stuff she might have for tea.

When they arrived at her house, he watched while she locked her door, and stepped in out of the cold. It was getting a bit cold out by now. "Want me to light the fireplace?" He asked, while he copied her by hanging his cloak up on a hook. Since she had left it up to him about the fire, he gave a little nod and decided it might be nice to get the main room warmed up a bit, so they wouldn't be sitting in the cold while sipping their tea. Because, making a fire would be the first order of business when camping outside in cold weather, so it made perfect sense to him.

The fire was just about to his satisfaction when Arnyn poked her head in and asked if he was still awake. Gladhron laughed. "Nope, just over here poking the fire in my sleep. Let's hope I don't burn your house down in the process." He joked. Although maybe it wasn't the best joke, he was too tired to think of anything better. "Need any help in the kitchen?" He offered, although he was not the best at doing kitchen things. Not that he even had much opportunity to be in a kitchen under normal circumstances anyway.

---

Ava
White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

She realized that questioning his friendship with Gladhron was probably not the most welcome of thoughts to Tercen, but she was a bit worried about Arnyn. And her mind was racing with concerned and thoughts about conspiracies and things. So, now she wasn't sure what to believe. Was the man actually a ranger? If so, then... what was actually going on? She found it all very confusing.

She watched as Gwestion and Dom both turned over their weapons, and then Tercen declared that he did not have any. Then the guard turned to her and asked if she had any. Her instinct was to declare that she had none. Because she didn't know what to expect here, and she didn't like the thought of being without any weapon at all. Not to mention that she really felt confident that they would not find her small knife. But she hesitated and cast a questioning glance at Tercen. She trusted his judgement in this situation, more than her own. She had very little experience with Gondor, much less their guards and prison...

But Tercen gave a little nod*, encouraging her to go ahead. She slowly released a breath. "Ava," She supplied her name for the guard. "Only a small thing, for self-defense purposes." She answered softly, still making sure her accent sounded Gondorian. She lowered her hand slowly to her side, near where she had earlier had her hand resting at her hip, where some fancy, jewel-like beads were sewn onto one side at the waistline of her dress, and withdrew a very small, thin blade which had been cleverly hidden by the boning of her dress's bodice, so that with both the beads and the bone, it would be quite difficult to distinguish the blade from them. She carefully placed it into Rallick's hand, hoping that this was not a mistake.

When the guard asked* why she had not drawn the weapon when she felt that Dom was threatening her, Ava gave a small shrug. "I did not feel that it was necessary, nor that it would help the situation. Also, I thought that adding another weapon would have only escalated the matter. I, at least, did not want to risk anyone getting hurt." She said, while casting a pointed glance toward Dom. She looked back at the guard and tilted her head curiously. "Should I have?" She asked, curious whether the guard approved or disapproved of her choice in not drawing the weapon.


* as discussed with writer, on both accounts

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Guard Thorledhos Darthor finding Domanol Raxëlilta,
Involved in a raucous behind a curtain, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

Thorley was not amazed that this other Ranger, Gwestion, was also armed. He knew that weapons were a part of their every day, and it had been explained to him before now, by more than one of their number in the city, that being a Ranger was more than a ‘job’. It was a lifestyle. So while he would personally never have gone about armed inside the city, when he was not on duty, and admittedly a spear was more cumbersome than the small blades being showcased here, he did not startle at the trend any more. It was likely that being a Ranger outside of the walled streets of Gondor did lend even further habit to bearing arms, for not all corners of the wild world beyond their borders were known for their civility. Forget that they were currently within Minas Tirith, where a city guard was maintained to uphold the law and keep every one safe on the streets … it was difficult sometimes for him to acknowledge how many people were not prepared to simply do that. Of course, trust in this particular City Guard force was not exactly at an all-time high right now. But still, Rangers thinking they could not lay down their weapons, even to engage in pleasant every day activities within the guarded city was something he tried not to take personally.

Gwestion was compliant anyway, and did not balk at surrendering his blade as some, who might claim attachment to their trusted tools, might have done. And Thorley did not stir at the now typical ‘which I carry everywhere with me’ remark. Maybe being a visitor from afar meant a man was even more possessive of his personal items if he had no permanent place to store them here. So the Guard merely nodded his approval when the Northerner moved to retrieve and hand over his knife. “Thank you. Gwestion” he replied.


Domanol had managed to ignore Ava as she now feigned surprise that he was a Ranger. In front of Guards, no doubt of course she had to now pretend that made a difference to an Umbarian. The sort of difference that meant respect was owed, rather than she ought be more prepared of what sort of opponent he presented. He did observe that she and Tercen were now playing along without any sort of protest. He was quietly concerning over why they both seemed so hostile toward Gwestion when that man had quietly assured him that he was working with them .. both. Which still made no sense whatsoever.

But of everybody there Dom might have been the least concerned about being arrested. Despite that he had been alleged as the antagonist here, and fair .. he had been the one to brandish his knife .. in the means of inciting an honest reaction, which he’d gotten ! Whatever the other three thought they knew, he did not. And now the Guard might figure it out. Certain of the number he knew were sticklers for protocol and paperwork. This was not about to be swept under the mat. If there was something underhand going on, and he was convinced there absolutely was, then he felt relieved that now there were others who would not rest until it was uncovered. After all the uncertainty and inside investigation that the City Guards had undergone this year, they were under a spotlight. And could not risk but doing everything by the book. Lest they wanted the King to disband them too !


Tercen was looking uncomfortable, but he too carried out instructions without any fuss, and Thorley was relieved to note that at least one of this volatile group did not feel the need to go armed on a night out at the theatre. Maybe if all of them had done so, it would never have come to this ! The woman though, Ava, managed to surprise him. For she was armed. And that .. tacked on to the orders that Lieutenant Dealedwen had granted their entire order just that very morning, to halt a woman meeting this one’s description from taking leave of the city, without her escort .. yes, Thorley recognised that there was certainly something not exactly normal going on here.
He had hoped that Domanol would clear it up for him, for the man was not exactly known for his restraint. But no, his old friend was keeping his head down, all attention focusing on holding his temper from exploding. Thorley knew him, recognised the signs, and hoped that will could hold until they got this group out of the middle of a public building.

When Rallick questioned the woman though, over why she had not revealed her weapon when an armed man threatened her, this Ava’s response was very interesting. Claimed that She at least had not wanted to risk anyone getting hurt ? Neither he nor Dom missed the pointed look she shot in his direction either. And while the latter barely contained a mutter, because declaring that harming one would protect the rest was not going to go over very well here and now; Thorley finished stowing Gwestion and Domanol’s knives away on his person and decided not to ask about ‘that tone’ either. ‘Should she have ? The question seemed a play at innocence which he did not entirely appreciate. But the fact was that she had apparently not exacerbated the situation. Even if there was clearly more to her than might appear. Not here. Not now.


“Thankyou all for your cooperation,” the Guard managed to express without seeming too relieved that it had been managed. “Whatever this is, I don’t think it is something any of us want to explore with an audience,” he indicated the curtain. “So I would ask you all to come with us, and without any attempt at leaving until you are given permission. To do so before this is cleared up would lead to you being sought by the entire City Guard for insubordination. Do you understand ? Right then ..”

“Wait,” Domanol could not help but to interject. Not because the woman’s casual claim that she’d been with Gwestion in some sort of ‘headquarters’ was not already making his head swell with insane theories. But for another equally important matter. “I came here with friends. My … Seri,” he turned to Thorley who’d told of his new partnership with the Bree woman. “And her nieces. And their .. dog.”


“You brought a dog .. into the theatre ?” Okay now Thorley was surprised at the audacity.

“’Brought’ might be too strong a word,” Dom admitted. “But I can’t just leave with you and no word. They won’t know what’s happened to me. And his brother is here too. And his sister.” The Ranger gestured however briefly toward Gwestion and Tercen in turn as he explained.

“You all came here .. together ?” Thorley realised, suddenly. And sent his gaze of surprise toward Rallick to see if he’d realised that before now either. What had they missed ? A party at the theatre together suddenly turn on each other ? “I’m sure we can send an usher to find them and let them know what’s happened,” he supposed. In fact the others could have information which was pertinent. Especially if the Lieutenant was here, now ..


It would have been belligerent to ask if they would mind letting him know what was going on as well, so Domanol managed to refrain. But he thought it. The thought that Thorley was currently toting a dead mouse about now that he felt that was important as well .. helped him to keep his peace. And laughing would be a really bad idea. But it was difficult.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn , @Ercassie
Aislin
White Tree Theatre
December 30, evening

They had somehow managed to get through the crowd without being scolded for having a dog where he ought not be, and Aislin breathed out in relief when they reached the washroom.

"He certainly has a way to find you wherever," she told Brooke with a small laugh as she watched the cleaning procedures begin. "I think I missed some lines of the play mostly because everyone seemed to begin talking, whispering or something instead of watching. I don't know what's up with all that. It's not like play is boring, no?"

"But yeah... a pity about the lady's dress. But at least she didn't seem too awfully upset. Maybe startled, more like," she tried to soothe Brooke's guilty feelings.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Returning home
December 30th, evening

But Gladhron was not asleep at all. Instead, he'd started a fire in the hearth. He cracked a joke upon her question, and Arnyn made a face. "Yes, let's hope," she said sarcastically, looking at his back as he was still shifting the logs a little with the poker. One corner of her mouth lifted when he asked if she needed help in the kitchen. "If your brother were here, he would probably recommend not letting you so much as step into my kitchen," Arnyn said, lifting her eyebrows a little. "Let alone doing anything else in there."

She removed the pin from the back of her head that held some of the front strands of her hair away from her face. Then she ran a hand through her hair whilst looking back over her shoulder. "The water's almost ready. Then it just needs a few minutes to steep and cool down, in the cups." She wasn't about to make a whole pot of tea just for two cups, after all. "Thank you, for the fire." Though it was definitely not helping with drowsiness.

Soon, she stepped back into the kitchen and poured the hot water into the two cups. Arnyn decided to put them on a small try and walked the tray out to the low table in the center of the seating area. "Yours is the green one," she said emphatically. "Fruit. Right?" she added with a faint smile while she glanced at him. She shifted the brown cup away from the green cup, carefully, before dropping herself onto the couch and letting out a sigh. By the Valar, she was tired. "I'm sorry," she said quietly,her eyes on her cup. "I must not really be making the best impression on you these past few days."


@Ercassie @Rillewen

Tercen & Guard Rallick
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

At the questioning glance Ava shot his way, he gave a tiny nod. While he was not against bending the rules, or cirumventing them when he didn't see their point - this situation was entirely different. Tercen had always held all forms of military in high regard - be they rangers, soldiers or guards. The kingdom needed all. And the people who served, made it possible for Tercen not to. He was all too aware of that. After he'd nodded at her, Tercen quickly glanced to Gwestion and Dom, to see whether either of them had noticed. Not that he could guess whether them noticing would be good or bad.

"Ava," Rallick repeated, before accepting the small, thin knife. He had noticed her look toward the Lieutenant's brother, of course, given his focus on her - though Rallick had not seen the blond man's response. It must have been somewhat positive, at least, since Ava had handed the knife over to him. It was... very small. And very thin. Indeed, Rallick wondered whether he would have even felt it, if she had not given it up freely. He stored it away, and then carefully patted her down, for Rallick felt the need to be thorough for more than one reason. First off - he had been one of the few soldiers who had been accepted into the Guard. He felt like he had to prove himself, if only for all his comrades who had not been accepted into the Guard's ranks. Furthermore, the Guard found itself in a precarious position at the moment, with most of their leadership... well... Yeah. And basically half of the leadership that remained, was currently present...

Ava's reply to his question made Rallick raise an eyebrow. This woman was a confident one, if she did not feel the necessity to draw her allegedly only weapon, which she claimed she carried for self-defense..., when a man drew a knife on her. What would count as sefl-defense, if not a situation like this? Rallick could not help but wonder. He shot Thorley a quick look, but he couldn't tell what the older guard thought about Ava's reply. Rallick for one, did not answer the woman's question. It was not lost upon him that she met the description all guards had been given, about a lady who was not allowed to leave Minas Tirith without Lieutenant Dealedwen's - or Captain Alarion's - express permission...

Tercen's jaw ticked as he watched Rallick searching Ava for more weapons. "Careful," he grumbled, his voice low, when the guard had his hands around her hip area, and Rallick turned to raise an eyebrow at him. "Her other knife was there," he laid out the fact. "It would be remiss of me not to verify it was the only one. I patted you down, too. Don't worry. This is my job."
Tercen couldn't care less whether it was his job or not, but he realized the error it would be to make a fuss about this. Instead, he gritted his teeth, crossed his arms, and watched closely whilst Rallick completed his search of Ava. Although Rallick felt the need to ask or comment about the mud on Ava's dress, he thought better of it, given the rather negative aura that was coming off the man to his right...

When Rallick finally stepped back, and nodded at Thorley, the latter took the next matter in hand and explained what he expected of the four people gathered before them. Dom's intervention, made Rallick grateful that the older and more seasoned guard was present. At Thorley's questioning gaze, Rallick shook his head minutely. He hadn't had a clue they were apparently all here. But if Lieutenant Dealedwen was here, then surely she could shed some light on the matter? Help them figure out what to do?

Meanwhile, Tercen didn't understand much anymore about who Dom was and why he had acted as he had toward Ava. It seemed... SEEMED... like the man was a ranger from the north, at least. The guard there, had said it. It was further evidenced by his friendship with the group who came from the north and was visiting the city. And Arnyn knew him, too, Tercen reminded himself. Moreover, the man surely could not have only deceived the whole group, and Arnyn, but also the King?

But then, why had Dom been so aggressive and rude toward Ava?! Something at the back of his mind was gnawing at him. It was very annoying. As if he should have figured something out by now. But he hadn't. It was... Tercen frowned, his fear and axiety giving way to mostly confusion, now they were in the safety of the guards. "It would probably be best to find my sister," he ventured at last. She was good at putting things together. She'd be able to make sense of this, surely. And that way he or Ava couldn't blab, like Gladhron had. Tercen had no idea what he should or should not say. "She knows everyone involved, to a greater or lesser degree, after all. I don't understand why a ranger would draw a knife against Ava," he added hesitantly, but genuinely. For that was the truth - he did not understand. And he figured that wouldn't be a problematic statement in any way in Arnyn's opinion, either.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening


Gladhron

Gladhron offered a little grin. "So he would," he agreed. "I'm really not much for cooking, that's true. But I can do a couple of things." He pointed out, but he didn't argue about it. Turning, he watched as she pulled the pin out of her hair, and couldn't help but admire how lovely she looked with her hair framing her face. He appeared to zone out briefly until she spoke of the water being ready. He gave a little nod in reply about her thanks. "Right, no problem." He added.

Once she had gone back into the kitchen, he debated whether to sit down, but he thought the armchair or the couch might be too comfortable. Instead, he absently paced around while he waited. He turned when she came back out with a tray and told him that he had the green cup. "Thanks," He smiled and took the cup she told him before sitting in the seat across from her, although he wanted to take the seat next to her. He held the warm cup in his hands, taking a sniff as he tried to determine what sort of fruit it might be. Then, he realized he had forgotten to ask if she had any sugar or honey to put in it.

"Impression?" He glanced up at her, a little surprised by her words. "Celume..." He hesitated, then shook his head, setting his cup down on the table and looked at her with seriousness. "The first day I met you, you left an impression with me that will never be erased." He told her with complete sincerity. "And that impression only got more.. impressive.. the more I got to know you." He smiled faintly and looked down, stopping himself from saying what else he would like to say.

He took a moment to think of something else, instead. "If you'd seen me when I wasn't at my best, would you have decided that I was no good anymore?" He asked quietly, then looked up again. "I've been sick, and wounded, and I've done some really stupid and foolish things." He paused. "You've heard about some of those times. And, you were there last night.." He added a bit awkwardly. "I know that wasn't my best moment. So.. if you think less of me now..." He stared down at the floor as that thought occurred to him. That she might actually think less of him after last night. "Even so," He added quietly, "You being ill is nowhere near as bad as me being an idiot." He gave a faint smile. "Illness is curable. Idiocy often isn't."

---

|
Gwestion | Ava

While she did not like the idea of being searched, Ava did not protest, and complied with the guard's orders without complaint. She did not like giving over her blade, either, but if Tercen thought it was a good idea, then she tried to trust that he knew what was best in this situation. After all, he was familiar with this country, while she was not. Soon... if nothing happened to prevent it, their roles would be reversed in that regard. If he still wanted to come, that is. She wasn't even sure anymore, but she realized that they probably needed to talk about that again. Because this situation made her concerned about whatever sort of situations they might encounter, there.

The guards did not respond to her question, and although she didn't press the issue, she did wonder why. It had been a legitimate question, and she had made sure that she did not use a sarcastic or snarky sort of tone. She had no idea what these Gondorian guards thought she should do. Still, when Tercen grumbled at the man, Ava couldn't help but give him a small smile of reassurance. She appreciated his protectiveness, but it was unnecessary.


Meanwhile, Gwestion was wondering just what Ava had thought about Dom. She had stopped herself from saying, and he guessed it was due to the guard's presence. He was curious, but he knew not to ask. Not here, and not now. He was disappointed, however, to hear the guard suggest that they come along to finish this discussion at headquarters. He was about to mention the rest of the group, when Dom spoke up with the same thought. "My brother seems to have left already," Gwestion put in, when that came up. "But I agree, it would be preferable not to simply leave." He paused, considering asking whether he really needed to go too, since he'd only just arrived a few seconds before the guards did, but then he thought it might be best if he went along to try and talk to Dom, if he got a chance.

"I invited them to join me in my box seating, as my guests," Ava spoke up in explanation, when the guards seemed surprised to learn that they were all here together. "Except he was not there at the time. He came in after the play had begun." She added with a frown toward Dom. She held back a sigh as it became evident that she was not going to get to finish watching the play, which must have already resumed by now. "Is it really necessary for Tercen and I to-"

"I believe the guards need to take your statements, so yes, it would be necessary." Gwestion spoke up, trying not to speak too hastily as to sound like he was trying to stop the lady from continuing her protest. He was simply trying to prevent any complaints... either from Ava, or Dom. He turned to the guards. "A message sent to the rest of our group would be nice, thank you." He added with a nod to the guard who had suggested that. "Although I've just come from there, and neither my brother, nor Lieutenant Dealedwen were still there." He added, finding that somewhat curious, considering the state they'd been in when he left. "They may have returned by now, however." It had been a few minutes by now, of course. And who knows, maybe one or both simply decided to go to the washroom for a little splash of water on the face, to help wake up.

Gwestion glanced around at everyone there, holding back a sigh. So much for a nice, enjoyable evening at the theater.

Tercen's comment about not understanding why a ranger would have attacked her, made Ava frown slightly and glance at him. "Perhaps he isn't really a ranger," She muttered under her breath, so that only those closest to her would hear it. It was meant to be for Tercen, really, but Rallick would probably hear it as well.

---

|
Brooke & Chewy

Brooke smiled slightly as they worked on cleaning the mud off of Chewy's paws. "He really does." She agreed. Chewy did not like to leave her side for long, and Brooke did not like to be away from him for long. "I think he worries about me," She added, recalling the first few months she and Chewy had spent together. She rubbed his ears briefly before kissing the top of his head lightly, and smiled at him before turning to Aislin.

"Yeah, I missed a little bit too. Sorry," She grabbed another towel and began to dry the dog's legs. "I'm not entirely sure why he jumped on her, but I am glad she wasn't upset. She seems like a nice lady, doesn't she?" She stepped back to check how Chewy looked, and gave a little nod of satisfaction. "There. Now you shouldn't get anything else muddy." She told him. "We'd better get back to the box before we miss any more of the play." She held onto Chewy's leash to keep him close to her as she set out for their box again.

They managed to get back before the play had resumed, and found that Seri had gathered several snacks. But, strangely, none of the rest of their group was with her. Brooke resumed her seat and made sure that Chewy was situated in the seat next to her, just in time for the curtains to open, and the second half of the play began. Brooke glanced curiously back at Seri. "Where is everyone else?" She wondered, but Seri shrugged and looked just as uncertain as Brooke. Hopefully, they'd hurry back to their seats soon or they'd miss the rest of the play.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn

Guard Thorledhos Darthor finding Domanol Raxëlilta,
Involved in a raucous behind a curtain, at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Evening, 30th December

Beyond the curtain a small but undeniable bell rang out, to signify to all the audience that the intermission was over. Not long after the shrill summons had silenced, the foyer too started to quiet. So that by the time that Thorley chanced a look, the last of the crowd were already disappearing back through the heavy doors to resume their evening’s entertainment. As for the entertainment at hand, everyone relevant had been unarmed and adequately searched. And whatever dispute had occurred, it seemed to have been quelled. Certainly not forgotten though.

There was still much to make sense of, including quite what had happened. They had a dead mouse, an exposed blade and a dirtied dress as the only real clues. Several of the party who were here with these folk were not yet accounted for, and there remained no explanation why a dispute had arisen in the first place. Certainly the most popular opinion was to make swift enquiries of Lieutenant Dealedwen.


“I agree, that the Lieutenant’s input in this case would no doubt be significant,” Thorley admitted, not least because yes .. the woman must certainly be well enough acquainted with nearly everyone involved to hopefully shed an unbiased light on things. But before he could continue with what ought to happen next, offerings were delivered from several of the group, who sought to further explain. An almost unsurprised exhaustion was evident in the Guard’s expression as he glanced toward Rallick, the only other who might appreciate that they were both outnumbered and perhaps even superfluous to need. No actual crime had been identified as yet, although that might only be due to their intrusion. It was all very unusual indeed. So although he did nod when Gwestion spoke up, correct in his assumption about the want for statements, still the Guard was forced to raise a hand to ask for quiet.

“Yes it would be preferable to continue our investigation where we have the means to speak to you each privately,” he made clear. Before a new argument erupted between them all about what should happen next. “In a place where we have the resources on hand to record any pertinent details for the sake of everybody’s safety. So while I do appreciate that you may be frustrated about missing the rest of the performance this evening,” he allowed for Ava’s upset, “you did choose to involve us,” he glanced then toward Tercen “and we can not now leave the matter unresolved. For even those who have done no wrong, there is now a responsibility to help us understand the threat posed by those who have committed a wrongdoing.” He gave them time to absorb that reason, and hoped they proved able to do so.



“Alright, Ava, if you could please confirm which box it was where you all were sitting, we shall have a member of the theatre staff locate and relay the situation to any remaining other members of your party for the evening,” he proposed then, emphasising his acknowledgement that not all who had been there might be necessarily still there now. “They shall all be expected to report their any knowledge of the incident, or events leading up to it, at the Guard Headquarters, whenever we do locate them,” he made clear. “But next order of business, I should point out that the Headquarters is down on the Second Level. So we have a bit of a walk ahead of us. If anybody would like to declare that they feel unable to travel that far without medical assistance, please do so now.”

He had not observed any injuries, but if a thing was worth doing, it was worth doing right. And best not risk anything being revealed too late. Glancing around the group, the Guard let grey eyes rest upon each of them in turn, to grant a chance to speak. He was also making a mental list of whom it had been claimed was also a part of their company. Lieutenant Dealedwen, Seri and her nieces, Gwestion’s brother .. Probably could do without questioning the dog …

“Any further remarks about the situation, I would ask that you withhold until such time we can properly take note, with no risk of distractions,” Thorley delivered his advice without anything but the firm set of his mouth to make it a demand, once the matter of their all being fit or no, was attended to. “I promise that all of your sides to this story shall be heard and taken into consideration, and it is prudent to do so tonight, while it is all fresh in your minds. But I will have no provocative remarks which might resume the hostilities on route. Is that understood ?”


Domanol had not so much as met his old friend’s eye as the Guard’s involvement continued. He took a few deep breaths and confirmed, in due turn, that he was both uninjured and able to walk to the Headquarters. The Guards were outnumbered already and he knew they would probably not wait for the entire group who could be assembled here, now, to be so .. and walk down all together. Neither did he have any doubt that Thorley would hunt down every single person who had been in that seated box this evening and hand them a sizeable form to fill in. Quite what Seri might think about any of this, he could not work through right now. But surely he would find out sooner or later and make it right with her as soon as he could. This was probably not the way that anybody had expected their evening would turn out, but it couldn't be helped. Maybe those still in the box would at least be allowed to watch the end of the play. He wished he could have spoken to Seri himself. Probably as much as Ava wanted to ensure that Arnyn would support her ... No. Best not even ask for that leniency .. to be afforded to them all ..

It was as much as he could do, and as much as the trust that he did afford Gwestion to ensure, that Dom would not reveal to the Guards that he knew Ava was an Umbarian. Even if that meant he could not explain why he had risen up against her. Those who already knew what she was, would be handed no accusation that they could explain away. They would be granted no apology for his actions. As for those who did not even realise what peril the woman posed to Gondor, they would be offered no easy answer so that it could all be forgotten or explained away. They would have to accept the unsurety of why he had taken so against her. They would have to think on it themselves. He hoped they would.

The woman had certainly garnered the attention of men now who were committed to keeping the streets safe. That was a fair start to ensuring that whatever she was here ‘doing’ would not endanger anybody in Gondor. If anything untoward occurred now, their minds might even go to suspicions of her first. This might have been the very worst way he could have highlighted his concern over whatever was going on, but at least no one would be able to proceed now, under the delusion that everybody was simply ‘alright’ with trusting an enemy inside their walls. He was a man born of Gondor, who'd served to restore Arnor. He had to believe that there was no way that this city was going to take an Umbarian's word over his.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Returning home
December 30th, evening

Her eyes slowly lifted from the cup to Gladhron as he spoke of the impression she'd left on him. When they'd met - and after that. Arnyn watched him carefully, trying to see whether he was serious or joking. It wasn't the latter, she decided with certainty when he looked down with that faint smile.

Trying to give herself something to do, she sat forward and reached for her cup. The warmth soaking into her fingers grounded her while something in her chest tightened as he continued. Arnyn went very still as her eyes flicked back from the cup she'd taken, to him. She didn't interrupt, didn't deflect - just let his words settle in the silence that fell between them. It wasn't that she did not know what to say. It was that she wanted to say it right. Gladhron was being open in a way that felt... rare... for him. Instead of a joke or a shrug, to make light of it, he was trusting her with the possibly awkwardness of his honesty. But it did not feel awkward to her.

"I was there last night," she finally agreed softly, her eyes steady on his. "You looked after me." A pause, before continuing with the same quiet conviction. "You helped me up. You made sure I ate. That I locked the door behind you. I was there when you apologized and promised you would help me fix it. And I was there this morning, when you offered to help by joining a woman we hardly know, to go to Umbar, of all places."

Arnyn's fingers traced the rim of her cup as her eyes slowly dropped to it. It was difficult to judge the colour of her tea within the brown-tinted cup.

"I don't think less of you, Gladhron." She shook her head slightly. "If anything... I think I'm still figuring out how much I didn't understand the first time around."

"And - I would appreciate it if you stopped calling yourself an idiot." Ironically, most people would call her one, if they knew what she was doing. She removed the dispenser from her cup, placing it on the tray before lifting the cup of tea to her lips and taking her first sip. "It was probably necessary to send someone or a few people with Ava, regardless of what you said or did not say. You may have forced my hand, but maybe for the better. Although I did not wish for you and Gwestion to go. It's a potentially very dangerous assignment, and it is not even your country nor your people you will be protecting."

"Which... I suppose... once again proves what kind of men you and your brother are." Her voice dropped a little further, though she did glance up at him again. "You didn't hesitate for any of it. Not last night, not this morning. That's not nothing."

[Arnyn]

@Ercassie @Rillewen

Tercen & Guard Rallick
Fifth Circle - White Tree Theatre
December 30th, evening

Rallick frowned at Ava's words. If Thorley said Domanol was a ranger, then of course Domanol was a ranger. Why would Ava think he wasn't? That would be an interesting question for the statement phase. Rallick shook his head minutely at Thorley's glance.

"I don't know," Tercen mumbled. "He couldn't have fooled that many people...?" he murmured back. With a nod at the senior guard's comment about the choice to involve them, Tercen didn't rethink the decision. Not even when faced with the long walk to the second circle headquarters. He would strongly prefer for Arnyn to be able to rectify and explain the whole thing, for Tercen was sure that she could. That she would. But where was she? Back at the box, by now? If so, she would surely break away from the play to come and assist them, once the message reached the box. But if she was not... if she and Gladhron had truly left, then who knew where they were? And when she could get any message at all? Even if his sister was simply at her house, it didn't seem like the guards were planning to send a message there right away...


Before they left with the Guards, they retrieved their outerwear. The attendant was asked to bring a message to Ava's box. "Huh," he said. "Second message for that box."

"How do you mean?" Rallick inquired.

"Well, Lieutenant Dealedwen asked to send a message up, as well. She and a man left during intermission." At Rallick's raised eyebrow, the attendant cleared his throat. "She asked me to tell the others in the box all is well, but to offer her and 'Gladhron's' apologies and regrets about having to step out before the play's end. I was going to go up there, right now," he added, hesitantly as his gaze flicked between the two guards.

Rallick nodded. "Good. You can also tell them that Ava, Tercen... Domanol.... and... Gwestion..." he added, slowly, taking moments to remember everyone's names, "are all alright as well, but that there was a disturbance and that they have gone to the Guard Headquarters on the second circle to take their statements. Along with the question that the others in the box should also come and make their statements, through the course of tomorrow." How they were going to get Lieutenant Dealedwen's input, or this Gladhron's, was as of yet unclear to Rallick. But he figured Thorley would take care of that, somehow, once they were back at headquarters.

The attendant nodded and bowed slightly. "Yes, sir." He bowed again, a little unsure of himself, and then headed up to the box.

The only ones he found there, were a woman, two younger women, and a dog. That dog was theirs?! "Excuse me, ladies," the attendant asked for their attention, just as the play was resuming. He kept his voice low, and spoke directly to the oldest, whom he assumed would be the best of the ladies to address. "Gladhron and Lieutenant Dealedwen asked to inform everyone they are well, but have chosen to leave early. She said something about how that should not be a surprise to any of you? They send their apologies and regrets." A brief pasue. "Erm. Then the others of your party - three men and a woman - have been taken to Guard Headquarters on the second circle. There wassome kind of problem, or disturbance, the guard said. And their statements are supposed to illuminate the matter, it sounded like. The guard also asked the three of you to come in somewhere during the day, tomorrow. I'm afraid I don't have any of the details," he added apologetically.

[Rillewen]

@Ercassie @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Gladhron
Arnyn's house, 4th level

There was a silence that was beginning to make him a little uneasy, wondering what she might be going to say. Did she actually think less of him? When she finally spoke, Gladhron kept his gaze downward, finding it easier to stare at the floor than to look at her when she would, surely, tell him that she didn't think as well of him anymore.

So, when she instead referred to the other part of last night, Gladhron looked up. He felt as if a knot, which had unknowingly tightened up in his chest, was loosened a little as she spoke of how he had helped her, and what all he had done for her. His gaze dropped, feeling a tiny bit of awkwardness as she mentioned him apologizing, but looked back up when she commented on how he had offered to help her.

He gave a faint smile when she mentioned trying to figure out how much she didn't understand the first time around. Before he could think how he ought to reply, her following words made him laugh softly. "Well, if you insist." He smiled and sat back a little, feeling the knot loosen further as she tried to make light of his blunder, by saying it would've been necessary anyway. "I know you wouldn't have wished us to go." He said quietly. "Honestly.. when I was thinking of helping you in this thing, I had in mind more along the lines of.. being there with you. Like old times," he gave a weak smile which faded quickly. "But if this is what helps you best, then that's what I'm willing to do. And Gwestion is resolved to do the same."

He picked up his tea, taking out the dispenser and taking a cautious little sip. "It may not be our country, but it is all one kingdom, isn't it?" He pointed out. "We serve the King just as you do." He shrugged, looking for a suitable place to set the dispenser, before reaching over to set it on the tray next to hers. "I'm just glad we were able to be here to offer to help when you needed us." He added with a little smile as he glanced up at her.

---

| |
Seri, Brooke & Chewy
White Tree Theater, Fifth Circle
December 30th, evening

Seri was beginning to feel a bit concerned by the lack of their group's return to the box. She had thought that they would have been back by the first minute or two, but as the moments passed, she was starting to wonder if they all got lost. She wondered if Gwestion had gone to find them? He hadn't said where he was going. And what happened to Domanol? Had he run into trouble with checking his coat in? He did seem to find trouble easily, didn't he? She tried not to get too concerned, but it was strange that they had started out with nine people, and now two thirds of their number had not managed to return after intermission.

Quietly, Seri moved over to the seat in the opposite end of her row, so that she was sitting now where Arnyn had been, and quietly tapped Brooke's shoulder. "Did you see any of our group while you were on your way back from the washroom?" She whispered softly.

Brooke shook her head slightly. "No one. I thought they were all back already." She kept quiet, hoping not to disturb Aislin. She was also growing puzzled by this. The box seemed strangely empty now, after how full it had been during the first half. And she recalled that Ava had not been in the washroom, although, again, she reminded herself of the possibility that there might be another washroom that the lady had found instead of the one Brooke and Aislin had gone to.

Sitting back, Seri sighed softly. This was a bit disappointing. She was trying to decide whether she ought to go back to the lobby to see if Dom might be there, when someone opened the door to enter their box. Sighing with relief, Seri turned to see which of their party had finally found their way back.. only to discover that it was not one of their group. Rather, it was a theater employee.

When he had delivered his message to her, Seri's eyes widened. "What sort of problem? Was anyone hurt?" She wondered, trying to imagine what sort of disturbance could have happened to cause their group to have to leave and go to the guard headquarters! She was even more surprised that the message also asked that she and the girls all come as well, to give a statement. A statement? What sort of statement could they give, when they hadn't even known about the disturbance? She was confused, but gave a slow nod and managed to refrain from asking all of her questions to the man. He was only delivering a message, after all, and likely did not know anymore than she did. "Thank you," She said quietly. "At least we know now why they haven't gotten back here," She sighed softly.

Chewy chose that moment to 'greet' his 'playmate' from the foyer. With a cheerful bark and wagging tail, he put his recently cleaned paws up on the back of the seat and would have launched himself over it to go and greet the man more closely, if Brooke had not managed to grab hold of him and prevent him. "Shh, Chewy!" she whispered hastily, then looked anxiously up at the man. "I'm sorry.. he gets excited, but he's just friendly, that's all." She assured him, then looked around hoping no one was too bothered by his bark. "He um.. doesn't like to leave me for long." she explained, embarrassed by the possible judging that might happen from the theater employee.

The man gave Chewy a rather disapproving look but nodded in answer to Brooke's comment. "I'm sure he is." He replied despite sounding rather skeptical about that, then gave a bow as he prepared to take his leave. "Enjoy the remainder of the show, ladies." He said, then hurried out.

Seri gave a little sigh, then decided she might as well move up to the front row with them. She settled into the seat on the other side of Aislin and tried not to feel too terribly disappointed by the lack of Dom, and instead tried to simply enjoy the show with her nieces. At least the three of them were still here, anyway.


(edit 1 & 2: slight formatting, and small minor corrections)

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Returning home
December 30th, evening

She much preferred hearing him laugh than hearing him be self-deprecating, so she smiled. "I do insist," she said, drinking from her cup as deeply as the tea's heat would allow, while he referred to old times - in other words, the three of them doing something together. "It is still a ways off," she allowed after swallowing, "but at least you know I will be joining you there, in time. Before we all return." She just hoped nothing bad would have happened to anyone there, by then. She really, really hoped Ava was not fooling all of them. If she were, however, Arnyn was convinced it would be best for Ava to wait with making her move until Arnyn was there, too. That way, she could take out the main planner of the mission. That would make the most sense.

She blinked, forcing herself to focus on the here and now, and not get lost in the what if's and to be's. She had a different challenge, this evening. Finishing that tea, and showing Gladhron the guestroom, without letting him see tonight's dose ofpoison hitting her system. He had seen the night before. That had been bad enough.

"It isn't for a lack of trust," she did still want to add, after his words about him knowing she wouldn't have wished for him and Gwestion to go. "But you are not the only one who is allowed to worry," Arnyn added with a slight smile, before falling silent as she took another mouthful of tea. Suddenly her eyes flicked to Gladhron's cup, trying to gauge how much progress he was making. For if she rushed, and he did not, then that would be bad. Unless...

"And I am grateful to you both," Arnyn told him quietly, in regards to them offering their help. Not that it mattered all that much, she figured, that they were helping her, specifically. As he said, they all served the same King, after all. "If you like, you can take the tea upstairs with you," she suggested. "I know not everyone drinks it quite as quickly," she noted, glancing into her own cup, which was more than halfway empty.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron
Arnyn's house, 4th level

Gladhron smiled a little when he was reminded that Arnyn would be joining them later. Yes, that was true. He was sort of glad about that. And at the same time, a little uneasy about it. Of course, he figured by the time she would be joining them, they would have a much better idea of whether there was any danger there for them, or if Ava was sincere. He planned to do a bit of snooping and find out for himself as much as he could, so that by the time Arnyn arrived, they'd know a lot more about her and her operation and motives, and all that.

His smile softened a little when she added that it wasn't for lack of trust in them that she was reluctant for them to go. "I know, I get it." He assured her quietly, then looked down and regarded his cup thoughtfully. While he had been rather tired back there in the theater, and he did still feel tired enough to go to sleep easily, the cold walk down to the fourth level had wakened him a little bit. He was trying, at the moment, to remember if Arnyn had had anything in her pantry or cabinets that was either sugar or honey or any other alternative.

He brought his gaze up from his teacup, though, when she suggested that he could take his teacup up to the room if he wanted to. He was a little surprised by that. He'd thought she would have been opposed to such a thing, but he gave a little nod. "That might be good." He decided, since he wasn't drinking his as quickly as her, and he didn't want to make her have to wait for him to finish. "But um, do you have any sugar? Or honey? Or.. something to sweeten it a little?" He asked with a slightly embarrassed smile as he nodded toward the tea. "Sorry, I prefer to have it sweetened, if I can. But if you don't have any, I'll be alright." He added, not wanting to make her feel like he would reject it if she didn't have any such things.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Returning home
December 30th, evening

Arnyn was relieved when Gladhron said taking his tea upstairs might be good. When he asked for something to sweeten it with, she blinked. "Oh. Right, of course," she agreed, feeling bad she had not spontaneously remembered that he had also really liked sugar in his coffee. So it made perfect sense he would also prefer to have a sweetener of sorts in his tea. Why hadn't she made that connection earlier?

She rose from the couch perhaps a bit too fast, and hid that from her guest with a friendly smile. "I have some honey," she spoke through the brief bout of dizziness, before taking very measured and precise steps over to Gladhron, holding out her hand for his cup, cradling her own nearly empty cup in her other hand. When he had handed it over to her*, she ignored how hot the cup was. It didn't make all that much sense for her to go and sweeten it for him in the kitchen and then bring it back out - nor did it make much sense that she simply left the tray abandoned on the coffee table to take a hot cup in hand instead. But her 'sense' wasn't all there, right now.

Arnyn moved steadily, efficiently - but not quickly. She could already feel the shift: the low thrum behind her eyes, the blurring at the edge of her vision. The slow, cruel heat that was building in her chest and stomach. The belladonna was beginning to do what it always did. Just a little longer, she told herself. Then I can sleep.

Both cups now on the counter, she braced one hand against it to steady herself. Arnyn finished her cup quickly, rinsed it out and retrieved the honey jar and a spoon from the cupboard, setting them beside Gladhron’s teacup on the counter. The brown-glazed cup was left rinsed and overturned in the drying rack. Out of sight. Out of the way. She steadied herself against the edge of the counter for just a second more before straightening, breathing out slowly.
While she added the honey to Gladhron's tea, the spoon came in and out of focus. Focus. Focus was what she needed. Come on, Arnyn. You're close.
The honey was closed again. Returned to the cupboard.

“I’ll show you the room,” she called, stepping out of the kitchen again, holding his cup, now carrying the spoon as well. “It’s just upstairs. The one next to mine.”

As she preceeded Gladhron to the stairs, she made sure her steps were a bit smaller than usual, so she wouldn't risk losing her balance. Her hand gripped the bannister firmly, but otherwise she climbed the steps as if nothing was off. As if nothing was wrong. As they neared the landing, she hesitated. It was so small - just the slightest hitch in her pace. Arnyn kept her head level, only blinking twice in rapid succession, trying to bring the hallway into sharper focus. She crossed the final few yards and gestured to a door to her right. "You're here," she told him. "Tercen just used it once since last I changed the sheets, so you should be fine."


* Agreed with Gladhron's writer

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron
Arnyn's house, 4th level

He smiled when she said she did have honey, and relinquished his cup to her when she reached for it. Although it would have been just as easy for her to just bring the container of honey out and let him add as much as he would like, he also figured that if she remembered things from their time together in the north, she would probably remember about how much sweetening he liked in his coffee, and therefore would make a fair enough guess at how much to add to his tea.

While she was away, Gladhron stretched and then got up and walked around a bit. After his gaze landed on the fireplace, he realized that if they were now about to go to bed, that it should not be left burning. The living room had gotten warm enough that they didn't have to sit around and shiver while sipping tea, so he considered it worthwhile to have lit it. Now, he got to work putting it out so that they could just go upstairs once she got back.

While Arnyn set off to lead the way up the stairs, Gladhron grabbed one of the tea infuser things from the tray and followed her, carefully watching her with mild concern. Ready to catch her if she should, by chance, fall. He noticed how small and cautious her steps were. She must be awfully tired, he thought. Once they'd reached the hallway, with no more danger of falling down the stairs, he relaxed a little in relief, nodding as she pointed out the door to the guest room. "Sounds good." He smiled turned to her. "So, can I have that, then?" He nodded toward the cup still in her hands.

Once she had given it over to him, he tried a sip of his now-sweetened tea. Ah, much better. He smiled with a tiny nod of approval for how much honey had been added, then dunked the infuser into it and used the spoon to absently stir the drink while he glanced into the room, taking a quick look around. "Think Tercen'd mind if I borrow some of his clothes in the morning?" He asked, noticing a pile of things near a pack, which he guessed to be Tercen's.

[Pele Alarion]

@Rillewen , @Arnyn , @Ercassie
Aislin
White Tree Theatre
December 30, evening

Chewy cleaned up so that he would now rather leave soap scented paw marks if any at all, they returned to the box to watch the other half of the play. Aislin managed to pick up a little bit of something edible from Seri's provisions before she returned to her seat, somewhat puzzled that the others apparently did not care enough about the story being acted out on the stage. Well, their own fault.

While she was closely following the events unfolding on the scene, the girl could not help but react to the attendant entering their box and addressing them, to which Chewy apparently also had something to say. She barely allowed a small polite nod towards the man and returned her full attention back to the stage, only somewhat aware that Seri had come to the front row of seats as well.

[Arnyn]

@Rillewen

Arnyn
Her house, Fourth Circle
December 30th, evening[/i]

Oh, right. Arnyn carefully handed Gladhron the cup. As for Tercen's clothes... "He isn't using them, so..." Tercen was a bit taller and a bit broader than Gladhron, but not in a way that should make the clothes look weird. "You are friends," she stated simply. "I'd venture he wouldn't mind."

"Bathroom's downstairs," she added, "but I figure Tercen must have shown you that when he brought you here, that time." Dark eyes roamed about the room. "Let me know if you need anything else." She kept her voice level, her posture straight. "Goodnight, Gladhron.” There was no hesitation. No slur. As if it were a small test — to see if she still had control over her tone, her articulation. Satisfied she’d passed, Arnyn gave a small nod and turned toward her own room. The hallway felt a little too long, the air thick against her skin, but her steps were even. Controlled.

Inside her room, she closed the door with careful quiet and leaned her hand heavily against the wood for a heartbeat longer than necessary. The warmth of the tea was long gone now — and the wave hit slowly. A thickening of her limbs, like her muscles were moving through water. She could feel the way it dulled her balance. The lightness in her skull. The pressure behind her eyes. Everything was just a little too soft. A little too slow. She closed them and took a long, measured breath.

Her jaw clenched. She couldn’t afford not to keep it together. She couldn't afford to make a noise. Not now.

She crossed to the closet where she kept her sleeping clothes. Unfastening her dress took longer than it should have. The buttons slipped beneath her fingers more than once, and she had to blink hard to keep focus. Changing into the blue linen was clumsy. But every motion was slow, methodical — not from sleepiness, but refusal. She would not knock something over. She refused to give Gladhron any reason to come to her door.

Because he would. If he thought she needed help. And she didn’t. She could do this.

Once she'd changed, she stood still in the quiet dark, anchoring herself. One breath. Then another. Her hand curled briefly over the edge of the bedframe to steady herself.

Just a little longer. Then sleep. Then it’ll pass.

At the foot of the bed, she paused again, before she eased herself down. No jarring movement. No missed angles.

Once seated, she closed her eyes. The room tipped slightly, but she focused on her breathing. She’d managed worse. Tomorrow would be better. She just needed to stay consistent.

She folded the covers back, slid into bed slowly, and exhaled as her head touched the pillow. Warmth flooded her chest again — probably fever. Almost certainly fever. She ignored it. Focused on her breathing. One breath at a time.

This was fine. She had it under control.

She always did.

Arnyn reached for the handkerchief she kept on her bedside table. Her hand didn't find it, however, and she stretched her neck to look, aided by the silver light of the moon that fell through the open curtains. Where is it...? Her depth perception was off - her wrist hit the leatherbound book on the nightstand. It tumbled to the floor with a heavy thud.

She froze. That had been... stupid. Careless. When she didn't hear anything after a moment, she slowly let out her breath. She gave up on the handkerchief and left the book where it was - on the floor.

Arnyn turned onto her back to stare up at the ceiling, eyes dry and wide, breathing slow and measured.

I am the calm.

She forced herself to close her eyes.

Stop fretting. So you knocked over a book, who cares? Just go to sleep.

[Rillewen]

@Arnyn

Gladhron
Arnyn's house, 4th level

Gladhron nodded in reply to her. "Good night, Celume." He answered, retreating into the room. The danger was past, now that she was up the stairs. Right? He figured so. He took another sip of the tea, then pulled back the covers and sat on the edge of the bed. He was only going to rest for a brief moment while he sipped on the tea. The honey had made it taste much better, and by now it was cool enough to take bigger sips. After he'd finished it, he reached out without properly looking, to set the empty cup on the nightstand. Instead, he ended up knocking something else off in the process. He winced as he hastily looked, and failed to catch the item. The unlit candle, brass holder and all, struck the floor. Unknowingly, it happened at the same time as another item, in the other room, made another quiet thud.

Gladhron sighed, and dragged himself off the bed to pick up the candle. He hadn't seen that until it was too late, and now he hoped Celume wasn't going to come see what he was 'breaking' in her house. After he'd replaced the candle, he sat down again, to wait for her knock at the door. After waiting for a few moments, there was no sign of her showing up, Gladhron relaxed a bit and lay back with a little sigh of relief that he (hopefully) hadn't added to the things she had to stress about.

His eyes were starting to get hard to keep open, however. A couple of times, he felt himself drifting off, only to jerk himself awake, trying to remind himself that he still had to change. After he'd nearly dozed off a few times, he decided to start by getting his shoes off. Using each foot in turn to push off the shoe of the other foot, soon both were sprawled across the room. He meant to get back up and look through Tercen's things to find something more comfortable to sleep in, but he didn't quite manage it. Soon, his eyes had closed, and he was drifting away into sleep. Without even thinking, one arm reached out and pulled the blankets over him as he rolled onto one side, and fell into a deeper sleep.

[Ercassie]

@Rillewen @Arnyn @Pele Alarion

Guard Thorledhos Darthor,
After the incident at the White Tree Theatre
Fifth Circle. Later that evening, 30th December

After what had been a troubling interlude to his duties that evening, Thorley returned back to the Fifth Circle to resume and conclude his assigned patrol of the area. After Rallick and he had escorted the four persons of interest down to HQ on the Second, Sergeant Hâdhon had agreed that Thorley ought remove himself from any further involvement in the matter. Not only was he a close and long-time friend of Domanol, he was also the man’s former work partner when they had served together in the Guards some many years ago. This year’s revelations had thrown out a lot of room for improvement within their institution as a whole, and presenting the most unbiased of their number to any interview was a now official means of ‘bettering’ the outcome. To be honest, Thorley was not wholly sorry to be spared what he suspected could become quite a headache..

On the one hand, he did know Domanol and could not imagine why his friend would have behaved as he had, without a good cause. Then there was the fact that Lieutenant Arnyn had put in some limiting measures against the same woman his friend was accused of threatening. On the other hand of course there seemed to be no evidence at all for why anything out of the ordinary had occurred at all. Domanol was not usually the type to hold back if he felt passionate about something, and he had clearly felt strongly enough to act in this case … but then he didn’t want to even talk about it ?! The only thing that Thorley was sure of was that his friend was not now holding his tongue out of embarrassment or remorse. There was no part of Domanol that he recognised to be sorry for whatever had happened. Whenever this did come out, it was not going to be good.


For perhaps that point alone, it had been a tough call for the Guard to walk the rest of the way back through the Second Circle, without rousing Domanol’s brother, who (Thorley of course knew) lived and worked just down the road from where the Guards were looking into the matter. If there was one person in all the world that might have a hope in Angmar of helping Dom calm down, of behaving rationally, it would be the man’s elder brother. But no one would be allowed to even speak to Dom until he’d been interviewed. And calling on the former Ranger would likely have seen Add asking questions of Thorley that the Guard did not have answers to. As well as potentially sending further confused people into the situation, which would not really be helpful at this point. Then there was the additional issue that Unalmis was having dinner with his father this evening. It was that day of the week. And there would be no means of involving Addhor without Nal becoming aware of the fact, and likely suspicious himself also about what might be going on … And so it might all spiral …

In the end, and utterly against his personal want to give the family a heads up, Thorley held off. If they knew Dom had been out with Seri tonight, he would not be expected home at any early hour. It could wait til morning. That is, if the man himself did not return home by then anyway, able to relay all to, and be placated by, his kin.


There was one thing which could not wait, however. Seri and her nieces, and apparently the dog as well, were still at the theatre. While Arnyn and Gladhron had departed without being made aware that anything had occurred. Thorley had no notion where the Lieutenant might live but he knew that Gladhron was staying with Ilisys. He’d never met the man, or his brother, until tonight. But he knew their names from reference. Conveniently Isys lived on the Fifth Circle .. where he was officially meant to be all night. It would not be beyond his duty to stop in and check whether the man had returned there, or had any idea where the Lieutenant was .. He could let them know they both needed to stop in and fill out a form in due course. Thorley had to literally walk past Isys’s front door .. and honestly he felt sure that he could better trust the Lady to not go rushing to HQ and involving herself, than Dom’s closer relatives would have felt obliged to.

As it turned out, Gladhron had not returned home yet, or so a servant informed the enquiring Guard. And the Lieutenant had not been there. Thorley made a mention to the young man that Seri and her nieces would now have no escort home from the theatre, since Domanol had been called away from their evening out, on a ‘confidential matter’. Thankfully the servant did not press for details, nor see any call to trouble the lady of the house. He simply checked with the housekeeper, and then assured Thorley that he would go to the White Tree Theatre personally and ensure that the three women from out of town, and their excitable pet, were offered a safe escort back to the house, once the play was over. That much at least, the Guard was able to manage for his friend. And also to reassure himself that no more relevant parties might go ‘missing’ before the evening was over, or explained !


His patrol of the Circle finally completed, Thorley eventually switched up with one of the Gate Guards who then started on a patrol of his own. And so the night went on. There was nothing further for Thorley to put to, save to keep an eye out for anyone suspicious or relevant he might now note departing from the Fifth Circle, once the theatre kicked out it’s audience proper. If Seri and the girls intended on going to the HQ straight after the performance, he could at least reassure them when they passed his gate, that nobody had been harmed. At least, not as far as he was aware. But Gil would have to walk them there, if they insisted on going tonight. Since Thorley had to be on hand in case any further anarchy erupted upon what ought to be the safest, calmest circle of the City, bar the Citadel itself.

[Lantaelen]

@Rillewen

Lady Gaerlothriel Dimaethor
December 24th, Minas Tirith Streets, Gondor

”I’m so excited!” Gaer noted to Eryn and Brooke, about being at the Houses of Healing. Her first foray into the real world. On her own! It was about time too, almost reaching her twentieth year. Though, she knew it wouldn’t be no milk run. Brooke’s story of being lost in the snows was sobering enough, and a good enough reminder that Gaer ought to keep her wits about her. She was there to learn and work, not be a silly girl playing at elves in the woods. ”We’ll scheme it out later.” She assured Brooke, on the invite to the library, as they entered the café.

They all congregated at Gwestion’s table, where Chewy greeted the girls, walking in circles before them to maximize the number of pets and touches he could get. Gaer crouched to better rub his face and neck, speaking sweet-nothings in Sindarin to him, before Toggornir inquired about their shopping and Gwestion inquired if they would like anything to drink or snack. She figured the other girls would answer first, while Gaer got a moment longer with the handsome dog in their midst. But then Toggornir stated directly he had something for Gaer, causing her to glance at him and then rise back to her full height.

Linny though answered first about drinks. A cup of hot chocolate for everyone. Gaer smiled, giving her assent to that choice. A gift for her, hm? Hopefully not so…insensitive, like his last. But maybe he learned. Was learning. Gaer couldn’t deny him a chance to grow and mature, right? ”You can give it to me when we have something warm in our tummies. Hot chocolate is good. Please? And thank you. For asking. Our shopping was nice.” She said to Toggornir, offering him up a small, but at least sincere, smile. He smiled back. And even called Linny his dear sister. Improvement, right? Right?

Everyone gave their drink orders. Gaer missed the look between Gwestion and Brooke about Toggornir, letting the other girls sit first. As the eldest girl, she took it upon herself to assist Gwestion with shifting an adjourning table and moving chairs over. A responsible, young adult she was! Like she just hadn’t used the word ‘tummies’ like they were toddlers getting a meal after being so fussy.

She also took it upon herself to reserve a spot next to her, near the end of the table, for herself and Toggornir. Strategically, keeping him contained from the others. She’d seen her mother do such things with her father, when father got a little too vocal about one subject or another. Politics. ”Do you know what it is he has for me?” She asked Linny quietly in Sindarin during the seating. ”He will need help carrying the drinks. Do you want to go? I can go.” She also suggested, knowing Linny might already be at patience’s end with her big brother.

But once they were all seated, there was no hiding or having secretive conversations. ”Sorry we took so long at the tailors. The folk there are very thorough.” Gaer addressed to Gwestion first, an apology of sorts, for keeping Brooke so preoccupied. ”Brooke regaled us with tales of Bree and the journey down from the north. I bet Chewy has lots of wonderful stories too of the journey, no?” She gave a pointed look at the dog, showering him with attention, even if it was nonphysical. He was so polite and well behaved, especially within an establishment with food and other people. No going off and bugging them or trying to steal their food. It was marvellous.

When the drinks finally arrived, with her betrothed, Gaer took hers and nodded her gratitude. ”Thank you.” She said, cupping it in both hands, blowing softly upon the surface to help cool it. She felt like she ought to try and make small talk with Toggornir but it felt so…insurmountable, for some reason. She remembered the tales of bullying that Linny shared before and Gaer felt like any wrong choice of words might draw out such rudeness. Didn’t folk grow out of that mind-state? Abrazimir said Toggornir would. It seemed a long and arduous thing to wait for…

[Lantaelen]

@Arnyn

Lord Abrazimir “the Dauntless”
January, Minas Tirith, Gondor

Suitable match, certainly not, in his parent’s mind. But it was Abrazimir’s life and future, was it not? Should he not have a say, the most considerable say, in who he wished for as a life companion and partner in this world? It wasn’t as if Torniel was some vagrant or vagabond. She dressed fabulously, she had her own business, and money, and possessed many more talents yet unseen, but he could feel existed behind her façade of flirtation and politeness. They would come to respect her as he did. He could feel it in his bones.

If the pair of them decided to take that step. For now they were…having fun. Tremendous fun. Putting labels on it might restrict it to a box, with stifling boundaries. He wanted to see how far and wide they could continue to soar.

He had never not been daring before her. He smiled broadly. There were always new heights to obtain. But Torniel did share her name, the earliest one she had, which was quite astonishing. Because he shared it as well in his own name. ”Jewel,” he repeated softly, as if it were a new word, and not one half of the compound that made up his own. Jade she had become, and perhaps still was, before he dubbed her his own moniker. Her chin rested on his shoulder and he…tilted his face towards her, so that his cheek pressed to her forehead. Affectionately.

”All very apt. Like a gemstone, you have many facets, each reflecting your many amazing qualities and aspects. Maybe you’ll permit me to come to know them all.” Abrazimir said, sighing peacefully, nuzzling against hers, as his hands slowly skinned and chopped up the potatoes for their meal. It was a banal task. So domestic. And yet it felt so…nice, to do so with her. So restorative for his soul, even. No violence. No fighting. Just simplicity and companionship.

”It seems we have that in common though. Jewel. Abrazimir translates to Steadfast-Jewel, in the old, native language of the Numenoreans. Two hard-headed entities, like us, knocking together. Only another like us could survive us, right?” He chuckled a little in jest. War had hardened and shaped him. Survival and lonely toil had shaped her. So he presumed.

He was done with the cutting, turning his face, bringing his lips to graze against her forehead as he spoke next. ”The pot, please.” He requested, sharing a soft kiss upon her brow, peering down into her face. Jewel. Jade. Torniel. How could someone with such lovely names be so…unsuitable? Everything felt so right. There was not a single hint of dark cloud on any horizon of his mind or heart. Not a single bell of warning…