Weathertop - Southern Base
You gaze up in wonderment at the sheer immensity of this hill, and wonder what freak of nature could have caused such a beast to spring up out of the ground. Clearly this was the perfect spot for a watch tower, back in the early third age before the forces of Angmar and Rhudaur razed it to the ground. The slope before you looks to be a long but not too difficult climb if you wish to ascend this ancient place.

Suliel nods in agreement with Anar, and speaks the same, if more softly, "Yes, if what?" Seeing the hesitation upon his face, she cocks her head slightly to the left, and continues, her voice cool: "Do not be afraid to ask anything of us, mellon. Surely it is not so great a thing."
 

Managing to lift his head to look at the fair elves before him, Gerthan continues speaking the words he had left off with. He turns to Anar, and says, "Well, I think you said something earlier about me not knowing the value of what I have here. I was just wondering if you could tell me a little about it." He looks up towards the elf in much the same manner a puppy dog would look at his master, though not quite as pathetic as a puppy dog.

Anar arches his brow and looks briefly to the elleth at his side. "This is a bracelet from long ago. At the very least 9000 years ago. It is mithril, most likely, a very strong strong metal. It was given to Elurin, the Prince of Doriath, most likely by the Maia Melian. This would be a cherished cherished item of honour and glory back in my home, and Hir Elrond would regard it with great value. You are incredibly lucky to have found it."

Suliel, her face a mask of serenity, nods as her companion finishes. "Now, we have told you what you wish to know. I am interested now in how you came upon this treasure, as I am sure Anar would as well." The look on the elf's face is almost a no-nonsense look, and she completes the sentence with such finality that it seems she would not even expect the human before her to oppose her wishes.

Looking at the beautiful elf, Gerthan is again overcome by her beauty and the desire to please her. He opens his mouth, and almost tripping over his words, says, "Well, I, uh, that is, I found an old, decrepit sack that looked like it had been much abused and maligned over the years. It was lying in the ground, half buried, and it must have been due to my keen hunter's eyes that I was able to spot the sack at all, as it blended in with the ground around it." He pauses, and catches his breath a second before continuing, "Indeed, this sack was near an area of this mountain that looked like a flash flood had recently occured there. Maybe the flood eroded away the earth that had kept this sack buried..."

Anar rolls his eyes amazedly, "In a sack such a treasure was found... what strange fortune that mortal eyes should first sight this would-be beloved treasure of elves." The elf eyes the bracelet once more, obviously quite impressed with it.

Suliel casts a curious glance at the elf beside her, then brings her eyes to dwell once more upon the human. "I wonder what caused it to be buried in the first place. Surely it had not been very deeply buried, for a thing such as a flood could not have uncovered something so deeply buried, and something as old as this must surely have been lost long ago." The elven maiden nods sagely, as if what she just spoke was an obvious statement.

Clearly looking out of place in a conversation about events that occured thousands of years before he was born, he casts his eyes down to the ground and replies, "Well, I don't know the details of how it happened to end up here, but I certainly won't begrude my luck at finding it after all these years." He gazes about Weathertop, amazed to find the Breefolk still far away from him, and unaware of the Elvish presence. "Who is this Elrond you spoke of earlier? You said that he would be interested in this bracelet?"

"Elrond Half-Elven is my lord and master. He was part of these times and these places, and all elves would be interested in this bracelet." Indicates Anar, eyeing the bracelet yet again, and arching his brow.

Suliel arches both eyebrows at the human's query, as if in disbelief that anybody could not know who Elrond is. Catching his glance toward the Breefolk encampment, she answers his yet unspoken question. "I assure you, mellon, that your companions on this journey will not see us." As to what she means by this, one can only guess.

Nodding to the fair elven maiden, a hint of crimson again shows itself on his face. "Does this Elrond live around here?" He looks around for a second, lost in thought, before continuing on, "Er, do you elves live around here? I mean, this is the first day that I've ever seen elves, and now I've seen them twice in one day..." He trails off, not wanting to sound any more foolish than he already does.

"He... and we.... live far from here," intones the elf. "Far to the east, at least a weeks journey. Near the mountains." He grins however at the self-consciousness of the human, chuckling lightly, "You are a very priveleged person, Gerthan. You have a bracelet within your possesion that many elves would give much for, and you were blessed enough to find it. And now you can call yourself elf-friend."

The elven maiden's smile appears to have grown throughout the conversation, so that it not only touches her lips, but reaches her eyes as well. Suliel's left hand drifts to her right, and begins idly twisting the ring upon her third finger. Suddenly, out of nowhere, the elf chimes, though speaking as if to herself, "What I would give for such a beautiful thing as that.."

Feeling somewhat foolish, Gerthan had almost forgotten what had started this encounter and ensuing conversation in the first place. He had been absent-mindedly turning the bracelet over in his hands throughout the conversation. Now, at the elf maiden's words his attention is again focused on the bracelet. Not wanting to utter the words he is about to, he takes a breath of air, and finds it is fresh and wholesome, probably due to the Elvish presence. The air seems to clear his head and steel him in his resolve. Finally, he speaks, "I, I can't, that is- I couldn't keep something like this," he says, indicating the bracelet. "I'm just a simple hunter, and I have no use for an object like this that has such value to you, and your lord." He takes another breath, this one deeper than the last, and says, "Here, take it. Please." He looks from Suliel to Anar, waiting...

Anar takes the bracelet with no small amount of awe, obviously speechless. "What.... what can we give you in return for such a gift, friend? Name your gift."

Suliel can only nod in agreement, her eyes widening so that it would seem they might pop out of her head. Unable to speak, she simply continues to nod, twisting her ring more quickly than before.

Struggling with his inner thoughts for a moment, Gerthan collects himself and says, "I can't ask for anything. I mean, it is as I said, I'm a simple hunter, as I said, and I have little use for worldly goods, nor would I want them, I think. The simpler things in life are what please me the most, and are the hardest to come by, and often without out a price." He looks at Suliel, clearly enraptured by her beauty, but remains silent.

Anar smiles, and shakes his head. "I cannot take this without repaying you for something. A hunter you say you are?" And with that the scout removes his cloak, holding it out towards Gerthan, "This cloak will keep you hidden from sight quite well. It has its own qualities which I have heard mortals call magical, but that term is... strange to me. It will last long, and be strong. Take it, at the very least, the smallest of trinkets in return for the greatest."

Suliel shakes her head slowly, and leans over to whisper something into the elf's ear: "..., we ... ... ... ... ... ... so quickly, even ... ... ... something such as this."

Aran leans back to the elleth, responding: "It ... ... ... ... to ... ... ... ... amazing .... ... ... ...-tone ...? ... have ... of .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..., ... ... ... ...."

Shuffling his feet, Gerthan looks first at one elf then the other. He starts to strech out his hand, towards the cloak, unsure whether or not to take the gift.

Suliel works her mouth as if wishing to say something more, but simply remains silent, her face returning now to it's original, calm appearance. Having regained her composure, she turns back to the human. "Yes, please take this It is a small gift, but it will suit your profession quite well."

Anar nods, pulling the bracelet back and placing it within a pouch. "We must leave now, friend, you will not see us again. Namarie, and may your path lead you to fortune." Bowing stiffly, the scout takes one step back and moves off into the brush, disappearing quickly from view.

Smiling at the elves, seemingly happy to be free of such a priceless item, he finally reaches out a hand and grabs the elven cloak. "It was a pleasure meeting you two. Thank you for this gift, and may you have a safe journey back home."

As the elven male that had just before been at her side disappears from you, the maiden hesitates, gazing into the human's eyes. After a moment, she takes a step forward, grasps the human's hand, and brings it up to her lips, kissing it lightly, and mouths a small, "Thank you," before moving off into the brush just after her companion.

Standing speechless in the moon light, Gerthan the hunter is once again alone on the mountain. The stars shine bright in the sky, as do the fires from the Breefolk campsite. He looks down at the cloak in his hand, and at his hand, remembering the soft kiss of the elven maiden. Feeling like he has just woken from a dream, he stands motionless in the night for some time, before heading down towards the camp, cloak grasped firmly in hand.