Ass o' Yon Tree
Front Yard
A few trees stand here, just in front of the Last Homely House. A pleasant meadow filled with gaily colored wild flowers stretches off to the north and west. Not far behind the house the trees close in to form a pleasant wood. The grass near the house is not very high, perhaps because of being trodden on so often, but some higher tufts grow around the nearby trees. In the meadow to the north and west Two paths lead away from the house, one southwest and one north. Down the steep bank to the south is the shore of the Bruinen.
Not quite asleep, just resting mind you, the man leaning against the tree turns as Elinuial makes her way through the grass. As he peers at the elf-maid, his expression doesn't change -- still calm and medatative, however... a hint of tension shows itself around his eyes. As the elf-maid nears, he nods his head slowly and solomnly to her, but declines in any sort of verbal greeting. However, his eyes trail the closer she comes, until the point where she is closest to his seated spot.
It is then, that he mutters a low, "Mae... govannen," in butchered, and heavily 'accented' tones.
The starry night sky above the cliffs is mostly clear with light, puffy clouds scattered about. The Misty Mountains loom against the sky in the east, shadows against the stars. Occasional clouds float across the full moon as it hangs over the valley. Its glow makes the cliffs all around stand out in the night, and they seem to illuminate the valley all the more.
Surprise registers itself upon her features, and then the warmth of appreciation, as Elinuial hears the Quendi greeting. "Mae Govannen," she replies, and then adds, "A fair evening, brannon." And then she stands there, studying this strange man, for a moment that could seem uncomfortably long, before she gestures with a free hand. "Do I interfere with your peace?" Her voice is not melodic, the voice of silver bells, but it is pleasant to hear, at least - gentle and kind.
At the word 'brannon', the man tilts his head and frowns slightly -- and still more, the frown deepens at Elinuial's question. After several moments, in which he spends looking Elinuial up and down, frowning in... something, he finally gives his head a shake. "Nay, lass," comes the low gravelly reply, "Yer not disturbin', although thank ye kindly fer yer... erm... thoughtfulness on th' matter. It bein' not so hard t' find tranquility outside, e'en if ther' be a whole parade of drunkin' dwarves... or screamin' childeren fer tha' matter."
A soft rustling of leaves in the nighttime breeze accompanies the arrival of another elleth to the yard, clothed in soft green and bathed in the light of the full moon. She walks softly across the grass from the direction of the house, a heavy wool blanket tucked under her left arm. Her approach is slowed as voices drift slowly to her ears.
Elinuial smiles, then, in gentle acquiescense. "We lack in screaming children and drunken dwarves, brannon, but there is no lacking in other such distractions." She takes this as invitation to sit upon the grass, near the man but leaving more than enough room so as neither feels crowded. Or, in any case, inordinately so. Upon the man's puzzlement, her brow furrows, but then she explains, "Brannon is a term used in my home for 'lord'. 'Tis a respectful term, as I do not know your name as yet, nor would call you by it unless told it would be fair to do so." She does not see the other elleth just yet, having ears not akin to that of a Woodsman.
At the explination of 'Brannon' the man's brow wrinkles together in worry and bafflement. "Lass..." says the slightly uncomfortable man, "I be no Lord, ner any nobility t' say of. M'chief Aragorn, son of Arathorn, be a man of great nobility, 'owever." The man fidgets, as he watches Elinuial make herself comfortable within the grass. After several akward moments, he rasps, "Aye... call me Tolaglar."
Such is the discomfort, Tolaglar does not even notice the approach of Amarelei in the darkness.
Curiosity at this rough new voice draws Amarelei forth from the shadows in which she stands. Her fair face is a picture of placidity as she gazes upon Tolaglar, studying him calmly after offering a brief smile to Elinuial. "Forgive me for coming upon you both suddenly," she speaks in a soft alto, bowing her head low to the visitor. "I hope you will not mind if I join you? It is a lovely night for star watching."
Elinuial pauses a moment in confusion, and then the elleth flushes in mild embarassment. "I do apologize, I had forgotten what little I know of the ways of Men. I shall call thee Tolaglar, then, as you have chosen so." She pushes aside the hair that slides over her shoulder, and shakes her head, golden eyes rueful. "I meant not to give you discomfort, my friend." And as the other elleth approaches near, Elinuial turns her head to regard the elfmaid. "Mae govannen, brennil."
Clear in the evening, the man called Tolaglar by some, and sometimes called 'The Ox' by others, jumps in his seat at the seeming abrupt appearance of Amarelei upon the scene. A grunt and hiss as his eyes widen upon Amarelei, trying to make out the silhouette darkness. Finally, a slow exhale exudes from the man and he nods with another mangled, "Erm... Mae Govannen." Taking a shakey breath, he replies, "Um... sure, methinks. Ye may... join us."
To Elinuial, he mutters inconvincingly, "Discomfert, lass? Nonsense."
A gentle smile tugs at the corners of Amarelei's lips as she takes another slow step foreward into the moonlight. As her face is illuminated by its soft, silver glow, a hint of sheepishness can be discerned from the manner in which she chews on her lower lip gently. "Forgive me for startling you, Tolaglar." Although his face is new to her, his name she heard upon her approach. The Lhimbadhril does not yet sit.
Elinuial studies the man with quite a disbelieving expression, but she relents, and merely smiles in reply. "Fair enough," she says, utilizing a term she had heard a man use long ago. To the elleth, she offers a warm nod. "I fear, brennil, that we have more than startled the man, and so in kindness, and duty, I take my leave." She rises to her feet, light as a feather tossed in the wind, and retrieves her basket. "It has been a pleasure, Tolaglar. I sincerely hope to meet with thee again."
Nodding solomnly to Elinuial, and looking a tad bit releived at her departure, however still cordial at the meeting. "Erm... yeh. A pleasure, lass...", he rasps, still having not quite caught her name. To Amarelei, he says, "Erm... foregiven... lass. An' nonsense. Twas not startled in the leastbit. An' ye can sit if ye wish, fer yer right. It is a nice evenin'."
Amarelei bids Elinuial a kind farewell, then turns her face heavenward, her expression reflective and wistful. Some of the starlight appears caught in her eyes when they return to Tolaglar. "A beautiful evening indeed," she intones softly, almost to herself as much as to the ranger. Her concentration on the skies breaks for a moment as she sits down close to where the other elleth rested, not yet unfolding her blanket.
The staid Tolaglar watches Amarelei out of the corner of his eye as she seats herself. After a while, he clears his throat and rasps, "Ye know my name be Tolaglar, I see. 'Owever I know not what yer called, lass." The grizzled looking human hestiates, and after a while he clears his throat, "An'... are ye elves here, usually this friendly-like? Fer th' most part, no'one notices me as I jus' sit 'ere."
From the Galadhrim camp, Elywien stirs from where she slept, awaking with a start, issuing forth a gasp. It takes several blinks of her eyes to clear her head, and as she experimentally tries to move her injured left arm, there is a sound like a hiss as she inhales sharply. Using her other arm, she rises up from the bed, looking around before she makes to leave the tent.
Glandrill appears from one of the elven tents and stretches himself in the moonlight. His eyes scan those present, resting for a few seconds on the human with an almost suspicious air before he sits cross-legged beside the elleth Elywien. Resting his arms on his knees he finally speaks to her "<Sindarin> Rest easy, you are safe. "
Amarelei appears a bit embarrassed for a moment's time as her lips part to speak. "I am called Amarelei," she says in an apologetic tone. The flush of her cheeks, however, is barely visible in the moonlight. "Most are indeed friendly, though perhaps in the busy hours of the afternoon they would be less inclined to stop. Ah, but the night is quiet and still, and not many are out--" Her eyes then flicker over to the cluster of tents, searching for the source of soft hissing sound and hushed words.
Elywien looks towards Glandrill, quite startled to seem him there, no having realized another was so near. She sits gently back upon the edge of the bed, sighing softly.
"<Sindarin> Dear knight, you've stayed with me this long? How long has it been I've slept? Such sleep has been so foreign to me except for just recently.."
The hissed and hushed words, Tolaglar's head turns as well and peers with Amarelei the small cluster of tents, hidden by their weave but visible if looked at carefully. A low grunt and a shiver before the man gazes back to Amarelei. "Erm... well'n, I suppose tha' it makes sense. An... wellmet, Amarelei." Gazing upon her, he comments, "Yer not a warrior like most seem t' be 'ere. I so no weapons."
Glandrill frowns "<Sindarin> Aye, I have stayed with you, though I am displeased with your condition. " He leans over and adjusts some of the dressings upon her shoulder, "<Sindarin> In fact I have good cause to relieve you of duty. You better have a good excuse for this, Bachelor."
Amarelei shakes her head softly, a waterfall of brown waves falling forward over her shoulders. "No, a warrior I am certainly not, thus no weapons I carry. A few tools of my trade are all I require." She then hugs her knees to her chest, turning to face Tolaglar with curious eyes.
Elywien looks towards Glandrill again, not blinking but more thoughtful as her eyes rest on her superior. "<Sindarin> I was attacked by yrch on my way back to this fair valley. It stalked me on an open field.."
Tolaglar hrms softly in the darkness and peers curiously upon Amarelei, but... not seeing much except a dark blotch in the night, he shrugs and says, "They mus' be small 'n handy tools. What be yer trade then, if ye be no warrior, lass?" The man's voice is low and hissing.
As the conversation continues between Elywien and Glandrill, furtive glances are sent towards the Elfish Camp. Occasionally, an actual stare is made, but... other than that, the conversation seems to be ignored.
Glandrill darts a cold glance at Elywien "<Sindarin> And pray, what were you doing away from the valley, and alone ?"
Elywien returns the gaze evenly, and without flinching, yet says nothing for some time, arranging her thoughts so they may best be put into words. "<Sindarin> I was drawn away, I was drawn away from the valley..."
Glandrill raises an eyebrow as he turns his head to look dorectly into the eyes os the injured elleth. "<Sindarin> Really, drawn away were you, by what ?"
"I fish in the valley's rivers and lakes. I need only my nets and a light spear. A carry a short dagger as well...to cut the nets, if need be." Her eyes fall to her blanket folded neatly beside her. A shiver shakes her willowy frame, and at that she unfolds the blanket, drawing it close about her shoulders. "I do not have them with me now," she adds quietly, almost as an afterthought.
Elywien becomes very grave, her eyes no narrowing but darkening, and she seems to sit a bit more stiffly. The elleth from Lorien is silent for quite some time, there will be no rushing her answer to this question. Blue eyes stare almost blankly at Glandrill, only gradually refocusing into a state of attentiveness, and her lips move as she speaks, slowly but sure.
"<Sindarin> It would dishonor my family and myself to answer such a question, Lord Knight, for I do not know what it was that took hold of me and drew me from this place."
Ah... the look comprehension dawns upon Tolaglar's face. Finally, he nods to Amarelei and says, "I see. A fine profession, perhaps one of the best, aye?" Now, seemingly for the first time, the man relaxes somewhat in Amarelei's presence. Perhaps, for here might be one that he can actually understand.
After a few moments, he asks, "So... th' elves, spearfish then?"
Glandrill leans his head forward towards Elywien and says in a cold voice "<Sindarin> It is not a suggestion, Bachelor, it is an order. I will ask you once more, Why did you leave the valley ? "
Amarelei smiles warmly at the ranger's apparent interest. "Not as a general rule, I do not believe. Though it is something I have picked up in the recent years. Sometimes the challenge is welcomed. I am not sure how many others would fish that way, but it serves my purposes."
Elywien sighs very softly, casting her eyes down towards the earth, no longer looking at Glandrill, though she speaks all the same.
"<Sindarin> A place is well protected outside this land, the Knight Kathalis and I were there when we aided the guards of this land against the trolls. There and then I first felt the pull of what was protected there, the Men with us felt it even more. The Master of this land, Elrond, would not tell me what it was when I questioned it...too dark was it to be mentioned in the hollowed halls of healing. I felt its pull when I thought of returning home, and it drew me there."
Her part explained, slowly but surely, Elywien looks up, directly at Glandrill, a sort of pleading in her eyes that has never been seen there before.
"<Sindarin> Look into my eyes, Lord Knight, for I cannot bear to lie to you. I do not know what it was that pulled me there."
"Aye," replies Tolaglar to Amarelei with a flash of a grim smile, "Be tha' it jus' sounds like ah challenger, sure. But, ye usually use nets then." Nodding now, his smile fading to a serious, thoughtful purse. "Tha' be sensible enough."
As the conversation grows louder in the tents beyond, the man's glance is held. Especially as a long-seeming discourse passes between the talking elves there.
Shrugging, Tolaglar turns back to Amarelei, "So... be fishin' a trade o' yer family? Or.. be it jus' yer own craft?"
Glandrill stares for a few moments at the elleth, a dark cloud passes in front of the moon, briefly bathing the two in darkness "<Sindarin> You will not return there. " he says, his singing sindarin voice seems almost hoarse and rough. Finally the cool moonlight returns and he continues "<Sindarin> You are confined to the camp from this moment forth. " he adds sharply.
Amarelei's gaze follows Tolaglar's to the Lorien camp over her shoulder, a gleam of concern shining out through her eyes. "It is a trade I learned on my own. My love of the forests I learned from my father, but that is where the influence ends. He would have me tend his heards, and my mother her weaving loom. Ah, but by the riverside is where my heart always takes me," she says with a gentle smile. "It provides a certain solitude that is good for the heart. Perhaps it is the same peace and comfort you seek in the yard at night?" she questions subtley.
Smiling slightly now, a crooked smirk, but heartfelt as possible with this one, Tolaglar nods slightly, "Aye... somewhat, but rather I'm more partial t' th' solitude o' th' woods up nort'. Tha's where m' stompin' grounds are." With his chin, the grizzled man directs the attention towards the northern horizon.
"But... ye hav' a sensible trade, lass. An' I commend ye fer it. Far too often, people be thinkin' that fightin' and huntin' foul things be th' glamerous thing t' do."
Elywien sighs very softly at what is spoken to her, hanging her head. She does not look further at Glandrill, nor anything else for that matter, as she's closed her eyes, staying very still. A deep sadness is plain to see by any who look upon her, it fills her every action and inaction.
A new seriousness overcomes Amarelei's delicate features. "I harbor no illusions of what danger the world holds," she half-whispers with a quick glance to the Lorien encampment. "To seek it would be against my nature." A shadow of her former smile returns, however, as she speaks again. "Your words are kind, Tolaglar. I will keep them in mind."
Shaking his head, Glandrill leans over the elleth and pulls her blanket higher to cover her wounds and keep her warm as she sleeps. "<Sindarin> Sleep now, you foolish elleth. " he says but not unkindly. "<Sindarin> You will live...this time. "
Linnuial steps down from the porch, breathing a long sigh of relief. Or frustration. It is hard to tell. His stride is long as he steps through the yard, his footsteps heavy on the earth. Hearing voices, he slows, eyes searching the yard in the growing light before dawn.
Upon Amarelei's words, Tolaglar blinks and then grunts, maybe a little bit too harshly, "Eh? Whatche talkin' about kindness, lass. I'm jus' sayin' wha's comin' to ye, tha's all. Littl' kindness involved." He folds his arms, and his face sets into a well practiced scowl. After several moments, he sighs heavily before saying, "But... still, wisdom ther, lass."
Elywien lays there in a restless sort of state that makes peacefulness impossible for the elleth, yet she remains silent and still, only her breathing revealing that she's not sleeping.
Amarelei starts slightly at the unexpected nature of the man's response. She hugs her knees more tightly to her chest now, shrinking further into her woolen blanket. Her gaze is fixed self-consciously on her feet until her attention is drawn away by the sound of new footfalls on the earth.
Glandrill stands and lets out a deep sigh. After a few moments of listening to the conversation between the other firstborn and the human, he approaches them silently, bowing his head in greeting, though keeping the human well observed from the corner of his eye. Hearing that they are speaking in the common tongue he attempts a greeting in it, though his accent is heavy with Sinadrin, "Well met, I...am..Glandrill " he says with a smile.
Linnuial spies Glandrill moving away from the camp, and he falls in behind him, to see where he is going. The journey is short, however, as he soon sees Amarelei and Tolaglar. "Awaiting the sun?" he asks, his accent not quite so apparent. His inquiry is neither cheerful nor grim, but instead it matches his expression: neutral.
A grunt, Tolaglar looks about at the various elves... more of 'em. H frowns slightly and gives his head a shake to clear it, having not slept much this night. To Glandrill, he tilts his head, a bit solemnly and suspiciously, "Mae govannen..." he mutters with a low voice. He doesn't seem intimidated, however, he does appear to be a bit sullen for some reason.
Amarelei's eyes rise to see Glandrill and Linnuial as they approach. "Good morning, Knight. Linnuial." Her voice is warm in both addresses, though perhaps a bit softer when it is meant for Linnuial. "Indeed the sun would be welcome, though it seems we will have to wait longer still," she says with a glance to the overcast sky above.
Raising an eyebrow at the human, as the mortal speaks "You speak Sindarin ?" asks Glandrill, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "You are no stranger to Rivendell, then ?"
Linnuial, standing near a tree, Glandrill, Tolaglar, and Amarelei, smiles weakly down at latter, his neutral expression wavering slightly with disappointment. Now looking to Glandrill, he says, "Greetings again, Knight of Lorien. I wish to thank you once more for the wisdom you shared with me." He nods over his shoulder, indicating his own longbow. Then to Amarelei, he says with slight surprise, "You seem to know many of our visitors from Lorien, Amarelei." To Tolaglar his eyes now drift, though he offers him only a shy nod.
A shrug, Tolaglar eyes Glandrill. "Yeh..." he replies in Westron, as he has been babbling on all this time in, "An' so what iffin' I do speak yer tounge. I tend t' mangle it when I do say anythin' in it, so parps its best tha' I don't say nothin'." He shrugs and then to Amarelai and Linnuial, he looks.
After several moments, he asks quite bluntly, "So... 're you two sweet on each other?"
Turning to Linnuial, Glandrill smiles "It was my pleasure, mellon" The edhel gives the human a rather bemused glance as he addresses the mortal again "Parps ? " he asks " t'mangle ? "
Linnuial's face burns red now, and his eyes narrow viciously at Tolaglar. "Your perceptions of our people must suffer from the same inadequacies as your ability to speak our language, human." His eyes briefly look up toward Glandrill, but soon they return to the human (not passing anywhere near Amarelei during the trip). "I advise you watch your tongue, lest you offend further." Whatever neutrality was apparent in his tone and expression is now gone--replaced by embarassment and barely subdued fury.
Amarelei's mouth falls open at Tolaglar's question, though no words pass her lips. A sidelong glance is directed at Linnuial, though she takes great care to be sure that her eyes never meet his. Her eyes close tightly at the Thandir's harsh words, as if she is willing silence upon him.
The mouth of Tolaglar is about to open and respond to Glandrill, perhaps to explain the subtilities between the words 'Mebbe' and 'Parps'. Or maybe to chastise him over his lack of knowledge of backwater Westron. However, whichever he was about to do is quickly replaced by a deep-seated glare returned to Linnuial.
"Eh? Me perceptions are bad? Mebbe... lad, they are. An' mebbe ye jus' may be a *liar*." he says in a low voice to Linnuial, gravelly and dark. "Either of which, I care not... fer, methinks I mislike yer attitude. An'... iffin' that question be an offense, then... me hopes yer offended when I say yer barkin' up th' wrong tree, lad... an iffin' ye don't shut yer mouth in front of yer lady, yer gonna make yerself look like the ass o' yon tree."
Glandrill frowns as the human's tone but shows no emotion, save the vanishing of his smile as the mortal insults one of the firstborn by naming him a liar.
Anticipating his reaction to the ranger's words, Amarelei rests a hand lightly on Linnuial's forearm, eyes following thereafter, silently pleading with him to suppress his anger. "Please." This word only does she utter in a controlled whisper to no one in particular.
Linnuial's furrowed brow scrunches up even further now--in confusion--as he tries to pick out the meaning out of Tolaglar's muddled Westron. As the meaning becomes clearer, Linnuial's fists clench, and he snaps out, "She's not -my- lady," before he can stop himself. As for Tolaglar's accusations of lying and being an ass, Linnuial does not offer rebuttal. Instead, he merely looks down at Amarelei's hand on his arm, then meets her gaze fleetingly before staring daggers at Tolaglar. "I have work," he sneers, whirling about to head quickly toward the meadow.
"Oh, aye," calls Tolaglar out to Linnuial as he turns, a firey twinkle flickering in his eye, "I see how it is... turn your back on me..." He climbs to his feet and looks down at his pants to dust them off before watching the silhouette of Linnuial's back. As he breaths slow, and his voice lowers to a mutter, turns to Amarelei and says in a low voice, "Sister... lass. Ye need t' put som' more steel in tha' man." He grimaces ferrally and turns to stalk off into the darkness towards the river. Maybe he'll jump in?
The worry and concern on Amarelei’s face as Linnuial parts is replaced with an blank stare. Though her eyes do rise to meet Tolaglar's as he speaks to her, she offers no response.
Glandrill shrugs and watches the human leave "What an extraordinary fellow ! " he comments. "Though I should not be surprised, I have had similar incidents with the Beorning. " The edhel shakes his head, "Humans ! "
Absent mindedly, Glorharthad hums an enchanting tune in a soft tone.The notes of his wordsless song carry throughout the area, echoing misteriously,as if by magic.He stops abruptly and reapeats the tune again,changing notes here and there.Every now and then he opens his mouth mumbling meaningless words like ring or tree.
Amarelei rises from her seat, absent-mindedly brushing the dirt and grass from her gown. She smiles gently to the Galadhrim Knight, though the furrow in her brow belies the apparent calm in that smile. "Are they also stirred so easily? Not that it was entirely unjustified..." She sighs shallowly, tensed shoulders relaxing slightly as she exhales.
Acknowledging Glorharthad with a bow of his head, Glandrill replies to Amarelei " Indeed, the Beorning are a very agressive clan as well as having the manners of pigs. "
Amarelei shakes her head softly, gathering her blanket more tightly around her shoulders to ward off the unusual chill of the overcast morning. "It is a shame that such words are spoken at all, by man or elf," she murmurs sorrowfully. "You have met many humans then?"
Linnelei steps off the porch as the elf leaving goes up and smiles at the ones below, "Mae Govonne mellon."
Glandrill nods 'Aye I have, though I have the pleause of having met some humans who are truly honourable. " He gazes towards the sky for a moment remembering "However they would be exceptions to the rule. "
Amarelei turns her face to the sky as it begins to clear. She nods slowly, though neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Glandrill. "I am sorry you joined a gathering so grim, Knight. Perhaps we will meet again on better terms someday."
"Indeed I hope so too, my lady. " replies Glandrill as he bows low. "I shall retire to my tent now, I wish you well, until our next meeting. Namarie. " With that, the edhel pulls his grey hood over his face and turns to enter the Galadhrim camp.
Amarelei watches as Glandrill disappears into the camp, then turns to head toward the house.