Kalira looks fairly startled as Beladan leaves abruptly. However, she recovers and turns her attention to Valkros and says "Ah.. well.. tis lofty in it's responsibility. A Guard of Dol Amroth is a position to be proud of.

Charystra comes walking up from the beach. She's dressed in simple riding leather, elegant and clean all the same. Her hair is neatly pinned, and despite shadows  beneath her green eyes and hollows in her cheeks she looks fairly happy

Valkros looks at Charystra as she walks up. He smiles and makes a small half bow, half nod.

A lone figure arrives on long legs, winding a tedious path from the direction of Dol Amroth's more populated quarters. The sounds of commerce and a city socializing dribble in behind him, vague and indistinct among this place of solace which the trees, with their tall branches, staunchly protect, providing a hush where even feeble footsteps resound upon the red stones.

Upon seeing Chary, Kalira smiles to her sister-in-law. She calls to her "Hail Lady Charystra.. come join us?"

Charystra returns the bow gracefully, a smile touchin gher mouth at Valkros's movement. She shifts her hold on her harp, hands resting lightly on the polished wood. As she sees Kalira, she murmurs, "Good day Lady Kalira.." her voice soft and haunting, but  even more so than usual

Charystra nods, "I thank thee for the invitation. If I am not instruding I would enjoy thy company."

Valkros turns around and looks in the opposite direction. He sees the lone figure arriving and imidietly reconising him. "Sir Mindell!" he cries and bows respectfully.

Laboriously the solitary walker clambers across stones which, despite their low shelves, occasionally catch the toe of his boots and cause him a brief moment of respite as he recovers from a stumble. All his misteps are minor, until the sound of his name  ringing out towards him unexpectedly upsets his balance with a timing that shakes his frame more disastrously. He catches himself,eyes widening as he clenches his jaws and exerts himself to maintain his poise. "Aye, hello there, lad," he says, jingling gently. He straightens his legs, nodding to the women as he bows with more grace than he entered. "Ladies," he says to both, shifting his eyes between them.

Charystra's lips curve into a warm smile, though her green eyes are haunted by sadness beneath their sparkle, "Good day to you Sir Mindell.." her voice warm and pleasant as she offers a graceful bow, befitting her riding leathers

Kalira smiles to Mindell.. "Ahh, tis our beloved Rat-Catcher.. Tell me, have the little beasties illuded you this day?" A twinkle in her eye is directed to Mindell. Out of the corner of her eye she sees Charystra's demeanor but says nothing to her, instead she shifts her gaze back to Mindell Valkros walks up to the man and offers him his arm. "Here, let me help you sir," he says in a kind tone.

Charystra smiles at Kalira as she takes a seat on the bench by the fountain, resting her harp on her knees. A warm laughing smile to Mindell and a wink, followed by a joking comment, "Some wine to warm your throat, or a cloak to ease the rain sir rat-catcher.."

"Nay, nay," Mindell says, lifting his hand to pull back one stray tangle of hair that has, in the previous moment of humility, come apart from the otherwise immaculate plaits. "I'll not lean on any while I can still walk. Though thy kindness is appreciated in an age where gentler men become only corpses." He smiles at the younger man and continues on towards the women, offering them a more mischevious smile as he croaks out a reply that could be considered jovial, if from younger lips. "I need neither wine nor ware this day, for my quarry has quieted and waits no doubt for an inoppurtune time to strike at your lacey undergarments and our Prince's banner. I would not fall prey to physical comforts only to be caught napping when the dark tide rises."

Charystra laughs softly, and freely for a moment, "Touche sir rat-catcher. Thou hast struck true and fair. " Green eyes dance brightly, veiling sadness for a long moment as she gestures to a seat beside herself, "Wilt thou join us?"

Valkros nods undestandably as Mindell refuses his hand. He then says to everyone, "I must now ask my leave, as I have duty in half an hour."

"To be caught associating with one so low will doubtless do much to marthy social standing here, where so much seems to hang on pride and appearance," Mindell replies, the croak in his voice beginning to recede now that his silence has been greased with  the smooth and familiar language. "Yet, I find it difficult to refuse a lady anything, even that which will sully her garments and twist her fine tresses." He creaks close and turns with such aching slowness that the trees, with their bending trunks, seek to plaster the moment with their wooden groans rather than let the squeaking sinews of their bent brother pollute his stout form, which he still holds in age

Mindell lowers himself down onto the bench, nodding to Valkros as he takes his leave. "Duty is ever the insistent wife to a soldier."

Charystra laughs softly at Mindell's words, "Nay goodly rat-catcher. I would sully my honor, my clothes and my standing, for conversation with one who cares not for such things. I am who and what I am, and so i mustbe to remain myself, but if conversing  with one as noble as thou will harm my standing, then so be it.."

"Thou wouldst sacrifice much then for such simple things in these times which grow more dark and political," Mindell responds with a slanted smile, though not without  certain underlying seriousness. His hands, gloved even now with dark leather and blackened steel, curl in on one another as he rests them in his lap, casting his eyes down momentarily, a shadow passing over his face like a cool breeze, freezing the warm waters of his eyes. "I will try to be discreet, where thy honour is concerned. Perhaps I am not as n smile, though green eyes are dark and pained strangely

Charystra murmurs softly, "I mean no insult good sir Mindell.....my heart is heavier than I would like these days, and I fear to bring darkness to you.."

Mindell looks up at Charystra and opens his mouth, but tensely, restraining a certain urge to question and replacing it with tender acceptance. "No insult taken, of course. Do not fear, however, to bring darkness to a heart which has learned to hold its on light aloft. Darkness I can see through easily enough, even with closed
eyes. If thy burden becomes too heavy, shift it to my ears to bear. Tis less unwieldy, surely, than this armour upon my back." He closes with a fatherly smile, leaving himself once  again neutral and the situation open.

Charystra manages a smile, and for a moment she starts to speak, then falls silent again, "I thank thee for thy kind offer, and perhaps one day when the pain fades I shall take it. I have fought to keep darkness from my heart, and from others and until no w have succeeded. Given time my light shall shine clear again." she gives
a smile, despite green eyes which shine with unshed tears, "I will leave thee now, and regain my calm, as the sea does after the passage of a storm. Once composure and joy sings in  my mind and heart again I would speak with thee, for one to share my heart with is a great honor..."

Mindell's eyes follow the woman as she departs, softening their stoney gray to a wispy sky blue. He turns his attention to the quiet Kalira, though his eyes stray
back to follow ghostly echoes as Charystra fades into the city...