Culthir is Malahir's father, a secondary nobleman who is not at all pleased with Malahir's decision to join the Guard.  Annielle, Malahir's bride-to-be, is the daughter of a very wealthy and high-standing nobleman.  The two of them have come to Minas Tirith to confront Malahir about his decision and future.  They all chance upon each other as Analdin sits quietly in his office, about to speak with Malahir on some other buisness.  This is what follows.
 

Analdin stands silently at the small window in the back of his office, arms folded on the sill and back to the door. Sunlight streams in through breaks in the clouds, creating splotches of light in the Lieutenant's uniform and short blond hair. His shoulders are straight, in good soldier posture as he stares out into the summer day and at the training ground below. The sounds of weapons clashing can be heard coming in from the window.

Malahir, after knocking on the door, opens the door and steps inside the quarters of Lieutenent Analdin. He smiles breifly, nodding to the occupants, "Sir, you wish ed to speak to me

Analdin turns around at the sounds of someone entering, and loks quietly at Malahir, "Come on in, Malahir." he says, leaning against the wall now, back to the window.

A loud knock can be heard on the office door.

Analdin half-sighs and gives a call of, "Come in!" at the knock on the door. He motions quietly for Malahir to have a seat, and waits for another visiter to enter.

Entering the office, with Annielle with obvious irrition, Cuthlir quickly moves to the the centre of the room. He nods to his son and does the same to Analdin. His voice is obviously strained, "Good to see you, son. Lieutenant."

Analdin nods to the newcomer, casting a glance at Malahir, and raising a light eyebrow. "Good morning, sir." he says quietly, moving nearer his desk and the door, "Is there something I can help you with?"

Sighing loudly, and letting the door slip close behind him, Malahir walks over the the Lieutenants large cluttered desk. He stands behind the chair crossing his hands. At the welcoming of his father, and with an irratated expression he says "hello father"..to dinny he adds "Sir, may I ask when you knew my father was here?"

Annielle follows Culthir, with her hands on her hips in obvious irritation. She nods to the Lieutenant, but says nothing, instead turning her gaze on each pesent in turn.

Voice remaining calm and steady, his face betraying nothing more than exhaustion, Analdin motions to another two of the three chairs before his desk. Sliding into the larger one behind it, he says, "Have a seat, sir. M'lady." he nods to the lady who enters as well before looking back to Malahir, "Not until I met this lady near the gate on my rounds today, Malahir."

Malahir exchanges glances with his father, Cuthlir, snapping to attention in time to move the chair from Annielle's and offer her a seat. He displays no emotion in his eyes as he looks Analdin dead in the face.

Cuthlir takes the seat he is offered with a small "huff" and folds his blue cloak around his body. He folds his arms above his chest and then looks to his son. "What do you have to say for yourself, Malahir?" he asks with obvious bite in his words.

Analdin leans back in his chair, looking from Cuthlir to Malahir and back again, "Sir," he says quietly, his gentle voice contrasting with the hard tone of Curglir, "I do not believe we have been properly introduced. Perhaps you would tell me who you are before I allow you to growl at my aide?"

Annielle watches everyone in turn, her stare remaining on Malahir longer than the others, apparently awaiting a reaction. At the harsh tones being exchanged, she raises an eyebrow in seeming amusement.

Snapping his head quickly back to Analdin, Cuthlir's face softens. "My apologies, Lieutenant...?"

Annielle steps in, "Analdin, I believe it was." She looks to the Lieutenant for confirmation.

Malahir, stands behind his chair, looking down at the floor. He seems to be in a trance. His words almost escape him as he offers to introduce his father, "Lt Analdin, this is my father Cuthlir, and the lovely daughter of Aranta, Lady Annielle."

Annielle curtsies with practiced grace at the mention of her name. "Lieutenant,",she murmurs in greeting.

Analdin's face remains straight and he nods, "Analdin. Lieutenant of the Guard and commander of the Company of the White Tree." Casting a glance at Malahir, he says, "I have heard much of you sir, lady. Welcome to Minas Tirith." Returning his hard gaze to Malahir, he adds, "Have a seat, Malahir." with more than an offering tone to his voice.

Raising his eyebrows slightly as he watches his son interact with Analdin, Cuthlir continues keep his arms tightly folded. "Well met, Lieutenant. Though it would be best to bow in the future to Lady Annielle. However, I have important matters to discuss with my son." On the word son, his lip makes a small sneer.

Malahir takes his seat quickly, he takes a long look toward the door, his expression remains empty of emotion. He only nods and says, "Thank you sir", adding quietly, "father, you had to bring her.

Annielle watches what is taking place, but her expression clearly states that she's only mildly interested in what is happening. At a reference of herself from Malahir, she smiles sweetly with feigned innocence. "Of course he did, 'soldier',", she says that one word in a slightly harder tone. "I was to be betrothed to you, was I not?"

Analdin remains sitting, a slight frown coming to his face at Cuthlir's comment and muttering something under his breath. Returning, however, to his normal calm, he says quietly yet in a tone that commands attention, "I will not have a large argument over old wounds in my office. If you wish to speak as civilized people, who respect each other and what they do, feel free. But I will not accept an argument, nobility or no."

Malahir, shakes his head with a lack of energy, "I don't wish to fight with you Annielle. I have issues to settle with my father. You are not a part of them. And I do not like your tone of voice, as if you wish to be my bride, maybe you should respect who I am.

Annielle smiles sweetly, all innocent once again, "Arguement, Lieutenant? We weren't argueing..we were merely giving some very direct reminders to Malahir, here." Her tone becomes dangerous, "And what choice did I have in that area, Malahir? Certainly less than you did!" She eyes his outfit with a slight hint of malice, "I could not run to the army like you!"

Standing up from his chair, Cuthlir's face changes from rage to indifference. "Do not interfere in matters that you do not understand, Lieutenant. I am his father and take precedence over the change of command." Turning to Anielle his smiles sweetly, "My lady, please do not upset yourself. He has not been himself since he enter this army of his."

Shaking his head slowly, a hint of regret entering his eyes, Analdin leans back in his chair, arms folded across his chest. "I understand quite well, m'lord. You remind my all to much of my own" he coughs into his hand quickly, "dear father. I shall not interfere, however, if Malahir wishes such as one of my men in his personal affairs... or as a friend." Raising an eyebrow calmly, he looks to Malahir.

Malahir grabs a hold of the desk and slumps down at the berating from his father, shaking his head all the while Anladin speaks. After which he says in broken, angry tones, "How would you know who I am? You only want me to be like you.", looking back up at you with a sullen expression, "and I'm not you father. I never will be"

Realizing her loss of cool, Anielle swiftly tries to recover her indifferent facial expression, and she appears to do so, except for a dangerous flash that can not be hidden in her eyes. She turns back to Culthir, ever-so-sweet once again. "Perfectly understandable, my lord. I have heard such things have happened before." She curtsies once again, in apparent apology.

"Bah!" says Cuthlir quickly and loudly at his sons words. "We have been through this before, son. You can not remove the noble blood from your body by letting it empty on a field of battle. I have come to take you home. Come my lady." On that he heads for the door not even waiting for a response from Malahir.

Annielle's eyes flick in Malahir's direction. "Of course you will never be like your father, Malahir... He would never run from a proposed marrige." She turns to Cuthlir, all sweet smiles, "Is that not right, my lord?"

Malahir looks back over his shoulder, cursing his father with the look in his eyes, "No father. I will not go back with you. I belong here!" and he stabs his finger on to the desk.

Analdin rises quickly from his seat, hands striking the desk as he leans on it, glacially cool blue eyes boring into Cuthlir, "You may say this is none of my buisness, m'lord. As much as you would be wrong at that. But I cannot allow you to insult my company, my Guard, nor my man." Turning to Malahir, he says quietly, "I will not intervene without your permission in this matter, Malahir... But more than just family relations have entered this, I fear."

Annielle seems to purr, quietly, "Such a pity, too... To think that one of any noble house could be called a coward..."

Without even turning back to face the three in the room, and ignoring the words of Annielle and Analdin, Cuthlir says with clenched teeth, "You will return with me even if I have to drag you home by your ears. You will not disgrace my house again, do you hear me?"

Malahir nods somberly at his commanding officer, "Aye sir. My father enjoys treating your type like children. As he does me. My loyalties are with you now. Would you help me get that across to him sir?"

Analdin's eyes narrow, yet he retains his silence and simply watches with a hard look at Cuthlir. As Malahir responds to his offer, his eyes soften somewhat, a bit of the angry pressure leaving, "With pleasure, Malahir. If your father cannot understand," he adds this sentance a bit louder, "A decision to serve one's Steward and country with all one's strength and life, I doubt he could be called a man, let alone a noble one."

Annielle watches quietly, for a short moment her face is touched with pity as she glances at Malahir. But, being of a noble breed, she quickly covers it up and returns to her indifferent expression.

At Analdin's words Cuthlir whips around. His eyes glare viciously at the Lieutenant and he speaks in quiet strained tones. "Do you return with me now, Malahir or do you disown yourself for my house and everything in it?"

Malahir stands helplessly, his eyes fixed on the young women by his father. He offers her his hand, "If I may speak for myself for a change, father. I did not run away from marriage, it was your insistence that I marry someone for her title and nobility. And if you believe you must disown me, then understand that you will never have an oppurtunity to augment your rank in the house. Do you really want to give that up, sir", almost sneering.

Analdin allows a small, half-smile to form in his eyes at Malahir's courage, though he remains silent as the man seems to have taken this into his own hands. Simply watching the enraged Cuthlir, his calm veneer returns.

Annielle places her hand on Cuthlir's shoulder, trying to bring some calm into this discussion. "Perhaps you are not thinking about what you are saying first,", she says this chidingly, "..Cuthlir, perhaps if that is what your son wishes to be then you will have to accept it."

As Cuthlir realizes his anger has gotten the better of him he starts to sit slowly. "Ever the voice of reason, lovely Annielle. Son, is it that she is not pleasing to the eye?"

Annielle smiles ever-so-sweetly to Cuthlir, then turns her gaze to Malahir. Her smile fades slightly, but not completely.

A spark of light touches Malahir's eyes, and his mouth turns slightly and quickly into a smile. "Oh father, if it's one thing I love about you is that you do know how to miss the point so much it's almost funny.", he pats his fiancee's hand and with a smile as he looks deep into her eyes, "She is beautiful father, but I do love another. I'm sorry Annielle."

Analdin keeps his peace, remaining silent yet still standing. Folding his arms across his chest, he watches the rest of the exchange with an almost-approving eye.

Annielle laughs ruefully, and smiles grimly, "Apologies accepted, Malahir, although this may or may not have been spared if you had have said as such far sooner."

Malahir turns to his father, "I wish to disguse this with you in private father. There was no need to get poor Annielle involved, she'd been through enough."

In his eyes anger continues to burn. "I will indeed discuss this with you further, son. However Annielle is to be your wife and I will not dismiss her as easily as you. And since Analdin here has taken such an interest I would hate to leave him out of my affairs. Come, my lady. Let us walk for awhile and let Malahir come to his senses." He stands and walks toward the door.

Annielle turns her sweet smile on Malahir, then on Cuthlir, then on the Lieutenent. She curtsies, murmuring, "You're too kind, my lord," to Malahir. She stands, "If it is not minded by everyone here, I would ask to take my leave. I am tired, and would gladly seek my bed."

Analdin emits a light chuckle of disbelief as he shakes his head slowly, "Good day, sir. And you, m'lady. This matter, I believe, should require a bit more discussion..." trailing off, he gives the retresting figures a short, plain, soldierly bow and watches them walk out the door.

Cuthlir walks through the open doorway and into the Officer's Quarters.