"Might I ask who you are, and what you are doing here, all alone?" he takes a few more steps, closing the distance between himself and the woman, a smudge grin can be seen on his face. "It's not wise for such a beautiful lady to walk alone in the night.." the grins on his face widens as he examines her from top to toe.
There is an air of arrogance about this woman, of cool confidence despite the fact that she is all alone and, perhaps unbeknowns to the man at this stage, in very unfamiliar settings. She stands her ground, thin smirk creeping over her own features. "You might, though I might not choose to answer." A pause, and she too regards him carefully, and critically in the shifting light. "Not safe? I was told this was the safest place of all, unless you are to pose some threat to me..." And perhaps a slight accent, hailing all the way back to Bree could be heard on these words, the last said of course, in jest.
The grin on his face widens
just a little further, and a low chuckle can be heard from Hephtur. "Mmm..
The girl got some attititude, I must say.." he scratches his chin, observing
the girl. "Safe you say? Yes, inside of this ringwall is a safe place..
For friends." He pauses briefly, moisting his lips with his tounge before
he continues.
"Not answering my questions, heh? That's not one of your options right
now. I could be very offended by such an action and.." he lowers his voice
and peers directly into the eyes of the young lady "That's not what a friend
would do.." His eyes narrow slightly, as he continues "And yes, I
could pose a threat to you..."
The woman wears a careful
expression, as though she had a secret that would gain her the upper hand, but
that she wasn't quite ready to reveal yet. There is a nod of her head- suggesting
she took the attitude comment as a compliment. That coy smile remains, playing
at the edges of her expression.
"Hmm." She appears to regard him again, then allows a shrug to roll
off her shoulders. "I suppose you leave me no choice, then. I am known
as Leighwyn- I have travelled here with Anklazyn...." She watches him-
watches for a spark of recognition, although is unsure whether it will appear
or not...
His face revelas little
emotion as he speaks the name "Anklazyn...", almost tasting it as
it rolls of his tounge. He nods as he repeats "Anklazyn...", something
resembling a smile slowly spreads over his lips "That wasn't so hard, was
it?" again he chuckles, this time in a bit more friendly fashion. "Then
I'd say you're most probably a friend, and would have little to fear from me,
or anyone else inside these walls!"
"So, tell me.. Leighwyn, to what do we owe the pleasure of hosting two
such lowley ladies?" What ever hostality that was previously in the tone
of Hephtur is now gone.
The young woman shifts her gaze, appearing to regard her surroundings as though
suddenly much more interested by something else. Then her attention is drawn
back to the man, watching him cautiously, but without any trace of nervousness.
"I am glad to hear that, then, for Ale-- Anklazyn seems to think I have
nothing to fear. I think she would be upset if I should come to any harm."
And these words are no longer directed at the man specifically, but rather to
the general people within the walls.
And to his last question, she appears to become thoughtful for a moment, then
shrugs again. "We have brought the trading wagon here, though Anklazyn
wished to show me her childhood home.."
he scans the surroundings,
as there seems to be something out there catching the interest of Leighwyn "I'm
sure she would, but I doubt you'll have much to fear here." he pauses briefly,
taking a deep breath "There's little need to worry, as long as you stay
inside these walls.
"Childhood home.." words fade as he appears to ponder for a short
while, and for a short moment, his mind seems to be somewhere else. "Yes,
I suppose it'd be nice to show you that. By the way, how do you know Anklazyn?
If you don't mind me asking."
Leighwyn takes a few steps
close to a wall, and leans there casually- arms folded across her chest. "I
do not intend to wander too far, I assure you. I have become lost by simply
walking within the walls- I would not like to think how I would find myself
were I to leave."
A pause, and she breathes out a long breath, pursing her lips. "Do you
know her? She seems to know most people, here. Every second person we walk by,
though I suppose that is not unlike her, from what I know of her from Bree...
which is, of course, the answer to your question. We met in Bree."
Hephtur nods slowly "Beeing lost inside the walls is nothing to worry about,
there's always some charming bloak on a stroll to show you the way back"
A satisfied and selfconfident smile spreads on the lips of Hephtur. "Out
there, on the other hand." his hand reaches out and quickly, but gently,
touches the right cheek of Leighwyn "is not a good place for such a beautiful
lady... Atleast not alone."
His eyes narrow a bit and he lowers his voice "There are creatures out
there you see.. Creatures of the dark, who would not hesitate to do unspeakable
things to such a lovley lady as yourself." he shudders slightly "And
we can't allow for that to happen, can we?"
"Always,
you say? Well, I should have to go walking more often while I am here then."
She says, her own arrogant smirk surfacing, then fading quickly at the touch.
Though she hesitates, she withdraws quickly, regarding him critically though
saying nothing of it- having moved just out of reach.
"I do not doubt it, but there are such creatures anywhere, I would think.
Although, I know little about this place- perhaps there are great caverns full
of terrible creatures that no one knows about. Perhaps there are great caverns
under Bree even!" She scuffs her toe idilly on the ground, "It seems
unlikely, doesn't it? However, I would prefer not to have terrible things done
to me, this is true."
Another smile spreads
on the lips of Hephtur "Please do, I shall make sure to patrol the surroundings
regularley." he winks at her. The smile remains on his lips as he sees
her reaction to the touch, though making no comment about it.
"Yes, I reckon there are such creatures in many places, and maybe they're
no worse here than anywhere else.." His face turns to stone, cold and without
expression, as he continues "Yes, maybe there ARE caves full of these creatures?
Maybe they're all waiting to take over, and make us their slaves?" a chuckles
errupts and a smile spreads on his face "but as you say, it sounds very
unlikley! I would still advise against you going out there on your own however.
But.." he shifts his gaze towards the ground ".. If, ehrm.. I mean..
Uhm... If you WANT to, I would not mind escorting you around.. If you'd like
to see what's outside the walls, that is.." his gaze again turns towards
Leighwyn.
At the first words,
Leighwyn briefly drops her gaze to the floor, before flicking it back to regard
him- a tiny move, but one that could be full of a hundred different meanings,
none of which she appears to want to elaborate upon. "I'd hardly know.
About the creatures, that is. I've only been here a few days. Maybe I'll put
my ear to the floor more often..." Sly, once again, and she continues to
regard him carefully- as one trying to figure someone out. "Ah, dear sir,
it is a kind offer, though I shall have to decline, at least for tonight. After
all, I don't even know all the places /within/ the walls, and it should be some
time after I have seen all there is to see before my curiosity should draw me
outside- if it does at all. And even then, I don't know your name, nor anything
about you, save that you have cautioned me so against leaving the walls, it
seems foolish that I should then turn around and do so, hmm?"
A smile spreads across his lips as he observes and listens to Leighwyn "Ah,
I'm so sorry, it's incredibly rude of me to not reveal my name, this pleasant
company and conversation made me forget about it." He bows "Hephtur,
Captain of the city guard, at your disposal."
"It's good that you are careful, that way we should get no unpleasant surprises.
My offer is not just for tonight, would you want to go outside the walls, I
will gladly be your escort. An offer, that extends within these walls aswell.
The sun rises over the fields of Angrenost and Caradhras glows to the north.
"Captain of the City Guard?" Leighwyn's tone sounds vaguely impressed
at the title, one eyebrow arching just slightly. There is a new spark within
her gaze now, something more curious, perhaps, at the man she has met.
"Well, Hephtur.." She appears to try on the name for size, "Perhaps
I shall take you up on the former offer, on another occasion. For now, however...
I am a night person, I tend to not sleep well while it is dark. Perhaps you
would care to show me some of the sights within the walls? It is a better way
to experience things, I think, than wandering without aim or direction."
"It would be an honour and a pleasure, showing such a beautiful lady as
yourself around Isengard." he bows. "Like you, I'm a night person,
and what better company could I find?" He adds, a sheepish grin spreads
across his lips. "I think we should take a tour outside aswell, but at
another time, when I've showed you around inside." He extends an arm towards
Leighwyn "Shall we? Please don't hestitate to tell me if there's anything
in particular that catches your interest.
Saruman has arrived.
Saruman appears like a cloud far away, a thundering is heard. And with exceptionel
speed the wheelchair comes closer. Wargie presses the brakes and the wheels
lock in motion, sending out glittering sparks and a sqruiching sound is heard.
As it comes to a halt he looks around with glittering eyes "'Ach right!
I wun again!"
"Ah, do you flatter all the lost, foreign women you find within the walls as much as this?" Leighwyn watches him carefully- obviously not believing the entire act to be anywhere near being sincere. "But aye, I would not be adverse to it, when I have explored the places within the walls thoroughly." Gentle smile, followed by something of a cynical expression, and Leighwyn steps off the wall and takes the arm. "I shall, of course. And you should point out anything of interest that I may otherwise miss. A tour would not be any sort of tour, were it not filled with historic facts and obscure refrences. Where shall we go, to begin with?"
A confident grin spreads over the lips of Hepthur as he replies to Leighwyn "No, I save that for the special ones only, so excuse me if I seem rusty, it's been a while." for a moment, there's a sad about expression of his face, though it lasts only for a few seconds before a smile again spreads on his lips "I will do my very best to be a good guide... And I've got just the place to begin with.." words fade as Hephtur gesture towards the north-west "This way, please.."
<OOC> You say, "Aw, he's cute"
(I had to leave the last OOC note in especially. ;)