================== Eldarin Calendar <in Sindarin> ===================
IC time is: Mid Afternoon < About 3:09 PM >
IC day is: Orgaladhad <Trees-day>
IC date is: 27 Rhiw <Winter>
Moon phase: Waxing Crescent <VISIBLE>
Earendil: Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is: Loa 17 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor <TA 3041>
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RL time: Tue Sep 11 09:23:23 2007
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Rose Garden
You stand in a small rose garden dazzled in white, red, and yellow. Placed in an circular pattern about the garden, a walkway made up of small, uplifted ceramic tiles form rings of walking space surrounding a large golden mallorn planted in the center. Shade from its limbs splay outward over this walkspace to provide for a pleasant atmosphere. Here and there, benches, one with a lamp rising up out of the ground next to it, are placed for guests to enjoy the shade and the scenery.

To the south, a tall hedge hides the entrance to the shaded lawn. East, among a gnarly set of old oak trees, a small path leads to the Apothecary, while to the North another path leads to the Northern Gardens. To the West, a gate leads out to the Golden Roadway. Lastly, to the side, sparkling beneath a silver arch, a set of stairs can be seen leading to a talan up above. Reaching out to the bright sun, the flowers are open in full bloom.

Participants:
Mia
Tolur (temped by Galharth)
Calsir
Ostiel

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The sky above Lorien is dove grey, cloudy and cold, draining the world of color and light; but in stark contrast stand the mallyrn that tower over forest and city alike, their golden leaves shimmering and bringing life to the home of the wood elves. The land is in the throes of winter, yet here, nestled within the crux of rivers, valleys and mountains, it is (as always) Spring. Flowers bloom year-round, needing tending from patient and experienced hands, and so it is that this afternoon finds one of the Golden Wood's residents pruning the rose bushes that line the path below the healer's telain.

Mia bends and picks up a small knife, gingerly taking the stem of one of the bushes in hand, and swiftly does away with a wilted bloom. Then, with whispered words, she mends the open wound she has created, sending a shudder through the remaining flora.

Swift moving, between shadows and light, the grey and black clad Guard Tolur enters the Rose Garden. Beauty lays around him, glorious color and scent that can bring forth a breathless response, and yet he seems immune to this as he pauses to search faces among the bushes.

Frustration is evident, and his quick scan slows as does his step. Finally, his eyes set upon a fair elleth, and recognition flickers in his eyes. Does he know her? Clearly this matters not as he turns his direction and hurries towards she who is known. "Mia? Have you seen Galharth?" he blurts out as he comes to a stop.

There is one entering the garden from the flet above, who does not seem immune to the beauty of the colors and the rich scents of the rose. Clad in a gown of green Calsir drifts toward the gardens, her step quickening as she spies the one she has been seeking for days. Golden hair is swept back behind her shoulders, fluttering slightly as she walks. Her normal smile is apparent once more, though strained it might seem to only those who knew her best.

Calsir stops as the Guardsmen whom she met so recently speaks a question. She does not interfere, blue eyes turning toward a particularly fragrant rose, though it might be obvious that she is listening.

She does not smile in greeting; nay, she turns a worried eye to the guard as she stands and wipes her hands upon her dress (which magically holds not a spec of dirt). Her head shakes slowly from side to side, and though she is visibly disturbed, her voice is calm and steady. "He is missing, then. I have heard nothing of him in days, and for the past day I have felt wrong. Not illness, nor anything of the like, simply..." She sighs, hands splayed. "Wrong, as if something were gone. I heard he had been out on the borders again." She puts a hand to her forehead and strokes the worriesom wrinkles from her skin. "This is all my fault. He seemed perfectly satisfied to be a simple tailor, and I had to urge him to do more and more stupid and dangerous things, so that now he patrols."

Catching sight of Calsir, the Guards head rises hopefully, "Have you seen him Calsir?" he calls out, clearly worried by something.

Turning back to Mia as he speaks, his expression darkens and his lips fall into a deep frown. "All need to be on patrol, so much happens, so much more will happen. Winter brings forth a darkness we've not faced in a long time." Tolur says in a tone that bodes ill. Lifting a hand, he pushes his hair back from his face and he lightly grinds his teeth, almost as if uncertain as to what to say.

Turning from the elleth's he hangs his head and sighs. "We were set upon once more at the borders. He and the Courier Lostiriel were in the talen to the west of mine with Norweg." Lifting his head and turning back to face Mia, he pauses to glance at Calsir, before returning his gaze to the Gardner. "I do not fully know what happened, but Norweg and Galharth were upon the ground in the midst of combat." Again the guard grits his teeth in frustration, adding in a soft mutter, "in broad daylight....", before returning to his tale. Looking up, he peers intently into Mia's worried face. "Norweg gave the order to run. All did so, and Galharth was last seen heading in the direction of my talan with a Uruk on his heels."

Calsir lifts her gaze toward the gaurdsmen, concern clouding her visage. Slippered feet whisper forward, and brows knit together. "Nay I have not seen the Tailor since.." The Scholar is lost in thought, thinking back over the last eventful days.."Not since he was seen talking to a Young elleth..but he assured me he was heading back toward the field hospital then. I did watch him go myself."

A sigh eases from the Dancer's lips, a simple shake of the head sending yellow curls bouncing. "After the column of uruk that we spied Tolur what was Galharth and Norweg doing upon the ground? It is safer in the trees." Her words flowed with sincere concern, taking any note of recriminations out of them.

Ostiel descends slowly from the healing talan, feet stepping calmly and deliberately down to the Rose Garden's fragrant soil. Solemn is her expression, thoughtful her demeanour, and with elven hearing the chances of her having overheard the conversation are high, as there is little noise about to detain the senses. A basket is dangling from one slender wrist as the Attendant approaches the gathered threesome, nary a rustle accompanying her passing.

"Patrollers are needed," Mia replies, "Yet it seems that experience is not necessary. I am here, I am able-bodied, and I have *some* experience, yet never did it occur to anyone that I might be of some use." Anger doesn't tinge her words, only saddness. "So he is lost, then, Tolur? For how long, did you say? And which border?" She looks at the garden, then at the maidens who are in attendance, her eyes lingering lastly on Ostiel. "I should be out there looking for Galharth."

"Why would he be upon the ground?" Tolur asks with a tilt of his head. From his response, he'd clearly not considered that fact. "Who knows for sure." He finally replies, "But like his sister, he has his odd moments." All else that the Scholar says, receives a nod, for the two clearly share a knowledge of the advancing Uruk. Is this known by all? Certainly the Guard acts as if it is so.

Catching sight of the Attendant Ostiel, he nods his head in greeting before focusing upon Mia's words. To the Gardener, he narrows his eyes. "Do the Healers not have enough to do with the Field Hospital teeming with wounded? Why indeed haven't we called upon your experience when we need our healers as much as we need volunteers." The Guard says, clearly taken by surprise by the Lady's words. "At this time, we can not even spare our Guards to help transport the wounded back to the city." Glancing at the three his frown deepens. "Has word not spread? Do you not know what happens now to our north?" His last words seem almost angry.

Calsir nods, her voice soft but firm. "I have been telling who I see when I see them. I have yet to be able to speak to either the Lady or Commander Legarwin, or Haldir..Though hopefully by now sentinals and Wardens would have reported to them." Shaking her head once more she turns fully toward the one who so recently been pruning the roses. "It is this ..turn of events that has made up my mind Healer. For long weeks, even years I have contemplated turning my training in Song toward something constructive." She pauses, her hands running along side her skirts. "What is more constructive then to helping those sick in body and spirit? I would request admittance and training of the Cuigrithweg."

To this Ostiel smiles, then abruptly moves past the group. "I will return shortly, Mia...our herb supply could use reinforcing." And with that she is gone, the sembelance of happiness disappearing once she turns away, for in truth, she is disturbed by these tidings.

"If what he says is true, then your help will be appreciated, Calsir. Welcome to our ranks, and long hours of study and practice." Mia glances skyward, towards the telain, and nods her head in that direction. "Upstairs, you will find a tome that is required reading of any and all who dwell within these gardens. Perhaps you might want to begin your training as soon as possible, as even the most basic of first aid will be helpful."

She then turns to the guard, lips pursed slightly, "Lack of support from the Order is reason enough to take a healer with you to the borders, as moving the injured would become a moot point. And I am not offering my service only as one who tends the sickly, but as a trained hand. Perhaps not in all-out combat, but for those who have gone missing..." She shakes her head, "And do not think I am volunteering: I mean it when I say that I feel responsible. I should be there to help bring him back."

Lifting a hand towards Calsir, the Guard shakes his head. "I blame you not, Scholar. The events occur so quickly that what you knew is now old. The ill news we witnessed, is now double that which it was." Falling silent, Tolur can only nod his approval as the Scholar enters the healing ranks.

Moving his attention fully towards Mia, he nods. "Your experience preceeds you. You are truely welcomed in any flet on our borders to give any and all advice or aid." Pausing he frowns slightly and looks towards the great tree. "Perhaps you might join me, as I volunteered to bring back news from the border so that I might search from my brother-in-law. I have failed to find him, but it does not relinquish my duty to report the news from the north."

"Of course." Was her response to the healer's suggestion, her gaze traveling to the talan above. "I wish you all the luck in finding the Tailor. While I do not know him as well as some...I hope to get to know him better." That said the newly made attendant sweeps up the stairways into the talan above.

"How many are missing?" She says as she moves onto the path leading to the Great Tree, "Anything that I may do to aid in their safe return, you need only to ask. Galharth I will seek for reasons too numerous to list, but the others need finding for the sake of their families. But to answer an earlier question, we have heard precious little here which is why you find us tending our gardens instead of patients. Perhaps we need to do what has been done in the past and send our healers to the borders to stay for awhile."

"Only Galharth has gone missing. All others missing from the border now reside within the Field Hospital." Tolur says with a deep frown. "News changes so quickly of late, and fear grows with each new detail that reveals itself." In the next instance, the Guards expression softens to one of gratitude. "And for any efforts that you might put forth for Galharth, I an our family will be forever in your debt."

When the moment passes, the ellon's expression fades to one of neutrality, and he nods. "Indeed, that would be wise, and who better to recommend such things as one who remembers the last time when our needs reached that point."

Entering the rose garden with a look of exhaustion written upon her features, Lostiriel's steps are slow and aimless. Stopping to take a deep breath, her eyes quickly scan the area, noting that others also occupy the garden. "Well met," she greets, and her words are low, barely more than a whisper.

Tilting his head slightly, the Guard narrows his eyes slightly as if searching for something in the the Gardeners expression. "You can not be blamed for the actions of another. Have faith that friends and family taught him what he needed to survive."

Another speaks, and Tolur turns to the source of the voice. "Well met, Lostiriel." he says softly. Turning back to Mia, he lifts a hand towards the Courier. "She was with him, and can be counted among those who last saw the Tailor."

"When he was last seen?" Lostiriel asks, expression turning to shock. "What do you mean?" Memory flickers and she recalls those frightening moments when he was forced to flee into the forest, and lips part in dismay. "Surely he has been seen by someone since then.... Hasn't he?"

Mia winces at Tolur's words, taking the brief moment offered as he greets Lostiriel to gather herself together. "Yes, well... be that as it may, I am responsible in some small way. Possibly." She waves a hand nonchallantly, "I may have said something... pushed him somehow. I do tend to act before thinking at times."

To the Courier, she querries, "You were there when he went missing, then? Please, tell me what you know."

"Ah, so you are where he's getting that from." Tolur replies to Mia, as if she had just revealed one of the great mysteries of life. A moment later, his eyes open wide, as if his words were not quite as he had intended. "Not that it's bad. He was much like the seasons, predictable and without change."

Offering a half smile, he shrugs his shoulders. "Alas, it'll all mean nothing if we can't curb the increased activity on the border...." His last words are soft, and he lets them trail to an end as he turns to listen to the Couriers account of what happened on the Border.

Listening to the others, Lostiriel's gaze is cast toward the ground as she recalls the incident that took place. She glances up again as Mia asks her to tell what happened, and replies haltingly, "You see....we were looking down upon the ground from up above when Galharth spotted something...something gleaming in the snow. He wanted to go down and see what it was, even though Norweg said that it was too dangerous, and I agreed. But," she shrugs, looking from Mia to Tolur, "You know how Galharth can be. It seems that when he gets an idea in his head..." She sighs, in a mixture of worry and frustration, "Well he was determined. So he went down the ladder, at which point a chorus of howls filled the air. We pleaded with him to hurry--but he wasn't quick enough. He was attacked... Arrows flew down upon Norweg and I and...the ladder was cut by another attacker... Galharth and Norweg were forced to flee, and Norweg was injured. I don't believe Galharth was, but he was followed as he fled into the forest..." Her words halt here and she looks up, gaze troubled and solemn.

"Could you show me exactly where this happened, and where you last saw him?" Mia's eyes flash as she looks to Tolur, and now she speaks to them both, "If so, I won't be accompanying you to the Great Tree today. There is a trail out there that will lead us to him, if only we can find it in time. And him.... I fear to hear that he was chased away, though, as you point out Lostiriel, we all seem to know how Galharth can be. He is nothing if not resourceful, and with any luch he kept his whits about him that day."

She cannot hide the faint blush in her cheeks, and looks to the guard with shame in her eyes, "Do not worry that your words do harm to me, for they are nothing when compared to what I have been saying to myself. And now you see that I was not feeling sorry for myself, or taking on a burden that was never mine."

Glancing between the elleth's, the Guard nods several times to acknowledge what one or the other has said. Finally, he offers a smile to both. "It seems Galharth is in good hands, and this is what I shall tell my wife." Pausing he offers each a glance before taking a step to leave the Garden. "Thank you both, and I wish you luck in your search. For now, duty calls, and I must report to the Lord and Lady." With that Tolur is gone.