================== Eldarin Calendar <in Sindarin> ===================
IC time is: Twilight < About 8:05 PM >
IC day is: Orithil <Moon-day>
IC date is: 46 Iavas <Autumn>
Moon phase: First Quarter <HIDDEN>
Earendil: Gil-Estel shines brightly barely above the horizon in the
western sky.
IC year is: Loa 16 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor <TA 3040>
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RL time: Mon Apr 09 15:41:57 2007
=====================================================================
Healing Talan
This hushed talan is a quiet place of healing for those Galadhrim injured in
battle. White robed Quendi, one wearing a bracelet, easily walk about, tending
to visitors, offering refreshments, and various other small jobs. Meanwhile
patients lie on comfortable, sparkling pads, gazing out at a sweeping view of
the wood. Sunlight streams though the leaves of the mellyrn, casting dancing
shadows on the wooden floor. The air has a fresh, clean feeling. You feel better
just resting here for a moment.
Contents:
Galharth
Ostiel
Annaiel
=====================================================================
Twilight brings a hushed tone to the golden wood as light begins to fade upon
the western horizon and darkness creeps forth from the east. A soft breeze blows
from the south, bringing with it warmth and a hint of fragrance from some
distance wood that lays beyond sight. A song carries along the breeze, gentle
and soothing as the elven words sing of days past.
While the fragrance of the distant wood, and the local flowers is strong, so too
is the scent within the Healing Talan. Herbs mixed with precious oils, pastes
and powders bring a strange medicinal scent to the atmosphere. Here, among the
herbs, there is a hushed silence as graceful elves move from bed to bed, caring
for a variety of ailments. It is into this talan that the Clothier Galharth
enters. "Hello?" he calls out softly, hoping to catch the attention of someone.
Sitting near the back, she rests near an empty cot, though unharmed she is.
Annaiel hums so softly it seems a bare whisper above the wind. Tilting her head,
she is cleaning something in her lap. Her sword rests out, shining in what light
is given, though the darkness is creeping its way to every corner.
The dunedain is dressed in her travel clothing again. Her silent thoughts are
interrupted as Galharth enters and she lifts her gaze, looking at him with sharp
cobalt grey eyes, then looks towards the healers.
One such healer, clad from head to toe in pure white, straightens not a yard
from Annaiel and looks to the entrance way, brows raised in curiosity. Upon
discovering the seeker's identity, Ostiel smiles, pats the newly-made bed smooth
and moves away from it, toward the clothier. "Ah, Galharth. What brings you here
today? You have not fallen from a talan today, I hope?"
As Galharth's crystal blue eyes sweep the Talan, his gaze falls upon the Ranger
Annaiel. Taking a step towards her, it seems as if he is going to speak to her.
Before he can utter a word to the human, Ostiel catches his attention. Turning
his gaze, he lifts a brow. "I'm fine," he says with a warm smile. "I've only
come to see if the Healers have use of some fabric that could be used as
bandages. "I've finished a few cotton dresses, and the pure white left overs
would be wasted."
Turning his head again, he peers towards the Human, "And had I known you were
here, I would have stopped by to pay respects. I suppose it was you that Mia
spoke of when she mentioned an encounter with a Ranger, the adolescent Rhibi,
and a Troll."
"I fear I was more lucky than he.." She points to the nearly healed shoulder.
"There have been worse instances." Annaiel seems not to like the topic and
quickly returns to the cleaning of her blade. She sends a sideways glance to the
vacant bed that was once occupied by Rhibi.
Without looking up she asks, "How do you fare this eve?" Badhron begins to gain
a gleam, its worn handle showing it's age.
"Bandages are always welcome, mellon nin. Feel free." Ostiel makes to move away
from the pair, and would, but her keen eyes light upon Annaiel's sword with the
hawk-like attention of one who first notices something disturbing. Moving closer
to the Ranger, she leans down toward her ear and whispers kindly, "You do not
need that weapon in this peaceful place, mellon nin. You are quite safe here."
Nodding softly to Ostiel's advice, he adds, "Ostiel is being kind and more
gentle than most. Most healers I've seen would not only have been more negative
at the presence of a weapon in the Healing Talan, they would be down right
unkind. If you'd like I can store your weapon at the Weavers Talan while you
rest and recover here." Smiling at Ostiel, he adds. "And I will be sure to bring
forth the fabric by tomorrow."
Turning towards the Ranger, his smile fades slightly. "I am of the belief that
any injury is undesired," Galharth says softly, "And for one such as Rhibi, I
fear his injuries have caused great pains for a number of folk. He is so young
to face such an opponent." Crossing the room, the clothier moves closer to both
the Healer and the Ranger. "How did this happen Annaiel? It could not have been
far from Lothlorien, for I have heard the Lady speak with Rhibi on the matter,"
He pauses and furrows his brow, "Where exactly was this encounter?"
"Outside of the south edge of mirkwood.." She is standing, respecting the wishes
of the healer, she sheathes her weapon. Annaiel seems reflective. "He trailed
me..and I was more watching for the presence of a large opponent rather than a
small rider of shadows. You teach you young ones how to follow well. I did not
even see him till the eagle was taking me out of harms way..it was then he
stepped out to help."
IT seems to haunt her, her eyes growing distant. Finally she shakes her head and
offers a soft smile, "I should remove this weapon from here, come if we will
talk, I shall stride outside so has not to disturb the peace of the Talan."
"My thanks," Ostiel murmurs, stepping back. Leaving the two to their talk, she
settles herself in a chair nearby with a large basket, sorting herbs.
"Unless Ostiel releases you, I would recommend that you stay where you are."
Galharth says with a wink, and in a lower voice, he adds, "It's best to sneak
out of their care when they are occupied elsewhere and perhaps late at night
when they retire to their privacy."
"Then Rhibi was what? A days ride from our borders?" The clothier says aloud. "I
suppose then you can not be faulted for his following you, and indeed, it seems
he's going to have to take full responsiblity for his actions. I fear that Mia
will not be pleased with this information."
Biting her lip, she shakes her head. "He is young, they are all curious, elf or
man." Annaiel gazes to Ostiel for a moment, a secret smiles spreading to her
lips as she leans in towards Galharth. "I will keep that in mind, friend...it is
that..well healers tend to know other healer's well."
"Come Clothier...that is if I may take my leave, Lady?" She says, bowing to
Ostiel with respect.
Looking up from the basket, Ostiel studies Annaiel for a long moment. Up and
down. Down and up. Hmmm. "You may, for a while. But be wary of your wound, it is
not fully healed yet. It will need another changing soon. Have you eaten at all
this eve?"
Lifting a brow, he glances between Annaiel and Ostiel, awaiting the Rangers
answers to the Healers questions. Expecting a temporary release, Galharth takes
a step towards the exit that leads to the Garden below.
"Aye, m'lady. I have. And I shall back to have you look upon it." Annaiel nods
again, giving a softer bow this time before she turns to the clother. "If you
will." she motions for him to lead the way out before she falls in beind.
Galharth steps down the stairway to...
=====================================================================
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. Shown by the starlight,
twinkling down from the sky, all is quiet in the Garden.
=====================================================================
Annaiel climbs down the stairs from the Healing Talan.
Annaiel has arrived.
At the Ranger's bidding, the clothier climbs down from the Healing Talan to the
Rose Garden below. When his feet touch the soft lawn, he looks upwards. "Do you
need a hand Annaiel?" he calls out with some measure of concern for the human's
injuries.
"I am well, I am well.." she lifts a hand to show she is fine. "I am not as bad
as everyone makes it out...it is my shoulder, not a loss of a limb." Annaiel
smiles warmly though, "But thank you." She nods than, stepping down next to him
to draw a deep breath. "Rhibi..he is doing alright?" She questions distantly,
the smile fading as she looks upon the clothier.
Nodding slightly to the Ranger's first words, Galharth steps back to allow
Annaiel room to step away from the tree housing the Healing Talan. "I know not
of Rhibi's condition, but I do know that he was injured enough to give a dear
friend cause for deep worry." Shaking his head slightly, the clothiers gaze
sweeps over the garden. "I've heard a little about the encounter, but it seems
that the young one's mischievious behavior was quite possibly his undoing."
Turning his head, he looks at the Ranger, "Did you perhaps mention something to
him before you left Lothlorien. He is quite impressionable and overly eager."
"I in infact, made him promise to guard the Lady, and to stay..." She trails
off, a thought suddenly coming to her as her eyes widen. "I also told him tales
of my travels...in return for such a promise." A hand lifts to her head. "Oh
my.." She whispers, closing her eyes. "He never promised to stay, just to
protect the Lady..."
"It is quite possible that the Lady will blame you for his deeds. Would you like
me to speak with her so that she might know your side of the tale?" Galharth
asks gently. Folding his arms over his chest, he shakes his head, sending a wave
of fair hair sweeping over his shoulders. "While I can understand his eagerness,
I worry most about the affect his encounters have had upon others. Mia worries
uncontrolably about him and she now finds herself in a situation where the
desire to protect now sings loudly over her desire to nurture and heal." Looking
towards the ranger intently as if he suddenly remembered something, "This Troll,
is it now a threat to Lothlorien?"
"The troll is too far to be a threat to yoru borders, but a thing like that, it
wanders and even if it is a threat only to an ally, it is still a threat us, as
the people of Middle Earth." Annaiel draws a breath and there is a soft smile,
followed by a slight laugh, "Oh I have already spoken with your Lady, and felt
some of her anger. She understand what happened..though I am sorry for it." She
smiles in thought, "Rhibi is so like my son."
From the healing talan above soft voices can be heard. Ostiel peers out briefly,
spots the couple, and disappears just as quickly. Not long after a dark-haired,
youthful apprentice tiptoes from above into the garden, bearing a tray with two
goblets of golden-red wine. Stopping before the two, he bows carefully and
offers the drink.
Galharth cringes slightly. "I can only imagine the conversation you had to face.
The Lady favors Rhibi, as does Mia, her companion and my good friend." Unfolding
his arms, he paces a few steps and returns a moment later to his original
position. "It is hard to say how those within the wood might feel regarding the
distant threat of a Troll. Indeed it threatens us, but with so many threats ever
knocking at our door, it may not be a threat that would bring forth any form of
urgency or attention from any that might be able to vanquish the beast."
As he speaks, an apprentice appears and and he gratefully accepts the offer of
drink. "It seems someone reads my mind. Thank you." Taking a drink, he pauses
and glances between the two ladies. "I am not but a Tailor, yet from what little
I know, I would say that our Guards would not take much interest in a Troll who
travels at such distance from our lands." Shaking his head, he adds, "Unless
there was some possiblity that it might attempt to follow the eagles path to
finish what it started."
About to comment on how exactly the wood does feel about the troll, Annaiel
turns to regard the healer. "My thanks." she inclines her head, picking up a
glass to sip at it and draw a deep breath, thankful for the wine. "It is
wonderful, as the elven wine always is." Another sip and her face grows solemn.
"My friend, the Lord and Lady of the wood have given their opinion. It seems
though, that it matters not, for you will stay within your woods, and I will
seek out this troll again with the help of my friends, the eagles."
Galharth cringes slightly. "I can only imagine the conversation you had to face.
The Lady favors Rhibi, as does Mia, her companion and my good friend." Unfolding
his arms, he paces a few steps and returns a moment later to his original
position. "It is hard to say how those within the wood might feel regarding the
distant threat of a Troll. Indeed it threatens us, but with so many threats ever
knocking at our door, it may not be a threat that would bring forth any form of
urgency or attention from any that might be able to vanquish the beast."
"You are both most welcome," the Cuigrithweg replies in a low husky voice, then
disappears as silently as he came.
"I am sorry you must face this beast without us." Galharth says with come
measure of embarrassment. "I can not and will not condem the Lord and Lady's
decision, but I can still grieve that a few take the burden that benefits many."
"I condemn them not either, they do what they will for the good of your people."
Annaiel takes another sip of her drink and settles it to rest near her side as
she is lost to thoughts again. "One day, this threat will encompass us all and
the troll will have others of its kind with him. He walks in sunlight,
Galharth..as plainly as any elf, dwarf, or man."
A frown appears upon the clothier's face. "But I thought a troll could not
endure the light of day....." he says, allowing his final words to trail away.
"And the Lord and Lady know this?"
She nods, "I have told them all I know." Annaiel tilts her head, remembering
everything, "He can stand the light of day and he is larger than any troll I
know from Eriador. His might is great and his weaponmore so, a crafted thing
that has seen the dark forges." The ranger seems bothered, finishing off her
wine swiftly. "I will consult Gwamthor and his brethren, it is he that saved
both Rhibi and I..."
"Alas, all I can offer is a net in the hopes of capturing him so that you might
have a chance to evaluate his threat." Galharth says with some hesitation. "And
I will tell Mia the name of the Eagle who saved both you and Rhibi, I'm sure she
will wish to offer some level of thanks."
"Gwamthor would greatly appreciate it, and I know he was concerned with Rhibi's
condition." Smiling, Annaiel moves, shifting to walk deeper into the garden, but
not too far. "It is beautiful here, and one could actually forget about the
troubles outside the forest of your people." She tilts her head. "I shall bring
my son here.."
"Then your son will know peace." Galharth says firmly. "But I can not say with
conviction that this is a place that can be considered safe. The more I learn,
the more I feel obligation to defend this land."
"All aside, I must go now. I've an idea I need to discuss with Mia, and there
seems no time like the present."
With that the clothier moves away towards the path that leads away from the
gardens.