================== Eldarin Calendar <in Sindarin> ===================
IC time is: Early Morning < About 7:31 AM >
IC day is: Orithil <Moon-day>
IC date is: 7 Firith <Fading>
Moon phase: Waning Crescent <HIDDEN>
Earendil: Gil-Estel is not visible.
IC year is: Loa 16 o Yen 22, Nelandran o Endor <TA 3040>
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RL time: Sun Apr 15 19:30:41 2007
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Green Roadway at the Gates of the City - Southern Arc
Coming from the long narrow bridge, open to the sky in all its infinite variety, and entering into the city itself is like stepping into a world of perpetual twilight. A wall of living green skirts the deeper color of the Green Roadway that you now stand on. Set with deep, time-worn stones of a rich emerald hue, the roadway runs alongside the feet of the high wall of living green which encircles the whole of the city. Enormous trees lean massive branches overhead. Shadows puddle secretively in small hollows between the trunks, and lights gleam invitingly from the depths of the wooded city. Perhaps a shaft of sunlight, perhaps a silvered lamp... musical laughter echoes from tree to tree.

To the southwest, the arms of the wall overlap a few paces, forming a gap secured by a great gate. A winding path leads up the hill, disappearing into the leaves of the mighty mallorn trees which tower tall and powerful on this hill.

Participants:
Galharth
Rhibi
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The light of early morning filters through the high wall, giving the gates and roadway a soft green glow. A mist drifts along the greenery, adding a mystical quality to the morning scenery. The ever present sound of elven song mingles with the beauty of natures sound, but on this morning, something breaks the combined melodies. A whistle is heard as a single ellon walks southward towards the gate. His step is brisk and lively, and save for the fading scratches on his face and hands, he appears happy.

Trees lean over the roadway, casting light shadows. And among the mingled singing and whistling, there is another - non-sound, really. It is the sound of someone lurking. And then, from one large branch, comes another non-sound - that of twigs dropping through the air towards Galharth's head.

Stopping at the sound of movement in the hedge, Galharth peers up in time to see something falling. Quickly, he lifts an arm up to protect his head and face. "Silly beasts!" The clothier mutters aloud, "Surely the squirrels have better things to do, and better places to gather nuts." As the twigs bounce off his arm harmlessly, he peers upwards, and frowns as he seems something in the hedge, but clearly, from his expression, he can't make out what it is. "Is someone up there? Should I call the Guards?"

There is a muffled giggle; little more than one leaf rubbing against another in a light breeze. And for the keen of eye, the hedge trembles a little. Then, from behind a large tree growing a little ways along the hedge, Rhibi saunters out. "Hello!" he says, with a large and very cheerful smile. "How are you today?" He looks at Galharth's head intently, but says nothing more.

Sound draws the clothier's gaze and his eyes widen in surprise at seeing Rhibi. "If if it isn't trouble in solid form," he mutters as he crosses his arms over his chest. "I have to admit, you've managed to say out of sight long enough to allow me a chance to be more forgiving."

"Instead, I'd like to thank you."

An expression of pure surprise flies across the boy's face. "Thank me?" he blurts, and looks over his shoulder almost by reflex.

"Indeed," Galharth says, clearly enjoying turning the tables enough to surprise the young elf. "If not for you, nothing would have been brought to the attention of both Commander Legarwin or the Lady Galadriel."

Another look, decidedly a nervous one. "Nothing about what?" Rhibi asks, stepping one foot behind him and balancing his weight - in case of instant need to run.

"I suppose you should really talk to Mia about it, she of course has been consulted as well." Lowering his gaze slightly, he peers at the youth with a neutral expression. "It's likely going to end to bring an end to our biggest menace."

"MIA?" Rhibi has forgotten all about the insanity of the elder facing him, or the possibility of being caught by an irate Commander. He is nearly dancing with impatience and curiosity. "What menace? What about Mia? Oh, tell me!" he begs.

Reaching into his pocket, the clothier seems to be fishing for something hidden deep inside the fabric. "Whilst in the middle of the rose bush, I'd have considered you the biggest menace." He mutters while withdrawing his net. "I spoke with Mia, not long after you had detailed your encounter with a beast she was so distraught, I had to do something." Shaking his head, he fingers the net as if considering it's uses. "I've spoken with so many folks regarding this, and I was actually thinking about it when that little pretending got be dumped in the middle of those rose bushes." Shaking his head, he peers closely at the youth, clearly enjoying the position he was placed in.

"But..." Rhibi spares only a glance for the net, and less attention for the tales of past misdeeds. Over equals forgotten, surely. "But, WHAT?" he nearly shrieks; so that the guards above glance down.

Clicking his tongue against the inside of his cheek, Galharth drops his sternness. "Mia was so distressed about not being able to help you in your time of need, even if she had been there, the price she would have paid to her fea in order to defend you would have been great." The clothier says with a shake of his head. "As troublesome as you are, she adores you. So instead, I've set about developing something that might be used by those like her, and perhaps the Guard to defend against both Trolls and smaller beasts."

Holding up the net, he stretches it out. "Because of you, this net, on a larger scale, is being developed to use in the fight against the type beasts you faced."

The boy's face is a sight - a mix of pleasure, embarressment, a fleeting flicker of guilt - all vying with disappointment. "Oh," he says, and digs a bare toe into the dirt beside the roadway, concentrating on it intently. "That is... that is very nice for you," he says after a minute, his voice a little high and thin. "I mean, nice of you."

Shaking his head, he takes a step towards the younger ellon. Lowering his head, he leans forward to speak in a lower tone that might go unnoticed by the guards above. "While I appreciate the inspiration, I hope you'd think before you act next time. According to Mia, you could have been killed. You've got to realize, a lot of people care about you," he says firmly, adding in a much lower, almost muttered tone, "especially the elleth's"

Elleths? Rhibi doesn't care and he ignores Galharth's muttering entirely in favor of indignation. "I did think! I thought that man, the big human one, was hurt and she would need help!"

Rolling his eyes, he withdraws the net and stuffs it into his pocket. "The moment you left our lands, the instant that you took off against everyone's council, was the very instant that you placed your own needs above others and mostly above the needs of our people." He growls as he stands up to his full height, breaking the intimacy of the conversation. "There's not getting that through your head. I just hope it doesn't take someone getting killed to finally make you realize that you can't go off wildy doing as you will."

Stepping away and pacing a few steps he pauses and looks to the adolescent. "And here I was going to ask you if you'd like a hand in testing the materials for the net, and the finished product. How foolish I was to think you'd do something so unentertaining as testing."

"No one said I could not," Rhibi retorts, mulishly, but there is an edge of guilt in his voice and he hurries past the clothier's words, trying not to listen. At least, until the end, when eagerness leaps to life again. "I will help!" he says. "I will! What shall I do?" Green eyes dart towards the pocket the net is hiding in. "Will it not need to be much larger?" he asks then, dubiously.

Taking a deep breath and blowing it out slowly, through pursed lips, the clothier eyes the young ellon carefully. "You can help, under one condition. I need a promise that you will not leave Lothlorien without the express permission of both the Lady Galadriel and the Lord Celeborn. Should our testing take place even one foot outside our lands, I myself will gain the permission from both for you. Is that agreeable?"

"Very well," Galharth says with a defeated tone. "I can understand your situation, and I hope you can understand mine. I walk a very tight rope with this project, and it doesn't hold the greatest of favor with the Lady, so I must be sure of all who work upon the project."

Reaching up, he scatches at his healing wounds. "Anyway, I thank you for the inspiration, and I'm sure you'll hear if it is sucessful or not." Taking a step to turn away, he reaches into his pocket and tosses the small net towards the younger ellon. "Play with it, if you'd like. I don't need the sample any longer."

The clothier turns away, and Rhibi is left staring disconsolately at the little net in his hand. Then he lifts his head and runs after Galharth. And his voice trails behind them as they leave - "Truly, I have promised Mia and my father, I cannot go out of the city even! Do you not believe me? I do not..."

Fade to Black