================== Eldarin Calendar <in Sindarin> ===================
IC time is: Midnight < About 1:22 AM >
IC day is: Oranor <Sun-day>
IC date is: 54 Firith <Fading>
Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous <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: Tue May 01 09:27:26 2007
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Training Field
On this wide field, boundry sticks and markers seem to rise up in a variety of patterns. Interspersed between all of these, targets, dummies, and other devices for training stand in various levels of repair. Taking up one side of the field, an archery range can be found. Along the opposite side, a long low hillock looking building that seems to be both a part of the hill itself and the trees as it is built beneath grass and branch, the only entrance jutting out between two thick roots of a tall mallorn.

Participants:
Galharth
Mia
Rhibi
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The mood set by the darkness of midnight lays as a blanket over the elven realm of Lothlorien. No breeze blows, as if the very breath of the land is being held in anticipation. Even the twinkling lights of the stars above, and the flickering glow that dances around the slivery barked trees give highlight to the shadows. So all seems to one who stands atop a mound on the Training Field. From expression and body posture, Galharth seems troubled.

"Is it me? Or is my mood set to distract me?" the clothier says as he plops down to watch a distant pair of ellon deep in training. Looking towards the gardens further down the hill holding the great tree, he watches the winters cool evening mist creep over the land.

Great double doors swing slowly open; just a crack. Barely enough to allow one small child to slip out.

Rhibi halts in the dark slit, looking around, and then edges along the wall - one slim hand pushes the door shut again. It clicks, audibly, and he freezes.

"There you are..." A voice says softly from behind Galharth. "I have been looking high and low for you these past few days, yet I always seem to be a few steps behind." Mia approaches the clothier slowly, her mouth set into a grim line. "I've been worried about you and Rhibi, wondering what..." She pauses and then sighs. "Well, pretty much just wondering. How have you been?"

At the sound of a voice, the Clothier turns his head. His expression doesn't change with recognition. "I've needed time, and I've been poor company." Galharth says with a shrug, "I'm honestly not sure what Rhibi is up to, but I'm sure he's fine."

Pausing his words a moment to shift his gaze back towards the distant ellon who continue their training. "I'm fine. Couldn't be better. How are you?" He replies in an almost stiff, automatic manner.

In the darkness, Rhibi wavers. That is Mia... A cunning gleam comes into his eyes, and he slips along the edge of the building, pauses at the corner and sneaks around in a curve that will bring him up behind the two who talk. Each foot placed just so; a breath against the grass. A wind of shadow. A cloud.

An elf comes unexpectedly down from the archery range, moving swiftly and silently - a panther in motion - and his eyes land on the boy who creeps ahead. "Ah, Rhibi," says the archer, pleasantly. And the lad whirls around, disappointment written on his face. "You ruined it!" he says reproachfully. Only to hear the silvery laughter of the elder as he wends towards the storage building. "I am sorry..." floats over the archer's shoulder, and Rhibi watches after, glowering.

The approach of another is noted by the clothier, but his words cause the crafter to turn his gaze to look upon the stealthy youth. Lifting a brow, Galharth shakes his head. "Up and about, and clearly entertaining yourself. How are you today Rhibi?"

Rhibi turns around, it clearly being useless to continue stalking, and flops down beside Galharth and Mia. "I am well," he says gloomily. "Did you hear me?" he asks a second later. "Before that ... " a second glower after the vanished archer makes it clear who he means. "... came?"

Mia shakes her head at the boy, "I didn't hear you at all," she says with a strained smile. "If not for fun-ruining archers, you might have made it all the way here without alerting either of us." She reaches out and ruffles the boy's hair as she finally answers Galharth. "And I have been... miserable, really. I haven't seen the Lady for a few days, and I think it might be for the best." She shakes her head, "I'm not looking forward to that conversation, I can tell you."

Nodding softly to Mia's comments about Rhibi, Galharth adds, "He seems to have a talent for sneaking up on folks, especially those deep in thought." Glancing from Rhibi to the Lady's companion, the clothiers jaw tightens at the mention of the Lady, and he lowers his gaze. "Give the Lady my regards," he finally says after a moment. Leaning forward, Glaharth draws his knees up to his chest and lowers his chin to rest atop the shelf made. "But perhaps it'd be best to not."

Mia shakes her head, "I don't think it would be wise to approach her yet, and, well, I have no intention of doing so anytime soon. Honestly, I don't know what made her so upset the other day.... it just isn't like her! Only a handful of times, in recent memory, has she been so unwavering and.... serious! Not that she isn't the definition of decorum, but I would not have been suprised if the whole situation had her laughing so hard that she couldn't see straight! Instead, we saw a side of her that terrifies me... and I am hardly one to scare easily."

"And she isn't going to do anything!" Rhibi bursts out. "Mia..." He stops, and then says with determination. "I shall kill it."

Still resting his chin, Galharth's eyes focus across the field. "It's hard to say what she is thinking, or what she knows," he says softly. As Rhibi speaks, the clothiers turns his attention to the youth with a furrowed brow and a frown appears upon his lips. "Rhibi, you forget, you're not to leave the city, you're bound by a promise." Looking away and once more concentrating on something across the field, he sighs. "If the beast is to be brought down, it'll certainly be done by someone who's not been restricted."

Looking towards Mia, the ellon's frown remains. "The Lady is wrong, or at least I think she is. I don't know how, but words alone aren't going to prove anything to her in this situation."

The boy sticks his chin out mulishly and says nothing, but rebellion sparks in his sea-green eyes.

Again, Mia shakes her head, but to whom?

"It won't, and can't, be done by any one person," She replies, looking at both the clothier and the child. "Not even in my most headstrong days would I have even thought about attempting such a thing! Nay, if the troll is to be brought down, it will be done by a group of our finest fighters," She pauses and again looks at the pair, "Which does not include us."

Again she shakes her head, "Is she right or wrong, will she do something or not... How can we know for sure? And can either of you tell me that you have the answers? Because I know I don't." Her shoulders sag and she sighs. "And as if that weren't bad enough, it all makes me feel rather useless."

"I will kill it," Rhibi mutters, wrapping his arms around his knees, and the same inner compulsion welling up brings him to his knees and gesturing, more words bursting out almost in anguish. "It /cannot/ live! It... the very ground trembles and is silent! It... it is altogether of the darkness!"

Turning for a brief moment as Mia speaks, defiance flickers in the clothiers eyes before he turns and resumes his watch over the training field. "I'm not but a Tailor Mia, how foolish it would be to even count myself amoung the most lacking of warriors." Galharth snorts softly, "Robes, trousers, cloaks, and even an occasional charming accessory. Obviously that's my contribution."

Glancing over his shoulder, the crafter lifts a hand and jerks his thumb towards the youth, "Even he's faced dangers moreso than I ever have, and here he is planning to do even more." Letting his hand fall back to wrap around his legs, he looks down at the ground. "Someone will do something, I'm sure of it."

Just then, a voice calls across the field. "Iaurfer!" And Rhibi leaps to his feet. A flash of smile and he is gone, running towards his father.

Mias brow furrows and she shakes her head, "Never did I say that the creature should be allowed to live, Rhibi, but neither should you go running after it without thought of how it will be dealt with once you find it! Not even I would be so rash! We are talking about a beast that is almost impossible to damage on your own, a thing that absorbes blows as if they are of no more importance than a mosquitto. I faced one many years ago, armed with everything from spear, to bow, to sword and I barely scratched it! Do you know what I did? I ran! As fast as I could, as hard as I could, and I didn't stop until I was home! Not long ago, I found myself in a similar position, only this time without even a stout stick to defend myself. And what did I do then? When I had the chance, I ran. It is not cowardice but sense that dictated my choice, and I have never regretted that decision."

She pauses and looks at Galharth, "And that attitude will get you nowhere with me. We all have our place in the world, and none are more or less important than any other. You have told me thus on numerous occasions, yourself! "

"Of course we all have a place. Without me, our warriors would be forced to fight naked." Galharth snaps. "I'm sorry," he quickly adds as he tilts his head forward so that he's now resting his forehead upon his knees. "Perhaps I still need some time to think and settle my thoughts."