Ale House
A dark oak door opens inward, and as you step inside..the smell of food and drink assails you. To the right as you enter, near the far wall, is a stairway leading to the upper floor where the Common Room and Private Room are..wide steps of dark wood, polished by the many feet that tread them..a bannister of the same dark wood, spindles carved as tree trunks..spreading at the top to join the rail. At the far end of the room..near the kitchen, is a wide bar..and behind it kegs with spigots..full of the rich dark ale for which this house is known. Wooden tables sit about the room...chairs pushed under or still pushed back where someone rose to leave.. Along the south wall, a fireplace with a wide hearth.. tall and wide the firebox, so that travelers may warm themselves at need..
Aresmar approaches near an empty table and sits, than signing with his hand for an ale he turns to table playing with an empty mug. He seems like thinking something heavily tough.
Almar enters the Ale House and stomps to get the snow off his boots. He shakes out his cloak and hangs it on a peg by the door. Turning about and looking around the room, he spots Aresmar. He walks over to the table and smiles, "Greetings friend, might I join you?"
Aresmar lefts playing the empty mug than unties his wet bandana and puts it over an empty chair. Than hears the voice of his friend "Night Almar, Of course take a seat he points to one of the empty chairs. What makes you awake at this cold night and brings here friend?" he smiles a little.
Almar takes a seat at the table and orders an ale. "I am often up at this hour, but Teigril was called away to tend to a boy who was ill in town. I came here for a drink while she was away is all." He looks closer at the other man, "Is something wrong?"
Aresmar smiles when he hears about Teigril "I havent seen her for a while, she must be busy." than he starts to sip his new brought ale. "Good chance you came here, I was thinking..." he pauses a while "You know how a scout's mind works, I am a little bit bored to say. I mean everywhere is snow clad you dont want to go far without aim. I dont mean I dont like here I love here but..." He pauses again pursing his lips but not says more word takes another sip.
Almar smiles, "I fear that perhaps I have kept her some, but we have much to catch up on. " He pays the barmaid that brings his ale and then sips at it some. "I also must say that I have no desire but to rest here in peace a while. I am not tempted to wander the lands. I have been adrift for three years, and it is nice to settle down even if just for the winter."
Aresmar smiles again "I know your position, you right about yourself I think. You've seen many things and you want to stay some. But I mean I am not satisfied I've also seen many things in a very short time after I decided to settle in Dor-lomin. Not as much as you have seen of course. Anyway I think after a while I will be itching to go new lands." he pauses to take another sip. He seems a little dizzy when he puts his mug on the table. the drinks begin to show effects on him.
Almar takes a long draft of ale, "Well, I do know you are not alone in your wanderlust. There are others, Dunnelor for one, who can not remain still for long. Perhaps after the winter storm passes you might see if he is going out." He thinks a moment, "Andranar is another to ask if you see him, for he is ever traveling on one errand or another."
Aresmar smiles when he hears about the friends name "Yeah they are both good friends and company. I traveled some way with Andranar he really knows the way. Dunnelor I hope I may meet him again and we may share many things, we both are scouts like this way." he stops to drink another sip of ale. Than pursing his lips "What about you my friend? how fare you in these cold winter days? How is Teigril?"
Almar continues to slowly sip at his ale, "Me? I get a little better with each passing day. I did need this time away from things, the rest does me good." Then he smiles, "Being indoors for a winter does much to improve your mood as well. I am far less cold for once." and he laughs. "Teigril does well also. I think we help each other more then we had expected. We both seem to be widowed after so short a time......it helps to have someone who understands what you are feeling."
Aresmar smiles a bit "Oh I am very happy for you my friend a little rest is always good after all that action. But I can take myself from thinking of the front lines." his face drops for a while than raises his head and looks to a torch burning with small flames than shakes his head "Aha I am also happy that you are close with her again" he laughs "maybe..." he can only say between his laughter.
Almar smiles, "We do not look for anything just yet my friend.......only company, and understanding." He downs the last of his ale, "Still, I am sure you will be on the road soon enough. After you spend a winter sleeping in the snow, I think you will hold a different view of winter travel anyway."
Aresmar grins at Almar "My friend you touched to my soft spot. I was wandering here and there after my father's death. I have seen many winters. Harsh, chilling winds without a shelter. This was along a four year period before I return to Dor-Lomin. I think I know all the harsh conditions I may even be dead now If I wasnt lucky those days." he closes his eyes remebering the hard times. Than touches his scar with his hand as if careing for himself.
Almar orders another drink and places the coins on the table to pay as he speaks, "And you still wish to travel in this weather? You are one born for the road then mellon. I need my time of comfort I guess."
Aresmar smiles broadly "Even I was born on a caravan but I think I am unable to decide what I am going to do. I need time also. Maybe that time is not very near for me to go. I dont know really." he takes the last sip from his mug. And wants another mug from the barmaid.
Almar looks at the mugs that cover the table, "You should be careful mellon, you might end up sleeping here tonight." and chuckles. "Still I think you should give until the storm passes and then decide what to do. Find Andranar or Dunnelor, and speak with them, for I do not think you should set out alone."
Aresmar smiles not very controlled but broad enough "Oh my friend I know my limits I used to drink much. Especially when I am like this." than takes a big gulp from the mug and than says "You know I travelled too much alone. I wont If I dont have to. Dont worry " he chuckles. "Than you will be around for a while eh?"
Almar laughs, "I do not see myself leaving anytime soon. One never knows when duty will call. Yet I am no scout, and there is usually little call for war in the snowy months of the year."
Aresmar smiles "than we will meet many times at least a while and we may train a little if we can in this weather." he takes a sip again and than he hardly puts his mug on the table. "Hmm I think I have reached my limits." he chuckles.
Almar smiles as he sips his own ale, "Well once the snow stops falling we can at least shoot the bow. I think the sword might be a bit hard to do with snow up to your knees."
Aresmar nods "Yeah I want to be good at it too, practice is always good." than he looks at Almar "where do you stay in these cold nights friend do you have a hut or something though you came here after many years?" he asks.
Almar shakes his head, "No, my old home was far from here really. I have been sleeping on the floor of Teigril's cottage, by her fire. She insisted, and it is much like the old days when I would be by her fire where her wagon was parked." He sips some ale and sets down the mug, "I suppose sometime I will need a place of my own, but spring must come before that can happen."
Aresmar nods "Ah you're a lucky guy" he chuckles "She may look well to you there even I didnt find a chance to visit her at her place. I stay here at least for now. Maybe as you said later on I may look for a little shack to stay when I am at Dor-Lomin."
Almar shrugs, "We know each other from long ago, and she does look after me well. I fear that I have needed such of late, but I think I get over my sorrow some now." He smiles, "I am sure that you will have a place soon enough, mellon. Although if you are on the road, you may not have much use for a home."
Aresmar nods, "I am sure that you will recover fast from your sorrow with the care of her." than pauses. "You are right if I wont stay much I can manage it without a place, time will show that. Everybody needs a home especially ones like me who never had before." he lowers his head "We... always travelled..."
Almar nods in sympathy, "Aye, I called a tent my home for far too long. I relish sleeping with a roof over my head now."
Aresmar chuckles "Yeah you are like me, a real roof would sound too good for me." than he grabs the mug with his both hands shaking , playing with it.
Almar yawns and then finishes his drink, "Well, all this talk of rest has made me realize how late it is. I fear I need to start walking back, for it takes a while in this snow."
Aresmar nods raising balancing himself hardly and taking his bandana from the nearby chair. "Yes friend I think I will take good sleep upstairs." than he drops some coins on the table and tells something to the barmaid pointing upstairs. Than turns to Almar "Good luck friend" he chuckles "You know what I mean" trying to balance himself up.
Almar looks strangely at Aresmar and then smiles politely, "Sleep well my friend." He puts on his cloak and heads out into the street.
Aresmar smiles after Almar and heads for the upstairs slowly.
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