Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Laew Lend {1x1x1}

((Sorry for the uber late post, guys! I bring virtual chocolate cookies in apology. *hands out cookies* ))

Erindín strode through the almost deserted common room, hefting the pack slung over his shoulder to keep it from slipping off. He nodded to the sleepy eyed innkeeper walking behind the bar and the two yawning patrons sitting by the fireplace. The innkeeper watched him as he passed by. Annoyed at the town’s apparent collective distrust of Rangers, Erindín pulled the hood of his cloak up to avoid the man’s gaze, and slipped out the door.

The morning was just as he’d expected it to be. He was used to cool, damp mornings, and though this was not an Ithilien morning, he did not mind it.

He set his pack and quiver of arrows down and leaned back against the wall of the inn, resting his longbow by his side. The bow was unstrung to keep the damp early morning air from damaging the string, which was tucked into his leather pack, along with some apples and bread, his coin purse, and a few other essentials for the road. His sword was at his hip, his dagger hidden beneath his cloak. He wore all his gear, from his weathered vest to his trusty gauntlets.

He was ready and eager to travel, and though he had not planned on a guide accompanying him--especially a woman--he looked forward to the days ahead. Sylvryth was a fine woman.

Smiling to himself, he folded his arms across his chest and waited for his guide to arrive.

" Well i never properly thanked you and your friend for jumping to help when that man attacked me" Keth said " So thank you.. My name is Kethual.. but most just call me Keth"he said

Sylvryth nodded slightly. "Of course, sir." She studied Kethual for a moment. Yes, he was still very strange. "I am Sylvryth." She hesitated, not knowing what to say now to the Elf. After a few moments the Prancing Pony came into view, and she could make out Erindín through the light fog.

"Ah, good morning, Erindín!" Sylvryth called, smiling a bit. She noted over his leather armor briefly, amused. It wasn't likely that they would encounter trouble on their way north, but she supposed that, him being in an unfamiliar land, he was wise in preparing for anything. Of course, it only made him appear more like a Ranger, but from their encounter the night previous, she trusted him more than the rumors of Rangers in Bree. "Erindín, this is Kethual," she introduced briefly, motioning to the Elf.

Grinning, Erindín pushed his hood back and bowed his head in greeting. “Good morning, Sylvryth.”

He considered reaching for her hand and kissing it, as he had last night, just to see if he could fluster her again, but decided against it. He wasn't sure if he could pull it off without seeming a fool. Instead, he held her eyes for a moment, smiling, and looked away before it became awkward and before a blush could rise in his cheeks.

He looked to the Elf. When he’d caught sight of Sylvryth riding in through the fog, he’d been surprised and then wary to see a second figure riding beside her. As the duo came closer, he recognized the lithe form as that of the Elf from the night before, and his surprise became masked suspicion.

“Master Elf,” he said, bowing his head. “Good morning. I am Erindín, son of Durlach.”

His hand rested at his hip, near the handle of his sword, though his stance was relaxed. He did not mean to seem threatening, or to be insulting, especially to an Elf, but Rangers were wary folk when on the road. And his uncle’s voice filtered through his head, stern and demanding, Always be ready. For anything.

He looked from Kethual to Sylvryth and back again. He wasn't entirely certain how to interact with Elves. His friends had always spoken in awe of them, though none had ever actually met any. He cleared his throat and raised his head so that his eyes met Kethual's. “It is an early morning. Do you mind if I ask where you are traveling so early before sunrise, Kethual?”

" I like the morning air, and i never stay in one place to long i always leave with the riseing sun" he said. his voice was calm and soft " But i'm sorry if i interrupted you in anyway. Some people say im to friendly for my own good" he said with a soft music like laugh " But anyway.. if you dont mind me asking.. where are you two heading? Maybe i could lind a hand. "

"Ah." Sylvryth moved slightly so that she stood facing both men at once. She studied Erindín for a moment before looking over at the Elf. "We are going north to Archet... Erindín has business there and I have offered to guide him." She didn't know exactly why the Elf was being so friendly, and it made her a bit uneasy, for some reason. But why would she need to be wary of an Elf? He seemed harmless enough.

However, she wasn't sure how Erindín would take to Kethual's offer. He hadn't seemed too keen on telling her his business there; did he want a stranger coming along with them, on spur of the moment?

Erindín had raised an eyebrow at Kethual's offer. He frowned thoughtfully, crossing his arms and watching the Elf as Sylvryth spoke. The offer was completely unexpected, and Erindín took a moment to consider it.

He wouldn't say that the Elf seemed harmless--Elves never seemed harmless, from what he'd heard. But he didn't seem malicious, either. Recalling the night before, Erindín knew Kethual could take care of himself. A third, capable party member might come in handy, should they run into any problems down the road... and who else among his friends could say they'd traveled with an Elf?

Besides, should Kethual become a problem, Erindín would deal with him, easily.

But there was also Sylvryth to consider. He was not worried about his well-being in the presence of the Elf, but could he risk Sylvryth's?

"Well," he muttered, raising one hand to scratch at his beard. "An extra party member might be useful. But I believe the decision lies with my guide, and whether or not she would mind a second stranger following her." He looked to Sylvryth.

Sylvryth watched him, and glanced back and forth between the Man and the Elf.

"...yes, it's alright with me if he comes along." She cleared her throat a bit. "We could always use another able body."

{//shot for short post//}

((Shaaaaaame. *buries body* ))

Erindín nodded once, watching Sylvryth's eyes. He hoped he hadn't annoyed her by adding a third member to their group. But, considering his experiences on the road to Bree, some extra help along the way would be comforting. He turned to Kethual and bowed his head. "Welcome to our party, Kethual. Your help may very well come in handy."

Shifting his cloak back, he walked up to the horses and reached up to stroke the mane of the pinto. "You've a good eye, Sylvryth. These are fine animals. How much do I owe you?"

{x3}

Sylvryth waved her hand dismissively. "You needn't pay me now. Mr. Holgaster rents his horses out by the week... I doubt we'll be in Archet too long, but just in case, I would rather wait for your payment until the end of our little journey." She offered a bit of a smile. "The steed should serve you well, though. Mr. Holgaster breeds the finest horses in Bree... Feel free to make use of the saddlebags." She gestured to the pinto's back, which had a fine set of tack, including saddlebags.

"Now then, men. Shall we be going?" She smiled at Erindín, then at Kethual. She took hold of her horse and hoisted herself easily into her saddle, not needing help from either of the men to do so.

"Yes, the sooner we take our leave, the better."

Erindín had started forward to offer a hand up, but as Sylvryth lifted herself into the saddle, he moved back and let his hands fall to his sides. Had he not been taught to help ladies climb onto a horse, to avoid ruining dresses and save the women from the embarrassment of flailing about?

But, he mused as he looked his guide over, Sylvryth was not wearing a dress, and had done no flailing. She didn't seem unsteady, either.

He smiled up at her, one eyebrow raised, and grabbed his bag and bow from beside the wall.

"Let's set a steady pace, one that you two can handle," he said as he separated some of his belongings into the provided saddlebags. He smirked. "You see, I may not be a rider of Rohan, but I have been referred to as one of the best riders in all of Gondor. I don't want to tire you out too soon."

He wasn't being too forward, he hoped, by teasing these two strangers. But he'd spent so long traveling alone, with naught but his own mind to converse with, and the prospect of sharing his trip with two living, breathing souls was almost too much to handle. He was no Ranger of the North, accustomed to being alone at weeks at a time. He missed the company.

With a final pat to the last saddlebag, Erindín climbed into the saddle and took hold of the reins. He grinned as he swept imaginary dust from the saddle horn. "I'm ready when the two of you are."

"Wonderful." Sylvryth turned her horse in a tight circle, as if testing out how well it could be controlled. She paused and looked at the Elf. "Ready to take our leave, Master Kethual?"

Erindin's comment about the Riders of Rohan made her smile a bit... Perhaps if all went well, their journey would gain her some experience. She could reach her goal of travelling to Rohan, and perhaps even finding her father. The thought made her simply giddy, and her enthusiastic smile showed it plainly.

Kethual nodded " Yes im ready when ever you are" he said with a smile.

Erindín nodded and shrugged his cloak back to reveal his leather covered forearms. "Then let us begin."

With a firm hold on the reins, he clicked his tongue and the horse started forward.

A moment later he tugged the reins. The horse halted, snorting as if irritated at being kept from finally moving along. The Ranger looked over his shoulder, almost bashful, and cleared his throat. "Ah, it might be best for Sylvryth to take the lead, as I only know my way to the front gate." He turned in his saddle and gestured to his guide. "After you, m'lady."

Sylvryth couldn't help but smile a bit. "As it should be, sir Erindín." She laughed softly and took the lead. "Ladies first, mm?" She grinned at Erindín and set her horse at a brisk pace, weaving easily among the thin morning crowd in the streets. She held herself high, chin raised ever so slightly, while she rode, a proud smile on her face. Was it because she was leading a man and an Elf? Or perhaps she had some other reason to be feeling so proud, riding through the streets of the tiny village out the gates and up the road northward bound.

Erindín turned to Kethual, grinning. "Come, Master Elf! The Lady leads, and shame on we two warriors if we fall behind!"

With that the Ranger took off, urging his steed to catch up to the leading party member. Once he came up behind Sylvryth, he pulled the reins and matched the other's pace. His horse slowed almost reluctantly, and Erindín imagined that the creature was impatient to be on the road. He patted the warm neck in apology--he feared he was passing his own urgency and excitement onto the four legged creature. The horse huffed and tossed its mane.

Erindín hummed and rode up to the lady's side. "Sylvryth, what is this horse's name?"

Kethual followed behind them quietly he said nothing more as he did not have much to say anyway. He kept his horce in pace next to Erindín.

Sylvryth glanced over at Erindín, and she shook her head slightly. "He doesn't have a name... Mr. Hengaster doesn't name his horses, like most men here in Breeland." She leaned down and patted her own steed, kissing his head before smiling. "But that gives you the liberty of calling him whatever you like, I suppose." She had yet to name her horse, as she wanted to get a real horse from Rohan before she got attached to any other horses. A bit silly, perhaps, but it was a goal for her to raise her first real horse from a foal, training it as the Rohirrim did.

"He deserves a name," Erindín said, smiling at the horse's twitching ears. "If he is going to put up with a boring Man on his back all day, then he does not deserve to simply be called 'horse' all day."

He ran a soothing hand down the creature's neck, pondering for a moment. "... Aglar. Aglar sounds good. Will you bring me glory, Aglar? If only for a day?"

The horse did not respond beyond a disinterested huff.

Satisfied, Erindín sat back in his saddle and glanced at the Elf riding beside him. Perhaps now was a good time for conversation. They might not have much of a chance once they left the village borders, where their pace would probably change.

"Kethual," he said, chancing a glance at the Elf's eyes. "I would never have thought to have seen a lone Elf in a village of Men. What brought you here?"

" well.. I guess its not normal. I like to travail, never have wanted to be in a place to long. How i ended up here is just luck i guess. it just happened that i ended up here when i did" he said with a soft laugh.