Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 2, 2010 17:51:32 GMT -5
“You have flour on your nose, Lim,” Sulwen whispered nearby her sister, who was immersed in her dough rolling in the grand airy kitchen. The young woman than winked to Beleth, who was standing behind her elder sister.
“I do not!” Limbes gasped, hurriedly moving to brush her face.
Narbeleth could not help but snicker as she reached about Limbes from behind with a hand doused in flour, and lightly patted her cousin’s cheek. She then burst out in laughter, stepping back quickly to avoid the wrath.
“You did not!” Limbes spun around and shouted in disbelief.
“Oh, I did,” Beleth remarked gleefully, darting to the opposite side of the room and smiling, and now standing between her cousins Arrasel and Ullothel.
“A little powder will not hurt you, sister. Though I should say you already look pale enough,” Arrasel chimed in from her seated position on a stool. She was grinning ear to ear, though only for a moment, as her cousin took initiative to hug her from behind and swipe her hands along her youngest cousin’s cheeks as well.
“Well what was that for!” Arrasel exclaimed, though continued to laugh. “I suspect for the fun of it,” Ullothel added.
“For the fun of it,” Beleth agreed, having quickly slipped away from that cousin as well, dashing for another handful of flour, which was promptly sprinkled in Sulwen’s black hair. Arrasel worked to wipe the flour from her face with her sleeve, accomplishing only smearing it more about her face, which set the high table that the sister’s were working on into a riot.
Months had passed by now since Narbeleth had moved into the household of Linnon, and she had gotten on well with her family, as she did with most others. Though Linnon’s home and his daughters were wonderful, and to be by the seaside and in the open woods was marvelous, it could not still the ache in her heart for her family and friends in the city of Minas Tirith. It was wretched to be sent away without them, even into this loving home here in the country.
Linnon was quite certain that his niece’s wild behavior, or whatever it was that had caused her brother to send her here, had only worsened since her stay began. She had spent more and more time alone in those woods, even against her uncle’s own advice to take someone with her. “I just cannot,” she always stated. It was true. Beleth could not bear to slow down and take her cousins with her; nor could she bear to spend much time alongside Remlas, Calon’s brother. The man was certainly fun to be around, and she did enjoy spending time with him, but she was quite certain that he aimed to seek her as further than a friend, and while her cousins loved the idea, Beleth did not. Her heart was quite intently set on a man from the city, who she missed terribly.
“Look out, Remy! They’ll have you next!” Beleth shouted, ducking under the table, and crawling to the other side. Two of her cousins made a point to grab her and restrain her as soon as she came up, while the other’s surrounded her. The man had been visiting with all the young women as they worked for perhaps the past hour, seating himself on a stool near the doorway and listening to them prattle on, though, Narbeleth had the idea that his eyes were upon her most of the time, she tried to treat him none the different. No special attention need be given.
“Well now, what shall we do with the one that has started all this madness?” Daelhel asked sweetly.
“Let her free and take Remlas instead?” Beleth suggested, hoping to sacrifice her new friend to the madness. “Come now, I know he is a man, but with all of us, I am quite certain we outnumber him,” she whispered slyly, though loud enough of course, for Remlas to hear.
“I think that is a poor idea,” Daehel added. The eldest of Narbeleth’s cousins, Daehel was the quietest and rarely took part in the fun, though it was a full handful of flour that found it’s way from Daehel’s dainty hand to her cousin’s grinning face.
“Dae!” she shouted, struggling to escape, and scattering flour everywhere. “You have blinded me!” she added dramatically, falling into the cupboards and making herself to seem completely senseless. “I will never see your pretty face again!” she laughed, methodically grasping for her cousin and increasing the spreading of flour throughout their workspace in the kitchen.
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Post by Remlas on Jun 2, 2010 20:02:51 GMT -5
Remlas chuckled with a great amusement from his perch in the corner. It was not the first time he had come calling to the house of Linnon to spend time with some of his lovely daughters. And while he could always feel an attention of sorts being paid to him in a heavier way from the daughter’s of the man himself, his own blue eyes fell more readily on his niece.
What a lady she was.
He had taken notice of her almost immediately; being of the age to begin to seek a spouse and settle down, Remlas had found Beleth to be exactly what he desired in a woman. She was sprightly and vivacious. And she held a great grace in some of her antics. A woman, he knew immediately, that could have a fine time yet still handle a household. Someone to be the greater half of his stricter nature.
Even then, he could see it. He could see the fun-loving nature in her ghostly grey eyes, and feel the radiance of her being in her smile. There, in the kitchen of Linnon, Remlas had found himself very much in entranced. There was no place that the young man would rather be, and such a thing was shocking. By his physique alone one could tell he was an outdoorsy type; and if he was not trailing off through the woods to hunt game, he was normally engrossed within his work as a smithy. But he had been leaving his father alone in the hop often as of late. Instead favoring taking company with the beautiful Narbeleth of the White City.
“Let her free and take Remlas instead?” “I think that is a poor idea.”
Remlas outwardly laughed. “A poor idea indeed!” His smile was charming, and his blue eyes enticingly warm in his handsome face. A rather striking gentleman by way of looks, but it seemed that Beleth did not quite offer him the same attention as some of the other daughters of the household. It did not quite matter; Remlas was certain that anybody worth having was worth winning, and Narbeleth was certainly both of those things.
“I do believe you should match the others of your family,” Remlas added lightly. And indeed, Daehel, the eldest of the others, took advantage of such distractions and landed a lovely batch of flour in Beleth’s bright face.
Beleth reacted dramatically, and it seemed the spirits of the room soared even higher. It was nearly impossible for Remlas to contain his enjoyment at everything. He felt as if he belonged in that room at that moment; it was a lovely feeling, and one that Remlas had thought would never come to him.
“I should say that your bought of blindness shall heal. It is a rare kind, you see. A simple cure of water and cloth shall return it to you. Consider yourself lucky,” the young man grinned amusedly. “It truly is only by interjection of the Valar that your pretty grey eyes shall have a chance to once more see everything.” It was a subtle nudge of speech to offer some sort of flirt to her.
He was getting increasingly bold with them. And while he had not felt that the lady eagerly took them, he had felt no resistance. Nothing outright obvious that she held dissatisfaction for them. Such a thing gave him courage and strength anew to keep trying. And, he thought happily, in the short time he had known her, it certainly seemed to be working well enough.
--
“Calon! Gracious! It is good to see you!” The woman exclaimed lovingly, opening the door and throwing her arms about her son happily. “I am so glad you have arrived safely. I do wish you visited a bit more often. Do come in, sit down! We have much to catch up on! Calon, have you slept at all?”
Calon stood muddied and rumpled upon his stoop. It had been a long ride to Belfalas, and one that had been heavily rushed for the urgency Calon had felt in his heart. The letter that had come that had informed him of Remlas’ sudden interest in a woman had pulled Calon quicker from the city than any other news would have been able to; he needed a word with his brother. Remlas was not allowed to have Narbeleth. The Nightingale was his and his alone, his brother needed to move along his way. “Mother, I am quite fine, truly.” He had not slept in near two days, and his ocean blue eyes were certainly showing signs of exhaustion and strain. Still, the man was not about to waste time in sleep now. He needed to settle this matter before it had time to start. “Where are Father and Remlas?”
“Oh, your father is at work and…well…Remlas is spending time with that young lady over at Master Linnon’s house. I must say, I have met the girl and she is quite a lovely thing. Finally, your brother has found someone to compliment him.” Arobes said excitedly. “They said they should be home a bit before dinner. That is a few hours away, do come in and—“
“He is there now?” Calon asked briskly, halting his steps and holding his ground upon the top step.
“Yes, Calon. He is there now.” His mother replied confusedly.
“…Do excuse me, Mother. I simply must fetch him. I have not seen him in so long…” Calon mumbled hotly, turning and beginning to head down the road.
“Calon! Calon!” Arobes called with a frown. “Oh, very well. Just don’t forget to come home. A mother needs to hear from her youngest every once in a while.”
The words had been said, but not heeded. Calon had taken off on foot, allowing his mount a break from travel and work. He was there at that very moment, and Calon needed to stop him. Beleth was going to be his bride, not Remlas’.
With a great frown and sigh of exhaustion the man found his way to the stoop of Linnon’s large home, and with an even firmer glare, knocked upon the wooden door and praying for a swift answer. And a miracle from the Valar that kept Narbeleth from being too far into Remlas’ grasps for Calon to still have the bride he had decided on.
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 2, 2010 21:17:43 GMT -5
Everything was going quite splendid and in a greatly amusing manner until Remlas began to speak again. It seemed that his compliments of her were becoming more and more forward, and it made the young woman slightly uncomfortable.
“It truly is only by interjection of the Valar that your pretty grey eyes shall have a chance to once more see everything.”
At the words, Narbeleth opened her eyes once more and looked at Remlas for a moment, her cheeks blushing beneath her pale floured appearance. “You are right, I can see well enough now.” The other girls giggled and looked between the two of them, until Narbeleth shot them a glance, immediately changing the subject.
“Oh, the dough is rising! We should not let it spoil!” she exclaimed, and hurridly took herself back over to the table to work on it once more.
---
“Well hello Calon,” Ivren smiled as she pulled open the door, recognizing the young man that had grown up not but a few minutes walk away immediately. “A pleasure to have you calling, do come in. We’ve seen enough of your brother lately,” the woman prattled on, smiling all the while. She stepped back, that the tall, young man might make his way in.
“Are you here for your brother? I hear you’ve been working in the White City. Your parents must be thrilled for your job there,” Ivren was every bit as talkative as the rest of her family, it was certain, and so she did not make great haste to collect Remlas from the kitchen, nor to even move far from the doorway.
---
Meanwhile the ladies in the kitchen had resumed their work, quietly now for some time. One hummed to fill the silence that had begun in the kitchens, and another cast a smile on Remlas, perturbed that their fun had ended so quickly, and because of a compliment nonetheless. Well, Narbeleth had been correct. The bread was rising.
“I think Mother is talking to someone, do we have guests?” Sulwen suddenly asked, immediately mourning the state of her dress and appearance.
Daehel listened for a moment, “Yes, oh, and none of us are presentable! Who could it be?”
Arrasel had already peeked out the doorway to the entryway at the end of the hall. “It is your brother, Remlas,” she informed the man and the others happily. “You did not say he was coming back from the city.”
The words hit Beleth, and she dropped the dough back to the table. She did not even bother to brush the flour from hands or dress. Her pause was only quick enough for the woman to grip at her skirt and hoist it enough that she could run down the hall. She stopped at the end of the hall, staring out at the man in the front room. It was him! “Cal,” she almost sung, her eyes beaming at the man.
The young woman bit her lip, restraining herself no further, and then lit across the room, not stilling herself until she had thrown her arms about the man’s neck. “Cal,” she repeated again, leaning into him and tilting her face upward too look at the man. “I missed you,” she whispered happily, punctuating her words with a kiss upon Calon’s cheek. “So much.” She could hardly resist herself, kissing him again, and then once more upon the other cheek.
“I must restrain myself,” she whispered again after the fourth kiss, and then laughed as she dropped her arms from about the man and managed to step back.
“I think she has been keeping a secret from us,” Arrasel whispered to Daehel. Sulwen could not help but add, “No wonder she has paid no mind to Remlas.” The five young women, in various states of floured mess had entered the room one after the other, but had certainly not missed the greeting that their cousin had paid to their new guest.
“And now look who you have smudged in flour,” Limbes remarked loud enough for all to hear.
“What a welcome,” Ullothel laughed.
“He does not mind,” Narbeleth smiled, moving to brush Calon’s tunic, and still simply staring at him with large grey eyes. Eventually, she bit her lip, taking in his disheveled appearance and tired eyes. “You look as if you just arrived from the White City. You must be here to see your brother,” she said aside, looking back over her shoulder for Remlas.
Ivren stood the whole while with a smile on her face, just as shocked as most of her daughters were, and quite ready to demand an explanation from Narbeleth at a later time.
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Calon
Man
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Posts: 145
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Post by Calon on Jun 3, 2010 8:43:04 GMT -5
It had never been harder to call upon an acquaintance’s home before. Every muscle in him ran hot and strained. It seemed like it took hours for the door to open, but finally it did, and Calon was face to face with the lady of the house.
“A pleasure to have you calling, do come in. We’ve seen enough of your brother lately.” He forced a smile, “So I have heard, my lady.” Seen enough of Remlas? Maybe Calon was too late.
“Are you here for your brother? I hear you’ve been working in the White City. Your parents must be thrilled for your job there.”
“Well, I do believe Mother would rather me have a job closer to home. But as for what I am doing, they are proud like any parents would be. I found a nice position in the royal stable; I have certainly enjoyed the move,” Calon answered carelessly, eyes flicking down the hallway. Where was Remlas? What was he doing here aside from ruining Calon’s plans?
It seemed, though, that his length of answer was just right; no sooner had Calon turned his attention back to Ivren than did something else set his heart to nearly sing within his chest/ “Cal!”
Before he knew it the Beleth had thrown her arms about his neck and began kissing his cheek. Calon was a bit taken aback by the motion and finally settled to not wrap his arms about her in return; after all, he was forbidden to do such a thing, and surely the rest of the family would send home their report of this to Faeldor. As if that man did not have enough to worry over. When Calon had left, Gilwen had been unconscious.
“Bel,” he laughed almost excitedly. “Well, I must say the city itself has missed your brightness.”
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“You did not say he was coming back from the city.”
Remlas frowned. “I…did not know he was,” the young man said plainly. Perhaps his mother mentioned it and he had forgotten? No, no word had come to him at all. Though, a part of the young man was excited; it had been a long time since he had heard from Calon as neither of them were fond of letters.
He moved with the others down the hall, though regretted such an action immediately. It was as if Calon had shot him in the heart with an arrow, the way Beleth greeted him. A pressing thought closed in on him at that moment. Right family, wrong brother. Remlas sighed inwardly.
He had lost before he had gotten a chance to play, clearly.
Still, the blue-eyed man forced a smile. “Little brother!” He stepped into the room, and Calon looked up with a tracings of a pointed look within his bright expression.
“Remlas!” They embraced in a manly way, getting it over with quickly. “I heard you were down here,” he said to Remlas evenly. “And before Mother got a chance to set me down and talk too much, I thought I would bring you as reserve!”
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 3, 2010 15:04:14 GMT -5
“Bel, well, I must say the city itself has missed your brightness.”
And Belfalas has missed your charm, my huntsman, Beleth thought to herself, still beaming that the man was smiling and standing right before her, when she might have thought just minutes earlier that he was days away, working at the stable under her brother’s hand in Minas Tirith.
Beleth coursed her hands together lightly, stepping back to allow Calon to greet his brother, and smiling all the while. Flour tinkled from her shoulder onto the floor as she moved, and she was quite certain that she had not been so pleased throughout her whole stay here. For some moments she observed the two brothers as they embraced and spoke a few words to each other, and indeed, she thought on how alike they truly were.
Though, there was something in Calon’s look and way that refreshed her so! True, she had spent more time now with Remlas than she had been allowed with his brother; yet it hardly seemed to matter. She was drawn to Calon’s bright blue eyes, and his cheerful voice and manner.
“Well, we have invited Remlas over for supper this eve, and certainly you would be as well, Calon, though I think your Mother would prefer you do your catching up with her first,” Ivren said, knowingly. None of her daughters had ever been away from her as long as Calon had been away from his own family, and she was certain that if those boys were her own sons, she would want her family together on a night like this.
“You do not have to go home right away, do you?” Narbeleth asked hopefully, “I mean… of course you have come to visit your family,” she floundered slightly in her words, knowing that her request sounded perhaps childish or selfish. He was probably tired. He looked tired; in fact, though his eyes were still bright upon her, she thought she had never seen the man look so strained before. Perhaps at her house during Haliel’s birthday picnic, but then, that would have strained anyone to the limits. Certainly a reunion should not be so tiresome.
The cousins looked on, in great humor at the whole exchange. Though, being young women, were quite inclined to see the tragic situation which had befallen their dear cousin! Why, it was evident that she was in love with the young man who had come to their door, there was nothing to it. And they had been parted for some months, it seemed. She had fared so well, but to her excitement now, apparently she had hidden a great deal from them.
“Bel,” Daehel teased slightly, using the name by which Calon had called her. “Why don’t you go clean up that flour and get changed.” The other girls nodded in accordance.
“Perhaps… that is a good idea. For once,” the young woman looked over to her cousins, who all spared her amused and confused glances.
Ivren agreed, adding, “And the rest of us should finish the bread before it is ruined! I hope you do not mind,” she looked at the two men, “But we were right in the middle of setting it in the oven and I would hate to have to bake again this week if it does not turn out.” Ivren excused herself, shooing her daughters away. Certainly Calon and Remlas could entertain themselves for a few minutes while Beleth changed and saw them out.
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jun 3, 2010 19:20:07 GMT -5
It was true; Arobes would be wanting him to come home for dinner. It was childish of him to think anything else would be allowed. Still, he certainly did not wish to relinquish the invitation and let Remlas be the only man of his family to be present at the dinner party with the lovely Narbeleth. It was not his brother’s place to be sitting at her table, unless it was a time in the future where his brother would come visit both of them at their own home in Minas Tirith. But before Calon and Beleth were wed, Remlas was forbidden from her table by the Huntsman himself.
“You do not have to go home right away, do you? I mean… of course you have come to visit your family.”
Calon smiled at the somewhat childlike manner Beleth slipped into as she semed to beg for him to stay. She had enough of a handle upon herself to make the words not outright beg, but the tone was enough for Calon. “Well, I should say I do not have to go quite yet,” Calon remarked musically.
Before he had a chance to let his tongue venture on, Beleth had been sent to go change, and the rest of the women had vanished back to the kitchen. Calon looked back to his brother, and with the people gone, his cheery and smiling nature had vanished. His handsome face was utterly dark and fallen. “So, brother. You know the lady from Minas Tirith,” Remlas said lowly.
“Aye,” Calon responded pointedly. “I do.” There was a small pause and Calon held a firm stare at Remlas for a while, finally sighing and looking away for a moment. “Hands off, mate. She is my own. I will marry her.”
Remlas scoffed. “As if I couldn’t see that by your greeting.” In all of the time Remlas had thought Lady Beleth was warming up to him, he had been clearly mistaken. Her warmth was for his little brother alone.
“I met her first,” Calon said blandly.
“Guess I should have headed off to Minas Tirith, hm? Then maybe I would have been the lucky one.” Remlas’ voice sounded utterly depressed, and Calon frowned a moment.
“Well, I would say she has a sister, but that one would not be quite to your liking,” Calon mused aloud. Remlas’ face seemed dark. It was clear his elder brother was not at all finding humor in the situation, and Calon could not blame him. Still, a manly brush off of ones emotions called for Calon to be less than sensitive about it. “I have in mind to invite her to our house to eat.”
“You would,” Remlas finally grinned a bit. “Mother would like to meet her for more than she has been able to with me. I assume you could get her to stay. I couldn’t. I thought it was because she was modest or perhaps a bit shyer than some of the others in that way.”
“Shy?” Calon laughed heartily. “Ah, you do not know her, then.”
“Well, not as well as I would have liked to, for certain.” Remlas countered. He sighed. Finally he looked back to Calon with a laugh. “Does she know she is going to marry you?”
Calon grinned boyishly. “No. But she will.”
“I do not doubt it, brother,” Remlas laughed.
“You will be invited to the wedding,” Calon shrugged.
“That was cold, Cal,” Remlas laughed robustly. “Just cold!”
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 3, 2010 21:55:09 GMT -5
“Well, I should say I do not have to go quite yet.”
Nothing could have rid Narbeleth of her smile now as she took to her bedroom to change quickly. She laughed when she saw her reflection in the mirror, for half of her face was streaked white with flour, and she took to the washbasin to wipe herself clean, and then stepped right out of her dress. In her rush to rid her bare arms of the flour and dough which had accumulated upon them, she almost took off back out the door without her dress. Though, as soon as she stepped into the hallway she realized her mistake and laughed as she ran back to her closet.
A blue dress donned, and her hair quickly braided back from her face, she was now content to return to her huntsman. He certainly would not have minded her disheveled state, the woman knew, and she knew she need do nothing to truly impress him
Beleth lit down the stairs and back to the entry where it appeared Calon and Remlas had been left alone, and no sooner had she caught back to the men, did she stop and look between them, biting her bottom lip as she felt incredibly uncomfortable now that her cousins had left the room.
“Just us then?” she commented aside, moving nearer Calon, and then slowly moving to slip her hand within his, as she had done many times before on their outings in the city, and looking up to him. Slower was her gaze finally turned to Remlas, though she was embarrassed to look at him while holding tight to his brother’s hand. She smiled at him, trying to seem as if her behavior were normal and nothing about the situation was different than the usual. After all, he was Calon’s very own brother, and he had become a good friend.
Inwardly she felt entirely guilty, though she could not entirely pick apart the reason why. Though Calon had smiled all the while, and she had seen no distaste on his brother’s face, the room felt incredibly tense! There was something off in the way that the brother’s looked at each other, though it appeared they had been laughing.
She tried to find the words to bring forth conversation, “Is it not funny? How I met you in the city, Cal, but our seaside homes are so near each other?” she wondered aloud. “If our family would have lived in Belfalas just a few years longer, perhaps we might have known each other as children… You know, Remy was helping with my archery lessons. I think I am a fine shot now, Cal. You should have seen how I near took off Calon’s hand the first time he showed me out on the Pelennor Field,” she looked to Remlas now, rambling on as she went, though she stopped and took a deep breath.
To stand so near Calon now was such torture! How she had missed him. Missed him enough that had she not been so uncomfortable with Remlas still in the room, she might have wrapped her arms around Calon once more and buried her head against him, forgoing all her previous inhibitions. Even now he smelled of travel and horse, and she missed such smells so desperately. “How many days did your trip take?” she asked Calon curiously. Her eyes were level with his chin and she contemplated his ruffled and unshaven look, though did not comment yet, first waiting for his answer.
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jun 4, 2010 20:24:49 GMT -5
“Yes, I guess so,” Calon responded brightly as Narbeleth walked into the room. It did seem it was just the three of them now; everyone else had vanished. However, if Calon could have it his way, there would only be two of them when it came time to leave.
“Your family went back to the kitchen,” Remlas added quietly. It was truly not a group Remlas desired to be a part of. Something of it was strange feeling, and he felt oddly out of place. It grew worse as the two of them joined hands, and Remlas was forced to watch. He did not need to see the action; he had seen enough to know he stood no chance. He looked away uncomfortably, pretty eyes strained with his discomfort.
“You know, Remy was helping with my archery lessons. I think I am a fine shot now, Cal. You should have seen how I near took off Calon’s hand the first time he showed me out on the Pelennor Field.”
Beleth’s words had been plenty and seamless. There was no time for anybody to answer any of her questions, though by the time she had weaved her way through her speech enough, she had managed to offset both gentleman there. Both stiffened and became rigid, and both clenched their jaws tight together.
“You showed her, did you, Remlas?” Calon asked with a forced evenness.
“Well, she certainly needed the work, if she near took your arm off. I would imagine it, too,” the older brother responded carefully.
Calon’s face remained stern, and the laughing light that he normally held in his eye had completely vanished. “Well, Remy,” he stressed the ridiculous nickname he had been given and continued. “I am sure it was a nice lesson.” He paused and then glanced to Beleth once more. “I would like to invite you to supper at my house,” he said. “I have not seen you in some time, and I cannot spare the evening away from my mother. She does need to catch up, I suppose.” He glanced back to Remlas for a moment. “I am sorry that brother has already agreed to have dinner at this house, for to that acceptance he must honor. But you are more than welcome to join me at home.”
Remlas frowned, though said nothing. It was not his place, he knew to lay protest or discourage his brother’s behavior. He had already committed himself to Ivren’s invitation and would not throw away his dignity or honor and go back on his acceptance of it for the sake of vying still for young Beleth’s affections; it was a prized woman that he would have to let go, and such a thing burned him like hot coils.
“How many days did your trip take?”
Calon shrugged. “It was the shortest that it could possibly have been done in; I ran Talagor as hard as I could. After what happened to your brother upon the field with his lady, I daresay I did not wish to try my luck with a band of orcs.” Though, that was hardly the true reason he had rushed it so. The reason was holding his hand at that moment. Beleth had drawn him quicker to Belfalas than any other thing could have. A strange spell of lady wiles, it was. Calon had no intention of admitting such a thing in favor of protecting his manhood. “I am sure I could have handled them, but why go seeking such trouble, might I ask?”
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 4, 2010 21:11:11 GMT -5
“I would like to invite you to supper at my house. I have not seen you in some time, and I cannot spare the evening away from my mother. She does need to catch up, I suppose. I am sorry that brother has already agreed to have dinner at this house, for to that acceptance he must honor. But you are more than welcome to join me at home.”
“Yes, Calon, I would not miss it, and I would like to get to know your mother better,” Narbeleth could hardly even delay her response. “I mean… if she should not mind having company...”
“Oh and, my Aunt would understand if you wished to have your family together for the eve,” the young woman retorted. Though, immediately regretted her actions. While she enjoyed spending time with Remlas, lately his affections had been a bit stifling to her, and it was difficult to always remain kind and courteous, and not lose her new friend. However, Beleth would have done just about anything to have Calon to herself, and she was starting to note the tension even more between the brothers, and realize that she was the likely cause of it.
“Well, Remy, I am sure it was a nice lesson.”
“It was,” Beleth cut in, frowning slightly. “He helped me much improve my aim and stance. I should say that I am quite ready for a hunt now.” It was beginning to perturb her that Calon was frowning so, and that Remlas had come to look so upset. She thought she had never seen his blue eyes sad in her presence. She squeezed Calon’s hand tightly. Was she not displaying the fact that she had not forsaken her huntsman while they were apart? He need not hurt his brother over the matter…
“I am sure I could have handled them, but why go seeking such trouble, might I ask?”
“You are right,” she agreed. “I am sure you could have taken them down easily, but I am glad that you needed not expend yourself. Talagand could have taken an injury.” Beleth released the man’s hand finally, sliding her hand up his muscled forearm for a second, with a thoughtful half-smile on her face. His muscles were tense, and she was uncertain whether it was from weariness, thoughts of orcs, or mere protectiveness over her. The thought of the latter pleased her slightly, though the fact that it was his brother that had set him so was upsetting. Perhaps it was best that Remlas stay for supper here, and meanwhile, Beleth could do as well as she might to convince Calon that his brother had caused her no trouble.
“Just give me a moment to go tell my Aunt that I shall be going,” she said, releasing his arm and starting back for the hall.
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“Beleth!” Limbes shouted as the young woman made her way into the kitchen. At once all the young women, and even Ivren, turned to look at the girl, who blushed without another word having to be said.
“How come you did not tell us of him?” Ullothel asked.
“I’m sorry,” Narbeleth evaded the question, “I thought you knew him. Calon’s family lives right down the road, you know.”
“Well of course we know him,” Limbes said, “But we did not know that you—“
“Aunt, I am going to supper with Calon and his mother,” Beleth cut in, not willing to deal with the matter at hand. As much as she would love to sit and speak about the man with her cousins, now was not the time, for she had not seen him for so long, and he was waiting for her in the entry!
“Remlas will still stay for supper here, so one of you must go out and make him feel welcome…” she said aside. “Offer to go practice archery with him, or go climbing… or… go… catch the chickens in the hencoop…”
“Eru, child, that is not the way to impress a man,” Ivren stated, shaking her head at the whole situation.
Narbeleth stared blankly for a moment. “You just do not understand,” was all she managed, before kissing her Aunt goodbye, and waving to her cousins. Only a minute had passed by the time she reached the entry again.
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jun 4, 2010 22:42:25 GMT -5
Calon beamed. “Of course she would not mind; Mother is always looking for ways to have company.” It was true; Arobes was an entertainer. When Calon had lived with her, it had seemed almost every other evening she had different guests over for dinner. She was a woman in a home of many men, and while she enjoyed the more rugged adventures that her husband and sons adored, she held on to her womanly manners in the ways of being a social enthusiast.
“She is used to having four at the table anyway,” Remlas offered dryly. “And while your aunt may understand, I shall hardly do such a thing as to shirk her hospitality. But thank you, my lady.”
Calon smiled inwardly with the satisfaction of knowing that Beleth was going to be his own for the evening. A nice taste of what it would be like for the rest of his days when he finally wed her. “Mother is a fine cook,” he mused aloud. “Though, she is not much of a baker, as your own mother is.”
“He helped me much improve my aim and stance. I should say that I am quite ready for a hunt now.”
“Good. I am quite ready to take you. Perhaps while we are close to the woods here I shall take you; your brother does not need to give me permission for that here, does he?” He chuckled. “There are some fine stag here; not as fine as the Firien wood. Though, I should say that it will be perfect for a first time out.”
“I am sure you could have taken them down easily, but I am glad that you needed not expend yourself. Talagand could have taken an injury.”
“Talagor would not deserve such an injury. He is a good mount; and if he takes an injury, his swiftness would suffer. I don’t know what either of us would do. We both like to gallop.”
Beleth excused herself, and Calon allowed her to go.
“Have fun tonight,” Remlas said.
Calon looked at him a moment. “I am sorry, Remlas.”
The man shrugged. “It is fine. I can see it is a fine match for you.”
“You will find someone just as nice for you.”
“Thanks.”
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Narbeleth
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Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 5, 2010 13:11:48 GMT -5
The young woman slowed her walk as she entered the room again, still studying the faces of the brothers, and feeling the same tension existing in the room between the three of them. “Aunt is glad to see me go, I think. I was only making a mess in the kitchen and not truly helping. Remlas would certainly attest to that,” she smiled.
The inward struggle to maintain her composure was at hand. She eyed the brothers as she approached, doing well enough this time to avoid throwing her arms about Calon’s neck. She took a deep breath and released it, trying to ebb the tension in her stomach and the aching in her heart. Her nerves were piling upon themselves at the mere sight of him! Every upset that she had felt when Faeldor had sent her away from the city had returned, her weeks of loneliness for both Calon and her family piled on top
“Remlas!” a light voice called from just behind her in the hall, and startled her. The youngest of her cousins, Arrasel smiled and beckoned the eldest of the brothers. “We need your help. Mother just pulled a tray of cookies from the oven, and she is certain that she burned them. They are not even blackened, and I think they taste just fine, but she will not be settled until you partake,” she laughed.
“Aunt Ivren was like that with me for my first month’s stay,” Narbeleth commented, glad for the distraction. “High strung about her cooking for guests, though I’ve never tasted a poor dish. Save that one pie, on my second night here… it was horrid, but I could not tell her.”
Arrasel laughed, “I had forgotten about that, oh, we should have told you. That was because Father was trying to help; and he must have mixed the salt with the sugar. It tasted as if someone had dipped the whole thing in seawater before baking it. Mother cried after she realized that you had eaten your whole piece and told her it was fine.” The youngest daughter looked pointedly at Remlas, “There is no salt in this batch of cookies. Father has been out of the house all day.”
Narbeleth giggled at the truth of the matter, smiling at Remlas, and trying to remain as normal as possible, though she knew that their friendship would have to be a might different now. Calon was obviously not comfortable with it, and though Beleth was her own woman, she would not wish to do a thing to unsettle her huntsman. Arrasel turned back down the hall, beckoning Remlas to follow.
Narbeleth moved for her cloak which hung from a peg on the wall among all the others of the family, throwing it around her shoulders and tightening the laces. “Perhaps while we walk, you will tell me how the city hens are faring,” she suggested, training her voice, and smiling slightly. “And how they will manage without you there to keep them in line. And of the hunts you have been on since I last saw you. And how your new position in the Stable has gone over. And of how long you will stay here and Belfalas.”
She opened the door and turned to step out onto the patio walk, though Beleth’s emotions had been pulled enough in the last months, and she could not help herself from turning around and grasping Calon’s hand again first, continuing, “And that when you return you will take me back with you, and that I will not have to be away from you for so long ever again.”
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jun 6, 2010 23:17:58 GMT -5
“Well, I hardly think a proper meal is made without some sort of mess,” Calon mused aloud. Remlas laughed for a moment himself.
“Come now, Calon. Mother is quite neat in the kitchen, and she always has a fine meal,” the elder brother chimed good-naturedly.
“Well, then she may be the exception.” Calon replied laughingly, blue eyes sparkling. “But, perhaps your aunt would prefer helping hands. It would make the chore go by quicker, I am sure.”
“Remlas!”
The man turned around to see Arrasel in the doorway. “Yes?” He asked genteelly. Many different things flashed through him in that moment. He wondered what they could possibly need his help with; he had tried to aide them earlier in the baking when he arrived and nearly ruined the dough. That was why he had been sent to the corner to sit upon the stool. Still, the very way the young lady spoke made clear to Remlas that he was indeed needed for something.
After it was made clear what they wanted, the man laughed brightly, in much the same way Calon could in any situation. “Salt for the sugar? I daresay that must have been horrendous.” Still he nodded to the young girl in the doorway as she beckoned him again. “All right, I should say I will be able to help in that way. I may not be able to bake or cook myself, but I am can surely eat.” He looked to his brother, and then for a moment quickly at Beleth. “Enjoy yourselves. Welcome home, brother.”
And with that, the young man vanished and left Beleth and Calon alone in the entryway. It was quickly the silence was filled with Beleth’s lovely voice, and the hunter listened pleasantly. It was music to a man’s ears; and the very lilt her words held eased him and soothed his weary body.
“Of the hens, I cannot say much. I regret to say I have been quite busy in your brother’s stable,” he said as he followed her to the patio of the home and she took his hand once more. He began to pick his way back to his home, and as he did so, obliged Beleth in her questioning.
“I have heard that on the second tier they are getting a bit rowdy, though I have hardly had time to spare to check it out myself. I do hope the Steward forgives me for such a thing. Master Faeldor has kept me quite busy.”
“Though, speaking of work it has not been too toilsome, I suppose. My new position is not as much hard labor, though there has been much to do. Your brother has been out of work many days to tend to his lady, and much of the tasks he performs have been divided amongst the grooms. Including staying the night, but we have not used the Master’s quarters. There is an empty stall upon the end of the stable; we have put down fresh straw and taken blankets in there. I must say staying overnight is hardly any fun. Though, it is easy to fall asleep there with all of the constant sounds of the horses.” He paused for a moment to contemplate it. It had certainly worked to rid his mind of some of his anxieties and tense nerves. He had not slept as well at home in the past days as he had in that stable. Though, horses were precisely what the man adored.
“I have hardly had time to go hunting,” the young man lamented. “I stole three days a few weeks back. I got a nice stag, and I could have gotten a boar. But I did not feel like fussing with getting them both home, so I let the boar go. I imagine I will find it again next time. Maybe it will have fattened up a bit more. It turned into a wonderful stew; Grandmother is no fool in the kitchen.” He squeezed Beleth’s hand lightly and smiled slightly.
“I must admit I have needed to get away more than I have actually been able to. I have needed to go simply expend my strain in archery, though I have had no luck. Perhaps on my trip here I shall take to some release of the sorts; after all, I told Master Faeldor I did not know how long I should be here. I am thinking about a week and a half; I am not sure how things are faring there. When I left—“ he paused and frowned a bit and looked to Beleth carefully.
“She was not doing well,” he added slowly and lowly. “If…if something else happened, well…your brother will need all of his hands there.”
He let a small silence fall between them before he sighed and finished his words, once more smiling. “Though, I should be happy to bring you back with me. The White City has lost much splendor since its Nightingale was sent away. It will glisten in the sun when you return, I am certain.”
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Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Jun 8, 2010 13:12:46 GMT -5
As Calon answered her about how he had spent the past months in Minas Tirith, it caused Beleth’s heart to fall slightly. Certainly he was tired from his ride, of course, and he looked it. But it sounded as if he had been strained in many ways. To keep him from his archery, and to pile him on a new position was certainly a difficult task. She hoped that Faeldor had not been harsh on him after she had been sent away, after all, he had done nothing wrong.
Her heart fell again at the news of her brother, and of Gilwen’s illness. Her mother had written her not long ago of the matter, and while she was sore over it, it had been better for her to not think on it. She did not know the full details of things, and so certain was she that her brother’s lover was a strong woman and would rebound easily, that it had been easy for her to press the matter aside. Though, it pained her at the thought of how upset Faeldor would be. Even though she was bitterly angry with her brother for sending her away and his lack of trust, she longed to comfort him as she always had.
However, such could not be thought on for too long, as it would only upset her again that she had been away. Calon was here with her now, and though his voice was bright, he still held a level of tension about him, and Narbeleth was certain that it could be her doing to rid him of it. She was more than desperate to rid him of it! While she knew a good night’s sleep would certainly set him more at ease, she was willing to give any effort to help the man back to his cheerful nature.
“Though, I should be happy to bring you back with me. The White City has lost much splendor since its Nightingale was sent away. It will glisten in the sun when you return, I am certain.”
“I will be glad to return with you then, and I will let my Uncle Linnon know to expect it. He knows I do not wish to spend the winter here, and your father is a friend of his, so it should be no trouble to him.” Her tone was mild and explanatory, though soon took on its usual lilt, “And think of the adventure we should have. There will never be more fun a trip, and long as we keep our eyes open, I know I will be safe with you. Much safer than with that elderly couple my brother sent me with. Bless their hearts, but it would have been me defending them should anything have happened.” She bit her lip, smiling for a moment and realizing that perhaps being sent away to Belfalas on Faeldor’s part was good luck. Surely, if she had been in the city, he would have never allowed her to go on such a trip that extended so many days and crossed so much territory. And now for the next week and a half, Beleth would have no condemnation from Faeldor for spending as much time with the man as he allowed. Yes, perhaps she was simply going to supper with him now… but they could go on a hunt, and climb, and swim, and simply enjoy each other without fear of being watched.
“I briefly met your mother when I was out in the forest gathering berries with my cousins last week; she is very kind. She had invited me over for supper then… and Remlas had invited me a few times before on her word. I hope she will not think me rude for it.”
“Though, I could not expect your whole family to be anything but merry. I hope you are not upset with me for spending time with your brother,” Narbeleth mused in a sweet voice. “I hope to get along with him well after all. He is your family. And he is my friend now. Remlas has been good to me. I have certainly spent more time with him since my stay here than I had chance to be with you in Minas Tirith.”
She smiled, yet continued quickly, “But I will say that not once did I walk with him like this. Nor touch him. Nor even wear my proper climbing and swimming attire.” Proper, was, in meaning of her undergarments of course. She had certainly been heavily weighted down in full and proper manner of dress in all her instances with Remlas. “And while he may have heard me sing along with my cousins, I did not sing to him.”
“You two are very much alike in some ways, and that is why I did allow so much time with him. I missed you so much… well, I cannot even describe it. And when Remlas would show me the trails in the forests and speak on all his youthful outings, I just knew that you did those very same things. And it would be his voice speaking, yet I would think of you, Cal. And of all our lovely plans.”
“Though Remlas is not always as fun. I fear he is more sensible. I doubt he has much experience in hen herding, he never spoke of it if he did! And he never once made suggestion that we should climb the Sea-ward Tower. He is quite less distracting as an archery instructor, though I imagine you would find that a good thing.”
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Calon
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Post by Calon on Jul 27, 2010 13:18:59 GMT -5
“Much safer than with that elderly couple my brother sent me with. Bless their hearts, but it would have been me defending them should anything have happened.”
Calon’s blue eyes once more darkened; he was too exhausted to very well curb his agitation at this point, and something about the safety of his Nightingale had caused him great trouble. “Should he have sent you away, he should have taken you himself. The stables would have been fine, and you would have been safe,” the man growled mercilessly. The very thought of the stable master these days left a sour and bitter taste upon his tongue, and with his strain being so high as it was, it was hardly able to be quelled or ignored.
Beleth mentioned meeting his mother, and Calon squeezed her hand possessively. “No, she will not think you rude; you are, after all, coming for dinner. Just not the day she asked for you.” Calon paused a moment and sighed tiredly. Such a trip. “Well, I should say that my entire family is cheery, most of the time. We have our moments, though, when we are not.” Perhaps it was an explanation for his current dourness. Perhaps it was simply a statement that made his family seem less ethereal and more human. Either way, Calon did not let the words stay in the air for long, and chased them away with more words.
“And as for my brother and I, I would say we are not alike at all!” It was a lie, and somewhere in his heart Calon knew it but did nothing about it. He could not stand the thought of them being similar—that he might have come so close to losing his Beleth because of her brother’s foul temper. It hurt him enough that he nearly cringed.
“He is far too preoccupied with work to really do fun things anymore. He is much more keen on a nice lifestyle than I,” Calon weaved. “He wants to provide for everyone in the family. I, on the other hand, know that one must enjoy life as much as get through it.”
He walked some more in silence. “I do hope you are prepared to eat, Nightingale. Mother has only had to feed men and has developed a similar appetite herself. She assumes naturally that everyone eats the same.”
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Narbeleth
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Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
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Post by Narbeleth on Aug 27, 2010 16:39:59 GMT -5
“Should he have sent you away, he should have taken you himself. The stables would have been fine, and you would have been safe.”
“I know,” Beleth answered lightly as she noted the aggressive tone to Calon’s voice. “And there is no doubt that after his rash decision, he likely regretted it. Mother wrote apology in her last letter, and he had meant to come sooner to collect me… but the orcs on the plain, and then Gilwen’s illness… it simply had to wait. It will be fine now though, because there is nobody better suited to take me back than my new companion,” she grinned.
“And as for my brother and I, I would say we are not alike at all!” It was obvious to the young woman that Calon held an unfounded jealously for his brother. Remlas had been a kind friend to her, and while his intentions had also been obvious, she was not about to chastise him for it, though nor would she say this to Calon at the moment. He was weary from travel, and surely had been stressed beyond the normal manner. Beleth was a slight distraught that Remlas had happened to be at her family’s house upon his arrival, for certainly that did not help the man’s mood.
“You are right,” she answered him shortly after he rambled on the differences between his brother and himself. Beleth had come to know Remlas nearly as well as she knew Calon, and while she did not necessarily agree that the two were diversely different, it was true that Remlas was a provider. He had, afterall, stayed by the sea to help his father. Though, Calon was not so different, for though he had travelled, he had done so also to help his family.
For a moment, Narbeleth smiled, musing on the fact that if her brothers had been nearer the same age, they likely would have had the same rivalries. Would Gilwen have been so sought after by the both Faeldor and Faelon had the youngest brother been a more appropriate age? It was impossible to know. “I am just glad that you are here now. I have found nobody more fun than my huntsman to partake in life with.” Smile… she pleaded inwardly with the man. His face was so drawn together and she wished to see the brightness in his eyes! He should not be so upset, and she was amazed that Remlas had frustrated the man so. It must be his weariness that was causing him so much undo upset.
That tensed face, though, was not to her liking, and it caused Beleth to stop her walking where they were. She did not think much before reaching to touch the man’s face with her free hand, moving her fingers over the stiff jaw and cheek, and over the tight lines of weariness near his eyes. Her fingers roamed further back and into his dusty curls for a moment, rubbing his temple, and then her hand dropped to the back of Calon’s neck, fingers pressing firmly into the corded muscle, trying to relieve his tension, and with as much purpose to distract him. She aimed to still all talk of Remlas as long as she could, or at least as long as Calon was upset over the matter.
“I saw the path from the shore that leads up to your house.” She did not mention that Remlas had pointed the path out to her on one of their walks down the beach. “Perhaps after supper it would be nice to walk down and take a swim. The water is still warm enough from the summertime, and I’m sure it would be refreshing after your long ride… And we have not chanced to swim together yet.” She changed the subject completely with her request, hoping that Calon could let go some of the unrequited upset with her brother. Though, she could not help. “I’ve missed the smell of… what did that foul Rosiel say…. Horses? You smell like horses, dirt, and long travel. I like that,” she alluded as she leaned close, using her hand to tilt Calon’s face near hers, yet not quite close enough to kiss the man. Though soon she began to laugh, pulling back and shortly releasing all but Calon’s hand again. “But I hope you do not mean to grow out a beard as you are, it tickles far too much,” she commented.
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