Calon
Man
Stablehand
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 145
|
Post by Calon on Oct 10, 2009 16:31:30 GMT -5
“If you should ever be called out, I would be glad that you were an archer.”
Calon was struck by the comment, and for a time was silent. Indeed, it was quite a thing to hear coming from a lady he had known for such a short amount of time. Still, it did not trouble him, though perhaps spur him further in his already heavy devotion to the lady. Did he care for him so, then? Well, perhaps she cared for him already in the way he cared for her.
“If I should ever be called out,” the possibility was more than likely, though the huntsman did not wish to distress his companion for the day readily, “I shall be pleased to know you are glad for it.” He would never wish to frighten her, or worry her. Women did enough of that as it was.
“I should never need enter into the ranks of war. Such is the man’s burden, while women are left to the pain and agony of bearing children.”
Calon laughed openly at the statement, though did well to find words himself. “I should take the sharp end of a sword a thousand times before I traded with any woman.” He had not been around any who had borne a child while he could remember. In truth, all he knew of the matter was from a recount by a new father, or woman’s chattering. Still, it sounded most unpleasant. Perhaps even unbearable. The man, of course, would never admit that he was weak—but he was quite inwardly sure he would not have the strength to withstand that agony.
However did women do it?
Why ever would they do it?
Perhaps the idea of being a mother was fine until that moment when the pain of such a thing finally came. It was beyond his grasp, truly. And women! They would oft have more than one!
“Well Cal, you have a few more arrows in that quiver. Before we go to collect the rest, I should love to see your own skill.”
A pleasant distraction. Her shot had been fine indeed, and the man was actually quite anxious to use his hands. Archery was such a fine sport! “Bel, I should be happy to show you.” He laughed, grasping his own bow and standing. He looked around a moment. They were in an open field—indeed there was very little use by way of targets. For a moment the man was disappointed. Perhaps the little pile of sand was all there was for them to use.
But then.
The grasses rustled, and it was not by wind. Calon grinned and looked to Bel confidently. “I do suppose you and your family would desire a fine dinner this evening?” He asked softly, reaching for one of the remaining arrows.
It was a good distance away, though Calon was sure of his aim and shot. A rabbit would make a fine meal for such a large family. Indeed, this one—by hunting instinct he simply knew—was a fine size.
He raised the bow and waited. For some, patience was the hardest aspect of hunting. For Calon, it was second nature. His body was motionless, and his blue eyes watched carefully as the grasses showed a course of motion. It seemed like a good few minutes before he finally let the arrow fly—and it stayed true to its target.
He slowly lowered his bow and looked to Beleth with a boyish grin. “I do hope your family enjoys rabbit?” It might, perhaps, be a nice gift to send to them. After all, any good motion might aide Faeldor in acceptance of him.
|
|
Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
|
Post by Narbeleth on Oct 11, 2009 19:25:54 GMT -5
“I should take the sharp end of a sword a thousand times before I traded with any woman.”
“I should hope it never comes to that!” Beleth exclaimed heartily. “You are far too masculine to be placed in such a role. I think it would be best that you not have anything to do with babies until they are quite old enough to start learning archery and horsemanship from you.” She smiled pleasantly at the thought; though still she could not imagine Calon with a small child in tow. He was far too impulsive.
Beleth had the amused though, that she had indeed seen a small weakness in Calon! Despite his manliness.
She had not mentioned to him yet of her work in midwifery, simply that she worked with her Grandmother. But certainly at a point it would come up. To hold such a thing over him as to describe the details of a labor. He would certainly not wish to hear it. She giggled to herself. Oh, the man was an amusement to her. A wonderful amusement though. She indeed adored him.
“I do suppose you and your family would desire a fine dinner this evening?” The young woman nodded. “Oh yes, Grandmother is preparing this evening, as I am out today.” Was he truly pressing for conversation now then? Beleth could hardly decide what his reasoning for such a question was, and then she simply shrugged it aside, thinking it meant nothing, and he had just desired to talk. He was a talkative man. She grinned again at the amusement he gave her.
Oh, she would never tire of him!
She watched as he raised his bow with skill, though if her eyes were correct, he was not aiming at the target they had been using. Young Narbeleth could not at all figure out what the man was doing, but she did not speak, for she did not wish to disrupt his aim. He held it ever so long though! Surely her arms would have tired to hold the string out as he did. She waited, patient as she could wait, for what was to happen next.
Eventually though, she realized, though it took the words he next spoke for her to see what he had just done.
“I do hope your family enjoys rabbit?” Beleth smiled. “Oh, indeed, Cal.” The man was certainly showing off to her. Narbeleth hardly minded though, in fact, she adored the boyish grin he was now giving her. “You are such a fine shot! What skill!” she impressed.
“Fantastic!” She had stood and walked toward him, touching his arm lightly. “Let us go see then, my huntsman” she grinned.
|
|
Calon
Man
Stablehand
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 145
|
Post by Calon on Oct 12, 2009 12:14:35 GMT -5
“I think it would be best that you not have anything to do with babies until they are quite old enough to start learning archery and horsemanship from you.”
Calon laughed heartily and looked to Beleth with dancing blue eyes. “I would not go that far…” he trailed off as he laughed yet again. “While children are certainly more fun when they are older—perhaps five or so—that does not mean I should be kept from the younger ones. I do not see myself as dangerous to them.” He grinned extravagantly. “Though, I should say should it ever come to pass, once the children are old enough to learn such things as archery and horsemanship…well, my wife shall hardly see them.”
It was clearly a jest, though Calon studied Beleth’s reaction anyway. Indeed, his mind was quite made up on the matter already. The wife he spoke of; it could be none other than her.
Beleth had watched him as he had prepared for the shot. That had been a bit enthralling to the huntsman to begin with; her eyes and attentions were on him alone. Part of it pleased him immensely, though he never would have said such aloud. Still, what was even better than this was the moment after the shot had been taken. “You are such a fine shot! What skill!” Praises erupted from the lovely daughter of Faelon with such earnest flattery that the man felt his ego quite stroked indeed.
“It comes with practice.” He said offhandedly, though inwardly relished the words. A fine shot! Well, is he could impress her this much with a rabbit, the Valar only knew what would come of larger, more tricky game. Perhaps if she was so enthralled, it would be of no problem to woo her rightly.
She declared she wished to go see the kill, and Calon beamed down at her. Half because he was proud he had amused and entertained her so, half because her hand was daintily resting upon his arm. “Then let us go see, Nightingale.” And with that, he began to move off toward the fallen prey.
“I must say that it looked to be quite a fine size,” he mused, glancing down at her briefly before continuing. “Far too large for my own family to use. I should think, though, it might feed your own.” It did not take him long to get to the site, and he kneeled down beside the rabbit and felt a bit pleased. It had been a quick death; relatively painless for the little thing. And it was certainly large. Plenty of meat on this one.
“Yes,” he began again as his hands quickly worked to break and remove the arrow from the carcass. “This should do quite nicely for you. When I return you to your brother, unharmed,” he grinned playfully, “I should like to give him this as well. A thank you for allowing me to take you.” He took up the rabbit, and the broken arrow and stood. “Though, I should say I should carry it,” he looked to it for a moment and then laughed. “Bloodying up your dress would not be well, after all. I would probably be banned from archery lessons.”
He looked back down to his own bandaged arm and added in jest, “Perhaps I should show Master Faeldor you are far more dangerous than I.”
|
|
Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
|
Post by Narbeleth on Oct 20, 2009 17:23:27 GMT -5
“While children are certainly more fun when they are older—perhaps five or so—that does not mean I should be kept from the younger ones. I do not see myself as dangerous to them. Though, I should say should it ever come to pass, once the children are old enough to learn such things as archery and horsemanship…well, my wife shall hardly see them.”
Narbeleth frowned at this statement, a hand on either of her hips. “You do not see yourself as dangerous?” she asked quizzically, as she imagined Calon carrying a tiny baby up to the precipice of a beacon tower, a tree, or a roof, or allowing a small toddler to handle an arrow. At least from what she had yet seen of the man, he did not seem entirely suited for being alone with children, albeit he would have good intentions, and his family would certainly have fun.
“I doubt that your wife should allow you to take such young ones out hunting and riding alone. She would certainly demand to go along with you, if not for the loneliness of her missing her husband and children, at least to supervise the little ones in your presence,” she answered objectionably, her arms crossed in front of her though she was still smiling. It was clear in her mind that the man had been speaking directly to her. Why else would he make such a statement? However, she gave no response to allow him to guess likewise.
Narbeleth followed and watched as they came upon the creature, and Calon set to removing the arrow and speaking over his prize. Indeed, it was a rabbit of fine size; quite large enough to put among a stew. And such a fresh meal would be welcomed, though it was not a necessity to her family which had wealth enough to provide substantially, it was rare in fact that any family of Minas Tirith dine on such fresh wild game. Beleth looked on proudly as the dark haired man tended to everything, and she crouched down next to him.
“Bloodying up your dress would not be well, after all. I would probably be banned from archery lessons.” Beleth grinned, not intolerable of the blood, for handling such things came in the practice of both a woman who could cook, and moreso, a midwife. Blood had never troubled her so, though if Calon wished to carry the rabbit now, and hand it over to Faeldor later, she would allow it and be ever so pleased. “You are correct; this is not my bloodying dress,” she grinned, as if it were quite common of her to have a dress specifically for such occasions, and she continued. “Indeed, Fael should take it as a kind gesture. He is not a hunter himself and should appreciate the effort,” she answered.
“Perhaps I should show Master Faeldor you are far more dangerous than I.” Her eyes widened slightly, at the thought that perhaps Faeldor would take any injury, whether her own or Calon’s, and insist that she be not allowed to attend another outing with him. “Oh, Cal, do not show him please. He knows very well enough already that I am prone to my own impulsive actions, and would not be readily pleased.” A trace of guilt for the little wound that she had given the man returned to her, and she frowned.
|
|
Calon
Man
Stablehand
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 145
|
Post by Calon on Oct 24, 2009 14:09:15 GMT -5
“You do not see yourself as dangerous?”
Calon simply laughed and looked to her once more. “Dangerous?” He repeated joyously. “Well, I presume I could be, though I am quite fine around children. I might be a bit wild and unruly,” he grinned a bit, “but I know when to control myself. It just so happens I prefer not to.” And he could always put on a decent show of mildness when the time came for it. Still, glimpses of his true nature would shine through his bright blue eyes, or perhaps in the way he laughed.
If ever he was in the company of other men, though. That was when it was near impossible to hide his adventurous side! Though, he could think of no man that would not love to join him on such things.
Beleth continued to speak, though, on the temperament he would need for his wife, and with every word, Calon grew more and more amused. “Well, I would think my wife would love to join us for the sake of the adventure of riding and hunting,” he hinted subtly, turning his eyes to her for the sake of gauging her reaction. He was, after all, quite set on wedding her if she wished for it, too. She was far greater than any other woman he had yet come across.
They were walking now, though not eagerly so. The weather was lovely, though a bit warm. Nonetheless, it seemed that both Beleth and Calon were taking their time marking their steps; perhaps young Beleth was enjoying his own company as much as Calon was enjoying hers. “Indeed, Fael should take it as a kind gesture. He is not a hunter himself and should appreciate the effort.”
This statement seemed to take the huntsman off guard. Faeldor seemed as much a man as Calon—if the way he treated his Gilwen was set aside and not considered. It seemed the man would love to have taken up archery! Did not all men? Most he met dabbled in it, even if they were not as avid a bowman as the stablehand was himself. “He does not hunt?” He asked innocently, though perhaps more surprise evident in his eyes than was necessary.
But whatever feelings had overcome him vanished into laughter as Beleth chimed up again, her grey eyes looking a slight pooled with guilt. “Oh, Cal, do not show him please. He knows very well enough already that I am prone to my own impulsive actions, and would not be readily pleased.” “Then I shall not, Nightingale. Do not worry on it; my arm is quite fine.” He moved it as if to prove to her it was. After all, he was now carrying all of the hunting stuff as well as the rabbit. “And if he should be angry at you for it, and not allow you to come out again, then it would do me no pleasure of ever mentioning it to him.” He smiled easily and turned his attention back to the looming white walls of the city.
“You learn quickly,” he added as an after thought. “It would be a shame to let your talent, or your company, be laid aside.”
|
|
Narbeleth
Man
Midwife
Laugh as much as you breath, and love as long as you live.[Mo0:0]
Posts: 143
|
Post by Narbeleth on Dec 3, 2009 22:46:13 GMT -5
“Dangerous? Well, I presume I could be, though I am quite fine around children. I might be a bit wild and unruly, but I know when to control myself. It just so happens I prefer not to.”
“You know how to control yourself!” The young woman tilted her head back in teasing laughter. “If ever I believed that, you would be the finest man in all of Arda. No man such as yourself knows how to control themselves… if you did… well, you would not be so splendid.”
She paused for a moment, still giggling, but looking away from the blue sky, and back to Calon, whose eyes were even bluer. “Your eyes will always give tribute to your true nature, even if you can attempt to reign yourself in.” She bit her lip, smiling thoughtfully at the idea, then turned away once again, before Calon drew her attention back to him.
“Well, I would think my wife would love to join us for the sake of the adventure of riding and hunting.”
“Well, you certainly have plans for your wife then. There is not many a woman who could live up to such demands, I am certain.” She still crossed her arms in front of her, attempting a stern look, though failing miserably as she smiled. “Though, you are right… if any woman should ever dream to marry a man unruly as yourself, she would certainly be a wild one herself, who did take pleasure in your sports. You will never marry a true Lady, you know. One would never catch a true Lady hunting.”
“Best for you to look outside the city. The sophisticated women of Minas Tirith will certainly not put up with you…” she tested slightly, a light grin upon her voice. Perhaps he had looked outside the city already; though in all reality, Narbeleth imagined that the man had not looked anywhere at all. He did not seem one to be tied down by relationships by any means; except perhaps with his own horse that was dear to him.
“He does not hunt?”
Narbeleth thought for a moment, “Well, he has brought in small game sometimes; when we have been on trips to Belfalas. Though never a stag. And it is rare. I do not think he finds fun in blood sport… none of my family hunt; save my relatives perhaps in Belfalas. It is easy enough to live in the city without doing so… My family has always had their passion in the horses and riding, more than the hunting…” she concluded. She had not meant to make her brother seem unmanly by all means at not being a hunter. Though, perhaps she did.
Well, Faeldor should certainly never hear of it.
“You learn quickly. It would be a shame to let your talent, or your company, be laid aside.”
“And thus we must keep secret our discussions from my brother!” The woman exclaimed happily. “I would not wish to be sent from your company either,” she admitted. “Though we must not doubt that Faeldor will keep an eye on us; it is certain. He has always been a bit uneasy, not knowing every precise moment where his sisters are…”
|
|
Calon
Man
Stablehand
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 145
|
Post by Calon on Dec 4, 2009 0:19:10 GMT -5
Calon laughed as Narbeleth did. “Yes, I should think that I would not enjoy it near as much as being myself, but some mothers would just not like me to influence their children in such a way. Though, I might think that the children would enjoy it.”
Yes, the man was in fine spirits now. But ever more so did his spirits raise as Beleth began to jest about his wife. He amusedly watched her as they walked. “A true lady? Bel, if you think I should desire one of those, you have not met me at all,” he laughed. “How dull that would be, though. To not have a lady that would enjoy the same things.”
“Best for you to look outside the city. The sophisticated women of Minas Tirith will certainly not put up with you…”
At that, Calon grinned mischievously. “Outside the city? Whatever for? I am quite certain that a woman in the city would do me fine, I just will have a limited selection.” Or, indeed, only one candidate. And he would see to it that he did not lose her. Beleth was such a treasure, certainly.
He would never desire another. Nor, indeed, had Calon looked for another. There was nothing that could have pleased him more than this one; though, perhaps one with no elder brother. But then, even if he found Beleth with no overbearing sibling, he would not have liked her the same; she would not have been this way precisely. And that…that was what he adored.
In fact, those lovely little lips began to speak about him now. “Small game?” Calon was surprised. Indeed, Faeldor seemed much more a man than that. “I can see how one enjoys riding. Though, I thought certainly a man such as your brother would enjoy a good hunt.”
He paused a moment as they continued to step their way back through the grasses, and added. “And I would not rightly consider hunting blood sport.” He smiled, though, and continued. “Perhaps it is a sport, and it is tad bloody. But, if you use what you kill, it is not wasteful. He may come to like it if he has the proper company.” He grinned slightly and looked down to Beleth and said quite lightly, “Perhaps his lady would like to join him.”
Though, that one, he knew, was not at all one to even think about hunting. Still, the thought struck the young hunter as humorous and he laughed nicely over it. “Well, I am glad to know that at least I shall not have to worry for lack of company—there are many others that enjoy a hunt. My father, brother…indeed, my family is quite avid on it. Perhaps as much as yours is of horses. But you, Bel…you wish to try it with me! And even if all the world thinks of me as a partaker of blood sport, I shall not mind.” His pleasant voice was weaving its way through the words quite brightly, though inwardly the man was a bit disappointed.
Faeldor, he had been certain, was a man alike to himself. This, though, was proving not to be the case at all. Certainly they shared some interest other than horses? Did a man truly dislike the hunt? Such a thought seemed to floor him.
“You shall like it,” he began once more. “One can spend days freely in the forest. And it is so exhilarating; and one never knows when a prize shall walk by.” He grinned boyishly and looked to her once more. “And camping! That is also freeing. No walls, and no boundaries. Nothing can match a sleep upon the grass.”
|
|