Xanderian made her way through Bree slowly...a bit unsteadily, watching people walk past her through the crowded streets. She felt eyes upon her as she drifted through the town, eyes that made her uneasy. Her state of mind kept her from realizing that most of those stares were over the fact that few in Bree has ever seen her out of armor, and she now wore a dress of green linen.
Heartbreaker rested across her shoulder, the black dagger she had named Pride on her hip. The weapons seemed out of step with the gown, but as was her way, she hadn’t noticed...she just knew she could not bare to be apart from them. She was so lost in her own thoughts she nearly ran directly into a horse which had drawn to a stop before her, near to the Prancing Pony.
Looking up, she met Addiela's eyes, as both of them looked away from another, startled. Addie nodded politely once the initial shock had passed, waiting to see if the elf would even deign to look at her. She was quite certain that the huntress had left the cottage as soon after the battle as she could to avoid having to see or speak with her at all.
Xanderian tilted her head...clearly a bit confused...and reached out one hand to pat the horse’s nose tentatively. Beyond that she was silent..waiting.
The woman astride the horse watched her, unsure what to do or say. Finally settling on 'Hello there..'
Looking up, Xanderian seemed to continue a conversation already in progress. 'Addie....have we fought concerning your mother before the fire of the home in Breeland yet?'
Addiela furrowed her brow in confusion, taken aback. She was not sure how to answer. If the elf didn’t remember the horrible words they had both said on that night she could lie and it might just go away, returning to how it had been between them before. For a moment she remembered the tiny carving of two hearts she had given her friend and nearly broke down, but drove the memory away. To lie about such a thing, however, this was not something she was willing to do. There had been too many lies around her as it was. Finally she nodded, "Aye, we have.... are you all right?"
The huntress nodded slowly, still petting the nose of the horse. 'And have we sat on a stone near a river in Dunland and watched a party of Orc hunt for a missing ranger?'
Addie now seemed even more confused, "Uh.. nay, we have not."
Xanderian nodded again..."Then that may be yet to come”
“Perhaps…But that would indicate that you are no longer my sworn enemy as you said you were.' Addie tried to keep the hurt and bitterness out of her voice over the elf’s sudden turn against her.
'I...I was never that...I simply said I would oppose your intentions to cast yourself away...and I shall...but I love you none the less.' Xanderian didn’t look at her, just the horse. “You are my sister...just as is the Banshee'
'Hmm.. I see' Knowing the complex relationship between Xanderian and her sister Xandilif Addie was unsure how to take that, but settled on the positive. 'I am glad of that. I was just going to meet another. Do you wish to come or do you have some other business?' Her tone was still cold…formal…the elf was so emotional and changeable she was unsure of her ground, especially as she still didn’t seem to be herself after the battle. The sudden memory of it caused Addie to close her eyes, remembering the stench of the undead, the fear….
Xanderian’s voice brought her back to the present. 'I am just...adapting...Who do you intend to meet?'
Addie smiled, a little embarrassed suddenly, 'I am not quite sure who this person is, actually.. Enthan just said that she would inform her that I would meet her in the Pony'
Finally, Xanderian looked up at Addie, her eyes filled with concern, though the strange blue scar on her throat made Addie wince. 'Then of course I shall guard you..but what did the Lady Aulemessa intend this person to do?'
Addie chuckled, "I do not need guarding, but I appreciate the offer.. She is a scholar, her knowledge could be valuable."
At the hitching post before the Pony, a woman lifted her head, brushing her short reddish hair back from a sudden urge to make herself presentable. She had heard a familiar name and studied the two women down the path.
Xanderian nodded to Addie. 'Very well..I shall not guard you. Lead on'
Addie slid down off her horse and began to lead it while walking with Rian just as the newcomer approached "Ladies?"
Addie nodded automatically as she was greeted. "Hello there." Xanderian just blinked and glanced behind them, as if looking for the Lady the woman spoke to.
The short haired woman smiled disarmingly. "Hi.I wasn't eavesdropping, but I did hear a name that gives me hope that you're the girl from Rohan I'm to meet? You mentioned Enthan, Blessed of Aule the Smith?'
Addiela relaxed a bit, "Then, aye, I am she."
The newcomer held out her hand "I'm Annabette Fenton."
Addiela walked forward, still leading the horse, and took her hand. "Addie. Pleasure to meet you." She then gestured her head back, "And this is Xanderian."
Annabette smiled and turned her attention to Xan, dropping into flawless Sindarin. 'A pleasure, my lady.'
Xanderian seemed thoughtful...glancing at the sign of the Pony...then nodding..."Yes, here I am Xanderian. We have not met? I see...nothing of you…or perhaps I do.
Addie looked over to Rian, her expression speaking to both concern and curiosity as Annabette tilted her head, studying Xan carefully.
"You were at Kheledul as well, weren't you?"
The elleth blinked..."When?” and Addiela sighed, that is what she had feared. Xanderian continued 'Do you mean when the man from the North was lit aflame, or when my Urchin was lost in the hands of the serpent, or when Mans exposed the ring of power, or when Xandilif was wounded and slew Darik Shreadskull?'
Annabette's eyes went wide and she put her hands out in a gesture meant to stop Xan's words, glancing over her shoulder to scan the area. "I'm not at all sure that the Pony would be the best place to have this discussion."
Addiela nodded in agreement, still unnerved by Rian. “We can go back to Masin's land, but the farmhouse might not be the best place either.”
Smiling, Xanderian gestured beyond the Pony. 'You seek a place to speak with sister Addie without fear of observation? Then come.'
Soon they were in the Library at the top of the Scholars Stairs. Annabette and Addie both sat on two benches in the foyer while Xan stood behind Addie’s shoulder.
Addiela chuckled as Xan moved behind her and shook her head. She gestured to the bench, the one she is sitting on and the one across from her. "Would you not like to sit?"
The huntress just shook her head, 'I am well, sister....Confer with the Annabette Fenton'
Glancing between the two, Annabette cleared her throat, 'Now...I haven't spoken much with Lady Aulemessa since the incident, but I did get the impression that things were not at all wrapped up as nicely as it could have been.'
Addiela looked over her shoulder. "I am a bit concerned over Xanderian’s confusion... Masin also came back from the battle not remembering what happened, but not.. this confused of events."
Annabette nodded thoughtfully, 'So it wasn't isolated...interesting.'
Leaning close to Anna, Addie whispered. "Xanderian was thought..well…dead… at least for a bit."
Annabette kept her face impassive, 'And this Masin person?'
Xanderian spoke suddenly, not seeming troubled by the conversation. “The Paramour was trapped in a glamour, or says my sister...Blood magic that took the Banshee time to break into. Lyr the Twiceborn pulled him within a glamour..a world of illusion...and offered him an alternative..which he rejected...Xandilif aided him and brought him out.'
Addie blinked, this was the first she had heard of this and was suddenly even more concerned for her friend Masin. 'He rejected what?'
Xanderian smiled, 'The alternative'
Exasperated, Addiela pushed, '…Which was?'
The elleth just continued to smile. '...Not mine to speak of'
'And if he doesn't remember it, but his mind remains in this fog? It is something that he should be reminded of to be shaken from?' Addie was growing alarmed.
Annabette tried to calm her, 'Cautiously that, if at all, unless his behavior altered significantly. Are you welcome in Imladris, Lady Xanderian?'
The huntress looked up, 'That depends when I am'
Addie controlled herself and tried to be as clear as she could be. “We are in the time right after the battle where Mans revealed himself.. you disappeared for a time with Hawke.. and now you are here back in Bree'
Xanderian nodded, 'So we have not as of yet gone to....ahhh....no...your hair is wrong.'
Addie reached up and touched her blonde locks automatically, 'My hair?'
'It is longer...and there is snow in it.' Xanderian peered at her for a moment. “or blood...or both' She thought hard for a minute. “Both.”
Annabette eased a small book from her pouch and a slender piece of charcoal and began making notes while Addie’s eyes widened at hearing /blood/ "What?"
Xanderian was already onto another topic, however. 'Why did the Lady Aulemessa wish sister Addie to meet with the Annabette Fenton?'
Annabette said, 'I am hoping for a position as a tutor for Miss Addie in Deportment. My cousin Lore speaks highly of her and the Lady Aulemessa. Since Miss Addie is heading back to Rohan to join her betrothed, she may need help preparing to deal with social graces and the duties of a wife to an Eorlingas noble.'
Addiela visibly cringed at this, but then composed herself and nodded.
Annabette smiled to herself, 'Lesson one, hide your emotions.'
Straightening her posture and plastering on a fake smile, Addie instantly looking like a proper lady. "I assure you, I know when to put on a show."
Annabette nodded to Addie. "When to put on that show is almost always, save in private with your husband to be." Addiela's breathing had intensified, she clearly did not like speaking of this subject
Annabette continued, 'Lesson one, again. Composure is your friend.'
A tension was rapidly building in the room as Addie smiled wider, but Xanderian looked at Anna and spoke again suddenly. “Yes...I HAVE met you..or will meet you..in a room with stone fires and colored rugs...your clothing confused me, Annabette Fenton'.
Xanderian looked at Annabette Fenton fondly and was about to continue when a woman suddenly entered the foyer, buxom and pretty, dressed in a simple but flattering town dress.
The new woman curtseyed politely and waited. Addiela broke the silence after a few moments, "Hello there.."
The woman smiled and blushed a bit, 'Forgive me for intruding! This must be the Lady Xanderian. Goodness, but you're prettier than he said--How rude of me! Josie at your service, my ladies.'
Josie gave the group another polite curtsey and smiled.
Josie twiddled her fingers as the silence returned, feeling very on the spot. It looked like she'd barged in on a private meeting as Annabette closed her notebook, one finger between the pages so she didn’t lose her place. She thought she recognized the girl from Bree and this looked like it was going to become even more educational.
