Xan looked up at Nethrida. 'My warrior...will you allow us a moment....?'
Nethrida rubbed her cheek a bit and nodded "I feel like having a drink anyway. See you soon" She smiled and promptly made her exit.
After the Captain had closed the door behind her, Xanderian reached out a hand to Calidis, eyes open as if having made a decision. “I have seen things...perhaps inadvertantly...but now I wonder what they could mean, and if they could be deception....'
Calidis looked to the hand extended to her and then carefully took it, but still did not draw nearer. "... What have you seen?"
The Monk of Osgilliath closed her eyes, recalling the visions… 'A woman both beautiful and terrible, with eyes of horror and tragedy, aflame, cast down amongst sharp black crags....And an army of the dead, endless, covering the land, the smoke of burning corpses obscuring the sun…Carn Dum in ruins as an obelisk of jet and flame rises in its place…My sister struck down, blood fountaining from her mouth, the hilt of a morgul blade jutting from her chest, gripped by Small Finchley as she laughs in another's voice….And I have seen Xanir, I have spoken with him...”
Calidis's eyes went wide and she squeezed Xanderian's hand a little harder, though she still kept her grip gentle. "... From where do these images come? What or who is their source?"
'I saw them...when the shadow cast us down'. Xanderian watched her companion intently.
Calidis grew quiet for a moment. "... Do you think they will come to pass?"'
Rian shook her head. 'I...I do not know....I do not know if they are past or future, or what they mean...but Calidis..sweet Nighteye...He never left Imladris...'
Calidis raised her free hand to clutch at her pendant, which was still glowing steadily. "What do you mean?"
'Xanir was struck down...in Rivendell.” Xanderian continued to meet Calidis’ eyes as the full implications settled in. "He has told me so..."
Calidis's expression tightened again and she held her pendant with a vice like grip. "...So Imladris is not safe for us... Save for one place. I did not leave my home unprotected. Not even when I dwelt in it. None with ill intent towards myself or others can pass through the wards I have placed... I had thoroughly isolated myself within it for so long. It had become my only sanctuary within the sanctuary of the Valley. Though no evil could pass into the Valley, I feared it and sought to protect myself in those early days. It... may be the best refuge we have as we pass through.”
Xanderian continued to watch her in silence as the Elleth continued. “If Xanir was indeed killed in Imladris, then all the more reason for you to take advantage of my home. Only Merilos could ever come and go freely from it as I allowed her. And... indeed, it is not as if many others had a reason to come there either."
Calidis looked pained by Xanderian’s continuing silence and shook her head. Moving closer again. "Allow me to handle matters in Imladris….please. What is mine - my home, my resources, my craft - is all yours to use as you see fit. Allow me to do this for you…for everyone... I wish to start repaying the kindnesses you have all given to me."
Finally Rian looked away and spoke, her voice soft and low. “I know that I should refuse lest I bring doom upon you, the same doom that has befallen many of us...but I cannot bring myself to step past a fervent desire to hide in your refuge and let these horrible dreams fade into nothingness, even if that is impossible.”
Calidis nodded and took Xan's hand into both of hers. "You may hide in it for as long as you desire. All of you may. You can be assured of your safety there while I make our case to Lord Elrond. None shall pass through into it without my consent, even should they come with strength of arms. My wards have held tight and I will not lower them."
Xanderian looked at Calidis, her expression cautious. “If all of that is so…NOW will you speak? Now will you tell me what fear grips your heart?”
Calidis stared at the sudden turn. "I…I should handle it myself... It is foolish of me to do so when you have need of what comfort I can give and then some."
Xanderian just shook her head, her voice growing cold. “No....speak your mind, Merfindiel. As Nethrida said, it is not the time for secrets between us, Calidis Nighteye....Least of all between you and I, as it is too easy to misunderstand silence.'
Calidis visibly struggled as she hesitated then finally whispered "... For the briefest of moments, I thought you gone."'
“...and?” Xanderian seemed unmoved, yet one hand gently touched the strange blue scar still on her throat.
Calidis frowned, her voice rising. "... and I felt that I had been torn asunder. I could not live with myself should--... I could do nothing. It was too much. I felt too much and Hastaina, this damned pendant at my throat, allowed it and I couldn't grasp it. I still fumble and it is not needed in a time like this."
Rian nodded, and her cold demeanor melted away, leaving speaking as if to a child even though Calidis was ten times her age. “I am not dead....I am here and with you...'
Calidis nodded, looking up to the ceiling for her words, unable to face Xan’s gaze any more, 'I know... I know... Why can I not even control this? Am I truly some broken thing that cannot even do the simplest things? I wish to aid you and not hinder you, trapped in this fear that all will return to how it was.'
“You seek to control the fear that the one you love will fall....or has fallen?” Xanderian raised an eyebrow. “No creature can do so, my beloved....'
Calidis looked back at her, tears of frustration in her eyes unshed, '... I could very well at least try. It is so much, Xanderian. *I* am too much. I was overwhelmed and even now I cannot seem to grasp it...'
Xanderian smiled softly...and kissed her hands. "It cannot be grasped, it cannot be controlled...perhaps it should not be either. Remember I told you once that there is no love without pain? When the old woman fell, and the enemies revealed themselves, as I assessed their number...do you know what my first thought was?'
Calidis shook her head.
“That I was relieved that if this was to go badly, that you were safe...and then for a moment I feared that they had assaulted the Pony as well. I had to swallow that fear before I could act on the threat before my eyes.” Xanderian shrugged gently. “Such is the nature of love....For many years my sister closed her heart to love and fellowship, to shield herself from pain and regret....but even she could not sustain it forever.'
Calidis's expression crumpled, a few tears falling down her cheeks. "I do not want you to die, to go where I cannot follow. Eduwiges speaks of her horror when you fell at Kheledul…I am not as strong as she, I could not bear that."
Xanerian held her gently. 'I love you, sweet Nighteye, and feel the same. I also fear the darkness we face claiming you, or harming you in my stead...but if I must give up loving you to avoid those fears, then I refuse. I will accept the pain and fear for a single moment in the glow of your heart…no dread, no shadow can remain in that light."
Calidis breathed in time with Rian and slowly but surely allowed herself to feel her fears... and then let them die down. Her racing heart calmed and the light from her pendant slowly grew dim again…the storm had passed and she remained. "I swear by what grace is left in me that I will not allow the shadow to take you from me so easily. I will do my utmost to see us all safely back towards home..."
“I know...and I depend upon you, my love” Xanderian gently wiped away the last lingering tears. "Come let us see how sister Addie is then go down and see how our company fares....
Some time later they found Nethrida and Carneryn on the overlook above the Pony. Ryn was still disturbed and invigorated by the battle earlier, her first in a very long time. She was quizzing Nethrida on what might lie ahead.
Carneryn furrowed her brows at Nethrida "D-Do we know our foes number at least?" she asked before snapping her gaze to Xanderian and Calidis arriving.
Nethrida shook her head. "No, we dont" she huffed. She looked over her shoulder at the two Elves. "Oh, hello you two" she smiled and eased up a little.
Calidis looked to Ryn and realized they have not been properly introduced. She curtsied gracefully, still holding Xanderian's hand. "Well met. I am Calidis."
Xanderian smiled, 'Ahhh...Unhooded Ryn, this is Calidis Nighteye of Tol Lochul. Sweet Nethrida, I bear herald from my sister. Preparations for our departure are delayed some few days as Small Finchley insists that she wishes to feast upon a baby.
Carneryn bowed her head to Calidis. "A-Ah... I am Ryn..." she says awkwardly.
Calidis smiled a little to herself over the 'of Tol Lochul', but she was growing used to it. She seemed to remember Xandilif once saying 'Rian collects people the way you collect shiny rocks, Blackbird.' If so, she was growing content to be collected. "Then Well met...” she said to the scarred woman. “Should I call you Ryn, or Unhooded Ryn? Perhaps just Ryn is best."
Nethrida stared at the huntress, unsure if she had heard right, 'F..:Feast upon a baby...?'
Calidis glanced back to Xan and blinked a little, "... Perhaps Finchley meant the Mannish tradition? Of celebrating the birth of a child with gifts?"
Xanderian looked off the overlook at the view and continued. 'The Banshee herself was not clear...she said that Finch wishes to attend a festivity in which a new baby is served...like a harvest festival I would gather…it must be a small affair as I would imagine Small Finchley could eat three babies all by herself as they are small and mostly bone or perhaps they bore many babies to serve...a litter?'
Carneryn looked a little horrified but mostly amused as Calidis shook her head slightly, whispering to herself. “Ahhh….Xandilif...what have you done?”
Xan looked at Ryn searchingly. 'I have been wondering what sort of gift one would give when one is attending such a feast...a bib was mentioned, but then are babies so messy to eat that one would be required? I would imagine it depends upon the sauce.'
Carneryn pinched the bridge of her nose. "A-A friend of Finch's has had a baby... I'd assume the celebration is for that reason."
Calidis nodded, 'That seems sensible, Finchley does seem inordinately fond of children...'
Xanderian agreed..."Indeed...and now that I understand this feast, Small Finchley’s affection for babies makes perfect sense, for dear Finchley is very fond of food."
A long, perplexed silence, then Ryn changed the subject. “You are really leaving for Rivendell? I-I had heard…you were not liked there…”
Calidis smiled, 'Worry not, Ryn. I have the matter of passing through Imladris in hand. At the very least, we shall be able to pass safely through.'
Carneryn chuckled softly "I-I suspect I shall spend most of our time their sitting in a tree again..."
'You have tired of Breeland then, Unhooded Ryn?' Xanderian tilted her head.
Carneryn shrugged a bit "I-I would like to see other places... But I suspect this journey will only take me back 'home'..." she paused looking almost sorrowful "I-I would only bring danger to Clay if I stayed here with the matter unsolved..." she said probably not taking into account none present know who Clay was.
Calidis tilted her head slightly, unconsciously mimicking Xan. "Clay? A friend of yours? 'And where is Home?"
Carneryn shook her head "Brother and home was…Angmar.”
'I do not yet know if our road will indeed lead to Angmar, or when...” Xanderian looked piercingly at Ryn “….but I expect it will eventually...and when it does, it will be perilous.'
Carneryn looked to Neth briefly for courage, then nodded. "A-At least this time it's on my terms."
Nethrida smiled at Ryn and nodded. "And this time it'll be to put an end to their fell deeds."
Inclining her head, Calidis watched the woman. Instead of asking the question on the tip of her tongue, she settled for a different one. "The path away from the comforts of a place you have long resided in is not easy. That sort of choice is not one to make lightly. I know for I made a similar choice but recently. I have come to learn in so short of a time that the world is indeed filled with much peril and fear, even when we have others to help us weather it..."
The small group fell silent, then Calidis completed her thought. 'Knowing that, do you still wish to venture forth?'
A longer silence followed, then Carneryn clenched her hands into fists "Th-They've gone on long enough, the Guilds of Angmar... And they're after a friend... The decision is already made." Her scarred eye lit up for a long moment at this statement seeming to glow with courage and anger.
Calidis bowed her head. "Then I will honor that choice. What protection I can give here or in Imladris or any other place is extended to you as well."
Xanderian nodded gently in agreement. 'You risked a great deal, Unhooded Ryn, for no gain to yourself...only to aid Small Finchley....we are in your debt and you will be welcome with us. However, I find myself faced with a new question…what wine is best served with baby?”
Nethrida and Carneryn both sighed and looked helplessly at Calidis, who just shrugged. "I will try and explain it to her again later….”
