Elendor
A Friend of a Friend.
Eirdis gets some answers out of Ranol on where their friendship stands.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Erebor
Description: It's early afternoon and just another ordinary day in Erebor. Except for Ranol. He's in a good mood, sitting in the Longbeard and sipping an ale while he waits for Frarin to meet him. The huskarl is dressed for travel today. He has his armor, sword, heavy blue cloak, gloves, and a small pack resting on the floor by his chair. The rest of his gear is in the stables, all ready to go.
Eirdis walks in and orders an ale, clothed in a green dress, a darker green cloth belt, boots and peridot beard ornaments. She notices the huskarl and gives him a warm smile, walking over with a mug of ale in her hand, skirts bunched in her other. "Good afternoon, Ranol! Travelling someplace exciting, I'd hope?"
Ranol looks over when he hears his name and smiles. "Hello Eirdis." He offers in his soft manner. "No, not exciting. Frarin and I are going out on a little camping trip for a couple of nights. How are you?" An empty seat at his table is gestured towards, inviting her to join him.
Eirdis nods and takes the offered seat with a bit of a nod, and she shrugs at his question. "Me? Oh, I'm well enough, thank you.. Although I do have a bit of a problem.. In fact, I was wondering if, perhaps, you could give me a spot of advice?"
"Advice from me?" Ranol asks, a dubious expression crossing his face at that, but he nods slowly. "I can try. What's your problem?" He takes a slow sip of his ale. The huskarl seems to be in a very calm, mellow mood. Far less frayed than he has been lately.
Eirdis takes a long sip from her mug, appearing to be contemplating. "There is someone we both know, whom I am wondering about... He sometimes seems to be avoiding me, but at other times, he's just as you are now, all pleasant conversation and friendliness.. My problem is that I don't know if he wishes to be simply friends, or more, but I would like to tell him that I fancy him. In fact, I've talked with Hildis on the matter, but.... It seems she's also enamoured with this lad.." She sighs and shrugs. "Should I try to win his affection, or should I let Hildis and he simply figure things out between themselves, even though I'd nearly resent Hildis for..." She chucklles dryly, without much humor, "For practically distracting this lad from... Well, the love I feel for him."
Ranol listens quietly, his blue eyes focused upon her. When she is done speaking he lets out a slow breath and takes another sip of his ale, his gaze dropping to the table for a long time. He taps the side of the mug with his fingers absently as his mind goes over her problem. "Are you friends with Hildis?" He asks finally, his tone gentle as he looks up at her again.
Eirdis takes another sip from her mug and smiles a bit at the huskarl. "I'm not entirely certain.. I'd like to think so, but at the same time I'd much rather be an acquaintance of Hildis' and have this lad's affection than be without his affection and be good friends with Hildis... I apologise if I'm not making any sense... It's only that... Well, someone was treating this lad badly, I told a lass I know, and... Well, there was a fight between them.. But not necessarily for using the lad as this woman had done, only because this woman is a gossip, and..." She blinks and shrugs.
Ranol lifts his hand to run through his hair, the inky black locks disrupted by the passage of his fingers through them. He keeps his gaze on her steadily, a faintly concerned expression on his face. "Has he ever shown interest beyond friendliness or pleasant conversation?"
[Eirdis(#23386)] Now is when Eirdis starts to crack. The pretense of coming to Ranol for advice is either too much for her, or she's simply forgotten her manners. "I have no idea, since you almost refuse to talk to me! I -tried- to show you that I cared for you on the way back from Bree, I was even looking for a pony of Joppur's ilk as a hint of what I have come to feel for you, but... When I was speaking with you in Bree, of my plans for the future, I simply prattled off the bit about wanting to marry and have children because I didn't know what opportunities I would have when I came back home!" She clears her throat, pausing for breath and more ale. Her voice quiets, now, and she sighs. "You're lucky, you know that? At least you know that your parents and siblings are fairing decently my parents both died, as did my brother.. I'm -alone-, Ranol. Completely and utterly alone... Given that fact, I understand that no man in his right mind would find me to be a decent wife. I have no trade, other than my miserably pathetic skills in healing, I've no dowry, no income, and I'm not even pretty!" She looks at the table, shaking her head. "I'm not usually given to self pity.. But when the single man you feel anything other than friendship for simply ignores you, it... Well, it kind of makes one feel hopeless."
Ranol lifts his ale for another sip but finds the mug empty now. He looks inside with a fleeting expression of accusation, as if angry that his drink could run out -now-. He looks up again, his brow creased with concern again. "Eirdis.. " He sets the mug down on the table and grows quiet once more, obviously thinking hard. "I don't refuse to talk to you. I think you're kind and passionate, and truly want to help people. You're very smart and have a gift for herbs and medicine. So please, don't think that you're miserable or pathetic."
The huskarl lets that sink in, then continues. "Your circumstances with your family are unfortunate, but you have friends around you that care about you, and friends can be just as close as family if you let them. I think it would be a shame to throw away a friendship for any reason."
Eirdis listens to what the huskarl says and nods, ordering him another ale, and another for herself, as well, since hers seems to have run dry just when she needed it most. "So you say..." She downs half the mug of ale when it arrives, trying to hide the tears in her eyes as she asks, "You love Hildis, then?"
Ranol's gaze grows distant, his face thoughtful again. "I don't know.. " He answers after a lengthy pause. "I want to get to know her better." The Bundazanul shifts to sit back in his chair, watching Eirdis with an expression that is sympathetic. "I never intended to lead you on, Eridis. I hope that isn't the case."
Eirdis nods slowly, seeming to take Ranol's words in. "Anyone would, she is a charismatic, kind young woman." The apprentice healer locks her eyes with Ranol's own, the hurt within her obvious. "No, you didn't lead me on.. I suppose I was looking for things that weren't there." She shakes her head, downing the rest of her ale and blinking, then clearing her throat. "There is nothing, then, that you feel for me?"
"I said that I don't know, and that's the truth, Eirdis. I've considered the possibility that I might have feelings for Hildis, but I think love is a very strong committment and it's not something I would rush into." Ranol keeps his words low and calm. He thumbs the hair at the tip of his beard, a look of apology on his face. "Not beyond friendship, no.. I don't think you would be happy with me, anyhow. Truly. I thought about it."
Eirdis nods seriously, and rises, smoothing her skirts and looking both saddened but also a trifle relieved at having vented her feelings. "Thank you for the talk, and the company... However, I will say this you are completely wrong in thinking I would not be happy with you, or that I could make you happy. And... If... If it is ever your heart that needs healing, you know where I can be found. Also, I think a Huskarl and a Healer could make a half-decent pair. Good day, and good luck on your camping trip. Tell Frarin I say hello."
Ranol stands as well. "Eirdis.. You barely know me. There are things you want that I could never give you. But, I meant what I said about the friends you have around you. Please don't think less of yourself, you will be a great healer." He grows quiet, nodding at her request to pass along the message.
Eirdis had been on her way out, but when Ranol speaks she stops, turns slowly, and blinks. "Aye, but you feel you could give the same things to Hildis?" She shrugs and turns back towards the door, looking slightly angry, but most of all, rejected. She walks out of the inn, head still held high.
Ranol doesn't stop her, though he frowns faintly as if he might say something. Instead he simply sighs, and sits back down to wait for Frarin. Women.
Eirdis walks in and orders an ale, clothed in a green dress, a darker green cloth belt, boots and peridot beard ornaments. She notices the huskarl and gives him a warm smile, walking over with a mug of ale in her hand, skirts bunched in her other. "Good afternoon, Ranol! Travelling someplace exciting, I'd hope?"
Ranol looks over when he hears his name and smiles. "Hello Eirdis." He offers in his soft manner. "No, not exciting. Frarin and I are going out on a little camping trip for a couple of nights. How are you?" An empty seat at his table is gestured towards, inviting her to join him.
Eirdis nods and takes the offered seat with a bit of a nod, and she shrugs at his question. "Me? Oh, I'm well enough, thank you.. Although I do have a bit of a problem.. In fact, I was wondering if, perhaps, you could give me a spot of advice?"
"Advice from me?" Ranol asks, a dubious expression crossing his face at that, but he nods slowly. "I can try. What's your problem?" He takes a slow sip of his ale. The huskarl seems to be in a very calm, mellow mood. Far less frayed than he has been lately.
Eirdis takes a long sip from her mug, appearing to be contemplating. "There is someone we both know, whom I am wondering about... He sometimes seems to be avoiding me, but at other times, he's just as you are now, all pleasant conversation and friendliness.. My problem is that I don't know if he wishes to be simply friends, or more, but I would like to tell him that I fancy him. In fact, I've talked with Hildis on the matter, but.... It seems she's also enamoured with this lad.." She sighs and shrugs. "Should I try to win his affection, or should I let Hildis and he simply figure things out between themselves, even though I'd nearly resent Hildis for..." She chucklles dryly, without much humor, "For practically distracting this lad from... Well, the love I feel for him."
Ranol listens quietly, his blue eyes focused upon her. When she is done speaking he lets out a slow breath and takes another sip of his ale, his gaze dropping to the table for a long time. He taps the side of the mug with his fingers absently as his mind goes over her problem. "Are you friends with Hildis?" He asks finally, his tone gentle as he looks up at her again.
Eirdis takes another sip from her mug and smiles a bit at the huskarl. "I'm not entirely certain.. I'd like to think so, but at the same time I'd much rather be an acquaintance of Hildis' and have this lad's affection than be without his affection and be good friends with Hildis... I apologise if I'm not making any sense... It's only that... Well, someone was treating this lad badly, I told a lass I know, and... Well, there was a fight between them.. But not necessarily for using the lad as this woman had done, only because this woman is a gossip, and..." She blinks and shrugs.
Ranol lifts his hand to run through his hair, the inky black locks disrupted by the passage of his fingers through them. He keeps his gaze on her steadily, a faintly concerned expression on his face. "Has he ever shown interest beyond friendliness or pleasant conversation?"
[Eirdis(#23386)] Now is when Eirdis starts to crack. The pretense of coming to Ranol for advice is either too much for her, or she's simply forgotten her manners. "I have no idea, since you almost refuse to talk to me! I -tried- to show you that I cared for you on the way back from Bree, I was even looking for a pony of Joppur's ilk as a hint of what I have come to feel for you, but... When I was speaking with you in Bree, of my plans for the future, I simply prattled off the bit about wanting to marry and have children because I didn't know what opportunities I would have when I came back home!" She clears her throat, pausing for breath and more ale. Her voice quiets, now, and she sighs. "You're lucky, you know that? At least you know that your parents and siblings are fairing decently my parents both died, as did my brother.. I'm -alone-, Ranol. Completely and utterly alone... Given that fact, I understand that no man in his right mind would find me to be a decent wife. I have no trade, other than my miserably pathetic skills in healing, I've no dowry, no income, and I'm not even pretty!" She looks at the table, shaking her head. "I'm not usually given to self pity.. But when the single man you feel anything other than friendship for simply ignores you, it... Well, it kind of makes one feel hopeless."
Ranol lifts his ale for another sip but finds the mug empty now. He looks inside with a fleeting expression of accusation, as if angry that his drink could run out -now-. He looks up again, his brow creased with concern again. "Eirdis.. " He sets the mug down on the table and grows quiet once more, obviously thinking hard. "I don't refuse to talk to you. I think you're kind and passionate, and truly want to help people. You're very smart and have a gift for herbs and medicine. So please, don't think that you're miserable or pathetic."
The huskarl lets that sink in, then continues. "Your circumstances with your family are unfortunate, but you have friends around you that care about you, and friends can be just as close as family if you let them. I think it would be a shame to throw away a friendship for any reason."
Eirdis listens to what the huskarl says and nods, ordering him another ale, and another for herself, as well, since hers seems to have run dry just when she needed it most. "So you say..." She downs half the mug of ale when it arrives, trying to hide the tears in her eyes as she asks, "You love Hildis, then?"
Ranol's gaze grows distant, his face thoughtful again. "I don't know.. " He answers after a lengthy pause. "I want to get to know her better." The Bundazanul shifts to sit back in his chair, watching Eirdis with an expression that is sympathetic. "I never intended to lead you on, Eridis. I hope that isn't the case."
Eirdis nods slowly, seeming to take Ranol's words in. "Anyone would, she is a charismatic, kind young woman." The apprentice healer locks her eyes with Ranol's own, the hurt within her obvious. "No, you didn't lead me on.. I suppose I was looking for things that weren't there." She shakes her head, downing the rest of her ale and blinking, then clearing her throat. "There is nothing, then, that you feel for me?"
"I said that I don't know, and that's the truth, Eirdis. I've considered the possibility that I might have feelings for Hildis, but I think love is a very strong committment and it's not something I would rush into." Ranol keeps his words low and calm. He thumbs the hair at the tip of his beard, a look of apology on his face. "Not beyond friendship, no.. I don't think you would be happy with me, anyhow. Truly. I thought about it."
Eirdis nods seriously, and rises, smoothing her skirts and looking both saddened but also a trifle relieved at having vented her feelings. "Thank you for the talk, and the company... However, I will say this you are completely wrong in thinking I would not be happy with you, or that I could make you happy. And... If... If it is ever your heart that needs healing, you know where I can be found. Also, I think a Huskarl and a Healer could make a half-decent pair. Good day, and good luck on your camping trip. Tell Frarin I say hello."
Ranol stands as well. "Eirdis.. You barely know me. There are things you want that I could never give you. But, I meant what I said about the friends you have around you. Please don't think less of yourself, you will be a great healer." He grows quiet, nodding at her request to pass along the message.
Eirdis had been on her way out, but when Ranol speaks she stops, turns slowly, and blinks. "Aye, but you feel you could give the same things to Hildis?" She shrugs and turns back towards the door, looking slightly angry, but most of all, rejected. She walks out of the inn, head still held high.
Ranol doesn't stop her, though he frowns faintly as if he might say something. Instead he simply sighs, and sits back down to wait for Frarin. Women.
Players: Ranol, Eirdis
Located in: Erebor
