Elendor
Braldor's Opinion of Frarin
Balur visits Thane Braldor to get his take on Frarin.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Erebor
Description: Evening has come, and the dwarves are done with their work for the most part. The dwarves of the mighty Bundazanul clan cross the Thingstead, heading for home or the pub for supper.
One, however, is making his way straight for the Thane's office. Balur, a senior trader of Bundazanul And Others, much resembles his daughter for those who know her-- or rather, Thari much resembles her father. He is older of course, taller and broader with touches of grey in his hair, but the similarity is often striking.
He is now at the Thane's office door, knocking.
As Balur knocks, the door opens, and no other than Thane Bundazanul himself is the one who is at the door. He sports his usual blue cloak, and by the look of him, he was ready to go out of his office. "Well... Master Balur! Well met!", he greets the older dwarf, nodding to him. "May I be of any service?"
"Good evening my lord," Balur answers with a bit of a half-bow, utterly polite, deep voice calm. "Have you a moment to speak just now?"
Ranol is still around, trying to sort out how to fairly divide up shifts with several papers in front of him and a frown on his face. He had never anticipated that organizing a dozen dwarves in a schedule would be so difficult. Fighting the troll was easier. He looks up when there's the knock at the door, but Braldor is seeing to it and the huskarl looks on curiously, surprised crossing his face at the sight of his uncle.
"Surely Balur, surely, please come in", the Thane replies, as he makes way for the other khazad to come in, and going back to his seat behind his desk. "Have a seat, master Balur... any refreshment?", he adds, as a young dwarf comes in to see if his assistance in procuring food and drink are required.
Balur follows Braldor in and makes a smooth gesture with his hand at the young servant. "None tonight, I thank you. I am to eat supper at home soon." He seats himself upon a chair before the Thane's desk, leaning back comfortably and folding his hands over his beard.
"I'd like to thank you again, Braldor, for looking after my daughter on this last trip, though I hear it wasn't an easy task for you. It gave me some comfort to know that you were with her and keeping her safe."
Ranol stands, bowing in greeting, "Good evening, Uncle Balur." His blue eyes wander to Braldor, silently inquiring if he should leave or not.
"Ah, indeed, master Balur", comes the Thane's reply, as he makes a gesture for Ranol to resume his seat. "If i may, I would like to commend yer nephew here... brave lad he is, and he has grown during this trip", he says, as he smiles to Ranol. "But Thari... well, there's much to tell, good and bad, about yer daughter, master Balur. She has proven to be quite headstrong, and I wouldn't have a say about that if it did not put in danger some of our kin during the trip".
"Oh! Good evening there, Ranol," Balur says, his head lifting a bit before bowing to his nephew. "Go ahead, sit sit."
He leans back again, his attention returning to Braldor. "Of course she is headstrong. I raised her to be so, and she can't be to terribly retiring if she is to represent me on trading ventures. But come, what is this?" He frows, his brows knitting together. "She did what now?"
Ranol sits again, watching thoughtfully before looking back to his own work. Given the subject of conversation, he finds it impossible to concentrate and can't help but listen to what's being said. The disagreeable relationship between Braldor and Thari is hardly a new development, after all. Blue eyes glance up again, curious.
"Well, where to begin", Braldor says, as he shakes his head slowly. "First of all, she put in danger yer nephew here", he says, his eyes straying to Ranol, before comeing back to Balur, "since she and that Barazin", he says, with disgust in his voice as he utters the name of the other clan, "managed to conveniently stay behind our group... and then a troll came and tried to abduct her! Such lack of common sense I had only seen in beardlings before this... but many of us had to go after her, and some got really injured", he adds, and his eyes look sad, as if giving this news to Balur pained him.
Balur's eyes tarry to Ranol briefly as his name is mentioned as well for a moment before returning to Braldor. "So this was the fault of that Barazin?" he asks, his voice calm, but his eyes sharp. "Placing her in danger in troll country?"
"They were off collecting wood for our repair of the bridge at the time, and were the farthest away when the alarm went up.." Ranol interjects, speaking defensively for his friends, but keeping his tone level, as if only seeking to provide better explanation. "I put myself at risk because I insisted on going back to check and be sure they had heard the cry." The huskarl offers a more dry addition, "We were all suffering the effects of the tainted food when the troll abducted her.."
"Be that as it may", Braldor says, as Ranol finishes to speak, "they tarried behind, perhaps seeking a moment of solitude. That is well and fine here in Erebor, where we're surrounded by our kin, and their axes protect us from oour enemies. But to do such a thing in a place known to be troll country, and while being weak from the poisoining of our food is foolish", he adds, his eyes now sparkling a bit. "And many of those moment of solitude they sought, even if the proper forms have not been oberved, and ye, as her father, had not been told of this barazin's intentions with Thari. Noble intentions, surely", he adds, "yet he's done wrong in not waiting."
Balur's face again returns to Ranol with an air of intent listening, but does not interrupt when Braldor begins to speak. "Oh, aye," answers the trader, his voice deepening to a rumble. "I had something to say to Forli's son when he brought his suit to me, and how obvious it was that Thari had been told before I was. He did do wrong, and I was at first going to turn him away. I have, however, heard much since but have not heard from you. You know him better than I, from these three years that you were gone. What say you of this dwarf? Is he worthy of my daughter?"
Ranol remains quiet now, finding only one small point to nitpick in Braldor's counter-argument that won't aid the case much given the direction it's turned. He's given up the pretense of his own work and watches the two openly now.
[Thari(#31038)] "The Barazin shows promise", Braldor says, after a moment of consideration, "yet he has the flaws shown by some of his kin when it comes to dealing with us of Bundazanul: lack of respect, and a certain attitude that makes me uncomfortable", he says. "He is also headstrong, and his lack of common sense and explosions of anger tell me that it'd be best to tread cautiously around him", he adds, and then his dark eyes go straight to Balur's own. "Yet if he's worthy of yer daugher only ye can say, Master Balur. I can only give my honest opinion about this Barazin".
Balur's head tilts, his grey eyes like storm clouds. "And he behaves in such a way with my Thari?" It is hardly a question but for the little tip of his voice at the end. "I have almost never seen the two together."
Ranol presses his lips together, itching to jump in again but unwilling to push his luck further. He watches Braldor keenly, waiting to hear his Thane's answer.
"I know not if he behaves so with Thari, but he has done so with me", Braldor says, "and have no reason to believe he's done otherwise whilst with yer daughter. As I said, he shows promise, if he can ever come to control his feelings... but as he is right now, i do not like him", he finishes, as he leans back on his chair, regarding Balur intently.
"The lad is over one hundred and seventy," Balur says with a bit of a frown. "By then I was certainly set in my ways, and I'm sure you will be too. It's a bit late for him to be changing those." He gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "It is a pity that you and Thari stopped getting on so well after you became Thane. Why do you suppose that is?"
Ranol is biting his tongue now, a heavy frown on his face as he listens to this. He clears his throat, "My lord, if I may speak?" He asks this time, at least. His blue eyes are sharp, a strong similarity to his father.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor nods as Balur speaks, yet he stops as the older dwarf finishes. "Well, I don't know for certain", he says, as his brow furrows a bit. "Being Thane entails many responsibilities, and I have a lot of demands for my time", he adds, and he trails off, his eyes going to the fire that burns merrily in the fireplace. But soon his dark eyes go to Ranol, to whom he nods. "Sure, Huskarl, speak yer mind".
Balur's eyes are level and sharp on Braldor as the Thane answers his question, but he gives no response, visible or otherwise. Yet his eyes, when they shift to Ranol, are softer than they were upon Braldor.
"On the topic of Frarin and his.. 'explosions' of anger. Given the amount of time I spent keeping watch over Thari, I think I can safely say that he's never acted in such a way around her." Ranol continues, his tone milder. "Just to ease any worries you may have, Uncle." He studiously drops his gaze to his work again.
[Braldor(#30149)] The Thane shrugs then. "Well, I haven't seen him either... yet my time spent with the barazin has been scarce. He seems to dislike me... perhaps for personal reasons. As Balur said", he adds, as his eyes go to the elder dwarf, "Thari and I were seeing each other... perhaps the Barazin is jealous of this, even if there was nothing official", he adds.
Balur nods his head to Ranol. "I thank you," he says kindly. He studies the Thane then for a quiet moment. "And you... stopped seeing each other once the Barazin stepped in?" he asks in a calm fashion.
Ranol looks up as his Thane speaks, surprise on his face as this is news to him. "I could not say for that.." He says quietly, in answer to Braldor's speculation.
[Braldor(#30149)] "As ye know, we have stopped seeing each other for a while now, long before the Barazin appeared", comes Braldor's reply. "Yet the Barazin is rude and uncouth... at least in his manners. After that I have cared for Thari as best I could, and since neither her father nor any of her brothers came on this trip, I tried to protect her the best I could, for the perils on the road are many", he adds, and then turns to regards Ranol, to whom he nods.
"No I did not know," Balur's voice is firm. "Neither you nor Thari spoke to me on this." A release of breath and his eyes go toward the ceiling. "Honestly, none of the younger generation has respect for tradition anymore," he grumbles.
But a moment later, he is shaking his head and smiling fondly at Braldor. "And I am certain that you did as well as I could have done or either one of her brothers. Again, I'd like to express my gratitude, especially knowing as I do how difficult Thari is to protect at times." he stands and bows low, respectfully toward Braldor.
It seems the huskarl has found himself not only with some things to ask Thari about, but what could be interesting news for her as well. Though, he may choose simply to stay out of it all. Ranol tends to pick his battles carefully.
Balur sighs in obvious disappointment. "I did wonder what became of that. Thari had made it a habit of rejecting everyone, even the very best dwarves such as yourself. Mahal spare those around our headstrong daughters!"
But a moment later, he is shaking his head and smiling fondly at Braldor. "And I am certain that you did as well as I could have done or either one of her brothers. Again, I'd like to express my gratitude, especially knowing as I do how difficult Thari is to protect at times." he stands and bows low, respectfully toward Braldor.
[Braldor(#30149)] "No thanks are needed, master Balur", Braldor replies, raising a hand. "I did what any Bundazanul would have done. So... I hope I gave you enough to ponder if this Frarin deserves yer daughter or not, and I wish you wisdom in making a right choice there", he adds.
Ranol rises when he sees that Balur is making to leave and moves towards the door. He's not getting any word done, might as well make himself useful.
"You have helped." Balur straightens, shaking his head again. "It complicates things that they did not ask me before beginning to court. Have a good evening, m'lord, and I thank you for your time." He turns and moves toward the door behind Ranol.
Ranol gives his uncle a respectful bow, then pulls the door open and waits for the dwarf to depart before pushing it closed again. The huskarl moves back to the table he's working at, trying to concentrate past the revelations he's learned and the growing headache he's getting from his spar earlier in the day with Braldor.
[Braldor(#30149)] "A good day to ye, Master Balur", the Thane replies, standing and giving the older dwarf a respectful bow. "May ye fare well, this day and every day!".
Balur gives a smaller bow to Ranol on his way out and walks swiftly away.
One, however, is making his way straight for the Thane's office. Balur, a senior trader of Bundazanul And Others, much resembles his daughter for those who know her-- or rather, Thari much resembles her father. He is older of course, taller and broader with touches of grey in his hair, but the similarity is often striking.
He is now at the Thane's office door, knocking.
As Balur knocks, the door opens, and no other than Thane Bundazanul himself is the one who is at the door. He sports his usual blue cloak, and by the look of him, he was ready to go out of his office. "Well... Master Balur! Well met!", he greets the older dwarf, nodding to him. "May I be of any service?"
"Good evening my lord," Balur answers with a bit of a half-bow, utterly polite, deep voice calm. "Have you a moment to speak just now?"
Ranol is still around, trying to sort out how to fairly divide up shifts with several papers in front of him and a frown on his face. He had never anticipated that organizing a dozen dwarves in a schedule would be so difficult. Fighting the troll was easier. He looks up when there's the knock at the door, but Braldor is seeing to it and the huskarl looks on curiously, surprised crossing his face at the sight of his uncle.
"Surely Balur, surely, please come in", the Thane replies, as he makes way for the other khazad to come in, and going back to his seat behind his desk. "Have a seat, master Balur... any refreshment?", he adds, as a young dwarf comes in to see if his assistance in procuring food and drink are required.
Balur follows Braldor in and makes a smooth gesture with his hand at the young servant. "None tonight, I thank you. I am to eat supper at home soon." He seats himself upon a chair before the Thane's desk, leaning back comfortably and folding his hands over his beard.
"I'd like to thank you again, Braldor, for looking after my daughter on this last trip, though I hear it wasn't an easy task for you. It gave me some comfort to know that you were with her and keeping her safe."
Ranol stands, bowing in greeting, "Good evening, Uncle Balur." His blue eyes wander to Braldor, silently inquiring if he should leave or not.
"Ah, indeed, master Balur", comes the Thane's reply, as he makes a gesture for Ranol to resume his seat. "If i may, I would like to commend yer nephew here... brave lad he is, and he has grown during this trip", he says, as he smiles to Ranol. "But Thari... well, there's much to tell, good and bad, about yer daughter, master Balur. She has proven to be quite headstrong, and I wouldn't have a say about that if it did not put in danger some of our kin during the trip".
"Oh! Good evening there, Ranol," Balur says, his head lifting a bit before bowing to his nephew. "Go ahead, sit sit."
He leans back again, his attention returning to Braldor. "Of course she is headstrong. I raised her to be so, and she can't be to terribly retiring if she is to represent me on trading ventures. But come, what is this?" He frows, his brows knitting together. "She did what now?"
Ranol sits again, watching thoughtfully before looking back to his own work. Given the subject of conversation, he finds it impossible to concentrate and can't help but listen to what's being said. The disagreeable relationship between Braldor and Thari is hardly a new development, after all. Blue eyes glance up again, curious.
"Well, where to begin", Braldor says, as he shakes his head slowly. "First of all, she put in danger yer nephew here", he says, his eyes straying to Ranol, before comeing back to Balur, "since she and that Barazin", he says, with disgust in his voice as he utters the name of the other clan, "managed to conveniently stay behind our group... and then a troll came and tried to abduct her! Such lack of common sense I had only seen in beardlings before this... but many of us had to go after her, and some got really injured", he adds, and his eyes look sad, as if giving this news to Balur pained him.
Balur's eyes tarry to Ranol briefly as his name is mentioned as well for a moment before returning to Braldor. "So this was the fault of that Barazin?" he asks, his voice calm, but his eyes sharp. "Placing her in danger in troll country?"
"They were off collecting wood for our repair of the bridge at the time, and were the farthest away when the alarm went up.." Ranol interjects, speaking defensively for his friends, but keeping his tone level, as if only seeking to provide better explanation. "I put myself at risk because I insisted on going back to check and be sure they had heard the cry." The huskarl offers a more dry addition, "We were all suffering the effects of the tainted food when the troll abducted her.."
"Be that as it may", Braldor says, as Ranol finishes to speak, "they tarried behind, perhaps seeking a moment of solitude. That is well and fine here in Erebor, where we're surrounded by our kin, and their axes protect us from oour enemies. But to do such a thing in a place known to be troll country, and while being weak from the poisoining of our food is foolish", he adds, his eyes now sparkling a bit. "And many of those moment of solitude they sought, even if the proper forms have not been oberved, and ye, as her father, had not been told of this barazin's intentions with Thari. Noble intentions, surely", he adds, "yet he's done wrong in not waiting."
Balur's face again returns to Ranol with an air of intent listening, but does not interrupt when Braldor begins to speak. "Oh, aye," answers the trader, his voice deepening to a rumble. "I had something to say to Forli's son when he brought his suit to me, and how obvious it was that Thari had been told before I was. He did do wrong, and I was at first going to turn him away. I have, however, heard much since but have not heard from you. You know him better than I, from these three years that you were gone. What say you of this dwarf? Is he worthy of my daughter?"
Ranol remains quiet now, finding only one small point to nitpick in Braldor's counter-argument that won't aid the case much given the direction it's turned. He's given up the pretense of his own work and watches the two openly now.
[Thari(#31038)] "The Barazin shows promise", Braldor says, after a moment of consideration, "yet he has the flaws shown by some of his kin when it comes to dealing with us of Bundazanul: lack of respect, and a certain attitude that makes me uncomfortable", he says. "He is also headstrong, and his lack of common sense and explosions of anger tell me that it'd be best to tread cautiously around him", he adds, and then his dark eyes go straight to Balur's own. "Yet if he's worthy of yer daugher only ye can say, Master Balur. I can only give my honest opinion about this Barazin".
Balur's head tilts, his grey eyes like storm clouds. "And he behaves in such a way with my Thari?" It is hardly a question but for the little tip of his voice at the end. "I have almost never seen the two together."
Ranol presses his lips together, itching to jump in again but unwilling to push his luck further. He watches Braldor keenly, waiting to hear his Thane's answer.
"I know not if he behaves so with Thari, but he has done so with me", Braldor says, "and have no reason to believe he's done otherwise whilst with yer daughter. As I said, he shows promise, if he can ever come to control his feelings... but as he is right now, i do not like him", he finishes, as he leans back on his chair, regarding Balur intently.
"The lad is over one hundred and seventy," Balur says with a bit of a frown. "By then I was certainly set in my ways, and I'm sure you will be too. It's a bit late for him to be changing those." He gives a short laugh and shakes his head. "It is a pity that you and Thari stopped getting on so well after you became Thane. Why do you suppose that is?"
Ranol is biting his tongue now, a heavy frown on his face as he listens to this. He clears his throat, "My lord, if I may speak?" He asks this time, at least. His blue eyes are sharp, a strong similarity to his father.
[Braldor(#30149)] Braldor nods as Balur speaks, yet he stops as the older dwarf finishes. "Well, I don't know for certain", he says, as his brow furrows a bit. "Being Thane entails many responsibilities, and I have a lot of demands for my time", he adds, and he trails off, his eyes going to the fire that burns merrily in the fireplace. But soon his dark eyes go to Ranol, to whom he nods. "Sure, Huskarl, speak yer mind".
Balur's eyes are level and sharp on Braldor as the Thane answers his question, but he gives no response, visible or otherwise. Yet his eyes, when they shift to Ranol, are softer than they were upon Braldor.
"On the topic of Frarin and his.. 'explosions' of anger. Given the amount of time I spent keeping watch over Thari, I think I can safely say that he's never acted in such a way around her." Ranol continues, his tone milder. "Just to ease any worries you may have, Uncle." He studiously drops his gaze to his work again.
[Braldor(#30149)] The Thane shrugs then. "Well, I haven't seen him either... yet my time spent with the barazin has been scarce. He seems to dislike me... perhaps for personal reasons. As Balur said", he adds, as his eyes go to the elder dwarf, "Thari and I were seeing each other... perhaps the Barazin is jealous of this, even if there was nothing official", he adds.
Balur nods his head to Ranol. "I thank you," he says kindly. He studies the Thane then for a quiet moment. "And you... stopped seeing each other once the Barazin stepped in?" he asks in a calm fashion.
Ranol looks up as his Thane speaks, surprise on his face as this is news to him. "I could not say for that.." He says quietly, in answer to Braldor's speculation.
[Braldor(#30149)] "As ye know, we have stopped seeing each other for a while now, long before the Barazin appeared", comes Braldor's reply. "Yet the Barazin is rude and uncouth... at least in his manners. After that I have cared for Thari as best I could, and since neither her father nor any of her brothers came on this trip, I tried to protect her the best I could, for the perils on the road are many", he adds, and then turns to regards Ranol, to whom he nods.
"No I did not know," Balur's voice is firm. "Neither you nor Thari spoke to me on this." A release of breath and his eyes go toward the ceiling. "Honestly, none of the younger generation has respect for tradition anymore," he grumbles.
But a moment later, he is shaking his head and smiling fondly at Braldor. "And I am certain that you did as well as I could have done or either one of her brothers. Again, I'd like to express my gratitude, especially knowing as I do how difficult Thari is to protect at times." he stands and bows low, respectfully toward Braldor.
It seems the huskarl has found himself not only with some things to ask Thari about, but what could be interesting news for her as well. Though, he may choose simply to stay out of it all. Ranol tends to pick his battles carefully.
Balur sighs in obvious disappointment. "I did wonder what became of that. Thari had made it a habit of rejecting everyone, even the very best dwarves such as yourself. Mahal spare those around our headstrong daughters!"
But a moment later, he is shaking his head and smiling fondly at Braldor. "And I am certain that you did as well as I could have done or either one of her brothers. Again, I'd like to express my gratitude, especially knowing as I do how difficult Thari is to protect at times." he stands and bows low, respectfully toward Braldor.
[Braldor(#30149)] "No thanks are needed, master Balur", Braldor replies, raising a hand. "I did what any Bundazanul would have done. So... I hope I gave you enough to ponder if this Frarin deserves yer daughter or not, and I wish you wisdom in making a right choice there", he adds.
Ranol rises when he sees that Balur is making to leave and moves towards the door. He's not getting any word done, might as well make himself useful.
"You have helped." Balur straightens, shaking his head again. "It complicates things that they did not ask me before beginning to court. Have a good evening, m'lord, and I thank you for your time." He turns and moves toward the door behind Ranol.
Ranol gives his uncle a respectful bow, then pulls the door open and waits for the dwarf to depart before pushing it closed again. The huskarl moves back to the table he's working at, trying to concentrate past the revelations he's learned and the growing headache he's getting from his spar earlier in the day with Braldor.
[Braldor(#30149)] "A good day to ye, Master Balur", the Thane replies, standing and giving the older dwarf a respectful bow. "May ye fare well, this day and every day!".
Balur gives a smaller bow to Ranol on his way out and walks swiftly away.
Players: Balur, Braldor
Located in: Erebor
