Elendor
A touch of comfort
Frarin's cheery older cousin Formin (NPC Frarin) attempts to ease Thari's longing for the departed silversmith.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Greathall of Thrain II
Game Date: Day 27 of September 3044
IC Time: Midday
Description:
Greathall of Thrain II(#11605RantU)
A magnificently huge hall, full of light, sound, and dwarves coming and going, conversing with friends or haggling with traders. This was once the Feasting Hall of Thrain, and then, the room Smaug hoarded Erebor's wealth in. The walls and floor have since been repaired, and even improved, glowing a soft blue in the light of the crystal lamps hung from the hematite ceiling. Every surface the eye can find is smoothed and polished, proving that the dwarves have not yet lost their famed touch in stone working, save for one spot in the center of the floor, marked off by a ring of simple stones: a charred spot, a legacy of Smaug. The four clan gates exit from this hall, the hub of Erebor's society. It is still used as a feast hall on High Days, but day to day serves as a market for those without permenant demesnes in the Trader's Way.
Contents:
Thari
Danamax the Fallen, Chandler
Obvious exits:
Stairway (Out) leads to Great Stair, Lower Landing.
Stone Door leads to Emerald Hall.
Steel Gate leads to Trader's Way (Hall of Grar).
Barazin Arch, Mazarbul Arch, Bundazanul ArchWay, and Zinbar Arch
=== Formin's DESC ============================================================
Standing tall at four and a half feet, this dwarf has seen quite a few years, and by the looks of it, a battle or two as well. A deep brown beard reaches nearly to his knees and his worn and lined faced put him perhaps at 200 or so, for those who know a thing or two about dwarves. Most unique about him is a terrible scar, rather old. Running from chin to brow, it leaves a dash of brown hair white and the dull glaze of his right eye betrays the presence of a glass eye.
His garments are sturdy and practical: a shirt of white beneath a short surcoat of black and grey trousers. About his waist is a thin belt of plated silver and upon his feet are heavy black boots. A thick silver chain circles his neck.
==============================================================================
[Thari(#31038)]
This hall is always a hubbub of activity, though nothing to compare with what it was in its heyday, before the dragon came. Always it is filled with a little too much space, too few dwarves to grace the magnificence of their handiwork.
Some temporary shops line the walls, and outside of one of these is Thari. She holds a goblet of crystal in her hand, cut at dazzling angles, and she is touching this while talking with the trader. He is smiling eagerly at her, she is returning the smile half-heartedly.
[Formin] The steel gate leading to Trader's Way is nearly as busy as the Greathall of Thrain itself, for both halls are home to those in search of a good buy, or indeed, sell. Amidst a throng of dwarves passing into the greathall through this gate comes one dwarf with a very long brown beard and clad in a long black surcoat, the bottom edges of which are marred by smoke and ash where not covered by a forging apron.
Formin is chuckling a warm, rolling laugh with a few of the dwarves he comes with and seems in the middle of telling a story. He pauses, hand gesturing and face mock serious, then says something that exhibits another round of laughter from his friends. Shaking his head, Formin waves them farewell and breaks away from the group, as yet not betraying his destination.
The following bboards have new posts since Wed Aug 20 18:09:49 2008:
[Thari(#31038)]
"No," Thari is saying now firmly to the trader as he works to earn a sale. "No. I am not buying at this time." Her head shakes. She puts down the goblet. The trader's smile widens a bit more but does not touch his eyes, the disappointment showing.
"The workmanship is indeed very fine." She bows to him, turns away, and walks swiftly toward the center of the hall.
[Formin] "Yes indeed, yes indeed," is all Formin cheerfully bobs in polite reply to every trader he passes as they shout to assure him of the quality of their hammers, or beer, or pipes, or lanterns. He is weaving quite deliberately through the hall until at last it might be safely said that he aims for the stall selling grain from Dale.
But he does not make it. Gnarled brows lift in curiosity as a familiar voice catches his attention and a twinkling smile falls upon his beard at the sight of Thari. The healer's somewhat downcast mood seems none to dampen Formin's. "Daughter of Balur!" calls the old silversmith before Thari can move far back towards the centre of the hall.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari turns as her father's name is mentioned and it must be said that her face is wary, guarded as she searches the crowd. Grey eyes alight on a scarred silversmith. "Formin!" Happy is her voice, but shy too, to match her smile. She bows deeply indeed toward him.
[Frarin] Formin moves quickly across the short distance separating the two and bows deeply when he reaches Thari's side, so much so that his beard sweeps the floor. "My dear Thari!" he rumbles cheerfully in a voice at once similiar and different from Frarin's. There is the same rumble, but none of the stiffness of his cousin, for Formin's tone is easy and casual. "Well well, here is a good fortune, I had been missing you, you know. Why, you have yet to accept my offer to supper! What brings you here then, my dear?"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari looks rather taken aback by all of this, her head bowing a little as she looks up at the taller dwarf, a blush touching her face. "Well... I..." she says, and suddenly she takes a quick glance around and leans toward Formin. "You mustn't tell anyone, but I've been looking at things for a house that Frarin and I might share someday!" And she laughs, covering her mouth, turning a darker red.
[Formin] Formin's face grows mock serious and he gives a conspiratorial frown as Thari leans in towards him. A stifled smile plays beneath his beard as his one eye twinkles at Thari's confession. "My lips are sealed, my dear, I shan't tell a soul!" he whispers, gently prodding her side with his elbow. And equally conspiratorial, he adds with a grin, "Though, between you and me, I believe my cousin prefers metal over crystal, unless of course for wine or spirits, in which case, proceed as you were, by all means, by all means!" He winks, pulling a mock serious face.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari grins wider, her eyes down for a moment, then up and to the side at Formin's face. "Well, naturally I wouldn't purchase a thing until he arrived at home, chiefly due to the fact that I haven't my father's blessing yet."
She rubs her mouth with a knuckle and then drops her hands to fold them together, laughing again. "Not out of fear of your cousin, oh no! I've half a mind to purchase one or two right now to start the great quarrel we'd have over crystal versus metal!" Her smile lingers on her face but her eyes grow sad. "Ah, I miss him."
[Formin] "Ah yes, I'm sure you do, my dear," Formin nods knowingly, a sympathetic smile upon his face as he tips his head to look sidelong at Thari. He takes a hold of one of the healer's folded hands - his grip surprisingly gentle for a lifelong smith - and pats her forearm with a smile clearly intended to comfort. "But do you know, I have never seen my cousin so sad to take to the road before. And I shall tell you what I said to him with his dreadfully long face."
He pats Thari's arm again in a fatherly way. "I said to him, Frarin my lad, the more you dwell on missing that lobely lady of yours, the longer your separation will seem. So stop your moping about and don't think about how lonely you are without her. Think about the time you have had with her and the time you will have with her in the future, then think about how lonely you might have been had you never known her at all. Why, I said to him, you must be positively rolling with happiness in comparison, even when she is not at your side!"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari is silent for a little while, her eyes falling down. "He was terribly sad?" she asks at last, sorrowed and fretful. Her gaze strays toward the great stairway that exits this hall. "I should see if I can gain permission to visit him, just for a day or two."
[Formin] "Ah ah," Formin tuts, holding up a finger when Thari's gaze strays to the great stairway. "Why, my dear, I've half a mind to believe you stopped listening after the bit about Frarin being sad. Alright then, I'll be more direct. Chin up, my lass, and stop your moping about. Why, what would Frarin think if he saw you now, aimlessly wandering this splendid mountain with nothing more than a frown and occasional tear to grace that pretty face? Do you know, I think he'd have a thing or two to say to that, that I do."
[Thari(#31038)]
"I didn't stop listening!" Thari protests, her smile returning, her eyes going back to Formin. "and I'm not aimless! I'm-- well, yes, I'm a little aimless," she laughs. "Am I honestly that obvious?"
[Formin] Formin gives a little series of nods, head tipped to the side, a mock frown that barely hides a smile on his face. "Ah indeed, my dear, I fear tis so," he says dramatically. His gaze lifts up and a hand extends as he begins to list off more adjectives. "Aimless, listless, vacant, careless, purposeless--" He casts her a sidelong glance and grin. "Do feel free to stop me anytime," he says with a wink, dropping his hand and resuming his former posture.
"Which of course is ridiculous. Why, you've everything in the world to be happy about, lass. Just because my cousin isn't at your side doesn't mean your life is at an end, after all! Although, I'll tell you what, my dear, if your good family could see in such a way, why, I think they'd have a hard time saying no. Such a face!" He beams and chuckles.
[Thari(#31038)]
"I think Papa is weakening a little," Thari murmurs with a furtive look around. "Though I don't beileve that he will base his decisions so much on whether or not my face is long." A bit of a grin. "Most of the time."
"Yes," she says decisively, smoothing down her short beard. "I need to keep myself busy. Frarin is. Is he writing you?" suddenly her tone lifts back toward worry. "The seal on the last letter he sent to me was broken."
[Formin] The easy light-heartedness upon Formin's face is darkened a little at Thari's news of the broken seal. "Yes, he has written me. He wrote just after his arrival at Emyn Engrin, though...the seal was unblemished. I expect another to arrive any day. Did he write you as well? I know he left you a letter before ever even leaving Erebor." The old silversmith's tone is casually interested, but there is a sliver of concern as well, perhaps suggesting that he not all fun and games after all.
[Thari(#31038)]
"Yes, he wrote me too when he arrived in the Iron Hills," Thari says with a nod. "That's the letter with the broken seal. The letter was a bit travel-worn... I wonder if he's using good quality wax. Perhaps I should send him some." Her head tilts curiously as she watches Formin's scarred face.
[Formin] Formin adopts an odd expression, on its surface he appears to simply be intently listening, but there is a very slight twist of a smile as well. And it is not so much humour in the curve of his lips as a sense of knowing or suspicion. After a moment, however, he smiles broader and nods. "Aye, you must be right, my dear. The weather is growing more unpleasant by the day, it is likely only luck that my seal arrived intact! I am sure he can find some better wax in the Iron Hills, but do make a point of telling him in your next letter. Poor fellow hasn't a clue, I'm sure."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari nods again, agreeable. "What did he write you about?" she asks, the question all forced casualness. She idly scans the dwarves of the crowd nearby.
[Formin] "Oh, all of the usual particulars one writes to a nosy cousin," Formin chuckles, none of that odd expression now lingering. "Quite a bit about our new cousin Bern, who is apparently quite the rascal, let me tell you. Only five! Well, let me see. He's been good enough to check in on a few old friends of mine there and deliver some letters of mine." And as if saving this for last, he gives an especially warm grin. "And of course he's asked me to make sure that you have not been too very downcast without him!"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari nods a few times as he speaks, then snorts at this last bit before grinning. "Ah, he knows I'm a horrid fool too. And I can't imagine your gruff old cousin with a child! I hope young Bern has a lot of patience for solemnity and lectures." Her grin widens, her eyes twinkling.
[Formin] Formin's eyes crinkle and his one good eye seems to twinkle as he grins at Thari. "Ah, but you give Frarin too little credit, my dear! Why, my cousin will never admit it, but it is a certain awkwardness that makes him such a curmudgeon amidst his peers. Put him with a group of young beardlings and he is much changed. Simply ask his young niece! My my, but he did used to dote upon Gillin and Gerin when they were young."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari's smile remains, but the rest of her face shifts a little, through wistfulness and then sorrow. "He is a dear dwarf, isn't he? He's too stubborn to show it to my family and doesn't want me to tell them. He'd rather like them to love him solely for the fact that he is stubborn and cross." A thoughtful pause, and then her brows furrow. "...awkwardness?"
[Formin] "Oh now, that's hardly fair, my lass," says Formin, tipping his head to the side as he looks at her. "I think he is rather more interested in your family simply accepting that you two wish to be together, than presenting them with an image of himself. Frarin never was much interested in impressing others, certainly not if it meant relating his own good traits."
He lifts his brows at Thari's last and gives a small smile, as if encouraging the question in her tone. "Awkwardness? Yes certainly, you have not noticed it?"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari shakes her head a little at what Formin first says, looking both thoughtful and wry. But it is his last question that draws her attention. "No, not really," she says with another shake. "But he is different with me, I have learned. I was surprised when he told me once that he isn't very talkative, to other people I suppose. He has rather a lot to say to me, sometimes." She grins, but her eyes are again sad.
[Formin] "Have you not?" Formin says, looking faintly wistful himself as he sighs. "Oh yes, it is certainly there. You are very lucky, my dear. Frarin will talk to me, but only when it suits him. He, well, it is a long story, but it is in both his nature and his history to button up around others. And when others attempt to undo that, if he is not in the mood, he can grow very irritable indeed. Thus perhaps you will understand my surprise and great delight when he told me he had found a companion that 'made his heart soar', as he put it to me."
[Thari(#31038)]
"Made his heart soar?" Thari repeats with a bit of an incredulous laugh and another shake of the head. "Don't you worry, Master Formin," she says firmly, reaching over to pat the old smith's forearm. "I will have a talk with him about that. He holds you in high regard and should speak with you more! That will change once I speak with him."
[Formin] "Oh ho," Formin chuckles, shaking his head. "Do not you worry over an old smith, my dear. I know Frarin better than any and I know very well in what regard he holds me. There comes a point when one has known another long enough that you can tell what they are hiding by the way they are hiding it."
[Thari(#31038)] "Well, good! Then I'll ask you next time he says," Thari makes her face go all surly and deepens her voice a little, "'Nothing is wrong! I'm not angry! Leave me alone!'" Her face clears and she finishes cheerfuly, "Surely asking you will be a good deal easier than scolding him until he becomes sensible again! Of course, between the two of us, Master Formin, I'm no better than he is."
[Formin] Formin chuckles a rolling, hearty laugh as Thari imitates Frarin, and he nods vigorously. "Aye, aye, well done! There is my dear cousin and no mistake! Ah but you have him pinned already, to know very well that he is indeed bothered by some such or another when he becomes so defensive. Frarin, bless him, really is quite simple to understand when you come right down to it. Between the -three- of us, you mean, my dear! For Frarin knows it just as well, trust you me." He winks.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari's eyes crinkle in the corners again with amusements. "And here I like to fool myself that he does not know me so well! Come now, Master Formin, we must have dinner soon, for we've done nothing but talk about your cousin, but right now I am due for a meeting at my father's offices." She bows deeply to the smith and takes a step away as she arises. "Good afternoon to you. I am ever at your service and your family's!"
[Formin] Formin bows deeply to Thari, his beard again sweeping the floor. "Good afternoon to you as well, dear Thari. My door is ever open to you!" And with a last wave of farwell, he grins after the healer and disappears into the crowd once more.
Greathall of Thrain II(#11605RantU)
A magnificently huge hall, full of light, sound, and dwarves coming and going, conversing with friends or haggling with traders. This was once the Feasting Hall of Thrain, and then, the room Smaug hoarded Erebor's wealth in. The walls and floor have since been repaired, and even improved, glowing a soft blue in the light of the crystal lamps hung from the hematite ceiling. Every surface the eye can find is smoothed and polished, proving that the dwarves have not yet lost their famed touch in stone working, save for one spot in the center of the floor, marked off by a ring of simple stones: a charred spot, a legacy of Smaug. The four clan gates exit from this hall, the hub of Erebor's society. It is still used as a feast hall on High Days, but day to day serves as a market for those without permenant demesnes in the Trader's Way.
Contents:
Thari
Danamax the Fallen, Chandler
Obvious exits:
Stairway (Out) leads to Great Stair, Lower Landing.
Stone Door leads to Emerald Hall.
Steel Gate leads to Trader's Way (Hall of Grar).
Barazin Arch, Mazarbul Arch, Bundazanul ArchWay, and Zinbar Arch
=== Formin's DESC ============================================================
Standing tall at four and a half feet, this dwarf has seen quite a few years, and by the looks of it, a battle or two as well. A deep brown beard reaches nearly to his knees and his worn and lined faced put him perhaps at 200 or so, for those who know a thing or two about dwarves. Most unique about him is a terrible scar, rather old. Running from chin to brow, it leaves a dash of brown hair white and the dull glaze of his right eye betrays the presence of a glass eye.
His garments are sturdy and practical: a shirt of white beneath a short surcoat of black and grey trousers. About his waist is a thin belt of plated silver and upon his feet are heavy black boots. A thick silver chain circles his neck.
==============================================================================
[Thari(#31038)]
This hall is always a hubbub of activity, though nothing to compare with what it was in its heyday, before the dragon came. Always it is filled with a little too much space, too few dwarves to grace the magnificence of their handiwork.
Some temporary shops line the walls, and outside of one of these is Thari. She holds a goblet of crystal in her hand, cut at dazzling angles, and she is touching this while talking with the trader. He is smiling eagerly at her, she is returning the smile half-heartedly.
[Formin] The steel gate leading to Trader's Way is nearly as busy as the Greathall of Thrain itself, for both halls are home to those in search of a good buy, or indeed, sell. Amidst a throng of dwarves passing into the greathall through this gate comes one dwarf with a very long brown beard and clad in a long black surcoat, the bottom edges of which are marred by smoke and ash where not covered by a forging apron.
Formin is chuckling a warm, rolling laugh with a few of the dwarves he comes with and seems in the middle of telling a story. He pauses, hand gesturing and face mock serious, then says something that exhibits another round of laughter from his friends. Shaking his head, Formin waves them farewell and breaks away from the group, as yet not betraying his destination.
The following bboards have new posts since Wed Aug 20 18:09:49 2008:
[Thari(#31038)]
"No," Thari is saying now firmly to the trader as he works to earn a sale. "No. I am not buying at this time." Her head shakes. She puts down the goblet. The trader's smile widens a bit more but does not touch his eyes, the disappointment showing.
"The workmanship is indeed very fine." She bows to him, turns away, and walks swiftly toward the center of the hall.
[Formin] "Yes indeed, yes indeed," is all Formin cheerfully bobs in polite reply to every trader he passes as they shout to assure him of the quality of their hammers, or beer, or pipes, or lanterns. He is weaving quite deliberately through the hall until at last it might be safely said that he aims for the stall selling grain from Dale.
But he does not make it. Gnarled brows lift in curiosity as a familiar voice catches his attention and a twinkling smile falls upon his beard at the sight of Thari. The healer's somewhat downcast mood seems none to dampen Formin's. "Daughter of Balur!" calls the old silversmith before Thari can move far back towards the centre of the hall.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari turns as her father's name is mentioned and it must be said that her face is wary, guarded as she searches the crowd. Grey eyes alight on a scarred silversmith. "Formin!" Happy is her voice, but shy too, to match her smile. She bows deeply indeed toward him.
[Frarin] Formin moves quickly across the short distance separating the two and bows deeply when he reaches Thari's side, so much so that his beard sweeps the floor. "My dear Thari!" he rumbles cheerfully in a voice at once similiar and different from Frarin's. There is the same rumble, but none of the stiffness of his cousin, for Formin's tone is easy and casual. "Well well, here is a good fortune, I had been missing you, you know. Why, you have yet to accept my offer to supper! What brings you here then, my dear?"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari looks rather taken aback by all of this, her head bowing a little as she looks up at the taller dwarf, a blush touching her face. "Well... I..." she says, and suddenly she takes a quick glance around and leans toward Formin. "You mustn't tell anyone, but I've been looking at things for a house that Frarin and I might share someday!" And she laughs, covering her mouth, turning a darker red.
[Formin] Formin's face grows mock serious and he gives a conspiratorial frown as Thari leans in towards him. A stifled smile plays beneath his beard as his one eye twinkles at Thari's confession. "My lips are sealed, my dear, I shan't tell a soul!" he whispers, gently prodding her side with his elbow. And equally conspiratorial, he adds with a grin, "Though, between you and me, I believe my cousin prefers metal over crystal, unless of course for wine or spirits, in which case, proceed as you were, by all means, by all means!" He winks, pulling a mock serious face.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari grins wider, her eyes down for a moment, then up and to the side at Formin's face. "Well, naturally I wouldn't purchase a thing until he arrived at home, chiefly due to the fact that I haven't my father's blessing yet."
She rubs her mouth with a knuckle and then drops her hands to fold them together, laughing again. "Not out of fear of your cousin, oh no! I've half a mind to purchase one or two right now to start the great quarrel we'd have over crystal versus metal!" Her smile lingers on her face but her eyes grow sad. "Ah, I miss him."
[Formin] "Ah yes, I'm sure you do, my dear," Formin nods knowingly, a sympathetic smile upon his face as he tips his head to look sidelong at Thari. He takes a hold of one of the healer's folded hands - his grip surprisingly gentle for a lifelong smith - and pats her forearm with a smile clearly intended to comfort. "But do you know, I have never seen my cousin so sad to take to the road before. And I shall tell you what I said to him with his dreadfully long face."
He pats Thari's arm again in a fatherly way. "I said to him, Frarin my lad, the more you dwell on missing that lobely lady of yours, the longer your separation will seem. So stop your moping about and don't think about how lonely you are without her. Think about the time you have had with her and the time you will have with her in the future, then think about how lonely you might have been had you never known her at all. Why, I said to him, you must be positively rolling with happiness in comparison, even when she is not at your side!"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari is silent for a little while, her eyes falling down. "He was terribly sad?" she asks at last, sorrowed and fretful. Her gaze strays toward the great stairway that exits this hall. "I should see if I can gain permission to visit him, just for a day or two."
[Formin] "Ah ah," Formin tuts, holding up a finger when Thari's gaze strays to the great stairway. "Why, my dear, I've half a mind to believe you stopped listening after the bit about Frarin being sad. Alright then, I'll be more direct. Chin up, my lass, and stop your moping about. Why, what would Frarin think if he saw you now, aimlessly wandering this splendid mountain with nothing more than a frown and occasional tear to grace that pretty face? Do you know, I think he'd have a thing or two to say to that, that I do."
[Thari(#31038)]
"I didn't stop listening!" Thari protests, her smile returning, her eyes going back to Formin. "and I'm not aimless! I'm-- well, yes, I'm a little aimless," she laughs. "Am I honestly that obvious?"
[Formin] Formin gives a little series of nods, head tipped to the side, a mock frown that barely hides a smile on his face. "Ah indeed, my dear, I fear tis so," he says dramatically. His gaze lifts up and a hand extends as he begins to list off more adjectives. "Aimless, listless, vacant, careless, purposeless--" He casts her a sidelong glance and grin. "Do feel free to stop me anytime," he says with a wink, dropping his hand and resuming his former posture.
"Which of course is ridiculous. Why, you've everything in the world to be happy about, lass. Just because my cousin isn't at your side doesn't mean your life is at an end, after all! Although, I'll tell you what, my dear, if your good family could see in such a way, why, I think they'd have a hard time saying no. Such a face!" He beams and chuckles.
[Thari(#31038)]
"I think Papa is weakening a little," Thari murmurs with a furtive look around. "Though I don't beileve that he will base his decisions so much on whether or not my face is long." A bit of a grin. "Most of the time."
"Yes," she says decisively, smoothing down her short beard. "I need to keep myself busy. Frarin is. Is he writing you?" suddenly her tone lifts back toward worry. "The seal on the last letter he sent to me was broken."
[Formin] The easy light-heartedness upon Formin's face is darkened a little at Thari's news of the broken seal. "Yes, he has written me. He wrote just after his arrival at Emyn Engrin, though...the seal was unblemished. I expect another to arrive any day. Did he write you as well? I know he left you a letter before ever even leaving Erebor." The old silversmith's tone is casually interested, but there is a sliver of concern as well, perhaps suggesting that he not all fun and games after all.
[Thari(#31038)]
"Yes, he wrote me too when he arrived in the Iron Hills," Thari says with a nod. "That's the letter with the broken seal. The letter was a bit travel-worn... I wonder if he's using good quality wax. Perhaps I should send him some." Her head tilts curiously as she watches Formin's scarred face.
[Formin] Formin adopts an odd expression, on its surface he appears to simply be intently listening, but there is a very slight twist of a smile as well. And it is not so much humour in the curve of his lips as a sense of knowing or suspicion. After a moment, however, he smiles broader and nods. "Aye, you must be right, my dear. The weather is growing more unpleasant by the day, it is likely only luck that my seal arrived intact! I am sure he can find some better wax in the Iron Hills, but do make a point of telling him in your next letter. Poor fellow hasn't a clue, I'm sure."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari nods again, agreeable. "What did he write you about?" she asks, the question all forced casualness. She idly scans the dwarves of the crowd nearby.
[Formin] "Oh, all of the usual particulars one writes to a nosy cousin," Formin chuckles, none of that odd expression now lingering. "Quite a bit about our new cousin Bern, who is apparently quite the rascal, let me tell you. Only five! Well, let me see. He's been good enough to check in on a few old friends of mine there and deliver some letters of mine." And as if saving this for last, he gives an especially warm grin. "And of course he's asked me to make sure that you have not been too very downcast without him!"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari nods a few times as he speaks, then snorts at this last bit before grinning. "Ah, he knows I'm a horrid fool too. And I can't imagine your gruff old cousin with a child! I hope young Bern has a lot of patience for solemnity and lectures." Her grin widens, her eyes twinkling.
[Formin] Formin's eyes crinkle and his one good eye seems to twinkle as he grins at Thari. "Ah, but you give Frarin too little credit, my dear! Why, my cousin will never admit it, but it is a certain awkwardness that makes him such a curmudgeon amidst his peers. Put him with a group of young beardlings and he is much changed. Simply ask his young niece! My my, but he did used to dote upon Gillin and Gerin when they were young."
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari's smile remains, but the rest of her face shifts a little, through wistfulness and then sorrow. "He is a dear dwarf, isn't he? He's too stubborn to show it to my family and doesn't want me to tell them. He'd rather like them to love him solely for the fact that he is stubborn and cross." A thoughtful pause, and then her brows furrow. "...awkwardness?"
[Formin] "Oh now, that's hardly fair, my lass," says Formin, tipping his head to the side as he looks at her. "I think he is rather more interested in your family simply accepting that you two wish to be together, than presenting them with an image of himself. Frarin never was much interested in impressing others, certainly not if it meant relating his own good traits."
He lifts his brows at Thari's last and gives a small smile, as if encouraging the question in her tone. "Awkwardness? Yes certainly, you have not noticed it?"
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari shakes her head a little at what Formin first says, looking both thoughtful and wry. But it is his last question that draws her attention. "No, not really," she says with another shake. "But he is different with me, I have learned. I was surprised when he told me once that he isn't very talkative, to other people I suppose. He has rather a lot to say to me, sometimes." She grins, but her eyes are again sad.
[Formin] "Have you not?" Formin says, looking faintly wistful himself as he sighs. "Oh yes, it is certainly there. You are very lucky, my dear. Frarin will talk to me, but only when it suits him. He, well, it is a long story, but it is in both his nature and his history to button up around others. And when others attempt to undo that, if he is not in the mood, he can grow very irritable indeed. Thus perhaps you will understand my surprise and great delight when he told me he had found a companion that 'made his heart soar', as he put it to me."
[Thari(#31038)]
"Made his heart soar?" Thari repeats with a bit of an incredulous laugh and another shake of the head. "Don't you worry, Master Formin," she says firmly, reaching over to pat the old smith's forearm. "I will have a talk with him about that. He holds you in high regard and should speak with you more! That will change once I speak with him."
[Formin] "Oh ho," Formin chuckles, shaking his head. "Do not you worry over an old smith, my dear. I know Frarin better than any and I know very well in what regard he holds me. There comes a point when one has known another long enough that you can tell what they are hiding by the way they are hiding it."
[Thari(#31038)] "Well, good! Then I'll ask you next time he says," Thari makes her face go all surly and deepens her voice a little, "'Nothing is wrong! I'm not angry! Leave me alone!'" Her face clears and she finishes cheerfuly, "Surely asking you will be a good deal easier than scolding him until he becomes sensible again! Of course, between the two of us, Master Formin, I'm no better than he is."
[Formin] Formin chuckles a rolling, hearty laugh as Thari imitates Frarin, and he nods vigorously. "Aye, aye, well done! There is my dear cousin and no mistake! Ah but you have him pinned already, to know very well that he is indeed bothered by some such or another when he becomes so defensive. Frarin, bless him, really is quite simple to understand when you come right down to it. Between the -three- of us, you mean, my dear! For Frarin knows it just as well, trust you me." He winks.
[Thari(#31038)]
Thari's eyes crinkle in the corners again with amusements. "And here I like to fool myself that he does not know me so well! Come now, Master Formin, we must have dinner soon, for we've done nothing but talk about your cousin, but right now I am due for a meeting at my father's offices." She bows deeply to the smith and takes a step away as she arises. "Good afternoon to you. I am ever at your service and your family's!"
[Formin] Formin bows deeply to Thari, his beard again sweeping the floor. "Good afternoon to you as well, dear Thari. My door is ever open to you!" And with a last wave of farwell, he grins after the healer and disappears into the crowd once more.
Players: Formin, Thari
Located in: Erebor
