Regarding Ranol

**** Erebor Time & Weather Service ******************************************** Real time is: Tue Aug 19 20:38:35 2008, GMT -8 **Elendor time is: Late Night (0200) on Sterday, Day 24 of September 3044.In the outer world's overcast Autumn sky, The full moon sails through the stars fair unto a gleaming ship.************************ Erebor Time & Weather Service *****

Emerald Hall(#26750RtU)The sound of splashing, laughing water can be heard here, from the grand fountain in the center of this quiet little chamber. The floor here has been laid with countless jade tiles, giving it a distinguished, peaceful look. There are benches along the smooth green alalite walls which are luxuriously radiant in the light from the large chandelier hanging above the fountain. Guards stand silently at the stairs and tunnel.

Contents:SivObvious exits: Dark Tunnel leads to Hall of the Honored Dead. Stone Door leads to Greathall of Thrain

II. Long Stairs (Up) leads to Halls of the Second Deep.

It is night, but that matters only a little Under the Mountain. Lanterns still burn here, casting warm light over the small and peaceful little hall. Few come this way unless they will soon be honoring their dead, so it is a quiet place, so long as one does not mind the guards and the waters.

Thari is here, deep in the night. She is sitting back on a bench and watching the water. There is a slightly sad tilt to her brows, but the guards pay her no heed.

[Siv(#24218)] Another enters, but so quietly as to make little noise: Siv pauses to look about in the hall as if seeking for a place to sit--and then looking surprised, indeed, as she spots Thari. Her lips press together--she hesitates, not taking a step forward, but uncertain of whether or not to leave.

Thari's head turns idly at the sound of approaching footsteps, her eyes not even really curious. It takes a moment for them to focus on Siv, but when they do, she bows her head. "Siv lass," she says, deep voice working into the noise of the fountain. "Glad to be home, are you? Have you seen my cousin Ranol lately?"

[Siv(#24218)] "Ranol? Why would I see Ranol?" Siv replies in a voice that is a note too high, nervous. She makes her way across the hall to stand near where Thari sits. "Is anything amiss?" she then asks, having taken in Thari's expression.

"Nothing is wrong," Thari says gruffly with a dismissive gesture. "And I only ask after Ranol because I understood you were," she hesitates, "friends with him? This is not so?"

[Siv(#24218)] "Friends?" Siv asks, with a small laugh. "Now that's interesting--wonder exactly what you heard about that. But..yes..all right. Friends is appropriate. And....?" she prompts.

"And I was wondering if you've seen him lately," Thari says, starting to sound a bit testy. She still leans against the wall without moving, hands still folded in her lap. "And how he is. I haven't spoken with him in a few weeks."

[Siv(#24218)] "He's fine..." Siv replies, confusion growing in her voice. "Though he's not one for talking much about his personal life, to be honest. We talked more about a business proposal that I had. Look--is there something specific you need me to ask of Ranol for you? Or something you want to ask me? Best just to out with it."

"Business proposal!" Thari releases a bit of laughter and leans forward. One of the guards looks curiously toward the women. "Ah, Siv lass, the rumors people spread! I heard he was courting you! But of course I couldn't speak with him right away when we got home! Ah, I understand, I do." She catches her breath, still grinning. "You should hear the rotten things people say about me!"

[Siv(#24218)] "What. Are they saying about me?" Siv doesn't share in Thari's laughter--her voice has gone cold. "I can only imagine. And if they are saying things about me, then there is only one source of that information. And that would be Ranol." There is murder in her eyes, oh yes.

"Oh don't be looking like that," Thari says firmly, her laughter dying away in a snap. "And don't be saying such things about my cousin. I just now told you that I haven't spoken to him in weeks."

[Siv(#24218)] "Well....then..." Siv's mood softens some..."What is it that they say about me? I have heard...well, you don't want to know what I have heard about you. Concerning Frarin."

"I've heard that my cousin is courting you," Thari says, leaning back against the wall again while watching Siv without blinking. "And who is saying those things about me?"

[Siv(#24218)] "Can't say for certain," Siv says, shrugging. "It's just something...a feeling I get from people. Snatches of conversations overheard here and there. As for Ranol, no, he and I are not...well, he's not courting me, though there was talk of that at first. Yes, eh considered it, but it won't work. No, not at all."

Thari flushes a bit as Siv speaks of snatches of conversations, but her voice is steady. "Ranol is a good lad," she says. "Even if he did have a... care in his heart, I should say, he would try to stifle it. He would want to be the best husband a lass could have."

[Siv(#24218)] "Yes, yes, I thought so," Siv nods, a rather predatory look briefly  flashing in her eyes. She smiles and it's gone. "But he's not Zinbar! I can't marry outside my clan and he refuses to leave his! No, I won't hear of it."

"Well that's daft," Thari says calmly. "Passing up a good dwarf like Ranol because he isn't Zinbar. I'm not about to be walking away from Frarin because he's Barazin, despite what some folks think I ought to be doing. Obviously it isn't the same for you."

[Siv(#24218)] Siv frowns. "So you'd change clans? I know Ranol won't change clans...but...if you really think that it's all right to do such....and I suppose if we really love each other then...yes...." She sighs heavily. "I'll have to talk to him again..."

"I hadn't thought about changing clans." Thari frowns. Her eyes drop down to the fountain. Decisively, she looks up. "I'll remain Bundazanul and he'll remain Barazin. I'll just live in his clan halls. And that's that."

[Siv(#24218)] "I wonder if Barazin will go for that..." Siv muses. "Or what the children will be and if there would be a fight over that.... Oh well, Thari," she then chirps brightly. "I'm off to tell your cousin I -don't- have to break his heart after all! Thank you!" She smiles brightly and immediately turn and fairly skips toward the door. If dwarves could actually skip.

"Well the..." Thari's voice trails off. Her gaze follows Siv. "Glad I could be of help!" she says lamely, before sighing and leaning her head against the wall.