Elendor
An Afternoon Swim
The harper, Lith, goes for a swim in the Carrock and finds an unexpected audience.
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Beorning Village
Description: The next day has dawned warm and a little muggy. The brief flirtation of cooler days and chillier nights has backed off, and a sultry late summer day has arisen to linger on a bit longer before autumn will push such hot days out. The harper has officially checked out of the infirmary a few days before and is now staying at the Great Bear Inn. He comes now towards the river, looking for a quiet place he might bath and swim a while to pass the heat of the day.
But, the tall, dark haired man comes carrying a surprise for a long bow is in his left hand and a tune is upon his lips, whistling in good humor. It would seem that he and the Fletcher have come to some agreement, after all.
Who else is enjoying the cool breeze off the river? None other than Cecilia, sitting lazily in the shade of a tree and working with some embroidery, of all things. She has what looks like a woven blanket in her lap and is singing softly to herself while she sews.
Whistling himself a jaunty tune, the harper doesn't at first hear Cecilia's softer singing a short distance down the bank in the shade of some willows. He leans the newly aquired, but not newly made long bow against the thick oak and then slips off his leather quiver and harpcase to lay them down. Still whistling merrily, not thinking there is anything he's likely to need to be wary of here, this close to the village, the man unbuckles his sword belt, tugs off his boots, then off comes his tunic. All set neatly beneath the tree.
A moment later the man takes a few springy steps and leaps out from the bank and into the water with a loud splash! It's shallow along here so he's careful not to dive, else he'd likely break his fool neck.
Cecilia doesn't even notice the man approaching, but she jumps with a cry of startlement when his shape moves quickly by out of the corner of her eye. Then he's splashing in the water and the young woman is watching curiously, a small grin forming on her face.
Carefully setting her work aside, she climbs to her feet and slides the slippers from her feet. Then she slowly makes her way down to the edge of the water, barefoot.
Lith dunks his head thoroughly and pushes off of stones on the bottom, shooting out further into the river. Unlike the place Mobeorn likes to fish, the river is broad and shallow here for some distance. The dark haired man comes up, facing the Carrock and skims both of his hands over his face to clear it of water, then brushes his dark hair from his eyes. He stays low in the water though it's only four or five feet deep, then turns and starts to swim back. His mending shoulder needs the exercise.
Only, the western man doesn't hardly get turned and starting back before he sees Cecilia on the edge of the bank! Lith stops abruptly in the water where he is and hesitates.
Cecilia smiles exuberantly when she sees him, but makes no move to step into the water. "It looks cold!" She calls, grinning. The young woman still looks perfectly at ease, standing casually in the damp earth on the water's edge. Her hair is still done into dozens of thin braids, but is pulled back into a loose ponytail today, trailing down her back.
A bit of a smile, "Well, a little shocking at first. But good when it's hot like today." Lithiugelir's own pale eyes skim further up the bank and the water too, "Mobeorn said he'd be out near the ford this afternoon... have you seen him about?"
So not to have to raise his voice too much, nor to make Cecilia have to shout to him, Lith moves back closer to the bank. But he stays down low in the water, moving his arms around in it even though he can touch the bottom easily if he wishes.
Behind Cecilia, at a distance, there's a redhaired man approaching, unstrung bow in one hand and an axe hanging from his belt. As yet he makes no noise to draw attention to his approach. He wears woodmen armor, but it's half unbuckled and his helmet is in his other hand.
Cecilia watches his form moving beneath the water, still grinning with a mischievious expression on her face. It fades at the question, "Mobeorn? No.. I haven't. I was studying all morning. I only got here a little bit ago." Then she says in a burst of cheerfulness, "Guess what!"
At his lower angle, the harper can't see who is coming up behind Cecilia from the village. He's down in the water, his head tilted back just a little bit to see Cecilia upon the bank that rises above the river. "Studying? What were you studying?" Curiousity flavors his smooth tenor, but her exurberance is a delight, "All right, I'm guessing..."
A mischievious look of his own, eyes bright, "That you have just been inducted into the secret guild of Harp worshippers?" Lith's voice is clearly light humored, making something silly up on the spot. "Because I'm a long standing member, myself." He adds with a chuckle.
The water is a touch cold, coming down from tributaries originating in the mountains to join the river in many places. Lith moves as though he would come closer to the bank but not yet rising up from the water, "Throw me my tunic, won't you?"
"Nooo.. I was studying herbs. My father is a healer, remember? I told you that." Cecilia continues smiling, her hands reaching down to lift the skirt of her dress lightly as a wave threatens to splash up on the shore. "And.. my news.. is that my father said I could go along on the trip through the High Pass!" She seems truly delighted by this, and backs up a step, reaching down for the tunic he requested.
The red-headed man continues to walk down to the riverbank, shedding weapons and helmet on the ground, then stopping to strip off his armor. As he leans over to put the armor on the grass, he spies his sister--her dress lifted up a bit and a tunic that seems to be a man's in hand. Vernon--for it is him--straightens abruptly, and then he spies a man in the war, clearly naked, or at least that's what it seems like.
As hotheaded as the color of his hair, Vernon rushes toward his sister and, presumably the water, but his sister is in the way first. "What are you doing?!"
Watching her and smiling just a little, Lith says, "I remember, but you didn't mention that you also wished to be a healer. I didn't see you around the infirmary. I think I would have ... noticed." He laughs softly.
When she picks up the tunic, the Dunadan stands up and reaches an arm out in preparation to catch the gardment when she tosses it to him. The harper's chest is marked with bright pink, puckered new skin from several wounds he had taken recently. A deep thrust looks to have just barely missed his heart, left of it. Other wounds were slashes. There is no sign of older, whitened scars.
An unfamilar man showing up, then suddenly rushing at the young woman startles the harper. Lithiugelir is coming up out of the water almost at once, moving to intercede should the man attack the young woman!
Lithiugelir shouts, "Cecilia! Look out!"
Cecilia is looking curiously, trying to see the scars better, but Lith's cry of alarm has her turning about sharply with a startled expression of fear. Then she's face to face with a very angry brother. "Vernon.. " She says in relief, "You gave me a fright.." The young woman laughs nervously, then takes a step to the side so that she can see both of the men easily. "I'm not doing anything, just talking. What are you so upset about?"
Vernon makes no move to hit or even touch Cecilia, but he stops just short of her, pointing an angry finger first at his sister and then at the harper. "You!" he says, not knowing where to look first or who to accuse. "You...with him...again...like this!!" At least with Lith out of the water, he can see that the man is wearing pants. It sort of takes a bit of the bluster out of his anger, though he's not about to admit it. "What are you doing with my sister?"
The man stops short of hitting the girl and shakes a finger in her face instead. And Cecilia herself looses her alarm and clearly knows this man, whoever he is. It's all rather confusing. Lithiugelir stops, just having made it up out of the water, his bare feet still in the mixed sand and silt of the lowest part of the bank.
A look from the young woman back to this man, the harper tries to relax, "Nothing, mister. Who -" he was about to ask who this man was to come up like that and startle them both, but is becomes perfectly clear the instant Lith digests the 'sister' part.
Lithiugelir hooks both of his thumbs into his soaking wet pants and looks the man over, "So you must be one of Cecilia's brothers, sir. Good of you to be looking out for your sister." A glance to Cecilia but Lith still hasn't said a -thing- about her disclaiming coming to the High Pass. He really wanted to get out of the water and get dressed again before he tried to deal with ... that.
The sun rises over the wood of Mirkwood to the east, casting the first rays of morning light on the Anduin Valley.
"Vernon, this is Lith.." Cecilia says in a continued pleasant tone, holding the tunic out to the wet harper. "Lith, this is my brother, Vernon." She seems mostly unruffled by her brother's attitude, though there is a faint crease on her brow. "Are those the injuries you took from the goblins, Lith?" The young woman asks, her eyes going back to his chest, clearly impressed.
"I -do- look after my sister," Vernon answers --but Cecilia's calming tone does have its effect on him, and he his intended implied threat to the harper comes out not very threatening. He frowns--damn women, always twisting him up like this. His wife, his sister.... "The goblin that walks in the sun? or the troll I heard you fought?" he asks Lith, curiousity getting the better of his anger.
Accepting the tunic greatfully, Lith uses it first to dry his face. Cecilia's introduction gains a polite nod of his head to the other man, "Pleased to make your aquaintence, Vernon." But as he begins to dry himself off with the garment, Cecilia's question stops the harper.
Lith glances down at himself, then back to each of them with what might be a hint of embarassment, "Well... both of them, actually." Another glance to each, then he begins to draw the tunic on over his head and shoulders, vaguely uneasy at this scrutiny.
"Very brave.." Ceci says with an approving nod, then looks back to her brother. "I was just telling Lith about how father agreed that I could go on the trip!" She reaches to wrap her hands around her brother's arm affectionately. "Isn't that great?!"
"I heard the troll died somehow--and that Mobeorn and the orc fought, but the orc got away? Was that right? What was it like to fight that orc? What do we need to know about it?" Vernon presses, his anger at his sister forgotten as he has a moment to talk shop. "Those scars..." he stares before the harper dons the tunic again, "looks like something got you pretty badly. The troll?"
Cecilia's perky comment brings Vernon right back to earth, though, and he scowls. "No, it's not 'great.' It's dangerous and foolhardy and you probably wheedled and whined your way into it. Putting all the rest of us in danger with your idiocy."
A wary look bac to Cecilia once his tunic is pulled down into place, "What trip would that be?" Lith asks a little too casually. "I wasn't aware the Beorning folk were planning a trip up to the High Pass. I was about to leave. Should I wait a little then?" Heading past the young woman and her brother, Lith goes back over to the huge old oak and picks up his sword belt to buck it on, "What are they going for?"
Vernon's questions bring up the harper's gaze from what his hands are doing, which was reaching for his boots next. Leather belt and leather boots.
"No, not the troll. The orc, mostly." A frown and a more serious tone for the man, "Almost as tall as myself. Almost man like, that one." A thoughtful drawing if his dark brows, "Cut me down pretty fast and I had to flee. Mobeorn too. Together, we weren't enough to match that one. But it wasn't alone."
Once he has his boots on, the harper glances back to Vernon once more, "I hadn't heard the troll was dead. It was a monster."
Cecilia gapes at her brother, her mouth closing suddenly, lower lip trembling ever so faintly. She blinks her eyes a few times, then speaks in a soft, injured tone of voice, " How could you say something like that, in front of a guest to our village?" She turns sharply, and hurries up the embankment again, snatching up her slippers and embroidery before rushing off, quite upset.
Vernon blinks. "Guiding you over the High Pass. What else do you think the High Pass guides do?" he bristles a little. "If you're going to be making that trip, we're responsible for seeing the pass is clear. Mobeorn can't be doing it all himself, nor would he be so foolish as to try. I..."
Ugh. Vernon groans at whatever Cecilia says to him. "Ceci! Wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mena it! I was just worried about you! YOu were right--we need a healer up there..." He sighs, watching her run away.
A look from Vernon to the fleeing girl, then back to the brother. For just a moment, Lithiugelir's mouth is open, then he shuts it. Then he says, "She's not coming with us."
A hand skims through his damp hair and then be picks up and dones his quiver and harp cases, then picks up his new long bow last of all, now dressed, "I'm not real familar with your folk. I came over the pass with one other man, slipped through two years ago. I just assumed Mobeorn was coming with me, but no one else."
"The warriors of the Bear clan and the kin of Grimbeorn keep the High Pass and the Ford open and free from orcs. It's a just effort," Vernon says, voice warming with pride and anger at once. "It's really not your choice as to who goes and who stays here in the village when there is work to be done on the Pass. If you have a problem with it, then take it up with the Laird." HIs eyes follow after his sister. "But you're right. She is -not- going." With that, he storms off after his sister, leaving his armor and weapons where he had dropped them--apparently certain noone will take them.
Lithiugelir sighs, "No, I have no problems with what your folk do, sir. It's very good of you." But, it certainly means that he won't be slipping off to start in the morning. Not if he has to wait until others are ready.
A glance for Vernon's things. But if Vernon isn't bothering with them, it's not his concern. The Beorning made long bow in his right hand, the harper starts on back towards the village himself after a last quick look around for Mobeorn. Obviously, he needs to speak to the Beijabar and find out what else no one has bothered to inform him of about the upcoming trip.
But, the tall, dark haired man comes carrying a surprise for a long bow is in his left hand and a tune is upon his lips, whistling in good humor. It would seem that he and the Fletcher have come to some agreement, after all.
Who else is enjoying the cool breeze off the river? None other than Cecilia, sitting lazily in the shade of a tree and working with some embroidery, of all things. She has what looks like a woven blanket in her lap and is singing softly to herself while she sews.
Whistling himself a jaunty tune, the harper doesn't at first hear Cecilia's softer singing a short distance down the bank in the shade of some willows. He leans the newly aquired, but not newly made long bow against the thick oak and then slips off his leather quiver and harpcase to lay them down. Still whistling merrily, not thinking there is anything he's likely to need to be wary of here, this close to the village, the man unbuckles his sword belt, tugs off his boots, then off comes his tunic. All set neatly beneath the tree.
A moment later the man takes a few springy steps and leaps out from the bank and into the water with a loud splash! It's shallow along here so he's careful not to dive, else he'd likely break his fool neck.
Cecilia doesn't even notice the man approaching, but she jumps with a cry of startlement when his shape moves quickly by out of the corner of her eye. Then he's splashing in the water and the young woman is watching curiously, a small grin forming on her face.
Carefully setting her work aside, she climbs to her feet and slides the slippers from her feet. Then she slowly makes her way down to the edge of the water, barefoot.
Lith dunks his head thoroughly and pushes off of stones on the bottom, shooting out further into the river. Unlike the place Mobeorn likes to fish, the river is broad and shallow here for some distance. The dark haired man comes up, facing the Carrock and skims both of his hands over his face to clear it of water, then brushes his dark hair from his eyes. He stays low in the water though it's only four or five feet deep, then turns and starts to swim back. His mending shoulder needs the exercise.
Only, the western man doesn't hardly get turned and starting back before he sees Cecilia on the edge of the bank! Lith stops abruptly in the water where he is and hesitates.
Cecilia smiles exuberantly when she sees him, but makes no move to step into the water. "It looks cold!" She calls, grinning. The young woman still looks perfectly at ease, standing casually in the damp earth on the water's edge. Her hair is still done into dozens of thin braids, but is pulled back into a loose ponytail today, trailing down her back.
A bit of a smile, "Well, a little shocking at first. But good when it's hot like today." Lithiugelir's own pale eyes skim further up the bank and the water too, "Mobeorn said he'd be out near the ford this afternoon... have you seen him about?"
So not to have to raise his voice too much, nor to make Cecilia have to shout to him, Lith moves back closer to the bank. But he stays down low in the water, moving his arms around in it even though he can touch the bottom easily if he wishes.
Behind Cecilia, at a distance, there's a redhaired man approaching, unstrung bow in one hand and an axe hanging from his belt. As yet he makes no noise to draw attention to his approach. He wears woodmen armor, but it's half unbuckled and his helmet is in his other hand.
Cecilia watches his form moving beneath the water, still grinning with a mischievious expression on her face. It fades at the question, "Mobeorn? No.. I haven't. I was studying all morning. I only got here a little bit ago." Then she says in a burst of cheerfulness, "Guess what!"
At his lower angle, the harper can't see who is coming up behind Cecilia from the village. He's down in the water, his head tilted back just a little bit to see Cecilia upon the bank that rises above the river. "Studying? What were you studying?" Curiousity flavors his smooth tenor, but her exurberance is a delight, "All right, I'm guessing..."
A mischievious look of his own, eyes bright, "That you have just been inducted into the secret guild of Harp worshippers?" Lith's voice is clearly light humored, making something silly up on the spot. "Because I'm a long standing member, myself." He adds with a chuckle.
The water is a touch cold, coming down from tributaries originating in the mountains to join the river in many places. Lith moves as though he would come closer to the bank but not yet rising up from the water, "Throw me my tunic, won't you?"
"Nooo.. I was studying herbs. My father is a healer, remember? I told you that." Cecilia continues smiling, her hands reaching down to lift the skirt of her dress lightly as a wave threatens to splash up on the shore. "And.. my news.. is that my father said I could go along on the trip through the High Pass!" She seems truly delighted by this, and backs up a step, reaching down for the tunic he requested.
The red-headed man continues to walk down to the riverbank, shedding weapons and helmet on the ground, then stopping to strip off his armor. As he leans over to put the armor on the grass, he spies his sister--her dress lifted up a bit and a tunic that seems to be a man's in hand. Vernon--for it is him--straightens abruptly, and then he spies a man in the war, clearly naked, or at least that's what it seems like.
As hotheaded as the color of his hair, Vernon rushes toward his sister and, presumably the water, but his sister is in the way first. "What are you doing?!"
Watching her and smiling just a little, Lith says, "I remember, but you didn't mention that you also wished to be a healer. I didn't see you around the infirmary. I think I would have ... noticed." He laughs softly.
When she picks up the tunic, the Dunadan stands up and reaches an arm out in preparation to catch the gardment when she tosses it to him. The harper's chest is marked with bright pink, puckered new skin from several wounds he had taken recently. A deep thrust looks to have just barely missed his heart, left of it. Other wounds were slashes. There is no sign of older, whitened scars.
An unfamilar man showing up, then suddenly rushing at the young woman startles the harper. Lithiugelir is coming up out of the water almost at once, moving to intercede should the man attack the young woman!
Lithiugelir shouts, "Cecilia! Look out!"
Cecilia is looking curiously, trying to see the scars better, but Lith's cry of alarm has her turning about sharply with a startled expression of fear. Then she's face to face with a very angry brother. "Vernon.. " She says in relief, "You gave me a fright.." The young woman laughs nervously, then takes a step to the side so that she can see both of the men easily. "I'm not doing anything, just talking. What are you so upset about?"
Vernon makes no move to hit or even touch Cecilia, but he stops just short of her, pointing an angry finger first at his sister and then at the harper. "You!" he says, not knowing where to look first or who to accuse. "You...with him...again...like this!!" At least with Lith out of the water, he can see that the man is wearing pants. It sort of takes a bit of the bluster out of his anger, though he's not about to admit it. "What are you doing with my sister?"
The man stops short of hitting the girl and shakes a finger in her face instead. And Cecilia herself looses her alarm and clearly knows this man, whoever he is. It's all rather confusing. Lithiugelir stops, just having made it up out of the water, his bare feet still in the mixed sand and silt of the lowest part of the bank.
A look from the young woman back to this man, the harper tries to relax, "Nothing, mister. Who -" he was about to ask who this man was to come up like that and startle them both, but is becomes perfectly clear the instant Lith digests the 'sister' part.
Lithiugelir hooks both of his thumbs into his soaking wet pants and looks the man over, "So you must be one of Cecilia's brothers, sir. Good of you to be looking out for your sister." A glance to Cecilia but Lith still hasn't said a -thing- about her disclaiming coming to the High Pass. He really wanted to get out of the water and get dressed again before he tried to deal with ... that.
The sun rises over the wood of Mirkwood to the east, casting the first rays of morning light on the Anduin Valley.
"Vernon, this is Lith.." Cecilia says in a continued pleasant tone, holding the tunic out to the wet harper. "Lith, this is my brother, Vernon." She seems mostly unruffled by her brother's attitude, though there is a faint crease on her brow. "Are those the injuries you took from the goblins, Lith?" The young woman asks, her eyes going back to his chest, clearly impressed.
"I -do- look after my sister," Vernon answers --but Cecilia's calming tone does have its effect on him, and he his intended implied threat to the harper comes out not very threatening. He frowns--damn women, always twisting him up like this. His wife, his sister.... "The goblin that walks in the sun? or the troll I heard you fought?" he asks Lith, curiousity getting the better of his anger.
Accepting the tunic greatfully, Lith uses it first to dry his face. Cecilia's introduction gains a polite nod of his head to the other man, "Pleased to make your aquaintence, Vernon." But as he begins to dry himself off with the garment, Cecilia's question stops the harper.
Lith glances down at himself, then back to each of them with what might be a hint of embarassment, "Well... both of them, actually." Another glance to each, then he begins to draw the tunic on over his head and shoulders, vaguely uneasy at this scrutiny.
"Very brave.." Ceci says with an approving nod, then looks back to her brother. "I was just telling Lith about how father agreed that I could go on the trip!" She reaches to wrap her hands around her brother's arm affectionately. "Isn't that great?!"
"I heard the troll died somehow--and that Mobeorn and the orc fought, but the orc got away? Was that right? What was it like to fight that orc? What do we need to know about it?" Vernon presses, his anger at his sister forgotten as he has a moment to talk shop. "Those scars..." he stares before the harper dons the tunic again, "looks like something got you pretty badly. The troll?"
Cecilia's perky comment brings Vernon right back to earth, though, and he scowls. "No, it's not 'great.' It's dangerous and foolhardy and you probably wheedled and whined your way into it. Putting all the rest of us in danger with your idiocy."
A wary look bac to Cecilia once his tunic is pulled down into place, "What trip would that be?" Lith asks a little too casually. "I wasn't aware the Beorning folk were planning a trip up to the High Pass. I was about to leave. Should I wait a little then?" Heading past the young woman and her brother, Lith goes back over to the huge old oak and picks up his sword belt to buck it on, "What are they going for?"
Vernon's questions bring up the harper's gaze from what his hands are doing, which was reaching for his boots next. Leather belt and leather boots.
"No, not the troll. The orc, mostly." A frown and a more serious tone for the man, "Almost as tall as myself. Almost man like, that one." A thoughtful drawing if his dark brows, "Cut me down pretty fast and I had to flee. Mobeorn too. Together, we weren't enough to match that one. But it wasn't alone."
Once he has his boots on, the harper glances back to Vernon once more, "I hadn't heard the troll was dead. It was a monster."
Cecilia gapes at her brother, her mouth closing suddenly, lower lip trembling ever so faintly. She blinks her eyes a few times, then speaks in a soft, injured tone of voice, "
Vernon blinks. "Guiding you over the High Pass. What else do you think the High Pass guides do?" he bristles a little. "If you're going to be making that trip, we're responsible for seeing the pass is clear. Mobeorn can't be doing it all himself, nor would he be so foolish as to try. I..."
Ugh. Vernon groans at whatever Cecilia says to him. "Ceci! Wait! I'm sorry! I didn't mena it! I was just worried about you! YOu were right--we need a healer up there..." He sighs, watching her run away.
A look from Vernon to the fleeing girl, then back to the brother. For just a moment, Lithiugelir's mouth is open, then he shuts it. Then he says, "She's not coming with us."
A hand skims through his damp hair and then be picks up and dones his quiver and harp cases, then picks up his new long bow last of all, now dressed, "I'm not real familar with your folk. I came over the pass with one other man, slipped through two years ago. I just assumed Mobeorn was coming with me, but no one else."
"The warriors of the Bear clan and the kin of Grimbeorn keep the High Pass and the Ford open and free from orcs. It's a just effort," Vernon says, voice warming with pride and anger at once. "It's really not your choice as to who goes and who stays here in the village when there is work to be done on the Pass. If you have a problem with it, then take it up with the Laird." HIs eyes follow after his sister. "But you're right. She is -not- going." With that, he storms off after his sister, leaving his armor and weapons where he had dropped them--apparently certain noone will take them.
Lithiugelir sighs, "No, I have no problems with what your folk do, sir. It's very good of you." But, it certainly means that he won't be slipping off to start in the morning. Not if he has to wait until others are ready.
A glance for Vernon's things. But if Vernon isn't bothering with them, it's not his concern. The Beorning made long bow in his right hand, the harper starts on back towards the village himself after a last quick look around for Mobeorn. Obviously, he needs to speak to the Beijabar and find out what else no one has bothered to inform him of about the upcoming trip.
Players: Lithiugelir, Vernon, Cecilia
