(Archive) Catching Up

Elendor - Sunday, June 11, 2000, 9:51 PM

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Weather: Cloudy

Time: Dawn

Season: Summer

Date: Sterday - July 13, 3020

Real Time: Sun Jun 11 19:30:50 2000

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The Porthole

You are now inside the Restaurant of the Porthole. The lighting is dim to provide a quiet and more sedate setting for the patrons of the establishment. A lit candle sits in the middle of each table, providing just enough illumination for the patrons to be able to read their menus. Maelyn and the other wait staff stand by, ready to assist anyone as needed. Fine cloths cover the tops of the tables, dangling down to the sides. Comfortable, high-backed chairs circle the many tables: if an extra chair is needed, Maelyn would be happy to retrieve however many are necessary. A door at the back of the room leads into the kitchen area and everytime the door is pushed open, the aroma of fine cuisine fills the room.

Contents:

Rorgan

Obvious exits:

Out

The breaking of dawn brings little relief to the overcast sky that has plagued the Stone City for several days. Wan light peers through the dark clouds overhead, providing little light for those up at this hour of the morn. The clatter of the coach upon the stones sounds loud in the quietness, stopping at the Porthole to allow a passenger to disembark. The melodic sound of a female voice is heard as the woman dressed in emerald satin pays the coach drive the copper for the ride \"And a good day to you as well sir.\"

With that, Lady Aearwen shakes the skirts of her gown in an effort to fluff some of the wrinkles and then proceeds to enter the restaurant. The heavy door is opened and a waiter nods his head and says, \"Goodmorning M\'Lady. Would you care to be seated now or are you waiting for someone?\" The sea blue eyes of the healer scan the room quickly and do not find the person she is to meet, hesitating for a second she says, \"Go ahead and seat me at a table. I will enjoy a cup of tea while I wait.\" The waiter nods and says, \"Good choice M\'Lady, please follow me.\" With that the soft whisper of satin marks the movement of Lady Aearwen as she follows the waiter and is seated at a table in the corner.

[Rorgan(#19834)]

It is not long after the healess occupies her quiet table that a tall man enters through the door, removing his gleaming helm to reveal the greying-blonde hair that marks him, among all others, as a much different man than most who serve the Steward in the capacity his four gold and black cables of rank would indicate. His own sapphire orbs scan quickly the small number of patrons who have come to get an early start upon the day, and lighting upon the healess for but a moment, he smiles to the waiter, \"I think my party is already here, thank you.\" With that he makes for her table, long black cloak flowing out behind him, then around his legs and waist as he comes to a dead stop at the table, \"Good morn, my lady,\" he greets the healess. He offers a grin, \"How fare thee?\"

The server brings a steaming cup of tea and places before the healer, absentmindedly she stirs a spoon of honey into the hot brew. The tinkling of the spoon against the cup finally breaks her reverie and she looks up in time to see Rorgan enter the establishment. Smiling warmly as she watches her handsome friend cross the room, Aearwen greets him with fondness evident in her expression, \"Good day, my friend. And how fare thee today? I find myself...\", pausing for a moment she laughs gaily and shakes her head. \"Do be seated, good news, like fine wine cannot be rushed.\"

[Rorgan(#19834)]

Laughing, Rorgan takes the proffered seat, nodding to the waiter, \"Tea would be fine for me as well.\"

He looks to the lovely lady with a grin, \"No doubt from that laugh of yours it is good news indeed. Has the Steward finally allowed your return to Dol Amroth?\" Efficient fingers, long and slim, remove the cloak clasped about his throat and he chuckles, \"It seems that I missed having a rather long stay in your care after the last round of fighting at Osgiliath. For whatever reason, I never suffered a scratch in the battle that routed the enemy.\" He chuckles, \"But of course, it seems that no one in the Tower noticed who laid the plans for the attack that did just that.\" He shakes his head, now, still showing his good nature, \"But that is as it always is. But what of your news? Certainly you have found yourself a fine young Nimothan lad to fancy.\" With this last bit he winks in jest and nods graciously as the server arrives with the tea, which he retrieves and sips with merry eyes looking over the top of the cup at his friend.

A soft blush, the colour of the deepest red rose spreads quickly across the porcelain cheeks of the noblewoman as a gentle laugh again sounds from within her. Not even the mention of the Lord Steward and her return to Dol Amroth mars the joy upon the brow of Aearwen as she leans across the table and grandly holds out her left hand with out another word spoken. The candle flickering on the table glints off the silver band and casts prisms of light through the enormous ruby set in the middle of the ring. Joyous blue eyes raise to her friend and await his inspection of the jewel as again, a laugh of happiness bubbles from the lips of the healer.

[Rorgan(#19834)]

Raising a brow as he views the ring, Rorgan smiles, \"Should I assume the ruby is for House Bragollach?\" he chuckles. \"So you have finally settled upon a man,\" he smiles. \"Congratulations!\"

Then but a moment later, he barks a laugh, \"So who is the lucky fellow?\"

A shake of her head sends auburn tresses tumbling in disarray, artfully framing her face in tendrils as Lady Aearwen says, \"Yes. The ruby is for House Bragollach.\" Her hand turns this way and that as she admires the glow of the ring upon her finger, \"Tis been a long time coming, but its past time I settled down.\" A chuckle bursts out as she confides, \"The truth is, I asked Melethron to marry me!\", with that a hoot of laughter again sounds as she says, \"Enough was enough. Either we end this back and forth relationship or we go forth. I simply told him that I could not continue this way.\" Sea blue eyes darken with emotion as she recalls, \"He told me to go where my heart was happy. And what answer could I give?\"

[Rorgan(#19834)]

Nodding with a smile, Rorgan says, \"I\'m sure that your decision has broken many a hopeful heart, Aearwen, but you are correct -- it is long past time you made up your mind and settled down.\" Then he, too, does laugh, \"I hope poor Melethron understands that you\'ll be expecting him to continue on that path that he was on when last I saw him -- in Dol Amroth after the seige of Umbar.\"

With Rorgan\'s words all amusement leaves the face of the woman and seriousness resides in every facet as she says, \'I do regret the hearts that have been broken by my actions. In no way did I ever intend to hurt anyone, least of all Galdorim.\" Her head bends as her finger traces over the white linen table cloth and says softly, \"He will be hurt when he hears this news, when last we spoke, he was talking about -us- getting back together.\" Sighing deeply she straightens her shoulders and says, \"I must stand by my convictions. Melethron is my choice, even though I know it will not be easy with both of us having that Bragollach sudden flame temper.\" Chuckling aloud again she says, \"At best, maybe we should keep his residence in Linhir and my own in Belfalas.\" Looking over the lined face of her dear friend, Aearwen reaches across the table to lay her hand upon his, \"And how does this day find you and yours? So long has it been since we have had the time to sit and catch up with one another.\"

[Rorgan(#19834)]

It is a sigh now that escapes the lips of Rorgan as he says, \"We are both too busy, it would seem, to see much of one another. Her with the houses and our home, and I with the Guard and the new duties laid upon me by my brother. It is as we all knew it would be, difficult at best, but,\" he smiles now, \"none of the troubles or hard times seems to diminish our love. Perhaps when we are old, or if the threat from the East, at least, shall fade, we will find time for one another again.\" He shakes his head, \"I meant you no chiding, Aearwen. I am satisfied enough in that you have finally chosen which of your suitors it shall be. I shall speak no more of it.\"

Nostalgia fills the eyes of the woman as she says, \"I cannot recall when last I saw Meghan. Times and duties have taken the four of us that spent so much time together and cast us to the wind and corners of Gondor and beyond.\" A smile curves her lips, dimples deepening as she says, \"Those times in Osgiliath three years past and in Rohan....friendships cannot be found like that every day.\" Shaking her head with a start she says, \"What a dreary miss I am today. Remembering the joys of friendship past does bring a pang to one\'s heart. I miss you and Maeghan greatly, but I cannot deny that I am more than eager to return to Dol Amroth.\"

Suddenly recalling the words of her friend, Aearwen laughs, \"Tis hard to believe that Erinhaim is your brother. Every time I recall that bit of news I laugh to myself. Thankfully the two of you were not sworn enemies upon his return to Gondor. I heard of his appointment as Lord Minister to Denethor, he should excel in that position.\" Shuddering slightly she says, \"I would hate to cross arms with the temper seething beneath the surface of that man. And yet, I think the world of him, if that makes sense.\"

[Rorgan(#19834)]

\"Aye, it does make sense, for like it or not, Erinhaim and I are more alike than different, despite the fact that we each have our own mother,\" Rorgan shakes his head, \"I think it is the ways of the world itself that conspires to separate a foursome such as our own, for what world would be able to long withstand such a force as would be unleashed upon it were we all still in immediate contact with one another? Indeed, Galdorim and myself alone can bring to bear nigh on a thousand of the finest soldiers in Gondor without even so much as batting an eye, where it would have been long-thinking indeed for us to have dreamed of such a thing when he commanded but a hundred and I but fifty. Nay, never in my most hopeful moments did I dream of ever rising to such heights as I now ride. And never in my worst despair did I ever think I would again have one such friend as each of you three that have been bonded to me by word and deed. It does sadden one\'s heart to be apart from those that he loves, but it is often the darkest before the dawn. One day we will all be sitting around the fire with our white hair, telling these same stories to our grandchildren,\" Rorgan smiles, \"Together again at last.\"

Nodding her head as her friend talks of days past and the duties thrust upon all of their shoulders Aearwen says softly, \"When I think of the responsibilites that both of you men now have in your commanding of these two companies, its oft hard to reconcile with the two men I knew from days of old...a tailor and Silver Guardsman and...what was Galdorim when I met him? A corporal?\" A bright smile again lightens the face of the healer as she says, \"I look forward to the day that we sit with our grandchildren and tell them our tales of how we all fought against the darkness that threatens us. It shall be a magnificent tale, that is for certain.\" Grinning impishly she asks, \"Do we mention the bet in the White Tree Inn, oh so long ago?\" Chuckling with laughter Aerwen says, \"I still wonder if Indilzar paid Gweneth the gold florin of that bet.\"

[Rorgan(#19834)]

\"I know not but what duty does again call me, my lady. It indeed has been a pleasure to break my fast with you, and I hope to see you again soon,\" says Rorgan as he rises to his feet. \"Once again, my congratulations.\" He smiles and bows, and replacing his cloak about his shoulders begins making his way toward the door.