(Archive) A Painful Heart

Dol Amroth: Men Ernil - Court of the Fountain

A massive elliptical fountain dominates this court--and gives it its name--fully twenty feet on its long axis, perhaps half as wide. Made of smooth white stone, it consists of two broad levels which can--and often do--act as benches for the denizens of the Citadel. In the center of the fountain stands a large statue, water burbling \'round his feet in a comely display. The court itself is roughly square, its perimeter delineated by short walls of white stone in all directions but west, where tall ramparts mark the beginning of Dol Amroth\'s true defenses. Sunlight gleams almost painfully from all around you, shining as it does from the polished walls and the magnificent fountain. Spray from the burbling fonts surrounding the fountain\'s central statue casts myriad rainbows about, and the court is filled with a gentle buzz of folk moving to and fro on business, speaking quietly, or simply enjoying a stroll. Pennons flutter in the breeze on the ramparts above and to the west, where the Prince\'s white Citadel rests like a snowy cap on the Hill of Amroth. Laughing children dash by you as a light snow falls. They run about catching snowflakes on thier tongues.

Contents: Melethron

Obvious exits: Gatehouse and Men Ernil

[Melethron(#29496)] Night has fallen, and a bittery chill fills the streets of Dol Amroth driving the inhabitants in doors for the remainder of the twilight hours. And though many are now within the warmth and security of their homes, there are those fools who lurk the darkness in this weather. Of those there is one, dwelling near the frozen foutain, standing there staring into the iced over water with a frown upon his lips. For the cold is no bother to this one, his thick woolen cloak wards a good deal of the chill away from him, while that which slips through his coverings is quickly dissepated by the man\'s inner heat. Small streams of steam come from the area about his face, breathing mainly. No light does he carry, for truth is looks as if he could care less what time of day it is, or how the weather fares.

The sound of gay laughter rings out suddenly in the court of the fountain. Two woman stroll along the stone walkway, their heads together in conversation and again, their peals of laughter ring out, breaking the silence of this place. Snuggling hands deeper into her fur muff, Aearwen leans closer to say something to the woman beside her and suddenly..she stops in her tracks as she eyes the lone figure standing by the fountain. Uncertainty mars her brow as she glances back to Melethron.

[Melethron(#29496)] There is nothing in this world as far as Melethron is concerned, his eyes rest still upon the frozen water for awhile the sounds of gay laughter passing him by as he chooses to ignore them.

Gweneth pauses in her step, next to Aearwen, also glancing at Melethron. She tilts her head slightly, her grin not being broken by uncertainy. She whispers into Aearwen\'s ear, \"Life is but a maze, and I am the mouse,\" she quotes. Adjusting her fur wrap, she speaks aloud, \'Where to now, cousin?\'

Silent for a long space in time, Aearwen gives Gwen no response as her face changes to one of quiet contemplation. Pulling the hood of her cloak up over her auburn tresses she turns to her cousin with unreadable eyes, \"Do you suppose a word should be spoken to him?\"

Gweneth shrugs, the grin still on her lips, \"Do want to know if I would speak a word to him if I was in your position or do you want to know if I think //you// should speak a word to him?\"

A burst of laughter once again slips from Aearwen\'s lips at the other woman\'s response. \"The way you state things just makes me want to laugh.\" Her hand goes to her hip, over bulky clothes and cloak in a mockery of nobility, \"Yes, M\'lady, what would you do if you were in my position?\", her voice teasing and light.

[Melethron#29496>] The words of the women find their way to his ears, yet he says nothing to them, let them make jest about him if they will, it is there right. No, he mummbles to himself in a language long forgotten by most, though now a days there are few who can understand it much less speak it. \" ****, **** ** the ***** *** protector ** ***, **** me ******** in **** **** ** ****.\"

Gweneth presses a finger to her lips, \"Well, to be honest,\" her face losing a bit of its glee and becoming more serious, \"I do not enjoy pain and heartache. I try to stay away from such things until they no longer bare the threat of doing so. So, //I//, would probably not, but instead would do my best to continue on with life and such things.\" She turns and looks to Aearwen, shrugging once more, \"But then, that is me.\"

Obviously surprised by the words from her cousin, Aearwen shakes her head, \"You constantly surprise me Gweneth. When I least expect seriousness from you, out it comes\" Her blue eyes fill with uncertainty as her words slip out softly, \"There truly is nothing more to say, I suppose. He made it very clearly a few nights past that he had no want of my affection.\" Sighing softly as her arm slips through Gweneths arm, \"A fool I would be, to inflict more pain upon my person.\" adding almost in a whisper, \"the last four months have brought enough pain and turmoil...enough to last me a lifetime.\"

Gweneth shrugs, starting to walk once more past the Knight Captain with Aearwen, \'Pride, hesitation and the ever evil, \'what if\', is what he suffers from, not a lack of affection, love, lust or any other feeling he may hold for you. His life will continue to be as painful as he has it until he changes.\' She lowers her voice and whispers once more to Aearwen, \"This is why I spoke to you of doing what your heart desires and what you want. To live any other way, is to live,\" she pauses and looks at Melethron, \"As he does.\"

[Melethron(#29496)] \"It was never my intention to hurt you Aearwen,\" Melethron\'s voice comes now, to her, soft and gentle, even though his back is towards her, \"Never in my life did I want to hurt you, but like the rest of my life I have failed in that as well.\" He turns then to face them, both of them, though looks first to the Lady Gweneth, \"Nor did I mean to slander your good name my Cousin, I was angry and a fool, I apologize for my rude words if you will accept so simple a claim from me.\"

Now his eyes drift to Aearwen, and rest there for awhile, and though her words to Gweneth may have been whispered, sharp are the ears of this man for he has discerned enough to know that of which the two were speaking. His eyes rest upon her, circled in black as they maybe he looks worse for the wear than he did the day he ever so undelicately informed the Ethring-Bragollach of his new thoughts on their growing love. Nothing does he say though, other than those first few words, but his eyes speak of sorrow and remorse even when his mouth says nothing

Whirling around at the sound of Melethron\'s voice, Aearwen visibly pales at his words, her words incredulous, \"No wish to hurt me? How can you speak those words?\" Her expression is pain filled as she continues, \"You seem not like the man I thought I knew. These last four months have wrought change in you. Change not for the better.\" Her eyes sadden as she looks at the handsome Knight Captain, \"But I accept your words as spoken on the stairway. Your decision is one that you will have to live with Melethron. I will not beg for your affection.\" Softly smiling she whispers, \"Do you remember the words you spoke in The Sleeping Stallion Inn? The promise I gave you there, remains intact. If something should happen to you, I shall be the one to inform your family of the event. You have my word on that.\"

Gweneth blinks, somewhat taken aback by Aearwen\'s response. She pauses in her step, seeing if Aearwen wishes to continue the conversation, but adds nothing to it, merely pursing her lips in interest save for her reply to Melethron, \"My good name is rarely hurt by slander, it has tasted it so often, but I appreciate the sentimate.\"

[Melethron(#29496)] The man looks once more to Gweneth, a sad smile offered to her with a nod, but nothing more as his eyes slide back once more to Aearwen, \"Changes have been made my Lady,\" he says softly, \"Whether I wish them or not, it is the way of things, everything changes over time, people, lands.... I am no exception to that. I have much in the way of responsibility now, much more than when I was with you in Rohan.\"

Then a sigh comes, along with a burst of white steam as his hot breath mixes with the cold night, \"But that is no excuse for the way I have treated you since your return from the Mark, especially the other night. You caught me off of my guard in a situation I should not have been in, I was angery at myself and took it out upon you, both of you. But looking back, I think my a part of my words were wise, for the both of us, but mostly for you Lady Aearwen, you do not deserve a fool, nor a warrior, for both live short lives.\"

[<#17847>] Gweneth turns to Aearwen and shakes her head, saying softly, \"The man is dead already.\" She shrugs and turns towards the west, \"I think I would like to get out of the cold, do you wish to stay?\"

Her eyes glance over the face of Melethron as he speaks and softly her words answer those spoken, \"Duty must of course, come before anything M\'lord and I would never stand in your way. There are obligations due both of our positions here and I will, of course, be civil to you at all times, our past would allow nothing less than civility.\"

Stamping her feet as she becomes aware of the chill, Aearwen gives Melethron as nostalgic smile, wrought with the caring she holds for him, \"Your apology is accepted for everything that has passed between us.... nothing more needs to be said. The door that was opened so very long ago in the garden of the House of Healing was slammed and I daresay, bolted by your words of rejection.\" Scoffing a bit as she says, \"Wisdom? Nay, I call it not wisdom to speaketh thusly, but that is neither here nor there. I wish you the best of fortune in your new position and hope you find happiness in your life, albeit, the length.\"

[Melethron(#29496)] Turning away from her, Melethron\'s eyes go once more to the frozen water, \"So very much like myself,\" he whispers aloud, \"In heart and mind I think so cold, even the Lord Indilzar had a heart warmer than mine.\" Then his voice raises somewhat, \"No Lady,\" he speaks strong, though sad, \"Love is something that I shall never have now that I have slammed my hand in the door, for nothing upon the face of Arda could ever come close to what I almost had with you.\" A fleeting glance is cast her, then he turns again, his legs beginning to move in a slow advance towards the main gates of the city, boots crunching in the snow with each passing step, some distance away he stops, looks over his shoulder, then shakes his head and continues on in his forward advance, the bitter winter\'s wind whipping at his cloak as he moves.

Watching the tall man walk through the snow, the sound of the crunching incredibly loud in the silence of the night, Aearwen remains silent, unaware that she is holding her breath until a loud rush of breath spills out into the coldness. Her sadness clearly etched upon her lovely face as she turns to Gweneth, \"Shall we go inside now? There is nothing more to be said or done.\" Shivering with the chill and the intense emotions, she practically dances across the stones as she heads towards the doorway, her voice calls back, \"Hurry Gweneth, my fingers are already numb\", the pain in her voice clearly echoing back to those that love her.

Gweneth sighs as Aearwen runs past her. She plucks a stone from the ground, tossing it into the fountain. It makes a quiet splash in the fridge water, \"Nothing but mice...\" are her only words as she turns and walks back into the castle, following after Aearwen.