(Archive) Koribeorne

November 4, 1999

The Estate The rolling hills of Rohan seem to flatten for a quarter mile surrounding the imposing structure of a keep. Deor\'s Keep was built in 2698 as a staging point to dislodge the Dunlending occupation of Orthanc in that century. It was never retaken but the Keep and town that sprung from it still remain to this day. The long and narrow path reaches forward to the estate of House of Deorlas who have watched over the town of Dunlostir since the first line of Kings. Off in the distance to the west are vineyards. Horses graze in the distance beyond on the lush fields of the Mark. The most prominent feature is the view, rolling hills and the Mesa in the distance to the northwest. More at hand is the estate garrison, a small number of riders in service to the Lord of Dunlostir. A winding road leads to some fine wooden carriage housing to the north used primarily by the horse-breeding families aligned with the Lord\'s house. To the south, the township of Dunlostir sleeps peacefully. However, the lands surrounding the Keep lend itself to defense. There is nothing for enemies to hide behind for nearly a mile in all directions every approach is supremely visible.

The war worn and weary Gondorian travellers have taken refuge at House Deorlas, just overlooking the town of Dunlostir. The warm comfort of their hosts have refreshed their bodies and spirits as they rest, heal and prepare to head on into Edoras on the trek back to Gondor. Standing on the stoop of the estate house is Lady Aearwen, envoy of the Prince of Dol Amroth. Leaning against the post at the corner, her eyes gaze at the sky, quietly enjoying the still of the night.

[Koribeorne(#14354)] From the darkness of the night comes the figure of Koribeorne. The moon refects off of her long red hair and sparkles in her eyes. She strides across the open terrain with a power that seems to shift the ground that she walks on, yet her footfalls are as silent as the wind that blows through the grass. As she reaches the camp, she slows her pace, her eyes look around at the faces of the few who are out and about. She seems to have very little purpose to her wandering although she does look for friendly faces amongst those who look at her as little more then a stranger

The soft hum of a song could be heard if one were to venture close to the lady that leans against the corner post of the porch. A smile curves Aearwen\'s lips, even in the dark of the night with no one close enough to see it. Obviously refreshed from the rigors of the last two months, her stance is one of total relaxation. A movment in the yard catches the woman\'s glance and her head turns to watch the figure striding across the open terrain. Her cheerful voice calls out softly, so as to not awaken those already asleep, \"Koribeorne!\"

[Koribeorne(#14354)] With the sound of her name carried on the night air, Koribeorne stops for a moment, her nose twitches slightly as she seems to sniff the air before looking in the direction of the sound. She smiles slightly as her nose comes to recognize the scent of Aearwen and she turns to the firmilar woman, making her way towards her in a few large strides. \"Lady Aearwen, how does the night find you?\" She speaks very softly, almost startling from such a large creature.

A warm gaze falls on the form of Koribeorne as she strides toward Aearwen. Nodding her head as she laughs softly, \"The night finds me wonderful Koribeorne\", looking back up at the sky her hands gesture towards the brightness, \"Have you ever seen such a beautiful night?\" Turning back to the large creature with concern clearly written, \"How are the injuries you suffered? How remiss of me to not ask how you are doing, my friend.\"

Koribeorne smiles softly at the woman, her eyes then follow the lady\'s gaze towards the night sky. She closes her eyes for a moment allowing the moonlight to pour over her face. She then brings her head back down to be looking at Aearwen and replies, \"Ah, I am well, nothing rest will not heal.\" There are still some bruises and cuts visible on the woman, but clearly she has an amazing ability to heal. \"It is nice to have a bit of peace.\"

Sighing softly as her gaze turns back to the sky, Aearwen says softly, \"It does seem that we oft enjoy peace even more after terrible events.\" The light of the moon casts an odd illumination about the two women as they stand there conversing. \" Raising her head to gaze up at the tall woman, Aearwen asks, \"Are you travelling on with us into Edoras?\"

[Koribeorne(#14354)] The large and powerful woman lets a moment pass in silence before she speaks, \"Aye, I think perhaps I will...\" Her glances turn to the north for a moment as she says, \"This adventure brings me amusement, and my people seem to be most unaware of my location...or perhaps even my life.\" She chuckles slightly as she says this, \"And I have made a few friends I do not yet desire to leave.\"

Aearwen places her hand on the woman and says warmly, \"It pleases me that you are travelling on with us, regardless of your reasons. Of course, I have to admit to finding my lips curving into a smile when I think about how some would react to you changing before them\", giggling as she continues, \"My own reaction shall remain in my memory for a long span of time once I return home.\" Shaking her head, \"I am at war with my own self about returning home and leaving my many friends of this land.\"

[Koribeorne(#14354)] A soft chuckle leaves Koribeorne\'s lips at the image that Aearwen conjures up when speaking of her ability to shift. \"It is a shame more of your kind can not understand and accept the ability of my people as the blessing that it was intended to be, you have been quite kind in your acceptance, Lady.\" She smiles and Aearwen and places her hand on top of the smaller womans, her massive fingers dwarf those under them. Suprisingly, her fingers are long and graceful and her touch is soft and gentle. \"The Bear will always reunite us with those we care for. You will see your friends of this land again.\" A meloncholy smile now crosses her lips, \"And, perhaps someday, after I return home, your path may lead you to my lands.\" Again her glances turn northward, \"For there are those I miss.....\"

Admitting sadly, Aearwen says, \"Tis true that not many would understand and accept, its such a miraculous ability. When I gaze into your smiling feminine form, its difficult to picture your \"other\" side\", unable to stop a giggle at that point, Aearwen shakes her head and her other hand places over the hand of Koribeorne as her voice turns to one of seriousness. \"Koribeorne, if there is anything that I can do for you at any time in the future, promise me you will contact me. I consider you a valued friend and will greatly miss your presence when I return to Dol Amroth.\'

Koribeorne returns her eyes to the human woman and studies her face carefully for a moment and then smiles warmly. Her eyes seem to capture something internal that can not be seen by most, \"Lady, you shall always be a friend and truly you have my devotion as I seem to have yours.\" She lowers her eyes slightly, \"I am considered very young amoung my own kind, but I have lived many years on this earth, yet I have very few I call friend....\" Her mind once more seems to wander northward, \"Some day I would very much like you to come to my lands, there is someone who I would like you to know.\" She smiles slightly as she seems to speak almost to herself.

Aearwen\'s smile is warm as she returns the smile of Koribeorne, nodding her head, \"There is a sense we have about people isnt there? No explanation can be given for what is sensed, from not the words spoken, but a deep heartfelt knowledge of what the person is about.\" Laughing in embarassment as she expounds in the dark of the night, Aearwen changes the subject, \"To travel to your homeland would greatly please me Koribeorne. Perhaps that can be arranged at some point and you are always welcome to visit my own home. I have a lovely two story home overlooking the Bay of Belfalas.\"

Koribeorne looks at the woman with a smile in her eyes, \"Ah, I have little in the way of such pleasures to offer you for hospitality, I believe you would find my lands quite plain.\" She bites her lip slightly, \"But I am sure that Gavin would open his door to you if you were to come.\" She smiles with a sparkle in her eyes, \"Perhaps when I return to my home lands you would travel with me?\"

A tinkle of laughter floats out across the yard as Aearwen responds to Koribeorne, \"After the conditions of the camp the last couple of months, do you think I am one to turn my nose up my surroundings?\" Her head shakes vehemently, \"There are nobles that would look upon this very trip with disdain, but I am not of that belief, any trip to further the fight against is evil is one that shall have my hands.\" Grinning a bit she inquires, \"And who is Gavin? Hmmmmm, I do wonder if Imrahil would allow me a short break in my diplomatic duties to return with you to your home lands. I should so love such a trip\", excitement brimming from her voice.

[Koribeorne(#14354)] A smile remains on Koribeorne\'s lips, \"I just warn you that my homeland very much resembles what Gondorian\'s concider to be a camp.\" She chuckles slightly and shakes her head. With that said she thinks for a moment and then says, \"Gavin...ah...he is my friend...\" She trails off slightly and blushes a bit, \"A fine cub he is.\" She chuckles and then says, \"You are more then invited, but it is a difficult trip, I would think.\" She bites her lower lip slightly and seems a bit confused for a moment before shaking her head slightly. Laughing softly at the embarassment that is obvious on the other woman\'s face, Aearwen inquires gently, \"Tell me of your homeland Koribeorne and of Gavin, I should like very much to here your tale of the north.\" Leaning closer to the woman she teases in a soft voice, filled with warmth, \"So Gavin is one that has touched your heart, I take it?\"

Koribeorne glances down at her hands and wrings her fingers slightly, \"He is a friend...\" She smiles, \"And perhaps more, it is difficult for he is human.\" She smiles, \"But he is one whoes company I greatly enjoy.\" She seems very happy and young when she speaks of this man of her homelands. \"The land of the Beorning is quite beautiful, there is much wilderness and a great many tress and animals.\" She seems to try to get a picture of this place in her head but she seems to stagger over it slightly, \"I look forward to seeing it so I might remember.\" There is something odd about her words and her tone as she says this.

Puzzled eyes gaze up to the tall woman beside her as she asks, \"How long have you been away from your land Koribeorne?\" Aearwen continues on as understanding suddenly dawns on her face, \"A human! Oh my, what conflict that must bring your heart. Pardon me for this indelicate question, but I do suppose you cannot...\", her words drop off as color floods her pale skin.

Koribeorne laughs slightly as she looks at Aearwen, \"Many of my kind have taken human lovers, if this is what you ask.\" She smiles and says, \"Pardon, in my land it is openly spoken of....\" She sighs, \"But I an neice to Grimbeorn, master of my land and for him I should taken a Beijabar lover, not a human.\" She shakes her head slighly as she thinks about it....\"But only one other has captured my heart, and he too is human....\" She smiles, \"Perhaps this is my weakness.\" She then ponders the other question for a moment, \"Lady, I know not how long I have been gone from my home.\" She bites her lip once more and seems puzzled.

Blushing furiously at this turn of conversation, Aearwen struggles to treat such openness in the same vein of conversation. \"My curiosity has to ask this question, as you know, my curiosity is endless. When Beijabar\'s take a human lover and a child comes from that union, does the child have the ability to change or does it weaken the ability as the pureness of the line is diluted?\" Her words spill out in an effort to comfort the woman, \"To care for someone with your heart, surely cannot be a weakness. The heart does seem to have a mind of its own, oft deciding against what is suitable and proper.\", sadness fills her voice as she asks softly, \"Pray tell, why do you not know how long you have been gone from your homeland Koribeorne?\" Her head jerks up quickly as her eyes peer into the tall woman\'s, \"Did the injuires you suffer take away your memory?\"

[Koribeorne(#14354)] The large woman becomes very contemplative at the words of the smaller woman but she tries to stay with the flow of conversation, \"It is difficult to say of children born of such a union for it happens very infrequently, but it would sometimes be human and sometimes be Beijabar, perhaps it is the will of the Bar that makes the child what it is to be.\" She smiles slightly and nods her head as if that should be enough to answer that question. She then thinks on the iead of love, \"Lady, people of my land are not the same as those of yours, our existance is based on efforts to survive, questions of love and desire are not as important as questions of necessity of action.\" Finally she arrives at the alsast of the questions asked, \"Lady, I have little memory of my trip here....She bites her lip, \"I remember waking in the river in my bear form and wandering much time that way, unaware of my human self....And then I found myself here.\" She sighs, \"I have always deemed it the will of the Bear.\"

Listening quietly as she absorbs the words of her friend, digesting the information and formulating yet another question, Aearwen glances up with puzzled eyes, \"Emotions play no role in the survival of your breed, everything is based on a need to procreate and continue. That I can understand, even as hard as I am sure that must be at times.\" Her head cocks to one side as her lips purse, \"How come you to have such warmth and loyalty then? Forgive the multitude of questions, but I am always interested in those that I care for.\" Almost a snort issues from her lips as she says, \"My goodness what a story. So you have no memory of how long you have been wandering or your previous actions? Let me ask you this, could you find your way home from here?\"

Koribeorne smiles at the woman, \"Why Lady, warmth and loyalty are vital to survival, we can not survive as only one, but must survive as many.\" She nods her head, \"All must be done to preserve those we care about for we only place our loyalty with those worthy to carry on.\" She smiles slightly, \"Such is the way of things.\" She then thinks for a moment, \"Aye, it has been a difficult time since I know so very little of how I got here, it suprises me, but you are the first to ask what brought me to this land.\" She then says, \"But I can find my way home, I put faith in the Bear.\"

Aearwen shakes her head, \"When I recall first meeting you outside of Forensvale and the times after that, your hesitation and quiet manner. You must have been so confused.\" Shaking her head, \"My heart just aches for your state of mind, but then, your faith in the Bear had to give you the solace your heart needed to face the situations at hand.\" Smiling again she says, \"True, how remiss of me to think warmth and loyalty were not a part of your race, my thoughts were focused on the emotional level of love as I know it, not thinking of the depth needed to survive, such as your kind must.\"

Koribeorne nods and smiles at the woman, \"Faith is what is necessary, and the Bear protects all who are in need. He gave us this gift and will protect us.\" She smiles and says, \"And he brought me to safty amoung friends.\" She places her hand on the womans shoulders. \"It grows time for me to find a bit of a meal for myself, but your company was greatly appreciated and I hope that we might talk again like this soon, now that there is a peaceful time.\"

Aearwen nods with a gentle smile on her face, \"Faith does carry us all through the struggles and tribulations of this life, without it, we are nothing.\" Placing her hand on Koribeorne\'s she says \"I am thankful your journey and mine are travelling as one. Go, enjoy your meal, its late and I must repair to my own bed so my eyes are not bleary as I start my day. Thank you for this conversation as well, its been most enjoyable to share the stillness of the night in your company.\"

[Koribeorne(#14354)] With that said, Korbeorne heads off quickly into the darkness of the night. Just as she is about to disappear into the darkness her for is replaced by that of a great bear!

Standing quietly on the porch, Aearwen watches the shape of her retreating friend shift into the bear, a soft laugh slips from her lips as she says to the night air, \"Travel safely my friend.\" Turning, she heads into the comfort of the house to rest for the night.

the shape of her retreating friend shift into the bear, a soft laugh slips from her lips as she says to the night air, \"Travel safely my friend.\" Turning, she heads into the comfort of the house to rest for the night.