(Archive) Erinhaim and Aearwen

October 31, 1999

[Erinhaim(#20260)] On a wet night such as this, the best a man can hope to do is huddle in his cloaks and warm himself by the fire. This is the strategy such men as Erinhaim employ, hardy campaigners used to hardship and cold. Before the fire the man with his broadshoulders bows them towards the flames. His face is filled with a ruddy hue by the crimson golden flames and as some companion speaks, the night is filled with the deep rolling laughter of this giant of a man.

Erinhaim\'s merriment dies with a smile and as the lightning cracks above, his dark eyes glance thither. He shakes his tawny brow, letting the new fallen raindrops drop to the ground where they can do more good. His body bends to the left, reaching back for a skin of cheer and that glance of his that sometimes shines, lights upon the tents and the Lady Alphelen within.

Aearwen\'s face tilts up to watch the beauty of the lightening flash across the dark sky, leaning against the tent her face pensive during the brightness that comes and goes with the storm\'s intensity. A sudden outburst of laughter draws the woman\'s attention from the darkness of her thoughts as her eyes cut to the source of the merriment.

Quietly watching Erinhaim as he sits before the fire, despite the storm and the rain that belts his body. Laughing to herself as he picks up a skin of wine and bends towards the warmth of the fire. Stepping back a step when his own dark, mysterious eyes find her standing there in the doorway of the tent, she first moves to close the flap and then her hand stills. Wide eyes stare at Erinhaim for a long moment before she finally brings voice to words of greeting, \"Good evening Erinhaim\", are the onlys the woman can issue forth at this late hour of the night.

[Erinhaim(#20260)] A smile answers the woman\'s words and Erinhaim bows his head in her direction, \"Wet enough for you? It could get colder.\" His onyx eyes wink merrily. The heavy hands push the muscled man to his feet and carrying the skin he approaches the ten whither the woman shelters. Beneath the banner that wards off the pelting storm, the man comes to a stand. He offers up the skin to the woman, smiling, \"Here, \'tis brandy... A good drink for a wet night, though you might need it less than these hardy gentlemen!\" He says, his voice booming loud so that the latter words reach those at the fire and from them rises up a cheer.

Grinning impishly Aearwen replies, \"It is certainly not wet enough for me, I am completely dry as I stand inside this tent during a thunderstorm\", teasing eyes rake over the face of this tall man, amazement clearly evident as she takes in his smile. Opening the flap of the huge tent she gestures widely with one hand as she laughs again, \"Far be it from me to deny a brave Gondorian man shelter on such a cold, rainy night. One hand then goes to her skirt and she gives him a mocking curtsy, \"Please, please, oh brave man of ...hmm, where did you say you were from?\" Laughing as she reaches for the skin of brandy, putting one finger to her lips she whispers, \"You shall not breathe a word of this to anyone, shall you?\", snorting with very unladylike laughter, \"Oh dear me, I do believe the days on the Misties have taken their toll on my dignity, my reptuation is ruined. Woe is me\"

[Erinhaim(#20260)] Given pause for half a moment, the tall man glances at the fireside, searching the faces of the men who had but a moment cheered him. Assured they are not any turned in this direction, Erinhaim hurries into the tent and shivers off some of the moisture that has taken residence upon his cowled shoulders. The tall man unfastens his cloak, flicks it from his muscled shoulders and hangs it on one large arm. His slate colored eyes hazard a practiced look about the confines of the tent, quickly taking note of she that dwells hither. He heaves a sigh, his bellowing chest expanding and contracting with a forceful breath. Turning, Erinhaim casts his warm smile on his hostess and offers up the brandy with one large, scarred hand.

A rose blush covers the delicate cheeks of Aearwen as the tall form of Erinhaim seems to loom larger than life inside the shelter of the tent. Suddenly a bit apprehensive, she reaches for his cloak saying \"Here, let me spread this out, perhaps some of the wetness shall fall from it before you take your leave.\" A small table and two chairs fill one corner of the tent, striking a flint Aearwen puts a flame to the candle resting in the center of that table.

Turning back to Erinhaim with a smile she says sincerely, \"Granted, this is far from the decorum required of a noble woman from Dol Amroth, to be entertaining company in her tent well past the hour of midnight. However, many of the things experienced in the past year have been well out of those same boundaries as well. So please, sit and let us talk as friends and share a sip of that brandy, the night air does seem to have a chill in it. Settling herself in one of the chairs, she smiles graciously at the tall man, named Erinhaim.

Erinhaim smiles at the woman\'s misunderstanding, \"\'Twas not that which gave me cause to worry, Lady. But, upon the road of war, it gives a soldier little merit to seek shelter when others can\'t,\" The tall man laughs, his rumbling laugh filling up the little space within the tent and dying there. \"So, to be seen entering here profits me little, in the eyes of my compatriots.\" His dark eyes smile and he takes up Aearwen\'s offer, handing her his cloak.

Stepping around the woman, he quietly places the shaped skin upon the table with the candle. Away from it he stands then, the flickering flame underlights his face and it seems some horrible memory emerges then. However, even as the muscled veteran rubs at his wrists in pained nostalgia, it sinks beneath his still bronzed skin. Finally, he smiles on the lady in his company, Aearwen.

Aearwen smiles at Erinhaim as he explains the hesitation she sensed. Her shoulder shrugs as she says \"We have been on this road of war for so long now, it would seem the bravery of a men would be more cause for merit in the eyes of your compatriots, than censure for seeking shelter wherever it to be found.\"

Spreading his cloak across her trunk, she turns back to Erinhaim with a smile on her face. \"You and I have not had a chance for much conversation since we were in Forensvale, all those many weeks ago. Time has passed quickly and yet walked through my mind with leaden feet as I have yearned for the ocean breezes of Dol Amroth.\" The ever curious eyes of this woman do not miss the expression in Erinhaim\'s face as he gazes at the candle and his fingers move to rub at his wrists. Her eyes cut to the horrible scars that line the flesh there and the memory of his forearms flashes through her mind with clarity, but no word does she speak of those memories, only a smile is give to him.

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"Aye,\" Erinhaim begins, gesturing towards the tent flaps and the men beyond beneath the rain, \"I\'m sure there are many that share your longing amongst those who have survived thither -- For home and family and those memories which strike their hearts when they reflect upon it.\" His own words seem to bring him to a halt then and he blinks a slight frowning from his brow. \"But have I given you such worries, Lady?\" The large man askes quietly, \"I know not how -- I would ammend what injury I\'ve caused.\" Towards the table he moves, lifting the brandy from its surface, \"Shall we partake?\"

A puzzled look mars the expression of Aearwen as she gazes at Erinhaim as she questions, \"Given me such worries? Pardon me, but I do not follow your line of conversation.\" A smile curves her lips again as she admits, \"The worry you seem to bring to me is my own curiosity as it creeps around the few bits of information that you allow to slip out about yourself.\"

A solemn expression pools her big blue eyes as she says, \"Admission of another kind does need to come forth before we partake of wine in the vein of friendship. When last we spoke, the truth was not entirely given to you, even though you spoke the words yourself, they were denied by my own lips. For that, I would ask your forgiveness, it is not in my personality to withhold the truth, but there is something about your self that attracts and repels me at the same time.\" Laughing at her own words, \"Would you listen to that? Is there something about a rainy night and a few sips of brandy that bring words out that you would wish to bury far from the light of day?\" Bringing the skin up to her lips, she tastes the firey hot burn of the brandy as it courses across her tongue and down her throat.

Erinhaim smiles softly, \"More matter and less art, M\'lady.\" The tall man\'s voice rumbles pleasently as he looks at Aearwen in answer to her speech, \"I know not what you wish to know... But if you would know it, ask me plainly, so that I might render you an answer.\" He takes a drink and falls silent, the smile still upon his face, but the eyes behind it glitter with a calculation bred by hardship.

The sudden offer of information makes Aearwen sit back in her chair in amazement. Her mouth flies open to question this turn of events and she quickly catches herself. Eye perusing his eyes, searching for the truth behind the spoken words, carefully calculating the risk of questioning this man that has so closely guarded any personal information of himself.

Picking up the skin of brandy, she calmly takes another small sip of the firey liquid as she deliberates her next words. Grinning at Erinhaim, she cannot resist remarking, \"After all of these months of so carefully holding your past to you like a cloak of secrecy, you know say that you are willing to divulge anything that I wish to know? Forgive me my dear man, but this is such a shocking turn of events, I dare not know what to ask you first\" Laughter spills from her pink lips as she asks, \"Is this perhaps your plan, to so astonish me that I would find it impossible to question you?\"

Erinhaim frowns slightly at the accusation but then laughs heartily, as is his wont. The thundering sound bellows for a long moment, a merry thunder to rival that which echos in the heavens. His salt and pepper crowned head he shakes in quiet admonishion, \"N\'aye, Lady... I have no such strategems. My past I hold to myself, for it is the only thing I truely own...\" Gesturing toward the finery of the tent and the woman\'s clothes, he says, \"I hope that is something that you can understand.\"

Aearwen\'s own laughter answers that of Erinhaims as they sit in the coziness of her tent, the drops of rain making a sweet sound on the wet tent as the hours of the night slip by unnoticed. She says earnestly, \"Truthfully, I do understand that your past is yours to own.\" Pausing before she continues, \" I find you so different from any other man, my curiosity has been at a high level of intensity.\"

Bringing her fingers up to her lips as she tries to stifle her peal of laughter, she practically spits out the words, \"Go ahead, label me nosey, I cannot deny the title. Lady Aearwen, envoy and nosey woman of Dol Amroth\", twinkling eyes catch Erinhaims as she says, \"Tis nice to share laughter with you, truly, it does my heart good to see a lighthearted expression on your face instead one of darkness and unhappiness\"

Erinhaim frowns and shakes his head, \"Perhaps you\'ve caught me at odd hours, Lady... For there a few enough that can say that I am gloom-hearted and glad seldom.\" He smiles a moment and says to himself, almost, \"N\'aye, little enough like Turin Turambar, am I.\" A soft chuckle rumbles through his throat and he looks at the brandy before taking another drink. \"But tonight, I shall not evade at least one concern of thine, My Noble Lady.\" The tall man bows and smiles his soft smile as he rises. He waves a hand in supplication, \"Ask what thy will, but I promise only one open answer.\" The dark eyes glitter deeply.

Aearwen laughs heartily, the brandy loosening what little inhibition she has as she says, \"The Master of Doom! Oh my, I would confess as to thinking along those same lines when I recall your stern expression the few times I have been in your presence.\" Wincing a bit she tries to soften the harsh bite of those words, \"But somehow, I have sensed there was more to you Erinhaim. The day in the Hall of Ulmo still stands out vividly in my mind as you flinched at my touch and jerked away.\"

Studying the man across from her for a moment, she finally says, \"Would you tell me the story of those deep scars that cover your flesh?\" Her hand reaches out to touch his arm softly, \"I ask not for the mere curiosity of knowing, but because I have sensed deep pain in your, an unwillingness to care. No, I wouldnt say care, but an unwillingness to share your heartache, as if you had locked it so far in the recesses of yourself, along with warmth and caring.\"

[Erinhaim(#20260)] \"The life of a slave is a hard life, Lady,\" Erinhaim begins, slowly, his face taking on a hardened aspect, \"You become a machine, unused to feelings and feelings are unwanted, for they show weakness. And to those who have enslaved you, you do not want to show any hint of heart, for they will seek it and try to crush it.\" The tall man sighs before venturing on, \"I forgot humanity for many years, forgot what scars I harboured long buried before I was taken in the those Southron sewers.\" He chuckles ruefully, \"The only thing they had to break me was my life... They knew what dishonor it was to be taken and enslaved. They knew it every time I managed to escape and still they would not punish me over much when I was found half dead some days later, starving and burned, lost in the desert sands. They would only let me live with the shame of it... But they did not know.

They knew not that I was taken so that my Prince could live!\" His eyes flash with these words, his fist clenched against some adversary long left behind. He pauses, his fist lowers as he releases a pent up breath. Sighing, he continues, his thick fingers rubbing the puckered, pale flesh upon his one wrist, \"But these scars come from the heavy chains I bore for that long time. They also are the tally of all the times I slipped them... For having little else, I had to pull these heavy hands through the biting iron binds.\" He shakes his greying locks and chuckles darkly once again, a sound bereft of mirth, \"That is the meaning of these scars lady.\" Then he falls silent.

Aearwen\'s eyes drop to her fingers that lie folded together on the table in front of her as Erinhaim\'s words still. The silence growing longer as her fingers clench and unclench, eyes still dropped from the gaze of the man across from her. Finally dragging blue eyes shining with unshed tears of sympathy she says simply, \"I had no idea Erinhaim, please forgive my words.

Words that forced a grim reminder of those times to the awareness of your mind again. Believe me when I say I am ashamed of my curiosity behind the darkness I felt from you.\" One lone tear streaks down her cheek as her eyes drop again. A hand wipes the tear distractedly as she stares downward, \"It tis hard for me to even imagine that kind of loss of freedom. I have not the words to even express what emotions are ripping through me at the vivid images you painted of your experience.\" her head shakes as she berates herself.

Erinhaim smiles in answer, disarming the situation like a sudden beam of sunlight breaking through the clouds disarms a storm. His heavy hand places with a soft touch upon the wet cheeks of the woman who berates herself so soundly for her harmless curiousity. Even despite its calloused surface, it is warm and the large man manages to convey his warmth of heart through it. He shakes his head, smiling softly still, eyes twinking with empathy, \"Fear not, Lady... You have not opened any wounds in me. I am hurtless ever now. But I hide my tales of sorrow, for the pain that it might bring to those of softer mettle.\"

Aearwen\'s soft hand rises up to cover the huge hand of Erinhaim as it touches her wet cheek, drenched blue eyes raise sorrowful to his own, more tears slipping from them as a sob rips from her lips and her words stutter as she speaks, \"When I recall the times I pressured you with questions, digging into your past, questioning you so intently......it pains me so Erinhaim.\" Closing her eyes for a moment dark wet eyelashes framing her cheeks as she draws in a long, deep breath, very consciously trying to compose her emotions.

Managing a shaky smile, Aearwen shakes her head in amazement at the twinkle in Erinhaim\'s eyes. Laughing in embarassment as a hiccup slips out with no forewarning, laughter continuing as yet another hiccup sounds from her lips. Merriment twinkles from those same wet eyes as she blushes and tries to stop the sounds emoting from within her, laughing each time she takes her hand away from her mouth and yet another slips out. Laying her head down on the table she mutters to herself, between laughter and hiccups, \"Oh what a tale to be told in Dol Amroth.\"

her, laughing each time she takes her hand away from her mouth and yet another slips out. Laying her head down on the table she mutters to herself, between laughter and hiccups, \"Oh what a tale to be told in Dol Amroth.\"