(Archive) Bad Daddy!
From the archives of the Gondorian
Aearwen and Rorgan (as Wen\'s Dad) RP
September 11, 1999
Hall of Ulmo
The Hall of Ulmo is not so much a grand hall, but a private chamber where the Knights of Dol Amroth can relax and enjoy each other\'s camaraderie while in Minas Tirith. A large fireplace of comfortable-looking bricks stands in the northern wall, and the floor is covered in a royal blue carpet, amazing for its soft, padded depth. A table to seat twenty men is near the windows inthe south of the room, which look out over the street. Comfortable chairs and couches are arranged near the fire, and small tables hold books and games of strategy. The great curtains of blue velvet are open, and the sunlight floods through the windows from outside. The scent of savory spices wafts in from the kitchen-door, and several other doors lead to smaller sleeping quarters, all west of the fireplace in the north wall. Several knights sit at the great table, enjoying their meal.
Contents: Eluchil aka Rorgan aka Beregond
Obvious exits:
West leads to Dol Amroth Embassy:
[Eluchil(#15235)] A small group of knights sit on the couches and chairs near the fireplace, jovially sharing a story told by a man who looks to be the senior in the group. He regales them about his part in one of the many battles against the Haradrim from years gone by, the punchline of the story being how a man the Lord Ethring-Bragollach had just beheaded had still managed to sever the Lord\'s belt, depanting him on the battlefield. From the uproarious laughter, the story seems to have gone over rather well, and the men begin to disperse. Eluchil, the Lord Ethring-Bragollach now sits in front of the fire by himself, taking his leisure with a glass of red Dol Amrothian wine as he sighs quietly, and picks up a book that has been laying face down on the couch beside him as he told his story.
Stepping up to the door that leads to the Hall of Heraldry a small woman, wipes the palms of her hands on the velvet gown she is wearing. Taking a deep breath, Aearwen nervously pats her hair as her hand rises to knock lightly on the door. Hesitating for a moment she pushs the door open slowly and walks in. Her eyes glance around the room and find the person she has been looking for. Pasting a smile upon her face, Aearwen walks quickly to the side of her father.
[Eluchil(#15235)] Smiling up at his daughter, the Lord Ethring-Bragollach pats the couch beside him, \"Sit with me for a while, Aearwen. It has been a long time since we were able to speak in person.\" He lays down his book again, the cover of which is marked in Elvish runes.
Aearwen smiles, \"Hello Father\", her soft cheek resting against his for a moment, \"Its so good to see you again.\" Sitting beside him on the couch, she gently pats her skirts into place before she looks up, \"It has been a long time Father, many things have happened in the months since I left Ethring. What news do you have for me of home? How is mother?\" Laughing softly as she lays her hand on his arm, \"I am hungry for news of home\"
[Eluchil(#15235)] Still smiling at his daughter Eluchil nods, \"The news from home is all good. Your mother is well, and sends you her greetings. Your cousins are getting bigger and stronger every day, and soon, I think they will be joining the ranks of the Squires.\" He chuckles, \"But I, too, am hungry for news, daughter, and I\'d like to hear how you\'ve been spending your time. More wisely now, I\'d hope.\"
Frowning slightly as she begins to talk, Aearwen replies, \"I am a touch indignant at your choice of words Father. You taught me to have a mind of my own, sending me to the White Tower for learning and on to Dol Amroth to be an envoy.\" Her eyes flashing, \"My time has been spent wisely in the service of Gondor. What nobler cause would you have me do Father?\" Gazing at the fire for a minute, watching the flames lick at the log she says, \"Are you aware that the Lady Maeghan was with me every step of the way, in my service as a healer? Matter of fact, she is the one that has been furthering my knowledge.\" Sighing softly, \"Father, I do not wish our first words in months to be harsh ones, but your missive did cut me to the quick.\"
[Eluchil(#15235)] With the barest of nods the old Ethring-Bragollach replies, \"I have learned much since my arrival in Minas Tirith, child, not the least of which is the truth of which you speak.\" He shakes his head, \"That is not to say that I agree with the choices you made, daughter, but still, I have a much better understanding of them.\" He smiles apologetically, \"I would have spared you much of what your eyes have seen in the service of Gondor. The sights, sounds, and smells of battle are not fit for a Lady\'s delicate senses.\" He smiles again, \"But from what I have learned, you have served nobly indeed, and of that I am quite proud.\" He pauses for a moment, apparently pondering the flames and drawing his next words from them, \"Is our Prince pleased with your service to him, though? No. I do not wish us to share harsh words on our first meeting in so long, but I still have need to know how you are helping our standing with Imrahil.\" He shakes his head, \"You may have been raised to have your own mind, child, but you are still a daughter of Ethring-Bragollach, and I would see your other ideas in a much clearer light were you to honor my own wishes in your service to our Prince.\" He smiles, \"So do tell me of your duties and service, Aearwen. And don\'t mince words with me. I want all the details you can provide.\"
Watching the flames for a long minute, the golden glow highlighting her auburn hair, Aearwen sighs deeply. \"Truthfully Father, my first meeting with the Prince did not exactly go well. We were on a journey from Dol Amroth to Minas Tirith and just as we get to the gates, he was attacked by a young boy. I spoke a little harshly to the boy and the Prince berated me for my words.\" Aearwen\'s head cocks to one side as she tries to recall, \"I do not believe I saw the Prince again until we were both at Osgiliath.\" Shakes her head, \"Let me back up, upon my arrival, the Prince was busy with the plans for war and did not need my services at that point. So rather than sit idly doing nothing, I begin to study under Lady Maeghan. My studies with her is how I ended up travelling with the healers.\"
[Eluchil(#15235)] The elder Ethring-Bragollach simply nods patiently.
Aearwen takes a deep calming breath, her fingers smoothing down her skirt as she begins again, \"To make a long, boring story more concise Father, I travelled with the healers, treating the wounded men, helping in any way that I could. But of course, I would suppose that you would want to know of my own injury in Osgiliath.\" Her eyes flashing stormy blue as she laughs, \"It was the strangest thing, I was well behind the battle lines and two of the orcs made a charge for the healers, one hitting me with an arrow and another with a scimitar.\" Laughing softly, \"Believe me, after that incident, I was heavily guarded at all times.\" Aearwen continues to spin her story of life in Gondor, never once mentioning the tall guardsman on both of their minds.
[Eluchil(#15235)] A sharp grunt is ejected from the Lord Ethring-Bragollach at the mention of his daughter\'s wounding in Osgiliath, and his mouth opens and closes soundlessly after that as his spine stiffens and his hands clench, all the while his face begins to get redder and redder until, finally, he can not hold it in any longer and he fairly spits out, \"And where was your fair Minas Tirith Guardsman when all this happened?! He should have either killed both of those Urch or died trying.\" The old man falls silent now with a hmph, his eyes still blazing, challenging his daughter to say the name.
Aearwen\'s words cease at her father outburst, her hand reaches to squeeze his arm, \"Father, please....please calm down. My \"fair\" Minas Tirith Guardsman WAS almost killed in that battle Father. He was unconscious for days and had temporary blindness for several weeks.\" Her voice softly says, \"It was a most trying time Father, in addition to the war, my concern for his well being.\" Turning on the couch, her knees resting against her Fathers legs, she says softly, \"Father, he is a good man, give him a chance.\" Her soft curls tumble around her face as she bows her head, \"Would you like the entire story of my relationship with him Father? Is that what you want?, \" looking up again, her blue eyes raging with anger.
Eluchil grunts again, his eyes still ablaze, \"If you seek to challenge me, daughter, then so be it. Tell your story, but I warn you, you are already treading a very thin line
Glaring at her father, Aearwen takes a deep breath, her trembling hands folding tightly in her lap as she struggles to keep her composure. \"Upon my arrival in Dol Amroth, I met said Guardsman at the Inn where my escorts and I stopped to have lunch. The guards had been escorting Lady Gweneth and another noble woman from Minas Tirth back to Dol Amroth. We exchanged several words, he was most polite and proper. Upon settling into Dol Amroth, it was the strangest thing, but everytime I turned around, this particular guard would be escorting or protecting someone.\"
A small smile curves her lips as her eyes soften, \"He became my guardian, so to speak Father. Those first few weeks in Dol Amroth were lonely, horrid times. The Dol Amroth Bragollach\'s were very opposed to my coming and without a friend....\", her words trail off as she glances at her fathers face. \"You do not wish to hear of the trials and tribulations of my journey here in service to the Prince, do you Father? \" Gazing at the flickering fireplace, she is silent for a moment before turning her eyes upon her father once more, \"I have done nothing to be ashamed of since my arrival here Father, nothing...nothing at all. You and mother have taught me to think for myself and I have done just that. How can you find fault in what you have instilled in me since birth?\", her voice barely a whisper as those last words slip out.
[Eluchil(#15235)] Two pairs of eyes now ponder the fire again as Eluchil also stares into the hearth, his words leaking from his lips quietly, \"You said that you did not start out on good terms with the Prince, daughter, and I know that we have taught you to have your own mind. But we didn\'t teach you to give up on something just because it didn\'t work out the way you planned.\" He shakes his head, \"I had not much idea that you would receive resistance from our relations in Dol Amroth, Aearwen, anf for that, I apologize, but I do what the full story. You are asking me to make a decision as to whether or not I think you are ready to be wed, or at least that is what I see you asking me in the very near future. How well can I judge whether or not you are ready to take that kind of a step without hearing what you have learned from such trials and tribulations, dear.\" He smiles a kindly smile, \"So tell me of them. Tell me why I should think you have truly matured to the point to make the decision you feel you are so ready to make.\" He shakes his head, \"Satisfy me in these things and I will make no more remarks about whomever you shall choose.\"
[Maedhromir(#29017)] Day in the proud city of hard stones, Minas Tirith -- a day akin to twilight, for even here, in the great chamber of the folks of Dol Amroth, little light falls through the great windows. Dark clouds, searing streaks of lighting flashing across the sky, casting a stark light upon the couches and tapestries, the rumbling of thunder in the distance -- indeed, it would seem the Shadow bends its malice upon the Men of the West this day. A sharp gust of wind then, causing the flames in the hearth to leap and hiss, and the tapestries to flutter -- a gust which dies out even as the doors which had opened a scant moment earlier, swing shut, and thither stands a lordly man, with locks of alabaster and clad in raiment argent and blue.
Aearwen\'s eyes search her fathers face as she chooses her words carefully, \"That is fair enough Father, thank you for allowing me to have my say in this matter.\", graciously smiling as she once again begins to speak. \"You misunderstood my words father. Granted, my first audience with the Prince was not as smooth and pleasant as I had hoped it to be. I have much respect for the man, even more so now that my eyes have been a witness to his bravery in battle and his commanding presence with his men.\" The fingers of her right hand tap against the material of her skirt as she pauses, \"Truthfully, the opposition to my arrival in Dol Amroth by the rest of the Bragollach\'s has been a source of amusement to me, in a perverse sort of way. My determination to not let the Prince, you and lastly, myself down has been a big factor in my strength.\"
Her shoulders shrug slightly, \"As to my readiness to assume the role of a wife..do you suppose anyone feels they are ever truly ready? Since I was a small child, I wanted a relationship like you and Mother have, a loving, supportive one. Spare me from an arranged marriage to improve blood lines, wealth or lands, I have no wish to be chained to some stranger for those reasons.\" Wincing at she says those words, she quickly amends them, \"I do believe I can better serve Gondor in a greater capacity, than strictly a bride piece.\" Laughing softly as she takes her fathers hand, \"This guardsman is a noble man father. Although noble blood does not fill his veins, you could not ask for someone of better quality.\" Flushing slightly as she smiles, \"And father, his devotion and caring is beyond compare. So yes, I would say to you, my eyes have seen many things since leaving home. Most of those things a lady of my breeding should not have witnessed. But seeing those things, only increased my own love and fervor to serve Father. How can you possibly discredit that?\"
[Maedhromir(#29017)] By the doors the white-haired one stands, his gaze steady upon the two who sit by the hearth. And with but a moment\'s uncertain pause, he makes his way forth then to their side. To the woman he bows first, his arms crossed upon his breast, \"Greetings, Lady Aearwen!\" -- and to her father he turns then, inclining his head faintly, \"Hail Lord of the Ethring-Bragollach!\" A greeting courteous...yet cold.
[Eluchil(#15235)] A sage nod does the elder Ethring-Bragollach give now, his eyes still fixed on the hearth as he speaks softly, \"That, Aearwen, is a fine and noble thing, and a spirit many would cherish more in a son than a daughter. I rejoice in finding such spirit in you, daughter, but when that fervor interferes with your duty, I draw the line. Part of what I am looking for in you and failing to see is the maturity that comes with experience. Experience is what tells a person that they may not be doing exactly what they want to do, but are doing what MUST be done for their own good and for the good of their loved ones.\" He sighs and continues to stare at the fire, \"I do not want to totally forbid you from seeing this man, daughter, but until I see some sign that you\'ve learned the difference between...\" Halted in mid-sentence by the arriving Isilrim, Eluchil gives the man a brief, bare nod, \"Hail Lord of Isilrim.\" Equally courteous, but devoid of even the emotional attachment to it to be regarded as cold. Flat would be more like it, and he immediately returns his attention to his daughter. \"Duty and desire,\" he finishes. Then he begins again, \"And I would see you do more in your duties for the Prince. I have heard that you have not abandoned your duties to him totally, as yet, and since he is sending you off to Rohan with that dead Rohirric Lord, I suppose you still have a chance to serve him as well as I know you are able.\"
Aearwen nods her head, \"Greetings to you as well Maedhromir\", a forced smile on her lips as she cuts her eyes back to her father. Her blue eyes chilly as she responds, \"I find that most unfair Father, for you to compare duty and desire when you have not spoken to the Prince or the Lord of House Bragollach, Indilzar. You are speaking strictly with a father\'s concern for his daughter instead of surmissing the entire situation and than giving your opinion.\" Her voice is short and clipped, \"I will of course, abide by your words, but know in your heart, I do not agree with them.\" Her jaw clenches as she struggles to speak the next words, \"It wounds me that you would find fault in my service to the Prince, knowing no more than you do. This is not the values you taught me through the years. What happened to trust, honour, belief and duty? Somewhere along the way they seem to have changed to -your- law of the land.\" Shaking her head, \"How many times have you and I sat, discussing politics, arguing our views back and forth, both respecting one another\'s points? What happened to that respect you had then Father? Are you implying that my service as a healer has lessened that respect you held for your daughter?\"
*Note - time constraints ended the Rp but we ended it in our minds as Eluchil rushing from the Hall of Ulmo in anger*