Barazin Interferance

[Frarin(#31050)] It is mid afternoon under the mountain and the halls are busy with the comings and goings of the day. Down in the Bundazanul Thingstead the voices of traders echo up into the many winding corridors of the clan\'s holding.

The sound of footsteps too join the hum throughout the halls. There are not many here amidst the homes of the clan at this time of day, but there is one, though he is not of Bundazanul. Frarin\'s limp marks him well as he wanders through the corridors, eyes absently going to each door as if this is his first trip into this area. He does come to a slow after a time, however, upoin coming to a particular door. He frowns, then lifts his hand and gives the door two quick raps.

After a few moments the door is pulled open and Ranol is standing with a growing smile. \"Frarin! Come in!\" He bows quickly and then steps back to gesture the Barazin inside. The Huskarl is unarmed, his entire workday rearranged after the meeting with Dain. His gear is in a pile near the door.

This is Ranor\'s home that Braldor gave to Ranol to look after indefinitely. If Panor didn\'t come by at least once a week to do the cleaning it would be a disaster. As it happens, she does, and the modest dwelling fits Ranol well. The entry is little more than an enlarged hallway with hooked along one wall to hang cloaks upon. There\'s a carved out archway to the left that leads into a comfortable, cozy living room. \"What brings you by? Would you like something to drink?\"

[Frarin(#31050)] \"Good day, good day,\" Frarin nods in his gruff manner, entering upon the home at Ranol\'s invitation. \"How fare you? Nay, nothing to drink, thank you. I\'ve just come from a late lunch at Formin\'s. I thought to come by and have a chat, actually. Thari tells me you had an audience with the king, mm?\" He lifts his brows at Ranol, an unreadable expression on his face. \"A private audience, no less. Congratulations, cousin.\"

Ranol grins, shaking his head. \"It was only to stand in as support for the clan. It was Lord Gimli\'s meeting.\" He beckon\'s Frarin to follow him into the living room. Compared to his uncle\'s estates, Ranol\'s home looks rather pathetic, but there\'s a quiet elegance in the simpler furnishings. In particular, the wooden mantle over the hearth and the other wooden adornments in the room have Ranor\'s expert craftmanship to them. \"How are you? How is Thari?\"

[Frarin(#31050)] \"Still, you are to be congratulated,\" Frarin says, following the huskarl. \"The king, after all.\" He gives a small smile, but the usual dry gruffness is apparent in his tone, betraying a happiness for his friend, but not particularly envy. \"Thari is well, aye, and I am fine. I encountered Hildis, actually, some days ago.\" He looks at Ranol as if to gauge his reaction.

Ranol is still grinning, \"I was so nervous. I don\'t know what I would have done if I had to address him alone.\" When Frarin mentions Hilvar\'s daughter, the Bundazanul lifts a thick black brow, turning to look at Frarin curiously. \"Oh? I just saw her, but I needed to report to Braldor.. but he\'s gone off to some business for a few hours.\" The huskarl shows little more than curiosity, and there\'s an underlying excitement to the dwarf. He\'s still worked up from the meeting with Dain.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin smiles again as Ranol continues to relate his meeting with Dain, his excitement clear. The silversmith takes a seat and sits forward with his elbows on his knees. His smile fades a bit and he looks a bit more serious. \"Actually, I wished to speak about Hildis,\" he says gruffly, looking down at the floor then up again with a cocked brow. \"You recall the conversation you had with me in Buhr Mahrling?\"

Ranol moves to sit down as well, growing more serious as Frarin settles on a topic for discussion. \"Oh.. About Hildis? Aye.\" The huskarl says, watching his friend carefully now. \"What of it?\"

[Frarin(#31050)] \"Aye,\" Frarin nods. \"Hildis.\" He sits back now, pausing to draw a breath and arrange his thoughts. \"You...said at the time that you were not sure of your feelings for her any longer? I dislike interfering in the affairs of others, cousin, and I know you are not fond of others doing so to you. But what Hildis spoke to me of concerned me, I shall be honest. So I shall ask you, if you will answer, are you still unsure?\"

Ranol gazes at Frarin, his blue eyes keen amidst an otherwise calm face. He looks away, thinking for a long time on the answer. \"Things have been better than they were between us.. but, I still could not say without a doubt. I suppose I am less uncertain than I was?\" Ranol lifts his hand to rub the back of his neck, obviously not comfortable with this topic.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin gives a curt nod and takes a breath, his manner unsurprised. \"Ranol, I fear that she may feel by your actions what you will not say. I would not say anything of your personal life if I did not think it was affecting another. She spoke of this trip of yours to Mirkwood and I do not think she was convinced of your complete honesty when you explained the reason for it. Whether you were honest or not, I care not, but she doubts your word nonetheless.\" He pauses, looking keenly at Ranol from under his brows. \"She asked if I was to go on the trip, or if other merchants were to, rather than simply soldiers. She mentioned even asking Lord Gimli of the trip\'s purpose.\"

\"I talked to her about it, Frarin. If she is still unclear, I.. do not know that anything I say to her will make a difference. I know she wants to go.\" The huskarl is frowning, some doubt on his face as his mind goes back to the conversation he had with Hildis earlier in the day. Ranol was too wound up from the audience with the king to remember clearly what she said. \"Lord Gimli plans to leave tomorrow, Braldor hasn\'t told me yet if he intends to go.\"

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin leans back and frowns, still watching Ranol, then nods with a grunt. \"Aye then,\" he says and holds up his hands. \"I was only concerned for Hildis, she is a good lass. You prefer to throw yourself into your work, Ranol, mind you do not forget other things that matter. But I shall say no more.\"

Ranol\'s brows draw together. \"What do you mean, Frarin?\" The huskarl asks carefully, trying not to insinuate anything with the question. \"What did you think was going on?\"

[Frarin(#31050)] \"What did I think was going on?\" Frarin says, frowning. He is silent, peering at Ranol, then giving a small snort as if the answer should be obvious. \"I thought you might be avoiding her,\" he says, still frowning.

\"I have been busy with my work, Frarin. I.. I have told Hildis before that my duty has to come first. She said that she understood that.\" Ranol frowns, scrubbing his hand through his hair. \"This is exactly what I was worried about.\" He murmurs quietly.

[Frarin(#31050)] Frarin looks unhappy and shakes his head, lips pressing together. \"What you were worried about,\" he repeats as a statement. \"In coming to me, you mean. Aye, Ranol, worry on, but if you come to me to speak of that which troubles you, you cannot expect that I will always give the answer that you seek.\" He stands abruptly, sighing and shaking his head. \"I am sure that Hildis does understand, cousin, yet still she had to ask me to confirm what you said.\" He shrugs. \"Take that as you will.\"

\"I was worried of other things, then. I thought it was better now.\" Ranol stands as well, shaking his head. \"No, you are right. I am sorry, cousin. I will talk to Hildis again. I think I see what needs to be done .. If Hildis is talking to you, it means that I am not there for her enough.\"

[Frarin(#31050)] \"Hm,\" Frarin muses, expression brooding and unhappy. \"I shall say no more. I meant only to speak of what I had seen.\" He glances in the direction of the entryway, suddenly frowning as if uncomfortable to be there now. He clears his throat. \"Fare you well if you accompany Braldor to Mirkwood.\"

\"The first journey Lord Gimli makes will be to invite representatives of our allies to a festival of the Battle of the Five Armies. He is also extending an invitation for a council to discuss another such battle alliance.\" Ranol offers up in explanation, then moves to accompany Frarin to the door. \"Thank you for sharing your concerns, Frarin.. I am sorry that you needed to be troubled with this business at all.\"

[Frarin(#31050)] The brooding expression fades from Frarin\'s face and he pauses, looking sidelong at Ranol. His lips part. \"A battle alliance? For war?\" he mutters, eyes wary. But then he gives a grunt and a sigh and turns away from Ranol with a sharp shake of his head. \"Do as you will concerning Hildis, lad. I will not interfere again.\" This is said with a great deal of unhappiness, almost as if the silversmith is disgusted. But then he is limping quickly for the entryhall.