An Arrest

Cardhon Silithir

Delicately fluted columns of marble stretch upwards in fine-grained form, a collonade reaching to a vaulted ceiling tiled in the brilliant emerald of the Pinnath Gelin. Capitals are capped in gleaming white metal in this house of silver lords, while down below the rugged misty splendour of the Anfalas is caught in a mosaic of majestic proportion. Dark-wooded doors lead to the east and west wings of the house, while the far wall is a line of windows, opening onto a garden nestled between house and city wall. It is before.dawn, and candlelight bathes the room with a gentle golden glow.

Weather:            Rainy

Time:               Before Dawn <05>

Season:             Summer

Date:               Orgilion - July 21, 3045

Real Time:          Fri Nov 28 22:35:51 2008

[Arashen(#24692)]

A gentle summer rain falls from the darkened skies over Minas Tirith. It rattles against the windows of Cardhon Silithir - the manor of the Telpekhiri. In a small formal parlor waits a son of that noble house, Arashen, Blue Squire of Dol Amroth. He stands before the cold fireplace on the far wall, his arms crossed before and staring down to the hearth - lost in thought.

The room is richly appointed. Rugs of Haradrim make scatter the floors - deeply hued in reds and golds. Several chairs create small conversation groups here and there. A sideboard holds a decanter, a bottle of wine or two and silver chalices.

The young Telpekhor waits for the Rangers of Ithilien to be shown in.

Another young man is here, but he doesn\'t wait as patiently. Instead, Ceredir is pacing the carpets, walking back and forth and glancing nervously toward the door and then to Arashen. Several times he opens he mouth to start to say something, then shuts it and resumes his pacing.

[Endaerion(#30487)]

At last the awaited company enters, a pair of Rangers lead first by Lord Endaerion of the Cuthalion. The expression on his face differs little than normally observed straight, grim, unflinching, cold. Two sea grey orbs scour the interior of the Telpekhiri residence in search of the man they seek. Finding him swiftly, they lock upon him with a disdainful glare.

He bows his head first before Arashen. \"We are here for the scout Ceredir. We wish to question him concerning the alleged on assault on the Knight Elenur Bragollach.\"

[Maeglach(#31899)]

A second Ranger follows the first. He is considerably younger but features which may once have been fair are rent by a startling scar which leaps across his face. For the occasion Maeglach is dressed in fresh uniform, his gauntlets cleaned impeccably and shining a deep forest green. Though unsmiling his expression is cordial enough as bright eyes take in the well-adorned room, noting Arashen\'s idle stance and Ceredir\'s agitation.

As Endaerion speaks the second Ranger bows his head in greeting, \'Forgive my lord, we are Endaerion and Maeglach we come on the Captain\'s business and thank you for your hospitality.\' Half a smile twists his scarred lips.

[Arashen(#24692)]

\"Ceredir, take ease\" Arashen begins, looking up from the hearth stones. But the door opens and the two Rangers arrive. The Squire unfolds his arms and walks to meet the two men. He inclines his brow to Endaerion and then again to the second man. A slight smile curls his lips. \"Lord Endaerion is known to me. And we are aware of your business, we have been expecting you. I am Arashen Telpekhor, Blue Squire of Dol Amroth. I would offer you refreshment, but I suspect, given your business, you will decline. However, the offer stands if you wish to accept it and I welcome you to my mother\'s house.\"

Ceredir\'s pacing stops as the two Rangers enter, and now instead of moving restlessly, it is a few seconds before he actually follows Arashen to meet the two men. But follow he does, coming to stand next to the squire.

\"Sir.\" Ceredir nods to Endaerion, and then to Maeglach, \"I am Ceredir, sir. Of..\" He pauses slightly and licks his lips as his eyes glance to Arashen, \"of Minas Tirith.\"

[Endaerion(#30487)]

The elder Cuthalion eyes Ceredir and nods. His words are severe. \"To assault a Knight of Dol Amroth is to assault one of your own brethren, Soldier of Gondor. Fealty with love, valor with honor, oath breaking with vengeance. This your oath you swore, did you not, Ceredir? The accusations against you are most serious.\"

Then taking a position before the accused, he looks to his kinsman Maeglach before returning the unyielding gaze upon Ceredir. \"But every man is entitled to his version of the story. Let us now hear yours.\"

[Maeglach(#31899)]

\'Thank you, no.\' Replies Maeglach to Arashen. \'When we have heard his tale it would interest me to find out how it is he comes to be sheltered in this house and not held either by the Citadel Guards or the Company of Ithilien. But perhaps his story will explain.\'

The younger Ranger meets his leige-lord\'s gaze for a second ere folding his arms behind his back and fixing his own grey eyes on the scout.

[Arashen(#24692)]

\"Sheltered?\" echoes Arashen, arching one brow slightly. \"He is our guest. He is still convalescing yet had no need to be in the Halls of Healing further. Is it not typical for your men to heal in the care of their families after they have been released from the healers and yet before being declared fit for duty? He has no home or family to go to, so we invited him here.\"

\"It can be simply explained why neither the Citadel Gaurds or the men of Ithilien hold him: None came to do so for several days, so he came home with me - and is now at your disposal.\"

\"I did.\" The Scout\'s answer to Endaerion is quiet, and his eyes only meet the Ranger\'s for a second before they drop to the floor and he sighs. \"I did swear that sir. I lost control. Lost my temper.\" Ceredir lets those words hang in the air for a moment, then his gaze comes up as he looks to Arashen momentarily.

\"The Squire was there and saw it all. Elenur...I have good reason to believe the man is my father. I\'ve been trying ..well, that doesn\'t matter, I suppose. The bare facts are that Elenur came to the Halls of Healing while I was recuperating and told me that he wished I were dead, then said worse things about my birth and my motives. And I lost my temper and hit him. I\'ve already asked Arashen to try to arrange a meeting so that I can apologize for losing my temper.\"

\"But it is as Arashen says. I am at your disposal now.\"

[Endaerion(#30487)]

Again Endaerion shares a glance with his kinsman as he scratches his chin between a green gauntleted grip. \"You could have found time to recover within the halls of Card Failin, but that is another matter.\" The Ranger looks to Arashen now. \"I judge you are of honest character, young Arashen. What have you to say on this matter? Does the scout Ceredir speak the truth?\"

[Arashen(#24692)]

\"Before I tell you what I witnessed,\" Arashen begins, turning his gaze to Endaerion. \"Let me first say this: From what I understand, the man who raised Ceredir from infancy told him that Sir Elenur was his true father and that he, the Tanner, was paid to raise him. Evidently Sir Elenur denies this, vehemently. That said, I did not witness any of those meetings prior to the incident in the Halls of Healing.\"

\"But it is true that Sir Elenur, on that day, strode in and expressed his regret that Ceredir was not dead. He further accused him of lying in order to better his position in life and then insulted his common birth. I believe words such as \"mother\" and \"filthy hovel\" are what finally set Ceredir\'s temper afire and he struck the Knight.\"

[Maeglach(#31899)]

Maeglach stands with hands folded behind his back, keen eyes following the speakers. \"This does not sound like actions befitting a Knight of Amroth.\" He comments, \"Not that I doubt your story, only that it is odd.\"

\"Called me a snake,\" Ceredir says through clenched teeth. \"And insinuated that my mother was filth.\" He looks up at the Rangers, and there is fierce anger starting to burn in his eyes.

\"I could have, yes, Card Failin, sir,\" he continues, struggling to keep his temper in check to speak to Endaerion. \"But the squire offered me his family\'s hospitality, and I felt that it would be impolite to turn it down at the time. I have,\" he continues, addressing Maeglach now, too, \"Attempted to talk to Sir Elenur before, but to no avail. The man hates me. Refuses to acknowledge me, refuses to tell me who my mother is. And the tanner, now that Elenur no longer pays him to keep me, threw me out of his house. Vows I am not his son.\"

[Endaerion(#30487)]

\"Very well,\" replies Endaerion, \"you will see Card Failin soon enough, however. You will come with us after we are through here, confined to barracks, where you will await your judgement. I hear your account, though, and Arashen\'s witness to it. The Captain will decide your fate.\" Then stepping forward he reaches for the man\'s arm.

[Arashen(#24692)]

\"I agree, sir,\" The Squire admits, nodding his head to Maeglach, \"It is odd behavior for a Knight. I expressed my shock that any man who had been wounded in Gondor\'s service should be treated in that manner.\"

\"Whether this story of his parentage is true or not, I deem that Ceredir truly believes it either the Tanner or Sir Elenur is lying. I do not know which and it is not my place to judge.\"

The Telpekhor falls silent as Endaerion makes his pronouncement and gives the scout an encouraging smile and nod of his head.

Maeglach(#31899)]

Maeglach straightens as Endaerion suddenly makes his pronouncment, bowing to the Blue Squire. \'You\'ve been most helpful, Arashen. Thank your mother for her hospitality Ithilien will take care of this from here. We will send word to this Elenur as well, no doubt the Captain will wish to speak to him also.\"

The Scout offers no resistance as Endaerion takes his arm, but he is not exactly pleased, his brows knitting--despite Arashen\'s reassuring smile. \"There\'s one more thing you should know. It will come to light,\" he says, looking to the two Rangers. \"When I first went to meet the man I had been told was my natural father, I ...had not much courage. And I took courage in drink. And Gweneth of Bragollach found me in a state I should not have been in.\"

He grimaces. \"The Ranger Laeghen addressed that problem, and it hasn\'t occurred since, sir, but Gweneth was here and we exchanged some words...nothing on the scale of what happened with Elenur, but cold words though polite. Elenur is likely reacting to that.\"

[Endaerion(#30487)]

Endaerion pauses in his incarceration long enough to hear the Scout, but then shakes his head and continues to lead him towards the door. \"I have not questioned you further. You would do well to not offer answers to questions that have not been asked.\"

[Arashen(#24692)]

The young squire returns the bow, his clenched fist held over his heart in the manner of the Telpekhor. \"I will be at Lord Faramir\'s convenience when he wishes me to bear witness.\"

He straightens and then swiftly glances to Ceredir, looking startled when the scout reveals his drunken state. But he watches the Cuthalion Ranger take him a way in silence.