Imladris Giliath in the Vineyard

\"Imladris Giliath in the Vineyard - Spring\"

Players:

Giliath

Rhifaroth

Vineyard

As you walk into the vinyards, what strikes you immediately is the size and number of fields. Most of the winter\'s snows have gone, and some buds have even begun to appear on the grapevines. As you look at the carefully thought out placement of the fields, the landscaping effort is evident as geometric patterns are formed by their layout.

Curiously, though, you notice some \'holes\' in the rows, and one field in particular is completely devoid of vines. What appear to be small holes are in the ground, perhaps the beginnings of early spring planting. The rest of the fields, with their dormant vines running straight off into the distance, are still brown from winter, although small buds are just beginning to appear on the branches. There is a pathway leading through the fields to the west, and a small wooden shed is visible in that direction. The sunny sky above bathes you, and the field, in golden warmth.

Contents:

Giliath

Obvious exits:

West leads to Wheat Fields.

South leads to Crossroads: Valley Path and Forest Path.

[+TIME] Middle-earth time is:

Early Afternoon on Sterday, Day 1 of April.

Execute the +TIMEFRAME command for year information.

Real time is: 08:11:55 MDT on Fri Jun 13 2008.

[Giliath(#9838)]

Spring has come - at long last, or so feel some residents of Elrond\'s fair valley. Caelwen in particular has spent a good part of the winter by the great fire grumbling about how unnatural the cold is. But the vines have fared well for their chill slumber and now the vintners are about their work. Giliath is among them, humming softly to himself - or to the vines? - as he walks among them, trailing a finger along the budding wood. Now and then, he stops and prunes back a bit.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

From the direction of Hir Elrond\'s lovely house comes a man on this cheerful spring afternoon. The weather this time of the year, even in this sheltered valley, is highly changeable. Cold and wet one day and threatening a bit of late snow, and warm and inviting the next. Today at least it\'s very pleasant.

Coming up the slope towards Giliath, the bright sunlight makes it plain by the markings on the man\'s face that it is Rhifaroth. That and his very faint but distinct gait that belies his lingering weakness in his left thigh from the previous year\'s injury. Not a limp, but a faint uneveness in his steps.

Approaching the other and within speaking distance, the man\'s quiet baritone greets, \"Suilaid, Giliath.\" There is an easiness to the man and a faint smile at his pleasure to see his friend here.

[Giliath(#9838)]

The elf pauses in his work, looking up. One hand is still cupping a tender new leaf. He gives the human a small smile. \"Fair morn.\" And waits, courteously, to see if Rhifaroth will say what might have brought the other this way.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

Pale eyes almost the color of distant snowy mountain peeks on a hazy day skim over the vineyard and the knobby vines, most of which are pruned back hard and close. Rhifaroth returns his attention to the elf.

\"I know I have only just returned to the valley, Giliath, but ... there are pressing matters elsewhere that require my quick return. So, very shortly I shall be taking Muirgheal and the children west.\"

A brief pause, watching the elf\'s hands as Giliath works with his beloved vines, \"I wondered if you might accompany us... at least as far as we\'ll be blindfolded. To the Ford, I expect.\"

[Giliath(#9838)]

There is silence as the mastervintner listens. Attentively, though his fingers move slightly over the new leaf he cradles. \"Of course,\" he says then. And, \"Where do you go?\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

Rhifaroth frowns a little, \"West... take them back to the Bree area. I have managed to secure a place for us in a small village called Archet. It isn\'t much, but it\'s far better than that shack at the Shepherding Village.\"

Brows knit, and turning his head to glance over the land around him, the man adds, \"But we\'ll have to go on foot. Last Bridge is still unrepaired. Ollie dwells there, yet.\"

[Giliath(#9838)]

\"Ollie...\" Giliath says musingly. \"The salt-loving troll.\" And, most amazingly for one of the elder kindred and their known hatred of such creatures of the dark, he chuckles.

\"Take with you tribute,\" he suggests. \"Or perhaps a bridge toll.\" An arched enquiring eyebrow. \"You will not wish to fight, I presume?\"

Then a memory surfaces. \"Bree? I wonder. It has not been so long, has it? Not a ... year?\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

The Dunadan looks back to Giliath as his friend speaks of Ollie, \"Aye... I thought to pack salt. But also, pick up an ewe at the Shepherding Village. If there are several of us to cross, they may be needed. And...\" almost embarassed, Rhifaroth adds, \"I told it I would bring it a sheep next time.\"

A half laugh, \"No, I have no desire to fight a troll, my friend. Last time I attempted that, even with a small one, it nearly killed me all too easily.\" that bit of humor is short lived and the man grows serious, \"This time I shall have a babe to carry - and Muirgheal as well.\"

Eyes in his scarred, tattooed face blink, \"Not been a year since what?\"

[Giliath(#9838)]

Giliath doesn\'t answer directly. \"There was a child there,\" he says, half to himself, half to Rhifaroth. \"She spoke of wedding.\" A glance upwards to catch the human\'s eye. \"It has been less than a year since we were there last, the ... betrothal would not yet be over.\" There is the faintest hint of question in his voice.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

Ah, now he understands. Rhifaroth laughs softly, \"Lucille and Toby... did they then ask you to come to their wedding too? Is it them that you mean?\" Humor is light within his eyes and almost, almost he had forgotten about the wedding himself. Been so much to occupy him and time slips away so quickly, sometimes.

\"They need not wait a year, among our folk, Giliath. But those two have waited longer than that even before deciding to make it formal. But soon I think, by summer perhaps, it shall be a year maybe.\" Even he\'s not really sure.

�

Adds softly, thinking, \"They are to wed in spring, and spring has begun, now.\" Rhifaroth mumbles, thinking that he\'s due to attend as well, if he can.

[Giliath(#9838)]

\"I see,\" Giliath says, and it is clear that his thoughts have gone somewhere else, far away. And long ago, possibly. Then, as if Rhifaroth will have followed his path,\" he returns to the present and says with decision, \"I shall speak with my wife.\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

A glance, almost guilty, to his friend. He and Muirgheal ... never did have a formal ceremony. Not with witnesses. Just something ... private, when he gave her the ring Mirodhel made for her and he made a pledge to the woman. Rhifaroth idly scratches a finger along the scar that bisecs his face, looking off at the vineyard, \"Yes, well... the company would be welcome.\" Though he might be embarassed for Giliath to see the humble dwelling where they are to live in Archet, after the elf\'s reaction to the Shepherding Village. So much for his noble birth.

A change of subject, looking back to the vintner, \"Giliath, I also wished to thank you. On behalf of myself, my wife, and our children. If you had not brought Muirgheal to this place last November, she and the children might not... \" It\'s too difficult to say. But facing winter with no food stores in that shack would have been abissmal, at best.

[Giliath(#9838)]

The elf has begun, almost, to continue his walk along the vine when Rhifaroth speaks again. He looks up, listening gravely, then nods. \"It is well that you came,\" he says simply. No protests, no false modesty. Had they remained in that place, they likely would have died. \"I shall see you safely to your new home.\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

There had not been much time, not much to work with, and he had still been more than passing lame. But Rhifaroth would have tried very hard to provide for his family.

The man just nods, and adds, \"A debt is owed, my friend. If ever you ask anything of me, I shall endevor to repay it.\"

[Giliath(#9838)]

Giliath almost smiles. \"Care for your children,\" he says, \"That they may grow in health and wisdom. All debts will be repaid thus.\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

Rhifaroth is a stubborn man. He merely nods, but he shall not forget, all the same.

Drawing of a breath and a half hearted smile, \"I shall miss this place. I did not get to stay as long as I had hoped - so much within Hir Elrond\'s library I would have liked to have read.\" But alas, he doesn\'t expect he\'ll be allowed to return.

A shrug to pass it off, and eyes roaming over the vineyard, \"When we are settled, there is planting to do. Tillable bit of land between the house and the small river.

Thought I would try to get some fruit tree seedings... perhaps some grapes going.\" A glance to the elf, \"I know nothing about farming. Don\'t suppose you have any tips to share?\"

[Giliath(#9838)]

Farming? Giliath\'s smile grows wider. \"I fear not, my friend,\" he says peacefully. \"All that I know of growing is related to vines.\" This is, perhaps, not entirely true - in such a long life, surely he has acquired some smattering of awareness of how things grow. But then, elven plants no doubt grow differently anyways. The smile becomes a grin.

\"You might try singing to them,\" he suggests, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

Giliath is given a sour look, \"Singing? I\'m not sure I\'ll be subjecting even my children to singing, let alone standing about under the moodlight like you, friend.\"

Humor though is within his own face and tone, \"I think I shall have to seek advice from folk of the village.\"

[Giliath(#9838)]

There is a soft laugh. \"You could hum,\" Giliath says. \"I have done it myself, when times required.\" There is a brief shadow that falls across his face, though no clouds distort the sun. \"I shall see you then,\" he says after a moment. \"When I have spoken with Caelwen.\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

Hrm. Thin elvish blood in his own veins or not, Rhifaroth probably has about as much magic for plantlife as a hot rock in the desert. But alas, if things go poorly, he\'ll keep it in mind. Who knows?

A patient look for the elf but also a nod, \"Until we depart then.\" And then, leaving Giliath to tend to his beloved work, the Southerner turns and begins his walk back.

There might be a bit of time for some reading in Hir Elrond\'s library before Muirgheal will wish to take a meal with him.

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