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Council Meeting From Midnight To Sunrise Meeting Talan of the Ruling Council Aldarwen enters the Talan and finds a sit to herself. She nods to the elves she knows and waits until the rest of the people is gathered. Talia pushes through the curtain, nods to all present, and sits. Aldarwen sees Talia enter and says softly to her, "Mae Govannen, mellon! Any news of Lendalas coming to the Meeting?" Talia just shakes her head, "Sorry mellon. I have not seen the herald since the last meeting." Already seated at the table of House Raavindonserke, Gilsadron leans back in his seat, watching the entrance of the Council Room. Aldarwen seems very worried, "Neither have I, I would have liked to talk with him before the meeting, but it seems he has been very busy". Talia's countenance grows thoughtful and she nods slightly to Aldarwent's words. Lairelin arrives from the main area. Aldarwen looks out at the night sky and says, "It's already late, I don't think he will come. Maybe we could begin without him?" She looks around hopefully and, seeing Lairelin enter, she raises her head, "Mae Govannen, Minister!" Arehir arrives from the main area. Lairelin lets the curtain drop behind her as she enters the large talan. A smile quickly crosses her face as she is greeted and she peers quickly around the room to see if she's interrupting the meeting. The minister makes her way quickly to one of the Celebithil's chairs and sits down quickly. Aldarwen looks towards the Minister and says, "Minister, Lendalas has not come, and it is already late. Do you think we could begin, even without him?" Eyes glancing from elf to elf, Gilsadron catches Arehir's eye; raising a brow and motioning to the empty chair at the head of the Raavindonserke table. Lairelin stands up again, pushing her chair backwards noisily. She grimaces at the sound, but smiles again, "Yes...we should go ahead. Would you like me to lead the discussion?" She looks around the room with a sly smile, "Or would someone else like to do it?" Aldarwen nods, "I think you should be the one to lead it." A few steps behind the Minister, black-hooded Arehir enters. He reaches up to pull back his cowl, revealing streaming silver hair, and sharp, bright eyes. Nodding to those he passes, he turns to hear Aldarwen's query, and looks about for the absent Herald. Finally rounding the great table, he smiles to his kinsman, and eases into the seat to his side. Talia sits quietly, staring at the tabletop. Arehir smirks good-naturedly at Aldarwen's suggestion, and raises a brow toward the Minister. "It would appear that the council is yours to command, lady." He smiles wider then, and inclines his head in merry submission. Lairelin looks around the room again, measuring the attendance, "We are a small group tonight it seems... I'm sure we need to discuss the business of the wounded trees. Does anyone have anything more urgent to discuss?" Aldarwen raises her hand timidly, "I do." She grins a bit and adds, "Although it has to do with the wounded trees". Talia looks up slowly. Lairelin looks at each elf in turn and seeing no one else overriding Aldarwen, she assents with a nod. "Go ahead, Aldarwen... Speak if you will." The minister finds her seat quietly this time. Leaning over slightly, Gilsadron mutters something under his breath to Arehir. His eyes narrow slightly, as his fingers shield his lips from the general viewing. "... ... ... ... ...." Aldarwen looks around and says, in a low voice, obviously afraid of what the others might say, "Four days ago, I met the Human Bleddyn while I was out for a walk in the forest. I watched him closely for a while and then had a short talk with him" She makes a slight pause and then continues, "I don't believe it was as short as it should have been." Aldarwen bites her lips as she goes on, her face is pale but her voice does not tremble, "He spoke in perfect Sindarin, he told me a lot about himself (very humanish, I would call that), he said he had grown by the eaves of Mirkwood and known the elves of Thranduil since his childhood. He said he was a forester and knew a lot about trees. But, he claimed to know nothing of the Dunedain and their lineage..." She pauses for one second more and then goes on, "Anyway, that's not the important part. He mentioned that in his trip to Fangorn he saw a group of trees attacked by a strange illness..." Aldarwen's eyes now acquire a strange color, her expression changes as she describes the thing, "He said it was a black thing that sucked up the light and deadened all sound, it grew all over the trees in that region... He then mentioned OUR border trees. I could not help telling him about my worries for those trees, about our studies and that we knew not from where it had come, or how to heal it". Arehir nods slowly to Gilsadron, a questioning look passing across his grey eyes. He keeps his attention on Aldarwen, however, his pale face growing more and more intense as the maid describes her conversations with the strange human. Lairelin crosses her arms in front of her leaning back in her chair. She looks at the other elves rather than at the speaker, watching their reactions to Aldarwen's words although she pays attention to every word. Talia's face is stern, but not angry as she listens to Aldarwen. One finger taps the arm of her chair, but she does not move otherwise. Aldarwen goes on, "I asked him if he thought it was the same thing, and he said he could not really say, as he had been sent to chaise yrch and not a fungus. But, instead, he offered to go to Fangorn again and check and see if he was able to gather any new information about that illness." The maiden sighs for a second and then continues, "It seemed sensible to me at that moment, although now I feel guilty for I know it's not my duty to mix up with the Diplomats' job". She looks around again and says, "I hope I have done no harm". Gilsadron's fingernails trace the oaken swirls in the tabletop as he listens, brow furrowed. Lairelin sits upright in her chair, staring at Aldarwen now. "When did you speak with Bleddyn?" she asks bluntly. Aldarwen says softly, "During the mid afternoon of the 51 Iavas day". Lairelin smiles quickly showing she's not angry, "Hmmmm....Did he have anything to say about the yrch he was supposedly chasing?" Aldarwen shakes her head, "He said he found no yrch in Fangorn. He also said he had talked to an Ent that called himself Greenleaf". Aldarwen looks towards Talia, to see what she has to say on the matter and then adds, "I do remember we talked about sending a party to Fangorn during the last meeting". Frowning slightly, Arehir turns his gaze to his fellow Lieutenant, and is about to query her as to her findings, when Aldarwen speaks. He nods, and cocks his head to the side, as if better to listen to the reply. Talia is very quiet, but finally she mumbles, "We don't need the help of a human..." Lairelin settles herself down again in her chair, nodding toward Aldarwen, "We did... It seems we've gathered all the info we can here for now." She turns to Talia, "I have heard no news resulting from the reports you made, have you?" Talia faces Aldarwen and raises her voice to its normal level again, "I have not, Minister. My only suggestion at this point is to make the trip to Fangorn." Arehir raises a hand, ostensibly to scratch at his nose, though soft chuckling can be discerned from the Raavindonserke table. He raises a finger toward Lairelin, "Minister?" Lairelin turns towards Arehir when she hears him call. She nods, "Go ahead, Knt-Lieutneant." Arehir nods his thanks, "I am of the same mind as Aldarwen, Minister, though I applaud the Lieutenant's disdain for the human, The Lady's leave or not. If the adan brings tidings from the old forest, we should not turn in the face of wisdom." He looks toward Talia for a moment, then to Aldarwen, "Did the human give you indication when he would return?" Aldarwen shakes her head, "He didn't say an exact date, he just promissed he would do his best and try to be back as soon as possible... Maybe a week". Lairelin smiles benevolently, "I do not see this as a problem, actually. We can go ahead with our preparations for a small group to travel to Fangorn. If the human brings any useful news, we can send it along later." Gilsadron's eyes flicker upwards from the tabletop toward Lairelin, attempting to catch the Lady's gaze. His eyebrows furl slightly, for a moment. Petra slips into the chamber quietly, making her way toward the table for House Celebithil. Turning back towards Lairelin, Arehir continues fluidly, "Very well. Since we have been, to a degree, less than decisive on our plans in the matter, I suggest that, at the Forester's urging, we ready the party for Fangorn, and await word from the human." He quiets as Lairelin comments, then nods, "Aye, that is also possible, though the ways of the old forest are not easily tread, and we know not where we head." Lairelin brings her hand to her chin, clearly disturbed by his last words. "Surely some amongst us knows a place of the old ones...I can not believe the human knows Fangorn any better than us." She chuckles at the thought. Aldarwen looks towards Arehir, thinking for a moment, and then says, "I do recall he said those trees where in the 'North and west from the center of the forest'." With a nod and a quiet smile to Lairelin, Petra seats herself elegantly, then turns her thoughtful brown eyes to the conversants, settling first on Aldarwen. Arehir raises a silvery brow toward Lairelin, nodding to Aldarwen before
he replies, "Though I have tread the paths of Fangorn many a time, I have never seen
the abode of the old ones, nor spoken to one in their own wood. My understanding is that
they range the forest, tending and herding as they see need. It is likely that the human
merely happened upon the onod, or, perhaps, Lairelin raises her hands in a gesture of aquiesence, "Please excuse my attempt at humor. From my experience with the onod, they will know immediately when you are in their domain and will find you when they are ready to talk." She smiles. "Nevertheless," says Petra at a deferential volume as she looks around at her elders, "would it not be prudent to arrange a party in such time as we can manage to? If the reports are true of the kind and number of the Enemy there is a good chance that this one man will not return. His senses are dull, and his feet trod heavily upon the earth. He makes an imperfect scout, to my eyes." Arehir inclines his head toward the Minister, a small smile replying to hers, then turns toward the Diplomat. He frowns again, brows furrowing, "What news have you, lady, of the Enemy? The human has lately returned from Fangorn and, should we choose to accept his word, has seen no sight of yrch." Althea arrives from the main area. Lairelin stands up again and addresses the group, "I believe we all agree to send an inquiry to the Onod." She waits a moment for any denials then proceeds, "Our next step is to select the inquiry team." She looks around the room with a broad smile. Petra folds her hands on the table. She glances to Lairelin as the Minister rises, and then waits for an opportunity to answer. Althea settles back in her chair to listen and to try to figure out what is being discused Awaiting reply, the Lieutenant turns briefly to give a warm smile to his Indir. "Good eve, Indir. We are discussing what is to be done regarding the malady to our trees," he murmers softly. Lairelin, seeing no quick volunteers, turns toward Petra with a smile. "Do you have something to add? Aldarwen has spoken to our human friend recently... He seems to have returned from his journey South." Althea nods back and whispers softly "Thank you, mellon". Althea says, "Will a diplomat be going with the party?" Petra nods to Lairelin, looking mildly surprised. Before answering, she gives Althea a warm smile, then she folds her hands on the table, settles her eyes on Arehir's, and begins. "I have no news of the Enemy, mellyn. But --" she cuts off for the Minister, smiling. Althea looks embarrased "Forgive me Petra, I did not meen to interupt." Lairelin holds up her hands toward Althea, "Just a moment, Minister... We have some additional news to hear, before we get to the travel group, from Petra. Then we'll get to the travel group." Althea nods to Lairelin and falls silent. Lairelin says, "Go ahead, Petra." Ever smiling, Petra continues. "I did speak with the man after he had returned from his first sojourn to Fangorn. This I learned: That of orcs he saw no certain sign, though he did see footprints that could be man or orc; that he first came to Fangorn by the west, and he intended to enter from the south the second time; and that he saw no sign of Eagles either, although he did add that he could not see the sky clearly. If I were to trust his eyes and ears or those of the Eagles, I hope that I am not alone in choosing to heed the winged ones. The man /breathes/ so loud it is a wonder he can hear anything. I have little else to tell, for he had little to tell me." Lairelin smiles as Petra's disdain of the human seeps through her commentary. She turns to Arehir, "Well...maybe he'll come up with more news on his next trip." Althea chuckles softly at Petra last comment "Indeed... I for one do trust the word of the great eagle over that of this human." Althea turns to Lairelin "May I ask how you got him to return to Fangorn a second time?" Arehir smiles appreciatively, and chuckles, "I welcome your scepticism, lady, and I too take the words of the adan with great care. However, his tidings /are/ more recent than those from the wind-rider." He turns to Lairelin then, continuing, "Minister, this only reaffirms my thought that this party should be of sufficient strength to react to whatever conditions might exist, be they hazardous or no." Lairelin chuckles merrily, "It was not I, Althea." She turns toward Aldarwen, "We owe that one to Aldarwen." She turns back to Arehir, "How many is /sufficient strength/? she asks, emphasazing those words. Petra's brow furrows slightly. Althea raises an eyebrow slightly and murmurs to herself "Impressive". Aldarwen smiles a bit as she's mentioned, more relaxed now that things are getting easier, she then says softly, "I may add something else: the human told me that it was the Ent who had had no notice of any kind of enemy. I would trust the senses of any Onod even more than the ones of the Eagles". Arehir grimaces slightly, "With myself and the Lieutant, our strength is fair, though I would like more. I would, however, strongly desire the presence of at least one of the lower regiment, in the case that we need to send word, emergency or otherwise, back to the wood." Petra nods to Aldarwen. "Aye, he told me that as well. But that is one Onod, and Fangorn is vast and dark. The elder one was in the westernmost wood, and I would imagine that the Enemy attacked from the south, or the east." She gives Arehir a questioning look. Althea shifts in her seat "And does include a diplomat?". Quietly listening to Petra's comments now, Arehir nods, "Most likely, yes." Lairelin waits for the side conversations to die down, then speaks again, "We're all agreed on Talia and Charmat... Arehir and a squire?" she looks at him questioningly. Lairelin continues on, not wanting interruptions, "That's four. Two more ought to do it..." She turns toward Althea now, "A diplomat you say? Why?" she asks with a smile. Arehir nods slowly toward Lairelin as he sits back in his chair. Petra listens silently, watching the conversation over steepled fingers. Aldarwen nods quietly at Lairelin's question. Althea turns to Lairelin with a nod "A good question... While I am not eager to throw one of our diplomats into any sort of danger, perhaps one should go along to minimize any possible friction because any Onod and the guards." She looks a little embarassed as she looks at the guards gathered in the room "It has been my experance that the guards are not the most..pashent of people". Miraculously, perhaps, Petra's poker face holds, her feelings shrouded behind bright, thoughtful eyes and a quiet smile. Arehir smirks and raises a brow, a finger layed casually aside his nose as he listens. He refrains from comment, however. Lairelin smiles calmly at Althea, "A diplomat could help if there were troubles communicating. That is true... Charmat is rather patient though... I keep thinking we need to send our tree experts." Althea says, "Very well... I will trust your judgement" Arehir says, "Minister, I would like to propose the participation of Aldarwen. She has been involved in this matter from our early understanding of it, and has assisted Talia in her efforts, as I understand. Her lineage certainly lends itself to our need here: an intuition of the forest, and an empathy with the eldest ones, for which her people are well known." Petra retrieves a scroll from somewhere in the ample folds of her clothing and unrolls it on the table. Taking a quill from the table and dipping it in ink, she sets herself to writing. Althea turns to Arehir "That sounds like a good idea to me". Lairelin walks away from her chair a couple feet, surveying everyone from this new point. "That is a good suggestion Arehir... Aldarwen? Can you go on the trip?" Aldarwen looks up at Arehir smiling wide, amazed at his words, and stays silent until Lairelin adresses her, "Minister, I can go, and," she makes a slight pause, "to be sincere, I would love to go. However, I don't think I would be fit if there is any kind of fight, for I am not trained in fighting". Althea smiles slightly at Aldarwen "Well, let us hope that the human is right and there are no yrch in the woods". Lairelin chuckles, "You should see me!... That makes 5. Do we have any other guards who are also foresters or herbalists?" "Hope, yes, but plan on it, nay." mutters Petra as she writes. Althea nods at Petra words Arehir smiles quickly toward Aldarwen, but turnns to reply to the Minister, "If there are no other immediate needs to be filled, allow me to select another guard that fits your criteria. I have a handful in mind." Calelia slips in quietly, so as not to draw any attention to herself. Althea looks around at the group "So, who is going again?" Lairelin nods in agreement to Arehir, "Unless some news is learned that changes things before the trip commences, that should be fine." She looks around the talan, "Talia, Charmat, Arehir, Aldarwen, some secret squire Arehir will not name and some other guard Arehir will not name," she teases joyfully. Aldarwen grins wide and nods once again to Lairelin's words. Petra laughs merrily, glancing up at Arehir. Althea grins "So, who are they Arehir?" Arehir raises a finger, and opens his mouth to hastily reply, but sighs, and thinks the better of it. He smiles with satisfaction then, and shrugs to Althea's question, "Come now, Minister, after banter of that nature, I would not help my case by actually /revealing/ their names, now, would I?" He turns toward her to offer a look of mock smugness. Althea rolls her eyes "And to imagine I'm marrying this man's brother!" Lairelin chuckles at both of them, crossing her hands in front of her, still waiting for Arehir to reply. Petra rises and whispers to Lairelin, "... ... ..., ... ... ... ... ... ..., ... ... go ... ... ... ... Bleddyn, ... ... ... ... ... he ... ... ...." Lairelin turns and nods to Petra, adding softly, "Let me know soonest what you learn." Arehir laughs openly at this reply, and lays a hand on the lady's arm, "Forgive me, Indir. I am obliged to play the part, no?" He looks back to Lairelin then and, realizing she actually expects an answer, coughs, "Your pardon, Minister. As to the secret squire whom I shall not name, he is named Terridan. And as to the second nameless one, that one shall by necessity remain nameless until I have access to duty schedules and such." Althea chuckles "Well, I guess we'll find out" After Arehir has spoken, Petra whispers again into Lairelin's ear, "... course, ...." And with a nod and a smile to the assembled Elves, she makes her way swiftly and soundlessly out of the Talan. Lairelin grins at Arehir, "Thank you, Knt-Lieutenant. Now then... How long until you leave? A day?" "At the least," replies the guard, "I see no real need for extreme haste. We should leave within three days." Lairelin returns to her chair, leaning on the back with one arm. "How long will the trip take?" she asks to the group in general. Arehir purses his lips for a moment, "I should think a week to two, depending on conditions, for the travel, and another one or two weeks to find what we seek in the old forest. Two to four weeks?" He looks around those gathered, open to additional thoughts. Lairelin smiles, still leaning on her chair, "They will need provisions and warm clothing... What else?" Althea thinks for a moment, mentaly counting "Yes seems about right". Althea says, "Will the healers and such be issued any sort of armor?" Lairelin turns to Althea, "If they want it, they can have it I'd think... No need to take unneccessary risks." Althea nods to Lairelin "I see." Althea looks around at the room and stands "Well, mellyn, I must leave... Namaire all". Arehir nods to Althea as she stands, "I will see to the needs of those who desire armor, lady." He stands also, and looks about for further business. Althea gives them all a wave and departs. Aldarwen looks at the leaving ones and stands up, smiling wide, "I think I also have to go now, I have to prepare for such a trip". Lairelin straightens up, wearily letting go of the chair. "Alright then. We know what to do next... We are adjourned!" Calelia smiles and stands. Arehir nods once to the Minister's announcement, and begins to move toward the curtain. Aldarwen bows her head to all the present ones, "Namarie!".
Aldarwen
Gilsadron Talia Lairelin Arehir Petra Althea Calelia |
