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Post by Elladan on Apr 7, 2005 20:00:29 GMT -5
He smiled, face coming back to its normal elven glow, eyes shifting to Kerituin, knowing that he was probably getting a few glares himself. He could feel her discomfort, some instinct of his told him so, and perhaps he could feel it a bit in her step. Now that he was on the floor he felt better, and the dance steps flooded back into memory. He took one hand of hers and placed the other gently upon her waist, slightly uncomfortable himself, though his discomfort wasn't caused by shoes. He had positioned himself to slow dance, and so he did, but only to say a few words before he began.
"I hope you're ready. Don't be afraid. I'll catch you. It's not quite a throw dance." With that, he to became part of their strange ritual, and whisked her away into the upbeat song, not to sure of it himself.
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Post by Elrohir on Apr 7, 2005 20:03:03 GMT -5
Meanwhile, and still moody, Erasmus awoke from a small nap that he had carelessly fallen into while awaiting Aricin's arrival. A sudden rush of rum, consumed hours ago, came gurguling up his throat as he rose, causing him to have to stand and choke and sputter about; it had not been a good night. He wiped his mouth casually, spotting Erados in the distance and seeing that he was still without his fathers company.
Where there had been many dancers on the floor before his nap, the crowd had notably cleared, though a few still remained. Most were couples as he could see, and almost all of them were elves so his ability to pinpoint the newcomers was not problematic. He saw them as clear as day, giving an odd glare to the blue maiden as Erados took her into step. 'Now there's a new sight,' he thought to himself as he approached the area where they had all been standing, seeing the plains elf standing alone with Kalmyr.
"Forgive me for interrupting you two," he said with an oddly deep voice and extended his hand to Sheig, signaling that he was directing his speech to her. "You are an aquaintance to Aricin are you not?" He asked in an isolated manner, "not to burden you but, do you know where he is at the moment?"
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Post by Tiire on Apr 7, 2005 22:28:24 GMT -5
"Oh!"
Erasmus had cought her off-gaurd. She recovered swiftly though, and smiled. It seemed she was always smiling these days. Aricin? such a coincidense, considering the pretty girl had just had her mind on that very subject. She shook her head bemusedly,
"No! no really, its no problem at all. And... no, I havent the slightest clue where he may be... I really only came tonight becouse I was hoping I could speak with him, and maybe we could dance again. Im sorry, really, I wish I could help!"
Although she ranted slightly, the girl spoke in all honesty, her words coloured with concern and compassion for her missing... aquaintance. That word was so formal. She would have chosen friend, but of course, she didnt know him well enough for that title yet did she? not that time really mattered to the plains elf.
Friends are friends.
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femalefred
Overly obsessive RPer
Lazy Wretch
Posts: 123
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Post by femalefred on Apr 8, 2005 8:10:02 GMT -5
"As ready as I'll ever be," she replied, placing her free hand lightly upon the elf's shoulder, staring him straight in the eye as she desperately tried to read his expression, her own features as serene as she could manage. This was certainly going to be interesting...
"A throw dance?" Erados' comment seemed almost thrown away and a sudden look of terror flooded the mixed-blood's face, unable to prevent her dance partner spinning her into the music - and good music at that, though missing the touch of a lyre (probably not needing one, but she pushed that thought to the back of her mind) - and tried to keep her steps and body in rhythm with the music, becoming aware that Erados apparently had little idea what to do either.
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Post by Agent Arwen on Apr 8, 2005 8:37:33 GMT -5
"I'm not sure if he's coming or not," spoke Kalmyr just before Erasmus, whom he had taken quiet notice of sitting in the corner a few minutes before, approached, bespeaking Shieg.
Why not an Elf of the citadel? They would have more knowledge of this. Oh well, it mattered not.
"Aricin's brother by marraige, Fionan? He was shown out a few moments ago by a servant. I believe they were heading for the-- ah, wait, there is Fionan... And here comes Aricin, just behind him..."
Indeed, the elven lord had approached about that time, standing behind Fionan with arms crossed loosely over his chest, and his eyes took in the same thing Fionan's did: his son was dancing. How very odd that he would choose to do so, but it did gladden his heart, his his lips could not help but pull up ever so slightly into a smile.
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Post by Elladan on Apr 8, 2005 12:12:43 GMT -5
Fionan glanced back, shaking his head with eyes alighted, remembering the first time he'd come and viewed the magnificent dances of Avalbane, always having some unique twist.
" All isn't lost for after all, is it, brother? 'Tisn't much different from when you first took Efion to the floor. Poor maiden. She'd only danced with me upon the shores of Feoras, when sometimes we'd play upon the rocks until sunset, with vibrant colors steaking the sky, and I'd take her hand and dance upon the sand with bare feet. She was little then, though, small and full of laughter. It seems so long ago, yet still I can see it as it were just yesterday."
He continued to watch, eyes vague again.
---------------------------
Erados glanced over a moment to spot the blurry outlines of his father and uncle, faces grey and gloomy, and he quickly glanced away, missing their smiles, perhaps for the better. Though unsure of it, he was following the steps quite well, and managed to pull of any twist or spin with grace, though surely he faltered once or twice, missing a step or something, but didn't everybody occasionally? Maybe not Dima, he was foot fancy, but the other...not so perfect elves. Perhaps it was just him.
He smiled, watching the fear come upon Kerituin's expression, "Forgive me, I'd have done better handing you to Dima but, as he was taken" -another spin- "You'll have to make due with me."
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femalefred
Overly obsessive RPer
Lazy Wretch
Posts: 123
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Post by femalefred on Apr 8, 2005 13:31:22 GMT -5
By then, the azure girl had fairly given up guiding her feet by herself, allowing Erados to define where they went and when, following his spins with as much grace as she could muster - which, let's face it, wasn't much.
It was in the middle of one of these spins that she caught sight of Fionan again, and, presumably, the fabled Aricin, both looking rather grey-faced for the moment, but as she looked again, a smile broke on the face of at least the sea faring elf, if not the Lord. As she was about to wave, though, she was guided away by Erados, trying not to trip on the trailing ends of her dress and just about succeeding, laughing a little at his words.
"You are a fine dancer, certainly better than I, Erados. But if you thinnk you are weaker than Dima, surely it's unfair that you foist me off on him? You can see how truly awful I am."
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Post by Tiire on Apr 9, 2005 17:33:46 GMT -5
Sheig followed Kalmyrs gaze to fionan, her face set into a look of pure curiosity. But the moment the beautifully clad girl glanced over and spotted Aricin her face lit up into a look of pure exited happiness.
"Aricin!!"
Surely her exclamation must have carried halfway accross the dancefloor at least, not that the plains elf really cared... lacking any form of court ettiquite(sp?) she hadent even thought of putting the word 'lord' infront of his name. Useless word, shealways thought, when people used such titles.
Remembering in passing to nod to Kalmyr before she bounded off, Sheig raced past the dancers on bare feet, bloved hands holding up her dress slightly se she didnt trip. The girls newly untied hair flew like a pretty silver banner bahind her, remembering just in time that Aricin probably wouldnt appreciate her enwrapping him in a great bear hug. So, when she reached him, slightly out of breath but no less lovely, the golden eyed girl dropped into a clumsy curtsy. By the short time it took her to straighten out, she was laughing.
"Oh Aricin, I was hoping you would come! Im so happy! I was so sad when you wherent here but now you are..."
She took a moment to slow down her speech,
"Ehm... Im... happy to see you, that is."
Pleasantly flustered and blushing, she smiled.
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Post by Elrohir on Apr 9, 2005 18:00:31 GMT -5
Erasmus stared with widened eyes as he watched Sheig's more than friendly approach towards Aricin, not quite wanting to believe what he was seeing. He knew his friend far too well to beilieve that Aricin was just pretending. Of course the move was not totally offending and by any usual standards it was quite normal, but somehow it struck Erasmus as wrong and abnormal, not quite in his view of just friendliness, led him to believe that this was a growing relationship. Certainly, if it was one, it had gone further than he would have liked it.
Whether his assumptions were true or not was one factor that made Erasmus hesitate from his strong urge to pull the woman away from Aricin in those few moments of realization. Despite his odd disgust, the gentle anorian only hung his head and turned his gaze to the ground, biting at his lip to ease the sudden dizzyness that came to him. It was all to emotional, all to intimate for him to take in at the moment. He needed a good shot of rum, a very hefty shot of rum to take his mind off it.
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Post by Elladan on Apr 9, 2005 21:34:07 GMT -5
Erados curved an expression of doubt. Him, a fine dancer? Not quite, but he was nevertheless delighted to hear that she would think so. "M'lady, you are far better than most at firsts attempts in Avalbane," he commented as his eyes followed her gaze, directed, as he'd guessed, towards Aricin and the sea-elf, but now he caught tje lady Sheig, whom he'd just been aquainted, running towards his father. He arched a delicate brow high upon his forehead. That was new. Peculiar. "One more" he mumbled as he put the last twist into play, and suddenly the music faded, ending the dance, "there, now I suppose you want to see my uncle. I know he'll be delighted. Go, distract him from his bewilderment." He bowed low, eyes following him movements, gave another nod, and left the floor. It was true, Fionan had taken on an expression of surprise, following the woman that ran so heartily towards the man, but thought little of it, even smiling as she rushed past. Efion still lay too heavily upon his mind.
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Post by Arwen on Apr 10, 2005 8:01:15 GMT -5
Kalmyr, left in Erasmus company sighed oddly at Shieg's depart, sharing the thoughts of the other halfblood as well. He would do well with some rum at the moment.
"Well then," he began dryly after a moment. "I suppose that leaves we two men to ourselves, for the moment. Come, I'll pour you a drink. The rum is as fine as ever."
Aricin was thoroughly bewildered, not quite ready to put up with this again, and quite agitated this time, though he did well to not show even the tiniest sliver of it, but for the slow twitching of the muscle in his jaw, which could have been anything. Jaws twitch on their own quite often, don't you know? especially that of a man who has seen and lost so much, and even more so of a man who has seen and lost that much, and is now brought upon a turning point in which he craves something so badly-- well, enough is enough.
He dipped a slight bow to Shieg. "Oh Aricin... I was so sad when you wherent here but now you are..." When would she slow down? When would she drop it? That was just it--she wouldn't. She would remain flustered, joyous, lovestruck around him.
"'tis wonderful to see you as well, Shieg," he murmered softly, smiling before glancing over her shoulder to see Erados exiting the dance floor, though Dima and Akila stayed through the next dance, though their cheeks were already rosy from the last. Fionan seemed a touch distant now; understandable, but a touch too distant, perhaps, almost bewildered and blind, completely and utterly shocked and lost.
Now a character rested in between two outcroppings in the wall, in deep shadows at the back of the room, far behind and to the side of the orchestra, watching these happenings. It was unseen, even by the keenest eyes, for it hid well, and one would certainly not be making his or her way over in this direction, now would they? No, none would have reason. If one were looking for the figure, or even stumbled near it, they would not see it. So black cloaked, it watched the area surrounding Aricin, undisturbed, once in a while flickering to the dance floor, where the Guard Captain danced with his prospective lady.
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femalefred
Overly obsessive RPer
Lazy Wretch
Posts: 123
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Post by femalefred on Apr 10, 2005 11:31:32 GMT -5
As Erados fled the floor with more speed than she'd seen in quite some time, Kerituin's eyebrows rose further than when she'd seen Sheig's amazingly informal greeting of Aricin. She knew that the reason he left the floor was not her company, but his rather self depracating message as he left had unsettled her a little, and she wasn't going to let the heir of Avalbane leave the dance floor after only one dance, was she?
It wasn't that Kerituin was ignorant of the goings on in Avalbane, she'd already deduced some rather interesting things all by herself, but she'd heard from others by way of someone else and then through one of the bards that she'd meet wandering the woods at night, settled by a campfire, that the heir of Avalbane wasn't the most sociable, or regal for that matter, of the elves in the court.
"Erados, is my company really that poor?" she called, rather theatrically, one hand raised to her mouth, before shrugging lightly and walking towards Fionan, as instructed, curtseying lightly to Aricin as she did so.
"My Lord Aricin," was the brief acknowledgement she gave to him, before turning to Fionan. "What is it that's perplexing you, my friend vagabond?"
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Post by Elladan on Apr 10, 2005 12:31:57 GMT -5
" Kerituin" he acknowledged, coming out of his thought just as she arrived. He caught the slight rhythmic twithing at the corners of Aricin's lips. Odd, that hadn't been there before, not even when he had stood in the midst of the statue, only when... Well, he hadn't been here in so long, and perhaps he was making too much of it. He hoped so, anyways. The man needed no more woe.
"Tis naught, dear bard, just a memory,"
"Forgive the boy," he mumbled, watching Erados go for a bit of the Avalbanian rum himself, following him as he started for the courts, " I think he knows something, perhaps veiled from me, perhaps my own discovery," he shrugged, turning his gaze back to her, "He's always been a bit stand off-ish, ever since his mother died. His mourning has passed, it passed long ago, but it changed him forever..." "But you look wonderful tonight!' he smiled, " I'm a bit ruffled, I'm afraid. I guess my nature will find me regardless of how I try to hinder it." his eyes were now focused, no longer holding that distant glaze, gazing into her own.
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femalefred
Overly obsessive RPer
Lazy Wretch
Posts: 123
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Post by femalefred on Apr 10, 2005 15:52:33 GMT -5
The blue coloured maiden had been watching Fionan's features carefully, and a thoughtful nod was her only reaction at his mention of memory, and a further one to his general verbal pointing toward the reasons for Erados's general silence and glowering countenance when in Avalbane - strange that he'd seemed so much lighter of mood in the tavern, but, she supposed, people are strange.
"My mother died when I was a child, but I do not really remember the incident, or her as such, so I cannot really say I understand his position. You must tell him he's not as poor a dancer as he thinks," she added, smiling lightly. She'd quite enjoyed the dance, despite the shoes that kept feeling like they were about to slip from her feet and a dress that almost trailed upon the ground. The music had, indeed, been very good to accompany the the dance, but maybe she'd wait another day before talking to the Leader of the Musicians.
"Thank you kindly, you don't look too shabby yourself. And your nature will always find you, just as I shall always feel uncomfortable in damned fool slippers that feel like they're about to fall off."
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Post by Tiire on Apr 10, 2005 20:48:17 GMT -5
Sheig had opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment Kerituin appeired. The plains elf giggled when she overheard the mention of the elfs slipper issues. Her words where directed to the blue-skinned maiden.
"Ne, excuse my interuption my new friend! I take those words to heart! I know exactly what you mean, see?"
Lifting her elven skirts a tad, she showed her bare feet. In this same moment, however, she took a slight step back from Aricin. Her people had once been known for their connection to the land and their immense spirituality.
The vibes she was getting from the elven lord where... not exactly friendly. She turned back to him, sobered.
"Uh... Sorry? You... is somethign wrong? did I do something wrong, Aricin?"
Dear fool Sheig, as she had come to be known. Always half-oblivious, even if half-knowing.
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Post by Arwen on Apr 11, 2005 14:47:44 GMT -5
He listened to the quick exchange between Kerituin and Fionan, watched as Shieg lifted her skirts slightly--what a girl she was--and took pause at her next words, brows furrowing as he reached his hand upward, rubbing his brow just below the place a circlet, absent now, usually rested. As a matter of fact, he wasn't exactly in his finery at all-- a crimson shirt and tan breeches, but that was all, nothing splendid.
He felt more comfortable than ever, only if he could lose the plainself.
Ah, that was not right. And that was not exactly what he wished to do either, now was it? No, just... Make her stop... Stop loving him. Here he was, a ripe enough age to be her grandfather, with two loves behind him, and she honestly thought he had the capacity to love her? Not to mention Seremidal the night before...
Oh ho, what had that woman been thinking anyway? Well, what had he been thinking to be at her home? He had no business outside the citadel's walls, and yet he had wished to watch her sleep? Well, yes. But her reaction had been troubling, and something that weighed him down, and perhaps he would sink so low that eventually he would be lying on the ground too heavy to even move, like one caught in a valley with all the atmosphere pressing upon you because you are so far below the level of the sea--
"Nothing, my dear child, it is nothing, Shieg. A sadness has taken me, that is all. I believe some time alone for myself is on call..." He trailed off, shaking his head as he massaged his face. "Though I do believe as well that Kalmyr would enjoy a dance?"
He managed the slightest of smiles, motioning with his head to the handsom blonde who stood beside Erasmus, glancing off into the throng even as he was bombarded by young Laralen looking for a dance, whom he calmly rejected, though she plead with him. Obviously, a lass he had held relations with formerly, and had no interest in now.
He had poured a draught of rum for himself and Erasmus, and began quickly swallowing his own, serving as a way of keeping Laralen off his back, until the girl finally fled the scene to find another partner.
Aricin, suddenly coming back to himself, stepped past Shieg--well, maybe he wasn't completely back to himself, else he wouldn't have simply bypassed her like that--and made a move for the table, taking up two large, clean goblets, and poured them full with a strong, wet red wine, passing one to his brother. "The best of the citadel," he murmered softly, taking a sip of his own. "Excuse me... I... believe I should depart. My thoughts are... Well, they are not here, shall we say?" Adressed to both Fionan and Shieg, though he spoke again, obviously for Fionan. "A room is readied for you. Find any servant and they will show you, though some may not know you as soon as they see you. Good night, I bid you... Good night..." Another directed to both, eyes distant as he walked swiftly towards the main corridor to the rooms, and up a set of steps before he disappeared.
The black cloaked figure, still unseen, flitted off down the darkened and currently unused corridor at the back of the room, up a set of stairs of its own.
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Post by Elladan on Apr 11, 2005 16:54:49 GMT -5
"Brother," he nodded as Aricin dissapeared, still gripping the rippling draught that had just been handed to his. He took a hearty sip, contemplating the events just played before his eyes. Meanwhile Erados had disappeared himself, and what of this lady Aricin had just abandoned, so eager for his attention? The evens of the night were beginning to weigh upon him as well
"Well, you could take them off, or perhaps borrow mine," his jest, though chuckled, was quite sincere, "and we could ourselves have a dance, a slower one, for my heart it set for sadder melodies, unless you have a protest?"
He brought the rich drink to his lips once more, this time only taking a meger sip, just enough to wet his pallete once again, thenset the goblet down, holding a rugged slender hand out for the taking.
As for Erados, he had indeed taken to the courts, and now sat, rum placed at hand, watching the delicate flow of water from its stone mouthes, leaping up 'till gravity hindered its mirthful climax, and sent it falling, falling, trickling to join the others, in the shallow pool at the base.
He was feeling quite guilty this evening, as well as foolish. The last of Kerituin's words still rang in his ears. No, no, poor thing, she'd danced quite well and, her company had been comforting...but perhaps too much so. Seeing that woman, Sheig... he'd heard about her, how she danced with his father one night while he was away, and wondered what events had taken place. Something mysterious, something Dima withheld. Dima. He might ask him again, ask him what was going on. The boy was lost in thought, so utterly lost that he didn't even notice the rum fall from his inadvertant fumbling. Only a sudden gust of wind brought him back, a gust filled with an old scent traveling upon the wind... Almost like Dima, but more... feminine... sweeter, like subtle flowers hiding in the shelter of leaves, but scent evident, as though it were right upon your nose. Sere-? No, she wouldn't have come.
He lifted his drained figure to its feet, now awoken, and headed back inside to interrogate his friend.
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Post by Elrohir on Apr 11, 2005 17:17:24 GMT -5
Swiftly and from a side passage Erasmus countered Aricins exit, halting the distressed Lord Aricin with a firm grip to the mans shoulder. Brows furrowed in slight confusion and with his own mixed feelings snaking within him, the distraught Anorian stood silent, puzzled by what to say.
"Aricin I.....don't know what has been going on lately," he finally spat out.
"Forgive me if I am wrong but, this woman. Is she another fugacious love? One that would only lead you to fall to your knees in anguish? Another replac......"
No, he wouldn't say it. Nothing could ever replace that beautiful sea-fairing maiden that they had all come to love; and even Erasmus was disheartened when he mentioned the name. It was not worth stirring up old wounds, that only made things worse.
"Aricin, as a friend, be careful this time. I do not want to see you lose another battle. Remember not to lose yourself, not to lose Seremidal....I know you still love her. I see it in your eyes evey time that you mention her, and even more so when you see her. Don't throw it all away."
With that mentioning he turned to leave for his own quarters, but paused and headed for the gates instead. He needed to be with his kind; his other kind, the horses. Only they could understand his burdens and comfort him, only they could free him.
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Post by Tiire on Apr 11, 2005 18:00:48 GMT -5
"Oh I see."
She said softly, watching as Aricin made his excuses and fled the hall. She then spared a glance at Kalmyr, somehow not managing to hold up her normally ever-present smile.
"Oh dear... I feel like such a poisoned dart. And my intentions this evening have been nothing but misunderstood... I wished only to make-up and be friends."
She murmured quietly, for the moment having completly forgotten there where still people around her. It took her a moment, but soon a smile brimmed upon her lips.
"Well, if he really didnt want me near him, he could have said it. Really... its as if Ive tread upon an old wound that the people around me seem determined to protect and help it fester quietly in a corner. But Its really not my place to question."
Utterly oblivious to the fact she had been speaking alou, Sheig made the executive desision to leave the dining hall. She quietly made her way out the door and down the halls, tugging off her pretty elven gloves as she did. She couldent wait to get back into her olf clothes and tie here hair back up.
Then she could decide which was best... to leave this beautiful elven kingdom, or to stay and blunder into more festering rot thats been covered with a silken cloth? (metaforically speaking)
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femalefred
Overly obsessive RPer
Lazy Wretch
Posts: 123
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Post by femalefred on Apr 12, 2005 10:06:34 GMT -5
At both Sheig's and Fionan's suggestions of removing the slippers, a light laugh was, once more, elicited from the bard, her face splitting into a grin once again. "I can't reveal my feet in public, I'm afraid. I have walked for too many years and too many miles to have delicate elven feet that don't seem to wear. Mine are covered with callus, I'm afraid," she stated, though the offer of Fio's boots did seem rather more intriguing.. "If you really don't mind lending me your boots, my friend vagabond, that would indeed make my dancing possibly better, though I still can't match even the poorest elf here," again said with a smile, eyes flicking around for a second as she tried to take stock of everyone around her, a little surprised at the sudden exits of both Aricin and the plains elf, though the offer of another dance, and this time from Fionan, dragged her attention back to the current conversation.
"Oh, a slow dance will not hurt my senses. I should like to see whether these musicians can sustain themselves through a rather less lively piece," she replied, placing her hand in his. As she did, it seemed Erados had returned to the hall - though he didn't look so pleased about, well, anything.
Deciding, for then, that she would leave the heir of Avalbane to his business, she turned her line of view back to Fionan, smiling once again.
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