faemused | Open To Anyone For Anything RP Post

Haleth shrugs. "Somewhat. Perhaps a third of my people, who believe we would be more safe under your protection than on our own, share her wish. Most of those are not as fervent--or vocal--as Beyhild, and I believe the number who would contest me if I chose otherwise is few. But she is very determined."

"Hmph." He opinions.

"Have they paid no attention to the maps? I remain perilously close to the front lines."

"But you have numbers," Haleth says in return, her expression serious. "You have weapons, armor, horses. You have resources, metals, a smithy. You have allies and information about the Enemy's movements, his abilities. We have nothing but our hands and feet and what scraps we have salvaged, and the Enemy has already proven that he will seek out weaker prey first. We are no match for him. We are barely a match for the elements."

She rubs at her forehead, and the set of her jaw is grim. "I am not altogether certain my law-sister's faction is wrong, though the thought tastes like submission to me, and I little like it."

"So do all of us" he snorts. "I am rich, yes - but that is shrewd management and luck of placement. If you must accept oversight, there are safer lands than mine."

Haleth is silent for a moment. "That is so," she says finally. "But accepting oversight in your lands has as an advantage to recommend it that no other could offer. As my sister has guessed, and does not hesitate to point out."

And Haleth is not at all pleased at having her...not weakness, perhaps temptation...used against her.

She sighs and rubs her forehead. "But all this is known, by us both. It serves us little to cover such ground again."

"One that would please us both" he grumbles agreement. "But not benefit your people as much as they think, I wager. No. My earlier advice stands still - this is not a good place for your people, no matter how much I wish to keep you by my side."

"I wish I did not agree." Haleth frowns, then shakes her head. "I apologize for my law-sister's intrusion, which I cannot imagine was pleasant. Had you finished your sparring? If not, I would be interested to try my hand against yours."

"It was not entirely unexpected." He shrugs, and looks at her with interest.

"I would not mind. Your preference of weapon?"

"Staff, or spear," she says at once. "We may try others later, but let us begin with those."

It is a choice where is greater height and reach will be minimized, to an extent. Haleth is not tall for her kind.

(ooc: yes please XD)

"Staves then, until we have a better measure of each other." He nods, moving to grab one for himself and let her choose one in turn.

"Have you a favoured weapon?"

"The spear," she says, reaching for a stave of her own. "I find it provides the best defense and offense combined. You?"

He tests weight and heft before settling into a ready position opposite hers.

"I do not know that I have a preference, yet." He says thoughtfully. "I used to think the blade, but the dwarven trading caravans have shown me axe work, and I might try that, I think."

A small smile touches her mouth. "Thousands of years of life, and you have not yet formed a preference?" she teases. "You are slow to make up your mind, Caranthir of Thargelion."

[ooc: RIGHT dammit Haleth get back here. Also we need timeskips. Is there anything else you/Caranthir wants to do with this visit, in particular?]

He smiles wryly at her.

"I thought I had! But I am open to changing my mind, should new information come to light."

He moves to test her defences.

Edited (hm can't think of anything specific...) 2019-04-23 05:22 (UTC)

The afternoon passes, and then another four days, so quickly that Haleth can barely keep track of them. There is much to do, but Caranthir and his people turn their hands to the work, particularly hunting. With their horses and ability to go further afield for game and supplies, they ensure the Haladin are well provisioned for the harsh winter remaining. Most of Haleth's people are inclined to be grateful to their visitors, even to like them, for all their once-wariness of the Firstborn.

Haleth is busy, as she ever is. But somehow Caranthir fits himself into her life, waiting whenever she is occupied, or assisting her in whatever task is to hand. Never does he seek to usurp her authority, or even to question it.

Every day they talk. Every day Haleth finds there is more she wishes to talk about. It is only two days before she realizes it is already natural to her to discuss things with Caranthir, to share ideas and thoughts, that from now on it will feel strange to keep them to herself.

She is not altogether sure she likes that change. So when word comes to Caranthir that he is needed, that there are emissaries from one of his brothers approaching his lands and he must return, her feelings are mixed.

But depart he must, and in the morning. So she asks him to walk once more with her, after moonrise, once his people are prepared for their departure at dawn.

The spar ends with no true winner, but that was not it's purpose, and Caranthir counts himself content. As the days pass he grows more and more comfortable, and the message calling him back to war stirs his temper.

(But. The Oath calls, and more than that, his brother, his lord, calls. And above all else, Caranthir loves his brothers.

And... well. He's already told Haleth that he will not inopportune her more than needed)

"What did you want to speak of?" He is waiting for her, after moonrise.

"There is a thing you should know," she says as they fall into step. It is another thing that has become automatic for them, him shortening his long strides, her walking a little more quickly than her usual wont.

She walks in silence next to him for a few moments before continuing, a thing unusual for Haleth. There is a faint frown between her eyes, and she does not look at him as she usually does. Signs that she does not think he will at all like what she has to say.

She stops abruptly and looks up at him. "I told you before of a thing in my youth, where I took a lover and it ended badly. I did not tell you how badly. And I would not tell you, except that a part of those events is relevant to this." 'This' being the ongoing, largely unspoken courtship between them, of course. She does not thinks she need clarify, for it is much on her mind--and even more on his, she would wager.

Haleth turns as abruptly and begins walking again, and quickly, her eyes fixed ahead. "He had been courting me for some weeks before I overheard a conversation he had with a friend, in which they jested of what he would do with the Chieftainship once he had it, and spoke ill of me save as a means to getting it. I revealed myself, and you may imagine how I spoke to them."

Harshly, for she can be harsh, brutal in her honesty. Once someone has earned her condemnation, she is not shy of making it clear.

She shrugs. "I did not speak publically of his words or intentions, for there was no need; it was enough that all relations between us were so abruptly ended, and the rest of the tribe hardly needed further knowledge to guess some of what had occurred. I did not mourn, save for my own foolishness; he was not what I had thought him, so there was nothing to grieve but an illusion. But he--he was shamed and lessened in the eyes of our people, and enraged by it, and fury and wounded pride ate at him."

Haleth is silent another moment, then takes a deep breath, her steps slowing. "This part I have never discussed, save with my brother and father at the time. Though no doubt it is guessed at by my people and has been spoken of, though not to my face." She is delaying, a thing Haleth rarely does. Not for her own sake, but for his. This memory no longer has power to hurt her even in pride, but it will not be so for Caranthir.

Another breath. Her face is blank and calm, and she looks up at the sky, clear and lit by moonlight. "He intercepted me while I was checking traps, some weeks later, and tried to talk his way into my good graces again. I would not hear him, and when he realized I would not be swayed, he attempted to force me. I would claim him as husband quickly enough, he said, when I was heavy with his child." Haleth gives Caranthir no chance to interrupt, but continues. "We fought. He did not succeed in his intentions, and I killed him. But he injured me first, with his dagger."

Her hand briefly rests low on her belly. Another breath. "My brother found us, him dead and me wounded, and aided me back to the camp. I was some time in healing, and decided I would not marry, would never allow any to believe they might gain any power over me thus. So I told all afterwards, and if they thought it was bitterness or heartsickness, I let them think so. With my brother as heir, and then eventually with a strong child of his own, it hardly mattered that I intended to remain unwed. My father's line would continue without me."

She stops again, looking down at her hand. "But in truth...in truth it was not wholly a choice. Because of--of where and how I was wounded--I cannot bear children." Those last words come out in a rush. "I told you I did not intend to have them, but the truth is I cannot. We have not discussed children and I do not know if you wish them. But I thought it something you had a right to know, given...what you wish from me. I do not expect it changes your wishes, from all I know of you, but...I thought you should know, first."

It is the first time Caranthir will have ever heard Haleth sounding awkward or uncertain.

Edited 2019-05-01 23:10 (UTC)

((ooc: lol true that))

He matches her pace as she matches his - instinct, by now.

"Speak then, and I will hear."

He is silent, listening to her - she has asked for his attention, and she has it in full. The story of the boy is... not unexpected, in some respects. Men are like this, he knows, and Elves not as much different as they think. Even in Tirion, there were those who might angle to catch one of the Crown Prince's sons if they could, to better promote themselves. It still makes his eyes narrow and his fists clench, but he says nothing. The boy was foolish, particularly if he thought that Haleth's spirit would yield to such a worm as he. The flame of his anger licks high, eyes burning a deadly light when she speaks of his attempted rape - it's almost visible, in truth, a cold light burning around him, an almost physical heat, his teeth baring in a snarl felt more than heard, cheeks flushed dark in rage, not embarrassment.

It is easy to see why they call him the Dark, looking at her with eyes as black as pitch, and yet bright with his fury, hands clenched into impotent fists by his side.

He turns with a vile curse to slam his fist against one of the trees nearby before spinning back to her, although he does not touch, still never sure of what she might or might not welcome.

"He got off too lightly." He hisses through clenched teeth. "I would that he had been gelded like the worm he was. But glad I am that you avenged yourself on him. Haleth, I don't care if you could bear me a score of babes or none - tis your spirit I love."

It is the first time she has seen real evidence of Caranthir's legendary temper, of him living up to his name. Haleth does not flinch. In other circumstances she would find it interesting, but not when she is, indirectly, the cause.

Not that she thinks for a moment his rage is aimed at her. Still, anger transforms him, and for the first time he seems a being uncanny--not merely taller and more beautiful, but other. Even so, while there is some discomfort in her, there is no fear, and her disquiet is only because she dislikes upsetting him, however unavoidable.

But the tale is told now, and she waits in silence as he reacts, as the deadly tension clenched in him finds some small outlet in a curse and a blow. A small, feral smile touches her mouth at his response. "He was." There is a grim satisfaction in the words. "His death was neither quick not clean, I promise you."

For all her pragmatism, Haleth is not without a bloodthirsty streak, it is clear. But for now she looks back at Caranthir, her gaze once more thoughtful and measuring, as it usually is. "I have decided," she says, without further preamble. "I will take my people West, to lands held by no sons of Fëanor." She need not say why. They both know how the Oath presses on him, and that she agrees his own lands are too near the Enemy's front lines, even if she were willing to lessen her own sovereignty. "Allies against the Enemy I hope we are and will remain in the future, but for now the Haladin must rebuild. We will leave in the spring."

"Good." He snarls, pleased, but then she announces her decision and his face falls, the anger running from him and leaving him empty.

"So soon?" He says softly, and then masters himself - Haleth is not the sort to dawdle unnecessarily, and her people need security he cannot give them.

"No, you are right." He says tiredly. "I will write you letters of introduction, although I think you will find little trouble from any but Thingol and my brothers."

Haleth shrugs. "There is not time to waste, as you know. We cannot stay here overlong, especially not if your brother does call you back to war; it would be tactically unsound. Better for us to move on to a place where we may remain."

She tilts her head, looking at him curiously for another minute. "You have courted me most assiduously, Caranthir of Thargelion," she says, just as forthright, just as abrupt. "You know my priorities, and that they will not alter; you know that I cannot bear children and that I will not marry as the Edain do, and nor am I free to live with you, nor you with me. You know I will be old and gray and haggard while you remain as you are, and that I will eventually be taken by the Gift of Men. Knowing all those things, do you still wish to offer suit?"

She stands with her chin lifted high as she waits: a small, plain, striking woman, unquestionably mortal, no more than she seems and no less.

"You speak truly." He says tiredly and sighs. "I will do all I can to ensure you safe and swift passage, of course."

He blinks at her and his eyes soften.

"I do, and I always will, long after you and I have our final parting."

Haleth looks at him for another minute, then nods, stepping forward. "Then I accept your suit." She reaches down and takes his hands, twining their fingers together. "We may not marry as Men do, but I will wed with you in the manner of your people, and take no other for all my days."

She looks down at their hands rather than at his face, and her voice is quiet but firm. "And even if seasons or years pass between our meetings, still I will take joy in whatever time we are able to have."

"Eh?"

He had clearly been bracing himself for a rejection, so at first he blinks at her in surprise, and then down at their hands.

"You... " His breath leaves him in a gasp, and he pulls her in to kiss her soundly.

"Thank you, Haleth."

She had wondered how he would react, and the astonished, blinding joy on his face is a sight worth seeing, a complete contrast to the burning dark fury of only a few minutes before. He pulls her into an embrace and she goes willingly, kissing him with equal enthusiasism. In the back of her mind, the part that never stops analyzing, Haleth realizes with bemusement that this may be the first time he has reached out to touch her of his own accord, since that first day when they met and he brought her, collapsed, to his own tent to rest. She decides quickly that it is a thing she could get used to.

When they do break apart it is only by a few breaths; when he thanks her she laughs a little. She kisses him again, more lightly, just a quick brush of mouth on mouth. "I do not accept as a favor," she says. "So you need not thank me. I accept because your arguments were persuasive." She raises a hand to his face, smiling. "And because my heart wishes it also."

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we can timeskip over the actual sparring, yes?

Re: we can timeskip over the actual sparring, yes?

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I am far too blocked with this scene so let's move on, let me know if this needs editing.

sure!

I wanted to linger more on the bloody retribution part, which he would've liked, but it got long.

Re: I wanted to linger more on the bloody retribution part, which he would've liked, but it got long

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