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From:

takesnoshit

It is an interesting pattern they are developing, meeting each night after dinner for lessons of various sorts. Caranthir is a good teacher, in Haleth's opinion. His explanations are clear, he answers questions, and he wastes no time. It suits her. She can even admit she finds the evenings satisfying. Caranthir knows a great deal, and does not condescend, nor seem to resent the time spent.

He also never seems to find her abruptness offensive or off-putting. Haleth's people are used to her, and they respect her. But she knows they do not consider her... comfortable.

Well, she does not need to be. She needs to be capable. And she needs a safe place for her people to live. She frowns at the map. Felagund would likely welcome her folk, going by his description, and yet...she sounds frustrated. "Are there no lands not already claimed, in the whole of Arda?"

From:

grumpycatanthir

For his part, Caranthir finds these times quite enjoyable. Haleth is quick and keen, and has a refreshing bluntness that reminds him of the Khazad.

"Not on this side of the mountains." He shakes his head. "You might have better luck on the other side, but of course that is unsafe. But unfortunately, you are late come to this side."

From:

takesnoshit

"Not by any choice of ours." She glowers at the map, then shakes her head. "This will take further thought. How soon do we depart?"

For they have stayed in this makeshift camp only to tend the injured until they were fit to move, and to equip themselves with food and supplies. Perhaps she will see her way more clearly once they are on the move. She dislikes waiting.

From:

grumpycatanthir

"No." He agrees. "But it changes it not, now."

He considers the request. "I think within the next two days - I am still a little concerned over the amputation, but the next two days will tell. I will tell my people, and you can tell yours."

From:

takesnoshit

"No."

She frowns at the map, though she is clearly no longer seeing it. "You have been extremely generous with your time and skills, to myself and my people," she says finally, fixing him with a sudden look. "To say nothing of your supplies and protection. I find it a matter of concern that there is no way we may repay you."

They share a common Enemy, but that is all.

From:

grumpycatanthir

"It is to my advantage to see you and yours properly set up." Caranthir points out in return. "If you agree to stay, it is even more to my advantage - and I cannot hold these lands by myself. You've already seen that we sometimes come too late. And I owe you a weregild as well, for that."

From:

takesnoshit

"You owe us nothing," Haleth returns shortly, in a tone that brooks no argument. "We are not your vassals. We have been residing on your land, yes, and tolerated as such. But there are no vows of fealty in either direction. So if there is debt, it is on our side."

Edited Date: 2018-12-05 07:03 pm (UTC)

From:

grumpycatanthir

"You are not." He agrees, equally stubborn. "But these are my lands, and I did not reach you swift enough. Your father and your brother, your lost people - those deaths are on me. My task it to keep the roads clear. I failed."

Edited Date: 2018-12-06 12:29 am (UTC)

From:

takesnoshit

"The debt of those deaths belongs to none save He who dealt them," she counters. "And may I one day have opportunity to deal Him a similar hurt!"

Unlikely in the utmost, she knows, not least as she is otherwise bound. But a warming thought.

From:

grumpycatanthir

He smiles at her, equally fierce.

"True. But I still feel it at least a little my fault. Either way, it only behooves us all if I manage to help you strike that blow."

From:

takesnoshit

Haleth snorts, dismissing this notion with a wave of her hand. "Such a fate is not mine. My duty is to my people, not misguided attempts at heroism or vengeance. All I would find would be death, and that would serve nothing. I will not be so foolish. Of course, should our paths ever cross..." Her smile is quick and feral. "That would be another matter.

"But unless that day comes, it is better dismissed." She looks back at the map, her eyes focusing on Caranthir's own lands. She can track the path her people must have taken in previous generations of slow progress, remembering stories told by her father. She shakes her head a little. "These lands are yours, aye, as are its roads. But still I say there is a debt owed by us for your aid, and I dislike being in debt. I would know what repayment you would have, to banish the imbalance."

From:

grumpycatanthir

"Even so." His answering grin is just as feral. "But as you say, your duty is to your people first, your vengeance second."

He frowns a little, but yields. "Live. That is the only repayment I ask." He says eventually. "Live to spit in that bastards eye."

From:

takesnoshit

She looks surprised, then suddenly laughs, an unexpected, triumphant sound. "Very well," she agrees, grinning back at him, still with that fierce light in her face. "We will live and prosper, and let that be my payment and my vengeance both."

From:

grumpycatanthir

He likes it when she laughs, he decides.

"It is the best vengeance I can think of!"

From:

takesnoshit

"I would prefer to live and prosper, and have him choke on his own fires and be consigned to oblivion. But this will do." Haleth leans back a little, looking at Caranthir with a raised eyebrow, though she still smiles. "I still say you are generous, however. You know as well as I that we have been dwelling on your land without your leave, and that for several of our generations. Other lords would have left us to die, or at least banished us henceforth long ago. But it seems you knew and cared not for our trespass."

From:

grumpycatanthir

"We all would." Caranthir agrees. "But practically, irregardless of what my kin say, it's highly unlikely we'll do more than annoy him. Defeating him is extremely improbable. Holding him back? That's easier."

He snorts. "It's my lands because I got here first, that's all. If you can fight, you're welcome to stay. There's plenty of space."

From:

takesnoshit

She raises an eyebrow, looking at him with consideration. "And that is all you require of your tenants? That they share your emnity for the Dark One, and give battle to his emissaries when they may?"

From:

grumpycatanthir

"That is by far the most important factor." He shrugs.

"Obviously, if you elected to stay, we would probably have to negotiate something formal. But thinning the Enemy's ranks is never not helpful or appreciated."

From:

takesnoshit

With that, she cannot argue, though she frowns faintly at negotiate something formal. She wishes to swear no fealty, even under such terms. If it were herself alone, then perhaps--only perhaps--but to bind all her people thus? No. They would accept her decision, but to place them thus in bondage, even a beneficial one, sits ill with her.

But that they have discussed in brief, and unless she may find another place for her people to wander to...until then, they remain guests. Honored guests, at least, and valued for the damage they did to the Enemy, such as it was. The sting of a nettle in a foot, Haleth thinks: irritating, even painful, but temporary and soon forgotten.

She suspects most of the Eldar think of the Secondborn as such, whether Caranthir does or no. That is a large part of the difficulty.

At least Caranthir himself is easily read, as blunt as she, for all that he ostensibly teaches her...not diplomacy, exactly, but the manipulations of politics, and how to shift them in her favor. She is used to more blunt treatments, obvious leverages of strength against strength. But there can be no such balance in this. She and her people will ever be at a disadvantage.

It is a thought that grates at her continually. She sighs a little as she stands. "I will think on it." She says those words often. They are at least the truth. "Two days, then. I should inform those who need to know, that we may prepare what we can."

From:

grumpycatanthir

"Two days." He agrees, and thinks wistfully that it is not enough time to spend with this firey mortal woman who has captured his attention.

He throws himself into the work, pours into time spend with her. They'll be parted, one way or another, he reminds himself. Shouldn't get attached. But he's very much his father's son, in this way. He already knows he will never love another. He can at least spare her his mooning.

From:

takesnoshit

Haleth does think. She questions all her people. She thinks further. She speaks with her wounded, sees how they fare. She wonders how her father would choose, her brother, but not for long; she is not her father or her brother, and how they would have chosen is irrelevant.

She thinks.

At the end of the next day, she seeks out Caranthir. "We are not yet prepared for so long a journey as we will need to make," she says, without preamble. "If you will permit that we remain a while longer on your lands until we are better recovered and provisioned, that we would do, and I vow to you if we cross the Enemy's path he will pay dearly for it."

It is only a little more time that she asks. Not more help, not more of his attention; he has other duties to attend, and his warriors and hunters also, for his realm is vast and he has spent enough time on her Haladin. He will need to return to his own home. All she asks is a little more grace to remain and prepare before they depart.

From:

grumpycatanthir

He looks up when she enters and nods.

"You have it, with what little good my blessing might do. We are almost done with the relevant history, which is by far the best help on the knot of politics you have stumbled into I can give. I can assign a patrol to take regular routes this way too - I was going to do that anyway, now the gap in our guard has been revealed."

From:

takesnoshit

She nods, her relief contained. It is not truly a surprise that he is willing to agree; he has said more than once he would welcome them as vassals. But she has not agreed to swear to anything and he has not asked, so this remains temporary. That will do well.

"They would be welcome in our encampment, should they wish a stay," she says, bowing her head a little, one leader's acknowledgement to another. "I do not intend we should build anything permanent, so bread and board will be spare, but such as there is we will give, and that most willingly. Would you have us remain here, or move on to another area for the moment?"

For this space is over-hunted and over-fished, from the two weeks they have all remained, and also still near the recent battle site, and her people no longer have horses. Yet they could and would make do, and Haleth will not move further on Caranthir's land without his leave. Not as her father and his father did. He has been good to the Haladin, and she will not squander that good-will, particularly not as he has proven it genuine, and not condescending. That, she never expected--and she does wonder if other lords of the Eldar will be the same, if she meets them.

From:

grumpycatanthir

He scowls thoughtfully.

"It might be best if you relocate. Your injured can't manage a long trip yet but a short trip is feasible, and we don't want to overstress the land."

He rises to pace.

"Short relocations might actually be a good option for your people."

From:

takesnoshit

She nods, opening her palms to the air. "I propose we travel alongside with you for some little ways, for you will be moving towards safer ground. When we find a suitable place to stop, there we will remain for a season before choosing our next course." It is early spring now; they may delay a season in strengthening themselves before beginning a longer trek. "You may thus also continue your watch on your patients for a little longer, and young Linneth may continue to learn what she may."

Linneth is their only surviving healer, far too young but taking her responsibility seriously. Haleth has been teaching the girl some plant and herblore herself; she is no healer, but Linneth has much to learn in little time and is anxious to gather as much knowledge as she may, from any source.

"We will slow you down," she continues. "But not overly much, for many of your horses are still recovering from the pace you set to get here in time, and you could not move with great haste in any event. It seems little cost to benefit all."