Quest 6: A Dwarf In a Winter Wonderland [Action]

[fuckelves]

[Living in the mountains, Thorin had grown rather fond of winter. He enjoyed the snow and the cold wind. So he would often leave the castle and go out to explore the grounds. If he could find game, he would hunt. Hunting in winter, there was something exhilarating about it - something he couldn't explain. Tracking prey in the snow, following tracks and trails. It was almost primal.]

[So he wandered in and out of the castle. Thorin could be found wandering the grounds or through the halls.]

[True enough, Dwarves did not celebrate this thing the men call 'Christmas'. But they had winter festivals and gatherings. Thorin wants to celebrate such festivals, but with no other Dwarves, it seems difficult and sad. Still, he will honor the traditions in this new place in his own way.]

((ooc: Thorin can be found wandering the halls, the grounds, drying his furs in the library or warming up in the kitchen - take your pick!))

Comments

Library

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

[Here Equius was, trying to get certain things out of him mind, and trying to read a book without tearing it to shreds. But something was wrong. What smelled like... oh my...]

Uh... excuse me? What do you think you are doing?

[fuckelves]

[Thorin dropped his cloak to the floor in front of the fire, then started to remove his gloves and hood. As he is addressed, Thorin glances to the fire, to his gloves and to his cloak before returning his gaze to Equius, as if it should be obvious what he's doing and that there should be nothing wrong with it.]

...drying my clothes? I've been out hunting in the snow? What does it look like I'm doing?

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

You are causing quite the mess from the looks of it.

And... you have been hunting?

[the_effect_she_has]

[The dwarf wasn't the only one hunting. Katniss was out as well, in the woods and around the castle, with her trusty bow and knife. She was waiting it out in the bushes, eying the turkeys that were wandering free range up a slope, grey eyes narrowed and bundled in her winter gear.]

[She turned her head sharply when she felt someone else creeping along, pulling an arrow and waiting ...until she saw the dwarf tracking silently through the trees. She kept low, moving to his side and tapping near his foot once, so not to frighten the game and to let him know she was there.]

Forest

[lightbranded]

[
Will had always loved snow. He loved the look and feel of it, and the silence it brought to the world. And most of all he loved the way it lay heavy over the landscape, disguising familiar features and making everything seem new and strange.

And Will had his own holiday traditions. Some of them from his family, and others from what he was. As a human child, Will knew that Christmas was a time for family and hope. But as an Old One Will knew that Midwinter was the time when the days grew shortest and the power of the Dark grew strongest. This was the season of darkness.

But even so, there were some things he could do. He had brought Holly to the castle. For a protection it was against the Dark. And now he was once more in the woods, searching for more of the winter greenery.

But despite the solemnity of his errand, Will still found time to marvel at the snow and to enjoy the feeling of his boots tramping through the deep snow of the woods.

But even the dignity of an Old One could not always protect Will clumsy moments. As in this moment that he tripped and went noisily sliding down a small slope of snow. After a moment he resurfaces from the drift he had managed to land in.

And he laughs.]

[fuckelves]

It will be cleaned, I assure you.

[Thorin tilts a brow again, unsure if he stuttered or where the misunderstanding could lie.]

Hunting, yes. Why? Is that so strange?

[fuckelves]

[Thorin is calm as ice when he feels the tap. Blue eyes flicker out of the corner of his eye to behold his new companion, and he nodded slowly. He had been eying the turkeys as well, but he had also seen deer prints in the snow. Obviously he coveted the larger prize. Turkeys were dimwitted creatures, deer actually took some skill to hunt. Still, turkeys were better than nothing.]

[Thorin had a bow with him, but he had only basic skill with it. He didn't enjoy using the weapon - too Elfish for his liking. Still, it was a hunter's necessary weapon. Thorin silently nods to the turkeys, then turns to Katniss and points to himself and then to the ridge to the left of the turkeys. He then points to her and to her bow, his message clear enough...]

['I'll go around and spook them, you shoot.']

[fuckelves]

[Thorin Oakenshield was not so amused by the Old One's fall. He had been tracking a 10-point buck, and when the boy came tumbling down so noisily, the creature had bolted. Thorin, realizing to shoot would be a waste of an arrow, simply gave a low growl of irritation. He had been tracking that buck all morning - for nothing. Needless to say, the Dwarf was not happy.]

...oh, aye. Find that funny, do you?

[He wasn't angry so much as he was frustrated. Now he had to start all over, assuming he could find the beast again at all.]

[Still...that was quite a fall for such a young-looking lad. Thorin heaves a sigh and lowers his bow, placing the arrow back in his quiver. He holds out one rough hand to help Will up.]

Are you all right?

[lightbranded]

"Well enough."

Will was still amused at his own clumsiness. He takes Thorin's hand and clambers to his feet.

"Sorry if I bothered you. Wasn't something I really expected, that."

[fuckelves]

[Thorin hauls the boy up to his feet and glances to where the deer had been. He heaves a slight sigh and shakes his head a bit.]

You didn't bother me...though I would have liked to have gotten that buck...

Would've looked good mounted on my wall.

[Hey, a Dwarf needs to decorate! Besides, hunting game was a part of the winter festival.]

[lightbranded]

[Perhaps there was some meaning to this meeting. Will couldn't help but remember that it had been at his first Christmas as an Old One that he had met Herne and the Wild Hunt. Although theirs had not been a hunt for deer, but for a more dangerous prey.]

Perhaps there will be another.

[But Will could not find himself wholly wishing for that. He had felt what it was to run as a deer,before. And so he found himself sympathizing with the deer in this.]

[fuckelves]

Perhaps.

[Thorin nods stiffly, and glances to Will.]

So what brings you out here, lad? [He chuckles.] Besides ruining perfectly good hunts?

[He finds it hard to believe that the Old One came all the way out here just to stop Thorin from shooting a buck. Considering his falling had seemed genuinely accidental, anyway.]

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

Hunting is such a ridiculous activity. To hunt innocent creatures is deplorable where I hail from.

[Well, at least to Equius.]

[the_effect_she_has]

[She nods in turn, even though her eyebrows arched slightly. She had just been warning him that she was in the area, but if he was going to help with the hunt, she'd be glad for the assistance.]

[She nodded once in response, and pulled her arrow, preparing her first shot while she waited for Thorin to go around and drive them her way.]

[fuckelves]

To hunt is to provide sustenance and ensure the survival of my people, where I hail from!

If we do not hunt, we do not eat. If we do not eat, we do not live. Simple as that.

[Simple to Thorin, anyway.]

[fuckelves]

[Thorin slowly, silently despite his bulky frame, moved through the snow and trees. The turkeys gobbled and chirped amongst themselves, clueless to the hunters that stalked them.]

[Thorin moved along the ridge, pulling an arrow from his quiver. Before he notched it, Thorin brought both hands to his mouth, cupping them and letting out a long, loud howl. As anticipated, the turkeys spooked and scurried in Katniss' direction. Thorin notched his own arrow and fired, picking off a medium-sized bird towards the left flank, closest to him.]

Kitchen;

[unexpected_adventures]

[Bilbo was busying himself within the kitchen, as he often did. It was getting closer towards Christmas and he had heard that the tradition came with eating lots. Hobbits loved food. Bilbo looked up to see someone else entering the kitchen. The proud stance gave it away immediately. Thorin!]

Oh, Thorin! It's good to see you here.

[the_effect_she_has]

[Katniss kept low, until Thorin howled and the turkeys charged away, frightened by the thought of predators. She stood up from the bushes, and let her arrow fly, then pulled another, then another, shooting four of the birds before the rest managed to flee in the snowy bush. She made a satisfied sound, standing up completely.]

Good work.

[She stated, as she moved to gather their prizes. She selected three of the birds, and gave the other to Thorin, a nice fat one.] I'm guessing you weren't looking for turkeys, though.

[lightbranded]

I am gathering plants.

[Will offers the explanation with some amusement at himself.]

And enjoying the weather. You might say I am accomplishing the two at once.

[fuckelves]

[Thorin had a tall mug filled with whiskey - not ale, for once. The whiskey would warm him up quicker, he knew. Hence why Thorin was drinking it with such vigor. He chuckled, of course the Hobbit was raiding the kitchen for the delicious delicacies prepared for the holiday season.]

Good to see you as well, Master Baggins. How does this cold weather find you?

[fuckelves]

[Thorin trudged down from the ridge and plucked up the turkey Katniss offered.]

Some excellent shooting yourself.

[Is she some manner of Elf? No...the ears weren't the same. But he had to admire her for her skill - she could give his nephew a run for his money.]

[Still, at the mention of hunting other prey than turkeys, Thorin makes a slight face.]

Turkeys are dimwits. They're not difficult to fool. Give me a nice, 10-point buck any day of the week. There's more glory in hunting deer anyway.

[And he had seen deer prints in the snow...]

[fuckelves]

Not many plants to be found in this season.

[Thorin glances around, taking in the serene peace of the snow.]

But aye, there is something peaceful about the snow. I'll agree with you there.

[the_effect_she_has]

[She nodded her head with a faint smile.]

Thank you.

[She eyed the turkeys, then the dwarf, her lips pressing together thoughtfully.]

...There is more glory in it. And more meat.

[She arched an eyebrow at him.] But it does take more than one to hunt the bigger ones...

[lightbranded]

[Will nods in agreement.]

It is nearly the darkest part of the year, when the Dark ever grew the strongest. Very few plants flourish in this time. But it is for that reason that those that remain in this season hold the greatest of virtues against the Dark.

[fuckelves]

Ah yes...the Dark you spoke of before...

[Thorin takes a moment to glance around. While he does love the snow and the cold, there is indeed the ominous feeling that night brings.]

Do you think it will come here? I suspect, like most wicked things, the Dark has power anywhere, including the castle.