First Council

[lordofthevalley]

[The journal picks up quiet musings from someone as he talks, along with the sound of books being stacked on top of one another.]

You would think they would know better, it is not so difficult to put things back where they belong when they stand right next to the shelf. Though it would be more understandable if they would purchase something.

[Grumbley half-elf is grumbley. And a beat.] Unless someone changed the open sign to closed again. [Who does that, really?

Though after that the sound of a bell comes through and he's off to take care of whatever customer of his happens to have come in.

Later in the day however he can be found going from his book store out to various other places in the city, stopping for food or other small things one does after work.]

Comments

[lordofthevalley]

[He smiles in return some at that, nodding.]

Tell me about her. [If her name sticks in his mind, then more information about her should help him, right?]

[inafadingcrown]

She is kind and gentle. [A little self depreciating smile now.] Softer than I, but not without an inner strength. Beautiful beyond words in both body and soul. And I know she loves you with all her heart.

[lordofthevalley]

[The description is enough to get a smile from him, and he can't help the gentle tug on the base of his finger, which shortly brought out a frown from him. What is he doing? That's...perhaps only natural with what he has learned but still, and he drops his hand away.]

I had thought so the moment I first laid eyes upon her, when you and she came searching for your lord husband. [That? That's a glimmer of memories coming back for him. And yet he looks confused. Why is this coming back now of all times?] She had captured my heart like no other had until then.

[...Best time to admit you fell for your wife the first time you saw her to your mother-in-law, right?]

[inafadingcrown]

Yet you said nothing then. It was not until later that you told her of your feelings. [But somehow she's not surprised.]

[lordofthevalley]

[No, she shouldn't after everything.] I had seen little reason, I had other more important matters to attend and who was I to ask for such a thing after what we had seen?

[He may not remember anything else but these memories are sticking out to him. Which should say something, or so he thinks.]

[inafadingcrown]

I would think you were all the more deserving of joy, after all we had seen.

[lordofthevalley]

I had other duties to attend...[A pause as he looks down, trying to figure things out.] Things more important then a family that may not see a time in peace.

[inafadingcrown]

I know. [She falls silent for a moment.] You remember, then?

[lordofthevalley]

[He shakes his head, brow furrowed in concentration.] Only her, and what happiness she brought me in my family. [And yet there's something dark that falls across his face at that.] And...

[inafadingcrown]

[She'll reach out and put her hand on his.] We need not speak more of it now, if it causes you such pain.

[lordofthevalley]

[That move startles him, and he looks up at her, eyes clear but he shakes his head, moving his hand to cover hers.] And yet my not recalling causes you more.

[inafadingcrown]

It is painful, I will not deny that. But there is time enough here; I can wait.

[lordofthevalley]

[A gentle squeeze of her hand is given as he watches her.] Would you answer me this, then, before I heed your words for now. Does she still reside in Imladris?

[Helllo second loss.]

[inafadingcrown]

[She looks away for a split second, just long enough to hide the pain in her eyes.]

She does not. [Please don't ask why.]

[lordofthevalley]

[Oh no, now what is this? He shifts closer to her, giving her not unkind eyes.]

That is what I last recall, I know nothing more of her fate. [And he wants to know, because if he is remembering he needs to know if this is wrong, right?]

[inafadingcrown]

[She hesitates.]

She has sailed into the West. Do you recall the significance of that?

[lordofthevalley]

[That gets a shake of his head, no he doesn't. Not with his mind clouded with what the castle is telling him is different from what he should know.]

No, I recall she was attacked [There's a flinch there as he glances down.] but nothing more then her residing in my halls as she has always since we were wed.

[inafadingcrown]

I am sorry. [She doesn't know much more of what to say. If he remembers the attack, then he know the reasons.]

[lordofthevalley]

[That causes him to drop her hand, both of his moving to clench the arms of his chair. There's a hint of desperation in his eyes, because that had given him hope that maybe he wasn't as bad off as he seemed to think he was in the city here.]

That is not what I recall, not what I saw. That is not possible, can not be possible, I would remember that.

[inafadingcrown]

[A deep breath. She hates this. Hates causing him pain. But she won't lie to him.]

You know well the castle may interfere with such things. I do not know what to tell you beyond that.

[lordofthevalley]

[He shakes his head more at that, a hint of that desperation seeping through into his voice.]

I do not reside in the castle, have had no reason to seek out it's persons or to interfere in it's magics. Nothing. [And back to that wall, back to that safety of castle given memories because he doesn't want that pain.]

[inafadingcrown]

Then I may tell you nothing more. [She'll rise and start preparing to leave.] Should you wish to discuss this more, you may reach me through the journal you found earlier. You need only write my name before your missive.

[lordofthevalley]

[That at least gives him pause, and he stands, even if he is going through formalities. He has to do this.] You need not leave, you may stay though I only ask you do not continue this line of discussion.

[He's not one to turn out someone who has only been polite to him, even well, even in this circumstance.]

[inafadingcrown]

[She offers a little smile and shakes her head.] I will not keep you. I am sure that there is much you must attend to.

[lordofthevalley]

[That gets a nod and then well, he's going to carefully wrap a sandwich and a few other treats in a napkin and hand it to her. Look it'll just go to waste alright? >>] Then I wish you a safe time from the troubles the castle must cause you.