Bloodstained Elanor RPG

[Amanaduial the archer]

The dark elf, quite as tall as Ambarturion and bearing himself as well nodded briefly as the latter doled out instructions, before turning away curtly and speaking a few words quietly to his companions. Coromswyth watched one in particular more carefully - the gloomy looking, fair elf. He was certainly the eldest among them: the air of age and wisdom that came only through long experience settled around his shoulders like the dust of time. He was evidently the leader of the group, and as Ambarturion began ordering the others around, the female elf kept her eyes on him from under her eyelashes, pretending to be fiddling with some detail on the binding of her dagger's handle. He did not seem to mind so much, nodding mildly, but as Ambarturion turned away, the elf stopped the other two and murmured a few words of his own to them. Interesting.

Ambarturion took a deep breath, surveying the area in front of him as if running through in his mind a mental vision of what would happen if all went according to plan. Then he turned his head to look at Coromswyth, and she saw the pained expression flit momentarily across his face. "Lady - are you sure you will fight with us? I would prefer it if-"

The female elf cut him off with a shake of her head, smiling lightly at him. "Please...please, Ambarturion," she said softly. He watched her with his keen, dark grey eyes, then sighed and seemed ready to turn away. Rather than leave it simply like that, Coromswyth gave a small smile and continued: "Besides - my bow is in the back of that wagon." She spun the dagger and sword in her hands easily in two circles around each other, flashing two deadly rings of silver through the air. She grinned dangerously at Ambarturion. "You don't think I'd leave it there, do you?"

The older elf smiled slightly at her even through his worry, then his brow crumpled in concern and his eyes closed up suspiciously. "Your bow is in the back of the wagon? How?"

Coromswyth felt her pulse increase marginally as she remembered the Southron captain's face and his kind actions. No matter what the male elf thought, that he was merely the lesser of two evils, she couldn't help but fight the certainty in her mind that there was something more in this youngling's kindness. She knew exactly who had put the bow in the back of the wagon. Not letting on for a second, forced herself to shrug lightly, and was pleased to note that her male companion had not tried to probe into her mind. "Who knows? Maybe the orcs meant to get something more out if it - it is a fine weapon, would sell to one of the Men on guard for something extra, I suspect."

Ambarturion's eyes rested on her only a for a moment more before he nodded, satisfied, shrugging as the suspicion departed from his eyes. Coromswyth relaxed slightly but it took a while for her pulse to slow down. The image of the Man's eyes were in her mind again - dark and melancholy, full of wisdom one so young shouldn't have to know. She smiled slightly to herself in confusion - of course, it wasn't surprising that he had made an impact on her, but why should she be grateful to him? He had 'saved' her from the orc's touch...the thought was immediately parried by the instantaneous response in her mind: it was he who had originally captured her. She sighed. She knew who had put the bow in the back of the wagon - but was no closer to knowing why.

Taking a deep breath and calming herself, Coromswyth swung her blades around deftly once more, getting the feel of both long and short together. As she did so, she caught the eye of one of the archers, who had shot a curious look at her as she did so, and smiled without thinking. He seemed slightly taken aback - after all, her readiness to smile was so different from the other, severe Ambassador. Looking away, Coromswyth watched Ambarturion's still form nearby, worry tinting her light eyes.

"Be careful, Ambarturion."

The other elf stiffened momentarily and turned to look questioningly at Coromswyth, wondering why she had chosen to share her good luck for the fight secretively rather than openly with spoken words. She held his eyes for only a moment, then let them flicker to the other elves before they returned to his. Her meaning was perfectly clear, but Ambarturion did not reply: he kept her gaze for a moment, then turned again.