Scarburg Meadhall

[Kath]

Kara

Kara had been more pleased than she had expected when Nain had returned her hug with, if not equal fervour, then at least a few seconds of true warmth. She hadn't meant to make him uncomfortable but her joy at seeing him overrode what she knew of Dwarves and their discomfort with such shows of affection, and it delighted her that he was willing to forgive the action. His words, however, were as proper as they had ever been, and she noticed with a tinge of confusion that his old habit of stammering around her seemed to have returned.

"I see the move from Edoras has not harmed your health, what is the news about you. I mean! What is new about... here. Around here."

He had said, falling over his words and meanings as he went. She wondered whether it was simply that he had been away for such a time and had forgotten his ease with her, but as he had spoken she had seen his eyes flicker to a point behind her. A quick glance over her shoulder while Nain was studying the floor told her that the source of his slight distraction had been Crabannan, who was still eating but was now frowning again. Kara remained confused, but was determined to enjoy her friend's company for now and figure it all out later.

"There is little news about me if you did want to know," she said, tongue in cheek as his eyes flicked up to hers for a moment, "except that I think I may finally have convinced Frodides to stop looking over my shoulder at everything I do. As to what is new around here, well, I think you can see that for yourself! We have a fair amount of work to do yet but much has been done already in rebuilding this place, and there are also a number of new faces. In fact here is one now."

She stood aside slightly so that Nain's view of Crabannan was no longer blocked.

"This is Crabannan who has been with us near a month now I think. Crabannan this is Nain, who was a guest at the old Hall and is a very good friend of mine."

The two males shot glances at both each other and at her, and after a pause Kara gave up. Proper introductions could wait for another time if they were determined not to speak to one another.

"Well, at any rate." She said, interrupting the staring contest. "It is so good to see you Nain, are you to stay with us again?"

~ ~ ~

Frodides

Frodides had not been surprised when the young woman before her had burst into tears, she was only glad that she had given Saeryn the blunted knife considering the number of hurts they had in the kitchen even when her girls weren't sobbing their hearts out. She still had no real idea what had occurred, Saeryn's words had been impassioned rather than informative, but that didn't mean she couldn't offer generic wisdom. The soothing comments had seemed to help, Saeryn was now sitting upright again with a determined look in her eyes, but now the girl was looking for real advice and Frodides had to use her considerable number of years at the centre of all gossip as well as her knowledge of the people involved in order to try and work out something relevant to say.

"And so I’ll just have to make up to him, ‘s all, and Eodwine, too. I should apologize, right, Frodides? And Eodwine will understand, right?”

"I suppose 'him' is Degas is it?" Frodides inquired gently, having come to this conclusion due to the warmth that filled Saeryn's voice even as she cried.

"It is." Saeryn agreed.

"And you've offended him somehow? Eodwine too?"

Saeryn nodded miserably.

"Well then," Frodides said with a sniff, "I think an apology would work wonders. Your brother couldn't stay angry with you however hard he tried, it's not in his nature to take against you, and I think the same is true of Eodwine."

The slight smile that appeared on Saeryn's face as she spoke encouraged Frodides to continue. She was saying only what she thought and wasn't pretending otherwise but she was quite sure of herself all the same.

"You apologise to them when they come to their senses and come to find you," she said, patting Saeryn's hand, "and I'll wager you will find them both very understanding. No don't go looking for them now," she continued as Saeryn made to get up and leave, "if you interrupt them you might find they haven't calmed down quite enough for your apology to be heard. You stay here and let yourself calm a little more, and then it should be smiles all round when the time comes. Alright?"

[Gwathagor]

"It's alright, Kara. Nain and I met this morning," interrupted Crabannan, looking down at his plate. "Glad to meet any friend of Kara's." He concentrated on carefully wiping the last bits of breakfast with a crust of bread as Kara and Nain conversed about Scarburg and memories and old times and times to come.

He felt out of place among these old friends, and he could tell that Nain was less than comfortable with his presence. What has he heard? he wondered. The usual, doubtless: brawler, rogue, ruffian. He sighed and felt suddenly old. I've done all that and more.

Crabannan stood abruptly. Kara and Nain looked at him. Muttering something about being in the way, he strode headlong into the kitchen with his empty plate, Frodides or no Frodides.

[Groin Redbeard]

Erbrand's face broke into a large smile as Léof examined the newly made saddle, and insisted that Léof should take it as a gift for looking after Traveller.

“Then I accept your gift,” Léof said finally, “and I thank you for it. I shall have to try it out soon; it has been a while since I have taken Æthel out riding anyway.”

"It is a gift well earned," Erbrand responded, "You're so much unlike myself when I was your age. You're compassionate and a hard worker, mature beyond your years, you will make a fine man when you come of age." Here Erbrand stopped himself. He didn't mean to preach and he certainly didn't want to become sentimental, feelings was not something he felt comfortable sharing with people.

"I, uhh... I know that you'll put it to good use," he continued, "but don't work so hard today, it's a day of rest, and I expect to see you in the races today with Æthel."

Léof proudly walked over to his horse, which he was grooming and patted him on the neck.

"We'll do our best. Won't we boy?" The horse affectionatlely nuzzled his against his masters embrace and stomped his foot as if he knew what was just said.

"My best wishes and to you boh then." And with another thanks from Léof Erbrand left them to return to the solitude of his tent, but no sooner had he turned away from Léof he heard a familiar voice.

"I wouldn't mind having me one of those, not bad at all." Erbrand turned startled at first, but relaxing once he saw Lithor a few stalls down from Léof saddling his own horse.

"A good morning to you Lithor," he replied, "But I don't take kindly to those who eavesdrop on my private conversations, you might have to pay extra to get one now." Lithor laughed at his attempted joke.

"No time for bribes or work today, I'm just on my way to announce that the festivities are about to begin. We will have races, archery, and feats of strength for the games today. Music and dance with plenty of ale too, you can't beat a day such as this."

"Tell me, I have not seen the children today. I would think that they would be here urging for the day to begin."

"Javan's merry band has gone off to practice archery somewhere, but I expect that they'll return before things get underway."

"Very well, then I shall return to my tent. If there is to be music I wish to get my fiddle in tune."

"Between your fiddle and Crabannan's harp, it will be merry entertainment. Make sure that you reserve a dance with a pretty gal." At this Lithor winked, "well, I best go make the announcement, I'll shall see you later." Lithor waved back to him as he walked towards the kitchens, and he guessed who Lithor meant him to reserve a dance with. Lithor always had that kind subtlety about him that Erbrand liked, always making suggestions that confirmed Erbrand's desires and giving him some extra encouragement at the same time.

As he walked back to his tent Erbrand began to feel uncomfortable at the mentioning of Crabannan. He knew now that he had acted rashly and wrong this morning, and he knew that he would have to apologize for his actions if their were to be any comfortable feelings between them today. Swallowing his pride wouldn't be easy for him, it never was. He picked up his fiddle and pluck the strings to tune it. As he did this he went over in his head what he would say to Crabannan, but this brought back to his mind his feelings about Kara. Soon Crabannan was no longer of his mind, and was the least of his worries.

[Formendacil]

"Well, at any rate. It is so good to see you Nain, are you to stay with us again?"

Náin's glare at Crabannan, which was as unconscious at it was suspicious, was broken, and he turned to Kara, who it seemed either did not know how much trouble Crabannan was, or else had decided to ignore it. That was odd--from what Náin remembered, there wasn't much likelihood that Crabannan was anything other than trouble, and his Dwarven tendency towards harbouring unyielding opinions did not predispose him to change his mind.

Crabannan interrupted before Náin could reply, though.

"It's alright, Kara. Náin and I met this morning. Glad to meet any friend of Kara's."

Náin, in his stubbornness, did not want to admit it, but Crabannan almost sounded contrite about their mutual glaring, and it irked him that the troublemaker should be more considerate to Kara than he was. He decided to ignore the matter--and Crabannan--and respond to the question.

"To answer you, Kara, I do not know how long I will be here. I will be here a few days at least, to assess the situation for building in stone with Eodwine--or more likely with Garstan and Stigend. Then I journey to Edoras to meet Gimli and report to him on the same. If he wishes, and King Eomer agrees, I could be back then, and on that matter, do you know if Garstan or Stigend have passed by for breakfast yet? I expect going over the situation, especially if we set up a quarry, as I propose, will take much of the day, and I would get started."

"I'm not sure," said Kara, "but it doesn't matter, because today is a holiday, so I don't expect you'll be getting much work done at all today."

Náin was about to ask what they were celebrating, and with what events, but Crabannan abruptly stood up and resolutely marched into the makeshift kitchen. Kara blanched, and Náin glanced from the kitchen to her.

"Is he not supposed to be in there?" he asked, not sure if he was hoping for a chance to haul the troublemaker out by his toes or that he was finally rid of him for that day.

[Kath]

Kara was under no illusions about the state of things between Nain and Crabannan. If the revelation that they'd already met hadn't given her pause for thought the way that Nain barely acknowledged Crabannan's words would have for certain. Her Dwarven friend was not a naturally warm person, but nor did he often slight people in that way. Nevertheless she let it be, far more eager to find out Nain's plans than to pick him up on any incivility. And so she listened and chatted happily, until Crabannan stormed his way into the kitchen.

"Is he not supposed to be in there?" Nain asked, clearly surprised by the reaction Kara realised she had given.

"Oh, well," Kara began, backing into the kitchen a little to find out just exactly what the state of things was, "no of course he's allowed to be in there it's just that ..."

"Just that what?" Nain asked, following her.

"Well, it's just that Frodides really doesn't get on with him and he does tend to make it worse for himself." Kara said, finding to her relief that so far Frodides was still involved with Saeryn. "So he usually stays outside. I don't know why he's just gone rushing in there, he knows what she's like."

She glanced at Nain as she spoke and was surprised to see a knowing look pass across his face. She was about to call him on it when she heard voices approaching the kitchen, and found Eodwine and Degas of all people walking toward the doorway.

"Good morning Kara." Eodwine spoke before Kara could ask about this new arrival. "Is Saeryn inside?"

[Groin Redbeard]

Lithor

The tent was full when as he approached it. Good, he thought to himself, saves me the trouble of running after everyone. Borrowing a stool from a nearby table, he placed it in the middle of the tent and fearlessly stood on it raising his arms aloft.

"Your attention please, everyone, your attention for a moment!" he patiently waited for the commotion in the tent to die down before he continued. "Thank you kind people, I will take but a moment of your time. We have been working very hard this last month on building our new settlement here in Scarburg, and I think that it's safe to say that we have long needed a day of rest and recuperation." he was answered with cheers and applause, Lithor raised him arms for everyone to stay silent.

"That day is finally here, our gracious lord Eodwine has proclaimed a day of rest and festivities. There will be races, on horseback and on foot, tests of strength, feats of archery, and dueling." this was met with loud applause, mainly from the men. "But there will also be dancing, with music, singing, and a great fire later tonight along with a marvelous dinner, already prepared, to wrap up the festivities." This was again met with louder applause, this time the women joining in on the excitement.

"Therefore, eat hardy now, for with lord Eodwine's permission the games will begin after breakfast!" Lithor couldn't help himself from cheering along with the people as he began to step down from his stool.

"Oh, and it any of you men want to participate in the games today just tell me and I'll take care of it."

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine and Degas came back to the kitchen where they found Crabannan, Kara, Ginna, and Naín.

"Good morning Kara, is Saeryn inside?" Rowenna and Nydfara walked in as Eodwine asked his question, which was unsettling for at least two reasons: so far these two had stayed far from each other, and here they were walking together apparently exchanging familiar conversation; and Rowenna had come in just in time to hear him ask after Saeryn. Were the two women rivals fying for him as potential husband? He was not even sure that was so; still, he was unsettled.

Before Kara could reply, the irrepressible Lithor bounded in and stood on a stool and began to make an announcement that Eodwine should have made himself, but having been occupied with so much else, was glad that Lithor had taken the initiative. He would have to reward him later. By the time Lithor had finished, Harreld and Erbrand had arrived, and there was much talk about who would best whom in which games.

Kara did manage to inform Eodwine in the midst of the chatter that Saeryn was with Frodides inside. Eodwine motioned for Degas to precede him into the kitchen. Rowenna followed them in and set the side of meat where it was needed, then left.

Frodides looked up (Saeryn's back was to them). "Ah, look who we have here!"