Lodging in the Inn of the Yew Bow

[Toriana Demshar]

Toriana slipped off her horse and tied it to a wooden post inside the stables provided. She patted its head, then removed a bag that was attached to the horse's side. "Be good," She said, lifting the heavy bag down. Toriana carried the parcel of her belongings with her as she approached the tall door leading to the Inn of the Yew Bow. She set down the bag and with a push of her hand, tried to open the door, yet it wouldn't budge. With a second, more heaving shove, Toriana tried again, yet it was apparent the door was locked. "Aha," she said to herself, chuckling softly, as she saw a small sign posted next to the doorframe: Please knock and the inn master will attend to your business shortly.

She knocked, of course, and a wooden square about eye level in the door opened and an old elf peered through. "Your name? Your business?" The elf seemed a bit grumpy for what Toriana had thought elves to be. With a sweet and light voice, she replied, "My name is Toriana Demshar of Ealdor, my lord, and I wish to stay here at the inn for a time." The man glared at her with one evil looking eye, then opened the door. With a surprising smile, he showed her inside and led her to a room upstairs. "There you be, my lady. Enjoy your stay."

Toriana flung her bag onto her bed and sat plumply down on the rough and irritable mattress. She planted her face in her hands and sighed. She felt utterly alone now...still only a young girl of 18....and though she had intentionally run away from her father, she was still lonely. Hopefully she would soon meet some of the mythical and beautiful elves she had long dreamed of encountering.

[Blaen]

"What is all that racket?" Quite an astonishing sound had been made that had awoken Blaen. He was sleeping across the hall from the newest Innmate. (OOC: sorry, couldn't resist the pun)

As he opened his door he saw to his left the Inn keeper heading downstairs to help clean up the fallen dishes and right in front of him he happened to see a door closing slowly. As his curiosity grew, he stepped closer to the door. He knocked once as he turned the handle and opened the door.

"Er...my apologies miss. I was merely curious as to who had taken up lodgings in this fine establishment. If you have no objections I will...er... excuse myself. Sorry for the inconvience. Perhaps at a later time we can get to know each other. Please forgive me."

[Toriana Demshar]

Toriana heard a knock at her door, and excitedly sprung off her bed and ran to the door to see who mysteriously had noticed her check into the inn moments ago. Was it a fair elf of the east? Was it a little hobbit master? Or maybe it was one of those tough and tastefully filthy rangers from the north....

She slowly opened the door with great anticipation, eager to meet the first person other than that old grumpy inn keeper in the forests. To her surprise, it was a tall and lean man that was rather cute in a rugged ranger sort of way. She said in a tone that was slightly more professional than she normally used, for safety's sake. "Inconvenience? No.." she smiled, "I am glad that someone has come to visit me. I was afraid I would be all alone during my stay in these beautiful woods. My name is Toriana Demshar, and I am from Ëaldor."

[Blaen]

OOC: I'm a man...lol it's cool

"From Ëaldor you say? What did you say your name was? Demshar?" Blaen became thoughtful. "Yes, I've heard the name before..." Immediately he had noticed he hadforgotten his manners. "Please, excuse me. My name is Blaen Eledhwen. I've been through Ëaldor, several times. In fact, the last time I was there was merely several weeks ago. How is it you came by a place like this? It's fortunate that we should meet."

"Er....Though it is getting on in the night I am interested to hear about your travels and your life in Ëaldor, the realm of men. I also have a few stories I would like to share..."

[Toriana Demshar]

OOC: Sorry!! I fixed it though

BIC:
"Pleased to meet you, Master Blaen. Yes, Ëaldor is a beautiful place...I grew up there," Her voice became soft and quiet as she began to speak about home, but then when she avoided that topic, her springy voice came back. "It is rather fortunate that we both found our way to these beautiful forests. I'm still trying to get used to all the beauty in these parts!" He asked if she would spend some time with him so he could talk to her longer. She grinned. This was the first encounter that really made her feel welcome in the forests. Someone who understood her home and was someone who wasn't an elf.

"Sure, of course," she said, "I'd be happy to hear your stories. Would you like to come in?" She moved back away from the doorway, allowing him to walk into the humble yet lovely looking room.

[Blaen]

Blaen entered the room and sat down on a cushiony couch. He sank a few inches. "Well, thank you. Yes, Ëaldor, I've only been there once but it was for an extended period of time. If you did not notice from my attire I...am a ranger, a wanderer by some...." He frowned "So, as you can guess an extended period of time is merely several months for myself. I have traveled many places this being possibly the most inviting. Tell me, where exactly did you reside in Ëaldor? You look so familiar....Perhaps my mind is merely playing tricks on me."

Blaen made a movement to invite her to sit next to him to talk. He hoped he would be able to be friends quickly. Time was running out. . . . .and she was rather cute.

[Toriana Demshar]

Toriana noticed his subtle invitation to get her to sit down next to him. She accepted, and plopped down onto the pillowy couch, eager to continue their conversation. She had had been out of the social scheme for a while, and it felt good to be back speaking with someone who knew of home.

Toriana answered his question happily. "In Ëaldor, that's where I grew up, I lived with my father up on the hilltop where you could look over the whole town. It wasn't far up where the king and his ministry lived, but it was still up there! Oh, it was so beautiful...I sure regret leaving, but it was a choice I couldn't deny. I had to leave." He said that she seemed familiar to him. She pulled a tassel of golden hair and began to twirl it between her fingers. "Familiar? Hmm...maybe. But I really don't think we've met before. I've never really spoken with a ranger before." She had a look of excitement and childish glee on her face, apparently due to the fact she was finally speaking with a ranger.

[Blaen]

Blaen laughed. "You're right. We've never met before. Were that the case I would remember your hair much more vividly. . .Truly I miss Ëaldor. The denizens there were kind people, ones that are to be admired for their courtesy." He paused. "I remember the hill you speak of. In fact it was place where I could retreat from the bustle of the city."

Blaen paused and almost continued when he, without meaning to, entered into a trance. As he thought to himself he made notice of the beauty of Toriana's blonde hair. It complimented her in such a way that she was staggering. He hadn't entirely noticed before. . .but now that he did. . . . . .He became aware of his surroundings when Toriana mentioned something about him being a ranger. ". . .er. . .yes, I am a ranger. I left Ëaldor because of that reason. I had to return to the forests. There is just so much here that can not be experienced within stone walls. . ."

[Toriana Demshar]

Toriana stood up off of the sofa and went over to a small desk where her bags were sitting. As she listened to Blaen speak to her, she started unpacking and pulling out various things. She hung up some nice dresses in an armoire by the window, then pulled out some small pewter and glass figurines of animals and people and set them on a small shelf above the desk. As she unpacked, she chatted with Blaen. "Wow, really a ranger...that's so fascinating! Yes, these forests really are something, aren't they? It's like living in a myth. It's like I've been kept inside a cage all my life just living in Ëaldor and not even going out to see what else there is in this world. I still can't believe I've actually seen an elf...I wasn't completely sure they existed!" She laughed. She looked back behind her and noticed Blaen making occasional glances up at her. She smiled and shrugged, not thinking twice about it.

[Blaen]

As Toriana was unpacking Blaen watched and talked. He continued on about being a ranger and being raised by not only elves but men as well. "Elves? Ha! Of course they exist. Surely they do. Though I must admit, they are mysterious. It's refreshing to have a friend who doesn't always speak in riddles." He laughed "I've been around that too long..." He continued to chuckle until he saw Toriana shift something around. He could tell she tried to hide it so that he wouldn't notice. It blinked at him once by reflecting the light in the room then disappeared underneath the cloth it was wrapped in. Blaen came to his feet quickly. "Toriana, what was that?" She tried to act as though nothing there but Blaen's curiosity was at a peak. "It. . .was gorgeous. What was it?"

[Toriana Demshar]

Toriana kept unpacking and quickly pulled out a small pendant attached to a silver chain. The pendant was a gold circle, and hanging inside was a small glass bead containing some sort of sparkling blue jewel that seemed to glow. However, she stuck it beneath a fold of soft velvet before Blaen could really see it. He asked what it was, apparently interested. "Oh, it's, um, it's nothing, Blaen. Just another one of my figurines..,"she lied. She thought to herself, "I can't let him see it. Why did I let him see it? Why did they give this to such a silly little girl like me?!" She smiled and then tucked it away in a bag, sticking it in the armoire, next to her sword. She thought to herself again. "Who is this man? Can I trust him? He seems to friendly but he is still a stranger. Well, I suppose I will see. He's the only thing to a friend I've got in these forests right now."

[Blaen]

"Ah, I see..." Blaen could feel she was lying to him. He knew a simple figurine would never shine like that. But he did not want to force the issue and ruin everything bit of friendship he had earned this night. "Well, perhaps it is too late to be up and discussing these things. I believe I will retire to my room for the night. Perhaps we will be able to talk tomorrow." Blaen smiled as he stood. He moved to the door slowly hoping she would ask him to stay. He did not want to leave but thought that she might possibly want to sleep at least an hour this night. Blaen moved to the door slowly and patiently. As he grabbed the door handle he began to shut the door. She still said nothing. Blaen then decided she was going to say nothing and removed himself to his own room. He happened to have Toriana's and his own door open. He hoped that she would still want to say something but...it was looking very uncertain now.......

[Toriana Demshar]

Toriana turned back around to see Blaen heading for the door. He said goodbye, then found himself going through the passageway into the hall, to then find his own room. "But so soon?" Toriana thought, a little disappointed that Blaen was leaving so quickly. She didn't really want him to go, she didn't really want to be alone. But, because it was late, Blaen had to go and sleep for a while. However, Toriana spoke up, uncertain if he would hear. "You sure you want to go? It's kind of dark and scary now that the sun has gone down in such a foreign place. Perhaps you will accompany me for a while more?" She felt stupid, and so she tucked behind her door, pretending like he didn't hear.

[Blaen]

Blaen, after entering his room, had stayed near the door to hear if Toriana would say anything to invite him back to her room. He heard a faint whisper. Blaen only caught parts of it, but understood the statement. He entered the hall once more. He knocked again on her door.

Toriana opened the door but seemed embarrased. Understanding possibly why Blaen tried to ease her discomfort by saying "I decided that I don't want to be alone tonight. It can become uncomfortable in these rooms alone." He smiled at her and noticed she was smiling as well. "So tell me Toriana," He sat once again on the couch in Toriana's room. "What other fancy artifacts have you brought from your homeland? Might I take a look?"

[Toriana Demshar]

"Oh, um, I have many things from home--now that I'm not really planning on going back so soon. I suppose you can take a look at them." Toriana walked over to the shelf and pulled down a small wooden box that was carved with beautiful images. She sat down next to him and opened the box carefully. Inside were various sorts of things. First, she pulled out a few pieces of rolled paper. "These are paintings of my family--when my mother was still alive. As you can see, I'm really young here, about 12." Then she pulled out some small pieces of stone, rather boring if you'd say so.

"These are not just rocks, my friend, these are fragments of the original Ealdorian fortress that was standing in the First Age. After the dark lord attacked our town, the fortress fell. An elf that was my father's friend kept a few pieces for memory." Then, she continued, "You can look through here carefully if you wish."