Post by Tallaith on Dec 2, 2010 20:24:11 GMT -5
With a satisfied smile, the lass pushed away her breakfast plate and settled back in her chair to watch the other girl continue to devour a moutainous pile of eggs, bread, and bacon. Cay sipped her tea quietly, waiting for her guest to come up for air from her meal. At last, Tallaith mopped up her plate with a crust of toast and seemed sated, at least for the moment. She, too, rocked back in her seat by the fireplace in the great hall's little study.
"Thanks again for inviting me..." Tally seemed at a loss as to what to do about her greasy hands and Ceallian immediately produced a napkin for her. "I'm not real sure why you wanted to talk to me though." Her smile was crooked in confusion, but seemed genuinely friendly.
Cay laughed, taking another long drink of tea. "You are quite unique."
Snorting, Tallaith said, "I hear that a lot. But not many folks invite me to stay in their great houses and have supper AND a bath AND a nice feather bed, and then breakfast! Almost makes me wonder if you're up to something."
"Once I might have answered that I am always 'up to something' but not so much of late. In fact, I have been trying quite hard to keep myself out of 'something.'" The minstrel's expression was carefully neutral but the gleam in her eyes was very sharp in the firelight.
Tallaith took her time thinking this over, watching the grey dawn through the hazy window of the study. Outside the air was crackling cold, just beginning to smell like the start of winter. She wasn't one to take chances by accepting the generosity of strangers, but Adador had brought here here once before and assured her that she was quite welcome. In any case, at least the bed here was softer and warmer than any she could manage to arrange for herself... usually. She smiled as her hand moved secretively to her innermost pocket, tucked deeply into the folds of fabric gathered at the hip of her dress. A gold coin, more money than she'd ever had in her life, slept quietly there.
"I guess I should be blunt, then." Tallaith leaned forward minutely, appraising the other girl with an almost equally adept measure of subtle scrutiny. "What do you want from me?"
Cay had always heard that she could be infuriatingly obtuse and evasive. She tried to temper this down as she dealt with her guest but couldn't help but answer a question with another question. "How old are you?"
"Well, that's a bit personal, ain't it? But since you let me stay in this fine house..." Tallaith debated for half an instant about lying to the minstrel, but something about the other girl's attitude almost forbid it. "I'm seventeen. In two months." She added this last bit on sheepishly, as if it would help enhance her maturity.
Ceallian didn't seem surprised, or as if she'd scold Tallaith for her short life. "I was a little younger than you are when I left home. That has been... Well, I suppose close to five years now. I have traveled so many roads..." She shook her head, cutting herself off from rambling. "Do you have any family?"
"No, none... Wait, I asked you what you wanted." Tallaith's eyes narrowed very slightly as she crossed her arms.
"I actually live just up the lane from this house. It does not belong to me." Cay tried phrasing her thoughts as best as she could, but her mind was still stumbling over what she knew she had to say. "I mean... it does, but it does not. I keep this hall for my companions. I have heard you know a few of them.
"I am tired of traveling. I have a son at home that I do not see sometimes for weeks when I have to be away. For five years now all I have dreamed of is staying in my own little home and brewing beer, perhaps teaching some music lessons. But war,
and my duty to my friends, has prevented it."
Tallaith shook her head. "It's like you're talking in riddles, but not very good ones. Can you be plain with me please? I'm sure I have somewhere to be right now... I'm probably late, actually."
Cay bit her lip before continuing. "You are a thief, I have heard, and an orphan. I know more about you than you can imagine, but please understand my curiousity has never been from bad intentions! Only... You seem to have so much potential. For either very, very great good works, or very, very great bad deeds. I hate to see anyone ruin themselves because they see no other path in life. I want to make you... a business offer."
The younger girl's face bloomed pink in something like anger, but quickly the heat faded and she nodded, trying to still her own racing thoughts. "Fine. What do you want?"
Cay paused a long moment, taking her time in finding something tucked into the belt of her gown. She placed a silver ring with a handful of keys looped around it onto the scarred desk between them, making sure to avoid any of the leftover breakfast dishes.
"I want you to take my place. At least for now... I want to rest some and watch my son grow. I want you to be the mistress of this house and the leader of my companions."
"You're bloody shitting me." Tallaith rocked back in her seat laughing, though the sound was wry and almost humorless. "This is cruelty!" She began to rise from the chair so quickly she almost turned it over backwards.
Ceallian held up one slender hand and something in the gesture froze the other girl before she could take one step away. The minstrel's eyes were clear, serene, and unchanging as those of a marble carving. "No. I have never been more sincere in my life. I give you this chance. This choice, rather. To either be very, very good, or very, very bad. To live in light or in darkness. Though... it is hard, very much harder than you can likely imagine, to be in my place."
"Wh-what do I have to do?" Tallaith's voice was very small, almost a child's frightened whisper.
"I can explain all the little details to you at your leisure, for there is no real hurry, eie faeme. This war will not end soon, nor will the folks who gather here stop knocking at the door. But your most important duty will be to bring light to any road, to any person who needs it. Do you understand?"
A dozen smart replies rose to Tallaith's lips, varying from mocking Cay's simplicity to accusing her of being some kind of hustler. But she spoke none of them, because she truly did understand what the other girl was talking about. So instead, she asked the only other thing she could think of.
"Is it lonely? To do what you do?"
Ceallian nodded slowly, casting her eyes down to the tepid tea swirling in her cup. "Sometimes it is very lonely. People adore me... others despise me. I trust everyone... and no one trusts me. It is dangerous, too. You will have to learn to bear a blade, as distasteful as you may find it, as I did as well. I have killed... men. Elves, dwarves, hobbits... Fair creatures, and countless fell. I am so tired... but I am so afraid to leave my companions alone. Do you understand what I want from you?"
Tallaith collapsed, almost bonelessly, back into her seat. Her face was pale, but her features stern, as she nodded. "Act in your place. But what if I can't do it? I can't do these things you've done... I've never really hurt anyone in my life. Most folks see me and think I'm a cutpurse, or something even worse."
"That is why you are unique. I have heard little whispers of you since you came to Bree. I know all about your family, your brother, the things you have lost and the very few you have gained to replace them. I see strength in you, as thin as a spun wire of mithril. You will not break, but I know you will be afraid many times. I always was. But if you accept, you will have friends to help you. And always me to come to. I do live just up the lane." Cay's smile was gentle.
Tallaith turned her eyes again to the frosted window. In four day's time, she'd met someone who opened her heart in ways she never anticipated, gained a wealth she had only dreamed of, and now had a future offered to her that she never expected. Minutes passed silently, aside from the soft mellowing of the embers in the fire. Cay's tea almost completely cooled as the minstrel waited patiently for the younger girl's answer.
Slowly, almost fearfully, Tallaith reached over the desk and took the keyring. She held it in her fingertips as if she was touching something scorching hot, or perhaps distastefully filthy, but after half a breath of debate, the keys disappeared into one of the many pockets of her dress. Her smirk was the only real answer Ceallian needed to have.
"Thanks again for inviting me..." Tally seemed at a loss as to what to do about her greasy hands and Ceallian immediately produced a napkin for her. "I'm not real sure why you wanted to talk to me though." Her smile was crooked in confusion, but seemed genuinely friendly.
Cay laughed, taking another long drink of tea. "You are quite unique."
Snorting, Tallaith said, "I hear that a lot. But not many folks invite me to stay in their great houses and have supper AND a bath AND a nice feather bed, and then breakfast! Almost makes me wonder if you're up to something."
"Once I might have answered that I am always 'up to something' but not so much of late. In fact, I have been trying quite hard to keep myself out of 'something.'" The minstrel's expression was carefully neutral but the gleam in her eyes was very sharp in the firelight.
Tallaith took her time thinking this over, watching the grey dawn through the hazy window of the study. Outside the air was crackling cold, just beginning to smell like the start of winter. She wasn't one to take chances by accepting the generosity of strangers, but Adador had brought here here once before and assured her that she was quite welcome. In any case, at least the bed here was softer and warmer than any she could manage to arrange for herself... usually. She smiled as her hand moved secretively to her innermost pocket, tucked deeply into the folds of fabric gathered at the hip of her dress. A gold coin, more money than she'd ever had in her life, slept quietly there.
"I guess I should be blunt, then." Tallaith leaned forward minutely, appraising the other girl with an almost equally adept measure of subtle scrutiny. "What do you want from me?"
Cay had always heard that she could be infuriatingly obtuse and evasive. She tried to temper this down as she dealt with her guest but couldn't help but answer a question with another question. "How old are you?"
"Well, that's a bit personal, ain't it? But since you let me stay in this fine house..." Tallaith debated for half an instant about lying to the minstrel, but something about the other girl's attitude almost forbid it. "I'm seventeen. In two months." She added this last bit on sheepishly, as if it would help enhance her maturity.
Ceallian didn't seem surprised, or as if she'd scold Tallaith for her short life. "I was a little younger than you are when I left home. That has been... Well, I suppose close to five years now. I have traveled so many roads..." She shook her head, cutting herself off from rambling. "Do you have any family?"
"No, none... Wait, I asked you what you wanted." Tallaith's eyes narrowed very slightly as she crossed her arms.
"I actually live just up the lane from this house. It does not belong to me." Cay tried phrasing her thoughts as best as she could, but her mind was still stumbling over what she knew she had to say. "I mean... it does, but it does not. I keep this hall for my companions. I have heard you know a few of them.
"I am tired of traveling. I have a son at home that I do not see sometimes for weeks when I have to be away. For five years now all I have dreamed of is staying in my own little home and brewing beer, perhaps teaching some music lessons. But war,
and my duty to my friends, has prevented it."
Tallaith shook her head. "It's like you're talking in riddles, but not very good ones. Can you be plain with me please? I'm sure I have somewhere to be right now... I'm probably late, actually."
Cay bit her lip before continuing. "You are a thief, I have heard, and an orphan. I know more about you than you can imagine, but please understand my curiousity has never been from bad intentions! Only... You seem to have so much potential. For either very, very great good works, or very, very great bad deeds. I hate to see anyone ruin themselves because they see no other path in life. I want to make you... a business offer."
The younger girl's face bloomed pink in something like anger, but quickly the heat faded and she nodded, trying to still her own racing thoughts. "Fine. What do you want?"
Cay paused a long moment, taking her time in finding something tucked into the belt of her gown. She placed a silver ring with a handful of keys looped around it onto the scarred desk between them, making sure to avoid any of the leftover breakfast dishes.
"I want you to take my place. At least for now... I want to rest some and watch my son grow. I want you to be the mistress of this house and the leader of my companions."
"You're bloody shitting me." Tallaith rocked back in her seat laughing, though the sound was wry and almost humorless. "This is cruelty!" She began to rise from the chair so quickly she almost turned it over backwards.
Ceallian held up one slender hand and something in the gesture froze the other girl before she could take one step away. The minstrel's eyes were clear, serene, and unchanging as those of a marble carving. "No. I have never been more sincere in my life. I give you this chance. This choice, rather. To either be very, very good, or very, very bad. To live in light or in darkness. Though... it is hard, very much harder than you can likely imagine, to be in my place."
"Wh-what do I have to do?" Tallaith's voice was very small, almost a child's frightened whisper.
"I can explain all the little details to you at your leisure, for there is no real hurry, eie faeme. This war will not end soon, nor will the folks who gather here stop knocking at the door. But your most important duty will be to bring light to any road, to any person who needs it. Do you understand?"
A dozen smart replies rose to Tallaith's lips, varying from mocking Cay's simplicity to accusing her of being some kind of hustler. But she spoke none of them, because she truly did understand what the other girl was talking about. So instead, she asked the only other thing she could think of.
"Is it lonely? To do what you do?"
Ceallian nodded slowly, casting her eyes down to the tepid tea swirling in her cup. "Sometimes it is very lonely. People adore me... others despise me. I trust everyone... and no one trusts me. It is dangerous, too. You will have to learn to bear a blade, as distasteful as you may find it, as I did as well. I have killed... men. Elves, dwarves, hobbits... Fair creatures, and countless fell. I am so tired... but I am so afraid to leave my companions alone. Do you understand what I want from you?"
Tallaith collapsed, almost bonelessly, back into her seat. Her face was pale, but her features stern, as she nodded. "Act in your place. But what if I can't do it? I can't do these things you've done... I've never really hurt anyone in my life. Most folks see me and think I'm a cutpurse, or something even worse."
"That is why you are unique. I have heard little whispers of you since you came to Bree. I know all about your family, your brother, the things you have lost and the very few you have gained to replace them. I see strength in you, as thin as a spun wire of mithril. You will not break, but I know you will be afraid many times. I always was. But if you accept, you will have friends to help you. And always me to come to. I do live just up the lane." Cay's smile was gentle.
Tallaith turned her eyes again to the frosted window. In four day's time, she'd met someone who opened her heart in ways she never anticipated, gained a wealth she had only dreamed of, and now had a future offered to her that she never expected. Minutes passed silently, aside from the soft mellowing of the embers in the fire. Cay's tea almost completely cooled as the minstrel waited patiently for the younger girl's answer.
Slowly, almost fearfully, Tallaith reached over the desk and took the keyring. She held it in her fingertips as if she was touching something scorching hot, or perhaps distastefully filthy, but after half a breath of debate, the keys disappeared into one of the many pockets of her dress. Her smirk was the only real answer Ceallian needed to have.