Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

Pele listened carefully to the description of plans for rescuing slaves Ava provided, and it seemed that she had given an plenty of thought to it, and both the zeal and good intentions behind it seemed genuine rather than an elaborate cover story for whatever possible illegal and harmful activities that could be hidden under it. No matter how interested she was in this, she had to agree with Arnyn who brought up the matter of what consequences there could be should Ava return home to Umbar. This was something that had to be decided rather urgently.

She looked from Arnyn and her seemingly dry list of facts and possible consequences to Tercen, seeing his eager defence of Ava. She breathed out a quiet sigh, as she looked back to the Umbarian. It would not help if she jumped to conclusions without addressing all concerns properly.

"Look, Tercen," she eventually decided to address Arnyn's brother first. "It is not even necessarily about Ava having done something wrong, for I would like to believe that she has not, or at least I am not aware of any such thing presently. Rather this should be seen as a matter of safety. A matter of life or death, if you will."

She then turned back to Ava, and spoke to her with calm gentleness in her voice: "My Lieutenant is right. You have suspicions of possible plans we might have regarding Umbar from whatever bits and pieces you have picked up, and that knowledge is indeed dangerous. Just like your own efforts and plans of saving people from slavery." Pele sighed once again, more deeply, before she continued: "You have seen the cruelty of your leaders yourself, and if the spies reported on you... Would you be able to withstand the torture you might be put through if the priest or his sons decided to come after you? And not say a single word? Trust me, it is an experience I would suggest you to avoid. Or they might kill you. If your offer of alliance and help is indeed earnest, I'd rather you remain alive and in one piece to carry out your intention. And Umbar might need you if there ever will be changes - it would take people like you to bring those about, to inspire, to show a different path. And the second point, as Lieutenant said, a point which concerns me greatly, is a chance that you might not be able to stand up to any horror they throw at you and unwillingly give up what little information you know about us. And no, you don't have to be a traitor to do that - things might escape under pressure and duress far exceeding the strength to resist, unless you are made of steel and rock. So... I would prefer to live, since I was given that chance, and I would like my Rangers to live - plans or no plans in works. And I would also prefer you to live."

"See?" Pele concluded her monologue and looked deeply into Ava's eyes for a good long moment, and then looked at all others present in turn. "This is indeed a matter of complexity, and it requires a feasible solution."

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion
When the Captain spoke his name, his expression clearly showed his dismay as he turned his attention to her. He was ready to argue back, ready to say that of course he knew it was a matter of life and death - and so did Ava, for that matter. Because her life was on the line, too! He opened his mouth to speak, but fell silent when the Captain addressed Ava. And said that Arnyn was right.

Sullenly, Tercen crossed his arms, glaring intermittently at both Arnyn and Pele. Yet Pele's words... as well as Arnyn's... started to sink in, in a very different way. Ava would be in so much danger, if she returned to Umbar. Unhappily, he chewed on his bottom lip.

"Think of it this way, brother," Arnyn said, sounding more gentle than before. "If Ava is being truthful with us, as we all hope that she is, and they find reason to question her after her return - the likelihood that they will kill her once they feel they have acquired all the information she has, is very great. You would lose her. And if there are plans concerning Umbar, you know me. You know I would be involved. Which could mean that whatever preparations Umbar makes against our plans, would lead to your loss of me, as well. And if there are no plans but they still choose to retaliate pre-emptively, that may also mean you lose me, given the limited names they could torture out of her."

Tercen stared at his sister for a long moment. "If, likelihood, could mean, may mean... there are a lot of maybe's in your story," he protested, though the volume of his voice had lowered substantially. Tercen's gaze flicked to the floor, before focusing on Ava. He leaned toward her from his own seat, reaching for her hands, which were both so daintily positioned on that folder in her lap. "Ava," he began, almost in a whisper. "Maybe... I mean... It would be a lot safer, for you, and apparently for Gondor too, if you chose to stay here." He didn't want to sound like he wanted to stifle her freedom, but... "Maybe you could stay?" he asked hopefully. His volume dropped some more. "Wouldn't you like to stay?" he all but whispered. With me. Wouldn't you like to stay with me?

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava was silent while first Arnyn, then Tercen, then Pele, then Arnyn and Tercen again, spoke. All the while she sat in silence, listening to everything that was said, with a sinking feeling in her stomach that kept getting worse. She swallowed silently as the talking went on. Tercen's protests about the thought of keeping her here.. was touching, that he would defend her. But she felt that he was not getting the severity of it. Arnyn's words were harsh, but true, and she put concerns into words much more than Ava had even considered.

She was not surprised to hear that there was still concern over whether she was being truthful, for how could she expect them to fully trust her when they had only just met her? She didn't blame them for that. But she did appreciate that they were open to the possibility that she was being sincere. And that they expressed concern over her, as well. Still. She listened with a sinking heart as they talked about what sort of threats she could be facing if she returned. As if she didn't know more than they, what sort of horrors could befall a person. A person who went against the Halsads, in particular.

As strong as she liked to believe herself to be, she also knew that she did not want to endure what would surely happen to her, if they found out about her. She met the captain's eyes steadily, but still remained silent for a while yet, as she thought about how to respond. Because the matter was a bit more complicated than they might realize.


On their side of the room, Gwestion and Gladhron remained silent as well. Gwestion was listening carefully to all that was said, thinking and wondering. Gladhron was feeling worse and worse as he realized the impact of his carelessly spoken words. He glanced over at Tercen, feeling really bad for his friend for being put in this dilemma, and wondered if there was anything at all that he could do to make it up to either he or Ava. There was nothing really to say, for either of them, however.


When Tercen turned to her, reaching for her hands, Ava did not resist, letting him take her hands. She looked at him, seeing how sincere he was in asking if she would like to stay. She bit her lip as she felt her heart wrenching. He had no idea how much she wanted that. 'Please don't make this harder for me.' But there was still one matter that needed bringing up. She squeezed his hands lightly and closed her eyes, drawing in a slow breath before turning back to the ranger officers.

"I can certainly see your dilemma, and I understand." She spoke calmly, trying not to portray the turmoil going on inside. "I do not blame you for your concerns, but there is another concern.. if I do not return." She looked at Arnyn, then Pele. Arnyn had already heard of this problem, though she may have forgotten, with everything else on her mind. "If I am gone for too long from my estate, I cannot know what might happen to it. To my staff... and the people sheltering there. Without me there.. I don't know how long they will be safe." She explained. "If I don't go back in time, I could lose my estate. It could be taken from me. And then all of those people I have been working to free.. could be in serious danger. All of those who work for me.. everything." She let out a slow breath and looked at Tercen. "I would like to," She admitted, her voice softening as she spoke to him. "I have had a wonderful time here, far better than I expected. You have no idea how much I want to stay," She sighed.

"But.. I have already been gone from home for a couple of weeks. Another few should be alright, but... how long are you asking me to stay?" She asked, looking at Arnyn again, and back to Pele. "And if I will not agree to stay, what then?" She wondered, curious what they would do. "Would you keep me against my will? Would you hold me under arrest?" She asked, curious what they would reply. "And for how long do you expect me to stay?"

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

Pele returned Tercen's glare calmly and then watched interactions between him and his sister, and then with Ava. She was not happy that he had ended up in the middle of this mess, but now there was no way around it.

"Right," Pele muttered when Ava explained concerns from her point of view. In her concern for her own Rangers she had not considered that Ava had a property, and people there. With those who hold any power in Umbar being like a crowd of vultures they would certainly want to grab what was hers if there was such an opportunity. It had not taken long for Relic's heritage to become an object of such in-fighting apparently, as soon as it became clear that she would not return. She felt that she should not disregard Ava's wellbeing and livelihood back home, even if she could not be wholly sure if she could trust her, and yes - the people there.

Pele shook her head and held back another sigh. "I certainly could lock you up somewhere, Ava," she mentioned. "But it would not really solve everything long-term, would it now?" She considered the time restraints and realised that it might be too much to ask the Umbarian to stay in the city willingly till springtime. "So you are saying that the most you could afford to be away is another couple of weeks so as not to endanger your estate and your people?" she then sought to clarify. It was too short of a time to manage much; however, she was determined to find a workable solution if one existed.

"I am not willing to give up my concerns though," she then spoke again. "If you return, how would you even make sure that you are not snatched for questioning should spies report on you that you have been here? It may all seem to be at the level of maybes but the risk is very high. Would you constantly go about your daily life with a capable contingent of guards around you? Do you even have trained guards?"

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava watched the captain, feeling a bit of her wariness returning, as the woman mentioned that she 'certainly could lock her up'. But, to her relief, she seemed to recognize that it would not solve everything. No, and as far as Ava was concerned, it would most definitely complicate matters. Still, from the sound of it, she did not intend to lock her up, so that was good. She let her shoulders relax slightly, which would not be that noticeable to most.

"Something like that, yes." She nodded regretfully to the guessed time frame. She still had not figured out what she would even do, once she did return home. Because she had meant it when she told Arnyn she didn't intend to give any further sacrifices. But she hoped to return home with some sort of solution, or hope for one. She still didn't know whether there would be any, however. But she felt that she could protect her people better if she was there, than if she were abroad. Either way, she could not in good conscience stay here enjoying herself while, for all she knew, her people could be being slaughtered because of her absence.

As for the captain's question, Ava had no immediate reply. She had no idea whether spies had seen her and reported back or not. So, she had no idea what she might return to. The last question, however, brought a wry smile to her lips. "I most certainly do have guards, at my estate." She assured Pele, also so that Tercen would be reassured. "Several of them, and very capable and well-trained guards, I might add. Not like the mindless idiots that Haarith employs," She added, watching Pele, wondering how aware she had been of those guards' shortcomings, back then. After a little hesitation, she added, "I keep my guards on their toes, in fact. I frequently test them to see whether they can keep out a skilled intruder. Over the years, they have become quite adept at preventing burglars, at least." She took a slow breath. "I do not know how well they could stand up against the blood guard, should they come for me, but that is the very reason I have employed such security for my estate." She glanced briefly at Arnyn. She knew why that was. Ava did not wish to speak about her father's death here, with these others present.

"As for getting home," Ava paused. "I had planned on spending some time with Tercen in Ithilien, before I return. And then, my plan was to travel up the coast in a small ship, which is how I traveled here in the first place. My estate is actually a few miles outside the city." She added. "It overlooks the coast, and I had intended on getting off the ship at the closest point to it, then go the rest of the way on foot to return to my home.. hopefully unnoticed. So that way, my hope was that no one from the city would know for sure when I actually returned." She explained. "In that way, I would entirely avoid both the harbor and the city.. and therefore, most of the danger." She considered for a moment. "I suppose, if necessary, I could send someone to find out what the situation is, there, before I returned, but.." She realized that there weren't really any of her people left to send, except for Edwyrd, and he had intended to stay behind and ready the house in Pelargir, once it was purchased. "I don't know." She ended, giving a small shrug.

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion
Tercen had been hopeful, when Ava had let him take her hands. Hopeful, that she would be open to staying. That she would want to stay. That she would tell him yes. He had imagined it so many times by now, he'd started seeing it as an actual possibility.

When Ava closed her eyes, however, his heart sank. She was going to turn him down. His hold on her hands loosened as his own gaze fell to the floor. He didn't care that everyone in the room had heard his question. He didn't care that they were probably all smart enough to have noticed how important a question it was too him, either. He only cared about the answer he could already feel coming.

A bit disconnected from himself, he listened to her words. The explanations for why she could not stay for much longer. They made sense, of course, from her point of view. And from an idealist's point of view. Part of why he liked her. The way she cared for people. Yet this time it very much stood in the way of her own safety, her own survival. And as such, it very much stood in what he wanted for her, as well. Because he wanted her safe, first... And if he could be around her, that'd be a nice bonus, of course...
He swallowed - as if that would solve his dry mouth.

Ava turned back to him, then, to tell him she would like to stay; how she wanted to stay; how wonderful her time here had been so far. But it was clear she would not stay. He did not meet her gaze. Another few weeks. Another few weeks.

Another few weeks.


Arnyn nodded minutely when Ava looked to her and started talking about the safety of the people at her estate. She had not forgotten what Ava had told her about that, a few days ago. She had spent some time thinking about it, in fact. However, Arnyn wanted to hear Pele's thoughts, first. She was very interested in the Captain's reply to Ava's questions.

The Lieutenant frowned when Pele said locking Ava up would not really solve everything long-term. No single action would solve everything. Arnyn chose to disregard the comment. It just seemed to communicate that Pele was not willing to lock the Umbarian up, and that gave Arnyn some insight into Pele's thoughts, at least. She had not expected her friend to want to put Ava behind bars - not even after her personal experiences with Umbarians. The faintest hint of a smile touched Arnyn's lips. She was not exactly in favour of locking Ava up in some dungeon, herself. The fact of the matter was that Ava might prove an invaluable resource. If she truly did not mean them any harm. And while Arnyn could not be sure... yet... perhaps in a few weeks time, they might be. Locking Ava up now would likely sour relations entirely, even if Ava meant to turn things around in Umbar. It would probably quench any and all willingness to help them.

The Captain bounced back some questions to Ava, which made Arnyn look back at the dark-haired woman. The Lieutenant was intentionally holding herself back for a moment, letting the two converse between them. Pele's inquiries made sense. How would Ava make sure she was not taken in for questioning, if any of the powers that were in Umbar decided on its necessity? Did she have trained guards? Could and would they go with her everywhere she went? Arnyn already knew Ava had tight security at her estate, but it was interesting to learn more. Yet Arnyn also made note of the fact Ava had not answered Pele's question on whether or not she would take the guards with her everywhere she went.

The comment about going to Ithilien with Tercen, made draw in a deeper breath, though nothing showed outwardly of her current thoughts on that.


Meanwhile, Tercen glanced back at Ava, wondering if the way she spoke meant she was now no longer planning on doing that. No matter how badly he wanted to ask her about that, it seemed like such a bad time to interject.
But her plan of returning home sounded...


Arnyn frowned. It became too difficult to stay silent. I didn't really hold out for long, did I? "Who would be joining you in this journey home?" she asked, some skepticism shining through. "I have not seen any guards at your house, nor heard you speak of any of these guards coming with you, so I assume they did not. You were planning on journeying home alone? With your cook, perhaps? Your butler? Your housekeeper? How is this prudent? Unless the four of you also happen to be trained fighters?"

The Lieutenant's attention shifted to Pele. "We might consider the option of sending a few people with her," she suggested slowly. She had considered that possibility before this meeting. And while she did not speak her reasons out loud, not in front of Ava, Pele would surely realize such an avenue would open up some very interesting possibilities. It would allow them to scope out some parts of the city. The market. The harbour. The temple, even. If they did it right. The Lieutenant's gaze flicked back to Ava. "If we would send some of our rangers with you," she began, "would they be able to accompany you everywhere, anytime you leave your estate? Are any areas in Umbar restricted to.. personal bodyguards? Or..." She wasn't sure how to call it. "'A personal attendant?"


Tercen's eyes widened a little, and he straightened in his seat. His mind was hopping all over the place, and his heart was racing, while he waited for both the Captain's reaction to his sister's suggestion, as well as Ava's.

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava was waiting to hear the captain's reply, so she would know whether she would even be permitted to still go with Tercen, as planned. She couldn't help but fear that they might now tell her that she could not do that. It was why she had mentioned it in the first place, so if it was a problem, they could tell her now. But before the captain had a chance to make any comment, Arnyn asked her a few questions that drew her attention away from the Ithilien matter.

Turning to the lieutenant, Ava gave a shake of her head. "Alone." She told her. "Except for the small crew of the ship I mentioned. It is easier to sneak in unobserved, that way." She shrugged. "The staff at my house here, except for the butler, are local people that were hired just for the time that I am here. They will not be going with me back home. And my butler will be remaining in Pelargir, to prepare the recovery house once it is bought." She added.

Taking a slow breath, she explained a little concerning the matter of guards, "I brought escaped slaves with me when I came here. Some of those were in the guise of 'bodyguards', and some were disguised to appear as if they were handmaids, that sort of thing. Twenty was the most I felt I could reasonably pass as an entourage for traveling. Since the goal was to bring them here, it would be counter-productive to bring them back with me." She shrugged.

When the lieutenant suggested that they might send people with her, Ava blinked in surprise. They would trust her with some of their people? She listened with amazement as Arnyn mentioned the possibility of sending rangers with her, while also thinking about how useful that could be for this shared goal. She could show them various useful things. She could point out key people... She was still slightly reeling from the suggestion, when the lieutenant asked whether they could accompany her everywhere she went. She blinked again, focusing on answering the question, rather than the possibilities that this could offer.

"At home, if I make a trip into town.. without being in disguise that is.. I am always accompanied by servants and bodyguards." She answered thoughtfully. "It isn't uncommon for the rich to do that, so it would not really raise any eyebrows." She paused. "Although... I was not really thinking of leaving my estate once I had got there, until I knew whether there was any danger to me, however." She added, a little unsure how she would be able to find that out, however.

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

"It is good that they are much better at their job," Pele said when Ava explained that her guards were better than Haarith's. While she had been overpowered by sheer muscle power, apparently the guards did lack wits to follow their dogs' guidance - for which Pele was certainly happy else she would have ended up as dog food. She thought to herself that handling burglars and blood guards might certainly require different skills, or at least upgraded skills for the latter. "Estate outside the city might make it safer than stuck smack dab in the middle of it, I suppose," Pele considered the new information, yet not forming any sort of a complete conclusion, nor did she say anything with regards to Ava's plans to visit Tercen. Not yet.

When Arnyn suggested sending Rangers with Ava, Pele could not help but furrow her brow in reaction. Willingly sending people into Umbar? With Ava, when she was not even convinced she could trust this woman that much. And then go and leave her people's lives in this Umbarian's hands? Besides, it would be highly dangerous, and she was not sure the risks were acceptable, even when she could see some possible advantages.

Supporting her left elbow on the armrest of the chair, Pele rested her chin in her hand as she watched Ava curiously. If she read it correctly the woman did not seem opposed to an idea of Rangers assigned to her, did not see it as some sort of restrictive measure.

"Assuming that was an option," she eventually said rather evasively, feeling rather overwhelmed by all the sudden information and problems. She needed a moment or two to think, so instead of making an instant decision she went for yet another question. "Very risky. But so is every other option. But say, Ava, how would you even know if someone was after you? I bet they prefer to spring surprise attacks rather than announce an official visit. Would they try to overpower you and your guards on the street by greater numbers?"

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion
Ava still intended to go back to Umbar, alone. From the ship, to her estate. The thought made Arnyn frown while she glanced at Pele. The Lieutenant resisted shaking her head, and ended up only moving it a fraction before stilling once more. Ava meant to sneak in, alone. Arnyn reminded herself that Ava had spoken of how she broke into other people's houses - or rather, estates. It should be much easier to sneak into her own. It was more the way from the ship to the estate itself that bothered Arnyn. Not to mention the sea voyage itself. For if anyone had seen Ava here, who shouldn't... They might just find a way to board that very same ship. And then there would be no one to watch out for danger while the woman slept. Everyone had to sleep.

To hear that Ava was generally accompanied by servants and bodyguards when she went into the city of Umbar... that was good. It would not mean a change. It would even be deemed normal. Arnyn's eyes narrowed thoughtfully when Ava claimed she had not intended to leave the estate once she had returned home, unless she could be sure she was not in any danger. Wouldn't Pharak demand a sacrifice shortly upon her return? Given that Ava told her he demanded them regularly, and Ava clearly had to be home in time for something... And Ava had already told her that the priest demanded her attendance, when he sacrificed her... tribute. How was Ava planning to even get out of that? Pele's questions kept her from asking, however. She would wait for Ava to answer those, first. Even though she could guess at them.
She could guess that Ava had no real way of knowing, until she risked herself. She could guess that any way to get to Ava would be alright for the blood priest (or anyone who meant her harm for that matter), if he wanted to get at her.

Once Ava had answered Pele's questions, Arnyn cleared her throat. "Captain," she said, "perhaps I might speak with you privately for a moment? If the others will agree to wait outside the office for a moment?" Her brown eyes regarded the brothers first, then her own brother and Ava second and third.


Tercen's eyes flicked between the Captain, Arnyn and Ava. Arnyn was considering sending people with Ava. And Ava, she... well, she looked a little stunned at that. And when she replied, she did not seem opposed. To the contrary, she seemed intrigued! A flicker of hope sprang up in his heart.

The Captain seemed curious more than anything else, but did not yet say whether she approved of Arnyn's idea. Tercen shifted in his seat at the Captain's questions. All such ominous questions. While he appreciated they needed to prepare for the worst case scenario, there was also the chance that it would not all turnout so bleakly.

Ava could not stay. But maybe... maybe... he could...

At Arnyn's request to speak with the Captain in private, he blinked, and glanced first to the Captain, then to Ava. What would she say to that? He wouldn't mind... He wanted to ask Ava something, actually, and he would rather ask her without the scrutiny of the two ranger officers upon them. His attention shifted to Arnyn, and he nodded slightly, to indicate he was alright with that, for one.

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava nodded, agreeing that it was indeed good. She did not feel like going into the training regime they underwent, to ensure they were all at their best when it came to the defense of the estate. Nor the reason for why she felt the need for such security. She did nod, however, when Pele mentioned that the location of the estate would be a bit safer than if it were inside the city.

Yet, given the captain's response, she gathered that she was not as favorable to the idea of sending rangers with her, than the lieutenant was. Ava could understand that, for she had been quite surprised by the suggestion. And she knew that Pele did not really know her. Even Arnyn did not know her all that well, so Ava had certainly not expected her to make such a suggestion. She understood the concern over the risk it would involve to their people.

Pele's questions then left her thoughtful. How would she know? She hesitated. "I don't know." She answered at last. "I thought, perhaps, when I get home, I might find out if there have been any rumors going around, that might be a warning flag. Or, if there have been anyone asking for me to explain anything. Or summons..." She shrugged, unsure how to properly explain how she thought she might find out.

As for the danger... "It's hard to say." She answered softly. "There have been some who were taken from their homes in the middle of the night," Her gaze strayed briefly to Arnyn before returning to the captain. "to be made an example of, later. So that the others of the city can see what happens to heretics.. those who turn away from the Temple and its beliefs." She explained. "I would like to believe that my guards could hold them off and keep them out of the property. There have also been some who were poisoned... so that he could say that the dark lord had punished them for their unbelief, or some nonsense like that." She drew a breath. "Getting grabbed from the streets is certainly a possibility, as well."

When Arnyn asked to speak privately with Pele, Ava blinked. Part of her wanted to know what the lieutenent wanted to say to her, but she gave a slow nod. "Alright.." There was a trace of curiosity in her tone, but she didn't ask any questions. She slowly rose from her seat, though gave a curious glance to Arnyn before she prepared to go out with the men. When Tercen opened the door for her, she gave him a little smile before stepping through.


Having sat quietly listening all this while, Gwestion and Gladhron stirred at last, when asked to step outside. "Of course." Gwestion stood up, followed by Gladhron, and they all went outside. Gladhron paused near Tercen once they had left the office and the door had been closed. "Hey, I'm.. really sorry.. I really didn't mean to cause all this trouble, for you or for her." He told him, very regretful now that he realized the whole picture. "I had no idea.."

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

Even though she questioned Ava in detail, Pele knew full well that none of them could anticipate every possible risk to prepare for it; at least it gave her time to think, and she observed that the Umbarian did not seem to avoid answering questions, for the most part, and answers seemed sincere. She was about to say something in response to Ava's answers but Arnyn intervened with a request for a private conference.

"Sure," she then simply said, and the others also did not appear to object.

Once they were alone and the door was closed, Pele stood and moved around the desk to settle against its edge lightly near to Arnyn and facing her, as she took to studying her with a slight tilt of head.

"What have you been up to, Nyn?" she asked, a small grin visiting her lips and lingering in her blue gaze.

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion
Pele's agreement was key. Arnyn wondered how indicative it was of the amount of trouble she was in with the Captain. Because she might think that Pele's agreement boded well, since she was giving Arnyn what she wanted. But, on the other hand, Pele might want to talk to Arnyn alone solely to reprimand her. For several things.

The others agreed as well, and Arnyn was relieved at how swiftly they stepped outside of the office. When the door closed behind the others, Pele stood and came to learn against her desk,watching her. Unexpectedly, Pele was... grinning. It reached her eyes, too. Surprised at that, Arnyn blinked.

"Well..." For a moment, she was not sure how to answer that question. "Too much, I gather," was the answer she settled on. "I seem to have dropped the ball. With Gladhron and Gwestion finding out enough here and there, for them to think a mission to Umbar might be in the works. I'm sorry," the Lieutenant said, honestly, bowing her head a little and dropping her gaze to the floor. "I can assure you, I did not mean to." She had been so careful with everyone and everything, for months now. Then the brothers waltzed into the city, and more or less ten days later they already suspected this much? It was downright embarrassing!

"Which then led to last night," she continued more quietly. "Not the first time in the past few days that a social gathering suddenly took an unexpected turn. When I met Ava just a few days ago, I thought I'd simply be meeting my brother's latest crush. Rare as such a meeting is. Then they spring her origins on me, and her plans. A social dinner turned into..." Arnyn sighed and raised her shoulders. "I don't know. Closer to an interrogation than anything else." She lifted her dark brown gaze back to Pele, finally. "I went back the next day, to find out more. I cannot be sure of her true intentions, for I haven't been able to verify any of her stories with third parties. But when she did tell me about setting free that woman from Gimlan's estate..." Arnyn smiled faintly at Pele. "Like I said, multiple reasons of why I already wanted to talk to you, about her. What happened that night, when she opened your cage... Her supposed plans to help slaves escape..." Arnyn raised her hands somewhat, before dropping them by her sides again.

"And then last night, Gladhron asked the worst possible thing. Now she at the very least suspects something is in the works. From the conversations she and I have had, I've learned she is no idiot, Pele. This is a problem. She seems sincere, but I have no way of knowing for sure. So we cannot just let her walk out of the city, where she might divulge the wrong information to the wrong people."

The Lieutenant held back a sigh. "After my morning training with Trastion, I paid a visit to the Guard Headquarters, and gave them Ava's description. They agreed to my request of not letting her leave the city. I also spoke with those who were already posted at the Great Gates. If she tries to leave, they will hold her at their headquarters and send word so we might retrieve her. I..." An intake of breath. "There was no time to coordinate with you first, or I would have. Both about my conversation with the guards and about these meetings today."

"And while I did not think Ava would run rather than agree to my summons here, I couldn't risk my instincts being off. Even though I more than realized, this morning, that she could have already left in the night. Or that she perhaps could have left by using some other way than the gates. She's admitted to breaking into and back out of people's homes, after all." Not here. But still.

"I already explained my reasons why it is a problem that Ava heard what she did. After being summoned here, she also knows we are taking it very seriously. Either we cannot let her go back... which she will fight. And if she does mean well, it will cost us an ally. Or - we have to monitor and steer her return as much as we can, by sending the right people with her. It doesn't seem like she will fight that," Arnyn added thoughtfully, with a glance at the door before returning her attention to Pele. "It's an option. One that is worth exploring seriously. Besides monitoring Ava's intentions, being more able to stop her from giving anyone information we don't want getting out, and being able to provide additional protection from anyone who might try to take her in for questioning, it could give us a huge planning advantage," she added, the wheels of her mind obviously turning. "I have been wishing for ways to get a proper look at things there, like the harbour, the market, the temple. It would be such an added value to our plans. It would highly increase the mission's odds for success."

At least... as long as they weren't found out or killed before the mission could even begin.


Tercen held the door for Ava and was planning on talking to her, right when Gladhron came up beside him and apologized. Tercen frowned a little as he looked at his friend, and actually looked sympathetic. "Good," he said. "It's good you're sorry." Then he put a hand on Gladhron's shoulder. "Now get over it and focus on what comes next." He offered Gladhron a little smile. "If you will excuse me," he told Gladhron emphatically, and after a small nod at Gwestion, Tercen approached Ava and gently clasped her hands, leading her a few yards away from the brothers.

"Listen," he began, speaking quietly as not to be overheard. "Even though it is obviously dangerous for you to return, I understand that you cannot stay for fear of what will happen to your estate but also the people under your wing," he began, "even though I very much want you to stay, because... the thought of your return worries me... and scares me. But also - I want to keep spending time with you. "

"But if you really cannot stay, if you really must go back..." His eyes glinted again, with that sparkle of hope. "Arnyn just said that they are considering sending people with you. Maybe I could--"*

He didn't get further than that, however.

*(agreed with Ava's writer)

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Gladhron smiled slightly, relieved that Tercen didn't seem to be so upset about the trouble he'd caused for his lady friend, that he decided to stop being friends with him. He gave a little nod in answer to Tercen, then went over to see what sort of scenery could be seen through a window on the other side of the hall there.

Gwestion frowned slightly, noticing his brother seemed to be avoiding him. He paused for a moment, then let out a quiet sigh and walked over. "You don't have to avoid me." He muttered softly, not sure how much voices might carry in the hallway.

"Who says I'm avoiding you?" Gladhron asked. "Look, a bird." He nodded to a tree outside. "I wonder if he's finding enough food for the winter?"

Gwestion spared a brief glance at the bright red bird perched on the tree branch, and refrained from rolling his eyes at the change of topic. "Do you at least see now, why it's important not to speak carelessly?" He asked, arms folded as he looked out the window, next to Gladhron.

"Is that your way of saying 'I told you so'?" Gladhron asked. "Cause, I don't really need that."

"Just wondering if you've actually learned, this time." Gwestion remarked, shrugging. "I mean, if the Haradrim woman didn't do it, and the con woman didn't do it, and the bandit woman..."

"Alright, I get it." Gladhron frowned. "Are you still mad?" He asked, glancing over at Gwestion.

He considered that, frowning thoughtfully. "I don't know if 'mad' is the right word. Upset.. frustrated.. maybe a little appalled to learn what you did.. and disappointed that you didn't even bother to give me any sort of warning about why we were being called in here?" He paused. "I have to say, Gladhron, if this was some sort of plan to force their hand into telling us something about the mission and getting us involved in it... you definitely should've run it by me first."

---

Ava thought it was nice of Gladhron to apologize, and offered a little smile in hopes of assuring him that she was not really upset at him, either. In fact, she thought his blunder may have been helpful, at least, she hoped that was how this would turn out. After he went over to the window, she turned to Tercen as he began to speak, listening, as he requested. And she was very relieved to hear that he understood the situation, at least as much as he could understand it, given the limited information he had about it. She intended to keep that information as limited as possible.

So, when he began to lead up to something, a little knot began to form in the pit of her stomach. No, please don't ask that, she thought. The knot grew and tightened as he went on. She knew, even before he got there, what he was going to ask. He wanted to be one of those who came with her. Inwardly, she felt her heart twist a little, both with regret for the fact that she would have to reject his request, and with sorrow, because she wished she could accept. "No," She cut him off before he even finished asking, shaking her head determinedly. "Absolutely not."

Realizing how harsh that may have sounded, she squeezed his hands lightly as she looked at him regretfully, trying to convey to him how much she wished it was otherwise. "I'm sorry, Tercen," She whispered. "You heard all of what they said, about the dangers. Yes, there is danger to me, but.." She drew a slow breath. "I would fear something may happen to you, because of me." Not to mention there were plenty of things she would rather he were not exposed to. "As long as these dangers exist there, I don't want you to be anywhere near there. I couldn't bear it if anything happened to you. Especially.. on account of me."

She bit her lip, hesitating. "Besides," She added softly. "When I am there, I must be able to maintain my.. outer shell," She dropped her gaze to their hands. "I must be on my guard there, and maintain a certain.. air." She tried to explain, unsure how to do so where he would properly understand. "I find that.. much more difficult, when I'm around you. You... cause me to lower my guard too easily." She gave a wry smile. "Perhaps that is why we're in this mess." She had slipped back into her natural accent because he had made her feel safe and comfortable enough to do so. And she had failed to remember to return to the fake one, after returning to the presence of Gladhron. Otherwise, he would not have recognized her accent, and.. well. Here they were.

@Rillewen
His eyes widened when she cut him off. His lips parted in mute shock. Of all the reactions he would have expected, this blunt refusal had not been among them. For a long moment, he had no words. All he could do was stare at her.

Had he misunderstood her? Had he misinterpreted her signs and words? He tried to swallow back the lump that had formed in his throat.

She was apologizing, then, and speaking of the dangers. His hands around hers slackened as he continued to stare at her. She was refusing him - because it was too dangerous? And because his presence has her lowering her guard??

"You want to protect me," he said, incredulous. "You know it's supposed to be the other way around, right? No matter how strong and intelligent and independent you are, the guy is still supposed to protect the lady! And while I take no issue with ladies also protecting their guys - I do take issue with being told what I can and cannot do. I would ask you, I would give my advice or opinion, I might try to convince you a few times - but I would never take a choice away from you."
"Am I refusing your right to choose to return?" he demanded of Ava. "No," he immediately replied emphatically. "I'm not. No matter how much I want to protect you and keep you safe, no matter how out of my mind terrified that I am about your saftey - I am not taking away your choice. But you would do such a thing to me? You would refuse my right to decide I want to go where you are going? You would take my choice away?"

His tone turned pleading then, instead of firey. "Ava," he supplicated her, "- Please. You do not want to stay,or cannot stay - whichever it is, it doesn't really matter - but that is one less option for us to be together then. Even though it is the only safe option for the both of us, you are saying that cannot happen." He took a deep breath. "The only other option that I can see, where we won't be separated for the Valar know how long, if for me to come with you. And I do want to go with you. You are going, despite the danger. So why can't I go, despite the danger?"

"Unless..." He stilled a moment as he searched her eyes, and continued more quietly. "Unless you don't want me to go because... this was a nice holiday fling for you, but that is where you want it to end?"

@Arnyn
Ava frowned, a little surprised at the way he reacted to what she had said. She had thought, after explaining how it was that she felt his presence might compromise her, that he would understand why she did not want him to come. He did not seem to understand, however. What's worse, he seemed to be.. offended. Maybe even hurt. She had not meant to do that, of course, but how could she possibly agree to let him come to such a place? He didn't even know what he might be getting himself into! She, at least, knew, or had some idea, what she might be returning to. She could prepare, mentally, physically, however necessary. But there were so many things about her home city that she didn't even want Tercen to be aware of, so how could she just agree to let him come there? "Of course I want to protect you!" She replied, her voice hushed despite the exclamation. It wasn't just about protecting him from harm, either. But how could she tell him that, without him getting further offended? Even his sister had agreed that it was best to shield him from certain details. But if he didn't understand what she was trying to explain about how he had some ability to make her relax her guard, then how could he possibly understand any of the rest, without her going into the details that she did not want to reveal to him?

She drew a slow breath, fighting a surge of temper when he all but accused her of taking away his choice in the matter. "It was not my intention to take away your choice." She frowned, her gaze flicked briefly past him to the ranger brothers to make sure that she and Tercen's discussion wasn't carrying. They seemed absorbed in their own discussion, fortunately. "Do you really think, after all that I've said I want to accomplish there, that I would do that to you? To anyone?" She asked, a flash of irritation glinting in her eyes. That was the very thing she was fighting to put an end to, after all! How could he accuse her of that?

As he switched to a pleading tone instead, she looked at him, her eyes softening somewhat as she let her temper slip away. "Tercen.." She looked down, trying to think how to make him understand why she was opposed to him coming. She bit her lip, hearing how he spoke of how they would be separated for an unknown length of time. She was trying to think of what to say to make him understand, when he made a suggestion that left her a bit stunned.

Ava blinked, looking back up at him and stared for a few heartbeats. Hadn't she made it evident how much he meant to her? Did he not catch what she said about how she couldn't bear it if anything happened to him? Did he not understand that was why she wanted him to stay behind, so that she would not need to worry about him? She was already having nightmares about what might happen to him if certain people from Umbar were to learn that she was involved with him. She certainly didn't want to bring him even closer to such possibilities becoming realities!

Several thoughts flashed through her mind in those few seconds. One of those was.. to simply say yes, it was all just a fling, so that he wouldn't keep pushing to try and come with her into that dangerous place. It would probably be the most effective way to convince him not to come along, after all. But in the same moment the thought occurred to her, she rejected it. Such a claim, however untrue it was, would only hurt him deeply. Perhaps irreparably. And she wanted to spare him from harm, not cause it. There was no way she could bring herself to hurt him like that, and so she firmly dismissed the very thought of uttering that lie.

Instead, she took a slow breath. "I can't believe you would ask me that." She finally said in a quiet voice, though with a note as if she were offended. She pulled her hands out of his and folded her arms, frowning. "You don't even know what it is you might be getting yourself into." She pointed out. "And you told me yourself that you are no warrior." She reminded him, referring back to the night of the masquerade. "You have learned how to use a weapon, yes, and you even fought in the war. But can you honestly say that if it came to it, and you, alone, were required to defend me.. that you would be the best person for that job?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Would you take the place of a ranger that has been training for years for just such a job?"

Biting her lip lightly, she reached out to him, taking his hands if he would let her, to give them a squeeze. "Tercen.." She said softly. "Sunshine," She amended, trying to convey her feelings for him into her voice as she spoke the name she had given him, "I'm not trying to take away your choice in this." She sighed. "I'm only trying to let you know that.. I strongly prefer that you stay behind. For now." She told him more gently. "I do want, more than anything, to let you come to my home... someday. As a guest. I would love to show you all around my estate.. let you meet Izre.." She smiled a little sadly, since she really would like to be able to let him come. But she trailed off from mentioning the various things she'd like for them to get to do there, lest the list of what he would be missing make him all the more eager to go. "But there is a great deal to accomplish before such a time can ever happen." She swallowed.

"I don't even know exactly what to expect upon my return.. Maybe everything is as I left it, and all is well. Or, maybe my estate has already been taken over and I'll have to try and take it back... I don't know what might have been happening in my absence. For all I know, that man with the strange accent may have hurried back to report to Pharak about seeing me here. He may already know far too much about what I've been doing here..." She hesitated, deciding not to elaborate on that. "Please, understand, Sunshine. I'm trying to tell you that.. your presence there might even endanger me." She tried to explain. If anyone learned how she felt about him, for instance... they could use him against her in so many ways. Because she knew, in her heart, that she would certainly go to great lengths to keep him safe. And if anyone 'back home' realized that... it was a weakness they could exploit. "Would you really want to add more risk to this?" She asked, searching his eyes, hoping he wouldn't continue to protest.


(Happy birthday!)

@Rillewen
When she sounded offended at his question about whether this had been more of a fling for her, he looked a bit forlorn. That explanation would have made the most sense for him, when it came to reasons why she didn't want him to go with her. Why she didn't want him to be with her.

"I'm all for you wanting to protect me too, Ava," he clarified, before letting out a sigh of frustration. "It's just... Look, I understand you wouldn't want me gallavanting with you through the city or anything. I'm not delusional. Of course I would let your guards and these rangers, if they end up sending any, step out with you when you leave the estate. I don't want to take anyone's place to do that. I want you to be as safe as you can be when you leave the safety of your estate."

"But you said that your estate is well guarded and that you look after your people. You said security is tight and that you test your guards, right? And especially if rangers are coming as well, why wouldn't it be safe enough for me to be with you, at your estate? I don't have to leave it, do I? I wouldn't really be getting into much, if I just stayed put, would I? You said it was large, and that there is plenty of space, so... I won't be demanding any tours of the city or what not. Just of your place, your estate. And that way... we won't be miles and miles apart. That way, we can spend time together. That way you have someone to talk to, when you need to vent." He reached out to touch her cheek, softly. If she would let him. "That way I could offer you support. Warmth..."

He took half a step closer. "If your home is such a terrible place," he said even more quietly, "I could try and make it just a bit less terrible, for you."

Tercen blinked when she said that she didn't know what to expect upon her return. "But you... You were going back alone. You can't seriously think you could take back your estate alone? What were you going to do, then, alone? You can't be serious, right?" She was much too clever for that!

And then, then she said his presence might even endanger her. He frowned, trying to understand. "Because I'd make you happier and you would drop your guard? Do you maintain some kind of facade within your estate, as well?" He hadn't considered that, yet.

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

Pele listened to Arnyn carefully, her gaze intent though there was no condemnation in it. When she finally spoke, there was a note of gentleness in her voice: "At one point someone told me that I am not alone and should not shoulder the troubles of the whole world myself. I think the same applies to you, and for that matter I am glad you did come with the whole thing so quickly. But I am not sure if I have a solid reason to blame you, cut your wages, send you to the kitchens or the stables or the like. As far as I understand, Gladhron put his two and two together solely from you saying that you plan a mission and a glimpse of a map. Then again, it sounded like he sprang a surprise visit on you and not a scheduled one; I don't see why you should have sat at an empty desk during work time. It was sweet of him to bring you lunch though..." The grin visited Pele's face again for a while. "And then Kaylin dropped a word or two. But yes. It is what it is now. Unfortunate that Gladhron could not hold his peace in that tavern though. And also unfortunate that you had to do serious work when you should have had some time off to relax."

"Ava then..." she continued more thoughtfully. "She does not seem like a lying sneaky type of person or a vengeful bloodthirsty one, towards Gondor, but yes, I wonder how else that could be proven. I am immensely grateful for what she did for me, even if her intentions were different at the time, but should not base decisions only on that and her words. Though if she is not sincere, she is a very good actress."

"I do not think it would be for the benefit of anyone if we were to hold her here against her will, but yes... there is no way to guarantee the word not getting out if we cannot keep an eye on her when she leaves," Pele wondered. "Sending Rangers might give us advantages, but then again - if she is not sincere and only leads them into a trap? Then... who'd even be ready for such a venture? I figure we should ask her to remain here for those couple weeks - though I wonder if Ithilien would be safe enough if it could be ensured that she doesn't leave. Perhaps come up with a test or two for her. Figure out who could be sent."

Pele paused for a while and then looked at Arnyn curiously. "I want to know one more thing though. What does nightshade have to do with this all?" Her head tilted slightly in curiosity. "You went to ask for it when I was out of Houses of Healing. Are you trying to poison Ava to a condition where she would speak without thinking? Or have I gotten on your nerves so much that you have decided to get rid of me?" At the last question the grin returned to her face yet again.

@Arnyn
She frowned slightly, listening to him argue back about why he wanted to come. And soon, it became clear that she had misunderstood his intention, a bit. She had thought he meant that he wanted to come along as one of those assigned to protect her, and that would have meant he would be staying close to her everywhere she went. As he explained that he intended to stay at the estate even if she had to go somewhere, she bit her lip lightly.

"If your home is such a terrible place, I could try and make it just a bit less terrible, for you."

Ava felt her resolve beginning to waver slightly. It would be very nice to have him around. She did really want to let him see her estate. Meet her beautiful tiger. Swim together in the pools...

But then she reminded herself of all the reasons why he should not come, and she closed her eyes for a moment as she drew in a slow breath as she folded her arms across her chest. She moved to sit in one of the nearby chairs, staring down at the floor as he asked her if she planned on taking her estate back alone, and if she was serious. After a moment, she glanced up at him again, and nodded toward the office door. "It's not even been decided yet, if anyone will be accompanying me." She reminded him.

"When I left, I didn't really anticipate that things might get.. complicated." She explained. "I assumed I would be gone for a while, and return with no trouble. Honestly, I don't even know if anyone back home will have even noticed I'm gone, for a while yet." She shrugged, sighing. "But with the developments, concerning possible spies and all.. I'm growing more worried. I'm fairly sure my guards can hold the estate for a while, at need, but.. I would feel more at ease if I knew what was going on. I would like to have news of home." She said softly.

As for how he might endanger her, Ava looked away as she tried to think how to explain it without going into more details. "That is one way, yes." She agreed, concerning 'dropping her guard'. "I did tell you I have enemies, didn't I?" She looked up at him seriously. "One of those is a man who has been after me for many years, wanting me to marry him," She sighed. "You may recall that I mentioned that I had been betrothed, before? That betrothal ended because this other man had my intended assassinated." She explained quietly. She clasped her hands together in her lap, trying not to show her anxiety at the mere thought of the same thing happening to Tercen. Then there was also the other matter she had yet to decide how to handle, which could potentially make things very dangerous for her... but she didn't want to bring that up to him, if at all possible.

@Rillewen
Her moving away from him, to sit in one of the chairs - especially with her arms crossed... It did not seem to bode well. Tercen lingered where he was for a moment, unsure what his best move would be. He shrugged when she said no decisions had been made yet. "I know," he said. "But does it really matter if I'd just be staying at your estate, anyway?" he attempted, now taking a seat next to her. He couldn't bring himself to sit back in the chair or to appear casual or at ease. He was on edge, and it was pretty obvious too.

"If things have already gone wrong at your estate, you'll try to get away from it or you'll try to take it back, right?" he continued. "If you try to get away, I can just get away with you. If you try to take it back, I..." He sighed. "I can do whatever you need me to, can't I? Stay back or help with something other than fighting, but at least... we'd be in same trouble together," he finished more quietly. "And the highest odds are still that you will still find your estate as it was, right?"

He nodded slowly when she mentioned her enemies. Frowning as she explained more about the man who'd been after her for years, Tercen found himself instantly disliking the guy, even before he knew anything else about him. Even before Ava said that this man had had her betrothed assassinated. He tried to push his jealousy down, as well as the anger that someone else was after her - some Umbarian murderer. Instead, he let a silence fall between them as he looked at her body language and facial expression. "You're afraid that the people who live and work at your estate will say something they shouldn't about me, to people outside of the estate? And that this man will find out about me?" he asked her quietly.

@Arnyn
"The highest odds," She repeated thoughtfully. "I hope so." She looked down at her clasped hands. She could tell that he was tense. She was, too. Everything was so.. up in the air. She wondered what the lieutenant and captain were talking about, in there. Were they deciding what to do about her? Or perhaps Arnyn was telling her about the less favorable points of Ava's past. Maybe the captain would decide to lock her up after all, and all of this discussion with Tercen would be for nothing, anyway. She felt her stomach twist a little at the thought of that, and tried not to think about it.

Now, it seemed that he was thinking of going along with her even if the rangers did not send anyone. She frowned slightly at the thought of that. If she was understanding things right, then things were just about to get a whole lot more dangerous in Umbar, and therefore, that was the last place she wanted him to be. But how could she convince him?

She held back a sigh as he asked about her people spilling information. "He has tried to infiltrate my employees with spies, before," She answered carefully. "He tried to bribe a guard once. Tried to blackmail a servant, by threats against their family members... things like that." She reached out to take his hand lightly. "I've managed to foil his attempts at spying on me, before. But he seems willing to go to any length to... acquire me," She said with distaste. "He is also very dangerous, and powerful. And.. I count him among some of the cruelest there is, in Umbar." She added. "Please, Tercen... I don't want to worry about you the entire time while waiting to find out if anything will happen. You heard how difficult it is for me to smuggle the escapees back to Gondor.. what if you got stuck and could not return for a long time? What if.." She stopped, shaking her head slightly, refusing to speak the 'what if' that had come to mind.

"Maybe it will only be a short while before things become safer. If your sister is thinking of what I think, and hope, she is... then perhaps men like that will be removed from the equation very soon. Travel between our cities might be possible sooner than you think." She tried to be hopeful, anyway. And hoped that he might consent to be patient and wait until then to plan a visit to her estate.

@Rillewen
He fell silent again as he let Ava's words sink in. How this man tried to infiltrate her employees, her estate. Spies... that seemed to be a big thing in Umbar. And not just spies, either, but also bribes, blackmail... If it had all happened before, and if this man had already killed another in the hopes of eliminating the 'competition'... Well. He was gaining a better understanding of her blunt refusal, earlier.

"I see," he said quietly, staring at the ground in front of his feet. But something inside of him was still fighting it. Something inside of him was still fighting for... more time with her. Fighting for them to be together and not apart. He grimaced, trying to balance both sides of him out.
The side that understood her, the side that did not want her to worry about yet another thing, the side that did not want her to be afraid for his sake. Versus the side that was convinced everything would work out and fall into place as long as they weren't apart, the side that did not want to be separated from her, the side that insisted he could make her feel better if he was there - with her.

The second side won.

And in a desperate attempt, he offered another option, the last one he could see at the moment that might compel her to agree. Please, please - agree...

"I can work for you," he blurted out. "I can build you things. I can fix things. I enjoy doing my work, I wouldn't mind doing it in a different location, doing things you need doing. I can do other things too, if there isn't enough to do in my line of work." He could feel his heart in his throat. "Most of the people on your estate can just see me as another one of your employees." He bit his lip, trying to think of what else he could possibly say to win her over. "And so what if some of your guards see me coming to your rooms, maybe, at night? So what if they think part of my job is being your..." He shrugged. "Plaything," he said a bit more carefully. "It doesn't seem like something that would be very unusual in a place like... that?" He drew a deep breath. "I don't care what anyone thinks about me, if it stops you from having to worry about me. I'll do anything."

@Pele Alarion
Surprised, Arnyn looked at Pele. Not even a reprimand? Not even a slap on the wrist? She blinked when Pele said it was sweet of Gladhron to bring her lunch. Well sure - but what did that have to do with anything? In a different scenario, Arnyn's eyes might have narrowed a little, but for now she was still too incredulous. Pele was even sympathizing with her that she'd had to think about work while she should have been relaxing!

When Pele shifted the topic to Ava, Arnyn took a deep breath. "From our conversations, I've gathered she's also brought back the parents of someone we know," she told Pele. "Amber's parents. Probably. We would have to verify first - see what questions these parents might give us, that we could ask Amber, to verify the suspicion. But if our Amber is the right one, and if we are the ones who reunite them... I am sure that the parents will tell us everything we want to know about their experience with Ava. Whether it was good or bad. That should tell us much of what we need to gauge her sincerity, and the truth of what she has told us. We could task a group of rangers with the endeavour, while the rest of us are out at sea," she suggested. "Then we should know, one way or another, more or less by the time we return. Which is most definitely the latest deadline to make a decision, for we will not be able to keep Ava here any longer with her agreement. That timeline might already be pushing things," Arnyn mused. "But if the parents corroborate her story, the odds of her leading us into a trap grow much smaller, I should say."

Pele's question about who would even be ready to go with Ava to Umbar, Arnyn tilted her chin up a fraction. "I would be ready. And willing, if that is what you are also implying. I could assess a number of things I have been wondering about for the mission planning. It would greatly improve our odds of success, once we take the full group of rangers there. The small contingent we would send with Ava would only need to stay for long enough to ensure no one suspects her, and to make sure of the truth of her intentions. Once we know we can trust her, we can return." Arnyn hesitated. "But it's true that I couldn't go alone. If you would let me go at all," she added with a small smile to her friend and Captain.

The question about nightshade made her do a mental double-take. With her heart racing, Arnyn tried to remain calm. Would Pele notice the shadows under her eyes? Would she link it to this? Surely her friend could not have noticed anything else?!

"I would never use nightshade on anyone without their knowledge and consent," she said a bit more stiffly, though Pele's grin made her offer a faint smile in return. How am I supposed to play this? With everything that had happened after getting home from the tavern the night before, and then all the tasks she'd had to fulfill between waking and coming here, all the things she had needed to think about concerning how this affected the mission and Ava -- she had quite forgotten to prepare for the possibility of Pele asking about the bloody belladonna!

"I'm conducting a bit of research," she told Pele. Which was very true, in a way. "I will make sure to share the results with you, once I have them... But if it is a problem I went to the Houses of Healing, that's alright. I won't ask the healers again," she reassured Pele, trying for a fuller smile.

@Arnyn
She was beginning to feel hopeful that he understood. That he would accept her request to wait, that he would agree to stay and remain where he would be safer. As nice as it would be to enjoy his company there, she wanted to make sure that it was safe for him, before she brought him anywhere near the place.

Then he popped off with yet another idea. Ava blinked, staring at him almost incredulously at what he was suggesting now. He must be really desperate, she thought, her heart sinking a little. It was a logical idea, she had to admit. And technically, she had hired him for some work. But they very idea of acting like he meant little more to her than that? Because although she had freed all her former slaves years ago, and paid them well for their work.. as far as the public was aware, they were all still in bondage, to keep up the appearance of being at least mostly like the rest of them, in that way. So, if he was going to do this, he would have to act as if he were a slave, not simply an employee.

Sure, she could make a show of pretending like she'd brought a few slaves back from her trip, in public. She could probably act well enough to sell it to people like Haarith. But that was exactly the sort of position she did not want to be put into! And, she did not like the thought of Tercen having to even pretend he was no more than a slave or something.

She drew a slow breath, turning to look off at the wall across from them, where the brothers were still quietly talking. "No, such a thing is not unusual, there." She agreed quietly. Several further arguments went through her mind, but most of them involved mentioning things she didn't want to mention. In the end, her gaze idly watching the brothers, she decided that maybe it would be best if they put this discussion off for another time. Where things they said were less likely to be eavesdropped on. She considered the most... diplomatic way of handling it, and finally turned her head to look at him again.

"I will think about it," She told him at last. She probably wouldn't change her mind, but she would think about it, and about all the reasons it was a bad idea for him to come. "Let's not speak about it any more, today. Please?" She asked softly, with a hopeful little smile, her eyes silently begging him, Please, don't press the issue. Please, agree to drop it for now. "We don't even know yet how any of this is going to turn out," She pointed out with a little motion around, and toward the office door.

@Rillewen
Every passing moment was one moment too many. He felt like he was balancing on the edge of a cliff, and Ava had the power to either push him away from her and off the edge, or pull him toward her to safety.

'It is not unusual, there.'
A slight pull.

"I will think about it.'
A slight push.

'Let's not speak about it any more, today. Please?'
Stasis. She was keeping him in stasis. Balancing.
'We don't even know yet how any of this is going to turn out.'

The desperation in his eyes made way for disbelief. Disbelief... and sadness. The only possible reason for her wanting to postpone this conversation, was that she did not have a yes for him. Either it depended on whatever was being decided in that command office, or she didn't want to tell him 'no' in public. And her request was not to speak about it any more for the whole day. So Tercen was ill inclined to believe her answer even depended on what the Captain and his sister would agree on. Which meant... Ava wanted to keep saying no.

And while he had painted the whole thing as 'his choice' earlier - what could he do if she refused to house him at her estate? It was her good right to decide whom she wanted in her home and whom she did not want there. And he was not crazy enough to try and go to Umbar alone, in the hopes she would take him in anyway if he showed up at her doorstep.

He saw Ava's pleading eyes, her hopeful faint smile - all asking and prodding him to go along with her wish to continue this some other day, some other place.

If she's going to say no if I press the matter, at least at the moment - it would be wise to wait. Maybe she will change her mind.

But what if she does not?

And what does it mean, that she is not willing to say yes? That she is willing to take so many other, dangerous steps.... But that she is not willing - or not yet willing - to take a dangerous step that would allow us to be together?

Tercen closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He took a slow, deep breath. "If that is your wish," he said quietly as his hand lowered and he looked at her. He was feeling as disconnected as the look in his eyes was showing her. "Not today. But I've never lied to you, Ava. And I feel like I should tell you that having this discussion a second time will not make it any easier, if neither of us will change our mind about this."

He probably shouldn't feel as hurt as he did. But he couldn't help it. He pushed himself out of his chair and walked to the door to the office, claiming a spot a next to it, where he leaned his back against the wall, crossed his arms tightly in front of him and then seemingly began to attempt to stare a hole into the floor.

@Arnyn
Ava bit her lip lightly, watching his face. Why did he seem so hurt by this? She did not really understand why he had such difficulty in understanding why she wanted him to stay here, where he would not risk being brutally murdered just to get to her, or tortured, or any of the other horrible ways he could be harmed, if even the slightest thing was to go wrong.

She didn't like seeing him upset. When he informed her that postponing the conversation would not make it any easier, she said nothing. She didn't know if it would or not. And, perhaps she should have simply said 'not here', rather than 'not today'. But she wanted time to think. How much was she actually willing to tell him? What could she let herself share with him, as far as the dangers she hoped to spare him from? How would he react if he knew some of those things? And would he keep persisting even if he knew? It was things like this that she wanted time to think about.

And she definitely didn't want to talk about things like that here. While the ranger brothers had not seemed to be listening, or hearing, anything they said, she could not help but wonder if they could hear and were just pretending not to. And who knows if the ranger officers in there could also hear things that were said, out here? No, she would prefer to continue this conversation in private where they could talk without the risk of being overheard.

Sighing softly after looking after Tercen, when he went to stand off to the side and stare a hole into the floor, Ava frowned slightly and let her own gaze drop to her hands in her lap, wondering how in the world she'd managed to get so mixed up with emotions, in such a short period of time. Closing her eyes, she took a few slow breaths in and out, trying to focus her thinking. Trying to shut out the emotions and think about the situation from a more practical view, hoping to find some better sort of argument for why he should not go, than simply 'because you could get hurt'.

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

Pele felt a lingering wish to tease Arnyn a little bit more about Gladhron; however, this was not the time and place for it. They had serious matters to discuss, and there were people waiting outside the office.

"Amber's parents?" her eyes widened slightly when her friend tackled the matter of Ava's trustworthiness. "I understood that her parents were dead, though I do not remember for sure her saying that she actually saw it with her own eyes. If not... It is not above Relic to have lied to the girl though just to cause immense emotional and mental pain. But if they truly are her parents, it would be such a joy to see them reunite, and yes, also a good way to check on how truthful Ava is."

Pele was silent for a moment and then said: "I hope she would indeed agree to stay at least until we return. What do you think: would it be safe to let her spend the time in Ithilien? I am not convinced I would wholly trust her not to escape, unless your brother undertakes to keep watch over her."

The thoughtful silence was longer when Arnyn offered herself as a candidate for a visit to Umbar. Concern, even a certain amount of fear reflected in her eyes, and she confessed: "I would hate to let you go for the simple reason that I do not want risk losing one of my very best friends and not be able to do anything to help if there was a need. On the other hand, you are the one whom I could trust with such a highly sensitive mission, and you have been doing most of the work on preparations. See? How am I to decide?" Pele shook her head slightly. "Are you really sure you would want to go? Even if so, yes - most definitely not alone."

"As for the nightshade," she touched on the other subject some more, "It's not that you may not ask the healers. But I would appreciate if you warned me beforehand. Whatever you do, please do be careful... I am not sure how many of those beans we still have for emergencies. And hopefully there are not folks who are willing subjects of experiments who'd later line up at the Houses of Healing. You know... I've done my fair share of experiments when sleepless." Realising that it might suggest an idea of Pele experimenting on unsuspecting patients, she raised her hands defensively. "Not on my patients or rangers. Only on myself."

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava glanced at Tercen again, holding back a sigh. She folded her arms and looked off to the other side, frowning slightly. She was wondering how much longer it would be before the two lady rangers were done talking, when she noticed the two brother rangers approaching. At first, she thought they would go to Tercen to speak to him. After all, Gladhron was Tercen's friend. But when they approached her instead, she shifted in her seat to face them, curious what they might want.

"Ms Ava?" Gladhron spoke, with a small, but friendly, smile. "I wonder if you'd mind if my brother and I asked you a question or two?"

She gave a small shrug, as if to say 'why not?'. "Certainly. What is it?" She asked, crossing one knee over the other, and rested her hands on the top knee as she waited to hear what it was about. In her peripheral vision, she watched to see if Tercen would stop sulking and become curious, too.

Gladhron looked at Gwestion, but the younger merely gave a tiny nod to indicate that he should go ahead. "Well.." Gladhron cleared his throat. "In there, you spoke of freeing people who had become trapped into slavery.."

She nodded, but she assumed that was not the whole question. "Yes?" She prompted, waiting for the rest.

"I realize there are probably many whom you haven't managed to help, and that there are plenty of people you may never have encountered, but... we were curious if you might have ever encountered anyone who had an accent.. like ours?" Gladhron asked, gesturing to himself and his brother.

"Particularly, any women.. young ones." Gwestion added softly, somewhat uneasy about offering so much information to this lady they didn't know. But if it could help...

Mildly surprised by this question, Ava looked from one to the other, thinking carefully. She had helped quite a few people over the past few years, but that accent? She had never heard one quite like that, until she met Gladhron the other day. Slowly, she shook her head. "No, I am sorry." She answered, sincerely regretful to have to tell them no. "I'd never heard an accent like that, until last night when I met you." She answered with a nod to Gladhron. She looked at Gwestion, then back to Gladhron, and tilted her head slightly as she looked at them both together. "Would you like me to keep an eye.. or rather, an ear.. open for such an accent, in the future?"


(just something to keep busy while you ladies are chatting in the office)

@Pele Alarion
The question of Ithilien made Arnyn let out a deep sigh. Which she only did because she trusted Pele implicitly not to hold it against her. "I..." Arnyn did not immediately finish her sentence, deliberating how to say what she wanted to. "Tercen will hold it against me if I advise against Ava going to Ithilien," she began, to explain her hesitation. "But if I look at the facts and if I am objective... If I think about the situation if Tercen were a stranger, and he meant nothing to me... I would say no. We cannot risk either Ava running, or Ava being taken by some spy, when she is in Ithilien. There is already no sure way to prevent it here, in Minas Tirith, unless we lock her up. But at least we still have some control here. In the woods across the Anduin..." Arnyn sighed again, raising her hands a little. "Anything could happen, there. Even if my brother were a trained ranger, it would still be dangerous. They could so easily be outnumbered. Or she could easily incapacitate him to run, if she wanted." Given their relationship. "Letting Ava go to Ithilien with Tercen could prove very dangerous for him, as well."

"If we want to be prudent," the Lieutenant went on, her eyes a bit dull as she met Pele's gaze, for she took no pride in or gained no satisfaction from her thoroughness in this instance, "we will assign someone to watch Ava, too. In addition to the guard not letting her leave the city or the pelennor, and in addition to them keeping tabs on her whereabouts as she passed through this or that inner gate. We could have a ranger or two watch her, without her knowledge. To see she does not leave her house in the night. To see she does not try to make a run for it. But also to see whether anyone tries to enter her house in the night, without her knowledge. To make sure no spy who might suspect her of alligning herself with us, might try and take or kill her, under our very noses."

Arnyn noticed how quiet Pele went after the suggestion that she could go to Umbar, herself. Arnyn recognized the worry in those blue eyes. She smiled faintly at her friend's words. "Thank you," she said quietly, stepping forward and reaching out to touch Pele's arm. "For not wanting to risk me. Yes, it would be dangerous. And that is perhaps exactly also why it should be me. How can we show anyone else who would be going that even though we think it is dangerous, we believe it isn't hopeless? And that its use outweighs the dangers. No one who would be going, would be expendable. Neither you nor I believe in any individual being expendable. If I go..." Arnyn tilted her head. It would be an action that would say much more than words even could. Wouldn't it?

"I could send word back regularly, perhaps. If it could be managed. Coded in a way that no one other than you would notice, so you would also know if someone were forging these messages. Yet there is no way for me to know whether I could actually send word back regularly, until I am actually in Umbar, I suppose," she mused.

At the question of whether she really wanted to go, Arnyn's mouth twitched. "Want to?" she repeated, a bit humorously. "There is plenty for me to do here. Trastion's training would suffer, too, if I were to leave. Everything has its advantages and disadvantages. I'm just not sure how we could justify me not going, at this point. That seems more difficult than justifying me staying here."

"If we were doing this," the Lieutenant continued, "who would you consider sending with me?"

"You've experimented on yourself?" Arnyn inquired, interested in that. "In what way have you done that, Master Healer?" Yet soon she returned to Pele's point. "I will make sure not to ask anything of the sort again, without going through you as Master Healer," she agreed, for she understood that need. "And," she added, almost as if she wanted to reassure her friend, "I still have mine." She smiled a little.

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

"Well, true. It would not do to have a whole company of Rangers camp around your brother's cabin," Pele agreed, retreating from her more hopeful disposition to embrace proper considerations. "If it helps any in relation to your brother," she suggested slowly. "I could make it explicitly clear that containing Ava here in the city is my own decision. He already doesn't seem overly happy with your analytical approach in what relates to the two of them. And I don't mind playing the role of the evil Captain if need be."

"So there'll be a need for a couple people to investigate Amber and parents, a couple to watch over Ava, and a couple to go to Umbar..." she made a mental list intending to go through actual list of Rangers later to see who might fit which role.

"You know, Nyn," she then said more quietly. "I still don't know if this is really a hopeful venture if not wholly hopeless. But if there are more people like Ava, it might be very well worth it, for the benefit of our people and maybe Umbarians if they choose to follow a different path." Now it was her turn to sigh. "And you know, I would rather go myself to Umbar, alone, or with you, but I figure I'd be immediately recognised as soon as I set foot there. Suppose there's no way around this now that things are as they are... If you were not my best friend and I wouldn't want to keep you away from danger and could see things with an unbiased eye, you'd be the best choice for going. And if you do go, the people with you should not be ones who have had anything to do with Umbar before. Perhaps Kaylin? Thullir? They have skills. Though Kaylin's eyes are not exactly of the colour common there. Certainly none of our youngest members either. Would you have a preferred choice of people to go with you? If you went, it would be you who would have to work closely with them in that vipers' pit."

"Feel free to ask if you need any herbs, it's not like I'm going to deny you knowing you don't do things without a good reason," Pele said in relation to Houses of Healing stock of herbs, and gave a small smile, thinking back on how she had reprimanded her Head Nurse, somewhat unjustly even. And then added more quietly: "After having learned that sleep always brought horrible pain I found it very hard to unlearn it; no usual sleep-inducing herbs helped so I took to experimenting with things because I was desperate for proper sleep. The results were various... At least I hope I did not make any major blunders during that time."

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
While speaking with the brothers, Ava noticed Tercen glance over, but he soon returned to staring a hole in the floor. She held back a sigh and tried not to let it trouble her as she focused on the two guys in front of her.

After a brief glance at each other, Gwestion answered Ava's question. "Please, if you don't mind."

Ava smiled softly and gave a little nod. "Then I will. But perhaps it would help if I could also know the name of the young lady you seek?"

Gwestion hesitated, taking a moment to think about whether he was willing to divulge that information, and whether she might be able to make use of it somehow, in deceptive ways or anything. He hadn't expected Ava to ask about her name...

"Gwilithiel," Gladhron answered with a slightly exasperated sigh, when Gwestion took a bit too long to answer. When Gwestion glanced at him reproachfully, he shrugged. "What? Do you want to find her or not? I mean, it's easier to be sure, if she knows the name to be looking for." He gave an apologetic shrug to Ava. "Sorry. He doesn't trust anyone very easily." He explained.

Gwestion frowned. "I just like to be sure that I can trust people, before I do." He tried to clarify.

Ava nodded in answer to the quieter brother. "Understandable. Also rather wise, I would say." She agreed, then looked at Gladhron. "Gwilithiel." She repeated thoughtfully. "That is not a name I have ever heard, but I will keep my ears open. I will try to find out whatever I can, but I can make no guarantees."

"That's fine. Thank you," Gladhron smiled faintly.

Gwestion nodded. "Thank you." He added more quietly, then withdrew, going back to stand by the window and stared out of it, looking a bit gloomy.

Gladhron glanced after him, then gave a slightly sad little smile to Ava. "In truth, I doubt you will find out anything about her," He added more quietly, and sighed. "But.. we figured it would be worthwhile to at least ask if you had."

"Was she taken recently, or..?"

"No," He hesitated. "More like.. about ten years ago."

Ava gave a slow nod. "I see. Then, I should warn you, if she ended up in Umbar, the chances that she is still there... are very slim." Except for her remains, of course, but she didn't mention that. No need to paint that sort of gruesome picture in the guy's mind, in relation to the young lady in question. Whoever she was, they apparently cared about her a great deal.

@Pele Alarion
She shook her head a little. "That is a very kind offer, my friend," she said concerning Pele's suggestion relating to Tercen and Ava. "However... I know him. He knows me. He will ask what my input was, if he will not simply guess it. While the final decision is of course yours - I would not lie to him and pretend I advised you otherwise."

The Lieutenant nodded at the Captain's summary of the different tasks they would be needing Rangers for. At Pele's musings about the mission itself, Arnyn lowered her gaze. They shared the same sentiments on this. Entirely.
"This whole situation, despite it being the mess that it is, at least may allow us to get a better sense of what might work and what might not work when we actually go there," she said, choosing to focus on the positive. "And if Ava speaks truthfully...it could really be a golden opportunity."

"If she is lying..." Arnyn looked Pele in the eyes. "Whoever you send may not make it back. Which also means that, even if you were not at risk of being recognized - the two of us could never go together. It would either have to be you or me. And this experience could fill the gap of my own lack of experience with Umbar and its culture." The Lieutenant took a slow breath. "If I go, then before I leave I will once again brief you on all the information I have gathered so far. If I go, I will hand over all of my notes and information to you beforehand. Not just for safe keeping, but also so you can take over - if you must. The hope is that such a trip would yield much more information. That it would allow us to refine and improve the plans. Or, at the very least, to enable us to better estimate our odds of success."

As to who she might take with her... She nodded thoughtfully at Pele's requirement that she could not take anyone who'd had dealings with Umbar before, nor any of the youngest members. "If we are taking eye colour into consideration, that will greatly reduce our options," Arnyn mused. Most Gondorians' eyes were light, after all, or darker shades of grey and blue. "If those two would be willing to go, their skills would definitely be an asset. They would already be used to playing a part, for example. I would be more concerned with the question whether Kaylin would be able to keep a leash on her emotions if we were to see things which... we all find unacceptable. But we could prepare her, too." Arnyn took a deep breath. "This would also be voluntary," she said, probably unnecessarily, but still. "They may refuse to go, as well. As I recall, Kaylin did not take kindly to Shamara. Perhaps she would not be willing to rely on Ava being truthful."

"How many do you think should go, Pele?" she asked her Captain. That would determine much as well, after all.

Arnyn smiled a little when her friend said she could ask for herbs if she wished. That she knew Arnyn didn't do things without good reason. "Thank you," the Lieutenant said genuinely, appreciating the level of faith Pele was expressing. This... this was going much better than she had expected. Than she had even dared hope for. In fact, it made her feel guilty. Guilty that she had not credited her captain and friend with this level of trust in her. Arnyn's smile brightened considerably, despite everything that was going on. "At least that is in the past for you now... isn't it?"

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

Pele made no more comments on any possible disagreements between Arnyn and her brother even though it seemed that those would be unavoidable. Nonetheless, she regretted that it had to come to such a point.

"My nights are wholesome most of the time, yes," she then chose to handle the matter of her sleep experiments, returning Arnyn's smile with one of her own. "There is an occasional odd night, but I no longer need experiments to tackle that. Though I do dare think that the results obtained before were somewhat useful for my knowledge base on how to treat other people suffering from similar problems, so perhaps there was good even in what was not good."

"It might be that none of us come back from that venture if we set out - those going first and all those going later," Pele said quietly, meeting Arnyn's gaze. "And I might not forgive myself if any one soul is lost; but at least we are skilled to fight back - and attack, not as many unfortunate people who end up in Umbar and are helpless. Voluntary... it is voluntary for everyone, including yourself. If you are willing to go, I completely trust you to do everything in your power not only to gather information but also protect yourself and whoever else will be going."

She held back yet another sigh at having to ask anyone to even consider going to Umbar. "At any rate, you will not go all alone," she then stated. "Perhaps any of our light-eyed ones can fit some sort of a role in Umbar, attendants... slaves... I'm sure Kaylin hates Shamara on my behalf, though I am not sure she would be any more accepting of any other Umbarian. But if she and Thullir would agree to go they might be able to take on any role with significant success." Pele paused for a moment or two, and then added: "As for numbers, I figure a small mobile group would be best, at least three people but no more than five. Considering that this would be an intelligence gathering mission more than anything I think the ability to quickly mobilise and adjust plans is especially important."

"Also," she spoke again after a short pause. "Suppose there's also Gwestion and Gladhron. Since I gather that you know them quite well, is there something I should be aware of before deciding anything for or against accepting their offer of help?"

@Pele Alarion
"We can both beat ourselves up about that then, if it were to happen," Arnyn muttered after Pele's comment about losing even so much as a single soul.

On the other hand, though, it was good to hear that Pele's sleeping troubles were mostly in the past. Everyone had a bad night now and then, so the occasional odd night did not sound that bad to Arnyn. Her little smile remained, as Pele mentioned that the knowledge she'd gained with her experiments on herself were useful because she could help other people with the knowledge now. Gratitide showed on her face, as well, for the way Pele voiced her trust in her abilities and sense of responsibility.

Arnyn took a step back to lean against the wall. Or at least, that is what it looked like. In truth, she could use the support, for while she had slept some the previous night, she was still nowhere near well rested enough. "I would prefer not to go alone," she half-laughed, effectively masking her exhaustion. Going alone would not do. Apart from seeming so very foolish, it would also feel so very... alone. She needed at least a few people there whom she could trust. To talk to. To put their heads together on how to proceed with things, while in Umbar. To remind her of home.

She thought about Pele's words concerning Kaylin and Shamara. It was clear that both officers thought that Thullir and Kaylin would be excellent candidates for the mission. Provided they agreed to go, of course. Three to five people, Pele said. Arnyn nodded. She'd been thinking along similar lines, and it was reassuring to hear that her thinking aligned with the Captain's. "Our ideas align," was the Lieutenant's response. "Three to five, it is. Depending on who is willing to go."

The next topic gave Arnyn pause. Gwestion and Gladhron and their offer of help. "I know them well, but I've only known them briefly, I suppose," she nuanced. "It might seem longer to the three of us because it was years ago - but really we did not even spend two months together. Then again, when we were working and travelling together, we did spend basically all day around each other." Arnyn halted, to think what information might be relevant to Pele.

"They are used to travel and living outdoors. Gwestion is cautious - almost too cautious. Gladhron is trusting - too trusting." Arnyn smiled. "They balance each other out. When they both give their point of view, you end up with a pretty decent grasp of the situation. As to give you an idea of their skills, in the terms we are used to... I'd say they are as capable as our full rangers. Gwestion is an archer, and I'd say he should be about at the level of a full ranger who uses the bow as their primary, though not quite as good as a specialized Cúner. Gladhron is a swordsman, and when we used to spar he was also at the level of a full ranger with the sword as his primary weapon, though not as good as a specialized Hyandaner."

She glanced at the door before focusing back on Pele. "Professionally I cannot say much against them. Other than, given that they are not in our chain of command, it stands to reason that they may more easily ignore orders, should they disagree with them. That being said, I had no trouble working with them in the north." Arnyn debated with herself on whether or not to say anything about her personal preference. "My main reason for not involving them would be selfish: to keep them away from the dangers of Umbar, thus keeping them safer. Yet... they are also friends of Domanol Raxelilta," she informed Pele. "And I would be willing to bet that if we deny their offer, he will accept it. Knowing Gwestion - he has heard enough to now want to go to Umbar. One way or another. And if Gwestion is going, Gladhron will surely go with him. Which means that the only choice you are making here is probably this: whether they are coming with us, or with Unalmis' uncle. And let's be honest: that one is still a bit of a wild card..."

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

"Yes..." the Captain also muttered, thinking that who knew if they both even returned or that if they were to beat themselves up they would not be able to function properly. She already had a plenty of regrets that she held locked up in a dark corner of her mind else living would be rather impossible.

Pele looked at Arnyn while her friend spoke and wondered if the shadows under her eyes were due to making detailed plans and if she should remind her to take more care of herself. At any rate, it was not from partying late into night, as any social events seemed to have gone the way of business, as far as she could gather.

"A couple months of working together day and night is a sufficient time for most strengths and weaknesses to show," she then said, choosing not to say anything about the fact that Arnyn should rest more and tending to the matter of Gladhron and Gwestion. "So they are like two opposites but might work well together, supplementing each other. Reasonable skills." Pele stepped forward to place her hands on Arnyn's shoulders gently. "I can very well relate to you not wanting them to walk - or sail - into danger. And I mean it. But it seems that they might not back down either way, yes..."

With a light squeeze on the left shoulder, Pele returned to her desk. "Right. Is there anything else that needs discussing? Ava should be confined to the city and hopefully will agree to those couple weeks. Possible upset from her and probably your brother that they are not allowed to go to Ithilien. Gwestion and Gladhron... should see that they use those training grounds permission slips well," she counted off the matters discussed.

@Pele Alarion @Rillewen
"They work very well together, actually," she supplemented. It had even been surprising to her for a while. Especially because they seemed to get annoyed with each other rather frequently. It had only been when she had known them better, that she'd been able to place that.

Arnyn nodded, saying nothing at the moment, when Pele voiced her understanding of her not wanting to endanger them, but also agreed it looked like they would find a way to help, regardless. She wondered what Pele had actually decided about them. She wanted them to use the training grounds. To prepare? Arnyn broke her silence, although her voice was quiet. "If you are considering letting them come with us," she began, trying not to let her feelings about that show, and trying to be factual about it all, "then it would be more efficient for them to join us on Abrazimir's warship, for training there, first." After all, there would be months between the sea training and the actual Umbar mission - which would still allow for them to get the most out of their training grounds permission slip.

The Lieutenant let out a slow breath when Pele turned to resume her spot behind the desk. "Definite upset from my brother," Arnyn estimated. "He will not take kindly to us infringing upon the time he has left with Ava. However... it is what it is."

She shook her head at Pele's question. Nothing left to be discussed, she thought. Whatever Pele would decide about the northern brothers, was her call, anyways. And Arnyn had given all the input she was comfortable giving. She had nothing more she felt comfortable to add.

"Call them back in, then?" the Lieutenant asked her Captain, and she moved to the door. Her hand went for the doorknob, though she halted with her palm resting on it, her fingers curled around it. Once Pele confirmed*, Arnyn opened the door and stepped forward. She found Tercen very close at hand, leaning against the wall. He had looked up at the sound of the door. Arnyn noted his demeanour, and the distance between him and Ava, but she did not comment. "You can come back in," she told him quietly, before noting Gwestion off by a window and Gladhron standing with Ava. "All of you can come back in," she added, more loudly, before stepping back inside the office.

*asked in chat

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
"I understand," Gladhron answered with a sigh, then hesitated. "What are the chances, you think, if a person is good at fighting? Would they have a higher chance to survive?"

Ava blinked. "That.. depends." She took a moment to decide how much to tell him. Before she had time to reach a decision, however, the door opened. Ava turned her head to see Arnyn at the doorway.

Gladhron also looked up, and tried to determine by looking at the way Arnyn was standing, and how her voice sounded as she said they could all come back in, whether things had gone well or not. But she was so good at hiding those kind of things, he was not quite sure how that private meeting had gone. So, he supposed they'd just have to wait and see what the result was.

Ava stood up, picking up the folder she'd set in the seat beside her, and took a deep breath before she moved to stand before the lieutenant in the doorway. "Actually," She said quietly, avoiding any glances toward any of the men, particularly Tercen, "I would like a moment to speak with you two, if I may. Alone?" She said, indicating that she meant the two ranger ladies in the office.

@Rillewen @Pele Alarion
Arnyn had not expected this. She regarded Ava for a moment, considering. "Alright," she replied, before letting Ava in. Tercen had moved from his spot by the wall, and was half in front of the doorway, now. Arnyn shook her head at him briefly. "Just a moment," she amended her earlier words. "Longer," she added, glancing at the brothers in turn, before averting her gaze entirely and closing the door once more.

It being only the three of them, now, Arnyn invited Ava to take a seat. Once Ava had done so, the Lieutenant then claimed one of the other chairs in front of the desk, relieved she could get off her feet and lean against the backrest.

"What is it, that you would like to discuss with us? In private?" the Lieutenant asked of the Umbarian.


Outside, Tercen had watched his sister as she granted Ava's request and denied the men entry, for now. He watched the door's surface for a while, as well, before turning his back toward it and looking from Gwestion, to Gladhron, to some random spot in the spacious area.

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
It was evident that she was tired, that didn't take much to see. The dark circles under her eyes, along a few other small hints, told him that. But as for how the meeting had gone between lieutenant and captain, Gladhron could gather no sort of hints just from looking at Arnyn. He was a little concerned about her, however, remembering how she had been when he left her last night. He hoped she was feeling better this morning, at least.

Once the ladies all went into the office, Gladhron glanced around, wondering if anyone else had any clues about what that was all about.

"What do you think that means?" Gwestion asked quietly, moving closer to his brother so they could speak in more hushed voices.

"I'm not sure. I guess she has something to say to them that she didn't-"

"Not that," Gwestion shook his head. "I meant, 'it depends'? What does that mean?"

"Oh.." Gladhron frowned as he returned his mind to the end of his conversation with Ava. He shrugged. "I was going to ask, but.." He didn't bother explaining why he hadn't. Obviously, he hadn't had a chance. "Maybe we can ask later." He sighed and strolled to the far end of the room or hallway they were in, then over to the window, feeling rather bored and restless by now.

Gwestion sighed and took a seat, unsure how much longer they would have to be waiting. He glanced over at Tercen, wondering how he was doing with all of this, but as he didn't really know him all that well, he didn't know if he ought to say anything. So, instead, he remained quiet and tried to be patient, although he quickly became bored of watching Gladhron pace around.

---

Ava glanced back and offered a tiny, reassuring smile at Tercen before continuing into the office. Once inside, she took a seat when bid to do so, placing the folder in her lap. She took a slow breath, trying to sort out her thoughts and decide how to start.

"Tercen wants to go with me when I return home." She began, deciding to be as straightforward as she could be. Looking at Arnyn, then Pele, and back to Arnyn, she went on. "He asked to go along, and I told him no." She hesitated. "And yet, to be quite honest.. I am torn about it." She sighed and toyed with the edges of her folder and looked down. "I don't want to risk any harm coming to him.. but it isn't only harm that I wish to protect him from." She admitted softly, then glanced up at Arnyn. She would know what she meant, right?

"As much as I would like for him to come to visit my home, someday, I told him that I don't think this is the time for it." She sighed. "And yet, another part of my mind says that it would be smart of me to agree to him coming, for that could be used to convince skeptics that I am sincere.." She shrugged slightly. "At least, in my thinking, my objection to him coming could be taken as cause for suspicion that I'm up to something, that I don't want him to come so he would not learn that I am plotting something... on the other hand, it would seem that by letting him come, it could show that I have no secret plans, that i have nothing to hide, or other things of that sort." She shrugged. There could be many arguments either way, but that was how she was thinking of it. "Still... I just don't know." She frowned, her gaze mostly resting on Arnyn now, since it was her brother she was talking about.

"It has occurred to me that he could come along, and simply remain on the ship until I can learn for sure whether my estate is safe.. if it is, he could stay out of the.. other business. And if it is not safe there, then he could simply sail back here, to safety." She paused, troubled by the conflicting thoughts inside. "Still.. plans can always go wrong.. and what if I have no way to get him back, if he did go?" She sighed, shaking her head, very much disliking the feeling of being uncertain. She ventured to add more. "I asked him for a bit of time to think about it... I thought I was only stalling for a while, to find a way to convince him why he could not go... but now I'm beginning to question whether it would be alright."

She looked from one to the other. "I don't want to risk his safety just to prove something, but I know he isn't going to be happy if I continue to say no. I thought you should know the situation." She looked at Arnyn. "I'm not sure what to tell him, for I am tempted to agree to let him come, and yet..." She trailed off, sighing.

@Pele Alarion @Rillewen
Unfortunately, the subject Ava broached next was not unexpected. Arnyn had seen how Tercen's reaction, when she had suggested sending people along with Ava. She had seen how his eyes had widened. The look they bore. How he had straightened in his seat.

Which had all been right before they had been asked to temporarily exit the office, so Pele and Arnyn might talk. Of course - of course, Tercen had asked Ava. The Lieutenant's face showed nothing. Not even when Ava added that she had refused his question. When Ava looked up at her, Arnyn nodded quietly. She assumed that Ava not only wished to protect him from the cruelty that place might mean for his body, but also what it might mean for his mind. While Arnyn would never call her brother naive, he was, in a way, quite... she wasn't sure how to describe it in one word. He was genial and truthful. Arnyn understood Ava's reluctance to take him to a place that might put a damper on some of his loveliest qualities.

"There are different kinds of harm," she allowed quietly, before Ava continued and shared she did not think this was the right time for Tercen to visit her home. Arnyn listened, trying to think of the situation objectively. Trying not to think of it as her brother, who had fallen head over heels for a lady who might or might not be trusted with his life and wellbeing.

When Ava looked to her again, seemingly looking for her opinion, Arnyn could hardly believe it. This woman,whom she barely knew... wanted to know what she thought? And what Pele thought, as well? Rather than just keeping this as a decision between herself and Tercen? Arnyn glanced at Pele, wondering whether the Captain was also surprised by Ava bringing this to them. For input.

If Ava was a liar... she was more than simply good at it.

"There are many sides to this," Arnyn finally said, after a moment of silence had fallen. "One might argue that, if we are sending rangers with you, that allowing Tercen to go with you as well is less of a problem." She did not like admitting it, but it was true. And she felt like she owed it to her brother to start with a positive, at least. "They would be going to protect you, but would be able to extend that protection to him. They would be able to help make sure he stays in safer locations. And at the moment the rangers return to Gondor, they could take Tercen back with them."

"On the other hand, one might also argue that would take some of the rangers' focus away from other matters - though that largely depends on how cooperative he would be, I imagine. Another point of view might be that he is a civilian, and everyone enabling him to go could be seen as people willing to endanger a man who is too unaware of what he is walking into."

Arnyn let out a long, slow breath. "He has put a dilemma in front of you, now. For you can either choose to refuse him and keep the information from him so he might be safe and worry about you less when you return - but in doing so you would hurt him by making him think you do not care enough for him. And it is quite possible your relationship might not recover from it. Or you can choose to make him fully aware of what he would really be walking into - but in doing so you would make him sick with worry about you if he did choose not to come, or if you refused to let him stay at your estate and thus prohibit him from going."

"That being said. If you did inform him about the actual state of affairs, and if he still wishes to come... and you were to agree..." And from the way Arnyn had seen Tercen behaving around Ava, that is the option she feared would be the case... "He is an adult, capable of making his own decisions. And even if I disapprove of his decision, even if I would want to keep him from possible danger and keep him in Gondor - that choice is not mine to make for him. It isn't mine to demand." Arnyn looked at Pele. "If Tercen had his way, I would never have been a ranger. If he had been able to choose for me, I would never have taken up an occupation that meant putting my life on the line regularly. Yes, he might show his displeasure about my choice, from time to time. Yes, he might get upset when he hears about something or other. But in the end, he knows it is up to me, regardless of the fact he is my older brother." Arnyn smiled a bit sadly. "And that has to be a two-way street. This is up to him, regardless of the fact I'm a ranger officer."

She leaned an elbow on the chair's arm rest, and tilted her head as she looked at Ava. "I... I would hate to think what would happen to him if he decided to try and go anyway, even if you refuse to host him at your estate." It also might be possible Ava had besotted him enough for a desperate move like that...

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

While Pele could see the reluctance of her friend regarding the two brothers joining their mission, she thought there would be no ground for her to deny them once she had double-checked that they did not mean to back off on their offer once all the conditions were clear. So she nodded her understanding at the recommendations and then gave one more smaller nod to agree that the others could be called back in.

As it turned out, Ava wanted to speak to them alone first, and she listened carefully to the issue raised and Arnyn's view on it. Only a slight widening of her eyes testified to her surprise that the woman would seek to discuss Tercen's wish to go with her.

"So you two stopped at disagreeing with each other on the topic for now?" Pele finally asked. "If you do wish to hear my take on it..." Which is apparently why Ava had asked for a private conversation in the first place... "Better do not use him as means to convince us of your good intentions; we'll ascertain it in other ways. If I have to give my professional view, I would certainly insist on him not going for it would only complicate matters. But on the other hand - he is not a Ranger subject to my authority, is he? So technically I cannot order him to go or stay, beyond strong suggestions and reasons to support my view."

Pele straightened slightly in her chair as if stretching her back to release tension from her muscles. "But how do things stand? Is he willing and able to hear any further details from you on what might possibly await him should he go with you and things were not to turn out so well? It is difficult to suggest anything besides a solid and honest conversation between the two of you."

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava listened quietly and calmly to what Arnyn had to say, then turned her head and gave the same focus to Pele, as they each expressed their views and opinions on this matter. She remained quiet for a few seconds after, then nodded and took a slow breath in and out. "Thank you." She said quietly. "I was beginning to question whether I was simply being selfish or emotional by not wanting him to come along... and perhaps even beginning to try and talk myself into giving in, finding ways to justify it..." She admitted. "But, it certainly helps to hear what you both have to say about it, as well as all of the different points you have brought up." She sat back, thinking. "You've helped to clear my mind." She decided with a little nod.

She looked at Pele then, thinking about her question. "I believe he would listen to anything I had to say," She answered slowly, a little unsure what she meant. "But.. there are plenty of things I would rather he didn't have to know about at all." She explained softly. "Not that I want to keep secrets from him," She tried to clarify. "Just..." She hesitated, looking briefly at Arnyn, then back to Pele. "I would rather he did not know too many horrible details about certain things, for instance." She gave a faint, sad smile. "I'm sure you know, well enough, that there are some things which, once you see or hear about them, you can never unsee or unhear about."

Then, she turned to Arnyn as the lieutenant mentioned the possibility that Tercen might try and come anyway. "I would hope he wouldn't try to do something like that," She said, a little hesitant. "But if he did turn up, you can be sure I would not leave him to fend for himself in such a place." Ava certainly cared for him more than that! "Though I would be upset with him, I would certainly do all in my power to ensure his safety." She assured her. There was no question about that, at least. But she did hope he would not risk himself like that.

"Which.. brings me to another thing which I would like to ask before they come in here," Ava added, almost reluctantly. "I understand that if such a mission were in the planning, you would not want to tell me when you expect to do it." She stated. "I get that. But... if it is going to be longer than, say, a month... what should I do, in the meanwhile?" She asked, looking from one to the other, and allowed a little of her anxiety show on her face. Her fingers toyed with the edges of the folder in her lap as she look at Arnyn. "I told you, the other day, that I wasn't intending to ever return to the temple," She said quietly. "I hoped to find some sort of solution, while I was here, so that when I returned, I could simply put an end to the entire.. thing. And never have to worry about it again." She drew a deep breath. "But, now it seems as if I may have to wait for... an unknown length of time, before there will be any resolution to this problem."

"So..." She hesitated, glancing from one to the other, feeling very uncomfortable to have to bring this up, but it was a very serious issue. "If I return to my estate and all is as I expect it to be.. but I have to keep up the charade for another few months or however long, then I will have to do.. certain things, in order to avoid drawing any unwanted attention. Things which none of us will like much." Another reason she would rather Tercen wasn't there. "Otherwise, until Pharak has been dealt with.. I doubt I would live more than a week. And everyone under my protection... would suffer greatly." She looked mostly at Arnyn, who surely knew what Ava meant, since they'd discussed it all rather extensively the other day.

@Pele Alarion @Rillewen
Pele's input on the matter of Tercen going with Ava to Umbar aligned for the most part with Arnyn's expectations. She was glad to hear Pele saying that she would strongly advise Tercen against going. Perhaps that might make a difference. It was no surprise, either,that Pele would refuse to order Tercen - for that was not the way Pele was wired. Arnyn had a difficult time not following up when Ava replied without actually sharing what she was now leaning towards. The Umbarian only told them that they had helped clear her mind. Perhaps Ava still wanted to think on the matter, by herself. It was one thing to have all the bits and pieces, and another to arrange them all into a decision, after all.

As Ava voiced her hopes Tercen would not try and go to Umbar alone, should Ava refuse to take him with her, Arnyn felt rather dispirited, though only a glimpse - if anything - of the emotion shone through in the way the Lieutenant quietly lowered her eyes. She nodded at Ava's assurances. At least... at least, if Arnyn went with Ava, and Tercen did show up afterward - she could make sure that Ava came through on this particular promise, as well.

The Lieutenant made sure to offer no reaction as the topic turned once again to the possible ranger mission to Umbar. She did frown, however, at what Ava asked about. What should Ava do in the meantime? The realization of what Ava really meant, set in with a second's delay, right before Ava continued and indeed mentioned the temple.

Her eyes still on Ava, Arnyn spoke up to offer Pele some more context. "Ava is referring to the people she is expected to deliver to the Blood Priest." Who, as Pele knew, was Pharak Halsad. "As long as he is running the Temple, exercising the amount of power he has - she will have to offer periodic sacrifices. People - who will die torturous deaths by the priest's hands," Arnyn explained, her expression tight, her eyes more black than dark brown - just as they had been for days now. "As she has been doing. For years." Full disclosure. "I am as of yet unclear on how often such a sacrifice is... demanded?"

"Neither am I sure of how I, or any other ranger, could stand by... so close to where it is taking place... knowing such a thing is happening..." She held back a sigh, looking to the Captain for guidance. She was still glad to be sitting down, though she could also feel that sitting was not making it any easier to stay alert.

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava kept her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her gaze shifting toward Pele, unsure how this was going to go. She'd already had to explain it before, and it had been difficult enough to make her understand. She took a deep breath. "It is a monthly necessity." She answered softly. "To keep up the appearance that I support the beliefs of the temple. If it becomes known that I do not.. that I am an enemy to the priest, the first thing that will happen is that I will be killed, instead. Then, my household will be torn apart. My servants.. distributed or slain or worse. Everyone I am sheltering.. will be discovered, and I don't think I have to explain to you what would happen to those escaped slaves when they are returned to their masters." She said quietly.

"By maintaining the appearance of supporting the temple, my position in Umbar remains secure. No one would dare trouble any of my servants going about their errands, for instance. I may be considered eccentric, but I am still in a position of power, and therefore no one will want to risk making me angry." She bit her lip lightly before continuing. "Many years ago, my father decided he would no longer bring a sacrifice. He had been won over to my mother's beliefs.. against the temple. Less than a week later, he was dragged from his bedroom in the middle of the night, taken to the temple, and.." Her voice faltered briefly before she continued, "..killed. In place of the sacrifice he had refused to bring."

She took another breath to steady herself. "If I had only myself to worry about, believe me.. I would have simply left, long ago. I certainly enjoy having all my money, but.. if I had to choose between it, or being rid of this terrible obligation, I would rather be rid of it all." She hoped they would believe that. She sighed. "But if I simply ran away and left my estate, my staff would be left vulnerable. And now that I have so many escaped slaves sheltering there..." She trailed off and looked down at her lap, drawing a slow breath in, and let it out before looking up again.

"I'd like nothing more than to be able to put a stop to this horrific practice, but how can I, when so much is at stake? So many people are depending on me for protection now... I can't let them down." There was a hint of despair creeping into her voice. "I had hoped that by coming here, I might find some solution to put an end to it all, so that when I returned home, I wouldn't have to continue this despicable practice." She looked unhappily at them. "But.. I don't know what to do, now."

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

"Ava, it would be selfish not to consider Tercen's safety at all," Pele assured the Umbarian, "The fact that you do care and think of how to protect him speaks rather much against your selfishness. It is difficult for me to advise you beyond what I have said, namely, that he should not go with you at this time, and I hope you will find some way to convince him of it even if you did not share all the gruesome details."

When the next topic came up, Pele found herself wishing that the previous one would have been the extent of the issues. She looked at her clasped hands on the desk for a few quiet moments, not wanting the other women to see the depths of disgust the mention of the temple and sacrifices caused to rise up in her. So Ava had been bringing sacrifices. For years. She heard and understood the reasons behind it, yet she found it difficult to imagine having to live with this on a daily basis.

"Say... If you have been protecting people who are hiding at your estate, Ava, who have been those unfortunate souls you have brought to the temple? I understand you live in pressing circumstances, and yet... you have apparently had to give up lives," she began to approach the topic as tentatively as she could. "Besides... what solution did you think was possible in a jiffy?" Pele shook her head, and a measure of desperation reflected in her blue eyes. "If I were a dragon I would not hesitate to fl y over and burn the temple and the priest to the ground, but alas I am only a human. It would be a folly to march over there in haste and hope to meet no resistance. What do you expect and want us to do, Ava? On such a short notice?"

Pele drew a couple random circles on the desk with her finger as she studied Ava for a moment and then looked to Arnyn. "You may be able to come and go as you please without being noticed," she then said gently. "But I doubt a bunch of Gondorians could do it with the same degree of stealth. Trust me, I would want to get rid of that temple as soon as possible, and so would my Lieutenant here, and others as well. However, I am not sure I could give you a ready solution this very moment."

"Look..." she considered her words before continuing. "It would be good if you remained for those couple weeks, maybe three weeks, here, within the city. It would give us time to see about some arrangements at least to accompany you. Could you do that? And... what do you have in that folder, if I may ask?"

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
She felt somewhat comforted by the words the captain offered, that she was not being selfish in wishing to protect Tercen. Rather the opposite. Good, she felt better about her choice, at least, even if she knew it was going to upset him. It seemed, in fact, that all three of them were in agreement about that, anyway. But she would have to be the one to, again, tell him no. That troubled her... it was the first actual disagreement that the two of them had had since meeting.

Then came the question of who she had been bringing, to fulfil her obligation. She took a slow, bracing breath as Pele finished asking her question. "Those 'unfortunate souls' are the worse that I can find." She explained, wishing she didn't have to go through all of this again. "Crime gang members. Murderers. Rapists. Those who coerce children into joining criminal gangs. Corsair crewmen... people like that." She dropped her gaze down with a silent sigh. "I figure, if I have to deliver someone to their death, then I will try to at least find someone who deserves it, and not some innocent person who has done no wrong."

A tiny smile tugged at her face then, when the woman expressed a wish to be a dragon and simply burn the temple down. Ava didn't bother pointing out that, according to all the tales she had ever heard about dragons, they served the dark lord, and therefore would not be wanting to destroy a temple to him. "I don't know about the temple," She said instead, "But someone tried to burn the priest once before." She glanced up. "If they had succeeded, we wouldn't be in this mess, now. Unfortunately, it seemed to make him worse."

As for what sort of solution she had in mind, Ava gave a little shrug. "I don't know. I heard said that your king was a bringer of hope. I suppose I let my hopes raise a little too high, thinking I might find some sort of.. miracle solution." She gave a slightly bitter laugh at that, and sat back with another sigh. "I never expected you people to actually do anything, personally." She confessed. "I had hoped to seek advice, perhaps. To return with new ideas, and... somehow defeat him and destroy the last remnants of Sauronic worship."

She smiled slightly though when Pele spoke of her doubts that the Gondorians could move around without being noticed. "That depends on how well disguised you might be." She pointed out, and leaned forward with a little enthusiasm sparking in her eyes. "If necessary, I know a way to temporarily darken one's skin, which will last for weeks. It's a little-known herb which my mother's people used, and it is difficult to find, but I happen to know where to get plenty of it." She shrugged. "Besides, if disguises aren't an option, there are other ways. If I return to find that my status has not fallen, then I could give clothing to anyone who chooses to come with me, marking them as a servant of my household. I have people who go about on errands regularly, so no one would question that."

When Pele mentioned remaining for another two or three weeks, however, Ava's expression went blank. Stay here, that long? She sat up, taking a slow breath in. "That's far too long." She answered, shaking her head. "As much as I would like to stay for that long, I have to be back in Umbar before the next full moon, or.. I won't be able to do anything to help anyone."

Her gaze flicked back down to the folder when asked about it. "I think I'd like to wait on the contents of the folder, until we've resolved this other matter." She decided, looking back at Pele. If they were going to insist on her staying here, and she couldn't get back to her estate by the needed time, then nothing in the folder would be much use anyway. Perhaps her fear of the past repeating itself was making her overexaggerate the danger, or perhaps not. But she had not intended on being gone longer than a month, and now it seemed possible that she might not be able to get back in the necessary time. That could completely ruin everything she'd been working for, for years. A part of her was wondering if it had been a mistake to come forward with any of this, but she tried, very hard, to believe that it was the right choice. She just hoped she wouldn't be proven wrong.

@Pele Alarion @Rillewen
A monthly necessity. Monthly! But that... that meant... Arnyn's dark eyes flicked to Pele, and she had to fight hard to keep her alarm hidden. Luckily, what Ava continued to say was already known information to Arnyn, for the Lieutenant's mind immediately started racing. If it was a monthly necessity, then how could Ava stay for the duration the rangers needed her to? Unless... there must be some sort of option for the Umbarian nobility to outsource their... tribute... Right? In case they were not in Umbar at the time the tribute was due? Some sort of proxy that could handle the 'requirement' for them? Surely, a family member, for example? But Ava had no family members left. Her chief of staff then, perhaps? Whoever ran things for her estate in her absence?

Arnyn's gaze strayed to a random spot in the office, and she blinked emphatically - not out of surprise but in an attempt to keep herself alert and focused. By the Valar, she was tired.... Her attention returned to Ava right when the woman stated her hopes to find some solution to the whole 'sacrifice' issue while she was here.

When Pele spoke, Arnyn was glad for several things. That the Captain clearly advised Ava against having Tercen join her in Umbar, was one of them. Arnyn could have answered Pele's question about who Ava had been bringing forth as her 'sacrifices', but she did not speak for several reasons. While Ava might not enjoy having to explain it again, after already explaining it to Arnyn, the Lieutenant figured Ava might also not appreciate her answering instead. As if she were a child and needed to be spoken for. Besides, any saved energy is good at this point.
Another thing Arnyn was glad for, was Pele's assertion that they could basically not give Ava some sort of magical solution. What Ava said about 'someone' trying to burn the priest, was of course not new information for Arnyn. Yet, she also stayed silent on that, for she figured that was not her story to tell, nor her name to divulge.

The option Ava brought forward, about some natureal skin darkening herb, sounded very interesting. Some kind of household uniform seemed like another option. "So," Arnyn finally spoke, although her voice was quiet, "regardless of who we send with you - things like skin, hair or eye colour will not necessarily matter?" Arnyn glanced at Pele. "Still, we should probably be careful. And make sure only a few stand out physically, so to speak. As to not garner any unwanted attention." Her attention returned to Ava. "At least, I am assuming it would be strange if you suddenly had several fair-skinned and light-eyes people guarding you when you leave your estate. A mix, at least, would be better?"

But when the Captain asked Ava to stay for three weeks at least, which was the time they would need to go out and perform the sea training agreed upon with Swan Knight Abrazimir Dimaethor, Arnyn felt a heavy sense of foreboding settling around her shoulders.
And, sure enough, Ava's expression told Arnyn enough, almost. She would not agree to that. A heartbeat later, that is exactly what came out of the Umbarian's mouth. She could not wait that long, and had to be back before the next full moon. The Lieutenant made a quick calculation. "That means you have five more days," she said, her voice hollow. "Before you have to start your journey back. Or you might arrive too late."

There was no way they could let Ava return alone. Arnyn could feel her heart racing. None of the rangers could go with Ava before their sea training was complete, either. And there was no one else to send. All those who had agreed to go to Umbar, were going on the sea training. Needed the sea training. Except for... Isys? But they could not ask Isys to go alone. Plus, was there even enough time to contact the Ehtyar and get her into position to go with Ava? Regardless of whether or not the woman would actually agree. For this, too, would be voluntary - and not subject to Pele's orders. And... after everything with Arkadhur, of which Arnyn felt she did not even yet know half of everything that had transpired there... The Lieutenant very much doubted Isys would readily agree to trust Ava enough to travel with her. Let alone that she would appreciate Pele and Arnyn asking it of her.

"What if you were in fact travelling to this coffee plantation - since that is your alibi - and you were... delayed," Arnyn began. "Would the temple not allow for some proxy, to handle one month in your stead? The next in line to manage your estate, when you are absent? Unforeseen circumstances can always arise, can they not? Be it a delay in travel, such as a storm, or illness, or any other thing that might arise."

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Turning her dark eyes toward Arnyn, Ava smiled to hear her question. An easier topic to discuss than the other, certainly. "Not particularly, no." She answered with a little shrug, as far as whether the hair, skin, and eye colors would matter. "A large portion of my staff is made up of people who were once slaves, who were brought there from various places." She explained.

"As for my guards," She contemplated how to answer that. "I think blond may stand out a bit," She mentioned, for she could only think of a few blond folks in her staff that were servants or such, not guards. "But not all of my guards are native to the area. And for the record, not everyone who lives in Umbar is dark skinned, you know. Even Pharak Halsad could easily pass for one of you Gondorians, if he took a notion to." She mentioned, with a little frown. Thankfully, his disfigurement would surely keep him from venturing abroad, she thought. "I couldn't tell you his eye color, however. He only has one that is.. normal, and I honestly try not to look overlong at the man when I'm near him. I've never really thought about that, but I would guess it would be dark."

"Regardless," She went on, tilting her head thoughtfully. "When I do leave my estate and go to town, I often have more than guards with me. I usually bring a cluster of servants along, too. To carry packages if I buy anything, and that sort of thing. So.. if you felt you would not fit in to pose as a guard.." She shrugged. "It would be an excellent way to still be close to me, and no one would guess you were also there in a guard capacity." She mentioned, for she personally thought it rather wise for a woman not to flaunt her skills at fighting, so that she could surprise any attacker who underestimated her.

Then, they returned to the matter of her leaving. Ava gave a little nod to the timeline that Arnyn figured. "Yes." She answered quietly. "I intend to leave for Ithilien as soon as Tercen is ready to do so, take a brief detour to Pelargir to acquire a house, for that plan I spoke of, and then continue on to Ithilien. I want stay with him for the few days left, before I return home." She answered with a little sigh, a heaviness starting to settle on her chest the more she spoke of returning.

Arnyn's following question surprised her a bit, and she blinked. Then she gave a wry smile, followed by a brief, soft laugh. "If only." She murmured, shaking her head. "Do you remember what I said about that.. veil?" She asked softly, glancing at Arnyn. "I have made inquiries, in the past. The answer is no." She sat back, frowning slightly. "I am.. you might say, standing on thin ice, as it were." She had heard the expression, even if she'd never actually seen a lake or something with ice solid enough to step onto, she'd read books and could imagine it. "He would allow for it if someone else were going on a trip, like, say, Haarith Gimlan, or one of the other well-standing noblemen of the city. But me... because of my history," She shook her head. "If I tried to do that, he would see it as me trying to get out of it. Which of course.. would be true." She gave a wry smile. "So, I have no choice, unless I'm going to simply not return. And I can't do anything to help anyone, if I simply flee from it all."

Glancing up, she paused before speaking again. "If I could go there, and.. take care of what must be done, then I would know what state things are in, and I could return with news, and that would help with planning. Wouldn't it?" She asked. Tercen would like that, she figured. "I could have better information, and I would know whether it would be safe for me to invite you rangers to stay at my home, as my guests, while you manage your operation." She added, not even bothering to keep up the pretense of 'if there is a mission'. It was more a matter of 'when' at this point, wasn't it? "Which is exactly what I intend to do, if I perceive it to be safe once I am there." She mentioned, watching them both curiously to see how they would react to that. Whether they would accept such an invitation was up to them, but it would certainly be much nicer and more comfortable than any other lodging options they would have available...

@Arnyn, @Rillewen

Captain Pele Alarion
Headquarters, late morning of December 30

As the discussion went on, Pele observed Ava's disposition and felt that any agreement reached this far might be ruined; and she felt as if she was stuck between a rock and a hard place, and no matter what decision she made it would still turn out for the worst somehow. Too many lives were at stake, and someone was probably going to lose theirs one way or another. She felt an urgent need to reach for some of the treats in her stash of snacks but instead managed to keep her hands to herself. She also held back a sigh and sifted through the topics, choosing not to speak of the burnt priest, options for darkening the skin or contents of the mysterious folder.

"Ava, even if our King is able to use athelas and his hands to bring healing to those grievously scarred by the Dark Lord's powers, I doubt he would have an ability to turn around matters in Umbar at a snap of his fingers," she said, looking to approach the more weighty subjects carefully. "I also doubt any overnight overhaul can happen just like that. It might take a lot of cooperation and perhaps even a generation or two to change something. However, I would hope that we could find common ground for cooperation."

Pele then took a few deeper breaths and tackled the issue of a conflict between the Rangers interests and Ava's. "Look... Even if we were to head out to Umbar and take down the temple and the priest with it, a thing like that cannot be achieved that quickly without due preparations. I would not want to have any of my Rangers end up as sacrifice due to failure on my part to prepare them. So I guess... you might have to use the tools you have to survive a while longer, even though I hate to think of any life being extinguished in that foul place."

"I must also admit that your plans for such a short span of days before your planned departure are rather ambitious," she continued. "You have not forgotten about the possible spies, have you? If you go here and there and everywhere you risk being easily observed, and perhaps caught. For the safety of all involved, I cannot let you go on about business as usual. You should stay here in Minas Tirith until you leave, and if you intend to return, then there might be more options on the table. Besides, I would also not want you returning to Umbar alone." However, who could she trust to go on such a short notice? Without more preparation? Her blue eyes looked to Arnyn thoughtfully for a few moments and then returned to Ava to see if they could figure out some sort of mutually reasonable solution though it was clear that there were some things neither might be willing to give up.

@Pele Alarion @Rillewen
After Ava's words, Arnyn was again thinking over the idea of not only disguising rangers as bodyguards but as servants. She had considered it already, of course - the idea of how a personal attendent might accompany Ava almost anywhere, if that was indeed a habit of hers already, or an accepted custom in Umbar. She had already mentioned it, even. Of course... that meant the other Umbarians would believe any such servants were slaves, right? And they would have to keep that in mind, when they left the estate, as well.
She was not too proud to consider it, however. Why not, if it would help sell the ruse? Everyone else involved knew the truth of things. And what did it matter what strangers thought they knew, for a short while? Besides, after all the things she'd heard about slaves and their masters, it seemed that they were hardly even seen as actual people. Therefore... not only would anyone appearing a slave be underestimated, they would hardly be seen as a threat of any kind. More like a pet than a human being. Or was Arnyn now demonizing those holding slaves just a tad too much?

Pele then came out and said in no uncertain terms that, despite wishing the situation were different of course, Ava would simply have to continue delivering her sacrifices to the temple. That also meant that, if they could send rangers with her - which they HAD to, in order to allow Ava to go back at all - that these rangers would have to let it happen. And stand by. Watching it happen. For the whole point in sending rangers with Ava was to ensure she did not get hauled off for interrogation, but also to ensure she did not willingly or accidentally say anything she should not. The rangers would not be allowed to simply stay at the estate when Ava was required to go to the temple. Besides, it was the perfect chance to scope out the place.
Mentally, Arnyn swore. Things are never easy, are they? Something she had read in a bookon tactical warfare, suddenly sprang up in her mind: Every advantage has its disadvantage...

Ava's response to her question about some sort of proxy, effectively shut the door on any way to avoid Ava having to go back in just a few days. Arnyn's exhaustion suddenly felt like an even heavier weight upon her shoulders and head. What were they to do with this?

Arnyn resisted running a hand over her face. She was in a professional setting. She did not want Ava to even consider she might not be equipped to handle all of this.

"I believe we are moving onto territory which themen outside should also be hearing,in order for us not to have to repeat ourselves," she finally put forward. "Unless there is anything else you would like to discuss in private."

When Ava indicated there was not*, Arnyn glanced at Pele, and then rose from her chair. More slowly than she might have, on another day. The Lieutenant went to the door and opened it. Attempt number two. She only took one step out, since the door opening drew the attention of the three others instantly.


His shoulders instantly straightened when he heard the door. Turning toward it, he sa Arnyn stepping out and wordlessly delivering a gesture that invited them back in.

Even though it had not been that long ago, Tercen's expression was now very different from the first time he had stepped into the office. He looked dejected, now, and was avoiding making eye contact with Ava, since he was still processing what he felt was a rejection.

Before Arnyn could return to her earlier spot by the wall, he claimed it. "You can sit in my stead, if you like," he extended the possibility to Arnyn.


Arnyn gave her brother a thoughtful look, but she did end up taking the seat he had been in, earlier. Next to Ava. Once seated, she drew in a deep breath. And began.

"With all the information we have - I think it has already been firmly established that Ava cannot return to Umbar alone. The Captain and I discussed, between us, sending rangers along with her. Including myself - for I would not wish for any of our own to go, without proving I am willing to risk my own hide." There were additional reasons, as well, of course. She did not need to repeat them. Especially not as long as she was still unwilling to confirm or state that they were in fact planning a mission to Umbar. Another breath.

"What has come to light while you were outside," she added, looking over at the men as she said this in order to indicate them, "is that she cannot wait any longer than five days to return. If she does wait longer, apparently it will endanger not only her own life and her position there, but also the lives of everyone on her estate. A lot of people." Allegedly, a sneaky little voice whispered into the back of her mind. If she is not feeding you lies...

"That timing... is a problem. Considering the necessity and arranged timing of our upcoming training venture." She could not disclose all the reasons why, of course - not with Ava here. But Pele knew all the reasons - and the others would simply need to take her word for it. "We cannot send any rangers with Ava for at least three weeks," Arnyn specified, already hating - absolutely hating - what she was almost implying. What she was almost asking. Even though she was so unwilling to do so.

"Additionally. The Captain and I discussed Ava should not leave Minas Tirith, until the time she returns home. This city is where we can protect her the best of any actions against her from possible spies." She looked to Tercen then, over by the wall. "I'm sorry, brother."


The sullen look on his face was replaced by a look of mild panic when Arnyn mentioned Ava had to leave in five days. Five days!? He had not thought it would be that soon at all! She had not mentioned such a timing at all, and... And if she was in fact going, and she did not want him to go with her, then that meant five days was all he had left. No, no, no...

To make matters worse, Arnyn soon enough added on that Ava would have to stay in Minas Tirith, for her own safety. He could hardly protest that, he realized - especially since he wanted her not to return to Umbar at all for the very same reason. But... if Ava was not going to Ithilien... then even more of his plans had just been wiped off the table. He so wanted to show her his house... his woods... his life. Even though, as it stood, she had no wish of showing her own life, to him.

He just ended up staring at Arnyn. Then Ava. Then the floor.

*agreed upon with Rillewen

@Pele Alarion @Arnyn
Ava gave a slow nod as the captain spoke, acknowledging that there were not likely to be any quick solutions. One could only hope, but yes. It did seem likely that it might be a mission to pass on to the next generation. But she could at least try. She could, perhaps, lay some groundwork? Or whatever the term was.

The reference to something called Athelas went over her head a bit, but she chose not to comment on that. She could ask about it later, perhaps, if Tercen would tell her. Meanwhile, she focused on what the ranger captain said. Use the tools she has to survive. It was with mixed feelings that she heard this. For while it was a small relief that the woman agreed she must do whatever she must do, to survive.. to help her people remain unbothered, she also felt a weight of disappointment fall upon her. Because that meant she was not free of the obligation yet. Hopefully, soon. She drew a slow breath in and nodded.

The heaviness increased a moment later when Pele spoke of how much she planned to do in such a short time, and then reminded her about possible spies. Right... there was that. Her mood sank even further when the captain declared that she could not let her go on about her plans. That she needed to stay in Minas Tirith. Ava stared wordlessly at her, at that. Then... that meant the trip to Ithilien was no longer an option. Her gaze dropped down to her lap, inwardly fighting with herself. The unrestrained part of her wanted to get upset, to raise her voice and protest and make some sort of demands. But that was the childish way of doing things, and she was not a child. She had left childhood behind when her father was slain.

There was a moment of silence that settled over the room, until Arnyn spoke up to suggest they bring the men back in. Ava looked up and gave a shake of her head when asked if there was anything else that needed to be discussed in private. She had an answer about the sacrifices. Hopefully, they could avoid bringing that back up in Tercen's presence. While she had told him about it as vaguely as she could, she didn't want him to have to hear more details than necessary.

---

The moment the door opened, both brothers were anxious to hear news. Finally, they were allowed back in. Returning to their previous seats, Gladhron was pleased despite the seriousness of the situation, to find that he was now sitting next to Arnyn, thanks to Tercen taking her spot on the wall. Not that he figured the gesture was in any way intended to have her sit next to him. But he couldn't help but notice and be glad for it.

Then she began to explain what the situation was. Gwestion frowned as he listened, his gaze remaining steadily on Arnyn while she spoke, clearly paying attention to all the various details that were shared.

Gladhron was glancing around at the different expressions around the room, and various other spots in the room. While he may appear like he was distracted or not paying attention, he was actually listening just as closely as Gwestion. The way Tercen looked when it was revealed that Ava would not be able to go with him to Ithilien did not escape him, either. And it was his fault. Mostly, anyway. If he had been more careful about opening his big mouth...

He glanced at Gwestion, meeting his brother's eyes for a moment. There was a tiny nod there, as his little brother read in his eyes what he was thinking, and Gladhron read, in return, that Gwestion agreed. Or, at least, he interpreted it all that way. He turned then to Arnyn, then looked at the captain. "Gwestion and I could go." He offered. It seemed the most obvious solution. While he would have preferred to join Arnyn in whatever the mission thing was that she was planning, he could tell that this was important. And maybe, if he and Gwestion went along to ensure that Ava remained safe, it would help Tercen forgive him for causing all this trouble. Because he had a feeling he was going to be less happy with him, now. Besides, he had a feeling, too, that Gwestion would like an opportunity to do a little investigating around Umbar, himself... after what he'd wanted Gladhron to ask Ava about, out in the waiting room.

Looking toward Captain Alarion, Gwestion merely gave a small nod in agreement when his brother volunteered them for this. It did make sense. They couldn't send any of their people, because they were all going to do that training thing. But he and Gladhron had nothing stopping them from going anywhere. And this would give them a way to get involved, perhaps. Though, he was still a bit unclear about the actual plan, but those details could be discussed later.