""But, tell me... how is it that one such as yourself would speak the language of my kinsmen?"
Benia asked, her voice seemingly softening as she spoke. Silvanis smiled slightly and said,
'I have done no small amount of travelling in my time, especially after the war. It was then I journeyed south as a representative of King Elessar to Harad and Khand, and though the people were wary of the northerners, they for the most part accepted the new-found freedom under the King. Yet there was troubles, especially with some renegade Variags that hid in the hills of Khand. After my return and my release from the King's service, I returned to the north for a time, living about the Twilight Hills near Evendim, and for a time before returning south. I then spent much time in the desert, at a crossing of the ancient Haradian trading routes that was in the language of Haarad called the Oasis Inn. It was there I learned this dialect.'
Silvanis saw no harm in telling her this, for he had been both north and south in that time. If only he could find peace...
Noting the lady was about to leave, he too was going to leave, and needed to return to Blackveil who had probably returned to the grass field to graze. But as she asked for help to the chair, he took her graceful hand and supported her, assuring she was comfortably situated in the chair. She seemed somewhat hesitant to release his hand, but as she did, there she had slid the stone, just the same way that he aquired it that day at the Oasis!
Silvanis sat in the other chair silent, looking at the stone in his palm then looking at Benia. Yes, she figured who slid her the stone, and as their eyes locked, he was about to say something only the one who had passed him the stone at the oasis would know when the door opened and Gilly came in with Benia's food.
The time spent in converse with Lady Nightshade left him with ever more questions, and he did not fail to take note of how she side-stepped his askance of how she had come to the north. For since if Gilly did not leave the Shire as she said, then how did this friendship between hobbit and southern lady emerge? Yet all have their secrets, and in his mind Silvanis weighed the possibility also that the man who came in just before he carried Benia to her room had interest in her.
Many things he needed to see to before moving on it seemed, and with Gilly's entrance, he closed his hand about the stone and stood, offering the chair to Gilly as he gave a nod to Benia.
'I will visit the common room for a moment and return later with a chair. But for now I leave you ladies to converse and lunch.'
Another look to Benia who seemed concerned that Silvanis was leaving the room, and with his look he tried to re-assure her, and he slipped out the door in silence, letting it close easy behind him.
Silvanis paused outside the door, first spotting the man with the tankard of ale who watched him emerge before sipping his drink, and also strained to hear the faint words of Gilly behind the door.
“Just ....... fall ... not ... unnoticed .... arrival ..... horseman ....... marked. It ........... watch ........... room.”
He heard enough to confirm at least somewhat his question as to whether this man had interest in Benia. Of course being that she is indeed fair to the eye, especially being of the south in these climes, could be all the reason the man had of eyeing her, but one cannot be too sure of thewse things.
Silvanis was down to the commons quickly without a glance to the man, but he watched hin from the edge of his eye, and stepping to the bar he ordered two tankards of wha the man ordered. After the foamy tankards were set, he scooped then in his hands and made way to the table where he sat. His approach drew nary a glance from Kaldir as he drained his mug. Silvanis pulled the chair directly opposite him and sat blocking somewhat his view of the stairwell and the door atop them, which turned his look toward Silvanis.
'Have an ale my friend!'
Silvanis looked him in the eye as he spoke...
[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: Snowdog ]
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