Six Months Later...
The thin column of white smoke, trailing above the large tree in the distance, was both a comfort and a burden, as the elf continued to trudge through the snowdrifts that took refuge in the Circle of Serenity, burying the bottoms of the numerous statues to the faith that encompassed it. Assuming that the thin column of smoke meant the large hearth's fire was burning down in its fight to stave off the cold of winter, Arduluth changed his direction and headed to the stables he had constructed in the fall, after the unfamiliar peaceful summer that had passed, with the Vesve seemingly radiant in the aftermath of the Battle of Dawn's Fall, with only the matters of resolving the issues that needed to be addressed after peace was won, with a welcomed reprise from the Court and Duskblades enjoying his and Narii's present from Adina, a trip to the Kingdom of Celene. The elf's face twisted as a gust of wind blew hard snow into his frozen face, as his memories of the summer were playing with him in his cold misery back from Flameflower. Entering the stables, the interior provided a windbreak, warming him seemingly immediately, and the neighing of horses greeting him in arrival.
Shaking himself clean of snow clutching to him as if they were gnats during the summer, Arduluth threw back his hood, twisting his head back and forth to free his hair from his cloak as he approached the corralled horses. The stallion and mare moved to the edge of the wooden gate, snorting in seeming accusations at the elf who moved forward slowly, in an attempt to mock them.
"So, you two think you have me all figured out, huh? I think not..."
Arduluth chuckled as the shiny, grayed-hair mare attempted to dig into his jacket. He pushed against her seemingly silver-haired neck, mocking her. "Van'Vala, stop it. I'll let your owner have her way with me, but I do not have to take this treatment from you." Snorting in response, the mare backed off slightly, only to allow the brown-haired stallion to renew the assault. Sighing in mock defeat, the duskblade threw up in hands defeat, before reaching into his jacket. "Fine Cor'Tulari!," playfully retorted Arduluth, pushing the stallion's nose away," I spoil you two way too much - you've come to expect special behavior!" With ease, the elf produced two fresh apples, protected on the trip and still in good condition, and offered one to each of the horses, while brushing their necks gently with his gloved hand. After a few moments, Arduluth smirked and backed away, heading to an attached woodshed to gather some firewood to bring into the Hold, as he assumed whoever was there had forgotten to feed the fire, judging by the thin column of smoke. Lifting a bundle of firewood over his shoulder, he headed out of the stable, and towards Sword's Hold.
Pushing the door in, the swordsman pushed the door in, and shook himself of any leftover snow before heading down the stairs with his load to restock the fireplace that Arathur designed and built this fall, it's massive size and engineering able to heat both the underground and aboveground structures of the Sword's home. Reaching the main hall, Arduluth dropped his load of fuel while removing his damp cloak, hanging it from a hook near the fireplace. A small sense of loneliness hit, as the coals of a dying fire showed that whoever was tending it had not returned to it in some time. Even though it was and always would be home, moments like these struck Arduluth, knowing that Arathur, Planter, and others were not here anymore, even though they all had quarters here yet. Sighing, the elf began to restock the fireplace, stirring the coals to catch his load of firewood aflame, bringing new warmth to the room as he then stacked the extra wood nearby for later use...
Shaking himself clean of snow clutching to him as if they were gnats during the summer, Arduluth threw back his hood, twisting his head back and forth to free his hair from his cloak as he approached the corralled horses. The stallion and mare moved to the edge of the wooden gate, snorting in seeming accusations at the elf who moved forward slowly, in an attempt to mock them.
"So, you two think you have me all figured out, huh? I think not..."
Arduluth chuckled as the shiny, grayed-hair mare attempted to dig into his jacket. He pushed against her seemingly silver-haired neck, mocking her. "Van'Vala, stop it. I'll let your owner have her way with me, but I do not have to take this treatment from you." Snorting in response, the mare backed off slightly, only to allow the brown-haired stallion to renew the assault. Sighing in mock defeat, the duskblade threw up in hands defeat, before reaching into his jacket. "Fine Cor'Tulari!," playfully retorted Arduluth, pushing the stallion's nose away," I spoil you two way too much - you've come to expect special behavior!" With ease, the elf produced two fresh apples, protected on the trip and still in good condition, and offered one to each of the horses, while brushing their necks gently with his gloved hand. After a few moments, Arduluth smirked and backed away, heading to an attached woodshed to gather some firewood to bring into the Hold, as he assumed whoever was there had forgotten to feed the fire, judging by the thin column of smoke. Lifting a bundle of firewood over his shoulder, he headed out of the stable, and towards Sword's Hold.
Pushing the door in, the swordsman pushed the door in, and shook himself of any leftover snow before heading down the stairs with his load to restock the fireplace that Arathur designed and built this fall, it's massive size and engineering able to heat both the underground and aboveground structures of the Sword's home. Reaching the main hall, Arduluth dropped his load of fuel while removing his damp cloak, hanging it from a hook near the fireplace. A small sense of loneliness hit, as the coals of a dying fire showed that whoever was tending it had not returned to it in some time. Even though it was and always would be home, moments like these struck Arduluth, knowing that Arathur, Planter, and others were not here anymore, even though they all had quarters here yet. Sighing, the elf began to restock the fireplace, stirring the coals to catch his load of firewood aflame, bringing new warmth to the room as he then stacked the extra wood nearby for later use...