[Mingler] And there were noises in the woods, and none knew their source

[i_hate_valar]

They have worked long and hard, grandfather and grandson, to create this prototype. The gun is an elegant thing, exquisitely decorated,but it is also deadly, for the ammunition it shoots is more akin to an explosive than to an actual bullet

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[lifeinhallways]

The sound brings Michelle to the open window. Sure, the sound is far enough away to presume stray bullets are not going to affect her, but that doesn't stop her from looking.

She knows someone who is very good with guns.

"Did you hear that?"

[abadland4gods]

Of course Shadow's not very far. He in fact is always close, now that Michelle is experiencing such fears.

He'll come to the window, lay a hand on her shoulder, to remind her that he's here.

"I did," he replies. "Don't think I heard that kind of gun before."

But it's a gun, it has to be. That much, he knows.

A knock on the door comes next. :-)

[lifeinhallways]

It's highly likely, given his closeness, he would've noticed her sleep disrupted by nightmares. Sadly, the vivid dreaming that can come with pregnancy, have been reminding Michelle of the precariousness of her position.

Michelle looks up at Mike when she feels his hand. "I didn't know there were guns here." Oh, all the things she's learning, none of them welcome.

The knock at the door has her almost flinching. Her anxiety may have lessened, but it is hardly gone, and it requires little to return.

[lorien_gal]

She can see the time it takes for the door to be answered. Galadriel even sees the man who comes to open the door, in her mind's eye - a Maiar, and this woman does not even know.

Ah, Atani.

After a cursory inspection, Galadriel slips in under awed looks from the too young, too perfect to be human, yet untold - as if he was barely aware of who he is.

"Is this a bad time?"

Go ahead :-)

[lifeinhallways]

"No," Michelle's quick to reassure, as Galadriel's always a happy sight. She steps up closer to Mike and gives him a small grin.

"Galadriel, have you met Mike?"

Michelle does have her manners, and she finds it right that the two should know each other. She owes both more than she can ever express.

[lorien_gal]

There's an exchange of looks between Galadriel and Mike, and she replies, "We have now."

She'll want to speak to Michelle about him one day, but not now, not now.

"There is yet another waiting to be introduced. My cousin comes to meet you, as requested."

[lifeinhallways]

"I'm glad you have." Looking back and forth between them, she knows she wouldn't've fared well without the both of them.

Her eyebrows raise a little. She hadn't forgotten, but new people now have been difficult. Meeting them, trying to remember herself: it's become much harder.

"I'm happy to meet him." Michelle can't help she's not as put together as she'd like, but pride is something she has to push aside. It's easier for her than most.

[elven_irs]

As if on cue, there's yet another knock at the door, which is answered this time by the elven lady herself. There are hushed words between them - Caranthir was leaning against the door, and frowning enough that the large star-shaped scar on his left cheek was creasing.

He wanders in, and inclines his head to Michelle, after a quick nod of acknowledgement to Mike, warrior to warrior.

"My cousin speaks of you well," he tells Michelle. "And she says you are in need of... a place other than this, for a time."

[lifeinhallways]

Michelle steps forward, hand extended. "She speaks well of you, something we can be glad we both share. Michelle Benjamin."

For all the warm welcome, there's an undertone of nerves. "I would like to be away from the mansion, at least until my baby's born." She doesn't know how much Galadriel has told him, but she's willing to share it all, if to secure a place.

[elven_irs]

"Carnistir Moryofinwe Finwion," he replies, and smiles, just a little, trying to be reassuring. "You can call me Caranthir."

Moryo's for family, and it bore no luck to Faraday to be so close to him.

"Artanis mentioned it," he says. "There are several of our kin who have dwellings outside the Mansion, but few are appropriate for a woman of your condition," he replies.

He looks at Michelle, then at Mike.

"My home is the most fit, but it is also quite high up. You might need help going about." The hulking Atan shifts, a subtle movement more perceptible to Elven senses, and Caranthir glances at him, raises an eyebrow. "There's no good way to say it," he adds bluntly. "It's up a tree."

[lifeinhallways]

"Caranthir." She repeats the name, to try to master it.

Looking at Galadriel's cousin, she doesn't see how Mike shifts, but she can't help but be shocked by the house in question.

"Would I even be able to get to it?" It has to be asked. She can't exactly climb ladders easily right now.

[lorien_gal]

The darker elf grunts at Galadriel, whose face remains even.

"Our buildings are made very differently," she says, "and my kinmen's craft is unequaled amongst the Noldor. You will be safe there, Michelle - for only our folk know of its very existence."

Hold on, Mike wants to talk! :-)

[abadland4gods]

Shadow in the meantime feels very odd about these two people - Michelle seems to trust the woman, but he disliked how she seemed to see right through him. The other, well, to put it simply, is all but a brute to him - as evidenced by the scarring.

He feels the need to intervene and steps to Michelle's side, ever protective.

"That sounds like a prison," he tells the elves. "You can't possibly expect Michelle to go up a ladder." He turns to her, and adds, "... I can carry you, but do you really want to depend on me for that?"

He's worried about how unhealthy it could be for her, to be locked up away.

Go ahead! <3

[lifeinhallways]

"I wouldn't want to be an imposition." She responds to Mike first. Despite everything, Michelle's still a little nervous about pushing him too far, asking him for too much. She's still not used to asking for herself.

"And he can come and go." Michelle nods at Caranthir, before turning, "but I'm making assumptions. How would I get there?

[elven_irs]

"Your man and I can escort you out. If you feel unsafe with the two of us, I can ask my brothers to help. That's the easy part. There's a bit of a walk on the grounds, but if you are healthy, you will probably be able to do it. Your man looks willing to carry you, though I don't think it will be necessary."

He smiles a bit, which is perhaps a touch sinister: Caranthir's scar creases, and though he means it well, it's almost a rictus.

"I just finished fixing the place up. The stairs are retractable."

[lifeinhallways]

"What if," Michelle's going to take the chance, and there isn't the time to discuss it alone, so she looks at Mike, wondering if he'll be the one to object, or Caranthir.

"What if Mike came to stay as well? He's," are there the words for it? "Very important."

She'll go with that one.