[Introduction] Through the Redhorn Gate

[silvercrowned]

The mountain thrusts up before them like a knife: its peak is silver with ice and sunlight, but the lower slopes are the dull red of dried bloodstains. The path runs before them, narrow and twisting and treacherous, the climb up the steep mountainside sends the horses struggling and sliding toward the darkness beyond the cliff. Snow dusts the

Comments

[eldeststark]

Robb just can't avoid people who look like they are in distress, especially when they are ladies. And he is in a particularly good mood, because he is now omg engaged. And while Grey Wind makes a nervous wolfy noise, he tells him firmly to sit, stay, and comes over to touch her shoulder gently, very properly.

"Er - excuse me-"

We never said he was a very good rescuer.

[silvercrowned]

The wolfy noise elicits a flinch and the lady reaching for the knife on her belt before she has opened her eyes -- orcs ride wolves. But the gentle touch and sound have her lower it again, this young man is most certainly no orc.

"Yes?"

[eldeststark]

He looks a little concerned about the reaching, but since she stops - not too concerned. "I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I know he's not - well, he won't hurt you, he's mine. Can I help you?"

[silvercrowned]

She still looks nervously at the wolf, such a large one as well - "It is fine. There was an ambush I could flee." By now she is not mentioning her companions any longer. "Thank you."

[eldeststark]

"...oh." he looks a touch embarrassed, and steps back. "Then I am - sorry to have bothered you, I thought that you might be in trouble, my lady-"

His ears are a lovely shade of pink.

[silvercrowned]

"No, please, I would not, did not mean to frown upon your kindness, young lord, it is only, I have no knowledge of this place, and my kin will be worried if they hear no tidings of me after the attack." She is trying to be measured and keep calm, but by now it is no longer working so well, she has had too much time to think. She doesn't like feeling helpless.

"I beg you, forgive my rudeness, surely that is no reason to blush so!" Cringe.

[eldeststark]

"I - well, who are your kin - what is your name, if it is not indiscreet of me to ask-" Awkward Stark politeness, we do speak it. "I'm sure I can - help you find them, if you would like, but it might be - sit, Grey - wise to go inside?" Question mark? And going even more pink at her reassurance. His coloring is just the right shade to show it.

[silvercrowned]

"Celebrían of Imladris, my husband is Lord Elrond and Lord of that house, and my are parents the Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn, guardians of Lothlórien," she replies quietly, though not without a certain tentative sort of pride. After all there is no telling if these names even mean anything in this place. "Or perhaps my sons are here -- they will have ridden to seek me, if any of my companions may have fled and reached a patrol -- the lords Elladan and Elrohir?"

But she doesn't mind the suggestion of going inside, and there is no objection to that, instead she allows him to help her up, if would be so kind?

[eldeststark]

He doesn't know any of those names at all, and in fact looks rather - befuddled. "--I'm afraid I don't recognize - well, someone else may know." And Robb is glad to help her, if she lets him, to her feet, and Grey Wind edges a little closer to sniff inquiringly at the edge of her gown.

[silvercrowned]

"Yes, perhaps." She sounds unconvinced, and briefly wonders what place this is, if they have not heard of either Imladris or Lothlórien - both realms are well-guarded, but their fame runs far and wide. But Celebrían climbs to her feet with Robb's help and turns to consider the direwolf, trying not to start away again.

"He is very large for a wolf... or is he interbred?"

[eldeststark]

Robb looks - just a little proud. "No - he is a direwolf. The sigil of my house. Full grown, they can be - even bigger than he is. Grey is still young."

[silvercrowned]

"Grey? That is a good name. And it is fitting that you should have a companion to represent your house." On some level she is aware that he is perhaps seeking to distract her from her experience, on another she seizes the opportunity gladly, and even tries to smile at him.

[eldeststark]

Well, he doesn't want her to be upset! It would not be Right. "Grey Wind - and yes, it was seen as an - omen when we found them." He almost smiles back, but his face falls a little. Some fortune their wolves gave them. "He is - wary of strangers, but I think he has deemed you acceptable."

[silvercrowned]

"I am glad, as to be deemed as a foe by such a magificent beast would be... dangerous, at the least, and I mean no ill even if the smell of Orcs is strong upon me. May I touch him, then? I heard that it goes some way toward strengthening trust."

[eldeststark]

"--you should let him sniff your hand, first - just as a formality," but Robb seems pleased, "But then you can - he likes to be scratched behind his ears," and he colors again, a little, wondering if it is undignified to say that.

[silvercrowned]

It isn't, as long as there are no hidden advances in that - so she will smile a little, and offer her hand for the direwolf to sniff, and typist willing, dare to scratch him behind the ears when there is no averse reaction. Otherwise, she'll carefully withdraw her hand and remember not to look him in the eyes.