[Intro] With flag unfurled

[homely_sonja]

Comments

[ma_feanorian]

With her back to Brienne as she bends over a table, a quill skating across some paper, with only red hair showing - vibrantly red hair, long and rich - it would be easy to mistake this tall and regal woman for another redhead Brienne knows somewhat better.

Nerdanel is journaling, of a sort. She's decided that she wants to keep track of things, somehow, and the action itself is - soothing to her, in a slightly inexplicable way.

[homely_sonja]

Brienne is going to stare at the woman's back for a bit, her heart beating in her chest so powerfully that she'll fear she might give up the spirit for a time.

After a moment, though, stoutly, "-- Lady Catelyn?"

[ma_feanorian]

Nerdanel glances sideways, sees no one else in the room, and lifts her head. "If you are speaking to me," she says in her rich, cultured voice, "I am not who you are looking for, but I would be glad to be of assistance if I may anyway."

She closes the book quietly and turns, standing - probably as tall as Brienne, though quite a bit more slender.

[homely_sonja]

dkfljdjfl! "I -- my apologies, lady," Brienne replies, and is kind of simply mesmerized by the sheer height of the woman. "I meant no disrespect."

[ma_feanorian]

"None taken," she says, pleasantly, her voice a bit low, and calm, with a note of powerful soothingness to it. She's raised seven fussy boys. It's automatic by now.

"Have you just arrived? You have a bit of the look."

If she is startled by Brienne's height or appearance, it doesn't show.

[homely_sonja]

Brienne, however, is not secure enough to think about anything but the word 'look'.

"-- what look, my lady," she manages to ask, a touch defensively.

She's trying. Very hard. The fact that she's vaguely reminded of Catelyn doesn't make it easier.

[ma_feanorian]

Nerdanel looks slightly perplexed for a moment. "--puzzlement, confusion, disorientation?" She says, a bit more slowly, in case Brienne is a touch dense. "The way people usually look when they turn up here."

[homely_sonja]

Butt-ugly and naively idealistic, yes, but not dense, no. She nods. "Only lately, aye," she replies. "Forgive me, my lady. I meant no disturbance."

[ma_feanorian]

"Then you have caused none," Nerdanel says, perfectly polite, and still gentle. "Certainly not to me. My name is Nerdanel, wife of Feanaro Curufinwe. Who are you?"

[homely_sonja]

--- the name is so foreign, that for the first time, Brienne is actually inclined to speak the truth. "Brienne, daughter of Lord Selwyn of Tarth," she says quietly.

She's curious and wants to ask where these odd names are from, but she's too shy.

[ma_feanorian]

Nerdanel inclines her head politely, and indicates a chair. "If you wanted to sit, feel welcome...this place welcomes everyone, no matter where they be from or who they are."

Aww, Brienne. Relax!

[homely_sonja]

She looks probably very young, and more so to an elf as old as Nerdanel. She sits, compelled by her calm, more than anything else.

"... my thanks, my lady."

Relax? What's that?

[ma_feanorian]

She does, and Ner kind of thinks her shyness is adorable. She sits back down as well, turns her chair to face Brienne. "I assume you've been told the simple things about this place...do you have any questions I might help answer?"

[homely_sonja]

She looks down a moment, she's feeling very intimidated (she's not used to motherly types).

"-- if it wouldn't be too much trouble, my lady --"

[ma_feanorian]

"It wouldn't be trouble at all," Nerdanel assures her. "Ask anything you like. I'd be happy to help, though I'm afraid I don't know all there is to know, or probably even half of it."

[homely_sonja]

"I meant to ask if we were dead, my lady." She looks embarrassed for asking.