Eight of 'em? Sweet Eru.
Halbarad: *Eight. I could swear there were eight cubs here just a minute ago. Where in Eru's name did the other one go? Ah hah! I snatch the miscreant out from beneath the bed and plunk him back in the nest Mithrhovan made of my thankfully dirty tunics before picking up his sister -- I think -- to see if I can get her to nurse from a bottle.*
Nadiyah: *I crawl across the bed and settle down to watch, chin on folded arms* I heard what happened to the she-wolf. I am sorry. How many are there?
Halbarad: Eight, I think. It's very hard to keep track. *getting more milk on myself than in the cub's mouth* Do you mind? I can probably get Mithrhovan to move them, if you'd rather.
Nadiyah: *I sit up cross-legged with a pup in my lap and take one of the bottles* It is not so hard...there, see?
Halbarad: *rueful smile* I think it is a mother thing. *finally manages to get the cub to drink properly, only to have Mithrhovan stick his nose between her and me*
Nadiyah: Mith, come here. *I pat the bed next to me, the pup whining at the brief loss of bottle*
Halbarad: *as the wolf obeys* Thank you. *concentrates on the puppy in my lap for a moment, thinking of how to word what I have to tell you* You know some of the Dunedain came down from the North?
Nadiyah: *nods* I have heard the shouting. They are...annoying.
Halbarad: *smirks* That's one way of putting it. They're looking for Aragorn, and I imagine they haven't had much success, yet. Nor are they going to. I wouldn't let him ride back North with them, considering the last news I heard from Arnor.
Nadiyah: Aragorn? *I blink, puzzled* I have not seen him for much time. Where is he?
Halbarad: Probably hiding in a nice dark corner in some tavern, smoking that pipeweed of his. *makes a face and scoops up another furball for feeding*
Nadiyah: If he is happy that way, then good. I have heard he was a bad king. I like the king we have. *swapping a full pup for a fussy one* What about the Dunedain?
Halbarad: Someone has to appease them, and in the absence of Aragorn, hopefully I will do.
Nadiyah: *frowning, eying you* Halbarad...
Halbarad: I shouldn't have put it off so long, but somebody has to go settle them down.
Nadiyah: Are you going to get hurt?
Halbarad: I rather hope not. I have reached my quota for the month.
Nadiyah: Right. Who will feed the pups whie we are gone?
Halbarad: *startled* We? It is a difficult journey in winter, even if the weather is kind, and there is the baby to consider. *knowing the battle is half lost already, but trying to change your mind anyway*
Nadiyah: *I grimace and shiver before I can stop myself...north...* I should be with you.
Halbarad: *setting the puppy aside to curl up with its siblings, I move to join you on the bed* If circumstances were different, I would not ask you to do otherwise, but it is too risky. *pulling you into my arms* I would rather know that you are safe and warm here. *gently* Note the emphasis I put on "warm." I fear there will be few opportunities to gather by a fire on this trip.
Nadiyah: *I curl up in your arms, scowling -- I'm a warrior, not a hothouse flower! And yet...in that one way, I suppose I am. I sigh against your chest* I would be very bad company.
Halbarad: Never. *running idle fingers down your arm, vaguely disappointed that winter clothes keep the feel of your skin from me--for now* I can think of much worse company. In fact, I'll be traveling with some of them. They seem a bit intimidated by "the Captain's mystery wife," though, so I am certain they will endeavor to bring me home in one fully functioning piece.
Nadiyah: Mystery...? *I laugh, amused, twining my fingers in your lacings* They SHOULD fear me. If you are not back safe...when will you be back? So I know when to declare war on Arnor.
Halbarad: *grins* Oh, a week, maybe two? Supposedly there are "ambassadors" for the people waiting in Bree. We will not have to hack our way through ice and snow to Arnor itself. I will be certain to share plenty of tales along the way, about the warrior who won my heart. That should motivate them to cause as little trouble as possible. If we're delayed, I'll try to get one of those damn pigeons here with a note.
Nadiyah: One week, then. And your mystery warrior will become very fearsome. *I kiss you soundly, then glance over my shoulder* Right now, though, the puppies need milk.
Halbarad: I hope they outgrow this before the baby needs milk. *shaking my head in amazement* Eight of them. I'm tempted to teach Mith to hold a bottle.
Nadiyah: One of Luthien's little ones is old enough to help. I will ask her. Whle you are gone. *rolling out of your lap* And the baby is a long time away -- don't worry!
Halbarad: *catching your hand to kiss your knuckles, grinning roguishly* I always worry. *I scoop up a whining puppy and get to work with another milk bottle, all the while pondering ways to teach Mithrhovan to nurse a few of the little ones himself*
Nadiyah: *I crawl across the bed and settle down to watch, chin on folded arms* I heard what happened to the she-wolf. I am sorry. How many are there?
Halbarad: Eight, I think. It's very hard to keep track. *getting more milk on myself than in the cub's mouth* Do you mind? I can probably get Mithrhovan to move them, if you'd rather.
Nadiyah: *I sit up cross-legged with a pup in my lap and take one of the bottles* It is not so hard...there, see?
Halbarad: *rueful smile* I think it is a mother thing. *finally manages to get the cub to drink properly, only to have Mithrhovan stick his nose between her and me*
Nadiyah: Mith, come here. *I pat the bed next to me, the pup whining at the brief loss of bottle*
Halbarad: *as the wolf obeys* Thank you. *concentrates on the puppy in my lap for a moment, thinking of how to word what I have to tell you* You know some of the Dunedain came down from the North?
Nadiyah: *nods* I have heard the shouting. They are...annoying.
Halbarad: *smirks* That's one way of putting it. They're looking for Aragorn, and I imagine they haven't had much success, yet. Nor are they going to. I wouldn't let him ride back North with them, considering the last news I heard from Arnor.
Nadiyah: Aragorn? *I blink, puzzled* I have not seen him for much time. Where is he?
Halbarad: Probably hiding in a nice dark corner in some tavern, smoking that pipeweed of his. *makes a face and scoops up another furball for feeding*
Nadiyah: If he is happy that way, then good. I have heard he was a bad king. I like the king we have. *swapping a full pup for a fussy one* What about the Dunedain?
Halbarad: Someone has to appease them, and in the absence of Aragorn, hopefully I will do.
Nadiyah: *frowning, eying you* Halbarad...
Halbarad: I shouldn't have put it off so long, but somebody has to go settle them down.
Nadiyah: Are you going to get hurt?
Halbarad: I rather hope not. I have reached my quota for the month.
Nadiyah: Right. Who will feed the pups whie we are gone?
Halbarad: *startled* We? It is a difficult journey in winter, even if the weather is kind, and there is the baby to consider. *knowing the battle is half lost already, but trying to change your mind anyway*
Nadiyah: *I grimace and shiver before I can stop myself...north...* I should be with you.
Halbarad: *setting the puppy aside to curl up with its siblings, I move to join you on the bed* If circumstances were different, I would not ask you to do otherwise, but it is too risky. *pulling you into my arms* I would rather know that you are safe and warm here. *gently* Note the emphasis I put on "warm." I fear there will be few opportunities to gather by a fire on this trip.
Nadiyah: *I curl up in your arms, scowling -- I'm a warrior, not a hothouse flower! And yet...in that one way, I suppose I am. I sigh against your chest* I would be very bad company.
Halbarad: Never. *running idle fingers down your arm, vaguely disappointed that winter clothes keep the feel of your skin from me--for now* I can think of much worse company. In fact, I'll be traveling with some of them. They seem a bit intimidated by "the Captain's mystery wife," though, so I am certain they will endeavor to bring me home in one fully functioning piece.
Nadiyah: Mystery...? *I laugh, amused, twining my fingers in your lacings* They SHOULD fear me. If you are not back safe...when will you be back? So I know when to declare war on Arnor.
Halbarad: *grins* Oh, a week, maybe two? Supposedly there are "ambassadors" for the people waiting in Bree. We will not have to hack our way through ice and snow to Arnor itself. I will be certain to share plenty of tales along the way, about the warrior who won my heart. That should motivate them to cause as little trouble as possible. If we're delayed, I'll try to get one of those damn pigeons here with a note.
Nadiyah: One week, then. And your mystery warrior will become very fearsome. *I kiss you soundly, then glance over my shoulder* Right now, though, the puppies need milk.
Halbarad: I hope they outgrow this before the baby needs milk. *shaking my head in amazement* Eight of them. I'm tempted to teach Mith to hold a bottle.
Nadiyah: One of Luthien's little ones is old enough to help. I will ask her. Whle you are gone. *rolling out of your lap* And the baby is a long time away -- don't worry!
Halbarad: *catching your hand to kiss your knuckles, grinning roguishly* I always worry. *I scoop up a whining puppy and get to work with another milk bottle, all the while pondering ways to teach Mithrhovan to nurse a few of the little ones himself*