<3 <3 <3
[Happens before this.]
Gilraen: *goes looking for Thengel*
Thengel: *painting the Tipperary sign on the porch*
Gilraen: *smiles* That's very good work. We had some visitors, did I tell you?
Thengel: No! ... But I suppose it's good I wasn't around. I would have made you look bad, you keeping someone who pretends to be a mute and all.
Gilraen: It was princess Hanild.
Thengel: -Hanild!- She is, I believe, my great-great-whatever aunt, but currently younger than I. Oh, blasted confusing. But she is indeed a lovely girl.
Gilraen: Yes. She came with a friend of hers, Gorlim. They want to leave a baby with us.
Thengel: A ... baby. *pause* I LOVE babies. I could easily take care of a baby. What did you say to them?
Gilraen: I told them to bring it right away, we would be happy to care for it as long as they need us to.
Thengel: Wonderful, wonderful! What is its name, do you know?
Gilraen: *thinks* I've forgotten if they said the name.
Thengel: I suppose if this is Hanild's baby, then we are somehow actually blood related ... over many generations ...
Gilraen: Yes. I'm sure that will help. She seemed to recognize your name when I told her you were with me.
Thengel: She ... ah, I have heard she's had dealings with my son that have been both lovely and unpleasant. Perhaps knowing my name could be a bad thing.
Gilraen: She did seem... ambiguous about you, yes...
Thengel: I don't know whether she likes me or not. I don't even know if she likes Theoden or not anymore.
Gilraen: As to that, I could not even begin to hypothesize.
Thengel: Nor could I. Gilraen ... Could I ask a very, very personal question? It's been bothering me.
Gilraen: Of course!
Thengel: This will sound stupid, but ... Are we associates, or friends, or an 'item,' or just kind of in the same place at the same time, or something alltogether else?
Gilraen: *laughs softly* I don't really know, Thengel. I think... well, what would you like us to be?
Thengel: Me?! I certainly don't know! Isn't that your choice? I'm a neurotic antisocial ex-king. Not really up to deciding things.
Gilraen: Come down off that ladder.
Thengel: *stares down at her for a moment, very nervously, and hops down off said ladder* Yes'm.
Gilraen: *sidles over to him and wraps her arms around him* Now... do you like this?
Thengel: ... yes?
Gilraen: And... this? *kisses his lips, easing into his arms, nothing forceful about anything she does*
Thengel: *squeak!* Yes, I admit I liked that too.
Gilraen: Mmmm... I like that, too. *She kisses him again, her tongue teasingly flicking across his front teeth then back again*
Thengel: *pulls her closer* You promise you aren't just playing with me? *overly paranoid*
Gilraen: If I am, would it be such a tragedy? *teasing*
Thengel: *meek smile* ... I suppose not so much so, since I am enjoying it.
Gilraen: I will tell you, my lord, that I stand more to lose by playing with you than you do. After all, I have nowhere to go but this inn, and I have grown weary of survival in the wilds.
Thengel: Please, just call me Thengel ... And I have no home either anymore. I doubt that my family would want me back.
Gilraen: Then we are here, with all the time in the world to discover what we will. *leans her head against his chest*
Thengel: *really smiles now, stroking her hair* I feel like I have the courage to say that I think your hair is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen -- the others being my children and the rest of you.
Gilraen: *smiles* Thank you. And you... *squeezes him* ...are the most beautiful thing I have held since my son left me.
Thengel: *GRIN* I feel so loved.
Gilraen: And so you are. *nestles into his arms* So you ARE.
Thengel: As are you, my lady. *cuddle*
Gilraen: *she smiles, eyes closed* ......it has been so long.... since I heard that.
Thengel: I must second that. *kisses her hair* And it is good to hear.
Gilraen: *admires his work on the sign* Tipperary... I love the sound of that.
Thengel: It's really a wonderful song, even though I don't understand any of it.
Gilraen: I think it's all the prettier for that.
Thengel: I wonder if Tipperary is some kind of paradise.
Gilraen: I don't know. Maybe. If it wasn't then... I think we can make it one now. *one arm around his waist, she looks up at the run-down inn* We can make this a home.
Thengel: It would be lovely. Rennovations and everything -- and we can invite Princess Hanild and her child.
Gilraen: *nods* And that lovely Gorlim chap. And perhaps we should ask if they have any other friends who would like to come.
Thengel: Gorlim. You didn't tell me his name before ... And if we're talking about the same Hanild I knew, there must be friends.
Gilraen: *nods* They certainly were not lovers.
Thengel: You're sure?
Gilraen: Quite sure.
Thengel: But close friends, I hope. ... How did they find the place?
Gilraen: Gorlim's seen me in the woods. I've seen him more than he's seen me, I've no doubt. He rides here often.
Thengel: Horses. I miss horses ...
Gilraen: I'm sure I could get one for you. Minas Tirith is not far from here.
Thengel: I would love you for that ... despite the fact that I already do love you ...
Gilraen: Then I shall go -- right now, if you want me to!
Thengel: Oh, I would never ask you to. You will only go when you want to.
Gilraen: Well I would like to. I want to see what has become of my son's city.
Thengel: Your son's ... Oh, of course. Go ahead, then. I will ... cook, or something, and finish the sign.
Gilraen: *kisses his cheek* I shall return by tomorrow's nightfall, if not today's.
Thengel: *grins and kisses her nose* I'll have food for you.
Gilraen: You are a saint. *she hops into the inn and gathers a basket and her cloak, then returns, kisses him once more, and sets out into the woods*
... Okay. Scratch what I said about thinking I'm in love. I know I'm in love. And I have a meal to make and a sign to finish ... *paints*
Gilraen: *goes looking for Thengel*
Thengel: *painting the Tipperary sign on the porch*
Gilraen: *smiles* That's very good work. We had some visitors, did I tell you?
Thengel: No! ... But I suppose it's good I wasn't around. I would have made you look bad, you keeping someone who pretends to be a mute and all.
Gilraen: It was princess Hanild.
Thengel: -Hanild!- She is, I believe, my great-great-whatever aunt, but currently younger than I. Oh, blasted confusing. But she is indeed a lovely girl.
Gilraen: Yes. She came with a friend of hers, Gorlim. They want to leave a baby with us.
Thengel: A ... baby. *pause* I LOVE babies. I could easily take care of a baby. What did you say to them?
Gilraen: I told them to bring it right away, we would be happy to care for it as long as they need us to.
Thengel: Wonderful, wonderful! What is its name, do you know?
Gilraen: *thinks* I've forgotten if they said the name.
Thengel: I suppose if this is Hanild's baby, then we are somehow actually blood related ... over many generations ...
Gilraen: Yes. I'm sure that will help. She seemed to recognize your name when I told her you were with me.
Thengel: She ... ah, I have heard she's had dealings with my son that have been both lovely and unpleasant. Perhaps knowing my name could be a bad thing.
Gilraen: She did seem... ambiguous about you, yes...
Thengel: I don't know whether she likes me or not. I don't even know if she likes Theoden or not anymore.
Gilraen: As to that, I could not even begin to hypothesize.
Thengel: Nor could I. Gilraen ... Could I ask a very, very personal question? It's been bothering me.
Gilraen: Of course!
Thengel: This will sound stupid, but ... Are we associates, or friends, or an 'item,' or just kind of in the same place at the same time, or something alltogether else?
Gilraen: *laughs softly* I don't really know, Thengel. I think... well, what would you like us to be?
Thengel: Me?! I certainly don't know! Isn't that your choice? I'm a neurotic antisocial ex-king. Not really up to deciding things.
Gilraen: Come down off that ladder.
Thengel: *stares down at her for a moment, very nervously, and hops down off said ladder* Yes'm.
Gilraen: *sidles over to him and wraps her arms around him* Now... do you like this?
Thengel: ... yes?
Gilraen: And... this? *kisses his lips, easing into his arms, nothing forceful about anything she does*
Thengel: *squeak!* Yes, I admit I liked that too.
Gilraen: Mmmm... I like that, too. *She kisses him again, her tongue teasingly flicking across his front teeth then back again*
Thengel: *pulls her closer* You promise you aren't just playing with me? *overly paranoid*
Gilraen: If I am, would it be such a tragedy? *teasing*
Thengel: *meek smile* ... I suppose not so much so, since I am enjoying it.
Gilraen: I will tell you, my lord, that I stand more to lose by playing with you than you do. After all, I have nowhere to go but this inn, and I have grown weary of survival in the wilds.
Thengel: Please, just call me Thengel ... And I have no home either anymore. I doubt that my family would want me back.
Gilraen: Then we are here, with all the time in the world to discover what we will. *leans her head against his chest*
Thengel: *really smiles now, stroking her hair* I feel like I have the courage to say that I think your hair is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen -- the others being my children and the rest of you.
Gilraen: *smiles* Thank you. And you... *squeezes him* ...are the most beautiful thing I have held since my son left me.
Thengel: *GRIN* I feel so loved.
Gilraen: And so you are. *nestles into his arms* So you ARE.
Thengel: As are you, my lady. *cuddle*
Gilraen: *she smiles, eyes closed* ......it has been so long.... since I heard that.
Thengel: I must second that. *kisses her hair* And it is good to hear.
Gilraen: *admires his work on the sign* Tipperary... I love the sound of that.
Thengel: It's really a wonderful song, even though I don't understand any of it.
Gilraen: I think it's all the prettier for that.
Thengel: I wonder if Tipperary is some kind of paradise.
Gilraen: I don't know. Maybe. If it wasn't then... I think we can make it one now. *one arm around his waist, she looks up at the run-down inn* We can make this a home.
Thengel: It would be lovely. Rennovations and everything -- and we can invite Princess Hanild and her child.
Gilraen: *nods* And that lovely Gorlim chap. And perhaps we should ask if they have any other friends who would like to come.
Thengel: Gorlim. You didn't tell me his name before ... And if we're talking about the same Hanild I knew, there must be friends.
Gilraen: *nods* They certainly were not lovers.
Thengel: You're sure?
Gilraen: Quite sure.
Thengel: But close friends, I hope. ... How did they find the place?
Gilraen: Gorlim's seen me in the woods. I've seen him more than he's seen me, I've no doubt. He rides here often.
Thengel: Horses. I miss horses ...
Gilraen: I'm sure I could get one for you. Minas Tirith is not far from here.
Thengel: I would love you for that ... despite the fact that I already do love you ...
Gilraen: Then I shall go -- right now, if you want me to!
Thengel: Oh, I would never ask you to. You will only go when you want to.
Gilraen: Well I would like to. I want to see what has become of my son's city.
Thengel: Your son's ... Oh, of course. Go ahead, then. I will ... cook, or something, and finish the sign.
Gilraen: *kisses his cheek* I shall return by tomorrow's nightfall, if not today's.
Thengel: *grins and kisses her nose* I'll have food for you.
Gilraen: You are a saint. *she hops into the inn and gathers a basket and her cloak, then returns, kisses him once more, and sets out into the woods*
... Okay. Scratch what I said about thinking I'm in love. I know I'm in love. And I have a meal to make and a sign to finish ... *paints*