Look out, here comes aNgSt! (Thought, they do a pretty good job of hiding it.)
Firiel: *draws back the curtains and looks out the window towards the Palace, pacing*
Arvedui:: *has come for a quick visit to see if Firi's all right, and if she needs any help, before going after the wraith* *knocks on the cottage door*
Firiel: *opens the door, expecting to see Frealaf* Arvedui... *opens it further* Come in... Is everything all right?
Arvedui:: *goes inside, careful not to hit anything with the crossbow he's got* Eomer's dead, there's a wraith on the throne and the whole of Gondor is in an uproar... It could be better... How are you?
Firiel: *slightly wide-eyed* I'm fine. *closes the door behind him* There is no way to get rid of her?
Arvedui:: Of course, but recalling how long it took to assemble your rescue party the time Vanyon kidnapped you, it'll take a while... *checks out the cottage* Is there only one door? Did you secure the windows?
Frealaf: *approaches the cottage, but hesitates before knocking, hearing voices inside*
Firiel: *nods* There is only one door to get in, and the windows are shut. I only pulled back the curtains... *goes to Arvedui and looks at his arm, softly* How is it healing?
Arvedui:: *follows her glance* *quietly* It's all right... A bit stiff in this cold weather, but it's functional. Thank you. *soft look*
Frealaf: *knocks*
Firiel: *puts her hand on Arvedui's arm, then starts at the knock and looks up* Oh... *opens the door*
Arvedui:: *immediately aims the crossbow at whatever's coming in, then puts it down again when he sees who it is* Oh. Good. *to Firiel* Next time, don't open the door without a weapon on hand, all right?
Frealaf: I doubt if it was anyone wanting to harm her that they'd have bothered to knock. *kisses Firi's cheek* You're ok?
Firiel: *nods slightly* I'm fine. How are you?
Arvedui:: *hmphs* Some would, just for the fun of it.
Frealaf: Other than one of my descendants being dead and no one being able to get near the wraith that killed him, I'm great.
Firiel: *sighs* Arvedui, do you know how to dispose of her?
Arvedui:: I know how to hurt her enough for someone to get near her and finish the job. Now, seeing as you've got your loving husband here, I'd better go and try to do just that.
Frealaf: Good idea.
Firiel: Wait... *hesitates, then takes a deep breath and hopes for courage* I need to talk to you two... You may want to have a seat....
Arvedui:: *frowns* Er... Can't this wait?
Firiel: *shakes her head* I need to do this while I know I have both of you...
Frealaf: All right... *pulls out a chair and sits*
Arvedui:: *gets another chair and places it as far away from Frey as is polite while still facing Firiel* What do you want to talk about?
Firiel: *sighs and looks at them, then turns to Frealaf* Frealaf, I love you, but... *closes her eyes* It's not the same now... I... *decides to just get it out and over with* I can't stay with you. *keeps her gaze steady with his, waiting for some sort of response, from him or Arvedui*
Arvedui:: *blinks* ... ... ... *is speechless*
Frealaf: I see. *stares at her, expressionless* And you needed him here for this, or was that just for my added humiliation?
Arvedui:: *glares at Frey* Don't talk to her like that. I'm sure she has her reasons, though they escape me as well.
Firiel: *sighs and sits in a chair* You two are the most important people in my life. I needed to tell you both. ....perhaps telling you at the same time was a mistake, but it is done now.
Frealaf: I don't know what you expect me to say. You want to leave, then leave. *glares at Arvedui* You're not going to get any sappy declarations out of me. You know how I feel.
Arvedui:: *blinks* No anger? Not even a single question as to whether she's sure or not? Nothing? Don't you care about any of this?! *glares*
Frealaf: *low growl* What I feel and how I choose to feel it is none of your business.
Arvedui::*narrows his eyes* And none of hers as well, it seems.
Firiel: *looks between them, whispering to herself* Eru, this is not what I wanted... *squeezes her eyes shut* Please don't argue... *doesn't know what to do now*
Frealaf: Well, what did you expect, Firiel? We don't like each other, you've just decided to tell me you're leaving me with him as an audience. *voice rising* Am I just supposed to shake his hand and leave you to him?
Arvedui:: *through gritted teeth* Keep you damned voice down! You may have no survival sense whatsoever, but I would prefer NOT to have every evil in the city coming here just because you want to throw a tantrum!
Firiel: *quietly* I suppose I expected more civility. Frealaf, I don't know when I will see either of you again. I needed to tell you. I don't expect you to do anything now. *stands*
Frealaf: Civility? *shakes his head, stands* Maybe that's exactly what I should do. *looks over at Arvedui* She's all yours. I'm going home.
Arvedui:: *stands calmly* The city could still use your help, you know. Gondor is more than just one woman.
Frealaf: Not for me it isn't.
Firiel: *closes her eyes and lowers her head* I'm sorry, Frealaf. You had to know the truth, but I'm sorry I decided to tell you like this.
Frealaf: I'm sorry too. But as you said, it's done with now.
Arvedui:: *keeps quiet, watching for Frey's moves, making sure he won't try to do anything drastic...*
Firiel: *nods slightly, not knowing what to say* ... *shakes her head*
Frealaf: *starts for the door* Goodbye, Firiel.
Firiel: *softly* Goodbye, Frealaf... *watches him as he goes to the door*
Arvedui:: *clears his throat* *quietly* You're walking away without even giving her a legal release?
Frealaf: *glares* I don't exactly carry divorce papers around with me. Besides, Theo married us, probably wasn't legal to begin with.
Firiel: *sighs* We'll... work something out.
Arvedui:: *glares back* For your information, a statement and a signature would do. Would it prove too challenging for you to write down a few sentences and sign your name?
Frealaf: Actually, yes.
Firiel: ...Would you like to get this done now?
Frealaf: *sighs, runs a hand through his hair* Might as well. You write something out, I'll sign it.
Arvedui:: *blinks* Oh. I didn't realize... *pulls out a pen and paper and offers them to Firiel* Do you want to...?
Firiel: *nods slightly and goes to the table, writing that their marital ties are severed, signing her name under it. She looks to Frealaf and holds out the pen*
Frealaf: *takes the pen and stares at the paper for a few minutes, before carefully printing his name next to Firiel's*
Arvedui:: *nods slowly* That would do, yes. *to Frey* Thank you.
Firiel: *stares at the paper, then looks at Frey, softly* Thank you...
Frealaf: *to Firiel, ignoring Arvedui* It's what you wanted. I'm going to pack now. *heads to the door again*
Arvedui:: *keeps quiet again, looking back and forth between Frey and Firi*
Firiel: *nods slightly and watches Frey again, still softly* I'm sorry, Frealaf... *a bit louder* Goodbye...
Frealaf: *stops for a second without turning around, and then leaves the cottage, slamming the door behind him*
Arvedui:: *looks silently at Firiel, ready for any reaction* ...
Firiel: *stares at the closed door, then sits heavily in a chair, looking at the signed paper*
Arvedui:: *looks down at the floor, then back at Firiel* Firiel... *takes a big breath* Do you want me to leave you alone for a while?
Firiel: *blinks and looks at him, nodding slightly* I... I think that would be best...
Arvedui:: *nods* All right... *casts about* Keep a weapon handy, in case you have unwanted visitors, and... Just be safe... *sighs* Send for me, if you need anything. *turns toward the door*
Firiel: I have one here. *nods* I'll send for you. Arvedui... *gets up and hugs him gently* Thank you.
Arvedui:: *hugs her back gently* You're welcome. I... I'll leave you to think things through...
Firiel: *nods and opens the door for him* I'll send for you soon.
Arvedui:: *nods slowly and walks outside* I'll see you later, then.
Firiel: *closes the door behind him and casts her eyes around the empty room, holds her head in her hands and sits at the table again, thinking*
Arvedui:: *goes back to the palace to deal with the new wraith problem*