Late that evening, Tatiania sits in the bed at the inn, trying to read the book she'd borrowed from the study. However, her mind keeps wandering back to earlier that day and her first meeting with the man Zandrianna had told her to see – Fiontann.
Fiontann nods smiling and opens his mouth to reply when he notices the man's gaze and turns around to see what it is. Seeing a girl he tilts his head to the right, not sure of who it is. His hand lifts the tankard for another sip and Fiontann makes his way to the girl, leaving the tankard on the pit as he passes by. He stops in front of Tatiania. "Greetings."
Standing in the doorway, Tatiania straightens up as the man approaches and she recalls Zandrianna's description. "You must be Fiontann." she asks, more statement than question.
"I am," he replied, bowing his head. "And you are ...?"
Tatiania takes a deep breath before replying. "I am Tatiania Tirrell, sir, and Mrs. Zandrianna told me to come see you."
Eredian blinks a few times, shaking his head as he wanders over towards Fiontann, curiously peering towards the new arrival now with a smile of greeting.
“Oh! That's you! I suppose she got my letter then. Come to my office then, let's talk.” Fiontann says, then adds, with a wave towards the man standing nearby. “This is Eredian.”
Eredian adds, rather too cheerfully for Tatiania's liking. “Or Fox! Whichever one prefers.”
Tatiania nods once, then turns and gives a curt nod to the man Fiontann had called Eredian, before following the former across the room. She briefly smiles as a small cat follows him up the stairs, the expression disappearing before one could even say it had existed. Once they enter a large office, she looks back up at Fiontann, her eyes glancing over briefly to the bookcase then back to the tall man.
Fiontann makes his way to the desk and looks at the papers on it, finding a piece of parchment written in a good looking manner, one could guess it's the letter about the girl. After looking at the parchment he raises his head and fixes his gaze on her.
“You want to train I heard.”
“Yes sir.”
“I see. What do you know of fighting?”
She contemplates his question. "I know what my father taught me growing up, about using a sword and a shield. And what I've learned on my own since his death, using his own sword to practice, sir."
“I see. Are you willing to fight and kill?” Fiontann narrows his eyes, looking straight into hers as he asks that.
"I will fight, and I will kill if necessary,” Tatiania replies, lifting her chin at the question. "I will not take an innocent life, however." She holds his gaze, unwavering.
“Good,” Fiontann replies, with a smirk. “That's all I need to know. Make yourself comfortable here, take a bed roll if you want to sleep here. We'll get to work soon. Till then get some rest.” The smirk is replaced by a frowns, as he thinks something over.
"I've taken a room at the inn, thank you sir." She states bluntly, then turns and gazes at the bookcase again. "If it would be no imposition, I'd like to look at the books on your shelf." she asks, her voice edged with curiosity.
“You can start from the books downstairs for now.” Fiontann replies, distracted by his thoughts “And call up the Elf from me, I need to ask her something.” He smiles to her and lowers his gaze, thinking even harder now.
Tatiania nods and standing straight, she salutes him and turns, striding across the room. "Yes sir," she replies as she leaves.
Reentering what appeared to be the main room, Tatiania looks around at the people, her thoughts shuttered, until her eyes finally settle on what appears to be the elf Fiontann asked for. Approaching her, she nods. "Sir Fiontann wishes to see you," she says.
Aeirillen glances at the woman and bows her head. 'Thank you' she replies and heads towards Fiontann's office.
Tatiania watches the elven woman leave before turning to look at the bookcase she'd past as she crossed the room. Crouching, she glances at the various books, occasionally pulling one out to flip through the pages before returning it to its proper place. Finally, she pulls one out and glancing through it, she notes it is a story of an old battle in Dale. With a nod of her head, she stands and looks for a place to sit and read.
Some time later, Fiontann approaches and, clearing his throat says, “What are you doing here alone?”
Tatiania turns the page, as she continues to read to herself. Pausing, she runs her finger along a passage and rereads it. "Thorin and Company were then trapped in a bloodless siege, with Thranduil and Bard hoping to wait him out. However, Thorin had sent messages of his plight to his relatives using talking messenger Ravens that lived on the Lonely Moun …" she blinks from her reading and looks back briefly. "I am reading the battle of the five armies sir."
“Don't you want to meet the others?” he asks.
Tatiania looks down at her reading, before looking back. "I will ... in a moment sir." she says, seeming displeased to be interrupted.
With a shrug, Fiontann says, “As you wish, stay safe.”
She puzzles over the man for a moment. He was a large man, even by most standards, and it seems to her that he'd be well capable of handling a fight. But would he be able to train her to fight as well?
Only time would tell. Deciding she'd get no more reading done that night, Tatiania sets the book aside and turns on her side, asleep almost as soon as her eyes are closed.
