Xandilif shouldered the door of the Soothery open brusquely as Masin was setting a tray down for the two women, in mid conversation. As the door slammed open he quickly dropped his hand to the hilt of his sword. He relaxed however as he saw Xandilif. "The perfect elf to talk to about the matter."
The champion of Dol Amroth dusted her gauntlets off, striding over and poking about in what was on the tray that Masin had prepared.
Nethrida lifted her gaze up, curious to see the newcomer she had only heard described. Addie looked to the door as well and seemed relieved, but still a bit quiet and pensive after their discussion yesterday about revenge...and the way it had ended. She looked back to Neth, "I see..Neth, this is Xandilif.. Xandilif, Neth.
The Elleth grimaced, finding just cups of healing draught on the tray..."These fecking healer dwarves don't eat? Food?...they got anything to eat in this brothel with attitude?" She paused, looking at Neth and nodding before going past the beds, throwing open cupboards seeking something to eat.
Nethrida looked confused by the elf's curt nod, 'Well... Met...?'
Addiela watched Lif walk off and then looked back to Neth in the bed beside her, smiling, "She's very different from her sister.." Nethrida simply nodded, wincing as the elf hurled medical supplies out of the cabinet with a crash in her search.
Giving up, Xandilif stretched out on the free bed, leaning SilverWand beside her. Masin laughed and pointed. "Careful, that apparent lump under the covers is one of the "healer dwarfs", fast asleep."
Xandilif shrugged and pushed the lump over slightly..."So? Ain't the first time I slept with a dwarf.
All three stared for a moment, dumbfounded, then decided it was better not to ask. Clearing his throat awkwardly, Masin looked over, "Ummm....I will check my wound and wrap it back up, maybe the three of you can talk about Gondor."
Neth and Addie looked at one another, uncertain while Xandlif locked her hands behind her head, putting one heavy boot up on the frame of the bed. "Ahhhh...fair Gondor...sapphire pennants in the wind, weak ale and poncy jackanapes running through the streets like Goblins fleeing enemas."
Digging into one of her pouches she brought out a bit of dried game. Could be pigeon, perhaps rabbit, maybe cat. Taking a bite she closed her eyes.
Nethrida pursed her lips for a moment, seeking courage. "I've... Always wanted to see the White City..." She murmured quietly.
The Elleth nodded, her eyes still closed as she chewed. "A shame ya couldn't a seen her in better days....you'll hear that a lot your first time in Minas Tirith. Minas Tirith ain't bad...a bit...dull. Takes forever to get anywhere...'
Nethrida sighed, recalling girlhood dreams, 'I've... Heard stories of it... But have never been anywhere near...'
"The Merry Swan ain't bad...Mumak and Keep got better Ale though, but gets fecking loud when the regiments are in.." Xandilif took another bite, ripping the flesh off the tiny bones.
As the women talked, Masin moved to the fire and he found some bandages and an athelas rub that had been used on him before. He set them down on the chair and started to remove his shirt to take a better look at how he was healing.
Xandilith swallowed and tossed the bones on the floor, shifting position to get a better view of Masin. 'But I'm a Dol Amroth girl, so what the feck do I know?"
Nethrida was confused, 'Merry... Swan? What is that?'
Addiela shook her head at Lif as she turned to watch the man, but she tried to distract the elf by adding on to Neth's question. "And the Mumak and Keep?"
Xandilif snorted. "A tavern...what the feck do it sound like? Why else go to Minas Tirith unless you got a thing about stuffy libraries and stuffier nobles?'
'But why name it the Mumak?" Addie was trying to picture it. "Those are creatures of Harad are they not?'
Nodding as she drew a flask out of her equipment, Xandilif continued. "Yeah....they got a fake one in the middle of the damn hall, it is a hoot...knights get shitefaced and shoot arrows at it."
Addiela's mouth dropped open, "Why would they shoot it?"
Xandilif was continuing as she worked the cork out of the flask. "There was this one fella, named Aronthial, Guardsman of the Fifteeth Regulars...got so drunk he swung on one of the old war pennants, said he was gonna ride that fecking mumek to the Pier..he slipped...took em an hour to get his arse off the tusk!" She sighed..."Those were days.
Addie let out a slight chuckle despite herself after hearing that story as Masin started to unravel the cloth bandages and check out his wounds, exposing his muscular back and chest while listening to them talk.
Xandilif whistled between her teeth."Little to the left Paramour...get some nice highlight off the fire'
Masin looked back, starting to respond to Paramour since that seemed to be the name he had been given by the elf sisters. He looked for only a moment then went back to tending his wounds.
Still reclining next to the sleeping, hidden dwarf, Xandilif smirked and whistled again..."Cmon Paramour, get some hip in it...shimmy a bit for Shelob's sake!" Xandilif dug around and tossed a silver coin towards Masin.
Nethrida however was still in her childhood dreams, "I would love to see the libraries... The amount of lore stored in there must be... Impressive...'
'Talk to the Monk about that. if it ain't in orc I ain't read it.' Xandilif finally got the cork out of the flash and took a long drink of a dark, thick liquid, then wiped her mouth. "Ahhhhh...So...why we talking about this again?"
Addie stammered a bit awkwardly, 'We were.....umm... admiring the rugs in this place when you arrived... Gondorian make are they not..'
Xandilif took another long sip of grog...and shrugged. "Yeah...maybe...most of the rugs in Gondor are bought off Corsairs from Harad or Rhun...under the table a'course." She snorted at her own pun.
Masin turned, lacing up his shirt and returning to the conversation. "That doesn't seem right..." as he walked back over.
Nethrida agreed. 'Harad? But... Aren't the corsairs hostile?"
Xandilif set the now empty flask down...and nodded. "Oh yeah..before the war heated up, all of Gondor did business with the Corsairs on the sly, cheap goods, no questions asked....nothing is pure, Sadsack. Nothing." She looked back to Masin and grinned..."You sure ya didn't get wounded in the arse, Paramour?..Strip off those breeches and check, just in case..."
Addie snapped 'Xandilif! That's enough..' as Masin blushed despite himself.
Xandilif shrugged, unconcerned, and continued. "Corsairs make coin, that is why they are corsairs...a while back, the best coin was to be made by selling to the nobles of Gondor...now, fecking Sauron out bid em..but he ain't buying rugs and cheap Saqat'
Nethrida sighed, disillusioned thinking of Gondorian's in league with the Corsairs., 'I would... Imagine there is no need for rugs... In the Dark Land...'
Xanderian raised an eyebrow. 'Yeah? You'd think wrong. The bastards who do his bidding, they like luxury. Lots of it...Barad Dur, for example?...some of the storerooms around there...plunder from the whole fecking world socked away...trinkets and tidbits from everywhere, stolen by our Dourhand friends among others, and sent back as booty.
'In the lands of Mordor...?" Nethrida tried to sit up. "But... 'tis naught but smog and ash...'
'Golgoroth, sure...but elsewhere...depends where ya go' Xandilif laughed. 'It ain;t all green like around here..but some of it is..well...stately I guess...impressive. But ya gotta like big statues...and red..lots of red'
Nethrida stared. 'I... See... That was... Unexpected...'
Addie looked over to Neth and raised a brow, "The red is unexpected?" and Nethrida shook her head. 'Nay. That the land of Shadow was... More than wasteland."
The Elleth sat up. 'I ain't sayin it is nice, or friendly...hell, you lot don't wanna go there, not no how...but it has a grandeur about it. Lots of orcs, and they got bad habits sure and do NOT use fecking coasters...but also lots of men, even some of high rank and standing, not just fodder..Southrons, Haradrim, Black Numenorians, Angmarim...they expect to be wined and dined, treated like royalty and are paid fecking well by the enemy.'
Addie was still dubious, 'And how long has it been since you traversed there, Xandilif?'
The champion considered. "A few weeks now. Was there before Cyndwin showed up again and the Monk finally stopped killing people and got back in touch. Stationed out of Durthang, Dol Amroth Mounted Elite, lords of fecking mayhem. Good bunch...." She paused...seeming far away for a moment. "Hope they're ok...
Addie looked curiously to Lif as her expression seemed to soften for a moment and she offered a sympathetic smile. "If they are as fierce as you.. they will be fine."
Xandilif shruged, her normal manner returning..."Yeah...anyway Rian looked up out of the fecking lake of blood after a damn year, so I came to find out what nonsense Cyndwin was telling her. And no sooner do I show up in Bree again then the Horsegirl is getting in my visor giving me grief. "Xandilif grinned."You had some fecking nerve, Addiela of Rohan"
Nethrida was lost, 'What... Do you mean?'
'Got her damn back up, thought she was gonna beat her little fists on my chest' Xandilif pointed at Addie, who winked. Shockingly, Xandilif smiled. Was that affection?
Addie suddenly startled. 'You have not properly introduced yourself to Nethrida, Xandilif.
Nethrida bowed her head to the Elf. "'tis a pleasure... To meet you"
Xandilif nodded back and stood..."Xandilif, Champion of Dol Amroth, Warden of the Planes of Golgoroth, Last Sentry of Caerfella Redoubt, Silverwand's Slut and knight extraordinary to Princess Lothiriel of the Azure Sea." she paused then looked at the woman in the bed. "And you? According to Rian your name is "darling sister Nethrida of blighted yet noble spirit"', But Rian is like that....if I let her she would have endless fecking strays following her around'
Nethrida looked down, '... That is... My name. But I am... Unsure of the titles...I am... Simply Nethrida."
However Xandilif's attention was elsewhere, as if hearing a sound far away. "Ah crap..." she whispered.
As she spoke, the door opened and a silent figure slipped inside, hooded against both the cold and being recognized. Once the door was shut, she shook off the hood and unpinned the cloak, revealing the Lady Ahmo.
All reacted with pleasure at her arrival save for Xandilif who muttered under her breath...."Shite...Auntie's here."
End Part 1
