Announcements

[Tirian]

OOC: continuation of the Journey from the thread "Running" in the Shuddering Wood

BIC: Tirian surveyed the Fords of Beruna, searching for the best place for the company to cross. The water was higher than he had expected but not to high as to make the passage dangerous, he looked over spoke to Arnel who was studying the River by his side. "I don't think we will have any trouble with the Ford and I get the feeling that Katora and the Dryad are quite capable themselves, the Tarkheena and her entourage concern me though. If you have no objections I will assist them with their passage if you will ensure the rest of our companion's safety" He strode over to Isadore, "My Lady, the crossing shouldn't be too difficult but the water will, at the least, be up to my chest and will move swiftly at parts. I do not think your litter would be safe for your servants to bear you on. Might I suggest you either ride with one of your maidens or have one of your manservants carry you?

[isadore]

In reply, Isadore slipped out of the litter with relative ease, the gold chains and various jewelry clinking together melodiously against her crisp white dress. She nodded to Rordis, who dismounted his horse without a word, only to be replaced a moment later when Isadore fluidly swung herself into the saddle. Her dark hair fell about her shoulders, glossy in the afternoon sun. "Be careful with the litter," she added to the slaves, who nodded in unison. Rordis scowled at the Northerners, while Isadore's ladies anxiously eyed the river.

"I am a capable horsewoman, Captain," she added, turning to Tirian. "If only the same could be said of my ladies." They tittered quietly, and Isadore had to fight not to roll her eyes. The girls were stupid enough not to realize when they were being insulted. Understandbly, her father had chosen her companions, hoping some of their mindless blather would rub off on her. "Now, shall we?"

She gave the horse a sharp tap with the gilded riding crop and it surged forward, splashing into the shallows of the river. Water swirled around the stallions forelegs, splashing the train of Isadore's dress. Unlike a usual lady, she didn't care or even notice, and continued forward.

[Katora]

So, The Fords of Beruna. They were here at last. The water swirled and danced in the sunlight, making Katora long to jump in and dance too. Swimming was one of her favorite pastimes. This Ford shouldn't be a problem. She wasn't much concerned about the Tarkheena either. She had proven herself much more hardy than anyone had expected. Who she was concerned for where the litter carriers. The litter was big bulky and would go where the water went if it was allowed to touch it. All it would take is one of the men to slip for the whole party to go down stream. She saw that the two Archenlanders and Isadore were crossing.

"Tirian, Arnel!" she yelled over the water. "When you get to the other side throw us a rope so we can pull the litter across and no one has to carry it!"

[Arnel Dryadson]

Arnel looked the river then at the litter he seemed to be making calculations then he turned to Tirian "You up for a challenge," he asked a mischievous glint in his eye "I bet that both of us could carry that litter through the ford without sweating a bit," he smiled his smile was wide "my ladyship would you object if me and Tirian were to carry this litter over the ford

[Tirian]

Tirian was about half-way across the Ford, walking next to Isadore whenhe hears Katora call to him about the litter Sigh, and I thought we might be able to leave it behind he starts to turn to call back to her when he notices a mischevious glint in Arnel's eyes. "You up for a challenge? My ladyship would you object if Tirian and I were to carry this litter over the ford?" What? Not one easily taken off his guard, Tirian is speachless for a moment and doesn't quite know how to react to Arnel's question. Finally he turns and looks up at Isadore. "Well Tarkheena?"

[Katora]

Katora didn't know what to think. Arnel was acting very strangely. He was always calm and collected, with the acception of his first meeting with the Tarkheena, and now he was betting that he and Tirian could carry the litter across a chest high raging stream; a litter that took four burly slaves to carry. Katora thought that sounded like a very bad idea.

"If the Tarkheena agrees then I'm going to help." Katora said defiantley. She looked at Isadore for her answer.

[isadore]

Isadore was taken aback for a moment, looking quickly from Arnel to Katora to Tirian. She could see that the latter two did not think this a wise idea, and yet she did not wish to offend the Archenland scout more than her race already had. "In fact, Sir, I would object," she said after a moment of deliberation. "It is both unwise and dangerous for the two of you to attempt to carry such a heavy burden, fording a river or no. I doubt you could carry it on land in perfect conditions."

Her comment was not meant to stun, but was biting with logic. "Why don't we let the slaves do their jobs. They have been trained for this sort of thing anyways." And with that, she clucked her tongue, urging the horse forward again. They were now so deep that the water was lapping at her knees, soaking her white dress. She barely frowned at the cold of the water and kept her head high. Wet or no, she was a Tarkheena of an ancient noble house. Very little could make her lose her cool. One of which being a certain, ignorant Archenlander.

[Katora]

Katora didn't want Arnel to be too put out so she got his attention and grinned at him.

"I'll race you across!" Katora didn't know how fast Arnel could swim but he would have two feet firmly planted on the floor of the river. She would have to be fighting the Ford the whole way. She actually had had no intention of winning as she did have to fight the flow of the stream she might as well have an insentive to cross the blasted thing. She raced to the water's edge and jumped in.

[Tirian]

Tirian shrugged and looked at Arnel I'm just glad he's in a better mood now "It probably wouldn't have been all that difficult, my only worry was that it might slow us down. Speaking of going slow you might want to get started if you plan on catching the Wolf"

[Arnel Dryadson]

"its not hard," he smiled he saw a tree banch overhanging over the river reaching for the water he jumped off the shore grabbed it swung around onec and jumped off reaching the other side he bowed "thankyou," and puleld out a bottle he had een drinking something he had never done in his life, it must have hurt them to see this young man/dryad killing himself and ruining his natural beaty that had taken so many years for the dryads to nurture and look after

[Tirian]

OOC: ok now im just confused

BIC:
Tirian just shook his head at Arnel's antics, something must have gotten into him. Forgetting about the other man he looked up at Calmorene woman riding beside. She seemed unfased by the water staining her dress, merely focused on reaching the other side. She was definently different than the women of the court Tirian was used to seeing, and far more capable. He looked over his shoulder and saw her escort yelling at the slaves who were bent under the weight of the litter as the struggled against the current. Tirian again looked up, "My Lady, I know it is not customary but perhaps you might consider leaving the litter behind, or if you do not wish to lose it, have some of your men continue with it downstream. It is a three or four day walk but they will reach a point where the River is much lower and the crossing easier. Then they can rejoin us at the castle. I understand that you would not wish to walk alongside us, but perhaps you might retain the horse...?"

[Katora]

Katora had seen Arnel jump over and smiled internally. Then she got back to the business of swimming.

Water swirled around her. She laid her ears back so she would not get water in them. The Ford was harder to cross than she had expected. She was already twenty feet away from the rest of the party and wasn't even three quarters of the way across. She thought maybe the swirling would be less intense towards the bottom, it always was. She gulped in as much air as her lungs would take and let it all out as she sank to the bottom. Under the water she heard muffled voices and muted splashing. She opened her eyes but everything was blury. She didn't have very long, so she set off in the direction she had been going. Her claws dug into the bottom of the Ford, propelling her forward at a much faster rate than when she had been paddling.

After about thirty seconds her lungs could not stand it any longer. She raised her chin to the sun and came shooting out of the water. As she gasped for air she began clawing at whatever was in front of her. It was green and soft. She pulled herself up onto it and collapsed. It took her a few seconds to realize that it was grass and that she had made it safely across. When she was coherent again she became angry at herself. (Why was that such a big deal for me? They could do it faster and in a straiter line than I.) She stood and shook her fur out.

[Arnel Dryadson]

Arnel was instantly concerned he threw the bottle away and went over to her "Are you okay my friend," he said softly and gently helping her up he smiled at the fact that she was fine

[Prince Corin]

OOC: Yeah...I'm bored like nothing else, but I have no reason to be here in rp and don't want to interrupt.... I hope lurking is allowed. Sorry if I'm buggin anyone, I don't mean to...just wanted to compliment. Awesome roleplay, very fun to read.
Side Note Of Stupidity: Dang, if people keep falling in love all over the place like this it's going to start making Corin look homosexual! .....meaning about before..in this roleplay of yours...right...
2nd SNOS: Natural...beauty?...you know how long Corin must take to get beautiful?! You waster!!....okay, fine, I'll quit annoying people and leave...if an entirely OOC post meant to compliment (I said meant to...not that it did much. Woops) is against the rules, then sowwy...

[isadore]

OOC: Lurking's fine, Corin! I'm sure you can think of some way to join if you really wanted, lol.

Isadore turned around in the saddle, meeting Tirian's eyes. "Very well," she said after a moment. "Rordis!" she called, her gaze steely as she faced her manservant. He stood at attention, jaw set and face stoic, his body angled in a slight bow. "Take the others downriver, as the Captain has suggested, and ford the river there. I will stay behind and arrive at Cair Paravel as expected."

"But, My Lady-," Rordis stuttered, taking a step towards her, before realizing that step would get him wet. He jumped back, shaking out his leg. "My Lady, I cannot let you travel unchaperoned. Who knows what might assail you? If your father-."

"My father," Isadore snapped, "Is not here. And trust me when I say he will never know." Her eyes flashed dangerously and for a moment it was a battle of wills. Eventually, Rordis relented and nodded to the litter slaves, who turned and lifted it out of the river and onto the bank. "Farewell, My Lady."

The other ladies copied Rordis, acting as if they were saying goodbye to a dear friend instead of someone they barely knew and thought strange. "Good riddance," Isadore muttered under her breath, turning back into the saddle, nudging the horse through the last stretch of the river, coming out quite wet on the opposite bank. She frowned at Arnel and his drink, but said nothing, and began to wring out the wet half of her dress.