Boromir Aesir · @Boromir_Aesir
18th Feb 2015 from TwitLonger
Stone-verse: Finalizing Elennárë's Backstory.
After http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1skf0t8
Letting Faramir know who Boromir has chosen and introducing Elennárë to her new father, Baranor.
@Boromir_Aesir @FaramirRanger (Both Faramir and Baranor) @SilmarilNaro
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Boromir
Boromir made his way through the camp with Baranor keeping at his side. A few minor issues managed to catch him, even so, but all of them only needed a few words of instruction and they were on their way. At this time in the afternoon activity was starting to wind down and head into night shifts, with the majority of the troops settling into the mess halls for their evening meal.
He had to wonder if Faramir was back yet. More than likely Elennárë would be just waking from her afternoon rest now as well. He hoped she would find Baranor acceptable - if he thought through the time he had her he knew she must have been aware of Baranor, she had, over the weeks, shown just how familiar she was with everything in Boromir's life - his father, brother, the rhythms of Minas Tirith, the ways of the warcamp, even her immediate protective attitude towards Shakurán showed a complementary opinion to Boromir's own.
He put a stop on those thoughts as they camp to the door of the forge and stepped inside.
Faramir
Faramir had waited for Boromir at the forge - he had hoped to have a few quiet words with the blacksmith for that matter, but quiet and the forge did not go along. There was a constant stream of people coming and going, troops retrieving finished work, patrols dropping off Orc-junk, the supply master stopping by to discuss a much needed repair at one of the storage doors, which apparently needed a new lock and and and... Some people had surprised Faramir by showing up, but he was quickly reminded that for most of the troops the blacksmith was someone who had been here since they were young, and many a warrior who was old and grizzled now, knew him since childhood. It was an aspect, that he would have to keep in mind, with whatever became of the entire situation with Kíli and his brother.
Baranor
Their destination was, as Boromir had already mentioned, the forge. Baranor spotted Lord Faramir there early on, long before he could pick up on parts of the conversation - if it was such that was going on.
"No, Lord Faramir," he heard Kíli say. "the Orcs have mass quantities of decent iron, the mines of the Black Mountains are second only to the old iron mines of the North. The problem is that no Orc can handle a complex smelter unsupervised, which makes all the forge for themselves a lesser quality than it needn't be. Once properly refined, it will be very good material for the troops. Though I hope the men are taking to what I told them about picking up any Orc armor that is not made of the black steel, but seems to be of regular material."
"Would that not be lesser steel?" Lord Faramir asked and Baranor could see the dwarf's eyes darken.
"No..." he said, but forewent the rest of an answer having spotted them. He turned towards the smelters, which were both running hot, emanating a powerful heat into the surrounding walls and air, to add something to a pipe, that looked like a corny, crude mineral to Baranor's eyes.
Boromir
Boromir's eye followed what Kíli was adding to the metal he was smelting and he thought to himself that he might later ask after it. Now was not the time however to indulge his idle curiosity, and he moved over towards his brother.
"I have news on what we discussed earlier," he said, not sure if the day's traffic of soldiers going in and out was done yet. This was not a matter for idle ears after all.
Faramir
Faramir could easily read his brother's hesitance, regarding the traffic at the forge. "Is there any calmer place to talk, Kíli?" he addressed the blacksmith.
The dwarf grabbed one of the danged tripods he had in this place and moved it to the door, lighting a red fire in it. Baranor arched an eyebrow. "And here I thought that one meant, you had a smelter that might blow any time soon..."
"It still means to keep away," Kíli replied with an inclining of his head to the old officer. "though the men have stopped guessing why long ago. They probably think I am conjuring some shadows to feed to the magical blades I make... or they will see you here and consider that it is something above their heads."
Faramir turned to Boromir. "I am certainly curious to hear it - regarding the same topic, I spend a considerable amount of time, to find out what was already told and put some small spins on it."
Boromir
"I hope those spins can adjust for a father instead of a brother." Boromir said. "I did consider a couple of people closer to that role but..." He looked Baranor's way. "I thought of who I trusted the most, both with secrets and with the more personal side of it."
Saying that made him glance towards the door of the back room and wonder if his sister was awake yet.
Faramir
Faramir saw how Kíli picked up on the glance and went towards the backroom - the strange small room inside the wall itself. "A father?" his eyes went to Baranor, admittedly surprised at this turn. He had expected Boromir to call on either Bran or Erandir, both were comrades of his brother since the very start of this war, and as far as Faramir could guess would not hesitate to help. "That's... creative," he could warm to the idea. "and it makes a lot of sense, because our father would have entrusted such a matter to someone of the older generation much more easily than to someone younger..."
Kíli
Kíli had seen the glance and soft-footedly vanished into the small room, where Elennárë was resting. He squatted down beside the low bed, covered with some furs and warm blankets and gently touched her shoulder with his hand.
Elennárë
The soft touch at first did seem like anything, a piece of the dream a part of Elennárë's mind knew she was in, but as it persisted, it seemed to become more important than any other image that she shook off the rest to open her eyes and blink at Kíli. "Have I slept late?" She asked as she sat up and rubbed at her face.
Boromir
"That was much of what I thought, a father who took a child and protected her from the problems she could have faced in the White City, rumours, possible attempts to use her against Father and the like." Boromir gave a slightly self-deprecating smile and shrug. "Baranor did make mention of maybe making a connection to the woman who jumped from the Sunset Gate as well, which would leave one avenue of investigation closed."
Kíli
"Not too late," Kíli said softly, gently tucking one of her long dark locks away. "sunset is another hour away at the least. But Boromir is back - and I think he brought someone who is going to help with your story." He wondered a little if things would have been easier if Elennárë had been smaller - just enough to claim her to be related to Kíli, but yet... he could not regret that she looked so wonderfully similar to Boromir in some ways. She was his sister through and through.
Faramir
"The woman at the Sunset Gate?" he has heard of that story. "There are some dark rumours about why she did it..:" he says thoughtfully. "though no one knows enough."
"The rumours will play right into our hands, as does part of her story." Baranor replied. "she did have an ill advised affair with a nobleman and someone tried to use that against her, which led to her fateful decision to kill herself. As for her daughter..."
"She DID have a daughter?" Faramir was not surprised Baranor may know some of the details about the case itself, he probably knew any man in the city guard by name.
"Yes, and there's only two people in this world who knew what became of the poor mite." Baranor looked at the young Ranger Captain. "Thus it will be easy to claim that your half-sister was said girl, and grew up in my father's home high up in the White Mountains."
"I assume you are one of the two men alive who know where the real girl ended up... what of the other?" Faramir asked, probing the story for potential problems.
Baranor glanced back towards the door in the wall. "I have any reason to believe that he'll never contradict us, Lord Faramir."
Elennárë
Elennárë moved to sort out her clothing, having taken off her over-dress and slept only in the tunic and leggings worn under it. "Give me a few minutes to straighten myself up and I will join you." She smiled softly at Kíli as she gave the dress a bit of shake.
Boromir
A small laugh bubbled up from within Boromir. He knew Kíli had been in Minas Tirith for over seventy years and in that time had been of great support to the army, but he was only just starting to understand the full extent of how much he had been involved in events through the years. "I keep finding out new things about him every day." He murmured.
Baranor
Picking up the whispered words Baranor chose not comment. Befriending someone with a lifespan that long had to be complicated at best, and it was not his place to comment on that. Though he'd answer truthfully if questions were asked.
He also caught on Faramir's thoughtful glance, in moments like that Faramir much resembled his father, with his cool, analytic demeanor and Baranor could read the question why he was doing this in one glance. "That is the one question you do not get to ask, young Ranger." he replied without being asked.
Faramir
Faramir arched an eyebrow, the old warrior was good at reading people well, and reading them truly. He did not like the hint that Baranor would not explain his motivation to go along with the story, but he also knew that pressing the matter would be rude.
Kíli
"Of course, take your time." Kíli moved to the door, to wait for Elennárë to make herself presentable.
Boromir
Boromir glanced between them and thought on his unthinkingly spoken words and winced. He did know how well Faramir could pick up on his behaviour and he knew how much his brother also worried over his relationships. If he was already worrying over what Boromir had with Kíli...
"If the other girl is out of reach then that is as we would need." Boromir spoke, trying to steer talk back from the subject of he and Kíli. "The other matter that I would have the most concern about is Father's reaction to all of this. We will have to speak to him about it, but I worry about how much we will have to tell. He knows how to read me, he will know that I am holding back, but I do not know how he will react if told the full truth."
Baranor
Baranor looked at him thoughtfully. "The girl is in a place, most people in Gondor do not know to exist, and less can find." he said calmly. "as for your noble father..." He knew Denethor was not an easy man, and certainly being his son was a major challenge, but he was a reasonable man, someone Baranor knew to be far more down-to-earth and logical than he sometimes wanted to admit. "if you wish it, I could try to speak to him first. Without wanting to presume... it is sometimes harder to discuss things inside a family, than outside."
Elennárë
It only took a few moments to pull the dress on and tie laces that held it in place. Elennárë did however take a moment to finger-comb her hair but had to hope it was not too messy as she did not want to go to the length of brushing and rebraiding it right now. She turned, looking for about before she recalled leaving her boots out in the forge. Shrugging at it she went to join Kíli.
Boromir
The was a slight relaxing in Boromir's shoulders upon hearing that offer. He knew his father was far easier on him than he often was on Faramir, but Boromir still felt the stress of being his father's son as well. The pressure to be the strong, stoic warrior and leader, to be the shining example his father seemed to want him to be, all while having to hide the more personal sides of himself. "That is something I think might be of great help." Boromir replied, gratefulness seeping into his voice.
Before he could say anymore, Elennárë stepped out, a little shy as she saw all three of them present.
Baranor
While Baranor had seen the mysterious Lady at a distance several times, now that he saw her close up, he could see the resemblance to Boromir... to his family quite clearly, though there was something else, something exotic, that was hard to name. She seemed terribly shy, the way she joined them. It could not be an easy thing for her, to show her presence to many people. And yet... she had been the white light during that night after Boromir had returned from Minas Morgul. She had been with them for many years, invisible, but present.
He stepped towards her. "My name is Baranor," he introduced himself. "and it is a pleasure to meet you."
Elennárë
Elennárë's eyes widened slightly as she realised who Boromir had chosen to back up the story they were crafting for her. Baranor was someone who had been a part of Boromir's life as long as she had known him. One of the soldiers who spotted him as he reached friendly lands, and someone who had remained a wise mentor and adviser since. She believed he filled some parts of the role of father that Denethor could not.
"I... have to admit, I am familiar with you." She started, feeling a blush creep onto her cheeks. "But as I have remained hidden all that time... I am pleased to meet you too. My name is Elennárë."
Baranor
Seeing her shy blush Baranor had to suppress the reflex to gently and reassuringly hug her. She had been thrown into all this with little enough warning and probably into a kind of life that was new to her very nature. "I think I have seen you before too, Elennárë, not your person... but your light." Baranor replied. "But maybe... maybe we could go somewhere a bit more comfortable for you?" She was nervous with so many people about, he could see that.
Elennárë
Glancing over towards Boromir Elennárë shook her head. "I feel safer here, this has become a haven for me." She spoke, but even doing so gently directed Baranor over so she could settle next to Boromir. He was the one out of all of them that made her feel sure, though after the influx of memories from another life Kíli's place in her small number of trusted people was fast taking an equal spot.
Baranor
Baranor could see how she gravitated towards Boromir, the way she relaxed when she was close to him. It told him more than he let them see, and that she considered that forge a home, spoke for itself. He followed them, sitting down opposite of them. He cast a short glance towards Boromir, wondering how to begin... but then, one usually began at the beginning. "Boromir told me of your situation, Elennárë," he said to her. "and I do agree with him, that hiding you inside a 'secret' story, might be the best way to do it. So - if this is agreeable for you - I would welcome you to my family."
Elennárë
"I know you are a good man, so I can honestly say I would be glad to be a part of your family, I just..." The was questioning look and a tilt of the head as Elennárë answered. "What sort of relationship? I know Faramir originally thought of finding someone who would be a brother, but... you are a but older than that, if you don't mind me saying so."
Baranor
Baranor smiled at her, slightly amused by her comment. "Old lions go grey, Elennárë, otherwise there'd be no room for the young lions." he replied with a wink. "And no... we thought more along the lines of you becoming my daughter, with just enough whisper about you to suggest, that you are truly the half-sister of Boromir and Faramir here."
Elennárë
Elennárë smiled, nodding. "I have not had a father in a long time and my other..." She cut off that thought before it was truly spoken, the things she had learned from Elenaria's memories were something she was less willing to air to anyone but Kíli, Boromir and her sister. "Maybe we will need time to talk about your life, and where I can say I have been, up until recently. I... might also ask if you could help me learn a measure of self-defense... I find that maybe it would be a good thing if I have a way to fight that does not immediately show my fire."
Baranor
Baranor reached out, very gently touching her hand. "I would never try to supplant your true father, Elennárë. He was your first family, and always will be. But I can offer you a home, in this time and part of the world." He did not comment on her words on another, if she did not wish to share, he would not pry. "I will gladly tell you of my life, and of our home in the valley of Thundering Echoes." He hesitated for a moment. "And I have to agree with you, that if you are going to stay near Boromir, you will need to learn how to defend yourself. It might take time to find out which fighting style is best suited for you."
Elennárë
"I do have an idea on that already," Elenaria's memories bounced in Elennárë's thoughts. "I could likely handle some sort of staff or... a sword. I would need to train still, this body is not quite used to being lived in, but... I have memories, from another life that include a time with another body and a life spent fighting to protect people." It took a bit for her to speak of that life, but if she was going to trust Baranor, she would be up front about what she knew.
Baranor
"Then I would like to explore those remembered skills with you," Baranor said. "try out the staff, different types of blades and see how you respond to them, if they fit the person you are now." With what Boromir had said about her true identity, Baranor wondered if she had had some form during parts of the Elder days. "Finding the weapon you are absolutely comfortable with, will make learning for you easier. As for the rest... if I understood things right, you were given shape by arcane means, a shape that is partially determined by your will and by what was given into the spell. I believe the more you learn to know your body, the more you might be able to change it, to suit your needs, or to draw on aspects of those who contributed to your form."
Faramir arched an eyebrow. "I never knew you were that well read, Baranor..."
Baranor turned his head slightly, studying the younger man. "I learned to read when I was five years old, Lord Faramir, it is not hard." It was an answer deflecting many things that had no place in this discussion.
Elennárë
Something in how Baranor seemed to understand how Elennárë had her current form made her glance Kíli's way, wondering how much the aging soldier had had to do with the dwarven smith through his life. Enough to be aware of the basics of arcane crafting? It sounded like that at least was true. Despite wondering on that, his words had her nodding in agreement. Learning how this body works first was the best course.
Boromir
Boromir put and arm around Elennárë's shoulders and gave her a light, encouraging squeeze, before looking to Faramir. "So do we have the basics in line for our story now? With Baranor standing as the father who raised her and a mother who cannot be questioned..."
Faramir
Faramir inclined his head towards his brother. "I think it would work well and with Baranor's reputation as a stalwart defender of Gondor many people will be willing to believe the story all the more easily." He replied. "I better go - to catch a few rumours that need the right push." He had wanted to talk to Boromir, about many things, but this was not the time. Again. But Boromir, Baranor and Elennárë spending this time together would be helpful for the rumours... maybe even for a hint that Boromir only recently had learned of the secret surrounding Baranor's daughter.