It was a cold early winters evening in Bree, Cenwynne sat in his workshop on a bench near the big fire place, in the same room Caithrin sat as well as the two discussed with each other "Do you think she will come tonight Cait?" Cenwynne asked her "Yes I am sure she will come Cen" Caithrin replied to him. As the two were sitting there they heard footsteps in the hall and turned around as Zandrianna had entered the workshop and sitting on her arm was her daughter Althessia. "Zandy..how good to see you" Caithrin said to Zandrianna as she shifted Althessia in her arms and leans over to kiss Cait on the cheek as she approaches. "It is always good to see you Cait." Zandrianna replied Caithrin. "Hello Zandy.." Cenwynne said to Zandrianna as he made his way over to the two others, seeing Cenwynne approaching, Zandrianna looked at him with a smile and glanced over to Caithrin before looking back at Cen and said quietly "Hello Cen.."
Seeing her two friends talking to each other Caithrin gives them both a smiles and looks over to Althessia in Zandrianna's arms while Cenwynne said to Zandrianna with a nod towards Caithrin "You can speak as usual around us Zandy..I have talked a little with Cait about this and we can both trust her." as Caithrin gives Zandrianna a smile and nods to Cenwynne's words. "Alright." Zandrianna replied to his words as she turned to Caithrin and nodded to her feeling unsure inside what Caithrin might think. " I am happy for you Zandy, but for now you two need to talk so, If you trust me with Althessia so will I babysit her for you.?" Caithrin said quickly followed by Cenwynne "For talk we two need to do.." he said to Zandrianna.
"Of course I trust you with her." Zandrianna said while giving Caithrin a smile as she handed over Althessia to her friend, the little baby girl yawned sleeping with her eyes half closed as her mother handed her over. As Caithrin then took the little baby girl into her arms she gave the baby a smile before looking back to Zandrianna "I will be at my house, Cen knows where I live now." upon hearing this Cenwynne gave a short nod in reassuring. Nodding to Caithrin, "I have seen that you have moved. I miss you in the old house." Zandrianna said to Caithrin. "Take your time now, we two will be fine." Caithrin said with a smile on her lips to Zandrianna and Cenwynne and walked out from the main all and out the workshop and home to her house to watch Althessia for Zandrianna.
"Shall we take a seat on the bench by the fire Zandrianna?" Cenwynne asked, nodding with a glance over to the fire she answered "Alright." And they both made their way to the bench, sitting down on it. A few moments passed while no one said anything, then Cenwynne felt that he had to take the blade of his mouth, "I have missed you Zandy...but I know from the letter we can not be seen in public." Giving him a sad smile Zandrianna replied "No, Rastellion was very clear about that. It would hurt both of us if we were ... and I fear what would happen when Althessia is older. What things she would hear people say about her mother ... that ..." as she goes quiet she gazes into the fire, seeing how hard it is on her Cenwynne takes her into a comforting hug "For being seen with me while you are married?" he gently whispered to her. "They wouldn't know the whole story, but people would talk anyway." she replied to him while nodding leaning to him as he gave her arm a gentle brush, not saying much for a while before mumbling words only she could hear "I have been thinking some since I received you letter Zandrianna." he then said to her, waiting for her response that came with a nod "I've ... Rastellion told me ... he said there were options. But, there aren't and I've tried to find a way ..." she said as she then took a deep breath while tears were forming in the corners of her eyes.
With a growing concern Cenwynne looked at her briefly before wiping the tears away with his hand "You might not Zandy but I've might have come up with a way..with help from Cait, she hastes to see you suffering as you do and she and I spoke little on about might form a group and try and find your husband..despite it might crush my heart but I am willing to do so to make you happy Zandy.." he said to her, still trying to comfort her as well, with widening eyes she looked up at him, at first she did not know what to say then said quietly after a quick swallow "You would ... you'll go look for him?? for Kom?", a nod from Cenwynne to confirm his words to her "Yes..I would..even if it as I said breaks my heart if he is alive and we can bring him home to you..otherwise I am doing it for you so if you are willing to move on..I know grief will be hard if such is to come but as well as let you if you still want to be with me so that no one needs to talk about us, hurting us and Althessia with words.." Zandrianna sat and listened to his words, hearing what Cenwynne was ready to do for her, she said quietly and softly to him "Cen ... I ... I don't know what to say. That you would do this for me ... for us ..." Cenwynne held her in the comforting hug the two shared as he whispered to her "I am willing to do it..if you would let me do it..I want you to feel and be happy Zandy..." there his words came again, he was prepared to do it for her, to find what had happened to her husband, Zandrianna buried her head on his shoulder "It could be dangerous Cen. It ... what if you don't return? What if something happens to you? And if you do find Kom ... and bring him back ... then, he is my husband. I ... we wouldn't ..." she trails off unable to say more to him.
Cenwynne brushes his head against hers "I am well aware of the risks Zandy..I will return..I wont be going alone..and yes if if find him..I..yes..we couldn't be...that's something I am willing to risk none the less Zandy..for you..for Althessia..for me.." Zandrianna nods against Cen's shoulder. "I ... I've no way to stop you, if you wish to do this. But yes ... if you want to go seek him, then I will let you." She sits up a little, looking at him carefully as though she'd memorize his face. "I'll miss you." Cenwynne glancing down on her "And I will miss you as well Zandy..but I am not ready to leave you yet..I need to put together a group at first..then we need to search traces of his whereabouts.." Zandrianna thinks about this, her brow furrowed in frustration. Kom had told her so little about where he was going, where his regiment was headed, that she was clueless to give Cen any information. The only lead had been a brief mention from Qswas about Gondor, but that information was already weeks old.
"I ... I wish he had told me something ... anything ... about where he was going. But he insisted I didn't need to know." Zandriana says after a short moment of thinking. Cenwynne smiles and hugs her closer to him "Do not worry Zandy..your friend Quiz gave us somewhere to start on..we will just have to work our way from Bree..seeking information as we go..but do not trouble yourself wit this now..you are here with me..does anyone know you are here?" Zandrianna shakes her head. "No. I gave Imma the night off so she wasn't home when I left. Probably off with Rast somewhere, if I know those two. And, I didn't see anyone on the way here."
Hearing this Cenwynne nodded and smiled to her as he gave he cheek a gentle kiss. Zandrianna smiles as she feels his lips brush against her cheek, sighing softly at the touch. "Cen ..." she turned, kissing his cheek in turn. Cenwynne whispered back to her "Yes Zandy?" Zandrianna looked up at him, suddenly shy. She opened her mouth to speak, but for a moment nothing comes out. Cenwynne slides his hand over her arm and whispered low to her "You had something to say Zandy..dont be shy.." "I'll miss you Cen. To talk to you .. It will be lonely, without you here." she reaches up and brushes a strand of hair from his face. Hearing this made Cenwynne smile as he whispered back to her “I will not forget you..I will make you and Althessia something that reminds you tow of me while I am gone..." Zandrianna smiled up at him and asked "What will you make? Or is it a surprise?" with a happy and curious voice. "It will be a surprise..its for yule..as I probably cant be there with you and Althessia.." Cenwynne replied to her. Zandrianna nods, as she looks up at him. "We'll miss you, but I will tell you all about it ... " I will make sure you and Althessia get your gifts on the morning on Yule day..I will have Denstan come, wearing something else than his usual robes..I..will give you a key to the door..if you wish you can always come here.." Cenwynne said to her with a smile.
"I would like that ... though I would like it better if you were here." Zandrianna says. "I know...when I come back..no matter how it goes you will find me here..if it goes bad and we return empty handed...this is your home then if you wish to make it so.." Cenwynne said to her. Zandrianna nods. "I know Cen ... I'll worry about you ... don't say not to ... I can't not worry ... " They both looked at each other and after a brief moment of silence Cenwynne said "I will not say "Do not worry" Zandy..for no words I can say will calm your worries for me...I will be as careful as I can be". Zandrianna sighed gently and looked at Cenwynne as he spoke "You should get your winter robe back on and go before you are missed home Zandy...Imma might come back and notice that you are gone.." Zandrianna nods. "Yes. I'll have to go. But I need to go to Cait and get Althessia." Cenwynne nods slowly as he goes to get his winter coat on "I will follow you outside Zandy.." he says and grabs his sword belt, clasping it around his waist. Zandrianna follows Cenwynne outside, not knowing where Caithrin's house is now. She looks around the neighborhood quietly as they walk side by side down the path from his workshop and to Caithrin's house.
((Thanks to both Zandriannaand Caithrin for their voices for this story)) (( this is not meant to be metagamed by anyone))
