After a heated discussion at the Pony, Elliad rubbed his eyes before moving to the back. He sees Iriul playing his harp before sitting down.
"Peace of mind, friend?" asked Iriul, nodding politely.
"Mhm...," answered Eliad. "And trying to shake off this feeling."
"What feeling might that be, I wonder," said Iriul.
"Well...," said Eliad. "I care about Cassie a lot. But... I start to feel like what this one thing someone said to me is true. And then watching her leave with someone else... It's just... I don't know..."
"And what was it that was said about your dear Cassie then..?" asked Iriul.
"That she would turn her back on me to save him instead," answered Eliad, closing his eyes. "Though I wouldn't blame her. Heh... I'm nowhere of being good."
"I wouldn't know," said Iriul, shrugging lightly as he still tinkered with the strings of the harp. ""I don't know the girl, or you, or this other person well enough to even take a guess." He then arced a brow, "But when it comes to loss, Eliad - If you give something that's not returned, and find your expectations not met - what have you really lost?"
His fingers then slipped on the notes of the harp.
"Son of...," muttered Iriul, smacking his fingers on the edge of the harp. "So rusty..."
Eliad casted his gaze towards the man with his grey eyes before looking away, his hand going to where he had cut his robe.
"I'm not...sure really," replied Eliad. "I've already lost many things. I'm only a person that could possibly be Void-bound if it would come to that."
"We're men," said Iriul, continuing to play slowly. "Men have seen the whole world changed by their will in the short span of their own life. It's happened before, it'll happen again. That's the gift of men - the strength." Iriul shook his head at him, "Only elves die of broken hearts. I see no pointy ears on you."
Eliad glanced towards Iriul once again before glancing away.
"You think...that is true?" asked Eliad. "Strength?"
"Strength," answered Iriul, nodding. "Yes. So I've seen myself."
"Maybe I'll realize that someday...when the time comes...," said Eliad, giving a small smile.
Iriul squatted down, leaning his chin on the harp as he glared into the fire.
"Not to be confused for an inflated and false pride, or ego...or talent to boast," said Iriul.
"That is true...," chuckled Eliad softly, nodding in agreement.
"Some would argue that strength is...I don't know," said Iriul. "Something as daft as being able to hew a rock halfway across a field, or fight in defense of your home."
"Fight in defense of your home...," repeated Eliad.
"I'd say that true strength lies in anything that makes a man collapse - to have such a test put upon him when there is a need, and then get back up and go on anyway," said Iriul, nodding at him.
"Even...when it comes to people?" asked Eliad, glancing back towards Iriul.
"Doesn't matter what it is," answered Iriul, shrugging. "If there's anything that's hard to go through - there's no better reason to keep on going. Don't want to get stuck where you are, eh?"
The hooded man from recently stayed in the corner and watched the two.
"That...is true...," smiled Eliad slightly, nodding.
"I agree," said Iriul, cracking a cheeky smile. "Can learn a lot from reading other people's wise words. Wish I started with it sooner."
"You and me both...," chuckled Eliad softly.
"Mhm...," said Iriul, nodding. "So. What happened to your coat there?"
"O-Oh...," said Eliad. "Well... You know of earlier, right? What I told you?"
"Eeeh...," answered Iriul, nodding while tilting his head side to side. "So and so. I remember what you told me but I know nothing else."
"Well, she was wounded so... I sort of tore a bit of my robe to use as a temporary bandage," explained Eliad. "I didn't really know of anything else that would be considered as too helpful."
"Aaah...," said Iriul. "I thought you somehow went and got yourself wounded."
"Not yet so far...," said Eliad, giving out a small laugh.
"What put her in this trouble she's in, anyway...?" asked Iriul. "Every time I'm in this mud hole, there's some woman on some bench bleeding.
Eliad glanced towards Iriul, raising a brow as if amused.
"You make it sound like that's all they're ever good at...," chuckled Eliad.
"Far from it," said Iriul, cracking a grin. "I know women of Bree that are far more useful that I consider myself to be. But I do wonder sometimes if certain young women of Bree are looking for trouble in search of the white knight that'll come rescue them, whereas you have to agree, I'm sure, is foolish."
The hooded man looked up from under his hood with a light chuckle.
"Is my interest hurt?" asked the man.
Eliad tensed at the man's voice before standing up on his feet, looking straight at him. Iriul peered over his shoulder.
"Do I frighten you, friend?" smiled the man, watching Eliad.
"Not at all," answered Eliad. "Just am not thrilled to see you here..."
"I see," said the man, nodding. "Now I ask again, how is my interest?"
"Alive and well," frowned Eliad.
"I am pleased," chuckled the man. "You may relieve your tension. I am on my way."
He then quietly stepped out of the room.
"Damn it, that man...," said Eliad, gritting his teeth.
"Truly as terrifying as he thought he was," smiled Iriul under his hood. "Nearly wet myself, I did. Got yourself more trouble than just the girl, eh?"
"He's just...bad news...," said Eliad. "Him and...her..."
"Oh, is that the man?" asked Iriul.
"Hm?" replied Eliad, looking at Iriul.
"The one your Cassie might fancy?" asked Iriul.
"Oh, no!" answered Eliad. "He's the opposite of who she might fancy!"
"Hah," said Iriul, nodding. "Well, then what's your trouble with that one? What have you gotten yourself into? You're deeper in it than a troll in the mud at dawn...!"
"He was the one hat shot the man that I told you about...," answered Eliad, blushing in embarrassment. "He works with someone that I know."
The hooded man stepped back into the room and placed a finger in the air.
"One more question for you," said the man.
Iriul crossed his arms and raised his brows, letting out a deep sigh.
"Dearie me," said Iriul. "And here I went and told my mother that Bree wouldn't be like Gondor... Apparently, there's ill favor amongst farmers and chicken breeders as much as with any other."
Eliad let out an annoyed sigh before looking towards the hooded man.
"What is it this time?" asked Eliad.
"Where is she?" grinned the man. "I would like to speak with her."
"Eliad, gentlemen," said Jonnathan, running into the room frantically. "Uhh, I need some help, right away."
"How the hell would I know?" replied Eliad. "Go try out the Bree-fields."
"What is it?" asked the man, raising a brow at Jonnathan.
Iriul peered over his shoulder at Jonnathan, not entire enthusiastic.
"The woman you saw me take down the hall, she's very sick," answered Jonnathan. "She's cold, dizzy, and losing feeling in her arm. I--I don't know what to do!"
"I see," chuckled the man. "Have fun with your misfortune."
Iriul reached out and grabbed Eliad's coat in case he would try to rush off.
"How peaceful it is here, eh," said Iriul.
Jonnathan blinked at the man in the doorway. He then looked between the two men he did not know.
"Do either of you have any skill at healing?" asked Jonnathan.
"Please tell me your healer friend is still around...," said Eliad, glancing towards Jonnathan. He then glanced towards the hooded man. "Why are you still here?"
"I'll go check," replied Jonnathan, running off to the main room of the inn.
"I will make my leave, friends--," said the man, bowing his head.
He stopped as the man passed him then walked away. Iriul let go of Eliad's coat and brushed down the wrinkles in the fabric.
"Sorry about that," said Iriul.
"It's fine..," replied Eliad, shaking his head as he glanced towards Iriul. "Just...with that man and with Jonnathan and with Cassie..."
"That's no work of a Bree-land smith, is it?" asked Iriul, abruptly nodding to the man's back to change the subject.
"Bree-land smith?" repeated Eliad, raising a brow as if confused.
"Wouldn't know any smith around here with the skill to forge that find of a blade," said Iriul. "Where'd you come across that, I wonder?"
"O-Oh..," said Eliad. "Well... You see... That's a long sotry..."
"Do tell," said Iriul.
"I come...from a far away place...," said Eliad. "It's sort of a weapon of the family's. Though, I took it when I ran away. Naturally, I used it during my training there."
"Well, now you're bound to tell the rest," said Iriul, raising his eyebrows while nodding, intrigued.
"W-Well, I normally don't tell it to people straight away...," said Eliad. "It's...sort of that bad..."
"And what'd you expect me to respond with if I found it bad..?" asked Iriul, nodding. "Play you a sour note on the harp?" He chuckled, crossing his arms. "Go on?"
Eliad pursed his lips before tapping Iriul's shoulder lightly to make him face him.
"Hm?" asked Iriul, turning to face him.
Eliad moved to undo his robe before glancing away as he showed him the brand on his right collarbone. Iriul eyed it sternly, then nodded at the man before turning back to the fire.
"That'll get you hanged off King's Crossing, you know," said Iriul.
Eliad shifted his robe back to where it was, fixing it.
"I ran away from home," said Eliad, turning to glance towards the fireplace. "The man who asked about his 'interest' is in league with someone that I know of as my sister."
"Seems then that you should have ran further..," said Iriul. "They hold power over you yet?"
"Please...," replied Eliad. "They want to capture me and perhaps take me to my Father... I'm my own person. I...learned that by making friends. Also, it's what I promised my mother."
"Please what exactly..?" asked Iriul, peering sidelong at him. "Don't see what solution I'd be able to offer."
"It's...another way of me saying that they don't care about me to even hold power over me," said Eliad. "I'm a traitor, a filth."
"They put that mark on you?" asked Iriul. "That's what you ran away from? And that's who they are?"
"It's...normal for us to hae these brands on us," explained Eliad. "This one and... Well, the other one. It shows of what we are. Though.. I was considered as 'weak.' I could not get myself to harm people. In a way, I was more like our mother than anything."
"Is mate okay?" came a familiar voice.
"Think I'd run further...and pray nobody would take me for a spay and hang me," said Iriul, drumming his fingers on his elbows." He then peered over his shoulder and inclined his head in greeting, "Big fella'."
Eliad jolted at the sudden voice before nodding towards Alei. He was too tired of even trying to explain of the truth of him and Cassie, mostly because it would have upset the kind Alei.
"She's fine," answered Eliad. "She's...with others..." He glanced towards Iriul, "Just as long as you keep it a secret. My enemy is my sister." He glanced to the fireplace afterwards, "And... Just letting you know, my mother wasn't like the rest of us either."
"Not for me to judge...," said Iriul.
Alei smiled at the other man then looked back at Eliad.
"Good, then I get to be uncle to your children one day!" laughed Alei. "Uncle Alei! When will mate begin having Eliad's offspring?"
Eliad nearly legit smacked his forehead at this, sighing softly while showing Alei his grey eyes.
"T-That's not set in stone yet!" answered Eliad. "I mean... It's complicated right now!"
'That and there is the fact that she is stuck and currently have to deal with things...' Elilad thought to himself.
"Why set stones in mate?" asked Alei, booming with laughter. "You joke Alei, huh?"
Iriul stepped aside and gestured to Alei to take his place by the warm fire.
"Gentlemen, I take my leave," said Iriul. "Try not to get dragged into more white knight fairytales, eh, Eliad?" He offered them both a nod and tipped an imaginary hat with his finger, "Enjoy the fire."
"Thank you!" smiled Alei, nodding at the man.
Eliad ran his fingers through his hair, letting out a soft sigh before giving Iriul a sheepish smile.
"More like a red knight but...I'll try not to if trouble doesn't find me first," said Eliad.
"Strength, Eliad," reminded Iriul. "Not what people think it to be."
Iriul whistled his melody as he headed off. Eliad smiled more towards Iriul and nodded.
"I'll keep that in mind, Mister Gamber," said Eliad.
