Leuwynn felt strangely out of place as the ranger spoke. He was young, even by human standards, barely 27 years old. Yet he listened with interest at the man's words...

~~~

Ever alert, Taevi listened to the quiet banter between the dwarf and the halfelf woman with quiet curiosity. A quiet, out of place sound slipped out of him... laughter?

He caught Deawen's words slightly out of the corner of his awareness. "What's wrong with the gardens?" he asked in his usual whispery manner.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

It took Deawen a moment to soak up Taevi's question. She shrugged in a helpless manner, " Nothing," she said but she wasn't very good at covering up her feelings. She sighed " I don't like the gardens because, my brother sends spies after me to make sure I stay out of trouble. And the garden's is the first place they look." she said glancing at the door to the hall.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Taevi wrinkled his nose. "I think you're in good company. No troubles," he replied awkwardly, not quite understanding.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

" I am in very good company, but my brother thinks that I need constant watching," She replied steadly, without hatred. " My brother loves me, but he fears that someone will try and kidnapp me for my family's wealth." She said with a crooked smile.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Taevi stared, then shrugged quietly. Wealth and love and family were ideals that meant little to him; it was hard to understand. He shifted his stance and then kept walking wordlessly out to the gardens with the others.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Deawen smiled again and walked out to the garden. THey didn't have gardens in Rohan, atleast not like this one, filled with folwers and trees.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Valya went with the others to the garden, a smile on her lips as she gazed around at the beautiful plants and flowers of her people. She always loved coming here; it was so peaceful, and so quiet. She went at once towards her herb garden, to see how her herbs were coming along. "Very nice," she murmured to herself, and straightened up to look at her companions.
"Just breathe in that aroma!" she said, closing her eyes and inhaling the scent of the gardens. "Magnificent." This was a marvellous place to be idle. But it was also a brilliant place to work, too.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Deawen glanced at the herb garden, it was very much the one she had at home, but the gardens in Rohan were for practical use and not for beauty. " It is lovely" she said quietly sitting on a bench.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

"The herbs will soon be ready to be put into use," Valya said, letting her hand trail across the white stone wall of the gardens, which looked out over the Pelennor Fields. She gazed out onto the land, before turning her head to look at Deawen.
She could sense that she was thinking of her home. She had listened as Deawen told Taevi about her brother sending spies to look for her. It was strange, having a member of Rohirric nobility, in effect working for her. Valya gave a small smile, remaining silent. She knew that anything she might say would sound foolish. Something like "are you missing your home" would be putting her foot in it a bit.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Taevi had lost interest in plants and wondered off a bit to the far end of the garden. He rather like it here - it was open and quiet, and, most of all, alive. He stared up at the open blue sky for a long moment until the sun made him have to blink and look away.

He noted with interest a series of steps that led upward to the next tier of the citadel, barely a stone's throw from where he stood. Taevi pondered the pathway with quiet curiosity, casting a quick look back at the others. He'd not been missed yet, and it would only be for a moment...

It wasn't until a few minutes later that the small party in the garden would realize that they had become short of one member.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~

Deawen studied the various plants idely, recalling names of herbs and flowers. She looked up after awhile and noticed Taevi was missing. " Where is Taevi?" Deawen asked quickly, getting to her feet.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Deawen studied the various plants idely, recalling names of herbs and flowers. She looked up after awhile and noticed Taevi was missing. " Where is Taevi?" Deawen asked quickly, getting to her feet.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

Valya at once was alert. "He must have decided to go exploring," she said, and walked over from the wall of the gardens towards the steps that Taevi had taken that led up to one of the many levels of Minas Tirith. A look of irritation and determination blazed in her bright blue eyes as she swiftly jumped up the steps.
They led onto a busy road, bustling with people. "Which way could he have gone?" she said, half to herself, knowing that Deawen would not know the answer.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Deawen followed Valya calmly, "Lets keep our head about us shall we?" she said as they came to the street.

_________________
Lips, ripe as the berries in June
Red the rose, red the rose
Skin, pale as the light of the moon
Gently as she goes

as always a hero comes home

"Yes, indeed," Valya replied. "I just hate it when patients go walkabouts. Especially strangers to the city. It can be so easy for someone unfamiliar with Minas Tirith to get lost."
She looked around for any sign of Taevi.

_________________


~~Siggy by Lembas~~

Taevie ascended the path. He'd forgotten how light and swift he could be on his feet, running just for the sake of running. The breeze he kicked up made his hair fly back and he smiled to himself, passing under arches and around winding corners. He paused to observe his surroundings once he'd reached the top.

The courtyard around him was large and circular, covered in a lush green lawn. In its center stood a proud, white tree the likes of which he'd never seen. The great hall of the king rose high above him in all its splendor.

Taevi gaped quietly.

_________________


~*~ I am the Patron Saint of Lost Causes. ~*~