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 Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:29 am
Lin wasn't surprised about that, as a child he had told her about his wish to go to the Eastland, and why not? It was the one place that was offically a nation where the 'light' and 'dark' elves mingled and of course married.
"But...." Lin replied, "There's a but in there somewhere, because even though there is hesitation in saying no.. there's hesitation in saying yes."
And Lin didn't know those hesitations... sure she could guess, but she had a feeling she might be wrong in those guesses. If it was her, it was just the change, she would have to leave everything behind to just serve the king and queen.
"Elros, you know more about this than I do, even after being with Earendil and Sir Valdemar all this time I still have an outsider's view of it all."
And it helped she wasn't aligned with anyone, after all she was not an elf, but she was not human. Never human, she was Gaian, a Second, possibly a half breed... but more importantly she was a Winters, if she was aligned anywhere it was to her clan, which was a foriegn concept here.
"Would it help if you said what is tempting you and what are the buts of this of offer?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 11:52 am
Elros nodded. "It would indeed be an honour to serve in a nation where everyone is treated as true equals ... where Light and Dark elves are united as one, to serve true justice instead of the false justice, such as King Estel's father served ... and in such a position as I have been offered I would have the power to do much more than I can here. On the other hand ..."
He frowned gently. "I would no longer be free ... yes, I would travel, and do good, but I would no longer be my own. I have never served under anyone, Lin ... I do not know how I would fare in a city. I have never lived anywhere but the woods."
That was of course only a brief summary of his thoughts, for there was much more - including self doubts. Would he even be able to take command of an entire army? Would he be a good leader? Who would take the children home after they had been rescued? Sure, there were others at the ranch, but would he have the same feeling of satisfaction in such a foreign occupation?
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:17 pm
Those self doubts of course without knowing them Lin would never know. To her Elros was always more than capable, as far as she knew the fighters always referred to him if there was anything needed, and it was Elros. He was up there in able to do just about anything like her father and Vincent (only nicer).
She had also just been reminded as Elros was telling her this that he had actually just travelled.. up until staying at the Ranch he kept to himself. It made sense in a way... and the freedom part. Well... a third generation elf never living in a city... no wonder why he was worried.
Her fingers played at the hem of her coat, "True.... though at least in the idea of serving and not being your own, at least you know.. actually really know these two. Not many people can say that when they chose to serve."
All those other people, how many in Pen's and Lothiriel's army actually knew them the way everyone on the Ranch did?
"I can't say much for the city, I've only been to one around here a once or twice, and even at home the family lives directly outside the city," Lin murmured.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:29 pm
"It is true," Elros murmured softly, sitting as still as he always did. "I have known them for many long years ... and I have the highest respect for them, and for what they hope to do, and for what they believe ... and to be quite fair, the city of New Kaliningrad is not bad ... as far as cities go ... and it is a great honour ..."
He just didn't know if he would be cut out for the job.
He lifted the letter and read it through once again.
"They have every confidence in my abilities," he murmured, "but I have never led anyone anywhere ... can I truly be a leader?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 2:50 pm
Lin blinked, well when he put it that way... it was true that Elros ever led a large army or anything like that.
"Well.... you do have abilities that would make you a good leader," Lin replied, "And the fighters have been referring to you since I was little. I know it's not the same as leading an army, but it's one of those... you just do it. You won't know any other way.. or so Vincent tells me every time I get tossed into doing something...."
Vincent had a good point though, but then again he was clan head out of a set of candidates.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:01 pm
Elros smiled ruefully. "Lord Elrohir has indeed honoured me with being in charge of the fighters here," he admitted. "I suppose that since Lord Aldrich's arrival I had forgotten that it is actually I who am in charge of them ... I have always deferred to Lord Aldrich's opinion, for he is wiser than I ..."
Yet he knew why he had been the one to be asked to take the position offered by Estel and Lothiriel, and not Aragost: there was no way Aragost would have accepted, and it was even unlikely that any under his command would obey him out of respect, but rather out of fear.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:29 pm
Lin hadn't realized that Elros had been deferring to Aragost, though it did make sense seeing as Aragost was well... Aragost... that was the only way to put it.
"I should have realized that," Lin mused thoughtfully, "But you have been all this time, and you did a few years without Aragost."
And really Aragost was an advisor... he didn't do it because of course people would be scared of Aragost.
"I still remember when I rode on your shoulder when you did your rounds."
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 3:40 pm
Elros laughed at that, setting the letter to one side.
"That you did," he chuckled. "And I'm sure you still could if you truly wished to ... why, you don't look like you would weigh much at all. Of course, you would hit a few more tree branches now, but still ..."
He watched Lin fondly for a moment, then chuckled again softly.
"Yes ... I had been doing fine until Lord Aldrich appeared," he murmured. "Perhaps I can indeed do what they ask of me ... though I shall wait a few days at least to reply, so that I know that I have not made a rash decision."
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 4:35 pm
Lin had to admit that was true... she giggled at his comment at the tree branches. That amused her greatly actually.
"You're right, it would probably be best to wait, but you feel better about it?"
Since before he seemed to be kind of out of it.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:34 pm
Elros smiled at Lin and nodded. "I do," he murmured. "Thank you for your help. I still am not entirely certain that I will accept, but ... I feel at least as if I should seriously consider the offer before dismissing it entirely."
And of course he would have to talk to Aragost and Elrohir about it - after all, he would be leaving both of them behind, and he couldn't just walk out on the ranch, either.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:52 pm
The rest of the day passed quickly and Lin finally decided to go back to the Ranch house for a proper washing and for sleep. Even though her sleeping pattern was far too messed up at the moment.
The next day, breakfast had been eaten and Lin had already after helping out with the dishes disappeared to find... well who knows. Miyu and Toshiro though were getting ready for their lessons, or rather getting ready to meditate.
Kara puttered about while waiting for Rhea.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 5:59 pm
Adonai and Rhea arrived at the ranch house only a short while after breakfast was over, and it was obvious that they must have ridden over. Adonai left Rhea at the house and went off to do his research, leaving her alone.
Rhea was not shy by any means, and without even knocking at the door (which she thought would be silly, since they were expecting her anyways) and headed inside.
"Kara!" she called out brightly. "I'm here!"
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:05 pm
"We're in the play room!" Kara called out.
Miyu was sitting on her knees, her braid flipped over her shoulder as she waited for the lesson to start.
Toshiro was seated beside her cross legged and his palms on his knees faced up. He was already prepared to meditate and it seemed like he was already doing so though. Toshiro after all this time was good at ignoring things.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:15 pm
Rhea grinned and hung her cloak up on the hook in the hall - or rather, she tried, but she couldn't reach, and so she ended up tossing in a ball in the corner on the floor - and then raced to the playroom for her first magic lessons.
"Good morning!" she said brightly, sitting beside Miyu and copying her, kneeling and smiling up at Kara. Her own hair was braided as well, as Shael had thought that it might be a good idea, considering how long she was going to be away from home.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:31 pm
"Good morning Rhea," Kara smiled as she knelt in front of the children.
She eyed Toshiro, he was doing fine though his magic was faint. Not surprising, since he didn't have a lot of magic to begin with, because he didn't like to draw more magic than needed from Miyu than needed. He meditated in an attempt to help increase his own magic so to depend less on Miyu's.
Looking back at Rhea she nodded, "We were just about to start daily meditation."
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