Axe 01 - Audio - Open to Both Courts - Forward-dated to October 2nd

[gloinul]

[Not a video, just audio. It’s clear, however, that the person on the other end is inspecting the locket]

--hmph, thought as much. "Say a phrase and the magic will work", hm? Ridiculous. Who ever heard of speaking over distances with a locket.. Not even Legolas with all his fanciful Elven stories would have come up with something so foolish.

[More tapping and poking can be heard]

There’s nothing special about this at all. No gems, not even made of precious metals...and those creatures expect me to believe their stories? [A snort] I’d sooner believe there’s a man in Rohan afraid of horses! [He pauses, and then scoffs] Bah, listen to me, talking to myself. Legolas must be rubbing off on me more than I thought!

[Click goes the locket.]

Comments

two lost Durins find each other

[goldsickness]

[ This time at least, when he wakes, there are no injuries to recover from. So with no need for Thorin to sit on his bed all day, he all too promptly goes about the castle as he always does when for a reason or another he finds himself back here. Today, particularly, he knows it to be the day of the feasts, and though he has no intention whatsoever of staying around and socializing, finding himself some food would do no harm.

Besides, one never knows - some of the new faces might just be familiar to him.

Of course the whole thing is easier said than done, and perhaps predictably to just about anyone else, while Thorin was intending to go to the feast hall, he turns up elsewhere entirely, one corridor that looks just about the same as all the others, and no fairy in sight to give him directions.

Not that he would admit to needing them, of course. Even now he looks like he knows exactly where he's headed - even though he really doesn't. ]

yup

[gloinul]

[Gimli, meanwhile, is trying to find the way back from the feast hall. There was food, there was drink, he wasn't really interested in partaking of either, etc.

It's only natural that he end up lost, of course, as he's a new arrival. Still, when he sees someone walking towards him (too far away to see if he knows them, but anyone will do), he calls out]

You wouldn't know how to get to wherever it is they expect us to sleep, would you?

[goldsickness]

[ Thorin still takes a glance around at the voice, as to make sure he's indeed being spoken to, and seeing no one else on the hallway he answers, deep voice echoing off the walls around them. ]

You are meant to have a room, on the second wing. By norm you can ask the fairies to take you there...

[ As he comes closer he notes that it is a dwarf he speaks to, but not just that - one still with a Shard, therefore most certainly not a native to this world. It does not seem too great a leap to assume he comes from Middle Earth as well. ] However at the moment it seems they are nowhere near to be found.

[gloinul]

[As soon as the other Dwarf speaks, Gimli stops dead.

Thorin Oakenshield. In the flesh.

He clears his throat, careful that he doesn't sound as...emotional as he feels]

Worse than Elves are they, cousin?

[goldsickness]

I would call it a draw, since you ask.

[ The word used confuses him, that much is clear, as he searches the dwarf's face trying to recognize him. His features ring familiar, and yet - he can't quite place him, nor can he remember his name.

Yet it seems he knows Thorin, at least. He stops less than two feet away, then tilts his head faintly. ]

Have we met?

[gloinul]

Aye, we have, though I suspect when you last saw me I was a lad of sixty and begging to be taken on your quest!

[Not "when I last saw you". He's already spoken to a few of the others, he knows the strange way time works here and he will not tell them what happens]

[goldsickness]

[ His puzzled expression remains only for a moment longer, but soon as the other dwarf speaks again, it opens into clear understanding. ]

Gimli, son of Glóin. [ He's grown used enough to this place that realizing this doesn't shock him as much as it should. Most of all he is glad, and the briefest of smiles comes across his face. ] You look very much like your father.

[gloinul]

Well met, Thorin Oakenshield.

[This is so very strange.]

You are not the first to tell me that, though he insists I take after my mother. [He snorts. Glóin is ridiculous] Have you been here long?

[goldsickness]

Perhaps in some traits. [ A beat, then he adds with amusement. ] You have your mother's beard, for instance.

[ Who ever said Thorin can't joke? Yet the smile only lingers for a moment longer, as he rests his hands on Gimli's arms and tilts himself forward slightly in a brief greeting. ]

Four months as of now.

[gloinul]

[Gimli returns the greeting, ignoring how weird this is.]

And she'd tell you I have his as no son of hers would ever be allowed to wear his beard like that!

[He laughs]

Four months? And what have you been doing these four months?

[goldsickness]

[ He will get used to it... eventually. ]

Not much of anything, if you would believe. Barely have we settled yet, and for the most part we have been living at the Station. We are here now only because I fell into an enchanted sleep of sorts, during which I was brought to the Court by means of fairy magic. I have woken only a week ago.

[gloinul]

Enchanted sleep? Station?

[This is very confusing]

Are you alright?

[goldsickness]

Yes, quite so.

[ He lifts a hand to cease Gimli's worries. ]

Spare no concerns. The enchanted sleep is not dangerous, and so far none has spent longer than a month in that state that I know of. During that time one does not have need for food or drink, due to magic I am certain. Still, we know not the reason for it.

As for the Station, it is merely a place in these lands. You must have heard by now of the two Courts - the Seelie and the Unseelie, or Caer Glaem and Caer Scima. The Station is a small place about halfway travel between them, and though it has many a strange thing that I have never before seen, it seems generally safer than to stay here.

[gloinul]

[He still doesn't trust anything called an enchanted sleep. He hopes no one he knows falls into one.]

I would imagine anywhere is safer than a strange Court. I do not know where Legolas plans to go, once he arrives, but it cannot be any worse then this place.

[goldsickness]

[ Ha ha ]

Some forest, I think. Not too surprising, considering. [ Mirkwood elves after all. Thorin tilts his head slightly. ] I take it you have spoken to him, then. He must have been overjoyed to see you.

[gloinul]

Of course I have spoken to him! And he was, yes. Is that a problem?

[He loves you, cousin, but he will fight you if you have a problem with his Elf.]

[goldsickness]

[ Dramatic eyebrow raise. ]

Have I at any point mentioned a problem?

[ Don't get your beard in a twist, Gimli. Thorin has no issues with Legolas - surprising as that may be. ]

[gloinul]

That does not mean there isn't one. I am not the sixty-something boy you remember, cousin. I know the art of disproving silence quite well, and I want to know if there will be a problem.

[Defensive? Oh yeah]

[goldsickness]

I've made no mention of a problem, as there is none. However I do not take kindly to having words put upon my lips, or meaning given to the lack thereof.

[ Said with a plain stare - there was no disapproval in his tone after all, neither in his silence. After a pause, he continues. ] I have no qualms with Legolas. And I have known for some time that he has regarded you for a long time as one of his closest friends, if not the closest.

[gloinul]

[...oh. Gimli clears his throat, suddenly awkward]

Ah. Forgive me. It's...well, you know how most would take my friendship with Legolas. I may be a bit defensive.

[goldsickness]

Make no mention of it.

[ Frankly to any who either know Thorin or have heard of him, it would not be the most farfetched conclusion. ]

As a matter of fact I happen to be here now still because I wait for Legolas to arrive.

[gloinul]

Oh? What for?

[goldsickness]

You know as much as I. He only said he wished to discuss matters with me in person.