{Video: Open to Both Courts}

[rangerandking]

The King is optimistic!

{The musical lilt of the voice is caught somewhere between male and female. Further questions concerning the Fae's gender are introduced when they lift the Locket to peer into it playfully. Eyes the color of sparkling emeralds greet anyone watching until the Fae holds the Locket further back.

They are clothed in the finest of gossamer, yet it hangs just so to keep the mystery alive - not that Aragorn minds or is looking.

He is sitting on a rock nearby, sorting herbs - of the healing sort most likely - for his use should he need them in a hurry. There is a small smile on his face, though he doesn't spare the Fae a glance.}

Am I?

There are many Kings.

{At that, he shifts and looks up, breathing in deeply through his nose.}

Are they ever happy?

Only when a war is won.

And their people are safe. {He finishes and rises, brushing off his pants. Moving to stand beside the Fae - whom he dwarfs in height - he grits his teeth.}

Boe? {"Is it necessary?" The war, that is.}

Who can say? We abide; we keep our home. Would you see it ravaged so?

Û. {"No."}

Rise, Estel, Elessar, Elfstone! Sharpen your blade and show them what peace means to you.

{Aragorn makes a soft sound in his throat and holds out his hand. The Fae drops his Locket onto his palm, flashing a smile.}

Comments

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[steeledskin]

Your grace--

[ she seeks to win his attention for a moment. steal it from the task at hand. she waist. ]

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[rangerandking]

My lady? {He gladly gives her his attention, expression gentle.}

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[steeledskin]

[ lady keeper, she thinks. but it's never her prerogative to correct a king. besides, what she is or isn't any longer isn't appropriate to this conversation.

she merely wants to know one thing: ] Are you marching with the Seelie host?

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[rangerandking]

{He admires her progress in this world and he would gladly correct himself. However her question distracts him:}

I march with friends. Their court alliance means little to me. {Though most are Seelie.}

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[steeledskin]

It must mean enough to know who you intend to fight, does it not?

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[rangerandking]

I fight those who threaten them and myself. {He frowns thoughtfully.} What is it you seek, Lady Sansa?

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[debts]

That looks nice.

[ The place, she means. The sight of it. ]

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[rangerandking]

Much of this world is beautiful. {Which makes the chaos all the more heartbreaking.}

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[debts]

[ A hum. ]

But you sound distracted.

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[rangerandking]

I fear what lays before us. The Fae encourage me to fight without reserve.

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[debts]

You think it's worth it?

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[arla]

[ The are...beautiful. Lavellan's gaze is transfixed on them, their beauty ethereal, far beyond that of any creature she has been able to see in Thedas. In the Fade, perhaps, as spirits and illusions of times that once were, but this is extraordinary.

She realizes, of course, that she has been watching and staring, and averts her gaze for just a moment before visibly straightening to address the human there. ]

It shouldn't have to be like this.

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[rangerandking]

{The Fae doesn't mind the attention. They stretch out their wings and give the Locket a secret smile.

Aragorn, on the other hand, looks thoughtful.} No, it should not. How would you rather it be, my lady? A world without strife, filled with magic, perhaps?

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[arla]

[ She draws her gaze to Aragorn, focusing on him as she speaks, even if she'd like to ponder over the Fae more. There'll be time for that another day. ]

I am not foolish enough to believe a world full of magic would be kinder or less prone to fighting. There will always be strife and turmoil. I speak, instead, of the way in which we were unkindly sorted.

In many worlds, brother fighting brother is common. But it is not so when we had no choice in which court we were placed in.

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[rangerandking]

{The Fae makes a point of peeking over Aragorn's shoulder, tilting playfully. Hey it's not fair to be so serious!}

They create the strife by sorting us and pitting us against one another. According to them, we are doomed to suffer a victory and a defeat regardless of who triumphs.

{Unless someone is completely hard-hearted to the sufferings of the opposing court.}

We must communicate to ease the harm the courts have caused.

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[arla]

Because everyone on the side that fails shall die, no matter what.

[ A horrible fate, one she refuses to submit to. ]

I agree. We should speak to each other, both sides, and find common ground in this war. Those who have family on both sides should lead by example, prove that we can be more than just Seelie and Unseelie. There are other options for us.

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[skjalf]

( This fae is different from the imps which are beginning to seem nearly commonplace to her. Elizabeth is transfixed by its eyes, and smiles slightly despite herself. War or nay, this land is beautiful. Her own is wild and lovely, but there is no magic to it, nothing so vivid and vibrant and alive as what she has begun to find here.

Despite the war, she thinks that she might very well learn to like it here, and make a life for herself. She could certainly be in worse situations. However, the people here who are forced to fight against their friends and loved-ones are enduring that very same thing at this time. )

My lord—ah, Your Grace, are you well? ( So he is a king, and she feels terribly embarrassed for her faux-pas earlier. )

If you march under the Seelie banner, I will pray for your safety.

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[rangerandking]

{He raises a hand at her greeting, shaking his head.}

Please, Lady Elizabeth, call me Aragorn. I am no King as of yet. {And even if he were, titles put distance between people. They serve their purpose, but they shouldn't be used excessively.} Pray that this world may mend; pray that no blood will be shed on either side. Death does not trouble me.

{It's the Gift of Men, after all.}

I have seen the beauty of this world and the people brought from other worlds and it is for them I fight. I wish to preserve the Drabwurld in a peaceful state where foreigners need not fear for their lives or the court of their friends.

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[skjalf]

( She pauses, clearly torn between honouring his wishes and following the strict code of decorum and etiquette which has been drilled into her from infancy. Eventually, she opts to go with the former, though with no shortage of reluctance. )

Very well, Aragorn. ( It hits too close to home; because she, too, is technically by law not a Royal. It was drafted by her Uncle; the self-same one she has claimed to love. The entire issue is too fraught with complexities for her to mention it in private. let alone in a public forum. )

I shall pray for both. God-willing, none shall die. Including you.

( Death comes for them all, and yet. ) Corpora lente augescent cito extinguuntur; bodies age slowly, and die quickly.

Your goal is one I would share, though I am not of your court. I would defend the native people of this world, whom seem to have no say at all in the goings-on of their own realm.

Will you vow to me that you shall have a care for your safety during this conflict? And to contact me, should you require aid?

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[rangerandking]

{He softens at her effort, giving her a deep bow.} Thank you, my lady. For your prayers and your good will.

{The Latin catches his notice and he frowns thoughtfully, voice soft.} What language do you speak? I have not encountered it before.

{Vows are tricky things. He doesn't make them lightly nor does he allow himself to break them.}

My sword shall not leave my side. I will be prepared, but should this battle claim my life, know that I will return if it is within my power.

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[chivalrist]

[ it's difficult not to gawk at the fae, and that he doesn't speaks of someone used to such strange, ethereal beauty. only recently shown such wonders, Nabooru is decidedly not, and wide-eyed her gaze lingers on the other figures briefly before being drawn back to him.

well, he's not hard to look at either. but she's not intrigued by the prospect of gawking, rather the meaning in what he says. ]

You mean to ride out. [ a pause, measuring, before she continues. ] Are you optimistic?

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[rangerandking]

{Elves are, by nature, heartrendingly beautiful. His love is the Evenstar of her people; her beauty has only been witnessed amongst the Elves once before. While the Fae are bright and lovely, Aragorn isn't swayed by their appearance - even when they seek to tease him.

To be fair, the nymphs have been similarly playful with him in the home of King Thranduil and he has given them a dance or two - to be polite.}

Less than I wish, but more than I have any right to be. {Is that a concise enough answer? A smile lingers on his lips.}

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[chivalrist]

[ her eyebrows raise, and when it becomes apparent that there's no explanation forthcoming, she snorts a laugh. ]

Ah, so you are kingly, at least. [ given her experience, she has a low opinion of kings, but at the very least he's no Ganondorf. ]

I suppose that's the wisest way to feel about an oncoming battle.

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[rangerandking]

That description means different attributes to different people. What does it mean to you, my lady?

{Ah wisdom. He uses his knife to cut up a leaf.}

I have had time to find wisdom.

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[chivalrist]

[ her smile is wry, and there remains some degree of measuring. it is all very well for a man to claim wisdom; many do. ]

That would be a start, surely. A king ought to be wise, if he ought to be at all, don't you think?