Common Room: Rose and Lion Inn, Caemlyn

The common room of The Rose and Lion is a merry place. The patrons here appear happy, and sit at stout wooden tables, or at the long bar, in groups of twos or threes. There is much drinking, talking and laughing.

The serving maids move about briskly, serving the diners thick sandwiches of roasted beef and cups of ale or water. White curtains billow back from the open windows, admitting the warm breezes of the summer. A stout wooden door leads back out to the busy Caemlyn Road, a smaller wooden door leads to the stables, and a well-worn staircase leads up to the private bedchambers and common sleeping areas.

<There are places and +views here.>

Contents:

Elisa

The door opens and closes, revealing a young woman wearing some of Caemlyn's best finery. She smiles at the woman on duty, Juli, then makes her way over to a free table. Rennar carefully takes a seat, smoothing over her skirts in a delicate manner as she does so.

Elisa sits at a stool, spinning about and looking generally pleased with herself. She idly fiddles with her hair (messy as usual), and appears to be humming to herself. Other than that, she's not doing anything really useful. Her dress is blue-green, nice enough, but nothing special. As the door opens, the girl's eyes are caught by the newcomer. She blinks several times, either startled, confused, or trying to remember something.

Juli, the woman on duty, pours a mug of cider. She brings it over to Rennar's table, "There you are, Lady Rennar." She smiles gently, "All is well at the house today?" She speaks as if she knows the young noble woman.

Elisa grabs at her water which was sitting on the bar. She nearly knocks it over, too. But she doesn't seem to notice, and she gulps at it. Who goes to a tavern and orders water, anyway? She waves the glass around, again nearly spilling it.

"As well as can be Mistress Juli." Rennar comments casually, smiling in a warm, congenial manner to the serving woman. "Considering my uncle, of course." She rolls her eyes just a bit, showing her distaste at her uncle. Rennar happens to notice Elisa as she nearly spills her water and delicately lifts her brow in question.

"Is everything well mistress....?" Rennar calls from across the room.

Elisa says brightly, grin still on her face, "Just lovely, and your good self?" Her tone is a mixture of overly formal and something else.

The young noble woman regards Elisa in a quiet manner before answering, "I am well, as I was just telling Mistress Juli." With a single hand she delicately motions toward the server who has already wandered off to help other customers within the building.

Elisa scrubs at her hair with a hand, the other hand waving the glass about precariously, "ly. "Are you a Lady?" Elisa really needs to work on her tact, doesn't she? Her eyes follow the noted server for a moment, then she looks back, curious, or just nosy.

Rennar chuckles with some touch of amusement, her eyes lighting up a bit, "Aye. I am Lady Rennar Elliya Hune, High Seat of House Hune." She introduces herself, her manner easy unlike some nobles might appear to be; particularly in a commoner establishment.

Elisa leans forward, pushing her glass onto the bar and leaving it there. She rests her chin on a hand as she speaks. She's not intimidated, although her eyes are round...probably with startlement. "Pleased to meet you," she says amiably. "I'm Elisa al'Nira, and I live here." She then coughs. "In the city, not in the inn. Well, I live in the inn for now, but it's not exactly living, it's more like staying." Shutting up is another thing she needs to work on.

Rennar chuckles softly, tilting her head to the side a bit as she regards Elisa, "And what is it that you do?" She inquires, her voice amible as well.

Elara enters The Rose and Lion, looking around the common room.

Elara strides into her old home.

Elisa says, straight-faced, "I sit here and drink water. And only water." It's hard to tell whether she doesn't have work, if she doesn't want to say what she does, or if she's just being generally obnoxious/annoying. "Even though people seem to find it necessary to get me to drink ale."

Rennar sits at the fireside table, regarding Elisa in a curious manner, "That is all you do?" She replies, looking somewhat mystified. "I'd give anything to trade places with you, I believe." And oddly enough, from her expression it could easily be deduced that she would love to do just that.

Elisa laughs, "I doubt that. You'd rather sit in a tavern and have people insult you all day than live in.." She blinks. Come to think of it, Elisa doesn't know where ladies live, "In a fancy house with nice clothes and handsome lords?" It's hard to tell which of these Elisa finds the most intriguing.

Elara says "They aren't all handsome."

Elisa peers at Elara, "No, but some are. Are you a Lady too?" Elisa looks vaguely overwhelmed.

Elara says "Thankfully, no."

"Moreso, a chance to live what I deem to be a normal life, rather than be expected to attend crass parties, or be forced to associate with various lords or ladies." Rennar wrinkles her nose a bit, "Or work on the budgets and agendas for the house, find new ways to bring in money..." She sighs, "It is work."

Elara says "The stresses of doing such with such a noted house must make it doubly troublesome, My lady."

Elisa pushes some hair back, "Maybe I wouldn't want to be a Lady," she concedes. "Not all the time, at least. But to look like one would be nice. Then men wouldn't mistake for a broom.." The girl laughs lightly.

Elara says "Some time sparring would size you up."

Elisa seems puzzled. "Sparring? What do you mean?" She looks honestly blank.

Elara says "Sparring. Mock battles. The running and weaponm work would put muscle on teh body."

Elisa doesn't seem much /less/ confused. "Why would I do that?" She doesn't seem put off or anything....just startled.

Rennar tilts her head as she regards Elisa, sipping at her drink thoughtfully, "Do you have any skills?" She asks, pressing her lips together.

Elisa seems to be, well, hiding something. It's hard to tell what. It's obviously not something that upsets her, since she's looking really quite pleased, "Oh, of course. I'm just brimming with skills. Got skills from here to the Blight."

A small frown touches upon Rennar's lips, "Such as?" She attempts to delve deeper.

Elisa smiles quickly, "I can drink a glass of water in a single sip. I can spend a bag of gold in a day. And most of all, I can annoy nearly anybody, no matter how strong they think they are."

"Indeed all assets I suppose." The young andoran noble woman seems a bit... disappointed. She gently lifts up her mug and sips at it.

Dorn comes down the creaking stairs, and enters the common room.

Dorn comes down the stairs and heads for the doors, nodding politely to those he passes on the way there.

Dorn pushes through the wooden door and heads back out to the stableyard.

Elisa seems to be pretending to be stupid. She widens her eyes a little and fake-giggles. It's not too hard to see through, however.

Rather than pursuing the matter further, Rennar turns her attention to Elara, 'How has life in the palace been treating you Elara?" She asks quietly.

Elisa drops the act, looking rational once more. Even apologetic,"I'm sorry. I don't know what that was about."

"Pardon...?" Seeing that Elara was not that afterall, Rennar had taken at the small fire in the fireplace instead. She gives Elisa a confused look.

Elisa shakes her head, chewing on her lip. "Me...I'm...Oh, I don't know." She grimaces. "Pretending to be a fool, or just being one. That's my real talent."

Rennar nods slowly, "Those skills can oft times come in hand, for some." She gives a shrug of her shoulders, "But I see that you are doing well enough on your own." A hint at an offering of something, perhaps.

Elisa fiddles with her hair, "Well, yes, I'm doing quite well," she says evasively. "Everyone has been rather kind. I've not been here long," she explains.

Rennar nods her head slowly, a small smile touching upon her lips, "You may find that most people in Caemlyn are kind." She gives pause a moment, "Even the nobles." She smirks briefly, "More kind than those in Tar Valon." She sighs gently, hand raising to push a few tendrils of auburn hair behind her ears.

Elisa tilts her head to one side, "You've been to Tar Valon? They're nasty there? I've not heard that." that." Her eyes sparkle with curiosity.

Elara arches an eyebrow, returning from a fight with the cooks.

Elara might not belong back there anymore, but that doesn't seem to stop her.

Rennar sniffs, "They've a social secretary who works for the High Councillor who condones actions of criminals!" Rennar's cheeks get a little red when she speaks this, a touchy spot with her.

Elara half-growls. "Maggae."

Elisa seems startled. Although she may not know the terms exactly (namely High Chancellor, social secretary..) but she gets the idea, 'Oh...but why? You mean he takes bribes?""

Rennar's eyes turn directly to Elara, "Indeed. Mistress Maggae." She nods her head tersely, hands fiddling with her skirts as she resettles herself in her seat. "And not a very good social secretary for the High Councillor either, I might add." She sniffs once more, "She's also a very dangerous one."

Elara mutters. "Should have killed her."

Elisa asks finally, 'What's a High Chancellor?"

Dorn enters The Rose and Lion, looking around the common room.

Zedrum enters The Rose and Lion, looking around the common room.

Zedrum steps in, and looks around the common room for a place to sit.

Elisa looks up at the two entrants, peering at them with interest..or perhaps relief, since she was looking a little overwhelmed by those she had been talking to. Or rather, the conversation.

Dorn purses his lips slightly as he looks around, and then turns to Zedrum, "The center table, right?"

Zedrum nods at Dorn, smiling. He proceeds to the table he specified and takes a seat.

Zedrum sits down at Center Table.

Rennar glances back to Elisa, "The High Councillor is the ruling member of Tar Valon. He was recently appointed about a year ago."

Elisa nods her head up and down, hair bouncing about. "Right. Thank you. So this...secretary accepts bribes from criminals so they walk free? But if you know it, then how do they let it continue?' More confusion from I-am-an-ignorant-farmgirl Elisa.

Dorn sits down at Center Table.

Zedrum grins at Dorn. "This time, I'm treating. What'll you have?"

Dorn grins, "I just ate so I'll just watch you. A glass of cider would be appriciated though."

Zedrum nods at Dorn and waves to a passing serving girl. He speaks a few words to her ear, and she goes off to the kitchens.

"I did not say she accepted bribes. I said she condones their actions, letting them walk free. Whether or not they know it I do not know. I've already broken my ties from Tar Valon." Rennar states in a rather bland voice, her expression matching perfectly.

Elisa lets out a breath. "Oh" she says, rather weakly. "I'm sorry."

The serving girl returns, and lays a plate of beef and mugs of cider before Zedrum and Dorn. Zedrum gives the girl some coins as she leaves.

Elisa watches the serving girl, "Does anybody know how much they get paid," she asks curiously.

"And Elara you know very well you can't just go around killing people." Rennar speaks up, eyeing the other woman in a calm manner, "I had thought we talked about this before?" There is a teasing light in her eyes, however.

Elara says "I do not recall such a conversation, My Lady."

Dorn glances in the direction of the women, before picking up his mug and taking a sip, and doing as he promised, watches Zedrum eat for awhile.

"How is life treating you in the Palace?" THe young noble woman asks of Elara, tilting her head to the side as her eyes become filled with curiosity.

Elisa looks interestedly if passively at the table with the two speaking people, then calls for a server to refill her water. Yep, water. That's all she ever drinks. Disturbing.

Zedrum takes a sip of his mug, but stops midway from picking a slice of beef up to his mouth to look at Dorn. "...Don't tell me you're *actually* just going to watch me eat."

Dorn grins, "I am. I might try to interrupt you with some conversation as well."

Zedrum smiles wryly, and takes begins to eat his meal.

Elara says "Her majesty has returned. For that I am greatful. The Prince is a boorish dullard who I would not wish upon my worst enemy."

A hand raises to cover Rennar's mouth, pushing back a giggle forming at the back of her throat. She composes herself and speaks up, "I am certain that Prince Theowyn cannot be all that bad. I remember he used to be quite adventurous." A small light shines in Rennar's eyes, "Particularly when we were harboring he and Queen Aislynn from Mogrene's (sp) lot"

Dorn seems to have been trying to drink his cider much to fast, and something must have gone down the wrong way, as he coughs and tries to regain his braeth, he then gives Zedrum a wry grin, He mutters to Zedrum, "... you wanted me..."

Elisa walks up the stairs, to the upper levels of The Rose and Lion.

Zedrum chuckles at Dorn's words, and takes a sip of his cider. "Well, that was the only thing I could think of."

Elara says "Not Theowyn, My Lady. Greydon."

"Ah..." Rennar turns pensive, "I have never found him that bad. Perhaps it is because of Master Nicodemus? He seems to be spending a great amount of time with the Queen... from what I can tell." Rennar adds.

Elara says "Nicodemus is.. respectable. Worth courting, perhaps."

"Aislynn is already married." Rennar frowns slightly at Elara. Yes, she did just call the Queen by her first name, "Or did you mean for yourself?" A brow lifts with a touch of interest. Every now and again her eyes go to the others in the room, watching them curiously.

Elara frowns, dismissing the idea she might have interest in a male again. "Kings have concubines, why should not a Queen?"

"Because she has a perfectly good husband, and you want a valid heir produced." Rennar points out, disapproval sounding deeply in her voice.

Zedrum chuckles, and glances up from his meal for a moment. He mutters to Dorn, "... just stick... eh?"

Elara says "The bloodline comes from her Majesty, not her .. male."

Dorn chuckles at Zedrum's words, and nods, "Very true."

Finishing his meal, Zedrum pushes the plate away and motions for a serving girl to come take it away. "Well, have you had any offers lately, Dorn?"

"A child born out of wedlock is still not a true heir Elara, no matter who the father or mother is." Rennar's frown appears to deepen.

Elara says "How do you intend to prove who fathered teh child?"

Dorn scratches his chin, "None that I can call offers. There have been some tentative questions, or invitations to speak with one or the other, but nothing that really interests me."

Elara says "So long as the Queen birthes the daughterheir, nothing else matters."

Kragar comes down the creaking stairs, and enters the common room.