The Queen's Gardens: Royal Palace of Andor, Caemlyn

This circular expanse of garden curves around the backside of the Royal Palace. Flagstone paths meander off through the lush greenery, through trees and many flowering shrubs. Trellises with flowered vines crawl up the gleaming white walls that surround the palace. A white stone courtyard sits at the center of the gardens, with tall columns circling around it, holding up its golden-tiled roof.

Starlight and pale moonlight glint upon the pale stone of the walls surrounding the gardens, and shines off of the golden domes of the palace. A fine sprinkling of pristine snow lies upon the ground, and the water in the redstone fountain has a thick layer of ice on its surface. A white stone path leads back west to the Courtyard and a white stone staircase curves up near the Palace to a balcony that overlooks the gardens.

Calisa walks into the Queen's Gardens from the west.

Rennar sits within the gardens, wrapped tightly in warm looking cloak. She appears to be thumbing through a book with gloved hands. She looks a little more worse for wear, dark lines under her eyes.

Calisa walks along the main path, snow crunching loudly under her feet. Seeing Rennar ahead, she pauses, then continues more slowly towards her,.

With others passing by now and again within the wintry morning, Rennar seems to ignore the crunching for now. Normally, its just guards on patrol. Then, something comes to mind, and she flicks her head upwards in a quick motion of second thought. Spying Calisa, her gaze moves to something more unreadable than the brief bit of fear that flashed before her when flicking her head up.

Calisa nods. "Sister...How are you?"

Gently closing her book, Rennar does not stop her careful observation of her sister, Calisa. "I could be better." Rennar answers the question simply.

Quietly, "And Demonder? What started the fire?" Moving to a bench set opposite Rennar's, Calisa sits, matching Rennar gaze for gaze.

"I don't know." Rennar answers, fingers pressing into the book as she settles it upon her lap more fully. Her emerald eyes seem to glint within the morning light as she peers at Calisa, "The last I spoke to Demonder, I left him at the House to take care of matters and find out the details. All we know is that it was not accident."

"That is no surprise. Rumor would have you or he the target..." Icy anger flares in her eyes at the thought, then dies again. "...but that does not seem very likely."

A brow delicately lifts at Calisa's last statement. "And why would that not seem likely, Calisa?" Rennar asks, the question thick upon her features as well as within her voice. "When one of the assassins did get away. His job was not completed. I am still living."

Calisa says "For that reason. You are still living." Her eyes narrow on Rennar. "I thought you said the man would have wanted to leave Caemlyn."

"I don't recall saying any such thing." Rennar responds, her voice turning a touch cool. "In fact, I don't consider myself in any less danger than I did when I first escaped."

Calisa frowns. "Yet you walk the gardens aone? What if it had not been me?" Genuine concern touching her voice, however briefly.

A glance about the gardens speaks of the Andoran Guards on watch in the area, "I am not particularly alone, Calisa. I am in the walls of the Palace, in public place, under public eye. I would be more frightened sitting alone in a room than out here." Rennar gives Calisa a quizical look, fingers moving from her book and down to her skirts to pluck off invisible dust.

Calisa says nothing more, just watches Rennar.

Fingers continue to pluck at the various skirts of her dress. After a few moments, Rennar looks back up, regarding Calisa in a quiet manner. "Is Satira doing better? Last I had checked, she was still asleep."

Calisa nods. "She is still weak, but less so now." Calisa looks down, studying the ground intently. "Rennar..."

"That is good to hear..." Rennar responds, cutting off her words as Calisa starts to say her name. Her brow lifts again, a delicate maneuver, "Yes...?" Her voice questions, turning soft.

Emos wanders into the Queen's Gardens from the west.

Calisa looks back at her sister. "We used to be able to talk."

Emos walks into the garden backwards as he looks at where he has been.

Emos stops walking as he looks over the garden.

Rennar sits within the gardens, not too far away from the fountain, wrapped in a warm cloak. A book sits within her lap, and her hands absently pick at imaginary specks of dust and threads. She is looking at a young girl, about 14 in age, standing before her, "There is a difference between talking, Calisa, and revealing everything I know. There are some matters that just cannot be discussed, for your protection and my own. You know this." Rennar sighs, looking down at her hands. She does not see Emos has entered, the young boy who helped with the fires the evening before. "That doesn't mean I don't miss being able to talk... but now more than every I need to be careful of what I say and what I do, even amongst family, for it could place everyone in danger."

Emos turns on hearing a familiar sounding voice, and spots Calisa and Rennar.

Calisa's face hardens, covering over her hurt. "Your viewing of me one such?" She shoots a quick glance towards the boy, hoping he was out of earshot.

EMOS's VIEWING: Bars hang over Emos's head briefly, then a hawk flies free - uncaged.

Rennar's face softens, still unaware of Emos being present. "Calisa, I to-" It is then that she glances around the gardens for a brief distraction from her sister, and then spies Emos. She remains quiet, though motions for Calisa to sit next to her upon the bench. She nods her head congenially to Emos, offering a faint reserved smile. She seems distracted beyond all belief at this particular moment.

Calisa shakes her head, every line of her stiff. "Perhaps another time, sister?"

Emos is in an obvious decision whether to stay or go.

A light sigh escapes Rennar's lips, "Another time then." She does not press her sister to stay, "Though do take care of what you do and say... it could equally put you in danger as well, sister." There is a faint warning note to Rennar's words, "And those around you." And yet, her eyes hold an odd look to them, one of knowledge untold. She shakes herself of her mood then smiles once more to Emos, "Good morning." She greets.

Emos smiles, suddenly wishing to himself he hadn't left something in his room.

Calisa stands there a moment more, glaring at Rennar. She wheels around, eyes remaining on Rennar as long as possible, then stalks towards the stairs to the balcony.

Emos looks confused as he watches Calisa leave.

Calisa walks leaves the garden and walks up the stairs onto the balcony.

From above, Calisa walks up the winding staircase from the garden and onto the balcony.

Silently Rennar turns her gaze back to Calisa. She meets it, no challenge in her eyes, just a profound sadness - like she's losing a member of her family. She looks down at her hands again, not watching as Calisa goes, fingers now toying with the book once more.

Emos feels like he should leave, bouncing in place as he tries to get himself to leave.

From above, Calisa stops once she reaches the balcony, turning to lok back down at Rennar and Emos.

Almost forgetting that Emos was present, Rennar looks up again, "Were you hurt much last evening...?" She murmurs quietly, her earlier mood dispaced. There is clear concern in her eyes, "You should not have run into the house like that..." She states the obvious, though not in harsh tones, soft ones.

Emos shakes his head, touching the bandage on it.

Confusion overcomes Rennar briefly as she regards the young boy child. "Can you speak...?"

Emos shakes his head again, appearing sad as he does so.

From above, Calisa leans on the railing, watching and listening to what she can ctach of Rennar's words.

The confusion clears, and her concern is replaced with a bit of sympathy. Rennar chews on her lower lip a moment, a bad habit she's yet to break. "I am sorry..." She murmurs quietly, looking vaguely uncomfortable for a brief moment, "What you did... what you tried to do, I mean... thank you." She offers the child a small smile, gratitude showing on her features, "Not many would run into a burning house to try to save others."

Emos smiles slightly, glancing around the garden for something.

Rennar watches Emos with a bit of curiousity, uncertainty touching her eyes. It is very hard to communicate with someone who doesn't exactly have the means to do so back. This shows on Rennar. She tilts her head to the side just a bit to get a better visage of the young boy.

Emos wishes within himself he could find some way to communicate.

From above, a cool smile flickers on Calisa's face - Rennar might have done better to talk with her, after all.

After a few moments more of uncomfortable silence, Rennar asks quietly, "Are you enjoying your stay within the Palace? Are they treating you well here?" This is something she would have asked, regardless.

Emos nods, smiling at that topic.

"I am glad to hear it. Aislynn's staff takes very good care of the people here." Rennar murmurs quietly. It might be noted that she called the Queen by her name, rather than her title - a startling fact to most that she would be so informal, yet she does not blink twice or think second thoughts about having done so, the act was so natural. "Though I suppose that is because she takes good care of her staff here as well."

Emos takes a step toward Rennar, kicking up a little snow on accident as he does so.

Emos notices he did it, suddenly brightens with an idea.

The young andoran noblewoman smiles faintly at Emos as he walks forward, "I don't bite." She murmurs, "Though its no wonder I don't with all that I have been through in the last few months." The last is spoken more to herself. She blinks as she spies Emos's face brightening.

Emos runs over next to Rennar and writes into the snow. "Hello."

From above, Calisa shakes her head, turning away from the balcony and walking inside.

Watching with a bit of curiosity, Rennar's features brighten somewhat. A warmer smile comes to her features, "Hello." She murmurs quietly, then adds, "I am Lady Rennar Hune... what's your name?"

Emos smooths out the Hello and replaces it with "Emos"

Rennar glances back down at the snow as soon as Emos wipes out the first word. A brow lifts as she regards it. 'Oh dear' - that seems to be the look going across her features, "Em..os?" She, of course, mispronounces it the first time.

Emos shakes his head at the first pronouncing of it, circling the E as to seperate it.

A light blush comes to the Lady Rennar's cheeks, "E-mos...?" She asks this time, looking to the young boy expectantly.

Emos nods, then looks back down at his name.

Rennar smiles warmly, "A pleasure to meet you, Master Emos." Her voice is soft and pleasant.

Emos flourishes a bow that, he hasn't had too much practice with, ending up bow too far and falls face first into the snow.

Gently a hand lifts to cover the smile at threatens to break out upon Rennar's features. It takes her the same time to recover that it takes for the young boy to do the same, without seeing her reaction. "It comes with practice." Rennar murmurs quietly, "Even I could not get it all that well at first."

Emos smiles, still brushing the snow off his face.

"Do you live in Caemlyn?" Rennar asks quietly.

Emos shakes his head.

"Where are you from then?" The young Andoran lady prompts, her eyes carefully tracing Emos's features.

Emos smoothes out his name, replacing it with "Baerlon"

Rennar nods her head slowly, considering. She reaches up to wrap her fingers about a bit of hair, yet something odd happens - her hand goes right through what's supposed to be her hair. A suddenly frustrated look comes to her eyes, along with a faint pained expression. Briefly, it looked as if tears were brimming her eyes, however she gets a hold of her emotions, tightly. She closes her eyes a brief instant, then opens then again, her hand having lowered back to her lap. 'I see..." She answers finally, her voice slightly strained, "Are you visiting with your parents then?"

Emos shakes his head

"Other family?" Rennar asks, a brow lifting as she regards Emos.

Emos shakes his head again

"Friends?" Rennar tries again, her brow starting to knit together in concern.

Emos repeats the last action

That concern seems to grow more deeply at Emos's last response, "You do have living relatives, yes...?" Rennar regards Emos quietly, her voice a soft murmuring.

Emos nods for once

Rennar lets out a breath she didn't know she'd be holding. "Then... if you have living relatives, and you don't have family or friends here, why are you in Caemlyn?"

Emos shakes his head, more to himself than to anyone else, then writes under Baerlon... "Ran away"

"But why...?" Rennar murmurs, her brow knitting together as concern touches her eyes, "Would not your family be upset that you left? Would not your friends miss you?"

Emos writes into the snow. "Dad died, in fire. Mom hates me."

Rennar's eyes soften a bit, "Why do you think she hates you...?" She murmurs in an equally soft voice. She tilts her head to the side, her brow unknitting a bit.

Emos writes "Because I started it."

This admission seems to leave Rennar speechless for a few moments. "Was it intentional?"

Emos shakes his head furiously, trying to get her to believe him.

A smile touches Rennar's lips as she regards Emos, "Does your mother know that?'

Emos continues to shake his head, not as vigorously as before.

Rennar nods her head slowly as she regards Emos, "Did you try telling her?" Her voice is soft and warm as she speaks. Fingers play at the edges of her book, with nothing else to do as she converses.

Emos nods, slowly, then makes a motion like slapping.

"She was probably upset, Emos." Rennar murmurs quietly. "Too upset to understand or comprehend what happened. I bet, right now, she's probably sorry she did that and missing you very much. I know I would be."

Emos shrugs, studying the snow sadly.

"Don't you miss her...?" Rennar answers, tilting her head to the side a bit. There's a touch of sadness within her own eyes now, and a sense of longing for something.

Emos nods.

"If you wished, I could write a letter to her, explaining how you helped save lives... perhaps that would endear you to her more?" Rennar murmurs quietly, "I could further write about your situation, and until the time she responds, you could stay with me - though I am afraid my House is undergoing some repairs, but I'm certain the Queen would not mind if I had a guest within the Palace."

Emos starts a small smile, then growing as she speaks, nodding vigorously as she finishes up. (repose)

"Very well then." Rennar murmurs quietly, a soft smile upon her lips, "That is settled." She wrinkles her brow a bit in thought, "Now... if you ran away I know you must be nearly out of coin. While you are staying with me, would you like a chance to earn a few coppers?"

Emos nods, not as vigourously as before, but not by much.

The smile seems to settle in more fully now. Rennar gives a small nod of her head again, then adds, "You may work as a page for me, delivering messages amongst those in the Palace. I can outfit you in House colors, and then have a set or two of clothing made for you however you'd like."

Emos smiles, appearing to like that.

Rather than assuming, Rennar studies the young boy for a few moments, "Would that be something you are interested in?"

Emos nods more vigorously than ever before, stopping suddenly to grab his head for a second.

"Easy..." Rennar murmurs, concern coming to her eyes a bit, "Maybe you should go rest, and not nod your head so much...?" She suggests her voice a soft murmuring.

Emos smiles at Rennar, then nods slowly to the rest part.

"See the seemstress when you've rested. She'll get your measurements so you can be outfitted. She's located in the servants' area of the Palace, which I think you can find if you ask someone to help. Tell them that Rennar Hune sent you. I'll leave word with the seemstress." The young lady tells the young boy, tilting her head to the side as she watches him.

Emos thinks how he is going to ask people that, the question obvious on his face.

"You know how to write, yes...?" Rennar can see the unasked question. "Do you have something you can write with?"

Emos thinks, then nods indicating toward where he slept.

"Then use that." Rennar murmurs, folding her hands in her lap.

Emos nods, realizing what she says makes sense.

Emos waves, and starts off toward his 'room.'

Rennar waves after Emos, watching him thoughtfully.

Emos wanders leaves the garden and wanders up the stairs onto the balcony.

From above, Emos wanders up the winding staircase from the garden and onto the balcony.

From above, Emos leaves the balcony and wanders into the palace.