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.

Demonder
Rowena

Rowena sits at her table, a mug of ale in front of her. She is playing a popular drinking song on her harp and is joined in singing by more than a few patrons.

Today is Sevenday, 5 Tammaz, 998 NE. It is a Summer afternoon.

The door opens, then is delicately closed by a young looking woman. She appears to hold the general apperance of an Andoran Noble, both by looks and dress. She smiles warmly, uncharacteristically of any noble Lady, at one of the passing servers - a touch of recognition entering her eyes, "Good day, Mistress Juli..." There is a jovial note to her voice as she speaks. Stepping further into the room, she makes way for one of the unoccupied tables, allowing other patrons to enter the room.

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

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

Rowena finishes the song and sets her harp on the table. "Thank you, good sirs and madams." She raises her mug to the scattered applause of a few patrons, then takes a healthy swallow.

Not far behind Lady Rennar, Lord Demonder comes pushing through the doors. With his typically casual manner, though clearly an air of noble around him, he makes his way within and sneaks toward Rennar with long-strided steps that are meant to sneak upon her. There's that tickle at her side that comes next, before he reaches for her waist and attempts to draw her in. One observant would notice a hand raised in a defensive manner just in case Rennar mistakes him from anybody else but her intended.

Rennar's eyes go almost immediately toward the young woman playing. She smiles, nodding her head to Rowena, then starts to take at the table she's managed to found. The one called Juli has since entered the kitchens and returned with some sort of drink, which she places upon Rennar's table, "Good day, Lady Rennar." She smiles in a warm manner toward the Lady, then moves off. However, Rennar is unable to fully take her seat, as Demonder surprises her from behind. There is a small yelp that comes from the Lady, exclaiming her surprise, and a hand does indeed go back to strike at the offending figure - in this case, Demonder.

Rowena glances briefly up at the noble couple, nodding politely. She into her satchel and produces a pair of bright blue balls. Holding the mug of ale with one hand, she idly juggles the two balls with the other. Her movements are quick and sharp.

Needless to say, Demonder squirms and ducks under the hand that moves toward him, stepping away in one motion behind her once again as she turns. Though likely he'd be facing her by the time she completes the striking motion. "Love, I see you are glad to see me as always?" he ponders lightly, trying to insure her that it is he, and not some stranger she was trying to strike.

"I'd be better if you'd learn not to sneak up on me." Rennar quips back, looking none too pleased, "Particularly in these times." Her emerald eyes seem to shoot daggers at Demonder. However, something seems to be missing. Where's Sorenis?

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

Good question, indeed. And of course, Rennar leaves herself at least partly open to a comment. Demonder would almost take a step back upon seeing those eyes, but it takes a bit more then that to ruin his brighter moods. Rennar would know that all too well, of course. "Indeed, particuarly in these times." At first he repeats her words with a carefully placed paused. "Had Master Sorenis been here, you'd not need to fear as much for someone sneaking up behind you. And I'd likely not have gotten that far," he notes, eyes challenging lightly. "Where is Master Sorenis?"

Rowena sits at a table, drinking a mug of ale with one hand and juggling a pair of balls with the other.

The stairs creek, announcing the arrival of Neri Tandres, former owner of the Rose and Lion - now Mistress of Novices at the Tower. Rumor has it that this particular Blue Sister is visiting Caemlyn for a 'vacation'. From the sounds of things, those rumors are proving to be most true indeed. Neri smiles at the patrons of the Inn, curiosity touching her eyes when she spies Rennar; a familar figure. However, she does not let that stop her on her way out. Before she leaves, she offers a warm smile to Rowena, nodding to the obvious gleeperson.

Rowena raises her mug to Neri, smiling back.

"I very well believe that you would have gotten that far Demonder, with him about. Afterall, you do pay his wages." Rennar points out, though her voice is less harsh than it was before. She regards her fiance with that sharp expression a few moments more before letting it relax into something more jovial at the mentioning of Sorenis. There's almost a hint of laughter within them, "Mistress Genette and I made certain he was a bit tied up so that I could leave." Whether she means figuratively or literally is something else entirely.

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

A light growl would almost part away from Demonder's lips. Indeed, he's paying for services Rennar isn't excepting all to willingly. As Rennar's mood lightens, it is Demonder's that darkens, though he could care less of the coin. "I thought we had discussed the matter? Does he bother you so..." he stops his thought there. "Perhaps we'll simply assign another to you." And with that, he pulls out the chair for Rennar to sit at, where she did initially intend. Though he did say /we/ as compared to /I/.

That hint of laughter dies immediately at Demonder's expression. And, indeed, so does Rennar's good mood altogether. She gives a small shake of her head, murmuring quietly, "I do not much feel like sitting, or taking a night 'off' now." She comments, stressing the word /off/ to get her own point through. "I am not some china doll that will just break when she is dropped. There are times when I'd like to be away from guards or people looking over my shoulder. Things have calmed lately, so I felt safe enough to travel on my own. Had I not, he would be here. Not that I really need to explain any of this to you." And here comes that rather stubborn streak of hers, as she now stands a bit taller than she was, and folds her arms before her. "If you can't honor that I'd like to have time away from the masses of servants and guards overlooking my health and safety...." She lets her voice trail, not completeing her thought.

Rowena can't help but watch the couple arguing out of the corner of her eye.

"Really!" Demonder's voice reaks of frustration. "Is it so difficult to allow a man to be some many paces behind you as you walk? I'd not think this as an inconvenience. Even Master Ealam has a man at his side, and Master Ealam carries a sword with herons and could likely take on four attackers while Daeryn only one." Well, this does make his point, though as to why Ealam even needs such a tight escort, is another issue. Demonder's eyes drop, as he releases the chair. "It's unthinkable that you accuse me of smothering you when all I ask is to have someone not accompany you on your time away, but simply follow your progress." Demonder really can't be angry at Rennar for too long, as he takes a step back, it is more hurt that would show to those observant to his slight hints of emotions. "I have reason for my concern, and that reason is not of my doing, but my concern is a consiquence of the reason. And you know it. We are no safer now then we were before."

"Demonder, I don't want to argue about this anymore. I agreed to have him as a guard, yes, but I did not agree to having him guard me every moment that I was away, or wanted to go for a walk. I was careful, and only travelled the roads where the Queen's Guard were walking at the time. Do you believe me so foolish as to just simply go where there was no protection provided were something to occur?" Rennar's eyes do seem to challenge her fiance, "Or, maybe I already know that answer... hmm?"

"I was attacked upon those very streets." Sure, Demonder ignores the fact that both times he needed to enter a dark alley to get attacked, but some details are better left unsaid. "And..." he slows in in mind. "I do not believe you foolish, Renni. Nor do I foolishly believe a guard will offer much protection if others are determined enough." Demonder drops his hands, looking to the table. "Shall we enjoy a meal then?" he finally states after a pause, apparently wanting to put the argument behind them but without saying exactly that.

Rowena continues to watch the pair, perhaps mentally keeping score. She smiles to herself, silently thanking the Light that she doesn't have a fiance, and starts to play another merry drinking song on her harp.

"Any mood that I've had for a light dinner has already passed." Rennar replies, her words tart and sour sounding almost. Even the music does not seem to put her back into a good mood, despite it's merryness. "I think, maybe, I shall return home, since my presense here seems to bother you so." Without another word, Rennar turns for the doorway, not even glancing back at Demonder as she makes her way to the exit. Yes, she's vexxed, quite so.

Demonder would almost ask her to wait, but seems that he has other things on his mind. And none of it include giving into Rennar so easily. Demonder heads off behind her, his steps not exactly at her heels, but close enough behind. "I was actually delighted to see you. Just the lack of Sorenis that had my concern," he notes that from behind as they walk.

Rowena sighs philosophically as the noble couple make their way out.

"So delighted that your hired guard was the first thing on your mind after tackling me so from behind? I see that I mean much to you, despite what your Lady Cathryn seems to think." Rennar responds, her words turning no less tart than before. Maybe it is that which Rennar is most upset about? Though, likely no one can ever get a straight answer from the young noble.

Demonder drops his hands in frustration once again. Why women have an endless desire to be difficult, Demonder will never know. "I was delighted to see you." He repeats, in a more firm tone. "And had tickled you in that delight seeing you here by surprise." None of that delight shines through his voice now. "Lady Cathryn?" he finally asks at near stop to his feet.

Rowena gets up from her chair, nodding her farewell to the crowd.

Rowena stands and leaves Fireside Table.

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

Rennar turns toward Demonder, right before she gets to the door. Her emerald gaze regards him in a silent manner, showing little emotion. "Aye, Lady Cathryn, High Seat of House Roesone." She spells it out for him. Rowena's departing seems to capture her attention briefly before she continues, "She called for me the other evening and we had a nice, little chat. Nothing to bother you with, however."

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

"I know who..." Demonder stops there. Of course she knew that he knew. Instead, his gaze takes on more importance then it does anything else. "Nothing to bother with me, indeed. Not for some minor lord off interesting in entertaining himself, ignoring responsiblility." Why Demonder would bring up the opinions lords had of him a long time ago, is a question that really holds no answers. Demonder's done well to shake it. "Renni..." this time the voice is more pleading. "Just..." he stops there for a pause.

Rowena trots back down the stairs after a few moments.

Rennar lifts a brow at Demonder, regarding him silently. She offers him no more than what she had just said to him. Her attention goes away from the other Lord to register the gleeperson returning. She does, somehow, muster a smile for the woman, and a soft, "You play well..." Then, she turns her attention back to Demonder, allowing her gaze to grow neutral rather than upset.

Rowena gives a short bow from the waist. "Thank you, milady."

Neutral is better, at least. Demonder lowers his eyes on her, and then turns away for a brief moment. After a heavy breath, he looks to Rennar once again. "Renni, we need out of this loop. And I have an idea of sorts, but that's for later." Demonder doesn't go into detail, but seems to have no more urge to fight or challenge, or defense. Simply state. "You've proven you will do what you want." He clearly hands her the victory in this one.

Rowena sits down at Fireside Table.

Rowena returns to her table and starts plucking away at her harp.

Rennar turns her attention back to Rowena at Demonder's first set of words, a brow lifting and stodying the other young woman briefly. "You are welcome." She comments, then glances back to Demonder again. Her eyes carefully study his demeanor and the way he reacts to her. She speculates aloud as she watches him, almost saddened, "Do you really think you could survive being married to me?" With that, there is a deep sigh, and a sense of hopelessness about her. "For one night, I just want to enjoy life as I had before all this mess started. That is not too much to ask, one evening of being left alone. No guards, no watchers, just enjoying people and things about me." And it is clear, she still feels rather trapped; and, perhaps, that is where her argumentiveness comes from. "I am sorry, perhaps that's just asking too much from anyone, including myself. Light knows that trouble follows wherever I walk."

"I will die either by you hand, or in saving your life." Yes, Demonder's always been known to be a touch too dramatic, and this is his answer to the question of whether or not he thinks he could survive. "And if you wish to be stripped of all your noble clothing for a single night, stripped the responsibility that comes from it, then you will have it." Ahems, Demonder doesn't mean it that way, his tone all too serious. "But do not make me the focus of your feelings when I'm not the one who places danger at your door." Demonder, on the other hand, feels that he's simply reacting to her life as he should, and it not his fault that he must.

Rowena almost skips a note in her playing at that. Stripped? All-rightey, then.

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

Redding says "hello all"

Rowena sits at a table, playing a merry tune on her harp. For all that she seems to be concentrating on her music, the observant will notice that she is marking the nobles' conversation nearby.

The Lady doesn't point out the fact that it was Demonder who took notice of Sorenis's disapperance, nor the fact that he was the one that got more upset than she first. Rennar shakes her head, murmuring quietly, "Mayhap, it is best I simply stay at my manor, as there is no truely safe place for me to be." She gives a small shrug of her shoulder, admitting to defeat. "Mayhap my uncle had the right idea of it all." With that, she turns back toward the door and makes to exit the building. There is some mumbled comment about 'rats' involved in her exit, but that is the only word that can be heard effectively.

Rennar might or might not catch the sight of Demonder at the mention of her uncle, and how she's turned it to that. It truly would be like taking a dagger through him affectively, as Demonder takes even a step back at the thought, face going white. Perhaps now he begins to understand her meaning, her anger. Demonder doesn't follow right away, but he does step through the door.

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

Ashinteara walks down the steps rubbing her temples as she pauses and looks around a moment. She sees who is in the room and walks to the bar.

You push through the wooden door and head back out to the stable yard.

StableYard: Rose and Lion Inn, Caemlyn

A wide, lightly paved path of stones leads in a small circle from the road, to the barn, to the inn. A large area in front of the barn is cleared out for those that would be leave their wagons or carriages outside. There are several places to tie lone horses, if a rider just came in.

Single riders and wagon drivers arrive in the afternoon hours, handing their horses over to the attendents of the inn for care. A heat wave seems to be passing through, as the warmer days of summer seem to come. From the outside, one can see the windows of the inn opened, to allow any breeze to air out the building. Flowers, trees and shrubs appear to be in full bloom, lining the front of the inn and the paved path. A few steps lead up to a small door, opening into the large building before you which can only be the inn. A large sliding door can be seen opening up into the stables. If you follow the path, you will find yourself back on Caemlyn Road.

Blair

Demonder steps out into the stableyard, leaving The Rose and Lion.

Blair sits near the door strumming his lute.

Rennar exits the Inn, looking almost depressed about something as she does so. It's a definite '180' change from the jovial attitude that she had when she first entered. She does not stop within the stableyard, walking toward the streets with a defeated air about her.

Demonder continues to follow some steps behing Rennar. He gives her time to cool down, and seems at any moment he'll hurry ahead and reach for her. But he doesn't, as they walk into the streets.

You walk down the path, re-entering Caemlyn proper.

Heartsblush Square: New City, Caemlyn

Heartsblush Square is named for the small red blossoms that line the small grassy knoll in the center of a large intersection of streets, some large, others small. All manner of buildings, blacksmith forges, stables, taverns and inns, line the neatly-manicured streets. The motley assortment of colors and building materials draws your eyes in many directions at once.

Children laugh and shout, playing amid the green grass in the center of the crossroads. The smells of ripening fruit and blooming flowers permeate the air. Exotic smells of spiced foods and perfume ride on the warm wind. The crossroads branch off to the north, south, east and west. Rose Terrace heads off to the north, further into Caemlyn. To the west, a prominent alley, Ferret Run leads out of the city, and to the east, White Lion Way slopes further into the magnificent capital of Andor.

Demonder emerges into the street from the stable yard of the inn.

Rennar exits the stableyard of the Inn and almost immediately starts for the Origan Gate, which heads back toward the noble district of the city. Her steps are slow, and deliberate, and she makes certain she stays in areas that are well guarded by those on patrol, as she said she had done in getting to the Inn in the first place. She seems completely unaware that Demonder is following, despite her usual perceptive nature.

And of course, as Demonder sees each carefully placed step, the guilt twists further within him. Yes, it's building to agony. The words of her comparing what Demonder is suggesting to what her uncle wanted still ringing true in his ears. And then he stops a young commoner on the street, eyes not going away from Rennar. The exchange in coins is clear to anyone that looks, as Demonder gives him instructions, and then heads forward again toward home.

You walk through the Origan Gate, underneath the snowy white arch, and into the beauty of the Inner City of Caemlyn.

Caembarin Boulevard: Inner City, Caemlyn

The Inner City of Caemlyn is built upon the highest peaking hills, surrounded by a fortified wall built of polished granite with gleaming white marble inlays. One can look down over the gentle slopes of the rest of the city from the many vantage points along the wall. The streets have been crafted to follow the natural contours of the hills, and are paved in silver-streaked gray. A large park-like area lies to the western edge of the walled Inner City.

The large park here is draped in long shadows of the afternoon sun as it arcs across the sky, on its way to setting. Warm breezes waft through the leaves of the cultivated trees, creating a whispering sound. A white stone-paved road leads to the south, winding uphill, and its twin leads off to the east. To the north lies Origan Gate, which leads into the New City.

Koveras

Demonder enters the Inner City from the north, walking through the Origan Gate.

Rennar continues to move down the street, and starts to head toward Crown of Roses Avenue. She neither looks back, or ahead really, keeping her eyes to the ground as she walks, shoulders slumped. She pays no heed to Demonder, and from the looks of it doesn't even realize he's there. Her destination appears to be the noble quarter of the city.

Demonder follows some great distance behind Rennar, somewhat trouble with a pale epxression. From a distance, it would likely not be obvious that he is following her.

Ashinteara enters the Inner City from the north, walking through the Origan Gate.

Ashinteara walks down the street, humming softly to herself.

You walk up Crown of Roses Avenue, toward the east, following the gently-sloping hill.

Crown of Roses Avenue: Inner City, Caemlyn

This portion of the Inner City is filled with large structures of gleaming white stone, roofed in tiles of purple, red and azure. White walls divide small expanses of lush lawn, and golden domes and tall spires rise to the heavens.

Small crowds of finely-dressed citizens walk along the streets, some headed toward the Palace. The warmth of the summer breeze whips through the Inner City, rippling the water of fountains and rustling through the leaves of leatherleaf and elm trees. White Lion Way, a narrow street paved in white stone, leads off to the southwest, and Crown of Roses Avenue, also paved in white stone, leads to the west.

Demonder comes up the gently-sloping hill from the west, following Crown of Roses Avenue.

Rennar continues onward, heading straight toward Tiras Lorn. Likely, it will be to stay there for quite a long time before she decides to come back out again - unless surrounded by guards and other people she knows she can trust. She says nothing, remains absolutely silent, as she enters the grounds of her manor.