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[rowancrowned]

 

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[katabasis]

Hardly.

[If they were having this conversation two days from now, after certain discussions with the girl in question, he might have a different answer. But here they are.]

I suspect some real responsibility [drudgery] will be good for her. I just wonder if you aren't making more work for yourself.

[rowancrowned]

And if I am?

( mild, mild. the nug snuffles against his foot, seeking more food, then gives up and rests its head on the floor.

thranduil looks away from the harbour, and smiles. )

What will you do next, offer to take her off my hands, captain?

[katabasis]

Absolutely not. I'm merely stating my position for the record.

[So he can say 'I told you so' later.]

[rowancrowned]

You believe something will force an accounting?

( hey now. )

[katabasis]

[A flat look. There's some imbecile rotting in the dungeon right now that suggests it's not a wild supposition.]

[rowancrowned]

( calmly: )

You suspect her of supporting slavers? She has us all very fooled if that's the plan she's been hiding behind her earnest desires and bullheadedness.

[katabasis]

[He snorts. No.]

What I suspect is that she'll do whatever she likes, regardless of what the rest of us think.

[It could be an insult, but it's not today.]

[rowancrowned]

( thranduil nods his head in agreement. )

She has a strong sense of justice and duty. I hope the position will teach her restraint ( look, he's acknowledging she might need it. ) and the value of patience.

( he smiles. )

Temper her temper.

[katabasis]

[Good. She could use with being bored half to death.]

I'm just here to wish you luck with it.

[rowancrowned]

( he bends to pick up the nug. it squeaks. )

And, I believe, to teach my wife how to fight.

[katabasis]

With swords.

[--feels like a vital modifier. It's doubtful she needs any help with the general concept.]

[rowancrowned]

( he sets the nug on the windowsill. )

If you would leave the room, I will dress and give you two the room.

[elegiaque]

Are you not decent in there, Thranduil?

( presumably he has some clothes on, although gwenaëlle takes a certain amount of inappropriate glee in bursting the door wide open, just in case, as she is preceded by hardie into the room. (she's been out with her bow and arrow; is already in trousers and boots, hair pinned tight.) )

[katabasis]

[Some line in his face has already gone loose in favor of Thrabduil's dry humor before Gwen even calls out and comes flying in. There is an immediate change of temperature to in the room to accommodate presence of woman and the dog.

Mostly the second one. He and Hardie have developed an understanding over being permitted to swing and jab long pieces of metal at his mistress, and it involves Flint carrying interesting things in his pockets and the transaction of respectful head pats.]

He was cornered.

[rowancrowned]

( he leans back, all the better to be seen behind flint. he looks only briefly at hardie, but he does look. that dog was the best gift he ever gave her— )

It was very distressing. Are you here to rescue me, my love?

( all conversational and evenly toned. everyone already knows how utterly wrapped up in one another they are, and flint chose the one day he slept in, so. )

[elegiaque]

( hardie takes the opportunity to circle the room, and butt his head up against flint's leg on the presumption that he would never turn up here empty-handed, he knows what's up. gwenaëlle, observing this with some amusement (her dog is spoiled, and not just by her), allows, distracted— )

I'm prepared to consider it.

[katabasis]

[(There is, predictably, a piece of smoked and dried pork in it for Hardie.)]

We were discussing how far your sword arm's come. In light of which, I'm prepared to surrender without much of a fight. [He falls back a step from Thranduil accordingly, though it's to remove the book from under his arm and offer it to Gwenaëlle. Ecclesiastical essays.] Courtesy of the new archivist.

[rowancrowned]

( thranduil peers over to try and catch the title. that done, he looks to his wife, and smiles. )

I am pleased to hear that.

( no 'beloved', no 'my lady', but his smile is warm all the same, if without the depths that privacy would allow him to reach. )