A New Old Friend (written with Armantha)
From the shadows in a corner, Lleu Carnesir emerged rather undramatically. He wasn’t hiding, per-se, it was just that when in the city, the shadows felt better - safer. And with the promise he’d made his mother, he really couldn’t stray far, though he declined her invitation to stay in her home. Still, he kept an eye on the Farstrider Lodge.... perhaps there was word.
Armantha walked slowly around the city, her golden armor shining in the lamppost lights as she moved. The armor had clearly seen better days, but it was well cared for. The light slinger had stopped and she was looking down at an order missive in her hands, a slight frown on her young face.
He likely wouldn’t surpass 5’9” but Lleu Carnesir liked his stature. He was compact enough to climb and escape quickly, and Light knew he’d honed that skill as of late. It also allowed him enough physical power to be a compact, unexpected threat should he need to be so.
The City was pleasant at dusk, though it did not produce the object of his search. His mother had been in Quel’Thalas twice since disappearing through the Dark Portal and he had yet to speak with her. She’d not even made an effort and this irked the young man. He leaned against the wall outside the entrance of the Farstrider Lodge, his arms folded, cowl pulled mostly over the deep bronze hair that hung, tied over his shoulder. While his eyes remained shadowed, the hair was unmistakable.
Arey tucked the missive into her hip pouch and looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Is that...Lleu?" She had met him what seemed like ages ago, but his hair was quite distinctive where it showed. Her smile was broad, flashing her teeth. She hadn't seen anyone else for so long, since Roland had died. She waited, hoping that he remembered her.
His scowl was one of surprise of a young man still trying to find his presence but he couldn’t help smirk when he recognized the face from nearly two years prior. He half-pointed at her, “Arma…” Shaking his head, “No, not right - you worked for my uncle though, didn’t you?” His cheeks turned a lighter pink than she would remember and his stammer would be far less present. The eyes that once were wide with fear in the presence of a woman showed evidence of having faced real fear, though they still darted with a nervous twitch.
Her smile widened even more as she nodded, "Arey. Yes. I worked with Roland." Her stance was proud and her spine was straight, though as she spoke of Roland she sagged a little. She missed her friend. "It is nice to see you. It has been many moons since I last spoke with you." She flicked a lock of her platinum hair over her shoulder, letting the dimple in her cheek come into view. "You've changed so much. Light help me, if not for that pretty hair of yours I would barely have recognized you!"
That was it - the cheeks turned red beneath the cloak, but Lleu laughed, “Not such a child…. but I still sleep in the trees when I can.” He smiled at the woman, “So I’m not the only one that’s been hiding.” Still with wavering confidence, he stepped forward, slightly embarrassed that was the only thing he could think of to say. “Nor the only one with p-pretty...ah… hair.” He cleared his throat as he stared at the ground a moment before mustering the courage to look back up at her. “Where have you been hiding? Ah…” His voice softened, “Arey?”
Her cheeks and the tips of her ears turned a pleasant shade of pink, one heavily armored hand lifting just slightly toward her hair before letting it fall to her side again. "No. I started hiding not long after Roland..." She let her words trail off, taking a deep breath. "I was sent to Pandaria again, not long after. Once my orders were completed, I decided to stay. I was hiding there in one of the beautiful monasteries. They have fantastic food and a very lackadaisical attitude." She chuckled softly and patted a hip that was just a touch wider than it had been before. "I am still training to work off all the extra fat they helped me put on." Her gold eyes danced with humor. "Their trees are nice to sleep in. I tried it a few times. The cherry blossoms are quite pleasant."
HIs eyebrow raised, a smirk that came straight from his mother washed over Lleu’s ruddy face. “Cherry blossoms…. I suppose I ought have explored that place more…. I did a few jobs there but only got to see some jungle port….” His arms folded as he glanced back at the Farstrider offices before stepping forward, “I don’t know what fat you’re talking about…. and with your muscle mass…” The tips of his ears turned pink, “I mean it’s something to hold onto…” He stopped short, cheeks and nose burning as he looked up at a nearby balcony as though it held the key to retracting his statement.
Arey's brows rose slowly as he spoke, ending with them nearly at her hairline. His blush matched hers, the lengths of her tall ears twitching. "I don't think anyone will be holding onto me anytime soon." She laughed, almost to herself. "I'm not like the other women in the city. They flirt and twirl in pretty robes. Here I stand in battered armor that I repair almost daily after training." She followed his gaze toward the balcony. "You...should come with me to Pandaria one day. The Arboretum is beautiful. It is beside the monastery I was staying in. I spent my evenings under the cherry blossom trees." The smile across her full lips was wistful, "I think you'd like it there. That will be what I can look forward to when I go to Draenor in a few weeks. Coming home to a friend, so we can take a trip." She turned, looking at him curiously. "Where have you been hiding, handsome Lleu?"
“Selling yourself short,” He sighed, the color returning to his ears the moment they’d cooled, “Not that I mean to say you sell yourself… I meant. Well don’t try to be like them.” He laughed, “I suppose Father’s aspirations were for me to wed one of them…. “ He cleared his throat. “I take work where I can get it - not necessarily hiding, just staying out of the way. “ His expression softened, “I have a young brother in Quel’Thalas,” his jaw tightened a bit, “Our dear mother left him for Draenor… I was checking the Lodge for word on her.”
Lleu scratched his head, “I’ve never traveled with anyone… might be fun…” His smile, though shy, was bright.
"Oh, I'm selling myself. Just to the service of the Reagent Lord." She wrinkled her little ski-slope nose as she gave a lofty sigh. "You've no worries, Lleu. I couldn't be like them if I tried. I am too wide of hip and bust, too tenderhearted. I could never be nobility or of the higher societies. I am a little too rough around the edges. Not to mention, I look dreadful in a dress." She winked at him. "I can see you wedding one. You are a handsome devil, Lleu. You'll find yourself a real looker one day." The mention of a littler brother made her eyes sparkle, ears twitching like crazy. "A younger brother? How old is he? A babe? Toddler? I have not gotten to see or hold a young one in so long. I just love them." She quieted and had the grace to look a little embarrassed at her verbal gushing over little ones. "You know. I can think of no one else I would rather travel with. As long as you don't mind sharing a tree branch once in awhile." She couldn't help it...she just moved in to try and scoop him into a breath-stealing hug. Someone didn't know their own strength.
He looked down, cheeks burning at the compliment once she let go and chuckled, “Then don’t try… “ He gazed outward across the square at an Elven woman in a hat, teetering in the highest heels he’d seen as she gingerly stepped into the practice target area to distract an archer, “You sound apologetic for your lineage…. that should be me, not yourself. Fine silks don’t equa….eq...equivocate beauty.” He looked back at the plate-clad woman he’d cowered in front of not two years prior. “Oh, Al? He’ll have a nameday soon. Six, and he’s dying to tell anyone that will listen.” Lleu grinned, his teeth showing and resemblant of a charming uncle he’d never known, but took after more than anyone else.
She watched him as he spoke, really taking in how much he had matured and grown. He had been charmingly shy two years prior. The blushing and stuttering had always been endearing, at least in her mind. She did, however, stop staring at him long enough to follow his line of sight. The woman walking like a newborn calf made her raise her eyebrows, and she couldn't help but make a comment under her breath. "...If I were down there, I'd put the flat of my sword to her backside and make her tip the rest of the way over..." When Lleu spoke she turned her golden eyes back to him. "Ah, there is where you are a bit wrong. I am the daughter of a whore and an unnamed noble who had her murdered for keeping her daughter." She winked at him, "Perhaps we can just share the shame in our lineage, hm? Now, about that little one. I would like to meet him sometime. He can tell me all about his nameday." She cleared her throat, her nose and ears turning pink. "I won't lie. It's partly an excuse to spend time with you as well."
“I feel no shame…. not for that...nor should you.” He looked at her, laughing at the thought of the little brother he couldn’t help but love boasting about a number. In truth, he was hardly conscious of his being of age - it felt no different. In reality it was months before and the violence he’d witnessed that had made him a man. Still, his cheeks burned, “I think he’d like that, Arey.” He forced his eyes to meet hers. “So would I.”
