AESOP: Snowbird's Answer

This scene takes place in Proudmoore Keep in Boralus, Kul’Tiras. It follows the events of “A Grave Chat” by a week or two and “The Writhing Site” by maybe a day or two.

Rhoelyn 12/17/18
The priestess pauses around the corner from the now-vaguely-familiar building, taking a deep breath and a moment to smooth imagined wrinkles from her gown and brush her windblown hair. She sighs softly and bites her lip before straightening the golden halo hovering at the back of her head and squaring her shoulders.

Calm settles around her like a soothing veil before she clasps her hands over her forest green sash and steps around to the front entrance of Erikson Hall. Her warm, benevolent smile greets the Proudmoore marines flanking the open doorway up a few short stairs.

"Ishnu-alah, friends," Rhoelyn says softly, offering them both a respectful bow with her fist in her palm in front of her heart. "I have come to see Grave. Do you know if he is here?"

Araatris
They both salute the priestess. "Yes, ma'am. I think Miss Watchdog-"

"Leave off the miss, boys. How many times do I hafta tell ya?" A young woman walks up to the doorway and leans lazily against the doorway. Her short auburn hair frames her face and her several piercings. She looks more like she belongs in the rougher parts of Boralus with her dark blue vest leaving her cleavage on display and matching skin tight leather pants.

She grins widely, "Ah! Yah must be Rhoelyn Silverwing. Grave wus hopin' ya'd stop by. Don't worry, boys. I got this." Looking back at Rhoelyn, she continues, "Watchdog is my codename. My name is Aris Meadowbrook, but please feel free t'call me Aris."

The guards sighs and the one that spoke before nods, "Yes, Mi-." He quickly clears his throat. "Yes, Watchdog."

Rhoelyn
The healer's perusal is brief, thorough and utterly devoid of judgement before she turns her smile on the young woman. "Aris. Elune adore."

The Gilnean gets a polite bow as well. "You have it right. I am Rhoelyn. It is my pleasure to meet you. Though... if I may say, you do not strike me as any sort of dog. Watch or otherwise." Her eyes crinkle a bit in quiet amusement.

Araatris
Aris winks. "There are some who might disagree wit'ya, but I appreciate the thought. Then again, sometimes the right reputation is cultivated. It's right nice to meet ya, Rhoelyn."

She steps back and waves for the priestess to enter. "Come on in. Th'boss is upstairs. I'll let'im know yer here."

Rhoelyn
"Thank you." The night elf enters as invited, her hands folded in front of her waist. If her grip is a little bit tight and white-knuckled, it is the only outward sign of her nervousness as she wanders in with her usual grace of motion. She pauses in the dimmer interior to let her eyes adjust from the bright daylight outside before she lets Aris precede her, taking the opportunity to once more look around at the cluttered shelves and covered walls.

The shared building's entry has a wealth of little sights to see.

Araatris
Stepping ahead and up a few stairs in the back, she makes it to the first landing before she stops. "GRAVE! Ya got Rhoelyn here t'see ya! Wan' me t'send her up?" Her voice easily reaches up the stairs as she calls up.

She smiles sheepishly at Rhoelyn. "Sorry 'bout the mess. We're still organizing some of the records we brought from headquarters. We've... gotten behind."

Rhoelyn
"Oh. It isn't a bother, Aris." The priestess says it easily with a wave of her hand, her smile unfaltering. But something in her gaze eyes the discord almost... hungrily. As if she itches to neaten it all as she wanders up the stairs after the human.

Greyseer
"Yeah, Aris," a male voice calls down from the room above. It sounds rather weary. No, it sounds downright exhausted. "Escort her on up."

Araatris
There was a pause and a flicker of a frown as Aris looked up for a moment, but it was gone as quickly as it came. "Ya can foller me, Miss Silverwing. Not that ya can't guess the way."

She grins over her shoulder and climbs the stairs.

Rhoelyn
"Please simply call me Rhoelyn. Or... priestess, if you prefer. My people have few titles, and 'miss' is not one of them."

The soft-spoken correction is offered with a little smile before the priestess does as bidden, wafting up the stairs behind her escort in thoughtful silence until they both stand at the top. Her luminous silver-blue eyes take in the scene revealed there.

Greyseer
The room is as it had been, scattered haphazardly with ledgers and loose papers. The ones on the wooden table in the center looked a little more tidy than the ones that appeared to have taken root in the corners. It was starting to look like a jungle, if a jungle were made of trees that grew pages for leaves.

At the table sat Ardell, his shoulder hunched as he read over a particular set of papers. A report, most likely. A jar sat near him, to the side of the table. Within it could be seen a mass of purple-silvery...things. They were wriggling and leaving slimy trails on the inside of the glass as they moved. The man seemed to be ignoring them.

Rhoelyn
The healer's gaze roams over the clutter, leading to her very quiet mutter of, "Oh, dear..."

And that is well before her attention skips over the jar of wriggling nasties. To her credit, she says nothing about those despite the little light shudder of revulsion that vibrates through her.

Rhoe's hands stay folded in front of her belt, and she focuses her wandering attention on Ardell, bowing as is the kal'dorei way. "Ishnu-alah, Grave. I apologize for coming unannounced, but... with Nysse and Rhese away, I realized I was ill-equipped to contact you in any more appropriate way."

Greyseer
Ardell waves his hand dismissively as he tucks the pages into a folder and slides it into a seemingly random stack. It vanishes, blending into the clutter as if it, too, had been growing there for days. "It is of no worry. I needed a break from these reports, anyway. Too much strangeness going on for one day."

The man looks up and meets the priestess's eyes. His own are dark and tired, with visible bags forming beneath them. "What can we do for you?"

Rhoelyn
The priestess' answer is not an answer when she gasps and steps forward, her hands fluttering free. "Oh. Look at you... You are exhausted. You'll fall ill at this rate." She stops at the edge of the table, not quite reaching for him, but the assessment is there in her eyes as they take on a light tinge of golden magic.

Greyseer
"It's nothing, really--" Ardell waves another hand. "I've been in far worse condition before. At least here I'm not in any immediate threat. Except maybe from paper collapse."

He smiles, or, rather, tries to, at his own joke. It instead comes out more than a little lopsided.

Rhoelyn
Rhoelyn's brow furrows just a bit, but she folds her hands back into their places and manages a little smile at the Gilnean's joke. Her blue eyes flick over to Aris before she takes a half step back from the edge of the table and nods slightly. "Of course, Ardell. As you say. And should you hear the creak of imminent paper collapse, I hope you will not be too tired to move out of the way."

There's her own teasing edge to the shy grin she offers him at that.

Greyseer
"That's what Aris is for, right?" He turns to face the young woman, who has plopped into a chair right next to him. His own lopsided grin fades as he sees her dubious frown and the mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "...right..."

Ardell clears his throat and turns back to Rhoelyn.

Rhoelyn
His humor doesn't earn him a giggle, but at least another smile and a warm, discerning look flicking between them both.

A momentary one, as the priestess soon sobers, standing before his cluttered desk with her hands clasped together. She doesn't frown, far from it, but her mein becomes one of serious attention, heavy intent. "I owe you an answer to your invitation, Ardell. You asked me to join your efforts as a member of your team, as my brother and sister are."

Greyseer
"Ah, yes," the man says as he seems to relax a bit. This is more familiar territory to him, it seems. "You do. And what is your decision?"

Rhoelyn
The night elf pauses only a moment before she shakes her head, her long, silver hair swinging around her shoulders. "I cannot. Though I have seen firsthand the good your organization has done, I still rest in the same place that I long have: I have given my oath already to Elune, to her Temple and her people. I daresay she had that from me likely before you were born. When I search my heart, I find there is not enough room in it for two oaths, for the potential for divided loyalty."

Rhoelyn bows her head a bit. "I am honored by your invitation, Grave. But I cannot be yours and Elune's at once."

Araatris
Aris regards her evenly, her expression sharp. "What about as an independent then? I'm not rightly drawn ta the Light or Elune, but I can't be helpin' but think that yer here fer a reason."

She gestures to the stacks of paper. "While we do swear to the king, the most 'portant thing is helping people. We're all suited t'different kinds o'helping though. We could use someone like ya if ya'd be willing to work on a... contract basis?"

The woman leaned back, kicking her feet up non-chalantly in another chair. Still, her gaze didn't waver from the elf's. Aris reached into a pocket and tossed a bag across the table. "Of course, ya'd need a way to stay in contact if'n ya did. No pressure, o'course."

Rhoelyn
Acknowledging the tossed bag with a little nod, Rhoelyn doesn't yet reach for it, leaving it laying on the table. Her attention swings between Aris and Ardell.

"I would be pleased to help with your work as I can, as I have for Morthis in the past. It is a fundamental truth that where Nysse and Rhese go, I will never be far behind, though I am not... capable in the same ways they are."

She pauses a moment and glances away out the small, high porthole window over Ardell's shoulder. "In Pandaria, I was an ambassador to the Jade Forest until... until that went in an...  unexpected direction. I have also helped to host dignitaries and bring Morthis' contacts together socially. But fundamentally... I am a cleric... called to healing and helping those who need it most of all."

Araatris
Aris raises an eyebrow. "Ya seem ta be hard on yerself if ya don't mind be saying. So, ya can't walk up and punch sumun or claw'em or stab'em with an arrow. It's not like we'd ever ask ya ta do any of those things anymore than Ardell would ask me t'heal. He don't even like my bandagin'!"

She grins and drops her feet to the floor as she leans forward, her chest leaning indecently against the table. "Anyway... there's plenty of social stuff and healing t'be done. We'd not be sendin' ya out to fend fer yerself. Now... the most important question. How do ya feel about... Winter's Veil parties?"

Rhoelyn
Rhoelyn blinks slightly, her dusky lips quirking up as she looks back to Aris. "Winter's Veil? This is the dwarven holiday with the man who sits in his chair in his funny red hat?"

Araatris
Nodding enthusiastically, Aris exclaims, "Yes! That one. And gifts. Let's not forget the gifts. I'm hoping I can plan another holiday party this year, but Ardell hates that sort of stuff. All he does is work. I keep telling him that it's just as important to rest and loosen up a bit."

Greyseer
"I'm still in the room, Aris..."

Rhoelyn
The priestess giggles and presses her fingers over her lips for a moment before she says, "While you are at it, Aris, I think you should also work on his sleeping habits. Relaxation and rest are both important for our health and wellbeing. You may take my word for this." Her blue eyes narrow a bit with her smile as she looks at Ardell.

Araatris
Aris gives Ardell a smug grin. "O'course yer in the room. That's why I'm sayin' it. Someone else needs t'tell ya that ya can't always sleep at yer desk. Ya never list'n t'me! Come on, Ardell. It could be her first assignment t'care for everyone. We need t'member what and who we're fightin' fer."

Greyseer
The man sighs a heavy sigh and just waves his hand in Aris's general direction. The gesture seems to say "Sure, go ahead."

Rhoelyn
Rhoelyn blinks, mystified by the gesture. She looks uncertainly between the two. "You would like me to help you plan this party? For the odd little present-man holiday?"

Araatris
"Nah, fer us? Father Winter is just a nice excuse. Didn't he ever send ya presents?" Aris asks curiously.

Rhoelyn
Biting her lip a bit, Rhoe shakes her head. "Since my nephew joined the family, Rhese and Nysse tend to bring him a present around this time of year, but I've paid little attention to their new ritual. I suppose, in retrospect, the timing must be for that Winter Veil  celebration."

Araatris
"Then we can change it up. I think everyone should get a chance to have a Winter's Veil present. You can invite the entire family if you want." She stands and holds her hands out for Rhoelyn. "I want you to feel comfortable working with us. It's a great opportunity to meet people that you might work with."

"That is... if you're still agreeable to working with us like you did for Morthis." Aris glances down pointedly at the cloth bag on the table.

Rhoelyn
The priestess hesitates only a moment, glancing at Ardell before she takes Aris' hands in her own. She nods her head slightly, the halo floating behind it bobbing in the air. "I am agreeable, of course. I did offer..."

Rhoelyn grins softly. "I will be pleased to help with the celebration.  It is easily enough done, and I'm certain that one can find flowers and decorations in Boralus even during the war if one is creative."

"I do have one condition, however."

Araatris
Aris raises her eyebrows in pleased surprise. "You have a condition? Let's hear it then!"

Rhoelyn
Her smile widening, the night elf looks at Ardell and says, "King Grave is required to attend. His new... ah, what word did you use? ... contract healer prescribes a night of fun and relaxation for his continued health."

Greyseer
Ardell opens his mouth in an obvious protest, but his eyes catch Aris's, and he promptly shuts it.

"I would be... happy to," he says, not a little uncertainly.

Araatris
Aris cheers. "Woo! You can really relax this year. We'll even set up a duty rotation so that everyone has time to enjoy the party." She looks at Rhoelyn. "Thank you, Rhoelyn!"

Rhoelyn
The priestess giggles and reclaims her hands, folding them back together across her stomach.  "Well, you are welcome, Aris. But I cannot claim to have done it to further your case."

She once again addresses Ardell. "One doesn't need healing magic to see how tired you are. You really should have a regular schedule of rest. And not merely with your head upon your desk, as she said. You will be clearer and sharper for it."

Greyseer
The man nods wearily and in acquiescence. "Very well. I just need to finish up here, then I'll head to my quarters."

Araatris
The Gilnean woman picked up the small bag from the table and handed it to Rhoelyn. "Here. Ya'll need this ta stay in contact. Do ya need anythin' else? I can make sure he heads off as he's suppose ta."

Rhoelyn
Rhoelyn nods and accepts the bag, tucking it between her hands as she puts them back in their favorite place in front of her belt.

"I shall leave enforcement to you, Aris Watchdog," she says with a little grin. "My role is merely to advise. And I suppose to pick up the pieces when my patients dare to disobey." The priestess isn't able to turn much of a stern look on Ardell as it's softened by the teasing glint in her egg-shell blue eyes.

She bows her head, offering the pair of them a little curtsey. "I will occupy no more of your time. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve even without the name and the oath to go along with it."

Greyseer
Ardell stands and gives a simple bow, something more casual than his usual crisp salute.

"Thank you for coming to see me in person, priestess. And thank you for your...erm... concern."

Rhoelyn
Again, the priestess gives a little nod of her head, a polite acknowledgement, her lips pulling up in a smile that's quiet and friendly.

Araatris
Aris gestures for Rhoelyn to follow her. "I'll just walk ya ta the door." She turns and heads towards the stairs, her gaze briefly flickering towards Ardell.

Rhoelyn
"Of course." The pouch with the new whisperstone clutched in her hands, the healer follows in Aris' wake, her slippers as silent on the wooden floors as in the shadow-deep forests of home.

Araatris
Aris pauses on the lower level and raises a hand for Rhoelyn to stop. Her smile fades to a more serious expression, showing exhaustion and worry lines that were hidden before. Her voice is hushed and subdued and she glances at the stairs nervously. "Rhoelyn, things are... complicated right now. There's a lot of mystery and too much death and war. It's easy t'let it consume us. Easier fer some than others."

She hesitates only a second before continuing speaking, "Thank you fer giving yer advice t'Ardell. I'm not always taken the most seriously even though I'm the security consultant... I've only brought that on myself." Her small smile is a bit rueful. "But I'm trying to be on the straight and up nowadays. Anyway, I just wanted ta say... I appreciate it."(edited)

Rhoelyn
The priestess halts with her, answering Aris' sober seriousness with her own. She reaches out and rests a gentle hand against the human's upper arm. "It is a difficult thing to watch someone you care for hurt themselves, even in these small ways. I understand, Aris, your frustration and your worry."

Rhoelyn smiles weakly, a bit sadly, an attempt at a reassuring expression. "These are hard times. Too hard for anyone to bear alone. So we must all bear them together, with the strength of a woven rope instead of the weakness of a single fiber."

She pauses to glance back up the stairs. "I know his type. He is lucky to have someone like you to remind him that he does not stand alone at the head of an army, but enveloped at the center of the weave."

Her warm gaze returns to the young woman, and her smile gains a bit of power. "I will do what little I can. For the both of you."(edited)

Araatris
"Thank ya." She pulls a flask off her side and takes a long drink from it. "We can certainly use it. Here. I'll walk ya the rest of the way."

Rhoelyn
With a nod, the night elf reclaims her hand, but as she follows Aris across the room, she softly admonishes. "I trust you'll be certain to rest when he does. As I said... it is a hard time for all of us."

Araatris
Aris smirks and recovers the swagger to her step as they pass by the guard. "Who am I to disagree? I'll pass on the tavern tonight and head straight to rest. Cross my heart."

The human puts the flask away as she gestures as x-shape over her heart with the other hand. "What about you? Are you going to rest soon as well?"

Rhoelyn
Rhoelyn glances up at the pinkening evening sky, shaking her head. There's a flicker of something mournful in her expression, but it clears as she turns her attention back to Aris. "No, that isn't likely. Sarren will need a break from the children, so I shall spend the rest of the evening on their baths and bed times. Since we came to Boralus, we've found it necessary to adopt the human habit of sleeping during the night. This city ... ah... bustles too well to sleep during the day."

She smiles at Aris, but the expression doesn't quite reach her eyes.

Araatris
The roguish woman tilted her head. "I'm surprised you're in the middle of town myself. I can sleep through what I need. Though... I'd be happier on a boat."

Gesturing toward the outside of town, she earnestly asks, "Why didn't you choose a house on the outskirts?"

Rhoelyn
"Safety," comes the quiet response, and Rhoelyn looks down at the pouch in her hands. "If... i-if the city is attacked, the outskirts will be hit hardest."

Araatris
"Ah." Aris expression turns knowing. "You never quite get used to it. I... was in Gilneas when the Forsaken attacked. I tried to escape and ended up in one of their mines. Still... at least my home is still standing."

She leans toward Rhoelyn, resting a hand on her shoulder. "I'm really sorry for what happened to ya. No one should hafta go through that. Call me anytime... even if ya just wana talk."

Rhoelyn
Rhoe nods slightly and looks over at the human, lifting a hand to rest it atop Aris'. "Thank you. I know you understand in a way that few do, and I am equally sorry for what you've endured. ... I merely..." She takes a deep, shaky breath and looks out along the street. "I merely want to keep the children happy and safe. That means putting the past behind us and living in their now. For them. And for their future."

The priestess makes a concerted effort to smile, dropping her hand. "Ana'duna falah dor, Aris. We will find our balance once more."

Araatris
She nods. "Ain't never having any o' my own, but I understand the sentiment. Wouldn't mind meetin'em sumtime. Jus' dun ask me to change a diaper. I'm fairly certain ya'd be disappointed." The young woman tries to lift the mood.

"Ya go on and enjoy those kiddos. They're the whole reason we're fightin'. Here's t'hoping they never even have to know that this wusn't just a long visit in a different place." Aris pats Rhoelyn's shoulder and drops her hand.

She turns and glances over her shoulder. "And thanks about the balance thing. Not should if I ever had any, but maybe it's worth a shot. But for now, have a good evening." The woman waves and heads back up the steps of the hall.

Rhoelyn
Rhoelyn bows politely to her retreating back, a small smile curving her lips at the young woman's kindness. When she turns to continue through the square toward the main road, it is with a slightly lighter step than she had a moment ago. Though she still doesn't sing under her breath on the long walk home.