From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 14:17:52

*has just finished packing her bags when she's told Túrin has a guest*

*wanders downstairs*

Ah, Cúthalion. *smiles* It's a pleasure to see you. How is your injury?

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 14:20:46

Hello, my lady! *brightly* Oh, it's not too bad. It aches a bit but I'm working on moving it. I'll be back to the bow in no time, I hope.

*shifts slightly on her feet* Uhm. I heard that Túrin was here? I was hoping to see him if he is?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 14:24:42

That's good to hear. I know you're missed on the guard.

*inclines her head* I'm afraid Túrin is feeling unwell at the moment. I don't know if he's up for visitors.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 14:28:14

Oh. *concerned* Unwell? It's not the flu, is it? Do you remember when he had the flu when he was a kid before? I didn't know that much snot could come out of one child. Oh, god, sorry for being so crude about it.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 14:31:24

*can't help but chuckle* Oh yes, I remember. That was a crash course in mortal illness if ever I saw one. It certainly came in handy the first time Lúthien had the flu here.

It's not the flu, though, no. He's... just... *stops and thinks* *has an idea* Beleg, you and Túrin are very good friends, correct?

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 14:34:32

Oh, definitely! Same when Mablung had flu first time only, being a guy, he's all about the self-pity, you know?

*nods* Well, I think we are? Only he doesn't remember as much as I do. I'd still say he's my best friend though.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 14:39:20

*raises an eyebrow* Indeed men can be such babies sometimes.

*puts a hand gently on your back* Very good. Now, I know you were given time off to recover, but I think I have a little project for you. Come along.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 14:42:05

A project? *is interested* It has been a little boring, you know. Not doing much. There's only so much window-shopping a girl can do.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 14:45:45

Yes, yes, a project. *guides you down towards the dungeon basement* See, Túrin has been feeling under the weather, like I said, and I have to leave today to join my family in Elgarast, so I can't look after him as I would like. You would be perfect for it. He was even mentioning you earlier.

*leads you to his cell* It should only take a few days.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 14:58:10

*looks around* My lady? Are we in the dungeons?

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 15:04:54

*leads you away from the guards' hearing*

What I am about to say cannot leave this room. I assume I can trust you with my confidences?

Túrin is experiencing withdrawl from... drugs. He's quite strong these days, stronger than you or I or any of those guards all put together, so he's locked himself in here while he recovers. You should not let him out until he is completely better. If he becomes terribly delusional he may try to trick you into letting him out, but you mustn't. Just stay with him, encourage him to eat, watch that he doesn't become too ill, and keep him company. Perhaps you can help him more than I.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 15:14:01

Drugs? Where is that boy? Honestly, drugs?!

*pauses* How is he stronger? I mean, I know he's a big guy but still--

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 15:18:26

*wonders how to put this delicately*

*goes for blunt instead* Túrin is a Vala now. He... it's difficult to explain, but he took part in the End of Arda and the Destruction of Melkor. That takes extraordinary strength, which he possessed at that time and still possesses now.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 15:22:05

*mouth drops open*

Little Túrin's a Vala now? A Vala? Eru, there'll be no living with him now.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 15:24:37

*laughs* Well, he's just coming to grips with it himself, and he hasn't even begun to grasp the full extent of his powers, but, yes.

*walks over to Túrin's cell, where he is mercifully passed out* Here he is, in all his glory. Someone should be bringing something for him to eat soon. Try to get him to have something, but don't push him.

*glances at her watch* I really must run if I want to reach the sea before midnight. Are you up for this?

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 15:26:42

*sighs heavily* As always, my Lady. My duty is to Doriath and to the great oaf in the cell. In that order.

*inclines her head* I hope you enjoy your stay by the sea.

	From: queenmelly	Date: 02/13/2007 15:29:28

*smiles* I will wish you luck, then.

Thank you. *takes her leave* *can practically smell freedom*

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 15:52:32

*turns towards the cell and looks at Túrin*

*turns around and slides down to sit with her back to the bars*

*murmurs* Rise and shine, honey. It's lunchtime.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 15:56:40

*stirs at the sound of your voice* *groggily* Fin?

*stretches and opens his eyes, his back protesting his...interesting choice of bed*

*eyes you somewhat blankly* Oh. It's you.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 15:58:28

*bows her head and closes her eyes, feeling bitterly resigned to the fact that she's not your best friend anymore*

If--if you want Finduilas, I can get her for you.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 16:04:46

*puzzled* No. I don't want Finduilas. *manages to get up with some difficulty*

*splashes his face with some water from a basin that someone snuck in while he was sleeping* *tries to ignore how fucking freezing it feels*

The fuck are you doing here?

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 16:08:27

*still with her back to you* Oh, I came by to see you and Melian explained everything about the drugs and being a Vala and all of that and she asked me to come and keep you company. She totally didn't need to ask though. It'll be just like old times. Except for the bars between us. That kind of sucks. You know, did you ever hear that saying? 'A good friend will bail you out of jail but a best friend will be sitting next to you in jail saying, "That was fucking brilliant"'? It's a bit like that, I guess. Only I didn't do any drugs.

*--*

I'm rambling, aren't I?

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 16:13:46

*feels some awkward mixture of shame and anger but doesn't really have anything to say about it*

I'm rambling, aren't I?

*gruffly* Pretty much.

*notices a pile of clean clothes that someone stuck through the bars of the cell*

*swaps his sweat-drenched shirt for the clean one and vaguely wonders when his next convulsive fit will come on*

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 16:26:08

*sits in awkwardawkward silence for a few moments* *finally turns to look at you properly*

*for absolutely no reason, starts to cry* Túrin. I didn't know things were that bad for you. Why didn't I know? I should have known. I should have seen it.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 16:31:43

*sits on the floor with his back against the wall, one knee pulled up* *hugs himself against the chill*

*looks away from you, trying to keep his voice level* I killed you and then I shot you. It's not shocking you'd stay away. *forcibly quashes the memories, visualizing locking them into secure little compartments*

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 16:35:47

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 16:42:14

*snapping* OF COURSE I KNOW YOU I KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU BUT YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY THING I KNOW AND... *weakly* ...Eru. All I ever dream about is lightning, Beleg. There was lightning.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 16:46:36

*gropes blindly between the bars for your hand*

I used to dream about it, you know. Without knowing what I was dreaming about.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 16:57:24

*can't even look in your direction*

*babbling incoherently* Every day I asked the same question...how much longer...how much more time would it have taken to recognize you...and then in twenty-three days I had it down...four seconds...and then I was somewhere else and I led an army for four seconds but you weren't there and then I was gone again for four seconds and you weren't in Dor-lómion and then I was somewhere else and I ran a village for four seconds but you weren't there and then I was married for four seconds and you weren't there. *absently wipes away tears*

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:00:27

*whispers* Túrin, Túrin, I'm here now, aren't I? I'm here and I'm fine and I'm whole and you're here too and if you're not whole yet, you will be. I promise you will be.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 17:05:08

*pulls his other knee up and hides his head in his arms*

*very quietly* I'm old enough to be a marchwarden, Father. I don't recall the Pass of Anach. Look for me on Amon Rûdh.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:10:15

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 17:13:56

*uses the bars of the cell to pull himself to his feet*

*panicking a little* I need to get out we'll be ambushed you don't understand I've studied all the maps will you please let me out of here??

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:17:52

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 17:21:52

*shouts in the direction of the stairs* Somebody let me out of here!

*slams his fists against the bars but doesn't seem to notice them actually give quite a bit*

*fights back a sudden wave of nausea*

*decides to try something else, already wearied from his brief exertion* *pathetically* Please? Just for a little while.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:25:15

*brokenly* NO, Túrin. You have to stay here. Just for a while. Just until you're better. *stands up and reaches through the bars to frame your face with her hands* Come on, sweetheart. Just for a while.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 17:29:51

*furiously* He can't keep me here! I'm not a criminal!

*reaches through and clutches at your shirt* *pulls you right up against the bars and closes his arms around you*

*deliriously* They can torture me but I'll never tell. I'll never tell them anything.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:35:19

No one's going to torture you, Túrin. I won't let them, OK? I just won't let anyone hurt you.

*tries not to whimper at the renewed pain in her shoulder* * awkwardly wraps her good arm around your neck and hides her face against your neck* Come on, honey. Be strong. You are strong. So strong that you're hurting me just a touch.

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 17:40:25

*lets go of you suddenly*

*stumbles over to his bed and sits down hard on it*

*shaking again* I think we'll camp here tonight. I can't walk any farther. *offers you a slightly unhinged smile*

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:43:31

*softly* I think that's an excellent idea, honey. You get some rest.

*really wishes there weren't bars between you and her* I'll stand guard OK?

	From: gorthol	Date: 02/13/2007 17:49:17

Aye. *lays back and closes his eyes* If it gets any colder, come and share my bedroll. No standing on ceremony out here.

*pulls his blanket tight* *without a trace of irony* Eat something. You look like you could use it.

	From: belthronding	Date: 02/13/2007 17:51:46

*whispers her thanks* *slides down and sits on the ground outside your cell* *draws up her knees and wraps her arms around them*

*broods*