From: aerwen	Date: 10/09/2007 22:43:40

*sits outside on the curb, with her rolly-suitcase parked next to her and a rag that's one step up from a tabloid on her lap*

*presses the button on her phone after hearing for the 57th time in a row that the networks are busy*

:(

*sees you staring and frowning at one of the tv screens in the lobby*

*from her seat on the concrete* ...Are you stranded too?

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/09/2007 22:47:01

*while pulling his attention away from the screens* Sure, yeah...

you stranded too?

*blinks, actually paying attention to you* Sorry? Oh. Not really, just... *wonders if maybe he shouldn't advertise the fact that he has transportation out of here*

*frowns* You know what's going on?

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/09/2007 22:51:09

*gets a proper look at your looks as you turn around*

*...* *what was she saying?*

*looks down at the newspaper on her lap, which must a Delving publication, or else they wouldn't be saying:* Himlad's attacked Delving, and they're fighting back? I don't know. Or Lord Thingol attacked and Findekáno's fighting back? That has to be it, I mean he would have said something about making war, he doesn't like to anyhow... *hands you the paper*

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/09/2007 22:57:24

*stares at you for a moment* What the...? What?

*takes the paper and looks at the headline*

*flips inside for the feature articles and the full photo spread* *comes over a little panicky as he scans the text*

Chief of Marchwardens declares state of emergency as evacuation operations move ahead at full speed. Recovery and treatment of casualties diverted to safe areas.

*relaxes more*

Shit.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/09/2007 23:02:06

*watches your expression as you read, quietly fascinated distracted*

*a little glumly* They've closed all the borders, and I don't even know what Himlad's like. The paper said they were all okay but do you think it's bad? It's probably bad?

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/09/2007 23:06:31

*gives you back the paper*

*only half-registers your response as he's internalizing most of his reactions at the moment*

do you think it's bad?

*wonders why you think he'd know?* :?

Hard to say. People come out fighting, situations like these. You'd rather over-react than let something slip by, y'know? *is well versed in Noldorin paranoia by now*

*thinks you look fairly settled on your little concrete perch* Did you leave someone behind?

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/09/2007 23:11:33

*absently toys with the strap on one of her shoes*

Kind of? No. Well, yes, but I was trying to get there. See my sons and daughters and husband I suppose he's still my husband did we get a divorce or does rehousing solve that kind of thing I guess we never figured that part out, except they're all up in the palace.

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 09:05:37

*growing a bit more uncomfortable with these crowds*

up in the palace

*frowns at you* *wonders if you mean the one that just went boom*

You must be worried about them.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 09:13:11

worried about them

*in a little voice* Yeah.

*gets to her feet* They said Hithlum was still standing and everything, but... *re-orients* No, no, I'm sure 'káno has it under control, he's much better at diplomacy than his father ever was, but Turgie's happier all tucked away and if this gets all the way to Gondolin my goodness.

*was never really all that good with conflicts*

*wells up* ;_;

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 09:24:10

*wells up*

o.o Oh, um... Uh. *awkwardly reaches into his pockets looking for a tissue or a hanky for you* *comes up with a only slightly greasy cloth*

*offers it to you*

*after you've had a minute to calm down* So you're up on that side of things, huh.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 09:29:35

*takes it with some embarassment and blows her nose* Thanks. Sorry.

*imagines you as an interesting rugged sort of gentleman* His expression was a mask, carefully concealing the trauma of the events that had led him down this road, but as he stood before her, offering the token, the sun caught a glimmer in his eyes that made her think of---

that side of things

Yeah, that's my family, anyway. *pause* Should I maybe not be saying that out loud here? :s

*gives you her hand politely, crooking a knee in a half-attempted curtsey* My name's Anairë.

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 09:34:21

*shrugs easily* Don't mention it.

*shakes your hand* Celebrimbor. *has worked out a few things in his head by this point hasn't had ample time to think on his family tree, ohhh no* You know, I think we're related?

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 09:44:16

*folds up the hanky* *just knows you're enough of a gentleman not to ask for it back, that's how it's done and all* :]

related

Maybe, I suppose I never did ask for the divorce or anythin-- *reaches back for some sparkles of memory* Oh. Oh right, right. One of Kurufinwë's...? No but you're the grandson.

*naïvely* You weren't in Delving, were you? I thought that was oh so dangerous for the Fëanorians. The tyrant's laws were no match for the ruffian's bold determination, borders were no obstacle as he moved bravely in search of the one true--

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:01:26

oh so dangerous for the Fëanorians

*tries not to take that too personally* *has to get used to people mis-interpreting his family ties sooner or later* *preferably later*

*almost casually (hah)* Yeah, it is? Thingol sort of liked the way I disowned them.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 10:08:50

disowned them

*open mouth, insert foot* Oh, gosh. *winces sympathetically* Sorry.

:\ :/ :s

*offers something of her own experiences to reciprocate for the faux-pas* I was in Vinyamar for the summer, the beach is inspiring really nice. But I was on my way up to pacify my husband? see my kids when this happened so. :(

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:11:15

Sorry.

Yeah. Me too. ;)

I was just on a road trip, pulled over to see what was going on, but I suppose...

*looks at you again, thinking* Do you want a ride? I'm going your way, I think.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 10:15:45

*looks at you starry-eyed hopefully* What, really? I mean, wow. Aren't the roads dangerous?

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:22:20

Sure. If you want to, I could take you if you want. I'm just not so good with the standing still. :\ *was all set for a road trip anyway*

*stands there and thinks this through* We're outside the main checkpoints. I should have enough gas to get at least to the mountains. I know the back ways pretty good.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 10:28:30

*thinks about the monumentally terrifying and very likely thrilling prospect of embarking on a cross-country drive through neutral-zone territory into the thick of the battle where her family waits for her safe arrival and they escape the net of Sindarin forces closing in the borders and narrowly miss the---*

*nods* Let's go. :)

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:31:28

*nods back*

*sees you starting to fold up your suitcase handle and moves to take it for you* It's probably safer for you to be on Noldorin lines.

My truck's at the end of the lot here. *puts his hand behind your shoulder* *moves quickly*

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 10:35:19

*is undeniably exhilarated*

*quickly totters along in her heels*

Maybe I can help you when we get there? *of course they'll get there, why wouldn't they?* 'káno has connections...

*climbs up into the passenger side while you walk around to the driver's*

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:38:29

*shuts your door* *doesn't waste anytime starting the engine*

*can't imagine what help you imagine he needs?*

*puts his arm over the back of the seat as he reverses out of the lot* I don't know. *thinks about Haleth* How excited would he be to send a message to Delving?

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 10:42:53

message to Delving

Oh. *gently* Did you leave someone behind? Is she pretty I bet she's pretty.

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:44:42

*hesitantly* Not exactly. Kind of.

*looks at the steering wheel, looks at you* She'd I want to know she's I'm okay, though.

	From: aerwen	Date: 10/10/2007 10:49:40

*melts* ♥

Aw. Well maybe we can try anyway. It's always worth a try.

*gives you a small pleasant smile*

*looks in front of her and sees the glove box*

*opens it up and takes out the maps that are in it (and a couple packets of beef jerky?)* I'll do maps. I'm a good navigator. :]

	From: handofsilver	Date: 10/10/2007 10:52:26

*had no intention of looking at maps, but alright*

Deal.

*turns off the main road and heads north*