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Post by Kait on Feb 18, 2004 22:26:56 GMT -5
*Naurwen grinned at Hart, bowing her head in return.* "The pleasure's all mine, mellon nin." *She glanced at Artos with a slight smirk.* "Keep him around for a while, hm? I'm sure he'll be good for quite a few laughs... and both of us could use some." *Knowing that Artos now had someone to keep an eye on him, Naurwen decided that she would leave the two of them alone to talk for a while.* "I'm going to go hunt for a short while. You two will be hungry before long and there's nothing left." *She grabbed her bow and quiver before heading off.*
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Post by Ze on Feb 18, 2004 22:40:00 GMT -5
Artos watched Naurwen as she left, then turning back to Hart, let out a sigh. "No, Hart, nobody survived. The only ppl from that village who now live, are you and I, and that's only because you were gone, and I ran." he said, staring down at the hilt of his sword, turning it slowly. Artos slowly sat down on the ground. "I failed to protect Camille and everybody else in the village," he seemed to be talking to himself now, almost forgetting that Hart was there,"and I should have died with them, instead of running and abandoning the town...." he continued to stare at what was left of his sword. Muttering to himself, he glared at the sword handle, "I will get my revenge, the orcs will pay..."
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Post by Ven on Feb 19, 2004 21:20:01 GMT -5
Hart looked down at Artos, an bewildered look painted plainly across his face.
'Well, you do know, Artos, that it is not your duty to protect everyone from everything..... right? You did what you could, and that, my friend, is what counts. At least that's always been my veiw on things,' he shrugged and looked around, wondering what in the world could make Artos feel so guilty. He hadn't even really loved Camille! But, then again, women were never particularly interested in Hart, so he couldn't say he knew what it was like to really love someone, let alone be responsible for thei protection.
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Post by Ze on Feb 19, 2004 21:27:47 GMT -5
"Hart.." he started, " it WASN'T enough, I should have been able to. I promised on the day that I said 'I do', I made a vow to protect Camille with my life, and I failed. I should have died in her place, and she should be alive now." Artos stood and paced a bit around the fire. "and she trusted me with that, I've lost my wife and only family, all because I failed to protect her properly."
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Post by Ven on Feb 19, 2004 21:40:02 GMT -5
Hart plopped down on the grass next to a large tree and watched Artos pace anxiously around the fire. He ran a hand through his dark hair, completely and utterly at a loos as to what he should do. He knew that Artos shouldn't be the one dead just because he couldn't rpotect his family. Things happened, and wanting to kill yourself over them was certainly no way to deal with them, in fact, it was the stupidest way to deal with problems that Hart had ever thought of.
'Things happen for a reason, though, Artos. And throwing your life away because of your problems is no way to deal with them, in fact it just makes things ten times worse. Sure, not for you, maybe but for the people who have to watch you become little more than a shadow of what you used to be,' Hart stopped abruptly. He knew what he was trying to explain, but somehow couldn't. He had never been one to rush to comfort people, and was used to just laughing it off. This, however, was different. Frowning, Hart picked u a random stick and fiddled with it, trying to put his thoughts into words.
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Post by Ze on Feb 19, 2004 21:49:48 GMT -5
*Things happen for a reason* Those words echoed through his mind. Artos stopped pacing and faced Hart. "what reason could there be for killing my family and destroying everything I've ever worked for? Are the gods trying to punish me or something? I've been a good man, loyal, faithful, kind, what reason could there be for me to have to lose everything, or to have had to watch everyone in the town slaughtered and do nothing?! What reason was there for that...?" Artos was feeling not just angered, but depressed, confused, and nearly broken, he had once been proud, happy, and thought he had a pretty good grip on reality, but in a short span of time, it had all come crumbling down. He knew that he couldn't handle any more surprises like the kind he had a few days ago, knew that anything like that again would tear down all his defenses, and hit him even harder.
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Post by Ven on Feb 19, 2004 22:03:33 GMT -5
Hart winced, and lowered his eyes when Artos turned to look at him. Of course, as he suspected, he had just made things worse. Hart knew there was no way to convince Artos that he hadn't done anything to bring the death of his family, nor did he deserve to be punished for it. He knew the guilt Artos was feeling, but he also knew what a waste it would be to let it consume him. Sighing, he got to his feet, tossing the stick aside.
'No one can know the reasons for some things, but they're there,' he wanted to add trust me, but knew that it was feasible that Artos would never trust another soul in his life.
'Things always have to get worse before they can get better,' Hart said quietly.
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Post by Ze on Feb 19, 2004 22:10:14 GMT -5
Artos was silent. *Things will have to get a h**l of a lot better with how bad things were* he thought. Artos sighed and turned to stare at the fire. He didn't feel like talking anymore, this subject just seemed to make him feel even worse (if that were possible at this point) every time. Artos held his sword hilt and cross guard up and looked at it in the flickering light. *why did this have to happen to me?* he continued thinking.
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Post by Kait on Feb 19, 2004 22:35:44 GMT -5
*Naurwen headed back toward the camp, two freshly killed rabbits dangling from her hand. As she approached, she could hear the raised voice... Worried, her pace quickened a great deal. When the two men came into view, she realized that it was Artos who was being so passionate, she approached rather slowly, listening. Her blue eyes softened considerably as the conversation ended. She entered the camp dropping her kill by the fire. She remained silent as she grabbed a knife from her bags. Without looking at him, she spoke to Artos.* "I want you to get back to resting. Enough talk for a while."
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Post by Ven on Feb 19, 2004 22:46:38 GMT -5
Hart jerked his head up at the soft approach of footsteps; Naurwen had come back, he saw. He cast an apologetic gaze in her direction, knowing she had heard some of what passed bewtween him and Artos by the way she had told him to rest.
Sighing, he stepped lightly over to where Naurwen had begun claening one of the two rabbit she had brought back.
'That is no work for a lady,' Hart grinned, 'may I be of assistance?'
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Post by Ze on Feb 19, 2004 22:50:19 GMT -5
Artos stared as Hart walked over to Naurwen, decided to atleast lie down, and walked over to the otehr side of teh fire, opposite of Naurwen and Hart, and layed down with his back to them and the fire. Closing his eyes, he listened to the crackling of the fire, too awake to sleep, he laid there, just listening.
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Post by Kait on Feb 19, 2004 23:05:17 GMT -5
"That is no work for a lady. May I be of assistance?"
*Naurwen managed a smile, glancing at Hart.* "Ladies have been working like this to take care of you males since the beginning of this world... Still... I'd be grateful for any help right about now." *She lowered her gaze again before casting a worried look in Artos' direction. However, she knew there was nothing she or Hart could do for him right now. She was rather glad to have Hart there though... She wasn't sure she could handle everything on her own anymore.*
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Post by Ven on Feb 20, 2004 20:06:37 GMT -5
Hart shook his head, not able to keep himself from laughing at Naurwen's words.
'Of course, my lady. Behind every great man, there is an even greater woman,' he knelt beside her, and pulled out a knife, taking one of the rabbit and going to work. Hart glanced sideways at Naurwen; she looked troubled, or, more accurate, perhaps, like she was deep in thought.
'So... how did you and Artos meet?' he asked, just trying to make conversation. Though silence wasn't all bad, especially when it was a companionable sort of silence.
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Post by Ze on Feb 20, 2004 20:12:40 GMT -5
Artos listened to their conversation, with a dull interest. His ind spun with thoughts, and unanswered questions, all of them beginning with 'why'. He heard Hart talking to Naurwen, same old Hart it seemed, alwyas lightening the mood. But he didn't really care, as long as they thought he was asleep, he would be undisturbed AND get time to himself to think.
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Post by Kait on Feb 20, 2004 20:15:22 GMT -5
"So... how did you and Artos meet?"
*Naurwen smiled, keeping her eyes on the task at hand while she spoke.* "I've been travelling for a few months now so I was on my way home... to Rivendell. I camped out here for the night. When I woke in the morning, I was eating breakfast and preparing to leave until I heard the approaching footsteps. When I saw Artos coming down the road, I noticed that he was wounded and ran to help him, bringing him back to the camp. We've been here ever since."
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