gondolindrim | oh man

Theoden: *grinning at Boromir at his desk* guess what! Today I get to be your guard escort for a trip outside.

Boromir: *looks up, surprised* Outside? Are you sure it's okay? *doesn't want to break any rules*

Theoden: yep! I got approved and I asked if it was okay to go on a *short* patrol with a guard of my choice. You're my choice.

Boromir: *pleased* Excellent! Where are we going? *assembles his stuff*

Theoden: we can't go further than the lake border, but I thought it'd be nice to see it at ground level. There's a tower I saw in the lake that I wanna see closer.

Boromir: That sounds nice. *dumps some stuff into his pack* And my horse could use the exercise. *excited*

Theoden: I get to introduce you to mine! It's not a Mearas so it's not like, actually smart, but I like her.

Boromir: My mare, Aenil, will be pleased to go outside the walls. And she's quite smart. *is proud of her*

Theoden: you ever met a Mearas? *walks along beside, eating an apple*

Boromir: Once, a long time ago. Are there any here?

Theoden: not yet... but as the resident Rohirric royalty, I've got first dibs for befriending.

Boromir: *grins* Can't they be friends with more than one man? *saddles up Aenil and gives her nose a pet*

Theoden: not really. They don't like humans much. *brings out his horse, which he's re-nicknamed Starfoot since he couldn't pronounce the Quenya one it had*

Boromir: I don't think I want to be friends with something that inherently dislikes me. *kisses Aenil's nose and swings up into the saddle*

Theoden: no, it's amazing. They'll live as long as you and they're as smart as a human. Snowmane was like my best friend, besides Elfhild.

Boromir: Still, though...*shrugs and nudges Aenil out into the road*

Theoden: Gondorians *shakes his head and gets them through the gate and onto the very long bridge*

Boromir: *rolls his eyes and grins* It's a good thing I like you or I'd be offended.

Theoden: I'm glad too. *grins back, then watches the water as they cross the bridge*

Boromir: This is lovely. It's a shame we aren't free to travel outside the walls more often.

Theoden: speaking of that. *points up to a giant eagle in the air* if we go past where we're supposed to, that's going to get us.

Boromir: *shades his eyes and looks up, impressed* Hmm. I'd rather not be the special guest at his dinner.

Theoden: at least we'd die spectacularly. *finally off the long bridge and starts on the path around the lake* if you see a tentacle, scream and run. I'll follow

Boromir: A tentacle? *shakes his head and grins* I'm never one to scream or run, but I guarantee you that if I see one...you know. Do are tentacles good roasted? *Pats his sword*

Theoden: don't know. I don't eat much seafood. *enjoying not having walls around him and looks out to the fields, trusting his horse not to fall in the lake*

Boromir: Well, if one snakes out of the lake toward us, we'll find out. Just how far on the other side of the lake can we go?

Theoden: we should be there soon... it's a shorter distance from inside the lake. *points* ah! There it is!

Boromir: Ohhh, wow. Do you know anything about its history? *eager to explore*

Theoden: *hops off Starfoot and stands at the edge of the lake, looking out at the tower* None. I mean, I didn't research or anything. It's dangerous for me to go to the House of History, I keep coming out with more books. But I just wanted to get another look at it.

White Face: *appears in the window of the tower, then vanishes*

Boromir: Maybe I should go there and do some research. *slides off of Aenil and stands next to Theo* It's lovely...*Sees a mysterious white face in the window and points, alarmed* What was that in the window just now?

Theoden: ...I hope it was someone who lives in there. *heebies*

Boromir: But it's a hovel! Who would want to live there? I'd rather stay outside in a tent than share a house with rats and roaches.

Theoden: well, there's one way to find out. I've got to come back with a boat.

Boromir: *cups his hands and calls out* Whoever is in the tower, come forth! *grins at Theo* Worth a try.

Tower: *low moan*

Boromir: *giant step backward*
Aenil: *snorts and paws the ground, ready to flee*

Theoden: timetogo

Boromir: *takes Aenil's reins and leads her back toward the main road* So, where to now? Since we don't have a boat.

Theoden: *keep glancing back at the tower* I don't know. Safety?

Boromir: *grins* Chicken. Come on. Let's go back to that hilltop. We can spy on the tower from a safe distance.

Theoden: not too far. Eagles. *follows*

Boromir: *walks up to hilltop and stops* What do you think that thing was anyway? A lost Feanorian?

Theoden: no, it didn't look like it wanted to murder me

Boromir: a ghost, then?

Theoden: *hesitates* well, ghosts ARE real...

Boromir: So they say, but I have never seen one. Have you?

Theoden: sure. My ancestor's a murderous ghost.

Boromir: *eyebrow up* Who?

Theoden: My couple-greats uncle Helm. Helm Hammerhand. He froze to death on a hill after killing a bunch of Dunlendings with his bare hands and now he scares people to death.

Boromir: Oh. That sounds terrifying, actually. I don't think we have any ghosts in the family...or not any that I'm aware of.

Theoden: it is pretty scary *looks out to the fields again* My cousins loved telling me all about it when I was small. And of course there's barrow wights, that hang around graves.

Boromir: *frowns* Given our location, maybe we should change the topic.

Theoden: right, right. I bet Fingon could get me a boat.

Boromir: Really? Then we could go over and see exactly what or who it is. I wonder what the proper defense against ghosts might be? I bet Echthelion would know.

Theoden: I don't know. I only ever got told how they killed you

Boromir: How do they kill you? *curious*

Theoden: Hammerhand scares you to death, and wights murder you

Boromir: Right. *has second thoughts about getting a boat*

Theoden: really, no ghosts in Gondor? In that huge stone city?

Boromir: *folds his arms over his chest* None that I saw, and if there is no proof, then I don't believe it.

Theoden: aren't ringwraiths ghosts?

Boromir: No, they are something altogether different, neither alive nor dead.

Theoden: sounds like a ghost to ME.

Boromir: *shrugs* So, what now?

Theoden: we go back, I ask my ex to help us a get a boat

Boromir: *swings up into Aenil's saddle* Your ex? *grins* I'm sure he enjoys being called that.

Theoden: Fingon doesn't seem to mind

Boromir: If you say so. Let's head home. I'm hungry. Want to get dinner?

Theoden: sure. There's a takeout place right near the stables on our way home.

Boromir: Perfect.

Welp. That was a ghost.