Love and Trade

Brandt carried her back to the caravan and he had ordered an immediate halt for the day. Men began digging out places to put tents and his own tent shelter was being put up first. He put her on their pallet and piled warm furs and blankets over her while he went back out to help get the other tents and horse shelter set up. He made a small fire in their tent, they were designed for that with a small smoke hole in their center. While she was unconscious he checked her for frostbite and though two of her toes were on the fringe he thought that though she’d experience pain for a few days, they would be alright. To make her even warmer he climbed into bed with her and used his own body heat to warm her further. He loved this woman he thought as he watched her sleep.

Her skin was badly wind-burned and he was indeed surprised when he found the jewels, gold and an odd Green dagger that seemed harder than any steel he ever knew of. He’d have to ask her about those things but now he just brushed her hair back from her face and put warm compresses on her wind burned areas. She had said that she loved him. He was sure she had. The next day she would wake to an empty tent. A small fire burning in the center.

Laenaya's body ached, but it felt warm...very warm. She smelled smoke and began to wonder if she had just dreamt about the snow cat and Brandt and she was actually still in the cave. Slowly, her eyes fluttered open and to her relief she found herself in their tent. She almost began to cry at the mere sight of it. She discovered she was on their pallet and that Brandt had put every fur and blanket he could find on top of her. She looked around and didn't see him. She figured he was probably out with the others. Slowly, she got up and gingerly put her feet on the ground. Her toes hurt, but nothing had been lost. She was hungry...very hungry and thirsty. She put on her boots and cloak and slowly stepped outside. The sun was actually shining and it was no longer snowing. Feeling a little sick to her stomach she looked around for Brandt.

Brandt was adding wood to the fire in the horse shelter. It was difficult to train horses not to be afraid of fire but out here a horse could freeze if it stood still to long. His black was skittish around the fire but with the other horses there it stayed where it was staked. He exited out of the large shelter to see Laenaya in her coat. She wasn’t difficult to miss, everyone else had tasks to do and were busy going about them. When it was this cold, completing a task to get back inside required no chivvying to do them.

“Laenaya,” he barked, “What are you doing!?” He asked harshly, none too pleased she ventured outside the tent after nearly freezing to death. “Get back inside!” He demanded and followed her back into their tent. Once inside he moderated his tone as if it was all an act for the other’s benefit. “Are you...alright?” he asked taking off his hat and face covering. “If you’re hungry...I will get you something to eat and drink. Frostbite and hypothermia are serious injuries Laenaya. Give yourself some time for your body to heal from it or you won’t last 5 minutes in a saddle outside,” he explained softly. “I was...I was so worried, I thought I’d never see you again,” he said and just barely managed to keep the strain of it all out of his voice.

“We uh...we lost Neelin...I’m sorry,” he said apologetically. He remembered being harsh with her over that but she was new to all of this. They had to work as a group or they would lose more people. That blizzard was a bad one and everyone was well aware of the danger.

Laenaya heard Brandt before she spotted him. She flinched at the tone of his voice and looked over to see him walking quickly towards her. She immediately ducked back inside the tent as he commanded. Brandt didn’t often raise his voice to her, but when he did she nearly always submitted and did as he wanted without question. She looked over at him after he followed her in and almost immediately his expression softened, as did his tone of voice. Laenaya had learned quickly that in these clans women did not openly challenge their husband’s authority, especially among others. It was not only considered extremely disrespectful, but could not just tarnish a man’s reputation, but call into question his authority and standing. Laenaya was a strong woman, from a family of strong women and therefore did not always like being told what to do, but after openly challenging one of his comments during a meal in front of everyone she got quite the earful from him in private and then, after a lengthy discussion and love making session during which things got so intense and heated that they actually fell out of bed, they decided that she would try to hold her tongue against any dispute with him in public, but could challenge him in private.

She looked over at him when he asked if she was hungry or thirsty. She was and she nodded, but upon hearing that Neelin had not survived she felt tears come to her eyes. She looked down, feeling a tremendous amount of guilt.

“I’m sorry Brandt. I let you down. I’m so sorry. I never intended…” She stopped because she knew there were no excuses. She had been told to do something and had failed and someone had died because of it. It was a mistake she did not plan to make again. She looked up at him.

“I will accept whatever punishment you choose to give me.”

He shook his head and cupped her face in his hands. “What’s done is done Laenaya, that blizzard was something out of a nightmare, the man behind has just as much responsibility as the one in front. We lost Fullad as well and Orwen will lose toes on his right foot. No one is blaming anyone out of that and everyone is thankful that you returned to us...to me,” he said as his eyes searched into hers. He had so many questions, what she had said, about all the gold and jewels and also about the Snow Cat that was close enough to kill her. He had never seen anything like that in his life. Snow Cats killed men when they thought they could do it without taking wounds and even then they tried anyway. They were vicious animals and always hungry. Seeing her alive and her face, her eyes, he smiled at her.

“I will get you something to eat and drink my lady,” he said using her own Gondorian accent. “It is important that you rest and stay close to the fire. We will be leaving at first light tomorrow. We made contact with a Rohan patrol and they have given us permission to travel into their lands,” he said as he put his mask and hat back on. He did not tell them that she had been lost, they assumed she was with them. Now he wouldn’t have to say anything about that, she was with them.

He returned with a large plate of sausages, a fire baked potato, a large chunk of bread and a large piece of the apple tart his mother had made for him but he had been giving to her. In the waterskin was cold water and he told her to set it by the fire for a bit before drinking. He also told her to drink the whole thing. It was a common mistake for those who did not know to think that in the cold you needed less water and she had gone without for over two days. He kissed her as payment for his offering though gingerly, her lips were badly chapped.

“I’ll melt some wax for your lips after you eat,” he said as he squatted and removed his mask, hat and gloves and warmed himself at the small fire. For the first time since he met her her usual dainty, birdlike way of eating was not in it right then. She set to the food with a will and seeing her actually eat made him smile.

It saddened Laenaya greatly to learn that they had lost Fullad as well. She had heard about blizzards, but had never imagined it would be anything quite like that. She figured, though, if she could live through that, that she could live through anything. She didn’t know that Brandt had found what she had hidden in her pockets and said nothing about it yet. She was hungry, very hungry and all she could think about was eating. The moment he arrived back with the plate of food and waterskin she set to with a voracious will. She had never been so hungry in her life. She ate quickly and with large bites. She didn’t care how she looked. She felt like she hadn’t eaten in a week. She drank the water as well, all of it as Brandt told her.

When she finished, she sat back, glad to be warm and full. There was something different about her body that she couldn’t quite put her finger on though. She figured it was probably just exhaustion and the release of the tremendous amount of stress she had been under though. She knew that Brandt probably had questions, specifically about the Snow Cat. She was quiet a moment before speaking softly to him about it.

“I’m glad no one killed that Snow Cat,” she said. “It actually saved my life.” When he looked confused she continued on and told him about how she had found the cave and how after being asleep for a time she had awoken to find the Snow Cat there in the cave with her. She had been afraid at first, but soon realized she was able to communicate with it.

“It was the belt you gave me Brandt that allowed me to do that. I didn’t think that part of the story was true, but it is.”

She hadn’t noticed his wide eyed look of amazement or how long his mouth had been agape. Her story was amazing on every count and he asked his questions about all of it as they sat there like that for a while. In the late afternoon he had to go back out and check the men, the supplies and the horses. That night he would be on watch as it was his turn. Everyone seemed to be heartened by Laenaya’s return. That and anxious to get this thing done. He reassured them that the cat sighting was a fluke and not to worry. Silently to himself he did worry not completely convinced that her tale wasn’t some kind of fever dream. He had seen the cat though and the jewels. By right what she found was his but none of it save for the odd dagger was of any use to him though. If it did not help to keep him warm, protect him, heal his wounds or fill his belly he wasn’t sure it was of any use. Gold could buy some of those things though he knew.

This trade would not involve gold though, Rohan needed what they brought and they needed what Rohan had to offer. Their salted fish was a favorite in Rohan and it kept its freshness for months. After everyone seemed to be alright he went back into their tent.

After Brandt left, Laenaya lay back down on their pallet to rest some more. She wanted to go out and help, but she knew that she needed to rest. The last thing she wanted was for morning to come and for not to be ready to leave. She was anxious to get to Rohan. She wanted to see her uncle, aunt, and cousins, but she also wanted to get the trade negotiations done. She had never done something like this before and her uncle wasn’t exactly the type of man to just give in to her because she was family. She went over in her head everything again and again before slowly drifting off to sleep. When Brandt came in he would find her peacefully asleep on their pallet underneath a small pile of furs.

Brandt removed his clothes, stoked their fire then climbed into bed. Instinctively she turned on her side, facing away from him and he slid in behind her then wrapped her up into his arms. He whispered soothing and affectionate words to her in her ear and he saw the sides of her mouth turn up into a smile as he laid down and fell asleep. She would awake again to an empty tent though the sound of someone’s voice asking her if she would get dressed and make herself ready to leave did resound in her ears as she came out of sleep.

The camp was being broken down when she exited the tent. Two men nodded to her then entered to begin to pack up their things so they could break the tent down. Brandt was out scouting and her white stood near waiting for her to mount her. Brandt returned quickly and when everyone was re-mounted they headed south into Rohan. The wind was actually quiet as they rode, the front horses breaking up the snow with their hooves so that the carts and mules would have an easier time of it. Seeing her up and about made Brandt happy and he would keep a much closer eye on her he decided in the future.

For three more days they rode south and Brandt had been trying to have sex with Laenaya but she kept giving him the proverbial cold shoulder. He did not know why though her recent ordeal could have something to do with it he thought. It was odd though, usually it was her that initiated things but lately she acted worried or made some excuse why she didn’t want to even though she had said she loved him, didn’t she? He knew women could be strange at times but Laenaya was usually fairly sensible. It was going to be a cold winter he thought if that continued!

Finally around mid-day they arrived. Edoras laid up on a large hill before them and riders came out to greet them. A few recognized Laenaya and bowed to her as they escorted them in. Edoras though now covered in snow had not changed much since the last time she was here. Narisa now recently returned came running out of the large doors of the golden hall with her coat only half buttoned. She waved to them as they rode up to the stable hands that would take their horses. Once they had climbed the steps narisa flung herself into Laenaya’s arms, quite happy to see her. “I was hoping you would come!” She said as she whispered if she should hug Brandt to or not, now that he was family.

Laenaya didn’t awaken, but she sensed Brandt as he got into bed with her. As usual, she turned away from him, allowing him to move up close behind her and wrap his arms around her. They slept all like until morning. Laenaya awoke to find herself alone. The sounds outside told her that the camp was being dismantled. She rose and dressed and packed her bags before exiting the tent so that it could be taken down. After Brandt returned from scouting the group headed towards Rohan once more.

Over the next three days they traveled and thankfully there wasn’t another blizzard. It would snow lightly on occasion, but the wind remained calm. At night in their tent, Brandt tried to initiate sex with her, but because she wasn’t taking the tea she gently refused him, giving him the excuse that she was cold and tired. She knew that she wasn’t going to be able to keep this up much longer and hoped that the tea had been sent to Rohan, as she had requested her mother do.

As they reached Edoras Laenaya felt a sense of relief come over her. They had lost two men, but they had made it. She could only hope that the journey home would not be quite as dramatic. She had barely dismounted her horse when Narisa nearly attacked her. She smiled and hugged her cousin back, glad to see her again.

“Of course I was going to come,” she said with a smile. “I’m going to be the one doing the negotiating.”

She smiled and glanced at Brandt when Narisa asked quietly if she should hug him or not. He wasn’t exactly a big hugger, except when he came to her, but she nodded in response.

To his surprise the one called Narisa hugged him tightly. It embarrassed him at first but then, with a nod from Laenaya he squatted down to her level and whispered to her about the massive Snow Cat they had seen though no one was as close to it as Laenaya. Narisa gasped and turned to give Laenaya are surveying look. The King and Queen came soon after, Brandt bowing respectfully to them though it was not their way. Lindariel did nto stand on so much ceremony it seemed, she came and hugged Laenaya as well. She only nodded to him though. For which he was thankful.

“We are pleased you made it in one piece, we had a very nasty blizzard recently,” Eomer said plainly. “Please, come inside and rest yourselves, you men are all welcome...come,” he said then led them all inside. The great hall had a few people there. Most dressed as if they were part of their court. Suits, uniforms and dresses and even two younger children who chased one another past them.

Lindariel talked softly to Laenaya and Brandt saw the queen give her a pouch of what he could only guess were herbs but he had no idea what they could be for. A large mug of ale handed to him by Eomer drew away his attention but he would have to ask her about them later he decided.

“We lost two men in that storm so we are anxious to get these negotiations completed and get back King Eomer,” Brandt said. “Laenaya will speak for the North,” he said then took a long drink of ale. They were brought to a large table where other men and women waited. One man, with an odd hat sat idly writing in a large, leather bound book. The other stood and waited with his hands held behind his back. Food and more drink was provided for them and the tall man with short-cropped blonde hair in a green and gold uniform addressed Laenaya.

“I am called Pellion and I shall be the voice of Rohan in this trade if it please you my lady Laenaya,” he said. Something about the man did not sit well with Brandt. Maybe it was the way he looked at Laenaya or the way she looked at him. He was a very handsome man, lithe though tall with an aire of confidence about him.

Laenaya couldn’t help but smile at Brandt’s response when Narisa hugged him tightly. She saw him whisper something to her and from her gasp she could only assume it was about the Snow Cat. As her uncle and aunt emerged Laenaya bowed respectfully before going to hug them both. At the mention of the blizzard Laenaya glanced over at Brandt slightly. She was glad he did not tell them about her ordeal. She didn’t think that they, especially her uncle, would respond favorably to that. She was relieved that they had received a warm welcome, though she wondered if it was just her presence that determined that. She followed her uncle and aunt inside with the rest of their group. The great hall was rather lively and she enjoyed seeing the younger children laughing as they chased one another around the room.

Lindariel pulled her aside to speak to her privately and gave her the herb pouch that her other had sent. Laenaya made sure Brandt wasn’t around to hear what they were saying and she quickly pocketed the pouch. At least this meant that she didn’t have to deny him anymore and rouse suspicion.

After a while of pleasant conversation things turned more to business and Laenaya began to feel nervous. Her husband and the rest of the clan were counting on her to take care of this and represent them well. They couldn’t leave without the items they needed. She had never negotiated before and wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. It appeared that one man would be taking notations of the proceedings, while another would represent Rohan. The man’s name was Pellion and he was not someone she knew. He was young and quite handsome.

“Well met Pellion. I hope that we can negotiate this matter quickly, but fairly.”

OOC-Did we still want Brandt to find out about what the herbs are for?

ooc-thats up to her. he will ask and she can lie if she wants. It is not always women tell their husbands the truth, he said from former experience. *wink* She has to know if she does he will NOT be happy about it.

ooc-just so you know, today has been pretty terrible. I do not want to be here right now! SO much indecision and then I am asked to hurry up only to have what I just did tossed due to bad decisions on my part because I didn't want to wait all day. *sigh* That and I feel funky today on top of everything.

OOC-or he could overhear her talking to Narisa about it and confront her later that night. I'm sorry you are having a bad day but at least it is Friday. I hope the rest of the day goes by quickly for you

Pellion read off the list of what was to be traded, he stood as he held their manifest and read it aloud. “12 barrels of Salted fish, 19 vials of musk oil, 66 furs, 19 of Mink, 29 of Sable and 18 Fox along with 7 Vials of Rams Horn Powder,” he said as he raised an eyebrow. The older man wrote everything down quickly in his large book. Laenaya had been told that the Sable was in high demand as of late as well as the Rams Horn Powder.

“What we can offer,” he said as he set the first page down then held up another he snatched from the table, “26 Parcels of Medicinal herbs, 14 packages of spices, 12 Vials of Dye, 2 Green, 3 yellow, 4 Red and 3 Blue, (Red was the hardest to find) 36 Crates of Winter Cabbages (Worth maybe 6 barrels of fish) and 30 pouches of pipeweed. Laenaya would know that for some reason they only listed 1/4th of the dyes they needed and no spices at all. The least common thing they had was the rams horn powder used in poultices and salves they used often to help heal their horses. It was worth alot to them yet they were short changing them for some reason. 7 vials was alot, they usually only brought 2 vials but due to the trading not happening for a while they had alot of it this time.

Brandt did not like the sound of what they offered at all but he held his tongue. Laenaya was their speaker and it would be Laenaya...he hoped, who negotiated for fairer trade than what they were getting.

Laenaya listened quietly as Pellion read off the list of what the clan had brought to trade. She knew, from what they had told her, that many of these items were in high demand and hard to come by. They had brought more than they usually did of these items to Rohan specifically to trade with them. As Pellion began to read off what they were offering she glanced over at Brandt and saw from his expression that it was not a fair trade. They were offering far less winter cabbage than what would be considered fair for the salted fish the clan had brought and less dyes than expected and no spices. She knew she needed to carefully select her words so as not to offend anyone, particularly since the king was her uncle.

“We have traveled for weeks to get here and through a blizzard and lost several lives on the way. What we are offering is extremely generous and more than what is usually brought. I know, in particular, that the Rams Horn Powder, is something that you greatly need for the care of your horses. Rams Horn Powder is extremely hard to come by, and yet we have brought 7 vials instead of the usual 2. We have also brought double the amount of salted fish than what you are offering in cabbage. Despite the differences in the past, we feel we should receive what is fair in exchange for what we have traveled to bring you. Otherwise, we shall rescind all vials of the Rams Horn Powder and take it elsewhere to trade. I shall give you a few moments to reconsider your offer."

Lindariel only grinned at Laenaya however Eomer did not look all that pleased. Pellion came up to him and they had begun to whisper to one another. After a few moments pellion came back to the older man with the ledger and then conferred with him in whispers about their new offer. More wine and ale were brought to them as they waited. After the third round of going back and forth he came to her with: 18 vials of dye, 32 pouches of herbs, 14 parcels of spices, 52 crates of cabbages and 42 pouches of pipeweed. It still wasn’t all that great an offer as far as Brandt’s expression had told her but he shrugged to her leaving it all up to her as he lost another game of stones to Narisa who giggled in delight as he feigned being upset about it. They awaited her response.

OOC: Also, do you have a photo? I've been wondering what you look like. It's no sweat if you don't or you don't want to share one. I have thought about what my writing partner looks like and I am understandably curious.

The negotiations went longer than Laenaya had hoped, but were shorter than she had feared. It was a tiring, tedious process that went back and forth. However, she remained strong and did not back down. Their final offer was still not entirely fair, but that appeared to be their final offer. She looked over at Brandt, who didn't appear to absolutely love it, but seemed alright with the offer at least. She nodded to him and then looked back at Pellion.

"Alright, we accept."

OOC-I have a personal rule against giving out my picture online. I don't have a picture right now on my gmail account, but I may end up putting one up there at some point in the future. I hope that doesn't upset you.

ooc: Ok, now that we are at Rohan, there is more we could do here before we move her back North. The question is, what plots would be interesting for you to do while we are here? I realize some of this might be tedious to get thru, I try to gloss over it when i think it will be for your benefit to do so but i cant foresee all instances of this. Now that she is with family though, any ideas?

I am not upset, I can keep on imagining. (disclaimer, do not consider this a creepy smile)

Well I still think that Brandt should overhear her telling Narisa about the tea. Then at some point she discovers she's pregnant. There could still be tension between the people of Rohan and the clan and maybe something happens or almost happens (what I'm not really sure). I really can't think of much right now. It's been a long day and ice started drinking wine lol

Everyone nodded though only Lindariel, Narisa and Laenaya seemed to be happy that it was over. Brandt was about done anyway getting pummeled severely by a girl in stones. He had not played much and detested the game but did it because he liked Narisa and wanted a girl just like her. As the group began to break up, Eomer had other business to attend to but promised a feast in Laenaya’s honor Lindariel set Narisa to attend Laenaya and see that she and Brandt find their rooms. Narisa nodded respectfully to her mother and was very happy to be of use besides.

“Its only been a short time but I already miss the white city Laenaya. And it’s too cold to ride for very long, how did you ever stand it up there?” She asked interested in what her cousin said. She idolized Laenaya, Laenaya would be the first to do anything of note among their generation and wanted to know everything. Brandt hung back taking in the large hall. He had never really seen it like this before. Not with guards and everyone looking at him and those that had come with him like he was an intruder.

“Did you get the staybirth herbs?” She said as they walked. “Aunt Nauriel sent them with me when I came back so that you’d have them as soon as possible,” she said though not as quietly as Laenaya would have hoped. Brandt had heard what she said but it took him a moment to work out the words and what they could really mean. As Laenaya paused, Narisa stopped to but wondered why she stopped.

“What is this...staybirth you speak of?” Brandt asked plainly from behind.

ooc: what kind of wine? I know quite alot about wine actually (no snob references please!) I could go for a chilled Riesling right about now!

Laenaya was relieved it was all over and done with. There had been no yelling or blood spilt and for that she was grateful. She hoped she had done her job well and that Brandt and his people were pleased with her. She walked with Narisa and Brandt back towards their rooms. Brandt granted them some space so she and Narisa could talk while he gazed around as they walked. Laenaya had missed her cousin. She was the only female closest in age to her in their family and so they could talk easier with each other. However, when Narisa brought up the staybirth herbs that her mother had sent her she gave Narisa a sharp look, but it was too late. Brandt had heard and she wasn't entirely sure what to say. She stopped and glanced back at him and from the expression on his face she could tell he was starting to guess what they were for. She struggled for anything to say and as the seconds ticked by she could see Brandt becoming more and more angry.

"Can...can we discuss this in private please?" she asked him quietly.

OOC-It's just Cavit Pinot Grigio. I get the small bottles to cook with and just had one of those lol. I love Santa Margarita, but it's so expensive. Pinot Grigio's are my favorite white, while Malbec's are my favorite red, but I like Pinot Noir's too.

Brandt had wondered about the herbs but the words ‘staybirth’ had made what she was doing clear. Now it all made sense. She would not lay with him because she had run out of those herbs. What was worse...the queen herself was part of it all. Both queens were. A growl grew in his throat. He had been such a fool and that made him even angrier. She never took any of this seriously. But his mind tried to rationalize why she would have come! She almost died and he put her on the same level as he was. All the looks he endured for it burned into his stomach.

Narisa saw his expression but didn't understand what was happening. “Uh, “Lae…”Leave girl… Now!” He snapped cutting her off. Narisa was about to argue but Brandt's eyes bored into her and she ran down the hall. He saw that Laenaya was about to speak. “You will speak when I give you leave to,” he said in a dangerous tone. He stepped up to her. “Give me the herbs,” he said softly and he held out his hand toward her. His father had been right. He gave her more freedom than she deserved and she abused his trust for it. He wanted to hurt her physically. Wanted her to feel the pain in his heart right then. He thought she loved him but it had only been a game her people played to appease his people. He wanted to weep it hurt so much but he choked it all down.

(If she does not give them to him he will take them by force then drag her if he has to to their room. If he does give them to her: he opens the pouch and empties it out into the hall then drops the pouch onto the floor. “I will not ask you what was real and what was not real, I doubt you would tell me the truth anyway. I will not force you to go back with me...I know that is not what you want. It must have been horrible for you Laenaya...we are a savage, uncouth people,” he said as he turned on his heels and walked briskly away from her. Likely if it had been anyone else she’s be lucky if she wasn’t strapped right then and there. She had seen that before but knew Brandt was not that kind of man.