[Gil'dae Cheb] Wandering and pondering (private)

[Larien Gil'dae]

First brightening of Cryxatum, Summer, Era II of the Celestine Mandate
Era XIV Post Fractum, the Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne.

For the first time in all the long months Larien had spent in the Starshadow Keep over the past eras, the young elven woman stood within the Gil'dae Armory. Though she had walked past it many a time, her eerily light green eyes had only lightly skimmed over its door - locked many times over - before she had moved on, always uninterested. Yet on that particular brightening (her first full one in fact since returning to the Cheb after her era absence), Larien had felt herself drawn to the location, her curiosity peaking as she passed it on her way to the stables. After checking upon her two mounts, it had taken a good portion of a candlemark to finally track down Anton Danuviel to ask him to allow her into the usually locked building. Of course, he had questioned her sudden desire to enter the armory. Sadly all she could offer him was a shrug and a smile, stating the plain and simple truth: Curiosity.

Larien had always found herself slightly intimidated by the ice blue-eyed elven man, though Anton had never been anything other than polite and kind to her in their previous encounters. This encounter was no different as the young woman soon found her wish granted, her green eyes widening with wonder as she stood on the threshold of the main room of the armory. It was far different from the rest of the keep.

The room was windowless, but nevertheless well lit as torches had been attached to the rough gray walls, and ventilation was a must, the lack of heated forge and the shafts combining to make the location drafty without the forge running. There were numerous racks with weapons and pieces of armour. There were broadswords, shortswords and longswords, daggers, a few halberds, maces and axes, as well as Sai, being the Lady Gil’dae’s weapon of choice. Most of the weapons were rather plain, though well-polished and well-kept now that they too had been brought up to date with the keep itself. A large kite shield leaned against the wall. It had the picture of a tree painted on it; another one clearly bore the sign of House Gil’dae. It was made of shimmering elven steel. A long bow leaned against another wall.

Larien, never having had much contact with weaponry - save for her own dagger and bow - moved among the numerous racks slowly, viewing each blade with a careful air. There was nothing fancy about the weapons. No jewels or other finery. Just plain, cold, sharp metal. They intrigued the young woman, while at the same time they frightened her. Despite the fact that she owned weapons, she did not know how to wield them. Only once had she been forced to use her dagger in protection of herself... she had killed on that darkening... the memory of the blood still haunted her. But it had only been a foul beast, a minion of a dark lord, not a man. Still, there were those across the empire that used such weapons to kill other men every brightening. Such a thought was astounding, though sadly true.

If it came down to it would she be able to protect herself again? Would she be able to kill again?

[Larien Gil'dae]

Having made the entire circuit of the main room, Larien found herself drawn to the sword racks once more... more specifically, the longswords. The blades intrigued her in the way something obviously dangerous intrigues a child. They called to her, stroking her curiosity, while at the same time causing her mind to hum warily. Here was something that could easily sever her arm or even end her life. Careful.

One longsword in particular caught her eye, though there was truly nothing unique about it. Nothing that set it apart from the rest. She just... liked it. Its sheath was plain leather, dark and tough-looking, with the crest of House Gil'dae branded onto its surface. Slowly, Larien ran her finger across the hardened leather, stroking it as though it was a dangerous beast - an exotic cat rumbling beneath her hand. Glancing about her - and seeing that she was still very much alone - the young woman then reached for the sword, taking it from the rack and into her hands. It was a heavy piece of equipment, far heavier than she had imagined. Only with proper training would she even be able to consider wielding the thing.

A metallic hiss echoed into the slightly stale air as the she-elf unsheathed the sword slowly, revealing the sharped blade an inch at a time. She did not unsheath it all the way though... mostly from fear that she would severely injure herself if she did. It seemed alive to her as the light from the torches reflected off of its surface, giving it a wickedly red glow. What am I doing? Larien questioned herself in disbelief as she continued to ponder the weapon. As she began to ponder the possibility of taking it from the armory for her own use. Just to borrow for a time of course. But what would she do with a sword? Learn to wield it, she thought wryly, the corners of her mouth turning upwards into a quirky smile as she pictured herself attempting to swing the blade about.

But it could come in handy, especially since some madness had recently come upon her that was sending her thoughts to the possibility of traveling to the ruined city of Paxia, to help rebuild. It would be a dangerous setting to place herself in. She might have need of an extra instrument of protection... even if she couldn't use it. No one else had to know that. Appearances were half of it anyway, right? Sighing and shaking her head lightly at the strange mood that had taken her, Larien resheathed the blade before carefully tucking it under her arm.

No one would miss it anyway.