Calimir pushed back from the table, contentedly. It had been long since he'd eaten so well and the wine had been excellent. He looked around as the company split up and headed in various directions. Enien had headed off in the direction of her room. Calimir looked amused as she was intercepted by a small girl.
Enien was really rather good with children, though she'd never admit it. Wilwarin, his daughter had followed her around as a child, admiration glowing in her eyes. Glorenwen had always hated the idea of it, worried that Wilwarin would want to leave home, like Enien did, but Enien had always been gentle with her.
Calimir smiled fondly at Enien and the little girl, but walked toward the garden. He was tired, but he wanted to see a bit of the Chambria Estate before they left Minas Tirith. He walked through the dimly lit gardens, stopping to pass his hand through the spray from a white marble fountain. A grey bench in the shadows of a large tree seemed to beckon to him, and he walked over to it and sat.
A few minutes passed, and Calimir sat in silence, listening to the wind in the branches above his head. He barely noticed when Aerin approached and sat down beside him. Calimir greeted her warmly and she sat down on the bench looking tired.
"Looking for company." she explained, pushing a loose strand of hair out of her face, and looking rather uncomfortable in the dressy garb that Wren had found for her. "I've never been here before." she said, looking around the garden. "Minas Tirith, I mean."
"Me either." Calimir replied. "The men of Gondor are a great people." Aerin shot him a look in the darkness.
"The men of Rohan are great too." she said. Calimir nodded, suddenly feeling awkward with this human girl-child beside him. He tugged at the lace at the collar of his dress tunic.
"These are uncomfortable." he said, tugging a little more at the cuffs. Aerin nodded and stood up, shaking her skirt out. "Let's go back to the house and change, shall we?" he asked her.
"Yes, let's." the shieldmaiden replied, wobbling just a bit on the heeled shoes she'd been given. Calimir offered his arm and they walked back together toward the house.
Reaching the house, Calimir left Aerin at the doorstep and climbed the stairs back to his own room. A hot bath would be the perfect ending for a very good day.
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The seasons fall like silver swords, the years rush ever onward; and soon I sail, to leave this world, these lands where I have wander'd. O Elbereth! O Queen who dwells beyond the Western Seas, spare me yet a little time 'ere white ships come for me!
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