Practice! With Wellard

[findsthesun]

A young Elf*, dressed in sturdy green and brown cloth and soft leather shoes, walks into the bar.

It can, perhaps, be forgive if his first reaction is wariness and his hand flicks towards the white handled knife at his belt.

Then he laughs.

"A tavern of Men, in the middle of the forest? I have not heard tell of this."

*see (here) for description of Elves, and Legolas in particular.

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[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Time moves differently between here and there." 'There' being Legolas' home, Wellard's home, and any other world to speak of.

He gestures at the front door. "Either time freezes out there while you're in here, so you return exactly when you left, or it moves so slowly as to make nearly no difference." A quiet chuckle, and Wellard flashes a grin.

"There are some people who come here to take advantage of it, even. To finish work or research when they wouldn't have time at home otherwise."

[findsthesun]

Legolas laughs, quietly. "'Tis a pity I find myself lacking in paper work, then, and that is something I never thought I would say.

"What is it that you do here--Wellard?"

He is guessing, here. He thinks Wellard's name basically boils down to 'Wellard son of Henry son of Wellard,' as is a rare but existent naming convention among traders.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"Thankfully I've always loved reading and learning, or else I do believe I would have found myself bored to tears many times, here." He chuckles quietly, then motions to the papers.

"I am planning out provisioning for a ship, though this is new. Before, I was learning on how to design and build a ship, which I then did, when it was summer outside and the weather cooperated."

[findsthesun]

The look now is curious, Legolas knows only about river rafts and small boats.

"Where is it that you plan to sail?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

As if Ivan had a hand in timing, this is now when the wait rat shows up, with the Dorwinion for Legolas and a refill of Wellard's tea. And because the rat at least does know the appetites of young human men, there is a plate of bread, cheese and fruit as well- And Wellard is more than happy to share it with Legolas.

Of course, this all serves nicely to postpone his reply for a few moments.

"The sky."

[findsthesun]

"You are the most gracious of rats," Legolas tells Ivan when he brings the wineskin and full glass, as well as the cheese and crackers. "It is a welcome change from old water and cram."

Ew, cram, says his face eloquently.

Then, after Wellard speaks and he's swallowed the sip of wine that he'd taken, he laughs delightedly.

"Is the sea not big enough?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"The sea is only part of the world- and a flying ship isn't limited to just the ocean. Or limited to... anywhere." He waves a hand in the air, grinning.

"Even if we do have to be careful as to what people see her- but there are plenty of places in the world for us to go to."

[findsthesun]

"Just try not to make enemies with the Eagles," he tells Wellard, gravely. (Well, gravely if it weren't for the spark of mischief in his eyes alongside the starlight.) "They might be jealous."

He eats a slice of cheese and apple.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"... How do you mean, Mister Legolas?" Wellard looks at him, puzzled.

"I wouldn't think they'd be much more of a worry than the gulls and seahawks and other birds were, with a regular sailing ship."

[findsthesun]

Legolas tilts his head at Wellard.

"The Eagles? Do you not have them...in your world?" he uses the term awkwardly. "They have wingspans of a hundred feet or more, in these after-days."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard blinks, staring at Legolas, and slowly shakes his head.

"... Albatrosses have... maybe a ten or fifteen foot wingspan, and they're the largest birds I've ever heard of. Even the seahawks don't get that big."

[findsthesun]

"Do not worry," he tells him, kindly, "they do not carry off people."

He might be laughing at Wellard's face, a little.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"... I would hope not. That would be something more like what a dragon would do, if such things exist in your world. They... They officially do not, in mine." He shakes his head, and finally takes a sip of his tea.

"There are stories, occasionally. Myths and fairy tales. But nothing that I can recall about giant eagles."

[findsthesun]

"Dragons are less likely to carry people off, and more likely to burn them where they stand," Legolas replies, thoughtfully. "The one I know of prefers to take away cattle and horses. Men and Elves are, perhaps, both too small and too likely to cause hurt."

Then, cheerfully, "You shall have to start some myths about Eagles. They are not fond of dragons, if that helps."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"The few I've heard about on my own world- and a world rather close to mine, they weren't that bad. Some were even helping to fight in a war we're in, in the time I'm from." He smiles, a bit wryly.

"Though I'll still keep my eyes out for giant eagles. Afterall, isn't there a Roc to match up with the Kraken? And there is a Kraken." Wellard pauses, then takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.

"Or there was. But it did still exist."

[findsthesun]

"I do not know Rocs or Krakens," Legolas replies, cheerfully, drinking more Dorwinion and eating more cheese and apple. "What are they? Or were they."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard carefully helps himself to a bit of the food before Legolas makes it all disappear.

"The Kraken I saw, after it had been killed. It was a sea monster, much like an octopus or squid, all tentacles and maw, and large enough to pull a ship down to the depths." He shrugs, philosophically. "There are plenty of places on the maps that are still blank, and filled with the warnings of 'here be monsters'. The Kraken had been one of them.

"The Roc is supposedly a bird- an eagle, perhaps, and just as large as you've said the ones in your world are. But there's just one of it as well, and perhaps that's a good thing, as it wouldn't bother with cattle and horses, but apparently takes off with elephants instead."

[findsthesun]

Legolas does not know the Westron word for elephant and is as such somewhat confused.

"Elephants? Are they some type of prized animal?"

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

Wellard blinks, a bit taken by surprise by the question.

"I... Not in England, or any other countries I know of. They're... huge animals. Here-"

He does have paper and pen handy. And while Wellard's skills with drawing are much better with technical plans, the idea of an elephant is easy enough to sketch out on paper.

"Apparently they're big enough that several people can ride them, with little houses on the back, I think? A friend of mine would know more about them, she used to live in India, and there are elephants there."

[findsthesun]

"A mûmak," he says, identifying the creature. "I have not encountered one before, but they are said to be large enough to carry war towers. They are of Harad."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"They're from India and Africa, in my world. Which is supposedly where the Roc is, if it does exist." Wellard grins. "Though if elephants do, and the kraken did..."

He certainly is wiling to believe in the possibility of the Roc and Giant Eagles.

And will more than likely prepare for the possibility of figuratively running into them with a flying ship.

[findsthesun]

Thoughtfully, a little behind this, "It would be markedly uncomfortable."

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

"-What would be?"

Wellard's mind has been on giant flying things, Legolas.

[findsthesun]

Legolas meets his eyes, and grins.

"Living in a house on a mûmak," he explains.

[politestpirate.livejournal.com]

His lips twitch in a slight grin.

"It would be decidedly uncomfortable, I'd imagine."