The Sea Dunes Inn and Tavern

[Vilik]

Vilik smiled and bit his tounge as she stood there wringing out her hair. He fought the urge to laugh, "Oh, I'm sure there is somthing or other down there you could change into." He smiled and grabbed a blanket that he'd seen in the storgage bin earlier and wrapped it around her shoulders, feeling her shiver a bit. "You'd better go below and get out of those wet clothes."

[Idrial]

"Yeah," Idrial said as he wrapped the blanket about her shoulder, "I suppose so." She clenched her teeth together to keep them from chattering as she headed below deck. She went into the sleeping area and went through a couple drawers of a fairly small dresser. Finally, she found some garments. They even looked like they might fit her. Apparantly a woman was often onboard this boat. Good. Idrial quickly changed, finding that the close fit pretty well. What were the chances of that? Tying her hair back from her face, she finally reappeared above deck. "Good thing whoever owned this boat kept it well stocked." She said, finally allowing herself to laugh a bit. Idrial took the blanket and rewrapped it about herself as she sat on the floor against the railing. No chance of falling in again.

[Vilik]

"I see you found somthing suitable." He replied as she returned to the deck. He walked slowly over to her after getting the boat sailing and on course again. He looked down and smiled, giving her a mocked look of pitty. "First you fall in a hole, next you fall off a boat..., What will you fall in next?" He sat down next to her, putting his arm around her and giving her shoulder a little squeeze. "By the way, I give your dive a score of ten."

[Idrial]

Idrial leaned against him as he sat down beside her, pulling her blanket a bit tighter about her shoulders, grateful for his warmth against the chilliness the water had caused her. "Be careful what you say," she said with a mischievous grin, "or you'll be the one to fall off the boat." At his remark about her dive, she laughed. "Yes, I can pride myself on that at least."

[Vilik]

Vilik raised his brow at her first comment, "Oh really? Is that a threat?" He laughed, adding proudly, "You might find it a bit challanging to toss me overboard... My sea legs are quite sturdy." He leaned back, resting against the railing and leaning a little more towards her. He watched her curiously. "You know, Idrial, I still know so little about you." Me left the statement at that but hoped she might open up to him a little on their voyage.

[Idrial]

Idrial sighed at his statement...knowing that he wanted an answer, even if he did not say as much. "Is that such a bad thing?" She replied, but she knew it was not a proper answer. "Alright..." the maiden finally said, "I was born and raised in Gondor - though I figure that much you already know. My family used to have a bit of wealth...at least enough to survive and get by. My father owned a shop. He sold clothing and jewelry that my mother made. But then the shop burned down, and my family became poor. They stole what they needed because they had to survive. Then they were killed. I was the only one that survived. I've travelled a little...mostly sticking to Gondor though, for it's the only place I truly know." She glanced up at him and forced a smile. "Though, enough about me. The tale itself is not that exciting." Idrial shrugged and looked out across the water. It was only then that she noticed how the sun was beginning to sink down toward the horizon, creating a beautiful display of colors in the sky. "Look." She said, nodding in that direction. "Isn't it beautiful?"

[Vilik]

Vilik listened silently to her story, one that was not all to different than his own. He sighed and gave her an understanding look. "I know all too well the hardships you have seen, though, I imagine they must be double for a lady such as yourself. You seem to have dealt well with what fate has thrown your way, however. Someone with lesser will and strength may not have been here today." He looked out over the water as she nodded at the sunset. It had been quite some time since he'd been to sea and it reminded him of the reasons he loved the ocean. He was silent as he watched the sun slowly dip into sea and the waves extinguished its light. "Aye, it is beautiful." He smiled and turned to her, "But, you should see the way the light reflects off the waves when she rises again. Its like seeing the entire ocean on fire."

[Idrial]

Idrial smiled as she looked up at him. "Well, I'll have to make sure I get a chance to see it. If it's anything like this sunset, it would be well worth the time to see it." She leaned against him once more, glad that her hair was finally beginning to dry. The rhythm of the rocking boat helped to calm her nerves and remove from her mind any of the unpleasant thoughts that had been there a few moments ago. "I think I like the sea." She whispered with a grin. "Thank you for bringing me."

[Vilik]

Vilik smiled warmly down at her as she whispered her thanks. "You really don't have to thank me, your company ain't all that bad..." He winked at her and added," Even if you are a little accident prone." He squeezed a hug with the arm that was drapped around her shoulder, kissing her forehead as he did so.

[Idrial]

Idrial laughed softly at his comment about her familiarity with accidents. "Hey, it isn't my fault." She paused, trying to think up something to say. "First of all, if it hadn't been so dark...and Saemon had warned me, I wouldn't have fallen into that hole. Secondly, if you hadn't made me prove my fishing skills...I wouldn't have been up on that railing in the first place." She looked up at him with a grin before resting her head upon his shoulder. "You know," she whispered jokingly, "you're lucky none of the other guys decided to come along."

[Vilik]

Vilik laughed as she made excuses for her accidents. "Correction! Had you not been standing on that rail, gloating and letting MY dinner free, THEN you would've stayed quite dry." He rested his head back against the rail then heard Idrial's last comment. He chuckled and gave a questioning look. "Oh really? Lucky? And why might that be?"

[Idrial]

Idrial glanced up at him and nodded with a smirk. "Because otherwise I probably would not be sitting here...and you would not be graced by my presence." And with that she turned her gaze back foward. "Then all you would have to remember me by would be that little scar on your side." Her eyes sparkled with amusement, but she said no more.

[Vilik]

Vilik gave a sly grin, "Oh, you are feeling quite full of yourself now arn't you!" He rolled his head back around, qazing up at the sky as the first few stars became visible. "I might venture to say that you are the lucky one." He turned and looked into her eyes, "If the others were here they may have insisted in leaving you floating. They were after all, not so friendly to you." He laughed shaking his head.

[Idrial]

Idrial nodded and folded her arms. "Yes...I don't understand that! How can people not get along with me?" She shook her head, a mocking expression of disbelief written on her face as her gaze met his. Then she turned her eyes upward toward the sky. "You sure can see them a lot better out here with nothing to hinder your view," she said, noting the brilliance of the stars.

[Vilik]

He continued looking up, laughing a little as she went on about 'how could people not like her.' He shook his head and shrugged, "I don't know, theres no accounting for some peoples taste." He grinned and rubbed her shoulder, pulling her tight against his side as a chilly breeze blew through. "Yes, the stars really are somthing to see out here on such a clear night." He turned his head to look at her as the moon shone down on her fair features. "Maybe I am lucky to have you here alone."