InsaneJournal

Who: Elphir and Erchirion
What: They discuss tomb-raiding!
Where: Elphir's room
When: Present
Rating: G, Complete


The day had been passing quickly. Erchirion truly could not understand how he had sunk so deep into this Undead fiasco... Things were getting more bizarre by the hour and more and more tasks were dropped on his shoulders. He needed assistance, and he knew exactly who to approach.

This time, he didn't even bother sending a messenger. He just walked straight up to Elphir's room and knocked.

Elphir had been fuming in his rooms for the past several hours and he tensed at the knock. Here he was expecting Imrahil or someone sent to talk sense into him. Sighing, he actually stopped pacing and tearing at his hair and went to open his door at the knock, trying to look as if he possibly were sane and rational about... Oh. Erchirion. They wouldn't send him to discuss politics or his work affairs. Slowly, he relaxed and tried to smile. "Erchirion! Come in then, Brother. What can I do for you?"

Erchirion was like - O_o;; at Elphir's welcoming words. 'Brother'? He must be having a bad day. He stepped into the room, trying to form an awkward smile at his older brother. Usually the relationship between them was strictly professional, and never did Elphir voluntarily offer help.

But Erchirion knew an opportunity when he saw one and he quickly ceased it - "Elphir... Brother. I require your assistance in obtaining forbidden information."

Elphir was especially trying to be nice today, yes. Owing to the mood that he was in and the famiily drama that they may well be facing when Imrahil heard what he had told the messenger that had just left...well, he wanted to spare his brother some of the tension now. "This I can do." he agreed, a slow smile spreading on his face. Here it was. A chance to prove that he could do things on his own very well, thank you guild master. "What sort of information are we talking?"

"Father has appointed me to investigate certain aspects of those who have returned from death," Erchirion explained, although he was certain Elphir already knew his role (and probably some of his findings!). "I am convinced, as far as one can be convinced, that they are indeed men in the scientific sense - organs, blood, the likes...." he stopped then, thinking how to phrase the following. "But... I am curious, Elphir - if those men are alive, who then is buried in their graves? That is what I need you to find out. I am not allowed to step there, nor are you, although I'm sure such rules will not stop you, when they will me."

"Rules?" Elphir shook his head a little, laughing. "You are right. Rules do not apply when it comes to some of us. You could come with yourself if you wished to learn how that worked." he suggested, though he didnt' think it was likely and did want to do this on his own. It was just...something nice that he could do and so he grasped at it. He felt guiltier lately for the distance between him and his siblings.

Erchirion's eyebrows arched slightly at the offer, but he turned it down quickly enough. He knew his skills, and they were not Elphir's. "I prefer not... You are more competent in these things than I," he said, looking away. "And I've other tasks, in the meanwhile. I ride to Rohan tomorrow. The grave I want you to investigate is that of Anarion son of Elendil. Boromir's is empty, I've been told. Anarion however... Should still be there. Or, rather, not be there. I fear the consequences of finding that he IS, for who then walks amongst us?"

But that question was not to be answered right now, and Erchirion changed the subject. "That is all, really... Have you need of anything I can supply in return?"

"Anarion's among us too?" Elphir raised an eyebrow at that one and raised it high. A second later, the other one followed, making him look very surprised indeed. "So it is not only our war dead..." He found himself musing out loud. "How strange is that? I had thought maybe it was some attempt to bring them back but now...Of course I can do that. " And he hoped too that thre wouldn't be a body. Thinking of how he'd react to think that Em was here and finding that she was some imposter was...he did not like it as a thought. "...Not especially. I MAY need you to distract Father later. I've insulted important people again."

"I will do my best," Erchirion said with a smile, then, as an afterthought, "I need to speak to him anyhow... Military issues." And that was strange, coming from Erchirion's mouth, but he had a purpose. "Well brother, I shall take no more of your time. I must return to my tasks as well," he said, moving towards the door when he suddenly stopped. "There is no need to ask you to be... Discrete about this, is there?"

"Millitary issues?" You?" Elphir's eyebrows both rose higher at once. "Well good luck with that. If he starts driving you crazy with minutae, just stare at him kind of funny. Snaps him out of technicalities every time." His gaze followed Erchirion leaving and he shook his head. "No need at all." he said with a firm nod. "Not even Amrothos will hear of this."

Erchirion grinned at him, and was gone. Good! At last, the burden lightens for him... Now, back to the laboratory.