[Larien Gil'dae]

In all irony, Larien had never encountered an Orc in person... but she had seen her fair share of what they were capable of. She had been to Paxia. She had seen the tumbled ruins of the buildings, the rubble lining the streets. She had seen the rows upon rows of tents where those whose homes had been destroyed had to live while everything was being rebuilt. She had seen the innocent mourning the loss of their loved ones. She had seen it all... and she had grown angry. One of Larien's most surprising and yet most defining features was her passion. When one first looked upon the delicate she-elf, their first impression was surely that she was too timid or gentle to be fierce in any form or fashion. But once her passion was awakened... once she had a cause to fight for... Larien was as dangerous -- or perhaps even more so -- than the wildest of animals. In all honesty, as far as the young woman knew, the Orcs were doing nothing more than stirring restlessly and meant no harm by their movements... but if there was a chance, even the smallest of chances, that what happened to Paxia could happen again, Larien wouldn't be picking up the pieces. No, she would be there during the heat of the moment, trying to change the course of the outcome as much as she possibly could.

Accepting the offered cup and saucer, the young woman cradled the tea close to her body, blowing lightly upon the hot surface of the liquid before taking a careful sip. He had made it just how she liked it. She was touched by his memory of her preferences... though the moment did not last as Venn became all business. It was a side of him she had never seen before -- the commander side -- for he had always been nothing more than simply Venn in his dealings with her in the past. But Larien took it all in stride, taking another sip of her tea before carefully setting it on the table between them. Her eerily light green eyes flashed as she considered his questions. "Within Sheria," she lilted, her own posture becoming stiffer to match that of the half-Thelyri. "We have very little intelligence gathered on the matter beyond the rather vague and simple knowledge that 'the Orcs are up to something.' I know for many this would not be cause enough to grow wary... but I have seen enough of what they are capable of to feel that my caution and suspicion with the matter is warranted."

Just as Venn had stepped into his role of the commander of the Temple during their meeting, Larien shed her quiet familiarity with the other and her old status as a child of Natura to become Arwen Larien Gil'dae of the Syl'rosyan Combine, temporary spokesperson for the Arwen of House Gil'dae and those that aligned themselves with their House. "I will be offering what help the Gil'daes can provide to the Regent, though it is a very small number. I have the Quicksilver Guard with me, only five individuals, though five rather capable individuals. I also have three other persons of the Gil'dae staff that will be of some help due to their skills. Eight elves -- nine, if we are including myself. I can not speak for Syl'rosya, though I can speak for the Gil'daes when I say that if the exact nature of this movement of the Orcs had been known -- and had been threatening -- we would have done more in recruiting aid to send... but seeing as all we have is the whisper of a rumor and our own wariness, we have only the means to send our personal guard. However, if our suspicions are correct, I have full faith in my cousin in her abilities to rally our people." Larien was sure that some would find it odd for Syl'rosyans jumping to the aid of the Empire... but personally, the young elven woman didn't see why not. Motito had been good friends with many currently involved in the running of the Empire. He himself had even served at one point. So then, why would the Gil'daes not wish to be of assistance to the current Regent?

"In the same vein, I do not wish to ask for any large number of men or women from Natura. If our suspicions are false, mobilizing a small army would surely be a bad move... for it might cause higher tensions to arise between the Empire and the Orcs. I do not wish to cause a problem -- merely to solve it if one has already been started. I only wish to scout at this time and see for myself what is going on. A small company -- three to five persons -- I think would be best, though you have had more experience in such matters, so I'd trust your judgement. Such a number could easily be passed off as a personal guard if such... deception was needed. However..." leaning forward slightly in her seat, Larien rested her slender hands on her knees as she regarded Venn with a soft intensity. "If we have reason to be wary of the Orcs... I would be certain to send word back to request more aid both from Syl'rosya and Natura." Larien had yet to learn of the Veil breaking her home off from the rest of the Empire... she would be very devastated indeed when she realized she was stranded from the rest of her family.

As Venn's questions turned to more personal matters, the young woman relaxed somewhat, even pausing to take a few more sips of tea before answering. "Calairiel is well... she is with child." There wasn't much else she could report in regards to her cousin, for the elven maiden had avoided the Arwen of their House for much of the time she had been within the Cheb. Her pale fingers moving to the pendant of the Gil'dae crest about her neck, Larien stroked along the surface of the beautiful silver and gold piece. She longed to tell Venn of her discovery of her two half-brothers -- Eladrian whom she loathed and Eraisuithon whom she loved... but the familiarity between them wasn't the same as before. There seemed to be a space between them, a horrible and gaping space that seemed to grow larger and larger the farther apart their paths took them from each other. At the mention of Motito, however, Larien's pale green eyes widened in visible surprise. She had only recently discovered that her cousin was not indeed dead... but it had been her understanding that Telath at large still believed him to be so. True, Natura was a rather small town and rumors could spread quickly and fiercely, but surely Motito hadn't been recognized? Platinum hair in itself wasn't that big of a give away for there were many elves with such hair... though the combination of platinum hair and quicksilver eyes was purely Gil'dae. But surely one wouldn't automatically assume such a person wandering through Natura to be the "deceased" Motito Gil'dae? Regardless of where Venn had heard such a rumor, Larien had given her word to her dear cousin to keep his secret. Her curse would keep her to her word. It was a delicate balance to not reveal Motito's status of being among the living while still telling the truth... but it was a balance she would be forced to keep.

"I have heard no such rumors..." she lilted quietly, for indeed, she hadn't. "The last rumor I heard concerning my cousin was the one about his death."