#okay lbr they're all cute chapters XD

[tallbluelady]

X'rhun Tia's Fencing Club for Ladies

Woops, I forgot to post this even though it was done... 2.8k

Chapter Three: The Circle of Knowing

Rowan found herself getting into a very comfortable rhythm in Sharlyan, despite her meeting with the Garlean dignitary. According to Alisaie, it was all Lord Forchenault could do was to keep him occupied and out of sniffing their more prized secrets. A lot of that included taking him to see rather obvious secrets. It was all a huge game of cat and mouse that for the moment, everyone seemed rather keen on keeping Rowan out of. So much so that Rowan had yet to see hide or hair of Lord Solus, even when she did visit the Leveilleur estate.

And she visited the Leveilleur estate often! There was always some sort of refreshment at the estate after each session of the Fencing Club. Alisaie had secured invitations to each of the ladies who attended, including some of the newer members. To Alisaie's chagrin her mother had asked that her brother Alphinaud be allowed to attend these little get togethers. But Rowan had found the young man rather charming, if a little more erudite than her sister. It likely helped that after realizing that Alisaie was on a first name basis with the entirety of the Fencing Club, he offered the use of his first name as well.

It also likely helped that Mr. Arugelt was often there at the brunches or luncheons as well. Despite her knowing all of the ladies of the Fencing Club, she rarely felt comfortable in large sprawling conversations. And on top of that, she never felt that she was welcome to take anyone out of their conversations or to interject into others. The last time she had done so in Gridania had always ended badly, so she kept mostly to herself. But when Mr. Arugelt attended the meal, she had a very willing partner to trade her recent discoveries she found in her books with. She had just been discussing such a discovery when the day turned far more exciting than she would have imagined.

"...though, I daresay thou art on the cusp of learning to manipulate aether in that manner thyself. Mayhap if thou consultest with Mr. X'rhun about it - he seemeth to be the type of fellow who shareth such knowledge liberally," Mr. Arugelt said after Rowan described her findings on the Gyr Abanian art of Red Magic.

"Do you really think so?" Rowan asked.

He nodded. "Verily. I know that Lord Leveilleur seeketh those with open minds on all matters aetherial. I doubt my teacher took the time to even consider a less apt instructor."

"Then mayhap I shall approach him after our next instruction. Though I know not how I would pay him for the private instruction if he was actually willing..."

"I shall confer with Lord Leveilleur on the subject for thee. Alisaie, too, hath shown great ability with fencing and it may very well be her preferred choice to channeling aether."

Rowan averted her eyes shyly. "If it would help Alisaie's aetherical instruction as well..."

"Ms. Argentas, I would have thee remember that Sharlyan places the highest priority of the education of our people. As thou art now residing here, thou art included in that number," Mr. Arugelt said.

"A high tide raises all ships, does it not?" Alphinaud added, leaning in. "I know my grandfather would be more than willing to cover any extra cost, Ms. Argentas. And who knows, mayhap Mr. X'rhun took the original offer of teaching fencing to find more students for the aetherial art."

"It still feels awfully kind... but thank you, both of you," Rowan said.

The two of them gave her rather satisfied smiles at that and the tea continued at a leisurely rate. Lord Solus was being shown some other corner of Sharlyan that day, so they were free to take their time in the Manor. So it was to almost everyone's surprise when a new face popped into the study.

"Am I interrupting something? No one wants to tell me where Lord Leveilleur is..." the man said.

"Thancred! Thou hast joined us at last! What news from the mainland?" Mr. Arugelt rose from the table and clapped the Hyurian man on the shoulder.

Rowan studied the man as he and Mr. Arugelt had their little reunion. He was about average height for a Midlander, with tanned skin and white hair. He too had the Archon's Mark, though his was on his neck much like Mr. Totolymo's was. He had a dashing sort of air about him and a dazzling smile to match.

"And who are all of these fine ladies? If I didn't know any better -"

"- and thou dost -

"- then I would say that you have quite the collection of eligible women. Come now, I wouldn't say anything crass in present company..."

A few of the ladies rolled their eyes. Obviously, they knew Thancred - Mr. Waters as he was introduced - from before he left for the mainland. He bowed deeply at Rowan when she was finally her turn.

"So you're the one everyone's talking about. I can't say that you leave anything left wanting visually," Mr. Waters said.

Rowan merely nodded, noting the scowl on Mr. Arugelt's face. Was he...? There wasn't much time to wonder as Rowan was tucked into a conversation with Khaliun and another of their acquaintance, a Ms. A'quexta Rhini, as Alisaie and Alphinaud asked Thancred for news of the mainland.

"I heard that Mr. Waters is one of Lord Levielleur's most trusted spies," the red haired Miqo'te woman said in hushed tones.

"Spy?" Rowan and Khaliun chorused.

"Keep your voices down," A'quexta hissed. "Despite Sharlyan's appeal for neutrality, it doesn't do to leave your nation clueless."

Rowan and Khaliun both nodded at that in a conceding fashion.

"It does seem prudent to have a first hand account on all things..." Khaliun mused.

"But you said he was specifically Lord Leveilleur's spy," Rowan said. "Does he have them against the will of the Forum?"

"Like the Forum's opinion would have sway over a man such as Louisoix Leveilleur," A'quexta rolled her eyes. "Lord Forchenault himself doesn't hold any sway against his father. I've heard tell that only Lady Matoya in Dravania could turn Lord Levielleur's ear. And they tend to agree with each other on political matters. If she would ever get involved in such matters herself..." 

While Rowan would not have so quickly made friends with the Miqo'te woman naturally, seeing as she was a more out-going and talkative person than she, A'quexta seemed to readily take Rowan under her wing in all the gossip of Sharlyan. Like her, A'quexta had lived in Gridania for a time before moving to the island and taking advantage of the knowledge that was so freely given. The main difference between them was that A'quexta was also seeking knowledge that was not so freely given. Where Rowan found a road block, A'quexta found it a challenge to overcome and she readily engaged with it.

It seemed that she was successful in her acquisitions, and Rowan and Khaliun spent a large amount of the tea time listening in to what A'quexta had to say about the Leveilleurs, the forum, and the entire nation of Sharlyan. By the time they were ousted from the study by a beleaguered butler, Rowan felt as though she knew almost everything there was to know about Sharlyan's political situation.

Well, mayhap knew was too strong a word. She wouldn't paint A'quexta as a liar, but seeing as her first friends on Sharlyan soil were those so closely linked to the Leveilleur family she wasn't wont to think ill of them. Although A'quexta herself seemed more fond of the family rather than the Forum...

"Is aught amiss, Ms. Argentas?" Mr. Arugelt asked when they were walking to her cottage after the lunch party was over.

"Oh. Ah... well, I heard something that you may be able to elucidate for me..." Rowan said. "I... how do I put this... What... you and Mr. Waters. And mayhap I should include Mr. Totolymo in this... what is your relationship with the Leveilleurs? My understanding is that Lord Leveilleur was very active in the Studium before Sharlyan's exodus from Dravania. And that you were all his students, or at least recognized by him in a scholarly fashion. Is there more to it than that?"

Mr. Arugelt tried starting a phrase a few times before he could answer. "What thou hast surmised is true. And I shall endeavor to answer thy frankness in turn, but in more secluded surrounds."

"Oh?" That piqued Rowan's interest.

He nodded and they continued to the cottage. "I hath oft admired the glade in thy mother's garden and I feel that shalt serve our purposes well."

Rowan opened the gate when they arrived and remembered the fact that their cottage here was so well situated. With all the kindness she had been shown so far, she wondered if even their living situation had been subsidized by a member of the Leveilleur party. A dark part of her whispered of a time when the shoe would fall and she and her mother would be expected to pay back the debt. But the gentle manner that Mr. Arugelt and the rest of them treated her swept those odious thoughts aside, like how he swept the bench for her to sit on.

"Ms. Argentas, I believe that we hath been trying to give thee a shield of ignorance by not including thee in these matters. But as Alisaie hath so rightfully put it, thou art one of the keenest minds we hath encountered in a long time," he said.

Rowan started to blush. That was high praise from most, and higher still from Alisaie.

"So it standeth to reason that we should include thee in the goings on of our party. Lord Leveilleur, along with the Students of Baldesion, representeth the more active approach to Sharlyan's policies. 'To ignore the plight of those one might conceivably save is not wisdom—it is indolence.' Tis a stance I hath taken to heart as I follow in his footsteps. How familiar art thou in the battle of Charteneau?"

"Fairly. My father and brother were both lost to us in that battle."

Mr. Arugelt's face softened at that. "My condolences. Tis no small thing to lose a loved one, much less two at once."

Rowan nodded. "Thank you, sir. Lately, I find myself more spurred on to help in any way I can... even if it's in a small way. If I can prevent more bloodshed so others don't have to suffer the same way Mama and I have, then I'll gladly take action."

"Tis that selfsame spirit that spureth Lord Leveilleur. Twas through his guidance that the city-states of Eorzea were able to rally against the Garlean threat. And though many were lost, many more could have died that day." He looked at the two moons in the twilight above them. "Our organization - the Circle of Knowing - seeketh to keep the Star spinning on its course."

Mr. Arugelt continued to explain how the Circle of Knowing were able to do so, and what role he personally took before the Battle of Charteneau. All of which left Rowan dumbstruck.

"That was you? All of you seem so capable, so wise! And you think I can prove useful to your organization?" Rowan asked.

"Aye, I believe that thou mayest. If for naught but for thy fresh perspective. From Alisaie's tellings of the Fencing Club, thou art quick-witted and able to devise thy way to victory in seconds."

"That, I feel is an exaggeration, sir..."

"She doth have an effusive tongue for those she findeth worthy, but I have yet to find her judgement wanting," Mr. Arugelt said.

There was something in those gold eyes of his that caught on Rowan's heart. What ever precise emotion it was, she couldn't tell, but he was earnest and honest and true. She found she couldn't handle it and had to change the subject.

"W-would you like to come in for dinner? It won't be anywhere near as elegant of a meal as at the Leveilleur's, of course, but I'm sure Mama would love to entertain you," Rowan offered.

Mr. Arugelt paused for a moment, looked up at the darkened sky and gave a short chuckle. "I hadn't realized how long we hath been speaking. I feel a change in environs for a meal shalt serve me some good."

Mrs. Argentas was more than happy to see Mr. Arugelt walk in with Rowan and offered him to dine with them as well. It wasn't a large meal, but it was one of Rowan's favorites: cold meats, cheeses, and dried fruit. Mr. Arugelt was effusive in the conversation as Mama was, and the three of them settled into a comfortable conversation about food preservation across the various cultures of Eorzea.

Before Rowan could stop her, Mrs. Argentas brought out some of the old Gelmorran wine she brought with them to Sharlyan.

"Oh, Mama, no one likes the Gelmorran wine..." she said as she took the plates off the table.

"I do. You do. Tis a delicacy amongst our kind and I do believe that Mr. Arugelt has a defined enough palate to appreciate it," Mrs. Argentas said.

"I hath not the honor of trying the Gelmorran variety before," Mr. Arugelt said politely. "From what fruit doth the spirit draw from?"

"Mun-tuy beans." Rowan said with a grimace. "Tis a very unique flavor, Mr. Arugelt. I've grown to like it in my adulthood, but I shall pour you a glass of water to chase it."

He let out a high pitched oh as Mrs. Argentas poured him a glass. "Twould not be my first choice for an alcohol, but I am not one to turn away a new experience."

"Oh, that shall make for a good toast. To new experiences!" Mrs. Argentas raised her glass.

Rowan raised hers and saw Mr. Arugelt swallow as he raised his. Rowan took the initiative and took a large swig. She could appreciate the earthy tones because it was part of her heritage. That and it was the first alcohol Mama would let her drink.

"Tis sweeter than I had anticipated," Mr. Arugelt said, reaching for the glass of water.

"Well, the wine makers are wont to add more sugar to ensure fermentation, Mr. Arugelt," Mrs. Argentas said. "Would you care for another glass?"

His face blanched, and Rowan could see that twinkle in her mother's eye she got when she was playing with young men.

"Ahh, n-nay. I must return to the Leveilleur estate. My friend Mr. Waters but recently rejoined us and there is much to discuss, and I would prefer to do so with a clear mind."

"Oh, very well. Mayhap next time."

Mr. Arugelt nodded and rose from the table.

"Oh, I'll see you out, Mr. Arugelt." Rowan almost ran so she could apologize to him.

The pair made it outside before she felt safe enough to tell off her mother's behavior without offending her. Mr. Arugelt took it all very evenly.

"Tis no matter Ro - Ms. Argentas," Mr. Arugelt said, shaking his head. "Pray excuse me, the wine must have been more potent than I thought."

"Ah, ah, tis true that it is fairly potent.  Uh..." Rowan felt her eyes fluttering like she was some sort of novel heroine. "You... you are far more than welcome to call me 'Rowan'."

He smiled in a fashion that caught on her heart again. "I thank thee. If I may, I shall also extend the invitation of the use of my forename, Rowan."

"Thank you, Urianger." Rowan liked how the syllables flowed out of her mouth.

That heart catching smile of his continued for a bit until something pulled him out of his reverie. "Oh, I had all but forgotten..." He dug into an interior coat pocket. "Aether and Anatomy. I did recall that thou wert looking for a text on atherial manipulation, and this tome doth contain some of the more concise words on the subject."

He handed her the book, and their fingers brushed for the merest of moments. Rowan felt a bit of a spark nevertheless as she took the book. She tried to focus on the contents of the book rather than their brief touch.

"Tis more than I imagined... Oh, Urianger, you're my hero!" she said. She caught herself before she wrapped her arms around him.She gripped the book instead.

He didn't seem to notice. "Tis no matter at all Ms. - Rowan."

"I do believe we're talking in circles now, Urianger." She started to laugh.

"Aye, that we are. I do believe it is time to bid thee good night, though I am loathe to do so."

She nodded. It may have been the wine that wanted her to become the tiniest bit improper and kiss him, but it was the thought of her mother's heart that stayed the action.

"Good night, Urianger."

"Good night, Rowan."