In the summer, I remember

[rowancrowned]

WHO: Thranduil, Legolas, anyone good with a bow or who enjoys the wine on offer.
WHAT: ROOTY TOOTY POINT N SHOOTY ARCHERY CONTEST
WHEN: 8th of Bloomingtide, midmorning until sunset.
WHERE: Valley
NOTES: log for a friendly wager! 

The eighth of Bloomingtide began as a chilly morning; not quite cold enough to leave frost on the budding flowers and fresh-sprouted plants in the heights of Skyhold, but nearly, nearly.

By the time the sun was been in the sky for a few hours, most of the early-morning chill had burned off, leaving a day that promised to be nearly too-hot for those who would be stuck in full-plate and in direct sunlight. Thranduil wasn’t expecting any to come clanking down to his little fete, but had none the less secured a spot in the shade. Varric had apparently found him while he was still working on organizing—the target launchers are set neatly in line with everything else. Along the clay pigeon launchers were the standard, stock targets, blindfolds—and on a table off to the side was a few bottles of sweet wine beside loaves of brown bread and hard cheeses.

The contest did not pretend to be anything other than what it was; a chance to meet, and mingle, and possibly show off archery skills. The purses wrested next to the wine and cheese and Thranduil himself. He had found a chair to rest in while waiting for the contestants to arrive, dressed plainer than he had so far allowed himself to be seen. On his fingers, four rings glittered—but his confidence in Legolas was so absolute, he doubted he would lose even one before the days was out.

Comments

[chainlightning]

Despite everything that had happened in Kirkwall, Merrill isn't too wary around grey and horned sorts. Granted, she had never been too wary around them in Kirkwall, at least not on the outside. This woman just looks so earnest about petting Barkley, and Merrill smiles warmly before reaching down to scoop the dog up.

"Absolutely! His name is Barkley and he loves everyone -- you can hold him, if you want."

Barkley is already wriggling to try and reach the Vashoth, fully ready to lick her all over.

[suplexpert]

"Can I?"

Taaranda carefully holds out her hands, ready to take in the excitable bundle of dog and give him all of the attention he undoubtedly deserves.

"Hello, Barkley! You're the cutest, yes you are."

[chainlightning]

"Of course!"

As long as you don't try to steal him, Merrill is all for people loving on her dog. So is Barkley, for that matter, who happily wriggles even harder once he's passed over. There are new smells to smell and she's a new face to lick.

"He's still a puppy, so he has lots of energy for this sort of thing."

In fact, he's only a few months old -- born and bred in Skyhold.