Author's note: Please leave a review! My coauthor and I would appreciate it! I never did get any reviews on the first two chapters.
2: Ranger?
A fire burned steadily, its red, orange, and yellow tongues dancing in the night air. The moon and stars shone palely in the night occasionally blotted out by a slow-moving cloud. The grass rustled as some unknown night creature crept through it hunting for food. None of this escaped the watchful Ranger lounging by the fire, smoke curling from a pipe held in one of his gloved hands. His hood was pulled over his head so that his face was undistinguishable though sometimes when the fire flashed one could see two shining eyes, a long nose, and a grim-set mouth. Past conversations replayed in his mind, ones between his mentor and himself.
"What is your assignment Cadoc?" an old man asked.
"Rohan. The Dunlendings are rising and it is said that Gondor cannot come to the aid of the Rohirrim because they are attacked by corsairs." The Ranger answered.
"Will you be going under a different name?"
"Yes, Eolred."
"Ah, it means "old council," it is fitting. Don't let an old man keep you waiting; you had best get on with your journey."
A shadowy horse nickered startling Cadoc out of the memory.
"What is it, Silver?" he asked. "Is there something out there? Probably a thief," he muttered the latter to himself.
He stood up, his hand hovering over his sword hilt, and scanned the still area, unlit by the small fire. In the distance, the river Isen gurgled and bubbled as it frolicked over rocks but no other sound reached his ears.
"Keep watch, Silver, while I sleep," he yawned.
Night passed into early dawn, heavy fog hung around the Gap of Rohan. Mist added to the dismal day, and a cold wind whistled through the grasses. Cadoc ate a cold breakfast then pulled his damp hood over his face and vaulted onto Silver's back. The sun rose, only to be blotted out by the low-hanging clouds, and Cadoc rode on. Soon the river Isen rushed into view. Without much trouble, the Ranger and his horse forded the laughing river. Silver whinnied a warning to his master that another rider was approaching. Cadoc could hear the faint clop, clop of horses' hooves. Vaguely, through the mist, he spotted a rider, not very tall but thin and gangly.
"Hallo there," he called placing a hand on his sword, "who passes?"
"My name is Éothain," Quirna replied timidly; not knowing if he was friend or foe, she chose to use her Rohirric name, since she was practically in their territory anyway. She was sure the golden tendrils of her hair, still short, shone in the dark, yet she could barely see this stranger. "Who are you?"
Cadoc stared warily at the stranger, "I am called Eolred. Are you joining King Helm?"
"Yes, that is my plan. I'm an orphan and have nowhere else to go. Is that where you're headed?" The man seemed nice and she had no fear of him, so she risked revealing part of her fate.
Cadoc urged Silver forward until he came nose to nose with the other horse. The rider was a youth, no more than 15 winters there was no reason for fear here. Unless it was a trap. Pushing the thought aside, Cadoc spoke again to the boy.
"It is strange for one so young to be alone, yet if you are an orphan it is explainable," he said, thinking about the five years he had survived on his own. "Ye,s I am going that way. Perhaps we should make our two journeys one."
He could see everything about the boy yet he knew that the boy could see nothing of him in the pale light with his hood up and his cloak drawn close. All the boy could see probably was a well-armed figure, perhaps even dangerous, with an air of mystery.
"If you do not mind, I would enjoy the company. Do you know the way? I am not familiar with this part of the country." Relieved that her disguise as a male still held up, she decided to trust this fearsome man, figuring it would be better to have him on her side than him being her enemy.
"You must come from farther down the river," Cadoc remarked, thinking to himself, He has probably not even left his home. "Come. The journey is long and time is short."
Then she had another thought; after all, she knew nothing about this man and he could be dangerous. "You are not one of those great orcs, are you? I have never seen or met one before but have always been warned against them, especially if I ever go near Mordor."
Cadoc snorted. This lad hadn't gone far from his home before. "No lad, I am no orc. They do not ride horses and if I were an orc you would have been dead already. Your parents were wise; one must always be careful near Mordor, empty though it be. Which is doubtful." he muttered the latter part to himself.
"Well, that does give me some relief!" she chuckled softly. "Since you are joining the Rohirrim, you can't be one of them yet. And I don't think you are a corsair...I can tell you are a very gifted warrior simply by your stance, which you know I cannot see well in this terrible light. Say, is it safe for us to talk while we travel? If we are going to journey together we might as well know a bit about each other." Quirna's reply was risky, but she wanted to know just who she had befriended as her guide.
"Nay," he said bitterly, "I am not a corsair." He hated corsairs. They had killed his father, leaving his mother to die of grief. Cadoc was surprised: the boy knew nothing of orcs yet knew of warriors and corsairs. Perhaps he had lived near the Sea. "It is fine as long as you hush if trouble arises," he answered.
"That is also good to know!" she almost admitted she was a corsair, but realized he sounded quite upset with these people; who could blame him? After all, they pillaged, plundered, burned, and killed. "So, how far is the Hornburg?"
"Two days ride if it doesn't rain, which it probably will," he answered, turning Silver to the north. "Follow close, Éothain. It will do us no good to be separated in the mist."
"Hhmm, that is closer than I expected! Have you ever been there?" she thought the journey would be several days longer but was thrilled to know it could be as little as two. The prospect of rain, however, was not to her liking. She did not mind rain as long as she could enjoy it from a warm, dry location, preferably with a hot drink, good book, and comfortable chair at hand.
The ride started quietly but Cadoc could sense Éothain's curiosity rising.
"Where are you from, boy?" he asked.
"Um, from all over actually! My parents died a couple years ago and I wandered a bit, then found some people who took me in for a while. Then I decided joining the Rohirrim sounded interesting. How about you? Where are you from?" She tried not to reveal too much about her whereabouts but felt he needed to know at least something about her.
So the boy had traveled before.
"I'm from the North." he answered simply.
Quirna sensed this strange man was as wary of revealing information as herself. She chose to ride in silence for a while longer. Then she realized there could be more dangers she had yet to face, such as wolves. "Eolred, are there any wolves around here? I am not sure my horse, Silky, would know how to react in such a situation."
"Not many wolves come down from the mountains," he said. "Only during hard winters do they come this far."
Hoof beats. In the distance. Riders and many of them.
Nervous at the approach of unknown riders, Quirna quietly leveled her horse with Cadoc's and whispered in his ear, "Did you hear that? Who could it be?"
"The Rohirrim probably," he answered.
Just then a large party of horsemen broke from the fog. A huge man leading the party raised a hand when he saw the two strangers signifying a halt.
"Oh good!" she replied, much relieved yet also a bit nervous at finally getting then chance to be with the people she was supposed to spy on. "Will you take care of the talking for us?"
Cadoc nodded, the big Rider drew closer.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"My name is Eolred," Cadoc answered, "and this is my companion Éothain. Are you King Helm?"
"The name is my own. Show your face stranger."
Cadoc sighed and pushed back his hood, revealing a young face, clean shaven, with dark brown hair, flashing eyes, and a stern look.
"A Ranger," the man said raising an eyebrow.
Quirna was rather shocked at her handsome companion. She had thought him to be at least in his 50's, yet his face appeared not too many years older than herself. Her heart told her being around him would be dangerous because she might fall for such a man. And what on earth was a ranger? The new man seemed surprised at finding whatever it was, and she felt unsure if he meant his comment as a compliment, insult, or if he simply stated a fact. However, from her short time with Eolred she knew he could be trusted and would do her no harm. So she shot a questioning look to her companion to signify her confusion, hoping he would give her insight.
"That is true," Cadoc replied, "we are not uncommon."
"What are you doing here?" the King queried.
"To aid you against the Dunlendings and Corsairs.
"One Ranger and a boy?"
Another Rider urged his horse forward and leaned over to King Helm. "Rangers are very deadly sir. It would do well to let him join us."
Oh good! Quirna thought to herself. Joining the Rohirrim will be easy! And at least I know they fear the Rangers and have confirmed he's an expert warrior like I suspected.
She looked towards Eolred, hope shining in her eyes.
"We are going to battle now, Ranger," the King said gruffly, "You may join us and prove your worth."
Cadoc nodded, "Where can the boy stay?"
Despite her misgivings about speaking, Quirna butted in. "Please, sir, I would like to join your army. Surely if you do not want me in the fray of battle you could make use of me in some other area?" How was she supposed to find out anything about them if she was not allowed amongst them?
Helm stroked his beard, "I recently lost my armor bearer. Do you think you can replace him?"
"Children do not belong in battles King Helm," Cadoc objected.
"And who made you my counselor, Eolred?" Helm asked.
"No one sir. But it is dangerous only to our side for him to be in battle."
"What do you know of weapons?" Helm demanded of the boy.
"I am not just a boy, Eolred! My name is Éothain. While I have never seen the heat of battle, I am glad to say I can use a cutlass with the best of them. I am also trained in throwing knives and pride myself on my deadly aim. King Helm, I will defend you with my life if you will only allow me to serve you!" Quirna, rather indignant at her companion's doubt in her, flew into a rage. She also found herself honestly answering the king. She knew he was the one she should serve and decided then and there to forfeit her alliance with the corsairs to serve King Helm.
Helm nodded, "That is good enough for me. But now is not the time for oaths of fealty. Battle is looming. The accursed Dunlendings are meeting us at the fords of the Isen. Prepare for battle, Ranger and Éothain."
