The sun had just gone down over the small town of Bree. It had rained for three days on end and it had turned the cobblestone road into a slippery slide filled with puddles. A tiny river had formed from the excess water and it streamed down the side of the road towards the lower parts of town. There the small river made its way into a small pod that formed over the past three days as the natural drainage had been blocked by leaves and other debris. And no matter how many times it was cleared out, it always clogged up with the next heavy storm.
The town of Bree was not unfamiliar with the heavy rain, and most of the people just looked up at the clouds with a grim look on their faces. They were used to the heavy weather, but they did not like it.
There were few people in the street, and those that were wore heavy coats and made their way to their destination quickly. Most of them walked towards the Prancing Pony, the local inn, to look for some warmth, food, and company to drive out the gloomy feeling that came with the rain.
Outside you could hear the patrons laugh and talk. One of the people making it to the inn looked more rained down than any of the people that lived in Bree.
Her cloak was dripping, covering her pack from the downpour.
As she opened the door, warmth and light blasted to her face. She wiped a string of wet hair from her face and carefully walked into the inn.
She blinked a few times to take in the change of scene. It was warm inside and light and she was overwhelmed with the sound that came from inside.
A large, rather chubby looking man looked at her from behind the tap. His eyes stood friendly, but there was a hint of nervousness about him. She did not blame him. She knew she looked kind of scary right now.
"Hello good Sir, I am Fredrick Butterbur. What can I do for ya?" His voice held the accent of Bree and he was used to talking in a crowd for he was easy to understand.
She pulled down her hood and hung it on one of the pegs behind her to dry. The floor had gotten a bit wet from all of the outerwear that people had hung there.
She turned and smiled at the man. "Hello sir, I am just glad to be in a dry place for this moment."
The large man started to blush and his eyes widened as he noticed she was no man.
"I apologize, kind Lady. I mistook you for a man. Do you intend to stay here tonight?"
The woman nodded as she put her large pack on the ground. "I do if you have room. But with this weather, I will sleep in the barn if that means I can stay dry."
The innkeeper nodded. "I have a nice room for you, are your traveling companions arriving soon?"
She shook her head. "I travel alone." She pulled out a handkerchief and blew her nose since it was starting to run by the heat inside.
The innkeeper looked at her for a long time his hands rubbing together nervously. "I only have a double room available. If you wish to have it for yourself I am afraid you still have to pay full price. I am sorry, but when it rains like this I am filled to the brim, and I can not afford to let you pay for only a half room." He looked at her reaction. Ram counted the coins in her mind. She knew she did not have enough money. But she needed to be dry and safe for at least one night. There was no way she could not sleep outside again tonight. Not when she was getting sick.
"I don't mind sleeping in the barn." She spoke hopefully. She knew it was probably the only thing she could afford at the moment if the Barliman did not want to put her in a shared room. But the Barliman shook his head. "I ain't putting a lady in the barn. People will talk."
"I ain't a lady." She replied as she tried to hold in a cough she felt coming up.
This was not going the way she planned. She had hoped once she got to the inn her troubles would lessen. The warmth from the inn was getting to her and she wanted to sit down. She had traveled in the cold for a long time and it felt strange to be inside.
Fredrick Butterbur looked upon her with pity in his eyes. He could see she was worse for wear. He hesitated for a moment but then leaned over the bar. "I did not catch your name," he spoke kindly.
"I did not give it, but I'm Ram," she replied, giving the man a small nod. He looked at her once more. "Your one of them rangers aren't you?"
Ram did not answer, she just looked at him. She was not sure if she should give him that information. Most of the people of Bree did not trust the rangers, and for a moment she wondered if he would throw her out if he knew who she was. She pulled up her nose again, as she managed to only cough once.
Her eyes locked with his, pleading to his kind nature. After a moment he looked away. A blush on his cheeks. "Perhaps I have the solution to your problem. There is another ranger here tonight. I do not know if you two are acquainted but perhaps he can aid you."
Ram's mind started to race. Who was patrolling around Bree at the moment? Ram sought her memory, but her mind was too fuzzy to remember it. Making a rash decision was not her style, but she was in no position to think things through. She needed some rest, desperately. More than keeping her head low. Meeting this other ranger was her last option.
She nodded to Fredrick Butterbur and followed him into the common room.
Inside the warmth and the noise were even more overwhelming and it took the ranger a moment to adjust. A few men looked at her. Taking her in from top to bottom. She was wearing male clothes, with patches of leather armor hiding underneath some wet fabric. Her fur around her shoulders hiding her curves as much as possible. She had put down her hood because she was starting to feel warm again.
She could see the looks in their eyes, measuring her up if she was a danger, or if she was into a bit of fun.
Ram was used to this and knew if she gave them a short nod, they would leave her alone most of the time. Butterbur walked easily between the patrons and was making his way to the back of the room. Ram followed closely. The room was softly spinning as she was pushed around between the patrons to follow Butterbur. The dark corner came into view and Ram's eyes searched for familiar faces.
As she looked at the man in the corner, Ram stopped walking. Even though he had his hood up, his long legs were out in front of him and Ram recognized him, even without seeing his face. In the corner sat the captain of the rangers, the one who trained her when she was just a young woman, far away from home.
Just my luck, I run into Strider. She thought in agony. She remembered the man as a harsh trainer, pushing her to her limits. But she never complained and wanted him to see the best of her. A compliment from Strider was not easily earned, but when he gave it, it was even more special. She wondered what he would think of her, seeing her in the state she was in now.
Ram grabbed Butterbur's shoulder and pulled him to her. "I know him. He is my friend. If you can send us some food and two pints it would be appreciated." Butterbur looked at her as if he did not believe her. But then he nodded and walked back. "Very well Miss." Ram was unsure if the innkeeper believed her. But she had given him a way out if she was indeed lying and it wouldn't be on him.
Ram moved closer to the dark corner. Would he remember her? She wondered as she pulled up a chair. Her heart was racing, but her head was spinning and all she could think about now was sitting down.
The ranger captain looked at her as he took a whiff of his pipe. He pulled his legs from the table as she sat down and stared at her for a moment.
She could not see his face as it was hidden underneath his hood.
"You are not supposed to be here." He spoke. It wasn't a question. His voice was low and deep.
But Ram hardly registered it. Now she was sitting down, the heat of the inn was so overwhelming, it was impossible to form thoughts in her mind. She started to cough. She tried to hold it back but failed miserably.
When she regained control over herself, she replied. "I never meant to come here. But I needed a place out of the rain and this was the only place I knew." She looked at him, wishing he would take off his hood. She preferred talking face to face. She could feel drops of sweat on her forehead mix in with the rain from her hair.
Strider leaned back into the shadow and pushed back his hood.
The man had dark curls, still damp from being outside. And signs of a starting beard on his cheeks. His stormy grey eyes locked with hers. His harsh features did not match the look of worry in his eyes.
"How are you feeling?" He asked softly, moving a bit closer to her.
"I am drenched from the rain and a few rivers, but Butterbur will only let me stay in a room I can not afford. I need help, Strider." Ram pleaded. She did not know him that well and was a bit unsure if he would help her.
He looked a bit surprised as she spoke his name. "Did Butterbur tell you my name, or have we met before."
Despite the way she was feeling, Ram smiled at the other ranger. "I was very young when you trained me. Though I had another name then, I am Ram." She could see the man making connections. "Mace's group." He stated, and Ram nodded.
At that moment a hobbit arrived with their food and drinks. Placing two pints and two plates with stew and bread on the table. He nodded at both of them, before walking over to the other tables.
The food looked delicious, but the smell of it somehow made Ram's stomach turn. She took a small bite of bread and felt it come back up almost immediately. She cursed in her mind, at the state she was in. Every time she closed her eyes it was harder for her to open them again.
Strider's grey-blue eyes looked worried at her. "How are you feeling Ram?" He moved closer to her and whipped her hair from her face. His hand lingering on her forehead and neck. His hand felt cold against her skin and his touch felt like heaven. Unknowingly she leaned into the cold. "You are burning up! How long have you been sick, my friend?" Strider asked softly, his voice only a whisper, not to draw any attention to them.
She tried to retrace her steps to when the coughing began. "Outside of Bree. A few days ago." She replied. "That is why I need to sleep in a bed tonight."
She saw his jaw muscles move as if he was pressing his teeth together. "Let's get you to bed. Sleep is better for you than food."
"I have no bed." Ram protested, but Strider was already on his feet, helping her up. "I will talk to Fredrick," he stated.
Ram got to her feet and felt the room was turning heavily. She had to hold onto her fellow ranger not to fall over. Sweat was forming on her forehead from just walking to the edge of the common room. She did not want to move. All she wanted was to curl up in a corner and lose herself to the darkness of sleep. Near the bar, he put her against a doorpost for her to hold on to. "Stay here, and stay awake." He whispered to her. As he moved to Butterbur she could feel the room spinning. To get her mind focused on something she concentrated on the conversation Strider was having with Fredrick...
"I know Fredrick, I am telling you. You can see for yourself, she is sick." There was silence. Ram could not make out Fredrick's reply but she could guess.
"I have never in the long years I come here been any trouble for you. I am asking only this of you. And I will pay you for it." She moved closer. Feeling a sting of guilt, she did not want to be in anyone's debt.
"I don't have problems with you being in there with another ranger, even if she is a woman. But Strider they are talking." The Innkeeper sounded sincere to her.
"They have always been talking about me, Fredrick. Once gossip more or less." Strider replied, trying to hide his tension underneath an air of carelessness.
"But it will harm her reputation." the innkeeper tried one more time.
Even though she felt sick, Ram smiled. Strider laughed in reply. He has a nice laugh. she thought, but the thought left her as soon as it came to her.
"She is a ranger from the North, her reputation was ruined from the beginning. But thank you for your concern." Strider replied.
Ram fought the urge to close her eyes and just give in to sleep. "Can I get you anything?" She did not hear Striders reply, but soon she felt his arm around her once more. "Come." He whispered to her.
He helped her up the stairs and into a room. He took her to one of the beds, where she almost dove into. Sleep already overtaking her mind. As soon as she lay down, the darkness of sleep claimed her.