The Tale of a Warrior Maid
Chapter 7
It was late evening by the time Kesteral left the supply tent. Before she left Nimli told her not to worry about starting her duties till the next day. The camp was difficult to navigate; it took her half an hour to find her own tent. By then the sun had nearly set. In a few hours my things will have been repaired she thought so there's no use trying to sleep. Maybe I'll take Dernhelm up on his offer; a tour of this place would be useful. She decided to scout the young man out after she had unpacked her supplies.
The tent she had been assigned was small, there was just enough room for her bedding and a little more for her wardrobe. Kesteral thanked the Valar she was so short or her feet would end up poking through the doorway. As she exited her new home she saw the main tent to the side and decided to check the guard schedule. She found her name listed for third watch.three weeks later. As she wondered around the camp she realized that Dernhelm had neglected to tell her where he had been stationed. Oh well I'm sure I'll find him tomorrow, I'll check the practice range at dawn, perhaps he'll be there. It was getting to be quite late, and her services would be needed early the next morning. So Kesteral decided to visit the supply tent and pick up her things.
"Their all in perfect working order, you must oil that string regularly. I haven't seen one so supple in a hundred years," Nimli praised handing Kesteral her bow. The rest of your things are out back, just wait here. The dwarf disappeared out a small door in the rear of the tent.
"I'll need a bigger size, could you just grab me an eight," a familiar voice asked from behind a rack of armor. Kesteral took a quick peak at the speaker. It was as she had guessed. Dernhelm was in complaining about the helmet he had lifted earlier. He had some nerve coming in here when the dwarves had refused to give it to him in the first place. Oh well, she'd have to grab him before he left. She would arrange to take his tour sometime during the next day.
"Here we are," called Nimli as he reentered the tent. "You'll want to keep most of your gear on throughout the day, but don't hesitate to take it something off if it gives you any trouble. If any thing does need to be repaired, just drop it off. I'll take care of it as soon as I can. Now, everyone is to wear a jerkin of office, helps us to keep things organized. I've got yours here. It's got a green trim to show you're legion and a picture of a raven on it. The raven's to tell every one you're a translator." Now go ahead and put it on over your padded shirt then you're free to leave."
"Thank you," Kesteral replied slipping the leather jerkin on and grabbing her supplies. She'd have to hurry Dernhelm was leaving. "Hey, wait up!" she called out chasing the young man as he exited the tent. "How about that tour you promised me?"
"Kestreal! I was going to look for you as soon as I finished with the dwarves. I'm busy tonight, but tomorrow should be fine. I'll meet you here, since both of us can find it. I'd stay longer, but those smiths's will soon find out I've hoodwinked them into giving me a new helm, so I'd best skedaddle back to my tent. See you then," with that Dernhelm sprinted of toward the northern edge of the camp and Kesteral was left wondering if he was more trouble then good.
"Yeah, see you then" she replied softly before turning back to her tent to settle down for the night.
Chapter 7
It was late evening by the time Kesteral left the supply tent. Before she left Nimli told her not to worry about starting her duties till the next day. The camp was difficult to navigate; it took her half an hour to find her own tent. By then the sun had nearly set. In a few hours my things will have been repaired she thought so there's no use trying to sleep. Maybe I'll take Dernhelm up on his offer; a tour of this place would be useful. She decided to scout the young man out after she had unpacked her supplies.
The tent she had been assigned was small, there was just enough room for her bedding and a little more for her wardrobe. Kesteral thanked the Valar she was so short or her feet would end up poking through the doorway. As she exited her new home she saw the main tent to the side and decided to check the guard schedule. She found her name listed for third watch.three weeks later. As she wondered around the camp she realized that Dernhelm had neglected to tell her where he had been stationed. Oh well I'm sure I'll find him tomorrow, I'll check the practice range at dawn, perhaps he'll be there. It was getting to be quite late, and her services would be needed early the next morning. So Kesteral decided to visit the supply tent and pick up her things.
"Their all in perfect working order, you must oil that string regularly. I haven't seen one so supple in a hundred years," Nimli praised handing Kesteral her bow. The rest of your things are out back, just wait here. The dwarf disappeared out a small door in the rear of the tent.
"I'll need a bigger size, could you just grab me an eight," a familiar voice asked from behind a rack of armor. Kesteral took a quick peak at the speaker. It was as she had guessed. Dernhelm was in complaining about the helmet he had lifted earlier. He had some nerve coming in here when the dwarves had refused to give it to him in the first place. Oh well, she'd have to grab him before he left. She would arrange to take his tour sometime during the next day.
"Here we are," called Nimli as he reentered the tent. "You'll want to keep most of your gear on throughout the day, but don't hesitate to take it something off if it gives you any trouble. If any thing does need to be repaired, just drop it off. I'll take care of it as soon as I can. Now, everyone is to wear a jerkin of office, helps us to keep things organized. I've got yours here. It's got a green trim to show you're legion and a picture of a raven on it. The raven's to tell every one you're a translator." Now go ahead and put it on over your padded shirt then you're free to leave."
"Thank you," Kesteral replied slipping the leather jerkin on and grabbing her supplies. She'd have to hurry Dernhelm was leaving. "Hey, wait up!" she called out chasing the young man as he exited the tent. "How about that tour you promised me?"
"Kestreal! I was going to look for you as soon as I finished with the dwarves. I'm busy tonight, but tomorrow should be fine. I'll meet you here, since both of us can find it. I'd stay longer, but those smiths's will soon find out I've hoodwinked them into giving me a new helm, so I'd best skedaddle back to my tent. See you then," with that Dernhelm sprinted of toward the northern edge of the camp and Kesteral was left wondering if he was more trouble then good.
"Yeah, see you then" she replied softly before turning back to her tent to settle down for the night.