The Tale of a Warrior Maid
Chapter 8
Kesteral awoke the next morning at dawn. Her day would start as soon as the sun peaked over the first time pole. The time poles where placed near the center of camp. When the sun was level with the fist pole it was time for every one to get on with their day. When it was level with the second, it was mid day, when level with the third all those who where not on a late shift where excused from duty. When the sun was lined up with the last pole first watch began. Then the guard shifts where told by the moons cycle.
Kesteral crawled out of her blanket and threw on her under layers: the pants Haradwë had given her and the padded shirt. Over top of those she threw on her jerkin. She would put her armor on after breakfast.
The morning air was damp and cold, but only a few meters from her tent was the Green Legions main fire. Over it several steaming pots where hung. Three men stood near tending to them. A few elves and a handful of dwarves warmed themselves by the fires warm glow. As she neared them one of the cooks handed her a bowl filled with a goopy, but sweet smelling porridge. She grabbed a spoon from nearby and ate the meal eagerly while warming up at the fire. She could hear several of the dwarves talking. It seemed like they knew one of the helmets was missing from the storage tent. She dearly wished they wouldn't catch Dernhelm with it. But then again it might be funny to see him try to talk his way out of it.
When she finished the porridge she went back into her tent and began to put her armor on, mail first, then the boots and then her leg guards. It took her awhile to get the leg guards on, but she soon figured out how to angle her helmet on the ground to mirror the ties and clasps. She slipped on her gloves positioned her helmet and grabbed her belt. Nimli had not told her whether or not weapons where allowed in the kings' tent, but she took her knives with her anyways. Her bow and quiver she left behind. As she exited the tent she could see the sun nearing the first pole. Right on time she thought as she entered the main tent.
"Ah, it's the new translator. King Elessar said to let her right in," a guard told his partner as she neared the curtain that split the large tent in two. On the side nearest the door where several guards and a few scholars, on the other side she suspected where the two kings. As she passed through the curtain she could see the two aged men. With their white beards clipped neatly one could barely tell they where even passed their prime. Their heads were held high and their eyes gleaming with strength, and cheer. By them stood three of the least expected pages she could think of; Hobbits from the Shire. One of them held a small platter with bread, another held a wine jug. The other busied him self with the polishing of a grand and legendary sword.
"Kesteral of Orthanc, "the king on the right began. "We have waited long for a translator. I am Elessar, this is King Éomer of Rohan. You may take your place on a stool in front of me. We are expecting a visitor today, so your skill will not go unneeded, Odo," he called out to the Hobbit polishing the sword. "Bring the lady the stool from the corner and place it at my feet, you may also hand me back my sword." "Yes sir," the Halfling replied as he began to do as the king commanded. Kesteral could see the sword he had been polishing, it was as she had expected. Andúril was still carried by the King of Gondor.
"As the day passed on she found herself answering more questions then translating. The two kings wanted to know how Radaghast was and whether or not the last few goblin tribes had been chased from the Shire. The large tent became more of a cheerful atmosphere as the hours went by. While the kings talked to their officers about strategy Kesteral found herself discussing the Shire with the Hobbit servants. She learned that their names where Odo Took, Brandi Proudfoot and Robie Underhill. They had been trained by Perigrin Took and Meridoc Brandybuck as ambassadors of Gondor and Rohan to replace the two adventurers when they passed away. When the call went up to join the army, they where obligated to travel south as their allegiance lay with the kings. When Kesteral told them of her own parents, they became silent.
"Is something wrong? Have I offended you?" she asked worried the pages where upset at her.
"No not at all, it is just so upsetting that our people would shun you like they did, and that your father gave into their wish. On behalf of the Shire we apologize." Odo replied silently as the other's nodded in agreement.
"Back to work gentleman, I have allowed you to chatter far too long," Éomer chuckled as he signaled the Hobbits back to their places. "Kesteral, A spy of ours is coming in for a debriefing; he speaks Haradric, so we will need your assistance." As if on cue a dark and worried man stepped through the curtain.
"I have bad news you're Highness'," he began.
Chapter 8
Kesteral awoke the next morning at dawn. Her day would start as soon as the sun peaked over the first time pole. The time poles where placed near the center of camp. When the sun was level with the fist pole it was time for every one to get on with their day. When it was level with the second, it was mid day, when level with the third all those who where not on a late shift where excused from duty. When the sun was lined up with the last pole first watch began. Then the guard shifts where told by the moons cycle.
Kesteral crawled out of her blanket and threw on her under layers: the pants Haradwë had given her and the padded shirt. Over top of those she threw on her jerkin. She would put her armor on after breakfast.
The morning air was damp and cold, but only a few meters from her tent was the Green Legions main fire. Over it several steaming pots where hung. Three men stood near tending to them. A few elves and a handful of dwarves warmed themselves by the fires warm glow. As she neared them one of the cooks handed her a bowl filled with a goopy, but sweet smelling porridge. She grabbed a spoon from nearby and ate the meal eagerly while warming up at the fire. She could hear several of the dwarves talking. It seemed like they knew one of the helmets was missing from the storage tent. She dearly wished they wouldn't catch Dernhelm with it. But then again it might be funny to see him try to talk his way out of it.
When she finished the porridge she went back into her tent and began to put her armor on, mail first, then the boots and then her leg guards. It took her awhile to get the leg guards on, but she soon figured out how to angle her helmet on the ground to mirror the ties and clasps. She slipped on her gloves positioned her helmet and grabbed her belt. Nimli had not told her whether or not weapons where allowed in the kings' tent, but she took her knives with her anyways. Her bow and quiver she left behind. As she exited the tent she could see the sun nearing the first pole. Right on time she thought as she entered the main tent.
"Ah, it's the new translator. King Elessar said to let her right in," a guard told his partner as she neared the curtain that split the large tent in two. On the side nearest the door where several guards and a few scholars, on the other side she suspected where the two kings. As she passed through the curtain she could see the two aged men. With their white beards clipped neatly one could barely tell they where even passed their prime. Their heads were held high and their eyes gleaming with strength, and cheer. By them stood three of the least expected pages she could think of; Hobbits from the Shire. One of them held a small platter with bread, another held a wine jug. The other busied him self with the polishing of a grand and legendary sword.
"Kesteral of Orthanc, "the king on the right began. "We have waited long for a translator. I am Elessar, this is King Éomer of Rohan. You may take your place on a stool in front of me. We are expecting a visitor today, so your skill will not go unneeded, Odo," he called out to the Hobbit polishing the sword. "Bring the lady the stool from the corner and place it at my feet, you may also hand me back my sword." "Yes sir," the Halfling replied as he began to do as the king commanded. Kesteral could see the sword he had been polishing, it was as she had expected. Andúril was still carried by the King of Gondor.
"As the day passed on she found herself answering more questions then translating. The two kings wanted to know how Radaghast was and whether or not the last few goblin tribes had been chased from the Shire. The large tent became more of a cheerful atmosphere as the hours went by. While the kings talked to their officers about strategy Kesteral found herself discussing the Shire with the Hobbit servants. She learned that their names where Odo Took, Brandi Proudfoot and Robie Underhill. They had been trained by Perigrin Took and Meridoc Brandybuck as ambassadors of Gondor and Rohan to replace the two adventurers when they passed away. When the call went up to join the army, they where obligated to travel south as their allegiance lay with the kings. When Kesteral told them of her own parents, they became silent.
"Is something wrong? Have I offended you?" she asked worried the pages where upset at her.
"No not at all, it is just so upsetting that our people would shun you like they did, and that your father gave into their wish. On behalf of the Shire we apologize." Odo replied silently as the other's nodded in agreement.
"Back to work gentleman, I have allowed you to chatter far too long," Éomer chuckled as he signaled the Hobbits back to their places. "Kesteral, A spy of ours is coming in for a debriefing; he speaks Haradric, so we will need your assistance." As if on cue a dark and worried man stepped through the curtain.
"I have bad news you're Highness'," he began.