Chapter 3: Identities

The next morning the girls got dressed and went downstairs for breakfast. Today they were going to do what they set out to do, solve a disappearance. The only problem was none of them knew where to start.

"This city is so large, finding any sort of clue will be almost impossible." Trinity said.

"Don't think like that. We just need to start in an obvious place and see where that takes us." Said the optimistic Firre.

"The problem with that is that there is no obvious place in this city. Every place is an obvious place." Lira shattered Firre's hope.

"The argument continued from the time they left the room to halfway through breakfast. There was one thing made certain from their argument, none of them knew much about crime.

"Why did they send us again? Shouldn't Althoros be here? He is the going to be the councilman in charge of crime after all." Trinity complained.

"It's because it was your father's idea because you go here every month, Althoros has never been here and you just took us along for the ride." Lira replied.

"But the ride is about to get better. Look who just walked in, our ranger friends."  Firre said with a wide grin.

The rangers noticed the girls and walked over to them. Greetings were exchanged but then they were all silent for a moment.

"What are you ladies doing today? If you have nothing planned then we could show you around and maybe get to know each other better." Arlot proposed.

"That sounds wonderful. Let's go!" said an eager Firre.

They all paired off, split up and agreed to meet back at the inn later. That was the idea of Menedur. The girls felt a little awkward going their separate ways with complete strangers but they went along anyway. They were a little uneasy being alone with a ranger but throughout the day, everything was easier.

"What exactly does a ranger do?" Trinity asked Hunter.

"Well, they are not wanderers like they were many years ago but we have a place in society. We police the city and bring wrong doers to justice. We are highly respected by some but others find us unnecessary. Although without us there would be gypsies and elves invading our city."

"What's the matter with those kinds of people?"

"Gypsies and elves are very similar. They both creep around cities, stealing and causing disturbances. They main difference is that gypsies are just people who choose to wander and not do much with their lives. Or they are just down on their luck because they might have lost their money but they could still find work as servants or something like that. Elves are just, I don't know, not people."

"So that gives you the right to persecute them? You told those young children that elves were good."

"No, I just said I believed in them.  They should know about the existence of elves because if they see one they should get it out of our city. Why are you getting so defensive?"

"I don't think it's right to persecute or maybe even execute those who are wanderers or are not who you want them to be. Elves are people, they are just different."

"How can you say that? An elf practices witchcraft and wants to regain power in Middle Earth. It is my job to suppress them."

"Have you ever killed one?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"Just answer it."

"No. I have taken them to the palace and the do whatever they want with them."

"Could you ever kill one?"

"Another weird question?"

"I want to know!"

"No, I couldn't. The only reason I'm a ranger is because that's what my father wanted for me. His wish was to find the elf-witch who killed is brother and broke his heart. He died before fulfilling that wish so I'm doing it for him." Hunter looked away from Trinity in disgust. "I know you travel the world and might know a great deal more that I do but this is all I know. This is what I was taught since I was young. It's not necessarily what I want but I could never please my father, the least I could do was make his dying wish come true, but I don't even have the heart to do that."

Trinity looked at Hunter closely. She could relate to him so much at that moment. She would never be able to please her father either. Sympathy ran through her, he was really telling her the truth, she could feel it.  "I am so sorry. It just sounded as if you would persecute me and I got scared. I never meant to bring all that pain back to you."

"It's not you fault, you didn't know. Why would I persecute you anyway, are you a gypsy?"

"Well, no."

"Then you were just fearing nothing."

"Can I ask you one more question?"

"If you must."

"What do you know of a young elvish boy who wandered into your city not to long ago?"

Hunter let out a sigh. He did not want to answer her question but in his mind it felt like the right thing to do. "Menedur found him. He took him to the palace, he is still there I believe. Captain told Menedur that we needed him for something. I'm not sure for what exactly but I know the government is planning something. Now it is my turn to ask a question, why do you care so much about elves?"

Trinity froze. She hoped it would never come to this so she did the first thing that came to her. She ran. She did not get very far before Hunter grabbed her and revealed her delicately pointed ears from underneath her dark hair.

"I knew it!" He cried.

"Please don't take me away! I'll leave tonight and never come again. Just do hurt my friends or me!" Trinity could feel the tears of fear running down her face. Hunter just looked at her trembling underneath his strong grip. It was his duty to take her away and if it were any other elf he most likely would have. Instead he just pulled her close and held her in a gentle embrace.

"I won't hurt you. Please don't run away from me, I don't want to be feared by you." He let her go and she just stared at him in amazement.

"Why are you doing this? I thought you were taught to rid your city of people unlike yourself."

"I'm not sure why. If this happened before I knew you that maybe I would have but just can't. Maybe it has something to do with these feelings I have every time I look at you. I will never hurt you or your friends and I promise I won't tell anyone who you really are."

"Thank you. To be safe I should return home tonight. I won't bother you again." She turned to leave but Hunter grabbed her arm, gently this time.

"I want to see you again. Now that I know you I could never be without you. I can't explain it but I have to see you again."

Trinity began to cry again, not because of fear, but because she felt the same way. She threw herself back into his arms and held him tight. "I will comeback I promise. For now I should return home and when I return I might have information about the woman your father sought."

Hunter pushed her away so her could look into her eyes. "I will never know how to thank you if you find her." He then brushed his lips against hers and held her as if he would never let go.