Author's note: I made up a lot of what is said about Ranger training. In fact, I think all of it is my own. I'm hope it does make sense. nervous laugh I just watched Master and Commander. It's actually...really good. I actually wrote the first part of a story for it. I'm still debating whether to put it up or not because I've just started to read the books. I don't want anything to be unreal. Maybe I should put it up and edit it after I've read more? Anyways, thanks a lot for your reviews and support, some of you have emailed me too; I really treasure them. Thanks a ton!
Chapter 12: Answer
"But..." I stammered.
A small smile played at Faramir's lips, but dissuaded suddenly, "You're not pleased?"
"No...I mean, yes! But I thought...it was impossible." I said a little confused.
"You said that: it's only impossible until someone does it, right? I did spend a lot of time thinking about it. I hope I didn't disappoint you."
"No!" I exclaimed, "Of course not. Well, this was very unexpected." I paused awkwardly, "Thank you."
Tiredly, he said, "You're very welcome."
"There's more to it, isn't there?"
"Yes. There is."
We sat in silence for a while. I watched the Anduin rock by and the trees rustle in the fresh breeze.
"Why did you want to become a Ranger?" he asked quietly, breaking the silence.
I thought about the question but could find no good reason.
"Well..." I began slowly, "I think it's because...you see, Father was always practicing in the courtyard and it was very intriguing when I was little. The Elves would show him some...special techniques and they were really beautiful. Sometimes, I'd ask him why he was a knight. And he said that he wanted to be a knight because he wanted to defend those who needed help. So that's what...sort of inspired me?" I ended in the tone of a question. It really didn't make much sense to me.
Faramir leaned against the tree, his eyes closed in peaceful repose. He said nothing in reply.
"My lord?" I ventured.
He opened his eyes, "What is the matter?" he asked softly.
"Oh no, nothing." I blushed.
"I was just thinking about what you said. Most of the men, who are Rangers or soldiers, or even Officers, were forced to enlist as young men. They have no wish to be here. And if you do, I will do my best to let you stay. After all, I would have wanted to have my wishes fulfilled. If it is in my power to fulfill yours, then I will do so."
He'd said, 'I would have wanted' and I was a little confused. Didn't he wish to be a Ranger too? Didn't he want to fight?
"You...did not want this, did you?" I asked and gestured at his Captain insignia.
"No. I did not wish to become a soldier. I wanted to avoid it, at all costs."
I suddenly remembered when I had stumbled in on him. He had been writing poetry.
"It was expected of me." He went on, "So I went ahead and did it because I had to."
"You are an asset to Gondor's army." I said.
"How would you know?" he smiled a little.
"Ithilien is still standing."
"It doesn't take much. We are well hidden. As long as we are careful, we will not be discovered. It has never been difficult, these past years. When I was made Captain, all of Ithilien still seemed at peace. But I fear that enemies are coming to claim Ithilien. The Haradrim are coming from the South. There are few now, but more will come, I am sure of it." he sighed. "Why can't we all stay at peace with one another? Why must we fight?"
Some of what he said instilled fear in me. But I replied calmly, "You will find a way to stop them."
"I can only hope that is so." He paused, "Here now, I'll tell you how it'll be from now on."
I leaned forward, listening intently.
"First, I will expect the same of you as the rest of the men. I will make exceptions for the first three months because you are just learning. But afterwards, you will be trained with the men. For now, Mablung will be teaching you how to handle a sword and belt knife. Damrod will be teaching you how to orient maps and scout unknown areas. And I will be teaching you how to use a bow from the ground and from the saddle."
I listened with rapt attention, butterflies fluttering in my throat. What he said was a dream. It was a dream I had always wanted. A dream that I had always hoped for.
"Second," he went on, "About sleeping quarters. You will not be sleeping in the same barracks as the rest of the Rangers." He stopped, "I will find a room for you when we get back."
"Thank you." I said. "You know, I really cannot repay you. I don't have any money or..."
"Stop that." He interjected quietly, "I'm not doing this for money. I'm doing this because I think you can do this too."
The sudden pride I felt was more beautiful than I thought it would be. Being a girl, I had never been on my father's good side. To have someone speak to me as of equal intelligence and importance was something new. And I loved it.
"I will warn you now. When we are out scouting or in skirmishes or in battles, these privacy requirements may be gone. When we are out of Henneth- Annun for days, we bathe in the Anduin, food is rationed, and we may not sleep fitfully. Living standards are at a minimal, really." He stopped and coughed, "Any questions?"
I shook my head. I didn't want him to stop. The whole idea was fanatically interesting.
"You will also be required to swear an oath of service and loyalty to my lord Steward. After you swear to him, you will also do the same to me as I will be your Captain. I will take you to Minas Tirith in a few weeks. If you ever want to leave or resign, you must give me a period of notice before I discharge you from the army. If there are any problems between yourself and another Ranger or Officer or maybe even the group, please tell me. There has never been a female Ranger at this base. Not all of them will accept new ideas."
His eyes were suddenly full of concern, "Promise me that you'll talk to me, or Mablung if I'm not around."
"I promise." I said, then asked, "About clothing and weapons, do I purchase my own?"
"Ranger clothing and armor will be given to you. If you need something larger or smaller, just speak to Mablung and he'll find you something. For the weapons, we will supply you with a basic bow and quiver, a belt knife and a sword. You may keep them, though I do suggest that you buy other ones of better quality. Minas Tirith has many shops for good weapons. My belt knife was made there." He unlaced the cords that tied the scabbard to his belt and handed it to me.
I felt around the edges and unsheathed the small blade. Its scabbard was plain black leather, but the small hilt and blade showed quality. On the smooth side of the knife was written Faramir's name and station. The other side was plain, though space was left for words. I sheathed it again and handed it to him.
"Any other questions?" he asked.
"No." I looked at him, "Not right now."
"Well, I suppose you are hungry. Breakfast will be on in a few minutes. Care to join me?"
I smiled and followed him back to the base.
Chapter 12: Answer
"But..." I stammered.
A small smile played at Faramir's lips, but dissuaded suddenly, "You're not pleased?"
"No...I mean, yes! But I thought...it was impossible." I said a little confused.
"You said that: it's only impossible until someone does it, right? I did spend a lot of time thinking about it. I hope I didn't disappoint you."
"No!" I exclaimed, "Of course not. Well, this was very unexpected." I paused awkwardly, "Thank you."
Tiredly, he said, "You're very welcome."
"There's more to it, isn't there?"
"Yes. There is."
We sat in silence for a while. I watched the Anduin rock by and the trees rustle in the fresh breeze.
"Why did you want to become a Ranger?" he asked quietly, breaking the silence.
I thought about the question but could find no good reason.
"Well..." I began slowly, "I think it's because...you see, Father was always practicing in the courtyard and it was very intriguing when I was little. The Elves would show him some...special techniques and they were really beautiful. Sometimes, I'd ask him why he was a knight. And he said that he wanted to be a knight because he wanted to defend those who needed help. So that's what...sort of inspired me?" I ended in the tone of a question. It really didn't make much sense to me.
Faramir leaned against the tree, his eyes closed in peaceful repose. He said nothing in reply.
"My lord?" I ventured.
He opened his eyes, "What is the matter?" he asked softly.
"Oh no, nothing." I blushed.
"I was just thinking about what you said. Most of the men, who are Rangers or soldiers, or even Officers, were forced to enlist as young men. They have no wish to be here. And if you do, I will do my best to let you stay. After all, I would have wanted to have my wishes fulfilled. If it is in my power to fulfill yours, then I will do so."
He'd said, 'I would have wanted' and I was a little confused. Didn't he wish to be a Ranger too? Didn't he want to fight?
"You...did not want this, did you?" I asked and gestured at his Captain insignia.
"No. I did not wish to become a soldier. I wanted to avoid it, at all costs."
I suddenly remembered when I had stumbled in on him. He had been writing poetry.
"It was expected of me." He went on, "So I went ahead and did it because I had to."
"You are an asset to Gondor's army." I said.
"How would you know?" he smiled a little.
"Ithilien is still standing."
"It doesn't take much. We are well hidden. As long as we are careful, we will not be discovered. It has never been difficult, these past years. When I was made Captain, all of Ithilien still seemed at peace. But I fear that enemies are coming to claim Ithilien. The Haradrim are coming from the South. There are few now, but more will come, I am sure of it." he sighed. "Why can't we all stay at peace with one another? Why must we fight?"
Some of what he said instilled fear in me. But I replied calmly, "You will find a way to stop them."
"I can only hope that is so." He paused, "Here now, I'll tell you how it'll be from now on."
I leaned forward, listening intently.
"First, I will expect the same of you as the rest of the men. I will make exceptions for the first three months because you are just learning. But afterwards, you will be trained with the men. For now, Mablung will be teaching you how to handle a sword and belt knife. Damrod will be teaching you how to orient maps and scout unknown areas. And I will be teaching you how to use a bow from the ground and from the saddle."
I listened with rapt attention, butterflies fluttering in my throat. What he said was a dream. It was a dream I had always wanted. A dream that I had always hoped for.
"Second," he went on, "About sleeping quarters. You will not be sleeping in the same barracks as the rest of the Rangers." He stopped, "I will find a room for you when we get back."
"Thank you." I said. "You know, I really cannot repay you. I don't have any money or..."
"Stop that." He interjected quietly, "I'm not doing this for money. I'm doing this because I think you can do this too."
The sudden pride I felt was more beautiful than I thought it would be. Being a girl, I had never been on my father's good side. To have someone speak to me as of equal intelligence and importance was something new. And I loved it.
"I will warn you now. When we are out scouting or in skirmishes or in battles, these privacy requirements may be gone. When we are out of Henneth- Annun for days, we bathe in the Anduin, food is rationed, and we may not sleep fitfully. Living standards are at a minimal, really." He stopped and coughed, "Any questions?"
I shook my head. I didn't want him to stop. The whole idea was fanatically interesting.
"You will also be required to swear an oath of service and loyalty to my lord Steward. After you swear to him, you will also do the same to me as I will be your Captain. I will take you to Minas Tirith in a few weeks. If you ever want to leave or resign, you must give me a period of notice before I discharge you from the army. If there are any problems between yourself and another Ranger or Officer or maybe even the group, please tell me. There has never been a female Ranger at this base. Not all of them will accept new ideas."
His eyes were suddenly full of concern, "Promise me that you'll talk to me, or Mablung if I'm not around."
"I promise." I said, then asked, "About clothing and weapons, do I purchase my own?"
"Ranger clothing and armor will be given to you. If you need something larger or smaller, just speak to Mablung and he'll find you something. For the weapons, we will supply you with a basic bow and quiver, a belt knife and a sword. You may keep them, though I do suggest that you buy other ones of better quality. Minas Tirith has many shops for good weapons. My belt knife was made there." He unlaced the cords that tied the scabbard to his belt and handed it to me.
I felt around the edges and unsheathed the small blade. Its scabbard was plain black leather, but the small hilt and blade showed quality. On the smooth side of the knife was written Faramir's name and station. The other side was plain, though space was left for words. I sheathed it again and handed it to him.
"Any other questions?" he asked.
"No." I looked at him, "Not right now."
"Well, I suppose you are hungry. Breakfast will be on in a few minutes. Care to join me?"
I smiled and followed him back to the base.