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Chapter 2
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Rannyn was very clever for his age. Every time we both wanted to enter the city, he would trick one of the soldiers with a convincing story. I watched the movements of his hands and the swelling of tears as he drove the older man to sorrow. "Please, I looked everywhere...he has to be out there." A tear rolled down Rannyn's eyes as he pointed passed the garden gates.
The guard watched the twelve year old break into tears then looked at me. I stood still, completely dumbfounded. I didn't know how to act but then I never bothered to try because Rannyn could always handle the story.
"And you're missing your dog too?" The soldier asked, being skeptical about the story.
I knew this was a foolish idea. We should've tried to climb over the garden walls rather than lie to a man that didn't believe us in the first place. You've met your match, Rannyn. Finally, I managed to cough out "No sir, I just want to find his dog."
His shiny armor gleamed at the sun making it seem he was at a higher power. "Alright...let them pass!" he yelled at the other two who stood a few feet beside the gate.
I sighed of relief and watched the men pull the wooden gate slowly open. I was free. Rannyn grabbed my hand and yanked me to the streets. People scurried on the hard, cemented ground, quickly rushing in their own business and took no notice of anyone. Every once in a while, a soldier would stroll by to make sure all was well. Rannyn and I would always hid from them whether it was behind a food stand or behind a commoner, pretending it was our mother so we wouldn't get caught and suffer deadly scowls from our parents.
The sun grew hotter as it rose higher. We ran through the clustered streets as sweat came on our faces. I knew exactly where Rannyn was taking me—outside the border of the city.
We make several attempts but they all failed. Rannyn and I would do just about anything to run to the forest and live the life of a ranger. Two years ago, my father took me to the woods Druadan for a chance to escape his stress. He told me how he used to walk through places very similar as this when he was younger for many years before Minas Tirith desperately needed a king. But at the end of the day, we went back to the palace. That was then I decided what I wanted to be.
When we arrived, I was tired and drenched in sweat. It was midday already and no cloud offered a break from the sun or the heat. I sat by the tall, grey wall watching Rannyn stand there with his hands on his hips, staring at the top, calculating our escape.
"Well, what's the plan?" I asked him, who stood still, thinking.
He ignored me. He ignored everyone when he was concentrating. I sighed and placed my elbows on my knees, waiting. Sleep was creeping on me but the hunger for lunch kept me from heavy eyes.
"That's it!" He yelled at the top of his voice. I jumped and quickly rose, getting excited myself. "What is it?"
He laughed and grabbed my shoulders, gently shaking me. Giving me a happy grin, he said "It's so simple even you could've thought of it. A ladder."
Of course! After hundreds of tries to climb over the wall or smuggling ourselves in shipping wagons, a ladder was almost too simple. "But, where would we get one?" I curiously asked.
His smile left his face and crossed his arms thinking again. I did see one at the garden but it would've been too risky and it may not have been tall enough to reach the wall.
Rannyn shook his head finally replying, "I don't know of anyone who would posse one."
"What about shovels?" Someone said close behind me.
I quickly turned around and stared at the person. It was a girl who barely reached the age of 10. Her long golden hair was gently tucked in a Rohan braid, a few curls perfectly dangling by her ears. She was pretty.
I felt my cheeks turn warm and I knew they were pink. I just stared at her, her grey eyes sparkling. What was a seven-year-old supposed to say?
"Shovels...maybe, but it would take a good effort at digging." Rannyn replied to the stranger, "It couldn't work."
"It was worth a try." The girl smiled and grabbed by hand, shaking it carefully. "Hi, I'm Eleveth."
"I'm Eldarion, nice to meet you." I said, being cautious at my words.
She smiled again and continued "I've watched you guys for a while now and thought that I'll help you."
Rannyn held his chin, not being convinced. "How do I know you're not the enemy who murders rangers like us?"
Eleveth giggled and carried on with the game. "Because I'm the only one here who can take you to the Druadan forest." I gave her a funny expression, slightly confused of the location I wanted to pursue to. Then she rolled her eyes and gently tugged on my vest "Come on, come with me. I'll show you."
Chapter 2
-=-=-=-=-=-
Rannyn was very clever for his age. Every time we both wanted to enter the city, he would trick one of the soldiers with a convincing story. I watched the movements of his hands and the swelling of tears as he drove the older man to sorrow. "Please, I looked everywhere...he has to be out there." A tear rolled down Rannyn's eyes as he pointed passed the garden gates.
The guard watched the twelve year old break into tears then looked at me. I stood still, completely dumbfounded. I didn't know how to act but then I never bothered to try because Rannyn could always handle the story.
"And you're missing your dog too?" The soldier asked, being skeptical about the story.
I knew this was a foolish idea. We should've tried to climb over the garden walls rather than lie to a man that didn't believe us in the first place. You've met your match, Rannyn. Finally, I managed to cough out "No sir, I just want to find his dog."
His shiny armor gleamed at the sun making it seem he was at a higher power. "Alright...let them pass!" he yelled at the other two who stood a few feet beside the gate.
I sighed of relief and watched the men pull the wooden gate slowly open. I was free. Rannyn grabbed my hand and yanked me to the streets. People scurried on the hard, cemented ground, quickly rushing in their own business and took no notice of anyone. Every once in a while, a soldier would stroll by to make sure all was well. Rannyn and I would always hid from them whether it was behind a food stand or behind a commoner, pretending it was our mother so we wouldn't get caught and suffer deadly scowls from our parents.
The sun grew hotter as it rose higher. We ran through the clustered streets as sweat came on our faces. I knew exactly where Rannyn was taking me—outside the border of the city.
We make several attempts but they all failed. Rannyn and I would do just about anything to run to the forest and live the life of a ranger. Two years ago, my father took me to the woods Druadan for a chance to escape his stress. He told me how he used to walk through places very similar as this when he was younger for many years before Minas Tirith desperately needed a king. But at the end of the day, we went back to the palace. That was then I decided what I wanted to be.
When we arrived, I was tired and drenched in sweat. It was midday already and no cloud offered a break from the sun or the heat. I sat by the tall, grey wall watching Rannyn stand there with his hands on his hips, staring at the top, calculating our escape.
"Well, what's the plan?" I asked him, who stood still, thinking.
He ignored me. He ignored everyone when he was concentrating. I sighed and placed my elbows on my knees, waiting. Sleep was creeping on me but the hunger for lunch kept me from heavy eyes.
"That's it!" He yelled at the top of his voice. I jumped and quickly rose, getting excited myself. "What is it?"
He laughed and grabbed my shoulders, gently shaking me. Giving me a happy grin, he said "It's so simple even you could've thought of it. A ladder."
Of course! After hundreds of tries to climb over the wall or smuggling ourselves in shipping wagons, a ladder was almost too simple. "But, where would we get one?" I curiously asked.
His smile left his face and crossed his arms thinking again. I did see one at the garden but it would've been too risky and it may not have been tall enough to reach the wall.
Rannyn shook his head finally replying, "I don't know of anyone who would posse one."
"What about shovels?" Someone said close behind me.
I quickly turned around and stared at the person. It was a girl who barely reached the age of 10. Her long golden hair was gently tucked in a Rohan braid, a few curls perfectly dangling by her ears. She was pretty.
I felt my cheeks turn warm and I knew they were pink. I just stared at her, her grey eyes sparkling. What was a seven-year-old supposed to say?
"Shovels...maybe, but it would take a good effort at digging." Rannyn replied to the stranger, "It couldn't work."
"It was worth a try." The girl smiled and grabbed by hand, shaking it carefully. "Hi, I'm Eleveth."
"I'm Eldarion, nice to meet you." I said, being cautious at my words.
She smiled again and continued "I've watched you guys for a while now and thought that I'll help you."
Rannyn held his chin, not being convinced. "How do I know you're not the enemy who murders rangers like us?"
Eleveth giggled and carried on with the game. "Because I'm the only one here who can take you to the Druadan forest." I gave her a funny expression, slightly confused of the location I wanted to pursue to. Then she rolled her eyes and gently tugged on my vest "Come on, come with me. I'll show you."