Well, I had hoped to get this out last Saturday, but you know the
story. Well, I had to work and then I was up until three in the morning to
work on AP history and english homework. But I finally got chapter three
done, some how. So here it is, not a lot of action, but that will change.
Once again I hope that it is just as good as the others seem to be. And I
don't own most of this stuff, for a disclaimer see chapter one.
So, please read, relax, and enjoy.
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Growing Up
Yestin was slightly worried by the man's lack of awareness, he did not see a reason for it. The man did not have a fever and had not had one for a few days. Nevertheless he continued the man's treatment, hoping that he would soon wake. And so he was much relieved when the man awoke during the evening of the fifth day. He was groggy at first, but soon became fully aware of his surroundings.
'Where am I?' he asked Yestin as he was brought a bowl of soup.
'Safe.' The man began to open his mouth again, but Yestin stopped him, 'Eat and I'll ask the questions. Who are you?'
The man thought as he ate. He had been told that he was to find a name that fit him better. A name that would tell people of his arrogance and haughtiness.
Yestin began to wonder if the man had forgotten his name- that had been know to happen on rare occasions when someone recieved a terrible head wound.
'I call myself Strider,' the man finally spoke.
'Strider,' Yestin tested the man's name, it was an odd one, 'Well, Strider how is it that you came to be in this cave in the middle of winter without and provisions or winter clothing?' Strider thought, he could not tell the truth, he was ashamed of the truth.
'I was wandering these forests with my horse, Tegan and became lost. I tried for many days to find a way out, but could not. And so when winter fell I became trapped by the first storm of the season. Tegan did not survive the first week of the storm, I barely did by eating frozen berries and nuts, but Tegan would not eat and so began to starve and grow weak. One morning I found her frozen. So I wandered blindly through blowing snow doing whatever I could to survive. Eventually I found my way here where you found me.' Strider quickly finished his soup, handing the bowl to a man. 'And who, if I may ask now, are you sir?'
'I am Yestin, leader of this band of men.'
'Why would such a man bother to save me?' he asked without thinking.
Yestin looked at Strider as he leaned against the cave wall. There was a reason he'd helped him and it wasn't what he told Emlyn. Something about Strider made Yestin trust him, something no other man possessed. He quickly dismissed his thoughts, they would do him no good.
'We had run into a terrible storm, and sought shelter in here, where we found you. While we waited out the storm, I decided that we could not simply ignore you.'
'I am forever indebted to you, you have saved my life.' Strider bowed his head.
'Yes, you are,' he replied curtly, 'I risked the lives of my men to save you. When you are well enough to be on your own we shall part company.' Yestin got up. Strider watched as he slowly walked away. He did not want to be left alone, he did not know how to survive.
'Please, sir, do not let me alone. I do not know how to survive in the wild.' Yestin turned.
'And what do you expect me to do about that,' Yestin asked, his temper was short, 'I do not have the time to train a peasant boy! I have already endangered my men enough.'
Pesant boy! Strider bit his tongue, anger would not help him here.
'You need not train me, I have many good skills, but have never been alone in the wild.' Strider tried to contain his anger.
'Just what are you suggesting, boy. That I take you on as an errand boy?' Yestin came closer, looking hard at the boy.
'If that is what you call it, yes,' answered Strider with a slight hesitation.
'What need do I have for an errand boy?'
Strider did not know, the men were self-sufficient, they did not have need for and errand boy.
'I do not know, sir,' he answered, 'but I am indebted to you and I would wish to repay you, but I do not have anything to do so, except my services however they might aid you.' Yestin looked at the boy's face, he knew he could not leave him here to die, even though he wanted to.
'Alright,' he began reluctantly, 'You've got yourself a job. When you are fully healed you will begin to cook our meals, wash our dishes and any other odd jobs. You will do what ever any of the men tells you to do. For your services you will recieve food and board.' Yestin made the agreement formal, looking at Strider expectantly. Strider agreed and Yestin got up to go about his business. He had to plan their path when they started to move again. Emlyn came to him.
'Are you sure this is a good idea, sir, this taking in of the boy?' Emlyn asked. Yestin thought, he'd let his feelings get the better of him.
'He may be able to do some good. And after he sees the kind of life we live he may decide to leave.'
'What good could a peasant boy do? He lies about his skill- don't you think that he would have managed just fine out here if he had any?'
'He has never been in the wild alone, he said that himself.' Yestin looked up from his maps.
'Sir, why are you so quick to trust him? Perhaps he is a talented liar. But that matters not, we should leave him here his presence will endanger us all.'
'Nay, I do not believe such.'
'But sir, if he is as unskilled as he claims then he will put us in danger.'
'Silence, Emlyn.' anger filled Yestin's voice, 'I have had enough of your comments. Have you forgotten who your captain is. I have sworn to bring no harm upon my men and I shall not.' Yestin sat back a little, rubbing his chin, he had an idea. 'Now if you think that he is so unskilled, then I am appointing you to be his teacher on such skills.'
'But...sir...' Emlyn stammered.
'I expect you to begin tonight. I want to get moving the day after tomorrow.' Yestin spoke as he waved a hand dismissing Emlyn. Emlyn turned to stare at the boy- why did he have to complain? Walking over to Strider, he saw that the boy was still very much awake, intent on watching the activities of the other men.
As he knelt down, Strider backed away. He didn't like Emlyn that much. He seemed too gruff. He knew that Emlyn didn't like him much either. Emlyn fumbled for words, looking at his hands, trying to find the words to talk to the boy. Finally he began.
'How are you doing, lad,' he asked nervously.
Strider looked at him oddly, 'Fine. Is there something you want.' Strider asked when Emlyn failed to continue the conversation.
'Yes...I...well...' Emlyn stammered. There was a long silence between the two, while each looked off in some other direction- focusing on one interesting part of the cave wall. Finally Yestin came out. He knew this would happen, but Emlyn deserved it. He came over to the two who had suddenly discovered their hands.
'What Emlyn is attempting to say,' Yestin as he knelt beside them, mirth filling his voice, 'is that he will be instructing you on the skills you will need during your travels with us. He is concerned about you, ' Emlyn looked at him in shock, ' and does not wish to see you in harm's way.' Yestin added, enjoying the look of anger on Emlyn's face.
Emlyn looked at Strider, surprised to see a look of shock on his face.
'Yes, that was exactly what I wanted to say.' Emlyn said regaining his composure, 'I just had a frog in my throat.'
'Well, thank you for your concern, Emlyn. I'm sure you can teach me a lot.'
'Well then it's settled.' Yestin rose, 'Emlyn will begin to instruct you tonight. I expect you to be on your feet by tommorow morning- the day after we are going to begin traveling once more.'
'Right,' Emlyn spoke gaining his courage as he turned to face Strider, 'We shall begin with basic survival skills. First when you...' Yestin backed away, returning to his maps, as he listened to Emlyn instruct Strider. The boy would need all the skills he could pick up. His scouts had returned bearing very important information, forcing them to make the dangerous trip to the Kingdom of Rohan.
So, please read, relax, and enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Growing Up
Yestin was slightly worried by the man's lack of awareness, he did not see a reason for it. The man did not have a fever and had not had one for a few days. Nevertheless he continued the man's treatment, hoping that he would soon wake. And so he was much relieved when the man awoke during the evening of the fifth day. He was groggy at first, but soon became fully aware of his surroundings.
'Where am I?' he asked Yestin as he was brought a bowl of soup.
'Safe.' The man began to open his mouth again, but Yestin stopped him, 'Eat and I'll ask the questions. Who are you?'
The man thought as he ate. He had been told that he was to find a name that fit him better. A name that would tell people of his arrogance and haughtiness.
Yestin began to wonder if the man had forgotten his name- that had been know to happen on rare occasions when someone recieved a terrible head wound.
'I call myself Strider,' the man finally spoke.
'Strider,' Yestin tested the man's name, it was an odd one, 'Well, Strider how is it that you came to be in this cave in the middle of winter without and provisions or winter clothing?' Strider thought, he could not tell the truth, he was ashamed of the truth.
'I was wandering these forests with my horse, Tegan and became lost. I tried for many days to find a way out, but could not. And so when winter fell I became trapped by the first storm of the season. Tegan did not survive the first week of the storm, I barely did by eating frozen berries and nuts, but Tegan would not eat and so began to starve and grow weak. One morning I found her frozen. So I wandered blindly through blowing snow doing whatever I could to survive. Eventually I found my way here where you found me.' Strider quickly finished his soup, handing the bowl to a man. 'And who, if I may ask now, are you sir?'
'I am Yestin, leader of this band of men.'
'Why would such a man bother to save me?' he asked without thinking.
Yestin looked at Strider as he leaned against the cave wall. There was a reason he'd helped him and it wasn't what he told Emlyn. Something about Strider made Yestin trust him, something no other man possessed. He quickly dismissed his thoughts, they would do him no good.
'We had run into a terrible storm, and sought shelter in here, where we found you. While we waited out the storm, I decided that we could not simply ignore you.'
'I am forever indebted to you, you have saved my life.' Strider bowed his head.
'Yes, you are,' he replied curtly, 'I risked the lives of my men to save you. When you are well enough to be on your own we shall part company.' Yestin got up. Strider watched as he slowly walked away. He did not want to be left alone, he did not know how to survive.
'Please, sir, do not let me alone. I do not know how to survive in the wild.' Yestin turned.
'And what do you expect me to do about that,' Yestin asked, his temper was short, 'I do not have the time to train a peasant boy! I have already endangered my men enough.'
Pesant boy! Strider bit his tongue, anger would not help him here.
'You need not train me, I have many good skills, but have never been alone in the wild.' Strider tried to contain his anger.
'Just what are you suggesting, boy. That I take you on as an errand boy?' Yestin came closer, looking hard at the boy.
'If that is what you call it, yes,' answered Strider with a slight hesitation.
'What need do I have for an errand boy?'
Strider did not know, the men were self-sufficient, they did not have need for and errand boy.
'I do not know, sir,' he answered, 'but I am indebted to you and I would wish to repay you, but I do not have anything to do so, except my services however they might aid you.' Yestin looked at the boy's face, he knew he could not leave him here to die, even though he wanted to.
'Alright,' he began reluctantly, 'You've got yourself a job. When you are fully healed you will begin to cook our meals, wash our dishes and any other odd jobs. You will do what ever any of the men tells you to do. For your services you will recieve food and board.' Yestin made the agreement formal, looking at Strider expectantly. Strider agreed and Yestin got up to go about his business. He had to plan their path when they started to move again. Emlyn came to him.
'Are you sure this is a good idea, sir, this taking in of the boy?' Emlyn asked. Yestin thought, he'd let his feelings get the better of him.
'He may be able to do some good. And after he sees the kind of life we live he may decide to leave.'
'What good could a peasant boy do? He lies about his skill- don't you think that he would have managed just fine out here if he had any?'
'He has never been in the wild alone, he said that himself.' Yestin looked up from his maps.
'Sir, why are you so quick to trust him? Perhaps he is a talented liar. But that matters not, we should leave him here his presence will endanger us all.'
'Nay, I do not believe such.'
'But sir, if he is as unskilled as he claims then he will put us in danger.'
'Silence, Emlyn.' anger filled Yestin's voice, 'I have had enough of your comments. Have you forgotten who your captain is. I have sworn to bring no harm upon my men and I shall not.' Yestin sat back a little, rubbing his chin, he had an idea. 'Now if you think that he is so unskilled, then I am appointing you to be his teacher on such skills.'
'But...sir...' Emlyn stammered.
'I expect you to begin tonight. I want to get moving the day after tomorrow.' Yestin spoke as he waved a hand dismissing Emlyn. Emlyn turned to stare at the boy- why did he have to complain? Walking over to Strider, he saw that the boy was still very much awake, intent on watching the activities of the other men.
As he knelt down, Strider backed away. He didn't like Emlyn that much. He seemed too gruff. He knew that Emlyn didn't like him much either. Emlyn fumbled for words, looking at his hands, trying to find the words to talk to the boy. Finally he began.
'How are you doing, lad,' he asked nervously.
Strider looked at him oddly, 'Fine. Is there something you want.' Strider asked when Emlyn failed to continue the conversation.
'Yes...I...well...' Emlyn stammered. There was a long silence between the two, while each looked off in some other direction- focusing on one interesting part of the cave wall. Finally Yestin came out. He knew this would happen, but Emlyn deserved it. He came over to the two who had suddenly discovered their hands.
'What Emlyn is attempting to say,' Yestin as he knelt beside them, mirth filling his voice, 'is that he will be instructing you on the skills you will need during your travels with us. He is concerned about you, ' Emlyn looked at him in shock, ' and does not wish to see you in harm's way.' Yestin added, enjoying the look of anger on Emlyn's face.
Emlyn looked at Strider, surprised to see a look of shock on his face.
'Yes, that was exactly what I wanted to say.' Emlyn said regaining his composure, 'I just had a frog in my throat.'
'Well, thank you for your concern, Emlyn. I'm sure you can teach me a lot.'
'Well then it's settled.' Yestin rose, 'Emlyn will begin to instruct you tonight. I expect you to be on your feet by tommorow morning- the day after we are going to begin traveling once more.'
'Right,' Emlyn spoke gaining his courage as he turned to face Strider, 'We shall begin with basic survival skills. First when you...' Yestin backed away, returning to his maps, as he listened to Emlyn instruct Strider. The boy would need all the skills he could pick up. His scouts had returned bearing very important information, forcing them to make the dangerous trip to the Kingdom of Rohan.