Camcir and Boromir were riding with the men to one of the larger villages in Ithilien. This was because Camcir had finally worn down Boromir enough that he at least agreed to question a few people before heading off into the woods to find The Fox. Boromir was still sulking a little bit, but it was very hard to remain too angry on such a glorious day. He planned to ask a couple of peasants a few questions but he doubted that anything would come of it. If the peasants had any useful information, they would have used it by now to collect the reward.
They were about 20 minutes from the village when disaster struck. A rabbit shot across the road in front of them, spooking their horses. While Boromir was able to remain in the saddle, Camcir was not. He was thrown from his seat and landed with a sickening crack on his shoulder. Boromir got his horse under control and quickly dismounted to look at his best friend and Lieutenant.It was clear from the way Camcir was holding himself that something was wrong.
A quick examination revealed a broken collarbone and a sprained wrist. Calling one of his men, he ordered him to ride to the village and fetch a healer. He then helped Camcir out of the road and settled him down as comfortably as possible.
Camcir grimaced in pain and said, "I can't believe I was so poor a rider as to fall off because of a rabbit. You do realize this puts me out of commission for a while, don't you?"
Boromir nodded "Yes, that's pretty obvious, but not to worry. We'll arrange for you to have a nice, comfortable bed with a pretty farmer's daughter to take care of you. Really, I'm quite jealous. You'll be laying back, being waited on while the rest of us are slogging through the woods playing sheriff's men."
Camcir's expression soured some more. He realized that this injury would do more then just keep him out of the saddle. It was going to keep him apart from Boromir and that was a very bad thing indeed! Without him to keep Boromir in check, the man would probably go off with some ill thought-out plan that would only end in disaster. This Fox was a clever man and Camcir would hate to see Boromir get humiliated like the others who had tried to capture the wily outlaw. He had to find someway to convince Boromir to move him to the lodge. At least that way he could check Boromir's ideas before he implemented them.
"Boromir, I think I can handle riding back to the lodge. Really, it's bad enough that I can't actually patrol with you but I should at least be around to help you with the logistics."
Boromir looked at him like he had sprouted a second head. "Camcir, are you mad? The lodge is a good ten miles from here and most of the roads between here and there are terrible. Don't be daft, stay in the village and let me handle the mission." Boromir patted him comfortingly on the leg and then rose to speak to the men about the change in plans.
Camcir looked at Boromir desperately and tried another tack. "What if we got a cart and transported me that way? That would be less jarring than riding." He looked at Boromir beseechingly.
Boromir was touched by Camcir's loyalty, but there was no way he was going to put him through that kind of pain. He was more than capable of handling this simple mission. "Camcir, enough already. This wasn't your fault. Accidents happen, especially to soldiers. Consider yourself out of commission and off-duty until you heal. I don't want to hear any more about it." And with that final statement, he turned away from Camcir and walked over to where the men were clustered. He began to fill them in on what had happened and how they would be proceeding. Camcir just closed his eyes and a feeling of apprehension washed over him. This was not going to go well, he could just sense it.
Boromir sent the men on ahead to the village to round up people who had information on The Fox. While he wanted to see Camcir comfortably settled, he didn't want to lose any more time thannecessary going after The Fox. This man was proving to be a real nuisance and he was determined to see him in chains as soon as possible.
When the healer arrived, Boromir practically pounced on him. As soon as the man dismounted from his horse, he dragged him over to where Camcir sat. The healer examined the man's injuries and came to the same conclusion they had. Camcir's collarbone was broken and his wrist sprained. Along with that he had a number of painful bruises and abrasions that would add to his discomfort. The doctor bound Camcir's wrist and then rigged a sling to ease the pain of the broken collarbone. While he was finishing up, a small pony cart arrived to transport the injured man to the village. Boromir saw Camcir settled as comfortably as possible in the cart, and then rode ahead to see to arranging for his stay in the village. He wanted Camcir to be taken immediately to bed upon his arrival.
Once he arrived he saw that his men had a handful of peasants rounded up to speak to him. He rode up to the group and dismounted in front of them, allowing one of his men to take his horse. He looked at the peasants and was rather unimpressed. They seemed rather dull and he doubted that anything they had to tell him was going to be of any use. Still, he had given Camcir his word that he would ask and ask he would. Besides, he needed to make arrangements for Camcir to be taken care of until he was back on his feet.
Walking up to one of the older men, he said, "Do you know who I am?" The peasant bowed his head and said, "Yes, you are Lord Boromir, Captain-General of Gondor" The man twisted a handkerchief in his hands and didn't meet Boromir's eyes.
Boromir rolled his eyes at the man's behavior. For Valar's sake, he just wanted to get some information and get out of here. This shouldn't be that difficult. Taking a deep breath, he tried again. "Do you know why I am here? I am seeking information about the man known as The Fox. What can you tell me about him?"
The man continued to twist the handkerchief and finally said "I really don't know much. Just that he makes his home somewhere in the woods of Ithilien and that he don't much like the Steward's men".
Boromir grunted. This he already knew. "Anything else you can tell me about him? Where he might have his hideout? Anyone he might have contact with? When the man didn't answer, he looked around at the others. "What about the rest of you. What can you tell me?" The silence held, as no one seemed to have any answers to give. Boromir threw up his hands in frustration. "Are you trying to say that this man has been robbing you for years now and you have no idea where to find him?"
A young boy who was standing near his mother piped up. "He hasn't been robbing us. The Fox is a good man and he only takes from those who deserve it." His mother hastily shushed him but it was too late. The boy now had Boromir's full attention.
"Those who deserve it? And who is The Fox to decide who is deserving? He is just a common bandit and when I find him, I'm going to see that he is brought before the Steward in chains to be sentenced for his crimes" Boromir glared around at the peasants one last time and then turned to his men. "Prepare to ride out. We're wasting our time here." His men nodded and went to reclaim their horses. Boromir turned back to the peasants and said "My Lieutenant has been injured and is being brought here to recover. I need someone to take care of him. Who here has the largest farm?"
A peasant who was dressed somberly but in good clothes stepped forward. "I do my lord. It would be an honor to take your man in. My wife has some skill in herb lore and will be able to see to his recovery."
Boromir looked dismissingly at the man and said, "You will have the healer tend to him. Is that understood? My Lieutenant is to have the best of everything. " And with that he took a small purse out and threw it mockingly at the man. "This is to see that it happens"
The man's lips tightened for a moment in anger but he kept himself under control and merely bowed and said, "Yes my lord, I will see it done". Seeing the man intended to comply, Boromir turned his back on him and went over to where one of his men held his horse. He mounted and said, "Let's move out. We'll scout the woods to the west of here and see what we can find." He kicked his horse into a trot and led his men out of the village without a backwards glance.
After several hours of fruitless searching, Boromir decided to call it a day. He sent his men back to the village that they were quartered at and set across the countryside. The roads of Ithilien were winding and long and Boromir was determined to reach the lodge before dark.
This part of Ithilien was hilly and the trees were not so tightly pressed together. It was easy to make a path between them that was far straighter than the road he would have taken. And he was glad to have the solitude, as today had been a day of many frustrations. First Camcir's accident and then the uncooperative peasants. Really, he was doing this for their own good and they acted like he was the enemy. And that boy! Did he really believe that The Fox was acting with honor? The Fox was a criminal and that he had somehow managed to convince ignorant peasants that he was the good guy didn't change the facts. Boromir was going to see that the record was set straight by capturing him and making him stand trial for his crimes.
Because Boromir was dreaming of presenting the broken and chained Fox in the Great Hall of the Citadel, he failed to sense the men that were waiting in ambush in one of the thicker groves of trees.
Damrod had spotted the rider a while ago and had informed the other members of the patrol. Word had come to them that the Captain-General was coming to Ithilien with a troop of soldiers and it was clear from his garb and the color of his hair that this was the man himself. They had discussed it among themselves and decided that Boromir, Heir to the Steward of Gondor, was a prize indeed and this was just too good an opportunity to pass up. When again would they find the man without a guard? That they had never taken a captive before was ignored in theheat of the moment. They had made their plan and took up their positions.
Boromir did not know of his danger until his horse was shot out from under him. He tried to kick free from the saddle but his foot caught for a moment and caused him to landed badly. With his breath knocked out of him, he was unable to react fast enough to prevent himself from being surrounded on three sides.
Damrod stopped out of sword range and said, "We've got archers trained on you. Try to run or fight and we'll cut you down. Drop your sword." When Boromir did not comply he barked again "Drop it or I will give the order to fire"
Boromir glared at the masked figure and tried to look for any avenue of escape. But the fact of the matter was that the trap had been a good one and there was no way out of it. He dropped his sword but continued to glare in defiance.
Damrod signaled to one the men encircling Boromir and the man approached warily. He had rope in his hand and it was clear that he intended to bind Boromir's hands. Boromir debated about trying to fight once the man got close enough to serve as a shield but decided that he was too outnumbered for the plan to succeed. He allowed the man to bind his hands but then began to struggle when he tried to blindfold his eyes.
Damrod spoke again. "Continue to struggle and we'll have to beat you. Do not think that I won't strike you just because you are the Steward's son." Boromir stiffened. So they know who I am. That makes things much more dangerous.
Boromir ceased struggling and let them blindfold him. If he wanted any hope of escaping, he had to remain uninjured. Still, he was not someone to surrender completely. "So, you will take me for hostage and ask for a ransom from my father, the Steward. I knew you were just common criminal scum," he said with a sneer.
Damrod stiffened angrily. "You know nothing of us yet you call us scum. You live in your white tower with your servants and your luxuries and know nothing of what the rest of us suffer."
Boromir continued to sneer. "You steal from others. I care nothing for you other than to see you all hang for what you have done. You and your Fox."
Damrod snarled and said, "Be quiet or I will gag you as well." He signaled to the rest of the men and said "Lets get him back to the Haven. I think The Fox will be very well pleased with what we're bringing him." He grabbed the lead they had tied to Boromir's hands and began to drag him along. Yes, Faramir will be most pleased with today's prize.
Author's Note: I had been posting this story to another site which is why I was able to put up 5 chapters all at once. Going forward, this is going to get updated about once a week (depending on the workload my poor beta has on her plate). I hope you stick with it - Seadragon