Reminder:: I do not own anything that Tolkien has created or is affiliated with.
Thanks so much for the reviews, Distant Lands! This chapter's for you. =3 I would've had this up yesterday, but my sister had college stuff to do on the internet so she hogged the computer during all the human hours of the day. Anyhow, hope you enjoy and please comment and critique!
Chapter Four :: Chauvinists…
Alatar left just after our talk. I came to see him off, but he didn't say much to me—it was obvious he was in a hurry. He could speak the language of the men of course and he said things to them, too—orders most likely. He then mounted a brown horse—something that looked like an Arabian. It had black stockings (not literally, but once again, I wouldn't be surprised) and a flowing black mane. There was a white diamond that ran from its mane to its pink nose. There was a ruddy saddle—a saddle that had many horses to master and many years of use. With a pat and a call, Alatar and his horse raced off to the east, leaving me with the soldiers.
I mean—I knew they had to be soldiers. But… soldiers of what? It was obvious by all the weapons present and nearly everyone was practicing fencing at some point. Their armor was no good or it didn't exist. It was a poor army, but a determined one. I just wondered what they were fighting for. Were they the good guys? I wouldn't want to be considered a bad guy…
I wound my way through the tents and finally found the one I was looking for. It was Alatar's tent, but now I could temporarily call it my own. I entered it, trying to avoid the eyes of all the people staring at me. For good reason—if there was a guy at an all girl's school, I would gawk, too.
Feeling a little grimy—there weren't any showers that I could see—I looked around for something to tie my hair with. I finally settled on just tearing a piece of my belt off. It was feeble and easy to get a long enough piece of fabric. My hair was very long—all the way down to my waist. I pulled it back and tied a bow. Satisfied, I strode to the cot and went to sleep. Alatar was right. I was still very tired.
Even though it was just past noon when Alatar left yesterday, I slept the whole night through. I woke up at what I guessed to be six or seven. I got to see the sunrise so I had to figure early morning. I wish there was an easier way to tell the time of day…
My amnesia seemed to be very scattered. I could remember a few choice things, but when it came to culture I was nearly completely lost. And the randomness of my forgetfulness was baffling me. So I could remember how to talk and put on a pair of pants, but I couldn't remember how to tie shoe laces? It was quite embarrassing having Alatar teach me how to do that. I felt like such a child… But was I? How old was I anyway? Whenever I tried to even remember my name, I got muddled and confused, but I can't remember my own age either? This way of thinking was constantly giving me headaches.
I stretched and stepped out of the tent. Men were moving about as usual—it was rare to have no movement. In fact, that never happened. There was always a watchman or someone still practicing or talking in the dead of night. I was wary to approach them because of their general rough appearance. They seemed to be wild and constantly angry. Not the most trustworthy people. After spending the first three days hidden and resting inside the tent since Alatar left, I finally decided I was strong enough to get up and walk around a little.
The moment I set foot outside the tent, the sunshine burned my eyes. I stood there for a moment, rubbing them and trying to take in my surroundings. The field I thought we were in the night I arrived was not really much of an open field at all. The encampment was close to a small range of mountains but still at a safe distance. The surrounding area was thin forest that branched off into a no man's land of dead grass, hills, rocks, and open plains. The thin division of forest kept the campsite out of sight and slightly out of place.
The camp was bigger than I thought it was at first, too, or more men had arrived; either notion was possible. From what Alatar let me hear, I had to assume that these men were on the brink of war and they were preparing themselves for an onslaught. There seemed to be a lot of politics involved though if I could not hear more than that.
Most of the men I passed as I walked down the rows of tents ignored me or simply looked up and gave a fair 'hello' and a wave. Others asked me how I felt, where I was from, what my name was, and even if I would like some food. I didn't answer many of these questions, almost looking rude and mysterious, but I really had no logical answer for these people. What could I say? I bumped my head and I couldn't remember a thing? That's almost what it seemed to be, but on the other hand… Something was very wrong. What world did I come from and what world was I in? Did I simply go back in time, or am I in another dimension? Honestly, these thoughts confused me, like trying to comprehend eternity, and I tried to keep them from my mind. All I knew was that I was alive and I would just roll with that until I finally keeled over.
"Young one!"
I turned around, outwardly confused.
"Yes, you there! The girl."
The voice was coming from the tent right before me. I parted it, a bit nervous, and peered inside. The man who carried me in on the first night was manually sharpening a blade. He did not look up as I entered the tent, but muttered: "Sit down."
I looked about for a chair, but I didn't see one. I sat on the floor and observed him for awhile. He had rough, shoulder length brown hair and matching eyes. He wore clothes very similar to mine only he had black plated armor, too. After a few moments of silence and scraping that the knife was making against the rock, he spoke.
"Alatar has ordered me to keep an eye on you."
"I understand."
He raised an eyebrow and continued talking. "Indeed… What is your name?"
"I don't know." I answered monotonously; I was used to this drill by now.
"How did you get so near our camp?"
"Again, I don't know."
"Who is your father?"
"Father?"
"Your parents? The people who raised you?" He asked me in a seemingly stupid fashion.
"I don't understand." I shook my head, waiting for further explanation.
"Neither do I." He mumbled and sharpened his blade a few more times.
I sat silently for awhile, watching the blade shine and finally got up the courage to ask: "What is your name?"
"My name? Why should I give you the courtesy if you do not give me your own?"
"But I… I don't remember mine."
"Well, fair lady, my name is Wolfling."
"Wolfling?"
"Is there a problem?"
"No!" I answered too quickly.
"I was named at the full moon after I had killed a warg… I did not deserve a name before."
"Didn't deserve one?" I asked. Perhaps it was personal, but I was honestly curious. Did I deserve a name?
"No."
Yup, it was personal. "Sorry…"
Wolfling sighed.
I perked up and asked another question. "Can I try?"
"Try?"
"With the—with the knife." I pointed.
"Sharpen my knife?"
"Is that odd?" I asked, downcast.
"No…" He didn't sound very reassuring.
"I'm sorry." I apologized again.
"It was an understandable mistake… At least you did not ask to use it!" Wolfling laughed heartily, shaking his head and sharpening his knife again.
"That is wrong, too?" I asked, seriously disappointed.
At this, Wolfling looked shocked. "But-you are a woman!"
I looked down at myself and then back up at him. "So I am."
"Well," he sputtered, "Lady, you are a strange one."
I smiled in spite of my rejection. I had been watching men practice with swords and daggers of all sorts and I wanted to give it a go, too. I was terribly bored and useless. What else could I do?
"So I am… forbidden?" I asked meekly.
"Of course. Much too dangerous." He muttered. As if that was the only excuse…
"You do not trust me."
"Correction, Lady, I do not and I cannot."
"Oh… fine then."
"What is that?"
"Nothing… I'm… looking for a word…"
Wolfling looked amused. "What kind of a word, Lady?"
"I'm not quite sure… It seems too informal to call you by your first name, does it not? Is there something else to call you by?"
Looking near enough to mockingly jolly, he laughed out: "Captain!"
Not understanding this humor, I nodded. "Thank you, Captain. May I go?"
"Go where?"
"Back to the tent." I said as I stood and brushed the grass from my knees.
He looked skeptical. "I will escort you there."
"Oh, please!" I breathed as the Captain stood and I followed him out. This time as we passed tents, men nodded and saluted. I felt rather important, even if I knew they weren't indicating me.
Captain Wolfling left me inside the tent and gave a quick bow/nod before he left. Feeling utterly trapped, I flopped down onto the cot with my arms crossed. What would I do for two weeks? Sit on my rump and do absolutely nothing of importance? Waste away until I was thrown out?
Feeling rebellious, I glanced around and found the blanket I had been using. I stuffed a few of the scrolls and papers under it along with the small, smelly pillow. I stood back and decided that it looked enough like a body to be safe to leave.
I looked around the tent floor, searching for a way out indiscreetly. The back wall was conveniently loose and I twisted my hand underneath the fabric. I lifted it and was glad to see a tent that was not facing the one I was in very close by. With a mischievous grin I lifted the fabric higher to its stretching point and stuck my head out. Wriggling like a worm, I squeezed out my shoulders and took a great deal of huffing and puffing for my hips. I finally slipped through and jumped to my feet. Wiping the dirt from my clothes, I snuck around the tent and quickly jogged through the tents to the area where I heard the most swords clashing.
After sneaking my way past four tents, there was a small sparring circle set up in the center of a circle of tents just up ahead. I ducted down behind a tent and made my way around it. With a quick peak in through the door, I saw that it was a storage tent. I dove inside and peered out through the bottom at the fighters.
Men were gathered about and laughing and drinking and egging each other on. I couldn't help but laugh along with them: silently of course. Some had started a fire as it was drawing closer to evening and many started to eat. I ignored the pangs of hunger and continued to watch. Even though I didn't belong, I felt I fit in somehow with them. Somehow.
A couple of men stood suddenly with swords. Men started to cheer and clap and my smile widened. It looked like they were about to spar!
The first man drew his sword to his face. The other bowed. With amazing agility, the first man dove forward and thrust his sword at his opponent. The second man dodged and fiercely swung his sword and beat the offending one away. They continued this same process, one after the other. Every second was suspenseful and if I was sitting, I would have been on the edge of my seat. It was hard concealing myself at this point; I wanted badly to go out and join the fun.
After a few more stabs and a mighty swing, the second man held his opponent at his sword point. Would he kill him? To my sudden relief, they both smiled and the second helped the first to his feet. Another man rose, placing his mug in the care of a friend, and drew his own sword against the victor.
The man who won the first parley won the next three until he was too tired for the fourth and nearly gave up. That victor went on for two more battles until he was beaten and the next won only the one and so on. It was great fun as the fire grew brighter and brighter and the darkness closed ever further in. The men continued on, as if it was a game, and I watched spellbound.
Soon the men started to thin and eventually there were but a few left. Feeling that I had seen enough and I should leave, I sat up, cracking every bone in my body in the process. A bit woozy after standing up so fast, I waited a moment for my vision to clear. My ears caught what was being said before I could see it though.
"Hold on! I'll go and get one."
Get one? The storage tent! That's where I am! I couldn't be found outside Alatar's tent. I would never be trusted! If they thought I was suspicious before…?
Panicking, I started running all about the tent looking for a place to hide. The back wall!
I pulled up the back of the tent up like I had done in Alatar's tent and shoved my head out. After quickly pulling the rest of my body along, scraping up my back quite a bit, I crawled away from the tent and raced through the rest until I found the one I was supposed to be in. Entering through the back wall, I was relieved to see that my pile on the cot was not disturbed. I tossed the scrolls and papers out and threw myself under the covers, waiting for the noises to go away.
My eyes opened in a haze. Suddenly I realized I was waiting for things to quiet down, not go to sleep. I sat up quickly and looked around. It was still dark, probably somewhere early before sunrise. Slipping quietly out of the blanket and off the cot, I fixed my hair into a fresh ponytail and peeked outside.
It was very dark outside. I could barely see the surrounding tents. So there was no chance that I would see if someone was watching me.
Just to be safe, I exited the tent out the back and carefully made my way to the circle I had seen last night. It was dark and I could hear lots of snoring as I crept passed the tents. With bated breath I entered the storage tent I had spent most of last night in.
It was darker than yesterday, but I had a good idea of what was in there. Three barrels on the right: check. Bundles of rope: check. Strange packages, food perhaps?: check. Jars: check. There it was! The middle jar had its lid disturbed and hastily put on at an angle. A sword hilt stuck out the top.
When I removed the lid, there were six swords tucked inside. I pulled out one and almost immediately regretted it. It was so heavy, I knocked the jar over, nearly smashing it, spilled the swords out with a clang, and dropped the blade so close to my foot I nearly lost my toes.
Fumbling with my words, I dragged the sword outside the tent. I dragged it to the middle of the circle and held it up with most of my strength in a defensive position. I tried the thrusting movement I had seen the first man do the night before and accidentally threw the sword.
"Eep!" I squealed involuntarily. I quickly covered my mouth and peeked around. Still no one showed themselves and still men snored. I ran over and retrieved the weapon and held it up once more. I swung back and forth and started to spin out of control. I stopped myself dizzy.
My head rolled a bit before I decided to try swinging the sword around again. I could do this. I would do this. By the end of the night, I'll be able to use this sword!