Out in the Open - Ranger RPG

[Pele Alarion]

The days in and around Ranger facilities seemed to go as usual: daily meals, weapon cleanings, training sessions, even a fair share of daily chores and other tedious duties. There might have been also a share of mischief and perhaps an emergency situation or two, but it was not to be discussed in public.

And yet, one day the most sharp-eyed and diligent (or bored?) Rangers would find a simple note pinned to the notice board at the Headquarters:

“Heading out for some fresh air for a few days or so.
In need of some company.
See you in the common room tomorrow morning around breakfast time.
P.A.
(signature)
(date)”

So it was that Pele found herself relaxing in the common room on the specified morning, curled up on an armchair with a book in hand and half reading half snoozing by candle-light, her pack and weapons ready on the floor by the chair, and yet her boots kicked off the feet and fallen over in disorderly manner some way off. Yawning she wondered whether anyone would take her up on the very non-specific invitation for some unplanned adventure.

[Romeran]

Living in the barracks had its advantages. The first, and foremost in Romeran's mind, was proximity to the mess hall and kitchens. Romeran had soon made friends with Sergeant Pete who appreciated both Romeran's constant compliments but that he always insisted on helping with the dishes after he ate, even when it wasn't his turn. 'My mother would be ashamed if I didn't help you, Sergeant' Romeran would say. There were always rangers staffed to help with the dishes, but Sergeant Pete appreciated the gesture and would let him help.

Ranger Pele had told him to check in on the Headquarters notice board occasionally to see if anything had been posted. Naturally Romeran made this the first thing he did every morning (and sometimes more than once a day but he didn't like to admit that). The day before had been a lucky day, as Romeran had seen the note that Ranger Pele had written. It was rather vague, 'going out for some fresh air' but Romeran was eager to do anything and especially if he got to leave the city.

The following morning he woke up early and initially thought about skipping breakfast but quickly ruled that out. Romeran decided that he better eat extra that morning, just in case. He helped wash the dishes, quicker than usual, and practically ran to the common room, hoping he wouldn't be late. Stopping short, he caught his breath, he didn't hear anyone else. Maybe he wasn't late. He signed in relief. After a moment he entered the common room. Spying Ranger Pele in an armchair, he stood to attention and saluted, fist-to-chest. "Good morning Ranger Pele, reporting in for some fresh air." he said, with a smile.

[Arnyn]

The note on the message board at HQ had brought a smile to her face. Some fresh air, was it? Arnyn hadn't hesitated. She'd been gone for a time to stay with family in Ithilien, but that didn't mean she had forgotten what Pele needed: friends who could help her regain some faith in humanity once more. Now that she was back, Arnyn was determined not to let any chance go by to help her friend - not if it could be helped.
Indeed - she was glad she had seen the note in time.

So it was that Arnyn found herself walking towards the Barracks, still finishing off one of the egg sandwiches she'd taken with her, before she walked through the entrance. The experienced Ranger was dressed in a combination of brown leathers and black wool today, as opposed to the fully black gear she tended to use when she joined a patrol or a campaign. Even though this wasn't an official outing, she did wear reinforced brown leathers, and the hood that was thrown back at the moment was not attached to her ankle length cloak, but rather to the leather jerkin underneath. Her trusted longsword was attached to the belt at her hip and her dagger was strapped to one of her boots - but she had taken no other weapons. A pack with spare clothes and some supplies was slung over a shoulder for now, but could be strapped tighly when they left, so as to hinder her as little as possible.

She nodded to Pele and Romeran when she entered the common room. "Good morning," she spoke quietly, not wanting to be too jarring considering the hour. "Pele, Rome." She offered no salute, since they weren't here in their capacity as Rangers. After finishing the last bite of her sandwich, she reached into part of her pack to retrieve another. "Would either of you also like one? Scrambled eggs on bread," she offered freely.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele had been lounging about for quite some time already, having gathered whatever snacks were available before breakfast to nibble on as she read the book, closing her eyes for some rest now and again, and in this whole process had not attended to breakfast. While she had not expected anyone to rush here too soon, she was not overly surprised to see Romeran's excited entrance: she had not doubted that he would take the offered opportunity of anything out of ordinary duties.

"Morning, Rome," she responded, lowering the book and looking him over. "Are you ready? For that same fresh air?" she asked to ascertain that he would be ready to spend some time outdoors and would have with him everything that he thought useful. At the same time Pele considered whether she should get out of the comfortable chair to return the salute properly, and ended up only offering a grin his way in return.

Arnyn arrived next, and Pele was glad to see that her friend was up for an outing as well. "Hullo," she said by the way of greeting and put the book away, and then stretched and quickly covered up yet another yawn.

"I am not sure I should eat all of your provisions," she laughed, but thought to herself that eggs and bread sounded much better than whatever she had munched on this far. "But a sandwich does sound very tempting at the moment..."

[The Good Hunter]

Caladcyll hadn’t read the notice on the bulletin board at the Ranger Headquarters. It was happenstance that brought him around just at the right time. Well, that’s not exactly true. It wasn’t really happenstance that brought him around today. Eril, the man with whom he’d found lodging in the city, attempted a chowder last night and the results were less than promising. Both he and his young son Thom were running back and forth between their beds and the privy all night. The man was a wonderful host, as warm and inviting as anyone could have hoped for, and his skill with herb was astounding (though he would continuously say he was still learning), but his cooking skills were about as low as a bachelor’s could. Caladcyll wondered more than once how it was that they’d managed to survive as long as they had.

In the end, to keep father and son from feeling too embarrassed, the young Pelargirman left early and walked the streets of the city aimlessly until he came to the Rangers Headquarters. He didn’t expect anyone to be up and about just yet so when he entered the common area and found it already occupied, he swiftly felt a wave of embarrassment all his own, followed by a sharp panic. Was there a mission planned that he’d forgotten about? He didn’t have his gear with him, not believing he was going to have to go out on patrol today. He felt more than a little naked all the sudden.

Still, he was there, he might as well make sure what he thought was happening was actually happening. Don’t start counting fish heads until they’re all chopped as his old man would say. The fire was certainly warm, a welcome feeling to his cold bones. He hadn’t realized just how cold it was outside until he was already halfway across the first circle and by then it wasn’t worth it to go back and put on a coat. He recognized Pele, the woman by the fire, but the other two he wasn’t quite as familiar. He was still fairly new though, there were likely a lot of old rangers still hidden about the city that he didn’t know about.

He coughed conspicuously. “Morning everyone, hope we’re not all freezing today?”

[Romeran]

Relaxing, Romeran put his hands down from the salute, he felt perhaps he was being overly formal, it wasn't the first time and he was still figuring things out anyway, he decided. "I very much look forward to some fresh air Ranger Pele." He responded, exuberantly "I've got everything I can think of." he said, patting the axe which was at his side.

He had packed food and water, a change of clothes, as well and a bow which he had acquired from the armory after his lessons with Duinion. It wasn't as nice as Duinion's but Romeran was also not as skilled as him so he couldn't complain. Romeran intentionally did not say that he brought everything that he could 'need' as he felt such as statement would almost guarantee that he would discover he had forgotten something. Romeran wondered if Duinion would come with them. Romeran had never seen the ranger inside the city limits, he realized.

When Arnyn entered, Romeran decided against saluting. None of them were uniformed -- including himself, although he was wearing his leathers as he had very little other form of clothing or protection anyway. "Good Morning" he replied to her hello and nodded his head.

Romeran sorely wanted to accept the offered sandwich but as Pele had said he didn't want to eat into her own food and besides he had actually eaten this morning already not twenty minutes earlier. "I ate in the kitchens this morning." he confessed. "although that does look like a tempting sandwich" he added with a wide grin agreeing with Pele.

Romeran turned around when Caladycll entered. Here was a face he did not recognize, although Romeran hadn't expected to know all of the rangers by any means. "Good morning." he replied "It's a lovely day out today." he continued, Romeran very rarely felt cold, but he was a large man and used to the outdoors. "I don't believe we have met, I am Romeran, although most people call me Rome" he said, offering a hand to Caladycll.

[Isolde Alarion]

The sun had barely made it’s presence known on the this morning when Mourgan entered the Common Room. He did not wear the common uniform of the Ranger but colors and materials more suited for out of doors.
Leather britches worn and comfortable for movement, grey tunic, his cloak was a mix of grays and browns and it hide his figure well. His weapons consisted of a long sword, and a long dagger at his hip. Vambraces protected his wrist and forearms. They were simple made but showed ware.
It seemed others were for getting out of the city and seeing them he nodded a shadowed chin to each in turn.
Although he’d not formally met the newest recruit, Romeran, he knew of him. “We’ll met Romeran.” He moved through the small gathering. Caladcyll he only recalled in passing but he offered a nod of acknowledgment all the same. Seeing the next familiar face he smiled. “I can only say I am not surprised to see you here. Nice to see you again Arnyn.”
His smile broadened at seeing Pele. He stepped into give her a hug then stepped back. Yes it wasn’t formal military greeting but he couldn’t help himself. “Morning Auntie..” He caught himself and corrected himself with a grin as he tried to be more formal. “Ranger Pele.” He winked at her through his small grin of amusement.

[Arnyn]

When Pele and Rome declined her offer, she shrugged. "I've taken plenty. Took into account I might lose a couple to hungry friends here and there," she explained with a smile.

"Good morning," she reciprocated the greeting of the man who entered next. Her smile grew a little lopsided at his question and as she took him in during Romeran's greeting. When the men had said their hello's, she replied herself. "I would think not, but then again - you are the only one without even so much as a coat."

She remembered his face from an outing with Faramir, but strangely his name hadn't quite registered or - Manwe forbid - she had forgotten it? "I'm Arnyn." She was looking forward to getting to know both Romeran and this man - she really didn't like being unfamiliar with people who might someday have her back in a life and death situation. And she would do her best to remedy that.

Mourgan's words made her smile. "Thank you, Mourgan. Likewise!"
After he'd greeted Pele, Arnyn's dark eyes focused on her as well. "Alright, Ms Alarion. Care to share what you have planned for us?"

[The Good Hunter]

It took him a moment to get his bearings, going from cold to warm, but once he recovered, Caladcyll noticed there was more than one person he actually knew in here. Aside from Pele there was a young man that seemed very familiar. He took a moment to look the lad up and down, he was a bit younger than Caladcyll but had a more confident manner. It only took a moment for the Pelargirman to remember. “Ah!” he said aloud, as the face and the name finally rolled together like a fine slice of salmon on rice. Mourgan was the lad’s name! He was unnaturally excited about remember the young man’s name. There wasn’t much else he did remember about the previous mission, just a lot of running, so, so, so much running, and something about haunted ruins maybe? It wasn’t on the water, so Caladcyll had a harder time recalling many of the events and faces. He returned the nod of acknowledgement and breathed in the warm air, it smelled of crackling oak in here, a much more earthy smell than he was used to, whale blubber burns with a very different smell to it.

The next face was one he was sure he’d never seen before (though there was a ghost of something familiar in the countenance). The man looked almost half a bear with the beard and the grin. He looked like the kind of man Caladcyll would see disembarking from a ship and making a beeline to the nearest tavern, all whilst singing the most boisterous sea shanty and inviting every man, woman, and enby he came across. He took the proffered and shook it vigorously, the man’s hands were covered in calluses, and he had the kind of grip one gets from working years on a farm or in a sail’s rigging. “Well met then, Rome! It’s good to make your acquaintance. I’m Caladcyll, though you can call me Cal if it’s easier. My father had a sense of humor when he named me.” The man’s comment on day’s loveliness made Caladcyll laugh. “It’s a brisk one, that I’ll give you that! If I’d known I was going to be cold, I would have brought a jacket. Cold weather’s good for you though, it makes you feel alive… right up until the point it kills you.” It was likely he’d gone a bit dark, but Caladcyll was too warm now to really care about dark humor. They were rangers, one and all, and they could handle humor.

The last face to greet him looked somewhere in the middle of no familiarity and something vague. The woman clearly knew her way around the place, having an air of confidence and ease, and the other rangers, too, were comfortable with her. Had she been on that mission that he and Romhad been on? She might have been, there were a fair number of them that started on that blistering marathon. Arnyn? The name didn’t sound familiar, but Caladcyll was never a good one for names. His father insisted that he’d forget his own name and think his name was “Ahyouthereboy” if people kept yelling at him. “It’s good to meet you then, Arnyn,” he said with a respectful bow of the head. He was getting better about not giving salutes to all his superiors. “I’m Caladcyll, recent recruit out of Pelargir.” Was it too much information? Probably, but if he hadn’t met her before then maybe it was important. Maybe? Green waves of winter! Was it getting hot in the room or was it just Cal?

[Pele Alarion]

Now there were already a few of them, some more prepared than others. And for a few more moments Pele kept simply observing the interactions, being content to stay in the comfortable chair before leaving the proper warmth and all related to it behind for some outdoor adventure. Yet, she did stand up to return Mourgan's hug and gave him a grin. "Well... both of those are true descriptions, are they not?"

Kneeling by her pack, she drew out of it a bit of parchment with a small and simplified version of the map which she then set on the table.



"Now that you ask about it, Arnyn, the plan is to get to that location over there," she pointed at a red mark she had placed almost in the middle of the Grey Wood, and then looked up to see if others were coming closer to take a look. "Just an outing, you know. Nothing planned."

Straightening up, she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, as she looked at Caladcyll. "If you are coming along, Caladcyll, I'd suggest you get at least some gear unless your whole purpose is indeed to freeze yourself to death. We might be staying over night or two." Pele wondered whether he had even come here with a purpose to join up, seeing how unprepared he was, but then again, a Ranger had to be ready to grab his gear and set out real quick.

"Also..." she then said, a small smile touching her lips, when she turned back to Arnyn. "If you say you have enough sandwiches and can share one with me, I would gladly reconsider my refusal and accept it."

Motioning back to the map, she asked: "Any suggestions of how we should proceed?" Pele was sure that Arnyn would have a plan ready within seconds, so she looked more towards the younger members, Mourgan and Romeran, before looking back at Caladcyll to see whether he would be willing to join them for the outing.

[Romeran]

When Pele relented and accepted a sandwhich, Romeran re-considered "I mean if you brought extra..." he said somewhat bashfully, he had eaten already after all. Romeran smiled politely at Caladcyll as he shook his hand "Cal it is" he repeated, although he didn't get the joke about his father having a sense of humor. He almost asked, but decided he didn't want to embarrass himself with his lack of knowledge. Maybe he'd get it later. He laughed at Caladcyll's comment about the cold being good right until death. "And that is why a ranger must always be prepared eh?" he asked, rhetorically. Romeran returned the greeting of Mourgan, "A pleasure to see you in person Mourgan" he returned the greeting, Mourgan was a ranger he had heard of but not yet met.

Now that things seemed to be getting started, Romeran watched Pele carefully as she withdrew a map. Romeran looked over at where Pele had marked on the map. He had recently traveled north of the city with Duinion but they had crossed the Anduin into Ithilien. It looked like their current objective was to stay on the west side and go to the Grey Wood. Everyone knew the stories of the March of the Rohirrim when they had marched through the Grey Wood to the battle of Pelennor fields. Romeran couldn't believe that he might also be going there. It was a curious place though, and Romeran wondered at the reason that it was their target. Was this really a simple outing? He looked at Pele with some suspicion.

When Pele asked if there was a plan, Romeran naturally looked towards Arnyn and the more senior rangers, however, it seemed that Pele was looking at him and Mourgan as if expected the younger members to respond. Romeran hesitated but decided if he spoke first he could at least point out some of the obvious things. "Well it's about seven leagues, as the crow flies," he said, studying the map and estimating the distances with his fingers and the legend. It was likely Pele and Arnyn already knew precisely the distance without having to do such a check. "It's too far west of the Anduin to bother taking boats, and we'd be going up-stream anyway" he reasoned. "So I suppose best to march or take horses, depending on how fast we need to arrive. Certainly doable in one day mounted but probably two or so not mounted, depending on marching hours and terrain, which I admit I don't know very well." Romeran continued, "I suppose it also matters if there's some other goal? Like a need for haste or stealth?" having made a few remarks and asked a question, Romeran decided to wait and see what others would say.

[Arnyn]

Caladcyll? As she waited for Pele's answer to her earlier question, Arnyn worked out the pieces of the name. Bearer of light, or perhaps fire. And Caladcyll thought that was humorous? Was her knowledge failing her, not allowing her to see the joke? She had to be missing something, but perhaps she would find out what the man meant at a later date. He was from Pelargir and a a recruit, he'd mentioned in his introduction to her - not that there had been a need to repeat his name, since she'd just heard him mentioning it to Mourgan. Perhaps he was nervous. He had seemed to stumble onto their group rather unexpectedly, considering his clothes and lack of supplies.

"A recruit? Then perhaps you might consider coming with us. I think Pele here had some outdoorsy idea, and there's no reason off duty outings can't offer the opportunity to learn from each other. For everyone, that matter, regardless of experience." She smiled. There was always more experience to be had.

That's when Pele pulled out a small map. Arnyn leaned in with the others when her friend pointed out where they were going. The center of the Grey Wood? Well, Pele could have just said that.

Pele gave Caladcyll another opening to come with them, and then mentioned her sandwiches again. Arnyn casually held one out for her. She hadn't been lying, so it was no problem. At Romeran's words, she nodded with a grin. "Of course." She handed one over to him right when Pele asked for a plan.

Judging Pele's body language, it was clear she wasn't asking Arnyn and would rather hear it from one of the others, so the Ranger satisfied herself by sitting down in one of the comfortable arm chairs, making sure her sword didn't get in the way as she did. She crossed her legs, ready to listen, her dark eyes slowly moving between the three men as she waited patiently. Romeran was the first to speak. Arnyn kept her expression neutral to encouraging as he explained his thought process. She, too, was curious to get a glimpse of how the others' minds worked.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

It had made the morning rather more interesting, at times rather more difficult, and at least once, far more perilous than a morning had a need to be. But since he had no room mate now to challenge how long one could throw and catch an apple, whilst going about getting ready, Unalmis had decided that he was doing far better than he had expected. After all, how could he have known how long it took to pull on a boot, until he tried it one handed and with the anticipation of a thrown fruit soon to be descending from on high ? These were the sorts of matters which were not obviously important, but who could tell what would be an essential skill when he was not entirely sure where the day would take him. They were also the result of certain barracks officials ‘asking’ him to please not throw knives at the wall of his room in the very early hours. Not only was his improving aim having a devastating affect on the wall in question, but not everybody else in the neighbouring rooms were awake at such a time, and apparently not everybody was keen to be kept awake then unexpectedly either ! The apple was as much a safer alternative as it was an intended breakfast, and a means of distracting a fidget.


Nal had grown a wide grin when he read Pele’s note, and not only because it invited so much potential. Mostly because Lieutenant Bryan seemed to inexplicably be stationed at any corner he passed, casually guarding any corridor he passed through, and seemingly with a want to catch him doing something he ought not to be. The apple had struck the ceiling several times, having been thrown higher to bide more time before he had to catch it, and was now so bruised that it was only good for keeping up the game. A curious turn at voices though, emanating from the Common Room, caught the young man’s attention for just a little too long. So that the wasted breakfast rolled into the room before him.

Pele of course he knew well, while Arnyn and Mourgan were growing more familiar by the mission. The Recruit from Pelargir he remembered briefly, from the day that Prince Faramir had taken them out for a run, though he could not recall what the recruit called himself. The other, bearded, stranger, he knew only for sure that he did not know. But as timing went, it really could not have been improved, for that very moment, Pele had presented the room with a map and invited opinions upon it and it’s possibilities.


“Are we conducting some sort of inspection of the North Road ?” he wondered aloud, wondering into their midst quite unannounced, but particularly thoughtful since Romeran had just mentioned horses. Traditionally that portion of the throughfare had been known as a horse road, thanks to it’s proximity to Rohan. Walking or riding up a main route did sound rather tame, unless there had been some report of bandits or trouble they would be potentially exploring. But perhaps that was simply the prelude to arriving in the woods, which were far less frequented, and thus far the more exciting a prospect to visit. “If stealth is an issue,” he glanced in support of the bearded recruit who had first mentioned this possibility, "it might be better to take the rather more discreet approach, toward the stonewain valley side.”

He rather hoped this was the route Pele was considering. As not only did he have some recollection of Pele’s keenness for treks about more mountainous terrain, but also, to tread a path of such poignant recent history would be rather more thrilling than a road that was fashioned for ‘safe’ journey between the realms. It was of course entirely possible that others did not share his zeal for constantly finding ‘excitement’. Pele might merely have a gentle walking exercise in mind ...

Regardless, it was a change of scenery, and an escape from lectures (well, hopefully). He had packed a bag, which was shouldered, and steeped so far in mystery as to it’s contents. Quite fitting for their mystery trek. But thankfully the mundane of his everyday green, brown and leathers helped him fit in some with the majority of the gathered group. Perhaps so long as he managed to keep quiet and not draw unnecessary attention to himself. With this in mind, Nal cast an eye back toward the others who had congregated. Before remembering his apple had rolled off somewhere into the room, and duly began hunting out it’s likely path as discreetly as he was able.

[Pele Alarion]

"Ah, thank you!" Pele said, as she happily accepted the sandwich from Arnyn and immediately bit into it. She still had quite a hearty appetite, though it was by no means match to Romeran's; besides, now that she had regained healthy weight she had to be careful not to overeat and instead should focus on working on improving her strength and agility. Yet, she could not help but enjoy the sandwich, as she watched the younger Rangers wonder about the map and the purposes of the outing.

Pele shrugged lightly, when Rome and Nal questioned her reasons for gathering them. "Nothing special in mind, just a bit of an outing, is all," she insisted, a grin growing on her lips. "Yet, there is not that much time because of other duties. At a steady run, well, running most of the distance, there shouldn't be a problem in reaching the site by nightfall. By nightfall we should arrive either way, no matter what road and means of travel we take."

Shifting slightly, Pele ended up kicking Nal's apple which had come to a stop near to her feet, and now it rolled further away under the table. She paid no attention to it though, as she secured her sword and bow on her person, and picked up her bag.

"I suggest we waste no more time and get going," she urged. "Romeran and Unalmis, why don't you two take the lead and get us to Rammas Echor in good time at least, or further. Take the map and don't leave it here!" The experienced Ranger cast a glance at Arnyn with a small wink, and then moved for the door.

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
Just outside the city gate

Having taken notice of all the notes and announcements posted up on the board when he was there for the meeting, Duinion decided it might be nice to get involved in whatever was going on today... maybe he'd meet some of those he was less familiar with, and perhaps have a chance to get to know some of his fellow rangers that he barely knew. Seeing as the plan seemed to be to get outside, the ranger was sure that sooner or later, the group of whoever chose to join in would be exiting the city. All he had to do was wait. So there he was at the gate, waiting.

He had his pack ready, his bow held loosely in one hand as he leaned against the wall beside the Great gate through which they would have to come. There was no sense in going all the way up to the sixth level and then coming all the way back down, after all. Not knowing how long he would be waiting, he was spending the time sharpening his knife and ensuring that it was ready for whatever he might need it for. Once that was done, he took some time to inspect each of his arrows, touching up the edges of the arrowheads as needed, and ensuring the fletching was all in good condition.

[Arnyn]

The apple rolling in made Arnyn curiously slant her head. Apparently, it was a prelude to Unalmis, a fellow Ranger she recognized from the mission to the Poros. She gave him a smile in response to his question, although she didn't confirm anything. She did not know exactly what Pele had planned, after all. It might be she hadn't planned much in particular, even. With Pele, it could go either way. However, Arnyn didn't suspect that some sort of dangerous mission was hiding behind the note; generally, Pele would have been upfront about such things. She wasn't one to deliberately misguide people. Her eyes lingered on the once upon a time Hyandaner, now Yantyar. Perhaps her friend had changed a bit in the last few years, but if she had in this particular way... it would definitely come as a surprise.

When Pele suggested they get going, instantly 'rewarding' Romeran and Unalmis for speaking up, and shot a wink Arnyn's way, she held back a chuckle. The Hyandaner smoothly got up from the comfortable armchair and pulled her gloves from her belt as she took a step forward. Since Pele seemed like she would be one of the first out of the door, Arnyn figured she would be the one to leave the room last.

[Romeran]

Recruit Romeran

When Unalmis spoke up, Romeran looked over to him. Romearn hadn't had the chance to meet the young ranger yet, but he was excited at the prospect of having someone that appeared at least closer to his age. He wondered how long he had been a ranger, was he new like Romeran or was he like Duinion had been, a ranger for many years even at a young age? He seemed to know something of his way around north of the city at least. Romeran listened intently as he spoke, nodding as if in agreement although he knew little of the actual road even if he had heard of it.

Despite Romeran's and Unalmis's questioning Pele did not relent, instead responding with a vague statement again confirming it was supposed to be nothing special. And yet they were also supposed to be running most of the distance, what were they in such a hurry for? Was this simply training? Romeran decided not to press the matter, and he didn't get the chance to do so anyway. To his great dismay, Pele asked that he and Unalmis take the lead in getting them to Rammas Echor and possibly further. He gulped.

That Unalmis seemed to know the routes to the north was a comfort to Romeran who did not, having spent most of his life in Lossarnach and only recently been to Minas Tirith and a few outings eastwards in Ithilien with Ranger Duinion. The map, at least, was something he could do and when Ranger Pele instructed them to take it he quickly went over to the table and neatly folded the map and placed it in his pack after glancing it over once more to see if he had missed anything, but nothing revealed itself immediately.

As they made their way out, Romeran walked over to Unalmis as they were to lead. "I'm Romeran" he said, offering a hand "I'm a new recruit" he explained "only joined a couple of weeks ago." The least he could do was get to know the young ranger, especially since he was going to have to rely on him for directions. But perhaps he would be a friend, ever since moving to the city Romeran had not made any friends, although both of his mentors had been friendly with him, and he also spent a good deal of time with Sergeant Pete in the kitchen, but both of those had an element of work to them. Romearn hadn't had a chance to make friends, nor was he particularly practiced at it, having had the same set of childhood friends for most of his life.

Sometime later, as they were making their way through the city, he leaned over to Unalmis and spoke quietly. "I don't really know the way to the northern gates of Rammas Echor" Romeran confessed, having only gone eastward and southward before. This would be his first trip north-west of the city (they had been north east of the city in Ithilien but had exited from the east). "It sounds like you know you're way around?" he asked somewhat hoping the answer would be 'yes' otherwise they would be the blind leading the blind, at least until one of the other rangers decided to speak up an reveal their shame. He sorely hoped that wouldn't be the result, but at least there might likely be a road and hopefully some signs.

When they finally arrived at the great gate at the entrance to the city Romeran was glad to see that Ranger Duinion was standing there seemingly waiting for them. "Good morning Duinion!" he said happily, remembering that they were not on official duty and so he need not refer to everyone by their name and rank, he was trying to get used to it, but at least Duinion was one of the few with which he had spent most of his time thus far. "I see you are joining us for..." he paused, looking around to Pele with a smile "whatever this outing is" he finished, grinning.

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
Just outside the city gate

Duinion finished polishing the edge of the last arrowhead. He'd shown up before the typical hour for breakfast, so he'd had a good while to wait. At last, a group began to filter out through the gate. Duinion glanced up from his work and smiled, seeing the younger rangers in the lead. Taking a brief moment to inspect the edge of his arrowhead, Duinion then slid it back into the quiver with the rest of them. "Good morning, Romeran," He greeted the young man with a friendly tone. "And Unalmis." He smiled at the other young man who had, apparently, taken the lead. Probably by assignment, he thought as he glanced past and saw Pele and a few other more senior rangers in the group. "Good morning to all." He concluded, which seemed safer than trying to name everyone. There were some in the party whose names he didn't know.

"Yes, I saw the invitation on the board, and thought it sounded intriguing." He smiled as he answered Rome, grabbing his pack from the ground. "Though it seemed like a waste of time to go up to the sixth circle, only to come right back down here, so I thought I'd wait for you all here. Where are we heading?" he wondered, unsure who exactly to address the question to. Logically, the question ought to be directed at the captain, of course, but seeing as the youngest members seemed to be in the lead here, he wondered if this might be a sort of training exercise for them, in which case it would be interesting to hear what their answers would be.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

The apple was apparently lost but, thanks to the map, they hopefully would not be. Even with two of the younger members of the group directed to head their procession. Nal wasn’t entirely convinced that Pele didn’t have something specific in mind, but since she was keeping her thoughts close to her chest, there was little more they could do by sitting still. It was time for the off.

‘Romeran’ had already gathered up the map so Unalmis joined him at the door, with an approving nod. This was the recruit who had spoken up so readily in Pele’s defence before the King, he recalled. And that told him a lot worth knowing about the other, even if he knew no more than that. “Unalmis” he confirmed, accepting the other’s held hand. And was immediately gifted by a wealth of further information. “I still feel like I only enlisted yesterday,” he admitted, hoping to put Romeran at some ease. Nal was certainly no decorated veteran like some of those others here present, though he was glad that such figures were present. “There was a mad recruitment drive near the end of the Steward’s rule,” he clarified a little. “I literally finished training for the Rangers just a day before Prince Faramir drew back out of the forest to strengthen the city defences.” The disappointment was palpable in the young man’s tone, as though it had indeed been only yesterday that he had suffered this sorrow. Having been entrusted with guarding the refugee transports was not what he had expected, though it had involved far more adventure as it turned out than he might have imagined. “But how are you liking it thus far ?” he wondered, of this new prospective accomplice.


There was no concern in letting the unlikely leaders see their group out through the city at least, for the downward spiral was a clear path to follow gravity down to the gate. When Romeran confessed though that he knew none of the north-west way, Unalmis smiled reassuringly. Even as he made sure to keep up with the greater bodied fellow beside him. “You are not from the city, are you ?” he guessed, referring to Minas Tirith as though that were the only city in the world. For it had always been his home and thankfully, he did know his way about at least that region someways. “We used to escape into the Pelennor as soon as ever we were able to as children. There’s a sure road heading up from the Great City Gate toward the North Gate, so we shan’t lose ourselves, alas.”

This latest reflection held the potential to confuse a less mischievous mind, so Nal explained, unashamedly. “There are plenty of wonderful farms and orchards along the way which we could stop and enjoy, if given time to idle. I used to pick fruit there for some of the farmers, come season. They are mostly very nice.” That had been Pre-war of course, and it occurred to the Ranger quite belatedly that those same farmers may no longer hold in those same farms.

“There used to be gaps in the northern reaches of the Rammas, that you could sneak out through, but it’s all been properly rebuilt now since the war,” he sighed, turning back as he had when they passed through each Circle gate, to see that their company was still with them. “’My friends and I once lit out with a mind to see Amon Din, but,” he glanced backward a moment more before adding “a certain capable officer intercepted us,” Nal gestured, with an elbow back toward Pele. “For which we were of course, extremely grateful,” he felt obliged to add ever so slightly more audible, for sure that that same Yantyar was listening.

And just as they approached the Great City Gate itself, it’s mighty black surround marking it significant after passing through so many gateways already, there was stood Duinion. Loitering where grass met stone. “An even better morning now,” the young man returned gladly to the Tirdinen, who would apparently be joining them. “Pele says north,” he shrugged, “and is saying very little more besides that,” he shook his head although goodnaturedly. There was no need to let Gate Guards and anyone else within hearing distance know their final destination after all. “Have you just come back in though ?” he wondered, quite in awe of the Ranger’s stamina. They would all need such enthusiasm if the Captain was to run them all the way to Grey wood.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan Alarion

It seemed they were to run all the way to their destination. He shouldered his pack and followed the rest out the door and now they ran down the levels to the Gate. There they met up with Duinion who seemed to be waiting for them.
From the light chatter at the head of their group it seemed their two leaders were a bit hesitant to lead. He could understand that. He had a light knowledge of their destination but it didn’t matter. Pele had a reason for picking such a place and if he had learned anything from following her it was she would reveal her reasons when the time was right.
He sorely hoped at some time on one of these outings they would bring horses..He missed riding. Ouch! Did he already have a rock in his boot?! They seemed to slow a moment so he took the opportunity to wrench off his boot and shake out a pebble, adjusting his sock he jammed his foot back into the boot and quickly tried to join back with the group. He felt much better. It was important to care for your feet with all this running.

[Pele Alarion]

The two younger Rangers did not linger overly long, and soon they had left the barracks and were heading off at a good pace. It seemed that something of a conversation had started between Romeran and Unalmis, so Pele slowed slightly to give them more room for talking and binding. She intended to make sure that the newer members could build friendships and trust and find acceptance, and it would be also good for the experienced Rangers to be together in circumstances that did not request full alertness.

When they reached the Gates, they found Duinion waiting there, ready to join up with them, and Pele was glad of it. "Hello, Duinion!" she called out. "Well, that's a smart strategy of saving time and effort, since there would not be many possibilities of us leaving by any other way, except for descending from a wall somewhere."

She used the brief pause to adjust the straps on her pack, and then said with a light laugh: "North it is, as Unalmis says." Pele moved to follow the road northwards, waiting for the younger Rangers to catch up and take lead again, and then turned around to say: "Well, technically there is quite some distance through the Fields to get to the Northern Gate. If you hate running there might be means of obtaining other transport if you are creative and convincing enough. Either way, let's keep moving before the night falls and catches us still milling about here." Pele enjoyed being out and about, and when she could walked and ran for long distances, but she was aware that not all Rangers liked that activity, and she was curious to see if they would just do as told or find other solutions when such freedom was given.

"Also a plenty of opportunities to find extra food," she added as an afterthought. "Though mind that we don't have a whole week to explore what the farmers would offer to hungry Rangers."

[Romeran]

Recruit Romeran

Even though this wasn't an official 'mission' this was still Romeran's first outing with more than two rangers at a time and he was equal levels of nervous and excited. Perhaps the low pressure outing would be an easy introduction, since there didn't appear to be much at stake, this would be an opportunity for him to get acquainted with ranger expeditions without the additional responsibility. At least that's what it seemed like, Romeran was still uncertain whether or not Pele was hiding something. If the ranger was hiding something she was being very tight lipped about it. Romeran was especially glad that it seemed Unalmis was only recently, at least relatively speaking, a full ranger and he took some comfort in not being the only new hand among experts. "I'm enjoying it a lot so far" he replied "it's quite different from farm-life, but at least the farm prepared me physically" he laughed at that, Romeran was a particularly bear-like figure, a combination of heritage and manual labor. "but the skills are very different" he admitted, and skill was generally more important as a ranger than strength.

The walk through the city at least would be a sure thing, it was an intentionally circuitous path from the upper levels through the gates to the lower levels but the path was plain. "No I'm not from the city, I'm from a farm in Lossarnach" he said in reply to Unalmis's question. He was glad to learn that the road north to the gates was plain enough, not that he had really expected much else, the city of Minas Tirith was nothing if not orderly. "As children we used to run across my uncle's farm" he said in reply to Unalmis's reminiscence "but the farm was very large and we seldom left its lands entirely" it was strange to Romeran to have grown up around so many different people and different places. Most of his life had been spent on one, albeit very large, farm.

Romeran let out a small laugh at Unalmis's mention of sneaking out and being 'rescued' by Pele "I'll have to get a full recounting of the tale some other time" he said quietly in return, it sounded like an interesting one. Unalmis answered Duinion's question as to where they were going with about as much information as they had, that is to say, not very much at all. Romeran smiled eagerly.

Pele interjected and began the discussion about mode of transportation. Romeran didn't mind running, or jogging, that much and it was early still, a good time for a run in Romeran's mind. The only other obvious option seemed to be to get horses or a carriage or some combination of the two. But Romeran had no idea where they would acquire the mounts or how it expensive that would be and he was loth to make such a vague suggestion. "I wouldn't mind the exercise" he said looking over between Unalmis and Pele "not that I would know where to find enough horses or carriages if we wanted to do that anyway" he said somewhat in jest but also to mention that he had indeed at least considered an alternative and wasn't simply agreeing with Pele. Perhaps Unalmis or the other rangers would have an alternative suggestion.

If they were going to use horses, Romeran would have been eager to do so. Not that he had anything against running, but Romeran had always enjoyed the tasks on the farm which required using horses, even the dull ones like tilling land. He enjoyed working with the animals, they were stalwart and tireless and some of them, though few which Romeran ever got to ride, were nigh as fast as the wind. He knew horsemanship was a part of his ranger training, but he had yet to take part in any official duties on horse. He had walked from Lossarnach to Minas Tirith for his uncle wouldn't allow him to take a horse and he did not have the money to buy one, but he hoped one day that he would have his own horse and a dog perhaps as well, the dogs on the farm had always loved Romeran and his mother used to joke that they must have thought he was one of them, albeit a very large one indeed.

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
Just outside the city gate

Duinion smiled at the question Unalmis had asked. "I've been at the dairy farm with Eryn," He explained, wondering what he might have thought. "It isn't so far a walk, and I've been sitting here waiting for a few minutes." He hadn't quite known how long it would take for the rest of the group to make their way, so had arrived a bit early. "Speaking of Eryn, she asked me to tell you, and you, hello." He said to Unalmis and Romeran, respectively.

"North then, that sounds intriguing." He said with a grin, and wondered what the goal was. "Looks like a nice day for it, at least." Having stood up from where he'd been sitting while he worked on his arrows, he picked up his pack and put it on again. "I've got no problems with running. It'll be good for us, I'm sure." After getting his pack situated on his back, he picked up his bow. It wouldn't be the easiest thing, running with a full pack, armor, and weapons, and he wondered how the younger and newer members would do with that. Perhaps that was one of the goals Pele had in mind...

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

Though there had not been time for a full interrogation, still Unalmis felt he’d come to know a little about Romeran by the time that they found Duinion and the City gate. His fellow ‘leader’ was certainly of an impressive size, that belied his new experience and might even rival Mourgan, whom Nal had always counted as one of their mightier-bodied participants. Personally he had found that being a more average size allowed him to disappear more easily when called for, and there had been plenty times it had been called for which had not diminished as the years progressed. But he was glad to hear that Romeran was not regretting his new vocation. The training at the start especially could be quite overwhelming and exciting as it was exhausting, all in the best sorts of ways.

“I will trade you,” he’d agreed, “for an account of farmlife in Lossarnach, when there is time. For my grandmother’s people had a farm there, way back when. My father had to sell it though rather than move out and manage it,” he’d shrugged. It was growing more and more intriguing, the sorts of people who were migrating recently to enlist. It was as though each fiefdom were still sending their representatives to succour the capital. The other recruit, whose name Nal really ought to find out by the end of this – second – trek they’d both come on, he was from Pelargir, it had been at some point said. That point had been recalled, if none other detail. For Unalmis’s mother had been born in Pelargir. And he’d still never quite reached that far in his travels nor, of course, learnt anything about it from her.


Rather disappointed that there would come no exciting tale from the forests out of Duinion, Nal still met the Tirdinen's eye and grinned in a glance about suspiciously, just in case Eryn had followed her father out to meet them. “Are you and the Prince about some kind of bet, on who can have us run the furthest ?” he had laughed then, at Pele’s proposal. “It is not that I mind running,” he felt like he ought to clarify, “but it can be mighty dull if overlong, unless you add some element to it. We might race perhaps, and the last to reach the North Gate find our first firewood or something,” he broke off as the Captain made her further suggestion. “I’ve never seen carriages about the Pelennor,” he mused, joining Romeran in thinking out their options. Most of which were, though considered, held back, for his part. Their company may not officially be on patrol this day, but there were professionals at hand who would likely frown or further investigate any ‘ideas’ he shared of what had worked at a pinch in the past. “There are wagons enough though. And I know at least one orchardist who used to live not far along our way, who might venture some samples for our trip, if we humour him kindly. He is very hard of hearing and any conversations can lead down a rabbit’s hole of a whole afternoon though if you allow it. A person could run all the way back to the Sixth Circle and gather all the horses we might need in the time that that fellow would entertain us.” He glanced over their gathering to see if Arnyn or anyone else so experienced would share their insight or opinion.

[Pele Alarion]

Pele listened for a while to the talking, and then turned to continue on the way at a leisurely walk as if inviting the others to follow instead of standing around by the gate. "If you get a wagon or something, great," she said, turning to look at Unalmis. "By normal means, that is. Otherwise let's get going else we'll have to spend the night with the guards at Rammas Echor."

Mostly it seemed that no one particularly objected to doing a quick march, or run, for a lengthy distances, though it may indeed be rather tiring with all the equipment they had with them, and boring too. Pele broke off a little twig from a nearby bush and kept twirling it with her fingers as if it helped her think.

"A race, hmm?" she then spoke again, though she wondered if she would end up losing it, considering that the guys might be stronger and faster than her, and most likely Arnyn too. "Well, fine. Let's say... the last one out the North Gate fixes the breakfast for everyone, come morning. What say you?"

Pele looked around at her companions to see whether they would take her up on it. "If I win..." she paused for a while, and then continued with a laugh: "You are all going to form a choir and sing songs all the way back through the Pelennor to the city. Deal?"

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan

As he walked, finding each step easier without the rock in his boot, he listened to Unalmis and Romeran share their stories. They were interesting and it was pleasant to hear their stories of where they grew up. Perhaps he would add his own experiences growing up in the city at a later date. Although he owned a farm himself he’d only lived on it the first five years of his life. He’d only inherited it a couple years ago but then almost lost it but he wouldn’t include that part. Who really needed to know that part anyway?

His attention turned back to the group when it was suggested they find creative ways to acquire horses or a wagon. He wasn’t sure how to do that but was up for just about anything if meant no more stones in his boots.
Pele suggested a race to which the losers sing like a choir.

“Hahaa!” He laughed at the image in his head, mostly at how out of tune he himself sang. “Pele, I fear you would be on the losing end of that bet but if you’re willing to suffer through your victory I suppose I’m game.” He looked around to the others. “Anyone else?”

He wasn’t sure what came over him to volunteer for such a thing but figured he might enjoy it.

[Arnyn]

She'd kept her silence as they had moved out of the city, and even when meeting up with Duinion she had only smiled and nodded at the ranger. The last time she'd seen him was at headquarters, but she felt no need to be eloquent at the moment. To the contrary, she was rather enjoying watching the others, and had to remind herself she might need to say something at some point - lest the others forget she was there to begin with. Yet, when Unalmis looked over at everyone, seemingly checking whether one of them wanted to weigh in, Arnyn shrugged one shoulder with a faint smile on her face and a twinkle in her dark eyes. Pele was rather enjoying putting Unalmis and Romeran in the lead, and Arnyn understood why.

While she agreed wholeheartedly with Unalmis when he said running all the way would be boring - she had seen the Pelennor too many times to count and doubted she would find anything new or interesting - Arnyn knew there was a point to the unofficial exercise. Pele was testing their creativity, perhaps, but even if they simply ran, she would get a good idea of everyone's current stamina, which was never a bad thing for a Captain to know.

Pele's suggestion in response to Unalmis' comment, however, caught Arnyn a bit off guard, and she spontaneously laughed aloud at the proposed bet, her clear laughter joining with Mourgan's.

"While I think it's a very amusing proposal, I do feel it is a bit out of balance. If you win, then the loser both has to make breakfast and sing for hours!" The idea made her laugh again. "Though Is uppose it is excellent incentive to not come in last and to beat you." Arnyn nodded. "I accept." She was also very curious to see how everyone would do in such a challenge.

[Romeran]

Recruit Romeran

They would have to be content with travel by foot. This didn't really bother Romeran, who hadn't ever walked through the area in the first place and so the idea of traveling north through the Pelennor was likely far more exciting to Romeran than to any of the other Rangers, most of whom had spent a great deal more time within the Rammas than he had. As he looked around at the other rangers all now gathered here he couldn't help but smile. It hadn't been very long and he was beginning to feel a part of the group, it was an unusual feeling having spent his entire life in the farm before this, and so the feeling of acceptance among a new group of people was an unusual one.

When Pele raised the stakes of the march to a race, Romeran couldn't help but feel nervous. It took a certain amount of competitiveness to be a ranger, or any sort of combat soldier, as the drive to win and to survive are paramount to the line of duty. But Romeran was not one to relish in competition and while he enjoyed a good run, but he suspected that many of the other rangers would put him to shame. His mind immediately went to the prospect of losing. What would the other rangers think of him? At least the 'punishment' wouldn't be so bad.

"I quite like cooking at least" he said in response "so it sounds like I don't have much to lose" he added with a smile "I accept."

On the one hand, the cooking supplies that he had brought would come in handy should he lose, but on the other hand the extra weight he had added without consideration would make the job of not losing more difficult. He decided that, in the end, if he did lose then he could at least save face with a good showing at breakfast.

Romeran looked around at the other rangers, waiting to see if someone would protest or someone would start running, While he did not plan on trying to lose, he also had no plans on leading the race, he had no good idea of the directions, after all.

[Pele Alarion]

Finding that most others did not awfully mind the challenge, Pele joined the laugh and thought that it would at least make the lengthy travel a bit more fun and enjoyable.

"Well, fine. The loser cooks and sings then," she agreed and re-formulated the bet to include Arnyn's suggestion, her blue eyes still glinting with laughter. "Though I don't know, Mourgan, why you imagine that I would lose. Who said that I can sing well?" It was not that she sang badly, she simply did not do any such thing in public and reserved it for more private occasions, such as humming while roaming around in the wild, sometimes.

"It seems that we have more people who could cook well and not that many who could sing," she concluded.

Suddenly, Pele set off at the best speed she could muster and kept it up for a while to see if others would follow and try to catch her. However, in view of the distance to be covered and perhaps some other considerations known only to herself, she gradually slowed down until she was happily jogging along at a leisurely pace.

[Arnyn]

"Hey!" Arnyn exclaimed as Pele bursted off all of a sudden, followed by a quick laugh even as she pushed off into a run herself. It was not as easy with the sword on her weapon's belt, and she soon took it off to hold in one of her hands instead. She would switch hands regularly not to put undue strain on only one of her shoulders.

Instead of rolling back from her heels to the ball of her foot during the run, Arnyn ran on the front half of her feet. It went faster and was more efficient, and it simply felt better during a run. She sort of pushed herself away and forward, and strived for efficient strides that were not too long but rather fit more with her arm movements. Her hands moved from her hips almost up to shoulder height, not as smoothly perhaps as it would have been without holding her scabbarded sword, but still concise enough. Her legs followed her arms, which helped not to overextend. Light and loose, she repeated to herself a few times - a mantra which now came without thinking about it, after years of training. She ran tall, upright, to open up the lungs.

She had no intention of cooking or singing.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

Both challenged and disheartened, as Pele urged him to consider ‘normal’ means of travel, Unalmis did nonetheless shake his head in some amusement as the Captain began subtly walking on her way toward the North gate. All the while leading the debate on how best to come swiftly to that gate, their party was forced to follow her in at least enough of a speed to keep up with the conversation. It would be a wonder that they did not reach their destination before ever it was decided !

Pele had took up the idea of a race though and, literally, ran with it, adding further incentive though perhaps not quite as she might have expected. Nal had heard of singing for your supper, but singing while making supper seemed almost like an invitation to manage neither thing very well at the same time, even if you were an expert in either regard at the best of times. Mourgan’s comment seemed to imply that any ‘winner’ forced to listen to such noise and swallow who knew what distracted concoction might, in fact, be the true loser, and the other young Ranger was inclined to agree. One by one, the challenge was accepted, as though there were any other alternative save turning tail and retreating back to bed. For his part Unalmis surveyed his ‘competition’ and shrugged. “Narradir’ taught me a whole load of songs, and experience has taught me only that I need more, where it comes to cooking,” he mentioned, idly. Though the threat, particularly for anyone who knew the forester he referenced, would not be lost.

He might be however, for there were a growing lack of ears left to hear him. The two ladies had sped off already, putting their plan into practice, and the young man to recognise he had been left in the company of three folk, each with longer legs than him. There was such a thing as ‘ladies’ first. But from there on out, all rules had been thrown out. Adjusting the straps to settle better about his shoulders, Unalmis tested the toe of one boot against the worn path to the North, raised a competitive eyebrow toward the remainder of their company, and threw himself into an escape from further inaction.

This was not the disciplined and conscientious lines of progress that Prince Faramir had called for on a previous mission. This was something more wild, more primal; an unleashing of energy. As though the North Gate stood as their final destination rather than the first of several landmarks in the intended adventure. As far as the young man was concerned, the want to be outside of the city’s reach, out in the even just a small distance beyond, was far more incentive than any placing in the race. Though of course, any soul with such experience in fleeing from ‘escapades’, would not be unpracticed in making fair speed, particularly with the thought of a pursuit, for any amount of time at all, behind him.

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
Just outside the city gate

Hearing the proposition of a race, Duinion paused to glance around. He certainly had no desire to have to sing or cook. He didn't mind catching dinner, but having to cook it... he considered speaking up to comment that they ought to instead designate Rome as the cook for this outing, as he could attest to the young man's skill at cooking. But others had chipped in their input about the race idea. He thought it might be something of a way for Pele to assess everyone's endurance, so he didn't protest the idea. But he was about to point out that it might not be quite fair to everyone, since not all of them (mostly, Rome) were familiar with the area.

He didn't get a chance to speak up on that regard, for Pele had taken off without much warning. Not desiring to be left behind, nor to be the loser of their race, Duinion wasted no time in following after the captain, smiling faintly as he remembered some of the fun he used to have with Dom, racing through the streets and out in the fields... of course, he never could really beat Dom, who was almost three years older than him, but he still tried. Just as he pushed himself now, determined to keep up with Pele, and at least ensure that he wasn't the last to reach the North Gate.

[Pele Alarion]

Within sight of the North Gate

What would otherwise be lengthy and boring hours of travel seemed to have turned into a fun game, as the group of Rangers raced each other, and mostly stuck within close proximity of each other as no one was keen to remain the last through the gate. And so it was that the mentioned gate was already within view, still requiring a bit of effort to reach but at least plainly visible to direct even those among them that would have otherwise needed directions. The sun was still above the mountains too, and if they were lucky they'd be able to set up some sort of a simplified campsite before the dark.

She would not be the last, Pele decided, and accordingly increased her speed, having preserved some strength throughout the lengthy run for the final burst. She was so intent on reaching her goal that she noticed a small obstacle - a round rock sticking out of the well-travelled road - that she was late in avoiding it. She attempted to correct her step to pass the rock, but it was easier said than done considering the speed and the rhythm she had developed. Her foot landed on the outer side of the rock awkwardly, twisting her ankle painfully. This little misstep sent Pele sprawling to the ground, and she attempted to soften the fall, stretching out her palms and bruising them against the rough surface of the road.

"Ah, for crying out loud!" she exclaimed, when she finally came to rest fully on the ground, mostly in one piece, both her and her equipment. Except the bruised hands and the painful ankle, and her hurt pride. For a few moments she remained still and assessed her condition mentally concluding that she should be fine to continue, though now she was no longer sure she'd be able to avoid the last place. Sitting up she ran her fingers over the injured ankle through the boot, pressing against it lightly to test whether it would hold up to more running, and mumbled something under her breath.

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
Within sight of the North gate

The run was a bit long, but he maintained a fairly steady pace and didn't push himself too hard. So long as he didn't get a pain in his side, he would be fine. At this pace, he could keep going for a little while longer, at least, and was glad for being in such good physical condition. Soon, the gate was in sight, and he was sure that he would at least not come in last. He wasn't sure who was actually at the back of the group, but it wasn't him and that was all he really cared about at the moment. All he had to do was keep pushing on at this pace and he'd be just fine.

Then, just slightly ahead of him, Duinion saw Pele drop to the ground. All thoughts of the race flew from his mind as he grew concerned for her, not only as a person, but as his captain. It took him a few paces before he managed to come to a stop, turning back to kneel by the woman. "Are you alright?" He asked, a little out of breath, but not too much. "Can you stand, or do you need to sit for a minute?" She would be far more knowledgeable about any medical assessments, or needs, than he would, but from the look of how she had fallen, she might have scraped her hands, and he wasn't sure what had caused her to fall in the first place.

[Arnyn]

She was just ahead of Pele, and only knew something was going on by the exclaimed 'for crying out loud!'. Looking over her shoulder, Arnyn spotted Pele on the ground, having fallen prostrate. For a moment she wondered whether it was a test for the newer Rangers, to see whether they would prioritize the race over a comrade, but she soon let go of that idea. While Pele liked to have a bit of fun, she would never quite play with people like that. Running in an arch, Arnyn ran to Pele, who was now sitting down and had been joined by Duinion.

She caught the Tirdinen's last question, and frowned as saw Pele pressing her fingers to her boot. "Did you twist an ankle?" Arnyn ventured. If so, it could just be a temporary ache, but if it was a sprain it might very well be more serious. It was possible even that their little outing had ended before it had good and well begun. Although... if Arnyn knew Pele... the woman was more likely to use a light injury to have the gathered Rangers practice teamwork and camaraderie, instead of having them turn back.

Curious to see what Unalmis, Rome, Mourgan and Caladcyll had chosen to do, Arnyn's gaze sought them out to take note. Unintentional as the fall had been, it would still provide an interesting look into their character. Although, with Duinion and herself already having chosen to stop, none of them would continue running unless they had little sense in them.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

At first the breeze was his only obstacle. Orbiting the young man on his steady passage, the unseen kiss of the early hour cooled his brow before a healthy sweat ever had a chance to stake too serious a claim. For a time his hair was blown from behind him, over both shoulders, but never was the wind so strong to stand a proper barrier to progress. It was playing with him, begging for attention which was stubbornly denied. And so in time the breeze tired, or else the Ranger had been running long enough to warm his limbs so as he scarcely noticed it’s presence any more.

Their race was a distance of more than three leagues, so in time Unalmis had staved off the threat of inevitable distraction by trying to drum his footfall into something of a beat to pass the time. He brought his every third step down harder, and occasionally, threw out a dart offside as though he might change direction or as though someone was following him, or, more likely, that he might lose his balance. But then he would forget, with all the frivolous zeal of a puppy free of it’s leash. Short bursts of a greater speed were showcased, to prove that he could, and then the slow to a more steady pace, when he remembered that he should.

There was no fear that any of their small company might lose their way, for a growing stream of wagons and travellers had begun, with time, to trickle back against the course of the Rangers’ journey. Nal had privately assigned them each a name and a story as he passed them. That one was headed into the city to make his fortune, this one or the other was returning home to their sweetheart. He was close to conceiving some explanation for a small, familiar looking group, when he realised there was more sense in stopping to ask. Particularly given that he was meant to be a part of their group.

He didn’t seem to be the only one eager for answers, though the questions that Duinion and Arnyn put to Pele, gave up most of what must have happened. Stopping short, Unalmis did not immediately come to join them. If the Master Healer required any assistance at all to evaluate her condition, then the two experienced experts who were already at hand would make his guesswork, and presence, rather superfluous.

There was one thing he might be able to contribute however. The habit of walking, more often running, with his canine companion, meant that the young man had developed a radar for sticks which the dog could play fetch. There had been a rather substantially long example not far back and he had mentally disregarded it. Far too long of a stick for a dog to carry easily. But it might be long enough for a grown woman to lean on, if she needed to.

Naturally, it was beyond Nal’s ability to simply walk up with the successfully retrieved walking stick. Wielding it in some potentially haphazard fashion in first one hand then the other, he rounded it about his torso, looked like he might almost drop it, but nonetheless brought the swing and whirl to an abrupt halt, and a surprising degree of control at it’s conclusion. Before tossing it over to his Captain, as helpfully as ever he could imagine this might be. If he was lucky the makeshift staff would land nicely in the grass beside Pele, rather than hit her in the head; which was just as likely. For the length of it was rather more wieldly than the usual missiles he had been entertaining himself by throwing about lately.

“You can take the Ranger out of the forest,” he shook his head at their esteemed leader, secretly hoping that this now would, or should, not see the end of their little escapade. Even before it had really begun. “But sometimes the forest still will lend a hand. Or a branch ... A twig ? Ah, yes, a stick,” he settled on this last description of the walking staff and nodded with satisfaction. “Come on, I don’t believe the mighty Pele Alarion would let us carry her. I guarantee I’d drop you before we get five feet. Accidentally of course, since I'm not as strong as you. So you had best get up. Can’t look up to you, when you’re sat down there.”

[Pele Alarion]

"I'm mostly fine," Pele responded to Duinion's asking when he came and knelt by her. She did not feel anything alarming through the relatively thin protection the boot provided, and the level of pain did not seem so severe that it would require more than a bit of rest and care. "Give me just a little bit of time to get over the surprise of having all but flown into the ground."

Carefully she rotated her foot one way and another to see if the ankle was workable, "Aye, stepped on some rock and all that," she grumbled when Arnyn had joined them and set a nearly accurate diagnosis. "Somehow ended up sprawled on the ground, instead of correcting myself and just going on."

With a corner of her eye Pele noticed some swift movement, and turned her head to look at Unalmis juggling a sizeable stick. Which he promptly threw at her after the display of handling skills. Instinctively, Pele reacted and reached out to grab it with her right hand, forgetting the grazed palms. Reminder was instantaneous, and she winced as the rough wood pressed against the injured skin of her hand. Setting aside the stick, she looked over her hands and found that there wasn't even much bleeding. Nothing that a good clean couldn't fix, and some pain to suffer for a while until it would heal.

"Right..." she said, picking up the stick once again and using it as means of support as she pulled herself up and checked whether the ankle would not mind supporting her weight. "If you don't want to carry me, Nal, get me a chariot with fancy and comfortably soft cushions. And if not, then get more arms and shoulders to help you with the task of carrying me - that would at least deal with the problem of having to look down at me," she then told the young Ranger and barely held back from sticking her tongue out at him. "At least the gate is not too far away."

She the took a few steps towards the mentioned gate and found that the ankle did feel a bit sore, and she ended up limping a little, but it did not seem like it would cause a major problem long term. However, she was not sure she'd be much of a runner for the rest of the day.

[Arnyn]

Pele's assurance that she was mostly fine did not as of yet convince Arnyn. Pele would be more inclined to downplay an injury rather than speak truth - at least while in the larger group. She would not want to disappoint anyone and would prefer for her little venture to carry on. Arnyn therefore raised a critical eyebrow at her friend and Captain as the latter rotated her foot a bit and explained what happened. Rock? She stepped on rock? The raised eyebrow came back down, into a light frown. How... unusual. A stroke of bad luck indeed, for a ranger to take such a simple misstep. They were used to much more treacherous terrain than the Pelennor, after all.

A long stick flew past her, aimed at Pele. The Captain caught the stick, and Arnyn caught the Captain's wince. Narrowing her eyes as they sought out the origin of the stick's trajectory, they found Unalmis right as he began talking. Arnyn wondered whether Unalmis knew Pele rather well. He was being borderline flippant, something which did not go over particularly well with the blonde-haired Ranger. Not everyone here was familiar with one another, and while it wasn't an official ranger setting, Pele was still their Captain. Yet, she restrained herself from commenting right away, not deeming her Hyandaner rank as sufficient authority to reproach Unalmis for his words - or for throwing that stick the way he had, for that matter. It would be better to take a beat.

Pele handled it by jesting, and Arnyn smiled faintly. "Yes, the gate is close, but our destination is not." She eyed Unalmis. "You might have to carry her a ways, in the end. I imagine we would all take turns if it should prove necessary, no? Besides, I do not think you would drop the Captain after 5 feet," she mused, loud enough for the others to hear. Her smile was calm, indecipherable. "If you know what is good for you."
Returning her attention to Pele, she was glad to see her friend could at least walk, even if it was with a limp. It seemed like she would manage, although Arnyn made a mental note to keep a careful eye on any possible progression. "Please tell us if it gets worse," she requested a bit more quietly.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

There were members of authority who had earned the young man's respect, rather than merely expected it. And Captain Alarion fell resolutely into the first category. But Unalmis was undoubtedly more familiar with their current Captain, than he was with the former Commander.

He had known Pele when he was still an adolescent,  before he even had enlisted,  and during the time that she had then helped to train him, he had swiftly come to further appreciate the Ranger officer, irrespective and maybe even in spite of the rank she held. Nobody who knew her would harbour a want for Pele to suffer needlessly, so the young man would have understood, if he had been privy to the narrowed eyes and subtle disapproval of the Captain's concerned friend. Arnyn was clearly looking out for Pele's best interests, and noone was likely to argue with that, let alone the Hyandaner's own vast experience in the field.

Unalmis though was of a temperament to let most cares glance off his back when they were not considered grave concerns, at least by his reckoning. He did not in this case believe that the Captain's little tumble, on relatively speaking 'safe' home ground, to be something that required taking any more seriously than he had. So when Pele demanded a carriage, whether it be of cushions or of committed carriers, Nal paused barely on the very brink of a returned grin and further jest, when Arnyn had quietly added her piece.

"Ma'am, I would carry our inconvenienced leader all the way to Mount Doom and back again, if the need arose," he vowed sincerely, picking up on an undercurrent of some threat. Though probably he did not reassure the Hyandaner, especially when he added, "I would pick her up off the ground again as many times as it took, even after dropping her every five feet that I took, if it should come to that. We leave noone behind. Our Captain is a competent Ranger though, a wise leader and a qualified Master Healer," he recognised aloud, in his own take of defending the popular officer. "I have every faith in her ability to bravely blaze onward," he admitted an unfailing confidence in the indomitable Captain, and an unquenchable hope that the trip would not be cancelled, "unless there is a need to rein in this campaign because of a turned ankle. Ma'am," he added the deference a second time since Arnyn maybe was more of a stickler for that sort of thing.

He'd never served under the blonde Hyandaner specifically before, and was likely not going to form any lasting impressions of the woman at this early stage of the proceedings. It was possibly a better idea, in fact, than any might have imagined, for their group to undertake this casual expedition, so that they might learn to better read and trust each other. To work together. The initial Rangers campaign had, after all, left many doubting (understandably) who, even amongst themselves, that they could trust with their lives when it came down to it. There was bound to be fall out after such a strange turn of events, and a faltering of faith in one another. This random little outing was exactly what they needed, and the Captain had clearly recognised the fact.

If Pele did require carrying though, they should of course take her back to the city for treatment and rest. Whether it was by means of lifting their limping commander or liberating a gold plated carriage with cushions for her comfort. They could postpone the outing, as disappointing as that would prove. But the dauntless leader herself had accepted the stick as a practical alternative to being carried, and she did not seem too far the worse for her fall from grace. Nal knew Pele enough that she was not one to play damsel, though he may not have known so well as Arnyn did, the Captain's tendency to also play down her own needs. They were soldiers, all of them, enough to expect and adjust to the occasional bumps and blisters that came with the job description.

He decided though maybe not to ask if they should try to bind the ankle, or suggest that Pele might dare to let any of them tend to her malady for practice. They were not yet all appraised of the latest situation, so the young man shrugged his bag in place and let Duinion know that he would go flag down any of their small company who were still at their abandoned race.

[Romeran]

Recruit Romeran

The race began before Romeran could fully formulate a plan. The captain had shot off first and most of the other rangers had followed quickly thereafter. Not wanting to be left behind, Romeran started after them. He was surprised at how quickly the other rangers were running, how far away was the gate anyway? He wondered, would he be able to keep up this pace the entire way there? Before he could even decide on an answer the other rangers were pulling ahead. Resolutely, Romeran started running after them trying to catch up, although he was a large man and not one for sprinting and so try as he might most of the rangers seemed to remain just out of reach for the lumbering man.

Not long after they began running, Romeran had decided that simply trying to catch up was unlikely to be successful, not with the head start the other rangers had. They could almost see the gates now, though, Romeran thought at least that perhaps that was what was ahead as he looked past the running senior rangers. As the rangers ahead of him turned with a curve in the road, Romeran saw that there seemed to be an alley line of farm houses and the like which appeared to take a straighter path towards the gate, or at least towards the direction Romeran believed the gate was in. Romeran stopped at the crossroads. He had two choices: follow the rangers or try for a shortcut. Following the Rangers seemed doomed to failure, there was no second wind of speed for Romeran to tap into. If he was going to lose the straight up race it seemed like there was nothing else to lose with the short cut, well assuming it didn't get him lost. He decided to take the risk.

Dashing down the alleyway, Romeran thought at first that he had made a clever decision. The path was straight and he was confident now that just over the row of houses not far from him was the gate. Problem was that at the end of the present path the alley stopped and hit a row of houses. Romeran hoped that he could make a quick left or right and find his way back to the main road and the gates. Head down, Romeran ran down the alley as fast as he could, if he was going to be making decisions he couldn't waste time. Moments later he came to the end of the alley ands topped himself before running straight into the wall ahead of him. Looking left and then right, Romeran cursed. It wasn't a row of houses, it was a wall Romeran had ran himself inside someone's property and was now facing an internal wall, too high for him to scale and into who knows what.

Just then Romeran heard a cry as someone fell far off to his left. It sounded as if it was Pele, but he couldn't tell exactly. Nevertheless, the road had bent left when Romeran had left it and the sound came from the left. Romeran decided that left was the best option and, without hesitation, turned on the spot and began running left. Shortcuts make for long delays, he thought, cursing himself for making such a foolish decision to try and find a short cut in a city he was vastly unfamiliar with. Shortly after turning and continuing to run, Romeran found himself in a wide field, surprisingly large for being inside the Pelennor which he was learning was much larger than he had originally expected. The southern gate and route were much closer to the main city than the North and Romeran had only ventured in through one of the gates.

The sound of hooves came up from behind him and Romeran hesitated a glance backwards as he continued straight through the field heading for the western side of the wall. Horses! Romeran almost tripped, three horses had spotted Romeran and, probably thinking he was playing some sort of game, had made off to chase after him and were rapidly closing on him. Romeran turned back to the wall trying to guess whether he would make it to the end of the field before the horses would catch him and trying not to think what might happen if the horses did catch him.

Suddenly the second wind which Romeran hadn't believed he had found its way to Romeran's feet and he took off with greater vigor than before. The wall was closing in quickly but the sound of the hooves was only growing louder in his ears, Romeran wouldn't risk a glance backwards for fear of losing his step and finding himself on the ground with a stampede of horses behind him. Luckily, for some definition of luck at least, Romeran slammed into the wall with greater force than he had intended and he let out a grunt as the air was expelled from his lungs. The wall was stonework rather than brick and so there were larger cracks and protruding pieces of stone which made scaling the, albeit not terribly tall, wall much easier than had it been made of brick. The horses, had slowed down much more elegantly than Romeran and paced around the bottom of the wall where Romeran had began his climb, snorting excitedly. Romeran was generally comfortable enough with horses that he should have recognized these sounds as playful rather than aggressive, but in Romeran's mind the horses were snorting and stamping the ground itching to tear him limb-from-limb. Romeran redoubled his effort to climb the wall quickly. His foot slipped and he was about to fall down when his right hand managed to grab the top of the wall giving him a hold.

Scrambling with his feet, Romeran barely managed to get a grip and haul himself up on top of the wall. He caught his breath momentarily on the top and looked down at the horses, who were more clearly young and excited from this angle than they had seemed as Romeran had desperately climbed the wall. It also seemed a lot less tall from the top than it had from the bottom, a fact he was thankful for now that he would have to climb down. Romeran swung his legs over and lowered himself down until he could find somewhere to place his feet, he then eased down once more with his hands, about mid-way down the wall, before dropping and landing with a thud and another "oof." Mud and dust was now sprayed up and down Romeran's boots and even to his trousers and he tried to dust himself off with little luck.

Another choice lay before him now, as a path led onwards to the West or to his right and North. The sound he had heard now and some voices seemed to come in the direction of the northern path so with no other information he took off in that direction. Luckily, the voices became louder and clearer as he continued down the path and he sped up as he began to recognize them as his fellow rangers. A few moments later he popped out from what had become a rather narrow alley onto the main pathway where he saw Pele, Nal, Arnyn and Duinion.

"Hullo" he said, out of breath and trying to take in the situation. Romeran couldn't help but be leaning over with his hands on his knees trying to catch his breath and so it took him several moments to take in his surroundings. He frowned noticing that Pele was using a stick for balance and wondered if perhaps that had been the sound that happened here. "What happened?" he added, after catching his breath enough to stand upright and look over to the Captain and the others.

[Arnyn]

Arnyn quietly watched Unalmis as he responded to her own words. The young Ranger's eyes still carried some glint of amusement or jest, it seemed, but his words sounded genuine to her. Especially the words 'we leave no one behind' were spoken so simply and openly that Arnyn did not doubt that Unalmis meant them wholeheartedly. She nodded slowly. No stranger to the more impulsive side of soldiery, she had seen many Rangers in the past who were mischievous at times in act and words, but serious when they needed to be . Their own current Captain was among them, actually, and Arnyn would never forget that her own prominent role in the prank wars at the Barracks. In fact, surely she had shaved a good number of years off the barracks master's life.

That he referred to her as ma'am felt strange, and very alienating. When the Ranger adjusted his bag and spoke to Duinion, Arnyn approached Unalmis and put a hand on his shoulder to draw his attention. When he turned to her, she looked him in the eyes, serious for a moment longer. "You have spirit, Unalmis."
Then her dark eyes sparkled, the laugh lines at the corners of her eyes deepening as a contagious smile spread across her face. "Good." Arnyn tapped his shoulder lightly to emphasize the word, and then let go. "I am glad you think so highly of our Captain." She glanced at Pele, then looked back to Unalmis, still smiling, a bit softer now. "So do I."

She took a step or two into Romeran's direction when he arrived and had to lean forward before he could catch his breath. "The Captain took a tumble," Arnyn summarized. She moved her weight to one foot, and put the scabbarded longsword she'd been holding her her hand for the run, over one shoulder. Mourgan and Caladcyll weren't far behind. "Shall we?" she asked the group, and Pele in particular. "Albeit at a decidedly slower pace?" One of the corners of her lips curled upward.

[Isolde Alarion]

Mourgan Alarion
Not winning any foot races...

It seemed all of a sudden people were taking off at a run. He stood there for a moment watching them then he looked over to Romeran and shrugged. With a light adjustment of his pack he took off. It wasn't graceful by any means since it was much akin to watching a mountain take off. It took him a bit to find his stride. At this point it looked like he would be cooking and singing. "Bemas arse." He muttered between breaths. He was watching Romeran when he seemed to veer off in another direction. He as tempted to follow, maybe he knew something Mourgan didn't but decided to stay the course and see if he could make up some time.

He was just getting into a good pace when he noticed the group gathered around someone. Concern rose in him and without much effort he ran faster to see what happened. He slowed down to come to a stop to join the group. He was going to ask what happened but Arnyn was explaining it to Romeran. He looked over at Pele.
She was using a stick to help her walk, it seemed she hurt her ankle.

It seemed she was going to walk on the ankle and he was tempted to just scoop her up and carry her but he resisted seeing how she would probably beat him with the stick if he tried so he settled with reaching for her pack. "I'll take that." It wasn't a question as he gently took it from her and shouldered it himself. He leaned abit closer to her. "If it worsens, you will tell me." She may be their Captain but she was first his Aunt and he cared deeply for her.

Arnyn suggested they continue and he looked over to her and nodded he was ready.

[Pele Alarion]

The ankle felt somewhat sore when Pele put all her weight on it, but she did not think it would cause too much trouble. After a couple steps of testing the ability to walk, she turned back to her comrades with a small grin, raising her hands up, stick and all.

"All right, all right. I promise to report any health issues to you, my concerned folks. Or rather... you'd probably see it first before I say anything," quiet laughter glinted in her eyes, when she guessed that they would know this to be true. "You have my leave to grab me and drag me back to the city kicking and screaming, if so."

Pele had not yet managed to lower her hands when Mourgan had already taken a hold of her pack and effectively relieved her of it. "Hey!" she exclaimed, letting a laugh escape. "That is a lot of pampering for one day already. So much attention, no pack to carry... though I would rather not be carried and dropped every five feet, Nal, thank you. Might end up with more injuries than just one achy ankle."

She turned to look at Rome who seemed to have appeared from some other direction, looking all winded and flushed. Pele couldn't help but wonder whether he had somehow gotten lost even with several of them taking the shortest way to the gate - or had he been trying to find some sort of a shortcut? However, she only raised an eyebrow at him for a moment, and then turned towards the direction of their travel again.

"Slower, perhaps, but yes, let's keep moving," she agreed to Arnyn's suggestion. "But we'd still have to figure out the meals, even if there's no singing to go with it." With that she set off as fast as she could - a reasonably steady walk, with a limp and assistance of the stick now and then. "We could eat whatever dry foods we have with us, suppose, since it might be dark when we get to an appropriate camping site," she continued to discuss their options, though she suggested only the simplest ones.

[Romeran]

Recruit Romeran

The distraction of the Captain's injury was enough of an excuse for Romeran not to have to explain his failed attempt at finding a short cut. In retrospect he wasn't sure why exactly he had thought that he would have been able to find a short cut which the rangers who had served in Minas Tirith, some of them for longer than Romeran had been alive, wouldn't have been aware of. Hopefully he wouldn't have to explain himself especially now that the attention seemed to be on the captain. Slowly he caught his breath again and nodded as Arnyn explained that the Captain had stumbled and it appeared injured an ankle. Romeran frowned, it was a solemn thing to see the Captain injured, especially on a trip which ostensibly was simply for some experience outdoors -- although Romeran was still unconvinced that there was no ulterior motive.

"There's a stable of horses nearby" he said, pointing in the direction of the wall he had recently scaled "I don't know how many horses they have" he paused trying to count the hooves which had chased him "I'd say at least a half dozen" he continued "but if we only need one horse for the captain we could make arrangements perhaps?" Romeran suggested although he had no idea who owned the stable and field which Romeran had recently trespassed on, nor was he sure whether or not he had been seen sprinting across the field with several horses chasing him. Nevertheless, it would likely be the Captain or at least a more senior ranger doing the talking with the stable hand and not Romeran himself so maybe he'd get away with it. Romeran was more concerned with the captain than with getting into some trouble for running across someone's property. He didn't think any of the horses had been injured nor did he believe he had broken anything in his haste, at least he hoped not.

"I brought some cooking supplies and spices too, I don't usually leave with out them and Sergeant Pete helped me restock my supply this morning before we left" he said, Romeran was actually somewhat eager at the idea of cooking for the rangers, he had spent more time than he possibly should have with Sergeant Pete in the kitchens he even had a mind to ask about apprenticing in one of the inn kitchens in the city, but he hadn't worked up the courage to do that yet. "Duinion has been teaching me some trapping and hunting tips too, although that might not be useful if we aren't staying in one place for long" he was rambling at this point and realized that he was telling the rangers information that they already knew having all been through the training that he was still doing and so Romeran fell silent not wanting to make any more of a fool of himself as he already had.

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

Ready to seek out their remaining colleagues, Unalmis was stalled in the moment by Arnyn’s hand on his shoulder and turned, bracing for the sort of lectures he had heard (and clearly not taken much heed of) all his life. But when the blonde Hyandaner spoke, he found it was something rather else than he’d expected, and a smile rather than a sigh which wanted to break across his young face.

“I have heard it called other things,” he admittedly honestly, when she spoke of his ‘spirit’, and surprised him by effectively defusing, rather than escalating, the matter. Very professional, he noted, in some awe of the ease with which she had subtly manouvred that. Arnyn also left him with the idea that she might have spoke from a place of foremost defending her good friend, and that provoked some semblance of understanding from him in return. She clearly knew Pele probably far better than he did, given the amount of time they must have served together. “I would never underestimate her,” he assured her, in as much as he could still explain himself at all.

As the Swordswoman released him, there was a nagging sort of thought beginning to stir at the back of Unalmis’s mind; as he added up the number of people he had witnessed acting overly concerned about Pele of late. He knew of no reason, of course, why this should be, and was coming to assume that, after losing their last Ranger Commander, so unexpectedly, naturally folk were keen now to learn from the past and safeguard Amathen’s successor. Particularly given how well liked the Captain was. Never before had the rank of Command seemed to throw a person into a place of vulnerability. But the chaos which had come when the head was removed of their company, exhumed now something he had learnt way back in the early forays of Ithilien training. Never to identify the leader of your group whilst in the field, for who knew when scouts or indeed assassins might be watching, waiting to observe the smartest target. Idly, he considered their group here from a prospective outsider’s point of view, and deemed that the casual nature of their expedition would certainly throw off any enemy assumptions. That said, he would probably have never tossed a stick so, at someone who he didn’t know would likely take it with the grace the Captain had.

Romeran’s arrival served a timely and relevant distraction, whirling Unalmis to turn face, for the other Ranger had not approached from the path he had expected. Mourgan was likewise amongst them before Nal could even work out who had gotten there first. This was what happened when he stopped to explore thoughts, he begrudged even with a laugh at his self that likely no one comprehended. Still as Arnyn explained to the taller pair what had happened, the young man was not surprised to see their Captain’s nephew look immediately to help her, in as much as she would allow. That was just the sort of Ranger of course, who would not drop her every five feet, if in fact at all.

“If you managed any more injuries, we’d really have to stop and see how well our healing efforts can live up to the MasterHealer’s training,” Nal bowed with a grin back to Pele as she proposed they make off once again. But as slowed as their pace might now become, one of them at least had an idea to resolve that.

“If that was Angrenar’s stables, he’d charge you more than the whole half dozen are worth, to borrow but one horse,” Unalmis put in, to Romeran’s suggestion. “But most of the Pelennor folk are always eager to assist the King’s Rangers. Not ..” he added, hastily, “that I have ever exploited that kindness for anything less than a good cause. Romeran is correct of course; Duinion is certainly one of the best woodsmen I have heard of.”

His last sentence thrown in instinctively to divert from the one before, the young man marvelled at the other man’s admission about having thought to bring spices with him. It seemed, for all the damage that their race had managed, and which, Nal belatedly decided to forget had been his idea in the first place, they might still have just identified a contender for cook that night. A volunteer, almost; which would be all the more enjoyable and the better for the newcomer to integrate himself within the group.

[Pele Alarion]

"Oh, come now, you guys!" Pele exclaimed, rolling her eyes at all the fussing over her wellbeing. "There's no need to go chasing folk and borrow their horses, no matter if they came for free or for a hundred gold pieces. I can walk! It was just a small misstep."

Then she turned to offer Unalmis something of a glare, even though it was playful. "I'm sure I'd end up so wrapped in bandages, if I let you get to me, that I would no longer be able to walk, or ride a horse, or move at all - and you'd have to either carry me or roll me along the road," she said, though she was sure that if there was a real need all of them would manage at least some sort of reasonable assistance.

Pele walked carefully at first, to let the ankle rest, but as the pain subsided gradually, so her pace became faster. And so it was well past noon when they finally passed through the gate. Seeing that they still had a rather long road ahead of them, Pele resumed a careful jog, though still keeping the stick should she need it.

"Right," she returned to plans on camping after a longer break. "Rome, I understood you would be willing to cook? That is settled then. We also need someone to set up fire, a good hunter or two to provide meat, someone to find some stream nearby... Also, those things aside - since we have to get there first, anyone willing to run ahead to scout out the land, forest, and find us a suitable camping site? Volunteers? I'd rather you pick something you like to do instead of me appointing roles when we are not on any sort of mission."

[Rillewen]

Tirdinen Duinion Raedor
Within sight of the North gate

It was a relief to see that Pele seemed to be alright, although it looked like Nal came dangerously close to knocking her in the head with a stick. He gave a raised eyebrow to the young man, but remained quiet while another scolded him for his seeming carelessness. Despite that, he couldn't help an amused smile. It was just the sort of thing that Domanol would have done, he thought. That was probably why he had come to like Unalmis so well, because he reminded him of his friend. Which wasn't terribly surprising, considering Unalmis was Dom's nephew. He couldn't help a soft, amused snort to hear Unalmis' comment about not having ever exploited that kindness for anything less than a good cause. Did anyone actually believe that, he wondered? A light laugh followed it, as he heard both Rome and Unalmis brag on his woodsman skills. "You know, of course, that your father taught me a great deal of what I know?" He pointed out to Unalmis with a smile, wondering just how much the young man knew of his own father's skills.

When it became evident that Pele was still capable of walking, and would not need to be carried, the group carried onward. Duinion was pleased to have noticed that it looked like everyone stopped to see if she was alright, and to offer aid in some manner. It was good to see, for it showed they were inclined to caring for one another. He was quiet and thoughtful as he traveled, hanging back a little ways behind their captain, watchful in case her ankle gave her trouble, although he figured he was surely not the only one keeping an eye on her, watching in case she began limping or having difficulty keeping up a steady pace.

Before long, Pele was planning for their camping site, and Duinion took a moment to wonder whether he ought to hold back on volunteering for anything, to give the others a chance to take on some of those roles. He cast a glance around, thoughtful. Rome was going to be cooking, so that eliminated him from any other roles. He wasn't sure about any of the others' skills at... anything, really. "I'm willing to take any of those jobs, if no one else does." He spoke up quietly. "Though, I would prefer to let some of these younger folks take on whatever jobs they want, first. And, if I may add a suggestion... someone might go foraging for edible plants to go along with our meat, as well."

[Ercassie]

Unalmis Raxëlilta

Spurred on by Pele’s good humour, Unalmis passed out through the Forannest Gate with his typical undaunted attitude, overwhelmingly glad that the fall had not been something more serious. By his reckoning they were roughly about half way to the general destination which the Captain had identified back at HQ. Even the one with most cause to move more slowly was managing a fair pace, and ever more so as they went on. All in all, there was much to look forward to.

“If you were that well wrapped, it would not matter if I dropped you,” he replied to Pele raising an eyebrow to mirror Duinion. Though he was glad to see that the stick he’d ‘provided’ had turned out to be something the Captain could make use of, whilst still maintaining her own independence.

“And you know what my father would say if he heard you playing so modest for your own accomplishments,” Nal turned afterward in reply for Duinion, dropping to one knee and his pack without excitement to the ground. “That he only passed on to you what was first passed on to him, all down the generations and the legacy and traditions ..Everybody learns it. But not everybody lives it. You do.” This last was delivered as a compliment to the Tirdinen with a resounding nod. Then locating the water flask he had apparently thought to pack, the young man took a sip and a moment of peace, for his fellows, from the seemingly constant chatter.

As their path fed out from the City's front garden and into the wider wealth of Anorien, Pele began brainstorming, and Unalmis fastened back his bag again, sliding the strap back up his more sloped, right shoulder before he recovered their pace. “I don’t mind going on ahead,” he put in, ending a short run that caught him up to Pele. “I’ve been out this way before,” he reminded her. “And you’re likely to hear me fairly easily if I sing along the way, so you won’t lose me, unless you want to.”

[Arnyn]

Arnyn waited with her own response, figuring the Captain wanted to find out what the newer members of their force would choose to do. Duinion seemed to share her reserve, which brought a little smile to Arnyn's face.

But, other than Duinion, only Unalmis had replied to the Captain's question. Unable to stay silent for much longer, Arnyn started - rational as she was - analyzing the situation. "Well. Since Unalmis is going to scout ahead and find us our campsite, his job is clear. As far as hunting goes: Pele, Duinion and Rome are the only ones with a bow. Pele should rest her foot at least a little instead of going hunting... Though she might not agree, I think the rest of us might." She smiled apologetically at Pele. "Although, of course, we can be overruled by our Captain. Rome is already cooking, it seems. Therefore, I would assume Duinion will be the one shooting us something. If the Tirdinen would like to take a second hunter, that person could perhaps borrow Romeran's bow, if Rome is agreeable to such a suggestion. The person looking for water can also look for edible plants. Then someone to gather firewood and start the fire."

She turned to Mourgan and Caladcyll. "Any preferences between the fire, plants and water, and hunting with Duinion?"

[Pele Alarion]

It seemed that Unalmis was the most eager of the younger members to choose a task for himself, with others still hesitating. Pele listened for a while as Arnyn continued to flesh out their plans and tasks still to be taken. Then she turned back to Unalmis. "I figure you can go ahead and pick us a nice spot, Nal," she said, intending to send him off. "While the rest of us discuss all the other things to be done and amble along at a leisurely pace. And it seems that you want to claim the position of a singer too, right?" she laughed and then waved her hand as if to shoo him off on his way.

Then Pele turned her attention back to what Arnyn had said about other tasks, and Pele resting her foot. Frowning she calculated that if everyone took on a part she might actually end up without anything to do.

"So you mean that I should just sit with my feet up and chase everyone else around?" Pele laughed again, her eyes twinkling merrily. "Suppose I could just help with things around the campsite if necessary. Or pick some herbs nearby if there are any to be found. That should not be too tough on my foot."