The brown ceiling of the tent. The familiar sound of a bird singing. The faint smell of a dead camp fire and the trees surrounding it. A light throbbing in his head. These are the things that first greeted Kaiell as he slowly came back into reality. For a long moment, he just lay there staring in deep thought as he tried to remember what had happened. Where was he exactly? And why was he there? Oh yeah—he remembered now. It was all coming back to him. Well... most of it. Blocking the road from the orcs along with Agromnir, Edhelfaron, and the ranger. And the inevitable battle that came as a result. It was near the end of the fight when he was defeated, but he couldn't quite remember the specifics of how it happened. With a light grimace, he gently raised a hand to the small bandage on his head covering the spot where he was hit. Hopefully it’s not too bad, he thought.
After a deep breathe, Kaiell stood up, or at least as much as he could in that tent. He stepped outside, looked around, and it was confirmed to him that he was still in the ranger’s camp within the ruins. The sky was cloudy and not yet bright enough to hurt your eyes in anyway. The ground still had much water to soak up before becoming dry again. Suddenly, a voice came from behind and Kaiell couldn't help but jump a little as the almost complete silence was sharply shattered.
“Ah... awake now are you?” The voice said.
Kaiell swiveled around and saw who it was, “Apparently,” he responded.
The Dunadan paused as he sat down the bundle of wood he carried on the ground near the fire pit. “You were hit fairly hard... but it’s not too serious luckily. All you gotta do is take it slowly until it properly heals and you should be good.”
Kaiell nodded with a slight frown. “That’s good to hear,” he said with that same low and slightly rusty voice. Slowly, Kaiell sat down on a sitting log and glanced at a huge puddle of water not far from him, then back at the man. “It’s strange—I can’t... quite remember the last few moments before I was hit,” he frowned deeper. “I remember taking a light blow to the shoulder by an arrow,” he looked down at his shoulder and felt it, “and... then killing an orc. It’s all a blank page after that.” Kaiell peered back up at the ranger. He couldn't remember the man’s name either now that he thought about it.
The ranger quirked a brow, “Really?” He frowned, “That’s not good,” he took a pause and sat down himself, “It seems you were nocked just hard enough to daze your memory a bit, though you should remember everything soon enough.”
Kaiell rubbed his bearded chin in thought, “Oh—yes, I remember. I was disarmed, then the last orc managed to hit me from behind...I think."
Torogethir nodded and chuckled a bit, “See? You’re fine.”
“Hopefully,” Kaiell hesitated, “What all happened afterwards? I vaguely recall waking up for a moment in the tent when it was still night and raining. Though perhaps it was a dream.” He paused just slightly, “And where are the others?” He glanced around again.
The Dunadan shook his head, “No, it was not a dream. You woke up still half asleep and asked what had happened when I was attending your wounds. We successfully won at the end and no one else was harmed, though I’m not sure I could have defeated the last one if the elf Edhelfaron hadn't joined me in the end.” He rubbed his bruised shoulder, “A few more of my kind eventually arrived, as I had sent word to them earlier through the messenger hawk. We actually decided to spare the last enemy and keep him prisoner, so the other Dunedain took him to Tinnudir. Agromnir and Edhelfaron continued on westwards with their own business not long after the fight.”
Kaiell nodded slowly, “I see,” there was a moment of silence, “Thank you for helping me by the way,” he stood up, “How can I repay you?”
The ranger let out a light laugh as he spoke, “You already have. I think I should be thanking you for aiding us in blocking the road.”
Kaiell smiled thinly, “I suppose your right,” he stopped and thought for several heartbeats. “Well… I should be going now. I have business in Bree that I might be late to,” he said with a sigh as he thought once more of his brother. It would be far too dangerous to search for him in Foronost or any other large orc encampment. It was because of luck that he had found him and it would only be through luck to find him again. All he could do was continue on with what little hope he had left.
The Dunadan raised his right brow, “Are you sure you feel well enough to leave now? The road through the fields is dangerous and orcs have been known to attack many on the Greenway lately. You proved a good enough warrior from what I saw, but even so, I would advise you to stay here and take it easy until you’re ready.”
Kaiell considered that, but only for a brief moment, “I made it safely enough through the fields on the way here. Although, I did see a party of orcs near the Greenway, but they didn't notice me. If I run into any trouble, chances are I’ll be able to handle myself,” he stepped into the tent to find his provisions.
“Are you sure?”
Kaiell walked back out and nodded, “Yes,” he searched his small bag for a second, “Farewell—uh, I’m sorry,” he glared down at the ground and snapped his fingers as he thought hard. “I've forgotten your name.”
“Torogethir,” the man replied with an almost funny-looking grin as he stepped closer to raise his arm for a handshake. “Farewell Kaiell and good luck on you travels. I hope you find whoever you've been searching for. Until we perchance meet again,” he said with a nod.
Kaiell shook the man’s with a firm grip and nodded back, “Yes, and good luck to you and your kin as you keep watch over these lands, for these are indeed worrisome times.”
“Most definitely. Again—be wary.”
Kaiell nodded one last time and with that, he started on his way.
Fortunately, Kaiell did not run into any danger as he passed through those misty fields once more. He was starting his way down the Greenway towards Trestlebridge now. See? There’s nothing to worry about—everything’s perfectly fine, he mused to himself as he rubbed his aching head. It was getting worse now with all the walking.
One minute later.
The sun was now high in the almost annoyingly bright blue sky and the clouds were disappearing fast like the last rays of a sunset fading behind the distant mountains. From the corner of his eye, Kaiell glimpsed something barely glint in the sunlight. He turned to discover what it was—and was greeted with the sound of a bow firing. Luckily, a tree was right next to him and he dashed behind it. He was not hit. A moment of silence followed. After risking a quick glance from behind the edge of the trunk, it was confirmed to him what it was. And he had to curse himself for what he had just been thinking a minute ago. About four orcs coming towards him with great speed, three of which had bows. Well… isn’t this just simply splendid?
