Rannie leaned back in the chair with her feet propped up on the table as she waited. She took a bite out a strip of dried meet, glancing around the room. It was dimly lit by candles alone as there were no single window or crack that would allow the light of day to enter. The room was littered with book cases, tables and chairs, and of course books. She could only imagine what one could learn spending a few hours in that room.
Finally the creaking of the ancient wooden doors announced that someone had joined her, she glanced over her shoulder to see a small group of men. They were all dressed similar, just like the men she’d met in Evendim, worn weather beaten clothes in earthy tones and grim expressions on their faces. One of them she recognized as the man that showed her to this room and commanded her to wait. She watched them, not altering her lazed position as a demonstration of her irritation for have been waiting as long as she had.
“So we’ve been told you’ve come to see our aid,” one of them stated as they walked up to her. Once they reached her side she dropped her feet from the table and sat up to give them a nod.
“Aye I have, for the people of that village up north,” she explained then tried to pronounce the strange name, earning a hint of a smile from the man. She really wondered if any of these dunedain actually were able to smile.
“You’re a Bree lander if I’m not mistaken?” He asked and she wondered what that had to do with anything but answered his question all the same. “What strange path has brought a young Bree land woman to the hidden settlement of Esteldin to plead aid for the hill men of Aughaire?” He asked, looking genuinely curious and she could understand how it would seem strange so she explained that she was in the Order and helping Cynraede.
“I already talk ta em bout block off the entrances ta the village but their simple folk and could use someone ta teach them how ta use what weapons they got or if ya can give em something better than what they got and maybe even some food. I don’t think they got a whole lot” she explained. One of the dunedain stepped forward.
“I can imagine as a Bree lander, you make think we sit around all day doing all sorts of shady deeds but we are a hard pressed people,” one of the other rangers demanded giving her a heated and disdainful look. “We have too few men to do what already amassing about of duties already expected of us. So must we stop to tend to the strings your order can possible provoke by foolishly marching into Angmar to stir the hornet’s nest?” he finished with a tone would use on an ill-mannered child.
Rannie stood up from the chair as she lifted her chin, intent to give this new speaker a piece of her mind when the ranger who first spoken waved his hand, calling for both to keep their words. “Arohir while I admire your passion this is not the time for it,” he stated then turned to Rannie. “But he isn’t wrong, there is much we have been tasked to do…” he started to explain but she cut him off.
“Aye, I get that but I don’t believe ya so tightly pressed ya can’t spare a single man…just one? If ya can’t help with weapons, food, or stuff like that then I understand but at the very least ya can spare just one man ta give them a chance ta defend their own and their home,” she argued. The one called Arohir gave her a stern look while the apparent leader of the group rubbed his chin in thought. “If that village falls those Angmarims will have an open door ta all of this land, not just one or two but whole armies!”
He was silent for some time, rubbing his chin. “I am very well aware what happens if those few that oppose the shadow should fall into said shadow but since my people are so few and the shadow comes at us from several fronts we must decide which battles should be fought and what battles should become forfeit. With that said, little one, my people will discuss the need of the hill men and if we can aid them as you have asked. Meet with us tomorrow and we’ll let you know of our decision”
