A promise of commanders

Osgiliath: Beside the Great River

This section of the ruined city must surely have been the home of some wealthy lord of lady, for the remnants of what was once a great home can still be seen. Tall pillars of marble and limestone lay broken and weathered, and underfoot well placed cobblestone lay a testiment to the skill of Gondor that they remain. Built right along the Anduin banks, the cobblestones extend right to the water\'s edge, no doubt a high-point for those who once lived hither. South and west the remainder of the ruins can be seen, darkened even in the light of day, and there is was that the majority of structures were built. North and west the lands of Anorien take over the ruinous scenery, stretching far as the eye can see.

The sun shine brightly in the sky overhead.

Contents:

Ceredir

Obvious exits:

SouthWest leads to Osgiliath: Northern Ruins - Old Residential Area.

North leads to Anorien: Along the Anduin.

[Ceredir(#1394)] Misery rains down upon the men of Gondor. On this late December morning, it is not snow that falls from the sky, but an icy rain that soaks cloaks and trousers and boots drips relentlessly through small tears in tents renders bowstrings useless and rusts swords and mail and seeps into cracked walls and ceilings of buildings. And yet, even damp, cold, miserable, Gondor must stand watch, and so her men are out here today, standing watch as a wet night now turns into a wetter dawn. No watch fires crackle to lend any warmth here by the river what remains of a fire--hidden in a corner of a ruined building--just hisses and smokes angrily.

As the light comes up on the land--such as it will today--several Scouts here are still at their post. Ceredir is among them, winter wool cloak dripping over his leather armor. His eyes are focused on the river and then on the surroundings, ever searching for movement. The Scout is pale.

Rhythmic footfalls announce not the arrival of one man, but of many. Running under the merciless weather, practicing formations, the men of the Seven Stones Company, further north in Anorien.

Their Captain, Gurtir Carmayar, comes from there towards the garrison.

[Ceredir(#1394)] The Scouts are on alert, blades half drawn from scabbards. Rhythymic footsteps could indicate men of Gondor, but also the approach of orcs. The rain, sending down curtains of grey, and the mists rising from the nearby river, make distinguishing orc from man troublesome in the grey of this early dawn. And so, one of the Scouts steps forward and a voice cuts through the air, commanding. \"Halt! Identify yourselves! Friend or foe!\"

The challenge rings out in the air long before Gurtir and his men can be clearly identified, and the voice is Ceredir\'s. The Scout has kept his bowstring dry and now he rapidly strings his bow and notches an arrow to it, half drawing the bow back and waiting for an answer to his demand.

\"Friend.\"

Thus rings Gurtir\'s voice at the questioning, and the Captain casts back the hood of his cloak, should any doubts remain, upon the visage of the tall Dunadan, that it is indeed a friend.

\"Captain Gurtir Carmayar. The Seven Stones Company will shortly return from its drill on my wake.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Captain.\" The answering voice is not just an acknowledgement, but also a greeting, and a glad one at that. The bow is relaxed, arrow tucked quickly back into the arrow bag the Scout wears.

\"It is Ceredir, sir, and I am beginning to think this rain and the grey light of the day, even, are tricks of the enemy to make us not recognize each other. But your voice I know as well, sir and I am most glad to hear it. How fares it with you and with your Company?\"

The Captain makes it towards the Scouts, yet a frown knits his eyebrows together in something of annoyance.

\"I do not wish to counsil against caution, but do oppose trickery to stupidity we are in the Western margin of the Anduin how would such an army arrive here without a great fire at Cair Andros denouncing fight or several boats crossing the river?\"

He shakes his head somewhat, \"Nay. Steel your nerves.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] Even in the dawn\'s grey light and rain, the Scout\'s face can be seen to redden at this mild rebuke. \"Yes, sir. My apologies, sir. I would not have shot rashly. As it is, it is the end of my shift and I must head back to the garrison. Permission to accompany you, sir?\"

\"Granted.\"

Gesturing the way to be followed with his chin, Gurtir continues his way to the garrison, a nod acknowledging the salutes of the other scouts. \"Have a good day, men.\"

Walking on, he glances at Ceredir, \"What were you talking about last night?\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Last night, sir?\" Ceredir says, falling into step with the Captain. \"With Arashen or my answer to you about the Garden? I have been there, finally, as you asked me last night. The March-Warden Tarachim led us on a patrol.\"

\"Nothing too extraordinary, is it?\", the Captain asks as he continues his walk, \"But I refered to whatever it was you couldn\'t tell me at that hour.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Sir...\" Ceredir glances to the Captain, meeting the man\'s eyes if he can, then away. \"It was just...the March-Warden Tarachim spoke to us about why we fight for the Garden. He asked us to explain to him why Gondor fights for the land, and my reason was that it is as yet untouched by the Enemy--the Valar still bless it and it is still part of Gondor and our right and responsibility to defend it. To keep such beauty from being tainted while we still can. Tarachim acknowledged this but...\"

The Scout flaters, then exhales and continues, \"He placed much emphasis, sir, on how the Garden was once the lands of House Mormegil. And of how the men of that lineage still fight for what is theirs, to reclaim it as theirs. And I was wondering...how do I fit in? Why do I fight for it, if such is the case? For I am but a commoner in the eyes of the noble men of Gondor, and what do they care if my blood is spilled for their cause?\"

\"Do not mistake me--I seek not glory in battle nor a name for myself, as do...certain Knights. And yet...I am all but ignored by the nobles of this land. A commoner, I am there for them to step on to reach their noble causes, to prop up their noble houses and the holdings of those houses....\" Ceredir pauses. \"Forgive me, sir. I speak freely of the anger I am feeling.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

Ahead, on the path, a lone man stands \'neath the falling rain, a dark hood drawn over his features. \'Twould not be easy to make his likeness or his rank were it not for the hilt of ancient Angring sticking out from his hip, and the white stone at his neck.

\"You always speak freely.\"

In spite of the words, the Captain\'s tone is not harsh. Instead he turns his head on his walk to glance at the scout- and he then replies, stare intense.

\"Do you remember your Oath, Ceredir? And what was spoken to you in return? And to this do I hear and will not fail to give back that which is given: fealty with love, valour with honour, oathbreaking with vengeance.\"

\"Just as vengeance comes swift and terrible, so do love and honour the men of nobility of our land, of true, not pretense and greedy nobility, they will not be unfair with who serves in faith and valour. They will not make a mere pawn out of you. Lord Faramir is no Mormegil, still he fights for Ithilien, for its beauty, for its strategic position, for its meaning to the whole kingdom. The March Warden named but the extra motivation of the Mormegil.\"

As the walk of the pair leads them closer and closer to the garrison, they draw near to the hooded man. And for his signs, Boromir the brave cannot be mistaken by Gurtir. Right fist to his chest, he salutes the Captain General.

\"My liege.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] The Scout\'s brows darken and his voice drops. \"Sir, I never forget my oath. Not ever. Nor any other oaths that I have made.\" A glance is given then, to his left hand Ceredir grimaces just slightly but keeps speaking, his tone urgent. \"I trust Lord Faramir explicitly, just as I trust you. And the March-Warden as well, despite his words. But it is as you say--the true men of nobility of the land act so. Yet how many of them are there, these men of honor? For in my admittedly short experience, I have encounter more of the other kind than I wish to ever know.\"

Slower to recognize the Captain General, Ceredir nonetheless quickly salutes as Gurtir does, the Scout falling silent, as well.

[Boromir(#31578)]

The hooded face lifts, as does a gauntleted hand in answer. Boromir\'s eyes dart from scout to captain, two men of Ithilien even if one now bears the livery of the hosts, and he nods his head in answer.

\"Captain... Scout...\" he says, recognising the man he had helped restrain when the city was but newly retaken. \"Have you anything to report?\"

Glancing briefly at Ceredir ere returning his stare to Boromir, the Captain answers: \"There are enough.\"

Eyes then regarding the son of Denethor, Gurtir shakes his head somewhat, \"Scout Ceredir might have more information than I do, as he recently went on patrol. I am but returned from drilling the Seven Stones Company on movementation and formations north in Anorien, sir.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"My liege,\" Ceredir says, repeating Gurtir\'s earlier words. \"I am returning from watch tonight along the Anduin\'s banks, and nothing of note happened there. Though of late, as the Captain notes, I am returned from patrol with the March-Warden Tarachim in Ithilien. North and east we went, to the very edge of the land.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

\"How goes the new Company?\" asks Boromir, folding his arms across his chest and shifting his weight upon his feet as the muddy water pools about his bootsoles. \"It is a fair time to drill them in such weather as this.\"

The Captain-General then glances at Ceredir and nods. \"How looked the land to you, scout? As quiet and strangely empty of the Enemy\'s shadows and blades as it now seems Osgiliath and the lands about are?\"

\"They are somewhat unruly in their leisure, but can be controled. And they attend well to drills, specially after the battle some were at... the new terror and the chaos of battle spoke to them the importance of discipline and unity better than any speech I could have thought of. They are eager to prove themselves.\"

This said, Gurtir turns somewhat at Ceredir, for the man\'s answer.

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Aye, my lord. It was empty of enemy, eerily so, it seemed. We encountered no resistance, and saw no signs of reinforcements of any kind coming to oppose our efforts here. Good signs, perhaps, but it was hard to rest easy, even so. One cannot imagine that the enemy would just give up these lands,\" Ceredir replies as Gurtir finishes his report. The Scout then falls silent, letting the rain drip down his hood and cloak as he listens.

[Boromir(#31578)]

Boromir nods his head in satisfaction. \"I heard word of the unexpected terror at the battle...\" he answers, grimly. \"You did well to hold your new company together, Captain, when others would see it splintered and cracked by fear alone.\"

To both of them, in the wake of Ceredir\'s report, he adds: \"This is what is of concern to me. How is it that the lands of Ithilien can lie open and empty, and yet the Enemy can still unleash strength as he did, so swiftly and suddenly?\" The Captain-General frowns deeply. \"You have perhaps heard that it is my intention to open the southern roads again, to allow the men of the Hosts to more swiftly march to the aid of Ithilien.\"

Gurtir but bows his head at Boromir\'s words.

Then, as the Captain-General speaks of the planning, he nods, \"I have likewise pondered on it... almost smells of an ambush. And I had heard rumours, my Lord... sounds wise. If we are capable of keeping it from working against us, it would become crucial in an emergency.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

\"I will be counting upon your brothers in the Company of Ithilien to ensure that such a thing cannot come to pass. But if we are to maintain this ambition of reclaiming all of Minas Ithil\'s old lands, we must have the sure means by which to do it...\" Boromir answers. \"So that both North and South are once again under our command.\"

Nodding once after Boromir has spoken, Gurtir shifts somewhat and, with a brief glance at Ceredir, adds, \"And as you speak of sure means, my Lord, I beg your pardon to bring another subject to the fore, but I am concerned with the behaviour of some of my countrymen and the possibility of strife, amidst which our goals will sink.\"

\"I fear to sound as if I whine, yet there have been far too many offenses and arguments of late I have lost my own temper, though managed to curb it, but recently. And all this has come to pass among the officership of our forces here assembled to such an extent that Ceredir here, if you happened to hear any we spoke of, was expressing distrust of some commanders.\"

\"Hence I have been wondering, is this the Enemy\'s plan? To drown us in silence and apparent peace so we will slowly destroy each other under his shadow, in the name of pretensions alone? Should we move fast and act boldly to make up for it? Or will this alone not suffice?\"

He pauses, \"Do apologise me, Lord Captain, but, verily, I am concerned.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] At these words, looks sharply at Gurtir, some fear first crossing the young Scout\'s face. Still, as Gurtir persists with his explanation, some of that dissipates, so that Ceredir frowns, but dares to speak to Boromir as well.

\"Forgive me for speaking of such, my lord, but the Captain\'s words are true. Only last night did I see yet another example of such dissension, as well.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

\"I imagine that the Enemy has many different designs, all to unmake us,\" Boromir mutters back, almost absent-minded as he gazes into a southerly shadow. \"And I imagine he knows the weaknesses of men\'s souls enough that he entrusts in their traditions of corruption also, with our without his fell touch.\"

The Captain-General looks sharply at Ceredir, and though there is that hardness in his gaze, he still seems to seek the Scout\'s words in truthfulness. \"What was this dissension?\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"My lord...\" Ceredir licks his lips nervously, with the look of a cornered animal suddenly. \"I..came late to what seemed to be a weapon training session and..\" The Scout glances nervously to Gurtir, then back again to Boromir. \"Insults, my lord. More than the good natured kind that are usually passed around. It was..surprising.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

\"If the truths of which you speak are as dire as the Captain,\" Boromir nods at Gurtir, \"Make them out to be, you must speak more surely of what it is you have seen for me to fully understand.\"

As Boromir focus his attention on Ceredir, the Captain is silent, letting the Scout talk ere making any comment or adding any information.

[Ceredir(#1394)] Ceredir hesitates more than a few seconds, staring at the ground as he does so. \"It is just this, my lord. Men of different companies were insulting each other in such a fashion that I thought it would come to real blows with sharpened steel. In fact, I was surprised that it did not. As to who those men were, sir, and why there was such animosity between them, I..my liege if you demand that I tell you names, I will. But it is perhaps better if Captain Gurtir speaks on the matter, for he was there the entire time and likely knows the full circumstances that led to such a display of what seemed to me to be outright hatred. I know only the small incident I witnessed\"

[Bor(#30834)]

The rain batters indiscriminately and amongst it victims are both officer and soldier, Hosts and Company, and now too a man of the Order of Amroth. He trudges through the precipitation heedlessly, and nears the Anduin alone.

The Knight-Captain does not yet note the twain of figures aside the Captain-General, nor Boromir himself. He moves aside the soldiers to stand at the river\'s edge. Blankly, it would seem, do his eyes look out north towards Anorien.

[Boromir(#31578)]

Boromir nods. \"You have told me all that I need to know, Scout Ceredir I will not ask you for names. There have always between discord between the Men of Gondor-- rivalries between the Lords of Houses old and new, bitternesses born of deeds both recent and ancient...\" Boromir glances towards Gurtir. \"Have you too seen aught of this Captain? Aught enough to agree with the Scout\'s assessment, or to simply ally his concerns as nothing but common feuds?\"

\"It is as the Scout has spoken fiery tempers crossed and reckless words sprung.\", Gurtir nods after Ceredir has spoken, eyes returning to Lord Boromir, his forthcoming words spoken in the silent tones of Ithilien, though his garment is now of the Hosts.

\"I would not place it above any other feuds that there have been, though steel was at hand and clashed in a confuse manner between spar and duel. It is worth noting it followed a training session, my Lord.\", he pauses for a little, thinking, ere shrugging mildly.

\"Yet the whole trouble is precisely there: the common nature of such arguments. It were not two lowly ranked, enlisted men, but a Ranger of Ithilien and a Knight of Imrahil. And previous to that, I saw another Knight contend with a healer I have myself spoken harsh words at him in sequence.\"

\"Though we control our own men, we are hardly controlling ourselves. How can that be? What lack we?\", he shakes his head somewhat at his own question Bor has not yet been seen either.

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Thank you, my lord. I was speaking to the Captain, in fact, of just such concerns when we happened upon you here. Though from my perspective, I am but a commoner and rightly have no say in these matters. I was more concerned of the treatment of those of my status, though I have no specific instances to report.\" Ceredir says those words, then frowns.

[Boromir(#31578)]

Boromir nods his head slowly. \"Dark indeed.\" The Captain-General is not exactly known to be without his own temper, but he seems troubled nonetheless. \"And perchance you are right, that the malice of the Enemy walks among is in a guise of secret despair and malevolence that touches the hearts of men. Perhaps it is the walls of this city,\" he gestures at the surround, and the ruins of Osgiliath. \"Perhaps to march again, \'neath clear sky, will cure what ails the quarreling hearts.\"

\"Or perhaps not,\" he amends. \"Perhaps there is a servant of our foe amongst us who stirs this. Or perhaps it is mere chance that there are more in whom such thoughts and feelings run hot and cold than is usually our wont. Still, such things I cannot ignore, no?\"

[Bor(#30834)]

As the Knight-Captain\'s eyes wander so, mingling with the men under the command of Gurtir, they finally come to rest upon the assembled trio.

He begins to make his way in their direction, his progress slowed by the steady insistency of the rain. Still out of earshot, he salutes his approach.

A faint nod punctuates Boromir\'s words.

\"I would not trouble you, were it otherwise, my Lord.\"

Gurtir’s palm is risen at the approaching Bor.

[Ceredir(#1394)] If Gurtir does not notice the approach, still, of Bor, Ceredir does, for the Scout salutes and then, eyes sliding briefly to Gurtir, he states plainly, \"Sir Bor.\" A greeting or acknowledgement.

\"My lord..\" words spoken to Boromir once more, \"perhaps it is so, for many were made uneasy by that which the enemy unleashed upon us in the last battle. And some were wounded, not all by sword.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

Boromir answers Bor\'s salute with a nod of his hooded head, whilst continuing to speak to the Captain and Scout by his side.

\"Such is often the Enemy\'s ways. And I have not the designs by which to read hearts and heal them that is my father\'s charge, and others. But I do know the cleansing madness of battle, and of the earth-- when we march south, perhaps these two things will purge the bitter discontent from the minds of those who it twists.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

Greetings are given as they come, nods from the Knight-Captain all around. Catching wind at last of the conversation at hand, Bor raises his voice.

\"Sir Arathis shall submit himself to the wisdom of the healers, I assure you. His is no normal injury and I have made it my business to see he is not back upon the field until his condition is wholly cleared,\" says he.

\"Thus do I hope.\"

Gurtir replies at the Captain General, nodding at Ceredir\'s words, ere putting forth a question. \"When would you have me present the Seven Stones Company ready to march, my Lord?\"

His eyes drift to Bor, silently observing.

[Ceredir(#1394)] The Scout, too, observes Bor in silence ere his eyes return to Boromir. \"And so, sir, the almost unnatural quiet that patrols in Ithilien are finding may be a trick of the enemy? How are we to hold the lnads if such is the design?\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

\"That is a question I cannot answer,\" replies Boromir to Ceredir. \"Else would we sit here behind the ruined walls of Osgiliath forever in fear that it is? No, the tide has turned for now, and we shall ride it while we can. Captain,\" he adds to Gurtir. \"Continue to drill your men without relent, as if they are to depart each and every day. The word may come with little warning, and they must be ready to depart immediately.\"

The Captain-General looks back to Bor then. \"I trust to the wisdom of the healers, and do not meddle.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"Captain -- a moment,\" says Bor, his eyes drifting to Gurtir.

\"I wish to make a plea here and now in front of the Captain-General and at least one of the Hosts and the Company as well. It is of importance.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Yes, sir,\" Ceredir\'s words are addressed to Boromir, politely answering. \"With your leave,\" he continues, starting to salute the officers present and head for the main garrison when Bor speaks up. The Scout now holds his words and makes no move to leave, but instead watches the Knight-Captain.

Gurtir offers Boromir a single, efficient nod. \"So I shall do, my Lord! We will comply. The Seven Stones Company shall be your strongest and readiest.\"

Turning then to Bor anew, he nods once more, \"I hear.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"The men of Amroth are a proud people, full of a history and significance that is inextricably linked to a land many days travel from these,\" begins Bor.

\"It is my Prince\'s wisdom and counsel that brings us amongst you, to fight at the Captain-General\'s grace rather than our own. But it is such a command that has also borne us away from our homes and from our families.\"

\"We do not ask for your sympathy and perhaps your respect is not yet won. I myself have only recently seen the true character of the men of Ithilien and have been made to see the err in some of my previous sentiments. I have spoken no ill will towards their Company since that change occured within me.\"

\"But what has been levied against my Order and my Prince as of late is something I shall not bear. We fight the same cause and share in what victories are won on either front. In these times, I have not the tolerance to open another front of conflict within the ranks of Gondor\'s own, for my tongue is less an asset to the realm than is my sword. For this reason, I will it to be passed through the ranks of all of this land\'s fighting men that the Order of Imrahil shall speak no further insult to those of the Company or the Hosts.\"

\"And if such things come to my attention from this point onwards, they will be dealt with my hand, firmly and swiftly with all the command that my rank bears.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

The Captain of the White Tower inclines his head to the Captain of the Swan-knights. \"Such is fairly spoken, Hir Bor. If there are to be quarrels among the Men of Gondor,\" Boromir\'s gaze swings to encompass Gurtir and Ceredir also, \"There it is to those who hold the reigns of command to quell them for the sake of our families and our kindred and our lands.\"

\"There are ways to command men\'s heart, and not all of them are through words and reprimand. Such I long ago learnt at the feet of my father.\"

Gurtir listens placidly at Bor.

\"I bow, and hardly again will you hear a Carmayar speaking of praise, at your words, Knight-Captain, for they speak of wisdom and justice. I likewise avow myself to do all within my power to prevent and punish insults coming from the Hostmen under me and any other well taught enough to respect rank disregard of Company.\"

He looks at Boromir for his reply to Ceredir.

[Bor(#30834)]

\"And you, Scout, you will carry this message to your Captains,\" says Bor, bringing his eyes upon Ceredir. \"Let them know what has passed between us.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"I will carry the message, sir, but I cannot vouch for the weight it will have coming from me.\" Ceredir answers plainly, meeting Bor\'s gaze. His left hand is still balled in a fist.

[Boromir(#31578)]

\"Our companion, the Knight-Captain of Dol Amroth, would know of what I speak,\" answers Boromir to Ceredir. \"For after all, though he is endowed with the mantle of command by his liege, Prince Imrahil, he must still contend with the pride and birthright of his kinsman Swan-knights, many of whom are the sons and Lords of families of great prestige, who do not take easily to being reprimanded. So have I long learnt that there are different ways to handle different men, even if the law and justice of the realm will never be swayed from its true course.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

\"Carry with it the names of the Captain of the Seven Stones, the Knight-Captain of Dol Amroth, and the High Warden of the White Tower,\" says Bor.

\"That should suffice.\"

\"Pride is both a strength and a weakness of Men,\" comes the Knight-Captain on the heels of Boromir. \"Properly commanded, it only strengthens our arms.\"

\"Improperly so, and it becomes a debilitating sickness.\"

\"The lessons of sunken Numenor must never be forgotten.\"

[Ceredir(#1394)] \"Yes. Sir.\" The Scout\'s voice is soldierly, obedient, unemotional. Only his eyes might reveal what has prompted this tone, but those are carefully cast down, except for a quick glance to Gurtir and then back to the soggy ground again.

[Boromir(#31578)]

Boromir arches an eyebrow at the Swan-knight\'s exposition, but he nods. \"Truly spoken.\" And he adds: \"And best not tarried on. I must away to my father\'s will.\"

\"Arrogance, ill-advice and anger.\"

Gurtir\'s words follow on the wake of Bor\'s, his eyes meeting Ceredir\'s... \"Let the lessons of sunken Numenor be never forgotten. And let us rejoice when new eyes are open to this.\"

To Boromir, then, salute and head-bow, \"My liege.\"

[Bor(#30834)]

Bor salutes the Captain-General as he departs, looking then to the others left in his midst. \"I must also take my leave. Good day.\"

[Boromir(#31578)]

Boromir lifts his hands in a salute. \"Fair words have been spoken here, Men of Gondor-- let them be as torches on the path before us, into whatever shadows and trickeries await beyond the City of the Stars. Farewell.\" And thus turning, Boromir walks west to Osgiliath.

[Ceredir(#1394)] Ceredir, too, salutes Boromir as he departs, then turns and does the same to the other two officers. \"Duty,\" the Scout says flatly, avoiding even Gurtir\'s eyes now. He waits to be dismissed.

\"Good day.\"

Gurtir nods at both men, seconds flowing by as he stares deep into the foggy Anduin, underneath the rain all passes.