Gathering Aid

Card Failin

The building opens into one long room with a high ceiling. The walls are whitewashed with black beams bracing all. Two large alcoves open in the center, with wooden pillars sitting before the open space. This is where the men are meant to sleep, for many beds are arrayed in orderly rows, a chest sitting at the foot of each.

At the ends of the hall, beyond the long table that stretches along its center, the two wings of the building stand open.

At its Easternmost is where the Captain dwells, his only privacy afforded by a drawn curtain. The Western end is empty. A trapdoor stands leading to the kitchen, victuals and the armoury.

[Tarachim(#19338)]     It is past the middle of the night the Autumn sky is clear over the White City of Gondor, Minas Tirith. The City is quiet, for all are sleeping save the guards on duty and those few others that have cause to be awake. One of those, entering into Card Failin with the loud \'thud\' of the door opening and boots upon stone, bears the gray gauntlets of a March-Warden of the Company of Ithilien.

\"Up! Everyone up!\" The words are shouted out by the March-Warden as he walks to the centre of the room, a helm tucked under one arm while the other rests upon the pommel of his sword. \"Right now! Out of your beds and up!\"

Ceredir is sleeping.

More than that, he is sprawled on his cot, fully clothed, having basically fallen into his bed after struggling back, wounded from Osgiliath to deliver Bor\'s message to Faramir, then going to the healers for his wound, then talking extensively with Gurtir. It has been a long time since the Scout got any sleep and now, despite Tarachim\'s order, he doesn\'t stir, so that one of the other Scouts, passing Ceredir as he hurries toward Tarachim, has to shake Ceredir repeatedly by his shoulders to wake him up.

The young Scout does stir, groggily coming out of his exhaustion and then staggering to follow the other men to heed Tarachim\'s order. At least he is dressed.

[Tarachim(#19338)]     \"Swifter than that!\" Snaps Tarachim, for that is the March-Warden, eyes gleaming as they flick about the Scouts and few Master-Scouts as they assemble. He stands still for only a moment before he begins to pace back and forth, eyes flicking over the gathering men. \"Veterans! I need veterans for a relief mission to Osgiliath! The rest of you can work on getting the supplies the mission shall need.\"

There\'s no hesitation among the men who step forward. Veterans all, they are grim, yet the volunteer. Many are wounded--arms in slings, others on crutches. Still, they volunteer. Behind them, the newer men stand and watch, not yet putting together supplies.

\"Oil. The fire was keeping away some of the orcs.\"

A single voice rings out in the room. Ceredir\'s.

[Tarachim(#19338)]     The March-Warden\'s eyes flicker over the veterans that step forward, and his next words are softer. \"Those that are wounded... I am afraid you shall have to remain behind. We will be taking dangerous paths and this is a dangerous mission... I am sorry,\" The Carmayar\'s voice has notes of regret in it. \"Had we time to let you heal, I would accept you... but we leave in two days at most. If you are not fit in body by then...\"

Tarachim falls silent for a few moments before his eyes flick to Ceredir. \"Our priorities for supplies are medicine, water and food. We go to relieve our brethren that are still in Osgiliath, and to bring them back out if the Enemy is not forced back. Oil will do us little good in any case if they are not forced back, I have little doubt that they will do their best to kill us and only if we had a sure supply of oil could we keep them away.\"

\"Yes sir.\" Ceredir\'s lips press briefly together, but the Scout holds his tongue. Among the veterans gathered by Tarachim, the wounded step back so that now there are noticeable gaps in the circle of men. A few of the younger Scouts now move away Ceredir holds his place.

[Tarachim(#19338)]     \"I simply state facts,\" Says the March-Warden, shrugging slightly. His eyes flick over the remaining veterans and the circle of newer Scouts beyond them, a frown coming upon his face. \"I need a swift rider with a swift horse to go to Cair Andros. They need to spare what veterans they can we do not know if the Enemy will attack elsewhere, so I expect the numbers will be few. And I will not accept any of their most experienced veterans! They are needed there to keep the fortifications. Just as I will not take all the able-bodied veterans from here... at least, not if Cair Andros has any to spare.\"

Again, Tarachim\'s eyes flick about the assembled men. \"I would venture that we will need some of the newer Scouts to fill out the numbers. This is no easy task, mind you! Volunteers.\"

There is no answer for a moment to Tarachim\'s first request, then one of the newer Scouts half steps forward. \"I can ride, sir. The horse is my father\'s, but it is fast.\"

It is then with more hesitation--though not reluctance--that a few of the newer Scouts now lift their hands to the March-Warden\'s second request. Ceredir is among them. \"I wish to volunteer, sir,\" he speaks up. \"If for no other reason than to demonstrate to Sir Bor that I kept my word.\"

[Tarachim(#19338)]     The March-Warden nods at the first Scout. \"Good. Go swiftly to Cair Andros and deliver my message if they can spare veterans, they need to be upon horses or march swiftly to the White City here. Get yourself a quick meal before you go, but go soon.\"

The Carmayar falls silent then as the other Scouts lift their hands, looking at them each in turn before his eyes come to rest on Ceredir. \"You are a member of the Company of Ithilien, Ceredir I would hope your concern would be for your brethren over that of a mere Knight.\"

\"Yes. Sir.\"

Ceredir\'s chin lifts up a little, though. \"Of course, sir, but I have my reaons. The least of which is that in the end, they are all men of Gondor. Sir.\"

The Scout who volunteered to ride simply nods to Tarachim, then turns back to the barracks to pack what he needs hastily.

[Tarachim(#19338)]     \"I would venture that the Knights fight more for their personal glory than for Gondor, Ceredir,\" Replies the March-Warden, dryly. \"They look down upon us because we do not so favour the courtly life they have wrapped themselves up with they think we are rough, uncooth and something to be looked upon as a curiosity. The courtly life that they love will not keep them alive against the agents of the Enemy. The courtly life will not win victory for Gondor. Until they change their outlook, I have no time for their ilk.\"

The Carmayar falls silent for a few moments before speaking again. \"And I had thought that you were banned from fighting?\"

\"We -are- rough and uncouth,\" Ceredir grins suddenly. \"How else would someone like me fit in?\" he says, his answer drawing a few chuckles that are politely turned into coughs. \"As for personal glory and the courtly life, perhaps that is so, though I cannot argue the point from my own limited experience with it. I do suspect, though, that a man who is a squire and a friend of mine is trapped there, as well, and his life is no less valued to me than is one of the men of Ithilien.\"

The Scout checks his words here, a wearied tone in his voice perhaps giving away why he chose this time and place to make such an argument. Instead, he now nods to Tarachim\'s next question.

\"For three months, sir. Until the 15th of November. Yet Captain Faramir, when I delivered Sir Bor\'s messge, told me that should I wish, I could accompany Gurtir in the sewers on this. I know not if that means I can fight if need be as part of that.\"

[Tarachim(#19338)]     \"We are warriors, not courtiers, rather I think that is closer to the mark. And no courtier has ever won a war,\" Replies Tarachim, a thin smile appearing on his face for a few moments before he shrugs. \"No matter what they like to think. And if there are any of Dol Amroth in Osgiliath... I will keep my judgement upon them until such a time that they can prove it different. Respect easily given is respect easily lost.\"

Once more he falls silent, though this time it is for a few moments, a slight frown upon his face before he nods. \"I will not stand against the Captain\'s judgement in the matter, though I shall confirm it with him I am of mind to speak with him upon the mission anyways. Speak with Gurtir upon it for now, however, you can assist with gathering the supplies. That, however, can wait until morning first light! That goes for all of you coming on this mission: gather supplies. Medicine, water and food all else is secondary! The newer Scouts will be carrying more than the veterans, for if fighting is to occur, I would rather have them less encumbered and better to fight and defend.\"

\"Sir,\" Ceredir nods. \"I will speak to Gurtir in the morning then. Meantime, I believe the Quartermaster needs me,\" he says, inclining his head toward the door as that very man heads out of it. The Scout hurries to follow, though his steps slow as he passes Tarachim. \"Bor it was, Knight of Dol Amroth, who sent the message to Lord Faramir. Bor told me that the men now holding Osgiliath would not fall back. Ever. And the Knights and men of Ithilien that I saw there last, sir--they were fighting together.\"

[Tarachim(#19338)]     \"They may be fighting together, but that happens in mutal survival. Just as I have no doubts that the Knights and men of Dol Amroth will always fight side by side with the other forces of Gondor -- but it is /why/ they fight that I take issue with... mostly,\" The March-Warden shrugs once more. \"Everyone has their opinions, I just happen to be in a position where others have to listen to them.\"

Another thin smile briefly appears on the Carmayar\'s face before he looks around. \"That is all, gentlemen. Get back to sleep, if you have not duty.\"

The men--most of them--trudge back to their beds to gain what little sleep they can. \"To gain a name for themselves,\" Ceredir now grins to the Ranger. \"Personal glory instead of a nameless death in the Garden, and yet Gurtir has told me that our nameless deaths are the real thing that hold off the Enemy.\" He shrugs, and looks once more to the door. \"I have work to do this night, so no sleep again.\" He waits, looking only for the Ranger to dismiss him.

[Tarachim(#19338)]     \"It is by our blood that the Enemy is held back the blood of our people. The Knights stay safe behind their walls, coming out to fight when it pleases them. They are not true warriors,\" The words are quietly murmured by the March-Warden before he sighs and shrugs. \"Get to your work, then, Ceredir. It shall not accomplish itself.\"

\"Yes sir,\" the Scout replies, looking grim, but saying no more on the subject. He ducks out the door, running to catch up with the Quartermaster.