[Child of the 7th Age]

It was mid-morning when Elentari called the company to a halt to find water for the horses and a bit of grass for grazing. They had come about fifteen miles west of Bree and had reached the point where they could see the Great Barrows ahead, sweeping southward from the road. Everyone dismounted and led their animals to a small stream just off the roadway to let the horses drink and eat the long grass that grew on either side of its banks.

After caring for their animals, several of the companions found a spot under a small grove of trees whose leafy overhang provided shade from the sun's hot glare. Elentari glanced nervously about as she considered the land stretching out all around her. There were thick meadows where grass grew in great abundance. It was parched and brown from lack of rain, but still some four feet high, affording plenty of cover for any bandits who might want to pounce on a band of unwary travellers. Still, she'd been careful to post a guard to keep an eye on things as they rested by the side of the road. A few members of the company had stretched out to doze, while others of the group were opening up their packs and nibbling on bread and meat they'd taken from the Inn earlier that morning.

Grain came up to Elentari and squatted down beside her, rummaging around in his pocket and pulling out a map. Elentari scrutinized the paper carefully, noting that it showed a wealth of detail which was missing from her own map. Looking up at Grain with puzzled eyes, she asked him where he had found such a thing.

Grain patiently explained how he and his brother had been approached in Bree by a mysterious stranger in the common room. Upon hearing the name "Aravorn", Elentari smiled. "The Dunedain...." Her eyes grew misty and distant as she thought back on her own past. Then she turned to the Dwarf and responded. "Grain, you and your brother have done well. This is a great boon for us. These folk are called the Rangers. They guard the roads from bandits and other evil threats. This group of ruffians must be a considerable menace indeed, if even the Rangers hesitate to confront them."

Elentari stared down at the paper and scrutinized it carefully as the germ of an idea took root in her mind. Her musings were interrupted by Grain's urging words. "What do you think we should do? What route should we take to avoid these miserable curs who have wrecked such havoc on Bree and everyone else who tries to go on this road?"

Elentari leaned over to Grain and lowered her voice. "Say nothing to the rest of the company yet, but I do not think we want to avoid him. And I doubt we could, even if that was what we disired."

"Look how cleverly these fiends have situated their camp. They're no more than five miles from us. How could anyone get around them? To the south, lie the Barrow-downs. Who would want to take that route to escape a gang of thieves? It's like going from the frying pan into the fire."

"Anyone taking the main road is sure to be beaten by brigands. The only possible escape would be to detour far north through these meadows of tall grass. We might escape that way, but I doubt it. My guess is they have a watch hill and a sentry to spy out all travellers moving within a ten mile radius."

"Even if we swing north, we still have to come back to the spot where the ferry crosses the Brandywine. The river's too deep to ford any other way. The brigands know that. They'd camp just the other side of Buckland and wait to pounce on us. To be quite blunt, there is absolutely no way around this trap."

"No way?" Grain echoed her words with anger in his voice. By this time, several others had gathered around to hear what Elentari and Grain were discussing. The Dwarf looked at them, then retorted fiercely, "There's always a way if you look for it."

A slight smile played on the Elf's lips. "I agree. I didn't say that there was no way out of the trap, only that there was no way around it. The two things aren't the same. I would say that the best way for us is to meet them head on."

"To fight, here and now!" growled Grain, hefting up his axe and staring Elentari in the face. Several others muttered agreement under their breath.

"Yes, to fight, but not this minute. To wait for tonight. I have a little plan. Look here on the map. The Dundain has marked where the Ranger outposts lie. Some fifteen miles from here, to our north and east, there's a Ranger camp. The Rangers have said they couldn't beat these miserable curs on their own, but what if we join forces together? Two heads are always better than one, and so are two bands of fighters."

Grain looked up with a sparkle in his eyes, "We need a solitary scout then....someone who can ride like the wind and have the Rangers come back under cover of night. Then we will attack together."

"Exactly!" Elentari proclaimed and then looked at those standing in the circle. "Would anyone here volunteer to ride out to speak with the Dunedian Aravorn, and ask him to return with two of his men? Bring them back immediately. We must attack tonight." She looked around the circle waiting for a reply.

[ June 12, 2003: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]