As they continue up the road, Immalaine looks around at the scenery passing them by. Soon they come to a junction in the road that she recognized and tapping on Rastellion's hand, she points to a small camp. "Can we stop there mebbe? I could use a break afore we continue."
He looks down the road to Trestlebridge. The sun's already westering and they've several hours yet to travel. Whitey flicks her ears and nickers... she's not used to carrying two people. "Alright," he says. "Sounds like we could all use a break." He tugs on the reins and Whitey starts to trudge up the hill to the small camp.
Once they approach the campsite, Immalaine slides down off the horse, as she hurries to find a nearby bush. Looking over the scenery, she ponders the distant trees, which seem dead and lifeless compared to the rest of the landscape, frowning as she wonders what sort of blight had caused their withered state. Quickly finishing, she soon emerges from the bushes and walks over to where Rastellion was standing, warming his hands at the fire while he waited for her. She furrows her brow, as she recalls her trip up, musing to herself, "Wonder what e'er came o' that tall man what was 'ere th' last time?"
Rastellion cocks his head and looks over at her. "You stopped here on your way out?" he asks. "Was the fellow a ranger or the like?"
"I did stop 'ere, th' first night I came out this way. These folk 'ere," she says, waving to the men with a smile, "they were kind 'nough t' let me set me cloak down t' sleep. But th' fella ... I ain't ne'er seen a man so tall me life. I had t' look up forever seemed, jus' t' see all o' him."
"Makes him sound like some o' those statues I"ve heard about, down south, along th' great river."
Shaking her head, she replies. "Dun know 'bout no statues or nothin', but he was a right tall fella, an' he kept starin' at me lots at first, like mebbe he were surprised t' see me or somethin'. Then," she grinned, "He called me 'lady'. I dun tol' him I weren't no lady, jus' a farm girl but he seemed t' want to keep callin' me that." she chuckled a bit, turning pink as she recalled that.
He turns and studies her, a slow grin touching his lips. "Now, Immalaine ... you telling me I've got competition already?..."
She laughs, shaking her head as she looks up at Rastellion ... "Lands no!" she said, "Th' fella only tryin' t' be nice is all. E'en shared some bread wit' me, said it were somethin' from 'is homes. Was right good, too, real sweet and moist. He left afore I went t' sleep, said he liked livin' in th' woods to bein' 'round folk."
He looks back out at the ruined landscape. "Well, it's a lonely place out here now, right enough." He gestures to the north. "I've heard there used t' be a king's palace there, and that th' Witch King was defeated in these parts... But the land don't seem to feel like it was a victory..."
She also turns and looks out at the dead trees in the distance, shuddering. "Thought them stories 'bout a witch king t'were jus' tales t' scare kids into listenin' t' their folk. Could they really be true n' all?"
"I used t' think 'em just stories too... but the way those orc have been comin' round more and more - and worse things too they say..." He trails off, shaking his head. "Well, th' Rangers seem t' believe it, an' they're not th' sort t' jump at shadows." The look on Rastellion's face is sober as he finally turns away and looks down at Immalaine. "I'm glad you're comin' back; not stayin' out here!"
Immalaine turns to look at the ranger standing guard near the camp and nods. "I hadn't thought that." she murmured, now looking nervously over at the lining of trees, sickly pale and lifeless. "Well," she says, turning back to Rastellion, "Mebbe t'is best we headed up th' road then, afore we find out fer sure what's out there."
"Aye, I think I'm ready t' get back t' Bree..." his voice trails off; then he adds, "least for a while, that is."
Nodding to Rastellion, she watches him mount Whitey before he reaches down to pull her back in front of him. Soon they're headed along the road once more, the Trestlebridge in the distance.
As they cross the Trestlespan, Immalaine can't help but remember the last time she was here with Rastellion, as they had argued back and forth, and discovered just how badly they'd misunderstood each other when she first arrived in Bree and shared kindness and companionship. She closed her eyes briefly, remembering how she'd insisted here that they just be friends, at the time too unsure to admit how she really felt. Leaning back against him, she shakes her head at everything that has changed between then and now.
Rastellion takes the reigns in one hand as Whitey steps wearily across the weathered planks and wraps the other arm about her waist, pulling her close. He doesn't say anything, but doubtless his thoughts have slipped back to that same conversation.
After they cross the bridge into town, Immalaine looks around as she shakes her head sadly. "Seems each time I go by 'ere things get worse."
"Ya should've seen it right after the attack." Rastellion says as he shakes his head. "It's slow, getting supplies and laborers up here an' all, but they're pullin' the place togethr, bit by bit. He juts his chin toward the inn. "Like there, already they've got part of th' Inn rebuilt." He urges Whitey forward that way. "Hope they've got room forus. "It'd be all night t' get to Bree, and I"d not want to travel those roads in th' dark."
Making a face, closes her eyes briefly, opening them as they stop at the stable. Sliding off Rastellion's horse, she stretches her legs as she watches him talk to the stable hand, slipping him a coin. She took the opportunity to watch him, smiling at his careless generosity.
He loosens and swings his saddlebags onto his shoulder then, taking Imma's hand, mounts the stairs to the Inn.
They trudge up the stairs to the Trestlebed And Breakfast Inn, with Immalaine behind, looking around at the building, the scent of smoke still permeates the wood and stone. Unsure of the safety of the building, she turns to Rastellion and whispers, "Are ye sure 'bout this? Seems tain't quite ready fer people t' sleep in jus' yet." He nods, turning to the innkeeper and managing a smile. "Got any rooms fit to let?" he asks, looking in some concern at the signs of smoke damage and hasty repairs around the place.
Hearing the couple enter, the innkeeper turns, a surprised expression on her face as she took in the two young people. "Evenin'. I've two that are prepared." The woman seems almost hopeful, as though not many travelers came through and stayed lately.
Rastellion looks between the woman and Immalaine. "They sturdy, after the fires?" he aks Nellie. His nose wrinkles slightly. "And not too smoky?"
Nodding, the woman replies "Of course they are, they're along the back wall of the inn, what took the least damage from the recent attacks. I assure you they're quite safe. And I've personally seen to clean linens and scrubbing the walls so there's not too much smell either."
"Well, we can 'least take a look," he says, making his voice sound more dubious and reluctant than he actually feels. Out here, stone walls around you at night - even soot-stained ones - are welcome.
The woman turns, apparently eager to show the rooms to the two and Immalaine quickly follows along behind her, her hips swaying with the quickened step as she tries to keep up. Soon the woman pauses in front of a pair of doors, causing Immalaine to stop short in order not to run into her.
Entering the room behind the innkeeper, Immalaine looks around. Surprisingly, despite the condition of the front of the inn, the room is cosy and clean, though small, containing a double bed and dresser. "This here is the first room." says the woman, turning to the couple. "The second one is just across the hall, though it's not quite as ready.
Immalaine frowns for a moment as she turns to Rastellion. "Seems t' me th' room is in decent 'nough shape an' we really canna afford t' be paying fer two," she says in a low voice. "But ..." she says, "There's only th' one bed." Biting her lip, she turns pink.
Rastellion smiles at he and says, quietly, so the innkeeper can't hear, "We've shared a bed before... I thought... Or are you not ready yet?" Rastellion's face betrays an odd mix of conflicting emotions. "We can get two, if you want."
Turning a deeper shade of pink, Immalaine stutters as she looks back at the bed. Taking a deep breath, she shakes her head at Rastellion. "No, I'll not have ye spending yer good coin. We'll .... we can manage somehow I 'magine. An', I'd rather not ..." she lowers her voice, so only Rastellion can here her, "sleep alone in this building anyways. What if it were t' get attacked again?"
"Doubt we'd be attacked. They got plenty o' guards on the bridge now." He looks at the narrow bed. "But yeah, we'll manage." He turns back to the inkeeper, making a show of being hesitant. "How much?" he asks, guardedly.
The woman smiles, nodding her head as she realizes the two would be staying the night. "Well, seeing how you two traveled so far, and it is late. I'll only charge you both 3s for the room tonight."
Rastellion stares at the woman in some surprise at the exorbitant. "Each? We'll only be taking the one room..." He looks back at Immalaine and says quietly - but not too quietly - "we could still push on to Bree you know. Get there before dawn..."
Despite her tiredness, Immalaine nods at Rastellion, but before she can open her mouth to speak, the woman interjects. "No ... no ... not each. For both of you." The woman, slightly frantic, looks between the young couple as she plays with the fabric of her dress, seemingly holding her breath as she waits for a response.
"Oh, well, that seems more fair!" Rastellion says, turning back to the innkeeper. "And there's an extra half-silver if your man there can provide a tub of hot water and a clean towel... if you've got such about the place?"
The woman nods, eagerly taking the coins from Rastellion as she turns, hollers down the hall for 'a tub of water and make it hot!'"
(Credits and love go to Rastellion, who provided the voice of the male characters in this story. *Blows kisses to Rastellion and grins widely*)
