It was a regular day at the Prancing Pony. Guri and I had just come back from a small outing, taking care of some brigands who were hiding in the Chetwood. We had the good luck of walking in during Sansa’s shift, and she was quick to seat us and take our order. While we waited, we turned around to listen to a minstrel’s playing.
Suddenly, I felt something cold across my back. I turned around to see a rugged man with a small stack of documents, who, in his rush, had spilt his ale over my cloak. I was drenched, and rushed to clean myself. The stranger did his best to protect his documents, and Guri helped him.
Fortunately, freshly spilt ale is easy enough to clean, so it did not take long for me to fix myself up. I walked back to the tavern. I found him apologising to Guri.
“Well, you had better take more care next time!” I said to him, chuckling. “You would not want to waste any more perfectly good ale!”
“Thankfully it’s cheap!”, the man laughed, relieved. “Good thing I didn’t mess up your cloak too badly.”
“No need to worry, friend.”
And so, we got to talking. The man, named Rombric, was a mercenary who had been working alone for some time. He seemed to find his business all across Eriador, and he was intrigued to learn that Guri and I had once been part of a mercenary group. We briefly recounted our story at the Company, to which he offered his sympathies.
“Thank you”, said Guri. “It was a hard time, but much good came from it in the end.” She thought for a second. “Just to be clear, Rombric”, she asked, her faint smile now gone, “You kill ruffians and such? Not innocent people?”
Rombric paused and glanced up from his mug. Guri fidgetted impatiently.
I gently but firmly kicked Guri’s leg under the table. “Guri! That was uncalled for!”
“It’s alright”, said the mercenary, turning back to Guri. “Lady, I don’t kill for fun, nor am I some scummy low life. Sorry for the crudeness, but I’m far from that.” He went back to his mug. “The only people I hew down had it coming to them. Justice, if you want to call it that.”
“You are one of the good ones, then”, I admired. I liked that answer. “I salute you.”
“I am sorry, I meant no offence…”, apologised Guri.
“Our past experiences left wounds that are not yet truly healed”, I added. “Please, excuse her.”
“None taken, Miss.” He cleared his throat. “I’m good enough in some ways, I suppose, though lacking in others. No need to stand on ceremony.”
“As long as you do what you think is right”, I said, almost cereminously, “that is all that truly matters.”
Guri looked at me fondly. I believe she knew what I was thinking, and we ate silently for some time.
“I suppose Alairif is right”, said Guri, looking to Rombric. “They got into my head a bit.”
“They did…”, I added. “I am happy that it is behind us now. Guri gave me the strength to follow my heart. To work towards something greater."
“Sounds like you folks have been through a lot”, observed Rombric. “Can’t blame you for being wary. I’ve run into come colourful characters in my ventures…”
“We have, friend”, I agreed. “This world is far from perfect, even with the Shadow defeated.
“There will always be darkness to challenge light”, added Guri. She smiled as Sansa began to play some music. “A sad, but true thing.”
“I'm not denying that, but… Eh… Good that you've found something.”, said Rombric.
I looked at Guri. In all our time together, her words still inspired me as if it was my first time hearing them.
“It is, Rombric.” Said Guri. “It is.” She walked towards Sansa, and gave her a few coins.
Rombric shuffled his cutlery around, then looked to me. “You sure her words aren’t knives?”
I laughed. “I am! Believe me, if she wanted to hurt you with her words, they would be much, much worse than knives.”
Rombric nodded, then averted his gaze as Guri returned. His plate and ale emptied, he let out a long sigh.
“Talking ‘bout me, hmm?”, she asked, sitting down again. Guri’s ears were notonly good for music. “You should only worry if I say naught.”
“May I ask you a question, Rombric?”, I asked our new friend. “I will understand if you do not wish to answer.
“I’m not one to back down from a question”, he said, his eyes snapping up. He folded his hands on the table.
“That is the spirit!”, I laughed. “But in all seriousness, this is a question I asked myself often when I worked with the Company, which is why I now ask it to you.” I sighed. “Do you ever wish you were part of something greater?”
Rombric frowned, and glanced across the revellers.
“To work for something bigger than filling your belly”, I continued, “and drinking ale to forget your troubles?”
He fell silent, and thought for a moment. “Perhaps at one time”, he muttered. “I’ve kept my head down most of my life, not wanting it to be cleaved if I raised it. I’m not a hero by any means, just…” He shook his head and ran his hand over his mouth.
"Reminds me of someone…” I looked at Guri. “Would you not agree?" She nodded.
Rombric chuckled awkardly. “Is this where you invite me to this group you’ve been hinting at?”
I chuckled with him. “You have keen instincts!”
“I’ve seen posters around town”, he continued. “You’re that Alairif and that Guriwen.”
“We are!”, we both conceded. “Would you like to join our cause?”, I asked plainly. “To lend your sword towrds forging this world into the best it can be?”
He looked at both of us, and chuckled into his hand. “It takes more than a meal to convince me. I’m sure you’re fine over a table, but what do you actually do? I can’t just drop everything to join in.”
“There is nothing to drop, really…” I responded. “It is more about sharing a purpose. Never harming the innocent, and being ready to fight for the right cause.”
“The best I can say is that I’ll think about it.” He said with a sigh.
I did not press any further. It was a big decision, after all, and a big change from the life he knew. We said our goodbyes. He mentioned he would be in Bree for a while, and we might run into each other again. Guri and I got back to our meals, and soon after we called it a day. Would our new friend answer the call of the West? Would he join our cause, and help bring about a better future for the Free Peoples of Eriador? The answer came sooner than we expected.
…
Wedding preparations were well under way. It was still a long ways off, but it was never too soon to start. Everything would need to be just perfect, after all. We were once again ending our day at the Pony, dancing to Sansa’s music.
The door swung open. It was Rombric, his eyes frantically sweeping the room until they landed on us. Relief washed over him, and he cleared his throat and adjusted his vambraces.
We greeted each other once more. He had been hoping to find us here, but he needed our help. It was both an opportunity for some profit and, as we put it, “put our money where our mouths were”.
He had recently been hired for a job too big for just himself. Instead of hiring sellswords, he decided to contact us, see if we were serious about our proposal. We warned we were not just mercenaries, but we would lend a hand if we were needed. He explained we would dispose of some goblins that had been giving the locals some trouble, which was enough to convince us.
“He has not heard my war songs yet!”, claimed Guri, proudly grabbing hold of her lute.
“They will bring ruin to whatever troubles we may find!” In the past, I had the opportunity of witnessing how much truth there was to those words.
We met at the stables, got on our horses, and Rombric gave us some more details. A horde of goblins had attacked a caravan, and Rombric had been hired to reclaim it and whatever goods the goblins had not taken. Our destination was the Midgewater Swamp.
…
We arrived after a short ride. The goblins had taken their bounty to some arnorian ruins in the swamp.
Rombric took a stone from his neck and muttered into it. It flashed, and a wraith manifested beside him. I instinctively drew my sword, but Rombric held his hand up and urged me to stop.
“Who is this wraith?” I asked.
“I cannot answer that question now.” Rombric answered. “Suffice it to say, I saved him from a dark influence, and is bound to me for the time being. I hope this will not be a problem?”
“No, it will not. I am familiar with oaths which bind you, even in death.” I sheathed my sword, and Rombric was relieved. Guri, ever polite, curtseyed to the wraith.
We finally rushed towards the goblins. The time they took to react to our assault was enough for us to cleave through many of them, and the rest were in disarray. They still fought us, but for some of them a mere shout sufficed to send them fleeing. And, most of all, they feared Guri.
She approached slowly and bowed before them. Furious, they rushed to attack her. But then, the sound of her voice and the strums of her lute began, and true horror came to the faces of the wretched creatures. It was then that Rombric understood what Guri’s words are truly capable of.
“...Does she always do that?”, asked the mercenary, almost pitying the goblins. I simply laughed.
He then walked towards a tall, dark structure in the centre of the camp. It almost looked like an altar, but it filled me with dread to merely look at it.
“Still see these around here…” said Rombric. He began to kick it, and his wraith moaned. He took his sword and plunged it into the centre stone of the strange structure, which began to rumble.
“Watch out!”, I warned, and we steered clear of it. Just in time, as well, as it came crumbling down.
“Destroying these things is always a bonus”, laughed Rombric. “Now, let’s find that caravan before the goblins regroup.”
We found it a bit torn up, but mostly intact. Some crates and barrels had been opened, but much still remained. Sadly, we found no survivors.
“I see now why the client was so concerned”, lamented Rombric. “Only a few people made it back to Bree. He had hoped to find survivors.”
We cursed the goblins, a scourge on the land. Rombric pulled his horse over, and hooked it to the cart. He suggested we look for bodies on the road. I agreed, as they deserved to be brought to Bree and receive a proper burial.
We followed the road towards the Lone Lands, which was the route the cart had taken.
“I’m… Sorry about earlier”, apologised Rombric. “I didn’t even think before summoning the wraith."
“It was a bit of a surprise”, I answered, “but it is not the first time we have fought alongside the deathless. It is far more preferrable than to fight against them.”
“Aye”, added Guri. “We have seen others.”
“I myself have been lucky in that regard”, laughed Rombric. “But I’m grateful for your understanding.”
We pressed on for som time, but found nothing. We arrived at a nearby farm, and decided to ask around. Seeing no one in sight, we knocked on the door.
“Excuse me, anyone home?”, I asked.
We heard a voice coming from inside. “Go away!”, it demanded, “No goblin will sert foot in this house! No, sir!”
“We are not goblins!”, I assured the voice. “We are hunting them, in fact!”
“I will not be falling for that again!”, it responded. “I am NOT opening this door!”
“Well,” said Guri, “Cannot blame them for being careful”.
Rombric scratched his head. “Goblins harassing farmers?”
“Looking for food, perhaps?”, I speculated.
“Goblins attacked a cart down the road”, explained Rombric. “We’re trying to find survivors. If any are in there, please tell them not to worry about their wares...or their employer.”
“The caravan?”, asked the voice. “The caravan! You’re the one he sent? Fantastic!”
Another, high-pitched voice joined the conversation behind the door. “Is Papa back?”
“Is someone missing?” asked Rombric. “Was he part of the caravan?”
“Shush, little one”, said the first voice. “I have some survivors in here, yes. A woman and two children.”
“Survivors!”, I exclaimed. “But, what should we tell them?”
“That we can give them safe passage to Bree”, answered Rombric.
“Agreed”, said Guri. “Perhaps their father made it to Bree.
We assured the survivors that no goblins were in sight, and, if any dared come back, we would quickly drive them off. The family left the house, and we waited for Rombric to bring the cart. Guri gave the children some apples and their mother a nice mug of cider. She took all sorts of things in our travels, and they once again proved useful.
Rombric came back, and we took off. We helped the survivors on the cart and we rode safely to Bree. He seemed troubled, glancing back at them and clenching his fist. I knew how he felt.
We decided to get them to the Pony, as they would need some rest. Butterbur owed Guri and me some favours, so we made sure they would not have to pay. Even if he didn’t, I doubt he would have charged them. He was a good man, after all.
After sorting it all out, we sat at our usual table. Rombric offered to pay for drinks in celebration of a job well done.
“Sickening, these goblins...” I lamented. “With the Dark Lord's army in shambles, their supply chains must have collapsed, and now they are looking for food.”
“And that family…” worried Rombric. “I don't know if their father is alive. I hope he is, for all their sakes...” I nodded in grim agreement.
Guri looked at me. “Sounds dreadfully familiar…”
“I mean no offense, Rombric” I said to him, “But this is why I left mercenary work. This caravan could afford to pay, but what of those who cannot? Should they be left to fend for themselves?”
Rombric frowned and clenched his hands together.
“There is no shame in taking these jobs,” I continued, “but we found it was not enough. We wanted to do more.”
Sansa approached us to take our orders. Guri smiled at her, and greeted her.
“Finding the survivors wasn't part of the job…” said Rombric. “But I see what you mean.” He gave a sorry chuckle.
“You have a good heart, Rombric.” I told him. “And you fight well.'
“My life ain't pretty, Alairif.” Claimed Rombric. “I'm not sure you'd like to work with a wash-up like me. My soft heart is all I have to offer right now, if that's even worth somethin.”
“I walked in your shoes, once”, I answered. “You should not be ashamed, for you do not walk a dark path. You have a good heart, and that is all that matters.
“There is nothing wrong with accepting money from those who can pay”, I continued, “but many cannot, and they too deserve our help.”
“I was orphaned and raised by my sister”, intervened Guri. “Were it not for Butterbur I am not sure we would have lived. His kindness made all the difference for us.”
Rombric lets out a breath, then smiles. “I guess kindness has no price.” He rubbed his jittery hands together and tried to laugh, but clenched his jaw instead.
Sansa came back with our trinks. “You do a great service here”, said Guri. “I hope Butterbur pays you enough.”
“You are his best barmaid!”, I agreed. “I hope he knows that!”
Rombric looked at us almost bewildered. “You all have so much… Joy.”
“That is what it is about”, said Guri.
“Because our hearts know what we do is right”, I explained. “We have learned to listen to them and not settle for anything less.”
“Even when it is hard to listen” added Guri.
“You sure you want me?” he asked one last time.
“I am sure”, I responded. “What do you think, Guri?”
“Aye, I am.” She nodded. “If your heart says so.”
Rombric shook his head and looked at us. “Now, you can’t take that back! I’m a bit of a glutton for jobs, whatever mayhem you get into.”
“I am no stranger to gluttony myself!” I laughed. “I think we will get along just fine!”
“Just don’t let Sansa feed you too much”, he answered.
“Then, I propose a toast!”, I said, raising my glass. “To new beginnings, and a brighter future!”
“I could use some of that”, laughed Rombric. “Cheers!”
