Journey of the Ranger {Part VIII} An unexpected guest...

Almost two weeks has it been now since I arrived at this city...
Ever since many people have come to my aid. I have seen the loyalty of my kin with my own eyes and together with them we surely will retake this once great city!
Though, the other day I came across something rather ''Unexpected''.

It was late in the afternoon. Word came from one of our kinsmen in the fields outside the city of Annúminas that he has spotted a person heading for the main gate. 
''A person?'' I thought to myself. I had no knowledge of any rangers that came to join my  ranks that day. 
''Reinforcements of Angmar?''  I thought.... 
It was the most logical explanation so I went with it. 
First things first. I needed some help because if this was a new captain of Angmar then this was also the best opportunity we would get to take him out before he settles in. I went to Romdin and asked him to aid me in this matter. He gladly accepted and went to get his gear. I did the same and before we both knew it we were on our way to the front gates.
A great deal of stealth was needed to get there as the road towards the entrance of Annuminas is filled with outposts of the enemy. 
Romdin was smart enough to leave his shield behind and take his bow with him. I know he is not the best archer but a kill is a kill. We first had to make it to the rope.
The rope is as it tells you, a rope we have attached to a certain point so that we can travel between the hight levels of the city, much faster. It took us not to long to get to ''The rope'' and decided to go over the plan one last time.


Once we came down we immediately spotted and enemy campsite. I told Romdin to ready his bow and so he did. Together with him I laid fire upon the camp. My arrow struck one of the soldiers between the eyes as the one that Romdin fired ended up in the chest of the man next to my target. A third man looked around in shock and surprise. He tried to leap for a alarm bell that was not to far away from where he was sitting. If he managed to succeed that action then our mission would be in vain, so a quick draw from my bow made sure the man never touched that bell. The attack was a success and no alarms were triggered and Romdin and I were able to continue our path through Annúminas.

We saw many things on our way... Allot of it brought us great grief. The corpses of slain kinsmen that we were not able to retrieve from battle laid where they had fallen.. rotten and in silence. We took a moment to grief for them from a distance but knew we had no time to spare. Before sunrise we must make it back to the camp, or else we might get spotted. The darkness was our key element to succeed in this mission!
About an hour after we had left from  camp we finally arrived at the main gate. What we saw did not spark our hopes at the slightest. 
A large encampment was set up at the main gate and many angmarim occupied it. 
We had to make a choice. Head on, or turn back... Seeming we both thought heading back was no option we calmly studied the layout of the camp.

Suddenly an opportunity came to us! The sounds of combat could be heard near the other side of the camp. Many men rushed over to that direction leaving but a few behind. We managed to sneak into the camp with ease and were now able to note who this person was.
What we saw struck me with fear. It was no angmarim captain that our kinsmen had noted us about but a woman. They had captured her and knocked her unconscious. An arrow also has seemed to struck her shoulder. I looked at Romdin and he back at me. We both knew we could not let her be, for we both knew what the men of angmar do with female prisoners. It is something far worse then death, I assure you that.
Romdin sneaked over to a tree. The woman was left laying in a tent guarded by just a few men. Romdin told me to take out a white robed priest. I nodded to him and nocked an arrow into my bowstring. A swift shot to the chest ensured his death. There were two others with the priest. Simple warriors of angmar. 
They jumped up in suprise and turned around. On spotting me they did what both Romdin and I hoped for. They wanted the honor of taking my life themselves and rushed for me instead of an alarm bell. When they came near the tree Romdin was hiding behind he jumped out. Within the blink of an eye he ended those two man. Romdin has great skill with his blade and once more he showed that to me.

We quickly moved towards the tent to see who it was that they had taken captive. Romdin secured the tent and headed over to a weapon rack to retrieve what he could. I myself concerned myself with the girl, and it was a good thing that I did.
I looked at her face and felt my heart rise into my throat.
''R....Rothrian.....'' I mumbled..... 
Romdin gave me a confused look but soon realized I knew this woman.
I told him to see if there were any weapons that were out of the ordinary. He eventually took 3 weapons with him.
I picked up Rothrian, who was slipping in and out of consciousness and made for the way we came.

We went back the way we came because it was the safest route to take. Especially when you carry a woman and some weapons.
The rope was a bit tricky. Romdin was used to lifting heavy objects and was stronger in his arms then me on that subject so he went up first leaving the weapons with me. He dropped a second rope and I tied Rothrian's arms onto one rope and her legs to the other. Romdin then lifted her up. It looked cruel but it was the only way to get her to safety. 
Romdin made sure she laid safe once he got to her at the top. He then dropped the ropes again and I was able to follow with the weapons. I gave them to him after I reached the top and picked up Rothrian. From there on it was a simple way to the camp.

We arrived at the camp just before dawn. Romdin secured the weapons in our armory and I brought Rothrian to our healer. There we stripped her down from her armor and wrapped her into some cloth. After all not all men in the camp have to see her.....
Just as the healer wanted to start the treatment our little guest decided to wake up. A punch she threw at our healer in reflex, and that punch was received. She looks around in shock and a little bit scared until she saw me. 
She laid back down and let out a big sigh.... 
We talked a bit after that about why she came. She told me she simply would not allow me to die on my own without her being either by my side or being able to do something about it. It warmed my heart to hear her say this.... What good friend I am blessed with.
Sadly I also knew that this could be her last journey as well if she would stay, but I can not force her to leave so I guess... I'll have to put up with her being at our ranks as well.

Who knows what might happen now. I can not assure her she will return alive and well. But I tell you one thing.
Blood... makes you related, Loyalty makes you family....
I guess that makes her family.