Chapter Text
“You got a straggler, Drummond?”
“Not sure, sir?” I’m still a little woozy and blink to clear the doubles I’m seeing as we come through the garrison gate to find Cap waiting. We’re late, I knew that. Shoulda been back yesterday. As Colonel Taraven comes out of his office right near the gates - he's the guy that interrogates newcomers - I babble, “Saved my butt from the ‘Hai set on skinning me so I kind of took to him you might say.” The guy is holding me up right now as a matter of fact, making it look like I’m just leaning a little but by all the stars above, he’s got me under the bicep, and he’s strong. The captain he’s frowning, but he frowns most of the time. Captain Halbarad and Taraven share a look and with a shake of his head, the Colonel turns to go back to his office. “I can report-“
“No.” Cap snorts and gestures. “You, go see the medics. Get that head checked out. Get the bleeding stopped.” That sharp gaze settles on my rescuer. “You. What’s your name?”
I don’t move, obviously because if I tried to walk on my own, I’d fall flat on my face. In the disgusting horse turd filled muck still drying out from the last rain. “He hasn’t said a word, sir. Understands just fine but maybe he’s a mute?”
“Got a tongue?”
It’s a fair question these days. The ‘Hai and Orcs do far worse if they catch a prisoner. The fellow nods, somber in the face of the cap’s scrutiny. “I do, sir.”
Soft-spoken, heavy accent. Sounds like one of Lord Círdan's folk maybe. Has that look to him. Or maybe Noldor? I don't know. They all look the same; tall, fair, ageless. Old wives back home used to say they would bespell a fellow and he'd disappear then come back and grow to a wicked age overnight and turn to dust.
Those old wives could be a little vicious.
Cap’s mouth twists into a smirk. “Got a name? We can give you one but most of the fellas don’t like my choices much.”
“Renion.”
“Okay.” Another long look. “Stick with Drummond here, get him to the doctor and stay there. I’ll find you. Got it?”
“Yes, sir.”
Cap nods and steps aside to point down the dirt street. More tents have gone up since I left. Or I’m seeing double. Both probably. "Medical tent is there, with the fellow standing out front wearing a white band on his arm. Means he’s a medic or doctor. Someone who can save your butts.” He shakes his head and adds, “You’ll want to remember that, Renion.”
And we’re moving again, me trying to not barf on my new friend, but my head is beating a really lousy marching song and by the time we get to the tent, he’s mostly carrying me. I don’t remember being examined by the docs which is great. Usually all you want is to forget and scram. They stick a guy with needles and poke at you and flash lights in your eyes, stuff pills down you all in the name of making you better.
Right.
But no, next thing I remember is waking on a lumpy cot, Renion in a chair next to it, and geez. I must have been hurt awful because Lord Elladan himself is there, standing at the foot of my bed. “Is it that bad,” I croak, scared to death he would say it was fatal. I had a month.
Days. Oh, Eru…
“Drummond. Good to see you awake.” Slight smile on his face as he moves around to pull out a little light and shine it in my eyes.
“Ow.” I knew it. Now he’ll tell me he had to do it.
“Sorry, but it’s necessary.”
“Did you have to operate?” I reach up and feel for a bare spot or the forty stitches or the huge hole they drilled in my head and he laughs, a low, warm sound.
“No, just checking to make sure our best scout still can think straight.”
“Thanks to Renion. Did you meet-“
“I did.”
There’s an odd look on Elladan’s face, but then he’s an odd one. Impossible to read, you know? Same as my new friend, really. “How many days was I out?”
An amused smile warms the grey eyes. “Not long. Hal will be here soon and I’ll let him know you’re off duty for at least five days. Don’t argue, Drummond. You’re lucky that ‘Hai didn’t cave in your thick skull.”
“Yes, sir.”
A nod to me, another to Renion and he left us. Off to go torture some other lucky guy.
I tentatively turn my head. No double vision. Whew! “Not sure I thanked you.” I’m in my own section too, wow. How did I rate? Must be a slow night at the clinic? Usually there are at least two other guys in here and sometimes….
Well. Sometimes you just have to be grateful that it wasn’t you and pray for the unlucky one. After all, next time it could be you laying there.
“Not necessary.”
I try to see what he’s doing, his hands moving and for a moment, I almost think he’s mending nets. Strange thought! I grew up on the river and mended a lot of nets, but no. He’s whittling. “Whatcha making?”
The smile is quick, fleeing, gone. He holds up the piece of wood to show me the figurine. There are bits of wood scrap in his lap. I’m kind of surprised Elladan allowed that. Usually he’s all about keeping the place pristine which is kind of hilarious considering all the blood and yuck that gets all over.
“Hey, that’s me!”
A nod. “You can have it when I’m done if you want.”
“Yeah, sure.” I grin. “Never had anyone want to duplicate my ugly mug.”
He’s quick, making sure cuts, little motions with that knife. Definitely one of Lord Círdan's folk. They look like gentle fisher folk, but let me tell you. My grandfather told me stories of Lord Círdan going after some pirates once. Guess they’d been harassing some of his folk, and Anadar said you never wanted to get in a knife fight with them. Gut more than fish, I reckon. Renion, he's definitely an elf, but we got the likes of Lord Glorfindel and Lord Elrond’s sons around here and I reckon they’re the reason we call ‘em fair folk.
“Here.” Renion hands me what he’d been working on.
I take the little figure and stare. It’s accurate down to a scar on my chin I got from a boning knife when I was a kid. No bigger than my longest finger. “Looks just like me!”
Before he can answer, the captain enters and I’ll just minimize the damage to say he chewed me up and spit me out for going scouting alone and not waiting for a buddy and I’m damned lucky Renion showed up to save me, etc. Then he turns to Renion. “You sticking around?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Want to fight, huh?”
“Yes, sir.”
A snort. “Man of few words. Good. You can join Drummond here when he’s released, unless you’d rather do something other than scout?”
“Suits me fine, sir. Thank you.”
“Good. Drummond, don’t lose this one.”
“Hey, I didn’t lose the last one!” I huff a sigh. “He just-“
“Yeah, well, you two work it out, but no one goes out alone, got it?” He holds my gaze, waiting for a nod. “Next time you’ll be in the brig, Drummond.”
“Yes, sir.” Probably be in chains in the brig. With big rats creeping around and moldy bread for food.
“Get Ren here outfitted and he can bunk with the rest of you scouts. Elladan said he’s releasing you tonight but you’re in camp for five days. You show Ren the ropes and we’ll find things for you to do while your head heals.”
Great. I’d be making arrows and cleaning tack, slowly losing my mind to boredom. “Yes, sir.” When the captain is gone, I roll my eyes. “Sorry, Renion. Looks like we won’t be going out right away.” He just shrugs a shoulder and waits patiently for Lord Elladan to come back. Well, they do have a lot of time, elves do. Me, I don’t have that kind of time!
Guess we’ll see how it works out, this new partner of mine. I’m pretty restless, which is why I’m a good scout. Rather be out sneaking around than stuck in camp. I never worked with an elf before but my Anadar always said there was room to learn until you were in the dirt. Then it was too late.
Five days. Maybe I can get doc to change his mind.