Chapter Text
Adelais wandered the market at the base of Araluen castle. The summer had just broken and the markets were rich in trade. Spring harvest had been bountiful and the scents wafting in the village was so entrancing that outlying peasants made journeys into the city. The Inns were filled to the brim, the taverns were loud and joyous, sure there were a few drunkards here and there being hauled off to sober up in the jails. Sometimes these drunks would conveniently lose their coin purses and Adelais would kindly rehome those bags to her own. Was she proud of that? Not really, but it was either steal or starve or work off the streets and she had enough pride to stay out of the brothels in towns.
She could feel a pair of eyes on her suddenly and looked up and around the market. Her hazel eyes narrowed as she caught the slightest flicker of a green cape disappearing around a corner.
Great, now I have a Ranger watching me. She sighed and continued her legitimate shopping for food and some fancy little trinkets for fun. After all, she did earn some money singing in taverns, so she treated herself to some bell bracelets for her ankles.
She went over to the stables and collected her little pony, Heron. He was a beautiful dark bay with four white socks on his legs, velvet soft nose and perky and very expressive ears.
He nickered to her and she pulled out a carrot for him from her satchel. She noticed beside him was a tall but dainty bay mare. She had a very pretty face with a startlingly pretty blaze down her face. The mare pricked her ears at the sound of Heron crunching on a carrot beside her.
“You can give her one if you want,” a soft male voice said from the doorway. Adelais jumped in surprise, nearly dropping her bag. Heron squealed at her in surprise and the mare just nickered excitedly at her. She pulled out another carrot and stepped up to the mare who gently nibbled it out of her hand. She gently stroked the horse's sleek neck.
“She’s quite lovely,” Adelais mused.
“She’s an opinionated mare, that’s for sure. As for lovely....I suppose she is.” With that remark he earned a slight ear pin from his horse before she resumed munching.
“I don’t think she appreciates the criticism,” Adelais laughed, going back to her own horse and started brushing him.
“Yours is quite pretty. Small, but pretty,”
“He’s sturdy and a short way to fall when he acts like an idiot over a bunny on the trail.” That elicited a surprised laugh from the man. You look him over. He’s tall, lanky, maybe a little too lanky. Handsome in the face, but his lack of facial hair made his age nearly impossible to distinguish. If she’d had to guess, maybe 25? Maybe 26 like her. It was then she realized what shade of cloak he had.
The same shade of green she saw disappearing around the corner earlier. I don’t recall having any bounties on me here...or anywhere around here. Please gods, let this be a coincidence he’s here with me, she thought, praying heavily in her head.
“What’s your name?” the ranger asked, breaking you out of your thoughts.
“Adelais Tommele....” as soon as you tell him your real full name, you want to kick yourself. Why did you tell him your name?!? If he was after you, you just confirmed it!
“Tommele? As is the Baron Tommele?”
“I try not to associate my life with that title but...yes. I am the daughter of Baron Tommele.”
“Understandable. Your father fell pretty far when he aligned with Morgarath. It seems you have handled it decently without his help?” the ranger replied, staring down into your hazel eyes. You had your
fingers crossed behind your back he was simply complimenting you on not being a whore?
“Yes, I have. Dragged through a lot but...I have held it together without his dark shadow on me.” Adelais turned from him and finished cleaning off Heron and grabbed her saddle and tossed it onto him.
“You seem in a hurry to leave?” the ranger quietly chimed in.
“I have no interest in staying in the village after dark tonight. Taverns are too busy for my taste. I’d rather enjoy my fire and a quiet dinner.” she put Heron’s bridle on and led him out of the stable. The ranger just stared at her as she brazenly walked past him, ending the conversation so abruptly. He grabbed hold of Blaze’s reins and followed Adelais out.
“Well, if you don’t want a tavern meal, can I at least invite you to my fire for dinner?”
She tied her satchel onto her saddle, paused for a moment to look at the ranger...before mounting up and trotting down the road. The ranger fluidly swung up onto his horse and spurred her into a trot after Adelais.
“Please?” he called behind her.
Heron whinnied back to the mare excitedly and spun around and waited for the ranger to catch up. Adelais swore at him and tried to turn him but in typical pony fashion, he didn’t care. He had a new girlfriend!
“FINE. I accept. Since apparently my horse has other plans!” Adelais snapped. She glared at Heron and then at the Ranger.
“Thank you. Now, did answering hurt that much?” he chided gently, urging his horse on at a gentle walk, Heron happily prancing alongside her.
“No, I guess not. I just don’t...like...people,” she answered quietly.
“Truthfully, neither do I.” he answered.
“A ranger who doesn’t like people, I feel I should be surprised but I’m not.” you laugh, surprising yourself even.
“What gave the ranger part away?” he asked.
“Well, your sneaky way of watching people without them knowing, your clothing, your horse, while she’s taller than usual, but is the typical breed for a ranger...just call it an educated guess...”
“Or have you seen me at court?” he argued.
“There is that possibility too...I didn’t mind that part of my family. Being in court was fun, though I tried staying in the shadows myself. Only cared for the food and entertainment,”
“That was my childhood too. I actually trained to be a knight for a while but I didn’t like it. Became a ranger instead, but i learned a lot of skills from it so I guess it wasn’t too bad,”
“How did we happen to meet each other in the same stable market then? Tavern girl and a ranger? Not a common circle to be in,” Adelais questioned.
The ranger shrugged, “Luck perhaps?” Adelais chuckled at that. *I still can’t read him...he’s being too nice for a ranger tracking a bounty*...
He turns his horse off the main road to a little meadow, a small tent is put up just against the edge of the meadow, a decent size fire is set up and ready to burn. He takes your reins and takes Heron to a picket line and tied both horses up and let them graze on long ropes. Adelais had detached her satchel of food from the saddle and went about preparing some food. She saw the stew pot sitting ready and started chopping up some of the vegetables she’d bought earlier.
The Ranger went to the creek and got a bucket of water for the stew. He poured it in, lit the fire and started pulling out some dried meat strips from his packs.
“So, why are you here? Hunting someone or simply traveling?” Adelais asked calmly, stilling the panic in her stomach, and scraping the vegetables into the steaming pot.
The ranger glanced up at her, and she could tell he was thinking which story to tell. Truth...or lie...she’d had that look and seen it in other far shadier characters in her life.
“Truth is, I’m following some leads on a gang. I’ve heard they’ve been stealing from people, forcing others to do horrible things, just good old evil people. I figured you might have some information on them.”
“Why would you think I’d know? I’m just a tavern rat.”
“You’re a little more than that, Adelais. I’ve watched you relieve a few patrons of their purses, but I’m not interested in that right now. Foolish drunks are of little concern to me,” he responded.
“Still, why do you think I would know anything?”
“Just a feeling...but I guess I could be wrong.”
“You are. I’m a thief, sure, but I don’t do any dealings with gangs,” Adelais snapped as she jumped up. She turned away and started towards Heron.
“STOP!”
She jolted, stopping with her hands clenched.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it that way. I was not trying to insinuate that you have dealings with people like that.” he walked over to her, gently touching her shoulder. She shrugged it off and spun around walking back to the fire, without so much as a word to him. He turned and followed her back.
She sat down again beside the fire, grabbed a spoon and stirred at the stew, eyes focused on it and nothing else.
“You know, it’s going to be a weird and long meal if you don’t talk to me again...I’m sorry, really.”
Adelais sighed softly before looking back up at him. She still had the hint of a glare in her eyes, one eyebrow raised at him in spite. “Fine. I’ll forgive you. I just don’t want anyone to think I’m as bad as my father. Everyone who finds out I’m a Tommele assumes I must be as evil as he is and never stops to think otherwise.”
“I know...I’m sorry.”
“Moving on. Yes, I have heard that certain gangs have been in the area but I haven’t seen them yet. A few roughed up patrons have come into taverns to tell tales but nothing that ever warranted sending
anyone out to find them.”
“Any idea whereabouts these might have been?
“Some came from Redmont, a few from Caraway. First incidents were from the roads from Caraway, and recently Redmont.”
“They’ve spread out a bit then. The first reports were just around the surrounding roads to Araluen. Either they are getting bolder or being chased out by the growing number of guards everywhere.”
“I think they’re being chased out. They aren’t the type to be bold from what I’ve heard. They surround people in a group, never a single member against a victim. Without their backup, they are cowards.”
Adelais went silent, grabbing the bowls and putting stew into them. They ate in relative silence, each thinking over the information they’d gathered.
Adelais finished her bowl and rinsed out her bowl. “If you don’t mind, I’ll just curl up and sleep over here.”
The ranger raised his brow at her, “At least take the bedroll...”
Adelais had already laid down on the dirt and curled up, “I’m fine.”
He sighed and left her to her own devices.
Adelais waited until his own breathing slowed to a steady restful pace before she opened her eyes again. The dread setting in her soul was heavy. What she had to do next was not something she looked forward to. Slowly rolling over and onto her knees, she drew out a slender dagger out of her bag. Tucking it into her puffed blouse sleeve, she softly crept over to the sleeping ranger and laid down beside him.
He stirred, and jumped away for a second, “What are you doing?” he asked sleepily.
“Confession, I would feel safer sleeping beside you and the fire.”
“You could have just started off with that but suit yourself. As long as you don’t kick me in your sleep.”
“No-one has told me I do, so you should be fine,,” she laughed, closing her eyes. He watched over her sleepy form for a moment, curious but too tired himself to care much more.
Again, she waited for his breathing to slow and the softest gentlest snores emitted.
She took a deep breath, slid the dagger from her sleeve. It fit perfectly into her left palm, its molded leather grip perfectly fit to her palm. She steeled herself and raised the dagger above the ranger’s chest.
In a swift movement she plunged it downwards. In the split second before it pierced his chest, his hand flung up and grabbed hold of her. He rolled her over, straddling her, his own knife pressed to her throat.
Adelais gasped, struggling against his weight on her. “What are you thinking?!” he hissed.
“Does it matter! Just kill me and be done with it,” she snapped.
“Who put you up to this Adelais. I know this isn’t your own plan.”
“If you don’t kill me, they will. I’d rather die by your hand than slowly by theirs,” she whispered, her eyes wide in fear.
“Who is ‘They’?!” he demanded.
“The thieves guild.. My father hired them to cause trouble to the kingdom. They knew you were on their trail and wanted you gone. They contacted me just days before you arrived in town. No uncertain terms were made either. The deal was kill you...or be killed and know you’d still die by their hand. It would be in your best interest to end me and run.”
“I have a better plan. Just work with me on this. You’ll make a move to grab my knife away from your throat. Once you grab it, slash at my chest and knock me back, are you with me so far?”
Adelais nodded softly, eyes still wide with terror. .
“Good, once you knock me backwards, climb on top of me and pretend to stab me in the chest. I think we can safely assume they are watching us now. So hopefully, that’ll convince them enough to leave you alone.”
“I don’t know...they aren’t that easy to deceive but what choice do I have...fine...we’ll do your plan,” she sighed.
Without warning Adelais’s hand shot up and grabbed the ranger’s knife hilt, using her elbow smacked him in the face, he recoiled, letting go of her wrist, with her left hand free again she slashed across his chest. He jumped backward, falling onto his back.
With a cry she pushed herself off the ground and onto his chest. She plunged the knife into the dirt just above his shoulder. With an act worthy of a theater troupe, he groaned and fell back to the ground, deathly still. Adelais’s chest heaved, as she knelt, straddling him...waiting for any movement or sign of the gang emerging from the undergrowth. A minute went by....then two, and still nothing happened. As she stood up, a glint of steel flitted through the dim firelight and Adelais stumbled forward, a dry gasp escaping her lips. A knife stuck out from below her left shoulder blade. The Ranger’s eyes widened but he didn’t move yet, the plan he had was not yet finished but he didn’t account for her being harmed.
Adelais slumped to the ground, breaths coming in gasps, specks of blood across her lips.
The heavy stomps of several pairs of boots trudged up the path to the little campsite. The Ranger could now see the shapes of 4 men, ugly and filthy as you’d expect, they all had smirks of amusement and pleasure at their handiwork.
“Well done girl. Your father sends his regards for a job well done. The dagger is my gift to you, little tavern whore. You deserve a lot worse.”
“Traitorous bitch,” another chimed in.
Adelais summoned some spiteful strength and spat at their feet. Another man stepped up to her laying on the ground and gave a solid nudge to the knife in her back. She screamed and convulsed before she went still again. Before the men could approach the ranger, he yelled out “Will, NOW!”
The men were startled by their prey’s sudden outburst but it ended shortly as a rain of arrows flew from the trees. With marksmen’s accuracy ,each man were dropped, filled with arrows like porcupines.
“Took you long enough Will!!” he yelled at the trees.
“Sorry Gilan,” a wiry young man emerged from the woods, outfit identical to Gilan.
“Please tell me you at least brought Malcom with you?” Gilan snapped, kneeling beside Adelais.
“Yes, I’m here.” a short, older gentleman with graying hair and a long woolen robe stepped into view. Adelais whimpered as her pain filled eyes began to gloss over.
“Shush, little one. You know me don’t you?”
Gilan held Adelais’ head on his lap, “Whatever rumors or stories you’ve heard of the Sorcerer of the North, they are false. He is a friend.” Adelais suddenly convulsed and coughed out a splatter of blood all over Gilan.
“If she keeps struggling like this, that dagger is going to shred her insides. I have to give her something to knock her out.”
Adelais gave a noise, half strangled laugh, and half cough, “why...don’t you just....punch me,” she managed to push out.
“I don’t think so, Baroness,” the healer said softly, crushing herbs into a small bag and pouring steaming water on it from the fire.
Gilan continued to gently stroke Adelais’ face, softly wiping the specks of blood from her face.
As Malcom brought the bag towards her face, she struggled away. Gilan gripped her shoulder, holding her steady. “Adelais, I will be the last face you see...and the first you see when you awaken again. You’re stronger than you think. You will see me again.” He gently held the bag over her nose and mouth, eyes locked on hers. Adelais eyes started to flutter, fighting against the power of the herbs. Gilan felt her body slowly relax against him and her eyes finally fluttered close for good.
“Alright. Get that cloth ready and get ready to pinch off anything that’s bleeding...she’s already suffered a significant amount of blood loss. Gently roll her onto her side,” Malcom grabbed hold of the hilt, Will had the cloth ready and Gilan held her steady. “Ready boys?” he asked. Gilan and Will gritted their teeth and nodded.
In a swift movement he withdrew the knife, Adelais, while drugged, still whimpered softly as Gilan dug his slender fingers into the hole and pinched off a bleeding section as Will blotted the blood off and rinsed it.
Malcom swiftly took a needle and thread and pulled together the pinched ends and stemmed the flow of blood. Slowly, layer through layer, they cleaned it out, stitched pieces back together before finally closing the gash in her back.
“Get her onto the cart, Halt and Lady Pauline are ready for her in Araluen. . I’ll travel with her while you go hunt down that bastard Baron Tommele.”
“No, I’m traveling with her too. I won’t break my promise of being there when she wakes again, “ Gilan objected.
“I have a few other young rangers I can call on to help search. We can spare Gilan to stay with her.”
“So be it. We will see you again soon, young Will. Take care of yourself.”