The Birth of a Ranger

Chapter Nine

It had been two months since she arrived at Allermer fort and there had been no word from the Dunedain Rangers. She kept hoping that she would hear from them each and every day but no letters ever came. Azura assured her she would get one eventually it just took time.

Day after day Dante and Kieleth trained and had even become rather close. They were able to teach each other and she had even begun to teach him the tongue of her people, not enough to understand every word but for him to give orders to her away from prying ears during combat. The Dunedain knew and taught two means of communication. Lost elvish speak and the ability to communicate through bird calls.

Kieleth knew too much about Dante and even asked questions she didn't know the answer too many times in a row. She never knew how to answer some of the questions that went into deeper detail to her past, nor did she want to.

She had been up all night sharpening her weapons and nursing her cuts and bruises from combat when Kieleth came knocking on her door. As a Ranger she was taught how to stay up all night sometimes for nights on end if she needed to and was practicing it many times over, so when Kieleth came in through her door he paused, shocked to see her awake yet again.

"Dante, you must sleep." He came in and stopped at her side, embracing her. She gladly leaned into it, into his warmth and into the fold of his scent. "You don't eat and don't sleep. You will end up making yourself sick, you will."

Dante sighed and pulled away, sheathing her blade and turning to look towards Kieleth. "I do eat, Kieleth. Just not the food that is served. It's like poison to me." she smiled up at him, her eyes giving him a pleading look to just, trust her.

"Surely it is better than the jerky and bread you eat." His voice was soft and caring in that moment.

"You would think so...however, I have only eaten jerky and bread for the past four years." the smile never faded from her face when she passed him and even got into his face when she spoke of what she ate. She could go a week without eating if she needed to and yet, she doubted that was the course she would go. So far she ate small bits and pieces of bread, the jerky lasting much longer than the bread.

Kieleth huffed and shook his head, turning to look at her. "At least get cleaned up for tonight. Stop being Azura's guard for just one moment and let me give you a good night." Dante laughed then. Really laughed. She turned to look at him, cloak and cowl in hand.

"Kieleth, you know I can't do that. Azura brought me here for some reason and I have decided to stay at her side and aid her. I will not abandon my task." She approached him and wrapped her arms around his neck, looking up into his eyes. Kieleth was not much older than Dante. She was fourteen whereas he was barely seventeen and one of the best warriors in the Akiyama because of his training with General Mitsuyoshi back in Sosari.

Some in Allermer felt they were not in the right positions to be together and so they kept it hidden. He knew everything Dante was thinking and she, him. She could never bring herself to do anything with him however. She had nothing to do with him aside from train. Who was she to limit herself so young in her age?

"Come on, Azura is waiting for her escort." She smirked and pulled away slowly before tossing her cloak and cowl on over her body and pulled her hood up. Only her eyes were visible. Harbarad had told her to not let her guard down and so she wouldn't. She wore her cloak and cowl with a hidden mystery that kept those around her away from Azura and herself. The perfect intimidation tactic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The part was rather dull but that didn't stop Dante from standing at the side of Azura though this night she longed for more than just being a simple guard. Her eyes kept meeting Kieleth's from across the room and couldn't help but feel the sadness of her decision to stay at Azura's side.