A man clad in grey offered aid to the mead company, he wore a hood and very rarely removed it. He was of a mysterious kind and he had born a star upon his breast. Folk around Bree knew these men as 'Rangers'. However this 'Ranger' had given the company no true name and they began to know him as 'Archer'.
Through many perils he had been their guide and led them to safety, he offered his aid freely and the company was not so welcoming to him at their first meeting but upon their journey they grew to regard the man as one of their own.
Once their quest was complete and the company had retrieved what they sought, he had led them to safety and then disappeared as he often did. Though this time he bid them farewell, for it was time for him to depart the company and it was a sad farewell, even for Redwick. For he admired and envied the skill of Archer but he too looked up to him and observed him whenever they had the opportunity to go hunting together, even though Redwick was no hunter.
The company spent some nights in Rivendell, causing quite the stir as they did upon their previous visit. However it was not influenced by violence this time, instead by the uncouthness of a particular drunken Northwoman. The night went on and the Hall of Fire was filled with converse and merriment, but when things began to grow quiet Alfknutr, Redwick and Threland stood side by side once more upon the porch of the Last Homely House whilst the other companions were about their business. They spoke of many things that had come to pass on their journey and they spoke of both the grim and the merry times. It was soon that they began to discuss the mysterious man who they knew as 'Archer', for a curiosity drove their desire to know more of this man, this 'Ranger' who so freely offered his service.
"He bid farewell. But I know that I shall meet him again, for is he not like a leaf upon the wind?" Redwick said and a smile began to loom on his face and Alfknutr replied; "Ha! That is more like it" He said and sent a smirk to Redwick and continued: "We are indebted to him, though I'm sure he would not accept any gift or thanks we could throw at him."
"He is a queer man and I would like to know him better as well."
"You admire his skill don't you. His bowmanship is noteworthy."
"I more than admire it, I envy it. He is swift at hand and he is accustom to the wilds as if it was his own home."
"He is one of the Rangers, did you know? I learned this slowly over time. It explains much about him."
Then Redwick looked to Alfknutr with a curious gaze and asked; "a Ranger? What is that?" Redwick's interest was peeked and he harkened intently as Knot began to describe; "You have never heard of the Rangers? Tall, grim, clad in the garb of woodmen? They say that they are the Watchers of the Wild. On who's errand, or what purpose, none know. They say that they can speak to animals. That they know all the languages of beasts and birds, and their hearing and sight is beyond that of us. I do not know how much of that is tall tales, but Archer seems to me all of those things. Did you not notice the brooch upon his breast?" Redwick did not know nor did he notice the brooch, he shook his head and Elf-Knot continued: "I'd pondered it for many nights. A star, who's origins I didn't know. But then there was a night that I was restless. I heard low singing. Archer was singing a ballad about The Mariner of the West. I've already learned it from him. Perhaps one day I shall sing it."
Then both Redwick and Threland's attention turned fully to Alfknutr and he continued: "The words he spoke told me much, and his brooch became clear. I do not know if all Rangers wear this, or whether some especial meaning is evident with Archer."
"Will you share them? Or shall it remain secret among the two of you? I will not pry if so." Asked Redwick and Alfknutr shrugged then replied: "One day I might."
"Then I shall wait."
But then suddenly Threland spoke out, "Knot - the star, how many points did it have?"
And then suddenly both Redwick and Alfknutr turned to Threland, he had been unusually silent ere he spoke then and many who know him well would know that his silence is not a common thing. Then after a brief silence Alfknutr answered: "Six points, unless I missed my mark. The pin may have made a seventh, for it was intricate in make."
"Moight've seen a seven-pointed star on one o' those ruins we got in breeland. But moight've counted wrong..." Said Threland with his famous accent.
"Ruins..." Muttered Redwick and began to ponder deeply to recall something he once saw, "Ruins and stars, I remember something of this-.." And then Knot suddenly exclaimed: "The Greenway Fort!" Smiles suddenly came to their faces as they recall a place they had once been many months ago.
Their conversation continued and they began to recall a moment upon their previous adventure to the Deadman's Dike. Upon one morning on their journey thither Redwick had awoken to notice Alfknutr had a grim expression upon his face and he spoke of something that he had seen in the night. He described them as grey watchers but he did not know if they were friendly or had ill intent. The three then went further with wariness of these grey watchers ever since. Could Archer truly have been one of them? Had he been watching them for so long?
"I wonder...how long has Archer known of us?" Said Alfknutr in wonder and a smile come to Redwick's lips ere he said: "I do not know... But when we see him again, we have much to ask him. If he will answer that is." "Ha...if what we think is true of him, I am sure that he is still there. Remote but present." Replied Knot and he began to look out into the Valley and smiled as if he had expected to see Archer suddenly emerge.
"For all we know... He could be watching us this very moment..."
- Redwick
And so their discussion continued deep into the night and Knot spun a tale of the Western start and of the sea-kings which they knew little of. The three of them peered towards the western sky and their conversation had seemed to have accuracy but their discussion never met the mark, so it was filled with many gaps and many unexplained tales that they likely will never hearken to.
Who was this man who went by the name 'Archer' and what was he? Perhaps they will find the truth someday, but it was not to be this one.
