[Arvedui III]

"Can we start at the beginning?"

Rangar felt chills run down his spine as he asked. Dwarfed by this confidant, was he a man? Who, apparently knew about him. "Well" the cloaked figure began, "First there was the One who created the Anuir from his thoughts, and-" "No, I mean, my beginning." Rangar said irritability. If this Seer thought toying with him was funny, Rangar supposed he would have to deal with it. "Well, you were born, I guess. I think that's pretty-" "No! I, mean." Rangar sighed. This was going to take a while. "If it wouldn't be too much trouble, would you telling me who I am."

The seer stared blankly at him for a moment, however Rangar got the impression those blue eyes of his were searching his face something. But what? "Well?" Rangar prompted. "Would you like a pear?" The man asked amiably, as if he had not heard Rangar's question, and reaching into his cloak pulled out a fruit. Rangar sputtered for a moment, then, "What?" "Pears, they're delicious, and rare too, I might add. You look like you need something to eat." "No, thanks." Rangar started, dumbfound. Is he stalling? I can't be that horrible. "Did you have a question?" The seer asked mildly. "Yes. Could you tell me who I am?" Rangar pushed, his voice rising. "Nope." The Seer said just as mildly, and bit into a pear. "What do you mean 'nope'?" Rangar was shouting now.

"Look, I just met you. You really don't think I can tell you 'who you are'?" He said the phrase as if it was ludicrous. "Well, isn't that what you do?" Rangar insisted, both baffled and angry. "No. And just for the record, no one can tell you 'who you are'. Not me, your mother or the King of Gondor. Only you know that. Now, really. I should be asking you that question. Falling down here unannounced, and bleeding, no less." Rangar put a hand to his shoulder, and it was indeed bleeding, but not badly. He speaks as if he is at some kind of ball, and that what he says makes perfect sense. But Rangar decided that if getting his questions answer before Barodin recovered was going to happen, he had to play by this man’s rules. "Well, um, I'm a man." "I hope so." Interrupted the seer between bites of his pear. Rangar ignored him. "The name's Rangar, though that's not my real name, I think." "Good start.” The seer said gently, "Keep talking."

"Soo, then, let me get this strait.” The man said, sighing after Rangar hurriedly told his story, “You don’t know your real name, but you call yourself Rangar, and your friends are above us, dying” “They’re dying!?” Rangar cried, half-ready to forget the whole endeavor and find a way out of this place. “Yes, one of ‘em, err, Rave, I think, is already dead.” Rangar was struck dumb, deaf, and blind all at once, but the seer kept talking just as nonchalantly. “And this Haradrim attack was started by Barodin, who is mad because you killed his brother but you don't why or under what circumstances, because you have absolutely no idea who you really are. And you want me to help you put the pieces together. Is that about the size of it?" "Yes." Rangar mumbled, realizing for the first time the enormity of what he was asking this man to do.

"Alright then. Well first off, I hate to tell you, but I’m only gifted with far-sight. Told you that at the bar, remember?” “That was you?” Rangar asked incredulously. “Nope, friend of mine. Saducar, nice fellow. Buys me pears.” “Well,” Began Rangar, his spirit dropping several notches, “What is far-sight?” “Should really be called super-strength foresight.” The Seer snorted, startling Rangar. “Kind of like the Dunedain have, only much stronger.” He marveled at the man for one second. Too much was happening, he couldn't take everything in, but what struck home was the fact that this Seer couldn’t help him.

“Now, don’t be so forlorn.” The cloaked figure laughed. “Rephrase the question so I might be able to answer it.” Rangar thought for a minute. “Do you know if I’ll ever regain my memory?” Rangar mumbled at last. “Yes, you will. Eventually these things come back, just takes longer for some people.” The Seer took another bite of his pear. “Some are just luckier than others. Your friend Turthol for one, keep him around yourself and that Wren girl long enough, and he’ll tell you who he is.Shouldn't take more than a few minutes.” The Seer chuckled. “So, that knock against the mast-” Rangar started, “You got it.”

“Why did this happen?” The man laughed. “It’s not funny!” “Course not. Just, I’m sorry, you’re paying the price.” “What?” “Men have waisted away asking me questions I can’t answer, that no one can, and without eating pear, either." The seer almost whispered. "Here’s a tip. Answers only create more questions.” He winked. Rangar gulped. “I just hate to think this was all for nothing.” “No it wasn’t, or won’t be anyway. “ The Seer tossed his pear away. “Now, you could stay here and have a pear, which is perfectly fine with me. Or, you could get above ground and kill that niggard who took your friends.” Rangar felt the blood rising in him. “What if I can’t, what if show him mercy again.” Rangar mumbled, suddenly doubting himself. “You won’t. Mercy and ignorance is bad, and that is who you were. Mercy and honor is good, and that, Rangar, is who you are” And this time, there was not a hint of amusement in the Seer's voice.

Grinning, Rangar ran out the door and through the various corridors. He found the room he’d fallen into, and jumping, grabbed hold of a wooden plank, then pulled himself up. The trap door swung shut, and Rangar saw Barodin running towards Turthol, Enien, and Wren. Running franticly towards him, Rangar tripped over something, then picked it up. It was Aerin’s sword. Gripping it hard, Rangar hurled it towards his foe, and the hunter fell to the ground with an almighty THUMP.

[ June 20, 2003: Message edited by: Arvedui III ]