Untitled - BoG-Archive

Elchim was resting in the shade of a tall maple when they arrived, and true
to their Nanny’s warning, Faramir immediately began to climb into its branches
while the two Rangers spoke together. Halhigil did not stop him, only kept an
eye on his progress.
Boromir, however, had other ideas. “Faramir!” he called authoritatively. “If
you go too high and get stuck, I’m not going to come get you!”
“I won’t go very high, I promise.” Faramir’s voice drifted down from
among the leaves.
Elchim choked back a laugh. “Are you sure we’re needed at all?” he said to
Halhigil. “Sounds as if Boromir has the situation well in hand.”
Halhigil grinned. “Brothers will brothers,” he shrugged, and turned his
attention towards the children. “Come, young men, let us begin your
instruction!”
Halhigil was impressed with how eager the Steward’s sons were to learn.
He had volunteered to accompany them because he was bored of lying in the
Houses, and had half-expected two unmanageable boys. But while they were
high-spirited and energetic, they were obedient, and listened to what he and
Elchim had to teach them. It was a little odd; Halhigil was not used to having
such a captive audience when he explained the difference between rabbit tracks
and fox tracks.
They paused for a meal of cold meat, bread, and cheese, and the Rangers
were amused to find a small leather provisions bag in with the other food. “Here
is Ranger food indeed,” Elchim said with a grin. He showed the boys the contents
of the pouch: twists of jerked meat, hard flatbread, a mix of dried berries and
nuts, a little pouch holding sweetened oats suitable for making porridge.
The boys were eager to try the unfamiliar food, but both grimaced at the
meat, and Boromir refused to have anything to do with the flatbread. Faramir,
however, proved rather fond of the berries and nuts, and filled one of his little
belt pouches with the mixture.
The men would have lingered over the food, for fresh bread and cheese
were not to be taken for granted, but the children were impatient to return to
exploring, so luncheon was a quick affair.
They stayed within sight each another, but Boromir tended to end up
trailing Halhigil, while Faramir was never far from Elchim. Halhigil kept an eye
on Boromir, who was now wandering off the narrow path, while Faramir was
asking endless questions about the surrounding foliage. Elchim had been
surprised at how much the boy already knew; when asked where he had learned
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