Chapter Nine: Unexpected and Unwanted Preparations
Incredibly huge, were some of the fierce-looking weapons within the weapon shop. They lined the walls, were resting on shelves, in cases, on floors and lying on tabletops. It was supply shop for any axe murderer waiting to strike. I mean, with few guys holding up this shop long enough to steal the weapons, four or five could have a good round about trying to slaughter all in the Second Circle.
I carefully followed Aratan through shelves and around racks, being careful not to bump into anything or knock something down. The last thing I needed was to accidentally dismember myself in this place. He was looking back and forth, eyes scanning the weapons around us. He stopped once and turned to me, with a small sword in hand. He kept looking between me and the sword, skeptically.
�Any sword light enough for a lass such as you to wield shall not cause much damage to any foe you might encounter. I think it a poor idea to have you get within so close a range to your enemy. Mayhap a polearm is what you require,� said Aratan, more to himself than to me.
We approached a rack with gigantic spears resting in it. I gazed wide eyed at these, hoping fervently that he didn�t intend for me to carry one of these. I was short, first of all, and these things were more than twice my height. I wasn�t strong enough, or at least I didn�t think I was, to carry one of those spears. Eventually we moved down the rack and these spears began to shorten.
At a rack of shorter spears with slightly curved blades, we stopped. Once again, Aratan looked between me and the spears, as if trying to judge what would be best for me. After a few moments of this he grabbed one of the spears off the shelf and felt the weight of it and moved it around in his big hands. He nodded, as if satisfied, and then handed it to me.
I took it clumsily and gaped at it. It wasn�t that heavy, maybe a bit more weight on the end with the blade, but I could movie it. It was a few inches short of being a whole foot taller than me. I supposed it had to be just shy of six feet and it couldn�t of weight much over seven pounds. I moved it around in my hands a little, jumping when it clanked into a shelf to my right.
Aratan chuckled slightly and nodded. �A proper weapon for proper little lass,� he said.
�So I�m going to use a spear?� I asked, carefully handing it back to him.
�Not a spear. Those big ones behind you are spears. This is a glaive, lacking in monstrous height, weight, and can be clearly distinguished by the slight curve of the blade,� he pointed out the curve in the blade. It was only slight, but I understood how you could distinguish it from other �polearms�, as he had called them.
�A glaive,� I repeated to myself.
�Aye, that�s right. I only wish that the time to show you the proper use of such a weapon was present, but I fear it is not. Someone else will. Come, we must hurry,� he said.
Aratan ended up buying the glaive for me, as well as a small dagger which I kept sheathed at my waist. After that he ushered me back to his home where Iorene had all of my things prepared for me in my bag. I had all the necessities prepared and packed for me. I was now, for all intensive purposes, equipped for travel.
Slinging my bag across my shoulder and grasping my glaive in my right hand, I bid farewell to Iorene, and followed Aratan once more out the door. He led me down to the First Circle where amidst the hustle and bustle of common traffic I saw two horses. When we reached them I was greeted by a vaguely familiar face.
�You are to leave this moment. Lass,� said Aratan, �you shall be leaving with Mallor.�
�He cannot come with me. He is a soldier of Gondor. He has duties!� I exclaimed.
�Mallor is young, not much older than you, and has no family of his own. He has a good head upon his shoulders and he shall steer you away from trouble. His outdoor skills will keep you alive. He is not meant for the soldier�s life and I will provide viable excuse for his absence,� he said hastily. I looked at Mallor, who I figured had to be at least eighteen. The gleam I saw in his eye told me that he was more excited about this than I was.
�I have never ridden a horse before,� I said, embarrassed. The last thing I wanted was to attempt to escape my doom on horseback only to fall off and probably be trampled to death.
�I figured as much,� replied Aratan. �You shall ride behind Mallor on his mount, just as you rode on mine on the way to the city, if you recall.� He took my bag and strapped it on the other horse, which I assumed was serving as a temporary pack horse. �Once you are out of harm�s way and far from here, Mallor will teach you how to ride.�
Mallor mounted his horse, with the reins to the other horse in hand. Aratan helped me up behind him and I held on to Mallor�s waist.
�I know not where you shall go hereafter,� said Aratan as he secured my glaive to the other horse. �I can only provide you with a means for your departure and some small advice. Stay together, no matter what happens. Mallor, teach her to ride, and help her learn to defend herself. I think she shall prove useful with a glaive, but it will take much time and even more patience on your part. Mind your manners towards this lass, she deserves no better, you hear?�
�A proper gentleman, as you always say, friend,� replied Mallor. �And I shall teach her to the best of my known ability. She will be safe enough with me.�
Aratan nodded and looked at me. �I expect ladylike behavior from you. Try and do as he says. He can be a little headstrong at times, but he�s a good lad,� he said. He reached up towards me and I leaned my head down so he could plant a light kiss to the top of my head. �May the Valar protect and guide you both.� With a kick, Mallor spurred the horse out through the now-open Great Gate of Minas Tirith.
The journey that was my new life had finally begun.
