Out In the Wilderness

[iron_beneath_beauty]

WHO: Lyanna Stark
WHERE: The Woods
WHEN: 6/19
OPEN TO: All
WARNINGS: None

---

She had been wanting to explore the woods more and the appearance of the camping equipment was as good an excuse as any. While she wasn't familiar with it, she would learn. There were a few people she had met that expressed an interest in going with her, which was the only reason that she felt safe enough venturing back into the forests. After disappearing to the shrine, she had been careful in her hunting excursions. But this was different and now she had a chance to get a better look at the shrine. She knew what to expect out there as well, and so long as she had her bow, it should be safe enough.

There was a lot of equipment to carry and she was a short girl. She had strapped as much of it on her back as she could, but with the food supplies and a blanket, she was practically dragging everything along. It was near the fountain that she needed to stop to catch her breath, her arms already tired from the weight.

"This would be easier with a horse," she muttered.

Comments

[onen_i_estel]

Aragorn had been avoiding the more populated areas of the village since arriving two days prior. He was a man out of time and while realizing that very quickly, he wasn't quite ready to deal with it. Not when so many questions spun in his head.

So, after locating a hunting knife and a bow, the Ranger spent the first few days out in the woods. Both were in appaling shape, yet sufficient enough to use until he could craft his own bow and find a way to get a more appropriate blade to carry on him at all times.

It is on his way out that he comes across the young woman and after look at the things she was trying to haul, Aragorn stops.

"I would say with that amount, you may wish to use a donkey." he says, looking over her gear. "May I offer some assistance?"

[iron_beneath_beauty]

It was obvious the man was a new arrival, though she hadn't seen him at the inn or anywhere else before. It wasn't uncommon for someone to feel uncomfortable after dragging themselves out of the fountain. However, it was a surprise to see that he had managed to find the community weapons and take a few. He responded with instinct and self preservation to this unfamiliar situation. It was impressive.

She dropped the bag from her arms, letting them rest from the strain. She wasn't a frail girl by nature and could life a several pounds, but carrying and making a difficult trek seemed difficult now. "If only I had a donkey or a horse. We have to make do with what we have available."

He was a stranger to her, but seemed kind enough. His bow and knife would normally be disturbing, but she was carrying a weapon as well. If it came down to it, she trusted her skills enough to at least create a swift retreat. It wasn't wise to be so suspicious in this village, not when so many relied on each other to survive. "Please. I thought I might camp in the woods tonight."

[onen_i_estel]

It was how he lived and though Aragorn was new, survival was a game that had rules that were the same no matter where one went. For that, he was happy he lived out in the wilds of Middle-earth for as long as he had and more, been as experienced as he was in living in one extreme or another.

Aragorn never doubted or underestimated the power of a woman, of their adaptability in certain dire situations. In fact, they had the power to be far more courageous than some Men he's known and he remembers Éowyn then. That's who Lyanna reminds him of. There's a strong determination in her eyes, much like the Shieldmaiden of Rohan.

"On your own?" he asks without malice. His voice is genuine, though curious, given the amount of things she was taking with her. She also must be going for some time.

[iron_beneath_beauty]

She had camped before in the woods, though it was during brief hunting trips with her brothers and when she and Rhaegar fled to the Tower. But the woods had never frightened her, even before that exposure. It was where she felt comfortable and free, able to run and do as she liked without Old Nan keeping such a sharp eye on her.

"Aye, on my own." She didn't take it as a challenge or an insult on her abilities. It was something she had heard a number of times before and expected from men and those older than her. "I had thought of going with someone else, but my family doesn't wish to travel far from the village." They were still mourning Ned's absence while she was running from it.

"You are welcome to come, ser, if you wish to see more of the wilderness."

[onen_i_estel]

"That is unfortunate," Aragorn said genuinely. Having spent a great deal of time in woods and in the many plains across the realm, the Ranger found it far more comforting than being forced to remain in a closed room. "It was the first place I went after arriving."

He turns and lowers in order to pick up some of the items. Distributed evenly and he should be able to carry most of it.

"And it is where I prefer to stay." he adds, making it known that he's seen quite a bit of it in the short weeks since getting there.

[iron_beneath_beauty]

"Normally they are not opposed to exploring, but my brother recently disappeared and his children are still mourning his absence." She coped in different ways, needing to escape the village and breathing free in the wilderness. Only in the shadows could she shake off the pain and frustration of losing someone she genuinely cared about.

"Was it? You are not as comfortable in the village?" She asked him, shifting the bag on her back. "You have the look of a wanderer." Which meant he was a bit scruffy, not at all like the average knights she knew.

"I like it as well, but these woods can be dangerous."