You pass the guards and leave the city.
Minas Tirith: Before the Great Gate
Rising up before and tappering off towards the great moutains behind them, a walls of Minas Tirith climb into the air. Here, at the roadside a small hill rises to the entryway of the city where guards stand before the gate. These men are known as the Doorwardens. Currently the gate is withdrawn into its housing and the doors before it opened wide. The great Gate itself is housed between the two Doortowers before you, standing some 100 feet tall and nearly 50 feet wide. The gate to is made up of a pure steel bounded about the trunks of an unknown wood. The gate is said to able to withstand anything, as even the most strongest blows will just make the gate bend slightly and then return to shape.

Men and women enter and leave the city being stopped, most pass without contest others pass over weapons they carry or have them peaceknotted. Others are turned back as they approach with a horse or a cart. Only the horses of the Stewards errandriders are allowed in the city. Off to the south are the stables and inn houses outside the walls. To the east lie the crossroads of Great West Road and the Great North Road.

The western horizon still glows with the Sun's departure, but the Moon now rules the dark skies,and the Sickle swings clear and bright in the clear Summer sky.

Rhiforath stands at his watch, having been here at the Great Gate all day and aching tired of it. He leans against the wall to the left of the entryway and idly watches the last merchants and common folk entering or leaving the city before the last light fades for the day. He keeps glancing with aggitation for his relief and has been mostly sullen all day. He even argued with a Corporal earlier in the day. Now he just loiters at his post waiting to get off duty after a long day.

Looking out vaguely to the south east and the darkness that begins to cloak the road leading from the city, Rhiforath does not immeadiately see the Lieutenant Analdin coming out of the Gate. He stands without armor or blade, but in uniform, with arms crossed and a sour look upon his face.

Analdin steps out through the Gate, his strides long though relaxed, as if just wandering by. Upon coming out of the Gate, the young officer's eyes first go to the guardsmen on duty at their posts - and those who should be at their posts but aren't.

Elidran walks up from the tavern road, wiping his lip. He grins lazily, clearly off duty.

Rhiforath shifts his weight, standing off a little ways from the others. He pushes off from the stone wall and begins to pace away from the entrance a few body lengths, then pace northwards across the road, arms still crossed over his beltline. It seems something is on his young mind. He does not speak to the other guards, being somewhat anti-social. Rhif stops and looks northwards where the Steward's herds often are grazed, far from hre.

Noticing one particular man a ways off from the others, Analdin steers his way past the stream of people and towards Rhiforath. His shoulders are strained to keep from hunching, and he seems constantly at the verge of yawning. The lack of light as the sun sets below the horizon does nothing to help his generally haggard appearance.

Rhiforath looks off to the north wistfuly before finally turning back to walk south back over the road again. Only... just as he turns he about runs right into Analdin. He blinks, steps back and then opens his mouth to cuss out the person who came up suddenly... instead he shuts his mouth and akwardly salutes, "Lieutenant! You ... eh, look very tired."

Though a tired brow rises at the young man's reaction, seeing the obvious annoyance on Rhiforath's face, Analdin manages a slight smile. "Good evening to you too, Rhiforath," he comments dryly, looking down at himself a bit before adding, "And do I really? I suppose I should best be doing something about that." Bright eyes dulled at the moment, the young officer adds nothing, but watches the youth.

Licking his thin lips, Rhif stands quietly, most all trace of ill mood washed from his posture or features. Instead he stands quietly attentive to his Officer and anticipating something... Whatever it is, Rhiforath keeps his mouth shut and waits to see why the Lieutenant came out to him. Only one quick glance is cast the Gate to see who is there.

Pausing a few moments before continuing on, Analdin appears to be examining the young man. "What of yourself?" he inquires. "You don't exactly appear on the cheerfulyl awake side of things." His tone is, as normal, quiet, though at the moment a bit more critical that usual.

Rhiforath blinks, looking back at Analdin, "Well... no, I'm sore. I've been posted here since almost dawn. I thought somebody would come and relieve me but..." His voice trails off. He is faintly hoarse. The young man shrugs, "It's still new to me. But I'll get used to it." A slightly worried look crosses his face, "I know Raven worked long hours... but will I always work dawn to dark?"

Sanos comes forth from the street above, as his uniform twinkles in the star light provided by the wonderful spring evening. As he slows down to a walk, he looks about intently and spots Analdin. As he draws near, he gives a sharp salute and smiles, "Ere for duty sir." He then takes a long look at the others standing close by.

Analdin's brow rises a bit higher, "Dawn 'til dark?" he asks, almost incredulously. "I should think there would have been someone to relieve you by now, perhaps by halfway through that." He shakes his head slowly, mumbling something on the subject of long hours. At Sanos's approach, he turns slightly, aknowledging the young guardsman's salute. "Good evening, Sanos," he welcomes the man.

Rhiforath suddenly belatedly realizes that he's been the subject of a cruel joke likely often played upon new members of the Guard. Accusingly he glares about at the others on duty who neglected to inform him and of course they are all conveniantly busy. The young man says nothing, using the opportunity of Analdin's looking away to speak to Sanos to make note of who is here. A certain name of a certain Corporal comes to mind, remembered from earlier in the day.

Though a hint of a smile - small as it is - lights in his eyes, it doesn't show at all on his lips.

Sanos nods to the man before him with a fray smile, "I suppose you are new friend?" He then puts out his hand in greeting, as his eyes give away a warm light, "I am Sanos, son of Amos, serving the Silver Ship, well met my friend and fellow guard." Following his words, he looks deep into the young man's eyes, not much younger than himself as he keeps the wry smile apon his face.

Though a hint of a smile - small as it is - lights in his eyes, it doesn't show at all on his lips. As Sanos introduces himself to Rhiforath, it is Analdin who keeps the silence, simply watching the two with amusement.

Rhiforath reflexively steps back from Sanos as a hand is thrust out at him in greeting. The young man eyes this Sanos very carefully but does not take the hand, "Eh, not really new... just new to the Guard. I'm Rhiforath, most just call me Rhif... son of..." he pauses to glance uncertainly at Analdin, then back to Sanos, "Well, it's a long story."

Pale silvery eyes return Sano's curious stare. He likewise studies this stranger and is stand off-ish but not hostile or intentionally rude.

Sanos laughs subtly, and slowly but ackwardly puts his hands behind his back. He then smiles and speaks a light friendly tone, "Well met indeed sir Rhiforath, a pleasure it is. Please excuse my openness, I did not relize you were only new to the Guard, well, let that be my mistake." Trailing off his last few words, he looks to the silent Analdin then quickly back to Rhiforath as he nods once more saying nothing, as he walks off to the cobble stone road before the city, taking his usual spot of watch.

A light chuckle escapes Analdin at Rhif's introduction. Mumbling something under his breath that sounds like, "Long story indeed..", the Lieutenant, after blinking a few times slowly as if to wake himself up, replies in kind to Sanos's nod. Shaking his head silently once more, the young man's eyes turn longingly towards the city.

Rhiforath leans slightly to look past Analdin at Sano's retreating form. He then looks sheepishly back to his Lieutenant, "Sorry. I'm pretty tired. I'm still not used to so many people coming up to me like that.

Hearing Analdin's mutter to himself, Rhiforath's face actually noticiably colors even in the darkness. His embarassment makes him look away, "Am I dismissed, sir?"

As though returning to the real world with a quick cough, Analdin's lips turn upward in what might be considered a slight smile. "I'm afraid you're not the only tired one, Rhiforath. By all means, go on.. You're dismissed and all that. Sanos here can relieve you." With that, and another short shake of his head, the Lieutenant adds, "I suppose I had best be getting on myself. Get some rest.." pausing a moment, "Oh, and try not to stay on duty so long tommorow, eh?"

Rhiforath ducks his head, long black hair falling to conceal his fair face a moment until his fingers strip it away again, "Yes Sir, thank you Sir." He immeadiately begins to walk towards the Great Gate with a noticeable limp. Reaching the stone of the Gates mouth he stops and looks back, "Eh, Lieutenant, how long is a shift? If no one comes to relieve me, I'm not supposed to leave my post, am I?"

Turning as he is called for, Analdin looks around to see Rhif near the gates. Calling out a reply, his words sound almost - almost - slurred, as one drunk. Which is nigh impossible, for those who know the man. "A shift? No more than six hours, at longest, for duty at the Gate.. And from now on, someone will come to relieve you. Of that, you can be almost certain." With that, he makes his way up past and through the gate, mumbling to himself as he begins to make his way down the street.

Rhiforath dumps himself on the ground just at the Gate and pulls off his new boots. They aren't really new... just hand-me-downs that happened to fit him, sort of. He nods at what his Lietenant said but feels teh blisters on his sore feet. Each boot comes off and he wiggles his toes, ignoring those Guards aroung him who are watching.

Edmond makes his way over to the pavillion and sets his satchel down, sitting and sighing, looking about the area. It appears to be a changing of the guards. He notes his friend Sanos taking the position, and smiles, not moving to interrupt his duties.