Worrisome behavior

[boromir_of_gondor]

I overheard some guards today and the topic of their conversation gave me considerable pause. I think I need to ask Dred about this.

Time: *near the end of Boromir's shift, and a group of some of the Rohirric guards are in the equipment room talking*

Rohirrim 1: It's not right that she's just walking around like they trust her.

Rohirrim 2: Did you see that she opened a store?

Rohirrim 3: Bet everything's covered in mites.

Rohirrim 1: It's disgusting.

Boromir: *pauses outside the equipment room and listens with interest, wondering who and what they are discussing*



Rohirrim 2: And she was in here talking to the captain. The kid said it was about a body.

Rohirrim 1: You know what THAT means.

Rohirrim 3: I wonder why she's the first we've seen. I was hoping the city had some sort of filter.

Rohirrim 1: *laughs* Yeah, wargs are one thing, but a DUNLENDING?

Boromir: *is alarmed at what he has heard, throws his shoulders back and steps into the room, angry* May I ask what you are discussing, because if I did not know better, I would assume it is a conversation unbecoming guards of Gondolin.

Rohirrim 2: *grabs his regular coat and moves to go* Sorry, sir. *hurries out*

Rohirrim 1: *disgusted snort at Rohirrim 2's fleeing* We're just discussing a problem for the city

Rohirrim 3: There's a Dunlending, sir. In the city. They're trouble

Boromir: *watches the first guard leave and turns his attention to the other two* Yes, I know there is a Dunlending. I've met her and she is quite nice. I saw no reason to believe she will be trouble.

Rohirrim 1: *look of instant distrust for Boromir crosses his face* I see

Rohirrim 3: *busies himself divesting himself of equipment* if you say so, sir. *clearly doesn't believe*

Boromir: *chin up, defiant* I do say so, and as your commanding officer, you must respect that. The city of Gondolin and her guards operate on the premise that everyone is law-abiding and is to be treated as a full citizen unless evidence is presented to the contrary. Do either of you have evidence of wrong doing against this girl?

Rohirrim 1: Not yet.

Rohirrim 3: *tries this politely, since Boromir is a Gondorian and they just don't know much about the ways of the world* That's the thing, they're like vipers in the grass, sir.

Boromir: *frowns* So you judge this girl based on something that may or may not have been done by people she has never met? You cannot judge one person on the actions of someone else. That's not how justice works and it's not how King Turgon runs his city.

Rohirrim3: as you say, sir. *stony face*

Rohirrim 1: You're ignoring our experience, sir.

Boromir: Experience with her directly? If you have reason to believe she has been involved with something bad, tell me and I will look into it. Otherwise, you are to leave her alone.

Rohirrim 1: *stiffly* as you say, sir. *grabs his own things and leaves*

Rohirrim 2: *looks awkward, last one to go*

Boromir: *sighs* You're dismissed. Go join your kinsmen.

Rohirrim 2: thank you, sir. *hurries out*

Boromir: *sinks down into a nearby chair and rubs his forehead* I need to talk about this with Dred.