The Rangers' Questions - Lullaby

Down through the years
my sons ask the same questions.
Learning our long history.
Wondering about their future.
The years pass, but the questions remain

Where is my father? I see him so little.
He asks his mother. I wish I could tell him,
but he is too young. This is the hardest question.
His father is out a wandering. Will I see him again?
I do not know. Each time he returns could be the last.
And I would never know his fate.
There are too many dangers in the Wild.

Down through the years
my sons ask the same questions.
Learning our long history.
Wondering about their future.
The years pass, but the questions remain

Who are we? A village of women and children,
few men to be seen?
I tell him of our history, our long, proud past.
The duties we have taken on,
protecting the people of our old realm, unknowing.
Fewer and fewer there are, but still we fight
against the orcs, the trolls and the other enemies

Down through the years
my sons ask the same questions.
Learning our long history.
Wondering about their future.
The years pass, but the questions remain

Where did we come from?
So scattered now, hidden wanderers.
As he grows, he'll learn of the great deeds
of the earlier Ages, of Numenor and ruined Arnor,
vanished into the grass.
Of Gondor, still fighting strong on the borders of
the Enemy's land. It is a strong and proud history.
History that shapes us still today.

Down through the years
my sons ask the same questions.
Learning our long history.
Wondering about their future.
The years pass, but the questions remain

What do we do? Asks a young boy holding a wooden sword.
We protect the people of Arnor, although Arnor is no more.
Although the capital and all our cities are in ruins.
This is the duty of the King.
They are farmers, crafters, villagers. Not soldiers.
One day, you too will go out and join this duty.
The duty we have taken on unasked.
We still protect, for the forces of Sauron are still there.

Down through the years
my sons ask the same questions.
Learning our long history.
Wondering about their future.
The years pass, but the questions remain

Why do we do it? My sons are older now,
Back from their first stints in the Wild.
Unthanked, feared and saddened.
I remind them of honor, of duty, of the future,
for we fight to mantain hope.
For the villagers, simple folk that they are.
One day, one day, hope will come again,
and the great evils will be defeated.
After that day, the ruins of our cities will be rebuilt.
This I tell you as I have been told.

Down through the years
my sons ask the same questions.
Learning our long history.
Wondering about their future.
The years pass, but the questions remain
Questions you will answer for your children too.