[Everdawn]

"My lady, I know this really isn't my place, but why are you hunting down Guriel? Are you truly doing all this just so you can kill him? It seems so very unlike your character, well, from what I know of you, at least." he waited anctiously for Maén's reply.

Maén cast her eyes to the ground and rolled up the sleeve of her tunic to revel the burn scar. "I was eight years old." she explained, "My father came home changed... so greatly, I was going through his letters and he found me and I fell into the fire, It was as if he was taken over by some other force. It has been my conclusions that Guriel did this to him. He betrayed my family, most of the Il Galoths are dead, the Dorianseds all gone and the Troyaeganeas are but a few women remaining. Three of the greatest houses of military splendor of old, three dynasties all but gone. Its deeper than a childhood accident Aleimur, much more. Whats worse is that the state has betrayed us as well." she was frowning.

"My character is not as it should be, it has not been so for a very long time, Its not nice living in the shadow of a traitor, less nice living with the fact that your house regrets you werent born a man. Thats what I have to be to be myself. Im sure that you have not met many noble women who would love nothing more than to be educated in the courts or eat meals with the servants to aviod conversing with their own family." she gave a sly smile before rolling the arm of her tunic up again. They were joined by Roryn.


“Would you like me to keep an eye on Carathir, My lady?” Roryn questioned, steering his steed beside hers, seeing her puzzled expression and he having glimpsed it himself.

“No” Maén shook her head warily “He’s harmless, after all why should I be afraid of him, he means well. He’s harmless you’ll see, he owes my Aunt everything .” Roryn nodded and went to ride off before Maén grabbed his arm and in a low voice spoke. It is not an honourable way to die, to wish openly for death and seek it upon my foe. I will tell you this, If you go to seek him out as you have done so with me, he might well kill you. You saw what he did to my clan, he would do away with us easily enough. I know what it is to want to perish and to disappear, keep faith, perhaps you will meet your end yet. The only ones who will think there is honour in it is the State. But to die at the hands of a traitor? No, the honour lies in the deed itself, you kill him and you will have glory, then perhaps you will wish for death no longer.” There was a look of grim satisfaction and contradicting enjoyment upon her face.

“I understand my lady, as complex as we are as creatures, I still feel that there is something more sinister behind you fair face Lady Il Galoth.” Roryn laughed now a few paces ahead of her.

“That may be Ranger of old, but in the end aren’t we all doomed?” a smile crept into the corners of her mouth.

“Valar Help Guriel when you come to pass judgement on him Miss Il Galoth.” Cried Ferethor from behind.

Maén looked around Ï don’t intend to pass judgement, I did that a very long time ago. What I intend Mr Ferethor, is to bring his head to Elessar in a box.” Several were slight looks about the company. “I apologise for my conduct gentlemen, It was uncalled for and highly morbid, and highly different to what the other feathered peacocks of the Gondorian court would express.” she rolled her eyes.

In the distance Maén could hear the steady rush of water and the squawking of waterbirds catching fish- It told her that they had finally reached the Barge crossing of the Anduin. It was further south of Gondor, but still on the west bank of the Anduin, one of Elessars innovations since the end of the war was to make both banks accessible readily to passing travellers.

“Ïve never been this far east before.” Maén announced, “Ive been plenty far West, my Aunt Diera Troyaeganeas (my mothers sister) she resided in Dol Amroth, I was about seven during the war (maybe I was six?) anyway, it was to escape the immediate danger of Minas Tirith. Aunt Diera lost her husband and her five sons, they were slaughtered by Guriel’s ambush. They weren’t Il Galoths but they were married into the clan. The Il Galoths were the most prominent though. All the same, you get the general idea.” She cast her eyes downwards. “Its very important to me that we get this traitor. I care little or nothing for the legacy.” Maén snapped her head up again “Come, this shant take long” and this was said almost merrily. She lead the company down the the cool waters edge and to the jetty where the barge was settled.

“This is the right way isn’t it?” She asked the company.

“ It is Lady Il Galoth” Offered Idruil.

Maén took a deep breath, “Good”she strained her eyes against the light which reflected off the water and nodded Hittai onto the jetty.

“We desire passage to the other side of the river if you would be so kind Sir.” Said Atharen trotting his horse beside Hittai with Crystal perched behind him, both riders and horse casting a shadow over the smaller horse and her liberal mistress.

“Thats not a problem, hows may yous taking?” Asked the toothless bargemaster.

“Two ladies, and the six lads.” Maén tossed Atharen a bag of coins, as usual Atharen seemed to know exactly what she meant and handed them to the boat master. “For our safe passage” he added seeing the old man’s eyes widen.

“Yess sir! Right away sir!” Maén nodded to the both of them and motioned for the company to join them on the barge.

“That was easily done”She said to Crystal who had dismounted.

“Yes Lady Il Galoth, it was wasn’t it.” Crystal’s mind seemed to be elsewhere.

“that’ s another thing that will have to stop. We are reaching the east bank, My name could mean danger for us. Keep it under raps.”

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