[Formendacil]

Whew... that IS a legal tangle there, Folwren...

I agree with Celuien: the planting farmer is a squatter- at least by modern definition. I'm unsure how Anglo-Saxon (or Rohirric, for that matter) law would have dealt with the issue... My belief would be that, in a feudal system, the land technically all belongs to the King, and under him to the local lord. In this case, that would be Eodwine.

In a medieval society, it seems LIKELY to me that the Lord would want as much land as possible to be cultivated. And the typical scheme of things was two years planted, one year fallow. By leaving the land fallow, Farmer Owner was not fulfilling his obligation as a vassal of the Middle Emnet.

And, if was accept Farmer Planter's statement that he had a very narrow window in which to plant, then what he did was justifiable, and not to be harshly punished.

Anyway, that's MY reading of the matter, but as Eodwine is Eorl and not Náin, I'll leave that kettle of fist for Littlemanpoet.