The Green Dragon Inn - Part 4

[littlemanpoet]

Eodwine was about to answer Derufin's question when the Elven lady Waen came to the fire, her wild hawk on her shoulder, asking if she could join them; that infectious smile came to her lips. Eodwine rose in deference to her race and gender (court manners never far away). Derufin eyed his stilted behavior with mild amusement.

"Lady. You honor us with your company. Please take a seat."

She sat near Eodwine and somewhat across from Derufin; Kit, her hawk, eyed the man from Rohan with a glare quite natural for the hawk, no doubt, but Eodwine found it just a little unnerving.

"Derufin was just asking me what I did during the War." He grinned to her, and her hawk, then to the stableman. "Please stop me the moment I begin to bore you. But not with your beak, please, he glanced at the hawk.

"I was stationed near the Isen, under Theodred, eldest son of King Theoden of Rohan. I was in the skirmish that killed Theodred and many others, but somehow I escaped harm.

"I was ordered to Helm's Deep and there I saw the one who became Elessar, King of Gondor and Arnor. And I saw the famous Dwarf and Elf in his company; and, of course, Gandalf Stormcrow; Mithrandir, as he is better known to you. I did not speak with them, but saw them from a distance. Many soldiers lost their lives in Saruman's attack on Helm'd Deep, and I took a mere scratch on my leg, but it was nothing.

"I road with King Theoden to the fields of Pelennor. Somehow I escaped all harm at that battle, and 'tis a wonder to me even today.

"Last, I traveled with King Eomer to the Gates of Morannon, and was in that final battle of the War. I was sorely wounded in the side and lying amongst the orcs I had killed, thought I would surely die, but the foe was vanquished, his armies fled, and I was healed. I am told that King Elessar came to me as I lay wounded, though I never wakened while he was near and so knew nothing of it.

"Once healed, I joined the celebration of the passing of the Dark Lord, and then went home." Eodwine's face had been intent and eager so far as he related his tale. Now he became somber. "I returned home to find that orcs and Dunlendings had sacked my home and village, and murdered my wife, my daughter, and my son." Derufin had been listening as peaceably as one may about war, sipping at his nut brown ale and staring into the fire, but at this point he turned his head, his ale forgotten, and watched Eodwine's melancholy face.

"I was not the only one. We buried our kin in a great mound and mourned their loss, then vowed to hunt down and kill every orc within thirty leagues of the Isen, west or east. We would have taken vengeance on the Dunlendings too, but there was the King's truce, so we let be. Still, we keep a guard on our lands and we do love them. Nor trust them.

"Though I lost much, I do not regret my part in the War, and in all my journeys I keep my ears open for the tales of heroic deeds that sprang from it. There are many." Eodwine was about to launch into one when he saw Derufin's cavernous yawn. "But the night is getting on and I don't want to strain your ears with all my stories."

Derufin stood suddenly. "I'm off to bed, much work to do in the morning. Good night to the both of you." He glanced at Eodwine. "Your bed's all set in the stable." He turned to Waen. "Beg pardon, lass, I know you offered your own room, but seems the Innkeeper's set on stowing the two of us together." Waen nodded and gave him her winning smile, saying it mattered not to her.

Eodwine bid Derufin good night and turned to Waen. "I am told that you come from the land of the Sorceress, and lived there during the War?"

[ June 04, 2003: Message edited by: littlemanpoet ]