So it was that men of Gondor, riders of Rohan (one little more than a boy and another a maiden in disguise), a Dwarf, and an Elf found themselves following a mixed band of Dunlenders and strange orcish men who sought some relic from the ruins of an Elvish city for the wizard in Orthanc.
Ulfwine was of great help. He knew some of the folk of the northern-most village of the Dunlenders. Storwolos had been sent this way by Borleg, with the orcish folk and several of his best men. When they had left, following a little used track that in ancient times had been a road, Ulfwine knew that it was safe to enter the village, buy provisions, and get whatever news there had been of Storwolos and his men.
"I just hope there's a pub or tavern," said Thenamir.
"What are those?" asked Ulfwine.
"Uh, drinking houses. Places where travelers can go to get food and drink and a place to stable horses and a room for the night," replied Thenamir.
"Perhaps you have such places where you are from. We have little in Dunland. You can buy whatever you need, but we will camp outside of the village. Food is good here, and thiere is beer and wine and we make a drink from fermented goat's milk that you will never forget," said Ulfwine.
"Ugh," said both Baranthol and Kalohern at once. They looked at each other and laughed.
"Does this village have ANYTHING?" asked Taradan.
"Oh, you can buy most anything you need, Ulfwine smirked. "There are the women. There is one lady in particular whom you must meet. She is a gorgeous radiant creature who could tame the birds from the trees."
"The plainest elf maiden could do as much," said Elwood.
"Ah, but her personality! her warmth! She is no cold creature of the forest!" said Ulfwine. "She is the pride of the village, and I can't wait for you to meet her."
"She's ugly, right?" asked Kalohern.
"We have a saying in my land, when one is very ugly, we say that she has been hit with an ugly stick," Ulfwine grinned. "This woman was blindfolded as a girl and sent running through an ugly forest!"
"Great..." muttered Taradan and Thenamir together.
The band rode into what could only be called a village out of charity. It was really collection of primitive log and sod houses and livestock pens where two roads met. Here was such trade as the people knew, where the surplus of farmers in the valley was sold to buyers from Orthanc and the more populous regions of Dunland to the south.
"We are in luck," said Ulfwine. "There is the woman I spoke of. She knows everything that goes on around here. Let's go."
The band rode into the central area as various villagers looked out from their stalls and barns. At a well, drawing water, was the homeliest woman that any of the party could ever remember having seen...
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