[Lalwendë]

Renedwen was happy to look after the boy, she knew where the Elves were going, she had heard the whispering in and aorund the encampment and knew they would want to find their kin. It was not just their kin who they sought but the woman and her child. Thinking of what might have come to pass had she been the unfortunate one caught by the orcs sent a shiver through her. She hoped they would be rescued, and so she gladly answered the request to care for the orphaned boy.

Rosgollo had a look of fear in his eyes when he spoke to her, his words polite but his mind elsewhere, and yet she noticed that when he bade farewell to the child, his expression changed and Gilly did not see that harried look, but the same kindly warmth he had always seen in the Elf's face. If this Elf does not return, she thought, then the child will only remember the kindly face of his protector, he will not know his fear as he has not seen it. So smiling, and heartened by what she had seen pass between the two, she gathered the boy towards her with a warm smile of her own.

Her son, awake and attempting to crawl about the tent, noticed Gilly and laughed; the older boy immediately headed towards him clutching some kind of sweet bread that Rosgollo had given him, and sat with the infant, breaking off tiny pieces of the dainty for him to suck on. Renedwen watched the pair for a few minutes and half closed her eyes, imagining herself safe at home. It was a comfort to her to see the children innocently playing and forming a bond while outside fear began to stalk the camp after the events of the night before. But she could not dream for long. She had to take this chance to gather her scant belongings and take stock lest it soon be time to move on again.

The familiar feeling of foreboding came over her just as it had done the night before the sudden evacuation of the city, and she sought her comfort in making herself ready. There was nobody now to tell her otherwise, she reflected sadly to herself as she rolled up the blankets and strapped them tightly into a bundle. She might even warn Lissi to do the same. The other woman did not carry around the burden of fear as much as she did, she seemed to be hopeful, but Renedwen decided she would tell her about her fears all the same. It was the least she could do for someone who had helped her.

As she finished her work, Renedwen shook out her cloak and her husband's sword lay on the ground where it had been hidden all night beneath her dark blue mantle. Gilly noticed it, his eyes caught by the bright blue enamel decorations, and he stopped playing and reached out a hand to take up the weapon. Too late, Renedwen saw him attempt to lift it.

"No," she said, her eyes wide. "You must not touch this. It is far too heavy for a boy to handle. And sharp". She was not, however, frightened that he might come to harm, but afraid he might tell somebody about what she was keeping hidden. She bent and picked up the blade, and took it firmly in her hand. It felt odd to her, strangely heavy and firm to grip, yet as she moved it, she noticed how lightly the blade moved. This was more than a mere ceremonial item, it had been made by one of the finest smiths in the city, a fitting reward for her husband's efforts, and as she handled it, she realised why he had bade her take it. Even with the scant skills she had learned all those years ago in her youth, on those miserable days when her father had made her learn skills which she deemed to be pastimes for boys, she realised that with this blade she could defend herself.

She carefully placed the sword back into the sheath which hung from her belt, and skung her cloak about her shoulders; once more the folds swung forwards and concealed the existence of the blade. Nobody would take this from her now, she was more determined than ever. It had been fear of the loss of something so dear to her husband which had at first driven her need to conceal it, but now it dawned on her that trouble might be coming and she would yet have need of this to defend her son. A shiver passed through her again as she thought of that, and turning around, she saw that Gilly had been watching her every move.

"Shall we go and find some breakfast?" she said to the boy, knowing that the thought of food would distract him from what he had just seen. And more than breakfast, she thought to herself, some news would be welcome. She smiled warmly at the boy, and he nodded his agreement eagerly. "Then let me wrap up little Derendur against this chill and we shall go." She caught her breath for a moment as she said her son's name; it had also been the name of her husband.

"Let me help you", said Gilly, finding the infant's fur hood and offering it to Renedwen with an eager look. He touched her hand gently, hopefully, and she drew him towards her and hugged him.

"Yes," she said. "You can help me." It seemed to her that he had already forgotten about the sword.