[Esgallhugwen]

Atop the slope of a hill stood a black steed, but only for a moment as it continued its course casually walking along the path to the Green Dragon Inn. A lanky white wolf, no more then a year old, trotted neatly beside the rider.

The rider's hood was cast down and long waves of raven black hair wisped about in the fresh breeze. The horse stopped again at the sight of the Inn, had it changed somehow? There was a faint hint of smoke in the air, a fire long passed.

"A long time indeed, it is good to be back in the Shire among the simpler things", the voice spoke to both horse and wolf, smiling but the rider's eyes soon darkened.

<Get Out!>

The thought sent a shiver hot as flame down the rider's back, old scars felt raw and fresh, angry tears pricked Esgallhugwen's eyes. She wiped them hastily away and kicked hard into the sides of her horse, Morsereg, who sped down the hill like a north wind tearing up the dirt road and leaving high clouds of dust in his wake.

Something is wrong, terribly wrong, too familiar.

Her thought went out like a flash of light, searching. Uien. She found Uien! But why? How? Who had done this to her? She focused her thought on Uien and called to her, jumping from her horse.

<Uien!>

<Get Out! Get Out!> Was the only reply, she ran to the far end of the Inn by the stables and found her friend crawling in the grass trying to stand. Esgallhugwen knelt beside her and raised her hands, forcing Uien on her knees, she cried and writhed at this new person's touch trying to get free.

"Get out!", she cried and Esgallhugwen felt the heat of flames licking at her sides, she winced and tried to continue with her work.

<Uien, mellon, listen to my voice>

But still she twisted and cried, "get out, what have I done, get out", her grip on her friends wrists tightened holding her in place. <Listen to my voice, what is wrong?>.

"What have I done, Falowik, get out!", her cheeks were stained with tears and her lips trembled with fear. "Where is Falowik?", Esgallhugwen held her gaze, using what skill she had.

<It is I Esgallhugwen Elenglin, do not be taken by the shadows, come back to the light Uien Aduial, do not leave the twilight that you love so. Listen to me and come back to the light!>

Uien stopped struggling and looked at Esgallhugwen seeing her there for the first time, she whistled to the wolf, "go and fetch Falowik, mellon". "There are things I must teach you" Eswen said plainly letting go of the other's wrists. "But first I believe hearts are in need of mending", she reached out at the curious wooden object that lay in the grass and examined it with a frown. "Is this what you want, or is this what you had and lost long ago with your own mother and father? Often the past haunts our kind, mellon and this carved object may not be the future".