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Eodwine & Gudryn walk with Giedd
It was a pleasant, sunny day, reaching towards noon. The streets of Edoras were busy with carters, sellers of wares, errand boys, and shoppers inspecting the wares of the sellers. The lady Giedd seemed pleased with her company, but even more pleased was Gudryn, who while holding Eodwine's right hand in her left, had eyes only for the woman who walked on her right.
Gudryn acted every bit the child, though she was in her early teens; but this did not surprise Eodwine, considering what the poor waif had been through in the northeast of Rohan. So it was no surprise when Gudryn asked the lady if she would hold her right hand. Giedd's brow rose in mild surprise, and after a brief glance at Eodwine, she smiled and allowed her hand to be taken by the girl. And so they threesome traipsed through the town market, gathering glances and stares from all sides.
"'Twould seem that we three are a sight to see, the way the townsfolk gift us with their glances!" said Eodwine.
"I think," Giedd said, "they are not used to seeing me-" she paused and blushed a little "-like this."
"Like what?" asked Gudryn while Eodwine smiled to himself; he guessed what Giedd had meant, considering her earlier words.
"Oh, I am often in the company of women and children," Giedd said, as if that was all that needed to be said.
Gudryn frowned a moment, then looked at Eodwine, then she broke out in a grin, and skipping between the man and the woman said, "I can't wait to see your house!"
Falco & Garreth back at the White Horse
Falco was busy with second breakfast when Garreth walked back into the Common room. The smith stopped short and looked wide-eyed at the table where Falco ate alone.
"Where is everybody?" asked the smith. Falco chewed thoroughly while Garreth loped to the table and sat down in the chair next to him, causing the floorboards beneath his chair to positively squeak in protest. "Well?"
Falco swallowed. "Harreld went back to the smithy to get a headstart on the day's work."
"He what!" Falco eyed Garreth as he chewed on his next bite of honied hardroll. "Why'd he go and do that?"
"Maybe 'cause it's what he does for a living? And maybe you could stand to yourself?"
Garreth cocked his head at Falco. "Now that's no way to speak to a friend. Leastways, I was considering you a friend."
"And you may still, but that won't stop me from sayin' what needs to be said. Go and get some of your smithying done, my friend, or Harreld will beat you back here and have all the elitgible young ladies to himself."
Garreth's eyes widened. "So that's the way of it!" He slapped his thigh. "Now that makes more sense. I'll be off now, and work faster than Harreld has ever seen, and be back afore he's even halfway done!" Garreth marched to the front door of the Inn and slammed it to behind him.
Falco chuckled to himself and shook his head, swigging down some coffee. He didn't see Ruthven behind him, watching him with a sideways smile, shaking her head.
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