[Folwren]

The night's blackness pressed in on Athwen like an oppressive storm as she lay huddled in blankets close to the fire. She could not shut her eyes, for each time she did, the image of the dagger sinking into the Easterling's side came back as vivid as when it happened. Or, which was even worse, she would see the flaming houses as she had from the top of the ridge where she and her horse had first seen the devistation of their home.

But finally she was able to slip into an uneasy sleep where she was not conscious of having closed her eyes. The sounds of the night mingled in together until they were all one with silence and the flickering orange and red light of fire darkened unto blackness and she slept.

The night was not half through when her mind awoke and once more brought back the horrible images. She tossed and turned where she lay, the dreams torturing her mind, until suddenly she started up, half awake, half delerious with sleep and nightmare, uttering a piercing cry breaking the stillness.

'Ean!' she called, her voice broken, high, and shrill. 'Eanlaen, come back!' Her voice rose to nearly a scream and she was crying. Athwen struggled wildly to free herself of tangled blankets and skirt and she tried to get to her feet, blinded by unreality and tears, a heavy fog seemed to rise around everything. She wanted to search, to look again. . .she had seen so clearly her sister, her mother. . .and they were gone. . . 'Eanlaen!' she called again, desperately, wildly. She sobbed helplessly, standing where she had lain and wrapping her arms tightly about herself.

A hand touched her shoulder gently. She quivered but didn't turn to look to see who it was. But then a voice spoke, whispering softly in the stillness that followed her outbreak. 'Athwen. . .'

'No,' she whispered, her breath trembling with the word. 'It's no good. I didn't want. . .I didn't want to stay. You know I didn't. Not when. . .not when everyone. . .' She drew another shuddering breath and her tear blinded eyes darted back and forth as though watching for something. But nothing came and nothing happened and minute after minute she stood there, absolutely still, except for the jerking breaths her crying brought in and out.