[Galadriel55]

Ledwyn swept the broom across the floor, sending dust flying out from the corner. The broom sat clumsily in her hands. It was too long and too wide. her own broom, back home, was of a different shape, one that she was accustomed to. She would get used to this one as well in time.

She did not quite know where she was and what room she was sweeping. She was instructed to clean the hallways, closets, and just everything except for the bedrooms. So she did that as best as she could. She would always be able to find her way back to the kitchen, and there would always be someone not too far from her to ask the way.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps from outside the door. They were walking past her. She heard a woman's voice say, "Remember our deal? I was not the only woman the brigands captured. I was just the only one to survive." Putting down her broom, Ledwyn strode to the doorway and peered out. She saw the receding shapes of a woman and a man. She recognized the woman as one of the kitchen wenches, but could not recall her name. The beautiful one. Was it Kara? No, Kara is a different one... The name would have to wait.

...Brigands? The implication of the casually dropped sentence sunk in like cold wind seeps into cracks under the door, leaving everyone inside vaguely ill at ease. Did brigands raid this place and steal women? Just to think what they did to the poor things! It must have been like the War all over again for the people of Scarburg. Ledwyn's village was not too harmed by the War, but she heard stories of less fortunate folk. The girls could have been beaten, raped, or... or... I was just the only one to survive.

Picking up the broom again, Ledwyn told herself again and again that she should not be eavesdropping, that she still has a lot to learn, and that she should not meddle in the affairs of the locals. They are not her concern - not yet. Not until she is one of them, at least. Yet she still decided that she should find out about the outlaws. She had to know.