|
Æðelhild let self-pity and fear wash over her as she struggled bitterly with the memories of that last night in Minas Tirith vainly trying to convince herself that she had acted only in her own defence and that none of what had befallen was her fault, but the image of a cold dead stare haunted her. He had come to help her, it was her fault he was dead! Visitors were forbidden and there would be recompense if her uncle found out all this she knew but still she let him come, it was her fault she should have told him not to come ..no she should have insisted!
Much of what actually happen that night was a blank to her. Finding them together in her fathers study her Uncle had flown into a mad rage turning on her childhood friend, demanding to know what he was doing in his house with his niece, as though she were his possession and Halfric some roguish ruffian.
She had stepped between them hoping to reason with her uncle only to earn the back of his hand as she had so many times before hard across her face which sent her to the floor where she must have banged her head on something hard, for the next thing she remembered was waking up next to the unmoving form of her dearest friend, his glassy dark eyes staring out at her cold and empty.
She shuddered at the memory letting her tears fall even more uncontrollably. For there was more, more that she hoped the others, those within who had shown her not only kindness but had given her work and a place to stay would never discover a horror that she herself wished she could forget.
Gárwine's words echoed over and over in her mind… an outlaw… an outlaw… an outlaw… Fear turned quickly to guilt as she thought on what price the goodly Lords kindness would undoubtedly cost him if what she had done were to be uncovered or worse still if they came for her.
She was still debating this and weighing if truly anyone would still be searching for her after so long , it was almost a year since, and she had passed through several towns and villages without so much of a murmur of pursuit, when suddenly she heard a distant voice calling her name.
“Æoel, Æoel!”
She stood quickly wiping away any trace of the tears that had just fallen, dabbing her puffy eyes with the corner of her apron.
“Æoel, Æoel!” the voice called again this time closer and seemingly with a sense of some urgency.
Saeryn she thought now recognising the voice, quickly taking a deep composing breath she stepped out from behind the small out building and walked towards the young woman.
|