[Nerindel]

Sat on a low wooden stool , with her sleeves rolled up past her elbows over a large basin filled with warm soapy water Æðelhild pulled the last of the linens up and down the well used wash board. She hummed as she worked, then as she rose carrying the dripping linens to the wrangle and thinking herself quite alone she began to sing.

My Lord the Sun is bright,
so bright!
Shall I open the back gate and hang out the laundry.
Washing makes white,
starching makes whiter,

The fun-loving maid makes
a lousy wife.
A long pipe dangles from her mouth
and she holds eight cards in her hand.
If she wins, she buys flowers to pin to her dress.
If she loses, she flies into a terrible rage.

My Lady the sun is bright,
so bright!
Shall I Open the back gate and hang out the laundry.
Washing makes white,
starching makes whiter,

but a man too free with his money makes
a lousy husband.
He loves to drink liquor and he loves to play cards.
He builds a big pile of pies and cakes
and brown flour biscuits - two silver shillings apiece.

But right next door, old Wybert’s third son
knows how to live well.
His boots are green,
his hat is green,
his robe is green
and he wears a green jacket.

But the washing is good
And the drying is better
So if you make me a wife
I’ll make ye a husband
And another can take out the laundry!

By the time she had finished her tune the linens where wrung and she was pegging the last on a crudely constructed line, her steps where light as she danced over to empty out the soapy tub, the sun was warm and for the first time in a long time Æðelhild felt that she had somehow managed to escape the recent horrors of her past.

She could not go back to who she was, but perhaps here she could at least start anew. Eodwine and his daughter seemed nice enough and if she was careful her past might never catch up to her. Contented she stowed away both the wash tub and board, deciding that she would break fast in the main hall before turning to the task of sweeping the floors.