The White Horse Inn, Act III

[Nerindel]

As Æòelhild slowly uncurled herself to face the voice addressing her Saeryn stepped back slightly surprise, for this was no mere child as first appeared but a girl of nearly 15 yrs. However Æòelhild neither noticed the surprised look or the warm smile that followed, she was staring hungrily at the delicious red apple in the woman’s outstretched hand, debating whether or not to take it. However her stomach decided for her as it let out another pained rumble, quickly snatching the fruit before the owner had chance to changed her mind she lowered her eyes and mumbled a quick thanks before biting into it’s crisp red skin. Within seconds only the core of the apple remained , wiping her mouth with the back of her grimy hand Æòelhild again thanked the stranger.

“your quite welcome” the young woman smiled and this time Æòelhild looked up to see bright auburn curls framing the woman’s friendly face and to her relief the woman’s eyes mirrored her smile with no hidden suspicion but a slight gleam of curiosity.

“What are you doing in here?” the auburn haired woman asked softly.

“I…I..I only wanted to rest a while,” Æòelhild stammered defensively pulling back as the stranger came to kneel beside her.

“it’s ok , my name is Saeryn, what’s yours?” the young woman asked still smiling pleasantly.

“Æò…” she began encouraged by the woman’s friendly manner and genuine interest, but stopped remembering her plight and weighing the danger of her name being overheard by others who would carry it back to…. Oh she could not even bare to think of it. “Æòel, my name is Æòel,” she quickly replied with a weak uncertain smile of her own.

“Your not the stable master are you?” she asked nervously biting her lower lip as she regarded at the woman‘s almost masculine attire, “I wasn’t going to stay long, I swear I wasn’t, I am just so tired.” she quickly explained, choosing not to rely the tale of the stolen bread. “But I will go if you tell me too.” she said, again lowering her eyes to stare at the golden straw beneath her tired aching bones.

[Bêthberry]

Ruthven spoke up for Giedd.

"It's a fair life and not much different from that of many other women here. I'll tell you, Giedd, that I've heard from the mothers of the bairns you watch for that they are thankful for your services. It takes a village to raise young 'uns these days."

Giedd looked up at the rag lady, sitting nearby with Bethberry. She blushed at the woman's words.

Then the old woman turned to Garreth. "You're mighty interested in the lady, lad. Are you not much aware of how the town runs itself, of how the womenfolk organise their lives?" Ruthven knew she was cutting Eodwine off from a chance to speak more, but she thought he might in fact relish a little competition for the woman's attention, given the look she saw in his eye. She nudged Bethberry, who pretended to look away and, doing so, saw something out the window, through the stable door.

[littlemanpoet]

Ruthven said, "You're mighty interested in the lady, lad. Are you not much aware of how the town runs itself, of how the womenfolk organise their lives?"

Garreth put down his mug. "Well now that you speak of it, Harreld and me, we're both in our smithy when we're not in our beds or supping. The men what come to us for their needs don't much talk about what the womenfolk do. Seems they prefer to chew on their own cud 'stead of some other, if you take my meaning."

"Garreth," Falco Boffin said, making a face, "that was such a disgusting example that it turned my stomach. Now I don't know if I'll be able to handle second breakfast."

Garreth rolled his eyes at Falco and looked down his intellectual nose at him. "It was an ana- um an anal- um. What do you call them things?"

"Oh, go now," Harreld said, shoving his brother by the shoulder. "You never used such big words afore. What're you up to? Trying to impress the lady?" At that Harreld gave Giedd a wink.

Garreth slapped Harreld upside the head. "'Twas a figger of speech, you useless append- um - rat's tail!"

"Who're you calling a rat's tail? You ninny!" said Harreld.

"Why, I'll ninny you!" Garreth retorted.

"Men, men!" cried Eodwine, waving his hands to calm them. "There's a lady present!"

"And I would be observing it," cried Harreld, "if my twin here didn't stick both feet in his mouth every other minute!" Harreld's eyes were as fierce as his words, but his smirk gave him away.

"And you thought my figger o' speech was a problem! Both feet in my mouth," grumbled Garreth. Then he looked at Giedd square in the face. "You see, lady, it's this way. Harreld and me, we're not wed, an' we're halfway through our thirties. We need us a wife." Harreld held up two fingers in front of Garreth's face. "Well, right. Two wives. One for each of us, to be exact. So it is that whenever we see a lady here at the inn, whether young or not so young, we take notice."

"You should do less taking notice," said Falco drily, "and do more learning how to behave with a lady. Might take the edge off all that womanless smithying way of yours."

"There, you see?" Harreld pointed to Falco. "Isna' that just what I've been saying to you all along? But nooooo! You keep on saying if'n a lady won't take us as is, she ain't worth takin'. Well, mebbe a woman can't see through all the smith to see us as is. Ever think of that!"

Garreth stared at Harreld wide eyed. "Lor', man, you've gone an' found your tongue!"

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

"The stable master?" Saeryn repeated, baffled. She caught the slight diversion of the girl's eyes and looked to her own attire. She laughed, smiling. "The breeches I wear to ride, or, if you'll believe it," she whispered carefully, trying to gain the girl's trust, "when I do not wish to be well-noticed. A girl in man's attire tends to give others food for thought, but as they may be uncomfortable thoughts, they are quickly forsaken. The shirt... I was recently hurt. I borrowed the shirt from my brother... it is looser and does not press against my shoulder."

The girl watched her, wide-eyed.

"I will not ask you to leave." Saeryn was kneeling before the girl. "Æòel, if you would not mind, I would like you to be my guest for breakfast. I am lonely amongst these brawny lads, and it seems that Eodwine, whose friendship and protection I treasure, has his thoughts elsewhere. I would appreciate the company. Surely you would wish to clean up. You could borrow some of my belongings until you have a chance to find your other clothes." she added tactfully, though perhaps foolishly so.

She looked carefully at the girl, sure that any quick movement would spook her more quickly than a deer in the twilight.

[Nerindel]

“Breakfast” Æòelhild nervously repeated, slightly surprised and a little weary of the woman’s offer. In her experience nothing was ever free and she could not help but wonder if a little company would be the only payment the woman would exact from her. But the smells of the inn still sat fresh in her mind, and she found herself thinking how nice it would be to eat something proper, something hot and to wash she thought looking down at her dirt covered hands and remembering the almost unrecognisable reflection in the water. She grimaced as her eyes fell on the tattered skirts that she had long ago given up trying to repair, then slowly she looked up at the woman’s warm eyes and expectant smile and nodded.

“I..I should like that very much, but I have no way to repay you and these are the only clothes that I own,” she replied sadly again lowering her eyes.

“That it is alright I think your company should be payment enough,” Saeryn answered softly offering a friendly hand to help her up. Æòelhild stared at it for a moment, then hesitantly putting out her own hand she let the woman help her to her feet.

But just as they turned to leave the stall Æòelhild stopped , “oh wait!” she exclaimed turning back and dropping to her knees in the straw. She searched for something, something she had put down as she ate the stale bread. Hastily pushing the straw away she lifted a long bulky object wrapped clumsily in what looked like an old rag, gold peeped through here and there where the material was worn or ripped but quickly she hid it under her shawl, hugging it almost lovingly as she rose to rejoined Saeryn.

“All I have left of my fathers!” she muttered in quick explanation, averting her eyes as she walked a few steps ahead to avoid any further questions on the matter.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

As Saeryn led the girl to the Inn's back doors, she chatted with her quietly. "Do not worry about any payment, dear... All I ask for is what I did before... a small bit of company that isn't worried about marriage." She rolled her eyes in an obviously friendly way and continued. "As for the clothes... if you do not object, you may take something of mine. You may not believe me, but I daresay I have too many clothes for my own good. After all, you can only wear one dress at a time, and I rarely wear them at all." The girl's eyes widened, not sure if she should laugh. Saeryn gestured to her garb, the breeches knicked as she left her home, the blouse borrowed unknowingly from her brother.

"Come, this way." Saeryn had taken the quiet route intentionally, ignoring the loud voices from the great hall. The girls padded through the halls making as much noise as so many ghosts. They reached her door and she pushed it open, beckoning the girl forward. She motioned toward an already open bag with its contents slightly strewn laying upon her bed. A beautifully embroidered gown lay at the bottom, but Saeryn hoped the girl would not reach far enough to discover it. Though she was as welcome to wear that, should she choose, as anything else, it spoke of nobility and gold, and that was not particularly the introduction that Saeryn desired of herself. She would have to find a way to discreetly discard anything that spoke of her parentage. She scolded herself briefly for coming so very close again to a stranger discovering her identity. She much preferred the role of mysterious peasant girl than run-away noble.

"Anything you like from there. I'll wait for you outside."
She closed the door behind her and closed her eyes. Please, she thought, if the lass has the wit to learn my secrets, let her keep them close.

[Nerindel]

As the door closed behind her Æòelhild’s rich brown eyes swept around the modest room, finally returning to the very inviting looking bed upon which Saeryn’s possessions where partially strewn. She dare not touch anything for fear of soiling them with her dirt covered hands, so turning slightly she walked over to a rather ordinary looking dressing table upon which sat a very large and very flowery basin with matching pitcher. Thankfully the pitcher was still full of fresh clear water, So carefully putting down the object cradled under her shawl against the side of the dresser, she slowly lifted it. It felt unordinary heavy to her thin weak arms, but she managed to pour the water into the basin without much difficulty. Returning the pitcher she then unravelled herself from her shawl and removed what was left of her dress, so that she stood only in a very grey looking petticoat.

She washed hurriedly, the water cold against her pale white skin. Catching her reflection in a large dressing mirror to her right she gasped and stared in disbelief at the face looking back at her. Thin and drawn, pale like snow she barely believed it was her own reflection. Nothing like the vibrant young girl who had once skipped gaily through Gondor’s city streets, carefree and oblivious to the horrors in the world, a world she had once thought would never touch her. Believing Her father a captain of Gondor would always be there to keep her and Gondor safe from such evils. With a pained sigh at the memory of her father she purposely turned away and moved towards the bed and the assortment of clothes Saeryn had kindly said that she could choose from.

Remembering what Saeryn had said in the stables about her rather manly appearance and her own need to remain unnoticed Æòelhild rummaged though the garments and the bag looking to see if the woman owned a second pair of breeches that she could borrow. But alas none could be found only an assortment of simple every day dresses and skirts and a few brightly coloured blouses. Slightly disappointed Æòelhild let the bag slip from her hands to the floor, but as it did she thought she saw something, a glint of light. Reaching into the bottom of the bag she pulled out the most beautiful dress she had ever seen, light and soft like gossamer it almost shone in the sparse sunlight that filtered in through the open window. Holding it carefully against her body she looked again in the mirror it was beautiful and the fine gold embroidery told her that it belonged to someone of some importance or wealth. But again remembering Saeryn’s odd appearance she looked to the closed door with a puzzled frown. She did not look like any noble woman that she had ever met and she had met a fair few, vain creatures concerned with beauty and wealth and always looking to snare a wealthy husband or so her father had always described them. “Never allow yourself my little Æòel to fall into the deceitful webs of court with all it‘s trappings, always be yourself my little one” her eyes closed as she remembered her fathers words, his wide loving grin and the way he would playfully press her nose when giving good advice. Opening her eyes and shaking her head she turned back to the mirror. “I guess we all have our secrets” she sighed deciding not to dwell on how the woman came to have such a fine garment, instead opting with care to return it to the bottom of the bag where she found it. She wished to avoid any talk of nobility or court that could eventually lead to her dark secret being discovered.

Hearing the shifting of feet outside the door and realising how much time had already passed she picked out a clean petticoat and the first dress that came to hand and hurriedly dressed . It was a simple garment and plain to the eye which suited Æòelhild just fine, It fitted well and the rich brown of the fabric seemed to match her eyes beautifully. It felt good to be clean again and even though her hair was still a tangled mess Æòelhild did not care it had been nearly a year since she had left with nothing but the dress that now lay heaped on the floor, what little gold was in her pocket and her fathers swor…. Suddenly as if only remembering that she had put it down, she crossed the room to where she had set it down . A little of the wrapping had slipped to reveal a ornately engraved pommel at the centre of which sat a beautiful white stag, quickly she covered it, before calling in her small voice that she ready.

As the door opened and Saeryn walked in ,she stood nervously chewing on her lower lip and hugging her fathers sword in her arms. “well, what do you think?” she whispered hoping for the woman’s approval.