The White Horse Inn, Act III

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Faint voices penetrated the heavy fog that was Saeryn's thoughts. She struggled against the phantom enemies invading her vision. She could not escape. Saeryn trembled beneath her covers, shuddering.

"Gudryn, hold her hand. Let her know that she is safe." Saeryn's hand was taken by the girl and she calmed. Waking instantly, she remained still, eyes closed. A door opened smoothly, closing swiftly. A kind but firm voice spoke. "Eodwine, where did you find her?"

"Not far from here, Bethberry. Her horse stood guard. Falco's tending the mare."

"We must keep watch on her. Inn of Lost Lasses we seem indeed to be..."

Saeryn's eyes flicked open, glancing up at the worried faces looking down at her. A mist seemed to cloud them, keeping them from focusing. Her temples throbbing, Saeryn closed her eyes.

"Lass, you must open your eyes for a moment... can you hear me? Come now, it'll be all right..." Gentle fingers felt her head, checking for bruising. A particularly tender spot caused Saeryn's eyes to jet open, a cry passing her lips. As the girl looked at the Innkeeper, she whispered, afraid. "Who are you?"

[Memory of Trees]

Risse pushed forward through the inn door. She gave an involuntary sigh of relief as the warm air reached out to greet her, wrapping around her cloak and hair. I'll begin to thaw in a moment, she thought ruefully. No more cold for me!

The inn was crowded and dim after the white light of the outdoors. When her eyes had adjusted, Risse glanced around the room. Everything seemed right, in place and cheerful. "How lovely here," she murmured, eyes half closed. "I might even get used to Rohan after all." Images of the forests and mountains of her own country flashed across her mind, startlingly clear. A wave of homesickness swept over Risse. No. Don't think of that.

Risse was stirred from her reverie by a cold blast of air as the door opened once more. In a flurry of activity as a group of people entered, she glimpsed a , pale and limp; she heard the voices, low and concerned. Shadowing them, Risse waited until they had the laid out on the floor.

She reached out and touched the sleeve of a young woman bending over the 's still form. "Excuse me," Risse said softly. "But I have some skill at healing. Can I help?"

[littlemanpoet]

"Who are you?" Saeryn whispered fearfully, looking into Bêthberry's face. Gudryn's small hand went to her mouth, her eyes widening. Saeryn's eyes closed and she drifted into an uneasy slumber.

"Lost her memory? Not good," Eodwine said.

"Excuse me, but I have some skill at healing. Can I help?" A lass with dark hair and a smooth, heartshaped face, touched Saeryn's sleeve.

"Only with her bruise, unless you can bring her memory back," Eodwine replied. "Your offer is welcome, I deem. I am Eodwine of the Gap."

"I am Risse. Emerisse. Of Gondor."

Bêthberry said, "Your skills are welcome, Risse of Gondor. Eodwine, bring her to her room."

Eodwine picked her up and followed Bêthberry's lead, Risse of Gondor and Gudryn walking side by side behind Eodwine. When Saeryn had been laid abed, Bêthberry shooed Eodwine out of the room; Gudryn stayed close beside him.

"Lady Bêthberry, I would that you knew somewhat of what I have learned today regarding Gudryn's ruffian."

"My patience has been tried this day, waiting for you to come back and tell me what you have learned. Out with it, man of the Gap!"

Eodwine smiled at the rough speech that covered the look of deep concern on the Innkeeper's face. "This Rand is known by some of the scouts at Meduseld. He lives in the northeastern edge of Rohan, a leader of brigands by all accounts, nigh to the wold. He is a land holder there and is jealous of all his possessions. If any are taken from him, he brooks no quarter in chasing down the thief. I have it from these scouts that we can trust he is on his way to Edoras to retrieve Gudryn." At that, Eodwine put a protective hand around Gudryn's shoulder.

"No wonder the lass is staying so close to you."

"Aye," Eodwine nodded. "I hope Harreld and Garreth return soon. What have you heard of Hama? Has he returned? Do you expect him back?"

[Bêthberry]

Evening always brought greater activity to the Horse, and today was clearly no exception. Yet events were more serious and sombre than they had been for quite some time.

Bethberry had been talking with the blind man, Erik, whom she had calmly escorted to a table, discovering that he had returned to Edoras in hopes of finding work as an apothecary.

"An apothecary," she echoed, wondering if his skills and sense of smell and touch were developed enough to compensate for his blindness. "You might be needing to prove your abilities to those about, before they might trust you. But let us not worry about that now. You will be wanted some warm vittles in your stomach." With that, the Innkeeper had called upon Maercwen to take his order for dinner, but while she was calling to the young girl, a second stranger strode into the Horse, one far less social than the blind apothecary.

Bethberry watched as the wizened man sought out a quiet, warm corner and lit his pipe. She would have gone to him to converse, but her first thoughts had been for the shocking news of the return of Eodwine with Saeryn and Gudryn. Seeing that Saeryn was first taken to a warm room, and watched over by the other orphan warrior lass who had shown up at the door of the Horse, She had listened to Eodwine's news of the brigand Rand.

"I have heard nothing of Hama since this morning, Eodwine. Nor of Saeryn's twin. And have no knowledge of when they were to return. We seem to have come upon some dark deeds here. Please, will you return to the Great Hall, and wait for me? I would wish you to stay, at least until Frodides' husband and son can join us to discuss safety. "But first let me return to the girl. Given these events, I am loathe to leave her with a stranger, even one as willing to help as this young girl. Gudryn, will you wish to talk more with Eodwine?"

With those remarks, Bethberry re-entered Saeryn's room.

"Emerisse of Gondor, I thank you for your offer of help in attending to Saeryn, but I will now watch over her. I am, from old days, myself a healer and can perhaps do something for her. It might as well be best if those faces she had most recently seen were those nearest her."

With that request, Emerisse bowed and withdrew, returning to the Great Hall to seek out Eodwine for what great news he had brought. For her part, Bethberry checked over Saeryn's face, poking gently into bruises, lifting her eyelids to see for bleeding around the eyes, and then softly testing limbs for breaks and swellings. There were none. She then moved swiftly to the kitchen, whispering with Frodides, and bringing back with her the two youngest, who she wished to attend to Saeryn. At this time, what was needed was someone trustworthy who would keep her from falling into a deeper unconsciousness. And someone not frightful to the girl. What peril would the children suggest to an injured memory? None, Bethberry hoped.

The three of them gently roused Saeryn to sitting position, talking her into a dizzy consciousness. "Children," spoke Bethberry, "I charge you with a most important task, as important as any hero knew in our tales of eld."

Wide eyes stared at the Innkeeper clamourously and she hid a smile.

"You must keep Saeryn awake, but by quiet means. You must talk with her and get her to talk with you. She is conscious enough now to attend to you. Do not let her fall back into sleep. Should you hear any disturbances, one of you come to the Great Hall immediately and request Eodwine's presence. There are trolls about, but the fey people will watch over you as you keep your duty, so fear not."

With that, Bethberry slipped out of the room. She would soon join the group in the Great Hall, but for now she matters to attend to herself, and would be curious then to know what talk went round the Great Hall without her present.

~~~

OOC: I would like to remind everyone to read over the rules in The Golden Hall about character types and actitivities that are best suited to Rohan. Remember that the keynote to Tolkien's success in fantasy is plausibility and specific detail. The more specific, unique and original your character is, the better will be the events and activities you can join in as a character with something to offer. Citizens of Edoras can work in many ways, and still be able to visit The White Horse. It need not be limited to serving travellers only and there are many more roles than shieldmaiden that a young woman can play.

Bêthberry
Moderator for Rohan

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Her head pounding, Saeryn listened to the sounds of where she lay. The same gentle voice as before spoke. The door opened and closed softly once more. A delicate touch sent spasms of pain through her. Saeryn flinched, but did not resist the careful inspection. Footsteps grew fainter as the woman left again. On the other side of the wall, the wind picked up. Time? she wondered groggily. She felt the world slip slowly away.

The door opened once more and Bethberry, accompanied by two wide-eyed youngsters, returned. With the children's help, she shifted Saeryn upright.

"You must keep Saeryn awake," she told the children softly, "but by quiet means. You must talk with her and get her to talk with you. She is conscious enough now to attend to you. Do not let her fall back into sleep. Should you hear any disturbances, one of you come to the Great Hall immediately and request Eodwine's presence. There are trolls about, but the fey people will watch over you as you keep your duty, so fear not." Turning, Bethberry slid out of the room.

The children watched the girl, impressed. "Heros..." one whispered to the other in awe. Saeryn groaned as she tried to look about. Her eyes fell on her small companions. "Halflings?" she murmered to herself.

"Halflings?!" responded the older of the two. "No, lady... we are Rohirrim. You are too. Bethberry says we are to stay here with you."

Saeryn grimaced, cradling her face in her hands. "Why are you here?"

The younger one spoke. "Bethberry says there's trolls around." Startled, Saeryn made to move. The sudden motion sent a searing blast behind her eyes; she cried out and fell back against her pillows. Rolling to her side, she vomited over the edge of her bed.

[Memory of Trees]

"Emerisse of Gondor, I thank you for your offer of help in attending to Saeryn, but I will now watch over her. I am, from old days, myself a healer and can perhaps do something for her. It might as well be best if those faces she had most recently seen were those nearest her," the innkeep - Bethberry, the called her - said gently. Nodding, Risse bowed and withdrew to the Great Hall, where she was served dinner and weak ale.

But Risse found it hard to eat. Seeing the hurt and confusion in the young woman's face had stirred the healer in her, a part of herself Risse hadn't thought of in a long time. Again, the voice spoke sharply in her mind, No. Don't think of that. It was too long ago. Finding it easier to listen to the whispers in her head than face the memories, Risse tried to concentrate on the plate of steaming food before her.

As she ate, her attention strayed around the room, studying one stranger and then the next. As her eyes wandered, Risse's gaze was arrested by the old man sitting at the table next to hers. He was turned away from her, and seemed to be searching the floor for something. She watched him as he slowly turned, his fingers brushing every inch of the floor around him without success. As he turned, Risse met his eyes.

Deep, deep blue, the color of sea, the color of sky. Sightless, unfocused eyes of flaming indigo burned into her skull, pulling out the memories she had tried for so long to repress. They came unbidden, ly and painfully clear. So long. So long since I saw eyes that stopped me in my tracks. Blue eyes. Indigo.

The panic rose in her throat to find the memory as raw and fresh and painful as the day it had happened. You would think time would heal, she thought bitterly. Why can't I let go? She closed her eyes until the tears and the roaring in her ears receded.

Risse stood and faced the man, who was still searching the bare floorboards. Gently, she placed a smooth white hand on the old man's shoulder. "Can I help you, sir?" she asked Erik.

[Esgallhugwen]

Oh, he's going to get you good now!

A loathing voice sounded within Gudryn's head, she clenched her eyes shut.

Silence!

She pressed it violently until it fizzled and popped, hissing into nothingness. She opened her eyes to find Saeryn's hand clasped in hers, hoping that she had not been the cause of this mishap.

Gudryn along with Eodwine were shooed out of Saeryn's room after Eodwine related the news to the Innkeeper of Rand. She coughed and followed Eodwine to the Great Hall.

"What am I to do my Lord Eodwine if Rand finds me here?"

He looked down at her and put his arms on both her shoulders, "do not fret, the scouts now know he may show his face to find you, they will keep a look out and alert us of any comings and goings".

She cleared her throat as if to speak but only nodded her head, they walked over to an unoccupied table and ordered some drinks, Gudryn only wanted cider. She coughed a little bit amd took a sip of the hot drink.

Her thin arms set the drink down steadily, she was glad to be gaining her strength so quickly. "M'lord, thank you for your kindness as well as the kindness of your comrades, if there is anything at all that I can do to repay you and your friends, any errands that are in need of doing, I'll see that there done".

[Bêthberry]

Limping a bit on a sore hip and stopping to catch her breath, Ruthven trundled up to the Horse, catching first a glimpse of Falco in the stables.

"Halfling, what be ye doing here? Are ye thinking of helping to train the horses in steeplechase, seeing as your head's about as high as a decent hurdle?" There was a wry wrinkling around her eyes, but her face itself carried narry a grin.

The hobbit bristled as best he could as he pulled himself up to his tallest height.

"Madam," said he, with a solemness that befitted the seriousness of the situation, "it appears you are unacquainted with the ferocious attack on the Lady Saeryn and the worrisome news of ruffians in the neighbourhood and the even more foreboding news that Edoras herself may shortly be under attack from roving bands of briggands." He paused to let the full import of his words sink in to the woman's head.

Ruthven looked at him aghast. "What, has the lass been hurt?"

"I am caring for her mare right now on her behalf as you might have plainly seen had you not been so eager to crack a joke at my noble race's stature." It cannot be said that Folco did not just huff at little at saying this.

"Where is she? Has she been brought to the Horse?" Ruthven did not avail herself of the opportunity to apologise, for all joking was lost with the news of Saeryn's assault.

"Aye, and there's a right passel of strangers there now. We're none of us too safe. But Master Eodwine and I have matters well in hand."

Ruthven stopped herself. The hobbit's last line would, in happier times, have inspired a further round of teasing or at least an earthy insinutation or two, but she thought she'd best allow the little man his self-importance while she went to seek Bethberry.

"Well, I'm not helping chattering here with the likes of you. Are ye finished your work and will ye join me now at the Horse? We'd likely best be rousing the entire community if what ye say is true."