[Bêthberry]

With a quiet, knowing gaze, Ruthven had surveyed the imperious manner of the father and watched the look on the young girl's face, a corner of her mouth turned down, eyes cowering but frustrated. It was one thing to be protective of a young child's incautious behaviour, thought Ruthven, but another thing to bully without explanation and use the force of anger to demand submission. Ruthven wondered if there were any mother in the girl's life to teach her how to negotiate the stoney path of the powerless amidst the peremtory.

That thought brought back concern for another who seemed powerless. Ruthven turned to look at the flames, saw the lines and lines of children running with buckets from Edoras's central stream, saw the strangers who were protecting the Horse's roof from the swirling embers and sparks, saw other young girls with sure hands with horses. Then, with fear in her heart, the old junk peddler wondered how she could try to stop the flames from spreading to the back of the stable.

"Are you here to help as the others are?" she queried the father. "Show your strength in action and contribution."

"Do old women order men around these days in Edoras?" he retorted, but Ruthven had turned and left him behind as she sought to find if Madi was trapped in the flames. She called out to him repeatedly but no reply answered her calls.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ruthven stared at the smoldering ruins while she complimented Aywlen on her thoughtful marshalling of forces to combat the fire. The Assistant Innkeeper had wisely seen that the children could lend a hand. Indeed, it had been their energetic racing back and forth which had brought the much needed water to the Horse, to supplement the Inn's own well. And strangers, so many strangers. The Inn was lucky indeed to have new guests who did not shirk to participate. Enough! Ruthven said to herself. It must be done. She walked over to a despondent Leofan.

"You did your best, man. Many horses were saved."

"Aye," he responded, with a resigned discouragement. "But not enough."

"Have you checked the ruins yet? Were many lost? Were there just horses?"

Leofan looked up at her, curiously. "I saw only charred animals. What do you mean?"

Ruthven shook her head. "I was worried," she murmured, as she wandered towards the smoldering ruins herself, looking for something she dared hope not to find. The stench of burnt horseflesh assaulted her nose but she could not sense that of human flesh. Her hopes rose.

[ November 19, 2003: Message edited by: Bêthberry ]