[Fordim Hedgethistle]

Now that Mae had been found, Hearpwine was all but jumping out of his skin with impatience to return to Meduseld. He listened politely as Jesia spoke with Liornung and watched as his friend took in what the older woman was saying. He realised that the matter of the bracelet had reached an impasse: Mae could not keep it, Liornung did now want it, and Jesia had forsaken it. With the easiest manner he could manage amid his anxiety, Hearpwine reached out and gently took the bracelet from Mae’s hands, saying gently “If it’s not overbold of me Mae, I think that it might be a good idea for me to have that trinket. Not to keep as my own, but to hold for you until you wish to claim it.” And so saying he placed it upon his own wrist. Whether it were magic or not he could not tell, but he did feel an immense relief that the matter had been dealt with and he was free to return to the Contest.

“Now, Mae,” he said jovially, “I am afraid that you are wanted at the Inn by Miss Aylwen, who I am sure is becoming quite aggrieved with your uncle and I for having kept you away this long.” Mae pouted (quite prettily) but did not disagree, for she was aware of the conditions that the Innkeeper had placed upon her attendance at the Contest. Hearpwine turned next to Liornung. “My friend, I wonder if I might ask a favour of you? I am positively burning with desire to return to the Hall to hear the other bards…”

“And,” Liornung interrupted his quietly, “to hear the judgement of the King, no doubt!”

Hearpwine laughed and his friends were glad to hear it, for it was the first sign of his accustomed good humour this day. “Aye, and to await the King’s judgement, be it for good or ill! Would you mind escorting Mae to the Inn yourself? I am sure that Asad wishes also to return to the Hall with me.” The youth nodded and looked as though he would spring up the hill that moment. Hearpwine continued, “Once Mae is safely stowed with Aylwen, I am sure that you would still have time to hear the last of the bards. I hate to ask this of you my friend, but…” Liornung cut off the young man with an easy gesture of his hands, and assured him that he was happy to take Mae in hand. Hearpwine smiled with relief and turned to leave, but not before pausing to say to Mae, “I am glad you were in the Hall this day, to hear me sing. Perhaps when I return to the Inn, I will do so with good news!” Mae smiled and said that she hoped this would be so.

Without waiting for another word, Hearpwine and Asad rushed back up the hill toward the Hall of the King. As they went, Asad returned to the topic he had addressed before the adventure with Mae. “You sing very well, Master Hearpwine,” he began. “I fear for my sake, and the sake of all the bards gathered this day, too well!”

“Aye,” he replied, “I did feel as though I was in good voice, and the song did seem to go to the heart of the King and his lords. Lady Éowyn, I thought, was particularly moved, for I saw her dashing away a tear – so strange that a woman of such stern and noble matter would be moved to tears in that manner! But she loved Theoden well.”

Asad paused for a moment before speaking again, unsure of how to broach his question. “Your lay was not entirely as things happened though, was it? As I have heard tell of that day, Éomer did not bear Theoden from the field, and he was not laid on his bier in the company of the Lady Galadriel until nigh on midsummer when he was brought back to Rohan in honour.”

Hearpwine’s brow furrowed somewhat as he replied. “I thought long on just that point as I wrote that song. It seemed to me, though, that it was more important to get the truth of his passing right, rather than the mere events. It would not make for much of song should I tell of the endless weeks that Theoden lay waiting in a cold tomb of stone for his journey back to the green fields of his lands.”

Asad nodded but said nothing in response, for they had reached the great door of the Golden Hall once more, and with a quick nod to Wulfstan, passed once more into the light and song that filled it.