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Aylwen had already begun to lose her patience with the situation, and no one seemed quite satisfied with the progress. The upset Innkeeper reluctantly bit her tongue when her question was not answered by Eorcyn, but some stranger entering the Inn.
“I will answer for that,” the female intruder said. “If the young Bard be not found soon, then he shall have to follow his Lord and Lady as best he may on his own, for he is commanded to follow them.”
The Innkeeper, along with many other patrons and staff members, turned to see who had spoken and answered in Eorcyn's place. Aylwen's gaze hardened when she saw the face of the speaker. She listened to the gasping inhales of recognition as the Lady Eowyn had pulled back her hood and revealed her golden braids. Aylwen watched wordlessly as Eorcyn stood from his spot next to Bethberry and bowed low to say what everyone was thinking, “My Lady Eowyn.”
It is his fault, and Hearpwine's fault, that she is here now. Aylwen thought, though she would not openly speak the bitter thoughts. It has gone far out of our hands, and gone astray. It did not have to go this far. The Innkeeper looked back over her shoulder, meeting the eyes of Bethberry. Then, turning back to the prestigious lady before her, Aylwen smiled curtly before bowing as Eorcyn had, though not so low or reverently.
"Then, my lady, I fear that it appears as though your young bard shall have to follow you as best as he can. Alone, it seems," Aylwen replied in answer to the Lady's solution to the problem. "For I am loathe to inform you that he is not with us now, and although one of my workers has taken his leave to find him for you, it will take time. It will take time I am sure you will not wish to waste."
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