[Esgallhugwen]

Gudryn could not help but be upset with herself, she could not mend tattered memories or ailing hearts. Her own heart felt empty and cold while her memories were bitter and haunted, she could do nothing to help anybody.

There was a void in her darker then pitch, she could see no hope for light. Gudryn was an empty shell, she breathed and walked but not much else was in her, she knew this now.

After years of being pushed aside, belted and beaten, she had become invisible a life spent in forfeit for servitude to others. Gudryn had known no other path, fear and loathing had kept her going.

What would sustain her now?

Love and trust were as foreign to her as flowers in winter. Her reaction to them was stilted and uncertain and as much as she wanted to know and feel these things the void pulled her further into shadow.

She had followed Eodwine and Falco out of Saeryn's room they hummed and hawed to one another trying to catch snatches of conversation from behind the closed door, strangers sidled past casting an odd or welcoming glance at the forlorn girl, she licked a dry corner of her lip. She had to speak to him.

"My Lord", she called to get Eodwine's attention, he turned to her and she quickly knelt on one knee. Eodwine's mouth parted in question as she began to speak.

"My Lord, you and your comrades have done much for me although you put your life in danger, perhaps the goodness of your heart drives you to good deeds. So I ask again if I can serve you in any way, set me to a task and I shall see it done to the best of my abilities" Her voice bore no emotion as if she spoke from far away.

Falco's pipe hung from his open mouth in surprise, Eodwine stepped forward and lifted Gudryn to her feet a look of bewilderment masking his face. "Why, why would you make such an oath?"

Gudryn looked up to him, "because you have shown me something unknown to me and through your mercy and kindness I have been found wanting. Please Lord Eodwine I know of no other way to repay you", her voice cracked with raw emotion, "please, there is nothing for me here but to serve others!"

I have no other path, all ways seem barred to me.