[Esgallhugwen]

"Is that what you wish, my daughter?" Eodwine prompted. She nodded, looking up at him with big hopeful eyes. He smiled, but sighed sadly. "I'll have to give some thought to that. You see," he took one of her hands in his two, "it might be that I could buy a horse and train you to ride and come with me on my errands. Indeed, it might be a great adventure for the both of us. But if you are to have a mother also, it looks to my mind's eye that things change, for then we would be a party of three and move slower than the King needs. So maybe 'tis a choice between a mother and my role with the King. I do not know for certain. Which would you rather have, Gudryn?"

She pondered for a moment, uncertain to what her choice would lead to.

"I think for now," she paused biting the bottom of her lip, "for now perhaps it may be best for it to be just the two of us, we shouldn't move to quickly with these big decisions, a loving wife for you and a mother for me is a mighty step for both of us to take, and we still have so much to learn from one another", she looked up at her father and smiled at him in wonder. Eodwine's adopted daughter could not help but be in awe of her Father's kindness and strength.

"Is that your choice then?" he asked kindly smiling back. Gudryn nodded and replied, "but don't be dissauded from looking for a love you may find it in the most strangest of places".

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* ~*~*~*~*

A curious woman came back with Eodwine after they had shared a few words with one another. She seated herself close to Gudryn and asked.

“Gudryn,” she began, “I am curious: what brings you in the company of three grown men? If it is not impolite for me to ask, that is – it is merely curiosity that sparks the question.” Giedd did not ask where Gudryn’s mother was, for fear she may already know the answer, but hoped that the story would also supply explanation for that query as well.

Gudryn frowned slightly then gave a small smile to reassure the woman that nothing was entirely wrong. "I came to this place under tragic circumstances I will admit, but the kindness of strangers showed me that not all hope was lost. That is how Eodwine became my father for I know not what happened to my birth parents, and yet I feel the worst has come to them."

Gudryn began to unfold the full story of what had occured recently at the Inn, with many a shout of triumph at the outcasting of Rand. She sipped at her tea and smiled sheepishly at the woman.