[Folwren]

When she heard shouts from behind her, Athwen pulled her horse to a stop and wheeled about. She did not go back, however, until Dorran rushed past her. She looked over her shoulder at Leod who was about to follow and she urged her horse forward.

They came to the camp in a moment and Dorran dismounted and took the strangers’ horses in hand. The animals were spooked and skiddish. Athwen stopped her gelding and dismounted quickly, too, though her eyes and attention were fixed firmly on the two prisoners. Out of habit, but done absently, she reached for her horse’s rein and held him.

The situation was uglier than she had expected. One man, half sat up, struggled vainly in Brand’s net, and the other, looking no older than twenty, lay completely unconscious, his head held up by a handful of hair in Vaenosa’s hand, and in her other, Athwen recoiled to see a knife.

‘You will tell us your business here and to whom you swear allegiance! Hurry! My hand can not be stayed forever!’ Vaenosa was serious in her threat and Athwen shuddered and shrank back against her horse’s neck.

There was a harsh laugh from the netted man and he gave another struggle, but Brand was at his side, now, and held him back from reaching either sword or knife, if he had one. ‘Why should I tell you, fiend of the nameless one? You will kill us anyway, as the monsters you work for did to the villagers. But I fear not, I know my death shall be avenged. Theoden King will never let his people die, his Riders will find you shall be defeated.’ He laughed again and Athwen stepped forward. He had mentioned her village, she knew that’s what he talked about. And he called on the king’s name. He couldn’t be - ‘You will not be able to ambush the Riders of Rohan!’ he went on furiously. ‘It surprises me not to see such coward behavior from the enemy. An ambush! Be a man, I say! Be a man and let me loose, I shall take a few of you down with me, for my King and for Bregoware!’

‘No!’ Athwen cried out, unable to contain herself any longer. Vaenosa had made a threatening move with that blade and Athwen wasn’t prepared for more bloodshed. ‘Don’t! For heaven’s sake, keep your hand away. Did you hear him? He’s not against us after all! Brand, tell her so!’ She looked desperately at him and took several more, hasty steps forward, leaving her horse to stand alone.