[Folwren]

Saeryn sat at the high table with Lord Athanar and his wife. She sat beside Eodwine and remained silent throughout their discourse. At first, she paid less mind to the talk and more to the food at hand. She had started the morning early and had worked hard up until that point and breakfast was more than welcome.

But when Athanar asked Eodwine and Laerdil his question concerning the loyal servant who wronged the lord’s right-hand man, she paused and raised her eyes to him. When he finished his question, veiled and yet clear as day, she turned her look to Eodwine. Yet it was the elf that answered first.

Saeryn listened with but half her mind. Why should Athanar ask what is to be done? He did not ask when Lithor was half so defiant in his presence. She lowered her eyes again to her breakfast, and slowly resumed eating. She vaguely heard Athanar turn to the question to Eodwine, but she clearly heard, “I will punish Scyrr, naturally. There is no way out for him from this. And there are no excuses...”

Good! Saeryn said to herself, raising her eyebrows. At least he will do that.

“But I'd like to hear what happened and what would be your verdict. Think of it as things happening not to you but with some people you don't know."

Saeryn smirked. How did Athanar expect Eodwine to detach himself from what had happened? He had been openly insulted, as had she, and she knew Eodwine’s pride and honor would not stand for that. No Eorling would stand for such insults without redress of some kind.

But Eodwine said nothing. The pause lengthened until Saeryn lifted her eyes to his face. He was looking at Athanar, but she knew he was not really seeing him. She laid her hand on his. He blinked and stirred slightly.

"I am sorry, lord. What did you ask me?" he asked.

"Nevermind lord Eodwine. I'll ask your opinion later but soon enough,” Athanar replied. He turned the conversation then to the elf.

Saeryn turned with disappointment back to her meal. She listened in silence as Laerdil responded to his question. As soon as she had cleared her trencher, she excused herself. She rose and took her trencher and then gathered others from other tables. Most of the men had already left to see to their daily work.

Saeryn entered the kitchen with her arms loaded with used trenchers and spoons. She deposited them by the washtub.

“Ginna,” Saeryn said, taking her apron off of the peg behind the door. “Will you go out and finish clearing the tables?” She tied the apron around her waist and began to roll up her sleeves. “I will start washing the dishes.”

Using her apron to protect her hands, she carefully lifted the pot of water that sat warming on the stove. As she poured it into the wider tub, she turned her head to look for the newcomer.

“Ledwyn, would you like to give me a hand cleaning these?” she asked.

The young woman complied happily. They began their work in silence, Saeryn washing the trenchers and Ledwyn drying them and stacking them on one side.

“Tell me,” Saeryn said after a lengthy pause, “you say you come from the West Emnet. When did you begin your travels? And why did you come here and not go to Edoras?”