Uien told her tale. She told Doran and Nuinyulma of Eodwine, Messenger of King Eomer of Rohan, who had come to the Inn about two weeks before. Uien had not made his acquaintance, but Derufin the stablemaster had. Eodwine was a veteran of the War of the Ring, and had come North for a year and a day, to learn of the peoples of the North, he had said. He had left after one day at the Inn, and those who had made his acquaintance, assumed that he was on his way to meet the folk of the Shire.
One day later, Eodwine's charger had galloped into Bywater, his saddle on his back, but no rider to be seen anywhere. Derufin had taken the horse into stable, and those who worked at the Inn wondered amonst themselves what it could mean. A few days later, a wanderer appeared with the satchel that Eodwine had carried with him, and in it was Eodwine's harp, but damaged. The wanderer, whose name was Falowik, had seen Eodwine's capture, and keeping his wits about him, had stayed hidden until the dozen marauders had taken Eodwine with them. Falowik had taken the harp, and the tale of what he had witnessed, to the Shire. It just so happened that Eodwine had seen Falowik, perhaps by the light of the moon, and though no words had passed between them, by the fierce life in his eyes, Eodwine charged Falowik to give him any aid he could. Falowik and Uien were determined to rescue Eodwine, and were looking for brave and hearty folk who would be willing to go with them.
There was more to the tale also. for Gondorian scouts, and Rangers of the North, had gone missing in alarming numbers over the last few years. It was believed that some powerful Orc, or other dark servant of Sauron, had set up an evil holding in the North. Such was the tale Uien told. She fell silent and waited.
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