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Medreth had, in her letter, asked Thornden to arrange an escort for her return journey. As the time for her departure drew near she asked him what he had planned. “I figured on going back with you myself,” he told her quietly. “See the family, and your son. I only half hoped that you would manage to bring him, and as you haven’t, I’m even more happy to go with you.”
“But – but what about Javan meeting lord Eodwine?”
“Oh, he’ll do very well by himself. I can ask Saeryn to get him ready when his time of return draws near, if that will comfort you. But, really, I think I’ll be able go with you and get back only a little while after Eodwine returns himself, and if I am not very long in returning, then I will still be able to introduce Javan before Eodwine asks too many questions."
So they settled it. A little more than an hour after they had finished the midday meal, Thornden and Medreth left the Mead Hall. Javan watched them go and sighed as they disappeared down the road. But it was not a melancholy sigh and the look on his face was nowhere near melancholy, either. Javan considered it no bad thing that he was left with no one in definite charge of him.
He spent a great deal of the afternoon in the stables, speaking with and helping Lčof. Lys joined them at first, but after a while, he grew tired and Lčof gently advised him to go inside and rest. After spending a couple of hours there, Javan took his leave of Lčof and the horses and went out. He left the Hall and courtyard entirely and he set out on foot to explore the city of Edoras.
Not until dusk began to fall did he finally return to the hall. Saeryn took charge of him almost as soon as he stepped foot indoors. Thornden had spoken to her before he left and she took full responsibility. Within minutes he was entirely washed up and looked quite presentable, and then he was sat down to dinner, being told that he’d better eat quickly – Eodwine could be expected any moment.
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