[littlemanpoet]

The wagon passed through the parted doors of the north gate of the settlement. The way was lined three deep with onlookers, eager to see who returned, and with what news. Uien's words had traveled quickly across the settlement, and those gathered craned their necks to see if what she had said was so.

Furman drove the wagon. His head was held high and his eyes were clear of shame. His words had proven true, and through his aid, Herugor had been defeated, his evil ended, and the prisoners set free.

Eodwine sat next to him, beaming to see the familiar faces of the friends he had made among the freed men in the settlement. A hue and cry of welcome went up as he waved to them.

Falco stood behind Eodwine, his hand resting on the man's shoulder, so that he could see all the hubbub, as he had put it. Big people could be big trouble, but they were not so bad, for all that. Falco was beginning to like adventure. The borders of the Shire were beginning to feel close.

Behind Falco lay the body of Lira, surrounded now by wildflowers from the hills nearby, picked fresh by Lumiel, Eswen, Finëwen, and Falowik. The crowd quieted as they saw the Elven maiden's corpse, unmarked by any wound, her head propped by blankets so as not to roll where the spine had been broken.

Lumiel rode on Lira's right, and Eswen on her left. Falowik rode directly behind, riding Eodwine's chestnut charger, Fleethaf. Riding alongside him was Finëwen. Falowik looked for Uien in the crowd but did not find her. Thoronmir and Awyrgan came last.

They wagon stopped in the center of the settlement, before a pavilion that Uien had asked to be made. It was made of leather, for the hide of cattle was the best covering to be had in the hills. A bed had been made in the pavilion. Uien stood with Gorby and Anson before the pavilion.

Eswen, Lumiel, Falowik, Thoronmir, and Finëwen lifted Lira's body from the wagon, and laid her on the bed beneath the pavilion. Uien, Gorby, Anson, and Falco walked behind them, and they surrounded her. The three Elven women lifted their voices in an Elvish lament for Lira. Finëwen joined them, for she knew the words, having been raised in Rivendell. The men listened, quiet. For his part, Falowik felt that he saw a green country filled with light. He knew that Lira would be happy there.

Her body rested in the pavilion until the Elves took her away.

The crowd parted. Eodwine joined his old settlement friends, and they heard his tale. The Rangers had the tale from Thoronmir and Awyrgan. The guards who had served under Herugor had it from Furman. Lumiel and Eswen walked by the shore of the Lake and spoke together; no one heard what they said. Falco seemed much friendlier than he had in the past, and Gorby and Anson welcomed his tale, and had to cajole his own heroics out of him, and slapped him on the back when they learned that it was his knife that had cut the Master. Finëwen sat outside the immediate crowd gathered around Eodwine, and seemed willing to listen.

Uien and Falowik walked to the Lake's shore and passed by Lumiel and Eswen. Eswen's wolf cub came by to sniff their hands, then returned to her as the two kept walking. They walked until the sun set, then walked back again.

The pavilion was left unguarded, except by a crow who perched on the strongest pole. Its voice sounded almost human when it cawed.