Yes, this is a love story....
One day after doing absolutely naught, Redwick whilst sipping his ale in the Prancing Pony had been drawn to a conversation that was taking place beside himself, by the accents of the patrons he was swift to tell that they were of his kin in the Riddermark. For a while he stood and listen to their speech, it was a conversation between a man and woman. Yet soon he was to intervene and join there conversation, they seemed glad to have him and for a while they spoke ere suddenly the man was to leave. They bid farewell and then Redwick's attention was solely turned to the woman. She stood as tall as Redwick himself, long and golden was her hair as most of the folk of the Mark, blue was her eyes, upon her face was a single scar but according to Redwick this does not phase her beauty, and held sheathed upon her back was a great sword. She bore padded armour and yet she wore it as if it were aught casual to be seen in. Where as Redwick merely wore his Bowman's tunic from Snowbourn(which had many cuts and tears, mostly upon the edges), and his hair was always in an indescribable ruin. He wore his make-shifted fingerless gloves and to many he would merely appear as a poor man from the Beggar's Alleyway. Yet he smiled and smirked as if naught in the world bothered him. A tankard he had in his one hand and of course too did the maiden who he had now started converse with.
For a while they spoke and she revealed herself as Therwen of Rohan, a Sellsword. Yet this only made him curious and Redwick was always one to ask many questions and when he had thought of one it would not easily escape his mind and he would grow impatient till it was asked. As their conversation drew out it was also known that she already knew Redwick's best and most trusted friend. And then she said to him:
"Do you want to know what he said to me when I first met him?" Redwick smirked and indeed he wished to know, nodding in answer he asked and she said: "...That he wants to plunder my village."
Redwick could almost not believe these words for it shed upon him a side of his friend that he knew not and the next thing the tavern heard was Redwick's roaring, mirthful laughter. Loud it was and it seemed unceasing, for long it lasted and then Redwick could no longer bear conversation with her. He excused himself without a word and walked to stand within the hallway, yet his laughter did not even then cease.
...That was how he first met her.
...Though a few days had past since the next part of the story.
It was said that Redwick's best and most trusted friend had gathered many men and woman to go forth upon a quest. Most of them were the Northman from the Dale-lands and most if not all Redwick seemed to get a long with.
There was a time when they were called to gather ere there quest was begun whither drinks were drunkem, feasts were eaten and oaths were sworn. Redwick never showed much interest in things such as these(Save for the drink of course.), and throughout the entire gathering he and Therwen exchanged whispers and spoke to each other whilst others tended to those matters that seemed important and vital for their quest. Little had he heard from anyone save from Therwen that night and yet he did not regret it, for he was swift to grow fond of her and enjoyed her company above all others gathered save for his best and most trusted friend. Often would Redwick and Therwen laugh in good jest and often would others look to them strangely, yet they would only pause for a moment ere continuing their discussion once more.
It was queer to Redwick that he would enjoy such converse with a woman for much of it he would speak to other men. Yet he held his distance from her, for he knew that his friend had his eye upon her and as always his loyalty to his friends had gone beyond that of his own desires, so then he was glad not to pursue her for her affection or anything else that he may wish from her. However, he and his friend had a way of speaking without words, they would use vague gestures to communicate and oft it would take each other a while to understand what the other was speaking of. But Redwick had noticed that his friend's gaze may have turned to another woman among the company and he wished to know if he no longer showed interest in pursuing Therwen. And indeed his eye had turned and Redwick's was now turned to Therwen, yet slow was he to do aught that would make his gaze obvious.
...Then their journey began.
A few days had passed when...
The company had set up their camp upon the High Moors in the Trollshaws, for their destination was nigh yet the next days of their journey would be the longest and many more days would it take. However, this part of the story does not yet speak of the time beyond the day Redwick had woken up upon the High Moor and to his delight the view of the gloaming dawn was stunningly beautiful for the first thing he beheld. He glanced around and noticed that a few of his companions were still awake and then he looked to Therwen who was still yet asleep and snoring as she always does. A smirk came to his lips and he moved to lie beside her, he took out his drinking-skin and drank the remainder of his drink ere she had awoken. Of course it was odd for her to have seen that Redwick had suddenly been beside her but all he merely did was gesture for her to look to the gloaming dawn upon the horizon.
Soon they were fully awoken and they had eaten there shares of the waybread. Yet Redwick's empty drinking-skin would be much of a problem and he desired to have it filled. He asked Therwen to accompany him and she agreed to, they excused themselves from the company and went down to the Ford of Bruinen, but the walk was slow and wearying. Therwen stood upon the banks of the river whilst Redwick stepped within, he filled his wine skin and he suddenly looked to Therwen with a mischievous smirk and look in his eyes, and by that it was obvious that he was up to something. And suddenly he used his hands and thrust water in her direction, soaking her a bit. They laughed and then Redwick became bold. He walked towards her and stood with his own feet within the flowing stream and he looked to her, she thought that yet again he was up to no good for he wished to take her hand and surely he would have dragged her into the water. But when she did, he kissed her lips. She did not move away from him and for a moment they stood there, yet unusual for Redwick but he was shy when he did so, therefore the moment ended swift and they were soon to return to their company.
Upon the High Moor a meeting was held as to what path they should take to the mountains of mists but yet the one most of them dreaded seemed to be the swiftest. By the time this debate was over and their leader's words were given thought and agreed to(not willingly by most) Therwen had already gotten herself drunk with ale she had brought with herself. Redwick tried best to believe that she was not yet drunk and that perhaps she was merely having a queer moment, and indeed he thought so and acted casual. But whither their path took them now was into Rivendell, the Elf-Valley. The Northman and Redwick dreaded going thither for they did not trust the elves and thought that they would cast a spell upon them, yet there were astonished by the beauty of the Valley as they went. Suddenly another member of the company ran is search of something, then Therwen too ran with the influence of ale, Redwick merely seemed confused and he wished to know what his friend's wishes were ere he went to follow Therwen and yet he was worried for her(This too was unusual for Redwick). Once all had been settled he went to find Therwen and upon the lawn of the Last Homely House he found her. She did not look well and he swiftly became worried, worsely she was acting un-natural and this Redwick seemed fearful of. He thought that she was under an Elven spell and mourned early for her fate, pathetically he was brought to tears and before the feet of a rather confused elf he begged for the spell to be removed, yet naught happened and Therwen having thrown up in nearby bushed had wandered off again.
Soon was Redwick done pleading the help for he began to think that it was hopeless and he began to search for Therwen, when he found her she was sitting upon the floor and it seemed that most of the alcohol had left her body. She was herself once more and yet he appeared as one who had cried, but he said naught of it and lied so that it would not be known to her.
...To be continued...
