'Oh for crying out loud, put it over there, now, will ya? Over there!'
Wulfthred was standing in the large hall of the Warhorse Inn, gesturing wildly with his hands at the man in front of him.
'More to the left, we have to fit three more of those in here.'
Harugrim, the man half hidden by a massive keg on his back stumbled through the hall towards the corner, which Wulfthred was pointing at. Leaning with the back against the wall, he slowly turned, trying to get a better hold of the keg to put it down safely. Wulfthred made a few steps towards him, grabbing one side of the keg, and together the two men slowly sat it down where it belonged. At that moment Lyfrid came through the door with two baskets of fresh fruit, which she directly carried towards the kitchen, looking at the sweating Harugrim with a cheeky smile, who in return just ignored her and went out to get the next keg. Wulfthred followed him, and stepped on the coach turning a keg on its belly and slowly rolling it towards the edge of the load area, where Harugrim was waiting. As Wulfthred was putting the keg upright again and heaving the keg on Harugrim's back, a rider appeared from the road, making his way up the little hill. Harugrim made his way back into the Inn, as Wulfthred took out a small piece of cloth and wiped off the sweat from his forehead.
He jumped off the carriage and walked around the back of it, towards the path that would lead to the main road below, leading towards the centre of Arrowhaven. The rider was clad in mail, and his horse a large white war steed. Wulfthred recognized him immediately and smiled as he made his way up the path, stopping his horse a few yards away and, affected by his armoue, dismounted slowly, yet nonetheless gracefully. He took his mail gloves off and shook Wulfthred's hand with a pleasant smile on his face.
'Wulfthred, my friend, how fare you?'
'I am well my lord Balisan, well indeed.', Wulfthred replied with a small tilt of his head in respect of the young Lord of Gondor in front of him. 'New mead from the south has reached us and fruit from the Shire, you are most welcome to come in and try some if you like?'
Lord Balisan smiled at that, 'I thank you my friend, yet it is not food I have come to you for. I have message of the Lady for you. I believe she also sent for your wife. The order is to muster.'
With his left hand, Balisan grabbed Wulfthred's right elbow and walked him over where the large rock wall came sprouting from the ground. Standing close to the chicken coop, Balisan told the exact words of the lady to Wulfthred, who merely nodded.
'I trust you will join?', Lord Balisan finally asked.
'Of course, I will prepare for my depart immediately'.
Lord Balisan nodded quickly then made his way back to his steed and mounted with some effort. As he turned the horse he once again nodded at the unmoving Wulfthred before urging his steed forward, back the path whence he had come.
Wulfthred stood still for some time, looking after the rider. Finally, he walked inside the inn, gave Lyfrid and Harugrim a few instructions, and then put down the cloth he had held in his left hand the entire time. The time had come for him to exchange cloth against sword again. To go back from being an Inn keeper, to being a warrior. Yet he would make sure that Sybri would remain at home. Whatever this quest would bring, was no place for a pregnant woman.
