Faldham
The day was growing late, and in the distance farm-workers could see two Riders coming upon the roads their way. Their spears shone within the sun's light; their cloaks and hair blew upon the wind as they drew ever closer, some faces become wary at the sight. Some shook their heads and continued their business, thinking little of it. The sun beated hard down upon the brows of the farmers, and they were weary. Faldham was quiet that day, not much had happened, no comings and goings, for there were few folk brave enough to be traveling in those days, and those who venture seldom returned to their homes. The folk were grim, weary, and anxious. They knew well what plight they were in, they knew that any given day may be their final; thus they lived in sadness. Never leaving to unguarded territories, they lived within the shadow of the East-wall, a shadow that is greater than it may appear.
Clop-clop-cloppity-clop, the Riders came with grim faces, armour-clad, and upon their attire the farmers beheld the marks of Snowbourn. Some were curious, wishing to know what word they would bring; yet they did not approach, merely watched they disappeared within the palisades about the Mead hall. The farmers thus went back to their business, but the curiosity was not gone, perhaps it never shall be.
Within the walls of Faladham there were men training, bowmen, swordsman. Each group assigned a Ceorl to watch and lead them through their practices. One of these men were named Langrith, and before long he heard approaching footsteps coming towards him, and so his attention was taken. He beheld the two: A tall man of Snowbourn, clad in mail from head to toe, his face was grim, and hardened; A tall woman of the Sutcrofts, clad in a similar way as he was, and she was a shield-maiden of Rohan; fair and fierce, and stout of heart.
Langrith greeted them in the manner of their folk, but he was wary of them, thinking that they may be spies of their ill-counselled King.
"Well met, Riders of Snowbourn, We have seldom seen folk of yonder of late, what news have you, and upon what errand have you come," asked Langrith.
"We're patroling, to keep the roads clean of Orcs," Answered the woman without hesitation.
The two Riders exchanged glances between one another, the mane appearing to be thoughtful, for he understands the suspicions, and does not hold disdain for it, for he too would be suspicious if folk from elsewhere came into there town on those days.
"I see," started Langrith, "And what of Snowbourn?"
To which, at last, the man spoke: "There is safety in our walls, yet we cannot say for how long, many of our farms have been pillaged, and food is growing seldom. I expect to hear news no differently elsewhere in these lands, for else aid would have come. We come with purpose, and question, and we wish to be swiftly upon our way ere long." He said with no hesitation. The woman appeared impressed by his words, as though she did not know him so well, or if he had shown a side that she was yet to see. Either way, Langrith remained wary of the two, and he did not mean to give them more information than they can go without. "Ask then," he said, and so the woman spoke once more:
"How is the situation here? I see this place turned in a full barrack, ready for war. Are there so many foes that menace the land?"
And it was answered, "Aye, of late we have been prepared to defend ourselves. However, we do not assail Orcs unless in our own defense. Upon this I give you my word," said Langrith, whether this was a lie or the truth, neither could tell. But in their hearts, both Riders wished that it were a lie.
The two Riders glanced among one another, and for a while there was silence, at length the man asked, "What news do the scouts report, whither lies our enemy?" Langrith's face turned grim at those words, with a gesture towards the gates Langrith beckoned and lead. The two Riders stayed behind, the man looked to the woman, and it seemed that her ire slowly began to grow as she listened to Langrith's words. She was like a pulled bow-string; tense and prepared to unleash a deadly force upon those who dismayed her. So the two followed Langrith, they whispered among one another ere Langrith had the chance to speak. There they stood by the gates, and so Langrith poined out towards wall of mountains to their South East.
"Yonder is the first of their wretched holes. Many pass without and within, they come and go at will, we have not waylaid them, I swear this. We have no count in their numbers, there may be more than one hundred held up in caves." He said in desperation to protect himself and the folk of Faldham. Yet, it became clear to the two Riders that there was a growing ire and fear in Langrith's voice; for he bore a great weight on his mind, and these matters were grim. With a point towards the rolling fields in the North he began to speak again, as the two Riders listened intently, yet of their intent he did not know; "A few leagues North of here there is a stream that takes source from the East Wall, it flows West. Very few seldom do folk come across it alive, for that is whither they haunt. They slay without warning, and the ford is their ward. Do not go that way, it would lead only to death. Scouts say that they are a small band of mounted orcs."
Then there was a look in the eyes of the two Riders, there was aught in those words that they had great interest in, yet he could not say. Perhaps their intent was good, so he was hoping. The woman stared into the North and again Langrith spoke, "They say that there is another camp over yonder, with tall palisides, as before, we have no count in their numbers, and we cannot say if this is true, for we are blocked from passage. Does this news do you well?"
"I'd say we could hm... scout a bit more deeply perhaps?" Said the woman, "Yea, we shall see for ourselves. You have my thanks for this, you shall not go without reward," added the man. "We will go where scouts don't usually go, and whatever information we gather, we will share." Said the woman at last. Langrith smiled at them, he was surpsied, he could not understand their words wholly yet, but he guessed that they meant to do good.
"Béma aid you." He said to them in a low voice, and so he hurried towards the gates in a hurry, but was halted by the man's grasp that suddenly took him, it was firm as iron and Langrith looked upon him warily that moment, "We trust you; do not let this trust go for naught. On this, I warm you." he whispered and released Langrith who returned to his duties.
Then the two Riders turned to one another, "The Mark, above all?" Said the woman, "Of what do you speak?" asked the man in confusion, "That is why we're doing this, the main reason." She said, and he agreed, smiling. The two sought for their horses, the day was fading by then. They mounted and slowly rode their way through the farm-lands, speaking with one another as they went; glancing to the farm-workers once a while as they spoke. The curiosity was not yet faded, but none dared to approach the Riders, and so they left Faladham, heading North as the sun painted their mail and helms red beneath its dusking light.
However, the folk thought little of it, the Riders turned their backs, they would bring no aid. The doubt of no aid ever coming was hard upon their hearts. The feeling was cold, like a winter piercing through the spring, and smiting them to the ground. What good could two Riders have done anyway? They would need bring much more if ever they sought to aid the Norcrofts, and what of Snowbourn, is their business not there? All these things the folk on the farms thought, yet they could not understand the intent of the two Riders, and could not tell if their coming was for good or for ill.
