Outside The Pony stands a line of Drummers, they wear green uniforms. Their hair, blondes, and redheads covered in ashes. For those from Rohan, they will recognize drummers ready to perform the last rites for a fallen. Behind them mill many waiting to follow. There are a surprisingly large number of children present. All with varying amounts of dirt on their faces, unkempt clothing, often worn thin. Street urchins, those forgotten by the masses, left to their own devices to live or die as may happen. Circling the children an honor guard. All armed with bow and spear. Small groups of merchants and locals, known by sight is not by name stood watching, waiting.
The door of the inn opens and out walks three men, Barliman Butterbur, Egfor, and Dem. Egfor4 and Dem wear white and are covered with ashes. The three walk somberly to the waiting drummers taking their place just behind them. With a nod, the drummers begin as one. The sound is one of thousands of horse hooves pounding on the ground. It is as if those in the court are surrounded by a stampeding herd of horses.
Slowly the drums move west over the fields toward a cliff just outside of Bree where they stand along the edge overlooking the plain below. The sound of the drums fading giving the appearance of the horses continuing across the plans and disappearing in the distance. The mourners and honor guard wait until the last beat sounds. The children walk to the grave and lay a stalk of grain, wheat, barley or oat on it. Several crying for they were friends with the child.
The sun slips below the horizon and the honor guard fires blunted arrows into the night sky. The children crowd around Dem the smaller ones holding onto a bit of his clothing. Absently he reaches down to caress their tear-stained faces, he himself crying. The crowd slowly disperses. Leaving only the three men and soon Barliman leaves as he does have an inn to run.
Dem wraps his arm around Egfor’s waist. Egfor turns into him and the two embrace, both crying silently giving and receiving comfort from each other. May you find the hearth of your family and be with them again my little one. I will seek justice for you, Dem thinks.
