House of Three Graces

Eduwiges of Faldham sat on the edge of the great flet of Telain Melthin dangling her feet over the vast empty space of the enormous grove of mallorn trees, A gentle breeze blew the branches and shining leaves into a gentle dance of golden light. Like a child she kicked her bare feet back and forth. She had changed out of her customary travel armor and into a black Lorien tunic and leggings. The golden trim of the sleeves and collar twinkled in the twilight sun of the golden wood.

When I awoke in the Rusty Barge, tucked away in a corner no one could see. My head rang like the hammers of Dain’s smithy under the mountain. My eyes were gummed together and my mouth tasted of sawdust and grog. As strange taverns go this one wasn’t so bad, well, not as bad as some others I have woken in. Although the body by the front door and the blood on the bar left something to be desired but the tavern itself was homelike and warm, then I remembered.

(( Note: The events in this story occur during the latter part of The Linhir Ripper - Part 8 while the others are also searching for Anendyl. ))

Eduwiges of Faldham was frustrated. She sat at a table in the corner of a low rent tavern just inside the walls of Linhir. Edu sat where she could see everything in the tavern. There was no way she was going to have her back to anyone. She was wearing light brown armor that sufficed for patrolling and roaming on horseback. The golden circlet given to her by Moriaith, the disgraced captain of the Imladris guard, was on the table in front of her.

Eduwiges of Faldham hurried through the glistening courtyards up on the Sages Tier of Minas Tirith. Intent on her mission, the beauty of the fountains and courtyards passed her by as she approached the steps to the Houses of Lore. Eduwiges smelled of sweat and horses. Oenone had not let her down. The horse of the Riddermark lived up to her breeding and the travel time to the city was short.

Eduwiges of Faldham listened to the grunts and clanging of men at battle. The shield-maiden smelled sweat, leather, grimy carpet and shame as it wafted across the giant room being used as a training hall in Minas Tirith. Eduwiges was amazed. In her eyes, a place to train was outside a fort on the plains of the Norcroft or under the trees of Imladris and flets of the Golden Wood; not in this huge palace hall with giant chandeliers and dangling tapestries.