Hardoleth

Part 11

Anger consumed Taala, any semblance of discipline or care drained, she turned towards the woman...Eroforth looked confused, seeing her intent he shook his head emphatically.  Taala strode over to a chest of drawers, extending  her search she ransacked them, casting the contents about the room in a frenzy.

The heavy door to the DawnHall swung open with ease, the chirr of it would have announced anyone's arrival, though it was unknown to Taala what reception awaited on the other side of it.

Bracing herself, she mustered the courage within her, inwardly scolding herself for succumbing to the doubts snipping away at her.  Taking a deep breath, her mouth drying rapidly she stepped into the hall.

The journey from Snowbourn was arduous on account of the two stab wounds to her abdomen, a farewell gift her Step Father had arranged for her.  She was not sure if it was to see an end to her, or to her ability to have children.

How unseasonably warm it was. Bright October sun split the moist air, its shallowness betraying the season only because Deredan knew the lateness of the morning. The hens were busy around their coop, their industrious little lives so full beneath the canopy of leaves that made Neyaa’s garden so clement.

"Put on your new boots Branston, we are going for a walk".  Neyaa smiled at her son as she helped him on with the boots Foxwin had made for him.  They were a perfect fit and Foxwin had insisted they were a gift for Branston's first naming day.

Eaworth

“What ails you child?”

Taala looked up with a start, not expecting anyone to have found her sitting behind the mead hall. “Ails me?”

There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth… not going all the way, and not starting.

Last night, there was much talk in the Hall of a band of Men encamped outside the Gate of the Valley, and some thought they were refugees, fleeing the darkness, and others thought them a group of roving bandits, and some thought they might be supplicants, messengers sent to ask for aid from Lord Elrond: arms, or stores of food, though I thought this year’s harvest a bountiful one, as there was plenty of rain and sunshine, in proper amounts.

Taala did arrive late, everyone was already gathered as she entered the grounds of the DawnHall, at least she could blame Rick Cobb for slowing her horse down...