Here continues the adventure of Meadred's three eldest children; his eldest son Meadwine who was of a powerful sword-arm, his youngest son Aegaldred who had the tongue that could woo many a woman, and his eldest daughter Meadowyn who inspires many a soldier to stand fast in the wake of dread and peril with her steadfast and willing heart. Their differences have not driven them further from one another, but the acceptance has only brought them closer as siblings, for unity will be something that they will often need to fall to in the days yet to come.
Several days after the trio had ventured South towards their homeland, the Riddermark, they found themselves among unknown lands. The grass was not like that of the Riddermark, and horses were not as plentiful as the ox, yet hills were in the plenty as they followed a paved road of stones that had a seven pointed star etched within it.
The clouds within the sun's gaze were like a burning flame as it set within the West behind the Misty Mountains, and in the East the stars had began to glimmer softly in the night sky as they graced the darkening world with their constellations and beauty, yet the moon was still hidden within the fraction of daylight that remained and a soft breeze blew upon the cloaks of the trio as they peered into the South where home was. The air was cool pleasant, and it felt as if there was a freedom upon it.
Taking in a deep breath through his nose, "Feel you that?" Asked Aegaldred smiling, "It is the wind that touches the Riddermark. We are getting closer! It is plain to see now. This is the delicious teasing of a scent that belongs to a familiar stew."
The heads of his siblings turned to listen as he spoke.
"Yea, brother," said Meadwine slapping his brother's back with a friendly nature, "Just do not speak so of a woman."
They all laughed together, their trip had not been so wearying and their horses had carried them swiftly.
"All the same," spoke Meadowyn, "be on your guard. the closer we come to the Gap, the closer we are to danger. Such lands are not friendly to the likes of us."
Their faces hardened as they pondered her words, for they knew now what lands stood before them: Dunland. The men of Dunland were no friend of the Horse-folk and have ever had difficult relations with them.
Her words had only sent a shiver of excitement, as much as it had of wariness down Meadwine's spine. He had experience with the men of Dunland, and he thought little of the Dunlanding's prowess in combat. Their skill could not match that of the horse-lords', and they stood shorter in a way which made them seem inferior--nonetheless, Meadwine took no enemy for granted, be he the broadest and the largest, or the narrowest and shortest.
When Meadwine was in Bree he had noticed some resemblance between the Bree-folk and the men of Dunland: They were short, brown-haired and seemed to idolize boar. Nonetheless, Meadwine was not learned in the cultures of other folk and he took things as they seemed.
"We should rest," said Meadowyn, "we should not go far in hostile lands while night covers our path."
And with that they stopped a short ride away from the road and settled in their bedrolls, eating what dry, tasteless rations that they brought. They were all ways careful never to eat too much, lest their supply be wasted.
"I do not mind," said Aegaldred on that topic as Meadowyn reminded him. "the less I eat of these rations the better! I grow sick of them quickly."
"If you are so troubled with eating rations, brother, " started Meadwine, "then why do you not hunt boar or ox on the morrow?"
Aegaldred simply grunted, but decided that he was content with his rations.
"Nay, we should not hunt here," Said Meadowyn, "hunters from foreign lands are often treated as thieves to some. We only need what we have, and our ride shall not take so much longer now." She stared at the horizon in the South with longing, and then there was silence among them. Aegaldred had already turned his back and had closed his eyes whilst he waited for slumber to come, where as Meadwine watched Meadowyn. He could not rightly determine whether the look upon her face was that of thought, determination, or worry, and he knew that he would receive no sure answer if he asked.
"I will take the first watch," Said Meadwine as he stood up and peered over the plains.
"Very well," said Meadowyn, yet she hid the contentment in her voice--for most of the nights that had passed she had taken the longest watch and hoped that her brothers would have paid little notice it, though Meadwine had. "Wake me when it is my turn," said Meadowyn as she turned her back and closed her eyes. Slumber was quick to take her as if grateful to see her, for it had been longing many days for her deep attention.
