A sigh of relief was heard in the convoy from Langhold when they saw the pendants of Harwick fly in the wind. The sight of the golden hauberk on a field of green meant safety. Earwulfa looked at the convoy that fled her hometown of Langhold and wondered what has become of those left behind. Were they still to meet the attackers? Were they fighting? Or was the fighting allready done? And if so, was Langhold victorious or had it fallen? Earwulfa looked at the convoy of refugees. The old, the young and the weak she thought. And the women of course. Earwulfa desired to be in Langhold, to fire her arrows for the sake of Langhold's defense. But Thane Utred was clear: "all women shall make for Harwick". Earwulfa protested and presented her bow. The bow that earned her the name of bogamaegden. "All women, even you, the Bogamaegden of Langhold" Thane Utred said. "Your bow will be needed when escorting the people of this town".
Now that Earwulfa had done her duty, she turned her horse Belifend away from Harwick and turned it towards the way from which they came. "We've reached our destination!" She shouted. "I'm going back to Langhold to Thane Utred and his men!" And without waiting for a reply she spurred Belifend towards Langhold.
Earwulfa normally enjoyed galloping across the plains and the bogs. But now she was focussed on the fight to come. There was no time for enjoyment. Her home was at stake. Belifend flew over the fields and through the bogs and Earwulfa ignored the mud and water hitting her concentrated face. Ever since her beloved died at the hands of an orc and since her parents were murdered by brigands she could not afford to lose another home. But it seemed like she was to late. Earwulfa saw the smoke before she could even see Langhold itself. The town was burning but as she got closer, from the sounds of it, it was still holding against a combined force of brigands and Easterlings. "Why are they fighting alongside eachother?" Earwulfa thought. "Are the rumours true? Are they aided by an ally from Mordor that unites them?". Whilst she was thinking that, a sudden feeling of dread took hold of her and Belifend suddenly halted. A shadow flew past and Belifend was overcome by fear. A dark creature came riding, no flying by! The rumours were true and the ally of Mordor was no less than a Nazgul! Foam came out Belifend's mouth and all colour had left Earwulfa's face. "No! It can't be!" She cried. All hope for Langhold seemed lost when the Nazgul and its steed descended upon the town. The defenders shouted in despair and a scream was heard. A man clad in heavy armour was picked up by the beast and lifted in the air and dropped o the ground again. Was that the Thane? Earwulfa got hold of herself again and attempted to spur Belifend to Langhold. "We've got to help them! They are still holding!" Earwulfa cried. But there was the sound of retreat and two riders fled the town. "Retreat! Retreat! Langhold is lost retreat!" Shouted the first rider. "Only two escaped?" Earwulfa gazed upon the flames that now cosumed nearly the entire town. She shook her head and returned back to reality. "Retreat to Harwick! All is lost!" Shouted the rider again. Earwulfa turned her Belifend again and the horse seemed glad it had to leave the sight of the burning town. Earwulfa spurred Belifend on and they rode away. Earwulfa felt tears leaving her eyes. She stopped her horse to calm herself and gave her a few moments to mourn. When she had stopped crying she had made her choice. And instead of going to Harwick, she rode past the city. She rode past the last bogs and into the Norcrofts. She rode through the grazing field to the crofts of the Sutcrofts and stopped again in Snowbourn where she rested and began her first day as a refugee there. The Wold was only home to sorrow now, the Sutcrofts were unexplored lands for her and thus the opportunity for yet another new beginning.
