Eduwiges of Faldham stood on the rocks before the hilly barrows of the small town that was her namesake. The wind blew from the north, over the spiked walls of Faldham, unsure whether the season was spring or winter. Eduwiges shivered, but not because of the wind. Grief and anger coursed through her veins as she watched the grass and symbelmyne flowers bend before the onslaught of the wind. Alfara, of Edoras, officer of the Elfward, great warrior, and Eduwiges’ father, lay under the fresh mound covered in spring’s first flowers.
As the thin sunlight filtered through the clouds to caress her skin and counteract the fickle wind, Eduwiges began her tale. The young shield maiden tells her father that after she ran away from Faldham following their final argument, she almost starved. She survived by stealing bread from the windows of farm wives and vegetables from gardens as she made her way across the Norcroft, sleeping in haybales, filthy and dirty. Too stubborn to give up, she toughed her way up through Cliving and into the Great River country, narrowly escaping rape by brigands when she killed her first man in battle. Fairy tales seemed to come to life as monsters from her dreams began to appear before her. Ghosts of lost armies littered the countryside of Parth Celebrant. Orcs and wargs roiled around in bands killing the unwary, Eduwiges learned to survive. In Stangard an old warrior took pity on her and allowed her to live with him and his sons. The skills her father taught of the shield and rider blossomed as she utilized them. Riding out, time after time as part of the local militia. For the first time since leaving home she felt a place where she belonged. The old fighter’s wife kept her well fed and her sword arm grew stronger.
Alfara, learns that Eduwiges was rescued after losing her way in the great forest by the Anduin river. An ancient elf who missed his family took interest in Eduwiges after he saved her life. She learned the fair arts of elven culture: Sindarin, with a smattering of Quenya, penmanship, art, poetry, archery and most important the elven way with a sword. It was difficult, and wonderful living in the great flets with the ‘dwimordene’. Once, she even caught a glimpse of the lord and lady as they tended their gardens. However, all things end, and her foster parent asked her to go with him to visit cousins in Imladris.
Almost to Imladris in the cold wastes of the Misty Mountains, Eduwiges was once again rescued. Brenniion, an elven hunter, pulled her from the snow. She was unconscious, bleeding and dying. Her face was slashed, and arrows pierced her body. Eduwiges was the only survivor of the retinue. She spent months in Elrond’s house of rest; her body and mind healing from the brutality of the orcish assault and the loss of her friends. Lord Elrond himself attended her. It turns out, he was one of the cousins her mentor came to see. With the timeless time she spent in Imladris she trained with the guard, scouted with the sons of Elrond and even practiced with Glorfindal, the ancient elvish hero of Gondolin. Then came the day when Elrond asked her to go with the guards escorting elves to take ship across the sea in Celondim.
Eduwiges explains to her father how she adventured across Eriador after arriving in Celondim. From Bree-town to Moria she explored, making new friends along the way. The mighty elvish fighter Ahmo in the bowels of Moria. The lovely Addelia, Nethrida and the Ancient Elf Enthan in the small hideaway outside of Bree-town. Her companion and sometime lover, the beautiful, mysterious Xanderian with her magical bow, heartbreaker. The near tragedy at the Kheledul docks and other friends. Hawke, the singer and rogue who is murder with a blade. Maeredae, the other lost waif who grew up in the Mark. Vandallan elven hunter, Orduin, Eorlingas of the Mark and Captain of the Oath-sworn, Lore master of Bree-town the scholarly Annabette of Bree and the quiet, mercurial Calidis, jeweler of Eregion. Some of these have traveled with her back to the Mark. Calidis, Xanderian, and Hawke were with her yesterday when she visited. She tells her father of the others who split off and journeyed to Cliving the day before: Addelia, Rhavanielle, Annabette, and Masin.
Eduwiges stares out across the rolling hills of her homeland and says to her father.
‘I am so sorry I left you with bitter words in my mouth. I am so sorry I did not return soon enough.’ Tears stream from her eyes, bitterness rolling down her cheeks.
‘Father, I will find out who did this to you. I will not allow them to live unscathed.’ She grits her teeth and rests her hand on the hilt of Morinehtar.
‘Edu?’ she hears behind her in a quiet voice. She turns suddenly, sunlight framing her body.
The thane of Faldham is standing there, cloak flapping in the wind, mustaches curling up, hair streaming, and sword strapped to his belt. Elfmar’s mail gleams in the light where it peaks through his hauberk. He is holding something in his hands.
‘When we received word that you were dead, your father refused to believe it. Alfara said, if you had died, he would have felt it. He would know it in his bones! Is how he put it.’ The rumbling bassoon of Elfmar’s voice trails off as he looks at the symbelmyne bouquet Eduwiges has in her hands.
‘You made that did you?’ he asks quietly.
‘Aye’ she nods. They stare at each other for a moment in silence.
‘Your father wanted you to have this.’ Elfmar’s deep voice rumbles. He offers the small chest to Eduwiges. She sets the pretty bouquet of white flowers woven the day before, gently on the mound over her father and takes the chest from the Thane.
‘What is it?’ she asks softly, eyes meeting Elmar’s
‘I’m not sure.’ He said.
Keepsakes of your mother and such I believe. We told your father he was a fool for believing you were still alive, and now we are the fools since you are here.’
He leans close and pulls Eduwiges into a hug, his deep voice becomes a whisper.
‘I cannot speak of this in the mead hall, but I believe your father was betrayed - we, the Elfward were betrayed by someone in Theoden-King’s court. We do not know by who. We have all been afraid.’ He pauses for breath, choosing his words.
‘The king has lost his wits and is a dotard. The power behind the throne is unknown, but I certainly suspect.’ He said.
‘There is evidence in this box along with the legacy your father wanted you to have. Do not open this here.’ He is close to running out of breath.
‘You said your other friends are in Cliving?’
‘Return to them there. I will aid you as I can.’
He kisses both of her tear strewn cheeks ritualistically and pushes her back by her shoulders. Eduwiges’ face burns red with grief and anger as she interprets what she has been told.
‘Your father was a good man and a great warrior. We are deeply grieved to have lost him. Farewell shield maiden! May Bema look after you!’
With that, he turns on his heel and strides off, back, towards Faldham.
Eduwiges stands there a moment, lost in thought. Her eyes bright and hooded. She looks down at the bouquet she had made and clutches Alfara of Eodoras’ legacy in her arms. Moving forward she strides with purpose around the rudely hewn barricades surrounding Faldham and into the main gate. Eduwiges spots Xanderian, Hawke and Calidis waiting for her with worried looks on their faces. She strides over to them.
‘What now my lynx?’ Xanderian asks. Eduwiges steps into the stirrup and mounts her horse Oenone and wheels her around by the reigns.
‘Cliving.’ she says abruptly. ‘I’ll explain later.’ she flicks her heels into the horse’s flanks and gallops through the gate and into the horizon.
