This event occurs between the events of Homecoming posted by Eduwiges and the Great Horse Rescue Part 2 posted by Addiela. (Rhavanielle help with editing.)
Eduwiges of Faldham stared out at the field with haze covered eyes. She closed them and took a deep breath. The smell of rain permeated through her senses. Thunder could almost be seen and the lightning flashed through her eyelids and seared on her brain. Suddenly the rain began pouring down like the heavens had been drained. Oenone, Eduwiges’ war-steed and friend trembled below her and she leaned forward and patted the horse on her neck. ‘Good girl.’ she said and took another deep breath. Her arm ached with the soreness of one who had been hewing orc necks not long before.
Since leaving Faldham after paying respects at her father’s grave behind the walled fortress town, Eduwiges had rendezvoused with her friends in Cliving and was forced by circumstance to return. In fact, in fear of her friends being injured she came without them and left a note. Another fact finding mission regarding her father’s murder by men pretending to be Uruk-hai’. Eduwiges returned again to the town she grew up in. The town she left when her father refused her entry into the Elf-ward because she was a girl. In the end it wasn’t her sex that kept her from Thane Elfmar’s elite group of riders, it was her. Eduwiges’ dad wanted her safe and if keeping her out of the Elf-ward kept her safe then that's what he would do. How was her father to know the strong willed Eduwiges would just leave home? That he would never see her again before his death? That the awful insults hurled at one another would never be atoned for?
Eduwiges sighed, the long lost words were never redeemed until her father’s words beyond the grave set her free. She opened her eyes. Lightning flashed. Dead orcs and wargs littered the field before her. The rain carved lines through the soot, mud and gore on her face. Oenone whinnied and shook beneath her. The horse was nearly as exhausted as she was. Thane Elmar rode up beside her and pulled back on the reins, halting his enormous charger. Elfmar looked weary, but the fear he had on his face before the orcs attacked was gone. The shine of battle radiated out from his armor.
‘Never have I seen a charge so fiercely blunted by one person.’ He said.
The other riders of the Elfward continued riding as a group around Faldham. Any wounded orcs were slain where they laid. None would be returning to Saruman’s command at Orthanc. That morning, before the sun rose, Nothwolf, Elfmar’s chief lieutenant appeared outside the small tent the Thane had allowed Eduwiges to sleep in. With him, one of the Elfward, carried an almost pristine set of armor. Lightning flashed in the sky and thunder rumbled, heralding the coming storm of rain and mounted Uruk-hais.
‘The Thane requests your help, Eduwiges. The scouts we have left spotted several hundred Uruk-hais mounted on wargs headed our way. Thane Elfmar would like, uhm, needs you,’ he stuttered, ‘to ride with us. We are very short on men.’
Eduwiges of Faldham came out of the tent and looked at the weary men standing before her. Compared to them, she was well rested. She inspected the armor. Years ago she would have moved heaven and earth to ride with the Elfward, and here was her opportunity. With no hesitation at all she said,
‘I know I have been gone a long while, but these are my people. My father’s people. You are my people. Of course I will ride with you. I would be honored to be a part of an eored.’
‘Nay Eduwiges, the Thane has something else in mind for you. Thane Elfmar would like for you to hang back as a reserve with a small eored and come in when you feel you are needed. He feels this will give us an advantage, your skills will surprise and confound the enemy.’
So, Eduwiges put on the beautifully crafted armor. She had no squire so it took time to fold it around her. She realized this set had been made for a special purpose and only grief had brought it to her. She asked no questions as to its origin but it served her well. As she sat Oenone next to Elfmar he said again, ‘Never have I seen a charge broken up like that, never!’
As the battle began and the Elfward charged into the rows of mounted uruk-hai another group of brutes appeared behind the lightning. Rushing forward on their wargs they moved hard to flank the Elfward by coming directly into the side of eored. To the far side of the Uruks two trolls in battle armor carried huge halberds while rushing forwards. Knowing this was their time Eduwiges hefted the ash spear, shouted follow me and launched her small eored at the enemy.
Eduwiges of Faldham thundered into the row of Uruks and trolls before her. The largest of them, an armor wearing, great brute of a mountain troll was leading the charge. Eduwiges stood tall in her stirrups, leaning forward and up, struck the troll directly in the head, splintering the spear fashioned by the Elfward. The troll staggered backwards, then forwards and fell directly onto the uruks making the charge rendering them hors de combat. The following riders made short work of the other troll and the downed uruks.
Eduwiges smiled grimly as the rain pelted her. Elfmar looked over, seeing a fierce warrior.‘I’d like to offer you a place in the Elfward.’ he said. I’d like for you to be one of my lieutenants. You are obviously good in a fight and the men would follow you into Mordor if asked.’
The irony of the moment struck Eduwiges as she looked over the mud churned earth of the battle. She had killed many uruks, and wargs as well. ‘I am honored by this Lord Elfhelm. When I was younger I would have loved nothing more. But my path lies in a different direction.’
She looked Elfhelm in the eyes with gratitude. ‘You do myself and my father much homage to ask this of me. Someday I will return and then we shall see.’
Just then the rain eased off and the plinking sound on her helmet became less. She took it off and looked up into the sky, seeing the clouds and the light of the sun trying to peek through. The last of the rain felt clean on her face as some of the grime washed away. ‘You have earned that armor Eduwiges.’ he said.
‘It was made for my son who only wore it once before he was killed. You would do me much honor for you to wear it from now on. When you return you may lead eoreds with it or hang it in your house if we all make it through this.’
Eduwiges of Faldham turned away so the Thane would not see the tears coming from her eyes as she thought of the glory done to her and how proud her father would be of her this day. Suddenly, she could see on the road, past Enswith’s farm, several figures on horseback approaching. As they grew closer she wiped the tears from her eyes and jumped off Oenone and ran to them. Her friends she had abandoned to come here had ridden in from Cliving. She threw herself into their arms as they dismounted, Hawke, Addiela, Rhavanielle, Xanderian, Caladis, Nethrida and Annabette were all there, all loving and they did not care she was covered in filth and sweat. They all embraced her as the grief of her father’s death overwhelmed her and the incandescence of the battle left her.
