Faldham

With the sun veiled behind blood-red clouds and the fields dark and shadowed, the ground began to shake violently beneath us, and a thunderous roar of anger and outright evil shattered the peaceful evening journey we had all hoped for. 

The road to the Wold was supposed to be safe, it was said. At least as safe as a road could be in these dire times of looming war, of roaming orcs and wargs, wicked and corrupted men from the east, and other horrors. And there was a mission to uphold, one that could not have come at a worse time for us. 

It was hard trying to fall asleep in Faldham’s Mead Hall. 

I had found a quieter corner, away from the guards and the few folk still at the table. It was long since dark outside, and their talking was past the earlier merriment and banter of the place, falling into more mundane concerns, and the odd joke. 

We both looked to Elfmar, speaking with one of his men. His back was partly turned towards the door, so though he had likely heard our footsteps, he hadn’t yet seen us. I paused.

"Waelden! Come over here, quickly!" I cried, with a mixture of horror and relief. Relief that the answer to the mystery, the cause of so much death to the orcs was solved; horror at the terrible wounds the man bore. My shoulders sagged in near despair as I sank to my knees on the grass beside him. 

     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.)