"Don't worry, we won't be invaded here. Old friends will be coming by though soon. And I think you should have a lady's maid." Finnan sat beside the fireplace, where an armful of flowers sat in the unused grate, sipping from a mug of frothy ale.

Halla sat up. She'd been quite firmly put to bed, and it irritated her, but she saw no recourse against her husband, not when she was mortally afraid of what his friends would find in the woods. "I really don't need a lady's maid."

Finnan smiled sweetly. "I would feel better if you were well taken care of."

Halla grit her teeth.

"I don't think I need to tell you…" his voice stalled, leaving no doubt what he was talking about.

Halla shook her head, staring at the flowers. "I won't say anything about him," Halla assured Finnan. She felt like she was standing on a rocking boat, about to tip right over. "I don't want any… trouble."

Finnan nodded, and stood up. He walked halfway to the door, then turned to tell her, "Whatever has its eyes on this corner of the Westfold—or anything in it—have no worry. We will hold onto our own. Nothing will trespass here."

Unable to meet his eyes, Halla nodded while looking down, smoothing the sheets over her lap. Two days. She had all of two days to figure out how to get Maukurz home, to such folk as he had hiding in the mountains. That she might never see him again after that—for she was terrified to go around his fellows—that was the price she'd pay to keep him alive. Which he most certainly would not be if he was still lying there, once her husband and the other Riders cut like a scythe through the forest.

Once he left she lay back in the bed, staring at the tester. Silverfire is far too green to bear Maukurz. Our horses hate his kind. It would need a strong leg and a well-trained charger to get him up the mountain on horseback.

Surely one like that could bear his weight. I can bring him close enough to his camp that he can call to his people, or they will find him, but far enough that I can get away before they come.

The problem was, Halla didn't know which of Finnan's horses were battle-tested. A Rider of his wealth would have several war mounts, but of those, Halla had only seen him ride the thick-necked roan. She could hardly ask him without arousing suspicion. But perhaps Ailen…

Blythe knocked and came in. "Master Finnan said you'd wanted a bath."

"Yes, please," Halla said. "And for tomorrow, I need laid out a plain woolen dress and riding breeches. I'm going to get to know the horses."

That evening before bed, she climbed into a warm bath in her copper tub and allowed herself a few moments of enjoyment, remembering what she'd done with Maukurz in the forest. There were no worries or thoughts then, only feelings, excitement and desire and freedom of course, but also a sure sense that Maukurz would fight for her. Finnan said he would protect her, but he was guarding property, and Halla was quite sure she was not the greatest of his property. Maukurz would run into fire for her, and Halla knew it. She hoped desperately it wasn't the last time she could be with him, but if it had to be that way, at least she'd make sure he survived the coming scouring.

Halla sunk into the warm, lapping water and remembered the exquisite pleasure Maukurz had given her. She pushed any terrifying thought that she might have fallen pregnant right out of her mind.


"Good morning, Mistress Halla!" Ailen said briskly, standing up straight and brushing off his plain homespun tunic.

"Hello, Ailen," Halla said, smiling kindly. "I was wondering if you might take me into the field to choose a horse. I've a mind to ride a big, strong one… But he must be calm, and well-schooled."

"I think we can find a nice one for you," Ailen said cheerily, snatching up a lead. "I'll just be a minute. I need to fetch a bucket of oats."

Halla nodded and walked over to one of the occupied stalls, peering through the iron bars above the half-wall. A heavily pregnant bay mare was placidly eating hay.

"That's Miss Matilda," Ailen said cheerily when he returned. "I'm hopin' for a black foal. The sire's sire was black, or so I hear. So many of the black ones were stolen, I'd like to see a dark beauty again."

"Were many of Lord Finnan's horses taken?" Halla asked.

"Not so much his but his father's, a few miles to the south. It was the big Uruks lasso'ed 'em. Terrible sight, that. Almost like the horses knew where they'd end up. But that's all over now."

"They fought it, didn't they? The horses?"

Ailen nodded, and they stepped back into the morning light. "I think it was the smell of the beasts. The first few times, my Da says, the horses went easy. After that, after the raids kicked up, the horses were as scared as the rest of us. Good thing all of those beasts are gone."

"The Uruk-hai didn't do it themselves," Halla said crossly. "They did it for the wizard. He made them do it. He made them, just for that purpose."

Ailen frowned uncomfortably. "All I know about Uruks is they killed one of my sisters and ruined another. And if anyone tried to make me do those sorts of things, I would run away."

"You don't know what you'd do. Remember the Deep? Saruman commanded such a fire that brought down stone. He can do all sorts of things you've no idea of. Now if you were born to that, and you had a master with such power, wouldn't you obey him? He'd find you if you ran off, and make you pay! Wouldn't it matter much more what you did after the war?"

Ailen frowned, opening the gate to the north field. "I… I don't know, Mistress. Would it not be better to die yourself, than cause such misery to others?"

"I suppose it would be," Halla murmured. "Unless you know nothing better than what your master's told you to do. Perhaps you'd even try to be very good at what he's told you to do, and win what little favor he might give."

Ailen's blonde eyebrows furrowed together, his freckled nose wrinkled up. "My Da taught me right from wrong, Mistress Halla. But s'posing I had a different Da, and he was bad, I might want to do right by him. So I'd do wrong, thinkin' good was bad and bad was good. That sorta what you mean?"

"Exactly. Exactly so." For another reason than you think, you are exactly right! For all Halla knew, Maukurz was her kin. Her own distant cousin, raised up by a true monster. Not just something that had different looks and knew only one way, but a brilliant and powerful demon in the guise of a fine noble Man.

"But it don't matter anymore, right Mistress? 'Cause all the Uruks are dead."

Halla swallowed, not knowing how to respond. She didn't want to lie to the boy, and she couldn't betray Maukurz. She shook her head lightly, ambiguously. They fell quiet then, walking through the damp grass, listening to cicadas and crickets and other insects sing in the morning cool. The herd was moving slowly over the grass nearby, a fine mist clinging to the ground around their legs. Halla smiled at the sight of three foals, cantering on little bandy legs beside their grazing mothers, nipping every so often for milk. Behind the herd, a high, snowy mountain tore slowly, then sharply out of the ground. Halla looked up to the cliffs, wondering where Maukurz's home might be.

"There's a good girl," Ailen said, pointing to a bright, almost snowy white mare trotting to a stand of taller grasses. "Morning Star. She was one of Master's mother's hunters, and the mother of your colt."

"She looks a little thin in the withers," Halla said quickly. A hunter wouldn't suit her purpose at all. "I want something with a big, broad back. Nice and comfortable, like riding a cloud. Who is that chestnut there?"

"That one?" Ailen asked, frowning, because he'd wanted to put her on the tamest mount. Halla nodded promptly. "That there horse goes by Death Hammer. He was at Pelenor Fields, he was. But… won't he be a little strong for you?"

"If he's well trained his mouth should be light enough," Halla said. "Besides, I have gloves. Let's catch him."

Within the hour, Halla was mounted on the big, proud charger, and he would have been a pleasure if she was riding for any other reason. Halfway to the forest she squeezed her calf and the horse stepped lightly into a strong, rolling canter. Halla leaned forward, urging the horse into a flat gallop. She raced into the forest, and galloped as high as she dared up the trail before the rocks became too many and the slope too great.

She dismounted at the ford. The horse snorted fretfully, flicked its ears back, but followed Halla obediently through the water all the same. She stepped off the trail and into the forest, looking at Maukurz sitting with his bow in his lap, an arrow between his fingers, fitted to the string.

"Don't shoot me," Halla called, smiling sadly. The horse jerked his head a few more times, but she led him forward, then tied his reins around the thin white trunk of a birch tree, and then plucked her calfskin gloves from her fingers.

Maukurz lay his bow aside as she approached, his hands out for her. He drew Halla into his arms, purring with pleasure to hold her again, drawing in her scent and letting it fill him. He frowned slightly, "You are sad," he breathed into her hair.

"Something terrible has happened, Maukurz," Halla said, tears in her eyes.

"Something that's frightened you?" he asked, flushing with anger.

"There are Riders coming here the day after tomorrow, a great Captain as well. They will search the forests all around here. I have to get you home, Maukurz. Back to your folks, so long as they are somewhere well hidden and high in the mountain."

Maukurz growled out a sigh, hating his infirmity. "That is what the horse is for: you think it will bear me home. But I tell you it won't. I've broken ribs more than once trying to stay on a horse's back. And I'd much rather die than leave you. Unless—" Maukurz curled a finger under Halla's chin, lifted her face to his hopeful smile. "Unless you will come with me? And we will find a place now, for the two of us?"

"I cannot," Halla told him. "For one thing, how would we live? How would we eat?"

Maukurz felt as if she'd slapped him, but it was nothing more than the truth. Until he could hunt for her, she wouldn't truly give herself to him. And why should she, just to starve to death with a cripple? "But you will come to lie with me, talk with me, won't you? Halla?"

To entice her, and to his own delight, Maukurz buried his mouth against her neck. He longed to sink his fangs into that soft flesh, hold her like that as he fucked her hard, sending her back to the horse boy with bowed legs and his fresh mark prominent on her throat. Only his fear that they'd kill her for it stayed his desire. The laces of her gown frustrated him, but he couldn't shred them if she was going back. He finally tugged them away, and slipped his hand in the front of her gown.

"I'll come…" Halla breathed shakily, already aching for him. "But I don't… Want… Your folk… Near…" Her words dissolved as he tugged her gown over her shoulders, and his mouth fell on her breasts. Her hips pushed against his. He wanted her on his lap, so his leg wouldn't give him distraction. He was thrilled to sense her hot arousal, to find her wet and eager the way no female had ever been for him before. It was almost enough for him to finish before he'd even started, but Maukurz got hold of himself, stroking her wet sex as long as he could. He wanted no refusal this time, no fear, no running away to regroup. He took ahold of her hips and pulled her down on his swollen cock. Her moan was delicious, desire and just a touch of pain. Her back arched deeply, thrusting her proud, beautiful breasts in his face as he filled her slowly. Maukurz shuddered, gripping her hips, digging his claws just a little, just enough to feel the fragility of her firm, soft flesh. He set her rhythm, pulling and twisting her hips, for she was trembling already, bathing him with her quick climax. Maukurz cared nothing for troops of Riders galloping towards him as he braced his back against the tree and thrust as hard as he could into his lovely, willing female.

Maukurz took her twice before he could think. Laying on the ground with Halla draped over his chest he murmured, "D'you know what's making the horse lords come?"

"Finnan said Dunlendings raided," she replied softly, her fingers brushing over a scar of whiplash on his chest.

Finnan, Maukurz thought with disgusted jealousy. The one who thinks he owns my female. But he was far more concerned with the implications of Halla's statement.

"I thought the War was over," he growled quietly.

Halla sighed. "I don't think war is ever finished for those… those people."

"Halla… if there is danger of raiding… I can't go up in the mountains and leave you. What if they come to your village?" What if they catch you? How can I protect you like this? "It would make me crazed to be so far from you, with such danger."

"Oh, I doubt I am in very much danger, Maukurz. The day after tomorrow, my village and my very home will be crawling with warriors." She smiled sadly, and brushed her fingers over his sharp cheekbone. "Which is why I must get you away. They will sweep this forest. You really don't know how close you are to our land. To my land, actually."

"I know my bearings well," Maukurz murmured in reply. "There'll be fields, and a big stone dwelling not a sprint away. Then a deserted, burnt out village past that. Another half-day's run down the river, should be a large village with a big wheel, and wooden palisade ringing all."

"Yes, the saw-mill in Birchleigh. But you speak of Lord Finnan's village, and it's not deserted anymore. It's being new built, and people are returning all the time to this part of the country, now that the War is finished. And anything… anything posing a threat…" she shook her head, tears flushing her eyes again. "They will surely kill. I must get you higher up the mountain, you see Maukurz? And even then, I will live every day in a terror, that you've been found and... and killed. Now, do you know where your kinfolk are?"

Maukurz nodded, his golden eyes heavy.

"Then we'll let this horse get used to your presence today, and spend what time we have left well, before I must return for some ridiculous dress fitting. But tomorrow… Tomorrow I must get you mounted, and bring you back home."

"How will I see you?" Maukurz breathed, feeling a sharp pain in his chest and guts at the thought of being so far away from Halla.

"We will find a way," Halla swore fiercely, unwilling now to abandon him, no matter the danger. "But we must let this trouble die down, do you understand?"

Maukurz growled softly, and tightened his arms on Halla. "I understand," he said bitterly.

"But we have a little time still," Halla whispered, smiling, pushing herself up. She lay her lips against his, kissing him softly, thrilling him with the new, exquistely tender sensation. Maukurz wrapped his arms around her tightly, and let her hot body and her sweet attention banish all thoughts of what the next day would bring.