Galadwen couldn't see Arawel as she stepped into the tent. Leindir was there, standing near a low table with an oil lamp in his hand. He nodded politely and Galadwen bowed her head in return.

"It is good to see your wounded arm is healing, My Lord."

Leindir nodded. "Yours was the more grievous injury. You seem to be moving around well."

Galadwen nodded. "I slept for two days, I am told. The wound is sealed, the skin almost knitted, and the stitches secure. I count myself as lucky."

"Luckier than you know," the commander replied. "Three soldiers were wounded by arrows the second night. None survived. Five were wounded the third night, including yourself, and all have recovered ". Closing the lamp's door, he turned up the flame to provide light and placed it on the table. "I think we know who we have to thank for that."

Galadwen nodded. "I made certain to make my thanks known to Earendil this afternoon as we arrived at camp."

"Is that my wayward handmaiden?"

The voice came from behind the folding screen set up to shield the bed from the entrance to the tent. Galadwen thought Lady Arawel sounded a bit unwell.

"Yes my lady," Leindir answered. "It is late however, and she will return in the morning."

"Nonshense," replied Arawel, even as Leindir had begun to nudge Galadwen towards the door. "Get her in here sho I can talk with her."

Galadwen was quite sure that something was amiss, and walking around the screen, found lady Arawel sprawled across her bed in a most unladylike manner, one leg hanging off the bed with it's boot on, the other stretched towards the far side of the bed, boot off.

Arawel struggled to right herself, propping herself up against the headboard. As she did, Leindir whispered in Galadwen's ear. "My wife has had some unfortunate news from the Master of Laketown and is not herself."

Looking at her mistress, Galadwen suspected she might not be herself because of drink, although that seemed unlikely. "I can come back in the morning, my Lady, if you need rest," she offered, looking for a way to end this quickly.

Finally finding a position she found comfortable and moderately upright, Lady Arawel waved her hand haphazardly. "Nonshense my girl. I have shomething I need to discuss with you."

"Oh dear," Galadwen thought. "She has been drinking"

"About that shilver haired monster you've been cavorting about with of late".

Cavorting?

"My lady, you misunderstand," Galadwen began. "He provided me a great service tending…"

Lady Arawel waved her off again. "Honestly young mish, I'm not interested in how well he's been servicing you.."

Galadwen gasped in shock, and dropping her head, covered her face with her hands. Next to her Leindir inhaled sharply in displeasure.

"Now don't be angry dear," Arawel continued. "We are both women of the world, and after that night on the hill how could any man, particularly a human boy, resist your charms?"

"I'm sorry my Lady," Galadwen responded from behind her hands, "I don't understand."

"Oh my dear, you're playing coy. That's sweet." Leaning froward, Arawel said, slightly more softly, "The poor boy never stood a chance. I've been around a bit, my dear, and your bosoms are a gift from Eru himself. And letting them fall out like that…"

"That is enough," Leindir interrupted sharply, pushing past the now sobbing handmaiden and standing between her and his wife.

Lady Arawel seemed bemused. "Now. You got a good look at them too, dearest. Weren't they spectacular?"

With a wail, Galadwen spun and fled from the tent, tears streaming down her face. "How could she think I did that on purpose?" she thought. "I was wounded, I could have died."

She fled into the approaching night, trying to find her tent through the tears. When she finally did, she flew inside, throwing herself down onto her cot in front of a shocked Silima. Rushing to her friend, Silima scooped Galadwen up in a hug, holding her and stroking her hair. It took a long while to get the story from her distraught friend as the tears continued, and the other handmaiden was not not pleased with what she heard.

"May I enter?" It was a man's voice.

"Is that you Commander?" asked Silima, recognizing the voice.

"It is."

"I thought so," she said in a disgusted voice. "Go away."

That brought a few moments of silence as the commander tried to think of another approach.

"I wish to talk to young Galadwen if it's possible?" He tried again.

Silima sprung to her feet and marched from the small tent, colliding solidly with Leindir who, facing a handmaiden with fury written all over her face, stumbled back a couple of paces in shock.

"It is not bloody well possible," the girl screamed. "Your wife is a monster, and if you've come here to try and explain how this is all some sort of mistake, you're a damn monster as well."

Leindir had a pained looked upon his face and was silent for a moment. Then, lowering his eyes, he dropped to one knee before the surprised girl. "You are entirely correct, my lady. Your friendship and defense of lady Galadwen is commendable, and as Galadwen is indisposed, I would ask that you accept my deepest apologies and forward them to her."

"Thank you commander." It was Galadwen who answered, stepping outside and standing behind her still fuming friend. Galadwen's shoulders still shook, occasional sobs escaped her, and her eyes were bloodshot, but she was trying to regain her composure. Moving a storm faced Silima to one side, she stood in front of the kneeling form of Leindir. "Do rise Commander. You are embarrassing yourself."

Leindir did not rise. "Perhaps I am, my lady, but I would be more ashamed if I let this pass without proper apologies. Lady Arawel has no excuse for her behavior towards you this evening, and I failed you by not refusing you entry to our tent when my wife was in that condition."

Galadwen nodded, her sobs subsiding somewhat. "Thank you my Lord. Oh do rise, this is unseemly."

Leindir looked up. "With your permission?"

"Of course my Lord. I insist."

Nodding his head, Leindir stood up. "I am not sure what I can say, my lady, but I can assure you that in the morning, I will make lady Arawel fully understand the necessity for an apology of her own."

"Thank you my lord," Galadwen's had control of herself now, but her voice was tired. "I appreciate the consideration for my feelings, but as you must know, I cannot continue in service of lady Arawel following this incident."

Leindir thought for a moment. "I understand, and concur. I am unable to send you home of course, but I will endeavor to find you other work, if you wish."

Galadwen nodded. "I'm not sure what there is for me besides being a handmaiden, but if you would give it thought, I would appreciate it greatly."

Leindir nodded. "In the morning we will be packing up camp and boarding a longboat for Laketown. I hope we can talk again during the voyage and perhaps find a way for you to contribute." Taking a half step forward, he bowed his head slightly before continuing. "When we stood unaided on that hill three nights ago, a young girl with no real training, took a spear and held the line against a terrible foe. It was courage no one would expect, and I will honor it." Stepping back, he saluted as if she were soldier herself, then turned on his heel and disappeared into the night.

Silima took her friend by the shoulders and pulled her into a gentle hug. "I'm going to leave that cow's service as well," she said, holding Galadwen close.

Galadwen laughed at that. "Lady Arawel is not a cow," she chided gently, "but I don't understand what came over her. She's always been so strong and in control of herself before this. She does need some help though, Silima. She can't ask one of the female guards to attend to her, and she still has important work to do." Galadwen sighed. "My parents are not going to be happy when they learn of what happened."

"Your parents know you better than anyone," Silima reassured, "and as you did nothing wrong, you know they will understand."

Galadwen shrugged. "I suppose you're right," then, realizing her hunger said, "is there any food available in the camp?"

Silima smiled. "Let's head over to the meal tent. I'm sure they still have food left over from dinner."

Fortunately there was food left over, and one of the foraging parties had managed to locate some pork. A good meal of roast pork, and not very stale bread made Galadwen feel a bit better, and after washing her face, she went to bed full, if not entirely happy.

The next morning she awoke just before dawn. Silima was already up and dressing, preparing to go tend to lady Arawel. She offered again to let "that old Troll" tend to her own needs for the remainder of the trip, but Galadwen pushed her friend out through the tent flap, and began preparing herself for the day. She dressed in one of her own skirts, a far more simple affair than the clothes loaned to her by her former mistress, and after neatening her hair and washing her face and hands, she realized she had nothing to do. Her mornings had always been accounted for, preparing her lady's morning meal, folding clothes and helping with the packing of the pavilion. But with her new found unemployment, she had to find something of her own to occupy her time.

First there was breakfast, which consisted of a small piece of waybread. This wasn't an unusual breakfast, as carrying large stores of food was burdensome. Still, while a bite of lembas might keep an elf going for a whole day, it did nothing to satisfy hunger and frankly, was quite dry and dull.

Breakfast done, Galadwen began looking about for something else to occupy her time. All around her men and elves alike were hustling about, efficiently disassembling the camp. Tents were coming down, packs being being loaded onto horses and preparations completed for the move northwards towards the lake, and from there on to Esgaroth. The boats in which they had traveled up the river had been drawn up from the water and groups of soldiers, both elves and men, were gathered around each of them. Galadwen noted that each group had a human in simple garb guiding the preparations.

"A man from South End," Galadwen thought. "They would know how to rig a boat for portage above the falls". A sadder thought then came to her, that these were probably all the men left in that small village, but with this an idea sprang to mind. Rushing back to her tent, she found her sketching satchel and rushed off to find the Commander.

He was not hard to locate, surrounded by several elven soldiers and occasionally pointing in an authoritative manner. Galadwen was relieved to see his wife was not with him, and when he appeared done giving orders, she stepped forward.

Firstly she saluted, palm flat to her chest, head dipped. She wasn't sure why she did this until she answered both her own question and the commander's confused look. "I never returned your salute from last night, commander," she explained.

Leindir smiled, returning the salute.

"No dipped head, unlike last night", Galadwen noticed. "There's more to this than I thought. "Reminding herself to brush up on salute etiquette, she pushed onwards. "Commander, I would like permission to move ahead of the rest of the party and visit South End."

Leindir nodded. "By all means. We will be there in just a few hours, and are expecting a longship to carry myself, lady Arawel, and a few others to Laketown. I would like you to accompany us."

Galadwen was mildly surprised by this. As she was no longer part of Lady Arawel's contingent, she had expected to travel with the others in the smaller boats.

"Of course Commander. I will be in the town when you arrive," she replied.

Leaving the camp behind, she moved quickly along the banks of the Celduin, climbing past Mere's End and continuing on to South End. The town couldn't be described as bustling, but it was far more active then it had been the day before. On the river a team of boys were climbing over the piers, reattaching struts and preparing to rebuild the bridge. In town many of the women were sweeping, cleaning or otherwise neatening up, probably preparing for the arrival of the strange group of elves, Galadwen thought.

Entering the town, she began looking about for the woman from the afternoon before. Asking a young mother, who was trying to keep track of two small children while scrubbing the doorstep of her otherwise run down dwelling, she was met with a deep curtsy. "She lives in a house facing the commons, milady. The door is topped with the coat of arms for South End, so you won't miss it."

Galadwen had no idea what the local coat of arms I looked like, but assuming she'd recognize it when she saw it, she thanked the overworked young woman. This garnered and even deeper curtsy and an, "always at your service, milady," which seemed rather over the top for the young elf. Still, she nodded in what she hoped was a friendly manner, and headed for the piers she had visited the night before.

A fish jumping up a waterfall. At least that's what Galadwen thought it was. It was carved on the lintel, but had not been repainted in quite a while and had seen better days. Knocking gently, she waited a few moments before the door opened to reveal the frazzled looking woman from the previous day. A look of shocked recognition crossed the lady's face and she dropped into yet another curtsy. "I am honored to have you visit, milady."

Galadwen rolled her eyes in annoyance. This was getting a bit much, but fortunately the stout lady was looking down deferentially and didn't notice. "Please my good woman, my name is Galadwen and there is nothing about me that requires a curtsy."

The woman raised her face to the elf and smiled. "Milady, you must see it from our point of view." Rising, she looked earnestly into Galadwen's eyes. "Our town had lost most of it's men folk, and for more than three weeks we had been kept from our fields. Terrorized by murderers, we had barely enough to eat, and were looking at a long, slow death from starvation come the winter."

Galadwen tried to interrupt, but the townswoman shook her head. "No milady. You need to understand. Our lord had abandoned us, and we were without hope. That was until an elven lady, in as beautiful a blue dress as you could ever imagine, walked in out of the wilds and told us she and her folk, with the help of troops sent by a King we thought slain more than two centuries ago by a great dragon, had found and destroyed the orcs that had plagued us."

At this the woman took the elf maids hands in hers. "You spoke to us kindly, and whether you're of noble birth or not, you were the messenger of hope we had no hope of ever meeting. We still have no grain, and we will struggle to grow enough food to supply us for a long winter, but there is a chance now that some of us may yet survive to see the next spring."

Galadwen's eyes were misting, and she leaned forward and embraced the poor lady. "I fear you give me far too much credit," Galadwen whispered, "but I am so thankful for your warmth, and gladdened that some hope has been rekindled in your hearts." Fighting back tears, Galadwen then asked, "your name is Hilda, am I correct good woman?"

"Hilda. Yes milady."

Galadwen nodded. "Hilda. I am saddened to hear that the master did not send you aid when you needed it, and I know that you need it still. I do not believe he would so callously ignore your plight, and I must think that he simply doesn't understand your situation. If you would allow me, I would speak on your behalf to my mistress, so that she may present to him the truth of your plight." At this Galadwen reached into her satchel, and pulling out parchment and charcoal, continued. "I would ask your permission to draw the faces of the widows of South End, so that I can hope to impress upon the Master and the council how dire your situation is." Galadwen paused before adding, "even the hardest heart may soften when a face can be connected to a tale of suffering."

Hilda curtsied once more. "We are all truly grateful for your compassion, milady. Please make yourself at home. I will bring each of the widows here so you may sketch their likeness."

Galadwen sat in a simple chair, behind a nondescript wooden table, and poured her heart into the most important task she had yet done in her life. She was terrified of what would happen if she failed, and determined that she would not. The deep lines of sadness in one woman's face, the dark circles under the eyes of another. Each picture had to be perfect, had to show the grief, the sadness, the loss. She found herself including the children, eyes large with fear, even though they didn't understand why their father was gone.

Had she been paying attention, Galadwen would have seen the shadows from the one open window move across the room, would have realized the hours she had spent worrying that every line carried weight, that every curve reflected the terrible loss the young elven woman had now begun to share. But she didn't pay attention and time slipped by unnoticed.

"Milady?" It was Hilda. The young woman Galadwen had met coming into the town had just left with her two children, a boy of 7 and a girl of 4. Their father had died protecting the bridge, giving the boys of the village time to tear it down, trapping him on the far blinked, trying to focus on anything other than the endless stories of loss she had heard during the past… How long had it been?

"Milady?" Hilda again.

"Yes Hilda. I'm sorry. What is it?"

"There is a gentleman, well, an elf here to see you. He said you'd know who he was. Military type, I would say from the armor."

"Oh dear," Galadwen began rounding up her sketches, rushing to put her supplies back into her satchel. "I was hoping to get more done, but I shouldn't keep the commander waiting."

Hilda shook her head. "You have sketched us all, milady," she said. "23 widows and 31 orphans. And the gentleman in question has been waiting quite some time."

This caught Galadwen by surprise. "What do you mean?"

"He arrived about an hour after the longboat, so four hours after dawn," Hilda explained. "When I told him what you were doing, he said they would wait, and asked that you not be disturbed."

Galadwen was stunned. "Four hours after dawn? What time is it now?"

"The sun will set in slightly more than three hours, milady."

Oh by the Fourteen! She had kept them waiting all day. Leaping from behind the desk, she rushed to the door. Blinking as she stepped into the late afternoon sunlight, she looked about the small commons. "How could all of this happened without me noticing," Galadwen thought.

The river boats had apparently all completed the portage, five of them were fully loaded and sitting on the shore. Looking into the lake she could see several others already moving north and west, tacking across the wind under small, square sails. A much larger version of the river boats, perhaps 20 paces long and five at the beam, sat tied to the nearest pier. Numerous sailors and rowers loitered about her deck or on the dock. If there had been items to load, it appeared to have been completed some time before. An open sided canopy had been erected across from Hilda's home on the shores of the lake. Galadwen could see Leindir, Belem, lady Arawel and others sitting on camp stools and their heads turned to look at the young elf as she appeared in the doorway. With a word to the others, the commander stood, crossing the commons towards Galadwen, who rushed to meet him.

"I am so sorry sir…"

Leindir stopped her with a raised hand. "Do not worry yourself, Galadwen," he said in a soft voice. "As we made our way here, Belem told us what happened to you yesterday. We asked as to your whereabouts upon arriving, and were told of what you were doing by the Firstman's wife, good Hilda here." The commander indicated to someone standing behind Galadwen, but she was too shocked to look. Leindir continued, "Lady Arawel and I thought your task might prove productive and asked that you be allowed to complete your task uninterrupted."

Galadwen looked past the commander to Arawel, still seated under the canopy. It didn't make up for the night before of course, but it was a kind gesture and would make staying mad at her much harder.

Leindir smiled slightly, as if he could see what the Galadwen was thinking. "If you have finished, we can leave when you are ready."

Galadwen bowed her head slightly. "Thank you my lord. Just allow me to collect my sketches."

Moving quickly back into the house, she gathered up her things and returned to the commons. The canopy was already down, and lady Arawel was walking along the dock towards a boarding plank. Belem and Leindir were talking together at the foot of the pier. It looked like the entire town was there to see them off, gathered at a respectful distance around the perimeter of the semicircle. Hilda and Steinarr stood halfway across the dirt, between her and the docks. As she approached, the Firstman bowed at the waist and Hilda, crossing one leg behind the other, curtsied deeply.

Galadwen felt a rush of heat in her face, blushing at this public display being afforded her. Thinking to put things right, she cleared her throat before she spoke. "Dear people of South End," she wasn't sure what she was going to say, she only hoped she could reassure them and make them understand who she was. "I am honored by the treatment you have afforded me, but would tell you that I am no great lady. I am just a young woman, little more than a girl as my people would judge me, and have no history of nobility or leadership in my blood." She looked at the faces of those gathered about her, at the women and their children, and at the few remaining men. She had come to know the grief of the widows, and she understood the guilt of those few remaining men, men who had been on the water when the orcs had come, and were alive for no other reason than good fortune.

"It was not I that spared you from the orcs. If any are to be thanked, it is the soldiers that fought these creatures, elves led by the courage of commander Leindir, and the men of Dale rushing to our aid, led by noble captain Belem." She pointed to the two men at the base of the pier. "Those two stand there, and should be thanked so they may carry it to their troops." All eyes turned their way, and heads were bowed in thanks by every townsperson gathered there.

Galadwen had intended to leave it at that, but something inside drove her forward. What had happened to these people simply couldn't stand. They could not be ignored by their leaders for no other reason than they were poor. "As I told you, I am no lady of power, but I have come to feel deeply your loss. With whatever strength I have, I will serve you in this matter," Galadwen felt the tears flowing down her cheeks now, but her voice lost none of it's strength, if anything, it's power grew.

"I will find a way to bring you the aid you need," she was turning slowly now as she spoke, letting each of the townsfolk see her, see her sincerity. "I cannot believe your lord would just abandon you, and I will make him see the suffering the orcs have wrought. And if the light of Iluvatar cannot guide this man, I will find other means of helping you." She didn't know where these words were coming from, they simply spilled out of her, but still she drove on.

"I know you have perhaps two weeks until seeds must be in the ground, if you are to have a harvest capable of sustaining you through the harsh winter months. I will see that it gets to you, because I could not bear to see good people such as you starve."

She turned back to Hilda and Steinarr. "I am your servant in this," she said, tears still falling. "You have my oath as an elf of Lothlorien that I will not let this town perish."

At this, Galadwen's will broke, the tears overcame her and bowing her head quickly, she rushed towards the two officers who were now waiting a few feet onto the dock. Not wanting the commander to see her tears, she avoided Leindir's eyes, but as she went to pass him, he gently stopped her with a hand on her shoulder.

"You should turn around," he said softly.

Slowly turning about, Galadwen looked through tear soaked eyes back at the ring of townsfolk. Everywhere she saw figures on one knee, heads bowed in silent homage. Even the children, mimicking their elders, were paying their respects.

"But paying their respects to who?" Galadwen thought. "I am no-one, in no way worthy of this honor."

Drawing herself up, the maiden tried to compose herself. She dropped into as deep and elegant a courtesy as she could manage, dropping her head reverently, and holding it for a long moment. Then rising, she turned to face Leindir who stood several paces behind her.

"What have I done, Leindir?" she whispered. "What if I fail these people?"

Leindir bowed his head slightly, but fixed Galadwen with a strong gaze. "I do not believe you will fail, good Galadwen."

Galadwen smiled slightly, happy for the support.

"Please Commander, get me out of here. My heart cannot take any more."