Just as Halla was heading out the door the next morning, wondering however she was to get Maukurz onto the horse, Finnan came walking up the lane, a hard-eyed and severely dressed woman in her mid-twenties beside him.

"Halla dearest, you remember I wished to find a maid to assist you? This is Ailen's older sister, Ailith. She is… making her own way in the world, isn't that right, Ailith?"

Ailith nodded curtly. "That is so, my lord. Good day, my lady."

Halla managed to close her mouth. She would not thank Finnan. There was a light in his eyes that was all together cunning and victorious, and Halla realized that her absences from the manor had not been overlooked. He suspects me of a lover, Halla thought. And he fetches Ailen's sister to spy on me! Pray not the same one Ailen spoke of? Surely Finnan would have no idea about…

It doesn't matter a jot. I will see Maukurz safe today.

"I will leave you two alone to get acquainted," Finnan said, sweeping a bow that was far too charming for his usual deportment.

"So…" Halla began, "Are you married?"

"Not at all," Ailith said, her voice as severe as her tightly bound hair and her high-necked homespun gown. "As your husband said, I make my own way now. I suppose I ought to put it out, before you hear any gossip from your friends. I was caught in a raid, and fell pregnant. The usual remedies for that condition had no effect on the monster spawn, and so I drowned it in the river as soon as it came. If there was a Man in the world who'd have me after that, I'd still have no desire for him. I take what work I find, putting my wages aside to buy a bit of land, a stallion, and a few mares. Whatever I make of myself, I will leave to my brother's children when they come."

Halla's face and guts contorted at once, and she turned away from Ailith's pointed stare.

"You are disgusted. I don't blame you. But I work hard, and that's what matters, does it not?"

"Forgive me," Halla said, once she'd found her voice. She could not imagine what was worse, being raped in a raid, or drowning a blameless newborn babe. Or being faced with such a woman, after giving herself to an Uruk-hai warrior! Halla had never been a good prevaricator, and she found it quite impossible to draw the smile she was sure she ought to. Her breath came in a rickety sigh, and she said, "Well, there won't be much work for you today. I am already dressed, and I am going riding. I shall be gone a good long while. You can make yourself at home while I am gone."

Ailith's eyes danced suspiciously, and Halla knew that Finnan had truly brought her in to spy. "Shall I ride with you, my lady? Your husband was quite clear that I was to accompany you always."

Halla grit her teeth, watching as Finnan disappeared into the field to catch a horse. He will go to Edwyn, yet he chains me here to this hard-hearted woman! Well, both shall find that I am not so easily hobbled!

As soon as Finnan was out of sight, Halla rounded on Ailith. "I am going alone, as I planned. And if you think I shall explain my comings and goings to you, you are quite mistaken. I know he pays you, but you still work for me."

Ailith stared baldly at Halla; but then her hard mouth softened, and she said, "Then you should know, my lady, he suspects you of adultery. I would rather prove you innocent, for the punishment he would deal is severe."

"Is it?" Halla laughed. "He speaks so of me? He threatens me? Then he is a fool. I have no fear of him, I assure you. But I do have a duty today, an urgent duty, and I doubt you'd wish to come along. There is… there is one I love in great danger, and I will give such assistance as I can."

"A Man?" Ailith asked. "You do not deny the charge."

Halla flushed with fury. "There is no Man save Finnan, you can bet your life on that. You can tell him that, if you will! It is the full and total truth, I swear it by Bema, by all the Valar and Eru himself! And you, Ailith, will not charge me with a thing!"

With that Halla spun on her heel and marched away, a sick, sour feeling in her belly. She broke into trembling before she reached the barn, going to sit against the back wall until Finnan had tacked his horse and galloped off for a morning of love and joy. Which he denies me, Halla thought bitterly.

But this is quite bad. Not only does Finnan suspect me, he's sent such a woman to me… Is there some way she might suspect the truth? Some way she might know the truth, seeing me? I do pity her… except for the bit about the poor baby… But I will not give up my love, the only love I ever need and want.

The whole thing made Maukurz's offer of running away together seem much, much better. But still… Her land—though fallen fallow due to the war—had been in her family through the reign of eight kings. Halla had been excited to see it under some sort of cultivation. There were marshy bits by the river that would do well for growing flax, and sweet pastureland for horses and sheep both, as they ate different parts of the grass. And even if she did nothing at all with it, she was loathe to let go of what her family had held for so many generations. Maukurz surely couldn't understand… or could he? Was he not, in some way, a son of Rohan?

Halla sighed heavily, knowing that even if Maukurz's mother had been old King Theoden's queen herself, he would still never be accepted. There's no chance for us here. I should run away with him as soon as he is better, as soon as he can hunt.

But how could she give up the only life she'd ever know? Halla could not see the fairness in being asked to choose between all she knew and loved, and this new love for Maukurz that made her body sing and her heart glad. No one had ever made her feel as Maukurz did, exotic and precious at the same time, as far from a barely tolerated orphan and an unwanted wife as could be. I will not give that up.

But will I have to give up all else in return?

Halla couldn't think anymore. As soon as she saw Finnan ride off, she stood up, and ordered Ailen to ready the war horse.

"Halla…" Maukurz balked at the sight of the great horse. He'd been thrown enough times to imagine just how it would feel as his already injured body was catapulted into the rocky earth.

"He will bear you," Halla said desperately, her palm cupping Maukurz's sharp cheek. "Besides, we've no choice now. The Riders will come here tomorrow and they will kill you, please…"

"What about you?" he asked, drawing her into his lap. He took her small wrists in one hand, thinking that she was so terribly fragile. He felt sick, knowing he had no way to keep her, no way to protect her. "I hate you going back to him every night! I'd rather die than be without you."

She had tears in her eyes. "If you die I will die! I can't go back to that cold dead life, Maukurz! I swear we will find a way, but now you must go back to your people! Trust me!"

Maukurz tilted her face up, studying her with every sense he could muster for some sign she was not abandoning him. Finding nothing but desire and confusion and fear, he sighed and laid his cheek against hers. "Trust… is not something I know well, Halla," he said quietly.

Halla took his face in her small hands. "You must learn it then," she murmured, kissing him softly. It was a strange thing for Maukurz, to feel her mouth on his so gently, without any of the aggression he had believed accompanied intimacy. He was afraid to yield to such a thing, sensing that if he did, some long denied part of him, a part he didn't know existed but had vigilantly oppressed all the same, would come screaming to the surface. But her closeness inflamed him, and without any thought he tightened his arms around her. Slowly, awkwardly, he returned her kiss, unaware of anything else as his hands snaked into her hair. Yet he could no more deny his Orcish nature than the wolves they both loved could deny their own selves, and he bit her lip softly, drawing his sharp teeth gently over that sweet fullness, ever so careful not to break her delicate skin no matter how badly he longed to.

He felt control slipping away from him as he found her throat. Not knowing how to ask for what he'd always taken, Maukurz grazed her throat with his teeth. He opened his mouth to bite down, but when his sharp teeth pressed into her flesh she gasped and became frightened. Maukurz wrenched himself away, groaning. "Shh…" he pleaded, "I just… I want to know you're mine."

"I am yours," Halla whispered, kissing his neck, pulling on his long, thick hair.

"I want… you… want you to wear my mark," he told her, gasping at the sudden sensitivity of his flesh under her lips. "Want to… taste you…"

"I don't know what you mean," she breathed dizzily, flushed with desire.

Maukurz sighed hard. Her mouth was just beneath his ear, and he could pick out all the separate melodies of her breathing, her soft little whimpers of desire. He tried to find words but it felt like trying to catch birds in his hands. He broke away and pushed her head gently back, exposing her pale white neck. Somewhere that her husband can't see… he thought desperately, running his hands over her fragile, breakable throat. "Does he… look at you? Un... unclothed?" Maukurz growled, the thought of anyone else's eyes on Halla's body infuriating.

"Never," she replied, as soft as water in his hands. Trust, Maukurz thought, frightened by the heaviness of such responsibility, this is trust, I think.

Maukurz fumbled with the laces of her gown, exposing her soft shoulder, feeling her body writhe against his. He kissed the soft place between her thin bones, then set his teeth to it, pushing as hard as he dared without drawing blood. She cried out softly, but didn't pull away. "Right here," he whispered against her skin. "Yes?"

"It will hurt?" she asked softly.

"Just a little... I'll make you feel good though."

"Yes..." Halla breathed, nodding, excited. Maukurz gasped in surprise: while he'd been searching for a place to leave his mark, she'd pulled her gown up. Now she took him in, breathing hard, sweet, sharp cries catching in her throat as she struggled and pushed herself down on him. The shock of it—entering her so unexpectedly, on her terms—was enough to bring him all the way to climax. Maukurz grit his jaw and threw his head back, but she pulled his face back down, kissing him again.

Maukurz surrendered for the first time in his life, holding her, running his hands over her body, letting her control everything. He had no more to do than just feel, and it was achingly sweet. But soon he had no choice: his body demanded more. He gripped her tightly, bent his good right leg, flexed his rock hard abdominal muscles as he thrust up into her, his breath a harsh, purring growl in her ear. Only a moment later she tossed her head back, moaning as her body clenched and shivered and washed over him. Now, he thought. He bent his neck and set his teeth to her shoulder, sinking his bite into her soft, vulnerable flesh. He heard her moan of pleasure turn to a whimpered cry as her sweet blood spurted into his mouth, and then back to a soft moan as he rolled his hips against her. Beset in every sense with pleasure and fulfilled desire, Maukurz bit down on a vicious roar as every sensation came to an explosive peak and he filled her belly with his dark seed.

He clung to her, coming slowly back to awareness. She was shaking in his arms. His mouth was full of her blood, and she was leaning against him as if her bones had melted. He smoothed her hair, and when he recovered speech he asked her, "All right?"

She was breathing so shakily that he was anxious for her, anxious he'd gone too far. Then she whispered, "Incredible…"

Maukurz laughed softly, rippling and purring with delight, sure that she was his completely. "Don't let no one see that," he warned her. He released her to tear a piece of the blanket, then poured some of the water she'd gotten him the day before over it. He dabbed the wet cloth carefully on her pierced, bloody skin.

"I'll tell them a wolf bit me," she laughed playfully, even as she flinched from the cold cloth on her sore shoulder.

Maukurz frowned. He dropped the cloth and set his hands on her cheeks, directing her eyes at him so she would be sure to see how serious it was. "No, Halla, this isn't for laughing. Horse boys… they will know, you understand? Don't let no one see this. This is only for us."

Halla sighed unhappily. "I understand."

"When I am healed, you will come to me forever. Then no more hiding, no more fear. I swear this."

She sighed again, twining her arms around his neck. "We had better get going," she said softly.

"I know. I will try now."

Halla stood up on shaky legs, her fingers gingerly examining the fresh mark. He knew she didn't understand the meaning of it fully, but it was pleasure enough for Maukurz to see his scars on her flesh. "Find me a long stick," he told her. "If you want me to try to get on that… that animal… I must stand first."

It was a long, frustrating process. Maukurz was ashamed of how dizzy he felt, how much he needed to lean on the stick just to stand up again. But he was glad, finally, to be upright. At the very least, he wouldn't have to crawl to take a piss anymore. Yet he could bear no weight at all on his broken leg, and that was slightly frightening. Halla encouraged him, assuring him he did well, and so he swallowed his bitterness. "Bring him over," Maukurz said, tossing his chin at the horse tied a few paces away.

Halla took the saddle off first, leaving it in the ferns. She handed Maukurz his bow and quiver, which he shouldered. Then she took hold of the reins and brought the animal over. The horse wanted nothing to do with Maukurz, but two days of being in the Uruk's presence made it a little easier to bring it up to him. The horse pinned its ears back and its eyes were wide as Maukurz tentatively ran his hand over the animal's thick, strong back. Halla kept a tight grip on the reins. "D'you think you can pull yourself up?"

Maukurz nodded. "That's no problem, my arms are good still. But where will you sit? How will you get up?"

"I should get on first. Then you get behind me. Can you, you think?"

"Sure," he said.

Halla grasped a handful of mane and lightly vaulted onto the horse, something she'd been able to do since she was ten years old. Maukurz grinned in delight, watching her gown bunch up around her firm thighs. "Next I mark you here," he murmured, running his finger over the ripe flesh. Then he took a deep breath and braced his hands on the horse's back. Halla held the horse firmly, stroking its neck. She was stunned by Maukurz's strength as he pushed himself up with ease, using his powerful arms alone, then swung his good leg over the horse's back. He scooted up behind Halla, and wrapped his arms around her.

Then he laughed softly. "Shit," he breathed. "Shit. I'm on one!"

"You certainly are. Now let's get you home."

Maukurz directed her up into the mountains. He could feel her pulse quicken. Her fear became palpable, but she was excited too. He wondered if she was considering coming to live with him. He tightened his arms around her belly and kissed her neck. They climbed so high the air turned cold, and snow crunched on the ground. After two full hours of travel at a slow walk, through pine forests, on winding, dangerous trails no horse wanted to take, Maukurz murmured in her ear, "We've almost arrived—"

He caught his words, then whispered, "Whatever you do, don't scream. Don't be afraid. I swear all will be well."

"What—?"

Halla froze in terror, and Maukurz clutched her to him as four Uruk-hai slipped around the trees, surrounding them.