Edwyn heard Halla's shallow breathing in his ear. He stood up and fetched some water from the nightstand. "Sorry, sweetheart," he said, tossing the water in Halla's face.

The girl gasped and shot up, wild-eyed and sucking her breath. She grasped her throat, where livid, angry bruises were already wrapping like a choker necklace around her peach-toned flesh.

"Easy does it," Edwyn murmured, taking Halla's shoulders in his hands. He looked over his shoulder to Ailith. "Hurry now, there should be some brandy in the cabinet over there. Fetch me some. We must move quickly, before Lord Birchleigh wakes."

Edwyn peered into Halla's eyes. The poor thing was terrified, and Edwyn ignored his own reeling emotions to comfort her. "You're going to be just fine, love," he crooned softly. Halla was crying again, horribly frightened. Ailith returned with the brandy in a small silver flask, and Edwyn held it out to Halla. "Take a little sip," he instructed. When she'd complied, he said, "All right. I'm taking you to your aunt and uncle in Stony Hill for a good long stay. D'you think you can stand up?"

Halla nodded—she would try. Holding Edwyn's hand, she got to her feet. At the sight of Finnan sprawled on his belly on the floor, she swooned. Edwyn caught her in his arms and swept her promptly off her feet.

"Oh, my lady…" Ailith whispered, shaking her head desperately. "I'm so, so sorry…"

Halla stared at Ailith, too terrorized to forgive. Then she gripped Edwyn's arm. "Wait…" she said hoarsely, "Under the bed… I need my things…"

"Ailith, look under the bed. Halla… you packed to leave?" Edwyn asked.

Halla closed her eyes and whispered, "I was running away. Finnan—he raped me last night. I… Oh… I just want to leave, please get me out of here, Edwyn…"

Edwyn hissed between his teeth. "He's not the same man, since his father died. Is that it, this bundle here?"

"Yes… But wait… in the chest… Ailith, take half the coin for what I promised you…"

Ailith shook her head, tears flowing down her cheeks. "I don't deserve it…"

"Take half the coin. The rest… dump half of that in my bag. And then… Take the remainder to Birchleigh. Pay the miller; make him put his mark on some paper. So that… the villagers… They won't have to pay the fee this year…"

"Dearest Halla," Edwyn said softly. "We must go now. Ailith, just grab the chest and follow us, please."

Edwyn carried Halla out of the bedroom and down the stairs. "D'you think you can hold on to me, on my horse?"

"I will try," Halla said. "But Edwyn… I don't want to go to Uncle Aelfred."

"Darling, I've not even begun to think about what I've heard. But you cannot stay here. Perhaps one day his temper will cool… and I'll see that he doesn't make any rash moves against you legally… Perhaps one day you can come back. But for now, you've a death sentence hanging over you."

"I don't want to come back," Halla said. "I want you to take me into the forest. He's waiting for me…"

"The… the…" Edwyn couldn't make himself say it.

"Maukurz, his name is Maukurz. Please Edwyn… I know you don't understand, but please…" Halla began to sob.

"Shh," Edwyn murmured, walking into the stables. "Boy! Fetch my horse from the field and tack him, quick!" Ailen took off at a run, and Edwyn sat Halla on a bale of hay. Ailith hovered in the background, her trembling fingers covering her lips. "Now Halla, you know I care very much for you. I'm not going to judge you… Though I think you might need it. But I won't offer you up for the slaughter. If you don't trust your uncle, is there anywhere else you can go? I might have a few friends I could trust to hide you…"

"Edwyn I'm pregnant!" Halla cried.

Edwyn closed his eyes and whistled through his teeth, shaking his head. He took Halla by the shoulders again, seeing the mark on her smooth skin. "Oh, my poor little featherhead!" he exclaimed softly, trying to piece the torn parts of her gown together. "What have you done? Are you sure it's… not human?"

"It's Maukurz's baby," Halla whispered. "I just want to go to him, please Edwyn, don't take me away from him! He won't hurt me! He's finished with war, I told you, he knows his master was evil… And you can't imagine what Saruman did to him…"

Ailith couldn't hear it. She walked away, leaning against the door of an empty stall, covering her face with her hands.

"Halla, you are a sweet little girl, and I know your heart. Likely this… Uruk… saw your kindness and preyed upon it… Now, there are women who know how to get rid of… of unwanted pregnancies. Let me take you to Edoras, and we'll get you straightened out. Then I will set you up in a townhouse, your own townhouse, until this blows over and Finnan can be brought to terms."

"I don't want to get rid of my baby!" Halla cried. "And no matter where you take me, I will run away! I will find him! I love him, Edwyn, it isn't just… just making love… at first it was, but there's so much more now… Please trust me, Edwyn! I know what I need, and it's Maukurz! No one has ever love me like he does!"

"They cannot love, Halla!" Edwyn said, frowning. "They are pure evil! They are Orcs!"

"Half," Halla said. "He is half-Orc! His mother was from the Westfold! All of them! They are our kin, Edwyn! And they didn't ask to be born, or to be… Oh, if only I could tell you what was done to him! He was… he was assaulted most violently from the moment he was born! He was made the way he was, but he's changed! Can you not bring me to him? Meet him?"

Edwyn shook his head, horrified, most of all because there was no lie in Halla. The girl was quite incapable of any but the most simple lies, and even that she did poorly. But she was capable of high passion, and clearly all of her passion was for this enemy warrior. All this time, Edwyn thought, the rogue she's fallen for… An Uruk! A beast! And she, such a beauty! How is it possible?

"You will run to him no matter what I do, won't you?" Edwyn asked, surrendering.

Halla nodded adamantly. Edwyn shook his head again, looking at the ugly bruises around her throat, the spreading bruise on her cheek: Finnan must have hit her as well.

"And what will he do, if he loves you as you say, to see you so injured?"

"He will be furious. But I'll manage him. And he knows he'd be at a great disadvantage, if he was to pick a fight. I think he will be satisfied to take me away. Oh, Edwyn, be my friend! If you take me away... I will die, I know it! And I won't get rid of my baby, so if I don't go live with Maukurz... what will become of me? You see? There is no choice! Now help me please, or stand aside and let me go!"

"You are going to get us both killed," Edwyn growled. "Now, is he alone? This... Maukurz?"

"He's waiting for me… though that was a while ago… Still, he wouldn't have left. He'll be somewhere nearby. He'll know when we come, he'll find us."

"I daresay he will," Edwyn grumbled. "Oh, I can't believe you are asking me to do this!" He looked over to see his horse nearly tacked. "Stay here, Halla. We ride in just a moment. Boy, get this bundle tied to my saddle. I'll be right back."

Edwyn darted off, and Ailith turned around, looking at Halla, at the hurt in the younger woman's eyes, the bruises marring her beauty. "I don't know what to say to you," Ailith admitted quietly. "I wanted to tell, but when I saw what happened… My lady, I'd never mean for you to be hurt…"

Halla nodded. "I'm just glad to be leaving. Edwyn is the only one here who cares about me at all, and he doesn't even live here. I'll be better off with Maukurz, no matter how hard it is for us."

"How will you live? And you are truly… pregnant?"

Halla touched her belly softly. "Not even a month yet, but yes."

"And you… you want to bear… such a… a…" Ailith choked on her words.

"It's Maukurz's baby," Halla breathed. "I'm terrified. But it's his, and I love him. And it's my baby as well. And I don't know how we'll live. But at least I'll be loved, from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to sleep."

Ailith wiped her tears away bitterly.

"You should marry Harlan," Halla said quietly.

"He wouldn't— And I… I couldn't…"

"Of course you can," Halla told her. "Just let go. And he does love you, Ailith. I can see it in the way his eyes follow you everywhere. In the way he tries so hard just to make you smile. Marry him, Ailith. Have babies. Let the War go."

Ailith couldn't look at Halla any longer. She turned away, her heart pounding.

"All right," Edwyn said, coming back into the stable, a broadsword on his hip, a dirk tucked in his belt, and a bow and quiver on his back. He shrugged to Halla's frightened eyes. "I may be crazy, but I'm not insane. And I'm not promising anything. Can you walk now?"

Halla pushed herself up. Ailith ran to her side. "Let me help you…"

Walking with Ailith's support, Halla followed Edwyn and his war horse into the stable yard. Edwyn launched himself into the saddle and walked the horse up to a wooden mounting block. "Let's go. Finnan could be awake already. Ailith, can we trust you?"

"You can," Ailith said staunchly. "Truly."

"Then you can say that I've taken her ladyship to stay with friends, and I'll be returning in a little while. Come on, Halla. We'd better ride."

Ailith helped Halla onto the mounting block. "Good-bye, my lady," Ailith whispered. "Again… I'm so sorry…"

"So am I," Halla said quietly. "If I caused you pain with my happiness…"

"Just go," Ailith said. "Hurry… before he sees you."

Halla climbed up behind Edwyn and wrapped her arms around his slim, athletic body. The young Man dug his heels into his charger, and cantered out of the stable yard.

Halla didn't want Edwyn to know anything about where Maukurz lived; Edwyn wanted to make sure no one saw which way they went. He cantered through the fields for a long ways to the south, before doubling back and riding around the mountain, entering the woods from the eastern side. Edwyn felt the tenseness of a coming battle, and he doubted himself desperately. He nearly turned back several times, feeling deeply guilty, sure he was doing wrong by the girl who clung to him with shaking arms. I am bringing her to her death, her horrific death.

Yet she was with the Uruk enough to get pregnant, and he'd never made Halla anything but giddy with delight! How is it possible?

"I don't feel right with this," Edwyn said, drawing his charger down to a walk. "They are our enemies… Whether or not you say they were… bred from… bred from our own women. Which is horrific, Halla… I can't understand you!"

Halla lay her cheek against Edwyn's back. "He makes me happy," she murmured, her voice still scratchy from her assault. "He's the only one who's ever cared enough... to make me happy. Save you, of course, my Edwyn!"

Edwyn laughed, slightly madly. "I can't imagine it," he said. "Yet for some insane reason, I trust you. Or at least, I trust that he's done what you say he's done: made you feel loved and beautiful. I've seen how you are when you return from him, and I see how you are when you are denied him. There are strong feelings there, no doubt. Only… I cannot connect that, in my mind, with what I know of his kind."

"He thought we ate Uruks," Halla suggested lightly.

"What?" Edwyn asked, scandalized.

"That's right. When we first met, I accused him of eating the dead and violence, and all I knew and thought of Uruks. And he told me that he thought we ate Uruks after killing them. Maybe we all think many things of each other that aren't true."

"Halla… you are a sweetheart indeed. But I needn't think. I've seen. By Bema, I shouldn't be doing this! What am I thinking? I can't leave you with-"

Edwyn cut himself off. His war horse was starting to prance. He approaches… Edwyn thought, his chest gripping. Wrong or right, it was too late to turn back now.

And then the Uruk appeared on the trail before him, bow drawn, arrow trained on Edwyn's throat.

"Maukurz!" Halla cried softly, looking around Edwyn's back. "Edwyn's helped me, he's my friend!"

Maukurz's golden eyes narrowed. His growl was low and menacing, and he eyed Edwyn with a wild jealousy and anger. Edwyn met the Uruk's gaze boldly. Halla's lover was all but naked, with only a long, shredded breechclout hanging between his legs. His body was dark grey and flawless, a thousand times more powerful than a Man's, yet marred with wicked scars. Worst were those across his chest, brutal slashes that looked like they'd come from an exceptionally cruel whip. His face—Edwyn had no choice but to admit—was savagely handsome, with sharp, well formed features arranged in clean, wolfish lines. I can see what she lusts for, Edwyn decided. His own body was reacting most inappropriately. The Uruk tilted his head then, curiously, running his eyes over Edwyn's face—as if he can read my thoughts! The dark, well formed lips twitched and curled up at the corners, the arrogant and self-aware smile of a fiercely sexual creature who knew when he was being sized up, and enjoyed it. Edwyn, a veteran warrior, quite nearly blushed. Good grief! What sort of Uruk is this? I can only imagine what he does to her… No wonder her head is spinning.

Maukurz kept his arrow trained on Edwyn. "You gonna get in my way, rủk goth?"

"Are you going to harm this woman?"

"Edwyn!" Halla hissed. "I'm getting down."

"She's mine, horse boy. Come to me, Halla."

"Wait—" Edwyn said. "She shouldn't get down on her own. She's been hurt."

The Uruk's reaction was terrifying in its intensity. His fury was palpable. He kept the arrow on Edwyn but stalked around the horse, a bloodthirsty growl tearing from the Uruk's throat that made Edwyn deeply regret bringing little Halla to this beast. But then the beast demanded, heartbreak mixing with fury, "Who did this to you, ashgaz? That husband?"

Her tearful eyes told him the truth. With an eye on the horse boy's broad sword, Maukurz finally let the bow go slack. He put the arrow back in the quiver. Edwyn was under no illusion that the Uruk trusted him—or was trustworthy—simply because he'd put away his weapons. The Uruk was in grabbing range now. He no longer needed a weapon to kill. Edwyn held his breath as Halla swung her leg over the horse's back and slipped down, into the Uruk's waiting arms.

Rejoined, the lovers clung to each other. Halla was weeping silently, her arms twined around the Uruk's thick neck as if she'd been drowning without him. The Uruk's golden eyes shuttered for just a moment, as he held Halla, breathing her in and sighing. But then he peered at Edwyn again. "You saved her from him?"

Edwyn grimaced. "It was an ugly scene. But… try to understand…"

"I don't care to understand," Maukurz hissed. "She is mine. She is precious. She is not to be harmed."

Edwyn blinked, dazed, lost for words.

"But I thank you, rủk goth. For protecting her… when I could not."

"Edwyn punched Finnan, I think," Halla murmured softly. "And he's brought my things. I'm going with you now. Wherever you go, Maukurz, I will follow."

"Wait a moment," Edwyn said tremulously, trying to pull himself together. "She… she may not care what you did during the War, but even if you love her, I do not forget so easily. I want to see her again soon, to know she's safe. Or I will hunt you down, Maukurz."

Maukurz sneered. "She ain't your concern, pretty boy. And I ain't gonna let your lover twist you up into catching her for him. And if you wanna fight me, you ain't gotta hunt, we can do it right now!"

"Maukurz," Halla said quickly, soothingly, "Edwyn's my friend. He wouldn't do that." She looked over her shoulder and told Edwyn, "If you come here in… let's say two days, at high noon, I'll look out for you. If you're alone, I'll see you one last time. Then we must move on. Maukurz and I will be far from here soon, won't we, love?"

Maukurz nodded, eyes still locked on Edwyn. He kissed Halla's brow softly, fiercely. "You ready, ashgaz?"

"Oh yes," Halla sighed.

Maukurz lifted her easily, cradling her against his chest. Halla looked to Edwyn, pitying him. "Thank you, Edwyn. You didn't make a mistake, I promise you. And you will tell Finnan…"

"That you are staying with one of your friends. I don't know how I'll manage him. I feel like I don't even know him anymore. But I will do all that I can, and I won't tell him where you are. And I'll keep an eye on that Ailith for you."

"Who's Ailith?" Maukurz asked.

"That's her," Halla murmured softly.

Maukurz grunted. "She know 'bout this? Him bringin' you to me?"

Halla nodded.

"Fuck," Maukurz hissed. "Yeah, look out for that one, horse boy. And don't try any shit when you come to see Halla. I might be alone, and I love this white-skin, but I got tricks you never even saw in your nightmares."

Edwyn raised his brows, but had enough sense not to take the challenge to heart. "Don't make a fool of me, Maukurz," Edwyn said. "You say that Halla is precious, and she is. She's given you a great gift, and in nine months she's giving you another one: a family. Don't fuck it up. Well... goodbye, Halla dear. And good luck."

With that, Edwyn untied the bundle from his saddle and lowered it as far as he could to the ground before dropping it. Then he nodded his head tightly at the couple, whirled his horse about, and galloped away.