The door to her room burst open just as Tolwyn was about to bury the dagger deep in her heart. It was Elfwine, and when he saw her he tried to yell. He was so shocked, nothing but a gasp came out. Tolwyn heard it, her eyes still closed. She dropped the dagger and collapsed on the floor, sobbing.
"Tolwyn!" exclaimed Elfwine, shutting the door behind him. "Tolwyn, what were you doing?" She kept sobbing, her shoulders and torso shaking with each ragged breath. "Please, talk to me..." Elfwine said quietly as he kneeled next to her. After a while, Tolwyn gathered what was left of her strength and will, and pulled herself onto her bed, still sobbing. Elfwine sat by her, unsure of what to do. He awkwardly put an arm around her, and as she had done over five years ago at her mother's funeral, Tolwyn turned and sobbed on her brother's shoulder. He held her hand and let her cry, all the while cursing his father in his mind. A few times she tried to stop and speak to Elfwine, but as soon as she tried emotion would overtake her words and she would go back to weeping.
Finally Tolwyn dried most of her tears and looked up into Elfwine's eyes again. She said simply, "I cannot live with this." Elfwine nodded, waiting for her to say more. "He was only nice to me so I would agree to leave…" she mused tearfully. "He has no love for me, no use for me. I'm only a burden to be done away with."
"He loves you… he just doesn't know it yet," Elfwine replied, trying to be comforting. He hated to see his baby sister treated like this, and by his own father too. He tried to think of something. He would save Tolwyn, even if it meant overthrowing the whole of Rohan. He loved her dearly, with the deepest bond a brother and sister could have.
"I'm trapped, Elfwine," she whispered hoarsely after a few minutes of just sitting there. "Caged like a wild bird that can't fly away…" Tolwyn suddenly got up and retrieved her mother's necklace that was lying on the floor. She stood and looked out the window again, not knowing what to do. Elfwine glanced at her, then at the dagger, still on the floor, and suddenly he had an idea.
"Run away disguised!" he whispered excitedly to her. Tolwyn turned around and looked at him, a confused expression on her face. "Disguised? As what?" "A Rider! You can borrow an extra helm and a breastplate, and you already have a horse and sword. Go, tonight," he said. "Go where?" she asked. "There's naught but villages around here, they would recognize me, even in a disguise."
"Go to-" Elfwine started to say, but then there was a knock on the door. "Lady Tolwyn? Are you alright?" asked a guard. "Yes, she's fine!" called Elfwine. "She's just… uh… packing for the trip! She called me in to help her." They heard running footsteps coming from the throne room, each step landing lightly on the hallway floor. Then they heard a faint whispering, then, "Master Elfwine, you have been summoned to join the King in the throne room. He orders that you be there immediately."
"I hate when they tell me he's the King. He's my father, not some remote stranger," Elfwine whispered randomly. Then he made his way to the door without a word. He thought Tolwyn would be all right, that she would somehow make it without any guidance. He was utterly wrong.