The last few years have seen a change on the others too- older all of course, but with the accompanying maturity one would expect. It is heartening to see.

It was easy to escort the others safely out of the mountains and through the hills until we were in sight of Lake Æðon. Thankfully they could find their way from there. We went first to Faelsian’s old lair, hoping to finish this quickly- but alas, it was not to be as it appeared to have been destroyed many seasons previously. There was nothing left for it but to return to the village- and quite an interesting return it was too!

Many of the houses and shops appeared empty as we ventured past- the others all cutting off to visit with their families while I continued on to Hengist’s home. As I approached, I could see the sloppy, makeshift camp that sprawled before the Thane’s manse- it was then that I knew there was no doubt, something terrible had happened. Soon, I was sitting with Hengist before his fire- need I mention that the weather was quite moderate that day?- and he told me the tale of what had happened. The fool villagers had risen in revolt against the Thane and Reeve for nothing more than a few false rumours. I couldn’t help but see Faelsian’s blood-stained hands behind this. I set my cloak before Hengist, offering it to him as a gift before I left to join the others. He needed it far more than I- I cannot imagine how difficult the winters must be for him, now. He is a fading shell of the man he was.

The four of us gathered and after a brief discussion where he compared our stories, we ventured into the camp of the revolters. It seemed that Gwynaeth’s father was the man in charge of it all- but from his eyes, he must have had just reason for it all. I said nothing as he spoke with Gwynaeth, telling her of his misconceptions. But he wouldn’t listen to reason when it was spoken to him. I didn’t see what could but seeing the blood of his comrades spilled at his feet.

To the thane next- who confirmed the story, and while seeming wrongly accused of all that happened, some of the things he said were callous to the extreme- I had once thought him a worthy father, but was I wrong? His was a callous disregard for the lives of his villagers, and he saw no hope in further parley. I am quite convinced that all mankind are capable of great stupidity- ahh, but for a little dwarvish wisdom parcelled out to each.

A trumpet sounded as we were determining what to do- and rushing to the battlements, we could see the banners of the Eaorl. He’d be arriving in a few hours. We rushed to the villagers again who were lining up as if to do battle- to me it seemed a ragtag band of overweight old farmers and boys too young to follow their own trade yet. What chance would they have against seasoned warriors that outnumbered them anyway? None at all, as I could see. Speaking with them gained us nothing, so we could do nothing but try to devise another plan.

I suggested at first that I return to the manse, and try to allow the Reeve to leave, passing as me as the two of us look so similar, but I could see the others showed no interest in my ideas, so to silence I returned. There was nothing for it but to attempt to head off the Eaorl and plead the case of both the fool villagers and the Thane. All such thoughts slipped from our minds as we saw Faelsian’s snowy giant of a son, holding high a staff- and from there, it didn’t take us long to see Faelsian himself, and the wicked hunchback not far off either. Speaking to a herald, we learned of the Eaorl’s plan, and also that there was to be a challenge… a challenge of Middaeg against the Reeve. We were all stunned to silence once again- this was a thing that we knew we could not allow to come to pass.

We trudged along, accompanying the Eaorl’s men back into the village and directly to the manse where the Thane and Eaorl came face to face- clasping their hands. The Eaorl began to speak, but I knew what it would be about- so I stepped forth to make my own challenge first, “Middaeg, I challenge you to combat.” It all erupted after that, and I don’t know what happened except that I ended up in being ignored and with Gwynaeth stepping out to face Middaeg in my brother’s place. All I could do was to act as her second and to take up the fight if she were to fall in battle.