Bronna was pleased for the short respite from her mother's constant complaints about Captain Denholm. That alone was a good reason for her to carry the supplies Hildfrith had prepared for Ealdbriht, down to the man at the Garrison stables.
The girl quite liked the older guardsman. Ever-loyal to Averel Thane, he could be gruff of manner, and dismissive of things he considered unimportant. But he had sat with her one afternoon, when there was no other custom in The Roaring Dragon, and told her of his own two daughters, and his wife in Elthengles. He had a secret he hid well from many - he was a kind man. In some ways he reminded Bronna of Waelden, though he looked a bit older being in fact a bit younger than Ethel’s papa. And from what little she heard from the Thane himself, Ealdbright had proven his loyalty to Averel and to Theoden King many times.
He was another man who would have made a better papa than her own, she had thought, before firmly reminding herself she would live with what life dealt her, and learn to make the best of it.
It was still early-morning as she nodded to those guards on duty, passed the barricades, and the open doored Forge. There seemed to be some heated discussion going on between Heartha and Hearrd. Their voices echoed around the large space, and there was the sound of something metal hitting the stone wall. That was not uncommon behaviour recently. Bronna suspected it had something to do with the Master Smith still wanting to go and work at Helm’s Deep, and her assistant smith wanting her to remain. Although she missed her dearest friend, Ethel, she was glad the girl was away on a journey with her mama and papa for now, rather than working with those two.
But she missed her. Bronna missed the influence of Ethel and her small family and their various animals. She missed someone to confide her concerns in.
Past the Forge, Bronna saw Captain Denholm himself heading her way, well the way of the Forge. He was rather grim of expression, though managed a curt but polite nod to her.
‘I am not the one demanding to be admitted to the Guards’ she thought, hoping Denholm did not blame her for her mother’s ill-thought notions. ‘I am not the one threatening to close the Dragon, if you won’t train me.’
Actually, she felt sorry for Denholm. He was not an easy man to get along with.That was true. But he was a hero of sorts since the attack on the village. (Maybe even more so than the black goat, with the passing of time.) It was said he had a wife and twins, though he came across to her as a very different man to Waelden and Ealdbriht. She had never thought of wishing he was her father. But then he had inherited a village and garrison under mounting threat, and few enough fully trained guards and riders to defend it. He had also inherited Averel Thane, who she was very fond of, but who even now was planning something about a sword in a barrow mound. At least that was what she had managed to overhear.
And to crown all of that, Northgyth had announced she would be leaving the village come midsummer. And she was their foremost healer!
Not only Ethel was missed, but Yllfa would be too, without Northgyth.
And then, just as she approached the barrack’s main door, Ealdbriht walked out.
“Hail, Lass. Do you have something for me there?”
Bronna smiled at him, dressed as he was as a Rider, about to go on patrol. She didn’t really know much of his mission, but it was from the Thane, so was probably about the buried sword?, She handed him the pack of bread, apples and dried meat.
“Mamma says not to eat it all at once.”
He chucked slightly as he strode over to his horse. “I don’t intend to.”
“And she says she has put in a small mutton pie, and eat that first or it will be dry.”
He turned and laughed. It was a hearty laugh that cut through his sterner expression. “And what does she want in exchange for her thoughtfulness?”
“Gossip and news from wherever I go,” they both said in union, as if they were sharing thoughts. That made them both smile.
“Alas, Bronna, I am on a mission for the Thane, but if I come across any general news, I will happily pass it on upon my return.”
He checked his horse's legs, and the saddle and girth, then swung up upon it’s back.
“Ho there, Ansfith, we have a long journey ahead.”
Bronna stood back and waved ‘Safe travels’ to the man as he turned his mount’s head towards the main gate.
“And keep a look out for Waelden and his family, and for Brynleigh will you? They are missed.”
