The Tale of Hawk and the Hawks

Two years earlier...


"In spring, we'll get a falcon chick 'n train it t'carry messages like Atharann's."

It was a promising idea, spoken to Cwennie on their road. She was so young, shy. She seemed to sink behind Ryheric often, willing him to protect her without either of them ever mentioning it. They were on the road now, heading towards Rohan to reunite Cwennie and Winnie with their families. Ryheric knew in his heart the ending for Cwen's family was likely not a good one after what little she had told them, and the way she grew so quiet. It was therefore, in small ways like this that he sought to  lift the girl's spirits just enough to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To keep going. Cwennie was like a leaf far from home on a strange breeze. So pure, so lost.

She smiled at him and nodded.

...

Spring came and Cwennie held Ryheric to his suggestion. He had not forgotten, and so on one of the quieter days during their patrol, he took Cwennie further afield on one of their infamous walks. They were in Eregion, and while the immediate area was clear of lurking dangers on this day, it was pleasant. Striking, beautiful even. The holly trees with their red berry-blooms. The open sky.

They traveled to high rock formations jutting out of the earth where Ryheric knew the 'falcons' lived.

They were actually hawks, It was nesting season and the parents were territorial. Ryheric and Cwen bided their time in wait until both parents were gone. They climbed Ryheric's precariously frayed rope along the rugged rock, and hoped to find a chick in the nest. Instead they found an egg. But small peeping sounds could be heard from within, so they took it. Cwen entrusted with its care as they descended on that rope that could have broken any moment, but fate guarded them from such calamities this day.

It was decided they would gain two more eggs, as they glimpsed other nests nearby. Three messenger falcons would ensure a good range of nearby message locations for scouting, and that way if they ever split up as a group, Cwen, Ry and Lav would each have one of the falcons.

Thus, they raided two more nests. But in the last one, there was an odd sight. The single egg very large, and a different colour. 

"I bet this is the bes' 'n biggest falcon 'f all!"

They took it. 

....

The eggs were kept warm and began to hatch within a day. The large egg was given ceremoniously to Lavendara by Cwen and Ry. She was ecstatic with the gift, and all of the company waited in anticipation to meet the new creatures as they began breaking out of their shells.

First came Cwennie's falcon - who was actually a hawk. Then Ryheric's.

Lav's enormous egg began to cheep and make rustling sounds.

They all leaned in, looking on to see what grand mega-sized falcon would emerge from Lavendara's grand egg.

The chick struggled and pecked and peeped as crumbs of eggshell broke away. When it emerged, it was huge. Ryheric recognised it immediately... He was about to speak but Lavendara squealed with joy when she saw the huge chick in its full form.

It was no hawk or falcon... nor any bird of prey at all.... But before Ryheric could break the news to Lavendara she had already fallen in love with her new baby pet.

"Oh isn't he WONDERFUL?!"

"Lav... Tha's..."

Cwen put a hand over her mouth to suppress a giggle while Lav cooed towards the giant chick.

"... Tha's a cuckoo Lav..." Ry said, mortified. "Sorry darlin'... We'll get ye another one tha's an actual falco--"

Lav looked at Ry horrified and grabbed up her absurd cuckoo chick protectively.

"No! He's perfect!"

Ry was speechless... well this was awkward.

Lavendara looked adoringly to her cuckoo chick while the nearby hawk chicks peeped away, Cwen nursing her chick in cupped hands.

"I'm calling him -Hawk-" Lav announced stubbornly, as if to ensure the ridiculous bird's place among the other birds of prey.

... And thus, Lavendara's pet cuckoo grew and was trained in the noble art of falconry.