[IC] In the starving time

Ulfheddin pulled the burned bacon from the fire and scraped it from the pan all the same. Burnt bacon being better than no bacon. He rubbed the heat of the pan away on his brigandine, then perked up when the wise one mentioned a village. He retrieved an oilskin from his empty quiver and unfurled it in the floor. A learned man would instantly recognize it as a scale map of the region. With several such skins in his quiver he might have had a scale map of the Continent.

Poring over the region for a few seconds he found the mountain range and valley they were in and then beckoned the wizard over. "Where willa... willa... er Hearth." His map contained no indicator of the village in the area. "Der Koenig does not know willage here." There was a sound of hope in his tone.

Alfred seeing that Ulf decided the wizard is trustworthy, was very eager to take a taste of this porridge - food - after all - was food:)
"Thank you very much, good Sir. After all maybe meeting you was another good sign for us. I hope you understand our precautions? I'm Alfred Foxglow, nice to meet you when I can see you. Hehe:) Will you provide us with your name? Are you really a wizard?" - he was genially curious about whole situation.
He addressed elf that recently has joined them:
"And you - Master Elf what do you think about all this situation? How is your leg?"
Getting back to "wizard": "Maybe, we should repay you for this food somehow? When you are planing to go to that village? Maybe you need some escort?"

Alfred stoped to eat suddenly. You could say many things about him, but one thing was for sure: he knew when someone was serious about his food and breakfast.... And the "wizard" didn't seem to be so interested in this "porridge" too much.
"Didn't we trusted him too fast... friends?" - saying that he pulled his sword from its scabbard. And this time it was the one named Justice - one that his friends never have seen him using so far. He jumps to the "wizard", push him toward nearest wall and puts the blade to his throat. This time his voice was NOT nice. There was nothing left from "young, polite and energetic Alfred" he usually was. There was a new person, that probably have done things that... were hidden deep inside... and was apparently willing to do them again...

"If there was something with this 'food'... you will die with us! Even a little earlier." - he was furious, his voice malevolent... Apparently Alfred do not like when someone mess with his food....
"If I'm overreacting here... we will just have a nice conversation for a while longer..." - his voice only a tone lighter, face almost touching wizard's and looking into directly into his eyes.
"So what is in this village and what are you trading there?"
Meanwhile he tries to feel how does he feel after eating 3 big spoons of it. Is there something "funny" happening with him?

"10 minutes. That all. If everything will be ok with us, I'll owe you a decent apology. I can be useful too. But we live in strange times. I have to protect my friends. I can't loose them... too..." - for a moment: there was something before his eyes that only Alfred could see - "You should.... have to understand. Or you didn't hear about the war in this nice little house of yours?" - keeping his harsh composure for the time given. So others can act check the food and room, house better.
"So how is this village you were talking about?" - Alfred asked not having better idea and to kill some time.

"Ulf... maybe we should feed him his own medicine? What you think?"
"Why you have so many bowls in here. Don't you live here alone? - another harsh question towards wizard.

Ulfheddin slipped a strip of bacon in his mouth and began chewing it. Watching Alfred work with some interest he took a second strip and as directed by the wizard added a big spoonful of pepper to the porridge. Stirred it then offered the wizard a bite.

Ulfheddin laughs and claps Alfred on the shoulder. Then eats a spoonful of porridge to seal the deal. "We not make friend if we hurt or abuse hospitality. This is the law." He said matter of factly crushing a strip of burnt bacon into the porridge and eating it slowly and methodically. "I sorry. Not say that before. We have hard time."

Eldar after checking the surrounding area, anters the hut.
What a surprise to see the Wizards at sword-edge, eating and inviting them to some nearby town. If there was some level of initial trust, or at least positive interest on the mage, he was sure they lost it.
"What is happening here? Are you two that crazy already?"
He thought about apologizing, but words wouldn't be enough now, and it was not his doing.
Looking at both of his friends: "This is wrong, I will have no part in it. I'll be outside for you to come to your senses."
He tried a small bow to the wizard, his shameful expression impossible to hide, and left the hut.
He will sit near the hut's entrance so they all can see him when they leave.

"Put sword down Alfred. I know him jolly sort. No hold grudge against hungry man." He offered the bowl to Alfred. "Eat the meat, taste his salt, drink his water. We brothers now." Patting the wizards shoulder. "He is my brother." Ulfheddin looked quizzically at the wizard, the question asked by his gaze and he nodded as if trying to convince the Wizard to agree. He was not the best choice for diffusing a tense situation.

Seeing wizard eating the same food that he offered them... Alfred relaxed. Slowly returning back to his former self...
"I'm sorry..." - he gets his sword back and hides it again in his scabbard. But not completely letting him go.
"Please, forgive me... We were trough many strange things already..." - he lowered his head.
"I didn't mean you any harm. Just wanted to be sure that my friends are safe..." - he is almost sad now. He tries to put wizard clothes in order.
"You will see that it is not who I am usually... But simple recollection of those events sometimes changes me... Please sit here, for 5 more minutes. If everything will be ok... I will owe you an apology and a favor..." - is seems as strengths has left Alfred when he sat near the wizard."You were right Ulf. As usual. Please take my apology, good sir. You can ask me for whatever you need. Think it through. But now I have to catch some air... and think my behavior through too..." - he leaves ignoring offered food by Ulf, with grim expression - what means that he really is not "content" with his actions...