Drevorin

Eastern Rohan, a significant time later…

The wise often preach that time is the greatest healer of them all. It can mend wounds, pain and suffering. Restore nature’s balance and bring about the renewal of that lost through devastation and war. Some may even go as far as to say it spurs enlightenment, shattering fear and doubt born from the past and brings a sense of freedom to a troubled mind. This is a comfort to some, but not to all.

I felt countless arms pushing me through the crowd of Uruks who parted as I walked into the centre of the circle. As I reached the open space one of the Uruks at the front pushed me to the ground, I landed face down upon the dirt and rubble breathing in the damp which surround the cavern. I climbed to my feet, my eyes darting around the circle only to find that I was alone. The brutish merriment continued in the crowd from which something came soaring through the air, landing a few meters away from me with a soft clatter.

After the incident upon the surface, the atmosphere amongst the slaves below had changed dramatically over the past few days. Any hope, any vague sign of strength had been quickly extinguished in all of us, myself included. I began to dream of Mordevin, the dark-skinned Easterling who had tortured me all those years ago. Not since then had I ever felt so defeated and helpless. On that accursed day when I was set loose upon the world a broken man, I swore that I would never allow myself to fall into such a position again.

"Don' wake up..not yet.." she whispered in the dark. This was how it was meant to feel, safe, warm, a room filled with those she loved most, all at peace.  He said not a word and the room stood silent once more barr the sound of the dieing fire and of their breathing, his arms still holding her as when they first laid to sleep. Though her mind would not gift her with slumber, too many thoughts, ever darker with each day since his rivals return.

As we were herded out of the iron gates I was thankful to find that it was nightfall. I had grown used to the darkness, to be exposed to light after all this time would have surely caused me some form of injury. We were taken across the great circle along the centre path. I took a deep breath expecting fresh air, though it’s taste was no sweeter than the ash and smoke I had become accustomed to beneath the surface. Eventually we came to a halt, forming a circle beside an incomplete siege tower near the far eastern wall.