Middle-earth is a land of conflict. There is entirely no vagueness regarding that. It is a world shaped and defined by the eternal struggle between good and evil. Its treacherous mountains, longing seas, thriving villages, and vast plains are luminously carved by eons of war between opposing forces. Each is an embodiment of elemental battle ideologies that have wrought and unmade Middle-earth, time and time again.
Men, be them Rohirrim, Gondorian, Númenóreans, or additional. Of all the races of Middle-earth, they are closest in spirit to the center of conflict, for men possess the greatest predisposition towards acts of greatness and, at the same time, those of darkness. Time and again, men have failed against the face of persuasion. Therefore, they seek to rise above ones self; to conquer their own base of nature and prove themselves to be something greater and nobler than temptation and weakness.
For elves however, the wars of Middle-earth are different. Their kind is perhaps the closest of all races to being incorruptible, though evidence has shown they too can fall victim. When elves fight these days, it is such a rare occurrence. They do so, it seems, with sadness and regret, for their nature impels them to acts of nobility and gentleness. They are creators and artists before they are warriors.
Although much torment and anguish does seem to come from the extremists of both good and evil, there are indeed those people and objects that border a fine line to aid in a victory for either side. Take for example the Palantiri. If the myths and fables are indeed true, the seven rumoured 'great seeing stones' enable the user to possibly foretell outcomes and proceedings a great distance away, as well as communicate with each relating Palantir. Used by any side, the stones could facilitate the enchanter to help procure a victory against their most adverse opponent. Though of the seven, three are said to be unaccounted for, and many speculate the spheres have either been lost or placed under heavy secrecy.'
"Indeed. I hope that to be the case," a young girl sighed hopefully. Repositioning herself on a rather uncomfortable rock, the female began turning a page of the book she had just been so intensively reading. "For who knows what might happen if such objects were to fall into the wrong hands."
Käleea, the young traveller, had just paused to take a rest from her extensive and disorderly journey. After several days of endless walking amid an uneven and parched land, one might have thought that this forlorn girl would be exhausted and weary from such a voyage. While some of this was undeniably true, the task seemed no more difficult than the labours she had endured each day for the past several years. As a form of servant to the Woses, or 'Wildmen' as they were more commonly known by, each hard day's work she carried out was much more intensive and rigid than the walking she was currently undergoing. This cross-country exercise was certainly nothing to complain about.
"I have no right to." She quietly reassured herself before glaring over towards a saddlebag that laid idly against her aching legs.
--Memory--
It was indeed a dreary day. Around a barn, the dehydrated vegetation and anxious birds were longing for the ever-desired precipitation that now threatened their daylight sky. Each species seemed to be foreseeing the event, as the deprived greenery stretched out in expectancy and birds sung restlessly in hopes of a worm feast.
"And they shall receive it soon enough." Käleea sanctioned herself while wearily leaning against her worn pitchfork, hand atop one another on the pole. A quiet sigh escaped her dry, crimson lips as she too longed for something. Something most took for granted and would never consider it a privilege to have. Something, it seemed, a man's money could buy and withdraw at the same time, without any remorse or sincerity. Something so simple in theory and yet, she had not truly felt it in many long years.
"Freedom." She whispered at a fairly muffled tone. The barn's stallion seemed to respond sympathetically to her vision, as he mechanically neighed in reply. Käleea's features subsequently became softer and less dismal. "Do not worry," she reassured the beautiful, silk black stallion while glancing over to his rather decaying stable. "The Valar may have forgotten to feed the earth and its creatures, but I will do no such thing to you." The compassionate female then walked over to the trough just outside his stable and carefully began to give the male his fluid. Tedious not to lay a hand near his drinking face while pouring, she then placed the empty bucket back on its hook, and twisted around to resume her cleaning duties. Käleea faintly smirked in accomplishment to her obedience, although no sooner had it arrived, it disappeared.
That poor excuse of a smile, that normal action and effortless undertaking that so often seemed to grace the face of a child, did not come across this young girl's features regularly. There was seldom a reason to. Bought from a village not far from where she now resided, most of her life had revolved around serving others, be it man or beast. Although in her mind, it was becoming more difficult to distinguish the differences between the two, for it appeared the varieties of nature she cared for had more compassion and civilized characteristics than the human beings to which she so submissively served.
These Wildmen, these pathetic justifications for the race of mankind, settled mostly within the borders of the Drúadan forest. Having stout, masculine bodies with diminutive legs and portly arms, they led a rather permissive existence, indulging in woodcrafts, weaponry and poisonous arrows. They were relentless enemies to have, once arous-
"Girl! Get in 'ere!" Wulf, head of the wild men army, hissed from inside his home.
Raising her head in alarm, the frightened girl was taken out of her dream-like thoughts. Knowing the serious consequences if she ignored the man's cavernous tone, Käleea, the only female servant, hastily dropped the pitchfork and ran out of the rather old wooden barn to answer his call.
The land she tended was nestled deep in a vast green enclosure, full of trees and tall grasses. About half a dozen scrawny cattle occupied the sunburnt pasture behind the main house, and at first glance they looked fairly well groomed- yet still seemed openly irritated.
Käleea swirled to her right and started to focus upon reaching the man's quarters. It was a smaller home than most, and in constant need of repair. A thatched straw and grass roof covered its crown, along with rather deceased trees that draped their vines and leaves across the thick, grey stones of the home. An old timber door occupied the center of the building and to the either side of it laid two sets of dark, dingy window shutters, one in which was fractured in several places. The entire house looked just as sinister and unwelcoming as the existing sky.
And that voice. That tone. It was always one of terrorization that never seemed to leave her or Wulf's young male captives alone. Since the beginning of her life there, that profound pitch was a sign Wulf needed them; demanded all of them to do his bidding, and Käleea knew better than to ignore it. Therefore, she ran. Ran to obey her master and regrettably satisfy everything that provoked his urgency...his demanding desires.
"Not today," the juvenile girl blocked away the outside world and pleaded amongst the timid mounting winds. "Not now."
As she neared the entrance to the abode, Käleea realized her emotional state and halted abruptly to compose herself. Whatever her Lord wanted, it would take all of her will and self restraint to obey his call, as it did every time. Peering over the left of her shoulder and back toward the stable, the girl thought about how easily she could just ride away from this torture she called a life. And yet, it was not the initial escape that was the hardship, but the danger of nature's elements and the struggle to keep the lead over Wulf and his supporters. No. She was not naïve and knew better than to attempt that...again.
Either option seemed to be a double-edged sword, each ultimately inflicting forms of physical and or mental pain. Inhaling deeply, she tried to stabilize her thoughts, for both mind and body were unpleasantly anticipating the reality that was now bestowed upon her. Käleea's intense blue eyes became heavy as she felt herself grow nervous and rigid. Her delicate ears then picked up on the loud whisper of a horse. Was it a sign? A sign to take chances and risk that severe punishment she would undoubtedly receive if...no...WHEN she was caught.
'One day, I will not have to answer to anyone but myself. I will travel across this righteous land as an unbridled spirit, not as someone's possession. One day,' Käleea sighed as realism crept back into her thoughts. "Though, it is not this day." Unwillingly admitting to the situation, she felt as if the last sentence was torn reluctantly from her mouth.
As she opened her eyelids to return her attention back toward the home, Käleea suddenly found herself within arm's reach of her master.
"What are you doin'? I tolds you ta get in 'ere now!" Wulf hollered with intimidation. The older man's wide, grimy face adorned a flat nose, wide mouth, and deep, dark eyes with profound brows. His lofty body features were focused and solid, whilst his russet hair and beard were incredibly unruly.
"Please forgive me, my Lo-" Käleea began to apologize when a hefty, rough hand came in unexpected contact with the girl's tender cheek. Her head and textiled peasant dress whipped back in response to the sheer force, but before she could reach up to console and repress the pain, Wulf lashed out and firmly clasped as much of the female's pale hair as he could.
"Quiet! Come on, we don't got much time, and I don't wants ta waste it hearing your wretched excuses!"
No! She would not show her fear to him; she would not let him win! But her panicking anxieties seemed to be growing evidently more apparent. He wanted her...he needed her! Käleea's mind and body began to resist his deathly grip, although no sooner had the action started than it stopped, for the girl knew the disobedience to his action would cause far worse castigation. And punishment was the one thing she knew he took great pleasure in wreaking upon his minions. Therefore, the adolescent would NOT aid in satisfying his ego! Never would she senselessly plea or show him raw emotion... like she had näively done so many years ago.
Crossing the threshold of the home's ajar door, Käleea was half dragged then roughly deposited in the centre of the room's mildew infested floor. Wulf backtracked nonchalantly to check the entrance, while the female mentally readied herself for what might happen. Though no matter how much time was given, nothing could ever prepare her or the juvenile male servants for their 'caregivers' orders.
"Now," the master began when Käleea rearranged her disoriented body as to kneel submissively to whatever commands that were going to be specified. Diagonally to her right of the single-roomed home stood a poor excuse for a kitchenette, which was basically a water bucket, cutting boards and utensils, aged lumber dining table and a single tattered chair. "This task is likely goin' ta be both tough and complicated for your pathetic little brains ta figure out," he explained while walking uneasily to the dismal cot that lay to the far left of her trembling body. "So until I am done, keep quiet! I need yur obedience."
She undeniably did what she was told, while maintaining a meek body position. Though for the first time, she had noticed that the other young servants were not within the home, therefore were likely to be tending the dry fields or various undertakings from Wulf's other vile comrades.
There was however Wulf's mistress, Sérathen, standing shrewdly in a far corner of the room. Her height was fairly close to that of her lofty spouse's, but her body form was much less podgy. Sérathen's face was not completely unwelcoming, amid rather long brunette hair, slightly rosy cheeks with matured wrinkles, and slender ruby lips. It was her eyes...those menacing eyes...that gave her cruel intentions away to any person that gazed upon them. Something the young servant had regretfully found out many years before.
Käleea's curiosity continued towards the male...and his bed. However, this time was different, for today he only reached under the structure of the cot to pull out a dingy, rather heavy looking sack. With that, her gaze absently perused the same position as her body, and focused upon the soiled ground in front. Käleea silently regimented herself on behalf of almost being caught, for here it was believed that servants were nothing more than filthy, ungrateful rascals with a status that was considerably substandard to that of their master's. Therefore, they did not have the right nor privilege to look upon that which was superior. Their owner.
"Now, no difficulties. No questions. You shall do this swiftly and orderly, do you understand?"
"Yes I do, my Lord." Käleea answered uneasily as Wulf grabbed the back of her lowered neck and forced the adolescent to stand completely erect.
"Good girl." He patronized while effortlessly grasping then releasing her already flustered cheek. "Tis' a very simple task, even for a dumb straw- head li' you. So Sérathen and yourself will takes this package and do na' open it." The male pressured while forcing the hefty bag into the teenager's unsteady hands.
"OPEN IT NOT! You shall take it to Wullgams where you will directly hand it ta HIM. Inform no other soul of the purpose of yur delivery. Him and his men are the only ones tha' need and do know of the bag's contents. Oh, and if you falter with it in any way, I'll..."
"I will not falter, my Lord." Käleea assured him while never captivating a glance upward from the parcel that now lay in against her rapidly beating chest. She had never been in a situation like this; to be able to get away from the despair and anguish of her many duties, to be approved permission to travel across the vast Rohan Plain toward Wullgam's distant village, and most prominent, to have no Wildman near her for days. And even though she would be travelling with her vile mistress, the girl would not blunder this immense opportunity. For her sake, she could not.
"I know, love. I 'ave complete trust in you both...that and the delivery will be questioned less if it' done by two wenches." He explained. Yet, the idea did not make complete sense to Käleea. Two unattended females travelling across the Plain did indeed seem suspicious to her, but then again, she had no right to question her master's command as he continued. "Then there's a knapsack wit' grub and a map over there, and you can shove the package and such in a saddlebag. But only you shall bear the knapsack, do you 'ear me! Me Lady does not need to carry such a burden, and therefore she shall ride the horse as to not weary herself any further than she must. Nonetheless, after the task is completed, walk away. Forget abou' the meeting, forget abou' the delivery," he paused as a sly smile came across his mischievousness face. "And just come home. As you knows very well tha' you can never escape her, me or me men. For tha' mark, tha' wonderful little mark and band on your scrawny body shows ownership...my ownership... and every Wose knows to return rightful 'property,' don't they, girl. So you cannot get away. " Wulf persisted while arrogantly striding over toward his mistress. "If anyone else finds out abou' this delivery, the consequences will be grim an' all. Do you understand?"
"Indeed, my sweet." Sérathen cooed into the man's concealed earlobe. Their desire for one another was evidently intense as she encircled her long, gangly arms around his lofty body. To the youthful girl, it seemed their narcissistic nature was exceeded only by their inability to understand humanity.
"Yes, Master Wulf." Käleea reassured the dominant male and walked away with the package to seize the prepared knapsack. She was a little confused from the variety of thoughts running through her mind; Why her? What was in the package? And should she leave the other servants alone...with him. Nevertheless, one thing came out rather loud and clear- she needed to leave now, before her master had a change of 'heart.'
"Very well. Oh, and straw-head," he erupted as Käleea promptly halted at his voice, despite the fact that she had just reached the door...HER door to so many desires. "I look forward ta both your returnses." Wulf said with complete distain and desire. "Maybe...maybe a welcomes home festivity would be in order with all yur little friends, wha' do you say?"
--Ended Memory--
No. This day, she did not have the right to complain. Here in the vast, arid Rohan Plain, she was free from hard labour, anguish...and him.
It had been no less than 5 minutes since Käleea had been left semi-alone. Her mistress, Sérathen, had gone to relieve herself nearby, whilst the young girl took the brief opportunity to indulge upon the pastime she rarely had the chance to partake in. Reading. Though no sooner has she begun, it seemed, than the precious interlude was cut short.
"Oi! What you doin'! Put that non-sense away this instant! Honestly, the only reason people loo' at these bloody group of words is because they ain't smart enough ta imagine things themselves! Common, ge'tup!" Sérathen demanded as she snatched the bag...the bag containing the ever important parcel... by Käleea's legs and began to remount her horse.
"Yes, my Lady. Of course." Käleea replied hastily while planting the novel back into her own knapsack. Thankfully, Sérathen had not asked where the girl had acquired the book, for that topic would certainly have brought out the more violent side of the elder woman.
With only hours until dusk, Käleea put on her bag and the two females set off to continue their mission. Sérathen was determined to cover at least one more league before the blanket of darkness hindered their path, but that was indeed easy for her as she simply sat atop the sluggishly trotting stallion while the adolescent girl struggled to keep pace on foot. Käleea's modest exhaustion was not so much caused from the lengthy passage, but the weight of the knapsack itself. Yet each time she thought about abandoning the entire duty, it seemed as if someone or someTHING was persuading her...urging her to go on against her will. It was that peculiar aspect that made her anxiety grow. She subsequently realized that the only object that could have swayed her mind and body in such a way must have been that of the mysterious article, tucked away on Sérathen's horse. The same article that they were going to allow Wullgam to utilize secretly.
"It must be an item of sheer devilry." Käleea thought... and at that moment, she decided it could not be transported to Wullgams; it WOULD not. She began assessing a plan that she could carry out before the end of their journey, fully noting it would probably take all her will to complete. Though, the servant was determined to see that item...that monstrosity... was out of harms way, whether or not it cost the young girl the only thing she truly owned. Her own life.
Hi there! Thanks for reading, or skimming through! Which ever worked for you, I appreciate it! LOL, anyway, I'm sorry that the guys weren't in it yet/if this chapter came off increadibly boring! I've never done anything like this but I'd try it as a hobby and it's my first attempt at anything remotely creative! Trust me! LOL! So of course, any help would be great and much appreciated! Thanks again for taking the time to read this!