Northern Norcrofts
There halted the two Riders with Cliving full in their view. The banners were saluting and blowing in the proudly in the breeze, the tall palisades seemed impenetrable upon their stony foundations, and the morning sun blazed gently down upon the Norcrofts; wafting tall shadows. The Riders stood there and they behold the bliss and splendour of the city with high regard, the sight of safety only bringing them delight and lightening their hearts. The sight was so wonderful that the man had seemed to have forgotten all about his paining head.
"It might be one of our last strongholds, if things go ill," said the woman.
"Nay. The palisades can be broken by siege. Yet she is beautiful, glorious, and proud," said the man.
"You speak of her like she were a woman."
"And why I should not?"
"A fair woman of the Mark; I approve."
"Yea, with her golden hair blowing in the winds of morning. And the sun touching her for the first time. Yet we shall not seek refuge here."
"Aye, we must go North," said she at last.
Then they smiled and went off to continue their venture, leading their steeds with a light trot as they went. The morning was slowly fading away and they were still in the Norcrofts, and many more of the sights that they saw pleased them. For there were crops still growing, and horses still running free and wild in the Norcrofts.
At length they began to ride up slope, it felt as though it would drag them for a while, but as they come upon the pinnacle they saw it: Harwick! And how her banners blew in the winds, it was the biggest town to be seen in the The Wolds of the Riddermark; and the land all about was brown and dry. Few trees grew there, and the only waters to be seen were the small puddles and ponds, spread about in different places of The Wold.
Among other smaller villages in the Wold there is Floodwend and Langhold. There are also several battlements spread all about the Wolds to keep safe the Riddermark from any threat that pours loose from the Brown Lands.
It seemed as though the man did not like Harwick very well, yet his companion did not ask him of it. They soon pressed on, but their destination was not Harwick. Not yet.
First they went scouting throughout The Wolds, searching for signs of foes and signs of war. The day was dull and slowly beginning to fade. Clippity - Clop; Clippity - Clop went their hooves upon the paths of The Wolds, and soon Langhold stood upon the horizon. And yet her banners lacked grace, and the town lacked life. It was ruined, the palisades were black as tinder, and the banners were all burn. The Mead hall seemed to still stand amidst the wreckage, as though untouched by the assailants who came there once.
The Riders frowned upon the sight, their faces became grim and their hearts felt heavy in their chest. Thus they approached the town upon slowed hooves. When they went through the gates the scent of burn came into their nostrils, but the fire was long passed. There were wreckages here and there, many houses still stood, but were burnt black. Here and there were piles of gathered rubble; from this they could tell that someone had been there before them.
They rode through the town with grim faces, there seemed to be no signs of life. Until the sound of rummaging became clear to their ears in a house nearby. They exchanged glances with another and then dismounted their steeds.
They approached the wooden door that was still intact, and so was the house. It was damaged, but it seemed as though it still stood. They do not think to knock, instead they just opened the door and entered. Before them were several men scavenging through lost possessions of folk who may well be dead. The two Riders cleared their throats loudly to grasp the attention, "Out, now!" said the woman, and the men were frightened. For these armour clad folk were beyond their skill in fighting, and they were no more than men seeking to gain from another's loss. One by one they left the building with scowls on their unlovely faces.
The man and the woman exchanged nods, and so began to search the rest of the house for any more scavengers who would be miss fortunate enough to come between the two Riders. They found no more, but began to search the rubble themselves, all that was of value was already taken. Thus they soon left the house and began to search the town by foot.
They found more houses, and searched through more rubble, but again they found nothing. They found that there were many buildings still standing, and some towers. They approached the Mead hall and climbed upon the stairs. Exchanging looks between one another as they sought to open the door; to their dismay it seemed that something within seemed to have kept it closed. Not a shove, nor a bash could open it. Mean while as the man was bashing at the door, the woman went about and then there was a sudden CRASHING sound. He quickly went around to see and found her head through a window that she broke open. "Nobody." She said with some dismay.
Then they climbed up to a tower and looked down from it to Langflood; The Great River. There was little that they could see from there, but a thought came to mind. So they swiftly found their steeds and mounted up. Then made for the boarder at Limlight with haste.
A mere few minutes passed ere they arrived, having left the wreckage of Langhold far behind them, and then East to follow the flow of Limlight, and eventually The Great River. They searched for any threat of Easterlings who may seek to ford the Great River and invade the lands of Rohan. On those paths there was little to be seen but the dull flowing of the Langflood and the dry appearance of The Wold's plains. On and on they went, finding little. Through hunger and weariness, the man's head was still aching from the venture of the night before. Then at last they found something.
As they came upon the pinnacle of a hill they noticed that there were tents of Easterling make, and their banners were blowing in the winds down below. The faces of the Riders became grim yet again, even fierce as they beheld the sight. Their hands held tight upon their spears.
As they stood watch they had noticed that an Easterling upon horse back hurried from the camp, and without further notice the two Riders went off swiftly in the wind, their steeds bore them quickly. Before long they came upon the Rider, but the man found himself in dismay, for it was at that moment that his head pain shivered and shook him. He rose his spear to cast it, but could not take aim. The pain was too great and he bowed his head, cringing. Thus the Easterling was for the woman's taking, and she came upon him swiftly and brought the fury of her steel upon him. An Easterling lay dead upon the grounds of The Wolds. It was yet another victory to the two Riders.
It was not long before the man managed to regain himself. The pain having faded away, and now the headache seemed to dwindle with the setting the of the sun. It was late and they now needed shelter. Harwick loomed in the distance, and seemed that that would be their choice for rest. Thus they rode upon an easy pace, the sun soon set and all the lands about was covered in darkness. The lights in Harwick seemed to grow only brighter as they made their approach.
