orcs

I am thankful to be home, safe. Apparently I was missing for near two months. I know not how I survived for so long without my family, without comfort, without hardly any food or water. I am just so glad Baingol found me, along with friends.

These people put their lives on the line, for me. The Olog-hai are very dangerous... anyone could have perished. People still had hope I was alive. I held onto hope that I would be found. I was not going to waste away and die, not when my family needed me.

"I shall not take orders from a... human!" The Orc spat.
"And what should you do with a prisoner here, with Dwarves and Elves sneaking around, and an invasion to run?" The leader of the Dunlendings smiled coldly. "We shall deliver her to our lord. Those are the Old Man's orders, you know. All prisoners to be delivered to him for questioning."

The Orc raid had started well; coming down from the hills they had attacked the small hamlet and received little resistance from the farmers. Now the prisoners were bound together in a line, taking the prisoners alive would keep the meat fresher. Then, just as they had begun to set light to the houses and barns, on the crest of the hill a figure on a horseback had appeared. As he was mounted he would be able to easily outdistance the Orcs who were on foot so the Orcs had no real interest in pursuing him. But instead of riding away the figure dismounted and walked towards the Orcs.

The wind tugged at the flames of the campfire, making them dance and cast shifting shadows behind the men sat around it. They were tightly wrapped in their cloaks and their faces hidden under hoods; despite the temperate weather, the unusually chilly wind made it feel like winter was coming. On the outskirts of the illuminated area, in the near darkness, stood horses. They looked around constantly, unnerved by something but maintaining the calm and discipline their masters required of them.