"What is my name?"
The young captain thought to himself as he sat, hidden from view in a thicket of bushes. He had traveled many miles after escaping the clutches of his captors. Though, no matter how far he ran he could not escape the memories he wanted so desperately to leave behind. Memories of war and suffering. Memories of the evils he had done in the name of his false brethren. Most of all, the faded memories of the life he knew long ago.
For many months he had been plagued by nightmares of homes set in a blaze. The screams of men, women and children as they were slaughtered, and the faces of the dead frozen in a look of absolute terror as the Angmarim soldiers ravaged the small village.
He recalled images of several young boys who were taken captive. Among these was a tall thin lad with dark hair and bright eyes. Eyes that burned with rage and the determination to fight off his attackers. Though he did not seem to have much strength, his soul burned with fierce anger and it took the strength of three men to restrain him. Upon seeing such will from such a small boy, the leader of the Angmarim party decided he should be taken to Carn Dum, the great fortress of Angmar.
There he was placed in the care of a sorceress who put him under a powerful spell. A spell that would wipe clean the memories of his life. The boy would now know nothing but loyalty and service to Angmar. Somehow he knew in his heart that he was that boy, And though he did not know how, the spell was now broken.
"Come out my lad" an old man called out to him. "You have no enemies here"
The captain stood and and gazed at the odd looking man that stood before him. His red robes were tattered and stained. His hat was ragged and filled with tears and holes. His face, weathered and pale.
"You know not of my enemies, old one" he said in reply
"Oh i think you will find i know a great deal" the old man said to him. A look of slight amusement on his face.
He waved his hand passed the captains eyes and suddenly, he found himself in a field of yellow flowers. Before him was a familly enjoying a meal under the shade of an old oak. There was a mother, a father and a young girl. The father stood up and called into the distance
"Aldryn! Come and eat, my boy. There will be more time to waste with play later"
Then he saw him. A tall, thin lad with dark hair and bright eyes running up to the family.
"Yes, Papa"
Then, just as quickly as the image came before him, it was gone. The captain now stood frozen, his eyes locked with those of the old man. A tear ran slowly down his face.
"Aldryn" he said in a whisper.
The old man smiled and started to slowly walk away
"Wait!" the captain shouted. "I have questions for you"
"I have already answered your question" the man called back to him. "You wished to remember your name"
"And what is your's, wizard?"
The old man stopped and said to him "I am no wizard and my name of no importance. Call me a shadow for that is all that i am to you. You have much to do if you are to amend your deeds"
The captain watched as the old man faded into the distance. Now his mind raced with many more questions and his heart grew heavier. Tired and confused, he crawled back into the thicket in which he was hidden and drifted to sleep. Resting for the long journey that lay before him.