My Burden
By Elven Warrior
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot, perhaps. The characters are not mine, save for the ones that I have created.
Chapter One Lost
"It had been four years since that dreadful day. It would surprise some to know that one's life, and one's future can be changed in an instant. What that future is I do not know. This is why I have been wandering for so long. In search or what my fate truly is."
If there had ever been a long road in all of Middle Earth, this was it. She had been walking for miles and was growing weary from her travels. From place to place she had traveled, not knowing where it was that she was going. Lost and alone, she followed where her heart guided her. It was a warm and sunny day, in fact it had been like that all week. The birds were singing their songs and the wind blew gently through the trees. But, then, something broke that peaceful sound. She tried to figure out what it was and then it came to her. Hoof beats. But what were people doing so far out here? The sound grew louder and louder as the horses and their riders approached ever closer. Then she heard a loud voice yell, "Halt!" She was not sure if that voice was referring to her, or his traveling companions, but she stopped and turned to face the men as their horses came to a stop. "You, girl, what are you doing out here by yourself? Have you no companion?" the one man asked. "No, Sir. I am travelling alone," she answered in all honesty. "Have you no family? Why would a young girl of your age be wandering alone?" he asked. "I have no family, Sir. I haven't a home, nor place to stay." "Seize her," said the man. With that, two of the got off their horses and grabbed her by the arms. "What is the meaning of this? I have done nothing wrong!" she protested, and tried to get away. The more she struggled, the harder a grasp the men got on her arms. She realized it was useless and she stood and faced her captor. "We cannot have young maidens running around without homes when we have uses for them elsewhere," he said. "'Uses for them elsewhere'?" she asked. "Yes. We are in desperate need for new slaves. You look like you are worth a pretty penny," he said with a smirk. "Chain her and tie her to one of your horses." "NO! Let go of me! Please, I beg of you!" she said as tears began to roll down her face. She wasn't sure what fate had in store for her life, but she was positive it wasn't this. "The quieter you are, the better off you will be," said the man that was chaining her. "Now just follow along behind me. Don't even bother trying to get away, because you can't. We'll just catch you again and then you'll be up for a beating," he said. She looked down and her eyes began to fill with more tears. The horse that she was bound to began to move forward and the chain around her wrist pulled her along. They had turned around from the direction that she had originally been headed in and they had taken several other roads that she was not familiar with. It was then that they reached the town. From the small dirt road near the entrance she could see the townspeople bustle back and forth. She could see the markets and the merchants along the dirt roads. She followed along behind the horse some more until they were right inside the town. Then the man who had spoken to her earlier said, "This is the place that shall decide your fate."
Disclaimer: I own nothing other than the plot, perhaps. The characters are not mine, save for the ones that I have created.
Chapter One Lost
"It had been four years since that dreadful day. It would surprise some to know that one's life, and one's future can be changed in an instant. What that future is I do not know. This is why I have been wandering for so long. In search or what my fate truly is."
If there had ever been a long road in all of Middle Earth, this was it. She had been walking for miles and was growing weary from her travels. From place to place she had traveled, not knowing where it was that she was going. Lost and alone, she followed where her heart guided her. It was a warm and sunny day, in fact it had been like that all week. The birds were singing their songs and the wind blew gently through the trees. But, then, something broke that peaceful sound. She tried to figure out what it was and then it came to her. Hoof beats. But what were people doing so far out here? The sound grew louder and louder as the horses and their riders approached ever closer. Then she heard a loud voice yell, "Halt!" She was not sure if that voice was referring to her, or his traveling companions, but she stopped and turned to face the men as their horses came to a stop. "You, girl, what are you doing out here by yourself? Have you no companion?" the one man asked. "No, Sir. I am travelling alone," she answered in all honesty. "Have you no family? Why would a young girl of your age be wandering alone?" he asked. "I have no family, Sir. I haven't a home, nor place to stay." "Seize her," said the man. With that, two of the got off their horses and grabbed her by the arms. "What is the meaning of this? I have done nothing wrong!" she protested, and tried to get away. The more she struggled, the harder a grasp the men got on her arms. She realized it was useless and she stood and faced her captor. "We cannot have young maidens running around without homes when we have uses for them elsewhere," he said. "'Uses for them elsewhere'?" she asked. "Yes. We are in desperate need for new slaves. You look like you are worth a pretty penny," he said with a smirk. "Chain her and tie her to one of your horses." "NO! Let go of me! Please, I beg of you!" she said as tears began to roll down her face. She wasn't sure what fate had in store for her life, but she was positive it wasn't this. "The quieter you are, the better off you will be," said the man that was chaining her. "Now just follow along behind me. Don't even bother trying to get away, because you can't. We'll just catch you again and then you'll be up for a beating," he said. She looked down and her eyes began to fill with more tears. The horse that she was bound to began to move forward and the chain around her wrist pulled her along. They had turned around from the direction that she had originally been headed in and they had taken several other roads that she was not familiar with. It was then that they reached the town. From the small dirt road near the entrance she could see the townspeople bustle back and forth. She could see the markets and the merchants along the dirt roads. She followed along behind the horse some more until they were right inside the town. Then the man who had spoken to her earlier said, "This is the place that shall decide your fate."