Blood. So much blood. And yet for all the blood and disaster the fields
of Teardin were without sound. But the screams could still be heard by the
survivors. Kayla, Princess of Teardin was one of them. She had fought, as
her father and brothers had taught her. She had fought and she had lived.
She had not survived merely because she was a warrior however, but as a
Princess her father had ordered her to stay in the castle. Kayla obeyed
her dear father, as she was his prized possession. King Teldion was known
throughout Middle-Earth to be fiercely protective of his only daughter, as
he had suffered the loss of his dear wife many years ago. And now, it was
Kayla who was suffering the loss of her dear father, her brothers and her
people. She stood, looking over the fields of what was once her beloved
home. Tears streamed down her face but Kayla felt nothing. She was numb.
"Milady Kay, please, do not cry." A voice came from behind her. Kayla did not turn, she knew who it was. Krie was her father's lifelong advisor and companion in battle before her father took to the throne. Kayla knew he was shattered inside, but not a single tear did drop from Krie's black eyes. He was staying strong for the survivors, as a warrior should.
"How could we not of been ready for this Krie?" Kayla whispered.
"They attacked too soon. No one was prepared for Orcs to come through as strong and destructive as they did Milady. But come, 'tis not the time for that. We must continue, your people need to know you're with them." Krie replied softly.
"There's so many. We have been burying the dead for days now and yet there is still a sea of bodies in this fields." Kayla took in a shattered breath and straightened her shoulders. "And I will see them all at rest." She said with finality as she picked up her shovel and headed out to join her people. It was three days later when the final body was laid to rest. The remaining survivors, so few Kayla knew them all by name, were exhausted, their bodies covered in dirt and their hearts aching for their loved ones that were gone. It was a destruction unknown to the once peaceful elvish community. Kayla finally took rest on what was left of the stone steps leading to the shattered mess that was once her castle. The Orcs had attacked at night, burning nearly the entire kingdom to the ground before the sun even graced the sky. Kayla sighed, tucked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear and stood as Krie and another survivor, Adar, approached.
"Good Afternoon Your Highness." Adar said solemnly as he bowed.
Kayla bit back a smile and bowed her head in return, "Milord Adar, I would think that with all we have been through formality is but a thought in the past. Please, it is Kay, as I consider you and all the others not "my people" but "my family"." Tears formed and slowly cascaded down the man's weathered face, as he had lost all of his family to the Orcs. He smiled at Kay with a type of fatherly admiration, he was more than 4000 years older than she. 'Well I bring good news to our family then. Krie sent me to Mirkwood to ask for assistance in rebuilding our fair city and I have returned with His Royal Highness himself, King Thranduil. They wish to discuss our future with you."
Hope filled Kayla's heart. "Thank the Valar they are our allies. I will meet them now, I trust they are in the orchard?" The Castle's orchard was the only area of the entire kingdom untouched by the evil that had pillaged their town.
Krie stepped forward, "Milady Kay, may I suggest you rest first? Perhaps even change?" Kayla looked down at her clothes. She was wearing breeches, as she had learned that a dress would not work for digging, and one of her brother's white shirts that were now covered in dirt and mud. Her hair was kept away from her face in an unkempt braid that fell down her back. She knew she was a disgrace, but had no time for beautification.
"I have no clothes Krie, none of us do, we used what the Orcs did not burn for bandages for our wounded. Now, I must see to the King." Kayla stepped down and headed for the orchard when Krie's voice stopped her.
"They're not in the orchard milady."
Kayla turned around and frowned at her advisor. "Then where are they Krie?"
"The field."
"Milady Kay, please, do not cry." A voice came from behind her. Kayla did not turn, she knew who it was. Krie was her father's lifelong advisor and companion in battle before her father took to the throne. Kayla knew he was shattered inside, but not a single tear did drop from Krie's black eyes. He was staying strong for the survivors, as a warrior should.
"How could we not of been ready for this Krie?" Kayla whispered.
"They attacked too soon. No one was prepared for Orcs to come through as strong and destructive as they did Milady. But come, 'tis not the time for that. We must continue, your people need to know you're with them." Krie replied softly.
"There's so many. We have been burying the dead for days now and yet there is still a sea of bodies in this fields." Kayla took in a shattered breath and straightened her shoulders. "And I will see them all at rest." She said with finality as she picked up her shovel and headed out to join her people. It was three days later when the final body was laid to rest. The remaining survivors, so few Kayla knew them all by name, were exhausted, their bodies covered in dirt and their hearts aching for their loved ones that were gone. It was a destruction unknown to the once peaceful elvish community. Kayla finally took rest on what was left of the stone steps leading to the shattered mess that was once her castle. The Orcs had attacked at night, burning nearly the entire kingdom to the ground before the sun even graced the sky. Kayla sighed, tucked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear and stood as Krie and another survivor, Adar, approached.
"Good Afternoon Your Highness." Adar said solemnly as he bowed.
Kayla bit back a smile and bowed her head in return, "Milord Adar, I would think that with all we have been through formality is but a thought in the past. Please, it is Kay, as I consider you and all the others not "my people" but "my family"." Tears formed and slowly cascaded down the man's weathered face, as he had lost all of his family to the Orcs. He smiled at Kay with a type of fatherly admiration, he was more than 4000 years older than she. 'Well I bring good news to our family then. Krie sent me to Mirkwood to ask for assistance in rebuilding our fair city and I have returned with His Royal Highness himself, King Thranduil. They wish to discuss our future with you."
Hope filled Kayla's heart. "Thank the Valar they are our allies. I will meet them now, I trust they are in the orchard?" The Castle's orchard was the only area of the entire kingdom untouched by the evil that had pillaged their town.
Krie stepped forward, "Milady Kay, may I suggest you rest first? Perhaps even change?" Kayla looked down at her clothes. She was wearing breeches, as she had learned that a dress would not work for digging, and one of her brother's white shirts that were now covered in dirt and mud. Her hair was kept away from her face in an unkempt braid that fell down her back. She knew she was a disgrace, but had no time for beautification.
"I have no clothes Krie, none of us do, we used what the Orcs did not burn for bandages for our wounded. Now, I must see to the King." Kayla stepped down and headed for the orchard when Krie's voice stopped her.
"They're not in the orchard milady."
Kayla turned around and frowned at her advisor. "Then where are they Krie?"
"The field."