HIIII. So, the votes currently stand at: Fili-1, Dwalin-1 and Kili-1. It only takes a second to leave a review and it only needs to be one word. PLEASE. I am begging you! I'll just have to delay the action more if you can't/won't help me. I'm patient, I can wait. Maybe '0.0' Anyway, enjoy the chapter!

I take it you heard of slavery.

So many, many things were whirling through her head at that point and when he had said those words, every last one of them ground to a halt.

Slavery.

Losing all forms of freedom, used and abused like an object, forced to your masters will with no hopes of escape apart from through death. And to orcs of all things.

Knowing that it would be fruitless before she even began the venture, Kalira writhed and squirmed and kicked and bit and tried every means of escape known to her. None worked.

'Tut. Tut.' Leered Boad, drawing right up to her face as it was held in place by the orc who had her hair in his fist. 'And to think I was going to give you a little choice. Hmm. I think I shall for either way you cast your vote will lead to the same end for us. An amusing one. So, I, being the kind general I am, going to offer you an option between these two: you can either be knocked out continuously until we reach the nearest town outside of Gondor which should be around three and a half days' time by a knock to the head. OR.' He said quickly, nothing Kalira's panic, 'We could chain you up by the neck and walk you there. The choice is yours.'

She looked around in alarm. Neither option was good. Even remotely so. 'I-' she started 'I chose- option b. I will walk.' She tried to hide her shaking hands behind her back and look the orc monstrosity in the eye.

'Very well.' Boad spat. 'Tie 'er up. One around her wrists and another around her neck. And if she squeals or yelps or mutters... Whip her.'

Kalira winced at the venom in his words. Then she saw the whip in mention. And her heart stopped. It wasn't what you would instantly call a whip. It was a long thin metal link chain (like a bike chain) with teeth (real ones) at ten centimetres intervals. Not only would you feel the sting of the whip but that one could-and would-literally tear chunks out of you. And it was covered in dried blood.

Swallowing back the bile, she held her hands out in front of her and watched as an orc with false legs came and bound them together with a length of filthy rope. She tried also not to wince as it looped the other end of the same length around her neck. It rubbed and was tight and… sticky. Trying not to think about why, she stumbled forward as Boad gave the rope a tug, testing its strength.

'Right girl. One toe out of line and you know what happens. You'll get one cup of mudge a day. We'll stay in the town for one night and then we'll get someone to sell you to. You shall not look at us but instead at the floor. Understood?'

'Understood.' Kalira answered in an undertone, head bowed as she had been ordered.

'Sir.' Boad added. 'Or master.'

'Understood, sir.' She remedied, still not looking up.

'Parmab (On).' Shouted Boad and everyone -including Kalira on the end of his lead- followed.

LINE BREAK INSERT

Mudge. It was both the most loathed and loved thing about Kalira's day. Loathed in that it stuck to her throat and made her wretch and tasted like… she didn't want to know. Loved in that… it was all she got to eat after fourteen hours of walking. Every night, she would eat a mug of mudge, get three beatings for whatever excuse they could find, get tied to a tree and told to be up all the earlier the next morning.

Finally, dawn shone on the third day and Kalira felt a spark of hope at being released from the hold of these fell beasts, but also a nagging worry that her next master would be worse still. What if he constantly whipped her? The orcs didn't do that too much for fear that no one would buy a wounded slave.

They were all sat around a flaming log, discussing things in black speech, not knowing that she could understand what was being said:

'The scrat, will she sell do you think?'
'Yeah. And for a good price too I should think, not often we get one as fit and healthy and young and pretty as this one.'
' Who are we passing 'er to when we get to the forgotten hill?'
'The 'alf man. Remember? We give 'em to 'im and he then goes to one of the little towns outside Osgiliath and sells 'er on. Wonder who she'll go to?'
'Some wealthy man I don't doubt. Not one of the respectable ones though. Nah. They're much to 'noble' to do such a thing.'
'Stranger things 'ave 'apenned though, stranger things have happened.'
'Indeed they 'ave. Come on. Let's get going. We're not far now.'

Now they spoke to her in the tongue, not knowing that she already knew what they were going to say. 'Girl. Come. We move now. Today we will hand you over.'

'Thank you, master.' Kalira replied, faking innocence. And with that they were off again. But off to what, Kalira didn't know.

Well, a bit longer than normal but take that as an apology for not updating in a while. :/ yeish. Sorry about that. If you want to know what happens soon then please let me know. And please VOTE. It will be a few chapters yet as is, but I can always drag it out… I will not start until I have ten votes. I'm patient, I can wait. Maybe… :/