Hunter of Thunder

Chapter 2 – Starless Night

It wasn't long before Crysto had galloped across the green plains of Rohan to the edge of the mountains.  He was a fast horse, after all.  Not as fast as Firefoot or Shadowfax, of course, but Crysto could hold his own.  So, the sun was setting when they reached the edge of the mountains.  Éorinaë slowed his horse and looked around.  He wasn't sure where to go from here, the mountains looked unforgiving this time of year, covered in snow.  But something told him, in the back of his mind, that is where he is headed.

It was growing cold.  Éorinaë pulled out his dark green cloak and cast it about his shoulders.  He seemed to grow into the darkness.  There where no stars out, no moon to light the way; but the boy's sensitive eyes could still see well in the dark.  In fact, he found it painful to be outside in the sunlight somedays.  Darkness was much more soothing.  But it was painful in it's own way too.  It reminded him of that night his parents where taken from him.  No, only one.  His father was alive and he would find him!

Crysto snorted and tossed his head.  Éorinaë patted the large animal's neck and dismounted.  They would have to spend the night.  Éorinaë busied himself with starting a fire while Crysto grazed quietly on some tree leaves near-by.  With the fire going, Eor got to work making himself dinner.  On the way there, he had caught sight of a rabbit in the plains and knew that he would need something to eat for dinner that night, so he killed it.  Now, he was eating it.  It was rather bland, but that didn't seem to bother the young rider.  He ate in silence, just thinking. 

Suddenly, a noise interrupted his thoughts.  Éorinaë's hand drifted to the sword at his side.  It was a short sword, given to him by Ranthor.  But it served the boy well, being only 11 and not able to wield a normal sword yet.  The sound got closer.  Éorinaë shifted so he could stand quickly and gripped the hilt of his sword hard.  The creature jumped out of the woods, it was an orc.  Éorinaë sprang up, sword drawn, to meet his attacker.

The orc took one look at the young rider and laughed in it's foul voice, "Do you think you can really defeat me boy?" 

Éorinaë narrowed his eyes, "I do, you're confidence is misplaced."

"Then it is your confidence that is misplaced, horse-master!" the orc charged at him.

Éorinaë blocked the creature's blow easly and ran it through the stomach.  But the boy didn't expect more.  The others seem to appear everywhere and while Éorinaë slew some of them, there were always more.  He yelled in frustration. 

The orcs closed in on him, surrounding him from all sides.  Éorinaë turned sharply, trying to prevent any attack, but it was hopeless.  One of the orcs hit the boy from behind with it's single piece of metal that served as a shield.  Another hit the boy with the hilt of his sword upon his head. 

Éorinaë fell to the ground.  A drop of blood fell down the side of his face leaving a trail of crimson from where the sword hilt had connected moments earlier.  His intense eyes looked up at the orcs.

The lone wild man that had murdered the other, still laughed as he ran back through the woods.  His mad laugh echoed off the trees and mountains.  The whole forest seem to turn dark.  He ran into a cave where several other Dunlendings where waiting and one dark figure laying on the ground in the corner.  His hands and feet were bound so he could not escape.  Since he had tried many times, almost completely getting away once.

He was calm at the moment, simply laying there, unmoving; almost seeming asleep.  But he was not.  He was listening silently, planning his next move.  But that would be sometime off, he was weak now.  Almost too weak to continue.  He had no idea what the Dunlendings wanted with him, since they hadn't killed him. 

He had to get away, somehow.  Darkness and fear was growing again in the world and he had to warn his people before it was too late…before it was too late.  Sleep tugged at the edge of his mind and finally, the man gave into the temporary escape. 

In the distance, thunder rumbled and a horse nayed…and a man stood up a hill, his hair and cloak blowing in the wind.  The Hunter of Thunder had returned.