We had been riding many hours before we stopped to set up camp. The sun had already dipped below the trees to wait for another day.
I rolled out my mat beside my brother.
"Why Lady Siraviel! You must be greatly troubled to have to sleep upon the filthy and horrid ground."
I smacked him with my pillow.
I wanted to talk to Filith about the days events like we usually do, but they day had been long and seemed to have taken its toll on him. He was asleep before I could say good day.
I looked up at the stars and found Orion, my favorite constellation. The stars glimmered above us like beacons in the night. There was something so comforting about the stars in the sky. They were forever steadfast. You could always count on the stars.
I hadn't realized how exhausted I was, and soon found myself asleep.
My eyes creaked open and I looked around me, no one was yet awake. I tried to fall back asleep but was now wide-awake. I stood up and brushed the dust off my clothes and the sleep from my eyes. I decided to go for a quick walk. I grabbed my pack from the carriage, putting in a quiver of arrows and a bow. Seleth had been teaching me how to shoot and I was proud to say I was doing quite well. I pulled it onto my back and set out into the woods. I walked a little ways then found an apple tree. I hadn't realized how hungry I had become, so I picked a few and threw them into my pack. I went to pick one to eat when I heard a scream from camp. I took off into that direction.
"Siraviel!! Siraviel!! Where are you?!" my father was calling. I ran into the clearing and came up to him.
"Here I am father, what is wrong?"
"Thank heaven Sira, I thought the worst. Orcs are coming, they are on a rampage, they are much closer than we predicted. We must leave immediately! The carriage must be left behind, so grab what you need. Hurry!"
I finally looked around. Everyone was running crazily, grabbing necessities. I raced to the carriage to grab my things.
My father rode in on his horse.
"We must leave now!" he yelled, "they are coming!"
I heard a howl in the distance and a shiver of fear raced down my spine. Forget my things. I found Celebreth and mounted as quickly as I possibly could. I eased her forward and tried to calm her. She was very tense and no wonder.
"Ride as quickly as you can Sira," my father shouted at me from his horse, "Ride!"
We raced across the country, outrunning an unseen terror. The landscape passed by in a blur. I had never seen an orc before, and had no intention of meeting one now. I remembered tales of them that my father had told from the Great War in which Aragorn was named king. I shivered at thought and urged Celebreth to go faster. I had no idea how long we would ride on like this, I didn't know if the horses could take it, I didn't know if I could take it.
It seemed we had been riding for hours. I was sore all over, I wondered how I would get off the horse when given the opportunity. Finally, my father signalled we could slow down. I immediately did so and I could hear Celebreth breathing heavily beneath me. She was exhausted. I willed her on a little longer.
I rode up alongside my mother. She still looked beautiful despite the harsh ride. I could not see my self, but had no doubt I looked a wreck.
"Are we away from them mother? Are we safe?"
"One is never completely safe when traveling in the wild, but for now we are in no immediate danger."
"How far is Gondor?" I asked.
"About 7 days, if we keep a strong pace."
I thanked her and rode up to Filith.
"Filith, have you ever seen an orc?"
"I am looking at one now."
"Filith… I am serious."
"Yes, I have seen one, once."
"Well… what are they like?"
"They are horrid things Sira, vulgar, with gigantic eyes. Their smell is vile, and repulsive. But what is worse is the way they act. No conscience, no morality, they kill first, then forget to ask questions later. They are cruel and stupid. That is a dangerous combination."
"Where did you see one?"
"I was out riding with father when I was but a boy. One, apparently lost, came rambling out of the brush, shrieking and howling. Father shot it before it could look at us cross-eyed, but I was terrified. Scariest experience of my life."
Filith went silent then, as if re-living the terrible encounter. We rode on in silence for some time, each thinking our own thoughts.