Chapter 3: Attack of the Wargs
Dwedain carried his two riders further across the vast plains of Rohan.
A howl erupted, quickly followed by several snarls. The vision that came to Barradir and Alem was horrible, a settlement in ruins! Housed were on fire, people were running and screaming, and large wolf-like animals ran about carrying violent looking orcs.
"Wargs," growled Barradir, whipping out his bow, "the wolves of Isengard."
Barradir took careful aim; the arrow found its mark in between the eyes of a rampaging warg, the orc was tossed to the ground and squished by his own, dead mount. Another warg rider rushed towards them. Barradir slid over allowing Alem to take control of the reins. He drew his sword.
"Guide my horse," Barradir whispered, he paused, "left, now!"
Dwedain took off; Barradir swung his sword and beheaded his adversary. The warg turned as if to jump but another warg collided with it in mid air, as it barely missed Dwedain. The rider of the second warg was slain instantly the two warg's began fighting each other in anger.
"Right," Barradir yelled.
Alem whispered into Dwedain's ear, as if he understood he took off right. This time another warg dove, it missed and its rider turned upon them. The warg lunged and bit Dwedain deep in his leg. Barradir without thinking leapt from Dwedain's back onto the wargs, he managed to push the rider off before he too tumbled to the ground.
"Human scum," the rider spat as it drew a deadly looking blade on the prone figure of Barradir.
The last words it would ever speak. A beautiful dagger, its hilt shaped in the fashion of a horse's head stuck into the orcs back. The orcs eyes rolled into its head and it fell to the side of Barradir.
"Not so useless, am I," scowled Alem.
"I never said you were," Barradir grinned fiercely back at her.
The warg who had his rider slain a moment ago jumped at Barradir. Who swiftly dove just in time, to gut it as it ran passed them. The warg managed to make it several feet before its front legs collapsed and it skidded along the ground, dead.
"Go Alem, save as many of the pilgrims as you can."
Alem turned, Dwedain in the direction of a burning house and charged off. Barradir cleaned his sword on the dead riders back and headed off for another fight.
Barradir saw the leader after killing a few more ransacking orc. The leader, a sturdy looking rider mounted on the biggest warg Barradir had ever laid eyes on. The orc had seen him as well,it kicked the giant black warg into an awkward lope towards Barradir. Barradir had his bow ready, an arrow flew deep into the wargs front leg, it still continued with huge strides towards him. A second arrow followed the first, this time into the underside of the warg. Yet it still limped toward Barradir, who dropped his bow and took out his sword. Right as the black warg opened its huge, cavernous mouth; Barradir sidestepped neatly and sliced it in the neck. He did not have enough power to kill the creature in one blow but it had been mortally wounded and skidded to the ground. He reached the dying warg intent in putting it out of its misery, he had forgotten entirely about the rider. He reached the animal only to be ambushed. The blade found it mark in his chest; fortunately enough for him the chain mail he wore was enough to protect him, except for a small cut he was fine. He fell back as the orc jumped on him. Instead of landing on him though it felt itself land on the dunedain's sharp blade.
In disgust he pushed the carcass of him and picked up his bow; the scene around him was a complete aftermath of chaos. Dead wargs littered the ground accompanied by there slain riders. Houses burned and screams could still be heard; Barradir stepped over a dead farmer, whose pitchfork was still clenched tightly in his hand. He found Alem tying a bandage to a young ones arm which had a cut on it.
"They attacked without warning, the second time this week," Alem spoke gravely.
"We will stay here for a while, help clean up and do what we can," Barradir answered soothingly.
"Many thanks," spoke a scrawny looking man, "I am Hasinfa, that is my wife Laudria, and our son," he pointed to the child Alem was bandaging, "Kirin."
"Nice to meet you, I am Barradir and she is Alem."
"A shield maiden of Rohan!" Hasinfa tried to hide his shocked expression.
"My good lady," spoke Hasinfa's wife Laudria, "why this far from Edoras?"
"Me and my friend," she gestured at Barradir, "are on an errand," she smiled.
"We must get you fed," said Hasinfa changing the subject, please come inside.
After a homely cooked meal of oatcakes and hot soup, the rest of the day was spent fixing buildings, and burying the dead. Although Hasinfa tried to stop Alem, she was stubborn and also helped by hammering nails into a shutter. Out of earshot Hasinfa spoke to Barradir.
"She is a shield maiden and should not be troubling herself with this," he nodded at Alem who was now showing Kirin how to use the hammer.
"She is as strong and stubborn as she is beautiful, my advice friend is to stand back and let her do as she wishes," Barradir grinned.
By nightfall Barradir and Alem where riding a well fed, bandaged Dwedain out of the settlement. Although the kindly family had offered for them to stay as long as they wanted and to have supper, Barradir had declined kindly and said they couldn't wait any longer. Although they had missed supper, Laudria had packed them a bag full of food, good for then next several days.
"You amaze me more and more every minute," said Barradir to Alem who now controlled Dwedain, he sat behind her.
"And your skill continues to amaze me, but your flattery even more," she falsely fluttered her eyelashes at him, grinning.
Barradir chuckled and whispered something into her ear.
"No," she said aghast.
Right then the first rain drops of rain began to pelt downwards.
"I told you," he spoke softly.
"How did you know?" she asked with interest.
"An old ranger trick, I'll tell you about it once we set up camp.
They set up camp in an old cave, a merry fire crackled and they both ate oatcakes from there bag's. Slept overcome Barradir and Alem as they settled in their cloaks. They did not see the odd creatures sneaking up on them in the night!