The cart hobbled slowly through the green hill landscape. I sat and leaned against the iron bars of the cage. Once in a while I looked to the other two in the cage, a middle-aged blond and braided man of the mark and the second looked like a younger boy who could have been a Bree-lander. None dared or even felt like speaking. I saw we were heading further south. About seven Dunlendings walked around the cart armed with spears and swords. After many hours we reached their village, I saw many banners with a drawing of an ox-head.
With our hands still bound we were thrown off the cart and pushed into three separate dog cages in which it was too low to stand. They treated us like animals, not even showing the slightest interest. A woman threw dry bread and a flask of water to each of us, which we tried to consume while our hands were still bound. They all left. We were close to a dog kennel, the hounds were barking aggressively, as they could smell the fear from miles. The entire village seemed to busy preparing something. I had no clue what they were planning to do with me. The sun fell.
I had no time to collect my thoughts nor my courage. Two of the Dunlendings walked to the cage of the younger boy. They pulled him out of the cage, he tried to resist but in vein, they dragged him out of my sight to the back of the village. I could hear a mob cheering and shouting. Between the shouts I heard a roar of a beast, a bear would be my guess. It did not take long before I heard a horrific scream that made my heart pound harder. More cheering and applause.
One hour later two of the Dunlendings returned and pulled the Rohirrim out of his cage. He walked with them willingly without looking at me. He seemed to be mentally preparing himself. The cheering started again. There was a loud roar of the animal followed by a human scream of pain and anger. Next I heard high pitched noise as if the beast had been hit mortally.
Thoughts ran wild. Brother... go brother, go and live the dream we both had. Become a rider of the mark, become as strong as we imagined, when we were young. Make our father proud. It is up to you now. Wulfreda... I wish we had more time, one night is all we had, go with all my heart. Let no-one put you down, fair and strong lady of the mark.
The blond man of Rohan was dragged back to his cage. He was breathing heavy and was covered in blood. He had three huge wounds on his head, as if a claw smashed his face. They gave him a wet peace of cloth and was left alone. The Dunlendings walked in my direction. I am next.. I am next.. I am next. Keep it together, focus. I have killed countless wild wolves and hounds in my time. I can do this, I can DO this. They dragged me out of my cage and pushed me towards the other end of the village.
