The corsair ship rocks from side to side, carried around by the waves all while being pushed ever forward by the strong winds in its sail. The corsairs on it however, all too familiar to the movements of the sea. They had little to no issue walking all over the place as if it was on dry land. “Check on our new catch!” The captain of the ship yells out. They are halfway to Umbar, returning from a successful raid along the southern Gondor coast.
One of the corsairs headed downwards, cages filled with scared and seasick people huddled together, through mostly just women and children. The men instead were taken upstairs to the rowing areas. “Yes you’ll catch quite a sum.” The corsair said mockingly before leaving again, throwing a piece of bread at the prisoners, who tore the bread in small pieces and tried to divide it among each other. “Here, you’ll need your strength” A darkhaired Gondorian woman says while handing a small piece out to a young girl with blonde hair. “.. I.. aint hungry” She says. “It matters not, you need to eat, to survive, you need it more than me. I'm old.”. But the blonde girl shook her head again and curled up in the corner again. To her, the world was gone. She had nothing, she was nothing, and now just to become property to be sold.
A few days later the ship finally docked to the Umbar docks. After a while, the corsairs started guiding the women out of the ship, pulled by chains around the necks. Many lost their will and strength, but under the brutality of the corsairs were forced to move. They were moved into a house, just off the docks. Here they were washed and dressed and eventually brought up towards Umbar’s main square. The young blonde girl stood there in silken clothing, eyes cast down. All voices were muffled, but all she could hear was whistles, yeers and like an auction going on. A few times she glanced at the crowd, it was clear she was the main attraction of this auction. It was not everyday a Rohirrim slave was sold on the Umbar slave markets.
She never heard the price that was paid for her, but eventually a rope was put around her wrists and pulled forward and guided forward. She was guided forward to a middle aged Umbarian man. He took the rope smiling at her, to him, she was nothing more than a trophy. Nearby to him, standing in more luxury clothing stood a young woman with blazing red hair. The Umbarian man then started to get moving, speaking in an assertive tone to both women. Clearly indicating that even the redhaired girl wasn’t free. After a while the redhaired woman would speak. “Don’t worry, I will look out for you. Just follow my lead.” her voice was soft and caring but also speaking with experience. For the blonde girl it wasn’t much, but it was the only reassuring thing she got now, like a piece of flotsam in a wild sea.
Her next few days were hazy. She mostly was dressed in a bellydancer outfit and forced to just stand there to look pretty, and in other cases she was forced to deliver food, even feed berries to the Umbarian man. Whenever she did anything wrong, the redhaired woman was forced to punish her. Which often meant that she took the blonde woman in the kitchen and asked her to help with the dishes. Eventually the blonde woman got more used to the situation. With the Umbarian man being a fat lazy guy who only likes to order women around, it was easy to avoid any unwanted events. She started speaking more, mainly to the redhaired woman. “My name is Zoriel, by the way. Not Paraphel, what many seem to call me.” The redhaired woman smiles. “Still a unique name for Rohirrim I think, no matter. Paraphel sounds a lot more Umbarian though, fits to your golden hair. My name is Kazra”. Zoriel smiles a bit. “Well I mean, people have been calling me Paraphel all this time, guess I can get used to it?”. Kazra giggled a bit. “I will just call you Paraphel then.”. “What does it mean?” Zoriel asked. “It means Golden Lady. Probably given to you due to.. Well no one knew your name until now and the golden hair.” Paraphel slides a hand through her hair, it really stands out as golden here in Umbar. Most hairs are either black, dark brown or red if not grey from age.
However, as time went on, both women got more used to the situation and because of their companionship with each other, they also started to talk about their annoyance with their master. “The lazy sod just sitting there asked me to hold the wine bottle. Does he even get out of that chair?” Paraphel says. “I admit, I was happy with such a lazy slaver at first. I’ve heard stories about others. But the more time goes on, I also get annoyed with him.” Kazra says. “Part of me starts to think… nah” Kazra speaks softly before cutting herself off. “What?” Paraphel asks curiously. “Murder him?” “Sssssssh keep your voice down. It's just a wild idea. Honestly best not done, consider the penalty on slaves who murder their master is being torn to shreds in the Colosseum” Kazra states.
Both women sighed defeatedly before they returned to the laundry. However after a small time of silence, one of them looked up. "At least he hasn’t been yelling for one of us to just stand there looking pretty.” Paraphel states. On which Kazra chuckles. “It’s seriously so boring when… wait…” “Wait what?” But Kazra suddenly became pale and rushed out of the laundry room to where the Umbarian man was supposed to be, speaking as she went. ”In my entire time here, I never heard him stay silent this long, he always wanted to see a ‘babe’ in his room.” Paraphel followed only to be met with Kazra standing stone still and face pale, looking down at an old fat Umbarian man, clearly choked to death on a berry. “Oh, shit…”
“Oh no.. ohno oh no. What do we do?! We’re dead!” Kazra started panicking. But Paraphel quickly stepped in. “Kaz. KAZ! Relax we got this. He doesn't get visits and we’re locked in here. If someone ever comes around here…” “Then we make sure we aren’t here when someone comes.” Paraphel states. She quickly pulls a hairpin out of her hair, making it fall down again, before moving to the side door and starting to lockpick. “Wait.. you.. You know how to..” Kazra asked, amazed. On which Paraphel just giggled softly. “I was at the wrong headspace when I was captured in Gondor. Otherwise…” The door clicked and the lock opened. “I sneak out easily.” Paraphel smirked over her shoulder to Kazra. Kazra immediately got some confidence back. “There’s an underworld in the sewers. Escaped slaves, and enemies of the Church of the Eye go there. But we can't go there like this. She pointed to the outfit both women wore. Ever since they got into this place, all they were allowed to wear was very revealing bellydancer dresses. However, Paraphel smirked and pulled the bottom part of the dress forward, then around her waist and into a knot, making it short and freeing up her legs. Kazra blushed a bit but also smiled, amazed at the efficiency this very timid blonde girl earlier now seems to show. “Right so plan is, now it's dark, I will go outside, and steal some decent clothing, shouldn't be too hard. Then we can make our way into those sewers.”
Kazra nodded, but before Paraphel made her way outside, she quickly spoke up. “Oh and find some black hair dye if possible!”. “Why? Your red hair is cute.” Paraphel smiled at Kazra who blushed back, but shook her head. “Nah not for me, for you. Black hair is common and red hair is uncommon but still around. Blonde however…” “Ah Right, yes good point.” Paraphel answered. “I will find some black hair dye, hopefully. Just make sure Big Fat and Dead doesn't start to smell.” Paraphel requested. “Not much I can avoid, he already smelled like a thousand pigs” Kazra said, making both women giggle before Paraphel finally went outside. “Please be safe…” Kazra muttered softly.
A few hours later, Paraphel made her way through the door again. Kazra immediately ran forward. “Oh my god you’re back, I was so worried. Been pacing all the time.” Kazra spoke, relieved. “Well worry no more, I got some good looking robes, pants and underpants for women. Even in our size. Oh and this black hair dye. .. and a purple hair dye.” Paraphel giggled and then looked guilty a bit. “.. and a chest with 100 gold coins…” Kazra just froze and stood there silent, mouth slowly opening. But before she could speak, Paraphel spoke quickly. “Look, we need it in the coming moments, I aint putting it back.” Kazra shook her head. “Ah no I understand, yeah it will be useful, lets just.. Well lets dye that hair of yours.. Sit down. Also where did you want that purple.” Kazra asked. “Just the front lock at the right side. Rest black.” Paraphel stated, as she sat down, letting Kazra dye her hair. The thick dye flattened the hair and quickly made it sleek, long and pitch black, with exception of the front right side, which had a glittering purple strip of colours going down.
“Well now just get in our new clothing and get away from here. Also we likely need a new name for you. You’re not the Golden Lady anymore.” But Paraphel chuckled in response. “Nah I can stay named Paraphel. Besides, no one beside you and the deadman over there used that name, so no one knows it.” Paraphel spoke, dressing in a commoner robe before nodding. “Lets take the dresses with us, so no loose ties” Kazra spoke. “Good idea.” Paraphel spoke as she exited the building.
“How difficult was it to obtain the chest with gold by the way?” Kazra asked curiously. “Relatively easy, I got some experience.” Paraphel smirked, after which Kazra asked. “Do.. you think you can do it more often?”. Paraphel looked at Kazra and smirked. “Kaz, honey.. You read my mind.” and both women set off into the sewers, giggling, unknowingly starting a golden crime era.
To be continued.
