Leídan Aznawar of Khand

It was grey lifeless land out here. The green grass sea of Laergaladrin laid miles behind them as well the green hills of Emyn Laer in the west. By the second week after the leaving Tir Ethraid Neida didn’t feel well and wanted a few days of rest. The reason for her illness was female and Leídan knew about it. He said nothing, just nodded, that they would keep a few days rest, before she felt better again. Neida felt sick and was glad to lie down on her bed to sleep a long night. Leídan had sought a safe place between the rocks, where also bushes were and a small river they could make use off. His mother had taught him and his brother all the troubles women usually suffered from in a month. She had wanted that the brothers had respect for their sisters, as nature seemed sometimes not so gentle on them. However, the other way around there were also a few things for him, where nature made it not easy. He had discovered later that Neida had known as much about men and their natural troubles, as he knew about women. So, Leídan concluded that their mother had also instructed her daughters in the ways of the world. Bro and sis knew everything what came looking when a marriage took place. Leídan was not sure yet if he wanted ever to marry, but then he was young still. His adolescent years just lay behind him. For Neida it was the same. Among the Azumenúkhad was no particular age to marry. Enough men and women never married and devoted their lives in other ways in use to the survival of the tribe.

Leídan was quite gentle in his manners, taken after an admiration for his mother. It was a bit unusual for a son to have a strong bond with his mother. She had helped him through most of his growing up troubles in his puberty years. Qua character, he looked the most at her. His sister Neida was a mix of her mother and sister, and so didn’t look in character much after either of them. His father had a different character. He had a typical male attitude that attributed to his renown in the tribe. A man had to be brave and ought to have valour. His father had both qualities and he was extrovert. Leídan was like his mother introvert. Neida was extrovert in character and always took part in a conversation if there was one in her family. Now on the journey it was often her, who started a conversation. Leídan didn’t mind, he was used to it.

The next morning soon Neida was awake, Leídan informed her that he would be going into the hills on foot and see how the surroundings were and if close were any dangers they didn’t know yet about. She was not happy she would be alone, but also Neida knew that reconnaissance was needed now they remained in one place for a few days. They had to stay cautious. Leídan took off taking his sword and bow with him. They were not far from Bar Malduin. The city fortress lay at a small river coming from the mountains and was called Malduin. It lay at the end of the southern slope of the hills. Leídan travelled a few hours, moving silently through the rocks, before he found an excellent viewpoint from where he could see Bar Malduin. It was a pirate city. He nestled himself on the ground. Around him were low bushes, which protected him from being seen if one stood on one of the nearby rocks. The ground was soft by the green vegetation growing here. On his belly, Leídan leaned on his arms and watched the traffic coming from the city. He saw carts pulled forth by oxen; he saw goats in quite large herd guarded by dogs and young boys, dressed in loose dull robes. He saw riders on horseback returning to the city having a few captives with them, bound on horseback. There hang a woman around quite poor dressed, and what Leídan found scandalous. Men nor women had bare arms or legs in these parts. Orcs were not around here, but these people were as dangerous as Orcs. They valued nothing, except their own families and what beheld value. Leídan left the viewpoint as he had come, and went more to the east. Farmers lived in small cottages on the riverbank. Anglers lived here as well. Both groups went daily to the market in Bar Malduin to sell their products. By the end of the midday, he returned to the camp deep in the hills northeast of the city.

Neida had spent the day with washing clothes and letting them dry in the sun. She had set also some traps for small wild and so had two rabbits for dinner. She had cleaned both of them. Except the organs she used mostly of the animals, the hides she could make later things from, the bones were pulverized into powder and saved in a jar from later medical use of some sort. The meat was enough for the evening meal. Leídan returned before dark fell and the world reduced to a small fire. He told her what he had seen. Soon after dinner, the fire was put down by placing a flat stone over it. It would not be wise to leave it on, as light was a good signal in the intensifying dark and betrayed easily their hidden position for praying eyes. Orcs travelled sure in the night through the hills. Both slept safe through the night, but in the early morning hours both awoke of frightened bird squeaks. The fire was for hours. Leídan stood up immediately, reaching for his weapons, Neida followed him ready to fight as well. They left the camp and their Azumehda safely in the small ravine and went on the hunt what had disturbed the birds in the trees. At the slope of the next hill both saw a small patrol of three Orcs scurrying between the bushes. They grunted loudly in the language of Mordor. Leídan and Neida took no risks and shot their arrows away in unison, killing the three Orcs in a matter of seconds. Then they came from their safeplace and checked the Orcs on strange things. One of them carried a bag.

Neida took care over the bag and held it upside down so everything fell out of it on the rocks. Leídan knelt down the mess and poked with a knife through the rubble. Some nice crystals were among them and he picked them up. He gave them to his sister. “What these creatures with them?” she asked in nothing particular. “They like niceties, things that shine,” she answered her own question. Leídan said nothing and looked at buttons. “Those are for a jacket,” pointed Neida. Leídan shook them in his hand and let them fall among the rubble. They were worthless, but perhaps the Orcs wanted them for something. They reused things if they came in need or were handy. They wore clothes as well. On the Orcs were only weapons found. They had no food with them. “They came from close. Somewhere between these hills must be some underground entrance. The mountains are miles from here to the east,” said Leídan in thoughts. “The Orcs were on patrol, not on travel.” This small kind lived only under the clouds, and during the night. If the sun would come through, they would not survive. He stood up and scanned around the surrounding hills. There was nothing to see, except for bushes and rocks everywhere. Leídan removed the arrows from the bodies and arranged the bodies so they it looked if the Orcs had quarrelled. He stuck their weapons in each other’s bodies. After finishing the last touch, they left the scene and returned to their camp. An hour later they were on the road, travelling on. Orcs were able to find their trail if they figured out the scene was foiled.