The Lost Years - Stories From The North

Chapter 1

The Brothers

Years after the last of the Northern Kings departed into oblivion, the men of the west were still to be found living and travelling through the northern lands. Small bands of homeless men, called by some, Rangers, and their families continued to protect their lands from the forces of evil. Within Imladris, the home of Elrond Halfelven, were kept the last heirlooms of the forgotten Kingdom, Narsil the broken sword of Elendil was there, as also was the Sceptre of Annuminas, the symbol of the King of the realm. Also kept secret and hidden was the knowledge that amongst the wondering folk, the heirs of Isildur, Elendils son, could be found, for the Chieftains of the Dunedain lived there, for they were the heirs of Arvedui, the last king of the Northern Kingdom. Within the hidden valley, they sought refuge and learning amongst the elves in Rivendell, waiting for the time when the King of the North would return

In TA 2900, Arador, was chieftain of the Dunedain. Over the past 200 years there had been a great strife and many battles with Orcs, throughout the north. The Shire people had successfully defended their lands from the plague of Orcs threatening to invade. Throughout the years many Rangers had died, fulfilling their duties to protect the dwindling people of the north. The last remnants of a once great kingdom were spread throughout the countryside. Gathered in small communities, loosely based on a core family group, the Rangers fought a seemingly losing battle to survive. However, urged on by the knowledge that they were the last and only protectors of the north, they managed to eek out an existence, when others would not have survived.

One such community was led by Ranger Captain Urden. Urden had chosen the lands to the north of the great East - West road as his to protect. Their encampment and home was located in the hills north of the road called The North Downs, located not far from the abandoned city of Fornost. The camp, although quite rudimentary, was home to twelve families all of whom owed their allegiances to the Chieftain, but owed their lives to Urden. His leadership and guidance had enabled the group to survive for the last fifty years.

The camp was located by a swiftly running stream, whose cool waters were fed from hidden springs above the downs. The land around was abundant with all sorts of game; wild boars, rabbits and fish from the stream were aplenty. Each household also bore the responsibility to grow their own crops and hunt for food to support their own. Although when it came time to patrol, fight or ambush a group of marauding Trolls, all pulled together to ensure success.

Urden’s family group was small, when compared to the others. His wife Dimaril, had given birth to only two sons. Uden and Urther. Urther’s birth had been so traumatic on the women, that she was no longer able to conceive, much to Urden’s and Dimarils regret, as they had wanted a daughter as well. It was said that Dimaril nearly died when Urther was born. However, she liked to say she gave just about all her love and joy to her new borne son. Both boys were the spitting image of their father, tall, with broad shoulders, and with rugged, but, trusting faces. The only feature they took from their beautiful mother was, the colour of her sharp, piercing, pale blue eyes.

The two brothers were the scourge of the encampment. Ever since they could walk, the two had managed to find trouble. Whether it was stealing fruit from the community orchards or getting lost in the old city of Fornost, the two were virtually inseparable in their early years. Uden, in particular, was known very well within the community, for his pranks and tricks, which he generally played against the young ladies of the group. All the eligible ladies vied for his attention, which made the tricks and pranks all the easier to do. Urther however, was the younger of the two by three years, he was quieter than Urden, and was wont to have broody days and on others spend time alone, with the animals of the forests.

As the boys approached adulthood, they were given more freedom to roam the lands, and search for trouble. Their father had taught them how to hunt and track, and also how to defend themselves, and fight, in battle. They both were very adept at all that was taught, however, Uden was the better fighter and Urther the better hunter. The two worked well as a team, a fact which had not been un noticed by their father. He ensured that they did everything together, hunt, fight, and live.

This day found the brothers far from home. Their father had sent them to hunt for a boar, for the coming mid summer celebrations that were shortly to begin. Their wanderings led them south towards the old city in search of the elusive prey. As they approached the ruins, Uden thought back to the morning and the words of their father before they departed.

“Well, boys, this will be your first hunt alone, I want you to enjoy yourselves, but be careful, there are many dangers out there, some things in the wild would be very pleased to come across you two stumbling through the woods. Uden you are older, therefore you are in charge. Protect your brother, see to it that no harm comes to either of you. Urther, make sure he doesn‘t get lost, you know what he is like stumbling through the forest. He is like a herd of Cave Trolls running from the rising sun. And ensure he doesn‘t get into any other type of trouble.” Uden gave his father and brother playful look, and said. “Don’t you worry about us father, we will be fine, after all, between my strength and Urther’s cunning, what could go wrong?” Urden shook his head and sent the two away, with a worried look. Not that he didn’t trust them, but, he knew the type of trouble the two could get into. Trouble seemed to follow their every move.

Uden looked forward towards Urther, who was currently studying the path they walked, for any sign of their prey. Uden didn’t have the skills for tracking his brother had, he was more suited to taking the heads off Orcs, than finding them.

Urther raised his left hand, as he crouched low over the path. “What have you found brother?” asked Uden quietly. “ The spore of a lost squirrel, maybe?” he continued jokingly.

Urther shook his head, and indicated Uden should be quiet. Uden immediately noticed a worried look on his brothers face. “What is it.” Urther stood up and moved forward cautiously, continuing to examine the path.

Uden did not like what was happening, and a feeling of disquiet was starting to creep over him. Drawing his long sword from its scabbard, he turned and surveyed the woods to the side of them and the path behind. Nothing followed. Just as he was about to turn a hand was placed on his shoulder. Crouching and turning quickly Uden took up a defensive stance. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his brother standing there.

“There are some strange signs on the path brother, I am not sure as to their significance. But I think we have a small hunting party of Orcs ahead of us.” he said.

“A small party?” Uden asked with a grin beginning to spread across his face. “How small?”


Scholar (Scribe)
4th June 2005

The Lost Years - Stories from the North

Chapter 2

Trouble as Usual

The last moments of daylight were beginning to dwindle quickly; the warming, golden sun had only just begun to set in the west as the brothers continued to follow the tracks left by the small hunting party of Orc. The last rays from the sun were coloring the clouds a foreboding dark reddish color, a sure sign of a tempestuous tomorrow to come. Uden looked up and watched as the first star of the evening began twinkling in the east. He smiled to himself as he recalled the evening spent with Anomie, just last night. They had laid beneath the open sky in each others arms, watching as these very same stars moved across the sky, chatting about their love for each other, and their plans for the future.

 

“Promise me you will always be my love?” she had asked. ‘Never leave me, I would die of torment if, if you didn’t return.’ Uden, smiled down at her, gently running his fingers through her hair. ‘Leave you, now why would I leave you, silly girl, I’ve nowhere to go, my life is here, my family, my friends are all here, and of course you are here my love. Leave you, don’t think of such madness. Tomorrow, I go with Urther in search of a boar for the mid summer festival, what trouble can we get into hunting boar.’ He said with a chuckle.

 

Uden was suddenly jolted back into reality and the present. During his musings he found he had stumbled over a small tree root that was weaving its way across his path. The subsequent noise of jangling and clattering swords and scabbards was enough to wake the dead. He regained his balance in just enough time to ensure he didn’t find himself face down in the mud that covered this part of the path. His actions drew a scowl and shake of the head from his brother. ‘Quiet Uden, I feel we are close, if you keep making sounds like that, we are likely to bring ourselves to the attention of the orcs.’

 

Uden and Urther had been following the tracks since they had picked up the sign earlier that day. Urther had shown and used all his skill in tracking to keep the pair on track. Although, he was still very much uncertain as to the real folly of their change in plans, after all hunting boar was one thing, but to change plans and begin hunting orc, was a totally different situation. Uden had successfully convinced him that they should follow the party of Orc. “After all, wasn’t it their duty as Rangers of the North, to protect their land, from the marauding hordes of Orc?” Uden had asked, with a smile and a roguish raise of his eyebrows.

 

The brothers decided to stop for a meal before continuing on. They moved off the path a short way finding a sheltered clearing, surrounded by pine trees. They sat with their backs resting against each other, both watching different directions in case they were ambushed. The soft, cushioning effect of old fallen pine needles provided them with a little comfort for their tired weary bodies. They had not planned on staying away from their family and encampment over night. However, they were well prepared. They had enough commonsense between them to know never to leave home without some emergency supplies. Their father had always drummed it into them, to be prepared for any circumstance. As they sat and ate their fare, Uden fingered the blade of his long sword, ensuring the edge was keen and sharp. He turned to Urther and asked.

 

‘How far ahead do you think our unfortunate prey is brother?’

 

Urther seemed to consider the answer, ‘It is difficult to say Uden, the tracks are barely readable, the path is rutted and worn to bare rock in places, making any attempt at following the sign tricky. But judging by what I saw just before we stopped, I’d say they are about an hour ahead of us. They don’t appear to be in any great hurry to get where they are going, and so are making our job much easier.’

 

Uden nodded his head with a knowing smile on his lips, barely readable to Urther in the quickly diminishing light. ‘As long as we catch up I don’t care, I have an urge to hunt some orc. And these beast in front of us, have attracted my considerable attention. Although brother I do wonder where this particular group of orc is going and why it is doing so. It is unusual to find orc this far west from the Misty Mountains. Not since the raids on the land of the Hobbits have we seen an orc party this far west.’

 

Urther shook his head at his brother’s bravado. He knew that Uden was more talk than action, but he also knew his brother was a very good fighter and had great skill with the blade. ‘I would say they are heading in the same direction as us brother’ said Urther, showing a rare hint of his humor. Come on we should leave shortly, and move along the track; hopefully we may come upon our prey whilst they are stopped for the night,’ said Urther. Uden stood and slapped his brother on the back, more a sign of confidence in the others skill and also as a show that all will be well.

 

The brothers packed up their meager supplies and set off back onto the path. By the time they resumed their hunt, the last light of the day had finally disappeared and the blackness of night had arrived. Urther found little trouble in adjusting to the darkness. His eyes adjusted quickly to the low light level, enabling him to move through the dark with ease avoiding all obstacles. Uden though, was not so lucky. He was unable to adjust to the diminishing light as well as his brother, resulting in many of stubbed toe and bruised shin.

 

Urther soon was able to lead them back onto the path. They began a slow and methodical walk towards the east and their prey, taking care not to make too much noise; least they alert their intended victims. Urther was as usual quiet as a mouse, making no discernable noise to Uden. Uden try as he may, could barely hear his brother as he walked. Urther on the other hand winced every time Uden placed a foot on the ground, he managed either to break a twig or catch his toe on a root every pace. A slight breeze blew through the surrounding pine forest as the continued on. The whistling of the wind through the trees made it very difficult for Urther to listen for danger. He relied wholly on his other senses to give him forewarning of any trouble ahead.

 

After about three hours of walking along the trail at snails pace, with no sign of their prey stopping, Urther called a halt to their progress. ‘We are unlikely to find them tonight Uden. Besides, all this tracking in the dark has made me very weary. If we keep going I could loose the trail, and we would have to start afresh. Let’s rest till dawn when we can resume the chase.’ Urther said.

 

Uden nodded and clapped his brother lightly on the back. ‘We shall move off the road, find shelter and you can rest. I will keep watch as I have done little this day, apart from tag along on your shirt tails.’ He said.

 

They again moved off the road finding a large old, partially dead tree to rest against, providing some shelter from the growing evening breeze. Although the season was summer, the nights were still very cold. As Urther settled and began to sleep, Uden paced around the small clearing, gathering his bearings. He stumbled across, what he thought was, an old camp fire at the far end of the glade. The small fire pit was bordered by well placed stones, providing the surrounding grass and leaves protection from sparks and embers. He smiled in satisfaction as he also came across a small well hidden supply of dried branches and twigs. This must be one of father’s overnight rest stops, he thought to himself as he stood from examining the store. He knew that the Rangers had many such caches, hidden throughout their territory, just for such situations as he and Urther were in now.

 

He felt relieved that they had stumbled across the site, knowing that it had been originally chosen because of its seclusion, and relative security from any undetected silent approach. Uden once more began to patrol around the glade, becoming familiar with the surrounds. The evening breeze began to increase as the night deepened. The wind whistled through the tops of the trees, making it difficult for Uden to hear anything else. He eventually made his way back to where his brother rested against the tree, his even breathing and gentle snores indicating that he had fallen into a deep and restful sleep. Uden could not fathom how his brother managed to rest so easy especially away from the comforts of a comfy bed.

 

All of a sudden the peace and quiet of the glade was interrupted by uncouth yells and calls. Uden quickly drew his sword at the same time that Urther sprang to his feet and drew back his loaded bow. The glade filled quickly with snarling and growling orc who quickly surrounded the brothers, the crude and evil looking weapons pointing towards the two boys. One large and grotesque looking orc shouldered its way through the gathered band of ors. “Well, well, well, what have we got here, then lads? A couple of human pups hey. Well, this has made the hunt profitable, the boss will be happy with us now. Grab em, and tie em up boys, these two are coming home with us.”

 

Uden seeing Urther submit to the grabbing hands of the orcs, did likewise, knowing to resist now would only result in a knife to the throat. The orcs bound the brothers’ hands tightly behind their backs and pushed them forward, leaving the glade and once more finding the trail, heading in their original direction, towards the abandoned city of Fornost.

Scholar (Scribe)
27th August 2005

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