Pastures of Rohan

[Anwyn]

Here under the shadow of the White Moutains the many Horses of Rohan are kept. Left free to wander as they wish they are protected from predators by the watchful eye of guards posted at Edoras

[Valdrik]

The raiders approached as the sun set, letting the blinding light behind them shield their presence form the watchfull eyes of Edoras. They were not many. Fifty perhaps, wildmen all of them. They wore the skins of wild beasts and weilded clubs, axes and spears, some even bore Rohirrim swords and shields, taken as prizes from battles long since passed. They were quick in their task: Horses, take as many as they could manage, which in this case was nearly one hundred and fifty. Each raider mounted one and lashed one to either side of his new steed. As quickly as they had come they vanished over the horizon, leaving dust to cloud the rays of the red sun as it fell beyond the horizon. In their wake they left a signal fire which would burn brightly in the twilight, signaling the horselords to investigate. What the riders would find when they approaced would be a corpse of horse, set ablaze and it's head impaled upon a stake before it.

[Anwyn]

Anwyn stepped out onto the diasis before the Golden Hall, Yawning and stretching wearily. It was sheer habit that she came out here everynight before retiring, one last chance to enjoy the fleeting rays of the sun. Breathing in deeply, she fought back gagging. A foul smell travelled along the air, It smelled of burning meat. Not an entirely unusual smell for this country, but something was distinctly off. Turning slightly her sharp eyes scanned the area surronding, For a moment she thought she saw a pack of retreating riders but before she was sure they were gone. A trick of her imagination perhaps, still curious as to what could be creating such a stench she saw a whisp of smoke on the plains.

"Captain" she said turning slightly, One stepped forward "Yes M'lady" Anwyn made a face as she tried to reason what could be burning unattended at such an hour "Get me my horse"

Attended by several soldiers Anwyn galloped up to where the smoke was arising. Pulling up a short distance away, she walked up the sight and threw a hand over her mouth. A horses head sat mounted on a pike, Its eyes glossy and tongue protruding in a grim expression of death as its remains sat smoldering a short distance away. She turned from the sight, Now she could see scattered figures in the darkness, Horses. Far fewer horses than had orginally been put to pasture earlier, This was part of the breeding stock of Rohan.

The guards lowered there heads at the sight of the dead horse, Its death affecting them as it would another soldier. With great sadness its remains were extuinguished and buried at the spot. Anwyn could not bring herself to look upon the sight but instead her eyes turned to the direction where she had seen the riders heading towards. It was no patrol she had seen, she had seen the ones responsible for such an act against Rohan. She would find the ones responsible and see that they were severely punished.

[Valdrik]

A lone rider turned and halted his hasty retreat. He nudged his new steed forward to the top hill top. To Anwyn and her men he would be but a small silouhette atainst the darkening sky. He stood their motionless for a moment, the raised his axe, the very blade that had parted the burning beast from it's head, and gave a shrill cry. The scream echoed across the plains, even reaching the streets of Edoras. In the city women pulled their children close as they stood in wonder of what stirred on the plains. And then he lowered his spear and turned his back to them as he headed off into the darkness.

[Anwyn]

Anwyn turned at the sound, and was still for a long moment before roused by some unseen force, cursing under her breath. Walking quickly back towards her horse, cloak swirling behind her she mounted. Eyes still fixed on the Horizon "Captain, Ready your men. Tommorow we ride"

[Valdrik]

Two days passed since the Rohirrim incursion into Dunland and no further sightings of barbarians had been reported. It might have seemed that they had learned their lesson. But as the sun rose on the third day the shifting wind brought a foul stench across the plains and into the city of Edoras. In the dark of night the barbarian Oyvind, the very man Anwyn had left living after her raid, had brought the Rohirrim Queen a gift. Set upon a hilltop in perfect formation stood every last Rohirrim soldier that had died in the skirmish two days hence. They stood impaled upon pikes with there arms crossed and pinned to their chests by daggers in a Rohirrim salute.

[Anwyn]

Anwyn was awoken quite suddenly by the many wails and screams of her poeple, leaping from her bed her hand reaching for her sword as she went. Surely such a sound could only signal an attack on the city, she burst into the hall "Captain!" she shouted, looking around frantically. Running through the golden hall her bare feet slapping across the floor as she went. Bursting through the doors, her heart caught somewhere in her throat she saw an army on the horizon. Though her soldiers stood still, not moving only starring, some had lowered heads. Confusion washed over her as she saw that the advancing army in the distance was not advancing at all, infact they were quite still.

A choked gasp escaped her as realiztion dawned and her hand flew to her mouth. They were dead soldiers, Rohan soldiers cruelly held standing by some unnatural means. Dropping to her knees she countinued to stare, quite unable to look away from the grisly site. There was only one explanation for such a crime, They were the fallen of the earlier battle. The stench blew towards her and she felt her stomach turn.

The remaining soldiers on duty, suddenly aware of there legs again began to slowly advance to reclaim the dead and bring them home again. Widows and mothers of the fallen poured into the streets, wailing and clinging to each other for comfort. Anwyn was helpless to watch, no one should have to endure such a terrifying sight. Children were ushered back inside there homes and blinds tightly drawn as the soldiers one by one were taken back to the city and laid out so that there families may claim them and prepare for burial.