[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Farien sat in a dark corner of the cave. Her body ached from the beatings she'd been given, she didn't care. She huddled with her knees drawn tightly up to her chest and stared into the blackness. She'd done with resisting. What had resisting gotten her? Her children were gone.

Farien rubbed at her eye with the heel of her dirty hand, absentmindedly combing the tangles out of her long hair with her fingers. She didn't doubt that filthy orc had used his poisoned blade on them. On Arrin, on Serra and Telmir... A tear ran down her face unheeded. It left a darker place on the red of her skirt. Farien didn't notice.
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In another part of the cave Telmir stood up cautiously. He was ten years old, old enough to be a man. Old enough to know these filthy orcs had come from Mordor, and he hoped they'd go back there, go back there and burn. Telmir bared his teeth in what he hoped was a fierce snarl.

His sister Arrin was curled up in his arms, her face on his shoulder. He'd told her to keep quiet no matter what, and so far she'd obeyed him. Serra was lying on the floor. Telmir thought she was asleep, she'd been asleep for a few hours, since the orc brought them in. At first he'd thought she was dead, but she was breathing, so he figured she was just asleep.

Telmir looked around, in the dim light he could see other children in the cave, but he was the oldest. Except maybe that little girl in the corner. He walked over to her. "I'm Telmir." he whispered. Her eyes were terrified, but her hair was a shiny yellow color. She was holding a very young baby on her lap.

"I'm Emilia." she whispered shakily. The baby she was holding stirred and began to whimper. She lifted it to her shoulder and rocked.

"That your sister?" he whispered. He cast an eye toward the two little boys nearby, "Those your brothers?"

She shook her head no. "But we've got to keep them quiet!" she exclaimed, "the orcs!"

Telmir nodded. He set Arrin down by Emilia, disregarding her wide eyed glance at him and her pudgy arms asking to be picked back up. "You stay there, Arrin. I'll go get Serra."

Serra wouldn't wake up. He nudged her, and then outright shook her, but all she did was moan and lie there. Telmir frowned. He was responsible for his sisters if Momma and Pappa weren't there. He couldn't leave Serra all alone over here. What if the orcs came back?

Telmir was strong for his age, but it took all his strength to heave his six year old sister over his shoulder and carry her to the lightest part of the cave. He set her gently on the floor and stood gasping, looking at all the other children gathered there. One of the small boys began to cry. Telmir gathered him in his arms and stroked his head, shushing him quietly. They'd be fine, Gondor was coming to rescue them, Telmir was sure of it.