Talema: Part Two

by jessiea2002

Once inside the barn, Talema wished she hadn’t gone in. She could barely see anything and the smoke burned her eyes and throat.

“Think,” she commanded herself, “Which way should I go?” The sound of frightened whinnies pierced the air.

“That way,” she thought, galvanized into action. Running, almost blindly, she dodged flame and sparks to get to the first stall. Talema slipped open the door like she had done a thousand times before and a dark mare came out, eyes wild. She whispered a few words to the horse and it calmed down enough for Talema to use her as a support when she went to free the other horses.

Miraculously, they were all still alive, although the fire and smoke were getting nearer. Now they had to escape from the barn, but how? Talema knew the way that she entered would be watched by the Orcs, just in case she survived.

The back way was partially cut off because of the fire. “It is our only hope,” she muttered grimly. She called to all the horses. They followed her voice. She hoped against hope that they could follow it out of the fire rather then have their fear consume them.

Ignoring the pain in her leg, she forced herself to get to the back doors, and unlatched them. She flung the fairly undamaged one open and screamed to her horses. Would they remember their training and listen to her voice in this vital hour? For a moment, her heart stopped. They were too scared to go near the fire. Then, she heard a hoof beat, then a rumble. They were coming!

Talema inhaled sharply. So were the Orcs. The spotted her, and there was no way she could run. She steeled herself for death when, suddenly, Stardust was by her side! Automatically, she clung to his neck and was swept onto his back. “Run!” she gasped, and Stardust needed no other command. His hooves thundered off into the woods, and, turning back, Talema saw the herd behind them.

She heaved a sigh of relief. No man or Orc could catch them now, for these were among the finest horses of Rohan. No man… Talema paled. Her father! She dug her heels into Stardust’s sides so hard that he reared. “Sorry Stardust,” she whispered, “But we MUST go back!”

They turned back to the farm, but when they reached it Talema saw a still figure on the ground. “FATHER!” As she rode back to the forest she sobbed as if her heart would break. She had no one else left in the world. It was only her and her horses, and she would not let them go.