’Sela?’ Dena placed his hand on Sela’s shoulder, he had 

never seen Sela this disturbed before.

 

’I was just enquiring if anyone has seen anything,’ Sela 

tried to reply calmly, but Dena was not fooled.

 

’We just assumed,’ the man replied in a low tone.

 

’Do not assume things and create unnecessary myths 

amongst the men. I will look into this, leave now and not a 

word about this anymore,’ Sela ordered.

 

The men left wondering just as Theo approached.

 

’What were those men saying? You look disturbed.’

 

’Nothing that you should be concerning yourself with sire.

 

Should we train for a while?’ Sela asked.

 

Theo was spellbound for a second,

’I knew I would regret it……. why not?’ he pulled out 

Sela’s sword, ’Shall we Dena?’

Dena did not respond; he was still looking at Sela lost in 

thought.

 

’Dena!’ Theo called out louder. 

’Yes!. Yes,’ Dena pulled out his sword, still distracted.

 

’What do you say, shall we have a go first?’ Theo smiled, 

’Better Dena than Sela, he would go light on me.’

 

They walked towards a clearing, away from the camp.

’Now!’ Sela yelled impulsively and Dena attacked Theo, 

he fell to the ground grunting. 

’Forgive me,’ Dena quickly extended his hand to help.

 

’Good heavens Dena, are you looking to hurt me or 

something?’

 

’You were not ready sire! There is no point in doing it if 

you are not serious about this.’ Sela commented in a harsh 

tone.

 

’Give it a moment Sela, I will pay attention, my….... you 

seem quite tense this morning?’ Theo scoffed.

’Nothing to it sire, pardon me if that sounded intense,’ 

Sela looked at Dena who had a curious look on his face. Sela 

blew out some air, ’Let’s try that again sire! This time be 

prepared, feel the earth beneath you, hold your foot down into 

it and use all the might to defend yourself.’

Dena attacked aggressively. Theo tried to follow Sela’s 

advice and withstood for a while.

 

’Do we have to do this? You cannot expect me to have the 

strength after a long and tiresome ride.’ he revolted.

 

’I assume you promised the king you would do it.’

 

’I did. I cannot fathom how my life has turned out to be 

over the past few days since that fateful night. I have been 

hearing nothing but bad news since then. Why does my father 

wish to punish me so?’

 

Theo pushed away Dena’s sword with 

his and banged it down to the ground. He looked at his soft 

untouched palms all bruised. 

’I cannot do this!’ he yelled in 

pain, a tear almost rolled down, but he managed to stop it.

’They will heal and won’t hurt as much once you get used 

to it sire,’ Sela paused, ’Let us pause it here for now and 

continue later,’ he looked at Dena.

 

They walked back to the camp.

’Why do I have to deal with all the heartless people in the world?’ 

Theo sympathised with himself.

 

’Dena, round up all the men! We better get going, lot of 

ground to cover today.’

 

’I was wrong to think I could rest now,’ Theo shrugged his 

shoulders and Dena agreed as usual.

 

As they packed up, Dena approached Sela,

’There is something else you are not letting on, isn’t it?’ he 

inquired in a low voice. 

’You just have to follow orders, is it so worrisome that you 

keep bothering me every single step!’ Sela snapped.

’Forgive me! I will just follow your orders.’ Dena shook 

his head and walked away.

Sela seemed more stressed as they resumed their journey. 

That night he personally stayed guard to see if there was 

something going on.

 

’Some of the men have gone missing, I wonder if there is 

something big at play here….!’

 

He went around the camp for a while and decided to get 

some rest. However, as he was checking one last time, he 

spotted a shadow near the prince’s pavilion.

 

’Awake men!’ he yelled as he ran in that direction, 

’Dena!’

 

Dena woke up startled in his sleep and hurried out. Sela 

stepped into Theo’s pavilion but did not find anything in there. 

’What is it?’ Dena had followed him.

Sela ran out of the pavilion without answering,

 

’What in the world!’ Theo woke up annoyed.

’Forgive me for waking you up like this in the middle of 

the night, but I swear I saw something when I woke up startled 

by Sela’s voice,’ Dena looked around and under the bed.

 

’You can go back to sleep, there is nothing here,’ he 

assured the prince.

Meanwhile Sela walked into the woods accompanied by 

some men. They wandered deep looking around and it felt like 

something moved through the bushes casting large shadows on 

the trees. 

’Who is it? Men! over here!’ Sela called out.

They kept looking around and somehow Sela had a 

feeling that they were being watched. He quickly turned and 

noticed something far away in the darkness, two green eyes 

glaring at him. He had seen those eyes before if he was not 

mistaken. His heart skipped a beat. He made sure there were 

no more of them.

 

He slowly turned around and ran back swiftly.

’There is nothing here! Everyone, fall back! Back to the 

camp,’ he ordered, ’Quickly now!’

They hurried behind him to the camp. Sela looked back 

several times as they approached the camp making sure they 

were not being followed. He sighed in relief once they set foot 

in the camp.

’What was it?’ Dena came running as soon as he saw Sela, 

’You look dreadful?’

’The prince?’ 

’Prince Theoden is safe in his pavilion, ...... well, a little 

frustrated but I think I got him back to sleep.’ Dena assured.

’Everyone, back to your places! I want more men around 

prince’s pavilion.’ Sela ordered, ’Light more torches, I want 

them to look like a wall of fire around the camp.’

’Did you find something?’

 

’Just a wolf, nothing to worry,’ Sela replied panting and 

checking if the men were following orders.

 

’A wolf?’ Dena questioned as the men set more torches 

around the camp, ’A wall of fire for a mere wolf, what do you 

take me for? I need to have a word with you, now, in private!’ 

he looked into Sela’s eyes as he spoke.

Now that it seemed safer, Sela quietly followed Dena.

 

’What did you find?’

 

’A wolf, as I mentioned earlier. I was just worried if it 

would lead the pack to us.’

 

’Seriously? We both know you are lying. I saw the 

shadow, it was huge. It cannot be a wolf.’ Dena paused and 

then spoke in a stern voice, ’What are you trying to hide? I can 

feel the tremble in your voice, what is it that you are not telling 

me, what were you doing awake at this time of the night. 

Father knows about it too, doesn’t he? Both of you have been 

acting a bit secretive lately. What is it? I am asking you for the 

last time,’ Dena demanded.