This is my first fanfic, and my first LOTR fanfic, so please, no flames, but constructive help is welcomed. I have been writing since highschool, but this is the first time I have chosen to share any of my work with others. I do it for my own enjoyment only. I hope you enjoy if you find Uruks as fascinating as I do.

I own absolutely nothing belonging to Professor Tolkien. I own only the Uruk, animal and human characters I made up for this fic.

Don't forget to review!

Reluctant Warrior

Eaiel stretched slowly and slumped back into her narrow bed taking a deep breath. Muted purple light peeked in her window around the covering hanging over it and mirrored it's self across the room to light upon Caire's face. Her little sister still slept soundly, snoring lightly, her red curls dangling over the side of her stuffed mattress. Eaiel could hear the chickens outside making soft clucking noises, and she could hear one of the cow's bells jangling off in the field. It was time to get up and around. Eaiel pulled herself up out of the warm cocoon and made her bed, and went about quietly getting ready for the day. She combed her strawberry blond hair with the silver comb her mother had left her, probably the only thing of material value she would ever own, and tied it into a loose bun with tendrils hanging down framing her heart shaped face. She stared through grey eyes at the mirror above her dresser and sighed softly. She loved her father and sister so much, and was happy here in this beautiful land they had found. Sometimes she wished to travel and see more of Middle Earth, just to satisfy her curiosity. But there was no time for silly wistful things like that. She was sixteen now and no longer a child by her family's standards. She knew her father would like to see her marry one day, to know that she would be well cared for and supported. To know she was safe and sound was one of her father's few wishes. She understood, but didn't wish to marry. She didn't wish to have to answer to a stranger, even if she remained a home maker all her life. She had seen what kind of husbands some men could make when her best friend's older sister no older than Eaiel herself was now, back in Edoras, became a young bride and a punching bag. The young girl had finally run away never to be seen again, for even her own father would have taken her back to the man, as it was a disgrace for a man's wife to leave him and not be made to return. No, she didn't wish this for herself, although she knew in her heart that her own big hearted father would kill a man with his own hands before he returned his daughter to her a abuser. He was a good father who valued his children, friends, and family above any of men's skewed ideas of what honor was.

She would rather stay here and take care of him in his old age than take her chances with a man who was a fair stranger, a game of roulette as to the future with him. At least here, was safety and love she had with her sister, and father. And she felt since her mother had passed eleven months prior, it was best to stick together. Little Caire would need a woman to help her through her passage into young womanhood. Her mother had been there for her, but now, she was gone, and her father, though he at least tried, knew very little of women's issues and a young lady's needs during these times. Caire was only just 7 since only a few days prior, but time would fly, she knew this first hand. One moment, she was a little child chasing fairies and dreaming of meeting elves, and before she knew it her mother was instructing her in ladies ways and how to care for her newly ripening body. Her father wouldn't think to warn Caire and if she woke to blood one morning, she would be in hysterics. Eaiel bent and kissed her sleeping sisters fair cheek and left the room quietly. The whole house was silent when she went into the kitchen and stoked the sleeping hearth back to life to make hot tea for her father and herself, She went outside, filling the jug with water from the pump and went back in to heat the water, making sure there was plenty in case Caire wanted some as went back out to spread feed for the chickens and their other animals, knowing their bellies would be empty as well, and after everyone was happily enjoying breakfast, she went back inside. She then set about making and kneading a quick light dough for biscuits and used the fat from the pork the night before to make a thick rich gravy. After the gravy was finished as it required constant supervision and stirring, she went to the hen house and quietly plucked five eggs from the nests while the hens scratched outside. She took them back inside and finished making breakfast. When Aldin, her father padded slowly into the kitchen still a bit bleary eyed but lured by the smell of breakfast in the oven and tea brewing over the fire. He smiled sadly at her and kissed her forehead before sitting down at the roughhewn wooden table. She placed a steaming cup of tea before him and server of thick cream next to the small sugar bowl. He smiled appreciatively and lifted the cup in his hands relishing the warmth on his cold hands. It was spring, but the chill of a late winter still hung in the air like a spider's dew kissed lace, especially in the morning.

Eaiel lit two more candles on the table and left the rest in the kitchen unlit, enjoying to quiet dark of the early morning. She sat a plate in front of her father and went to wake Caire for breakfast. When she returned her father had filled plates for both Eaiel and Caire before setting back down to his own meal. She smiled and pulled out her own chair taking her seat before her meal.

"Aww papa thank you." she said as she took her seat and waited for Caire to sit beside her. Her father waved her away smiling. "No need my dear, it's the least I can do." he smiled as he gestured to the food and hot tea. It had become Eaile's habit since her mother's passing to see that everyone was well fed and have breakfast ready early in the morning. There were a lot of things that needed done today, especially in the garden if they were to be able to grow more vegetables this year rather than getting them at the market. But since they had left Edoras and moved here, closer to The Shire, the Hobbit farmers who sold their wares at the market had the best vegetables, nearly two sizes larger than anything she'd ever seen. There must be some magic in that rich black soil to produce a crop so impressive. She thought she may take a trip to the Shire today to get a few things for supper tonight. She had a niggling feeling in the back of her mind that she should make more food than she normally did. Perhaps someone was thinking to visit tonight?

Eaiel took in the quiet vibrant beauty of the Shire as the wagon rolled lazily over the dirt path that hugged the rolling hills, rising and falling with the land. The rain was still coming steady but light and slow at the moment and her hooded cloak was enough to protect from the precipitation. Vibrant green grass was already taking over the land at the cusp of springs return to the landscape. She could see that the Hobbit folk were already out and about busy with daily life and preparing for their duties for the day even with the rain. They seemed content and happy even in their chores, something she'd rarely witnessed in the villages of men. She pulled Eaofin her father's blue roan draft horse to a stop at the market and lowered herself carefully from the wagon, her steps light as she made her way down the path between tented booths of farmers selling their wares.

"Miss Eaiel! How do you do today young one?" A short burly hobbit with curly gray hair greeted her as she stopped to look at his offerings. He stood just about a head shorter than her own five feet and had a warm mischievous smile with sparkling bright blue eyes and a rich booming voice with a hardy hobbit laugh. She guessed in his younger years as a lad he must have been quite the mischievous hobbit, and with a last name like Took, who could blame him? He was supposedly some relation to King Elessar's friend from the war, Peregrin Took.

"Godomar, you always have the best selections." Eaiel complimented, she perused the carrots, onions, turnips, and winters squashes and roots, all of which were twice and in some cases three times the size of off Shire growers. She saw the old hobbit swell with pride and shook her head. "I'm of a mind to make a hearty beef stew for our supper. I will need carrots, potatoes, an onion or two, celery, and maybe some of those sunny winter squash you have?" she smiled, and Godomar wasted no time in gathering everything quickly and packing it for her trip back in two strong burlap sacks. He threw in a few fruits for her sister and showed his thick palm to her and her shook his head when she asked him their cost. "That's on the house Young one, for the lil miss a' home. How are your Da' and the little one in these days? We all miss your Ma' so, sweet one she was." he asked as his smile faded a bit and his voice turned somber and respectful of the dead.

"They are well. We all are considering... But, we have no choice. And it would have broken her heart to see us all give in." Eaiel smiled sadly. "But life is a precious drink, as Da' says, and mustn't waste a single drop." She smiled bigger now and it was infectious to the old hobbit who's sparling eyes turned wistfully to the Green Dragon as he licked his lips.

"Oh, yes, yes, yes...That it is! Wise man your Da, and to be sure!" he smiled back at her brilliantly. "Is there anything else I can get you Miss Eaiel?" he asked as he secured one sack for her.

"Perhaps some more dried herbs. I can never have enough." she laughed and Godomar hurried over to the hanging herbs and plucked two more sprigs of each and placed them in the other sack before also securing it. Eaiel paid the sweet old hobbit and he insisted on carrying the two sacks heavy laden with all she'd bought to her wagon for her.

"Now little girl, you do be careful on the road back, there's been talk of some of those dark folk abroad. Those unsavory types from Isengaurd. Whatever's left over from that evil lot leastways. Wouldn't want a sweet one like you to fall prey to the likes of such as them. Lusty evil beasts they are." he looked about suspiciously "and patted her hand in a gesture that seemed meant more to reassure himself of her safety than Eaiel. She laughed softly, and took his hand squeezing it gently in her own.

"Don't worry my dear friend, I worry more of the dangers of men than those burly old left overs." she smiled, " things aren't always as they seem, you know that well. " The old Hobbit winked and nodded.

"That be true enough Miss Eaiel. Don't be a stranger now, even if you get that garden up and thriving, remember, you have friends here. Me and the missus, we'd love you over for tea any time, and lil miss Caire would have plenty of playmates." He smiled at her warmly. Eaiel thought he of the tender fatherly sort to anyone younger than himself. Such a sweet little man he was. With a love of growing things like all Hobbits, and a clear romance with the Green Dragon's rich black ale. Here was a life, simple and sweet and full of true joy that she had a true reverence for and no mistake.

"To be sure Master Took, I will take you up on that offer soon. And when I do I will bring my sister with me. I know she will delight in running the green hills with the little ones. "she smiled widely before bidding the little man adieu and clucked her tongue softly at the sweet horse urging him back onto the road. It was still fair late morning as Eaiel reached the soft path leading through the thick forest that lead back to her own property. The sky was still overcast and the lighting in the forest was very muted. It made the forest look dark and mysterious, and perilously beautiful. The air was wet and cool, and kissed her cheeks softly with a gentle breeze as the wagon moved steadily through. She could hear the newly leaving branches in the breeze and she stopped to listen for a moment, focusing her ears on some rippling sound within the dense forest. The sound was faint until she listened and focused her hearing on it. A low base vibrating groan that seemed to be coming from everywhere at once. It sounded like the whining creak of the top of a tree in the wind, but a much deeper more ancient sound that she could feel vibrating her chest and stomach. Eaofin stomped nervously and whinnied, sidestepping until Eaiel calmed the beast with her soft gentle crooning. She looked up at the trees and noticed that as large as these ancient trees were, the soft cool breeze wasn't enough to make these old ones move in such a way. And the sound she could hear, it seemed to be moving back and forth, far above her, and here and there, and to and fro...

"They are speaking to one another..." she breathed softly, barely a whisper, or just above. She was afraid, but her fear was a respect, a reverence of sorts. And the forest seemed to breathe slowly, softly and steady its self. Eaiel had been this way many times, but this was the first to hear with her very ears what she'd only listened to in tales. Something was different today. But as for Eaiel, she passed on through the forest without incident, but feeling what she could only describe as lucky to have witnessed such a strange thing. So, they weren't just stories old men told at the taverns to impress their fellows. It was true. The trees, they were a conscious creature, capable of speech and knowledge. So it must be true then that the Elves did teach them to speak. It made her heart fall a little at that, for most of the elves were said to have faded, or passed out of middle earth some time ago, and only a few remained for one reason or another. This surely meant that it was a slim chance to nothing that she would ever have the pleasure of any acquaintance with such a being. But as she rounded the bend where she could see her own home, she brushed it aside. There were too many things to be done to worry about childish imaginings and wistful hopes. She was sixteen now, not a little child any longer. Life was no longer a fairy spent the rest of her day tending to the chores that made the little farm run smoothly while her father busied himself between the fields and fixing things in the barn.

Eaiel was supervising her younger sister Caire lug the battered wooden bucket filled with chicken feed, a chore she insisted on not letting Eaiel assist with when something out of the corner of her eye caught the older girl's attention. She turned her eyes to the west barley field and saw their charcoal bodies contrast with the deep lush green of the grass and hanging tree limbs in the ethereal blue haze of the late overcast spring afternoon. Evening was following closely on the heels of late afternoon and the day had been wet and rainy from sun up. Only an hour ago had it finally relented and now mist had begun to rise slowly like a wraiths breath from the ground against the warm wet spring air. Their bodies were huge and thick with heavy limbs and weighted down with protective silver mail and a few weapons. The Uruks walked along the wide soft dirt path that followed along the barley field and wound around up to the farm. She could feel the light mist now, kissing her cheeks softly and placed a hand above her eyes as she watched them.

There were three of them, but only three were still a grim threat. Each Uruk towered over Eaiel's five foot stature and then some with hulking biceps the size of her head, and broad muscular chests. The top of her head crested just to below their breast bones. But these Uruks were no danger, not to her, nor her family. They were good friends, who had been accepted as family. They had been trading since the end of the final war, when they began a shaky alliance with Eaiel's father and his brother's families which eventually worked into a trusted bond. But that was when Eaiel was still a child. She had grown since then. She folded her arms across her thick waste and ample bosom and smirked because Caire had not yet noticed their arrival. She only hoped that the chickens would be properly fed before the bucket crashed to the ground, not that the daft birds would care. She watched them, shaking her head as one of the former soldiers pushed his fellow walking beside him and the other returned the gesture with a shove that sent the former toppling sideways into the tall grass that lined the dirt path. Behind her the bucket fell to the ground and rolled making a hollow "thunk" and Caire was off like a shot running as fast as she could down the hill toward the three hulking fellows. Eaiel was relieved to finally see the trio. It had been a good while since their last visit. She watched laughing as Caire reached them and ran to the biggest Uruk who bent at the knees to catch her and swing her up into the air above his head, Caire's laughter uncontrollable as she became weightless for only a moment before landing again in his large strong capable hands. Closer now, she could see his dark face split into a wide grin as Caire giggled and kissed his large cheek. The other two took turns ruffling her hair until she laughed and pushed it from her eyes.

"Da!" Eaiel called as she watched the three Uruk-Hai and the excited little Caire walk up the hill where she stood. Eaiel's father made his way around from the barn wiping his hands with a rag and smiled widely when he saw their guests. "My brothers! It's been so long. Three years, hasn't it.?! So good...so good to welcome you back! "her father exclaimed as he walked to their friends and clasped arms with each of them. As usual Caire was already examining her bearer's thick heavy braids with her small pink fingers. Ashmog stared at Eaiel for a moment, mouth agape. "Is this your young lady, Aldin?!" he asked turning his eyes to Aldin. "She's all grown up before ma very eyes!" he exclaimed with a teasing smile on his only faintly predatory face. Eaiel's father laughed and shook his head, " Ashmog, you've been gone near three years, and she was only thirteen summers then. She just reached her sixteenth not four days past." Ashmogs golden eyes swept Eaiel's feminine curves but not in a leering manner. "All grown up little girl, soon you'll be getting a husband and some little ones a yor own." he teased. Eaiel blushed but shook her head lightly, "Not too soon, I hope uncle. " she smiled as she followed Fauthghaash , the tallest of the long gone friends and the one who carried Caire toward the modest well-built cottage.