Chapter 1
In Dark Hands: Sacrifice
Once more the orcs stopped for the night, when the hobbits could go not farther. Placing their captives in a corner, they gathered amongst themselves. Kalan still had his legs and hands bound and he shifted, trying to get somewhat comfortable. Merry grumbled.
"We get to run all day and half into the night while you get a free ride. Hmph! How does that figure?" Kalan gave him a smile, trying to keep the mood light.
"They are worried that I would run too fast and get away," he paused, "and don't you even dare to think that it is comfortable, bouncing up and down on their shoulders," he gave a slight chuckle.
For the past three days he had tried to keep the hobbits' mood light, trying to distract them from their current situation. Pippin giggled, slightly, then looked out at their captors. Tonight there was something different in the air. The orcs were much more grumpy, growling and fighting amongst each other. Speaking in their guttural tongue, they couldn't understand. Some looked over at them, eyeing the three captives, strangely. A small group had gathered, growling and snarling to each other.
Kalan listened; he understood what the orcs were saying, though he never told the halflings, not wanting the little ones to know what was said. He tensed when one pointed over at them, 'Oh no…' he had feared this moment would come. Two orcs were pushed by their fellows and came over to them. Merry and Pippin huddled together, fearing what would be done to them. 'If only they knew…' Kalan thought. One of the orcs pointed down at them.
"You three will be used, troops need release," he said. Kalan spoke up before anything else could happen.
"No! Not them, they were to be taken alive and unspoiled, those were your orders," he paused, watching the creatures. "Besides, they are too small, you'd break them," he said. The orcs thought for a second.
"Then just you will serve," he said with a sneer and grabbed Kalan by his shirt, dragging him along. Kalan looked back at the hobbits, they looked frightened and confused. 'They have no idea…'
Two orcs held him while they untied his legs. Kalan didn't fight them, because if he did, he knew they would move on to the little ones. He was thrown bodily over a rock, face down, his arms were stretched out in front of him and tied to a tree root. He legs were spread apart, after his trousers were pulled down to his ankles, leaving him open and vulnerable. His ankles were tried, holding him in this position.
Merry and Pippin watched, horrifies at what was going on. Suddenly, a voice came into their minds: Kalan's voice. ~Don't look, my friends, turn away. You don't need to see this.~ Merry and Pippin hurriedly looked away, just as one orc positioned himself behind Kalan's helpless body. The hobbits squenched their eyes closed.
But they could not block out the sounds of the grunting orcs, jeers and howls of their fellows. Their mind's eye saw everything; saw as their friend was violated over and over again. They saw him bite his lip in order to not cry out in pain, his silver eyes filled with anguish but would not shed a tear for the orc's pleasure. There was also a strange look of satisfaction in them, for he knew he saved his little friends from this torment.
*
A while later, it could have been hours, or days, Merry and Pippin heard an approaching orc. The low, rhythmic grunts had ceased and they tentatively opened their eyes. Something was dropped, unceremoniously beside them and the orc left. The quivering form curled itself into a ball, small, painful whimpers coming from the lips. Merry quickly shifted over to Kalan, 'At least they covered him again,' he thought, seeing Kalan's pants back in place. He reached out with his bound hands, gently touching Kalan's shoulder. Kalan jerked, as if in pain, trying to get away, but his bound hands and feet prevented that.
"Kalan? Its alright, its me, Merry," said the hobbit in a quiet voice, hoping to sound soothing. Kalan slowly, painfully uncurled from his fetal position to look up at the hobbit. Pippin now joined his cousin, trying to hide the fact that he'd been crying.
"Mm-Merry?" a small, childlike voice said, quivering. The frightened, pain filled silver eyes met his own and it took everything the hobbit had not to cry at the plaintive look. He swallowed and nodded.
"Yes, Kalan, its me," he said and relief flashed in Kalan's eyes. He slowly turned onto his back, sitting up slightly against a log. His body still quivered and he moved painfully, but that was nothing compared to the torment Merry saw in his friend's eyes. Merry knelt beside him, gently using his own sleeve to wipe away the traces of tears and dirt from Kalan's face. "Why, Kalan? Why'd you let them do that to you?" he asked. Kalan met his gaze.
"Because, they would have done that to you, and," he choked, "I couldn't bear that," he whispered.
"And you think we could? Knowing what they were doing to you?" asked Merry. Pippin sat on Kalan's other side, trying to be a comforting presence. Kalan shook his head, slightly, his damp hair falling into his eyes.
"I had to, Merry, Pip. I couldn't let that happen to you, not to you. Its not the first time…" his voice trailed off. His body convulsed as images, and painful memories came rushing back at him, his eyes closed tightly. "Merry…" he sobbed. The hobbit quickly drew Kalan's head to rest on his shoulder, stroking the soft black hair.
"Hush, Kalan. Its alright now, I'm here, I'm here," he murmured. Kalan sobbed quietly into Merry's vest, his entire body shaking. It was hard to hold his quivering friends with his bound hands, but Merry did the best he could. Pippin shifted to press his body against Kalan's, trying to offer some comfort. Kalan's sobs quieted, but he still shook uncontrollably.
Kalan noticed the position he was in, nestled against Merry's shoulder. 'What's wrong with this picture?" he thought. Merry spoke softly, as if he was reading his mind.
"You should rest, Kalan," he said. Kalan tried to shake his head, protesting.
"No, I'm supposed to be protecting you: the strong one…" his voice shook and he tried to get himself under control. 'They need me.' Merry shook his own head.
"No, Kalan, not this time. You've been hurt, it's our turn to protect you," he shifted Kalan's head to a more comfortable position on his shoulder. At these words, Kalan's attempt to control himself proved in vain. He shuddered and collapsed against Merry.
All the hobbit could do was hold his shaking, sobbing friend, rocking gently, like his own mother used to after a particularly bad nightmare. He looked over at his cousin and caught his gaze. Both knew why Kalan did it, and both were horrified at what had happened to their friend. They hoped this would be the only time, but there was no way of telling.
Merry held the distraught half-dragon as he shook like a leaf. The wracking sobs poured from him, muffled by his vest and cloak. Merry just settled back and tried to give as much comfort and protection as his own small body could offer.