Yep, as you guys probably guessed, this is going to be more than four chapters! Even without any articles, missing almost all the dialogue and half the pronouns, Kili still managed to be wordier than I predicted...
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Orcs come next day.
Sun shines. Trees are less. Grass under feet. Cool, soft. He follows Yellow-Hair, Little Snaga. out from forest. Down from hills. Onto grassy plain. Towards house. Follows. No pack. No bonds. No pain in stomach. Eyes are clear. Head is clear. Only small pain in knee. Grass is cool. Sun is warm. He follows.
And then, orcs come.
He hears orcs first. Not soon enough. Yellow-Hair, Little Snaga do not hear orcs. Not listening, not watching. Looking at house. Always at house. Not listening. Do not hear orcs.
He hears orcs. Voices on wind. Heavy feet. He looks back. Sees shadows in trees. Far away.
Not far enough.
He shouts. Wants to shout in bird-language, but heart is frozen. Stomach is sick. Mind is blank. What is bird-word? Word is gone. Mind is empty. Only fear. Only orcs. Orcs, orcs. Orcs, he shouts. Shouts in orc-language. Bird-word is gone from mind. Hopes Little Snaga will understand. Hopes they will look.
And he runs.
Yellow-Hair, Little Snaga look back. See him. See orcs. He sees fear on faces. But they do not run. Little Snaga stands, stares at him. Yellow-Hair runs. Runs in wrong direction. Runs towards orcs.
Why is Yellow-Hair running towards orcs? Will Yellow-Hair fight orcs? Too many orcs. Yellow-Hair will die. Yellow-Hair is foolish.
He runs. Grass smooth, even under feet. Knee hurts. But he runs. Heart pounds. Breath tight in throat. Eyes water. He hears orcs behind him. Far away. But coming closer.
He runs.
Yellow-Hair runs towards orcs. No, not orcs. Yellow-Hair does not look at orcs. Looks at him. Runs towards him.
Why? Why does Yellow-Hair run towards him? Orcs are coming. Why does not Yellow-Hair run away?
And then, Yellow-Hair is there. Grabs his hand. Turns back towards house. Runs. Little Snaga runs now too. All running now. Good. All running from orcs. Yellow-Hair pulls on his hand. Why? Why did Yellow-Hair come back to pull him by hand?
Maybe Yellow-Hair thought he would run to orcs. Would go back to orcs. Maybe this is why. But why does Yellow-Hair pull hand? Why not pull chain?
He does not understand. Wants to tell Yellow-Hair: cannot go back to orcs now. Can never go back to orcs. I am your snaga now. I am loyal. But does not know words, and breath is short. Needs breath for running. Needs everything for running.
Yellow-Hair runs fast. Low and hard. Knee hurts. But he can run. Can run as fast as Yellow-Hair. Knee is still bad after three days. Big Orc stamped hard. But he can run.
And then he falls. Puts foot into rabbit hole. Knee wrenches under him. He stumbles. Yellow-Hair drags on hand. He falls.
He scrambles to feet. Stumbles again. Hunches shoulders. Eyes on ground. I was wrong, he says with body. I was wrong. Give me what I deserve.
Yellow-Hair lets go of hand. Tears pack from back. Holds it out. Yes. Yes, carry pack. He takes. Yes, he should carry pack.
Yellow-Hair turns away. But does not run. Stands. Bends knees. Yellow-Hair holds out hands by hips. Speaks.
He stares. What does Yellow-Hair want? Orcs are coming. What does Yellow-Hair want?
Wants to carry him. He knows this. Bent knees. Hands out by hips. Yellow-Hair wants to carry him.
But no. He must be wrong. Yellow-Hair cannot carry him. He is snaga. Yellow-Hair is master. What does Yellow-Hair want?
Yellow-Hair glances over shoulder. Frowns. Speaks. Words sharp now. Shakes hands.
Must be carry. Can only be carry. Makes no sense. But Yellow-Hair makes no sense.
What if he is wrong?
Orcs are coming. If he is wrong, Yellow-Hair will kill him. If he waits, orcs will kill him. Better for Yellow-Hair to kill him. Death is less long. He hopes.
He draws breath. Clenches fists. Climbs onto Yellow-Hair's back.
Yellow-Hair does not punish him. Does not growl. Only runs. Runs fast, even with heavy burden. Pounding feet, rattling sword. Sword is so close. He could take sword. Yellow-Hair does not know how to keep snaga. Carries snaga, lets snaga close to sword. Yellow-Hair does not know.
Yellow-Hair is carrying him.
Eyes are watering. Air stings cheeks. Yellow-Hair is warm. Grip is strong on legs. Back is warm against chest. It is strange, to be so warm. He thinks about Little Snaga. Little Snaga wrapped arms around Yellow-Hair. Yellow-Hair wrapped arms around Little Snaga. Was it warm? Was it warm like this?
House is closer now. Fence around house, high, thick. Gate is open. Little Snaga is almost at gate. Runs slow. Short legs. Yellow-Hair is close behind Little Snaga now. Orc voices are coming no closer.
Little Snaga disappears inside fence. Yellow-Hair reaches gate moments later. Lets go of him. He slides off back. Turns to see Little Snaga.
Little Snaga.
There is man. Short man. Broad. Thick hair. Beard. Man is furious. Eyes flash with anger. Face twisted. Man holds Little Snaga. Man is short, but Little Snaga much smaller. Tiny in man's hands. Man holds Little Snaga off ground. Shakes him. Man is furious.
Orcs are outside fence. But inside fence not safe either. Man will hurt Little Snaga. Will kill. Little Snaga has sword. But cannot fight. Is weak. Is small. Man will kill Little Snaga.
He runs. Yellow-Hair will kill man. But Yellow-Hair is not fast enough. Does not watch hard enough. Man will kill Little Snaga before Yellow-Hair draws sword. And so: he runs. Man has not seen him. Has not seen Yellow-Hair. He can surprise man. Knock man down. Give Little Snaga chance to run. Yellow-Hair chance to draw sword.
He crashes into man. Knocks man off-balance. Man does not fall down. But does drop Little Snaga. Stumbles back. He steps in front of Little Snaga. Crouches. Yellow-Hair will kill you, he says. Little Snaga is not your snaga. Yellow-Hair killed five orcs. He will kill you.
He expects man to attack him. Crouches, waits. Man is taller than him, broader. Has knife in belt. He hopes Yellow-Hair will be quick, draw sword. But he is ready to fight.
But man does not attack. Man stares. Mouth falls open. Face grows pale. Stumbles back. Man is frightened. Terrified.
Yes, he says. You should run. Yellow-Hair will kill. Little Snaga is not your snaga. Go, run.
But man does not run. Only stands and stares. Face is white like moon. Eyes are huge. Terrified. But not looking at Yellow-Hair. Not terrified of Yellow-Hair. Looking only at him. Why terrified if looking only at him? He falls silent, waiting. But man does nothing. Only stares.
And Yellow-Hair does not draw sword. Does not attack man. Man tried to hurt Little Snaga, but Yellow-Hair does not attack. Only steps forward. Speaks.
Speaks. Speaks to man. Yellow-Hair knows man. Does not attack. Man is not enemy.
No. He was wrong. Was wrong again. He is always wrong. Yellow-Hair knows man.
But man attacked Little Snaga. Little Snaga is not man's snaga. Belongs to Yellow-Hair. How can man attack Little Snaga? Why does Yellow-Hair not attack man?
Man speaks. Voice is quiet, hoarse. Sounds frightened. Ill. Face is still white. Man is tall, broad. Looks strong. But ill. Weak. Maybe not worth attacking. Maybe Yellow-Hair just lets man die.
Yellow-Hair speaks. Man replies. Lifts hand. Speaks to Yellow-Hair. But does not look at Yellow-Hair. Looks at him. Why? He stays crouched. Does not think man will attack. Man is weak. Frightened. But why does he look? Why stare?
Yellow-Hair speaks again. Sounds wrong. Not angry. Not frightened. But wrong. Sounds ill. He wants to look at Yellow-Hair. Is Yellow-Hair ill? Yellow-Hair must protect them. If Yellow-Hair is ill, orcs can come. Or man. Maybe man will get better and kill Yellow-Hair. He wants to look, see if Yellow-Hair is ill. But cannot take eyes from man.
Man stands straight. Speaks. Strides towards him. Now. Now he attacks. Reaches out hands. Does not draw knife. Only reaches. But man is taller, broader. Does not need knife.
He steps back. Wants to look at Yellow-Hair. Why does not Yellow-Hair stop man? Man is standing now, walking. Man is not so ill any more. Is Yellow-Hair ill?
But he cannot look. Steps back and back. And then: Little Snaga. Little Snaga steps in front of him. Waves arms. Shouts. What is Little Snaga doing? He is small, weak. He cannot stop man. Only Yellow-Hair can stop man. Man will crush Little Snaga.
But man does not crush Little Snaga. Man stops. Looks down at Little Snaga. Speaks. Speaks to Little Snaga. Little Snaga looks up at man. Not frightened. Why is Little Snaga not frightened?
Man pushes Little Snaga aside. Walks forwards again. He steps back. Man is coming for him. Yellow-Hair is doing nothing. Has not even drawn sword. Man is coming. He looks around. Can he run? Inside fence now. But gate is open. Orcs are far away. Not coming closer. Can he run? Should he run?
Little Snaga is speaking. But man does not stop. Yellow-Hair has not drawn sword. Man will come. Will kill him. He attacked man. He was wrong. Wrong again. Yellow-Hair has not drawn sword.
And then: Yellow-Hair steps forward. Steps between him and man. Does not draw sword. Puts hand on man's chest. Speaks. Not angry. Quiet. Sounds ill.
Yes, he is wrong. Yellow-Hair knows man. Man is not enemy. What is man? What is-?
-man is Big Man.
No. Can it be? Man is not tall. But taller than Yellow-Hair. Broader. Can it be? Yellow-Hair knows man. Not enemy. Yellow-Hair came to this house. Man was at this house. Man is Big Man?
Maybe. And if man is Big Man-
Heart stutters in chest. Throat grows narrow. He attacked man. He attacked. If man is Big Man. If.
He looks at gate. Orcs are far away. Can he run? Hands are sweating. Is man Big Man? Can he run?
Little Snaga is there. Puts hand on his arm. Speaks. Little Snaga is watching him. Holding him. He cannot run. He has made mistake. Too many mistakes. He let Yellow-Hair steal him. Yellow-Hair is strange. Yellow-Hair does not punish. Why does not Yellow-Hair punish?
Because Yellow-Hair is not Big Man. He let Yellow-Hair steal him. But Yellow-Hair did not steal him for himself. Stole him for Big Man. That is why no punishment. That is why.
So many mistakes.
Man and Yellow-Hair are talking. But man does not look at Yellow-Hair. Looks only at him. Stares. Speaks. Voice is angry. Man is angry.
Yes. Yes, man is Big Man. Yes, he was wrong. He was so wrong. Gate is open. But he cannot run. Too late now. Too late.
Big Man speaks. Steps towards him. He steps back. Should not step back. Should let Big Man come. See him. Test him. He is Big Man's snaga. He does not want to be Big Man's snaga. But he is. He should let him come. But he is afraid. He should not step back, but he does. He is too afraid. Fear is making him stupid.
Big Man stops coming. Face grows ill. Anger is gone. He turns. Goes with Yellow-Hair towards house. Sits by house wall. Why did he stop coming? Has not seen him. Has not tested him. Why did he stop coming?
Little Snaga pulls him. He follows. Keeps head down. Watches Big Man from under hair. Big Man is staring at him. But does not come. Does not test him. Does not punish him.
Is he wrong? He has been wrong. So many times wrong. Is man Big Man? He does not know. Cannot ask Little Snaga. Wishes Big Man would look at Yellow-Hair. Stop staring at him. But Big Man does not stop.
Little Snaga takes him into house. Closes door. Door is big. Heavy. Clicks when closes. Door is closed.
He stares at door. Outside is Big Man. Outside is fence. Beyond fence: orcs. Door is closed. No way out now. No way out from house. From fence. From Big Man. From orcs. He is trapped. He has made so many mistakes.
Little Snaga speaks. Smiles. But he does not understand words. Does not understand Big Man. Does not understand Yellow-Hair. Understands only one thing: door is closed.
House is big. He has seen houses before. Been inside houses. Places where men live. Houses are small. Dark. Mostly burned. Smell of death.
This house does not smell of death. Smells of grass and flowers and animals. Filled with light. Hazy, bright. Dust dances in light. He has not seen house like this before.
Door is closed. Outside is Big Man. Big Man will come in. But he is outside now. Outside with Yellow-Hair. Only Little Snaga inside. And light. Little Snaga and light.
Little Snaga makes him sit on bench. Speaks. Goes to other side of house. Works. Cooking. Searching for something. Should he work, too? No. Wait for command.
He waits.
No commands come. Little Snaga comes back. Holds two cups, two plates. Plates have bread. Holds one cup out. Smiles.
He takes cup. Concentrates. WTR? he asks. Stares into cup. More water already?
But Little Snaga shakes head. Smiles. Speaks. Does not say water-word. But gave him cup. He should drink.
He drinks. It is water. But hot, scalding. Burns mouth, burns tongue. He drops cup, spits, frantic. This is game? Give water, boiling hot? It is game? Or punishment? Pain in mouth radiates through skull. Tongue is numb, too thick in mouth. He bites on fingers, tries not to cry out.
Little Snaga does not look pleased. Did he play game wrong? Little Snaga shakes head, says short-sharp word. Short-sharp word means he is wrong. But Little Snaga gave him cup. Wanted him to drink. Why was he wrong? Why punishment now? He has done so many things. Run, kicked Yellow-Hair, hidden in bushes. No punishment. Now punishment? Why now? How can he know? He needs to know. Does not understand what he did wrong. How can he know not to do it again? What did he do?
Little Snaga looks angry. Takes plate. Lunges forwards. He flinches back. Makes himself small. Looks at floor. Tries to protect face. What did he do? Why punishment now?
But Little Snaga does not hit. Does not kick. Does not burn. Only sits back. Sits quiet. Puts down plate. Quiet one moment, two. Then Little Snaga grips his arm. Grip is very weak. Does not hurt. Little Snaga pulls his arm down. Away from face. He lets it go. Little Snaga's grip is weak, but he should obey Little Snaga. This he understands. Little Snaga is maybe snaga, maybe not snaga, but he should obey him.
Little Snaga hits him. Weak hit. This is not punishment. What does it mean? Means he is not wrong. Maybe. But Little Snaga gave him scalding water. Tongue is still numb. No skin on roof of mouth. Was he wrong? He does not understand.
Little Snaga picks up bread. Holds it out. Moves very slowly. Speaks. He looks at floor. But can see bread from edge of eyes. Little Snaga holds it out.
Should he take bread? Yes, he thinks. Should take bread. But he thought he should take cup. Should drink water. And then - short-sharp word. He was wrong. Should he take bread?
Little Snaga holds out bread. Insistent. He looks at bread. Bread is very white. Covered in yellow paste. Little Snaga shakes bread. What should he do?
He takes bread.
Little Snaga nods. Good. He was right. What now? He stares at bread. Very white. No mould. Feels soft against fingers. He has never seen soft bread before. Why is it so soft? Bread is not supposed to be soft.
Little Snaga speaks. Picks up bread from other plate. Eats. Smiles. Nods. Coughs.
He understands. Smile is he is not wrong. Nod is he should do this. He bites into bread.
Bread is soft in mouth. So soft. Tastes clean, fresh. Not like bread should taste. No damp, no mould. It is strange.
And then. And then.
Something happens. Bread taste is still there, but something else. Sweet, golden. Sweetness on tongue. Sweeter than ripest berries, golden like sunlight. Smooth, bright, like eating flowers. He has never. Never.
He spits out bread into hand. Stares at it. How does it taste like this? Taste is still on tongue. Sunlight. Flowers. How can bread taste like sunlight? And then he understands. Yellow paste. Yellow paste is made of sunlight. He stares. He did not know food like this could exist.
Little Snaga speaks. Not pleased. Little Snaga reaches out to take bread from him. He knows he should give bread. Should obey Little Snaga. But sunlight is bright, golden on tongue. He does not think. Does not think clearly. Thinks only of sunlight on tongue. Little Snaga reaches for bread, and he does not think. Only crams bread in mouth, new bread and bread already chewed. Sunlight bursts across tongue. Smooth. Warm. He stares at Little Snaga. Does not chew bread. Does not swallow. Only tastes sunlight on tongue. If Little Snaga is angry, he can spit bread out. Maybe punishment is less.
But Little Snaga is not angry. Little Snaga laughs. Laughs. Little Snaga reached for bread, and he did not give bread. Now Little Snaga laughs. No punishment. Not even short-sharp word. He does not understand. He does not understand.
Sunlight is warm on tongue. Soothes away burn of boiling water. He does not understand.
Little Snaga is not angry. He chews. Swallows. Bread is so soft. Paste is so sweet. He licks fingers. Runs tongue around mouth. Around lips. Little Snaga still has bread. Bread has yellow paste. He stares at paste. Tastes ghost of sunlight in his mouth. How long will it stay there? He stops swallowing. Maybe if stops, taste will last longer.
Little Snaga holds out bread. He stares. Was already staring at bread. Now staring more. What does it mean? Bread is Little Snaga's bread. Little Snaga ate part of bread. Little Snaga cannot want him to eat bread.
But he does. Little Snaga does same thing as before. Shakes bread. Nods. Smiles.
He takes bread. Waits. But Little Snaga does not get angry. Does not take bread back. Only smiles.
He eats bread. Tries to go slow. Keep sunlight on tongue. But bread is gone too fast. He licks fingers. Licks again. Remember this. He will remember sunlight on tongue.
Little Snaga stands up. Goes back to other side of house. Comes back. Comes back with more bread.
He stares. Little Snaga holds out bread. Two pieces of bread already. Mouth is sticky with sunlight. How can there be more?
But there is more. Little Snaga holds out bread. Smiles. Nods. Is he wrong? Why does Little Snaga give him more?
Why does not matter. He takes bread. Eats, slow as he can. Little Snaga watches him. Smiles. Why?
Why does not matter. Bread matters. Only bread matters.
When third piece is gone, Little Snaga picks up cup. Points at cup. Speaks. He does not understand words. Listens for WTR, but does not hear it. Little Snaga points. Blows on cup. Nods. Points at cup. Points at him.
He frowns. Water is not hot now. Why does Little Snaga want him to drink it now? It is not hot. Will not hurt.
Little Snaga blows on cup again. Speaks. Blows on cup. Cheeks fill with air, round like apples. Lips purse. Blows like wind, loud like wind in trees.
Little Snaga is strange.
He looks at cup. Should he also blow? Blow will make water less hot still. Will not hurt.
But - but. When he drank boiling water, Little Snaga said short-sharp word. Word means he is wrong. He was wrong to drink water. But Little Snaga gave him cup. Why was he wrong?
He feels like something is moving in his mind. Thoughts coming together. He does not understand. But thinks he almost understands. Thoughts are moving. Why was he wrong? Because- Because-
Door opens. Big Man strides in. Thoughts scatter.
Big Man.
Stomach lurches. Taste of sunlight on tongue turns bitter. He makes himself small. Looks at ground. Lets hair fall across face. Maybe Big Man came in for something else. Maybe Big Man wants bread, wants sunlight-paste. Maybe just cold outside. Maybe. Maybe.
Big Man sits down in front of him. Breath catches in throat. Heart thuds in ears. No maybe.
Big Man is here for him.
He sits. Silent. Still. He is good snaga. He can speak with body. Knows how to be still. Knows how to be silent. He wants to curl up. Protect stomach. Protect head. But he is good snaga. Knows he cannot curl up. Only be silent. Only be still.
Big Man sits. Watches him. He stares at ground. He understands now. Understands why Yellow-Hair did not punish. Why he did not kill. He is not Yellow-Hair's snaga. He is Big Man's snaga. Heart thuds in ears, in throat, in fingers. Quiet, he thinks. Quiet, heart. Big Man will hear.
Big Man reaches out, grips chin. He braces himself. Keeps eyes on ground. But Big Man does not pull hair. Does not pull chain. Only speaks. Voice is deep, rumbling. Bird-language sounds broad, round. Does not speak like Little Snaga, like rushing river. Speaks like rumble of earthquake, like avalanche. But words are same. Words, words. He does not understand words.
Little Snaga touches him. Runs hand along arm. Weak-hits. Why does Little Snaga do this? He does not know. But weak-hit is warm. Feels warm. Makes heart thunder little less. Why? He does not know. Only that is it warm.
Then: Yellow-Hair. Yellow-Hair comes, sits down. Speaks to Big Man. Big Man lets go of chin. He draws in breath. Quiet, quiet. But breath. Little Snaga still keeps hand on arm. It is warm.
Khozd shrakhun, says Big Man. Heart stumbles, stutters. Big Man speaks orc-language. Words are flat, broad, sound wrong, but still orc-language. Big Man knows what he is. He bows head. I am khozd shrakhun, he says with body. Tell me what I should do.
But Big Man does not tell him anything. Does not even look at him. Looks at Yellow-Hair. Angry. Yellow-Hair speaks. Big Man replies. Angry.
Khozd shrakhun, says Little Snaga. Voice is quiet. Orc-words sound wrong in mouth, hard sounds are soft, blurred, voice is high, like bird. But still. He turns. Bows head. He does not understand. Does Little Snaga speak orc-language? No. Does not speak. But knows this. Knows what he is.
But Little Snaga does not tell him what to do. Only speaks to Big Man. Big Man, Yellow-Hair, Little Snaga all speak to one another. No-one tells him what to do. Why do they call him, not give him orders?
Khozd shrakhun, says Yellow-Hair. He turns. Bows head. Scared now. Does not understand. He is wrong. He is doing wrong. Must be doing wrong. Why do they keep calling him? What should he do? He waits. Waits to find out what to do.
But no-one tells him. Big Man grabs him, grabs chin again. Big Man is angry. He is wrong. Has done wrong. He should have done something. They called him. But he did not do anything. What should he have done? Big Man is angry. He braces himself. Stomach lurches. What should he have done?
Big Man speaks. Angry words. He stares at ground. Tries to speak with body. I am your snaga, body says. I am loyal. But body is stiff, shaking. He cannot make body speak well. Heart is loud, too loud. Big Man is angry.
Big Man leans closer. Speaks. Louder now. Angrier. He is only making Big Man angrier. But he does not know how to make Big Man less angry. Does not know what he should do. What should he do? He cannot ask. Cannot find out. Doing nothing makes Big Man angrier. But he does not know what to do.
Yellow-Hair speaks. Not to him: to Big Man. Yellow-Hair is not angry. And then: Big Man lets go of chin. Sits back. Stares. Does not speak. Big Man is still angry. But not holding chin any more. He can let head fall, let hair fall. Speak better with body. I will obey. But how? How obey, when cannot understand commands?
Big Man stands. Speaks angry words. Walks away. Does not punish. Angry, but does not punish. He is not good snaga. Does not know how to be good snaga for Big Man. Should have stayed with Big Orc. But Big Orc is outside fence. He is inside fence.
Too late now.
Yellow-Hair gets up. Goes away. Not outside. Only to other side of house. Now only Little Snaga. Little Snaga is not angry. He wants to ask Little Snaga what he did. What he did to make Big Man angry. But cannot ask. Does not know words. Can only stare at floor. Listen to heart beating in ears. Too loud, too loud. Stomach aches with fear. Taste of sunlight long gone now. He is not good snaga.
Little Snaga speaks. Hits him on knee. This is good, hit. Hit is warm. Hit means he is not wrong. Maybe.
Little Snaga says word. Loud, clear. New word. Points at him. Yes, he understands this. Little Snaga wants him to learn word. But he is scared. Stomach hurts. Heart is loud. Muscles are frozen. Does not want to look up. Big Man is gone. But he is still scared.
Little Snaga points. He draws in breath. Little Snaga wants him to learn word. He must learn word. Must obey Little Snaga. Needs to learn words. Cannot understand what to do if no words.
He lifts eyes from floor. Stares at Little Snaga's finger.
There. Finger is safe. Can look at finger. No danger in finger.
He looks at arm next. At shoulder. And then: face. It is not safe, look at face. But it is not Big Man's face. Only Little Snaga's face. He looks. Little Snaga is smiling. Not angry. Heart begins to quieten.
He glances at door. Will Big Man come back? Yes. He will come back. When? He does not know. He looks at Little Snaga. Wants to ask. But no words.
Little Snaga speaks. Points at him. Says new word. Short word. Two hard sounds. K. L. He listens. Listens for soft sounds. Practices making mouth soft. Then says word. KL. Quiet. Does not want Big Man to hear.
Little Snaga nods. Speaks. Says word again. KL. Soft sounds are different. He said them wrong. He tries again. KL. Does not know what word means. What does word mean?
Little Snaga leans forward. Speaks quietly. Khozd shrakhun, says Little Snaga. He bows head. Yes, he is khozd shrakhun. Yes, he will obey. But Little Snaga makes him lift head. Makes him sit up. Says short-sharp word. Why short-sharp word? How can he be wrong? Little Snaga spoke orc-language. He understands orc-language. How can he be wrong?
Khozd shrakhun, says Little Snaga, and then KL. KL, he says again.
He does not understand. And then: understands. KL means khozd shrakhun. Is bird-word. Means khozd shrakhun. Yes. He understands. But cannot say he understands. Does not know yes. Only water. Only orcs. Only khozd shrakhun.
He puts hand on chest. KL? he says.
Little Snaga nods. Face is pleased. He is right. He has done this right. Heart quietens further. Yes, this. He understands this. KL is khozd shrakhun.
Little Snaga turns. Points at Yellow-Hair. New word. F. Stars with F.
Yellow-Hair-word does not start with F. Yellow-Hair-word is DWF. He frowns. DWF, he says.
Little Snaga shakes head. DWF, he says. Then again. Makes soft sound loud, long. Soft sound is important. It is not DWF. It is Dwarf.
He frowns. Makes mouth soft. Soft sounds are not easy. All in wrong places in mouth. He tries. Dwarf, he says. Makes soft sound long. Word does not start with F. Ends with F.
Dwarf, says Little Snaga. He points. Points at him. At Yellow-Hair. Dwarf, he says. Then points at Yellow-Hair. FL, he says. No. It is not FL. Soft sounds are important. It is fili. What does it mean?
Little Snaga points at him. KL, he says. It is kili. He understands this. It means khozd shrakhun.
Kili, he says. Points at himself. He understands this. Little Snaga nods. Smiles. Points at Yellow-Hair.
He stares at Yellow-Hair. Dwarf, he says. He knows Dwarf is Yellow-Hair. Little Snaga pointed at Yellow-Hair. Today, and before, in woods. Pointed at Yellow-Hair. Said Dwarf. Dwarf is Yellow-Hair's name. What does Dwarf mean? Maybe it means yellow hair.
Little Snaga sighs. Shakes head. Fili, he says. Points at Yellow-Hair. Dwarf, he says. Points at him. Points at Yellow-Hair.
He does not understand. Yellow-Hair is Dwarf. But Yellow-Hair is fili? Why does Little Snaga point at him also?
Maybe fili means master. But Yellow-Hair is not master. Big Man is master. What does fili mean?
Maybe Dwarf is not name. Maybe fili is name. But what does Dwarf mean, if not Yellow-Hair's name? Dwarf does not mean master. Yellow-Hair is not master.
Maybe Yellow-Hair is Little Snaga's master. But then why not stop Big Man punishing Little Snaga? Maybe Big Man is Yellow-Hair's master. Maybe Yellow-Hair is snaga, too.
No. Yellow-Hair is not snaga.
What does Dwarf mean?
Little Snaga points. Speaks. Again and again. It is clear: fili is Yellow-Hair only. Dwarf is Yellow-Hair, but also him. He cannot think of anything that is both Yellow-Hair and him. He does not have yellow hair. He does not know what dwarf means. But it is not Yellow-Hair's name. Yellow-Hair's name is Fili.
Little Snaga waves arms. Points. Waves arms like bird. Fili, he says. Dwarf. Fili. Fili. Little Snaga is strange. Strange little bird.
Fili, he says. Points to Yellow-Hair. Little Snaga smiles. Nods. Hits him on knee. It is good. Hit means he is not wrong. He hopes for more hit. Hit is warm.
Little Snaga speaks. He listens for words. But no dwarf. No Fili. No words he knows.
Yellow-Hair - Fili, Yellow-Hair's name is Fili. Fili comes over. Sits down. Speaks. Two words. Second word is kili.
Kili, he repeats. Wants to show Yellow-Hair he has learned word. He is good snaga. Learns what he is told.
Yellow-Hair is, is - Fili is surprised. Stares. Mouth open. Speaks to Little Snaga. Fili is pleased. Voice is pleased. Face is pleased. Yes. He was right. Yes, this he understands. Learn words. Please Fili.
Little Snaga points at Fili. Now he is not sure. Should say dwarf? Should say Fili? He is not sure. Wants to please. Please Little Snaga. Please Fili. Does not want to be wrong.
Dwarf, he says. Hopes he is right.
Little Snaga shakes head. He is wrong. Fili, he says. Must be right this time.
Fili cries out. Smiles. Smiles with whole face, whole body. He has not seen this before. Smile like this. Fili speaks. Bows. What? Why does he bow? He does not understand this. He is snaga. Should not bow to snaga. He cannot understand.
But Fili is not angry. Fili is pleased. Fili sits up, grabs his hand. Holds firm, but does not hurt. Does not try to twist hand, to pull back fingers. Only holds hand between his. Feels warm. Fili is pleased. Smiles with whole face. Smile is bright, dazzling. Like sun in forest, when leaves move aside. Hand feels warm. Whole body feels warm. No anger in smile. No violence. It is like sun in forest.
Fili speaks. Fili, he says. And kili. These two words, over and over. Why does he say them together? Words sound same. Only first sound different. It is strange. Bird-language is strange. He tries to listen for other words. But Fili does not say other words. Only two words: Fili. Kili. Strange, words sound same. Maybe all words in bird-language sound same.
Little Snaga jumps up. Goes away. Not outside. Only away. Only Fili now. But fear is less. Fili smiles. Bright, dazzling. Smile makes him feel warm. Makes fear less. Smile means Fili is pleased. He wants this. Wants to please Big Man, wants to please Little Snaga, wants to please Fili. Wants to be good snaga.
Wants to make Fili smile again.