A/N: Hi! I've finally updated (sorry about that) but I can promise you that I will finish this story no matter what. Keep reading and reviewing!
~lupuscarmen13
CHAPTER 4:
Alaza awoke underneath a pine tree. It was dark outside, and she could smell smoke and food. For a moment, she was confused as to where she was, but then she remembered.
Her eyes flying open, Alaza began to struggle in her binds. The two men turned to look at her.
"It's awake."
Immediately, Alaza felt a surge of annoyance. Yes, she may be half-orc, but she was not an it! She was half human too- shouldn't that count?
Arthur leaned over the young halfbreed. Alaza's fear and anger warred, and in the end, anger won.
Alaza spit in his face, and began yelling.
"LEAVE ME ALONE! LET ME GO! LET ME GO! HELP!" she screamed, managing to writhe onto her knees.
It was a cuff to her head that made her freeze.
"Shut up, you worthless brat!" Arthur screeched. Alaza had frozen, feeling the heat on the side of her head. No one had ever hit her before. Not even Alatar. The worst he had done to her in make her wash out her mouth with soap when she swore.
To her horror, tears sprung in her eyes. "I hate you!" she screeched, trying to get away from the man. "Where's Alatar?"
"What's going on?" a rough voice said. Alaza twisted her head to see Pallando, his frighteningly blue eyes slitted.
"It wants to know what happened to Alatar." Arthur sighed. His relatively young face seemed weary and anguished now, and if Alaza wasn't so angry, she might have felt sorry for him.
"It might be easiest if we do reveal what happened to Alatar." Pallando admitted. "It might respond better."
Alaza desperately wanted to make some sarcastic comment, but held her tongue. She needed to know what happened to Alatar. He was like a father to her, indeed the only one she had known. He had saved her after her mother died.
Arthur sighed. "I never thought that Uncle Alatar would do this."
Pallando nodded, then glanced at Alaza. "He's been angry with the Council for quite a while. We haven't had such an upset since Saruman betrayed us."
"And that fool Gandalf succeeded him." Arthur put in bitterly.
Pallando agreed, and turned to Alaza, who's knees were getting rather sore at this point.
"Alatar is being taken to the Council to determine his fate and to find why he harbored a half orc. He's lucky that you are only half an orc; if you had been full, he would no doubt be named a traitor."
Alaza froze. "Please let him go!" she begged, although her pride was very strong for her age. "Don't hang him! He was helping me- and I'm still half human. Doesn't that matter?" she demanded.
"You are half a bloody orc." Arthur snarled. "Orcs bring nothing but pain and suffering. No doubt you will be just the same."
"I'm not!" Alaza yelled, glaring at the man in indignation. Hurt hit her, and she struggled to push it back; why should she care if her kidnapper approved of her. Yet it still hurt.
Arthur snorted. "Sure. Like you wouldn't slit our throats in the night to escape. As if your mother or father-whichever was the orc- wouldn't kill ruthlessly."
Tears stung the corner of Alaza's eyes as she felt a wave of horror rush over her. He thought she would try to kill him?! She felt sick at even the thought of hurting someone. She hadn't even been able to hunt when Alatar tried to show her.
How could she prove Arthur wrong?
Suddenly, a terrible thought struck Alaza. Her mother had been an important leader in the orc 'government'. Her mother had killed before. To reach her position, she would have had to.
Alaza was the daughter of a killer. Did that make her a monster too?
A/N: Hi! Sorry for taking so long... does anybody else not like Arthur? I have plans for him... hmm...will he stay as big of a jerk as he is or get worse? Only time will tell...
I'd like to thank everyone who has read and reviewed so far! Seriously, you guys are awesome. Just so you know, I will NOT leave any of my stories incomplete. Every single one will be finished...even if it takes ages.
Borys68: Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like it!
akira-chan101: Thanks for all the reviews! Your reviews gave me that push to keep writing, even if my inspiration was fizzling. Internet cookie for you!
horseyyay: It's Alaza. Sorry about that! You'll see what happens to her... she's in for a bumpy ride. Whoops...
koolgirl1301: Do not fret! I will keep writing until it is finished. I have the plot all thought out...it's just a matter of getting the motivation to type it out!
Seville: Thanks!
