Chapter 8 – A moment of freedom

AN; My lovely readers! *Desperate author mode activated* Would it be possible if you all could drop a little review just to tell me how this story is going and if you are enjoying it? (It will take you probably no more than two minutes!). I want to hear new thoughts. Tell me if you like it, hate it, I don't care just give me anything! *Breaths out* Thank you all :)

Now we say goodbye

We say you didn't try..

-O-

Day one had passed with no interruptions, the Uruk's moving swiftly through the lands of Rohan while being soaked by the rain that fell mid afternoon. The Hobbit's shivered once the rain clouds moved onwards and the sun began to shine. Their clothing dripping wet and clinging to their skin, arms aching from where they were tied around the necks of these creatures. The Fellowship weren't allowed rest that night and neither where the Uruk-hai.

It was day two when they were crossing the river Onodló that Sam noticed that something was wrong with the Elf. He told Aragorn and the other's once the day had ended and night had fallen and each one kept glancing over to the being to see what was ailing their captor.

Taurion would stumble every now and then, so small of a fault it was that Aragorn was quite surprised that Sam even saw it.

It was possible that the head wound was deeper than the ranger had thought. But...Then again...He checked the wound and it was healing just fine on its own. The Elf shouldn't being showing any signs of dizziness or loss of balance.

"I have heard, this only being that of a rumour, that the Dark Lord gave him something when he was just a babe."

Saruman's words came back to him and his eyes widened, looking away from the being and down at his hands. So it was true and not some trick Saruman was playing to get a reaction from him and his friends. If the Dark Lord had truly given this Elf something to help speed the healing process up two times faster than that of the normal Elven healing rate, then Valar knows what else the Dark Lord has given him. But of course, the symptoms the Elf was having proved there was a flaw in Sauron's experiment.

"Where's 'e going?" Pippin's whispered voice made Aragorn's head shoot up as he watched the Elf walk away from the band of Uruk-hai, down a small hill where his figure faded into the night, cloak billowing out behind him.

The night went by painfully slow when they had watch the Elf leave, but all too soon they were shoved towards the Uruks as the beasts set off once more.

It was the third night that Aragorn began to share his plan with the other's, the tree's of Fangorn just a few feet before them just as they were those many nights ago. "Okay, it may not work and we may take a heavy price for what happens but can you all trust me?" He asked once he explained what he was to do. The Fellowship nodded as the ranger smiled.

"We wouldn't have survived this far if we didn't trust ya' Laddie." Gimli returned the smile as Aragorn scoffed and shook his head. He then turned to look at each face of his friends and set his own straight before nodding at each one and turning around to look at the Uruks huddling around the camp fire, all asleep but one.

As he began to move silently, doing his best with his hands bound, he froze when he heard Frodo's panicked whisper "Where's the Elf?!" Aragorn began searching for the Elf but couldn't see him at all, his heart beginning to beat wildly. He took in a deep breath and moved forwards again, hearing Sam reassuring Frodo with "I'm sure he is fast asleep like the other's Mister Frodo."

He hoped that Sam was right.

As the man got closer to the nearest Uruk, he smiled to himself as he watched the beast on guard try and keep its ugly eyes open. It was perfect. The Elf was nowhere, the Uruks were all asleep and soon they would all be free and far away from these cruel and foul creatures.

The man smirked as he crouched low, the Uruk's eyes now falling completely shut as its big head fell into its chest. As he got close enough to the Uruk sleeping, he began to look for some sought of knife or dagger hidden away in the beast's belt in which he could use to cut the ropes that bound his hands.

His grey eyes soon landed upon one. He bent down and used his teeth to grip the handle, a gag forcing itself passed his lips as his tongue touched the foul cloth wrapped around it. He wrestled with the object before it unsheathed, the dirt and grime on the blade being reflected in the moonlight. Aragorn held in his breath as the creature grunted, his heart hammering in his ears. He breathed out a sigh of relief as the creature just rolled the other way, quickly and quietly he returned back to his friends without making a sound.

"Alright." He whispered as he spat the dagger out onto the ground and Gimli took hold of the blade, doing his best as his bound hands could allow before carefully cutting into the rope.

After a few minutes, the sound of rope snapping sent butterflies to Boromir's stomach. He watched the Dwarf smile widely and then begin to cut Frodo's hands free. All the Hobbits were finally unbound by the time Gimli reached for his own binds. The Halfling's were all rubbing their wrists, being careful not to speak a word just in-case one of the beast awoke and alerted the whole band.

Boromir patted Gimli's back, a silent thank you as the Dwarf smirked and finally freed Aragorn. The man took the blade from Gimli and put a finger to his lips, signalling the other's with the dagger to stand silently. Each did, taking silent steps towards the forest of Fangorn.

They were finally escaping.

Merry couldn't believe they actually were.

But then a figure dropped right before the Hobbits, making each screech and take a step back. The figure stood, hood falling from where it laid upon the beings head and Aragorn cursed in every tongue he knew.

Taurion stood before them all, bow raised and arrow knocked, eyes burning with rage while a smile so cold that it sent shivers down Gimli's spine, was plastered on the Elf's face. "Where do you think you are going?" Blue eyes twitched as they took in each face of the Fellowship.

"An telya manm capurlie." *To finish what we started* Aragorn said in Elvish and then charged at the Elf, Boromir yelling at the Halflings to run, Gimli as well, as the ranger dodged the arrow that the Elf released. Even though Taurion had been taught how to use a bow differently, Aragorn knew how to successfully dodge one at close range without being hit thanks to Elladan and Elrohir, the two twin Elves thinking it highly entertaining to get the man to run while they shot at him one summer a few years back.

The Elf's eyes widened as he watched the human and quickly went to load another arrow to his bow. However, he saw the ranger swipe the dagger in his direction and he dropped his arrow completely to sidestep the attack. He growled as he caught the Uruk-hai finally beginning to stand and run into the forest, going after the other members of the Fellowship.

"If the Halfling is lost, each of you will loose your head!" He yelled as he ducked another swish of the blade by the human, the Uruks moving faster now as they heard those very words.

Aragorn brought his hand back again to strike the Elf but metal was heard clashing with metal and the man saw the Elf now holding his own dagger against his. A small spark jumped out from the clashing blades and each jumped back away from each other.

Aragorn steadied his breathing and watched the Elf do the same before the being began to laugh. "Why are you laughing?" Aragorn asked with much confusion although his tone was that of a sneer.

The Elf was hunched over in laughter and then, the being stood up straight but there was no sound of laughter erupting from the Elf's mouth, nor was the smile that was previously there on his face. For the first time since their capture, Aragorn had never seen such a frightening and dead expression on the Elf before.

Aragorn grunted when he felt a stab of pain rip through his body, his thigh burning like someone had just poked him with a branding iron. He looked down at his leg and to his horror he saw the Elf's dagger tearing through his muscle. How did he...?! He looked up quickly to see how the Elf could have made such a perfect throw but his eyes quickly landed on those cold dark blue eyes of Taurion's just a few centimetres away from his own face. No, he couldn't have...! A scream tore through Aragorn's throat as he felt the blade beginning to twist, cutting through more of his muscle.

Just as the twisting began, the Elf ripped the blade from Aragorn's thigh and the man let a small cry escape his lips before falling to the ground in agony. "To think you would escape." The Elf spat, glaring down at the man, wiping the dagger on his leggings to rid it of the blood. "No human, no Elf, no Dwarf and no Orc has ever escaped me, so do not think you will be among the first who will."

Aragorn stood quickly, ignoring his burning thigh and charged at the Elf. "When will you learn." He heard just as the Elf punched into his thigh, Aragorn was once again knocked to the floor as the other struck his face. He watched the Elf through pain filled eyes and felt a cold hand being placed under his chin. "You were foolish if you thought you could defeat me, ranger."

Aragorn shook his head free of the Elf's grasp and blinked as he felt his vision waver. "Who...Just-who are you? Who are you to S-Sauron?"

Taurion stood as small droplets of rain began to fall from the skies. "I am the eyes of Sauron, one who will see the race of men fall when my Master is at his full strength. I am a mere whisper on the wind for all to be feared, a shadow in the dark that watches it's pray from afar. My name is Taurion, be sure to remember it, son of Arathorn."

Aragorn's eyes widened.

-O-

Keep running.

Got to keep running.

Have to run.

Got to run.

Don't stop.

DON'T STOP RUNNING!

"SAM!"

"Go Mister Frodo! RUN!"

He cursed. He had never cursed before in all his life.

A cry.

A scream.

A crack.

Tears fell from Frodo's eyes as his legs began to burn with exhaustion as he ran through the Forest of Fangorn. He was scared for what would happen to him if the Uruks got a hold of him, frightened for his friends, terrified of the consequences and pain they would all receive.

Pippin and Merry had got separated from him and Sam, the Uruks running a lot quicker than what they could manage. Boromir and Gimli had stayed to hold them of but the sounds of punches being thrown with that of the enemy's was no longer heard. And now Sam was lost too, being tackled by one of the beasts as he cried for him to keep running.

But he could not.

The ache of his calf's had gotten the better of him and Frodo crashed to the ground when he tripped over a tree root sticking out the ground. NO, NO NO! His mind yelled but it was already too late.

They were already upon him.

"Thought ya' could run, didn't ya' Shire rat?"

PLEASE, NO, STOP!

-O-

"Didn't get very far at all."

Aragorn heard the Elf mutter as black spots darted through his vision. He had already done his best at tearing a piece of fabric off his tunic to wrap around his thigh, needing to stop the bleeding as best as he could. He heard the sounds of weapons clashing but all too soon was an unconscious Boromir and struggling Gimli brought back out from the forest.

Taurion stood and walked over to the Dwarf, grabbing Gimli's helmet "Let this be a lesson Dwarf." The Elf growled as he ripped the metal off of Gimli and then slammed his head into the ground with brute force. "You will be visiting your dear cousin sooner than you thought."

Aragorn's breathing picked up. Please, Valar, let him be alright. He thought as he looked at Gimli's limp body, ignoring the laughter of the Uruks as they brought back both Merry and Pippin, the youngest Halfling sobbing while Merry screamed at the monsters to stop harming his cousin. A crack was heard followed by a cry that tore Aragorn's heart in two. He whipped his head to where Pippin was now holding his leg with the look of pure agony on his face. The bone in his left calf had been stamped on by an Uruk and was broken in two.

The ranger shut his eyes at the rage and feared cry that tore through Merry's throat as he tried to get to his cousin but was held back by an Uruk. More laughter ripped through the air as more of the beast returned back, this time with Sam thrown over one's shoulder, unconscious and bleeding heavily from his head and his right sleeve drenched in blood.

"Silence that one!" Taurion shouted as Merry's cries continued to tear through the sound of the rain that was now beginning to fall heavier than before. Aragorn tried to steady his breathing when the Uruk holding Merry turned him around and punched him hard, momentarily silencing the small being before grabbing him once more and shoving a piece of cloth into his mouth, tying it behind Merry's head.

"Where is the one carrying my Master's Ring?!" Taurion shouted and the Uruks seem to silence themselves at the cold anger in the Elf's voice. Lightning flashed as thunder rolled straight after, rain falling heavy.

Please, let him be free, let him be safe. Aragorn looked towards the forests edge, hoping that Frodo had managed to slip passed the Uruks and had gotten to safety.

"Got 'im right here."

Aragorn gave into the darkness that had been threatening to overcome him.

Was there no more hope for us?

-O-

AN; A very short chapter, my apologies and apologies again for the late update, I'm preparing for holiday and trying to get as many chapters done as possible before I leave. I am such a horrible author...I'm sorry Pippin, Gimli and Sam *cries*

If you spot any mistakes please tell me.

Reviews;

bella13446; I am very glad! Yeah, very sorry about that confusion *laughs*. He's the coolest Elf in all the lands.

Purplish Magee; Yep he did, Estel loves stories after all. Well I'm very glad I have! I have so much respect for Elrond, I love writing about him a little Estel *cooes* He is the gangster Elf out of every Elf there is, so don't miss with him, he will steal your wife's heart with a flick and swish of his hair. Thank you very much and yay! That makes me extremely happy *blushes*. Glad you like it.

FabledWarrior; OLD FRIEND! It's been a long time! You could say it is, still has some recognisable characters but it is still quite different, so I'm glad you are enjoying it *smiles*

greenleaf(guest); I am so terribly sorry! I have a holiday coming up and i'm trying to get as much chapters done as possible before then *gets on hands and knees and prays for forgiveness*. Well, here is the chapter you have been waiting for and I hope you enjoy it! Thank you very much *smiles*

Darcy Greenleaf of the forest; Estel is adorable, I love writing about baby Estel *blushes*. Aragorn is addressed as Estel 'hope' because he is of course the rightful heir to the thrown of Gondor. Elrond gave him the name Estel to hide his identity from the shadow that was hunting him and also because he is the one to end this war of light and darkness. Elrond foresaw Aragorn's future.

~Mennai ento lúmë, namárië ~