We inform everyone from the fellowship and council what we had in mind to do. The little Hobbits made us promise to visit their little town, they were going to go back home not long after us.
The three of us were now on our way back to Purg and company.
After a while Vruurk and I noticed Zlog wasn't up for riding any more. He kept grunting and struggled to keep his eyes open.
"Zlog, you clearly need to rest, you are almost falling off your horse with exhaustion," Announces Vruurk.
Vruurk slows Tarien down with a command.
"NO! I won't sleep!" Replies Zlog harshly.
"If you don't you're going to break bones falling from your horse, you acted strong in Rivendell but you don't have to with us. We will let you rest," Replies Vruurk.
Zlog rebuffed her rudely, much too rudely. He was stubborn, we ended up continuing our journey. He did end up falling from his horse, and when that happened I had no sympathy.
We stopped to see if he needed help. I was tempted for us to just let him rot. Vruurk looks at him and shakes her head, she kneels next to him and checks his pulse and breathing.
"I, I don't believe it, he's asleep!" Exclaims Vruurk.
I can't help but laugh. He must not have broken any bones in that case.
"Let us have some food and leave him to rest," I reply.
My impulse I had earlier to let him rot had left me. It was a very hateful thought. The fact Purg would hunt me down for killing his second in command didn't make killing him appealing either.
We sat down and started eating our meals while Zlog slept on.
"Zlog has always been troublesome," I say to Vruurk. I don't want her thinking there was anything she could have said different.
She makes a face that read 'I noticed'.
"Really I couldn't tell," Vruurk says sarcastically.
She takes another bite of her meal. After she had taken her bite she had those worry lines that etch the top of her nose when she concentrates.
"I wonder why he changed. He didn't really seem defect to me," Replies Vruurk with slight amusement.
"I didn't mean to do it," Roared Zlog.
Vruurk and I turned to Zlog in alarm.
"No I won't deny that, but it was with good reason ... No ... don't be on that disgusting humans side. How could ... It wasn't my fault," Says Zlog still sound asleep.
Nightmares. I sighed, they seem more violent than mine. I look to the half finished food in my hands but find I can't eat anymore. I wrap the rest up and pack it away.
Vruurk starts to get up.
"Don't, leave him, he will hurt you if you try to wake him," I say quickly.
She sits back down reluctantly.
"I spoke to Aragorn about your nightmares," Vruurk confesses.
I let out a breath and closed my eyes briefly in annoyance.
"You ... Did, did you ..." I mutter.
"Well I heard that his healing abilities are quite remarkable. He has heard about this condition. He said it impacts men after battles, he calls it after battle fever," She replies.
"After battle fever?" I question sceptically.
Orcs haven't come from battles like this in the past, I wish it wasn't happening to me now.
"SO WHAT IF that dyr is dead ... " Zlog yells, then he starts to mumble incoherently. /animal/
Vruurk has a look of concern.
"I wonder what happened to him," Whispers Vruurk.
Concern? Why is she showing such concern. When Vruurk voiced her concern earlier he used words to destroy her.
"He killed a man that Purg ordered him not to. It happened a few years ago," I answer.
"Years? ... " Vruurk says, leaving her question unfinished.
I chortle. I ruffle her hair in a patronizing way.
"Yes youngling, years," I say with humour.
She tries to swat my hand away but the damage was already done, I smile. She scowls but can't keep her face in a serious position for long, she ends up laughing.
The sound of her laughter evaporates the annoyance I felt with her consulting with Aragorn. I will have to find a way to bring it up with her that Aragorn doesn't need to know my business, even though she only meant well it still didn't please me.
"How old are you?" Vruurk muses to herself.
I inform her when I was created, I didn't want her to get foolish ideas. She may think I was created many years ago when in reality I wasn't created that long ago.
The face she pulled was one of such mourning. Then she smiled slightly.
"That's older than I was going to guess," Smirks Vruurk.
I stretch my arm and drape it over her shoulders and bring her closer.
"Let me teach my wisdom ...
She snorts.
We teased each other back and forth like this for a while, Zlog slept on but didn't scream as violently as before.
"He is waking," Whispers Vruurk.
I turn and notice that he was rubbing his eyes. He groans and sits up. Zlog smashes his fist in the dirt.
"Why didn't you wake me up? We've lost too much time," Zlog says this while getting up.
He sighs in annoyance and starts walking to his horse.
"Wait Zlog, you fell off your horse what were we suppose to do? What happened, why are you having trouble sleeping?" Says Vruurk also getting up.
I get up and join them. If he insults Vruurk again, he'll answer to my fist. I scowl in his direction.
"No prin ... Vruurk, I won't tell you. Not when ...
"Tell us, we can help," Interrupts Vruurk.
"But you like the race of men, I can't do that to you," Counters Zlog.
Vruurk growls, "I understand not all men are honourable!"
"I don't want to make a big deal about this, I am already getting help. I killed a man that deserved it but it's more than that, my mind was very animalistic and that's what haunts me," Says Zlog.
"Who is helping you?" Asks Vruurk curiously.
Really princess?
"Purg," Answers Zlog, with hesitation.
She snorts, "That's right 'the one you trust most' if my memory serves me correctly."
Zlog growls in annoyance, "Why do you start fights all the time Princess!"
Vruurk opens her mouth to retort but Zlog put his hand up to silence her.
"I know, you don't want me to call you princess," Says Zlog annoyed.
Vruurk opened her mouth to speak but closes it. She sighs.
"I ... am ... sorry," Says Vruurk.
Zlog smiles slightly.
"Did that hurt?" Counters Zlog.
She growls and storms off to Tarien. She then jumps into her saddle and Tarien gallops off.
I grunt.
Zlog starts laughing, "She doesn't like admitting when she is in the wrong, does she?"
"Neither do you," I counter.
"We best be off I wish to get there before sunset," Replies Zlog.
We start our journey again. Vruurk still ahead of us.
"He deserved it ... you know ... " States Zlog, drifting into thought in the end.
"Then why does it haunt you so?" I reply.
Why does he think I want justifications from him.
"It's the accusations that haunt me. I saved a maiden from a man stealing her maidenhood and then they accuse ME of foul play because I stopped it by unsavoury means ...
I give an involuntary cringe.
"Korut," I whisper.
"That man was korut," Counters Zlog. /nasty/
"I wasn't disagreeing with you, thank you for not telling Vruurk this," I reply.
"I couldn't tell her, I couldn't handle another look of revulsion from her," Counters Zlog.
I can understand, that look of hate from Vruurk is something that I wish to never suffer ever again. I close my eyes briefly and bring forth the image of Vruurk smiling while playing with one of her loose strands of hair.
"Zlog, Vruurk deserves your respect. You really need to watch what you say or you won't be taken seriously," I say warning him.
"I do respect her which annoys me to nar mubaram, I don't mean to antagonize her," Replies Zlog. /no end/
I snort in disbelief. That's how he shows respect.
"How you weren't killed as a youngling I would never know," I reply with bite.
I give a command to my horse to go faster to catch up to Vruurk. Hopefully she still isn't mad. When she realises what I was doing she slows down for me to catch up.
"That's the last time I apologize to Zlog," Sneers Vruurk.
"Actually, the fact that you bothered is amazing," I counter.
I see Vruurk smile at this. She sighs.
"I want to be back at our waterfall," Says Vruurk.
"I don't, not really. I want to create a haven of our own," I reply.
A special place not created by elves.
"Zlog!" Yells Purg. He puts his hammer down and rushes over.
"You fool! Why did you leave when you could barely walk," Growls Purg.
Purg really has a Mother hen tendency.
"Someone had to get them," Replies Zlog.
Purg then turns to us. He shakes his head.
"Your letter was very enlightening, we will have to discuss in detail our plans henceforth," Says Purg.
"How long do we plan to stay in this village?" I ask.
"We need to have a council meeting of our own, our hunting party should be coming back soon," Replies Purg.
"Hunting party?" Asks Vruurk.
"We have been gathering Orcs that wish to join us. When Sauron was destroyed the Orcs were confused so they scattered. Some started changing like a lot of Uruk-hai of Isengard have," Replies Purg.
"What are the numbers so far?" Counters Vruurk.
Vruurk stands a little more straight. You can tell she wishes to take charge.
"I will have to find out when they come back, I have to continue with building this hut. Can you and Erulo help with this," Inquires Purg.
"We don't mind helping, now about these hunting parties ...
Purg and Vruurk talk about Purg's movements and more about how the hunting parties have been rescuing Orcs non defect and defect alike. Purg is also spreading the news of the defeat of our masters and possible change in council.
We start rebuilding huts, Zlog didn't end up joining. He was ordered by Purg to take more rest. Purg and Vruurk were still talking about future plans.
"So you finally showed?" I hear someone say behind me.
I turn to realise it's Opkagu.
"So it seems your princess is well," Says Opkagu.
I can't help but smile at this.
"I am glad for you. It was worrying to see you so upset. Little Angakon is going well. He is growing up so quickly you will be able to finally meet him later in a few weeks." Replies Opkagu.
I can't wait to see what Angakon is like, I have yet to meet an Orc so young. Or any creature that young.
While Opkagu and I worked on building huts we chatted like old friends. If Opkagu wasn't so interested in the well being of his Wargs perhaps we would have been friends earlier.
The hunting party had come late that afternoon to their success they found five more Orcs.
We are now in the middle of an council meeting to discuss our future plans. It was a lot better than the council meetings in Rivendell. It was less complicated with no Elves or men.
"So the tree creatures have ... have to agree to give their land to us before we have any land or power. How is this a plan. Not to mention who would be able to convince them that this would benefit them?" Announces Prodash to everyone in council.
"My suggestion would be someone with patience, If Purg wasn't needed with organising the hunting parties and rebuilding my suggestion would have been Purg. As it stands it would be unwise for Purg to leave here," Replies Vruurk.
"May I can make a suggestion, perhaps Prodash could go?" Says Vogurk.
Vruurk nods in agreement.
"I agree Vogurk, Prodash would be the best choice," Replies Purg.
Prodash looks shocked at these announcements of confidence.
"Vogurk, I am not suicidal why would you even suggest me. The tree creatures will not hear me out. Even if I look pretty now it won't convince them that we have all changed. I never wanted anything to do with this change. I never saw myself as a defect." Announces Prodash.
"We are not sending you on a suicidal mission Petal, we know you will succeed and besides you won't be going by yourself. I will be joining you naturally," Replies Vogurk.
Vogurk smiles at Prodash nervously.
"So Prodash before you leave Vruurk and I will go through what information we have gathered from the Hobbits," I announce.
The council meeting disbanded and it's now just the four of us and we go through advice on how to deal with these creatures.
Vogurk and Prodash nod in understanding but looked a little overwhelmed with the information.
"They are going to destroy us Vogurk," Says Prodash. Prodash places her thumb to her lips in thought.
"Patience and don't call them trees, yet the main Ent is actually named Treebeard, curious," Says Vogurk.
"It won't be that easy, Orcs have destroyed many forests," Replies Prodash.
"I don't wish to harm him," I say to Agnak.
He is so small and weak.
"He is so small," I replied worried.
Agnak smiles.
"He has grown so much. He use to be smaller," Agnak says.
He places the Orc youngling in my arms. I am nervous about holding him. He looks into my pale blue eyes and must like what he sees cause he giggles.
He points to me and squeals while saying, "Elfee".
I roar.
Angakon gasps in shock then giggles while saying, "Orc Elfee".
I smile.
"Erulo. My name is Erulo," I say to the little one.
He struggles to say my name. He kept saying Ulo.
"Ulo? That's adorable," Says Vruurk behind me.
I didn't know she had finished up with helping Angak prepare food for us.
"This is Vruurk youngling, remember?" I ask Angakon.
"Vieweck," Says Angakon, he then makes the signal to be picked up by her.
"Close enough Angakon," Replies Vruurk then she obliges his wishes to be picked up.
Angakon likes us both very much. He was upset when he had to leave to go to sleep. We left Angak and Angakon not that long after we shared a meal with him. We were walking back to our hut, hand in hand.
"Erulo, I have something very important to say. I put my name up for becoming the ruling commander of Isengard lands when we sucessfully reclaim Isengard." Says Vruurk with pride.
I kiss her cheek, "You would be perfect, when do you expect an answer from Prodash?"
"Perfect? No I wouldn't be perfect but I would work really hard to create a place we can call home. The last message from Prodash was one of good news. Treebeard so far has decided to not kill them," Replies Vruurk.
"And that is why you would be perfect because you don't pretend you are ... after almost two weeks and that's the only conclusion Treebeard has come to. Merry and Pip were right," I reply.
It was the morning of the forty second day of Prodash and Vogurks mission with the Ents.
On this morning we received the answer. Isengard is ours.
A/N: Thanks for reading. I do love writing this fanfic and will continue. I have read and reread this chapter untill my head was spinning so hopefully no errors, but I apologise for any mistakes. byes for now! :) JD
