Merrythehobbit, I'm glad you're so anxious for me to update. That gives me motivation.
Chapter 9: Rescued
"Saruman, where are the Halflings?!" Gandlaf bellowed up to Saruman, who was still standing on the balcony of Orthanc.
"You will see." Saruman bellowed down.
As he said that, two Orcs started tossing many wooden barrels out one of the large windows.
"Find the right barrel in the right amount of time, or you will never see your precious friends alive again." Saruman yelled.
"Legolas, the Hobbits are in one of those barrels! Quick, help me look!" Aragorn said as he jumped off his horse, Legolas not a step behind him.
There were at least fourty or fifty barrels floating in the water and Aragorn and Legolas searched franticly for the Hobbits. If they did not find them in time, they could either suffocate or drown from water seeping through the cracks in the wood. As Aragorn yanked up another barrel, he notcied that this one was heavier than the others. He quickly yanked the lid off and peered inside.
"Aragorn!" Merry rejoiced, reaching upwards and being pulled out of the barrel.
"Oh, Merry..." Aragorn said, bringing the small Hobbit into an embrace.
Merry was covered in several bruises and cuts, but it was nothing too serious. Eventhough Merry wasn't badly hurt, Aragorn was still enraged at Saruman and his Orcs. Aragorn had grown very close to the Hobbits on their journey, and he felt like the were sons to him.
"Aragorn, you have to find Pippin. He was hurt so bad, I-I think he may be dying." Merry said, starting to cry.
"Don't worry, Merry, we'll find him." Aragorn said, carrying Merry over to where Gimli was on the horse he and Legolas shared.
"Gimli, take Merry back to the campsite." he said, handing Merry up to Gimli gently.
"Aragorn, please find Pippin for me." Merry pleaded.
"We will, Merry, we will." Aragorn reassured him.
As Gimli rode off with Merry, Aragorn went back to searching the barrels with Legolas.
"Was he hurt?" Legolas asked.
"A few bruises and cuts, but nothing serious, but he said that Pippin was hurt very badly. He may be dying. We have to find him quickly." Aragorn said.
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They were down to less than ten barrels and still they hadn't found Pippin. Aragorn yanked the lid off another barrel and threw it aside as he groaned loudly in anger.
"Aragorn, over here!" Legolas called.
Aragorn ran as fast as he could through the waist-deep water over to Legolas, who was now holding the limp body of Pippin. Aragorn gasped as he saw the terrible condition the tiny Hibbit was in. He could see no rise no fall of his chest. Aragorn pressed his fingers to Pippin's throat, feeling for a heartbeat, but he felt none...
A/N: I owe all the credit to Rivan Worrioress for giving me the inspiration for Saruman puting Merry and Pippin into barrels for Aragorn and Legolas to find them. Rivan Worrioress used that part in her story, "Trapped at Isengard" if you would like to read it.
