Chapter 10

The Tower of Cirith Ungol

Hazel slowly opened her eyes, hesitant to find out what had become of her. Had she been eaten? Was she dead? What Hazel discovered was worse: for when she woke up, she found that her hands were bound and noises of snarling and growling surrounded her. She looked around her prison. There was a narrow window, looking out into the horrible land of Mordor. The floor below her was wooden…and hard. The walls around her were stone. She examined herself and realized most of her clothes were gone. All she was wearing was a skirt and a blouse. Bits of spider web still clung to her hair and face. She wanted to cry out, but was too afraid to.

Two orcs behind her were examining the clothes they had taken. Though Hazel couldn't see them, she could hear them. The orcs examined her bodice; it was made to match Hazel's skirt, and at that moment Hazel felt like a fashion catastrophe. They had also looked at the cloak and the elfish book from Lothlorien.

Hazel wondered what Sauron was going to do with her. Would he kill her? Would he claim her as a trophy since Frodo was one of his greatest enemies? Was he really that malicious?

A smaller orc had picked up a strange pearled necklace. He of course, had never seen such a thing.

"Hands off that shiny thing!" A taller orc growled. "That's mine!"

"It's going to the great eye," The short orc spat back. "Along with everything else!"

At this, Hazel gasped in realization.

Where was the ring?

She felt along her collar bone, making sure it was still there; it wasn't. Hazel closed her eyes and hoped she was dreaming.

"I don't take orders from stinking, Morgal rats!" The tall orc said, raising his voice, pushing the short one back.

"You touch it," The short orc threatened, holding his sword out. "And I'll stick this blade in your gut!"

Hazel wasn't entirely sure what happened next. All she knew was that the two orcs had started fighting. She stiffened even more when the tall orc cried, holding a string of pearls in his hand.

"The scum tried to knife me, kill him!"

~jb~

Sam and Frodo made their way to the tower. They could faintly hear strange cries and screams. It had appeared the orcs had been quarreling with one another, and both hobbits hoped Hazel was not involved. Around them in the tower were dead orcs, lying on the ground. They moved quickly up the tower. Through a hallway, Frodo and Sam could see orcs approaching. Sam stepped forward and noticed his shadow on the wall. He raised his sword and let out a growl. The three orcs backed away, thinking Sam was some kind of an elfish warrior. Sam came forward and a look of surprise slapped all the orcs in the face. They looked at each other in confusion and charged at Sam.

"Go, Frodo!" Sam cried. "I'll hold'em off!" Frodo ran forward, easily slipping past all the orcs. Sam rushed forward and stabbed the first orc.

"That's for Hazel!" Sam declared. He ran forward and killed the second orc. "That's for the Shire!" The third orc ran at him a swung his sword. Sam ducked and pushed the orc off the staircase. "And that's for my old Gaffer!"

Somehow, the two orcs that started the fight had survived. The tall orc was able to sneak out with a beautiful pearl necklace in his hand.

~jb~

When Hazel thought she was safe, she tried to slip her hands out of the binds. Of course, they were extremely tight, and Hazel cried out in frustration. Someone came up behind her and kicked her in the back. Immediately, Hazel flipped around and there was the short orc. Anger was flashing in his eyes.

"Who are you?" He growled. "Speak!" He kicked Hazel in the stomach this time. Hazel cried out and nearly vomited.

"Stop your squealing, you little rat! You scream like a child! Is that what you are, a child?" The orc said impatiently.

Hazel threw her arms over her head, covering her face.

"I'm gonna bleed you, like a stuck pig!" The orc declared, pulling a knife out. He raised the knife, ready to kill. Hazel closed her eyes and braced herself for the pain. Suddenly, the orc gasped and dropped his knife. He gripped at his chest, and out came the tip of a blue elfish blade. Hazel stared in surprise and found Frodo's head appearing. Hazel had never seen him so angry.

"Not if I stick you first!" He said.

"Frodo!" Hazel cried, and just then, she blacked out.

When she had regained herself, her head was in Frodo's lap and he was removing the binds.

"Hazel," Frodo said. "Are you alright?"

"What a strange dream," Hazel said. "I get attacked by an orc, and he turns into Frodo!"

"This is no dream," Frodo reassured her.

"Of course," Said Hazel. "This is a nightmare! They took the ring! It's all over!"

"No, Hazel," Frodo said. He took her hand and pressed it against his chest. Hazel could feel the round metal from under his shirt. Hazel cried in relief.

"Dear Frodo," She whispered and fell asleep in his arms. Frodo wanted to stay there and watch her sleep forever, but it seemed that time would not allow it. He unwillingly kissed her forehead.

"Wake up," He said gently; moving light brown curls from her face, although Hazel's hair for one reason or another seemed to curl less. Hazel sighed and sat up.

At that moment, Sam walked in. He came over and grabbed Hazel in a warm embrace. The two cousins cried.

"Let's get you some better clothes, Miss Hazel." Sam decided after a few long and tender moments. "I'm sure you don't want to walk into Mordor in nothing but your skin."

I realize I had written this quite a few years ago and my writing style is different now than what it used to be. Not a bad thing, I feel like my writing is better…

Hope you enjoyed!