Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings is not mine.As you are about to find out, Mithnor is not mine, either.
Chapter Eleven
Three days later . . .
Mithnor could tell the Uruks were frustrated. They were very close now, but not close enough to continue without stopping yet again, as they had been forced to do more and more frequently.
But not frequently enough, the Gondorian knew. Boromir was weakening. And he could no longer deny that he was, as well. Even when they stopped to rest, the Uruks were always prodding and poking at them. The creatures seemed tireless.
As did Belrond. The boy was constantly cheerful, always in the front. He never seemed to lose his breath, never seemed to need rest. But when he did sleep, the Uruks left him alone. He woke easily and on his own in less than an hour, a smile on his face and a cheery look in his eye.
But Mithnor could tell it was an act. A very good act, to be sure, but an act nonetheless. Belrond was as exhausted as the rest of them. He was simply an expert at hiding it.
He was watching for any chance of escape, of course, but none came. And Isengard was less than two hours away.
"Up!" the Uruk-Hai leader ordered. Mithnor suppressed a groan. It had only been ten or fifteen minutes. But the Uruk-Hai wouldn't listen even if he had strength enough left to argue with them.
Belrond helped the other two humans up. The Uruks picked up the Hobbits. Mithnor took Boromir's hand, guiding him. "Just a little farther," he assured him, making sure, still, to disguise his voice. Although he was convinced by now that Boromir wouldn't recognize him, that he was too delirious and the poison was affecting his mind too much, there was no reason to take the risk. Besides, no reason to make the Uruk-Hai suspicious.
Boromir smiled a little. "Just a little farther," he echoed. "But once we get there, then what?"
Time never seemed to pass in Lothlorien. Legolas' wound was beginning to heal. Gandalf, Legolas, and Gimli made their Quest known to Thiris and Radagast.
"Then you think Frodo will continue to Mordor?" Thiris asked.
Gandalf nodded. "He will not give up hope now, not if Sam and Aragorn are with him still."
"And what of the others?" Radagast asked. "Boromir and Merry and Pippin?"
"They will follow the path that they think is best. They will probably go to Gondor."
"Then where are we needed?" Legolas asked.
"Rohan," Gandalf replied. "The creatures which attacked you came from Isengard. King Theoden will need our aid."
"You want us to walk all the way to Rohan?" Thiris exclaimed.
Gandalf gave no answer, but stared off into the distance. "I do hope they are alive."
"Rauros," Aragorn whispered as he rowed the boat ashore. "We'll carry the boat to where the water calms. Then we'll continue on to Gondor."
Frodo nodded silently. Sam smiled, glad to be getting out of the boat. Aragorn carried the boat, and Sam carried most of the food, even though Frodo insisted on carrying a little.
Suddenly, a creature leapt out of the woods and onto Frodo's back. "Mister Frodo!" Sam called. Aragorn dropped the boat and they both rushed to help the Ringbearer.
"Precioussssss!" Gollum shrieked with his hands around Frodo's neck.
Aragorn drew his sword. "Let him go!" he ordered, holding his blade close to the creature. Frodo struggled free.
Aragorn seized Gollum's wrist just as he was about to scamper off. "Not this time," he said roughly.
"What do we do with him?" Sam asked.
"We can't let him go," Aragorn decided. "We'll have to keep him with us."
"All the way to Gondor?"
"All the way."
"Boromir?"
"What is it, Mithnor?"
"Isengard. I can see it."
"How far?"
"Two minutes at most."
"No chance of escape?"
"Nothing."
"Merry? Is that it?"
"I think so, Pip."
"Doesn't look very welcoming, does it?"
Merry smiled. "As long as we get to lie down and rest without getting kicked and poked, it's welcoming enough.
"You think they have food?"
"Of course." Merry knew he had to keep his friend's spirits up. "What I want, though, is a nice pint of beer. And then a good smoke."
Pippin had a dreamy look in his eyes. "I wish I had three mouths. Then I could eat, drink, and smoke at the same time."
Merry grinned. "You'd need more hands," he pointed out.
"Sounds good."
"Where would you put them?"
Pippin shrugged. "Where would you put two extra mouths?"
From the window of his tower, Saruman could see the Uruk-hai approaching. He smiled. They were faster than he'd thought.
Slowly, taking his time, the Wizard descended the stairs of Isengard. The Uruks ran up. They roughly dumped Merry and Pippin to the ground beside Belrond, who was still at the front, and shoved Boromir and Mithnor up beside them. Boromir stood as tall as he could, head held high. Mithnor looked directly into Saruman's dark eyes, trying not to appear afraid for the Halflings' sake.
"What is this?" Saruman asked the Uruk leader. "I ordered you to kill all but the Halflings."
The Uruk pushed Belrond forward. "This one told us the others might be of some value."
Saruman sighed inwardly. How could they possibly have mistaken the boy for a Hobbit? He looked the other humans over again. "You are right," he said with a strange gleam in his eye. "It might give me an advantage. Here you are in my power - both sons of the Steward of Gondor."
Muahahahahaha. Did anybody guess?
xWhiteXstaRx – :)
iccle fairy – More brotherly love to come now that Boromir knows who Mithnor really is. :) Muahahahaha.
