Chapter 20

Ariana was drifting in and out of unconsciousness, not at all certain of her surrounding. Her eyes opened halfway and she found herself looking at a dark sky. She felt a crick in her back and shoulders and tried to stretch, but found that her hands were tied behind her back.

Her eyes shot open and she looked around frantically.

It was dark out and the only light source was the numerous number of campfires lit around her. The fires' eerie glow lit up the cruel and sinister faces of the Uruk-hai around her, and showed her that she was trapped.

The world suddenly crashed around her and any daze she had felt left her, the sounds of the wilderness, the crackling fires, and the voices of the horrible creatures reached her in an instant.

She tried to move her hands again, hoping beyond hope that the Uruk-hai didn't notice her. Her wrists screamed at her to stop as she cut them on the rough rope, but she proceeded and tried to move her legs, but her ankles were tied as well.

Ariana tried to bite back a sob, but a tiny hiss escaped her lips, drawing attention she did not want to herself.

She yelped as a clawed hand grabbed her hair in its rough grip and forced her to sit up.

"She's awakened!" A large Uruk-hai roared with gleeful malice that made Ariana wish she had stayed unconscious.

There was a shuffle and mutterings between the Uruk-hai and Orcs, causing chills to travel up Ariana's spine. Her heart almost stopped in fear as the largest of the Uruk-hai, and most likely the leader, stood up and headed straight for Ariana. His eyes were small, but held the most hatred and rage, his lips were pulled back in a snarl, and in his clawed hand was a leather water sac.

He shoved the first Uruk-hai away and grabbed the back of Ariana's head, tilting it back and forcing the opening of a water sac to her mouth.

Ariana struggled against the Uruk-hai, refusing to open her mouth.

The blue skinned monster growled and pressed the opening harder against her mouth. "Drink!"

Her eyes widened as a familiar black liquid slipped out of the container and slid down her cheek. She struggled harder and shook her head.

No! No! Not that!

"Drink!" The Uruk-hai repeated, but when he didn't see any results he reared back slightly and landed a surprise punch to her stomach. She gasped and chocked as the black liquid was forced down her throat.

She tried to cough it up, but the Uruk-hai covered her mouth with his dirty hand and grabbed her neck in a tight grip, causing her to gag and swallow the potion that had been forced upon her by the corrupted White Wizard in the past.

Once satisfied that she swallowed the concoction Saruman had given him, the beastly monster dropped Ariana carelessly, letting her wither on the ground in agony. Ariana hissed through clenched teeth as she hit the ground and glared up at the Uruk-hai, but he just turned his back on her and made for his previous position by his fire.

Things settled down and Ariana tried to stay calm, but suddenly an Orc grabbed her arm and putted her up roughly, smelling her, sliding tongue over her cheek.

Ariana screamed and struggled against the Orc. It just laughed and grasped her arms tighter, his long, dirty nails cutting into her flesh.

"You taste delicious, and such smooth skin, easier to get down."

Ariana didn't know what she was thinking as she pulled the Orcs jagged sword from its sheath with her bound hands and stabbed it through its chest. She panted as adrenaline ran through her and she stared down at the dieing Orc.

The Orc made a gurgling sound and fell to the floor.

"Don't touch me." Ariana muttered darkly before cutting the ropes around her ankles and wrists and standing up.

She suddenly came to her senses and jumped back in surprise and dropped the sword, her eyes darting around frantically. The Orcs around her, all which similarly looking as the one she just killed, growled and brandished their swords, taking menacing steps towards her.

There was a sudden louder growl, followed by a roar from the Uruk-hai who forced Ariana to drink the potion. "No one touches the girl!"

"She killed Duruk!" one of the Orcs yelled pointing his sword at Ariana.

The Orc didn't have another chance to argue as an arrow hit him between the eyes. He was dead before he hit the ground.

"Anyone else want to argue?!"

The Orcs backed away from Ariana, sheathing their swords again.

Ariana gave a sigh of relief.

"Bind the girl! We're heading out!" The leader shouted.

Ariana screamed as numerous numbers of clawed hands grabbed her and proceeded to tie her up again.

"Shut her up!" One yelled and suddenly Ariana let out a breathless gasp as one of the nameless Orcs hit the back of her neck. She fell forward, once again unconscious.

Elladan and Elrohir stood in front of their father, their heads bowed, a grim silence hanging over the four occupants of Elrond's study. Gandalf sat beside Elrond's desk, his hat in his hands and his weary eyes gazing out the window.

Lord Elrond massaged his temples and closed his eyes for a moment.

"So Saruman has captured her again."

"We are sorry. We were out numbered and they fled with her before we had a chance to do anything." Elladan sighed.

"And we could not follow because some stayed behind to give the rest time to escape with Ariana. By the time they all were killed, Ariana was gone" Elrohir finished.

Elrond looked at his sons intently. "But your report remained safe and sealed?"

Elladan nodded. "Yes, we delivered the Council decision to Lothlorien and then returned so that were could give grandmother's reply."

"I regret not being able to search for Ariana." Elrohir sighed. "I'm sure if we protected her better than she would not have been taken."

"There was nothing you could do." Gandalf said, speaking for the first time. "Saruman must have had his Uruk-hai searching for Ariana since she left Isengard. There was nothing you two could do. No matter how good of fighters you are. You were outnumbered by many and Ariana's abduction was inevitable."

Elrohir looked away. "How will we tell Aragorn that he has lost his sister again?"

"Not lost." Gandalf chided. "Saruman will keep her alive until he is done with her."

Elrond nodded. "Let's hope for Ariana's sake, as well as Aragorn's, that Saruman will need her for a while longer."

Ariana stirred in her sleep and groggily opened her eyes. Her eyes adapted to the pale light around her as they searched the blurry room. Her memories caught up with her suddenly and she gasped and shot up into a sitting position, her hands grasping at her wrists, checking for ropes.

Rubbing her eyes with the heel of her hands she looked around again.

She was on a bed, a black comforter covering her, in a gray room bare of anything but the bed she was in. Throwing the comforter off her she was relieved to see that she was still in her same riding dress.

She slid to the edge of the bed and hesitantly got up, absentmindedly rubbing her wrists. She walked towards the large open window, her only source of light from the rising moon, and peered outside.

Her eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.

Nothing was beautiful. Nothing was green or lively. Everything about where she was gave off the presence of death and destruction.

There were paths that were paved and lined with pillars linked by chains, no trees, miles worth of lumber in a large pile at the base of a huge dam. Large, tall wooden platforms overseeing deep shafts that were dug into the dry plain, leading deep underground. Black, ominous smoke rose from the depths of the caverns and caused clouds of black to form above.

She could hear the sound of drums, hammers, and loud cries and screams coming from within and she could just make out figures moving around down below, but she couldn't see them clearly at the height she was at.

Ariana leaned out the window further and continued to look around with a strange awing sensation filling her. Something about where she was was familiar, she could feel that she had been there before. She looked up and down at the stone structure she was in and felt a pang of shock run through her when she realized where she was.

She backed away from the window in horror, placing a hand over her heart as it began beating faster in her panic. Her breaths became haggard and came out in pants. She closed her eyes and placed her hands on either side of her head.

She knew where she was.

"No...No...I can't be back here."

Isengard

"Welcome back Ariana."

She turned sharply and her eyes widened, a horrified whisper escaping her lips.

"Saruman."