Lord of the Rings: Retold

The Two Towers

Chapter 2:

Aragorn lies on the rocky terrain, listening. Faintly, the sound of many feet can be heard.

Aragorn, "their pace has quickened. They must have caught our scent", he rises. Turning his head he yells to Legolas, Freya and Gimli and then runs off, "hurry!"

Legolas and Freya come running up, and turn to call back to Gimli.

Legolas, "come on, Gimli."

Freya, "move it dwarf! They grow further the slower we go!"

Gimli, breathing hard, "three days and a nights pursuit. No food, no rest, no sign of our quarry but what bare rock can tell."

The three are running over any vistas as fast as they can. Aragorn has stopped and is kneeling, he picks up Pippin's leaf-brooch.

Aragorn, "not idly do the leaves of Lorien fall."

Legolas, running up to Aragorn, "they may yet be alive."

Freya picks up a crumpled sheet of paper, "one of Tom's sheets of music. I recognize it. A song about how dangerous trolls are."

Gimli, "glad to see he's alright."

Aragorn, getting up, "less than a day ahead of us. Come."

They run off.

Gimli falls out from behind a boulder and rolls down a hill.

Legolas turns around once again to shout at Gimli, "come! Gimli, we are gaining on them!"

Freya, "the sooner we reach them, the sooner you can take a break!"

Gimli struggles to his feet.

Gimli running and calling after them, "I am wasted on cross-county. We Dwarves are natural sprinters. Very dangerous over short distances."

Freya, "us Orcs are dangerous from afar, and up close."

Gimli, "save the words Freya!"

The four runners struggle through a boulder covered area, and come to a rise that over-looks the green and rocky terrain of Rohan.

Aragorn, "Rohan. Home of the Horse-lords. There is something strange at work here. Some evil gives speed to these creatures. Sets its will against us."

They continue on making their way down the rocks.

Aragorn, calling out ahead to Legolas, "Legolas! What do your Elf-eyes see?"

Freya, "please tell me we're close!"

Legolas peers off into the distance.

Legolas, "the Uruks turn Northeast. They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!"

Aragorn, to himself, "Saruman."

Freya, "... is it just me, or did that sound like a song?"

….

The scene goes to Isengard, smoke and fire can be seen all around it. The land is dark and gloomy. The sound of Orcs working hard below ground is heard. Saruman is seen inside Orthanc, his hand outstretched over the Palantir, his eyes closed in concentration as he is using it to communicate to the Dark Lord Sauron.

Saruman, telepathically, "the world is changing. Who now has the strength to stand against the armies of Isengard and Mordor", we glimpse into the Palantir and Orcs are seen crossing the bridge of Barad Dur, "to stand against the might of Sauron and Saruman, and the union of the two towers? Together, my lord Sauron, we shall rule this middle earth", the tower of Barad Dur is seen and the great fiery eye of Sauron at the pinnacle with Mount Doom seen in the distance.

Orcs are cutting down large trees. A tree falls into one of the pits in Isengard. Saruman walks through the ironworks under Isengard inspecting the work of the Orcs.

Saruman, still talking to Sauron, "the old world will burn in the fires of Industry, the forests will fall. A new order will rise", Orcs are seen cutting the trunks of the trees, feeding the logs into the fires and making weapons for the Uruk-hai.

We will drive the machine of war with the sword, and the spear, and the iron fist of the orc. Uruk-Hai are being hatched, and then inspected by orcs.

Saruman is outside overseeing the production that is going on.

Saruman, "I want them armed and ready to march within two weeks!"

The head Orc, "but my lord, there are too many! They cannot all be armed in time, we don't have the means."

Saruman, "build a dam, block the stream, work the furnaces night and day."

The head Orc, "we don't have enough fuel to feed the fires."

Saruman is looking at Fangorn forest as he says, "the Forest of Fangorn lies on our doorstep. Burn it!"

The head Orc, "yes!"

Back in his Throne Room, Saruman is listening to a Wildman of Dunland.

Wildman, "we will fight for you."

Saruman, "swear it!"

The wildman takes his dagger and cuts his palm, swearing with his blood.

Wildman, "we will die for Saruman!"

Outside of Isengard, Saruman is in the middle of a mob of Wild Men, armed with torches and poles.

Saruman, "the Horsemen took your lands. They drove your people into the hills to scratch a living off rocks!"

A Wild Man, "murderers!"

The Wild Men are seen yelling and grunting and raising their torches.

Saruman, "take back the lands they stole from you, burn every village."

The Wild Men yell in approval and run off out of Isengard shouting and yelling.

Saruman talking to Sauron again, "we have only to remove those who oppose us. It will begin in Rohan. Too long have peasants stood against you. But no more."

….

Wild men are seen running toward a village. Inside the village the peasants are seen scrambling about, running for their lives. Women are screaming and children crying. A woman is saddling a horse while others are running past her, leaving the village.

The woman, "Éothain! Éothain! You take your sister. You'll go faster with just two."

Éothain mounts the horse with the help of his mother. She then beckons to her daughter.

Freda, "Father says Éothain must not ride Garulf. He is too big for him."

The woman helps Freda up onto the horse in front of the boy.

The woman, "listen to me, you must ride to Edoras and raise the alarm. Do you understand me?"

Éothain, "yes momma."

Freda starts to weep and reaches out for her mother.

Freda, "I don't want to leave. I don't wanna go, mama."

The woman, gently holding Freda's head, "Freda, I will find you there."

She kisses Freda on the cheek, a scream is heard and the woman looks to see the wild men coming down the hill.

The woman, "quickly", the kids reluctantly take off on the horse, "go child."

Wild Men and orcs are attacking the village, attacking the people who are still there. Houses burn. They are being slaughtered mercilessly. The children now far away look back from the top of the hill. Freda is still crying.

...

Saruman, "Rohan, my lord, is ready to fall."

….

A group of Rohirrim led by Eomer arrive at the Fords of Isen, where they find a fellow group of warriors being slain by Orcs. It is raining and the sky is dark. The ground is littered with the dead from both sides.

Éomer, "Théodred", to his men, "find the king's son!"

The warriors get off of their horses and search for Theodred among those slain Rohirrim.

Bereg, "Mordor will pay for this!"

Éomer, "these Orcs are not from Mordor."

Éomer turns around a dead Orc and the White Hand of Saruman becomes visible on the Orc's helmet.

Rohan Rider 1, "my Lord Éomer, over here!"

Eomer runs to the soldier and examines the body of Théodred.

Éomer is astonished, "he's alive."

Éomer and his contingent are riding through valleys and hills and finally up to Edoras's gate.

….

Théodred sits in front of Éomer unconscious. Éowyn goes to Théodred's room where he is lying, Éomer at his side. She rushes in and sits down on the bed next to him.

Éowyn, "Théodred."

Théodred moves his head slightly and his eyelids flutter. He lets out a small breath. Éowyn looks to Éomer who gives her a grave look and motions to Théodred's wounds. She lifts one of the bandages on Théodred's abdomen and grimaces; she looks to Éomer again.

Éomer and Éowyn are in the darkened throne room approaching an old and worn looking Théoden.

Éowyn, "your son is badly wounded, my lord."

Éomer, "he was ambushed by orcs", Théoden looks unresponsive and uncaring, "if we don't defend our country, Saruman will take it by force."

"That is a lie."

Grima appears coming around the corner and takes his place by Théoden's side.

Grima, "Saruman the White has ever been our friend and ally."

Théoden whispers, "Grima."

Grima bends down to hear the King his eyes still on Éowyn and Éomer.

Théoden, "Grima", he whispers something unintelligible, "Grima."

Éomer, "Orcs are roaming freely across our lands. Unchecked. Unchallenged. Killing at will. Orcs bearing the white hand of Saruman."

He drops an orc helmet onto the step in front of the throne, the helmet has a painted white hand on it. Grima eyes the helmet.

Grima, "why do you lay these troubles on an already troubled mind? Can you not see. Your uncle is wearied by your malcontent, your warmongering."

Éomer, "warmongering", he grabs Grima by the throat, "how long is it since Saruman bought you? What was the promised price, Grima? When all the men are dead, you will take your share of the treasure?"

Grima looks as Éowyn goes to leave the room, catching her eye. Éomer follows his stare then grasps Grima's face harder.

Éomer, "too long have you watched my sister. Too long have you haunted her steps."

Grima's face relaxes in delight as guards grab Éomer from behind and pull him away.

Grima, "you see much Éomer son of Éomund. Too much."

Éomer is punched in the gut by one of the guards.

Grima, "you are banished forthwith from the Kingdom of Rohan and all its domains under pain of death."

Eomer, "you have no authority here. Your orders mean nothing."

Éomer gets punched in the stomach once more.

Gríma, "this order does not come from me. It comes from the king. He signed it this morning."

Gríma shows Eomer the banishment document, which has been signed by Theodred. Éomer gets dragged away.

….

Uruk-hai are running through a field. Merry, Tom and Pippin are being carried on the backs of three Uruks. Aragorn, Freya, Legolas, and Gimli are still in pursuit, with Gimli lagging behind a little.

Gimli, "keep breathing. That's the key. Breathe. Ohh."

Freya, "we can't stop now. Just focus on saving our friends!"

Legolas, "they run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them."

….

Night: The Uruks stop, Merry, Pippin and Tom are pushed to the ground.

An Orc, "we're not going no further until we've had a breather."

The lead Uruk-hai, "get a fire going."

The orcs go into Fangorn Forest to get wood and they start chopping on trees. Pippin and Tom crawl over to Merry.

Pippin, "Merry! Merry!"

Tom, "you alright?"

Merry, "I think we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pippin."

Tom, "it's a little too late for that now my friend."

Groaning can be heard from the forest as the orcs chop the trees into logs with their axes.

Pippin, concerned, "what's making that noise?"

Merry looks at the forest in awe, "it's the trees."

Pippin, "what?"

Tom, "yeah, what?"

Merry, "you remember the Old Forest, on the borders of Buckland? Folks used to say there was something in the water that made the trees grow tall and come alive."

Pippin, "alive?"

Tom, "as in, walking and talking?"

Merry, "aye. Trees that could whisper, talk to each other, even move."

Uruk 1, "I'm starvin'. We ain't had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days."

Orc 1, "yeah! Why can't we have some meat?"

Spotting Tom, Merry and Pippin he grins evilly, "what about them? They're fresh."

Lead Uruk, "they are not for eating."

The lead Uruk grabs the two hobbits and short man and drags them away from the group of hungry orcs.

Orc 2, "what about their legs? They don't need those."

The hobbits and man gave really frightened looks.

Tom, "... mother…."

Orc 2, "oh, they look tasty."

He goes towards the hobbits.

The lead Uruk begins pushing the orc away back into the group, "get back, scum!"

The orcs yell and get rowdy.

Lead Uruk, "the prisoners go to Saruman. Alive and unspoiled."

Orc 2 asks, "allive", he tries to get a closer look at the Hobbits, "why alive? Do they give good sport?"

Uruk Leader, "they have something. An Elvish weapon. The master wants it for the war."

An orc slowly sneaks up to the Hobbits with his blade drawn….

Pippin, whispering, "they think we have the Ring."

Merry, whispering, "shh! As soon as they find out we don't, we're dead."

Tom, "best to keep the rouge going until we can escape."

As the orc gets closer to the Hobbits, he licks his mouth and hisses.

The Orc says, "just a mouth full…."

The Uruk Leader quickly turns around, "…. a bit off the flank."

The lead Uruk cuts off that orc's head. It lands on the ground in front of Merry, Tom and Pippin.

Tom, "sweet merciful crap!"

The lead Uruk yells, "looks like meat's back on the menu, boys."

The orcs yell in approval. The hobbits are pushed out of the way as the orcs dig in.

Merry, "Pippin, Tom. Let's go."

Tom, "right behind you two!"

The hobbits and man crawl off away from the orcs. Orc 2 puts his foot on Merry's back stopping him from crawling any further. Pippin turns over and lets out a slight yelp in surprise.

Orc 2, "go on. Call for help", the orc leans over and grabs Pippin's chin in his hand and points his knife threateningly at him, "squeal! No one's gonna save you now."

The orc motions to cut Pippin, when suddenly a spear goes through the orc's back. He screams and falls to the side. Riders are seen coming out of the darkness armed with spears and arrows. The other orcs and Uruks notice them and they start to battle.

Merry, "Pippin!"

Tom, "Peregrin Took!"

The riders ride through the orcs slaughtering them using bows, spears, and swords. Pippin looks around in fright in all the confusion of battle. He turns over onto his back and finds himself under a rearing horse.

….

Reviews:

Amanny: I'm glad you enjoyed the latest chapter, and the sword Naryn uses.

….

Again, I hope I've managed to do this as well as I did the Star Wars sequel trilogy. Fitting three new characters into the story was quite the challenge.

Freya was one of my favorites to add, since I don't see enough stories about a good orc, or a female orc as the lead. If anyone wants to see more stories about a female orc set in a fantasy world, (LOTR, WarCraft, Skyrim, etc), leave a suggestion!