Friend or Foe
At that moment, many things happened at once. The pony (Arrow had learned he was called Bill, and been told quite a few other things by the hobbit named Sam about ponies) gave a startled neigh and darted off into the night. Sam dashed after him, running blindly. A wet tentacle wrapped around Frodo's ankle and pulled him down, causing the hobbit to cry out. At this, the company turned, and Sam came running back to help his master.
Arrow leapt forward with Sam, too unwise to know her decision was foolish, and together they slashed at the wormy limb that had hold of Frodo. Behind them the lake's surface was broken by myriads of ripples and the curious feelers of whatever creature lived in the body of water.
"Into the gateway!" Gandalf cried, stirring the others out of their stupor and into safety. Arrow and Sam grabbed one of Frodo's arms and scrambled backwards into Moria, beyond the doors and into the mine. Tentacles still reached out for the hobbit, and with a shout, Arrow swung her sword and cut the tip of the curious feeler off entirely. A screech boiled the waters behind them as she did so, but it was all for the best. Frodo was soon safely inside. Nine pairs of expectant eyes turned to the great wizard.
If he was trying to think of how to close the door, he need not to have bothered. The gleaming tentacles came slithering back, creeping their way into Moria's entrance. Then there was a terrific noise, and second's later blackness enveloped them. A choked sob from Sam broke the short- lasted silence.
The darkness for Arrow, was not dark at all. This portion wasn't lighted, but her vision was used to it. In the lightless area, her eyesight surpassed even that of Legolas! The shadowy figure of Gandalf made his way back to the entrance, trying to push the doors apart with his staff.
"Well, the passage is blocked behind us and now our only exit would be on the other side of the mountain. I am sorry that creature felt the need to uproot those beautiful trees and block the doors with them, they had stood their quite long." The wizard said, coming back to them.
"What was that creature you speak of Gandalf? Or were there many? I felt the water was horrible the moment I set my feet in it." Frodo asked.
"I do not know." Said Gandalf, "But the arms were all guided by one purpose. There are older and fouler things than orcs." He trailed off, giving Arrow a look from beneath his bushy brows.
"There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world." He said again, and moved forward. A whisper from Boromir not meant for others ears bounced and echoed off the walls until they had heard it.
"In the deep places of the world! And with us we heard a child of the orcs, and against my wishes. Who will lead us in this deadly dark?" The repeated echo asked, to which the wizard replied.
"I shall. And Gimli will walk by my side."
And so they pressed onwards, led by the dwarf and wizard. They were a mighty team, picking and choosing paths swiftly. Gandalf did not doubt that Arrow could lead them, but he did not trust her, nor did he trust the silence of the goblins. If one should see her, they may advance in the hundreds to slay them all and retrieve their oddity of a child.
"I can go no further without a bite to eat!" Frodo burst after they'd gone all but two hundred steps. Arrow thought to herself that there must be a spark in the hobbits hearts that when lit by the adrenaline of adventures burst into a flaming passion to eat! But she did not refuse the offer to eat, nor did anyone else.
"I doubt that those orcs of yours feed you too well. You may find our fare is better." Legolas said, offering her some of the food. Arrow considered letting her tongue loose and insulting the arrogant elf, but she never had liked the food they'd given her.
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The tables in the long hall were filled to the brim with Orcs and wargs, all fighting and snarling over food. Pluton shoved Arrow in, and she was forced to try and feed herself. After a few unsuccessful tries, she lunged over someone's shoulder, snatched a tray of what appeared to be edible food, and then felt a sharp wrist cutting into her ankle.
"Dat's mine you filt'y 'uman!" A voice growled, yanking her off the table. A quick game of tug-of-war ensued, to which the Orc won. Arrow sat on the floor, cursing him under her breath before she was struck by an idea. She wiggled under the tables, and when she heard his uproarious laughter, assuming he was distracted, snaked her arm up and grabbed the plate. She whisked it down and squirmed back out.
By this time the creature was shouting, but she was half way across the room. Eating the meal in a corner, she felt it less than adequate, but at least she'd finally learned proper table manners.
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Arrow did not extend a hand to take the offering, so the elf sat it back down. Arrow surveyed the food and found the best stuff to be on the plates of Boromir, but there was more on the hobbit's trays. The young one was pestering Aragorn, and when she felt he was well enough distracted, she grabbed his plate and returned to her seat.
"Where on Middle-Earth did that come from?" Legolas asked, glancing at the plate in her lap. At that moment, the halfling gave a tremendous cry and leapt to his feet.
"My food's been stolen!" Pippin wailed, for this was a most unfortunate event for him. Legolas looked coldly at Arrow as Aragorn tried to calm Pippin down. The other hobbits clung to their food, expecting something to jump out and take it all away from them.
"Peregrin, I believe that Arrow here has your food." Legolas said softly, gently taking the food from her and offering it back to the young hobbit. From Peregrin, a smile was issued to Legolas, but his eyes were careful to ignore Arrow.
Arrow tried to act as if this performance had not hassled her, but it was a tough look to pull. The elf sat back down looking at her curiously, and Arrow returned his glance with a dark glare of her own. Standing, she peered around for a new place to rest.
She slowly approached Gandalf, her slow gait giving away her apprehension.
"I do not plan on striking you, my girl, now please sit down before the eyes of that foolish Took over there pop out of his head." The wizard said quite calmly.
Arrow did as she was told and swiftly sat down. Not able to resist, she met Pippin's gaze, and he did indeed look quite alarmed by her presence. Either that or he was deathly afraid of his food again being stolen.
The rest of the company spoke in hushed voices, which however softly voiced, bounced off the walls for all to hear. Scattered bits of conversations came to a stop when the wizard stood up and Gimli took Arrow's place by his side. Arrow fell behind them, and wandered backwards.
She would have gone off and walked back to the orcs if an outstretched arm had not prevented it. Boromir stood beside her, a stern look upon his face. Arrow glowered at him as he steered her back to the group. As the others began talking around them and the marching became boring, he opted to talk with her.
"At what age did the orcs find you?" He asked gently, making sure he did not change his tone or face at the mention of orcs. Arrow noticed this, and took it as a gesture of kindness.
"Before the age of one, they say. The day of my birth is either a mystery or a question they refuse to answer." She replied.
"You know nothing of your life before then?"
"Only what I have heard in discussions never designed for me to hear."
"Which is what?"
"That I was born in Gondor, or at least visited there as a baby."
"Anything else?"
"Only rumors of a plan they had that dealt with me. I never heard anything much about it, and no talks directly involving me."
After Boromir mentioned he was from Gondor, Arrow would not let go of the topic. She made him describe everything about the city in detail, which lasted until there next stop. They were to sleep here, around a great hole that had once been a well.
Warmed by the kindness of Boromir, and thrilled with visions of Gondor, Arrow made her mind to apologize to the hobbit that she'd taken food from. She spotted four heads of curly hair, and recognized Pippin as the one by the hole.
Gandalf bade them to sleep well, and issued the first watch to himself. The others immediately settled down, leaving Arrow feeling foolish as she looked for a place to rest. Pippin was now totally enthralled by the hole, so she crept next to him. He held a flat rock in his hand, and looked as if he could not decide to throw it in or not.
Arrow took his hand and pried it out of his fingers, alarming the poor hobbit so badly he nearly threw himself in.
"I would not toss it in, if I were you." She whispered, kneeling to look into his eyes. His gaze met hers with some reluctance, but when he saw no harm in her look he relaxed.
After a pause, he scuttled off to sit next to Merry. Gandalf had watched them uneasily, but any and all his doubts of Arrow seemed to fade after witnessing their interaction. Arrow glanced down into the hole and felt a breath of cold air come rushing up and tickling her skin. Creeping back, she found Boromir had given up one of his blankets for her use.
This confused her to no end. First of all, she could sleep on the floor without blankets; she had done so for eighteen years. Secondly, he was giving up his own comfort. No one ever did that. Pluton had every comfortable thing in the world, and never shared it despite how kind anyone was to him. But she was too tired to think about it, and curled up on the blanket.
One by one they all dropped off in sleep, except for Arrow. A very faint 'tap-tap' sound which was familiar to her. It was a wonder the elf did not hear it, for she'd been told they had incredible sensory abilities. But perhaps he was not listening.
In fact, Legolas was listening, and he did indeed hear it. He did not wish to alarm the group with the news, and thought it best to wait for morning. Whenever that was.
The old wizard left his watch a moment, and looked at his companions. The number had grown by one today, but the amount of trouble they had gained was much more than that.
At that moment, many things happened at once. The pony (Arrow had learned he was called Bill, and been told quite a few other things by the hobbit named Sam about ponies) gave a startled neigh and darted off into the night. Sam dashed after him, running blindly. A wet tentacle wrapped around Frodo's ankle and pulled him down, causing the hobbit to cry out. At this, the company turned, and Sam came running back to help his master.
Arrow leapt forward with Sam, too unwise to know her decision was foolish, and together they slashed at the wormy limb that had hold of Frodo. Behind them the lake's surface was broken by myriads of ripples and the curious feelers of whatever creature lived in the body of water.
"Into the gateway!" Gandalf cried, stirring the others out of their stupor and into safety. Arrow and Sam grabbed one of Frodo's arms and scrambled backwards into Moria, beyond the doors and into the mine. Tentacles still reached out for the hobbit, and with a shout, Arrow swung her sword and cut the tip of the curious feeler off entirely. A screech boiled the waters behind them as she did so, but it was all for the best. Frodo was soon safely inside. Nine pairs of expectant eyes turned to the great wizard.
If he was trying to think of how to close the door, he need not to have bothered. The gleaming tentacles came slithering back, creeping their way into Moria's entrance. Then there was a terrific noise, and second's later blackness enveloped them. A choked sob from Sam broke the short- lasted silence.
The darkness for Arrow, was not dark at all. This portion wasn't lighted, but her vision was used to it. In the lightless area, her eyesight surpassed even that of Legolas! The shadowy figure of Gandalf made his way back to the entrance, trying to push the doors apart with his staff.
"Well, the passage is blocked behind us and now our only exit would be on the other side of the mountain. I am sorry that creature felt the need to uproot those beautiful trees and block the doors with them, they had stood their quite long." The wizard said, coming back to them.
"What was that creature you speak of Gandalf? Or were there many? I felt the water was horrible the moment I set my feet in it." Frodo asked.
"I do not know." Said Gandalf, "But the arms were all guided by one purpose. There are older and fouler things than orcs." He trailed off, giving Arrow a look from beneath his bushy brows.
"There are older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world." He said again, and moved forward. A whisper from Boromir not meant for others ears bounced and echoed off the walls until they had heard it.
"In the deep places of the world! And with us we heard a child of the orcs, and against my wishes. Who will lead us in this deadly dark?" The repeated echo asked, to which the wizard replied.
"I shall. And Gimli will walk by my side."
And so they pressed onwards, led by the dwarf and wizard. They were a mighty team, picking and choosing paths swiftly. Gandalf did not doubt that Arrow could lead them, but he did not trust her, nor did he trust the silence of the goblins. If one should see her, they may advance in the hundreds to slay them all and retrieve their oddity of a child.
"I can go no further without a bite to eat!" Frodo burst after they'd gone all but two hundred steps. Arrow thought to herself that there must be a spark in the hobbits hearts that when lit by the adrenaline of adventures burst into a flaming passion to eat! But she did not refuse the offer to eat, nor did anyone else.
"I doubt that those orcs of yours feed you too well. You may find our fare is better." Legolas said, offering her some of the food. Arrow considered letting her tongue loose and insulting the arrogant elf, but she never had liked the food they'd given her.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The tables in the long hall were filled to the brim with Orcs and wargs, all fighting and snarling over food. Pluton shoved Arrow in, and she was forced to try and feed herself. After a few unsuccessful tries, she lunged over someone's shoulder, snatched a tray of what appeared to be edible food, and then felt a sharp wrist cutting into her ankle.
"Dat's mine you filt'y 'uman!" A voice growled, yanking her off the table. A quick game of tug-of-war ensued, to which the Orc won. Arrow sat on the floor, cursing him under her breath before she was struck by an idea. She wiggled under the tables, and when she heard his uproarious laughter, assuming he was distracted, snaked her arm up and grabbed the plate. She whisked it down and squirmed back out.
By this time the creature was shouting, but she was half way across the room. Eating the meal in a corner, she felt it less than adequate, but at least she'd finally learned proper table manners.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Arrow did not extend a hand to take the offering, so the elf sat it back down. Arrow surveyed the food and found the best stuff to be on the plates of Boromir, but there was more on the hobbit's trays. The young one was pestering Aragorn, and when she felt he was well enough distracted, she grabbed his plate and returned to her seat.
"Where on Middle-Earth did that come from?" Legolas asked, glancing at the plate in her lap. At that moment, the halfling gave a tremendous cry and leapt to his feet.
"My food's been stolen!" Pippin wailed, for this was a most unfortunate event for him. Legolas looked coldly at Arrow as Aragorn tried to calm Pippin down. The other hobbits clung to their food, expecting something to jump out and take it all away from them.
"Peregrin, I believe that Arrow here has your food." Legolas said softly, gently taking the food from her and offering it back to the young hobbit. From Peregrin, a smile was issued to Legolas, but his eyes were careful to ignore Arrow.
Arrow tried to act as if this performance had not hassled her, but it was a tough look to pull. The elf sat back down looking at her curiously, and Arrow returned his glance with a dark glare of her own. Standing, she peered around for a new place to rest.
She slowly approached Gandalf, her slow gait giving away her apprehension.
"I do not plan on striking you, my girl, now please sit down before the eyes of that foolish Took over there pop out of his head." The wizard said quite calmly.
Arrow did as she was told and swiftly sat down. Not able to resist, she met Pippin's gaze, and he did indeed look quite alarmed by her presence. Either that or he was deathly afraid of his food again being stolen.
The rest of the company spoke in hushed voices, which however softly voiced, bounced off the walls for all to hear. Scattered bits of conversations came to a stop when the wizard stood up and Gimli took Arrow's place by his side. Arrow fell behind them, and wandered backwards.
She would have gone off and walked back to the orcs if an outstretched arm had not prevented it. Boromir stood beside her, a stern look upon his face. Arrow glowered at him as he steered her back to the group. As the others began talking around them and the marching became boring, he opted to talk with her.
"At what age did the orcs find you?" He asked gently, making sure he did not change his tone or face at the mention of orcs. Arrow noticed this, and took it as a gesture of kindness.
"Before the age of one, they say. The day of my birth is either a mystery or a question they refuse to answer." She replied.
"You know nothing of your life before then?"
"Only what I have heard in discussions never designed for me to hear."
"Which is what?"
"That I was born in Gondor, or at least visited there as a baby."
"Anything else?"
"Only rumors of a plan they had that dealt with me. I never heard anything much about it, and no talks directly involving me."
After Boromir mentioned he was from Gondor, Arrow would not let go of the topic. She made him describe everything about the city in detail, which lasted until there next stop. They were to sleep here, around a great hole that had once been a well.
Warmed by the kindness of Boromir, and thrilled with visions of Gondor, Arrow made her mind to apologize to the hobbit that she'd taken food from. She spotted four heads of curly hair, and recognized Pippin as the one by the hole.
Gandalf bade them to sleep well, and issued the first watch to himself. The others immediately settled down, leaving Arrow feeling foolish as she looked for a place to rest. Pippin was now totally enthralled by the hole, so she crept next to him. He held a flat rock in his hand, and looked as if he could not decide to throw it in or not.
Arrow took his hand and pried it out of his fingers, alarming the poor hobbit so badly he nearly threw himself in.
"I would not toss it in, if I were you." She whispered, kneeling to look into his eyes. His gaze met hers with some reluctance, but when he saw no harm in her look he relaxed.
After a pause, he scuttled off to sit next to Merry. Gandalf had watched them uneasily, but any and all his doubts of Arrow seemed to fade after witnessing their interaction. Arrow glanced down into the hole and felt a breath of cold air come rushing up and tickling her skin. Creeping back, she found Boromir had given up one of his blankets for her use.
This confused her to no end. First of all, she could sleep on the floor without blankets; she had done so for eighteen years. Secondly, he was giving up his own comfort. No one ever did that. Pluton had every comfortable thing in the world, and never shared it despite how kind anyone was to him. But she was too tired to think about it, and curled up on the blanket.
One by one they all dropped off in sleep, except for Arrow. A very faint 'tap-tap' sound which was familiar to her. It was a wonder the elf did not hear it, for she'd been told they had incredible sensory abilities. But perhaps he was not listening.
In fact, Legolas was listening, and he did indeed hear it. He did not wish to alarm the group with the news, and thought it best to wait for morning. Whenever that was.
The old wizard left his watch a moment, and looked at his companions. The number had grown by one today, but the amount of trouble they had gained was much more than that.