Hi there! thanks for the reviews, i'm glad you like it! this is part 4, enjoy!
Disclaimer: I own none of the Lord of the Rings Characters, i'm just writing this fic for fun!
Frodo walked more quickly, anxious to get to Isenguard, for, if his companions had not slowed, then indeed they would already be at Saruman's impenatrable fortress. As he walked, he felt lighter. He placed his hand about his neck, checking to make sure the ring of power was still there. He gave a small cry.
"It's gone!", he wept, searching in all of his garments for the precious ring,"What happened to it?!"
His thoughts drifted back to the cave......the innocent water sprite........"But she couldn't have taken it!", Frodo argued with himself,"She even helped you find a way to Isenguard!"
Frodo's concience fought back."Ah yes, but she could have wanted you gone, she may have wanted to use the ring!"
Frodo sat down slowly on the damp rocky path, following his thoughts.
"No", he decided firmly,"She does not have the ring. I trust her. But if she does not have it.......then who does?"
He stared solenmly down the acursed path before him.
"What am i to do!", he wailed,"If i go to Isenguard, the ring could remain lost, and i shall have to return to Rivendell and speak with Elrond......his trust in me shall all but disapear. But if i search for the ring...i may abandon my friends in Isenguard, for i know not if they have retrieved the sword."
Frodo thought of his companions, and bitterly remembered the battle with the orcs. If it had not been for Saruman, he would still be on the way to Isenguard.
"The battle!", he cried aloud,"Of course! They were trying to pull me out of the waters reach.....one of my companions must have the ring.......but which one? It matters not", he waved his nerves away quickly, and stood once more."If one of my companions has the ring, it is in safe hands.......i must make haste.....i must get to Isenguard!"
Despite his small bulk, Frodo began to run along the slippery path, his breath catching in his lungs as he attempted to reach the place where his friends had fallen.
Aragorns head throbbed in pain his he tryed in vain to ease his eyes open. The first thing they set upon was a tiny dot of white light.
"Awaken ranger", Saruman drawled in his powerful voice, the tip of his sword gleaming in the rising sun.
Aragorn widened his eyes, and took in where he was for the first time. He viewed the darknened room as best he could in the fresh morning light. He recognised the voice, it's commanding nature domineering over his thoughts.
"Saruman!", he growled, edging towards his enemy.
He was almost within reach of the fiend, when his body could move no more. In anguish he raised his arms. They were attached to steel chains that bit deep into the stone wall of Saruman's dungeon. He tryed in vain to release himself from them, but their mocking laughter scuppered his attempts.
Saruman's lifted his lips into a set evil stare. "It is no use trying to free yourself from them ranger, they are bound deep in my chamber walls, not even my Uruk Hai can free themselves from them."Saruman gave a cold high laugh as Aragorn continued to rattle his bonds.
"Cease your pitifull attempts ranger, for they will do no good. There are orcs stationned outside this chamber, if you escape you shall only be returned.....but perhaps not in one piece."
Aragorn finally gave up, his firey nature simmered by the old wizard.
"Why did you bring me hear Saruman?", he questioned, his voice heavy with toil.
Saruman paused for a few seconds before replying, allowling Aragorn to look more closely around the dim room. His breath stuck in his throat as he observed the sickening sight around him. His companions were covered in blood, much like himself. And also much like himself, Gimli and Boromir were chained to the wall, their weapons rendered useless, strewn upon the floor. Then he realised what was missing-the bow was lying on the floor, the quiver of arrows spilled and trampled beyond all recognition.
"Legolas!", he cried,"Where is Legolas Saruman?!"
Saruman cackled with glee."You shall not view the elf again, for i need him not, at this very moment he awaits the torture i have planned for him-he will join my vast legion of orcs."
"No Saruman!", Aragorn cried,"You cannot do this! Free Legolas immediatly! And where praytell are the hobbits, for i hope what you have planned for them is swifter than what for Legolas!"
The smile on Saruman's face flickered. "I must keep the two hobbits alive", he said, spiting on aragorns blood sodden body,"For they know who bears the one ring-and i must have it!"
"Two hobbits?", breathed Aragorn quietly, not daring to speak aloud in case Saruman saw his glee,"Then who is missing?"
Then Aragorn raised his voice."I ask you again Saruman, why have you brought me here?"
Saruman locked eyes with Aragorn, the hatred for the smug ranger pouring from the depths of his very soul. "Trust me ranger, i would not have you within my fortress if i could prevent it, but as it happens, i need you."
Aragorn was astonished."You-need me? But you are the most powerfull wizard in middle earth, why do you need the help of a simple ranger?"
Saruman lashed out at Aragorn, his temper flaring."Do not mock me ranger, or surely i will destroy your friends, i need them not, only for a bargining tool. I know all about you, Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You are Isildurs heir, and heir to the throne of Gondor. You will weild the blade of Anduril in the fight for middle earth alongside my orcs, in the fight against Sauron, the prince of darkness."
"I do not understand Saruman", Aragorn said slowly,"You capture me to return to me my reforged blade. What trickery is this?"
"Imbicile!", Saruman cried, firing a jet of energy from his staff."You will weild the blade of Anduril for me, i cannot weild the blade myself, for two reasons. The dark lord must not know that betray him, he must be ever unsuspecting, until my asult can be mounted. And, you must be the one to destroy Sauron, it is with you that the hope of middle earth lies ranger."
Aragorn's eyes grew angry, as he realised Saruman's plan. "I will not fight for you Saruman!", he yelled with all the strength he could muster,"I will not fight for the one who seeks the ring of power of evil purposes. You would use the power of middle earth for evil Saruman. You would have your orcs rule over all, and i cannot allow that to happen. I will not fight for you", Aragorn spoke with such passion for justice in the world that even Saruman was impressed, even if only for a second.
"But you will fight for me ranger", Saruman's ice cold stare pentrated Aragorn's inner flesh,"You will fight with a newly improved Anduril by your side. You will fight for the realm of Saruman, against the existing dark lord, to instate a new dark lord!"
Aragorn's refusal drowned out Saruman's cackles."Never!", he cried,"I will not betray the faith of all those who trust me! You cannot force me to fight for you Saruman, and if i do not, then you shall lose! It is better to be destroyed be the existing dark lord, than to betray my friends and fight for one!"
"Very well ranger", Saruman's voice alight with mock sympathy,"I have asked you to fight for me, and you refuse. Now, i must bargain with you."
"Bargain?", Aragorn shook his head.
"Yes", Saruman nodded."If you fight for me then i shall not turn your elven friend into an orc. You cannot imagine the agony the elves go through when i torture them. Long before the end do they beg for death, but i do not deal in death, only in punishment."
"and if i do not fight for you?", Aragorn questioned.
"Then your friend Legolas shall be the latest recruit in the legions of my orcs. But your other friends shall not be forgotten, they shall forever serve me, they shall be my slaves until i give them death."
"That is no bargain Saruman!", cried Aragorn, bitterly wishing that he could drive his beloved Anduril through the heart of the evil wizard.
"The bargain stands!", Saruman cried,"you have until tomorrow's sunset to decide, and chose wisely Aragorn, for you elf friend may not last much longer."
Saruman cackled as he strode away to see the hobbits, he still needed the ring of power, Aragorn's chains spreading mocking laughter around the dungeon.
Merry lay still, under the stifling chest in Saruman's throne room. He could barely remember what had happened a few hours ago. His mind was awash with painfull memories. How he had managed to slip away from the Uruk Hai unoticed......well, that was a mystery to him. He could do nothing to help his friends, for he had had no weapon, and Sarumans's Uruk Hai had taken his friends to the dungeon. How he hoped they were alright, Saruman was not known for treating his prisoners well....
Suddenly, Merry heard a noise. Saruman appeared in the throne room, and sat upon his chair, thinking deeply about his marvellous plan.
"I must go and deal with that elf", he thought to himself, getting up once more from the beautifully carved chair, and pacing toward the chest that Merry lay under.
Opening the chest with extreme care, he retrieved Anduril from the bottom.
"Soon you will serve me, for in my heart, in know what Aragorn will choose to do. My spells are working, soon you shall be full of dark magic, dark enough for it to flow through the blood of the heir to the throne of Gondor. I will suceed."
Saruman closed the chest, and proceeded down the stone steps that led from the throne room down to the dungeons.
Merry drew breath.
"What am i going to do?", he said to himself urgently,"They need my help......and all i have is this stupid thing!", he felt the ring of power increasing it's weight as it hung uselessly around his neck. Then, he heard an agonising scream. "What....or who is that!", he said fearfully, but he could not move, for Saruman's orcs patrolled the out side of the room.
Down in the dungeon, Aragorn had also heard the scream.
"Legolas!", he cried, sobbing, for he was powerless to save his friend.
His worries increased, as the screams became louder.
"What am i going to do?", he whispered,"I'm running out of time!"
Then there was silence in the dungeon, for the agonising screams of the elf filled the night air.
Hope you enjoyed it, part 5 should be out tomorrow hopefully! please review! thanks!
Disclaimer: I own none of the Lord of the Rings Characters, i'm just writing this fic for fun!
Frodo walked more quickly, anxious to get to Isenguard, for, if his companions had not slowed, then indeed they would already be at Saruman's impenatrable fortress. As he walked, he felt lighter. He placed his hand about his neck, checking to make sure the ring of power was still there. He gave a small cry.
"It's gone!", he wept, searching in all of his garments for the precious ring,"What happened to it?!"
His thoughts drifted back to the cave......the innocent water sprite........"But she couldn't have taken it!", Frodo argued with himself,"She even helped you find a way to Isenguard!"
Frodo's concience fought back."Ah yes, but she could have wanted you gone, she may have wanted to use the ring!"
Frodo sat down slowly on the damp rocky path, following his thoughts.
"No", he decided firmly,"She does not have the ring. I trust her. But if she does not have it.......then who does?"
He stared solenmly down the acursed path before him.
"What am i to do!", he wailed,"If i go to Isenguard, the ring could remain lost, and i shall have to return to Rivendell and speak with Elrond......his trust in me shall all but disapear. But if i search for the ring...i may abandon my friends in Isenguard, for i know not if they have retrieved the sword."
Frodo thought of his companions, and bitterly remembered the battle with the orcs. If it had not been for Saruman, he would still be on the way to Isenguard.
"The battle!", he cried aloud,"Of course! They were trying to pull me out of the waters reach.....one of my companions must have the ring.......but which one? It matters not", he waved his nerves away quickly, and stood once more."If one of my companions has the ring, it is in safe hands.......i must make haste.....i must get to Isenguard!"
Despite his small bulk, Frodo began to run along the slippery path, his breath catching in his lungs as he attempted to reach the place where his friends had fallen.
Aragorns head throbbed in pain his he tryed in vain to ease his eyes open. The first thing they set upon was a tiny dot of white light.
"Awaken ranger", Saruman drawled in his powerful voice, the tip of his sword gleaming in the rising sun.
Aragorn widened his eyes, and took in where he was for the first time. He viewed the darknened room as best he could in the fresh morning light. He recognised the voice, it's commanding nature domineering over his thoughts.
"Saruman!", he growled, edging towards his enemy.
He was almost within reach of the fiend, when his body could move no more. In anguish he raised his arms. They were attached to steel chains that bit deep into the stone wall of Saruman's dungeon. He tryed in vain to release himself from them, but their mocking laughter scuppered his attempts.
Saruman's lifted his lips into a set evil stare. "It is no use trying to free yourself from them ranger, they are bound deep in my chamber walls, not even my Uruk Hai can free themselves from them."Saruman gave a cold high laugh as Aragorn continued to rattle his bonds.
"Cease your pitifull attempts ranger, for they will do no good. There are orcs stationned outside this chamber, if you escape you shall only be returned.....but perhaps not in one piece."
Aragorn finally gave up, his firey nature simmered by the old wizard.
"Why did you bring me hear Saruman?", he questioned, his voice heavy with toil.
Saruman paused for a few seconds before replying, allowling Aragorn to look more closely around the dim room. His breath stuck in his throat as he observed the sickening sight around him. His companions were covered in blood, much like himself. And also much like himself, Gimli and Boromir were chained to the wall, their weapons rendered useless, strewn upon the floor. Then he realised what was missing-the bow was lying on the floor, the quiver of arrows spilled and trampled beyond all recognition.
"Legolas!", he cried,"Where is Legolas Saruman?!"
Saruman cackled with glee."You shall not view the elf again, for i need him not, at this very moment he awaits the torture i have planned for him-he will join my vast legion of orcs."
"No Saruman!", Aragorn cried,"You cannot do this! Free Legolas immediatly! And where praytell are the hobbits, for i hope what you have planned for them is swifter than what for Legolas!"
The smile on Saruman's face flickered. "I must keep the two hobbits alive", he said, spiting on aragorns blood sodden body,"For they know who bears the one ring-and i must have it!"
"Two hobbits?", breathed Aragorn quietly, not daring to speak aloud in case Saruman saw his glee,"Then who is missing?"
Then Aragorn raised his voice."I ask you again Saruman, why have you brought me here?"
Saruman locked eyes with Aragorn, the hatred for the smug ranger pouring from the depths of his very soul. "Trust me ranger, i would not have you within my fortress if i could prevent it, but as it happens, i need you."
Aragorn was astonished."You-need me? But you are the most powerfull wizard in middle earth, why do you need the help of a simple ranger?"
Saruman lashed out at Aragorn, his temper flaring."Do not mock me ranger, or surely i will destroy your friends, i need them not, only for a bargining tool. I know all about you, Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You are Isildurs heir, and heir to the throne of Gondor. You will weild the blade of Anduril in the fight for middle earth alongside my orcs, in the fight against Sauron, the prince of darkness."
"I do not understand Saruman", Aragorn said slowly,"You capture me to return to me my reforged blade. What trickery is this?"
"Imbicile!", Saruman cried, firing a jet of energy from his staff."You will weild the blade of Anduril for me, i cannot weild the blade myself, for two reasons. The dark lord must not know that betray him, he must be ever unsuspecting, until my asult can be mounted. And, you must be the one to destroy Sauron, it is with you that the hope of middle earth lies ranger."
Aragorn's eyes grew angry, as he realised Saruman's plan. "I will not fight for you Saruman!", he yelled with all the strength he could muster,"I will not fight for the one who seeks the ring of power of evil purposes. You would use the power of middle earth for evil Saruman. You would have your orcs rule over all, and i cannot allow that to happen. I will not fight for you", Aragorn spoke with such passion for justice in the world that even Saruman was impressed, even if only for a second.
"But you will fight for me ranger", Saruman's ice cold stare pentrated Aragorn's inner flesh,"You will fight with a newly improved Anduril by your side. You will fight for the realm of Saruman, against the existing dark lord, to instate a new dark lord!"
Aragorn's refusal drowned out Saruman's cackles."Never!", he cried,"I will not betray the faith of all those who trust me! You cannot force me to fight for you Saruman, and if i do not, then you shall lose! It is better to be destroyed be the existing dark lord, than to betray my friends and fight for one!"
"Very well ranger", Saruman's voice alight with mock sympathy,"I have asked you to fight for me, and you refuse. Now, i must bargain with you."
"Bargain?", Aragorn shook his head.
"Yes", Saruman nodded."If you fight for me then i shall not turn your elven friend into an orc. You cannot imagine the agony the elves go through when i torture them. Long before the end do they beg for death, but i do not deal in death, only in punishment."
"and if i do not fight for you?", Aragorn questioned.
"Then your friend Legolas shall be the latest recruit in the legions of my orcs. But your other friends shall not be forgotten, they shall forever serve me, they shall be my slaves until i give them death."
"That is no bargain Saruman!", cried Aragorn, bitterly wishing that he could drive his beloved Anduril through the heart of the evil wizard.
"The bargain stands!", Saruman cried,"you have until tomorrow's sunset to decide, and chose wisely Aragorn, for you elf friend may not last much longer."
Saruman cackled as he strode away to see the hobbits, he still needed the ring of power, Aragorn's chains spreading mocking laughter around the dungeon.
Merry lay still, under the stifling chest in Saruman's throne room. He could barely remember what had happened a few hours ago. His mind was awash with painfull memories. How he had managed to slip away from the Uruk Hai unoticed......well, that was a mystery to him. He could do nothing to help his friends, for he had had no weapon, and Sarumans's Uruk Hai had taken his friends to the dungeon. How he hoped they were alright, Saruman was not known for treating his prisoners well....
Suddenly, Merry heard a noise. Saruman appeared in the throne room, and sat upon his chair, thinking deeply about his marvellous plan.
"I must go and deal with that elf", he thought to himself, getting up once more from the beautifully carved chair, and pacing toward the chest that Merry lay under.
Opening the chest with extreme care, he retrieved Anduril from the bottom.
"Soon you will serve me, for in my heart, in know what Aragorn will choose to do. My spells are working, soon you shall be full of dark magic, dark enough for it to flow through the blood of the heir to the throne of Gondor. I will suceed."
Saruman closed the chest, and proceeded down the stone steps that led from the throne room down to the dungeons.
Merry drew breath.
"What am i going to do?", he said to himself urgently,"They need my help......and all i have is this stupid thing!", he felt the ring of power increasing it's weight as it hung uselessly around his neck. Then, he heard an agonising scream. "What....or who is that!", he said fearfully, but he could not move, for Saruman's orcs patrolled the out side of the room.
Down in the dungeon, Aragorn had also heard the scream.
"Legolas!", he cried, sobbing, for he was powerless to save his friend.
His worries increased, as the screams became louder.
"What am i going to do?", he whispered,"I'm running out of time!"
Then there was silence in the dungeon, for the agonising screams of the elf filled the night air.
Hope you enjoyed it, part 5 should be out tomorrow hopefully! please review! thanks!