Notations:
{thought}
\flashback/
[author insertion]
Chapter 7 |Turnabout is Fair Play|
He was lost — hopelessly so. For all he knew he'd been wandering around down here for days, or maybe just several hours. There was no way of knowing, down here in the dark.
He was hungry, thirsty, tired. He knew that much, at least, but not much more. His head was no longer ringing from the blow to the head they'd given him they took him. Filthy, disgusting orcs. They'd fed him, while they had him, even if it had been rancid. His cell had been nothing but a stinking hole, and the pair of goblins guarding him no less foul, as well as being some of the densest creatures he'd ever had the displeasure of encountering. The only redeeming thing about which had been how easy it had made his escape.
In the time he'd been down here, his vision had adjusted itself very well. He found himself thinking he could almost get used to life in the darkness. It couldn't be that bad, after all…
And as that disturbing revelation crossed his mind, his recent past began to repeat itself. He spun 'round and grabbed the girl, pinning her up against the wall. This time he managed to keep her there despite her struggles.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you now."
"You don't know the way out of here, for one."
Well, she did have a point.
"So you're offering to show me so you can trick me again, is that it?"
"Hmm, someone got smart." Her tone was mocking.
"Then how about you tell me the way out of here? Sounds like a much better plan of action to me."
"How about 'No'?"
She spat in his face, struggling to free herself again. When that didn't work, she bit him. Hard. Even that didn't do her any good, he just cursed and forced her back to the wall.
"Tell me, or I'll kill you. How's that sound to you?
From the way he said it, she assumed he was most likely quite serious. She couldn't overpower him, so it would be better to let him go than die trying to stop him.
She sighed, resigned. "Fine, this is how you get out…"
__________________
She could have lied to him, but for whatever reason, she hadn't. He shifted his awkward burden to keep a better balance as he pushed off the sewer cover and climbed up onto the street, grimacing. It was far too early in the morning for anyone to be out and about in this part of the city. All the same, he turned back into an alley before setting down his burden so he could rest. He regretted having to knock her out like that, but, come to think of it, it was only fair. She'd done much the same to him, after all.
Rested, he lifted her up once more and went on his way.
And he wondered, not for the first time, if it hadn't been such a good idea to bring her, after all.
{Elrond's gonna kill me for this…}
{thought}
\flashback/
[author insertion]
Chapter 7 |Turnabout is Fair Play|
He was lost — hopelessly so. For all he knew he'd been wandering around down here for days, or maybe just several hours. There was no way of knowing, down here in the dark.
He was hungry, thirsty, tired. He knew that much, at least, but not much more. His head was no longer ringing from the blow to the head they'd given him they took him. Filthy, disgusting orcs. They'd fed him, while they had him, even if it had been rancid. His cell had been nothing but a stinking hole, and the pair of goblins guarding him no less foul, as well as being some of the densest creatures he'd ever had the displeasure of encountering. The only redeeming thing about which had been how easy it had made his escape.
In the time he'd been down here, his vision had adjusted itself very well. He found himself thinking he could almost get used to life in the darkness. It couldn't be that bad, after all…
And as that disturbing revelation crossed his mind, his recent past began to repeat itself. He spun 'round and grabbed the girl, pinning her up against the wall. This time he managed to keep her there despite her struggles.
"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you now."
"You don't know the way out of here, for one."
Well, she did have a point.
"So you're offering to show me so you can trick me again, is that it?"
"Hmm, someone got smart." Her tone was mocking.
"Then how about you tell me the way out of here? Sounds like a much better plan of action to me."
"How about 'No'?"
She spat in his face, struggling to free herself again. When that didn't work, she bit him. Hard. Even that didn't do her any good, he just cursed and forced her back to the wall.
"Tell me, or I'll kill you. How's that sound to you?
From the way he said it, she assumed he was most likely quite serious. She couldn't overpower him, so it would be better to let him go than die trying to stop him.
She sighed, resigned. "Fine, this is how you get out…"
__________________
She could have lied to him, but for whatever reason, she hadn't. He shifted his awkward burden to keep a better balance as he pushed off the sewer cover and climbed up onto the street, grimacing. It was far too early in the morning for anyone to be out and about in this part of the city. All the same, he turned back into an alley before setting down his burden so he could rest. He regretted having to knock her out like that, but, come to think of it, it was only fair. She'd done much the same to him, after all.
Rested, he lifted her up once more and went on his way.
And he wondered, not for the first time, if it hadn't been such a good idea to bring her, after all.
{Elrond's gonna kill me for this…}