Chapter 5
Onward to DestinyKay came unwillingly and groaning awake, it was almost dawn. Somehow, she was lying in her bedroll near an almost burnt-out fire. She couldn't remember how she had gotten there. She was in a cave; morning sunlight illuminated the dark. Kay looked to her right. There sat Garak, his eyes closed, and his face was stern, even in sleep. Kay smiled, he had watched over her through the night. She shook her head at this thought, and promptly regretted it as dull pain thudded in her skull. Kay couldn't stop the groan that escaped her lips. Garak came instantly awake at the small sound, his dark eyes looking down at the girl. 'Her head must be hurting her,' he thought.
"About time you woke up," he rumbled and got to his feet, moving over to the dying fire. He brought back a cup full of steaming liquid. "The Ranger made this, says it should help with the pain. Drink," he ordered, holding out the cup. Kay raised herself on one elbow and took the cup. She sniffed it and wrinkled her nose in distaste. Garak barked a laugh and Kay glared up at him. The Uruk stood above her, menacingly as she drank the foul brew. Kay gagged and coughed but she drank the whole thing, knowing that either Garak or Aragorn would shove it down her throat if she did not. She handed the cup back to Garak who grunted his approval.
"Kay! You're awake!" and she was suddenly smothered by a happy bundle of hobbit. Kay laughed and rolled Pippin onto his back, tickling him mercilessly. Pippin laughed and struggled weakly against her attack. By now the other hobbits, Legolas and Gimli had gathered around them. Garak watched them with dark eyes, watching Kay laugh and tickle the young halfling.
Garak felt something twinge inside him, something new and strange. He wasn't sure that he liked the new feeling. He growled low and went outside the cave. It was a chill morning, but the sun was bright. Unlike his cousins, he could stand the sun's rays, but it brought him no joy. What is did bring him was vague memories of a time forgot; of someone he used to be. The wind whipped his long, dark hair into his face; it was tangled and coarse. He growled, angrily and pushed the strands away.
"She is quite remarkable, isn't she?" a voice behind and to his right made Garak jump. It was the wizard, the enemy of Sarumon. He sat on a rock, smoking a pipe as if talking to a Uruk-hai in the morning was the most common thing in the world.
"I do not know what you are talking about," Garak replied in his rumbling low voice. The corner of Gandalf's lip curled, but not in a sneer.
"Young Kaylen," he waved a hand at the cave. "We picked her up about a week or two ago and she just integrated herself with our little rag-tag group. She does bring a certain…light and carefree mood, doesn't she?" said the old man. Garak snorted.
"If you mean acting like an incompetent fool and a child, then yes," he replied, stiffly. Gandalf sighed and stood. He tapped his pipe against the stone and tucked into its place on his staff.
"She is neither a fool nor a child, she is a bright and courageous young woman who showed you kindness when no one else would," Gandalf said, watching the Uruk with a strangely serious look. The wizard came close to Garak and he could feel an otherworldly power radiating from the frail-looking body. "I know what has passed between you, and it may she saved your soul as well as your life," he said softly. Gandalf turned away and entered the cave before Garak could answer. Garak stood there, stunned. The wizard knew about the blood?
Garak shook his head and went back into the cave; the others were packed up and ready to continue. The Uruk grabbed a pack still on the floor, ignoring the looks from the others, and he exited once again. That day was spent walking toward the Gap of Rohan, under the shadow of Caradhras. They stopped for a midday break, and ate some dried meats that Aragorn brought with him. Boromir worked with Merry and Pippin on using their long knives. Aragorn took Kay aside, showing her the proper way to hold her longer knife. It was more of a short sword on closer examination, and he taught her basic parrying and thrusts. In a short while, they sparred, and Kay actually managed to score a "hit" against the Ranger.
Garak watched the mock fight, surprising himself when he felt pride as the girl struck a hit against the man. Kay whooped and grinned, she turned and caught the Uruk watching her. She smiled up at him, where he sat on a white rock keeping watch. She waved at him with her blade.
"You better watch out, Garak, pretty soon I may even be able to beat you!" she called, winking. Garak grinned horribly, revealing his sharp canines.
"When you can beat me, girl, I will kiss a goblin," he growled back at her. Kay laughed, then cried out when Aragorn snuck up on her, sweeping her feet from under her, causing her to crash to the ground.
"Fight's not over, child! Never take your eyes off your opponent," he smiled smugly down at her. Kay half-smiled back, a secret glint in her eyes. Before he knew it, Aragorn was on the ground as well; Kay's blade pressed to his throat, the girl straddling his chest. Now it was her turn to look smug.
"Well, Aragorn, it seems our positions are switched," she said, "Ah, the things you learn while street fighting. What are you going to do now, oh teacher of mine?" she laughed. Aragorn grinned at the girl, knowing she had no idea how open her right flank was. He raised his hands in surrender.
"A good warrior always knows when he is bested, my lady," he said with mock seriousness. Kay 'hmfed' and got off of the man, tucking her blade into its sheath.
"Don't call me that, I sure as hell ain't no lady," she said in a low voice. Aragorn got to his feet as well, re-sheathing his own sword. He ruffled her short hair, earning himself a snap of her teeth at his hand. "What is with everyone's fascination with my hair?" she asked, flailing her hands in the air. Aragorn didn't answer, just chuckled and went over to join Frodo and Sam who were watching the other two hobbits wrestle on the ground with Boromir. Garak watched Kay out of the corner of his eye; the girl stretched her arms high above her head. Kay joined the Uruk-hai on his chosen rock, leaning against it, looking up at him.
"Well?" she asked after a while. He looked down at her, raising one eyebrow.
"Well what?" he returned. Kay groaned, dropping her head to almost hit the stone. She sighed and raised her head again, cocking it to one side, looking at him.
"Oh come on! I wasn't that bad, was I? It was, like, my first time. A little affirmation here, Garak," she said, exasperated. The Uruk smiled, inwardly. So, she was looking for a compliment from him, huh?
"You always leave your left flank open to attack, and you put too much weight on your leading foot. Your wrist is too loose and could break if the attack was right. Also, if he had wanted to, he could have scored a kill against you on the ground," he answered. Kay's mouth dropped open.
"What?! Garak, ok, not all of us have lived all of our lives battling," she said, glaring at him. The glowering look she was giving him almost made Garak laugh.
"The move you pulled on him, though, was quite…effective," he added. Kay groaned again, this time using it to try and cover over her grin. She shook a finger at him.
"You better watch it, Mr. Uruk-hai, you're starting to get a sense of humor, you might actually crack a real smile!" she gasped, theatrically, and Garak aimed a 'thwack' at her head. Kay ducked, laughing, hopping away from his rock.
"Garak!" a voice caught his attention, and suddenly a sword was thrown at him. Reflexively, he caught it, looking over to Aragorn who had thrown the blade. He smiled. "I picked it up from the orcs we fought, I thought you may be able to use it. Sorry I don't have yours, it was left behind when we found you. Garak examined the blade, it was like the ones he and the other Uruks use, but a bit lighter, it would suffice. He nodded to the Ranger and strapped it to his broad back.
"Crebain from Dunland!" the elf cried, and he turned. Sure enough, a huge flock of the black birds flew in their direction.
"Hide!" said Aragorn and they all dove for cover, dowsing the fire and grabbing packs. Garak blended in with some bushes nearby, he automatically looked to where Kay was hidden with Legolas. She watched the birds that flew overhead, then locked eyes with him. These were the spies of Sarumon, his creator. The crebain flew off, back in the direction of Isenguard and the fellowship came out of their hiding. Boromir, Aragorn and Gandalf discussed where to go next, since the passage south was guarded. Kay joined Garak as he stood in brooding silence.
"Garak? Are you ok?" she asked, in a hushed voice. The Uruk looked down at the girl, his dark eyes sparking in suppressed anger. Kay bit her lip but did not move away; another point for her. "You're out of his power now, Garak, he cant touch you," she said.
"I know, I just want to piece of that little shit-bag, make him know the torment I know," he growled. Kay nodded and said no more. Finally, Gandalf announced that they would try the Pass of Caradhras, the huge, snowy peak above them. Kay looked up at the towering mountain and spoke under her breath, but Garak heard her.
"I hope everyone packed their thermal underwear," she said. Garak chuckled, and she looked up at him surprised. She had never heard the Uruk chuckle before, and the sound was …well, odd. Not in a bad way, but Garak didn't look the type to be laughing. She shrugged it off and gathered her things, as they headed toward the great mountain.