First of all thank you to da Twickstar, I luv fics with lil Aragorn growing up as well, and of course I won't abandon this story.  

Also thank you to Alaskantiger.

Please note I do not own these characters and places, apart from Maris, Athela and Iridan (I created them my self so please do not steal them), they belong to J.R.R Tolkien.

This is my second story, I have tried to stick to what J.R.R has already established however there is just one detail that I have changed to make it work better, in my story Gilraen died with Arathorn. Please R & R.

------------------------------ Celeb Nirnaeth -------------------------------

When she awoke she was in an orc tent. There were two orcs standing guard, and her arms and legs were tied. As she opened her eyes, she realised where she was.

"O so the maggots awake!"

"Get up scum!" He pulled her up on her feet, she struggled to keep her balance and fell because her feet were tied. This caused a round of laughter from the orcs. They stood jeering as she tried to get back up, but due to her hands being tied she again fell.

This time however she didn't try to get back up, she just lay with silent tears rolling down her cheeks. This caused the orcs to start kicking her, until she screamed in pain. After a while she passed out from the pain.

When she awoke she found that her legs and hands were untied, she was no longer in the tent. She was being carried by an orc; the whole camp appeared to be moving. She started to struggle, this caused the orc to tighten his grip and move faster, until they were at the front of the company.

"Sir, the maggots awake!"

"Good, put her on her feet, she can walk the rest of the way," and Maris found herself being thrown to the floor. She picked herself up, and came face to face with the 'Head' orc.

"Right you little maggot, my boys are getting tied. So you're gonna walk by yourself, and don't try any funny stuff!" he was so close she could smell his foul breath.

She nodded in reply, and he seemed satisfied. She started walking, but after a while she became tired and began to fall behind. She soon felt a sharp pain on the back of her leg as a whip connected with it.

"Move faster!"

She tried to increase her pace, but her little legs would go no faster and she gave a gasp of pain as the whip connected with it again. It went on like this for awhile, until eventually she could walk no further and she collapsed on the floor. This caused the orcs to start kicking her until once again she passed out.

When she next awoke she found she was in a tent, her hands and legs were still untied and the two orc guards were asleep. She silently crawled to the edge of the tent. It was night outside, and the only light was from the full moon that stood high in the sky. She looked up to it, "Oh please guide me to safety," she asked it, and she crept out of the tent. The whole camp was asleep, and she ran on her aching legs towards the small forest that stood nearby. As she ran she tripped over something, she pulled herself up, and turned to see what she had tripped over. It was an orc, and it was awake. It made a grab for her, and missing yelled to the rest of the company. She gave a scream and ran for all she was worth. "If I can just make it to the forest," she repeated to herself over and over. But she never made it; the orcs caught her and dragged her kicking and screaming back to the camp; where they began attacking her until she was screaming, and to Maris it seemed that it would go on forever. Until a voice rose above the rest;        

"That's enough! Bring her to me." The voice was harsh, and it made her blood run cold and she fought with the orc that carried her. She didn't know why, but she didn't want to meet this leader. But the more she struggled the tighter the grip was on her, until she had to bite her lip to stop herself screaming. When she was thrown to the floor, she made no attempt to get up, she just lay there willing whatever it was to leave her.

"Get up!" She closed her eyes and tried to look asleep, but he was not fooled.

"I said get up! Now do it!" Slowly she pulled herself up, keeping her eyes down, so she didn't have to look at it. But it seemed she didn't have a choice, a cold hand reached out and she felt its cruel touch as it pulled her up so she had to look at its face, the face that would haunt her dreams for many years to come.  

"Who do you think you are?" the orc asked in a mocking tone.

"I'm Princess Maris, daughter of Athela and Iridan," she replied boldly.

"No you're not, you're nobody," and he began beating her, "you're a worthless maggot," he spat the words out. "Who are you?"

"Maris," she replied, but this time it was weak, as though she only have believed it.

"I said you're nobody!" and he beat her again, this time more roughly and fiercer. She didn't scream she didn't have the energy, instead she whimpered; "please don't hurt me, please," but he just continued, even after she was knocked unconscious.