Quite Sad, Really

by Sidh Ceili

This, my first fanfic, is dedicated to Peter Jackson and all who made the LOTR movies. Thank you. This story is also, in a small way, a homage to the story “Grendel” by John Gardner who reminds us that all creatures, however monstrous, have a mother.

5. QS chapter 5

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Newmoon. It did start out as that one chapter but the more I wrote, the more she told me.

Chapter V

Sleep has bought back memories from this place. The Trollway has signs. Look for the signs. Here, the way the wall comes out and in and out and round. I see it now. The old home of Trollen. There were many once but now, like Mama's kin, we dwindle and wane. Maggots, squeakers. They kill us and they grow. Now they will wane. They will die by claw and stick. I have the old secret way now. They do not know this place. Too deep for them. If I come back from the Blackland I will live here and catch them and kill them until I die.

                                                            oOo

I do not know how far it is. All I ever hear is the sound of the water at the edge of the road. The fishes are harder to catch than squeakers but better to eat.

                                                            oOo

This path… this path will take me to the Firemountain. We once went freely there. If Mama had not taken him away, Papa would have fought with the maggots there. Where have all the Trollen gone? Have they all been taken?

I must go slowly now. Stay quiet. Something mov- "Aiiii!" A trap.

I am caged. Every step I have taken has been to no good end. When they come to get me I will kill as many as I can but there will, as like as not, be too many. Like maggots on meat they are. Always I have thought of them thus. They wiggle and squirm like maggots when I catch them.

I can't see them or hear them but I can smell them although not clearly. This place stinks of maggot and firestone all mixed together, it stings my nose. They will come but I will kill them before they chain me. Why do they not come? I am ready.

Maybe they mean to starve me so I become weak. Well I still have the claw. The claw! Ai, I am slow in the head. Yes, it rends the bars. It is hard work but I can do it. They will come before I can do this. Why do they not come?

I see how this cage falls. I made it fall as I walked upon it. The cage falls when the rope is caught. I can not… yes. Better to pull the cage back up. Maybe they do not know I am here.