Author ~ Halo Son
Rating ~ R
Disclaimer ~ How many times must I say I don't own Lord of the Rings?! The characters Trelan, Raniean, Celboril and Moranuen are made up characters belonging to Cassia and Sio and they gave me permission to use them in my story, so DO NOT steal them! Also Avellana and Zorro belong to me, as well as several other made up characters.
Author's Note ~ This is the final story in the trilogy. I hope everyone likes it and thinks it is a good closing from the trilogy, I think it is.
Summary ~ The sequel to 'Darkness Haunting.' Just when things start to become calm again, Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir are thrown into the deep end when they discover Aragorn has disappeared from Rivendell. Fearing the human has gone to find the demon, Muerte, and kill him once and for all for vengeance, Legolas hurries to find him with Elladan and Elrohir close behind. But as they get closer to the shadow of the demon, could the call of vengeance become too strong for any of them to resist?
WARNING ~ This fic contains accounts of torture and violent/tesne situations. If you don't like those kind of fics, DO NOT read this story. And another thing, there is absolutely NO romance in this story, got it? Not only is this story, like the two before it, dark and angsty, but I can't write romance to save my life!
The Lord Of The Rings
The Call Of Vengeance
Chapter 3-An Unwelcome Return
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stand up for what you know to be right
Stand up for what you know to be true
Don't walk in the path
Of that shadow any longer
It's time to break free
From the pain and the sorrow
It's time to set things right
And make amends for the past
Just let your courage guide you
Now is the time to stand up
For what you believe in
-------- Halo Son
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night air was cold and unsettled.
His black hair danced away from his face in the wind's drift. Naught but a small sigh passed his lips and even then only the breeze heard him.
"You risk a lot coming out here."
Lazo walked up from behind and stood next to Aragorn, both eyes meeting for a fleeting moment.
"It is only a brief pause before I continue my set path." The man replied.
"You would travel tonight?" The light haired youth raised a concerned eyebrow. "You have not yet healed and you wish to continue your perilous path to find this demon? You are in no shape to fight."
"Perhaps, but I cannot stay. I have over stayed my welcome, not that I ever was welcome."
"Is it true?" Lazo asked. "What you told Avellana about the demon, is it true?"
"That is how I became to be known as Elmorn, though I understand if you do not believe me." The ranger replied.
"I do not know what to believe." Lazo replied with a heavy sigh. "I know there is much evil in the shadows of all the lands that could do such things, but I also know of men's weakness to power and greed."
"Yes…I too know of those weaknesses." Aragorn turned his head away. "More than you could know."
Lazo stared at the man watching how the pale glimmer of the moonlight highlighted his features and yet curiously cast a shadow around them at the same time.
"For now I will call you not a friend…yet nor an enemy. Do not force me to choose between the two. I have no desire to kill, but I will to protect the home I care for." He turned his head up to the stars then glanced back at Aragorn. "May you find the light you are searching for…Strider."
Aragorn turned and gazed at the youth and with a smile he nodded his thanks.
As Lazo returned the smile, there was a piercing cry and both the men spun around. Not a second later there was an all too familiar battle cry and the screams of innocent people.
Luzo's eyes were wide in fear and disbelief, "No…NO! NO NOT AGAIN!" He dived into a sprint towards his village home, Aragorn following fast on his heels.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Avellana was backed into a corner, an ugly orc towering over her with its dagger raised.
Avellana heard herself scream, but the fatal blow never came.
A harsh battle cry ringed in the girl's ears and a sword edge burst through the stomach of the orc. It shrieked and fell down dead before it hit the floor, revealing Zorro standing over it with a look of rage and disgust on his face.
"Stay away from my sister!" He growled in a venomous tone.
Zorro jumped to his sister's side and helped her to her feet, taking her wrist and dragging her out of their home.
"Come on Avellana! I have to get you away from here!"
"I won't leave you brother!"
"Now is not the time!" He snapped, leading his precious sister to their horses. "Get on Cielo now! I'll guide you to the far side of the village where you will escape with the others!"
Shaking in fear Avellana climbed on Cielo's back as her brother mounted Halcon.
The entire village was under attack by a huge army of orcs, just like it had been under a year ago.
"I'll kill him when I find him!" Zorro snarled under his breath.
"Zorro!"
Zorro and Avellana turned amongst the chaos and spotted Sueno speeding towards them, Lazo and Aragorn upon her back. Zorro's eyes narrowed.
As Sueno drew up next to Halcon, Zorro dived from his steed and forcefully pushed Aragorn off Lazo's mount, pinning him to the ground and pulling a small dagger from his right boot and holding it to the man's neck.
"I knew you would do this if you came back here, if you were allowed to live!"
"Zorro!" Avellana cried.
"Zorro listen to me!" Lazo yelled, jumping down and grabbing his friend's shoulders. "Strider was with me the whole time! I saw him leave earlier and followed him! He could not have done this!"
"Perhaps the orcs came back looking for their master!" Zorro replied bitterly.
"Or perhaps it was someone who ordered the orcs to retrieve their master."
The new voice that had entered this argument made Aragorn's blood run cold.
No…it couldn't be…
But he knew that voice all too painfully well.
Zorro jumped to his feet, Lazo spun around and Avellana screeched. Forcing himself into a sitting position, Aragorn clearly saw the one person he was dreading to see.
Muerte.
The human sized demon smirked at the shocked expression on Aragorn face and laughed mockingly.
"Surprised to see me Elmorn?" He took a step forward. "I was getting worried about you my pet, so I came to find you."
Aragorn's heartbeat was racing and his breathing came in short and raspy gasps. The demon was simply toying with him. He had known all along what had happened to him and had been biding his time to strike and he was using it all as an excuse to kill more people.
Fear was replaced with rage.
This was exactly the kind of thing Aragorn had been hoping to avoid, that was why he had chosen the path alone and why he wanted to leave quickly from the village.
"And why do you all look shocked?" Muerte glowered at the young humans. "Did you really believe that my little captive was capable of doing something like this alone? You are all fools! I ordered the attack on this same village under a year ago to test Elmorn's abilities. He is nothing more than my slave." His eyes focused on Aragorn. "Elmorn, kill these weaklings!"
Aragorn got to his feet and slowly he took his sword from its sheath and then looked at the demon.
"No."
Zorro turned and looked at the black haired man. He could not help but stare in awe as the tall human stepped forward, placing himself between them and the demon.
"No?" Muerte raised an eyebrow.
"I will not follow in your shadow Muerte." Aragorn's voice was bitter and harsh, but held strong with pride. "You cannot control me any longer. If you want me then come and claim me, but leave these innocent people out of your malice. You have already caused them much suffering."
Zorro, Avellana and Lazo stared with wide eyes.
If they weren't shocked enough by the real truth of Aragorn's involvement in the attack on their village the first time around, they were more so by the ranger's actions.
He was defending them, protecting them even. Zorro never thought he would witness it, yet that was exactly what was happening. All hatred towards Aragorn seemed to lift in an instant and instead was placed on the demon.
Muerte then threw back his head and laughed devilishly.
"Very well then Elmorn." The demon struck Aragorn across his jaw with a brutal force, sending the man to the ground. "You have chosen death!"
With a cry of anger Lazo leapt forward, sword in hand towards the demon. Muerte simply snarled at the younger man and swiped his claws against his chest, also sending him crashing to the ground.
As Avellana screamed in horror, Zorro took his blade from its sheath. His eyes narrowed in sheer determination as he watched the demon conjure up his own sword and not a moment later the young man engaged with the enemy.
"Avellana!" Zorro yelled as the two blades clashed together. "Leave! Get out of here!"
Avellana was crying as she held Lazo's head to her chest, watching the young man struggling to breathe. The claws of the demon had badly slashed Lazo's chest and blood was running freely from the wounds.
The young girl quickly gathered her friend into her arms and though she struggled to carry him, she managed to drape him across Cielo's back. Once she pulled herself on to her horse's back, she urged the mare into a full gallop away from the battle and towards where other innocent people were running into the trees, turning her head only once to see her brother still fighting the demon that had taken so much from them.
"Please live dear brother, come back to me soon!" She whispered through her tears as she and her village folk disappeared into the trees.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn briefly rubbed his jaw before staggering to his feet and darting forward to join the battle between Zorro and Muerte.
He reached the sword-fighting pair just as Muerte shoved Zorro to the ground. Taking the young man's place in the fight, Aragorn brought down his own sword against the demon's.
"You dare to challenge me?" Muerte sneered at the human.
"I will do what I must to end your terror." Aragorn replied in a bitter resonance.
The two beings pulled away from each other only for a second before their weapons collided once more in a furious assault against the other.
After a few minutes of the two exchanging blows, Muerte jumped back with lightening like speed, sneering in a mocking fashion at Aragorn as Zorro ran next to the human.
"Zorro, I would suggest you follow your sister and leave."
"No, not until I see all the orcs and the demon dead."
"This is not your battle."
"My people have been divided, my friends and family have been hurt or worse, killed, and you tell me this isn't my fight? It is mine just as much as it is yours." Zorro's eyes glanced at Aragorn. "Besides, it is time to fight the real enemy and you cannot do it alone." The two exchanged glances. "You need not do it alone."
A small, grim smile tugged at the ranger's lips and he gave a curt nod.
Muerte snarled at the two humans opposing him, but focused his narrow eyes on Aragorn.
"You really think you can defeat me?"
The demon raised his sword, but never got the chance to use it.
Not a second later Muerte screamed in pain as an arrow embedded itself in his shoulder. He turned his head and glared at two more humans riding on horse back towards him.
"Viento! Alma!" Zorro cried in relief at the sight of his two friends. They were both covered with dirt and their garments ripped in places and apart from a few scraps they looked otherwise unhurt.
Both the young warrior had their bows in hand, arrows readily notched at the enraged demon.
Muerte turned his head and stole a smug glare at Aragorn before bolting to the side, towards some burning buildings and didn't hesitate for a second to plunge into one.
"What in valar is he doing?!" Viento yelled above the roaring flames as he and the others approached the fire filled house.
"Attempting escape like a coward!" Zorro growled in fury, suddenly hastening forward.
Aragorn swiftly grabbed the youth's arm tightly, "Do not follow him! You cannot!"
"I thought you wanted him dead!" Zorro bit back sharply, yanking his arm from Aragorn's grip. "I will not allow him to escape!" He continued his course, despite Aragorn's yells.
The ranger cursed under his breath and followed the younger man into the burning dwelling, shield his arm over his eyes. Viento and Alma yelled in protest and wanted to follow, but they knew there was nothing they could do.
"Zorro!" Aragorn cried out above the roaring blaze. "Zorro come back!"
Through the bright jumping sparks of energy and fire, Aragorn could just make out the faint outline of the young human he sought and took a step towards him.
That was when he heard a low groan and his head instantly jolted upwards.
The structure of the building was failing and as if to prove the point, a large wooden beam with fire swirling around it broke from its place and down straight towards Zorro.
Aragorn's eyes widened and before his mind knew what he was doing, he leapt forward towards the youth.
"ZORRO!!!!"
There was an almighty crash and Aragorn's world fell into darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viento and Alma jumped back in surprise as the building tumbled in on itself. Alma gaped in shock while Viento jumped to his feet and screamed Zorro's name, unwillingly to believe what he had just seen and what it meant.
"Zorro! Zorro!"
Alma stumbled to his feet and grabbed one of Viento's arms, trying to hold him back.
"Let me go Alma!"
"No! I can't let you…"
Viento's words were cut off by a faint moan. The two young men snapped their heads to the left and saw a hand under some of the burnt ruins, fortunately it was some of wreckage that wasn't still on fire.
Alma and Viento dashed over and began pulling the debris off the trapped person and discovered it was Zorro.
His face was pale and scratched and his clothes torn.
Before the two young friends could continue to free their trapped companion, there was a cruel laugh and they both turned around.
Muerte stood there sneering at them, Aragorn's limp form draped across his right shoulder with his clawed hands holding the man tightly in place against him.
"Now that I have rightfully reclaimed what is mine, I will leave you."
The demon looked over at his orc troops, signalling them into a satisfied retreat and as swiftly as they had come, Muerte and the orcs vanished into the icy night.
Alma and Viento looked at each other in frozen trauma, their bodies shaking and their spiked breath visible against the night air.
Their village home was in ruins again, their friends and family were scattered and undoubtedly injured…
…and Aragorn has been taken by the enemy…
TBC…
(A/N ~ I'm REALLY sorry it's taken me so long to post this chapter, but I've been very sick recently and haven't had much time to do it. Please dun kill me for the cliffie…I'll get out more soon I promise!)
Rating ~ R
Disclaimer ~ How many times must I say I don't own Lord of the Rings?! The characters Trelan, Raniean, Celboril and Moranuen are made up characters belonging to Cassia and Sio and they gave me permission to use them in my story, so DO NOT steal them! Also Avellana and Zorro belong to me, as well as several other made up characters.
Author's Note ~ This is the final story in the trilogy. I hope everyone likes it and thinks it is a good closing from the trilogy, I think it is.
Summary ~ The sequel to 'Darkness Haunting.' Just when things start to become calm again, Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir are thrown into the deep end when they discover Aragorn has disappeared from Rivendell. Fearing the human has gone to find the demon, Muerte, and kill him once and for all for vengeance, Legolas hurries to find him with Elladan and Elrohir close behind. But as they get closer to the shadow of the demon, could the call of vengeance become too strong for any of them to resist?
WARNING ~ This fic contains accounts of torture and violent/tesne situations. If you don't like those kind of fics, DO NOT read this story. And another thing, there is absolutely NO romance in this story, got it? Not only is this story, like the two before it, dark and angsty, but I can't write romance to save my life!
The Lord Of The Rings
The Call Of Vengeance
Chapter 3-An Unwelcome Return
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Stand up for what you know to be right
Stand up for what you know to be true
Don't walk in the path
Of that shadow any longer
It's time to break free
From the pain and the sorrow
It's time to set things right
And make amends for the past
Just let your courage guide you
Now is the time to stand up
For what you believe in
-------- Halo Son
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The night air was cold and unsettled.
His black hair danced away from his face in the wind's drift. Naught but a small sigh passed his lips and even then only the breeze heard him.
"You risk a lot coming out here."
Lazo walked up from behind and stood next to Aragorn, both eyes meeting for a fleeting moment.
"It is only a brief pause before I continue my set path." The man replied.
"You would travel tonight?" The light haired youth raised a concerned eyebrow. "You have not yet healed and you wish to continue your perilous path to find this demon? You are in no shape to fight."
"Perhaps, but I cannot stay. I have over stayed my welcome, not that I ever was welcome."
"Is it true?" Lazo asked. "What you told Avellana about the demon, is it true?"
"That is how I became to be known as Elmorn, though I understand if you do not believe me." The ranger replied.
"I do not know what to believe." Lazo replied with a heavy sigh. "I know there is much evil in the shadows of all the lands that could do such things, but I also know of men's weakness to power and greed."
"Yes…I too know of those weaknesses." Aragorn turned his head away. "More than you could know."
Lazo stared at the man watching how the pale glimmer of the moonlight highlighted his features and yet curiously cast a shadow around them at the same time.
"For now I will call you not a friend…yet nor an enemy. Do not force me to choose between the two. I have no desire to kill, but I will to protect the home I care for." He turned his head up to the stars then glanced back at Aragorn. "May you find the light you are searching for…Strider."
Aragorn turned and gazed at the youth and with a smile he nodded his thanks.
As Lazo returned the smile, there was a piercing cry and both the men spun around. Not a second later there was an all too familiar battle cry and the screams of innocent people.
Luzo's eyes were wide in fear and disbelief, "No…NO! NO NOT AGAIN!" He dived into a sprint towards his village home, Aragorn following fast on his heels.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Avellana was backed into a corner, an ugly orc towering over her with its dagger raised.
Avellana heard herself scream, but the fatal blow never came.
A harsh battle cry ringed in the girl's ears and a sword edge burst through the stomach of the orc. It shrieked and fell down dead before it hit the floor, revealing Zorro standing over it with a look of rage and disgust on his face.
"Stay away from my sister!" He growled in a venomous tone.
Zorro jumped to his sister's side and helped her to her feet, taking her wrist and dragging her out of their home.
"Come on Avellana! I have to get you away from here!"
"I won't leave you brother!"
"Now is not the time!" He snapped, leading his precious sister to their horses. "Get on Cielo now! I'll guide you to the far side of the village where you will escape with the others!"
Shaking in fear Avellana climbed on Cielo's back as her brother mounted Halcon.
The entire village was under attack by a huge army of orcs, just like it had been under a year ago.
"I'll kill him when I find him!" Zorro snarled under his breath.
"Zorro!"
Zorro and Avellana turned amongst the chaos and spotted Sueno speeding towards them, Lazo and Aragorn upon her back. Zorro's eyes narrowed.
As Sueno drew up next to Halcon, Zorro dived from his steed and forcefully pushed Aragorn off Lazo's mount, pinning him to the ground and pulling a small dagger from his right boot and holding it to the man's neck.
"I knew you would do this if you came back here, if you were allowed to live!"
"Zorro!" Avellana cried.
"Zorro listen to me!" Lazo yelled, jumping down and grabbing his friend's shoulders. "Strider was with me the whole time! I saw him leave earlier and followed him! He could not have done this!"
"Perhaps the orcs came back looking for their master!" Zorro replied bitterly.
"Or perhaps it was someone who ordered the orcs to retrieve their master."
The new voice that had entered this argument made Aragorn's blood run cold.
No…it couldn't be…
But he knew that voice all too painfully well.
Zorro jumped to his feet, Lazo spun around and Avellana screeched. Forcing himself into a sitting position, Aragorn clearly saw the one person he was dreading to see.
Muerte.
The human sized demon smirked at the shocked expression on Aragorn face and laughed mockingly.
"Surprised to see me Elmorn?" He took a step forward. "I was getting worried about you my pet, so I came to find you."
Aragorn's heartbeat was racing and his breathing came in short and raspy gasps. The demon was simply toying with him. He had known all along what had happened to him and had been biding his time to strike and he was using it all as an excuse to kill more people.
Fear was replaced with rage.
This was exactly the kind of thing Aragorn had been hoping to avoid, that was why he had chosen the path alone and why he wanted to leave quickly from the village.
"And why do you all look shocked?" Muerte glowered at the young humans. "Did you really believe that my little captive was capable of doing something like this alone? You are all fools! I ordered the attack on this same village under a year ago to test Elmorn's abilities. He is nothing more than my slave." His eyes focused on Aragorn. "Elmorn, kill these weaklings!"
Aragorn got to his feet and slowly he took his sword from its sheath and then looked at the demon.
"No."
Zorro turned and looked at the black haired man. He could not help but stare in awe as the tall human stepped forward, placing himself between them and the demon.
"No?" Muerte raised an eyebrow.
"I will not follow in your shadow Muerte." Aragorn's voice was bitter and harsh, but held strong with pride. "You cannot control me any longer. If you want me then come and claim me, but leave these innocent people out of your malice. You have already caused them much suffering."
Zorro, Avellana and Lazo stared with wide eyes.
If they weren't shocked enough by the real truth of Aragorn's involvement in the attack on their village the first time around, they were more so by the ranger's actions.
He was defending them, protecting them even. Zorro never thought he would witness it, yet that was exactly what was happening. All hatred towards Aragorn seemed to lift in an instant and instead was placed on the demon.
Muerte then threw back his head and laughed devilishly.
"Very well then Elmorn." The demon struck Aragorn across his jaw with a brutal force, sending the man to the ground. "You have chosen death!"
With a cry of anger Lazo leapt forward, sword in hand towards the demon. Muerte simply snarled at the younger man and swiped his claws against his chest, also sending him crashing to the ground.
As Avellana screamed in horror, Zorro took his blade from its sheath. His eyes narrowed in sheer determination as he watched the demon conjure up his own sword and not a moment later the young man engaged with the enemy.
"Avellana!" Zorro yelled as the two blades clashed together. "Leave! Get out of here!"
Avellana was crying as she held Lazo's head to her chest, watching the young man struggling to breathe. The claws of the demon had badly slashed Lazo's chest and blood was running freely from the wounds.
The young girl quickly gathered her friend into her arms and though she struggled to carry him, she managed to drape him across Cielo's back. Once she pulled herself on to her horse's back, she urged the mare into a full gallop away from the battle and towards where other innocent people were running into the trees, turning her head only once to see her brother still fighting the demon that had taken so much from them.
"Please live dear brother, come back to me soon!" She whispered through her tears as she and her village folk disappeared into the trees.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Aragorn briefly rubbed his jaw before staggering to his feet and darting forward to join the battle between Zorro and Muerte.
He reached the sword-fighting pair just as Muerte shoved Zorro to the ground. Taking the young man's place in the fight, Aragorn brought down his own sword against the demon's.
"You dare to challenge me?" Muerte sneered at the human.
"I will do what I must to end your terror." Aragorn replied in a bitter resonance.
The two beings pulled away from each other only for a second before their weapons collided once more in a furious assault against the other.
After a few minutes of the two exchanging blows, Muerte jumped back with lightening like speed, sneering in a mocking fashion at Aragorn as Zorro ran next to the human.
"Zorro, I would suggest you follow your sister and leave."
"No, not until I see all the orcs and the demon dead."
"This is not your battle."
"My people have been divided, my friends and family have been hurt or worse, killed, and you tell me this isn't my fight? It is mine just as much as it is yours." Zorro's eyes glanced at Aragorn. "Besides, it is time to fight the real enemy and you cannot do it alone." The two exchanged glances. "You need not do it alone."
A small, grim smile tugged at the ranger's lips and he gave a curt nod.
Muerte snarled at the two humans opposing him, but focused his narrow eyes on Aragorn.
"You really think you can defeat me?"
The demon raised his sword, but never got the chance to use it.
Not a second later Muerte screamed in pain as an arrow embedded itself in his shoulder. He turned his head and glared at two more humans riding on horse back towards him.
"Viento! Alma!" Zorro cried in relief at the sight of his two friends. They were both covered with dirt and their garments ripped in places and apart from a few scraps they looked otherwise unhurt.
Both the young warrior had their bows in hand, arrows readily notched at the enraged demon.
Muerte turned his head and stole a smug glare at Aragorn before bolting to the side, towards some burning buildings and didn't hesitate for a second to plunge into one.
"What in valar is he doing?!" Viento yelled above the roaring flames as he and the others approached the fire filled house.
"Attempting escape like a coward!" Zorro growled in fury, suddenly hastening forward.
Aragorn swiftly grabbed the youth's arm tightly, "Do not follow him! You cannot!"
"I thought you wanted him dead!" Zorro bit back sharply, yanking his arm from Aragorn's grip. "I will not allow him to escape!" He continued his course, despite Aragorn's yells.
The ranger cursed under his breath and followed the younger man into the burning dwelling, shield his arm over his eyes. Viento and Alma yelled in protest and wanted to follow, but they knew there was nothing they could do.
"Zorro!" Aragorn cried out above the roaring blaze. "Zorro come back!"
Through the bright jumping sparks of energy and fire, Aragorn could just make out the faint outline of the young human he sought and took a step towards him.
That was when he heard a low groan and his head instantly jolted upwards.
The structure of the building was failing and as if to prove the point, a large wooden beam with fire swirling around it broke from its place and down straight towards Zorro.
Aragorn's eyes widened and before his mind knew what he was doing, he leapt forward towards the youth.
"ZORRO!!!!"
There was an almighty crash and Aragorn's world fell into darkness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Viento and Alma jumped back in surprise as the building tumbled in on itself. Alma gaped in shock while Viento jumped to his feet and screamed Zorro's name, unwillingly to believe what he had just seen and what it meant.
"Zorro! Zorro!"
Alma stumbled to his feet and grabbed one of Viento's arms, trying to hold him back.
"Let me go Alma!"
"No! I can't let you…"
Viento's words were cut off by a faint moan. The two young men snapped their heads to the left and saw a hand under some of the burnt ruins, fortunately it was some of wreckage that wasn't still on fire.
Alma and Viento dashed over and began pulling the debris off the trapped person and discovered it was Zorro.
His face was pale and scratched and his clothes torn.
Before the two young friends could continue to free their trapped companion, there was a cruel laugh and they both turned around.
Muerte stood there sneering at them, Aragorn's limp form draped across his right shoulder with his clawed hands holding the man tightly in place against him.
"Now that I have rightfully reclaimed what is mine, I will leave you."
The demon looked over at his orc troops, signalling them into a satisfied retreat and as swiftly as they had come, Muerte and the orcs vanished into the icy night.
Alma and Viento looked at each other in frozen trauma, their bodies shaking and their spiked breath visible against the night air.
Their village home was in ruins again, their friends and family were scattered and undoubtedly injured…
…and Aragorn has been taken by the enemy…
TBC…
(A/N ~ I'm REALLY sorry it's taken me so long to post this chapter, but I've been very sick recently and haven't had much time to do it. Please dun kill me for the cliffie…I'll get out more soon I promise!)