The Traveler: Chapter Sixteen
Ariana couldn't tell if she was going in the right direction, but she continued on as straight as she could. Her feet pounding against the ground as she ducked under a tree branch. She actually felt terrified, more scared then she'd ever felt. It was probably the fact that Legolas had shown fear that Ariana was most afraid of. She'd always figured there was nothing in Middle Earth that the elf couldn't handle. She was wrong.
Ariana stopped for a second to catch her breath. The House should be around here somewhere. She looked around and saw a light a few yards ahead. She grinned and started to jog towards the house. She didn't know that standing in the shadow was a very large Orc. He stepped out in front of her and she ran right into him. She fell back onto the ground and groaned at the pain. Then she realized what she'd hit. She screamed and scrambled back onto her feet.
Another Orc was standing behind her and two more to her left and right. "Oh shit," she whispered as the four closed in on her.
* * *
Legolas aimed his bow and released the arrow. An Orc that had been advancing on Aragorn lay on the ground. Only a few more Orc were standing in the clearing, and that number was quickly disappearing. Aragorn stood by Legolas as the last Orc feel. "Something is wrong," Legolas said as he looked around the clearing. "There were more Orcs. I know it. I could feel them, but why didn't they come?"
Aragorn also surveyed the clearing. "Perhaps they had a different goal," Aragorn said slowly. He looked at Legolas, then to the woods Ariana had disappeared into.
Legolas opened his mouth to answer him when he heard Ariana's scream. His eyes widened and he took off into the woods, Aragorn following closely behind him. Gimli and the Hobbits watched then take off, and after checking to make sure all the Orcs were dead, they too followed.
Legolas cursed himself for sending Ariana off by herself. Of course they were after Ariana.
Legolas and Aragorn came onto the spot where the Orcs had taken Ariana very quickly. The two knelt down and studied the patterns of the grass and footsteps in the small space.
"Four Orcs. They surrounded her," Aragorn said, "took off with her in that direction." He pointed off into a very dark part of the woods.
Legolas stood up and began to set off after Ariana. Aragorn placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him.
"What are you doing Aragorn? We have to go after her!"
Aragorn's face was hidden in a shadow, but his voce was still strong. "We have to see Gandalf and Lord Elrond first."
Legolas was stunned. "If we do not move now, we will lose the trail."
Aragorn shook his head sadly. "Legolas, do you now see what direction they are heading?"
Legolas looked back into the woods and he realized what Aragorn was saying. Isengard. Gimli and the four Hobbits had arrived by now and stood wondering what was going on.
"What is going on Aragorn?" Frodo asked.
Aragorn looked at Legolas first, then turned to the hobbit. "Orcs have taken Lady Ariana."
Legolas looked over at Aragorn. "Why Isengard? Why not take her all the way to Mordor?"
"Isengard is closer. Sauron does not need Ariana in Mordor for his power to work."
Aragorn watched Gimli from the corner of his eye. The dwarf was leaning on his ax, watching the exchange. After the council had ended earlier that day, Gimli had questioned Aragorn about the girl accompanying the wizard and elf. Aragorn, in keeping his word with Gandalf, and told the dwarf very little, but Gimli had figured things out on his own. Ariana was the Traveler, she held the power to destroy Middle Earth, and now, Sauron had her.
* * *
Ariana could smell the Orc that carried her. His stench almost overwhelmed her. She could feel it entering her pours, seeping and covering her skin.
She couldn't see anything. They had blindfolded her as soon as they got out of the woods. Her hands were tied in front of her, her feet were bond just the same and a piece of cloth covered her mouth, keeping her from screaming. The cord were cutting into her wrist and she could feel the blood dripping off the tips of her fingers.
Ariana was only conscious of three things: the dagger still attached to her thigh, she was thankful the Orcs hadn't searched her; the drawing of Legolas still tucked into her pocket; and the necklace. It was on fire against her skin. She'd felt it begin to burn when the Orcs surrounded her and now she could feel it burning her skin.
She wanted to cry, she wanted to scream, but most of all she wanted to see Legolas again. She knew it was trite, but she wanted to see him again. She still believed he would save her. She just hoped he and the others had made it away from those other Orcs.
Ariana heard one of the Orcs ahead of them yell out something, then she felt herself being dropped onto the ground. She groaned and tried to sit up, but a large hand pushed her back down and she heard laughter.
Another hand grabbed the blindfold and pulled it up over her head. Ariana blinked a few times and tried to scream, forgetting the bind across her mouth. This brought more laughs from the Orcs surrounding her.
Ariana tried to keep the tears out of her eyes as long as possible. She felt hopeless and alone, much like her first day in Middle Earth. Legolas had saved me then, maybe he'll save me now.
****Notes****
::hangs head:: I know, I know, she sounds pathetic. Well, if I was captured by Orcs I would hope to God Lego would come and save my sorry ass. ::smiles sweetly:: [Disclaimer: Chapter 1. Warnings: Chapter One. Legolas: Priceless.]