The Traveler: Chapter Seventeen

Aragorn lead them back to the House of Elrond. Legolas trailed behind, a look of desperation on his face. He couldn't forgive himself. He'd be a fool to let Ariana go alone and now there was nothing for him to do.

They found Elrond and Gandalf out on the porch that the council had taken place at earlier that day.

Gandalf looked up at them as they entered, "What is going on?"

Aragorn looked back at Legolas then turned back to them. "It is Lady Ariana. We were attacked by Orcs and they carried her off." Aragorn looked down, then back up again. "They set off towards Isengard."

Gandalf looked toward Legolas and saw the sorrow on the elf's face. "So Sauron has the Traveler." Gandalf stated sadly.

A silence settled over the council area. None of them knew what to do, except Legolas. He looked up at Gandalf, then Elrond. "I am going after her."

"Legolas," Gandalf began, "there is no point. The Orcs have her and will not stop until they have reach Isengard. Whence they have arrived, it will be Ariana's decision."

"Gandalf, I know you speak the truth, but I cannot let them take her without following. I cannot just let her go."

Aragorn was watching the elf. It was obvious Legolas had feelings for the girl and Aragorn hoped it was not clouding his judgment. "Legolas, I will go with you, my friend."

Gandalf let out a sigh and stood up from his chair. "Then we shall follow the Orcs to Isengard," and with that it was set. Legolas, Aragorn, Gandalf and Gimli set off after the Orcs. The four Hobbits had put up quite a protest about being left behind, but eventually they settled down and understood the four would be able to travel faster without them.

After only a few minutes, they were saddled and ready to ride. Legolas hoped they would not be too late.

* * *

The two groups traveled for days, one right on the trail of the other. Ariana lost track of the days as they moved across mountains and plains. Every night she was laid down on the hard ground where she slept for only a few hours before they were moving again. Her hands were covered in dried blood, along with her dress. She had cuts all over her legs and arms from trees and bushes. She began to think the Orcs purposely tracked through the underbrush just to hear her gasp in pain as she was cut.

At the end of each day, she would lay on her side, trying to keep the now lava-hot necklace off her skin. Her chest was covered in small round burns from the pendant. She wanted to rip it off and through it down a deep, dark whole. She wished she'd never arrived in Middle Earth. She wished she'd opened her door and picked up that God-forsaken package.

She wished a lot of things, laying on the cold ground, trying to sleep at night. Every night though, the last thing she thought about was Legolas and whether or not he was coming for her.

What Ariana didn't know what that Legolas, Aragorn, Gimli and Gandalf were only a few hundred yards behind the band of Orcs. They had barely slept the first week of their travel, trying to gain much needed ground on the Orcs. Legolas would stay up at night, watching the forest while the other three slept, though Aragorn would stay up watching Legolas.

At first, Gimli had wanted to attack the Orcs and rescue Ariana, but Gandalf stopped him. Gandalf explained that Sauron had eyes everywhere, mostly likely watching them at that very minute, but as long as they made no move to rescue Ariana, they were safe. Sauron was so sure that Ariana was his, he would not waste his time on them. They would follow the Orcs to Isengard, then find out what the next move was to be.

Legolas had not been to happy with this plan, but he did not argue with Gandalf. He felt Ariana near him and he knew she was alive. He watched the light of the Orc's fire and wondered how many he could kill before they got to him.

* * *

The last couple of days of the journey, Ariana was allowed to see. The Orcs left the blindfold off her, but left the mouth-bind. Her mouth was completely dry. She doubted she would even be able to scream if the mouth piece wasn't in place.

Her legs were weak and she could barely raise her head. When the Orc dropped her on the ground for the last night before they reached Isengard, Ariana was asleep in no time. She couldn't have kept her eyes open for anything. She'd barely walked any of the trip, but she still had no energy. She figured it was the fact she only had something to drink or eat every other day. She figured Sauron told them to bring her to him alive, but just barely.

Maybe he figured he could break her more easily if she was so close to death. Well screw him, Ariana thought one night. Screw him and all-mighty power. The minute I get my hands free… and she could never finish that sentence, even in her mind. She didn't want Sauron to gain power over Middle Earth, but she wasn't ready to die either. She couldn't leave Legolas. Yes, she still believed she'd see him again. She knew it was folly, but it's what kept her alive.

* * *

Ariana awoke in large, stone room. It was completely bare, except for a chair in a corner of the room. A cloak was draped across the back of the chair and Ariana grabbed it and pulled it around her shoulders. It was freezing in the room. She felt her teeth chattering. She didn't understand. The floor and walls radiated heat, but she was freezing.

There was a large wooden door and across from it a window. First, Ariana checked the door and wasn't surprised to find it locked. Then she turned to the window. She took a step towards and was hit by a feeling of déjà vu. Then she realized it was her dream, her dream of war and being stuck in this room.

She stood, holding her breath. She closed her eyes and listened to the voices coming through the window. She felt her breath catch in her throat as she heard a clear ringing of metal on metal. "Oh no…" Ariana moaned as she slide down onto the ground. She couldn't bring herself to look out the window.

If she had, she would have see the Orcs only practicing against each other. No Legolas, no Aragorn, no one she cared for. But there were out there. The four were only a few yards away from the tower of Isengard, fully rebuilt. Gimli had stood in awe, staring up at the grand tower. "If she is in there, we will never reach her," the dwarf said to himself.

Legolas sat watching the Orcs infront of the tower. There were dozens of them. It would take too long to go through them. Things seemed hopeless to the four travelers.

****Notes****

Yeah… I don't have much to say for this chapter. It's just moving the story along… to Isengard. I feel bad for Lego in this chapter. He's beating himself up over it all. Poor guy. ::realizes she wrote it that way:: Oh wait… [I'm running out of cute ways to tell you guys the disclaimer's back in chapter one…]