Disclaimer: LOTR is not mine.
The Diary of an Orc - Continued
*~*~*
Orc blood.
It is everywhere, a trail leading deep into the haunting darkness of Fangorn.
No one has spoken for a long time; we all feel the presence of..something. The air feels too close and every drawn breath is a struggle. This forest is one of nightmares, one that troubles even the strong willed.
No one has seemed to notice the blood. I don't know if Legolas has, he should have. If he has, he isn't saying anything about it. A troubled look occupies his face, as if he can sense something foul approaching.
"These are strange tracks." Aragorns rugged voice shatters the silence that had been plaguing us since we entered this forest.
Gimli stopped and wiped something from a leaf. He brought his fingers close to his face and sniffed.
"Pah!" He spat, wiping his fingers on his sleeve. "Orc blood!"
Suddenly, the trees started moaning and creaking, their branches swaying in an unfelt wind. I sudden chill sent shivers through me and I watched the trees carefully.
"The air is so close in here." Gimli muttered, also watching the trees.
"This forest is old." I said quietly, staring at the ground. Aragorn was right, there were strange tracks on the ground. I knelt and fingered on gently.
"Very old." Legolas corrected, casting the trees a brief, fearful glance. "Full of memories, and anger."
Gimli unclipped his axe and held it, ready for an ambush. The trees seemed to react to this, a low moaning sound escaping from one of them.
I had heard of trees like these before. Ones that moved and talked to each other, but never had I come across them. I stood quickly, brushing dirt from my hands.
"The trees are speaking to each other." I murmured softly.
"Gimli!" Aragorn called to the dwarf. "Lower your axe!"
As he did, a feeling of danger overwhelmed me. I looked around fearfully, struggling to see this invisible threat.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called, striding away from Gimli and I. "Nad no ennas!"
The sound of his clear elvish voice speaking a tongue I so longed to speak cut through me, leaving me trembling with self-pity.
"What is it?" I heard Aragorn reply in elvish. Again, the painful memories of being an elf flittered through my exhausted mind.
"The White Wizard approaches."
*~*~*
It was not as I feared. I was ready to kill myself with my own sword, ready to end my life before Saruman could torture me further. Even though we elves reverence life and suicide is considered blasphemy, I could not bear the thought of Saruman getting his hands on me.
We were all ready to attack Saruman, to get him before he held us with the spell that is his voice, but as we turned to attack, our weapons were suddenly untouchable, the metal of my sword burned into my flesh, causing me to drop it in pain.
Before we could react, the wizard spoke.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits?" He said, his voice sounding suspiciously like Saruman's. I felt a sudden, but fierce anger stir in me and before I knew it, I was running towards the blinding white that was my enemy.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded of the wizard, his voice tight with anger and a hint of fear. I was suddenly frozen in place, my legs stuck to the ground as if my feet had rapidly grown roots.
"The passed this way the day before yesturday. They met someone they did not expect."
'You' I though bitterly, struggling against the bounds that held me.
"Does that comfort you?"
'No.' I tried to retort, but my tongue was held fast.
"Who are you?" Aragorn shouted, holding a hand up to protect his eyes from the glare emitted by the wizard.
The light seemed to glow brighter before it dimmed completely, revealing the face of Mithrandir.
"My eyes deceive me!" I gasped, my tongue released from the spell.
"It cannot be!" Aragorn said, his voice unbelieving. Beside him, Legolas had knelt to the ground and Gimli stood with his head bowed. I then turned and bent my knee, kneeling to the ground before the wizard.
"You fell!" Aragorns voice was now a whisper; he took a few steps forward, but stopped uncertainly.
"Through fire, and water." Mithrandir replied, his tone direct. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth."
I listened, rapt with his sudden appearance and his story, I looked up, the white glare was gone and in its place a seemly aged man dressed in white and carrying a white staff.
"Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me." I gasped involuntarily, the thought of straying through the dark alone terrifying me. I rose slowly and stepped back to join the others.
"I strayed out of thought and time." Mithrandir continued, a wry smile on his face. "Stars wheeled overhead and each day was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf!" Gimli said, a smile covered his crinkled face.
Mithrandir smiled absently and mused over what Gimli had addressed him as.
"Gandalf?" He questioned quietly as if Gimli had called him the wrong name. "Oh yes! That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
I grinned at this. This was definitely Gandalf.
"Gandalf!" Gimli said again, shuffling in his place.
"I am Gandalf the White now." Mithrandir replied, a worried look crossing his face briefly. "And I come back to you at the turning of the tide."
I smiled at Mithrandir was he caught my eye.
"Welcome back, Mithrandir." I said quietly.
"Oh yes, now, you are still in that horrible form? No offence meant of course." He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling adorably.
ICK! Did I just call Mithrandir adorable? Uh..moving on...
His smile made me ache with happiness. "Stop it!" I burst, feeling a cheesy smile widening over my face. "There is only so much relief and happiness one can endure, you'll make me explode!"
Mithrandir laughed, but his eyes stayed serious and motionless, not even the magnitude of his smile could touch his troubled, unwavering eyes.
"We must leave.." Mithrandir said, his voice remote. "We must leave Fangorn, your search for the two hobbits is over, they are in good hands."
So Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and I followed the changed wizard out of Fangorn, our steps faster and surer now that we followed a true guide.
*~*~*
This morning we arrived at Edoras, stopping a few miles before the great town to marvel at its beauty.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown and Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Mithrandir said softly as Edoras came into view.
"Saruman?" I squeaked, feeling the old fear creeping back.
Mithrandir turned in his saddle. He was riding a magnificent white horse, Shadowfax, the Lord of all horses, as Mithrandir said. I shared a saddle with Aragorn, and Legolas with Gimli.
"You must learn to conquer your fear of Saruman, Rinariel." He said firmly, his eyes changing slightly. I shivered and nodded.
Before we entered the city's gates, Mithrandir held me back from the others, making me dismount and urging Aragorn to go forward.
"It will not hold for long." Mithrandir said quietly, his hand on my shoulder. Confused, I began to ask what he meant, but his silenced me with the wave of his hand.
"Change into your elvish clothes," He ordered, looking away as I did. "They will see you in your elvish form, Ariel of Lothlorien."
My breath caught painfully in my throat.
"The spell Saruman placed on you is strong, once his presence is driven from this place, I'm sure it will be easier to dismantle." He took my hand and we walked into the city together.
"But, do not trust to hope, I'm not making any promises." He said gently as we joined Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli.
I looked at my feet, and realised disgustedly that I could still see myself as and Orc.
I had changed into a dress that my Lady had given me in Lothlorien, a beautifully made dress embroidered with the recognisable symbol of an elf from Lothlorien. I gasped when I realised that if I looked at myself for a long time, I could see the creamy paleness of my real skin beneath the scars of the Orc skin that had covered me for so long.
I was so wrapped up in the wonders of the spell Mithrandir had placed upon me that I didn't even mind as a company of guards took our weapons from us.
As we entered the Golden Hall, Mithrandir leaned on Legolas heavily, to convince the guards that he did really need his staff as they had tried to take it from him, along with our weapons.
I walked behind Aragorn, the chill of fear sweeping up my body, making my shiver uncontrollably.
The King, Théoden of Rohan, was a terrible sight. His skin was wrinkled, pale and shrunken, like one who had soaked in a bath for too long. He looked as if he would crumble beneath ones fingers if they dared to touch him.
His eyes opened slowly, revealing two faded blue eyes. He followed me with his haunted eyes, his expression hungry.
I drew closer to Aragorn and slipped my arm through his unconsciously. He didn't seem to mind, or he didn't notice, his keen eyes watched the shadows where I could see men hanging back, watching us closely.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King." Gandalf called to the King who seemed on the point of death.
From the shadows around the throne, a man stepped out. I recognised him immediately. Grima Wormtongue.
His eyes surveyed us all, his gaze resting upon me. I shivered under his gaze and half hid myself behind Aragorn.
Grima smiled and sniggered to himself, his eyes never leaving me.
"He is not welcome" I heard Grima hiss into Théoden's ear.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" The king croaked, his eerie voice echoing off the stone walls.
I tuned out and watched Grima carefully. I remembered him, a loyal servant to Saruman. I was sure he knew who I was.
Suddenly, the king stopped and his stare returned to me.
"She is not welcome here." He said firmly, his voice clear. "She is a spy! Destroy her!"
I started hyperventilating, the fear overwhelming me for a few moments before I could regain my composure.
One of the guards in the shadows notched an arrow.
"I'm going to die." I whimpered in a voice I did not know was mine.
At the Kings command, the arrow flew.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Finally, another chapter! I'm really sorry that this took me ages to write; I started it last week and just finished it today.
Please R&R! I love all your reviews! You keep me going when I feel like I have no ideas left. Thanks to all my reviewers!
The Diary of an Orc - Continued
*~*~*
Orc blood.
It is everywhere, a trail leading deep into the haunting darkness of Fangorn.
No one has spoken for a long time; we all feel the presence of..something. The air feels too close and every drawn breath is a struggle. This forest is one of nightmares, one that troubles even the strong willed.
No one has seemed to notice the blood. I don't know if Legolas has, he should have. If he has, he isn't saying anything about it. A troubled look occupies his face, as if he can sense something foul approaching.
"These are strange tracks." Aragorns rugged voice shatters the silence that had been plaguing us since we entered this forest.
Gimli stopped and wiped something from a leaf. He brought his fingers close to his face and sniffed.
"Pah!" He spat, wiping his fingers on his sleeve. "Orc blood!"
Suddenly, the trees started moaning and creaking, their branches swaying in an unfelt wind. I sudden chill sent shivers through me and I watched the trees carefully.
"The air is so close in here." Gimli muttered, also watching the trees.
"This forest is old." I said quietly, staring at the ground. Aragorn was right, there were strange tracks on the ground. I knelt and fingered on gently.
"Very old." Legolas corrected, casting the trees a brief, fearful glance. "Full of memories, and anger."
Gimli unclipped his axe and held it, ready for an ambush. The trees seemed to react to this, a low moaning sound escaping from one of them.
I had heard of trees like these before. Ones that moved and talked to each other, but never had I come across them. I stood quickly, brushing dirt from my hands.
"The trees are speaking to each other." I murmured softly.
"Gimli!" Aragorn called to the dwarf. "Lower your axe!"
As he did, a feeling of danger overwhelmed me. I looked around fearfully, struggling to see this invisible threat.
"Aragorn!" Legolas called, striding away from Gimli and I. "Nad no ennas!"
The sound of his clear elvish voice speaking a tongue I so longed to speak cut through me, leaving me trembling with self-pity.
"What is it?" I heard Aragorn reply in elvish. Again, the painful memories of being an elf flittered through my exhausted mind.
"The White Wizard approaches."
*~*~*
It was not as I feared. I was ready to kill myself with my own sword, ready to end my life before Saruman could torture me further. Even though we elves reverence life and suicide is considered blasphemy, I could not bear the thought of Saruman getting his hands on me.
We were all ready to attack Saruman, to get him before he held us with the spell that is his voice, but as we turned to attack, our weapons were suddenly untouchable, the metal of my sword burned into my flesh, causing me to drop it in pain.
Before we could react, the wizard spoke.
"You are tracking the footsteps of two young Hobbits?" He said, his voice sounding suspiciously like Saruman's. I felt a sudden, but fierce anger stir in me and before I knew it, I was running towards the blinding white that was my enemy.
"Where are they?" Aragorn demanded of the wizard, his voice tight with anger and a hint of fear. I was suddenly frozen in place, my legs stuck to the ground as if my feet had rapidly grown roots.
"The passed this way the day before yesturday. They met someone they did not expect."
'You' I though bitterly, struggling against the bounds that held me.
"Does that comfort you?"
'No.' I tried to retort, but my tongue was held fast.
"Who are you?" Aragorn shouted, holding a hand up to protect his eyes from the glare emitted by the wizard.
The light seemed to glow brighter before it dimmed completely, revealing the face of Mithrandir.
"My eyes deceive me!" I gasped, my tongue released from the spell.
"It cannot be!" Aragorn said, his voice unbelieving. Beside him, Legolas had knelt to the ground and Gimli stood with his head bowed. I then turned and bent my knee, kneeling to the ground before the wizard.
"You fell!" Aragorns voice was now a whisper; he took a few steps forward, but stopped uncertainly.
"Through fire, and water." Mithrandir replied, his tone direct. "From the lowest dungeon to the highest peak, I fought him, the Balrog of Morgoth."
I listened, rapt with his sudden appearance and his story, I looked up, the white glare was gone and in its place a seemly aged man dressed in white and carrying a white staff.
"Until at last, I threw down my enemy and smote his ruin upon the mountainside. Darkness took me." I gasped involuntarily, the thought of straying through the dark alone terrifying me. I rose slowly and stepped back to join the others.
"I strayed out of thought and time." Mithrandir continued, a wry smile on his face. "Stars wheeled overhead and each day was as long as a life age of the earth. But it was not the end. I felt life in me again. I've been sent back until my task is done."
"Gandalf!" Gimli said, a smile covered his crinkled face.
Mithrandir smiled absently and mused over what Gimli had addressed him as.
"Gandalf?" He questioned quietly as if Gimli had called him the wrong name. "Oh yes! That's what they used to call me. Gandalf the Grey. That was my name."
I grinned at this. This was definitely Gandalf.
"Gandalf!" Gimli said again, shuffling in his place.
"I am Gandalf the White now." Mithrandir replied, a worried look crossing his face briefly. "And I come back to you at the turning of the tide."
I smiled at Mithrandir was he caught my eye.
"Welcome back, Mithrandir." I said quietly.
"Oh yes, now, you are still in that horrible form? No offence meant of course." He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling adorably.
ICK! Did I just call Mithrandir adorable? Uh..moving on...
His smile made me ache with happiness. "Stop it!" I burst, feeling a cheesy smile widening over my face. "There is only so much relief and happiness one can endure, you'll make me explode!"
Mithrandir laughed, but his eyes stayed serious and motionless, not even the magnitude of his smile could touch his troubled, unwavering eyes.
"We must leave.." Mithrandir said, his voice remote. "We must leave Fangorn, your search for the two hobbits is over, they are in good hands."
So Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli and I followed the changed wizard out of Fangorn, our steps faster and surer now that we followed a true guide.
*~*~*
This morning we arrived at Edoras, stopping a few miles before the great town to marvel at its beauty.
"Edoras and the Golden Hall of Meduseld, King of Rohan, whose mind is overthrown and Saruman's hold over King Théoden is now very strong." Mithrandir said softly as Edoras came into view.
"Saruman?" I squeaked, feeling the old fear creeping back.
Mithrandir turned in his saddle. He was riding a magnificent white horse, Shadowfax, the Lord of all horses, as Mithrandir said. I shared a saddle with Aragorn, and Legolas with Gimli.
"You must learn to conquer your fear of Saruman, Rinariel." He said firmly, his eyes changing slightly. I shivered and nodded.
Before we entered the city's gates, Mithrandir held me back from the others, making me dismount and urging Aragorn to go forward.
"It will not hold for long." Mithrandir said quietly, his hand on my shoulder. Confused, I began to ask what he meant, but his silenced me with the wave of his hand.
"Change into your elvish clothes," He ordered, looking away as I did. "They will see you in your elvish form, Ariel of Lothlorien."
My breath caught painfully in my throat.
"The spell Saruman placed on you is strong, once his presence is driven from this place, I'm sure it will be easier to dismantle." He took my hand and we walked into the city together.
"But, do not trust to hope, I'm not making any promises." He said gently as we joined Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli.
I looked at my feet, and realised disgustedly that I could still see myself as and Orc.
I had changed into a dress that my Lady had given me in Lothlorien, a beautifully made dress embroidered with the recognisable symbol of an elf from Lothlorien. I gasped when I realised that if I looked at myself for a long time, I could see the creamy paleness of my real skin beneath the scars of the Orc skin that had covered me for so long.
I was so wrapped up in the wonders of the spell Mithrandir had placed upon me that I didn't even mind as a company of guards took our weapons from us.
As we entered the Golden Hall, Mithrandir leaned on Legolas heavily, to convince the guards that he did really need his staff as they had tried to take it from him, along with our weapons.
I walked behind Aragorn, the chill of fear sweeping up my body, making my shiver uncontrollably.
The King, Théoden of Rohan, was a terrible sight. His skin was wrinkled, pale and shrunken, like one who had soaked in a bath for too long. He looked as if he would crumble beneath ones fingers if they dared to touch him.
His eyes opened slowly, revealing two faded blue eyes. He followed me with his haunted eyes, his expression hungry.
I drew closer to Aragorn and slipped my arm through his unconsciously. He didn't seem to mind, or he didn't notice, his keen eyes watched the shadows where I could see men hanging back, watching us closely.
"The courtesy of your hall is somewhat lessened of late, Théoden-King." Gandalf called to the King who seemed on the point of death.
From the shadows around the throne, a man stepped out. I recognised him immediately. Grima Wormtongue.
His eyes surveyed us all, his gaze resting upon me. I shivered under his gaze and half hid myself behind Aragorn.
Grima smiled and sniggered to himself, his eyes never leaving me.
"He is not welcome" I heard Grima hiss into Théoden's ear.
"Why should I welcome you, Gandalf Stormcrow?" The king croaked, his eerie voice echoing off the stone walls.
I tuned out and watched Grima carefully. I remembered him, a loyal servant to Saruman. I was sure he knew who I was.
Suddenly, the king stopped and his stare returned to me.
"She is not welcome here." He said firmly, his voice clear. "She is a spy! Destroy her!"
I started hyperventilating, the fear overwhelming me for a few moments before I could regain my composure.
One of the guards in the shadows notched an arrow.
"I'm going to die." I whimpered in a voice I did not know was mine.
At the Kings command, the arrow flew.
'~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Finally, another chapter! I'm really sorry that this took me ages to write; I started it last week and just finished it today.
Please R&R! I love all your reviews! You keep me going when I feel like I have no ideas left. Thanks to all my reviewers!