Disclaimer: Lotr isn't mine, it belongs to J.R.R Tolkien.
A/N: Thanks so much for your awesome reviews! You guys are so sweet; it always keeps me going when I feel like stopping!
The Diary of an Orc - Continued
*~*~*
Another long day has passed. I polished a few more swords but even that gets boring after awhile.
Most of the women and children have begun to settle into the caves, clearing the passageways a little. It is a sad sight to see the gloomy faces walking the hallways with no real purpose.
They are so quiet, and their eyes look dead.
Legolas has seemed to disappear since our walk, I hope he hasn't gone and done something stupid.
I'm really noticing the absence of Aragorn now. Sometimes I look for him, I forget that he's...gone. I even asked Gimli today, though he looked at me like I'd made a horrible joke.
I was walking around outside the walls, trying to elude the watch guards so I wouldn't get in trouble when I thought of something I'd like the ask Aragorn. It was about Éowyn, I wanted to ask Aragorn what he thought of her.
I saw Gimli chatting to one of the Rohirrim, talking about anything, and everything.
"Gimli," I ask quietly when the two had stopped talking. "Have you seen...Aragorn?" I asked, realising at the last moment what I'd just said.
"Oh no." I gasped, looking at Gimli's pale face. "Oh no, I'm sorry." I made a hasty retreat and cursed myself for being so stupid.
The day stretches into the night, the tension so thick one could slice the air with their sword. Everyone is nervous, restless, grumpy and unfriendly. The once smiling eyes are now bleak with despair.
*~*~*
Oh no! My eyes are playing cruel tricks on me! I swear that there is someone riding a horse over that hill, it looks like Aragorn.
It IS Aragorn. Oh no...my poor deceived eyes..I can't believe I am seeing this. Maybe I'm going blind!
*~*~*
It WAS Aragorn! I can't explain what I'm feeling right now....it's too big to describe. Legolas resurfaced long enough to see Aragorn and now is talking a lot more then he was.
Apparently Aragorn was engaged in a battle with a Warg and its rider, but the rider was unseated and the Warg dragged Aragorn over a cliff. The two went plunging into a swift, deep river and Aragorn was left for dead.
Gimli was overjoyed to see Aragorn again. So overjoyed that he said: "Where is he? Where is he? Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him!"
I still had the Evenstar when I saw him, but I gave it back to Legolas before Aragorn could get to the two of us.
"You saved it from the unknown," I said quietly as Aragorn approached, "It is not my part to return it to him."
Aragorn nearly walked straight into Legolas, as he was looking at the flagstones and running a hand through his hair, not paying attention to that in front of him.
Legolas just looked at Aragorn soberly, a serious expression on his face; so serious that I almost burst out laughing, elation overwhelming me.
"You're late." Legolas snapped in elvish, a disapproving look on his face. Aragorn looked worried for a second, but in realising that Legolas was joking, he let out a laugh and clapped his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
I stood there, feeling invisible, but the joy radiating from the reunion between the two friends kept me from self-pity.
"You look terrible." Legolas said bluntly, worry creeping into his eyes. I turned away as Legolas gave Aragorn the Evenstar, old memories slinking into my mind, causing me to cringe. I saw Éowyn watching from afar, a hopeful look on her face.
The poor girl, she was near crying in relief. I saw the hopeful look fade from her face when I guessed that Legolas gave Aragorn the Evenstar. She met my gaze and turned away to flee.
"Éowyn!" I called, but she had gone.
*~*~*
An army of ten thousand! An army of ten thousand Uruks and Orcs head this way. I don't mean to crush the hope, but there is NO WAY Helm's Deep can be defended.
Everyone knows that Helm's Deep cannot be saved. All except the King. He has to be optimistic though, because otherwise all would be lost and we'd all be best running for our lives now. All women and children have been ordered into the caves, though I have managed to hide myself pretty well. The King should be grateful for the extra elven archer as there was only Legolas before.
I spoke with Éowyn again this evening, she is furious that she cannot fight, but accepts that there must be someone to lead her people in the caves if the Keep falls to the enemy. When I asked her about the Evenstar and Aragorn, she ignored my question and asked about the amulet I wore.
"Oh, just a token from a friend." I mumbled.
"May I look at it a little more closely? It looks valuable." She said, picking it up in her small hands. I pulled the amulet gently from her hands.
"I'm sorry." I said, avoiding her eyes. "I cannot take it off."
She nodded, but her disappointment was poorly hidden.
Just before her uncle made her go back into the caves, she came out of the armoury with two swords.
"I accept your offer." She said, placing one of the swords at my feet. I shook my head confused, I had completely forgotten about practising with her.
"Your offer to fight with me!" She exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "Oh right, sorry, you probably don't want to dirty your nails."
I smiled and stepped on the tip of the sword blade, making the hilt lift up to hand height. I took the hilt and swung the sword around.
Éowyn swung her blade at me faster than I expected, catching me off guard. I let out a squeak of surprise and took the defensive stance.
"I hope these are blunt" I commented as I pushed her sword off mine and attacked her in a fast series of chops and swings. My sword skills were unsurprisingly rusty, but I was still gaining points off Éowyn as she failed to find weak spots in my attack.
Éowyn grunted in reply and took a practised swing at my legs; I jumped off the ground, turning in the air and landing behind Éowyn, my back to her. Before I could turn to face her, I felt a skinny arm wrapping itself around my neck, the cool blade of Éowyn's sword resting lightly against my neck.
"Hah." She said triumphantly. I imagined a cocky smile on her face and grinned. "If I were the enemy, you'd be dead by now." She commented, loosening her grip a little.
"Funny," I said, wriggling slightly in her grip. I had to get in the right position to carry out my next move. "I didn't think I'd be anywhere near death."
I then turned violently in her grip, forcing the sword blade away with my right hand and slipping my left shoulder under Éowyn's hip. Before she could move, I had tossed her into the air. She landed with a heavy thud on the flagstones; her sword skidded away from her hand and into a dark corner.
"Ouff!" She said, laughing at her downfall. "Never trust an elf!" She said jokingly.
I walked over to her and drew my dagger. "Now who'd be dead?"
Éowyn squirmed and sat up, her pale cheeks flushed. "You." She said stiffly and threw her weight at me, pinning me underneath her.
"Ladies, ladies!" A voice said, startling us both. I turned to see an amused looking Aragorn and a laughing Legolas.
Éowyn jumped to her feet, blushing furiously, and started straightening her clothes. Unlike me, she had been wearing a dress, I hadn't noticed before. She fought so well in one.
"Beaten?" Legolas choked, his face red with laughter. "Ariel of Lothlorien beaten by a mere human?"
Éowyn flared to his remark and threw her sword, blunt or not, at Legolas, expecting to hurt him.
"Mere human I am not." She growled angrily, her eyes flashing.
Legolas caught the sword and flipped it in the air, catching the blade carefully and handing the sword back to Eowyn, hilt first.
Éowyn snatched the sword angrily and Legolas only just saved his fingers from being removed from his hand.
As Éowyn stalked form the room, I scowled at Legolas in a non-serious way and slapped his shoulder. "That wasn't very nice."
He revealed a hand with four of the fingers with fine cuts on them. Aragorn suddenly burst out laughing.
"Beaten by a mere human." He choked as Legolas blushed in embarrassment.
*~*~*
Legolas shares this thought that Helm's Deep cannot be saved and has spent the last hour complaining to me about it. I don't really see how he can complain; three hundred is better then one or two.
Of course, he would be used to having many elven archers at hand, more than accurate with arrows and deadly with swords. I would feel more comfortable with this attack with at least a few elven archers, but we'll have to make do with what we've got.
I've heard that the enemy is no more than two hours away and the feeling is very unsettling. I cannot believe that this day is the same that Aragorn reappeared, it seems so long. Even though days are nothing compared to the long centuries our people live, this day is certainly a very long day.
Earlier this evening, Legolas got a little more then annoyed with Aragorn.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys." Aragorn commented while in the armoury, helping the people of Rohan select their weapons. "These are no soldiers."
"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli muttered, leaning on his axe, watching the older men outfit themselves.
"Or too few." Legolas said bitterly, looking at the young boys, anger and sorrow in his eyes. They're frightened, I can see it in their eyes."
His last comment was said too loud and silence fell upon the armoury, all eyes on Legolas and Aragorn.
"And they should be!" He snarled in elvish, knowing that only Aragorn and I could understand him. "Three hundred against ten thousand!"
"Legolas-" I started to say something but the poison in the glare he shot me stopped me from going any further. I sat back with Gimli and tried not to grumble.
"Si beriathar hýn ammaeg nâ ned Edoras" Aragorn replied, casting a nervous look at the Rohirrim.
"What are they saying, lass?" Gimli mumbled so that only I could here him.
"Aragorn just said that they have a better chance defending Helm's Deep then at Edoras." I said softly, watching Aragorn and Legolas warily.
"They cannot win this fight!" Legolas yelled, still in elvish, his eyes blazing with anger. "They are all going to die!"
I gasped involuntarily and translated in a low voice to Gimli. He frowned and mumbled to himself.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn returned in common, and the men of Rohan began to murmur, trying to figure out what had been said.
Aragorn the whirled away from Legolas and stormed out of the armoury, sneering in disgust at the weapons being provided.
"Let him go, lad." Gimli said quietly to Legolas, who had an ugly look on his face. He turned and glared at Gimli, but the dwarf ignored him. "Let him be."
*~*~*
This cannot be happening! Haldir has jus arrived with an army of elven warriors! From Elrond of Rivendell!
Haldir's reaction to me was quite...well...amusing.
The first thing he said was: "Forgive me, lady, but may I ask you, are you related to Rinariel of Lothlorien?"
Then, before I could answer, he said: "Wait a second, what happened to that snivelling Orc?"
Then, he cut me off again. "By the Valar, you ARE Ariel!"
"Took you long enough!" I mumbled, trying to look grumpy. Haldir smiled and hugged me tightly.
"I thought you were dead!"
"I wasn't dead! I was in fact the Orc you saw. Thanks for the warm home- coming." I muttered angrily.
Instinctively, he drew away.
"That's not very nice." I said, punching his shoulder lightly.
*~*~*
An Army of elves! I don't think King Theoden has quite gotten over it yet. I don't think I have either!
*~*~*
I am restless now, I have to keep moving or else I shall surely burst with tension. Everyone has a strained look about them and no one is speaking.
Storm clouds are gathering and I can see the lights of the enemy in the distance.
They are coming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here ya go! Thanks for your wonderful reviews! *Hugs all reviewers* Please R&R!
Gawd, so sorry! I forgot the elves! *bangs head against wall* stupid, stupid, stupid! Ok, this is the new version on chapter 11. Well, actually, this is the third version....but yeah.....
A/N: Thanks so much for your awesome reviews! You guys are so sweet; it always keeps me going when I feel like stopping!
The Diary of an Orc - Continued
*~*~*
Another long day has passed. I polished a few more swords but even that gets boring after awhile.
Most of the women and children have begun to settle into the caves, clearing the passageways a little. It is a sad sight to see the gloomy faces walking the hallways with no real purpose.
They are so quiet, and their eyes look dead.
Legolas has seemed to disappear since our walk, I hope he hasn't gone and done something stupid.
I'm really noticing the absence of Aragorn now. Sometimes I look for him, I forget that he's...gone. I even asked Gimli today, though he looked at me like I'd made a horrible joke.
I was walking around outside the walls, trying to elude the watch guards so I wouldn't get in trouble when I thought of something I'd like the ask Aragorn. It was about Éowyn, I wanted to ask Aragorn what he thought of her.
I saw Gimli chatting to one of the Rohirrim, talking about anything, and everything.
"Gimli," I ask quietly when the two had stopped talking. "Have you seen...Aragorn?" I asked, realising at the last moment what I'd just said.
"Oh no." I gasped, looking at Gimli's pale face. "Oh no, I'm sorry." I made a hasty retreat and cursed myself for being so stupid.
The day stretches into the night, the tension so thick one could slice the air with their sword. Everyone is nervous, restless, grumpy and unfriendly. The once smiling eyes are now bleak with despair.
*~*~*
Oh no! My eyes are playing cruel tricks on me! I swear that there is someone riding a horse over that hill, it looks like Aragorn.
It IS Aragorn. Oh no...my poor deceived eyes..I can't believe I am seeing this. Maybe I'm going blind!
*~*~*
It WAS Aragorn! I can't explain what I'm feeling right now....it's too big to describe. Legolas resurfaced long enough to see Aragorn and now is talking a lot more then he was.
Apparently Aragorn was engaged in a battle with a Warg and its rider, but the rider was unseated and the Warg dragged Aragorn over a cliff. The two went plunging into a swift, deep river and Aragorn was left for dead.
Gimli was overjoyed to see Aragorn again. So overjoyed that he said: "Where is he? Where is he? Get out of my way! I'm gonna kill him!"
I still had the Evenstar when I saw him, but I gave it back to Legolas before Aragorn could get to the two of us.
"You saved it from the unknown," I said quietly as Aragorn approached, "It is not my part to return it to him."
Aragorn nearly walked straight into Legolas, as he was looking at the flagstones and running a hand through his hair, not paying attention to that in front of him.
Legolas just looked at Aragorn soberly, a serious expression on his face; so serious that I almost burst out laughing, elation overwhelming me.
"You're late." Legolas snapped in elvish, a disapproving look on his face. Aragorn looked worried for a second, but in realising that Legolas was joking, he let out a laugh and clapped his hand on Legolas' shoulder.
I stood there, feeling invisible, but the joy radiating from the reunion between the two friends kept me from self-pity.
"You look terrible." Legolas said bluntly, worry creeping into his eyes. I turned away as Legolas gave Aragorn the Evenstar, old memories slinking into my mind, causing me to cringe. I saw Éowyn watching from afar, a hopeful look on her face.
The poor girl, she was near crying in relief. I saw the hopeful look fade from her face when I guessed that Legolas gave Aragorn the Evenstar. She met my gaze and turned away to flee.
"Éowyn!" I called, but she had gone.
*~*~*
An army of ten thousand! An army of ten thousand Uruks and Orcs head this way. I don't mean to crush the hope, but there is NO WAY Helm's Deep can be defended.
Everyone knows that Helm's Deep cannot be saved. All except the King. He has to be optimistic though, because otherwise all would be lost and we'd all be best running for our lives now. All women and children have been ordered into the caves, though I have managed to hide myself pretty well. The King should be grateful for the extra elven archer as there was only Legolas before.
I spoke with Éowyn again this evening, she is furious that she cannot fight, but accepts that there must be someone to lead her people in the caves if the Keep falls to the enemy. When I asked her about the Evenstar and Aragorn, she ignored my question and asked about the amulet I wore.
"Oh, just a token from a friend." I mumbled.
"May I look at it a little more closely? It looks valuable." She said, picking it up in her small hands. I pulled the amulet gently from her hands.
"I'm sorry." I said, avoiding her eyes. "I cannot take it off."
She nodded, but her disappointment was poorly hidden.
Just before her uncle made her go back into the caves, she came out of the armoury with two swords.
"I accept your offer." She said, placing one of the swords at my feet. I shook my head confused, I had completely forgotten about practising with her.
"Your offer to fight with me!" She exclaimed, rolling her eyes. "Oh right, sorry, you probably don't want to dirty your nails."
I smiled and stepped on the tip of the sword blade, making the hilt lift up to hand height. I took the hilt and swung the sword around.
Éowyn swung her blade at me faster than I expected, catching me off guard. I let out a squeak of surprise and took the defensive stance.
"I hope these are blunt" I commented as I pushed her sword off mine and attacked her in a fast series of chops and swings. My sword skills were unsurprisingly rusty, but I was still gaining points off Éowyn as she failed to find weak spots in my attack.
Éowyn grunted in reply and took a practised swing at my legs; I jumped off the ground, turning in the air and landing behind Éowyn, my back to her. Before I could turn to face her, I felt a skinny arm wrapping itself around my neck, the cool blade of Éowyn's sword resting lightly against my neck.
"Hah." She said triumphantly. I imagined a cocky smile on her face and grinned. "If I were the enemy, you'd be dead by now." She commented, loosening her grip a little.
"Funny," I said, wriggling slightly in her grip. I had to get in the right position to carry out my next move. "I didn't think I'd be anywhere near death."
I then turned violently in her grip, forcing the sword blade away with my right hand and slipping my left shoulder under Éowyn's hip. Before she could move, I had tossed her into the air. She landed with a heavy thud on the flagstones; her sword skidded away from her hand and into a dark corner.
"Ouff!" She said, laughing at her downfall. "Never trust an elf!" She said jokingly.
I walked over to her and drew my dagger. "Now who'd be dead?"
Éowyn squirmed and sat up, her pale cheeks flushed. "You." She said stiffly and threw her weight at me, pinning me underneath her.
"Ladies, ladies!" A voice said, startling us both. I turned to see an amused looking Aragorn and a laughing Legolas.
Éowyn jumped to her feet, blushing furiously, and started straightening her clothes. Unlike me, she had been wearing a dress, I hadn't noticed before. She fought so well in one.
"Beaten?" Legolas choked, his face red with laughter. "Ariel of Lothlorien beaten by a mere human?"
Éowyn flared to his remark and threw her sword, blunt or not, at Legolas, expecting to hurt him.
"Mere human I am not." She growled angrily, her eyes flashing.
Legolas caught the sword and flipped it in the air, catching the blade carefully and handing the sword back to Eowyn, hilt first.
Éowyn snatched the sword angrily and Legolas only just saved his fingers from being removed from his hand.
As Éowyn stalked form the room, I scowled at Legolas in a non-serious way and slapped his shoulder. "That wasn't very nice."
He revealed a hand with four of the fingers with fine cuts on them. Aragorn suddenly burst out laughing.
"Beaten by a mere human." He choked as Legolas blushed in embarrassment.
*~*~*
Legolas shares this thought that Helm's Deep cannot be saved and has spent the last hour complaining to me about it. I don't really see how he can complain; three hundred is better then one or two.
Of course, he would be used to having many elven archers at hand, more than accurate with arrows and deadly with swords. I would feel more comfortable with this attack with at least a few elven archers, but we'll have to make do with what we've got.
I've heard that the enemy is no more than two hours away and the feeling is very unsettling. I cannot believe that this day is the same that Aragorn reappeared, it seems so long. Even though days are nothing compared to the long centuries our people live, this day is certainly a very long day.
Earlier this evening, Legolas got a little more then annoyed with Aragorn.
"Farmers, farriers, stable boys." Aragorn commented while in the armoury, helping the people of Rohan select their weapons. "These are no soldiers."
"Most have seen too many winters." Gimli muttered, leaning on his axe, watching the older men outfit themselves.
"Or too few." Legolas said bitterly, looking at the young boys, anger and sorrow in his eyes. They're frightened, I can see it in their eyes."
His last comment was said too loud and silence fell upon the armoury, all eyes on Legolas and Aragorn.
"And they should be!" He snarled in elvish, knowing that only Aragorn and I could understand him. "Three hundred against ten thousand!"
"Legolas-" I started to say something but the poison in the glare he shot me stopped me from going any further. I sat back with Gimli and tried not to grumble.
"Si beriathar hýn ammaeg nâ ned Edoras" Aragorn replied, casting a nervous look at the Rohirrim.
"What are they saying, lass?" Gimli mumbled so that only I could here him.
"Aragorn just said that they have a better chance defending Helm's Deep then at Edoras." I said softly, watching Aragorn and Legolas warily.
"They cannot win this fight!" Legolas yelled, still in elvish, his eyes blazing with anger. "They are all going to die!"
I gasped involuntarily and translated in a low voice to Gimli. He frowned and mumbled to himself.
"Then I shall die as one of them!" Aragorn returned in common, and the men of Rohan began to murmur, trying to figure out what had been said.
Aragorn the whirled away from Legolas and stormed out of the armoury, sneering in disgust at the weapons being provided.
"Let him go, lad." Gimli said quietly to Legolas, who had an ugly look on his face. He turned and glared at Gimli, but the dwarf ignored him. "Let him be."
*~*~*
This cannot be happening! Haldir has jus arrived with an army of elven warriors! From Elrond of Rivendell!
Haldir's reaction to me was quite...well...amusing.
The first thing he said was: "Forgive me, lady, but may I ask you, are you related to Rinariel of Lothlorien?"
Then, before I could answer, he said: "Wait a second, what happened to that snivelling Orc?"
Then, he cut me off again. "By the Valar, you ARE Ariel!"
"Took you long enough!" I mumbled, trying to look grumpy. Haldir smiled and hugged me tightly.
"I thought you were dead!"
"I wasn't dead! I was in fact the Orc you saw. Thanks for the warm home- coming." I muttered angrily.
Instinctively, he drew away.
"That's not very nice." I said, punching his shoulder lightly.
*~*~*
An Army of elves! I don't think King Theoden has quite gotten over it yet. I don't think I have either!
*~*~*
I am restless now, I have to keep moving or else I shall surely burst with tension. Everyone has a strained look about them and no one is speaking.
Storm clouds are gathering and I can see the lights of the enemy in the distance.
They are coming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here ya go! Thanks for your wonderful reviews! *Hugs all reviewers* Please R&R!
Gawd, so sorry! I forgot the elves! *bangs head against wall* stupid, stupid, stupid! Ok, this is the new version on chapter 11. Well, actually, this is the third version....but yeah.....