Disclaimer – Ugluk and Lurtz still not mine, neither are the Fellowship from the last chapter. Only Gorplak, Bagshash and the like are mine.

A/N – Sorry it's been a while, my computer decided to go haywire and assignments unfortunately take precedence. Anyway, thank you Womba Warrior for the review (and for reviewing all my other stuff too… you are now promoted to chief minion!!), and now some of the previous questions will be answered, but not all because I want to keep you in suspense a little longer! On the show… tally-ho!

Chapter 7 – A rescue

The Company of Orcs followed the river all through the dark night, silence enforced by the sharp sting of Ugluk's whip when his order was disobeyed. It was harsh but fair; if their enemy behind them on the river discovered their presence then it would all be for naught. They ran as the moon began fade and the slow light of dawn began to light the sky, and even then they kept running. A few murmurs erupted from the column but still Ugluk forced them onwards, his whip cracking without prejudice as he even stuck a surprised Captain Gagnik. He hissed a few words reminding Gagnik of the plan for a daylight attack and of acclimatising the troops so the column obediently ran onwards.

Further back from the front, Gorplak and Vashlash also ran on, still side-by-side and silent, but growing more confused with the increasing light. True, the forest was heavy enough to give some shelter but in places, patches of dappled sunshine broke through the canopy above and drove the Orcs out of rank as they tried their best to avoid the worst of the dreaded rays. Vashlash's mumbling over the last few hours finally grew to a head.

"When is the son of an elf going to let us stop?" She complained dejectedly. Gorplak refrained from answering but it seemed that Ugluk had heard and responded to her comment, as the column came to a thankful stop and the fall-out order was given. Vashlash threw herself to the ground with a hiss before quickly jumping to her feet and moving as a stray shaft of sunlight threatened her, while Gorplak smirked and found her own dark patch.

After a period of silence, Gorplak looked over to find Vashlash sound asleep, her eyes open but glazed, a small smile on her twisted features, and tried not to think of what was causing that happiness. Leaving her to dream of blood and pleasure, Gorplak rose to her feet, unfatigued, and wandered to relieve the stiffness of her limbs. Staying within the swiftly arranged camp boundaries, she avoided any clearings and remained among the dense trees, enjoying the coldness of the shadows out of the sun. Once a bird twittered merrily but she growled in its direction and it quickly took flight; from then only silence accompanied her, or at least so she had thought.

"Archer."

The tone was formal, yet it seemed strange in the voice that greeted her. She replied with the same formality, quelling an impulse to turn quickly and sink her claws into the intruder's neck again.

"Corporal."

She turned slowly to face Drusbruk, prepared to defend herself if needs be, but she was greeted with a sight she had seen very rarely on the smooth face in front of her – respect.

"I wanted to… apologise." He said, holding out a hand in a sign of comradeship. Gorplak stood still for a moment, a little stunned; his broken nose was still swollen and she doubted it would ever be straight again, was that all it had taken to make Drusbruk less of an enemy? He saw the indecision and confusion on her face. "I should be dead by your hands, and I'm not. But you had every right to try." He took a deep breath.

"I'm sorry for trying to force myself on you over the years." He tried to smile sincerely. Gorplak wasn't sure she was entirely trustful of the seemingly repentant Orc in front of her, but still accepted his apology by nodding and meeting his hand with hers. It was only after a firm shake when she looked in her eyes and realised her terrible mistake.



Lurtz was happy to be among his own kind again, the sense of familiarity had grown since their creation and he preferred it to the frustration he had felt at the Orcs under his command. Bagshash, on the other hand, sorely missed the company of the friends he had made among the Orcs; Danglush's easy humour, Nudlik's gentle acceptance of a fellow warrior, and Gorplak… he missed those green eyes, the limp locks, her ugly face, her ugly ugly lips that he had tasted only once that felt a lifetime ago. Compared to the Uruk-Hai around him, the Orcs had a life, a social structure that he had been part of for a few brief moments, and he missed it.

And that wasn't all that tore at him. There was the knowledge that Lurtz had condemned them all to death.

He had said nothing to Lurtz about it, in case of a reprisal, but all the while he wished there were some way of passing on the warning, especially to an archer who would find herself in the thick of the fighting, facing an enemy that had slaughtered twice the number of the Company in the dark underground of Moria. But how?

Having briefed the Uruk-Hai he had left in temporary command, Lurtz was happy that all was going to plan, until he was informed of a minor dispute that had resulted in the gutting of one of his officers. This was unwelcome news; now he was one officer down with the only possible replacement urging the Orcs onward a few hours run away. An undesirable occurrence, but it could be remedied.

He bellowed for a soldier he could trust to take the message to Ugluk and control the Orcs, and Bagshash heard it, realising he had found his opportunity.

"I think I should go." He declared. A hush fell, for Lurtz was the unproclaimed leader and they knew what had happened to those who had opposed him before… they had never taken another step. Lurtz frowned at the bold statement.

"I disagree." He took a step nearer to Bagshash, trying to intimidate the other Uruk-Hai to back down, but Bagshash held his head higher.

"I will go."

Lurtz growled at the insubordinate tone. He lashed out an opened hand in his opponent's direction, intending to slash his face to ribbons with his sharp claws but Bagshash was just as prepared for a fight. He caught the hand before it could inflict any damage and spoke again, "I will go."

The two stared at each for a few moments, Bagshash hiding any nervousness and Lurtz trying to detect it so he could justify any action. Nevertheless, he could find none, and the suggestion did make sense; the Orcs were accustomed to Bagshash which may help their submissiveness. Still, the hold around his wrist was a little too insolent. He whipped it free with a snarl.

"Be thankful your brain is better than your strength," Lurtz threw the insult mildly, "For your offer makes sense and your grip would not have held me back." Bagshash remained hopefully silent. "Relieve Ugluk and send him back. Then proceed with the plans."

Bagshash's heart leapt, but he was careful not to betray it. He nodded and turned back the way they had come, back towards the Orc that had bewitched him so.

Gorplak, I'm coming.



The respectful smile turned to a spiteful sneer as Drusbruk used her grip on his hand to pull her forwards. Gorplak was helpless to resist the force as her feet slipped, finding no purchase on the clammy, muddy forest floor. As she sailed forward Drusbruk deliberately tripped her, so she landed heavily on the ground, one arm pinned behind her by Drusbruk's hold on her arm, the other stuck uselessly beneath her own body from where she had tried to stop her fall. Drusbruk lay heavily on top of her, trapping her down, forcing her front into the mud.

"You of all people should know that one fight won't end a war meltha." He gloated as she tried desperately to dislodge him from on top of her. Sensing her struggles he ground her head further into the mud, the viscous slime filling her mouth, stopping her from breathing. After she ceased her struggling to conserve her air, Drusbruk pulled her up and began dragging her quickly forward; so glad Gorplak was of air and the chance to spit the mud from her mouth, she didn't even see the tree in front of her until she was slammed against it. What little air she had accumulated was forced out of her and her vision narrowed slightly at the impact.

Dazed, she didn't even notice the restraining hand gone from her until it hit her sharply in the stomach, swiftly followed by another. Bend double and gasping she tried to run, but Drusbruk wasn't finished yet; he swung his knee up and that was all Gorplak could see rushing toward her. She had the good sense to swing her body sideways to try and avoid it, but it still caught her chin heavily.

It hurt. The blow had forced her backwards and she had fallen to the ground again, rolling onto her back to see what was coming next. Oh but it hurt. That and Drusbruk's stupidly grinning face was all she could think about. With an effort she focused her vision on Drusbruk once more, blinking dark blood from her eyes, her blood, trying to raise herself up from the vulnerable position she was in. She succeeded a few inches until her strength failed her, and Drusbruk took the opportunity to kick her soundly in the ribs. She rolled with the momentum, no longer thinking how to attack, but how to stay alive. She lay on the ground, face down and waited for the next blow.

Which never came.

She was unaware of the third party that had heard the fight, was unaware that someone had intervened on her behalf, and was unaware that Drusbruk had run before a serious beating was given to him in return. All she became aware of was a hand on her shoulder, strangely unthreatening.

After a moment it moved, and grasped her shoulders, lifting her gently from the floor… such strong arms. They lifted her gently to her feet; although she stumbled she managed to stay upright as they continued to support her. Wearily she turned to face her rescuer.

"Nudlik?"



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A-ha! Did you think it was Bagshash? Huh? Did you? It was going to be but I have further plans afoot. So, still some unanswered questions but I'll try not to leave it quite so long again! Until next time dear reader!