Chapter 15
The Feeding Begins
Wilcome and Tom wandered around the lands of Moria, hopelessly lost at the base of the mountains all around them. Even the plants were of different types and scarcely populated. There were thick and rounded with needles all around. Small white flowers grew here and there on them. These plants were forbidding, much like this land. They have never seen these types before. There were more rocks than plants. Even the soil was different, not the black rich soil of their homelands, but drier and sandy. Even the temperature here was different, dry and hot in the day and bone chilling at night. They had no supplies or even the most simple weapon.
All they could do was to follow the tracks in the sand of Shadowspirit, until the breeze blew the sand and hidden the tracks under their surface.
Seeing this Tom began to worry and hoped his brother would have some sort of idea as to what to do next. "Wilcome, where do you think the Shire is from here?" He asked.
"I don't know for sure, Tom. You cannot even really see the skies here. The mountains cover every sign. I am in fear we are lost."
"It was your brilliant idea to follow that stupid horse." Tom said in annoyance and fear of not knowing what to do next. "We could be walking in circles for days until we drop from starvation."
"We need to start thinking of what we can find to eat and where we are going to sleep." Wilcome eyes darted around this godforsaken land and becoming fed up with Tom's over dramatic comments and questions that he did not have the answers for.
"Like what for instances, these rocks perhaps." Tom's stomach ached from hunger and the heat was becoming more than what he could bear.
"Look Tom, we could have been lying dead now next to that horse if we......" Tom covered his brother's mouth and pulled him under the large rock they stood beside.
A black creature hunched over a nearby rock was digging the dirt as it spat and hissed cursing as it worked.
"Do this Grotback! Do that Grotback! Miserable stinking Uruk- hai..ssssssssssssss.." Grotback hissed from his clenched teeth. He was a smaller orc naturally born in the lands of Moria, but the white wizard of Isenguard before his fall created this huge Uruk-hia creatures that had wondered into the caves of Moria and took over the orc's that dwelt there.
"What is this I smell....yes...something delicious is in the air." Grotback smelt the air a few more times and began walking towards the hobbits who shook as they crunched down trying to make themselves as small as possible.
Without warning, two small, but hefty feet jumped down from above the hobbits, onto the top of the large rock that they hide beside. This small stocky creature swung his axe as he growled in a huge roar, bringing his axe down on the orc, who was ready to pounce on the two hobbits.
With a loud thud and an ear-piercing screech, it was all over with. Only the black ooze dripped closely to Wilcome's feet. He quickly brought his feet closer to his chest to avoid touching it.
"What is this? Two hobbits I see?" The stout small dwarf with a very long red beard that was beginning to streak with gray hair. He worn a helmet and carried an axe.
"Yes. We are hobbits." They both stood shaking at the knees. Looking up at the dwarf standing in front of them.
With a grunting laugh, the dwarf said, "I haven't see a hobbit in a few years, what are hobbits doing this far from your boarders?"
"Ruffian's stole Merry Brandybuck's new horses and they stole us with them. They're the ones who brought us here." Wilcome said summing up his courage to talk to this frightful dwarf.
"But we managed to get away from them." Tom said speaking up as well.
"Merry Brandybuck, you say?" The dwarf asked them.
"Yes, you know of him?"
"He's a good friend of mine, a treasured friend. I am Gimil, son of Golin." Gimili introduced himself.
"We are Wilcome and Tom Cotton." Wilcome pointed out as he nervously said. "My Da sometimes calls me Jolly, but I like Wilcome the best."
"You two were almost orc meat. It was a good thing my axe was itching for a swing at something or I would have not come out of the mines of Moria." Gimili told them holding his axe up proudly. "We dwarf's are rebuilding the Mines of Moria and trying to drive out all the orc's that have taken them over."
"Come little hobbits, I'd be honored to have you sit at our tables and tell me of the happenings of Merry and Pippin." Gilimi jumped from the rock and began walking with them to the cave entrance to Moria.
~*~
On their first stop to eat, Estella woke in Merry's arms. He sat her down on the ground and like usual he would head out a ways to scout what was over the next hill and plan out what they would do next.
Merry could see the mountains of Moria, but it was still a day or two ride to get to the base of the mountain. Merry worried about Estella being with them and the dangers from what he knew of those mines he travels through. He could not imagine what those ruffian hobbits could possibly want in those mines or what their plans were for his horses. But he was determined to get those horses back, but what he was leading his hobbits into he could not tell.
Merry was hungry and in need of some rest. He turned his horse around and headed back to camp.
Estella had the camp organized and ready by the time Merry made it back to camp. She barked orders for the hobbits to get this or do that, but she also worked just as hard preparing the camp. She wanted to prove to Merry that she could pull her weight and be a valuable member to his mission he was on. Fredegar knew better to argue with her especially when she was this determined. Nibs however, did not like being told what to do since he was the youngest of the members and his brothers always reminded him of this. He too wanted the respect of the others. He was tired of being treated like a child, not able to think for himself.
After they ate and rested for awhile, they all packed the camp and mounted their horses. Estella was amazed how the scenery had begun to change around her, the farther they traveled. The plants became sparse and different looking to the usual lush green foliage she knew in the Shire. The temperature was dry and hot. The horses that walked on the sandy soil labored and slowed in their steps.
Merry knew they would need more breaks and need more water. He saw a lush green area off in the distance and he had hoped some water spot thrived there. He turned his horse to begin heading in that direction. It would take them off the trail a ways, but he felt this was necessary to his hobbits and horses.
~*~
Night Eyes stood before the caves as he waited for King Grubdush. He remembered the last time he had been here. The hobbits of Bywater literally drove him out and constantly harassed him. They feared his presence and his odd ways that he kept. They could not understand that his difference was not this fault but rather how he was born. His thick brows and blistered skin gave him a horrific look about himself. He became so angry growing up always being an outcast that when he became of age, he left the Shire to find a place where he could be accepted. However, this was not the case. He found more hatred and on a grander scale. The huge people that towered over him were cruel and heartless towards him. Wanting to isolate himself from everyone, he wandered in the darkness towards Moria and found a herd of miniature horses. He trapped the leader horse and the others followed him. Thinking he was going to capture horses, train them and perhaps sell them to the hobbits for a profit would be a great plan. That was until, he was overtaken by orcs and their leader Grubdush. It seems that the orc's and Uruk-hia were very fond of eating these miniature horses and hunted them for their flesh. They also liked hobbits when they could get one that is. Many years the orcs have fed off these horses and their numbers were dwindling.
Night Eyes over herd Grubdush talking about a stallion that oversaw one of the largest herds of miniature horses in the lands of Middle Earth. But this stallion was too crafty and could not be caught. The Stallion had moved this large herd to a secret place. Night Eyes wanting to save his own skin, made a deal with Grubush that he could capture this stallion for him because of his small size and how these horses had no real fear of him, just like when he caught the small herd that was in their possession. He also noticed the belt that Grubdush worn around his waist.....mithril. He told Grubdush if he could get the stallion for him, he would trade it for the mithril. They both agreed. They filled their bellies full of horseflesh and let Night Eyes go.
When Night Eyes went back to the Shire and his old home. The Shirriff came to run him out of Bywater. Night Eyes told the Shirriff about the horses and the mithril and if he would help him get those horses they would have enough wealth to live like kings forever. Shirriff Erling agreed right away. He found a lonely hobbit hole away from the other hobbits and they would go out trying to find the stallion for the Uruk-hia King. However, the stallion out witted them every time. They would need a herd of horses to attract him and then catch him.
When they heard of Merry's horses coming to the Shire. They rounded up most ruffian of hobbits that the Sheriff had encountered during the times when the big ruffian people over took the Shire. Night Eyes was amazed at seeing the stallion already among the horses when he took them from Merry. He was quite content with Erling being killed by Merry's hobbits. Saved him for doing it. The orcs will kill the rest, leaving him with all the mithrill.
A roar that rattled the inside of the cave, almost deafened the hobbits, when the orcs and Grabdush came out of the cave. The orcs were in great number as they stood next to their leader. Their mouths watered seeing the next best thing they liked to eat waiting for them at their front door. The scene horrified the hobbits that stood on the large rocks with their bows and arrows pointing at them. They almost laid their weapons down and ran for their lives.
Night Eyes held up his hands to steady the crowd that stood before him as he spoke, "Grubdush, I have the stallion you wanted. It is just over the next hill. My hobbits are holding him. I have also brought you a herd of our horses for your orcs to eat. Now will you give me the Mithrill?"
Grubdush walked up to Night Eyes and said, "We will see the stallion first, than I will give you the Mithrill."
The orcs stomachs were empty and rapidly jumped onto the hobbits with the bows as they tried in vein to depend themselves and began eating and tearing them apart. The orcs over took the small miniature horses and devoured them as well. Grubdush suddenly attacked his orcs as they began to follow him where Night Eyes kept the stallion. His fierce brutal strength and roaring growls, he hit them with his powerful fits and casting them aside as if they were rag dolls. Night Eyes curled up in a ball on the ground, shaking and barely able to breath from fear. The attacks of Grubdush stopped the orcs from going anywhere near the stallion, in case they would eat the stallion also. Grubdush grabbed Night Eyes by the back of the collar and lifted him to stand. "Show me the stallion." He barked out his order.
Night Eyes told Grubdush, "I have two fat hobbits just for you to eat, if you would let me go unharmed."
"Agreed!" was all that Grubdush said as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the feeding and having his hearts desire of the stallion and soon the largest herd of miniature horses to feed on for many years to come.
When they approached the area where Night Eyes had his hobbits tied and the stallion too, was no longer there. Hue was just waking up from his bump on his head. Hue seeing this horrifying creature standing before him shook in fear as he tried to run as fast as his legs could carry him, but within seconds Grubdush caught him in one hand and Night Eyes in the other. "The feeding begins." Night Eyes and Hue screamed as Grubdush feasted on them until his belly was full.
This is not the end, Merry still needs to find his stallion and find the large herds that Shadowspirit would lead him to...more chapters to come
===================(
The Feeding Begins
Wilcome and Tom wandered around the lands of Moria, hopelessly lost at the base of the mountains all around them. Even the plants were of different types and scarcely populated. There were thick and rounded with needles all around. Small white flowers grew here and there on them. These plants were forbidding, much like this land. They have never seen these types before. There were more rocks than plants. Even the soil was different, not the black rich soil of their homelands, but drier and sandy. Even the temperature here was different, dry and hot in the day and bone chilling at night. They had no supplies or even the most simple weapon.
All they could do was to follow the tracks in the sand of Shadowspirit, until the breeze blew the sand and hidden the tracks under their surface.
Seeing this Tom began to worry and hoped his brother would have some sort of idea as to what to do next. "Wilcome, where do you think the Shire is from here?" He asked.
"I don't know for sure, Tom. You cannot even really see the skies here. The mountains cover every sign. I am in fear we are lost."
"It was your brilliant idea to follow that stupid horse." Tom said in annoyance and fear of not knowing what to do next. "We could be walking in circles for days until we drop from starvation."
"We need to start thinking of what we can find to eat and where we are going to sleep." Wilcome eyes darted around this godforsaken land and becoming fed up with Tom's over dramatic comments and questions that he did not have the answers for.
"Like what for instances, these rocks perhaps." Tom's stomach ached from hunger and the heat was becoming more than what he could bear.
"Look Tom, we could have been lying dead now next to that horse if we......" Tom covered his brother's mouth and pulled him under the large rock they stood beside.
A black creature hunched over a nearby rock was digging the dirt as it spat and hissed cursing as it worked.
"Do this Grotback! Do that Grotback! Miserable stinking Uruk- hai..ssssssssssssss.." Grotback hissed from his clenched teeth. He was a smaller orc naturally born in the lands of Moria, but the white wizard of Isenguard before his fall created this huge Uruk-hia creatures that had wondered into the caves of Moria and took over the orc's that dwelt there.
"What is this I smell....yes...something delicious is in the air." Grotback smelt the air a few more times and began walking towards the hobbits who shook as they crunched down trying to make themselves as small as possible.
Without warning, two small, but hefty feet jumped down from above the hobbits, onto the top of the large rock that they hide beside. This small stocky creature swung his axe as he growled in a huge roar, bringing his axe down on the orc, who was ready to pounce on the two hobbits.
With a loud thud and an ear-piercing screech, it was all over with. Only the black ooze dripped closely to Wilcome's feet. He quickly brought his feet closer to his chest to avoid touching it.
"What is this? Two hobbits I see?" The stout small dwarf with a very long red beard that was beginning to streak with gray hair. He worn a helmet and carried an axe.
"Yes. We are hobbits." They both stood shaking at the knees. Looking up at the dwarf standing in front of them.
With a grunting laugh, the dwarf said, "I haven't see a hobbit in a few years, what are hobbits doing this far from your boarders?"
"Ruffian's stole Merry Brandybuck's new horses and they stole us with them. They're the ones who brought us here." Wilcome said summing up his courage to talk to this frightful dwarf.
"But we managed to get away from them." Tom said speaking up as well.
"Merry Brandybuck, you say?" The dwarf asked them.
"Yes, you know of him?"
"He's a good friend of mine, a treasured friend. I am Gimil, son of Golin." Gimili introduced himself.
"We are Wilcome and Tom Cotton." Wilcome pointed out as he nervously said. "My Da sometimes calls me Jolly, but I like Wilcome the best."
"You two were almost orc meat. It was a good thing my axe was itching for a swing at something or I would have not come out of the mines of Moria." Gimili told them holding his axe up proudly. "We dwarf's are rebuilding the Mines of Moria and trying to drive out all the orc's that have taken them over."
"Come little hobbits, I'd be honored to have you sit at our tables and tell me of the happenings of Merry and Pippin." Gilimi jumped from the rock and began walking with them to the cave entrance to Moria.
~*~
On their first stop to eat, Estella woke in Merry's arms. He sat her down on the ground and like usual he would head out a ways to scout what was over the next hill and plan out what they would do next.
Merry could see the mountains of Moria, but it was still a day or two ride to get to the base of the mountain. Merry worried about Estella being with them and the dangers from what he knew of those mines he travels through. He could not imagine what those ruffian hobbits could possibly want in those mines or what their plans were for his horses. But he was determined to get those horses back, but what he was leading his hobbits into he could not tell.
Merry was hungry and in need of some rest. He turned his horse around and headed back to camp.
Estella had the camp organized and ready by the time Merry made it back to camp. She barked orders for the hobbits to get this or do that, but she also worked just as hard preparing the camp. She wanted to prove to Merry that she could pull her weight and be a valuable member to his mission he was on. Fredegar knew better to argue with her especially when she was this determined. Nibs however, did not like being told what to do since he was the youngest of the members and his brothers always reminded him of this. He too wanted the respect of the others. He was tired of being treated like a child, not able to think for himself.
After they ate and rested for awhile, they all packed the camp and mounted their horses. Estella was amazed how the scenery had begun to change around her, the farther they traveled. The plants became sparse and different looking to the usual lush green foliage she knew in the Shire. The temperature was dry and hot. The horses that walked on the sandy soil labored and slowed in their steps.
Merry knew they would need more breaks and need more water. He saw a lush green area off in the distance and he had hoped some water spot thrived there. He turned his horse to begin heading in that direction. It would take them off the trail a ways, but he felt this was necessary to his hobbits and horses.
~*~
Night Eyes stood before the caves as he waited for King Grubdush. He remembered the last time he had been here. The hobbits of Bywater literally drove him out and constantly harassed him. They feared his presence and his odd ways that he kept. They could not understand that his difference was not this fault but rather how he was born. His thick brows and blistered skin gave him a horrific look about himself. He became so angry growing up always being an outcast that when he became of age, he left the Shire to find a place where he could be accepted. However, this was not the case. He found more hatred and on a grander scale. The huge people that towered over him were cruel and heartless towards him. Wanting to isolate himself from everyone, he wandered in the darkness towards Moria and found a herd of miniature horses. He trapped the leader horse and the others followed him. Thinking he was going to capture horses, train them and perhaps sell them to the hobbits for a profit would be a great plan. That was until, he was overtaken by orcs and their leader Grubdush. It seems that the orc's and Uruk-hia were very fond of eating these miniature horses and hunted them for their flesh. They also liked hobbits when they could get one that is. Many years the orcs have fed off these horses and their numbers were dwindling.
Night Eyes over herd Grubdush talking about a stallion that oversaw one of the largest herds of miniature horses in the lands of Middle Earth. But this stallion was too crafty and could not be caught. The Stallion had moved this large herd to a secret place. Night Eyes wanting to save his own skin, made a deal with Grubush that he could capture this stallion for him because of his small size and how these horses had no real fear of him, just like when he caught the small herd that was in their possession. He also noticed the belt that Grubdush worn around his waist.....mithril. He told Grubdush if he could get the stallion for him, he would trade it for the mithril. They both agreed. They filled their bellies full of horseflesh and let Night Eyes go.
When Night Eyes went back to the Shire and his old home. The Shirriff came to run him out of Bywater. Night Eyes told the Shirriff about the horses and the mithril and if he would help him get those horses they would have enough wealth to live like kings forever. Shirriff Erling agreed right away. He found a lonely hobbit hole away from the other hobbits and they would go out trying to find the stallion for the Uruk-hia King. However, the stallion out witted them every time. They would need a herd of horses to attract him and then catch him.
When they heard of Merry's horses coming to the Shire. They rounded up most ruffian of hobbits that the Sheriff had encountered during the times when the big ruffian people over took the Shire. Night Eyes was amazed at seeing the stallion already among the horses when he took them from Merry. He was quite content with Erling being killed by Merry's hobbits. Saved him for doing it. The orcs will kill the rest, leaving him with all the mithrill.
A roar that rattled the inside of the cave, almost deafened the hobbits, when the orcs and Grabdush came out of the cave. The orcs were in great number as they stood next to their leader. Their mouths watered seeing the next best thing they liked to eat waiting for them at their front door. The scene horrified the hobbits that stood on the large rocks with their bows and arrows pointing at them. They almost laid their weapons down and ran for their lives.
Night Eyes held up his hands to steady the crowd that stood before him as he spoke, "Grubdush, I have the stallion you wanted. It is just over the next hill. My hobbits are holding him. I have also brought you a herd of our horses for your orcs to eat. Now will you give me the Mithrill?"
Grubdush walked up to Night Eyes and said, "We will see the stallion first, than I will give you the Mithrill."
The orcs stomachs were empty and rapidly jumped onto the hobbits with the bows as they tried in vein to depend themselves and began eating and tearing them apart. The orcs over took the small miniature horses and devoured them as well. Grubdush suddenly attacked his orcs as they began to follow him where Night Eyes kept the stallion. His fierce brutal strength and roaring growls, he hit them with his powerful fits and casting them aside as if they were rag dolls. Night Eyes curled up in a ball on the ground, shaking and barely able to breath from fear. The attacks of Grubdush stopped the orcs from going anywhere near the stallion, in case they would eat the stallion also. Grubdush grabbed Night Eyes by the back of the collar and lifted him to stand. "Show me the stallion." He barked out his order.
Night Eyes told Grubdush, "I have two fat hobbits just for you to eat, if you would let me go unharmed."
"Agreed!" was all that Grubdush said as he rubbed his hands together in anticipation of the feeding and having his hearts desire of the stallion and soon the largest herd of miniature horses to feed on for many years to come.
When they approached the area where Night Eyes had his hobbits tied and the stallion too, was no longer there. Hue was just waking up from his bump on his head. Hue seeing this horrifying creature standing before him shook in fear as he tried to run as fast as his legs could carry him, but within seconds Grubdush caught him in one hand and Night Eyes in the other. "The feeding begins." Night Eyes and Hue screamed as Grubdush feasted on them until his belly was full.
This is not the end, Merry still needs to find his stallion and find the large herds that Shadowspirit would lead him to...more chapters to come
===================(
