Author's Note: OK guys, here is the update. I wasn't sure if I would have
time to post it this quickly or not. The next one might take a bit longer,
though!
Irish Flying Fish: I do try to proofread as carefully as possible, but it always seems like later on I find some little thing I missed! Drives me nuts! As for your questions, well, I'm sure some will be answered in this chapter.
Thanks again everyone for taking the time to review and comment!
Chapter 5 Lost and Found
Gorek, the Uruk-hai had been traveling without rest for a day and a half. It didn't matter to him. He could keep this up indefinitely. He carried a large rock with him. Saruman had warned him that elven trackers would notice a difference in his tracks after he sent off the hobbit and Gorek was to insure that his pursuers never suspected the hobbit had been out of his grasp. The burly Uruk was traveling along a ridge waiting for the return of the condor. All he had to do was keep ahead of the ones trailing him and then leave the hobbit for them to find when it was returned to him. It was daybreak on the morning of the third day when he heard the distant scream of the great condor. Gorek stopped and roared his response. He stood still and scanned the skies to the south. A short time later, the black bird came soaring into view. Gorek waited patiently as it approached him, finally hovering just above his head. Gorek threw his rock down into the ravine then reached up and took the bundle into his massive arms. With a flurry of feathers and another piercing scream, the condor took off.
Gorek laid the bundle down onto the ground and carefully unwrapped it. As he expected, the hobbit lay unconscious, a dagger protruding from his chest. It was apparent the creature had lost a fair amount a blood, but it hadn't reached a dangerous level yet. Gorek knew his pursuers were no more than a couple of hours behind. His instructions had been to allow them to stay reasonably close. Now he knew why. He stared at the hobbit a few more moments, got to his feet and casually trotted off into the forest. His job was done.
Legolas and Aragorn felt certain they were getting closer. Elrond had dispatched another elf to find them when they had not returned after a short time and Aragorn had sent him back with the news of what they had discovered. He and Legolas would continue to follow the orc and hopefully rescue Sam. It disturbed them both that this orc seemed to have no trouble traveling in daylight. Gandalf had mentioned to Aragorn that Saruman had been breeding a kind of "super orc". One able to travel in sunlight and far more powerful than the usual orc kind they had encountered in the past. Legolas showed little sign of weariness, but the unrelenting pace for two days was taking its toll on Aragorn. Although he was a Ranger, he was still human.
It was nearing midday on the third day after Sam's capture. Aragorn knew they were no more than an hour or two behind their quarry. He realized that they were many leagues from Isengard, but if there were more of these Uruk-hai waiting for the one they trailed, they might never catch up with Sam. Aragorn was deep in these disturbing thoughts when Legolas suddenly grabbed his arm. "Aragorn!" he hissed, pulling Aragorn to a halt.
Aragorn glanced first at his friend, then up the steep hill where the elf was pointing. They could see vultures circling the area above them. Aragorn looked at the ground at his feet, frowning. The tracks they were following led to a narrow path which wound towards the top of the ridge. He glanced again at his companion. "Come on!" he said anxiously. Together, the raced to the ridgetop, fearing what they might find. When they burst through the trees into the open space beside the cliff edge, they halted in alarm. "Sam!" gasped Aragorn, his eyes wide in horror.
There, near the edge of the cliff, lay a small, bloodied figure, a blade rising from his chest, glinting in the bright sunlight. Aragorn stood there for only a moment, then scrambled to the side of the unconscious hobbit and falling to his knees beside him. "Oh, Sam!" whispered Aragorn mournfully staring at the hobbit's bruised and bloodied face, "We are too late!"
"No!" cried Legolas eagerly, "Look! He still breathes!" Aragorn studied Sam more closely and realized Legolas was right. Although such a wound should have killed him, Sam was still alive!
Knowing he must act quickly if he were to save Sam's life, Aragorn slowly and carefully pulled the blade from Sam's chest and covered the angry wound with a piece of cloth Legolas had torn from his shirt. Blood quickly soaked the fabric, but Aragorn knew he could be bleeding much more severely inside. Tearing off more cloth, he bound Sam's wounds as tightly as he could, then lifted the small body into his arms. "Come, Legolas!" he said urgently, "We must return him to Rivendell as quickly as possible!"
Legolas and Aragorn sped through the woods, back towards Rivendell. Sam was weak and burning with fever, but still holding his own. Aragorn searched the woods for the athelas plant, using it to help fight off infection. The hobbit was badly dehydrated and had lost a lot of blood. Aragorn prayed he would still be alive when they reached the haven of the elves.
Merry and Pippin had not left Frodo's side since the elf returned with word of Sam's capture by an orc. The hobbits were not quite sure what an orc was, other than it was highly dangerous and often a minion of the Dark Lord. Frodo fretted and worried so much about his friend, that Elrond forced him to take a calming potion so that he would not set his own recovery back. Pippin and Merry were equally concerned. They had almost lost Frodo to the demonic Ringwraiths on Weathertop, but they never would have dreamed there could be such danger here in Rivendell. Merry had been watching the elves around him and he could tell they were disturbed and angry that such a thing could happen this close to the Last Homely House.
Sam had now been missing close to five days. Frodo stared out the doorway of his room, watching for any sign of Aragorn's return. He knew that if anyone could find Sam, it would be the Ranger. But would Sam still be alive? Frodo leaned his head wearily against the back of his couch. He couldn't stay in bed, but did consent to lay on the soft couch placed where he could watch. He closed his eyes and sighed. Impatience had been replaced by a cold, numbing fear. If anything had happened to Sam, Frodo was not sure he could ever forgive himself. As he lay there considering how he would tell the Gaffer if Sam didn't return, he was disturbed from his reverie by a distant shout. Frodo's eyes snapped open and his two friends hurried to the doorway.
An elf was sprinting up the hill towards Elrond's chambers. The three hobbits saw Elrond, Gandalf and some others hurry out to meet him. After a brief conference, the elf sped back the way he had come, Elrond turned and disappeared inside and Gandalf hurried towards the waiting hobbits.
"Have they found him?" cried Frodo anxiously as Gandalf entered the chamber, "Is he alright?"
"Yes, they have found him," replied Gandalf grimly, "But he has been seriously wounded. Aragorn sent a messenger ahead so that we might prepare for Sam." He gripped Frodo's trembling shoulder. "Frodo, he may not live. He lost a good deal of blood and I do not know if the blade with which he was wounded contained poison. We must be prepared for the worst."
Tears had formed in the eyes of each of the hobbits as they took in Gandalf's somber words. Even after Frodo's near brush, they still had difficulty in believing that any of them could truly be killed. "I must go help Elrond now," said Gandalf solemnly. "I will send word as soon as we know anything. Please wait here until I send for you." With that, the tall wizard swept from the room and strode back towards Elrond's chambers.
The three hobbits waited fearfully until Pippin cried, "There they are!" Aragorn and Legolas could be seen racing up the hill along the garden path towards the buildings. Aragorn, his face grey with exhaustion, was holding Sam's limp body in his arms. He glance up towards Frodo's room and met the hobbit's anxious eyes with his own, but never faltered in his pace. Frodo watched as his friends disappeared inside.
Merry placed his hand on Frodo's shoulder. "He'll be alright, Frodo," he said as much to reassure himself as his cousin. "Sam's tough. You'll see!" Frodo, unable to speak, simply nodded. Pippin moved closer to the other two, trying to gain some comfort from his two remaining friends.
Irish Flying Fish: I do try to proofread as carefully as possible, but it always seems like later on I find some little thing I missed! Drives me nuts! As for your questions, well, I'm sure some will be answered in this chapter.
Thanks again everyone for taking the time to review and comment!
Chapter 5 Lost and Found
Gorek, the Uruk-hai had been traveling without rest for a day and a half. It didn't matter to him. He could keep this up indefinitely. He carried a large rock with him. Saruman had warned him that elven trackers would notice a difference in his tracks after he sent off the hobbit and Gorek was to insure that his pursuers never suspected the hobbit had been out of his grasp. The burly Uruk was traveling along a ridge waiting for the return of the condor. All he had to do was keep ahead of the ones trailing him and then leave the hobbit for them to find when it was returned to him. It was daybreak on the morning of the third day when he heard the distant scream of the great condor. Gorek stopped and roared his response. He stood still and scanned the skies to the south. A short time later, the black bird came soaring into view. Gorek waited patiently as it approached him, finally hovering just above his head. Gorek threw his rock down into the ravine then reached up and took the bundle into his massive arms. With a flurry of feathers and another piercing scream, the condor took off.
Gorek laid the bundle down onto the ground and carefully unwrapped it. As he expected, the hobbit lay unconscious, a dagger protruding from his chest. It was apparent the creature had lost a fair amount a blood, but it hadn't reached a dangerous level yet. Gorek knew his pursuers were no more than a couple of hours behind. His instructions had been to allow them to stay reasonably close. Now he knew why. He stared at the hobbit a few more moments, got to his feet and casually trotted off into the forest. His job was done.
Legolas and Aragorn felt certain they were getting closer. Elrond had dispatched another elf to find them when they had not returned after a short time and Aragorn had sent him back with the news of what they had discovered. He and Legolas would continue to follow the orc and hopefully rescue Sam. It disturbed them both that this orc seemed to have no trouble traveling in daylight. Gandalf had mentioned to Aragorn that Saruman had been breeding a kind of "super orc". One able to travel in sunlight and far more powerful than the usual orc kind they had encountered in the past. Legolas showed little sign of weariness, but the unrelenting pace for two days was taking its toll on Aragorn. Although he was a Ranger, he was still human.
It was nearing midday on the third day after Sam's capture. Aragorn knew they were no more than an hour or two behind their quarry. He realized that they were many leagues from Isengard, but if there were more of these Uruk-hai waiting for the one they trailed, they might never catch up with Sam. Aragorn was deep in these disturbing thoughts when Legolas suddenly grabbed his arm. "Aragorn!" he hissed, pulling Aragorn to a halt.
Aragorn glanced first at his friend, then up the steep hill where the elf was pointing. They could see vultures circling the area above them. Aragorn looked at the ground at his feet, frowning. The tracks they were following led to a narrow path which wound towards the top of the ridge. He glanced again at his companion. "Come on!" he said anxiously. Together, the raced to the ridgetop, fearing what they might find. When they burst through the trees into the open space beside the cliff edge, they halted in alarm. "Sam!" gasped Aragorn, his eyes wide in horror.
There, near the edge of the cliff, lay a small, bloodied figure, a blade rising from his chest, glinting in the bright sunlight. Aragorn stood there for only a moment, then scrambled to the side of the unconscious hobbit and falling to his knees beside him. "Oh, Sam!" whispered Aragorn mournfully staring at the hobbit's bruised and bloodied face, "We are too late!"
"No!" cried Legolas eagerly, "Look! He still breathes!" Aragorn studied Sam more closely and realized Legolas was right. Although such a wound should have killed him, Sam was still alive!
Knowing he must act quickly if he were to save Sam's life, Aragorn slowly and carefully pulled the blade from Sam's chest and covered the angry wound with a piece of cloth Legolas had torn from his shirt. Blood quickly soaked the fabric, but Aragorn knew he could be bleeding much more severely inside. Tearing off more cloth, he bound Sam's wounds as tightly as he could, then lifted the small body into his arms. "Come, Legolas!" he said urgently, "We must return him to Rivendell as quickly as possible!"
Legolas and Aragorn sped through the woods, back towards Rivendell. Sam was weak and burning with fever, but still holding his own. Aragorn searched the woods for the athelas plant, using it to help fight off infection. The hobbit was badly dehydrated and had lost a lot of blood. Aragorn prayed he would still be alive when they reached the haven of the elves.
Merry and Pippin had not left Frodo's side since the elf returned with word of Sam's capture by an orc. The hobbits were not quite sure what an orc was, other than it was highly dangerous and often a minion of the Dark Lord. Frodo fretted and worried so much about his friend, that Elrond forced him to take a calming potion so that he would not set his own recovery back. Pippin and Merry were equally concerned. They had almost lost Frodo to the demonic Ringwraiths on Weathertop, but they never would have dreamed there could be such danger here in Rivendell. Merry had been watching the elves around him and he could tell they were disturbed and angry that such a thing could happen this close to the Last Homely House.
Sam had now been missing close to five days. Frodo stared out the doorway of his room, watching for any sign of Aragorn's return. He knew that if anyone could find Sam, it would be the Ranger. But would Sam still be alive? Frodo leaned his head wearily against the back of his couch. He couldn't stay in bed, but did consent to lay on the soft couch placed where he could watch. He closed his eyes and sighed. Impatience had been replaced by a cold, numbing fear. If anything had happened to Sam, Frodo was not sure he could ever forgive himself. As he lay there considering how he would tell the Gaffer if Sam didn't return, he was disturbed from his reverie by a distant shout. Frodo's eyes snapped open and his two friends hurried to the doorway.
An elf was sprinting up the hill towards Elrond's chambers. The three hobbits saw Elrond, Gandalf and some others hurry out to meet him. After a brief conference, the elf sped back the way he had come, Elrond turned and disappeared inside and Gandalf hurried towards the waiting hobbits.
"Have they found him?" cried Frodo anxiously as Gandalf entered the chamber, "Is he alright?"
"Yes, they have found him," replied Gandalf grimly, "But he has been seriously wounded. Aragorn sent a messenger ahead so that we might prepare for Sam." He gripped Frodo's trembling shoulder. "Frodo, he may not live. He lost a good deal of blood and I do not know if the blade with which he was wounded contained poison. We must be prepared for the worst."
Tears had formed in the eyes of each of the hobbits as they took in Gandalf's somber words. Even after Frodo's near brush, they still had difficulty in believing that any of them could truly be killed. "I must go help Elrond now," said Gandalf solemnly. "I will send word as soon as we know anything. Please wait here until I send for you." With that, the tall wizard swept from the room and strode back towards Elrond's chambers.
The three hobbits waited fearfully until Pippin cried, "There they are!" Aragorn and Legolas could be seen racing up the hill along the garden path towards the buildings. Aragorn, his face grey with exhaustion, was holding Sam's limp body in his arms. He glance up towards Frodo's room and met the hobbit's anxious eyes with his own, but never faltered in his pace. Frodo watched as his friends disappeared inside.
Merry placed his hand on Frodo's shoulder. "He'll be alright, Frodo," he said as much to reassure himself as his cousin. "Sam's tough. You'll see!" Frodo, unable to speak, simply nodded. Pippin moved closer to the other two, trying to gain some comfort from his two remaining friends.