Chapter 5: Trapped!
Eowyn walks cautiously along the passage. She can barely see because of the darkness that surrounds her. She keeps her left hand on the cold wall for some guidance. Rocks stick out of the walls, making the passage narrow and walking difficult. She can feel herself turning a bend. She looks behind her, peering into the darkness. She does not even see any light from the torches; she has gone far ahead. She rounds the bend and continues through the passage.
A few minutes later she stops suddenly and listens intently. What was that? Eowyn swore she had heard something – what, she did not know. There is silence except for her own breathing. She feels the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. A shiver runs down her spine. She presses her back against the wall and softly walks forward. When she comes to a rock, she ducks behind it. She unsheathes her sword slowly and quietly.
The silence is deafening. The walls of the passage seem to hold their breath… waiting… There! A faint noise reaches Eowyn's ears. Her heart races in her chest. Her hands tighten their grip on the hilt of her sword. The silence and darkness are destroyed.
A faint red glow appears on the walls, the full light being concealed by another bend in the passage ahead. Eowyn now recognizes the sound she hears: it is the clear sound of heavy feet drawing near. The light brightens as it also approaches.
Who could it be? Eowyn wonders, her eyes widening in alarm. She watches the bend ahead fiercely. The footsteps round the corner; the passage is flooded with the light from the torch.
The orc stops and peers ahead. It is dressed in armor, a torch held in its left hand and a sword in its right. It starts forward and draws closer to Eowyn's hiding place.
Eowyn hesitates for a second as the orc is unknowingly almost upon her, then leaps into action. She rushes from behind the rock. The orc is completely surprised by her appearance. A growl of surprise and rage comes from its throat. It swings its sword towards the woman. She ducks; the blade only swipes air. Another howl – this time of pain – escapes its lips; then it crashes to the ground, a gash in its armor.
Eowyn stares with large eyes down at the lifeless orc before her. Her sword and hands are stained in blood. Her breath comes in short gasps. She frowns. Where had the orc come from? Was it alone? Would she and the others be able to get to the mountains?
Growls and shrieks cause Eowyn to snap her head up. Light from torches makes the walls glow faintly as feet pound rapidly down the passage and approach the bend. More orcs! Eowyn realizes. She glances down at the creature at her feet.
"A scout," she hisses to herself angrily.
The orc's cry must have alerted the others. Now they will sweep upon her and then upon the nearly completely defenseless women and children…
Eowyn gasps. They cannot go back; the fortress may have already fallen. And if they do try to go back, the orcs will surely overtake them. Their only chance is to face them. The reality of their situation dawns on the Lady of Rohan.
They are trapped!