Author's Note: Thanks again to my faithful readers and reviewers!
Danny Barefoot: Thanks for your insightful review. *sigh* I really do need to get a life outside of torturing Hobbits. I know what part you are talking about regarding Frodo's response to Sam taking the Ring. It felt repetitive, but necessary since I have to write the story as if no one has ever read one of my bizarre stories before! Anyway, I really appreciate your constructive comments. They meant a lot to me.
Gamgeefest: Well, since you have apparently ripped the Mouth of Sauron's head off, I guess the story is over! You rescued Sam and now everyone can live happily ever after! Well done! LOL!
Sam, Aly, Aemilia, Bookworm2000: Yes, the evil Moraker does deserve to die in searing pain and mortal agony! But what fun would there be if there weren't Evil Bad Guys for us all to hate!?
Anyway, here is the next chapter in a story that was only supposed to be 4 chapters long!
Chapter 9 A Rescue Party
Merry was exhausted and very sore. He was seated on a large horse and firmly held by the man behind him. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever walk on solid ground again. The weary Hobbit looked over his shoulder at the riders on the horse behind and could see Pippin, sitting in front of Jalan, nodding sleepily . Frodo was taking his turn riding on the small pack horse that followed. He too looked bone weary. They had been traveling for well over two weeks toward the eastern land of Rhun. Although they had traveled rapidly during the first week or so, they had slowed to a more comfortable pace. Still, the journey seemed endless. Looking out onto the barren plains surrounding them, Merry thought back to their hasty departure.
"You mustn't tell anyone!" Jalan had cried anxiously. "It would mean the death of your friend and the destruction of my village! Please! My father is no friend of Sauron or the Black Wizard. The wizard killed my mother and brothers. Our king forced all our men to fight for the Dark Lord Sauron. Because of this, my father has agreed to help rescue your friend."
The three Hobbits stared disconcertedly at Jalan, trying to figure out what to do. Although Frodo was more than ready to leave immediately, he realized that doing so without help could very well end in disaster. "If we talk to Gandalf," he began slowly, "He could certainly help save Sam. What would he think if we just disappeared?"
The boy watched Frodo, his smooth face creased in a frown. "I do not know this Gandalf you speak of, but my father and I will be departing for Rhun at dawn tomorrow carrying messages for the king. If you wish to help your friend, Sam, you must come with us then. Alone. If not, he will die. The choice is yours." With that, the boy turned on his heel and strode from the room.
Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were dumbfounded by the boy's abrupt departure. What should they do? Finally, Merry spoke up. "I think we need to go rescue Sam, but I believe we should tell Gandalf first. " His cousins nodded in reluctant agreement. Frodo feared what would happen to Sam if they couldn't get to him in time, but on the other hand, he was hesitant to simply leave without letting Gandalf know what was going on. With worried sighs, the three Hobbits left their apartments and began searching for the white wizard.
Unfortunately, things did not go as expected. After making their way to the Citadel, they came upon Pippin's friend from the Tower guard. "Beregond!" cried Pippin catching the attention of the tall soldier. Beregond turned and smiled in genuine delight at the sight of his friend.
"Ho there, Pippin!" he returned merrily, striding towards them, "I haven't laid eyes on you in days! How are you?"
"I'm fine," replied Pippin hurriedly, "We are trying to find Gandalf. Have you seen him?"
"Aye," nodded Beregond, "He and the King left last night. I heard they would be gone for a day or two. I am not sure what their purpose is, but have no fear, they will be back before you know it."
The Hobbits stared at him in disbelief. "Left?" cried Frodo, "You're certain of this?"
Beregond eyed the halflings with growing concern. "I saw them ride out myself. In fact, I was to bring you the message. Is there a problem?"
Frodo was about to speak when he spied Jalan and a tall Easterling soldier staring at them from across the courtyard. "That must be Jalan's father," he thought absently, but it was the fearful look on Jalan's face that stopped Frodo from saying anything about Sam. "No," he said instead, still looking Jalan, "No, we just wanted to speak with him, that's all." He glanced up at Beregond's concerned face. "Thank you." He and the others turned and started glumly back towards their apartments. It seemed as if their decision had been made for them. If they did not leave with Jalan and his father in the morning, then they were condemning Sam to unspeakable suffering and undoubtedly a prolonged death. They had no choice. They must leave at dawn.
So, here they were miles and miles from Minas Tirith, skirting the northern edge of Mordor. Jalan's father, Radak, had proven to be a taciturn man who spoke only when necessary. He had confirmed Jalan's story about Sam and his own hatred of Sauron and his evil minion. He made it quite clear, however, although that he was willing to help them, he was not willing to place his son in danger. Somehow, that was almost reassuring to the nervous Hobbits. There was always the fear that this was some sort of trap.
Pippin awoke with a jerk as he began to slide off the horse. Only Jalan's quick reflexes prevented him from sprawling into the dust below. "How much farther is it to your village?" he asked the boy testily . Like Merry, Pippin was thoroughly fed up with horses and travel. Plus, there simply was not enough eating involved in this trip. These Easterlings were stingy with their rations and Pippin missed the abundant tables of Minas Tirith.
The boy sighed irritably, refusing to answer the same question this Hobbit seem to ask almost hourly. Jalan found these halflings particularly vexing. They were not warriors, which were truly the only people of any importance. He himself would be a warrior someday and as far as he was concerned, these halflings were of little more use than children. He found it very difficult to believe that they had supposedly accomplished great feats of bravery. Frodo, the one behind him, was said to have carried the Ring of Power for many months across Middle Earth, to the very gates of Mordor itself. The one sitting before him, Pippin, was said to have rescued Lord Faramir of Gondor from certain death. Merry, riding with Jalan's father helped destroy the Witch King himself! And of course, there was the one already imprisoned by the Black Wizard. That one was supposed to have destroyed Lord Sauron's Ring. Jalan shook his head. It was beyond comprehension.
They had come to the crest of a rise in the land and Jalan pulled his horse to a stop as his father halted in front of him. Radak turned to his son and the Hobbits. "There," he said pointing out over the plain before him. Frodo could see far in the distance the ragged profile of a mountain range. He turned to the Easterling.
"Sam is there?" he asked anxiously. Pippin and Merry turned to look at Radak. The man nodded slowly.
"Yes," he replied. "Our village is in the southern part of those mountains. The Black Wizard dwells not far from there. Your friend is his captive."
Frodo pressed his lips together as he felt the pain of Sam's predicament anew. He looked again at the Easterlings before him. "Will you be able to help us rescue Sam?" he asked. "We are strangers in your land and will need guides. We would be much indebted to you, if you could help."
Radak stared at Frodo through narrowed eyes, his face inscrutable as if he were seriously considering the wisdom in helping rescue the captive Hobbit. In reality, he was envisioning the enjoyment he would experience when he turned these little rats over to the Mouth of Sauron. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Yes, I will help you find your friend."
**************************************************************************** *************
Gandalf and Aragorn had been gone longer than they had intended on their mysterious quest. Upon their return, they brought with them a young sapling to replace the skeletal remains of the White Tree, a new symbol of life representing the Return of the King. Aragorn had enjoyed the days he and Gandalf had spent in solitude in the mountains. He didn't realize how exhausted he was and felt rejuvenated upon his return.
He and Gandalf strolled down the hallway towards the Hobbits' apartments. They had just met with Gimli and Legolas who had been abroad exploring Ithilien. Now, they were going to find their Hobbit friends. Gandalf had worried some about leaving them so suddenly, but it was necessary. However, he was secure in the knowledge that no harm could come to the halflings while in the White City.
They soon approached the apartment where the Hobbits had been staying. Gandalf rapped on the door with his staff calling, "Frodo! Merry! Pippin! Are you there?" They waited a moment, but there was no answer. Gandalf glanced at Aragorn, shrugged, then pushed open the door. The two men stepped in and looked around. Aragorn frowned and hurried into the apartment and calling through the chambers. The apartment was empty and it was apparent that most of the Hobbits' belongings were gone.
"Where are they?" cried Aragorn in alarm, turning about, continuing to survey the room, hoping to find a clue as to their whereabouts. He turned to Gandalf who stood frozen behind him, a small piece of parchment clutched in his hands.
Gandalf's eyes were full of worry as he held the parchment to Aragorn. "They've left to rescue Sam." was all he said. Aragorn stared at him in confusion as he took the note to read for himself.
"How can this be!?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Why would they go off by themselves with an Easterling soldier no less!?" He slowly lowered himself onto a stool, continuing to stare at the mysterious message. He looked up at the wizard. "Do you honestly believe Sam might still be alive?" he asked quietly. "The note says this boy had Galadriel's gift to Frodo, the light of Earendil. Frodo believed it to be in Sam's possession."
Gandalf began to pace the room, deep in thought. He knew they must act quickly, but where had the Hobbits gone? All the note said was "Rhun" and Rhun was a vast land. They already had a week's head start and without exact knowledge of their destination, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Although he did not know who was behind this, he had no doubt this was a trap and cursed himself for not returning sooner. He halted. As to Sam, that was another mystery. Could the final Ringbearer still be alive? If so, how was he captured and who was this "Black Wizard" Frodo mentioned? He turned again to Aragorn. "I do not know if Sam is still lives," he replied, his voice tense, "The important thing is that Frodo, Merry, and Pippin believe it to be true, otherwise they would not have left like this. I believe this is a trap of some sort and unless we can find them soon, we doubt we will ever see our friends alive again."
Danny Barefoot: Thanks for your insightful review. *sigh* I really do need to get a life outside of torturing Hobbits. I know what part you are talking about regarding Frodo's response to Sam taking the Ring. It felt repetitive, but necessary since I have to write the story as if no one has ever read one of my bizarre stories before! Anyway, I really appreciate your constructive comments. They meant a lot to me.
Gamgeefest: Well, since you have apparently ripped the Mouth of Sauron's head off, I guess the story is over! You rescued Sam and now everyone can live happily ever after! Well done! LOL!
Sam, Aly, Aemilia, Bookworm2000: Yes, the evil Moraker does deserve to die in searing pain and mortal agony! But what fun would there be if there weren't Evil Bad Guys for us all to hate!?
Anyway, here is the next chapter in a story that was only supposed to be 4 chapters long!
Chapter 9 A Rescue Party
Merry was exhausted and very sore. He was seated on a large horse and firmly held by the man behind him. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever walk on solid ground again. The weary Hobbit looked over his shoulder at the riders on the horse behind and could see Pippin, sitting in front of Jalan, nodding sleepily . Frodo was taking his turn riding on the small pack horse that followed. He too looked bone weary. They had been traveling for well over two weeks toward the eastern land of Rhun. Although they had traveled rapidly during the first week or so, they had slowed to a more comfortable pace. Still, the journey seemed endless. Looking out onto the barren plains surrounding them, Merry thought back to their hasty departure.
"You mustn't tell anyone!" Jalan had cried anxiously. "It would mean the death of your friend and the destruction of my village! Please! My father is no friend of Sauron or the Black Wizard. The wizard killed my mother and brothers. Our king forced all our men to fight for the Dark Lord Sauron. Because of this, my father has agreed to help rescue your friend."
The three Hobbits stared disconcertedly at Jalan, trying to figure out what to do. Although Frodo was more than ready to leave immediately, he realized that doing so without help could very well end in disaster. "If we talk to Gandalf," he began slowly, "He could certainly help save Sam. What would he think if we just disappeared?"
The boy watched Frodo, his smooth face creased in a frown. "I do not know this Gandalf you speak of, but my father and I will be departing for Rhun at dawn tomorrow carrying messages for the king. If you wish to help your friend, Sam, you must come with us then. Alone. If not, he will die. The choice is yours." With that, the boy turned on his heel and strode from the room.
Frodo, Merry, and Pippin were dumbfounded by the boy's abrupt departure. What should they do? Finally, Merry spoke up. "I think we need to go rescue Sam, but I believe we should tell Gandalf first. " His cousins nodded in reluctant agreement. Frodo feared what would happen to Sam if they couldn't get to him in time, but on the other hand, he was hesitant to simply leave without letting Gandalf know what was going on. With worried sighs, the three Hobbits left their apartments and began searching for the white wizard.
Unfortunately, things did not go as expected. After making their way to the Citadel, they came upon Pippin's friend from the Tower guard. "Beregond!" cried Pippin catching the attention of the tall soldier. Beregond turned and smiled in genuine delight at the sight of his friend.
"Ho there, Pippin!" he returned merrily, striding towards them, "I haven't laid eyes on you in days! How are you?"
"I'm fine," replied Pippin hurriedly, "We are trying to find Gandalf. Have you seen him?"
"Aye," nodded Beregond, "He and the King left last night. I heard they would be gone for a day or two. I am not sure what their purpose is, but have no fear, they will be back before you know it."
The Hobbits stared at him in disbelief. "Left?" cried Frodo, "You're certain of this?"
Beregond eyed the halflings with growing concern. "I saw them ride out myself. In fact, I was to bring you the message. Is there a problem?"
Frodo was about to speak when he spied Jalan and a tall Easterling soldier staring at them from across the courtyard. "That must be Jalan's father," he thought absently, but it was the fearful look on Jalan's face that stopped Frodo from saying anything about Sam. "No," he said instead, still looking Jalan, "No, we just wanted to speak with him, that's all." He glanced up at Beregond's concerned face. "Thank you." He and the others turned and started glumly back towards their apartments. It seemed as if their decision had been made for them. If they did not leave with Jalan and his father in the morning, then they were condemning Sam to unspeakable suffering and undoubtedly a prolonged death. They had no choice. They must leave at dawn.
So, here they were miles and miles from Minas Tirith, skirting the northern edge of Mordor. Jalan's father, Radak, had proven to be a taciturn man who spoke only when necessary. He had confirmed Jalan's story about Sam and his own hatred of Sauron and his evil minion. He made it quite clear, however, although that he was willing to help them, he was not willing to place his son in danger. Somehow, that was almost reassuring to the nervous Hobbits. There was always the fear that this was some sort of trap.
Pippin awoke with a jerk as he began to slide off the horse. Only Jalan's quick reflexes prevented him from sprawling into the dust below. "How much farther is it to your village?" he asked the boy testily . Like Merry, Pippin was thoroughly fed up with horses and travel. Plus, there simply was not enough eating involved in this trip. These Easterlings were stingy with their rations and Pippin missed the abundant tables of Minas Tirith.
The boy sighed irritably, refusing to answer the same question this Hobbit seem to ask almost hourly. Jalan found these halflings particularly vexing. They were not warriors, which were truly the only people of any importance. He himself would be a warrior someday and as far as he was concerned, these halflings were of little more use than children. He found it very difficult to believe that they had supposedly accomplished great feats of bravery. Frodo, the one behind him, was said to have carried the Ring of Power for many months across Middle Earth, to the very gates of Mordor itself. The one sitting before him, Pippin, was said to have rescued Lord Faramir of Gondor from certain death. Merry, riding with Jalan's father helped destroy the Witch King himself! And of course, there was the one already imprisoned by the Black Wizard. That one was supposed to have destroyed Lord Sauron's Ring. Jalan shook his head. It was beyond comprehension.
They had come to the crest of a rise in the land and Jalan pulled his horse to a stop as his father halted in front of him. Radak turned to his son and the Hobbits. "There," he said pointing out over the plain before him. Frodo could see far in the distance the ragged profile of a mountain range. He turned to the Easterling.
"Sam is there?" he asked anxiously. Pippin and Merry turned to look at Radak. The man nodded slowly.
"Yes," he replied. "Our village is in the southern part of those mountains. The Black Wizard dwells not far from there. Your friend is his captive."
Frodo pressed his lips together as he felt the pain of Sam's predicament anew. He looked again at the Easterlings before him. "Will you be able to help us rescue Sam?" he asked. "We are strangers in your land and will need guides. We would be much indebted to you, if you could help."
Radak stared at Frodo through narrowed eyes, his face inscrutable as if he were seriously considering the wisdom in helping rescue the captive Hobbit. In reality, he was envisioning the enjoyment he would experience when he turned these little rats over to the Mouth of Sauron. Finally, he gave a curt nod. "Yes, I will help you find your friend."
**************************************************************************** *************
Gandalf and Aragorn had been gone longer than they had intended on their mysterious quest. Upon their return, they brought with them a young sapling to replace the skeletal remains of the White Tree, a new symbol of life representing the Return of the King. Aragorn had enjoyed the days he and Gandalf had spent in solitude in the mountains. He didn't realize how exhausted he was and felt rejuvenated upon his return.
He and Gandalf strolled down the hallway towards the Hobbits' apartments. They had just met with Gimli and Legolas who had been abroad exploring Ithilien. Now, they were going to find their Hobbit friends. Gandalf had worried some about leaving them so suddenly, but it was necessary. However, he was secure in the knowledge that no harm could come to the halflings while in the White City.
They soon approached the apartment where the Hobbits had been staying. Gandalf rapped on the door with his staff calling, "Frodo! Merry! Pippin! Are you there?" They waited a moment, but there was no answer. Gandalf glanced at Aragorn, shrugged, then pushed open the door. The two men stepped in and looked around. Aragorn frowned and hurried into the apartment and calling through the chambers. The apartment was empty and it was apparent that most of the Hobbits' belongings were gone.
"Where are they?" cried Aragorn in alarm, turning about, continuing to survey the room, hoping to find a clue as to their whereabouts. He turned to Gandalf who stood frozen behind him, a small piece of parchment clutched in his hands.
Gandalf's eyes were full of worry as he held the parchment to Aragorn. "They've left to rescue Sam." was all he said. Aragorn stared at him in confusion as he took the note to read for himself.
"How can this be!?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Why would they go off by themselves with an Easterling soldier no less!?" He slowly lowered himself onto a stool, continuing to stare at the mysterious message. He looked up at the wizard. "Do you honestly believe Sam might still be alive?" he asked quietly. "The note says this boy had Galadriel's gift to Frodo, the light of Earendil. Frodo believed it to be in Sam's possession."
Gandalf began to pace the room, deep in thought. He knew they must act quickly, but where had the Hobbits gone? All the note said was "Rhun" and Rhun was a vast land. They already had a week's head start and without exact knowledge of their destination, it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack. Although he did not know who was behind this, he had no doubt this was a trap and cursed himself for not returning sooner. He halted. As to Sam, that was another mystery. Could the final Ringbearer still be alive? If so, how was he captured and who was this "Black Wizard" Frodo mentioned? He turned again to Aragorn. "I do not know if Sam is still lives," he replied, his voice tense, "The important thing is that Frodo, Merry, and Pippin believe it to be true, otherwise they would not have left like this. I believe this is a trap of some sort and unless we can find them soon, we doubt we will ever see our friends alive again."