Chapter 3
Legolas could hear Boromir shouting his name and knew the Man was coming after him, along with Aragorn. He almost wished they wouldn't. He knew they were easily outnumbered, and there was no way he could help his friends if they became overwhelmed. He fidgeted once more and growled low. Damn these Uruk Hai, he thought bitterly. His ears pricked as he heard more rolling in the earth beneath them. Clearly, more of the beasts had joined his captors. Legolas strained to see. Much to his relief, he found that the new additions to the band of Uruks had Merry and Pippin. They were unharmed, thankfully, although they looked absolutely horrified.
" Tithen Periannath ", he called to them almost cheerfully.
" Shut ye hole, Elf ", one of the Uruks spat, annoyed by the Elvish.
" I would shut yours considering the shape your teeth are in ", Legolas countered indignantly.
The Uruk's eyes flared. " I wouldn't be so smart if I were you. And my teeth are
perfect for ripping meat off bone. Fortunately, Elf meat is very tender ", it taunted.
Legolas only gave it a hard stare. He really, really wanted to kill something now. But luckily, he had gotten Merry and Pippin's attention. They eyed him with fright clearly visible on their faces. He tried to give them a reassuring gaze back, but he knew nothing could really lighten the mood now. Merry and Pippin dare not answer the Elf, lest they might find a harsh fate. Legolas rolled his eyes whilst no one was looking as he listened to the growls and grunts of the Dwarf ahead of him.
Aragorn finally became level with Boromir as the two men sprinted after the Uruks. Both had seen Merry and Pippin join the Elf and Dwarf. Only Frodo and Sam were missing now. Against his own hope, the ranger had a feeling the other two Hobbits would be joining them shortly. Boromir and Aragorn finally gained on the Uruks and charged at them boldly with a cry of announcement. Both their swords struck deep into hard flesh and a multitude of noise rose up in the wood once more. As the two men began to fight once more, Legolas struggled to see them. He knew they were outnumbered, and the Uruks who were not carrying Gimli, the Hobbits, or himself now moved to surround the two mortals. The Elf, much to his utter vexation, was carried off away from Aragorn and Boromir, along with the Hobbits and Dwarf.
Metal clanged, as it struck metal, Anduril visibly surpassing the common Uruk scimitar. The ranger called Strider fought them with all diligence, side by side with Boromir. He tried to fend them off away from his friend, considering the fact that Boromir was seriously wounded, despite the Man's will to fight on. His sword interlocked with his opponent's, and he drew the Elven blade Lord Celeborn had given him in Lorien only days before. deep into the belly of the Uruk, it delved. Yet the beast only growled in reply, baring its teeth at the ranger before making a swipe at his head. Aragorn moved out of range as more of the foul creatures advanced on him. He sensed Boromir faithfully flanking him on his left and bracing himself. Yet before they were reached, Boromir grunted as he fell to the ground. An Uruk had kicked him from behind at the ankles. Boromir only had two inches between his face and the jagged tip of the beast's scimitar. Aragorn froze as it stared at him fixedly.
" Now drop your weapon or watch me kill him ", the Uruk threatened lowly.
Aragorn hesitated for a moment as Boromir shot him a look that threatened to kill the ranger if he obeyed the monster. But the ranger had no doubt Boromir's life would be forfeit if he resisted, and therefore dropped Anduril at the Uruk's feet in surrender. An evil smirk crossed the Uruk's face.
" Foolish Man ", it uttered. " Always have to be noble."
Aragorn only returned the look coldly. Behind him, the other beasts released subdued laughter.
" Bind them and bring them along. We must catch up with the others ", the Uruk ordered the ones behind the ranger. Aragorn locked eyes with the beast for a moment, fire meeting fire. The creature withdrew his scimitar from Boromir's face and the other Uruks came upon the two Men to bind them as prisoners.
" Mr. Frodo ", Sam cried as he hurried through the wood. " Mr. Frodo, wait." Finally, he reached the shore where their things had been left, only to see Frodo already halfway across the river in one of the boats.
" Go back, Sam ", he shouted at his faithful best friend. " I'm going to Mordor alone."
" Of course you are ", Sam replied. " And I'm coming with you." The Hobbit began to wade forward in the river with haste. He got further and further until he could no longer stand, being short as Hobbits were.
" You can't swim ", Frodo reminded, who knew everything there was to know about his best friend.
Yet Sam would not see reason. He continued until finally he sunk below the water, struggling. He was sinking into the depths and losing sight of the light.
" Sam ", Frodo cried desperately, terrified that his beloved friend might have drowned.
Sam's body was still and floating, until a hand plunged into the water above him and grabbed his hand. It woke him from his reverie, and he grasped it, before he was pulled from the river and into the boat. He sat up and stared into Frodo's big, unearthly blue eyes that were shining with unshed tears. Yet before they could say anything, a great commotion was heard from the western shore. Uruks were visibly coming at them. Both their round Hobbit eyes widened. Frodo scrambled for the oars as the beasts splashed loudly in the water. He began to row as Sam looked on in horror, but it was no use. The beasts easily reached them and the two Hobbits went screaming as they were plucked from their boat.
Before they knew it, Frodo and Sam were thrown to the ground in the midst of Uruk Hai. There also was Merry and Pippin, looking equally horrified. The four Hobbits gathered themselves together and cowered fearfully under the scrutiny of the Uruks. Gimli the Dwarf was there as well, looking particularly irate indeed. Boromir and Aragorn were grounded beside each other, eyeing the Uruks warily. Legolas the Elf was one his knees, his hands bound behind him like the Men, glaring murderously at any Uruk who dared to meet his gaze. Frodo wondered how the Elf could be so fearless.
" Now, we have them all, I think ", said the Uruk who had addressed Aragorn before. He was apparently the leader. " You know our orders. Anyone out of line will be our meat supply tonight ", he warned his followers. There were a few low noises of protest. Legolas made a face of disgust. Cannibalism. Such lowly creatures of the slime, these were.
" You know orders as well, Ugluk ", reminded on of the other Uruks. " Why do we keep them alive? The Master doesn't want to deal with them alive."
" I thought for you boys that we might keep them around for a while and have some fun ", Ugluk answered deviously.
The others all nodded, smirked, or laughed in near delight at the prospect of having " fun " with the fellowship. The Hobbits quaked in fear, whilst the others exchanged uneasy looks.
" Now, get up, all of yah. The Halflings will be carried. The rest of you will walk in proper order or suffer the consequences. Don't waste time in pondering escape. Your attempts will be futile ", the beast told the Nine. Some of the Uruks picked up the Hobbits and put them on their backs. Gimli grunted as he was forced on his feet, and Aragorn and Boromir followed. Others amongst the Uruks carried their weapons, all swords, blades, Gimli's ax, and Legolas' beloved bow. The Elf wanted to slaughter the one that tainted it with its black hands. While all of the fellowship had stood, Legolas still remained on his knees.
" Did you not hear me with those pointed ears of yours? Up ", Ugluk shouted at the Elf.
Boromir, Gimli, and Aragorn all eyed their Elf friend warily. Legolas looked up at Ugluk with frigid eyes.
" I am a warrior and prince. I do not answer to you, nor do I obey your orders ", he informed Ugluk audaciously. The faces of the Men and Dwarf fell at his words.
" Oh, really? ", Ugluk replied. Then, the Uruk's hand came down hard upon the Elf's left cheek, snapping Legolas' head to the right. Gimli and Boromir jumped a bit at the noise and Aragorn had to restrain himself from attacking the Uruk.
" Now, get up lest you wish for me to damage that pretty little neck of yours ", Ugluk commanded. Legolas rose his head back to look at him once more, his cheek red. He stood and became eye level with Ugluk, his hands still bound behind him.
" Unless I did not have the task to kill you yet before me, I wouldn't resist being beheaded. At least then, I wouldn't have to look upon your foul face again ", he murmured slowly.
The Men and Dwarf cringed, yet Ugluk did nothing but let out a low growl, before pushing them all along. It would be a long road to Isengard indeed.
Legolas could hear Boromir shouting his name and knew the Man was coming after him, along with Aragorn. He almost wished they wouldn't. He knew they were easily outnumbered, and there was no way he could help his friends if they became overwhelmed. He fidgeted once more and growled low. Damn these Uruk Hai, he thought bitterly. His ears pricked as he heard more rolling in the earth beneath them. Clearly, more of the beasts had joined his captors. Legolas strained to see. Much to his relief, he found that the new additions to the band of Uruks had Merry and Pippin. They were unharmed, thankfully, although they looked absolutely horrified.
" Tithen Periannath ", he called to them almost cheerfully.
" Shut ye hole, Elf ", one of the Uruks spat, annoyed by the Elvish.
" I would shut yours considering the shape your teeth are in ", Legolas countered indignantly.
The Uruk's eyes flared. " I wouldn't be so smart if I were you. And my teeth are
perfect for ripping meat off bone. Fortunately, Elf meat is very tender ", it taunted.
Legolas only gave it a hard stare. He really, really wanted to kill something now. But luckily, he had gotten Merry and Pippin's attention. They eyed him with fright clearly visible on their faces. He tried to give them a reassuring gaze back, but he knew nothing could really lighten the mood now. Merry and Pippin dare not answer the Elf, lest they might find a harsh fate. Legolas rolled his eyes whilst no one was looking as he listened to the growls and grunts of the Dwarf ahead of him.
Aragorn finally became level with Boromir as the two men sprinted after the Uruks. Both had seen Merry and Pippin join the Elf and Dwarf. Only Frodo and Sam were missing now. Against his own hope, the ranger had a feeling the other two Hobbits would be joining them shortly. Boromir and Aragorn finally gained on the Uruks and charged at them boldly with a cry of announcement. Both their swords struck deep into hard flesh and a multitude of noise rose up in the wood once more. As the two men began to fight once more, Legolas struggled to see them. He knew they were outnumbered, and the Uruks who were not carrying Gimli, the Hobbits, or himself now moved to surround the two mortals. The Elf, much to his utter vexation, was carried off away from Aragorn and Boromir, along with the Hobbits and Dwarf.
Metal clanged, as it struck metal, Anduril visibly surpassing the common Uruk scimitar. The ranger called Strider fought them with all diligence, side by side with Boromir. He tried to fend them off away from his friend, considering the fact that Boromir was seriously wounded, despite the Man's will to fight on. His sword interlocked with his opponent's, and he drew the Elven blade Lord Celeborn had given him in Lorien only days before. deep into the belly of the Uruk, it delved. Yet the beast only growled in reply, baring its teeth at the ranger before making a swipe at his head. Aragorn moved out of range as more of the foul creatures advanced on him. He sensed Boromir faithfully flanking him on his left and bracing himself. Yet before they were reached, Boromir grunted as he fell to the ground. An Uruk had kicked him from behind at the ankles. Boromir only had two inches between his face and the jagged tip of the beast's scimitar. Aragorn froze as it stared at him fixedly.
" Now drop your weapon or watch me kill him ", the Uruk threatened lowly.
Aragorn hesitated for a moment as Boromir shot him a look that threatened to kill the ranger if he obeyed the monster. But the ranger had no doubt Boromir's life would be forfeit if he resisted, and therefore dropped Anduril at the Uruk's feet in surrender. An evil smirk crossed the Uruk's face.
" Foolish Man ", it uttered. " Always have to be noble."
Aragorn only returned the look coldly. Behind him, the other beasts released subdued laughter.
" Bind them and bring them along. We must catch up with the others ", the Uruk ordered the ones behind the ranger. Aragorn locked eyes with the beast for a moment, fire meeting fire. The creature withdrew his scimitar from Boromir's face and the other Uruks came upon the two Men to bind them as prisoners.
" Mr. Frodo ", Sam cried as he hurried through the wood. " Mr. Frodo, wait." Finally, he reached the shore where their things had been left, only to see Frodo already halfway across the river in one of the boats.
" Go back, Sam ", he shouted at his faithful best friend. " I'm going to Mordor alone."
" Of course you are ", Sam replied. " And I'm coming with you." The Hobbit began to wade forward in the river with haste. He got further and further until he could no longer stand, being short as Hobbits were.
" You can't swim ", Frodo reminded, who knew everything there was to know about his best friend.
Yet Sam would not see reason. He continued until finally he sunk below the water, struggling. He was sinking into the depths and losing sight of the light.
" Sam ", Frodo cried desperately, terrified that his beloved friend might have drowned.
Sam's body was still and floating, until a hand plunged into the water above him and grabbed his hand. It woke him from his reverie, and he grasped it, before he was pulled from the river and into the boat. He sat up and stared into Frodo's big, unearthly blue eyes that were shining with unshed tears. Yet before they could say anything, a great commotion was heard from the western shore. Uruks were visibly coming at them. Both their round Hobbit eyes widened. Frodo scrambled for the oars as the beasts splashed loudly in the water. He began to row as Sam looked on in horror, but it was no use. The beasts easily reached them and the two Hobbits went screaming as they were plucked from their boat.
Before they knew it, Frodo and Sam were thrown to the ground in the midst of Uruk Hai. There also was Merry and Pippin, looking equally horrified. The four Hobbits gathered themselves together and cowered fearfully under the scrutiny of the Uruks. Gimli the Dwarf was there as well, looking particularly irate indeed. Boromir and Aragorn were grounded beside each other, eyeing the Uruks warily. Legolas the Elf was one his knees, his hands bound behind him like the Men, glaring murderously at any Uruk who dared to meet his gaze. Frodo wondered how the Elf could be so fearless.
" Now, we have them all, I think ", said the Uruk who had addressed Aragorn before. He was apparently the leader. " You know our orders. Anyone out of line will be our meat supply tonight ", he warned his followers. There were a few low noises of protest. Legolas made a face of disgust. Cannibalism. Such lowly creatures of the slime, these were.
" You know orders as well, Ugluk ", reminded on of the other Uruks. " Why do we keep them alive? The Master doesn't want to deal with them alive."
" I thought for you boys that we might keep them around for a while and have some fun ", Ugluk answered deviously.
The others all nodded, smirked, or laughed in near delight at the prospect of having " fun " with the fellowship. The Hobbits quaked in fear, whilst the others exchanged uneasy looks.
" Now, get up, all of yah. The Halflings will be carried. The rest of you will walk in proper order or suffer the consequences. Don't waste time in pondering escape. Your attempts will be futile ", the beast told the Nine. Some of the Uruks picked up the Hobbits and put them on their backs. Gimli grunted as he was forced on his feet, and Aragorn and Boromir followed. Others amongst the Uruks carried their weapons, all swords, blades, Gimli's ax, and Legolas' beloved bow. The Elf wanted to slaughter the one that tainted it with its black hands. While all of the fellowship had stood, Legolas still remained on his knees.
" Did you not hear me with those pointed ears of yours? Up ", Ugluk shouted at the Elf.
Boromir, Gimli, and Aragorn all eyed their Elf friend warily. Legolas looked up at Ugluk with frigid eyes.
" I am a warrior and prince. I do not answer to you, nor do I obey your orders ", he informed Ugluk audaciously. The faces of the Men and Dwarf fell at his words.
" Oh, really? ", Ugluk replied. Then, the Uruk's hand came down hard upon the Elf's left cheek, snapping Legolas' head to the right. Gimli and Boromir jumped a bit at the noise and Aragorn had to restrain himself from attacking the Uruk.
" Now, get up lest you wish for me to damage that pretty little neck of yours ", Ugluk commanded. Legolas rose his head back to look at him once more, his cheek red. He stood and became eye level with Ugluk, his hands still bound behind him.
" Unless I did not have the task to kill you yet before me, I wouldn't resist being beheaded. At least then, I wouldn't have to look upon your foul face again ", he murmured slowly.
The Men and Dwarf cringed, yet Ugluk did nothing but let out a low growl, before pushing them all along. It would be a long road to Isengard indeed.
