The next morning found Ivy and I sitting around our cold fire. She was just
quiet, the very tip of her tail wiggling slightly. Me, I was staring into
the ashy coals. What in heaven's name was I going to do now!?
Sighing, I shook myself. Come on, I WAS in Middle Earth, and some where out there was Rivendell and Elrond.
Resolution settled, I gathered up my stuff, cleaned up the campsite and put out the fire.
Onward! Into the Woods!
I actually felt rather more chipper, even though the woods were rather coolish as not too much sun reached between the pines and oaks.
I followed the stream for awhile, headed towards the foothills of the Misty Mountains. Perhaps once in higher elevations, I might recognize something, or see a glimmer of the East Road.
Ha!
I could have been walking in circles. Who would know? All the trees began to look alike.
Another great day hiking. At least I was getting some exercise. And Ivy was still relatively happy in the knapsack.
I found another campsite, this one under a big pine. As I watched the small fire, I smiled to myself. This was Middle Earth and I was back and no matter what, come hell or high water, I was going to find Rivendell and Elrond.
Banking the fire carefully, I wrapped myself up in blankets and went to sleep.
I do not know how many hours later it was, but rain dripping on me woke me up. Great. I hadn't thought to bring an umbrella. I snuggled up closer to the tree and wrapped myself and a rather disgruntled Ivy, in my cloak and tried to return to sleep.
All righty then. I was woken up again! This time, by the sound of crashing. Ivy struggled out of my blanket and disappeared into the dark. What was that? Thunder?
I listened over the sound of the steady rain. No, it was sort of rhythmic and the ground shook slightly. Puzzled, I stood up and then, for no reason, a frisson of fear crawled over me. I quickly kicked dirt over the last of the coals. Something was out there, and it wasn't thunder.
I grabbed my stuff and slowly went around the bole of the tree. The stamping was getting louder. It definitely sounded like footsteps. Elephantine footsteps.
Then I heard the growl-ly talking and I almost had a heart attack. Orcs! It had to be orcs! Omigod! What do I do? Terrified, I crouched next to the tree. Well, maybe they wouldn't be looking for any stray humans. Maybe they'd already eaten a couple of deer, and some bear and maybe even a few wolverines? They had business somewhere....
How could they be so close to Rivendell without being showered by elf arrows?
I bit my lip. Unless, of course, we weren't really very close to Rivendell.
I have never been so terrified. Oh, where were the elves (and the elf lord) when you really needed them!?
Okay, that is not fair. Lord Elrond had always been here for me. I could not fault his care or concern. But...but...what now?
I hugged my tree and hoped that the orcs would just keep on going to where ever.
Who am I trying to kid, I mean, really? It's me, Marie, the one who picks the only tree in the woods with sentient ivy on it.
As the troop of orcs ran by, I held my breath and tried not to move. I could see little as there was no moon, but a gap in the trees showed their manlike shapes, greasy hair flying, spears or swords on their shoulders. Probably some strange helms, though heck, they could have really strange shaped skulls or something.
And they were big.
I edged away from the hoard, moving slightly around the tree. I didn't want to look at them any more. I was completely and utterly frightened. I had had enough. I backed up further...and an orc almost ran me down. He threw me to the ground and I lost my backpack. I scrambled up and tried to run, but another orc stopped and grabbed me around the waist. Lord, did they smell...awful. I cannot explain. Bad sewage, in 100 degree weather? Festering gobs of dead...oh never mind. You get the idea. The orc who had an arm around me growled something that got a reply from the other orc. Without a by-your-leave, the orcs took off, me dangling from my carrier's arm. It didn't take me long to toss up my dinner. The orcs made a strange gurgling sound, which I dizzily realized must be laughing. I struggled weakly and was cuffed across the head for my efforts. Thankfully, I passed out.
Oh, believe me, I really did not want to wake up.
I found myself tied up and leaning against some wet rocks. A torch burned in a holder up along the wall from me. And gee, lucky me, I got a good look at my captors. They were tall and bulky, bits of hair on their faces. Even some on their arms and hands. Long, cracked nails on their fingers. Mouths of uneven sharp looking teeth. Yellow blood shot eyes, smashed in noses. Lots of strange things hanging among the slimy strings of hair.
I was dying of thirst. "Water?" I asked in Sindarin. My nightmare companions gurgled at me like bad water pipes in an old building. Then one brought up a stoneware bottle to my mouth. It didn't smell like water. I tightened my lips. I was smacked across the face and an orc grabbed me by the throat until I opened my mouth trying to breathe.
I tried to spit the horrible burning fluid back. I got smacked again. The bottle was brought up to my mouth and I spit up the drink again. It tasted like really raw whiskey, or improperly fermented turpentine. Well, third time was the charm and I swallowed the drink down.
My head was flung back and it cracked against the rocks and I thankfully passed out.
My eyes opened in spite of my wishes. Nothing had changed. Except I felt really sick and dizzy. The orcish cordial, no doubt. I squirmed half- heartedly against my bindings but just succeeded in getting my wrists rubbed raw. I shivered and tried to get my eyes to focus. Only one orc was watching me, it's gleaming eyes catching glitter from the smoking torch. Why was I still alive? Why hadn't I been ripped to pieces for orc chow? Why was I relatively unharmed (save for my head)?
I bent my head and lay it on my knees. Oh perhaps I was being saved for a special treat. Man flesh no doubt the equivalent of imported chocolate for these creatures.
I almost wished I was back home, in my apartment.
Almost, I said.
I did my best to keep my teeth from chattering and to not sob out loud. But soon I did anyway. Luckily my one jailer paid me no mind and just grunted.
I was starving. But I was afraid to say anything because I really knew I could not eat carrion or maggots or slugs, or whatever it was they ate.
I fell into an uneasy doze.
SMACK! Claws raked across my face and I screamed in pain. I immediately straightened up against the stone cold wall behind me. The torch was still burning, but my guard was no longer alone...
A large dark...thing stood before me, enveloped in black. Black that was hard to see the edges of. What I mean, is I could not tell if it was just really dark cloth, or something else. It seemed to swallow light. My eyes couldn't seem to focus on it too well, they slid around the edges. A deep bone jarring cold surrounded this new apparition, and red eyes blazed out of the cowl of the cape. I could not turn my gaze away. Was this a Nazgul? Why would one want to see me?
The creature bent close to me and all I could see were the red eyes, my whole vision overcome by their power. My mind slipped away into blackness.
Being carried made my world swirl around me like a bad merry-go- round. I felt really sick and my head felt like a boulder. Where was I going now? Now was I going to be eaten?
I had no hope of rescue. As I said, no one knew where I was. I didn't know where I was.
I was thrown on the ground and it was dark and cold and I began to cry. I get to Middle Earth...and now, I was going to die.
Boy, was I feeling hopeless.
I was left for I don't know how long. No food, no water, just an occasional swig of that awful orcish cordial.
And one more visit from the dark creature, that left me sweating, dizzy and sick. What was going on?
Finally, I was kicked out of my stupor and dragged to my feet. Another swig of cordial. I was dragged across the ground for sometime, banging my knees. My scratched face ached something horrible.
Finally I could tell we had gone out of the caves or where ever we had been. I could feel a breeze on my hot face. I stood weaving when my captors stopped and then, we were on the run again. Oh, yeah, I was up to a marathon. I fell after a few steps and someone wearing metal shod boots stomped on my left ankle as it ran by and I screamed. Another stepped on it again and the sharp pain burned through me and I passed out.
Thump, thump, thump. I was being carried again.
Oh good.
I struggled to get away. Of course, I got nowhere. The steady marching step of my orc speeded up and there was a great deal more talking. I could occasionally here "thwips" and thuds. Someone was shooting arrows.
But who?
I was once again dropped to the ground as the orc holding me was felled by an arrow. Thank Elbereth the mountainous thing hadn't fallen on me. The thundering herd kept on going. The arrows were still flying. I tried to crawl away into some bushes and hoped to get out of the way of the running orcs.
Once I hit branches, I lay there, my face burning, my ankle throbbing. What was happening now? I still couldn't see much, it was so dark. And the right side of my face that had been scratched by the creature was swelling and I could feel my eye was gummy and shut.
I reveled in the nice natural smell of damp leaves beneath my torn cheek. It smelled so much better than my captors. Just being outside was a heck of a lot better.
I drifted off, I guess.
Doing a lot of that at the moment. Sorry. (Trust me this was the worst I had ever been. I mean how long had I been with the orcs? Maybe three days? I did not know. Loran tying me to a tree, Hollasfar tying me to a chair were sweet tea parties compared to this.)
Bright light burned my eyes and I gasped aloud. The one eye I could open saw sun light cutting through the giant boles of trees, illuminating a delightful scene of carnage. There was nothing but hulking dead orcs pierced by arrows and lying all about. I tried to sit up and fell into the bush I had been laying under, which really hurt my already lacerated face. I quickly untangled myself and sat up again. I could not stand with my ankle.
All was quiet. The delightful odor of orc still filled the air. But at least it was dead orc. Then, my one eye narrowed. That didn't look like an orc!
Terrified, I crawled to the fallen form, the bright shine of elvish armor glittering at me. Oh my God! An Elf! A black arrow fletched with what looked like lizard skin pierced the right shoulder of the fallen warrior. I put a hand to his throat and was heartened to feel a pulse.
I saw a bottle lying at the elf's side and undoing the leather thongs that held it to his belt, I slugged back a big gulp of miruvor. Ahhh, that was wonderf-----it all came right back up, burning my throat. Darn it! And I was SO thirsty.
Wiping my mouth, I sat there and decided I had nothing further to lose. I shouted as loud as I could "Maeeeeee GOOOOVANEnnnnn!" I shouted until I lost my voice.
Nothing. But surely the elves would not just leave their wounded to lie amongst the monsters here.
Trying to get the bottle of miruvor to the injured elf's mouth, I completely missed the arrival of my rescuers.
A hard whack on my head, and I dropped next to the unconscious elf, out once again.
Sighing, I shook myself. Come on, I WAS in Middle Earth, and some where out there was Rivendell and Elrond.
Resolution settled, I gathered up my stuff, cleaned up the campsite and put out the fire.
Onward! Into the Woods!
I actually felt rather more chipper, even though the woods were rather coolish as not too much sun reached between the pines and oaks.
I followed the stream for awhile, headed towards the foothills of the Misty Mountains. Perhaps once in higher elevations, I might recognize something, or see a glimmer of the East Road.
Ha!
I could have been walking in circles. Who would know? All the trees began to look alike.
Another great day hiking. At least I was getting some exercise. And Ivy was still relatively happy in the knapsack.
I found another campsite, this one under a big pine. As I watched the small fire, I smiled to myself. This was Middle Earth and I was back and no matter what, come hell or high water, I was going to find Rivendell and Elrond.
Banking the fire carefully, I wrapped myself up in blankets and went to sleep.
I do not know how many hours later it was, but rain dripping on me woke me up. Great. I hadn't thought to bring an umbrella. I snuggled up closer to the tree and wrapped myself and a rather disgruntled Ivy, in my cloak and tried to return to sleep.
All righty then. I was woken up again! This time, by the sound of crashing. Ivy struggled out of my blanket and disappeared into the dark. What was that? Thunder?
I listened over the sound of the steady rain. No, it was sort of rhythmic and the ground shook slightly. Puzzled, I stood up and then, for no reason, a frisson of fear crawled over me. I quickly kicked dirt over the last of the coals. Something was out there, and it wasn't thunder.
I grabbed my stuff and slowly went around the bole of the tree. The stamping was getting louder. It definitely sounded like footsteps. Elephantine footsteps.
Then I heard the growl-ly talking and I almost had a heart attack. Orcs! It had to be orcs! Omigod! What do I do? Terrified, I crouched next to the tree. Well, maybe they wouldn't be looking for any stray humans. Maybe they'd already eaten a couple of deer, and some bear and maybe even a few wolverines? They had business somewhere....
How could they be so close to Rivendell without being showered by elf arrows?
I bit my lip. Unless, of course, we weren't really very close to Rivendell.
I have never been so terrified. Oh, where were the elves (and the elf lord) when you really needed them!?
Okay, that is not fair. Lord Elrond had always been here for me. I could not fault his care or concern. But...but...what now?
I hugged my tree and hoped that the orcs would just keep on going to where ever.
Who am I trying to kid, I mean, really? It's me, Marie, the one who picks the only tree in the woods with sentient ivy on it.
As the troop of orcs ran by, I held my breath and tried not to move. I could see little as there was no moon, but a gap in the trees showed their manlike shapes, greasy hair flying, spears or swords on their shoulders. Probably some strange helms, though heck, they could have really strange shaped skulls or something.
And they were big.
I edged away from the hoard, moving slightly around the tree. I didn't want to look at them any more. I was completely and utterly frightened. I had had enough. I backed up further...and an orc almost ran me down. He threw me to the ground and I lost my backpack. I scrambled up and tried to run, but another orc stopped and grabbed me around the waist. Lord, did they smell...awful. I cannot explain. Bad sewage, in 100 degree weather? Festering gobs of dead...oh never mind. You get the idea. The orc who had an arm around me growled something that got a reply from the other orc. Without a by-your-leave, the orcs took off, me dangling from my carrier's arm. It didn't take me long to toss up my dinner. The orcs made a strange gurgling sound, which I dizzily realized must be laughing. I struggled weakly and was cuffed across the head for my efforts. Thankfully, I passed out.
Oh, believe me, I really did not want to wake up.
I found myself tied up and leaning against some wet rocks. A torch burned in a holder up along the wall from me. And gee, lucky me, I got a good look at my captors. They were tall and bulky, bits of hair on their faces. Even some on their arms and hands. Long, cracked nails on their fingers. Mouths of uneven sharp looking teeth. Yellow blood shot eyes, smashed in noses. Lots of strange things hanging among the slimy strings of hair.
I was dying of thirst. "Water?" I asked in Sindarin. My nightmare companions gurgled at me like bad water pipes in an old building. Then one brought up a stoneware bottle to my mouth. It didn't smell like water. I tightened my lips. I was smacked across the face and an orc grabbed me by the throat until I opened my mouth trying to breathe.
I tried to spit the horrible burning fluid back. I got smacked again. The bottle was brought up to my mouth and I spit up the drink again. It tasted like really raw whiskey, or improperly fermented turpentine. Well, third time was the charm and I swallowed the drink down.
My head was flung back and it cracked against the rocks and I thankfully passed out.
My eyes opened in spite of my wishes. Nothing had changed. Except I felt really sick and dizzy. The orcish cordial, no doubt. I squirmed half- heartedly against my bindings but just succeeded in getting my wrists rubbed raw. I shivered and tried to get my eyes to focus. Only one orc was watching me, it's gleaming eyes catching glitter from the smoking torch. Why was I still alive? Why hadn't I been ripped to pieces for orc chow? Why was I relatively unharmed (save for my head)?
I bent my head and lay it on my knees. Oh perhaps I was being saved for a special treat. Man flesh no doubt the equivalent of imported chocolate for these creatures.
I almost wished I was back home, in my apartment.
Almost, I said.
I did my best to keep my teeth from chattering and to not sob out loud. But soon I did anyway. Luckily my one jailer paid me no mind and just grunted.
I was starving. But I was afraid to say anything because I really knew I could not eat carrion or maggots or slugs, or whatever it was they ate.
I fell into an uneasy doze.
SMACK! Claws raked across my face and I screamed in pain. I immediately straightened up against the stone cold wall behind me. The torch was still burning, but my guard was no longer alone...
A large dark...thing stood before me, enveloped in black. Black that was hard to see the edges of. What I mean, is I could not tell if it was just really dark cloth, or something else. It seemed to swallow light. My eyes couldn't seem to focus on it too well, they slid around the edges. A deep bone jarring cold surrounded this new apparition, and red eyes blazed out of the cowl of the cape. I could not turn my gaze away. Was this a Nazgul? Why would one want to see me?
The creature bent close to me and all I could see were the red eyes, my whole vision overcome by their power. My mind slipped away into blackness.
Being carried made my world swirl around me like a bad merry-go- round. I felt really sick and my head felt like a boulder. Where was I going now? Now was I going to be eaten?
I had no hope of rescue. As I said, no one knew where I was. I didn't know where I was.
I was thrown on the ground and it was dark and cold and I began to cry. I get to Middle Earth...and now, I was going to die.
Boy, was I feeling hopeless.
I was left for I don't know how long. No food, no water, just an occasional swig of that awful orcish cordial.
And one more visit from the dark creature, that left me sweating, dizzy and sick. What was going on?
Finally, I was kicked out of my stupor and dragged to my feet. Another swig of cordial. I was dragged across the ground for sometime, banging my knees. My scratched face ached something horrible.
Finally I could tell we had gone out of the caves or where ever we had been. I could feel a breeze on my hot face. I stood weaving when my captors stopped and then, we were on the run again. Oh, yeah, I was up to a marathon. I fell after a few steps and someone wearing metal shod boots stomped on my left ankle as it ran by and I screamed. Another stepped on it again and the sharp pain burned through me and I passed out.
Thump, thump, thump. I was being carried again.
Oh good.
I struggled to get away. Of course, I got nowhere. The steady marching step of my orc speeded up and there was a great deal more talking. I could occasionally here "thwips" and thuds. Someone was shooting arrows.
But who?
I was once again dropped to the ground as the orc holding me was felled by an arrow. Thank Elbereth the mountainous thing hadn't fallen on me. The thundering herd kept on going. The arrows were still flying. I tried to crawl away into some bushes and hoped to get out of the way of the running orcs.
Once I hit branches, I lay there, my face burning, my ankle throbbing. What was happening now? I still couldn't see much, it was so dark. And the right side of my face that had been scratched by the creature was swelling and I could feel my eye was gummy and shut.
I reveled in the nice natural smell of damp leaves beneath my torn cheek. It smelled so much better than my captors. Just being outside was a heck of a lot better.
I drifted off, I guess.
Doing a lot of that at the moment. Sorry. (Trust me this was the worst I had ever been. I mean how long had I been with the orcs? Maybe three days? I did not know. Loran tying me to a tree, Hollasfar tying me to a chair were sweet tea parties compared to this.)
Bright light burned my eyes and I gasped aloud. The one eye I could open saw sun light cutting through the giant boles of trees, illuminating a delightful scene of carnage. There was nothing but hulking dead orcs pierced by arrows and lying all about. I tried to sit up and fell into the bush I had been laying under, which really hurt my already lacerated face. I quickly untangled myself and sat up again. I could not stand with my ankle.
All was quiet. The delightful odor of orc still filled the air. But at least it was dead orc. Then, my one eye narrowed. That didn't look like an orc!
Terrified, I crawled to the fallen form, the bright shine of elvish armor glittering at me. Oh my God! An Elf! A black arrow fletched with what looked like lizard skin pierced the right shoulder of the fallen warrior. I put a hand to his throat and was heartened to feel a pulse.
I saw a bottle lying at the elf's side and undoing the leather thongs that held it to his belt, I slugged back a big gulp of miruvor. Ahhh, that was wonderf-----it all came right back up, burning my throat. Darn it! And I was SO thirsty.
Wiping my mouth, I sat there and decided I had nothing further to lose. I shouted as loud as I could "Maeeeeee GOOOOVANEnnnnn!" I shouted until I lost my voice.
Nothing. But surely the elves would not just leave their wounded to lie amongst the monsters here.
Trying to get the bottle of miruvor to the injured elf's mouth, I completely missed the arrival of my rescuers.
A hard whack on my head, and I dropped next to the unconscious elf, out once again.