Chapter Two: Sorrow
The moon was hidden from sight, light was scarce. Screams and pattering feet filled the night air. Maeg looked about her in desperation, watching her friends die before her, blood pooling about them. Her stomach lurched as she fell to her knees, tears stinging her eyes.
The moon suddenly shed light upon a tall, dark man before her; Donanto.
"Love!" Maeg cried with joy as she jumped up and took his face with her hands. But his eyes gazed into nothing, and his heavy body crumbled on top of her own, an arrow stuck in his back.
"No!" Maeg screamed as she covered her face in anguish.
Mage's eyes popped open, her breathing labored, her heart hammering inside her chest. Her eyes flitted about her.
Donanto…Oh Donanto, my love!
Hot tears spilled from Maeg's eyes, leaving trails down her pale cheeks.
A strong, yet gentle hand lay upon Maeg's shuddering shoulder as she sobbed into the first rays of sunrise.
Sniffling, Maeg wiped her eyes and sighed, sitting up from the ground and looked out to the grass and the sun's first rays.
"I am all right, thank you," Maeg muttered, her voice faltering as she looked into the compassionate eyes of the ranger. He smiled with empathy as he removed his hand and squatted next to her sitting figure.
"Take this," Aragorn ordered, handing her a small piece of bread.
Maeg's brows furrowed as she took the bread and nibbled it.
"What is this strange food?" Maeg inquired, enjoying the fresh taste and the renewed strength she felt.
"Lembas or waybread from the Elves," Aragorn informed her, helping her up and walking her towards the horses.
Sighing, Maeg allowed Aragorn to help her mount the horses once again, and they all flew off towards the looming forest ahead of them.
The dark, misty forest was growing every leap the horse took, and the dark and mist looked unwelcome and evil.
Maeg watched the trees sway slightly in the wind, and she listened for birds, but no sound was heard except for the horses' hoofs on the ground and their panting breath.
Along the way there were Orcs' corpses lying on the trail, their heads disfigured and they bodies in ruin as they noticed arrows with grey feathers sticking from their reeking bodies.
Maeg continually felt sick to her stomach, and she closed her eyes from the foul beasts and prayed she would not disgrace this ranger.
The sun was soon to be setting, and the companions finally slowed. The horses trotted about the dead Orcs until they came within a patch of trees where a horrible scene was visible.
Aragorn jumped off the horse, leaving Maeg to hold the reigns as Legolas and Gimli followed suit.
A large, ashy pile of Orc corpses lay before them, smoke still billowing in wispy clouds from the bodies. Several of the weapons were sticking from the ground; some with goblin heads stuck to them, their blood dripping like a leaking faucet.
The stench was overwhelming, the mingling smell of ash and dead bodies wafting together in unison.
Maeg's head began to spin, and she stumbled from the horse as she made her scrambling way towards a large tree.
Clutching her stomach, Maeg dropped to her knees, feeling the warm bile rising in her throat.
"Their bodies must be mingled with the Orcs'," Gimli was saying as he circled the pile of ash, his eyes full of sorrow, and his shoulders slumping with failure.
"How poor Frodo will take this news, if he lives to hear it," Gimli moaned in anguish.
"Come now, Gimli, no mourning yet, aid us in finding clues of what had happened to our beloved Hobbits," Aragorn said strongly, trying to force his eyes from the heaping pile, afraid to find their remains.
Legolas lightly stepped around the pile, scrounging for a clue as Gimli walked towards the trees, his eyes glistening with sorrow.
Maeg, after wiping her mouth, stepped from the large tree and slowly waddled her way towards the large, reeking pile, trying to hold herself in check. Tears stung her eyes as she looked upon the gruesome scene, feeling slight triumph as she spat on the pile.
"They deserve it, they all deserve to be burned and beheaded for what they've done!" Maeg mumbled with rage. She twisted her hands together and hot tears spilled down her dirt-smudged face as her brows curved with vengeance.
Legolas studied her as she grieved for her people. He stood upon a large rock, looking about the area for clues when he heard Maeg mumble under her breath.
She must be so troubled. Legolas thought to himself as he lowered his head to the ground.
"Miss Maeg, I think you should go sit for awhile whilst we look for clues of our friends," Aragorn said with a hoarse voice, his hands guiding her toward the shade under the looming trees.
"Who are your friends? What happened to them?" Maeg asked, as she slowly sank to the ground, looking into Aragorn's troubled eyes. Maeg could tell he was debating whether to tell her or not, so she silently waited.
"They…are Hobbits, a small kind, they seem like children to most eyes." Aragorn began, squatting, keeping his back to the sun which shaded Maeg's face.
"They were taken by these Orcs; for the Orcs thought they were of great value,"
"Why would the Orcs think that?" Maeg inquired, interest sparked.
Aragorn's eyes suddenly grew dark and he stood suddenly.
"Enough talk for now, I must use the last bit of light to search for clues," Aragorn said, striding off towards the pile of compost, leaving a curious Maeg behind.
***A/N: Hey, I hope this chapter is good, I wasn't really inspired, writers block I suppose! But I will try to get back into mode! Please review!!!!!!!