Many apologies for taking so long in getting this up - my computer hates me and therefore I this is my THIRD time typing the beginning of this chapter, because it likes to randomly erase things for no reason... for no reason is redundant with ... or is it redundant to... or is it neither... Steelsheen is out of it.

Steelsheen is also happy because she got tons o' reviews for the last chappie, which is a big improvement. ^_^ Yay for me newbies, Katharwen, Iona, Lurker, and Lightning Rain! And yay also for my old-bies, Isis & Cally! And yay also for my supposed-to-have-been sister, Krystyna! ^_^

All right, now to reply to everyone... Cally, yeah, I hate author's notes too. :P I'll do the asterisk thing next time. Katharwen, I don't really remember meeting you anywhere... but i'm so glad you like the cultural thingie. They're not evil. *huggles Haradrim* Iona, glad you likes it. Isis - you guessed it. Lurker... uh, actually, a mumak is a really big elephant. :P Glad you like it. Lightning Rain - I lurves my cliffies. And Krystyna - yeah.
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Chapter Eleven: In Which Saali Discovers Missions Are Hard

Saali's braided head emerged above the ground through the little hole where Sir had pushed aside the rock just enough to climb through. The frigid wind whipped at her hair and stung her cheeks and ears, but there was another cold, a strange cold that throbbed in her bones and filled her head with unpleasant thoughts, and made it hard for her to keep her balance on the jagged jutting-out pieces of slimy rock she stood on.

Sir stood a little ways away, hunched over like an old woman. His knees trembled, and his head was bowed in what looked like submission. This gave Saali a start.

Standing before the captain was something the likes of which Saali had never seen before, even in her dreams. But if she had, the dreams would have turned to nightmares. It had the shape of a man, only taller and thinner than it was naturally possible to be, and its form was entirely shrouded in tattered black robes. In one thing that might have been a hand, although it too was hidden by the morbid tatters, it held a long, jagged-edged sword with a sickly white glow. In the other, it held the reins of a huge beast. Saali thought it looked rather like a bird, only oversized, and lacking in feathers, and with teeth. Big teeth.

But what frightened Saali the most was that, in the hole of the thing's black hood where a face ought to have been, there was nothing. The thing was faceless.

Fate save us, it is a demon in the flesh, Saali thought with a sharp intake of breath, which she regretted, for the cold air hurt her lungs.

The Faceless One spoke. Its voice was not a voice. It was more like hissing breath somehow solidified to form words. The last time I spoke with you, Captain, you assured me that your troops would capture Ithilien for Mordor as soon as you acquired more men. You now have more men, and the Garden rests still in Gondor's hands.

Sir opened his mouth and let out a sort of a squeak, then a cough. He breathed something in Haradic that Saali didn't quite catch, then said, We just come yesterday. We get it for you soon, my lord. The Common words sounded strange and halting coming from his mouth.

Soon is not good enough, hissed the Faceless One. My master is not patient. His ri- The thing cut itself off then, and Saali wondered why for a moment, but it corrected itself quickly. Events have occurred that spur us to capture as much land as possible NOW, while we are still able. We need the Garden immediately.

Yes. We get it for you, Sir assured the thing, voice trembling slightly.

You had better, said the thing, and for a moment the very air about them seemed to freeze.

Sir, through some sudden surge of courage, managed to speak up. Maybe if you master send orcs or someone, we capture more easily, my lord. We have still not enough soldier now, not to fight all Rangers at once.

The thing gave a shriek of anger, and Saali cringed violently. My master does not take advice from underlings! You shall take Ithilien NOW, impudent one, and I care not if you have two soldiers and a drummer-boy to your name! And with that, the Faceless One swung aboard his oversized bird and rose into the air with a whooshing of wings that caused the trees in the area to blow nearly in half.

And then came the screech again, and it hurt Saali so much now that she was so near to the thing and unprotected by the cave walls that she let go of the edge of the tunnel and doubled over. This was a mistake, and she lost her balance and began to fall backwards with a scream. She grabbed onto the rock's edge just in time, as the screech subsided.

Sir, now standing up again after falling to his knees, heard Saali's scream and ran over to the hole. You! I told you to stay down there, you sneaky... You are no good if you spy on your own side! Now get back down there! That is an order!

Saali nodded shakily, and the two made their stumbling way down the tunnel, falling down every few feet but not caring. The Faceless One had taken his toll on them both.

When they finally tripped out into the torchlight of the cave, Kentai and Emreni waited for them by the tunnel-mouth. Saali nearly collapsed again, and Reni caught her by the arm and steadied her. Easy there, whoa! Tai grinned. Have fun?

Saali and Sir both glared daggers at him.

Tasaali. Never, ever put yourself in a position to anger one of them, do you understand? They have great powers, and their swords can turn you into one of them, Sir said earnestly. Rest for today, and think on not being nosy, he rasped, then stalked off toward his tent.

So many questions swam in Saali's head, but the shadow of the Faceless One overwhelmed them all, and she allowed Tai to take her other arm and help her to their tent.

The three sat in a circle on the floor of the tent. Think I am supposed to be out doing push-ups with the rest of them, Tai mused, not seeming to care. Oh well.

Saali smiled ever so slightly before leaning back and letting her head hit her pillow.

After a few minutes, the room had stopped spinning , and she saw colors again as brightly as they should be. She sat up.

Tai was chewing absent-mindedly at a particularly tough piece of jerky.

What was that thing? Her voice was quiet.

The Faceless Ones... They are something, all right, Tai replied, thoughtfully biting off a piece of meat. Some say they are demons. I am fairly sure they are right, too.

Reni nodded, his face troubled.

It was so cold, Saali murmured. After a moment, she asked, Is it really possible that they are on our side?

More like we are on their side, Tai said with a sheepish grin. We are fighting for Mordor, for Fate knows what reason. They wish to conquer Gondor.

Reni frowned and scribbled something on his pad of paper: FOR THE MOMENT.

Tai agreed. Until they have conquered it already, and there is some new land to try for.

But that thing. Saali was still fighting to understand their alliance with Mordor. It was... evil.

Tai said simply. They are all evil - the Faceless Ones, the Orcs. Their master is more evil than all of them, though.

Saali frowned and stared at the floor.

Some say they have already conquered Harad, just by making us join with them, Tai commented, his eternal grin nearly gone.

They burned the Burnt District, did they not? Saali demanded with a sudden ferocity.

Tai and Reni nodded somberly.

The ferocity left her, and a sadness took its place. They want us to capture Ithilien immediately, she mumbled. Sir said he would.

I would not mind owning this place. It is rather nice, actually, Tai mused.

For Mordor, Saali corrected him. We will capture it for Mordor.

SO THE ORCS CAN DESPOIL IT. Reni looked angry.

There was a long moment during which they all stared at their feet, and then another during which they all stared at someone else's feet. Tai's boots are awfully scruffy, thought Saali.

Well, the tarks deserve what is coming to them. Tai broke the silence defiantly.

Saali nodded. They killed her father and her husband; they left her a widow. She wanted revenge. Yes. Think of that, and not of that faceless thing ordering Sir around. That was the reason she was fighting. She had a purpose in life. That was what she had wanted.

But was that purpose right or wrong?

Her doubts were increased further when Reni shook his head sadly and left the tent. When he believed so firmly that the war was wrong, it was hard for her to convince herself it was right.
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Saali spent the day hidden away in her tent, with her Haradic-Common dictionaries for company. At around midday, Sir brought her a hefty stack of maps of Gondor for her to study as well, and study she did, until it felt like her brain would burst from overflow of knowledge.

At least that distracted her from the questions that plagued her mind.
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The next morning, both she and Tai were awakened bright and early (or dark and early, since the sun had not even risen yet) by someone sticking a horn into their tent and blowing an extremely grating note.

What the - Tai let out a series of words that he most certainly would not say in civil conversation. He lunged for the tent flaps, but the mysterious horn-blower was gone, which caused him to land with a loud thud half-in, half-out of the tent.

Saali groaned. she mumbled as she began to pile on her five undershirts.

Tai swore fluently as he dragged himself back into the tent. I do not care, I am going back to bed! he shouted, and Saali heard the rustle of sheets from behind the separating blanket as he climbed back into his bedroll.

Once she was decent, she stumbled out of the tent and over to the tunnel-mouth to meet Sir, shivering.

Good morning, Sir greeted her brightly.

Saali bit her lip to keep from snapping at him. Kentai did not enjoy your wake-up call, she informed him as she noticed the large gold horn he held in his hand.

The quicker you get used to waking up this early, the quicker I can stop doing that and the sooner he can stop not enjoying it, Sir said briskly. Now. You have studied the maps of the region, correct?

Saali nodded. She knew Ithilien tip to toe, if the lines on a map made in Harad could be trusted at all.

And you are somewhat comfortable with the Common Tongue, judging from the amount of studying you did yesterday.

She nodded again.

All right then. Sir seemed to be considering something for a moment, then nodded decisively. Due to the urgency of our current situation, which I am sure you are aware of from your snoopery yesterday, you will undertake your first mission today.

Saali nearly choked. Today, sir? she squeaked.

We are pressed for time, Sir said simply, not seeming very concerned by Saali's apparent fright.

Er... yessir, Sir. Saali's face was blank as her eyes betrayed her true thoughts: Is he insane?

Just then, the captain of the other regiment, a stout, balding man, approached Sir. Captain Nineyi, he said.

Good morning, Captain Ylaasa, Sir replied cordially, and the two bowed. Saali tapped a foot, wondering when they would cut the casualties.

Captain Ylaasa cast a scrutinizing eye over Saali. She glared back with a fierce intensity learned from Reni.

Captain, I mean no disrespect, but why have you chosen her for such an important job? Were there no men good enough for you? The man was very polite in his insult of Saali.

The King, and no other, chose her, because she was skillful at the job, Sir replied simply, folding his arms as if challenging the man to defy him. Saali suspected he was higher-ranking than the other captain.

But she is... a woman. A widow, no less, Ylaasa insisted.

She is a spy and a servant of the Royal House of Harad, and you will treat her as such. If you have any more questions, I am sure she can clear it all up for you if you wish to speak with her. Sir's dark eyes glinted dangerously.

The man stood silent for a moment, then nodded curtly and strode away.

Saali squinted at Sir. This was one of those times when she felt immensely grateful to him, and wondered where his kindness was when it was not showing up at random.

Sir cleared his throat and interrupted Saali's thoughts. Anyway. You are to locate the Rangers of Ithilien.

Rangers, sir?

Gondorian soldiers, the tarks who prowl the forest, looking for us and the orcs. But today, he added grimly, we go looking for them.

Saali cleared her throat nervously. So, er... I just ... find them?

Yes. You find them, then lead us to them. Look out for their scouts, though. And do try not to get yourself killed. Sir could have added Have a nice time, in the same tone, and it would have sounded perfectly normal.

Saali nodded. Her doubts were overwhelmed by the thudding of her heart as it grew faster, louder, as adrenaline coursed through her veins. This was it. This was her mission, her duty... her purpose. This was what she had come for. She was useful. Her life was worth living. She was getting her wish.

She bowed, spun on her heel and began to march up the steep slope.

Now, to find those Rangers...
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Nineyi watched her go - so eager as she trotted away, so eager to follow orders, chasing her dreams. They always were, the ones who joined voluntarily at least. All of them had such enthusiasm, such spirit. He watched her go with weary eyes.

He had been eager once. He had worked his way to the top, from private to captain, with many steps along the way. And now he was Sir, Captain Nineyi of Division Twenty-Three of the Grand Army of Harad.

He had been like her once.

He hoped she didn't kill herself out there.

Shaking his head, he made his way back into the smattering of tents without a backward glance.
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Saali burst from the tunnel, nearly explosive with energy. The chill wind whipped her widow's lock away from her face and lifted her spirits with it.

Now, which way to go...

Tasaali, daughter of Eishali, Spy of Harad's Army, had absolutely no idea of where to start looking, so she licked a finger, stuck it in the air, and skipped off in the direction the wind blew.

After a long while of skipping, however, she grew tired, and was content simply to walk through the Leaf City, marveling at the trees and the flowers and the unfamiliar scents in the air.

After a long while of marveling, however, it got rather tiresome, and with the exhaustion of Saali's wonder came the realization that, one, her feet rustled loudly with every step in the leaves on the ground, and two, she had not found the Rangers.

Tensing her muscles, she began to step lightly on the leaves, and darted noiselessly from behind one tree to another. She was not about to be caught by the first tark scout who came along. That would shame her to the point of death.

Soon, with her own silence, came yet another realization - she was alone. Completely, totally ALONE, in enemy territory, where anyone who saw her would kill her, and there could be a person right BEHIND THAT BUSH RIGHT OVER THERE -

The spy took a deep breath and calmed herself. She knew where she was. According to the map, she had been traveling west, and was now in the highlands of Ithilien, maybe two miles from the Big Rock, which was what the map named their camp.

With that, she devoted herself to looking for any sign of human movement as she herself moved through the underbrush. The tarks were tricky, Tai had said, and could blend with the trees as if they were plants themselves. Her dark eyes darted coolly back and forth, her ears were tuned to any rustle in the leaves.

As if on cue, there was a SNAP-rustle in the leaves overhead, and Saali spun around, drawing her sword and looking up through the branches of the trees.

A fat black bird hopped out from behind a leaf and peered at her quizzically.

Blushing, Saali sheathed her blade. I should not overreact like that...

And she kept moving.

After about another hour of moving, Saali began to wonder if she wasn't going in the exact opposite direction of the Ranger camp. She spun around and reversed her course. So now I am headed east, she thought, back toward the Big Rock. This is not so hard...

But before long, she began to notice that the trees all looked the same to her.

Coldly, evilly the same.

And she had no idea where she was.

And she still had not managed to find the tark camp.

Tark-magic, I would bet on it, she thought, panicked. I bet they have hidden their camp away with spells and things, just to keep me from finding it, she mumbled out loud, then clapped a hand over her mouth.

Then an idea hit her with the force of an arrow.

Clearing her throat, she called the Common words to mind. she bellowed. I AM LOOOOOSSSST! It was one of those phrases that everyone learned, because it was too useful not to learn.

When there was no response from the forest, she tried again. HEEELLLOOO OUT THEEEEERE! HELLLLP! I AM LOOOOSSSST!

With all her mind bent on listening to every noise, she heard the crunch of leaves not far off. Suddenly it occurred to her that she had not planned this part. Looking around desperately for a hiding spot, her eyes fell on the nearest tree, which had a branch just conveniently low enough to the ground for her to get a foot on it. She did so, and grabbed the branch above, and with much slipping and scraping her knees and arms on the bark of the tree, she managed to get herself up to somewhere near the top. She knelt in the crook of a branch and hugged the trunk to keep from falling.

A few seconds after she had settled herself, she heard an unfamiliar voice call back in Common, Hello? Who are you? She did not answer, and hugged the tree in a stranglehold as her breathing involuntarily grew quicker.

The voice repeated, Who are you? Where are you? And then two men pushed aside tree branches and shrubbery and emerged directly under Saali's tree, swords drawn, moving warily.

They were the first Gondorians Saali had ever lain eyes on, and she forgot her fear for a moment and leaned over to get a better look. They were tall, with dark hair that fell only to mid-neck, and blew freely in the wind. And they were pale, paler than anyone Saali had ever seen. At first glance, Saali thought they looked deadly ill, but then she saw the color in their cheeks. They were strange creatures, Saali thought, strange and beautiful... or maybe just strange. They looked as sorcerers should.

They dressed all in green and brown like the forest, and wore cloths tied around the lower halves of their faces. Camouflage, Saali realized, and then wondered why the Haradrim had not thought of it.

The man nearer to the tree called out again, Saali gasped, having been drawn from her trance, and drew back into the crook of the branch. Apparently, the gasp drew the man's attention, and he tilted back his head and peered up into the leaves, his strange gray eyes glinting in the midday sun.