Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR or any of the characters except for Carnen and Groundsel.

Note: No flames please. Don't like it don't read it.

A cutting wind swept over Holin and the fellowship huddled closer together for warmth. The miserable night did nothing for anyone's spirits and there was no sound. Even the birds seemed depressed by the terrible weather. The situation continued to worsen when the hobbits swore they heard a terrible cry on the wind and Pippin was convinced it was a monster lurking in the dark ready for them to go to sleep so it could eat him. Soon he and Legolas were the only ones left awake.

"Go to sleep Pippin. There's nothing out there its all in your imagination."

"It is not! You just come here and listen then you'll know I'm telling the truth."

Sighing he complied, thinking that this would be the only way the hobbit would let him get some sleep that night. He sat very still and quite for a number of minutes until he too heard the strange cry.

"I apologise. I hear it too. It might be some kind of danger."

"I don't have to come with you to investigate do I?"

"No. I shall wake Aragorn, if there is some kind of battle he would sulk if I left him out."

With a grin the Elf silently made his way over to the sleeping Ranger and bent to whisper in his ear.

"Aragorn, Aragorn ORC!!!"

"Where!!!"

Aragorn jumped up too fast and fell over Borimer in his eagerness to slay the evil creature.

" Where's the orc?"

"Nowhere mellon but come and listen to this. Pippin was telling the truth there is a strange voice in the air. I thought we should go check that it is nothing dangerous."

Aragorn smiled and followed his friend out into the darkness. Legolas strode in front unfazed by the complete darkness while poor Aragorn stumbled along blindly cursing his humanness and the Elves ability to see in this darkness with their good eyesight. Louder and louder the sound became until Legolas stopped suddenly and Aragorn walked into him.

"Ouch! What was that for? Why are you stopping?"

"Look." Legolas's voice sounded very strangled.

Looking over his shoulder Aragorn eyes adjusted to the light and when he looked down at the floor of the valley he gasped in revulsion and took a step back. Below them where hundreds of orc and Elf bodies some mangled beyond recognition. Slowly they descended into the valley of death and looked over the battle scene in dismay.

Why? Was the question in their minds as they picked their way through the horrific sight amidst the dyings moans and the horrible shaking rattles of the wounded taking their last breaths. As they moved through the carnage the sound was getting louder and more distinguishable, Legolas notched an arrow and Aragorn drew his sword.

Legolas continued to make his way to the sound, which was now turned into sobbing, the voice alternated the heart wrenching sobs with pleading. The figure came into sight hunched over a body with its head cradled in its lap.

The figure was crying and stroking the corpses face lovingly whilst pleading with him to wake up.

"Groundsel sob please wake up. Please. Come on." After having said this giving the body a shake.

Lowering their weapons they advanced towards the distraught figure and Legolas said quietly

"Excuse me? Are you all right?"

The figure turned around slowly and pulled down the hood of its cloak.