Disclaimer: If you don't get it already, then go back to the first chapter.

A/N: Thanks to all my reviewers. You are all awesome. I'm so happy that you are enjoying this story. I'm having such a great time writing. In the of the next chapter, I'm going to thank everyone who reviews. So, if you review this chapter you'll get a personal thank you in the next. Okay? Well, thanks to all. Here is the next chapter. It is in Aragorn's POV.

Chapter 7

Silent Danger

'Wake me up inside

Wake me up inside

Call my name and save me from the dark'

Slowly, I opened my eyes. I yawned and rubbed my face and weary eyes. We had now been out in the wild for four days. Tracking the Karps proved to be as difficult as I had feared. Though we had started out following their tracks, we soon lost all trace of them. Still we kept searching and with all of our combined ranger skills, we soon found their trail again.

Luck was not with us, though. As we were searching, it began to rain. The rain increased and washed all signs of the Karps away. The night was long for the men were soaked and exhausted. There was no dry place to sleep and the wood was too wet for a fire.

The next morning; however, it was a beautiful day again. We searched all day for any signs of the Karps, but found nothing. The night was warm and uneventful. The men took shifts watching throughout the night. I had the first shift like usual. I enjoyed the time alone so I could calm myself down from the day's activities. Now it was almost morning, yet again. Today we would search a new area and if we still did not find the beasts, we would head back to Gerchen's house.

I sat up in my tent. The space beside me was empty for I knew Cormir had the last night watch. I stood and walked out of my tent. The sun was just beginning to rise signally a new morning. I saw Cormir siting by a tree, sharpening his dagger. He glanced up at me. He shook his head and smirked.

"What's so funny?" I asked as I walked towards him.

Cormir sheathed his dagger and stood. He smiled at me. "Every morning you are up before dawn. No one ever wakes you, yet without fail you arise at the same time."

I smiled at him.

"I was sitting here right now, thinking to myself that you would be up in a few seconds. Sure enough here you are, right on time."

I clasped a hand on his shoulder. "I'll have to remember not to disappoint you then." I said with a smile. Cormir and I had grown close through the past few months. We had been working closely together and when we heard of the mission in the south, we both agreed. I enjoyed his company and he enjoyed mine. He was young yet he was a fast learner. He greatly admired my skill, yet unbeknownst to him; I greatly admired his skill as well.

"Did you sleep well, my friend?" He asked.

I nodded my head. "Yes, I did. You?"

He nodded, but yawned. "I think I could use a few more hours though."

I chuckled and sat down by him. For a few minutes, we talked silently together. Sometime later, two slaves woke up and began preparing the meal. Soon after that, the others began to awake as well. After eating, we began to pack up to head out again. As I walked towards my horse, I overheard a conversation, or more like a reprimand, between Trachen and one of the slaves. I cringed as I heard Trachen yelling.

"I told you tie my stuff to my horse."

"I was just about to do it, Master Trachen." The slave muttered.

I looked to my left, just in time to see Trachen slap the slave across the cheek. The slave fell to the ground from the blow. "You do it when I tell you to do it. Do you understand me?" Trachen yelled as he knelt by the slave.

I began walking towards them. I saw the slave nod fearfully. Trachen grabbed his shoulders and shook him.

"What do you say?" He yelled.

"Yes master." The slave muttered barely audibly.

"I can't hear you." Trachen continued to reprimand.

"Trachen?" I said, having heard enough of his torment to the young slave. Trachen looked up at me as I spoke. "Leave the slave, Trachen. He was going to get your bag soon enough."

Trachen stood. "Soon enough? I told him to pick it up. He should have done it immediately."

I held up my hands in a peaceful gesture. "Calm down. It is not that big of a deal my friend. Just tell him again to put it on your horse."

Trachen shook his head. "You're too nice to the slaves, Strider. The slaves need to know who is boss. They should obey immediately without question. It's the life of a slave."

I looked at the young slave who was now tying the bag to Trachen's horse. He looked at me with sadness, but then lowered his eyes. "It should not be that way." I said as I turned my eyes back on Trachen. "No one should have to be a slave."

Trachen looked at me, curiously. He shrugged his shoulders. "Perhaps not, but he is, so he must be treated as one." With that, Trachen walked away.

I sighed and walked towards my horse. I began to tie my small bag on his back. I heard silent footsteps behind me as someone approached.

"May I help you, sir?"

I glanced behind my shoulder to see the young slave.

"No, I'm fine." I replied.

The boy nodded. He turned to leave, but hesitated. He turned back around to face me. "Thank you for what you did." He muttered with a soft voice.

I turned around and walked towards him. "You're welcome." I said gently. "What is your name?"

"My name is Haliem, sir." He said, his eyes towards the ground.

I bowed my head in a simple greeting. "I'm pleased to meet you, Haliem. I am Strider."

The boy chanced a gaze up. I met his eyes and smiled warmly at him. He smiled slightly then lowered his head. "I should return to my work." He said quickly. With that, he left.

I watched him leave. It was terrible seeing young boys living a life of slavery. I hated seeing these young slaves cower in fear from these men. It wasn't right and I wished there were something I could do for them. Suddenly a voice broke my thoughts.

"I will never understand you, Strider."

I turned to see Cormir walking towards me, leading his horse.

"Oh, why is that?" I asked.

"I saw you with that slave. No one ever talks to slaves like that. It just isn't natural." Cormir said.

I grinned at him. "I'm surprised you haven't figured it out yet, Cormir." I said in a playful tone. "I'm not like normal people."

Cormir smiled and chuckled. "That is true, Strider. That is very true."

As we set up camp again that night, I was deep in thought. We had found a trail made by the Karps. We followed it until nightfall where we came to a water hole. There the trail stopped, for the Karps had entered the water. We set up camp near the water, hoping to continue the search tomorrow. The men believed we were gaining on them and would soon find them.

However, something just did not feel right to me. I could not seem to place it, but something felt awkward, almost too easy. The trail had almost been too easy to follow. The place we were at seemed dangerous. With the water at our left, we were in a perfect position for an attack. It was almost as if the Karps had planned it that way and that scared me. I knew they were smart, but were they that smart? Did they know we were tracking them? Had they formed a plan to corner us?"

I shivered at that thought. I had asked Hamath, the man Gerchen appointed as the leader, if he thought it was wise to camp here, but he blew it off. He said it was no big deal. My ranger skills, however, told me otherwise.

As night fell, I took the first watch. I kept my sword close as well as my bow and arrows. I thought I heard something move after everyone had fallen asleep, but I saw nothing. I scanned the area with my eyes, but nothing was in sight. I no longer heard anything out of the ordinary.

I stayed long into the night, past my shift. Cormir awoke sometime later and walked towards me.

"You should have woken me. Your shift has long been over." He whispered.

I smiled at him. "You needed the extra rest." I said calmly.

He smiled. "I'll get some more after my shift. You need the rest too. Now go get some." He said.

I nodded, but my face became more serious. "Stay on high alert. Something doesn't feel right tonight." I said simply.

With that, I went back into my tent. I lay down, but didn't sleep immediately. My thoughts were troubled. Soon; however, sleep overcame me I drifted into a light sleep. I awoke sometime later as I heard Cormir enter the tent. I rolled back over and drifted back to sleep.

Suddenly; however, I sat up. I looked beside me. Cormir was asleep beside me. I listened intently to my surroundings, but heard nothing. Something, though, had awoken me. I continued to listen, straining my ears to hear anything at all. Yet, I head nothing. That in itself was strange. There seemed to be no sounds. No, crickets or owls made a single sound. It was quiet, too quiet.

I decided to check it out. I picked up my sword and strapped it to my belt. Then I picked up my bow and arrows. Cormir must have heard me, for he began to stir.

"What is it, Strider?" He asked wearily.

I was about to answer, but before I could, I heard a scream. I rushed from my tent. What I saw made my heart leap. Falmen was trapped underneath a huge Karp. The Karp had him pinned to the ground and was growling at him. Falmen was scared stiff.

I notched an arrow to my bow and fired at the creature. It struck into the beast's thick hide, but only barely. Before I could notch another though, Cormir warned me from behind.

"Look out Strider." Cormir said as he pushed me down. We both rolled to the ground. I jumped to my feet as a Karp landed where I was just standing. I drew my sword as the camp erupted into chaos. All the men were now awake. I saw three Karps at least in the camp. I slashed at the closest one with my sword.

More and more of the creatures emerged into the camp. They snarled and slashed at us, driving us closer to the water. They were working as a team. I held my sword ready as three of them drove Cormir and I back. Cormir held his sword ready as well. I looked over at him. The Karps were trying to single us out from the group.

"Cormir, the one on the right." I said to him. We needed to get back with our group. The larger the group the harder it would be for the beasts.

Cormir nodded. I ran to my right, momentarily distracting the beast. Cormir slashed at the karp's side. The karp growled and spun, snapping at Cormir. Cormir jumped back, slashing with his sword as he did. I slashed at his head, felling the foul beast.

The small victory was short lived however, for the other two karps had all but abandoned their friend. One was behind Cormir, ready to pounce.

"Cormir, down." I commanded.

Cormir obeyed without question. He knelt down as the karp jumped. I fired an arrow, catching the beast in a soft place on his stomach. The beast fell to the ground.

Cormir thrust his sword at another karp that came towards him. The karp growled and slashed at Cormir. The blow caught Cormir's right arm making him drop his sword.

I drew my sword again, but before I could help my friend, another beast was in front of me. I griped my sword hard. I took a quick glance around the camp. Most of the rangers seemed to be holding their own against the group of karps. I looked back at the karp as he came at me. I moved to the side and slashed low. I cut him near the base of his neck and shoulders. He growled and leapt at me. I moved, but he had great speed.

He managed to grab one of my legs in his clawed paws. His sharp claws dug deep into my flesh. I hissed in pain as I fell to me knees. I thrust my sword backward into his neck. He stumbled back and fell to the ground.

I looked around for Cormir. He was still fighting. I was about to help him when I heard a scream from behind me. I turned to see one of the slaves running from a smaller sized karp. It was Haliem. I drew my bow and fired. The arrow hit the karp in the neck, but didn't kill it. He kept advancing towards Haliem who had fallen on the ground. I fired another arrow, but it merely skimmed his side. I drew my sword and with a battle cry, I ran towards the foul beast. I jumped in front of Haliem and pointed my sword at the beast.

I thrust my sword at the beast, but it moved quickly, snarling it's deadly fangs at me. My attention was so focused on him that I did not see the karp sneaking up behind me, until it was too late. I felt a heavy weight suddenly on my back, forcing me to the ground. I went down so fast that I couldn't break my fall. My head hit hard on a rock. I felt unconsciousness trying to take me. I tried to fight against it, but soon didn't succeed. I heard someone yelling my name, but it began to fade. The last thing I saw was two karps baring their fangs at me, before darkness took me.