Disclaimer: See chap. 1
Chapter 3: Rimor
Gimli watched the sunrise. He couldn't see why Elves got so emotional about watching an orange ball rise into the sky. The dwarf cocked his head, attempting to get another perspective of it. He shook his head. "Maybe it looks different from the top of their infernal trees," Gimli muttered. He turned away and headed towards camp. Everyone was still asleep when he reached them. Reaching down, he nudged Gandalf. "Sunrise," Gimli said gruffly.
Gandalf instantly rose. "Anything during the night?" he asked.
Gimli shook his head. "Nay," he said. "All was quiet."
Gandalf nodded, slowly. Then he turned and walked to the hobbits. Aragorn was rising, as was Boromir. Gandalf shook each hobbit in turn. Frodo blinked rapidly, then slowly rose. Sam followed his master. Merry swatted at Gandalf sleepily, while Pippin didn't even stir. "One more minute, Gandalf," he mumbled.
Gandalf sighed and took his staff. He rapped Merry with it. "Up, Master Brandybuck," he said over Merry's muffled protests. "And no, Pippin, one minute would turn into two which would turn into three which would."
"Okay! You don't have to torment me with sweet fantasies of sleep!"
"I say, I think you could be a little more gentle with that staff of yours, Gandalf."
Gandalf shook his head, smiling. He surveyed the camp. Sam was starting a small breakfast, Frodo helping when Sam deemed it would be safe and there was no danger of him hurting the food. Pippin was struggling to pull Merry out of his bedroll. When Merry refused to comply with his cousin's will, Aragorn joined Pippin in pulling Merry out of bed. As Aragorn succeeded in yanking the blanket off Merry, Merry shouted, "Oi!" That's not fair!" He leapt at the Ranger, tackling him as Aragorn laughed. The wrestling match was short lived, though. As Aragorn pinned Merry, he said, "At least it got you up."
Boromir was watching this, amusement clearly written on his face. He was so amused he didn't notice Pippin sneaking up behind him. "Gotcha!" Pippin shouted as he jumped on Boromir. They fell to the ground, Pippin on top. Gimli watched with no expression, but snorted as Pippin continued to have the upperhand with Man from Gondor. Aragorn and Merry noticed and laughed.
"Do you require assistance Boromir?" Aragorn called.
"No," came the muffled reply. "Though I am grateful this hobbit hasn't eaten breakfast yet, or I would be in a perilous situation right now."
Pippin, who was sitting on top of Boromir, crossed his arms and pouted. "Now, that's not very nice," he complained.
Boromir took advantage of this moment distraction and threw Pippin off him. The Man sighed in relief and stretched, smiling at the indignant shouts of retaliation that came from Pippin. He looked up. Seat directly on a branch about 15 feet above him was Legolas. The Elf seemed to be staring into space. "Is he asleep?" Boromir asked, tilting his head.
Aragorn joined him. "I think so," he answered. "Legolas! Are you awake?"
No reply. Gimli tossed an acorn at the sleeping Elf. Legolas stirred, coming perilously close to the edge of the branch. "Careful!" Aragorn exclaimed. "He might fall."
"In that case, can I throw another?"
"No."
Gimli sighed in disappointment. He instead cupped his hands around his mouth. "Elf! Wake up!" Gimli bellowed. He turned to Gandalf and said, "Maybe you should zap him."
Gandalf chuckled. "I don't think so, Master Dwarf," he said. "Aragorn? Would you mind.?"
"Not at all," Aragorn replied. He started climbing up the tree. The rest of the Fellowship crowded beneath the branch. When Aragorn reached Legolas' branch, he suddenly realized how far up he actually was. "Why couldn't you sleep on the ground, like normal people?" he muttered under his breath. Aragorn tentatively reached out to shake Legolas awake. As soon as he touched the Elf's shoulder, Legolas sprang into a standing position, groping for invisible knives. Surprise by this, Aragorn fell back. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting to impact the ground as he heard surprised shouts from the Fellowship. When he realized that he was still in the air, Aragorn opened his eyes.
He was hanging upside-down, a few feet away from the ground and also staring Frodo straight in the eyes. He looked up, straining his neck. Legolas was grasping his ankles, also hanging upside-down. His legs were hooked around the tree branch. "Good morning!" Aragorn said cheerfully to the Elf.
Legolas grinned wryly. "So, how are we going to get out of this one?" he asked.
"Gandalf! Boromir!" Aragorn said. "A little help?"
"I think we should leave them like that," Boromir commented. Aragorn swiped at him.
"Come on, my face is turning bright red and sooner or later I think I'll drop Aragorn," Legolas protested. He paused. "Either out of exhaustion or out of pure pleasure."
"Gandalf!"
When Boromir and Gandalf were supporting Aragorn, Legolas let go of the Ranger. Aragorn staggered back to his feet, the blood rushing from his head. Meanwhile, Legolas was swinging slightly, getting momentum to get back up safely. Just as he swung up, there was a twang. An arrow buried itself in the tree where Legolas' head had just been.
"Get down!" Gandalf hissed.
Sam dove behind all his cooking gear. Merry pulled Frodo behind a bush, while Pippin hid behind a large rock. Gimli stood behind a tree, his axe pulled out and ready to swing. Boromir crouched in the cover of a large bush. Aragorn had drawn his bow and had an arrow ready, standing beside Gandalf, who had his staff wielded. Legolas disappeared into the tree's leaves. No one spoke. The surrounding forest was quiet. After a few minutes, Gandalf slowly lowered his staff. A soft rumbling filled the air. "What is it?" Aragorn whispered to the Istari.
"I'm not sure," Gandalf murmured. "Do you have any ideas?"
Aragorn listened to it for a minute. Slowly, he shook his head. "Whatever it is, it's coming closer."
* * * * *
Frodo peered through the bush he was behind. He could see Aragorn and Gandalf in the clearing, but there was no sign of the others. The air seemed to shake with something. Frodo couldn't place it, but it felt familiar. Just as the answer was about to pop in his mind, a muffled shout caught his attention. Frodo turned and saw Merry being dragged into the foliage. The hobbit was kicking and clawing at the slim hand covering his mouth. "Merry!" Frodo cried. He ran after his friend, not seeing the log in his path. "Whoa!"
Frodo went flying. He landed on the ground, rolling a few feet before he slammed into a tree. Groaning, Frodo rolled onto his back. The world was spinning above him. Frodo struggled to sit up, but black flitted around his vision. He fell back down, and lay there, staring at the sky. He felt someone lift him up. Help...
* * * * *
Legolas peered through the trees. A noise pricked his ears. He whirled around and saw Merry and Frodo being pulled away by a hidden shadow. "Ganda." he called as he started to draw his bow, but something wrapped around his waist and threw him into the tree trunk. Legolas instantly rolled into a crouch, landing gracefully on his feet.
"Master Elf!" a voice squeaked. "Rimor realized not, sorry is he." Legolas looked in front of him. A tall, thin creature was skittering back and forth along the branch, long fingers and toes gripping the tree. Its eyes were bright and a deep purple, oval shaped above a long, hooked nose. Raven black hair sprouted randomly from its head, falling in a V across its back. Folds of dark green robes cloaked a lank frame. Slim hands worked nervously together and a tail that looked more like a piece of frayed rope twitched back and forth behind the creature. Its skin was a dark shade of grey, blending with the shadows and making it look like the deep purple eyes were floating. As Legolas was trying to place what this thing was, the creature stuck its hand in its pocket. Before Legolas could react, the creature whipped out a pipe and blew. Something whizzed through the air. Pain blossomed suddenly in his neck. He stumbled. "Sorry is Rimor, dear Master Elf! But Narunien was not made to be disobeyed by me, no Elf no," the creature softly whispered, tears welling up in his mystic eyes.
Legolas reached to his neck with trembling fingers. He felt something sticking out. He slowly turned to the creature as his vision blurred. Dimly, Legolas realized that he was falling. Distant screams met his ears as his eyes met with blackness.
* * * * *
Gandalf stood silently next to Aragorn. Nothing had moved, nothing had sounded. But Gandalf could still feel a premonition. It crept up on him still, and a warning grew fast in his heart. A stray leaf fell on his arm. He wildly jerked his staff up as something tumbled from the tree. A shriek echoed along with the crash. A whizzing noise rushed past his ear. Gandalf turned sharply only to see Aragorn collapse, a dart embedded in his arm. He looked up into the tree. A dark form scuttled between the branches, slitted orbs of amethyst glistening through the leaves. "Show yourself!" Gandalf commanded.
The shape stopped abruptly. "Mighty wizard, the Grey Gandalf," it hissed. "Did not mean, no Rimor did not, harm for Elf or Ranger. Narunien order, disobeyed it cannot. Rimor does not mean anything, Grey Gandalf."
Gandalf sighed and put his staff to his side. "Rimor, I thought I told you last time to tell Oleron he needs to skip the theatrics."
Rimor started. "Oleron?" he gasped. "Tis not Oleron, tis Narunien. Mayhaps once was Oleron. Name was stolen, yes it was. Blue Oleron once possessed name Narunien."
"Who claimed it?"
Rimor hissed between his teeth. "Evil claimed," he whispered, waving his thin hand. His eyes glittered. He huddled at the trunk of the tree, blinking furiously at the wizard. "Malign things, evil, nasty little bugs in dirt. Stole Master Oleron's name they did. Rimor was not happy, no Rimor was not."
"Rimor!" Gandalf bellowed. Rimor started, jerking back into the tree. "Who took his name?"
"Goblins," Rimor finally answered. "Heading from Iron Hills. Found Master's namesake, that nasty Dragas. Stole Narunien."
"The goblins were heading from the Iron Hills?" Gandalf asked, his brow furrowing. "We saw them heading for the Iron Hills."
"Ah, Grey Gandalf, they were, they were," Rimor said softly, pointing at Gandalf with a trembling grey finger. "Gathering of goblins it was. No migration. Goblins love Misty Mountains too much. Yes, twas large gathering. All goblins of the West and North, meeting goblins of the East and South. Nasty Dragas leading with false name." Rimor growled softly, flexing his long fingers. "Wants to eat Dragas, rip his nasty, bug-eating head from shriveled body."
"Rimor," Gandalf warned.
"Yes yes yes," Rimor said, waving a hand. "Goblins united, good for them, bad for Rimor and home. Especially under Oleron Master's name. Give him bad name now."
"What are you doing here?"
"Still bound by name Narunien. Unfortunate for Rimor, goblins discovered he was Master's servant. Dragas orders Rimor under false name, even though it be false, Rimor cannot disobey, oh no, Rimor cannot. Grey Gandalf remembers where Master Oleron found Rimor." Rimor blinked at Gandalf. "So sorry about disruption," he hissed then slithered back up the tree, his black hair waving softly as he faded into the shadows.
*Good? Bad? Horrible? Should I even write more?
Chapter 3: Rimor
Gimli watched the sunrise. He couldn't see why Elves got so emotional about watching an orange ball rise into the sky. The dwarf cocked his head, attempting to get another perspective of it. He shook his head. "Maybe it looks different from the top of their infernal trees," Gimli muttered. He turned away and headed towards camp. Everyone was still asleep when he reached them. Reaching down, he nudged Gandalf. "Sunrise," Gimli said gruffly.
Gandalf instantly rose. "Anything during the night?" he asked.
Gimli shook his head. "Nay," he said. "All was quiet."
Gandalf nodded, slowly. Then he turned and walked to the hobbits. Aragorn was rising, as was Boromir. Gandalf shook each hobbit in turn. Frodo blinked rapidly, then slowly rose. Sam followed his master. Merry swatted at Gandalf sleepily, while Pippin didn't even stir. "One more minute, Gandalf," he mumbled.
Gandalf sighed and took his staff. He rapped Merry with it. "Up, Master Brandybuck," he said over Merry's muffled protests. "And no, Pippin, one minute would turn into two which would turn into three which would."
"Okay! You don't have to torment me with sweet fantasies of sleep!"
"I say, I think you could be a little more gentle with that staff of yours, Gandalf."
Gandalf shook his head, smiling. He surveyed the camp. Sam was starting a small breakfast, Frodo helping when Sam deemed it would be safe and there was no danger of him hurting the food. Pippin was struggling to pull Merry out of his bedroll. When Merry refused to comply with his cousin's will, Aragorn joined Pippin in pulling Merry out of bed. As Aragorn succeeded in yanking the blanket off Merry, Merry shouted, "Oi!" That's not fair!" He leapt at the Ranger, tackling him as Aragorn laughed. The wrestling match was short lived, though. As Aragorn pinned Merry, he said, "At least it got you up."
Boromir was watching this, amusement clearly written on his face. He was so amused he didn't notice Pippin sneaking up behind him. "Gotcha!" Pippin shouted as he jumped on Boromir. They fell to the ground, Pippin on top. Gimli watched with no expression, but snorted as Pippin continued to have the upperhand with Man from Gondor. Aragorn and Merry noticed and laughed.
"Do you require assistance Boromir?" Aragorn called.
"No," came the muffled reply. "Though I am grateful this hobbit hasn't eaten breakfast yet, or I would be in a perilous situation right now."
Pippin, who was sitting on top of Boromir, crossed his arms and pouted. "Now, that's not very nice," he complained.
Boromir took advantage of this moment distraction and threw Pippin off him. The Man sighed in relief and stretched, smiling at the indignant shouts of retaliation that came from Pippin. He looked up. Seat directly on a branch about 15 feet above him was Legolas. The Elf seemed to be staring into space. "Is he asleep?" Boromir asked, tilting his head.
Aragorn joined him. "I think so," he answered. "Legolas! Are you awake?"
No reply. Gimli tossed an acorn at the sleeping Elf. Legolas stirred, coming perilously close to the edge of the branch. "Careful!" Aragorn exclaimed. "He might fall."
"In that case, can I throw another?"
"No."
Gimli sighed in disappointment. He instead cupped his hands around his mouth. "Elf! Wake up!" Gimli bellowed. He turned to Gandalf and said, "Maybe you should zap him."
Gandalf chuckled. "I don't think so, Master Dwarf," he said. "Aragorn? Would you mind.?"
"Not at all," Aragorn replied. He started climbing up the tree. The rest of the Fellowship crowded beneath the branch. When Aragorn reached Legolas' branch, he suddenly realized how far up he actually was. "Why couldn't you sleep on the ground, like normal people?" he muttered under his breath. Aragorn tentatively reached out to shake Legolas awake. As soon as he touched the Elf's shoulder, Legolas sprang into a standing position, groping for invisible knives. Surprise by this, Aragorn fell back. He squeezed his eyes shut, waiting to impact the ground as he heard surprised shouts from the Fellowship. When he realized that he was still in the air, Aragorn opened his eyes.
He was hanging upside-down, a few feet away from the ground and also staring Frodo straight in the eyes. He looked up, straining his neck. Legolas was grasping his ankles, also hanging upside-down. His legs were hooked around the tree branch. "Good morning!" Aragorn said cheerfully to the Elf.
Legolas grinned wryly. "So, how are we going to get out of this one?" he asked.
"Gandalf! Boromir!" Aragorn said. "A little help?"
"I think we should leave them like that," Boromir commented. Aragorn swiped at him.
"Come on, my face is turning bright red and sooner or later I think I'll drop Aragorn," Legolas protested. He paused. "Either out of exhaustion or out of pure pleasure."
"Gandalf!"
When Boromir and Gandalf were supporting Aragorn, Legolas let go of the Ranger. Aragorn staggered back to his feet, the blood rushing from his head. Meanwhile, Legolas was swinging slightly, getting momentum to get back up safely. Just as he swung up, there was a twang. An arrow buried itself in the tree where Legolas' head had just been.
"Get down!" Gandalf hissed.
Sam dove behind all his cooking gear. Merry pulled Frodo behind a bush, while Pippin hid behind a large rock. Gimli stood behind a tree, his axe pulled out and ready to swing. Boromir crouched in the cover of a large bush. Aragorn had drawn his bow and had an arrow ready, standing beside Gandalf, who had his staff wielded. Legolas disappeared into the tree's leaves. No one spoke. The surrounding forest was quiet. After a few minutes, Gandalf slowly lowered his staff. A soft rumbling filled the air. "What is it?" Aragorn whispered to the Istari.
"I'm not sure," Gandalf murmured. "Do you have any ideas?"
Aragorn listened to it for a minute. Slowly, he shook his head. "Whatever it is, it's coming closer."
* * * * *
Frodo peered through the bush he was behind. He could see Aragorn and Gandalf in the clearing, but there was no sign of the others. The air seemed to shake with something. Frodo couldn't place it, but it felt familiar. Just as the answer was about to pop in his mind, a muffled shout caught his attention. Frodo turned and saw Merry being dragged into the foliage. The hobbit was kicking and clawing at the slim hand covering his mouth. "Merry!" Frodo cried. He ran after his friend, not seeing the log in his path. "Whoa!"
Frodo went flying. He landed on the ground, rolling a few feet before he slammed into a tree. Groaning, Frodo rolled onto his back. The world was spinning above him. Frodo struggled to sit up, but black flitted around his vision. He fell back down, and lay there, staring at the sky. He felt someone lift him up. Help...
* * * * *
Legolas peered through the trees. A noise pricked his ears. He whirled around and saw Merry and Frodo being pulled away by a hidden shadow. "Ganda." he called as he started to draw his bow, but something wrapped around his waist and threw him into the tree trunk. Legolas instantly rolled into a crouch, landing gracefully on his feet.
"Master Elf!" a voice squeaked. "Rimor realized not, sorry is he." Legolas looked in front of him. A tall, thin creature was skittering back and forth along the branch, long fingers and toes gripping the tree. Its eyes were bright and a deep purple, oval shaped above a long, hooked nose. Raven black hair sprouted randomly from its head, falling in a V across its back. Folds of dark green robes cloaked a lank frame. Slim hands worked nervously together and a tail that looked more like a piece of frayed rope twitched back and forth behind the creature. Its skin was a dark shade of grey, blending with the shadows and making it look like the deep purple eyes were floating. As Legolas was trying to place what this thing was, the creature stuck its hand in its pocket. Before Legolas could react, the creature whipped out a pipe and blew. Something whizzed through the air. Pain blossomed suddenly in his neck. He stumbled. "Sorry is Rimor, dear Master Elf! But Narunien was not made to be disobeyed by me, no Elf no," the creature softly whispered, tears welling up in his mystic eyes.
Legolas reached to his neck with trembling fingers. He felt something sticking out. He slowly turned to the creature as his vision blurred. Dimly, Legolas realized that he was falling. Distant screams met his ears as his eyes met with blackness.
* * * * *
Gandalf stood silently next to Aragorn. Nothing had moved, nothing had sounded. But Gandalf could still feel a premonition. It crept up on him still, and a warning grew fast in his heart. A stray leaf fell on his arm. He wildly jerked his staff up as something tumbled from the tree. A shriek echoed along with the crash. A whizzing noise rushed past his ear. Gandalf turned sharply only to see Aragorn collapse, a dart embedded in his arm. He looked up into the tree. A dark form scuttled between the branches, slitted orbs of amethyst glistening through the leaves. "Show yourself!" Gandalf commanded.
The shape stopped abruptly. "Mighty wizard, the Grey Gandalf," it hissed. "Did not mean, no Rimor did not, harm for Elf or Ranger. Narunien order, disobeyed it cannot. Rimor does not mean anything, Grey Gandalf."
Gandalf sighed and put his staff to his side. "Rimor, I thought I told you last time to tell Oleron he needs to skip the theatrics."
Rimor started. "Oleron?" he gasped. "Tis not Oleron, tis Narunien. Mayhaps once was Oleron. Name was stolen, yes it was. Blue Oleron once possessed name Narunien."
"Who claimed it?"
Rimor hissed between his teeth. "Evil claimed," he whispered, waving his thin hand. His eyes glittered. He huddled at the trunk of the tree, blinking furiously at the wizard. "Malign things, evil, nasty little bugs in dirt. Stole Master Oleron's name they did. Rimor was not happy, no Rimor was not."
"Rimor!" Gandalf bellowed. Rimor started, jerking back into the tree. "Who took his name?"
"Goblins," Rimor finally answered. "Heading from Iron Hills. Found Master's namesake, that nasty Dragas. Stole Narunien."
"The goblins were heading from the Iron Hills?" Gandalf asked, his brow furrowing. "We saw them heading for the Iron Hills."
"Ah, Grey Gandalf, they were, they were," Rimor said softly, pointing at Gandalf with a trembling grey finger. "Gathering of goblins it was. No migration. Goblins love Misty Mountains too much. Yes, twas large gathering. All goblins of the West and North, meeting goblins of the East and South. Nasty Dragas leading with false name." Rimor growled softly, flexing his long fingers. "Wants to eat Dragas, rip his nasty, bug-eating head from shriveled body."
"Rimor," Gandalf warned.
"Yes yes yes," Rimor said, waving a hand. "Goblins united, good for them, bad for Rimor and home. Especially under Oleron Master's name. Give him bad name now."
"What are you doing here?"
"Still bound by name Narunien. Unfortunate for Rimor, goblins discovered he was Master's servant. Dragas orders Rimor under false name, even though it be false, Rimor cannot disobey, oh no, Rimor cannot. Grey Gandalf remembers where Master Oleron found Rimor." Rimor blinked at Gandalf. "So sorry about disruption," he hissed then slithered back up the tree, his black hair waving softly as he faded into the shadows.
*Good? Bad? Horrible? Should I even write more?