A/N: Here is chapter two, I know I said this would be the chapter with the reunion, but as things are I believe it will not be until the next chapter. I hope you enjoy this chapter, here three companions learn who was behind their assassination plot, as well as meet the Red Saints for the first time (I will most likely not use them again, in this story, however if I get enough reviews and enough people reading this story, then when I do a sequel, the Red Saints will return and have a much larger role to play.) Remember review, I've only let the chapters out as soon as I did, because I was in a writing mood, it may be awhile before you see another chapter, well at least after the reunion. Also, computer is still a little screwy, so bear with me, some is my fault others are not.
Disclaimer: I own nothing, but few random characters here and there, the red saints are mine, along with few others, otherwise everything belongs to Tolkien and 2i. (Getting tired of this)
Chapter Two
Briar, Fordo, and Galdalf were walking around edges of Fangorn forest, they had made good time and expected to reunite with the other fellowship members within days end, however, some things may get in the way from what you want, and lead on to destiny. While wondering around the edges of the forest they heard a terrifying sound, a group of urk-hai were nearby, and would be filled with bloodlust at the sight of them. The uruks had camped out and were hoping to get into Orthanc, in search of food and weapons, they had heard that Saruman had kept many evil trinkets, and were just itching for power. All in all the group of uruks ranged between the ranges of twenty and thirty, which put the group at a major disadvantage. two were hobbits and the third was an old man, even if he could use magic, he wouldn't unless he needed to, and not to even save his own life, but to save a whole heard of people, at the moment he was definitely not traveling with a heard. The uruk voices got louder and the three took cover in the trees, not a smart idea, for Gandalf remembered what had happened last time he and a group of companions had hidden in trees, it was not a pretty sight. Briar watched in anticipation to see a dreaded urk-hai, he had faced a few orcs on the way, and couldn't believe that anything could look worse than an orc, he was about to find out he was wrong. The group of twenty uruks turned the corner and then much to the trees occupiers, they decided to make camp at that very spot.
Out of the shade of the trees came twenty or so uruks of Saruman. They were all heavily muscled, and had much armor on them, looking like they were going to war, their faces were painted and they smelled distinctly of blood. They were from the war of helms deep, how they survived was beyond anyone can assume, they figured the Fangorn trees had killed all of the occupants of the army, apparently some of them were smarter than the other couple thousand of their companions. There was uruk, who looked like almost a brother to the lumbering and child of Saruman the urk Lurtz (spelled his name right?), the fact was, he was almost like a twin to lurtz and had taken command of the escaped uruk right away, the others were afraid of him.
"Grimg get a fire going, this place smells of man, and I have had it with men. I swear we're moving to Moria once this is over." said the large brother of Lurtz, who was watching one of the smaller urk-hai run to get firewood.
"Yeah, what's with them, following us, we haven't even done anything remotely bad, yet. I've never seen men like that before, who are they? Logz?" replied another urk, this one, looked almost like a beserker, one which was missing a sword, all he had was a bow and arrow, one which he had gotten stronger with after the war, he was the groups best and only archer.
"How many times Cursu, do I have to tell you not to call me that? My name Logetz and you should call me by my rightful name. I could slice off your head at any moment, remember that." Logetz or commonly known as Logz by his group threatened yet didn't mean it, they had been through too much together since the end of the war. "These men I believe are hired assassins, for who I don't know nor care, but it seems as if they've put us on their hit parade, so wizen up or fall, it's your choice." Other members of the group began to argue angrily and soon a fight broke out, but not a normal uruk fight, but one similar to a mans, they use fists, but even those could deeply injure an opponent. All of a sudden a dozen or so arrows were shot off from directions all around and killed half of the uruks, then out charged ten men in red, weilding swords of swiftness and power. The uruks knowing hope of escape was lost, went charging into battle, many heads rolled and in the end there were only three uruk left to nine men. The uruks were Logetz, Cursu, and Grimg and they were bleeding from various places, and slumped against a large tree out of exhaustion. The nine men left then took a step back and the uruks watched in wonder when the tenth member slowly stood up and began speaking.
"Logetz I believe, no we have not met, but I have heard many stories of you from my master, it's too bad you delayed us at the crossing, you killed two of our members then, there are very few people who have ever killed a Red Saint and gotten away alive with it. I am not an unmerciful man, so I'll give you a choice, you can tell me which way you want to die, do you want me to behead you or slice you in half? But wait, there is another option, you can tell me what I want to know, and if you answer truthfully and give me what I want, I'll spare you three, it's not likely you'll make it anywhere being as wounded as you are anyway. So what will it be?" asked the leader of the Red Saints known as Tyran, who was playing with his sharp pointed sword while talking, and smiling with his crooked teeth at the expressions of the dumfounded Uruks.
"I'll answer your questions, but I don't know what you want to know so I'll answer only truthfully, however if you betray us, then may you be stuck down swiftly, when you least expect it." Logetz snarled at the Red Saint's leader.
"Yes, but of course. Now my first question for you is, Have you seen two hobbits and an old man walk this way? Do you know if anyone has passed this way not too long ago? What were you doing? Is there anything of value still in Orthanc? Oh, yes one more question, have you seen any nazgul around here lately? Okay I believe that are all the questions I wanted you to ask, now it's your turn remember the fate of you and your companions rest in your answers." Tyran sneered, still smiling his crooked smile.
"What kind of questions are those? No matter, I will answer them to the best of my ability. The first question is a no, I have not seen two hobbits and an old man, the answer to the second question is yes, the three you are looking for passed by not too long ago." Briar and Frodo glanced at each other, while Gandalf just stared into space taking in all that was said. The Uruk could smell them, and these men were looking for them, not good, not good at all. "We were heading for Orthanc, there is a rumor of one of Saruman's famous artifacts, we believe it is his very own ring of power, yet it was not crafted well, and could not contend to the will of Sauron, now however we believe it is more powerful, powerful enough for someone of great mind and power to use well. The answer to your next question is also yes, however we Uruks aren't told where anything of great value or power were stored, we just heard rumors about the ring from my brother Lurtz before he died at the hands or Aragorn king of Gondor. Nazgul? What are you talking about, the nine fell with Sauron, and were never seen again. If you're talking about the nazgul wannabe that keeps going into pubs and was last seen near helms deep, then yes, otherwise no. There I answered your questions are we free to go? You gave us your word, so live to it." Logetz replied though sounding angry and in pain at the same time.
"Ah let's see, Kethrow did he answer truthfully?" Tyran asked one the nine behind him.
"He did indeed Lord Tyran, I believe it is safe for us to let them go." The one as Kethrow replied in a slightly energetic voice
"Very well. You three are free to go. Don't let us catch you again though or you will definitely not be able to walk away again. Now go." Tyran shouted at the three remaining Uruks and watched as they sped off in the direction of Moria, as fast as they could run, within minutes they were beyond sight of all, but an elf. "Now back to business, men. We promised to skewer the hobbit and wizard, and we will. I believe it is safe to say, that we don't need to at the moment, we're heading for Orthanc. Now men, let's move out." Tyran and the rest of the Red Saints turned to leave, but unfortunately, Briar's branch snapped an he and Frodo fell to the ground below, luckily landing on their feet. Unfortunately it was enough noise to send Tyran and the Red Saints back, and Tyran sneered when he caught sight of them.
"Well it looks as if, we don't need to worry about finding them after all, they came to us." Then he and the other Red Saints laughed. Echoes being heard for miles, no one noticed that the trees began to shake and make sounds, Gandalf had gone for help as soon as he saw the Red Saints, he knew of their evil reputation and went to Treebeard to see if he could help with something of great importance, he and two ents, one named Quickbeam, the other was Fangorn, Treebeard himself entered back just as the hobbits fell, they held back to listen to what was going on, but they would make sure they had a surprise they would never forget.
"Gandalf the grey and Frodo Baggins, I knew we'd find you eventually, remember no hard feelings, we get paid for this, we aren't the ones who want you dead, it's our master. Gandalf you should shed that ridiculous disguise, how you turned yourself into a hobbit I don't want or need to know. But tell me how are you feeling now?"
"But I'm not Gandalf. My name is Briar Bolger of the Shire and my traveling companion is Odo Boggins, there is a remarkable difference, between us and whoever it is you are looking for."
"Nice try, wizard. But I know who you really are, Mr. Odo as you said, he doesn't have a finger, the same finger that is missing from Frodo Baggins. Besides our master said you would try to disguise yourself, and he gave us a complete description of Frodo here, won't little Frodo just love to know who are master is?" Tyran replied with a sneer, and a cackle.
"Fine then, who is your master, what plans does he have, that sort of thing, after all were going to die anyways, why not fill us in?" Frodo asked knowing that if he escaped he would have a ton of information for whoever needed, most likely Gandalf, if not at least he would know.
"You're right you are going to die, so why not. I will not be so openly stupid as to say our masters real name and what his real plans are, one we don't know about many of his plans, and two you'll find out eventually. Our master is however the last remaining member of the nazgul."
"Your master can't be. The nazgul fell when Sauron did, they can now die like any normal man, and last I heard they were all dead. How can this be?"
"Our master is the tenth nazgul, Sauron's second most loyal servant as well as spy, he was newly recruited only a little before he went after you. The only thing I know about his plans are that they were staging an attack on helm's deep sometime tomorrow. The reason for this attack is to draw Aragorn and the rest of the living fellowship to helm's deep, why I do not know, my guess though is he is playing a game with your companions, he always loved playing games. Enough of my jabbering it's time for you to say goodbye." Tyran drew his ancient blade and got ready to strike down the two when two things happened. The first was two giant moving trees coming out from view and beginning to attack his band, they all retreated, one of them though had been killed and he was apparently next in line, he went back to make sure he finished his job. The second thing that happened was his prize bounty being snatched up by one of the ents and the real Gandalf the grey coming out mumbling something under his breath. Tyran knew it was a spell, and if he didn't get out of range he would die. Tyran used his special skills as an assassin to beat the spell, in the process losing another member of his group. He looked around, there were seven besides him left, he ordered a retreat, and that was the last that they ever saw of him, at least in this story, they met him again, but that is an entirely different story.
Briar, Frodo and Gandalf then sped with all speed towards Helm's Deep hoping, they wouldn't be too late, when in fact Cazor's game was just beginning, and in another land, the evil power of the core had found two new members of evil.
How was it? Let me know, and remember review.