Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
Author's Note: Here's a short chapter to tide invisigoth3 over until I can get some more done. (I wouldn't want to affect your school-work.)
Playing Games
The first night on their trip to Dol Guldur the orcs stopped early. Atavus guessed that Uglúk was becoming impatient with having to wait to stop and play. They had chosen a large clearing that had many low tree limbs hanging above. They captives all kept their eyes open for the chance to escape, but it did not present itself. They had each been tied to separate trees in sitting positions. The orcs went about eating what provisions they had with them, and drinking a strong blood laced ale that Atavus remembered was their favorite drink. Considering the amount of ale they were consuming she began to expect the worst for herself.
"Legolas, Estel, what ever happens tonight, you need to remain calm." She began to speak knowing her friends could become irrational. She did not want a repeat of what happened to Garin.
"What do you think they have in mind?" Aragorn asked.
"I'm not sure, but you have to wait until the opportune time to escape before you try anything stupid, that might get you killed." She answered him knowing full well that he would not listen.
"She's right Estel." Elladan added his opinion. "You aren't going to be able to help her or any of us if you get yourself killed."
"Why are you all assuming I will do something stupid?" He asked already knowing why.
Legolas shook his head and smiled at his friend. "I've always said that your reckless nature would get you killed someday. Please this time try to hold back." He knew the words he told Aragorn were smart, but he wasn't sure if this time he could follow his own advice.
Atavus shushed them as she saw the orc captain stand and start towards her. He stopped directly in front of her and pulled out a sharp dagger from his waist belt. "My pretty, pretty little plaything, are you ready to play with your old friend Uglúk again? It has been such a long time since we played. Have you forgotten how to scream yet? Maybe I'll have to teach you again." He toyed with the knife for a few moments twirling it in his fingers, trying to draw a reaction from her.
"I think maybe I'll pass this time." She said sarcastically.
"You know there are no passes in this game, unless maybe one of your friends would like to take your place." He smiled evilly. "Like that dwarf did. What was his name again?"
"You leave Garin out of this. Leave all of them out of this. This is between me and you." She snarled as her rage began to build at the mention of her lost friend.
"Still feisty I see. You know I like it better that way." He motioned for two orcs to untie her. Then he pointed to one of the low branches above the clearing. The branch was about five foot above her head. The orcs threw a rope over the branch then tied each end around one wrist. She was bound so she hung a few inches off the ground. She kicked out at them several times, which lead to them tying her feet together. She was facing her friends, so they could see what was being done to her. She did not make a sound when one of the orcs struck her hard in the stomach. Uglúk struck the orc. "That's not the way this game is played." He turned to Atavus with a broad grin on his face. "Do you remember how to play this game Throwback?"
She did remember, but she would not answer him. She swore to herself that she would not make a sound. She just glared back to him.
"Not talking so big now are you? You dirt for brains." He yelled at the orc who had previously slugged her in the stomach. "You know this game don't you?" He nodded that he did.
They each took a position on either side of the woman. "Oh I'm sorry. Where are my manners? Your friends don't know the rules." He pushed her so she started spinning in one direction. "You see the object of the game is to spin her around until that rope up above is twisted as far is it can go in one direction. But your opponent is trying to do the same thing, only going the other way. The first to twist the rope all the way wins." That didn't sound too bad to the captives, but Atavus knew more than they did what lengths the orcs would go to, to win. She watched as both orcs slipped gloves over their hands. The gloves were covered in small spikes that would cut deep enough to make you bleed, but not deep enough to kill. She swallowed hard remembering.
Then the game began. The orc captain pushed her first. She felt the biting pain as the spikes bit into the soft tissue of her stomach. She began to spin wildly only to be stopped as the other orc clamped his hand on her left hip. The spikes didn't sink in as far, because the material of her trousers was thicker than the tunic and undershirt she wore. She could hear the material ripping though as he spun her the other way. The next time she wouldn't be so lucky. The captain not wanting to be outdone hit her in the lower ribs stopping her spinning motion and sending her the other way. She refused to scream even though she could feel the razor sharp spikes scrape her ribs. She felt blood trickling down her skin in the places they struck her. It went on and on with neither opponent gaining over the other. Atavus had started making small pain-filled noises every time she was stuck, almost too soft to be heard.
The other captives looked on in horror, as she bore the torment almost soundlessly. Legolas and Aragorn both struggled against their bonds trying in vane to get to their friend. It was Legolas who spoke first. "Stop. Your going to kill her."
The orc captain turned and backhanded him with the spiked glove, leaving several long cuts across his cheek, and busting his lip. "Shut up maggot." Then he turned back to the game realizing that the distraction had nearly cost him the game. His opponent had one spin left to win. With a loud snarl he pulled his dagger and tossed it at his opponent, striking him in the shoulder. The orc yelped in pain and backed away from her.
"Game over. I win." Uglúk said crossing over to his opponent to pull his dagger out. He then sliced the ropes above Atvus' head letting her fall to the ground. When she did not move or make a sound he kicked her in the ribs rolling her towards the other captives. "Tomorrow night I hear you scream, or you die Throwback." He left her where she lay knowing she would not have the strength to try and run away.
She did not try to run away. She just lay there staring at Legolas' booted foot, which was less than a foot away from her face. She didn't hear her friend's concerned voices. She just thought to herself that it would be nice to die about then, but she didn't die. She didn't even lose consciousness.
"Atavus please snap out of it." Legolas said trying in vain to get her attention. He could see the blank expression on her face, and it scared him. "Why won't she speak Estel?" He panicked thinking she might die.
"She's in shock." His friend answered. "Atavus please listen to me. Come back to us my friend. I know the pain is great, but you must not give up. We can not lose you."
Elladan and Elrohir looked at each other not knowing what to say. No one deserved the pain they just saw the woman go through, but now they also knew it was not the first time she had suffered such. Elrohir suddenly found himself thinking of his mother and wondering if she had endured something similar to what he had just saw. She had never described any of the torture she had endured while in the hands of orcs, and before they could try to draw it out of her she had decided to sail to Valinor. Seeing what the monsters had done to Atavus he finally understood why his mother could not stay in Middle Earth. He could see similar thoughts going through his twin's eyes. He turned to Atavus and said the only thing he could to try to bring her back to them. "Listen Atavus you can't leave now. Elledan and I cannot keep an eye on these two all the time. Without you they'll surely get themselves killed before we can get them back to Ada. Then what will he say? He'll say that it's all our fault, because we're the oldest. That we should have never let you get killed."
She heard his words, and part of her wanted desperately to laugh, but the other part of her wanted to stay safely cocooned inside her head. Elladan joined in then. "Come on, your stronger than this. I know you are. I've seen you let Legolas and Estel win your archery tournaments, so as not to embarrass them." At those words she could not help the small laugh that escaped her lips, which in turn sent shocks of pain through her aching ribs. She slowly turned her face towards the twins, and smiled. It was a lie, but it was funny.
"Your not supposed to tell them that." She joked back with them in a voice barely above a whisper.
Aragorn was completely shocked to see that the jesting comments had brought her around when all the pleading he and Legolas had tried failed. "Atavus are your ribs broken?" He asked concerened.
"Maybe just a little." She answered. She needed the joking to go on a little longer. She knew if she did not laugh, she would cry. She didn't want to do that. She didn't remember it hurting this bad when she was a slave, but time dims the effect of some memories, she guessed. She saw the pained expression on his face. "Don't worry Estel. I'll be healed by tomorrow night. Do you mind if I sleep now?" She asked wanting to close her eyes so she could lose herself in more pleasant thoughts.
"I know you are in a lot of pain right now, but I'd feel a lot more comfortable if you were closer to us so we could watch over you as you sleep." He answered knowing he asked a lot.
She thought of his words, and yes she would feel more comfortable also. So she slowly rolled over twice so she was closer to Legolas. The stars danced before her eyes, and she held her swimming head. Legolas moved his leg so she could lay her head on it. She did, enjoying the comfort that a friendly touch could bring. She closed her eyes, wanting nothing but the oblivion of dreams. She normally slept with her eyes open like an elf, but her body needed to heal. It wasn't long before she slept. Legolas looked down upon her bruised face. He wanted to reach out and touch her, but his hands were held firmly against the tree with ropes too strong to hope to break. "I can't watch her go through that again." He whispered watching the rise and fall of her chest.
"I don't know if any of us can my friend." It was Elladan. Legolas looked up at the twins and could see unshed tears in both of their eyes.
Aurthor's Note: If anyone played tetherball as a kid you will understand the concept of the orc's game better. It was my favorite game when I was in school, but then it was outlawed here in the U.S. Too many kids were strangling themselves.
