Silent as a shadow, it stole down the corridor, yellow eyes darting left and right to ensure secrecy. Occasionally, when its head turned just enough for its eyes to catch the light of the bracketed torches along the wall, a hint of green glinted in their depths, but so faint it might have been only a trick of the flames.
A door loomed ahead. Fumbling with a strip of scrap metal made into a rude imitation of a key, the creature wetted the lock and hinges with a few drops of crude oil and carefully—ever so carefully—eased the portal open without a sound. On the floor opposite the door lay a huddle of rags, snippets of bruised flesh visible here and there where the rags had fallen away. The surrounding stone was stained brown with dried blood.
Kneeling, Shadrach the Uruk-Hai rinsed the worst of Elf's wounds with what clean water she had been able to find and tucked a leaf-wrapped package under the archer's palm. Then she stood, closed the door, and scurried away.
ειδαсαг
Merry and Pippin stared at the Man, eyes wide open in astonishment, looking ridiculous with coney juices dribbling down their chins.
"Pray understand, Masters Hobbit," Aragorn pleaded, misunderstanding the source of their shock. "Legolas is a brother to me, and I cannot leave him there in Saruman's stinking hellhole. You will not sway me. Now, once you have had your fill of coney, you must start on your journey. Trek east of here until you round the edge of the Misty Mountains, and then follow the edge of Fangorn Forest northward to the River Limlight. From there—"
"I beg your pardon, Strider!" Merry interrupted indignantly.
"We shall of course be coming with you," Pippin explained patiently to the Ranger's puzzled face.
"You cannot. The Uruks would be upon you in moments, if either of you even managed to get past the outer guard! Perhaps traveling without me is not as safe as traveling with me, but it is a good deal less dangerous than attempting to steal within the dwelling-place of a wizard!"
"That is exactly what you propose to do, Strider, and you'll be needing our help if you expect to come out of it alive," Pippin insisted.
"He's right," Merry agreed. "Hobbits are some of the best sneaksters in Middle Earth, you know, especially Pip and I—how do you think we've managed to get in the cellars so many times without being caught?"
"And we are friends of Legolas too. We are coming with you!"
"Besides—"
Aragorn held up his hands placatingly. "Please, no more!" he begged, laughing. "If you attack Saruman's forces in the same manner, we shall be in and out of Orthanc in no time!
"However," he added sternly, "there will be no opportunity for you to do so, as you are not coming with me and are instead going to journey to Lothlórien to meet the others."
"But—"
"You must. They will continue on the Quest without us if you do not apprise them of my plans and progress. Remember, the rest of our Fellowship believes that you are both most likely dead. Frodo and Sam are greatly worried for you; and Frodo will need your friendship and support in the times ahead. You have no choice, Hobbits. I cannot take you with me, and you cannot stay here. A patrol would soon find you—indeed, one should have already. I will provide you with supplies. You must go."
"Absolutely no—"
"Do as I say, Meriadoc!"
Cowed, Merry bent his head. "Yes, Strider," he and Pippin said sadly.
ειδαсαг
so. short, I know—pitifully and agonizingly short. But I swear, I just didn't have the time! Ahhhhhh! There will be more, though, never fear!
BoBi—the translation is too there! I even double-checked to make sure. It's just hidden in some of my nonsensical blather, that's all.
Moonyasha—don't you hate it when computers do that to you? They're best friends and worst enemies at the same time.
Dark Lady Cheese Puff—lol, not THAT drow story, the OTHER one. The Claim one. Tsk tsk tsk. That Elaith one is just something I half-borrowed from J.R. Salvatore and half made up completely. The other one is much more interesting, if still rather pathetic.
Kirsten—just the point. The whole ear would be almost too grotesque—plus he could make a prosthetic or something. Leaving the rest of the ear makes it that much more painfully evident that he was so inhumanly mutilated…
Booklover Fanatic—why thank you! I don't often get rave reviews, but it makes my day when I do.
Rose—abandon my story! Never! Sad and small though it is, I still get to beat up on my characters and keep all my reviewers dangling off cliffhangers. Why would I give that up?
NightShadow131—shudder I couldn't learn kanji. I have trouble with English, for crying out loud.
starsmiles—I know, I have this bad habit of making my chappies short. I just love to post them, that's all. I can't stand to wait! Ahhhh! And this one's even shorter…sorry.
LiLred—updated. Unsatisfactorily, yes, but updated!
