Instruments of Pain

Chapter 3

by Beethoven's 7th

Thanks to Mysterious Ways for naming this chapter

Rated PG-13 for violence

The winter was a particularly cold one in the shire. In the southern part of the Shire, where Till and Iris made their farm, they had seen no snow as of yet, but the smell of it was often on the wind. The already plump hobbits had begun seeming even plumper due to the layers of clothes they had taken to wearing. Between the cold weather and tales of dark times, this winter was sure to be talked of for years to come. In a place some distance away, nine travelers sought passage across the mountains, only to be thwarted by such heavy snow as to cover the heads of the hobbits that made up four of those nine.

That party was turned back, but a hobbit lass named Harmony had to continue on. Her immediate hope was to find her brother and sister. Cord and Flute were outside; tied to a tree, which one or where it was she knew not. The men intended to leave them to deliver their threatening message to whatever hobbits may come to rescue them. Harmony knew however that on such a cold night, her siblings were more likely to freeze to death leaving the message undelivered. Beyond rescuing Cord and Flute, Harmony dared not think. Running away with them would mean leaving their parents tied up and injured inside their home; maybe even leaving them to a fiery death. She herself, she understood, was to be taken away with the evil men. For what purpose they intended to use her, she dared not think on. She had not the experience to think of the worst things they could do, but instinct told her to expect something horrible.

Heart breaking with the pain of leaving her parents behind, she reached out for the front door, which she hoped would lead to her freedom. Before her eyes it opened seemingly of its own accord and all hope was lost. She nearly sank to the floor in defeat when the door finished its swing and Stor stood in the doorway. Harmony rouse herself made one last effort to dash passed him but her efforts only found her firmly held by the stronger man's arms.

"Kind of yeh teh come teh me just as I was makin' teh retrieve yeh. Times a wastin' an we need teh get yeh on yer pony."

Gant and Froag entered the room carrying several large flasks in their arms. Froag said, "Hey, Stor, 'Ere's all the oil we could find"

"Good, poor it all over the place. Splash some up on the thatch too. I want this place to burn high and hot." replied Stor.

Gant also held her mother's cherished instruments, the flute and the fiddle. "Oy Stor. Lookee what I found! These are right purdy. Think we can get any money fer 'em?"

Stor snatched them from Gant's hands. After studying them for a bit he broke them over the back of Iris's rocking chair and threw them in her lap. "Nothing but kindling. Not good for anythin' cept stokin' this fire."

The splintered pieces of her mother's beloved instruments lay in her mother's laps. Those bits of wood which had brought her mother so much joy, would now contribute to her death. The horror of this evening continued to grow beyond any boundaries Harmony could have imagined.

Before Stor dragged her through the house to leave through the back, Harmony took would she feared would be the last look at her father and mother. Gant and Froag were sniggering as they poured oil around the room and over her parents. The room began to shine in the coating of oil. Till winced, biting back a cry of pain when the oil was poured over his wounds. Her mother was coated in oil as well, flattening her curly hair over her head. Still she did not awaken. Only the slight, slow movement at her chest indicated life. Stor had grabbed up Harmony around her middle and hiked her up under his left arm, her head to his back. Terror consumed Harmony and she screamed for her parents. She grabbed at whatever she could reach trying to slow the man's progress to no avail. She reached for her father. Till simply mouthed 'I love you' to her, trying to keep the pain and fear from showing on his face

Once outside, Stor carried the hobbit girl to her family's pony which was already packed heavily with her family's food stores. Nearby was another pack pony belonging to the men. It looked ill-kempt and old. It also was packed with bags both old and some newer which Harmony recognized from her own home. The quilts from their beds, made by her mother from bits taken from outgrown clothes were even taken and used as sacks to carry off anything the men thought would be useful or fetch a price.

Stor roughly placed Harmony in the same saddle which had resisted her efforts but was no match for the large men. He had just finished tying her hands tightly to the saddle horn when the other two men came out of the house. Her struggles were becoming weaker and weaker. Trying to break free from the ropes only caused them to dig into her flesh. Soon, the ropes binding her would be as bloody as those binding her father.

Gant called out, "Oy, Stor. You ready fer me teh light this here signal fire?"

"Hold on there; let's make sure we're ready to get out of here right quick so as teh not come upon any good meaning neighbors. I'm gonna go out front right quick and see to our message bearers."

Out front the two small hobbit children shivered in fear and cold. Stor tightened the ropes which secured them to the tree a small distance from the house. "Now there we go, you two little-uns remember what it is yer supposed to say teh anyone as'll get here afore yeh freeze right?"

Flute neither moved nor spoke, she was frozen with fear. This fear was too great for her tears. Silence was the only way she could cope. Cord was old enough to want to be brave, but he was young enough for the tears of fright to flow freely down his cheeks. He nodded his head once and then managed to say, "Please, um, sir, w-w-what about my sister and parents? Where are they?"

"Well young master hobbit, no sense worrying about those you'll never see again. They're gonna pay the price for their unfriendly behavior teh me 'n my men. Yer house there is about teh burn and the rest of yer family with it. You just be sure teh pass along teh all the other uppity hobbits just what'll happen ifen they decide teh go against any men as Mr. Lotho may choose teh send their way." With that the man turned away leaving the two children to their fate. Cord was now crying as he hadn't since he was very young. Flute was silent and still her cheeks pale and eyes wide, staring at nothing. The only tears shed and cries made by her were in a mind sinking into itself.

Gant stood ready with the leads to the ponies held in his hand some distance from the back house. Froag stood near the back door with a torch held ready to light the house on fire. The light from the torch reflected off the thatched roof and white walls of the cottage which were now wet with lamp oil. Harmony fought tears of fear and worked at the ropes tying her hands whenever she thought the men weren't looking; the fear she felt overcoming the pain of the ropes cutting into her flesh. Blood seeped unnoticed down her hands. Stor came round the house, took quick stock of their readiness. Seeing that all was as he wished he told Froag in a cold and even voice, "Light it."

Froag held the torch to the thatch in several spots and the fire spread quickly. Harmony wrestled against her bonds screaming for her parents. Stor shoved a scrap of cloth she recognized as her father's pocket handkerchief into her mouth and tied it in place with another. "Now missy, I'll not be haven' yer screaming tellin' ever soul as may pass near teh us where we are."

And so it was that all Harmony could do was sit and watch her home burn, knowing that her parents were inside, soon to be consumed by the hungry flames. The red paint on the doors curled with the heat, the brass knob blackened. The curtains in the windows were soon rippling with the orange and yellow fire that consumed them.

When Stor judged the fire well underway and unlikely to go out, he led the small band away from the house. Just as he did Harmony heard the heart searing screams of one or both of her parents as the fire reached their oil soaked bodies. With that, Harmony fainted into darkness, unable to bear anymore.