12/17/03
Soundtrack: 'Steward of Gondor' from the ROTK movie soundtrack.
Chapter 3: Splitting Off
Pippin stared at Bakura and Yami as the Orcs came to a stop. What did Bakura mean? thought Pippin shifting slightly in his bonds, and wincing when his captor growled menacingly at him, as if daring him to pull any tricks.
"Man flesh! They're after us! I told you all to slay the companions!" shouted Ugluk, "Now they are coming after us. We'll have to split up. To avoid capture." The others seemed uneasy at the turn of events but hastily agreed. "I will lead those of us that have the two halflings. The rest of you take the humans. We go our own ways from here!"
No! We're getting torn apart! This is going to spoil our escape! Or whatever Bakura had planned out. thought Pippin staring in despair at the retreating forms of Yami and Bakura as the group quickly parted company, the Uruks with Yami and Bakura were quickly heading south-western. To Isenguard! shuddered Pippin.
"Don't worry, you'll see your friends again." guffawed Ugluk, "Onwards!" he ordered. There was a loud roar and the sounds of footsteps pounding on the soft earth as the remaining company started going directly south.
"Pippin! Where are they taking those two?" groaned Merry lifting his head wearily, the gash on his forehead was closing, it would definitely leave a scar.
"I think they're going to Isenguard." whispered Pippin, "To Saruman."
"Like we will be." hissed Merry.
"What do you mean?" asked Pippin snapping his head back in Merry's direction.
"Didn't you hear Ugluk? That fat jerk said that we'd be joining them soon. We're going to Isenguard." said Merry, he leaned closer to Pippin and said in a voice so low that only Pippin could hear, "They think we have the Ring."
Pippin opened his mouth to protest, but Merry cut him off, "Not a word, if they find out we don't, we're dead." Pippin quickly shut his mouth, hoping that Aragorn would find the elven brooch he had left behind, hoping that Aragorn would even be coming for them.
Pharaoh, pharaoh! hissed Bakura, he saw a translusent version ofYami crumpled on the floor of the Shadow Realm. The pharaoh raised his head slightly, confusion and weariness clear in his face.
Who's there? Where am I? he demanded weakly.
We're in the Shadow Realm you idiot, or at least our minds are for the moment. That drug must be pretty strong for them to do that. cackled Bakura, Well all the better for us! We can plan easier this way.
Plan what? asked Yami.
Our escape! Have you become that dense pharaoh? Are you sure they didn't hit you over the head too hard? asked Bakura.
There's no way we'll escape, not like this. They know that we're a danger. And whenever we come around they'll just shot us with the drugged darts. protested Yami, They want us alive.
Then we'll escape when we get to wherever we're going. snarled Bakura, he didn't like this . . . this helplessness, it bothered him way too much.
They're going to try to make us work for them. They're going to try and make us hurt innocent lives and our friends. murmured Yami, not exactly talking to Bakura directly.
Hmph, innocent lives. Nice talk from someone who's family has so much blood on their hands. sneered Bakura.
What are you talking about? asked Yami, starting to recover slightly from being re-drugged again.
Do you know how the Millennium Items were made? Do you? Do you know how many lives were sacrificed for these artifacts! shouted Bakura. Yami looked at him blankly, Of course you don't! But I do. I was there! I watched my friends and family getting slaughtered by the army. All for the sake of your father's kingdom! He didn't care who got hurt just as long as no one would ever usurp his right to be the Pharaoh of Egypt.
You can't speak of my father like that! shouted Yami.
I can do whatever I want. sniffed Bakura, 'Master Pharaoh'. he added mockingly.
We'll need to work together to get out of this mess, you do remember don't you? sighed Yami.
Bakura paused and turned his back to Yami, I don't feel like talking to someone like you. Apologize for the grotesque behavior of your family and I will consent to even look at you.
Yami glared at Bakura. What is that tomb robber talking about? I don't even remember anything about my past life. How do I apologize if I don't even know what I'm apologizing for? thought Yami. You forget I don't remember my past life yet. said Yami. There was no response from Bakura at all.
This was going to take a while.
"Must we have to go now?" asked Shadi softly.
"Oh come on! The city looks the greatest at this time of day! And it's when the most people are out too!" pleaded Joshlin.
I was worried about that. thought Shadi dryly.
"Please? Just this once. I'm sure you'll love it!" chimed in Min. The two children had finally grown to accept Shadi as a human and not a danger when the older man had protected them from the immediate danger of an angry mother wielding a dough-covered rolling pin and yelling for them about stealing meat-pies.
Flashback:
"Joshlin! Min! When I find you two little scoundrels I will make sure that there will be no dinner for the two of you and that you'll be stuck inside the house for the rest of the week. Filching my meat-pies! And that was for the soldiers too!" shouted the mother.
Shadi winced at the tone as it paced up and down the hall. Suddenly his door burst open and in ran Min and Joshlin, their faces covered with gravy and in Min's hand was still a half-eaten meat-pie. They didn't seem to notice him until they had settled behind his bed. Slowly Shadi sat up and looked at them inquisitively. That was when their mother came into the room.
"I'm sorry to be bothering you Shadi, but have you seen my boys around anywhere?" she asked as if there had been no threats in the hallway a few minutes ago.
Shadi surreptitiously glanced at Min and Joshlin and then at their mother before replying, "No, I didn't. But I think I heard a couple footsteps going downstairs. They seemed very sorry for stealing your meat-pies and were going to work hard to help you make some new ones." lied Shadi smoothly. Min and Joshlin gaped at him in shock, but the mother seemed appeased by the answer.
"They were? Now then, maybe I could finished making some meat-pies for the soldiers, and some extra ones for diner with their help. Maybe I can let this pass by this once. Thank you for you help Shadi. I'll leave you to your rest now." she hummed cheerfully and she bustled back out of the room.
Min and Joshlin scrambled in front of him when the door closed and her footsteps faded away. "Why didn't you rat on us?" asked Min.
"Yeah, why didn't you?" echoed Joshlin.
Shadi gave them a hint of a smile, "I remember a day when a little boy around your age stole a meat-bun from his mother."
"No way! You were a little boy before?" asked Joshlin.
Min lightly whacked his little brother, "Of course he was silly." He looked back at Shadi, "Um . . . thanks for covering for us. Um, want the rest of the meat-pie?"
End Flashback
It was a day after that fateful friendship and two days after finding himself in this city. He had regained much of his energy surprisingly quickly. Shadi glanced and the two boys. Min being the eldest had proclaimed the idea of taking him on a tour of the city first, his green eyes was sparkling excitedly and the twelve-year-old clutched Shadi's hand pulling him relentlessly towards the door. Joshlin, being seven, clung to Shadi's other arm looking up at him pleadingly with large blue eyes. "Fine, I shall go. But . . ."
Before he could say anything else, he was dragged into the street bustling with people. The trio were so wrapped up in their excitement (and for Shadi apprehension) that they didn't notice the stares that the dark-skinned man got from the people around.
Shadi's head spun and all the people swarming around him, going this way and that, he struggled to keep sight of Min and Joshlin and at the same time struggle to hold on to his calm composure. This was why he never went out into the streets of Egypt, the vendors, the tourists, the people. All so overwhelming. And this was even worse for the streets were small and narrow and people kept on brushing against him as they passed and their eyes . . . they all seemed to bore holes into him. "Come on Shadi! This way! We have to show you the tower! The White Tower!" shouted Min over the noise.
Shadi's pace quickened as they boys started running ahead, soon, he stumbled out of the crowd into an empty alley where Min and Joshlin had turned into. "What's the matter?" asked Min, "Are we going to fast for you?"
"No," panted Shadi, "It's just that, I . . . I don't like being around so many people. It stifles me. It just makes me uncomfortable."
"Oh." said the two boys softly finally understanding his reluctance.
"What do we have here?" asked a voice, Shadi saw the silhouetted figure of a man blocking the entrance of the alley, "Min! Joshlin! Who are you with?"
"Hi Caleb! This is Shadi. We found him on the street really beat up. Mum patched him up and now we're showing him around the city." chimed Joshlin.
The city guard eyed Shadi, suspicion was growing in his eyes, "Do you know him?"
"No, just found him a day ago. He was caught in a mighty bad scuffle I think." said Min thoughtfully.
Caleb walked up to Shadi and sized the man up. "He doesn't look like he's from around here."
"I'm from Egypt, the land of the Kings." replied Shadi tonelessly.
"Your accent marks you as a foreigner too. But I have never heard of any 'Egypt' before." said Caleb, Shadi could sense the man's dislike for him deepen, "I'm going to have to bring you to the Steward." The man turned to Min and Joshlin, "Don't you know to be careful? This man could be a spy a danger to your family! And to this whole city!"
"But . . ." protested Min.
"No buts. I have seen and fought many Haradrim, and they don't look too different from the likes of him. He's from the South." spat Caleb as he roughly seized Shadi's arm.
"But Caleb!" shouted Min.
"Too many of my friends and brother have died by the hands of these . . . things. Allying themselves with Mordor, with Sauron. You're lucky I found you soon enough. Or he probably would have slaughtered you and your family." shouted back Caleb. Shadi followed where the man was leading him, the crowd parted for Caleb and his captive. Whispers followed them.
Shadi didn't struggle, he had done nothing wrong. He was innocent. False charges can never stand up to the truth. He would even let himself be tested by his Millennium Scales to prove it. He held no ill malice for those boys. But obviously this man held contempt with him.
"Do you think he was evil?" asked Joshlin.
Min stood silent for a few minutes, remembering the brief time of which they had gotten to know the mysterious man and shook his head, "I don't think so Josh. I hope he'll be turned free. Or mother will have our hides."
"Where are we going?" asked Ankhkare, their pace had slowed to a dreadfully lagging walk from their previous sprint. Senui sat on a boulder, sweat dripped from his forehead but he glared at Ankhkare all the more menacingly.
"Don't question me right now! We have to find that pathetic vessel of ours." snapped Senui balefully, "Now come on!"
Ankhkare hurried after Senui, What is the matter? I have never seen him so worried before. thought Ankhkare.
We better find him soon. Doesn't he know?! The stupid mortal! raged Senui for the umpteenth time already in his head. Should I tell Ankhkare? No, that would only worry the idiot. I'll keep this to myself, only to myself.
Above and unnoticed, a large winged creature circled above, spiraling lower and lower ready to snatch up its prey.
Yugi lay on his cloak and glanced at Malik who was asleep. He seemed so much more different than he was in Battle City. More, peaceful and friendly now that all matters of revenge were over. And also that the dark spirit that was haunting him was gone as well.
Rishid stood as a guard, as vigilant as ever on keeping his master safe. It sort of reminded Yugi of the way Sam was always watching over Frodo. I wonder where they all are right now? thought Yugi, he rubbed his puzzle, he most of all wanted to know where his yami was.
They had been walking for most of the day, Northwest. Rishid had received directions to somewhere. The villagers had told him of a place up north where many were gathering for the Great Lord.
"Go to sleep Yugi. I'm sure we'll find our yamis and the others soon." assured Ryou with a yawn.
Yugi nodded and closed his eyes and soon fell into the blissful content of his dreams.
Saruman eyed the two prisoners, "Take them to the dungeons, I'll question the two later. Now we wait for the rest."
The Uruks nodded and walked away dragging the prisoners.
Saruman turned and looked out of his balcony. "Soon, Middle Earth will be mine."
to be continued
Replies to reviewers:
Mysticdreamer673: huggles Boromir too Thank you! Boromir is awesome!
Nightlight5: I hope you get a new computer, sniffles I know how that feels too. It was nice to talk to you on AIM!
Indigo Tantarian: Arigatou gozaimasu! Thanx for your help a lot over AIM! :-P
SilverKnight7: Well, it could change it quite a bit if he shows up again. But then again your right, maybe not. I'm leaving his fate undecided for now!
Ryou Bakura Obsessor: Whee! Ryou! Arigatou!
gimeGohan: Yay! But I like Yami Malik better. sniffles But . . . why don't you like Boromir?
MollyJean: Confused how? Please tell me because I really need to know how to fix it. Isis doesn't have her Mil. Item anymore so no reason for her to come sorry. You'll see how they'll do.
JK: LUCKY! I'm seeing it this Saturday, lucky! Live where? I love Boromir too! He's soo cool! It's not his fault he was corrupted by the Ring right? He's only human, unlike Aragorn, but Aragorn's cool too. Sorry bout the belt thing! I didn't really mean for it to be that way. What does MTFBWY mean?
Okay peoples, here's the update! Gah! Shadi has been captured by a guard of Minas Tirith!
As for Boromir's fate. I've decided to leave it up to your own imagination I guess. Dunno, time will tell. ROTK HAS COME OUT FINALLY! I'm going with my Tolkien Club to see it this Saturday. Yes I am finally the President of a Tolkien Club! Got it approved by the Student Council I did. Whoopee!
Happy Holidays mellyn-nin!