Disclaimer: Yes, as we all know by now, I don't own LOTR…
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Author's Note:
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Yep, bad Starknight, slow Starknight. I'm very sorry, the last week or so has been crazy, but hey I tried to make it up to you, with a nice long chapter.
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Legolas cuffed the prostrate Uruk-hai, getting to his feet, almost as if in an attempt to break the heavy spell that hung in the air. He reached for the spear one of their foes had lost in the course of the battle.
None of the companions spoke, each alone with thoughts of their own, though the elf didn't particularly desire to know what was in Gimli's head at this time. One of the dwarf's means of showing his care for another tended to be fierce protection and this particular Uruk had just threatened one of the most important individuals in the dwarf's life.
Legolas leveled his spear at Poshnak, nudging him with it in an attempt to get him to his feet.
"Up, Uruk, we have far to travel yet this night."
Poshnak laughed, the harsh sound grating through the silence, it was as if all the world took a breath at this, as if a choice had been made.
"Aye, elf, we have far to go, but it won't be the paths of the grasslands we travel, you and I."
With a shriek he launched himself upward, a broken knife appearing in his hands, as he threw himself upon the elf. Legolas' spear came up, meeting the Uruk as he flew through the air. The elf braced it against the ground with his foot, but the Uruk didn't stop, the mad light in his eyes undimmed.
He slid the spear through his body until Gimli; standing to one side of the combatants saw it pierce the ragged armor covering his back. He gritted his teeth, stepping forward to help his friend.
However Poshnak drew a ragged breath, clutching the elf with one gore covered hand, the other holding the blade wavering.
"Now we go elf. Now we go. Virag comes, but we shall not be here." He raised his fist, clutching the fractured weapon high. Legolas lunged backwards, but the beast's hands had taken on a mad strength of their own and the elf was unable to break the Uruk's grip.
As the blade plunged downward it was knocked aside at the last possible second with one of Inara's knives, Gimli had pulled from a corpse at his feet. Poshnak screamed, losing his grip on the elf. Legolas stumbled back as the Uruk crumpled to his knees, his head falling forward as his lifeblood ran down the broken spear haft.
Gimli stood before the dying Uruk, "Can you never be at peace?" Legolas looked sharply at his friend noticing both the odd inflection as well as a sentiment he had never expected to find in a dwarf.
Poshnak lifted his head slightly, though his eyes were already darkening, "We were born for war, for such as us there is no peace, even in death." He choked, shivering once before his head fell forward on his chest.
Gimli shook his head, turning his back on the fallen villain. Inara's hands reached out, upon finding Gimli, she stepped beside him. The light touch of her hands on the dwarf's shoulders spoke more to the elf than he could have ever imagined.
Something seemed to drain from Gimli. He turned away from the soaked field, gathering the reins of the skittish horse. The dwarf cursed as it shied away. He chased after it, all the while muttering foul things about the horse's probable parentage. When he finally forced it into a semblance of control he had nearly been dragged into the grass several times.
Legolas laughed, shaking off the pressing weight that seemed to pull at all of them, "Do you find yourself in need of assistance master dwarf?"
Gimli snarled at the elf, but didn't put much effort into it as the horse seemed to have discovered another reason to take its leave of them. Gimli noticed the elf was limping again, but said nothing. Gimli lifted down Nodin who was now requesting attention at the top of his baby voice down from the horse.
Inara, who had picked her way carefully across the field, only stumbling a few times, accepted her son, cradling him close. She turned her face to the east where she could feel the warmth of the dawn. Its arrival banished the last of the fear that clung to them after their fight.
However it also revealed the bodies of their aggressors from the night before. Now they lay scattered and broken across the field like so many abandoned children's toys. Gimli had seen far worse in his life time, but the destruction and seeming senselessness of it made him for once glad of Inara's lack of sight.
His mind however reminded him that in her own way she probably understood the destruction that had been wrought the night before just as well as he. At least now they had the means to piece together the reasons for it.
The dawn however also revealed one more startling revelation. Far in the distance, silhouetted against the sky rose a plume of smoke. It was too thin to be the result of the battle. It appeared more suited to a cook fire or a village.
Gimli remembered their last sojourn into 'civilization' yet he had no desire to remain on the windswept plains than he had to. In addition to the chance of this Virag making another attempt they felt wrong too him. So far removed from the properly enclosed depths of the dwarven lands he felt exposed and almost lost under so much sky if he allowed himself to think of it for too long. Even the elf seemed to feel out of place here, in a land so different from the thick forests of Mirkwood.
And of course there was always the chance that he would find someone who could help him reach those who ruled these lands of men. For as odd and unlikely as the plans of Virag seemed from what Gimli had seen of the Uruk-hai thus far did not make him inclined to doubt their master's dangerousness.
He turned to Legolas, but the elf had already seen the smoke. Elven eyes being what they were Gimli had no doubt that the elf had spotted it immediately. Legolas merely contented himself though with smiling at the dwarf.
"We ought to make for that smoke. We can make it before the sun as reached the highest point in the sky." Gimli suggested.
"And of the tendency of men to betray us?" The elf inquired of him.
Gimli opened his mouth to reply, but Inara answered for him, "Not all of the race of men are as weak willed as you seem to think, Legolas." At her feet was one of the Uruk-hai they had slain the night before. This particular one it was easy to see had been dispatched by one of her knives.
"The greatest pride of men is their great diversity. We may not be united as the elves, but we make up for our occasional weakness with those who are of great strength. And it is by those heroes you ought to judge us."
She turned back to their horse, leading it back to them. Gimli noticed with a flash of irritation at the beast that it came easily and docilely when she led it. He glared ferociously at the horse, but it merely stared back at him with wide brown eyes that contained nothing but absolute innocence.
Legolas vaulted onto the horse, pulling Inara up behind him. Despite his short legs Gimli insisted on walking whenever possible. It would take a great deal to get him up on the monstrosity they seemed to think was an acceptable means of travel.
"And what if we should come upon more of the Uruk-hai who seem to want Inara's child so much?" Gimli could detect the mocking tone in the elf's voice.
"Then I shall have to kill them all while waiting for the two of you to get down and join me." He stated in a completely flat tone. "Of course that means you will miss out on all the fun, but everyone must sacrifice."
Legolas laughed, but sobered quickly, "The question however remains, what they want with the child?"
Behind him, Inara shifted, holding Nodin closer, "Whatever they want with him, they shall not have him."
Gimli put his hand out to her, touching her reassuringly, "No we shall make certain of that. But our task would be easier if we knew their reasons."
"I must confess I can see know reason why an Uruk-hai would want a child except to-" The elf cut himself off before he finished but Inara knew what he had been going to say. He could feel her stiffen and one hand slipped down to the knife she kept thrust through her worn belt. Gimli frowned at him as well.
"I am sorry Inara, but you know as well as I what Uruk-hai and Orcs often intend for those they take."
"I do." Her answer was short, yet it couldn't hide the rage that the idea sent through her.
Gimli frowned at the elf, "I think that here that is not the case. They could take any child for that, why pursue this one from the mountains across the plains of Rohan where they would not normally dare set foot?"
Neither the elf nor Inara could answer that question. Each of the companions spent the slow ride to the sign of civilization turning it over in their minds, yet none could come up with an answer to that which they needed to know so desperately.
They approached the rough boarded homes, clustered together behind a low rock wall with caution. When they passed the first one, Gimli relaxed, a few villagers gave them strange looks, but they seemed to be well disguised by the dirt of their travels and the fighting had nearly reduced their clothes to rags. Aside from their weapons and Gimli's stature they seemed to be nothing more than traveling peddlers to the villagers. A few of the elders frowned upon the state of the newcomers, but no one impeded their progress.
Legolas slid to the ground, lifting Inara down behind him. The inn's common room seemed surprisingly busy for this time of the day. A number of well fed horses clustered around its entrance.
"I will check to see who owns such fine horses. If we are lucky it will be someone who can help us as well. Remain here with Inara, I do not want this to be as the last time we trusted the hospitability of men."
Legolas nodded and Gimli turned, disappearing into the inn. Legolas looked over for Inara as a hand clamped onto his shoulder.
"You! Boy! What are you doing by my horses?" The thickset man wrenched him back, making the elf wince as it pulled at his nearly healed wound. Legolas reached for his blade with his other arm, spinning to face his adversary, but the mud beneath his feet, not yet frozen hard by winter, slid out from beneath his feet.
As he tumbled to the ground he flushed with shame. At least Gimli had not been here to see this, somehow he doubted the dwarf would ever let him forget that a clumsy man had managed to knock an elf as skilled as he to the ground. The man leaned over him, the rising sun hiding his features in shadow.
"This beggar seems to like the mud, perhaps we can have a bit of fun lads?" The group of men at his back laughed. Legolas was about to fling himself to his feet, when another voice interceded.
"If you so much as touch him, you will lose something I'm sure you value greatly, and with you new range of voice you may become a bard."
Author's Note:
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Poll results are as such: 5 non-Disney, and 2 Disney, so it'll be the original ending, but don't worry, I'm not going to get angsty or anything, given dragonfly32's opinion on the subject I wouldn't dare!
dragonfly32: It's going to be non-Disney, but don't worry, I fear your wrath too much to make it too bad…
Manders1953: I get what you mean, about it being funny sad. I don't think anyone will be crying, at least I hope not! But don't worry, we've got a ways to go before that, this chapter just happened to be the crossroads.
Coolio02: Why thank you! This one's a bit longer than the last one, so hopefully that will help! :)
littlesaiyangirl: You know, I'm not sure if I've explained why they want Nodin yet, I think I hinted at it in chapter 4, but for the definite answer you're just going to have to wait. ;)
Lyn: I know, the details aren't my thing. I read the book explaining all of that, but that was a while ago, so I just remember that Sauron made Orcs from elves, and Sauramon made Uruk-hai from Orcs and men… I'll try to fix it for next time, thanks for the help!
Lady Jaina: Thanks! This parts hard to write, as it's a transition.
Alina11: Yep, and don't worry, it won't be depressing. I don't really like depressing stories anyway.
Star-Stallion: I like your version of Cinderella. That's really funny. And your vote won, so it will be my ending. Hopefully I won't get attacked for it, though…
Kit- Kat17 : I'm glad you want my ending, I think it will work better. Also, thank you very much for your review that meant a lot.
itarilde-elenastar: I know what you mean about the homework. It's the reason my chapters get slow every now and then. And wow, Illinois? That will be a bit colder. Thanks for taking the time to read my fic. I'm glad you like it.
Roseblade22: Hi! Well, here it is, I did say I'd get it up, finally. Sorry about being slow to review yours, that's the next thing I'm going to do! Also I'm glad you like the vocabulary. I was afraid it sounded too weird…
MidnightMidlight: You'd think I'd get the spelling right by this point wouldn't you? :) Thanks for the correction! As you can see, in this chapter I got it right!
