Orcish Revenge
Chapter 7 - Pure Massacre

Pippin awoke in the saddle of a horse. He stretched his arms and looked around blearily. He was riding behind Merry. Èomer was on another horse, just in front. Legolas and Gimli were riding to the left of them. Snow topped mountains were whirring past on the right, open fields on the left.

'Ah! You've finally woken up!' Merry grinned, glancing backwards at the waking Hobbit. 'If you're a little confused; it's the 8th day of Blotmath. We attacked the Orcs camp on the 5th. You got to our camp on the night of the 6th. We left the camp midday, yesterday. You've been asleep since you got back, we were quite worried. But we dared not delay'

'We didn't even wait for Èomer's wounds to be tended properly!' Gimli called out happily 'And he's been quite unpleasant to talk to ever since!'

'He is worrying about Lady Èowyn', Legolas sighed pulling the horse up alongside Merry and Pippin's own.

'Does she know?' Pippin asked, recalling the events of the days before.

'I do not believe so' Legolas replied 'But let us not allow such thoughts to darken our minds, it's a beautiful day!'

Pippin looked up and smiled for a moment as the sun warmed his face. It was indeed a beautiful day; it seemed almost too bright after the darkness. Merry turned to see Pippin's troubled face and in an attempt to get his friend's mind off of Faramir proceeded to renew conversation.

'How far are we from Minas Tirith?' he asked any willing to answer.

'About fifty miles if I'm not much mistaken. We're about two thirds of the way there' Èomer replied gruffly.

Merry nodded. He could think of nothing else to talk about, giving in he relaxed a little in the saddle and stayed quiet. Pippin payed no heed to the question nor the answer that was given. He was running all the facts and events through his head. He was putting it all together, all that had happened and who was involved. Then a sudden realisation forced its way to the front of his mind.

'Where's Sam!' Pippin cried aloud.

The others slowed their mounts and looked around nervously. He was no where to be seen. They remembered bringing him, he made a fuss about how his horse had to carry as little as possible and that their horses were a lot healthier than his. Èomer turned his horse around, and they each stopped completely.

'He could be miles away', Èomer sighed. 'I will go back along our road and find him, you go ahead to Minas Tirith'.

Legolas was about to object, but Èomer shot him an icy glance. The elf remained silence. And without another word Èomer rode off, away from the group of travellers and away from Minas Tirith.

Legolas sighed. 'I fear that we shall not see him again for some time, if again at all'

'What do you mean?' Merry asked, deep concern rising within him.

'We have been followed since we crossed into Anorien' Legolas sighed

'Followed by what?' Pippin cried.

'Birds' Legolas said calmly, gesturing to the sky above them.

'So why are we worried? If it's just birds…' Pippin began.

'Have you learnt nothing, Peregrin Took!' someone yelled from away to the left. 'Didn't the birds of Dunland effect your last journey? Did they not prevent your safest passage, didn't they force you into Moria?' There was a harshness to the voice of the newcomer that seemed to drain the sun's warmth from their faces.

'Who goes there?' Gimli yelled fiercely.

'Who goes there?' the silhouette replied coyly.

'You seem to already seem to know much of whom you confont' Legolas retorted angrily.

The silhouette laughed coldly. 'I do indeed, Elf.'

'Then answer our questions with answers, not questions you already know the answers to!' Gimli shouted.

'Very well' he replied. The figure walked down from the hill, as the sun was left at the top of the hill the figure's identity was made clear. The immense frame of Hindike was outlined by a ring of light, illuminating him with the sun's last rays of light before they disappeared behind the hill.

'Hindike!' Legolas bellowed 'What do you think you are playing at? You'll scare the Hobbits carrying on like that'

'We are not scared' Merry said defiantly.

'Then you should be, you over-nourished little hole dweller' Hindike spat.

'What are you playing at?' Legolas said once again, springing from his horse and notching an arrow to his bow.

'Playing? Oh I'm not playing anymore!' Hindike smirked.

'What does he mean?' Pippin whispered to the nearby Gimli.

'I don't exactly know, lad. But I don't think good of it' he replied quietly.

'I have followed you for many, many miles. Unfortunately I could not reveal myself whilst Èomer was with you. He would have suspected something immeadiately' Hindike continued.

'Leave here. Now!' Legolas said drawing back the string of his bow.

'Why?' Hindike asked, with a look of mock hurt on his scarred face.

'You are acting strangely. You are not yourself.' Legolas replied cautiously.

'No, I am acting exactly like myself. This is me' Hindike smirked again as he threw back his cloak revealing the white hand of Saruman upon his chest.

Legolas readied his bow. He nodded to Gimli as though to say 'I may need your help'.

Gimli nodded in response and jumped from the horse he had sat upon. He took his axe up from the horse's baggage and held it threateningly across his two hands.

Hindike laughed. 'And just what exactly do you think you can achieve here? You cannot hope to overcome us'.

'Us?' Merry mouthed, and as hedid this seven hulking Uruks strode over the darkened hill and stood behind Hindike, weapons at the ready in their blackened hands.

'Traitor!' Gimli roared.

'Quiet! That's quite enough talk. Kill them.' Hindike drew his sword and ran forward with the Uruks in tow. He swung wildly at Legolas' upper body. Legolas ducked under the swing and fired an arrow at an Uruk behind. Gimli swung his axe back and forth, slaying only one but keeping several others at bay. These Uruks seemed surprisingly strong, even for Uruks. They were attacking Gimli even more ferociously now; he was struggling to hold his ground against the swarming Uruks. Legolas sent another arrow flying into the throats of two more Uruks. Merry and Pippin jumped from their horse and guarded Legolas and Gimli's backs from the Uruks that were sorrounding the warrirors. Merry was defending frantically, but he was knocked back with such force with every blow, at last he was knocked over. Pippin fell to the ground beside him, breathing heavily. Legolas was facing two Uruks, he drew his blades but both were soon snapped under the Uruks crushing strength. Gimli was fighting an Uruk that seemed to be able to dodge Gimli's slow axe swings with great ease. Even then, another three snarling Uruks came rushing over the hill. Two charged at Gimli, the other towards Legolas who was now fighting with broken weapons. They were overwhelmed. Merry and Pippin joined the battle once more, with renewed vigour. Rather than taking a defensive stance, the Hobbits went on the attack stabbing and slashing at the Uruks who were in turn slain by Gimli and Legolas.

Merry and Pippin collapsed to the ground once more, too exhausted to speak. Legolas and Gimli stood glaring at Hindike, breathing deep, rage burning within them.

Hindike clapped slowly, viewing the scene before him. 'Very well done, a magnificent display indeed. But how will you fare against me I wonder?'

Hindike ran at Gimli and swung his sword up. Gimli leapt back but lost his balance and tripped, he fell to the ground landing next to the Hobbits. Legolas ran in between Gimli and Hindike and fired an arrow. It bounced off Hindike's armour, leaving only a small mark where it had struck. Hindike moved forwad. Legolas snatched up a sword from Merry's hand and darted forward to meet the attack. He blocked and parried many blows but Hindike was too strong. Legolas fell to the ground panting.

Hindike paused for a moment, standing over the Elf. 'Your hobbit friend is gone. Èomer too. More Uruks were back along the road. We captured the Hobbit less than a minute after he fell beyond your sight. He trusted me, the fool. He will be killed, if he is not already dead that is. You see, Orcs don't really like Hobbits. And now, you will die too'.

Hindike swung his sword high above his head and swung down hard. A great clang rang out through the fields as a sword intercepted Hindike's deadly blow. They were saved. Someone had come

Revised version - Some slight additions and modifications, fixed spelling and grammar etc. No changes to the story, just an improvement on the writing.