Faces of War
Chapter 12: Taken
Disclaimer: The characters contained within this story are the invention of the master story teller J.R.R. Tolkein.I gain nothing but personal satisfaction from my depictions of the lives of these wonderful characters!
Iorheal....Yes indeed Frodo is taken, along with the orphans of his vision....to where? Well you shall see, suffice it to say that evil did not die when the Orcs were forced from Middle Earth! Frodo will have to 'endure' his captivity without drawing attention to the children....he has to save them somehow!!!!
FrodoBaggins87....The ruffians, two particularly evil....and not very bright characters....will not have the opportunity to ummm, you know with poor Frodo....does he get rescued before that can happen to him again? You'll see as you read along. I will say that Frodo will experience many types of pain before he finds a way back to those who care for him!
Terren awoke to the sound of crying and the feel of slender shaking arms wrapped about him. As he slowly regained his senses, he recalled the events of his last memories. He tried to sit up, feeling the need to look about him to confirm his fears, but the movement was too sudden and the pain too intense. With a groan, he quieted his planned activity. A muffled cry caught his ear
" Rumeil" the healer whispered hoarsely "don't carry on so lad....". Rumeil cried all the harder and clutched the injured healer to him with all his frail arms could muster. "Oh Terren, praises to Arda that you are alive....it was so scary" he whispered "them men that set upon Frodo , they were 'ere" he continued to cry "I...I think they took 'em....Kylos, Rossetta and Frodo....I can't find 'em anywhere." Terren tried to soothe the shaken boy "Shh lad...quiet yerself now." He struggled to sit up and felt his world spin , he swallowed a queasy feeling in his stomach and accepted Rumeil's help in sitting up. "Are ye hurt lad?" Terren asked gently looking with concern at the shaken boy at his side. Rumeil shook his head no, and then sniffled a bit as he felt a lump at the back of his head and nodded yes. Terren frowned as he felt his own head, the blow from Thad had split his scalp and sticky blood still seeped sluggishly from the wound, which was now nigh on 6 hours old.
The healer gestured to Rumeil to bend down some so that he could examine the lump on his head. Upon careful examination Terren decided that while the lump no doubt hurt, Rumeil would suffer no long term effects from the blow to his head. "How did ye get hit lad, and not...not be brought to the attention of the ruffians?" the healer asked quietly. Rumeil sniffed loudly " Frodo hit me....afore I could even get outta the trees ta 'elp Rosetta, he went and hit me with a stick." The skinny lad said with tears in his eyes. Terren waited for the boy to continue "but Terren, as I was a layin' there...I heard Frodo say...heard 'em say he was 'sorry' "....Rumeil's voice grew thoughtful "and then he said 'I'd a never survived it'...." Rumeil turned to his friend "what do ya suppose he meant by that?" Terren silently thanked Arda for the hobbit's quick thinking, for he knew that in Rumeil's condition, the frail boy would not have survived any hardship. He reached a hand out for Rumeil to help him up and as the thin lad carefully helped Terren to his feet the healer said "I don't know the meanin' a Frodo's words lad....but I am glad ta 'ave ya with me....come help an old man to the river so I may wash my achin' head.". Just as Rumeil was wrapping his arms about the waist of the elderly healer....the sound of horses came to them. They turned to one another in silent fear, eyes speaking the words their mouths could not utter. "Quick, we must hide my boy" Terren gasped.
Before they could move more than a few steps towards the safety of the trees, the horses were upon them. Terren looked up at the ring of horses and riders that slowly formed about them and sunk to the ground in acceptance, fear and pain. Rumeil's eyes opened wide in astonishment as he lost his grip upon Terren and he looked to the figure of an elf sitting but a few feet from him, for the elf shared his horse with a sandy haired halfling. Aragorn swung down from his horse "bring my bag Legolas" he commanded as he strode to where Terren sat breathing heavily upon the ground. The King quickly eyed Rumeil and gestured for Sam to come and see to the boy while he knelt to see to the injured man upon the ground.
Sam, who was very nearly the same height of Rumeil, though stockier, gently took the lads arm and urged him to sit down next to Terren. Rumeil looked with great intensity into the warm brown eyes of the concerned hobbit before him and his eyes filled with tears "Sam" he said "you're Sir Frodo's Sam". Sam's face paled and Aragorn's head shot up from where he was busy examining the old man's head wound. "What do you know of the Ringbearer?" the King asked, his voice sounding harsh under the weight of his worry. Rumeil looked to Aragorn with fear at the harsh turn of the strange man's voice and he trembled. Terren interrupted "th ringbearer was..." Terren chose his words carefully, he didn't want to shame Frodo by disclosing the nature of his injuries "...he was hurt two nights back and we feared the men who hurt him would try again, so we waited 'til under cover 'o darkness last night to try and return him to the palace." " He's 'urt!" Sam exclaimed "what happened? How bad is he? Where is he now?" his questioned came forth in a flood and the anxious hobbit stumbled over his words in his hurry to get them out. Aragorn used his hand to motion for Sam's stillness and looked intently at the old man at his feet "where is he now?" he asked with a quieter tone. " I'm afeared 'e's been taken by the men who 'urt 'em before" Terren said sadly "and Rumeil's brother and sister were taken as well." Aragorn's face was grim at the news "how long ago?' he asked. Terren shook his head " I can not say fer sure, but it seems must be we've been a lying 'ere for more than 6 hours." Aragorn looked about the quiet and nearly deserted portion of the camp "did any witness what happened?" he asked. The old man just shook his head gingerly " I can not say fer sure, it was very late and dark as well."
Aragorn stood and motioned to Legolas and two of his guards "search the perimeter, ask any you may see of last night's activities." Legolas nodded and disappeared into the fringes of the camp to commence his search. Aragorn came back to tend to the old man's wound and said "we came to the camp seeking news of one who resides in the camp" he turned to look towards Sam and Rumeil "do you know of a healer called Terren?". Terren looked suspiciously at the noble stranger "why do you seek him?" he asked softly. Aragorn smiled "we bring him news of his pardon by the King and seek to reunite him with his daughter and granddaughter." The healer's eyes widened in surprise "I am the healer you seek"he said staring at the King in astonishment. "I thought as much." he said as he put a linen cloth into Terren's hand and bade him to hold it to his head as he wrapped another length of cloth about the old man's head to hold the dressing in place. Aragorn looked up from his task to see Legolas and his guards return, he rose and walked away from Terren to greet the Elf.
Sam and Aragorn walked to where Legolas stood with the guards, the Elf was holding Frodo's blue weskit and brown breeches. Sam grabbed the weskit, a tear in his eye " 'e's been 'ere Aragorn....we must find him." he said. Aragorn nodded "yes Sam, we will....but first we must get Terren and Rumeil back to the palace, please help Rumeil onto the guard's horse, we will ride in a moment." Sam nodded and took Rumeil's arm to lead him to the waiting horse. Legolas, a strain in his voice gestured to the stained spots the hobbit's breeches "I fear he has taken injury to spirt as well as body Aragorn." Aragorn clenched his fists in rage at the sight and felt his heart ache as Legolas reached a hand to his shoulder to comfort him. The King took the small breeches in his hands and shook his head with a look of agony in his eyes as he envisioned the fear and pain that his gentle friend must have endured. He sighed and said to the Elf "I will ride with Terren upon my horse that he might tell of Frodo's injuries, take Sam and give him what comfort you can" he stared to the Elf's blue eyes "do not tell of this hurt to Frodo....there will be time to tell of this when more is known." Legolas nodded sadly and went to take Sam upon his horse.
The searing heat of the day awakened Frodo. He was sprawled in the bed of a wagon, hands still bound behind him, but the hood had been mercifully removed. He opened his eyes slowly and winced from the pain of his sore cramped muscles and bruised ribs. The light of the mid day sun was glaring and his head ached from the brightness that met his eyes as he opened them weakly. He struggled a moment to recall where he was and what had happened to cause him such discomfort, from the severity of his pains and his weak and dizzy feelings, he knew he had been beaten. A sudden strangled cry from behind the cart caught his attention and he strained to sit up.
He rose up upon his elbows to peer between the side slats of the wagon, the scene before him chilled his blood, the images of his vision were starkly presented before him. A group of lonely marchers formed a weary procession before his eyes. Children, in various states of shock and exhaustion stretched behind the wagon into the distance of the dry dusty trail. His eyes frantically sought the source of the anguished cry and he noted a commotion among the men on horseback who herded the weary young ones with whips and harsh cries. A child broke from the marchers and ran to the form of a little one who'd fallen to the dust. Frodo groaned and struggled wildly to sit up fully, for it was Kylos who had burst from the marchers, Kylos who now knelt at the side of a fallen Rosetta. A man, an evil sneer upon his hardened features, raised a club and hit the boy to urge him back into order.
Frodo, who'd finally gained his feet jumped from the back of the slowly moving cart and landed in a heap upon the ground. With a quick roll and twist of his aching shoulders he propelled himself back to his feet and staggered awkwardly to where the man was poised to hit Kylos again. He placed himself bravely between the man and the children upon the ground, a quick look to Rosetta told him that she'd fainted from the heat and Kylos who'd wrapped himself protectively about her, was little hurt. "She is but a child" he said angrily " She is exhausted, can she not take my place in the wagon?" he pleaded. As he knelt to see to her, he was suddenly wrenched upwards by a hand in his hair and with tears in his eyes from the sudden pain, the hobbit found himself looking once again into the swarthy face of Thad. The ruffian sneered as he grabbed Frodo's chin "She's not yer type Halfhigh, need I remind ye who is?" he said with a suggestive lift of his eyebrow. Frodo stared with disgust at the man before him as another horse rode up. "What is the delay Thad? You know Dalmer wants us there by nightfall tomorrow" a harsh voice barked. Thad loosened his grip on Frodo's hair and shoved him to the ground. "This 'er's a halfhigh Finarian...one 'o the King's very own from the palace...'e keeps it about 'as 'is...plaything'" Thad said with contempt. Finarian looked from Frodo to Thad and his face darkened with anger "the King's halfling, you fool! Do you realize that now we'll be hunted by the tower guards?" Finairian's voice bristled with rage and Thad backed down a bit. "Now Finarian, 'e was there with the orphans....we 'ad ta take 'em....and we can find ways ta make him valuable." Thad said and so saying reached down and yanked the hobbit back to his feet again, while coiling his arm about the hobbit's waist the ruffian continued , "the King 'tis said ta hold this one in high regard...'e's the Ringbearer" he said as he grasped Frodo's maimed hand and painfully thrust it forward for his leader to see. Thad's hands began to roam over Frodo's body, across his chest and down till he stood with one hand caressing his hair and the other resting on the hobbit's hip. Frodo shuddered in disgust as he felt bile rise in his throat. "The King keep's this one fer his own personal...pleasure...an 'avin' tasted them pleasures....well let's jest say the Corsair's'll pay plenty for 'em if the King won't".
Finarian narrowed his eyes and thought 'the fool's plan may just work'....he was disgusted by the ruffians perverse interest in the halfling and as he looked to the weak and pale looking hobbit he shook his head in disgusted acceptance of his newest charge. "All right, he comes with us, but if he slows us down Thad, he'll pay the price for Dalmer's anger." Finarian looked to the two children, the still form of Rosetta and the glaring Kylos "put the girl in the wagon....you" he said gesturing to Kylos..."back to the others." Thad released Frodo reluctantly and did Finarian's bidding, lifting the limp form of Rosetta and placing her in the back of the wagon. Frodo looked encouragingly to Kylos and whispered "go on lad, I'll do my best to look out for her." The hobbit stood, under the heat and the scrutiny of the men's leader. Finarian dismounted his horse and standing behind him, took Frodo's hands in his as he roughly untied his bound hands and spun him about to face him. "I'll have no trouble from you little one, Dalmer's got no love for the new King and 'twould be jest as happy to get money fer a dead halfling as a live one." Frodo glared at the man before him, but remained silent, not wishing to bring any reprisals for his words upon the heads of the children. Finarian waved Thad over "see that he's tied to the back of the wagon, give him a little slack, for this one will walk in the child's place." Finarian mounted his horse and rode to the head of the halted group as Thad made certain that Frodo's hands were tied in front of him and then to a lead rope of about 10 feet from the back of the wagon. With a last caress of the hobbit's cheek, Thad shouted the command to commence and Frodo felt his arms jerked painfully as he was pulled abruptly forward.
The Men drove the marchers without mercy and and several times during the day's forced march Frodo lost his footing and was dragged a few feet until Kylos could get him back on his feet again. By mid afternoon his knees, hands and cheek were scraped and raw from his encounters with the ground. Finarain signaled a halt and ordered the men to seat the children and give them food and pass about water skins. Finarian knew he had to be a little more careful with his delivery this time, they'd lost to many during their last trip. Frodo swayed unsteadily on his feet, not certain that he sit until ordered to do so. As if on cue, Thad came back and cruelly shoved him to the ground and taking his water skin, poured the hobbit's ration onto the ground beside him, bent over to run his hand in a gesture of compassion upon the hobbit's cheek "ah, no water my sweet? Well, when ye can show your Thad a little affection...I'll be sure ta see that ya get yer water." Frodo spat at the man before him and said scathingly "you'll get nothing but contempt from me you foul creature."
Thad's eyes narrowed in anger and he backhanded the hobbit with enough force that Frodo was sent skidding across the dust his head cracking against the wheel of the wagon with a sharp 'thwack'. He lay stunned and tried to shield his face with his hands as Thad came and raised his hand again. Suddenly Kylos was there and threw himself upon the dazed hobbit as he glared at the man. Finarian's voice was heard calling to Thad and the man looked down sneering "I'll not ferget this" he growled and went to answer the leader's call. Kylos breathed a sigh of relief as he helped Frodo sit up. "Are you all right Frodo?" he asked concern in his voice. Frodo nodded weakly "yes, I shall be fine, thank you Kylos...that was a brave thing you did." he said and he gestured to Kylos to help him stand up "we must check on Rosetta while we are stopped" he insisted and he walked a few paces to peer over the edge of the wagon to the still quiet figure of his Princess. He reached down and stroked her cheek "Princess, can you hear me? Open you eyes little one...can you open your eyes for Sir Frodo?" he asked quietly, his anxiety clearly written on his pale features. She stirred and opening her eyes looked to the hobbit and her brother "Why are you in my dream Sir Frodo?" she asked sleepily. Frodo smiled his relief to Kylos and said " 'tis no dream child, here take some water" he said as he handed her the waterskin that Thad had dropped, taking none for himself. She drank thirstily and Frodo was relieved to see some color come back into her pale face. The men were readying the children to continue the march and Kylos moved back to his place in line leaving Frodo a moment to speak with Rosetta. "Rest Princess, lay back down and pretend to be sleeping or they will make you walk." he said quietly, his bound hands reaching to hers as she started to cry. "I'm scared of the bad men Sir Frodo, I'm scared" she whimpered. Frodo clasped her hands "I know" he replied gently " I shall stay as close as I can, and when it is safe I shall tell you a story of another Princess I know." She hiccuped as her cries stopped and she stared at him with tear filled eyes "Promise?" she whispered. He tilted his head to one side and lifted one corner of his mouth as his eyes sparkled "Promise" he whispered in return.