Faces of War
Chapter 27: Foreboding
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of JRR Tolkien, I am in dept to his imagination...
Shire Baggins: I was intrigued with the fact that there were no female Orcs to be seen either in movie or book...there had to be a way for Orcs to be created....so my idea of a "breeding camp" was born ( no pun intended). Anborn is soon to appear as he and Dalmer plan to meet with Aragorn.....
Endymion2: Yes "Snaga" means slave...and Qurag never revers to the one who bore him in any other fashion...all females in the camp at the sea of Niennor were referred to by their title or work designation...."Snaga". There will be more troubles for all involved....orphans, Frodo, rescuer's and villians....
Sam raised a tired hand to wipe the sweat from his brow, he looked to Gimli seated next to him and wondered yet again how the Dwarf could stand the feel of so much hair upon his face in such heat. He twisted in his seat to turn and see Merry and Pippin in the cart behind them. The Elves had secreted themselves discreetly along the trail, all slowly making their way back to the Quarry. Sam had explained to Legolas that their best chance of coming across a friendly guard would be to meet up with him on a patrol on the perimeter of the camp, or perhaps on one of the hunting forays that sustained them. They had thought it best to look as if they were going about their provisioning rounds, and were making no attempt to be secretive He looked at the tall trees lining the trail and idly wondered what game was to be had this far up in the mountain passes.
They traveled along the steady clop clop of the ponies hooves and the creak of the wheels the only sounds to keep Sam's thoughts company. His mind was filled with the images of the past days, hot days of travel and nights of worry without end. 'Oh Master hold on to yer hope...hold on ta the knowing of all ya done and all there is yet ta do...hold on to yer visions Mr. Frodo, not just those sent ta ya by the Valar....hold on Mr. Frodo, hold on' he hung his head a bit and caressed his worried brow. Gimli took notice of Sam's movement " All right there Master Gamgee? If it's worrin' your doin ye'll do yourself no good...I know the Elf has a trick or two ta smoke out these villains." Sam frowned and sighed "yes sir Mr. Gimli, but worrin 'tis all I can do and so it's worrin' I am until I got my arms about him once more" he said stoutly.
Sam was tired, not just in body but in mind and spirit. The days of relentless worry wove their way to their exhausting conclusion as nights filled with vivid dreams and fretful nightmares. His nightmares were vague, unsettling and always on the edge of his rest. He thought back to the past few nights of sleep, now the nightmares had been joined by flashes of images that he felt surely must be his imagination and his worries for Frodo coming together. How else could he explain what pictures filled his nighttime senses in random images and flashing sensations of fear and pain? He felt he'd "seen" in his sleep visions of Frodo as he was now, right now....Frodo hobbling through a dank tunnel, Frodo lying sick and fevered, Frodo comforting a blond haired girl. He'd tried to mention his images to Merry, but had felt himself and his worries dismissed with a curt "we're all worried about Frodo, not surprising you'd have nightmares Sam." After that he'd not tried again to speak of his images, not wanting to add to the worries of the others. He sighed and looked to bend in the road ahead, it figured to be another league or two to the quarry, he was impatient with the pace of the carts but knew Legolas' notions of appearing as if they were on regular business to be a good one. He heard the distant sound of hoofbeats, coming closer they were. 'Quite a clip they're movin' at' he thought.
Around the narrow bend of the cart trail came two of the guards from the quarry, small game hung from leather thongs hanging from their saddles. Gimli looked quickly to Sam "let me do the talking Master Gamgee" he said. Sam, wide eyed nodded but hissed back, "that taller one, 'e's the guard from the tunnel, the one who 'elped us."
The men pulled their mounts to a halt beside the first cart, the shorter man eyed Gimli with disdain. "Our provisions are not in need now, back you go, we've gotten the supplies we ordered and the boss is doing some heavy blasting now, so off with ya, the boss isn't wanting any company that might get caught up in troubles from fallin' stone." The man scowled.
Gimli looked to the rabbits hanging on the pommel of the man's saddle "Aye, perhaps yer not wanting provisions for the camp...but I can't take my mind from how tasty a bite of rabbit might be tonight 'eh fellows?" he asked turning to look to Merry and Pippin in the rear cart. Sam took the opportunity to hop from the cart and going to the back of the wagon gathered up a small flagon of Ale. He approached the taller guard and handed up the flagon saying "A brace 'o coney's would make us a fine meal....we'll take the four ya got there and get ya fellows something that tastes like heaven going down."
The taller guard turned to the shorter one "Mendal, that sounds like an offer we can't refuse" and started to climb down from his saddle . Mendal looked through narrowed eyes at the scene before him, the thought of Ale overcame his initial suspicion and he nodded "Aye Galen, we can use with a change from that piss we been drinking in the camp....make it quick.".
Galen undid the four rabbits from the saddle and followed Sam to the rear of the cart where Sam made busy moving tarps and rustling supplies to cover the sound of his whispers. "How is 'e?" he asked in a rush . Galen quickly answered "he's been moved with the girl to another tunnel, he's making explosives to help find more gold...." Sam opened his mouth as if to say something but Galen put a quick hand over his mouth and continued "he's sick, real sick with blood poisoning....we've almost got an escape tunnel cleared to the back of the cave...but he's not there to use it with us....I think Dalmer's getting ready to leave, I saw the men packing up and laying in travel gear...the children will be out in a day, maybe two.....but" his words were cut off by a shout from the other guard "hey Galen, get yerself moving will ya? Ye'd best not be startin' without me you sod." Galen cast a warning glance to Sam and poked his head out from behind the wagon " I'm selecting the best goods here Mendal, you want ta drink the good stuff or not?" Mendal muttered some oaths under his breath as Sam made an even bigger and louder show of moving items in the cart's back.
Galen spoke quickly, knowing he had little time " I'm getting him and the girl back to the Children's cavern tonight, wait until tomorrow to come, be on the west ridge, behind the stand of pines....that's were we should be comin out." Sam's heart was in his throat as he nodded his thanks, not trusting himself to speak he handed four flagons of Ale to Galen. Galen walked to his horse and tossed Mendal a flagon "'ere ya go friend, one fer the road." he said and without a backwards glance they rode off.
When the men were out of sight Gimli whistled his signal and Legolas and the Elves gradually appeared from the shadows of the late afternoon forest. Sam related all of his conversation, and added his own thoughts "he said Mr. Frodo was sick, bad sick with blood poisoning...I think we gotta go to him now." Merry shook his head "I think we gotta trust this man, if he says wait....we wait, Sam, he knows what's happening in there." Sam shook his head "no Mr. Merry, there's a feelin' of unease with me about this....". Sam felt a hand clasp his shoulder and looked up into the grey eyes of Legolas "Sam, I feel his pain too my friend....yet your Frodo would be the first to tell us to do what would assure them all safety. If we move before this Galen is ready, we risk bringing harm to the children." Sam bit his lip and shook his head "aye, yer soundin' like Mr. Frodo 'tis true...but I'm not likin' it and that's a fact." Sam turned away from his friends and began to set up camp.
It was nearing the end of the day and Dalmer was growing agitated "yer not blastin' it strong enough halfling" he said as he grabbed Frodo roughly by the shoulder and spun him around to look at their latest attempt to clear stone from the gold vein."If yer wantin' ta be back with the others tonight...ye'd best be blastin' with more than this" Dalmer said looking with disgust at the moderately sized piles of rock about them. Frodo sighed, he was exhausted, they'd been on their feet since early morning and with only one break for gruel and water, even he was feeling the slow drain of energy that lack of food caused. He looked up to the enraged man "'tis not safe to blast with more than one cap...the walls won't take it." he said wearily. Dalmer's eyes glinted with greed and anger "ye'll blast three this time half high or ye'll not be gettin' back ta yer friends." Frodo heard an exclamation of dismay from Rosetta and he turned to look at her. Her face with covered with dust, a bruise or two was beginning to mar her pale complexion and her dress was tattered and filthy. She stared at him with such sadness and longing he felt his heart nearly break. He knew there'd be no possibility of escape from this side of the mine and he himself longed to be back where he could see Kylos and feel the warmth of the other children. He sighed and said "all right, but you must provide a longer fuse for these, we shall need more time to move to safety."
Dalmer sneered, use what ya got here half high, and do it now" he barked as he exited the tunnel. Frodo set the caps upon the explosive canisters and with Rosetta's nimble fingers and tiny body placed them in the smallest crevices she could climb into. Qurag and the Orcs awaited Frodo's signal to pull back. He lit the fuse and motioned them back "go with Qurag Princess" he hissed. And as he hobbled from the fuse he looked back to see that one of the fuses had gone out. He swore under his breath, motioned the others to keep going and and grabbing the fuse line to the second cap, re-lit the one that had gone out. He turned quickly and moving as fast as his crutch would allow made for the opening. He was feeling every ache and hurt as he tried to hurry himself along, the others were moving ahead at a faster pace as he realized his breath was coming in gasps and his vision was blurring and he had a moments realization that he was not going to make it. A blur before his eyes turned to dark sweaty skin and suddenly Muglaz was in front of him, he felt himself roughly grasped about the waist and he gasped in pain as the explosion was detonated.
The noise was deafening and time seemed to fill with the noise, a deep echoing boom that rattled every fiber of Frodo's being. He gasped as the aftershock of the boom brought his grey dusty world down upon him and he felt himself screaming "Run, run" to whomever could hear.
His last image was of Qurag's back as the Orc knelt tucked around Rosetta, rocks and large stones bouncing off his dark and muscled back. Then he was falling, crushed from the weight of the large Orc holding him as they were buried in rock, stone and dust. He gasped as searing pain took his side and the impact of his fall took his consciousness.
A few leagues away the Sam felt the ground rumble beneath his feet and heard the distant rumble of a loud explosion. He turned from his cooking fire to stare in the direction of the quarry. 'That best not be blastin' fer gold he thought.". Merry sidled up next to him and looked at the fear in Sam's eyes "now Sam, you heard the man say that they were doing some big quarry blasting...you just can't let every worry take you Sam...you'll be having us all jumpy as a hutch of rabbits." He clapped Sam on the back "speaking of rabbits...how's that dinner coming?". Sam pushed Merry's hand from his shoulder impatiently, "now jest ye be waitin' fer that dinner Mr. Merry....but mark me if that's a blast within a cave and not ta the side of the mountain..we'll be needin' Dwarves not Elves ta rescue Frodo and the Children.".
A vast sound of silence settled in the cave, the children's cavern. The fore rooms where the guards slept and the warren of caves that held the men who mined the quarry, all were silent for one shared moment of disbelief. Then, the guards who'd ducked, the children who'd screamed and the men who'd thought their lives of labor lost, all burst into action. Kylos had grabbed the nearest orphan and run to the back crevices of the cavern where they'd cowered until the dust settled. He did his best to calm the children as he checked to their scrapes and bruises. He looked up as Galen and Toleman rushed into their midst, his eyes saw the fear and pain in Galen's face and he felt his heart seize. His mouth could barely form the word "trapped?" he asked his voice tremoring. Galen nodded silently as he grabbed Kylos and some of the biggest boys to bring them to the blast site.
The weight upon him was tremendous, he felt as if his body would just flatten beneath the crushing pressure and he moaned from the pain in his chest. His mouth filled with the thickness of dust and his nostrils were assaulted with the smell of unwashed skin and raw meats. He tried to keep his breaths shallow, not just for the sake of easing the smells about him but to find a way to make the pain in his chest abate. He could not move, he was trapped in a tomb of rock and Orc and he felt the pain that his death would bring to others 'I'm sorry Sam' was his last thought before he was once more lost to the world of darkness.
Qurag had uncoiled himself from about the girl child as soon as the tunnel was silent. He quickly, but firmly pushed her to the side and looked up to see Durzak before him. They exchanged few words, some grunts and gestures and both set to work heaving stone upon stone from the spot where they'd last seen their companion. In just moments they uncovered the body of Muglaz, his head crushed beneath the weight of a small boulder. Qurag made a sound of grief but pulled the body aside to reveal the still form of the halfling crumpled beneath the body of the Orc. He removed the last of the rocks and pulled the ringbearer by his outstretched arms to a flat spot beside where Rosetta sat sobbing in her fear. He looked to Durzak and made a motion to indicate he wanted the skin. Durzak growled and shook his head. Qurag became more insistent and extended his arm expectantly. With a final gnashing of his teeth Durzak gave up the Orc draught.
Qurag pulled the hobbits face close to his and tilted his ear to listen for breath sounds. ' Yes, they were there' he thought 'too little he breathes'. He took the top from the skin and parting Frodo's lips poured in just a little of the sickly brown liquid, a little more and soon a gasping choking cough was heard as Frodo moaned and struggled to open his eyes. Qurag nodded and spoke " you hurt, not breathe good, you drink." Frodo's vision was blurry, his eyes beheld a fuzzy appararition which he soon realized was an Orc. His mind wandered to distant places of pain and he pulled back in alarm. "No hurt" Qurag grunted. Frodo stared wild eyed in fear for a moment until his thoughts cleared and he looked about him to take in the damage of the blast.
What happened?" he whispered weakly. Qurag looked about and pointed to fallen rock about them "you right, too big blast, Muglaz save." Frodo closed his eyes and shook his head "being right is no solace now Qurag" he wheezed, just beginning to feel the draught begin to take the edge from his pain "Is anyone hurt?". Qurag pointed to where Durzak was squatting by the prone body of Muglaz. "Muglaz dead" the Orc said quietly. Frodo paled visibly and his voice shook as he said "he died to save me? Why Qurag? Why would your kind die to save that which took your world from you?" he whispered horrified by the sacrifice that had just been made.
Qurag looked momentarily puzzled, not understanding all of the hobbits words he replied "Qurag give order, Muglaz do, Qurag want ringbearer and girl child safe." Frodo felt a tear in his eye and suddenly Rosetta was there beside him, her small hand tucked with his and her other seeking the hand of Qurag. Qurag looked puzzled as he felt the tiny girl place her trusting hand inside his. He felt a strangeness inside him, a feeling of care and fear mingled as one and when he looked to her face she smiled tentatively and said "thank you, you saved my Sir Frodo....I need him Qurag, we all need him." she said matter of factly as her lips fixed in a smile. Qurag felt the strangeness within him grow, a strange feeling of desire, it changed and magnified the goodness around his existence, not a sick or hungry feeling, this was a feeling he had no name for, but a feeling he did not want to go away.
The small Orc looked penetratingly to Frodo " Qurag help, we go" he said as he helped the hobbit to his feet. Frodo, his hand now seeking his side for his pain was growing again grimaced and said "thank you Qurag, I am sorry for your loss, Muglaz was very brave." Qurag did not know what brave was so he said "Muglaz good Orc, take order, do work" he paused a moment to look back at where Durzak was squatting grunting out his pain and loss "Muglaz gone, we less with out him." was the closest he could come to describing how he felt. The Orc's simply had no words in their language, nor the ability to translate from any other, notions of feelings, pain, loss. Frodo watched in amazement as Qurag got up and pointed to Durzak, grunted and barred his teeth and watched the other Orc go into the depths that had been newly created with the blast.