Chapter 2: Findings and partings

"Hurry Gimli" Legolas turned to his friend who was lagging behind, "they are less then half a day ahead of us" The dwarf gave a small spurt of speed on and caught up with the elf.

"I don't know how the three of you keep this pace up, I haven't got long legs like you, you know!" Legolas smiled and run further on to meet Aragorn and Boromir.

"Are we stopping soon?" he said, his breath as if he where walking, "I don't think the dwarf can take much more of this running!" Aragorn chuckled a little.

"At dark yes, we will stop!"

The four friends kept running for most of the afternoon, they had passed the camp and found the cut cords and uneaten bread, it was as the light was fading and they where about to stop when a number of dead Uruk–Hai appeared on the path. After a close inspection by Legolas of the arrows he concluded that the Rohirrim had attacked the group. Boromir looked worried, it had been three days since he had last seen the halflings and it wasn't looking good.

"This doesn't look good!" he cried looking around at the fallen Uruk-Hai.

"Don't give up hope yet lad!" answered Gimli hearing his friend's voice, "they may yet survive!" They both looked at each other and smiled. Boromir had come to see the dwarf like a hobbit, though he knew fore well he was far from it.

"Hurry!" Aragorn beckon them form a few yards ahead, they ran to him. Aragorn was bent over and Uruk-Hai. Gimli grieved to see a hobbit still tied on the creature. Three arrows where stuck in it, one was stuck through the hobbit's side.

"It's Sam!" Legolas looked up at the other two.

"Is he…?"

"No!" Aragorn butted in, "he's alive, but not looking well!"

All three bent down as Legolas carefully cut Sam's bonds, the small hobbit mumbled a little as he was moved and layed on the grass beside the Uruk-Hai. Aragorn inspected his injuries and looked closely at the arrow wound.

"I fear these arrows are poisoned!" Aragorn sighed, "we must get him to a village near hear, he needs bed rest and a good sleep!"

"But what of the others?" Legolas couldn't help but put the question in complicating matters even further. "We can't abandon them!"

All four companions looked at each other, they had to make a decision.

"I say we split up!" Aragorn finally said, "Sam needs care but I fear for the other three. I say Legolas and Gimli get to the nearest Rohan village. Boromir and I will track the others, I will make Sam comfortable before you go!"

"Do you want to set up camp?" Boromir was eager to help in anyway "do you want a fire going!"

"Yes!"

Boromir sped off into the distance to look for firewood and everyone set to making up camp. Soon a fire was going and some water had been boiled. Aragorn had set too cleaning Sam's hurts.

"I need help to take the arrow out?" the ranger beckoned for someone to help him, both Legolas and Boromir helped in the procedure, as the arrow was finally removed from Sam's side he groaned, taking a short intake of breath he opened his eyes wide in pain.

"Strider!" he cried through gritted teeth, "Whats going on?" He struggled to get up but Legolas held him down as Aragorn bandaged the halflings side.

"We found you!" Boromir said finally when Aragorn had finished "do you remember anything?" Sam shook his head.

"Well not really, I remember the Uruk-Hai going down but not much else, except one of the others shouting, It sounded like Merry or Pippin!"

"How where the others? Gimli was now against the hobbit's side.

Sam's eyes welled with tears and he shivered a little, Legolas hugged him gently, "it's ok"

"Merry was unconscious for ages!" Sam stuttered a little, tears now freely flowing, "they had hit him on the head. I think Mr Frodo's ok, well as ok as he could be and Pippin's tired, but the Uruk-Hai keep picking on him because he the smallest of us all I think." Sam stopped at that sniffled, "I'm sorry!" he cried.

A warm smile came across Aragorn's face, "feel lucky," he said "Legolas and Gimli are going to take you to a nearby village at dawn, you can rest there. Boromir and I will search for the others, we'll rest first and go before dawn breaks."

All five companions where soon layed around the small fire, Sam fell asleep straight away but the others stayed awake long into the night. Sam was woken at dawn, the sun was shining and only Legolas and Gimli where there, the other two had left hours before, the elf and dwarf where packing and they where soon on their way, Sam being carried by Legolas.

Meanwhile as dawn breaks:

"My Lord," a rider galloped up to Eomer's horse, "a small group of Uruk-Hai have escaped, and the leader is with them by the looks of things, should we pursue them?"

The young captain shook his head, "No!" he paused "tell the men to dismount and make sure all are dead, then we shall leave!" The rider shouted the orders out and the entire group dismounted to check the corpses of the Uruk-Hai.

"Lord Eomer!" a voice came from a short distance away, Eomer came to the soldier.

"That is not Orc weapon!" said the rider to the captain; he pointed to Pippin's knife embedded in the Uruk-Hai leg. Eomer bent down and took it out.

"This is a craft of the elves!" he said then noticing Frodo's hand showing from underneath the corpse, he handed the blade to the other and rolled the Uruk-hai over to revile Frodo.

"What is it?"

"I don't know!" cried Eomer picking Frodo gently up, "elven child maybe, it certainly looks like one."

"But look at its feet!" said the other pointing at Frodo's bare and hairy feet, Eomer shook his head.

"We'll take him to Edoras, he doesn't look well, maybe the Uruk-Hai had captured him for some reason?"

Eomer lifted Frodo carefully and the hobbit woke suddenly, almost startling the captain out of his skin.

"Who are you?" both man and hobbit spoke together. Frodo laughed a little uncomfortably.

"Frodo is my name sir!" he bowed slightly while still mounted on horseback, "I'm a hobbit of the Shire" Eomer looked at him.

"You are but half my height, are you a child?"

"No." Frodo relaxed a little, "I am a of adult age by my own people, though I may not look it to you sir, may I ask who are you and where am I?"

Eomer smiled at last realising that the hobbit was no enemy and was quiet the opposite, "My name is Eomer, little master, you are in Rohan home of the horse lords, we tracked the Uruk-Hai you where with and attacked them!"

Frodo frowned and looked at the elven blade in the other rider's hand. "Have you seen my friends?"

"No! I did not know there was anymore of you!" Frodo's face fell and tears dampened his cheeks.

"My men are searching now and then we shall return to Edoras!" Eomer mounted behind Frodo. "Don't worry I'm sure they are fine!"

"Is this yours?" the rider held up the blade.

"It was one of my kin's" the hobbit held his hand out and took, looking at it closely. "Pippin's I think" he said under his breath." A horse then cantered up beside them.

"All have been checked my Lord." he said, "All Uruk-Hai are dead!"

"Thank you," said Eomer "tell the men we ride to Edoras." The other called the orders out and the horsemen grouped together ready to go.

"Where is Edoras?" Frodo couldn't help but ask.

"Less than a days ride from here young sir!" Eomer cried, "We will be there by night fall!"