Yes, it is an update! YAY! To make up for being late, I added a bit more angst and Legolas and Gimli! So you can put away your weapons now…
Running…running…..
Pippin wondered aimlessly if they were any closer to where they were going. He thought by now they would have to be at least halfway…
As he tried to summon a mental map of the South, his thoughts were interrupted by a sharp cry of pain somewhere behind him. Pippin winced and tried to keep running.
Last night, after removing the arrow, they had bound the wound as best they could, and then cleaned the cut on his arm. Aragorn hadn't moved or cried out during the whole procedure, but Pippin knew that it had pained him intensely. Aragorn had decided that there was nothing else that required immediate attention, and persuaded them to drink the last of the water. But before Ugluk had stormed back over to them they were able to find the ranger's coat and help him put it on over his still-bloody back.
But even though he was for the most part stable last night, running this much was hurting him. Twice already he had become dizzy and fallen. Though the orcs just yanked him back up and pushed him to get him started, Pippin knew that if it continued to happen, Ugluk would intervene…
He shoved the thoughts to the back of his head and concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other.
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Gimli grunted as he propelled himself up a steep slope with his axe. This land was too hilly, he decided. And the sun glaring down didn't help either.
"Legolas," he shouted to the figure far ahead of him. "Can we take a quick break for food?" Before him, the elf slowed down and waited for Gimli to catch up next to him. He grinned.
"Well, Gimli, is all of this too much for the ever-hardy dwarf?" said Legolas, sitting down cheerfully. Gimli scowled at him and began to sift through one of the packs, trying to remember which one had the food in it. His question was answered as a dagger clattered out onto the grass. Legolas instantly sobered and looked away.
Gimli hastily shoved the dagger back in. It was Aragorn's. They had found it, along with several other concealed weapons that Aragorn had borne, in a heap by the trail. Legolas had quietly picked them up and put them in Aragorn's pack, along with his sword, and continued running, though Gimli noticed that he had increased the pace.
"There," he proclaimed as he finally found a wafer of lembas. He handed half to Legolas, who took it and began eating it quietly. Gimli looked around carefully and sat down. He jumped up again with a shout of pain.
"What is it? Are you alright?" Legolas snapped back and jumped up, daggers drawn.
"No, no, it's nothing." Gimli mumbled. "I just poked myself with something, is all." Legolas laughed.
"Well, it seems you sat on a pin! Let me find it." Legolas got down on his knees and sifted through the grass where Gimli was sitting. Suddenly he froze.
"Legolas? What is it, lad?" Gimli stooped and looked over Legolas's shoulder. He gasped.
Cupped in Legolas's palm was Pippin's Elven brooch. Of course, they didn't know whose it was. And frankly, they didn't care.
"It is a sign!" Legolas exclaimed. All traces of melancholy were gone from his fair face, and he jumped to his feet. "At least one of the hobbits is alive, and capable of leaving us signs. We must go now!" Gimli heartily agreed. They packed up quickly, and Legolas quickly scanned the imprints in the grass.
"Can you tell how close we are?" Gimli asked. Legolas frowned.
"I can, but I'm not very good at it. But this grass is already straightening, so I would guess that it's about a day or two old."
"Let's get moving then!" Gimli clapped Legolas on the shoulder and took off. Grinning broadly, Legolas sped up and easily passed Gimli. As Anor rose still higher, she smiled on the two enheartened companions.
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Aragorn was not doing well.
He continually saw hazy spots floating around his line of vision, and he kept experiencing bouts of dizziness, which often resulted in him tripping or falling. Which did not please his orc companions.
And on top of that, his back blazed with an intense fire, and his shoulder felt like it was being slowly pulled off. Not a very good day.
Aragorn stumbled and nearly fell. An orc grabbed his wounded arm and pushed him back into his run. He could not help giving off a weak cry, but instantly regretted it as he saw Pippin's curly head dart back toward him. Aragorn gave him the best smile he could muster, and tried to focus on where they were going. Isengard…so that meant they were passing through Rohan. Perhaps they would cross paths with a group of Rohirrim, or riders from Gondor. Anything would help now.
Suddenly another wave of fatigue and pain swept over him. He gasped, and tried to keep his balance, knowing that falling would double his agony. But the Valar had other plans, and inserted a rock directly in front of his foot.
Aragorn tripped and fell with a thud, uttering a low moan. He blinked slowly and tried to regain his hearing, which had been reduced to a dull roar. Aragorn suddenly realized that no orcs were yanking him back onto his feet. In fact, they were spreading away from him, making a sort of ring around him. This was not good.
And then, through his haze, he saw the one thing that could make his day better: Ugluk.
He was striding back in the rows, looking furious. Aragorn caught a glimpse of Pippin's worried face in the group, but that was the last thing he saw before a large, black fist came in contact with his head. He jerked back and tried to curl in on himself, but Ugluk wasn't done.
"You filthy slime of a tark, you're slowing us down on purpose!" Ugluk growled. He leaned down and grabbed Aragorn's throat, choking him effectively. Slowly he lifted him in the air. The ranger gasped for breath, but did not appear to have the strength to fight. Ugluk brought him higher up until they were face to face.
"I grow tired of you, ranger." Ugluk hissed in his face. He dropped Aragorn like a stone and drew his dagger.
"No!" A small, strong voice cried out. Merry was shoving his way forward. He ran to Aragorn's side and tried to prop the wheezing ranger on his side. Merry saw at once that their makeshift bandage on his shoulder was soaked with blood, and was dripping it down into Aragorn's coat.
"What did you say, little scum?" Ugluk snarled, knife in hand. Merry shrank back, but one look back at Aragorn rebirthed his courage.
"He has suffered enough! Please, leave him alone!" Merry said with a quavering voice. Beside him, he felt Aragorn stir.
"Mer-ry, don't…please…just…" Merry placed a hand on his chest and turned back to Ugluk. To his dismay, he was grinning as if he had just had a sick idea. Merry had a sudden sinking feeling.
"Listen to the little rat!" The huge orc jeered. Several of his companions laughed. Ugluk stalked forward. He ripped Merry from Aragorn's side and shoved him into the crowd, where several hands held him fast. Merry struggled with all his strength, sure that nothing good was about to happen. He was right.
Ugluk circled around Aragorn, stroking his knife. Aragorn stayed where he was, following Ugluk warily with his eyes. Suddenly Ugluk lashed out with his dagger. Aragorn, however, saw it coming and swiftly rolled over and onto his feet. Merry breathed out in relief. Aragorn would not go down without a fight. But he did not miss the wince that flashed across his face.
Ugluk snarled in frustration and again began circling. Aragorn backed away slowly and carefully. But his overworked body quickly began protesting against his sudden movement, and he stumbled slightly. That was all Ugluk needed.
Again he charged, and this time his knife hit something other than air. The knife bit into Aragorn's cheek, creating a long and bloody gash. Just at the end, Ugluk flipped his knife backward and rammed the hilt into the ranger's skull. It connected with a dull thud, and Aragorn slammed to the ground, unconscious and again bleeding.
Merry watched, transfixed with horror. It was all his fault. If he did not just shut his mouth, as Aragorn had said, this wouldn't have happened…Ugluk kicked Aragorn onto his stomach.
"Now we won't have him slowing us down." He growled. "Let's get moving! You! Haul him along; there may be some use in him later. And you," he turned to Merry. "Let that be a lesson to you. I can make your friend suffer a lot more, if I wish. So I advise you not to tell me what to do." He closed his speech with a heavy punch to Merry's stomach. Merry doubled over, and for the first time, began to despair.
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Well, there you go. And now I must say something:
The reason I couldn't update sooner was simply that I am SWAMPED in homework. It is NOT FUN, and I would love to update sooner, but my teachers won't let me. So I will keep up this story, but the updates will probably come a little later. And I'm so sorry, but I just can't keep up reviewer responses. So PLEASE keep reviewing! It will bring me more joy than ever!
QueenofFlarmphgal
