I'm on a roll, three chapters in one day.
Chapter 10
Aica, Frodo, Sam and Gollum continued on their travels for several more days. One afternoon they were resting. Frodo was dozing against a rock, Aica was checking her weapons, Sam was looking out into the distance and Gollum was off doing whatever he did.
After a little while Gollum came running up, a pair of coneys held in his mouth. He spat them onto Frodo's lap, causing him to jump. 'Look. Look. See what Sméagol finds?' He jumped around for a moment, before picking up one of the coneys. 'They are young.' He bent the coney, breaking it's back. Frodo cringed. 'They are tender. They are nice. Yes, they are. Eat them. Eat them!' He sank his teeth into the raw animal.
'You'll make him sick, you will.' Sam snatched the coneys up. 'Behaving like that! There's only one way to eat a brace of coneys.'
Aica smiled as Sam started a fire up. 'Well I think you deserve it.' She said. She tossed Sam a water canteen. 'You might need this.'
Sam got to work turning the brace of coneys into a stew. Gollum was very put out. 'What's he doing? Stupid, fat Hobbit. It ruins it.' Gollum was saying.
Sam glanced at Gollum in disgust, before turning back to the pot. 'What's to ruin? There's hardly any meat on them.'
Aica picked up the call of a bird from somewhere in the distance. 'What we need is a few good taters.' Sam continued.
'What's taters, precious? What's taters? Eh?' Gollum questioned.
As the calling continued Frodo and Aica got to their feet, trying to look for the source. They left the campsite into the woods. They followed the sound to an overlook that looked over a path. Aica crouched down behind a bush, while Frodo crawled to the edge of the overlook. 'What do you think it is?' He asked.
'I'm not sure.' Aica replied.
Sam and Gollum came up behind them, just as an army of Haradrim emerged from the woods below them. 'Who are they?' Sam asked.
'Wicked Men. Servants of Sauron. They are called to Mordor. The Dark One is gathering all armies to him. It won't be long now. He will soon be ready.' Gollum spoke up.
'Ready to do what?' Sam questioned.
'To make his war. The last war that will cover all the world in Shadow.' Gollum replied.
'We've got to get moving. Come on, Sam, Aica.' Frodo said, beginning to move away.
Frodo began to turn away, but Sam stopped him. 'Mr. Frodo. Look. It's an Oliphant.' The Oliphant's were carrying men on their backs as they lumbered through the ranks of the army. 'No one at home will believe this.'
Sam and Frodo smiled at each other, while Aica watched them.
They looked around as the bird call sounded again. Gollum slipped away quickly. Suddenly the army below them began to panic, they were being ambushed. The trio on the cliff backed away quickly. A solider, shot by one of the attackers fell at their feet. 'We've lingered here too long.' Frodo said. He and Aica began to head away, but Sam was still watching the battle. 'Come on, Sam.' Aica grabbed Sam's arm and began to lead him away.
As Frodo began to run, he ran right into one of the ambushers. It was a ranger in full hunting garb. Aica drew her bow while Sam charged the ranger, who knocked him away. Another came up behind Aica, wrapping his arms around her. Aica slammed her head back into his face, sending him reeling. Sam was now pinned to the ground, while two rangers held Frodo. 'Aica.' Frodo whispered, knowing she would hear. Aica relented, allowing the rangers detain her, knowing it would only be worse for the hobbits if she continued to fight.
'Wait! We're innocent travellers!' Sam tried to get them released.
One of the rangers approached Sam. 'There are no travellers in this land. Only servants of the Dark Tower.' His eyes flicked to Aica, whose arms were pinned behind her back as she was forced to kneel on the ground. 'And your friend is a little too well armed.'
'We are bound to an errand of secrecy.' The ranger turned to Frodo. 'Those that claim to oppose the enemy would do well not to hinder us.'
'The enemy?' The ranger turned to the soldier who had fallen at their feet. 'His sense of duty was no less than yours, I deem. You wonder what his name is, where he came from. And if he was really evil at heart. What lies or threats led him on this long march from home? If he would not rather have stayed there...in peace.' He turned back to Frodo. 'War will make corpses of us all. Bind their hands, and disarm that one.' He nodded to Aica.
Aica was stripped of her weapons. Frodo and Sam had their hands bound in front of them, while Aica's were wrenched behind her back and roughly tied. 'I have had enough of being captured.' Aica snarled.
'You know it's for the best.' Frodo whispered to her. He was then pulled away from Aica as they were dragged into the woods.
Aica glanced around, Gollum had vanished before the rangers appeared, yet he didn't warn them. What was he up to?
A couple of hours after their capture Aica, Sam and Frodo were blindfolded by the rangers. Clearly they did not want them to see their hideout.
Once in the ranger's base the three were pushed inside. Once inside their blindfolds and bonds were removed. The lead ranger, who they had learned was called Faramir, approached them. 'My Men tell me that you are Orc spies.' He said.
Sam spoke up before either of the others. 'Spies?! Now wait just a minute!'
'Well if you're not spies, then who are you?' The trio exchanged glances as Faramir sat down. 'speak.'
'We are Hobbits of the Shire. Frodo Baggins is my name, and this is Samwise Gamgee.' Frodo finally said.
'Your bodyguard?' Faramir asked.
'His gardener.' Sam replied.
Faramir turned his gaze on Aica. 'you clearly are not a hobbit. Who are you?'
'I'm their bodyguard.' Aica replied. 'my name is Aica. I hail from Rivendell.' The last part was deliberate lie, if they found out who she really they would kill her on the spot.
'And where is your skulking friend?' Faramir asked. 'That gangrel creature. He had an ill-favoured look.'
'There was no other.' Frodo lied. 'We set out from Rivendell with seven companions. One we lost in Moria, two were my kin, a Dwarf there was also, and an Elf. And two Men, Aragorn, son of Arathorn, and Boromir of Gondor.'
Faramir looked up. 'You're a friend of Boromir?'
'Yes, for my part.' Frodo replied.
'It would grieve you then to learn that he is dead.' Faramir told them.
'Dead? How? When?' Frodo questioned, Aica immediately felt guilty that she hadn't told them.
'As one of his companions, I hoped you would tell me.' Faramir continued.
'If something has happened to Boromir, we would have you tell us.' Frodo said.
'His horn washed up on the riverbank, about six days past. It was cloven in two. But more than this, I know it in my heart. He was my brother.' Faramir admitted.
'He was protecting Merry and Pippin.' Aica said quietly. Everyone turned to look at her.
After Aica's admission Faramir had left them. 'Why didn't you tell us?' Frodo asked.
'You already have enough to worry about.' Aica told him. 'You didn't need anything else to burden you with.' Aica crossed the cavern and sat down by herself. 'I told you he couldn't be trusted. He didn't bother warning us.' Frodo and Sam didn't bother asking her who she meant; they knew it was Gollum she was talking about.
Slowly the trio drifted off to sleep. Sam and Aica were awoken when Frodo was brought back by two rangers. 'They have him.' He said. 'He was in their pool, I went to him, brought him out and they took.'
Aica placed a hand on his shoulder. 'He can't be trusted.'
Later that night they were sat in their prison when Sam made a suggestion. 'We have to get out of here. You go. Go, now.' Frodo looked at him. 'You can do it. Use the Ring, Mr. Frodo. Just this once. Put it on. Disappear.'
'Sam.' Aica warned.
'I can't. You were right, Sam. You tried to tell me but … I'm sorry. The Ring's taking me, Sam. If I put it on, he'll find me. He'll see.' Aica could hear the fear in Frodo's voice.
'Mr Frodo…' Sam didn't get to finish as Faramir entered the room.
'So this is the answer to all the riddles here in the Wild I have you. Two Halflings, an elf and a host of Men at my call.' He backed Frodo against the wall. 'The Ring of Power within my grasp.' He pushed the neck of Frodo's shirt away and lifted out the Ring with the tip of his sword. 'A chance for Faramir, captain of Gondor, to show his quality.'
Suddenly Frodo pushed Faramir's sword away. 'No!' he cried, as he cowered into a corner.
Sam turned on Faramir. 'Stop it! Leave him alone! Don't you understand? He's got to destroy it! That's where we're going; into Mordor, to the mountain of fire.'
There was silence until Faramir's second in command entered. 'Osgiliath is under attack. They call for reinforcements.'
'Please. It's such a burden. Will you not help him?' Sam begged.
'It has to be destroyed.' Aica chipped in.
'Captain?' The second in command questioned.
'Prepare to leave.' Faramir ordered. 'The Ring will go to Gondor.'
'You're making a mistake.' Aica told him. 'The Ring will destroy everything you know and love.'
Faramir rounded on Aica. 'No, it will help us protect my city.'
They trekked on, hands unbound, guarded by the Gondorian rangers, Gollum tied tightly. Finally they reached a hill overlooking Osgiliath. They could clearly see that the city was under attack. 'Osgiliath burns.' Someone said.
'Mordor has come.'
'The Ring will not save Gondor.' Frodo told Faramir. 'It has only the power to destroy. Please, let me go.'
'Hurry.' Faramir urged.
'Faramir!' Frodo called. 'You must let me go.'
The soldiers urged them onwards, moving quickly.
Frodo, Sam, Aica and Gollum were urged through the city. 'Faramir, Orcs have taken the eastern shore. Their numbers are too great. By nightfall we will be overrun.' One of the officers in Osgiliath said.
Frodo began to groan. 'Mr Frodo?' Sam turned to his best friend.
'It's calling to him, Sam. His Eye is almost on me.' Frodo replied.
'Hold on, Mr. Frodo. You'll be all right.' Sam reassured.
Aica was watching Frodo closely, so did not hear what else Sam said, but she did hear Faramir. 'Take them to my father.' He ordered. 'Tell him Faramir sends a mighty gift. A weapon that will change our fortunes in this war.'
Sam pulled away from his captor and rounded on Faramir. 'You want to know why your brother died. He tried to take the Ring from Frodo! After swearing an oath to protect him, he tried to kill him! The Ring drove your brother mad!'
Aica broke away from her own captor and knelt in front of Frodo, who seemed to be in a trance.
'Frodo?' She asked.
'Mr Frodo?'
'They're here.' Frodo said his voice distant. 'They've come.'
A screech filled the air. 'Nazgûl!' Faramir yelled. The soldiers of Osgiliath hurried to find cover.
Faramir grabbed Frodo, Sam and Aica followed as he pulled the hobbit to cover. 'Stay here. Keep out of sight.' He left them, shouting to his men. 'Take cover!'
Aica looked at the two hobbits; she placed a hand on each of the shoulders. 'Stay safe.' She ordered, before taking off after Faramir. 'Faramir!' She called. The Gondorian captain stopped for a moment. 'Give me my weapons, I can help.' Faramir watched her for a moment. 'I can help.'
Faramir nodded to the soldier who held her weapons. 'Alright, we need all the help we can get.' Aica quickly strapped her weapons on, before following Faramir into the city.
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