Hi! So sorry this took so long, I had a rough time trying to write this chapter!
Fingers crossed ch 12 wont take as long.
Thank you Verity for all your beta work!
Enjoy :)
Legolas POV
The sound of the Horn of Gondor rings in my ears as I blink against the sunlight. I can hear feet rushing towards us, but otherwise, I am in a daze. Boromir and I are laying in a large clearing. I'm vaguely aware of Aragorn saying something as he reaches Boromir's side. I feel the ground tremble as Gimli rushes to check on me. I roused myself from my state of disorientation, noticing I can feel an odd tingling run across my skin, as though coming from the area I had been injured, then it's spreading across the rest of my body. As I become more aware, the only thing I can see is Harry leaning over me, crying. I'm quickly sitting up gasping, that is when I notice a stick tumbling into my lab. I grab for it, recognizing it as Harry's wand.
"Harry, where's Harry?" I cry anxiously.
I look around, frantically, and my gaze settled on Aragorn kneeling beside Boromir, and I know he is dying. I can't see Harry, Merry or Pippin, and I know that they were taken by the Uruk-Hai. I have to hold back a sob at the realization that he may well be gone for good, after all, who knows what magic Saruman can conjure. Harry saved my life, only to be put in danger himself - if he is even alive. Knowing about Harry's secret, I choose to believe that he is, but my fear is also for Merry and Pippin. Unless it was Saruman's orders to bring them back unharmed - but that does not ease the worry that plagues my heart.
No one answers me, but they don't have to, I already know. I stand up, my legs somehow sturdy, and go over to Aragorn. Gimli silently follows, head bowed in sorrow. There is nothing we can do now. The three of us are silent as Aragorn and I pick Boromir up, Gimli readying a canoe. We watch solemnly as Aragorn fills the small boat with the weapons of Boromir's fallen enemies, his sword is placed in his hands, and then a few words are spoken. I watch Frodo and Sam sailing away in the direction of Emyn Muil. I am torn, do I abandon Harry? I know in my heart that the Ring is more important, and I want to go after them, but Aragorn stops me.
"Let them go. We cannot help Frodo anymore," he says, voice barely a whisper.
Gently arranging Boromir into a dignified pose, Gimli, Aragorn and I gently push the canoe out into the water, we stand and watch as it sails towards the Falls of Rauros. We don't move until the canoe falls over the edge.
"The fellowship has failed then," Gimli whispered as he watched Frodo and Sam disappear.
"No!" Aragorn demands. "We will not abandon Harry, Merry and Pippin."
"We need to go after the Uruk-Hai. We need to save Harry and the Hobbits," I affirm, smiling at Aragorn. In my hand, I still desperately clutch his wand.
"Aye," Gimli agrees, eyes shining. "Let us hunt some Uruk-Hai!" he bellows, almost like a battle cry.
"Take only what you need. We must travel light and fast if we are to save them. Leave anything that can be spared," Aragorn turns around, headed to the half-completed camp we made just before the ambush. I silently pray that Harry will be okay, and the Hobbits. I know he will do anything to protect them.
As soon as we manage to gather our supplies, we follow the Uruk-Hai, Aragorn bent low to the ground, tracking them at full speed. I stay only a few steps behind Aragorn, Gimli a few steps behind me. We run for a few hours, and it is becoming clear that these Uruks are not taking breaks, and are even able to continue through the daylight hours. We track them through the forest and open plains, then we reach a rockier terrain. This is when Aragorn stops us, dropping lower to the ground, his ear pressed to the stone.
"We are gaining on them, they just passed through - a large company of Uruks but there is no sign of the Hobbits, or Harry," he informs us, seriously.
We continue, picking up the pace, hoping to capture them. We only stop when Aragorn notices something trodden into the ground.
"That's-" I begin, relieved and also worried once more. Aragorn turns the leaf-shaped pin in his hand with a frown.
"This belonged to Pippin, they went through here, less than a day ago, maybe," Aragorn slipped the pin into a pocket. "There are also the soft, untouched tracks of a Hobbit here!" he exclaimed. "I believe Pippin risked a great deal to let us know we are on the right track! Have hope, my friends! They are alive!"
We rush towards higher ground. At the thought of seeing Harry and the Hobbits again I have found a new energy quickening our steps. I rush ahead, hoping to see some sign of the Uruk pack we are tracking. Gimli is struggling to keep up, and as I search the horizon, I hear his mutterings.
"I'm wasted on cross-country, I'm more of a natural sprinter - very dangerous over short distances!"
I suppress a grin knowing that he is just making an excuse for his lack of speed.
"Legolas, what do your Elf-eyes see?" Aragorn asks, my frown deepening.
"They are headed northeast...towards Isengard!" I gasp. Dread twists in my insides at the realization that they were alive, but surely they would not stay that way once the Wizard got to them.
"We must continue, we cannot allow them to reach Isengard! We will take the road towards Rohan," he commands, Gimli and I agree.
Running once more, I can only hope that we make it on time. When I hear Gimli muttering to himself; "Keep breathing, that's the key."
My mouth easily slips into an amused smile. I know the Dwarf will manage just fine. It takes some hours to reach Rohan, only to be waylaid by a host of riders who surround us in a tight circle, spears aimed at the three of us, and it is clear there is no escape.
"What business does an Elf, a Man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!" their leader ordered.
Gimli huffed at the words, glaring at the men. "Give me your name, Horsemaster, and I shall give your mine!" Gimli states, hefting his axe threateningly. Aragorn raises a hand slightly towards Gimli, also turning towards the men.
"I would cut off your head Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground," the leader replied as he dismounted. He towered over Gimli, his spear directed threateningly at his chest.
"You would die before your stroke fell," I find myself spitting out at the man, an arrow already cocked in my bow and aimed directly at the man.
"My name is Aragorn, with me is Legolas of the woodland realm, and Gimli, son of Gloin. We are friends to Rohan, and we are searching for a group of Uruk-Hai that may have passed through here. We do not wish to fight."
"We slaughtered such a horde at sundown yesterday, we left none alive," the leader replied with more bite.
I found that the rest of the conversation was only muffled noise, out of focus, the words 'none alive' echoing in my mind.
"What about Hobbits? There were two Hobbits, and a young man was there also! The Hobbits would only look like children," Aragorn asks, hoping to get a positive response. However, we only receive a small shake of his head.
"I am sorry. We burned the corpses and left them where they lay."
I remain quiet, watching as the conversation continued, but not able to process the words or the reality of what has happened. Reaching into one of my pockets, I reassure myself that the Elder Wand is still there, and I force myself to believe that Harry is okay. My attention is brought back as two horses are handed over, Aragorn thanking the men for them. Quickly mounting them, we urge the horses to run in the direction that the leader had pointed, Eomer is his name.
When Gimli located the burnt up remains of one of the Hobbits' belt, we feared the worst had happened after all. I listened as Aragorn let out an agonized cry, the pain laced words loud in my ears, it sounded how I felt, the fear and pain of losing Harry and the Hobbits. I try to keep my own emotions over the situation in check, I do not want to show just how affected I am, it's now that I realise how much Harry means to me. I held in a wince as Aragorn all but collapses to the ground, head in his hands, but a moment later he lets out a gasp and scrambles off his knees.
"What do you see, Aragorn?" I ask, hopefully.
"Tracks, left by the Hobbits. They are leading away from the camp!" Aragorn replies quickly, following a trail left behind and hope swells back up inside my chest.
"Harry, is he with them?" I ask, trying to rein in my desperation.
Aragorn frowns slightly, shaking his head. "No, there are only two sets of footprints, Merry and Pippin," he says, his eyes not leaving the ground. "The tracks start here, their hands and feet were bound," Aragorn walks forward, Gimli and I quickly follow behind. "Their bonds are cut here," he says next, gently picking up cut ropes before sitting them back onto the ground and looks towards the forest. "They ran into the forest, but their tracks are a little confused, in a close circle like they were looking for something - or someone?"
"Harry? Maybe they got separated, and he is also in the forest?" I reply, clinging to hope. I had to believe that this was the case and that he wasn't in any danger. And I wonder 'Can he be killed? Death never mentioned it as a possibility, but he must, mustn't he?' Worry curls in my stomach as we head into Fangorn Forest.
"This forest is ancient and full of anger and memory," I say, looking around us at the trees as they begin to whisper.
I don't understand what they are saying, but I know that the words are filled with malice. We, however, are determined to find our friends and we continue walking through the densely packed trees. We haven't been walking for very long when Gimli licks a leaf nearby, and I resist the urge to furrow my brow in confusion, and a little disgust, at the action.
"Orc blood," Gimli states with certainty.
I see now what he was doing, and instantly we are all on our guard. Were the Hobbits and Harry taken again? I ignore the unease that is swallowing my insides until Aragorn calls for us.
"These tracks were not made by an ordinary creature," he says, staring at the large, oddly shaped tracks - I wonder if they are even footprints. The trees whispering increases, drawing the attention of both Aragorn and Gimli, who brandishes his axe in preparation for an attack. Aragorn, however, stops him and Gimli lowers his weapon.
"The trees have feelings, my friend," I explain, and the tension within the forest relaxes somewhat.
But I still feel something, a presence, and it makes we wary. I let the feeling wash over me, it is familiar, and yet altogether different. There is a flash of white in the distance, and I know who it is.
"The White Wizard! He approaches, " I gasp, fear tingling across my skin and we draw closer together.
"We should fight!" Gimli suggests, axe still in hand. "Attack before he can put a spell on us."
"We need to be careful, he will not be easily felled," Aragorn replies, looking around the clearing.
I have my bow in hand, an arrow already cocked to the string. I can't help but wonder if Harry has come across the Istari. 'Or the Hobbits? I fear that they might have, and what could have happened to them if they did.' We slowly walk forwards, with me at the head. We are about to begin our attack when the White Wizard speaks. The words, accompanied by a blinding white light, are powerful and our attack is foiled. The light only lasts a few moments longer, then there's a figure standing in front of us, dressed in all white robes, his face obscured.
"You are tracking two young Hobbits and a young Wizard. They passed this way."
"Saruman!" Aragorn accuses.
"I am Saruman, or rather Saruman as he should have been!" he says calmly, a tiny smile gracing his lips. The kind face of our guide now revealed.
"Gandalf!" all three of us exclaim in various mixtures of surprise and happiness.
"Gandalf? Gandalf the Grey, that was what they called me. Yes, I suppose that was my name," he says before continuing. "I am Gandalf the White. Young Harry was the first to find me here, the Hobbits not long after him. They are perfectly safe."
"So they are okay? Are they still together?" I ask quickly, Aragorn and Gimli listening in interest.
"Yes, and no," Gandalf replies, stepping closer to us, a white staff in his hands replacing the old one he had before.
"What do you mean?" Aragorn questions.
"Yes, they are safe, and no they are not together. I sent Harry ahead of us to meet at a later date, and the Hobbits remain with Treebeard, one of the Ents of this forest," he explains.
"Why leave the Hobbits with an Ent?" Gimli questions.
"That is the path they are meant to travel, Merry and Pippin coming here will be like the falling of the few stones that starts an avalanche. They will help the Ents to wake up, and find that they are strong," Gandalf responded. "We are to go to Edoras and speak with their King."
Aragorn frowns at this. "Their King, Theoden, no longer recognises friend from foe, he has even cast out his own kin, Eomer of the Riddermark."
"We must warn the King of the coming war, and deal with what we find there," Gandalf turns, and we quickly exit the forest, where Gandalf calls for his mount - Shadowfax.
Pippin POV
Harry is still unconscious, it's been many hours since we were abducted by the Uruk-Hai. We were carried on their backs, the creatures smell foul; like something dead and rotting. I scrunch my nose in distaste, looking over to Merry who also has a pinched expression. Though it's hard to say if it's because of the smell or because of the position we are stuck in, not to mention the constant movement as they run onwards without any pause. I glance back over at the Wizard, thinking about what I can do.
"Harry, psst! Wake up!" I try to whisper urgently, but to no avail and I sigh heavily.
Giving up momentarily, I take in our surroundings. There wasn't much to see, we are travelling through a low valley surrounded by great cliffs of stone, there is no chance of an easy escape, especially as Harry is unable to wake up. The Uruk-Hai suddenly come to an abrupt halt, the leader sniffing the air like a hound.
"The Ranger has caught our trail," The Uruk-Hai growls.
He motions for the group to quicken their pace. Hope swells up in my chest, and I look at Merry who's grinning.
'Maybe they will find us in time then! I need to give them hope that we are alive and that they are going in the right direction! Think Pippin!'
I glance around frantically, thinking of what can be used, when I remember the pin on my cloak. I wonder if itcouldwork. 'I would just need to get it off my cloak without alerting all the Uruk-Hai around me. Yeah, that's going to be easy.' Ishift slightly to tuck my chin against my neck, and I try to grip the pin in my mouth. It takes a few tries until it stops slipping, and I clench my teeth around it to rip it from the cloak.
I nearly grunt with satisfaction when it finally slips free, and I hold it for a moment to make sure no one is paying attention. Hoping this will work, I let the pin slip from my mouth, happy when there's a very faint thunk as it reaches the ground, the sound drowned out by the marching of Uruk-Hai. I silently pray that Aragorn will find it, and understand the message that I am trying to send, 'we're safe, help us'.
At sundown, the Uruk-Hai army finally stops to rest. We are at the edges of a great forest, and from what I overhear, it's called Fangorn Forest. They leave us on the ground, our hands and feet still bound together to prevent escape. I scoot closer to Merry, keeping my eyes on Harry who was tossed a few feet away from us, I do not want to lose sight of him.
"Hey, Pippin, why do you think Harry is still unconscious?" I look over at Merry, who is bent at a rather uncomfortable angle, hair matted and face covered in dirt. I imagine I look just as beaten and bruised as he does. The Uruks have not harmed us really, but they have certainly not been gentle.
"I don't know, maybe he's just really tired after saving Legolas' life in the forest?" I shrug, wondering if Harry really is just sleeping. If he is, I'm not sure how he could sleep in this situation.
"What if he's hurt?" Merry questions.
"Wouldn't we be able to see it if he was bleeding?" I suggest.
"Well, maybe, but what if it's an injury we can't see, what if it's something magical?" the noise from the Uruk-Hai increases and I look at Merry nervously. "I think we shouldn't have left the Shire, Pippin," Merry continues, his smile shaky.
"Don't say that! We're going to be fine. Perfectly fine, just you wait!" I encourage him, faltering slightly when there are sudden whispers coming from the forest beside us. Merry looks at the trees, eyes darting around them. "Did you hear that?" I ask
"It's the trees, Pip. They're talking. You remember the old stories about the forest on the border of Buckland? Trees that were so alive that they could talk, even move!" Merry whispers, watching the swaying of the branches.
"The trees are talking?" I question, confused. "Trees can't talk Merry."
We are so distracted by the forest that we don't notice as Harry suddenly stirs, a weak groan slipping from his throat.
"Pippin, I think he's waking up!" the excitement doesn't last long though when one of the Uruk-Hai lumbers over to us.
"We ain't had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days!" an Uruk complains. "Why can't we have some meat? What about them, they're fresh!" the Uruk drools, looking hungrily at us. I squirm uncomfortably.
"They are not for eating! It is forbidden," another one growls, starting an argument.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I refocus on Harry. He hasn't woken completely yet. One of the Uruks sneaks up behind Merry, and I'm about to shout, but then there's a sword sticking from its chest. I breathe a sigh of relief, just as a horse nearly steps on my shoulder. Twisting out of the way, a group of men enter the clearing, attacking the group of Uruk-Hai. In my struggle to not be stepped on, I find a piece of metal sharp enough to cut through the ropes. I don't focus on where Harry and Merry are at the moment, but I know I can only help them once I am free.
Grabbing it, I twist it to cut the binding on my hands, tossing it over to Merry, who is now a few feet away. In the chaos of battle, I lose sight of Harry. When I turn around to untie the ropes on him, he's gone. It's very possible he didn't see me or Merry in the mess of bodies, laying on the ground. It's also possible he was taken, again. I look around, searching for Merry in hopes that he would be there still. He is, and I am relieved to see him relatively unharmed.
"Merry!" I call out, rushing over to him. "Harry's gone, did you see him?"
"No, you didn't either?" Merry frowns, looking around. "We need to take cover, there's no way we could find him in this," Merry gasps as he dodges another horse, and the hectic battle between the men and Uruks commences. "He could have taken cover in the forest after not being able to find us."
I nod, hoping that Merry is right. We curl up behind a large stone, waiting. It's barely an hour later that things around us are finally silent and we slowly come out from our spot. Not knowing where else to go, we head towards the forest with the hope of finding Harry, clinging to the belief that he had gone in the same direction.