Chapter 2: Into the Dark

Halbarad landed on top of him. Aragorn winced in pain as he pushed Halbarad off of him and stood. Halbarad stayed sitting on the floor inspecting his self for any injuries. His chest hurt from the landing, but nothing appeared to be broken or too badly bruised. Aragorn reclaimed the torch and held it aloft. They had fallen into a small stone chamber. No doubt the orcs had tunneled themselves right into it.

"Where are we?" asked Halbarad as he stood up.

"I'm not sure," replied Aragorn peering around, "but there may be another way out of here apart from having tea with the orcs."

Halbarad now listened for the sound of pursuit. "Do you think they will follow us?"

"Difficult to say for certain, we left before they saw us. If they picked up our scent, there is no sign of it. I've not heard anything, not even now." They examined the room and found a doorway leading into a passage. Hlabarad felt his wet clothes and grimaced.

"I hope we do not meet anything on this adventure you have taken us on, or at least we are dry by that time. I hate fighting in wet clothes."

"Well, if you are so worried about it, take them off and go naked through these dusty and cob-web filled halls," Aragorn smiled.

"You have a sick mind. Put on a shirt, please."

"If I had a dry one I would." The passage was not very long. It opened into a larger chamber. On either side of the door were small bowl-like structures. The wall was charred around the top of the bowls as if some fire was once held in them. Aragorn went to one and slowly slid his hand into the bowl. Just as his hand was in it he left out a scream. Halbarad screamed as well and hastened to his cousin's side to help him when Aragorn's screams turned into a laugh.

"Aragorn!"

"I'm sorry, I just couldn't help myself. You should have seen your face." Aragorn pulled his hand out from the bowl and inspected his hand. It was covered in oil.

"It's not funny."

Aragorn lit the bowl with his torch then went over and lit the other one. The light revealed more of the bowls spaced about the room. Scraps of dusty, dirty cloth were lying in one corner near a broken wooden table and chair. There were two passages. One with stairs leading up, the other, next to it with stairs leading down. "Our torch will not last forever," said Halbarad, "We ought to take some of these rags and wood and make some torches, just in case." Aragorn nodded and together they wrapped pieces of cloth around several pieces of wood and dipped each cloth bound end into the oil of the bowls that were not lit. Halbarad stored them in his pack, "Up, or down?"

"Flip a coin?" Aragorn dug in his pockets for a coin, but not one could he find. "Do you have one?" Halbarad fished into his pockets of a coin and pulled out a button made from bone*. "It'll work." Aragorn took the button from him and scratched one side with his knife. "Scratched is up, other is down." He flipped the button into the air and caught it. He opened his hand and looked at it. "Down it is."

As they went down the stairs, Halbarad's mood got even worse, if possible, "You had better hope those orcs didn't hear you scream, or we're dead. That was very stupid, cousin."

"Hal, could try to be in a better mood? Your enthusiasm is overwhelming."

"How can I, when I am being dragged wet through this abominable black pit by you with a host of orcs on our rear?!"

"Well, we have confirmed that orcs are re-massing in the mountains and now all we have to do is get out of here. As soon as we do that, you can go home. Take a vacation for all I care. Just please don't complain anymore about our situation, because that is not going to help us any. I understand your anger and frustration, but for Eru's sake please cool it, Halbarad."

Halbarad looked down at the floor, "You're right, I'm sorry." Aragorn put his hand on his shoulder and continued down the stairs.

TBC

*I remembered that the people of Middle-Earth probably haven't invented plastic yet so it became a bone button.