Chapter 13

In the Company of Orcs

Sam had found old orc armor they could use to sneak into Mordor. The helmets had strange beaks, and their gloves seemed a tad too big. Hazel's helmet weighed down on her head and she could feel a migraine coming. They had walked a couple miles, walking over a hill and gazing out into a land the hobbits had dreaded for so long. In the distance, there was a large orc camp and a tower with a strange red light on top.

"We did it, my friends." Sam said. "We made it to Mordor."

"There's so many of them," Frodo said, observing the orcs. "We'll never get through unseen." Suddenly, he became very agitated, and took a few steps back. "It's him!" He breathed. "The eye!"

Hazel looked closely at the tower, and finally noticed what the red light really was. A great eye, with a pupil much like her cat, Topaz, sat and gazed out into the land. A light showed wherever it looked. Instead of the yellow-green color Hazel was used to seeing in her cat's eyes, this eye was red, breathed in flame. For once, Hazel was afraid of fire. Galadriel had been right... Hazel was terrified.

"We have to go in there, my friends." Sam encouraged, seeing both the fear on his friends' faces. "There's nothing for it, come on, let's just make it down the hill for starters."

Frodo nodded his head and led the way down the hill.

~jb~

When the three hobbits had finally made it down the hill they heard a horn blow loudly.

"Look," Sam said. "The orcs, they're moving off!" Indeed, Sam was right. The orcs had started marching away from the great eye in union. "You see my friends, some luck at last!" Sam said in relief, that is until they realized the orcs where marching right toward them. The three hobbits had nowhere to hide. They could only sit by the side of the path and hope they would go unseen. Hazel hoped the orcs were kind enough to let a few weary "soldiers" rest. At first when the front of the company had marched, they didn't take notice. That is until an orc with a whip had walked by and looked at them crossly.

"Get up!" He yelled over the marching. "Come on you slugs!" He threw his whip at Sam, making Hazel's temper rise. She wanted to stand up for Sam as she always had, and teach that orc a lesson. But she restrained herself and quickly stood up before she could get whipped.

"You too!" He said to Frodo, and whipped him as he struggled to his feet. At this Hazel grabbed him under the arm and pulled him along, pretending not to care. The orc didn't care either; for he was too busy yelling insults and commands at them. He pushed them into the line, yelling for them to move it multiple times.

"To the gate, you slugs!" The orc continued, whipping anyone in his reach.

Orcs are terribly rude…not to mention in desperate need of a bath! Hazel thought bitterly, until she remembered she had been traveling for so long without taking her own share of bathing.

"Don't you know we're at war?!" The orc continued with his demands, feasting his coal, black eyes on the army that was gathering nearby a large black gate.

It was the opposite direction they wanted to go.

As they continued to walk, another horn was blown. The orcs stopped immediately in their tracks, and the hobbits ran into the orcs in front of them.

"Hey!" An orc growled at Hazel. "Watch it, scum!"

"You watch it, you Mordor rat!" Hazel said, spitting at his feet. Obviously, Hazel was not in one of her better moods, which Frodo could sense.

"Inspection!" The orc with the whip yelled out, saving Hazel from another scathing insult from the orc crossing her.

"Sam…" Frodo grunted. "Help me!" His legs had started to lose their strength, and Sam grabbed Frodo's arm, helping him up. Frodo had only just enough strength to poke Hazel's arm as hard as he could.

"Ow!" Hazel cried.

A fat orc with scars on his face came forward, examining orcs and shoving them aside to examine more orcs. Frodo kept poking Hazel's arm.

"Stop it!" Hazel snapped.

"Hazel…hit me!"

"Are you mad? I'm not going to hit you! Unless you keep poking my arm!"

The fat orc looked directly at Hazel.

"Stand up Mr. Frodo!" Sam whispered sharply. "Stand up!"

"But it's so heavy!" Frodo grunted. Sam looked closely at his neck and noticed the golden chain was digging into his skin, which had been turning red with irritation. Still, Frodo continued to poke Hazel's arm.

The fat orc opened his eyes wider. One was a normal brown color. The other was a pale blue, and Hazel felt he could see straight through her armor. He let out a roar and marched toward her. He knew Hazel was not an orc. Not even a man for that matter.

"What do we do? What do we do?!" Sam asked, looking around in panic.

Frodo knew exactly what to do. He took his finger and jabbed it into Hazel's arm as hard as possible, possibly leaving a bruise. Frodo knew when it was the right time to bother Hazel. Now was the right time.

Hazel growled and pushed him to the ground.

"Quit it, you dull-headed, winkertoss!" She yelled. The orcs gathered around them in excitement and cheered on the fight. Frodo reached up and grabbed her wrists tightly. Hazel jumped on him and pinned him down, only to be whipped by the incredibly rude orc.

"Break it up!" He yelled. "Break it up!"

"Oiy!" The fat orc growled at the rude orc. "I'll have your guts if you don't settle this rattle down!" The rude orc turned and looked at him in surprise. The hobbits saw their chance and ran away from the company as quickly as they could. Thank goodness, no orc took notice of them.

The fat orc looked around in confusion.

Where was the female creature?

A little history about monsters; when they fed, they usually preferred maidens like candy; for they tasted the sweetest, softest, and most chewable. Maidens had a sweet sent about them, always attracting monsters to them. Dragons would especially take them and feed on them.

In this case, it was slightly different. Although, the fat orc had smelled Hazel and was thoroughly tempted, he knew what the great eye desired. He desired a prize greater than the ring.

That was Hazel, if you hadn't guessed.

The fat orc however, could not waste time to look around for her. There were more important things to take care of. The fat orc shrugged.

"Move along, scum!" He ordered.

"Back into line!" The rude orc yelled, whipping his whip.

~jb~

The hobbits had been traveling a long distance through Mordor. It was unusually, bone-chillingly cold. All they could see was rocks. They walked on, surrounded by rocks.

With each step, they came closer and closer to Mount Doom. It was steaming with black smoke, and it was getting harder for the hobbits to breathe. The ground began to slope upward as they neared the mountain.

Suddenly, Frodo collapsed and ripped his helmet off.

"I can't…I can't…" He breathed. "I can't manage the ring Sam! It's…it's a…it's such a weight to carry…such a weight."

Sam took his helmet off and pointed his sword toward the mountain. "We're going that way, straight as we can! There's no point in carrying anything were not sure to need."

With that, the hobbits removed the orc armor and tossed it over the cliffs. Hazel took a turn carrying the ring, and Frodo was instantly relieved. For Hazel, the weight seemed light for a while.

They stopped and rested by some rocks, hoping to catch up on sleep for a while. It was still very, very cold. They sat and shivered for a long moment. Hazel's fingers moved slowly toward her neck as the temptation to place the ring on her finger kicked in.

It was painful to resist.

"Help me, Frodo!" Hazel cried, tears falling down her face. "I can't do it!"

Frodo reached over and took her hands, and relief ran through her like the river. She sighed in relief as he kissed her hands.

"You can do it." Frodo said. "You are much stronger than I will ever be. You are made of cast-iron, my love."

"How do you know?" Hazel asked.

"Because," Frodo said. "I just know."

~jb~

The two hobbits lay side by side by the rock. They both closed their eyes and slept. Sam's eyes seemed to be disagreeing with the strange air. He looked up at the sky and the clouds parted, revealing a star.

"Look, my friends!" He cried out. "There is a light! A light that no shadow can touch…Mr. Frodo?" He looked at his friends and noticed they were asleep.