Disclaimer in Chapter 1 - They may yet be alive.
Nin-dethro hîn, Mellon-nin.
Chapter 2 - Speak quickly!
The night was young as the Uruk-hai's and Orcs stopped at the border of a great forest.
"We're not going no further...Till we've had a breather." One of the Mordor Orcs fell to the floor as he tried is best to catch his breath.
Uglúk growled "Get a fire going." He turned and watched as the two Uruk-hai, Kraibag and Aklash, dropped Merry and Pippin roughly on the ground.
Saruman's servants watched as Sauron's servants ran into the great forest, pulling out their axes and started to chop some off the branches of the old tree's within. The creatures payed no attention to the deep screams and moans the tree's seemed to make.
"Merry, what's making that noise?" Pippin asked as he faced his beloved cousin beside him, his eyes wide.
"I don't know." Merry looked at the faces of the Uruk-hai's to see if they cared about the noises the forest seemed to create. He then turned his eyes and they fell apon Ugúk's as the beast walked towards them.
"How are the little Shire rat's doing this fine night?" The foul creature asked with a smile. The beast watched as the two Hobbits squirmed beneath his gaze.
Merry and Pippin both looked at each other and silently agreed that they wouldn't answer the Uruks captains question.
"No answer? I bet you want to know what those noises are?" The smile never left the Captains face.
Merry gulped and then said "What are those noises?"
"The noises come from the trees." The beast crouched as he played with a dagger that suddenly appeared in his blackish hands.
"The trees?" Pippin questioned, his eyes wide for he had no idea tress could make such noise.
Uglúk nodded "Some say that the Elves taught the trees how to speak. Some even say that there is something within the great forest that made the trees grow and come alive."
The Uruk-hai's that were listening to the conversation between captives and Captain, laughed at the tale. "The forest in front of us is called: Fangorn Forest." Uglúk then placed the dagger back into his belt.
"Now that I remember, you had an Elf within your company, did you not?" The Uruk-hai laughed as he saw both Hobbits look at each other, eyes wide once more. "Did he dance within the trees and sometimes disappear when you all slept?"
Both cousins could remember the times when Legolas had disappeared. They knew not why but they were always too afraid to ask.
Uglúk laughed along with his fellow creatures unexpectedly which caused the two Hobbits to jump but then the Uruk-hai's laughter stopped when they saw a Mordor Orc walk towards there Captain. Uglúk glared at the Orc "What do you want?"
"You had an Elf? Should have brought him back with ya'" Snaga licked his lips "Good sport those beings are. Tasty too."
Uglúk grabbed the Orc by his throat and squeezed it hard, lifting the foul beast into the air. "Your Master wouldn't be happy if he heard you say search a thing." He growled and then threw the Orc to the ground, watching as he gasped for some much needed air. "That Elf happens to be your masters other half. He would kill you and then bring you back, just to kill you again, if he saw those words leave your lips."
Snaga hissed at the Uruk-hai's Captain and then crawled back to his own Captain, Grishnákh.
The trees suddenly screamed and moaned much louder and their branches slowly began to sway. Kraibag walked over to his captain and whispered "The trees, Captain, we need to leave soon."
Uglúk narrowed his eyes at the forest that was slowly moving. Their was no wind this night and that could only lead to one thing. "Let's get moving!" He shouted.
"We still need a breather!" A Mordor Orc, Shatogtar, shouted "We have had no food but maggoty Bread for three stinking days!"
The Uruk-hai's growled and Lugdush, the lead runner of the band, walked up the Orc and spitted in his face "We leave when the Captain says and that's now!"
Suddenly, one of the Mordor Orcs that was still within the forest, screamed as he flew through the air, falling to the ground with a loud thud. One of the closest Orcs ran to the still body and shouted "He's dead!"
Merry and Pippin faces grew fearful as they fidgeted, turning to face the forest that was still slowly swaying with the wind, but of course, there was no wind this night. Both could only sit and wait for what was to come for they knew they would be caught before they even had a chance to escape.
A loud creak echoed throughout the camp the foul creatures had made. Each beast looked at the forest, unsheathing their scimitar's and axe's for what ever was about to come their way.
"What ever comes through that forest, be prepared!" Uglúk shouted as he tried to encourage the Uruks and Orcs.
The loud creaking stopped suddenly and the camp was left in silence. Occasionally there would be a few sounds of metal clanking against metal but from the forest, nothing seemed to make a sound.
Snaga suddenly laughed and walked towards the forest border. "We were afraid of..."
The Uruks and Orcs watched fearfully as Snaga never finished his sentence for what it seemed to be a massive trunk came crushing down onto the beast, crushing him instantly.
"Hroom, What do we have here?" A massive tree like creature walked out of the forest, looking down at the foul beings before it. The tree suddenly growled and roared "Orclings, and other foul Orcs'."
The Orcs and Uruks shuffled under the trees gaze and raised their scimitar's and axe's, ready for the signal to attack. Merry and Pippin could only watch in amazement as the tree talked and stepped heavily out of the forest border.
The tree roared again and this time it was louder which made the foul servant's cover there ears.
The beasts could only cringe and watch as about thirty horsemen came through the forest, behind the tree and attacked all those in sight.
"Leave none alive!" One of the horsemen shouted which made the others shout war cries at the beasts who were now at a disadvantage.
"Merry! What do we do?!" Pippin yelled over the deathly screams and shouts.
"I don't know!" Merry yelled back "Let's just try and get out of here!" The blonde Hobbit stood and pulled his cousin up as he did so. They both looked around and could see many of the Orcs and Uruk-hai's falling at the swords of there foes. Merry nudged Pippin with his elbow and pointed quickly at the forest in front of them.
Both still bound, ran towards the forest, carefully avoiding the falling beast and the horses that danced around the forest borders, stamping on the black beasts beneath their hoofs.
"Pippin!" Merry yelled as he saw his cousin fall to the ground, an Uruk-hai's body lay on top. The blonde Hobbit ran to his cousin and tried his best to move the Uruk-hai of Pippin's body.
Once the beast was removed, Pippin nodded his thanks to his cousin and both ran once more towards the forest. Little did the Halflings know was that the tree, that had appeared out of the forest moments ago, was following their very steps and quickly swung its arms up and brought them down, catching the Hobbits within it's rooted hands.
Merry and Pippin felt the air in their lungs escape them as they felt something hard collide with them and then hoist them into the air. Both froze as they looked at the tree before them.
"Little Orcs." The tree growled.
"The tree...Merry, the tree is talking." Pippin whispered.
"Tree?!" The tree exclaimed "I am no tree! I am an Ent."
Merry smiled, his eyes wide "A tree-herder. A Shepard of the forest." The blonde Hobbit thought back to the time when Bilbo had told him tales about a forest near the borders of Buckland, that had trees who protected it from foul beings such as Orcs and other dark creatures.
"Treebeard." A voice from below called which made both tree and Hobbit look towards the ground.
"Ah, young rider, Éomer." The tree who had now been named as Treebeard spoke, a faint smiled could be seen between the bark on his face.
"I must thank you for helping us this night." Éomer bowed respectively and then when he looked up, the rider narrowed his eyes at the two small beings within Treebeard's rooted hands.
"Who are you?"
The three hunters ran across the plains of Rohan. It had been four days now since their small friends had been taken by the Uruk-hai.
The Man, Dwarf and Elf had ran through the night and the sun was slowly rising across the plains. This sunrise was different. The clouds had turned a deep shade of orange, the sky was a cool blue while the sun was a bloody red.
Legolas stopped his running and faced the blood coloured sky "The red sun rises." The Prince's face fell, fear and sadness within his sea blue eyes "Blood has been spilled this night." Legolas continued his running and slowed down a bit for his Dwarven friend to catch up. The ranger did also.
"I am glad you have this power Laddie." Gimli spoke to his Elven friend once he had caught up. He remembered Aragorn's words from what it felt like years ago but was actually only fifteen days, since he had told them about this power Legolas and the others stars had.
"When morning comes, the star who owns that time, is much stronger." Aragorn explained "Those who are around the Prince during this time will suddenly feel light and will also feel stronger. Sometimes the light will be a barrier and protect those in battle."
Legolas smiled "I thank you, friend Gimli." Both ran and caught up with Aragorn he was knelt at the bottom of another hill, checking the ground for Uruk-hai tracks. The Elf and Dwarf stood next to their friend and waited for him to speak about the next path they take.
"There are different sets of tracks here." The ranger placed a hand apon the ground and smoothed out the land before him. "Look." He pointed to a small track that was near a much bigger and heavier one "That is no Hobbit track. I noticed this a while back but I assumed they had let the Hobbits run the rest of the way but I was wrong."
Gimli knelt next to him and faced him, he gulped as he was afraid of the answer his was about to receive when he spoke one word. "Orcs?"
Aragorn nodded sadly and his eyes showing fear. He knew these Orcs could only come from one being, the dark Lord himself for the Moria Orcs would not dare venture out this far. The ranger faced his Elven friend and saw Legolas looking away from them. He seemed...Distracted by something in the distance. It could either mean something good or something bad was about to happen.
"Aragorn..." Legolas turned and faced the future King of Gondor "Riders approach."
The ranger got up and signalled both beings to follow him. The Man, Dwarf and Elf ran and hid behind a rock that blocked the view from any being on the other side of it.
The three hunters felt the ground shake slightly underneath them as the riders, that the Prince had seen, got closer. The three of them waited nervously for the riders to pass and a few minutes of waiting with their breaths held, they quickly turned and watched as about twenty five horsemen rode past.
Aragorn looked at his friends and he smiled, hope within his eyes as he got up and walked out from behind the rock, shouting to get the riders attention "Riders of Rohan...What news from the mark?" The ranger watched as the lead rider held his hand into the air and signalled his riders to turn back around.
Legolas walked over to his ranger friend, along with Gimli and stood beside him. The Prince's deep sea blue eyes watched each rider as they rode towards them. He smiled slightly when he heard Gimli growl.
"Urm...You don't suppose they will notice the slight glow we give off, do ya' Laddie?" Gimli whispered as he looked at his glowing hands.
Aragorn turned to face Legolas and watched as he slowly shut his eyes. He raised his hands and watched as the glow faded but did not fade completly. The ranger faced the Dwarf and smiled as Gimli's mouth open in amazement. He turned and focused on the riders as they got closer.
To much of their surprise, the riders then split in half, circling the three hunters. When each rider seemed to be in place, they all raised their spears and move towards them, making little space for them to escape.
Aragorn raised his hands up to wordlessly say "We mean you no harm." None of the riders cared for his gesture and kept their spears aimed at all the vital points in the body.
When all went silent except for the small sounds of metal clanking against metal, a rider burst through the circle and spoke with high authority as he questioned "What business does an Elf, a Man and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark?" When none of the three answered the Man raised his voice "Speak quickly!"
Gimli placed both hands on his axe and leaned on it "Give me your name horse-master, and I shall give you mine."
Aragorn rolled his eyes as he saw the rider narrow his own angrily at the Dwarf and dismounted his stead. "Gimli, don't be cocky." He whispered as the Man walked towards him.
"I would cut of your head...Dwarf..." He spat the word as if it was a curse itself "...If it stood but a little higher from the ground."
Quicker then any of the riders eyes could see, Legolas pulled and arrow from his quiver and raised his bow, pointing it directly in-between the Man's eyes. "You would die before your stroke fell."
The riders around them raised their spears higher but this time they pointed them directly at the Elf for now he seemed to be the main threat.
Aragorn placed a hand apon the Prince's forearm. Legolas furrowed his brow but then released the arrow and placed it back within its quiver, lowering the bow as he did so. His gaze never left that of the riders.
"My name is Aragorn, son of Arathorn." This caught the riders attention "This is Gimli, son of Gloín and Legolas, son of King Thranduil."
The Man raised his eye brows at Legolas who still glared at him. He chuckled lightly and turned to face his riders "Here, I stand next to the lost King of Gondor and Arnor, next to him stands a Dwarf who's father fought in the battles of five army's along with the Dwarven Prince, Thorin Oakenshield and finally an Elven Prince...And one of the Stars of Middle-earth." The Man bowed and signalled his followers to remove their spears. "I am Éomer, son of Éomund, nephew to King Théoden. Why are you here within our lands?"
"We track a party of Uruk-hai westward through the plain. They have taken two of our friends captive." Aragorn explained
"The Uruks are destroyed. We slaughtered then during the night." Éomer was about to speak once more but was interrupted when Gimli spoke quickly.
"But there were two Hobbits. Did you see two Hobbit's with them?"
When Éomer was about to speak again, Aragorn interrupted "They would be small. Only children to your..."
"Aragorn..." Legolas this time interrupted and shook his head at both Dwarf and Man "...Let him speak. You children never know when another person wishes to continue."
Éomer looked confused and looked around "I see no children here." When he spoke this line it made Gimli burst out onto fits of laughter. "What's funny?" He asked.
"He's talking about us!" Gimli cried as he wiped a tear from his eye.
Éomer faced Aragorn for answer and saw the future King smiling. "Have you forgotten, Éomer, son of Éomund, that Elves are much older than us?"
The rider faced the Elf and narrowed his eyes "He looks but a few years younger then me."
"I am far older than I look." Legolas glared at Gimli this time as the Dwarf continued to laugh.
"How old are you then?" Eyes still narrowed, Éomer watched as the Elf then glared at him once more "If you don't mind me asking."
Legolas sighed "I am 21 in mortal years. I am actually 2,892." He looked at Aragorn in annoyance as he heard the riders around him gasp. He quickly began changing the subject as he felt all eyes on him. He hated being the centre of attention...Aragorn knew that."About our friends?"
Gimli stopped his laughter and listened to what the rider had to say.
"We did see your small friends and they have now been put under the care of Treebeard, who is within Fangorn forest." He saw the hope and relief within the three hunters eyes "As for the Uruks, we pilled the carcasses and burned them. Your friends are waiting for you somewhere within there." He whistled and called "Hasufel! Arod!"
Two large horses, one brown and the other white, came into the circle where the three hunters stood with the Leader of the Rohirrim "May these horses bear you better fortune than their former masters." Éomer nodded once at Aragorn "Farewell and good luck finding your friends."
The rider then mounted his horse and signaled for the rest to move out.
"We ride back to Edoras!"
I am getting slower at writing these chapters! Not at updating but at writing. I began this at 5:00 (UK timing) and have now finished at 00:34 Wahhh! :'(
Things you need to know?
1. Tree-herders - They do indeed protect the forest.
I think that's it :)
Reviews;
Jasperslittlesister; Thank you! I hope you like the rest :D
ElrondofImladris; ahaha you haven't! ;) No need to apologize :) I make everything serious :L Because Pippin and Merry are good friend's as well as cousins. It's just his way of saying Hello :) It's like if you have a sister of brother you call them names but it doesn't mean anything :D :L
BrightWatcher; Even though it was 2 days ago...HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU MELLON-NIN! ;D ahaha It always is :L Thank you and I liked that also :D I just love the little things so much xD
NIghtRunner144; Thank you :) Is that a good thing? ;) Aww thank you again :3
LotrNienna; Thank you! :D
Exotic Nightmare; I hope you do! :')
Dani Hiwatari; Ahh it's going to be crazy! And I think the chapters may be longer AND my writers block is going to happen so many times D: ahaha! Thank you! :D
Arwen. Elf16; I love intenseness ;) I love that bit too! xD ahaha! Gimli is a legend XD
Why. So. Seriouse96; I obviously knew that ;) Thank you mellon-nin! :') That was also my favourite bit XD Needed to add a little humour in there ;)
Faramir; Is it nearly my turn? :3
No.
Faramir; Am I in the next chapter? :3
No.
Faramir *Pouts* Then, when am I in it?
Never, if you keep coming out the closet.
Namarië!