Chapter Five – Belle's Plan

PRESENT DAY

Belle waited quietly by the flaps of the tent. The damp grass was soaking through her dress as she sat. She wanted to lean forward and rest her chin on her knees, but knew that if she did, she would surely slip into sleep. Over the course of the past four months, Belle had slept very little at night, if at all. Both she and Morwen had become protectors of the she-elves that had been taken prisoner with them, though all of the she-elves took part in the plan which Belle had formulated not long after they had begun their journey to Saruman.

Belle had created a plan that would help the she-elves, as well as use the rules that Throduk had made to her advantage. Every four to six nights, Belle and the other she-elves would help one of them escape. At first, the plan had been carried out slightly sloppily. But, after many weeks, the she-elves performed it flawlessly.

The flaps opened, and Anna entered the tent. She sat down next to Belle. Neither of them spoke, nor moved, for many minutes. Then, Belle peered out of the flaps and into the night. The orc that had been standing guard outside their tent had moved far enough away from it. She closed the flaps.

"How much is there?" Belle asked, taking the canteen that Anna was holding out to her. She unscrewed the lid.

"I found a dead bird in the woods. I was also able to kill a squirrel." Anna answered.

Belle looked inside of the canteen at the blood and innards inside. There was enough to simulate the murder of one she-elf. They had drawn names, and Vanya would be the lucky she-elf who would be escaping that night. She was sleeping, for she would have to remain awake for the rest of the night when she escaped.

"You did well Anna. Go to sleep. I will take care of the rest." Belle ran her hand down the length of Anna's arm before she screwed the lid back on the canteen. She watched as Anna crawled to where Vanya and Morwen slept. She curled up with them.

After a few moments, Belle got up. She stepped out of the tent.

"I have to go to the bathroom." She told the orc standing guard.

"You have just as long as the other one. Do not make me come look for you." The orc warned her, holding his sword out for Belle to see.

She turned and went into the woods. She had to move quickly, but she couldn't move too quickly. If she, or any of the others, made a mistake, it would cost them their lives.

Belle had developed a new personality since being taken. It was the character of a survivor. She had learned most of the skills that she used, and passed on, from Legolas. She taught the she-elves how to catch and snap the necks of animals after having seen Legolas do so against dangerous animals. She had also learned how to drain the blood of the animals and collect the innards from Legolas.

She still felt a painful throb in her chest when she thought about Legolas. She had learned from listening to the talk amongst the orcs that a group of them had taken Legolas hostage to learn the whereabouts of treasures and to learn the secrets and valuable information of the other elves. Belle knew that Legolas had only made the bargain to save her life, and the lives of the she-elves and elflings, but that he would never truly give up any knowledge he had. She had a horrible feeling that the orcs had killed Legolas, though there was a small hope inside of her that he was still alive.

Belle came to a point in the woods that she felt comfortable with. It was far enough that she could do what she needed to in secret, but close enough that it would be easy to find. She unscrewed the lid of the canteen that Anna had given her. Then, she poured out its contents onto the ground. Anna had done just as she had been told, she had taken the intestines of both animals she had killed, as well as drained them of their blood. Belle used her hands to spread the blood around the ground, spreading some of it against the bark of a tree. She then used a rock to obliterate the intestines before spreading them like she had the blood. She left some of the pieces intact, and scattered them around the thin pool.

After she was satisfied with it, Belle reached into her dress pocket. She pulled out the section of hair that she had cut from Vanya's head earlier that night. Belle sprinkled it around the mess she had made, and stuck some upon the tree. Her work was almost done.

Belle returned to the tent to finish the job. She walked towards the orc, and then, when she was close enough, she feigned a fall. Her bloodied hands grasped the front of the orc's dirty tunic. Quickly, she ran her hands carefully along his back before the orc ripped her off of him.

"Watch where you are going!" He hissed.

"Sorry." Belle mumbled.

She returned to the tent, where she waited near the flaps once more, for enough time to pass before she could sneak Vanya out.

The next morning, after Throduk's headcount of the remaining she-elves, he decapitated the orc who had been standing guard when he noticed his bloody tunic and found the mess of blood and organs in the woods. While the other orcs devoured the dead orc, Throduk finished his inspection to insure that no other rules had been broken. It was only then that the orcs moved on.

By the time the orcs had nearly reached Saruman, Belle and Morwen had helped almost half of the she-elves escape. Throduk decided that, instead of going to Saruman with the remaining she-elves, he and the orcs would roam Middle-Earth in search of something else of great value to bring to Saruman as well. Ever since then, they had been journeying.

In four days, Belle and Morwen would help Anna escape. What Morwen didn't know, was that Belle had every intention of getting her out of there along with Anna. Belle knew that Throduk's patience was wearing thinner and thinner as more she-elves were 'killed'. Morwen held no value to Throduk. He would have no problem with killing her if he were to discover the plan, or if he grew angry enough. Belle knew that Throduk would try to squeeze information out of her, or even hold her for ransom, if she were left last.

As Belle rode upon the back of an orc, her thoughts drifted to where they usually always did – Legolas. She closed her eyes and tried to think of him as he was in her memories. She didn't want to imagine him in captivity, or tortured, or dead. As her chest throbbed, Belle thought back on the night before the attack on Mirkwood…

Belle turned to look at herself in the mirror hanging on the inside of Legolas' bureau. She had finally been able to try on the wedding dress that Morwen had made especially for her. The material across the bust, at the shoulders, and the sleeves was thin and cream colored. The sleeves fell nearly to the floor. Two cream colored ribbons crisscrossed the bodice, reached around the back of the dress, and tied in the front at the waist. The rest of the dress was made from slightly thicker, pale gold material. It was a very elegant and beautiful dress.

Belle slowly turned in circles several times to look herself over in the dress. She had collected her long hair and put it into a bun at the back of her head. It had taken handfuls of pins to keep it there, due to both its length and thickness. Without it covering her, she could get the full effect of what the dress looked like on her. She was beyond happy with the outcome of it, and had thanked Morwen countless times for all of the effort and time she had put into it. But, Belle didn't feel right in it. She had grown up in a simple household, with simple parents, who led a simple lifestyle. Although even the finest things in Mirkwood were considered, to other kingdoms, average and unimpressive, it was overwhelming to Belle.

She had been so wrapped up in studying the image of herself in the mirror that she hadn't heard Legolas approaching. However, when she looked away from the mirror, she saw him standing in the front of the closed door.

"Legolas…you aren't supposed to see me in this dress until our wedding day." Belle whispered, unable to find any other words to say to him. She could feel a flush beginning on her face when Legolas continued to stare at her. "But since you have…say something."

"What is there to say?" Legolas answered amidst the rush of air that escaped his lungs. His eyes ran over Belle in her wedding dress. He was overcome by the wonderful realization that he was to be married to the love of his life in a short time, and also stunned by how completely breathtaking Belle looked.

"Do you like it?" Belle asked shyly, spinning for him.

Legolas went to where she stood. His hands went to her waist while his head dipped to her neck. He kissed her neck once, but his lips lingered against her skin for many moments. He inhaled her lavender scent before pulling his face from her neck. Though he wanted to conjure up the most poetic way to tell Belle how beautiful she looked, he knew that there were no adequate words that would have done her justice.

"Aye. I like it very much." He answered her throatily.

Belle realized, as her eyes fluttered open, that she had actually fallen asleep on the back of the orc. She sat up and looked around. She was lying on the grass near Morwen and Anne. Anne was sitting beside Morwen, who was curled up in a ball.

"What is wrong? Morwen?" Belle crawled closer to them.

"A fever is starting." Anne ran her hand over Morwen's forehead.

"Morwen." Belle breathed, putting her own hand to her forehead. Her skin was warm and slightly damp. The illness must have been building for weeks, for elves didn't get sick easily or stay sick for very long. But, after the harsh conditions of their constant traveling, Belle wasn't surprised that Morwen was ill.

Belle turned and saw two orcs pitching the tent that the she-elves slept in. She turned back to Anne as she slipped out of the ratty cloak that Throduk had given to her.

"When the tent is pitched, get Morwen inside of it. Cover her with her cloak, as well as mine." Belle handed over her cloak as she got to her feet. "I will return shortly."

Belle went to where she could see the bonfire. Most of the orcs were collected around it, ripping and tearing at whatever they were eating that night. Belle went right up to Throduk, who was sitting close to the fire. She stopped in front of him.

"Grog is bringing you your rations." Throduk dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

"Portion whatever you have for us tonight into two helpings. I will not be eating." Belle ignored Throduk's dismissal.

"Are you trying to starve yourself, girl?" Throduk asked, pulling his dagger from its sheath. "You are no good to me dead."

"No I am not." Belle answered shortly. She didn't want to admit that the reason she was giving up her meal was because Morwen was ill. She didn't want to risk Morwen's life.

After Throduk had looked Belle over for a moment, he nodded towards one of the orcs sitting closest to him. The orc got up and went to the bucket near the fire. He lifted it and went to Belle, thrusting it into her arms. She looked inside. There was a third of thin broth sloshing around inside of it. It would barely feed Anne or Morwen, and yet, it was supposed to feed both of them.

Belle returned to where the tent had finally been pitched. She went inside and found Anne sitting with Morwen, who was covered in three cloaks. Anne had taken hers off as well. Morwen's head was in Anne's lap.

"I have brought dinner for the two of you." Belle sat down with them. She handed the bucket to Anne. "You two can take turns sipping the broth. It is thin, and there is very little of it, but it is hot."

"Tip her head back." Anne nodded her head towards Morwen. Belle gently tipped her head back while Anne put the bucket to her lips and poured some down her throat. They fed Morwen broth every few minutes. Belle noticed that Anne had let Morwen have what was left in the bucket.

When the broth was gone, Belle laid down close to Morwen to keep her warm. Anne used her hands to rub Morwen's upper body through the three cloaks to create heat. They both continued to try and keep Morwen as warm as possible for the rest of the night. Though they made a valiant effort, Morwen's fever continued to grow worse. She began to shiver, and her teeth chattered.

Belle knew that she had to help Anne, and especially Morwen, escape. She had to help them escape much sooner than normal, but Morwen's health was failing and there was only so much that Belle and Anne could do for her in the predicament they were in. As Belle watched over Morwen, her dearest friend from Mirkwood, she promised herself to make sure she got away.

Even if it meant getting caught.