Chapter 4
Merry's respite was short lived, with him waking up in alarge room near the base of the tower. Merry felt himself being picked up and shoved roughly into a small container. As Merry gained awareness, he realized he was in an ale barrel, well made and water tight. He commenced struggling again and tried to climb out, but he was held in by one of Saruman's large men. Merry caught a quick glance of Pippin being placed in a similar looking barrel, before the lid of his own barrel was slammed down, forcing his head inside the enclosed space and engulfing him in darkness.
Their was a moment of silence as Saruman appeared to be conferring with someone else in the room with him. He turned back to the group of people at the bottom of the tower, his face triumphant. For a moment, Aragorn was sure he heard someone screaming "Help, Help" but then the voice was gone, carried of in the wind and hastily stopped. Aragorn paused slightly to ponder this. Had it just been his imagination, or had that voice sounded a lot like Merry's
Aragorn's attention was drawn when, quiet suddenly, a window was opened on the second level of the tower. Gandalf and Théoden were engaged with their discussion with Saruman, so he caught Legolas's eye and indicated the open window. Legolas raised his eyebrows, and Gimli muttered a curse under his breath as he saw the open window.
"What the devil is he up to now?"
"Your guess is as good as mine, friend" Legolas whispered, confirming Aragorn's suspicions, no one had a clue as to what Saruman was doing. Apparently Saruman knew what had drawn Aragorn's gaze, as he smirked proudly.
"Your questions will be answered soon. Be sure to pick the right one, as it is a matter of time. Release the barrels!" As he yelled the last sentence, Aragorn had a moment to ponder the wizards meaning, before he understood. Someone, presumably one of Saruman's underlings, began throwing barrels from the window. They fell about 6 feet, before splashing into the waist deep water. Aragorn counted each one as they fell. The count stopped at 40, the barrels floating at the foot of the tower. Then, something clicked in Aragorn's mind, what Saruman had said. 'PICK the RIGHT one, as it was a matter of TIME.' Saruman had been ordered to surrender the hobbits bodies. The mysterious cry for help he had heard earlier, it all fitted together. Realization dawned on Aragorn's face as he urged his horse forwards, towards the barrels.
"Legoalas, Gimli, help me. The hobbits are in there" he cried over his shoulder as he leapt from his horse wrenched the first barrel's lid open. Legolas was at his side in am moment, leaving Gimli perched up on the horse, holding the hobbits possessions gingerly, cradling them as if they were the hobbit's themselves. Gandalf, Théoden, and the other member of their party, Eomer, glanced across at the three hunters, searching for their friends amongst the barrels. Had the situation not been so serious, Gandalf would've laughed, the memory of Bilbo's 'barrel riding' escape from the Elven King fresh in his mind.
Aragorn tossed aside another empty barrel and surveyed the scene. Empty, lidless barrels were left thrown aside, while the ones who had not yet been opened floated in a crowded together group. A small part of Aragorn's mind was telling him the search was fruitless, that the hobbits would've suffocated or drowned before they got to them. Aragorn threw those thoughts aside, much like the empty barrels. They had checked over half of the barrels, and Aragorn glanced at Legolas and their eyes met. They would have to hurry. Aragorn strode forwards and grabbed the next barrel, almost dropping it when in moved. He pried the lid off; grimly noticing the seal was much tighter on this barrel. He wrenched the lid of and peered excitedly into the barrel
A.N. Haha, evil laugh. Cliffy. He he. What's going to happen next? Please review