A/N: I own nothing.
***Chapter 16***
**Saffy's POV**
Three days, we had been carried tossed over the shoulders of the Uruk-hai who stole us away from our friends. The few moments that Deirdre had seemed conscious over the past few days were not helping my confidence in the situation. Plus the fact that the Uruks had been too stupid to remove the arrow, which still protruded from her shoulder. The occasional groan broke out from her mostly unconscious form.
Glancing over behind me a little, I could see Pippin and Merry being carried with their arms wrapped around the necks of the Uruks. I was beginning to get a little envious of their position. At least they could see what was happening ahead of them. As for me, I was tossed over the shoulder of the Uruk like a sack of potatoes. Each jarring step that the Uruks took sent pain singing through my abdomen with the tough armor beneath me.
"Merry, Merry." Pippin called over softly, trying to rouse his unconscious friend.
Overall, Pippin wasn't in as bad of shape as Deirdre, but he still wasn't looking too hot. When he had been grabbed, he had been knocked over the back of the head like all of us. But it looked like his attacker had struck him too hard, as he had been barely traveling between sleep and consciousness.
The remains of the Uruk-hai army halted for a moment, causing a little relief in the pain in my stomach. Though, my moment of relief is ended when from behind some of the rocks that litter the part of the plains that we are in, a group of Orcs approaches us.
"You're late." The lead orc grumbled. "Our master grows impatient; he wants the Shire-rats and the wenches."
"I don't take orders from Orc-maggots. Saruman will have his prize. We will deliver them." The temporary leader of the Uruk-hai growled out at them.
"Merry! Merry? Wake up!" Pippin pleads, his worry leaking into his tone. "My friend, he's sick. He needs water."
The Uruk-hai laugh at Pippin's pleas. The leader of the Uruks smiles evilly as he looks at the frightened Pippin and the unconscious Merry.
"Sick, is he? Give him some medicine, boys." The leader declares.
Laughing ensues among the creatures, as one grabs the skin and begins pouring the black liquid into Merry's lolled open mouth. The raucous laughter continues, as the now rousing Merry chokes upon the black liquid.
"Stop it." Pippin calls out worriedly.
"Can't take his draught?" Laughs one of the Uruk-hai, causing the others to pick up their laughter once more.
"Leave him alone." Pippin tries once more to stop the cruel Uruks.
"Why? You want some?" The leader calls, causing Pippin to shake his head vigourously. "Then keep your mouth shut."
Once the Uruk-hai stop paying such close attention to Pippin, he looks over to Merry again.
"Merry?" he questions.
"Hello, Pip." Merry said weakly.
"You're hurt." Pippin returned. Their relationship really reminded me of Saffy and me, constantly worrying over one another.
I'm fine." He said, his mouth still working weakly from the disuse. "It was just an act."
"An act?" Pippin questioned, worry seeping into his tone once more.
"See? I fooled you too." Merry gave an attempt at a reassuring smile, then sobered up. "Don't worry about me, Pip."
"How are you holding up, Saffron?" Merry questioned, looking forward to me.
"I'll live." I winced out, the occasional pain still coming from my stomach, as well as the fact that my head was pounding.
"And Deirdre?" he asked.
I tried to give a reassuring smile, along with a shake of my head. I wasn't entirely sure how she was doing, but it wasn't too well. A grim look came over both their faces, along with determination. They didn't want to die here, and were definitely afraid that that would be all our fates.
"What is it? What do you smell?" One of the lead Uruks asked the uruk, who was sniffing around.
"Man-flesh." He grunted out.
"Aragorn." Pippin said quietly.
Glancing over at him quickly, I see that he is working at his cloak-clasp with his teeth. When he successfully has ripped it off the cloak, he spits it out from his mouth. A booted foot crashed down upon where the leaf fell to, as the Uruks picked up their pace. My stomach ached even more, as they continue to run across the plains.
"Let's move." A harsh voice, grunted out.
Deciding that maybe it would be best to rest for now, save my energy for when it was truly necessary, I fell into unconsciousness.
**Deirdre's POV**
My eyes fluttered open, for the first time in what felt like forever. My mouth was incredibly dry, and I felt the pain in my head and shoulder making them known. I tried to work up the saliva into my mouth, but it only resulted in a coughing fit.
Darkness was prevalent as I was dropped onto my back roughly onto the ground. I grunt at the pain, but I try to focus on the lesser pain of my head and back than my shoulder. A gasp escapes my mouth, but I try to suppress the rest of the pain.
"We're not going no further… 'til we have a bit of a breather." One of the uruks grunted out, breathing harshly.
"Get a fire going." The leader ordered, causing a flurry of motion.
Several Orcs and Uruks walked amongst the fringe of the treeline and began cutting down some of the trees. I winced when I heard the groaning of the trees. It was much louder with these trees than it was at home, I had learned that when a tree is cut down, it emits a high-pitched squeal, similar to a scream. So not only did the trees at home feel pain, but these trees which were brought to life by the elves were now suffering as the sharp weapons sliced into their bark.
Pippin, Merry, and Saffy all crawled over to me, their hands all bound. I rolled my head over to them, trying to give a reassuring smile.
"Are you alright?" Saffy asked me.
"Right as rain." I told her, sarcasm heavy in my voice.
It was obviously a lie, but I wasn't going to tell them how much I hurt. I was sore throughout my entire body, probably from being carried without moving for the past few days, as well as the piercing pain in my shoulder that radiated out every few seconds with the pumping of my blood. I glanced over at my aching shoulder, aw fuck, I thought as I saw the black arrow that still lay embedded into my bone.
"Merry, Merry." Pippin said to his mostly conscious friend.
"I think we may have made a mistake leaving the shire, Pip." He replied.
The groaning of the trees continues on, the sound of the trees in pain is almost unbearable. It has always been in my nature to love the woods and pretty much anything natural, and hearing the sounds so tangible caused some physical pain to me.
"What's making that noise?" Pippin asked.
"It's the trees." Merry told him, glancing up at the trees above us.
"What?" Pippin asked him.
"You remember the Old Forest on the borders of Buckland? Folk used to say there was something in the water that made the trees grow tall… and come alive." Merry explained to him.
"Alive?" Pippin just about squeaked.
"Trees that could whisper… talk to each other… even move." Merry told him, obviously Merry was the intelligent one between the two.
I grunted once more in pain, at the rate I was going with what was sure to be an infected wound, I would be lucky to survive in the care of the Rohirrim. Suddenly, an idea struck me. What Lady Galadriel had said about following my insticts and doing what I thought was right, rang through my mind. With any luck, I thought, they would forgive me by the end. If I was there to be forgiven.
"Merry, Pippin. When you get the chance, run into the trees. Fangorn is going to be the safest place for you two." I told them, biting back the pain.
Both of them looked over to me, confused as to what I was saying, why I was saying it now. I ignored their confused looks.
"Saffy, if you can. Hide in the bushes, tell the others that you are all safe. Go with the Rohirrim, if it comes to it." I told her, laying out what I had to.
"Di, you are going to be here too." She said, insistently.
"I love you." I told her, ignoring her comment. Then I looked over to the hobbits. "And I love you both as well. Take care of yourselves."
A small part of my brain told me that I was making my farewells, my spontaneous proclamations of love. But I knew that it was something that I had to do.
"Deirdre, what is going on?" Saffy asked me, dead serious.
"Saffy, you know that I love you. And I wouldn't ask you this if I had any choice." I told her, swallowing the lump in my throat. "If I don't see you again, please, don't let Legolas fade. Take care of everyone, they are going to need you."
"Tell me what the fuck is going on." She ordered. Saffy didn't cuss like I did, and when she did, she was serious.
"Saffy, please trust me." I practically begged her, the pain finally getting to me. "With any luck, I will see you at Isenguard."
Her eyes widened, her mouth setting into a frown. She instantly grabbed onto my shoulder, although it was the one that wasn't injured, I still winced.
"Tell me what you are going to do, Deirdre." She ordered.
"I'm going to take care of things." Was my only response.
I rolled so that I was entirely facing her, ignoring the pain that shot through my shoulder as I did this. I kissed both her cheeks and her forehead, then smiled at her. I dragged myself over to Merry and Pippin, who were still looking incredibly confused. I placed a kiss on both of their foreheads.
"Take care of yourselves. I promise, if I can, I will explain everything later." I reassured them.
I grunted in pain for a moment, then hauled myself to my feet. The pain shooting through my body was incredibly, causing my sight to blur for a few moments. They looked at me worriedly, but I simply waved off their concern. I turned to face the orcs and was met with several beady glares aimed at me.
I set my face in an angry expression, my jaw set harshly. It seemed for almost a second that the Uruks and Orcs were uncomfortable with my presence and facial expression.
"Who is in charge here?" I demanded, my voice coming out as a harsh command.
"That would be me." An even rougher voice than mine said, as the leader of the Uruks came to stand in front of me.
He towered over me, but I stood my ground as I glared up at him. He sneered at my attitude, breathing a foul wind down upon me. He smelled like death and decay. My stance was set as I stood next to him. Standing face to face with people who were much taller than me was not new to me.
"You will take me to Isenguard now." I ordered him.
"Why would I listen to an insignificant whore like you?" he snarled.
"Because, you morons were too stupid to fix my wound. If I die, your master will wear your guts for garters. Or did you forget that you were sent with specific instructions to bring us back, alive and unspoiled." I sneered back at him.
"Then you can wait like your friends." He told me, about to turn away.
"So when I die from an infected arrow wound, you are going to tell Saruman that you denied a willing hostage to be taken to Isenguard sooner?" I asked him harshly, I was getting used to arguing with the Uruk now, talking in a harsh manner.
"I would kill you myself if it would stop your complaining." He yelled at me.
"Well, doesn't it suck for it not to be within your power then. Send me on to Isenguard with a few Uruks as guards, and you will be spared my complaints." I snarled at him.
He contemplated this for a moment, probably thinking that there would be punishment for not all the hostages being carried there at the same time. Or punishment for allowing his troops to take a breather instead of racing on to Isenguard as ordered.
"Very well." The Uruk said, then motioned for two Uruks to come over. "You two will take the wench to Isenguard."
They grunted in annoyance that their breaks were being cut short, but knew better than to question orders.
"Deirdre, what are you doing?" Saffy's voice came out shocked.
I turned back to look at her, beginning to arrange my face and attitude to what would be necessary to survive my time at Isenguard. A emotionless expression upon my face, I regarded her and the hobbits as though they were insignificant.
"I'm making the right choice." I told her harshly. But internally my voice was pleading with her to understand, though I knew that it was not likely.
I was quickly hauled onto the shoulders of one of the Uruks, who was meant to be my guard. They took off running before I had the chance to give one last reassuring glance at my friends. Though I knew that it would have begun to chip away at the tough façade I was going to have to build up, I couldn't help but feel remorse for leaving them in such a way.
**Saffy's POV**
I couldn't believe it. My best friend had just given up her best chance at freedom and willingly gone ahead to Isenguard, knowing that she would have been rescued soon. That she would have been reunited with Legolas, telling him that she was fine in person. What was she thinking?, I thought, leaving that task to me, when she could have been doing it herself.
I watched as she was carried off to Isenguard with her two Uruk guard, it would be a miracle, if she wasn't attacked by the Rohirrim. Or assaulted by her "guards". Shock took over me, how could she do this? How could she leave me here?
My train of thoughts consisting of despair was cut off, as the words of the grumpy Uruk-hai reached my ears.
"I'm starving." One grumbled. "We ain't had nothing but maggoty bread for three stinking days."
"Yeah?" The slimy voice of another rang out. "Why can't we have some meat? They're fresh."
All eyes went over to us, it probably wasn't helping our case that Saruman was already going to be given one of his "prizes". I was getting a little worried about what our worth was exactly to these Uruks, other than the fear of punishment from Saruman, we weren't worth much.
"They are not for eating." The lead Uruk said, the same one that had argued with DiDi.
"What about their legs? They don't need those." Another slimy orc said, he began slowly approaching us with a ravenous look in his eyes. "Oh, they look tasty."
The leader stepped in, shoving the orc away from us. He had moved to stand before us in a protective manner, it was good to know that he at least wanted to follow orders.
"Get back, scum." He growled at the Orc. "The prisoners go to Saruman. Alive and unspoiled."
The Orc looked intrigued now, peering at us with wide curious eyes. He tilted his head, as his mouth opened a little. Overall, the sight was incredibly disgusting.
"Alive?" he questioned. "Why alive? Do they give good sport?"
"They have something. An elvish weapon. The master wants it for the war." The leader explained to him, still standing before us.
"They think we have the Ring." Pippin whispered, making it once again obvious he was not the brains of their friendship.
"Ssh! As soon as they find out we don't, we're dead." Merry told him.
"Just a mouthful…" a sickening voice said from right behind us, making me turn around to face the Orc with his raised blade. "A little off the flank."
The leader of the Uruks turned at his voice, anger radiating off him. As revolting as he was, he was currently saving us. Suddenly, I was pressed down, the sound of a blade cutting through flesh, made bile rise in my throat. As I was bent down, I didn't see what happened next. But I could definitely feel the head that rolled down over me, spurting blood onto me. The rank smell filled my nose, making me slam my hand over my nose and mouth to block it out of my nostrils.
"Looks like meat's back on the menu, boys." The leader announced.
I grabbed Merry and Pippin, pulling them away from the cannibalism that was currently commencing as the sounds of bites being taken was heard. The Orcs helped push us backwards, as we hit the ground, so that they could eat the corpse of the Orc.
"Let's go." Merry said, as we began to crawl away from the mass of Orcs and Uruks scrabbling about for their mouthful.
Suddenly, Pippin is stopped. Pausing in our escape crawl to look back at what was stopping Pippin. Only to see the Orc from earlier, who was debating for our deaths, with his sword drawn and aimed at Pippin.
"Go on. Call for help." He sneered down at Pippin. "Squeal. No one's going to save you now."
The Orc raises his blade, aiming to strike Pippin down. Just when the blow is about to be delivered, his eyes get wide. After a moment, I see that there is a spear now sticking out of his back. There is mass confusion, as the Rohirrim launch an attack on the Uruk-hai camp. There are screams sounding throughout the area, and with no weapons, a fight isn't the best place to be. I shove the hobbits onwards, towards the trees.
There is a fallen axe on the ground, which Merry quickly begins cutting the ropes around his wrists. Then once completed, he moves the axe and saws through Pippin's bonds. When it is finally my turn, I slice through the bonds, then grab the axe as a weapon. Sure, I had never used an axe before, but it was better than nothing.
"You two, go. Go into the forest, it's going to be the safest place for you." I told them.
"What about you?" Merry asked me, pausing before he was going to follow my instructions.
The hobbits began running for the forest, while I began trying to find my own route. I guess since I was light-haired, I didn't have to worry as much about getting hurt by the Rohirrim. They must have just thought I was a rider of Rohan who had lost their horse. I sliced the axe through an orc in my journey to the bushes, having to dodge another blow. The axe was definitely heavier than the swords that I was used to, so my movements were significantly slowed. I fought my way through the commotion, finally reaching my destination of the tree line. There were still Orcs and Uruks who were coming after me, but now when they stopped coming I could have a relatively safe place to hide.
I continued to cut down every Orc and Uruk that attacked me, there was a pile in front of me of about five or ten, when finally the sounds of the skirmish halted. The sound of horses neighing and stomping their feet continued, as well as the sound of dismounting soldiers. I glanced out from my hiding place, seeing that the Rohirrim were searching for survivors and beginning to pile the carcasses of the dead Orcs.
I leaned back against the tree that I stood next to, taking a moment to catch my breath. Hopefully, Merry and Pippin had found Treebeard by now. Maybe even Deirdre was already safe, but I couldn't count to heavily on that, merely hope.
"Lord Eomer!" A male voice shouted. "There seems to be a young woman here."
I opened my eyes, which I must have shut to block out the movement of the soldiers. Standing before me, was a relatively young man with his sword drawn. I swallowed, hoping that just maybe I wouldn't be injured by the riders of Rohan.
A second man came to stand beside the first; he had a horse hair plume coming from his helmet. He lowered his blade, sheathing it at his side. Then he removed his helmet. This must have been Eomer, as he extended his hand to have me come out into the open.
"Are you alright?" he asked me.
I took his hand and nodded. It was still night, but there was plenty of light from the beginnings of the bonfire of Orc corpses.
"Yeah, I think I am." I told him, though it was more to myself than to him.
**Deirdre's POV**
The sun was rising as we arrived at Isenguard. By now, Saffy would be safe and away from her captors. Pippin and Merry would be in the Fangorn, hopefully having met up with Treebeard. Legolas, Gimli, and Aragorn would be racing to save us, fear-filled that they would be too late. And by now, Frodo and Sam would have Gollum as their guide. But me, I was nearing a place that I feared, with an arrow still embedded in my shoulder. I was going to have to lie my ass off in order to survive this.
I was led into the base of the tower of Orthanc, I kept my head held high. If I was going to manage this, then no weakness could be shown. Saruman swept into the room that I was standing in, rage billowing out from him.
"Where are the others?" he demanded of the Uruks.
"We brought this one ahead under the orders of Ugluk. She was injured when we took her." One of the Uruks said, trying to avoid Saruman's wrath.
"I told them to bring me here ahead of the others." I told him, my gaze not wavering even though pain was shooting through my shoulder.
"And why would you do that?" Saruman asked. He definitely was intimidating in person.
"I would think that was obvious, Saruman." I told him, a smirk coming on my face. "I want to help you."
He paused for a moment, obviously shocked with what I was saying, which I really couldn't blame him for.
"You want to help me?" he questioned, although he was shocked there was still power in his tone.
"Of course." I said, smiling slightly. "What could I gain from being on the losing side? Which is why, I want to help you."
"You know the future, do you not?" he enquired, obviously the enemy knew more about Saffy and I then most of the Fellowship did, not a comforting notion.
"Is that not why you told your Uruks to bring me to you?" I returned, my brow arching slightly.
"It is." He said, looking down his nose at me in, as though examining me. "You are saying that we are going to win this war?"
"Was there ever any doubt?" I questioned, I figured the best way to survive this one was going to be a little ego stroking. "Who could stand against the power of both Isenguard and Mordor?"
One corner of his mouth lifted in a skewed smile, fitting the evil man who wore the smile. Apparently, he hadn't taken too much convincing to accept my aid. Though I was sure, if it came down to it, Sauron would take more.
"Tell me, if you wanted to join this side. Why did you travel with those fools?" he questioned, he really did have a massive ego.
"I landed in Imladris. The only way that I was going to get out from the ever watchful eyes of Elrond was to travel with the fellowship. Besides, it landed me quite nicely at your door, if I do say so myself." I told him, looking quite proud of myself. "Now that we have settled that. Would you mind dealing with the arrow that your moronic soldiers put in my shoulder and have left there for the last three days."
His smile faded a little, but he nodded his head. Obviously, he was glad that I was working for him, but maybe I should be a little nicer to him. Considering my life was currently in his hands, though that didn't mean that I had to help him in the right ways.
"Come this way." He ordered, walking back up the stairs to his study.
I followed him, not looking back at the Uruks, who I had left in the base room of the tower. My body panged with agony as I ascended the stairs. He motioned for me to take a seat by a table at the top level of Orthanc. He brought over a bowl of water and a cloth, giving them to me. Obviously not planning on taking care of my injury.
"You are going to start telling me everything you know. And how exactly you are going to help me. Otherwise, you will be finding your end on the end of my Uruks spears." He threatened, as I reached up to my shoulder.
I pulled the arrow from my shoulder, dropping it on the table and dipped the cloth in the water. Then I glanced back at him, a twisted smile on my face.
"Of course, Lord Sauron." I told him, causing an equally twisted smile to appear on his face.
***End Chapter 16***
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