Un-beta! Again if you want the job PLEASE email me! I really need an Editor for this chapter and the rest of the story. Sorry for the mistakes!


Last Hope of Mankind

Summary: Estel age 11 has been captured by orcs. Why haven't they tortured him yet? Why did they take him to their village and treated his wounds? Was everything that he was taught about orcs since birth been false all this time? Are they any different from elves, humans and any other brings? And why has this orc child keep pulling his hair as if wanting to play with him? What would Estel learn from them that would help him during the War with the Ring and when he is King? Or will he in the end by killed by the family that he only knows by calling him a traitor?


"You must not loose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean;
If a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty"

-Mohandas Gandhi


"Talking"

"Elfish and Black Speech"

"(Translating in either Elfish or Black Speech)"

'thoughts'


Chapter Seventeen

-0-0-0-

Tonight is the day of the Dark Moon, Mokûrz noted as Brura told him in the middle of his chores a few hours later when the orc woman came and woke him up early in the morning. Brura assured him that Kaghed and the rest of those that went into battle will return later in the day, for she has foreseen it.

Brura told him to go company with the other children (1) to help herd the animals that they kept well escaping. Of what he heard as he past through the village, more then half of the herding animals have been lost and few have been sent to look for them. Many fear that the tribe will not last through the winter if the scouts bring nothing. Mokûrz ignored the few that commented that he himself will not last the winter and that they hope that he will not. The Warg pup the same one that Kaghed had given him was only few paces behind him, just like what Kaghed had to told him she would. It felt better knowing that something other then Kaghed that cared for him while others around did not, seeing that the Warg pup was like every other puppy he have seen.

When Mokûrz come upon the children, he saw Proshnak telling them that he is here to help. Of course Proshnak is delighted to see his new friend, as the other children look at him with either disgust, fear or to the younger children curious looks.

Mokûrz eyed the creatures uncertainly when he saw what the herding animals were; they were not creatures that he had ever seen before. They were as large as cows, but fluffy as any sheep that he knew and with two horns like a goat on the top of the head with few add features; two shape looking husks from its mouth with three eyes that were bloodshot red with a touch of pink.

"Hehe, they look funny don't they?" Proshnak said laughing, amused at the human who stare at the beast for long period of time.

"What the are they?" Mokûrz asked him not knowing if the creature will bite him. The children near of them looked at the two with curious looks. Mokûrz ignored them.

"There are called Doldagri (2)." answered Proshnak "They bite."

At this, Mokûrz jumped away from the beast that he been staring at but stopped at the sounds of an orc child laughing at his foolishness.

"That's not funny!" Mokûrz snapped at him. Proshnak kept on laughing.

"Shara (Human)." Mokûrz stopped of what he was doing looking up at the older boy who walked up to the two of them, scolding at their foolishness. The orc boy was twice as tall as him, with dark long hair that reached down to his chest, his eyes dark has night, his teeth like everyone of his kind was yellow and sharp as any carnivore with a snarl of disgust of him. The orc boy was named Hur (3) and even Proshnak coward away from him for it is known through out the tribe that Hur had a short temper.

Mokûrz stood his ground, puffing up his chest at the boy trying to make himself tougher then he really was. "What is that you want?" Mokûrz dared to ask the boy.

"Shara (Human), I am in charge here." snapped the orc, his arm slowly going to his knife that he kept on his belt.

"I am not stupid, for I know this already." Mokûrz given the boy a look an confused innocent look that he often used on his brothers all the time. It always fooled them, with his puppy eye look. Beside him Proshnak looked at Mokûrz with a smile for no one ever talked back at Hur this way before. Mokûrz is his new hero.

Hur's eyes narrowed at him. How dare this human speck of him like this, acting like he is so innocent! Humans are far from innocent. Hur stepped forward almost face to face with Mokûrz whom didn't moved.

"What are you doing here, palay (filth)?"

'Clearly the puppy eye look doesn't work on him.' Mokûrz thought, as he tried a new tactic. "Brura sent me here to help. Well you appose her wishes, while the Warlord is away?" Mokûrz said coldly folding his arms.

Hur stared at him as if looking to see if he was lying. Seeing that the human wasn't he straightened his back, released his hold on his knife, started barking orders at the now surrounded crowd around them and walked off.

It was then that Mokûrz took a breath, for just a moment he thought the Hur was going to kill him.

"That was wicked!" Proshnak said slapping Mokûrz on the back.

"It was foolish . He could've killed me!" Mokûrz said knowing it was true.

"Aye he probably thought about it…" Proshnak said shrugging. Mokûrz looked at the orc child with a look.

-0-0-0-

"They have returned!"

Mokûrz and the rest of the surviving tribe looked up at the announcement. The human's eyes widen as he looked ahead and saw Kaghed upon a Warg followed by a band of orcs also on Wargs trotting towards them and their new makeshift home, coming out from the tree line out from the darkness.

It was obvious that they lost men in the battle. Mokûrz stood alone watching as each of the orcs jumped off the wargs running towards their wives and children; just like the elves that went into battle as they own families did the same. Proshnak and his mother was among them running towards the men. Brura and her two daughters slowly walked pass him, for it is her and her daughters duty to treat the wounded and the sick.

Mokûrz watched as Kaghed pushed someone off of his warg onto the ground roughly, Brura and her daughters not far behind of observing the body. Adrienne and Danica; one at the head as the other at the feet picked up the body with ease followed their mother to their home.

Proshnak and his mother met his brother not far behind from the healers. Where was their father? Kaghed slowly walked up to Proshnak's mother, giving her a blooded sword, as Mokûrz learned it was custom for the Warlord to give back the family a blooded sword that is coated by the fallen member's own blood. It was then that Mokûrz knew that Proshnak's father, Praashnak was killed.

Nakkoc (4) fell onto her knees, wailing towards the sky demanding towards to the Gods why he had to die. Her cries of despair was joined with the rest of the families that they too had lost love ones.

-0-0-0-

Kaghed noted that the human slave was sick shortly after they left the clearing a few hours later of rest. The young boy was hot by the touch; sweat coming from his brow however the boy snuggle against to his chest as if he was freezing. His breath was shallow as if it was hard to breath.

The wound was changed, however Kaghed didn't put anything to keep from the wound from infection, for he didn't have any that would keep the poison he put in his arrows of affecting the slave. Since a young age, each of them came immune to the poison that was common among themselves of using, seeing that their parents given to them in small dosages through out their childhood. Of course many have died, but only the strong lives for those the did are became warriors in their right. Thinking of this, Kaghed should start doing this to Mokûrz after the Ritual, for being immune to the poison will come in handy, even those of Mordor use the same poison.

The slave's life hang in the balance; for only Brura and the hands of the Gods would this slave live or die. If it is the child's fate to live, he will live. If not, then Kaghed would either drop the small corpse off of the warg as they ride leaving it to rot or when they stop again would Kaghed give a worthy burial for a slave; an unmarked one.

They are only hours away from the safe haven that they will call home for the next months or years to come.

50 rode out and only 45 will come home; five of their brothers had died during the battle. The attacks are becoming more and more common; at this rate there will no more warriors to fight within five centuries. This thought tortured Kaghed, why must he watch his people die by the hands of their enemies?

His thoughts were interrupted as they saw light ahead, knowing they were back at last.

-0-0-0-

Kaghed dropped the slave onto the ground, as Brura and her daughters came running to aid the child. Kaghed slightly glance at the scene behind him seeing Brura shaking her head at the sight of the child. Adrienne and Danica picked him up and headed to their home.

It was then that Kaghed noticed Nakkoc and her young son, Proshnak. This was the most painful thing he ever done his as Warlord, giving the blooded swords to the loves ones that died in battle. Slowly he walked up to Nakkoc, the look of knowing went across her face with her shaking hands took the blooded sword from his own hands. Kaghed watch as Nakkoc cradled the sword like a mother to her child, a tear flowing down her face. Proshnak who never was a quick thinker, looked between the two adults back to the sword with a confused look. It was then that Kaghed noted that the only other surviving son who rode out with him in battle had joined the reunion. It was then that Nakkoc couldn't handle the sorrow of loosing her husband, as she fell onto her knees crying out to the Gods in her despair demanding why he had to die, leaving her and their sons. It was then that Kaghed had left the family to their suffering.

Behind him as he left, Nakkoc's cries wasn't the only one that he heard, four more families too had lost one of their love ones. It was then, by his duty that he too given back the other four swords that he had. It was then he turned towards the village and saw his future son.

Mokûrz stood alone in front of him, looking at him with uncertainty written all over his face. Kaghed slowly walked up to him, it was then that Mokûrz embraced him.

"You came back." the human said holding him tight.

"Of course I did. I told you I would didn't I?"

Mokûrz nodded slowly too happy to see the Orc back, he was beginning to think everyone that he cared about was leaving him; first his father that he never knew; then his brothers…. The young human and orc broke the embrace and started walking towards their home, of which Mokûrz thought happily as he told his guardian of how he help make it. Mokûrz picked up the Warg pup into his breast that was still following him as they went.

"Kaghed, who's the boy?" Mokûrz asked him after a while of silence between the two, petting the warg pup not looking at him.

Kaghed sighed. "He will be staying with us, if he lives." he knew his son was raised with elves, who didn't believe in slavery of any kind. Mokûrz would not understand at this time, in time he will. Hopefully Mokûrz will drop the subject until a later time.

"Oh," Kaghed knew that the human was confused. "He's he going to be my new brother?"

Kaghed almost stopped walking, the human is far to curious for his own good. "No." Kaghed said, a wee bit too harshly.

Mokûrz bit his lip. "Is he a prisoner of war?" Mokûrz dared to ask.

Kaghed knew that Mokûrz knew the answer of what to come, it would be foolish to flat out lie to him. "No quite. He is a slave."

At these words, Mokûrz stopped looking at the Warlord with a look of disbelief. "What? A slave?" surely he misunderstood. "But that's wrong and unmoral!"

Kaghed never did like getting yelled at, the last person that ever did was his Uncle. He will not be told what to do by a child, specially by a human and his future son no less.

"Get in the tent." Kaghed hissed, controlling his anger. Mokûrz glared at Kaghed before going into their home. Kaghed locked the tent flap before turning to his son would stood in the middle of their home his arms folded, his face in anguish. The warg pup that was once in Mokûrz's arms was lying on the bed between them on their left. It was as if the she-pup knew that there will be an argument to come and didn't want to be part of it. "Mokûrz, I do not like the thought of slavery either for many Warlords mistreat their own slaves worse then beasts. We torture our prisoners. He will have a better life being a slave. Think of it as a blessing."

"How is that a blessing? Slavery is wrong! Your wrong!"

"Do not yell at me, human." Kaghed's red eyes glowed with anger, his teeth baring at him with snarl.

Mokûrz bit his lip but holding his ground staring at the Warlord. "Its still wrong. Why not let him go?"

"Because if we do that, he will run back his King and they will come and kill us all."

"Why is he injured then? Did you try to kill him?"

The Warlord sighed in frustration. "Someday, Mokûrz you will understand when your older."

Ada always said that 'when you get older' At these words made him angrier. "Of what I understand is that you are a cruel orc! My brothers were right! You are evil!"

"Would it be better for me to kill him?"

That shut up the human. Kaghed closed his eyes. His anger within him was boiling. After the battle he just went though, seeing all the sorrow of those families that he had to witness was now taking a toll on him and adding this fight between wasn't a good mix. "Sit at that corner. Your on a time out." Kaghed growled. Kaghed promised to himself long ago that he will never take out his anger to any child during punishment, like his uncle done to him in the past.

"A time out? What am I five?" Mokûrz snapped at him.

"Your acting like one! Now sit over there or you will regret it!"

Mokûrz stomped all the way at the corner sitting on Kaghed's bed, sitting cross-legged and folding his arms not looking at the orc behind him.

"When I came back, you better have a better attitude."

It was the that Kaghed left. He barked harshly at Ylva to watch over the boy to make sure he won't escape nor get hurt.

-0-0-0-

Kaghed arrived at Brura's tent shortly after. It was uncommon to see Kaghed walk angrily as he arrived through the door, as Brura and her daughters was slightly shaken not knowing what was wrong. None spoke as Kaghed watch as the Witch healers tented to the human boy that laid one of the beds, as Brura covered him with a blanket and then giving him liquids to drink so he would sleep.

"Child drink." Brura said soothing the human just as she done with Mokûrz a month or so ago. Brura patted a wet towel over the boy's head, wiping off the sweat as the boy slowly fell into a uneasy sleep.

"Will he live?" Kaghed asked.

"Know in the morning we will." the orc woman answered not looking at the younger orc. Danica came into the tent carrying a bowl giving it to her mother. "Wrong, what is?"

"Nothing." Kaghed snapped, Brura giving him a look of confusion. "The ritual needs to be done tonight."

"Of course, Warlord. Have everything repaired shortly, I will ." Brura bowed to him, watching as the young Warlord left without a word.

-
0o0o0o0o0o0o
-

Elrond and Elrohir examine the scene before them. Deep within the Forest all around them were corpses of large wolves that lye dead for quiet some time. Each them was clearly slaughtered by someone, a much bigger someone. And each of them wasn't fully intact as much of the bodies were now scattered as scavengers had feast upon the rotting flesh.

"Tell me everything that you remember." Elrond told his son.

Elrohir gulped before he told everything that he witness here. "We followed the small footprints that led us here." he pointed of where they were. "We came upon this sight, where a pack of sickly wolves slaughtered as if a great battle was fought here. This was the place where I think Estel was attacked." Elrohir pointed at the middle of the clearing. "there was a small puddle of blood, of which I-believe it's Estel's."

There was pause. Seeing that his father will not speck, Elrohir continued.

"I think one of the wolves attack him. If he survives the attack we are not sure, but…I think he was saved who ever was here that killed these beasts and took him. Or that he was captured and killing the wolves was the only thing they could do to get him."

Elrond nodded as he started walking the clearing with his eyes closed, his arms reached out around him as he moved like a blind man lost in a maze. The young elf stood behind his father in silence knowing that his father was in a trance, seeing that his father had the gift of Foresight that can help him see the past, present and sometimes future, for the future it always at motion, never yet set in stone.

It was then that Elrond stopped was when Elrohir finally moved.

"Ada, what did you See?"

The look of his father face, a chill ran down his back.

"Estel is alive." Elrond said slowly the look of confusion was clear on his face.

"But where is he?"

"Safe for now."

"Where is he?" Ada was scaring him now, something was wrong. Why won't his father tell him?

"I do not know."

Elrohir was loosing his patience. Ever minute they stand here, Estel is in trouble! "We need to find him, Ada! Gods only know what they are doing to him! Did the orcs that escaped has him? Are they taking him to Mordor? Father, please tell me! What did you see?"

"I can not tell you yet. What I See was confusing."

"Ada you are hiding something from me. Tell me."

"Watch your tone, boy." Elrond snapped. "Where's the manners I have taught you?"

Elrohir gulped. "Sorry Ada, I just…I'm worried about Estel. Ada, please is he alright?" He was now begging. This was his fault, please have Estel be alright!

Elrond thought back of what he Seen. Estel was safe in a dark village among humanoid beings he has yet to know who or what they were. He looked well, but angry about something as if he was sulking. But why?

"Yes." was the only thing he could think to say before walking toward his horse. His son not far behind.

(End of Chapter)


Words: 4,113

(1) The term word of children doesn't mean according by age. Usually the word "children" are those that have not went into adulthood; have not married; or have not went into the Rite of Passage.

Keep in mind about that in this story.

(2) Doldagri: In the Black Speech the word "Dol" means "sheep" as the word "Dagri" is the word of "goat".

In my story the Orcs uses these creatures for their meat, their fur for making clothing and in some cases their milk for food and for infants for Warg milk is tougher in the stomach then of the Doldagri's milk for even for an orc babe can handle.

(3) Hur: I got the name from a Random Orc Tolkien-style names; its known that gamers from WoW (World of Warcraft) use this website to get orc names for their orc characters. Want to the URL please email.

(4) Nakkoc: I just made up the name as I spoke a girly name that sounded orcish and wrote it down.

Author's Notes: OMGs! Sorry for the long wait. Hope this chapter is good. Has it been almost a year? .

Please REVIEW!

-FireChildSlytherin5