A/N: Sorry for the long wait. Happy Holidays! By the way if you don't know! The Hobbit trailer is out, in theaters in Dec 2012 -FCS5
Last Hope of Mankind: Book One
Summary: Estel is raised by orcs since a young age. Read the story to found out how that came to be. How would this effect the future during the Second War?
"My dream is of a place and a time where
America will once again be seen as the last
best hope of earth."
-Abraham Lincoln
o0o0o
Chapter Eighteen
0o0o0o0
Sir Meginhard (1) knew that his youngest son was dead.
The moment the King and his escort (which he noted was a lot fewer after they got back); his son was nowhere to be seen. At first he thought the weakling was lallygagging as usual. It had happened before; when his son's was left behind from the escort because he wasn't ready to departure during a return scouting mission. Other times in the boy's youth he came home late coming home to give his mother wild flowers; an excuse he made sure to that it didn't happen again after a good beating. He didn't need a son that would lie and give flowers to hide his ridiculous lying about how it was his mother's birthday and all the other boys in the village give their mother flowers. Boys do not give their mother flowers, it showed weakness.
It was not until a solider come knocking at his door that following even, giving him a folded paper waxed sealed by their King's family seal, the massager bowing at him before the unnamed massager left as it was custom, did his thoughts was confirmed.
As he read the short note about the death of his son killed by orcs, his wife come running towards him snatching the paper from his grasp, reading it fiercely. He watch as her eyes widen as she read on. She covered her mouth in horror, dropping the letter onto the floor, tears now running down her bruising face. Meginhard watch his wife in disgust as the woman dropped on her knees bawling as she demanded of what she read wasn't true.
"Get your ass up woman!" Meginhard bellowed at his wife, whom wasn't paying any attention to her husband. It was then the man kicked his wife across her face again (he did so before that morning because the woman was late making his breakfast), did she stop sobbing looking at her husband with fear in her eyes, slightly rubbing her now sore face, as blood slightly flown from her nose. She cupped the blood into her hand looking at her man whom is her sorry of accuse of a husband, fighting another whimper. "Make dinner and stop your crying." Ordered her husband.
The wife slowly nodded, tears still running down her blooded face, as she scampered off the floor headed to the kitchen. Meginhard was now satisfied that his weak wife was fixing dinner. One cannot mourn in an empty stomach. Pity they didn't have a body to bury, people would come to their doorstep giving them gifts for their lost son; more people would feel sorry for them if they had a body; it would make it more real that they lost a son. Oh well, one cannot complain, the boy is now out of his sight forever. He didn't need a weak son; he had other sons that are much better than his youngest; whom he always thought wasn't his that boy was so unlike his other children whom was strong as he. He didn't pass off that his wife wasn't loyal to him from other men; that is why he keeps a very short leash on her. Women after all need a short leash or they will gone astray, that is why a husband at times needs to discipline their wives.
As the man thought this, his shaken wife handed him a pint of beer as he drank in silence, not caring that half of his wife's face is black and blue; a handkerchief that she held into her hand to her face was heavily blooded.
O0o0o0o0o0oo0
The slave boy was still alive, Brura noted as she went back to check on the wounded boy that was under her care. With her trained healer eyes, she knew that the boy didn't come in a happy home. He was covered in bruises that was clearly conflicted by a taller strong person and was now in the last stages of healing. Similar wounds that she treated on many children in the tribe throughout the few eons she lived, mostly from Kaghed of which time his Uncle was Warlord.
She undressed the boy from this now ruined clothing that was tossed into the fire, covering the boy with a blanket. The boy was still feverish, thrashing now and then as if having a trouble nightmare. With the help of her daughters they took out the arrow that was embedded into his chest; however the tip of it forever is in his body as it was too close to the heart. They cleaned the boy's body from blood, mud and whatever else that boy was covered in. They have given him water and whatever else the slave needs to live. It would be a few weeks if the boy survived will he be able safely eat solid food.
"Is the boy alive, mother?"
Brura turned to the voice of her youngest daughter, Danica. The young girl, almost a woman stood there looking at the boy laying there with worry across her face. Brura knew that this child would carry on the family line in both blood and trade. To become a healer, one must care and be concern to all who is under one's care; for it didn't matter who or what they were; man, orc, child, adult, slave or a free being.
"Alive, he still is." Brura answered to her daughter. Danica walked quietly not to wake the slave as she approach the two of them, carrying a bucket of water within her grasp. She damped a piece of folded cloth into the icy water, and started swapping the sweat from the slave's brow.
"Shh." Danica cooed at the boy, as the slave slightly whimpered from the cold touch.
"Daughter, prepare the ritual I must, while I am gone care for the boy you will." Brura told her.
"Of course mother." the young girl said. Nodding as Brura left, right before hearing her daughter sing the healing song just as she taught her. (2)
As her mother left, Danica went back to the human boy. Looking at him closely the slave was very much different than her new friend Mokûrz. For one thing, the boy was blonde while Mokûrz was dark haired; the slave had bright blue eyes not greyish green that Mokûrz had. (3) And the fact the slave looked more…human while Mokûrz was more elven like. Danica doesn't know how this can be they both are human, but she figured it was because Mokûrz was raised by the Elves. However Mokûrz was more…girly then most males she knew. It wasn't that he looked like a girl he has neither having hints of bulging breasts in near future nor any signs of being able to bear offspring, but that he held grace and childlike features that she was told that the elves have. And if the rumors are true the elves are neither male nor female but they were both in the same body. She had yet to meet an elf (of which she hopes she never will as when she does the last thing she will see is a sword covered in her own blood) so she cannot debate on this matter at hand. (4)
Instead Danica continue humming her lullaby as she place few shinny stones on top of the boy's upper chest and stomach to get the magick flowing through his body just as her mother taught her. The boy suddenly stop thrashing around as the lullaby went on as the stones ever so slightly glowed. The boy was slowly healing, the Gods had blessed the slave to live the Warlord will be pleased. With some healing paste she started drawing symbols on the boy's forehead, cheeks and down his naked chest almost down to his hips.
The young orc given the boy some more water from her flask which was now empty after using it for the paste and giving it to the slave. She then feed the boy broth only just such a little, the slaved need nutriment so his body has strength in the future. He will soon wake, only to fall back into unconscious with or without her sleeping broth; to beat the poison is best for the victim to sleep it off into the between realms.
It was then she fasten a rope around the boy's legs together; they were far apart enough for him to walk but almost impossible to run away, she then covered him with the blanket. Finished she went outside in the back of the tent heading to the nearby river knowing she will return very shortly, her mother and sister need water, the slave token the water they had left. The Dark Moon will soon raise, she must be there for the ritual, as her sister will be forced to attend to the slave tonight. She is the next witch healer after her mother, it is her right to be there as well as few others not her older sister.
0o0o0o0o0o0
Kaghed looked outside, seeing it was time. Tonight is the night that he would gain a son. He was both excited and scared at the same time, how could he be a good father to a human boy? He wonders countless times if the Gods were crazy of telling him to find the human boy. For what purpose is saving this one human? All the humans that he faced were those that he have killed or turn into slaves, like the human boy he brought to camp.
Why this one human? He had heard rumors of what his men are talking about the reason why he is adopting Mokûrz. Such as he is unable to father any children so he is now adopting children to come up for it (that is not true as he never took a woman to his bed nor does he have a reason he cannot perform to have children). Others say he lost his mind, didn't know what he was doing; he was cursed either by Brura or the Witch-king (5) to adopt him for whatever reason. Others believe he is doing this to try making an alliance with Mokûrz's people for trade or for other means. The real reason only a handful of people known because Kaghed felt that someone other than himself should know whether they like it or not.
Brura was happy because it was her idea to adopt him in the first place. Gashel on the other hand was outraged, at first he didn't knowledge that it was going to happen. However as the days grew closer and closer to the Dark Moon, it was only after the battle did Gashel did the first rage of showing his feelings about his future prince. Mokûrz will be his new son, and if he, Kaghed dies, then Mokûrz will rule over the orcs. This problem is the reason why many like Gashel was uneasy of this idea (whom he told) the human would his heir. Never before had half-blood but less a full human ruled over neither them nor any of the other tribes. It was agreed among them to keep quiet about Mokûrz being human to the other Warlords of the other tribes. Few will be happy to the idea, others will not and none of them have the men or resources to have a civil war between them. Not again.
Kaghed for the past few days have been thinking of the future. He needs a new bed for his son (not including for the slave; however he will not think about the slave until he knows the boy will live). Weapons and armour should be fitted for Mokûrz; training in both combat and knowledge of their ways. He will also teach lessons that his own mother taught him; such as reading and writing in many languages not just the Black Tongue. He knew that Mokûrz can do both in Elfish and the Common Tongue, so he doesn't have learned them. Perhaps he will have his son to teach him and others in the tribe to read and write Elfish. It's a skill that can be useful; the only way his mother did was teach him to how speck it.
He also thought of his son's own future such as having a wife after he becomes of age (he believes humans do so around twenty years or so). He himself chosen a wife when he became of age to choose one (as it was their custom) when he about 50 human years old. However the girl he loved perishes along with his father and so many others during the Great Betrayal, the civil war that happened among his people some years later after the Final Battle back at the beginning of the Third Age, which tribes of orcs fought against each other for land and Mordor itself.
How is Mokûrz going to choose a wife? None of the girls in the tribe would be suited for him, as he is human and them orcs as they age differently. The marriage age women will know him as a child, not someone to marry when he gets older. Mokûrz future wife will have to be someone from another tribe, someone who is same status as he. And there were few to pick as many of them are already chosen or married, Kaghed highly doubts any of them would agree to be Mokûrz's wife; perhaps a wife from the Easterlings? He was friends with a few lords there that were not allied with Mordor and because of their customs of having many wives they had many daughters for Mokûrz to choose from.
He will not dwell on this, until Mokûrz gets a little older. It is after all Mokûrz's choice when the time comes. If he wants a wife from the other tribes or from the Easterlings so be it and if not then they can look somewhere else. But on the other hand, some men don't want wives but want companionship from other ways not just from women. Whichever Mokûrz decide Kaghed will support his son's decisions.
The Warg pup wobbled towards him stopping his train of thoughts. The she-warg cocked her head to the side looking at him with her bright yellow eyes. The orc and pup stared at each other until the two legged picked up the pup and set her next to her master whom was fast asleep on the Warlord's bed. The human boy had a long day; he needed a nap, especially of what come to come tonight.
Soon he will have to wake up the young human for the Blood Ritual; Brura will be here any minute to let him know when the time is right. The Dark Moon is not visible in the night sky, however after the ritual is finished the Dark Moon will be no more as the Light Moon will slowly be visible to see, symbolizing the new stage of their lives.
Just then Brura came through the tent flap nodded towards him as she left without a word. It was time. Nervous gripped him as he gently shook the young youth on the boy's shoulder.
Opening his eyes slowly, Mokûrz looked up to Kaghed's own red eyes, blinking his own getting the sleepiness out. "It's time?" the boy asked.
"Yes." Answer the orc.
0-o-o-o
Mokûrz followed Kaghed through the dark forest, avoiding the thick trees as they went. The forest itself was eerie as he walked past he swore he can hear the unseen creatures of the night whispering to him in curiously. He knew he was foolish to think this, but living with the elves taught you a thing or two about creatures whom is known to able to speak to them.
"Stay close to me, Mokûrz." Kaghed said to him, making the said human jump at the sudden voice. Mokûrz walked faster to get closer to the orc, not wanting to be snatched from the darkness or suck down into the ground from some unknown force of nature. The forest is ancient; ancient enough that is makes Ada viewed as a child. Who knows what lurks out there and what secrets this place hides?
Silently the two walked in silence. Mokûrz feeling more nervous in each second not knowing what will happen. Would he have to drink blood? Will they chop of his arm? Will he have to kill someone? He knew he was being stupid thinking such thoughts but hearing stories about orcs you can never be so sure.
Just up ahead, Mokûrz could see light up ahead which was a sight that slightly blinded him because the forest was so naturally dark. When they got into the clearing, only a handful of people were there along with Brura and her youngest daughter Danica. There in the middle of the clearing as a big circle carefully sat by big stones that was at least has big as he was. Inside was a flat slab of stone, already adored by other stones, candles, bones and other odd ends that Mokûrz could not identify just by looking at them from afar. As Kaghad and he approached everything was silence as Brura waved at them to approach them.
The Warlord and his ward did, as they stepped through the circle, drums started playing, pounding fists or feet were heard all around. With the help of Danica, Mokûrz was placed one end of the stone slab as Kaghad laid at the other. Chanting the two orc women opened the two's shirts with their chest open as they applied symbols on them, and stones.
The chant was soothing; making the two of them slowly fall into a slumber.
"Goddess of the Darkness
We call to thee this moonless night
To make two souls as kin
Of Flesh and Soul."
Brura walked towards the slumbering human boy, picking up his small left hand. With this she said, as she cut deep across it.
"With this life blood, I cleansed with Light
I ask of you Gods to protect this child
Blood to blood, flesh to flesh
Come out to meet your Father
Baj it malkog!" (6)
Danica came and too sliced at Kaghad right hand, with no hesitation as she spoke.
"With this life blood, I cleansed with Light
Aid this soul to protect of your Chosen One
Blood to blood, flesh to flesh
Come out to meet your Son
Baj it malkog"
It was then Brura took the two slice hands and emerge them palm to palm mixing the life blood. As this happened, bluish white mist came from the two figures mouths, their souls meeting each other dancing around emerging each other. As this happened, stones that was carefully placed on the now soulless bodies and all around the gathering started to glow. Brura and Danica started to chant, their voices carried out into the sky, the drumming, the bounding of feet and hands was going slowly and quieter as the souls above slowly ascended down to their bodies. As the bluish-white mist disappeared into their mouths, it was then the Kaghed and Mokûrz took their first breath as father and son.
It was then the Brura looked up seeing something that only she can see and Mokûrz would've sworn he had heard her say a name that haven't heard in a long time.
"Elrond."
O0o0o0o0o0o0o
That following Morning
Slowly, Ryder (7) opened his eyes. Every part of his body was screaming at him as he slowly set up from where he once lied. He slowly looked around himself, not knowing where he was. He looked down, blushing as he saw he was naked wrapped in a blanket of some sort of material that looked like some type of animal skin. His chest was wrapped in cloth covering the place where he assumed he was injured and weirdly enough he had strange symbols painted on his body and shiny stones that slightly blinking at him with bright light was slightly scattered around him in his bed. Peking under the bandage he saw the wound was covered in some sort of herbal paste and such however dark veins was clearly seen coming out of the wound, as if the wound was covered by some dark magick of some kind.
Was he poisoned? And if so, why was he still alive?
Flashes of what happened to him came crushing at him with full force. He was with King's escort back to Rohan. They were attacked by orcs…he was shot by the arrow from a creature with red eyes. Then…darkness; he only remember pieces after that, such as he was mocked by the orcs after his capture how the creature with red eyes told him he will never go home, to see his mother. Mocking him that his no good for nothing father would believe him dead. He knew his father would be happy to learn of this fact.
He wouldn't pass the orcs poisoning their arrows to begin with; knowing this how is he still alive? It was said that anyone poisoned by one of their weapons was futile unless touch by elfin magick seeing they knew the ways of healing far better and beyond the work of men. He never seen an elf before and knowing that they live Far East from where he last remember where he was, he knew he was not under their care.
Again he looked around, now seeing he was some kind of a tent. It was weird structure home, which was held by wood poles, spooky things dangling from the ceiling, the only light within the home was the fire that blazing in the fire pit in the middle (and also the stones next to him, but he rather no look at them, they must be the work of magick as he never seen stones glow before).
Ryder slowly got out of bed, but then fell face down on the ground. He looked back to see what caught him from running away from his prison. His feet were tied together, tight enough that he can walk but not run. He sudden felt weak, from the poison he guessed.
"You can't run." said a voice behind him.
Shaken at the sudden voice, Ryder looked for that voice coming face to face with a girl. She was young, but with orcs (he's guessed she was an orc, but then again being shot was the first time seeing one alive he wasn't so sure, really of what he heard this girl didn't really look like one). She was wearing men clothing made from which he guessed animal skin and cotton cloth wrapped around her body. He stared at her longer than what he shouldn't have, not that the girl in front of him wasn't pretty, she was pretty in her own race he guessed but he had never seen a girl much less a woman wear men clothes before.
As the girl approach him, he stiffens and tried to get away but couldn't, his body ignore his commands. Instead he watch her get closer him setting down a bowl next to them, picking him up off the ground like he weigh nothing (as this happened he now knew without a doubt this girl wasn't human, a normal human girl wouldn't be able to pick him up like this), putting him back to his bed a little roughly as a large thump was heard as he landed. As she did this, he blushed again seeing he was naked on his back showing off his manly parts and a girl no less was touching him. As he was taught, being alone in the same room with a girl, much less naked was very frown upon. But the girl didn't seem to notice which he was glad (and somewhat put out, surely he wasn't that ugly).
"I see that you lived." the girl said, setting him up into a sitting position giving him the bowl what looked like broth within it. "This is your food. Eat." the girl's voice held an accent that he couldn't place he noticed.
Ryder didn't touch it, looking at the dark liquid that looked very unpleasing. "Where am I?" he dared to ask.
The girl cocked her head, as if thinking of what he said. "In camp." she replied.
"But where?"
"In the haven within the walking trees."
Ryder didn't know what the girl meant by the 'walking trees' for he never seen a tree walk before, but he didn't like the thought of moving trees to begin with.
He needed information, and this girl may be the only hope he had. "Why am I here?"
The girl ignore him, as she grabbed his bowl and again gave it to him up to his face, this time not so kindly. "Eat or I feed you." she said roughly, her voice held a growl within her throat.
He knew there was poison in it, but not wanting to starve he put the bowl into his lips. The broth wasn't bad, but it had this taste he wasn't familiar with.
"Good! Good!" the girl said happily after he finished it. A few minutes passed, Ryder to his horror felt sleepy.
"You poisoned me!" he yelped. The girl covered him with the blanket, as he collapse onto his side painfully; the girl again helped him get more comfortable putting him onto his back. His eyes felt so heavy, his own body was going numb; everything was going black. He knew he was dying.
"Sleep." The girl's voiced told him. Why was the girl's voice so far away?
"I don't want to die." he found himself gasping as he vision turning darker and darker.
"No death." These were the last words he heard before he fell in darkness in a dreamless sleep and strangely a lullaby along with it.
(End of Chapter)
Words: 5,279
(1) Meginhard: an Ancient Germanic male name, derived from the Germanic elements magan "strength" and hard "brave, hardy".
(2) In many cultures is it believed that sounds have some form of healing abilities. Many sing, drum drums or any other type of instrument, or shake shakers across a person to heal them. Special stones are also used for healing, putting them on the body near where chakras are located so they can help speed and strength the body's own energy to heal itself.
(3) The reason I have Mokûrz aka Estel having grey-ish green eyes is because in the books Aragorn has grey eyes while in the movies he has green eyes. That colour itself is my own eye colour in real life.
(4) To me Mokûrz in this story looks much like his future son, Eldarion during the scene while Arwen saw the possible future of having a son with Aragorn. During the short time during the movie, to me Eldarion looked very fairy like (and many children during that age in fact do look fairy like). Ryder (the slave boy) just barely got out of his teen years into manhood & his life been hard. So compare to the two of them out, to the orcs, Mokûrz COULD be mistaken to be feminine.
(5) Witch-king of Angmar: was a Man that corrupted by one of the Nine Rings of Power given to the lords of men by Sauron during the Second Age which turned into the Nazgûl. The Witch-king was also the one that stabbed Frodo during the First movie. The Witch-king's real name was never given nor what lord he was at during the Second Age. Many fans identity him either one of the three Black Númeonóreans Tolkien stated had became Nazgûl or possibly Isilmo, a Númeórean price and father of Tar-Minastir.
It is said the nine Nazgûl became enslaved by Sauron either because of their lust for power or for knowledge. Fans that ONLY watched the movies and never read the books get the Witch-king mix up with Sauron because of their very similar armour that is seen during the Movies.
(6) Baj it malkog: So Mote it Be in the Black Speech.
(7) Ryder: a male name from an English occupational surname derived from the Old English ridere meaning "mounted warrior" or "messenger".
Author's Notes: Sorry for the long wait. Real Life got real hectic. Hope this chapter is okay. As always review! I love the feedback! And the next chapter is also being written as we speak and hopefully I have it done sooner than this chapter was.
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-FireChildSlytherin5
