Hey, everybody! I'm back!
So, this chapter is kind of short, but it covers two key events in the story. Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I only own my OC's.
Chapter 13: The Hunt
Hunter found herself being roughly shaken awake. "Whoa, hey, what's…"
"Shhh," Ėowyn shushed, gently tossing her a bundle of clothes. "Hurry, change. We must be swift."
"But what's going on?" Hunter asked, groggily rubbing her eyes. The room was still dark, and the moon had just risen.
"I will explain later," Ėowyn promised. "But you must hurry. Go!"
Too sleepy to object, Hunter trudged behind a changing screen. After a few moments, she reemerged, dressed in a red tunic, dark brown breeches, black riding boots, and a dark green cloak. "Where did you get these?" Hunter inquired, gazing down at her adornment.
"From me."
Théodred stepped into the doorway, a grave expression on his face. "Those were some of my older clothes, from when I was younger." He then turned to face Ėowyn. "I prepared the saddlebags. Windstorm is waiting in the stables."
"Okay, what is going on?" Hunter whispered, exasperated.
"I overheard Wormtongue and his followers planning to kidnap you," Ėowyn informed her. "You must leave Rohan immediately."
"Indeed," Théodred agreed. "Ėowyn told me of Wormtongue's plan, and I agreed to help. Unfortunately, we could not tell Ėomer, for he would strangle Wormtongue without a second thought."
Hunter let out a weak chuckle at the idea of Ėomer strangling Wormtongue, but it soon died on her lips. A feeling of dread filled her. Wormtongue works for Saruman, she recalled. So Saruman must want me. But why? The answer came to her as clear as day. He wants the information the Elenmîr have! He wants to know what happens so he can change it!
"Come now, we must move," Ėowyn instructed. "And pull up your hood. It would do no good to have you be recognized."
Hunter nodded, following Ėowyn's instructions and belting a short sword around her waist. The company of three dashed silently through the halls of Meduseld, the very air around them thick with tension. Finally, they burst out of the Golden Hall and into the cold night air.
"Halt!"
Ėowyn, Théodred, and Hunter tensed as one of Wormtongue's men approached them, a suspicious expression on his face. "What are you three doing out so late?" the guard sneered.
Hunter pulled her hood farther down, hoping the man would not recognize her. Ėowyn seemed to be at a loss for words, gripping Hunter's shoulder like a vice. Théodred drew a deep breath and faced the guard.
"We were just taking one of the newest recruits out for some night riding lessons," the prince lied smoothly, staring icily at the man. "I do not believe there is anything wrong with that, am I correct?"
The guard blanched beneath the prince of Rohan's piercing gaze. "O-of course, your majesty. I'll be getting out of your way now." The guard then sprinted off, nearly tripping himself in the process.
"Wow," whispered Hunter. "You know, Théodred, you can be quite scary at times."
Théodred cracked a small smile as they continued their path to the stables. The streets of Edoras were silent, save for the occasional bird or cricket.
An eerie quiet also rested upon the stables, broken only by the soft breathing of the sleeping horses. At the far end of the rows stood Windstorm, saddled and pawing at the straw covered ground.
"Well," Hunter sighed, standing beside Windstorm. "I guess this is goodbye."
"Stay safe, Hunter," Théodred stated.
Hunter nodded her head before turning to Ėowyn. The two had become extremely close over the past few months and were nearly inseparable. "I'm going to miss you," Hunter whispered.
Ėowyn gently brushed a stray strand of hair from Hunter's face. "We shall see each other again," she reassured her. "Rohan is your home. One day, you will return."
"I promise I'll come back," Hunter swore, mounting Windstorm. "You'll explain to Ėomer what happened, right?"
"We shall," Théodred replied. "Though I do not think he will be very pleased."
"I doubt it," Hunter agreed, a smile quickly flitting across her face before resuming a grim expression.
Hunter drew a deep breath. "Goodbye." She gave Windstorm a firm kick, and both horse and rider galloped out of the stables and into the distance.
~o*o*o*o~
Night had fallen over the Dead Marshes. Hope crouched upon the soggy ground, surveying the surrounding fen for any sign of movement. It was their third day in the marshes now, and not a sign of Gollum had been found save for a few tracks.
Suddenly, a flicker of movement caught her eye. Hope straightened, watching as a small, whitish creature leapt out from behind a rock and scampered over to a bush.
The younger Ranger turned to face Aragorn, who sat beside her. Aragorn nodded his head, having also noticed the movement. Silently, the two Rangers crept towards the bush. Beneath the leaves, muttering could be heard.
"They wants us, yessss, precious. But we hide from them, nasty, dirty orcs," a hissing voice stated. In a swift motion, Aragorn plunged his hand into the bush, trying to seize the creature. Suddenly, a thin, white hand shot out of the leaves, hitting Aragorn squarely in the jaw. Gollum sprang out of the bush, scrambling away. Hope dove at him, but Gollum darted out of the way, causing Hope to land face-first in the quagmire.
Aragorn rubbed the bruise on his jaw and helped Hope to her feet. "Are you alright?" he asked.
"I'm fine," Hope replied. "But Gollum got away."
"He cannot have gone too far," Aragorn stated. "Hope, search the northern part of the marshes. I shall search the west. Give a shout if you catch him."
Hope nodded and sprinted towards the north. She overturned every stone and peered into every bush, but there was no sign of Gollum anywhere. Then, a familiar hissing voice was heard near her.
"What do they want with ussss, precioussss?" Hope whirled around to see Gollum crouching a few yards away, his back facing her. Quietly, Hope crept behind him, before quickly seizing Gollum.
Immediately, Gollum lashed out. He kicked and punched at Hope, his bony fists and feet making contact with her chest. "Why do they hunt usss, preciousss?" Gollum whined. "Why must they catch usss? Why can't they just leave us alone, gollum, gollum."
At these words, Hope froze, realizing exactly what Gollum had been going through. The young Ranger loosened her hold on Gollum, enough so that the creature could wriggle out of her grasp. Gollum began scampering away, but Aragorn intervened, seizing Gollum and tying a rope securely around him.
"Are you injured?" Aragorn asked, noticing the bruises on Hope's face.
"I'm just a little bruised, that's all," Hope stated. Aragorn nodded before beginning to drag a screaming and kicking Gollum to their camp. Once they had arrived, Aragorn proceeded to tie Gollum to a rock.
"Aragorn, why do you treat him so harshly?" Hope asked.
Aragorn finished securing Gollum to the heavy stone. "Hope, he is a foul creature," he stated, pausing for a moment. "Why do you pity him?"
"Why?" Hope retorted. "Why do I pity him? He is hunted for the information he holds! He is just like me, except that he doesn't have someone like you to protect him!"
"I do not understand-" Aragorn started, but Hope cut him off.
"Of course you don't understand!" she nearly shouted. "You're not the one being hunted!" And with that, Hope stormed away to the opposite side of the camp near Gollum.
"Girlses is like usss," Gollum whispered. "Girlses is hunted by nasty, stinking orcs too."
"Yes, Gollum," Hope replied. "I am."
So there you have it, Chapter 13.
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