Guest: I'm glad you liked it and I'll keep a better eye out for those.
I got to say I'm a bit sad at how little reviews I'm getting =/ I mean, I kind of need to know what you guys think of it. So... I'll post a bit more regularly in hopes that you review a bit more...
Look chapter 7 has arrived
"Well? Speak!" the man in front of the two Gondorians demanded, eyeing both of them carefully.
"We mean you no harm," Aragorn started, as the weather got even colder, now that the sun has set.
"In all honesty, we did not e-even know there are people living in these mountains, so please f-forgive us if we trespassed on your property," the Steward continued.
The man, who seemed in charge, was silent for a minute, thinking over what he was told, before saying: "Who are you?"
"My name is Strider."
Faramir, who caught up with the lie, said: "I am h-his brother… W-Wenham," his teeth chattering.
"Is he alright?" he turned to the Steward, and turned slightly pale when he saw his purple lips, and shaking body.
"F-Wenham!" he called and tried to move, but was stopped by the tribe people.
"He can't stand this cold much longer!" his breath visible in the coldness.
"By the looks of it, neither can you. Now tell me, why have you come here?"
Strider hesitated for a few seconds, not knowing how much he should tell. But when the other Ranger gave him a shake with his head, he said: "We come from Gondor and came here hunting. There have been whispers about wild animals here, attacking by-passers. Me and my brother here, decided to look into it," he lied. Now he was starting to feel the coldness.
"Why bring him if you know he can not stand the cold?"
"We didn't k-know there'd be a snow storm, or that we w-would be captured," 'Wenham' was now taking deep breaths.
"Well then, Gondorians," he said the name with disgust. "It would seem the hunter, has become the hunted."
"Dona!" someone called, their voice old but powerful and another man appeared before them. He wore white pants, top that revealed his torso, a large wooden necklace with a black feather and red lines under his eyes. He appeared much older than anyone else they've come by.
"Chief Hagen," the other male bowed his head as Hagen walked next to the two prisoners. "What are you doing?" he asked calmly in their own language so the Rangers couldn't understand and looked the two over.
"We found these two skulking about in the mountains. So we brought them back here," Dona explained in the same language.
The Chief narrowed his eyes on the half frozen man and wanted to say something when a shout caught their attention.
"Hey! Release them!" someone yelled, but the Rangers knew the voice. They managed to turn towards the figure, a smile on their faces.
"Who is that?" Dona asked, as a lone figure slid down from a hill of snow.
"You're alive!" they both yelled, and Dona quickly shot them a glare. "They know him!" he hissed in his mind and turned his attention back at the man from Mark.
"Capture him!" Dona ordered as Hagen checked the new arrived man. "More of the down world dwellers…"
The King of Rohan fought against many of the tribe people, wielding Andúril with the same skill as its true owner. He never hit a vital spot, but still wounded the attackers, and it was only after he defeated the tenth man, did Hagen shout: "Enough!"
At that, everyone stopped, even Strider and 'Wenham' looked up and Eomer stood in the middle of a circle, taking deep breath, fire in his eyes.
"Have you come for them?" the chief motioned to the two Gondorains as the Rohirrim gave a nod.
"We never wanted any of this, so just let us go and we'll be on our marry way," the blond male stated, hand still gripping Andúril.
"You can not simply let them go!" Dona protested and gritted his teeth. Again he spoke in a way no one could understand.
"What would you have me do? Unlike you I do not enjoy watching my people get hurt for pointless reasons," Hagen was calm as he turned to the man.
"Kill them!" Dona demanded.
"No. They have done nothing to deserve such a fate."
"Nothing? Didn't one of them just attack your people?"
"Iziv!" one of the other tribe members yelled, and others quickly repeated.
"You heard them," an evil smirk creped its way on Dona's faces.
Hagen sighed, looked at each of the trio and spoke in Westron again: "I can not simply allow you to leave."
The two Kings glared daggers, showing in their eyes, just how much they would be willing to fight their way out.
"But I will give you a way to save yourselves," and at that, their eyes showed some hope.
"Consider yourselves lucky, filth! You will be granted three trials to prove yourselves. Should you win, we will release you. But if you lose, we will kill you," Dona's smirk grew even wider as he let it sink in.
"What are these challenges?" Aragorn asked, now that Eomer was allowed to join them as well.
"What do you think? Can't you figure it out?"
"Mountain trials," Eomer said grimly. His companions' eyes opened a bit more at that, neither of them liking the sound.
"That is correct. Only one of you will be able to take them, and should he lose more than one, your fates will be sealed," Hagen nodded.
"And just to make sure, you won't try anything," the sadistic one snickered and threw a small dart at Faramir's neck.
The two Kings eyes opened wide as their friend grabbed his neck, managed to take out the dart, but collapsed right after, shaking and coughing.
"What have you done!?" the Rohirrim demanded as the Gondorian quickly kneeled and checked his pulse.
The chief looked grim as he said: "He has been poisoned. It will not kill him too quickly, but eventually, yes."
"This way, you won't be able to run away. And if you, by some miracle do win, we'll give him the antidote. Now, who will take up the trials?"
The Ranger opened his mouth, when the formal Marshal stepped forward and said: "I shall take them."
"Eomer what are you doing?" Elessar asked in surprise, speaking Rohirrim.
"I can handle the cold better than you," he answered calmly before adding: "And you are the only one who can keep him alive, if they break their words."
The King of Gondor understood what he meant and gave a small nod. He then turned to Hagen: "Please, allow me to retrieve some medicine from the cave where you attacked us. I fear he will not last the whole three trials."
The tribe leader thought for a member before he said: "Very well. But I shall send two of my men with you."
"You think I would run away and leave my friends behind?"
"No, but you might get lost. You would like to return back here would you not?" he gave a genuine smile and called for two men.
He told them something the King couldn't understand before they motioned for him to follow.
Strider looked at his companion and said in the language of Rohan: "Don't you dare lose."
"Wouldn't dream of it. Eowyn would have my head," he smiled.
After that, he and the two other men, left the camp and started heading towards the cave.
"Well filth, you are all alone. Now, are you ready?"
"The sooner I'm done here, the faster I can leave this place and your annoying voice."
Dona gave a glare, which Eomer returned with a smirk, as Hagen chuckled.
"Well then, call forth your champion and I shall add mine," the leader broke some of the tension.
"I chose Lin," the other man said and called for the said man. Soon, a tall, almost two head taller than the Rohirrim, bulky, bald and muscular man came forth.
"I shall put Han forth," Hagen smiled softly, as a skinny, a head shorter than Eomer man walked closer. He looked more like a runner, but then again, there is more than meets the eye to every man.
See you next time... Hope you liked it please, do review =)