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Chapter Three
'The Road Untraveled'
'Hilf Mir' by Rammstein
She wept kneeling by her pregnant mother, her forehead compressed the small mound of her belly. Narbai stroked Rimkaur's locks hardly being able to control the sob tremors shaking her from the core.
"Promise you will come back to me hûnizub... Please, promise to me!" Large, stinging tears pooled at her chin dripping onto her chest gradually.
"Akh Ma... Do not worry..." She could master nothing but a raspy whisper. All Rimkaur thought of at this moment was that she will not be there when her sibling is born, she will not be there to take care of her Ma same way she took care of her when she needed it most.
Shapogatâr strode in gravely his features overcast with murky thoughts. "Ready?"
Rim straightened deliberately as if attempting to prevent the following from happening even if by a few moments. Narbai's arms encircled her with vigorous, desperate strength. She wouldn't let go... She couldn't force herself...
Rimkaur cried a lot that day. Bidding farewell to her mother, to Bûrzkaur, and when the time came, her father. Bitter tears scorched trails in their wake as they made their way through the familiar halls, squares, passages, all that she called home for twenty years.
The duo exited the ancient mines by the compact side entrance that led them under a massive, grassy hill. Rim was clothed in an inconspicuous thick cotton tunic, trousers, leather boots and a cloak. She couldn't keep anything Orc made, none of her garb or possessions. She had to truly relinquish her entire life.
"Remember, speak solely Westron." Shapogatâr urged.
"Yes." Rimkaur pressed her lips answering in Common. She was to travel forth, never mentioning her Moria ties. She had to blend in as if she was always there and then look for him, the culprit of her problems... The Dwarven prince.
Her sire had hopes yet as any father he worried feverishly and simply could not forgive himself letting her leave into the unknown. The half-Orc caught his daughter's arm.
"Avoid all Human settlements or campsites until you reach the woodland. But do not enter. Follow the curve of the forest. A three day travel away here is a tiny village. The last stone cottage at the bottom of the hill... He will help you, he will keep you safe." The Half-blood's arms encircled his daughter, his lips compressed her bright hair.
"Be careful, hûnizub. Please, be careful..."
x x x
Rimkaur travelled on foot. Moria Orcs had no use for horses and riding into a Human settlement on a Warg would be an enormous red flag. The young woman's lips were graced by a dark grin ideating the faces of the unsuspecting villagers. In truth she hadn't seen any humans since being accepted in the Pale Orc's kingdom, she hadn't left much... To think of it she hadn't met full-blooded humans her entire life...
At night she curled up in the long grass, barely sleeping, and in the day she travelled cautiously avoiding any presence at all costs. The journey was lengthy and draining, her small provision supplies began dwindling quite rapidly.
Her mind was blank. First overwhelmed with blood boiling fury she morphed somewhat indifferent. Could have at least delivered the orders himself, she thought to herself as her fingers straightened and curled forming fists so tight it paled her knuckles. However his orders were the orders you obeyed. She could not risk her father's rank, the place he attained... Any disobedience would entail severe repercussions... He had a new family now, Ma was soon to deliver...
The green strip of Fangorn materialized far on the horizon the next morning and the young human breathed a small sigh of relief. Perhaps she can finally rest again under the protection of the foliage.
Unforeseen to her a small noise aback grew more pronounced as it approximated and her stomach became heavy at once. Rimkaur transfixed holding her breath, she drew her hood forth yet it was too late the trio had noticed her. Spinning away as if in distress she ripped a part of her shirt hastily, tugged at her locks and pinched her cheeks a couple of times.
"What ye doing here lass?" A hoarse voice inquired. It belonged to a weathered man who held the reins. "Didn't ye know eh, these parts are squirming with predators!" The villager sat atop a wooden seat that was attached to the spacious cart, the back was filled with sacks. The old male was accompanied by two younger men, perhaps his offspring.
"I..." Rimkaur gave the appearance of being short of breath. "My family... We were attacked..." She breathed out in feigned terror and panic. "Right there beyond the outcrop... I was the only one who made it... Alive..." The golden orbs shimmered with forming tears. In this state bringing up emotions was easy.
"I'm from Westfold..." She lowered her gaze meekly.
The three men exchanged looks, the girl did look flustered and exhausted.
"Orcs?" One of the youngest interjected in a disdain pervaded voice.
"Hop on." The second son grinned. She lowered onto the edge of the cart and the group moved on as the screeching sounds of the weathered wheels resounded the afternoon air. Perhaps this will work out well, she will be able to reach her destination much faster. The young woman released a small sigh of content. The air was still warm yet cooled substantially towards the evening. The winds picked up their speeds rustling her tresses and Rimkaur drew her hood snug around her face.
She kept on contemplating how fortunate she was while mulling over her future task. Anything but to attempt to forget Narbai's grief stricken features... It's as if she died preparing to journey into another existence...
That was until one of the younger males had decided to keep her company. She ignored their hushed whispers half the journey. The villager clambered over and rested close by her side. Without a word his palm decided to explore squeezing her thigh, it inched towards the junction between her legs. The woman straightened her back so abruptly it evoked a sneer from her companion. She stared at him in a combination of astonishment and unhidden fury. Rim slapped the palm away and the next thing she knew she was pinned underneath him on the hay blanketed cart bottom. She wriggled struggling to reach her dagger.
"Nothing comes free sweetheart." The male's lips drew back in a sly grin, his palms landed onto her throat. His hefty breathing caused a shudder as he leaned forth.
The little mix-blood had a response to that. Dealing with the overly eager Orc males in Moria prepared her for instances such as this.
"Ughhhh." The man grunted furiously. "Bitch! Fucking trollop!" He wailed. "She bit me. She bit me!" He clutched his injured cheek.
When the man's blood coated fingers peeled off his face the tiny, thin cuts where clearly visible on his sunburned skin. Every tooth left a mark as she bit it clean through; and now all oozed blood and spit. The man caught her tresses yanking them with force, the back of her fist flew across his face. Rim's little frame leapt off sprinting in the direction of the forest.
She heard yells and thumping of feet, not glancing behind her the woman picked up the pace. The large body of the forest loomed right above her, without giving it another thought and disobeying her father's directions Rim evanesced in between the three trunks. She burrowed into the roots of the first large oak as the voices drew near.
"Where've you gone sweetheart?" They leered. "Wait on us. We'll have fun." The duo approximated.
"I'll have fun." The third one spat blood. "Fuck her into the ground and then take a little keepsake to remember the bitch by."
An unforeseen gale force wind blew whipping the tree branches bending them to sweep the ground it chilled the air to the unusual low for this time of year.
The voices began to hesitate, they lowered to whispers then vanished completely silenced by the force of nature. The young human peeked to see the shadowy forms making their way back to the tree line. She breathed a small sigh of relief. Terrified of the woods aren't they? A little bit of wind makes them run for cover? Her head tilted forth she flashed a dark grin and spat onto the rotten foliage. Her first human encounter... Is that what she had to look forward to?
Rimkaur looked about. The vast body of the woodland radiated warmth, it was extremely humid, enormous oaks and spruces were enwrapped in moss, the feeble light of the setting Sun had no chance of reaching in. Her father had cautioned her not to enter... But, she mused, for whatever reason he said that, she preferred the forest over the possibility of being found by those degenerate vagabonds.
Rim had decided to move in a bit deeper, to find a place for a night just to be safe. That's when she heard it, faint at first, the sound grew in volume. The woman froze and listened. It was a cry, that of a young child, it carried from the very depth of the forest. The weeping was desperate, laced in pain, pleading for help. Her lips shook, she crouched fumbling in her pack to find her small torch. The girl clicked two stones together waiting for the spark.
Her body still pervaded with adrenaline she proceeded into the gloom with her tiny light without hesitation. She came to a start of a narrow ravine. Everything was incredibly still, yet the sound persisted and the human continued forward relentlessly. The darkness morphed abysmal as the faint sunrays vanished completely. Her torch had illuminated nothing but a small circle. Rimkaur could see better than most Humans do but not as good as an Orc would. She bit the inside of her lip in panic the child was nowhere to be found and now she was lost. The young woman spun in all directions facing only blackness in each. Her heart fell into her stomach when a branch cracked to her left, all she had to defend herself was her little dagger... At the very same moment the infant cry had seized, perhaps a wild animal had gotten to it first... Her heart constricted surrounded by the eerie silence. All at once a dark form had materialized in front of her, like a faceless ghost it floated, the inky fabric detached from the matching color of the darkness. Caught off guard Rim's body jolted backwards and she felt herself falling arms grasping the air frantically. When her frame thumped the ground everything went blank, she was shrouded in black.
x x x
When Rimkaur's eyes peeled open seeing the dim lights above her she sprang up abruptly.
"Forgive me for the old, 'infant cry' trick." The low voice greeted her immediately and the human was amazed to hear the familiar speech.
"I had to get a closer look." The voice continued.
"At... What?" She replied instinctively to the cloaked frame.
"Lat hûnizub... "Lat." The form floated near and Rim lowered her legs down to reach the packed earth. Hearing her pet name constricted her heart, it flooded with the recent, meticulously constrained feelings.
"I... Uhmm... Nothing about me..." She crossed her arms in distrust attempting to reign in the salty drops that betrayed her. She heard a smile from beneath the black hood. The mysterious voice had revealed herself and Rimkaur couldn't help but bite back a grin, it was an Orc female. The ink-black, pin-straight tresses framed her bony face cascading over the shoulders down the back they nearly brushed the ground. Her gaze lowered locking to Rim's and the human's mouth gaped. A thought, a guess fought its way into the front of her mind, those were her father's eyes...
Staring down the witch's lips upturned into a mischievous smirk as her long fangs gleamed in the candle light.
"I am Morhûn." Her head tilted sidelong, she watched the girl closely.
"Father never mentioned that I-... We... We settled in Moria..." Rim gazed down fiddling with her fingers.
"I know." The sibyl gazed up. "We've met, when you were just a newborn..." Her eyes glazed with the tender thoughts then suddenly her head snapped up.
"What a fool he is... What a self-centered, stubborn fool." Her cheekbones danced under her skin, the eyes blackened. Rimkaur frowned in confusion at this sudden rage. Those arcane orbs rendered her transfixed.
"If he had delivered the orders himself you would never leave Moria." The witch sighed. When she blinked her rage subsided and the black, bottomless pools had returned to the color of the deep gold.
"You felt this power didn't you? Felt strong, indestructible..." She smirked knowing the answer beforehand. "You will stay with me, child." Her eyes shimmered with a smile.
"But..." Rimkaur sprang up. "I have a task... I cannot go against..." Her heartbeat quickened as she protested hardheadedly.
The hex all but swatted at her. "For that, you have time my dear." Her smile persisted. "Revenge is not realized easily and besides, I need time with my granddaughter." The Orcess adjusted her robes gracefully.
"We'll begin in the morning." That promise was full of mystery.
x x x
The witch wanted to make sure the gift she had given her will thrive and the human did not resist. On the contrary Rimkaur was happy, a lot of questions she had had been answered. He had someone who cared for her... Someone wanted her to be there. The skills she had acquired will definitely prove useful in the near future. However grandmother would not reveal one thing to her, why her strength wouldn't reach the full potential. Something unknown was missing... And that unknown couldn't be divulged...
She had also heard a story of her birth mother. Some things that father had decided to leave unsaid, to shield her from worry and heartbreak. A beautiful Elleth from the Woodland realm... So easily convinced... The one who had no use for the child bearing blood of an Orc... Curiosity awakened within however now, at this moment, she found herself indifferent. Her real mother awaited her return in Moria...
Thus ten years had passed, it was as a blink of an eye and time neared for her to continue her journey. Morhûn was a bit restless, seemingly aware of something Rim was not. The young human gathered supplies stuffing them into her pack. Another part of her life was over and she felt incredibly saddened. The life on the road lay ahead. On the contrary to her father the hex instructed her to head North, towards the great East Road.
Over those years the young human hadn't changed much, except the length of her hair, she plaited the tresses into a tight braid. Also now, her always open and friendly face had a veil of a seriousness hung firmly over it. They traversed towards the edge of the forest when something thrashed in the canopy and a dark form of some sort of bird swooped adown towards them.
"Go on." Morhûn placed her hand onto Rimkaur's shoulder. "Do it."
The human's arm extended curtly, she flipped her palm to face the bird and the feathered creature transfixed in the midst of the flight. It hovered without twitching a feather, only the beady eyes flicked up and down. The woman let go and the raven circled around landing onto the sibyl's shoulder.
"Well done." The witch smirked at her granddaughter. "You'll do well."
The edge of the forest was now just a few steps away and she sensed her grandmother's strong hands again. The latter spun her, their gazes locked and without words Rim knew what she wanted to say. Morhûn's hand came into sight from underneath her dark robes, she unclasped her fingers. On her palm lay a tiny engraved silver locket, the Sun, trees and blooms decorated the filigreed surface. Overcome with emotion Rimkaur's eyes inundated with tears.
"Thank you grandmother... I..." The words escaped her as tears trickled down and she found herself in the warm, firm embrace.
"For luck and protection, my child." The witch smiled softly. "Now go..." She pressed her lips tightly. "You must." Rim took an unsure, small step towards the tree line, when she spun to take another look`behind her was nothing but the gloom of Fangorn.
x x x
His weathered hand extended over the table unraveling a worn leather scroll.
"...Black Speech." Gandalf pressed his lips. "An offer for bounty."
"What for?" Thorin leaned forth, a few strands of his lengthy, wavy hair fell forward onto the table.
"Your head." The wizard replied bluntly. Thorin's eyes dilated, his brows drew, he gulped and retreated leaning onto the back of his seat overcome with deeply unsettling thoughts.
Whilst the odd duo conversed, someone else had watched them from the tavern's corner. A dark form. Too small to be a Human male, too large to be a Hobbit, yet she was unaccompanied. An unmarked bow and quiver lay on the table next to the figure, as did a plate with untouched bread and cheese. All that was seen was her thin, pallor fingers clenching the side of the bench. Rimkaur had finally found her prize, but she did not find the information that came with it pleasing, not one bit.
You knew that wind wasn't a coincidence did you?!
What do you think Rimkaur will do next?
Black Speech:
Hûnizub- my love (Lit My heart)
Lat - You
Akh - Yes
Morhûn - Black heart