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Chapter Eight
'All Paths lead North'
'Gib mir deine Augen' by Rammstein
The weak rays of the afternoon Sun warmed the wilted grass of the vast plains just barely. It was trampled, compressed into the dry, packed soil. The snow blanketed mountain range delineated the sky in the near distance. The march of the endless sea of the armored bodies produced a steady, rhythmic rumble. The Orc army advanced North at a steady pace. There were so many, their spears resembled a forest, a forest that had suddenly grown feet.
The leader of the vast army sat atop his white beast ten feet ahead of the front line. His massive torso encased in plated, fur-trimmed cuirass. Knife-like steel spokes rimmed his thick neck resembling weapons of their own. The Pale Orc's features were as if chiseled of stone, expression set to bored indifference yet his eyes were alert. He straightened his spine setting his shoulders back to alleviate the muscle fatigue. The small dust cloud on the horizon has notified him of presence, the tiny dot grew quickly and the outline of a Warg rider became clearly visible.
"Taubûrz golugu..." Narzug rode forth attempting to tame his weary, irritated mount. The setting Sun scorched his dark hide transforming his mud-brown braids into a nearly chestnut shade.
Azog's jaws set, his prosthetic arm jut into the air halting the entire army in one regal motion. The hoard transfixed in a flawless formation.
"King's son and the she-elf..." The rider's chest heaved. "They tracked us to Laketown." As he circled on the spot delivering the news, the tip of the leader's arm was poised at the back of his scull.
"Azulnarlat?" The King's face darkened in building fury.
"They fled squealing like filthy cowards..." The Dark Orc hissed attempting to offer a palliation.
"You fool." A grimace distorted the Pale Orc's mouth. "They will return... With an army of Elves at their back." The ice-blue shone with disdain bound rage.
Narzug glowered into his Warg's neck attempting to forget the fact that he had nearly perished himself at he hand of the aforementioned she-elf. The tip of the scimitar arm rested at the back of his neck forcing a drop of black to escape the parted flesh. He haven't moved a muscle, any provocation would spell an instant repercussion.
"Ride to Gundabad..." Azog spun to face away curtly. He circled his mount to cast his glare at the army.
"Let the Legions come forth."
Before the dark-skinned soldier could depart Azog's eyes concealed a spark. "Half-blood is to lead them."
Sitting tall and proud astride his Warg the leader's sword rose into the air deliberately as he faced his vast army once more. For a fleeting moment his features held pride.
"Elves! Men! Dwarves! He bellowed. "The mountain will be their tomb! To war!"
The Pale Orc stilled his arm. The thump still oozed thick black. He gazed momentarily upon the exposed flesh that re-emerged from replacing his prosthetic. Twice as long as the previous version the curved blade was double notched and razor-sharp to deliver instant demise. That blade took to the air sharply, gesturing the hordes forth.
x x x
Standing in the middle of the strait pathway Rimkaur couldn't recall how she got there. Gazing down to her feet she transfixed in terror watching the blackness creep up her limbs.
"Fool." The very familiar chilling voice reiterated in her eardrums. "You have failed already."
The boundless black entity engulfed her body and she felt herself falling... Beneath, - the cellars of the dark fortress. All at once instead of casting her to the ground, now diaphanous tentacles shrank away tossing her up into the chilled air. Tumbling through the nothingness the human landed into the pool of water.
"I didn't know Dol Guldur had a mot..." A bizarre thought crossed her mind as she attempted to swim to safety. However the mirky, blooming waters weren't allowing an easy escape sucking her into their viscid depths. The Shadow hasn't come back to finish her... For an unknown reason swallowed by the swampy waters fully she was able see the Moon casting its silvery rays down upon her suspended frame. His form floated above her, as if a product of imagination or a memory... The deepest blue eyes open wide as if in awe at the unimaginable pain... The human's mouth fell open taking in water...
Rimkaur jerked, her eyes opened abruptly and she squinted at the bright lights. She felt sweltered as if after running for miles, the heart kept thumping wildly against the bones protecting it. The Warg's golden eyes watched her mistress with a curious concern. Rising to her feet slowly the woman shuddered away the frightful memories. She gazed back one last time in the direction of Amon Sul.
"Do you dream, Pafund?" Rim's fingers sank into the inky fur, the beast snorted and leaned in for the mount. "Better if you don't." The woman sighed deeply pressing her lips.
x x x
She halted at the edge of Mirkwood gazing over at the limitless valley spreading ahead of her. The freezing worry took over her stomach weighing her down, she was rooted to the spot. Rimkaur's eyes fell fingers rakes the softness absentmindedly as the dread crept in. None of this was easy yet she couldn't fathom turning back. The jaws set into a tight line, shoulders squared... Her chest was carved out hollow... The one that left had taken her heart with him. Creatures commit insane deeds for love... Hers was to free him...
Rimkaur wasn't naïve... But she couldn't see herself anywhere else. Leaning forward to stroke the wolf's forehead, with a gentle thrust of her boots she nudged her proceeding ahead.
The outline far off on the edge of the horizon wasn't the woodland. Rim crouched beneath the brink of the hill. Her Warg sensed her mistress' emotions, she picked up the pace hence and by the next afternoon they have caught up. In front of them the steel mass of the sea of soldiers traversing forth at a steady pace. The human took in a deep, quivering inhale, fixing her helmet she made sure none of her bright locks had peeked out. Dismounting she faced the large canine.
"This is where you stay, Pafund." The young woman pressed her forehead to the beast's large snout. Her words quiet yet firm. A barely audible rustle of scattered, blown leaves forced her to spin. Pafund lowered her massive head guiltily.
"Nar..." Rim's small hand landed onto her nose. "Stay... Please." A shuddering breath escaped her lungs. "No harm will come to you this way." Hunched over she continued forward without turning back.
x x x
"Tha fuck ye doing her'?" A thick gravelly voice thundered. "Fool." The massive Orc bared his teeth. "Her' carry tha pennant." The warrior shoved the stick into Rimkaur's hands. "Fuckin' Snaga..." He continued spitting profanities under his breath.
She'd reached the back of the formation and being greeted in this way was the best welcome she could have reckoned. They took her as a Snaga male. The human would have wiped the sweat of her brow, but she wouldn't dare to remove her helmet. But this kind of acceptance also hindered her making an attempt to reach the frontlines now that she had a task.
That was all she needed... To face him... She glowered at the warrior by her side.
The end of the day brought another halt to the forces. They stopped at the foothills of the range. The massive rock formation jutted out the mud green soil like broken ribs protruding through a damaged flesh.
The rest was dragged out and shuffling on he spot Rim couldn't see what was transpiring ahead. She let an angry sigh slip out unknowingly which earned her a glare from the soldier to her right.
"Hate yer fuckin' small kind." A pool of saliva landed onto the trampled ground at her feet. "Complain much." Suddenly the soldier's nose twitched, his head cocked left. The eyes widened when his mouth morphed into a toothy grin.
"I smell a broad." His deep red eyes fixed onto the human.
Hiisht's concoction must have been wearing off...
"Ehhmm..." Rim fumbled at the thin dagger at her hip with terror creeping her spine. She gathered herself for her voice to sound as smug and deep as possible.
"I had one... Recently." She bit the inside of her lip.
Unexpectedly to her the giant warrior punched her shoulder forcing her petite frame to slam into the male aback.
"Ye did?" He attempted to confine the thundering laughter. "Ha! I wish I was there!" He continued to rumble as she seemingly gained solidarity amongst the foot-soldiers.
x x x
A massive cavern in front of him, Azog's gaze flicked up at the vaulted ceiling. It bore deep, wide grooves as if eaten out by the colossal teeth. The opening was so wide, a ten rows of warriors could have marched in with little to no effort. A grey skinned rider emerged out of the tunnel.
"Our army will be in position by dawn. The attack will be sudden and swift." He hissed bowing his head considerably while delivering the news.
Azog approached his beast. "Fools." A wicked smirk emerged on the Pale Orc's lips as a booming rumble carried from the womb of the mountain. He sidestepped, a swift jab of his metal arm and a hefty rodent-like critter thrashed at the tip. A grin lit up his dark features as his Warg grasped the tiny carcass gulping it down whole.
"They have forgotten what lives beneath these lands." The Orc general continued to gloat mounting and setting forth. "They have forgotten the great Earth-eaters."
x x x
The night fell upon the landscape unhurriedly, it was starless, impenetrable, not that it mattered to Orcs. Scattered fires littered the wide stretch of land that was rimmed with patches of dense woodland. Excitement and anticipation hang in the air, discussions, curses, drinking, chatter... Everyone sensed the proximity of their goal, the proximity of the enemy. When the last one in the circle around her fire had dropped dead asleep she scoot away cautiously then rose to her feet. Rimkaur circled the extensive formation to the left, searching... For any sign of him... She psyched herself up fearing to face Azog, forcing her appearance to alter in turn aiding her vision. That fear was based in his refusal... Or... The possible drastic mental metamorphosis...
Rimkaur halted, she passed the front lines. A stray moon ray reflected in the black pools of her eyes as she scanned the empty terrain. Absolutely lifeless, not a single thing told her of his presence.
From behind, her petite frame was outlined sharply against the silver light of the newly cloud free Moon. She was swooped of her feet and simply thrown to the rotten leaf packed ground. A stifled growl carried from aback. The woman scampered up quickly. Her chest heaved terribly, it ached from thumping against the stiff cuirass. The towering pale frame stood not few feet away. Something else caught the silver light and the lengthy notched blade came into her view. Without further doubt Rim freed herself of the helmet. She flung it to his feet.
"Lat..?" His word was if accidental, escaped without permission.
"Did you expect someone else?" She couldn't help a sarcastic response measuring his body with her glare. That did not aid the matter, she wanted to remain irate to prove her point, to sway him... But her gaze traversing his body caused the half-human to become weak in her knees. The segmented armor fit his torso like a glove, a much shorter loin-cover and a scull of a large animal decorated his hips, his arm muscles rippled under his skin every time his fingers formed a fist. So soon after their mating... Her insides pervaded with the scorching warmth and she had nearly cursed herself audibly but he thrust her back to reality.
"You must leave." His voice was gruff, he stood motionless as a lonely tree in a land where the winds had seized to exist.
Those words hurt, her jaws squared. "Not without you."
She exhaled with an audible huff stepping nearer, her heavy armor hindered her movement and the woman tore off the breast plates in irritation.
"He has weakened. I felt it. You can attempt to break free. Please try... You must!" The words left her lips in a hurry, her hands twisted in front of her but his eyes had told her it was for nothing, they were sharp and focused but there was something else in their chilling depths.
"No harm must come to you." His expression was plain... Emotionless. Even though, the words he mouthed gave her hope.
"What happens to me if harm comes to you?" A sob was caught in her chest. She tilted her head to expose the bite mark. Fresh, raw, still seeping dark red fluid...
"Did this mean nothing?" She exhaled. "You came back once. Please... Do it again."
Rim's gaze plummeted to the ground as tears began to slowly emerge clouding her vision. He was impervious, it was useless. Her numbened fingers released the faulds attached to her belt, exposing her thighs and the male style loin cover she wore beneath. Her last resort, being a woman...
She approached tentatively yet her first instinct was to shove at his chest. The anger, frustration leaked to the surface... It was as if attempting to move a mountain... After a several efforts the human began punching him. Her eyes and hair had altered black once again as she growled at his immovable form.
"Selfish... You took me, you mate me and you leave... How can I..." When his arm came in her way another burst of ire propelled the small female forward. She leaped up his back nimbly, trapping his arm with her thigh she held on to the sword points decorating the top of his cuirass clamping her jaws onto his nape. Rim was enraged, her teeth had penetrated deep forcing the Orc to flip her with force.
She panted, grunted and arched but he held her down without uttering a word.
"You deserved all of this and more." She scowled attempting another thrust to freedom. "Release me...I will..." She didn't finish. The harsh words simply lodged in her throat. The way he looked at her in that moment, as if for the first time... His remaining hand slipped into her hair. Rimkaur bit the inside of her lip. Why was she so weak...
"You love him..." The voice in her head offered the simple explanation and tears flooded her cheeks.
"What is this for Azog? Blood-thirst, vengeance, pride... Greed..?" He ceased another onslaught of her words. There was no answer from him, perhaps it would be too complex, perhaps he did not know himself. He pulled her in instead trapping her lips with his. She stilled answering his kiss clutching his face in her trembling palms. The Orc pulled her into his lap brushing the salty drops away tenderly with his thick thumb. He unfastened his armor slowly, holding her to his chest until her breathing turned steady, she passed out emotions taking their tall.
x x x
It all had transpired prior. Yes it did... Rimkaur awoke, her face smooshed into the softness once again. She blinked hard, constricted by something she wiggled. It was as if someone inexperienced had tied her or they were meant to be broken easily... The sky was still dark, however the golden rim of the rising Sun had already illuminated the Eastern horizon. A loud grunt of fury parted her lips, she was the only rider. The human gazed aback concentrating her gaze, the white Warg had reached far...
"Stop." The human forced her voice to sound as powerful as possible. She could ask anything of Pafund, however Azog's beast was another story. "I... We need to go back." Rim tugged at the long fur.
She figured he must have given the order to get her back to Moria again. Safety... Rim scowled. Away from everything...
"I'll jump if you won't." The woman threatened and the large wolf picked up the pace.
"Please Naurnink... " Rimkaur leaned forward to bring her face towards the Warg's forehead. "I fear he faces death."
She inhaled as if gathering her courage to mouth the following words. "And if it does I... I..."
With a loud snort the massive wolf came to an abrupt halt, her thick claws raked the earth as she slid over the wet grass. Rimkaur leaped off coming to face the matriarch. With the lack of words she simply embraced the beast forgetting the possible danger.
"Narnûlubat..." She clung to her massive neck. "Let's hurry..."
x x x
Azog felt almost reprehensible holding her in his arms... He knew he failed as a mate. But he couldn't... Could not go without touching her, tasting her, having her... Mating her, before embarking on this march... Starting this war. The night he had her kept flashing back in his mind. The sweetness of her blood, the smell of her arousal, the feel of her skin...
His gaze fell onto her features. She always brought him back to reality if only momentarily. He will not allow anything to happen to her...
The Pale Orc seemed to fail to understand that while he felt his mate duty was to shield her from any harm at the same time hers was to do the same. That's why she accomplished an insane act of following the army.
Why couldn't he simply turn back... Azog failed to produce a sufficient answer. Perhaps he desired to be rid of it all. The pestering, annoying nudge at the back of his neck that the Dwarf was still alive... But the hum of the dark lord was still there seemingly lodged in his front lobe.
"You will lead my armies. Death will come to all." The Orc's lip curled in a tremble exposing his knife-edged teeth, all the senses were blocked except that one of smell, and all that was there for him was the metallic, rancid stench of the liquid that kept dwarf-scum alive...
Taking in a deep, shuddering breath he fumbled at the pouch on the back of his belt unearthing a tiny vile. He poured the liquid onto Rimkaur's lips. It was the valerian root tincture, many soldiers used it to aid with sleep, as it was the only way besides drinking yourself into the ground. He pressed his lips to hers one last time. Azog sat there for a long while his palm on her chest simply feeling the calm pace of her heartbeat.
The white Warg approached deliberately, summoned by her master's call. The bright-haired human was strapped to her back loosely.
"Protect her with you life." His pale fingers slid over the white softness trailing over the bright strands. He nudged the wolf forth.
x x x
The walls of metal smashed together producing a horrid unnerving screech. The Orc army met Dwarves'. Scimitars, yatagans, axes and hammers collided together to produce a mind numbing clangor. All at once the scintillating, elegant figures clad in light flexible armor leaped catapulting themselves over the heads of the frontline Dwarves. Their bows fired with deadly, coordinated precision. The woodland Elves have joined the battle.
Up the ridge in burned out but newly populated Dale the battle of its' own raged street by street. It was no less bloody and death filled, bodies of all races littered the neat cobblestone pathways of the former trading post.
She was in more peril than she could have imagined. Dressed as an Orc, she was in danger of being slaughtered by Men or Elves without a single thought of mercy. If she was rid of the armor she was more likely than not to get attacked by her own kind. Her jaws compressed Rim felt a lump wedge in in her throat as she witnessed the slaughter of this magnitude for the first time in her short life. And for what? Territory? Treasures? Triumph? Any hardly worth someone's life. Attempting not to get consumed by the shock of what unfolded in front of her and the fear for his life Rimkaur clang to the afternoon shadows that lurked in the corners of the town, enwrapping the dead in their eerily calming, concealing blackness. At the partially collapsed wall which bordered Dale something hindered her slow progress. A hand at her ankle, so sudden it made her tumble. Someone grunted, coughed attempting to struggle out from beneath the bodies and the woman used both of her arms rolling the culprit over.
"Durbûrz!" Her eyes dilated. "What are you doing here?"
"Orders little one." The large Orc grunted attempting to sit up. Rim's eyes darted behind her to check for any unwanted company then they returned to the soldier. His left arm was obviously broken, two arrows had stricken his shoulder. Blood oozed from the back of his head. Rim's lips quivered.
"Does she know..?" Her teeth compressed the inside of her lip.
"Course." He nodded, attempting to shake away blurry vision. "Not much choice there."
"Come." Rimkaur tugged his better arm.
"Not much left f'me." Durbûrz resisted. "Ye go. Far from here..."
Rim all but slapped his blood covered face. "You in your right mind? She'll die if you will..." With the sudden furious determination she strode towards the first neighboring human corpse proceeding to tug off the unfortunate victim's outer garb. Dead's man's belt was an improvised tourniquet. The rest was used to conceal the tall Orc's appearance as much as possible.
"That'll have to do." She pursed her lips slightly. "Await darkness. Head for the tunnels the Earth-eaters bore. And don't be a fool." She instructed sternly.
Bûrzkaur's mate nodded proceeding towards the nearest shadow filled corner, before he vanished completely he gazed over his shoulder.
"The winged gonfalon. He's there."
Rimkaur had nearly stumbled once more and the large Orc couldn't contain a warm smile. "Moria. She told me."
The young woman felt her face flush and could barely nod back.
When the Orc was out of view she directed her gaze at her target. The snow blanketed Raven Hill towered like a colossal guard above the battle engulfed valley. Her knuckles turned white, with an audible exhale she headed forth. Not away but closer to danger, closer than ever.
Black Speech:
Taubûrz golugu - Mirkwood/Woodland Elves
Azulnarlat? - And you didn't kill them? (lit. 'Kill Them not you')
Nar - No
Lat? - You?
Naurnink - White Wolf (lit. wolf-white)
Narnûlubat - Thank you (lit. I won't hurt you)