Chapter 5: Orc's Abound
As the armies of the King stood at the Black gate they watched on and cheered as the ground around them fall, taking with it the army of Orc's and the legions that thought in the name of Sauron. They fell to their doom as Mordor fell as well, it was the turn of of the Third age an the start of new beginnings for all.
With the war won and the battle now over, the remnants of Sauron's evil where washed away and the many that followed where now small in number, either choosing to flee form middle earth or find new provinces. But not all in where equal and so the many sprawls of Orc's out side of the Mordor when it collapsed where left to defend for themselves.
The remnant's of a Orc battalion had made a small camp along the Anduin river, either side to them they had the Misty Mountains and Mirkwood. Gathering their numbers and strength as they forged on. Two Orc's sat fishing on the river bank, waiting for their lines to move.
"Has the new boss said where we are going?" he asked his comrade.
"No, but with all these ambushes, do you think taking the Elven city is a good idea."
"Our ancestors used to be elves, our fellow brothers and cousins should let us stay."
"Yeah and brink in their wines."
"Take in their food."
"And bed with their women."
The two started laughing as they thought of the joys to come, as else where in the camp the current leader, an Orc general, stood looking further north.
Another Orc walked over "General the scouts have come back, we are still a few days walk from road, that divides Mirkwood."
"And what of the other scouts?" he grunted.
"They have not yet returned form their journeys east."
"The scouts have not yet returned." he yelled as he swung his arm at him sending him to the floor. "Rashness are low, and we are becoming week." he grunted "With more patrols looking for us, we have no way of…"
A second Orc came running over calling out. "The scout's have returned the scouts have returned."
Spinning around the General made a quick march to the messenger who stopped and fumbled backwards.
"And, what do they have to report?" the general asked.
"There's a safe path though the forest to reach it."
"Good." smiled the General "Have the Scavenger's hunt up some grub, recall everyone else, where heading to our new home."
Dol Guldur, what was ounce the Necromancer's tower now an empty husk stood idle and still in the bane of the wood it calls home. It looked down bellow and watched as Theodore continued running though woods as he grew close to the base of the rocky hill side where it stood.
His hands had not been bound but his spear had been lost, but left in the hands of his elven capture, running fast and fierce he stooped. His breath's where quick and fast as he tried to regain his energy, he slumped down as he rested before looking to the sky seeing birds and in the trees building nests, for their eggs.
Laying still the birds jerked about in their fast past movements as they tried picking up loose twigs form the ground. Getting down on all fours Theodore eyed the small red robin that jumped about as it looked for more sticks. Slithering over he kept ever silent and as the shadow engulfed the bird as Theodore unhinged his jaw and snap down on the creature.
A flurry of stellated birds flew form their perches at the death scream of a fellow bird.
Elizabeth and Vincent began to grow worried as Snarlg slowed in his hunt.
"This is doing no good." thought Vincent "We should try calling out to him."
"Good idea." said Elizabeth, but she paused and Vincent did to.
"What was his name?" she asked.
"I don't think we ever caught his name."
"We should…" she stopped as the wild life went crazy around them as all the birds squawked and fled to the sky.
"That must be him." they said together and raced off towards the origins of the sound.
The small clearing was now quite, as the two entered looking around, Snarlg kept close as Elizabeth held out her hand to his face. Coming around a corner they spotted Theodore as he had his fangs in the robin, as he cupped it's body.
"What are you doing?" asked Elizabeth.
Theodore retracted his fangs pulling them though the bird. "I was hungry, and I thought before I hate it I could use some venom to heat it up to keep warm."
"I've never ounce head of someone using their venom to heat up a dead object, it's always live creatures we use it on, pump them up so much they cook right in our mouths." Vincent replied.
"I was hungry."
"I can see that." reviled Vincent "Go on finish."
Looking away Theodore unhinged his jaw and swallowed the bid whole.
"I will never understand how a child, let alone a hatching swallow an entire parent like that." shivered Vincent.
"We cut them up." said Elizabeth.
"Yes in to smaller chunks, it's not like we're eating meals of a plate."
"Can we go now." said Theodore getting up.
"Yes, uh where's the exit out of the woods." wondered Elizabeth.
"I don't know, I think in the hunt we gotten lost in the woods." pointed out Vincent looking around.
"Can you use your staff."
"Maybe, but I think it's best we find some high ground, or the sun."
"The sun?" asked Theodore.
"We need to head west, the sun rises in the west."
"So we wait for sun to rise."
"Or, set is jut as good."
"If we can see it." pointed out Elizabeth "This part of the forest is not so good for seeing past the canopies."
"Good point." agreed Vincent let's find some higher ground.
And so the four set off ounce again. Exploring the surrounding area Elizabeth still plagued by the question of her guards name chose to keep quite as they looked for some higher ground. They stopped at the base of what seemed like a large rocky cliff face.
"Do think this might help?" wondered Vincent.
"Sure if we could we get up there." retorted Elizabeth.
"All we have to do is find a way up."
"And how are we going to do that."
"Lets walk around the base of this here mountain and see."
"Can't you float us up."
"I could, but at this hight, I'm a little worried for our lives."
"Fine." sighed Elizabeth "Lets find a way up."
Grasping his wound Thanion struggled back up using Theodore's spear to help hold himself up, as he stood up straight his eyes glimpsed at the tip of the spear and saw the light glimmer of the tip in such a way.
"Mithril." he spoke with gasping breath "You, used it for THIS!" he shouted pulling strength form the pain.
Putting his best foot forward, and leaving the ruin in the dragon's wake as he parted in to the woods.
As they made their way around the base of the rocky hill their view gave way to the great structure that sat atop it.
"That seems like a good spot." thought Vincent.
"If we could reach it." Elizabeth reminded him.
"What's that?" asked Theodore.
Looking at the guard, they noticed he was with Snarlg ahead of them, looking up. Walking over they noticed it as well.
"It's rigging for some sort of count wait pulley system."
"One must go up for the other to go down."
A small rudimentary platform was going up as another was coming down, moving in short bursts.
"Do you think we should be leaving?" asked Elizabeth.
"No, we have no qualms with them." said Vincent.
"We didn't with the Eleven."
"Yes, well lest hope out ancestors didn't do the same to these, what ever they may be."
As it grew closer they took a step back, only to see this one was empty and designed to blend in to the shrubs and trees around it.
"Some sort of privative cloaking." said Vincent.
"Can you do nay better."
"Yes with my magic."
Rolling her eyes Elizabeth bordered the small lift, and Theodore and Snarlg where quick to follow.
"Aren't you coming?" asked Elizabeth.
"Yes I'm just seeing about to spell to work to the pulley." he said, as he thought for a moment.
Grabbing him Elizabeth pulled him on before she and Theodore took one rope and Snarlg the other and they both pulled, jerking the lift in to motion, forcing Vincent of Balance. He reached out to two railing on either of the pulley rigs, as he then looked down as they quickly gained altitude.
"A little warning would have been nice." Vincent said standing back up.
"Were in a hurry, and we keep losing time."
"Well if that's the case." smiled Vincent he clanged his staff in to the floor.
The platform shot up and the sudden surge of movement shook everyone off as they stumbled around as they gripped to the sides.
The fortress sat in silence as a small area of an open court yard gave paces to the rapidly approaching platform. Ounce it reached the top it stopped swung a little wile everyone got out and looked around.
"I don't see anyway, we are getting a view form here." said Elizabeth.
"Then we just need a view, to see form." said Vincent.
"Wait." said Theodore.
"What is it?" they asked.
"When we found the platform, it was going up, then are the snakes that used it."
"The boy as good point." said Vincent.
"I'm not a child."
"But you still young."
"Don't start arguing, we need to find a spot form were can see where we are going." said Elizabeth "Now come on."
The four carried on their way, unaware of the creatures watching them from the shadows. They crossed the court yard and climbed some steps to reach a wall that looked over the forest.
"There's little out this way." said Vincent just more woods.
"Wait." called Theodore "What's that past the tower."
Looking beyond the tower that was at the end of the wall's walkway was a clear view over the forest out to the clear field's on the other side.
"Okay so we have out heading." said Vincent.
"Something feels off." said Theodore.
"What makes you say that."
"Why hasn't the queen chimed in."
Spinning around the two saw Elizabeth and Snarlg looking down the bows and blades of the many Orc's that now had them covered on all sides.
"What do we have here." came a voice "Intruder's guest, maybe even dinner it self."
The others all noted someone moving forward though the Orc horde ready to strike. Coming out the Orc looked at the new comers. "What in Middle-Earth are you?"
"We are Vipera-Berus." said Elizabeth "Or Dragon-Kinn in common tongue."
The Orc legions seemed baffled and broke their formation if only slightly.
"And we are Orc's and I am their General."
"General?" questioned Vincent "What is a military occupation?"
"No." he grunted "We where ounce soldiers, but now hunted to almost extinction. Military ranks have become our new hierarchy system." he paused as he came to face to face with Elisabeth "Now, what are you doing here?"
"We came looking for myth…."
"Minthril." corrected Vincent.
"Yeah that."
"Ha, you won't find it here, most of out metal is either scrap or scavenged." he put out his hands to tell his men to lower their weapons.
Complying Elizabeth and Snarlg did the same.
"Why don't you come with me and we'll help you be on your way."
"Why?" asked Elizabeth.
"We want nothing to do with any outsiders, and besides we wound not be bale to cut in to your scales.
Vincent put his hands over the sheath, wanting to conceal the weapon
Walking though the dank halls the General spoke of their history as other Orc's
laboured around.
"We knew that large groups of Orc's leaving though the main entrance would be no good, so we found other ways, to get in to the woods, and made sure to hide them the best we could."
"How long have you been here?" asked Elizabeth
"A few good years, we don't have much, but we make do." he stopped coming to an isolated room. "Here is the chambers you will be staying in, for the time being."
"Oh no we must be on out way." said Vincent.
"No, he insist." as he opening the door and leaving them with their room.
A small and crooked shaped, it was not ideal, the floor was stained in what one could only hope to be rain water. A putrid smell wafted around the lack of windows made it very dark, not all to inviting and it only had a set of chains bound to the wall.
"I'm going to plot our next move." said Vincent making a start on leaving.
"Take Snarlg with you, I don't trust these, things." insisted Elizabeth.
"They remind me of Gnargs."
Elizabeth just went back to looking around the room as as Snarlg and Vincent left the room.
Deep in the woods below Thanion was following their trail as he struggled to keep himself up right using the spear, as a crutch.
Theodore was tolling away in one corner of the room as Elizabeth watched on as she hung by the door.
"I never got you name." said Elizabeth humbly.
Theodore looked back toward his queen, and went back to his own devices.
"After you came to help me, help us. I have never got your name." she said sitting down. "I feel like I own you my respect, and so I only ask of you, your name."
Turing his head around Theodore gave her his name "Theodore."
"What, that's you name?"
"Yes."
"But only such a name is reversed for Nobility, Alistair was chosen to serve as Advisor and so he changed his name, Vincent form birth was said to become a great Artefacter, so how do you serve the crown."
"I serve the crown as it is my birth right."
Elizabeth was throw off guard.
"Your Father Hamilton, was not the first on his line, that belonged to my mother. Born to King Hector, my mother was hatched out of wed-lock. So she was betrayed for not being of full royal blood, passing her legacy on to me with a name of royalty."
"So. What do you do?"
"I guard the pits. Not the most important of tasks to some, but it's a great deal to keep our food safe."
"I, had no idea you where of royal decent."
"That is why, I take my duty seriously. That's why I came all this way, to serve you, to serve my people."
"And you are, we should gather Vincent and Snarlg."
The door swung open, and the General was in the door way, the others looked backed to see him.
"I hope I'm not interrupting."
"No." said Elizabeth standing up.
"Then, I'll delight in telling you we have prepared a meal in your honour."
"What about…" she started.
General stopped her raising his hand "Your friends will be gathered, now come, let us feast."
Reaching out a hand Elizabeth hoped Theodore may take it.
In the deep bowls of the fort's many towers and walls Vincent walked with Snarlg at his side.
"Your ally there." said an passing Orc drooling at the Snarlg. "Is mighty familiar."
"Well, perhaps in some ways you share the same ancestor."
"Hard luck, us Orc's descend form Elf spawn."
"Well, I guess that means, there is little to link you, except happen stance."
The Orc laughed as he passed them going about his business, as he did so Vincent moving his hand to grip the black blade.
The Orc took notice and got closer. "What you hiding there?" he asked creeping in on this hand.