Welcome to the next chapter. This chapter is a little closer to M rated, but not quite. A word of warning here; this chapter includes sexual assault (but not rape). If you are triggered by this or do not wish to read of it, I will put clear markings where it starts and ends. You should still be able to follow the plot, but if you have questions, please don't hesitate to PM me.

Chapter 10

I woke up to something kicking me. "Get up scum, the boss wants to see you." I felt very dizzy and dimly noted my hands and legs were bound; how was I supposed to stand up? Getting impatient, the orc dragged me off the ground and shoved me forward, and I held in a groan.

Taking a quick look at my surroundings, I noted I had been taken to one of the camps Candaith and I had infiltrated previously. I wondered if any of them would recognize me. It was not too far from Weathertop, but there were many small orc dwellings in these hills; Candaith and Saeradan might have trouble finding me. One good thing about traveling with rangers is that I knew they were good trackers. It gave me some hope. I became furious as I saw some of the orcs digging through my bag and handling my weapons.

The orc threw me to the ground at the feet of the one who was supposedly their leader, and I struggled to get up on my knees. I looked up and glared at him. He was large, and I noted with some alarm that it was a Uruk. The symbol of the white hand was painted on his face, and his intelligent eyes were hard and cold.

"Now we can't have that can we?" he growled. He backhanded me and I crashed to the ground, feeling the hard rocks cutting into my face. I barely held back a scream as he grabbed me by my hair and pulled me up to my knees again. "Now, where were we?" He pretended to think, "That's right, I was going to question you."

It took all my focus to force my expression to be blank. The Uruk pulled up a crude chair and sat on it, like it was a throne. Two orcs were on either side of me, holding me firmly in place by the shoulders. "Who else are you traveling with?" he growled.

I debated not speaking, but if I could convince him I was alone, it might give my friends a chance to find me without the added distraction of being hunted. "I travel alone," I said firmly, hoping it was convincing.

The Uruk stared at me for a moment, appraising me, "Many orcs have been killed in this area over the past few months. I think it was you killing them." I looked at him blankly, trying not to give anything away. His expression hardened. "Apologize."

I said nothing, trying my best not to glare at him. He roughly grabbed my face with a clawed hand and put it close to his. I almost gagged at the rank smell of his breath. "Who are you working for?"

Again, I remained silent. His claws dug into my skin, and I could feel blood starting to trickle down my face, "Your silence is grating on me she-elf." He abruptly shoved me away from him, and if it were not for the orcs keeping me in place, I would have fallen over again.

During my training, we were taught the importance of staying silent and refusing to give information to any captors…even under extreme pain and torture. I had friends who had paid a heavy price to keep the secrets of our realm, and I did my best to steel myself for what might come.

He stood up, "Don't bother lying to me, I know you weren't traveling by yourself. Two tarks (humans) were with you." I said nothing, keeping a mask of indifference in place. The Uruk abruptly grinned at me, and I felt a growing sense of unease. "You won't have to worry; we took care of them."

I began to feel panic creeping up on me, and my façade started to crack, "You lie!"

Suddenly a cloak was thrown at my feet, and my heart stopped when I realized was similar to Candaith's. How had the orcs gotten ahold of it? Unless…they were telling the truth?

Anger was taking the place of my panic, "Prove it. Where are their bodies?"

In reply he grabbed me by the throat and dragged me to my feet. "I don't have to prove anything to you. Even if I wanted to, there isn't anything left of them to show you."

*********STARTS HERE**********

I spat in his face. My logic was failing me, and all I felt was rage. The Uruk's ugly grin was wiped away and replaced with fury. He squeezed my neck harder, choking me. He then motioned to one of the orcs, who grabbed me and bodily carried me over to a tree. I fought back as they attempted to tie me to it. Desperately, I tried to speak to the tree and ask for its aid, but either it could not understand me or it did not have a voice to reply. Deciding I had nothing left to lose, I started screaming and thrashing wildly, hoping someone would hear me. Abruptly a dirty wad of cloth was shoved in my mouth, and I almost started retching at the taste.

The Uruk stalked towards me, nodding when he was pleased that I was tied securely. I tried to move my limbs but they were firmly restrained. "Now, I had agreed to kill you quickly if you cooperated, but you didn't listen." He looked calmly at me, his expression promising danger. "I will give you one more chance to tell me who you are working for before things get worse for you." He pulled the gag out of my mouth so I could reply.

"I would rather die than help an orc." I felt a sadistic pleasure in knowing that the Uruk would be especially offended by being referred to as an orc.

His cold eyes became angry, and I knew I had crossed a line. "Then so be it." He turned towards the orcs and made a sweeping gesture at me. "Looks like we'll be having a little fun before we get a taste of some elf flesh." The orcs started laughing cruelly and jeering.

I could not help the fear I felt at what would happen next. I was terrified. I had heard stories of the things orcs would do to women if they were captured, and their hatred of Elves would only make it worse.

The Uruk took a sharp claw and traced a line down my throat to the top of my chest. "Let's see what's underneath these clothes." He abruptly ripped my tunic open, revealing the thick linen that I bound my chest with while traveling for extra protection. He cruelly laughed, "Trying to hide that you're a she-elf are you?" His hands started roaming my chest and back roughly, clearly searching for the end of the linen, and in my panic, I tried to scream through the cloth. The Uruk slapped me across the face again. "Stop screaming or I will cut out that tongue." He said softly, but I could hear the warning in his voice.

I was ashamed to note that I was now crying, as the terror and hopelessness overtook me. I had never shied away from danger. I felt weak.

I decided to focus my mind on something far away from where I was; I didn't want to acknowledge the fingers that were pulling at the laces of my trousers, or the rancid tongue that was licking my neck.

I cast my mind back to happier times. I remembered running around our village as a child, chasing my sister and playing games with my brothers. Dancing with my father in our home, my feet on top of his as he hummed a little tune. My mother singing us to sleep with a lullaby. Maybe I will see you soon.

I dimly noted the fabric around my chest start to unravel, and the claws scratching my back. I thought about the fun times I had with the hobbits in the Shire, as they played jaunty tunes and I clapped my hands in time to the music. Celondim filled my memories; how many times had I found myself lying on my back in the grass, staring at the stars? I pictured Earendil sailing across the sky, and the sound of crickets that hid in the flower beds.

It was harder now to ignore what was happening to me. The Uruk was roughly grabbing my breasts, leaving claw marks all the way down to my stomach. I weakly tried to turn my body away from him, but there was nowhere to go. He grabbed my waist and ground his pelvis into mine, and I swallowed the bile that threatened to choke me.

The Uruk abruptly removed the cloth and whispered, "I want to hear you beg,". I shuddered in disgust, "Never," I whispered fiercely, locking eyes with his and refusing to turn away. I would not sink so low as to plead for mercy from him. Time to be brave now Gwin.

I tried again to think of other things, knowing what was likely to come next, but it was difficult. I had never expected to be violated in such a way, or touched in such places by anyone but a lover. I took a deep breath and started to hum the tune I had heard Candaith singing in the Prancing Pony. It seemed a lifetime ago. I am sorry Candaith…I hope you and Saeradan are still alive. Even as I thought this, I felt despair settle over me. I had no hope left for myself.

I stifled a cry as I felt his claws rake across my bare thighs. I still had my briefs on, but they were quickly ripped to shreds. I could feel the blood trickling down my legs, down my chest, down my back…I was completely exposed. I could hear all the orcs laughing cruelly, urging the Uruk to "finish the job". The shame I felt was unbearable. As I cried, I kept humming brokenly, closing my eyes tightly so as not to see the malice in the Uruk's eyes.

*****************ENDS HERE******************

The Uruk smirked wickedly, "Music won't save you now."

"No, but I will," a familiar voice replied softly, and full of rage.

The Uruk was abruptly pulled away from me and his head went flying from his body a second later. Through my blurry eyes I could see someone fighting the orcs furiously. Behind me someone was tugging at my bindings and I fought back, fearing it was an orc trying to drag me away for himself. "Peace Gwinthilnel, it is Saeradan. Let me help you."

I stilled my motions and allowed him to untie me while the orcs were distracted. Once I was free, he quickly threw his cloak around my shoulders, covering me completely. I removed the filthy cloth from my mouth, but the taste of it was still rancid on my tongue. "I must help Candaith. Can you climb this tree? The higher you are the safer you will be until we can safely leave this place."

I nodded woodenly, pulling myself up through the branches mechanically. Once I was as high as I could safely go, I curled up in the branches and made myself as small as possible. I could hear the sounds of battle below me but I didn't dare look. I knew the carnage would be gruesome; Candaith and Saeradan were likely enraged, and a warrior who is enraged can cause serious damage. Luckily, I knew them both to be able to focus in battle even when emotions ran high.

I found myself dozing off, but shook myself awake each time. I needed to be focused in case I had to move quickly. Despite this, I felt pain and powerful emotions creeping over me. Joy that my friends were alive and had found me, shame in how they found me, anger at what had happened to me, frustration at my inability to defend myself, satisfaction that I refused to give anything away…all of these things warred within my mind. I knew I was bleeding from the multitude of claw marks and had bruises from being pushed around, but I paid them no mind at the moment. I wondered if a person could feel too much.

After what seemed like ages, I heard Saeradan softly call my name. "The orcs are dead, and it is safe to come down. Do you need help?"

I shook my head but, realizing he couldn't see me very well, replied, "No, I can make my way down." Slowly and carefully I descended through the branches. Saeradan was nearby in case I fell. Once my feet hit the ground, I found I couldn't look him in the eye. "Are you and Candaith well? Were you injured?"

I could feel Saeradan's worried gaze on me, and waited for him to reply while I continued to look at the ground. "We are well. Just a few scrapes and bruises." The words made me wince; I knew I must be covered in them.

I cast my gaze around the area, moving purposefully away from the tree that had been my temporary prison. "Where is Candaith?"

"He is disposing of the bodies."

Nodding, I replied, "I suppose we should return to camp? Is it far from here?"

"No, just up the ridge."

Slowly I started to walk that direction. I let out a whimper as I saw the tatters of my clothes on the ground. "Saeradan, my gear should be around here somewhere. Could you fetch it for me?" My voice was shaking.

Saeradan hesitated, "It is not wise to walk alone in this area; I would appreciate it if you could wait while I gather your things."

He must think I'm weak. I can't even defend myself from some orcs. I nodded again and waited while he looked around, eventually returning with my weapons and pack. "It has been rummaged through, but I was able to reclaim some things that were not damaged."

"Thank you," I murmured quietly.

As we walked, I found myself feeling weaker and weaker; clearly my injuries were catching up to me. Eventually I stumbled and sank to the ground. I knew I had lost a lot of blood, and was certainly dehydrated. It wasn't like the orcs offered me any water, but even if they did, I would not have risked drinking it. Saeradan hurried over to me and I slumped against him. "Gwinthilnel, let me help."

I shakily stood up and tried to continue walking, but even with his aid I found my legs simply did not want to hold my weight. "I-I just need to rest f-for a moment," I stammered. Something was not right. The cuts felt like they were on fire. I felt dizzy, and remembered the wound on my head from when I was captured; it was possible I had a concussion. Saeradan picked me up swiftly and hurried back to camp; I was too tired to do anything but let blessed unconsciousness overcome me.

Thanks for reading, I know it was a little intense and I had some difficulty writing it. Drop a review if you'd like.