Hey readers! There has been an issue on the website where alerts weren't being sent to email inboxes when stories were updated. It seems to be resolved for some people, so I'm going to post this and see what happens. Hopefully you'll get an alert!

More 'fun' with Morflak, and Gwin sees Candaith doing something which makes her heart clench in worry and fear. Enjoy!

Chapter 113

Exhausted, I nodded tiredly and followed, trying not to drag my feet as we moved upwards. I noticed with some surprise that we were moving towards the entrance, which would lead back up to the surface. He pulled me aside into a dark alcove and leaned in close, to my disgust. "There are larders in the buildings that line the Ring, and that's where the good food is kept. The largest one is within the guard-house," he motioned towards some stairs. "Those steps lead to the door. You've seen the slop they feed us here. The good stuff is saved for the guards at the gate, and I want some of it."

"You want me to sneak into the guard house, collect some food, and return here unseen?" I clarified, my mind racing. This would be the perfect opportunity to scout the area we would possibly be traversing when we attempted our escape! It was a stroke of good luck, something which had been in short supply lately. I stopped myself from asking why he couldn't just go get the food himself, for this was something I needed to do in order to help get us out of here.

"Yep, it shouldn't be too hard," Morflak said nonchalantly. "I'll keep the others busy while you sneak past the ones by the steps, but you'll have to handle yourself while in the larders."

Working in congruence with a Uruk was making my head spin, but it seemed it would be the key to getting on Morflak's good side, which was critical. "Very well," I murmured, squaring my shoulders and steeling my resolve.

"That's the spirit," he growled. "I might even share some of the loot with you." This is quite an odd conversation.

Letting Morflak go first, he engaged some Uruks and orcs in a boisterous conversation, leading them off the road and allowing me a clear path to the steps. I climbed them silently, listening closely for anyone who might be coming from in front or behind. There were places to duck into the shadows on the wide staircase, and if we ascended it in small groups, we might be able to get by unseen. It was a short climb until I got to the larder door. It was propped open, and I slipped inside without needing to move it.

My eyes widened at the shelves and shelves of food. Not just bread and dried meat, but whole roast chickens, and many fruits and vegetables. Salted meat was hanging from hooks, and I even spotted a few barrels of pipe weed…from the Shire? Determining I didn't have the time to consider how this was possible, I grabbed a large burlap sack I spotted, and cast my eyes around the large room. There were a few orcs on the other side of the room, and another was lazily walking back and forth, but not paying much attention. Ducking behind a shelf, I reached up and carefully filled the sack with a variety of things I figured a Uruk would like, including meat, hard cheese, and bread. I doubted they had any interest in green things, but I did throw in a few apples for myself, should he let me have them. Candaith and Lothrandir would appreciate the treat.

Once my bag was full, I crept stealthily out the way I came, grateful I had not been spotted. Sticking to the shadows, I tip toed down the stairs. I could hear Morflak's distinctive voice as he continued to distract them, but he caught me slipping past him out of the corner of his eye. Once I had returned to where he had told me of the plan, I only had to wait a few minutes before Morflak joined me.

"What do you think?" I asked, holding the sack open for him to see.

His eyes widened in excitement, and I knew I had done well. "This is much better than slop, little Elleth," he mumbled, and shoved half a loaf of bread into his mouth. After he managed to swallow that down, he continued, "Those who serve Morflak are rewarded." He appraised me for a long moment, and I wondered what he was thinking. "I'll walk you back to your cell, and give you some of what's in here."

Flabbergasted at the strangeness of what was happening, I followed behind him, trying to look as unobtrusive as possible. Morflak looked intimidating as he stalked forward, and I could tell the other Uruks and orcs respected or at least feared him. As we went along, I suddenly felt a crushing pain in my chest, as if someone was stepping on it. I quickly realized it was Candaith's pain, and I nearly panicked as I struggled to draw breath into my lungs. However, I had to keep moving, or Morflak would probably reprimand me. You can breathe, just keep breathing. Eventually the pain faded to a dull ache as I focused, but I felt little flickers of it on other parts of my body from time to time. Was Candaith currently in a fight? I could do nothing but suppress the urge to call out to him via our souls; I did not want to distract him, should he be engaged in battle. I was listening to see if I could hear any fighting, but it was loud in the Caverns below Isengard, and I could pick nothing out.

However, I had no need to look for him, for Morflak and I found him instead.

There was Candaith, fighting sword to sword with a Uruk-hai even more massive than Morflak. I could see the blood running down Candaith's arms and legs in small rivulets, and he was hunched over slightly from his blow to the chest. I gasped and tried to run to him, but Morflak roughly grabbed my arm to hold me back. "It's not your fight, she-elf," he growled. I had to bite my tongue to stop the harsh retort I had wanted to say. "Looks like he's going up against Hoital," he said in disgust. "The cretin has been trying to take my place for far too long, and I hope this ranger does him in."

I stayed out of Candaith's line of sight; I knew if he spotted me, it would distract him, and cause him to make a mistake which could cost him his life.

"You're one of Fasch's new pets, are you?" Hoital shouted, spitting out blood from where Candaith had clearly hit his face with something. "Well, the way I see it, you'll end up the same as all the others. And maybe I'll be the one to help you on your way!" Candaith remained silent, focused and calm as he stood gripping the borrowed sword. With a roar, Hoital met Candaith's sword with his own, and they locked for a moment before Candaith freed himself. My jaw dropped as he did a move I had taught him myself, which I had used during the fight with the Uruk in Lhanuch. Rolling so he was behind Hoital, Candaith cut the Uruk's hamstrings, and as he collapsed, stabbed him in the back. I saw the light leave Hoital's eyes before he hit the ground. There was a roar of applause and surprise from the Uruks and orcs who were watching, and Candaith staggered to his feet. A waterskin was thrown to him, and he drank it greedily before finally catching sight of me. Before he could do anything, I shook my head slightly. "I am well, Candaith. We will speak again when we are reunited in our cell. Are you ok?"

"I have been better, I must admit." He looked away from me, and I could tell he did not want me to worry. "Hopefully they will let me tend to my wounds."

I sighed. "I will help you, when I can." I sent him what I hoped were feelings of comfort in his soul, and I saw him smile slightly.

"See you soon." With that, someone led Candaith away, but I could not tell where he was headed, for it was not towards the dungeons.

"I bet he's got more fighting to do," Morflak mused, and he gripped my arm as we continued on. "I told Fasch which Uruks were attempting to do me in, and he volunteered to get them out of the picture." He gave me what might pass as an apologetic look, but on the face of a Uruk, it didn't quite come across that way. "Looks like it ended up being your mate who fights them."

"How many more?" I ground out, trying to stay calm.

Morflak shrugged. "Two more, I think. Matum and Golb." He frowned, "They are as dirty as a Uruk can be, which is saying something. Will kill anyone for any reason, no matter how stupid it is. Luckily, they are as dumb as a bucket of rocks, so if the ranger is crafty, he shouldn't have too much trouble killing them."

Finally, we reached my cell, and as he let me inside, he pulled several food items out of the burlap sack. "Here's some extra for the ranger; I owe him for what he's doing." He barked a laugh. "I hope he's alive to enjoy it!" Fuming, I nodded tightly. "Ulguth will be back in the morning to get you for another fun day in Isengard." With that, he locked the door and strode away.

"Gwin?" I heard Lothrandir call to me. I looked around nervously, but no guards came to reprimand him. I hadn't realized we were actually close enough to speak; we had been doing the bird calls because of it.

I moved closer to the bars, an apple in my hand. "Lothrandir, look at me." He did so, and noticed the fruit. I tossed it, and he caught it neatly with a shocked smile.

"How did you get this?" he asked.

"A lucky break," I replied, not wanting to explain everything quite yet. Lothrandir just nodded, giving me another smile before singing a Lossoth melody. I could hear it faintly, and it brought me much comfort, for I was beginning to feel more intermittent pain, as Candaith's battles continued. Nibbling on some bread, I tried to find a way to draw Candaith's pain away from him, but realized the connection did not work in reverse, like I hoped. We could only dim the pain of the one who was not experiencing it. "Meleth, do not waste energy trying to keep this pain from me. I can manage."

There was no reply, and I curled up in a ball, in fear for my husband and angry at Morflak for indirectly causing this. While I appreciated the food, I had to remember he was a creature born of evil, and he did things for his own benefit first. If it helped me as a consequence, he was fine with that, but he didn't really care about me as a person; just someone to use for personal gain. Lothrandir was eyeing me with concern, but did not ask questions of me just yet.

"Please bring him back to me," I whispered. "Please…" I shivered in the chill dampness of the dungeons, and wrapped myself in the cloak Candaith had left behind today. I closed my eyes and let Lothrandir's gentle tones lull me into an uneasy reverie.

Gwin got a lucky break, but Candaith not so much. Hopefully the Uruks don't beat him up too badly, but we'll just have to wait and see! Thanks for reading, and leave a review if you have a moment, so I know you've been able to read it!