Daughter of the Shapeshifter (A Lord of The Rings Fanfiction)

Chapter 23

*Aragorn's Pov-

"Legolas, can you see them?"  Legolas stood there, looking over the terrain.

"They're taking the hobbits to Isenguard.  However, I can't see Era.  Either they killed her, or they're still carrying her."  Gimili frowned.

"If they're carrying her, they must have drugged her.  There's no way they would have been able to take her without a fight."  I nodded, remembering how she had nearly killed me that first night.

We'll find her, Boromir...  We'll find her and kill the Orcs for killing you.  I nodded to Legolas.

"Lead the way, Legolas.  Don't lose them."

*Pipin's Pov-

By the time we finally stopped, Merry and I both were weary and worried about Era.  I swallowed hard as I watched one of the Orcs set her down on a rock.

"I don't think she'll wake up any time soon..."  I crawled over towards her and felt her forehead.  Her skin was a little feverish, but she was alive.  I glanced up at the Orc guard, who glared at me.

"Get along, halfling..."  I stood and covered Era with my cloak.  Sitting beside Merry, I watched her carefully as he whispered to me.

"How is she?"  I shook my head.

"She feels like she's running a fever, but it may be from the drug."  He sighed and ran a hand across his forehead, ignoring the argueing Orcs around us.

"She has to be okay...  We'll never make it on our own."  I nodded in agreement.

If Era dies, we're as good as dead, but I knew it wasn't just because we were helpless...  We both were very fond of her, and we knew it.  To see Era die would be to lose what little light the moon provides on the darkest nights.  She was our friend, and we needed her as much as she needed us right now.

"Let's just eat the hobbits..."  I jerked and looked up at the Orcs around us.  Several nodded in agreement as their leader shook his head.

"Master wants them alive, you fools!"  Before much of a fight could break out, he killed one of the Orcs, and they began to feed.  I found a knife and cut my bonds and helped Merry free himself.  I started towards Era when I found myself face to face with an Orc.

"No one will pay any attention to you, halflings..."  As he raised his blade, he was blindsided.  Pulling herself to her feet was none other than Era, who looked a little out of sorts, but she glared at the Orc she'd just attacked.

"You touch the hobbits again, and I'll rip out your heart and shove it down you're throat..."  I smiled a little as she turned to us.  "Run...  Head for the woods.  They won't follow you there."  I nodded and followed Merry into the woods, trying to ignore the sound of horses behind us...

*Era's Pov-

"Let's just eat the hobbits..."  No...  I couldn't let it happen.  I don't care what the Orcs did to me.  I had to help Merry and Pippin, who I'd sensed were here as well.

"Master wants them alive, you fools!"  I opened my eyes slowly and saw the Orcs start fighting.  Sitting up groggily, I attempted to make sense of where I was and what was going on.  All around me, the Orcs were speaking in their foul tongue, but Merry and Pippin had to be around here somewhere...

"No one will pay any attention to you, halflings..."  I saw the Orc raise his blade and felt a sudden burst of energy as I launched myself at him, blindsiding him.  Getting up, I glared at the Orc.

"You touch the hobbits again, and I'll rip out your heart and shove it down you're throat..."  I turned and saw the hobbits staring at me and continued.  "Run...  Head for the woods.  They won't follow you there."  As they left, the Orc began to shriek.

"She's up!  She's awake!  We have to kill her!"  I roared and shifted into a wolf, tearing at whatever I could reach.  The sound of horses brought me back to my human form.  I turned and saw several horsemen riding right towards us.  They smelled vaguely familiar, but it may be because I've passed by so many humans with Mother...

"Look out!"  I swallowed a snarl as I turned to face the charging horseman and ducked his swinging blade.  I heard a thump and turned to see an Orc's head drop to the ground.  I looked up and eyed the man who'd saved me from the attack.

"Thank you..."  He dismounted and removed his helmet, staring at me.

"Do I dare hope you are Skyrena of the Woods?"  I frowned as I tilted my head to the side.

"You may hope, but I fear those hopes are futile."  He smiled a little.

"Then you are Era of Lothloria..."  My frown deepened.

"If I were, how would you know?"  He chuckled a little as he turned and beheaded an Orc.

"Skyrena of the Woods told my uncle, king of Rohan, about a beautiful, half dwarf, half shapeshifter who she left in Lothloria by the name of Era whenever she stayed in Rohan."  He shrugged as he nodded to a few of the men.  "I am Eomer...  Eomer of Rohan.  And you, I can rightly assume, are Era of Lothloria, daughter of Skyrena of the Woods."  I frowned as my hand rested on the necklace Mother gave me.

"Pleased to meet you, sir..."  This guy did save me from the Orcs...  "I need to find my companions."  The man chuckled as he shook his head.

"No, my dear girl...  You must rest."  As I frowned, he nodded as he looked me up and down.  "From what I can tell, the Orcs drugged you."  My frown deeped even further.

"You were watching us...?"  He laughed this time, so heartily I couldn't help but smile.

"Of course.  A large pack of Orcs is suspicious enough...  When we saw they were carrying a young maiden and hadn't seemed to kill her, we wanted to first make sure you were safe."  He shrugged a little.  "As in we wanted to see if you were dead or about to be eaten."  I rolled my eyes as he puffed out his chest.  "Either way, danger or no, I would have come."  The way he said it reminded me of Boromir...