PASSING SHADOWS|| BOOK II

III

•"So you wanna start a war"•

I sighed, shifting uncomfortably. I was out of that torture chamber, but my legs ached, and I seriously thought my neck would snap when I got out. Well, when they dragged me out. After spending an entire day inside there, I could barely walk

It was easier for them to get me to comply, I was too exhausted to do anything and too hungry to complain. All they'd given me were scraps of food. I felt horrible when I thought about Merry and Pippin getting the same treatment.

At least I was near them now. But still separated.

I sigh, shifting uncomfortably. My wrists are bound tight, and so are my legs. Merry and Pippin lie opposite me, both solemn and afraid. The Uruks have forbid us from talking, so I can't even crack any jokes to keep us going. Still. The silence gives me time to focus.

Every single one of my escape attempts has failed, but I am determined to get us out of here. We need to leave soon, or we'll all starve to death before we reach anywhere near Isengard. I knew the Rohirrim were going to attack, but I wasn't taking any chances.

The party once again halted at sundown. The smoke from the fire invaded my nostrils along. Mauhúr, takes Alguth (the bright green eyed orc who hates me) off towards the side, though thankfully, the breeze is enough to carry his voices towards me.

Mauhúr informs him that he's taking another Uruk to scout a route ahead...

And leading him in charge.

I shivered. Mauhúr still terrified me, but at least I could trust that he wouldn't lay a finger on me. He had to deliver me to Saruman unharmed. I was sure that Alguth, on the other hand, would make an exception to that rule.

Mauhúr and his consort soon leave, and Alguth plants himself firmly between Pippin, Merry, and I, and snarls whenever I so much as look in their direction. I eventually give up looking at them, and feign being interested in the sky, eyes glinting.

I didn't wanna go back into the torture chamber. Couldn't. I could handle...handle being out of the open. But in there, it was so dark and musty. There, I smelt my fear and watched my panic come alive. The only thing I was grateful for was the fact that I had iron bars. At least I could see the world go by and know that time was moving. And that I wouldn't be stuck there forever.

Everything is surprisingly tranquil until a fight breaks out, caused by two drunken Uruks.

They're up by the fire, insulting each other in their foul tongues and pushing and shoving.

A crowd quickly forms around them in glee as Uruks growl and snarl and cheap, chanting things like "Fight!" And "Rip his hair out!"

Alguth curses underneath his breath and orders an Uruk guard to join him as he attempts to restore order.

They move off toward the fire, and I spot them trying to shove their way through the crowds.

And it was then that I knew we had to act.

There was another Uruk guard left behind who merely paced back and forth between us. Noticing something in my peripheral vision, my eyes discreetly flickered to an arrow beneath me. It must have fallen out of the other Uruk's quiver. I smiled. Maybe I could use this to my advantage. Quietly, I slipped the arrow behind me and rubbed its side against my rope. It took more effort than I had initially expected, but the adrenaline fuelled me on. I didn't want Alguth to have come back by the time I was done. That would make it harder to escape.