Of Swords and Fire (Percy Jackson/LOTR)

Chapter 8: In the dark

What chapter title should this be? Comment here! Sorry for being off for so long.

The small creature ran to the base of the tree in which Percy was currently hiding. It began to climb up the tree. Percy tensed, readying for combat mode when a shrill hoot sounded the dark air. The tall figure growled in exasperation at the small figure, which was metres away from Percy, only hidden by a thin layer of leaves. For the first time, the figure's voice was audible. It was like if a cement mixer that was on could talk. "For the last time, Granukk, you do not eat owls! We do not want interruption on our way." The small figure muttered something to the tall figure, which then laughed – a horrible, raspy sound that made Percy shudder. "Men? In this forest? Currently? Speak once more time, and I will have your head." The small figure nodded in meek assent.

The army started the marching once again, and just like that, they were gone.

The owl settled down on the tree-branch Percy was leaning on. It hooted in a patronizing way, like: "Where's my thank you for saving your sorry butt?"

"Thank you." Percy grumbled. He could imagine the owl saying in a disdainful manner. "That's all I get? No worms? Fine. I won't rescue you next time."

"Oh, shush. Where to next?" Percy said to the owl.

The owl just sat on the tree-branch with a supreme (supremely annoying, Percy thought) expression on it's face. "Do you want to give me rewards now?" It seemed to be asking. Percy sighed at the owl for what seemed to be the millionth time. "Let's make a deal. Another bucket of assorted bugs when we get to Erebor." The owl hooted, like nope. "A bucket and a half?" The owl hooted 2 times. "Not 2 buckets. A bucket and a half. That's the best I can offer." The owl looked away, pretending to be put off. "Oh my gods! You are so annoying!" Percy threw his hands up in the air. "Fine. I give up. 2 buckets it is." The owl once again put on that stupid supremely triumphant expression and twittered past the trees. Percy ran after it.

________Aragorn_______

The bugle played, and the army started marching east. Aragorn was riding in the front, with the 2 hobbits and the dwarves. They were all dressed up in the finest armour Arnor could offer. "When do we get there again?" Asked Pippin.

Aragorn smiled. "My dear Pippin, the war counsel has said that about 6 times now,"

"Well, yes, but you know I only listen to you, my king." Pippin replied.

"You have polished off your flattery, haven't you?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. So, when do we get there?"

"55 days and 23 hours remaining."

The conversation fell into silence, and the only sound was the clanking footsteps of the iron-clad soldiers. 2,000, to be in exact.

"56 days?!" Cried out Pippin in shock.

"55 days and 23 hours, actually." Said Aragorn calmly.

The hobbits, after a full day of riding on horses, sat in the prop – up tent with Aragorn. It was quite royal for a tent, really. But obviously, not as comfortable as their old homes. "So. How was your day of riding horses?" He said to the hobbits. The hobbits grimaced. "My backside feels like a sack of the old Gaffers potatoes." Merry complained. "Ah well, you'll get used to it." Said Aragorn with a grin on his face.

Aragorn felt – young again. Riding the forests and wandering once more. No restraints, no wearing royal robes – that feeling was rejuvenating. He sat close on the highly polished wooden chair. He frowned, took off his cape and went outside. His high guards followed him. It was their jobs to do so, but it was seriously annoying. Especially when he went to go to the toilet.

"No. I order you to stay here." He said to the 2 guards. They frowned. "But Queen Arwen ordered us-"

He put his hands up to both helmets of the guards. "Well, this can be our secret." The guards gulped, then nodded in assent.

_______Percy_______

He strode with the owl under the canopy of the trees. Soft moonlight covered him, encasing him with it's silvery warmth. Following the owl made him tired, but thanks to Artemis's blessing, thank goodness, he was able to follow the owl. "Doesn't it ever stop?" Percy grumbled. He tripped on a rock, landing face-first in a large pile of mud. He stood up with mud still dripping off him. "You just had to follow the rockiest, muddiest and most difficult path." He shot at the owl, who stopped. Then he noticed the view.

Fire burned in the valley below. Small dots moved to and fro in between. Many penny sized war machines stood before a magnificent door made of light blue azure. A huge, boar shaped ram hanging from several crude hooked chains battered the entrance. Figures of hunch backed giant pushed the battering ram back and forth.

He didn't know if owls could have smug faces, but this one seemed to. Maybe it got it's traits from Athena, who made it. "Alright. You can stop now." Percy said to the owl, who seemed to get haughtier by the second. Fires flickered down in the valley below

A cold wind blew through Percy as he was about to go into the valley below. He frowned and turned behind him. There were several shadowy figures, lurking by the trees. He instinctively grabbed Riptide, but that fell out of his hand. His grip was too weak. He suddenly felt exhausted and kneeled over. The owl was nowhere to be seen. His vision turned blurry, and he fell over completely.

The figures moved closer, closer until they were in reaching distance. He tried to mutter something, but all he could manage was a weak "Urghh..." The figures began to drag him, into the shadowy forest. Then he slipped off into the realm of Hypnos.

_____Aragorn_____

The hobbits gathered around the crackling fire that Aragorn had made. They were heating up a large pot of stew over it. "Ahh, this is great." Said Merry when he began ladling the stew to himself, then Merry and Aragorn. There was a considerably larger amount of the food on his plate then everyone else's. "Merry," stated Pippin, frowning. "Why do you have so much more food than me?"

"What?" Said Merry innocently, shovelling the stew into his mouth. Pippin began moving his spoon toward the larger portion of stew. "HHM MH!" Cried out Merry, with his mouth still full and began ferociously defending the invading spoon with his own. Meanwhile, Aragorn chuckled between the two of them. "When a hobbit needs to fight, all you have to do is to have them hungry!" Pippin laughed at this. "Or perhaps take away their pipe-weed!" A glop of stew launched high into the air, and landed directly on Aragorn's forehead. The glop slipped down his forehead, where it then drooped down on his nose, landing on the dirt.

Aragorn looked murderously at Merry. "Did one just fire at the high king of Fornost?" Aragorn said in a mighty voice. Merry gulped down his stew. "B-by accident, yes." Aragorn considered this for a moment. Then he cried, " Then the high king of Fornost will fire back!" And he began pelting both of the hobbits with stew. Pippin gave a yelp of surprise, and ducked behind a log. Merry, with a lot more ammunition then both of them, began firing upon the king. Soon they were covered in stew, when the 2 high guards barged into view. "Elessar! We heard shouts and we came –" They stopped abruptly when they saw the king of kings, covered in what appeared to be a delicious form of beef stew.

Then Pippin fired a volley of high projectile apples, each one hitting the tall peoples. "Ha! I gotcha back!" Shouted Pippin behind the log.

"Only took you about 30 years!" Shouted Aragorn back. The guards have seemed to accept what they where seeing. "For the king!" they yelled, and took out a packet of beef jerkey. Needless to say, the first ever food fight in the realm of middle – earth had occurred.