Paths That Lead Home (LotR F.F.)

Chapter 18: Alive, but at a Cost

Cathy's POV:

A smack to the face woke me up.

A hot shot of pain exploded across my cheek, jerking me awake from my dreamless sleep. I reached up to caress my cheek when I realized that my hands were bounded. A second later, after the pain on my cheek lessened, my head began pounding.

"Get up," snarled a voice, which didn't help my headache.

"What?" I mumbled. I then looked up and met five of the ugliest faces I have ever seen. One of the orcs raised their scabbard to my throat, with a scowl.

"Get up," he snarled again, pressing the scabbard deeper into my throat.

I nodded and scrambled to my feet, ignoring my throbbing head.

"Try anything, and we will not hesitate to kill you, she-wizard."

I raised my hands to show that I will behave.

The orcs began walking, with one behind me with his sword at my back. I stumbled along at first, but soon found my footing. After a few minutes, the orcs began running, meaning that I had to run. Which worsened my headache. We were surrounded by trees and seemed to be going deeper and deeper into the forest as the trees grew closer together. The forest was dark, but if I looked up, I could see little streams of sunlight peaking from behind leaves.

What happened? Last when I was fully conscious, I was with Abby and Boromir-

Boromir!

His name entered my mind and would have stopped me in my tracks if it wasn't for the orc's sword behind me. Boromir. Last I saw him he had three arrows sticking out of him. I tried to get to him. To heal him, but there were too many orcs between him and I. To be honest, I didn't know if I could have healed him, or if healing him would have kill me.

But Abby, I don't know where she, Merry, or Pippin are. Nor Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship. Are they alive? Or are they... A picture of Aragorn's lifeless body entered my mind. I immediately pushed it out. If anyone is going to live through this thing it is going to be Aragorn.

Then again, I said the same thing about Gandalf and look where he is at.

How could I have been so irresponsible? When Frodo woke me and told me that there were orcs in the forest and that Abby and Aragorn were fighting them, I didn't hesitate to run in blindly. Although, I did tell Frodo to stay at the camp and to stay hidden before running off. But then, I saw Abby who was being chased by the orcs and I had to go help her. I didn't see Aragorn, Legolas, nor the others until Abby and I ran to Boromir.

The worst part? I didn't handle the magic responsibly. I knew that every time I use it, it drains me. I'm still learning how to yield it, and I should have used my sword instead of my staff. Stupid! And it has gotten me captured going to God knows where.

Speaking of where my captors are taking me...

"Where are you taking me?" I asked. My voice sounded dry like I haven't had any water in days. "How long have I been out?"

They didn't answer.

"Please. Where are you taking me?"

"Saruman," one growled reluctantly.

I nearly tripped. "Saruman? As in the wizard? What does he want with me?"

"Quiet!"

I gulped as panic rose within me. What does Saruman want with me? Does he want to use me? Does he want to personally kill me? He didn't send that little army of orcs at us to just to kidnap me, right? I think he was after the Ring, which I totally get. But me? What's so special about me? The guy barely knows me!