In the Shadows I Stay

Chapter Ten - Ruled by Rings and Horses

"Frodo?" Boromir whimpered again, his bottom lip quivering "What have I done?" He asked I crouched down to join him.

"Boromir relax, if you are like this it will be easier for the ring to take over you." I declared placing a hand over his heart "You will find strength here" I said again "Trust me I know" just then Merry and Pippin ran over to us.

"Boromir, El have you seen Frodo?" Merry asked quickly I nodded, "Yes he is safe Faron is with him" I stiffened as a horrible smell filled the air, I turned to see a towering Orc looking creature. 'Oh Valar' I thought in horror.

Merry and Pippin ran back through the forest to find Frodo I assumed. I heard Uruk hai feet coming from the direction the two short Hobbits had run in "Boromir follow them, I will hold these ones off" I said stabbing a close by creature, Boromir nodded and ran off to help the Hobbits.

I heard three short hoots on a horn and slowly made my way to Boromir, dispatching Uruk hai left, right and centre, I was suddenly overwhelmed with Uruk hai when I reached him and was grabbed by a large group of the foul beasts. I saw a large one shoot Boromir, screaming I lurched forward but the grip that held my hands behind my back never slackened, in fact it increased, a bang sounded on the back of my head and I blacked out the sight of Boromir fighting with an arrow in his chest burned into my mind.

'I stood on a hill looking over the ruins of the battlefield, bodies lay strewn over the bloodstained grass and a disarray of swords and spears stood in various bodies. The loss. The death. The hope and life all gone, but all would not be in vain while I still drew breath, I let out a gigantic howl and a thousand Hasiduririan wolves gathered in front of me, all battle ready. "This is what you will have if you join me" A voice said echoing in my head "Come let me see your mind" I looked closer at the bodies before me. Legolas's blank face peered up at me, Aragon's body lay a stone's throw away from us. I looked down and saw the sword at my side, the black blade dripping with blood.

At that moment I woke up, just in time to see a leaf fall from Pippin, his cloak buckle, pure genius that Hobbit is. I thought to myself crumpling my nose as the scent of the foul creatures hit me. We ran till sundown when the Uruk hai stopped, complaining one of them said

"We're not going no future till we've had a breather" The leader commanded for a fire to be stated and the Uruk holding me dropped me roughly next to Merry in a the rush to do his commanders bidding, I quickly checked over Merry as Pippin crawled to us concerned for his friend "I think we may have made a mistake in leaving the shire Pippin" Merry whispered.

A groaning filled the air as the filthy Uruk-scum attacked the trees "What's making that noise?" Pippin asked.

"It's the trees" Merry told him amazed.

"What?" Pippin asked back.

"You remember the old forest..." I listened to Merry tell his tale as I watched the Uruks banter among each other, I pulled a blade from my boot and sawed through my bonds slowly as they began to circle around us. We were pulled to our feet and stuck in the middle of the fight that was sure to occur, I stopped sawing and stuck my knife into my belt next to my carefully hidden sword.

The leader beheaded one of the beasts that wanted to eat us and a holler went up in the crowd as the pounced on the newly fallen body of their comrade.

"Go, make for the forest and make sure to mention my name if you come across Tree..." I was cut off as part of an intestine landed on me "Go" I whispered and they crawled off.

I stood as one particularly filthy Uruk made its way to Merry and Pippin and unsheathed Faen carch (White fang) and bringing it into an arc to slice off the creature's neck, and turning I let out a small war cry and began my killing spree. Luckily for me a large group of horsemen galloped up and aided me in slaying my kidnappers, I turned to follow Merry and Pippin into the forest only to come face to face with a bloodied sword, I gulped.

"Ah, Elbereth, we meet again" I turned my head up to see Eomer sitting on his horse.

"Firefoot nae saian luume" (Firefoot it has been too long) I said to his horse stroking its nose.

"Bind her" Eomer ordered pulling his horse away and conducting an orderly clean up.

I was bound and sat upon an empty horse's saddle, Eomer rode up beside the beautiful dun war horse I was mounted on, and I looked away not wanting to see the gloating in his eyes. He placed a few fingers under my chin and lifted my head up so I was looking him in the eyes.

"You will not escape this time My Lady, King Thranduil's payment for you is quite hefty and we would do well if we managed to come by it" he told me and I snarled in return.

"By all means send a message to the Prince and he shall order my release, at least for now I am at peace with the Elves of Mirkwood, up until Sauron is vanquished you shall not receive a penny"

A man mounted the horse behind me and slid a dagger out of his belt "I am not afraid to use this" he murmured into my ear. I nodded and gulped, there was no getting out of this one.

We rode until I heard Aragorn yell, I let out a long whistle causing a dagger to find its way to my neck "Be silent" Jarod hissed from behind.

I watched the scene unfold as they began to have a civilized conversation with Eomer. I was barely listening, waiting for an answer to my whistle "Dead?" I heard Gimli ask.

"I am sorry" Eomer said sadly Eomer gave a shrill whistle "Hasufel, Arod. May these horses bear you better fortune than they did their former masters. Farewell"

Eomer got back up onto his beautiful horse and yelled "We ride north" I looked at Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli as we rode away. We rode for days, I had found myself in charge of cooking, under heavy guard, naturally.