Reclaiming the City RPG

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Evren galloped through the fields, tired but happy to be so close to her goal. She had thought that she may have gotten lost, despite all of the maps and instructions she had taken with her from Rohan on her way to Gondor, but only an hour ago she had at last gotten her first glimpse of Minas Tirith, the White City, glimmering in the sun from far away. She would soon be inside.
* * *
Evren sighed. She had finally gotten past the guards, who simply would not understand that she was only going in to see the City for a bit, and did not mean any harm there. Now she had only to find a place to stay…
* * *
It was two hours later, and a rather disgruntled Evren was looking through yet another side street. She had heard the phrase “no, no places here tonight, sorry” so many times that she had grown to loathe it dearly. Finally, upon seeing the first stars shining up in the sky above her head, she sighed and settled down in a doorway that looked slightly cozier than the rest. She closed her eyes and hoped to fall asleep quickly.
* * *
Through the blanket of her sleep she heard voices, hushed and slightly muffled, as though coming from the other side of a wall. She stirred and wondered what time it was, hoping that it was not too early. Upon opening her eyes, however, she noted that the sun was hardly up, and all respectable people should be in bed just now, dreaming pleasant dreams. But she could not fall asleep again. For lack of something else to do, she strained to hear the muted words of the conversation inside, pressing her ear up against the wall…
* * *
She had heard quite enough by one hour later to know exactly where she was going next, which she hadn’t had a good idea of the day before. The company had already left, but her horse, who she had managed to find a stable for the night before, was swift, and she was confident that she could catch up to them. She rode out of the city, grateful that the guards were not so inquisitive as they had been yesterday, and followed the speck of dust she could just barely see, the one she knew was the group of riders, led by Fededhor.
* * *
She was dead tired, and felt like the village she was looking for would never emerge from the trees. She was still not sure of exactly why she had decided to come after the men, but when she had heard that a whole village had disappeared her adventurous blood had been awakened, and she had determined herself to go, and knew that had she asked, she would not be allowed to. Shieldmaidens were all to rare…
* * *
She was even more weary than before, if this was possible, when a day or two later she cast down her bags at the edge of the forest and tied her horse to a tree, herself darting into the shadows. She didn’t know if the village had just stopped responding or actually been captured, so she thought she had best be careful. She crept in further, looking for a clearing or at least a tree that looked easy to climb. Finally she found one. Climbing steadily up, she reached the highest branch she was comfortable with her weight on, and only then looked around. If she had not been ready for the possibility of a bloody scene, this one would have made her lose her grip on the tree. The village- or what had been the village was a mess of busily rushing orcs and bloody bodies in the streets. A group of captives was being herded out by some especially vicious looking orcs, ignoring their cries and sufferings. Evren jumped out of the tree, her mind a rush with impossibly muddles ideas. She thought for a moment and decided she had only 3 choices: to go back, and to bring reinforcements for the group of soldiers already out there, to find the group already there and join them, or to rush in herself…the moment she thought of it, she knew she could not go back. It wasn’t the type of thing that she could do, or ever would. She could not decide upon anything at all, so she wandered aimlessly through the woods for a while, lost in thought, forgetting for a moment the danger all around her….
* * *
Evren still hadn’t decided, and was still wandering, when suddenly she heard the sound of iron-shod feet on the path behind her. She jumped into the bushes, just managing to supress a loud gasp about to come from her lips, and the ‘ow’ related to the thorns that she had just fallen into. Poking her face out just a bit, she could see the orcs coming towards her, evil joy written upon every face. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye, she saw something behind them. A huge…spider. It seemed to be bleeding heavily out of one leg, but able to keep up with the orcs just fine. She did not share the disgust of many women for spiders, but this hugely bloated one made her shiver with revulsion. Suddenly, she realized that the orcs were carrying something…a body of a man. No, not a corpse. It didn’t look like a corpse, but seemed unconsious. She filled with a rage as she had never felt before. The orcs carried away prisoners, sacked cities, and did many more terrible things, simply because of their own whims, or the whims of their masters. She wanted to jump out, to kill them all, but wasn’t sure that she could. And she could not forget the spider...she understood now that she could not do it, that she would merely fall into the hands of the orcs herself...she had to find the soldiers.

************************************************** ****

Herlion felt that he was lying on cold ground, unable to move. He could hardly feel his own limbs through the pain that seemed to envelop him, not letting him even open his eyes. Finally, with a great effort, his eyelids fluttered up- and again came down. He had only enough time to glimpse the face of Iavas, lined with worry, leaning over him, and the quick expression change it went through when he looked up.
* * *
And again, falling, falling...he heard, as if from a distance, the voice of Iavas, saying something to somebody else next to her, and felt a child’s hand on his face before the ground dropped from under him and the darkness began to swirl, wrapping him like a blanket, and he was asleep. Dark dreams…nightmares, even. Nothing mattered.

[ April 09, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Meoshi]

One of the orcs gave a yell as he reached the crest of the hill. Morachion scrambled up to find out what the orc had seen. The valley had been aswarm with orcs, but the orcs were gone. Morachion panicked for a moment. They had gone and left him behind!

Something caught his eye. Off in the distance, there was a small column of Orcs, marching east. There was a group of about the same size behind, some tied, some in makeshift chains. They were ragged and miserable-looking.

Morachion waved the two orcs carrying Barodir on ahead. He scuttled after them. Being free of the dense vegetation, he had time to look at his wounded front arm. It wasn't bleeding as badly as before, but green fluid was still surrounding the spot where the end of his arm was. A new claw would grow someday, but his arm would be abnormally short for the rest of his life. He tried to put this out of his mind, and walked on.

[ April 09, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]

[ArwenBaggins]

Save

[The Ruling Ring]

Fededhor halted, listening to the mens' words without turning around. He turned with Pherdur's question.

"It would be a perilous road," he said to the soldier. "Already, we have seen that their numbers are not trivial, but if they are great, they may have been able to afford to position some back along this road. Anyone who goes back down it alone would be in the greatest of danger."

Fededhor looked around at the others with them. There weren't many with them, but Donlamir and Pherdur's comments held water, and if Pherdur meant to go back if needs be necessary--and it looked like it was, and he did-- then, it would probably be better to send a few.

"If you go, you cannot go alone," Fededhor said. "You must take some of us back with."

------------------------------

Pirk looked with eyes narrow in consideration at Mauwurz. This could be well for them. They had already bungled so much of the job, perhaps instilling fear in the men of Minas Tirith was the best thing to be done.

"Alright," he said, then added begrudgingly, "good idea. Put them away. Make some cages, if there is not enough rope. Use the beams from these wretched houses."

Just then, Pirk saw another orcish figure running towards him. He stopped just before Pirk, flinging a sullied bag down at his feet.

Pirk dropped to a squat, Unglusch's rumbling voice sounding above his head as he tore at the fabric of the bag. Inside it were some provisions, some medicine, and a crinkly piece of parchment.

Pirk frowned, squinting at the parchment, half-soaked from being flung in a mud puddle while still in the bag. He knew very little of man-scrawlings, but he could pick out a few words. He'd have to ask his second in command to translate it in full later, but privately, without all of his own lackeys there to jeer at him for his stupidity. Besides, he pretty well understood what it said from what he could pick out.

"They were worried," Pirk straighened up, looking with delight on Unglusch. He turned back to those other orcs that were within range. "They were worried! Those poor little tarks are worried for their kind. They sent food and rubbish, but this," he waved the note in the air excitedly, "saying that they send soldiers. More men are coming! More manflesh!"

There was a brief pause as his men considered this, then a resounding cheer of jubilation at the prospective bloodshed went up, to shake the tops of the trees.

[ April 12, 2003: Message edited by: The Ruling Ring ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Lara woke to find her head felt as if it was held by red hot pincers. Opening her eyes for a moment she realised
It was not a good idea and snapped them shut. The light stung her eyes.
“Ered” she groaned sleepily “I have such a-”
She paused, registering the cold stone under her back.
“Ered?” she asked, eyes still tight shut. Suddenly an image flashed into her head. Blood…Ered! Struggling to sit upright she gazed around in terror.
Laila she thought with a chill. Where is she?

Getting up with a barely stifled sob she began to run. As she went she saw faces among the treea. Some she recognised, people she had seen in the market or spoken to a few times. All their faces showed the same emotions she felt. Pain, fear, horror. Lara ignored them.
Ered she thought desperately now Laila is in danger and you are not here to tell me it will all be alright. But will it?

In a heart stopping moment she saw a woman sitting holding "laila!" she called, running over and taking the baby. Laila smiled and grabbed a loose sterand of Lara's hair. Her eyes looked just like Ered's, and Lara choked. She's so innocent she thought and even among these- monsters- she's happy. Now I have to be Papa as well as Mama. And I wasn't even a good Mama!
Suddenly she remembered the woman who had looked after Laila.
"Thank you. Thank you so much!" she said to her, from the heart.

[Malcu Luinthol]

Having delivered his message, Unglusch wandered around the camp awiting further orders. After a few hours, Grulfang made arrived, and he passed the time tending to the Warg's injured foot. As he did this he thought of the news contained in the package. More men arriving may mean death for him and his companions, but then again, he may be able to sieze leadership in the resulting confusion...
As he thought about what he would do, Pirk approached, telling him that he must leave tomorrow to check if there were messages from the Morgul Lord, and to inform him of the prisoners. Terrified as he was of the Nazgul, Unglusch had to accept. He nodded to Pirk and gathered his equipment, he would depart early in the morning, and avoid the sunlight as much as possible.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Oghurn relaxed slightly, breathing in the familiar scents of blood and destruction. They always soothed him, calmed him down when he needed it. He paced along the path, glancing around continuously for a larger orc to take orders from, or an even smaller one to sneer at contempuously. That gave him almost as much pleasure as the sights and smells around him… He sat down beside a tree after slashing at it a few times with his sword and waited for someone to call him. He didn’t wait long.
* * *
He crept through the woods, not far at all from the clearing where the prisoners were. Pirk knew that Oghurn was small, quick, and quiet, and had told him to spy out any suspicious activity of the prisoners, Oghurn being only too happy to obey. Of course there were already guards set about, but they had needed somebody as a scout: a spy, almost, he felt. To see what condition they were in, whether it was good enough for them to try and run away, whether they were trying to make weapons… He was startled out of his thoughts suddenly when he realized that he was only about 15 feet away from the clearing already, and began to walk more stealthily and carefully, watching for any movement. A minute later, he was at the edge of the clearing, peering inwards, head swimming from the light that managed to penetrate the branches and leaves above him. He looked carefully at all of the people within sight. Many men, women, and even small children stood about, with expressions of a varying quantity of despair showing upon them. A women leaned over 3 men, all of whom, Oghurn noted with a certain delight, were unconsious and bleeding heavily. No suspicious activities, it seemed. Oghurn had heard Pirk’s plan for putting them all into cages or other like things. Tie them up, he thought. Serve them right, the nasty tarks.

[ April 13, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Niluial]

Georeliela glared at Pirk, he just glared back and gave a little snigger. “Well at least you’ll be alive, take them to the cave” he declared. Two Orcs pulled Georeliela and Emilia and put chains on them like dogs. They walked for a long time crossing the streets and roads, with burnt houses and the smell of rotten flesh everywhere. Finally they reached the other side of the city. They stopped for a rest and she looked at the city knowing that this might be the last time she see’s it. She held Emilia tight and kissed her on her soft forehead.

“Come on lets get going” an orc said. They walked for about half an hour more and in the distance Georeliela saw a large boulder covering the entrance to a cave covered in moss and Ivy. The two huge orcs moved the large boulder with all there strength. “And this is where we’ll be keeping ya all” the filthy orc said.

Georeliela kicked and screamed and they pushed her into the cave doorway. She looked up for a second and saw that this was not a small cave that she thought it would be but a huge cave. The entrance was like a huge room. The two orcs pushed the boulder closed and Emiliela squeezed her moms hand and gave a little shriek because the cave was dark with no light in it at all. The one Orc set a large, wooden torch alight and the room was suddenly lightened up. The two Orcs looked at them “This way” the one orc said. She would have run away but there was no point. A small and weak person could never push that huge boulder open. So she followed them holding Emilia by the hand.

She looked at the great room viewing the sides. She couldn’t breath because the air was so moist. She noticed that there were at least about six doorways leading out probably long passages. The orcs walked down one of the passages and she followed. Ten minutes later they were still walking down the never ending passage. Then there came a cross path but they carried on walking straight ahead. They finally came to two huge doors with a huge boulder in front of each of them. The orcs moved the one away leading them into a room.

The room was cold and empty. There were torches standing against the wall. The one orc took one and lit it. “You’ll have to make sure that, that one don’t go out, we wont be back in a while, and oh this is ya resting room. I’m sure well have some more of ya in the morning” he said throwing her two large blankets and handing her the touch. The room was big and about thirty or more could stay in there. The orcs pushed the boulder closed and left them all alone. Emilia looked at her mom “mommy I’m scared” she said. “Everything will be fine” Georeliela said pushing a smile out of her. She set the one blanket on the floor and rolled Emilia in it. She then wrapped herself in the other blanket. She snuggled up to Emilia and they both fell asleep not knowing what awaits them in the day ahead.

[ April 13, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[Phervasaion]

Pherdur nodded when Fededhor said this even though he'd prefer to go alone. He knew it was a dangerous road back to the city but he thought it would be better if only himself got captured or killed rather than a few more soldiers along with him. Still he new Fededhor was a wise leader and decided that he would probably know best.

They made their way through the forest quietly until they eventually came to an opening into a wide field. The soldiers knew that here they had to be wary as any orc might see them walking through the wide open space and they had to get back into the wood about a mile away. But it was still to long a time to walk out in the open in case of any spies.

About half way down to the wood Pherdur and the soldiers heard a noise to their right not too far away and they all quickly turned their heads to see what it was. They saw a few black figures moveing away from them so the soldiers quickly dived on the floor expecting they were some orcs. Then Fededhor asked Pherdur too see what was there and Pherdur crept away on his hands and knees silently.

He made his way up a small hill too see what was there, and as he peered over the top he saw orcs talkng rather loudly and moving in the opposite direction to them.

"Five, seven of them at the most," Pherdur said to himself as he looked over at the orcs squinting his eyes. Shortly after he arived back where the other soldiers were still ducking to stay hidden. Pherdur sat next to Fededhor and said "They were orcs but not many of them, five, maybe seven at the most," Pherdur paused for a moment thinking the talking of the orcs were getting nearer and then said "shall we creep around them, or shall we attack them?"

[ April 13, 2003: Message edited by: Phervasaion ]

[Meoshi]

Morachion ebtered the camp. The orcs' tents were encircling the group of prisoners, who looked even more miserable than before. The orcs guarding the prisoners were giving the humans a look that was very similar to way one would look at a well-cooked dinner.

The small orcs laid Barodir on the ground. Pirk was silent, muttering to himself at this new development. Morachion put Barodir's sword down, relieved to be free of his burden, and scuttled up a tree to rest.

Grumish eyed the Gondorian blade lying on the ground with great interest. He picked it up in both hands and gleefully swung it upwards, slashing a thick tree-branch in two. This was better than any weapon he'd wielded before. He threw aside the greatly inferior swords he had carried before, which were ernestly snatched up by smaller orcs.

[ April 13, 2003: Message edited by: Meoshi ]

[Arvedui III]

The blade flashed even in the darkness. Grumish had seen many tark blades, but nothing like this. He was awed as he tested the balence, it was perfect. Then, looking at his two scemitars, he cast them aside. "Like it?" said a voice that made him quail. He turned and saw the spider. He didn't like spiders, they were unatural beasts. However, Grumish grined in responce, then snached back his old swords from the hands of the stupid little orcs. "Think those are yours?" he growled at them. "Get back on watch." and the little ones slunked away to the ring of prisoners. Pirk chuckled. "You can have it, if you want." He did. "I'll just hold onto this, then." He said, and turned back to his marvelous new weapon.
This was the best part of it, the pillaging. He wished he could of done more in the city, but no matter. Pirk took him aside, "Look," Pirk wispered, "They'll be looking for them, so" "Who?" "The prisoners, the city will be looking for them. So we've got to make sure that no one finds this place." "Understood." Said Grumish slowly, knowing a command was coming. "So, we need to guard not only the prisoners, but the camp as well." "My job?" "No, Groshan and Mauwarz will do that. I need you in charge of prisoners." Pirk said in final sort of voice.
"Fine, when do I eat them?" Grumish said, annoyed at haveing firstly responsibility, and second to look at tarks all day and not eat. "No eating, just, watch them.Make some cages, tie them up, touture them, have fun. Just, no eating." Grumish nodded, then looked at the sad ring of humans. This was not going to be fun at all. He sighed, and draged some of the smaller orcs away to find wood. But, when Grumish turned back to his new shining blade, everything seemed to equall out.

[Sadbh]

She was cold as she knelt over her husbands from. He and two others had been dragged o the small clearing in the woods, bleeding and unconcious. Besides Herlion she knew the eldest of them all, the old man called Garodin. The other was a stranger to her. Aglarel still clutched at her skirt, crying miserably, face and small hands dirty.

Thoronhen screamed mournfully, drawing malicious glances from their animalistic captors. Arching over Aglarel's fine-haired head, she wiped her sleeving over the stranger's blood-stained brow. A slight groan brought her attention back to herlion. For a second, his eyes seemed to open. She grasped his hand tighter and for a second she smiled. Then Herlion was plunged into darkness again.

Dragging a free hand across her eyes, she tended to the babe in her lap for a second, giving her and Thoronhen to the little child's mother.

As she heard footsteps behind her she turned, to see Farien, whom she knew well.

"Is there anything I could do to help?" She whispered face lined with concern.

"Not as I see. There's nothing we may do at the moment. I have no medicines, no water, even. Nothing." Iavas sh=ighed in unhappy frustration.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Farien nodded at Iavas' words. They had absolutely nothing to use to care for the men. She knelt beside the old man, Garodin, touching his brow. He was warm. Farien bit her lower lip, she was no healer! She thought that warm must be better than cold... she hoped so at least.

The wound on Garodin's head was crusted with blood and his grey hair was matted with it. She couldn't tell how deep it was, and she didn't want to move the man. She cast Iavas a helpless glance, but the woman didn't notice. She was bent over Herlion who was moaning softly and moving around.

Farien cast a quick glance at Eregiath. He was sitting on his heels drawing in the dirt with a stick. Telmir stood beside him watching avidly. Farien smiled, Eregiath knew that Telmir loved tales. Serra and Arrin were close by. Serra was trying to teach Arrin the hand clapping games that the village girls played amongst themselves. Farien shook her head, the children could play here? in this?

Fighting rage, Farien moved to the third injured man. She didn't recognize him, but he was dressed and armoured as a soldier of Minas Tirith. Farien's eyes widened. She searched the man quickly. No weapons. Heaving a sigh she turned to see if she could tell what was wrong with him. His face was pale and his lips were blue. His breath was steady but shallow. Farien could find no wound on him. She tightened her lips.

[The Ruling Ring]

Fededhor's eyes widened at the news of the orcs. He looked over Pherdur's head for an instant, then back at the man.

"If you think an ambush is possible for us," he said softly. "It's the only way. We want none of them escaping, to go back and tell their men."

"We can," Pherdur said. "There are not many."

"Very well than," Fededhor pursed his lips. "When we've finished, you and two other men must go back to Minas Tirith. Tell them the situation, tell them what you've seen and what's happening--and tell them that we need reinforcements."

Fededhor rose, drawing his sword slowly, looking over the hedges. He could just see the tops of the orcs heads. They were coming this way.

"Come!" he whispered sharply.

-----------------------------------

Pirk frowned, nodded, and walked out of the cave. So, keep the prisoners out of sight for now. But, keep them alive. If men came within sight, he'd bring one out--perhaps that old man, or one of the women--to lure the soldier here.

Once he had a corpse of a soldier from the city, he could contact the Nazgul--he felt a strange burbling in his stomach at this thought--and call for reinforcements. They could leave the dead soldier outside the city's walls, draw all the wretched men out, out of pride--and take them all.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Farien rose from tending the wounded men at the sound of the harsh speech of an orc. She looked around frantically for the other captives, counting in her head. All there... except... Georelelia and Emilia. Farien breathed deeply. Were the orcs going to kill them methodically one by one? She looked over to where Arrin and Serra still sat, under Eregiath's watchful eye. They wouldn't take her babies! Farien suddenly became aware that she was gritting her teeth together and glaring at the orc who had spoken.

As she watched the orc took a rope and motioned to the nearest prisoner. It sneered as it tied her, and led her away. It returned again and again, taking another prisoner each time. Throwing Serra over its shoulder... Farien lunged toward it. Eregiath caught her by the wrist. "You can't do anything, love." he whispered into her ear.

When her turn came Farien resisted, throwing herself backward onto the ground, fighting against the rope halter around her neck. The orc simply pulled. Farien felt the skin scraping off her arms as she was dragged along the rough ground. She kicked and tried to slow it down, to no avail. She felt her skirt tear and looked behind as a large piece of the red fabric remained on the ground where she had been. Defeated, she struggled to her feet, and followed the orc.

Approaching a large cave he shoved her past two goblin-guards. She spit at him as he removed the rope harness from her neck. Snarling he moved closer to her. She felt his hot rank breath on her face as he revealed a small dagger. "Do you know what this is, woman?" he asked her in a low voice. She closed her mough firmly and stared at him. "It's a poisoned blade I sometimes use to help tarks like you calm down. It'll put you to sleep real quickly..." The hot breath hissed against her face again. "Or maybe you'd like it better if I used it on your baby? That precious curly haired girl..." Bits of saliva flew out of its mouth as it spoke, splattering across Farien's cheeks. The expression in her eyes changed immediately from defiance to terror. She remained silent, however. The orc must have read the fear in her eyes, because he removed the rope from her neck roughly, and shoved her into the cave, muttering all the time in Black Speech.

Farien fell to her knees panting, just inside the entrance. With one sleeve of her dress she wiped the foul spit of the orc from her face. After being outside, the darkness of the cave baffled her, until she heard Telmir's voice call from her right, "Mamma! We're over here!" She went that way, and gathered her children in her arms, huddled in the dimness.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Herlion was falling down into a deep abyss… going down… faster… faster… he was about to hit the bottom… he woke, with a throb in his head and pain pulsing throughout his body. He opened his eyes, and saw that it was later than the last time he had woken, or perhaps it was a different day. He couldn’t tell, as he had lost all perspective of time. Iavas! Iavas would tell him… Iavas, what day is it? he tried to ask, forgetting that he wasn’t at home, sick in bed, but all that cam out of his mouth was Iavas… and then some sort of incoherent grunt. His eyes swam again as he saw Iavas’ face come slowly into focus, wearing a sudden and rather worried smile. He forced himself to stay awake and try to say something, but suddenly Iavas’ eyes became fixed upon the edge of the clearing, as he could sense, did those of all the people near him. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to a sitting position. He heard the trampleing of heavy feet and forced his eyes in that direction, just in time to see a few hideous faces peering into the clearing, then striding in with emerging armoured bodies, looking around at the suddenly hushed villagers. You. said a large orc, pointing at Georelelia, a woman he knew only slightly, and her daughter, what was it, Emilia? He walked over to the spot where they stood, frozen with fear, slapping them roughly to the ground and looping rope around their necks as the girl struggled and Georelelia struggled. The others watched, petrified. When the woman and girl had been dragged out of the clearing the large orc came back. It snarled at all of them, then spoke in the Common Speech: You’ll all be next. And then… Pirk said I could have my fun with you. The Orc grinned maliciously, threw a punch at random, turned on his heel, and left the clearing. After a moment of startled silence, a growing murmur of conversation started up again, wondering what their fate would be, where Georelelia and Emilia had been taken… Herlion fell back down again, exhausted physically from the strain of holding his weight in a seated position for so long, and mentally from the weight of the orc’s words. Iavas turned towards him again, but he was already unconsious.
* * *
When Herlion next awoke, his eyes met the bright sun and contracted. His head hurt and when he tried to move his arms he found that his hands were tied over the neck of an orc, he himself bouncing along on its back. Where…? he began to ask groggily. The orc grunted. Caves… Suddenyl realizing that he had spoken, the orc turned slightly and cuffed Herlion across the head. His last thought as the darkness took him was Iavas…the children…where…?

[ April 15, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Evren crept through the woods beside the path, glancing about every time she had to tip-toe onto it to examine this footprint, that ripped strip of cloth. She knew that she was no amazing tracker, but even she could tell the footprints of men from those of orcs, and know approximately how long ago the owners of the footprints had passed. So she knew that she was about an hour behind the soldiers. She quickened her pace. The light still left in the skywas swiftly diminishing, and barely enough to see the footprints by. She knew that when it was really dark, she would have to stop her day’s tracking, because the men might split or take a different path, and she would have to retrace her steps. And she couldn’t forget to avoid the orcs…
* * *
Evren gasped, having run completely out of breath after a long run. She knew she couldn’t run anymore, but she could walk for a bit longer, she thought. She hoped. Because she still hadn’t found the soldiers, and she couldn’t stay on her own for long…
* * *
Evren lay down into a pile of leaves, panting, her day's run certainly over now. She was beginning to drift off into a welcome sleep when she heard, quite close to her, a low man’s voice singing softly. She forced herself out of the leaf-pile, and stumbled, half-asleep, towards the voice. Hiding in some painfully thorny bushes, she peered towards the place where the voice had been coming from. She thought she could just make out a figure against the stars, pacing watchfully about, and others lying on the ground around it, probably asleep. They must be the soldiers! but even this could not grab her attention away from her drowsiness… She looked at the stars rather dreamily, her eyes beginning to go out of focus, drifting towards sleep, when suddenly she heard a slight crunch of branches at her left, and turned- just in time to feel a rough hand grab her by the wrist and yank her, head over heels, out of the bushes, scratching herself badly. As her head hit a rock, the man began to yell orc! but seeing her face started in astonishment. Through the black swirls coming in around her, she saw the men sitting, standing up, all looking at her with a mixture of surprise and distrust. It had never occurred to her that the soldiers may think of her as some sort of orc spy, or be downright hostile. But the faces around her looked anything but welcoming, and, stumbling to her feet abd trying in vain to clear her ringing head whichkept trying to pll her into unconsiousness, Evren suddenly felt very afraid.

[ April 15, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[Niluial]

Georeliela woke. Her body was in pain, she felt like she had been burnt, her skin was rough and she felt like she had broken every bone. She didn’t dare to open her eyes scared to even know what was happening. But she opened them not knowing what exactly was going on and where she was. The reality hit her like a wave hits the rocks.

The orc grabbed her and dragged her into another room "No, let me go please!" she cried while all the other prisoners sat and watched in fear. She didn't know what happened to her precious Emilia. The orc took her into the room next door. The room smelt of blood and flesh. It crossed her mind that it might have been used as a touchier chamber before. The orc took a boiling chain that they must have heated then the orc wiped her with it. It slashed against her skin. She screamed and screamed every time the chain hit her flesh. Her body became numb to it and she stopped crying but took the pain. They threw her to the corner of the room where her daughter awaited her. Emilia sat there screaming and telling them to stop. Georeliela felt calm that they had not done anything to Emilia but she knew the site of her mother being wiped would scar her for life. She sat there comforting her daughter and taking in the pain, trying to look big for her daughter. Herlion was dragged into the room and wiped next. Once Herlion was wiped the next prisoner came and the next soon there were about twenty of the prisoners sitting in the corner crying or whimpering about the pain. A orc grabbed all the children and took them out the room. Georeliela protested and so did the other mothers. All the mothers were caught and slapped hard. Each one of them fell to the ground unconscious.

She sat up still in pain. She looked around and saw prisoners but no children. There was not one child in site. She got up forgetting about all her pain. She searched the room no child, no Emilia her heart stopped. Where are the children?

[The Ruling Ring]

Fededhor dove through the trees, the rest of the men close behind him.

The orcs looked up with the sound of their hurried steps, their bleary eyes focusing just in time to see the men burst through the trees. Fededhor raised his blade high, bringing it down in a swiping motion, across the necks of two orcs, ending in the arm of another. This one howled, startled, drawing his own blade to retaliate. Pherdur behind him sprang up and in one fell motion, landed the orc's hand on the ground, the blade still clutched in the now-limp fingers. Fededhor glanced at Pherdur gratefully, lunging forward and finishing the orc off.

The skirmish did not last long. The men were all skilled fighters, and the orcs were not many, or cunning. They suffered little more than a few bumps and bruises before they found themselves standing, solitary, the ground covered in blood, the bodies draped about the ground. Fededhor looked up at the men, nodding slowly.

"Good work," he said softly, unable to think of anything better to say. He looked at Pherdur again. "I fear this is where we must part?"

"Not yet," Pherdur said. "We are--weary," he paused, catching his breath. "And it is growing dark. Perhaps it would be better to wait for morning."

Fededhor looked behind him at the growing dusk. The road was getting no safer, definitely. It pained him to think of spending time not trying to reach the prisoners, but once more, Pherdur was correct. It would do none of them any good to burst in, exhausted, on the orcs.

-----------

Fededhor sat up, singing softly to himself. He had volunteered for the first watch, and was trying to distract himself from thoughts of what was going on in the village not far away.

He broke off suddenly, his head turning sharply to the bushes. He had heard something.

"Orc!" he yelled, springing up and rushing at the hedge, plunging his arm into it, and pulling up--a girl. He looked down in amazement.

[Phervasaion]

Pherdur sprang up to his feet as he heard Fededhor shout, reached for the hilt of his sword and then sprang over the bushes to reach him. To his astonishment it was no orc but it was a woman who liked like she had been traveling for some time.

"Who are you, and what were you doing spying on us?" Fededhor shouted to her. The woman took some time too answer, and Pherdur could tell that she was afraid of the soldiers by the look in her eyes.

"I wasn't spying on you" She said with a look of fear in her eyes. "My name is Evren, and I have come to tell you that the village, that the orcs have taken over, they are holding people prisoner there and you must do your best to rescue them. It looked looked they were going to take them somewhere else,” she paused for a few seconds and them said “Please you must believe me.”

Pherdur and Fededhor left her for a minute while the other men watched her. “Do you think we can trust her, she did seem fearful of us but what if she is telling the truth?” Whispered Pherdur.

“We have no choice but to believe her. But we will keep an eye on her in case she is not leading us into a trap,” Fededhor replied.

Pherdur then sighed and said “I think that now would be an extremely good time for me to start making my way back to Minas Tirith, in case anything bad happens,” Fededhor agreed and they both bid each other farewell as Pherdur went to collect his belongings.

[The Ruling Ring]

Fededhor looked back at the Pherdur for an instant as he walked away, then looked back at the girl. He took her shoulder lightly.

"Listen," he said, "we have much trouble already, and we don't need some maid of orcs coming along and fouling the waters already fouled by those monsters. I believe that I should believe you. And so, I do. But if I find that you are lying," he paused, mostly for dramatic emphasis, and his mind flitted to an image of his brother and his sister-in-law, their children clutched close, in a den of filth, as orcs pitched rocks at them, "you will be returned to your head of station, and he will surely be told that you have failed him."

He released her shoulder, turning back to the men.

"It's alright," he said, feeling like he was stating the obvious. "She is no threat. Pherdur is leaving now, though," he furrowed his brow, looking about and around him. "He needs two more to go with him. Who else shall I be unfortunate enough to lose?"

----------------------------

Pirk gritted his teeth, leaning against the wall of the cave, looking out of it at the trees that surrounded its clearing.

He sharpened one blade with another, sporadically chipping off bits of the corners of his fingernails. Pirk liked cutting his nails with his knife, but he tried not to cut them too short or blunt--sharp nails were very useful.

He straightened up, looking back into the darkness behind him. He saw, far inside the cave, a human woman, kneeling over the prostrate form of a human man. In the shadows, only his feet were visible, but these were intriguing enough to make Pirk come back into the cave. Those boots...

It was a soldier! A human soldier! Pirk fairly clasped his hands together tight in glee, then grabbed the woman roughly, tossing her aside.

"Hiding my treasure, are you?" he asked rhetorically, pulling his blade up and raising it over the man's body. He'd teach those tarks to run after him. He'd leave this one's body out to dry in the sun, for the aiding soldiers to see, when they came.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Farien sat in a dark corner of the cave. Her body ached from the beatings she'd been given, she didn't care. She huddled with her knees drawn tightly up to her chest and stared into the blackness. She'd done with resisting. What had resisting gotten her? Her children were gone.

Farien rubbed at her eye with the heel of her dirty hand, absentmindedly combing the tangles out of her long hair with her fingers. She didn't doubt that filthy orc had used his poisoned blade on them. On Arrin, on Serra and Telmir... A tear ran down her face unheeded. It left a darker place on the red of her skirt. Farien didn't notice.
*************************

In another part of the cave Telmir stood up cautiously. He was ten years old, old enough to be a man. Old enough to know these filthy orcs had come from Mordor, and he hoped they'd go back there, go back there and burn. Telmir bared his teeth in what he hoped was a fierce snarl.

His sister Arrin was curled up in his arms, her face on his shoulder. He'd told her to keep quiet no matter what, and so far she'd obeyed him. Serra was lying on the floor. Telmir thought she was asleep, she'd been asleep for a few hours, since the orc brought them in. At first he'd thought she was dead, but she was breathing, so he figured she was just asleep.

Telmir looked around, in the dim light he could see other children in the cave, but he was the oldest. Except maybe that little girl in the corner. He walked over to her. "I'm Telmir." he whispered. Her eyes were terrified, but her hair was a shiny yellow color. She was holding a very young baby on her lap.

"I'm Emilia." she whispered shakily. The baby she was holding stirred and began to whimper. She lifted it to her shoulder and rocked.

"That your sister?" he whispered. He cast an eye toward the two little boys nearby, "Those your brothers?"

She shook her head no. "But we've got to keep them quiet!" she exclaimed, "the orcs!"

Telmir nodded. He set Arrin down by Emilia, disregarding her wide eyed glance at him and her pudgy arms asking to be picked back up. "You stay there, Arrin. I'll go get Serra."

Serra wouldn't wake up. He nudged her, and then outright shook her, but all she did was moan and lie there. Telmir frowned. He was responsible for his sisters if Momma and Pappa weren't there. He couldn't leave Serra all alone over here. What if the orcs came back?

Telmir was strong for his age, but it took all his strength to heave his six year old sister over his shoulder and carry her to the lightest part of the cave. He set her gently on the floor and stood gasping, looking at all the other children gathered there. One of the small boys began to cry. Telmir gathered him in his arms and stroked his head, shushing him quietly. They'd be fine, Gondor was coming to rescue them, Telmir was sure of it.

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Evren was petrified. She stood in the middle of a tight circle of men, her head ringing, swaying slightly. The silence seemed deafening. The moon shone brightly on the clearing. Then one of the men spoke, finally. He asked her something. She answered, so scared she couldn't remember what she had said a minute later. The men spoke in low voices. She heard only a mutter, then ...she poses no threat... She still shook. She tried not to give in to the throb in her head, not wanting to disgrace herself and faint in front of all these men. They would probably think she was faking it anyway. Something more may have been said, but she couldn't remember at all, because of the buzzing sounds beginning to take over the rest of her hearing. To her humiliation, she began to sink to the ground, her knees buckling in under her. She saw the looks of sudden concern on the mens' faces and tried vainly to look as though she felt fine, not shocked or hurt at all.
* * *
Herlion awoke only for a moment to find himself in terrible pain. They tortured me... he thought. Pain.... They had tied him down and whipped him with red hot... somethings... and plunging back to pure pain.

[Niluial]

Georeliela fell to the ground crying. Her precious Emilia was gone. She lay on the ground in pain from the vicious whippings. She had lost her son, then her freedom and now she had lost her daughter. She saw other women sitting in corners crying, for they had also lost their children. Georeliela saw Farien sitting in a corner. *She must have also had her child taken away* Georeliela thought. She walked over to Farien and sat next to her. Farien looked at her with pain in her eyes. “I’m sure they are ok, they probably took them away so they wouldn’t see us get torched! It’s for the better… I hope” Georeliela said. She took Farien’s hand and held it. They both sat there in silence.

The huge boulder opened and there stood a huge, dirty orc. He walked in, and kicked a women laying on the side. “I’ve come to tell ya all that ya children are ok” he said in a deep voice. He coughed and flem flew everywhere. He took a packet and opened it. Inside the packet there were two huge pieces of bread. He broke a tiny piece of bread off and handed it to a woman “I would’ve eaten it all but the master told me to give ya each a piece”. He handed everyone a bite size piece and he ate the left-overs. “Well I’ll be off now, ya wont be seeing ya children for a while” he said as he was walking out of the room.

Georeliela ate her piece of bread and savoured the rest of it. She looked at Farien and gave her a smile.

*****************************************

Emilia got up and looked for Telmir. There stood the tall boy. She could see he was older than the rest of them so she trusted him in a way and felt safe. She wanted to become friends with him, maybe he could be a brotherly figure, to her. She found him talking to someone. “Telmir, I want to back to my mother” she said. “Oh don’t worry we will be back with them soon” Telmir said knowing it wasn’t true even though he liked to think it was. Telmir could see Emilia was a strong girl and he knew she would be one of them (like him) to make it out.

Emilia reached into her pocket and took out a small packet of biscuits. She handed them to Telmir and whispered in his ear “maybe we could share it with everyone when we all get very hungry”. He smiled and put it in his pocket keeping it for the hard times. There would be enough for all the children if they broke it up…

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Lara sat up and groaned as the pain came rushing back to her. Flashes of memory came to her as she gradually gained consciousness, the Orcs beating her, being thrown to the floor, weeping, screaming...Her mouth went dry. Laila! she thought. She gazed around, there were women everywhere, weeping, many still out cold- but no children anywhere.

She struggled to her feet, pain washing over her every time she moved. There weren't any children in any of the corners of the cave, and no Orcs. That should have been a relief, but even an Orc was something to ask about Laila.
"I’ve come to tell ya all that ya children are ok”
Lara spun on her hel, which made her head spin worse. The Orc stood in the entrance, handing out tiny pieces of bread to each woman in turn. Lara moved forwards, towards him and took hers almost without realising.
“Well I’ll be off now, ya wont be seeing ya children for a while”

"No!" Lara darted forwards and touched his arm, shuddering. "Where is my daughter? Please, she's just a baby and she's all alone"
He shook her off with a grunt and continued to walk. As they reached daylight he pushed her back into the cave so she fell to the floor.
"Please! Please!" she continued to whisper, over and over, rocking backwards and forwards. "Please! Please!"

Abruptly she leaned over to one side and was sick, dry retching as she hadn't eaten anything but that small piece of bread. It seemed to break the spell and she began to cry, wracking sobs which echoed around the cave. Few of the women even looked up, too weak or in too much pain, or too involved in their own losses.
"They have your children too?" asked a sympathetic voice behind her. Turning, Lara saw a young woman giving a vague approximation of a smile, though it held no happiness. Lara simply nodded, trying to control her crying.
"I'm Georeliela" said the woman.
"Lara" Lara whispered, her voice coming out croaky. "They have my baby. My baby...she's all alone. My husband is-" she swallowed "-dead. I'm alone, and I can't do anything."
Again she began to weep.

[Niluial]

Georeliela stood up and left Farien’s side. “They have my little girl to” Georeliela said holding back her tears. She sat next to Lara. “We need to be strong and we must try and be as healthy as possible. My daughter Emilia loves babies I am sure that as we speak Emilia is helping your daughter or doing something kind” Georeliela said. “We need an escape route” Georeliela whispered so soft that Lara only just heard her. Lara stared at Georeliela breathing deeply, for Lara knew that they could do this but it would be deadly! Lara didn’t say anything so Georeliela and Lara sat there in silence.

Georeliela woke up with Lara’s head resting on her shoulder. She looked around and no orc was in site. Everyone was asleep, they all looked so happy, they were probably dreaming sweet dreams and forgetting about all their troubles.

Georeliela woke Lara up. “Laila, my Laila” Lara said. “Shhhhh.” Lara got up and they both tiptoed to a dark corner. “I don’t know how but we must find an escape route without getting caught or killed. When a orc enters the room you shall distract him, annoy him, an..”
“But he will hurt me” Lara said interrupting Georeliela. Lara didn’t want to be hurt again. “If he hurts you then let it be! This is for your daughter! Your daughter’s life could depend on this. Would you get a thrashing for your daughter?” Georeliela whispered. Lara nodded.

“Now while you distract the orc I shall sneak out the room, with out making a noise. I would let you sneak out the room but I was the first to come here and I saw all the door ways and passages. Before the orc goes we will get Farien to put something in front of the boulder so it will not close properly. Then When I find out where the children are and where the entry to this horrible cave is I will come back. You will get as many people as possible to push the boulder open for me to come in, and from their we shall plan our escape!” Georeliela plotted. “So are you in?” Georeliela asked. Lara looked at Georeliela with a serious face….

[ April 28, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Malcu Luinthol]

Following the stench that he knew to be that of Pirk, Unglusch, riding Grulfang, burst through the undergrowth and headed towards the cave. Pirk needed the message from the Nazgul, it could be the difference between the survival of the orcs and their death.
As he approached the cave, he heard the rasping noise of Pirk's voice, and knew his long journey was almost at an end. Reaching the door, he left Grulfang at the entrance and headed towards where he saw Pirk standing. With a grunt, he began to give his message, unaware of the humans also concealed in the cave...
"The Morgul Lord sends word from the Great Eye, captain." Pirk turned around, stunned by the orc's voice. "The orders are to return through the balck gate as soon as possible, before the great assault begins..."
As he tried to continue, a figure burst out from behind Pirk, knocking Unglusch to the ground.
"After the tark scum!" yelled Pirk, as Unglusch got to his feet...

[Lyra Greenleaf]

Lara gulped. There was nothing she wouldn't do for Laila, but to try to make one of the monsters angry? It was madness. Not trusting herself not to break down if she spoke, she silently stood, patted Georeliela's arm.
Oh, Ered! Why aren't you here to look after me? she thought desperately, then took a deep breath and walked towards the Orc by the cave entrance.

"Where-" she started quietly, then cleared her throat. "Where is my baby?" she asked, her voice stronger.
"Yer've been told- thats all there is to know," it said with a sneer, then pushed her away. Getting up from where she had fallen, Lara steeled herself to walk forwards again.
"I want my Laila" she said loudly.
"Sit down" the Orc snarled, still barely looking at her.
There's only one thing for it Lara thought. Drawing herself up she darted forwards, past the monster. It followed her and grabbed her arm, dragging her back to the cave. It flung her on the floor and kicked her. As it continued, Lara saw Georeliela sneak out.
I hope this works, she thought dimly

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Farien heard the commotion but dimly through her despair, but Telmir perked up his ears and listened.

"I hear a woman..." he whispered to Emilia. Her eyes were wide in her pale face as she nodded that she'd heard it too. "Something's happening!" Telmir's voice rose in volume and pitch.

Emilia shushed him, holding a finger to her lips. Arrin, sitting by his knee mimicked Emilia's gesture and said in a whisper, "quiet, Telmir, orkes will hear you."

Telmir swallowed his excited words, something was happening, someone was coming! He shook the limp form of his sister Serra again. Why wouldn't she wake up? Telmir was beginning to panic, she had to wake up! She moaned in response to his shaking, but her eyes never opened.

A whimper escaped Telmir's throat. He didn't know what to do... he didn't know! Arrin said again, louder, "Telmir! Orkes!" Swallowing his fear, he nodded.

"They mustn't hear us, we mustn't bother them." he said softly. Emilia nodded in agreement. But their silence was broken as the youngest of Iavas' sons opened his mouth in a loud howl. Telmir and Emilia looked at each other in horror, surely the orcs had heard that!

[Niluial]

Georeliela saw Lara fighting with the orc. She sneaked behind him being as quite as a Shire Mouse. She gulped and she shacked. She slowly sneaked out of the entrance of the room and gave Farien a sign. She ran down the passage on her toes breathing deeply and hoping that she would not get caught, she didn’t even want to know what would happen if they caught her.

She heard some babies crying and she looked at a door. * It must be the room with the children inside* she thought. But two orcs came from the other side and entered the room. She hid behind the wall panicking and hoping one of the orcs would not see her. They spent a while in there and came out, and they closed the boulder. Fortunately they went the other way and laughed a evil laugh. She waited until they disappeared and then went to the boulder.

She pushed it and pushed the boulder but it wouldn’t move. She felt all this anger and with all the anger she pushed so hard that she actually got the boulder to move. She entered the room and all the children went mad. “Shush… “ she whipserd. All the children kept quiet. “I am not aloud in here, but we are planning an escape roote. You cannot tell anyone I was in here. All of you will soon be out” She whipserd, with a tear coming down her eye. She spotted Emilia and hugged her. She heard an orc and panicked so she ran out the room as quick as possible blowing one last kiss to her daughter. She forgot to close the boulder but it was such a small gab that she was sure no orc would notice.

She looked around and she must have heard voices because no orc was in site. So he ran up the passage and turned a couple of times left and right finally finding the escape. She looked at the big boulder guarding the entrance and felt a shiver down her spine. She decided it was time to run back. She ran down the one passage that she took before. As she ran down her heart pumped and she breathed deeply. She finally made it back to the boulder guarding the prisoners room. Farien had blocked it with a object like she asked her to she was relieved. She crawled inside the room and fell on the floor. Farien and Lara looked at her hoping she was ok. “Did you do what you wanted.. did you see my precious Laila?” Lara asked with a quivering voice…

[ May 01, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Donlammenion]

Donlamir looked back on the group which he was leaving, then back to Pherdur the soldier with whom he would be travelling with back to Minas Tirth and he thought,
" What if we don't arrive with reinforcements soon enough. The few remaining would surely be found and killed."

Then a voice called to him. "We'll need to get a move on if we are to be successful in bringing aid" It was Pherdur already starting the first leg of their journey.

He was accompanied by the newest member of their group a young lady Evren , even in these conditions still very good looking.

"I'm coming now” He replied trying not to sound too brash.

"Pher..." Don’s voice trailed off as he could no longer see his travelling companions. He started again but this time he aimed his question at the leader of their company Fededhor. “Shall the provisions that we are taking be minimal or enough to compensate any detours which we may need to take”

“Take enough rations for all of you then some more about two day’s worth, but I’d hurry or you’ll never catch up with your group”

“I didn’t think Pher was one for waiting” chuckled Don then in that same moment turned and was gone into the trees.

[ May 12, 2003: Message edited by: Donlammenion ]

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

Evren knew she had asked to come along, but now she wasn’t sure. Perhaps I should have stayed with the men, helped them fight... but I’m being helpful here too. They need messengers. And I’ll come back with those who are sent for help. If they don’t let me, I’ll sneak along. I’ve done it once, I’ll do it again, she thought stubbornly, walking along the path with those other two, Pherdur and the one with the long name... Donla-something. She hoisted up her pack onto her back. She’d left her horse at the edge of the wood, but it wasn’t safe to go back and get him. The orcs were camped near there... she shuddered to think of what would happen to her favorite steed.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Herlion moved again, then moaned. He felt as though he had been thrown onto a hot furnace and was being pressed down to it, rolled and molded with giant rollers. He could just barely crawl, but he did so, hoping to at least find Iavas or somebody he knew in the group of villagers, all nursing their wounds. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a sudden movement. He turned to look, painfully aware of the effort it took him to turn his head. It was Georelelia, running out the door. He could see another woman being thrown to the ground by an orc. He felt happy for Georelelia, for a moment. And then another thought crossed his mind.They will catch her… she will not get out. They will beat her, and she will die. He did not feel happy for Georelelia anymore. But he knew that she had made the right choice. They would die anyway, all of them… and better quickly than the ways probably readied for them when they could no longer work. Herlion made a huge effort, leant down, and began to crawl towards the door.
* * *
Nobody was watching… he was out. But the effort had left him so exhausted that he dropped to the ground, managed to roll off the path, landing in some leaves, and flickered back out of consiousness.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Oghurn strode into the room, confident, as he never was with the bigger orcs, that none could hurt him, that he could have his own way, that he didn’t need his wits just then. It felt such a pleasure to simply use force, give a kick one way, a punch in another. The villagers shrunk to the walls whenever he passed, squeezing themselves as small as they could. And they were witnessing a rare occurance. Oghurn was having fun.

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: GaladrieloftheOlden ]

[ May 07, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[The Ruling Ring]

Fededhor looked after Donlamir as they left, then turned back to the others.

"We must wait here, I am afraid," he said. "Or somewhere where they will be able to find us again," he swallowed hard, thinking of his family, trapped in the dark, with the orcs. "My mind tells me that it is folly to merely bide our time with the orcs, yet I do not believe we should advance without the others. It would only result in the sheding of blood, ours and the prisoners'. If any of you disagree, please tell me what you think we should do," he bowed his head.

------------------------------

"AFTER THAT TARK SCUM!!!" Pirk roared, leaping to his feet in the muddle, bloodied by the broken skin at his knee that had resulted from his being shoved. He took off in pursuit of the person, panting more in fury that strain. Suddenly, a burst of dust flew up into his face, digging into his eyes. Pirk gave another roar, rubbing at them furiously with one hand, hearing Unglusch roar behind him, hailing some of the orcs to come.

Pirk opened his eyes to a bleary vision of three slight human forms, their little weapons in their hands. None of them looked like prisoners, but at least two of them looked like soldiers of Gondor.

Tarks, Pirk thought again. Tarks for the kill.

[Meoshi]

Pirk had run out, and Morachion was increasingly restless. He would spin a new web, that is what he would do. But where? The orcs would want to get to the prisoners in the main room, but the room with the children- that would do. The orcs guarding that room had run off with Pirk. There was only one orc standing outside the entrance keeping the prisoners from escaping.

Morachion climbed to the roof of the entryway to the childrens' caverns, and carefully stuck a string to a rock. He forgot himself in his work, spinning the traditional pattern of concentratic circles. It was perhaps the only beautiful thing that such a hideous race could design. Before long, an impassible, sticky barrier blocked the entrance to the room.

[Sophia the Thunder Mistress]

Farien huddled close as Georelelia told of her trip to the children's cave. "They're alright?" she asked breathlessly tears streaming down her face. "All of them? My babies?" Georeleila nodded in response. They propped up a drooping Lara, drooping from both her beating and her tears. Farien's despair all but gone she looked at the other two women. "How will we get them out?"

*********************
Telmir watched Emilia's reunion with her mother. After the woman had gone he tried to comfort the girl as she sobbed. She bit her lip to keep the noise in as her little body shook. Telmir felt completely helpless. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. The soldiers were supposed to come. Mothers weren't supposed to leave them alone again. Iavas' little boy clung to his leg. He pried it loose and deposited it by Serra. His sister still hadn't woken... Telmir bent over closer.

Was it? Was it her eyelids moving? He shook her shoulder. Her eyes snapped open. "Telmir?" she sat up. Telmir heaved a huge sigh of relief. "Telmir, I have a headache..." she whimpered. He motioned to her to be quiet. She shut her mouth, the terror in her eyes making her obedient.

From outside the caves he heard raised orc voices, he heard women screaming and the word 'tark!'. His heartbeat quickened. He spun around and motioned to Emilia. "I'm going to try to get out." he whispered in her ear.

"No... don't..." she pleaded. But Telmir wasn't listening anymore. He was tired of sitting in caves waiting for the orcs to hurt him or his sisters, he was going to find his dad. Eregiath would know what to do.

Telmir ran toward the door. He hit something firm and... sticky. Telmir tried to pull back in disgust, but he was caught, staring into a cluster of multifaceted eyes.
************************

Eregiath sat in the corner of the cave, where he'd been since the beginning of the torture. His body ached and he'd been in and out of consciousness. He suspected they'd gone harder on the men. He unrolled his body from the corner, looking around for Farien. He found her huddled with the other women. Going to her and whispering in her ear he said, "Farien, Herlion's gone..." She spun around, her eyes wild.

"Gone out of the cave? Or is he... dead?"

[Lyra Greenleaf]

"Laila...Laila..." Lara moaned, leaning on Farien's shoulder. Farien and Georeleila seemed to be discussing how they could get out, but Lara couldn't think of that. She was so tired and hungry that she couldn't seem to think at all. The only thing she could do was feel the pain and the sadness. She'd never cried as much in her life as she had the past few hours. It had tired her out as much as the beatings or the lack of sleep, and it didn't seem to leave room for much else.

How did this happen? Why did it happen? Ered, why are you not here?
Thinking about her husband Lara began to cry again in earnest.

[Malcu Luinthol]

Following his furious leader, Unglusch charged towards his foes, bellowing for the other orcs to join him. With a roar he lifted his spear, ready to support Pirk's attack. The Gondorian soldiers raised their shields and drew their swords. The combat seemed easily matched to Unglusch as the fight began.
'good' he thought, 'that will mean that the others will be weak at the end of the battle...perfect.....'

[Niluial]

Georeliela sat tired and sad. All the women were asking her “Is my little girl alright” or “Are the children alright”. Georeliela felt sorry for them all but she often thought that the women forgot that she also had a little girl, she also cried at night, she also worried about her Emila. But then again she felt honoured, the women must have had seen her as a strong figure. She sat thinking, she had a picture in her head of her daughters beautiful face. “Oh I do hope she is ok” She said to herself.

She saw Lara sitting in a corner, rocking herself. She watched Lara for a while and she felt dizzy from watching Lara rock from left to right. Lara was whimpering, and singing to herself, but the words weren’t clear. It almost looked like she was in a trance. She sat staring at one place, like there was no point of going on.

Niluial walked over to Lara, and tucked Lara’s hair behind her ear. She looked at Lara. Lara looked pale, with huge bags under her eyes. Lara did not even look at Georeliela in the eyes, she just carried on rocking herself and humming. Georeliela hated watching friends in pain.

******************

Emila sat worried about Telmir. What was she to do? She cradled a baby in her arms. But she could not stop thinking that Telmir was in danger. She handed the baby to another young girl, and ran out the room to look for Telmir!

[ May 17, 2003: Message edited by: Niluial ]

[ May 18, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

[Phervasaion]

Pherdurs heart raced as he saw the orcs chargeing towards them.

"Prepare to defend yourselves!" Pherdur shouted as they all drew their swords. Pherdur could see that the numbers on the enemys side were far greater than theirs but he knew the only thing they could do was fight.

An orc came charging with a large spear and lunged at Pherdur, but he just managed to knock the spear aside as all three of them charged into the crowd of orcs, Pherdur, with one swift swipe beheaded one of the smaller orcs and then drove his sword through another ones stomach.

Pherdur looked up to see that Evren was fighting with them and she was skilled with her weapons. Suddenly Pherdur heard a foul scream behind him and turned to see an orc take a terrific strike at him, but Donlamir came in and finished the orc with a powerful blow to the head. Donlamir turned round and saw the leader of the orcs draw his sword and, with a srong swing, the orc knocked him out with the hilt of his weapon, and he fell to the ground with a thud.

"No!" shouted Pherdur as he sprang at the orc leader, but then felt a sharp pain in the back of his right leg and looked down to see the spear piercing his armour and driven into his flesh, he let out a short scream as he felt the weight of the orcs sword on the back of his head and he fell to his knees and slowly lost consiousness as he fell to the ground.

[Malcu Luinthol]

The attack was going badly, the men were more skilled than Unglusch and the orcs had given them credit for... However, there lesser numbers could easily be exploited. In the fray, Unglusch found himself brushed aside, falling to the ground. He did not rise up again, not because he was wounded, but because he had a plan...


He waited patiently as the battle continued, carefully choosing his moment as the men weakened, when he would know the battle would be theirs, before leaping up into the battle and attacking...

Using his spear to push himself up, he rushed towards his target, who had just knocked an enemy unconcious. He thrust his spear forwards, striking the front armour of Pirk...