Title & Chapter Number The Wayward Wish 7/14
Author(s): - Author's Index
Website: Tortured Scribes
Fandom: Tolkien
RatingNC-17
Disclaimer Thank you J.R.R. for the wonderful playground of Middle Earth. Thank you Peter for the wonderful playground created by your casting department. I don't own any copyrighted material in this fic, I'm just borrowing it and I promise to return it when I'm done. Did I mention I have no money?
Warnings None
Betas Alex and Hedda
Cast Characters for Lord of the Rings, Original Female Character
Timeline Lord of the Rings AU
Spoilers Fellowship of the Ring
Summary The realities of being a modern woman zapped back in time to Middle Earth - minus the fluff.
Notes Elvish is Sindarin; If it looks like Tolkien and it sounds like Tolkien, it probably is. He wrote it first, he wrote it best, I'm just repeating it for storytelling purposes and make no claim that I came up with it. Everyone else has done the Modern Female in M.E., so now it's my turn. Hopefully, I've done it with a bit of style and believability.
Chapter Seven: On The Orc Trail
Aragorn began to search the glade filled with the fallen Orcs. Amid the debris of battle, he found the two Elven daggers Merry and Pippin had been using as swords. Aragorn placed them in his pack, hoping against hope that he could return them.
The three comrades studied the armament of the fallen Orcs, there was little doubt that these particular Orcs had come from Isengard, but why they had taken Merry and Pippin alive was a mystery. Of Jessy, they could find no sign.
The bitter taste of fear burst upon Legolas' tongue as he thought of the girl at the mercy of the Orcs. No doubt, they would take turns raping her, until they were all satisfied. Visions of her, naked and battered, danced before his inner eye.
Aragorn tried once again to get Legolas attention. "Legolas, did you hear me?"
Aragorn's voice penetrated through the macabre wanderings of his mind, and Legolas turned towards him. "I am sorry, Aragorn. What did you say?"
"You and Gimli should backtrack towards the boats and bring them back towards this way. Boromir is too heavy to carry." Aragorn placed a hand on Legolas' shoulder before continuing, "We will find them, Legolas. All of them."
Legolas nodded before following Gimli back through the woods.
They had not traveled far, when Legolas thought he heard a low moan coming from some dense brush. He stopped and cocked his head, listening intently.
"What is it, Legolas? More Orcs?" Gimli asked as he swung his axe off his shoulder.
"Shhh!" Legolas hissed at the Dwarf. Drawing his bow, he carefully notched an arrow and began to move stealthily thorough the brush.
Gimli followed behind the Elf, straining to hear what had caught Legolas' attention.
Legolas stopped at the side of a fallen oak and stooped to peer into the recessed space beneath it. He caught sight of a pale female hand peeking out from beneath dead leaves. He set aside his bow and began to frantically brush the leaves aside, revealing an unconscious Jessy.
"Gods!" Gimli exclaimed as he stooped to help Legolas pull the girl from the small space. "Is she alive?"
Legolas noted the steady rise and fall of her chest and nodded. "Jessy. Wake up!" He slapped her face lightly.
Jessy groaned as consciousness returned along with a pounding throb in the back of her head. Someone was smacking her, and she wished they would just go away. She opened her eyes and tried in vain to focus on the blurry faces floating above her. It was too much and she closed them again, allowing oblivion to take her from the pain.
Legolas felt the euphoric rush of relief as Jessy opened her eyes. It was tainted by the knowledge that Merry and Pippin had not escaped the Orcs. "Let us return to the boats. There will be time enough to discover what has happened here."
Gimli agreed and led the way back to the boats, Legolas carrying the injured girl.
~*~*~*~
Jessy watched as the boat containing Boromir's body drifted by towards the falls. She held a strip of cloth, cold from the icy water, against the knot at the back of her skull. She listened as first Aragorn, then Legolas sang a dirge for Boromir. Despite Legolas' reassurances that Boromir had repented his misconduct towards her, she could not bring herself to mourn his death.
When Boromir's body disappeared over the falls, her companions turned their only remaining boat back towards the bank. She sat in the boat, while Aragorn examined the sandy bank. Finally, he announced that it looked as if Frodo had decided to break The Fellowship and taking only Sam with him, head towards Mordor.
"Our choice then," said Gimli, "is either to take the remaining boat and follow Frodo, or else to follow the Orcs on foot. There is little hope either way. We have already lost precious hours."
"Let me think!" said Aragorn. "And now may I make a right choice, and change the evil fate of this unhappy day!"
Jessy dropped the wet cloth and stepped from the boat, crossing the shore towards the high bank beyond. She was going after Merry and Pip, and nothing would stop her.
"Where do you think you are going?" Aragorn asked the silent girl.
"After Merry and Pippin. You three can do as you like, but right now Frodo and Sam are at least safe. I can't say the same for Merry and Pip."
Legolas reached out and grabbed her arm, stopping her in her tracks. "Nay! You will wait until Aragorn decides what must be done."
Jessy locked eyes with the Elf. "Aragorn is no longer my keeper. I will do as I want." She attempted unsuccessfully to shrug off Legolas' hand.
"You are not but a foolish child. What hope do you hold that you can rescue them on your own? If the Orcs do not kill you in the attempt, you would well wish for death before they are done with you." Legolas hissed back at her.
Jessy's eyes filled with tears, but her voice was filled with a barely suppressed rage. "If Merry and Pippin hadn't knocked me out and hidden me, I would be dead or worse. I didn't ask them to save me from the Orcs. None of you have ever wanted anything to do with me except for them. If I die, at least they will know that I tried to save them as they saved me." Tears spilled forth down her cheeks, and she pulled harder at the hand restraining her.
"Enough! I also will follow the Orcs for I cannot abandon the captives to torment and death. My heart speaks clearly; the fate of the Bearer is in my hands no longer. The Company has played its part!" Aragorn spoke softly, but his voice carried a tone of command that the others could not disobey.
Legolas released Jessy, who turned back towards Aragorn. "Then what are we waiting for?"
"Are you sure that you are up to this journey? We will have to move quickly if we are to have any hope of finding them." Aragorn asked her in all seriousness, for he secretly doubted that she would have the stamina to withstand the task before them.
Jessy turned a cold stare towards Legolas before speaking again. "I wasn't the one who was afraid to go after them. Maybe you should ask Legolas, if he has enough courage to continue on."
Aragorn sighed as he noted the look of outrage flicker across the Elf's placid features. It would not do to have Jessy and Legolas at each other's throats, if they were to hope to succeed. "You will both cease this petty argument. We have Hobbits to rescue and Orcs to kill." He brushed past them both and began to search for the trail that the Orcs would have left behind.
~*~*~*~
Aragorn found the trail he was looking for, a wide swath cutting across the Plains of Rohirrim towards the Northwest. It was more confirmation that the Orcs that had taken Merry and Pip hostage were from Isengard. They continued at a brisk run along the path, Aragorn scanning the terrain around them. He called for them to stop and quickly left the main path. He returned a few moments later with the Elven brooch like the ones gifted to them in Lórien.
"This was left behind, I think, by one of the Hobbits for us to find" Aragorn said. "At least we know that one of them was still alive when they passed here."
The four continued to run, until night forced them to stop. Jessy dropped, exhausted by the day's events and fell quickly to sleep. She was joined shortly by Aragorn and Gimli, Legolas standing nearby guarding them through the night. The next morning found them eating lightly of lembas, before once again, running along the Orcs' trail.
For three days, they continued thus, following the trail during the day, resting at night when the trail could no longer be seen. Still, they were no closer to the Hobbits' captors then they had been on the first day. The third day had dawned with an eerie red marring the sky.
Jessy was struggling to keep up with the others as the miles passed on and on. Her legs were numb from the brisk pace they were maintaining. Concern for Merry and Pippin and pride made her go on when she thought she could not take another step.
Finally, on the fourth day of their journey northward, Legolas spotted riders of the plain heading for them. Aragorn led them down from the hill on which they stood, and they settled on the grass at its base, wrapping their cloaks about them.
"I think we should go on. The trail will continue to grow colder, if we wait here." Jessy hissed impatiently even though her legs were grateful for the reprieve.
"These horsemen are riding back down the Orc-trail. We may get news from them." Aragorn explained. "I fear that we have failed in our hunt."
Jessy realized that it was useless to argue with the Ranger once he had made up his mind, so she sat quietly.
The other three chatted quietly about the horsemen, for Aragorn had ridden among them in the past. Jessy ignored the conversation, too consumed with worry and dread to care.
The sounds of horses' hooves grew louder, and at last, a long line of mail-clad men began pass near to the hill. Aragorn and the others remained seated quietly until they had almost passed them completely by.
"What news from the North, Riders of Rohan?" Aragorn said as he stood and threw back his cloak.
The next thing Jessy knew, riders on horseback holding them at spear point surrounded the four of them. Jessy was beginning to wonder if Aragorn's idea about getting news was really that bright. Obviously, these men were not on the friendly side.
A tall rider advanced on Aragorn, until his spear point was less than a foot away from Aragorn's chest. "Who are you, and what are you doing in this land?"
Aragorn made no move and seemed unconcerned by the threat of the spear. "I am called Strider. I came out of the North, and I am hunting Orcs."
Jessy's hand moved slowly to her side, and she gripped the handle of her sword. She may not be that skilled with it, but she was definitely going to take at least one of these guys with her if they attacked.
The Rider leapt from his horse and handed his spear to another of his company. Drawing his sword, he stood face to face with Aragorn and studied him. "At first, I thought that you yourselves were Orcs, but now I see that it is not so. Indeed you know little of Orcs, if you are hunting them in this fashion. They were swift and well armed, and they were many. You would have changed from hunters to prey, if ever you had overtaken them. But there is something strange about you Strider."
He continued to eye Aragorn warily. "That is no name for a Man that you give. And strange too is your raiment. Have you sprung out of the grass? How did you escape our sight? Are you Elvish folk?"
"No," said Aragorn. "One only of us is an Elf, Legolas from the Woodland Realm in distant Mirkwood. But we have passed through Lothlórien, and the gifts and favor of the Lady go with us."
The Riders eyes hardened, "Then there is a Lady in the Golden Wood, as old tales tell! Few escape her nets, they say. These are strange days! But if you have her favor, then you also are net-weavers and sorcerers, maybe." He turned a cold glance towards the other three. "Why do you not speak, silent ones?' he demanded.
Gimli stood up and planted his axe. "Give me your name, horse-master, and I will give you mine, and more besides," he said.
"As for that," said the Rider, "The stranger should declare himself first. Yet I am named Éomer son of Éomund, Third Marshal of Riddermark."
"Then Éomer son of Éomund, Third Marshal of Riddermark, let Gimli the Dwarf Glóin's son warn you against foolish words. You speak evil of that which is fair beyond the reach of your thought, and only little wit can excuse you."
There was a murmuring among the Men of Rohan and they closed in, advancing their spears. Éomer voice was a near hiss with anger; "I would cut off your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, it if stood but a little higher from the ground."
"He stands not alone," said Legolas. Notching an arrow to his bow. "You would die before your stroke fell."
Jessy throw back her cloak and drew her sword, "The Lady is my guardian. I will not let you hurt Gimli, because he has come to her defense as I should have the moment you said a bad word about her."
Éomer eyed Jessy with a look of surprise, "It seems these Orc Hunters travel with a little boy brandishing a toy sword." The rest of the men laughed, but the air was still tense and neither side had backed down.
"Your pardon, Éomer!" Aragorn cried as he sprang between Gimli and Éomer. "When you know more, you will understand why you have angered my companions. We intend no evil to Rohan, nor to any of its folk, neither to man nor to horse. Will you not hear our tale before you strike?" He had not missed Jessy's look of outrage at her being labeled a boy, and he only hoped that she would be smart enough to keep her mouth shut. The fact that she was a woman would not serve them well.
Éomer lowered his sword. "I will but wanderers in the Riddermark would be wise to be less haughty in these days of doubt. First tell me your right name."
"First tell me whom you serve," said Aragorn. "Are you friend or foe of Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor?"
"I serve only the Lord of the Mark, Théoden King son of Thengel. We do not serve the Power of the Black Land far away, but neither are we yet at open war with him; and if you are fleeing from him, then you had best leave this land. There is trouble now on all our borders, and we are threatened; but we desire only to be free, and to live as we have lived, keeping our own, and serving no foreign lord, good or evil. We welcomed guests kindly in the better days, but in these times the unbidden stranger finds us swift and hard. Come! Who are you? Whom do you serve? At whose command do you hunt Orcs in our land?"
"I serve no man," said Aragorn. "But the servants of Sauron I pursue into whatever land they may go. There are few among mortal Men who know more of Orcs; and I do not hunt them in this fashion out of choice. The Orcs whom we pursued took captive tow of my friends. In such need a man that has no horse will go on foot, and he will not ask for leave to follow the trail. Nor will he count the heads of the enemy save with a sword. I am not weaponless."
He pulled out Andúril and it shone in the sunlight. "Elendil!" he cried. "I am Aragorn son of Arathorn, and am called Elessar, the Elfstone, Dúnadan, the heir of Isildur Elendil's son of Gondor. Here is the Sword that was Broken and is forged again! Will you aid me or thwart me? Choose swiftly!"
Legolas, Gimli and Jessy looked at Aragorn as if he had grown an extra head. They had never seen him in this mood before. It was as if the King that Aragorn was to become had been born on the grassy plain before their eyes.
The rest of the meeting went better between the two groups. The Riders had indeed met up with the Orcs that had captured Merry and Pippin. They defeated them in battle but had not seen either Hobbit. Aragorn refused to give up on them and finally convinced Éomer to lend them two horses. He agreed, but only after extracting promises that they would appear before Théoden, after they had completed their mission.
Aragorn walked over to where Jessy had been eyeing the Riders warily. "Boy! You will ride with me." He was not yet willing to let Éomer and his men know that Jessy was a female.
Dark brown eyes met steel gray in a silent challenge. Jessy's chin lifted, and Aragorn recognized the telling sign of her stubbornness. Reaching over, he gripped her arm and squeezed it slightly before leaning down to speak softly in her ear. "You will not argue with me on this. Let them think you are male, for it may not bode well for us, if they know otherwise."
Jessy shook her head reluctantly and allowed him to pull over to the horse.
"Perhaps it would be safer if the boy was sent to Meduseld. I could spare one of my men for such a task." Éomer had guessed that Jessy was female but was loath to mention it before his men. "You could return for him, when your task is finished."
Aragorn lifted Jessy onto the saddle and mounted the horse, settling behind her. "Nay, for I have given my word to the Lady that I would see to the boy myself."
Éomer smiled. "Very well, Good Hunt!"
"And to you!"
They parted ways and the four companions continued onward in search of their friends. It was early evening, when they came to the eves of a great forest called the Fangorn. In an open glade near the edge, they found the remains of a great fire where the Riders had burned the corpses of the Orcs. It was too dark to begin a search of the area, and they made a camp in a glade nearby.
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