Chapter 3: Kenshin and the Riders of Rohan

The Uruk-Hai, that have Merry and Pippin captive, continued their march to Isengard, accompanied by the Orcs. Aragorn, Kenshin, and the other hunters continue their pursuit as well. Misao was the closest to the marching Uruks. She struggled endlessly… to get to the Uruks.

'Man,' thought Misao, 'these Uruk-Hai creeps sure don't know when to quit. That's good because I won't quit either. If it takes my last breath, I will rescue Merry and Pippin.'

Misao's determination was as strong as the Uruks that marched forth towards Isengard, running swiftly across the plains.

The Seven Hunters were still far behind, but have equal determination as Misao. Gimli was nearing short of his breath, as he has been for several days…

"Keep breathing," said Gimli, still short of breath, "that's the key! Breathe! Ho!"

Legolas announced, "…they run as if the very whips of their masters were behind them."

"Really?" interjected Sanosuke, "you can tell all that from such a long way? Talk about slave driving."

Despite how they all may be long, or short of breath, the hunters continued, with equal determination as Kenshin, to run over vast distances, and plains and hills to get to Merry and Pippin… even when it was near dusk…

At night, the Uruk-Hai and Orcs stopped suddenly, panting with exertion. Merry and Pippin were thrown down onto the ground.

"…We’re not going no further… till we’ve had a breather!" said a panting Orc.

"Get a fire going!" commanded Uglúk.

The ferocious Uruks and Orcs took their rest while some of them were cutting down the trees around them with their axes. Pippin crawled over to Merry, who was still unconscious.

"Merry…! Merry, wake up!" said Pippin, shaking Merry trying to wake him up, but to no avail.

"My friend is sick!" Pippin cried out to the Uruks.

The Uruks ignored the frantic Hobbit at first. Then Pippin raised his voice. "…Hey!" he called out again, "my friend is sick!"

Pippin caught the Uruks' attention this time and they went over to their prisoners.

"My friend is sick," Pippin repeated himself, "he needs water, please!"

Uglúk then stepped in front and said, "sick is he? Give him some medicine, boys!"

One of the Uruks gave the injured Merry some of his drink, a dark-colored, tasteless fluid, to which he forced down into the Hobbit's mouth. Merry didn't like the taste of the drink and tried to cough it out of his mouth. The Uruks laughed viciously at their torture of the captive Hobbit.

"Stop it!" cried an infuriated Pippin as he tried to stop the Uruk, but was held back by another Uruk.

The Uruk ignored Pippin as the Uruk kept forcing more… and more… and more of the awful drink… down Merry's throat.

Pippin struggled against the Uruk as he repeated his cry, a bit louder, "stop it!"

Satisfied with his torture… the Uruk stopped giving Merry his tasteless drink, leaving him to cough the rest of the fluid out of his system, while some of it remained all over Merry's face.

"Can't take his draught!" Uglúk laughed, even more viciously, like an old bully.

The Orcs laughed along with the Uruks, as they enjoyed seeing the Uruks' inhospitable treatment of the Hobbits. Pippin broke free of the Uruk and went by Merry's side, protecting his friend.

"Leave him alone!" Pippin demanded.

"Why?" asked the bullying Uglúk, "…you want some, huh?"

Pippin gave no response, knowing that he would receive the same treatment as Merry.

"Then keep your mouth shut," Uglúk warned the Hobbit and instructed to the Uruks, "back to work, boys!"

The Uruks went away, laughing as they took great pleasure in unspoiling Merry. It was most certainly the last time Pippin would ever ask the Uruks for help, because obviously… they weren't going to give it.

"Merry," Pippin said quietly to Merry.

Miraculously…

"…Hello Pip," Merry weakly responded, trying to get the bad taste of the draught, out of his mouth.

"You're hurt," said Pippin, still concerned for his friend.

But Merry countered, "I'm fine. It was just an act."

"An act?" questioned an uncertain Pippin.

"See?" Merry said, jokingly, "I fooled you too."

Pippin brightened a little, but was still unsure of Merry's condition.

"Don't worry about me," Merry lowered his expression, obviously lying to himself about his 'act', "… but I think…we might have made a mistake leaving the Shire, Pippin."

Pippin smiled at Merry, knowing that his friend was probably right about that.

As the Orcs continue chopping down the trees, low groans and rumbles start to emerge from the forest. Merry and Pippin hear the groans as well.

"What's making that noise?" asked Pippin.

Merry looks toward the forest and answered, "it’s the trees."

"What?"

"Remember the old forest, on the borders of Buckland? Folk use to say that there was something in the water that made the trees grow tall... and come alive."

"…Alive?"

"Trees that could whisper… talk to each other… even move."

Those last words left Pippin with a shocked expression on his face.

The Uruks and Orcs, besides panting, were also hungry, very hungry.

"I'm starving," growled Maúhur, as he held a piece of molded bread in his hand, "we ain't 'ad nothin' but maggoty bread for three stinkin' days!"

"Yeah," said an Orc called Snaga, who squeaked like a rat, "why can't we have some meat?"

Then the Orc's gaze turned greedily towards the bound Hobbits.

"What about them," Snaga suggested, barring his teeth, "…they're fresh!"

But Uglúk stood in the way. "They are not for eating!" he snarled.

Despite Ugluk's protests, the orc snapped its jaws, having second thoughts.

Snaga then added, "what difference does it make? You took pleasure in choking them with your draught. Why can't we slice them up for food?"

Uglúk snarled as the Uruks grabbed Merry and Pippin and stood them up.

Then Grishnákh had a suggestion, "what about their legs? They don't need those. Ooh… they look tasty."

Uglúk remained defiant as he shoved Grishnákh and the Orcs back. "Get back, scum!"

The tension slowly increased between the Orcs and Uruks.

"Carve them up!" the Orcs demanded.

"No!" snarled Uglúk, making the tension between them and the Orcs grow, "…the prisoners go to Saruman… alive, and unspoiled."

"Alive?" questioned Grishnákh as he looked over at Merry and Pippin, "…why alive? Do they give good sport?"

Grishnákh wet his lips, snapping his mouth very restlessly, waiting for an answer to why Saruman wanted the Hobbits. Merry and Pippin's fearful expressions grew, for they may already know the answer themselves…

"They have something," answered Uglúk, "an Elvish weapon. The master wants it for the war."

The Hobbits knew what they were arguing about… it was the One Ring. It seemed that Saruman wanted the ring for himself. Whilst Uglúk and Grishnákh were still arguing…

Snaga, the rat-squeaking Orc, who first suggested eating Merry and Pippin, began to sneak quietly behind the Hobbits, licking its lips, intending to make them into dinner…

"They think we have the ring," Pippin said to Merry, confirming his suspicion.

"Shh!" Merry quickly hushed Pippin, "as soon as they find out we don't, we're dead."

Unbeknownst to the Hobbits…

Snaga, may have heard Merry about not having the ring and drooled. It made the Orc more than willing to carry out the Hobbits' execution…

"Just a mouthful!" Snaga said, making Merry and Pippin gasp with fright as they looked behind them.

Uglúk turned to see the Orc drooling over his prisoners.

"…A bit of the flank," the Orc added as he raised his sword in the air, ready to strike.

Merry and Pippin recoiled in fright and then…

"NOOOO!" Uglúk roared as he ran over to the Orc…

SLICE!

And cut off the Orc's head, which bounced off of the Hobbits' shoulders. Merry and Pippin then turned to see the decapitated Orc collapse in front of them, making them even more frightened…

"LOOKS LIKE MEAT'S BACK ON THE MENU, BOYS!" growled Uglúk.

The other Uruk-Hai roared along with him. The Orcs joined in as well, knocking down the bound Hobbits, and started tearing into Snaga… making intestines and all other of the Orc's innards fly, taking their eyes off the Hobbits for a while.

Pippin looked back at the carnage with a disgusted look. Merry used this act of butchery as an opportunity for him and Pippin to escape.

"Pippin," prompted Merry to Pippin, "let's go."

Pippin followed his friend as they tried to crawl away from the feeding frenzy, in the confusion, with their hands still bound. As they continued to crawl, seeming that they made good time…

A foot came down on Merry, and Pippin was turned onto his back. It was Grishnákh, intending to make mince meat out of the Hobbits.

"Go on… call for help, " said Grishnákh as he gripped Pippin's face by the cheeks, and brandished a blade in front of him, "…squeal! No one’s gonna save you now…!"

ZIIIIP!

A spear suddenly pierced the Orc's back, and fell down, barely alive. Out of the darkness…

Viking-like calvary riders, armed with spears and shields on their backs, ambushed the Orcs and Uruk-Hai from all sides of the camp. Mayhem ensued around the area. The force of the riders outmatched that of the Orcs and Uruk-Hai.

Merry called out, "Pippin." He gestured to Pippin to make their escape.

Misao then snuck up to the camp to find it already ambushed by the riders.

"Man," Misao said to herself, "I never expected these guys to show up. Its like they came out of nowhere."

Misao began to search through the ensuing chaos trying to spot Merry and Pippin.

"I hope I'm not too late," Misao said hopefully

The riders shot more of their spears at the Orcs and Uruks, and swung underneath them with their swords and axes. Some of the riders shot arrows at the Uruks, while riding. Taking no prisoners, the powerful calvary riders took out their enemies, one by one, for invading their land.

The Hobbits try to escape from the pandemonium to the forest, dodging bodies and stomping feet. Suddenly…

Pippin turned onto his face, looked up, and screamed. Misao just then spotted Pippin, about to be crushed by a pair of thrashing hooves from a horse, bearing down on him.

"Pippin!" Misao cried out…

Dawn approaches with the hunters still chasing the Uruk-Hai. Legolas suddenly paused and looked back over his shoulder, seeing the red dawn, that disturbed him greatly. Aoshi looked to his companion.

"What is it, Legolas?" asked Aoshi.

"The red sun rises," Legolas answered silently, "…blood has been spilled this night."

'…Misao,' Aoshi thought, dreadfully.

Morning came over the plains of Rohan. The Trackers continued to investigate the captive Hobbits' whereabouts as Aragorn dove to the ground over a wide plain.

Suddenly…

The Trackers heard the sound of horses… and Aragorn quickly gestured for his companions to hide. The hunters immediately hid behind some boulders, just ahead of them. Gimli was the last to hide behind the boulders as Legolas and Sanosuke quickly went over to the Dwarf and brought him into the rockface.

Moments later…

A large group of horsemen, dressed with cloaks and helmets on their heads, armed with spears and swords and shields, appeared, galloping quickly with their banners flying, passing the Hunters that hid in the boulders, just beside them.

The horsemen swarmed sternly by, riding proud and tall upon their horses, ready to take on any opponent that dared to invade the Riddermark, almost like minutemen. Aragorn, Kenshin, and the others came out of hiding as they passed.

Aragorn called out to the horsemen, "riders of Rohan! What news from the mark?"

The riders heard Aragorn's call. Then, at a signal from the riders' leader…

The riders quickly turned around, heading in the direction of the hunters. Aragorn turned to Kenshin and Legolas, as they nodded at him, believing that the riders would help.

However, the riders quickly reached the seven hunters… and slowly surrounded them in ever-tightening circles. They did not believe that the hunters came in good faith, but rather believed that they would bring more ills to Rohan…

The Seven Hunters stood back to back with each other as the circles of the riders tightened even more… and they stopped, having the hunters surrounded…

The riders then slowly lowered… and pointed their long spears, menacingly at the hunters, ready to kill them, if necessary.

The Trackers held their hands up and Kenshin spoke, "please, we don't mean you any harm. We've come on a mission of mercy, that we have."

"Silence!" one of the riders demanded, "speak when you are spoken to."

Kenshin gave no response. Then…

The leader of the riders came in front of the hunters. The armor he wore was golden brown from head to toe.

The leader spoke, "what business does an Elf, five men, and a Dwarf have in the Riddermark? Speak quickly!"

"Give me your name, horse-master," responded Gimli, "and I shall give you mine."

"Yeah," added Sanosuke, "that goes for me too, buddy."

Kenshin and Saito went embarrassed at Sanosuke's remark. Insulted, the leader handed his staff over to another rider, and dismounted off his horse. He first walked over in Sanosuke's direction.

"Judging by the look of you," said the leader, "I'd say that you would make good sport indeed… rooster man."

Sanosuke grimaced as Kenshin laid a hand on his shoulder, gesturing him not to start trouble.

Then the leader turned his gaze upon Gimli and walked menacingly towards him, while Aragorn laid a hand on Gimli's shoulder. Gimli maintained his look of defiance upon the leader as he came up to him.

"…And I would cut off your head, Dwarf," the leader grimly assured Gimli, "if it stood but a little higher from the ground."

Then, in a lightning fast move… Legolas pointed an arrow at the leader…

"You would die before your stroke fell!" the Elf promised darkly, in a deadly voice.

"No, Sir Legolas!" interjected Kenshin.

However, in response to Legolas' threat, the riders pointed their spears even closer at the travelers. Sanosuke cracked his knuckles, ready to take on the riders, despite the grave odds.

"Just you try it, outsider!" said one of the riders. But…

Aoshi pointed another arrow at the rider that openly threatened Legolas.

"Threaten the Elf if you wish," said Aoshi, intensely, "but he does not stand alone…"

"Aoshi, Legolas," Aragorn interjected, as he put his hands on their shoulders.

Gimli breathed a sigh of relief as Legolas lowered his bow. Aoshi did the same, when gestured by Aragorn.

"Kenshin's right," Aragorn said to them both, "…we shouldn't do this."

Aragorn went on, announcing to the leader, "I am Aragorn, Son of Arathorn. These four before you are not from this world, but they are new allies. This is Kenshin, Saito, Aoshi, and Sanosuke."

Aragorn then pointed to the Elf and Dwarf, "…this is Gimli, Son of Gloin, and Legolas of the Woodland realm. We are friends of Rohan, and of Theoden, your king."

"…Theoden, no longer recognizes friend from foe. Not even his own kin," the leader said as he removed his helmet.

The riders withdrew their spears, convinced of the hunters' good faith.

The leader then announced himself, "I am Eomer, nephew of Theoden-King, Third Marshal of the Riddermark. Times are now dark for Rohan, for Saruman has poisoned the mind of the king and claimed lordship over these lands. My company are those loyal to Rohan. And for that, we are banished."

"So," interjected Kenshin, "Saruman has taken over Rohan, has he?"

"Indeed," answered Eomer, grimly.

"Then you guys must be freedom fighters of some kind, aren't you?" inquired Saito.

Eomer looked toward Saito, uncertain how to answer him.

"…Call it what you wish," he said.

Eomer went on, to the hunters, eyeing them, one by one, "…the White Wizard is cunning. He walks abroad, here and there, they say, as an old man, hooded and cloaked…"

Eomer then turned tensely to Legolas, whose eyes hardened as the Elf returned the stare, and finished, "…and everywhere, his spies slip past our nets."

"Oh," interjected Sanosuke intensely, "so that's why you were holding us up, because you thought we were spies or something?"

Eomer turned back to Sanosuke and answered, "as I have said… times are dark in the State of Rohan. So we cannot afford to be lenient with any outsiders."

"Well let me tell you something buddy," Sanosuke said, with growing resentment, pointing at himself with his thumb, "I work for nobody except me, you got that?"

"Sano," interjected Kenshin, "…we all understand how you feel. But I think that it is wise that we sympathize with Eomer's sense of caution, that I do."

Aragorn looked with great sympathy at Sanosuke as he and Eomer looked at each other, grudgingly.

Aragorn then turned to Eomer and said, "we are no spies, Eomer. We track a party of Uruk-Hai, westward across the plain. They’ve taken two of our friends captive."

"And," interjected Aoshi, "another of our friends went on ahead of us, trying to rescue them by herself. She's a 16-year old girl named Misao Makimachi."

Eomer turned his face over to Aoshi and answered, "the Uruks are destroyed… we slaughtered them during the night. But other than that… my men have said something about spotting a girl."

Aoshi gasped at Eomer's statement.

"But besides the girl," added Gimli, "there were two Hobbits. Did you see two Hobbits with them?"

Aragorn clarified, "they would be small – only children to your eyes. The girl, Misao is about a foot or two taller than them."

Eomer puts on a face of concern and regret, answering, "…we left none alive."

Eomer then pointed towards a smoking pile in the distance and added, "we piled the carcasses and burned them. There's little hope the girl has survived the attack as well."

'Miss Misao,' Kenshin thought, gasping. Aoshi gasped as well.

"…Dead?" gasped Gimli.

Eomer nodded solemnly.

"You didn't have to kill the Uruks," Kenshin said solemnly.

"…I am sorry," Eomer said sadly.

"No, I doubt that you are," Sanosuke berated Eomer, "for your information, Kenshin doesn't like to kill. Why should we believe you, since you were so busy holding us up? For all we know, you could've killed them yourselves."

Kenshin interjected, "Sano…"

"No, it is well," Eomer said, excusing Sanosuke's outbursts, "you were able to sympathize with me, Kenshin. It is only fair that I should sympathize with your friend, since our land can no longer afford trust. Even though… it may not make up for the possibility of the loss of your other friends."

Kenshin gave no response, keeping his silence. The travelers put on a face of shock and grief. Saito merely frowned while Legolas puts a hand on Gimli's shoulder, consoling him.

"…Is it true, that you do not like to kill?" asked Eomer, "yet, you do have a sword on you."

"It is a sword that doesn't kill, that it is," Kenshin replied sternly.

"I see," said a sympathetic Eomer, "…a sword that does not kill belonging to a man who doesn't like to kill? You may make yet an inspiration to my people, brave Kenshin."

Despite Éomer's sympathy, Sanosuke continued his grimacing expressions, as he has always believed that words were cheap. Eomer then turned around and whistled.

"Hasufel! Arod! Thendred! Eothor! " Eomer called out…

And four horses moved up, next to the Trackers. One of the horses was almost pure white, another a reddish-brown color, the third was colored in bright yellow, and the last one… was a jet-black colored horse.

"May these horses bear you to better fortune than their former masters," said Eomer, giving the hunters the use of these horses, "…farewell."

"Mr. Eomer," said Kenshin, appreciatively, "we greatly appreciate your help, that we do."

"…You're welcome," said Eomer as he mounted on his horse, "…look for your friends. But do not trust to hope… it has forsaken these lands."

The hunters reluctantly kept Eomer's last words in mind, knowing that they may not like what they shall find.

"We ride north!" Eomer cried to his riders as they rode off to the north, leaving the hunters as they looked on, after being informed of the trouble that has befallen Rohan…

'Eomer,' thought Kenshin, sadly, 'by the way things are going… is it possible that hope has forsaken us?'

Disclaimer: The Lord of the Rings and RK are not mine. They belong to their authors, respectively J.R.R. Tolkien and Watsuki Nobuhiro. This fanfiction is created just for fun, not for any commercial purposes.