Surprise in the dungeons

For hours, I was in a slumbering state. I was neither awake or asleep, but something in between I guess. I wished to be awake, but did not succeed. The obvious clarification for this is, whether I opened my eyes or not, it didn't make a difference. It is always dark here in this room. So dark that I could not see my own hand waving if I did so.

I don't know where I am. But I do know that this is not a nice place. Not at all... I also know that I'm already here for quite some time. Were it not for the thickening of my beard, I'd have forgotten all sense of time. And hungry I am. I am so hungry. I'd be worse than a hobbit by the smell of mushrooms! Although...this is not a good place to think about smells or food. Now, in this dark place, I sense the smell of death and decay.

I also realize that I lost my weapons. My fiery friend, where are you if I may ask?! Did they take you? And though I have clothes on my body, I know they are not my own. Did they seriously run off with everything?!

In this darkness and hunger and smell and poority, I tried to think about what transpired. Where was the sense of grass, the sound of water and the the smell of summer wind? Where was the feeling of love, the confort of friendship and the convenience of trust? All are forsaken, for I feel unloved, unbefriended and there's no trust in these halls. It feels like I'm bearing all burdens of the world alone. I feel terrible in the very experienced way, yet never done before. Regret and hate took me.

Why didn't Oromë save me? Béma in the tongue of my homeland, he has a big horse and is a hunter of monsters and could easily get me out. Why is here no open air, so Varda could enlighten my burdens by her stars? I wished that Lórien gave me nice dreams to soften the pain, or that Mandos just delivered me swift death. I think to Amarthorn, he whoms fate was hidden and who tutored me long ago. He thought me the martial arts, and the history and geography of the world. He told me about the Valar long ago and if not he told me about them, I'd have doubted their existence. And then Oromë was the only one for me and I'd have said his name in Rohirric tongue.

I wonder how my friends are faring. The people of the Red Company! I almost forgot them and they must have forgotten me! They must think I'm dead. When I left Redstable for this mission, I didn't let them know. It felt like a delicate matter and too many issues were around I guess. We couldn't miss any men, but if I told them, they'd have joined me... So I didn't tell them, and parted alone.

I traveled to Mirkwood. I searched for spiders, I wanted to investigate their venoms. I do this more often. I belief that some venoms can be used against our own enemies, or if we experiment with the draughts we could obtain healing effects or stronger resilience against the pestilences of the enemy. That is what I do, Amarthorn thaught me. As he was a hunter, one of the oldest and wisest of the children of Rosiel, he learned me the value to rely in the wild on various medicines, of which some were even past from elves to him, or to use poisons on our blades or arrow so that even the smallest cut is fatal. And I always believed him. How could I doubt about 184 years of experience?

But, in these foul woods, I was surprised by the orcs. Unfortunately, not all orcs are dumb and even amongst their foul breed I detected their cunning...too late. So where I am now, I do not know. Here's no hope for escape, rescue or victory. If the company knew where I would be, they might already have come, but they did not. I'm about to die, not by torture, but by starvation. 

At least, in Redstable it would have been safe... Or isn't it? Suddenly I feel delighted by being pickpocketed by that little stealthy hobbit. And I wonder what has become of the visitor that learned him to read. I wonder how the ladies Carrenhil and Katrandil are faring, who I met shortly before my departure. And maybe Ancthelm finally found his brother? and I feel double now. I told Radhril, as we met each other in Moria, not to tell about my journey or passing. And the annoying dwarf which scolded me in the Prancing Pony? And then he stayed in our company, selling his wares? He was the rudest dwarf I've ever met, and I hope the company didn't have trouble with him anymore. Though this is the end for me, all of them have a long road ahead, and I hope my friends have good fortunes.

Suddenly a door opened. The darkness of the night blinded me. An orc came in, and I barely could see his face, but he smiled. Come here, you maggot!! I'm getting you out of your cage! We prepared a surprise for you...