He'd walked tirelessly for days, crossing the fields, intent on his destination. He paused for the first time as the city finally came into view. His assurance faded as he faced the horizon. What was the plan? He didn't really have one, he mostly hoped that inspiration would come by the time he got there. He continued toward the city slower now and with more care, unsure who might see him. How would he get in? Particularly without being immediately killed. This was an astoundingly bad idea...

He carefully observed his surroundings as he walked. There were guards scattered through the city. Not many, it would be easy pickings for the Uruk armies, they hadn't a chance at survival. The city was weak, and from what he understood, the king was weaker. Their only chance at a fight was to draft their civilians to be soldiers in order to fill the ranks. They had strong men to fight before, but they had been all but outlawed and disbanded, his master had seen to it. So what were their chances? Not good, and he would give little aid even assuming he could get in without being killed.

He knew there were spies in the city, he'd seen one of them before alongside his master. A weak orc-like man, but silver-tongued so he had heard. Could he perhaps warn of this? No, they would never listen to him. His word competing with that of a trusted man would raise no doubt. They were doomed, as was he, but he had to try something. First and foremost, how would he get in? He couldn't surrender himself to the guards, they'd shoot him without a second thought, and they'd be right to! So how!?

The walls grew ever closer but seeing a party of men outside the city walls, he pressed his back to a large stone and hid in silence. Ok, think, what now? If this city were to fall, the war would be all but won. He had to do something, or the dark lord would turn to the elves, but what!!? He looked to see if the men had left, but still, they stood. It was then that he realized they weren't just men. There may have been five or so men, but there also stood an elven hunter and a dwarven warrior.

His brows furrowed as he looked to them. A strange party... He saw one of the men seemed to bear greater authority than others, likely a commander of sorts, as the rest of the party turned to him. But he didn't look like a commander. His armor was tattered and about his neck a cloak hung. A strange leader, but he definitely seemed in charge. The rest of the men all wore armor bearing the symbol of Rohan, but he, the elf, and the dwarf did not.

It seemed to be some sort of small scouting party, not set for a full battle, but they didn't look in the least bit helpless. He needed something, and maybe this could be an opportunity. He wasn't sure how, but he needed to start somewhere. Perhaps if he could get his hands on one of them he could get somewhere. He wasn't going to go for the leader, for one thing, he was likely a better fighter and for another he needed someone with authority to remain near. He didn't doubt his capabilities, but he was also not too fool hearty to think he could easily take the elf, so not him. He considered the dwarf, but that would simply be too much trouble. His eyes went to the men, some of them were older and more experienced, but one seemed particularly young. He didn't look like a fool, but of them, he would be the easiest.

Ok, that's one part of the plan, but how to get him? The moment he would approach, the elf would likely shoot him and otherwise, they would overpower him. He needed the element of surprise. He needed to get closer but he was concerned the elf would hear if he got too near. He dropped his bag to keep quiet, then he slowly crept closer, moving from rock to rock for cover. He could hear them speaking amongst themselves as he sat in waiting.

He guessed that to run, grab the boy, then get to shelter would take him roughly fifteen seconds, but that was more than enough time for the elf to take a shot at him. He could use the boy as a shield, but he was much bigger than him, and would still be exposed. He could take a shot to the arm or leg, but his chest was broader than the boy's, and that, he would not likely survive. He knew that no elf would sacrifice the boy to kill the enemy, but he also knew that the elf was perfectly capable of making risky shots without fear of harming the boy. It was damn risky, but there was nothing for it. He had to be fast, that was his only chance!

Drawing his knife from his belt, he reached to the dirt and picked up a rock. Carefully looking over the boulder behind him. He saw another boulder a few hundred yards away. Gauging it, he threw the rock at the stone, trying to be as silent as possible. The stone hit the boulder with a tap, and both the cloaked man and the elf looked up in its direction. He waited for the others to follow their gaze. Once they did, he took a deep breath. Fifteen seconds or less, he had to do it. He instantly dashed toward the boy, slamming into him before he knew what was happening. The boy gave a cry as he caught him by the throat, the rest of the men turned quickly assessing the situation, but not as quickly as the elf loosed an arrow! He narrowly managed to sidestep the arrow. The boy tried to reach for his sword but not before his attacker did and threw it at the elf as he was drawing another arrow. The elf easily dodged but that gave him a little time.

He was about to dash to shelter but he had to quickly parry the sword of the cloaked man's blade as it flew at him. He bared his teeth with a growl as he shoved the sword back. He instantly ran to shelter dropping to the ground as he did, sliding to a stop as an arrow flew where his head had been. The boy thrashed and fought, beating his armored elbow against him, till he put the blade to the boy's throat, where he went still.

"Halt!!" he bellowed, "The boy yet lives, but one move and that may easily be altered!!" He heard as a voice bade them hold, and their boots stopped, giving him a chance to adjust his grip. He held the boy in a tight hold, his hand over his mouth and the tip of the blade digging threateningly into his skin. The boy's breath was heavy, his heart pounding as he was pretty certain he was going to die, what he didn't realize was that his captor was thinking the same thing.

"Ok, Uruk, we're not moving, what do you want?" Called a calm and undefinable voice. Ghash was silent for a moment as he was thinking as rapidly as he could. "I shall release the boy if you assure me safe counsel." he said. "Safe counsel, that alone?" called the voice, "That alone." he confirmed. "I want to hear him." requested the voice. "Fine." he answered. "Hey, you alright there, son?", he moved his hand from the boy's mouth and shoved him, urging him to reply. He cleared his throat before saying, "Right as rain, sir..." he said nervously.

Ghashnaga covered his mouth, then continued saying, "Alright, my bargain is I shall forfeit the boy and my weapon, and I shall surrender. In turn, neither you nor your men are to attack until I have said my piece. Are we agreeable?" the men were quiet as they thought through his words. "...We are agreeable. Let him go." answered the voice. "Have I your word?" he asked. "You have it." said the voice. "Men claim to uphold honor and oath, is this so?!" he pressed, "It is."/ "Then give me your word!!" he yelled, "You have my word! Let him go!" the voice responded.

Ghash took a deep breath, closing his eyes as strings of curses ran through his mind. The boy looked to him in mingled anticipation and confusion as he sat there. Ok, this is it, this had to work! He couldn't believe he was going to do this, but he let the boy go, simultaneously standing and throwing the blade away. The boy instantly raced away to his companions. Ghash turned to face them, his hands raised showing he had no weapon. The men surrounded him with their swords and arrows trained on him.

One of the men yelled for him to get down. He conceded, kneeling, his hands still raised. Two of them held him still by the shoulders, "Hold." said the voice from the cloaked man. He sheathed his sword, and crossed his arms, peering curiously at him. "Well then, Uruk-Hai. I have held my end, now say your piece." he was quiet for a moment, trying to organize his thoughts. "I do not intend you harm." he began. "Funny way of showing it." scoffed the man. "How else was I to cause a stalemate?"/"Just say what you want." said the man.

"Very well. I came to offer your king my blade. To fight and die in his name" he said. The men stood flabbergasted. They looked between each other, one shrugged to another, and one looked as if he might laugh, but the cloaked man stared at him, a raised brow. "You can't be serious." he said. "I am afraid so." Ghash replied. "You can't honestly expect us to trust you." He scoffed, "Of course not, I would never think you so foolish, but the attempt must be made." Ghash reasoned. "And why would a servant of the Dark Lord wish to help us?" he questioned. He paused for a moment, then slowly said, "I... Bear loyalty to one who supports your cause." he explained. "Whom?" he asked. At this Ghash fell completely silent.

"Well?" he pressed. "I... Can not say..." he muttered, turning his gaze downward. "Not a very strong story." he said. "I know." Ghash replied. "So you want, out of the goodness of your heart, to fight your kind for the men of Rohan. I'm meant to believe that." said the man suspiciously. "Of course not! Understand, this is for purely selfish reasons. I have no love of men, particularly those of Rohan," he said, casting a disgusted look at the men, "but I am all the more loathed to see the Dark Lord victorious. Thus this is my only alternative." The man shook his head. "Now you must understand this, I don't see great benefit in sparing you. One Uruk is poor trade for more of Saruman's treachery and the danger posed to the men. Good attempt, but there is no way this would be a wise decision." he said before nodding his head, signaling his men to act.

"Saruman's treachery?! You think him such a fool to send an Uruk-Hai rather than a man to gain your trust!?" he said, struggling against the men holding him down as another readied his blade. "Perhaps you have a point, but that's not a risk I can take." Said the man without looking at him. Ghash began to panic, his eyes moving between the cloaked man, and the man approaching him with a sword. "Wait, just listen!!" he yelled, but they just ignored him. Damn it, damn it, damn it, think, think, think!!!

He lunged forward, the men catching him by his arms to hold him still, "How many men!!?" he yelled. The man paused in his stride. "A hundred, maybe two? Compared to the thousands of my kind?! You will have no choice but to fill your ranks with aged men and babes that have never seen battle, let alone against tens of thousands of fighting Uruk Hai!! My kind thrive on fear and war, but what of yours? The instant they step onto the field and hear the drums and smell the blood, they will freeze, and they will die!!" Instantly the man turned on his heel, glaring at him with a look of rage.

"And what?! You think that with the aid of one Uruk we can turn the tide of battle!!?" He snapped, "No, but I may be of use!!" he said. "I think not." growled the man. Ghash pulled harder against the grip of the men, moving closer to him. "Use me! Your men have never met an Uruk in battle before. Let them see me, fight me, weaken their fear! Use me as a controlled animal to overcome!! Cage me, chain me, do what you will, but use me!!" he urged. The man's rage was slowly replaced with confusion and shock. "Why would you ask this?" he questioned. "Because... Because I have no choice. I am doomed what ever I do. If nothing else I would rather your men not kill me here and now." he answered.

"Aragorn, can we talk for a moment?" spoke the elf in his tongue. The man turned to the elf. "You have thoughts on this?" he asked in the same language, "Sort of, this seems an odd situation."/ "Oh you noticed." muttered the man, "Not what I mean. I feel that, as odd as this situation is, it may be in our best interests to not kill him." said the elf. "You think we should trust him?!" exclaimed the man, "No, no, I don't mean that, I mean that it's rare for us to find a servant of the enemy that is willing to speak so freely. It may be in our interests to use it for information if nothing else." explained the elf.

"Hey, what are you two on about?" said the dwarf, joining the conversation in hushed westron. "Legolas feels we could get information from him." explained the man. The dwarf scoffed, "Information? Nothing he would say can be reliable!"/ "He has a point." said the man. "And a valid one at that, but still I think it would be wasteful to kill him just yet." argued Legolas. "Maybe. Maybe it would simply be best to put it to the king's judgement." said Aragorn. "I suppose that's only fair, but I don't like it." said the dwarf, "None of us do, but Legolas may have a point." Aragorn turned back to him, a thoughtful expression on his face. He was silent for a time as he pondered all he had heard. Finally, he spoke, saying, "Bind him."