The Pickpocket

Chapter: One – The Little Thief

Genre: Drama/Adventure

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings belongs rightfully to the Tolkien Estate. I don’t own LOTR or make money from the stories I write. The OCs, however, are mine.

Author’s Notes: Movie-verse and stuff. I am not a die-hard fan but I thought it to be fun to tinker with a few of the races/characters etc. If I screw up with dates, places, and people’s backgrounds, please let me know. I can’t speak, read or type any of the Elvish languages and I am not going to even try. Anyway, let’s see where this silly little story goes…

This story has also been posted on Fanfiction.net as an FYI. Though I might move it over here completely because it gets really bloody in some areas.

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I sat back in the hardwood seat and watched the drunken crowd of men from my corner. Each one of them was asking for it as they slopped their pints of beer like pigs and stumbled back and forth in song. Making sure I was well hidden, I pulled down the tip of my hood just a little farther. I was more than just hiding my face, there were too many lights in the tavern. I frowned and mumbled a few frustrated curse words in no direction in particular.

The tavern was large and had very few windows. People were crowded in as much as possible for the beer and the small appetizers served by diseased-looking women. Noisy and irritating, people continued to file into empty seats and a few even sat on the floor against the walls. Very few tumbled out and back to their homes, the night was still young.

Autumn came with full force this year and everyone noticed. Weather in this part of Arnor had been rainy for the past few months to the point of severe floods burying small villages to the North. As the rain fell, so did the hearts and will of the people in the town. It is sometimes surprising how uplifting sunny weather could be. Nonetheless people continued to go about their daily lives with lessened spirits and thicker clothes. The hardest part that came with the donning of warmer wear was the smell. Coupled with the stale stench of beer and vomit, the tavern smelled like unwashed bodies and stale sex. With a low roof, thick walls, excessive lighting, the smell flourished into a kiln-baked smell of nasty.

Delightful… I thought sarcastically. As sweat pricked my bow from the growing nausea, I couldn’t help but press my scarf to my face. The smell was intrusive and I seemed to be the only one who knew it even existed. Absentmindedly I adjusted my heavy cloak over my shoulders and across my chest so that it lay more comfortable. Men’s clothing was always far larger than women’s, but it did the job of keeping the cold out and hiding things.

Across the bar, near the door, were a group of fat men who looked like they shoveled pig crap for a living. Flies seemed to be attracted to them specifically. At their table they had already downed two pints of the tavern boss’ beer each. Their faces bright glowed bright red and their backs shuttered in a series of rapid hiccups and burps. Clearly they were sophisticated individuals… Give them another pint and they would start lowering their heads to the table or even dancing. Either way they were looking like good targets to terrorize in a little while.

My view was blocked by a hideously large set of hips that were poorly covered by filthy lace. I looked up from behind my hood to see one of the tavern women starting down at me. My eyes glanced around wondering what the hell was going on. She wrapped her grubby fingers around the handle of a pint and practically dropped it in front of me. The liquid inside sloshed around spilling over my table. I was sure that the intense alcohol was going to burn through the wood!

The barmaid gave me a large, toothy smile. I could see her teeth were blacked out and rotten, but she still smiled anyway. She put her round tray under her arm and bent down almost at a right angle to me. Her cleavage was practically in my face I felt the hairs on the back of my neck prickle in disgust. She smelled like the men too.

Licking her crusty lips and running her fingers over her bodice she breathed, “Anything else you need, little man?” I was in shock. My eyebrows were raised so high on my head that I was sure they would peel off and run away.

I shook my head and gave a smile from behind my scarf which was thankfully pressed against my face. Her breath was making my eyes water. I gave her an overenthusiastic thumb up hoping she would get the point and leave.

“Okay then deary,” she said, finishing her lame attempt at seduction. She turned but paused and whipped back around to stare at me, “If you need anything, let momma Ingrid know, okay? I just love the young ones, so delicious. Especially them ones with them pretty eyes.” With that she pressed her fingers to her lips and blew me a kiss. I physically dodged the air that she blew at me. Some people were so filthy to the point that even the air around them seemed tainted.

Something bothered me and I looked at my reflection in the large mug of beer. My dirt covered face must have been the mistake, A man? I thought. She thought me a man!? I dropped my head to my hands in frustration. Well, it could’ve been worse, I suppose. At least she didn’t kiss me… I shuddered at the thought.

The night rolled on normally. There was the occasional spatter between two men over one of the barmaids but they never lasted long. One man would buy the other a pint and they would suddenly be jolly again. It always amazed me how men could throw a few punches and laugh it off in the end while suddenly becoming friends. Women, on the other hand, would find every way to emotionally murder you and never relent. I sighed.

My eyes continued to measure up my targets from the distance. They were working on their fourth pint of beer each. I would have to make my move soon before they either became rowdy or left. As the crowd continued to grow room slowly ran out in the tavern. It was almost the perfect time for me to pull my moves.

“Oi!” I heard a voice call louder than the rest. I looked over and grimaced. Sauntering over to my corner of the table was a large man and his two scrawny companions. As he stepped he would push other patrons out of the way and slosh his beer all over his shirt. If I remembered correctly his name was Throb. He caught me a few weeks ago borrowing eggs from his chicken coop. I got away with a large clutch full of eggs, didn’t stop him from being angry though.

Thorb dropped his pint on my table adding to the barmaid’s mess. He dropped a fat leg on the chair across from me and leaned over the table putting his weight on his mug. “Do I know you?” He said. There was a slur between his words giving way to the fact he was very, very drunk. “You look shooo familiar!” He jammed a finger up his nose and pulled out a large, green booger. He examined the item before flicking it in his mouth. He snorted mucous, “I think I know you. Your eyes are funny lookin’.”

“Doubt it.” I said clearly. His scrawny friends took part and also leaned on my table. It was annoying. While they picked on me I wondered if farmer Thorb knew that the skinny one with the rat’s nose rutted with his daughter every weekend. When I was grabbing eggs from the coop I caught a filthy glimpse of two nasty people doing nasty things. There were some things I truly wish I had the ability to forget…

Rat-nose burped before speaking, “Come now little man,” I frowned, Why does everyone think I’m a boy? I thought with frustration. Is it the scarf? The smell? What!? The skinny one with bad breath continued for his partner, “Bossssssss’ss said he’s sheen you before.”

“Sheen me? I do hope that is not the case.” I cut him off, his face reddened.

He pointed at me but he could not quite get the words out. For that matter he could barely point at me long enough. His finger waved around in circles pointing at ten different people. He made a bubbling noise and collapsed to the ground in a heap. Out of the corner of my eye I could see that his coin purse slipped from his pocket and rolled under the table. I reached over with my torn boot and pulled it over to me while still acting casual towards the other two men who were busy laughing and burping. I dragged the pouch to the side of my free food, rolled it up my leather straps shifted my legs a little and dropped it into the side of my boot.

I made it just in time when the fat one broke my concentration. He was getting angry; the alcohol was finally getting to him. “Hey, I’m talking at you!”

“I can see that.” I mumbled through my scarf. I furrowed my brows again, I was starting to feel really sick. I would have to take care of my business quickly and leave before I vomited all over the table. My head started to spin and I closed my eyes for a moment trying to relax. In the background I could hear Thorb yelling at me but I could care less of whether it was interesting or not. Either way, I suddenly knew that I wasn’t going to make it for the rest of the evening.

I stood sharply and tightly pressed my scarf to my mouth. Cold sweat broke out on my forehead and I suddenly felt desperate to leave. “Please move.” I asked Thorb and his still-standing cohort. My patience was wearing thin with an already short temper.

“Move? Where ya think you be heading now?” The table moaned as he leaned closer forbidding me to pass.

“I said MOVE!” I lifted up my leg and kicked out the mug that he was leaning on. His arm gave and his entire weight collapsed into the table. The force shot up my full pint, smacking the other skinny man in the face and breaking his nose. He dropped his drink, grabbed his nose and screamed. The commotion was brought to the attention of the entire tavern. Eyes darted around looking for the source of the action, eager to get in on what was going on several drunkards walked over to see how the players were doing.

Before I could weave between the bystanders I was stuck. A strong arm grabbed the back of my hood and spun me around. The force was too much for me, I dropped my hand and vomited all over the front of Thorb’s shirt. I reached up and wiped the bile from my chin flicking it off my hands and onto the floor.

I drew up a hand and pointed my index finger into the air in a matter-of-fact manner. With a grin I could not help but say, “Ahh, now I feel much better.”

“My… My tunic!” My projectile vomiting was sobering for the fat Thorb. His bright red, angered face rose slowly to meet my tired eyes. There was a look of instant revelation in his gaze. Thorb raised a finger and pointed at me. With slow, calculating words he said, “I do know you! You were that little bitch who stole eggs from my coop!”

My hands reached up patting at my face and head. My hood had fallen and my scarf lay on the floor. The night turned sour and I was going to get my ass kicked. “Who, me?” Daring to act dumbfounded, I tried a few lame attempts at getting away from the situation before getting punched. “Ha! I would never do such a thing, I am an honest per-!” He grabbed the front of my large coat and pulled me towards his angered face.

“Bitch, how dare you show your face in this town again after what you pulled!” The long hair on his beard tickled my nose.

“Come now, it’s not like you needed them. Have you looked in a mirror lately?” His face reddened more. Its greasy shine gave him a tomato-like image.

He sucked in air through his teeth, “What did you say?”

“Thorb, you are ugly.”

I moved my head to the side as his fist shot at me. My luck turned as his clenched hand crunched the face of a bystander behind me. Blood spurted out of the tavern patron’s nose and his drink splashed back over the crowd. The bystander retaliated by pushing me to the side, returning the heavy-handed punch to the fat farmer.

The brawl began. Beer was tossed back and forth, cries, cheers and screams broke out across the building. The barmaid who gave me the look earlier stared at me in disbelief as I crawled across the floor my scarf in hand. As I knelt I reached up and grabbed a pouch of money from a passed out man’s pocket. This night was proving to be more productive than previously expected.

I suspected I nabbed several purses and pouches as the fight raged on. Finally, after I had dodged several mugs, punches and fainting bodies, I wriggled my way to the front door. A drunkard had collapsed against the door after a few punches were thrown. Leaning up against the door I pressed my boot against his shoulder and shoved him out of the way. There was just enough space for me to squeeze out and into the night.

As the door shut behind me I heard several glasses break. I was lucky, I seemed to have escaped.

Night in the city whose name I can never remember, was cool and calm. It had stopped raining and the roads were passable. A smile came to my face at the small fortune I had in my hands. “Lucky!” I squealed. It was great! I would be able to eat for a little while and with all the changes going on, I would be able to eat real food for once! I would not have to steal from the unlocked kitchens of the wealthy farmers or snag an apple or two from the street vendors. These are favorable winds! I chuckled inwardly.

A wind picked up making my thoughts feel ironic. A shiver went down my spine as I looked around. When I left the bar I did not notice how truly dark it was. Tonight seemed especially dark for some unknown reason.

Crashing through a window caught my attention and broke my thoughts. Two of the fighters had launched themselves out of the building in a drunken passion. However, they did not seem to make it very far since they passed out once they hit the ground. A head poked out the window, stared at me for a second and pointed right at my person.

“You!” The skinny man cried holding his bloody nose. I looked around in a large circle, turned back and pointed at myself. I cocked my head to the side in a questioning manner. “She’s over here boss!” The skinny man hopped onto the windowsill, tripped and landed face first in the dirt. Seeing that they were determined to chase after me, I turned on heel and ran down the dark alleyway away from the rowdy tavern.

As my feet carried me into the darkness, I wrapped my scarf around my neck and pulled it up to my nose. In a fluid motion I pulled my hood down and tucked my dark hair away from my face. I slid around a sharp corner and tucked myself away in the doorway of a silent building. It sounded like a parade of running feet coming my way. As they grew louder I pressed myself up against the doorway as much as I could in desperate attempt to hide completely. Running for your life down the back of an alley of a city you did not fully memorize was a bad idea. Hiding in plain sight always seemed to work best in the years I had been doing this source of income.

Yells and angry calls grew louder and louder. I heard splashes nearby in the mud-filled street but the voices died off once they passed. I sighed, my heart pounding in my chest and my stomach rumbled. The sick feeling was starting to come back. I decided to finally call it a night and find a corner to sleep in. I rubbed my upset stomach and walked from the corner.

There was a hop in my step as I hurried from the alleyway. I did not want the drunkards to come back any time soon and see me wandering back to the tavern. My heart stopped when I heard an unnerving sound. My eyes locked on the pair of legs before me fear stabbed at my guts.

Standing in front of me was a large man, his body gently waving back and forth. The light from the tavern blotted out his features, I could not tell who it was. He took a shaky step forward and held a hand out to me. There was a gargling sound when he breathed and I could not help but step back when he moved forward.

THUNK!

Warm liquid splattered across my face. It ran in thin rivulets down my forehead, over my nose, slithered over my cheeks… With a shivering hand I reached up wiped at the feeling which seemed to be everywhere. The strong, undeniable smell of copper filled my nose. What, what just happened? I asked myself unable to speak.

The man’s body stood for a moment longer twisting in the air. Poking through his head was a long, jagged arrow. His body contorted, crumpled and I could see a series of arrows jutting out of his back. Not far behind him stood a thick-muscled beast whose back was turned to me. My vision went white as a stream of fire rained down from the sky. I dropped to the ground, crawled back into the semi-darkness of the alleyway and shielded my eyes with the corner or my cloak. Where is the fire coming from!? My thoughts spun, What in the world is going on!?

Screams pierced the night along as hordes of monsters stormed into the city. The bright light of fire continued to spray across roof tops as it dashed from darkness to darkness. My curiosity got the best of me as I peeked out from behind my corner to see the burning buildings. My gaze could not tear away from the burning site. A shadow appeared and I shrunk back into the alley, this time I shrunk behind a wall of barrels in terror. My teeth chattered so hard that I had to bite down on the end of my scarf in order to stop the sound.

I looked up and saw the sweaty beast in the light of the fire: The Uruk Hai were in Arnor. They had been missing for years, disbanded after the ring of Sauron was destroyed. However, here they were, in force, with determination. I had read about them in books, cross-bred by hideous means. Part orc, part goblin and a whole powerhouse of evil, murderous intention stood directly above me with a notched arrow against his bow. The slow “krik-krik” sound of the string being tightened made the hairs on my back stand. I looked away, if I were to die, I was not intending to watch.

The earth below me trembled. It shook fiercely then stopped. I threw my hands out to either side of my body for balance where I sat. My gaze shot above me again and the beast was gone. A soft sigh escaped my lips and I almost pissed myself. I dropped my head to my hands thinking of my bearings. I needed to escape the city. Something very bad is happening. I noted with obvious stupidity.

Something shiny! Something bright caught the corner of my eye and I had to investigate. The nature of greed that was buried in my soul from my profession made me do so. I looked between the barrels and saw a large, bright silver coin lying in the mud. Mithril! I rolled up my sleeve. The jacket’s thick material was too tough to get through the cracks of the heavy barrels. Just a little farther… It was in my fingers, I could feel it! Pressed against the barrels up to my shoulder I knew that I could reach it.

“Got it!” I whispered. This little coin would mean the world to me if I made it out of the damned city alive.

An ear-piercing roar in the night made even the fires silent. A cold sweat broke out over my body. It was definitely time to leave. My heart pounded against my chest like a renegade drum in the firelight. I pulled my arm away and started-...

I looked back, my arm was stuck. I leaned against the barrels and pulled on my sleeve. Panic started to set in. Off, off, get off… I repeated in my mind. I needed to leave. I needed to leave. I needed to leave. My cold sweat was accompanied by an actual, growing heat. The fires were spreading. Bright orange flames licked rooftops and the black smoke was clouding the street. I needed to get free if I was to escape and live! Again I tugged at my sleeve with the coin still gripped firmly in my grasp.

“No!” A scream slipped through my lips as the inevitable terror brightened my vision. The fire sprayed down against the alley and I was directly in its path. I pulled and pulled at my sleeve which was hooked fast to the other side of the barrel. I put my boots against the barrel and pulled.

The fire! Explosions erupted above me, I screamed but the sounds were drowned out by the roars and as I cried out pulling my arm away, it slipped free. Focusing on my immediate task at living, I crawled out from under the burning pile of walling which probably saved my life. Adrenaline surged through my body. I was in severe danger and I needed to escape. Once again greed had won me over and now I was more likely to die than live.

From my position, recounting the memorized maze of houses, shops and important land points, I quickly calculated where I was with my photographic memory. I did not know it all! I had failed to check this half of the city, I could not do anything. My powerful little mind was useless! Run. I told myself, but fear froze me. Run… I narrowed my eyes, a prick of pain at my wrist was ignored. Run for the sake of your mistake! Nerves burned.

I ran.

Houses, stone walls, towers, bridges, roofs, it was all collapsing under the heat of the fire. The city was being wiped off the face of Middle-Earth. My legs and swiftly carried be through the dangers and out past the last two houses into the dark field. I turned right still running as fast as possible aiming for the forest to hide. Orcs, goblins and the dreaded Uruk Hai were somewhere around the city. Blending with the trees, I watched my temporary home burn. It was not the first time.

The fire, the brilliant, raw element ate everything in its path. It consumed the city like a monster from the deep. Fire was mesmerizing. The fire that almost killed me…

My knees buckled in pain and I gripped my wrist with my free hand. My arm was oozing yellow puss from white, bloated blisters and black holes. The fire had melted the cloak off my arm. The top of my hand was bloated black and white. My nails black as the night. The deep burns ran from the bottom of my clenched hand along the base of my forearm. The white, bloated skin faded to merely blisters and raw flesh that wove its way up the rest of my arm to the middle of my bicep.

When I was struggling my arm did not just pull free it slipped out between the barrels using my melted flesh as lubricant. “Oh gods…” I mumbled, the pain making my body shiver. “G-good job Llywin, you did a fine j-job this time!” I couldn’t help but be sarcastic about my stupid personality. All for that stupid coin… My fist was clenched so tight that I feared I would be unable to open it. The Mithril coin! I remembered. As long as I had that, I could try and hurry to the next city and get to a doctor. The muscles in my useless right hand moved slowly. I bit my lip drawing blood in an attempt to not scream in agony.

There! My hand was open. The soul of every thief and greedy bastard had lost a little bit of light that moment. In my raw hand, where puss leaked out every baked crease, there was nothing besides the flayed flesh. No coin, no hope. In the remaining fleshy part of my palm at the base of my thumb was a clear, undeniable brand of the rare, mithril coin that was almost mine. The testament to my stupidity and greed would be with me forever if the life in me lived past infection and healing.

Stripping my scarf from my neck, I drooled in torture as I tightly wrapped my scarf around the large wound. It took me two tries, but I tied the top off with a string from the leggings of my pants. I could feel it, the burning… Burn victims say that the fire stays with you. I studied in school about burns, they get worse, and worse and worse… No matter, I couldn’t keep my mind on it. While my ears tickled from the pain, I focused on something a more inward matter.

More explosions broke my concentration. Heaving air, I watched the fallen city disappear into the pages of a long-forgotten story. Out of the dark ashes rose a great, winged beast. I stared in awe, pain forgotten. The monster was terrifying to behold, a rarity that few would ever see. Its flawless silver body reflecting the fire’s light like a giant mirror.

Words slipped from my lips, “Dragons… The dragons have returned.”

That day, in the Forgotten Realm of Arnor, monsters returned to Middle Earth. Uruk Hai, goblins, orcs, mighty dragons – that day was the day in history that only I would remember. Monsters had returned with a purpose. Ten years since the destruction of the One Ring in the bowels of Mordor, hell was back and with a vengeance.

Something much darker than the evil of war had come to Middle Earth.

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UP NEXT! Short, not-super-revealing history of the main character. A couple of Tolkien's brain-babies show up in the next chapter. Yay for fun! I feel like killing something in the next chapter. Yay for morbid! (+10 points) :D