Notes: This is the sequel to my other story the Fellowship of the Gems. Like that one is it based on a roleplaying game I was invovlved with several years ago. I am posting this part as a separate story, since that is the way I divided up the novelization when I first started it.
Disclaimer: Any characters that you recognize from Lord of the Rings were created by J.R.R. Tolkien. The characters Vlad, Morrolan, Loiosh, and Rocza are from the Dragaera books by Steven Brust. Heralds and Companions are from the Valdemar books by Mercedes Lackey. The other characters were all created by the people involved in the game.
The Coming of the King
Chapter One
The Fellowship
This was the last straw. Grool was going to snap. He ripped the old Man's skin off of himself and went to get the Palantir. He walked back to Fellowship and grabbed a rope. He threw down every weapon he owned, the Palantir, and his amulet, and bound his hands and feet. He told them that he would come as either their guide or their prisoner, and he would tell them all he knew about Mordor including the outlay of the Barad-dur. He would also let them use the Palantir. He had definitely gone insane.
"Grool, you could not be that lucky." Syntoc picked up the Palantir and weapons. "Grool, I am taking these. We will not accept you as prisoner or guide. Now, you must always wander aimlessly throughout Middle Earth. Goodbye, Grool."
Syntoc turned away and spoke to Draco. "Which way do you suppose we should take into Mordor, my pupil." Before Draco could answer, another party arrived. Syntoc turned around just in time to see them. "Gandalf, old fool, what are you doing here?" A look of relief spread across his face.
"I bring back all the members of the old White Council. Forty-seven, all wish to join your party. Remember the phrase, 'Strong we stand, united.'"
"Thank you ever so much, Gandalf, but I believe you should resume your place and take over the party." Syntoc began to remove the amulet and hand it back to Gandalf.
"No . . . no, Syntoc. You have earned that position. I will not take it from you."
Syntoc turned to the Fellowship. "Rejoice! The Council of the Wise stands reunited!"
Draco stammered a reply to Syntoc, awed by the presence of the entire Council. The armed forces had gone, heading for the border, and the land seemed strangely empty now. "I had hoped to find another way to enter rather than Cirith Ungol," Draco said at length. "We cannot enter at the Morannon, either. Vanya made a good point, if the forces of Mordor are distracted by the battle, we may be able to slip in unawares. I don't know what defenses he may have set on Cirith Ungol, either. I could fly us in, in Dragon-form, but I daresay that might attract a bit of attention. It seems to be the only answer, I can at least defend us in that way." He smiled sheepishly, glad Marigold's mother had gone. He wasn't ready to tell her about the other half of himself yet, it was enough breaking it to her that he was in love with her daughter, and trying to convince her that he was sound after all she had been through during her internment in the Orc-camp.
Though they were surrounded by Wizards now, one of them might know another way in. Kazushe flashed through his mind. Draco silently asked the Mage of Silence for his presence, and his strength.
A shooting star burned across the sky, which was still half-lit from the day. Draco smiled. Kazushe had heard him once again.
Ierik put a hand on Draco's shoulder from behind.
He whispered so only Draco could hear, "Kazushe wishes to help, Draco, and he sends you his hope. However, until the testing is complete, he shall not appear to you or help. Remember this and keep your mind concentrated."
His hand tightened on Draco's shoulder for a second, but when the warrior had turned around, the Mage had disappeared.
After Eldarion had left, Sil had walked over to where Draco and the Wizards were holding council. She listened for a while, then turned to Draco. "There is a way to Mordor for those who wish to go unseen."
Draco jumped up and said, "Tell me."
"The Dark Lord has many ears and if he hears the way he will send much of his forces to find it. But I will tell you this much, Morgoth made it himself in case his stronghold was taken and even the Lidless Eye cannot see it. There are many entrances in Mordor, but when he used it, he sealed them all from the inside and only one out, which I hid when I last left it." She paused and suddenly noticed all eyes were on her. "It is the only way that cannot be seen even if it is looked at with all his strength." She stopped and waited for their response, fingering the pendant Eldarion had given her.
This was the news Draco had prayed for. "Please, lead us there." They shouldered their packs, greatly relieved they had evaded their stairs of Cirith Ungol.
"Listen, there is battle in the distance." It sounded like the faint cries of gulls near the near the Sea. Draco and Syntoc shared a look. Syntoc nodded and sent the Council to the location of the battle.
Marigold hurried and followed Draco, her fear dropping away. There was no time to be afraid anymore, although she was quite sure the chance would come again before it was over. They followed Silverberry.
The sounds of the battle could no longer be heard.
Marigold hoped it was over, it was chilling to hear, and her mother was in the middle of it somewhere. If they survived, they would have a story to tell Uncle Pippin to rival his own.
Sil smiled at the Hobbit. "Our only fear is being captured in Barad-dur. But if it comes to that you have no fear, for while he is dealing with me you will have the chance to escape." She sighed, dealing with the Dark Lord was that last thing she wanted to do, but with Eldarion's gift getting the White Gem would be easier. Sil mounted Glam. "Are we ready? It would be wise to get to the chamber before night."
"We're ready," Draco replied. Marigold gripped his hand tightly. He stooped to kiss her, and she hugged him round the neck.
"It'll be all right, Mari. You'll be great, little thief. Come on!" Lunea followed closely at Mari's other side, and Syntoc, Ierik and John were behind. Syntoc had promised to take the Book and write the details of the battle in it if the rest of them did not survive. Syntoc had also enchanted the book so that it would be found by one of their own so that it could be completed.
All they could now was trust their instincts.
"Okay," Sil said and they started off at a fast pace towards the Mountains of Mordor. The ride was long and nothing happened and Sil found her thoughts wandering to Eldarion and wondering how he fared. Soon enough she would know.