Prologue
The Ranger's blue, tattered cape fluttered in the wind as he walked across the black dirt of Mordor. The enemy Orcs were fleeing. He had just dominated the warchief and now he would serve as an staple in destroying Sauron's army from within. Talion, former Captain of the Black Gate, stood in a barren field that was once filled with orcs, but now just corpses. The Ranger was killed by Sauron's forces and served up as a sacrifice to the Dark Lord. It was then that he was bound with a Wraith, named Celebrimbor, who also had a debt to settle with the Dark Lord. He was betrayed by Sauron and crafted the nine Rings of Power, which have become corrupted by Sauron and are used by the nine Nazgûl as faithful servants of him.
Celebrimbor and Talion were walking through the field, the black dirt of Mordor getting kicked up beneath their feet. Just then, Talion heard something from a nearby cave. "What was that?" he asked the Wraith, who answered, "I do not know, let us see." Talion went into the cave, the darkness within making it hard to see. After some exploration, it was seen that there was a small opening in the ceiling, allowing a small sliver of light to seep through, just enough to see a small object on the floor. It sparkled in the light. The ranger called to the Wraith, "Is it from your past?" he asked, turning to face the Wraith, "It is… resonating."
"With what?"
"I do not know, not evil, not good either. Something…"
"…In between?"
"It seems so." Talion shuffled at the Wraith's words.
"Shall we investigate?" He asked. His companion shrugged.
"It does not appear to be a threat."
Hearing this, Talion decided to see what the item had to offer. Approaching it, the Ranger recognized the shape of an forging hammer. Celebrimbor knelt at the object's position, "It is speaking."
"How? What is it saying?"
"It calls my name."
"We should take it and inspect it."
"We should not move it."
The forger stood up, "For all we know, it could be a trap left by Sauron. Or even an Orc." Talion looked around, weighing his options, he looked back at his companion, "Can you at least hear what it is saying aside from your name?" The Bright Master knelt once more, his ear tilted towards it, he looked back to Talion, still on his knee, "No." he said.
"Do you recognize the voice?" Talion asked. Celebrimbor shook his head.
"I have never heard that voice before."
"Then we should leave it."
Talion was turned to leave but found himself unable to move. "Talion!" Celebrimbor exclaimed. The Ranger turned his head as that was all he could move, he saw the Wraith being held in place the same way he was. Slowly, the two began to move upward into the air. "What is this?!" The Ranger yelled. They both dropped to the ground. Out of breath, Talion looked at the exit to see the shimmer of a barrier of sorts. Celebrimbor walked up beside Talion as he stood up, "Whatever this object is, it does not want us to leave." He looked over his shoulder to the hammer, "That is what it is saying now," he turned back to Talion, who was on his feet now, "'Do not leave,' it says." Talion picked up a rock and tossed it at the barrier. To both their surprises, it went through. "So, it is keeping us here." Celebrimbor finished "And only us." They both turned to it, "Then there is only one thing we can do right now." Celebrimbor nodded, fading away.
Talion walked over to the hammer and hesitantly touched it a bright orange light emanated from it and Talion heard a scream escape from his throat.
Then, darkness.