Same old, same old, the next chapter, and its title says it all. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I'm sick of telling you I don't own LoTR!
"You let them escape?" Sauron shouted. The Nazgûl were trembling at the Dark Lord's knees in the Golden Hall. The nine wraiths never felt fear, only out it in the hearts of others, but their master's fury froze them in place.
"My lord, we were near Lóthlorien," the Witch-King explained. "There were elves, they were driving us back. If we stayed we would have been destroyed."
"I would expect a LOT more from the mighty Witch-King. You are beginning to disappoint me and I don't see why I shouldn't punish you now. But if I am to rule Middle-Earth then I will need you. And until you prove yourself worthy enough to serve me, that is the only fact that is keeping you alive, or as close as you come to it." The Nazgûl were insulted, but they were bound to Sauron, and would always serve him.
"It will not happen again, my lord."
"It had better not. You may leave."
The Nazgûl left the hall, to tend to their mounts, leaving the Dark Lord inside. After pondering his next move, he went out to see Garzlûk waiting behind the doors.
"Are we ready to march?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Good, then we leave now."
They were about to move down the slope when a guard shouted down to them from a tower. "My lord, there is a large group of orcs approaching!"
"Let them in."
They rushed down to the gate to find a small army of orcs walking into the city. When they were all inside one of them walked ahead and bowed in front of Sauron.
"Lord Sauron, we came as soon as we heard of your resurrection."
"Who are you, and where have you come from?"
"I am Mílskor, and my soldiers and I are from Mirkwood. We had stayed at the remains of your fortress at Dol Guldur and when we heard you had returned, we attacked Mirkwood. We captured the elves and turned them into orcs, then burned the forest. We now come to serve you."
Sauron studied the orcs before replying. "You are a loyal servant and you shall help me. Your forces will be a great addition to mine, and will create an army strong enough to defeat our enemies. You have arrived just in time, for we are about to march to the elven wood of Lórien."
"Then we will march with you and destroy it."
As the new orcs got into line, Gothmog came over to Sauron. "I am ready to destroy the city my lord."
"We are leaving now; carry on."
When the army was outside the city, Gothmog spat a massive fireball at Edoras, consuming it, and joined the army. The Nazgûl rode their horses for they had healed, while the fell bests circled above. They began their march through Rohan to Lóthlorien.
*****
Éowyn sat in the pavilion, reflecting on her husband's death. She had managed to get over it, but it was still painful to think about it. She didn't notice Aragorn coming behind her. "You should get some rest."
She started when he spoke. "I couldn't sleep."
Aragorn sat down beside her. "Your husband was a good man. His death will not be in vain."
As he turned to leave, she stopped him. "Aragorn, do you think we have a chance? Against the enemy?"
"There is always hope, no matter how dark times seem. Sauron will never come to power."
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of Lórien, Legolas and Haldir stood on a flet, patrolling the forest. They did not speak, just watching silently like all the other elves in the other tree. Another elf appeared on the ground and whispered to Haldir.
"What is it?"
"They've camped near Fangorn's remains, but are not moving forward." The elf quickly climbed up the ladder to join the rest. A gruff voice broke the silence.
"I tell ya, I saw one come here!"
Two orcs appeared, unaware of the elves watching them. They were a low rank and spoke worse than their commanders.
"Well I don't see nothin'," the other orc said.
"Ya gotta be careful 'bout these elves. They got a lot of tricks up their sleeve. I know they're 'ere somewhere."
They searched the trees nearby but found nothing. Legolas raised his arm, and the elves silently loaded their bows.
"Well, whether ya saw them or not, they ain't here. C'mon, let's give the all clear."
They went back the way they came as the elves put their arrows away. Legolas turned to Haldir. "They must be planning to sneak through the woods to Caras Galadhon. We must bring all the archers here and hold them back while Celeborn prepares for battle."
Haldir turned to two messengers and gave them instructions. They came back with a large group of archers. Now all they had to do was wait.
*****
Orcs moved into Lóthlorien, swords drawn and bows loaded. They sneaked into the forest, thinking nothing else was there. In the middle the Witch-King had his sword drawn, ready for when they attacked Lord Celeborn's city. He suddenly heard a muffled cry, then another one closer to him. An orc beside him fell, an arrow stuck in its neck. Arrows flew out of nowhere, none of them missing their targets. The orcs fired blindly at the trees with no idea of who was shooting them down. The Witch-King turned to another orc.
"You said it was all clear! You said there was nothing here!"
"W-we couldn't see 'em. We didn't know!"
The Witch-King simply cut through his neck and screamed. A flame erupted behind the orcs, followed by smoke. A strange fiery form was seen, lighting up the night, then there was a roar as Gothmog sprayed flames all over the trees. As they burned, there were screams as elves fell out of the trees, covered with flame. More were jumping out and running away, only going a few steps before being shot. Gothmog cut tres down with his axe while he grabbed more with his whip and tossed the burning wood at the elves.
Legolas and Haldir jumped down from their flet and saw the Witch-King facing them. They immediately ran away as arrows whizzed over their heads. Smoke was rising behind them as the edge of Lóthlorien began rotting to ash.
*****
The men and dwarves sleeping in the pavilion were roused by cries from outside. Gimli saw Legolas and Haldir running around shouting, "Orcs! Orcs! Yrch!"
"What's the meaning of rousing me from a good night's sleep?"
"There is no time for sleep," Legolas replied. "The orcs are here."
"What? Already? Well , we can hold them here. If the tale is correct, none can destroy this forest, save the Dark Lord himself."
"True, but we must fall back to Celeborn's house. Hurry!"
The men, dwarves, and the few elves ran to the great tree, where Celeborn stood with a number of elves. The Lord was wearing gold elfish armour, much like what the elves wore at Helm's Deep, and a long, curved sword was on his belt. Legolas and Haldir quickly explained what had happened at the forest's borders.
"The enemy is upon us," he said. "But not even a Balrog's flame can destroy Caras Galadhon. We shall remain here and see how they fare."
*****
The Witch-King looked around at the fleeing elves being shot. When they were all killed, he ordered the orcs to move forward, but for some reason they stayed in place. The Witch-King knew it was the magic of the elves. He turned to an orc. "Bring me the rest of the Nazgûl. There's something I want to try."
In moments the nine Ringwraiths stood with their swords drawn. The Witch-King knew they could only enter Caras Galadhon with Sauron, but maybe the nine would be enough. They moved past the orcs. He was right, but they instantly felt weakened. The Witch-King turned back to the orcs.
"Stay here and wait for Lord Sauron. We will prepare the forest for his arrival."
They moved closer and soon came to the wall of Caras Gladhon. They attempted to move forward, but arrows flew from among the trees. They couldn't see the elves, and were soon driven back. When they moved forward again, there were more arrows, but as soon as they were fired the Nazgûl screamed. Sauron jumped out from his hiding place and ripped up the trees with his mace, exposing the elves. He drew his sword from his mace and began cutting them down, but more came. Trolls soon appeared and began crushing the wall, but they couldn't even make a crack. Orcs came and fired arrows at the elves, diverting their attention from Sauron. The Dark Lord brought his mace down on the wall, ripping through it as if it was butter. The orcs rushed in and attacked the elves behind the wall, who drew their swords and fought back. However, it was not enough, and the elves were forced back. The orcs and trolls pursued, but Sauron stayed back.
"This time they cannot escape. I don't want the king or halfling alive anymore, just kill them."
He led the rest of his forces through the breach in the wall, and on to the house of Celeborn.
*****
Cries could be heard all around Caras Galadhon. The orcs were moving up the hill to the great tree.
"Lord Celeborn, we must retreat!" pleaded Aragorn. The elf-lord simply stared at the orcs with his hand on the hilt of his sword. "There is nothing we can do! Lóthlorien is lost!"
The elf came out of his reverie. "It pains me to see my beautiful land fall, and to leave it and the hand of such foul beings. But I will return someday. Now fall back! We must hurry! Gimli, son of Glóin, is it not true there are dwarves in Moria?"
"Aye, my lord," the dwarf replied. "They are Durin's folk. I'm sure they would give us refuge for a while."
"Then we must set out for the Dimrill Dale while we have a head start. Now make haste!"
The men turned their horses while the elves swiftly ran beside them. They ran down the hill and soon came to the western edge of the forest. Looking back, they saw a plume of smoke rising from the forest. As they rode on, the elves sang sad songs in their tongue, lamenting the lost forest of Lórien.
*****
Sauron surveyed the orcs as they piled up the elf-bodies and lit them on fire. The houses of Caras Galadhon had been destroyed, along with the trees around it. Sauron came to the great tree on which Celeborn's house was built. Taking his sword, he cut through the bark in one swift movement. The tree fell to the ground and the orcs set fire to it. Men had fallen to Sauron's forces, now so have the elves.
"What shall we do now, my lord?" asked the Witch-King.
"I have a feeling of where the survivors will go. We have no time to waste; we must set out to the mines of Moria."
"At once my lord."
The Nazgûl bowed and went to gather the orcs. Sauron was glad the people that had escaped him were going to Moria. He knew that Durin lay dead, and that the orcs of the mountain were waiting for more prey.
*****
The men, elves and dwarves came to the foot of Caradhras in the Dimrill Dale, a large gap in the mountain that lead into Moria. Looking back, they saw scorched remains of the trees of Lórien's borders.
"This is a dark day for Middle-Earth," said Aragorn. "For thefair woods of Lóthlorien are no more."
"The Dark Lord shall pay for this!" said Haldir angrily.
"And I will stand with you when that day comes," said Legolas.
"There is no time to linger here," said Celeborn. "We must go to Moria and seek the aid of Durin, then continue our journey into the west."
They went into the tunnel in the mountain and, lighting torches, began to make their way down.
"I do not like being here anymore than before," said Legolas. "There is a hidden fear in the air."
"There is no need to worry," said Gimli. "My kindred will no doubt help us. We are safe here for the time being."
"It is not the threat outside that worries me. Durin's Bane may be vanquished but there is still an enemy here. And I'd say we've come far enough to have seen at least one dwarf, yet it has not been so."
They large group stopped as they realized that there was no one else in the mines. They had come down into a courtyard with many pillars, where there should have been many dwarves moving about.
"Something is not right," said Aragorn. "I'm afraid you're right Legolas. There is something else here. There is a foul stench in the air that has nearly vanished, but it may yet be freshened."
"What is it?" asked Éomer.
"Death." As he said this, he shone his torch on the bottom of the pillar. There was a dwarf lying there, with an arrow in its chest. Looking around, the group saw many more that had either been shot or hacked with a sword. Gimli started wailing in grief as he looked upon the body of Durin VII.
"Will there ever be a day when Moria is claimed by my kind? It does not seem so. Why?"
There was a harsh cry from somewhere in the mines, followed by many more. There were dark shapes scuttling along the stone walls. The elves could make them out with their keen eyes.
"Orcs!" cried Haldir.
"They remained here after the Balrog's death!" said Gandalf.
The orcs, upon seeing the soldiers, let out more cries and yelps and came to the ground, taking out pikes and swords. They were approaching the group, who had started running in the other direction, only to face more orcs that had come from the other side. The group was now encircled with a thicket of spears pointing at them. The orcs grinned and growled as they looked at their catch.
"Let us rid the world of these foul beasts once and for all," said Gimli, who had recovered from his grief. "If I go down, then I go down fighting for my people. I fight for Durin, and Moria."
The orcs roared in unison, then rushed at the group.
Ah! How will our heroes face this new threat? Well, it can only get worse when Sauron gets there. Oops! I mean... I may or may not have let something about the next chapter slip. Sorry the fight at Lórien wasn't that great, but like I said I'm not good writing about it. But the next chapter will hopefully be better as I'll probably enjoy writing about Moria. Anyway, I'll end this chapter with my usual words: read and review!!!!
