Chapter Ten: The Slaver's Port and the Conquest of Núrn

Ursa watched as her hero slipped away into the night. Right now, she desperately wanted him by her side, for his sake and for hers. She wanted to leave the camp and return to their home. However, Marwen's safety was more important than either of their feelings. And so Ursa returned to her bed and tried to drift off to sleep. She would need these moments of rest. The days ahead would be of fire and bloodshed.

In the first light of dawn, the goblins stirred at the sound of footsteps. They woke to see an army of Uruk, dressed in the armors of Kalug, approaching the camp. The tribesmen drew out swords and were sore afraid. However, they soon realized that the small army was being led by both the Warchief Kalug and the ranger from the North.

Talion said, "These armies are now under the command of Ursa the Cunning. You are to serve her every order and without fail."

He looked at the other men in the camp, all wide-eyed as they stared at him, and he said to them, "Make ready now. We march for Fort Morn to free your queen."

With his orders given, the ranger strode briskly through the camp and towards the tent of his beloved. He saw the half-Orc appear from behind the curtains that covered the entrance to her quarters. Ursa wore a dark crimson blanket over her long, black nightgown. She wiped her eyes and then looked up at Talion.

"My lord," she whispered, "You have returned."

"I have."

He took Ursa into his arms and kissed her softly on the lips. She peered over his shoulder, a feat only possible by standing on the tip of her toes. She managed a glimpse of the garrison there.

She said, "You branded so many. Two hundred. No. Three?"

"Indeed," he said, "I had Kalug tell them the ranger was still under the control of the Tower's spell and they were to receive powers, much like yours. Eager fools."

"Such a cunning ranger"

"Such a cunning little Orc"

"You must be tired," she said, "Come and rest."

"I will eat breakfast. When Lithariel returns, we must leave. The longer we wait, the more the Queen may suffer, and the Uruk will have time to prepare Morn's defenses."

Ursa yawned, letting out a light chirp as she did. Talion smiled and rubbed the top of her eyelids. She shut her eyes and let him finish the gesture, feeling herself blush as he doted on her. From behind them, Lithariel stood with her mouth ajar. It was still strange for her to see Talion interact with an Orc as if she were a maiden of Gondor. Still, she let out a small smile.

Talion looked at Ursa's face and saw some red markings upon it.

"You have been out in the sun too long," said Talion, "Have you no ointment?"

'I do. Orc often use oil made from the fat of Caragorn. It reeks, but it sooths the skin. I will prepare some. What about yourself? I will bring you a cool towel to wash your face."

"You two are as affectionate as a couple half your age," said Lithariel, "So early in the morning too. My, my."

"Lithariel," said Talion, "You spent the night here?"

She answered, "Ursa provided a tent for me and my men."

"This camp reeks of Orc, but not much worse than these lads" she said as she pointed to her warriors.

"In any case," said Lithariel, "Let us speak of the plan once more. I would see my mother returned to her kingdom before the sun has set."

Both Talion and Ursa gave her a nod of agreement.

As Talion approached the fortress on the coast, he remembered why, even with all his power, he avoided Fort Morn. Once a Corsair port, it had been rebuilt into a monstrosity. From a distance, great plumes of smoke were visible, a sign of the industry burning within. The city was nigh impenetrable with wooden walls over a hundred feet in height with sharpened pikes, nails, and blades tied to the top. The only way to enter was through the central gate, marked by a train of slaves entering and exiting. From what Talion had gathered, a thousand Uruk were stationed within its walls and another four hundred resided around it, far too much to brand in a single day. What Talion sought was the three Warchiefs that hid behind its defenses: Dhaub the Barbaric, Nug the Wasp, and Zaxuleg the Slaver. Zaxuleg was likely the most dangerous as he ruled the fort and knew all of its workings. As for the other three Warchiefs, Kalug was already branded and the other two had locked themselves away in their lesser fortresses.

Talion looked to the sea and saw the crude ships of the Uruk travel to and fro. Some were bringing in slaves from far off ports while others carried supplies across the great lake to the fortress of the Black Captains in Ered Glamhoth. Not a moment later, Fort Morn's great doors roared as they opened. A train of fifty slaves were led by a guard of Uruk on horseback, Caragorn, and Warg. They were being shipped to Thaurband. While Nargroth, another trade city lay nearby, the winding mountain road delayed the journey by a month. Many slaves would escape in the caverns and thousands of Caragorn and wild Warg prowled the clifftops. Instead, Fort Morn shipped to Thaurband who sent slaves and supplies up a straight road up the Gorgoroth plateau. From what Talion knew of it, Fort Morn's horrors could not compare to what lie in wait in that accursed City of Slaves. A cruel fate for those that deserved better. It was said to be home to an Uruk whose might surpassed even that of Belos. The ranger knew that Marwen desperately wanted to invade the City of the Slaves, but she would need an army far larger than her own to do so. One day he would lend her his aid. Both Ursa and himself had promised the Queen so. For now, Núrn would have to settle with losing its prime slave port, no doubt a heavy blow to the slave trade. However, business with Mordor in the regards to shipping food and resources would have to continue. They were not ready to face Sauron's army should they deprive him of the Orc's main food source. It was best to appease him until the day Talion could craft an army large enough to challenge the Dark Lord.

The ranger fired one of his arrows into the wooden wall of the fortress. The arrow stuck deep into one of the beams. With another arrow, he reappeared against the wall and grabbed hold of the arrow nailed there. He swiftly drew out his broken sword and stabbed it into the wall above his right. The ranger plucked out the ghostly arrow and used it to anchor himself up higher. He swiftly scuttled over to a set of wooden beams used to bring up lumber. The ranger then leapt up a good four feet, managing to latch onto a wooden notch used to secure the upper frame of the wall. With his dagger in hand, he reached the carved-up railings of the top of the wall.

"Excellent," he whispered, "I'm practically done."

To his disappointment, the Wraith offered no retort to his sarcasm. Though he aided Talion, he continued to be distant except when truly needed. The ranger wondered if he should dare pry on the reason for it. Although they had been bound together for over a year now, Talion could not say how close they truly were.

The ranger vaulted over the pikes, stopping himself short so that his leg held him up on a far-off spearhead. Around him, he saw the metallic blades and nails used to catch intruders. Worse, he saw an archer approaching his position. Talion breathed in and launched himself off the beam, onto the thin walkway of the wall. As he landed, he quickly summoned the Elven bow and fired it at the archer. The goblin let out a high pitch shriek of surprise. The second Talion was beside him, he stabbed the Uruk in the stomach. Pulling out the blade, he spun it above him so that it cut cleanly through the Orc's neck. Its liberated head landed softly on the walkway. Several Uruk looked about for the source of the noise, but then returned to their business.

Talion gazed ahead, A dozen guards were stationed on the roof. He had to move quickly. He slipped atop one of the metal wires that hung across the fortress. They were used to deliver supplies from the second floors of buildings to the fortress's shoots or packing centers. Talion was impressed that goblins, often so thick-headed, could construct such things. In fact, he caught a glimpse of Orcs packing supplies on a nearby building, although most of the laborers were slaves. The ranger showed no fear as he ran across the thin wiring, not once losing balance. He ignored the sights around him, of the industrial houses sending up black smokes as they built war machines or the cries of slaves being rounded up in the center of the fortress. His eyes were searching for the Warchiefs. It would be troublesome if they hid indoors.

Within a few minutes, Talion spotted two unique Orcs: a muscular broad-shouldered Orc and one with taller, thinner proportions. Both were adorned in thick armor and tribal decorations like the horns of cows and the skulls of Caragorn. Each was surrounded by a flock of well-armored Orc and were yelling out at the top of their lungs. From what he gathered, the Warchiefs were arguing about who owned the slaves that were being shipped, or trying to establish territories. Given the fortress was ruled by Zaxuleg the Slaver, Dhaub the Barbaric and Nug the Wasp's quarrel was useless, brought out by their overly-masculine tendencies more than anything.

Talion looked about for a way to remove some of the Orcs. He wanted these Warlords alive, but the others were free to die. He spotted beside them one of his usual methods of exterminating Uruk: fire. The Wraith's arrows could, upon order, expand with such explosive force that the wind around them would swell up. Talion fired the arrow into a large campfire where a set of lazy Orcs were grilling up sausages. The wind from the arrow exploded as he had intended, engulfing the unfortunate guards in fire. The Warchiefs stopped their feuding to stare at the spectacle as their Orcs were charred or ran away screaming, searching for water to put out the flames.

Talion now fired an arrow down upon one of the strong lieutenants. The arrow pierced him right between the opening in his visor, puncturing him square in the skull.

As the goblin fell over dead, another shouted, "Shaugit!"

"Where?" asked another Orc, "I don't see none."

"He's been shot he has!" said the first Orc, "We should sound the alarm."

"Something," began Talion as he fired another arrow, "I cannot allow."

The Orc was hewn in half as Talion's feet touched the ground. The two hulking Warchiefs looked at him and bellowed. Dhaub, large and ferocious, pulled out a thick cleaver, barbed on one side. Nug grabbed hold of a pike from his back, likely laced in venom. In that moment, Talion was swarmed on all sides by the Orcs. He vaulted off the shield of one brute and ran his sword into a small orc. As he emerged, he rolled to the side. One of the Warchief's pikes, aimed for the intruder, landed in the back of his shield guard. The Orc began to spasm and foam as the venom ran through his veins. Talion dashed forward now, wanting to get this one out of the way, so that he could focus on Dhaub's swordsmanship. He did not wait for the Warchief to grab another javelin. He rammed him with his shoulder, sending the Uruk on his back. Talion ran his blade down at the Uruk's shoulder. The Orc bellowed as it was pierced and snapped its jaws at Talion. Talion blocked the bite with his arm, letting the Uruk's fangs sink into his leather gauntlet. He bashed the Uruk on the top of his head with his sword's hilt and summoned the Wraith.

"I see you!" said Celebrimbor as he shattered his enemy's mind and dominated it. The Warchief struggled no more.

"Retreat!" shouted Talion.

The Warchief shifted backwards and ordered his Uruk to fall back. Talion now faced only half the numbers from earlier. He launched forward and bashed his sword into Dhaub's massive cleaver. The Warchief roared, sending saliva into the ranger's face. He then bashed his head into Talion and shoved him backwards. Right then, his guards all swung at Talion. Talion weaved between them and sent his sword spinning around him, knocking back their strikes. The Uruk found no opening as he danced around them, avoiding strikes from behind, catching them with his cross guard, and wrestling the Uruk to the ground so he could impale them. The Warchief charged forward now and slashed down at the ranger. Talion grabbed the blade of one of the Uruk's whose sword was colliding with his own. He turned the sword against the Warchief's. As the blades clashed and chipped, Talion used his own sword to slash the Uruk in the side of his torso. However, the armor proved too thick to slash through. The Orc chieftain swung again forcing the ranger to parry it at the last second. The cleaver slid off his blade and into the neck of the Orc hostage. Amidst cries of "man filth" and "scum", the ranger charged forward and blasted the Warchief with the Wraith's white fire. The Warchief was blinded by the flash of light. In that moment, Talion took hold of his mind and created another ally.

Talion sent his two Warchiefs into the large stone quarters of Zaxuleg. From above, he cut down archers and made his way to the slave driver's hiding place. His eyes found a small opening into the building, one of the upper windows that brought light into the throne room. The ranger's broad shoulders barely managed to slip inside the window. Here he hung from a stone notch in the window sill. He turned around and kicked hard off the wall. The ranger landed on a massive chandelier that hung form the center of the ceiling. The diamonds and pearls that adorned it jingled as he rocked atop of it. He saw the bulky form of the Warchief look up from his throne to check what the sound was. Fortunately, Talion was hidden by the darkness of the room. In that moment, the entrance to the estate crashed open as the Warchiefs marched in.

"What are you two doing?" asked Zaxuleg, "You are guests. Get out of here or I'll have your guts strung up on the gates."

"Not this time Zaxuleg," said Dhaub, "This time you die."

Talion was surprised to hear them react verbally to the order he had given them. However, he had no time to do think on it. The slaver arose. This old Uruk was shockingly tall, standing about seven feet with a body thick with muscle and fat. He towered over Dhaub and Nug, already monstrous Orc in their own right. Zaxuleg and his bodyguards now pulled out their weapons. The Warchief drew out a large hammer, the stone on its tip a foot in length. While excessive, the Uruk showed no difficulty wielding it as he hurled it at the traitors. Dhaub and Nug stepped backwards to avoid it. The hammer came crashing into the ground, cracking open the stone flooring.

"You damn fools! The Tower's dead and you decide to shank me now?" said Zaxuleg as he spat on the ground.

The battle quickly erupted. Dhaub made short work of the Orc chief's bodyguards, slashing through their throats with his massive cleaver. Meanwhile, Nug tossed a pike at the slaver's chest. Zaxuleg leapt to the side and landed on his shoulder. He quickly scrambled back upwards and charged forward. He bashed his hammer into Nug's stomach, crushing his ribs. Right then, Dhaub took Zaxuleg from the side and charged him into the wall. Despite being caught off-guard, the slaver managed to hold his hammer. As Dhaub punched him in the back with a first of iron, Zaxuleg pushed back off the wall. He wrestled with the other Warchief, but managed to turn around. Meanwhile, Nug tossed a javelin into the last of the minions. Right now, Dhaub was wrestling for his life as Zaxuleg quickly overpowered him. The handle of his great hammer was now against his throat as the slaver tried to strangle him. Nug began to panic, fearing what would become of him if his ally lost. He pulled out another javelin and began to aim it at the both of them.

"Don't you dare throw that!" said Dhaub.

Nug looked conflicted as he tried to figure out if the pike could skewer both Uruk in one go.

"Don't you do it boy!" said the angry Warchief.

"I think that's enough," said Talion.

He ordered Nug to properly aid his ally. As Nug circled to the side of the hostage, Zax tossed Dhaub away from him and began to do battle with both Uruk-Hai. Nug used his javelin as a spear and jabbed at his foe while Zaxuleg blocked the other chieftain's blade with the broadside of his hammer. With a heavy swing, both Uruk were forced to retreat for a moment. Right then, Talion came launching down upon his foe. The dagger landed in the neck of Zax. Zax roared in pain and dropped his hammer. He grabbed hold of Talion as he burrowed the blade deeper and tossed him against the wall.

"Ranger!" said the enraged Warchief, "I should have known it was you! I'll kill you all right here."

Talion slid off the wall and returned to his feet. He charged forward towards the back of the Warchief's throne. He would use it as cover and a place to fire arrows from safety. Right then, he felt his foot cross a chord. It was a trap he would have seen had he not been in such a fierce duel. He felt a metal chain wrap around his leg. He was swiftly pulled up into the air, where he hung like a dead cow in a butcher's shop. It was a trap used by the Warchief to catch slaves that tried to backstab him. After all, no one else would ever dare walk behind him but those with ill intent.

Zaxuleg knocked both Warchiefs back and shouted, "You can stay there until I'm done with them."

Talion said, "No thanks."

He summoned his bow and fired a shot at the Warchief. Zaxuleg's jaw fell open as he saw the chain now dangling about empty. Talion quickly landed a knee in the chest plate of his foe and let the brunt of his sword come crashing down. It rammed hard into Zazuleg's head and clouded his vision. In that moment Talion, blasted him with the wraith's fire to further stun him.

"Now…" began Talion as his voice shifted to that of the Wraith's, "Fall."

The Warchief stopped his fighting. Talion lifted his arm and created a fist. The other two Warchiefs immediately halted and stood guard. The ranger circled the hulking form of the slaver as the Orc lowered his hammer.

"Now," asked Talion, "Tell me… where is the Queen?"

The wooden gates of Fort Morn were burned cleanly through by a ball of fire. Ursa watched as her troops broke what was left of it to pieces. Behind her, the smaller camps were in shambles. She had lit them on fire while Lithariel's hunters took the patrols out. Distracted by the town's alarm, the Uruk in Fort Morn were unready for her coming. She stretched out her hand and sent her battalions into the walls of the great fortress. They were to kill all Uruk in their path, save those who surrendered. Leading them, was a horseback charge led by Lithariel herself. As for the Warchief, she remained at the gate with a dozen armored guards. While she wished to coordinate the invasion, she could not risk an arrow ending her life and that of her child. Instead, she sent Kalug to lead the charge.

Battle erupted quickly as the confused Orcs in Morn were exterminated. Even more surprised were the slaves: the men, women, and children who were sure that none would come to rescue them, especially not Orc. Several hundred goblins were killed amidst the chaos of their fort being so suddenly breached. Even worse, their Warchiefs chose instantly to stand down and executed any which disobeyed. Soon after, the remaining Uruk in Morn surrendered and were gathered up by their Warchiefs to be branded.

Ursa sighed as she waited outside walls, her back and rump aching terribly. It was nearly six hours before a messenger came to her, inviting her in. She knew then that Talion had successfully secured the fort and no archers would threaten her.

Atop her horse, Ursa strode into the massive city. Inside, it reeked of blood, feces, and smoke. She put one of her dress's sleeves to her nose as she navigated through a trail of bodies. She felt her stomach turn nauseous from the sight of the bodies, but she steeled herself. Up ahead, she saw the center of the fort where slaves were lined up to be branded, inspected, or shipped off. Here she saw the four Warchiefs lined up, a sign that Talion had completed much of the branding. In the middle of the great Orc commanders, stood a man and two women. Ursa smiled as she realized it was her husband. As for the women, they were the Queen Marwen and her daughter.

"Warchief Ursa," said Queen Marwen, "It feels like it's been ages. So sorry your marriage celebration ended so soon."

Ursa looked at the Queen. She was dirty and her wrists were bleeding from her bonds. Despite this, she seemed as chipper as ever.

The lady Warchief bowed before the Queen of Núrn.

She asked, "How fair you?"

Marwen said, "I was fortunate… I suppose. The Tower held me in a horrendous dungeon where I was left to rot for many days. However, no great harm came to me save a need for water. I am fortunate you slew him as he promised to bring me back to his realm to suffer properly."

She added, "We are all fortunate to such heroes as you Talion and you Warchief Ursa. The world is a little safer without such a vile being as the Tower inflicting his will on the free people of Middle Earth."

Lithariel then said, "To you Talion, you have my eternal gratitude for saving my mother and to you Warchief Ursa… you have my trust. Not something I thought I would say to an Orc."

Ursa beamed. She smiled and engrained the sight of the three in her mind. They were alive, as was she. Although she had much to think about, the most present danger was now erased. While Núrn was not yet secure, she needed not fear so intensely. Tonight, she would sleep peacefully and Talion would be by her side.

Author's Note: In the game's lore, Fort Morn connects Thaurband to Nargroth. This implies that Thaurband ships slaves up to Morn who in turn ships them to Nargroth. However, I wanted to avoid the difficulties Ursa and Talion would face by denying Thaurband's slave trade so early in the war. By writing it so Morn ships slaves downward to Thaurband, I could avoid such consequences.

"Nug" is probably the worst name I've ever written for an Orc. My only defense is that I really wanted chicken nuggets when I wrote this chapter.