Chapter 25. The Sails on the Horizon and the Witch of Nurn

Talion watched helplessly as Ursa's ideals were dashed to pieces. With endless power, she took the life of another Orc. The world seemed to slow down as he saw her stretch her arm out towards her assailant. A powerful wind was flowing past her, blowing her long ebony robes behind her. The way the smiling Orc was consumed by fire seemed slow and horrific, but it was only seconds. He did not wonder what had taken her. No, he knew it was the weapon of the enemy revealing itself at last. Right now, Talion's only concern was for Ursa.

Ursa collapsed onto her knees; tears were streaming down her face. She began to breathe heavily and she cried into her hands. Suddenly, she felt Talion's arms around her, as limp as they were. The poison dosage had been too little as the knife had been caught in his boot.

"Ursa, it's okay," he said as he hugged her from behind.

She said, "I am no longer fit to be Warchief. I have failed."

"You saved me," said Talion, "Thank you."

Ursa said, "I could not let him have you. This was my choice."

Ursa placed the side of her head on Talion's shoulder and put her hand onto his chest. Her persistent tears now came to a stop. Her wincing eye narrowed and became still. The red iris with the black pupil of a snake vanished as she shut her eye. When she reopened it, an orange flame encircled her pupil and the iris itself. A strange darkness flowed through the red of it. Talion did not see. Ursa was still in his arms for the most part, but she pressed herself closer to him.

She said, "I understand now."

Talion said, "You do not. You were protecting me. Ursa, you are no murderer and you never need to kill again. We will move past this."

Ursa looked up to him. Talion saw the strange coloration in her eye now, but was also startled by how emotionless her face looked.

She said, "I was a coward and a liar. I feared taking a life, yet how many Orcs did I send you to kill? I was naïve. Now that I have killed, I can do what is necessary."

"Nothing is necessary," said Talion, "It can return to how it was. You merely need time."

Ursa looked at him and said, "The power I wield I will turn on the Black Captains. Lord Sauron should not have offered it. He sought to possess me, but I did not wield the mace. I merely touched it. Now I will do with it as I see fit."

Talion said, "You are not yourself Ursa."

Celebrimbor appeared and said, "She has been cursed. It is as I feared."

Ursa said, "A sacrifice was required, but do not mistake me for Sauron or one of his puppets. I will use this sorcery to help you."

Talion said, "You should return home and rest."

"I will rest later," she said, "My mind is racing. I see now that I have been blind. I let my senseless moral code hold me back. My Orcs must be branded. Then we will be free to see each other without worry and I can at last be of use to you."

Talion said, "You would never have said that. Never."

Ursa asked, "Why do you question me so? I am no enemy of yours Talion. I did not speak of this for your approval. Whether or not you wish me to fight, I will fight the armies of darkness. I will bring peace. Celebrimbor, please talk some sense into my lord."

Celebrimbor said, "She is right Talion. We have now a sorcerer in our midst. Such power should not be denied. Nevertheless, Ursa, please understand why Talion is distressed. Your mind has changed."

Ursa said, "I am aware. Yes, my mind has been influenced, but I am still the woman you know. Do not mourn for me, for I have merely gained wisdom."

Talion said, "Is that the truth? Or has the dark lord taken control? Is the woman I loved dead?"

Ursa's eyebrows raised up and her eye suddenly became emotional.

She asked, "What can I do to prove that my love for you is true?"

She said softly, "I am not some villain. Please understand Talion, I have no desire to harm you, nor Isulek, nor any slave or Uruk. Can you not accept me? Do you intend to leave me?"

Talion said, "No! I have intention of leaving you. Ursa, I love you."

Ursa said, "I see. You need time. Perhaps I do to. Let us part ways for today. See to it that my camp is branded so that we may meet once again."

The witch mounted her horse and quickly rode off down the trail. Talion remained motionless. He watched helplessly as she vanished from sight.

The next day Talion arrived at her camp. Ursa's guard was in disarray, something he knew she was behind. He began to brand them, first the scouts and then those in the barracks. It was a slow and dangerous process. Twice he was seen and forced to beat several Orcs into submission before taking their minds.

Ursa watched calmly as Talion branded Flog in front of her. The Orc picked itself up and then stood at the entrance of the tent as if nothing had happened.

Talion looked over at Ursa. Her eye was still narrow just as it had been last time. She showed no signs of being disturbed by viewing the branding, or by the fact that it was one of her trusted bodyguards.

The ranger said, "His mind is unharmed. He will act and think just as he always had. Only, I will escape his gaze from now on."

Ursa said, "Very good. Now we will be able to speak without fear of being seen. No longer must we hide in the darkness."

Talion said, "I didn't mind it. I was happy just to see you."

Ursa looked a bit unnerved. She said, "I- I felt the same. Only… I wished our love was not some secret thing. I silently feared that we would be discovered and all would be compromised. I wanted not only to see you at the dead of night, but to sleep besides you as dusk fell upon us. When you asked me, I was too afraid to say it."

Talion said, "And how do you feel now?"

Ursa asked, "You still do not believe me? If I were the Dark Lord, would I woo you so?"

Talion said, "I do not know. Perhaps you mean to take me to the Tower and then hand me over when my focus is upon him?"

Ursa grit her teeth. She said, "Do not forget I killed an Orc to protect you! Must I die now to convince you I am a friend?"

He answered, "As I branded him, you did not seem worried. You did not seem to object. You felt nothing as I took his freedom. Still, I am to pretend nothing has changed? I am to smile knowing the Dark Lord has bent your mind?"

Ursa said, "I felt nothing because he was unharmed in mind or body. I had hoped sleep would help you. Instead, you continue to paint me as some wretch no different than the Black Captains."

Talion said, "Can you not understand why I grieve? Do you not understand what has happened to you? Have you earnestly forgotten how you were?"

Ursa yelled at him, "Can you not understand how much you are hurting me? What would you have me do? Have you forgotten Talion? I did not wish to be like this! My mind was taken from me. I have changed, whether you accept it or not. So curse me. Reject me. Abandon me. I will still love you, even if that's all I have left to cling to."

"Ursa…", said Talion, "Forgive me. I was cruel to you."

She said, "There is nothing to forgive. It was insensitive of me to ignore your feelings. I'm sorry too."

She walked up to Talion and hugged him. Talion put a hand behind her head and pressed his nose against hers.

He heard her whisper, "Talion, what are we going to do?"

He said, "We continue to fight and always… we will be together."

She felt Talion press something cold against her fingertips. She looked down to see a silver ring with a red jewel touching her.

Talion said, "When you confessed your love to me, you proposed to me. I did not forget."

He then asked, "Will you marry me Ursa?"

Ursa's eye looked pained. She did not cry but her disposition showed she was overcome by emotion.

She said, "I will. Of course I will. I love you Talion, now and forever."

He slid the ring down her finger and handed her one for him. She placed it on his ring finger and looked up at him.

Talion's eyes were sparkling with tears. He said, "I had meant to give it to you during the picnic. That is why I called you out there so suddenly. I was too nervous in the end."

Ursa said, "I will wear it always and treasure it. I will protect you with all my might."

Talion said, "And I will watch over you fervently little Orc."

With that, they leaned forward and locked their lips together. It was a kiss of happiness and sorrow. They did not pull apart quickly. Their kiss lasted for what felt like ages, as if ending it would bring about a nightmare.

"Uruks!" roared Talion.

He looked at the Warchiefs positioned behind him. With them, were their captains and bodyguards and behind them were hundreds of Orcs.

The ranger turned around to gaze at the small fleet of ships resting at the Sea of Núrnen. Talion had branded all five Warchiefs that resided in Nurn. After taking an army, Celebrimbor had sensed his limits, as if anymore would stretch him thin. So Talion instructed them to build him a fleet of ships. He would sail them across the sea to the fortress where darkness awaited them. The Tower and the Black Hand would not be alone. An army was needed and an army he had raised.

"To the ships" said Talion, "War awaits."

Talion looked back to the North. He saw the Queen and her daughter standing there. He walked back to meet them.

Lithariel gave Talion a hug. She said, "This is not a journey you need to make alone. We can fight."

Talion said, "We have been over this. A far greater war is coming. When I return, your sword will be needed."

Marwen said, "The people of Nurn will be ready. Tell me though, is the Warchief not coming to see you off?"

Talion said, "We have said our goodbyes."

Lithariel said, "Then go. Go with the goodwill of the free people of Middle Earth."

Talion nodded. He turned away from them and returned to the shoreline where his ship was waiting for him. As soon as he boarded it, all five of the ships began to depart. Their white sails opened up to let the wind pull them. The sea was calm, but in the direction they sailed, a strange storm was gathered. They rested on the opposing coast with strange red lightning bolts firing off at random moments. It was here Talion would make his war.

Ursa stood in the tower of a massive fortress. The Warchief would no longer have use for it, and now it would be her lair. Her hair was longer than ever. It covered her eye patch and blended in with her ebony robes.

The Witch of Nurn gazed through the window out to the sea. She could faintly see the shapes of the ships leaving the harbor. Her ranger was leaving her for a time.

Ursa put a hand to her stomach, feeling the movement of the small life within her.

She said, "Your father will soon return my child. Fear not for this darkness will not last. I will devour its makers in smoke and flame."

THE END

Author's Note: Thank you for reading Ursa the Weakling! I mean that truly. I did not think this story would receive any sort of attention so your follows and reviews mean a lot. To be honest, I've already thought of a sequel and conclusion to this story. However, I haven't begun writing it as I'm afraid that if another Middle Earth game is released, it will make my work seem glaringly inaccurate. I would likely have to change some details about the last few chapters to make it work as well. For now, I'm working on other stories, but it's still possible I'll continue on. Either way, thank you for reading the tale of a little Morder Orc called Ursa.