Chapter 36: The Beginning of the End

Gothmog exited the mines a while later. He looked back yet again before setting off to Mordor. He wasn't sure he wanted to tell Shadic what had happened. The hedgehog sighed and appeared back in Barad-Dur. He looked around and thought about what happened as tears came to his eyes. He had lost his son. Perhaps he could use his magic to transform someone into Silvond.

"Maybe I shouldn't," he muttered. He sat in the throne heavily. "After everything's that happened, I wouldn't be able to bear it if something happened to him too." He sighed and started to sob, then spoke to the fortress, hoping it would hear him. "I'm sorry, Shadic. I couldn't do anything to save Silvond, and I can't continue this without the two of you. There's no point to it if I don't have my family to share it with."

Gothmog continued to cry. A few minutes later, one of the Orcs came in and bowed before him.

"Shall we continue conquering Middle-Earth?" The Orc asked.

Gothmog looked up, not bothering to try and stop his tears. He didn't know what to do any more. Staring at the other Orc, he sighed. "Yes...we shall. I have a favor to ask you...would it be okay if I transformed you into my son permanently?"

The Orc thought about it. Then he nodded. "If it will help you," he said. Gothmog gave the Orc a smile.

"Thank you," Gothmog said, and shot a spell at the Orc, who began to transform.

His body shrank to the same height Silvond had been. His muscle mass decreased and fur grew all over his body. The ears and tail forced themselves out of him as he sucked in a breath of air. Quills developed on his head, quickly growing out. His eyes were deep red, and he had a grimace on his new face. The horns he'd had on his head shifted to between his ears. He groaned and looked up at Gothmog, who smiled.

"It's nice to see him again. Do you still have your own mind?"

"Yeah, I do. Why? Did you want a mental change?"

Gothmog shook his head. "It's all right," he said. "We need to come up with a plan."

Silvond nodded. "What should we do?"

Gothmog sighed. "We need to conquer Middle-Earth. We've taken care of the elves. There are likely more dwarves somewhere, and the humans have yet to be conquered."

"Alright; I'll help. I am Silvond from now on, anyway. What happened to the original?"

"He got stuck in the Mines of Moria as a Balrog," he explained.

The transformed hedgehog nodded. "What will happen to him?"

"I don't know," Gothmog shrugged. "He'll probably take control of the mines."

"I see."

Gothmog looked around the room, wondering if the Nazgul had gotten back yet. He sighed and looked at Silvond, then frowned. His son was back, but he still felt sad. Perhaps a mental change would be the best. "A mental change might be best after all," he told the ex-Orc.

The transformed hedgehog nodded. "Very well," he said, and waited.

Gothmog focused on the ring he wore, hoping to get it right. Once he believed he was ready, he placed his hand on the other's head. The energy flowed from him into the other as he concentrated on changing his mind to Silvond's. The transformed hedgehog groaned in pain, feeling his mind change. Gothmog put his hand down and waited. A few seconds later, Silvond looked up. He looked around, confused.

"How are you?" Gothmog asked.

"I'm...fine," Silvond said. "What happened?"

"You got stuck in the Mines of Moria. Your mind was lost to the Balrog you'd changed into and I couldn't get you out."

The hedgehog nodded. "I remember that. Its mind...is still connected to mine; I can feel it. The Balrog part of me apparently is living in the mines, using them as a home."

"Will that affect you at all?" Gothmog was worried about his son.

Silvond thought about it. "Possibly," he said. "What do you mean by that?"

"Having its mind connected to yours. Won't that affect you in some way?"

"I would think so. The Balrog is part of me, after all."

Gothmog nodded. He'd expected as much when Silvond had mentioned it.

Silvond smiled. "So, shall we resume conquering Middle-Earth? I am the Dark Lord, after all."

Gothmog returned his smile. "Of course."

"All right. We already took care of the dwarfs and elves; all that's left are the humans."

"Did you want to use the Nazgul and Orcs as well?

Silvond nodded. "I'm powerful on my own now that I have these two rings. It won't take long."

Gothmog nodded, grinning evilly. "Well then, let's finish this."

The two left to make preparations for what was ahead. Gothmog followed behind Silvond, promising himself he wouldn't ever let something happen to him again.

We already took care of Minas Tirith," Silvond said. "All that's left are the other human kingdoms. Once they fall, Middle-Earth will be ours forever."

"Are we going to leave any of the humans alive?" Gothmog asked.

"No, of course not. All of the races must be extinguished."

Gothmog smirked. Without anyone on Middle-Earth, their rule would go unchallenged. All they had to do was bring the inevitable destruction upon the humans. "Lead the way," he said.

Silvond nodded. He transformed into a Balrog, put Gothmog on his shoulder, and took to the sky.