Chapter 37: Conquering Middle-Earth

Gothmog watched as they flew, wondering which city Silvond planned on attacking first. The Balrog soon came upon Rohan and let out a loud roar. Gothmog watched as the Balrog set fire to the town. The people living in the city screamed as they came under attack. Silvond roared again as he landed and started to use his ax and whip. The humans tried organize themselves and attack, but it did them no good Gothmog attacked alongside Silvond, not giving the humans a chance to organize anything. They continued to attack the city. Soon, Rohan lay in ruins and every person was dead. Silvond roared in victory, and then clutched his head in pain as his eyes turned from red to white.

"You should change back to normal," Gothmog said. Worry was in every part if him, not wanting it to happen all over again.

Silvond nodded and tried to. He growled in pain but something was blocking him from changing. Gothmog's eyes widened as he realized that Silvond was having difficulties. He didn't want to lose him again, he'd just gotten him back. The Balrog growled angrily.

Gothmog sighed, thinking about what he could do. "We may as well resume killing the humans."

Silvond nodded. Gothmog looked at Silvond, worried about what would happen. The two left the ruined city in search of their next target. Soon, they came to Numenor. The two attacked, once again not giving the humans a chance to defend themselves. Minutes later, the city was destroyed.

"Only a few more cities left," Gothmog told the Balrog. "Then the land of Middle-Earth shall be ours forever." He looked at the Balrog as he spoke. "Maybe you should change back."

The Balrog nodded and tried to but once again he couldn't. Gothmog sighed. That was what he was afraid of. Silvond looked at him and growled angrily.

"What's wrong?" he asked Silvond.

The Balrog growled some more. I'm not sure, he said telepathically.

With both unsure of what was going on, Gothmog was nervous. Silvond wasn't going through the same thing...was he? If he could just figure out how to change him back to normal, everything would be better. Gothmog sighed; he didn't know. But they couldn't think about it now; they had a land to conquer.

"Where to next?" It didn't really matter where they went; all the humans were going to die any way. But he liked to know.

Most of the human cities are destroyed now, so it doesn't really matter, Silvond said telepathically.

"All right. Let's just go."

The Balrog nodded and flew off. The two wiped out what remaining humans they found. Gothmog and Silvond sneered. They had finally done it. All of the races: men, dwarfs and elves, had been obliterated. Finally, they were in control of Middle-Earth.

Gothmog looked at Silvond. "We've done it," he said. "Transform back and we'll return to Mordor." The Balrog nodded and tried to transform back. Gothmog watched, hoping for the best. Silvond growled in pain. Gothmog's eyes widened. "Can't you transform back?"

The Balrog shook his head, still growling. Gothmog sighed, wondering why this was happening all over again. Was it because Silvond's mind was connected to the Balrog in the Mines of Moria that was part of him? Gothmog fingered the ring he wore, wishing it could help them. It hadn't done anything last time.

He closed his eyes and focused as the ring started to glow.

"Work this time," he prayed.

The Balrog growled in pain and fell to the ground, holding his head. Gothmog rushed over to him, still partly focusing on the ring. Silvond continued to growl in pain, wondering what was happening to him. He could hear his other part's voice in his head.

We must become one, it said. We are the same person, after all. Silvond groaned in pain as he heard the other Balrog's words. Don't fight it.

The Balrog growled some more. He looked at Gothmog, wondering what to do.

"Come back," Gothmog said to him. "Stay here with me. If you try hard enough, I'm sure you can change back to yourself."

Silvond was confused; he didn't know what to do. As cheesy as he thought it would be, Gothmog extended his hand to Silvond. "I don't want to lose you again." The Balrog growled at him and held his head, the other's voice continuing. What was he going to do?

Silvond reached a hand out to his father. Gothmog sighed in relief and got on Silvond's shoulder. The Balrog took to the sky and flew back to Mordor.