Chapter 32: Isengard Unleashed
Helm's Deep has one weakness," said Lothor to Zeltrax, giving advice on the fortress, "its outer wall is solid rock but for a small culvert at its base which is little more than a drain."
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Zeltrax and Lothor were in another room at the tower of Orthanc as Saruman began pouring a course, black powder substance into a spiky, metallic ball. Wormtongue held a lit candle in his hand, overseeing Zeltrax's preparations.
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"How?" inquired Lothor as he approached the ball with the candle, "how can fire undo stone? What kind of device could bring down the wall?"
As Lothor edged near the metallic ball… Zeltrax quickly took hold of Lothor's candle with a warning look and slowly, but firmly, pushed the candle, along with Wormtongue, away from the vessel.
"If the wall is breached, Helm's Deep will fall," Saruman intoned as he left the room.
Lothor followed his master as he explained, "even if it is breached, it would take a number beyond reckoning, thousands to storm the keep."
"Tens of thousands," Zeltrax corrected him. He headed towards the balcony with Wormtongue still close behind him.
"But my lord," Lothor said despairingly, "there is no such force."
As they neared the balcony… a horn sounded…
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VVVVRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMM!
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Lothor couldn't believe his eyes to what he saw… he gazed at a vast group of cheering Uruk-hai, laid out below in neat rows, filling the grounds of Isengard. The tens of thousands of Uruks that Saruman says will take to storm Helm's Deep. Lothor was astounded and awed, gaping at the vast army below.
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DERBGOO NASHGSHOO! DERBGOO DASHSHOO! The army cheered out. DERBGOO NASHGSHOO! DERBGOO DASHSHOO…!
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Zeltrax raised a hand, gesturing his army to settle down. He began to announce to his troops in a voice that carried:
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"…A new power is rising… its victory, is at hand!"
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The Uruk armies cheered again, stomping feet and banging their weapons on their shields. Zeltrax calmed them down with his hand once more as he continued:
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"This night…!
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"…The land will be stained with the blood of Rohan…!
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"…March to Helm's Deep…!
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"…Leave none alive…!
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The army roared and cheered once more, waiting to shed the blood of Men…
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"…TO WAAAAAAAARRRRRRR!" Zeltrax cried out, raising his hands high in the air.
DERBGOO NASHGSHOO! DERBGOO DASHSHOO! The Uruk army cheered thunderously in response to Saruman's cry of war. Wormtongue began to shed a tear in astonishment to the genocidal battle that will take place.
"There will be no dawn… for men," Zeltrax grimly reassured Lothor.
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The massive army of Zeltrax began to march fiercely out from Isengard, waving their spears and banners high in the air, marching towards Helm's Deep… to carry out their mission of genocide.
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Meanwhile, at Fangorn Forest, Treebeard continued to stride through the forest with Hunter and Blake riding amongst the branches around his shoulders. From that height the two Bradley brothers Hobbits could see over the trees. Suddenly, Blake's gaze roamed over the treetops, and noticed smoke billowing in the distance.
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"look!" Pippin exclaimed quietly, as he pointed outwards, "there's smoke to the south!"
Hunter look at the smoke that Blake saw.
"There is," interjected Treebeard, "always smoke rising from Isengard these days."
"Isengard?" queried Hunter. He and Blake then immediately climbed higher up onto Treebeard for a better view.
Treebeard went on, "there was a time, when Zeltrax would walk in my woods. But now he has a mind of metal… and wheels. He no longer cares for growing things."
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Hunter and Blake then looked overhead from Treebeard… and saw a vast dark mass moving across the valley, proceeding from the smoking land of Isengard.
"…What is it?" asked Blake.
"…Its Saruman's army," answered Hunter, gasping, "the war has started."