Chapter 7
After Legolas returned, Terrico was surprised to see him carrying a rose. "I found this in the woods, near the edge of town." He said, setting it down on the table. Frodo and Sam had come before him, and Sam looked at the rose like a dwarf looks at a large jewel. "That's a viney rose, but I've never heard of one growing around here! They only grow down south, down near the foothills of the South Mountains. Something must have carried a seed up here." Terrico admired the rose, which was the same red color as her cloak. "Are you going to be a gardener now, Legolas? I'd hate to think that I'd lost a good travel companion to a plant." She smirked, thinking to herself that perhaps he'd become more than a traveling companion. "No," Legolas said firmly, "I just thought that it would look nice growing in Sam or Frodo's garden. It seemed out of place in the woods." They all laughed, and Terrico made lunch. None of them gave any thought to how the rose seed got so far north.
The goblin that had watched Legolas laughed. "The stupid elf has allowed himself to be dulled in peace. That will soon change, but I must tell Driikk that they are here, and the fate of the other scout. Stupid dragons, it would be nice to ally with them, but they were part of that ceremony." The goblin dropped to the ground and ran off toward the foothills of the South Mountains, where a large goblin army was waiting. Driikk smirked as he heard the news. "The elf of the destroyers is there? It makes no difference. When the orcs get here, there will be too many of us for him. Did you see where the dark one was? We need her if we are to summon back the Dark Lord. Her magic is strong enough, and we can force her to do what we want. Go back and watch! Do not return until you can tell me where she is." The scout bowed and ran, thankful that he had not been killed for returning with bad news. The goblins of the South Mountains had remained hidden for many years, and had been strengthened by Sauron to be used as back-ups to his other forces. When the Fellowship, or the destroyers as the goblins and orcs called them, had destroyed the ring, the goblins had sent out scouts to gather together what remained of Sauron's goblin and orc armies. There was then around 10,000 goblins there, and another 10,000 orcs were on the way. They were planning to attack the home of the ones that had destroyed the ring, and use their souls and Terrico's magic to restore Sauron. Driikk was the only Goblin-mage left, and the only one who knew how to restore Sauron. He planned to take the hobbit's home by force, and to use a powerful spell he knew, Mental Block, to force Terrico to use her magic to his will. He laughed and told some of the goblins nearby to copy all of his maps and plans to be given to the orcs when they arrive.