Chapter 18 Nublar

Everyone awoke in good spirits. They packed their things and traveled. There wasn't much said and most of the time they were galloping to get further, faster. They stopped only for lunch and they only stayed there for about half an hour. They continued on for several more hours. Finally Gandalf spoke,

"Once we pass over that hill we will be there." He pointed to a hill that as a little less then a league off. They rode on for some more time till they were at the foot of the hill. Sari, Gandalf, Aragon, and Ednocon looked worried. Darkness came and they reached the top of the hill. Then they saw it. There were three white towers looming over them in the darkness. There were windows but no light was seen in them. They all thought this strange.

"Something is not right." Ednocon said, looking at the towers with some trace of fear in his voice.

"What is not right?" Gimli said curiously.

"The tower windows are always lit to show that Nublar is a great city, but tonight, of all nights when the king should be expecting us they are dark, no noise can be heard to me either. Every night the king celebrates with his court." Aragon said wisely.

They came to the gates of the city and opened them. What they saw was frightening. Nothing.

"There is usually something to show us that there is at least living in this city, am I correct Gandalf." Sam said

"Yes Samwise do not put such ideas into my head though."

"The Grand gates Of Nublar" Sari said looking forward. Before them stood the tallest tower and at the base there were two large doors. Gandalf bent down and was looking at some footprints in the sand. Everyone scattered apart now and was examining things carefully.

Shimshel went directly to the doors, closely followed by Sari. When they drew nearer they saw that they were open a little bit. Shimshel went forth and stuck his head through the narrow opening, let out a gasp, and went in. Sari went after but when she entered she screamed. Aragon ran through to see what caused her to scream. Legolas came directly after. Neither of them trusted Shimshel and didn't take their eyes off sari when she followed him. Everyone else was about 10 yards behind when the two entered, hands on their sheaths. When they entered they were stunned also. Once inside they froze. Gandalf, Sam, Frodo, Gimli, and Ednocon came through next.

What they saw was the most terrifying any of them had ever seen. There seemed to be the entire population of the city hanging in the main Hall. There was elf- men, women and children, all dead hanging by their throats.

"Oh my!" Sam shouted and was out the door.

"Frodo bring him back quickly! Blindfolded, if it is necessary."

Frodo sprang after Sam. Sari was on the floor crying to herself softly. Aragon by her side trying to comfort her, and Shimshel was standing looking at some of the bodies' s if to identify what did this. The two hobbits came in,

"He was vomiting something awful but he is okay now." The two hobbits looked around and they just closed their eyes.

"Orcs" Shimshel said casually still looking at the bodies.

"The Uruk-Hai in the wilderness is more like it, servants of my brother. "Sari said between sobs.

"Most likely" Shimshel said again with too much of a matter-of-fact tone to his voice. "I must say your brother did a fair good job to them

"These were people. Please speak with more respect for them."

"Were, was the key word in there Legolas."

"Fool," Legolas said hatred growing for him. "These were lives that were taken needlessly."

"Were they? I am sure once news came of the stone being true they would have joined the battle with you and the dark lord would have had to have another couple armies to defeat them."

" Joined with you, don't you mean us?" Legolas said

"Another couple of armies! How do you know this information Shimshel?" Ednocon said reaching for his sheath.

Shimshel strode over to the window and put his pack on the ground searching for something. Just then Frodo and Sam cam threw the door.

Shimshel pulled out a horn and said,

" No, I do not mean us I mean you, and soon to be none of us," he said with anger and hatred in his voice.

"Put the horn down Shimshel." Gandalf said commandingly. Then Shimshel turned walked over to Sari and lifted her off her feet. Legolas quickly fitted an arrow to his bow. No one had seen it but his knife still drawn and now at her throat.

"Put the bow down Legolas, or I may have to destroy your beloved." Legolas dropped the bow in fear for him hurting Sari. Shimshel then held the horn to his lips and blew hard and loud. Everyone had to hold his or her ears it was so loud. When he stopped, there came hundreds of Orc cries from the forest. Shimshel then turned and said,

"It was the dark kings request not for me to kill her, unless she got out of control and she has so I think I shall" he turned around threw her on the ground and rose the knife above her head. At that moment Legolas fitted his legendary bow with an arrow and shot. There was a sharp twang and Shimshel fell on top of Sari. Legolas and Aragon ran to her to see if she was all right. They threw the body of Shimshel to the side and looked at Sari. She was crying and she had a very minor cut on her throat, other then that she was fine. The two helped her up and she embraced Legolas.

" I am so sorry."

"You have no need to be Sari, I should be. I trusted that poor excuse for a elf." Gandalf said wisely.

" I knew it all along though, it was in my dream."

Everyone was silent for a few moments. Sari looked into Legolas' eyes and whispered,

"Thanks again now we are most certainly even." She said so no one but Legolas could hear her. " We must hurry he has told the Orcs of our position, if we want to escape we must go now!" With that everyone fled to the door.