Disclaimer: I only own the stuff you don't recognise. Everything thing else belongs to Tolkien.
A/N: I know it has been absolutely AGES since I last updated this story, but what with A levels and numerous other things, I have been very busy. I have also had a bit of writer's block on this one, and have been mainly concentrating on my other story 'Exchanges'.
Thanks though all those who have reviewed, and please keep on doing so! The more reviews I get, the more incentive I have to keep writing! :o)
And if any of you are wondering when there is gonna be some smut, well, you will just have to be patient! It will come, but you'll have to be patient!
So please read and review!
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When she awoke the next morning, Galwyn was still entwined in Elrohir's arms. She smiled and moved closer to his warm body, and instinctively, his arms tightened around her. When she looked into his face, she could see that he was still asleep, for his open eyes were blank and expressionless as he dreamed. She watched him for a while, not moving, but she couldn't stop herself from gently running the backs of her fingers down his cheekbone. Immediately his eyes cleared and he smiled as he saw her leaning over him. He yawned and stretched his arms above his head before pulling her close to him.
"I don't think I will let you go today."
"Oh? And why is that?"
"Because I want you here with me."
"Well, that's a nice thought, but needs must."
"That's true, I suppose." He said with a melodramatic sigh. She laughed and kissed him lightly on the forehead.
"Come, I have to get ready to go." He nodded and they went over to where the rest of the group were breaking their fasts.
When all was ready, and Galwyn had had a final conversation with Celeborn and Gandalf, she stood alone with Elrohir on the edge of the forest. He took her face in both hands and looked deep into her eyes, his expression grave.
"Come back soon."
"I will." He smiled and kissed her gently before letting her go. With a final glance behind her, she transformed into her eagle form, and flew off in the direction of the tower.
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What she saw as she drew closer was enough to chill her blood as it flowed through her veins. The tower itself was tall and thin, but the fortress around it was immense and wide, complete with turrets, walls and battlements. It was fashioned from dark grey stone, and looked impenetrable. There was a large area around the buildings that had been cleared of greenery and here she could see great furnaces had been made, and, judging from the faint sounds of clanging metal she could catch from the air, they were making armour and weapons. There were orcs everywhere and large groups of wild-men interspersed among them. It was hard to estimate, not knowing how many more were inside the buildings, but she guessed there were around two and a half thousand in the forces gathered there. As she flew around the tower she saw that at its very top there was a small balcony, and on this a pale figure stood, surveying the land beneath, before disappearing inside.
When she had discerned all she could from the air, she flew down to the ground, and into the edge of the trees around the clearing where she could transform without being seen. She rested for a moment in her own form, feeling her energy renewed as she let her mind rest briefly from the concentration. After a few minutes, she gathered her thoughts and put herself into an orc-shape, something that took even more control of thought than usual, for the thought of taking on the foul form was enough to make her stomach turn and her blood run even more chill. Even so, it took her several attempts, and she held herself in the secluded spot for several moments, making sure she could hold the form.
No sooner had she stepped out into the barren fields before the tower, than an orc-band appeared out of the forest nearby her, running towards the grey buildings. She hastily joined the back of the group, running along with them, almost retching at the foul stench of them. She almost coughed, but managed to quell it, pulling her orc-features into a scowl, trying not to look at the body she had created for herself, feeling dirty inside even as she ran on orc legs. She cringed inside as the orcs at the front of the group began to sing, if it could be called that, and the song soon passed to the back, the words repeated endlessly to the rhythm of their pounding feet as the tower grew ever closer.
We'll take itYes, we will
Make it ours
Kill! Kill! Kill!
Take their lands
For our own
Flush them out
No mercy shown!
The words of the song chilled her to her very core, but she forced herself to join in, imitating the voices of those around her, feeling her mind repel the words that she was forcing from her mouth. When they reached the tower and walls, the huge gate began to open and Galwyn felt her stomach churning more than ever at the sight of the huge numbers of orcs and evil men, working away at creating monstrous weapons. The rest of the orc band that she had been running with ran past the tower towards one of the buildings, but she knew her business was there. As subtly as she could, she broke away from the group and made her way towards the huge stone tower, moving from group to group to avoid detection and picking up a sword and spear as she went from the huge piles that littered the ground near the various furnaces. As she neared the tower itself, she saw that there were several small groups of orcs around it that were obviously guards. She decided to risk going in while her strength still held. As soon as she approached the entrance to the main tower, the orcs on watch barred the way, crossing their spears over the door.
"What is your business?" The one on the left asked.
"I have a message." She said in her orc-voice, injected more than a little scorn into it, praying that it was believable. The orc looked at her suspiciously.
"From who?"
"From Nablung." She growled back, using the name that the leader of the orc band the group had assailed the previous day had been referred to as. The guards looked surprised, but did not unbar the door.
"What is the password?" The one on the right asked, and she felt her heart beginning to beat double time in her chest. She had only one hope.
"How am I supposed to know the password? I've just come all the way from the Dale with this message. They change these passwords so often, I must be about three behind." She spat out with exasperation, hoping the story would wash. The guards exchanged a glance and some words then unbarred the door. But before she could enter, the one on the right spoke again.
"Next time, make sure you know the password." He then leaned over and whispered it in her ear conspiratorially. She suppressed a shudder at the smell of his foul breath, and concentrated on committing the horrible sounds to her memory, for the words were in the orc language. She nodded and sauntered past them and, once inside with the door slammed shut behind her, stopped and leaned against the wall, breathing heavily and forcing herself to hold on to the concentration that was hanging by a thread.
When she had composed herself, she continued down the corridor into which she had just entered, her eyes flicking backwards and forwards, taking in her surroundings and committed her path to memory. There were numerous doorways on either side of the corridor, but she could hear no sound from behind them. Suddenly, she saw a winding staircase to her left, and, having no other plan, took it, ascending as quietly as she could, taking the time to get a better hold on her concentration. The stairs went up and up, with several small landing that obviously led to the other levels of the tower, but something drove her on, past them, until the stairs came to an end and she stepped out onto the top level. She could, indeed, hear voices now, and she followed the sound of them around a corridor, almost freezing in her tracks as she saw a group of guards in front of a pair of huge wooden door. They were lounging around smoking what smelt like pipe-weed, but when they saw her, they stood up and re-assumed their positions. She approached slowly and one of the men, with sallow skin and dark features marred by numerous scars, spoke out.
"Name your business."
"I have a message."
"From who?"
"Nablung." The men exchanged glances and then the one who had spoken nodded shortly, pulling open one of the door and entering into whatever lay beyond them. She heaved an inner sigh of relief at the realisation that obviously Nablung had been more important than she had first suspected, and had, inadvertently, provided her with her ticket into the inner depths of the tower. She jumped slightly when the man spoke again, this time gesturing towards the door.
"You may go in." She nodded and moved towards the door, but the man spoke again, quietly. "And don't take too long, he is not in the best of moods today." She mumbled a 'thank you', and, with a deep breath, entered into the room beyond, barely able to believe what she was doing, her hand straying to the pocket where the copy of the ring was currently housed. So far, so good. She thought, with not just a little foreboding of what lay before her.
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A/N: Please review and tell me what you think!
