Random Orcs, or We Fell to Middle Earth
Chapter Twenty-One: Rick Steves' Minas Morgul
by Galadriel Tolkien
It wasn't. Amusing, that is.
The army gathered on the west bank, inside Osgiliath, and studied the opposite bank from the battlements. Between both sides, the river flowed bright and shining in the afternoon light. Where before both sides had seemed the same, one half was now blackened and dark. The white stone burnt to a crisp by fire hot as lava.
I studied it while the commanders milled around each other. They were startled by the destruction. Save Gandalf and Aragorn, of course. The two of them knew me, after all.
Sadness touched me as I realised the whole would have to be razed and then rebuilt from the ground up. Stone that had stood guard for centuries was now quickly dying into ash.
Patting the crenellations in front of me, I whispered, "I am so sorry."
"Are you?"
I jerked around, meeting the gaze of one of the lords. I half-shrugged, "Possibly, my lord."
"Lord Feanor," He offered, suddenly smiling. "I believe it was the gods which have sent you to us, Lady Luthien. I thank them heartily for it."
"Don't." I raised a hand, heart-sick at the destruction and death still to come. "Let the days pass, first. And then, on the day we celebrate, then, thank them."
He nodded slowly, "As you wish."
I turned and studied the river again as the troops slowly made sure of the fortress. After all, there were a few orcs which had escaped our fierce battle. No need to be killed when we thought ourselves safe.
Across it, the ruins of Osgiliath East sat quietly, as if awaiting something. Since we had destroyed the bridge, it would wait a bit longer while wagons and other bits of wood were turned into a bridge on the bridge.
::Oh, very funny. I forgot to laugh, of course.::
::Hush.::
The orcs who had escaped had set free their own workings. Shortly thereafter, the column began crossing the river.
Alayna and I stayed on the near bank to steady the horses, so they were calm on the bridge. It wouldn't do to have one panic, it could take out the entire temporary span. We had our hands full. Scouts had been sent to secure the east side of Osgiliath. Shadowfax and Gandalf were there as well, reassuring them as they reached that bank.
Once everyone was on the other side, we were all able to direct our attention to Osgiliath east. Well, of course we had to, considering we traveled through it to get to the road. Many stared at it in surprise, the late afternoon light turning the obsidian walls and rubble to firey red stone. I admired the effect, and wondered if it was because the fire had gotten as hot as the inside of a volcano. I also felt less guilty.
::Hrm. Possibly one of your better fire spells.::
::Fire? Bah. Volcano!::
::You didn't know that 'till now.:: She pointed out silkily.
Scouts were sent into Osgiliath, to take control as had been done at the Forts. I ignored Alayna and wondered what their report would sound like.
::"That crazy sorceress destroyed a perfectly usable fortress!"::
I laughed, and was sent a few disturbed looks which I also ignored. ::Probably.::
Phred wandered up to me, looking vaguely lost.
"What?"
"I've been assigned to you by the Rohirrim."
My eyebrows raised, "They're in charge?"
"Mutual decision, I think." He shook his head at me, "My lady, you are so innocent seeming."
"Illusion." I replied. We rode in silence, then. Ahead of us, the mountains of Shadow slowly came closer. Unrest began filtering through the column, even though we rode through the forest of Ithilien, the branches gently peaceful.
Five miles beyond Osgiliath, the foot companies halted for the night. Those of us on horseback continued onwards. Shortly thereafter we came to a cross-roads. Aragorn sent men north and south, east and west, calling the coming of the army of the men of the west. A small garrison was also positioned there. Then we went on.
Eventually, the way to the Morgul Vale appeared, and there was a discussion which led to a small group setting out for it. I slipped into it, gesturing Phred to stay behind. We didn't go far, Gandalf arguing strenuously against alerting the Nazgul to the presence of the army.
I studied the distant Citadel of the Nazgul. Evil emenated from it, born of decay and long suffering. Deeply hidden, though, I sensed the structure's original intent--to revere the moon and provide a light in the darkness. I wasn't sure who had told me that, once.
After setting fire to the fields around the silent citadel, the others prepared to move off; I caught Aragorn's arm, "Continue on. I shall follow with due haste shortly."
He studied me a moment, then nodded. "Make haste, Lady Rainbow. The fires may be upon you shortly."
I half-smiled. And they left, heading north to possible doom--leaving Certain Doom behind.
I inspected the approaching fire, then set a careful shield, shifting it to a different path. Now the section of field I stood in would be safe for several hours. A moment later, silence and darkness reached an odd balance with the soft crackling of the burning grasslands. Then I sat down cross-legged in the center of it and began slowly weaving. Alayna flopped down behind me with a sigh, and I leant against her side.
The trance was gently achieved and I spun for a moment inside my own head before stepping outwards, heading towards Minas Morgul as a tiny speck of dust. If someone had been watching the area with Mage Sight, they might have seen occasional out of sync images of me walking through the burning field.
I threaded into the stones, first. Finding the memories of light and life, tying them together in gossamer webs of energy nearly undetectable to the sorcerer's eye. It wasn't difficult, but it did take time as I meticulously went into each and every bit of rock, from the dust on the floor in a chamber at the bottom of the massive city to the uppermost piece of igneous matter that reached for the sky above.
An hour passed, two, and I was at the top, finished with this moment in time recreation spell. I pondered it for a moment, then made sure I hadn't managed to set it to resurrect anyone. That could be sticky.
The last time I'd done this spell, I'd sort of forgotten that part. The result hadn't been pretty. Though it had been vaguely amusing.
Once finished with that check, I turned to the task of cleaning the place. It was huge, so I decided to go with the basics. Embroidering upon the spell-weave already there, I called water, soap, bleach and some lemon juice. It would cascade through, scouring at the muck as it swirled down to the bottom where it would disappear back to whence it came.
It would be followed with scalding heat, the sands and winds of a desert I'd once known scowering the remnants of decay from the bones of the citadel.
But it wouldn't be enough. I paused as the third hour drew to a close, and pondered my options. To my inner eye, the web covered nearly every molecule with a luminous, happy glow. It was in several colours ranging from purple to bright green.
Decisively, I began cross-stitching a patchwork of conversion death spells though the structure. Death layered into light as the dying were struck from the very soul of the world. I was tampering with things I shouldn't, but this land demanded cleansing, and this was the only way to do it.
Two hours slipped away while the hook of my mind intertwined the last of these many spells into one masterful whole. Light gleamed at me, so many colours now that some had no name and merely existed as the colours of magic.
Finally, it was finished. One final connection of strands and the place would light up like the christmas tree in Time's Square. The cascade would begin, unstoppable in its wrath as it tore through the evil, obliterating it utterly.
I studied the last strand and smiled. It was a simple matter to attach the strands in my mind. Like a switch, I would merely have to blink and the conflagration would begin.
As a distraction for Sauron it would be wonderfully useful.
I unwove myself from the trance and slowly opened my eyes. For a moment, there was a sense of peace around me. Then exhaustion hit followed by ravenous hunger. With as small an amount of movement as I could, I pulled a packet of lembas from Alayna's saddlebags.
Several mouthfuls improved my condition enough to allow me to slowly clamber into the saddle. I strapped myself in, yawning as Alayna stood gracefully. I'd sleep. Hopefully, we'd catch them up soon.
Around us, the fires had burned low. The fields were gone, except for that small circle wherein I had laid the spells to seal doom in its place.
Chapter Twenty-One: Rick Steves' Minas Morgul
by Galadriel Tolkien
It wasn't. Amusing, that is.
The army gathered on the west bank, inside Osgiliath, and studied the opposite bank from the battlements. Between both sides, the river flowed bright and shining in the afternoon light. Where before both sides had seemed the same, one half was now blackened and dark. The white stone burnt to a crisp by fire hot as lava.
I studied it while the commanders milled around each other. They were startled by the destruction. Save Gandalf and Aragorn, of course. The two of them knew me, after all.
Sadness touched me as I realised the whole would have to be razed and then rebuilt from the ground up. Stone that had stood guard for centuries was now quickly dying into ash.
Patting the crenellations in front of me, I whispered, "I am so sorry."
"Are you?"
I jerked around, meeting the gaze of one of the lords. I half-shrugged, "Possibly, my lord."
"Lord Feanor," He offered, suddenly smiling. "I believe it was the gods which have sent you to us, Lady Luthien. I thank them heartily for it."
"Don't." I raised a hand, heart-sick at the destruction and death still to come. "Let the days pass, first. And then, on the day we celebrate, then, thank them."
He nodded slowly, "As you wish."
I turned and studied the river again as the troops slowly made sure of the fortress. After all, there were a few orcs which had escaped our fierce battle. No need to be killed when we thought ourselves safe.
Across it, the ruins of Osgiliath East sat quietly, as if awaiting something. Since we had destroyed the bridge, it would wait a bit longer while wagons and other bits of wood were turned into a bridge on the bridge.
::Oh, very funny. I forgot to laugh, of course.::
::Hush.::
The orcs who had escaped had set free their own workings. Shortly thereafter, the column began crossing the river.
Alayna and I stayed on the near bank to steady the horses, so they were calm on the bridge. It wouldn't do to have one panic, it could take out the entire temporary span. We had our hands full. Scouts had been sent to secure the east side of Osgiliath. Shadowfax and Gandalf were there as well, reassuring them as they reached that bank.
Once everyone was on the other side, we were all able to direct our attention to Osgiliath east. Well, of course we had to, considering we traveled through it to get to the road. Many stared at it in surprise, the late afternoon light turning the obsidian walls and rubble to firey red stone. I admired the effect, and wondered if it was because the fire had gotten as hot as the inside of a volcano. I also felt less guilty.
::Hrm. Possibly one of your better fire spells.::
::Fire? Bah. Volcano!::
::You didn't know that 'till now.:: She pointed out silkily.
Scouts were sent into Osgiliath, to take control as had been done at the Forts. I ignored Alayna and wondered what their report would sound like.
::"That crazy sorceress destroyed a perfectly usable fortress!"::
I laughed, and was sent a few disturbed looks which I also ignored. ::Probably.::
Phred wandered up to me, looking vaguely lost.
"What?"
"I've been assigned to you by the Rohirrim."
My eyebrows raised, "They're in charge?"
"Mutual decision, I think." He shook his head at me, "My lady, you are so innocent seeming."
"Illusion." I replied. We rode in silence, then. Ahead of us, the mountains of Shadow slowly came closer. Unrest began filtering through the column, even though we rode through the forest of Ithilien, the branches gently peaceful.
Five miles beyond Osgiliath, the foot companies halted for the night. Those of us on horseback continued onwards. Shortly thereafter we came to a cross-roads. Aragorn sent men north and south, east and west, calling the coming of the army of the men of the west. A small garrison was also positioned there. Then we went on.
Eventually, the way to the Morgul Vale appeared, and there was a discussion which led to a small group setting out for it. I slipped into it, gesturing Phred to stay behind. We didn't go far, Gandalf arguing strenuously against alerting the Nazgul to the presence of the army.
I studied the distant Citadel of the Nazgul. Evil emenated from it, born of decay and long suffering. Deeply hidden, though, I sensed the structure's original intent--to revere the moon and provide a light in the darkness. I wasn't sure who had told me that, once.
After setting fire to the fields around the silent citadel, the others prepared to move off; I caught Aragorn's arm, "Continue on. I shall follow with due haste shortly."
He studied me a moment, then nodded. "Make haste, Lady Rainbow. The fires may be upon you shortly."
I half-smiled. And they left, heading north to possible doom--leaving Certain Doom behind.
I inspected the approaching fire, then set a careful shield, shifting it to a different path. Now the section of field I stood in would be safe for several hours. A moment later, silence and darkness reached an odd balance with the soft crackling of the burning grasslands. Then I sat down cross-legged in the center of it and began slowly weaving. Alayna flopped down behind me with a sigh, and I leant against her side.
The trance was gently achieved and I spun for a moment inside my own head before stepping outwards, heading towards Minas Morgul as a tiny speck of dust. If someone had been watching the area with Mage Sight, they might have seen occasional out of sync images of me walking through the burning field.
I threaded into the stones, first. Finding the memories of light and life, tying them together in gossamer webs of energy nearly undetectable to the sorcerer's eye. It wasn't difficult, but it did take time as I meticulously went into each and every bit of rock, from the dust on the floor in a chamber at the bottom of the massive city to the uppermost piece of igneous matter that reached for the sky above.
An hour passed, two, and I was at the top, finished with this moment in time recreation spell. I pondered it for a moment, then made sure I hadn't managed to set it to resurrect anyone. That could be sticky.
The last time I'd done this spell, I'd sort of forgotten that part. The result hadn't been pretty. Though it had been vaguely amusing.
Once finished with that check, I turned to the task of cleaning the place. It was huge, so I decided to go with the basics. Embroidering upon the spell-weave already there, I called water, soap, bleach and some lemon juice. It would cascade through, scouring at the muck as it swirled down to the bottom where it would disappear back to whence it came.
It would be followed with scalding heat, the sands and winds of a desert I'd once known scowering the remnants of decay from the bones of the citadel.
But it wouldn't be enough. I paused as the third hour drew to a close, and pondered my options. To my inner eye, the web covered nearly every molecule with a luminous, happy glow. It was in several colours ranging from purple to bright green.
Decisively, I began cross-stitching a patchwork of conversion death spells though the structure. Death layered into light as the dying were struck from the very soul of the world. I was tampering with things I shouldn't, but this land demanded cleansing, and this was the only way to do it.
Two hours slipped away while the hook of my mind intertwined the last of these many spells into one masterful whole. Light gleamed at me, so many colours now that some had no name and merely existed as the colours of magic.
Finally, it was finished. One final connection of strands and the place would light up like the christmas tree in Time's Square. The cascade would begin, unstoppable in its wrath as it tore through the evil, obliterating it utterly.
I studied the last strand and smiled. It was a simple matter to attach the strands in my mind. Like a switch, I would merely have to blink and the conflagration would begin.
As a distraction for Sauron it would be wonderfully useful.
I unwove myself from the trance and slowly opened my eyes. For a moment, there was a sense of peace around me. Then exhaustion hit followed by ravenous hunger. With as small an amount of movement as I could, I pulled a packet of lembas from Alayna's saddlebags.
Several mouthfuls improved my condition enough to allow me to slowly clamber into the saddle. I strapped myself in, yawning as Alayna stood gracefully. I'd sleep. Hopefully, we'd catch them up soon.
Around us, the fires had burned low. The fields were gone, except for that small circle wherein I had laid the spells to seal doom in its place.