Chapter 18 Reviews:
Hel – Just a quick warning: this review may contain spoilers – nothing major, but if you don't want any hints at what is to come, then it would be a good idea to skip this and go straight on to the chapter. Well, now you have all had ample warning, it's time for my response. Grôltakh probably could be suffering from a mid-life crisis. Even before the Battle of the Five Armies, Grôltakh's life began to have less and less adventurous occurrences. In his opinion, his life has become dull. As for the 'foresight', I think it's more due to stress and lack of sleep. I'm sure even optimists (if Grôltakh could be described as one) can get depressed enough to think pessimistically. (Here's where the spoiler warning is enforced) The nameless one will be getting a name and I've chosen it already, but you'll just have to wait until then to find out what it is. And yes, he does deserve a thorough beating! I'm sure someone will administer it to him sooner or later. Also, his definition of 'interesting' is… interesting. He's a little deranged (to say the very least).
~Chapter 19~
The four orcs stood to one side of Minas Morgul (well, Yutshrug, Grôltakh and the nameless one stood – Ragnäkah was carried) and waited for all of the armies to filter out, giving them a space to slip though and inside Mordor. They waited for what seemed to Yutshrug to be ages (but was actually three minutes) before the aforementioned gap became available and they slithered into Mordor, passing the tower of Cirith Ungol within a few hours. Yutshrug and the nameless one had never been to Mordor before, and so they were in awe of Mount Doom and Lubgûrz, even when they were so far in the distance. Grôltakh hoped that they would not act like this in front of the Mordor orcs, otherwise they would turn themselves into targets for thieves and bullies; Mordor's inhabitants were not keen on outsiders – even those of their own race.
Their days in the desolated land passed much like the ones before; walking, trying to find water when they could, and starving unless they could bribe a passing orc or Uruk to give them some food (which usually did not appear very appetising to start with). Ragnäkah remained unconscious, and the nameless one continued to try to rob him, but Grôltakh watched over his friend and made sure that nothing serious happened to him whilst he was in this coma-like state. Twice now, Yutshrug had seen a slimy, skulking greenish-grey creature stalking around in the distance. Whatever it was, it was definitely not an orc. When he mentioned it to Grôltakh, a puzzled expression crossed his face. He told Yutshrug that he was having nightmares and forgetting that things in your sleep cannot harm you in the waking world, and not to bother him again with such nonsensical tales. And then by chance, Grôltakh caught a glimpse of Yutshrug's 'nightmare' silhouetted against the fires of Mount Doom. He said nothing, and returned to the group looking paler than usual. They took it in turns to be night watchman, and no more was said upon the subject. Since being hit on the head by falling stonework, Ragnäkah had moved in and out of unconscious fits every now and again, and every time he seemed as though he was going to break back into the waking world, he would fall silent once more.
When only twelve miles from Lugbûrz, Grôltakh decided they needed to take a break. Yutshrug immediately lay Ragnäkah down on the ground and fell asleep nearby, whilst Grôltakh had something to eat and the nameless one scrambled about over the wasteland, looking this way and that for a vantage point to watch the armies of Mordor. It was the most rest that Grôltakh had allowed them in what felt like a long time, and although Yutshrug was not using his free time constructively, he was using it wisely. Orcs continually passed by, but none paid them much attention apart from the occasional Uruk-hai who demanded to know why they were not heading towards the Black Gates. After a curt speech from Grôltakh, or a lie from the nameless one, they would usually go on their way, grumbling something under their breath. There had been the odd occasion when words had not worked, and steel had been drawn, but Grôltakh dealt with those situations with swiftness and skill. It was during this rest period that Grôltakh felt the need to empty his bladder, and leaving Yutshrug asleep and alone with an unconscious Ragnäkah and the nameless one, he went off to find a suitable place to do so. The nameless one saw his chance. He strode over to the unconscious orc, and ripped the amulet from around his throat and took the whip from around his waist. He stood there for a moment, wondering if he could take more than that from the comatose form of Ragnäkah, but in the end he decided that his clothes wouldn't fetch anything. For an instant, Ragnäkah stirred, but quickly settled back down into sleep. Without looking back, he walked over to the roadside and attracted the attention of the nearest passing orc. Yutshrug was sleeping through it all. A negotiation took place before the two came to an agreement, and whilst the other orc began taking something out of his bag, the nameless orc held out the whip and amulet. Someone moved behind him, and the nameless one turned to see who it was.
"Oh no you don't, you little bastard!" Ragnäkah's voice screeched with rage and indignity. The nameless one turned around only in time to see the form of the larger orc throw himself at him, his trousers falling to his knees as he flew through the air. The next thing he knew, he was lying on the ground, tangled with the other orc's body in a heavy fight. The rest that he had gotten whilst he was unconscious seemed to have done him some good; despite the lack of a meal.
When Grôltakh returned, he discovered that Ragnäkah was wide awake. Not only that, but he was throttling the nameless one's neck and attempting to wrestle his own belongings from him, whilst the nameless one fought to preserve his life. The other orc that was going to do part of the trade watched this scene, and when he realised that the trade was not going to take place after all, he shook his head at them, picked up the food he was going to trade and went away.
Yutshrug slept through it all.
~End of Chapter 19~
A/N: Gollum is looking for his preciousssss…