The darkness over Mordor was complete and evil as usual. Sauron's malice was stirring once more. He was forming an army to declare war upon all Middle-earth, the last war. The Dark Lord had already ensnared several allies, who mistakenly thought they were useful and needed by the Dark Lord. They were wrong. Sauron would dispose of them when they had served their purpose. This technique had worked well for him over the years. It had been disappointingly easy for him to gain their "undying service." There was but one thing that would make certain his victory over all Middle- earth. the weapon he had lost so many years ago.

He hated to admit to himself that he had no idea what had become of it. The hapless human that had robbed him of it had, paid, oh yes, he certainly had. But the foolish servants of his that he had chosen to carry out the bloody task had failed him in the imperative part of the plan: to retrieve his weapon. They had paid dearly for their mistake as well. He could still gloatingly hear the sounds of their screaming. But none of this torture had caused his weapon to be found. But it would be: in but a few short years he would send forth the Nine once more. They could not be foiled. They could not betray him or be killed. They were bound to him, and would do exactly as he wished them to. None could withstand their evil blades, he had made sure of that.

Now the Dark Lord's malice turned toward Minas Tirith, the City that had ever been a thorn in his side. Thither was where that human had come from, the one who had robbed him of his weapon. And Sauron had never been able to reach into the City like he had done in countless other locations. There was almost an elvish protection about its walls, or so it seemed. Yet now he had his chance. The current ruler of the White City had dared to challenge him. Sauron had been so outraged at this man's forthrightness that he had almost given himself away.

Almost. but not quite. He had shown the man exactly what the man had wished to see. what would, undoubtedly, happen. But certainly, Sauron had not disclosed everything. And this had worked rather well. Perhaps Sauron had found a way into the very center of the city of Men. He would use a different method on this.Steward, and enjoy watching how it succeeded. For it would succeed.it always had.