A/N: Thank you all fellow humans (or.... non-humans) for reviewing my story. I appreciate them, and thank you all for the helpful hints.

Chapter Two: The Eye

I climbed up many long, steep staircases, winding up and up and up. They seemed to go on forever. I just kept my head down, and watched my feet walk by themselves. Torches cast red lights onto the black walls. The light was hazy, and dimmed when I took a step. When I reached the top of the landing, everything was as black as the pitch used to build this accursed place. Actually, I didn't walk onto the landing as some may think. I sort-of did a dive into the next black abyss, because I was looking at my feet, you see. Graceful.

After I regained my balance, I looked around. A thick fog, and an intense heat muffled my hearing and sight. I could hardly see anything, but since I had been to the top of Barad-dur many times, I knew where the last staircase was. I let my pack fall to the ground; I'd pick it up later. I dropped the torch.

I stumbled my way to the steps, feeling the ground for the slightest bump. I found it, my head can tell you. I groped along the wall, until I felt a torch shaft. I unhooked it. It was still burning, but with such a faint glow that it didn't make much of a difference. I stepped onto the first step, and took a breath. I raised my other foot, and started to climb. The scenery changed. I was on top of Barad-dur. Huge thick clouds circled around the castle, like waiting hounds at the rabbit's door. They changed their direction, and ate me as they rushed over the far below ground. I drew my hand across my brow, and felt a pull, right underneath my belly button. It felt as though a string was pulling me toward the center of the tower. I slid farther into the blackness.

"Hello." I said softly. Instantly, a huge blaze of light blasted through the clouds, the black sky, even me. A large flaming cat's eye swiveled its slitted pupil toward me. The eye was wreathed in a fire that never smoldered, nor flickered. It seemed to be boring into me, into my thoughts, into my dead heart. Sweat trickled down my back and forehead.

"I have a task.... Medri......" A booming, harsh, whispering voice struck my sensitive ears, "Get me one of them......" I passed my hand across my brow again, and nodded my head.

"As you wish, my Lord." I bowed, my cloak swishing. It brushed the flames blasting out from the eye. Not a thread caught fire. Like I said...... Barad-dur and Sauron...... this place is weird. Sparks don't catch flame to anything not in the castle. I guess it's the atmosphere. I mean, hazy smoke, orcs' stink...... I mean, someone could pass out and die if they don't have the right lung capacity!

I turned on my boot's heel.

"Wait." The voice said.

I looked behind my shoulder, "Yes, Lord?"

"Use Varanadon."

I nodded this time, and smiled a particularly evil smile. He seemed to like that, and chilling, harsh laughter exploded around the whole of Mordor.

"That's my Vampyre." A 'hand' pushed me toward the hole-thing I climbed up to get here. I fell down it, and rolled down the remaining stairs. And again, very, very graceful indeed. I stopped by my face skidding to a halt next to my pack. "Hey, I only fell to the landing!" I exclaimed. My face was still smushed on the floor as I said this. So, if you witnessed this feat, I would have sounded like this: "Hee, Ai onny fe tu da lanning!"

I finally picked myself up onto my knees, and rubbed my neck. I grumbled and griped, and then finally got to my feet. I grabbed my pack and the torch, and walked down the rest of the stupid staircases. Varanadon, I like him...... I pushed the torch back into its holder. And now down more stairs. At least it wouldn't take as long as the trip up had. When I reached the bottom, I felt so cold. I placed my hand on the wall. Sweat was dripping down my back. Cold sweat beaded on my forehead. I really, really dislike going to see Him. I shivered and pulled down my hood. I could see things more clearly now.

It seemed more quiet than usual. "Hmm....." I murmured. As I rounded a bend, I heard raucous cries. Ahh...... Dinner. I seemed to have forgotten. It was night now, time to stay awake. Well, I don't sleep at night anyway. In the morning I do. Sometimes I sleep upside down, but then I have horrible headaches after that.

Now, where is Varanadon's chamber, anyway? "Am I on the right floor?" I asked no one. I heard then an earsplitting roar. That answered my question. I walked on. I passed the dining halls, and passed the armory. Two large double doors, mahogany, I think, gaped at me. I walked forward, and pushed open one. A large chamber opened before me. Thousands of torches and chandeliers were lit. A rattling of chains woke me up from the daze the brightness of the room cast on me. My eyes hurt. A lot. I squinted at a hunched figure in the room. It raised its black lizard head, and gazed at me with bright copper eyes. Two long copper colored horns protruded form the creature's head, on the back of its skull. Copper spikes ran down its graceful neck and back, to the end of its long, whip-like tail, where four long copper spears poked up to kill anyone who came close. Huge leathery bat wings were folded along its back. It lay on a pile of treasure.

The lizard thing actually got off his pile of treasure, and shuffled over toward me. "Hello, Varanadon, silly dragon." I mocked playfully. It snuffled my hair, and I petted its snout.

"Time to go!" I said. Varanadon roared. His copper eyes suddenly blazed into light. "I imagine you've already been briefed?" I asked Varanadon. He nodded his head. "Good." I said, and climbed onto his back. Another roar shook the chamber. The chandeliers nodded their fair arms. Varanadon swiftly turned around. I hung onto the spikes on his back, before his wings.

An iron gate, heavy with spikes, even larger than Varanadon, was pulled up. Clanking and groaning reverberated throughout the room. Varanadon charged down the "runway", sloshing his treasure around. I kicked his sides with my soft, black, knee high boots, and he galloped faster.

And we're off! Varanadon beat his wings up and down, and we set out into the dark night. I heard a clunk and guessed that they had closed the gate. Varanadon circled around the Eye, and we went off flying toward the Morannon. The black dragon beneath me pelted the silent night with another shriek.