a/n: Two words: Prepare yourself. And one more word: Review! ;o)
The Darkness Within
The Black Gate. It was larger than he imagined, even in this darkness of early morning. Helm's Deep was a mere scout post compared to this. He could see no guards, but that didn't mean they weren't there. Eomer frowned at the obstacle ahead.
The gate fed directly into mountainous peaks on either side. He didn't much care for his odds by just walking up to the gate, so he moved towards the mountains. He dismounted his horse, and gently patted its snout.
"Sorry, friend," he said. "You must go back now." He pulled a bit on the bridle, turning the horse back the way they'd come. "Go." He gave his horse a slight slap on the hind quarter, and the horse trotted off. Obedient as it was, the horse glanced back as his master. Eomer smiled sadly.
He turned back to the mountain.
"For Selanae."
He removed his helmet, knowing it would only call attention to him. His light hair didn't help, nor his armor, but he couldn't do anything about those things. The only weapons he carried were his knife in his boot and his sword.
The mountain was dusty and loose. He scrambled to get up towards the top of the Black Gate without making too much noise. He only had so much time before the sun would faintly light this dark land.
He did not wish to be seen when that happened.
His hands were covered in dirt, and little pebbles chipped away at his gloves and got inside. His skin started to feel the effects, but Eomer pushed that out of mind. He was nearing the top.
The ground below him on the outside was far from him, and desolate. On the other side, however, was a host of orcs, the numbers of which he'd never seen. It made Saruman's army seem normal.
They crawled over the land, like ants as far as Eomer could see. There weren't just orcs, but goblins, trolls, and wargs. He hadn't seen so many, all at once. The sound of their fighting with one another hummed in his ears. They snarled and growled and roared.
Easily thousands separated him from the tower. He hoped Selanae was there, and still alive. But it would be for nothing if he could not reach her in one piece.
Eomer swallowed hard, and started descending down the mountain side. His heart thumped wildly, and he couldn't help but hear Aragorn's words in his mind.
"It would be suicide," he'd said.
He pursed his lips together, glaring at the offending creatures below him. For now, he would risk anything.
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She stood stiffly but with an air of confidence that filled the room. Her hair was twisted in odd directions and stood straight in other places. The black clothing she wore, as well as the dark colors she added to her lips and eyes, made her seem all the more pale and intimidating. The studs of the metal and armor made her appear even deadly to touch.
Which might explain why the Mouth was circling her, examining her appearance but never reaching out to her. Selanae watched him, her eyes always challenging him.
"Good," the Mouth hissed between jagged teeth and saliva. He stopped in front of her, facing her head on. "Our master wishes us to patrol the land."
She raised a bored eyebrow at him.
"Patrol?" she repeated. "I am better at so much more." The Mouth grinned.
"The master knows the men are coming," he said. "Maybe they are already trying to invade Mordor. The Ranger King is crafty, but he will die in these lands."
Selanae nodded, her eyes focused on the task, and her voice leaden but hollow. "Then let us hasten his death."
The Mouth grinned again, and pointed to a staircase. Their footsteps together echoed like doom off the black stone walls. The pace was slow but deliberate. Selanae's movements were automatic, her leisurely grip on her sword's hilt customary.
They left the cool air of the tower and stepped out to the dingy and smoky light of day. The air was smoky, but that was normal. Mt. Doom cackled in the distance.
Selanae's scrutinizing gaze immediately found a target. Two goblins bickered in the middle of a host of imbeciles. She wasted no time in stalking right up to them, leaving the Mouth to observe.
"It's mine!" one goblin said, this one short and with ears that flopped over. A taller goblin with a large nose snatched at something the first goblin held.
"Give it to me! Or--"
The tall goblin suddenly turned, realizing someone was approaching. Selanae didn't even blink as she unsheathed her sword and lopped off the goblin's head. The shorter one gasped, just a second before Selanae pivoted and swung the sword horizontally. There was a thick, wet pluck of a sound as the head flew through the air and landed at the feet of some orcs.
Normally, they would cheer. Normally, they would dive in to eat the flesh. Normally, they would act as orcs.
They all froze, staring between the two dispatched heads and this new and dangerous human. She stared back, her eyes moving from each of them as they flinched.
"Whom do you serve?" she said steadily.
There was a collective pause as doubt and fear permeated the smoky air.
"Sauron!" all shouted.
Slowly, Selanae grinned, and swiftly turned from the group. She stalked off towards a different part of the area, again leaving the Mouth to watch.
He grinned after her before following her commanding lead.
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Something near the tower was going on. Eomer frowned, unsure of what it meant. The only thing he knew was that it was distracting the enemy—which was good for him.
He swallowed hard, pressing his back to his last hiding spot. He would have to go out. There would be no turning back after this. Luck might be on his side, if he moved quickly now, while the orcs and goblins were distracted. But he had no disguise, and the enemy was only so blind to him.
Better move quickly, while I have an advantage.
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Two things caught her attention. The first were two very small-looking goblins, in line with a slew of idiots heading to the Black Gate in preparation for battle. They seemed to fight amongst themselves too, but the two small goblins were slinking away. Selanae turned to the second and more obvious thing. It was a man, dressed in red armor and sporting blond hair.
Selanae grinned, a gleam in her eyes as she ignored the goblins and turned her focus to the man. He darted behind a heap of rubble.
"What is it?" the Mouth asked behind her. Selanae was slightly impressed that he could read her well enough. She didn't bother to turn to him, but drew her sword.
The Mouth stared in the direction she looked. He hissed as he saw the man peak from behind the rubble.
He turned to the nearest orc with a bow.
"I want him alive," came a command from Selanae. The Mouth turned back to her, smiling as he saw the look on her face. It was like an animal, tracking its prey.
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He thought he was doing well, going about undetected. But suddenly something flew by his head and stuck into the rubble by him. Eomer's eyes widened as he glanced at the object. It was an arrow. Eomer's pulse raced, and he looked quickly ahead.
Loud roars rose to his ears, and he could see hundreds of orcs pointing their swords in his direction. Another arrow hit next to him, this one almost nicking his ear. Eomer quickly dropped down in a crouch.
Should I go back? The wall was far away but he might still make it. But Selanae…
Something sharp pierced his left shoulder. The impact spun Eomer and flung him to the ground. He hid the cry of pain between clenched lips, and drew his sword. The roars of the orcs grew closer and closer.
Anxiety replaced the pain he felt, and Eomer got to his feet, his knees bent and stance ready for battle. They would not kill him without a fight.
They came, and Eomer raised his sword against them. It was awkward and painful, even one-handed, but that didn't stop him. One of the orcs bumped into the arrow sticking out of Eomer's shoulder, and the tumult it created made Eomer almost lose his sword.
No! He regained his stance and swung his sword around, chopping off an orc's arm in the process. Energy surged through him, and he twisted to dodge being impaled, then brought his blade down heavily on his attackers.
The voice in the back of his mind told him this was pointless, but his heart would not let him to quit. He was the king now, of Rohan, a free country of Middle Earth. He was a fighter. A leader. And he would not lay down for death.
Suddenly a goblin tackled him, sneering into his face as he pinned Eomer to the ground. Other orcs and goblins surrounded them, cheering and waiting for his blood to further stain the land.
Eomer stared wide-eyed at the offending creature. He tried to move his arms, but the orcs around him stepped on his limbs, further immobilizing him. The goblin grinned and brought a knife to Eomer's eye. He lifted the blade high in the air, ready to plunge it in human flesh.
And then suddenly, the goblin's head was gone. Hot and foul blood spurted over Eomer, but he just stared at the headless goblin. The raised arm and knife fell harmlessly to the ground. Eomer gulped and glanced for whoever killed the goblin, hoping it was a helpful nod from destiny.
His eyes widened. His breath caught in his throat. The orcs around him cowered and opened up the circle they'd formed around him. They bowed to a new figure.
A dark figure. And a lithe figure, with a poise familiar to Eomer.
"Did I not instruct that he be taken alive?"
He knew that voice, but did not believe it. Selanae glared down at him, with such darkness and hatred in her eyes he hardly recognized her. She wore tight and dark apparel, such that it made her seem deadly and despicable.
What is happening?
Selanae stepped forward, her boot making solid contact with his chest. She pressed down and leaned over him. With her blade, she tilted his chin up, forcing him to behold her and also to feel the terror she wanted.
No.
It can't be.
"A man," she said, her voice seething with glee that was hardly pure. Her eyes traveled over his body, and Eomer couldn't help but feel almost naked to her purposes. "From Rohan." She grinned and gave him a slight kick before turning away.
Eomer blinked.
What? She was gone, just like that. Eomer glanced at the nearest orc, wondering what was next. But no orc moved. Instead a hideous thing stepped forward. It was like a man, but with . . . teeth. That was all Eomer could see. Bloody teeth, grotesque and slimy. Cuts around the mouth, spread tight and painful to see even as the thing grinned at him.
This thing motioned to the orcs, and suddenly Eomer found himself hoisted over one's shoulder. Another bound his hands and soon they were moving.
His mind took him back to Saruman's tower, even as he now entered Sauron's. That familiar cold terror seized him, even more so now. He held no hope. His purpose here was in vain.
He just didn't know how it could happen or why she gave in.
Or just how much he would suffer because of it.