Disclaimer: (I forgot last time!) I own nothing but the mysterious gentleman and the ugly critter.

Part 2 of the chapter I posted Sunday...



The Uruk chieftain watched the sun sink beneath the horizon. Shadows swept up over the grasses, revealing more than they hid. In the dark there was more than could ever be seen by the weak eyes of men. Much would come of this dark dawn.

Virag could not help the pride that swelled his chest at the sight of the fires burning across the plain. Each was surrounded by Uruks and Orcs, ready to do his will. All that remained was the front by which he would bring the world of men into its new age. There was no need to bring it crashing to its knees, only to control it, to harness it to his will.

The cloaked stranger leaned against the cave wall, "We have no chance, the elf still guards the child."

"I think that it is not any prowess of the elf that impedes my plan, but rather a lacking in you." Virag loomed before the man, his powerful hand resting upon the sheathed sword by his side.

"He is a formidable problem." The man insisted, undaunted by Virag's theatrics.

"But we need no longer be concerned with the dwarf?" Virag stepped away, picking up one of the piled swords, testing its edge against his thumb.

"That at least is true." The man sighed, shifting his weight uncomfortably. "But we are no nearer our goal."

Virag gritted his teeth at the 'our', this man had but a small part in Virag's larger plan. Yet now was not the time to remind him of such.

He growled as the sword bit into his hand, but the frown turned into a vicious grin as he watched the blood drip to the floor, "Do you know what blood runs in an Uruk's veins?"

The man looked uncertain, wondering where this new shift led, "I know not." He shrugged, fighting to appear unconcerned.

Virag's grin spread even wider, making the man shudder, "It is the blood of men mixed with that of the Orcs." The man never saw the lunge that brought Virag to him, he gasped as the Uruk gripped him by the throat, lifting him from the ground, "We are the true children of men, and we will stake our rightful claim upon this earth." The last came out as a snarl. Virag thrust the man away, tossing him to the ground where he lay struggling to breath.

Virag turned looking down upon him disdainfully, "Do not return until you have the child."

His wild laughter followed the man as he scrambled from the cave; a sound that was taken up by the creatures camped on the rocky slopes as his panicked flight carried him past them. It was some time before he managed to slow himself, and even as he pulled his shredded dignity about him again like a tattered cloak he could not still his shaking.

A new dawn came, one he would aid in birthing, but he was beginning to see that this dawn would not sweep away the fear; this dawn would bring no sun. Yet his course was chosen and his way set. He could no more turn from this than he could turn from the plains of his homeland. He turned resolutely towards that home, determined to take his place in the world; as the rising moon shone off the sudden wetness in the man's eyes.

Author's Note:

Bet I surprised you now didn't I? Two in a row! Hope you enjoyed it...

Pibgorn : Nice to be back...

Kit-Kat17 : Close enough! I'm going in both CFLs and NFLs, but by this point the biggest burdens off, now its nationals prep and that's it. Are you going to both and what in? I qualed in LD and extemp, but I'm going in extemp, I'd rather be able to prep for both at the same time instead of writing four new cases. I did LD at both last year and once was enough. CFLs LD was not fun, five hours between rounds was not cool. Well, good luck, maybe I'll see you there.

Star-Stallion: Actually it was your last review before this one that really got it going again, I was having a hard time picking this story up. Anyway, the Orcs and Uruks are enjoying the campfires, afterall with that many think of all the marshmallows you can roast! And as for my computer it did not die quietly. It froze, shut down, and then when attempting to restart it froze again and started to make a high pitched wailing sound, but the new computer is nice so everything is good...

Roseblade22 : I finally saw Troy this weekend. I liked it as well. Lots of nice Orlando Bloom close ups... I was wondering how you'd react to the scene where he's defeated. I'm glad to know you enjoyed it. I think they didn't kill him like he's supposed to be because they were afraid of the reaction they'd get from the hoards of fan girls seeing it for the first time, and probably every time after that. I also liked VanHelsing. Now I just have to wait for 'The Chronicles of Riddick' to come out, from one preview I saw I'm thinking it's going to be like "Dune" (the sci-fi equivalent of LOTR) with way more action, a little on the gory side, but if I'm lucky still containing good sci-fi. I will ever be a sci-fi geek, I can't help it. Well, I'm going to have to work on catching up on your story (which will take some effort if you have posted as many chapters as I think you have) after I get back from the forensics tournament. We leave tomorrow. It's really nice to talk to you again, I almost never see you at school!