Chapter 7
From the moment Saruman was killed with Wormtounge, his "ally', he was brought down into the underworld of evil. No good lingered there. A barren wasteland it was, made of black ash and rock. Fire constantly burned and only the ones who had pure evil in their rotted hearts were brought to this dreadful place. A place of orcs, goblins, trolls. These creatures crossed the wasteland causing harm to others and hiding behind rocks waiting for a friend to come by for an evening meal. But there was no evening. The hot sun and burning flames continued throughout the day without cease.
Other creatures wondered there. Those, whose hearts were corrupt and who god was Sauron. The served him day by day with out stop and would do what he asked of them. Thousands were brought there every day and more and more bred. Millions there were some so terrifying the human eye could only glance at it and fall dead with fear. Some were like human, or were once human but had passed into darkness and death, corrupted by the evil one. Others were mere creatures with black faces and blood that dripped from their fat mouths. They longed for flesh and had to kill for it. They would come to Middle-Earth if bidden of them by Sauron to corrupt the world of men.
Men were far by the most easily to bring to evil. For men's worst fear was death and it was death that they could not overcome. They did not know what death was like. Some of the intelligent of mind and will found it was a journey where one would not return. Others a trap, where their soul would linger in a place that was worthless, and still some that found it was a world of peace and tranquility where one could spend their days in happiness with the ones they loved.
Men hoped for much, for their greedy minds hoped for riches beyond all telling and wealth that was unreasonable. They wanted power, self-esteem, beauty, and elegance. They wanted to rule great nations and hold the world in their hands. This is why men were weak, and Sauron knew the game they played. He would test their minds by laying opportunities before their very eyes. They in the midst of them he would snatch them up and swallow them whole. Like a mouse sneaking into the whole of fox, searching and hoping for some grain to eat. Sauron never failed. He was and would be one day the ruler of Middle-Earth and all creatures would serve him.
But Sauron was troubled. He was destroyed, unable to return to Middle- Earth. His puppet Saruman had now come to him through death, and would live once again. Here he had a body but was a ghost, a spirit, and for some it was difficult to grasp. Those who could not capture the whole of it were troubled with fear. And this fear was an advantage for the dark one. The fear kept in the minds of men, elves, and dwarfs, hid them from the good they could against him and his power was growing. He laughed a dark, evil laugh for he knew he would one-day rule and the kings and wizards would fall beneath him. The world would grow dark and fire would sprout from the depths of the Earth. Evil, not good, evil would triumph. It had been decades, centuries that good had overpowered evil and now it was time. The most powerful wizards and elves would bow down before him and do nothing but evil.
His kingdom would extend not just to the underworld but to the main ground, to the whole of Middle-Earth. The one place it could not extend to was the Undying Lands. And Lord Sauron knew this. For only good and beauty was kept there and not a single pinch of evil was kept in the hearts of the ones who lived there. His evil soul would not be able to enter that place. The place where the sun always shined, the wind always gentle, and the water always fresh. The place of gold and silver and jewels. The place where all beauty was kept. His heart was poisoned and the beautiful words were ugly to his mind. The title of that beautiful place was ugly. He so much wanted that place to be destroyed. His rotted heart pounded so fervently with anger and power inside his chest that it felt like it would burst out of his body and fling itself unto the ground.
His long black cloak hung to the floor and he walked silently, his feet not touching the floor. His hand was bare where the ring had once been, and now only a stump would be found on the black finger. His skin was as black as night, not because of his race, but because of the evil in his heart. He had never been good of heart. For he was never born. He was not given the chance; nor did he want it. He despised this chance to be righteous and was glad he was not. He had always been, not created by anyone. He was.
The time was growing closer now. There would be peace in Middle-Earth for five years. A sneer came upon his face. He had a plan. All creatures were happy now in these long five years, but it was not over. His reign would still be.
A loud knocking came from the enormous door. It stood twenty feet high with black demons hiding within. An orc came trampling in. His bloody mouth open and ready for kill. He just stood there awaiting his master's approval, for he knew the consequences. The outcome would be his own, and it would give his friends a meal. "Speak," Sauron said staring into the depths of its eyes searching for his heart, but found it had none.
"Your servant Saruman has arrived," it cackled, coughing between sentences. Sauron acted surprised but the dark one knew. He knew all. He knew that his stooge had been killed with his "ally" and had come to him now. He knew this. He could not be fooled nor betrayed. All creatures depended on him and their only choices were life or death. Both he could and would grant unto them. "Bring him in," Sauron scowled behind his breath.
A stapling creature came in tumbling through the doors. His throat was slit, and blood dripped from the wound. His head, almost dangling hung there, but he seemed to be in no pain. If he was he did not scream out but just stood there, in awe of the Dark Lord. Sauron took pleasure in his appearance. But to fulfill his destiny Saruman could not return in this condition. Sauron called to another orc, much more hideous than the first and said to him, "take him away to fix his wound." The orc smiled, his rotted teeth sticking through his black lips. He dragged Saruman by the arm and out of the presence of Sauron. It would not be long now, he thought. Just as he expected, he heard a piercing scream from the wizard Saruman. But Sauron did not care of the pain and agony he was in. It did not phase him. The scream lasted for many minutes and suddenly stopped. He heard and saw the chains that bound Saruman drop and he was lifted up. He had been given life. They dressed him in a black cloak that symbolized great power, evil power. Saruman had been white and white symbolized pureness, but Saruman was not pure. This pleased Sauron. He hated the pure of heart. To him they were weak. They could do nothing now against the ruling of Sauron and Saruman. They would rule together. Saruman would rule middle earth and Sauron would rule the underworld. Still Sauron would be the most powerful. He would not let his power escape from his grasp.
Saruman stood from the plank that had kept him. His hair was a night black and his beard dark. He looked alert and determined. He spoke to Sauron.
"My lord, I have finally come into your presence. But I know that I shall not stay here." "No you shan't," he replied. "I have made you more powerful than before. From now on you shall be known as Saruman the Black." He raised his arm high above his head. The loud grunting of orcs filled the air in approval. They banged their spears and blades against the ground. The floor vibrated about them. Sauron put his arms down and it all stopped on his command. "Come Saruman," he said leading him back through the Door of the Demons that led into his throne room. The shadows moved behind them as they walked and Saruman felt powerful once again. He would stay here and rule the entire underworld with Sauron. But compared to him he felt weak. He was almost nothing compared to the evil might of Sauron.
The throne room was dark and smelled like smoke. His sinuses closed out the smell or else he would have choked. Outside there were strong odors of gasses in the air. This was a death trap for the good that came here. Those who served the dark lord would not die in this place. Sauron protected them. For he had a plan. he would keep them alive until he sent them to the main world. Then they would fight. Most had died in the great battles before, but that was over. No more would die. They would adapt to the changing light and run forever. They would have the emanation of a bloodhound and the sight of a hawk. They would have the swiftness of a cheetah and the brain of a fox. Yet they would be more like animal than human. He had bred thousands, millions of them. Now that Saruman had come to him, he could proclaim his mighty deed.
He called him up to his throne and looked strait at him. Hs eyes glowed red from beneath the mysterious steel mask that covered it. His face was reveled to no one, even to his most faithful subjects, the NazgĂșl. This was because there was no face hidden behind the heavy disguise, just a pair of beady eyes. His face had been destroyed. He had given himself to the ring. The same ring that was now lost forever to the world of men. But from the evil that lingered in the underworld it was not lost.
Sauron knew where it was beneath the shadows of the mountain. The lifeless hand of Gollum clasped it tightly, not intending to let go for whatever reason may come. Gollum's spirit had not come to the underworld at his death, for half of him was still good of heart. The hobbit he once was still helped him through dark times. That is why his spirit had not come to this place. He was not perfectly evil.
Saruman stood there. A look of fear came and stayed on his face. He was too much in awe of the dark lord. Sauron knew he had once been an all-powerful wizard that stood beside the Queen Galadriel, but now most of him was corrupt. Standing beside the Queen at this very instant, he would kill her. He was not afraid of Sauron, for fear was when you knew something was against your believing and did not want to partake in what was going to happen. And this was not so. In his heart he loved the dark lord and would die for him. He would do anything for him, until his soul was taken from him once again and then he would rule gloriously with the Lord Sauron. Till that moment though, he would do as he commanded.
"You will return to Middle-Earth as I command to bring it to evil and take all creatures with the fall. You are my servant, and will do as I inquire of you."
"Yes my Lord, whatever you ask of me I shall do in distinction of you. I will not fail. I will bring all Middle-Earth to you and we shall rule together as one."
"No, it will not be as one, for I will always be greater than you for the deed I have bestowed unto you. You will be for all eternity grateful."
"Yes, indeed, my Lord. Whatever you ask." Saruman replied, careful not to mistake his words for what he really meant.
"You will be the ruler of great nations and I the ruler of all beings. Nothing will escape my sight nor my grasp. I will make it known that I am all-powerful. You return to Middle-Earth, but you will not return alone. Orcs and goblins and trolls will accompany you and you will build. You will build a great tower. And in this tower you will create. You will create the strongest blade; one so strong extreme weight would not break it."
"Why my Lord do you bid this of me?" Saruman asked, a sound of question in his determined voice. "What shall my destination be?"
"Your orcs will travel to the Mountain of Fire, and there you will find me. Beneath the depths of the mountain I am. And it is up to you find my being and restore it to me." And as he said this, an evil smile crept upon the scared face of Saruman. He knew what the dark lord meant by this rhyme and he would find it. He could not fail his master. "The ring." He said.
"You will find the ring and bring it to me." He said without question.
"But surely you will tell me where to find the ring. This mountain is far by the greatest mountain in Middle-Earth. It would take years to find it. Or is that what your intention is?"
"This secret cannot escape from my knowledge so I may not tell you. You must find it on your own. If I do tell thee my concealed secret I will be dissolved into nothingness once again." Sauron would not let this happen no matter how much he longed for the ring of power. He could not keep from tempting himself. But he must. They will surly find it, he thought. And if they don't, no one will.
They conversed for many days after that moment, and finally Saruman was ready to leave his glorious master and return to the place of defeat. He would find the ring and return it to his master without harm. For this was the will of Sauron and he would not fail him.
From the moment Saruman was killed with Wormtounge, his "ally', he was brought down into the underworld of evil. No good lingered there. A barren wasteland it was, made of black ash and rock. Fire constantly burned and only the ones who had pure evil in their rotted hearts were brought to this dreadful place. A place of orcs, goblins, trolls. These creatures crossed the wasteland causing harm to others and hiding behind rocks waiting for a friend to come by for an evening meal. But there was no evening. The hot sun and burning flames continued throughout the day without cease.
Other creatures wondered there. Those, whose hearts were corrupt and who god was Sauron. The served him day by day with out stop and would do what he asked of them. Thousands were brought there every day and more and more bred. Millions there were some so terrifying the human eye could only glance at it and fall dead with fear. Some were like human, or were once human but had passed into darkness and death, corrupted by the evil one. Others were mere creatures with black faces and blood that dripped from their fat mouths. They longed for flesh and had to kill for it. They would come to Middle-Earth if bidden of them by Sauron to corrupt the world of men.
Men were far by the most easily to bring to evil. For men's worst fear was death and it was death that they could not overcome. They did not know what death was like. Some of the intelligent of mind and will found it was a journey where one would not return. Others a trap, where their soul would linger in a place that was worthless, and still some that found it was a world of peace and tranquility where one could spend their days in happiness with the ones they loved.
Men hoped for much, for their greedy minds hoped for riches beyond all telling and wealth that was unreasonable. They wanted power, self-esteem, beauty, and elegance. They wanted to rule great nations and hold the world in their hands. This is why men were weak, and Sauron knew the game they played. He would test their minds by laying opportunities before their very eyes. They in the midst of them he would snatch them up and swallow them whole. Like a mouse sneaking into the whole of fox, searching and hoping for some grain to eat. Sauron never failed. He was and would be one day the ruler of Middle-Earth and all creatures would serve him.
But Sauron was troubled. He was destroyed, unable to return to Middle- Earth. His puppet Saruman had now come to him through death, and would live once again. Here he had a body but was a ghost, a spirit, and for some it was difficult to grasp. Those who could not capture the whole of it were troubled with fear. And this fear was an advantage for the dark one. The fear kept in the minds of men, elves, and dwarfs, hid them from the good they could against him and his power was growing. He laughed a dark, evil laugh for he knew he would one-day rule and the kings and wizards would fall beneath him. The world would grow dark and fire would sprout from the depths of the Earth. Evil, not good, evil would triumph. It had been decades, centuries that good had overpowered evil and now it was time. The most powerful wizards and elves would bow down before him and do nothing but evil.
His kingdom would extend not just to the underworld but to the main ground, to the whole of Middle-Earth. The one place it could not extend to was the Undying Lands. And Lord Sauron knew this. For only good and beauty was kept there and not a single pinch of evil was kept in the hearts of the ones who lived there. His evil soul would not be able to enter that place. The place where the sun always shined, the wind always gentle, and the water always fresh. The place of gold and silver and jewels. The place where all beauty was kept. His heart was poisoned and the beautiful words were ugly to his mind. The title of that beautiful place was ugly. He so much wanted that place to be destroyed. His rotted heart pounded so fervently with anger and power inside his chest that it felt like it would burst out of his body and fling itself unto the ground.
His long black cloak hung to the floor and he walked silently, his feet not touching the floor. His hand was bare where the ring had once been, and now only a stump would be found on the black finger. His skin was as black as night, not because of his race, but because of the evil in his heart. He had never been good of heart. For he was never born. He was not given the chance; nor did he want it. He despised this chance to be righteous and was glad he was not. He had always been, not created by anyone. He was.
The time was growing closer now. There would be peace in Middle-Earth for five years. A sneer came upon his face. He had a plan. All creatures were happy now in these long five years, but it was not over. His reign would still be.
A loud knocking came from the enormous door. It stood twenty feet high with black demons hiding within. An orc came trampling in. His bloody mouth open and ready for kill. He just stood there awaiting his master's approval, for he knew the consequences. The outcome would be his own, and it would give his friends a meal. "Speak," Sauron said staring into the depths of its eyes searching for his heart, but found it had none.
"Your servant Saruman has arrived," it cackled, coughing between sentences. Sauron acted surprised but the dark one knew. He knew all. He knew that his stooge had been killed with his "ally" and had come to him now. He knew this. He could not be fooled nor betrayed. All creatures depended on him and their only choices were life or death. Both he could and would grant unto them. "Bring him in," Sauron scowled behind his breath.
A stapling creature came in tumbling through the doors. His throat was slit, and blood dripped from the wound. His head, almost dangling hung there, but he seemed to be in no pain. If he was he did not scream out but just stood there, in awe of the Dark Lord. Sauron took pleasure in his appearance. But to fulfill his destiny Saruman could not return in this condition. Sauron called to another orc, much more hideous than the first and said to him, "take him away to fix his wound." The orc smiled, his rotted teeth sticking through his black lips. He dragged Saruman by the arm and out of the presence of Sauron. It would not be long now, he thought. Just as he expected, he heard a piercing scream from the wizard Saruman. But Sauron did not care of the pain and agony he was in. It did not phase him. The scream lasted for many minutes and suddenly stopped. He heard and saw the chains that bound Saruman drop and he was lifted up. He had been given life. They dressed him in a black cloak that symbolized great power, evil power. Saruman had been white and white symbolized pureness, but Saruman was not pure. This pleased Sauron. He hated the pure of heart. To him they were weak. They could do nothing now against the ruling of Sauron and Saruman. They would rule together. Saruman would rule middle earth and Sauron would rule the underworld. Still Sauron would be the most powerful. He would not let his power escape from his grasp.
Saruman stood from the plank that had kept him. His hair was a night black and his beard dark. He looked alert and determined. He spoke to Sauron.
"My lord, I have finally come into your presence. But I know that I shall not stay here." "No you shan't," he replied. "I have made you more powerful than before. From now on you shall be known as Saruman the Black." He raised his arm high above his head. The loud grunting of orcs filled the air in approval. They banged their spears and blades against the ground. The floor vibrated about them. Sauron put his arms down and it all stopped on his command. "Come Saruman," he said leading him back through the Door of the Demons that led into his throne room. The shadows moved behind them as they walked and Saruman felt powerful once again. He would stay here and rule the entire underworld with Sauron. But compared to him he felt weak. He was almost nothing compared to the evil might of Sauron.
The throne room was dark and smelled like smoke. His sinuses closed out the smell or else he would have choked. Outside there were strong odors of gasses in the air. This was a death trap for the good that came here. Those who served the dark lord would not die in this place. Sauron protected them. For he had a plan. he would keep them alive until he sent them to the main world. Then they would fight. Most had died in the great battles before, but that was over. No more would die. They would adapt to the changing light and run forever. They would have the emanation of a bloodhound and the sight of a hawk. They would have the swiftness of a cheetah and the brain of a fox. Yet they would be more like animal than human. He had bred thousands, millions of them. Now that Saruman had come to him, he could proclaim his mighty deed.
He called him up to his throne and looked strait at him. Hs eyes glowed red from beneath the mysterious steel mask that covered it. His face was reveled to no one, even to his most faithful subjects, the NazgĂșl. This was because there was no face hidden behind the heavy disguise, just a pair of beady eyes. His face had been destroyed. He had given himself to the ring. The same ring that was now lost forever to the world of men. But from the evil that lingered in the underworld it was not lost.
Sauron knew where it was beneath the shadows of the mountain. The lifeless hand of Gollum clasped it tightly, not intending to let go for whatever reason may come. Gollum's spirit had not come to the underworld at his death, for half of him was still good of heart. The hobbit he once was still helped him through dark times. That is why his spirit had not come to this place. He was not perfectly evil.
Saruman stood there. A look of fear came and stayed on his face. He was too much in awe of the dark lord. Sauron knew he had once been an all-powerful wizard that stood beside the Queen Galadriel, but now most of him was corrupt. Standing beside the Queen at this very instant, he would kill her. He was not afraid of Sauron, for fear was when you knew something was against your believing and did not want to partake in what was going to happen. And this was not so. In his heart he loved the dark lord and would die for him. He would do anything for him, until his soul was taken from him once again and then he would rule gloriously with the Lord Sauron. Till that moment though, he would do as he commanded.
"You will return to Middle-Earth as I command to bring it to evil and take all creatures with the fall. You are my servant, and will do as I inquire of you."
"Yes my Lord, whatever you ask of me I shall do in distinction of you. I will not fail. I will bring all Middle-Earth to you and we shall rule together as one."
"No, it will not be as one, for I will always be greater than you for the deed I have bestowed unto you. You will be for all eternity grateful."
"Yes, indeed, my Lord. Whatever you ask." Saruman replied, careful not to mistake his words for what he really meant.
"You will be the ruler of great nations and I the ruler of all beings. Nothing will escape my sight nor my grasp. I will make it known that I am all-powerful. You return to Middle-Earth, but you will not return alone. Orcs and goblins and trolls will accompany you and you will build. You will build a great tower. And in this tower you will create. You will create the strongest blade; one so strong extreme weight would not break it."
"Why my Lord do you bid this of me?" Saruman asked, a sound of question in his determined voice. "What shall my destination be?"
"Your orcs will travel to the Mountain of Fire, and there you will find me. Beneath the depths of the mountain I am. And it is up to you find my being and restore it to me." And as he said this, an evil smile crept upon the scared face of Saruman. He knew what the dark lord meant by this rhyme and he would find it. He could not fail his master. "The ring." He said.
"You will find the ring and bring it to me." He said without question.
"But surely you will tell me where to find the ring. This mountain is far by the greatest mountain in Middle-Earth. It would take years to find it. Or is that what your intention is?"
"This secret cannot escape from my knowledge so I may not tell you. You must find it on your own. If I do tell thee my concealed secret I will be dissolved into nothingness once again." Sauron would not let this happen no matter how much he longed for the ring of power. He could not keep from tempting himself. But he must. They will surly find it, he thought. And if they don't, no one will.
They conversed for many days after that moment, and finally Saruman was ready to leave his glorious master and return to the place of defeat. He would find the ring and return it to his master without harm. For this was the will of Sauron and he would not fail him.
