CHAPTER NINETEEN Almon Sul
As Senna and Delenn II begin to walk down the path they come to a three way divide one path goes southeast, another goes south, and the other goes southwest. As Delenn II and Senna look at the three paths, Delenn II does not know which path to take. "I am beginning to hate these divides, which way do we go?"
Senna looks at the mountains and as she looks south to the Shadowy Mountains she sees a tower, mostly a ruin, a pile of debris on a hill. "I say south."
Delenn II looks at Senna. "How do you know that?"
Senna looks at Delenn II and smiles sheepishly, "I don't, but I believe that ruin is a warning of Almon Sul!" Senna points at the ruin on the hill.
Delenn II pulls out her map to see if this ruin is on the map...it is, it is the Watch Tower of Almon Sul, but it was not what Delenn II was expecting, she has seen many castles and watch towers here on K'ha'dum, but this is the first tower that no longer stands, but it does belong to the ancient race of Arnor. As Delenn II looks at the map she sees that this watch tower is labeled as the Watch Tower of Almon Sul, but the tower above it was the fortress Almon Sul labeled Forstnor. This is it, the cure is only one mile away. As Delenn II puts away the map, she and Senna head for Almon Sul.
As Delenn leads the others to the break in the road, Delenn takes out her map to see which way to go. A trail to the south heads to the Watch Tower of Almon Sul. As Delenn looks up into the Shadowy Mountains, she sees a ruin, a mass of rubble. As Delenn begins to walk up the trail, she sees two people up on the ridge near the Watch Tower of Almon Sul, but as she tries to focus, they disappear into shadows of the mountain. As Delenn, Delenn David Mir, Bri, and Delenn II begin to rush up to the Watch Tower of Almon Sul, the trail becomes steep, the final reach to the Watch Tower has them all gasping for breath. As Delenn, Delenn David Mir, Bri and Delenn III look for an entrance, and as they look around the watch tower they find An staircase going up into the outcrop. As the trail goes to the top, Delenn looks around, as Delenn looks to the west wall she sees a shadow move. As Delenn tells Bri, Delenn David Mir, and Delenn III to remain in the staircase Delenn draws the Carn Dum sword, she calls out to the shadow. "Whoever you are I have the Carn Dum blade, show yourself!"
The shadow moves into view and out walks a scaly female adult woman about 30 years of age. As she hold her blade the fins on her hand is visible. "You have the blade of Carn Dum?" Says the woman.
Delenn looks at this elder woman, Delenn knows no one of the prophecy here on K'ha'dum is above 20 years old, only she is the oldest. "What is your name stranger?"
The woman looks at the demanding creature called Delenn. "Words have meaning, names have power." The woman looks at the female creature, she decides to give her name. "If I was to tell you that my name is Senna, what does it mean to you, it only gives you power and leaves me at a disadvantage."
Delenn is confused at the logic given by the creature. "You are Senna?" Delenn looks at the dress she wears. "How did you get here?"
Senna does not know this creature, but the blade of Carn Dum she knows who owns that, her mother Delenn, but Delenn does not look like a creature of Anterian, but if this is the sword of Carn Dum, she knows it holds sorcery. But as she looks at the creatures hand she sees Bri Delenn's ring, the ring of the Witch-King of Angmar. As the question lingers, Senna answers it. "A group of seven passed through the city of Poltergeist."
Delenn thinks, "Poltergeist, we passes through the dead city of Tsiegret'lop, we lost two members, my son David and my daughter Delenn II." Senna looks at Delenn, she puts her sword away. "You're Delenn?"
Delenn looks at Senna, she is shocked that Senna has heard her name. "Yes, I am Delenn, how do you know me?"
Senna looks at Delenn, it is hard to believe that she is her mother. "I was your son David, I was completely transformed at the Watch Tower of Angmar." Senna looks at Delenn III who emerged out of her protection of the thick stone pillar. Delenn II looks at her reformed mother the stairwell moves and out come Delenn David Mir, Bri, and further Delenn III. As the prophecy is back together, Delenn puts away her sword and goes to hug her once son whom is now her daughter. Senna is about as old as Delenn is. As some hug one another, they are glad to be back together. As Bri looks around the Watch Tower of Almon Sul he goes to Delenn. "Delenn, we need to find that spring, we are still under the curse!"
Delenn nods, and looks at Senna and Delenn II. "You know about the curse?"
Senna looks at Delenn II, "Yes, we quite understand the curse." Senna looks at Bri. "Bri Delenn said about a spring to break the curse."
Delenn nods, "Yes, that spring is here somewhere, we need to find it." Delenn looks at Bri, Delenn David Mir, and Delenn III. "We need to break up in pairs, search this place, it is here somewhere." Delenn looks around, "Lets break up, Delenn David Mir and Delenn III please search this area, Bri and Delenn II search the second level. Senna and I will search outside, if you find it get the rest of us." The prophecy nods with agreement, as Senna and Delenn walk down the stairs they are finally outside. As they begin walking Delenn talks to Senna "So why did you chose the name Senna?" Delenn looks at Senna. "If you don't mind of course."
Senna smiles. "I knew a friend on Centauri Prime named Senna."
Delenn looks at Senna's mature form. "Was it painful?"
Senna looks forward, her smile has disappeared, "It was uncomfortable, but not deathly painful." Senna and Delenn finally made it around the tower. "Well there is no spring here, hopefully it is inside the watch tower." Delenn and Senna go back into the Watch Tower of Almon Sul. As they climb up the stairs they reach the first level, it is not open to the outdoors, but cracks cast an eerie light in this passage. As Bri and Delenn II meet Delenn and Senna, they bring some bad news. As Bri walks up to Delenn, he has some bad news about this level. "Delenn, we checked this level, we found no spring."
Delenn looks at Bri as hope fails, "We did not find it either, lets hope the Delenn David Mir and Delenn II had better luck." Delenn turns and enters the main passage to head up to the top of Almon Sul. As they get up to the top, Delenn III sees Delenn. As Delenn walks to Delenn III, she hopes that they found it. "Did you find the spring?"
Delenn III looks sadly at the ground. "No, no we did not find it, did you?" Delenn III looks at Delenn.
Delenn looks at Bri. "No, no we did not find the spring. The spring is not here!"
Bri remembers that Murazor told him that the cure is in a spring at Almon Sul, as Bri thinks about it, he remembers that there is the fortress Almon Sul of Arnor, but the map labeled it as Fornost, the old realm destroyed by the Witch-King of Angmar. As Bri looks at Delenn he speaks quickly. "There is the fortress of Fornost of Almon Sul, it might be there."
Delenn nods, as she turns she begins down the main staircase to outside of Almon Sul, as she walks up the road she looks up into the Shadowy Mountains. As Delenn stops she remains looking at the harsh mountains, dark and threaten, but in the middle is one tall and dark mountain taller then the others, as Bri looks at it, he remembers the name, The Lonely Mountain of Mirkwood, the home of Smaug the Magnificent. As Delenn looks up at the mountains the feeling of loneliness fills her. "We have to go up there?" Delenn says in a trembling voice.
Bri walks up to Delenn's side. "Yes, that is where we must go, we must go into the shadows of the mountain." Bri begins to walk up to the mountains, the trail is steep and harsh. As the air thins Delenn, Delenn David Mir, Delenn III, and Delenn II follows, the air is not cold, but instead it is hot. As they come up to the ridge they see a shadow fortress. As they walk to it, they see a spring of clear water, as they run to it, they look at it, they have found it. As Bri goes to the spring, he cups his hands and dips his hands in the pool. As he sips the water slowly, he stands up, he feels as if energy is leaving his body. As a black mist falls from his mouth, the curse is free from him. Delenn goes to the spring and drinks the water, black mist falls from her. Delenn David Mir, Delenn II, Delenn III, and Senna goes to the spring and drinks from the spring. As the curse leaves them all, they have broken the curse of the Cursed Swamp. As they look at one another, they all smile and laugh, they did it! As Bri looks at Delenn he goes to her as all the other prophecy are busy with one another. Bri extends his hand. "May I have it back?"
Delenn looks at Bri, and then at the ring, the power of the ring is hard to release from, but as Delenn pulls the ring off she hands it to Bri. "I guess this is really yours, now that you are a male...a true Witch-King. But I agree, I tried to explore the ring, but I controlled no power or magic, it only answers to you. This ring only serves you. You are the owner, but I want to thank you, if you did not care you could have let me become immobile."
Bri smiles as he puts on the ring. "It is okay, you would have done the same for me."
Delenn smiles. "True, but I don't have power." Delenn looks at the tower walls of Fornost. "I wonder who owns this place?"
Bri looks at the castle, "Well from what I remember, the two places, the Watch-Tower of Almon Sul and Fornost were two different structures, but owned by the same Kingdom of Arnor who operated under the Realm of Numenor. The Kingdom of Arnor was mighty, it ruled most of the north except the Mountains of Angmar, not even the Numenorian's ventured into the mountainous domain. As the kingdom expanded, the Witch-King, called Tindomul was in Numenor and help might power, but he went to learn Black Magic from the Teacher, Lord Sauron and thus he changed his name to Er Murazor. As he left Sauron he held more power then Sauron and Akhorahil combined and this worried Sauron that he might over throw him. As Murazor went back to Numenor he was denied the throne, so he left Numenor and went to Angmar and created Carn Dum, there he commanded orc's from the Misty Mountains and hasted two other kings including his most trusted, Ren who served the Witch-King, the other was Akhorahil who admired Er Murazor and served him unwillingly. As the Witch-King launched his first attack, it was against Arnor and Arthedain, the Witch-King destroyed the Watch Tower of Amon Sul and after his success at Arthedain he focused on the fortress of Fornost, when Fornost fell, the Witch-King left Angmar and went to the more comfortable Kingdom of Fornost, where he focused on the last town called Bree. Numenor made a fatal move they moved against the Witch-King, some of the rulers of Numenor disagreed with this move and escaped Numenor and hid in the ruins of the Realm of Arnor, the Witch-King fooled the sea and it washed Numenor out of history, all those in Numenor died. With the death of the Numenorean Kingdom, the second Numenorean Kingdom, Gondor joined the ancient elves and they pushed the Witch-King out of Fornost, and slaughtered three-forth of the Witch-King's orc's, the rest of them fled into the Misty Mountains. As the Witch-King fought the magic of the elves he held his own, but to protect his Realm of Angmar, he left it and traveled East to Mordor. But on his way he passed the massive graves of Arnor and Bree's greatest kings and folks, thus he raised evil spirits to host the bodies of the dead, they were called Barrow-Wight's, they never die, the only way to remove them is to burn your dead or kill the sorcerer, but the Witch-King was not the only to raise evil spirits, Akhorahil was also known to raise the dead." Bri looks at the stone wall. "This is the old fortress of Arnor, Fornost. If I am correct their should be a palantir in this stone fortress."
Delenn looks at Bri, she needs to know what a palantir is "What is a palantir?"
Bri look at Delenn, "Seeing stone." Bri moves to the wall. "There were seven, one in Minas Tirth, Barad'dur, Numenor, Isengard, Amon Sul, and two others somewhere else, I don't know...possibly lost through time. There was a palantir once at Minas Morgul, but it was sent to Barad'dur, the palantir from Arnor was kept by the Witch-King, but it is at Minas Morgul."
Delenn chuckles, "Very confusing, but it is your memory."
Bri chuckles also and smiles, "How true, but in times like this, it is need to know basis it seems, only parts are released to me at the proper time. It is a wonder I have not got myself shot yet!" Bri finds the entrance, he puts on the armor of the Witch-King, and advises Delenn to do the same with her armor. "Want to go explore?"
Delenn looks at Bri, "Why not, let me tell Senna where we are going, she will worry if we disappear." Bri nods his head.
Delenn goes to Senna, "Bri and I are going into Fornost to check the place out, we will be back soon." Senna nods her head, Delenn turns around and goes back to Bri. "She knows, lets go." Bri and Delenn enter into Fornost and go exploring. As they climb up into a passage they come to a large room with a glass ball in the center of the room. As Bri stops, Delenn looks at it. "What is it...is this a palantir?"
Bri looks at Delenn, "This is the palantir of Almon Sul."
Delenn slowly walks to it, "If we stand here, can we be seen?"
Bri looks at Delenn. "Yes, but only if you summon the palantir, if we summon it then we have to keep it covered or the enemy may be able to view through this palantir." Bri walks up to the palantir. "The enemy can't see you through your armor, this is why I told you to put on your armor." Bri looks at the palantir. "All I have to do is believe I am in control, the way of the game is not to let the enemy know your true identity..." Bri looks at Delenn, "Stand there, if I fail you need to cover the palantir up. And second, don't say anything until my hand is off the palantir, the host can view through me and speak through me, so don't acknowledge me at all till I step away from the palantir. One word can aloud the enemy into your mind to see your thoughts. This is why I don't want you to touch the palantir, because your thoughts have been here. Mine are of a hospital in Seattle."
Delenn looks at Bri. "How will I know you need help?"
Bri looks at Delenn. "You'll know, you'll know." Bri takes his right hand and touches the glass. As his mind races, he can't see the room, all he sees is a foggy environment. As he focuses on the distance his mind is carried to a room made of obsidian, there is sharp edges. As Bri looks around, he keeps his mind quiet, as Bri looks outside he sees a mountain range capped with snow, this is Isengard, but at least there is no White Wizard, as Bri pulls his mind out of Isengard he goes back into the foggy environment. As he looks forward he sees a dim light, as he goes forth to it he enters a well lit room, as Bri looks around he hears a voice, as Bri turns around he sees an orc.
As the orc looks at him, the orc looks at the Witch-King of Angmar, he can't see that it is really Bri Sheridan. "Why did you return here?" Says the orc in a ghostly way.
Bri looks at the orc, it does not talk like an orc. "What are you?" Says Bri back.
The orc looks at Bri, "What am I...you created me!" Says the orc, but Bri sees images of the aliens of Tsiegret'lop.
Bri thinks, "You're a Tsiegret'lop aren't you?"
The orc smiles--creepy. "Yes, that I am, but one could ask, who are you? You are not really the Witch-King of Angmar."
If the Tsiegret'lop could see Bri's expression he would see that Bri is not Murazor, but with the armor it alouds Bri one advantage...secrecy. As Bri looks at the orc, Bri answers quickly. If I was not the Witch-King of Angmar, then tell me why I have his sword of Angmar, and what about my ring of Angmar, you should not be hasty Mr. Orc." Bri shows the silver ring to the orc. "You are correct, I am not the Witch-King you remember, I too seek revenge against the dark lord, I come to seek your support...I know you are free, I know you seek revenge."
The orc looks at the ground and remembers the time when their leader went into Angmar and found the Witch-King near Carn Dum. "We seek revenge also, but we have our own way." Bri forces to read the orc's mind, he sees that an army of six thousand orc's are marching through the Great Gap...they are going to Khazad'dum.
As Bri looks at the orc, Bri knows that the orc is trying to keep the surprise attack secret. "You're a fool to march to Khazad'dum." The orc has a surprised look on its face. "Your people are heading right into the morgul realm!"
The orc looks at the Witch-King of Angmar, the question remains...how did the Witch-King know this, he was trained to keep Asron himself out of his mind. "How do you know?"
Bri looks at the palantir, "You should never use a palantir unless you can keep secrets!" Bri takes his gaze off the palantir and looks at the pitiful orc who looks so dumbfounded right now. "No, I am not going to tell you what to do, this is your realm, your power. But if you want my help. If you continue the road to Minas Morgul your army will die!"
The orc looks at Bri angrily. "We will murder them all!"
Bri shakes his head. "No, no, you can't kill them, they are not living or dead!" The orc pauses for a second, Bri finally comes up with a solution, "Send them into the Realm of Anubis, or take the road that is unmarked."
The orc looks at the Witch-King. "An unmarked road...where?"
"There is a forgotten trail that goes up into the Ashy Mountains, it is known as the Ashy path which joins with the Black Passage. The Black Passage goes into the Morgul Mountains and dumps you at the gates of Minas Morgul, don't take that path, death only awaits you there, your road goes on the Ashy Path, but there is a warning if you go up there. The roads, mountains, and dark paths are riddled with gigantic spiders, but if you survive that path it will dump you in Khazad'dum and you will deal with the volcanic wasteland." Bri looks at the orc. The orc nods.
As the orc looks at the Witch-King he has come with an answer. "I will tell them...thank you." The orc leaves Bri, and Bri looks around, but decides to leave. As Bri enters back into the foggy environment he looks forward, as he sees a blue light he enters it, as he enters he panics for a second for he is underwater, he is at the Old Port of Angmar. This palantir is underwater because of an ancient storm. One story says that when the ancient city of Numenor was destroyed, the tidal wave sent from the fallen city destroyed the Old Port of Angmar. As Bri pulled out, the idea of being underwater is just strange. As Bri looks forward he sees a bright light, it is golden. As Bri enters, he notices that the world he is in is dry. Bri looks at the architecture, but the feeling of harm makes him want to leave, as he escapes, he looks to a cold passage, it is black, the environment is thick near the doorway to the palantir, maybe it is not summoned? But as Bri is about to leave, he is sucked in. As Bri looks around he knows this place, it is the Carn Dum.
As Bri looks around the tower he feels someone coming forth...it is the Witch-King himself. "Hello Bri, you've found a palantir didn't you?" Bri nods. "Very unwise, but common among men, don't be ashamed." The Witch-King knows Bri has transformed as well as the other prophecy. "You went into the Cursed Swamp didn't you?"
Bri looks at Er Murazor. "Yes, the bridge fell."
The Witch-King nods his head, "Yes, I believe it did, you made it to Almon Sul I hope?"
Bri nods his head. "Yes, made it to Almon Sul, we had a hard time finding the spring though, we searched at the Watch Tower of Almon Sul, but we did not find it there so we went to Fornost and there we found it."
Er Murazor laughs quietly. The laugh is eerie to Bri, but he shows no fear. He has been through worse. "What are you looking for?"
Bri knows that the palantir is a dangerous device. The palantir is a black stone which can only be destroyed by fire. The palantir's are quite a powerful device, but only one palantir can be used by two people, if a third source tried to break into the communication, the planter's would go black. The only palantir that can communicate with all palantir's is the master palantir, the Osgiliath Stone, but according to JRR Tolken, it was lost in the Great River. As Bri looks at the Witch-King he looks at the Carn Dum palantir. "I am looking for him, for the eye."
The Witch-King does not even move a muscle in his face, he looks as cold as stone. "I bid you well then, but be warn, if your group all ascends on Khazad'dum at once in one place, you will find failure there."
Bri looks at the Witch-King, the hope has seem to fail him. "What do you suggest?"
The Witch-King takes forth a map of K'ha'dum. "Only six of you remain here on K'ha'dum, but this is not difficult, some of your group needs to split in to two groups, one group needs to takes the Shadowy Mountain trail, the other needs to take the underground trail to only arrive at the City of the Dead to arrive at the Tower of Sorcery."
Bri thinks quickly. "Minas Morgul?"
The Witch-King nods his head. "Yes, Minas Morgul, you must take that road, you must take it...alone. If anyone else goes they will be no match against the Nazgul!"
Bri nods, "I understand, we need to do this." Bri looks back at the palantir, but looks back at the Witch-King. "Thank you." Bri enters the palantir he looks around for another door. As he looks forward he sees a door, but it is very dark with a bluish-green light. As he enters, he looks around, this place looks wicked! As he looks in a corner a shadow moves near him. As the palantir in the building he sees the shadow, it is a dead. As the dead king looks at Bri, he is surprise. "My lord, where have you been? We've heard bed news!"
Bri looks at the king who's clothing is dusty, mud caked on his cloak. "Who are you?"
"My lord, don't you remember me, I am Ren, your Seneschal of Angmar!" Ren looks surprised that Murazor does not remember him. Bri looks at Ren "You'll have to bear with me, Ren, my memory is not what it use to be, Lord Anubis had turned against me on Minbar, but also so did you!"
Fear is Ren's eyes, "My Lord, we were under orders. Asron told us that you were killed by the prophecy, but you're alive!" Ren is hoping to change the subject. Akhorahil has took it the hardest."
Bri thinks of that name. "Akhorahil, you mean the Storm King?"
"Yes, you remember?" Says Ren happily!
"No, I only remember pieces of information, my mind is only labeled on titles like my own, the Witch-King, you were known as the Fire-King." Ren nods his head. "There was The Messenger, The Ice-King, The-Quiet, The Outcast, The Dog-King, and The Easterling."
Ren looks at Murazor. "You're forgot a lot, I hope you have not forgot your sorcery then you will have problems with the orc's."
Bri does not understand why Ren is asking these questions, but because he is a servant of the light the sorcery is more powerful. "No I have not forgotten Ren, but why do you say orc's?"
Ren looks at Murazor. "With you pronounced dead, the control of the orc's has gotten out of control, they have turned against us, and we're slaughtering every orc all the way to Mount Cerfire."
Bri's mouth remains open, this must be why Murazor told him to get back to Minas Morgul. The enemy is small there. As Bri looks at Ren, Bri has an idea. "I am far away from Minas Morgul, how can I get there quickly?"
Ren shakes his head, "You've must forgotten your ability, call your Fall Beast."
Bri looks at Ren. "How do I?"
Ren figures he has to tell him to get him back to strength. "It is your ring, the ring you wear is the most powerful compared to Asron's, you were stronger in sorcery." Bri feels as if someone else is trying to break into the conversation.
As Bri looks at Ren, Ren feels it to. "Listen to me Ren, our land, Asron has broke his promise, he seeks to destroy all to be the only ruler, he decides to begin with the ghost race, why do you think he did not stop the orc attack, he wants us dead...completely."
Ren shakes his head, "You've must be mistaken, our Lord Asron would take us to glory!"
Bri looks at the palantir. "No Ren, you know what I speak is true, Asron will deceive us to fight the Tsiegret'lopian's, we can't fight them, they are poltergeist, spirits made by me."
Ren looks at the Witch-King, "You can defeat them!"
The Witch-King shakes his head, "No, I can't defeat them, they were raised to guard Tsiegret'lop, but if they leave Tsiegret'lop they can be killed. "You watch, Asron will soon order our march to Tsiegret'lop, there we will die!" As the Witch-King and Ren feel the interruption of another, the scene becomes fiery and as Ren and the Witch-King look at the fire, out comes the Dark Lord Asron, Asron stops and looks at the Witch-King.
As Asron walks up to the Witch-King, he tries to read Witch-King's mind, but all he sees is light. "So long have you been gone the Lord Murazor." Asron looks to Ren, "Tell Khamul, that he and the rest of the Nazgul will march to the city of Tsiegret'lop."
Ren's eyes open wide, this is the warning that the Witch-King gave him. Ren nods. Asron looks at Bri, "Welcome back Er Murazor, you will make sure that Khamul will go to Tsiegret'lop." The Witch-King nods. Asron leaves, Bri looks at Ren.
As Bri looks at the palantir, Ren just stands there. "And so it begins."
As Bri looks back at Ren, he speaks one last time. "I will be here soon Ren, don't tell anyone of my coming!" Ren nods, Bri leaves the palantir and goes back to Almon Sul, Bri puts a cloth over the palantir to stop from anyone seeing him and Delenn.
As Delenn looks at Bri, Bri looks tired. "Well, what happened?"
Bri looks at Delenn, "Asron's armies of orc's are dead, but the Soldiers of Darkness still remain, but Asron fears his Nazgul, he sends them to Tsiegret'lop."
"Well at least the end of Nazgul is certain." Delenn is relief.
"Yes that is, but if the Nazgul are killed by the Tsiegret'lop, the black breath will make them go mad. Asron is thinking in a 2-D way, but he forgot that they are carriers of rings. If the Tsiegret'lop carries the ring, they will be corrupted and be literally undefeatable."
Delenn looks at Bri. "So what do we do?"
Bri looks at Delenn, "I must go to Minas Morgul to stop them, you must go with the others on the road to Mount Cerfire. According to Ren, most of the orc armies are in the Great Gap fighting the Tsiegret'lopian's."
Delenn answers back quickly. "Like hell I am letting you go alone to Minas Morgul, with tens of thousands of Minbari could not even defeat those Nazgul."
Bri walks to Delenn, "Don't worry, I have to do this, if the Nazgul are defeated by the Tsiegret'lop's, we all will die!" Delenn looks down to the side, she does not want Bri to go. "Don't worry Delenn, this is my job, I know that I would have to pay a great price if I took the ring. That is what the story said."
Delenn looks back to Bri. "What story?"
Bri thinks what the words were. "Into the fire of Orodruin the one must be cast, this the price, that must be paid, only thus its power will be undone, only thus, a great evil, unmade. There is no other choice. There is no other way. One of you must take it, one of you must pay." Bri looks at Delenn, he then remembers a chant that made the movie the Lord of the Rings. "One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and into the darkness bind them." Bri looks at the ring of Angmar. "This is not the one ring, Asron has his own." Bri looks at Delenn.
The riddle spoken into the dark gives chills to Delenn. "You must go then, be careful Bri, not one of the Nazgul can be trusted." Bri nod at Delenn and turns and leaves the palantir room, Delenn follows closing the iron doors. As Bri takes a underground passage, Delenn goes back with Senna, Delenn David Mir, Delenn II, and Delenn III look at Delenn, where is Bri? As Bri takes a torch, he walks down the shadowy passage under the mountain, he does not know exactly where it goes. But as Bri walks, the first thought is Shelob's cave, Bri hopes this is not the cave. But as Bri keeps walking on he does not see any webs. As the path becomes rocky, Bri notices that the tunnel is becoming wider. As he takes the torch he looks around at the cave he is in, it is a shiny cave with waterfalls. The ground Bri stands on is gold, the walls have silver and gold In them, the torch's light reflects off the walls and the whole cave is lit up. The view is breath taking, as Bri keeps walking on, his feet hit a fluid, it is water, the trail is underwater, this part of this cave must be under the water table. As Bri keeps walking on he enters a new cavern, as the light fills the cavern the room is flooded with water and gold, gold treasure. As Bri looks at the crowns, pots, coins, blocks, jewels...bodies, this is no cavern...it's a tomb! As Bri looks around the cavern, he wonders if the trail runs through this cave...it does. Bri has to take this path hoping it will lead him to the outdoors. But as Bri is deep into the cave, he is hit hard by an harsh odor, it burns his eyes his nose his mucus covered throat. As the light flickers off a large scaly structure, Bri stops, as he looks at it he can see what looks like a head of a dinosaur, it has a flat nose, a pointy mouth, teeth extended outside the scaly skin, the ears are just holes in the top of the head. As Bri looks at the gold dragon, the eyes open, as Bri sees this, he stumbles back tripping over treasure and fell on two dead, chard bodies which been dead for a long time. As the dragon looks at the black cloaked creature with a wicked mask, a series of swords and a mace, the dragon gets up, gold falls off him, as he rises over Bri he shakes off all the gold and some coins hit Bri, but don't hurt him, as the tail is released, it swats around hitting the cave walls. Bri looks at the gold dragon, its scales are reflected black when light hits him.
As the dragon lowers his head, it looks at the knight. As the dragon shakes his head, all the spikes stand up making him look larger, his red eyes glaring at the scared knight. "Get up knight!" Says the dragon who speaks through his mouth, the sound is deep, rattling, are very dry!
Bri stands up, but the dragon hits Bri with his tail, and Bri falls down again, Bri tries again to stand up again, but another blow its Bri in the chest and he falls down once again. As Bri looks at the dragon, he decides to speak to speak back, but his breath is low. "How can I stand up if you keep pushing me down?"
The dragon looks at Bri, his eyes still fixed on crushing the knight, but for a knight, he has a very great patient. The dragon looks at Bri, he speaks once again. "Get up knight, you can't slay a dragon sitting down on the moist ground." Bri stands up again, but he is forced down again. "Take your sword...strike me!" Extorts the dragon.
Bri, laughs slightly, shaking his head. "No, I have not come to hurt you."
The dragon pulls back, he looks at Bri strangely, then he looks at his treasure. "Then you've come for my treasure?"
Bri shakes his head again. "No, I have no need for it, and if I was here for treasure I would mine the cave, before you."
The dragon is not sure what this knight is here for. "Then state your business knight!"
Bri stands up, for the first time he is successful, no tail hits him. "First I am no knight, this armor I wear is to protect me from the armies of the ancient darkness of Lord Anubis and Lord Asron."
The dragon interrupts Bri, "Your an enemy of Lord Asron?" Says the dragon carefully.
Bri looks at the dragon. "Only if you know what the ancient enemy has done. He has killed every species in this universe, I and a team of five others are trying to end to reign of Asron. We go to war on charges of mass genocide." Bri removes his helmet and exposes his face, it is scale covered. The dragon looks at this young child so morphed by another species. As the dragon comes closer, the dragon is wondering if this is the child as stated in a chant. As the dragon looks at the bluish-green scales, he speaks an old Latin Phrase. "Puer natus est nobis et filius datus est nobis; cujus tmperium super nomen ejus. Consilii Angelus. Cantate Domino canticumnorum; quia mirabilia fecit." Bri listens to the dragon, he is not sure what he means. The dragon speaks again. "Do you have the sign?"
Bri looks at the dragon confused, "What do you mean...sign?"
The dragon looks at Bri, "The mark of prophecy, the savior. The sign is on your back." The dragon walks behind Bri.
Bri does not turn. "I have not seen my back since I was a patient on Earth." Bri looks at the dragons tail with the spikes running down below. "Do you want me to remove my armor to expose my back?"
The dragon speaks lowly. "Yes!"
Bri grabs his armor, but does not shell it off yet. "How do I know you won't hurt me?" Says Bri carefully.
The dragon turns to face Bri, "I trusted you not to stab me with your blade, now you can trust me..." Bri looks at the dragon, he does not know what to do. "A dragon's word is more trust worthy then any kings." Says the dragon magnificently. Bri nods and looks at the dragon tail as he removes his armor, as Bri stands feeling the cold wind against his scales, the dragon looks at Bri's back, the dragon only sees scales, but there is a way to check. The dragon goes back to his pile of treasure, he takes a pot of water. "This is the pot of clarity, it shows the truth." he takes it to Bri, and he pours it down Bri's back, as the water flows down the scaly back, the scales begin to disappear, the feeling is uncomfortable for Bri, but Bri does not show any distress. As the scales go away, the flesh reappears, as the water trickles down Bri's chest, the scales go away where the water touches. The dragon looks at this transformation. "What type of sorcery is this?"
Bri looks at his flesh. "I am cursed, my group was trapped in the Cursed Swamp, this is what became of us." The dragon sort of ignored Bri's comment. As the dragon takes the water pale he pours it all over Bri, as the water pours all over him, the scales wash away, but that is not the only thing that washes away, so does his gender, he reforms back into a female, back into Bri Delenn. As Bri Delenn looks at herself she sees that she is back at Bri Delenn, but the change goes again, and the new Bri Delenn turns back into Bri, what he looked like when he first got to Minbar. As Bri looks at the dragon, he smiles. "This is what I looked like when I got here at Minbar." Bri looks at himself, glad to see the transformation gone.
As the dragon looks at Bri, the sign is clear, this is the prophecy. As the dragon thinks to himself, he speaks the Latin phrase, but this time in English. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; on whose shoulders the world's dominion rest, whose name is, he who was sent to us from the great Heavenly Wonder Counselor. Sing unto the Lord a new song. He has made wonders." The dragon thinks for a second, "Your name is Mirabilia, wonders. You are full of surprises."
Bri thinks about the name. "My name is Bri."
The dragon looks at Bri, "Not anymore, you are the one I have been waiting for, you are Mirabilia, but I will call you Mira." The dragon goes back to his treasure, "You are my Lord, I serve you. I will follow you my Lord Mira." The dragon lowers himself.
Bri does not what to say. "I will accept the name Mira, even Bri does not know what to say. "I will accept the name Mira, even though it does not suit me, but I will honor the name, but if you are to follow me, you will die. I go to Minas Morgul to stop a major disaster."
The dragon looks at Mira, "You go to Minas Morgul, the Tower of Sorcery, I have servants there, maybe you know them?" The dragon leaves the question open for Mira to answer.
Mira thinks, "The Fall Beast, dragons of Khazad'dum?"
The dragon looks at Mira. "You know the Fall Beast?" Say the dragon calmly.
Mira does not even stop to think about the question. "Only though the past. If I told you how you wouldn't believe me of possibly understand me."
The dragons voice seems more harsher. "Try me, the wisdom of a dragon is more vast then the five wizards alone!" The dragons stands admiring his choice of words.
Mira stop to think and finally comes up with his answer. "I pre-seen these Fallen Beast on a television from a world who's domain is not like this one!"
The dragon does not speak at once, but with the choice of Mira's words the dragon remembers the prophecy. "On whose shoulders the world's dominion rest." Says the dragon is a deep whisper.
Mira can only think of what the dragon says are just riddles in the dark. As Mira considers the time he has wasted he needs to be going. "I am sorry to break you out of your thought, but I have to be going, may I have your name dragon lord."
The dragon looks at Mira as if he was shocked, he has been called a dragon lord for a long time. But with his masters request the dragon states his name. "I have not been called the Dragon Lord for a long time, they use to call me Smaug the Magnificent, the Lord of all Dragons, the Lord of the Lonely Mountain."
Mira is surprised to remember such a name. "You lived in the north, didn't you?"
The dragon looks at Mira. "And what titles you go by my lord?"
Mira does not know if it is wise, but if Smaug is to go with him, he will have to know Mira's title. "Understand my Lord Smaug, when I arrive here on K'ha'dum I was chosen to carry a heavy task," Mira shows the ring to the Witch-King, "Do you know what this is?"
Smaug looks at the ring, "Bless my soul, it's the ring of the Witch-King!"
"Correct, it is the ring of the Witch-King, that is the title you will have to call me, the Witch-King of Angmar, Lord of sorcery, Prince of Darkness, Lord of the Nazgul. Do you remember this?" Smaug nods. "Second, use these names if you need assistance or help, the names are Er Murazor and Tindomul. But you can remain at the name of Smaug the Magnificent!"
Smaug looks at Mira, "Yes I understand my Lord Witch-King of Angmar." Smaug walks slowly to Mira, "If we were to go to Minas Morgul, then we need to be going." Smaug turns to the cavern's exit. "Follow me, I will lead you out of the deep to the morning light, follow me my lord, the exit is very close." Mira and Smaug walks to the exit to where the water falls over a ledge down to the Dead Swamp, the fall is about a two hundred foot drop. As Mira looks down the cliff, he does not see any way down, as Mira looks at Smaug, Smaug gets down to the ground. "Get on my back my lord, I will take you to Minas Morgul my lord." Mira does not know how.
As Mira walks to the front of Smaug he speaks. "I don't know how to Smaug!"
Smaug turns his giant head to look at Mira, "Climb up, and place your legs on both sides of my back and hold onto my scales. Or use a harness." Mira looks at Smaug, "A harness is a device to use in battle to remain sited easier."
Mira looks at the harness, "Let use the harness, "Smaug get up. Smaug walks to the harness. "Help me put it on." Says Mira.
Smaug and Mira work putting it on Smaug's back. As Mira climbs up on Smaug's back it is like being on a horse. As Mira holds on the reigns, Mira locks his feet to the harness to secure himself on Smaug. As Smaug stands up, Mira is worried that the harness might move to Smaug's side, but it was made to stay in place. As Smaug spreads his wings it feels great to spread them in the morning sun. As Smaug looks down the cliff he looks back to Mira. "Are you ready?"
"I am as ready as I will ever be!" Says Mira nervously.
As Smaug trots to the cliff, Smaug makes a freefall, and he flaps his wings and flies over the nasty swamp. As Smaug keeps low, they keep flying on the slope of the Ashy Mountains. Smaug knows that being on this side of the mountains is safer then the Khazad'dum Mountains, as Smaug looks at the west shores off in the distance Smaug speaks. "Look to the west, that city is the Old Port of Angmar, when I was young, many Angmarian's treaded through the Dead Swamp to the Shadowy Mountains to try to slain me, but all fell."
Mira looks at the ruin city, "And what did you do with them?"
Smaug chuckles deeply. "What else, I'm a dragon...I ate them!" As Mira looks at these steep mountains, he asks Smaug the name of these mountains. "What is the name of those mountains?"
Smaug looks at the mountains, that is the Black Mountains, once we pass them we will be in a world of harm!"
Mira looks at the mountains, "Why?"
Smaug keeps his eyes on the mountains, "Because once we pass over those mountains we will be in the Realm of Asron." The Black Mountains, now pass under them, Mira knows there is no turning back. As the mountains leave Smaug and Mira, the sky becomes dark, they are in the volcanic ash cloud, as Smaug dives to the land they see the Swamp of Khazad'dum, but they miss the swamp and Smaug climbs back up. "Are you okay my lord?"
Mira catches her breath, "I am okay, that was a rush!" Mira looks at the swamp. "I s this the Swamp of Khazad'dum, we need to pass through the Black Mountains to get to Minas Morgul. So hold on!" Smaug rises up over the mountains, as they pass over the mountain only feet below them they are about to crest the mountain ridge, as they come close, a giant spider jumps up, it's one of those giant recluses, as Mira and Smaug look ahead they see about four spiders waiting. Smaug opens his mouth and fire cooks all those spiders, Mira is shocked, Mira has never imagined that Smaug could have done that, as Smaug looks forward there is a pale green glow, then the tower is seen. Minas Morgul is ahead of them, as Smaug goes down to land they have made it, made it to Minas Morgul.
THE END OF CHAPTER 19, NEXT CHAPTER 20