A/N: Hello. Just to let you know, there will be one more OC introduced in this chapter known as Trog. He will be portrayed by John Candy like he portrayed Den in Heavy Metal. And it is also where the Fellowship of the Ring will be created at the Wood Elves' Palace. I cannot say any more about this chapter, really, but I think you'll enjoy the renedition in the upcoming march. :)

Chapter 6: Return of the King Under the Mountain

Meanwhile, at Isengard, with the sun having set on the horizon, Linas, Teegra, and Larn were stuck in their separate cells with Larn by himself except for his Subhuman guard in the middle level while the Princesses were in another cell at the top level guarded by the Subhuman who was more gentle with Linas upon his ambush as he stood firm upright. While they were in their cell, Linas couldn't help but be despaired in the situation so far. For she knew Gandalf was trapped until he disclosed the Ring's location to Saruman, and he'd never tell him. And now that sunset has come, there'd be no escape for them but death. The very thought discontented her, her hopes of going back home dashed by Saruman's cruel trickery and sorcery. Upon seeing her dismal face, Teegra tried to cheer her up to spite the circumstance.

"Linas, I know how things must look right now, but we're going to make it out of Isengard."

"Really? How?"

"I don't know yet, but I'll try to think of something."

As Linas held her head down in disbelief, the Subhuman guard looked to see her saddened face and felt sorry for her. Upon seeing this herself, Teegra couldn't help but wonder why. Maybe this Subhuman was beginning to evolve beyond his usual carnal instinct and develop emotions. To know for sure, Teegra spoke up to the guard.

"Do you know a way out?"

Upon being asked this, the Subhuman only turned his head away with guilt before answering to her.

"No. Not past the barrier. Escape is only for the army of Nekron."

Hearing him speak so clearly, Teegra was more surprised of the fact that the Subhuman can speak intelligently than the answer she was given. As bad as the answer seemed, though, it actually made Linas brainstorm an idea to test out as she whispered to her sister.

"Wait... you said only the army of Nekron can leave the barrier."

Hearing Linas speak of this herself, Teegra had an idea where it was going as she spoke to her.

"I trust you came up with something that'll help?"

As Linas nodded to her, she noticed two more Subhumans going over to the guard before she whispered.

"Just play along for now."

As Teegra nodded, the two Subhumans stopped in front of the guard and spoke in their native tongue, saying that sunset has come and that their time of being taken to Nekron had come. As an answer, the guard spoke to them, playing along in their plan as he spoke.

"Understood. I'll deal with them myself."

With that, the guard unlocked the door and grabbed Linas' hand before lifting her up and taking Teegra along with her as their chains were linked. With that, the guard led Teegra and Linas down the stairs to the very bottom, where none in the tower of Isengard had dwelled. On the floor were litters of battle armor from the Orcs that performed poorly under the service of Saruman. Perhaps he had them executed if their performance was below his expectations. As the princesses became weary of this, their guard got out his spear and used it to break their chains before he spoke while pointing to the armor.

"Here. Put on the chain mail. It'll help you get out."

Despite the fact that the skeletons of the Orcs that failed Saruman were present in the armory, they managed to remove them from the corpses as Linas spoke to the guard.

"But why would you help us?"

"Nekron treated me to be expendable, even as I stand and talk like him. Saruman was no better. I would not wish another soul to suffer my fate, not even my enemies."

As the guard spoke this, Linas took pity on the poor Subhuman, knowing how hard his life must've been to serve under both Nekron and Saruman with no respect or conscience to bequeath to the creature as she walked to him.

"I'm so sorry. Maybe you can come with us. I can explain your situation to our father."

"It would be very difficult. Our army is headed to Fire Keep to attack with our fierce numbers."

As this greatly worried Linas, Teegra saw it as a great urgency as she spoke.

"All the more reason we should go. But we can't forget about Larn."

Knowing he'd be helpful to them in the lay of the land, Linas agreed with her with a nod before turning to the guard and speaking to him.

"Well, thank you for helping us. What's your name?"

For a moment, having never before been asked such a question, the guard became very confused before remembering what Nekron and Saruman always called him. Though, essentially intelligent as he was, he found it difficult to pronounce.

"T-Trog... trog... lo... dyte."

"Troglodyte? I hardly think that's a right one for you. How about... Trog?"

As Linas suggested it, the guard felt a warm and caring tone from being called Trog, a far cry from the rejection and hate from the full pronunciation. And it is with great joy that the guard accepted the name of Trog as he nodded before Linas spoke.

"I knew you'd like it."

With that, Teegra and Linas, now bearing the chain mail of the Orcs, went with Trog to get Larn free before they go as they brought a spare chain mail for Larn to use. However, when they'd gotten there, Larn was nowhere to be found as Teegra grew concerned.

"Oh, no! Larn! Where are you?!"

As an answer, Linas pointed down to the marching army of Orcs out front holding Larn in chains before Trog spoke.

"The army must be on the move. We better follow them, or we'll lose your friend and Fire Keep."

"Not today."

Determined to keep them both alive, Teegra stormed out of the cell and down the stairs with Linas and Trog following her before they were able to get in the line of the marching Orcs as they sang with the leader whipping at them, making Linas exclaim in surprise while she, Trog, and Teegra were catching up to Larn before Teegra spoke to him in a whisper with one verse of the Orcs' song finished.

"Where there's a whip, there's a way.

Where there's a whip, there's a way.

Where there's a whip, (we don't want to go to war today) there's a way.

(Where there's a whip) but the lord of the lash says (there's a way) 'Nay, nay, nay!' (Where there's a whip)

We're gonna march all day, all day, all day (there's a way)

Where there's a whip, there's a way."

"Larn. Larn. Larn! Larn!"

Upon hearing her voice, Larn looked to her and Linas in surprise before speaking to her.

"Teegra. Is that you?"

To confirm the answer, she merely shushed him so that their conversation wouldn't be detected amongst the Orcs' song before she tried to find a lock to pick from his shackles while Larn spoke to Teegra again.

"Teegra, are you alright?"

"Yes. I'm trying to unlock your chains."

"Never mind the chains. You've got to get out of here."

"We're not leaving without you. Maybe I can find a key somehow. Come on, Linas."

As Teegra, Linas, and Trog, who followed her, scurried deeper in the Orcs' march, Larn grew concerned as he whispered.

"No, Teegra! Don't!"

However, they'd already gone deeper in the crowd as the Orcs' song got into the second verse and finished on cue as Saruman stepped up from his tower to behold the sight of Orcs at his command before waving them off, this ending their song for the moment before speaking to the tens of thousands of Orcs and Subhumans.

"A crack on the back says we're gonna fight.

We're gonna march all day, and night, and more.

For we are the slaves of the Dark Lord's war.

Left, right, left, right, left, right. (Where there's a whip, there's a way.)"

"Our time is at hand! Jarol's hundreds shall face your tens of thousands!"

In response to Saruman's praise, the Orcs grunted in victory at their numbers before most of them sang again while Linas spoke in a whisper to Teegra before Saruman continued.

"Jarol? Our father!"

"I know. But the last thing I want is to fight him. We need to break away as soon as we can."

"Where there's a whip, there's a way.

Where there's a whip, there's a way."

"And when all of Fire Keep, your ancient oppressor, lies vanquished, then shall we fly northward and sweep all of Middle-Earth beneath our feet! We cannot be defeated!"

"Where there's a whip, (we don't want to go to war today) there's a way.

(Where there's a whip) but the lord of the lash says (there's a way) 'Nay, nay, nay!' (Where there's a whip)

We're gonna march all day, all day, all day (there's a way)

Where there's a whip, there's a way.

Left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right, left, right..."

As the Orcs sang a strong reprisal, they marched immediately to Fire Keep as Linas exclaimed from being shoved by the Orcs as she joined Trog and Teegra just ahead of Larn as the Orcs Sounders their trumpets amidst their song, their march to Fire Keep beginning...

Meanwhile, at Mirkwood, Bilbo, Darkwolf, and Kira were just behind the tree before looking to see the Wood Elves holding the Dwarves and Gollum captive before the fourteen were escorted into the castle before the three of them followed them all the way to it before entering in the doors at the last minute as Bilbo narrated.

"We joined our companions at the clearing of the Wood Elves. But when we found them, we were in for another surprise. The Wood Elves had returned, but armed for battle. The Dwarves, weakened as they were by their encounter with the Nazgûl, and Gollum, who knew better than to take on multitudes by himself, gave up without a struggle. We traveled all day and into the night. Finally, we came to the palace of the Elf King, which was at the very eastern edge of the forest. We'd come all the way through, only to end up as prisoners."

In the Elf King's palace, Thorin was interrogated by His Majesty as to their reason for their alleged attack.

"Why did you Dwarves try to attack?"

"No attack. We came to beg. We were starving."

"And why were you in the forest in the first place?"

To answer the Elf Kong's query, Bilbo, Kira, and Darkwolf intruder in the room before the Hobbit stated his quest.

"We were o our way to Mordor to destroy the Ring of Sauron!"

As Bilbo said this, he held the Ring in his hand, making the Elf King aghast at its presence as the orange markings on it glowed the following in black speech.

One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all, and, in the darkness, bind them.

Seeing this for himself, the Elf King became very distressed and spoke out of worry.

"By thunder! This requires a meeting of great urgency! Come!"

With that, the Wood Elves lifted the Dwarves and Gollum up and brought them, as well as Bilbo, Kira, and Darkwolf into a great hall that soon changed from an empty space into a vast hall with Elrond himself at the head of the council, as well as several faces consisting of Boromir from Minas Tirith of Gondor, the Dwarves, Darkwolf, Kira, Bilbo, and the Elf King as they spoke incessantly whilst Bilbo narrated.

"Apparently, they were all too familiar with the One Ring and its burden, for we were soon brought to their care given the necessities we required to maintain our health. And it was weeks before the Council of Elrond appeared and debated its history and that of its master, Sauron. Kira also told the council of Nekron's search for it in order to fulfill his father's wish of conquest on all of Middle-Earth. With that, the Dwarves and the Elves alike, in their turn, told what they knew of Sauron and Nekron's preparations for conquest, and so did Boromir of Gondor."

"In Gondor, we are already under attack by the forces of Ice Peak and Mordor. I am Boromir. In a dream, I heard a voice crying to me, saying: 'seek for the figure that lurks in shadows in defense of the Ringbearer.'"

With that, Darkwolf stood up next as he held the axe up in salute.

"I am Darkwolf, the guardian of the Ringbearer against Nekron and that wolf witch, Juliana."

As Darkwolf made his presence known, Bilbo took his turn to reveal the Ring as he spoke, noticing the unease of the crowd. Normally, he didn't want to make it worse, but since Gandalf employed his service to the Ringbearer, he'd come to trust in Gandalf's judgment.

"He's right. In fact, he's the reason I've got the Ring thus far unscathed."

As the Ring showed the glowing writing on it, the council was as awestruck as the Elf King was, save for the Dwarves, Darkwolf, and Kira before Boromir and Elrond spoke.

"Isildur's Bane. The Halfling."

"What shall we do with it then, this mightiest of all weapons? We cannot keep it, we cannot destroy it by normal means. Sauron, who forged it, looks for his Ring, and Nekron, who desires it, searches for its power, too."

Bilbo considered it easy to remember as he spoke what Teegra told him before.

"It's clear what we should do. If Mount Doom created it, it can destroy it just as easily. Teegra told me this herself before she departed to Fire Keep with Gandalf."

"Then I see no other road forbid but the most fearful: The Road Into Mordor. And Teegra is wise to suggest it. We must send the Ring to the Fire where it was made: Mount Doom."

Hearing this, Boromir became vexed at the idea of it as he spoke.

"What foolishness is this?! Why do you speak of hiding and destroying?! The Ring could save all Middle-Earth!"

Hearing Boromir's questionable opinion, Elrond spoke against him.

"Have you heard nothing? It is Sauron's Ring. To wield it, you would have to become Sauron. I will not touch it!"

With that, Darkwolf spoke up next.

"Not I. Our one hope lies in foolishness, Boromir. The Dark Lord conceived his son as the next in line to wield it. Anyone out of that order is doomed to corruption, no matter the intention. He will wait until one of us tries to use it, follow every move we make. And it is just possible that neither Sauron nor Nekron will notice the small, quiet feet walking into peril, into Mordor."

As Bilbo heard this, he got the idea of where Darkwolf was getting at as he stood up and spoke.

"Very well. It's plain enough what you're getting at, Darkwolf. Bilbo, the Bumbling Burglar, started this affair, and Bilbo has better finish it, or himself. I will take the Ring for as long as I can to Mordor, but I don't know the way."

Hearing this noble answer, Elrond stood up before speaking to him.

"I am now more than certain that this task is appointed to you, Bilbo. This is the hour of the Shire-folk, at last."

With that, Kira spoke up next while standing up.

"But surely you won't send him off alone?"

Sensing her concern, Elrond smiled to Kira before speaking to her.

"You, at least, shall go with him, Kira."

With that, Kira smiled to Bilbo before speaking to him.

"It's quite a pickle we got ourselves in, Bilbo."

"Yes, Kira. Quite a pickle, indeed."

With that, the company, with the addition of Darkwolf, Kira, Boromir, and even Gollum pressed on to the boats that were used by the men of Lake Town as they boarded about five boats for their numbers while Bilbo narrated.

"The next day, we found out that part of the river flowed under the caves. Deliveries of fine wines were brought up the river by human men who lived on Long Lake. Naturally, we asked if we could come along with them to their town to get one step closer to Mordor, though we left that disclosure out for their sake."

With that, as they traveled on the boats, the men of Long Lake sang their song while Kira's legs were swinging mildly in the water, the owner of which who enjoyed it as she smiled while Bilbo looked at the horizon a moment before Kira did the same, the both of them seeing Lonely Mountain from afar before Bilbo narrated.

"Heave, ho, splash, plump, rolling down the hole!

Heave, ho, bang, bump, roll, roll, rolling down the hole!

Down the swift dark stream you go,

Back to lands you once did know!

Where the forest wide and dim,

Stoops in shadow grey and grim!

Heave, ho, splash, plump, rolling down the hole!

Heave, ho, bang, bump, roll, roll, rolling down the hole!"

"We'd come far and through many adventures to see it, and now, we did not like the look of it at all."

As the group managed to get to a town surrounded by a lake via boats, Bilbo and Kira got out of the boats while Gollum was kept under watch by Darkwolf and Boromir while Bilbo narrated as their song finished.

"Down the swift dark stream you go,

Back to lands you once did know!

Float beyond the world of trees,

Out into the whispering breeze!

Heave, ho, splash, plump, rolling down the hole!

Heave, ho, bang, bump, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, roll, rolling down the hole!"

"Within hours, we'd reached the colony of humans called Lake Town. A precise, if not too imaginative men, for the village was actually built on the surface of the very lake created from Nekron's attack on Dale. Here, the descendants of the Men of Dale, still dated to dwell and do business under the shadow of Lonely Mountain."

As the Dwarves got off their boat next, Thorin saw fit to introduce himself to the people of Lake Town as he spoke.

"I am Thorin, grandson of King Under the Mountain. I have returned."

As Thorin's message got to the people of Dale, one among them, a bowman, stepped up towards Thorin and his company before he spoke.

"Hail, Thorin Oakenshield. I am Bard the Guardsman. We are honored by your presence. Your grandfather lives in our songs and legends. What help we can offer will be yours, and we trust to your gratitude, when Lord Nekron is killed and your kingdom is regained."

With that, the people of Lake Town cheered them on as Kira and Bilbo felt comforted by their praise.

Meanwhile, at Fire Keep, Jarol still watches over the distance with no sign of any Dragonhawks in sight, or his daughters. Thankfully, there was no sight of the glacier either as he could not see it. However, he could practically feel its cold presence drawing its breath upon him as he spoke to the approaching son that he'd had enough enough of waiting for them to attack.

"Enough. I want you to go to Nekron, to his mother Juliana, and... to the Dark Lord, Sauron. We must negotiate."

As expected, Taro did not like it one bit as he retorted quickly.

"With the enemy?"

"Although Sauron is one exception, no man is wholly evil. Surely there is some way to appeal to Nekron."

"You expect his mercy? Father, do you know what he will do if I enter his land under a flag of truce?"

"We have no choice! Sauron has already taken the Nine Rings of Men and created the Ringwraiths. Think what Sauron would do next if we don't do this. We must take that risk. You must take that risk, my son, for the sake of Fire Keep. For the sake of Middle-Earth. For the sake of your sisters."

With that, Jarol bore a sad countenance to his son as he spoke again.

"Go, ride swiftly."

After a moment of silence, in which Taro nodded, Jarol hugged his son, worried he might never see him again, unaware of the approaching army of Isengard to Fire Keep, aiming to lay siege to it.