Return of the Witch King

Chapter 9

"Excellent, I knew a sophisticated being as yourself would understand. My Master, oh, it was terrible what happened to him. I so vividly remember that moment, when he finally lost the Ring for good.

I didn't even have to see it destroyed with my own eyes. I could tell when it happened when his confident posture wavered and he retreated. When his graceful motions changed into sporadic and his aura decreased its dark intensity. He has been decimating armies up to that moment, of all forces combined, but then, the Uruk Hai were suddenly necessary to protect him.
I was amazed then and horrified later when his body shuddered and collapsed onto itself. But that wasn't the worst of it either. The elves did something, or perhaps it was natural happenstance, but his spirit did not stay behind.

It did not try to possess a body or an object of power. It was there, and then it started dispersing. Some borrow wights began feeding on it. It was outrageous. My master has truly fallen, and had no hope of recovering. Losing essence in the face of the feeding frenzy the likes of which I have never seen.

All that remained was some murky hint of dark shroud, only visible through my magical senses, and eventually even it drifted away through the planes of existence. I don't think Sauron is coming back, unless it be through a direct interference of the Valar, or some power similar to it in magnitude. I have not liked my bondage to the Ring, but I must admit, I did not expect it to be destroyed so soon," the Witch King added, his hesitation turning into curiosity at the sight of Orc captain Trom aided by smaller Orcs as he was carrying the boy Ralak closer to them.

The Witch King believed the enormous Orc could have carried the child prophet all by himself but likely chose to exert caution, so as to avoid hurting such a valuable commodity. There should be a promotion in it for him, the leader of the Wraiths privately decided.

"Shall you take over where your former leader left off, then," Smaug asked, vaguely interested.
"Indirectly perhaps. My Master was too consumed with improving the world, and wreaking his revenge against the arrogant elves. I have shared his goals, but as I have been elevated by the Ring, I became more satisided and less interested in wars.

Although I am currently engaged in preparation for another, and it may sound like a contradiction of sorts, I am beginning a war for a different reason entirely. The Udun seems to wish for one thing currently, To remove the taint of the outsider from his creatures.

I suppose that would in turn augment his powers, but that is a motif I understand. That is something I consider just and would be eager to represent. Sauron has lost himself even before he was formally destroyed, and he kept me a prisoner of his unholy desires

I may function as his lieutenant but in truth, I think of myself as starting over. With a purer goal in mind. Expansion of magic, its detailed exploration. Even my own freedom sounds rather tempting, considering I could not have imagined it when my Dark Master was alive.

So, yes, I will be in charge. But also no, I am not simply picking up where he left off, I am hopefully starting something new altogether," the Witch King happily shared his thoughts with the one creature who should understand the magnitude of his new desires.

Smaug's gaze turned to the Orc bringing the child in, and his expression held slightly more interest as he scanned the situation.

"What do you believe caused the damage? The pressure of being the vessel, perhaps," the dragon speculated, hoping that The Witch King knew more of how the child was being used precisely as it may factor into Smaug's attempt and how the dragon would orchestrate it.

"There are several factors to consider here. First of all being an Orc is not necessary conducive to receiving prophecies. In practical terms, Orcs are made to fight, not to be wise. There was one experimental brand of Orcs my Master has been working on in his last days.

They were supposed to be thinner than the rest, and the hold of the Outsider in their blood diminished, allowing their original Elven nature to take over and expand them. The Master never admitted to completing the project, and the boy does not look to belong fully to the new breed of Numo Hai. He is stuck in middle of two Orc species, and that, I suspect contributed to his difficulties.

Secondly, he is a growing boy, and his mind might not be fully developed.

Thirdly and most importantly, he reached too far, into the depth of the Angband fortress and saw there unspeakable horrors. Including some currently unnamed scaly monster using captive Balrog for his playthings.

I think the child was very much traumatized, before I could break his trance with my magic. If you could, perhaps check his mind first for any strange spells. Secondly, if possible without extreme damage, his memory of the fortress can be erased, to save his resources. I don't truly need to know any more details at this point, it is too early for that.

I hope the Udun knows what it is doing better than my Master had. I keep feeling that a goblin would be better suited for absorbing such sensitive information, but who am I to question the one who restored me back to life? Perhaps the Udun counted on your arrival and your ability to fix the child up?" the Nazgul hopefully suggested.

Smaug listened silently with no interruptions, mind playing over the options, sifting for the best one. "Yes I was about to say that those thinner smarter orcs he was after sound like goblins," Smaug said with a low rumbling chuckle, deciding to address the easier and most amusing point first. T

hen with a small sigh he focused on the boy, his memories and brain structure. The scaled monster, could it be a dragon, he wondered hopefully with some anticipation as he delved for the memory. He attempted to be gentle, not because he particularly cared, but because this Orc could still be useful, so no reason to accidentally break it.

It seemed to be a large lizard rather than a dragon. It walked on 2 legs like a human and served another androgynous looking creature that also looked human but certainly wasn't. "A demon...The scaled creature is like a large lizard walking on 2 legs upright and it serves a demon not of this world. A mad demon if we're after making matters worse," Smaug said, tone flat due to the fact he was concentrating.