A/N: EDIT: Expanded some scenes.
For the record, Shelob's still part of the pairing, to address someone's concerns.
Aaaand I'm back. Computer's working, and I found my lost notes on this again, thank goodness.
Didn't have to update today -ahead of schedule with all the double updates- but I wanted to.
Still pecking away at things. Might need t dust off an old copy of the game~!
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this story, and others. If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular? POOF! Gone. Completely. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a one.
Now, then. Hope this makes ya smile.
Sorry about that.
"We taking a break, then? Good idea. Gotta keep the legs limber and the mind sharp.
Mordor will exhaust you if ya let it. And once your guard is down; who knows what will leap out of the shadows at you.
They say Mordor feasts on the weak, but really? It feeds on the tired and the distracted."
~An Orc.
We Bring War
All was in readiness.
Fragment though she was, little Shelob couldn't help but be proud of it all.
Of the army amassed before her, the fort in the distance, and the inevitable conquest to come.
Even now her blood sang in her veins, eager for action, the lessening of life, and the shiny trinkets she might find on the corpses to come. The irony wasn't lost on her. She was but a tiny piece of a grater whole; powerful perhaps, yet lesser nonetheless. "Mother" had crafted her for the sake of observation, and while she could fight if it came to it, her talents lay in the realm of observation and subterfuge. She was here to watch and learn, and in learning, grow; and through her eyes "Mother" would see the true measure of the man she'd thrown her lot in with.
And yet for all that, she was still herself. She was still Shelob.
Young Shelob had done much learning these last few weeks. She'd discovered she rather enjoyed fighting. Just as she liked shiny things-a great many things, come to think of it.
She loved the hot wind of Nurn in her hair. Reveled in the dirt earth beneath her bare feet. Rejoiced in the wary eyes upon her, every marching Orc and Ologo giving her the due diligence she deserved. Many were wary of her, most feared her, and a choice few -such as Bruz and Kruk- respected her. As it should be. Theirs might be a small warband for now, only several dozen strong, but it would grow in time. Of that much she had faith.
Speaking of faith...
"Alright!" a familiar voice hallooed at the head of the column. "Lets do this! Oi, Kruk! Get those siege engines up here!"
Bruz barked a booming laugh in response. "Dibs on the overlord~!"
"Oi! Don't get greedy, already promised ya the fort...
Of course they did not answer to her. Only him.
The ghost of a smile touched the Fragment's face as they made ready. Say what you would about this "Naruto" fellow, but he knew how to inspire those under his banner. A man befriending monsters. Truly he must have a silver tongue. Sauron would have scoffed at such. Lord of Lies that he was. But this new "Lord" told no such lies. He was honest to a fault, free with both rewards and rebukes alike...
.
..
...and if she was wholly honest with herself, terribly kind.
Endearing perhaps, but worrying all the same. Kindness could often be a weakness.
She could only pray such kindness wouldn't get him killed in the battles to come. Mordor ate kindness for breakfast.
"Is that so?!" Naruto barked a laugh suddenly, startling her out of her reverie. "C'mon down here and fight me, then! We can make this easy!"
"You must have rocks in your head!" the Overlord boomed back at them from his perch on high, returning her to reality. "This is Mordor! And you are one man! You and your lads will die like the rest!"
"Funny thing, that." Naruto crossed his fingers together with a cheery grin. "Where you see one...I see...a legion."
Smoke billowed. Again. And again. Yet again, now.
Shelob leaned back, eyes wide. Suddenly their little warband didn't look quite so small.
Not a pace away, Az-Laar perked up like an eager puppy. He sensed the turning of the tides. "We bring war now?"
Naruto grinned at him. "We bring war."
"YES! The great Olog banged a fist against his chest. "No more talk! WE! BRING! WAR!"
"You heard the big lug. And that means...! Bruz hefted his towering mace. "TAKE THE FORT!"
Everyone went mad.
Shelob couldn't be sure who charged first; whether it was the defenders, or one of their own band. Didn't matter. Someone did, and the dam broke. Arrows whizzed by. Catapaults boomed. Orcs died in droves, but enough of their side made it to the walls; from there they were up and and over, racing into the fray.
A quick hop, skip and a jump was all it took to land her on the other side.
Naruto didn't bother with such frivolities. He raised one hand and walked to the door, a great blue sphere keening in his palm...
An awful crunch had Shelob turning away, shielding her face with one arm. Wooden splinters and molten bits of metal sprayed through the air. She looked back and found the gate gone. Orcs rushed through, hollering at the top of their lungs.
A shadow fell over her as she squinted into the haze...against her better judgement, Shelob looked up.
"Oi, what's this now?!" A massive Olog scowled down at her, swathing her in his shadow. "A kid? Who do you think you are?! Scram, brat, or we'll have you for supper!"
Ahhh...she knew this one. Bruz had described that helmet. The voice was near identical at that. T'would seem she'd found one of his Blood Brothers.
But she took issue with that remark of his just now. Supper? No, no, no...
"You think I'm weak?" Shelob's fragment smiled. "How...
It was not a pleasant smile.
...adorable."
Daz roared and swiped at her. Powerful, but slow. She caught his arm, flowed up and around him, wrenching the limb back behind his arm. With the other she kicked out, causing his knee to buckle. He toppled forward like a fallen elm and crashed to the ground. Still gripping his arm, she plonked down on his back and held him fast.
"What was that about supper?" she cooed in his ear. "Perhaps I should ignore Bruz and take a bite out of you instead...?"
Daz gulped. Paused, as her words sank in. "...think I'm reconsidering m'loyalties. Can I switch sides?"
Little Shelob patted his helmet.
"Good boy."
A/N: Aaaand scene. Siege continues next chapter, which ought to be thrice the length of this chappy~!
Sorry for the delay, I've done my research on Orcs and Ologs, so we ought to have some more intersting bits coming up.
I swear, my bosses are trying to kill me, they just keep giving me more and more work, and I'm just one person...T_T
So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
And enjoy the Previews!
As ever:
SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!
PLOT DETAILS AHOY!
YE BE WARNED!
Read at your own risk!
(Previews!)
"You are no better than the monsters you command."
"And you're an annoying elf, lady. Get out of here before I tan your hide."
Ratbag raised his hands. "Mercy, m'lord? I mean, we was fixin' to take over this place yourself, but then you came along...
"Tough. Promised it to Bruz."
"Nazgul, ha!" as Kruk looked on, the boss chuckled softly. Blue eyes pulsed red. "That's cute."
He caught the ringwraith by the throat. Held him in the air.
"Give your master a message...
Shelob plonked down in his lab, landing nimbly on one knee.
"My hair is filthy. Would you mind brushing it?"
"Greedy girl...
Talion blinked.
Once. Twice. Thrice, now.
"What manner of waking nightmare is this?"
A waking nightmare indeed; for what else could possibly befriend an Orc? He knew better than to approach carelessly. He would not be fooled. Nor would he be taken in by that smile.
R&R~!
