(( Soundtrack suggestion: Listen to the track "Treebeard" from The Two Towers soundtrack ))
(( All credit for the soundtrack goes to Howard Shore ))
The ring of power had been missing to the eyes of Mordor for nearly 400 years. Silas had been sent out of the land to search for the ring and to find sources who knew about it. But because he was a Nephilim, he was denied entrance to every large city and small town that he tried to enter. After trying only three cities, Silas abandoned his task and turned to the towns for food and shelter, but the towns closed their gates to him, leaving him to survive like an animal. The only two gates that were open to Silas were those of Mordor and Isengard.
In only the first year after Sauron's fall, the dark lord began to work deceitfully inside of the wizard, Saruman. He needed a puppet, but the minds of wizards were much harder to poison than those of men. When at last Sauron broke into Saruman's mind, the wizard called Silas to his tower.
The sky was cloudy as Silas marched through the gate of Isengard, but he was taken aback as he made his way towards the tower … Something was not right. The area was beautiful! There were many luscious trees and blooming flowerbeds all over, however, the aura of orcs was strong. But there was not a single orc in sight. Silas slowed his pace as he looked in this direction and that, hoping to see one somewhere, but he came to the foot of the tower without seeing a single orc. He gave up his search for and refocused on the task at hand.
He stood at the bottom of the stairway that led to the door of the tower, wondering how to approach the door. But before he could do anything the door opened and the wizard Saruman walked out of his tower and down the stairway until he stood mere inches away from Silas.
The wizard examined Silas from head to toe with a facial expression so piercing that Silas felt that his heart would stop beating if he looked the wizard in the eyes, but he did anyway; being too prideful to show intimidation. When the wizard finished his examination he looked down at the young being and scoffed.
"How disappointing," He began. "I was hoping for something a little more savage, a little more robust. A little taller would have given me even a glimmer of confidence in you."
Silas was not pleased with being talked down to, it made him angry. "What do you want from me?" He snarled back at the wizard.
Saruman raised a disapproving eyebrow at Silas. "Come."
The wizard turned and began to go back into the tower, Silas followed. The inside of the tower was dark and there was an eerie feeling in the air. Saruman led the young Maia into a dark and empty room. Once they were inside the door closed and locked itself, but Silas was not alarmed. If Saruman was working for Sauron, then he would have no reason to harm Silas.
Saruman's eyes narrowed. "Your father has discharged the Nazgûl, which can only mean one thing; the ring of power has been discovered."
Silas felt his chest tighten underneath a piercing sensation of surprise that left him standing mouth agape and speechless, therefore Saruman continued to speak.
"Do you know what this means, Silas?"
The awestruck Maia could only respond by shaking his head, causing Saruman to scoff at him once again.
"This means that the free people of Middle Earth shall finally pay their overdue fear and respect to your father and his mighty nation. The forests will burn, the ponds will evaporate, the flowers will wither away and the men and elves shall at last meet their final days…"
Silas felt an uneasy pressure building up inside of him as an odd question formed in his mind. He didn't even know why he was so eager to ask the question, but he feared that Saruman would be greatly displeased if he asked. But Silas lost control of his tongue and broke into Saruman's speech, "What exactly have the free people done to deserve this fate?"
Saruman was taken aback, and his faith in Silas was reduced to even less than ashes being blown away by the wind. It was then that Saruman realized that Silas's black blood had yet to boil up to its purpose. Though the Maia family was an angry one, there was a certain age that which their anger would begin to show, Silas was only a little too young for this to happen naturally, therefore, Saruman knew that he would have to induce it in order for his plan to unfold successfully. He took a step towards Silas and widened his eyes to form a frightening glare.
"What have the free people done to deserve a fate other than this?" Saruman began. "Do not think that my eyes see only what happens within my borders; I have been watching you for many years, and I have seen the way the free people have been treating you. Like a disfigured leper, or a dog infested with biting fleas did the elves turn you away from their cities. The men hid from you like they would hide from a dragon, leaving you to turn to the living habits of wild animals. The men offered you no food, no drink and no shelter, and the elves have forever banished you from Valinor, why do you think that is?"
"That is because they fear me." Silas declared.
"And they fear you because they know that you are much more powerful than they are." Saruman hissed. "Your father has set a great example for you; he had the entire world in his hands, all living beings were bowing down to him. And the throne that he sat upon will belong to you someday. It is certain that the power and rage living deep inside of your father's spirit will one day be belittled by you, and the free people know this. That is why they deserve their fate, because they are so small and so useless, much unlike you."
Silas stood silently, much to Saruman's dismay. The wizard took another step closer to the young Maia.
"Do you not see why your father and I are working so hard to regain control of this world?" Saruman asked.
Again Silas said nothing.
"It it because we are preparing the throne of Mordor for you to sit upon, as the very highest ruler to ever rule Middle Earth. You are the very last member of your family, and you are more powerful than all of your ancestors. Surely you will rule this world with a mighty hand and a sharp blade, and we must prepare the world for this before it comes to pass. But you must help us to help you."
Silas was convinced. His father had spoken many times about the exact things Saruman spoke of now, and every word that came from his mouth sounded better than the one before it. By the time Saruman had finished his speech, Silas was eager for the throne, and was ready to do anything to get it.
"Tell me what I must do and I will do it." Silas exclaimed.
Saruman raised his eyebrows and his heart began to race with excitement. This is what he had been waiting for; the door to Silas's mind was now wide open. Saruman slowly walked towards Silas, and leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"You must travel west and find the Nazgûl. Your old friend, Khamûl, holds your further instructions."
Just as Saruman was finishing the sentence, he lowered the tip of his staff until it was just beside Silas's head. Silas failed to notice where the staff had been placed, but suddenly he felt an unbearable pressure fill his skull. He winced and fell to his knees under the great amount of pain, but as soon as he hit the ground, the pain and the pressure were gone. He pressed a fist against his head and began breathing rapidly in an attempt to compose himself.
"What did you do to me?" He asked sourly.
But the wizard failed to respond. He simply stared with a blank expression on his face. Silas knew better than to ask the same question twice. He simply rose to his feet and glared at Saruman, who didn't utter a single word. The door behind Silas unlocked and opened, and the elf quickly left the room, almost afraid of Saruman and eager to leave his presence.
Silas was surprised to find a black horse waiting for him outside of the tower, and there with the horse stood one impish orc. Silas approached the orc, who teased him by bowing in a deceitful manner. Silas was angered by this, but said nothing. He tore the reins from the orcs hands, climbed up into the already blood stained saddle, and hastily rode out of Isengard, and began traveling west as Saruman has instructed him.
Meanwhile, Saruman had wandered into another room of the tower. There in the center of the dark room was the palantir of Orthanc, sitting lifelessly. Saruman stood in front of the palantir for several moments before speaking into it.
"The hook has been placed … Your bait is ready."
Quickly and swiftly, orange clouds began spinning around inside of the palantir and the eye of Sauron came forth, pleasured to hear the words that came from Saruman's mouth.