Chapter 13 – The Return to Dol Guldur
TA 2850
Approaching The Fortress
Gandalf moved through the woods with extreme caution. It was rough going because the hill was steep, and he had to fight his way through a dense growth of brambles.
He reviewed what he knew. The Istari came to Arda to contain the Presence in Southern Mirkwood, which they were told was Sauron taken form again. Radagast identified the Necromancer of Dol Guldur as the source of the Presence.
After a while, the rest of the White Council came to believe the Presence was a Nazgûl. The Witch King reappeared, but settled in Minas Morgul. As far as anyone could tell, he never went to Dol Guldur. Gandalf was the only one who still thought it might be Sauron.
The others decided the Necromancer was, in fact, Khamûl the Easterling. Gandalf hoped so. He was afraid of Sauron.
Gandalf was determined to locate the Presence that occupied this place, and see for himself what it was. His plan was to get as close as possible, and observe from a position of safety without being seen himself.
But even if Sauron wasn't here, Nazgûl are dangerous too. Gandalf had no desire to meet one face to face, especially not on its home territory where its strength was greatest.
Thráin's Cell
Gandalf found Thráin in his cell, and took the map and key from him for safekeeping.
But that wasn't why he'd come. He was here to identify the Presence that dwelt in Dol Guldur, eight hundred years after his failed first attempt. But this time, he knew his way around the fortress, and moved through it with confidence.
His plan was to explore the vaults and corridors of Dol Guldur, the dungeons, guard rooms, and kitchens. He would try to be as invisible as possible, eavesdropping on the conversations of kitchen servants and guard captains, learning as much as possible.
The Kitchens
The kitchens were never empty at this time of day. He was taking a risk by being there. He didn't know who the Necromancer was, but he hoped to find out by eavesdropping on the servants' conversations. At some point, one of them was bound to say their Master's name.
He concealed himself behind a pantry cupboard and waited.
Pretty soon, he heard footsteps and flattened himself against the wall in the shadows behind the cupboard. The footsteps stopped, and he heard the rattle of a heavy tray being set down.
"It's funny about waiting at table. It's like we're invisible. I sometimes think they forget we're there." a young woman said.
"They do forget. And they don't realize we eavesdrop on them all the time." an older woman answered her.
"Shall I be the one to tell them?"
"And get yourself sacked?"
"Not me. My Mum relies on my wages. She's a widow, and my brothers and sister are still small."
"Just keep your head down and do your job, girl. You didn't see nothing, you didn't hear nothing."
News Of The One
"Do you want to know what they said in there?" the young woman asked.
"No, but I'm sure you'll tell me." the older one replied.
"I overheard something that could make us all rich! They said they would pay gold for News of the One."
"The One what?"
"That I don't know. It's not like I could admit to listening and ask them. A pity, that. I sure could use some of that gold."
"Except you don't have News of the One. You hardly ever leave the village."
News Of Isildur's Heir
"And I don't know any Isildur, either. They're looking for him, too."
"He knows where it is, then?"'
The maids' voices receded into the next room, and Gandalf slipped out of his hiding place. As they left, Gandalf caught a glimpse of them. He was surprised to see that both women were orcs.
Hallways And Corridors
Gandalf knew it was unlikely he'd find what he was looking for in the utilitarian parts of the fortress. He needed to find the formal spaces, the receiving rooms, council chambers, and living quarters of the nobility.
Behind the kitchens, he found the passageway the serving maid with the tray must have used. It took him to a wide corridor he recognized from his first visit. It would lead him to the part of the fortress he was looking for.
Until now, all the passageways he'd explored were tunnels cut from the living rock, their walls as rough as the sides of boulders. Rushes jammed into cracks in the rock provided the only light.
This corridor had smooth walls, faced in stone blocks carefully fitted together. It was lit by torches supported by decorative ironwork. Gandalf noted the width of the corridor, the height of its ceiling, the fine workmanship. This was the part of the fortress occupied by the nobility.
Gandalf moved down the corridor cautiously, pausing every few steps to flatten himself against the wall and listen.
The Enemy In His Lair
The corridor led to a pair of arched doors covered with ornamental ironwork. One of them was ajar, letting light from the room spill into the corridor.
Through the opening, Gandalf saw a long table and a dozen high backed chairs. This must be a Council Chamber. Inside, he could hear the low murmur of voices, but he couldn't make out the words.
He pressed himself the wall behind the open door and moved closer. He tried to look into the room through the gap behind the door and the wall. He could only see a sliver of the room at a time, so he moved his head back and forth very carefully, trying to piece together a larger scene.
He saw two or three figures in black standing near the middle of the table, their backs to him. He felt their presence, heavy and cold, and utterly menacing.
"All right then, I'll deal with it." one of them said to the others, and took his leave.
He turned around, and Gandalf got a good look at him. A Nazgûl.
The creature moved toward the door. His walk was fluid and graceful, like a deer. Gandalf knew that one of the Nine had been a Ranger in life, a stalker and tracker. Of all of them, this one was the most likely to discover Gandalf's hiding place. He held his breath and waited, his mouth dry.
The Nazgûl pushed the door open wider, just enough to slip through the opening. He didn't bump Gandalf with the door, and he didn't turn and shut it behind him. Gandalf was afraid one of the others would call him and make him turn around, but they didn't, and the danger passed.
Gandalf knew that Nazgûl often traveled in groups of two or three. Half a dozen occupied Minas Morgul right now. The Witch King had been alone in Angmar at Carn Dûm, but that was unusual. Gandalf needed to get a good look at the other two figures to discover whether they were Nazgûl, too.
Eye Contact
Now that the door was open wider than before, the gap on the hinge side was wider also, which gave him a better view. He moved as close as he dared, and found he could see the whole room at once. For some reason, he thought of Eönwë, herald of Manwë. He pushed the thought away and focused on the task at hand.
The two figures he'd seen earlier were still there, standing near the table with their backs to him. Gandalf saw what he'd missed before. There was another person in the room, seated at the table. He was barely visible because the others were standing in front of him.
Gandalf thought he could just make out the edge of a hood and the hem of a sleeve, but they were all wearing black, so it was hard to be sure.
Gandalf heard the murmur of conversation, laughter, and the scraping of a chair as it was pushed back. He watched as the seated figure rose to his feet. He was taller than the others by half a head. He began to speak to one of the others, but paused. He appeared to be listening to something.
The figure turned around slowly, scanning the room until his eye fell on the spot where Gandalf was hiding. Gandalf never took his eyes off him. That was a mistake. Without meaning to, Gandalf made eye contact with him through the gap between the door and the wall.
They recognized each other in the same instant. Gandalf saw him clap a hand over his mouth, his eyes wide with shock.
Headlong Flight
Gandalf slammed the door and sealed it with the strongest spell he knew, then took off running. Terrible sounds pursued him, cursing, screaming, and the sounds of violence being done to the door. He knew it couldn't hold for long, so he collapsed the roof of the corridor.
Coughing from stone dust, he made for the nearest way out. Already he could hear the shouting of orders and the footfalls of soldiers running in all directions, but he was able to evade them. He ran without stopping until he was through the tunnel and safely outside, and didn't stop until he was deep among the trees.
He looked back at the fortress and shivered. Now he knew.