Disclaimer: See Chapter 2. I should also state now that although I have quoted the Bible I am not particularly religious and am not attempting to thrust it at anyone. I merely felt that these sayings were rather comforting and fitted the subject matter of the chapter very appropriately.

Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father's leave. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. - Matthew 10:29-31:

Chapter 48 – Death is only the beginning

Somewhere in Beleriand…

"Why will it not just go away?" Gil-galad commented crossly. "Surely it has what it needs; it has flown close enough over our heads to get enough information to see it through for the next yeni." He turned to Olorin. "You said that your chip spoke to it. Can it not answer it and tell it to depart?"

Olorin shrugged. "It's obviously tailing us for some reason, which is puzzling because I would have thought it would have run out of range by now."

Jim squinted up into the sky, shading his eyes with one hand as he did so. "Hmm. Not so sure about that. Celebrimbor and Erestor said that it first buzzed them near where the orc had gone to ground and we are backtracking to there. It stands to reason that if it had enough range to buzz them there in the first place, then it has enough to follow us back there. I agree with Chief, I think it's actually following him now."

He looked over at Eonwe who had been silent for some time now. His eyes were not silvered over, which normally indicated that he was in communion with those from the West, so it meant that he was merely deep in thought. "What do you think Boss?" He poked Eonwe in his arm.

Eonwe who had been lost in thought started slightly. He was not accustomed to being poked by anyone, let alone mortals. "Huh? What do I think about what?" He asked in a querulous tone that matched Gil-galad's almost exactly.

"The UAV." Jim pointed heavenwards. "We reckon it's following the Chief here. Can't think why it would though."

It was certain that the Herald was not currently firing off all four thrusters and hadn't been since he learnt that Kim was now reunited with Gary. His normally ultra-disciplined thought processes kept insisting on veering off towards imaginary scenarios, mostly consisting of Kim locked in Gary's arms and them having a passionate reunion in his tent. The idea infuriated him beyond belief, even though he fully realised how ridiculous his jealousy was. He had to repeat to himself that he and Gary were the same person, over and over again.

Therefore his subsequent momentary lapse in diplomacy and apparent inability to keep secrets was purely down to this lack of due concentration. For the first time in his existence he blurted out something that was far better kept to himself for the moment.

"It's probably sending messages back to the SAS soldiers who have come through to find you all." He said absently.

A deathly silence followed and the distracted Herald discovered that his horse had come to a halt and he was now surrounded by a number of accusing pairs of eyes.

"Um…" Was the only thing that came out of his mouth, right alongside the tide of red that swept up his neck and face.

Gil-galad brought his horse closer and grabbed hold of the Herald's mount's bridle. "What?" The complexion of his face had also darkened somewhat, but it was a more purplish sort of hue. "What are you talking about now?"

Eonwe looked wildly at Olorin who was sitting quietly while rolling his eyes heavenward. He shrugged at the Herald.

"You're on your own here." He said with such a cheerful grin that Eonwe wanted to throttle him. "Let me know how it works out for you."

Jim looked shaken. "The SAS are here? When? How? Why?"

"Four very good questions." The High King said grimly. "To which I would like to know the answers now, if not sooner."

The Herald looked utterly stricken, so Olorin decided to take pity on him and help him out a bit. "Well, it stands to reason I suppose, where the UAV came the soldiers followed. And of course the Valar would have no choice but to let Lord Eonwe here know as soon as they did. I imagine he was waiting for the right moment..."

His voice trailed off as the High King's complexion turned to puce. Ereinion's handsome features contorted as he tried to gain some control over the desire to ram Aiglos up the Maia's anal orifice.

Everyone watched with fascination, including Eonwe, as the High King's colour faded to something approximating normal flesh colour. The Herald could have kicked himself for his lack of control and concentration.

That's what love does to you. Olorin's voice sounded in his mind.

I do not like it. Eonwe forced between gritted teeth. I do not want to be in love. I cannot afford to be in love.

Suck it up and deal. Came Olorin's impudent reply.

Eonwe turned to look at his fellow Maia. "Do me a favour will you?" He said tersely.

Olorin smiled widely at him. "If I can, of course I will."

"Don't do me any favours and stop helping me." Eonwe knew how petulant he sounded, but fortunately Olorin took it in the right way and burst out laughing.

Gil-galad finally found his voice. "THE RIGHT MOMENT?" He thundered loud enough to scare a few of the horses. The High King turned to Cirdan and Celeborn. "What does he mean by the right moment?" His voice had taken on a plaintive note. "We have not had one of those since this whole ridiculous fiasco started."

Eonwe spread his hands out helplessly and decided on an expression of contrition; another emotion that the Herald had not had personal experience of in his long existence. "I am sorry. I really am. You are right; there is no right moment for that kind of information. I should have told you at the outset, but we were so busy trying to catch up with the orc, it just never seemed to be the right time to bring it up. And my mind is elsewhere…" His head drooped. "That is no excuse, I realise…I am ashamed of myself."

Immediately the High King's glare softened and became one of sympathy. All of them knew how the Herald felt about Kim and now she wasn't here with him and he was trying to come to terms with perhaps never seeing her or his child again. He reached out and patted Eonwe's arm soothingly.

"Ah well, it is understandable. I suppose there is no harm done. It is not as if we can stop these soldiers. They are already here, although what it means for us ultimately is of very real concern. Are these soldiers like Garee and you?" Gil-galad looked at Olorin for an answer.

Olorin shifted uncomfortably. "Well…um…not exactly like Gary. More like what I used to be really."

Glorfindel drew up beside the High King once again. "My Lord, much as I do not wish to interrupt this little discussion, we need to make haste and the orc could be escaping as we speak. The scouts have already spotted what could be a large group of orc only a few leagues from where Celebrimbor and Erestor left him. If we tarry here…" He left the rest unsaid, but all of them knew what he meant.

"Of course, of course." Gil-galad turned his horse around. "We can do nothing about the soldiers and there will be time enough to discuss the ramifications of their presence here once we deal with the orc. Let us ride and talk later. We will deal with this orc for once and for all, hopefully before his friends reach him."

Glorfindel gave the signal for the party to ride on.

ooOoo

Thangorodrim, northern Beleriand

There certainly was a large party of orc and they were heading towards the shallow cave in a small mountain range where Thadak lay in a state of delirium. However they could not be termed his friends under any circumstances.

Morgoth was well aware that the orc was on his last legs. He also knew that the infernal High King of the Noldor who kept managing to rally the remnants of the elves of Ennorath together despite Morgoth's best efforts to divide and conquer them, was much nearer at hand than the party of orcs was.

It had now become a race to reach Thadak first. If Morgoth's party under the direct leadership of Sauron himself took the lead, they would win the weapon and a huge advantage. Something that would most certainly win the war for them. If the Elves reached him first then they would strip away that advantage, although then, the outcome of the war would be as it always would have been, a triumph to superior forces, whoever they belonged to.

On the other hand if Sauron and his party managed to reach the Elves before they got too far away, then battle could be joined and the weapon could still be won. Morgoth decided that this could be turned into a win-win situation for him.

However fate had yet to play her final hand. If Morgoth had been aware of modern parlance, he would have known the old saying "It isn't over until the large lady sings." And she hadn't even begun to practice her scales yet.

ooOoo

A part of Thadak knew full well that he was dying. The only cool part of him was the hard metal of the very thing that had ultimately led to his demise as it lay against his back. His leathery skin was now grey coloured, but mottled in places with what looked like small red spots.

His body was wracked with fever as the poisons in his blood, which modern doctors call septicemia, spread like wildfire through his system. His immune system had long since ceased to be able to fight it off.

At first the chills and spiking fevers had caused him to drift in and out of consciousness. He would then wake up abruptly after a few seconds and be aware that his breathing was too fast, almost like the panting of a warg when overheated. This was accompanied by the sensation that his heart was beating far too fast, which of course it was.

Eventually he would fall into shock as his body temperature decreased. His blood pressure would fall and the confusion he felt would become a lot worse and he would rapidly decline to the point where he went into septic shock. Death would not be far behind.

It was around this point that Thadak became aware that there was another presence in the cave. He desperately tried to sit up and croak out a challenge, but was unable to move. His vision was clouded with fever and he could not make out if this was friend or foe. However, he managed to get enough strength from someone to ask who was there. Not that it mattered really; Thadak couldn't have fought his way out of a paper bag.

The dark robed figure came closer. The hood of the rich cloak it wore was trimmed with sable and it partly hid its features.

"Who are you?" Thadak managed croak once more. "I cannot see your face." He slumped back, exhausted with the supreme effort used in just speaking a few words.

The figure lifted the hood with two slender white hands and thrust it back to reveal perhaps the most beautiful male being the orc had ever beheld in his entire life. Morgoth and his lieutenants had beauty to be sure, but it was rent through with blackness and evil. This creature exuded beauty, light and compassion. Thadak let out a weak cry of awe.

The figure stooped down and placed a cool hand on the orc's brow. Thadak shuddered and tried to speak again, but the being gently placed two fingers against the cracked leather of his lips and shook his head.

"Hush child, try to rest a little." His tone was so filled with compassion that Thadak wanted to weep, but no tears would come. The moisture in his body had been expended as he lay in a fevered state.

"Help..." He croaked. "Wh…who?"

Namo smiled softly. "I can do nothing for your sickness child, it has gone too far and must now run its course, but somewhere, deep in your fever, you sent out a call of despair and there is one who heard it. I am Lord Namo, he who looks after the Halls of Waiting in Mandos, where all of the fea who answer the call of Mandos come for judgment. I have been sent by Eru, who heard your call, to answer it."

Thadak clawed desperately at Namo's sleeve. "It pains and burns, ai I am dying. Why would this Eru hear any call of mine? I have killed, maimed and fed." The brief spurt of energy that it took him to say all of these things dissipated and he slumped back again. "I am unworthy." He whispered, almost to himself, because he had almost decided that this being was a figment of his fever and nothing more. Yet somewhere deep inside him a small spark of hope lingered.

Namo gently stroked the greasy stringy hair. "Eru, who formed all the stars of heaven, knows whenever a sparrow falls from the sky. He loves all of His creation. He loves you too! You are worth more than many sparrows to Eru!"

Namo could see the confusion in the orc's fevered vision and he knew that it would not be long before this one's hroa failed, yet he rallied enough to ask another question.

"What must I do?" It was faint and childlike, but it was the question that the Vala had been awaiting.

"Nothing now child, your hroa fails you. Soon you will fall into a deep sleep from which there is no awakening, not in this life anyway. Then only your fea, that which was before you were destroyed will remain. Then you must choose. You will either choose to remain houseless or you will choose to accompany me. If it is the former, then eventually your houseless spirit will be enchained by Morgoth or someone equally evil. If you choose the latter, then you will come to the place that all creatures come when they die. You are of Elven stock, which is why you dreamed of another place and time…another life. Therefore your fea will stand in Mahanaxar for judgment by the Valar and will reside in the Halls of Waiting until Arda is remade or the decision is made to release you to whatever life should have been yours. The choice to come to me is yours alone."

Thadak's body shuddered again from head to foot. He groped out with his hand and the Vala took it in his own. The orc opened his eyes, but could not keep them open long, the light hurt too much. "Will…will you stay with me? Until I sleep?" His voice was faint, but Namo heard every word.

"Of course child, what else would I do?"

The orc's eyelids flickered shut and his breathing seemed to ease somewhat, but the Vala knew that it was the end for him, he would not now regain consciousness. He sat for a long while and watched as the breathing slowed. The fingers that had gripped his relaxed and then all was still.

Namo stood up and waited. If anyone else other than a Vala or Maia had been in the cave they would not have seen what he saw. A faintly etched figure appeared just above that of the orc. It stood and turned slowly towards where Namo stood with his arms outstretched in welcome. The orc Thadak had, in life, been as ugly as most of his kind, but this fea was as tall, clean-limbed and as beautiful as any elf, with long dark hair fanned out over his shoulders. He looked questioningly at the Vala and Namo smiled.

Without further hesitation the fea, who was once Thadak thrust everything in the past away from him and walked towards Namo who embraced him.

"Welcome home my beloved child." He said simply.

ooOoo