We are very sorry for keeping you waiting, but those who read the reviews -and noticed the small note avpke left- know, that sadly we ran into some technical difficulties. Avpke's HDD broke in his laptop, which also contained all the almost ready chapters a few days before publishing… so we needed some extra time to build up the chapters again and make the required modifications.
We are very sorry, and hope this will not happen again. And it will not. Now, all chapters are backed up online as well.
But first, we shall answer to a review we got from Kyoki no Megami.
To answer your questions: Yes, there will be more interaction with elves later on, but that will not be for a while. We did have trouble choosing what we should display for the characters in fanfiction, but decided for these four instead. We might modify the elves for orcs, if we decide to publish the full story in sequels.
Enjoy the chapter.
CA Productions
Cubby: *Holding a gun to Avp's head.* Yes… we will not be having any problems like that again… right?
Avp: *Sniffles.* Y-yes ma'am.
Cubby: Good. Enjoy the show everyone! *Waves*
Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Chapter 17 – To Arms!
Finally. The day has come.
The sun was still hiding partially under the horizon as if afraid to rise and meet the world, knowing it will abandon them all too soon. The clouds gathered above the mountains as if readily offering their services to the new Lord. The lush green forests surrounding Moria's gate were silent as if death already befell upon it. As if the animals could predict, see, and smell the scent of death.
No flowers bloomed this morning. No color broke the monotonous green, which spread as far as the eye can see. But soon… the green will vanish, replaced by crimson red. The blood of the unaware.
After so many hard months of preparation and sweating, the army was ready to move out and take over the surface of the mountains. Thousands of orcs stood ready to spill blood, already roaring and chanting, bashing their shields with their armored fists, their weapons hitting the stone walls and floor of the mines, creating their own terrifying battle drum to the rhythm of their heartbeat. Goblins sat on their salivating wargs, while trolls stood behind them, enormous clubs and axes held by their hands. All of them were trained, equipped by shining new armor made of the precious mithril they mined with their own sweat and blood.
After the hardships of leadership, after the educating rebellion, after many deaths and suffering… Finally… The very day of vengeance approached.
So here stood Ren, the Lord of Moria, and the only dark inheritance of Sauron, with a bloodthirsty army at his back, waiting for the gates to open, for the beast to acknowledge the mark that his mate placed upon him. To reveal the world they shall conquer. But it is not just the Guard of Moria he called upon. Hyano should appear at any moment now. She will call upon heavy clouds and shield most of the sun, protecting the army. After all, orcs worked best at night, they gained power through the darkness that swirled around them. The light was only in the way. The Nazgul's power shall be fully revealed for all to see.
In the past few days the situation seemed to clear about Hyano's position and no one started a rebellion either. Many simply avoided her, but right now, no one could hide. Including Tuhul... They now revered her, thanks to the training she went through, having tasted her true abilities and powers as a mighty istar. Although, true trust will never be established between dark and light, so she will never have the respect of a leader. They still smelled her hesitation when a life must be taken, they heard her words when she expressed her thoughts of their tactics.
Through the few days they have been mates, Ren did not handle her much differently than usual, except his higher toleration to touch and his more frequent presence in their room to secure the new bond they share. She, however, seemed to change with the announcement. For one, she craved touch more often and was all the time near him or very close to him, favoring the mortal meaning of her position instead of purely the rank. He didn't mind though. She does as she sees fit as long as she doesn't anger him or betray him. She is his most valuable servant and he would be fool if he pushed her away.
The tactic was discussed once again, melded and formed according to the mistakes they found through the days, morphed into a plan of perfection with many emergency plots. It cannot go wrong. The Nazgul was sure the enemy will be quick to notice the emerging darkness from the mines, but he knew his army was prepared for assaults the mortals will meet them with. Their first ambush will be merciless and quick. Hopefully, the mountains will be cleared for their advance before the true army of the mortals and elves arrive. However they will have the advantage of the mountains themselves and the ability to pull back under the surface if things go wrong. The army should leave through the main gates, seeing they don't want to ruin their only sanctuary by breaking in the ceilings. They will make their way out and around the mountain, kill everything that comes into their path and claim the mountains for themselves. They will set out scouts and sentries to watch for enemy activity.
And activity there will be.
The four generals -two orcs and two goblins- will go in four different directions to clear the surface of annoying mortals, acting as the backbone of the army. The goblins -warg riders- will scout ahead and make short process of enemies they find, dispatching them quickly and effectively, using the speed and agility of the wargs to overcome them before they even noticed their doom, while the orcs cover their backs and do every heavy fight. The trolls will stay back in the mines for now and will be the surprise guests once the enemy pushes too far for their taste to counter all heavy blows and intimidate them. They are all well protected, seeing they have mithril armor, which also didn't weight as heavy as steel. He and his mate will coordinate the attacks towards South and East, concentrating on their task to clean their way to the roads towards Mordor. But they won't go back there just yet. Not until their new base is secure and stands firmly against all odds.
First, they have to secure the mountains.
Of course, they were aware that the battle could last for days, even weeks. The humans will ask the elven lands for help, send word to the wizards of Isengard, and will gather their allies, form a tactic. This will mean a lot of nights without light. And so, without Hyano. The young wizard was one of the key figures of their plans, so her presence is critical in battles, making sure that the loss is not as great. Orcs fall all too quickly in fights… they would not make it with a few thousand if it wasn't for the istar on their side. So in favor of a better chance, their takeover will be slow and steady. Each night they will pull back into the mines, leaving a good portion of their sentries above to patrol their perimeter. Then once morning comes, they shall emerge and surprise the enemy if they dared to progress. More and more humans and elves will fall each day… while Hyano can create more orcs for their army every night.
Hyano stepped out in front of the army and smiled, seeing the seal she had placed over the door quite some time ago. She walked up to it and grinned as it reacted in accordance, the three-headed dog giving a growl. She smirked at this then pressed her hand to the gate and watched as purple energy shot out from it. The beast howled before the gate opened, shaking the mines, sending small rocks down towards the waiting orcs, revealing the world outside, then stepped out into the world of the light and her eyes actually cringed a little. Even with the light in their room it was nothing compared to the real light of the sun. For once in her life she did not like it. The one power that kept her alive was now hindering her, overpowering her senses. She let her eyes go up for a moment, her hand shielding her eyes before she gripped her fists, purple sparks flying from it then held her hand up and shot a bolt of magic into the sky. Like Ren wanted, the sky around the mountain soon started to dim thanks to the not so little wizard's spell.
From here on, they needed to act quickly.
The moment he thought the sky darkened, the Nazgul gestured for the generals to do as they were told before all this.
The soldiers all started to seep out of the gates, the warg riders doing so as first, seeing they are swifter, following their own generals, while the orcs started up the surface of the mountains after them, determined and with their goal set in front of their yellow eyes.
Hyano left enough light for her to live but besides that the area was in shadow. She let her eyes wander a while ignoring the army for the moment in favor of a world she had not seen in some time. She had told Ren ahead of time that this would likely happen. What did he expect? It was her world after all and even if she fought for him, this world with all its beauty as her home for thousands of years. She played in it, grew up in it, healed it and calmed it. She lived for this. She let her ears catch the smallest of sounds, the slightest flutter of the leaves of nearby trees, the almost soundless flap of bird wings, the tiniest buzzing of insects. All that nature is about was around her and now… she will have to work against it. Despite her standing, she felt it was wrong, but what is she to do? She is too deep in this to back out. Not like she wanted to… Ren is her only friend, the creature who guided her through troubling times and understood her rebellious nature. He was there… He was there when she needed him, unlike the istari who she is supposed to belong to. She snapped out of it, though, when she noticed a warg rider pass her by and chose to turn back and go back to Ren's side. She could look around more later once everything had been put into place. She already knew that they had very little time to waste.
That magical blast was too powerful to come from a mere human mage. The news will spread…
… And Gandalf will be here soon enough.
She walked up to Ren and smiled holding her arms out. "Everything seems to be going rather well so far. Is it all as you had hoped, Ren?" she asked him, knowing he had been looking forward to this day for a long time. He had been preparing with such vigor, with such anticipation…. only to see him silent now.
"We will see." He answered her question with his even tone, not sure what to think just yet. "Once we hold the mountain in our hands and successfully push back every attack... then it will go as I wanted." It was too soon to tell just yet, at least so he thought. His silence is the result of a feeling he learned to trust since he was left to decide for himself… The feeling was caution.
The young woman put one arm down and let the other rest on her hip. "The first attack will be the worst once the humans go for a counter attack. Gandalf will be the first to come, I am sure. The humans and elves are sure to demand it. When he fails, the rest should be easy after that." she said not thinking of it as an 'if' situation. She didn't plan to lose to the White wizard. She felt she had the power needed to take him. She had to for the sake of her friend and the many creatures she created with her effort. However, Gandalf would not make it easy and she would make sure to steer the army out of his way so she could fight him head on. The orcs could not take on a White wizard. That was just suicide, only another wizard could possibly beat someone of his rank and that was still a long shot, however she was confident in her skills. She hadn't trained this long for nothing. She memorized the book, most of the spells that can be useful to her in a battle and could surprise Gandalf with. He surely did not expect her to have mastered skills he did not possess. And hopefully by the time he realizes this… it will be too late.
"I have no doubt we will meet him in a battle." He whispered as he walked out and past her, standing there and watching the world he forgot about so many times while in the mines. He never forgot his mission, but the way how the surface looked was starting to fade from his mind. "But we are prepared. Let him come." He had every intention to help his mate once she fights that wizard. While he possesses no magical skills, he was durable, can take hits meant for her and attack from the back with his sword or bare hands. However, most of the work will have to be done by Hyano. "Let us go. Do not delay. You know what to do." He told her, turning towards her briefly before nodding and running off towards south. She will take East as they agreed, just in case the White wizard shows up. He surely will come from the East, perhaps teaming up with the elven army approaching from Rivendell. If he comes from Isengard, so the South, Ren will be able to hold him up while the Orange wizard will be on her way.
Hyano nodded then whistled, a warg rider coming up to her. She jumped on behind him. Since they lacked any horses as of yet this would do just fine. She waved to Ren as the warg took off in the needed direction with her troops following after. Now that she thought about it, this would be the first time she had spent any real time away from Ren for an extended period. For a moment she felt a mild discomfort but she pushed it aside. It was time to work. She would see her friend and mate again soon enough. For now, it was time to clear the land to the east. The idea was simple enough and as long as they didn't run into anyone this would be nothing short of a cake walk.
As expected, their take-over of the surface went almost as smoothly as they planned. Their appearance was -after all- sudden and without warning, making the enemy that was present flee, or die rather easily. They did clash with enemy forces but they were just guards from nearby settlements or wandering soldiers. The warg riders did a fine job in finding any mortal and immortal alike, the canine beasts sniffing out each of them effectively, alerting the nearby orc troops. There was blood spilled, but not nearly as much what will follow. They didn't let anyone escape, hoping to win a little head start before the humans, the elves, and the wizard suspect anything. They will have to keep an eye on sentries and scouts sent their way. Because as long as they keep the enemy blind, they are in advantage.
Well, they succeeded with the take-over for now. However now came the hard part.
Keeping it.
The dark creatures knew it was only a matter of time when the elves and the wizard show up at the mountains. In the mean time they stayed close to their own troops, only the scouts were sent out to patrol. The warg riders were swift and mainly soundless; this was what made them to good sentries. The tension was clear in the air as the creatures waited, setting up camps and smaller bases to serve as a cover if they are surprised, knowing they will be attacked. But 'when' was the question. The dark creatures never experienced a full battle, having been born in the past months only, making them inexperienced and aggressive, maybe too overconfident for their own good. But the generals did their best to keep the ranks settled, to put everyone back into their places if they went out of line, risking the secret position of their own groups.
Ren did not leave his own troop, but opted to stay, just in case an attack happens in the south. He wanted to aid his soldiers, knowing he had the skill to kill many, even just by being stabbed. His shriek so far was held back, not wishing to give away his presence to anyone outside the mountains, keeping his enemies in the dark as much as he could about the situation up there. But of course this didn't mean he didn't inquire about his mate's position in the east, asking about the troop and the situation with the help of a warg rider.
Hyano did well, surprisingly so. The troops seemed reluctant at first to follow her commands but once they saw she actually seemed to know what she was doing, things seemed to fall into place. At first, she tried to give commands of strategy, helping her troop to move forward and find their targets, but she felt it isn't enough. They became more unruly as the time went by and she knew why. Orcs favored actions instead of words… It would help a lot of she would grasp the staff she acquired recently and joined the fight physically, killing the enemy, fighting alongside her new kin. Ren prepared her for all this with tireless training and tests, making her torture and kill goblins she created personally for this reason… without her knowing at first. Though, she was confident that she can kill… the question is… can she bear to kill a mortal? Someone who was born, grew up and lived much like her? Someone who valued the same emotions, feelings and morals? People she was supposed to protect but she is destroying them instead?
Hyano stopped in her tracks and let her gaze move towards the not so heated battlefield, feeling herself hesitate to use the staff for what is wasn't meant to do. To kill. She destroyed goblins without complaint, but… for some reason she cannot raise a hand at the humans, even if they came close enough for a hit. Or for a magical blast. She narrowed her eyes and closed them tightly, her grip tightened on her staff as she gathered all the knowledge and all the numbness towards death she had gained through the months. Ren would not be pleased if she failed now. She didn't go through months of suffering, of crying, of pleading in order to put down the weapon and declare that she cannot do it… She didn't create all these creatures to waste away and accept defeat when they were created for victory. She didn't fight for her role and rank to let it falter and get crushed by her morals and nature. In the end, she rose the wooden weapon and whispered a spell, sending a bolt of ice towards the human who stood with his back to her. The element found no trouble in impaling the helpless being, this being the first unusual kill for the wizard. She opened her green eyes, the orbs showing no emotion but a numb neutrality and summoning all her will to fight. She finally joined in, using spell after spell, hit after hit to thin the ranks of the human guards. And when no one was looking… a single teardrop of regret slid from her eyes.
When she felt they had gone far enough and all opposition was dealt with, she too decided to stay with her men, just like Ren. She set up a few small groups along the eastern boarders making it easier to keep tabs on the lands. When a warg rider came from Ren asking of her progress and how she was doing, this made her smile a little. She debated on telling the rider to go back, tell Ren she loved him and then have him hug the Nazgul but she didn't feel like sending a poor goblin to his death. She wrote down all of their progress and asked for any further orders befor also handing the staff to the rider. She figured Ren would get a kick out of the act.
Ren waited patiently for the message back, crouched near the edge of a rock, hidden from view by anyone peering up at them. There was something unnerving in the air but his senses could not pinpoint the cause. Once he heard the approaching messenger, he took the letter and read it. But before he could, he was handed the staff. The Nazgul didn't know what to think of this at first but took it without a second thought right after. He read the message finally, and began to reply to it, only to be held back by a roar from his side. One of the scouts returned from the five he sent out, apparently with grave news to the wraith. Something is brooding beyond their view, something the Nazgul did not like. He returned to the letter with a hiss to finally forge his reply to his mate, saying she has to be at high alert, as the scouts just now reported potential enemy activity coming right from southeast, spreading to the two directions equally. He is still waiting for confirmation from newly sent scouts though. In the end he put 'Mine'. Meaning the staff is his now and will stay so from now on. It was more a habit of his now.
Hyano had already made a new staff by the time the message got back to her and she nearly fell over laughing when she saw the word 'Mine' at the end of the letter. Some things never change. She shook her head then read over the rest of the letter. The scouts saw people coming their way, huh? Time to send out a few warg riders to pay them a visit.
And truly. As the warg rider brought her the letter, there were five elven scouts entering the new extended territory of the dark creatures. Not exactly the army the scouts reported, but enemy activity all the same. All of them wore light armor; bows were strapped onto their backs along with a few arrows. Their footsteps were silent, soundless, careful and measured; their movements followed the shadows of the bushes, the trees and the rocks. The way they moved indicated that their goal was not to kill, but to observe. The leaders of the elves and humans needed to know the positions of the enemy in order to work out the best strategy. And who are the best candidates for soundless spying? The purest of creatures: the elves. They managed to avoid orc troops and sentries, but as soon as they saw warg riders appear they knew they were found out and were looking for them. However, it is not at all the end of their mission. First, they need to find them in order to shut them down.
They proceeded with their task, sneaking forward, successfully dispatching a few sentries before they were able to map the activities and the positions of the orcs. They were rather surprised that they could not see trolls, but something told them they are around somewhere, but held hidden in order to surprise the intruders once a battle occurs. One of the elves noted the Nazgul's presence, making sure to share it with his comrades. Their main task was to find the two: Ren and Hyano. They are the ones who play the most important roles in this attack, according to what they were told. Once Hyano was spotted as well, the elves decided to return to their leaders and deliver the information.
It took the riders a while, but eventually their numbers and attention triumphed. One of the sentries managed to spot one of the elves as he tried to sneak past a troop of orcs. They began chasing him, only to realize that he wasn't alone, this divided the attention of the guards, favoring the intruders. The pure creatures stopped sometimes to shoot their bows, arrows flying at their pursuers in patterns, luring more attention from the scattered troops. While the elves used all the skills they had to escape, sadly not all of them made it. The goblins were furious when they noted that one of the elves managed to escape, holding too much information they were sure. They still sniffed around, hoping to find him again, but they were already too late…
"Ugh. He got away…" One of the goblins said, sitting on his warg, staring after the small dot that was their target a few moments ago, waving his hands towards the air, turning towards his companions with an angry yellow gaze, baring his rotting black teeth in disappointment. "If you would have distracted him, I could have hurled a dagger towards his ugly head!" He shouted, scolding one of the scouts and pushed him almost off of his mount, causing a snarling fight between his and the other's warg.
"Uh… Boys…" Came the faint voice a little further away from another goblin who stood at the edge of the cliff, looking down the mountain, his gaze fixed upon something.
"What do you mean? Is this now my fault?" The other goblin shot back with a roar of his own, pushing out his chest in irritation at the other, narrowing his yellow eyes in an offended manner. "Why don't you learn to fly and swoop down on him? That would be more possible than making a warg run faster than a Rhosgobel rabbit!"
"Boys…" The goblin tried again and turned towards his company slowly, pointing towards something off of the mountain.
"I will give you rabbits, you hideous sorry excuse of a rat!" The first goblin screeched and was ready to pounce on his kin with anger, but before he could do so, a shout rang among them.
"Boys! They are coming!" The third goblin finally snapped and glared at his brethren and turned his gaze back at the foot of the mountain, showing them what he could see…
They have been wasting so much time with the elves that the men coming from the east could easily move on undisturbed. They came apparently from Rivendell's direction, all carrying shields to protect them from potential rain of arrows, and armor suitable for movement. They all bore the flag of the Reunited Kingdom, which fluttered in the wind that picked up as if foreshadowing the battle that shall soon occur. But before the orcs could begin their own movements, a horn sounded from the South, warning the dark creatures of yet another army approaching. As both Ren and Hyano inspected their own portion of enemies, they had to say they expected a little more. Both armies counted about maybe a thousand men and a few elves mixed in. This caused the wizard to frown, while Ren fumed, hissing at himself. Were the men so much underestimating them? Didn't they think he can beat their miserable army? They had to send this many, suspecting that they can take care of the dark creatures? He felt his pride bruised at this realization and shrieked, letting his terrible voice be heard by all around them, commanding his troops to move forward and answer the challenge of their foes.
But as soon as the fight started, it was clear why the enemy decided to choose simple numbers. Fighting on a mountain was not easy. The rocks, occasional trees and cliffs made it hard to move, especially if one moved in a group, so chose fewer but more mobile troops for their assault. The many rubble and trees offered shelter for them from the orcs' arrows as well.
While the fight started, Hyano stood nearby her own troop, watching as they stopped the advance of Men in the East for now by not letting them move forward. She wasn't really concentrating on the enemy though, but let her green eyes wander the area as if expecting someone to ambush her. But so far… she could not feel him.
Where is he?
He should be here by now… Fighting for the Men he helped for so long, to get rid of the last remnants of darkness he fought for thousands of years. To face her… Deep down she knew he was there already. He was around, lurking, circling, plotting his spectacular entry… while the Men and elves fought the battle. As she watched the ongoing slaughter, she couldn't help but note a pattern in this… The enemy did not increase effectiveness of their tactics, if anything they kept very strictly to south and east, not even moving or changing directions to make themselves to become a harder target but seemed to avoid a greater confrontation… Their movements seemed expected… Too expected…
Like a distraction.
She thought on this a moment then got an idea and turned towards one of goblin generals that stood next to her. "Send a few scouts to the north. It is likely nothing but I have a hunch and I want to play on it." she wasn't sure what to expect but this was feeling far to easy. She told the rest of the men to stand at the ready before sending a letter back to Ren telling him he should send some scouts of his own to the west. If there was something going on then one of them couldn't take both directions alone. However, she was rather hoping she was just worrying too much for her own good again.
A lone figure slipped from shadow to shadow among the trees and rocks, hidden by the darkness caused by the clouds. His soundless steps carried him swiftly to his destination; his breathing was silent yet carried the hint of his exhausted state. He ran a long distance without halt. The figure stopped just for a moment under a tree, looking back, his sharp gaze and keen ears scanned the area behind him, trying to make sure that he was not followed. Once his safety was confirmed, he moved on, turning west, approaching a clearing, many miles away from the foot of the mountains where the battle was claiming both the lives of men and orcs.
Off at a distance, many prying eyes were waiting for him to arrive. More than Hyano would ever dream of expecting. For as far as the eye can see, flags and spears stretched across the land, waiting for the order, for the right time to strike. The people -despite their enormous count- were silent, knowing that any noise could and would give them away.
A single man, clad in royal armor stood in front of the army, the blood red colored cape flowing after his form gave him the look of a respected leader. He was the one who received the lone figure, the elf spy and narrowed his eyes when all the information was shared with him. So shall it be. The dark creatures fell into their trap. While they are preoccupied with the dummy 'army' climbing the eastern side of the mountains, the main body of the Reunited Kingdom's military was waiting for a sudden ambush from the west. They have traveled past the mountains silently through the road of Rivendell and Isengard, gathering here unseen and unheard. The elf was sent on his way to share this information with his kin. The elven army which was waiting north, about to climb the rocky terrain, using the element of surprise to their advantage. The dark army was all too predictable.
After the elf vanished from their sight… the man waved his hand forward.
It was time to move.
It didn't take long for Hyano and Ren to notice that something was off. While they did not yet see the armies close in, they did note that their scouts from north and west did not return for hours. This alone created an air of tension; the orcs became unruly once again, waiting to throw the lines to ensure their safety in aggressive attacks. The humans and elves climbing the mountain from the east and south slowed down to a stop for many hours already, only exchanging the occasional arrows with the dark creatures to keep their attention. Feeling that something was horribly wrong, a portion of the dark army also scattered, preparing for anything, hiding at the rocks and caverns, wishing to use the advantage they had.
In the mean time the elves and humans approached from the west and north. While the elven troops chose to stay hidden afar, away from the sight of the scouts and sentries, the human troop did not waste time but marched right up to the mountain, causing the orcs who watched this portion of the surface to stop in their tracks to see the ocean of silver armor approach…. and stop at the foot of the mountain. The dark creates quickly sent word to their leaders, who received this news with a grave foreboding. They will need to rip their army into four sections to defend their position. But they had no time to think of a tactic, as the horn of the Reunited Kingdom sounded soon after, sending the first wave of attack…. which stopped about halfway up the mountain, while the mixed army of south and east also began their all too slow ascending. Both Ren and Hyano didn't know where to concentrate their attention. But one was sure…
They were strangely delaying the battle.
Hyano didn't like this. It made her on edge and had an idea of what it meant. Gandalf wasn't there yet or he was and had a plan. Either option meant that the other army was stalling for time. She sent a message to Ren. She wasn't sure what to do. Should they attack or wait for the humans and elves to make the first move? It was like a game of chess and neither player wanted to make starting move to the game. She had never liked wizard's chess for this reason. Wizards thought too much so more often than not it would come to a stale mate of some kind. However, this could only end in two ways. Either they win or the enemy did. She favored the first option of course.
Well, to say the least, the wraith himself wasn't sure about it as well. He for one didn't want to become open game for the elves and humans, going out of their secure hiding and risk to be fleshed out by them. He told her to wait and prepare, writing the same reasons as he was thinking about. They would become too easy targets. But again, he wasn't the best warmaster, and his tactics are very basic. Normally it was either the Witch-King who worked on these. He just executed it.
What they didn't know was that the elves and humans waited for a reason.
While the inevitable battle was preparing at the mountains, just above the surface of the Moria, the lands far away were quiet, as if waiting with fear yet with excitement what the outcome will be. The magic that the young istar created forced the clouds to gather at one place above the dark creatures, leaving the sun to shine all around the surrounding areas. This created a great contrast between Moria and the surrounding lands. The wind picked up, dragging leaves and petals of flowers along as if wishing to see the battle for itself, urging all that stood in the way to come along. It fluttered branches, the thick grass of the lands, dancing to an unknown tune…
… Grasping the tugging on the pure white fabric of a long robe, causing it to flutter and join the rhythm. The owner of the attire let his calm blue eyes gaze upon the mountain that was the target of his concern, while his hand brushed over his long white beard in deep thought. His other hand held the staff of the White wizard firmly, deep down knowing that this battle will be the last he will know about in Middle-Earth that with this being dealt with… there will be peace. The peace that the world required… and demanded.
Yes, Gandalf was around and was prepared to help the people bring this long awaited peace. He was the one who cleverly thought of their current plan. For days has he been sending messages, having meetings with leaders to find a way how to end this with as little bloodshed as they can. His main concern was the lives of the men and elves. But there was also something else that he could not ignore.
She is there too…
In all his long life and existence, Gandalf has never left another wizard in peril. His title was not earned just by having been more pure and determined to follow the word of the Valar, but also because of his selflessness. His will to give up all that he had to serve those he was created to protect. Every istar of the Order had their own purpose. And so… Hyano's destiny is set among her kind. He cannot let her stray. He has to show her the true path she has to tread.
The White wizard sighed as he closed his wise eyes, lifting his face towards the golden-orange light of the sun as he thought back to his mistake a while back. His mistake of letting the wraith stay alive and bond with the orange wizard… His mistake in letting her become dependent on him… He should have seen it coming but his own curiosity got into the way. His curiosity… and his faith. How foolish he was for trusting the naivety of a child…
And so, he has to correct this mistake. One way or another.
He knew that she had no experience in strategy and war, so will not be able to think of an expert plan without loopholes, so it was easy to think with her mind. He only could hope that the wraith's way of thinking was just as simple. He knew they will predict attacks from the most likely directions. Rivendell for the elves and humans, south for Isengard. The elven spies confirmed it. Hyano was waiting east in hopes of him joining the elves in a mighty counter attack, while the Nazgul took the less risky south, where he can see the oncoming enemy. The other two directions were left under the care of swift sentries. The sudden arrival of the human army from the west shall tear the dark forces apart to many troops to meet the challenge coming from all sides, seeing south and east is under attack already. Gandalf was currently standing in hiding near the southeast side of the mountains. But now that the position of Hyano was revealed, he will handle according to it.
He knew that the bloodshed must end quickly, but he wasn't a fool. He will not risk most lives and their victory if he can help it. In order to win this battle with less lives lost, they will need to disorient the army of the dark creatures and throw them into disarray by making them lose their commanding forces. Ren and the orange wizard. Once they are dealt with, the rest will be easy. He knew his next target will be south to meet the Nazgul first, using his defeat as a weapon against the young istar.
So with this knowledge, the White wizard made his way towards south, but took his time, just like the army of men and elves. He knew Hyano well. He helped her grow up, learn, see the world for what it is, taught her all the abilities she possessed, some he let her discover on her own. He knew her traits. And her connection to the sun. The wizard couldn't help but smile gently as he raised his gaze once again towards the sky to watch as the bright sun touched the horizon.
Hyano hadn't even thought about the actual sunset itself in quite some time, so the worry about holding back too long and being put to sleep didn't even come to mind. For so long she had technically been without direct sunlight that she hadn't even really thought about it past the fact it came into her room. However, as she sat on a rock her legs crossed waiting she started to feel herself get tired. That is when the thought hit her.
"Damn it!" she yelled then got a warg rider's attention. They were in trouble and now she knew why. "Run and run fast. Tell Ren that Sunset is coming and so is the attack. He will understand. MOVE!" she yelled at him not giving him time to argue. She knew too well though that it was too far too late. By the time the rider got to Ren the sun would be set and Hyano would be fighting to keep herself from passing out.
This was a big problem.
They have had so many plans for this… So many Plan B's and joined tactics and yet none can be utilized anymore. It is too late. Hyano could not help but smile as she thought about their situation. The brilliant strategy was surely the fruit of Gandalf's thinking. Only he could know her so well to know her battle plans beforehand. Only he would think about heavy distraction for not only sneaking the true army close enough…. but also to distract them from the true enemy.
The sunset.
At this point Ren was contemplating to pull back instead of fighting needlessly in a disadvantage into the mines and make sure that Hyano trains her toleration for lack of light. However, as soon as the first arrow flew and got the messenger of Hyano right into the neck, he knew they had no more time to retreat. They will have to hold on until sunrise and keep his mate safe.
The army was upon them soon after.
Arrows rained like water from clouds, the precision of the elves was proven hundred times over as orc after orc fell, not able to avoid the deadly shots coming from north, the archers themselves were hidden by rocks and boulders. However after the attack was announced, they ducked behind rocks to get away from the ranged attacks. This of course gave time for the humans to move forward and up the mountain from the west. They attacked from east, west and north. South was somehow left alone.
But for a reason.
From this direction the White Wizard was closing in on the battle.
Hyano cursed under her breath as she was forced into a haze. This wasn't something you could technically train or adapt but was bound by a spell that forced her into this situation whether she liked it or not. Sadly, explaining that to Ren was near impossible she was sure. She gritted her teeth and looked at her army who were doing what they could to keep out of the way of the hellfire of arrows. She thought a moment then got an idea. She wasn't going to be awake much longer but she could at least help her army before she passed out. She pointed her hand and shot at a set of trees taking them down to help give cover for her army.
"Whatever you can't use for a shield use for cover!" she yelled before falling to her knees.
Damn the sun...
It didn't take long for the human army to clash with the dark creatures. The orcs swarmed from south and east to meet the force, only to be pushed back relentlessly. They could not apply all their tactics because they were pushed from all sides, forcing them to split up and defend their own sections. The elves were mainly disturbed, their arrows meeting their targets without any delay and fail, without disturbance, save for the occasional sneaky warg rider that managed to get past their own defenses through cunning. With the constant rain of arrows, the orcs were forced to retreat.
But Ren had other ideas.
He will not let these puny mortals step on his plans. They will not come out victorious over them. They will not win against darkness this time. he did not go through years of effort in order to lose in a matter of few days into declaring his Lordship over this part of the surface. He thought back how much time it took him to establish his rule, to earn the utter respect of all dark creatures within the mines. How much time he spent on binding that istar to his side, how many he lost in the rebellion and how much progress they made through the months. He will not give it up. Now that he had it all, he will not let Moria go.
The wraith raised his invisible gaze towards the dark sky and in a burst of power and darkness, he let loose his shriek, shaking the very ground they stood on, sending fear and terror into the minds of soldiers, causing caution within the heart of elves. The voice of the Nazgul shook the determination of their enemies… but boosted that of the dark beings'. With mighty roars, the orcs and goblins alike threw themselves at the men and elves, fighting as one in this bloodthirsty battle, sinking into a feat of rage and fury, using all they had to push against the enemy. Soon, thundering steps engulfed the surface of the mountains as giant clubs and axes were swung at the enemy, throwing them off of the mountain with ease. The trolls answered to the call of their Lord with loud bellows of their own, swarming into the battlefield as an unstoppable force, as the sea which cannot be defeated by any dam.
The newfound vigor and anger caused them to build up a sudden advantage over the army of men and elves, seeing they had the whole mountain and the lack of sun, which also increased their strengths. They also saw and heard better than them. The blood of humans and elves littered the stones and the ground, accompanied by their bodies.
However, every good has to end.
Without warning, the very southern part of the battlefield was engulfed in a blinding white light, causing the battle on the mountains to stop for a moment. The dark creatures roared in pain as the disturbing light penetrated their eyes even when they closed them tightly. Soon, there was a flash, causing the light to pulsate and shoot up towards the sky, parting the clouds without effort, sending them in all directions and letting the sun's rays reach the earth once more.
Once the pure light died down, the tall form of an old man could be recognized. His white attire fluttered with the force of his magic, his angry gaze swept the area for his next target. It didn't take long for him to find the dark leader among the orcs.
While the humans gained more determination and once again clashed with the orcs, Gandalf decided to join in for now to establish a firm advantage, to boost the confidence of the army he was fighting for. Because if he fought alone, he cannot win. Not even as the White wizard. He helped the humans and elves with both his trusty sword, Glamdring and his wizard staff, using magic and his learned skills of swordsmanship alike. His main way of defeating foes was to cast a light spell to disturb and blind them before stabbing them where it gives them a quick death.
His work against the dark army did not go unnoticed by the commanding forces of the dark creatures.
The White wizard blinded a troll by raising his staff and summoning a light spell before bringing down Glamdring onto his neck, ending his life without receiving a hit in return. But before he could relax, he felt a great evil approach him, so narrowed his blue eyes and brought his sword forward in an arc. He was not mistaken. Because in that second, his blade met another, the sound of metal sliding against metal echoed on the battlefield as the mighty wizard stared into the dark and empty hood of his foe.
The Nazgul does not yet realize it, but this was what Gandalf was waiting for. For Ren to show himself so he can get rid of him, making the dark army leaderless, thrown into disarray and confusion by having no strong hand that keeps them together. The wizard did not say a word to the hissing -clearly infuriated- wraith, but pushed him away with all his might, preparing for the incoming second blow from the dark creature.
And Ren did not disappoint. As soon as he was thrown back, he was on the wizard for more, bringing down his blade onto the wizard's staff which was held sideways to block his blow. But he did not stop there. His fury led him to repeat the strike over and over, surprising even the White wizard with the vigor he attacked him, pushing him back with each swing. Each time the wraith stepped forward, Gandalf took one backwards. He however did not wish to fool around for too long.
As soon as Ren swung down, the istar this time did not push him away but brought him towards him as close as he could without the danger of a repeated attack, then whispered a spell that every dark creature knew all too well. All of a sudden, a bright light lit up at the end of his staff, causing the Ringwraith to shriek in shock, feeling his senses overload by the brightness and reared backwards instinctively, leaving Gandalf free to do as he wished with both of his weapons. He didn't waste time. The White wizard swung his staff towards the wraith, causing him to fly forward by the force of the spell, sliding to a stop close to the edge of the cliff. The Maia however did not want for him to get up. Shouting another spell, Gandalf pointed his staff towards the dark being, setting his cloak on fire, then swinging his staff one last time caused Ren to fly off of the cliff and down towards the black abyss that awaited him.
The wraith's shocked shriek echoed through the battlefield, then rapidly faded into the distance as he fell.
Now, the tables were turned and the orcs posed no more threat with their confusion and lack of a capable leader.
Gandalf stayed for a moment, staring into the direction where the wraith vanished into as if making sure he will stay where he is. He did not need to move anymore to win the battle. The humans easily tore at the scattered dark creatures, seeing the elves also dispatched most of the generals, having recognized their dominance among the soldiers. In the end, the istar sighed and turned around; lifting his gaze towards the sky, noting that the sun was just barely visible at the horizon. The light was rapidly vanishing, the world will soon be coated into darkness. This is what he was waiting for. Closing his eyes, the White took a step forward with a slight hesitation.
He wasn't sure what he is going to find.
But he cannot leave his business unfinished. So he set out to find the wizard who left him a while ago in exchange of a hopeful bond and connection. Who got confused by her naivety and giving was to her childish wish, abandoned her state of pure istar to fight for the wrong cause. And Gandalf wasn't sure what he is going to find. He felt determined in bringing her home, yet unsure of how she is going to receive his proposal. Not like she will have a choice. Gandalf will reunite her with her true destiny.
So here he stood in front of her exhausted and weak form. She was on her hands and knees, her head turned towards the ground in almost shame. Her shoulders shook with nothing less than desperation and anger. He couldn't feel any regret from her… No tears… No sadness. All he could do was shake his head at the changes she went through. She was far more grown up than he remembered, much paler and... had darker clothes. The Nazgul had such power over her...
The old looking wizard stepped forward once, letting his shadow fall over her as a reminder of reality and the fact that her time among the orcs is over as soon as sleep claims her. His presence should be the milestone, the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. The time of reminiscence, serenity, an age of understanding and purity. He will set her back onto her true path, no matter how much it will cost him. He did not yet give up on her and knew that the past Hyano was still in there somewhere. Her weakened form will crumble and he will bring forth the light. But first, he will need to know the extent of the corruption she went through. As to test his theories, the White wizard ignored the battle scene around them and bent down slightly, his old and worn hand appearing in front of the orange istar's face to grasp it, showing no aggression or challenge. There was nothing else but a gentle smile spread across his face.
"It is over." he uttered, his voice smooth and calming, the smile coaxing her to believe his words. "Time to go home."
She gripped the dirt under her. So long living in a cave and she was still this dependent on the sun? How in the Void was she supposed to ever get anything done like this? It was times like this that she truly questioned everything the Valar had done in this world. She felt her face being lifted and met Gandalf's blue eyes with her red and green one. She stared into them for a moment seeing nothing but kindness but because of her time away she had started questioning if it was just acting. If it was real. To her, kindness was as good as weakness. Ren demanded that she understands this. So she will. She gritted her teeth.
"... It isn't over until I'm dead." she said then without warning she slapped Gandalf's hand away then slammed the ground with her fist hitting him with a dark energy pulse. She couldn't stop. Not while she still had a little energy left. Her training wouldn't allow it.
The White wizard shouted in surprise as the dark energy sent him back, forcing him to slam his own staff down in order to stop the current, dispelling the black magical effect with his own effort. His blue gaze rose to meet her form, now feeling the more dominant darkness that swirled close by, engulfing her heart and mind, whispering lies of success and chance. He felt himself pant. Just what kind of magic was this? He could not remember this having been used by many. But right now was not the time for questions. Those can wait. Right now he had to concentrate on the wizard he had lost... and was now fighting to get her back. She was confused... and it is his task to show her the light.
"I will not let you die, Hyano." He countered with his words, determined in his claim and stepped forward, sheathing Glamdring on the way, not wishing to harm her with a blade. He didn't come to her to kill. He came to help her. But his wizard staff was at the ready to defend himself. He still refused to make the first move, hoping that she will come to her senses. "I came here to bring you finally home."
She glared at him then flicked her hands both forming dark orbs of electric energy. "If you didn't come to kill me... then you came to die!" she yelled before throwing the first orb. She was supposed to say this. Her time spent among orcs demanded that she cuts all ties with the wizards… Yet… Why is it so hard to say the words? She had learned much since she last saw Gandalf. She learned physical and mental battles, hardening her soul against emotions and light… Constant training will do that to anyone. She also trained physically so she wasn't a bad hand to hand fighter either. She was used to fighting and a fight was what would happen. At least if she had anything to say about it. She didn't have long, though, and she knew Gandalf knew that too. He would try to just outlast her. She needed to kill him before it was too late.
Though… the thought of it disturbed her.
Gandalf saw the rage and the determination and deep down felt his heart hurt at the words she uttered. She wished to kill him? This came suddenly, having not expected such harshness even after she spent about a year with the dark creatures within the mines. After all that he had gone through, after all his effort and care, after all the laugh and fun... she wants to get rid of him? Has the wraith such a firm grip on her? has he really managed to bend her mind to a twisted maze where she doesn't know what she speaks? He narrowed his blue eyes in the end, then swung his staff with a shout forward, parting the air in front of him, causing the orbs to fly past him to either side, continuing their flight into the sky.
"No... indeed I came to kill... To kill what you have been forced to become." The mighty White wizard shouted and shoved his staff forward with gritted teeth, sending an invisible magical blast along towards her, wishing to throw her off of her feet while he also slammed his staff down to command the earth to shake, making her footing unstable and uncertain.
Hyano put her hands up to block the blast but was still shoved back. Her balance was also off, so that did little to nothing to help her situation. However, she stayed on her feet despite it all and the moment she was free of his force she took off, using a burst of energy to charge him. Most wizards would much rather fight by distance. However, Hyano was not just a wizard. She was trained for combat as well. Before, it was just so as a child she could protect herself without doing any serious harm to anyone but now it was because she needed as many ways as possible to kill if necessary. In this case, she wanted to conserve her energy so she had to use as little magic as possible. She ran at him and without thinking twice she attacked him head on, jumping up and aiming a kick for his head.
Gandalf did not expect a physical attack as wizards always battled in magical ways, keeping the other at a distance because they did not need to close in to cause damage. This is why her strike came as a surprise. Though, he could thanks his reflex and quick thinking in defending himself, as he was swift enough to raise his staff so the young wizard kicked the white weapon instead while the older istar stepped back to gain distance. But no matter how close she was, he did not brandish his sword. He will not use his weapon on one of his own. He however was not defenseless. He quickly swung his staff once again with a silent mouthed shout and attempted to push her away to a distance to avoid any more hits like this. His blue gaze flickered to the horizon for a moment to note the position of the sun.
Almost there...
This action ended in her flipping back from him and landing down in a crouch. She almost looked like an animal the way she was fighting. She even went as far as to growl before taking off again at him, a habit she picked up when brawling with orcs in the mines. They were animalistic in battle… and now so was she. He may not be willing to hurt one of his own but it was very obvious the feeling was not mutual between them. Although, it was nothing more but an illusion that Hyano and Ren built up over the years. Because whole the Nazgul expected a complete numbness towards her emotions and past… towards friends she had on the surface…. Deep down she still possessed them all. Yet, she was afraid to lose her closest friend… and all that she created in the past months. For each kick and swing she made it was always aimed at a weak spot. She may not be in her pure mind at the moment due to having pulled back her clear self under the surface, but that made her no less naturally wise. If anything, that just made her more dangerous.
The White wizard wasn't sure what to think of her at this moment. He wasn't certain if he truly knew her or if she was the same person he came for. But no matter what, he needed to put an end to this madness without harming too many lives in the process. If she manages to get out of hand, he did not doubt that the battle would turn into a greater bloodshed than it was currently. The soldiers of Man and elves were now in complete advantage. And so, it is up to him to shut down the last leader, the last string of command.
"Snap back to reality, Hyano!" The older istar shouted and swung his staff once again to keep the orange wizard at a distance, not letting her approach for a physical hit.
Hyano jumped back gritting her teeth. Why wouldn't he hate me? She thought to herself. He wanted to save her but she didn't feel she could be saved, and it made it harder for her to concentrate on hurting the White wizard. He seemed to forgive each hit she made. Why wouldn't he finally snap? She felt she was too far in and there was no chance for escape anymore. She didn't want to kill Gandalf. Of course she didn't want to kill Gandalf! As far as wizards went, he was the only one that really showed any form of parental care for her besides Radagast. However, she was loyal to Ren. She would never betray him. She looked towards the sun. There is no time to think about such things. She breathed in deeply then breathed out at the ground creating a layer of ice on it. Maybe that would trip him up and she could knock him out and be on her way.
Normally, wizards were able to predict -if even a moment before- what the attack will be by listening to the shouts, reading the lips, or recognizing the movements of their opponents when it came to spell. But this time, the choice of Hyano came sudden, since Gandalf couldn't tell which spell she was using. It was foreign... It was something he never heard before... And the effect? This was no light magic... She was using darkness as her ally. Now everything made sense... The change in her behavior... in her clothing... in her aura and moral... The White wizard understood now. He gasped as a thin layer of ice engulfed the ground under his feet, forcing him to put down his staff to help him balance.
But it was a short lived relief once he stood firmly.
Because in the next moment something crashed into him from behind, causing him to fall forward with a grunt and slide to a stop some feet away. He looked up just in time to see a rather large orc stand where he was not long ago, brandishing a war hammer from his back. He also noted how this particular orc met the gaze of the young wizard, as if reassuring her of his unlikely aid. Two opponents? This should be interesting...
Hyano knew she had the advantage now, thanks to that loudmouth Tuhul, who decided to join her in her battle. The problem was keeping the advantage. She didn't waste any time with saying anything to the large creature but instead she took off for the other wizard. All the time she put into practicing this spell, it was no surprise she was rather good at keeping her balance on the ice. She slid right at him then jumped up and came down aiming seemingly right for his head again. Now, she had to put on a better act. She wasn't going to put enough pressure into it to actually kill Gandalf no matter if he moved or not. She wanted him passed out. Not dead. But the orc didn't need to know that.
While Hyano went for the White wizard's head, Tuhul decided to join her and risk a broken limb on the ice. She has used this annoying spell multiple times against him and his Lord, and found that the claws on his feet help him greatly to avoid slipping. Though, his movements were still careful, he actually managed to hold his balance while he made his own attack, aiming a swing of his war hammer at the feet of their enemy. He never liked working together with the pet of their Master, but this time he had no choice. It is either this, or watch her getting beaten up and be the cause of their failure...
Gandalf narrowed his blue eyes when he noticed both of his opponents as they charged him together. Hyano came from his front, while the dark creature from his back. He didn't have much time to think but had to act if he wanted to succeed in this. He gritted his teeth, his grip on his staff tightened as his mind worked on an escape plan in those few seconds that remained for him. The White was known for his cunning, his skill in solving problems with a snap of his finger, seeing through the minds and strategy of the enemy. So, he did not disappoint. Just before both of his opponents collided with him, Gandalf shouted a spell and raised his staff swiftly, causing the ice to melt instantly and rise above the ground to form a thick fog. With both of his attackers' vision blocked, he quickly stepped to the side to let them meet one another instead.
Hyano's eyes widened when she saw the fog, knowing full well what was about to happen but it was a little too late. Having been ready for Gandalf and not the much taller orc she slammed square into his chest. Thankfully though, she knew well enough not to let that be the end of it and quickly kicked off his chest and back several feet.
Tuhul also found it hard to stop and sadly the swing -once started- cannot be undone. He felt the kick at his chest just as his war hammer swung in its direction, but was thankful when he noted that the young wizard managed to get away before she met the weapon. Although, in other circumstances he would say that she deserved it, right now however they need her to put a stop to the White's attacks. He did not possess any magical senses, so was left standing where he was, his yellow eyes trying to see through the fog while his hands gripped the handle of his weapon tightly, ready to deliver a blow if he saw his foe.
Now, they were hunting in the fog.
Hyano looked at the hazed area around them. This was going to make things interesting. She started walking carefully, making sure not to forget about the ice. She let her senses go out searching for the light energy signature of the man she once called family.
Gandalf on the other hand knew his advantage. Being an istar himself, he should be able to pinpoint Hyano's signature, but with her light being overshadowed by the darkness... he could not truly utilize that sense. But the orc's presence is all too clear to him. He was radiating darkness, evil and an aura of aggression. His stench was also hard to miss. So for now, the White decided to try and ambush the orc while attempting to avoid Hyano. Because no matter the darkness within her soul and body... he still could feel that small light she emitted. It didn't take long for him to spot the orc's shadow among the fog, so held his staff to the side, intending to smash his head or trip him and began his silent approach.
Hyano moved easily in the fog but found it still hard to orient herself mostly because she had no idea where she was going. However, she did sense Gandalf and like a blood hound she followed his signature as best she could. She ended up seeing Tuhul first but said nothing, not seeing any reason to. Not at this point. But her senses eventually changed this fact.
"Tuhul! Behind you!" she yelled, sensing Gandalf even though she could not see him and knew the orc not only had a better shot at hitting him but was also likely to get hit himself if he didn't do anything now.
Hyano's warning came just in time, because Gandalf already swung his staff at the legs of the orc to complete his tactic. Tuhul's yellow eyes widened at the warning and turned around swiftly, his war hammer swinging in front of him, colliding with the wooden staff of the White. But he didn't stop there. As soon as he felt the pressure, the orc general roared loudly and began pressing against his foe, forcing him to back away, keeping him at bay... even if only for a few seconds.
Because despite having been blocked, Gandalf wasn't about to let this dark creature beat him. He was much too powerful to let himself go down just because he had the help of one of his istari. The man gritted his teeth and whispered a spell, letting the tip of his weapon be engulfed by a brilliant light. While the fog did hide some of it, the orc's vision was still ruined for that moment. Using the opportunity and the sudden freeze of his enemy, the wizard pushed his staff from the weapon lock and swung the staff at the feet of the being, causing it to drop to the ground with a painful grunt and a shout of shock. He then raised his staff, ready to bring it down upon his chest. It is time to end this. He has more important matters to attend to than fight him.
Hyano was able to hear the sudden impact of the two weapons then the crash as Tuhul hit the ground. Great. Even with an advantage Tuhul was still nothing to the white wizard. So annoying. What was even more annoying was this cursed fog! She decided it was time to settle that problem so she could see properly, thus she summoned a wind spell. This cut through the fog like butter, splitting it in half. She was too late, though, as she was met with the sight of Gandalf and his weapon coming down on the orc. Her eyes widened.
"Tuhul!" she screamed then sent an energy burst at Gandalf, though she knew it wouldn't save the orc.
He didn't have a chance.
Indeed the orc had no chance. The staff of the White wizard was racing down towards his chest by the time Hyano managed to launch her attack. However, the energy blast missed its target in the end... Just like the staff.
Gandalf shouted as he found himself falling to the side, feeling a searing pain engulf his side which traveled up his spine. All he could hear was a sudden hiss and the pressure of something cutting him, throwing him off of the orc before he could finish his strike. This in return caused the White to be saved from the blast that the orange istar sent his way and meet the person who attacked him.
Ren.
The Nazgul -despite his already finished small fight with the wizard- managed to climb back to the surface not long ago and sought his enemy like a bloodhound, sniffing for his trail. Though, the fog was in his way, it clearly did not stop him from finding his target. He was a Ringwraith. The main sense he uses is not sight, but smell, hearing and the ability to detect auras. This is how he could ambush the enemy, because he had the advantage of orientation. He actually didn't notice Tuhul, just wished to crash into the wizard and give a good strike at his side with his sharp gauntlets. The rapidly approaching light from the side was not expected by him however. Hyano's energy blast nailed him right square in the middle of his stomach, causing him to be flung backwards and into the still present wall of fog.
This alone gave the time for both Gandalf and Tuhul to regain their footing, sending both of them in confusion. What in Middle-Earth was that?
Hyano grinned, having seen the brief interaction but by the looks of it she was the only one lucky enough to have done so. Good. That meant they had some surprise on their side. She looked at the fog then ducked into it as well. Might as well use the advantage Gandalf gave her. She used her senses to go after him, planning on getting him from behind. Tuhul was making for a very tall and strong distraction and she was going to use him for all he was worth if she could. She traveled quickly and swiftly not wanting to waste any time. She had only a few minutes left and the fog was not helping matters. She could already feel herself hitting the border of passing out. It was now or never. And with that thought in mind she sent an energy bolt at Gandalf.
While the younger looking wizard felt the White, he also was able to feel her, so raised his staff and swung it at the blast, successfully countering the attack. With the same movement he also sent his own force along, trying to push her back so he can once again vanish into the fog.
While all this happened, Tuhul tried to spot his enemy as best as he could but learned from his past mistake, so moved about, not wishing to become an easy target next time.
Ren on the other hand finally got his bearings and straightened himself after the blast before beginning his own search. It made him remember the many times Hyano would ask him to find her in the mines after he counted for a while... She would be hiding in every way possible... It always gave him the thrill of a hunt and the anticipation of a kill. Only that those times he could not act on his instinct. But today...
Today he will draw blood.
It didn't take long for him to pick up a trail, so reached to his side and unsheathed his dark sword, the sound of metal sliding against metal echoed through the area, making Gandalf aware of the new addition. But then again, he did not have as much time, since Ren lunged with a sharp hiss, his sword striking, meeting the wizard's staff which he pulled up as defense.
"How did you get back up so fast?" The White wizard asked through gritted teeth as he held the blow at bay, pushing against him. This showed that he did expect the Nazgul to return. Just not this soon. With no chance to avoid this, the old looking istar also brandished his trusty Glamdring, preparing to fight his foe.
This way, Ren gave an opportunity for Hyano and Tuhul.
The orc was fast to grasp the chance and roared, turning towards the two, guided by the sound of a fight. His yellow eyes narrowed to slits as he began to charge, putting all his strength and power into his attack, which he hoped will be the last for today. He approached and swung his war hammer at the old man.
Gandalf -in return- acted quickly, pressing against the wraith to keep him from moving before leaning backwards to dodge the swing of the orc, then extended his sword forward towards the abdomen of the oncoming creature.
Tuhul had no chance to dodge...
Hyano wasn't sure why she would care if the orc lived or died, she concluded after remembering Ren's teachings. He was nothing short of a thorn in her side but to some extent he had been very helpful. She is losing a precious resource. Something she could never replace no matter how hard she tried. He was the one who -while always angry- pushed her mercilessly to give her best, to impress him and the orcs. He was the one who -indirectly and directly- helped her learn and improve… How could she not care about his demise? When she stepped out of the fog and saw that blade hit the orc her eyes went wide. It was almost like time stopped altogether in her head.
The blade made contact with the orc's tough skin then it was all blood after that.
All dark, almost black blood.
The orc stopped and froze, at first unable to feel anything. The rage he felt towards the wizard held the feeling of pain back, as there was only frustration at first that he missed his mark. Only a few seconds later did he finally register that something was amiss. Searing pain shot from his abdomen, up his spine, and towards his head, making him open his mouth and roar loudly. Although he could not hear it himself. The pure blade easily cut through his skin, his flesh, getting stuck in nothing else than his spine, disrupting the system that kept him moving, breathing, existing... That kept him alive. His yellow eyes traveled down in a split second after the hit landed, noting the damage which he could not fight against any longer.
Curse his weakness. Why did he need to be an orc who can be brought down by a single stab to the abdomen? Why wasn't he born a strong, towering troll... But it was too late to complain. The deed was done... Tuhul slowly backed away from the istar, the sword sliding out of his body, now coated in dark cursed blood. The large orc soon sank to his knees and collapsed, death claiming him swiftly while his yellow eyes met those around him. But his gaze was not of pain or desperation. He displayed the will to fight and rage even at the last moments of his life.
Indeed… this was his last swing for today…. And for his life.
There was however no time to think or grieve because the fight was not yet over. There is no victory and no loss until the war was decided. Gandalf and Ren did not wait for the orc to fall, but pressed their weapons against one another, trying to determine who shall get the upper hand. The White was waiting for the right moment to cast a light spell and be rid of him. Using the slight distraction the orc's roar created in the wraith, he kicked the Nazgul's legs with his own, causing him to fall onto his hands and knees with a surprised hiss.
Hyano gritted her teeth wanting nothing more than to grieve for her lost... she wasn't even sure what to call the loud mouthed son of a warg. Lost annoyance? Lost body guard? Lost teacher? Lost…. friend? However, she had both the mind of an istar and the training Ren gave her. Logic would not allow it. So, instead she created a bolt of dark energy and sent it right for Gandalf. The dark energy would not harm Ren so she wasn't worried about hitting him instead. However, dark energy and light energy do not mix. Not naturally anyway and especially not in the body of a pure white wizard. This would very much affect him in all the wrong ways. She noted that this would be the last magical attack she could pull off. Her energy was almost, if not already, spent. She would be just barely walking soon.
Damn it!
This time, the dark energy pulse did not fail.
Gandalf was too busy and distracted by the Nazgul to notice at first and the fog did not help his senses, having already whispered a spell to immobilize his foe. The oncoming blast on the other hand had its own signature and aura, drawing the attention of the White wizard in the end. His blue eyes widened and he gasped, knowing he had no time to counter this attack. His only chance was to quickly jump to the side and avoid it in the last second.
But he could never move out of the way.
Just as he prepared to jump and leaned forward, Ren acted. He shrieked as he jumped up, his gauntlets aimed towards him, sinking them into the skin of the White wizard. This alone prevented the istar to get out of the way.
All that could be heard was a shout as the blast met its target, the force itself then caused the fog around them to swirl and coat the surface they fought on once again into a thick blanket.
Hyano knew she hit her target however she wasn't sure of its effects. How could she? She couldn't even see in all this! It didn't help that her senses were getting weaker. She couldn't tell if her hazed vision was because of the lack of sunlight or because of the fog anymore. She took a step forward and cringed when she noted how stiff she was.
"Ren! I don't have much longer!" she yelled in Black Speech believing that Gandalf could not understand it so it was the safest choice. They needed to wrap this up and wrap it up fast. Hyano was fighting it with everything she had but she didn't have much left. She also knew that the moment she passed out they were all done for.
The fog still coated this part of the mountains like a thick blanket which cannot be lifted. It swirled still, coaxed into movement by the force of the blast that the orange wizard sent towards the older istar and Ren. At first, there was no movement. There was nothing but dead silence around them, save for the sounds of battle not far. The orcs were still in a heavy fight against the humans and elves. According to how the situation looks, they probably would have a chance... if Gandalf did not interfere.
Soon enough, the fog began to rise as if the magic that held them there started to dissipate. The owner of this magic was the White wizard who was still hidden by the slowly disappearing white blanket. Perhaps... perhaps she was successful... Maybe the unexpected hit of her blast did as she hoped.
Hyano panted heavily watching the fog as it slowly grew thinner and thinner. She wasn't sure what she was expecting or wanted to see when the fog lifted. Him on the ground out cold maybe? Not dead but.. Just out of the way? As long as Ren believed he was dead then they could finally move on.
The shadow of someone appeared just in front of her within the fog, motionless, soundless as if staring at her. If she had any determination in her blast before, it shattered when the blue eyes of the older istar met her gaze, standing tall and strong as ever.
When the young wizard saw the shadow, she honestly thought she was looking at Ren... but that thought shattered in seconds when she noted no dark energy in the being. When her green and red eyes met blue she gritted her teeth. She mentally cursed, knowing her body couldn't handle much more. She was proven right when she tried to step forward and ended up on one knee, gasping as her body started forcing Hyano to stop. She looked up into the eyes of the other istar, showing that despite it all she was still determined to try.
Like she said before... She didn't believe this was over until she was dead.
Gandalf watched her from his position as she fell to her knee, his gaze not moving from hers, showing no effect of her blast. His gaze was scolding but not angry, as if disappointed that she would think of seriously harming him. He does not know her as such, and did not wish to remember her this way. He finally moved, stepping forward a few times to approach her. The White wizard's staff was held leisurely next to him, clearly not preparing to continue the fight.
One needs to glance at the sky to tell the reason for his behavior. The sun's very tip vanished from view just now, the light leaving Middle-Earth soon after, letting the world be engulfed by the unforgiving darkness which forced its way to replace the light. He knew she cannot fight any longer...
In the next second however, the shape of another being appeared within the dissipating fog, clearly holding something, ready to strike. And only one more person was hidden from view...
The cloud of steam slowly vanished, revealing the dark cloak of the cursed creature behind the White wizard. His gauntleted hands held the sword just above the head of Gandalf, his grip was tight, his aura was dark with anticipation of finally ending this battle and be coated by the blood of his greatest foe. The sword gleamed in the very last light of the sun and the wraith moved to deliver the deadly blow.
Hyano had spent quite a bit of time in the caves so she could survive without sunlight for a time... That is... if she didn't use magic, if she conserved and used all her energy wisely. However in this case, she was at a loss. She used most if not all her energy by now and it was taking all her concentration not to pass out where she was. She saw the figure behind Gandalf and knew who it was. She might be beaten but Ren wasn't. He couldn't be beaten. This was what her mind told her. What all her training told her. That Ren was the Dark Lord of it all and nothing could stand in his way. Not even Gandalf. She felt her body shake slightly knowing that was another sign her muscles wanted to give out from under her.
"... I'm... not done." she breathed out stubbornly through gritted teeth.
The cloud of steam slowly vanished, revealing the dark cloak of the cursed creature behind the White wizard. His gauntleted hands held the sword just above the head of Gandalf, his grip was tight; his aura was dark with anticipation of finally ending this battle and be coated by the blood of his greatest foe. The sword gleamed in the very last light of the sun and the wraith moved to deliver the deadly blow.
Gandalf on the other hand knew exactly where he was and what he is preparing to do. Yet... he did not handle to meet the blade of the Nazgul.
He did not need to.
He did not need to because the blade in the end never met his frame.
Before Ren could launch his attack full swing, something crashed into his spectral body, slinging around his arms in the very last second before his blade tasted the flesh of the istar, pulling him back forcefully. Humans and elves appeared seemingly out of nowhere from the wall of the disappearing fog, revealing long chains which now held the wraith back from finishing his strike.
The Nazgul shrieked in anger, in fury and frustration as he shook his body, jumping forward, trying to reach the White wizard who stood just a few inches in front of him. But the chains held fast, and distanced him from his target. Yet he still fought. He gave all that he had to charge and claim the victory that was rightfully his. The sound of metal clashing against stone was harsh, while his shrieks and infuriated hisses mixed with it. But no matter what he did, he was soon dragged back into the fog. His screams never died down, they echoed through the battlefield, shrieking for his lost chance, his vain effort, his vanishing army... and his mate. He shouted her name repeatedly with anger.
They failed.
Hyano's eyes went wide when she saw the chains. What? Chains? How?! She thought, then saw who the chains were attached to, then realized her own foolishness.
The fog wasn't just to hide Gandalf. It was to hide his aid!
She gripped the ground under her then with the final strength she had left she pushed herself to her feet in a vain attempt to run to Ren. However, her muscles would have none of that. As fast as she got up, her body collapsed from under her, her vision growing blurring as she fell to her hands and knees. She looked past Gandalf and after her best friend.
"R-ren!" she called back to him. No... This couldn't be it... They worked so hard... This couldn't be... Son of a warg...
It was the end.
Gandalf watched this transpire in front of his wise blue eyes. He said nothing, he didn't stop her from her attempt to get up and follow her friend. But there was no escape their fate this time. He was alone and unprepared the last time they got away. But now... he wasn't taking any chances. He watched as realization hit the young girl, finally seeing through his final plan, although it was already too late. He wanted to smile, to express his pride in having outdone her at least three times today. But there was no reason to smile. Not when she watches her friend she believed in get dragged away. Not when everything she worked for is falling into ruin before her very eyes. He was proud of his planning. But not of the many lives lost... and of his mistake in letting this happen in the first place.
In the end, Gandalf sighed and walked over to her, standing at her side before crouching down and raised a hand to put it on her shaking shoulder gently, squeezing on it softly in reassurance.
"It is over now." he whispered in a silent and comforting tone, like a parent comforting their child after a nightmare. With the difference, that Hyano's nightmare is very much real. "Sleep."
Hyano wasn't even able to look up anymore. She felt tears she hadn't shed in some time come to her green eye and fall to the ground. Why was she crying? Crying was a weakness... Crying was foolish and a show of feelings... She felt the presence of Gandalf and heard his words. Without realizing it, her body relaxed a little as it always had when he was close and she felt safe. She felt her world start to grow darker and darker then without another word her body finally collapsed from under her, leaving a knocked out young girl there. Anyone else would think she was as dead as the orc not far away was but she was still very alive... Just very weak...
And very ashamed of this day. Ashamed of the defeat.
Gandalf was by her side while this happened, caressing her shoulder, back, and hair to coax her into a comfortable sleep, to make her forget of today while she dreams of a brighter future. Because everything else is more welcome than what she went through for the past year. He stayed with her for a while longer, then nodded towards an elf who stood nearby to take her and examine her. She was hurt, he could tell. The White wizard watched her until she left his field of vision, then closed his eyes, letting a smile grace his expression. But this smile was not to spite her or because of his victory. Oh no...
He reached down with his hand to his side and touched his chest, causing himself to wince, then chuckled, shaking his head as he turned towards the remaining orc troops in the distance.
The young girl actually managed to land a hit and damage him. Her determination knows no bounds, going as far as succeeding to strike the White wizard.
He sighed and turned his blue eyes towards the dark sky. He wasn't sure of the extent of the damage the Nazgul did to Hyano. He wasn't sure how far her corruption is and how much he bent her will towards his desires. He wasn't sure if she can be helped entirely. But there was one thing that he knew and believed in strictly.
He can't lose another istar to Sauron...
Avp: Hope you liked it.
From now on -just to eliminate uncertainty- you will be able to see the progress of future chapters on our profile.
Also: Please, our dear reviewers, keep your comments civil and polite. We just had to remove one due to inappropriate language. We understand your frustration with the lack of chapters in the past months, but comments shall remain friendly in nature. Being rude will not make the chapters come faster.
Hyano: No kidding! Do you know how much fire that comment caused! We ran out of Marshmallows!
Cubby: Nonsense! We have more right in her- *opens an empty cupboard*… I'm a kill em!
Avp: *Face palms* Great… now I have to run to the store again… Thank you for reading everyone! Ren! Where is my wallet?!
Ren: *Hisses evilly under the couch.*
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