Alright, time for the next chapter. This one will mostly follow from Talion's perspective as we catch a few glimpses of his time in Mordor. I will be following a lot of Shadow of War, but far from everything, and there will be some major changes as events go along, so get ready for this guys.
Darkness Reborn
Chapter 36: Demons of Ice
Days had passed, days of conflict, all across the lands of Núrn. After reclaiming the New Ring, Talion and Celebrimbor made for Núrn, and began setting the foundation for their campaign against Sauron. Using the powers of the New Ring, they began to enslave the minds of various orcs and uruks to their cause. The process was quick, but lacked in scale. Turning individual orcs may provide them a fighting force, but it wouldn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things. No the source of their strength would come from turning orc captains and warchiefs. Orcs followed the strongest, so by turning high ranking orcs they could convince armies of lesser orcs to follow them.
So, with a plan in place, the duo worked to begin subverting Sauron's authority in the region. They began setting ambushes for orcs, uruks, and olegs, targeting the various leaders in Sauron's armies. Their goals being to amass a force large enough to assault the main fortress of each region of Mordor. If they could replace the Overlord with a loyal follower, than they'd have the means to truly fight back against Sauron's armies.
Time passed as the two worked together to accomplish this feat until they overheard rumors from the orcs about rogue sorcerers out near Cirith Ungol. They knew that could only mean one thing, the quartet of magicals had entered Mordor.
Talion immediately set off for Cirith Ungol to meet with them, and hopefully convince them to join Celebrimbor and himself in their quest. Knowing that they intended to draw out Sauron and potentially Sauron's master, this was as good a means as any to work together. Plus their magical powers could prove incredibly useful. That and Talion himself would very much approve of more company that wasn't just orcs or Celebrimbor. Mayhaps they had also met up with the White Wizard again, if so than gaining his assistance would prove even more invaluable.
It took a few days, but the duo managed to track the four to a small cave in the mountains overlooking the fortress and surrounding area below.
Talion entered into the cave cautiously, uncertain of what to expect, in an instant, as he passed some sort of unseen boundary, he felt something touch at the air. A few moments later he found himself at wand point.
"Well well… look who it is." Sirius noted, lowering his wand once he recognized who it was.
"I was hoping we'd see each other again." Talion greeted him with a smile and a nod.
"Us as well. Come on." Sirius motioned for him to follow and led him deeper into the cave where the rest of the group was waiting, wands at the ready. Sirius called ahead with a password to let them know it was him returning.
Once the rest of them saw Talion they greeted him warmly.
With greetings out of the way, they brought each other up to date on recent events. Talion asked if they were able to successfully get some of the Gondorians to safety, which they confirmed they did, though they informed him that they witnessed many others being captured and marched out of Minas Ithil as it fell.
Talion was already aware of this, having met with a few surviving Gondorian soldiers who'd fled into Mordor to try and rescue other survivors. The group agreed to keep their eyes open for them, and try and help them if they could. Once they were finished, Talion informed them of the plan, and what he and Celebrimbor were up to here in Mordor.
"So you can mind-control the orcs?" James clarified.
"Not so much mind-control more like over take their will with our own. It doesn't completely control their actions, but more so guides it in the direction we want. It is the power of dominion. With it, we have a chance of striking back against Sauron and his armies." Talion explained.
"Only so long as Morgoth is not present. Our powers give us a chance against Sauron and his armies, but she is an entirely different matter." Celebrimbor was quick to point out.
"You seem so sure of that. Is she truly so much more dangerous than the current Dark Lord?" Lily asked the wraith.
"Morgoth's unholy power is not to be trifled with. At her full strength she could topple mountains, and drown continents. She alone, could challenge the combined might of the other Valar. It was only due to vanity and arrogance that she allowed herself to be directly confronted by Tulkas. Despite her powers, she was no match for the greatest warrior of the Valar. She allowed herself to be drawn into a fight on his terms, and she paid the price for it, ended up imprisoned for thousands of years. But that was the dawn age, in a time before any of us knew of betrayal, or deception. Morgoth feigned repentance, and the moment she had freedom, she escaped beyond the boundaries of the world, and returned all to darkness once more. Make no mistake Talion, as confident as I am that we have a chance of defeating Sauron with the power of this new ring, if the ill tidings they bring hold any truth to them, than we face a terror that once shook the world to it's foundation." Celebrimbor briefly explained to the group before addressing his partner directly, affirming to him that Sauron and Morgoth were on two entirely different threat levels.
"So, we definitely don't wanna run into her without a plan in place. Good to have the reminder." Sirius noted, upbeat, though all could tell he was as troubled as the rest of them.
"For now, our best bet of figuring out if Sophia has managed to return, is to challenge Sauron. The more problems we cause for him, the more likely it is, for her to get involved, especially if she realizes we're here. We just need to be careful, cautious." Remus suggested.
"Then we'll work together. By turning the warchiefs to our side, and usurping the overlords, we can take hold of Mordor, and cause enough internal strife to keep Sauron from attacking outlying lands. If his master truly has returned, than she'll no doubt take note of the events here, allowing you the chance to fulfill your mission." Talion suggested.
"Sounds as good a plan as any. Where do we start?" James inquired.
With their newly formed alliance, the group began it's campaign against Sauron. The quartet of magicals, using their powers to assist Talion in Cirith Ungol and in Núrn, as he worked to dominate various warchiefs and captains. Their powers became a great boon to the Ranger's cause, and Celebrimbor admired the uncertainty such powers added to their side. The orcs fear of the Bright Lord grew, as conflict itself continued to grow as well. The biggest thing hindering their movements at the moment was the presence of Umbra. On occasion the titanic dragon was spotted in the skies over one of the two regions, forcing Talion, and his forces to hide from it. The dragon was usually followed by a pack of drakes, making it nearly impossible to overwhelm the great beast which seemed to be searching for them.
Though the dragon was actually Umbra, Talion and Celebrimbor, given what they were told from Saruman, were left to conclude that it was Smaug, so they operated under that belief. Though the title of Smaug the Golden, made little sense given that the Dragon they saw was black as night, with vicious emerald green eyes.
Most orcs didn't know the dragon by name, so they could only agree that it was likely Smaug. Regardless of it's true identity, the dragon made things difficult, and while Talion was immune to death, his comrades, and his army was not. Alone he could not defeat the dragon, and while it was possible to dominate drakes, Celebrimbor was uncertain if it would be possible to dominate one of the Great Dragons. Their magics and powers were vast. Perhaps one day, as their power grew it might become possible, but as it was currently, they had no answer for the great beast, other than to run to a new region whenever it showed up, and start working there.
Thankfully their forces easily blended in with Sauron's so it wasn't all that difficult to keep the dragon from targeting them, and orcs often got into fights anyway, so catching groups of them engaged in battles to the death was far from uncommon.
The major issue with the dragon's presence, was that it eliminated the opportunity to invade the fortresses while it was present in the region, and it presented a frightening possibility that Sauron may just order the dragon to destroy the fortress outright.
Celebrimbor, while acknowledging that possibility, was uncertain if Sauron would go that far. These fortresses were valuable and offered a means of controlling each region. Destroying them outright, may remove them from their control, but it also denied Sauron the ability to use them.
Ultimately they'd have to wait and see, so for now, they simply focused on their endeavors.
The dragon was not the only thing searching for the Gravewalker and his allies. The Nazgûl as well, hunted for them.
Another ally was cemented when Talion came upon Eltariel, the elven woman who'd saved him from the Witch King back in Minas Morgul. Eltariel had been dispatched to these lands by her ladyship, Galadriel, whom had also gifted Eltariel with a portion of her powers, allowing her to project powerful blasts of light from her hand. She had been sent to these lands to hunt the Nazgûl, and from her, Talion learned of the Chosen, troops of orcs chosen to guard the Haedir, which the Nazgûl were using to Track the New Ring.
Armed with that information, Talion worked to darken their network by claiming the various Haedir for himself, dominating them, and using their limited sight to give him greater knowledge of the local region.
It was during another meeting with Eltariel, along with the four magicals, that they took down a ritual where the Nazgûl were turning a small troop of orcs into Chosen. They disrupted the ritual and drove off the Nazgûl, killing the orcs in the process.
"More dead." Talion noted at the battle's end.
"Many more will follow before it is done." Eltariel hummed in agreement.
"Well at least we stopped more of those Chosen from being created. Without them, the Nazgul will have a harder time taking back the Haedir." Remus offered to them.
"Yes. A boon for us, definitely." Talion agreed.
"These small victories mean little. The power of darkness continues to grow." Came a voice from the shadows.
The troop turned in unison, raising their weapons.
Out of the shadows emerged a surprising sight. A woman. An elf woman, draped in roughshod leather, and dirty trousers. She had pale skin, and red hair, and incredibly strange sight for these lands.
"One of your kin?" Talion noted once he recognized the woman as an elf.
"Not one I recognize. Who are you?" Eltariel questioned with suspicion.
"I am Tauriel. Formerly of King Thranduil's forest guard." Tauriel answered. Though her appearance was fair, it was obvious to all of them that she'd had a rough go of her time here in Mordor. She looked drained, like she was lacking in sleep. A strange sight for an elf, whom even in the darkest of times, seemed to maintain a fairness to them that always proved resilient.
"Thranduil, son of King Oropher. She is of the Greenwood." Celebrimbor noted.
"What are you doing here, so far from home?" Talion asked, but it was Eltariel who answered.
"She was taken, during the Battle of the Five Armies. Taken by Azog and his forces. A Black Númenórean was with them. We thought they had gone towards Gundabad or perhaps to the ancient lands of Angmar. Legolas of the Woodland Realms passed through Lothlórien in search of her, some years ago." Eltariel spoke.
"We are far from either of those lands. How did you end up here?" Talion questioned.
Tauriel was silent for a second, hearing that her old friend Legolas had been looking for her. It raised her spirits somewhat, yet it filled her with astonishing grief, knowing that his journey was taking him towards danger, with no hope of ever finding her.
"It was not a Black Númenórean who took me from the battlefield. It was Sauron. He was there, observing the battle. I was cornered by the orc warchief Bolg. I would have been killed had Sauron not intervened to take me prisoner." Tauriel responded to them.
"You were a prisoner of Sauron, how did you manage to escape?" Lily questioned her.
"He had arrived at the spider's cave. I was there with him. We saw the two of you fighting the Nazgûl there. He was about to intervene but I drove my knife into his back and pushed him into the depths. I ran. I ran as fast as I could out of those caves." Tauriel responded, earning surprise from everyone, including Eltariel, Talion, and Celebrimbor.
"He was there? He was right there?!" Talion blinked in worry. The realization that the Dark Lord had literally been within feet of them without them knowing was frightening to say the least.
"You were able to assault the dark lord when his back was turned? How was it that none of his guards stopped you?" Celebrimbor questioned her, her gaze passing to him, filling him in, that she too could see him. A surprising quality, but one he wasn't interested in questioning at the moment. Being able to see into the unseen was usually a power reserved for more powerful elves, or higher beings, but for now, it benefited him to not have to have Talion act as an intermediary.
"He had no other guards. It was just the two of us." Tauriel answered.
"Just the two of you? Why? Why would the dark lord travel with just you?" Eltariel asked her.
"I was captain of the forest guard. I am skilled at tracking, and his quarry was a Gondorian ranger, one who also held such skills. He wanted my help to find you, ranger." Tauriel responded, her gaze landing on Talion.
"Yet that does not answer why he only traveled with you. Why were there no others? Sauron should have known you would try to betray him. Why did he not come prepared?" Celebrimbor asked her.
"My betrayal did little, of that I am certain. Such a wound would have barely been an annoyance had I not pushed him when I did. The fall allowed me to escape, but the wound he suffered would have healed in mere moments. I have seen him heal from worse, much faster. As for why he did not feel the need to have me watched, I believe he thought this collar would keep him safe." She explained, gesturing to the collar around her neck.
"That collar, I feel dark magics coming from it. Some sort of cursed artifact maybe. What is it?" Lily asked her, taking a step closer and eyeing the collar curiously.
"It is my cage. He placed it on me to keep me from betraying him. Even now, I feel it digging into my flesh, like the firm grip of a hand. I feel at any moment it will strangle the life out of me." Tauriel admitted.
"The Collar was meant to keep you from betraying him, yet somehow you still managed it." Celebrimbor noted, suspicion filling his voice.
"I believe the powers that keep it functioning have waned due to the distance between me and my master. Because I am so far away from her, it's powers have decreased." Tauriel suggested.
"Your master? I thought it was Sauron who enslaved you. Who is this woman you speak of?" James asked her, sharing a glance with Remus when they heard that.
Tauriel blinked at the question, Lilith's face filling her mind. The group watched as her visage twisted in horror, her eyes filling with panic.
"S-she…" Tauriel began, only to scream out, and drop to her knees, startling everyone present. Her hands shot to the collar, as she felt a searing, burning pain, digging into her flesh. Like a coil of hot iron had been strung around her neck.
"What's wrong, what's happening to her?" Talion questioned, as the four magicals surrounded her, Lily and James were knelt with her, both of them examining the collar, though their looks were unreadable.
"This isn't good. Magic like this is powerful, and binding. It wont be easy to get this collar off of her." Lily spoke, as Tauriel breathed heavily, the pain slowly subsiding.
"Why did it react like that?" Talion asked.
"I cannot share my master's secrets." Tauriel responded, somberly.
"The collar prohibits her from speaking of her master, in the presence of her enemies. Tell me, why did Sauron give you to this woman? An elven captain could hold many secrets, why were you not tortured for information?" Celebrimbor asked her.
"I was not taken for my profession, but because of what I was. I am an elf, and Sauron believed I would make a fine gift for his wife." Tauriel replied hollowly. Her answer earned surprise from everyone, especially Celebrimbor and Talion.
"Sauron's wife? He has a wife?" Talion repeated her statement, disbelief coloring his face.
"I have never known Sauron to partake in such distraction as courting, unless it served a greater purpose." Celebrimbor noted suspiciously. He had originally been leaning towards the possibility that the woman this elf had been given to was actually Morgoth, but hearing that it was Sauron's wife, that aggravated that idea. Sauron and Morgoth were the same in many ways, one of the biggest similarities was their pride. Neither were the kind of beings willing to share power. The notion of marriage, of such unity was in forming a partnership, and powerful and direct bonds. It wasn't something either seemed capable of.
Tauriel wanted to say something, to express what she knew, but the very idea caused throbbing pain to pulse in her neck. It brought tears to her eyes as she tried to say something, say anything that could let them know the truth. The words were forced to die in her throat.
The collar had been acting strangely since she escaped. She was confident that it was due to the distance between her and Lilith that was causing these changes in it's sensitivity, or perhaps she had simple convinced herself that she believed that, as it was easier to do so than to drive herself crazy thinking about the alternative.
Her lips flapped several times, and it was obvious to the others she was warring with herself, fighting the power of the collar to try and say something. Finally, something came out, a partial truth. "She is the Queen of Fire, Shadow, and Winter…"
"The Queen of Fire, Shadow and Winter?" Remus repeated, glancing up at Talion who shook his head in confusion.
"He married her to form an alliance between his kingdom, and hers." Tauriel spoke, her eyes widening as a realization dawned on her. She could not speak her masters secrets, but she could tell them some of the falsehood that Sauron himself had fed to the world, to the people of Westeros. That information wasn't a secret, it was simply what they'd done.
"Her kingdom? Where is this kingdom?" Eltariel questioned.
"In the Land of Always Winter, in the Far North of Westeros. A continent far from here. He married her, securing their alliance, and unifying their powers so they could take the continent. Seven vast kingdoms of men, all have fallen under the lordship of the Dragon-Wolf." Tauriel said to them.
"The Dragon-Wolf?" Lily repeated with confusion.
"It is the title that he gained, Sauron's title. He came to them, as the son of a great house of their lands. The heir to a fallen dynasty, and he has returned that dynasty to power, uniting the continent under his banner. You've seen it, even here, have you not. The wolf and the three-headed dragon. The sigils of the two houses united through him. The house of Stark, the direwolf, and the house of Targaryen, the dragon. He is king now. King of the Targaryen Dynasty. He rules over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros. His armies are beyond imagining now. Hundreds of thousands of orcs have spread across Westeros, and are living alongside men, just as they do in the east. These orcs though are different from the ones you've encountered. They're growing smarter, less needlessly violent. Sauron and his wife encourage their intelligence, shaping them into a tool for more than just warfare. It is a slow, steady process but already I can easily see the difference between them. Westeros-born orcs, and Mordor-born orcs are like two entirely different breeds." Tauriel told them, tears falling from her eyes as she did. For reasons that she could not explain, despite the need to say these things, despite how important it was that she tell them everything she knew, she could not escape the feeling of guilt that churned in her stomach. For what reason should she possibly feel guilty for? She could not think of anything definitive, and yet, in her minds eye she recalled those scant moments of vulnerability that she'd seen in Sauron. The moments of kindness that he showed, which seemed so genuine. Even in Lilith, she had experienced kindness, trust, and even a degree of respect. Yet she knew they were evil, knew they were all that was wrong in the world. She shouldn't feel any guilt for spilling their secrets.
While Tauriel warred with herself, the color drained from the faces of all five humans, and the elf woman. If Celebrimbor was still alive, he'd no doubt act the same.
"How has Sauron managed to traverse to these lands if they are as far away as you claim?" Eltariel asked her.
"Ther- AH!" Tauriel began to answer only for a lance of pain to shoot through her, causing her to double over, grasping at her neck.
"Dammit." Sirius swore in response.
"This Westeros is no land I have ever heard of. It could be it belongs to this other world that the Blue Wizard was dispatched to." Talion suggested.
"You are likely correct. Whatever means Sauron possesses to travel between these two lands is a guarded secret. She cannot share it with us." Celebrimbor stated, as he stared down at the whimpering form of Tauriel.
"You must be very knowledgeable about their secrets for them to place such restrictions on you. What purpose did the Dark Lord have in giving you to his wife?" Eltariel questioned, stepping forward and kneeling in front of Tauriel who slowly lifted her gaze to meet with her fellow elf.
Tauriel stared into Eltariel's eyes for several long moments before her face twisted in disgust.
"I was her body slave. I was her plaything. They cared little for what I knew, or what I could do. All that mattered to them was what they could use my body for!" Tauriel admitted as more tears fell from her eyes.
Surprise flashed across the many faces, though the wizards recovered quicker and collectively let out sighs of frustration.
"You were forced to lay with the Dark Lord and his wife?" Eltariel clarified, her own disgust at the implication showing on her face.
Tauriel nodded, her despair showing. She felt sick, lessened. To sit before another of her own kind and finally admit what had been done to her. In part, it felt like a weight lifted off of her, but that was a very small relief. For the most part, she simply felt sickened.
"The Dark Lord's malice knows no equal, and it seems this woman he has bound himself to is much the same." Talion sighed.
"That is true. She may not be able to tell us everything, but her information could still prove valuable. Even so, I'd advise no small deal of caution. I sense something amiss in all of this. Her escape seems to well timed." Celebrimbor spoke softly to Talion.
"You think this is a ruse?" Talion asked, glancing between the wraith and the broken form of Tauriel.
"Not entirely. I feel she's genuine in her pain, and yet, I still cannot shake the feeling that there is more at play here. My concern isn't whether or not she is a spy, but rather, if she actually escaped, or perhaps was set loose." Celebrimbor spoke in return.
Talion was silent for a moment, before sighing once more and nodding. He had to agree with the wraith on that point. He wouldn't put it past their enemy to use someone like that. If she was released intentionally, than the question was why?
Deciding to allow some time to rest, the group gathered up the despondent elf and took her back to the magicals' cave near Cirith Ungol. There they would let her rest, and allow the magicals to work on her collar and try to remove it.
Talion and Celebrimbor allowed them their time, as did Eltariel who resumed her hunt for the Nazgûl.
Talion traveled back to Núrn, and there he ventured into the forest of Carnán, drawn by something there, something powerful that he felt called to him.
The orcs had been dealing with trouble in the forest for a while now, strange happenings, strange animals, all attacking them whenever they chose to venture in the forest's depths.
Talion ventured inside and dealt with several groups of orcs, only to then be attacked by the same entities that had been plaguing the orcs. These entities were shaped like the beasts of Mordor, but formed of vines, and branches, and leaves. They attacked viciously, and Talion was forced to cut them down in order to survive.
At the battle's end, he was dragged into the base of the largest tree in the forest, where he was placed before the entity responsible for these happenings. The Spirit of Carnán, an ancient Maiar that had taken this place as it's home, becoming the forest itself. This being had been in Mordor since the dawn of days, long before Sauron or Shelob ever walked these lands.
The Spirit told Talion and Celebrimbor of trouble brewing in Gorgoroth. The forging of the New Ring had stirred something from it's slumber. Something ancient was rising to the surface once more. A Balrog of Morgoth.
The spirit pressed the two to go and deal with the threat, to try and stop the Balrog's awakening.
Knowing how bad it would be if such a beast allied with Sauron, they chose to swiftly make their way into the heart of Mordor.
They arrived just in time to bear witness to the final moments of the ritual. There they caught sight of something they had never seen before.
Orcs of icy blue, mummified skin, draped in armor, of glittering glass. These orcs were tall, with pale white hair. Their eyes were like sapphires that shined with malevolent intent. There was a half-dozen of these creatures, with another dozen or so regular Mordor orcs and uruks, all working together in some kind of great ritual.
"What manner of orcs are these?" Talion wondered.
"They must be orcs of Westeros, as Tauriel said. We should be cautious, but we must stop the ritual. We should deal with the normal orcs first." Celebrimbor suggested.
Talion agreed with that sentiment and went to work, moving around the ritual sight, taking out the orcs that were guarding it. Once done, he targeted what appeared to be the leader. He got close to attacking him, but what spotted, and the leader quickly turned to face him. This orc was different from all the others. A dim blue glow colored half of his chest, and sunken, mummified flesh could be seen crawling up one half of his face, and down one of his arms. One eye was like a sapphire, brilliant and blue, the other, a terrifying yellow.
The hooded orc grinned upon seeing him.
"Ah… I was wondering if you'd show up. That little ring-making trick of your, shook the foundations of the world. Now Tar-Goroth rises to the surface. The Balrog will be awakened, and bring death to this world." The Orc addressed Talion with a cruel grin.
As the orc spoke, the other pale orcs began to approach, and as they did, a bone-chilling cold began to cover the area.
"What manner of creature are you?" Talion demanded of the strange orc.
"Me? I am ascended. The gift of the Akul Demonuk settled into my flesh, but it did not take me. I am both. I am more!" The Orc declared with a vision grin.
Another question began to form, but before he could speak it, Talion was forced to dodge an incoming spear thrown by one of the advancing White Orcs. The blade was almost invisible as it sailed through the air, only a shout from Celebrimbor alerted Talion to it's approach allowing him to dive away from it.
He glanced back at the spear, spotting a long weapon of glittering glass. It was like nothing he'd ever seen before.
By the time he was back on his feet, the main orc had already drawn his own weapon, a spear of similar design.
A cool mist seemed to fill the air, as the orc let out a chuckle.
"What a wonderful day. A balrog, and the Gravewalker. With both under my command, I will rise beyond even Sauron." The Orc spoke cruelly as he vanished into the mist.
"Never a lack of ambition here in Mordor." Talion thought to himself as he moved to try and escape the mist.
He raced through the mist, moving to avoid the unseen strikes. The ones he saw coming and was able to block, hit with unimaginable force, often taking him off his feet. These white orcs hit harder than Olegs.
He swiftly made it out of the mist, and used Celebrimbor's powers to teleport himself to the top of a nearby watchtower. Below him sat the cloud of mist, and beyond that, the lava filled cavern where the ritual to awaken Tar-Goroth continued.
For a moment, Talion waited and planned out how he would deal with this new threat. These White Orcs fought in a manner he'd never encountered before. They were like wisps in the dense mist, emerging as half-formed images. The only sign of their presence was the twinkling glint of their armor.
Another moment passed when something sailed by him, moving faster than the eye could follow. It shot right by his head. He back pedaled to the middle of the watchtower's platform, only for another object to explode out through the floor and sail into the sky. Another came, and then another, sheering through wood and stone like it wasn't even there. Below, still standing within the settling mist, the Akul Demonuk hurled their icy spears up at the ranger.
"Come down ranger! Come and face us! We are the future of Mordor! This world, is poised for our taking… surely you are starting to see that." The orc leader spoke up from within the cloud.
"This one certainly has a lot to say." Talion noted with aggravation as he leaped from the platform, drawing an ethereal bow as he fell to the ground below. Thanks to Celebrimbor, he could manifest such tools, and through them utilize useful powers.
The ethereal arrow he loosed, flew into the heart of the misty cloud, and upon impact it released a pulse wave. Pushing everything away from it's center, including the mist.
This gaze him a clear shot at the leader, and he immediately loosed a second arrow right at him. This one struck him in the arm, earning a snarl of pain as Talion finished his descent to the ground below.
The arrow had struck the orc leader in the shoulder. Black blood drained from the wound, though no arrow was physically present. The orc focused a hated glare at Talion and began to advance along with his troop, only for the ground to begin shaking.
"Talion, it's coming!" Celebrimbor shouted at the ranger, sensing the ascension of the Balrog.
Heat exploded out from the cavern below, blowing away what remained of the mist.
A demonic roar spilled out into the air, shaking Talion to his very soul.
Seconds passed when suddenly screams erupted from below. Orcish screams of terror, that were followed by the ear-splitting crack of a whip, and then silence.
A few tense moments passed before out of the depths rose a flaming terror rose into the sky.
The shadow of the mighty Balrog fell over the land, rising to the surface with frightful intent.
It pulled itself up on shadowy flaming wings, it's eyes blazing down at them with monstrous fury.
"Ah… You've finally arrived. Great Tar-Goroth! I beseech you, on behalf of our great master! She calls to thee. I will take you to her, but first, we must deal with this one. He is an enemy of our master, and the wraith with him, is one she had demanded be brought before her." The lead orc said to the Balrog, pointing a crooked finger at Talion and Celebrimbor, earning them the fiery gaze of the demon.
Though it didn't immediately register in either of their minds, this orc had just confirmed something that would later chill their bones.
With a forward motion, the demon landed between Talion and the White orcs. A sword of flame began forming in it's hand as the demon began advancing on them.
"Talion, we must flee. This power is to much for us alone." Celebrimbor warned him.
The demon stalked towards them, a draconic creature, draped in heavy iron armor, like a monster straight out of nightmare.
Talion began to retreat, just barely catching movement behind the towering Balrog.
In an instant, five spear of ice exploded out of the Balrog's chest, halting it's advance. The demon froze in it's place, a hand coming to it's chest, and molten fire drained out of each wound like blood.
"What!?" Talion blinked in surprise.
Another barrage of spears flew through the demon's body, several even passing through it's head.
The Balrog fell to it's knees as the troop of Akul Demonuk surged up behind it.
For a moment, Talion was confused. Why had they attacked the creature? Why kill it?
Before he could get his answer, a shriek pierced his ears. An orc came at him from the side.
He dodged it's attack and stabbed it with his sword, but the attack did little. The orc didn't seem to notice the attack, as it continued shrieking and clawing at Talion, it's eyes an icy blue just like the White Orcs.
Talion shoved the orc off of himself, only to see several more orcs, that he quickly began recognizing as the orcs he'd killed earlier.
"What manner of sorcery is this?" Talion questioned.
"It is necromancy. They have been risen. But how?" Celebrimbor spoke as the undead orcs advanced on Talion.
Behind the troop, he spotted the Akul Demonuk gathered around the fallen Balrog. They all were outstretching their hands to the demon, as the lead orc knelt by it's head, placing a hand upon the demon's shadowy carcass.
"I call you back now, Tar-Goroth. Not as Fire, but as Ice! A new power has risen in Mordor, and you will serve it!"The Orc spoke in a tone, greater than it's own.
"Talion!" Celebrimbor cried out, both of them realizing what was about to happen, as it did.
"I know!" Talion responded as he tried to cut his way through the attacking orcs, now raised as wights.
Summoning up all of their powers, the group of orcs, channeled them into the beast.
The shadows that leaked from it's body began to recede, sinking back into flesh, and within it's chest, a blue glow began to color the previously dimming flames which now began to grow in intensity once more.
Talion could not stop the ritual, as the Balrog was restored with the power of the Akul Demonuk. A frigid cold began to roll off of the demon's body as it rose to it's feet. The flames of it's body blazed blue, as the blackened shadow of it's flesh, gave way to crystalline ice.
"Rise now Tar-Goroth. Rise and bring death to this world in my name!" The orc declared victoriously as the newly born demon of ice, rose to it's full height. It's eyes blazed a monstrous blue, as it focused it's gaze down onto the orc that had slain it. It then turned it's eyes towards Talion who was busy backpedaling away from the undead group still chasing him.
The Balrog's approach was much slower than before. It was more deliberate in it's advance, almost as if it was struggling, resisting the influence that was controlling it.
"A burning death, a frozen one, death, all the same. Return to the abyss, shadow!" Came a voice in the air.
Among the troop of advancing wights, a swirling vortex of leaves fell upon them. From below the cluster, a construct began to emerge.
Wood and leaves exploded up, tossing the wights aside, ripping into their bodies with cold ferocity.
The wooden shape of a towering graug soon stood before them.
"Is that…?" Talion began to speak.
"The Spirit of Carnán has come to aid us!" Celebrimbor affirmed.
The appearance of the opposing spirit seemed to drive the Balrog into a frenzy. The demon of ice charged at the Graug which charged back in return, the two meeting in a hellish clash of wooden fists and icy claws.
Each strike the Graug delivered reverberated through the air, like the sounds a great iceberg would make as it struck other objects beneath the ocean.
The Balrog returned each blow, as it's claws of ice, dug and tore into the wooden avatar, sending leaves and twigs swirling through the air.
Talion began to charge, eager to aide the Spirit of Carnán in it's assault, but he was diverted by the approaching Akul Demonuk.
"Two for the price of one! This spirit too will bow before the might of Zog, the Eternal!" The orc leader declared with a vicious grin.
"No… it will not!" A dark voice filled the air.
Zog's grinning visage gave way and he immediately began looking around.
Talion and Celebrimbor stopped, both of them doing the same, even as the two spirits continued fighting.
A shadow caught their sight, circling above high in the sky. It descended from the heights, landing upon a wooden tower overlooking the battlefield.
From the smoke emerged a man.
"Who is that?" Talion questioned aloud.
"We know that voice. But it shouldn't be possible. He lost the ability to assume a fair form long ago. It is Sauron." Celebrimbor spoke with hate. At the mention of his name, the Dark Lord glanced down at Talion and Celebrimbor, his eyes settling on the wraith. A smile touched at his lips as he took in the sight of them.
"Hello, my old friend." He spoke, in the voice of Aegon Targaryen.
"I see you have taken up a new form, Sauron. So this is the Dragon-wolf, is it." Celebrimbor declared, glaring up at him.
"Ah, so you've met Tauriel. How is she? Her master misses her dearly. Do please tell her that when next you see her." Sauron questioned curiously. A cruel grin spreading across his face.
Talion and Celebrimbor glared up at the Dark Lord who stared back at them with unyielding malice. Finally, he tore his gaze from them, and glanced down at the Akul Demonuk.
"Tell me, Zog… what was it you hoped to gain from this treachery? Even with the power of a Balrog, corrupted by the strength of the Others, did you honestly believe that would be enough to challenge us?" Sauron questioned, staring down at the orc who seemed to seethe at the condescension from the Dark Lord.
"I have seen the truth of things! I have walked in death, and have heard the whispers of the Great Serpent! You are weak, Sauron! Mordor belongs to the Dead!" Zog declared.
"Ah, so it wasn't us you sought to usurp, but rather me. Envy, and jealously are ill fitting colors. You could have have done something great. Your discovery here could have elevated you far beyond many others. Instead you sought to steal and corrupt the power that belongs to her, and try to use that power to steal my kingdom from me. I'm disappointed. You could have been so much more…" Sauron spoke, still condescending.
"You speak as if you could kill me with such ease. Have you not seen the power that I wield? Even a Balrog fell before the might of the Akul Demonuk. My servants, are blessed by the Great Other!" Zog declared as he and his troop drew their spears of ice.
"Traitors…" Sauron hummed in aggravation.
A second shadow fell from the skies, and landed beside him, and out of it emerged Lilith's Avatar. With single movement she unleashed a bolt of magic from her wand, down onto the troop of White Orcs. The bolt of magic struck the ground between them all, causing an explosion.
A red blast of magic tore through the air, shattering four of the six Akul Demonuk.
The two survivors scrambled to their feat in a panic, as did Zog who'd been thrown forward by the force of the explosion.
More shadows fell from the sky, landing beside the recovering White Orcs. From the shadows emerged three of the Nazgûl who lashed out with their cursed blades. The Akul fought back, trading powerful blows. Zog himself fought against Khamûl, the Easterling. Zog and his allies were quickly pushed back. They gathered together, and began retreating.
"This isn't over! I have seen the future of these lands! I know their fate! We will meet again, Dark Lord!" Zog declared as he held up his hand and called forth the mist once more. He and his fellows retreated into it, fleeing from the battlefield as they did.
"Give chase. Hunt them wherever they travel. Spread word to all my lands that any who give aid to Zog and his followers will be recognized as an enemy of Sauron. Now…" Sauron ordered the Nazgûl before turning back to Celebrimbor and Talion, who watched this all play out with calculating gazes.
Sauron felt the urge to target the two, to handle them here and now, but he knew now was not the time. He had plans for Talion and Celebrimbor. These two didn't know it, but they were already working towards their own doom.
So he turned his gaze towards the battling spirits. The Spirit of Carnán continued to fight against the Balrog, the two shaking the landscape with their duel.
"Celebrimbor… go now. Run away. Flee from this place like the coward that you are. I will deal with you in my own time." Sauron declared, earning rage from the fallen elf lord.
"SAURON!" Celebrimbor roared at him, ready and willing to fight him here and now if that's what it took.
"CELEBRIMBOR! WE MUST RETREAT!" Talion declared, as he saw the Balrog get the upper hand on Carnan's avatar and drive it to the ground. The wooden body of the Graug was trampled and crushed beneath the Icy demon.
A scream of pain echoed out from the avatar as a swirl of leaves rose from it's body into the air. It flew high, and reshaped into the form of a drake. It dove towards the Balrog, intent on continuing the fight only for a wall of turquoise flame to color the sky, causing the drake to vanish within it.
A monstrous roar soon followed, breaking Celebrimbor from his rage.
"The Dragon!" Talion realized.
Before he could think of how to escape, a shadow appeared beside him, and the flash of a blade almost took his head off. Thankfully his wraith-attuned reflexes kept him alive.
It was Lilith. In her hands, she carried Ira, her ancient sword. She struck at him with remarkable speed and strength.
Despite her Avatar having access to only a fraction of her total power, it was still about as strong as Lilith had been when she brought doom upon the world, when she was still human. It may have been weak by this world's standards of a Dark Lord, but in comparison to the ones from his birth world, she was stronger than any of them, than any two of or even three of them.
She traded blows with Talion, keeping him on the defensive with her strength. She may not have been the most skilled swords-woman in the world, but her strength and speed, more than made up for it, and she had experience.
She battered against him, even easily blocked or dodging the strikes from Celebrimbor when his wraith would partially manifest in the physical world to attack with his own sword.
At one point she blasted away Celebrimbor with a pulse of magic, sending the wraith flying backwards into nothingness, before slamming a strike into Talion, sending him to his knees from the force of it.
Neither Talion or Celebrimbor knew who this woman was, but her powers were great.
Lilith was about to continue her advance when suddenly Sauron appeared at her side, placing his hand upon her shoulder, directing her gaze towards the approaching form of Tar-Goroth.
"We will meet again soon, ranger." Sauron spoke with hellish malice, his eyes blazing like flames.
Talion began to back away. He knew he was beaten. He could not hope to stand against the Dark Lord, this woman, and the approaching Balrog. Not to mention the Dragon which hovered above them. The screams of Carnán ceased as he spirit fled from the ashen avatar she had tried to form. No doubt intent on returning to her forest to heal.
"We have lost this battle. We need to get out of here." Talion spoke to comrade mentally.
"You are right. We cannot hope to face them all here. Not without an army, and a plan. Go Talion. Fly!" Celebrimbor agreed.
Talion was quick to begin backpedaling, but when he saw their focus turn fully to the Balrog, he turned to retreat and get away from them.
He knew it wasn't likely to be long before more of the Nazgûl arrived as well, and he was in no state to fight them right now.
With the ranger and the wraith having fled, Sauron and Lilith were left alone to deal with the White Walker influenced Balrog.
Sauron could see Tar-Goroth attempting to fight the influence of Zog. He glanced at Lilith's avatar, and saw the cruel smile spread across her face. She stepped forward, as blazing flames ignited in her eyes.
Even separated by worlds, Lilith's will was mighty, and this was one of her servants. Even warped by power of the Others, he would remain loyal to her. She would ensure it. While she prepared to reclaim the creature. He would have to stall it.
So… with a hum of determination, he advanced on the approaching demon, taking his towering armored form as he did to engage the creature while Lilith worked to return it to her control.
Elsewhere, Talion raced across the plains of Gorgoroth, back towards Cirith Ungol.
He needed to return to his allies and tell them everything he had learned and seen. Now given time to think, he came to several realizations. First was that Zog had all but confirmed that Morgoth had returned. He'd invoked her name to convince Tar-Goroth to turn his back on him, so unless he was lying, which was a real possibility given that he was an orc, it was proof towards Morgoth's revival.
There was also another realization that they'd had. That woman they'd fought, she was likely Sauron's wife. If that was the case, than they understood why she was chosen. Her powers were immense. She was certainly an accomplished sorceress and warrior.
Their situation was growing worse, and they needed a plan. They both knew that a real chance existed for Sauron to seize control of the altered Balrog for himself, so they were likely to face it again. They definitely needed a plan. Because, for the first since crafting the New Ring, even Celebrimbor was starting to have doubts as to whether or not it could really help them win this war.
The power of darkness had grown far beyond expectations. They needed to regroup and hope for a miracle.
-To Be Continued-
Alright, there we go for the next chapter. This one mostly follows Talion, keeping the story focused on his adventures while our main characters work in the shadows. What plans do they have to bring down the forces of good? What aren't the heroes seeing? Next chapter will cover what our main characters got up to during these events and what they've been planning but for now I'll leave you all to speculate on that. Until next time, later!