Sauron encounters: House of Frights
"This is the cleanest workplace I have ever seen!" Inspector said and scratched her chin. "It seems the submitted complaint was overexaggerated." She looked at Annatar. "Apologize for inconvenience good sir."
"It's nothing." Annatar replied, and woman tipped her hat off, then walked back to the car.
"Jeez, this is getting annoying." Daniel said out loud to Alex.
"It is like, six visit from yet another inspectorate in a single day?" The Henchmen shook his head in anger. "They weren't that persistent when we smuggled dust."
"And we didn't even commit crimes here!" Yowwick kicked the rock away.
"I committed the worst atrocity of all." Annatar looked at them. "I refused to submit to a weak-willed man."
"And now he sends us a welcoming party each day." Goon with blue hat spat on the ground. "Next day, he will send us a fire department, I am sure of it."
"He is trying to compensate for something I am telling you." Another goon added. "And I don't mean his small height." and Daniel giggled.
"Maybe that's why his wife left him?" All Henchman started to laugh at a crude joke, while Sauron just rolled his eyes unamused by their jests.
"You are free for today, get some rest." Annatar told them, and prepared to close his forge. "You will need it tomorrow."
"Actually Chief…" Yowwick spoke up, and Sauron gave him a glance. "Mann Co recently opened a new amusement park, and we wanted to check it out." Goons nodded in unison. "And we thought that maybe, you would like to join us?"
Now Sauron looked at them with renewed interest. "Why?"
"Chief, if we are annoyed by that piece of garbage in the office, then you must be too." Yowwick continued. "Having some fun will be refreshing!"
"I am able to manage that on my own." Annatar pointed out, part of his mind already focused on the next episode of the "Game of Thrones".
"Chief, with all respect, you could go out with us from time to time." Yowwick gestured at the whole crew. "Teambuilding experience and all that stuff."
"Yeah! We need to blow up some steam!"
Sauron shuddered briefly at this proposition. From the beginning of time, he was more of a loner type, who prefered to spent days and nights all by himself, practicing his craft or planning the world domination. Sometimes both at the same time.
It doesn't mean he can't socialize with children of Illuvatar – in Celebrimbor's court, he made himself acquainted with many Firstborn nobles, and even engaged in music contests with the finest Elven bards. Or on the Númenor, where he made himself a king's steward from position of a prisoner. But in each case, there was a point, a goal to achieve.
But here, he didn't see any point in so called 'team-building experience" with his subordinates. After all, in his mind they are his minions, and their only task is to follow his every order. In fact, if they were orcs, he would not even have such discussion.
He recoiled from a mere memory of Morgoth's spawns. Such filthy creatures. At least some were tolerable.
But on the other hand, if he refuse, there might be undesired consequences – humans are well-known for holding grudges, especially if their goodwill is answered with refusal and hostility.
Maybe if they share their plans and give him a valid reason, he can consider their offer.
"And what would we exactly be doing?"
"Well, first we wanted to visit local bar…"
Annatar shook his head slightly, he does not find drinking enjoyable, and that's not because no drink made by the second-born is strong enough to make an effect. It's because during his reign, he used Grog, an orcish "beer" for a lack of better term, on a mass scale to keep his orcish warriors in check – alcohol dulled their survival instincts and gave them what he called "stupid bravery" in battle, and as a sole producer of this "drink", He ensured his army's loyalty in exchange for their favorite booze. Therefore, when someone mentioned drinking beer, it immediately brought up the images of orcs fighting over a barrel of the black liquid. Not a very pleasant picture.
"…Then we wanted to go to watch a boxing match…"
Sauron shook his head again. He had something similar in Mordor – The Fighting pits. As the name suggests, orcs walked there to watch their aspiring warriors fight against enemies captured after battle, wild beasts from all around the world, and of course, against each other. Blood and Grog spilled upon the black sands for the orcs entertainment.
But to be allowed to enter the Fighting Pits and take part in the fun, orcs had to pay with treasures looted from other races, like steel, gold, slaves, pastoral animals – everything which could serve's Sauron's cause. And to encourage these savage beasts for more daring raids, he made a short list of items he valued greatly, like Mithril or Elven slaves, and orcs capable of bringing him that bathed in his special favor, for example received better equipment, fresh flesh, or even their favorite – more grog. These warchiefs then served as an example for other orcs how would their life look like if they please him.
And then, if he required something specific, he would 'casually' inform his minions that providing him this exact thing, for example, black horses from Rohan, will grant them his special favor. And guess what? Orcs rushed en masse to plunder and destroy in search of the black steeds.
"…Then we want to visit the House of Frights…"
"Hold." Sauron spoke up, finally hearing a term he is unfamiliar with. "What is this 'House of Frights?"
"A place when they try to scare you Chief." Nathan explained briefly. "You know, ghosts, vampires and all that scary stuff?" He added after seeing Annatar's questioning stare.
"And what is the purpose of this place?" Sauron inquired.
"Well, as the name implies, to frighten you boss." Alex the Henchman added, which only rose more questions for Sauron.
"You want to go there because you want to feel… fear?"
"Yeah?" One of the goons asked, little unsure if it was a right answer.
"Why do you want to feel fear?" Sauron pressured the matter further.
"Because it is fun!" Nathan said, and Annatar looked at his subordinates with wide-open eyes.
"Fun?" He muttered, and then, much to goons uneasy feeling, he started to laugh.
What an interesting concept! These people can turn nightmares into joke? It was so baffling to him that he couldn't contain his laughter anymore. It was like someone tried to sneak into Mordor just to feel the overbearing dread, and considered it to be an enjoyable experience.
In Mordor, he ruled with fear and iron fist, his vassals knelt before him shivering in their boots. Nazguls were the terror incarnate. And the idea of humans naturally drawn to his service because they like being afraid? That was new.
"Very well." He said after he stopped laughing. "I shall join you in your little endeavor."
"Hell yeah!" Alex the Henchmen said out loud, and other goons cheered too.
"Wait for me here, I will seal Eregion." Annatar walked into the Forge.
He walked to the furnaces, whispered to their very essance in the language of ainur, and the last sparks of fire within them finally ceased, allowing them to rest. He walked to his tools, in the same language praised them for their assistance today, and tools responded with joy. He closed all of the windows, asked the air to not disturb Eregion today with its howling winds.
To each item and furniture, his expression was soft and gentle, like a good father nursing his beloved children to sleep.
But as he approached the armor made of black steel, his expression changed into snarl, his eyes full of anger and contempt. While other creations were made with care, this one was made in a feat of rage. In his eyes, this spiked amalgamation was a beast no better than a rabid dog, thus he treated it as such.
He looked under the helmet of the armor, in which darkness gathered to listen and obey.
Then Sauron spoke, his calm and soothing voice replaced by guttural sound, his tongue more akin to the rolling thunder:
"Rogtar za vend, Snaga."
Hearing his command, armor shivered a bit, then ceased to move. Then Sauron turned on his heel and left the Forge, and door after him sealed.
"Now we can go visit this House of Frights." Sauron said as he pulled out the key from the lock, and soon, whole group left Limestone, carefully watched by five figures hiding in the dark.
"He is leaving boss." One of the men hidden in shadows spoke. "No way."
"We are in the luck boys." Another man responded, his voice full of authority over the group. "We need to wait an hour or two, and we can start the show." He gestured to the rest of the group to come deeper into the alley.
Few hours later
"Is this really this… House of Frights?" Sauron looked unamused at the mansion painted in black, covered in what appeared to be a poor mockery of a spider weebs. Most of the windows were broken, and the entrance ominously opened before them. "I expected something more… sinister."
"That's just a start, the real deal is inside." One of the goons, slightly wasted after a few drinks, said with a grin.
"If they want to lure people in, then it should look like a normal building from the outside." Sauron commented subordinate's statement with disappointed voice. "Right now, it looks unappealing, and signifies to humans to stay out."
He knows a thing or two about this – He hid in the ruined fortress of Dol Guldur for many years before he revealed himself back to the world, unbothered for centuries by elves and humans simply because the ruins of the dark fortress already invoked fear, and stories about dark powers and spirits dwelling inside encouraged those passing nearby to avoid the ruins.
"Give it a chance Chief, it is gonna be fun!" Yowwick gestured to the whole group to follow him, and Annatar left a sigh.
"It's for scientific purposes after all." He said to himself before he rejoined the group, but not before looking directly into the camera watching them entering the mansion.
A figure wearing the mask of the White Fang peeked from the alley at the sealed forge, waiting for the streetlights to finally go out.
"Alright, remember our job." He turned to the group consisting of four more men waiting in the alley. "We go in, steal everything we can, set it on fire, leave the masks in the building and leave before police arrive." Bandit leader told his group while pointing at Eregion. "Don't steal something you won't be able to carry. Understood?"
Three bandits nodded in agreement, while the fourth, the newest and the youngest member of the group, rose his hand.
"Yes Tim?"
"This place is really empty?" He asked, and leader left an annoyed groan.
"We saw him leaving with his workers."
"But what if his wife is there? She might scream when she see five dudes breaking into her house."
"Oh for Brothers sake! Do we have to have this discussion AGAIN?!" Leader hid his face in his hands. "He is UNMARRIED and CHILDLESS. There is literally NO ONE ELSE in there."
"Which is strange, because man like him..."
One of the bandits slapped Timmy on the back of his head.
"Thanks Bob." Leader looked at his gang. "Any actually valuable questions?"
They shook their heads in denial.
"Alright." He said as the streetlight died down, and he put on the mask of the White Fang, and his group quickly followed. "It's showtime."
They sneaked towards the forge, walking as close to the wall as possible to move in complete darkness, in potential blind spots of the cameras.
But what they didn't notice was a pair of blood-red eyes staring at them from the top of the forge.
"Ina-vru-deruk." Pair of red eyes disappeared in the dark as they got closer.
"Look for a window or a backdoor." Leader commanded as they got close, and the group split into one pair and three man group.
"I wonder what people see in this place." Bob said to his colleague as they walked around the building. "It looks normal from the outside."
"From the outside yes, but you know what is inside?"
"Anvils?" Second robber facepalmed.
"Lien Bob, a shit ton of Lien. Enough for our early retirement or better - a Health Insurance."
"Oh wow, that's a lot."
"Exactly." Both robbers finally found a backdoor to the forge, a door made of sturdy wood, with a strange lock put on it.
"Hmm..." Bob's partner knelt before the lock. "They weren't joking when they said he makes his own stuff, he heavily customized this one."
"Can you break into Dan?" Bob asked, and Dan retrieved his tools.
"Give me five minutes."
At the same time, group of three found an open windows into the forge, much to their amusement.
"What kind of idiot leaves the window open?"
"But information Lark gave us tell that Annatar is not an idiot..." Tim wanted to argue, but hushed under leader's angry stare.
"Guess he was wrong in this regard." Leader looked at Tim and another robber. "Sym, you go first."
"Ay ay." Sym climbed to the window, briefly disappeared in the building, and after a while, his head popped back up on the window, and gave them a hand.
Soon, all three were inside the forge, standing in Annatar's worksite, and shortly after they broke in, Tim found the switch and turned on the lights.
"Damn, he really likes hammers, doesn't he?" Sym giggled while looking at the collection of tools on the wall.
"Forget it, look here." Leader gestured to his subordinate to come over, Sym quickly joined him, and the leader pointed at the furnace "You have your lighter?"
"Always." Sym grinned, his inner pyromaniac coming to life.
"These furnaces are connected to the gas line." Leader stood up. "We will turn them on after the job. Timothy!" He looked at the youngest member of the gang. "We will go deeper into the forge, Sym, you will stay on a watch duty, if you see something, use your radio. Understood?"
"Yes…" Sym replied, disgruntled by the fact that he won't participate in plunder.
"Use your radio if you spot something." Leader added, then looked after his youngest member. "Timothy!
Timothy wasn't paying attention to leader, he stared at black, spiked armor standing on the armor stand in the middle of the room. This thing stood out here like a sore thumb, like a pumpkin between watermelons. It looked like it's mere presence here caused all the lights to dim.
It gave him creeps.
"Tim! You will admire this armor later!" Leader yelled to him while standing in a doorway to inner building.
"Sorry!" Tim quickly run up to the leader, and they both disappeared in the doorway, leaving Sym alone.
Bandit left a sigh, took out the cheap red cigar and lighted it. They always prioritize themselves before him simply because he loves to set things of fire. They call it "a tradeoff", but he calls it bullcrap.
But he can't deny that setting fire to buildings like this one made him more than happy. Even better when someone else takes the blame.
He took off the poor replica of the white fang mask from his face to put cigar in his mouth, and looked at it with a smile.
"These mutts are only making my job even more enjoyable." He thought with satisfaction, thinking how after this gig, police will chase after some unfortunate faunus kids, simply because it will be easier to shift the blame on them than to find the real culprits.
Suddenly, the window they used to get in closed on its own.
"What the devil?" Sym approached the window, thinking that the wind probably closed it, but when he tried to open it again, he couldn't move it at all. He fought against for few more seconds before he gave up.
"Stupid shit." He looked at the window, and just when the thought about taking one of the hammers to smash it, just out of spite, crossed his mind, he noticed pair of the red eyes and a black figure towering above him.
It didn't even gave him a chance to turn.
'
Sauron looked around as he and his group toured around the fright house, passing the narrow, and apparently rotten corridors, for the floor creeked with every step.
"Creepy, isn't it?" One of the goons pointed at the ruined painting showing a young woman with long, black hair obstructing her face, wearing white clothes.
"I watched a movie with her!" Yowwick said. "The scene when she leaves the TV screen." He shivered. "Still gives me creeps."
Hearing this, Sauron approached the painting and looked at it. "Do you think she will do it now?" He asked as he poked the painting. He was more than sure that someone is behind it, waiting for the occasion to jump at them.
"Nah Chief, it only happens in the movies…" Suddenly, they heard something in the nearby room, and without much thought they quickly approached the doorway to it while Sauron looked at the painting again.
"I see you." He said to the person behind the portrait, and then left to join the rest of the group.
Just like the whole mansion so far, the room was a mess – broken sofas, chairs, but one remaining wooden table stood an old tv, which constantly showed plenty of different images in span of few seconds.
"I wonder what it is showing…" One of the goons commented and wanted to walk in.
"Don't" Annatar grabbed the goons shoulder. "It is an obvious trap, which hopes to scare you with a cheap trick."
"Well, isn't it a point to fall for it?" Nathan inquired.
"If they really wanted to lure someone in, they should put something of value." Sauron countered. "The real horror comes out when you least expect it."
"And there we go!" Dan opened the door, and both he and Bob entered what appeared to be a storage, full of coal, iron and wood.
"No Dust or Gold." Bob pointe out, and Dan left a sigh.
"Because it is in the safe." Robber explained as the approached another set of doors. Much to their delight, they weren't locked like the door they breached. But when they entered the next room, door's leading to the outside closed and locked themselves.
Both robbers now stood before two sets of stairs – one leading up, the other leading to the basement.
"If I where a rich guy, where I would hold a safe with all the valuables?" Dan thought and his intuition told him to go up. "Bob, go down and check out what he has there, I will check the upper floor."
Bob nodded and ventured downstairs, while Dan shook his head in disappointment.
"What can he hold in a basement idiot?" He said to himself. "Good luck with rats while I take his lien." And Dan walked upstairs, to Annatar's private quarters.
Bob walked into the dark room, searched for a switch with his right hand, and pressed it, illuminating whole basement. And before his eyes was what appeared to be Annatar's personal workshop, full of commissioned paintings depicting various people and animals, tables on which he probably performs some strange experiments, considering the burnt marks on the wood, and a large car engine, cannibalized for its parts.
Bob walked around the tables, searching for anything valuable, not noticing that people and animals on the paintings looked after him, terrified at the sight of an intruder, and called for help. Soon, he noticed something shiny in the corner of the room.
There, on a table made of spruce, were few piles of rubies, diamonds, emeralds, all gems known to the humankind, all surrounding the gold frame made in a shape of a crystal.
"Dan won't believe me." He chuckled and quickly run to the table. He dropped his bag and started to fill it with valuable gems, and when the space in it run out, he threw away the weapon, radio, crowbar and other different trash to make space for few more gems. and when the space in his bag finally run out, he started to fill every pocket, every hole in his clothes.
"Bob, you there?" Dan's voice asked him from the radio he put on a table to give more space for gems.
"Come here Dan, there is so much stuff in here!" Bob replied as he continued to take more and more gems, not noticing the a shadow crawling towards him.
"I just found his safe…"
"Forget about the safe man! He has diamonds here!" Bob lifted a large crystal before his eyes "Diam….!" He noticed something behind him in it's reflection. He turned around, but there was nothing there.
"Diamonds!? Wait for me there!" Radio silenced, but Bob was now on edge, feeling that he is not alone here.
"Dan?" He said to the radio, but only static answered him. "Can you hear me?" He half-asked, half-pleaded for his companion's response, but once again, only static answered him. He looked for his gun, and found out that it is not on a table anymore.
"Whoever you are, stop with this tricks!" He clenched his fists, yet his body shook in fear, and his eyes frantically searched the room. "Show yourself!"
"Glädpäk" Gutteral voice replied from above, and when Bob looked at the ceiling, two armored hands grabbed him by his head and shoulder and lifted him up with no effort, giving him no time to scream.
"Where did you find these diamonds you bas…" Dan run into a basement, and much to his surprise, he could not notice his buddy, only his bag filled with gems and his tools scattered around the floor. "Bob?" He asked.
And, like in response to his question, few rubies fell from the above. He rose his head and looked directly at his friend's unconscious body hanging upside down from the ceiling, shower of gems falling from his pockets.
And behind Bob's unconscious body, a pair of red eyes stared back at the robber.
"Dan?" Shadow spoke in the robber's voice. "Can you hear me?"
Robber immediately started to run.
"RAAAARGH!" A bald, pale man wearing the black robes jumped out of the corner. "WHO DARES TO TRESSPAS MY DOMAIN!?"
Goons jumped in place after the monster jumpscared them, but Annatar didn't even move an inch, instead he rose his eyebrow in curiosity and leant to Yowwick.
"What is this exactly?"
"A vampire Chief." Yowwick said and Annatar's face brightened.
"A Vampire!? How convenient!" He walked past his subordinates and approached the monster.
"SHIVER IN FEAR AT MY SIGHT MOR…" Vampire wanted to say but Sauron approached him with a smile.
"So that's how you look like here!" Sauron grabbed the vampire's head.
"Oi what the…" Sauron opened the vampire's mouth wide, and started to examine his teeth.
"Your fangs are too fragile." Sauron touched the vampire's front fangs with clear astonishment. "How are you going to tear the victim's throat?"
"Argh…" Vampire tried to respond, but to no avail, while Sauron's goons were laughing their asses off.
"And where are your wings?" Sauron turned the vampire around and checked it's back. "How are you going to fly?"
"They usually levitate boss!" One of the goons laughed even harder.
"So that's how you do it here!" Sauron replied with delight. "But it doesn't change the fact that you talons are laughable…"
"Man it's just a costume!" Vampire finally spoke up, and Sauron stopped his examination.
"Oh. I apologize." He let the 'vampire' go, and the man sat near the wall.
"I can't scare anyone these days." Vampire cowered his head with hands, and wept a little. "People stopped seeing vampires as something to be afraid off, more like a 'boyfriend material'. Stupid Zenith books*."
"Don't be sad." Annatar knelt beside the 'vampire'. "Your disguise is… fine. It is a buildup that requires work."
"What?" Vampire looked at the Smith.
"The form of the monster is not essential to invoke fear, for there are others ways to put the seed of despair into human hearts. For example, you can give your prey an idea that they are in a dangerous place, a point you fulfilled quite well. Second, give them signs that you are here – people won't go inside twice, so put claw marks on a visible places on the walls, and when light flickers, look at them from around the corner. And third, when it is a time for your reveal, appear from behind. Or from the above."
Vampire stared at him with wide open mouth, then laughed. "You know a lot about this stuff."
"You could say that I put a lot into practice."
"Bob, can you hear me?" Leader of the group said to his radio, but no one replied. "Dan, what is going on?" He tried to contact the second robber, but again, nothing. "Stupid shits."
"Radio's were working well before we went in…" Timothy said as he tried to open another door. "I don't like it."
"Shut up you pansy." Leader told him and lifted the radio again. "Symeon, try to call Dan or Bob, maybe you will be able to find out what is going with those two idiots." And again, no one replied to him. He tossed the radio in anger. "Don't tell me you got drunk again you pyromaniac!"
"I don't think he was able to sneak a bottle." Tim said.
"It's Sym, he always knows how to sneak one." Leader grumbled. "Stay here, I am going to check on him, try to contact the others in a meantime."
"Sure thing." Tim replied and Gang leader quickly run back. When Timothy was sure that leader won't hear him, he sat down on the floor and turned on the radio.
"Mister Bob, can you hear me?" He asked, and static only answered him. "Mister Bob?"
He knew these people for less than two weeks, and he was able to get acquainted with all of them, but not friendly at all. Except Bob – he was a good fellow, little stupid but kind.
To be fair, he would quickly abandon this gang, but his loan won't pay itself.
"….eve." He suddenly heard the chatter from the radio.
"Mister Bob?" Tim lifted a radio.
"LEAVE!" It hissed into his ear and he dropped a radio with a scream. And before he could even curse, someone run past the corner and rammed into him.
"Shitcrapfuckbybrothers…" Both Tim and Dan nearly collapsed on the floor.
"Ow! Mister Dan!?" Tim wanted to ask, but Dan tried to push him aside and run.
"It got him It got him It got him…" Tim grabbed Dan's head and turned it to face him, and Timothy looked directly at the terrified face of his colleague.
"Mister Dan, calm down!" Tim yelled at him. "What is going on!?"
"Something caught Bob in the basement!"
"What caught him?"
"I have no godsdamn clue!" Dan shouted on top of his lunges. "We need to get out…"
Both men heard heavy steps slowly approaching them, and went silent, looked at each other, then peeked from the corridor.
The other end of it was engulfed in black smoke, only pair of red eyes clearly visible, and from the smoke they could clearly hear heavy footsteps, like an armored knight was walking towards them.
The steps halted, and from the smoke, Bob's radio flew towards them, and landed right before their feet. They looked at it with wide open eyes as it activated.
"LEAVE!" Radio spoke, and both robbers immediately run away.
Meanwhile leader of the group walked back into the main forge, and quickly found Symeon lying on the floor near the box fool of open beer, some of it spilled around his head.
"Oh, son of a…" He facepalmed and approached the unconscious body. "What did I tell you about drinking at work!?" He knelt and slapped the unconscious man. "It comes from your paycheck!"
Apparently, when Governor Lark gave them this lucrative contract, he promised him that this place will go down in flames in less than ten minutes, and his men are too stupid to even do that?
He slapped the body across the face once again, but Symeon was not going to wake up. And when lifted his hand for one more strike, Dan and Tim run into the room, screaming on top of their lungs.
"To the window!" Tim rushed to the closed window, Dan closely behind him, and both men struggled to open it.
"What the fuck are you doing!?" Gang leader yelled to them, but two men ignored him. Enraged, he walked to them, grabbed Dan and punched him across the face, knocking him to the ground. Then, he grabbed Tim by the shoulders and threw him to the floor.
"What are you doing you idiots!?"
"This place is haunted!" Dan yelled while rubbing his cheek.
"Bullshit!" Leader replied. "Ghosts ain't real!"
"But this one is!" Tim joined in.
"It got Bob!"
"Cretins! Both of you!" Leader screamed at them, losing his mind. "You two are the stupidest shits I worked with!"
"I have a PHD…"
"Nobody cares Tim!" Gang leader looked at the hammers on the wall. "It is just a stupid forge!" He took a largest hammer and lifted it into the air, aiming at the nearest furnace. "A normal, stupid forge! For us to smash down!"
He tried to swing the hammer, but an armored gauntlet grabbed the hammer's head before he even swinged.
Dan and Tim widened their eyes in shock, while the leader stuttered.
Spiked armor made of black iron tilted it's head, pair of the red eyes looked at them.
"Times out." It said with distorted voice, then roared at them, it's maw looking like a gateway to hell.
Sauron walked back to his forge alone, pondering about the experience he got from this trip.
"Human brain naturally wants to experience everything this world has to offer, and what is fear, if not another sensation?" He thought. "After experiencing it, brain release a extraordinary amount of endorphins, and adrenaline wears down, giving the person a feeling of accomplishment."
He chuckled to himself at this thought. "Of course, to experience it, human must cheat his brain that he or she is in grave danger, without actually putting his or her life at stake. So, they search for other ways to sate their curiosity."
Now, the question was: How to use this knowledge to its fullest potential?
He heard a commotion right before his forge, and soon noticed few police cars parked outside of it. He picked up the pace.
"This place is cursed! CURSED!" One man was being pushed into the police car and door shut behind him, then Sauron noticed how medics carry an unconscious body of another man into the ambulance.
"Oh Annatar!" One of the police officers waved to him. "You are back!"
"I am." He nodded to the officer, recognizing a familiar face. "Tell me Oliver, what happened?"
"Well, from what I get from the gathered evidence, while you were away, five criminals broke into your forge, found a stash of beer in your café, drunk it, ventured deeper into your home, found your stockpile of gems, fought over it and knocked themselves out in a fight."
"It framed us!" One of the robbers screamed from the police car, but Oliver just rolled his eyes in response.
"You drunk too much buddy."
"Did they destroy anything?" He looked at one of them with such hateful glare that the man lowered his neck in an anticipation of a blow.
"Surprisingly, no." Oliver said. "Except the beers, gems, and the broken lock, they left everything else untouched." Sauron breath the sigh of a relief.
"That's good to hear." He said as the ambulance and few police cars drove away. "Now, I want to go straight to bed."
"Sure thing." Oliver nodded and looked at his man. "We are leaving!"
"Sauron walked into his forge and as the police sirens died down in the distance, he looked at the armor standing in the middle.
"You left a teeth under the table." He said, and armor walked from it's armor stand, picked up the tooth, and tossed it into the box with "unusual components" written on. Then Sauron attuned himself to his forge, and it told him everything he needed.
"Your men destroyed my lock, and dared to trespass in my domain?" He said, thinking about the governor. "You have such audacity to attack me and expecting no retaliation?"
Sending various organizations to run their 'inspections' was an inconvenience. But this was something else. It was a challenge to his authority.
He smiled. "I will show you how the real war looks like."
Silmarillion dumbed down
During the first age, after his crushing defeat at hand of Tulkas, Melkor was dragged out of Utumno, the first Dark Fortress, and his minions swiftly scattered around the continent to avoid Valar's wrath. And only when the Ainur left the war-torn Middle Earth to build their paradise in the distant west, in the far north of the Beleriand, Angband, the second Dark Fortress raised and ruled by Sauron in complete secrecy on Melkor's command, revealed itself and summoned all of Dark Lord's thralls and servants.
Among servants of the First Dark Lord who escaped Valar's onslaught and later arrived to Angband were the mighty Balrogs, spirits of fire who pledged their service to Melkor. And of all the Balrogs, the strongest one was Gothmog, Commander of all Balrogs and Melkor's Black Fist.
Although he arrived to Angband with remnants of his forces, he didn't plan to yield to Sauron, for his loyalty to Melkor was absolute, and Sauron didn't plan to step from his position as the ruler of Angband too.
But both Maia's knew that fight between them will bring only a stalemate - Sauron could not defeat Gothmog, not to mention his Balrogs in the open battle, and Gothmog was unable to breach Angband's gates without suffering crippling casualties. And thus, they instead struck an uneasy alliance - Both would rule Angaband together as equals, Gothmog acting as a leader of forces of evil, while Sauron will direct the development of the fortress.
And thus, both maia's planned their campagin's against the elves who remained in the Middle-Earth together, expanding their Dark domain in Melkor's name. But if you think it was a smooth partnership, you would be wrong, for these two were like the earth and the sky, fire and water.
"Your orcs are constantly failing me Sauron!" Gothmog smashed his giant fist against the table made of strudy stone, leaving a large crack.
"Stop destroying the furniture you overgrown fool!" Sauron rose his voice. "It takes time to make them!"
"Then make them from stronger material!" Gothmog shot back.
"I won't waste iron on a table for you to smash again." Sauron sat on the black throne on the other end of the table and hid his face in his hand. "Take your seat, and let's resolve the issue properly."
Gothmog's nostrils left the stream of black ash, and he sat down on another black throne on the opposing end of the now broken table, and crossed his arms in anger.
Both approved this design. - If Gothmog decided to jump at Sauron, the fallen maia would have enough time to escape through the door, or if Sauron put some scheme into motion, Gothmog would have enough time to react accordingly, for behind him was only a sturdy wall made of iron with no holes in it, which meant that any attack could come only from a front, just like Gothmog loved.
"Tell me, what happened?" Sauron asked, trying to sound as polite as possible.
"I was chasing an army of elves through the valleys and when I finally caught up to them, your orcs arrived two hours late to join me in battle!" Gothmog spoke, his flames rose to the ceiling. "If you thought that pathetic scheme would succed, then think again."
"I admit, your demise would make my life little more enjoyable, but you are wrong Gothmog, I never gave my orcs an order like this."
"Then what was the cause of their trechery?" Gothmog snarled.
"I am about to learn this." Sauron looked at the hole in the wall, and a large vampire flew into the room. It landed right beside Sauron, and leant to his ear.
"Mhm, yes. I understand. He really did that?" He looked at Gothmog with displeased gaze. "Oh my. That explains everything. You may leave now Thuringwethil."
Vampiress bowed her bat head and swiftly left the throne room, and when she did, Sauron looked at Gothmog again
"Do you have your explanation?" Gothmog asked.
"Indeed, and it turns out, you are the only one at fault."
"Excuse me?" Gothmog clenched his fist.
"Like usual, you and your Balrogs run on the forefront of the army, correct?"
"Yes."
"You almost caught the elves traversing the wide ravine, but you arrived too late to stop them from destroying the only bridge across." Gothmog nodded in agreement.
"They foolishly thought that it will stop me." Gothmog said with a wide, fiery grin.
"So you and your balrogs JUMPED across the ENTIRE ravine and engaged the elves in battle!" Sauron finally snapped, and Gothmog snickered.
"They weren't expecting that at all."
"Indeed, both Elves and Orcs were left speechless at what you did there you buffoon!" Sauron leant on his throne and hid his face with his hand, like he had a migraine. "Luckily for you, one orc was more cunning than others and came up with the idea of creating line bridges across the ravine. If not for him, You and your Balrogs would fought alone against the whole army!" Gothmog snarled
"Your orcs should always be capable of joining me in battle, and such weak excuse won't pass."
"You know that orcs can't fly?" Gothmog shrugged his arms at this comment.
"Sounds like not my concern."
Sauron leaned on the dark throne, feeling more tired than usual. That was a problem with Gothmog - he was a great field commander and fearsome warrior, capable of cleaving dozens with one swing of his black axe, an unstoppable whirlwind of death and flame cutting through entire armies like through fields of wheat. His presence was more than enough to change every battle into crushing defeat of Angband's enemies.
But he was no strategist nor a general, not even a great thinker. In those matters his intelligence could be compared to a brick.
The Black Balrog doesn't bother himself with "logistics" or "supply chains" - Warriors and warmachines under his command had to be where he wanted them to be at the start of the battle, but when and how they got there? Like he said - Not his concern.
"I will think about specialized units to build bridges, and this situation will never happen again." Sauron promised, but Gothmog remained unconvinced.
"I won't sit idle and wait until your orcs build their puny bridges." Gothmog spoke, sending fumes towards Sauron. "I want them to be able to keep up in march."
"So you want them go as fast as you?" Sauron asked.
"Now you finally understand!" Gothmog confirmed, but Sauron left a really heavy sigh.
"Last time we had a similar a discussion, you wanted your armies to wear heavy plates, because you were angered that most of your warriors were killed by elven arrows." Sauron spoke up after few seconds. "And now you want them to move as swift as a wind?" Sauron shook his head. "These two ideas contradict themselves."
"Balrogs have no such problems." Gothmog argued, and Sauron rolled his eyes.
"Are you seriously comparing steel to dirt?" Gothmog looked at the ceiling, then nodded in agreement.
"Fair enough." He said, and idea came to Sauron's mind.
"How about this: I shall sent multiple scouting parties on wargs to map out the area days before you even get there, so orcs will know the best routes in advance, and thus will be able to keep up with your Balrogs."
Gothmog scratched his fiery chin, deep in thoughts, but Sauron didn't stop there.
"Also, If you want, I shall give you a personal detachment of vampires with the task to assist you just in case."
"Vampires are your servants, I have no need for them." Gothmog denied. "But the idea about scouts will suffice. For now."
"Of course, it is all a temporary solution." Sauron breathed a sigh of relief as Gothmog rose up from his throne, and started to approach the door.
"I shall run the inspection of the Fortress." He announced. "Then, I shall prepare the army for another campaign."
But before he left, he smashed the broken table again with its tail, destroying it even further, much to Sauron's frustration and Gothmog's amusement. As the Balrog left, Sauron leant on his throne.
Having Gothmog as a co-ruler of Angband had many downsides true, but benefits overweighted the cons. Having Balrogs at his disposal made many conquests and battles far easier. And also kept inhabitants of the fortress in order.
There were many spirits like him dwelling the fortress, individually far weaker than him. But if they banded together and rebelled against Sauron, he would find his position on top compromised. Of course, he kept them under his thumb using various methods, from invoking fear in some to making few admire him. But what if those methods fail one day?
That's when Gothmog walks in.
Sauron was more than sure that he could barely defeat single Balrog in one on one duel, which meant that lesser spirits had even lower chances. But against Gothmog? Even if they banded together, they wouldn't be even able to draw blood from the Black Fist, while he would mercilessly butcher them for their betrayal.
Sauron smiled. In terms of physical power, he was far weaker than Gothmog, but he was far more cunning than the leader of Balrogs, and he could even convince him to some of his ideas.
That's what he actually valued in Gothmog – while Melkor is hard to persuade to do anything, Gothmog had far less hubris in him, which meant that he could actually be reasoned with. If only he wasn't so blinded by his loyalty to Melkor, maybe Sauron would teach him more common sense.
He looked at the direction of the far west.
"Don't you ever come back." He hissed, hoping that Melkor will wither in the far-away lands.
Facts about LoTR and Silmarillion you might not be aware off:
1. In the first version of the story, Morgoth was named Melko, and Gothmog was his son with an ogress named Ulbandi. Luckily, Tolkien changed his mind, and turned Gothmog into a terryfing Lord of Balrogs, and Morgoth into a virgin.
2. Orignally, Sauron was a cat. His name was 'Tevildo', and he was a prince of all the cats, but Tolkien changed that.
3. Unlike in the movies, Frodo was not saved from Morgul blade by Arwen, but by an elf called Glorfindel. Those who played Battle for Middle-Earth will recognize this name instantly. Who is this guy?
Basically, he was a Giga-chad, who fought in most of the major battles against Morgoth and his minions, and during the siege of Gondolin (Story for another time), while survivors of the siege were persued by orcs, he decided to stay behind and cover their escape. He then proceed to solo one thousand orcs, supported by a Balrog. He not only killed all of them, but also a Balrog, but died in the process.
When he reincarnated in the halls of Mandos, Valar's were so impressed with the guy that they allowed him to return to the Middle-Eart, which is usually forbidden for them.
In fact, while writing LoTR, Tolkien considered him to be a member of the Fellowship instead of Legolas, but he quickly realized that he made an overpowered character, who would outshine every single member of the Fellowship, including Gandalf. Can you imagine the encounter with Balrog in Moria with this guy on board? He would solo it like it was just another Tuesday.
Authors note
Well hello there!
I know that after such long time, you would expect a normal chapter, and, to be honest, I thought that too. However, I was unable to finish it. It is underway, but not finished.
So I decided to give you another Sauron encouneter to keep you engaged.
Now, to respond to your reviews:
In response to Dhestrya:
Thanks
In response to Oystermcnutty:
"You have captured Sauron's persona almost perefectly..."
almost...
almost...
Sauron: "Draws hammer with malicious intent."
Seriously though, thank you very much, I will try keep that up. And that review also brightened my day.
In response toSzymano:
I am also glad found this story. And I can actually answer your question, and it is the Rings of Flops.
Many people just watched 4-grade fanfic on Amazon Prime and decided that's enough LoTR for them.
I thank you all for keeping up with the story, even though I am not putting chapters as often as I would like to, but I have other important things to do in my life than writing. That being said, I love Tolkien, and I want to pay a homage to his writing, to the world and characters he created. In this fic, I will mention many of his stories, like story of Beren and Luthien.
In fact, Beren and Luthien were already mentioned outside of Sauron's point of view, and those who noticed it - congrats to you.
So, allow me to share with you one final fact about characters from Silmarillion. Are you ready?
Did you know that both Beren and Luthien had grey/silver eyes?
I leave you with this to think about (And hopefully it will spark some theories because when I dropped "two immortal queens", there was no response.)
See you later!
DJ out.