Convergence: Generations

67

"Power changes everything."

Sauron and his forces stood at the remains of the Gates of Moria. Nine black shapes flew over from the other side of the Misty Mountains, heading west to follow the group that had just escaped them. The orcs were afraid that the creature in the water would start attacking them again, but there wasn't even a ripple in the river. Garzlûk and Mílskor couldn't stand it and came up to Sauron

"Can't we move on, master?" said Garzlûk.

"The guardian will not attack again," Sauron replied. "It only defends the gates."

"Then can't we leave, and catch up with them?" asked Mílskor.

"You forget the plan I will set in motion, captains. It is too early to move, but we won't wait much longer. When we have heard if they're going to Rivendell or not we will begin."

The orcs' mouths turned up in horrific grins as Sauron spoke. "Is that the ground?"

"Yes. We will find what we are looking for and nothing on Middle-Earth will oppose us."

The dark forces continued waiting, impatient for their master's plan to begin.

After many days of travelling the group of men, elves and dwarves came to a large hill to rest for the fifth night of their journey. They were all tired and worn, and most of them had almost given up on any hope. As they began setting up their camp and arranging watches, Aragorn and Legolas stood on the edge of the hill looking east. Far away they could see the peaks of the Misty Mountains shrouded in cloud. Legolas was looking as far down the mountains as possible, straining his eyes for any movement, but he could see nothing.

"I cannot see anything from where we rested three nights ago to here," he said.

"And the wind and earth bring no news," said Aragorn. "It seems that Sauron's forces are waiting."

"But for what? And some evil is at work, giving him more power and the orcs unnatural abilities. They do not shy from the sunlight, and travel even swifter than a horse of the Riddermark. Did you not notice that when they attacked Minas Tirith, it was the middle of the day?"

"You're right, Legolas." They saw Gandalf coming up behind them. "There is a great power helping Sauron, one which I cannot even guess. I fear that all of Middle-Earth is in danger, and nothing can escape it. Only the Valar can help us now."

The night passed and they continued their journey to Rivendell. When they had left the hill and had travelled for about an hour, one of the men shouted, "Look!" and pointed to the sky. When everyone else looked there was nothing there.

"What did you see?" asked Éomer.

"I'm not sure, my lord," the man replied. "There was suddenly a dark shape, almost a blur, but then it vanished instantly."

"We are not alone as we thought we were," said Gandalf. "We must double our watches, and look to the sky for any other sightings."

Two more days passed without any sightings, and they soon came to the edge of a forest. "We are almost at Imladris," said Arwen. "We will arrive there once we pass through the forest."

"Do you know if Glorfindel and his guard are still there?" asked Legolas.

"From the most recent news, yes, they are still there. But we will no doubt need them to help us."