"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."
A fell beast landed on the other side of the river outside Moria as Sauron stood up to approach its rider. A Nazgûl knelt before him. "What news do you bring?" asked the Dark Lord.
"They are going to Rivendell, Lord Sauron. When I last saw them they were a few days away from its forest. The Witch-King sent me to report to you."
Sauron thought for a moment, then spoke. "Go back to the Witch-King, and tell him to prepare for my arrival. We will move at once."
The Black Rider rose and mounted the fell beast. It took off and turned back the way it came, flying swiftly into the distance.
"Garzlûk, Mílskor." The two orc captains came up to him. "Gather your troops. We begin our march to Rivendell."
It was almost dusk before the group finally came to the other side of the forest on the top of a small hill. Below them they could see the House of Elrond amongst the waterfalls that rained down the cliffs around it. They followed a winding path down the cliff they were on and soon passed over a bridge and through an arch into the courtyard of the house. About twenty elves came out to the terraces to see their new guests. One of them came out into the courtyard in front of them. He wore elvish armour, a sword at his belt and a quiver around his back. "Welcome my friends," said Glorfindel, though his face was grave. "We already know what evil fate has brought you here, due to whisperings and messengers of Lord Celeborn."
"Thank you, Glorfindel, but we cannot stay for long," replied Aragorn. "The enemy will soon reach here, and we cannot stand against them."
"We know, and that is why we have prepared to travel. I am afraid you will have to wait for rest. But please, come inside."
He led the group into the house while the other elves tended to other matters. They went to Elrond's study, most of them staying outside in the hall getting what rest they could. "Our best chance would be to go over the Ford of Brunien and through the forests, the same way you came with the four hobbits I believe, Aragorn." They were not wasting any time and were leaving straight away.
"Yes, that is true, and would be the best route."
"Do you have mounts?" asked Gandalf. "We have travelled for many days, and it would also be faster."
"There are a few stables of horses that we brought with us. It should be enough."
"Then we must leave immediately."
They went outside to the stables and brought out the horses. Thankfully there was enough for everyone (the dwarves rode on the same horses as men and elves). They gathered on the edge of Elrond's House, on the small slope leading down to the ford, and set out. They travelled for more days and nights, making their way to the Shire. They came to Weathertop, the remains of Amon Sûl, and managed to make it through the Midgewater Marshes. But when they left the marshes they felt a chill of fear every night, as if something was watching them.
"We are about three days away from the village of Bree," said Aragorn one night.
"Then we are almost at the Shire," said Legolas. "This is good news."
"It seems Sauron's forces have benn leaving us alone," commented Gandalf.
"Or waiting for the time to surprise us," replied Celeborn.
"Indeed. We must keep moving and depart for Valinor.
Little did they know of the evil that Sauron had planned for them.
After the group had left the marshes, orcs appeared out of nowhere in the forests around Rivendell, coming down the hill from the forest. They went down to the House of Elrond and broke down the doors. They tore books apart in studies and smashed down stones. Sauron surveyed them as they scrambled about, searching for something. Gothmog soon trudged up behind him, leaving a trail of flames in the forest. "What exactly do we need, master?"
"The founding stone of this house," said Sauron. "The orcs will find it soon enough."
"Are you sure it will be enough?"
"Do not worry. We shall be led right to the summoning ground."
An orc soon came up behind them. "My lord, the Nazgûl report our enemies are a few days away from the village of Bree."
"Tell them we will not be long, and let them go no further than the village."
The orc bowed and left as Sauron and Gothmog went down the hill and Garzlûk came up to them.
"My lord, we can't break through the stone. It's too strong."
"As I expected. I will deal with this."
Sauron walked over to the bottom of the house and took his mace off his belt. He swung at the stone bricks at the bottom, but only made a few small cracks. He swung again and again, and eventually large part of the base came off. On the inside was a faint glimmer. The orcs began tearing more bricks away and managed to lift out the stone. It was shaped like a sphere, and shone like a faint emerald.
"Behold, the first stone set down during the construction of this house," said Sauron. "Now it will help bring about the demise of this land. Gothmog, I am entrusting the stone to you for safekeeping."
"Yes, my lord." Sauron handed the sword to Gothmog, who took it with a flame-extinguished claw.
"We will not waste any more time here," Sauron went on. "The men, elves and dwarves will no doubt attempt to reach Valinor. We have to make up for lost time, and soon the greatest evil will return. Nothing can stop us!"
"Za dashu snaku Zigar, Durbgu nazgshu, Durbgu dashshu!"
The orcs cried out in the Black Speech as they began running over the ford and into the forest. Trolls followed them, and the dark forces prepared for what was to come.