Shadow of Mordor - The Novel

Chapter Nine - The Dark Monument

Talion knew that with the Warchiefs dead, it was only a matter of time before Sauron sent someone to investigate their disappearances. He knew that when that time came, no one in Mordor would be safe, which is why he was headed back to the Barrows to speak to Hirgon. Inside, deep within the main burial chamber, Hirgon and Eryn sat, the former dressing the injuries his wife had sustained while being held captive. She winced and flinched inadvertently as the cleaning agent stung a minor laceration on her forearm. Hirgon sighed and set the roll of bandages down, mulling over the storm of thoughts flowing through his mind.

    "You saw what these monsters are capable of. It is madness to stay here!"

    Eryn spoke quickly, trying desperately to convince her husband to see things her way. Hirgon nodded but was quick with a rebuttal, saying,

"Yes, but circumstances have changed. Don't you see? We have him on our side now."

    "Why would he want to help us? Weeks ago, he was our enemy."

    Hirgon looked up at the sound of light footsteps, seeing Talion emerge from the shadows.

    "Talion! Ready to pick that fight?"

    Talion remained silent as he looked between Hirgon and Eryn. Eryn shook her head ever so slightly and stood, picking up a roll of gauze and saying,

    "I'd best take these bandages to the others."

    Hirgon nodded at his wife, watching her form retreat further into the Barrows. His gaze did not waver as he said,

    "The Orcs are building a monument to honor Sauron. We have enough blasting powder to destroy it."

Talion, his arms crossed one over the other, nodded and said,

"Fine. I'll take it and finish this."

Hirgon walked past him towards the entrance to the Barrows and spoke,

"Not without me you won't."

"I thought your only concern was saving your wife."

Hirgon turned and looked at his old friend, saying,

"So did I. Come on, let's go before I change my mind."

Talion kept quiet, following Hirgon out of the Barrows and out into the black night of Mordor. As they walked, ears pricked and eyes open for anything suspicious, Hirgon said,

"Forgive Eryn's words. Her heart is with our people. The slaves you helped us free know where the Dark Lord's monument is most vulnerable. We will strike there."

Hirgon and Talion met an area populated with a few small ruined buildings, stone walls crumbling and moss-covered. Hirgon glanced over at Talion and said,

"We'll need to steal a cart of grog from the Uruk. It will make quite the trigger for the blasting powder."

Hirgon led Talion to an outer corner of one of the ruined buildings, then spoke quietly,

"Let's move."

The two Men dropped into a crouch, moving low to the ground and quickly so as not to remain in one place too long. They moved down onto the Black Road, all the torches along it extinguished. Yet another set of ruins lay nearby, and as the pair made it into the center, a Ghul leaped out of the darkness, straight at Hirgon. Talion reacted faster than the Outcast leader, and grabbed the Ghul midair by the neck, slamming it into a nearby wall, crushing its neck and skull in one fluid motion. Hirgon nodded at Talion in silent thanks, and the pair kept moving, noticing as they continued further into the ruins a myriad of Ghul and Uruk corpses littered around.