The Sands of Rhun: A Middle Earth Story(Book 2)

Chapter 9: First Contact

We had marched for days. Once we had left the desert, the landscape had changed drastically. The ground was barren and rocky, and a foul smell like that of rotten eggs permeated the air. It was rather unpleasant to be around, though we couldn't much help it. Hadar had told me we were north of Mordor, and that only the ominous black mountains in the distance separated us from that land... The land of Shadow. It had long ago been laid to waste, but it was slowly being rebuilt under the ever watchful Eye of Sauron.

It seemed also that a noxious gas wafted up from fissures and crags in the rocks. As soon as it touched my eyes, it burned them, making it difficult to breathe and see. But still we marched on. There was no turning back, not now.

Eventually we came to a large Gate. It was black as the void, with jagged pinnacles on the top that seemed to leer down at us like the teeth of a giant beast.

As we drew closer, an Orc heralded our approach from one of the jagged parapets, his voice harsh and guttural as it rang through the air. After a moment, the gate opened, gaping like a great maw, standing ready to devour us. We didn't enter, for the army was ordered to a halt just outside. Only Lord Khanar and his retinue went forth through the gate, soon disappearing into its cavernous depths.

"The Black Gate..." Brand whispered hoarsely, awe and fear lacing his words. He stood directly beside me, and I glanced over at him. His icy blue eyes seemed to try to take in the massive gate, or as much as he could. It would take many years to fully understand and get used to the menacing structure.

"I wonder why we stopped," I murmured back quietly, though my expression didn't change.

"Silence!" An officer shouted as he rode past on horseback. I immediately shut my mouth, not wanting to draw attention to myself any more than I had to.

As the minutes seemed to stretch into hours, I began to grow impatient. We had been waiting there for hours, and it was beginning to grate on my nerves. I didn't have any idea why we were even there, or why it was taking so long. I just wanted to do something. Move, talk. anything. But as the officers hadn't ordered us to be at ease, we all stood stiffly at attention for an excruciatingly long time. Sighing softly, I rolled my eyes and risked a glance upwards to the top of the gate. In the depths of the swelling shadows, several orcs stood, talking quietly and gesturing towards us.

I had heard tales of the Orcs. There were tribes of them in Rhun, though I had never seen one face-to-face. Even from this distance I could see that they were horrid creatures, their small, squinting eyes roving about from dark wrinkled faces that were scarred and tattooed beyond recognition. They were savage beasts that fought themselves as much as anyone else.

Unfortunately, the calm didn't last for long. Their voices began to grow louder and louder, the clamor reaching the ears of my group. It lasted quite a while, and their speech was grating, crude and rough. I wondered how long they would keep it up. It went on, slowly rising in volume until it peaked, one of the orcs drawing a crooked sword. The brute didn't hesitate to run the blade straight through his comrade, following up with a fierce kick that sent him careening off the wall. As the creature hit the floor with a dull splat, I raised an eyebrow in amusement. The stories of their treachery were founded, evidently.

Finally, and much to my relief, Lord Khanar emerged from the gate. But he was not alone.

Behind him marched Orcs. And a lot of them, each heavily armored and wielding crooked weapons and large, cruel shields. Instantly, I heard Brand inhale, and I looked over at him.

"Not orcs..." He breathed, his voice shaky. The fell creatures loped heavily along, and easily fell in behind the Lòke-Rim. They spoke to each other in rough, scraggly voices as they milled around, painting a clear contrast with the uniformed stillness of the Easterlings. Even the mercenaries looked disciplined in comparison.