The trainer smiled, "But, Burgins, you are being taught." The man twirled his stick once as the realization set in. Daugo had been learning by himself, experiencing what worked and what did not, how his opponent reacted and countered.
"Since you are so adamant about being ordered around. Sit." The instructor motioned to one corner of the room. "Leave the stick on the floor and face the wall. Shut your eyes, open your mind and clear it." After Daugo had done this a silence fell on the room. Fifteen minutes passed. Had the man left?
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/CluckmanTheDerp/74.png" name="CluckmanTheDerp"]13527980[/user]
----------
"It's sooo big." Ela mumbled holding onto her brother's arm. Miriel sat on the ledge, almost lazily, looking at the newcomers whilst Ha'zi was putting away his book. He had finished reading all of it at this point.
Dimitri and Glorfindel saw the four of them ahead.
"Is that the dragon?" The elf questioned Dimitri motioning at the kids, "Those four are like you too?"
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/DimitriP_13421/74.png" name="DimitriP_13421"]8861015[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/UnusualBrit/74.png" name="UnusualBrit"]12700073[/user]
----------
"Are you crazy? That's a drop into the rocky seafloor below! Does he have the same thing as you?" Miriel asked Cardiloc at the prospect of Ha'zi falling into the sea. The Haradrim also seemed reluctant to do so.
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/9842Kye/74.png" name="9842Kye"]16315828[/user]
----------
Iver found Thoruk and Sigeric's weapons near the secret-passageway. They were hidden behind a potted plant. As he located them he heard the door to the passageway open and Sigeric appeared.
Both saw each other. Sigeric was filthy with dust covering him but had no major wounds and Iver was rather fine. Both had exhausted their Giant forms in the fight. How would they escape now without Iver's wings?
It occurred to Sigeric that Bard may still be alive. He had to be sure. If they lost Bard...that meant...Luincrist would inherit the crown and their chances of reasoning with that fool were slim to none.
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/assassiniv/74.png" name="assassiniv"]14628767[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/Szucsclan/74.png" name="Szucsclan"]12519458[/user]
----------
"So, where's this place?" Marco asked Thoruk as they rode into the city of Dale. He needed instructions to get to the secret doorway.
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/KingTraitor/74.png" name="KingTraitor"]13615485[/user]
---------
It had been a week since Morgoth empowered his Maiar. Much had been achieved in this time. Mordor was a vastly different land than it had previously been. Rivers, waterfalls, forests, grassy plains, jungles and all manner of new biomes had spread across Gorgoroth. Morgoth's fortress had grown and many others had been erected. In Lithlad the first of the orcs had begun to be raised. Though, they were only a couple thousand. Morgoth had only risen a few for some reason before retreating back into his fortress.
The people Pyrus and Azura had recovered from the Door of Day, those prisoners, some of them had been awakened by Morgoth. Most had been left in sleep. Those that awoke and were reluctant or stubborn had easily been put back to sleep. Only those that were willing to keep moving forward, to accept the choice given to them, were allowed to live. Morgoth had some sort of assignment that Azura had to do with said people. Something to do with the Giants, or so Pyrus had heard. Mairon had also disappeared on a mission.
After Pyrus had raised all the weapons and metals Mordor could provide he was sent off to Lithlad to build fortresses of iron with his fellow Maia of Aule. They had remained whilst Pyrus was allowed to do as he liked. He had his freedom. He could come and go as he chose and was able to finally seek out his own plans...
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/DeathValley105/74.png" name="DeathValley105"]15756962[/user]
------
"Oh shut it, beardie," Azura punched Grimnir in the face. He had regrown his arms and legs over the past two days. They were in the dungeons of Gorgoroth, the prison created beneath the fortress of Morgoth. The Destroyer Shifter had been placed far underground in order to ensure he could not escape by transformation and Azura was entrusted with his imprisonment. Grimnir had been rowdy the entire time. Screaming, shouting, speaking in Khuzdul, cursing, begging for Mahal, swearing oaths on Durin. He was pathetic. Durin was a dead dwarf or so she was certain and Mahal was another name for Aule, that old scumbag. He was just a poser. A petty wannabe Melkor.
There was a noise in the dark. Grimnir continued to shout.
"If you don't shut it, I will cut out your tongue and watch it regrow only to cut it out again." She told him, listening intently. There was nothing. Grimnir grumbled out a, "I'll shove my tongue in y-"
"Hmm," Morgoth's voice cut through the darkness. Azura's head turned to see him coming from the left corridor. She stood up and looked to the floor, respectfully.
"Who's that? Another fucking shit to kill? Give me my axe and five seconds alone with ya! I'll kill you! Ya hear me? I'LL KILL YOU!!!" He slammed his dwarven hands on his cell bars like a madman until he saw him.
"You'll kill me?" Morgoth asked, smiling from the other side of the bars. He was huge. Tall and mighty. His eyes dark orange and burning with a mixture of hate and anger. Grimnir backed up from the cell bars.
"Why would you want to kill the one who created you?" The figure asked. Grimnir felt his rage build up. He would kill this shit. But for some reason, he found it difficult to speak.
"I-I-I'l-" His mouth opened but he couldn't speak. His throat seemed to be clenching on itself. He couldn't breathe. What was this?
"Hmm? What was that? You'll what?" Morgoth asked as the invisible rope tightened around Grimnir. The dwarf fell to his knees and start to convulse, his body twitching, his vision going dark. Then the choke ended. He took a deep breath and coughed loudly.
"Well done, Azura. The others, they are in place?" Morgoth asked.
"Yes, my Lord." She said, avoiding eye contact with him.
"Good. You have served me well. There shall be a place for you in the new world." He said before turning to Grimnir, "You..." he looked down at Grimnir and waved his hand. The cell door opened and he stepped in and bent down to grasp Grimnir's thick neck with his huge hands.
Grimnir tried to dodge it but was caught nonetheless. "Do you know who I am?" He held Grimnir up, the dwarf's legs waddled about in the air as he tried to stand.
"Speak!" Morgoth commanded, his voice rising. An echoing boom went through the dark prison sending dust up.
Grimnir opened his mouth and spat in Morgoth's face. The Vala's eyes flared and Grimnir went flying back into the walls of the cell, telekinetically pinned, unable to move.
"I was going to give you a chance. I changed a lot in the void. But I suppose some races never do change. Aule's damn creations were always annoying pests." Morgoth said as Grimnir winced in pain. "Since you are unwilling to cooperate, I'll have to bring out somene who will be-" Morgoth twisted his hand and Grimnir began to feel his insides burn. His mind began to flame. He began to stutter as he tried to pray to Durin. "By Durin I-" he choked.
"Osman. My favourite. Come out. You are free of this vessel."
Grimnir's eyes twitched and his mouth began to speak.
"M-mmm-mas-ster?" Those weren't Grimnir's words but they came from his mouth.
"Yes." No smile crossed Morgoth's face but their was visible excitement in his eyes.
"Wh-why?" What in Durin's name was speaking?! What was happening to him. His eye went black. He couldn't see. He couldn't hear either. What were they saying?!!
"Because I need my best Giant. You want another chance at life, don't you?"
Grimnir's head began to sway up and down. He was nodding? How? He wasn't trying to nod. Who was inside him? What was taking over-
"Yes." The voice was clearer, "I'll do anything you want, Master."
"Anything?" Grimnir's body fell to the ground and he began to stand. No. He wasn't standing. It was the thing. Whatever was inside him.
"Anything." Grimnir felt himself fall into a pit of darkness.
---------
"Goodbye, sister." Eonwe said as he placed his hand over the eyes of a dead Guardian of the Door of Day. He shut her lifeless eyes and stood up.
Tulkas was roaming across the field of bodies saying things like, "I knew that one," and, "Gonna miss him."
So many had died here. So many Maiar. So many of his brothers and sisters. All because of him. He failed on the island. He failed to see through the lies of the Valar, he failed to see Ilmare's deception, and he failed to follow out his duty. He failed. And they had paid for it. How many more would die?
"I'm sorry I created this chaos." He was nearly at tears but brushed them away. He was a warrior. A soldier. He couldn't cry. Especially not infront of Tulkas. He turned to the Vala and spoke,
"We're Ainur, butchering Ainur. Is this what we've become?"
"We cannot fight the circumstances, Eonwe. There was nothing we could do. The ones who did this, they dug their grave. Let them sleep in it." Tulkas said, walking over to him.
"It's time to gather with the others. We must secure Gurthang and put it into Morgoth's chest. If Turin is unable to, then you will have to."
Eonwe's gaze fell to the floor. He had always wanted to end evil. To kill Morgoth. To be a hero. But was this what he wanted? To kill another Ainur? To slay the oldest brother? He had sworn not to. But maybe he would have to break this vow. Become an oathbreaker? To save Arda? Would he be able? If it came to it, he knew he would. But was this what Eru wanted? How would the other Ainur see him? A hero or a murderer? How would Arien see him?
"I will do my duty." He answered Tulkas. The Vala smiled and laughed, "Of course you would, Eonwe." He placed his hand on Eonwe's shoulder and they both disappeared from the Door of Day.
