The Mountain
Oreamir looked upon his troops and smiled. It was a bright and warm day in all of Gondor and his mission was to simply travel through a newly discovered path in the White Mountains and to make sure it was safe and cleared out of foes. An army of Gondor had previously went through and cleared it so this was supposed to be a safe routine route check. He checked his gear and tightened the saddle on his horse and saddled up. He gave the order to rally the troops to his lieutenants and in no time the army began to move. The men were in a good mood from the beautiful day and you could hear much laughter throughout the men. The clanking of armor and the pounding of hooves was mingled with the sound of singing as the men began to sing. From Minas Tirith, it took the army three days to reach the pass. They were greeted by the carpenters and soldiers of Gondor who were in the process of building the fort in front of the passage. They celebrated that night and after they rested and replenished their supplies, the army once again began its track into the mountain pass. The first day the sun shone brightly and the weather was pleasant. The men's moods did not waver and all was well. Then through half the second day the sun shone bright and the men were in good spirits. As the army continued through the mountain, though, the mountain walls began to block the sunshine. The air about them grew eerie and the shadows began to grow from the darkness. The laughter and joy from the men began to die and was replaced with tension and paranoia. Once in awhile you would hear a soldier try and start a song again but was quickly silenced and was once again covered by the sound of armor and hooves upon the stone floor. Men began to speak in whispers about ancient evils that lurked in the shadows of this mountain. Oreamir quickly attempted to put a stop to these tales, but the seed of worry was already planted and fear began to fester in the men's hearts. Many ah hands were seen gripping the hilts of their weapons in fear, Paranoid from the shadows. As the army continued, they came upon a natural archway made from the mountain. Upon the rocky archway engraved deep in the stone were ancient ruins. Oreamir gazed upon these ruins carefully. The ruins formed in spirals and points, giving of an ancient and powerful essence of the past world when they were written. "What do you think of these Joey?" Oreamir asked his first lieutenant. "I'm not sure sir, but we should continue on, for the sun begins to set." Joey replied. Oreamir looked to the sky and saw the orange rays of sunset."I suppose you are right my friend" Oreamir agreed worrisome.
Chapter 2: The Encampment As the sun began to set, Oreamir signaled for the army to break camp. Fires were quickly set and tents quickly pitched up. Sentries were set to the edges of the camp to patrol for anything out of the ordinary. The camp was set up in a natural crescent opening in the canyon so the armies rear was protected. Night set upon the camp and was aglow from the blaze of the campfires. The night rolled on and nothing seemed out of place, but as hours began to pass, the guard commanders began noticing men were not returning to be relieved. The stable hands also reported that horses were missing from the herd. Oreamirs lieutenants just waved it off as superstitious deserters scared by the mountain, but Oreamir wasn't sure. Ever sense they crossed through that archway engraved in ruins, he felt something was off. He felt as if somehow, between the ancient rocks and chasms in the mountain, something was watching. Waiting. He told his lieutenant Joey and ordered the watch doubled. The night continued on, the full moon was at its peak giving an ominous gloom. The shadows from the flames of the fires flickered upon the mountain walls as if they were alive. The men were restless and could not sleep, for the fear in their hearts kept their eyelids wide and their sword hands ready.Oreamir also could not sleep, for in the corners of his mind he could not shake off the feeling of being watched. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The horses screamed and the men quickly drew their weapons and readied their shields. Then, on the south side of their encampment, a portion of the mountain began to open. Dust and ruble fell from around the opening. Men swarmed around the opening, blades and spear points ready for battle. Oreamir quickly joined the ranks and pushed his way to the entrance shouting orders to form formations. As quickly as it began the door was open and the shaking stopped. Spear, sword and arrow points pointed into the darkness of the entrance, yet nothing came. No goblin horde or hideous mountain troll came rolling out of this secret passage, nor did any dwarves company greet them. Just silence and darkness. Oreamir cautiously took a few steps into the darkness to investigate. Seeing no immediate danger nor confronting any blades, he waved his lieutenants forward." I want a full platoon guarding this entrance. I want fires and torches lit at all times to keep anything in that cave visible." Quickly troops and torches were set in front if the door. Now the paranoia has increased for now they were trapped between two exits....or entrances.
Chapter 3: The Omen
Oreamir gazed into the flames of the fire, for he could not sleep. He also did not remove his armor, for the paranoia has now broke his mental armor and found his heart and mind. He stood in front of a roaring fire, the flames licking the air, and making light flicker off his armor. He stared quietly then as if by magic he began speaking." Through the mountain peaked with snow, there are caves and canyons for evil to grow, upon seeing the shadow your heart shall grow cold, for the demons there are ancient and old....." Oreamir whispered to himself. It was an old poem from the written texts from Minas Tiriths library that he came upon in his training as captain. For another hour nothing happened. No sounds, save for the fires crackle and an occasional clang of armor. Another lieutenant, a spearman from Linhir of southern Gondor named Endorithin, came to Oreamir." Sir, you look as if Death as taken you!" He said to Oreamir."I feel as if Death has its presence over us like a dark veil my friend" he shakily replied. "sir the guards of the front entrance claim to have seen a shadow..." the lieutenant stated worryingly. Oreamir looked quickly at Endorithin with worry and attention in his bright blue eyes. "Shadow?" He asked." Yes sir. They said it slithered as if a serpent, but disappeared into the shadows of the mountain" Oreamir thought for a moment." Place more guards I feel as if something bad is about to..." suddenly a blood curling scream echoed off the mountain walls, but was quickly silenced. Oreamir and the lieutenant drew their weapons but froze as the cause of the abrupt screams rose from the shadows of the mountain. The dark form rose from the front of the main entrance blocking escape. Talons as long and sharp as broadswords appeared from its dark arms. A tail aligned with spikes trailing up its skeletal back formed like orc cleavers and a ball decorated with spikes appeared at the end of the tail. Its body grew to stand as tall as a score of men. Alas, its head was by far its worst feature. A long snout appeared, its mouth opening to expose razor sharp fangs and putrid breath that smelled of decaying flesh. A crown of spikes filled the back of its gruesome head and a single horn grew from its forehead. But its eyes. The evil that formed through them was that of an ancient evil that burned with hatred. The red and green flames in its eyes engulfed its victim and seemed to burn their insides. The demon looked upon the host of men. Its eyes flickered about as the soldiers formed defensive positions. Then it screeched a sound of pure evil sending the faint hearted into total shock in an instant. Before those poor souls even hit the ground, the demon was upon them. Its talons ripped into shields and armor like a scissor and fine cloth. The screams of the dyeing mingled with the agonizing screeches of the demon. "ARCHERS FIRE AT WILL! SPEARMEN KEEP THAT THING AT BAY!" Oreamir yelled in vain. No matter how deep the blade stroke slashed or how deep the arrows pierced, it seemed to grow stronger. Seeing this, Oreamir yelled "RETREAT! TO THE CAVE! FALL BACK!" the men quickly ran for their lives into the mysterious cave. Oreamir saw almost all had reached the cave, so he bolted after. He does not know why he had to see but it was as if his soul forced him to gaze upon this hideous enemy one last time. As he turned, his bright blue eyes locked with the demons. Suddenly time seemed to halt. The demon knew its prey was escaping, yet it was satisfied with the blood and flesh it has consumed. As it saw the human in its glorious armor, the demon recognized its bravery and courage in its eyes. Suddenly, the demon seemed to smile, exposing its blood soaked teeth. A voice filled with hatred and evil filled Oreamirs mind as if was poisoning his mind with its deep rumble. It said' I see your courage foolish mortal. But like your flesh, it is weak and tender. Your courage will fail as all courage of mortals and your warm blood shall turn to ice in fear!' Oreamirs personal guard began to pull him into the cave for his body was frozen in place. The demon seemed to laugh and it picked up a body of a fallen soldier and sank its teeth in its neck biting off its head, blood smearing its muzzle. The entrance of the cave suddenly began to close, but Oreamir and the demons gaze did not falter until the door was sealed tight. Once shut, Oreamir released a breath and began breathing quickly for it seemed his breath was taken from him." Sir, breath!" Joey yelled in his face." I'm alright" Oreamir replied in a whisper," at least alive". He looked at his friend and said" take count of the men and supplies for we do not know what lies ahead, but we must make haste now for we do not know if the demon can enter through here!" He stood swiftly and grabbed a torch." My brothers! We must move now! Make haste for we move now!" He took the lead and swiftly with torch and sword in hand led his remaining troops onto the dark mountain.
