Return of the Dark Lord

[Magolion]

Idiots! Worms! Scum! They actually thought that they could destroy me! Pathetic humans! I am surrounded by imcopetant fools. Only idiots would have allowed that blasted hobbit to destroy the Ring. The fault is mine in this matter. Never again will I entrust the future of my empire to Orcs, pathetic, blundering fools! Curse that Saruman, the ambitious little welp! He could have been great but for his arrogance to think that he could present a challenge to me. Now he is dead alone and unheard of, a just end for treachery. Now it is time to reclaim my empire. The wizard Gandalf and his little hobbit have sailed off for who knows where, never to return. Little do they know the the war for Middle Earth has only just begun. Once I regain my strength and regather my armies, the world will be mine again. And this time I will NOT fail.

[Ice]

I followed still the pull of the presense I had sensed in far away Lothlorien. I knew not that I had passed into Mordor. I knew not what it was that called my soul. I knew not that the darkness of myself was slowly taking over, taking me down into evil with it.

[Magolion]

Perfect, I thought as I watched her cross the borders into Mordor. Everything is going according to plan. Allies had become fewer after the defeat at the hands of the Fellowship, and more of the were either dead or incompetant. It was time to rebuild. I needed a worthy lieutenant. Someone who could lead my armies and strike fear into the heart of my enemies. Angmar was next to useless at the moment. The maid Eowyn had nearly finished him for good, but because she weilded a mere mortal blade, there was still enough left of him to salvage. It had come too close for comfort, though. One of the little hobbits had weilded a sword of Westernesse which would have completely eradicated the Ringwraith. Luckily for him the sword had gone into his leg. Nevertheless Ablamars powers were cut in half in the moment. Ha! The Witch King indeed...bested by a woman and a hobbit! No, he would come into use later, and until then would have to be content to serve under my new lieutenant. She was perfect, a cousin to Elrond himself, and it would be good to show the elves that even they were not immune to my power. I quickly assumed a human form and traveled toward my borders. It would not do to reveal my true form until she was firmly within my clutches. It was with this in mind that I approached her and asked in a hypnotic voice, "What is your name elf?"

[Ice]

I frowned when the man approached me, feeling from within him that which I sought. But I was careful, for carelessness could get you killed. Even though I was starting to comprehend where my true allegiance truly lay, with the dark, I was unwilling to be underdog to anyone.

"I am Ice," I said sharply, not being affected by his tone of voice. "Who are you?"

[Magolion]

Well, Well, Well. What an unexpected but not unpleasant surprise. This one had shrugged off my hypnosis as if it was nothing. I was undettered however, it was her destiny that she would join me. Not to mention that I was impressed not even Angmar had been able to resist my hypnosis. But no matter, she would join me one way or another. I took a another step toward her, my gaze looking into the very depths of her recently blackened soul and replied simply,"A friend"

[Ice]

I frowned at his reply. A friend? One must never assume someone is a friend based on their word. I myself had just proven that.

"I know you are more than you seem," I said, "for otherwise you would tell me your name."

[Magolion]

"Very well." Realising this ruse was getting me nowhere and more than a little irritated at her arraogance, I decided to give in. Maybe I could catch her off guard. With a snap of my fingers, I took on my true form, unused since the fateful battle where I had been separated from the ring. Standing full clad in my armor I delved into her mind and spoke to her. "I am Lord Sauron, Lord of Mordor, The Ringmaker, and true ruler of Middle Earth."

[Ice]

I felt a precense in my mind as the man changed forms, revealing himself to be the Dark Lord himself. Instinctively I threw up shields on my thoughts. I had been trained in mind defense as a child, and could stop just about everyone that I wished. I smiled at the Dark Lord, bowing slightly. His openness surprised me a little, but I didn't let it bother me.

"I can very well see that. And you need not bother with fancy titles. I know that you're not supposed to even be alive, and obviously need some help. So what do you need me to do? I will be no underdog to you, but you can think of me as...well, a freelance. So what would I get by helping you, as I assume you want me to?"

[Magolion]

Freelance? I chuckled to myself silently. Child, child, if you only knew. She was still putting up barriers in her mind. Had I felt the need, even with my weakened powers, I could have sliced through them like daggers through flesh, but I thought it best to be prudent. It was best to humor her for the time being until she was totally mine. "I would have a care with the way you choose to speak to me elf; with a wave of my hand I could send you back into the earth from which you came." I wouldn't really kill her. She was too crucial to my plan, but I wasn't above inflicting a little pain. In a calmer voice I spoke again. "I need a spy. 'Someone who can keep me up to date on the goings on within the realm." Most of mine had been killed off after the war, and she, being an elf, could get more information than they ever could. Once she got used to the idea of "freelancing" *chuckle*, she would be ready for the next stage. "As for your payment, what do you want?" Greed is the quickest way to corruption after all.

[Ice]

I think I was more observant that Sauron realized, for I saw those silent chuckles. I made a note in my mind to tread carefully around him, though it couldn't be a great deal more difficult than elven politics.

"If you are in need of a spy, I can help you there. Though I can make no guarentees that you'll get what info you wish," I said, ignoring his threat. "As for payment, we can discuss that when I've thought of what exactly I would like."

I looked carefully at him, trying to read him with any body language. That darn armor hid most things. I had always been good at reading people, but he was hard to read.

"Is it a deal?"

[Magolion]

Things were beginning to line up finally. "Almost." Almost I thought, but not quite. "However, I despise leaving loose ends in an agreement.' We come to an arrangement only when I know what you want in return." It's not that I don't trust you elf, I thought to myself, it's just that I don't trust you. "You may stay at my castle until you have decided, and then we will do business."

[Ice]

I frowned, unwilling to put myself in a position in which I could very easily be manipulated.

"I shall think on it, but it will be on my own ground, not here," I said. "I shall return when I have come to my decision."

With that I nodded politely, then turned, flinching inward at the stupidity of that move. But I pretended that I wasn't thinking anything of the sort, walking away. When I had finally reached a pile of rocks that blocked the line of sight between myself and the dark lord, I breathed a little easier. I whistled and my mare, Starwind, trotted up. I mounted with ease, a little disturbed that she had been so close. WIthout saying a word she broke into a gallop, carrying me and my jubble of thoughts back out of Mordor.

[Magolion]

Very demanding aren't we? She started to turn away, and I noticed to tiniest bit of a flinch. Well, there is some fear in this one after all. Good. Mostly fearless is good, but someone totally fearless of one's master is either insane or plotting treachery. However, I was becoming increasingly incensed at this one's utter lack of tactfullness. Had she been anyone else, she would have been long dead. Patience. Patience. She will lose this in time. I could be patient when the virtue was called for (not that I have many of those). She had long since faded into the night, but I still wondered at her choice to go back. Of course she was probably suspicious of my motives, but if I had intentions of harming her, I would have long before this. Besides the fact that those she knew would udoubtably suspect something, as elves usually do. So young yet so nieve. Ah well she will come back. It is her destiny, though she has not realised it yet. However, it will not hurt for her to be watched while she is away. "Nalen." A small man stepped out of the shadows, one of I disagreeasins/spies. "You know what to do." He nodded and slunk off into the shadows. Now that this was over with for now, it was time to focus on other things. Angmar had been indisposed for a long time after the battle, and no word had been sent to me during that time. I quickly decided to pay a surprise visit to Minas Morgul. I assess the situation there and inform Angmar of our little "addition". He would not be pleased, of that there is no doubt, and by this his loyalty will be tested. If he rebels, he will die. I quickly summoned a dragon and set out for Minas Morgul.

[Surande]

I was wandering in the wilderness on his way to Gondor to assist the King Elessar in the rebuilding of the Gates of Minas Tirith. However; I had gotten separated from my group. As always, I carried my axe with me for protection. The Dark Lord may have fallen, but not all the evil he wrought had been destroyed.
Thus it was when a lone orc attacked me. However, I was able to dispatch him with ease. The problem was that I realized I was near the fallen land of Mordor; and that more orcs were probably about. Thus I became more watchful. However, I am no Ranger, and knew little of the world outside the Lonely Mountain at that time. Thus I found myself in the Black Land.
I stumbled upon a strange and terrifying sight there. A lone elf was standing in the land, but that wasn't the frightening thing. While I had only heard tell of him in legend, I saw what was clearly the Dark Lord!
Elessar should know, I thought to myself. I decided to leave, immediately if I could.