Tarnes and the others reached the safety of the Black Gate's towering walls, but the Orcs below refused to retreat as they normally would. Instead, they pressed their assault with desperate fury, throwing themselves against the massive gates with suicidal determination.
Even as hundreds of these wretched creatures fell to Shelob's hunting in the darkness, their terrified screams echoing across the wasteland, not a single Orc dared retreat. Sauron's final command before departing had been crystal clear: pursue Tarnes at all costs. These pitiful servants of darkness simply couldn't resist their master's will until they achieved this impossible goal or met their deaths trying.
The defenders atop the walls responded with deadly efficiency. Volleys of arrows whistled through the night air while irregularly shaped stones crashed down upon the attackers below. The Orcs, carrying no siege equipment beyond the rusted scraps adorning their bodies and the crude blades clutched in their claws, were systematically annihilated within minutes.
Darkness reclaimed the area outside the walls, broken only by the occasional rustling of something large moving through the shadows and the wet, grinding sounds of flesh and bone being devoured. Shelob was claiming her grisly feast from the Orc remains.
However, Tarnes had no energy left to deal with the giant spider currently scavenging below. After confirming the immediate area was secure, he quickly drained his Flask of Crimson Tears, then reached into his dimensional storage with obvious reluctance. A crystal radiating brilliant blue starlight appeared in his palm, and with a pained expression, he tilted his head back, crushed the precious item, and swallowed the fragments.
Starlight Shard. An emergency magical restoration item that Tarnes had collected throughout his time in the Lands Between. Each one represented an irreplaceable resource, and using them always left him with a sense of loss.
Behind him, Melina also consumed the blessed liquid from her own Flask of Crimson Tears, restoring her depleted stamina with quiet efficiency.
Tarnes glanced at her with visible relief. "Thank the Golden Tree you were there, Melina. If I'd faced him alone, I probably would have walked straight into his verbal trap."
Melina adjusted her hood more securely before carefully examining Tarnes for any injuries he might have missed. "Sauron's words affected me initially as well, but I managed to break free from their influence quite quickly. I believe it's connected to my body being reconstructed by the Golden Tree using pure golden blessing."
Before Tarnes could respond, Talion's voice cut through the night air, trembling with barely controlled emotion. "You two down there just now... are you absolutely certain that black-armored giant was Sauron himself?"
During his earlier rescue mission, the poor lighting conditions had prevented Talion from clearly observing their opponent's features. He'd only instinctively recognized that anyone capable of making a wizard of Tarnes's caliber so wary could only be an enemy of Sauron's magnitude.
Now that adrenaline was fading and rational thought returning, the full implications struck him like a physical blow. Sauron. That name haunted every corner of Middle-earth. Hadn't he been defeated? Cast down and banished from the world?
Hearing Melina casually mention that dreaded name again, Talion couldn't suppress his need for absolute confirmation.
Tarnes didn't hesitate in his response. "It's definitely Sauron, without question. Unless you know of another enemy possessing comparable power who might impersonate him, I can't think of anyone else capable of so easily neutralizing my sorcery."
He'd originally intended to say "Ashes of War" but caught himself, substituting the more familiar term that Talion would better understand.
Talion's expression shifted through a complex range of emotions before settling into grim resolve, prompting Tarnes to ask with growing curiosity, "What's troubling you, Talion? If you're concerned about Sauron launching an attack, you can rest assured. With me here, he won't harm the Black Gate in the slightest."
A bitter smile twisted Talion's weathered features as he shook his head. "You misunderstand my concern, Lord Tarnes. I'm not questioning your formidable abilities..."
Recognition dawned in his eyes as he continued, "Ah, I'd forgotten that you came here from beyond Middle-earth to rebuild your homeland. You don't fully comprehend what Sauron's appearance means for our world."
Tarnes scratched his head thoughtfully. "I only learned of Sauron's name from Gandalf. You know him, the old wizard? He mentioned that Sauron was an enemy he'd long feared would bring catastrophe to Middle-earth."
Talion nodded gravely. "That ancient wizard speaks the truth. Regardless, I must immediately spread word of Sauron's return to Mordor. Gondor must be warned, along with the Elves and Dwarves. Every free people of Middle-earth needs to know."
The full weight of the situation finally dawned on Tarnes, and his expression grew serious. "As it happens, I have urgent business to discuss with the Steward when I visit Gondor. We could travel together."
Talion's face showed both gratitude and regret. "While I would greatly appreciate your company on such a journey, Sauron's appearance in Mordor changes everything. The Black Gate remains the first line of defense against his armies, and I cannot abandon my post. The situation is too critical." He paused, meeting Tarnes's eyes directly. "I'm afraid I must ask you and Lord Melina to depart for Gondor tonight, carrying this urgent news."
Tarnes and Melina exchanged a meaningful glance before nodding in unison. "No problem. We're accustomed to travel, regardless of the hour."
Relief flooded Talion's features. "Thank you both."
He turned and called to his son, who stood nearby among the other rangers. "Dirhael! You'll accompany Lord Tarnes and Lord Melina, carrying my token to Gondor. Report Mordor's situation directly to the Steward!"
Dirhael immediately jogged over, first offering respectful nods to both Tarnes and Melina before addressing his father. "What's happened that requires such urgency? Are we leaving immediately?"
Talion glanced at the rangers who had gathered around them, drawn by the commotion and sensing the gravity of the moment. He took a deep breath before delivering the earth-shattering news. "Sauron has returned."
Dirhael's pupils dilated with shock as the implications crashed over him like a tidal wave. Like his father, he immediately understood the catastrophic significance of this revelation and sprang into action without hesitation. "I'll gather my supplies immediately."
The wait proved mercifully brief. Dirhael returned with remarkable efficiency, his traveling pack containing only the bare essentials: spare clothing of rough-woven fabric, dried provisions for the journey, and his father's official token of authority. He led a sturdy horse to where Tarnes and Melina waited, his movements betraying the nervous energy of youth facing momentous responsibility.
"Forgive the delay," he said, addressing Tarnes with the deference due a wizard of his reputation.
Tarnes offered a warm, reassuring smile designed to ease the young man's obvious anxiety. "Your efficiency reminds me very much of your father. We'll be relying on your knowledge of the shortcuts to Gondor, while I'll ensure your safety throughout the journey."
But Dirhael's response caught Tarnes completely off guard. After expressing his gratitude, the young ranger shook his head with surprising determination. "I'm deeply grateful for your protection, but if we encounter threats that even someone of your abilities finds challenging to handle, I beg you not to hesitate. Abandon me without a second thought, take my father's token, and ensure that news of Sauron's return reaches Gondor's leaders. That mission must succeed, regardless of the cost."