Ohtacárë i nwalmë úquétima: The Capture of Isengard

[Snaga]

The moment unlooked for came, suddenly and mostly without fanfare nor heraldry. The great stone gates of Methedras swung silently open, and from it gates came columns of marching dwarves. Great was their number, yet but a part of the strength of the full muster of the citadel. And they march southwards, down the road that led to Isengard.

Isengard stood deserted for the most part, for none now guarded the vale of Nan Curunir. Tall in the centre of that fair and green ring stood the black gleaming flanks of Orthanc, and the stairs up to the dark doorway.

Lord Telchar himself marched at their head, and he sent a force to man the gates at the south of the valley, and to make it strong. ‘My lord, what shall we tell those that come thither, and ask us what this might mean?’

And Telchar replied in his tongue: ‘Bare si at du tar orthanc for å forskanse nan curunir.’ (We are taking Orthanc to fortify Nan Curunir)

Other dwarves he sent to search all the vale for any militia-men of Gondor that might be nigh, but never had any news of them been seen or heard, and the dwarves passed this way often. But Lord Telchar stood before the locked door of Orthanc. And he bent his mind upon, and put his hands on it well-wrought frame, and his brow furrowed in concentration. And lo! as the others that stood nearby looked, the hinges and lock seemed to rust and wither before them. Then Telchar walked away somewhat wearily, muttering to those that stood at hand. 'Knock it down, it will not withstand you.'

And so many dwarven warriors came hauling a great battering ram, and dragging up the steps with great effort, they brought it before the door. And Telchar smiled, seeing such force being brought to bear. Fresh dwarves took up the battering ram and swung it. And the first swing shattered lock and hinges with an ease that amazed those dwarves, so that they near fell upon their faces as the battering ram went through the door.

Then they shouted with great joy at the ease of this accomplishment, and above the Tower of Orthanc was raised the symbols of Zirak Khazad.

[Eomer Dinmention]

*On a hill near the Gap of Rohan, Eothain couldn't see what was happening. After he closely watched what was happening. A messenger came

"Captain, our spy says that Lord Telchar is taking over Orthanc and that they are knocking it down"

"Ahh indeed,"

"What shall we do Captain?"

"Stand your ground, Orthanc is not ours, it belongs to Gondor."

[Telchar]

As the last scouts returned they brought news. They had seen scouts from Rohan close to Dol Baran. "Good" Telchar said.. He called for one of his captains, and a short time later a dwarf came runing with a small scroll in his hand.. "Yes, My Lord, I have already prepared the letter.." he said and handed over the scroll.. Telchar opened it and read it quickly before he handed it to one of his scouts.. "Find 20 good scouts and go back to Dol Baran. If you encounter any scouts from Rohan, say that you have a message that needs to be deliverd to one of their Captains."

Concerning the ocupation of Orthanc and Narn Curunir

As your scouts most likely have informed you, Zirak Khazad
has now taken control over the the Tower of Orthanc and
the vally of Nan Curunir. This is becasue the vally, for may years
has been unguarded, there has been no Gondorian troops here
for many years. Therefor I found it wisestto take the tower
and fortify it and the vally. This is no act of war from my side,
but an act of precaution for what may come.

Telchar

As the scouts headed towards Dol Baran Telchar turned his mind towards the tower of Orthanc again.. "We must install a new door.. See that it is done before the sun sets tonight.. The new door is already prepared and is at the moment on it's way.." he said as they walked towards the ruins of the circular wall that once surounded Orthanc.. At the foot of the hill that once had been a mighty wall Telchar asked the other to wait. He then climbed to the top and stod a while looking around.. As the captain became unpatience and wondered what he was doing he lifted his hand and the ground beneath their feet shoock slightly. The ground infront of them leveled with the top of the hill, about 8 feet higher that the ground on each side.. As soon as the foundation of the circle was established the dwarves got started on making a strong wall. A workforce consisting of several thousand dwarves came marching out the gate of Methedras, they spread so they covered most of the eastern part the circle.. As the hours passed the wall stretched towards the sky..

As the end of the day was drawing nearer Telchar was admiring the view from the pinnacle of Orthanc. He could see all the way down to the Gap, though it was close to impossible to see if there were any movement in the valley. As he looked at the spikes surounding the platform he fell in deep thoughts, he sat down in the middle of the platform and started to chant with a low voice.. Slowly he got up and walked towards the one of the spikes, he tuched it and moved on to the second, then the fourth. As he tuched the fourth the rock changed color. Tiny parts started to sparkel, like small lights blinking far away in the night.. After a short time he sparkling started spread.. Old runes once carved in the pinnacle floor lit as the sparkling spread across the floor towards the other spikes.. Slowly Telchar walked to the center of the pinnacle and sat down, he placed his hands on the floor and as he started to chant the spikes changed shape, one by one they became great dragons of stone. stretching their heads towards the sky, spreading their wings on the walls of Orthanc while their tales had a firm grip around the tower below the pinnacle. As the chanting ended the sparking died out, and right before it died out Telchar said "Lend me your eyes O dragons of stones, keep watch and let noice mark any souls coming" After a short rest Telchar started to walk down the stairs, but he didn't come far before he met two of his captains. "What happened to the tower?" They asked, "It keeps watch" Telchar replied as he passed them..After many steps he went out the door he could see that the building of the wall went speedely, it wouldn't take long before it was done..

[Eomer Dinmention]

Eothain recieves the letter.

HE reads it with suspicious

"Very well, keep men on the Gap, scouts at all time. Do not go out of our territory. Kill all those who enter our lands. Keep 800 men there.
Eomer has sent for me, I will take my men back to Edoras

Leave 1000 there.

Get my men, ready. Read ride home.

Make sure no one goes to Isengard, if they do, make sure they go at peace. Send me messages, by birds.

THe Eoreds start to leave, for the weary ride home

[Telchar]

It was over a week since the Capture of Orthanc, the Cirkle was finished,
the Dwarves had worked day and night to get it finished in time, and now
the doors were finaly put in place. Three great Mithril doors blocked the
entrance to the inner cirkle, one at each side and one in the middle.

As the constuction of the Circle was half done, Telchar was close to the Gap of Rohan making the fundation for a new line of defence at the border between Zirak Khazad and Rohan. The ground beneath his feet shook and rose 5m above the rest of the ground, this continued all night.. The next morning a sheild wall could bee seen, 5m high and 15m wide and streaching from one side of Nan Curunir to the other side.. Later the same day a giant workforce arrived at the shieldwall and started to build a wall of defence on top of it, and for every 500 meter the foundation for a guardtower was built..

[Eomer Dinmention]

*As the guards on the towers across the Gap watch the construction. They are confused. They go to report to the captain

"Sir i have a feeling something strange is happening. It feels as if the dwarves are planning something against us"

"Yes, i too feel it. But remember our orders. We do not make any move, unless we are attacked"

"Yes sir"

[Telchar]

As the days went by the wall streached against the sky. Few had seen, and fewer would see a structure built in the same speed. At the most 10 000 Dwarves were working on the wall at once and each knew exactly what their job was, so it all run smoothly and extreamly fast.

[Telchar]

As the wall and towers was completed Telchar decided it was time to head for Khazad dum. As he entered through the gates of Orthanc two of his most trusted councilors came to greet him. "All is going as you planed My Lord, the hills of Nan Curinir is beeing fortyfied as we speak.." Telchar looked at them both "What about the inner defences? They must be finished before they reach the Gap." and looked towards the Gap of Rohan with a worried look on his face. At that time General Bain came with a scroll, "My Lord. Aditional towers and defence walls are beeing built as you instructed, it will be impossible for a large host to march in formation across the vale, they'll have to splitt up and regroop at sevral places" he replied as he bowed. "That is good news.. I'm leaving for Khazad dum now, you'll be in charge until I return he said to Bain.
As Telchar and the two councilors walked into the darkness one of the councilors asked; "My Lord, what are our next move?" Telchar looked at him with a grim expression. "You of all should know that!", his voice echoed in the hall.. He continued in a lower voice; "As you know I promised the Emperor of Arnor that I would let his people take refuge in the northern halls of Khazad dum.." he paused a while and tutched the wall "I feel it........no time to........" he said in a very low voice. After a short while he turned around towards the councilors again. "Now, were where we? Ah.. Yes, the refugees, well, as I said, I promised it, so we have to do it, though I will not allow them to carry any weapons. As you know the main gates were broken many years ago, but a new and stronger gate has been installed." he pasued again.. "They can use the northern tunnel from the main gate, then they will not be in anyones way.. See that it is known, and keep watch so we know if they are comming!". "Yes My Lord" they both replied. "And now I have to head for Khazad dum, if we travel fast we can make it by tomorrow evening or night." Telchar said they dissapeard through a unseen door..

[Kyrè]

Mirina sat at the top of a hill with her captain at her side.

Yes m'lady?

Something isn't right. Dwarf Ambassadors in our city are restless. What is going on?

I'll find out m'lady.

Do.