The Nazgul sat high atop the cliff, surveying the land below. His prey was down there, somewhere, hiding amongst the 
rocks and scrub. The Nazgul could wait....they can always wait. 

The elfen warrior hid as best as he could. He had successfully stayed hidden in this spot for 4 days now. He knew that 
somewhere on the cliff behind him sat his hunter.. a Nazgul. 
The elfen warrior had made it this far. Made it this far with his skill, luck, and the elfen cloak, which made him 
nearly invisible against the gray, ashen rocks. But he had not counted on the Nazgul being awake. They were supposed to be 
elsewhere, anywhere but here. The intelligience had been wrong. The cloak was good against the eyes of orcs, and he only 
traveled at daylight to further aid himself; orcs do not like daylight much...everyone knew that. But Nazgul...now that was 
something different. Damn those in the intelligience gathering force. He was going to pay for their error.....with his 
life! 

The Nazgul sat like a stone statue. Just like he had been doing for 4 days and nights. He did not care, time meant 
little to a Nazgul. Only serving his master; Lord Sauron mattered. The Nazgul knew this game of cat and mouse would be 
over soon. He knew exactly where his prey was. It seemed more enjoyable, somehow, to let him sweat. The concept of fun was 
not forgotten by the Nazgul, just hardly ever used. Lord Sauron''s will was not pressing the Nazgul to do anything...yet, 
so the Nazgul allowed himself to experience the "fun". 

The elf was cramping now, unbearable cramping in his back, legs and shoulders. The hunger and thirst could be ignored, 
his training would see to that. But the body needs to stretch every so often. 
That he could not afford to do! The mission must come first, he thought to himself. Must complete the mission. 

The Nazgul, on the 5th day, felt the slightest tingle in his mind. He knew that tingle. Has known it for a thousand 
years..Lord Saurons mind was thinking. The Nazgul knew that the "fun" was over. If his prey did not come out soon... He 
would end this game. 

The elfen warrior could not stand it anymore. 5 days was too much. The pain, the pain was now unbearable. Better to 
die on your feet, then be killed like a scared rabbit. With all the strength he could muster, the elf stood up. I felt so 
good!!! But he pushed those thought aside as he heard the piercing scream of the Nazgul. He knew his life would soon be 
over. Death did not frighten the elf, only failure did. The Nazgul and his beast lifted off the cliff and swooped into the 
valley with another piercing scream. At least I won''t have to hear that anymore, thought the elf warrior. Damn those 
intelligience gathering elves, thought the elf warrior again.... and, as the Nazgul and his mount swooped ever closer, 
for the first time the elf allowed himself to say " I am having second thoughts about this whole mission"



This elf warrior died much to quickly thought the Nazgul. This one could not have planned such a elaborate, complex 
scheme to enter Mordor without help by one much wiser. Their must be another thought the Nazgul...but where? He felt 
the tingle in his mind again, this time much more intense. Lord Sauron feels the same, their must be another. The Nazgul 
looked down at his "opponent" one last time. The elfen warrior was cut in half a dozen places. He was dead before he hit 
the ground. No, this was not the one we seek, thought the Nazgul. Their must be another!

Several hundred feet away sat the object of the Nazgul’s thoughts. Hidden by powerful, elven magic, was Ellorine, 
daughter to the captain of the army of Lorien. She almost rushed to the aid of poor Yular, but thought of the mission. 
Tears welled in her eyes, as well as her heart, as she watched Yular fall before ever landing a blow. She would have given 
the Nazgul a better fight, yes,...she thought... for sure. But remembered the mission. Her tear filled eyes watched as the 
Nazgul mounted his winged steed and took to the air. She covered her ears as the beast let out another piercing scream, 
and flew away to the south. Towards Barad-dur.

The Nazgul raced with all the speed its mount could give. Lord Saurons will was driving the Nazgul, driving it to report 
at once! The Nazgul, ever eager to please his master, dug his spurs into the beasts flanks, urging it southward. The Nazgul 
knew Sauron would not be happy. How could this happen? At least two intruders had slipped past the orc sentries.The Nazgul 
knew many orcs would die for this! If Sauron willed it, a small part of the Nazguls mind, the same part that remembered 
"fun", would love to be given that task!!! But now, Lord Sauron had bigger plans for him, and he was eager to comply.

Ellorine finally summoned the courage to step out from her hiding place. The Nazgul had been gone for 3 hours now, but she 
was now all alone. Alone in the most horrible place in Middle Earth she could imagine.....Mordor. She knew now that the 
mission rested completely on her slender shoulders. She would not let her father down. She would not let her people down. 
The pressure was unbearable. As the tears began to flow again, she began to have second thoughts about the mission....



The Nazgul made his way back to his steed. All who passed him in the corridors gave him a wide birth... for the Nazgul was 
in a hurry. A lone orc, wandering Barad-durs corridors on a mission from its superior accidently bumped into the Nazgul. 
The orcs screams could be heard throughout Barad-dur. But the Nazgul barely broke stride...only one thing filled his 
thoughts. That was to find the other intruder(s) and bring them to Lord Sauron’s Throne Room. 

Ellorine had been walking for only a short time, when she heard voices ahead, hidden in a clump of scrub bushes. She 
knew they were orcish. She also knew that they blocked her only path out of this valley. Probably loafing away their day.. 
thought Ellorine, and they could not have picked a better spot! After listening for a few minutes, she could discern only 
2 distinct voices. She had two choices... wait it out and hope they leave soon, or take them out. Her thoughts drifted 
to poor Yular. No... I will exact some revenge! She carefully advanced on the orcs, and silently drew her long sword.... 

The Nazgul was back at the site where he slew the elf. This would be the best spot to start,  thought the Nazgul.  
The Nazgul searched the ground in and around the scrub. If elves were here, where would they hide? The Nazgul was searching 
through his memory from times long, long ago. His keen eyes scanned the immediate area, instantly picking out any spot 
large enough to conceal an elf. 
He would find their hiding spot and then the hunt would be on again. The Nazgul always enjoyed the hunt....because no prey 
had ever gotten away. 

The two orcs were indeed loafing away their duties. They had been sent out from the tunnels on a routine patrol. 
But today was hot, much hotter than normal. Their armor trapped the heat and made them sweat. They hated 
to sweat. The orcs never knew what hit them. In a blink of an eye one orc was dead; run through from behind. The other orc 
was slow to react to this sudden surprise, but fortune was on the orc’s side. The elfen sword became lodged in the orcs 
ribcage and would not come out! Panic ran through Ellorines mind for only an instant, as her training took over. As the 
other orc fumbled to find his clumsy broad sword and stumble out of the scrub bushes, Ellorine drew her slender dagger. 
The orc, seeing his opponent at a seamingly disadvantage, charged in with all his energy, swinging wildly. Ellorine 
quickly slid her dagger between the orcs armor plates, and spun away. The orcs eyes widened, and as he crashed to the 
ground, his last thought was... on second thought, I should have ducked... 



The thought of another hunt stirred the memories of "fun" within the deepest recesses of the Nazgul’s mind. Soon the Nazgul 
was lost in his obsession with Saurons wishes; "Bring the intruders to me, before my throne." He quickly narrowed his 
choices of potential hiding places too just one. That is where the other elf was hiding, thought the Nazgul. His suspicions 
were confirmed when he found the remains of a few crumbs of Lembas; the Sindarin name of the bread designed to be used on 
long journeys due to its tendancy to stay fresh for long periods. This confirmed the Nazguls hunch, and before anymore 
time was wasted he jumped onto his mount and took to the air...the hunt was on!

Ellorine was disheartened. She had slain the two orcs easily enough, but not before tearing her magical elven cloak on 
some thorns from the scrub bushes they were hiding under. Without that cloak she would not be invisible to all unfriendly 
eyes. She wished Yular was here. He would know exactly what to say....to comfort her. He would tell her everything would 
be alright. She wrapped the torn cloak about her and prayed it would be enough. She knew better.

The Nazgul soared over the Plateau of Gorgoroths eastern regions, picking out the most direct route to Barad-dur. That is 
where they were heading, he knew that. Why else would they be here in this part of Mordor? The Nazguls thoughts were 
interrupted when another Nazgul approached. This was going to be ....fun.... thought the Nazgul as his comrade joined the 
hunt.

Ellorine knew it was over as soon as she saw the two Nazgul approach. I have failed you my father, she thought to herself. 
You were supposed to take this mission. But I feared for your life, so I undertook it for you.  Not only have I failed you, 
but I have failed poor Yular...my love struck suitor. He caught me sneaking out, and threatened to tell  you.... if I did 
not let him come with me. I should have given up then, but I could not let you come here. My love for you blinded me...
forgive me Father. Ellorine knew what fate awaited her if she allowed herself to be captured. She would not allow that to 
happen. As the two Nazguls approached, she knew what she must do. She took out a small crystal vile, said a prayer, and 
drank the contents. Second thought continued to race through her mind as the poison took effect...and ended her life.

THE END

by: Grishnak