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Something moved near the gates of Isengard. A vaguely
Uruk-hai-shaped creature clambered down the rocks on
the ground. It was about two-thirds as tall and much
thinner than Ugluk. It had a round head on a spindly
neck, not the sleek, powerful body of a warrior. Maybe
the people of this race were thinker rather than fighters.
Two more strangers appeared from behind the rocks, one
tall and handsome, the other one little and strong with
a beard, and all three looked at Ugluk. As chief of
security for Saruman, he had learned that quick, decisive
action was the best way to get the upper hand in a confrontation.
Don’t give them time for subterfuge; just march straight
in and find out what they’re doing.Ugluk saw some sort
of weapon in the creatures fragile hands. Short-bows
and an axe, no doubt. Long-bows powerful enough to do
any damage would rip hands that size off their arms.Ugluk
took his own weapon, a large two-hand-sword. It was
as long as his forearm and very sharp. He could rip
an Uruk-hai apart, but Ugluk didn’t imagine he would
even have to use it, not unless the strangers were suicidal.
The size alone should let them know who was boss here.
He held his sword in front, not threatening but making
sure it was clearly visible. “Who are you?“ he asked,
using the high form of the Black Language just in case
they had been sent by someone from Barad-Dur. The creatures
babbled among themselves in high-pitched voices. Two
of them backed away. A third, which had been about to
climb down out of a rupture in the hull, withdrew back
into the rocks.
Ugluk switched to Westron, the interspecies trade language
that passed for a common tongue in this part of middle
earth, and spoke to the one who held its ground. “Who
are you?”-“H-human,” the creature said. “Who are you?”
Ignoring its question, Ugluk said, “Is Hhuman your species
name or your personal nam?”-“S-species”, the creature
said. “My personal name is Aragorn. The other two are
an elve and a dwarf called Legolas and Gimli.”-“I have
heard of you.” Ugluk took a step closer. “You look like
a pampered races. Evolved in comfort. Top of the food
chain. You will not last long here.”
The Hhuman said, “If you’ve got messenger, we
won’t be here long, anyway. We were only supposed to
chek out if there are any of those hobbits here we are
looking for and go on. If we can contact our base in
Gondor, they’ll come and pick us up.”-“I’m sure they
would”, Ugluk said. “But that is precisely what I don’t
want. Isengard is ours, and we intend to keep it that
way.”
The stranger held its arms out to its side and its two
companions took another step backward. “Hey, we don’t
want any trouble. We’ll just go on our way, and you
can have the whole place to yourself if you want.” Ugluk
raised his sword. “So you say. Unfortunately, nobody
who learns what secret Isengard holds can resist its
lure. You will remain here, and your people will nerver
know what became of you.”
The creature was fast. Ugluk would grant it that. It
swung its right arm forward and fired twice before Ugluk
could attack it with his sword. He felt the impact of
the two arrows against his armor – the foolish creature
did use a short-bow – then his own weapon spoke.