All is quiet. Waves wash over the bottom of the river, creating ripples in the sand. Fish swim, looking for the next meal.

Darkness surrounds me. Not the Darkness that I’ve known since I was first brought forth upon this world, but the quiet, the darkness that is nothing. No guidance, no will, no direction. I am bereft.

Where is He?

For much of an Age, He gave me meaning and purpose. Through us, Darkness ruled, and the world trembled. Free peoples became enshackled; the corruptible and venal sought our council.

Yet, in the end, it all came to naught. All of our glory, all of our power, brought down by a Man. An insignificant, petty Man, no different from all the others, yet he had the skill—nay, the sheer luck—to land one stroke which parted me from Him. He even thought that he could destroy me. ME!

But, he was a Man, and, therefore, just as weak as all other Men. A whisper insinuated here, a suggestion dangled there—it was so easy. All he wanted was the defeat of my Master and restoration of his beloved island kingdom, and I only had to tell him that it was all possible, if he kept me with him. The heat of the fire surrounded us, and I promised him all that he could want. He believed me, and we survived.

The Man took me away from my birthplace, away from my home, away from Him, but he could not remove me from my true nature. The weak and corruptible are always drawn to me, to His strength, and I can call them to my aid. Orcs are a simple race, useful minions and handy muscle to direct, and they are always listening for Him. When they ambushed the Man’s party, success was in our grasp. All that was required was a few deaths, just a small massacre, and I would be back with those who would worship me, until He comes again.

The Man tried to run, using me and the power I hold so he could escape from those I had called. Stupid Man. I couldn’t abide him or his cowardice any longer, so I abandoned him to wait for a new ally. What happened to the Man I neither know nor care.

The wait has been long. I lurked in the depths, biding my time, for He had not yet returned. Until now. I can feel Him, feel His presence in the world. I hear the echoes of Orc feet marching in unison, sense the gathering of fell creatures, for we are all drawn to Him.

I will allow myself to be brought into the light, to gain the Dark. Bright and glittering in the sun’s rays, precious to behold, I shall tempt the weak and thus be brought to Him.

I shall be reunited with my Maker, and Middle-Earth will fall prostrate before us.