The Long and Short of it

Author: Sakura123 (weber_dubois22)

Category: Lord of the Rings

Genre: General/Drama

Rating: K+

Summary: A collection of short stories written for the LiveJournal community "themiddlearth" back in 2010.

Characters: Various

Written: 5/3/2010

Disclaimer: Lord of the Rings and all things related are property of the J.R.R. Tolkien, Tolkien Enterprises, Peter Jackson and New Line Cinema. I own nothing except the ideas written and original characters.

One: The Reaper

Title: "The Reaper"

Author: Sakura123 (weber_dubois22)

Prompt: #W: Balrog (Challenge #9 "Middle-Earth ABC's")

Word count: 340

Notes: Written when I assumed two stories, instead of one, had to be written :P.

At first, the Balrog was sure it was the scuttle of the Moria rats (Orcs or Goblins, whichever they wished to be called) that woke him from his slumber. They made noise occasionally whenever they hunted or relocated within the massive mines, he knew this and it did not bother his sleep in the least. However, this time was different. Their movement was excited, unorganized and rushed; he raised his head a little from his arms and shifted his large wings to get a better view of the world he rarely paid attention to.

Yes, they were excited, but by what? He wondered. No sooner did he complete the thought, his nose picked up on a scent that rang with familiarity. Something else besides the Goblins walked the halls of Dwarrowdelf, his domain, and it stirred a sort anger he had not felt in ages. What could it be?

Unfurling from his sleeping position, the Balrog stretched the sleep from his limbs, his tail lashed out against the stone pillars that surrounded him. He opened his jaw and yawned, but what sounded like a huff to him may have sounded like a terrible growl to others, one that shook the very foundations of Moria. His flame burned bright in the darkness as he stood to his full height, his wings were very last thing he exercised before he marched forth.

Far in the distance, he could hear the Goblins' cries of terror and their retreat back into their holes. The further they ventured back into the shadows, the stronger the mysterious scent became. He growled in anger as he realized what it was he smelling; Dwarf, Man, Elf and Istari. Enemies of the elder days, though they were no one he encountered prior to his seclusion to Moria. The fear of the Istari filled his senses and excited him, prompting him to move faster. Their doom was near at hand, the Balrog gleefully adopted the mantle of the reaper for the second time of the third age.