The Watcher

It waited in the dark waters of the placid lake as the gentle ripples of people walking in its territory stirred it from restless sleep.

It began to move, alerting one or two of the traveller's of its existence, but still they kept walking.

Soon, the unnatural lake's surface was once again still as they had crossed the small area where the murky water covered the ever thinning path.

Without making so much as a small wave form on the surface, it slowly and carefully made its way to where they had left its territory, hoping to catch a straggler in its tentacled grasp.

Not one had stayed behind, but he could hear the sounds as one tried to solve the riddle on the doors to get inside the mines.

It heard and felt the unmistakable feeling of rocks being sent its way. With a flurry of movement that was carefully controlled to keep its presence unknown to the rock-thrower, it went to grab the creature, but by the time it reached the mound of rocks that wasn't in the water with it before, the creature had stopped and it couldn't find it again without announcing its presence to all.

Almost growling and sending a slight mess of bubbles to the surface, it waited for the right time to strike.

Soon, the doors were opened and the group of people began to move in. Knowing its chance had arrived, it raised its head a little out of the water and saw the mixed races of the people. Slowly and deliberately, it chose to have one of the small beings to be its next meal.

Seeing the four small creatures exit the mine with their backs turned, it struck, taking the one that seemed to be emanating power into the air.

Pulling its head completely out of the water and opening its giant maw, it was about ready to swallow the creature whole when it was attacked.

After having a few appendages cut off, it dropped its meal and began to retreat. On the way back into its watery hole, it was struck with an arrow, blinding as it took one of its eyes. Roaring, it had its revenge. After all the people had moved back into the mine, it used the rest of its tentacles to knock both tree and stone over the entrance, barring passage back to it.

As it went back to the spot where it rested, one thought entered its mind. 'Not all would escape the Balrog inside.' With an angry glide through the water, it laid its body back down to rest and heal from its ordeal, comfortable in the knowledge that, if not it, something else would feast well.

It was only a matter of time.

The End

A/N - Well, don't ask where this came from. It was just an idea that suddenly sprang into my head. Yes, it is movieverse, but I can't find my copy of FotR. The only book I know where to find right now is The Silmarillion. Well r/r if you liked it please.

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