Chapter 41: Shelob Vs Dumbledore
Dumbledore approached cautiously, his footsteps barely making a sound as he ventured deeper into the Forbidden Forest. The ancient trees cast eerie shadows, and a strange sound gradually filled his ears, like the soft rustling of leaves mixed with an unsettling murmur.
As he approached suspiciously, the scene before him unfolded, and his eyes widened in astonishment. There, beneath the dense canopy, he saw a gigantic female spider engaged in a gruesome feast. It was devouring an equally colossal eight-eyed spider, a creature that Dumbledore recognized all too well - the king of all eight-eyed spiders in the Forbidden Forest.
It was none other than Hagrid's friend, Aragog, the eight-eyed spider king. But now, Aragog had been reduced to a macabre meal for the monstrous arachnid.
"What is this?" Dumbledore muttered to himself in disbelief.
He knew of countless magical creatures, but this one was beyond his knowledge. While it shared the basic form of a spider, it was a wholly different entity. A strange, otherworldly energy radiated from its body, setting it apart from anything he had encountered.
Dumbledore breathed a sigh of relief when he realized that the creature in the Forbidden Forest wasn't the dark wizard Voldemort. In the grand scheme of things, encountering a colossal spider was far less menacing.
Dumbledore observed the creature slowly raising its head.
"Humanity!" a woman's voice emanated from Shelob's enormous mouthparts, and with a sudden, graceful leap, it landed by Dumbledore's side. A venomous stinger glistened menacingly at the tip of its tail, poised to strike the invisible headmaster. At the same time, two silken threads shot out from its abdomen, weaving a barrier to block Dumbledore's escape.
Dumbledore's face remained composed, for he had been prepared for the unknown when he ventured into the forest. With a swift motion, he raised his hand and traced his wand in the air, conjuring a swirling dance of golden flames. The flames coalesced into a blazing wall that enveloped him, forming a protective circle.
Startled by the sudden burst of fire, Shelob retracted her two ferocious spider legs, which had ventured into the flames with slight hesitation.
"Who are you?" Shelob inquired, its eight eyes scrutinizing Dumbledore.
"Albus Dumbledore, I'm the Headmaster of Hogwarts. And who might you be? Why have you entered the Forbidden Forest?" Dumbledore maintained his guard, his wand still at the ready.
"Forbidden Forest? So, this is no longer Chilis Ugo. How far are we from Mordor? Are you part of the Maya, or perhaps a servant of Sauron?" Shelob's multifaceted gaze focused on Dumbledore's wand, surmising him to be a wizard, as most Maya were known to be.
"Sauron?" Dumbledore's pupils constricted, memories flooding back to him. He recalled the ancient parchment that Hermione had handed him earlier, the one penned by a wizard named Gandalf. It had mentioned Sauron, describing him as a terrifying and malevolent dark wizard. The parchment also alluded to the item they were escorting as a key to defeating Sauron.
"You know Sauron?" Dumbledore asked, his mind awash with suspicion and intrigue. After all, the parchment had to be thousands of years old, and the spider's mention of Sauron was a puzzle yet to be solved. Was this another layer of a complex conspiracy, or something even more enigmatic?
"Of course, I'm well-acquainted with Sauron. Ever since his ominous presence cast a shadow over Mordor, the once-frequented Chilis Ungo has seen few elves and humans passing through. For years, my dining options have been limited to those rather unsavory orcs!"
"Sauron left an enduring magical mark on Chilis Wugou, making it impossible for me to easily depart, but I never expected..."
Shelob couldn't help but emit a mischievous cackle. Her spindly legs rhythmically brushed against each other, and the menacing barbs atop them produced a faint rustling sound.
"I've developed a craving for a change of diet! I want to savor the taste of humans and elves!" Shelob roared at Dumbledore.
Dumbledore, the wise old wizard, immediately focused on deciphering the cryptic message hidden within Shelob's words. At her thunderous proclamation, he instinctively tensed his body, and his wand erupted in a dazzling display of light.
A bolt of lightning-like magic shot toward Shelob, but she effortlessly deflected it with one of her forelimbs, sending a few eight-eyed giant spiders scattering.
"Wizard…"
Shelob's initial excitement gradually ebbed away. After feasting on Aragog, she wasn't particularly hungry at the moment.
"This place shall be mine in the future. The next time you visit, you won't be as fortunate," Shelob declared, her tone resolute.
Dumbledore cautiously retreated a few steps and vanished from the scene.
Shelob's exhilarating yet bone-chilling laughter reverberated through the Forbidden Forest. She swiftly asserted her dominance over the eight-eyed spiders, weaving an intricate, labyrinthine giant web deep within the heart of her lair.
"The Forbidden Forest..., it holds a bounty of food—elves, humans!"
....
Dumbledore exited the Forbidden Forest with a grave expression. He remained perplexed about the origins of the colossal spider and who might have brought her here. Were Sauron, Mordor, and Cirith Ungol somehow linked? Could this matter be entwined with Voldemort's schemes?
"At any rate, the Forbidden Forest is bound to become an even more perilous place in the days to come," Dumbledore sighed. He cast a protective enchantment around the forest's perimeter, ensuring students couldn't venture inside.
"Should I report this to the Ministry of Magic?" Dumbledore contemplated. He was torn, fearing that Ministry intervention might disrupt the harmony at Hogwarts and escalate the situation.
"It's going to be a challenging autumn," he concluded, deciding to confer with his fellow professors before taking any further action.
Artel, on the other hand, seemed unperturbed by the impending upheaval Shelob might cause. He appeared quite content with his existence in the Forbidden Forest, knowing that once he unlocked the power of the Supreme Lord of the Rings, he could control any dark creature in the world, including Shelob. For now, he was content being a mastermind in the shadows.
.....
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