Beneath the mountains arm withen the Wizard's Vale through years uncounted had stood that ancient place that Men called Isengard.
A peak and isle of rock it was, black and gleaming hard: four mighty piers of many sided stone were welded into one, but near the summit they opened into gaping teeth, keen edged as knives...
This was Orthanc, the citadel of Saurman, the name of which had (by design or chance) a two fold meaning; for in the Elvish speech orthanc signifies Mount Fang, but in the language of the Mark of old the Cunning Mind.
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