Chapter 1

"You're not going to go are you?"

Dingane' looked at his little sister and smiled. "It is a great honor to serve the eye, Asana. You know this." He tucked the covers under her chin and pinched her nose a bit, causing the usual giggle.

"Yes, but now he's asking for both of you. Why can't one of you stay here?"

"Because the Eye seems to want both of us," Ghadelyna explained, glancing for a moment at her brother. "We won't be gone long, Asana. And who knows; we may be more trouble together than we are worth and the Eye will have to send us back." Asana smiled a bit as Ghadelyna kissed her forehead. "Now go to sleep, little sister, and stop worrying."

The twins left their sister's room, and only when they were sure they were out of earshot, did they dare speak.

"Something is wrong, Din," Ghadelyna whispered. "I've never seen Father this way before."

"He acted as if he'd seen a ghost," Dingane' ' replied, equally as quiet. "But no one expected the Emissary to come 12 years early. There must be a reason for the haste. Perhaps there is a new battle we are needed for."

"Perhaps," Ghadelyna murmured. They continued in silence to their Father's chambers, a large room at the northern side of the palace. Usually, the time of the Reaping called for both a day of celebration by the people and a day of cleansing by the tributes. By the third day, the tributes and tribe would be ready for the sacrifice. Tonight, they would receive their father's blessing.

As they both walked up to the door of the room and Dingane' knocked on the door. He heard his father's voice ordering him in, and, after looking at his sister, opened the door. He was seated in a large chair and beckoned them to sit in the seat facing his. The twins walked into the room and did as he asked, sitting in silence.

Though Ghasaan had called them in, once they were seated, he barely seemed to notice them. He stared in silence at the floor, his eyes dancing as he scanned the pattern of the rug on the floor. Several times, he opened his mouth as if ready to say something, but just as quickly as his lips opened, he tightly closed them. Minutes went by and still he said nothing.

"Father," Ghadelyna called.

He closed his eyes for a moment, letting out a deep breath. "I am msaliti."

Msaliti, the word for "traitor" among the Haradrim. The twins glanced at one another, knitting their eyes in confusion.

"Our people are honor-bond to fulfill the wishes of the Eye, and every ruler of the Harad people, every leader of every tribe, has promised to serve the Eye. I have abandoned that promise.

"Why are you-" Dingane' started.

Ghasaan held up a hand. "Please son, let me finish." He took another breath as if preparing himself for an arduous task. I have begun peace talks with the enemy. At one time, I thought to involve the council, but the mere suggestion of a treaty with the Men of the North and West, let alone the Elves, was considered blasphemous to them. So I did this secretly. I have been speaking to an Elf Lord of the North for a time now. I believed my tracks were covered. They apparently were not."

Ghadelyna clenched her teeth and narrowed her eyes. "Why, Father?" she fumed. "Why would you do this?"

"Because the Eye is not the gracious god our forefathers believed. The Eve corrupts, drains us of our resources' and our strength, and leaves us to fight against the tribes of men and creatures alone. He allows us to live if we give him all he asks, and punishes us with pain and sorrow worse than death if we dare cross him. He deceives us, just as he did our forefathers."

"Is this why the Eye demanded tribute so early?" Dingane' asked, still trying to absorb his father's words.

"I agreed to send my heirs to his council to discover a way of freeing our people from Sauron's control. I believe a member of the council discovered my plan and relayed it to the Eye. This is a test of loyalty. If I am not willing to send my heirs to his armies, as is the agreement of our tribe, he will crush our people. If I do his bidding, he will crush you as an example to me."

Ghasaan placed his hands on Dingane's shoulders. The boy accepted the affectionate touch, smiling a bit for encouragement. "I didn't mean to bring this upon you, either of you." He moved to Ghadelyna with the same affectionate touch. She jerked away as if his hands were poison. He had shamed her and she would not push this feeling aside in order to make him feel better as Dingane' had. Ghasaan took a deep breath again and swallowed hard.

"What is you will, Father?" Ghadelyna asked, venom in her voice.

Ghasaan looked at his daughter deeply, studying the brown, grey-ringed eyes that mirrored his own. "I will not allow you to suffer due to my mistakes and I will not send you to die. In three days, I will surrender myself to Sauron's Emissary."

OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH! The plot thickens! Let me know what you think will happen next!

P.S. For those that are curious, I will use Swahili in place of the language of the Haradrim, since Tolkien didn't create a language for this race of people.

Reviews are not only welcome but appreciated!