Chapter II: The Challenge

Pleased was he, Sauron, that all according to his plan had gone. Whatever she did with Beren he did not mind, though he knew that the latter hated him more than Morgoth himself, for it was he and not Morgoth, who Gorgol sent Barahir and his outlaws to butcher. But if escape she had in mind for him, then a plan he had conceived. The mortal base shall leave his isle, but his servants slay him will, once the bridge is crossed, so that the Edain threat to him gone shall be. His thoughts for himself he kept and said:

"Storlaga, fetch me the worm, who in my dungeons' darkness sits. Dead you shall be if you dare touch him. Only dare you bring him crawling on all fours before me. That is my royal command."

"And so shall I do, my lord. Your word laws is." said Storlaga the Orc-demon, a high captain in Sauron hosts.

Indeed, in a short time Beren he had brought, touch him he had not. On all fours he was, a hateful look at his captors on his face graven, but pain as well, the pain of losing someone holding dear. The lidless eyes shining from Sauron's iron mask troubled him not, for he said:

"Sent your thrall to fetch me you did, to take pleasure in my pain? Indeed pain I feel, for your wolves my companions slew and Finrod Felagund no more is. My body broken you have, my soul and hope you have taken. But my hatred for you, for Morgoth and your ilk strengthened is. Master you dare call yourself? Master is there only Eru to whom I pray and bow, second to him only Valahiru is! As mighty as you may be, only the Base Master of Treachery you shall ever be! As cunning as you may be, the Valar through your webs see! Think you that when Morgoth falls, beg them pardon you will and their trust regain? Deceive them as you did to Morgoth you will not, judged like him for your sins you shall be and follow him into the Timeless Void you shall be! Fear you I do not, Sauron Bauglir! All as Eru and Valahiru will is!"

"Fear me you do not? Then fear me you should! For I am Sauron, master of all smiths of Aulë's House, greatest of Morgoth's servants, mightiest and wisest of the Maiar! Sauron the Great I am, the King of the World and the King of Gods! The King's whose purposes surpasses that of the Elder Kings Manwë the Wise and Melkor the Marrer, for only I alone Eru's thoughts truly know! Virtues many I have, chief among them my love for order and dislike of chaos are. Rightful is my reign over the One's lesser Children, more rightful than even that of the Valar. For your insults, slay you, mortal base, I should, but little Lúthien prayed to me had. Set free you shall be! Fof behold, merciful I am. For I am Sauron, the maker of mightiest work, the king of earthly kings and the greatest giver of gold and rings!"

Beren understand did not, till Lúthien he saw. He cried and called to her, for understood he did, that she her liberty forsaken had, to gain his freedom. Whispering she said:

"My love for you brought me here has. Yours alone I shall ever be. But free you any other way I cannot. For both of us in Gorthaur's webs are. As free as you are, doubt I do, words said by the Base Master of Treachery. Many promises he and Morgoth have made, but devious they remain. Try to slay you his servants shall, but Huan, my companion and friend, defend you shall. On the other side of the bridge he lies in wait. Forever here kept I shall not be. To you return I shall! Go now!"

And go he did, though broke-hearted. He hurried down the endless steps till the wolf head-molded gate he reached, and went on and on he did till the other side of the bridge he got to. Darkness shrouded the throne, the lidless and daunting eyes of Bauglir shone, before his mirthless voice spoke:

"Your price given has been. The mortal roams free again, left in peace, left to die eventually. Care what becomes of him I do not. What you asked for, little Lúthien, given you I have. Troubled of Beren son of rabble-rouser Barahir must you not be. Now mine you are. The daughter of Robber Thingol in my hoard. A pretty and fair toy with which to play. For play shall we not? Alone here we are. Please their lord a thrall must not?"

And as he said it, his hand again towards her extended, the same lust in those lidless eyes. But again back she drew and said:

"Given myself to you I have, my lord. But not a thrall of yours am I. I am not one of your pleasure toys. A lord as mighty as you should know, a prize gained rightfully won must be. My heat still for Beren aches. Convince it not to. To seduce me I expect you. Win me, if you can."

"Seduce you, win you?" he said, his eyes shining with malice and fury. "Expect of me what do you do? To court you? Tell of a love like that of Varda and Manwe of unending fire, of a World yet by Morgoth not marred? Sing of the glory of Fingolfin, when the Hammer Grond resisted he had and hewed Arun's foot with it had and of thhe making of the precious Silmarils in Aman? Are you more foolish than I thought?"

"I said not court me, O great lord. Seduce me, win me in your own way. Not with spells, not with lies or trickery. Make me heart beat for you only. Make me come to you willingly."

"Why not take you now should I? Take the morsel that before me sits and in riddles speaks? Time for seducing I have not, nor for winning you. Why not tear your pretty dress right now and see you in all your fairness for myself? Why not take what I dare think mine without approval?"

"Mighty lords crave challenges. Not only of strength and mind. You could take me right now within these chambers, but might I ask, where the challenge and show of power lies in that? Think of it as a game you should, my Lord Sauron. A game which ends to your pleasure. If you yourself consider up to the challenge before you."

"Lucky are you, that not in Morgoth's halls but mine you are. Taken you he would and crush you he would. A dangerous game you play, my dear Lúthien. A dangerous one indeed. Always something you ask of me. To seduce you you ask me? Then seduce you indeed I shall. Fun you make of me through this challenges, that I clearly see. But much more fun with this challenge it will be I who have. In the mood to humor you I am, daughter of Robber Thingol. But you had best hope it doesn't take too long. Patience I do have. But wait forever I will not."

Then smilled Lúthien did. The game begins.

Note: I will also try to work to complete my other story as well. Let me know if you like this style of writing better.