Author's Note:
Hey guys! The story begins now. It may take me few chapters until the plot will unravel.
I don't own any of the characters, places, names, etc (only the OC). It all belongs to J.R.R Tolkien and Peter Jackson.
~ Chapter Two: Tower of Isengard ~
A great ring-wall of stone, like towering cliffs, stood out from the shelter of the mountain-side, from which it ran and then returned again. One who passed in and came at length out of the echoing tunnel, beheld a plain, a great circle, somewhat hollowed like a vast shallow bowl: a mile it measured from rim to rim. Once it had been green and filled with avenues, and groves of fruitful trees, watered by streams that flowed from the mountains to a lake. But no green thing grew there in the latter days of Saruman. The roads were paved with stone-flags dark and hard; and beside their borders instead of trees there marched long lines of pillars, some of marble, some of copper and of iron, joined by heavy chains, to the center all the roads ran between their chains.
There stood a tower of marvelous shape. It was fashioned by the builders of old, who smoothed the Ring of Isengard, and yet it seemed a thing not made by the craft of Men, but riven from the bones of the earth in the ancient torment of the hills. 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 horns, their pinnacles sharp as the points of spears, keen-edged as knives. Between them was a narrow space, and there upon a floor of polished stone, written with strange signs, a man might stand five hundred feet above the plain. (depicted by J.R.R Tolkien)
At the middle of the tower, the stoned and ancient stairs stood Saruman, he swept down the Orthanc stairs. "Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my counsel...For that is why you have come, is it not, my old friend?" he asked the Grey wizard although he already new the answer.
If the tower of Iron, built on blood and bone, could talk and beg for deafness. Though, Gandalf couldn't hear the whispers of the ages, tales of lives lost and deaths of agony that echoed around the staircases of twisted rock. And even if he did, he was still trusting Saruman the Wise. He moved quickly towards him, grimy and weary from his long ride. "Saruman! The Ring of power has been found." he responded with a seriousness in his voice.
"Are you sure of this?" Saruman buzzed as he stepped down of the Orthanc stairs, that had much to say and no ears willing to hear, no soul willing to feel the torment that lied within.
"Beyond any doubt. All these long years it was in the Shire, under my very nose." Gandalf responded in a doze of silliness, climbing up the stairs and following Saruman inside the Iron Fortress.
"And yet you did not have the wit to see it! Your love of the Halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind." the white wizard commented, as they slowly reached the side of the cavernous central chamber.
In the west parts of the chamber stood Ethir. The young girl with cheeks that always seemed flushed and curls that did a lively dance when she ran, had now grown to something dim and gloomy. Gandalf by-passing Ethir casting a fast glance at her and noting that he had to talk with the troubled child "We still have time...time enough to counter Sauron...if we act quickly.."
"Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form...but his spirit has lost none of potency. Concealed within his fortress, the lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth, and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf...a great Eye, lidless, wreathed in flame." Saruman the Wise divulged proudly.
Gandalf's eyes opened widely "The eye of Sauron. You know this? How?" Saruman lifted the cloth to reveal the Palantir, as Gandalf added "A palantir is a dangerous tool, Saruman. You cannot simply use it."
"Why? Why should we fear to use it?" Saruman voiced as he sat on his throne. "The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving...they have left Minas Morgul. They crossed the river Isen in Midsummer's eve, disguised as riders in black..."
Normally Ethir would ignore Saruman's guests and be on her way out. Yet, today Gandalf won her attention and she followed them. The argument between both wizards started to seem different than other times. She allowed herself to step closer astonished of Saruman's words. Indeed she was suppose to support Saruman. She lived and work under his name. Yet, thinking Saruman allied Isengard with Mordor was another tale. One that caused her skin to burn. The Master of the Rings crept her very existence. Until now all his deeds had as an impact to lead Middle-earth to its doom. And she was consider to be his bloodline? What a ill trick played Saruman?
Gandalf was shocked, he shouldn't trust Saruman... he should never trust him. "The nine?"
Ethir tilted her head as the truths unfolded in front of her. 'The nine' she head heard about 'The fallen Kings. They were once men, great kings of men. Then Sauron the deceiver gave to them Nine Rings of Power. Blinded by their greed they took them without question, one by one falling into darkness and now they are slaves to his will.' Ethir pinned her glare against Saruman. Did she really spent to much time away from Isengard and she had not noticed how much the White Wizard had changed? She knew he was never a force of kindness and pureness. Saruman wasn't like Gandalf. He was mischievous. Ethir was aware, but never really cared about that. After all she was a wicked servant of his. Yet, how deeply corrupted was the young one?
"They will find the one who carries it and kill him." the white wizard uttered winning Gandalf and Ethir's attention back.
Gandalf slowly turned to Saruman with a look of dawning horror. "Tell me, friend, when did Saruman the wise abandon reason for madness?"
With out a warning, Gandalf was blasted across the room by Saruman. Ethir astonished glared at Saruman and ran towards him. He slammed Gandalf against the wall pinning him there by some unseen force. She walked between them with a loud and steady voice "What are you doing?" With sudden effort, Gandalf wrenches himself off the wall and wagged his staff on Saruman blasting him off his feet. Gandalf and Saruman battled, powerful blasts throwing them across the room.
Ethir, was ignored for the moment, or even not noted as both wizards were in a serious conflict. "Have you drawn mad?" she asked with a deeper tone as she tried to pull back Saruman. Never had she witnessed a collusion as the one that was happening at that moment. She knew very well, were both stood and what their believes were. However, a lot changed.
Saruman noted Ethir "I gave him the chance of aiding me willingly, but he has elected the way of pain."
Gandalf, who had crushed against the ground was panting hard. Ethir cast a last discussed glance over Saruman as she ran towards Gandalf trying to help him to stand. "What are you aspiring with all this Saruman?" she toned with her hands around Gandalf's arms trying to help him up. Gandalf pushed her away. The madness of Saruman didn't seem to care who would hit in that moment.
"Ethir, Against the power of Mordor, there can be no victory. You know that. We must join with him, We must join with Sauron. It is wise." Saruman pointed out.
Ethir rolled her eyes. She had noticed that orcs, goblins were slowly increased. But, Sauron and Mordor growing power, she had not foreseen that. "Sauron? Mordor? You know I don't follow anyone. I only walk my own footsteps." she clarified.
Saruman, feared that the moment would come, when Ethir would show a will on her own. But he never expect it to be so soon. "You know very clear you are a heir of Sauron. His last bloodline. How dare you, even think that you will not join him. What will you do? Fight against him?" he howled at her.
"Even if I am a lost bloodline of your current master, I don't care. I said it before I don't wish to join anyone. I owed you once, for raising me up. But that doesn't mean, I'll blindly follow your madness." she declared trying pulling Gandalf up.
The grey wizard was in shock "A heir of Sauron?" His eyes rested against Ethir as he was proceeding the new information.
"I gave you both the chance of aiding me willingly..." The white wizard yelled.
Ethir lifted her arm behind her back to grab her sword. Commanding two staffs, Saruman sent Gandalf and Ethir into a sickening spin. Gandalf tumbled towards the top of the chamber with Ethir, as if falling in reverse. Both ended in the upper floor of the Iron Tower trapped. Gandalf was lying unconscious on the cold obsidian floor. He woke to the sound of ripping and tearing rising onto his knees lifting his head. He noticed Ethir next to him gazing down as Isengard trees were being ripped from the ground by the Orcs.
"He is ripping them all off!" Ethir murmured. Her gaze trapped between finding an escape route and the horror that Saruman had unleashed.
Gandalf panting still heavily gazed down in despair as more trees were hauled down. Next he looked at the child next to him "Ethir, offspring of Sauron? You knew this?" Gandalf quizzed recalling the white Wizard's earlier statement.
Her heart arched, no emotions were spotted on her face nonetheless. "Since I was five, maybe six years old. I wouldn't really call me an offspring. But somehow I do believe, I am part of the bloodline." she said honest.
Gandalf sighed in despair. The One Ring was was found. A last heir of Sauron appeared. And the hobbits were in danger. "We cannot linger here. We have to escape."
"We?" Ethir said with a broken evil smile "Each one is responsible for themselves."
"Ethir, I wasn't asking. We will leave this place. Middle Earth's faith is at risk." he defined. A moth fluttered close to Gandalf. He caught it and whispered strange words in a foreign tongue.
Ethir listened at Gandalf. The language seemed familiar, but she couldn't understand what he was saying. Isengard was on roaring fire that lie heavy over her shoulders. It was her home, once green and full of life. She shook her head in disbelieve. She turned to Gandalf "If you know how we can escape from here. Then be my guest ...I will follow." she agreed.
"You have been busy..." Saruman suddenly appeared standing over them and gloating. He raised both up with the power of his staff and crashed them both on the ground. Gandalf, grabbed Ethir's arm and threw himself off the tower taking Ethir with him. Ethir, tried to pull back. Both crashed against a Giant Eagle and flew away from Isengard.
"So you have chosen death!" the white wizard shouted.
Gwaihir the Eagle, soared sumptuously over the mountains, carrying Gandalf and Ethir towards the dawn ...to Rivendell.
((Next Chapter: 3))