Many thanks to RayneCloud26 for adding this story to Alerts. And especially to mystic twilight princess for Reviewing. Responses like those keep me writing. You guys are wonderful.
I don't own any Tolkien characters just my own little OC.
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Apologies beforehand if my version of the Necromancer does not match your own – just don't be too harsh on me. Cheers!
Kindred Spirits
Ch 10 – What Makes You Cold
Thorin's heart ached as he was marched back to his cell. He feared for Jose's fate and dreaded the prospect of telling Bilbo what had happened. His little hobbit had developed a fierce protective tendency toward Jose in the weeks that she'd been with them. Who was he kidding? He had developed similar feelings towards her as well.
As soon as the guards left, Bilbo reappeared. He turned to look at Thorin through the bars. But since Thorin's parting from the unusual human, the king's spirits were the complete opposite of when he'd left. At first Bilbo didn't notice the change and simply bubbled with excitement.
"Thorin! I've found everyone and talked to them. They are safe, being fed, and are keeping their spirits up for you."
"You have done well, my love." Thorin forced a small grin. Oh, gods, how was he going to tell Bilbo? It would break his heart.
"But there's more. I think I've found a way out. The elves receive barrels of wine from Lake Town; and when they are empty, the elves chuck them in the river. Then they float back down to the human city. I've found 14 empty barrels just waiting for us to use. I think if we're careful, we could get out in the next day or two."
"My love, that is wonderful. But …."
"But what?"
"I'm afraid we'll only need thirteen barrels."
"Nonsense. I've just seen the others. Thirteen dwarves plus one human equals fourteen." Bilbo paused in thought then continued, "What exactly are you playing at? Don't tell me that after all she's done that you intend to leave Jose." Bilbo started shaking his head – ready for a fight.
"No, of course not. It's just while you've been at the brave task of talking to the rest of the company and planning our escape, I was taken back to the Hall."
"Have they hurt you?" Bilbo reached for and found Thorin's fingers through the opening of the cell. He held them tight trying to see if Thorin had been damaged in any way. The fear in the hobbit's voice at the possibility of him being hurt touched Thorin deeply.
"No, love, no. Have no fear for me. It is Jose. She was there. And..." Thorin couldn't find the words.
Bilbo's eyes went hard as his lips went straight and grim. "The Elf... he ….did not kill her?"
"He did not strike her down, but he has as well as killed her. A Necromancer threatened him. If he did not deliver Jose to him, the elves would have suffered. The Elf is handing her over to the foul sorcerer's messenger now."
Bilbo's voice went dark, and he released Thorin's hand. "Then they should have suffered." Bilbo reached for Sting. "Thranduil is a coward, and I will make him pay. Hang on. You said 'now'? It's happening now?" A Tookish gleam lept in his eyes and a Bagginsish frown formed on his lips as he raced off towards the Hall.
Thorin reached out to pull him back, but the hobbit was too quick as he placed the ring back on his finger. Thorin hissed as loud as he dared. "No! Bilbo, don't be foolish!"
But the hobbit heard none of that as he raced unseen through the corridors. There might still be a chance to save Jose. Still a chance. As the small corridor opened out onto the main Hall, Bilbo saw Jose's unconscious form at the feet of a tall, slim, dark haired man. Bilbo instantly disliked the look of him.
At Bilbo's entrance, the Necromancer's head shot up and looked around. Then Jose moaned and tried to sit up. The movement distracted him. He said something in a form of elvish Bilbo didn't know but chills climbed up his spine as he heard it. After he spoke those strange words, Jose's body stilled again. With the girl subdued, the Necromancer searched for the elusive call of the Ring with his mind but found nothing.
Thranduil looked at the Necromancer. "The girl was right. You are the Necromancer."
"Yes, she's very perceptive child." His deep baritone voice reverberated throughout the hall.
"And why do you want her?"
"Well, let's just say, I lost something a long time ago; and she's going to help me get it back."
Bilbo felt himself being pulled toward where the Necromancer stood. The Ring felt heavy on his finger. But something else held him back. He knew he should try to save Jose, but all the hairs of his feet were standing on end telling him to stay hidden and safe.
Thranduil ventured, "You will keep your promise to reign in the spiders and stop the poisoned water, won't you?"
"My dear naive little king, why should I do that when I have what I want?"
Thranduil's elves rushed forward with dozens of arrows aimed at the Necromancer. "Because, you won't leave here alive if you don't."
A strange sound started coming from the Necromancer. At first Bilbo couldn't tell what it was, but as it grew louder, the little hobbit's stomach turned and knees weakened. The dark cruel sound emanating from the tall figure was his laughter.
"Fire!" Thranduil shouted to his warriors. Dozens of arrows were loosed at the Necromancer. Bilbo feared that some might hit Jose. But without flash or noise, both Jose and the sorcerer simply vanished. At first, Bilbo felt a weight lift off him, and the panic that had started to put pressure on his gut eased. Then the realization that he had failed Jose flooded into him. Forgetting Thranduil, forgetting his revenge, the crushed hobbit found a secluded corner. Silent tears slid down his face as he placed his head in his hands.
When she woke, Jose discovered she was no longer on the solid floor of the Elven King's hall but on the decaying floor in Dol Godur. The crumbling walls and deathlike surroundings made her shiver even though it was summer. Jose felt a pain in her stomach and the next second retched out most of the food that Thranduil's people had just fed her. Whatever magic the Necromancer had used to take them there, it obviously didn't sit well with her. In fact, its effects on her were worse than Moscoto.
Slowly rising to her feet, Jose took a few steps before her legs gave out and she slid down a wall to keep herself from falling completely. As she tried to assess just how weak she was, Jose heard the Necromancer's laughter again.
"I don't normally find humans interesting, but you may prove the exception."
She didn't see him, but responded to the words that she heard. "Oh, I'm just the exception that proves the rule. There's nothing special about me. I don't even know why you've gone to all this trouble. Surely there was some other girl closer at hand who you could terrorize."
Jose looked through the eerie haze to see the Necromancer's figure form in front of her. As he moved, he didn't seem to be as solid as he was in the Elven hall. Maybe his form in the hall had been an illusion. Or maybe it took him effort to become solid, and he didn't want to waste the energy.
"Some closer, yes, but none with the observational powers that you possess, Abinoke. Nor the knowledge."
"Knowledge of what?"
"Of my Ring. Of who has it, where it is, and what it's fate could be."
"Sorry to disappoint, but my memories of before I came here were lost when I fell in that black river in Mirkwood. I don't remember anything about a ring."
"Well then, we'll just have to spend some time together finding your memories and pushing them to the surface."
The Necromancer leaned in and Jose felt his presence - too close and intimidating. She even felt a spectral hand brush her cheek and slide down her side.
Jose looked up at the Necromancer's dark curls and cold face but was determined not to show fear. Jose said coolly, "Sorry to disappoint. But I don't fancy fucking a ghost."
As the Necromancer closed what little gap remained between them, Jose could feel his form becoming more solid. The deep baritone rasped into her ear, "Jose, Jose. By the end of this, you'll wish that's all it was."