Chapter 10

Towers

Ginny had been knocked unconscious. When she awakened, she thought it was night. It was not.

She was lying on cold ground. Ginny realized this was not dirt; she was inside somewhere. When she tried to sit up, she found she was still tied up. She did, however, alert the attention of her guard.

"So, the blood traitor is awake. Ready for your execution?"

Ginny scowled. "Malfoy, if I had a wand…"

Draco laughed. "Well, you don't have a wand. And the Dark Lord does. He'll put it to good use, I'm sure…as you will see in a moment."

"He's here?"

"Yes. This is Barad-Dur…the dark tower of Mordor. The Dark Lord has a great and powerful ally here. We will get an army so huge we can take over our world…and all of the Muggles, with blood traitors like you, will be our slaves. Sauron is very generous…"

"Why would he be so generous, unless he was trying to trick you?"

"Because we're going to bring him his worst enemy, Dumbledore…thanks to you."

"Dumbledore isn't stupid enough to come all the way over here for me."

"Of course he is, and you know it. Even if he doesn't, Potter will…you know he'll want to be the hero and save you. Potter might even lead off Dumbledore so that he can do it himself. I told my father that, but he wouldn't listen to me. I guess eventually Dumbledore would find his little pet and come after him anyway…and bring some more friends along. That was one of the most ingenious parts of the Dark Lord's plan…that vision Potter was supposed to have…it was planned, you know."

"He wanted Harry to see it so he could lure him into this world?" Ginny asked.

"Of course…you know, Wormtail and my father actually memorized those lines? The whole part about 'the power of friendship'…that was so lame, I almost laughed when the Dark Lord said it was part of the plan, but your Dumbledore fell for it…he's really so predictable…"

"And yet your precious Dark Lord has never been able to catch him."

"He will now. And it will be because of you. All because of you. You don't know how happy my father and I were when we saw you wandering around the street with that midget. We knew you were the best person we could possibly pick to bring here…a person who Potter and Dumbledore cared about, but who was too weak to fight us. You have fulfilled all the Dark Lord's wishes…Potter could never resist coming here for you, especially after he hears your screams in another vision when the Dark Lord deals with you."

"You're going to die, Malfoy," Ginny spat. "You're going to die like all the others."

"Empty threats! You can do nothing, and your friends can't do anything to me, either!"

"I'm not talking about me or my friends. I'm talking about your Dark Lord. Some day he is going to ask you to do something you won't like, and when you don't do it, he'll kill you."

Ginny's voice trembled when she said this, and she wasn't certain why these words even came out of her mouth. Draco was no longer smirking.

"You'll get yours, blood traitor," he spat. "You'll get yours…"

The door opened. Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorway. "Untie her."

Draco hesitated.

"The Dark Lord wishes her to be brought to him now! Untie her!"

"But Father, what if she…"

"Just bring her, then!"

Draco hurried over to Ginny and grabbed her, pulling her up and dragging her out of the room.

Ginny tried to think of some way she could escape, but as long as her legs were tied together, she couldn't go far even if she did somehow manage to get away from the Malfoys.

They finally led her into a large hall, with a throne at the back. The throne was high and black, and there was a red eye crudely painted onto it. Someone was standing near it, his back facing them as they entered. Draco flung Ginny forward, and she struggled a bit, finally able to get up on her knees.

"Remain here, Malfoy," Voldemort said, somehow sensing that the two Malfoys were about to leave. Both stood still on the other side of the room.

Ginny scowled at Voldemort's back, not wanting to appear weak before the man she feared more than anyone. "Why won't you look at me? Or are you afraid I'll laugh at your ugly face?"

"Actually," Voldemort said, smiling (although she could not see it), "I was going to turn around suddenly for dramatic effect, but if you would prefer…"

Voldemort turned slowly, and Ginny saw his face. Her eyes widened as they looked at his, and suddenly all of her courage drained away.

"Now you look upon me," Voldemort said.

"You've changed so much," Ginny whispered.

Voldemort's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

Ginny didn't answer. Voldemort continued staring at her for a moment. Then he looked over at Lucius Malfoy, who winced and nodded.

"I am curious as to why you did not inform me of this, Malfoy," Voldemort said, his voice dangerously calm. "You said this girl was useless."

"My Lord, I…"

"Be quiet."

Lucius shut his mouth. Voldemort looked back at Ginny. "So, you are the little girl who wrote in my diary."

"Yes, Tom."

Voldemort's jaw twitched. "You think you are brave, to call me by that name?"

"That is your name."

Voldemort flicked his wand, and the ropes that bound Ginny disappeared. "I see you have spirit. That is good…it will make you harder to break. Those who break easily are less enjoyable."

"I don't understand what good all this talking is doing. If you're trying to build dramatic tension…"

"Actually, I wished to ask you a few questions…and whether or not you refuse to answer matters little, because I can see into your thoughts, and I will be able to determine the answer for myself if you do not say it…just as I can tell that, at this very moment, you are concentrating on thinking the wrong answer to whatever questions I ask you. I am afraid it does not work that way…now to the questions. Dumbledore brought you here, didn't he? With Potter?"

"Yes."

"Who else came with you?"

"There was my brother, Ron…Hermione Granger…Neville…and that was all."

"Did any of them bring wands with them?"

"No. The wands wouldn't go through the tree."

Voldemort smiled. "You are wise not to lie, little girl."

"I'm not stupid. You already told me you can read my mind anyway, and I know that if I lie you'll only make things worse for me."

"Not many would look at the situation as you do…certainly Potter, if he was here, would simply refuse to answer any questions, as would Dumbledore. Of course, this makes your torture less enjoyable, yet more…interesting."

"Do you have any more questions for me?"

"Just one…do you know anything about a ring?"

"Ring?"

"Yes…a magic ring. Do you know anything about one?"

"No."

"Are you absolutely certain?"

"Yes."

Voldemort sighed. "I see…well then, we must move on to the main event…"

"You aren't going to kill me, are you? You want to keep me alive."

"Yes, I will keep you alive…although not in any way you could possibly imagine."

Voldemort pulled out his wand. Draco looked at him in awe. "What's he going to do to her?"

"Shut up," Lucius said. He looked rather paler than usual.

For a moment, Voldemort closed his eyes, clearly concentrating on something. Then, suddenly, he said, "Crucio!"

Ginny fell to the ground screaming as the spell did its work. Draco Malfoy was no longer smiling.

After it was over, Ginny lay on the ground, silent tears pouring down her cheeks.

"Do you know what Dumbledore says my greatest weakness is?" Voldemort asked, smiling evilly.

"No," Ginny said hoarsely.

"He has said it of me countless times. He says my greatest weakness is that I fail to recognize that there are things worse than death. Many call Dumbledore a brilliant man, but I believe that is the only thing of true brilliance that I have ever heard him say. And so, little girl, I am following his advice…instead of killing you, as I am often prone to do to enemies, I will give you something worse than death. You will live."

Draco backed away. He was feeling something he had never felt before toward a person like Ginny—pity. He started heading back to his new room when he heard Voldemort cry out a strange, unfamiliar incantation. Ginny shrieked. Draco could tell there were lots of flashes of light coming from the hall by the reflections on the walls around him, but he dared not look back. After the lights disappeared, he could hear Ginny sobbing on the floor. Draco turned and looked back in spite of himself. His father was closing his eyes, looking horror-stricken. And Voldemort was laughing his cold-hearted, trademarked laugh.

"What have you done to me, Tom?" Ginny whispered through her sobs. "What have you done to me?"

----------------------------------------

Wormtail staggered, almost falling.

He was very sick; he had had nothing to eat except bugs, and had nothing to drink except stream water. He couldn't really figure out how he was still alive, and had been wandering toward the mountains ever since Voldemort had left him.

The day before, however, he had found something—a tower, sticking up out of a beautiful orchard-garden filled with various trees and flowers. Wormtail had headed toward that tower, and he was now nearing the edge of the garden. He went up to one tree, and moaned when he saw it had apples. He pulled one off, relishing it as he ate slowly. He grabbed a few more to carry with him.

Wormtail headed toward the tower, now within walking distance. In fifteen minutes, he had reached it.

Wormtail, still starving despite the apples and desperate to find somewhere safe to rest, knocked on the front door. He hoped he would be strong enough to turn into a rat and get away if there was any trouble.

When nothing happened, Wormtail knocked again, but louder this time, and with more courage. After a few seconds of waiting, the door opened.

Standing in the doorway was a man—or so Wormtail thought—with brilliantly shining white robes and matching long white hair with a long white beard. He carried a staff, but as Wormtail looked at it, he could tell it was no ordinary walking stick. Being a wizard, he could sense its power.

"Welcome," the man's booming voice said. "I have never seen you before. Who are you, and what brings you to Orthanc?"

"I'm Wormtail, and I'm…lost," Wormtail said, suddenly feeling very small.

"I am Saruman the White, leader of the Council of Wizards. Tell me where it is you wish to go and I shall help direct you."

"You…you are a wizard!" Wormtail cried, feeling his senses return to him. "I am a wizard too…"

"Oh?" Saruman said, looking surprised (and trying not to look amused). "Tell me, then, why I have never seen you before."

"I…I come from far away," Wormtail said lamely.

"If you are a wizard, you must have powers. Show me."

"Well, I don't have my wand, so…"

"Wand?"

"That's where my powers are."

"Can you bring your wand here?"

"Well…no. But there is one thing I can do without my wand!" Wormtail said, suddenly remembering.

"And?"

Wormtail transformed into a rat, slowly, so that Saruman would see the entire effect. Saruman was indeed impressed when Wormtail turned back into a human. "Interesting," he said. "I have seen Radagast turn into animals before, although…never a rat. Please, step inside."

Wormtail stared at Saruman as he spoke. Power came out with every word, and Wormtail was hypnotized. He was so kind, so benevolent, he could see it in his face, hear it in his voice…

Saruman was pleased that his power with words was working on the "wizard." He knew that at any moment he could compel Wormtail to do his bidding. But first he wanted to find out more about him.

Wormtail followed Saruman into the tower. They went to a central room with many openings, and then into Saruman's study itself. On a pedestal, glowing faintly, was a small orb.

"What is that?" Wormtail asked, staring at it. "Is it a crystal ball?"

"No," Saruman said, relieved that Wormtail didn't seem to recognize it, but wondering if palantir was what he meant by "crystal ball."

"I need you to tell me something," Wormtail said, slightly hesitant. "I need to know if you know any other wizards."

"I know many. Why?"

"Well…I came with someone, but…I lost him."

"Did you? What is his name?"

"He…" Wormtail hesitated. "His name is Voldemort," he said quietly.

"I believe I have heard that name before," Saruman said, frowning. "I…will check, to be certain. If my initial thoughts are correct, I know where you will find your friend."

Saruman walked over to the palantir. He placed a hand over the orb in a position where his fingers were spread out over it. Then he closed his eyes and seemed to meditate. The orb glowed.

An eye appeared in the orb. But it wasn't a normal eye. It was frightening, menacing. Wormtail's own eyes snapped shut, trying to block out the eye that seemed to be burning his mind…

And then it was all over. Wormtail opened his eyes; Saruman stood, as pleasant as ever before, in front of Wormtail, and the orb glowed a faint white yet again.

"Your friend is far away," Saruman said.

"How far?" Wormtail asked nervously, wondering how Saruman was able to determine this just from spending a few seconds with a crystal ball, and hoping this wasn't some trick.

"It does not matter. You are welcome to stay."

"S…stay? But…"

"Your friend Voldemort wishes to help Lord Sauron find the ring of power. I, too, approached Sauron, though not in person, asking to help build an army for him in return for power. That means that myself and your Voldemort are both allies with Sauron, making us allies with one another. I would appreciate it if you would remain here with me. Will you?"

Saruman knew better than to leave it up to Wormtail to decide. He used his powers of persuasion on Wormtail, and he succeeded.

"Of course!" Wormtail said. "I shall stay here…at least for a little while."

"There are things," Saruman said as nicely as he could, "that I can teach you. You claim you have no powers other than what you showed me. That is not true. You are a wizard. I can feel it. You have power, but that Voldemort…I believe he was holding you back. I can teach you how to do things without a wand…or…" Saruman cast his staff aside and it clattered harmlessly against the wall. "Or without a staff. A wizard's mind is its most powerful weapon."

"You…you can teach me new powers? I would greatly appreciate it…"

A faint echo of something tapping three times on the main door caught Saruman's attention. "He is here! I knew he would come!"

"Who?" Wormtail asked fearfully.

"Nothing! Hide, Wormtail, underneath that table!"

Saruman threw a cloth over the palantir and took off for the front door.

Wormtail hid underneath a large desk. He could hear mumbling voices, and then Saruman saying, quite clearly, "Come inside now, Gandalf, and make yourself at home."

Footsteps drew nearer. A man other than Saruman, who Wormtail was sure he had called Gandalf, said, "I cannot stay long, Saruman. There is a pressing matter I must attend to."

Saruman led Gandalf into the study where Wormtail was hiding under the desk. Both sat down.

"Tell me about this pressing matter," Saruman said.

"Saruman, you have always been the master of ring-lore. The One Ring…"

"Has been found," Saruman interrupted. "I know. And I also knew that you knew. You spent so much time with hobbits…"

"I never said this had anything to do with hobbits."

"Doesn't it?"

"Well…yes…but how could you know?"

"You always underestimated me, Gandalf. You and Galadriel always thought I was slow. But I am ahead of you. Far ahead of you. Do you know that the Dark Lord has rebuilt Barad-Dur? And do you know that…"

"I know about Barad-Dur!" Gandalf said angrily. "I know…"

"Do you know," Saruman said, rising above Gandalf's voice until he was quiet, and then, repeating in a soft voice, "do you know that wizards have come from the other world?"

Wormtail blinked. He had never told Saruman he was from another world, just that he was from far away.

"You…you are certain?" Gandalf said in a disbelieving voice.

"Very certain," Saruman replied.

"And…more than one?"

"Quite a few, if I am correct."

"Where are they?"

"Their leader is in Mordor."

"Mordor?! He has challenged the Dark Lord already?!"

Saruman laughed, and Wormtail thought his laugh was sinister, much like Voldemort's. "Challenged the Dark Lord? No, no, Gandalf. They didn't come to challenge the Dark Lord. They have come to ally themselves with him."

"Ally? But…"

"It seems that He has indeed returned, but that He has changed his mind."

"Impossible! Last time He…"

"He has seen that all will be lost if we do not join the Dark Lord."

"That is not true," Gandalf said, his voice quavering.

"How can you be so sure, Gandalf? Do you not see the signs? The Dark Lord has returned to Mordor, and has rebuilt the tower. The elves are leaving. The Men only care for themselves, not Middle-earth. The dwarves are dying out. And the number of orcs is growing. We will die, Gandalf, if we do not join Lord Sauron. Middle-earth will fall to his power; that is obvious. The question is, what side will we be on? Shall we die like heroes that nobody will remember when Darkness covers this land? Or shall we join the Dark Lord, in all his power, and become more powerful ourselves?"

"You are mad!" Gandalf cried, standing up. "Study of the Dark Lord has turned into obsession! You have been twisted to Sauron's will! You think that if you find his ring for him, you will have power? You are wrong, Saruman! Sauron does not share his power, not with you, and not with Him! There is only one Lord of the Rings!"

Saruman jumped up. His staff, which had been on the floor, flew into his hand. Gandalf turned and started to run.

Saruman ran after him. Wormtail crept out from under the table and watched, careful not to be seen. Gandalf was in the circular hall, heading for the exit, when the door slammed shut in front of him. Gandalf turned to another door, but it closed, and then another…

All of the doors suddenly closed, including the one that Wormtail was looking out of.

Wormtail sat in Saruman's study, listening to shouts and bangs, hoping that Saruman would pull through as the victor in what was obviously a Middle-earth-style wizard duel. However, always on guard and ever-ready to switch sides when he needed to, Wormtail formed a plan in his mind of what to say to Gandalf if Saruman were to lose.

I'm a prisoner here…I'm one of the men who came in from the other world, but I'm on the good side, and I've come to kill Voldemort because he's on the bad side, and I thought Saruman would help me, but he turned out to be evil, so he imprisoned me, but I just now escaped because I turned into a rat and slipped through the bars, and now I'm here and I need help…yes, that'll save me, at least until this Gandalf finds somebody else from my world…

But Wormtail didn't need to worry. After about ten minutes, Saruman came back inside, his white robes spattered in some places with blood. "We do not have to worry about Gandalf the Grey anymore," he said. "And now that he is imprisoned on top of my tower, I can begin my work. He will watch my orcs tearing down the forest and damming the river. Come, Wormtail. There is much work to be done, and I shall need your help."