Chapter 10
What they call Area 51,
USA,
"What exactly am I looking here?" Dorián asked, trying not to sound annoyed. He was staring at nothing at a middle of nowhere.
"Just wait," his guide said for the hundredth time. "You will see."
"You said there was a base here. I see no base."
"Just wait."
It took them another half an hour to see what the guide meant. Something moved and it took Dorián a moment to realize that the thing was a metallic trapdoor leading to an underground base. Then he saw two Men-no, Elves come out of it. In the noontime sun, he immediately recognized one of them.
"That-that's," he sputtered, peering. Then his eyes widened when he saw it to be none other than his own father by marriage. "Himben! Why, that nasty little snake is going to get a skinning if I had my own way!" But Dorián was a well-seasoned spy. He knew he could not jeopardize his own mission for something personal. The other Elf standing beside him was bent, his hair black as night and his skin exceedingly pale. He made note of his features, wondering if he could find someone to recognize him; he certainly looked important.
"We have to report this." Dorián said, starting to crawl away.
"Wait," the Man said, stopping the Elf. "There is more. You will have to wait to see it. Trust me that is important too."
As night fell, Dorián understood what the guide meant.
When the stars began to shine, the solid ground no longer appeared to be solid. It seemed to be in some form of liquid, and he saw lights floating over the surface. He narrowed his eyes, trying to make sense of it. The liquid was clear like water, and it had seeped out to welcome the darkness. But the 'water' occasionally splashed, as if something was moving inside it.
"Valar beyond," Dorián breathed. "They tried to- that's impossible… they tried to recreated the Dead Marshes!"
"I thought that was a myth," the Man whispered to him.
"Oh, no, they are very much real… but to what purpose?" The last part was Dorián's own musing. After a moment of silence, Dorián made sure that nothing moved before getting up into a crouch.
"Come on." He said. "Let us go and see what that is."
"That? But if it is like the Dead Marshes then we already know what is in there!"
"Precisely; but I want to know if it is like the Dead Marshes or not." Dorián said.
The man did not look too happy, but he was trained to follow orders. So he lurked behind Dorián's frame as they quietly made their way towards the Marshes.
The Dead Marshes were lit by strange, eerie glow coming from the water surface. Up close, he noticed that the liquid was indeed water, but it seemed to work different. This water sought out the darkness of the night, but disappeared in the morning. At night, the water came up and bared the corpses floating in them, and then receded in the morning, taking the corpses with them.
He saw men and women sleeping under the water surface. Their eyes were closed, and their bodies looked like they were preserved. He could see the mortal wounds that took their lives. All of them looked like they were stabbed in the chest. His chest constricted when he spotted some children there too. He did not doubt these were either orphans or missing children. He crept carefully, making sure his feet did not touch the water or even if they did, they did not cause to big a ripple. He was not keen to be pulled into the water to join them, if they truly were the corpses in the Dead Marshes. He spotted some scattered Elves here and there, all of them with the same single stabbing wounds to the chest. He wondered, bending over one Elf, who had a sleeping man on either side, whether these Elves were the traitors who were allied to the Enemy, or were the kidnapped Elves from Aman.
He heard a distinctly loud splash and he whirled his head in alarm. The Man following him looked guilty, one foot still in the water where it had slipped. Dorián turned his head towards the inhabitants of the Marshes, many of them had their eyes wide open and staring at him. He moved to the side and he could have sworn their eyes moved with him. It pricked his senses, an uncomfortable feeling crawling over his skin.
"We have to move back," Dorián hissed. "Retreat! I do not like this." Nausea rose in his throat when he saw one of the corpses literally tilt her head, following his footsteps.
The urgency in the Elf's voice did not go unnoticed. The guide quickly retraced his steps, Dorián now following him until they quickly ducked behind their initial hiding place. Dorián breathed in deeply, trying to calm his skipping heart before warily looking over the edge of their hiding. The hidden door now opened, light coming from within and what stepped out made Dorián's breathing hitch.
"Curse be upon Sauron's creations!"
"What are they?" The Man whispered, glancing as well.
"Nazgul," Dorián said. "Ringwraiths."
"Ringwraiths! But what should we do?"
Dorián did not answer. The shrouded figure looked shrivelled. His doubts were confirmed when the wraith returned underground without spotting them. A more powerful Ringwraith was harder to fool.
"Nothing," Dorián said. "We needn't worry about them now. They are too young, too weak."
"But Sauron's Ring is destroyed! They cannot answer to it! They are not bound to Sauron!"
"It does not work that way. Once you claim an allegiance to the darkness, you cannot go back on your word. By accepting the Rings of Power from him, they gave him their allegiance and through the Rings of Power they sold him their souls. He did not command them through the Ring, he commanded them through himself. That is why when the Ring was lost, the Ringwraiths were still very much alive in their wraith forms. When the Ring was found, they were strengthened by Sauron to find the Ring. Their true powers would have come when the Ring found its way back on its master's hand. When the Ring was destroyed, they were thrown into the Void. They were too corrupted for anything else."
"The Door of Night must have crumbled greatly to allow them through."
"Not as much as you think. The Door has crumbled and will continue to crumble, but that is beside the point. You see, compared to the servants Morgoth commanded, the Ringwraiths are nothing but toys for Sauron to play with. They are nothing more than pawns on a large chessboard, easily disposable and easily replaced. Even with their full strength, they will be nothing compared to the terrors Morgoth will have. There are souls in the Void, souls much large than that of these wraiths. I doubt the Door of Night had crumbled to allow them through."
"Souls like what?"
Dorián was about to answer before they heard a piercing scream. Both of them recoiled, the sound as horrific as hundreds of spears splintering against shields. And then the ground shook violently and in the starlight, great beast with long, cylindrical bodies emerged from the ground, throwing the earth in their wake. The surface of the Dead Marshes rippled from the vibrations and displaced earth and rocks. These newcomers resembled worms in large size, their mouths guarded by large tentacles and fortified by numerous rows of teeth.
"Like earth-eaters," Dorián said weakly.
oOo
The Keep,
Tol Antanë,
Pacific Ocean,
He decided to join Jimmy, Miranda and Jason in the evening break. The moment he sat down with them, he knew something was wrong. The air was tense, stretched between all four of them so tight that he could cut it with a knife. It was clear he had either interrupted something or came just after an argument took place. "Should I leave?" Thranduil asked after a pause.
"What? No," Jason said firmly.
"Trust me, it is not related to you." Miranda said sourly.
Thranduil narrowed his eyes at them.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing," Miranda said.
"You are," Thranduil glanced at Jimmy before continuing, "All behaving strange."
"There is trouble in the love nest," Jason muttered at him.
"There is no trouble in the love nest!" Miranda snapped. Jason winced. Thranduil blinked.
"Calm down." Jason snapped. Miranda huffed, getting up from her seat and angrily making her way to the door. She paused and whirled about. Jimmy got up and followed her to the door.
"THERE IS NOT EVEN A LOVE NEST!"
"Come on, Miranda," Jimmy said tiredly. "Let's just go."
Miranda turned around and glared at Jimmy who scowled back before stomping away. Jimmy sighed wearily before following her.
"What happened?" Thranduil asked once he was alone with Jason.
"I have no idea." Jason said. "They came to breakfast the morning after you left with your little field trip with Maedhros and they were like that the whole time since."
"You think Jimmy made a move?"
"Ah, if he did, then he might have just mentioned his feelings as gently as he could. I know he acts weird around Miranda but he is a very gentle soul underneath the bravado."
"That would explain why Dorián sticks around him still." Thranduil now narrowed his eyes at Jason. "Are you alright? You seem a little pale."
"I am fine," Jason said dryly. "Don't turn all Elfy at me."
"Elfy?"
"A term Miranda came up with when Elves look at someone with scrutinizing eyes."
"I don't know." Thranduil said, narrowing his eyes further. "There is something you are hiding, isn't there?"
"Look," Jason said, uncrossing his legs and sitting forward, elbows on his knees. "I can promise you it has nothing to do with the operation. It is something personal. And do not worry about me. You will find out soon enough. And promise me… promise me you won't tell Miranda?"
"Why?"
"I will tell her myself."
"Fine," Thranduil relented. Jason was telling the truth, though it confused Thranduil how he knew. "But if whatever this is goes south, then I am telling."
Later, he found that he was not the only one who noticed that Jason was hiding something. He was waylaid by his son.
"Does Jason look… sick to you?" Legolas asked, touching his father's elbow with his hand.
Thranduil glanced over his shoulder. Jason was coming out of one of the corridors, oblivious to the two Elves standing on the corridors just above his, staring down at him through the glass floor. Now that Legolas mentioned it, Jason did look sick. His face had an unhealthy pallor, and his eyes seemed to have sunk in. He looked tired, as if he had not slept well.
"And I will bet Jimmy had noticed all of this a long time ago." Thranduil said grimly. The Man who tried his best to act like a comic relief was keen-eyed when it came to his medical field.
"I intend to know what it is." Legolas said seriously, turning to leave.
"No," Thranduil said, stopping him in his tracks. "What Jason does to himself is his own business and we cannot meddle into his affairs-"
"But-"
"You and I both know that Jimmy already knows. If he does and they did not tell us, then it means that it is not something to worry about. We already have larger things to be concerned about. We will speak of this later, when things come to some semblance of normal."
Legolas gazed at him seriously before nodding.
"You are right. We cannot pursue this right now. Let us wait for a later time."
oOo
Tol Antanë,
Pacific Ocean,
Arwen standing beside her husband… Dior's sons, fully armed and ready… A large weapon of length of several feet… Oropher grieving beside a body in black shroud… Galadriel crying beside the grave of her husband…Arodien dancing in a clearing, laughter ringing throughout the woods… the Dwarves mining deep into the mountain…Plains stretching out in front of him, his boots sinking in the blood-soaked earth, the killings around him animalistic, immoral and brutal…Sauron looming over him, his blade raised for a killing stroke…
He woke with a snarl, blindly grabbing his assailant and throwing him on his back. His one hand clamped around his throat, crushing his windpipe, while the other looked for a knife.
He found none.
Suddenly he realized it had been years since he had travelled with only his father after the Sacking of Doriath and found himself at Greenwood the Great. He was in a warm bed, with blankets tangled about him. His hand clamped around his wife's throat.
He immediately pulled freely, shuffling back in horror. Arodien turned around, curling into herself. Her breath came in loud ragged gasps echoing in the room.
"Armes!" He touched her shoulder with a trembling hand. "Armes-"
"I am fine," her voice was hoarse. He immediately got out of bed, and quickly filled a glass of water before going back and giving it to her. She took it gratefully, downing the glass in quick gulps.
"Arodien-"
"I am fine." She repeated, setting the glass on the bedside table before pushing back her black hair. Thranduil was not assured. He gently tilted her chin upwards, and noticed the angry bruises formed over her pale skin. He gently rubbed her throat with his fingertips. The bruising will remain, he knew with regret. But the damage was shattering to him. He had never, in his sleep, or in his anger, ever harmed his beloved wife. They had their squabbles and petty arguments but he thankfully always knew how to control himself. But to harm his mate in his sleep- it was something he could never forgive himself for doing.
He was pulled out of his thoughts when she quietly drew out his grasp. She placed her hands on his cheeks. "I am fine." She repeated. "You… pulled back just in time."
"Just in time?" He could not believe what he was hearing! Arodien sounded much calmer than he felt! "This should have never happened in the first place! Arodien-"
"Armes," she corrected.
"This was unforgivable. I could have stayed put. I could have-"
"Killed me?" She asked softly after he trailed after. Hearing no reply from him, she sighed and prodded him to come close. They lay side by side.
"What were you dreaming of?" She asked in the silence.
"I dreamt so many things… I do not remember."
"Then start with the one that remember the most."
"I dreamt that I was standing in a land full of darkness." Thranduil began. "The sky was dark and there was this chaos around me. I saw Men killing each other, Orcs coming upon us. I saw Elves killing one another and there were trolls everywhere." He rubbed his eyes. His trembling had eased somewhat. "The ground was slick with blood. And the armies of the Enemy were overwhelming us."
"What else?" Arodien asked, dreading his answer. Thranduil fell silent for so long that she turned her head to look at him, thinking he fell asleep. But Thranduil was awake, with a shy smile on his face.
"I saw you, dancing with other Ellyth in a clearing. The stars shone above us, and the Elves were laughing and merry."
"Was it a glimpse of the past?"
"No, I think it has not yet happened." Thranduil answered. "Because Legolas was full-grown and Nimdir was standing beside him."
"And?"
"I saw people, different people. Some of them I recognized. Some were pieces of the past-" Thranduil rubbed his forehead. "It was confusing to say the least."
"You should sleep."
"Armes, I swear I would never hurt you."
"Hush. I know. Go to sleep."
She stroked his hair in soothing movements, singing softly. Thranduil felt his eyes close. He was tired. Only when Thranduil fell into blissful sleep did her voice falter and she looked down at Húro with loathing.
oOo
The Keep,
Tol Antanë,
Pacific Ocean,
They had to leave before dawn the next day for the harbour. They broke the meeting early in the night, so that Maedhros and others could make arrangements and the rest to go and get some rest. Before they retired for the night, Legolas and Thranduil decided to go for a short walk. The Forges were full of heat but the smiths managed to channel it through vents and clean it through different machinery to a different part in the mountain. Here, there was a network of indoor gardens, with winding staircases, and statues of brass and copper amid the greenery. Artificial light streamed down from above and the weather was only pleasantly warm. Wooden benches with decorated metallic backs scattered throughout the gardens and there were vein-like streams passing through their path.
"Nimdir did not get married." Legolas said.
"Yes, father told me."
"You are not disappointed?"
"I am surprised." Thranduil conceded. "But that grandchild of mine has made many changing decisions. This may not be any different."
"I am a little disappointed." Legolas said. "I was so sure he was going to marry."
"Father said he went to Tol Eressëa alone soon after you left." Thranduil said. "But he came back much earlier than he was expected and he was not in his usual high spirits."
"You are saying the girl rejected him?"
"I am saying it may not have gone as well as Nimdir had planned." Thranduil said. "And added with the unrest there and everything else, it might have been too much for her to wed anyone. Do not worry," Thranduil quirked a smile. "The Ellyn of our family tend to settle in. After all, we have your example."
Legolas, who had been unwed for the two Ages of his life and then wed his wife in Aman, nudged his father lightly, causing him to chuckle.
"Did you and mother ever have fights?" Legolas asked suddenly. Thranduil started in surprise and regarded his son.
"From time to time," Thranduil said warily.
"How serious were they?"
Thranduil exhaled heavily.
"Well, there was a petty fight soon after we were wed. It was what father called 'lovers' first quarrel'. She wanted to change the setting of our bedroom. A ridiculous thing to argue about, now that I think about it. We had differences of opinion now and then but the most serious fight that was there would probably be the one your mother and I had when it came to finding you a wife."
"Was it on Életh?"
"Aye," Thranduil said softly, memory forcing him back into their tongue. "Your mother was not happy with our choice. She said that we were forcing our pride and grudges upon you so that you would not wed the one you loved. She was right."
"Sauron was to be blamed for that. That matter is long since forgiven."
"I know, but it was a fight I most definitely remember."
"What happened?"
"We… might have taken it too far." Thranduil was reluctant to discuss it, not wanting his son to worry. "She might have thrown something at me and I might have broken something in her presence in my rage."
Legolas turned to his father with a newfound alarm which Thranduil immediately rushed to sooth. He had never seen either of his parents lose their temper and what arguments they had, they kept hidden from him. To hear something like this was drastic.
"I regretted it immediately." He said hastily. "I begged for forgiveness for my loss of temper, and she asked for forgiveness for hers. Legolas, when you are married for so long and lived through such pressure and danger as we had then you would know. Every fight brings a couple closer together but to do that they need to let go of their pride and shamelessly ask for forgiveness, even if you are not the one to blame. Your mother and I are very close and I love her so much that I could not bear to see her leave but I had to let her go, for her health. You married in an age of peace, in Valinor, and that is why you do not know. We were both young and inexperienced when it came to marriage, and most of the things we discovered throughout the length of the years. We never had a fight like that before it or after it and we learned from it to simply sit there silently while the other raged or leave the room if one is incapable of keeping silence." Thranduil frowned. Legolas never asked about the condition of his marital status. "Why are you asking me this?"
"Maedhros mentioned how his father and mother were estranged after the Oath was taken-"
Thranduil gripped his son's shoulders tightly, forcing him to look into his eyes.
"Your mother and I love each other dearly." Thranduil said firmly. "I would never let any harm come to her, from myself or anyone else. And let me be very clear that we have had no arguments or fights since we reunited."
"It all started from distancing from others, Maedhros said." Legolas looked at his father squarely. "You never spoke to us of your time here, and not even with mother. You don't tell us what that ring is doing to you."
"I have seen many horrors when I came here." Thranduil said. "I know you have great faith in Men but I have lost most of mine when I returned to Arda Marred."
"Then why did you stay?"
"I did not know how to go back." Thranduil's voice dropped into a whisper. "And the world was so changed. It repulsed me and fascinated me at the same time. And in time, I simply… stayed."
"We waited." Legolas said. "Mother went down to the harbour day after day ever since we heard that the ship was destroyed. It was after Mandos let us know you did not come to his halls and that it was not your time. We thought-"
"I am not Fëanor." Thranduil hissed angrily. He realized precisely what Legolas and others had thought. They knew of the presence of the Fëanorians after all. And coupled with the missing Elves, the unrest in Aman and Thranduil's continued disappearance, Legolas suspected the worse. "Your mother is dear to me and I will not sacrifice my family for something as trivial as Silmarils or anything that may even remotely resemble them in desire." Thranduil softened. He lifted his son's chin, forcing him to look at him, "I would never sacrifice anything I hold close to me. My reasons of leaving Aman and then staying in Arda are difficult for me to explain. In time, I might be able to. But be content by the thought that my love for your mother has not changed even the slightest."
"I gathered that, when we met in New York," Legolas said slowly.
"But you had to ask to be sure." Thranduil finished. At Legolas' nod, he said, "And there is no harm in that." He pulled Legolas into an embrace.
Unbeknownst to them, Maedhros watched them in silence and darkness of the corridor before turning on his heel and leaving.
oOo
Bullet train,
Tol Antanë,
Pacific Ocean,
It was relief to hear that Dorián was well.
"I was beginning to think I needed myself a new spy," Thranduil said, smiling. He heard a youthful chuckle coming from the laptop after Legolas pulled out the earphones.
"I am in one piece, thankfully." Dorián said.
"Where are you?"
"I do not think it is safe to say."
"Did you find what we were looking for?"
Maedhros and Maglor sat side by side on a couch, and Celegorm was leaning against the train wall by the window.
"I did." Dorián's voice was grave. "And I do not have good news."
"What did you see?"
"I do not know precisely what it was but it looked like an underground base in a middle of nowhere. It was classic, but what was more frightening about it was the fact they tried to bring a piece of history into the present."
"How?" Thranduil asked.
"They had these… things. They tried to make the Dead Marshes around the base, and it looked like it was there to act like some form of twisted alarm system. My guide slipped into the water. He is fine, but it brought out some great attention. Sire, the Ringwraiths, they are back."
Silence fell about them.
"Are you sure?" Legolas asked.
"I know what I saw. And there is more. The earth-eaters, they are back as well."
"These Dead Marshes," Maedhros said, shifting in his seat to come closer to the laptop. "What were they filled off? What were the corpses?"
"Who's that?" Dorián asked in length.
"Nobody," Thranduil and Legolas chorused. Maedhros' lips twitched upwards. At the moment neither Thranduil nor Legolas was in any mood to handle yet another confrontation. "At least, nobody of importance at the moment." Thranduil amended. "Answer his question."
"There were corpses of men and women. Some of them were children and some of them looked like Elves but I was not able to get a good look."
"I knew you were an idiot enough to scout the Marshes." Legolas muttered under his breath. Dorián realized he was caught.
"I do not mind." Thranduil said quickly before Dorián could say something in defence. "Anything else?"
"Himben was there."
Thranduil swallowed. He did not forget Wolf's words that Himben had helped with the letters of the Elven word for 'king'.
"Anyone else?"
"Well, there was this Elf standing with Himben. He looked like he was someone important but I did not recognize him."
"Describe him to me." Maedhros said.
"He was tall, but his back was stooped. And he looked like he had the muscles of a smith. He was pale-skinned and black-haired-"
"Eöl!" Celegorm cried. "Why if I get my hands on that twisted, good for nothing, worthless piece of-"
"Who is that?" Dorián asked warily.
"I will tell you everything later." Legolas said wearily. "It was a shock for us as well."
"Well then, who is Eöl?" Dorián asked.
"You forget your history," Maglor said. If Dorián recognized a new voice, he did not say anything. "He was once a thrall living under Morgoth's domain. But he escaped. He hated the light and loved the dark and wedded our cousin Aredhel by force. The Elf was smith, and he had learned both Elven and Dwarven craft. His weapons were exemplary but he had a healthy hatred for my kin."
"Kin? Aredhel, cousin?" Dorián asked, sounding more and more wary. "Legolaaaaaaaas, what trouble did you just get into?"
"Ask father," Legolas answered, earning himself a light cuff on the back of his neck from Thranduil.
"Legolas will explain this to you in a moment, boy." Thranduil said. "Do you know anything of this?" He asked Maedhros. The tall Elf looked thoughtfully, his fingers stroking his chin.
"If he is there, then it would be something concerning his work. So I would say he is there as a smith." Maedhros said slowly. "You say there were these Ringwraiths there, the minions of Sauron after he made the One Ring. They are there to guard something, and that will explain the presence of the earth-eaters. The base could not be seen from above but it needed fortifications underground. The Marshes-" Maedhros suddenly became white, a look of understanding dawning on his face. "Valar," he breathed. "It could not be true."
"What is it?" Maglor asked, frowning.
"Before Morgoth was thrown into the Void, his weapon was taken and shattered into small pieces and thrown away. The legends say it could only be rebuilt when the time of his return came. And to rebuild it they needed to sacrifice souls."
"How come you know this?" Thranduil said.
"The Black Númenóreans," Maedhros said, shaking his head while he pressed a hand on his temple. "They worshipped Morgoth and the darkness. This came from their lore. The souls sacrificed imbue the metal making Morgoth's weapon, and the corpses littered about the weapon protected it while it was still weak and without its master. Eöl-"
"Eöl is a capable smith, able to pour his malice into the weapons he makes and curse them-" Celegorm said. "That thrall has never fully left Morgoth's service!"
"They are making Grond."
Grond. The very name sent shivers down their spines. Grond. It was something from their history books and children's games. The weapon from the Underworld. It was a terror to behold. Few dared to challenge Morgoth while he wielded that weapon.
"The die is cast," Maedhros muttered. "The pieces are in place. Some of them are moving and yet the main players have yet to enter the play. Everything will have to move quickly from our part, before we are outmatched."
"I have to go." Dorián said suddenly. There was urgency in his voice. "I have been found out. I will speak to you later once I come to a more secure location." He did not wait for their goodbyes. Soon the call dropped.
"What to do now?" Maglor asked finally.
"There is nothing to do here." Maedhros said. "If Grond is being constructed, we have no power to stop it. Dagor Dagorath is fast approaching and the only thing we can do is to prepare for it. We will stick to our plans. That is all we can do."
No sooner had he said these words when the door of their carriage opened and Oropher came inside in a hurry.
"All of you need to see this." That was all Oropher said. Glancing at one another, they got up from their seats and followed him. Oropher led him to the beginning of the train. This carriage was customized, with the ceiling, and the walls completely in compressed glass.
"Do you see something different?" Oropher asked.
It took them a few minutes to understand what he meant. Once the trees were behind them, Thranduil could see the open sky. But where one part of the skies was sunny and blue, the other part was dark and stormy. They were heading towards the stormy side.
"Is this a normal occurrence on the island?" Thranduil asked Celegorm. The Elf shook his head.
"No. This never happened."
"Ossë," Maglor said. "That has to be the only explanation."
"Ulmo had better get his 'manservant' under control." Maedhros said. "Before he does more damage than taking the Queen of Alqualondë."
"It may still abate." Maglor said doubtfully.
"I do not know much of storms," Oropher said. Glorfindel had now entered the carriage, dressed in dark grey shirt with blue jeans. He too looked grim. "But I doubt this one will simply slide."
"I can bet it won't." Glorfindel said.
oOo
The Harbour,
Tol Antanë,
Pacific Ocean,
It turned out the storm was only becoming more and more violent. Caranthir, surprisingly, joined them just as they got off the train. The winds were picking up, causing the curtains to flap wildly from the windows. The crates by the docks shifted as if by an invisible large hand. It was in these moments, all the Ellyn were silently happy their Ellyth were not with them.
"Ossë," Maedhros said. "He is focusing on just this side of the island."
"He wants to destroy the ships." Thranduil said, walking along the docks. The sea grew steadily darker, the waters churning and the skies were becoming black from the healthy blue.
"Zaze!" Maedhros called to the water-sprite waiting for them to approach her. "What is going down under there?" Zaze seemed to be the leader, wearing a coral necklace, her fair hair streaming behind her, cord entwined on her biceps.
"There is chaos." Her accent was rich and exotic. Thranduil was unable to place it. "Uinen calls us back, she wants us to come home."
"Is there no way for you to control this storm?"
The waves picked up speed, and Zaze gripped to the edge of the docks, her inhuman strength managing to keep her from being pulled away from the island. "No." Zaze said. "Ulmo calls us. We must obey. We cannot stay."
"Then go."
She reached up, pressing her hand against Maedhros' cheek.
"Keep shelter. I am sorry." Then in the blink of an eye, she was gone.
"We have to find shelter." Maedhros said, rising. "Before this storm takes us right here. Hurry!"
"You know that we will all die whether out here or in a shelter." Thranduil protested. The buildings creaked and groaned under the weight of the wind. It was becoming more and more dangerous by the minute. "This harbour will go under the waves whatever our choice!"
"It is better than to stay here where it is suicide!" Caranthir said. They were now gripping onto one another to keep their footing.
"I am staying." Thranduil said finally. In his heart, he knew it was the perfect decision.
"Do not be ridiculous! Come on."
But Thranduil resisted the tugging on his hand by Maglor's grip.
"The water-sprite said to control tempest at its peak. What better way than to do it in a storm?"
"You are insane!" Maedhros said.
"Insanity often brings the most glorious of plans." Oropher said.
"You cannot possibly be encouraging this!"
"If it saves us then I do!"
A thunder clap broke off the conversation. The clouds rumbled above them and the waters churned, the waves rising higher.
"This storm will be too violent." Maglor shouted over the whistling wind. "Ossë and Uinen will be at war, and the entire harbour will go under!"
"We have to make for higher ground!" Caranthir said. The winds picked up, swirling about them until it became a struggle to keep their footing.
"I am staying." Thranduil said stubbornly.
"Idiot!" Caranthir hissed. "Come on, we have to move!"
"I am staying with him." Maedhros said.
"I have no intention of losing my brother to this!"
"These ships are the only way we can get off this island. If we can save them with whatever plan, then why not?"
"Come on!" Maglor said, grabbing Caranthir when the latter slipped over the wet floor. Water was rising, touching their feet. "The faster we move, the safer we will be."
They heard a loud groan and all of them turned. A communications tower creaked dangerously as its structure bent with the wind, the light sparking from the now free wires before breaking off completely from the base. It whipped towards them, all of them ducking. Thranduil felt it the air shift as the tower shot over them, crashing into one of the fishing boats in the docks.
"Stay safe." Oropher hissed in Thranduil's ear.
"Make sure Legolas doesn't try to come after me." Thranduil returned.
"We should move to higher ground as well." Maedhros said to Thranduil, both of them now left behind at the docks as the others made their way back to the Palace.
"No," Thranduil said. "I have to stay here."
"The next time we won't be so lucky to avoid something like a tower hurtling towards us!"
"I don't intend to let there be a next time!"
"That has a double meaning!" Maedhros shouted. If the situation had not been so risky, Thranduil would have laughed at Maedhros' pert reply. He looked down at Húro. The Ring seemed to pulse with life on his finger, but he saw no change come to it. He had been able to control Húro over the months but now the Ring seemed restless, eager for battle. Much like him.
Taking in a deep breath, he let lose his own emotions. Húro responded eagerly. The storm grew by several degrees and Thranduil was sodden to the skin. He was very cold but it somehow did not bother him. It charged him, making him feel more alert, more alive. Maedhros had been able to keep his footing and now he was kneeling on the docks, unable to face the whipping wind. But Thranduil faced it easily, Húro protecting him from most of the wind's brutality. It was clear the Ocean was at war. The waters converged at a single point from three different directions, marking the movements of Ulmo, Uinen and Ossë before faltering and behaving in the same manner at a different point. But that was not Thranduil's purpose. He had no business fighting Ossë. No, he had to protect the harbour.
He felt Húro's wild joy, matching each wave of fury of the storm with one of its own. It was not reckless as it was before, harming Thranduil in the process. Thranduil was still standing, his body completely fine. But it drained Thranduil resources. He could feel himself tiring rapidly as the Ring sapped more and more of his strength. His knees were buckling and his back bent from exhaustion. But he was stubborn. He kept his position. He did not know how long he stayed that way. But when the waves lessened and ceased to splash against him did he finally let go.
He was unconscious before he even hit the ground.
Author's Note:
I took a bath in cold water on a winter day with no heating in the house... yeah... but it got my nose, er, muses running so that is a good plus point.
Concepts:
-The first time when I considered putting in Area 51, I laughed so hard that I thought my family would come in my room to ask what happened. But as time went by, the idea (while amusing) made sense because this is a world of fantasy fiction, and I kind of wanted to take it that way. In Tempest: Modern Age, we stuck to the facts and the rules. But slowly, I want us to go back into Tolkien's world, and bring that touch of magic to the entire thing.
-The strength of souls. My concept of Door of Night ( I wrote this like Night of Door while editing. Good grief.) is that the smaller souls will get outside before the larger souls. So the wargs and the trolls. Then the orcs. Then the Ringwraiths. I consider them weak because I think a part of them was bound to the Ring like their master and just like their master, when the Ring was destroyed, they were crippled beyond repair and were thrown into the Void with Sauron. However, they will stay like that. However, the earth-eaters will be a much large souls, since they will be harder to kill. This time, the Ringwraiths are very much like frail puppets.
-The earth-eaters. This came way before I saw Battle of the Five Armies, I assure you. I read it somewhere in Tolkien's works and I played the 'Battle of Middle-Earth' game. They have a specific name but I am too lazy to check it out right now. I would have to play the game. :P
- The phenomenon of the corpses rising from the earth in the water comes from this event that happened in the past. When there are too heavy rainfalls, or there are floods or hurricanes, the water settles in the graveyards and forces the coffins to rise up on the surface of the ground. So the idea here was pretty much inspired from there. Also the water receding into the ground and taking the corpses inside is linked with the Tolkien part. I wanted to keep it to the dark, evil side.
Also… I have to ask. Are you guys enjoying yourself? Not getting bored, I hope?