Ayisha POV

I walk with purpose. They have only an hour until sunset, only an hour until I kill my own brother. "You don't have to do this," Bolg says as we walk down the stairs and towards where Luca sits, waiting for an unknown fate to be announced. I had told him this morning. I told him everything; from Pharom's plan to my threat. He was not upset, or angry. Now that I think about it, he didn't show any emotion. "I have to." We reach the cell. Luca looks over at us, his once joyous face now gaunt, dark rings around his eyes. "Luca?" I ask timidly, "it is time; we are going to the top of the wall."

He sighs and stands up, "chains?"

"No," I reply, shaking my head, "if you are to die, you will die free." He nods as the door to his cell opens, creaking. He steps out, his footsteps echoing through the room. He walks in front, with Bolg and I behind. We walk up the stairs, a solemn progression. The orcs do not jeer, the slaves stand silent, I have not yet seen if the elves were gone. Thunder rolls across the sky. Dismal weather for a dismal event… we keep walking, up another flight of stairs, we are now on top of the wall. The elves are still there. A single tear threatens to fall, stupid elves with their stupid pride, I think, frustrated. They form ranks of at least a hundred wide, rain drumming on their armor, creating a grim song, finalizing Luca's fate. "I am sorry Luca. I am so, so sorry," I whisper. He doesn't reply, a lightning bolt lights up the sky, and for a moment, I see my parents, my ada and amil, looking up at us. "Ayisha please!" my ada's thunders over the nearing storm, "give him to us and we will leave!"

"You and I both know I can't do that," I reply coldly, "this is your last chance. Leave, or Luca will meet the Valar, and you will join him." I knew from the start that if I went through with this, they would fight to the bitter end. Maybe, just maybe, all four of us will die, and we will be able to live as a family once again, I ponder. All they do is shake their heads. "So be it." I pull out a dagger, my dagger, and hold it to my brother's throat. I see my amil shake her head disbelieving, "Please, no!" Bolg touches my shoulder, "you don't need to do this."

"I do, if it means Pharom will not rise to power, I will do whatever is necessary." He nods in understanding and steps back.

I look back at Luca tears pooling up in my eyes. Here we stood, together since we both entered the world, now one of us was going to leave it. How did it ever come to this? "Forgive me."

He looks at me and smiles, a sad smile that makes me choke back a sob, "oh my little sister, my silly, mischievous, little sister, there was never anything to forgive."

Azog POV

I watch as they exchange a few words. Was he begging for his life? He smiles, and I see the turmoil of emotion. Ayisha didn't want this, we forced it upon her. She pulls the dagger across his throat, pushing deep into his windpipe, into his jugular. "NO!" I hear my wife wailing and sobbing. The sounds of the rain and the sight of the army fades as I watch my firstborn choke on his own blood, coughing and spluttering, but then I look over to Ayisha, terror fills her eyes, but so does bloodlust.

Her pupils shrink and I watch in horror as a subtle change takes place within her very being. Her hair is wild, whipping to and fro like a cornered beast. Her face is pulled into a snarl, teeth bared; her orcish side was in control. I watch as she pulls her hand away, fingers and dagger both crimson in the bleak light. Luca gags, more blood erupts from his mouth. I see the whites of his eyes. His life leaves him, and he slowly sinks to the ground.

He holds out a hand and without hesitation, Ayisha grabs it. She kneels on the wall beside him, visibly shaking.

Ayisha POV

I hold Luca's hand, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I say it over and over, but I do not weep. My eyes are as dry as ash. I feel sorrow, but I also feel twisted joy. The orc part of me relishes the sight of my dying brother. I give in, letting it loose. I feel his hand go limp and stand up. "You see?" I yell, "Ada? Amil? What I did may have been cruel, but at least it was quick, Pharom will kill me now, for sure, but at least I have spared Luca the same fate. Leave, don't ever return! Or the same fate will await you." I see them stand there still; I try not to yell at them, to tell them why they must leave. I start walking down the steps. "You are no daughter of mine," my amil hisses. I stop in my tracks, before turning around.

"You are right, I am no daughter of yours, I am Ayisha Gismgijak, Mistress of Slaves, Kinslayer. I, am no longer an elf," spit, before walking away. I get just below the wall when the first arrow wizzes past. "They mean to attack," Bolg says, before shouting a series of orders. I walk over to a barrel of water and wash the dries blood off my weapon. Luca is dead, I killed him, the statement sits heavily on my mind, but I know what I spared him of. "Goodbye Luca…" I finish washing the dagger and place it away, before looking for someone, anyone. "Ayisha!" Zaglúk calls. I turn to him, "a hundred thousand slaves are outside the fort, in Mordor. One man speaks for them all. They want you." He looks worried. An army of slaves, after all, can be dangerous.

"What is his name?" I query, although I already know the answer.

"Alden," he replies, "but why are they here? They gather from all over. I see the slave garb of every different lord and leader"

I grin, "They, my friend, are my army."

"What do you–?"

I cut him off smoothly, "Now, if you would be so kind. I need to go and lead them."

Author's Note:

OMIGODIAMSOSORRYIHAVEHADWRITER'SBBLOCKANDIHAVEBEENSICKANDTHEREWASAHUGEPLOTTWISTINTHEBOOKIAMREADINGANDIAMWRITINGABOOKFORMY
RESEARCHPROJECTWHICHIAMDOINGNEXTSEMESTERBUTHAVETOPASSTOBEABLETOGRADUATEATTHEENDOFNEXTYEARANDIHAVEATESTANDANASSIGNMENTANDAZOO
TRIPANDIHAVEONLYJUSTWRITTENTHISTODAYANDIJUSTKILLEDOFFLUCAANDIGOTSTRUCKWITHTHEFEELSANDNEARLYSTARTEDCRYINGINTHEMIDDLEOFMYSTUDY
CLASSANDITHINKIWILLCRYALITTLELATERANDTHEFEELSMAN!THEFEELS!

Okay, I am all good now. So like I said just then, I am sorry, but I have been a little busy and have had major writer's block... I am going to work on the next chapter.

~tjlockwood