AN: needless to say this chapter is a fun one, I am both excited and a bit worried about it but unlike Lucas film currently I am rolling the dice, special thanks to Jacob Sailer with some of the battle scenes and the editing.
Disclaimer: I only own my characters.
The Dark Fortress
The very night they had split off from the company, Beorn in his bear form came charging into the camp, the Bear growled at the group of five.
"Beorn, before you try to tear us apart allow us to explain." Celebion said putting himself between the bear form of Beorn and his daughter while Viridan and Jane fought to stand in front of each other.
Beorn glared at the group, "Speak."
"We are trying to end the suffering going on in Dol Guldur." Gandalf began.
Beorn looked up at the Wizard before sighing and reverting to his human form. Massive layers of matted fur rescinded back into human skin, bones reforming with sickening audibility and the great bear mass shrinking before their eyes into his still impressive human stature that still towered over Gandalf. They also became quite aware of a very obvious truth: Beorn hadn't been wearing any clothes when he'd turn into the bear, and certainly wasn't wearing any when he turned back into a human. When he rose to his his full height with a groan telling the physical trauma his transformation plagued him with, they also got an eyeful.
"Um…" was all Viridian could say. Gandalf raised an eyebrow, Jane's jaw dropped, and while Celebion wasn't affected in the slightest by the display, Niwen certainly was. She blushed from ear to ear so deeply her face might very well turn into a tomato. She hid a giggle with her hand, but found she couldn't turn away. Celebion was quick to to do that for her, taking her in his own large hands and guiding her away from the rather sudden display in a very fatherly like manner.
"Do you have any pants?" Viridian asked quickly.
Beorn nodded and pulled out of the sack his large trousers, and hastily put it on. After that was over without much fuss he turned to Gandalf, "Explain what you mean!"
Gandalf then began to explain how a year past he had infiltrated the fortress as a slave to gather information for the guardians of middle earth, the White Council, and how he met the broken husk that was Thrain, Thorin's father, and the other prisoners he found in the prisons of the abominable place, and now they were on their way to get any last minute information and then would lead an army on the fortess to destroy it.
Beorn nodded in understanding, "But why are all of you going?" he looked at Viridian first.
Viridian took in a deep breath, "There are three major no make that four major reasons for why I am going, one because I can't stand back and let those prisoners suffer, two I owe Celebion and Niwen my service, three Gandalf is my teacher and a students place is by his teacher's side, and four there is a Jedi near that fortress and I am trying to make contact, and plus Jane is coming so I need to watch out for him." he added jokingly.
He looked to Jane, "Viridian is my brother I am going to make sure he is safe, and I want to help them." Jane said nodding towards Celebion and Niwen.
Beorn turned to Celebion and Niwen.
Celebion swallowed, "Remember when I told why i was on the journey with Thorin I said one of the reasons was a personal matter?"
Beorn nodded.
Celebion turned to Niwen, who held tears in her eyes, Celebion pulled her into a hug.
Beorn rose an eyebrow as he waited patiently, he looked among the others and saw some sense of uneasiness.
Niwen took a deep breath, "The man who abducted me from my family… he… raped me and now the children I bore are in those prisons, I am going to get them out."
"We are going to get them out," Celebion said.
Beorn closed his eyes, "I was willing to leave the horses with you before, but now I feel I must allow them to help you with this, in fact I am more then willing to go with you all."
"While I would appreciate the assistance, Beorn, there is another matter you could help us with, and that is getting Gwaihir to prepare for war." Gandalf told him
Beorn nodded, "I will talk to him… are you sure you will not need my assistance at that… accursed place?"
Jane thought about it for a moment, and spoke up, "It might be a good idea for you to have Gwaihir help you make up for the distance to drop you off as close to the fortress as possible so that when things inevitably get hot, you can help out."
Beorn rose an eyebrow at the unusual words.
"I think what he means is, when the fighting starts you can enter into the fray much faster." Celebion explained.
"More or less yes." Viridian confirmed.
"A sound plan." Beorn nodded and smiled, "I can see why you were made a captain."
Jane looked away, "My tactics was not what gave me my rank, it was because I did something that pleased my superiors."
"What was it then?" Beorn asked
Jane sighed, leaning against a tale as he opened the floodgates of a memory he'd wished he could put away, but couldn't.
"Before I became a Captain in the Imperial Army, I was a junior officer in another army. The Grand Army of the Republic. We fought a war against the Separatists, and their… golems."
"Golems?" Beorn asked.
"Droids," he elaborated, "beings made from metal and brought to life by their masters," it wasn't the entire truth, but Jane didn't want to go through the hours long process of explaining computerized motorization to a being who hadn't a clue what that even was. It was enough, and Beorn nodded.
"During the Battle of Casaaren Heights, my entire battalions commanding staff, including our," he was also about to say Clone, but he thought against it, wanting to avoid explaining that bit of history too, "commander, was killed by the bounty hunter Durge. He slaughtered them to a man, and it took us buring him under a mountain to stop him… though, that didn't kill them. It was… it was like a slaughterhouse in the command bunker."
Beorn nodded again, "How did you survive?"
"Luck. Durge threw me against a wall, and I was knocked unconscious. Besides he had no real quarrel with me. He had a massive grudge with our commander. Blood feuds, that sort of thing. By the time I woke, he was gone. And we were being swarmed by a droid force six times our size. My men were being killed. So I… I did the only thing I could."
"You took command."
"Yes. I got as many of my men together, and we held our ground for over two weeks. We ran out of food on the seventh day, water on tenth, and we were down to fighting with clubs and knives on the fourteenth. We should have died that day."
"But you didn't."
A small smile crossed his lips, "One minute, the droids were on top of us. The next, we heard this high-pitched howl, like that of a wolf. Except it wasn't wolves. It was the soldiers of the Wolf Pack, led by Master Plo Koon coming to save us. They charged into the droids with blade and blaster and ripped them to pieces. It was… magnificent to see. Then I fell into a comfortable coma, and I didn't wake for another month. When I did, I was given the Sapphire Star for valor, and offered command of the battalion. I accepted, and served with them for another year before I was… transferred. Now, here I am."
Beorn gave him a warm smile, "You are indeed a brave man, Captain Mallory. A title well earned," he then spoke again, but not with words. In his time, Jane had learned how to read lips, and even with Beorn it was difficult. But what he could make out was, "I can see why she likes you."
To say Jane was thunderstruck by that would be an understatement. But he took it in stride.
"Wait a minute, what happened that caused you to join special forces?" Viridian asked.
Jane had a mix of worry and pride on his face, "There were two things that happened. I fought with and managed to kill an IG-100 magnaguard."
Viridian chuckled, "I remember that. I am surprised you were still breathing, those things give fully trained knights a run for their money."
Jane looked away from Viridian, "The other was for 'bravery and serving above and beyond the call of duty' during order 66." Jane admitted.
Viridian's face lost all of its jovialness instantly, and he managed to ask through a thick voice. "Who?"
Jane clenched his eyes shut, "Kasr Ra."
Viridian sighed. He knew the name, and the person. Once upon the time, they'd been fellow younglings, Clan Members, and later sparring partners. Kasr Ra had been a rather proud and fierce Cathar like Jasmine. However, unlike Jasmine, Kasr was incredibly reckless. Du probably would've liked her, and he was sure of that reason that Jane had been forced to kill her.
That much was confirmed when Jane elaborated on what happened. How when the Order was given, and in the chaos that ensued, Kasr had tried to kill Jane and his entire command staff. She'd swung wild and fiercely inside the confines of the Juggernaut transport, killing two junior officers and multiple Troopers.
"I didn't want to kill her," Jane's voice broke, "but I didn't have a choice. She was like a cornered animal. Utterly scared, and utterly unreasonable. I know, I tried. She called me a liar and a traitor, and then tried to take my head off. One of my troopers jumped in the way and saved my life. I… I shot her then. Point blank to the back of the neck. It was… it was all I could do for her. Make it quick."
Viridian pinched the bridge of his nose and felt tears sting his eyes and he let out a shuddering breath.
"I'm so sorry, Viridian." Jane said.
Viridian looked up at Jane to see tears in his eyes. Viridian shook his head and gave his brother a fierce hug, "You did all you could, I.. I know you would never had killed her had she not left you a choice. You are my brother and I forgive you."
The exchanged left obvious questions, and the brothers were quick to explain. How the Jedi were betrayed after an attempt on the Chancellors life, and hunted down without mercy. Their faces broke in pain, but Jane was worse. He more than pain plaguing him. He had pure and utter shame embedded deep in his soul, and he hung his head in silence. That was when Niwen took him in her arms in a hug and comforted him in the way those broken by life and put back together could.
After Beorn was satisfied with this, he volunteered for first watch, while Celebion volunteered for second, Beorn told them that after he woke Celebion he would head off to speak with the lord of the eagles.
That morning Celebion woke the group they made a quick breakfast out of the delicious warm, double baked, oozing with honey bread that Beorn made for them before mounting on their horses and heading off again.
On the third night when they stopped for camp, Gandalf approached Jane, "Captain might I have a moment of your time?"
Jane nodded and walked with Gandalf, "It is clear to me that you have lost a lot in your life, Capitan Mallory."
"You're not wrong sir."
Gandalf sighed, "I understand that Vesse was your daughter."
Jane, took in a breath and he tried not to snap at the wizard, "Yes, she was." he said softly.
"Forgive me, Jane, I do not mean to make this any more painful. Viridian gave me something before you found us, but I have not used it, and nor do I plan to." Gandalf took out the hilt of a lightsaber, and Jane looked at it for a moment, "It was your daughters." Gandalf explained.
Jane looked at the wizard, before he studied the hilt of the beautiful craftsmanship of his daughter's handiwork. It was entirely utilitarian, more a powertool than the elegant weapon of a more civilized era. It was simple with ergonomics in mind, almost entirely silver in color save for the gold bands sandwiched between the emitter and the rounded guard. The handle itself was grooved with many bands to make it easier to grip, with the pommel being a simple metal sphere, much like those found on traditional swords. All in all, his daughter had thought practicality above all else and it made Jane smile for a moment.
"I think she would want you to have it." Gandalf said as he gave it to him, Jane took it tenderly.
"Thank you Gandalf." Jane said with a haggered breath.
"You are most welcome, Captain." with that Gandalf walked back to the camp.
Jane looked at the blade for a moment, then activated the green blade. He held it up above his head in a practice stance and swung, the blade gliding through the air and he found it fit easily into his hand much more than his imperial fabricated one. He looked into the emerald fire of the blade and said, "I promise I will use this blade as you would have. Thank you, my little angel." with that he pressed the activation stud and the blade deactivated into the hilt.
Jane was on watch that night, the moon glistening high above with the soft murmur of the wind and the softer chatter of critters. He looked out over the planes, watching the light reflecting off a nearby lake. Then he heard something stir behind him. With fast reflexes he turned and aimed and saw that it was Niwen. He lowered his blaster, "Couldn't sleep?" Jane asked.
Niwen nodded nervously.
Jane nodded in understanding, "Would you like to sit with me? I would like some company."
Niwen nodded and sat next to him.
"Nightmares?" Jane asked her. Niwen nodded again, biting her lip and sealing her eyes, "It was about your children wasn't it?" he asked knowingly. She looked up at him, pain burrowed deep in her eyes, "I know what it's like. I… I often dream about Vesse." he told her, she felt tears fill up her eyes.
"It was horrible." she admitted, "I saw them suffering at the hands of the orcs, and I was forced to watch, unable to do anything." she was on the verge of sobbing.
Jane pulled her into a hug, and held the crying woman. After five minutes Niwen had significantly calmed down, "What are their names?" Jane asked her.
"Huh?" Niwen asked looking up at him.
"You never mentioned their names."
"Lillian is my daughter's name, my son's name is Ernite, Lily for the flower, Ernite for the precious stone. He has the same eye color as it."
"Those are lovely names." Jane smiled
"I would have given them names of my people, but I didn't know the culture." she explained.
"I think that no one is going to be upset with how you named them." Jane told her, he brushed a bit of her hair behind her ear, "If what you told me of Nagme is true then she is watching out for them, We will get them out, or die trying."
Niwen looked up at him, "I just want them safe."
Jane closed his eyes as he remembered his decision to give Vesse over to the Jedi, "A good parent does."
"Captain?" Niwen asked.
"Forgive me." Jane said, "It's just this all reminds me of the last day I saw Vesse... when I gave her to the Jedi. I thought she would be safer with them. At least, that's what I told myself. In truth, I was terrified. My wife had passed away and in my fear I gave her to someone else when I had my whole family that could help me. I can't help but feel I made the wrong choice."
"From what I understand, your daughter had potential that if left untapped and moot, could mean one of two things. One where nothing would have and she would have never become the greatest version of herself, or another where something terrible would have happened and she would have caused a lot of pain and misery, whether of her own volition or not. So you made the best possible choice, and in doing so, she became a hero."
Jane took in a breath, "The Galaxy doesn't see it like that."
"It doesn't matter what they think! If they are for children dying then they have no right to judge anyone!" Niwen snapped, before she calmed down, "I… I apologize,"
"You're good." Jane said.
"What matters is how you remember her, how your family remembers her. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise be damned because they are wrong."
Jane smiled, "Thank you."
Niwen smiled at him, "Your welcome."
Jane reached up with a shivering hand and caressed her cheek. The glove was cold to the touch, and she flinched. His face flared with shame, but when he removed his hand, she took it in hers and peeled away the glove to reveal the warmer flesh beneath. She took his hand in hers, resting it against her cheek. Her eyes were warm pools that he felt were consuming his heart and soul, and he softly smiled. She returned his with her own, and her eyes dazzled ever so slightly. When they first met, she flinched away from him, afraid. Now here they were. In the next few days anything could happen, but all that mattered was this moment. Jane leaned in, hesitant at first, and their lips met.
Before things could get farther a small metallic sphere hit Jane in his cheek, "OW!" Jane cried as he toppled over, caressing the sudden bruise over his right eye.
Jane looked in the direction where the sphere which he now identified as a pommel to a sword and saw Celebion sitting there, "End her rightly," he playfully growled.
Niwen blushed madly at that.
"What!?" Jane asked.
Viridian who was still laying down with his eyes closed said through his light snoring, "He means wait till you're married."
` "Wha-?" Jane began to ask before his widened in realization, "OH! uh…"
"Just keep that in mind." Celebion told him before he held out his hand. Jane took the pommel and threw it back at the Dunedain, who caught it.
Jane just began to laugh, with Niwen and Celebion joining in.
After that was done, Jane turned to Niwen, "So, what does this mean?" he asked her.
"It means you have a bruise." Niwen chuckled.
"No, I mean what does this mean for our relationship?" Jane asked.
Niwen smiled, "What do you want it to mean?"
Jane took in a breath, "It's been a long time since I had ever gotten this close to someone again, I… I want this to last."
"Me too." Niwen nodded.
"So… what does this mean?" he asked again.
"I…" she tried to look into his eyes, but found she couldn't. Sheepishly, she whispered, "I don't know. I…" but she could say no more. But Jane understood. Regardless of the look her father was giving him, he took her face in his hands and whispered with a smile.
"We'll figure it out as we go."
She smiled and nodded, out of his peripherals. Jane could see Celebion unscrewing his pommel again, so he gave her a kiss, and released her.
After three days, the group could see the fortress in the distance. It's towering black spires tore into the poisoned sky, reaching for the heavens as though to claim them. Viridian felt a sudden, familiar chill deep in his bones. He'd felt that only once in the presence of the servants of the Sith. It proved a point: evil was one and the same. "One more day, before we meet our quarry there." Gandalf said as if he both dreaded this and was relieved it was almost over.
"When will the army arrive?" Viridian asked.
"Three days after us." Gandalf explained.
Jane pursed his lips, "Well… let's go kriff some shebs up or get kriffed."
"Language!" Viridian exclaimed, "But I agree."
Celebion looked at Viridian, "What did he say."
Jane was the one who answered, "Basically either we're going to kill them, or we're going to die."
"I'd choose them." Viridian quipped, a habit he fell into the joke about the stressful situation to come, he noticed.
"So what is the plan?" Niwen asked.
"We'll do what I did to infiltrate it, disguise ourselves as slaves and walk in with the crowd."
"Two of us should stay outside, just in case things go south." Viridian said.
"Agreed." Gandalf nodded, "I want you and Jane to remain outside, then." he said to Viridian.
Viridian considered it for a moment, mulling over the merits of the idea. Viridian was the second most powerful combatant in this little team, and Jane had the technology to keep up, plus the inhabitants of Arda could pass off the slave look better without sacrificing their equipment needlessly. "Alright."
The next day the plan was set in motion. Gandalf, Niwen, and Celebion relieved themselves of their weapons, though Celebion hid a knife up his sleeve while Gandalf continued to carry his staff with a pronounced limp as they marched in with a new batch of slaves, and with them they slipped into the dark gates.
DolGuldur's inner walls were filled with all manner of abominations, leering at them and jeering at the slaves. Celebion held his daughter's hand as they walked through the physical hell, clutching it as tightly as he could. As they walked, Gandalf looked for the opening to slip out of the crowd.
Gandalf saw it and signalled to the others of the tunnel coming up. Dol Guldur was built upon a hill with some natural resources buried into it, hence the slaves for the mining efforts. The trio had slipped into an abandoned mine and followed it till they came to a rotted Dwarven corpse. Gandalf had a look of anger on his face, "These Castellians don't even have the decency to give proper respect for the dead." he growled.
Celebion stared at the headless corpse for a moment, "That's Thrain isn't it." he stated more than asked.
Gandalf let out a haggard sigh, "Yes."
Celebion swallowed and said, "We'll take care of him later, lets get this task done." he hated doing that but the situation demanded pragmatism.
They followed the tunnel till they came to a ledge that overlooked the bailey of the Keep, in it they saw four figures dressed from head to toe in black robes. They also saw Azog the Pale orc with Zimur Shai, and another Yuuzhan Vong dressed in similar crab armor but he also had these strange tendrils slithering from his hands and arms. They also saw another Orc. Celebion recognized him as Gorkil one of the Goblin kings of the many orc tribes in the misty mountains. They also saw a tall figure. He wielded a staff, and he towered over Zimur but met the lead blacked robed figure in terms of height.
They were talking to the figure that Gandalf identified as the Necromancer. He was clad in dark armor and robes, the armor glowed an unholy pale green light of Mogrul sorcery. The effect made him ghostly, and at the moments they thought they could see the inanimate soul beneath sheaved in pale green bones. Indeed, it made them wonder by what power he was tethered to the mortal realm, and how a mere mortal could achieve such power.
"The Dwarves have disappeared into Mirkwood, and are currently with the Elves. We cannot hope to break their defences not now, thanks to the interlopers." the unidentified Vong said.
The Necromancer spoke his voice was a whisper that echoed, full of menace and woe, with an arrogance about it, the arrogance of power, "It matters not, the Dwarves will soon leave the protection of their allies and the castellion of Gundand will claim the prize."
"What of the Jed'dai? Bolg can't hope to take such mighty warriors such as them." Zimur pointed out.
The tall armored figure merely chuckled, "If he can't take such a simple task then he deserves death."
Azog snarled, "Watch your tongue, knife ear! My son is the best warrior ever produced in Gundaband, what have you proven? Nothing. You killed one of your own in the city of Rivendale, and he was injured by one of the Jed'dai. I don't see you racking up a kill count."
The lead robed figure spoke, his voice full of malice and rage, "Enough with your petty squabble, leave the Jed'dai to the Dark Marshal, they will soon feel the wrath of the Ring Wraiths."
Celebions eyes widened as he ducked behind the ledge, "Thats…"
"Wait." Gandalf began, "If he's the Witchking, then who is the Necromancer?
"There is other news." the unidentified Vong continued, "Apparently, The Gray Wizard is no longer traveling with them."
The necromancer turned to the speaker intrigued, "Are you sure?"
"I am certain. He split off from the company with the lead Jed'dai, the Imperial Captain, and the Dunedain."
The Necromancer did nothing for a moment, musing in silent thought. Then they saw it. His shoulders shook as he laughed like the rites of banshee.
"It's been a long time, Olórin." The Necromancer said as he turned to face them on the ledge.
Gandalf's eyes widened in disbelief. "No." just then the trio was thrown off the ledge into the stone courtyard, and Gandalf stared up at the Necromancer as he walked up to him.
Gandalf urged the two to get behind him his staff held up at the ready.
"Gandalf?" Niwen asked.
"Be silent." Gandalf urged, as he glared at the necromancer his eyes full of fear and anger.
The Necromancer came to a stop a good four yards away, "What no words, Olórin?"
Gandalf spat, "Go to the abyss that was prepared for you!"
The Necromancer laughed, "Olórin, you may curse all you want. It will all be in vain." he looked at the two behind him, "tell me, where is this Captain of the skylanders Empire, and the Jed'dai?"
Gandalf glared at him.
"Olórin, do not make this any more difficult than it needs to be. You can speak now, or suffer till I make you talk."
Gandalf's grip on his staff tighten till his knuckles were practically white, "You will have to kill me, Sauron!" the dunedain could only stare at the dark lord in terror, their faces pale.
"Then you have elected the way of pain!" Sauron, the dark lord reborn, shouted to the heavens. His arms shot wide, dark energy hurtling at the like a tidal wave; a mass of pure pitch darkness that carried with the howl of a hurricane! Gandalf held up his staff and a glowing shield protected them from the onslaught, the darkness whipping over the barrier of pure light. A cold sneer passed what remained for the dark lord's lips, and he jutted a hand forth. The energy concentrated into a corkscrew and before either of them could blink, the barrier shattered like glass! The force of the strike struck Gandalf full in the chest and he was sent hurtling backwards across the courtyard.
"How pitiful," the dark lord cooed as he advanced, walking past the terrified dunedain, "once, you were one to rival me. Now look at you. Your years have played harshly upon you, Olórin. Perhaps if you were to shed this charade and tap into your true power, you could defeat me."
Gandalf rose to his feet, and began to speak, his conviction shrouding his pain, "I am a servant of the Secret fire! Wielder of the flame of Arnor! I will not give into you!" he threw a ray of light from his staff. The light hit the dark lord in the chest like a lightning bolt, sending him staggering to a knee before he regained his composure. He rose, though not as proudly as he did before, and jutted a finger at his fellow Maia.
"So it is to be this way? So be it." Sauron snarled and became wreathed in flame as he advanced on him. Gandalf raised his staff again and charged into the dark lord. Their powers clashed in a sudden and thunderous explosion of white and crimson that rocketed to the sky.
Meanwhile outside Viridian turned to Jane, "You think they're okay?"
Ahead, they saw the aftershocks of the clash of the two Maia. Jane turned to his brother, his face grim, "I think there's your answer."
Viridian turned to Jane, "Set off that flare!"
"Sure, let's go forward with that plan." Jane shook his head as he pressed the button on his remote, sending up the flair to the north, "Viridian, I may not be force sensitive but I can feel that. What is it we're up against?".
Viridian gave Jane his most serious face and said with out his face breaking, "The Devil himself."
Back in the courtyard, Sauron and Gandalf saw the flare go up, and the dark lord's arctic smile seeped into his voice, "Ah. that would be the rest of your pitiful band."
"No!" Gandalf shouted, fury etched upon his aged frame. He lashed out at Sauron, swinging wide with his staff and came with it a blast of pure white energy that fizzled with golden limelight. He struck the dark lord once, twice and then a third time, throwing the dark lord across the floor. Sauron in turn rose to a knee and slapped together his hands. First came the mist of darkness so thick it choked the air around Gandalf. Then came the ball of fire! It wrapped around the Maia, hovering him off the ground and surely meant to consume. However, whatever gloating smile of victory Sauron had was dashed away when a repulse of energy as powerful as a sun exploded from the fire and sent the dark lord to the stone ground with a clang.
Gandalf landed on bent knee, panting softly.
"Ha ha," Sauron chuckled as he rose to stand, "impressive, my old friend. But that is the unfortunate thing here, Olórin. You will need more than to be merely impressive."
"I am not finished, slave of Morgoth!" Gandalf snarled as he too rose to meet his adversary, pointing with his staff, "And soon you will be casted back into the pit from which you spawned!"
"I think not, Olórin. For as much as I am subservient to Morgoth, so to are you to your Valar. And my god is far more generous than yours."
With that, he raised his hands skyward, and the clouds above turned foul with black and green. Great arcs of lightning blasted down from the heavens, and Gandalf raised his shield once again. The lightning cracked against the power of his magic, but Sauron was nothing if not patient, and when his adversary waned, he struck. He thrust force a powerful bolt once again to smite down his fellow Maia. Gandalf however would not be caught by the same trick. Indeed, he'd syphoned the energy of the storm and now with an extension of his staff sent it flying at Sauron.
Sauron was struck in mind and body, the electricity coursing through his with such ferocity that the barely corporeal being screamed in pain! "YOU HURT ME!" Sauron bellowed wrathfully, "I WILL SEE YOU BROKEN FOR THAT!"
He thrust his hands forward and directed the lighting to his palm and then out. Soon, it became a duel of power as the two were now tethered in the blinding electricity. Sauron advanced one step after the other until his hands were seperated from Gandalf's head only by the sphere of energy formed in front of his staff. He reached forward, and once more an explosion of great power erupted, the flash as bright as sun going supernova!
At the end, the energy had been directed primarily at Sauron, but it had been enough. Smoke fumed off his armor as his smirked tiredly at his enemy, who lay sprawled on the ground.
"Now you see the difference between you and I," he advanced upon Gandalf, who tried desperately to reach his misbegotten staff, "you are servant… but I am so much more."
Gandalf's staff burned to ash inches from his fingers. Sauron then placed a boot on his chest.
"I gave you the chance to join me willingly." Sauron gloated before he stomped on his chest with his metal boot, causing Gandalf to cry out, "But you had to resist." he stomped again, "and even then you didn't even do it with all you had." another stomp and Gandalf coughed up blood, "Tell me Olórin," another stomp, "Why bother to resist if you are not going to give it your all!" he stomped one final time and Gandalf felt several of his ribs break.
It was then that Viridian and Jane arrived, Azog snarled and attempted to charge the Jedi, only for Viridian to telekinetic throw him to the other side of the courtyard, Zimur grinned and began to advance on the Jedi.
"Hold your place." Sauron ordered, and turned to face the newcomers. He studied the two one clad in the armor forged by the elves, and the other the armor of the Skylanders, he turned his attention to the one who threw Azog across the Courtyard, "So… you are the Jed'dai."
Viridian stared Sauron down, sparing a glance at Gandalf's broken body, and the Dunedain paralyzed with fear, "I see my reputation precedes me. I can't say the same for you."
Sauron chuckled, "So, you have no idea who I am?"
Viridian looked at Gandalf then at the dark lord, and sighed, "Whoever you are, you are more powerful than I could ever hope to match."
"Perhaps." Sauron agreed, "But perhaps not, there are many powers in this world. I could show you. I could teach you the sorcery necessary for you to eliminate your enemies. You can have all you desire. You could have your revenge against the Empire who wronged your people. I could even show you how to save your niece."
That last one really hit Viridian, and he began to walk towards Sauron.
Jane watched him uncertain.
"Vi-ridian." Gandalf coughed, "no."
The air remained tense as Viridian walked up to the mighty dark lord. Viridian was looking down for the moment before he looked up into Sauron's face. Then Viridian snarled, "How dare you!"
"What?"
"How dare you use my niece against me! I don't know who you are and quite frankly I don't care! You just did the one thing I WILL NEVER FORGIVE!" Viridian pulled Ringle and slashed at the gaps in his armor, the sword finding purchase and stabbing into the dark lord, "YOU USED MY FAMILY TO TRY AND TURN ME INTO AN AGENT OF EVIL YOU BASTARD!" Viridian roared as he reared back and with a force enhanced strike slammed into Sauron's torso. The armor gave in a little, denting inward and Sauron was sent staggered back. He clutched the wound with panicked hands.
"The sword of the Noldor king."
Viridian began to attack this dark lord with abandon, not caring what so ever about how powerful he was in comparison to him. He took Ringle by the blade and slammed the pommel into Sauron with several murder strokes, each one causing him to stagger back with each blow. Viridian picked up a boulder and chucked it into the Dark Lord. He caught it with his own form of telekinesis and threw it back at him. Viridian leapt over the boulder and tackled Sauron into the ground. He took Ringle in a half swording technique and jammed it into a joint where the shoulder would be.
Sauron roared in pain and with a clenched fist, smacked Viridian off of him, "I offered you everything you could have asked for!" Sauron snarled, "AND THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME!?" he bellowed. Viridan rose to his feet, a nasty gash across his cheek that soaked with stained blood.
"VESSE IS MY NIECE AND I MADE A PROMISE I WOULD NEVER GIVE INTO THE DARKSIDE! THAT INCLUDES WHAT EVER FOUL MAGICS AND OTHER LIES YOU TRIED TO FEED ME WITH!" Viridian bellowed back as he charged forward to clash with the being.
Sauron was ready this time and he caught the boy by his wrist, picking him up by it and slammed a fist into his armored gut. Viridian felt the wind get knocked out of him as blood spat his clenched teeth, but he launched a force enhanced kick at the groin area of the enemy. Sauron however caught this too, and then casually threw him to the side like a ragdoll.
"You will realize how futile this is boy. I am Sauron, the Dark Lord of Mordor, the chief lieutenant of Morgoth, the most powerful of the Maia, you are an ant to me."
Viridian stood up and spat blood out of his mouth, "An ant with a nasty sting." Viridian retorted.
"How bold you are, but in the end that boldness will only get you killed." Sauron stated.
"As long as someone is willing to stand against you, you will never claim victory." Viridian proclaimed.
"Noble words and sentiments from one who is about to die." Sauron said dismissively, Viridian was about to charge again when the ground beneath him erupted, sending him flying off his feet and onto his back.
Viridian groaned as he looked up through blurry eyes to see Sauron standing over him with a fireball charged in his hand. Viridian attempted to raise his hand in a feeble attempt to stop the attack when all of a sudden a white armored figure tackled into Sauron and Viridian lost consciousness, slipping into the blissful darkness.
Jane roared with the effort of it as he picked the Dark Lord up a good foot off the ground before throwing him onto his back, and dumping a whole blaster power pack into him.
Sauron after the barrage of fire was over, he laughed. His armor was barely scratched, and he rose to tower over Jane. Sauron stared down at Jane, who stared up at him, waiting for his inevitable death to come crashing down.
Sauron had to admit he found the courage and blind loyalty of the brother to be… amusing. No, not entirely amusing. If it had, he would've batted away this insect here and now. But he hadn't, and wouldn't. After all, he concluded, it would be a waste when the man had potential. A potential that stroked his ambition for a tenth rider at his command.
"What is your name mortal?" Sauron asked.
"Jane Mallory." Jane answered.
"Jane Mallory, I will offer you a deal. I will allow you to take one of your companions out of this place, and three hours after I do, I will send an orc hunting party after you. Should you stem the tide I will allow you to leave completely, but if you fail to keep your chosen companion alive, you must offer yourself to me." Sauron stated.
Jane looked among the group for a moment as he gave thought to the idea. He needed a companion that he could protect and then help him come back and get the others. Gandalf, the most obvious choice, was too injured. He considered the other options. Niwen was the weakest of the group with not much fighting experience. Celebion was the strongest of the group physically, but he knew who Sauron was completely and utterly, and that had let him utterly petrified to the spot. He didn't blame him. If the metaphysical devil of his own home and come to life before him, he doubted he'd fare much better.
Plus he doubted that Celebion would want to leave his daughter here alone. That left his last option, Viridian. The more and more he thought about it the more it made sense. Viridian could heal himself faster than any ordinary humanoid, making himself combat ready in a few hours to a day at most. Plus he was powerful and willing to use the full extent of his powers. Not that Gandalf wasn't willing of course, just that he didn't use them as often as his brother did.
The choice was obvious, "Alright Sauron, I accept your challenge. Three hours to prepare. One to defend."
Sauron nodded.
Jane walked over to Viridian and picked him up into a fireman's carry. He turned to the others and vowed that he would return. With that, he began to run. As soon as he left the fortress, he ran north towards where Viridian said he felt where the mystery jedi was, and where Intel put the any luck he could get there before his three hours were up and meet the orcs with help.
Little did he know though he suspected that Sauron would change the deal, after two hours he sent the orcs and wargs. And they were hungry for flesh.
AN: Well I hoped you all enjoyed it, if any of you have any criticism with how I handled Sauron please let me know after all I can only improve if you offer constructive criticism. And with all of that out of the way, I will see you all in the next chapter.