Ready for the next installment? The sisters are together again!


StarlightGilgalad – Thanks! I hope they do too! Thanks for reading!

AHealingRenaissance – I knew you'd like it! :D I think she would hit him too. Guess she and her sister are more alike than either of them think! Thanks for reading!

WMaldonado89 – Yeah, it's a rough situation for all of them. But, hopefully, the sisters can use things to their advantage. Thanks for reading!


Enzi walked almost automatically through the hallways, drawing stares and gasps from the servants to whom she passed. It was such a strange thing, walking through such familiar surroundings. She had all but given up on the idea of coming back to Engoli, of seeing the country in which she'd grown up. She had finally come to peace with it, living without seeing her homeland. And yet now, here she was.

She thought on much as the Captain and his guard walked her to the main hall. How long had it been since she'd left for Bree? Surely long enough for Bakari to recognize something was wrong. But would he and Idyssa know where to go? Who to contact? And what of Éomer? It occurred to her that she did not know how long she how long she had been missing. What would Éomer do if he found that she was missing…. or discovered her capture?

The door was opened to the great hall and she was placed in the center, looking up to the royal dais. She looked towards the right, her special place beside her father's throne….and her mother's before him. The guard continued to stand behind her as the Captain walked through the left doors, apparently allowing for his leader's entrance. At the bottom of the dais, she found seating for three others, two of which she knew. She remembered traveling as an emissary for her country to Usiki Manane, giving gifts to Mfalme Jibran. She half expected the old man to be dead and to have seen his eldest son in his place. Everyone looked so haggardly, as if Sauron's final pull to life had eaten away at the entire people. Yet Jibran stood strong, dark eyes boring into hers. Beside him stood Lady - Mfalme Tiziza. She had only met this woman once, during one of the games. She had not given Enzi any reason to believe her anything but a frivolous woman and about as threatening as a butterfly. And yet here these two sat, along with a second woman to watch the proceedings.

She took a moment to study the woman, who seemed to smile a bit at her. She was clothed in pink, various golden jewels sparkling among the fabric. She was from Rhûn. Enzi had never seen her before. There was no indication of her status. Yet, all of Enzi's instincts told her that this was the woman that had visited Aragorn. This was the woman who'd come to Minas Tirith asking questions. A slow, strong tension set in her jaw and she held it there, gluing her lips together. Slowly, her attention turned back to the golden throne at the top of the dais. The pieces were slowly coming together. And she was not among friends.

She listened to the buzz around her as she her mind went back to her preparation….to what she saw in her cell in the Grieves. It felt alive; its presence familiar. If it was Kivuli, it was not as dark as Abaan had been. The vapor of a body had been completely black with Abaan. This one was greyish. And it had a form….a body. Abaan had only been able to maintain contact through people. But this form… this form had watched her without anyone in the room. The thought occurred to her that this could have been Dingane, trying to warn her. Perhaps he had not come home to safety. Perhaps he had died on his journey from Mordor. Why else would she have not seen him by now?

"Mfalme Asana enters!"

The voice of the Captain snapped Enzi's attention back to the room. She lowered herself, kneeling to the floor and bowing in the traditional style. She could hear the three spectators stand and the prostration of others, but other than this the room was silent. She could hear the door through which Asana entered slam closed and the sounds of footfalls on top of the dais. "Rise," Mfalme Asana said thinly, and Enzi obeyed her, shocked at what she saw.

Asana sat on the throne, looking down at her, enveloped in a white gown and adorned with a colorful bead necklace and golden circlet. But she looked nothing as she had before. She had thinned, extremely so, and her skin seemed to have lost its glow, simply hanging from her appendages. She could tell that the dress was designed to look bulkier, giving the woman more weight than she was sure she had. Her face had been positively painted with make-up, aging her even more, seemingly in an attempt to disguise her condition. But the eyes…. Asana's large doe-like eyes. They couldn't have been disguised. And then it hit her. The Kivuli, the shadow that Enzi had seen. It had been her.

When Asana spoke, she seemed far away. "Ghadelyna Njeri, daughter of Engoli people, you stand accused of treason. You have abandoned your people, abandoned your home. Given sanctuary to strangers. Aided our enemies in our destruction. You are wafu, dead to our people. Forever hidden from our mothers and fathers."

Enzi could see pain hidden within Asana's eyes, and spoke before she could stop herself. "I have not abandoned Engoli." I have acted according to the wishes of Mfalme Ghasaan, my father-"

"Ghasaan the proven traitor," she heard an Msaidizi say among the whispers of those nearby.

"Ghasaan, the royal consort of Mfalme Sumayyaa!" she corrected. "Everything I have done was to protect Engoli, and Harad."

Enzi watched one of the Msaidizi, the female that she'd met in the Grieves, bowed before Asana. Asana nodded at the woman and the Msaidizi spoke. "Then you deny that you lied to the royal line? Killed a fellow Engoli and hid yourself in order to aid the Men of the North?"

"I killed no one but I did leave in order to aide my country."

"Her words cannot be heard in royal court," another Msaidizi cried. "She is wafu, dead to the tribe, as you have deemed. Nothing can be offered until the faces the trials." She had known this, of course. She had known it before speaking. It was the full emotion of seeing Asana that had forced the words from her mouth and she bit her lips to quiet them.

Asana's gaze didn't leave hers as the girl nodded to the guard that stood behind her. She had known that it would be her only recourse, her only way of being heard in the court, at least fairly. The guard handed her a small dagger, to which she slit her left hand. She then held up the bleeding appendage, revealing it to those assembled. "Let it be known that I am guilty of nothing but loyalty to my home, my people. And if it is required that I serve penance for the right to speak, to survive the trials, then so be it. I who am nameless take on the trials for such a right. The right to defend my actions before all assembled here."

Enzi kneeled back upon the floor before her sister, waiting for her sister's words. There was hesitation in the girl's eyes. Enzi saw it, processed it and focused her eyes on the woman, willing all of her strength to be poured in her sisters. I will survive the trials, Asana, she thought. Call it. Call it or lose credibility here and now. "Very well, Asana finally said. The trial will begin in 2 days." The girls swallowed hard before speaking. "Let her be prepared."

The guard lifted her up, allowing Enzi a chance to bow before her sister before leaving. It occurred to her as she left for the Grieves that perhaps she would be unable to endure the trials necessary to convince Engoli of what evil they'd actually endured. She had seen it for herself and has still hesitated to see Sauron for what he was. Yet that was inconsequential. Asana was the most important factor now, the only one to be protected.

The guard shoved her into the room and shut the door harshly. Enzi walked toward the window, wrapping her hand in a piece of cloth, listening to the city sounds as she considered what the following days would reveal. It was only due to her title and heritage that the thought of treason even up for discussion; most nations, Engoli included, called for death for anyone found betraying their nation. For the days ahead, she'd endure various forms of degradation and, to be blunt, torture. It would be her task to endure and overcome each attack, either verbal or physical in order to have the right to even defend her own actions. It was the same type of trial her father had endured. The only difference was that there would be no evidence of her treachery, save her lack of service to Mordor's army. The only actual crime she could be punished for was leaving, meaning that she would be able to explain her situation if the ancestors protected her. With her father it had certainly been different. The early Reaping itself was evidence that he had offended the Eye. She felt her eyes swell with tears and walked away from the window to disrobe. But the Eye was gone now. Perhaps she would be able to succeed in revealing the truth.

By the time the maidservants returned to the room, she was ready, The women filled a modest trough-like tub with water and she stepped towards it quietly, cleaning her face before dipping her hair in the water. It would be the last time she would experience this luxury for a long while. A rough towel was placed on the floor with a large basin of bronze clay. She covered herself a bit sloppily in the thick clay as the women waited quietly. One eventually assisted her, covering the parts of her body she could not reach. When she was done, the women circled her, mumbling prayers to the ancestors, songs of protection she had not heard for years. When they had finished, They stood behind her, placing small razors and shears on the bed. The elder woman bowed wearily at her, studying Enzi for a long while. She thought she saw sadness in the woman's hard features.

"May Mfalme Sumayyaa forgive us," she said softly after a while, placing a hand on her shoulder. Enzi found herself comforted by the elder woman's touch, grateful that she had been given to Asana's service. "Are you ready, Lady Ghadelyna?"

"You know that you cannot call me that? Not until I prove myself."

"My family has faithfully served the Engoli Mfalme for four generations. You are Lady Ghadelyna."

Enzi smiled as brightly as she could, nodding thanks to the woman. She returned the nod, then looked regretfully at her maids. "Let us begin ladies." With that, the women set themselves to work, cutting her long thick locks off her scalp. Strange. Enzi would have been shaved had she actually left the Dingane. Had they followed orders rather than planned to save their father. Had she submitted to Sauron rather than saved the kingdoms by assisting in his demise. But now the constant snipping made her feel lonely. Naked. More naked than she realized she should have felt while kneeling on the floor painted the clay.

Soon, the women began massaging her head with oily soaps to allow for the final shaving. She found herself wondering what Éomer would think. Thankfully, the blessing allowed her to keep her brows. By the time they'd finished, she realized how silly it was to worry about appearance when one thought about what she was to face. The trials would ruin her looks much more than the loss of her hair would.

She bowed and thanked the women as they finished, standing up and walking to the tub of water. She sat down in it, cleaning her face again as the women scrubbed every inch of body, noting the previous injuries and blemishes. Throughout the trials, her body would be scrutinized, bruises and injuries possible admissions of guilt, or recognition of her innocence. Once the bathing was done, soothing oil was applied, her hand was re-wrapped after a healing salve was applied to it, and she was allowed to redress. She was then given a bit of food to eat, which she did quietly as the women removed the bathing items swiftly and quietly. She barely noticed the entrance of another until she heard her breathing. Her eyes shifted and she saw her baby sister still dressed in her royal accoutrements, joined by the captain and younger guard.

Enzi felt the bit of food she'd swallowed get stuck as her throat constricted. A wave of emotion seemed to physically push her to a sitting position on the bed and she fought to stand. Her sister. Her baby sister. Take care of you sister, her mother had said that night. The night of Asana's birth. The last night Enzi saw her mother. Protect her and love her just as I have loved you." And now her very presence was hurting the girl, gutting her even as she stood in perfect repose. Enzi prostrated herself, then stood to her full height, physically ill at the sight of Asana's ravaged body. It was worse up close. Much worse. She was still beautiful, still graceful, but was a taller, stretched shell of her former self.

She tentatively took a step forward, hands outstretching to the Mfalme of their own volition. She saw tears forming in Asana's eyes as she took a step backward, as if afraid she would fall apart at Enzi's touch. Enzi wanted to speak. Tell her that she was sorry. Tell her that she'd missed her. Tell her how proud she knew her parents would be. But the words would not come. They felt hollow and empty, not worthy of the sacrifice she knew her sister had made, even as the corruption of the eye was eating Asana alive.

Asana words would not come either, and she stood quietly as the captain shut the door, leaving only the old woman and the young guard. She waited a few beats after the door was shut before taking a tentative step forward. She was still shorter than Enzi's towering frame. She looked so fragile, so small. For a moment she was like she was a child, reaching out for Enzi to pick her up and carry her to the gardens, or to bed, or to comfort her. She then realized that Asana was indeed reaching for her, her small right hand reaching for her left. They touched each other's hands lightly, tentatively, both sets of eyes locked on the hands and not each other.

"Ghadelyna," Asana finally said, her voice breaking, reverting to the small girl Enzi had known so long ago, "is it-"

Enzi enveloped Asana in her arms. She couldn't bear to hear the question. The sadness, desperation in her voice. She just couldn't listen to it. The girl was crying now, sobbing and sniffling in the stillness of the room. Enzi rubbed her arms, realizing that part of the sobbing and wailing came from her own lips. She kissed Asana's head, trying to quiet herself, only to find that the wailing continued to escape. The embrace became more desperate, Asana gripping her sister as if Enzi would somehow disappear. Enzi could feel it all – the despair, the loneliness, the fear, all wrapped up in each simple little cry. But despite what was to come, they were finally together. And that was all that mattered.


"And that was what caused the sickness?"

"Yes. Sauron has used us since the very beginning. Syphoning our life force to strengthen himself. It was his final tether to this world. Mother and father must have seen a shadow of this or his control over our peoples, and plotted his demise together."

The two were sitting alone on the bed now. Both had finally, after several tries, calmed themselves. They were alone now. Both the old woman and the young soldier had excused themselves at some point, allowing the two sisters a bit of privacy. Enzi had thought to protect her sister, to only tell her what she had to. But despite the weakened body, it was clear that Asana was a true Mfalme. She handled ever word, processed every scenario with the clear understanding of an old general listening to positions of the enemy on the battlefield. "But none of this can be received in court. Not unless you survive the trials."

"I can, Asana. I can and I will."

"Yes, but that's not all of it is it?" Asana declared wearily. "If the other Mfalme believe that I am easing my choice of ordeal because you are my sister, they will ally with Rhûn or each other, declaring our whole house traitors."

"Then make one of your Msaidizi lead in that matter," Enzi said quickly. "The loud one. You still have the final say, but it will appear that you are trying to be as impartial as possible."

Asana pursed her lips together in concentration. "Chione? Hmph. That could work. But that is another problem." She looked around the room for a moment before giving Enzi a steely gaze. "This is a stall tactic. Even if you survive the trials, I may not survive to judge you." Enzi felt herself whimper a bit at that statement but Asana seemed to regard it as simply inevitable. It was as if she was declaring that the sun would set. "And with you imprisoned and Dingane with the Bretii-"

Enzi jumped to attention. "Dingane? Are you sure? How could you know this? I thought no scouts had returned from Lower Harad."

Asana looked away sheepishly, finally looking like the little sister she'd left behind. "Because I saw him the same way I saw you when you were first imprisoned." So Enzi hadn't imagined it. It was Asana. "Abaan taught me a lot before Amyr finally died. Or before you or Dingane gave him the final rites."

Amazing how the thought of Kivuli was now commonplace. A few years ago, it was only a childish fable. "It would have had to be Dingane. I was trapped on the other side of the Gate. So, you've been able to share the consciousness of others? As Abaan shared Amyr's?"

"No," Asana said, "I've only tried once, before Amyr died, but it felt strange. Draining. Maybe because I wasn't dead. I don't know how to explain it. I've only been able to separate my consciousness from my body to travel."

An idea started to form in Enzi's mind. "And is he safe?"

Asana nodded. "They seem to have no desire to kill him, only prevent him from leaving Bretii territory. When I'm gone, his claim to the throne will end." She studied her elder sister quietly. "What are you thinking?"

"Bring in your guard."

After studying her for a long while, Asana stood and called for Khemik, who entered the room quietly and a bit suspiciously. "Khemik," Asana said, "my sister, Ghadelyna." The guard nodded quietly, and Asana turned her attention to her sister. "What do you need him for?"

"We need him to get to Dingane. If we can bring him back-"

Asana countered. "That won't change anything."

"You said it yourself. Dingane's efforts have been celebrated. He could vouch for myself and as your heir, the Rhûn would have no pull. The other tribes would find no reason to back them."

"But I've told you, he's completely surrounded. Khemik would never make it there. And if I send a troop of soldiers with him, the Rhûn will obviously spot them. They'd never make it back."

Enzi smirked. "He won't go to Bretii. At least, not first." She looked at the man, thinking on what Asana had told her. His eyes were set, brows knotted, and lips pursed. It was obvious that he had no trust for her, but that wasn't really relevant. Not now. She stood up, walking in front of him until he had no choice to look her in the eyes. "You are Variag?"

His face was stone. "I served Al Tufayl before the war with Rhûn. Before I was placed in Mfalme Asana's services."

"I want you to leave Harad. Go to the kingdom of the northern horselords. You must convince the king to gather his troops and help you get Dingane out of Bretii."

"Why Khemik?" Asana asked from the bed.

"No one will suspect him," Enzi said, her eyes not leaving Khemik's. "The other Mfalme will assume that he is following either your orders or Rhûn's. Rhûn will not regard him because he's going in the wrong direction." She turned her conversation back to Khemik. "You must go quickly. He must be able to bring Dingane back within weeks, before the trials are over."

"No."

Enzi looked at him for a moment, not quite processing what she had heard. She looked back at Asana who also seemed perplexed. The elder sister looked back at the man. "Why not?"

He took a moment to glance at Asana before speaking. "I don't trust you or your motives."

Enzi could not hold back the grin. "Really?"

"You left your post and your people, and now all of your hopes of reclaiming your brother are spent on the willingness of the savages from the North. I am loyal to Mfalme Asana. If it is her order, I will follow. But I see no reason to-"

"Gyasi is alive."

She had said it in the Common Tongue to test her theory. Based on what Asana had told her she had suspicions, but his body posture confirmed it. He took a step back, shock registering on his face. He blinked at her absently as he seemed to search for something to say. Enzi spoke quickly. "Maltok would only keep a Variag in such a high position as a symbol, meaning he wanted your people to see you following his orders, perhaps to keep them under control. Only royalty or those in the court know the Common Tongue. And you cannot feign lack of understanding now. You've waited too long." The man looked uncomfortable, shifting his gaze to Asana. "Nevertheless what I've said is true. I've done the best I could, with the help of the King of Rohan to protect and shelter him from his enemies. And I can almost guarantee you that those still caring for him will seek out the King after my disappearance. His life is in King Éomer's hands. Help me, and he can return to your people."

For a while the man said nothing, as if he were warring with himself. Finally he walked away from Enzi, kneeling to Asana who was still sitting. The Mfalme spoke to him softly and steely. "Can you do this for us, Khemik?"

He nodded slowly, as if finally deciding it was the right decision only because she requested it. "As Mfalme wishes. I will leave at sunset."

"Khemik?" Enzi's voice seemed smaller than before as the man stopped, turning his attention to the prisoner. "When you speak to him, tell him ….. tell him….." She struggled to find the words. "Tell him….. for the sake of all Engoli, Enzi needs him to do this." At least he would know that she was alive and well, relatively speaking. The man nodded, then turned, walking out of the room to prepare himself for his arduous journey. "Now we wait," Enzi said to her sister in the stillness of the room.

"No," Asana corrected. "Now the ordeals begin… for all of us."


I wanted the Trials to begin in this chapter but it didn't work out that way. Good thing Khemik is around though. If he can only make it to Éomer in time. Thoughts? Reviews are not only welcomed but appreciated!