A/N: This is it! This story is officially finished! Thank you to everyone that has been waiting patiently for me to finish this story. A few of you were waiting months, others were waiting years as I started this story back in 2014. But it is done and I'm glad of it. I think that for now, I will finish writing "A Kidnapped Healer" while planning out my next story. I think it will either involve Oropher and the sack of Doriath, or Avorneth and Faelher being reunited. Let me know what you guys think and I'll get writing and working on them!
Until next time, please enjoy this last bit where we see who was trying to bring about the destruction of the elves. You probably already know, but in case you don't, here's the answer. See you in the next story and stay safe out there. Thank you to all the first responders and health care workers out there who are fighting so hard!
Until next, please read, review and enjoy!
Inside his tower the man threw his glass of wine against the wall, watching it shatter and break, just like his plan. His attempt to kill Elrond Half-elven had failed, and now he was back in his valley, unlikely to leave alone ever again.
He had missed his chance to deal a crippling blow to the elves. He would have to wait for another opportunity.
'If there will be one,' the voice of doubt whispered in his head, and he pushed it aside.
There would be another chance, there would.
There had to be, otherwise, he would never be able to convince Sauron of his loyalty and commitment. If he couldn't do that he was as good as dead, as Sauron was incapable of mercy.
He went to the balcony then, looking out at the trees surrounding his tower. He had another concern as well: had that woman said anything about his involvement? He wasn't sure, and it made him uneasy.
If she had, he would have to take precautions that could be deadly to anyone who came here asking questions.
If she hadn't, he would have to pretend to be surprised when Gandalf appeared. The Gray Wizard loved to meddle, and he may start piecing things together if he wasn't careful.
Either way and no matter what happened, he would need to be careful. He still needed to prove his loyalty to Sauron, while deceiving the elves and Edain and Gandalf a while longer.
Saruman sighed as he looked at the sky; this would not be easy and would take all his cunning. In the end, though, he will succeed and nothing and no one will be able to stop him.
Not Gandalf the Gray or Galadriel the White.
Not Celeborn the Wise or Thranduil the Elvenking.
Not any Man or Dwarf or Elf.
And not Elrond Half-elven.
He would succeed, or die trying, he resolved with a nod of his head, turning southeast to gaze in the direction of Mordor.
'Soon, very soon,' he thought, 'Neither of us will have to hide in the shadows much longer.'
'Soon, Middle-Earth will belong to both of us.'
Saruman smiled and went back inside his tower, shutting the door to begin planning again.
He had a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it.
The takeover of Middle-Earth was not something to plan carelessly or recklessly.
He didn't want anyone finding out about his plans until it was too late.
Far away Gandalf journeyed and meddled trying to find answers.
But he never would, and eventually, he had to give up and move on to more pressing matters as Smaug invaded the Lonely Mountain and destroyed Dale, but he still kept a close eye on Gondor to make sure such corruption of hearts did not happen again.
No answers were ever found in regards to the hunters and who had hired them, and eventually the memory of what happened faded in the memories of Men, but not of elves.
They never forgot, and they never forgave the one that had ordered such terrible things, even if they didn't know who it was until they sailed to the Undying Lands and were confronted with the truth.
And even then they never forgave Saruman for his treachery and betrayal, no matter how much time passed.
What he had done to Elrond Half-elven was unforgivable, and not even the Valar could find a way to pardon him for that crime, nor did they try.
He needed to be punished for not just his betrayal of Elrond Half-elven and Middle-Earth, but also for his betrayal of his oath and the Valar.
And so they did, trapping him in the Void alongside Morgoth for eternity.
Only then were the elves satisfied the punishment was sufficient and the crime acknowledged and forgiveness given to Lord Elrond for what one of the Maiar had put him through all those years ago.
Only then was the terrible saga of the hunters and the hunted drawn to a close, and all those that remembered felt some peace about the experience.
And so it was finished and ended and the story recorded by those that witnessed and lived it and experienced it, for others to read and take caution from.
And pray it never happens again.
Ever.