Important before reading:
This is the first chapter of my french fanfic, you can read the original if you click my name, maybe i will post somes chapters in english but all my focus goes to the french version.
Good reading.
The silence.
That's all we heard. Any other day the sounds of nature could have been heard. But that day, the birds stopped singing, the winds stopped blowing. Even the sound of the waves had disappeared. You could have heard your own heart beating right now. Suddenly a great clap of thunder was heard, but it was a cloudless day. It was not a natural event that caused this thunder. It was dark black magic.
it was a shadow of an ancient age, which has now entered Immortal Lands.
A titanic black cloud spreading over places skirted the coast where one could usually distinguish the island of Tol Eressëa. The elves there who inhabited the island had already fled west through Eldamar Bay, the only point of access to the Pelori Mountains from the continent of Aman and to the kingdom of Valinor. That's where that cloud was. It was opaque and thunderstorm noises were heard inside. This cloud heralded great misfortune, but for some unknown reason it stopped before touching land, waiting on the water as if waiting to be told to move on.
From this cloud of shadow covering the whole sea began to advance a piece of black smoke which settled on the beach. The cloud retreated almost immediately and left there a female form. She had two pointed ears designating her as an elf, wore a black tunic, had long raven hair and very pale skin. So pale the veins could be seen on her face. She had her head bowed and her eyes closed.
" Even at the heart of Valinor… Ainur can know fear… " a soft yet deep voice spoke causing a faint echo in the air.
The woman slowly raised her head and opened her eyes. His eyes were shrouded in flames with slit pupils like those of a reptile. If his face was devoid of emotion, these eyes on the contrary will give the impression that your very soul is on fire. She looked ahead towards the mountains which served as impenetrable defenses and her gaze rested on the great Silver Gates leading to the Pass of Light and towards the city of Tirion. The Black Gate of Mordor made a poor comparison to this work by Aulë. She began to walk away from the massive black cloud and Eldamad Bay towards the Great Walls.
No guards were posted on the walls, no beasts roamed the wilderness, even the sun seemed to have stopped to observe this moment, only the footsteps of the elf woman and the thunder of the dark cloud broke this silence.
Arrived at a hundred meters of the door as big as the tower of Orthanc, a white lightning struck the top of silver thus stopping the woman. Then soon after a second broke in front of her in the grass. From this flash appeared a man, crouching with his head bowed. He stood up slowly, long silvery hair, armor shining like diamonds, and a blank expression revealing no emotions.
" My old enemy, you cannot hide from me. No matter what form you choose to take, "he said in a loud but clear voice while pointing a large Mithril encrusted sword at the woman wearing a playful expression for some reason.
"Let your true self be reveal !" Suddenly, lightning came from the point of the sword that fell on the woman who blocked with one hand, a golden ring with inscriptions on fire on it. " Sauron! "
All traces of humor vanished from the face of the woman who lifted her head and stared intently at the warrior in the eyes before suddenly falling forward, one hand to the ground and the other still holding back the thunderbolt of the sword.
" AAAARRRRGGGGHHH ! The Warrior cried, intensifying his attack which engulfed the woman to the ground causing a mass of flames and fumes around her. He stopped his attack and watched apprehensively at the result.
For a few moments nothing happened, only the charred area could be seen, then a cloud of flame began to rise and swirl like a tornado, the warrior stepped back to avoid burns from this fire and put himself on guard knowing already that would follow. A dark and disturbing voice came out of this blaze making the hairs on the back of the warrior's neck stand on end.
" Our long war ends today, Ëonwë! " The fire took the form of a large fiery eye and from the pupil a figure in black armor emerged and walked towards the warrior Ëonwë. He was massive and twice the size of his opponent. He wore a helmet hiding his face with spikes on the top forming a sort of dismal crown. Heavy pieces of armor all more eerie than the next, a large sword looking ragged and that same golden ring on his right hand contrasting the rest of his body.
Despite this spectacle, Ëonwë did not allow himself to be distracted and swirling his sword, he charged, shouting at Sauron, the dark lord.
Sauron raised his sword running and brought it down on the form of Eonwë which upon impact disappeared in a burst of light to reappear on Sauron's right flank. He swung his sword sideways at his face and Sauron hurriedly pulled his head back only to receive a sharp cut on his helmet. He retaliated quickly and a tendril of black smoke similar to the still motionless black cloud in the distance came out of his back, going hard to hit Ëonwë which he sent waltzed for several meters. After a few rolls, Ëonwë got to his feet and hastily blocked the sword blow that was aimed at his head as Sauron had bridged the distance between them in record time.
" If you think this fight will end the same as the one we had in the War of Wrath, you are seriously wrong. Sauron said eagerly, the pressure of his blow increasing and threatening to slip through his opponent's guard.
Grimacing, Ëonwë disappeared once more in a burst of light, Sauron's sword slamming hard on the ground creating a mini crater there.
Ëonwë reappeared twenty yards in front of the stairs of the Argent Gates, calmly catching his breath. Sauron turned to him, not the least bit tired from the exchange of blows. " I notice that you are my only opponent. N e am- I not worthy enough interest that the Valar deign combatt me re themselves? Or on the contrary the idea of confronting me scares them so much that he sends you to do the dirty work? "
" Don't insult the Valar Sauron!" I personally asked to face you alone. No one else needs to be endangered here. You won't escape this time. You will be defeated and the Valar will judge you for all your crimes against Eru! "
Sauron stared at him without saying anything. This silence seemed to disturb Ëonwë, who spoke again.
" What ? No more respondent? More sarcasmas you once knew how to do so well ? Look at you Mairon! " Sauron winced at the mention of the name. " Look what you've become! What Morgoth did with you! You have become the shadow of the Black Enemy! And because of your atrocious acts in Middle-earth, you are now a threat ten times worse than him! " He stopped time to regain his composure before finishing softly, almost pleading. " I took Mairon from you. Let's all stop this. Let's stop this madness. Come with me. " He reached out and looked with affection.
Sauron looked at the outstretched hand and seemed to delve into thought. Ëonwë had hopes that he was considering accepting his offer but that hope was shattered when Sauron finally spoke up.
" Do you really expect me to join you?" " He asked scornfully" And what would happen if I did? Will I go back to live in Valimar with you? I will become Maia of Aulëthe blacksmith again and everyone will live happily until the reforge of the world? No. At best, I'll be thrown straight into the void to join Morgoth. And as you said, my actions have brought me here, if I agreed to join you, they will have been done in vain and that I cannot accept. I will finish what I started and I will destroy anyone who gets in my way. " Sauron withdrew his sword from the ground.
" Don't do that ..." Ëonwë begged
" Enough talking, you will face me or you will perish. "And to prove his point, a dozen shadow tendrils appeared and plunged on Ëonwë who resigned himself to blocking, realizing that there was no turning back any more and that it would be a fight to the death. But at the moment of impact the tendrils suddenly bypassed him and went to impale his back. In an emergency, Ëonwë jumped forward to avoid injuries that would surely paralyze him. The tendrils chased him and seemed to multiply with every second. He continued to dodge for a while, having to resort to his teleportation spell frequently to avoid getting hit. When he had too many to escape, he planted his sword in the ground and a white barrier appeared around him repelling the tendrils now by the hundreds. Although the tendrils cannot reach it, Sauron did not admit defeat and; putting more of his power into it, he engulfed the dome of light with a black cloud and began to squeeze the barrier, trying to crush Ëonwë.
Ëonwë continued to push back the cloud that was now blocking his view. He knew that maintaining this barrier would only work against him by emptying him of his energy without being able to retaliate. He had to end the fight soon or he would surely lose. So he concentrated, trying to locate Sauron behind that cloud of darkness while still holding the barrier, and when he finally found him, he disappeared from the dome and reappeared behind the Dark Lord ready to deliver the killing blow. ' it's over, ' he thought sadly. He swung his sword and the sound of a blade was heard penetrating a body. Except that Eonwë's blade never hit its target. With lightning speed Sauron had turned and stabbed him with his own sword.
" How ... how? He asked shocked . How could he know where he was going to appear and react with such speed? There was nothing he could do to counter it.
Sauron withdrew his sword causing him to spit blood and lifted him by the collar of his armor. The black tendrils slowly retracting behind his back. He brought his face closer to that of his opponent and spoke in a terrifying voice.
" Take one last look at your shining Immortal Lands Ëonwë!" For soon, nothing of it shall remain,butmy laughter! "
At these words, Ëonwë felt an emotion he had not felt for a long time. At these words, Ëonwë knew he was afraid. Not for his life, but for all those who lived in Immortal Lands, for all that the Valar and Maiar worked so hard for and the fear of a world ruled by darkness.
Gathering his strength, Ëonwë teleported out of the grasp of the dark Maia and fell to his knees in front of the great Silver Gates, one hand on the ground and the other holding his bleeding wound which would be fatal to any other being that was not. a Maia.
Sauron turned to the doors and slowly approached. He stopped and the grass began to burn under his feet. A strong wind came out of him causing the surrounding trees to fall. You could feel the power building up in him like he was a Vala who could bend the elements as they pleased. Ëonwë found that there was something familiar about this energy but could not find its origin. And finally after a few seconds that each seemed like an eternity, Sauron released that energy with a shrill scream that sent a shock wave all around him. Ëonwë was brutally tackled against the Silver Gates which began to shake under the pressure of the scream. He tried to free himself but failed miserably.
Ëonwë could do nothing but painfully watch Sauron destroy the great defense of the Valar as if it was child's play. ' How can he be so strong? Morgoth couldn't give him such strength. ' And suddenly the realization struck like the hammer Grond. ' This energy ... could it? Oh no… what have you been doing Mairon? '
And inevitably, not being able to take the pressure any longer, the doors creaked. The walls and the large guard towers began to collapse on themselves. And Ëonwë was engulfed in the rubble.
Sauron stopped the scream and unperturbed, resumed his slow walk as the Silver Gates fell before him exposing the Immortal Lands. He stopped when he saw the sword of Eonwë planted in front of him. He approached it and took the sword of Mithril in his right hand bearing the golden ring. Lifting it to the sky, he concentrated and succeeded in summoning the thunderbolt. He allowed himself a laugh. Although the sound was unrecognizable with the helmet he was wearing.
He looked around for Eonwë's body to make sure he was dead, but couldn't find it. He continued for a few moments before giving up, having more urgent things to do.
' Farewell Ëonwë. I regret that you cannot witness this new era 'he thought before resuming his journey. The Maia walked through the ruins of the gates, taking with him the blade of his fallen opponent and a new objective in mind.
" Prepare yourself Ainurs, I am coming for you ... " he declared darkly. The cloud of darkness also began to penetrate Aman and followed him from afar. Engulfing ruins and all of once lush nature.
Elsewhere, from the top of their great halls, the Valar prepared for war.
For Sauron has arrived, and the Immortal Lands will bow down to him.
OKAY ! So a few points to clarify
- I am planning a chapter on the events that took place in Middle-earth leading up to this moment.
- Before it screams out that Sauron beat Eonwë far too easily, we will have to wait for the following chapters to understand where Sauron's strength comes from. In sword fighting I know that there is no more talented than Ëonwë but you will understand later why he could not win.
-I was inspired by the fight of Imperius and Diablo from Diablo V Reaper of Soul for this showdown. Available on Youtube, lasts 2min and is very well animated.
-Les Portes d'Argents do not exist in the barrel.
- There are surely a flurry of spelling mistakes, so no one hesitates to tell me.
-Of course I am open to ideas.
And now, I'm waiting for some feedback if you want to leave some, that will encourage me a little.