Disclaimers: I do not own The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter. They belong to J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling. All other canon material belongs to their respected owners. All original material belongs to me, the authoress of this fanfiction story.
Warning! This chapter is Rated M for intense, dark images and sensual content.
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"…come here," Frodo said, his mouth gaped open.
The villains were decked in an array of blacks, reds, and purples. There was even one villain that wore a white furry coat. Her hair was half black and half white. The way she laughed made Frodo's blood run cold.
It was Cruella De Vil. Frodo was surprised he even recognized her.
Frodo looked around the room, spotting Sauron dressed in his iron armor, standing against the wall, where the stone fireplace was lit. Frodo took one good look at Sauron, seeing him standing there, triumphing over the villains' victory.
Frodo looked at Sandria. For a time, it would seem she was free. Then Frodo took a look at her wrists. They were shackled. Darth Freya held Sandria's silver chain. The chain was attached to the shackles. The way Darth Freya jerked the chain, forcing Sandria to lean forward made Frodo's blood run cold.
Oh, how he wanted more than anything to help Sandria! To do something to help his friend out. And yet, here they were, standing in the same room, awaiting their next trials.
Sandria looked at Frodo. She shooed him away with her hands, moments into Darth Freya tugging Sandria's silver chain. Sandria was forced to lean forward, stumbling as she tried to straighten herself up.
This was not good! What were they doing here? Frodo wondered this, even as the meeting resumed. Maleficent spoke up, announcing her presence to the entire assembly:
"Now Ursula," Maleficent started, her voice crisp and clear, "is that any way to treat our guests?"
Ursula, a huge woman with purple skin, white hair sticking up in the air, and covered in a black octopus' body, cackled, "Guests? Please! What guests would those be?"
"Oh. Those guests," Maleficent said, pointing out Frodo and Bethany.
"No!" Sandria cried. She rushed towards Frodo and Bethany, only to be pinned down by Darth Freya.
Darth Freya smirked. She told Sandria, right in her ear, "Now, did you really think you were getting away?" Sandria struggled to stand up, only to have Darth Freya pin her down. Darth Freya was so much stronger than her. That much was clear.
Darth Freya looked up at Frodo and Bethany. For a moment, her triumph seemed complete. And yet, there was one more trick up Freya's sleeve. Freya turned to Sandria, telling her, "You know, you cannot escape me. So, why fight me? I'm stronger than you. And yet, you look at it and wonder, 'how did I get here?'"
Darth Freya smiled, loving this. Sandria relaxed, her movements defeated. Freya cackled, loving this display of power. "What's this? Afraid to lose?"
"No! I—I just… eh. No, I can't," Sandria said, fresh tears streaming down her face.
Darth Freya stood up, facing Frodo and Bethany. "You see? That's better."
"You have no right to do that," Frodo said, sharply. He seethed, telling Freya, "No right. Let her go."
Freya smirked, enjoying herself. "And give up my prized possession?" Frodo looked at Bethany, wondering if Freya would let Sandria go. Freya didn't, nor did she accept Frodo's request. Instead, Freya spoke, coyly, "I think not." Freya smirked, seeing Frodo dirtied and disheveled. "Enjoying your stay here? I must say, this prison house is meant for you. Aren't you weak?"
Anger burst on Frodo's face. Frodo charged towards her, only to have Bethany grab his arm. Frodo stopped, at which point, Freya cackled.
"Oh Frodo, you honestly think you're brave? Hmm? What did it take for you to find Bethany? Your strengths or your weaknesses? Possibly, the weaknesses. Such a pity," Freya told Frodo, delighting herself.
Bethany spoke up, leaving Frodo to lower his head in shame. "Frodo is brave! I mean, who says physical strength is the only thing that matters? Shouldn't we embrace strength of all sorts? Frodo wants to redeem Smeagol. He still wants to, right?"
Freya grinned madly. Frodo looked up at her, admitting to her, "Listen, it was the only way I thought I could find Bethany. We never should have parted. I…" he sighed, telling them both, "…I'm sorry, but when physical strength doesn't work, how else am I supposed to find her?" He looked at Bethany, telling her, "I'm sorry. We never should be apart."
It wasn't enough. Freya got Frodo's attention, telling him, "Yes, but you would risk everything just to attract Bethany? You are strange. And yet, here we are, with no idea what else I'm going to do to you two." Freya seethed, telling the guards, "Guards! Put Frodo and Bethany in their own cell, together. Put Bethany in chains. We're going to prove their love is true."
"What? No! Frodo!" Bethany cried, as two of the guards shackled her, dragging her away before another word was spoken.
Frodo stared at his wife, wondering what to do. He breathed, steadying himself. A moment passed before he started laughing. For a moment, it would seem he was free. Until a brown sack flew over him, forcing him to tumble to the bottom.
Oh, it was a nightmare! How was Bethany doing? Screaming. He could hear her screams. Frodo laughed, feeling menacing. He didn't know what was so funny. Here he was, sniffing out Bethany's blood.
Oh ho, he wanted her! Even as the sack was lifted and he looked around again.
He was caught in the middle of a cell's room, a very large cell with a sandy ground. The hooded men were present inside the cell, circling around him again. Oh, this wasn't good!
.
Bethany was off to the right, chained and shackled. They were still wearing their prisoner's clothing, black.
Oh no! Frodo knew what was going to happen to him.
"No!" Frodo cried, rushing towards one of the hooded men.
At that, the hooded men shoved him back to the center of the sandy circle. Frodo stumbled and fell. He could hear Bethany's screams. Her hesitation. Frodo looked at her, watching him helplessly. Even she didn't know how to help him.
What was she even thinking of? Was she thinking of freeing herself? Did she even want to save him?
"Bethany," Frodo said, right as a hooded man picked Frodo up by his vest, forcing Frodo to collide into another hooded man.
Frodo's black vest had been ripped off of him, leaving Frodo's dirtied, pale-skinned chest exposed. Frodo stopped at the hooded man, standing there like a statue. Goosebumps touched his pink skin, leaving him shivering as the hooded man in front of him shoved him back to the center of the circle.
Scabs formed on Frodo's body. Scars that bled a little, but healed soon afterwards. Only the pain of the wounds resided.
Frodo snarled, standing up and colliding into another hooded man. He fought against the hooded man, only a moment too soon. As soon as Frodo was spun around, one of the hooded men ripped off his pants.
Nakedness reached Frodo's body, leaving him exposed. Frodo wound up being slapped in the face by another hooded man, sending Frodo flying to the ground on his stomach. Frodo stayed there, knowing what would happen to him if he moved.
Nothing happened. One of the hooded men approached him, handing to him a fresh pair of prisoner's clothes. Scarlet garments they were, complete with a scarlet vest and burgundy breeches.
The hooded man said these words, "Your torture session is over. I will set your clothes next to you. You can change anytime." He walked away, heading towards the cell door. The hooded man said to Frodo and to Bethany, "You're both free to leave. Darth Freya's orders." The hooded man added, "Darth Freya is not that cross. She tortures her prisoners, and you are her prisoner. What more did you expect? If you were freed, that'd be another story. Good luck, Frodo Baggins. Bethany. Goodbye." The hooded man walked out of the cell, closing the door behind him.
Frodo relaxed. Sweat beaded on his face, leaving his body chilled. He rested on his arms, leaving his legs flatted on the sandy ground. He didn't want to do much. Some part of him knew that Bethany was staring at him, not saying anything at all.
"Do you like it?" Frodo asked his wife, curiously.
Bethany heaved a heavy sigh. She didn't say anything. Frodo turned around, spotting Bethany staring at him. He smirked, knowing she was still shackled, as he could hear her chains still rattling on the sandy ground.
"They did this to me the last time they tortured me," Frodo said, heaving with pain. He turned over on his back. He sighed, grateful no one was torturing him. He looked at his wife, from where he lay, telling her, "I'm sorry you had to see that. That's not what I planned."
"I'm sorry. This is an awful turn of events," Bethany said.
Frodo chuckled, giggling to her, "What? You think this is the worst punishment one could endure? I'm sure there are worser punishments. This is only one torture session. I could have gone through worse."
He sat up, taking his new clothes and putting them on. He worked his way from putting his breeches on to putting on his new vest. He loved the color and the floral designs on his vest. He smirked, grateful to wear new clothes. But he was even more surprised when Bethany turned her gaze away from him.
Frodo smirked, approaching her. "You shouldn't have to feel ashamed." He knelt down in front of her, working on her shackles. "This is not the worst punishment."
Bethany turned and faced him, "But it is a punishment, right?"
Frodo hummed, telling her, "I've suffered through worse. Having my mind tormented by Sauron was not easy."
Click!
One of the shackles broke loose. Bethany could move her right arm. Frodo worked on the other shackle, hoping to get her free.
Frodo laughed softly, admitting to her, "Of course, I miss the One Ring. Even to this day. And now that Sauron's back, I… I feel bonded to him. I think all the Ringbearers do. Sam, Bilbo, Smeagol, Isildur. All four of them carried the Ring, as I did. So, of course, a piece of us belongs to Sauron. I don't know how to break it yet."
"And to me, too," Bethany said, coyly.
Click!
The second shackle loosened. Bethany moved her left arm out of the shackle. She looked at Frodo, telling him, "I angered Sauron, and he broke my mind. I could feel myself calling him my master. I'm bonded to Sauron! It's awful! It's so… awful." Bethany lifted up her wrists. Her shackles moved at the same time she did. For a second, she thought the shackles would attach themselves to her wrists again. They didn't.
Instead, the shackles fled to the cell bars, pinning themselves to the bars and attaching themselves there. Bethany stood up. In her mind, she imagined the shackles attaching themselves to her wrists, forcing her to face freeing herself time and time again, until she did something.
Instead, she watched the shackles morph into a tall man wearing iron armor. His skin was fair, his eyes were menacing, and his face seemed rugged and yet, at the same time, mesmerizing. He wore iron armor and his hair was long and dark. The way he smiled at them both, before he shackled Frodo and Bethany's arms together, in one shackle, upset Frodo.
The tall man was Sauron and he wasn't happy.
"You," Frodo said, alarmed. He shook his head, facing Sauron, "No. I thought you were… dead."
"Dead, huh?" Sauron told Frodo, cackling. "My silly boy, did you really think that death could slow me down? I must say, after the events at Hogwarts, what with you being a wizard, a hobbit wizard, I must say, that I wouldn't track you down again."
"But Sauron…" Bethany was interrupted by Sauron, who moved his large hand in front of her and Frodo.
"Sit down," Sauron commanded, forcing Frodo and Bethany to sit on a bench. Sauron huffed, telling them, "Ohhh! You have no idea how much I've changed. Your story is legend. Of course, you knew that Bethany. You are Frodo's muse,. Keen on clinging to Frodo Baggins."
Frodo huffed. How was he to tell Sauron the news? "Sauron, I am no hobbit wizard."
Sauron cackled. "My dear boy, it's one of your talents." He looked at Frodo, smiling, "Or did you not think that being a wizard was one of your hidden talents? It is, boy. Did you not see that?" He huffed, admitting to Frodo, "I mean, I just saw myself die in the Wizardry World, along with Voldemort. I know when to spot a hidden talent."
Frodo looked at Bethany, shrugging his shoulders. Frodo had to admit, being a hobbit wizard sounded like a natural thing for him to do. Maybe it was one of his hidden talents. Unless… unless, there was more than one alternative universe for him to be in? That would explain why Sauron thought Frodo was a hobbit wizard.
Huh. Frodo wondered that. Oh, the possibilities were endless!
Frodo looked up at Sauron now. Bethany did, too. A smug look crossed Sauron's face. Sauron smirked, tightening his grip on the chain.
Slap!
The fierce blow caused the chain to whip at Frodo's legs. Frodo let out a yelp! He leaned back against the cell bars in pain. He did his best to recover, but even saying a word was tough on him.
Frodo looked at Sauron, seeing the anger in his eyes. "I want an answer," Sauron hissed, pressing his hand against the cell bars. He leaned over Frodo, staring at him with intensity.
Frodo turned to the Dark Lord in disgruntlement. Frodo hardly had the will to speak. Eventually, the words did come out, but Frodo trembled as he spoke:
"I d-d-don't know what you… m-mean." He looked up at Sauron, saying to him, "I c-c-can't tell you. I d-d-don't know h-how it-it works. Mmm." He spoke more calmly now, feeling the trembles leave him. "I don't know how this works. Being a shapeshifter, traveling to alternate universes. I don't know what you're talking about." He spoke at last, braving to speak his mind, "I'm not a hobbit wizard, Sauron!"
Sauron shook his head. He leaned in close, saying to him, "Oh, my dear boy, you have so much to learn." He tilted his head again, saying proudly, "There is so much I have to teach you! So much, if you'll let me teach you."
Frodo looked at the Dark Lord in disgruntlement. At last, the words came out, clearly this time, "And why would I do that?" Frodo leaned in close, telling Sauron off, "I won't join you! I never will!"
Sauron smirked widely, telling Frodo, "Oh, my dear boy, you will." Sauron patted Frodo's shoulder, saying to him, "You will. Trust me." Sauron smirked, saying proudly, "Oh, there is so much I have to teach you! About the Universes. About everything! It's time for you to choose a side. And…" Sauron pointed out Bethany, smirking at her, "…I know Bethany has joined me already."
"What? No!" Frodo said, turning to Bethany. For a moment, he didn't understand. Then he knew: Bethany had already agreed to Sauron's wishes, even as she listened to him.
Frodo looked at his wife in understanding. He nodded, knowing there was no other choice. How could Bethany believe the villains so easily? Frodo retracted on that question. How could he trust villains so easily?
He had no choice. He turned to Sauron, asking him, "Where will you take us?"
Sauron shrugged. "Oh, to my suite. You'll love it there. I'll give you food, water, drinks, shelter. You'll be working for me now. Oh yes, you'll be free. Don't worry, Frodo. It's all in good hands." He waved his hands over the shackles, freeing Frodo and Bethany. Sauron waved them over to the cell door, opening it. "Shall we? If you run, the guards will capture you. You have no choice. You must come with me."
Frodo looked at the cell door in astonishment. A part of him wanted to believe Sauron. Another part told him to run. Even if the guards did capture him and Bethany, Frodo had this feeling that he could get the better of them. In some way, he had his own plan in mind.
Frodo nodded, standing up and taking Bethany's hand.
Frodo waited until he and Bethany were outside their cell, before he checked to see what Sauron would do. Only, Sauron didn't budge. He didn't move. He just stood there like a statue. Frodo turned to Bethany, shrugging.
"Come on, Bethany. Let's go," Frodo said, leading Bethany towards a dark tunnel.
*.*.*
References:
Cruella De Vil comes from "101 Dalmatians" and "102 Dalmatians".