Trystia looked around her small room sadly. "From the most powerful princess, to the most pathetic maid. Father, why did you accept that ring?" Trystia quickly ducked into a small cupboard. The orcs may serve her father, and his master, but they still terrified Trystia.
"Greenleaf!" Legolas turned, and smiled. His friend Matio stood grinning at him. "The ringwraiths will soon cross the river. Would you like to see if the legendary princess is with them?" Legolas replied, "I do not know, guard, if this princess would appear with her father on such grave business. As one of the nine, I would expect he has no feelings for the child."
Matio continued grinning. "This child you speak of is nearing the marriage age. I also doubt that the 9th king should care, as he no longer lives nor dies, but I feel Sauron will remember."
Legolas winced. "What would one young princess mean to me, Matio? You are confusing me."
Matio didn't answer for a few minutes, so his friend would become agitated. "Your brother, Ligola may be engaged to her before the end of summer. Wouldn't you like to meet your future in-laws?"
Legolas whapped his friend on the top of his head with a bow. "What good would this do? Does Matio still seek an early death?"
Trystia now knew the orc guards had passed. She took a breath, but nearly screamed when an invisible hand clutched her neck.
Calmly Trystia smiled, and grasped the wrist that held her throat. "Father, what do you wish of me?"
The rasping voice that tore at Trystia's heart spoke slowly. "Master commands marriage." The invisible shadow of a man spoke each word deliberately, ensuring his daughter understood his message.
Trystia nodded. Sauron had often sent her to suitors, but each time the ringwraiths had come before her, and killed the household she was to stay at. "Yes, father. As your master commands."
The shadow seemed to shift. "Our master Sauron, Tryssia." Trystia choked. Her father had said her name. That rarely happened, as speaking was such a pain to her father.
"As Sauron commands, Shiolo obeys. As Shiolo commands, Trystia obeys."
"Greenleaf!" Legolas turned, and smiled. His friend Matio stood grinning at him. "The ringwraiths will soon cross the river. Would you like to see if the legendary princess is with them?" Legolas replied, "I do not know, guard, if this princess would appear with her father on such grave business. As one of the nine, I would expect he has no feelings for the child."
Matio continued grinning. "This child you speak of is nearing the marriage age. I also doubt that the 9th king should care, as he no longer lives nor dies, but I feel Sauron will remember."
Legolas winced. "What would one young princess mean to me, Matio? You are confusing me."
Matio didn't answer for a few minutes, so his friend would become agitated. "Your brother, Ligola may be engaged to her before the end of summer. Wouldn't you like to meet your future in-laws?"
Legolas whapped his friend on the top of his head with a bow. "What good would this do? Does Matio still seek an early death?"
Trystia now knew the orc guards had passed. She took a breath, but nearly screamed when an invisible hand clutched her neck.
Calmly Trystia smiled, and grasped the wrist that held her throat. "Father, what do you wish of me?"
The rasping voice that tore at Trystia's heart spoke slowly. "Master commands marriage." The invisible shadow of a man spoke each word deliberately, ensuring his daughter understood his message.
Trystia nodded. Sauron had often sent her to suitors, but each time the ringwraiths had come before her, and killed the household she was to stay at. "Yes, father. As your master commands."
The shadow seemed to shift. "Our master Sauron, Tryssia." Trystia choked. Her father had said her name. That rarely happened, as speaking was such a pain to her father.
"As Sauron commands, Shiolo obeys. As Shiolo commands, Trystia obeys."