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Alone Aria took up the trail where it had been left off. It was hard to follow, but soon, she found tracks, unusual tracks. They looked as though something very heavy had been dragged a long distance. She jumped down from Noron and ran her fingers in the dirt, her eyes searching. She followed the tracks till they continued deep into the depths of the forest. She drew Noron back. She was unwilling to follow the tracks that far into Fangorn, no matter how harmless the being. She rode on for many days till the Gap of Rohan came in sight. She sat still for a moment, feeling the presence of evil in the air. She didn't know what she wanted to do. As she slid from the horse's back, she pressed her fingers to her head. What am I doing? Where am I even going? I have not found any trace of Merry or Pippin. I have no idea where they are or where they have gone. What am I doing?
Aria's head raised suddenly as Noron rose into the air, her nose brushing the branches of trees around her. Aria reached up and grasped for her nose, trying to calm her. But the horse would not be calmed, she continued to jump in the air no matter what comforting words Aria whispered. Despite her efforts, the horse fled into the depths of the forest, her whinnys echoing behind her. But a soft whiz that shot past Aria's ear, made her whirl around, just as she saw the black arrow hit the horse. Aria stood still in shock as she heard the horse's death shriek echo through the trees. She stood still, then whirled around drawing her bow and arrow, aiming and shooting at the Orc behind her. He fell to the ground but another took his place. Her arrows sung as the Orcs surrounded her. Inwardly as she shot her arrows, she cursed silently. Why did I not even sense their presence? Why?
As Aria fit another arrow to her bow, she gasped as a shock of coldness ran up and down her arms, forcing her to drop the bow and arrow. She tried to bend down to retrieve them, but the shocks ran up and down her legs as well. She grasped her arms in pain and closed her eyes, then groaned as she felt the large arms of an Orc go around her neck. The shocks ebbed away slightly, but not enough as she tugged at the restraint around her neck. Aria finally opened her eyes and saw her captors, the Orcs surrounding her, but there was one figure that stood out among them. A tall, almost majestic figure, clad in white, his beard still streaked with grey. He walked up to the Orc that held her captive and gave a satisfied smile as he lowered his staff. "Well done. You are one of the travelers, one of those who travels with what remains of the Fellowship. Perhaps you can tell me where they are, for I much desire to know." He said, his voice gentle and kind, but his eyes cold as steel. Even as Aria grasped at the Orc's arms, her eyes glinted. "Saruman." She whispered. The wizard's eyes narrowed and he raised his staff again, causing her groan in pain as the shocks ran up her body once more. "You will tell me all I need to know she-Elf. I think that you will be wise enough to co-operate." The honey-sweet voice of Saruman was the last she heard as the Orc shouldered her, the pain still paralyzing her limbs, and carried her away, to Isengard.
A long time later, the Orc threw her down on the hard floor. Aria heard Saruman walk a little ways behind her, then his footsteps stopping as she assumed he sat down. She finally opened her eyes and saw that the substance beneath her was black marble. When she stood, her eyes opened wide at the room, for it was all black marble, dark and majestic. Pain no longer beseeched her limbs, so she jumped to her feet. The numerous doors all around her were closed. There was no route of escape so she turned to Saruman. He was sitting in his throne, his eyes taking her in eagerly. "So, have you a name?" He asked in his sweetened voice. Aria cocked her head as she listened to him, then she held her head high. "I have no name. I am nothing, for I am an outcast from all Elven communities." She said softly. "Lies. I know that you are nothing that you say." Saruman countered, his voice gaining a flinty edge.
"You may think what you want, but it is the truth. I am an outcast with no name." Aria said firmly. Saruman stood up slowly, his gaze still fixed upon her, his hand grasped for his staff. "If you will not tell me your name, then I assume you will allow me to arrest it from you!" Saruman growled, softly at first then crecendoing loudly as he waved his staff violently. Aria fell to the floor, ringing echoing through her head as invisible fingers tried to pull her name, her very identity from her mind. She tried to grasp it and press it to her, but the fingers clawed and snatched, stealing it from her. Aria tried to stop it as it drew out of her mind, but to no avail. She looked up as Saruman looked down at her, surprise evident in his eyes. "Aria. You are the Lady Aria." He said shortly. "There are many Arias in this land. I am not the one you think I am." Aria said quietly as she painfully drew herself to her feet. "You have no more need to lie. I can see through you now. And I know who you are." Saruman said, his voice gaining a triumphant air.
"Now, I desire something from you. Can you guess what it is?" Saruman asked, asking the question as if he was talking to a little child. "I have no idea." Aria said, her eyes fixed on Saruman as he stood and began to circle her. "I'm sure you do. In fact I know you do. Where is the Ringbearer?" The last sentence, the wizard hissed in her ear. Aria did not move, though she was repelled by the wizard, but she held her head erect. "I don't know. I haven't seen the Fellowship in months." She said smoothly. "That is a lie. My spies tell me that you left your noble friends but only two weeks ago. Where is the Ringbearer?" He hissed again. Aria smiled and raised her eyebrows in a maddening fashion. "If your spies were so accurate, then why could they not see that the Ringbearer was not present among us, and has not been with us for many leagues?" She asked. "Do not play games with me Elf, for I can assure you that you will lose." He whispered, his eyes growing colder by the minute.
"That is all I know Saruman. You can accept that or not, but that is the truth." Aria said. Saruman's head trembled, then his mouth opened wide with a roar of rage as he brought his staff down with a crack. Aria flew across the room, her back slamming squarely into the marble wall behind her. She let out a groan of pain as the staff was brought down with another crack, throwing her against the marble pedestal that lay in the middle of the room. She stared up at the ceiling for a time before she stood, shakily. "I don't know where he is. I haven't seen him in weeks." Aria said. "You know where he is don't you? The Ringbearer. Do not think you can trick me, for I know that you know and I will drag it out of you!" Saruman yelled, lifting his staff high in the air. As he spoke, Aria felt her body being dragged across the room, her body hitting one wall after the other. She cried out in pain as the hard marble smacked her body without remorse. When Saruman finally brought his staff down and Aria slid to a stop, she was whimpering, grasping her bruised arms to herself.
"Perhaps I shall allow someone else to convince you she-Elf, as you will not listen to me." Saruman's voice was grave as he motioned to the door. Weakly, Aria raised her eyes to the figure in the doorway. Her eyes widened in surprise as the figure leapt down beside her, worry on his every feature. "Aria! Aria are you alright?" Legolas whispered, strands of his fair hair falling in her bruised and bloody face. Aria stared in surprise before bringing her hand up to touch the elf's face. "Legolas, wha-, what are you doing here?" She whispered. Legolas' hands grasped her face tenderly, his reassuring gaze on her. "Aria, what are you doing?" He whispered. "What are you talking about?" Aria asked in confusion. "What are you doing?" He repeated. "You will be killed before this is all over. Tell him where Frodo is and he has promised that I may take you away. Please Aria! We will go after Frodo and prevent his death, but first, just tell him." Legolas pleaded.
Aria's eyes widened and grew cold. With a whimper, she drew herself up to her feet and stared at Saruman. Legolas stood as well, watching her, his face filled with concern. "Enough of your tricks and sorcery Saruman! I will not tell you, and you cannot force me with illusions!" Aria yelled angrily. Saruman's gaze faltered as he stared at her, but he raised his staff and the concerned face of Legolas disappeared from Aria's sight. Aria stared at the place where his face had been, then drew her hand to her face. For one moment, even though it was an illusion, she had seen what she wished to see. "I don't believe you understand me Aria, though I thought you would, being the sister of a sorceress after all. But I suppose there is always time for learning. I do not give up!" Saruman hissed, raising his staff once more. Aria closed her eyes, expecting to feel a wave of pain, but she felt nothing. Instead she heard the door open, heard something hard hitting the marble floor, a groan, then the door closing.
Aria opened her eyes and stared at the groaning person on the floor. Frodo's anxious blue eyes stared at her wildly from the marble floor. "Aria, help me. They're going to take the Ring. I need you!" He whispered, casting fearful glances at Saruman. "I need you Aria! Help me! I need you!" He whispered, holding his hands out beseechingly. Aria closed her eyes, and clenched her fists, trying to ignore the feeble creature lying on the floor. "Enough Saruman! Stop this!" She yelled, trying to drown out Frodo's pitiful cry. "Aria, I need you!" The voice cried out in pain. "Stop! Stop! Stop!" Aria screamed. To the surprise of even herself, Aria raised her hands in frustration. In the tower room, wind pushed through the windows of the Orthanc, causing a whirlwind among the entire tower. Saruman stared at her in surprise as objects flew across the room. Her hair flew behind her, her eyes tightly shut, her mouth open as she chanted rhythmically and hauntingly. Frodo lay on the floor and did not move, but stared at Aria as her bloody, bruised features changed. Finally Aria opened her eyes, narrowing them at Saruman. The winds now tugged at Saruman, pulling at him, clawing, trying to pull him from his pedestal. Saruman smiled, then raised his staff. Frodo disappeared from the floor, leaving only the Elf-queen, her hands outstretched in front of her, the winds finally dying down
"I underestimated you my Lady. Impressive. But not impressive enough." Saruman sneered. Aria dropped her hands to her sides and glared at Saruman. "You asked me not to play games. Now it is you who are playing games Saruman." She said angrily. "You thought that was a game? I'll show you how to play games! Since you will not tell me where the Ringbearer resides, then perhaps you will be more open to feeling his pains and sufferings!" Saruman stepped down from his throne, the staff raised in the air. Aria fell to the ground, her fingers grasping at her shoulder as red hot fire burned her fiercely. It felt as though her body was slowly being consumed by this fire. She finally cried out in pain, her fingers covering the source of pain, trying to stop the pain, that was all she wanted. Her mind slowly became drowsy with pain as she lay there, jerking spasmodically though it hurt even to move. Saruman's staff came down with a crack, and the fire was gone, but the ache remained.
Aria lay on the floor, her wide eyes staring up at the ceiling, her aching body still jolting. "The pain of the Nazgul blade troubles you much I see. But perhaps you would like to feel the burden of the Ring, this Ring that you think you can destroy." Saruman said softly. The staff raised, a burden fell upon Aria's neck and shoulders. She could barely stand, she could not stand. She fell to the floor every time she tried. Every time she hit the floor, the bruises and cuts she had already sustained cried out in pain. "I will stop if you ask for my mercy." Saruman said, his voice kind, but his meaning cruel. "Never." Aria choked out from her place on the floor. "Then you shall suffer even more than the Ringbearer does now!" Saruman said, and as he spoke, the burden became heavier and heavier, pushing her physically to the floor. But she would not cry out. She would not speak. She tried to raise her hands from the floor, tried to speak the words of her people, but she could not. The pain was too great. The staff came down and the burden left.
But he did not speak as the staff came down once more. Aria closed her eyes as her body was once more thrown across the room. "Stubborn is the race of the Elves! I gave you the chance to tell me, but now you shall suffer, suffer more than what I have in mind for your friends. Yes your friends Elf. If you will not tell me, I know that they will!" Saruman said firmly. As Aria's head crashed into another marble pillar, she searched her mind, trying to think of what to do. Only one solution presented itself. She closed her eyes to the whirling room around her and the pain, instead focusing all her energy on the words she whispered. Slowly, she spun to a stop, but the words she whispered did not stop. Saruman shook his head. "Nothing can save you now." He murmured with satisfaction. But even as he uttered the words, he frowned and stared hard at the Elf lying still on the floor. He stepped down one step from his throne and stared at the girl. Her eyes were wide open, on hand resting on her stomach, the other flat on the ground, nothing moved, not even an inch. Saruman stood alone and listened to the air surrounding him. Nothing moved. Only his own breath stirred the air. He waved at the door, shock evident on his face. Two large Orcs lumbered in and awaited for orders. "Take the Elf's body and throw it outside the gates for her companions. Let it be a warning to them." He said, surprise in his tone and eyes. As the Orcs carried the body from the chamber, Saruman sat down in his throne and murmured, "I thought she would hold up longer than that."