Aragorn squinted his eyes against the bright flames before him. The tunnel they had taken on the way into the heart of Mount Doom had been so dark he couldn't see anything except Savina's hair glinting ahead of him, then they suddenly emerged into an enormous cavern the surrounded the pyre of flames in the heart of Mount Doom.
From a great circular hole in the middle of the floor rose waves of fire, breaking upon the sides like waves of the ocean against the rocks. Enormous bursts of flame shot high into the air, toward the circular opening in the top of the Mount Doom. Aragorn noticed a narrow walkway spiraling around the cavern to the open ceiling. Great spirals of smoke poured from the flames and made the air thick and hard to breathe. It was so hot that Aragorn was soaked with sweat before he got three steps into the cavern.
Soldiers and slaves, dressed identically in black uniforms, lined the walls, the slaves wearing handcuffs and the soldiers armed with swords.
A narrow bridge of rock extended out over the inferno, ending about halfway out. Aragorn recognized it as the very place Elrond had stood thousands of years before when he had last come to Mount Doom.
At the base of the narrow bridge stood two men, one tall and strong, Aragorn recognized him as the Dark Lord's General, and the other stooped and shriveled, leaning upon the General's arm. Aragorn stared at the Dark Lord in disgust, his stomach twisting with fear and repulsion.
Aragorn felt something brush against his arm and turned his head to see Savina walking by him, her eyes fixed on the Dark Lord. She stared at him for a moment, then turned suddenly and looked at Aragorn, her black eyes narrowed.
She spun quickly, her silver hair flaring out, and made her way quickly to the Dark Lord's side. She said something to him that Aragorn couldn't make out over the roar of the flames that burst suddenly from the chasm, but whatever she said, it caused a grotesque smile to curve onto the Dark Lord's gaunt face and his dark eyes turned toward Aragorn and his friends.
Savina made her way back to Aragorn and reached into her pocket, pulling out a silver key on a red cord. She bent and began unlocking his handcuffs. She was about to speak when the Dungeon Master rushed up, obviously intending to help.
Aragorn stood motionless as she worked the lock, wondering what was going to happen. It wasn't very likely that Savina had convinced the Dark Lord to let them walk out of Mount Doom unharmed.
Sighing inwardly, Savina worked the lock, feeling like a giant bundle of nerves. Her plan wasn't going to work, she could tell. It needed more preparation and more time to think it out. She heard the lock on Aragorn's handcuffs snap and pulled the key out. She straightened him up, noticing with a pang that the handcuffs had left sharp red marks on Aragorn's wrists, and spoke coldly, aware that the Dungeon Master was watching her closely, "you will provide our entertainment," she informed him, "you and your friends," she handed the key to the Dungeon Master and motioned him to start undoing handcuffs. "Your weapons will be returned to you and you will battle your friends, whoever comes out of the battle alive will become Sauron's right hand and have immense power."
Feeling a cold chill at the thought of raising his sword to his own friends, Aragorn remained silent and motionless, wondering exactly what was going on. They were going to be given back their weapons…was that the Dark Lord's arrogance or Savina's scheming at work?
Savina searched his face, wondering if he had any idea she was trying desperately to save him. She felt so cliché, pretending to be brave and give up everything and go up against the greatest evil ever to save her friends and the world. It sounded like a story that her grandmother would have told her. But it was sickeningly, frighteningly true.
The Dungeon Master clicked Sam's handcuffs off and dropped then on the ground next to where Savina had tossed Aragorn's. Sam too had vivid red marks around his small wrists. As soon as the handcuffs came off, Sam inched toward Aragorn and stared up at Savina, his small face cold and hostile.
She saw his look, and it hurt her, but she bore the pain and turned away quickly. She spotted the red-haired young man standing a few feet away with the weapons in his arms and motioned him foreword, "return their weapons to them."
Aragorn took his sword and raised it, examining the blade.
For one frightful moment, Savina thought he was going to strike at her, but he simply glanced at her, then sheathed his sword and crossed his arms across his chest.
Her heart beating hard and her hands needing something to do, she snatched the keys from the Dungeon Master just after he'd freed Frodo, and found herself face-to-face with Legolas.
He stared into her eyes, his expression one of disappointment and sadness. His blue eyes met hers for a moment, then felt the chill from her black eyes and looked quickly away.
Savina stared at him in shock and indignation, he, of all people, lacked faith in her! He, who had sworn his love to her, believed she would betray him in the drop of a hat! Anger and misery rose in her chest and throat, nearly choking her. Biting back her tears, she began working the lock on his handcuffs. The lock snapped open and the handcuffs dropped to the ground. Deep red marks marred his wrists; apparently his handcuffs had been tighter than the others. Before she could stop herself, she reached out and touched his hands gently.
Realizing what she had done, she snatched her hands away and glanced at Trey and his father, but they hadn't noticed and everyone else was too far away. She glanced at her father, but he was staring into the depths of Mount Doom, oblivious to everything.
But Legolas had noticed. He turned his head sharply and glanced at her, saw her cheeks, already red from the heat, flush slightly and she glanced around carefully. His heart swelled and nearly sang, she hadn't turned from them after all!
Or had she? Just because she served the Dark Lord did not mean she didn't still carry feelings for him.
He glanced at Aragorn and noticed that he was watching, a small smile on his face.
Savina tossed the keys back to the Dungeon Master and snatched Legolas' bow, quiver of arrows, and sword from Trey and thrust them into Legolas' hands, "use them well, they may yet win you your freedom," she said in a low voice.
Leaving the Dungeon Master to free Gimli and the last two hobbits, Savina strode back to where her father was standing and noticed Olivia standing nearby. She waved her foreword and called to her father, "we're ready!"
Caburnat grinned darkly and clapped his hands; raising his weak voice as loudly as he could, "let the ceremony begin."