Arwen's tears were each of them painful for Aragorn to see. "We will be all right," he told her softly. His wife looked up at him.
"Aragorn, they are going to kill us."
"I've been in worse situations than this. We will find a way."
Arwen shook her head. "The only way is for us to give him what he wants. For me to go willingly."
Aragorn sighed and shook his head. "He does not want you." Arwen looked up at him, surprised. "He wants the Evenstar. He wants this." He pulled Arwen's old necklace out from under his shirt. Arwen gazed at it, suddenly aware that he was right.
"Legolas said he wanted me," she stated.
"Legolas thought he did want you. Maybe he still does. But I know that he does not. He wants this, for one reason or another." Then, out of the courner of his eye, Aragorn saw haunting, deep orange eyes staring at him through the cell bars, and turned his head to see an Um staring intently at him.
"Give me that," the creature ordered. Aragorn placed it back under his shirt.
"No."
Fire blazed in his eyes as he repeated his original order. "Give. Me. That."
"I won't."
The Um glared at him, then pulled something else out from a small pouch tied around his waist. It was a key. He slid it into the lock and opened the door, then entered the cell. He approached Aragorn cautiously, yet confidently. "You will obey or you will die."
"You will kill me anyway, I see no point in cooperating," Aragorn answered. Then the creature lunged at him and tackled him. It placed it's hand on Aragorn's chest, fumbling for the necklace. Arwen acted swiftly, and seeing the gleam of the Um's knife also on his waist she drew it from him and stabbed him in the back of the throat. His face twisted in agony, then fell back finally, lifeless. Aragorn quickly stood.
"We must get out of here," he said. He grabbed the key from the Um's lifeless hands and ran with his wife out the door, and to the next cell that held Ohtar. He unlocked it quickly while he explained what happened, then they went on to free Legolas and Elviondel, then Zerameth and Laesien. Then what was left of the ragged, tired, beaten company rushed out of the building with a new hope freshly lit inside of each of them. But when they got out and saw what was outside, it was quickly blown out, for before them they gazed upon the very army that had pursued them and brought them here.
Thought you could beat me, did you? Syrus asked in their heads. Thought you could just unlock the gates and run away, did you? I am not that easily outdone. Now give me the Evenstar.
"The Evenstar is in Gondor," Aragorn answered, hoping Syrus would believe him.
No, I think you have it. Give it to me.
"I don't."
I think you do. Don't insult my intelligence.
"You needn't hear my response, you know already what it is."
Filthy human! You're almost as bad as the Elves! Then his tone suddenly sweetened. Ah, the Elves. What would you wish for the Evenstar, Hmm? The Lady Galadriel? Done. Viennen? Why, you may pick one. 'Tis no difference to me.
"Viennen is dead," Elviondel said slowly.
You know me better than that, dear. How dare you think I go against my own nature and tell you the truth? Now why would I even do that to an unclean Elf such as you?
"Elves are the most beautiful creatures in Middle-Earth," Zerameth said quietly.
Hah! The human child thinks she knows more than I do! Oh, this is amusing, quite. But I do not have time for comedy, so if you would hand over the Evenstar I will give you BOTH Elves. How does that sound, hmm? Both of them, two for the price of one. But only if you give it to me NOW.
"I don't think I can do that, you see, we don't have the Evenstar," Aragorn repeated.
Give it to me now!
"Show me Viennen," Elviondel demanded. "Show her to me and I will give you the Evenstar." The entire company eyed her. To Legolas her words were of no surprise, for he had already realized that she would hand in anything for her sister's life.
If Syrus would have had a physical body he would have smiled. You want to see the real Viennen? Alive, breathing, not just a vision? Why, I have her right here. Darling, why don't you step forward? At that, one of the female Ums did as he ordered. She stepped up to Elviondel and stared into her eyes, but her own eyes were cruel and cold.
"Viennen…" Elviondel whispered. "Is it really you? Are you there?"
"You are a liar and a traitor, and you deserve a traitor's death," the Um responded.
"Traitor? But… I came back for you."
"Not for me. For some kind of sub-creature which I am now deduced to living as."
"Viennen, this can't be you."
It isn't. All of my wonderful new and improved Elves have an impressive feature with them that I created them with, a totally un-Elvish feature. They are evil, and each of them has a bit of my own hate for, well, Elves and you.
"You made my sister into a monster!" Elviondel cried.
Yes, but you can still have her. She may have a new outlook on life, but she is still Viennen, I promise you. Would you like to meet Galadriel?
Arwen flinched. She couldn't imagine her beautiful, loving grandmother as one of these evil creatures. "No," she whispered. Seeing her would be too much pain to bare.
Oh? Why not, my lady?
Legolas glanced to Aragorn. "He's fading," he whispered quietly.
Aragorn looked at him. "What?"
"His voice is fading, he's becoming weaker. We need only stall for time, and maybe he will die."
Are you conspiring against me, you evil Elf?! Syrus demanded of Legolas. The Elf jumped at hearing the sudden, sharp tone.
"N-no," he said without thinking.
I am a spirit, I know everything. And I know what you have told the mortal! Well, it won't work. My voice is not fading, I am perfectly all right. Now give me the Evenstar.
"If you're all right, then perhaps we'll wait to give it to you for an hour or so," Aragorn said.
I thought you didn't have it, Mortal.
"I thought you said we did. Now if you need it so badly, why don't you take it by force."
Give it to Viennen.
Aragorn paused, pretending to think. He found great joy in prolonging the "decision" even though he already knew what he would say. "No," he said finally.
Give it to her!
"Legolas is right. You are fading."
"You will soon be dead!" Laesien cheered without thinking. Then, realizing what she'd just said aloud, gulped.
What was that, my dear? he asked. His tone seemed genuine, but soon after that he proved them wrong. You find delight in death you sick and twisted little child?! How dare you! I will kill you if your father does not do what I command!
"So," Legolas said. "In exchange for the Evenstar, you will give us Viennen, Galadriel, and Laesien's life?"
No, you will have a choice. Viennen and Galadriel, or Laesien.
"Give us all three," Aragorn said. "Or, both as the case may be. And then I will consider."
Consider?! What a poor father you are, to your child. Her life does not matter to you? Oh, but the pain is horrible. Ask the Elven King.
Legolas looked away.
But my time is short, so ask him at a later time. Now give me the Evenstar.
"Ah, so you are limited," Aragorn pointed out.
Give it to me now!
The last sentence was for sure a lot quieter than the rest. "Perhaps I will see you in the afterlife, if there is one," Aragorn said. "Farewell."
No! I will kill all of the evil Elves! All of you filthy Elves, I will rid the world of you! You shall pay!
Syrus's voice faded as he cursed the Elves, and soon he was silent entirely. At that point, all of the Ums dropped dead, still and unmoving. Elviondel let out a wail, for Um or no Um Viennen was still her sister, and got down on her knees and wept. But the rest of them were at least relieved, for at this point, it seemed Syrus was gone.
