Authors Note:

Someone asked for a key of all the reincarnated characters. Here goes:-

Frank Miller – Faramir, Eric Rowan – Eomer Eadig, Miranda Miller – Eowyn, Jason Merrick – Merry, Sam Miller- Samwise Gamgee, Pip Miller – Pippin Took, Bryan Miller – Boromir, Aaron Stone – Aragorn

Eve McCaughley – Arwen

Also on the issue of Gimli and why he isn't going to appear in these stories. As far as I know that upon death, dwarves go to a secret place in the earth where they await the rebuilding of the world after the end of days. Hobbits while they are different from men, are still of the same genus just a different branch. A Homo Sapien Neanderthalensis as opposed to a Homo Sapien Sapien, the same species just different offshoot. Thus it would make sense that their souls go to the same place.

Chapter Thirteen

Bait

This was dangerous and he knew it.

As the twilight evening began to encroach upon the day, Frank looked at his watch and knew that it would not be long before the enemy arrived to claim their prize. He hoped that this very considerable gamble he was taking with his life was worth it but he knew he had little choice. The others needed a distraction in order to do what was needed and unfortunately, Frank was the only one who was capable of providing it. For his sons, he was willing to take the risk and his part in their rescue, despite his role, as decoy was nowhere as dangerous as what Miranda and the others were planning to do.

Glancing at his watch, he saw his appointment with the Sadko woman was looming closer and that she and the Nine would soon be arriving. at the dilapidated train station he had chosen as their meeting place. The station had been abandoned some time ago and was left to languish as paint peeled, metal rusted and brick turned dull from weathering and grime. The floorboards of the steps he was standing were equally worn and visible cracks appeared in the wood.

As far as he knew, the Pirnaer Station or Alter Bahnhof as it was known by the locals was build in the mid 1800's as part of an incentive to provide the German people with an effective mass rapid transit system for the regions of Saxonia. Now it was a place for vagrants to take shelter during the night. He had seen syringes and various other drug paraphernalia when he was walking about the place earlier so this was definitely not the place to be at sundown, especially today.

Frank could not believe how alone he felt at this moment.

Throughout this entire affair, he had been blessed with the presence of the others, from Elladan and Elrohir to the even more ambiguous Eric Rowan and Jason Merrick. They were an eclectic group but the last few days had forged a deep friendship between them. Seeing Eric and Miranda together should have made him feel threatened but it did not. He could almost believe that they were brother and sister in another life. They certainly behaved that way together. He knew enough about sibling relationships to recognize what was taking place between them.

Through the madness of the last few days, these people had become his friends and now that they had set out on their own task, he felt utterly alone and vulnerable. It surprised Frank how much their presence had lent to his own strength during this entire affair. During their journey from Norway, he had been spending his time keeping the twins appraised of everything that was happening because their lack of understanding in the modern world. The scholar in him rose to the occasion to help the two elves. When he was not doing that, he was playing foil between Jason and Eric whose relationship for some unfathomable reason reminded him of the dynamic between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover in the Lethal Weapons films.

And then there was Miranda who had been keeping a dreadful secret all these years, not from him but rather from herself. He suspected that as long as she kept the truth hidden, she did not have to suffer the indignity of what had happened to her. Telling him had forced her to confront it and he had seen the surprise in her face when she realized revealing it had not changed anything. He still loved her and always would. If they ever survived this nightmare, Frank wanted to talk to Bryan about it because there were some thing about Belfast that he needed to ask his brother.

Frank heard the cars long before he saw them and immediately fought the instinct to get into the rent-a-car he had hired and start driving. However, he maintained his composure and fixed his gaze upon the street from the steps of the station.

Judging from the low drone of the engines Frank could make out the approach of at least two cars. He made his way down the steps and stood beside against the door of his rented Saab, more than ready to flee if it looked like things were going to go badly. Miranda had not wanted him to do this alone but he had managed to convince her because the maternal instinct to go to her children was too much for her to ignore. He did not blame her for choosing the children instead of staying at his side. He was their father and faced with a similar choice, he would do the same because he knew Miranda could take care of herself. He supposed it was harder for her because she did not know that about him.

They would know by now that he did not have the Silmaril, Frank decided hoping that it would not alter the plan. He had to buy Miranda time and unless this Irina Sadko thought him a fool, would surely understand that he would not be stupid enough to produce the jewel until after he had some evidence that his children were alive. Nor did he believe for an instant the woman would actually bring Sam and Pip with her. No, they had secret agendas the both of them and it was a question of who would tip their hand first. He glanced at the sky and saw the sun was beginning its descent into the horizon, bleeding amber into the mountains as it disappeared.

The cars appeared on the street and slowed to a crawl. Even though their windows were tinted, Frank knew this was because they had seen him. The vehicles gleamed in the diminishing light, long stretched cars, with smooth black paintwork. It seemed curiously appropriate as the main mode of travel for the Nine. According to Elladan, the Nine had ridden horses in the day, black steed with crimson eyes that were reputed to see for them in the daylight. It had made his skin crawl thinking about it and yet despite how unbelievable it sounded, Frank knew it was true. He could feel it. Perhaps his mind no longer held any memories of his life as Faramir of Ithilien but his soul certainly remembered.

His slid one hand behind him and rested it on the chrome of the door handle when he saw the cars pulling to a halt in front of the old station. He drew a deep breath and steadied himself. While this sort of clandestine, cloak and dagger affair may be common place for Bryan, Faramir had little experience with such things and he was not ashamed to admit he was nervous. The wheels of both cars grated against the gravel as it came to a stop. Barely a fraction of second had passed after the engines had gone quiet before the door swung open.

The woman who emerged from the car was extraordinarily beautiful. Sultry eyes, full red lips and luxurious dark hair spilled over her face. It was a face that exuded sex and would have been terribly attractive to a dark lord who enjoyed the trappings of power and equally formidable women. He had but a moment to observe her as she climbed out of her car in her expensive clothes and heels, her eyes hidden beneath dark sunglasses because she had not arrived alone.

Their presence made him feel cold, like a shadow that had suddenly blocked out the sun. His skin crawled at the sight of these men, not men, these wraiths, in their dark suits and their Michael Myers like masks. There had been little opportunity to observe them earlier, because he and his companions had been too busy running from these bastards but now that they were on somewhat neutral ground, Frank had to confess that they were even more terrifying than ever. He could believe the stories the twins told him about these creatures, about their effectiveness in carrying out their master's bidding. Frank was certain that half their power was the ability to intimidate and control others by fear alone.

"Professor Miller," Irina said walking up to him, one of the Nine was following her closely while the others fanned out over the area, attempting to block any effort he made to escape. "You have led us on a merry chase, haven't you?"

"I take it you're Irina Sadko, David Saeran's lover?" Frank asked, wanting to clarify that this was indeed the woman who had almost killed his brother six months ago.

The corner of her lip crooked slightly and she turned a powerful gaze at him, "one and the same."

"He does not carry it," the wraith at her side hissed. "You do not have the Silmaril." He accused Frank.

His voice send fresh chills up Frank's spine and it took a moment for the archaeologist to answer. Outwardly, it appeared he was deliberating his answer, however inside him was a struggle to carry out this play to its inevitable end.

"You do not have my sons so I suppose we are rather even on that score aren't we?" He returned just as acidly, his courage renewed when he remembered that these bastards had Pip and Sam.

Irina shifted her head long enough to give the wraith something of a sharp glare before she removed her sunglasses and faced Frank with perfect ease on her face.

"Professor," she stared at him. "I am perfectly aware that this is a trap, that you do not intend to give me my jewel which is why I never brought the children. However, you are here alone, there is nothing to prevent me from having my associates take you by force and then deal with your successor in our negotiations."

"If I don't call my wife within the hour," Frank said glaring at her with an expression of ice, "she is going to get a boat and sail to the middle of the ocean and drop your precious jewel in the drink. Let's see you retrieve your master when the Silmaril is in the bottom of the North Atlantic."

"You're bluffing," Irina challenged as the wraith beside her stiffened with anger.

"Am I?" He asked coldly, "I have no guarantee my children are alive. I'm supposed to take your word that you haven't killed them already? I'm afraid that's not going to do. I want to know that they are alive and until I know that, you can assume anything you like but you won't get your hands on the jewel."

"DO NOT TEST US!" The wraith hissed in menace, taking a step towards Frank. "I almost killed Faramir in the Third Age and if it were not the cursed heir of Isildur, he would have died! Do not assume his fortune is yours. You may possess his soul but Faramir will always be the weakling child of Denethor and the lesser sibling of Boromir."

For reasons he could not understand, the wraith's words struck at the core of him. It hurt even if he did not know why. "I don't know what you're talking about." Frank said thickly.

"I think you do," the witch king answered.

"Enough of this," Irina shot Morgul a penetrating look to silence him before she turned to Frank. "Your children are alive but keep us waiting any longer and we may not be so reasonable. Take us to the jewel now."

"Alright," Frank nodded, deciding he did not want to be in the company of these things any longer than necessary. By now, Miranda and the others were where they ought to be and if Frank could keep the Nazgul away for just a little while longer, there was every chance they could find the children. "Follow me," he turned towards the car.

"I think not," Irina stated firmly stopping in his tracks.

Frank froze, perfectly aware that the plan could go this way and though he did not relish the idea of being in their company when they learnt of the trap, he knew that he had no alternative but to surrender himself to their ministrations. It was part of the reason Miranda had protested so greatly about his role in this plan and why he would allow no others to accompany him. If everything went according to plan, his incarceration would be brief, if not he was willing to die for the life of his children.

"I would rather not be in your company," he declared, trying to talk his way out of it if possible, even though it was unlikely that they were willing to let him out of their site.

"You will ride with us!" The Nazgul's cold hand clamped around his shoulder and pulled him away from the Saab.

"Take your hands off me!" Frank fairly snarled with such ferocity that the wraith released his shoulder, startled. Frank glared at him, still remembering what had happened to Hans, still remembering how these animals had killed the old man in cold blood without giving it a second thought. Throughout all this, Hans' death had been pushed aside because they had more important things to focus their thoughts but confronting his killer had surfaced all of Frank's hatred in a split second.

"Get in the car," Irina ordered, glancing at the dark vehicle.

"Fine," Frank said quietly, disappointment and fear surging through his veins. It was so thick that he could barely contain it but knew he must for the sake of his wife and children.

Casting a longing glimpse at the Saab and at the curtain of night that had finally descended upon the world, Frank walked to the open door of the black vehicle and felt curiously as if he was entering the maw of hell.

*************

The sun had disappeared.

Elladan and Elrohir were standing at the edge of the forest and yet remained unseen through the thick branches that intertwined with each. They had moved stealthily, making little sound as only elves could do as they emerged in the darkness just beyond the trees. Armed with bows that were surprising lightly considering they were made of some kind of metal alloy, they stared at the low wall guarded by five sentries. The protection was needed because the height of the wall ensured anyone could simply climb over it and gain access to the grounds of the mansion. The guards in their darks suits, seemed oblivious to their presence because the eyes of men could not see so far ahead and what visual information they were able to garner was obscured by darkness. Elves of course, had no such limitations.

"You take the two on the left and I shall take the three on the right," Elladan said quietly.

"Why do you get three?" Elrohir asked.

"Because I am better with a bow that you are," his brother said with a smile, his teeth gleaming under the light of the moon.

"No you are not," Elrohir bristled with annoyance. "You are no better than I am."

"Hey," Miranda's voice interjected from the cover of trees, "you want to get this bloody done or do you want to drop your pants and have me settle it with a ruler?"

"What?" Elladan looked over his shoulder in confusion.

"You don't want to know," Eric warned helpfully.

The two elves frowned at each other before turning focussing on the task at hand. With arrow in the quiver slung across their back, they watched the quarry for a few seconds, continuing their vigil to ensure no one invaded their master's domain. The sentries were human but this was expected. Secrecy was very much of a tool in Sauron's machinations in Arda this day. The Uruks that had been created were most likely hidden away until they were needed, kept from the sigh of men who would not understand what they were.

"On the count of three," Elladan said to his brother who nodded promptly in agreement.

"Minë....atta.... neldë!"

No sooner than the word had been given, Elladan let loose the bow and promptly reached for another in order to shoot again. It was said that Legolas Greenleaf could do to arrows at once but then he was the greatest of all elven archers. In any case, the first arrow struck its target with shocking efficiency, slicing through the throat of the enemy without allowing him time to scream. He toppled over as his comrades began to react to his death but their shock had no sooner registered before they too were assailed with similar arrows.

One by one they fell, both twins aiming to ensure that each arrow met its target in a place where they would be killed instantly, without being able to cry for help. The carnage lasted for less than ten seconds but when those moments had passed, the place where the enemy had stood guard was now covered with corpses.

"It is clear," Elrohir spoke to the others awaiting their signal.

Miranda, Jason and Eric appeared not long after he had spoken, dressed in dark clothes and carrying backpacks each with rifles slung over their shoulders. While Miranda and Jason had little trouble with the weight, Eric appeared as if he was very uncomfortable with wielding a weapon. The notion brought a faint smile to Elladan's lips considering how fierce a warrior Eomer of the Mark was reputed to be. He supposed Eric was not that different from Aaron who felt the taking of life was rather abhorrent. While in some ways, Aaron was very much like Aragorn, there were other ways where he was totally different. However, the spirit of the soul remained and though the twins knew that like Aragorn, Aaron would suffer the Doom of Men, it was good to know that their parting would not be forever.

"Quickly," Miranda prompted them into moving as she hurried towards the wall, aware that they were most vulnerable when they were crossing the space between the wall and the tree line. Even the dark could not provide ample protection from discovery. The others followed her without question because during their earlier reconnaissance she had sighted the two cameras perched on either end of the wall. Miranda had tested it as best she could, determining where the blind spot was and there was one because the cameras were placed too far at each edge. It was assumed that it the wall did not require more protection then that since there were five men guarding it at all times. However, now that those men were dead, she knew she could move safely without giving themselves away.

They crossed the space quickly, keeping in pace with Miranda who was leading the way. It was difficult to cross the distance with what they carried but with no idea of what lay within the confines of the mansion, it had been a necessary precaution. She carried with her some things the others did not know about because she was certain that they would be uncomfortable if they she had told them. It was Jason's tenure in the military that allowed him to understand her actions and she felt most at ease with him. Apparently, Merry the hobbit had been instrumental in helping Eowyn kill the Witch King of Angmar, the Nazgul that now hated her with such passion. Despite herself, Miranda was pleased for his presence.

Reaching the wall, they stood pressed with their back against it as they waited for a moment for any indication that they were discovered. After a few seconds, Elladan spoke out.

"They are unaware of us," he said quietly. "I do not hear any sound that might indicate otherwise although the darkness from this place is very disconcerting."

"Yes," Elrohir nodded. "There is great evil here."

"Perfect," Eric grumbled.

"Quiet," Miranda barked as she looked up at the wall upon turning to face it. Jumping up, she caught the edge and climbed over it in one graceful movement, surprised by how much of the training remained buried within her psyche even after all these years. There was ache in her limbs from the climb and she longed for the days where she would hardly notice it but a decade was a long time, no matter how much stayed with her.

Surveying the grounds as far as her vision would allow, she was able to assess the situation thanks to the dim illumination of outdoor lighting scattered over the manicured lawns. Like any mansion, this one had its walks and gardens, no doubt heralding back to its past where ladies and gentleman strolled languidly through the paths because the highborn had really nothing better to do. However, she was grateful to see the bodies had yet to be discovered and no alarm was raised. In truth, barely a few minutes had passed since they been killed.

"Coast is clear, the rest of you up now," she ordered and swung her other leg over the top of the wall and allow herself to drop gently onto the grass.

The elves were quick to join her over the ledge followed by the humans who were hindered somewhat by their packs but managed to perform just as adequately. Miranda did not issue them any order when they were crouched low at the base of the wall. She glanced briefly at her companions and nodded before hurrying forward, not looking back because she knew that they would be following her. Making her way to where the bodies had fallen, she preferred to keep them out of sight for the time being. Even though it was likely that anyone who investigated would notice the gaping whole in security left by the disappearance of these guards, they would hesitate in raising the alarm for a few minutes while they tried to discern what had happened. She counted on buying little more than a few minutes but she knew how much those minutes could count when the alarm was raised.

"We need to hide the bodies," she said to the others when they reached her while pulling one body towards a nearby hedge.

With five of them engaged in the effort, it was not long before the handiwork was concealed and Miranda took the lead again towards the house.

There were numerous points of entry into the building itself for many of the doors were French doors that ran along every wall in the structure. A walkway surrounded the outer wall and supported the upper level with white marble columns. Miranda peered through the glass and saw no movement within. This did not surprise her because they had not acted until they saw the black cars leaving the mansion estate in order to keep the appointment with Frank. Miranda tried not to think of her husband or the terrible risks he was facing by playing decoy but there was no other way to save their children and for that, no peril was too great.

"Everything is quiet in there," Eric remarked to no one in particular.

"There are many here," Elladan declared, his senses penetrating the walls as if he could see through them, "I can feel their darkness but there is something not right."

"What do you mean?" Jason asked anxiously.

"They are here but also not quite here," Elrohir added, his own brow showing his concern. He looked at the structure and knew the danger was not emanating from the building. Slowly, his eyes drifted as he deepened his concentration, trying to use his senses to find an answer.


"They are below," Elladan exclaimed with a start.

"What?" Eric stared.

"They are below," Elrohir declared, agreeing with his twin that this was what felt odd. "It is logical, if this is Celebdil, the peak above the kingdom of the dwarves, then below us is Moria."

"Moria's caverns are vast," Elladan added much to Miranda's dismay. "If they were keeping your children then it is possible that the caverns below are where Sam and Pip are being imprisoned."

"We have to be sure," Miranda retorted feeling her heart sink along with the hopes of finding her sons alive.

"A place this big has security cameras everywhere," Eric suggested, the idea coming to him as the others were talking. "There should be a central room where security can monitor all cameras. If we can find one of those, it will give us an idea of whether or not the kids are in the building or in whatever this Moria place is below."

"Alright," Miranda silenced them all with her interjection. "Slight alteration of plans. We find security and see whether Sam and Pip are above ground. If not, we'll have to find the way down to this place. If you're right," she glanced at Elladan as she spoke, "if this place was built over Moria then it's likely that Saeran probably built a way down there from the house itself."

"That's a big assumption," Jason pointed out.

"We don't have a choice," Miranda said curtly, "Frank is buying time but its not going to last long. When they work out he's tricking them, it won't take long to realize what we're really up to."

Miranda did not add that when the ruse was discovered, there was every possibility that they could kill Frank out of spite. She could not let that happen without finding Sam and Pip first. Frank had been confident they needed him alive but Miranda was dubious. Still, if the worst came to pass, Miranda was determined that it would not be in vain even if it meant she would die with him.

"I'm tired of this," Miranda said finally and pulled the backpack from her shoulders.


"Keep watch," she asked as she began rummaging through it. Elladan and Elrohir reacted immediately because their heightened elven senses made them more capable for the task than anyone present.

"What are you doing?" Jason asked as Miranda found what she was looking for.

"We're running out of time and we need the information quickly," she answered before she removed her hand from the knapsack and caused Jason's eyes to widen.

"Is that what I think it is?" He blurted out as she walked to one of the columns and placed the small device against its length.


The small black box was a construct of dark metal with a single red light on its surface. Miranda removed the adhesive beneath the object and secured it against the stone. When she was done, she hurried back to her backpack and retrieved another.

"Are you crazy?" Eric stared at her realizing why Jason was so fraught with anxiety at the appearance of the small devices. "I thought we were making a covert entry, you know trying to be quiet?"

"Don't worry," she said with a little smile as she attached the second device against another column, "it won't that much a bang."

************


Beads of sweat rolled down his skin as he told the driver to take another turn.

He could hear the sounds of growing in discontent within the vehicle as he offered this instruction to the driver and was perfectly aware that his efforts to stall for time was failing fast. They had been driving around the town for almost an hour now and with Frank leading the car through the narrow streets, passing local landmarks as they traveled to the place where the Silmaril was meant to be waiting. His route took him past several tourist haunts such as the Cathedral of St Simon and St Jude built in 1040, a historical chapel, the old town hall known to the locals as Rathaus and even the tower called Zwinger. He knew that eventually he would be found out but Frank had hoped to delay that inevitability as much as possible. He had studied a map of the community earlier on and tried to memorize the route he would force them to travel.

"Are we almost there yet?" Irina asked, her voice full of skepticism as she stared at him.

"Yes," Frank nodded, "we're very close."

"Then why do we not sense it?" The Nazgul he had come to know as Morgul accused.

"We must be still too far away I suppose," Frank shrugged.

"This is a trick!" Morgul grabbed him by the throat. "What are you doing?"

"LET HIM GO!" Irina ordered. "Kill him and we have no answer!"

The wraith shot her a look of pure venom and released Frank who promptly felt back in his seat coughing hard.

"I tend to believe my associates' belief this is a ruse," she said once Frank had managed to compose himself. "What are you hiding from us?"

"Nothing," he said ineffectually, "I was taking you to the jewel."

"We are not fools," Irina returned sharply, "it is clear that you are delaying us. From what, allowing your companions to hide it beyond our reach? If so why contact us at all...." her voice drifted as she began to understand.

"TURN THE CAR AROUND!" She shouted. "Take us back to the mansion!"

Frank saw the Nazgul starting to realize what Irina had discovered and lunged for the door of the vehicle, hoping that he could be get past them and escape, even if the car was travelling quite fast. Unfortunately, it was a risk he was never allowed to take because Morgul also moved with surprising speed and slammed him back in place. His body ached despite landing on cushions because the creature's strength was quite considerable and Morgul had expended a good deal of it to keep him restrained.

"An interesting if somewhat dangerous plan," Irina said with irritation, never expecting they would be foolish enough to invade the mansion to retrieve the children. She had assumed that the ambush would come when they were taken to the Silmaril and the children were produced, not this ludicrous plan to breach the mansion. "Do you think that it would be a simple matter for your wife to lead her band of rabble into the mansion and simply take the children? You underestimate us Professor," she shook her head in disgust. "You think that I would not have taken precautions to hide them beyond your reach?"

Frank's heart sank when he heard those words and wondered what trap Miranda and the others were walking into. Worst yet, where were the children if they were not at the mansion?

"Where are they?" He demanded no longer caring what happened to him.

"Somewhere you will never find them," Morgul said with sinister glee, "and even if you do. If may not be as pleasant a reunion as you hoped."

************

They sneaked into the house after Eric had displayed the rather interesting talent of being able to pick the door lock. Apparently being a roving journalist required him to enter places that were barred from him to get his story and it was certainly stealthier than Miranda's own approach which was to break the door in. The doors allowed them entrance into what appeared to be a parlor room of some kind that was fortunately unoccupied at present. Eric supposed that other than the staff, the mansion remained mostly empty until Saeran or one or Irina Sadko chose to take up residence.


"How long do we have until those charges go?" Jason asked.

"As long as we want," Miranda said calmly, showing him a small device that had a triggering mechanism on its face. "Its remote."

"Good," Eric replied. "I'm still not happy about blowing things up."

"Do all you humans employ this destructive force so readily?" Elladan asked, still remembering their assault on the Malcolm Building and what Aaron Stone had wrought upon Morgoth and his minions during that battle.

"It works," Miranda replied before she sneaked out of the room with the others following. No doubt the bulk of the security measures for the mansion was dependent on no one breaching the exterior perimeter. Once inside the mansion itself, the only thing they had to worry about were security cameras but they were easy enough to avoid.

"Do you hear anything?" She asked Elrohir as they prepared to emerge from the room. Thanks to the elves' superior hearing, they were given reasonably ample warning whenever anyone approached. She sighted a shadowy space beneath the sweeping staircase where the front foyer culminated and decided that it was large enough to conceal all of them when the charges were finally detonated.

"Nothing," the elf said confidently. "It is safe to proceed."

"Okay," she glanced over her shoulders, "single file everybody, one after the other, Elladan, you cover our rear. You'll hear someone coming long before they actually arrive anyway." Miranda replied.

"I am at your disposal my lady," he smiled, admiring her leadership and her keen tactical mind.

"Sure you say that now," she replied, "where were you when I was twenty and a dress size smaller?"

Before Elladan could retort, Miranda darted out of the room, followed swiftly by the others. They made straight for the staircase, their feet making soft sound against the wooden floor as they crossed the distance. Miranda pressed her back against the wall and waited as the others joined her beneath the staircase.

"Everybody," she said producing the detonator in her hand, "brace yourselves."


Elladan and Elrohir immediately covered their ears. If the humans could barely stand the roar of explosion, then they would hear it with even greater clarity. Miranda saw Eric drawing a deep breath, while Jason's spine seemed to stiffen in preparation. For herself, there was little preparation as her finger pushed down on the triggering mechanism.

The explosion that tore through the air, shaking foundations and filling the entire building with such calamitous noise made Miranda covered her ears though it was not quite enough to stop them from ringing. No sooner than the explosion was heard, excited voices began to chatter throughout the structure. Voices and footsteps that coincided into a powerful orchestra of pandemonium that stretched throughout the building as guards and staff hurried to investigate the source of the explosion. Despite the roar from the explosion subsiding, there were still loud noises of debris crumbling against the floor. Miranda assumed that the columns toppling caused this, taking with it the balcony whose weight they supported.

They heard feet stamping down the stairs and shrunk back against the wall underneath the staircase, allowing the shadows to conceal them as men ran past. Elladan who was at the other side of their own column in the dark stepped out as the last of these guards hurried by. Capable of hearing if anyone was following, he emerged just in time to slam his elbow into the face of the straggler who had lost sight of his comrades when they turned the corner. The man had little time to cry out as he fell flat on his back, his head hitting the floor as he held his face in pain.

"Nicely done," Jason commended as Miranda pulled out her handgun and approached the man.

He was still rather disorientated and his nose was bleeding profusely as he clutched it. However, his senses had a sharp return to clarity when she jammed the barrel of her gun into his mouth.

"Where are the children?" She demanded looking very much like a lioness in some African savanna protecting her cubs.

"What?" He stammered through the metal held against his lips.

"Two children, boys!" She repeated herself, cocking the gun. "Where are they!"

"I don't know!" He gasped.

Miranda clamped her fist around his privates and squeezed hard enough for him to cry out. She did not notice the corresponding wince that rippled across the faces of her male companions.


"Again, where are they?" She demanded. "The next time, I ask I won't be using my fingers but rather this gun. I'll splatter your balls across this floor if you don't tell me where they are."

"Christ," Eric shuddered at the thought. "Tell her mate," he insisted. "I've seen her do it. It made me sick for a whole week."

Just to make her point clearer, Miranda removed the gun from his mouth and pressed it at the crotch of his pants. "Think hard before you answer or you won't ever be getting hard again."

"They're down below!" He shouted in terror.

Men were so predictable, Miranda thought to herself. "Down below where!" She insisted.

"Miranda," Elrohir warned, his senses detecting approaching danger. "We must go!"

"WHERE!" She demanded, shoving the steel even harder against his privates.

"Down this hall!" He burst out in a series of stutters and whimpers. "At the end of it is a lift, it goes down! We're not allow there but that's where they've been taken by Saeran's personal guard."

"The Nazgul," Elladan concluded. "He tells the truth Miranda. He fears you too much to lie."

Miranda did not need to be an elf to know that much. She knew fear and she knew when one was experiencing it enough to break. This man in his dark suit was little more than bought muscle, to deal with the tasks that did not require the Nine's particular talents. In other words, he was a thug.

"My lady," Elrohir exclaimed more insistently, "we must be moving!"

It not longer required elven hearing to realize this because she could hear the pounding footsteps approaching them from afar.

"Get on t moving then," she looked up at the others, "you heard him. At the end of the hall! Go!"


Jason and Eric started running first, followed by Elrohir. Miranda leapt to her feet, certain that the injured man from whom she had coerced the information was unlikely to follow.

"Come, " Elladan said, taking her by the arm and steered her past the staircase to the hallway that the thug had indicated.

They hurried down the hallway and saw that Eric and Jason had come to a pause at the end of the hallway where sure enough, there were a set of steels door and a control panel along the side. The lift was the intersection point for two other corridors and appeared clear for the moment. Suddenly, Elladan paused and turned around, his body stiffening into what she recognized as a battle stance.

"Are they close?" She asked.

Her response was met with a hail of bullets exploding in the air. As Miranda jumped to the floor, dragging Elladan with her, she shouted at her companions.

"GET DOWN!"

"Shit!" Eric exclaimed as he saw Miranda and Elladan hitting the floor. He had barely a fraction of a second to do the same before the bullets slammed into the wall and the lift doors behind him. As he remained on the floor, he saw a number of dark suited men heavily arm at the end of the corridor. They were preparing to fire again when suddenly; Miranda raised herself onto her arms and open fire with her own rifle. When she had said that the Heckler & Koch G36K could fire 750 rounds per minute, he had scarcely believed it. However, as the weapon discharged, Eric saw what how effective it was. The barrage was so deadly that it hit the enemy like a wall of bullets. Those who did not retreat up the corridor were cut down fast, their bodies jerking like marionettes before they fell.


"Where's that damned lift!" Jason shouted as he got on his feet and pushed the button again.

"Jason!" Miranda barked in his direction, not an easy thing to do considering how deafening the sounds was. "I need help with suppressing fire! "

The cameraman was already on his knees, slinging his rifle from his shoulder to take aim. Pulling the trigger, they let loose and impenetrable wall of bullets that drove the enemy back. Meanwhile, Elladan and Elrohir were getting to their feet to take point at the other corridor. The twins were rearming their bows when suddenly, Eric saw the appearance of more men in that particular corridor. Without thinking, he raised his weapon to fire, pressing the trigger to let the bullets fly.


Nothing happened.

He cursed as his eyes made contact with the enemy, a small smile of triumph stretching across their faces. Time seemed to have slowed to a crawl as he saw Elladan and Elrohir raising their armed bows, in readiness to fire. Eric's mind swept instantly through the instructions that Miranda had given him in the operation of these guns and fumbled at the weapon briefly before trying again. Pulling the trigger, he was prepared for more disappointment when suddenly, the very opposite happened.

The burst of fire that erupted from the barrel of the gun was so powerful that the recoil made him stagger back slightly. With his fingers still on the trigger, the projectiles cut a swathe through the enemy as the barrage of artillery joined the more elegant arrows in driving back the thugs who would stop them. He saw them tearing through the enemy, while some returned fire themselves. For a few seconds, he did not move as he saw the bodies falling to the floor, their blood spilling from wounds that he had caused. In the years that he had been reporting the news in some of the most war ravaged places on this earth, he had seen many dead people, their bodies torn apart by bullets and violence.

It was however, the first time that he had been the cause of it.

He stared in muted silence at the violence he had caused and barely noticed when the lift doors started to slide open. He was still staring at the dead, oblivious to the men still shooting, the arrows that were still cutting their numbers down. Bullets may have outnumbered the arrows but each one met its mark with expert precision unlike the former, which had a wide margin for error during delivery.

"Come on!" He heard Jason shout and turned his head just in time to see his best friend shoving him through the doors. Miranda was keeping the enemy at bay by continuing the barrage while Elladan had fallen back to use one of the 'special' arrowheads that they had acquired at Max Voight's armory.

"Miranda!" Elrohir called to the woman who was relentlessly maintaining an assault of bullets along the hallway they had emerged to ensure no one would get through to them. "Go! My brother and I shall deal with this!"

Miranda saw that his bow was armed with the large, conical arrowheads and nodded briskly, retreating towards the open lift doors as Elrohir took her place and raised his bow to fire. She saw Elladan doing the same at the other corridor and lowered her weapon to enter the lift.

"Fire in the hole!" She screamed at Eric and Jason to take cover as the Elrohir released the bowstring and let the arrows fly. Once the arrow was on the way, both elves turned on their heels and raced into the lift to join the rest of their companions. Miranda jammed her finger against the one of three buttons on their lift to send it on its way.

One of the arrows hit a body, the other the wall. The explosions that followed in quick succession caused the walls to shake as columns of fire came rushing at them from the blast. The lift doors closed within seconds of the fireball reaching them and their ears were momentarily deafened by the noise as they felt themselves begin to move.

No one could speak for a few moments after. The memory of bodies, bullets and heat had left a parting impression on all of them. They looked at each other, feeling bonds already deep, solidify even more after the battle they had just fought together.


"Everybody alright?" Miranda asked after a moment, breaking the silence as the lift continued on its way. "Anybody hurt?"

"No," Jason said automatically but looked at Eric in concern.

The newsman was still somewhat stunned by the fact that he had spilled blood and Jason could tell. Jason had been apart of the peacekeeping forces in Bosnia during the tail end of the UN administration of the country and had been one of the helicopter pilots bringing in wounded and supplies. He still remembered how it felt when he was forced to defend himself against the enemy. Taking a life was no small thing and contributed greatly to his reasons for leaving the service. While he could kill if required, Jason did not have it in him to make a career out of it.

"You okay?" Jason asked Eric quietly, aware that his friend had endured some severe emotional battery the past few days, first with Dominique's death and now at having to kill for the first time.

"I'm fine," Eric answered meeting Jason's gaze with a slight nod. "I just never had to do it before, being the places we've been makes it look so easy but it isn't, is it?"

"It is no small thing to take a life and end all it will ever be," Elrohir said with similar sympathy. "You did what was necessary."

"Absolutely," Miranda said putting her hand on Eric's face, "look, I don't have time to make this better for you. Its kill or be killed at the moment. I know its not bloody fair and in this day and age, we should be able to talk it out but the truth is the world is not like that and you know it. You've seen it enough in the places you've been. I know this is harsh but right now, I need you to get over it because we don't have a choice. You can't hesitate where we're going, not for one second. If anything tries to stop you, you put a bullet in them and worry about the morality of it later."

"My lady," Elladan started to interject, "he has not acquired the calluses that came from battle experience."

"I know that," she met his gaze and Eric saw her eyes softened. "I can see for myself how much this hurts you and I wish there was some other way but there isn't. Frank is up there, playing Russian roulette with the devil so that we can get to the boys. We have no idea what's waiting for us where we're going but I have to know are you up to doing what's necessary."

"I am," he said firmly and with more conviction than he thought he possessed. "Dominique died because of these bastards. I won't stand by and let the same happen to your boys."

Miranda smiled and lowered her weapon briefly to embrace him. "Thank you," she said softly in his ear, "I'm proud to be your sister, Eric."

He returned her smile with the same sentiment, "I'll remind you of that later if I stuff things up,"

************

Like his companions in the car, Frank saw the smoke rising above the tree line as they approached David Saeran's mansion estate. The tension in the vehicle was already thick enough to slice with a blade as Irina had been unsuccessfully attempting to contact her people at the estate to warn them of the intruders that were going to invade the domain. She had been largely unsuccessful and as the cloud of thick, dark smoke loomed larger in the window, Frank could understand why. It appeared that things were progressing more or less according to plan thanks to Miranda.

"This means nothing," Irina glared at him. "Your wife can reduce this building to rubble and it still won't lead her to your children."

Frank did not answer because he was thinking up his own means of escape. Of course he was powerless in the car, trapped in such close confines with the Nazgul. However, once they emerged from the vehicle, he would make the attempt. The Nazgul did not see him as a threat and had not searched him when the forced him into the car. They most likely believed his vocation as an archaeologist ensured that he would know very little about guns and how to use them. In truth, they were not far wrong. He still felt uncomfortable about the weapon he had hidden under his shirt that kept reminding him of its presence by whenever he leaned back into the cushioned seat of the vehicle. However, Miranda had insisted he carry a gun for this rendezvous and had shown him briefly how to fire one.

"I look forward to meeting your wife again," Morgul added, attempting to break through the man's determined resolve. "She and I have unfinished business."

"Unfinished?" He looked at Morgul, "I don't see how you consider it unfinished since she killed you. Looks pretty settled to me."

"You know nothing!" Morgul snapped angrily. "The shield bitch had prophecy behind her. I could not be slain by men. For two thousand years I lived, bringing Black Death to all and I will not see that end because some upstart female had the audacity to stand in the field of battle like men. This time, when we meet it will not be I who are slain. It will be she and I will put aside this vile chapter of my existence."

"Good luck," Frank said skeptically as the car made the last leg of its journey towards the mansion.

As they approached, he could see a part of the mansion was on fire, a length of balcony had fallen away and there was a gaping hole in the series of columns beneath it. Some of the balcony had broken off entirely, creating a pile of debris beneath it. The rest of it was clinging to stay in place but gravity was working hard against it. Fire was burning through that section of the mansion and there were people scurrying back and forth trying to bring the destruction to some measure of control.

"When you find them," Irina uttered tautly to Morgul, "kill her first."

"Of that there will be no doubt," Morgul said turning to Frank with what the archaeologist was certain was a gloating sneer.

The car came to a halt in front of the main entrance to the mansion with Irina stepping out first, followed by Frank and the Nazgul in tow. Frank saw the others emerging from the vehicle as he climbed out of the vehicle, trying to decide his next course of action. He could not let himself be taken hostage to be used as leverage for blackmail against Miranda and the others. By the looks of it, Miranda was causing enough damage to give him the impression that she had some plan at work, plans he did not want to complicate by his capture.


A narrow window of opportunity presented itself to him as he saw Irina before him and though it was risky, he knew he had to make the attempt. If he did not, Frank was not sure when the chance would come again. Taking a deep breath, he slid his arm around her throat and pulled out the gun. In one swift movement that surprised him by its execution, Frank pressed the barrel of the gun against her head and forced her around to face the rather surprised Nazgul.

"Release me!" She demanded.

"Step away from the car!" Frank ignored her and shouted at the Nazgul who were producing their own weapons in response to his actions.

"What do you hope to accomplish?" Irina said in turn, her tone a mixture of impatience and anger but no real fear. "You know as well as I do, that you won't kill me."

"Don't be so sure," Frank shoved the gun harder against her temple, "you've taken my children! You've killed my friend. I'm entitled to a little vengeance!"

"Morgul," Irina glared at the Witch King standing before them both. "Do something and make it fast. We really don't have time for this."

The Witch King assessed the situation before him and glanced at his brothers who knew his mind and agreed silently as to their next course of action.

"It is true," the Nazgul answered in a slow deliberating voice, "we do not have time to deal with this. The only thing of importance is the retrieval of our lord."

With that, he promptly raised his gun and fired.

The bullet slammed into Irina's left eye, splattering Frank with blood, flesh and grey matter as he staggered backward when the discharge was made. He released her in stunned shock, watched her body fall to the ground trailing blood and making a sickly sound when she landed on the back of her ruined skull. Frank looked up at Morgul in astonishment, unable to believe the Nazgul had killed the woman whom he had believed to be his master.

"That was most satisfying," Morgul answered. "I have waited a long while to do that. I should thank you for the opportunity to do away with that meddlesome piece of flesh."

"You killed her," Frank stammered unable to comprehend why.

"No," Morgul shook his head and answered triumphantly. "You killed her or at least that is what our lord will be told when he returns."

Frank started to understand and did not resist when the Nazgul reached him and dragged him towards the house.

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