Disclaimer: OK! I don't own any of the LOtR characters. But I do own Isilya! And the plot is mine. If there are any characters in this that resemble anybody dead or alive, then it is plain luck.
Prologue: A time after the war of the ring. When everyone was happy that the evil was over, a new or perhaps a forgotten enemy rears his head. Now, the three friends travel to a land quite east to Mordor. New adventures await them. And new friends and trials too!
Chapter 1 (The Council Meets)
"Well if that is decided then we had better go!" Gimli said.
"But Gimli, you only know that my child has been taken away! Where will we go looking for her? I had not even the chance to name my daughter!" Aragorn's shoulder slumped and he dissolved into tears.
Legolas sighed and turned to Gandalf. He was looking at the king with an expression that they could not read. At last Gandalf spoke.
"Aragorn, son of Arathorn, you should not cry when your kith and kin need your shoulder to lean upon! It is not right! Now listen to me Aragorn, you daughter has been taken by a minion of a very powerful wizard."
Legolas looked up at this and even before he could stop himself he said, "Saruman?"
Gandalf looked sharply at Legolas. He sighed and shook his head.
"Had it been Saruman, then we would never need to worry for I would have your daughter in your arms by night fall! But it is not! It is an evil that is older than the wise wizards!"
Legolas felt his blood run chill. "Is it Morgoth himself then?"
Gandalf looked sharply at him. "Speak not of such evil prince elf! We are in too much trouble already! Morgoth shall not taunt you or Middle Earth for now! Morgoth is not the only ancient evil that Middle Earth has seen! Be sure of that!"
"Then what is it? Tell us Gandalf! What does to dwarf have to offer so that the heir of Gondor is back to her rightful parents?"
Gandalf nodded his head as though contemplating something with himself.
"We need to find the minion first. For from him, we shall have further lead to anywhere! And thank the Valar I know where he is!"
"Gandalf, will you kindly be a little bit clearer?" Aragorn pleaded. The wizard looked at him for a minute before replying,
"Very well! The enemy we face names herself as Nwalme."
Legolas sat upright at this. "We are to fight a woman?"
"A sorceress. The most powerful sorceress in the entire Middle Earth! She remained silent when Morgoth waged war for the Silmarils. She remained silent when Esildor defeated the forces of Sauron and she remained silent when Aragorn and the Fellowship defeated Sauron. But now she stirs."
Gimli who was listening to what the wizard had said asked in quite a gruff tone.
"Then why has she bothered to wake up now?"
Gandalf nodded at Gimli as though he had accepted this question from him.
"I asked the same question, and the reply was this scroll." He pointed to the tightly wrapped scroll on the table. Naturally all attention turned to the scroll, which looked too old to be read properly. Gandalf gazed at all three of them and then spoke,
"And now I will open this to be read." Saying so, he opened the scroll and with a final look at the company before him and smiling at their rapt attention, he started,
In that eternal life! Arrogance rose and peace waned!
Then when the force sees fit, there shall be a virgin-
Who when she deems a year on life, shall cause a fall!
An elven child to a mortal father – the warrior for tomorrow!
She shall slay the Torment that shall rise!
With the terror of the west evil shall be despised.
Heed oh Torment for now you hear!
Your Death draws ever so near!"
"That my friends, was the prophecy."
Aragorn rubbed his brow as though it seemed to hurt him. "But why would my daughter want to kill a sorceress who has done nothing wrong! The prophecy speaks her name as Torment but she has not tormented anybody! It doesn't make sense!"
Gandalf seated himself in his chair. He folded the scroll back and said in a deep voice,
"Aragorn, do not judge the world by what lies around you! The world is a big arena where most of the events go unnoticed sometimes! Nwalme or Torment as her Name means is very much such an incident in herself! The region around her is filled with evil! She has been killing any female child that is born in her land for fear of the prophecy! But now she knows that her destroyer is from Gondor and so, she sends her minions to fetch her! She is said to have supplied Morgoth with help!"
Gimli interrupted, "But you said she remained silent!"
Gandalf smirked darkly, "well, she did remain silent! After the war was over! She killed the entire army herself to spare the shame of defeat! The world never knows certain cruelties!"
The entire room was shocked. Aragorn was the one who spoke next, "But the prophecy speaks of my daughter being victorious when she is one year old! How can a mere child of one year claim victory over such powerful an enemy?"
Legolas and Gimli nodded their head. Gandalf sighed and replied, "That is still in the dark! But be sure of this Aragorn! Your child is the one spoken of in the prophecy!"
Aragorn nodded his head and turned to the others, "then my friends, shall you come with me?"
Legolas stood up and shouldered his quiver for answer and Gimli wiped the dust off his axe. Aragorn gave a relieved smile as he said,
"I thought so!"
And so, the next morning, the group of a wizard, a man, an elf and a dwarf, set out for the fortress of Nwalme.