A/N: It's getting to be that time of year when ones thoughts turn to the "other side of life". I'm hoping for a bit of inspiration from the change of seasons and the approach of Halloween!
ElvenPirate – Annatar creeps me out. This whole story creeps me out! But it just nags to be written. Glad you are enjoying it!
Archaic Scribe – Er, sorry. I thought I had put in the first chapter that Mikal is a man. (Mikal is actually a Scandinavian version of "Michael" from what I understand.)
If my memory serves me correctly, it was many long weeks before the accursed ring began it's foul task. Slowly, gradually so as not to alert me to it's ultimate intent it began to work its subtle evil in my life although it would be many long years before I could see this.
Over the following weeks, my mind became much sharper and I ceased to grieve for my mother and Kendriun. Initially, I believed that it was just the passage of time that healed my wounds but there was much more to it than that.
Make no mistake I missed them terribly! But I no longer felt I was cast adrift, abandoned and alone in the world. I felt as if I had a purpose. Annatar encouraged me to test my abilities – little did I know he was also testing me for his own nefarious purposes – to see how quickly the ring could be used to control someone based on their innate integrity.
You see I was his first human victim. Oh, there would be other men. They would be brought under his influence by desire, lust, greed and even promises of freedom. But I was his first. He was not sure if the ring would work at all because it had failed to ensnare elves or dwarves but he knew men to be weaker than they and he was determined to use mankind to bring the world under his dominion. But here I digress again and that story is best left to others. This is my tale only and I cannot speak for the other eight souls that are forever lost in the realms of shadow.
Where was I? Yes, testing my abilities. Annatar knew I thirsted for knowledge above all else and he encouraged this by telling me that Kendriun would be proud. Oh, yes, he knew exactly what to say to bring me ever closer to his ultimate victory!
I threw myself back into my studies (for that is what I would call them for many years in deference to Kendriun. I was still a mere apprentice in my mind.), more determined than ever to make my master proud.
Diligently, I set lessons for myself following Kendriun's path. I continued to study the ancient scrolls finding that Quenya came much easier to me. I found I no longer needed to painstakingly translate the words. I instantly knew and understood their meaning, no matter how subtle. This excited me and spurred me on to devour ever more of the scrolls and the knowledge they contained.
From the scrolls, I learned a great deal about the Elves and their history. It was quite fascinating but I never did discover the "secret" to their immortality (if there were such a thing). Annatar, of course, would periodically bring this up during his frequent visits, determined that there must be some earthy explanation for their long lives. We would discuss this matter until we came to our customary stalemate on the subject.
As the weeks turned to months, I grew ever more confident in my abilities and myself. No longer did I fear the Kings summons for advice. It seemed as if I could read his very thoughts and my mere presence seemed to comfort him. But these were peaceful times for our kingdom so my council was seldom needed. I began to feel a very powerful sense of well being and the King had come to trust me as he did Kendriun – as an advisor as well as a friend.
These were heady times for me. I still considered myself just an apprentice but I was beginning to understand Kendriun's confidence in me. Or I thought I did.
One early spring evening I was sitting by the fire reading a scroll when a faint movement caught my eye. I looked up and saw the seeing stone on the mantle. It had grown bright yet cloudy and as I gazed into it, an image came into focus. Again, I saw myself as an older man in fine robes but this time I was standing next to Annatar and not the King. The mithril ring was still upon my finger and my beard was white as snow. "What can this mean?" I murmured more to myself than the orb. After a few moments, the image faded and I was left more perplexed than ever at the vision. Where was the King in this scene? Before, I had been at his side but in this vision, I was at Annatar's side. What could it mean?