Erin's statement to Saruman astounded him. Hoping he would remain stunned
for a little bit, Erin attempted to make a useless escape but Saruman was
far too powerful for her. He slammed all the doors shut with the magic he
possessed leaving the main hall shut off for the two of them. Erin crept
back and pressed herself against the wall, bracing for whatever would meet
her.
"I am not afraid of death," Erin screamed at Saruman, "Kill me. I don't care."
The White Wizard approached Erin and stopped. In any moment, he could have used his powers to destroy Erin and her world. Instead he raised his hand and slapped Erin across the face. Erin fell back, shocked yet thankful that was all he had done. Why hadn't he killed her? The White Wizard never had patience with her in the past. Why give her a second chance? She quickly regained balance on her feet and moved back expecting another attack.
"You are a irrational girl," he spat at her, "You do not understand what I am saying." Saruman was more distressed then angry. This was very unlike him. Erin had many questions but this was not the time "As I have always done, I'm trying to protect you," Saruman continued, "If you wish to devastate everything I have done for you, I will not be the one to stop you. Sauron will take care of you without my help. Do you want to die with the men you care nothing about?"
"No," Erin said, "I do not wish to die. But I do not desire the race of men to die and for me to live." Well, this was a change of thought for Erin. Wasn't it not long ago she commented how the race of men were weak? Wasn't she glad she was not one of them? Despite how weak she had seen the race of men, she was one of them. She was human and no spell could change it.
"What you desire?" Saruman argued, "I doesn't matter anymore. Elendil, I am giving you one more opportunity to join. This time, I will give you some time to think about everything I've told you. I realize you are not the brightest girl and maybe you don't realize what a mistake you'll be making into refusing to become a member of Sauron's army. Retire to your chamber."
Erin followed his instruction; at least that's what he thought. She knew Saruman far too well and knew exactly how to flee from Isengard with little difficulty. Instead of returning to her room, she hid in a small bookcase in his study. Although this did not sound like a good idea, Erin understood that Saruman never opened that bookcase. She would be able to hide there until Saruman saw that she was gone from her room. After searching for hours, he would return unsuccessful to the tower. Erin would then make her escape. The plan would have to flawless and properly executed.
She stepped into the bookcase and used her wand as a small light. It was not a comfortable fit but she would have to make due with what was available.
"Man, I need to loose weight," Erin thought, "If I had known I would be in a small bookcase, I would have watched what I'd been eating."
Moving around some of the books to become more comfortable, a small moth flew from the dust and landed on Erin. She smiled and picked it up.
"At least you are here to keep me company," Erin thought, as she was careful not to harm its wings.
"The palantír is a dangerous tool, Saruman," a voice carried on from not far away.
"Gandalf," Erin screamed in her mind as she peeked through the bookcase hoping to see a friendly face. The space was small but she was able to see Gandalf and Saruman bickering. Gandalf looked exhausted and Erin concluded he must have returned from a long journey. The same confusion haunted his face as it had Erin not too long ago.
"Why?" Saruman challenged Gandalf, "Why should we be afraid to use it?"
"Get out of there," Erin whispered as she watched a familiar scene of Saruman's trial. She observed the discussion between Gandalf and Saruman until Gandalf tried to exit, disturbed by something Saruman had said. The doors all shut close as they had for Erin.
"Shit," Erin whispered as she emerged from the bookcase setting down the moth she was still holding. She had to stay and help Gandalf but it would be a fruitless battle. Sounds of a fight could be heard from the sealed room. "Good luck Gandalf," Erin said reluctantly and she fled from the tower at the fastest speed possible. She leapt upon the horse and was about to leave but the moth fluttered in front of her face.
"Gandalf can speak to animals," Erin remembered as she caught the moth, "I wish I could. Then I could tell it to help Gandalf." In elvish she asked the moth to stay around the tower and help Gandalf. It must have understood because it flew away back towards the tower. "There's nothing else I can do," Erin mumbled as she took off with her horse, "I have to get to Rivendell quickly. Elrond will know what to do."
The ride to Rivendell was a long and dangerous one. Haldir was correct about threats lurking throughout the world. Orcs were lingering the roads and the best way to return to Rivendell was far off the normal passageways. It was over two months until she reached the city for she was tired, ill, and hungry. The sight of the city was a relief to Erin and it took much of her strength to simply climb the stairs. Collapsing at the top of the stairs, one of the elves ran to her assistance.
"My Lady Elendil!" the elf said trying to help her stand, "What has happened?"
"Elrond," she gasped for breath, "I need to see Elrond."
"But you are unwell," the elf continued, "I must get you assistance."
"No, take me to Elrond...Sauron...the Dark Lord...has arisen," Erin struggled to say.
Fortunately for Erin, Elrond was not too far and had heard the brief conversation between the elf and Erin. He came instantly to where they were standing. Seeing the condition Erin was in, Elrond signaled the elf to help her. Carrying her to a nearby chamber, the elf tended to her while she explained Saruman's betrayal to Elrond.
"I don't know what has happened to Gandalf," Erin continued, "I fear for his survival."
"Gandalf is capable of caring for himself," Elrond said as he rose, "At this present moment, we need to be alert of what enemies might attack us. No doubt Sauron is gathering all enemies to him and anywhere outside our borders is unsafe. The strength of the elves cannot stop this outbreak."
"Lord Elrond," Erin asked, "Why is Sauron rising to power again?"
"The ring," Elrond said quickly, "It is not my place to discuss the legend of the ring but it is clear that with Saruman and Sauron working against us, this will not be an painless fight. Saruman wants you, Gandalf and any other wizard to join him."
"I know that," Erin stated, "But what could I do? His powers are far advanced then mine. I won't be of any use to him"
"As far as we know, his powers are more advanced, but we are not sure."
"Not sure? About what? It is clear is powers are more advanced then my own."
"Where ever you are from, it is very unlike this world. We
don't know if you could possess other
talents."
"Other talents? Isn't it enough that I can speak several
languages, live a usually long life, and be
able to perform simple enchantments? What else could I be able to
accomplish?"
"Anything."
Elrond then turned towards the elf that he addressed as
Glorfindel. He commanded him to take one of the fastest horses and to scout the area for any orcs, enemies, allies, or even Gandalf. Obeying
Elrond's order, he turned to leave from facilitating Erin.
"Please find Gandalf," Erin pleaded from Glorfindel, "He is a
good friend of mine."
"I will seek him the best I am capable of," Glorfindel smiled
back, "Rest well, my lady." He then complied with Elrond's order and left Rivendell.
"Thank you my good helper," Erin sighed.
"I am not afraid of death," Erin screamed at Saruman, "Kill me. I don't care."
The White Wizard approached Erin and stopped. In any moment, he could have used his powers to destroy Erin and her world. Instead he raised his hand and slapped Erin across the face. Erin fell back, shocked yet thankful that was all he had done. Why hadn't he killed her? The White Wizard never had patience with her in the past. Why give her a second chance? She quickly regained balance on her feet and moved back expecting another attack.
"You are a irrational girl," he spat at her, "You do not understand what I am saying." Saruman was more distressed then angry. This was very unlike him. Erin had many questions but this was not the time "As I have always done, I'm trying to protect you," Saruman continued, "If you wish to devastate everything I have done for you, I will not be the one to stop you. Sauron will take care of you without my help. Do you want to die with the men you care nothing about?"
"No," Erin said, "I do not wish to die. But I do not desire the race of men to die and for me to live." Well, this was a change of thought for Erin. Wasn't it not long ago she commented how the race of men were weak? Wasn't she glad she was not one of them? Despite how weak she had seen the race of men, she was one of them. She was human and no spell could change it.
"What you desire?" Saruman argued, "I doesn't matter anymore. Elendil, I am giving you one more opportunity to join. This time, I will give you some time to think about everything I've told you. I realize you are not the brightest girl and maybe you don't realize what a mistake you'll be making into refusing to become a member of Sauron's army. Retire to your chamber."
Erin followed his instruction; at least that's what he thought. She knew Saruman far too well and knew exactly how to flee from Isengard with little difficulty. Instead of returning to her room, she hid in a small bookcase in his study. Although this did not sound like a good idea, Erin understood that Saruman never opened that bookcase. She would be able to hide there until Saruman saw that she was gone from her room. After searching for hours, he would return unsuccessful to the tower. Erin would then make her escape. The plan would have to flawless and properly executed.
She stepped into the bookcase and used her wand as a small light. It was not a comfortable fit but she would have to make due with what was available.
"Man, I need to loose weight," Erin thought, "If I had known I would be in a small bookcase, I would have watched what I'd been eating."
Moving around some of the books to become more comfortable, a small moth flew from the dust and landed on Erin. She smiled and picked it up.
"At least you are here to keep me company," Erin thought, as she was careful not to harm its wings.
"The palantír is a dangerous tool, Saruman," a voice carried on from not far away.
"Gandalf," Erin screamed in her mind as she peeked through the bookcase hoping to see a friendly face. The space was small but she was able to see Gandalf and Saruman bickering. Gandalf looked exhausted and Erin concluded he must have returned from a long journey. The same confusion haunted his face as it had Erin not too long ago.
"Why?" Saruman challenged Gandalf, "Why should we be afraid to use it?"
"Get out of there," Erin whispered as she watched a familiar scene of Saruman's trial. She observed the discussion between Gandalf and Saruman until Gandalf tried to exit, disturbed by something Saruman had said. The doors all shut close as they had for Erin.
"Shit," Erin whispered as she emerged from the bookcase setting down the moth she was still holding. She had to stay and help Gandalf but it would be a fruitless battle. Sounds of a fight could be heard from the sealed room. "Good luck Gandalf," Erin said reluctantly and she fled from the tower at the fastest speed possible. She leapt upon the horse and was about to leave but the moth fluttered in front of her face.
"Gandalf can speak to animals," Erin remembered as she caught the moth, "I wish I could. Then I could tell it to help Gandalf." In elvish she asked the moth to stay around the tower and help Gandalf. It must have understood because it flew away back towards the tower. "There's nothing else I can do," Erin mumbled as she took off with her horse, "I have to get to Rivendell quickly. Elrond will know what to do."
The ride to Rivendell was a long and dangerous one. Haldir was correct about threats lurking throughout the world. Orcs were lingering the roads and the best way to return to Rivendell was far off the normal passageways. It was over two months until she reached the city for she was tired, ill, and hungry. The sight of the city was a relief to Erin and it took much of her strength to simply climb the stairs. Collapsing at the top of the stairs, one of the elves ran to her assistance.
"My Lady Elendil!" the elf said trying to help her stand, "What has happened?"
"Elrond," she gasped for breath, "I need to see Elrond."
"But you are unwell," the elf continued, "I must get you assistance."
"No, take me to Elrond...Sauron...the Dark Lord...has arisen," Erin struggled to say.
Fortunately for Erin, Elrond was not too far and had heard the brief conversation between the elf and Erin. He came instantly to where they were standing. Seeing the condition Erin was in, Elrond signaled the elf to help her. Carrying her to a nearby chamber, the elf tended to her while she explained Saruman's betrayal to Elrond.
"I don't know what has happened to Gandalf," Erin continued, "I fear for his survival."
"Gandalf is capable of caring for himself," Elrond said as he rose, "At this present moment, we need to be alert of what enemies might attack us. No doubt Sauron is gathering all enemies to him and anywhere outside our borders is unsafe. The strength of the elves cannot stop this outbreak."
"Lord Elrond," Erin asked, "Why is Sauron rising to power again?"
"The ring," Elrond said quickly, "It is not my place to discuss the legend of the ring but it is clear that with Saruman and Sauron working against us, this will not be an painless fight. Saruman wants you, Gandalf and any other wizard to join him."
"I know that," Erin stated, "But what could I do? His powers are far advanced then mine. I won't be of any use to him"
"As far as we know, his powers are more advanced, but we are not sure."
"Not sure? About what? It is clear is powers are more advanced then my own."
"Where ever you are from, it is very unlike this world. We
don't know if you could possess other
talents."
"Other talents? Isn't it enough that I can speak several
languages, live a usually long life, and be
able to perform simple enchantments? What else could I be able to
accomplish?"
"Anything."
Elrond then turned towards the elf that he addressed as
Glorfindel. He commanded him to take one of the fastest horses and to scout the area for any orcs, enemies, allies, or even Gandalf. Obeying
Elrond's order, he turned to leave from facilitating Erin.
"Please find Gandalf," Erin pleaded from Glorfindel, "He is a
good friend of mine."
"I will seek him the best I am capable of," Glorfindel smiled
back, "Rest well, my lady." He then complied with Elrond's order and left Rivendell.
"Thank you my good helper," Erin sighed.