Author: Schattenseite
Category: Slash, angst, darkfic, Silmarillion-based
Pairings: Sauron/the Mouth of Sauron, Sauron/Ar-Pharazon, Lord of the Nazgul/The Mouth of Sauron
Rating: R I think
Beta-reader: Milly of Isengard
A/N: I haven't found yet any fic concerning the Mouth of Sauron, so this story I dedicate to him.
Disclaimer: I do not own Sauron, the Mouth of Sauron, Ar-Pharazon and the Nazgul.
Chapter 1
A house in the grove
Sky still does not darken in Anadune, breezes are gentle, and the sun shines as ever but, shadow already lies in the blessed Elenna. No vessels can be seen arriving to Andunie from Eressea, the shrine upon Meneltarma is forgotten and desolate- people do not want to remember their gods who raised and enriched this land for them.
The fair Armenelos lies at the feet of the sacred mountain, and it glares so, it hurts the eyes for all in the city shouts of wealth and prosperity- its gilded roofs and spires, stained glass in windows made of incredible bright colored pieces, flashing as a chance ray of the midday sun decides to strike upon one of them. Fine scents of exquisite expensive spices are hovering in the air, people are walking to and fro, some are hurrying on business, and some are roaming without any purpose. Noble ladies clad in gems and gold, mariners just returned from a regular voyage to Endor, tradesmen and warriors, children fled from their parents, apprentices and lords from the kings palace-all is mingled in the uninterrupted movement of the human anthill. A splash of life, a zenith of splendor and mightiness before fading forever, before dying…
There is a house not very big, it is not far from the city- but the place there is quiet and calm, hidden from inquisitive eyes in a small grove. Just a common house like these that well-to-do Numenoreans own, who can already allow themselves a certain amount of slaves from Endor and still cannot allow themselves a part of the land in colonies. But its windows are well curtained so that a chance look cannot penetrate behind the façade and learn some of the secrets of this- at first sight, just a common house. But there are no chance visitors… and only one road led from this place to the capital. People know who owns this house. It was built by the permission of the king Ar-Pharazon the Golden, and belonged to his captive and counselor.
The rooms are never lit up enough, for the owner prefers gentle dusk, now he sits on a black soft couch, he is dressed in black robes and his white hands calmly lying on the knees, making a sharp contrast. He is an unusual person, his appearance attracts all eyes, for his skin is very pale, almost transparent, and the hair is extremely light- it seems to be white, compared to the Numenoreans it is short, just reaching the shoulders and a little bit longer- light as a feathers, there are some little careless plaits from below. In contrast, his eyes are deep, unkind green, with inhuman vertical pupils like two malicious emeralds for eyes. His features are perfect, a beautiful face, but strangely unnatural and lifeless. He looks like more a figurine than a living man.
He is not alone. You can recognize in his guest, one of these proud noble Numenorean lords with great ambitions and impressive fortune, whose secret wishes are so easy to predict. Especially in this time.
The gray eyes shift uneasily, though he pretends to be confident and calm.
"So?" The cold voice was heard from the black couch.
"Well, my lord, I just wanted to… well…"
The Numenorean shook his head, and his black hair scattered in disorder over his shoulders.
"I understand." He chuckled coldly.
It was clear for me, already, when I merely heard the sound of your horses hooves approaching my house. Moreover, what can such a Numenorean lord like you long for? Such a rich and mighty one? I perceive your cherished dream, your inaccessible mark, what the Valar denied you… and the most of you still lust for. And you were daring enough to beg me for it. Well…
"Immortality, magic power, secret knowledge… Am I right?" The kings counselor asked indifferently.
Of course, of course I am right…
"Well… yes…" The pale man whispered, fidgeting nervously on his chair.
"But I am ready, ready to pay," The Numenorean exhaled, and pressed his pale lips. "All what you demand… gems…gold…slaves…land, I don't care!"
Do you really think that is what I need? That such is a worthy payment for countless years of immortal life?
The sorcerer on the couch shut his gleaming eyes, the white eye-lashes fell, his perfectly contoured lips moved in a slight smile. "Can you offer anything more?"
The Numenorean shuddered, and stared at various phials standing on the shelves along the walls. They were glimmering faintly in the dim light of the only lamp, hidden itself, on the small table between ancient scrolls and bowls filled with strange liquids. A carpet lay under his feet. He knew it was soft pile, for he had such a carpet at his chambers himself, and they were delivered from the Southern lands. Those savages made them well- an expensive thing…
A goblet in his hand, made of gold, wine in it, his thin long fingers squeezed it unwillingly. "And what do you want, lord?" his voice trembled a little.
"Anyway… not these worthless tokens of power and wealth you offered me," muttered the Maia. A small wrinkle lay between his straight thin eyebrows.
"What profit can I gain from all this? What I need is you- your soul, and your body to serve me."
"It is a high price but your desires are worth it, aren't they? Otherwise you would simply not come to me. Are you ready for it? "
Yes, you know what I am talking about, you are a sensible one.
The Numenorean gulped from his goblet. It was noticeably trembling in his fingers. Then he lowered his head so his hair fell down and veiled his face. Various feelings were struggling in him at this moment. Yes, he knew what the Dark Lord was talking about.
The Dark Lord…that was he, even here and now, even in Numenore at this sunny day even when no ray of sun penetrates the thick curtains of this dwelling. The Dark Lord… darkness…
But hadn't he, the mighty Numenorean lord, made sacrifices for the Darkness, in hope to learn the secret knowledge how to overcome death. The unending life… He was surprised that he couldn't find any matter to refuse, no, he couldn't refuse. The lust for the unending life blazed up in him anew, with an intensity he hadn't felt before. To change his life, to become mighty in magic and to live- to live without thinking of that stone bed that awaited everybody on this island, at one time blessed and now abandoned by the gods. Is this not what he dreamed of for the space of many years?
"I agree," He whispered quietly.
You know what you chose and you chose it willingly.
The white-haired one stood up from his couch, and moved towards the wall behind the Numenorean. There he extracted one of the phials from the shelf, and took from the hidden cupboard a cut-glass bowl- and poured out a crimson liquid from the phial in it. Then he jolted the bowl and offered it to his guest.
"Drink."
The Numenorean turned and took the bowl. For a while, he was peering at the contents… but then he drank it all up.
The taste was strange- sweet, and a little bitter, but there was something more in it- and he couldn't perceive it exactly. But when he tried to concentrate on it, he began to burn from the inside. It was not painful, but he wanted to cease the burning. And he felt as if he was blurring, and leaving his own body. He began to fear he would become a puddle on the soft carpet… it would be strange… a puddle on this carpet…
Reality was slipping away…
Who am I?
Everything was slipping away…
He was slipping away from reality…
The host was watching his noble guest, with interest in his green eyes. Now they were sparkling with anticipation.
"Well…" He whispered.
At length, he leaned forward and passed his long fingers over the guest's pale face. For a while, the Maia peered at the Numenorean- and then, he clasped his future minion and lay on the couch, there he was sitting before.
Time for a little amusement
Smiling, the Maia began to undress his helpless guest…
His hands caressed and scratched the lifeless body, licking off the flowing blood from the appearing abrasions…. So sweet it was… He couldn't forget its sweet taste, since he had turned himself into a vampire for the first time. As his lust was growing, he began to kiss and bite the naked body of the Numenorean deeper and deeper…
The Numenorean was groaning quietly.
The Maia took off his robes, to better feel the hot skin beneath his body. His own smooth white skin would be in blood… but it didn't matter…
Then he parted the legs of his guest, and swiftly entered the bleeding motionless body with one stroke. The Numenorean gasped, and opened his gray eyes, gazing at the graceful body upon him. He couldn't resist in such a helpless state, moreover he didn't wish to. A strange pleasure, mingled with the feeling of shame, now overcame the man, making him clutch the smooth hips of the kings' counselor to draw their bodies closer…
It was like a flame, searing and soothing, making him desire for more…