Disclaimer: See Chapter 1. I do own Nacrás, Sarniâ, Sarkáhn, and Mistad.
Wow! Thanks for all the reviews and I am grateful that you have been reading my story. This chapter is going to be the one that will uncover many secrets. I hope you enjoy it and understand the logic behind it. It is a little different than how I originally planned the story, but it was all I could do to make it less obvious. Tell me what you think. Enjoy!
Aragorn sat quietly on his bed, as all the elves began to clear the room of all unnecessary items. Elrond had told him that the only way to contact Mistad was through a clearing of the mind and the focusing of all thoughts on the spirit. Complete relaxation was needed and also a calming of the senses. Aragorn was having trouble in that department for the last few days had brought him nothing but stress and anxiety. The days had taken their toll on his mental state and his mind was very fragile…very vulnerable. When all of the elves had finished their task, Elrond made his way over to his son, and sat down next to him.
"Everyone, please leave the room," Elrond said in a stern voice not wanting anyone to argue. Elladan and Elrohir knew his father better than Legolas and knew it was futile to argue. They gave their brother a reassuring smile and silently left the room with Glorfindel.
"I cannot leave him, not now!" Legolas exclaimed ignoring Elrond's tone.
"Please, Legolas, this must be done with as little interference as possible. I cannot watch both you and Estel at the same time. You must leave!" Elrond replied.
"Mellon nin, I thank you for your concern, but ada is right. You cannot stay. Just please do as he says. I will be alright." Aragorn did not have the strength to argue with his best friend. He was focused on exactly what he had to do, and he did not want to have to worry about him as well. Despite the pleadings and warnings, Legolas did not falter.
"With all do respect, my Lord Elrond, I have as much right to be here as you do, even more so perhaps. Do not forget that I came in contact with that creature as well. I was the one who awoke to find Estel almost dead to the world, and I was the one whose heart almost stopped when it took more than aminute to wake him. They were the longest minutes of my life." Legolas's voice began to choke. "Then I learn that some evil elf creature is out to kill my best friend because he happened to be given a warning by some dead spirit!" Bitter sarcasm poured out of his mouth when he voiced those words. "Well, I was there too. I was there when Sarkáhn tried to choke the life out of him, and as I held him against my chest I wondered to myself, why does Sarkáhn not want me? Why did Mistad have to give Estel that message? Why do I have to think about…losing my best friend? Why can't I take his pain away?" Legolas could barely get the words out of his mouth for the heartache was too much. Silence ensued for what seemed like hours until Legolas finally spoke again with conviction in his voice.
"I will stay here and I will not leave his side."
Aragorn could barely hold back the tears that formed in his eyes. At that moment he learned just how much Legolas cared for him. They were more than best friends…they were brothers. Aragorn, with exception to his family, never thought that anyone would ever love him so much that they would lay their life on the line for him. He realized how blessed he really was. Not wanting to let his emotions go, he gave his friend a small smile with the intentions of lightening the mood.
"Well, my dear prissy elf, it seems that yet again you will get your way."
"You should have learned by now human that I always do."
"Yeah, but I never thought that you would resort to a sappy speech like that. However, I must admit, nicely performed."
"I am much obliged. Do you really think it was that good? I mean, do you think it was too melodramatic? I don't know, I think the tears and cracking voice were a little too much."
"I think it was impeccable; you had me convinced."
Elrond looked upon the conversation with great amusement. Not minutes before, Legolas had been pouring his heart out and now they were bantering back and forth making light of the whole situation. He knew that Aragorn felt the love emanating from Legolas' speech and he was sure Legolas knew too. "Only those two could spend one minute in anguish and the next minute laughing hysterically," Elrond thought to himself.
"Well, I hate to have to end your little analysis of Legolas' wonderful speech, but we must do this now. Oh and by the way, Legolas, seeing as how your stubbornness has won out, you will be staying."
"Hannon le."
"Legolas come over here and sit on the other side of Estel. I want you to keep him calm while he is in the trance should he become restless. I, on the other hand, will be helping Estel to relax and focus all his thoughts. Are we ready?"
"It's now or never," Aragorn replied. Legolas just nodded.
Elrond placed one hand on his son's forehead and the other held Aragon's hand against his chest. After muttering a few indecipherable words, Aragorn seemed to relax.
In his head, Aragorn felt a kind of peace. His mind seemed…blank. There was nothing there really. No sorrow, no pain, not even happiness. There was just…nothing. He actually kind of enjoyed the peace because it was like having a vacation from his self. However his thoughts were interrupted when he heard his father's voice in his head, telling him to stay focused. Then, Aragorn forced all his thoughts on communicating with Mistad. He thought of what the creature looked like, how it felt, and anything that he could associate with it.
All of a sudden, his mind seemed to be bombarded with the thoughts of Mistad. He was having trouble controlling them and they all seemed to come at once causing him to shift restlessly in his trance. Legolas quickly grabbed his friend's hand and began to whisper soothing words of comfort. He looked at Elrond with pleading eyes, hoping that the whole ordeal would soon be over. Elrond just shook his head as if to say, 'Be patient'. Both Legolas and Elrond were so engrossed in Aragorn's behavior that they failed to notice a looming figure standing in the room, the same figure that was standing in Elrond's study…a figure that found its way home.
Aragorn's world was full of chaos and confusion. He had trouble deciphering each memory that passed. All at once the shapes began to dissipate, and his mind went blank again. He looked around, feeling that he had somehow lost the connection, only to find that Mistad was standing before him, its arm outstretched. As if sensing that Mistad meant no harm he stepped forward and boldly asked, "What is it that you want me to learn? What did your riddle mean?"
Without saying a word Mistad took a step forward and placed its bony hand on Aragorn's forehead, conveying its answer telepathically. "I will show you," the voice inside his head answered. Before Aragorn's world changed again, he could still smell the lingering scent of aromatic herbs.
As quickly as Mistad appeared, he departed, leaving Aragorn in what seemed like a strange dream. He looked around and found that he was back in Rivendell, rather an older Rivendell than the one he knew. He was out in one of the gardens standing over a grave. On the tombstone was written the name, Nacrás. Surrounding the grave was two grief-stricken parents sobbing heart wrenchingly, and across from them stood…Elrond. His eyes were closed tightly; his face was etched with pain and heartache. Aragorn wanted to put a hand on his father's shoulder, but he realized that they could not see him, nor could he touch them. He was a ghost, for lack of a better word. He watched the scene with sadness. He knew the grave he was standing over was the poor innocent elfling who was so unmercifully murdered by Sarniâ. Many thoughts raced through his head about the sight before his eyes. Seeing the grave there…reading the name…something just wasn't right.
His mind flashed again, transporting him to the dungeons. He saw Sarniâ standing against the bars of the cell explaining his actions to Elrond. 'I have done my duty. I have accomplished my goal,' Sarniâ said to Elrond. 'How could you murder an innocent child?' Elrond questioned with exasperation in his voice. 'You are blinded by your own two eyes. You do not see. I have prevented death. I cannot give you justification for my actions. All I can say is that my job is done.' These words puzzled Aragorn. Finally, Aragorn realized the truth. He knew who Sarkáhn was and he knew the identity of Mistad. His theory was correct. It all made sense. His family had it all wrong. All the pieces fit. He could still smell the lingering scent of aromatic herbs; Elrond sensed familiarity; Blinded by his own two eyes. With all the pieces fitting together, Aragorn realized that Mistad must be…Sarniâ.
'It has to be him. He was a healer. Only a healer would have the scent of herbs, not a child. Elrond was best friend's with him, of course he sensed familiarity. I understand his riddle now. Nacrás is Sarkáhn. It can be pronounced Sarkáhn backwards. Why didn't anyone see it before? Sarniâ knew it and killed him, or so he thought, to prevent the destruction of Rivendell's elves. That is why he said that he had done his job and accomplished his mission. The only thing I do not know is how Sarniâ knew that Sarkáhn was the little elfling. I must find out more,' Aragorn thought to himself.
Another flash and the pictures altered. Now he was standing in front of two young elfling children whispering secrets to each other, not wanting anyone to hear. The one little child he knew had to be Nacrás because he felt he had seen the child before, but realized that he was sharing Sarniâ's memories.
He watched as they laughed and whispered until all of a sudden, Nacrás's eyes changed. They were blood red, and an evil, bone-chilling smile appeared on his face. He looked upon his elf friend with a loathing and hatred so strong that Aragorn felt chills up his spine. What had triggered this reaction? Nacrás's friend had insulted Sarkáhn, repeating his father's earlier comment about Sarkáhn being an imaginative story about a foolish and powerless creature that did not have the courage to challenge the Elves of Rivendell, especially Elrond.
Nacrás extended his arm, much in the same fashion that Sarkáhn had done to Aragorn in woods, and proceeded to choke the life out of the boy. Aragorn could not stand by and watch the scene as memories came flooding back…memories of fear and suffocation. He tried to help save the child but he could not touch them, for his hands passed right through. Suddenly, Sarniâ who was out for a stroll, came around the corner, and spotted the strange occurrence. He immediately rushed forward and grabbed the child that was being choked in order to break Nacrás's connection. Sarniâ looked into Nacrás's face and could feel his blood run cold. Nacrás just smiled and in a sinister, cold voice, he said, "I will make sure that you pay dearly for that." Then, Nacrás abruptly passed out, leaving a stunned Sarniâ behind.
Aragorn looked upon the scene terrified. He understood it all. All the thoughts, emotions, and memories came flooding back through his head causing him to lose his balance. He fell upon his knees holding his head as if it would explode. The images changed and he appeared back in the empty space where he had started, with Mistad…no, Sarniâ…standing in front of him. Aragorn mustered as much strength as he could in order to finish his task, and ask the one final question.
"How do we kill Sarkáhn? You tried once, and he has come back. You are dead and now hold the secrets that the living does not know. How do we kill it?"
Mistad seemed to hesitate, but firmly answered in yet another mysterious riddle:
Evil returned without help from above
His only weakness is sacrificial love
If he is destroyed then a soul will be free
If he is not then you never did see
The darkness deceives you, will blind you to tricks
If caution's not taken then life is forfeit
He will not wait, he will strike soon
One must die, to prevent the doom.
Destroy him now or he will come
And the sky will fall, no rising sun.
AN: Well? It all unravels. Sarniâ was never Sarkáhn to begin with. If you thought it was him then you were duped like Elrond into believing a rumor based upon nothing. Now that you know the whole tale from Sarniâ's perspective, the views shift. I'll understand if you don't like it, but tell me what you think. It's far from over though, because I do believe there will be some more twists and turns to come. Please Review and tell me what you think! ; )