"Man lives in the sunlit world of what he believes to be reality.
But... there is, unseen by most, an underworld,
a place that is just as real, but not as brightly lit...
...a Darkside."
Tales from the Darkside

Chapter 9

Final Conflict

The being known as Once-human stood and watched the conflict around him with great interest, an expression on his face bordering on ecstasy. The pain and despair being experienced by the elves and humans as they fought would be enough to feed his perverted spirit for some time. And so, he stood silently in the shadows and relished each blow and every drop of blood that was being spilled by those before him.

The elves and humans had thought that their nightmare was over and were relieved by that fact until they found themselves once more faced by the same creatures they had so diligently fought then sent home, and discovering otherwise had almost despaired. Once more the two shapeshifters, bat and wolf, the large man, the dark skinned man, the skinny man as well as the small creatures they had called the Shadow Horde, were now milling about the hall in confusion, and anyone with a weapon was engaging whoever or whatever being or creature happened to be closest to them.

It mattered not that a particular person was more suited to engage one particular creature than another. Each individual was being forced to fight whoever or whatever was in front of them – they had to or they knew they would die. Rahan and Súrion made a point of finding and fighting the large man, for in this particular instance, they knew that by virtue of his great size, he was the most dangerous of the beings from Lament and none of the inhabitants of the House of Elrond had any chance of surviving if they were forced to face him in battle.

Blood was being spilled, but as of yet, neither creature, elf nor human had received a fatal wound, a fact that was proving frustrating to all involved. With the possible exception of Ethan, who was still making a fair accounting of himself regardless of his inexperience, they were all seasoned warriors and they now used every skill they possessed to not only keep themselves alive but to go to the aid of anyone who was having problems with the creature they were facing.

Then the whole atmosphere in the room changed and without even having to look, everyone knew that someone or something with a powerful presence had entered upon the field of battle. Once-human's attention was drawn to the furthest entrance and to the shadow that now blocked the light of the room beyond it. The Shadow Being's entrance and presence could not be denied and as the evil being from Lament turned towards the newcomer, he studied it closely as it glided across the floor and soundlessly approached the place where he now stood. Whatever it was, whoever it was, was featureless, genderless and ageless and moved as if it were floating on air.

Closer it came and though it was seemingly a creature born of shadows, it began to emit a light that expanded and grew in intensity until every combatant in the room was bathed in its golden light. Once-human stepped back and shaded his own eyes with his hand as he watched as the Shadow Being slowly and with great care, lifted the veil of deception with a light that was like a gentle but firm pair of hands, leaving behind that act, a true reality that could once again be seen by the others. The elves and humans drew back, aghast at what they found they had been doing, for in front of them and at the end of their blades were not the creatures they thought they had been fighting to the death, but their own kin and friends. Swords suddenly dropped from nerveless fingers and hands as everyone realized they had just been trying to kill the ones they loved the most.

Thranduil was horrified to find that his dagger was poised at the throat of his beloved son just as Elladan had to step back from Elrohir and Elrond from Aragorn. Nobody had been left out of Once-human's dark game and the Thurin Tirith, Glorfindel, Gandalf and even Ethan found themselves stepping back, their hands bloodied with the gore of battle as it would have been bathed in the blood of friend and kin if not for the timely intervention. In truth, everyone suddenly realized that in the end, it was their family and friends that had been the illusion and the illusion had been their family and friends.

Slowly the rest of the elves and humans got to their feet, with those who could, helping the more severely wounded to theirs. Then all of them, creatures included, backed up against a far wall to watch the confrontation between the mysterious Shadow Being, their champion, and Once-human.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

The Shadow Being moved silently, almost floating, until it was directly in front of Once-Human then stood there without moving or speaking, each taking the measure of the other. Finally, it spoke, although when it did, none of those listening could guess its identity or gender from its voice.

"It is time for you to leave, Once-human."

Though the Shadow Being spoke quietly, in a voice that echoed like an empty cavern, it could still be plainly heard by all.

"I think not." Was the emotionless reply.

There was a momentary silence and the Shadow pulsed once before it spoke again.

"It was you who chose to open the doorway and unleash the power of your world upon this world, dark hearted creature. Are you telling me that now, even by your own rules, that you are not willing to pay the price for what you have done, a price that you have always demanded that others pay?"

The Shadow Being moved a little closer and the other retreated a step.

"You first found this place ages ago when the human, Ethan, stumbled into your world. At first you were curious, for you felt the sadness, depravity and evil that the man brought with him. But when you looked closer at the human, you discovered that it was not the human himself that was evil, and that the stench he brought with him was something coming from this world and it was at that time that you decided to take a closer look."

The two started to circle each other, neither taking their eyes off the one standing in front of them.

"You wanted to see and experience what this world had to offer so you opened the doorway between this world and your own then allowed creatures from your world to enter this one. You knew by their very presence that pain and despair would be drawn to them - and that was a delicacy that you could not pass up. It was a feast, it was delicious, but now it is over."

Once-human stepped sideways in an attempt to evade the being in front of it but seemingly without effort or thought, the Shadow Being mirrored his moves and managed to effortlessly keep its position. Without turning around the Shadow waved a hand and the creatures from Lament disappeared.

"I have lifted the veil and the others once again recognize reality, and now that your foul companions have been sent back from whence they came, it is time for you to follow them."

Though admitting that he was nervous was not something Once-human would admit to, he now found himself just that – nervous. He then tried to justify his actions, something he had not had to do since he had become what he was.

"I did not open the door, Lament did that, and now that it has been opened, it will not close until I get what I came for – a soul – that has always been the way of things and that is how things will remain."

When the Shadow Being laughed, while the others could tell that it was a laugh, they could also tell that it was humorless at best. The two continue to circle each other moving around the great wooden pillars and furniture of the Hall while the silent elves and humans watched everything intently.

"Even now you cannot speak the truth, for it was not Lament that opened the door just as it was not the Wizard's magic that held it open. It was you ... you broke your own rules just to indulge your perverted appetites. Lament long ago forgot its purpose, but you have not. You are what you are because you truly believe that all life consists only of pain and pleasure and only exists to feed the perversions of you and your kind. You are both pitiful and pitiable at best."

Once-human sensed that a wall was now directly behind him and that he had nowhere else to go – he was trapped.

"Wherever there is hate, violence and depravity, there will always be a door and no being needs the permission of another to come through it. I merely used what was there - and I am so very glad that I did, for this has truly been a memorable experience."

The Shadow Being seemed to grow larger with its anger and once more, Once-human found himself trying to move sideways and away from the one in front of him who mirrored his every move and kept the distance between them always the same.

"This world is full of delicious treats and is a place where even the mighty race of Eldar have hands stained with the blood of their kin. The bloody conflicts of this place are almost sensual in their nature and the results of those conflicts will be enough to satisfy even my appetites for pleasure and pain for life ages to come."

The Shadow Being grew a bit taller and the shadows within it seemed to pulse with its anger.

"I can see into your soul, foul creature, and I know the lust that lays within your black heart for the pain and despair of others. But in this world, in this place, your appetites are not welcomed ... you must go back."

The two finally came to a stop, one in front of the other, then Once-human spoke one last time.

"I will not go back until I get what I came for, and to do otherwise is not an option and will not be considered, for such is the way of my world and my life."

There was a pause then a deathly silence as the Shadow Being pondered Once-human's words. There was a breathy sigh.

"You say that you must have a soul before you can leave and it will only be by the blood of this soul that the doorway will be closed – then by your own words, so it will be. The final soul ... is yours!"

Having anticipated each other, Once-human called for the restraints from his world just as the light from the Shadow Being pulsed. Metal restraints, spears of white hot light and many other manner of devilry flew toward the Shadow Being. Raising its hands, there was a flash of light and all the devices bounced away from it and fell impotently to the ground. The light continued its journey and Once-human raised his own hands, pushing against the barrier that was slowly forcing him back toward his own world.

The floor of the Hall of Fire began to buckle as great fissures opened up and the ceiling and walls around the two beings were rent with the efforts of the battle. Then, behind Once-human, a doorway opened up and just beyond it, everyone in the Hall could see the Hallways of Lament, once more dark and foreboding. With a final cry, Once-human made one last attempt and tried in vain to push away the magical barrier of the Shadow Being, and being unsuccessful, he then lowered his hands and bowed his head in defeat.

The noise in the room died away and the physical torment of the room stopped. There was a complete and absolute silence as the two beings stared at each other one last time. Then the Once-human nodded to the other and after one last look around and with a sigh, turned and stepped through the doorway that had opened up behind him. It quickly closed up, closing off Lament from Middle-earth forever.

8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

The elves and humand had pressed themselves up against the wall and had covered their heads when the doorway had been opened during the battle, but when the noise and tremors had stopped, they had once more stood. Now, the house began to tremble and rumbled once more and the battle weary beings, having few nerves left to endure whatever was happening, once again huddled together on the floor and covered their heads to protect themselves. The house shook violently and creaked and groaned but rather than additional damage occurring, the Last Homely House of Lord Elrond of Imladris began to repair itself. When the final rumble had died away to silence and all was still once more, the elves and humans rose to their feet and looked around.

There was no damage to be seen - anywhere. The house had been healed and normalcy had been returned to it and its inhabitants. When those in the room looked for their champion, they saw it exiting the room through the far door.

"Anayah, wait a minute."

Though Elladan called out as did his brothers and even Legolas, the Shadow Being kept moving away from them and by the time the group had reached the Common Room, it had disappeared from sight.

"I want to know how she did that pulsing light thing." Elrohir said excitedly.

"She blasted him there at the end - and with barely an effort."

"A truly exciting and incredible experience." Elladan added in a dramatic fashion.

"Stop right there this instant."

Gandalf's eyes were sparking with ire as he fixed each of the younger elves and humans with a steely gaze. Not even the elder elves were exempt as they stopped to listen as well.

"What happened here this night was not incredible nor was it exciting or deserving of any other grand word you may want to apply. Do any of you ..." he looked at each one in turn, "have any idea whatsoever, just how close we came to killing each other? Do any of you have any idea, and think hard on this, of how it would feel if we laid down to rest and woke up without Elladan or Elrohir or Aragorn or Legolas, and one of us knew that we were the ones that took their lives? I think exciting, interesting and any other notion of that type should be put away in the closet for a time. Do some thinking on just how close we came to the act of murder – and once you have considered the possibilities involved, then tell me how exciting and interesting that particular battle was."

He turned and looked at the elder elves and even the Guards who were all looking at him with wide eyes.

"Now, I think it would benefit all of us if we would all go to the infirmary so we can have ourselves taken care of so we can quit bleeding all over the floor."

With a little more decorum than before, the group made their way to the infirmary but when they had arrived and stepped inside the room, they froze. Anayah was sleeping soundly as was Greyfell who was sitting beside her bed with his head resting on his arms. He jumped, but woke quickly when Elrond laid a hand on his shoulder.

"Captain ... has Anayah been asleep this whole time?"

Greyfell stifled a yawn then blinked his eyes to clear the sleep from them.

"She woke up for a few minutes right after everyone left then went back to sleep and has been that way ever since. Why?"

Elrond looked at Greyfell closely, instinctively knowing that the Captain was not telling him all the facts but also knew that particular moment was not the time to press him. He looked at the others for a moment before turning his attention back to the elf in front of him.

"It's a long story Captain, but one that can wait until we are all taken care of and have eaten a meal and slept in our own beds. How are you feeling?"

He laid the back of his fingers on Greyfell's forehead and frowned then without waiting for a response, pointed to the bed on the other side of Anayah.

"To bed, Captain, for you are starting to run a mild fever."

When Greyfell nodded then rose and staggered in the general direction of the door, Lord Elrond caught him by the arm and escorted him back to the bed he had pointed out to him moments before.

"I want you in here for this night, at least. I want to monitor your fever and make sure none of the wounds you received in Lament are getting infected."

Greyfell didn't argue - he was too tired to do so - and lay down on the bed, asleep almost before his head hit the pillow. After taking the elf's boots off and covering him with a light blanket, Elrond turned to the others and began helping his sons tend to everyone's injuries.

It was some time later when the elf Lord noticed the silence around him and when he looked up was surprised to see that even though his sons were still seeing to the wounds of the others that they as well as everyone else were all looking at him intently. He then un-Lordly like shrugged his shoulders.

"I don't have an explanation. I thought it was Anayah just as you did but now ... well, I am not so sure."

As one, all heads then turned to look at Gandalf. Having just put the last stitches in Elrohir, Elrond walked to the Wizard and laid a conspiratorial arm across his shoulders.

"Come on now, Gandalf. I bet you can at least make a guess."

Aragorn was looking at Gandalf through narrowed eyes.

"You know, don't you?"

Gandalf couldn't help himself and smiled. He was immediately surrounded by three elves and a human, all talking at the same time and demanding that the Wizard tell them the identity of the Shadow Being.

"Come on, Gandalf. Tell us."

Gandalf chuckled.

"All right. I will tell you, but only because you will drive me mad with your incessant begging if I don't. The Shadow Being, our champion, was ..."

"Rachel Westerlake, you turn off that computer and that television this instant and come down to dinner. This is the third time I have called you and I don't think that shows any manners whatsoever, especially from a college student. If you are not down here in ten minutes, I will feed your dinner to your cat!"

Rachel raised her head off her arms and after freeing one arm, made a gesture, with her thumb and first two fingers, that was meant to mimic a mouth.

"Blah, blah, blah." She said in between yawns.

Without looking Rachel reached to the other side of her computer and picked up the remote to the television and turned it off. She then looked to her stack of books and groaned as she thought of all the homework she had yet to do. She had been doing research all night for a term paper on the horror movie genre by watching horror movies and had fallen asleep. Sleeping almost the entire day away with one's head cradled on one's arms, was not the most restful way to sleep although for a third year college student it was considered pretty standard fare. She laid her head back down on her arms, mumbling as she did so.

"I'm just going to close my eyes for a minute."

She was fast asleep 30 seconds later.

"Anayah? Anayah, can you hear me? Open your eyes for me, daughter."

Anayah groaned, for her head hurt too bad to open her eyes and she knew if she could only get back to the pain-free state of unconsciousness she had been in that she could sleep through the healing phase of whatever had happened to her that was making her feel like a troll had just used her body as a door mat to wipe his feet on. Unfortunately, it appeared to her that her father had other plans for her.

"Anayah, I need for you to wake up. Open your eyes, please."

Knowing that her father wouldn't shut up until she obeyed him, she dutifully opened her eyes – one at a time – then groaned and shut them again. She felt as a hand was laid over her eyes and without even being asked, tried again. As soon as her eyes had adjusted to the light, her father removed his hand.

She looked around her at the group of anxious elves and Aragorn.

"What did I do to myself this time? Did one of those beasts from Lament knock me down the stairs?" She stopped speaking when she saw the puzzled looks on everyone's faces.

"Daughter, I don't know what you are talking about."

She frowned.

"We didn't just spend the night running from and killing all sorts of nasty beasties then almost destroyed the Hall of Fire in the 80th Battle of Dagorlad?"

"No," her father began, "actually, you were running down the stairs like you know you are not supposed to, and for this very reason, and you missed a step, fell and knocked yourself out."

"Oh." Was all she said.

Her father helped her to her feet.

"How are you feeling? Is there any pain or dizziness, nausea or feeling like you're floating?"

"Not to worry, Ada, I feel just fine."

She had no sooner spoken the words when her ears started to buzz, her vision tunneled and she fainted dead away.

She was comfortable, without any pain whatsoever in the darkness she was floating in – and this fact pleased her greatly. Then she felt something and smiled. Someone had brushed her cheek with his fingers and she could tell by his touch just who that someone was.

"You're finally waking up."

She opened her eyes and looked around the room, noticing that she and her father were the only ones in the infirmary.

"How is everybody? And is this thing finally over?"

"To answer your questions, everyone is feeling better all the time." Elrond sighed. "It will be some time before any of us will be able to sleep without a glow globe burning in our rooms. As to your second question – yes, it is over and all is once more well in Imladris."

He looked at her seriously as he brushed a piece of hair off her forehead.

"How about you? How are you doing?"

Anayah sighed sadly then shivered involuntarily as she remembered the events of the night before.

"I was having some really strange dreams … something about a human named Rachel and some man named Freddy. What kind of a name is Freddy? But truly, Ada, I'm sad, frightened, and horrified that something like this could actually happen. I don't think that for the rest of my life that I will ever forget the things I saw and experienced as I am sure nobody else will either. To think the beings and creatures like the ones we encountered could have actually existed at one time … I just …"

Anayah couldn't finish her sentence and burst out crying. Elrond helped her sit up after he had wrapped his arms around her, he held her and rocked her, trying to comfort the fears he knew she was still experiencing, for her feelings were a mirror of what the rest of them had been going through.

There were the sounds of quiet footsteps and when Elrond looked up saw that all those involved in the drama of the night before were now gathering around the bed.

"Anayah?" Gandalf spoke gently and quietly as he tried to get Anayah's attention. "Child, look at me a moment."

Anayah raised tear-filled eyes until she was looking at the old wizard who smiled at her.

"The sun once more shines down on your home and as of this morning, when the household help arrived for work, we learned that they experienced nothing last night. In fact, it did not even rain, according to some elves that we talked to."

Their conversation was interrupted when an elf came into the room carrying a long parcel wrapped in red linen. After handing the parcel to Elladan, the elf bowed then left. There was a simple piece of unadorned parchment attached to the parcel and as his brothers and Legolas watched, he opened the parchment and read the short message.

You left these behind. We are sorry. Lament

When the parcel was unwrapped, Anayah gasped, for Guruthos and Greyfell's sword, both cleaned of the soils of battle had been what the parcel had contained. Anayah burst into tears once again and once more her father wrapped comforting arms around her. The others waited, looking at her with concern until she was once more calm and could finally look at all of them.

"NEVER, and I do mean NEVER do I ever want to hear another ghost story … for the rest of my life." Anayah said as she dabbed at her puffy eyes with a piece of clean linen.

The others laughed, for it was a fact that they all felt the same way.

"The Darkside is always there
...waiting for us to enter;
...waiting to enter us.
Until next time,
try to enjoy the daylight."

Happy Halloween!

COMING TOMORROW: Chapter 10 - Epilogue: The inside information on what happened the night the world known as Lament stopped by Imladris for a visit.