Chapter Two: The Guest of Isengard:
Orthanc was ancient and was built as much a tower of observation as one for living. As such it was stark and severe on the outside but inside it was cozy and charming. Wood floors, paneled rooms, rooms with tapestries, a large dining hall, bedrooms, bathrooms, water closets, larders, a vast library, potions room, spell crafting room, and so on. Nearer the top the rooms were smaller and not as nice as they were for observation and cells, but these were not in use at the time. They would be once the hobbits were brought, for Saruman believed they would be brought to him and he would gain the one ring. It was in a paneled room Severus woke to find himself on a sofa, one that was in a style he had never seen but one that was comfortable. His left sleeve was unbuttoned with a bandage on his arm and his robe and shirt was unbuttoned and a new bandage was at his neck. Saruman walked over once he saw Severus was awake and Severus wondered what this man wanted from him.
"Good, you are awake. I took the liberty of removing that abomination from your arm and I am healing your neck." Saruman said.
"Thank you, but I wish to leave." Severus replied.
"Oh and where would you go?" Saruman asked, "the enemy is everywhere, but you are safer here, and when I become the ruler of this world, well you will be treated well, here is safe for you."
"I will not serve you." Severus replied clamping down on his Occulumency shields.
"No? A wizard of your power is what I need." Saruman said "you were ill used, but I will not do that to you."
Saruman stepped back as Severus sat up and looked around the well furnished room, while things were of a style that was new to him, the room felt comfortable. There was a fire in the fireplace and windows that let in sunlight. Severus walked to the window and was shocked to see how high up they were, at least two hundred feet. From the outside Orthanc did not seem like it would be as warm and comfortable as this. Middle earth to Severus was strange and somewhat terrifying. Just why had he been called here? Why had Dumbledore got the call for him to come here of all places? No, he was suppose to go to Lothlorien, but somehow he had ended up here. Saruman was powerful, he had removed his dark mark, that very mark that he now knew kept him from entering Lothlorien. Perhaps this was his punishment, to be here and suffer under Saruman. Saruman was trying to sway him with his voice, but Severus was used to that tact and it was not working.
"The Valar do not help, they watch but offer no help, this will be my world, but I will be a just ruler." Saruman said, "the ring will be mine, I have the power to rule it and wrest it from Sauron."
"I think a ring of that power should be destroyed." Severus said turning to face Saruman, "it belongs to Sauron, he will warp it and change you, you have changed already."
"I see clearly now." Saruman replied.
"You did at one time, but now, no." Severus said.
"You are sounding like Gandalf, he was a fool!" Saruman snapped, "and he fell in the mines of Moria."
"I do not sound like him, I have been in the darkness, I know what it does to one, what it did to me." Severus replied, "it corrupts and destroys, look now at Isengard what it has become."
"You don't understand, the darkness will win." Saruman said.
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness." Severus said quoting a muggle preacher that he deeply respected, "hate cannot drive out hate only light and love."
"Foolish words, but come, I am a good host." Saruman said.
He led Severus to another chamber, this one a dining chamber and had him sit. The food was good though not very fresh and Severus found he was very hungry. He ate well of all that was offered and drank the wine given him. He knew what was in it, how could he not? If he refused the wine he would be drugged another way. Saruman at least was not going to use torture to get what he wanted from Severus. It seemed he was very good at the art of potions, perhaps better than Severus himself. Severus wanted to fight, and he thought he could have but something kept him from fighting back as the potion took effect as he sat unable to move. Saruman walked over to Severus and stood over him looking down at his captive, torture was good for some things but not for interrogation when he had potions.
"I gave you a truth serum of my own creation." Saruman said, "it has other benefits as I am sure you have seen thus far."
"Clever." Severus said, "what do you wish to know?"
"Where are you truly from? Not the undying lands? Where did the Valar summon you from?" Saruman asked.
"I came from a far off world, mortal world, it was a one way affair." Severus said fearing for earth but then no, the veil he used was one way, this world he knew did not have one, "I came as summoned."
"For what reason?" Saruman asked.
"To fight Sauron, help end him." Severus replied.
"How?" Saruman asked, "how can you help defeat him."
"I do not know, I was not told, all I know is I will know when the time comes what I am to do I will do." Severus replied.
"I see, you are bleeding again." Saruman said, "but not as bad as before, one more treatment and your neck will be healed."
Saruman brought over a small bowl filled with a potion and moved Severus's robes and shirt down and removed the bandages. He put the potion on the wounds that had shrunk and were nearly gone with a rag and bandaged Severus's neck once more. He looked down at the human, for human he was and a mortal, or so he seemed. He had no beard and that seemed a choice, he must use magic to keep it from growing. Saruman unwrapped his left arm and saw the dark mark was gone completely. Good, it would make turning Severus to his cause that much easier. He put the bowl on a side table and walked back to Severus who was trying to move but was unable to do so.
"Now, why were you brought here?" Saruman said, the magic in his voice filling the chamber "you were called here but why? You have not answered me well."
"Dumbledore, he was given the call, I followed it was suppose to be him." Severus said, "I am an afterthought, and it shows, I could not get to Lothlorien."
"No, that mark, I caught you before Sauron could, he knows of you." Saruman said, "he would try to get you, I am a much better choice."
"He would want me dead." Severus said.
"No, no he would not, you would break the moment you met him, break and serve him." Saruman said "but he would enjoy your torment, shall I give you a taste of what he would do to you? There is not a way that you could ever hope to stay his hand or fight him. You were brought on a fools errand."
"No, what do you want of me?" Severus asked.
"You are a wizard?" Saruman said pouring himself a goblet of wine, "what are your skills?"
"Besides getting everyone I love killed? Potions, healing mostly, I dislike making poisons." Severus replied.
"Ah yes, well I could use your help."
"I would rather not."
"You will have no choice, you will do as I say when I say it in time." Saruman said. "Stand."
Severus did as he was told drawing his shirt and robes over his shoulders. He followed Saruman out and into another chamber. Saruman brought his staff down and magic washed over Severus. It was here he fell to his knees and was no longer in the chamber with Saruman. He turned and saw a terrible figure so fearsome he cried out in terror. Sauron but how? He was in Orthanc and not in Mordor! He tried to flee but then Sauron advanced on him, and the horrors and humiliation nearly drove him mad, but then a song, a elfish song came to mind, he was no great singer but the words came and this was his only hope.
"A Elbereth Gilithoniel, I chin a thul lin miriel."
The vision was gone and he was back in the chamber on his knees doing his best to just breathe. Saruman was stunned to say the least, he had not thought Severus this strong at all. He brought his staff down and Severus was floating and found himself thrust into a high cell and left there. What was sure was the fact he was not going to stay here, he was going to escape, he looked out to see vast armies leave Isengard and he focused on the elfish hymn he had sung to give him strength. He opened the window and using all his strength jumped and floated to the ground below. Then he was off running, he thought if he got to the ring of mountains he could hide there for a time and perhaps get through. It was dark but not dark enough to fully hide him and the hue and cry went out.
He managed to hide from the first hunters and raced nearly to the ring of mountains. But he was not fast enough and soon Uruk-hai surrounded him and he was bound cruelly by them. This was not before he had managed to kill several with a sword he had taken from the first he had knocked down. He was forced to march to their captain who in their own foul language ordered them back. He was forced to his knees and the Uruk-hai captain looked down on his captive, Sharkey wanted this one alive and unspoiled, so no playing with him and no taking anything, not a button was to be lost. That was too bad, he was looking forward to a good meal. Severus showed his contempt and spat on the ground before the Uruk-hai captain. This got a growl from the orcs as they understood this insult. The captain crouched down by Severus's ear and Severus felt his hot foul breath on his face.
"Get out of my face!" Severus said, "you seem brave now I but I could smite you dead!"
"Oh I could have fun with you, peal your skin off slowly, make you beg for death." The captain said. "It would be funny too."
"I might enjoy that." Severus shot back.
"Oh you like to play? Well Sharkey says you are not ours to play with, so back to him you go, and do not fight us, it will do you no go." The captain said running a knife along Severus's face, "you will beg for death if that is what Sharkey wants."
"Go to hell." Severus said.
He was drug back to his feet and after a brief struggle that got him hit several times was forced to march back to Orthanc. He realized struggling was not doing him any good at all and he knew he was in a world of pain. He understood Saruman and knew he was going to reward his troops with entertainment and he Severus was that entertainment. He saw Saruman on the steps and knew he probably was in for a world of pain. He was shoved to his knees before the steps and the orcs backed off as Saruman came down to where Severus knelt. Saruman was not impressed at this attempt to escape and motioned to Grima who came up with irons that were put on Severus's feet.
"Your escape attempt was pitiful." Saruman said, "I do hope you understand that, I own Isengard, there is no place you can hide or run from me here."
"I had to try" Severus replied, "I will not serve you."
"You will." Saruman said, then more forcefully "you will."
"No." Severus said defiance in his face.
"Wormtongue bring him." Saruman said then looking at the orcs, "but first there shall be a reward, Snaga come, your reward shall be ten lashes, I know it is not the kind you would want but it is all I can offer for now."
"Thank you Sharkey." Snaga said bowing and walking up, "this is going to be funny to see how you deal with the lash."
Severus was drug to his feet and glared at the orc. The Uruk-hai was impressed, here was a man who knew how to face pain well. This might be funnier than he expected. Severus felt his hands untied and he rubbed life back into them. The first orc that tried to touch him got knocked down with his fists and it took Snaga a few threats to get the rest to back up. Severus glared at them and decided if this unjust beating was to take place it would be on his own terms, not theirs at all.
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Yes Saruman is not nice here, he is trying the old trick of trying to disorient his captive, and on Severus Snape? That is not going to work out well, though Sauron did for a moment have him, abet in vision. No Saruman's voice does not work on Severus, he is a master at the mind arts and so just like Gandalf and a scant few others, the voice of Saruman does not work on Severus.
Anyway, do review please!