Chapter 29
Elizabeth looked up at the tall tower that stood before her. No one entered it, for it was a tower that had been built for the sole purpose of Sauron's remaining eye. It's gaze shown down on Elizabeth and she gulped.
'Keshavan…I'm scared…'
'Don't be. You know what to do.' His voice told her.
Elizabeth sighed. She closed her eyes and floated up towards the sky so that she was eye to eye with the eye of Sauron. It examined her carefully.
"What are you doing, child? Do you know what it means to challenge me?" the eye asked her.
Elizabeth felt something take her over one last time. She closed her inner eyes and allowed Keshavan to take her over. She was scared, she admitted it. There was no way in heck that she could defeat Sauron alone at this age.
"You were defeated once before, Sauron, by a mortal possessed by me. And now, I shall defeat you once more."
The Eye widened and then narrowed. Elizabeth/Keshavan noticed power gathering behind the eye. She clasped her hands together and brought them apart, creating a huge white orb of magic. It rotated between her hands like a miniature white sun and waited for its first and last use.
"Evil begets evil, Sauron." Elizabeth/Keshavan said. "Good always defeats evil."
"Foolish faery," Sauron hissed. "Before good can win, they must always sacrifice a friend. I suppose you will be sacrificing many friends today."
Elizabeth/Keshavan looked over at the battle transpiring. Nazgul were dueling fiercely with Eagles while her friends were outnumbered one to three by orcs, trolls, Uruk-hai and goblins. Suddenly, Keshavan disappeared and Elizabeth was caught in a death grip by Sauron's magic.
"Join me, girl," Sauron hissed. "Join meand the pain will subside."
Pain coursed through Elizabeth's body and she let out a scream. She felt the weight that Frodo had carried since the beginning all in one shock. She felt as if the world itself were on her shoulders and in a way, it was.
"There's more where that came from, child, unless you choose to join me." Sauron hissed. "You were meant for me, destined to join me. Either way, I will have you."
Elizabeth shook her head with what strength she had left and suddenly drew her magic. The magic grip that Sauron had was wrenched away and Elizabeth began to create one last sphere of white magic.
Suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she noticed that the trolls and other servants of Sauron were running away from Mordor. The Eye looked frantic as it began to fall. Elizabeth let loose her magic sphere and it soared towards the Eye. But just as it hit, Elizabeth felt her power drained and something went into her, causing her to black out. It filled her completely, causing both she and Keshavan to fall unconscious inside Elizabeth's mind.
From Gandalf's point of view, a white figure had defeated Sauron and the Ring had been tossed into the fiery pits of Mount Doom. But then, the explosion of Sauron's tower sent Elizabeth flying towards the volcano and the volcano exploded.
The Nazgul were hit by flying lava rocks as they flew away. Gandalf and his fellow comrades' faces were shocked and heartbroken. Surely Frodo and Sam had gotten out before the volcano before it had blown. And Elizabeth. Surely Keshavan had protected her. But that was not what it looked like to Gandalf. Still, he hoped.
Gandalf flew towards Minas Tirith with Frodo and Sam in the safe talons of the eagles. He himself rode atop Gwaihir, lord of the Eagles.
Suddenly, something white glistened before him. As the eagles drew closer, Gandalf saw that the white thing was a bubble and within the bubble was an unconscious girl. The bubble just sat in the sky, waiting to be popped or for someone to rescue the girl. Her arms and legs dangled beneath her, limp. Her hair looked limp and lifeless too, but part of it lay over her shoulder.
Gandalf steered the eagle underneath the bubble and popped it. The unconscious body fell into his arms and he lay it in front of him on the eagle's back. Hopefully her magic had protected her more than it looked.
All souls were safe for tonight.
3 Days Later
Elizabeth moaned and opened her eyes. Light filled her room. Ew…light. Didn't anyone know that she hated light? Oh yeah, of course not. Elizabeth loved the daylight, but now…now she hated it.
She looked up and saw that at the foot of her bed, Gandalf stood. Oh yes, Old Greybeard. Now he was Whitebeard. Old Whitebeard.
"Gandalf?" she murmured his name softly.
He smiled. "How are you feeling, my dear?"
My dear? Old Whitebeard had a little name for this child? He wanted to make her make a face of disgust, to show that she hated him. But he could not do that yet. For now, he must let her stay in character.
"I'm thirsty." She said.
Gandalf smiled and picked up a cup from the nightstand. "I thought you would be."
On the inside, he was sneering at the wizard. Gandalf thought he was so smart, predicting her every move. He was disgusted at himself for not having a body picked out before hand. The Great Sauron always had a plan B whether or not it had been preplanned or it popped into his head at the last minute. And it had been the latter choice this time.
He remembered how great the power was within this child and at the last minute, he'd transferred his being into her. Downing the water that Whitebeard held out to the child, he smiled invisibly.
"Elizabeth!" a voice cried. Elizabeth/Sauron looked to the door and saw Merry and Pippin standing there. A smile was forced onto her face and she allowed the Hobbits to embrace her.
Various members of the Fellowship trailed in. She could kill them all, right there and then. But then, where would the fun in that be? She'd kill them slowly and painfully, forcing each to watch the other suffer.
Aragorn strode in and a surge of hatred coursed through the small body that Sauron inhabited. This was the one that had wantedslay the Mouth. The Great Mouth of Sauron. But no matter. Now he had a body and needed no other form.
Last to enter was Frodo and Sam. They were two that had been the key ingredients for destroying the Ring, his precious Ring. They would suffer the most under the united power of this wretched child and the great Sauron.
"Miss Elizabeth!" Sam exclaimed. "Bless you, you're awake!"
Elizabeth gave a toothy grin at the two Hobbits. She hugged Sam and looked at Frodo expectantly. He was studying her with a suspicious look. After a moment's hesitancy, he embraced Elizabeth also, but pulled away abruptly. Gandalf, by this time had recognized Frodo's suspicion and watched him carefully. No one else seemed to notice as they chatted leisurely.
"Frodo?" Gandalf asked.
Frodo looked to Gandalf and frowned deeply. "Something isn't right. I can still feel Him."
Gandalf's worry faded quickly, as Sauron/Elizabeth was happy to see. Her charade had not been uncovered.
"Nonsense, lad," Gandalf said easily. "If Sauron were still alive, I would know it. We all would."
Frodo looked at Gandalf sincerely. "Would we?"
Gandalf studied Frodo for a moment longer and frowned. "Why don't we take a walk, my boy?"
He stood to his full height and led Frodo out of the room. Elizabeth/Sauron watched the doorway they'd exited from for a moment longer and let her eyes change to Sauron's fiery red eyes for a mere second.
She hoisted herself out of bed and walked outside. Elizabeth/Sauron saw Gandalf and Frodo not too far down the hallway. She followed them a bit of a ways until she came to a window. Glancing at Gandalf and Frodo, then back at her room where her friends had begun to follow her, she walked towards the window.
"Elizabeth?" a voice called. It was Aragorn. And Haldir, the one that had almost been destroyed.
She hated them all, every last one of them she hated down to the core. With a smile, she climbed onto the open window sill and jumped off.
"ELIZABETH!" it was Haldir's turn to call her name. Oh, what fun. They were all playing the "repeat-Elizabeth's-name" game.
She floated there in midair watching her friends as they watched her.
"Elizabeth, come back here!" Aragorn shouted from the window.
Her hearing had gotten sharper, Elizabeth/Sauron decided. Perhaps it was because with Sauron inside of her, she knew how to use her powers better.
"Why did she go out there?" a voice asked in a regular tone, so that they thought Elizabeth/Sauron could not hear.
"She must not be thinking straight," another voice murmured.
"She isn't thinking straight." Frodo said loudly.
"And how would you know that?" Haldir asked, slightly annoyed. Elizabeth was a very intelligent child! How dare a hobbit insult her?
"Because Elizabeth isn't Elizabeth anymore. She's been possessed by Sauron."
Silence was heard after Frodo's words. No one could decide whether or not the Ring had driven Frodo mad or he was telling the truth. Either choice made sense.
"What say you, Elizabeth?" Gandalf asked, breaking the silence.
Elizabeth/Sauron stood up straight and smiled. Her body glowed with a fiery red color that filled Sauron's eyes. Her eyes were His, her voice was His and now, not only did she have her own power, but she now also had His.
"Foolish, all of you are foolish," Sauron's voice hissed out of Elizabeth's mouth. "Because the child fought with me, I have chosen her. Because the wizard did not think to cleanse her spirit, I now have complete control over her. Because you did not listen to Frodo's words, Whitebeard, I will now retake my hold of Middle Earth!"
"Fight it, Elizabeth!" Gandalf said loudly. "You must fight! Remember how much each and every one of us loves you and fight!"
Elizabeth/Sauron laughed and Gandalf's brave face paled. "Foolish wizard. Again you think you can outsmart the Great Sauron. Love and words will not save her! Only death will! Even I—"
Sauron's words were cut off as Elizabeth's voice seeped through his barrier in her mind.
"Help me, Gandalf! I'm scared…" Elizabeth's sobbing cries wailed loudly. "I'm scared, Gandalf…help m—"
"She shall speak no more," Sauron's voice said, regaining control once more. "No human can survive when I shut down their mind. I am sure she will not bother our conversation now that I've shut her mind down twice."
Suddenly a bright light appeared next to Gandalf in a place where Sauron/Elizabeth could not see it.
"Gandalf the White," the serene voice said. "I come to you on behalf of the one I was to guard."
Gandalf smiled kindly at the spirit before him. "Prince Keshavan, it is good to see you."
"Aye and same to you. But greeting are not included in the tight schedule I am to keep while here." Keshavan said quickly. "With my remaining power, I can keep Elizabeth sedated for long enough so that you may call upon Lord Elrond and Lady Galadriel.
"To defeat the evil spirit of Sauron, the three elven Rings must work together." Keshavan continued. The Faery glanced down at the ring on Gandalf's finger. "Narya is already present. Only Nenya and Vilya are now needed."
Gandalf sighed. "Do what you must."
Keshavan nodded and concentrated. Gandalf looked back out the window at Elizabeth/Sauron and saw that she'd gone limp in the air and was disappearing. Gandalf looked back at Keshavan and saw Elizabeth's body reappear in the Faery prince's arms.
Keshavan turned to Haldir. "Go to Lord Aragorn. If he is determined to go through with the Coronation, then it must be postponed for this. Tell him to send messengers to the Rivendell party saying that they must hurry with all speed to Minas Tirith. Then send the messengers onward to Lothlorien and tell them to send Lady Galadriel, Lord Celeborn, Lord Rumil and Lord Orophin."
"Lord Rumil and Lord Orophin?" Haldir asked.
"Yes, while you've been away, your brothers have single-handedly defended their home and saved it successfully. And you, Lord Haldir are to be given even more than they when you cross to the Undying Lands." Keshavan said. "I will most likely be reprimanded for my telling you this information."
"Than why tell?" Haldir asked.
"Because I am a convict in my people's eyes now." Keshavan said. "But that is of no matter. Hasten yourselves! We must take her to a restricted area and bind her with my magic."
With that said, he floated down the hallway with Elizabeth/Sauron in his arms. All of her friends followed. They watched as Elizabeth was lain on the bed and tucked in carefully. Then, Keshavan took a step backwards and motioned for everyone else to do so too.
"Keep away from her," the faery prince commanded. "This is dangerous work."
He closed his eyes and held his hands out. Lightening shot out of his fingers and traveled around the bed, creating a circle. Strange faery symbols were carved into the ground and one by one they began to glow.
"This is dark magic!" Legolas murmured, astounded at the faery prince.
"Would you like to join her in this circle?" Keshavan asked, irritated. Legolas was silent. "I thought as much. Do not say a word."
Legolas turned around and glanced at Haldir and Aragorn who were busy planning out the quickest way to send the messengers. Behind them, the four messengers were already approaching, packs on their backs and their horses below.
Legolas turned back to the ceremony at hand.
"Seal of the lost city of Brillion, home of the most powerful faery kings, I call upon you to bind this good shell and its evil soul within this circle. Bind it until the day I die or until the day on which I destroy it with my words." Keshavan commanded.
A force field-like shield surrounded the bed just as the circle had. Keshavan lowered his arms, exhausted.
"It is done." He muttered. "You may watch her if you feel the need, but neither Elizabeth nor Sauron's power can destroy this shield."
The Rivendell party had been traveling for about two weeks now. Arwen sighed as she sat down on a rock. They had decided to rest for the first time in two days. Her horse, Asfoloth, stood next to the small, uncharted pool of water next to their camp along with the other horses.
"You will see him soon enough, my daughter." Elrond's voice said suddenly. Arwen looked up at her ada.
"I know, Ada, I cannot help but feel that it will take forever to get to Gondor." Arwen said.
"You had forever." Elrond said. "That is, until you swore your heart to him and did not leave this Earth."
"Ada, I know what I left behind and it was my choice to make. You cannot turn back the hands of time to save only me. Besides, there is still Elladan and Elrohir." Arwen said. "And also Elizabeth."
Elrond frowned. "Elizabeth?"
Arwen smiled and almost laughed. "Do not pretend that she has not wormed her way into your heart, Ada. I have seen the way your eyes sparkle when she entertains you with her antics."
Elrond chuckled. "I must admit that she is a unique child indeed. And it seems that she is a very powerful child also."
"You see what I mean, Ada?" Arwen asked with a smile. "She has taken my place in your heart."
Elrond grew stern at his daughter's comment immediately. "No one will ever take your place in my heart, Arwen. No one can ever replace you. Not even Elizabeth."
"But it does relieve you that she is returning with you?" Arwen asked.
"Aye, daughter, it does." Elrond answered.
A small silence was endured. That is, until Elladan approached them.
"Ada, Arwen," Elladan greeted, bowing his head slightly. "There is a man here with word from Aragorn."
Elrond and Arwen glanced at each other before Elrond answered.
"Bring him here." Elrond commanded. The man was brought forth, looking quite serious.
"My lord," the messenger bowed. "And lady, Aragorn has sent word through me, telling that the Lord Elrond's presence is needed at once in Gondor's Houses of Healing. He says, and I do quote his words, that the child Elizabeth is in need of Vilya's power, for the three rings must be reunited once more."
"I assume that Narya is already present?" Elrond asked.
"Yes, Mithrandir has been with the child for some time since they bound her." The messenger answered.
"Bound her?" Arwen asked. "Why would they bind a child?"
"She is possessed, my lady." The messenger said. "Her guide, a faery from some other realm has bound her with magic. I find it all very hard to believe myself, my lady, but it has happened and Lord Elrond is needed immediately. You and your party will be led to Gondor by myself and my comrade. The other two will lead a party from Lothlorien."
"Then let us prepare and ride with all haste to Gondor." Elrond said loudly. "Pack your belongings! We ride to Minas Tirith!"
"There are two of them, Rumil. On horse, armed. They seek the Lady, I believe." Orophin whispered. "Wouldn't it be great fun to scare them like we did that dwarf?"
They looked down upon two Men riding trespassing in the forest of Lothlorien.
"You mean the one that was with the Fellowship?" Rumil asked. Orophin nodded.
They signaled their soldiers to follow them.
Meanwhile, down below, the two messengers of Gondor were uneasy.
"I've heard stories about this forest." The first one said. "People go in and they never come out. They get killed by the wargs."
"Then were do the stories come from?" the second said. "Besides, what elf keeps a warg as a pet?"
"Uh…I dunno, just a story, as I said." The first answered. "But we've been trained well, I suppose. We can hear pretty well and I suppose we've got good enough eyesight—"
"Stay where you are." A voice said.
About twelve loaded bows were in the two messengers' faces.
'They are from Gondor…' Galadriel's voice said telepathically. 'they bring word from Aragorn…let them in…'
"We ride from—"
The messenger was cut off.
"You ride from Minas Tirith with word from Lord Aragorn." Rumil stated. "The Lady wishes to see you."
Elizabeth opened her eyes. She sat up. Old Whitebeard was sitting in a chair next to the door.
"Hello Elizabeth." Gandalf said. "How are you feeling?"
"Good." Elizabeth said. "Can we go outside? I'd just love to see the flowers and birds. You know how much I love them."
"Do you think me stupid, Sauron?" Gandalf asked.
Elizabeth's face darkened and she pouted. "I did not think you would believe me."
"You thought correctly."
"Why do you sit in here when you know that I can destroy you?" Sauron's asked with Elizabeth's voice.
"Because in this room, I am safe and you are not." Gandalf answered plainly. "I will tell you for the first and last time now. Leave Elizabeth alone and go to whatever hell awaits you in your afterlife."
"No."
It was said as plainly as that. A simple refusal to the wizard's orders and Gandalf was sure that they would have to use the three rings. He could feel Sauron trying to search his mind for some weakness. But Gandalf's mind barriers were much too strong.
"Trying to look around in here, are you?" Gandalf asked, tapping his forehead. "Let me assure you, while Elizabeth will come out of this alive, you will not."
The old wizard stood to leave. His back was turned to Sauron/Elizabeth. Sauron promptly ran towards Gandalf's turned back only to find that he was blocked by some kind of shield and thrown backwards.
Gandalf turned around immediately and saw Elizabeth pushing herself to her feet.
"Only when you are gone from Elizabeth can she walk through the barrier. But you must be gone completely." A voice said. Keshavan had been there the entire time. "There is no tricking faery magic. If you leave her and return to her body after she has exited the barrier, she will be dragged back into the barrier.
"We can enter the barrier as we please for we are not possessed with the spirit of total evil and darkness." Keshavan finished.
"She will never be rid of the darkness." Sauron said. "Everywhere I go, I taint the souls I touch. That pitiful dog that she saved, for example, Grima was his name, wasn't it? He will always feel the scar of my servant Saruman. Just as Elizabeth will always have the scars from me upon her heart, her soul and her body. She will always be scarred mentally, physically and emotionally."
"But at least she knows how to overcome it." Gandalf said. "All those with a little good left in them know how to overcome them."
"Bah!" Sauron/Elizabeth shouted suddenly. "There is no end to your debating! Leave me be!"
((A/N: ok this is a kinda weird chapter...its got a little thing from Star wars...you know...JOIN THE DARK SIDE, LUKE! so ya...anywho...don't ask me to update again...I need to write another chapter now...JUST REVIEW AND I'll write faster! If every single person who reads this chapter reviews, then I promise I will write another chapter tomorrow and post.
Thanks!
Music is my Muse))