:) Enjoy! Oh the chapter title means 'The Goddess inspired our song' in case you were wondering. :)
Chapter forty-eight
Musa Venit Carmine
While the rest of the campers and staff continued on with the swimming competition, Morgoth and Gwen sat together on one of the swings that over looked the beach. Gwen rested her head on his shoulder.
"Listen, I'm sorry…"
"It's okay," Morgoth interrupted.
"No it's not and you know it's not. So let me finish. I'm sorry about this morning. It's just; I had a previous relationship with someone who worked here at camp. Now that we're nearing the end, I'm well afraid."
Morgoth put his arm around Gwen.
"If it's any consolation I'm afraid too."
--
"Come on Tim! It's not that bad!" Vesper pleaded.
"I said it once I will not say it again. I do not like water and I will not compete in a swimming competition!"
Sam smirked.
"Tim's a chicken."
"I am not!"
With that, Sauron's ears perked up and he walked over to Tim, Vesper, Sam, and Saruman.
"Tim is too a chicken," Sauron said.
"I am not!"
"Then go swim," offered Sauron.
"No."
"Come on my loyal Nazgul. I challenge you to a swimming competition."
Tim rolled his eyes.
"I am not your loyal Nazgul anymore," he said.
Sauron narrowed his eyes at him. He crossed his arms in front of his chest.
"What did you say?"
Tim nodded.
"You heard me loud and clear buddy boy. In fact, you can take this poor excuse for craftsmanship back," Tim replied. He then pulled his ring from his finger and threw it at Sauron.
Sauron huffed.
"I can always find a new loyal servant. I'll promote Nazgul number two to the head position."
It was then that the remaining eight Nazgul walked across the beach. Sauron smiled.
"Ah, just the ones I wanted to see."
Bert pulled off his ring and threw it at Sauron's feet.
"We're sick of being your servants!" Bert exclaimed.
Bill tossed his ring at Sauron.
"You have no power over us anymore!"
The rest of the Nazgul took of their rings and threw them at Sauron.
"You will regret this," Sauron threatened.
Tim smirked.
"I highly doubt that. You were never much of a Dark Lord in Middle-earth and you're an even worse one here."
Sauron snarled and grabbed Tim by his collar.
"You will live to regret those words."
"I took away your body once. I can do it again," Tim threatened.
"Do not think I will second guess doing you in because I won't. You have been warned," Sauron snarled angrily. He let go of Tim's collar and stormed off but not before he collected the nine rings of power.
--
Frodo knocked on Aragorn's door. His door opened slightly and once Aragorn saw who it was, he opened it and ushered in the hobbit. Once inside he noticed that the rest of the fellowship was in the room sitting on the chairs, beds, and floor.
"What is this about?" Frodo asked once he seated himself on a bed.
Gandalf stood up.
"I feel as if something is amiss. Our quest to destroy Sauron's ring almost failed a few times here at this camp. I'm afraid the Valar are becoming too soft against the two Dark Lords here. They have become lax in dealing with their insolence. We must keep constant vigilance, as everything could be a trap. For all we know this is some conjured up spell by Sauron in a far-fetched way to get his ring back and conquer Middle-earth. We could all be sleeping and not know it."
Frodo furled his eyebrows.
"But that does not seem likely as we've been here for almost six weeks. Surely if this was all a ploy by the Dark Lord then he would have taken his ring weeks ago."
Aragorn shook his head.
"Not necessarily. This might be a part of his ploy. He might be trying to convince us that with the Valar here nothing can go wrong. He tried to prove that when Tim destroyed his body and when the Valar asked Frodo to give him back his ring. Even though he gave it back to Frodo it still might be just a ploy…"
"A diversion," interjected Legolas.
Gandalf nodded.
"This is exactly what I have been afraid of. If this is just a distraction, then who knows what has been transpiring in Middle-earth."
"So then what must we do?" Frodo asked.
"We should attack Sauron," Boromir replied.
Gandalf shook his head.
"No, it wouldn't work. All we can do is keep a constant vigilance."
"I heard that the nine gave Sauron the rings back and what no part of him anymore," Sam put in.
Aragorn looked over at the Hobbit.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Sam nodded.
"Yeah, it happened on the beach not ten minutes ago."
Gandalf nodded.
"We must keep this in mind then. Something fishy is amiss…I feel as if the egg over the bowl has finally cracked. Battle is upon us and the results, for good or for ill, will change us."
--
After threatening Tim Sauron went for a walk around camp. He was just about to go inside Lammoth and into his room for an afternoon nap when he passed by Aragorn's room. He heard talking inside and so he pressed his ear up against the door.
"…attack Sauron."
Sauron withdrew his ear and narrowed his eyes.
So, the fellowship wants to attack me do they?
In his mind, Sauron laughed evilly and left Lammoth. He had work to do.
--
Gwen and Morgoth watched the rest of the swimming competition from the swinging chair. Gwen's head rested on his shoulder and Morgoth played with her hair.
"It's such a beautiful night," Gwen said.
"Mmmhmm…"
They then heard childish laughter as Lalaith ran up to the chair. Gwen smiled at her.
"Do you want to join us?" Gwen asked.
Lalaith nodded her head eagerly and climbed up in Gwen's lap.
"Did you go swimming at all?" Gwen asked.
Lalaith nodded.
"Yup! Ulmo played in the water with me. It was fun too."
Gwen smiled.
"Very cool."
--
Tim sat on the beach with the other former Nazgul. They decided to play a game of poker with Vesper, Saruman, and Sam. Suddenly, when Tim went to ante up, he felt odd. He shivered.
"Are you okay?" Vesper asked.
Tim shrugged.
"I don't know."
He touched his head.
"I don't know how to explain it but…I feel as if power is leaving me."
--
Kisha noticed a sudden change in the wind as she walked from Lammoth to the kitchen. She looked towards the horizon and up in the clouds. Her eyes narrowed in confusion as the clouds didn't portray the wind it was giving. The clouds began circling above the camp as if something sinister was afoot. Others at the camp seemed to notice it too as others joined her on the Great Lawn.
"Kisha, what's going on?" Gwen asked. She was standing next to a very confused Morgoth and she held Lalaith in her arms.
Kisha shrugged.
"I don't know. Something is afoot that's for sure. It's not supposed to storm today. Something is wrong."
"But what?" asked Beren.
Lúthien, Dior, and Beren stood on the porch of Lammoth and watched the strange clouds form.
Everyone received the answer when a sinister laugh of triumph was heard from the Arts and Crafts building.
The campers and the staff at the beach ran out of the water and onto the Great Lawn once they heard the laugh. Manwë looked at Tulkas who in turn nodded. He then looked at Kisha.
"Get the campers into the dorms now!" Manwë ordered in a harshness Kisha had never heard before. Kisha nodded and turned to the campers.
"Inside! Now!" she yelled against the harsh wind.
The campers, afraid and mystified as to what was going on, nodded and ran into the dorms. The wind picked up at camp and Kisha had the feeling something bad was happening. She then turned and saw the fellowship standing on the porch.
"It has begun," Gandalf stated.
Kisha narrowed her eyes.
"What has begun? Gandalf what has begun?"
They heard the sinister laugh from the Arts and Crafts building again and it made Kisha's head throb in pain.
"I want all the women inside Lammoth now!" roared Manwë.
Some did not hesitate while others, such as Lúthien and Gwen, lingered. Manwë didn't have time to argue with them. He knew they could help. He then turned his attention to Frodo who was standing on the porch.
"Get inside Frodo! Do not leave Lammoth under any circumstances!" he ordered.
Frodo nodded and went inside.
"I want the Valar in front, the elves next and then humans. Gather near the Arts and Crafts building!"
"Manwë what is going on?" Eärendil asked.
"I fear as if a real battle is upon us."
--
The clouds continued to swirl overhead but other then that nothing new happened. Gwen took this opportunity to run across the Great Lawn and open the arsenal. After the mock battles on the Great Lawn, Kisha decided to keep the weapons they used in the arsenal. So a few people would go down to the arsenal, pick up any weapon they wanted, and then head back to their position. Once they finished this, Gwen headed back to the field and waited next to Elendil.
"What could be going on in there?" Gwen wondered aloud.
"Something sinister no doubt. Sauron's done something."
"But why are we just waiting?"
Elendil smirked.
"It is better to wait and gather ones strength then to fight with half a heart and die before your time."
The door of the Arts and Crafts building burst open in a cloud of smoke and flame.
"Whatever comes through that door we fight it!" Manwë roared.
From her position Gwen gulped and looked up at Morgoth. He was standing next to his brother at the front of the line. Whatever was going to come through that door they would meet it first.
When the smoke cleared they saw orcs, real orcs, coming through the door. Gwen's eyes widened.
How did they get here?
The countless orcs poured from the building complete with weapons and began attacking. Gwen pulled out her gun. She did have a sword with her but she preferred the gun for the time being. When they were close enough, she took aim and began firing.
How is this possible?
--
Through the fighting Gwen looked up at the building and saw more orcs pouring through. Her eyes narrowed in disbelief, as this seemed impossible.
What is Sauron doing in there?
Her gun ran out of bullets ten minutes ago and she then drew her sword and engaged in close hand-to-hand combat. She saw that Morgoth and Manwë were no longer side-by-side but close enough to yell stuff back and forth.
"I can't believe I'm killing things I once created!" Morgoth yelled as Grond drove through a group of orcs.
"How is this possible?" Elros roared.
They heard the ground shake and Manwë looked at the building. He sighed when he saw a huge Balrog emerge. The Balrog cracked its fire whip in the air.
"I got this one!" Manwë exclaimed.
While Manwë fought with the Balrog, a few dragons broke through the roof of the building and soared through the air. The elves with arrows began firing that the fire beasts with all their strength.
No more orcs came from the building and so the staff killed off all the ones on the battlefield. They then concentrated on the dragons while Manwë took care of the Balrog.
--
Fingon, Fëanor, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Elrond, Eärendil, and Elros slew the dragons and they dropped into the water and sank. Now all that was left was the Balrog. All eyes were on Manwë and the Balrog. Gwen had never seen this side of Manwë before but she knew he had to have had it, especially in the battles in the ages before the Sun.
"Go back to the shadow creature of darkness!" Manwë roared.
The Balrog blew fire at him in response and cracked his whip. The strength of the fire knocked Manwë back about thirty feet and into a tree. Manwë knew he could not defeat the Balrog, as he did not have his powers at camp. But then an idea hit him.
Morgoth has his…
"Morgoth! Fight the stupid thing!" Manwë roared.
Morgoth turned towards his brother and nodded. With Grond in hand he faced the Balrog. Gwen watched as Morgoth charged the Balrog with all his might. The two fought and Morgoth had the advantage. He kept forcing the Balrog back towards the lake and with one final push they both fell in. Gwen's eyes widened in horror but her thoughts were shaken with laughter spewed from the building. On the porch of the Arts and Crafts building stood Sauron and he looked different. He held an aura of power that nobody at camp had seen yet. He laughed again.
"You may have destroyed the orcs, dragons, and maybe even the Balrog, but you can't destroy me," he exclaimed.
"Where did they come from?" Aragorn roared.
"Why I made them, along with my new ring. You can thank my old Nazgul buddies as they gave me their rings. I melted them down and forged a new ring once I heard the fellowship planning an attack on me."
Aragorn shook his head.
"What?"
"I was walking in the hallway and heard talking. I listened in being the great Dark Lord I am, and heard one of you saying 'attack Sauron'. Well I always have a policy of attacking first and so here we are."
"Stay this madness Sauron! This is not worth it!" Gwen exclaimed.
Sauron narrowed his eyes at her.
"Not worth it? I am now the most powerful being at camp with this new ring. I hope you know Frodo is resisting to put on the ring for the power of this one calls to him. Oh, there he goes!"
From inside Lammoth they heard a scream.
"It's over. I have won."
Manwë stood up and limped towards Sauron.
"Come down and fight me like a man then!"
Sauron walked down the stairs and pulled out his mace. He let out a bored sigh.
"Very well then."
Sauron launched his mace in the air and made an attempt to sideswipe Manwë but he was too quick. He blocked with his sword. He tried to cut Sauron's leg but Sauron brought the mace down on his sword and broke it in two. Sauron kicked Manwë in the knee and Manwë brought the broken sword up into his leg. In anger, Sauron swung the mace onto Manwë's back and with a cry of anguish he dropped to the ground. Sauron raised the mace again to give Manwë the final deathblow but Tulkas blocked it.
"So you want to fight now too?" Sauron asked with a smirk.
"You will not win," Tulkas said. "Fight me in hand to hand combat!"
"Sure, why not."
Sauron dropped his mace and it landed on Manwë's head. He shrugged.
"Opps."
Tulkas looked down on the King of Arda and then back at Sauron.
"You just made the biggest mistake ever."
Sauron smirked.
"I'm sure about that."
The two then fought each other in hand-to-hand combat. While they fought, Fëanor, Ulmo, Aulë, Oromë, Namo, Lorien, and Varda ran to Manwë. Namo picked up the mace and tossed it aside.
"Is he dead?" Fëanor asked.
"He can't die. But this body has been used up," Namo announced.
"How long till he comes back?" Aulë asked.
Namo shrugged.
"I don't know."
"How do you not know? Don't you know everything?" Fëanor asked.
"Yes well I don't know this," Namo replied.
--
Tulkas fell to Sauron about fifteen minutes later. Sauron had grabbed hold of his head and twisted as hard as he could. Tulkas dropped in front of Sauron and it was Sauron who laughed once he fell. He looked up at everyone as if daring someone else to attack him. Eönwë, the good old herald of Manwë, took the challenge. He drew his sword and ran at Sauron. Sauron smiled and pulled out his sword.
"Why don't you join me Eönwë?" Sauron asked.
Eönwë's face burned in anger and he swung at Sauron.
"I would never join you! I serve the Valar. Not you, you sorry excuse for the creation of Ilúvatar!"
Sauron laughed.
"Wow, what an insult. You learned much under Manwë's tutelage."
With that Eönwë threw all his strength into his fight. He tried so hard to even cut Sauron but with Sauron's new ring he overcame the herald. Eönwë would have been fine if Sauron did not get the first knick on him. This distracted Eönwë for a second too much and Sauron sliced him across the face. Eönwë couldn't see out of his left eye and so this made him fight harder even though his fight became sloppier. Sauron laughed at this.
"You have one last chance to join me," he offered.
"Never."
Sauron shrugged.
"Suit yourself," he said.
With all his strength he knocked Eönwë's sword from his hand and plunged his sword right through Eönwë's chest. His eyes went wide with disbelief and anger.
"You will regret your actions," Eönwë spat out.
Sauron smiled and pulled his sword out. Eönwë dropped to his knees and then on his face. Sauron looked up at everyone.
"Anyone else?"
--
It was Lorien who tried next but to no avail. The Vala fell within fifteen minutes to the powerful Maia. Namo tired next, mostly to avenge the ones who fell before him. He lasted twenty minutes. Oromë and Ulmo tired together but failed as well. Morgoth had not yet surfaced from the fight with the Balrog and the only other male Vala remaining was Aulë and he looked ticked.
"You better stop now this now Sauron or you'll do something you regret," Aulë warned.
Sauron smiled.
"I have not been defeated yet and I doubt my former master could even give me a scratch."
"Our spirits will return. You have not defeated us yet."
Sauron shrugged.
"You can't defeat me. We can go through the whole process over and over again but you won't win."
It was then that Aulë charged Sauron in anger. He knew he'd lose but he had to do something. The fight lasted ten minutes and ended when Sauron's mace collided with the side of his head. He dropped to the ground. The rest of the Maia that were loyal to the Valar rushed Sauron but each one was defeated until the only Maia left was the ones loyal to Sauron. It was the Valier who charged at Sauron next. Gwen couldn't bear to watch the fight. She knew Sauron was triumphant when he let out a victory laugh.
This can't be happening. She thought.
"Tim! Tim! Where are you? Come out you coward! I'd like to exchange pleasantries with you!" Sauron shouted.
From behind the theatre Tim emerged.
"What do you want to talk about?" Tim asked.
"Didn't I tell you you'd live to regret what you did? Well look that was this morning and it's now four in the afternoon. I think it's time for us to fight."
Tim drew his sword.
"Bring it on tough guy."
--
Tim and Sauron's fight lasted over a half hour, as it was more talking then fighting. Gwen still couldn't believe this was happening. She couldn't watch the battle anymore and so she walked towards the beach. She gazed across its surface for any sign of Morgoth but found none.
How could this have happened? Why haven't the Valar come back yet?
She tossed her sword down and sat. She could hear the shouts from the battle and she sighed.
Tim lost…
"Don't worry Gwen," she heard Manwë say.
Gwen's head quickly shot up and she looked for Manwë.
"I'm next to you on your right. I'm still invisible and will be for maybe another five minutes."
Gwen sighed.
"What are we going to do? Sauron's lost his mind, the only Valar left is Morgoth and I'm not even sure about that and I don't know if Sauron's orcs killed anyone at camp yet."
"No deaths, just injuries."
"Not one death?" Gwen asked shocked.
"Actually no, Araglas, Bregolas, Ar-Pharazôn, Oin, Gloin, and Fili got killed."
"Damn. We won't see them again will we?"
"Not in this lifetime."
"What are we going to do?" Gwen asked again.
"Morgoth should come out of the water pretty soon."
Gwen's ears perked up.
"You mean he didn't lose his body fighting against the Balrog?"
"Nope."
Right on cue, Morgoth emerged from the water holding his mace and looking really ticked off.
"Are you okay?" Gwen asked as she jumped up.
Morgoth nodded.
"It's time to stop Sauron. Where are the other Valar and Maiar? I think I have a plan," Morgoth asked.
"Well I'm right here," Manwë said.
Morgoth twirled around looking for his brother.
"I'm still in spirit form. I'm working on it though. You're the last one of us left but it's not like we could do anything anyway. The sick cosmic forces took our powers away and you kept yours. Go kick Sauron's arse."
Morgoth shook his head.
"No, I got an idea. Where are the rest of you?"
"I'm standing next to you," Tulkas laughed.
Morgoth jumped.
"For the love of Ilúvatar, don't do that. Okay so what about everyone else?"
"I'm next to the lifeguard chair," Morgoth heard Aulë say.
"I'm sitting on the lifeguard chair," Yavanna replied.
"I'm next to you," Namo said in a creepy voice.
Morgoth jumped about ten feet in the air and then glared in Namo's general direction.
"Don't do that! It's bad enough its you…"
"Oh and what's that supposed to mean?"
"We don't have time for this. Is everyone here?" Morgoth asked.
He heard all the Valar and Maiar chime yes in response. Morgoth let out a huge grin.
"Great. Okay, I have a plan."