:) Have a good weekend y'all. There will not be an update Monday as its Columbus Day here in the States. Seeing as I still don't have internet at home (Though I'm getting it before the 17th of this month!) there won't and can't be an update on Monday. So have a good few days. Enjoy the chapter. :) Oh, songs used in todays story are 'You and Me' by Lifehouse and "Untitled' by Simple Plan.

Chapter fifty

Redemption

Thursday morning opened to the sound of thunder in the distance. Kat sprang up in bed and pulled her knees up to her chest in thought.

"What's wrong?" Chrisy asked as she sat up and looked at her friend.

Kat shrugged.

"I was just thinking…"

"About what?" Chrisy asked.

Kat shrugged again.

"Well, no one will believe us that the actual characters from Middle-earth were here with us…"

Chrisy nodded.

"Yeah, but we'll know. Isn't that good enough?"

"I don't know but it's not about that. Have they always been here or will they be leaving after we leave?"

"I don't know," Chrisy replied.

Kat sighed.

"I know that you know that you don't know…"

Chrisy crossed her eyes.

"What?"

Kat let out a sigh of frustration. Her knees slid flat against the bed.

"Well, I saw Gwen crying two nights ago in the theatre. She didn't know I was there and I never made my presence known but, oh I don't know, it's just…Kisha and Gwen both seem to think they'll be leaving soon…it's just discouraging."

She pulled herself from the bed and another clap of thunder was heard. Kat pulled out her suitcase and sifted through looking for something to wear. Chrisy decided it was now time to change the conversation and so she got out of bed. She smiled brightly at her friend.

"So, what are you wearing to the dance?" she asked.

Kat shrugged.

"I'm not really sure…"

--

Nobody went to breakfast, well except the guys and the staff members, because the girls wanted to spend enough time on hair, make-up, and their outfits. Even though the dance would be starting at seven that night, they all wanted to have everything perfect.

The staff, on the other hand, really did not care for this 'dance'. A few staffers, such as Varda and Lúthien, had asked Gwen what was so special about the dance. Gwen shrugged and replied that it was just an ego-booster and a big final send off of the campers.

And so all morning the staff lounged around the camp while the campers got ready for the big dance.

--

"Eight ball in the corner pocket…" Manwë said. He hit the cue ball at the eight ball. It missed the corner pocket and bounced off the side.

Morgoth smirked and raised his pool cue. He levelled it at the eight ball.

"Eight ball in the side pocket," he said. He hit the cue ball and it hit the eight ball. In turn the eight ball went into the side pocket. Morgoth raised his stick in celebration.

"Oh yeah! Go me! Who's the bomb?"

Manwë rolled his eyes.

"All right, rack the balls…we're playing again," he said.

Morgoth smirked.

"You'll just lose again."

From the sidelines, Gwen and Estë watched the match and laughed. The two brothers seemed to take a real liking to the game of pool and they had been playing since nine in the morning. Gwen checked her watch and saw it was nearing noon.

"You guys really want to play another game? It's almost lunch time."

Manwë raised his stick.

"I'm not hungry," he replied.

"Same here," Morgoth said.

Gwen rolled her eyes and stood up.

"Well I didn't eat breakfast so I'm hungry. Have a good match!"

--

Kat finally decided on a v-neck navy blue dress shirt and a black knee length skirt for the dance. Her friend, on the other hand, brought with her four different dresses to choose from. Each one seemed more elaborate then the last. Kat rolled her eyes.

"It's only a camp dance for Ilúvatar's sake!"

Chrisy shook her head.

"No it's not. Think about it Kat, Legolas will be there dancing too! The others will be there too! There might be a change to dance with them!"

Kat sighed.

"You're not going to get to dance with Legolas," she replied.

Chrisy shook her head and pulled out a spaghetti strap dress. It was black with crimson streaks that went to her knees.

"I was able to get Bobby McCallister to dance with me in this dress. This dress is a miracle worker."

Kat inwardly laughed at her friend.

Sometimes Chrisy can be a complete idiot.

--

Four o'clock rolled around and Kisha was in the Great Hall setting up the DJ system. Varda, Yavanna, Arwen, Eowyn, Arien, and a bunch of other staffers were also in the Great Hall setting up the decorations for the dance.

"This dance sounds stupid," mused Eowyn as she tacked down a streamer.

From the music system Kisha nodded.

"I couldn't agree with you more. We always just do it for the campers. I think this year they think they'll get to dance with some of the staff. I think that in itself will be amusing to watch," Kisha replied.

Eowyn smirked.

"Well, if anyone tries to get their hands on my Faramir then they'll feel the wrath of the shield maiden."

Kisha let out a whole hearty laugh as she hooked in her laptop to the stereo system.

"Now that I'd like to see."

Eowyn put her hands on her hips.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Kisha shook her head and laughed silently.

"Nothing, absolutely nothing."

"Do you want to feel the wrath of the shield maiden?"

Kisha shuddered.

"Not particularly."

--

At around six Manwë pulled Gandalf aside.

"I think it's time to turn the two Maia back into people again," Manwë said.

Gandalf sighed.

"Do we have to?"

Manwë gave a sad sigh.

"Yes, but keep a close watch on those two. I feel as if something might happen tonight. Sauron's still a brooding spirit but he could be regaining his body right now."

"Shouldn't you go out and find him then?"

Manwë shook his head.

"No, he'll just evade our calls. We should leave him be. But when he gets his body back we're going to have to do something."

Gandalf nodded.

"Of course," he replied.

Manwë patted Gandalf on the shoulder.

"Pass that along to the other Valar and Maiar all right?"

"Sure thing."

--

Seven o'clock finally rolled around and the campers couldn't have been more excited. They quickly filed into the Great Hall wearing dresses Kisha would have thought no self-respecting female would bring with her to a camp.

Over in Lammoth, Morgoth knocked on the door to ask if Gwen was ready.

"Yeah, I'm dressed and decent," she replied.

Morgoth opened the door and saw Gwen standing next to her bed getting her shoe on. She wasn't wearing a dress, or a skirt, but simply wore what she always wore every day.

"No dress?" Morgoth asked.

Gwen shuddered.

"Let's think back to both instances I wore a dress shall we? The first time I got attacked by a demon and the second time I was going to be used for a virgin sacrifice. No, I don't think I'll be wearing a dress. Not here or ever again thank you very much. I'm perfectly content with jeans and a t-shirt."

Morgoth rolled his eyes and offered her his arm. She took it and the two walked down the hall.

"So, you don't actually expect me to dance do you?" Morgoth asked.

Gwen laughed.

"Come now my love. It's only movement."

--

And so the dance in the Great Hall began. Most of the female campers at camp tried to get a dance with one of the staff members but everyone declined. A half hour into the dance, the first slow song began playing.

"What day is it and in what month. This clock never seemed so alive. I can't keep up
and I can't back down I've been losing so much time…"

Mostly everyone at camp found someone to dance with. Everyone except Legolas. He furled his eyebrows when he realised that the rest of the staff had already had a dance partner. And so, a female camper realised this and asked him to dance. He looked at her warily.

"You're not going to profess your love for me are you?" he asked.

The girl laughed.

"Hell no, but you look like you need a dance partner so…"

Legolas shrugged.

"Oh why the void not."

"Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do nothing to lose
and it's you and me and all of the people and I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you…"

On the other side of the dance floor Gwen and Morgoth slowly turned in the cycle of the slow dance. Gwen's head rested on Morgoth's chest.

"All of the things that I want to say just aren't coming out right I'm tripping inwards
you got my head spinning I don't know where to go from here…"

Kisha fiddled with the laptop when she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Théodred.

"Did you want to dance?" he asked.

Kisha shrugged.

"I really don't do that kind of stuff. I just run the machine."

Théodred shook his head.

"No you don't. Come on, we're dancing."

Kisha smiled.

"Oh all right."

"Cause it's you and me and all of the people with nothing to do nothing to prove
and it's you and me and all of the people and I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you…"

Varda and Maglor danced together. Varda looked over and saw Manwë leaning against the wall. She sighed.

"Hush darling, what is troubling you?" Maglor asked.

"I'm worried about Manwë," she replied.

Maglor looked over and saw him just standing there.

"I'm sure he'll be okay," Maglor assured her.

"There's something about you now I can't quite figure out. Everything she does is beautiful everything she does is right…"

Manwë watched his former love dance with Maglor. For a second his blood began to boil at the sight but he then felt a tap against his knee. He looked down and saw little Lalaith looking up at him.

"Do you want to dance?" she asked sweetly.

Manwë couldn't help but smile and he nodded.

"Of course I would," he replied.

"You and me and all of the people with nothing to do nothing to lose and it's you and me and all of the people and I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you…"

Legolas and the camper continued to dance. Legolas was quite surprised at the behaviour of his dance partner.

"May I ask why you're not trying to profess undying love like the rest?"

She shrugged.

"I guess it's because I'm sane. To be perfectly honest, I don't really care for Middle-earth and I never watched the movies or read the book before I got here. Plus, why fall in love with those who you'll never see again and those who won't share it back?"

Legolas nodded and then Gwen and Morgoth came to mind. Inside he sighed knowing how difficult it would be once they left.

"You, I and all of the people with nothing to do nothing to prove and it's you and me and all of the people and I don't know why I can't keep my eyes off of you…"

Through his shirt, Morgoth felt moisture and knew Gwen was crying. He rubbed her back as they danced.

"I'm going to miss you," she whispered.

Morgoth nodded and for the first time in his life he understood the emotions his brother knew all along. He realised compassion, love, beauty, and kindness stayed with a person longer then power, prestige, and hate. He hugged Gwen.

"Thank you," he said.

Gwen looked up at him.

"For what?"

Morgoth smiled.

"For yelling at me the first day of camp."

"What day is it and in what month this clock never seemed so alive…"

--

Before the dance started, Kisha told everyone there would only be two slow songs. But, like every year, the campers kept requesting another slow song. Kisha said no saying there would be one at eleven to close the dance much to the dismay of the campers. So the campers danced to faster paced songs such as a collection of Battlelore and Blind Guardian songs. Kisha even threw in a show tune here and there. During 'War of Wrath' by Battlelore, the doors of the Great Hall opened and Sauron walked in. No one had noticed him walk in as the song had a very heavy metal beat to it with a harsh voice singing male vocals. Morgoth looked up from the drink table and saw Sauron standing there.

"I'll be right back," he told Gwen. She nodded and he slipped out grabbing Sauron by the arm. The two went outside before anyone else noticed them. They sat on the stairs leading into the Great Hall. The stars twinkled overhead and the air was rather cool.

"Why am I out here?" Sauron asked.

"Don't do anything stupid all right?"

Sauron rolled his eyes.

"So you think I'll try again?"

Morgoth nodded.

"Yes. I know you'll try again. It's in your nature."

Sauron jumped up.

"In my nature? What about you? Whatever happened to the whole 'all land will be mine!' policy?" Sauron exclaimed.

Morgoth did not raise his voice in his reply.

"I learned differently here."

Sauron rolled his eyes and pointed a finger through the window at Gwen.

"It's because of her! You softened because of a human female! I'm ashamed to even call you master!"

It was then that Morgoth stood up. He grabbed Sauron by the collar and lifted him eye level. He brought his face close to his.

"Don't you ever, ever say that again. You do not understand the things I am feeling inside nor would you ever. If you would just open your mind a little wider you may see it."

Sauron narrowed his eyes at Morgoth.

"You're babbling like a complete idiot."

Morgoth smacked Sauron across the face.

"You'll never understand," he said.

He let go of Sauron's collar and Sauron took a step back. He wiped the blood from his nose.

"Nay, my Lord, it is you who does not understand," Sauron spat.

Morgoth shook his head in wonder.

"You'll never get it. Didn't getting beaten by the Valar show you you'll never win?"

"I just have to try harder that's all."

Morgoth smiled and shook his head.

"So naïve."

He turned his back on Sauron and began walking back inside the Great Hall. He then stopped as if he had thought of something. He turned back around.

"Oh, I release you from any servitude bond I've ever placed on you and all that jazz."

--

The dance continued late into the night. It was now eleven o'clock and most campers were tired of all the dancing. The last slow dance played and then Kisha ushered the campers off to bed. She went to the laptop to turn off the music.

"One last song," Théodred asked Kisha.

Kisha looked up from the laptop into his eyes. She smiled and nodded and clicked on a random slow dance song. 'Untitled' by Simple Plan filled the speakers. When the music started, Gwen grabbed Morgoth's wrist and the two went onto the dance floor.

"I open my eyes. I try to see but I'm blinded by the white light. I can't remember how,
I can't remember why I'm lying here tonight and I can't stand the pain. And I can't make it go away No I can't stand the pain…"

From the doorway of the Great Hall Sauron stood watching the couples dance. He spotted Varda with Maglor, Kisha with Théodred, Gwen with Morgoth, Fëanor with Nerdanel, and various others dancing together. Everyone on the dance floor had a partner to dance with.

"How could this happen to me. I made my mistakes. Got nowhere to run. The night goes on as I'm fading away. I'm sick of this life I just wanna scream, how could this happen to me…"

No one seemed to pay attention to Sauron watching from the doorway. Each person seemed in his or her own little world consumed by the fact that soon it would be all over. Tears were streaming down Gwen's face and Sauron watched as Morgoth lovingly patted the back of her head and told her everything was all right.

"Everybody's screaming I try to make a sound but no one hears me. I'm slipping off the edge I'm hanging by a thread I wanna start this over again. So I try to hold onto a time when nothing mattered And I can't explain what happened and I can't erase the things that I've done No I can't…"

Sauron looked over at Manwë. He was dancing with Ilmarë. He seemed quite happy at the moment and for a second Sauron wanted to be happy too.

"How could this happen to me. I made my mistakes. Got nowhere to run. The night goes on as I'm fading away. I'm sick of this life. I just wanna scream how could this happen to me…"

The second lasted longer and Sauron had the deep longing for something, or someone, to love and cherish. From what he saw, Gwen hung onto every comforting word of Morgoth. She appeared as if she was almost dependant on him. He watched the two dance and shifted his gaze to the other couples on the floor. He wanted that too. Even though he didn't know why, he wanted that too.

"I made my mistakes. Got nowhere to run. The night goes on as I'm fading away. I'm sick of this life. I just wanna scream how could this happen to me…"

The song ended with a silent sickly sweet note and Sauron watched Gwen hug Morgoth affectionately. Sauron felt a new emotion, one that made a giant marble form in the back of this throat. He felt as if he couldn't talk and he didn't know what was happening to him. He felt his knees give out as he dropped to the ground. His knees hit the floor of the Great Hall with a thud.

"I'm sorry," he sobbed.

By now everyone was aware he had been standing in the doorway.

"I'm so, so sorry…"

He felt a calming darkness overtake him as he fainted.