Chapter 3: Every World has it's Shadow
Stone of Tear:
The 'talks' he'd come to have ended abruptly and essentially became a declaration of war at the revelation they dealt in slavery.
A few of the nobility around him seemed to brighten-up at hearing of slavery...till Rand grimaced toward them.
It'd been some time since he'd been to that city of Corsairs, now he was meeting with high lords and council members.
"Everyone, i'd like to change Tear and Illian to its former name..."-Rand said solemnly.
This took many by surprise as only those who'd dwelled in the oldest history books would be aware of this. All but maybe one or two of the nobility denied ever having been a single nation. Though he could have sworn he'd mentioned it at least to the Council before leaving to the City of Corsairs...
"Before the Trolloc wars, Tear and Illian were known as Essenia. I'd like to rename us this in honor of that memory as all from Tear and Illian are their descendants. You are all, probably, Atha'an Essenia".-Rand said.
"To the people of this world, the land we now occupy was known by two different names; South Gondor to the north and Harondor to the south. Naming ourselves as two would likely give the impression we are not united."
"Also, returning to the ancestral name of the two lands could help inspire the people and instill a greater sense of pride"-Rand continued.
"Essenia"-a few of the nobility tested the name quietly.
"It almost sounds familiar..."-High Lady Rosana
"Indeed, like something forgotten now remembered after hearing about it"-High Lord Simaan
"A legendary name..."-Spiron Narettin
"Yes, i like it"-Eliris Mancuri
Looking around at the assembled nobles Rand stands and decalres:"Alright then! From this day forth, Tear and Illian are to be once again known as Essenia! May Essenia prosper and prevail forever!"
A round of applause is heard throughout the meeting hall of the Stone.
"With that out of the way, i wish to apologize for my actions in the south"-Rand says.
"I heard of what they were doing and then they intended to do the same to me...i lost control and now we are at war with them."-Rand says.
"I think you would be easily forgiven, lord Rand 'al Thor, if everyone here would simply imagine themselves in the same position"-Spiron Narettin said.
Rand gave a brief shake of his head in appreciation.
"The real question is what are we to do about this now?"-Ballin Elamri asks.
"Well, in truth, our recent allies to the north have been in near constant fighting with them for centuries, if not millenia"-Rand informs.
"I was originally intending to try mediating a cease-fire between them and avoid something like this altogether"-Rand enlightens them.
"As per our agreement in the north for things we need and to avoid war with them as well, we will be required to send them military aid if they are in need."
A great many squinted their eyes at this but accepted the reality of it.
"Perhaps the worst part of this whole situation is this: This world seems as though its entering its version of Tarmon Gaidon, not full blown yet, but, perhaps a few years before their last battle actually begins"-Rand.
"I, of course, don't know if that's the time-frame we have but i'm hoping at least a year before such an event takes place"-Rand continued.
"The main enemy of the north and west, ally of the south and east, is directly north and east of where we are"-Rand said sounding very serious.
"When this world enters into it's own tarmon gaidon, we will be relatively close to the enemy stronghold , as if we were a borderland from our world near the Blight. In which case we need to begin recruiting and fortifying our northern and eastern borders, primarily setting patrols and constructing towers along our border-road."-Rand told them.
"The peasantry will not be pleased to hear this..."-High Lord Hearne guessed
"The treasury is not unlimited Lord Dragon"-Torean Andiama says.
"Probably not, but our circumstance is unique and trying..."-Rand
Continueing Rand gave his thoughts on this world's tarmon gaidon-"A bit of good news, if i'm correct, this world seems to be free from the Dark One, Shaitan".
Gasps and widened eyes pop all around Rand as he said the unspoken name of the dark one. Saying his name would draw noticeable attention towards you...like a pressure would suddenly be felt. This time however, there was nothing.
"Do not worry"-Rand smiled-"It would seem we are free from the influence of my great enemy".
Astonished looks pass around the room.
"Could it realy be true?"-High Lady Fionnda Annariz
"Yes, it is, -"-Rand got no further before he was drowned out in cheering and shouting.
The entire hall erupted in jubalent excitement, many began celebrating as they were perhaps the first people of their world to truly be free from the dark one...some began to think of the other side-of-the-coin.
"Wait! D-does that mean that the creator is no longer watching over us?!"-unknown person asked among the shouting though it quickly died at those words.
"That would be a fair guess"-Rand said sadly
"At least we're finally free of the threat to us posed by the Dark One"-Spiron interjected, hoping to lift spirits somewhat after basically hearing that god was no longer with them.
"However! There is what's known as a 'Dark Lord', an evil...sorcerer of great power that's been terrorizing this world for thousands of years, apparently. This danger now lies beyond the mountains on the other side of the border-road..."-Rand informed them.
"Though"-Rand smiled again-"I doubt he'll be nigh invincible as the dark one was and thus i should be able to destroy him, ending the greatest threat in this world".
"I have some far-reaching idea's about governance for Essenia's future too"
"So, i'd like to sepperate the lords, ladies, and council into 3 groups"-Rand held up a hand to forestall them.
"First, i'd like those best suited for tactics and strategy in military matters to form into a single group, a 'war council' if you will."
"Second, those best at economics and internal affairs of state, used to doing loads of paper-work into another group or council."
"Third, we need the best influencial and political of you to form another group or council."
"Doing this will increase our effeciancy, especially in the future i think. Also, with the renaming of the land, a new form of governing should arise or else...one's position as high lord or council member could cause future issues"-Rand said.
"This doesn't need to happen quickly, just that it probably should sometime in the next few years."-Rand
"Now, who are going to be our diplomatic envoys in this world?"-Rand asked into the ensueing silence...
Minas Tirith:
Denethor II couldn't believe that the Corsiars had suddenly stopped their raids on the southern coast, out of nowhere, the number of raids on the fiefs there had suddenly dropped to none.
He pondered if it had something to do with those strangers he's met some time ago or if this was some kind of strategy to catch them off-guard somehow...
"Me lord, an envoy from the new nation of Essenia has come, from the former lands known as South Gondor"-attendant announced.
"Very well, send him in, i have questions to ask of him"-Denethor II replied.
"Greetings, lord Denethor II. I do be Ballin Elamri of the Council of Nine and appointed diplomatic envoy for Gondor"-Ballin Elamri greeted the Steward of Gondor.
Near the Harad/Border road:
Rand, king of Essenia, was overlooking the construction of the foundation for one of the many guard-towers on the northern border-road.
They were to be made from brick and stone to prevent being burned to the ground though he worried about catapults. But then, he couldn't really think of a way of fortifying something against things like that.
There was a massive fortress, though nothing like the Stone, that was being built on the river-side of Illian. They were also making a gigantic moat system around the city to help prevent siege engines from getting within range of the fortress and the city alike.
One day, perhaps, a wall could be constructed on the northern side of the border-road...
"Lord Rand! Lord Rand!"-a Companion came running up to him.
"Yes what is it?"-Rand asked, knowing trouble when he see's it.
"There's an army moving towards us from the south-east!"
*Seems like they really won't give up slavery then...*-Rand thought to himself.
"Very well, let's go see how much they want to continue enslaving people..."-Rand said, spiteful.
Crossing of Harad road and River Harnen: several days later
Rand currently had a few thousand Companions scouting the eastern fringes beyond on the eastern side of the Harnen river. A full company of Companions were following the border-road, or the Harad road as it was known to this world, scouting what laid beyond and possibly where it led to.
He wanted to know what lay further down that road. As the eastern territories were largely unknown aside from very vague reports from Gondor at the western and northern end of the road.
So far, a few hundred slaves/refugees had been sent along said road to be received by hastily set-up camps to accommodate them. They were likely disappointed by their reception and freedom but he couldn't help that. The situation for Essenia was new and problematic, so they would just have to accept that.
The scouts had, so far, explored the south-eastern side of the road for a good 100km without finding much more than desert or little better. This only accentuated the fact that they would need the irrigation canals and supported his 'preposterous' idea of an artificially created river-system through Essenia.
2 great cities and one small city would need the water in a desert landscape. Rand began thinking how much worse things would be if they had been transported into the Aiel Waste.
The cities would end up being abandoned in that scenario...
Rand wanted to send some scouts to the north-east too, but the east seemed more important at the moment. Then there was also the need to get to know the north-western nations who seemed more welcoming than the south-eastern ones, at least thus far.
After making his latest gateway to the country side of Minas Tirith and getting the latest report from Ballin Elamri, their relationship with Gondor showed promise and he'd already began setting up a market there.
That was good since the proceeds would fund the construction of an embassy for foreign diplomats, something that seemed there wasn't much of a concept for in this world either...
Rand had also been informed of Gondor's closest allied nation, Rohan, to the west and north of Gondor's capital: Minas Tirith. A diplomat would have to be chosen and sent there. Hopefully they wouldn't frown on the chosen diplomat's bodyguards, or rather, banner-men too much.
At least the irrigation canals for the cities of Essenia were essentially completed. That was good news in any case as they wouldn't have to worry about water for the farms now.
Rand looked over the arid plateau that was nearly desert on Essenia's north-eastern border, wondering about what could lie beyond the harsh terrain...
Rand wondered if there were people like the Aiel out there...
Somewhere, far to the east of Essenia:
Alatar and Pallando, the two blue wizards of middle earth heard of a war starting in the Haradwaith(Sutherlands) with a previously unknown peoples. By their informants accounts', these new people resided in the contested lands of Harondor or South Gondor as the westerner's called it. They were strange and powerful, possesing a great army and at least one very large city.
They argued for a time, trying to decide what, if anything, they should do about this recent development. Finally, they decided to send one of their apprentices to the new nation. They were too busy to go themselves and investigate this.
But something, they agreed, would likely have to be done. A powerful nation suddenly appearing on the western fringes of their influence could not be totally ignored...
Essenia, North-East of Harad road, Mountains of Shadow:
Rand had to investigate, in force, the potentially Blight-like counterpart of his world in order to get a grasp on how strong and vile this world's version of it's Shadow Forces were. Looking down from the mountain top, he could see a river heading east and a little to the north.
"Perhaps it will lead to another sea or ocean?"-Rand mused aloud.
Rand was looking at the south-western lands of Nurn, in Mordor, though he didn't know it at the time. The land was an arid grassland with near-continous cloud cover.
"What is that?!"-Rand exclaimed as he saw some kind of creature flying around below with his saidin enhanced vision.
It looked like a large, black bird, though he couldn't tell if it had feathers or not. It may be one of those 'dragons' he'd heard about, the large and usually winged reptiles that could 'breathe' fire.
"Captain Demetre, assemble a few men, i'm leaving within 20 seconds. I want to see the creature flying around from up closer"-Rand told the First Captain of the Companions.
Shortly there after, Rand and the small team of Companions, Skimmed to the last known area of the creature before it'd flown out of sight.
Upon arriving, taking only seconds, it would seem that the beast was in the middle of circling back towards where they'd just come from.
The Companions gasped upon seeing it. It had the appearance of something like what the Shadow would spit out in their old world.
It was as black as night and large. It was also of a size comparable to the To'raken used by the Seanchan.
*Wait a minute...is there someone on its back?*-Rand asked himself.
(The ring-wraith, one of the nine, had merely been scouting the southern reaches of Mordor while getting used to it's new mount)
Just then, the Fel beast screached an ear-peircing wail, causing everyone-including himself-to cover their ears and cry out in pain.
"Blood and ashes!"-Several of them yelled in response to the beasts' call.
The creature(Felbeast and more commonly known as Nazgul in the films) began descending downwards towards them.
Rand, seeing this as a hostile gesture, reacted by forming the weaves for lightning and struck it from the sky with multiple strikes-to make sure at least one would make impact with it. The echo of thunder-claps accompanied the streaks of forked lightning bolts as the beast fell from the sky.
Making their way to where it had crashed, Rand could sense an evil presence. A shadow-cloaked figure rose from the blackened and still smoldering form of the winged beast.
This was a ring-wraith(what an actual Nazgul is), a Nazgul and winged-Felbeast. Several men around Rand suddenly began to tremble in fear...
*So it has a similar effect as an Eyeless or Myrddraal.*-Rand observed, now the question was, how did it stand up to one in combat?
The being began speaking in some kind of eerie, half-heard language.
Rand ignored whatever it was trying to say and walked towards it, drawing his sword and preparing weaves for a 'fireball', he approached the...thing. A few of his guards started to go with him but he told them to stay back. He wanted to know the mettle of this creature.
"On second thought"-Rand said as he stopped halfway to it, simply threw the prepared fireball at it...
The ring-wraith screamed a horrific wail as the 'fireball' impacted, however, it only seemed startled in truth as it began appoaching Rand now.
"Dangerous, more so than Myrddraal"-Rand said quietly, backing away. If an explosion of fire wouldn't harm it, he doubted steel would do any better.
"How about this?-Rand said, scared of what he was about to do himself...
Rand launched a weave of 'Balefire' at the shadowed man-form that was approaching him, when it collided with it: A great reverberation resounded through the air, a gasping/ripping noise was heard, and ended in a flash of light.
Almost immediately the smoldering ruin of the Felbeast dissipated, returning to where ever it came from before getting a rider.
Rand suddenly felt an intense pressure begin to form around them as if the Dark One had his attention on them.
"Is it just me or did it get brighter?"-A Companion asked, still afraid for some unknown reason.
(The eye of Sauron was fixating its gaze upon them from the north after sensing a ring-wraith's destruction)
Rand sensed the vile pressure came from the north, figuring it came from the place he'd seen over the mountains when he visited Minas Tirith.
"It must be Sauron, this world's version of the Dark One"-Rand told those around him as he stared north-ward.
"I am glad this being isn't nearly as powerful either or i'd be worried"-Rand boasted to lift the spirits of those around him.
Looking back at Demetre, "Ya, we should probably go before an army or something else gets sent at us"-Rand said in response to what he had advised.
Opening a Skimming portal, Rand took one last look over his shoulder to the north as the Companions joined him on the platform.
There would likely be some kind of retaliation from Mordor in the near-future now, Rand thought as they began gliding through the empty darkness...
Council of Nine, Illian:
"And so, if anyone see a Shaimordeen or Doostribar, they are to retreat or run away as fast as possible"-Rand continued, warning them of the Ringwraiths (Shaidar Mordero Sheen-Dark bringers of death) and Felbeasts (Doon Stripo Orobar-Dark wing Danger).
(So, Ringwraiths will now be called-Shaimordeen)
(And, Felbeasts will now be called-Doostribar)
(- Just to throw some 'Old Tongue' in there :) -)
"Nobody, under any circumstances is to engage a Shaimordeen in battle, as it will be hopeless to defeat"-Rand said.
"You defeated one of them though..."-Council member remarked.
"Only because i used a forbidden weave with the one power that most Aes Sedai didn't know of before Tarmon Gaidon!"-Rand replied while trying to spot the one who spoke.
"The Doostribar, i brought down with weaves of lightning, so while extremely dangerous-will likely be able to be brought down with conventional means..."-Rand continued.
"Though, as i've already stated, it would probably be best not to engage them either. Instead, seek shelter or escape."-Rand said.
"Will a retallitory attack be made against us for this?"-Jeordwyn Semaris asked.
"It's very possible, but in truth i do not know. However, confrontation with them, as all forces of darkness, is inevitable"-Rand replied.
The council members talked quietly among themselves for a change, Rand noted, before they continued their questioning and making accusations of him being reckless again.
*And i still have to Travel to Tear and tell the High Lords/Ladies much the same as here*-Rand grumbled inwardly as he weathered the council members concerns, fears, and anger.
Although it's shorter than Chapter 2; ya get another chapter! I thought of combining the next chapter into this but then it would have been really long...
-If the jumping around was too much...idk what to tell ya
-Also, i know i skipped over that first confrontation with the Umbar there but it was more like a skirmish...the larger battle coming up will likely take up an entire chapter or two itself...
-Gandalf will be returning too, don't fret!