-peeks in- Ehm... -expecting stuff to be thrown at them-
Happy Holidays!
We would like to thank all our faithful and patient readers that you stuck with us so far. You really are amazing. So this is a Christmas present for all of you. Oh wait...
So, without further talking...
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Disclaimer: See first chapter.
Chapter 8 - S.O.S from Beyond
The magical, glistening fog surrounded the spring in a colorful faint rainbow. The humid air relaxed those who stepped into it, while the warmth of the water soothed any pain, be it physical or emotional. Creatures all over this forest visited these waters for all these qualities.
It wasn't just animals either and the ent females were about to find out.
Lilly raised a brow wondering what had caught Lord's attention, watching as he stared at the forest, only to avert his attention, until she heard voices. Lilly had no issue with company. In fact, she was eager to meet some people.
Rosa, however, didn't seem so eager. She pushed Lilly off of her lap gently before moving to get up.
"Lilly, we should probably go." She said, not really wanting to deal with anyone right now. Much less a whole bunch of men, as the voices indicated. They weren't all too... appropriately dressed either.
"Aw but Rosa." Lilly whined, catching her sister's arm and tugging her back into the water.
Rosa's eyes went wide as she lost her balance and with a yelp she fell back in. She came back up gasping for air, then turned ten shades of red as she realized escape was little to too late as their company was already standing right there and Lilly was waving like it was no problem at all.
Of course, the hunters didn't notice them right away, instead chatted idly, some of them even began to take off their shirt for the bath. They didn't expect anyone there of course, seeing at this time they were the only ones around as usual, so didn't pay attention. They talked about one of them tripping during hunt and ruining their chances at a prey and pushed the poor hunter around who of course only laughed. With the group a familiar elf was walking, Fieven, who also began to undo some clasps on his shirt, yearning for a nice bath now. He more than likely pulled a muscle today, so the hot water will do wonders. If he was lucky it won't swell and the pain won't come back at all after this.
The chatting and approaching went on until Fieven noticed something big in the water. At first he wanted to dismiss it as simply an animal, until he realized just which animal or elk it was. His eyes widened at the sight and quickly put his hand out grasping the hand of the hunter next to him who was about to unbutton his breaches... Just in time. He frowned at him until he followed his gaze and well...
The hunters stopped in their tracks when they finally noticed the two girls, one of them even waving at them. The boys all blushed all of a sudden and backed away in surprise, some of them covering most part of their upper body. Elves were rather modest, only showing themselves naked in front of their life partners when it comes to the opposite gender. They just stood there, staring in shock before quickly averting their gaze from the sight to make sure they don't see anything inappropriate, then started meeting each other's gaze and murmured among themselves, wondering what the girls are doing here at this hour and what they should do now... They can't just... go away... Their muscles hurt and they felt dirty... They needed the bath...
Lilly was confused by the boys but Rosa wasn't. The older of the two cursed under her breath, then reached out and grabbed her cloth, putting it around her sister first, then grabbed the other and put it around herself.
"We will leave." She said, already out of the water and ready to go. If the fact they were a bunch of hunters and she was naked wasn't enough, the fact Fieven was there was more than enough.
Lilly blinked in surprise.
"What?! No! Rosa, that isn't fair. We just got here. Besides there is a whole other side they can use." She protested while gesturing towards one of the larger boulders, which almost separated the spring into half, not wanting to leave yet. She looked towards the elves. "Do you mind using the other side?" She asked with a smile not seeming bothered, unlike the rest of them.
Rosa cringed at this, just wanting to leave now.
"No no no, stay. That is alright... we will just...-" One of the elves started saying as the older girl started getting out, not wanting to be a bother and not wanting to force her out like this, that would be very rude of them but he didn't get to continue as the little girl suggested something. They met each other's gaze and nodded, approving of the idea, finding it suitable. There was a boulder separating the spring into two sections, so they should be alright on the other side. "Sounds good to us..." One of them said with a chuckle and gestured for the others to follow him, starting for the other side, of course still blushing.
"Oh dear lord..." One of the elves uttered as he followed the rest, to which the elk turned his head and made a sound which almost said 'what?'. The elf noticed and chuckled. "Sorry, not you." Then moved faster to catch up with the others. They all made sure to not look at the girls, then stripped and jumped into the deeper water on the other side, some of them moving to the boulder to sit at its bottom, while the others stayed at the other side, sitting in the water, enjoying the warmth and its soothing qualities. They relaxed and started up chatting again about today's hunt. Although, the mood was still clearly tense due to the extra company and the situation they were in.
Rosa groaned but sat at the water's edge. This was not what she had in mind when she planned to come here to relax. If anything she was tenser than when she started. She sighed before letting herself slip back into the water, placing the cloth at the side of the water so if she wanted she could easily get it again if needed.
Lilly smiled, seeing her sister had given in, then moved back to her sister's lap, placing her own cloth back next to hers.
Rosa sighed and started to work on her hair again. This reminded Lilly of her earlier thought.
"Hey, elves. Would you ever want to get your hair done like ours?" She asked curiously. Just because there was a boulder didn't mean they couldn't socialize with them.
Rosa twitched. There goes pretending they were still alone.
The elves really couldn't help but chuckle at the little girl's inquiry, all of them meeting the others' gaze. Such adorable child. Of course, they all nodded to each other, deciding to play along.
"Well, depends on your skills. What can you do?" One of them asked, turning his head towards the boulder for a moment while the others just smiled, some of them rolling their eyes, others gesturing for him to keep quiet, wanting to enjoy their stay instead and chat without interruptions but most had no problem in chatting with the little girl. That could be as amusing as any other.
Lilly giggled as someone finally replied. This was a lot like talking on the phone.
"Well, we twist our hair into locks. Not sure why they are called that. Maybe because they are locked in the same shape for a long time." She said, looking at her hair curiously, then giggled. "It hurts, though. Maybe you wouldn't be able to handle it." She said, teasing a bit.
Rosa rolled her eyes at her sister, though, she was probably right. The elves probably couldn't handle it. Their hair seemed to be always held loose or completely free. Elven women seemed to have more designs but they were nothing like the twisted locks the ent people had.
The elves smiled again and chuckled, then the same elf called back to her.
"Why do you carry your hair like that if it hurts? Didn't you ever think of changing styles?" He asked, which caused a few elves to murmur again, some of them betting they could take this style she was talking about, while the others weren't so sure but kept silent about it.
Lilly thought for a moment before looking at Rosa.
The older girl sighed and shook her head at her sister but decided to explain, as she was asked.
"It is tribute to our ancestors. Originally our hair was like vines. The aftereffect of it being branches of a tree. It took many generations before our hair became more like normal hair but even then we continued the same style. Just tradition, really. Besides, any other style doesn't work as well with our hair. It is very different from human or elvish hair." She explained for her sister.
"What she said." Lilly said with a giggle. "So do any of you want to try it?"
"Well, how do you know that it wouldn't work with your hair? Have you tried? There are different styles for our own." He suggested with a shrug, now half of the group starting up another conversation about tomorrow's activities, the other part slowly starting to gain interest in that too, the elf she was talking to also started to listen to them instead, chuckling when one of them said something funny. Hair didn't seem to be something the elves found interest in speaking about.
"Well... Here hold on I'll show you." Lilly said and mumbled something to her sister. Rosa raised a brow at this but did as requested. A little while later Lilly jumped out wrapping the towel around herself then climbed up on top of the bolder. Her hair was down and they could see what she meant by different. It fluffed out now that it wasn't in its locks. "What other style do you think would work with this naturally?" She asked with a smirk, looking down at them.
They didn't expect for the girl to pop up there but frowned at the noise that came from the boulder before they heard her speak. The hunters all gasped in shock and some of them sank deeper into the water, others tried to cover themselves, blushing. They knew she was still a little girl but it was worse because of that. Children should not see such things like this and especially they shouldn't see children in... this small clothing.
"Well... of course it looks like that now that it was in locks... But maybe if you... worked to brush it out..." One of them said who actually looked at her hair, the others just simply nodded in agreement but didn't look, trusting the judgment of their comrade.
Rosa facepalmed.
"Lilly... Get down... Get down now." She ordered her sister, wondering if the little girl had forgotten the reason for the bloody bolder or if she even cared.
"You can brush it for hours. If anything that just makes it fluffier." The little girl replied, not seeming to notice. She thought for a moment on how best to explain it to them.
Rosa decided at this point to grab Lilly from behind to pull her down.
"Stay... down... here." She hissed at her before calling out. "It looks like this even out of locks. Our hair is very curly and made to handle harsh conditions. That's why if you feel it in comparison to most hair it is very... course. There are other styles and many of our kin do use them. The most common is a very short style. Also, back home some of our kind would go through a lot in order to get their hair like yours but... well it is unnatural and actually very harmful to our hair in the long run." She explained, making better sense of it all for them and making a point of keeping her sister on the other side of the spring in order to avoid her pulling the same stunt again.
"Fluffy hair." One of them snorted, which was followed by a few chuckles when the men started imagining someone with an all brushed out fluffy hair. Oh, the imagination of elves was quite colorful.
"I'd like to see fluffy hair." The same elf chuckled, then shook his head, a few more jokes were said about this before the subject was changed again and the hunters resumed their bath and relaxation.
Lilly continued to pull up random conversations to have with the elves on the other side, laughing and giggling all the while. She offered to do their hair if they ever wanted and was surprised as one actually agreed. All the while Rosa sat in silence, redoing her sister's hair. She did not have the same happy mood as her sister and no matter how much she wanted to... she just couldn't pull such a thing from herself. Once she finished her sister's hair she finally decided she had enough.
"I'm going home." She said, not giving her sister room to protest as she got up out of the water, grabbing the cloth and wrapping it around herself along with her things and just started back.
Lord watched as she left but he didn't budge from his spot. He didn't feel so bonded with her as with Lilly, so stayed in the water, enjoying the warmth until Lilly decided to leave.
Three days later
-elsewhere-
Three days.
It had been another three days and still the bloody wraith wasn't awake.
Hyano had never really seen the wraith do this before... The closest being his meditation. It worried her to no end. He wasn't dead that was for sure but he wasn't waking up either... He was... from what she could tell, asleep. All the energy in him wiped out he had actually fallen asleep. For likely the first time since he was a human. She wasn't sure how to take this though. It could mean progress but the fact he wasn't waking could be cause to worry. She was currently kneeling beside him. She gave him a gentle shove, trying to wake him up yet again. She didn't expect it to work any better than the many other times she had tried but that hardly stopped her from trying all the same.
This time however it was a little different.
The moment she shoved him, the wraith actually reacted this time. But not the nice way... As soon as her hand touched him, he suddenly lashed out with his own hand to clutch hers in a tight grip, before pushing against the ground and flipping her back, with him being on top and moved her arm above her head, raising his other gauntleted hand next to his head with an open palm, ready to deliver a clawing blow. However, the moment he was in position and his hand moved to execute the kill, he stopped, just staring at her motionlessly. He didn't say anything, he didn't move, just watched her, as if something stopped him before he made something foolish, or... as if he just realized something. After a while he looked up and started looking around as if disoriented.
Hyano gasped as she was flipped, then her eyes widened. If he had actually done it... he might have gotten away with killing her, seeing as she had no real time to think. However he just... stopped. She blinked up at him before calling out cautiously.
"Ren?" She didn't struggle against his grip. She probably should, considering he could rightfully change his mind if he wanted to but... she didn't think she was in danger. Something else was going on.
The wraith's head moved to face her when he heard his name and stared at her a little more before starting to lower his hand but only slowly, as if he wasn't yet sure that it was safe to let his guard down. Soon enough, he looked down to notice their position and leaned to the side, sitting beside her, releasing her hand from his tight grip, staring at the ground before looking around. It was obvious he wasn't sure where he was or didn't believe it...
Hyano sat up, looked at him and moved so she was kneeling in front of him.
"Ren... It is alright... I'm here." She tried to assure, not sure how comforting these words really were considering everything. Only a few days ago he was cursing her name and all the trust he had put into her. She reached out a hand to touch his gauntlet. He seemed so... confused. Like was he was lost. She didn't like seeing him like this. She had always gone to him for the answers when she was younger. To see him without any was... unnerving.
The wraith looked at her again briefly then averted his gaze to survey his environment.
"I was somewhere else..." He finally said, looking around again as if to make sure that he truly was here in this cave. "There were elves... They were cornering me..." He told her, still looking around, then finally looked back at her. "I wanted to fight but... my hands didn't move..." He said and lifted his hands to see them moving now. He didn't understand.
Hyano blinked as he explained himself. She then thought it over before smiling.
What truly seemed to happen was that the wraith, after many thousands of years actually had a dream. Well, a bad dream. But still a dream and he didn't understand what it was. He thought it was real.
"You had a dream... Or rather a nightmare. You fell asleep and while your body didn't work your mind continued to work. It created the vision you had. It normally is a result of worries and thoughts one had before they fell asleep... It isn't much of a surprise your dream was what it was." She explained to him calmly. He had a dream. She was surprised yet pleased. This was a good thing.
The wraith looked at her, tilting his head to the side at the explanation.
"No... I was there. I saw it... I felt it. I heard them talking... They almost stabbed me... But my hands didn't move. Now they can... and I am here." He finished, looking down at his hands, not understanding why. As usual, he didn't want to believe in such things which he never felt or seen. "Strange..." He concluded, then looked at her. "And annoying." He huffed and crossed his arms, pouting. He should have been able to beat those elves if he could just move his hands...
Hyano blinked at this reaction before she started to giggle lightly.
"It has been a long time since you had a dream so you lack any control. As you have more of them you will learn to control what happens and what you can do." She assured, though, she was sure he wouldn't believe her until he had experienced this several more times. If it was possible. It might be that this extreme loss of power generated this... standby mode for the Nazgul. Even if he went through all this many times he might still deny believing her for a while after that. Simply a stubborn wraith. Well... mostly anyway.
Of course, as she predicted, the wraith refused to believe it all and passed it as a moment of his mind messing with him because of this... lighter magic being infused with his spectral form instead of the darker one. He wanted to note it, turned his head towards her and was about to make a smart remark when he noticed something...
She was... wounded.
The one that stood out to him was the wound on her neck. It was bruised, it still had some dried blood on it. He could still smell the blood. He tilted his head to the side and reached out towards her neck with curiosity.
"What happened? Who did this?" He asked, almost demanding this from her. Was she attacked? Who attacked her? Why didn't he notice? He seemed to forget their current situation, the argument and he obviously didn't remember the fight between them three days ago. Instead he acted as protective and possessive as he did before everything.
Hyano blinked slightly as he showed his usual protectiveness for her and despite what he had done to her she didn't flinch away from his touch. She probably should. Anyone else would be scarred for life thanks to what he had done. However, she was not like most. She caught his gauntlet. She debated on lying but thought there was no need for that.
"You tried to kill me. You went into a rage and tried to kill me. It took surrounding myself in fire after wiping us both out of energy. That is why you passed out for the past three days." She explained to him, looking away. he wasn't certain what his reaction will be. Did she just trigger this memory? Will he start attacking again, remembering why he was angry? Deep down, she honestly wanted his old self back, before all this trouble. But for this, he needed to trust her. Wraiths, however... don't trust so easily.
Ren looked at her hand when she caught his gauntlet, unsure what to think of it. Maybe she fears that he will aggravate the wound? He does have quite sharp gauntlets. His gaze returned to her when she explained what had happened in the past three days and stared at her wordlessly. Slowly, the happenings of the week came back to him finally, the argument they had, the betrayal... the hurt pride and the goal of making him to the pet of those disgusting creatures. He pulled his hand back from her, staring at the gauntlet, now finding traces of her blood and skin on it, which was the proof.
Well, he didn't know what to think.
That he should be glad he didn't end up killing her so he can remember it when he does it later... or to be disappointed because he didn't succeed. His thoughts and previous intentions came back flooding. His brief protective instinct was drowned by the knowledge of what she is doing to him. Even now. Yet... something held him back from trying again. He didn't know what it was but he wasn't in the mood to fight, neither did he find the idea of ending her to be suitable. There was something... Some words he was hearing... Ever so faint...
'The strings are attached... My voice shudders the thread...'
With him imprisoned, he will not be able to fulfill his purpose... He needed to use her to get out... Instead the need to sway her back to his side seemed to gain more favor from him.
So, living up to these thoughts, the wraith wordlessly reached out and grasped her the way he did on top of Moria after they reassured each other of their mutual support and let her sit in his lap, his arms falling to rest on his knees, almost keeping her in a protective embrace. The more time he spent thinking on it, the more he realized that if he killed her, he will die too. And even if it wasn't that way and he managed to escape he would be caught sooner than he could think and would be alone without allies. She was still under his influence, she likes it or not... And if he gave up now and ended his own existence... what kind of terrifying Nazgul was he? What would his Lord say if he saw him then? He wanted him proud and satisfied with his progress. Because he still deep down knew he will return one day.
The will of his Master commanded him. And for this, he will use any tools he could find.
Hyano had honestly expected him to try and kill her again. To try and destroy her again but instead... Instead he pulled her into his arms. He held her. Her eyes widened before like at Moria she curled into his embrace enjoying the feeling of being in his arms and not under attack.
"... Ren... Please listen this time. I didn't betray you. I only had so much time to come up with a plan to keep you alive. Gandalf wanted to sever the connection and he still does... I was short on options and my magic is little good here. There is not enough darkness here and we don't know the lands... This was the best solution I could come up with to assure that you stayed alive... I knew you wouldn't like it but..." She looked down sadly, curled into him.
"Corrupt the connection." The wraith simply said, not looking at her but staring ahead. He didn't know it but thanks to the lighter magic now flowing through his spectral form he was able to actually see beyond pride this time... And see far more clearly than he had. Not clear enough but at least he was able to think. "Do not complete it. I will play my part and you will play yours. Then when they don't look... we get away from here..." He knew this plan was risky. He didn't know what kind of effect this change should have on him but he can... be a little more tolerating towards the wizard and the elves. Just a little. Play the obedient pet until the time comes when they can make a run for it. For now, he had to admit that the only way out is acting. Then fleeing. Despite how it might hurt his pride. It will be broken... to thousand pieces at that... But it can be mended once he takes over control.
This humiliation, this blasphemy will be paid back thousand times when they stare up at him in chains, begging for mercy before he makes his decision for their eternal suffering.
"Ren... believe it or not the connection isn't even half shifted to light." Hyano told him honestly. The effect that shifting the connection had on him had surprised her but it surprised her even more when she realized how little the connection had truly been shifted. The amount of light magic it really took to cause... all this. "I was afraid if I did too much, I might just kill you on the spot. I haven't increased or changed anything for the past four days." She added, looking up at him with a frown. She had knowledge in both light magic -thanks to her heritage- and dark magic -which can be thanked to Ren-, so knew approximately what kind of changes must have been occurring. This... has over exceeded her calculations. Which meant... something was wrong... By the looks of things, everything should do as it needed to. It seemed the balance she had created was shifting him with very little help on her part.
"But he wants it all to affect me in a way that would change my ways." The Nazgul whispered, suspecting the White is listening in on their conversation if he kept it too loud. "He wants it completed." He added, turning his head slightly but didn't look down, instead kept his gaze forward. "You said in two weeks they want progress. Then I will give them progress. I will play the 'nnnnniiiiceeee' wraith until the time comes when you are ready. Then we vanish from here." He said, now being more specific on what he meant. He didn't want her to alter the connection as much as the White would want her to, neither did he want her to finish what she started. Instead he will swallow his pride and humble himself in order to escape... And then later... he will get back to them for all the suffering... They will suffer ten times by his hand. It is a large step for him to make, from the stubborn desperate grasp on his pride to sacrificing it for his own good. The other reason for it besides the lighter magic in him was that he started to remember the fight they just had and realized her power once again. One tends to forget the other's power if it wasn't displayed to them sometimes. He had to be reminded just how valuable her services are to him and that with her on his side he truly can succeed with his plans. Her power aids him... and no one else.
The orange wizard looked down and nodded.
"You do realize... that until the change becomes physical Gandalf is not going to even come close to believing you or your act." She told him honestly. Gandalf was not a fool. If Ren wanted to pull this off, just acting would not be enough. He would have to look the part. Hyano had a feeling they didn't have long to wait, though. He had already changed quite a bit, panting and sleeping. Just a little longer.
"What do you mean with 'physical'? Do you realize how any change to my current form would affect me as a disaster?" Ren asked, now looking down to stare at her, his voice now taking on a demanding tone. "The moment I would need to rely on living like any of you, I would die. Probably age beyond recognition or my body couldn't even sustain me any longer, used to the eternal silence. My form cannot change or I won't survive. I need to stay like this if I want to execute my plans." He explained, although they already had this talk when she tried to change him in the past at the tree house. Before he ran off, only to be found again. And well... Sauron's curse is very strong and normal magic shifting won't lift it. In addition, Ren didn't want the curse to go either. He was clutching onto it like anyone would onto a boat on the vast ocean. His existence depended on it.
"I thought of that and it isn't a complete shift Ren. It will only shift you enough to convince Gandalf. Trust me, Ren. I haven't been doing this blind. This will change your outsides but not your insides. Only enough so no one will know the difference. Besides... the ring won't let you die. Trust me... that thing will keep you alive because it needs you alive as much as you need it to live." She told him, remembering when this all started. The fight the ring gave her. It was dormant at the moment but she was sure if it sensed a threat to Ren's life it would eventually come back with a vengeance.
"You know I hate any changes made to my form... And I will not let it happen. Either you leave it alone... or else..." The dark creature trailed off, sounding as serious as he can sound in his still slightly dazed state. "I don't want to serve them against my current will. I don't want to end up being a true pet. I want my dignity intact even if my pride will have to be shattered. The rate of change shall not be complete. I myself will just... act as if." He still pressed on with this thought, afraid what would become of him if she changed him and his mind into something lighter. Afraid that this might be permanent. "After all... such a thing was never done before. How would he know that it isn't complete if none of my kind went through this?" He asked with a hiss, proud of his thoughts and logic.
Hyano raised a brow at him, wondering if he actually heard himself. She had already proven at this point that she was willing to do what it took to get what needed to be done accomplished. Even if it meant defying him. Also he was giving Gandalf far too little credit. Even without knowing how this would come out Gandalf was not so easily fooled. Ren was thinking more rationally now which was a serious improvement but there was a serious flaw in his logic. Mostly a personality flaw, really.
"I won't allow them to make a pet out of you. You aren't that unlucky. And even without knowing exactly what the results of this might be Gandalf will sense it if there is no real change. He is very wise and the moment he realizes something is off everything is done because this trick won't work twice."
The wraith listened to her words but didn't answer for a good minute. Instead he returned to stare forward, clearly pondering, his dark mind working on something. There was one thing that bothered him. One thing that held him back... And it bugged him... it nagged him... bit at him.
"Can I trust you that you will make the necessary steps when you know the time is right to undo the changes?" He asked, refusing to look at her. After all that happened he distrusted her of course, still finding that she betrayed him and still had trouble believing her. He only didn't fight and debate because he knew it won't do any good to him. She had the advantage in this cave... and besides, he needed to keep her loyalty to him. But then again... does he truly have it?
Hyano sighed at the question, then smiled and nodded.
"Yes. Although I doubt I will have to. As the darkness in this world increases, the ring will likely become active again on its own. But if it doesn't I will handle it. This change will not be permanent." She assured him. She knew there was no chance of this being a permanent change. Eventually nature would force him back. He had been a wraith for too long. It was just impossible at this point to completely reverse this fact.
"The last time you said I should trust you, we ended up in this prison... Where will we end up next?" The Nazgul asked, now facing her with the question he truly meant it as. He didn't care what nature did. It can die, all he cared. What he cared about was if he can trust her. She told him the last time what will happen. They would make it to the other side and the first chance she gets she would awaken him and they would be off. But that didn't happen then. Instead they landed right here. Even staying back at Middle-Earth and going down with it would have been better. At least he could have enjoyed the chaos of the last years, taken the world for himself in the last moment. Be the last to go down... "The ring is always active or else I wouldn't be talking to you. And if you know the change isn't permanent... Then so does the White. He wants you to keep the process of my change up."
"I told you I would do my best. I couldn't promise much more because I had no idea what I was getting into." The orange wizard pointed out to him. "And I won't be going it alone this time. You will be there with me, remember?" She added, not as worried as he was. She wouldn't be alone this time. If anything, he would be able to tell her later when enough was enough. He could have his hand in the planning. She trusted him with the decision making to a degree... when his pride wasn't an issue anyway. "As for Gandalf... that is something we will have to play by ear. He is... tricky and planning too far ahead with him doesn't work so well because you can't always be sure what he is thinking." She admitted.
"I won't be there completely to aid you. That won't be truly me. If I am to change, so will my mind. I might tell you to keep going. I might tell you to support their cause... I might tell you to promise me to keep me the way I will be... Do NOT listen to me." The creature of darkness warned and tightened his grip on her as if to emphasize what he just said and urge her into agreeing. "You might be still on your own and my fate once again will be in your hands. Do not disappoint me again. Think quickly and prepare yourself for every situation. I give at most two weeks after we are free. Then I want you to stop the process and we shall make a move." He pressed on, wanting to put more effort into planning this time. He realized their mistake was the last time that he didn't talk to her about the actions that she might need to make in order to succeed.
Hyano blinked. Well she had not thought of that. What if he did ask her to not turn him back? She thought this over but shook it off. There was no way that would happen. And even if it did... eventually she would have to turn him back to keep him alive. If she left him in that state too long nature would try to balance things out and if the darkness didn't push its way back out, the light might very well try to take over and in so doing kill him. She nodded.
"Yes, Ren. I understand." She replied, looking up into his hood with a determined gaze, her green eyes seeking that never-ending darkness.
"Good." Was his only answer and loosened his grip on her a little, now letting her move if she wanted, stand if she so desired. Ren admitted defeat towards the change and knew even if he didn't want this just like for the past days, she would still go with it. This was her last test in his eyes. If she fails him again... then he will no more hesitate. She will die... Or he will remove himself from her closeness so both of them will perish in lack of magic. He had made his promise to himself now and he will not break it. Death surely wasn't so bad. If he thought about it... maybe the eternal slumber would be a relief from the stress of living in a dead form. Perhaps... mortality is truly a gift as the elves say...
Wait!
Where did that come from?
Of course it is a curse! No one would remember him, he wouldn't be able to be this strong, this feared, this terrifying. He can still act upon his will, have an impact on the world and its inhabitants. If he was a mortal, no one would even remember his name or that he existed. He would be forgotten forever, his existence would have been in vain. But not with immortality... People still utter his name in terror!
Hyano relaxed once he relaxed his grip on her. She cuddled up again in his lap, her head resting on his chest.
"I'm glad you are at least talking to me again... I didn't like that silent treatment you were giving me for a while there." She admitted. That had to have been the most unnerving thing she had to go through with Ren. Having him so angry with her that he refused to even notice her presence, having him want to kill her had felt more normal than that, though, she very much wouldn't want to go through that again either.
Much to her dismay there was no reply from him. The wraith didn't feel like talking but wanted to deal with this damage to his pride. He was thinking, pondering and planning, trying to think of everything before they execute their plans. This time he wanted everything to go smoothly where improvising won't be needed. He had to think of every possible scenario and their solutions, what the White might want from them, what the elves might make them do... They surely won't just tolerate him... They want him useful... they want him to be studied and a cure found for his state... They would want to kill them... Knowing the elves and their tricks, they surely would only need to find an excuse to be rid of him and press the White towards destroying him. He can't let that happen... However in his far more tolerating and surely all too will-less state, he won't be able to think straight or think for his own good. This is where Hyano will come in. She will have to watch out for him...
Hyano sighed relaxing a bit. Then a thought crossed her mind before she looked up at him.
"Ren. When I change you back, do you want me to leave some light in it?" She questioned, sure he would be confused by the question but she felt she should ask anyway. "After the initial shock of it you started thinking more... clearly than I have seen. It might not make the ring too happy but it will improve your thought process and may prove useful in the long run." She explained more to him and sat back waiting on his reply.
Indeed, the moment she said that, the thinking wraith's head snapped down, looking at her sharply, not sure what to think of her offer. He tilted his head to the side in confusion and curiosity, more than sure that she will explain her idea more to him. She surely knows his reactions and body language by now. As he expected, she started to explain, to which he listened to carefully, then looked up, staring at the wall of the cave. Was he really thinking clearly? Or is this one way she wants this whole thing to be permanent? Well... Thinking is good, right? It would help him plan ahead and make better tactics, see rationally and make the right decisions...
Wait! What? Did he just really consider her idea? Did he just really consider... even just a little thought about leaving light within the darkness? This change was doing this to him...
"No." He said curtly, not looking at her, blaming the change in their connection for his change of mind and ways of thinking. "Remember my old self and what I would want. I want nothing remaining from this... outrageous crime against myself... and my dignity." He spat, finding this whole change as bad as it sounded. He didn't want it... but in order to survive for now he had to tolerate it... Just a few weeks... Two weeks... Nothing more...
Hyano raised a brow at this, wondering if he was making the choice because he thought it was right or because he wanted to defy the light in him. She shrugged it off, though. They would find out later on. He would surely think the same way as he shifted back and once he had gone through the whole change he would likely decide more clearly then. She nodded.
"Alright. I will remember." She replied. Two weeks. She doubted things would go quite that smoothly but she would keep that in mind.
Two weeks from when they finish the shift then she would work to shift him back.
That was going to be interesting.
-back at the city-
Rosa had started working again, finding that doing something helped her relax.
Her family took up finding some kind of tasks in the elven community to make themselves useful for them. Although it was their right to have their own home and receive food from the distributions as people of the community... they still wanted to repay their kindness. Every elf had their own tasks... so now they decided to join in and be full-fledged members of their society.
Will and Holly decided to give the elves a taste of herder food. They found it spicy but it was a nice change. They now think they might open something like a restaurant, where they cook herder food for everyone. Lilly and Cane would help at the kitchen or by taking up orders while the parents cook and prepare the food.
Rosa on the other hand decided to keep her job at the elven seamstress. She taught her well and showed her touches on the fabric that no man ever knew about. She liked what she created, so volunteered to work by her side.
Right now, she was sitting in the home of her teacher, sipping a relaxing tea as they talked about their busy day and about the recent developments in her life. Back then when she first came to this world, all she wanted to do was go back home. Now... she found her past complaints foolish and childish. This did not mean she did not miss Middle-Earth... or the few friends she had, her relatives... but... This was her life now.
With all its good and bad sides of it.
Rosa was about to say something when a sound caught her attention. It was faint. It was rhythmic and catchy. Also, quite familiar. She blinked, then reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone.
'How in Middle-Earth is this stupid thing even still working?' Was the first thought that popped to her mind as she noticed she had a text message.
Strange. Did a message that was sent to her before they came here just now arrive or did it start to act up? She couldn't even charge the thing here after all.
The moment the sound started to play, the elven woman frowned and looked at her strangely. Her keen ears were quick to spot the source of the sound and wondered just how she could make music without actually... making it. She was just sitting there, wasn't she? She raised an eyebrow when she noticed the small device and couldn't help but watch it, tilting her head to the side slightly, trying to find out what it is. Strange thing... She never saw anything like that. She was sure that she didn't need to ask, she surely will notice her curiosity and tell her what it was.
It took Rosa a moment to notice she was being looked at. She looked towards her mentor.
"Oh, sorry. This is a device from back home. It was made to make talking to those far away easier. I only brought it with me since I had a few pictures inside that I wanted to keep but... I guess it still works even here... I got a message from back home." She explained, though, she was slightly distracted. This was... a miracle... How in the world is she getting messages from Middle-Earth? This was a different dimension, no? Or was it? "... My cousin doesn't think I will get this, so he is just sending the message as more like... a journal entry... He says that a war has started back home... Everyone is scared. There have been threats to use weapons that can kill a lot of people..." She said, seeing the word bomb in there... She didn't think she could explain just how dangerous a bomb really was to the woman beside her but... If this really happened... Middle-Earth might not even exist in the near future.
The woman still stared at the thing confused, tilting her head the other side, finding it strange. Helps talking from far distances? She was of course smart enough to know that the person who sent this message wasn't here but somewhere far away. Unlike Ren who always thought they were within it.
"Strange... but surely useful." She replied and leaned a little closer to look at it. "But still... I find writing a letter more convenient. Mainly because seeing the handwriting gives the comfort one needs, almost picturing the one who wrote the letter... and the fact that they took the time to write it and send it... then wait for the reply patiently. "Her smile only appeared for a moment before the subject about a war came up. "It is true then what the istari tell us all. The worlds are never destroyed by the Valar to make room for the next... The ones who live on it cause their own demise. Then the next world blooms... and the whole process of death and rebirth repeats."
"... If what he says is true... I am not sure a new world will be able to bloom there." Rosa said, her voice sad. "... Back home our leaders... well... many of them anyway, have created a weapon that kills many. It explodes and... The worst part is it sucks away the life from the earth itself. Destroys it and makes it so you can't even walk the land without risking death... Hyano said that she lived through the time they were testing this weapon and saw what it could do for herself. She said it was scarier than any magic she had ever seen." She said, gripping the phone. "... We could all be in a lot of trouble. Even here." She added, honestly.
"But this is how the circle closes." The woman added, nodding at her reply, finding it informative and correct, yet she missed something. "The races in Middle-Earth destroy themselves and their world right with it, leaving but a barren surface. But life always finds a way. Be it big or small but it starts to awaken by itself. Once the first flicker of life appears, the work of the istari and elves start. We help this flicker to brighten and spread like wildfire." She smiled and put her tea down, her eyes now meeting that of the young girl's. "Trust me, what they are doing there has no effect on our peaceful world. All worlds are separated in a different magical plane. You came here with the help of magic and can only leave it by such."
The herder girl looked at her, then nodded before looking at her phone again, debating on what to do. She could not ignore this. Sure, she might end up working herself up on this and might grow disappointed with what she could do but... she had to try and see if there was anything that might help.
There was only one person she could turn to now...
"Would you like more tea?" The elleth asked her, watching her carefully as she offered but something told her the girl was too occupied to even hear her. She could see the determination radiate off of her and knew what her answer will be.
"I would like that very much... but... I need to go find Gandalf now. I know only my family agreed to come here but... I think knowing what I know it would be wrong not to at least try and save more of my kin. It might be too late but... it can't hurt to try right?" She said, her mind now relaxed and was able to focus on the problem back on Middle-Earth. There were good people there. They didn't all deserve to die. She knew the majority of her kin would say no out of respect for tradition. The need to stay and protect the trees and the earth until there was nothing left to protect would keep them there but she knew there were also those who may take the offer if it was given.
The elf smiled at her, although it wasn't that cheerful one she always gave her. She understood her worry but it was clear that she doubted they can make contact with the dying world of Middle-Earth any longer. It all stands in the favor of the Valar. They might think that evil in the mean time would have recognized its situation and a last spark might make it here with the people who flee in the last second.
"Alright then. Go and speak to the White. But know this... Sometimes everything has its own way of happening and sometimes we have to accept that this is all that the world wishes for us to have. We aren't truly in control of our fate." She said, then said her goodbye with a nod and resumed the preparations for dinner.
The herder girl nodded, agreeing to a degree. Before leaving she stopped, then turned and gave the woman a hug.
"Thank you for everything." She said, then ran off to go find the White wizard. It was strange not going straight to Hyano with her problems. It had become the norm for her culture. However the orange wizard was still out of commission and likely would be for a while yet. Part of her wondered how that was going. Was there really any hope for that thing she called a friend? Even she didn't think so but she would not voice this thought. That would be disrespectful to the istar. Besides... it seemed like Hyano needed the hope.
The White wizard whom she was looking for was right now sitting cross-legged close to the hole in the ground, a pipe smoking in his hand as he concentrated on one spot in the distance, clearly in deep thought, shutting the world out for a change, pondering over the problem the younger wizard faced not long ago and what effects it might have on their relationship. Deep down he hoped she would lose her trust in the wraith and let them handle this the way he knew was far safer... Just looking for someone he can tie them to instead of being bound to each other. Because really... no matter how and what a progress she was going to make, he will never truly trust that dark creature and he still would slowly corrupt this world. Something he cannot let happen. He would not handle him like a friend, neither could he look at him differently than a Nazgul. He was still a cursed being, dark and fearless, emotionless killing machine who was only waiting for the whispers of his Lord to try to take over the world. The White wizard was certain that if he got the command, he would murder the orange istar without a second thought, disregarding the time they spent together. He wondered if Hyano had the experience and wisdom to know of this possibility. He was afraid for Hyano's life... What is that Nazgul turned on her suddenly later, like now? What if he kills her? He sighed and shook his head with a hum.
It took Rosa a long time to find the White wizard and in the end she had only found him because she started looking for Hyano. Hyano was not a herder but because the herders knew her so well they had her scent memorized for if they ever needed to find her in desperate times. Rosa saw the wizard and quietly stepped up to him.
"Gandalf? Sir? I'm sorry if I am interrupting but I need to talk to you." She said, knowing that even when an istar didn't look like they were doing something they often were. Her eyes glanced down into the hole for a moment and saw Hyano... She was sitting cross-legged in a meditating position while the wraith was nowhere to be seen, probably hid away somewhere. Even without having seen what happened herself she could tell there was a fight. The blood on Hyano's neck was enough to say that. "Is she alright?" She couldn't help but ask.
The wizard's eyes moved, blinking once when he heard the steps coming closer but did not turn his head, instead hummed a little and kept his eyes forward at the horizon. He nodded once when she said his name, greeting her, before resuming his thinking halfway, while another half of his mind concentrated on her.
"That is alright. Time is plenty." He uttered, speaking a little slower than usual and it was clear that he is not fully here but was pondering or concentrating on something, then raised the end of the pipe to his mouth when she asked about the wizard who was now asleep. "Oh, she is alright." Gandalf said and finally looked down, taking a good view of the two. He caught a glimpse of the darker creature in a small dent he dug in the wall. "She is one of the most stubborn, persistent and insolent wizards that I came across. Even if the Valar wanted her to she still wouldn't die. Just a little brawl, nothing more."
Rosa relaxed a little at these words before sitting down beside him. She looked down at the sleeping woman before turning her eyes to the White wizard.
"I got a message from back home..." She started but paused after, watching as Gandalf's gaze grew more focused on her. "Middle-Earth, I mean. It seems a war has broken out... and people are threatening destruction... I was just wondering... Is there any way to save anyone from back home?" She asked, thinking she might as well jump into it. Best to get the question gone and out of the way now. Besides, the worst the wizard could say was no. She would be disappointed and saddened by this news but... she would take it all the same.
"A message from Middle-Earth?" The wizard murmured to himself, a frown appearing on his expression and slowly but surely turned his blue gaze and head towards the herder girl. "How did you get a message from Middle-Earth?" He asked, unsure how this was even possible. Even he, a wizard, was unable to build up contact, which was mainly due to his never-ending duties on this world but it if were possible to set up connection... he should have been able to sense it... So how did she do it?
Rosa began fidgeting with her hands, unsure if she should tell him her means of communication. Hyano told them strictly to not bring anything from Middle-Earth. They didn't have spare clothes, no weapons, no luxury items, none of her stamp collection... They could be a danger to the people in this world, especially where this world was so young. The warning was clear and maybe... she did not listen to it properly...
Gandalf looked at her sheepish expressions for a few more seconds before simply turning his eyes back to the horizon, giving a short hum at the words. It doesn't matter in the end.
"Seems like the Valar finally get what they want. The world's destruction is in progress. The creatures destroy themselves... and every trace of their existence." The White wizard said, then sighed, knowing that she simply had that deep need to protect her own kin. The bond of the family never vanished through the generations and the development they have gone through. "You see... there is an order of how a world is destroyed and how the new one becomes untouched by darkness." He started, from his tone it was obvious that he will not stop right here but decided to explain it to her in detail. "The downfall of a world is sensed by the light first, as they are more in sync with the magic and the delicate balance that goes with it. If that is disturbed, then it is time to move on. We already know the process, so know how and where to go. We are the first to leave, following the flow of magic. Once magic is gone, Mother Nature rules over the world and tries to maintain the delicate balance through her own power to compensate the loss of magic. If a world succeeds to stay alive after the take-over or not... it all depends on the creatures within it. You see, the downfall would be the beginning of a world that was finished by the Valar, by the istari and the elves... when the world is seen as ready to balance itself without magic. Magic is but a power that builds and maintains until a time comes when it isn't needed." He said and took the pipe to his mouth for a moment, then blew a smoke ring. "With us gone, nothing more remains than the creatures... and the darkness that still lurks about. Now, with the world ending, threatening to fall, the darkness itself is becoming desperate to flee and survive, so invades the soul of many, trying to find a way out... but in the process the corruption is greater and the destruction is sped up... In the current state Middle-Earth is in... darkness must have engulfed most... and we are afraid... that if we open the way for them to Outer-Earth and let your people in now... They might smuggle in things we are not ready to deal with... yet."
Rosa listened to his words keeping quiet for a moment, thinking this through. The elven woman told her about this already. The world they live in right now would one day be destroyed to make room for the next life in line. The fact that the Gods would go as far as just destroy things all over just to rebuild it looked to her like a game to them. Why would they destroy what they create? It didn't make sense.
"I'm sorry Gandalf but... that just sounds cruel to me." She said bluntly, not sure of any better way to put it. "You won't save others because you are afraid of the darkness getting in... but in a way you already let it in because darkness is fear itself. Distrust, hate, anger, disloyalty. These are all seeds for darkness... Reality is, darkness doesn't need a person to get here. It has been here for a long time and no one has noticed it because it has been in the background like a shadow. I know I'm no istar but... I'm not foolish enough to believe this place is half as pure as it seems. It just doesn't show what is really there like it does back home." She told him, her kind's natural bluntness showing itself.
The White didn't take her words as offending of course but as usual, she is not experienced in the field of creation and the degree of purity a land can retain through maintenance.
"Those are but normal qualities of a natural creation, a pure being can feel all this, even elves do with their pure soul. But it doesn't make them evil. It makes them... alive." He whispered. "What I am talking about is pure, cursed and murderous darkness, which carries the disease of destruction. So thick, like the fumes of a terrible volcano and darker than the moonless night. You shudder at its mere presence and can die by a single touch." He said and took a sip from his pipe, closing his eyes, feeling how it calmed him and eased the memories of old. "That darkness is now clutching the heart of all on Middle-Earth. A part of it. The more manages to find this place... the darker it will be. This is... what he wants."
Rosa looked down, frowning at his last sentence but decided to look past it and nodded.
"... If you are sure... I was not asking to save many anyway... I know most would say no anyway... My kind is just too stubborn to leave. But... it would be wrong to not at least try... Kind of like Hyano and her friend... She has a lost cause down there too but... she refuses to give up. Not really sure why since no one else seems to believe in her but... she does what she thinks is right anyway." She said, having some admiration for the determined wizard below. To go against everything and everyone and do what one think is right takes a lot. Her people did it before and had done it several times since.
"Just a few is enough to plant the seed..." The istar trailed off, raising his gaze to look at the sky, the clouds now starting to gather. There will be rain tonight. He smelled and could feel the approach of the stormclouds. "But I will say a few words about this to the council once we gather again. I am not promising anything, though. Not one can vote it down to let this pass and save a few more. Sometimes... the safety of one group is more important than a dying one. Not because of fear... not because of greed but because it is how fate and destiny works. One has to learn to let go and accept the way of the Valar. Because the downfall isn't the end. But a new beginning and the dawn of a new world." He said, giving her a weak but understanding smile. He himself found it hard to just sit around and watch the world he worked on for so long to die without stepping in to help it right itself. No... He had to accept this. This was the way life worked. If they stopped this... so many creatures would have no opportunity to flourish and be on the stage of life's show.
The young woman smiled a bit and nodded.
"Alright... Thank you for trying all the same." She said before noting the turn of the weather and stood up. Part of her worried for the individuals in the cave, quite sure they were about to get wet but decided better of it. Getting wet was really the least of their worries at this point from what she could tell. "You should get some rest first, though. I have a feeling you haven't slept in a long time." She said, knowing that when Hyano was worried she had a habit of staying up for very long periods of time. Sometimes going into a month depending on the subject. No human could manage such a thing but then again she was no human and it was hard for a being like them to rest when their mind was running a mile a minute. It was near if not completely impossible.
The wizard nodded at her gratefulness, smiling, then returned to his pipe, blowing smokes in a shape of a horse, then a few more and used a little magic to make them rear up and start running up towards the sky.
"The council will be a little later. And I am resting right now. There is no better place to rest than where you can watch the sun going down and up. The view is fantastic. I should come here more often." He chuckled, then lowered his gaze to the pair before resting his blue eyes upon the horizon.
Rosa smiled and decided not to question it. It was easy to see doing so would do little to help him anyway.
"Good night to you then, Gandalf." She said, bowing her head then turned to leave. Hyano had spoken of the council long ago but she had also said there were only 2 istari left. Who else was he waiting for then? She shook her head, thinking she was better off not getting into it. She would find it out in the future if needed.
Once the herder girl left, the White wizard's blue eyes lowered to her disappearing form, then turned his attention back to those below him. He could hear the faint thunderclaps in the distance. It will bring fresh water and scents from faraway lands. It will wash away the dirt and the dust and might get rid of his fatigue.
Despite their quick talk, Gandalf knew he had to give this matter more thought. He didn't understand how she could get that message. They are cut from Middle-Earth and only the combined effort of wizards and mages could establish some kind of connection. This was impossible... Unless... Unless the Valar had a hand in it.
"Now this is an interesting thought..." He murmured to himself silently, his teeth finding the pipe's end and stared ahead of himself into the hole, yet he saw nothing as his mind was elsewhere. The Council between istari will be in a couple of weeks. Until then... he had to untangle this puzzle.
The Valar never speak to them directly. They do not give direct orders. They are like shepherds to the sheep. The sheep cannot understand their words but just one subtle gesture and one faint sound was enough for the herd to follow.
Now he just had to find out if this was a gesture...
Better get ready for the next chapter in two weeks!
The schedule is back properly, no more delays.
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