I do not own Lord of the Rings, or any of Tolkien's characters. Any characters and plot lines I create are mine.

A/N: Do any of you find that reading and writing about Lord of the Rings makes you want to learn how to fence? On Mario and Sonic Olympic Games 2008 for Wii, there is a fencing game! So, I was playing it, but I was having trouble with it simply standing still, so I got into a real fencing position (at least I think it was real) and played like that! It is really fun! I got a silver medal. If you ever play that game, you have to do it! And I looked ridiculous doing it, but now I really want to learn how to fence, so I can be cool and stuff. I want a sword, too. I will need to get home for the Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair next year because that is the only place I know of where I can buy a sword without using a credit card on the Internet. Yes, I realize that there are specific swords for fencing but I don't care I will buy one of those, too.

Alright that was a trip into my nerd mind back to the story!

Chapter 5: A Question of Truth

Azruphel's success on day one was followed by failures for the next several days. Strider had not said a word, at least that was what the other Nazgûl were led to believe. Strider consistently questioned Azruphel's belief in Mordor. He was curious about her family, especially when Azruphel refused to talk about them. She did not even admit that they were Nazgûl, though it was partially because Khamûl advised against sharing personal information with Strider. The other reason was due to the fact that Azruphel's family would appear unconventional to any outsider.

From what Azruphel knew about Rohirrim and Gondorian families, they consisted of one father, who was the head of the house, one mother, and a bunch of children. Multiple families lived in towns or cities together. Looking around the table, Azruphel thought of how strange her family would seem. She technically had nine parents. Only a few actually took a major role in her life. They were Uvatha, Khamûl, Adûnaphel, and Er-Murazor. The others had provided support over the years, though not to the same degree as Khamûl and Er-Murazor. Out of Dwar, Ji Indur, Akhorahil, Hoarmurath, and Ren, Akhorahil would have to be her favorite. He was a Númenórean, just like her mother. He was also very good at healing, and over the years Azruphel had gone to see him a lot. Azruphel liked how her family was set up, but knew Strider would not approve.

And now he has made me embarrassed of my own family, Azruphel thought. It had been a stressful day with Strider. He did not talk about himself unless Azruphel talked about herself first, and he had not been eating. Not that Azruphel blamed him, considering the food the orcs provided. Even Azruphel, who would try almost anything, would not eat it unless starving or desperate. Thinking about his lack of response to outright questions, Azruphel had an idea. She knew the man was trying to find a weak spot in her to cause doubt. It would be easy to play along. She would just have to remain calm. Azruphel headed towards the dungeons. As she approached his cell, she could hear the shouts and jeers of orcs. She opened the door to see a crowd of orcs standing around Strider, the leader forcing his head into a bucket. Strider thrashed as the orcs laughed, and Azruphel watched as water splashed from the bucket...

The rough hand of the orc on the back of her head. Bucket of water in front of her. Screaming for Khamûl, but he was not there. The hand forcing her head underwater before she could take in a breath.

"Get out," Azruphel said. The orcs looked up at her.

"What did you say to me, Human?" the leader asked.

"I said get out!" They did not move. Azruphel drew her sword. "Now!"

The orcs who had been watching moved to the side, but the leader did not move. With his hand still keeping Strider underwater, he asked, "Are you going to make me?"

Azruphel did not hesitate, and her strike came quickly. The orc was forced to let go of Strider to meet it, and Strider pulled out of the bucket and collapsed, panting near the wall. Azruphel, meanwhile was forcing the leader around and back until he was out the door before turning to the other orcs. They were smarter than the leader and left without complaint, but the leader was not finished.

"You will pay for ruining my fun. How dare you order me around!" He charged, but Azruphel was too fast for him when she turned and stabbed the orc just bellow his heart.

"How dare you threaten your superior!" Azruphel replied, and Strider watched, amazed. "I gave you an order, to get out. You do not disregard my orders." With that, Azruphel pulled her sword from the orc's chest and shoved him into the watching orcs, who quickly departed. Azruphel slumped against a wall. "Are you alright, Strider?" she asked.

"Yes. Who was that orc?"

"Thagûrz. He is an idiot. Well, he was an idiot."

"You did not have to do that."

"I know. I did it anyway."

"Why?"

Azruphel paused. "I supposed I never condoned torture for fun. Sometimes it is necessary for information, but Thagûrz never concerned himself with that. So, I considered him to be wrong."

They both stared at each other until Strider started laughing. "What is so funny?" Azruphel asked.

"I never met a person from Mordor who showed compassion before," Strider said.

"Well, if you have only met the orcs, then you wouldn't have," Azruphel said with a smile, and before long both she and Strider were laughing.

"Is your family kind as well?"

Azruphel was unprepared for the question, or perhaps she relaxed when they started to joke. Either way, she could not stop her response. "Well, Khamûl can be a little tough at times."

Azruphel saw Strider's eyes go wide, and suddenly realized her mistake.

"Khamûl?"

Azruphel nodded.

"As in Khamûl the Easterling? Khamûl the Nazgûl?"

"I said too much," Azruphel replied, giving Strider the confirmation he was looking for.

"That is not possible!" Strider said.

"Well, I don't think he is my actual father, but he has been there my whole life. When I told you I am part Rohirrim, I really believe that I am."

"That is not what I was referring to. I am talking about the Nazgûl having children!"

"What? Do you think I just popped out of a hole in the ground?" Azruphel asked, not sure whether she should be amused or angry.

"No, but I do not think you are from here. What did the Nazgûl tell you?"

"What do you mean by that? They are my family!" Azruphel shouted at Strider.

"Tell me, what is it like to have Nazgûl as parents? Are they training you to become one of them?"

"Maybe I already am one of them!"

"You are no wraith."

"Neither were they at first," Azruphel came back with. She was getting tired of Strider's arrogance. There were some things he did not understand.

"You are right. They did not know what the rings would do, nor did they know the true identity of the giver."

That made Azruphel pause. "Lord Sauron was the giver. They knew that!"

"Is that what they told you?"

"Why does that matter?"

"It matters," Strider explained, "because perspective is everything. The Nazgûl want you on your side. Perhaps this 'family' of yours did not tell the truth!"

Azruphel was shaken on the inside, but she did not let it show. "Do you think you can just come in here and tell me who I am? Do you have any proof of what you are talking about?"

Strider looked around. "This place was once Minas Ithil, before the Nazgûl made it their fortress. There used to be a hidden library near the east staircase on the second floor. It contains many texts and histories."

"I have searched everywhere in this place. I have never found a hidden library."

"One of the stones on the left side releases the door."

"How could you know that? Have you ever been here before?"

"I suppose there is only one way for you to find out," Strider said mysteriously. Azruphel could not help but think that Strider was crazy.

***Azruphel***

I am crazy, Azruphel thought. Here I am, knocking on a stone wall outside a staircase, looking for a room that might not exist. Azruphel had been going up and down the halls near the east staircase for an hour. She was yet to find any sign that there was a trick door anywhere in Minas Morgul.

I am wasting my time, Azruphel thought. Suddenly, she knocked on a stone that made a different sound than the others. Azruphel knocked again. Whatever it was, there was something hollow behind the stone. Testing all the stones around it, she found a perfect door shape. She began pushing on all the stones to the left of the door until one moved. The wall shifted, allowing a small opening for Azruphel to squeeze through. The inside was dark, so Azruphel lit a torch to reveal hundreds of books.

A/N: How does Strider know about the secret library, you might ask? Oh, I don't know. Guess I have some thinking to do before I update next. Maybe Elrond told him, or he read about it in Elrond's library. Something like that. After I wrote it I realized I did not even have a plan for it.

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