Strange Alliances

by Erestor

Disclaimer: I own nothing pertaining to The Silmarillion. This story was written for entertainment purposes only, and not for money.

This chapter is dedicated to JadedFire, because without her influence a certain character would not have appeared in this story. I'm very glad he did.

Once again, many thanks to those who reviewed. I hope you enjoy this next update!

CHAPTER THREE

'Among those of his servants that have names the greatest was that spirit whom the Eldar called Sauron...'

- J.R.R. Tolkien, 'The Silmarilion'

"Do we have a copy of The Lord of the Rings in our house?" asked Krystalynn nervously, standing outside her sister's bedroom. Amanda-Lynn was watching television, stroking Gingeroo, and rereading Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, all at the same time.

"A copy of the book?" asked her sister incredulously, over the sound of the television.

"Yes. Do we have it?"

"Of course not," snapped Amanda-Lynn. She had a name that sounded like (and was frequently mistaken for) the words 'a mandolin' and it had made her resentful, bitter, and full of internalized anger. "You're the only one in this family who likes the stupid book anyway."

"I don't know if I like it or not," said Krystalynn, shifting her weight from one foot to the other. "I haven't read it."

"Well, you like the stupid movie," said her sister moodily, flipping the channel with her remote. "Go away or I'll hex you into next week."

Krystalynn went away. She had already been on the receiving end of her sister's hexes, and she had learned that getting bashed over the head with a wooden wand is not a pleasant experience.

Krystalynn stood outside her bedroom door, taking deep breaths. Yes, she had three strange, scary people in her room, who wanted something she was unable to give them, but it was no real reason to panic. She opened the door and walked in.

They were all standing over her computer, looking at it. Lórien and Nienna seemed amused. Krystalynn remembered, with horror, that she had left the document containing her story out in the open. They must be reading it!

"Krystalynn, what does it mean to 'intrud'?" asked Nienna, completely expressionless.

Krystalynn could sense that she was being mocked. She prayed for instant death, but nothing happened. Lórien smiled reassuringly at her. "Do not worry. We aren't here to make fun of your writing," he said. "We have some questions to ask you."

"All right," said Krystalynn, shivering. She sat down on her bed. "I'll tell you all I know."

Mandos glided forward and stood in front of her, so that Krystalynn had to look nearly straight up to see his face. "What is this strange device?" he asked her, nodding in the direction of the computer.

He had a deep voice, but a soft one. It entered Krystalynn's ears and resonated inside her head until it filled her whole body, where it thrummed like the lowest string on an electric guitar. The only way to make it die down was to answer his question, and answer it as quickly as possible.

"It's a computer," choked out Krystalynn.

"How does it work?"

"I don't know."

"Is it an invention of the Enemy?"

"I think this guy called Bob Gates invented it."

("Bob Gates does not sound like the Enemy," whispered Lórien to Nienna.)

"Did you use this computer to summon up Legolas?"

"Look, I don't know how that happened!" wailed Krystalynn. "I was writing a story about him being in my closet, and the next thing I knew he was, like, there!"

This seemed to be important, because Nienna and Lórien exchanged a meaningful glance.

"Do many of your people write stories about Legolas?" asked Mandos.

Krystalynn was so thankful to be able to answer his question that she nearly burst into tears. "Yes!" she cried. "Lots of people write about Legolas!"

More meaningful glances. Lórien sidled over to the computer, lifted up the keyboard and peered at it solemnly. He pressed one of the keys, and watched as the letter appeared on the computer screen. He did not seem much surprised. Then he carefully typed out the words At that moment, a nonthreatening Sauron appeared in Krystalynn's bedroom, wearing a tea-cosy as a hat.

Nothing happened. The Valar all seemed a bit disappointed.

"Could you try copying that out?" asked Lórien. He handed Krystalynn the keyboard, and she sat down before her computer, took a deep breath, and rapidly typed: At htat moment a nonthreanteing Sauron appeared in Krystalynn's bedroom wearing a tea cozy as a hat.

There was a soft thumping sound from behind her. Krystalynn turned around in her chair very, very slowly.

A boy was standing there. He must have been about ten years old. He had spiky black hair, large amber eyes, and he was rather cute, Krystalynn thought hazily, in a scary sort of way. He did not look like Sauron; at least, he did not look like Movie-Sauron, who had been a lot taller and had worn armor. The only thing that persuaded Krystalynn of his identity was that he was wearing a tea-cozy on his head (something that Movie-Sauron had been strangely lacking).

The child was looking around warily, but after one glance at the Valar, he seemed to understand the situation. Mandos grabbed Sauron by the back of his black robes, and lifted him off the ground, which helped him understand the situation even better. The boy kicked and clawed futilely, but Mandos gave him a terrifying glare and shook him like a rat.

Sauron stopped fighting and began sulking instead.

"Well, my genius brother, what are you planning on doing with the little Dark Lord now?" Nienna asked Lórien.

Lórien shrugged. "We have proved that the computer has some evil power, have we not? It must be the thing that is changing the history of Arda."

"How do we know it's not the girl with the evil power?" asked Nienna.

"I don't have an evil power!" spluttered Krystalynn.

Sauron pulled the tea-cozy off his head, and demanded, "What have you done to me?"

Mandos shook him again, and Nienna sighed. She looked at the Maia, who was quietly wringing the tea-cozy's neck."Well, Lórien, at least he is nonthreatening," she said sarcastically.

"At least no one has tried to summon him to this world before," said Lórien. "Who knows what would have come of that?" He turned to Krystalynn. "Would you write something that would make him behave?"

Krystalynn turned back to the computer, her eyes gleaming. This was it! She could do anything! Her power was limitless! Legolas! Aragorn! Faramir! Celeborn! Any of them could be hers!

The possibilities were endless.

"No need to get carried away," said Mandos. It was as if he could read her mind. He probably could.

Krystalynn subsided. She typed Sauron was on the valers side and he didnt want to hurt anybody.

"There. He should be OK now," she said.

"This is no way to treat a comrade," said Sauron fiercely, still dangling in Mandos's grasp. The Vala eyed him doubtfully, but put him on the ground again. Sauron crossed his arms over his chest and glared at all in sundry.

Too late, they heard footsteps on the hall. Amanda-Lynn opened the door, glaring. "Krystalynn, what are y–"

Amanda-Lynn's jaw dropped, and she gaped at the four visitors in astonishment. Eventually she began to comprehend what she was seeing.

"By Merlin!" she squealed, her eyes fixed on Sauron's spiky hair. "It's Harry Potter!"

"Let the Lord of the Black Land come forth! Let justice be done upon him!" yelled Aragorn, steadying his horse and clutching his sword.

An Orc poked his head into Sauron's inner sanctum. "My lord, er, someone wants you to come down, er, so they can, er, do justice to you."

The inner sanctum was devoid of Sauron. The Orc, being none too clever, was confused.

The Mouth of Sauron was pulling on his helmet grimly, and arranging his cloak dramatically about him.

"Er, where's the, er, Dark Lord?" asked the Orc.

"He appears to have disappeared," said the Mouth of Sauron with noble calm. "I had better go instead."

TBC