Arial
Chapter 16
Nazgul
by Bethuviel
Disclaimer: The estate of J.R.R. Tolkien owns all recognizable characters from the works of literature encompassing The Lord of the Rings. I have received no compensation for any work I have written and/or published on this site.
Author's note: All reviews, whether critical or applauding are appreciated.
oOo
The nazgul waited patiently on their mounts. They had been sent by Sauron with orders to retrieve Saruman with all haste. They did not expect there to be another being with him.
Saruman stood looking at Arial, who lay passed out on the ground. He wondered briefly how the fate of all the worlds could depend on one who had a tendency to faint so often. Dismissing the thought, he tapped on her hip sharply with his staff. She tensed, and then fell back into unconsciousness. There was no time for her tender sensibilities, so Saruman tapped her on the head.
Immediately she scooted back on her butt, sat up, wide-eyed and confused.
Arial was startled. Remembering the horror that had last appeared to her, she looked again and was in danger of repeating her fainting spell. Saruman stepped into her line of sight and growled at her, "Get up! We do not have time for this nonsense. The next wave may be our last!"
Arial responded by jumping up and walking to Saruman. She peeked around him at what looked to be an airbrushed picture straight out of some fantasy fiction book.
"Dragons!" Her brain screamed. "Real! Live! Dragons!" She choked on her own spittle when she observed what sat on the dragons. "Shadow People!" Hysteria threatened to overwhelm her as her body trembled and her breathing came in short and quick gulps. Saruman shoved her away from his body, then slapped her across her left cheek. He felt no hesitation or remorse for his action, but instead deemed it necessary.
Arial sounded an astonished cry, and stared at Saruman as if his skin had turned green and horns had sprouted atop his head. She cupped her stinging cheek with one hand, and flipped him off with the other as she shouted in anger, "Bastard!"
Saruman laughed heartily and exclaimed, "I just may be! Nevertheless, come Arial, enough of this. I will help you onto your mount." He grabbed her roughly by the arm and dragged her to the closest Nazgul, then without ceremony, threw her up and in front of her dreaded shadow person.
Astonished at the way she was being treated, Arial sat cringing in fear, with her mouth hanging open. Three seconds later, she pinched her nose close and grimaced.
"What ever these damnable things are, they stink like rotten meat that's been sitting in the sun all day!" She felt hot breath on the back of her neck, heard a menacing hiss from the robed being behind her and instantly regretted her outburst. She found some hand holds quickly as the dragon sprung into the air. She held her breath. Then anxiety washed over her as the scaled monstrosity flapped its immense bat like wings and gained altitude.
Exhaling, she raised one fist into the air and grunted loudly, "Yeah!" She felt the wind blowing through her hair as ever higher she rose. Her hand automatically returned to its position and Arial held on for dear life. She was simultaneously thrilled and frightened. Now, she was glad Saruman had tossed her onto the putrid smelling beast on which she sat. Higher and higher they climbed, much to her delight.
When they had leveled, she glanced over and saw Saruman crouching low to the neck of the dragon that bore him. She sat up straighter, and laughed as she had never before in her life. So close to the ceiling, she could smell the dampness coming from within the clouds. Arial squeezed her knees tighter to the sides of her beast, and raised her arms above her head.
A shrill scream of excitement issued from her lips, "Woooo!" as she let her arms cut a trail into the cool clouds above her head. "Woo hoo!" she cried aloud again. She could not contain her pleasure with this new experience of flying. Not even in her dreams, could she fathom anything with this amount of exhilaration. It was as close to flying free through the sky as she could imagine without possessing the ability herself.
When she was at the height of her passions, two cold hands grabbed hers; she felt her own hands being forced down. The grip on her was painful, and chilled her to the bones. A cold ache grew in her hands and arms causing fear to fill Arial. She had never felt a pain like this before and a haze started to grow in her mind. Somehow, she knew that the thing behind her had caused this when it touched her. Suddenly she was not so thrilled.
Arial crossed her arms in front of her, putting her hands into her underarms. She shivered, mild at first, and then escalated to violent spastic jerking. In her mind, this had turned into a ride from Hell and she longed for the end.
She crouched over and laid her head on the neck of the animal carrying her. Self-pity took hold of her and once again she hated ever had coming to the strange and harsh world of Middle Earth. It was a very real nightmare that had threatened her life at every turn of events.
She mumbled aloud, "I need a vacation…"
A gauzy veil seemed to be slowly draping itself over her mind, and she felt drained of all energy. Each breath had become a weary burden to her, hardly worth the effort. The smell of the mount was stronger to her, but it did not seem as offensive as it had in the beginning. It almost smelled normal to her. She could feel herself slipping, but to what and where she did not understand. It only hurt when she struggled against it, so she had stopped. She welcomed the seduction with the promise of a painless existence.
"Yes, no more pain," something whispered to her. Arial could not guess where the voice originated, and she no longer cared. Finally, she would escape from this horrible place, and be one with the voice that beckoned her. She had only to let go of herself, and she would at last be at peace and pain free. It was a wonderful concept to her.
Memories of her home quickly slipped from her mind like sands through an hourglass. She could not remember anything of her life before coming to this world, and she did not want to either.
oOo
Saruman was not aware of Arial's current situation. Impatience filled his mind and he could not arrive before his lord quick enough. A solution would be found, and he would be saved.
He had stopped thinking in terms of the survival of everything else, and instead had begun equating the problem in terms of himself. The idea of not existing in some form terrified him.
Finally, their descent began and he knew it would only be minutes before he stood before the terrible Sauron. He glanced over at Arial and smirked. He assumed exhaustion had overtaken her and for once, pitied the frail girl. To him, she was a most unwelcome vagabond from another world that was stranger than his own. He looked forward to ridding himself of her, and the doom she had brought upon them all, especially him.
He felt fate had not been fair to him, and her appearance had nearly ruined all his designs for magnificence. Once the one ring was solely in his possession, Saruman the White, would be remembered in the annuls of the history of Middle Earth, as a gentle, merciful even, potentate. Certainly a kindly all-knowing ruling father figure of the peoples of Arda. All would revere him for his wisdom and benign guidance in the ordering of their lives. Images representing his likeness would be erected throughout all the lands in homage to him, Saruman the White.
His world building was interrupted by the harsh landing of the Nazgul and he made a sour grimace. There was never enough time available to him, for just him. It had always been work, work, work, lots of worry and no fun. It did not matter, after this little problem was solved, he would soon reap his just rewards and admirations. He would not be denied.
oOo
Arial's body fell to the ground upon landing. She did not rouse, and Saruman noticed, knowing that the fall should have awakened her. He sprinted to her side, bent and laid his hand on her forehead. He stood and cursed the Nazgul aloud.
"Have you no understanding at all?" he yelled as he pointed the end of his staff at them, his reddened face revealing his anger. "Her survival is necessary! All our lives depend upon it. Without her, we shall all be destroyed!"
oOo
AN: And so we are here at last in the land of Mordor. The final chapter shall be posted tomorrow.