Arial

Chapter 17

Sauron's Malice

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

Saruman turned away from the Nazgul, bent and grabbed Arial's arm. He dragged her over the black dirt of Mordor toward the hall of Dark Lord, Sauron.

The sun had set making the land surrounding him seem even more menacing. He had difficulty breathing due to the poisonous fumes that threatened to fully saturate the air. The ground beneath was lifeless, cracked and nearly impassable. Yet he strove onward, dragging the limp body of Arial behind him. He had been before the empty throne of Sauron on previous occasions but the purposes of the occasions were not nearly as dire as the current matter.

Saruman could feel a certain energy growing in the air and instinctively knew that another wave was gathering and he feared it, knowing that it could be the last.

To make matters worse, the Nazgul that had rode with Arial had touched her, poisoning her mind with its black death. She was in danger of becoming one of them. He could feel her life force slipping steadily away from her. She could not be allowed to die here. He would send her through the vortex with Sauron's help, in her current state. If she died on her own world, or very likely became a Nazgul there, then let her own people deal with the complication. He had not the time to heal her.

A jagged rock face with a narrow opening stood before him. Once he stepped inside, he knew for better or worse, there was no going back. He drew a deep breath, gathered his strength and will, and then stepped inside. A growing oppression of hopelessness weighed down on him. He recognized it from his previous visits.

Saruman boldly strove before the throne and bent on one knee. He could not visually see Sauron, but could feel and sense his strong presence.

"My Lord, I have come before you seeking aide," Saruman said, dropping Arial's arm over her chest.

A dark guttural voice filled the hot and dimly lit cavern, "I am aware Saruman. Think you that I did not know of this girl's presence? I am the one who brought her here."

Surprise gut punched Saruman so hard he could not hide the fact. "My Lord?"

The chamber shook with a rumble that caused small bits of dust and debris to fall from the ceiling. Saruman quaked with fear, but dared not to speak further or move.

"My servant obeyed and poisoned the human. Already she submits to my will…soon, she will be mine even as she returns to her own world."

Saruman could not understand why Sauron would place the existence of everyone and everything is danger of total destruction. Did he not consider his own existence? Saruman coughed and ventured another question, "Surely, my Lord, it has occurred to you of our current impending demise?"

Sauron laughed in his own disembodied fashion. "And yet here you stand with her." His voice echoed throughout the cavern, a sickly lullaby that caressed his bowed servant.

"Have you forgotten that I stood with Morgoth and at his knee, I learned the dark arts? My own Lord and Master opened to me his knowledge, for he was in the very presence of Eru at the beginning. He knew of the creation and existence of other worlds, realms, and dimensions. And now they are for me, an inheritance, in his steed."

For the first time in his life, Saruman knew real fear. His mind would never know true clarity as it did in this moment. Under the menacing presence of Sauron, Saruman with finality, perceived the very real threat of the Dark Lord, and Mordor. If left to his own devices, Arda would fall first. Then like dominoes, he would conquer other worlds and realms. His cancerous will and dominance would hold sway over the entire universe and be unstoppable. The one ring was the key to all of it. He felt the horror of this future reality down in his soul and trembled. No matter the cost, it was imperative that he, and not Sauron, obtained the ring.

Quickly, Saruman gathered his wits and formulated a plan he hoped would not be transparent to Sauron of obtaining ownership of the ring. He reached out and gently drew Arial's hand to himself. He could not use his abilities to heal her; the malignant one would immediately perceive and discern the source. Knowing what lay in store for her, he pitied her and strangely felt remorse. But if she were the only casualty on her world, he could accept that. Silently, he said his goodbyes to her, knowing that there was nothing he could do to save her from the doom that lay on her.

"When she has fully transformed into one of my servants, she will be my link between this world and her own. She will in effect, become my substantiated portal."

Those words caused Saruman's heart to skip a beat. He closed his eyes and begged Eru for aide in stopping Sauron's designs. Suddenly, Saruman felt small…

"Lay her before me that I might send her home. The time draws near to the point of utter destruction."

Saruman did as he was commanded. The pity in his heart swelled as he looked upon Arial's small body. He regretted that he did not possess the power to have had sent her back. A seed of hatred grew within him toward Sauron. No one deserved what the Lord of Mordor had done to this girl. To die in battle was one thing, but to be kidnapped from your home so many light years distant and have your free will stolen and be cursed to exist as one of the Nazgul was another matter that repulsed him. She had been innocent, and ignorant of his world. Now, the doom of Mordor was upon her, and she would never escape.

He bent down again and waited.

Sauron's voice grew to resemble thunder as he chanted the black speech. Louder and louder, the voice grew until Saruman had to cover his ears from shield himself from pain. When the voice had reached its crescendo, Saruman fell onto his face and curled into a fetal position.

A whirl of lights and wind gathered over Arial's body, lifting her from the ground and engulfing her body. As suddenly as the spectacle appeared, it vanished, taking Arial with it.

Saruman laid before the throne of Sauron for what seemed hours. Slowly, he stood, wiped off his robes and took his leave. He journeyed back to the Ornthanc with an unwavering purpose in his heart and the face of Arial forever seared into his mind. He knew what he must do, and he set his entire will to the gaining of the end of his goal, no matter the means he had to pursue.

oOo

Arial awoke. She looked about her with eyes that viewed the world differently. A loud crashing noise caught her attention. Click thump, click thump, click thump, on wooden flooring came nearer to the room where she sat on what she recognized as bedding. She stood to face the intruders without fear.

"Arial! Arial darling, it's Mommy. Where are you dear?"

"Arial, are you alright?" called another voice, masculine in nature.

Arial stood, unwavering and waited for the two humans to come to where she waited. She felt no fear, and no love for those who called to her. She felt nothing. She was neither female nor male. She only existed, but to what purpose, she did not yet know.

The two voices finally appeared in front of her in the doorway of the room she occupied. She recognized that they were human and heard their screams as she become an incorporeal being and drifted through the walls of the building to roam and await the command of her master. She knew his voice.

oOo

AN: Hope you liked it. I thank everyone who read and followed my little fiction. I am grateful to all who reviewed. Until next time...