Hello! Long time no see! I'm really sorry for again taking this long to post the next chapter. But the future chapters should come in quicker now that the school year is almost over. Plus this chapter was the hardest to write, and I might even go back to fix parts of it. Anyway, sorry for the wait (I got a violin audition to prepare for this week) and I hope you readers enjoy the newest chapter of Dawn of Another Day.
Many thanks to SJD042342, Lord Siravant, L. Byron, Juu50x, the unknown, Roma Eterna and Jason9000 for reviewing! You guys kept me going for a long time!
P.S. - Because it seems like some readers have some nice ideas for this story, I put up a forum especially for this purpose! I will try and respond regularly. Go and check it out: (.net/myforums/Jane_Lu/2423398/) -Add triple w's and then "fanfiction" before the .net-
Disclaimer: I own nothing in this story. It all belongs to J.R.R. Tolkien, whom I wonder how he will react when he sees this story...
Sauron waited for the end as he expected the pain and torment to crush him into nothing.
But nothing happened.
He was still floating in darkness of the Void, it seemed. There was a difference though. Both Master Melkor's presence and the cries of the tormented had disappeared. Only Sauron was there alone.
What happened? He thought, the only thing I did was to cry out a name. Surely I am still in the Void? Then where is Master Melkor? He never leaves a punishment unfinished.
Suddenly a pinpoint of light appeared in Sauron's vision. He blinked, surprised by the only thing he saw since entering the Void. It was growing steadily larger as it seemly got closer to him. Soon Sauron was floating in brilliant light. He squinted as it got even brighter, threatening to blind him. He hadn't seen such bright light since he entered the dark fortress of Utumno the first time. The light was starting to hurt. Just as it reached its zenith, the light faded away to reveal a grassy meadow.
Sauron came to himself lying in the light green grass beside a small pool. He sat up slowly and looked around. The sky was a clear blue with a few wisps of clouds floating lazily across it. The sun shed its soft warm light over everything. Grass spread as far as he could see, sometimes going over hills. The sound of chirping birds filled the air, accompanied by the rustling of the leaves of some sparse trees as the wind blew through them.
Where am I? Am I in the Void? I doubt they have such a place like this. What just happened? Did the Valar really bring me out? Why?
For the first time, Sauron noticed sheep grazing peacefully in the meadow.
Eh? Where am I actually? To be honest, this place is not to my liking. It seems too peaceful. When was the last time when I stood in a grassy meadow like this?
Sauron got up to his feet and caught the sight of his reflection in the pool. He nearly exclaimed in surprise. A young man clothed in a simple gray cloak and tunic stared back at him. He had shoulder-length light brown hair and clear gray eyes. A sorrowful expression was in his sharp features, seeming to reveal that he was older than he looked.
That was the form I took back then when I could still shape shift! In fact, that was how I looked before I lost my body and the power to change my form. What is going on here? How did I gain back my body and appearance?
"I wouldn't feel comfortable speaking with a black-hooded figure, will I?" A voice said plainly from behind.
Sauron spun around to face an old man sitting on a large rock. He was dressed in worn out robes that were completely faded in color. His hair and beard were both snow white. In one hand he held a long staff with a curved hook at the end.
"Who are you?" Sauron demanded, his nerves shaken.
"You remember me, Mairon; otherwise you wouldn't have called upon my name." The old man said serenely, leaning on his staff.
"You are probably one of the Valar that no one knows about and out of touch with everything. Mairon is no longer my name, and you are forbidden to call me so! Now I asked you a question, who are you?" Sauron was irritated by this feeble old man before him, who somehow had an air of superiority around him. Being used to ordering his servants around for such a long time, Sauron did not like that.
"I am who I am." The old man answered plainly.
Sauron had to restrain himself from striking out at the other. He snarled in frustration and kicked at the grass instead.
Who is this person, that he should irritate me like this? Arrrgggh! Why am I brought here? To be subject to another of the Valar's antics?
"Calm yourself, Mairon. You should have guessed by now who I am."
"Unfortunately, I do not." Sauron said vehemently, not about to calm down so easily, "At least tell me where I am right now. I was in the Void, and now I am here. What are you planning? To pass more judgment and verdicts on me? Spare your efforts. I am already beyond that."
"You would rather return to the Void to be with Melkor?"
Sauron had nothing to say for the first time. He turned away and clenched his fists.
So I was brought out of the Void for some reason. Now what should I do with this old man? Maybe I should just go along with him for now. I will try to overwhelm him and make a break for it later.
"Of course not. What do you want with me then?" Sauron said stiffly, slowly turning around.
"So many questions, so many answers. I will answer them one by one later." The old man wasn't mad at all, "Do you mind if I start questioning you first? Tell me your motives for siding with Melkor, for I was ever curious about them."
Sauron felt another stab of irritation. Why was this Vala being so careful in his questionings? Who was he actually? Sauron had never met one of the Valar like this one, with a strange personality to match.
He put his thoughts and irritation aside and tried to concentrate on the question. He hated to remember the first years of serving Master Melkor and would rather not think of them. It consisted of the fallen Vala constantly torturing him as he struggled to learn his duties and the feelings of disappointment and regret. There was no way he could answer that with a straight face. Sauron turned upon the old man angrily.
"That will be none of your business!" He snapped.
"Yes, it is of my business." The old man said sternly. He seemed to grow in stature and height. The fields around them suddenly turned dark and threatening.
Sauron stepped backwards in shock. Never had he seen a Vala radiate such power. This was no ordinary Vala. In fact, he had never heard of such a powerful Ainu. For a moment, Sauron though he was going to submit, fall to his knees before this entity and beg for mercy. However, as quickly as it appeared, the pressure disappeared and everything returned to normal. The old man was again sitting serenely on his rock as if nothing had happened.
"Every Ainu's doings is of my concern, even Melkor and you who have chosen the ruinous path to the Void." He was suddenly weary.
You ask too many questions, old man, and you prod at topics best left untouched.
"The Valar abandoned Middle-earth." Sauron said sourly, "They care nothing for it. They never came to intervene when we waged war against the races of the land. They never set foot upon it since Master Melkor was taken away. There was nothing they cared about. Master Melkor was right in saying that I do not have a choice in deciding my fate if I wanted to return to them."
"He promised prosperity and riches. He told me together we could bring Arda under our rule and make it the way we wanted it to be. I was first drawn to his opposition in the Ainulindalë. He created his own music and wove it in. I wanted to do that too…"
No no no! Sauron said to himself angrily, What am I doing, pouring all my thoughts to this unknown Vala?
"Surely you must know that only Lord Eru Ilúvatar can create." The old man asked thoughtfully, "But the Valar were always watching over Arda, even if they rarely set foot upon it themselves. They speak to the people living there. They sometimes affect events with their power. That was how you came to be defeated."
Sauron gave a non-committal grunt.
"I know of this Eru Ilúvatar. He was the one who composed the Music, was he not? He is worse than the Valar then. He was never heard from again after the creation of Arda. With him and the Valar out of the picture, I could do anything I wanted without having to worry about being dragged away like my master."
The old man was silent for a while. But after some time he spoke.
"I understand. One would feel disappointed that Lord Eru rarely interacts with his children, whom they serve. Tell me then, how did you feel while serving under your master? Was it why you chose Melkor over the Ainur?"
Eh? What the…
"What do you hope to achieve by asking me those questions, Mister I-am-who-I-am?" Sauron asked sarcastically.
"Why don't you sit down, Mairon? We have a long conversation ahead of us." The old man smiled.
Sauron faltered again.
It is impossible to argue with him. What am I doing? Why is he asking me those questions? What good will he get out of it? I better play along for now.
I sincerely hope this is worth my trouble. Under normal circumstances, this should have never happened. It is a severe blow to what remained of my pride as a Númenórean king. Why am I doing this again? What am I hoping to achieve?
So thought the Witch King as he surveyed his surrounding warily. The still weary armies of the West loitered around, and everyone avoided where the Witch King was situated. Tents sprung up here and there as most people began to settle down for the night. Gandalf the Wizard had returned some time ago, bearing the Ring-bearer and his companion on one of the giant eagles. They were immediately taken away to be treated for their injuries. And the Witch King surrendered himself over to be taken captive.
I must be out of my mind.
He allowed them to tie him tightly with chains and secured firmly to a vertical jutting rock. His hand-and-a-half sword was taken away. If the Witch King had his powers of sorcery, things would have been very different. Not for the first time, he wished that Ilúvatar hadn't chosen to take them away. But he couldn't explain that impulse that caused him to surrender himself. It felt like the right thing to do, even though it was extremely humiliating. He, Lord of the Nazgûl and former king of Númenor, was tied up in chains like a common prisoner.
If Khamûl, Morgomir and Gothmog could see me now…Speaking of that, where are the other Nazgûl?
The Witch King heard the leaders discussing what to do with him. The Númenórean descendant he discovered to be named Aragorn, who seemed to be the main leader. The elf who shot him he identified as Legolas. The dwarf was known as Gimli. The man with the symbol of a white swan was revealed as Imrahil and the Rohirric marshal Éomer. And there was Gandalf of course.
The wizard confused the Witch King greatly, just like Ilúvatar had. Gandalf had taken the liberty to speak with him a few times and even convinced Aragorn not to kill him straight away. He was one of those people who repaid bad reputation with kind words and actions, just like Ilúvatar had done. The Witch King kept feeling that he had seen Gandalf somewhere previously, before the hunt for the Ring.
The Witch King, despite his grim situation, enjoyed his new vision. He could now see everything with clarity like a living being. No more blurry grey vision and floating articles of clothing that a wraith saw. But he was mainly thinking about the other punishments that Ilúvatar had decreed upon him.
I will be shunned and despised by the others? That is no big surprise. I am the Witch King of Angmar after all, servant of Sauron and leader of the Nine. I have a notorious reputation going ahead of me.
It is the part about memories that bother me the most though…
Aragorn and the various leaders were now standing in a distance away from where the Witch King was tied. They were talking amongst themselves in low voices as they sometimes glanced over at his direction.
They are probably talking about what to do with me again.
The Witch King could catch a few words as suddenly their voices rose in volume.
"…we can't leave him here…can't…kill…" Aragorn's voice was heard.
"How…I thought…he…killed…" Éomer was heard speaking worriedly.
"This won't do…tomorrow…" Gandalf interrupted.
"I do not...like…one bit. We…stay long…" Imrahil said grimly
"We should kill him. He would eventually escape and bring ruin upon us all!" Legolas' voice was clearly heard as he shouted.
The elf was shushed hastily by the others. Eventually the group finished their discussion and moved away. The sky was growing dark, and soon the temporary camp settled down. Whispers and shuffling were occasionally heard, but all was quiet.
With nothing else to do, the Witch King turned his sight over towards Mordor. The armies of the West were currently encamped a few miles away from the Black Gate. He knew that they would have returned to Minas Tirith were it not for him. Now that they were forced to linger around the desolate wastelands around Mordor, they probably wanted to get rid of him as soon as possible. No one wanted to stay here long.
The Black Gates were in complete ruin, a heap of twisted metal among a pile of rubble. The constant red glow of Mount Doom was still seen as the collapsed volcano spewed lava across the various cracks of the land. Barad-dûr, like the Black Gate, was collapsed to one side, broken completely in half. The threatening presence of Sauron that loomed over the sky was mostly gone. Most importantly, the forsaken land was empty. Not a single orc, human, or other beast could be seen. Mordor was empty and destroyed. Sauron was finally defeated.
Yet something was not quite right.
The Witch King was always able to faintly sense the presence of another. Sauron he could sense the strongest, and that was why he was able to know that the Maia had entered his mind. It was now at this moment that he could sense vaguely the foreboding dark presence of the Dark Lord.
It cannot be. Sauron is dead and gone. He cannot possibly be alive. But this presence is too strong to be a mere trace he left behind in Mordor.
Just as the Witch King was wondering what this could possibly mean, the shadow of a person suddenly drew in front of him.
"So you are Lord Eru Ilúvatar, the Creator who abandoned his creation." Sauron said stonily, "And you chose not to reveal your identity earlier?"
"For the last time, I never abandoned Arda like you described. You would have forgotten me completely if I had." Eru replied.
The Creator of Arda and the fallen Maia were now sitting side by side on the grass, the latter more than a little unwillingly.
"If I may add, you may rant all you want about Melkor if you like. No one will hear you except me." Eru added.
Sauron shot him a glare.
"I can read your thoughts, you know. But I prefer it if you told me personally."
"If you can read my thoughts, then surely you can read Master Melkor's." Sauron argued.
"You call me Lord Eru, yet you still call him Master Melkor." Eru sighed, "It is about time for you to decide which side you really belong to."
"Master Melkor said I have no choice but to turn to him." Sauron retorted. Suddenly he began to doubt those words.
Is there really one place I could really turn to now? Is Master Melkor my only choice? Do I really have a choice? Will the Ainur still accept me after what I've done? Will Lord Eru accept me?
"There is always a choice, Mairon." Eru said softly.
"Arrgghh! Stop reading my mind!" Sauron protested.
"Now, do you remember my previous question?"
"Which one? You asked at least a dozen since I arrived here."
"The one about your feelings while serving under Melkor."
Sauron felt as if Lord Eru was toying with him. But he remembered his plan to play along for now.
"I was disappointed…" Sauron admitted, and then suddenly stopped himself.
"You are doing it again!" He accused.
"Doing what?" Eru asked innocently.
"Making me say things I would never under any circumstance reveal to anyone!"
"I never did that. You are the one who is doing the speaking, or more accurately, you are speaking from your heart." Eru explained.
Sauron fell silent again. He was unwilling to speak more to his companion. He was also reluctant to say anything against Master Melkor. If he somehow heard of it, the consequences will be too terrible to think of.
I am in a dilemma. He realized. I promised myself I would answer Lord Eru's questions for now. But I am unwilling to answer them. And what did he mean that there is always a choice? Does that mean that I could have remained on the Ainur's side? Does that mean that I could have refused instead of accepting Master Melkor's offer? No...no...what am I doing here? I am supposed to remain in the Void! What...
"Your thoughts are in turmoil. It would be best for you to sort them out before speaking to me." Eru advised.
Sort them out...thoughts...Sauron clutched his head with both hands as he suddenly struggled against an overwhelming flow of thoughts.
What is happening to me? This has never occurred before during my long life. No...Master Melkor. I followed him willingly...I fought his wars...continued his work after he was taken away...Why did I do that...I was afraid of him and his cruel punishments...I allowed fear to prevent myself from returning to the Valar...And I was defeated, and I saw him again...I tried to prevent that all my life, BUT I DOOMED MYSELF TO THE VOID ALL ALONG!
Calm yourself. He heard Eru faintly speak, seemly in his mind. Remember my question.
How did I feel when I served Master Melkor? Sauron finally began to think straight, when he discovered that he was more comfortable in speaking with his mind, I liked it. He gave me power enough to rival a Vala. I commanded his armies as his greatest servant and led them in battle. We enjoyed power over the people and their fear of us. I was content to do whatever he asked, even if it were to kill thousands. As long as I can stay in his favor and receive more power, I would do anything.
Hmm...Eru mused.
But it was not enough...Sauron was again silent. He refused to speak more.
You are afraid to continue? Eru asked.
What will happen if I do?
Nothing. Melkor cannot read minds, nor can he enter here without my permission. Even if he does, my power far exceeds him, and I will send him back to the Void.
Sauron looked up at Eru, startled. Can he actually do something like that?
I am the Creator, after all.
Sauron considered everything carefully. But before he could decide what he should say or not to say, he surprised himself in an outburst of frustration and anger.
"He disappointed me!" He shouted, forgetting to speak with his mind, "He said that we could have Middle-earth under our control in no time! But we had to deal with the people who tried to stop us. They were successful too, and I suffered many a times the outlet for his anger when I failed or lost a battle. He tortured me and punished me whenever I tried to argue. I started to hate him, and I feared him too. He told me many times if I wished to return to the Ainur that they would not accept me, and I only have him to turn to. You tell me, Eru Ilúvatar, was what he said true or not? If it is, then what am I doing here? If it is not, then was all my work alone in Middle-earth all for naught?"
"And finally you speak," Eru seemed to be relieved; "It took you long enough, hmm?"
Sauron, who was panting from his long tirade, looked horrified for a moment.
"Yes, I would have accepted you back among the Ainur. The Valar would have done so too, although they will give you a punishment. It gave you no reason to not return to them, to me. Why didn't you do so then?" Eru's tone changed abruptly.
At the same moment, Sauron was suddenly aware of the change. The old man was formerly speaking to him as a comrade or a friend. Now he was speaking as a disappointed father or a displeased mentor. It unnerved him greatly.
Now what? He thought stubbornly, reverting back to his old self now that he saw nothing had happened after he finished his tirade, I get another answer forced out of me unwillingly?
"I thought the Valar would immediately send me to the Void." He said obstinately, standing up to face Eru, "And I did not wish for that to happen. You do not know what Master Melkor is capable of. You will never know of the pain he could inflict. Do you think I would actually surrender myself to that kind of torture? I think not. The Valar never showed a display of mercy anyway. Why should they spare me, the greatest servant of Master Melkor? I can say that they are cruel as he is..."
"You blame the Valar, but the fault is within yourself. I was patient with you from the very beginning, but you are starting to try it. Your pride was what caused your downfall, and it caused you to be the fallen Maia you are today. Had you bent your pride a little, you would have been sitting among the Maiar again. I will tell you the truth, and I will tell it directly. You have no one to blame but yourself for your downfall. You feared Melkor and wished to be free from his service. The chance came when he was placed in the Timeless Void, and you never took it. Instead you tried to remain in Middle-earth, and to continue his work. If it wasn't your pride that caused you to do that, then what was it?" Eru said sternly.
Sauron had to use all his strength to resist the urge to fall down on his knees, weeping before this powerful being. The overwhelming power was there again, and he could literally feel it pressing down upon him.
My pride...caused my downfall? I thought it was fear of Master Melkor. Then was it my entire fault? No...I have never faced a decision like this for a long time. It was like when Master Melkor made that offer. Now I have to do it again...No...no...What should I do?
"Confound it, Eru!" He managed to shout, "Confound it! For thousands of years I bore the pressure of the people fighting against me and Master Melkor's threats. For years I thought about the fateful decision that bound me under his service! And now you give to me another offer?"
No choice, this is! I either go back to Master Melkor and suffer again, or I wait and see what Eru will do.
"I admit it then. My pride caused my downfall, and I am the one to blame. Fine then! A choice you did not give me. It is either back to the Void or to stay here, and I prefer the latter."
This better be worth it...
"I no longer serve that fallen Vala. You satisfied?" Sauron said angrily, brandishing both arms dramatically.
There was a long silence as the pressure faded slowly. The old man turned to look at Sauron carefully in the eye.
"About time too," Eru said wearily, "You waited long enough."
The weight of his newly made decision fell on Sauron quite suddenly. He sat down heavily on the grass.
Well, decision made. At least I probably won't have to return to the Void.
"What am I doing here then? Why go through all that trouble in bringing me here and giving me a lecture?"
"Hmm..." Eru was thinking again. He stood up and beckoned to one of the sheep. It trotted over contently, and the Creator stroked its snow white fleece gently.
"Every one of the Ainur is like the sheep in this field, Mairon." Eru said wistfully.
Sauron was about to object that comparing the Ainur to mere animals was a rather disgraceful thing to do when he thought better of it, and stayed silent.
"Let's say, there are a hundred of those sheep in this field under my watch and guidance. As the shepherd, I guide them to pastures to graze. They are interesting animals, unable to find fresh grass for themselves unless a shepherd guides them. But there are times when one sheep gets lost."
Sauron began to wonder what does sheep have to do with being brought to this place.
"In that case, I will leave the rest of the sheep to go looking for the lost one. And I will not rest until it is safely back among the flock."
Sauron suddenly understood everything.
"You mean, I am the lost sheep?" He asked slowly.
Eru nodded.
"And you were searching for me?" He asked disbelievingly.
"You were a mighty hard sheep to find." Eru replied truthfully.
Strange, this feeling is...to be actually sought after, to have someone actually caring about me...Hmph...like I would care about it. But I must admit it that I am surprised to hear that. Surely...
The two sat in silence for awhile, as Sauron struggled to comprehend this new information and display of mercy. He still found it hard to accept that he was no longer under Master Melkor's service, although he didn't truly have a choice.
That was actually easier than I thought. Now what should I do now? I better abandon that plan of overwhelming Eru and making a break for it. Will he really send me back to the Void after this?
"You are not going to send me back to the Void, aren't you?" Sauron inquired almost fearfully.
"You wish to go back?"
"No!" Sauron quickly denied, "I was just wondering that what I should do now."
"I got a better idea." Eru declared, "Why don't you go back to Middle-earth? Only this time, you get to make your own way in the land, your own new beginning. Of course, you can choose whether you want to stay against the people or not. I am eager to see what you would do there."
"Me? Go back? But..."
"Of course you won't be alone. The Witch King of Angmar would be there too."
"He survived? How..."
"And you get to keep your physical from you have right now."
"Really? So..."
"But I will be taking away most of your Maia powers. " Eru interrupted.
"What? No!" Sauron protested, also annoyed at being interrupted three times in a row.
"You will continue to struggle against your conscience, fear and former self, Mairon, alongside with dealing the people who will always shun and despise you. You will retain your name, always as an abhorrence and abomination to the people of Arda until the day you can bend your pride. Surely you did not expect to get away without a punishment."
But this is much better than being thrown in to the Void again or enduring one of Master Melkor's punishments.
"You will have to stop calling him that." Eru pointed out.
"For the last time, stop reading my mind. I had no other choice but to turn to you. But that does not mean that I did it willingly." Sauron growled.
Eru sighed, "I will try not to, then. As for the choice of turning back, I am already content that you made it. The rest is up to you. As surely as you had made the choice to tread on the ruinous path to the Void, surely you can choose a new path that leads to the light. However, a test shall be prepared for you. You will need to be firm about your choice if you wish to pass it."
Up to me? What does that mean? What about a "choice"? I never had one in the first place. And now there is a test? How very like of Eru to do that...
"But why are you sending me back? There must be a purpose."
"You do know the reason why. The key lies in the prophecies of Námo." Eru hinted.
Before Sauron could reply, the grassy meadows suddenly vanished in a swirl of colors, along with the old man sitting serenely on his rock, still stroking the sheep. He was left standing alone in the tumult of color and the sound of rushing wind. Faintly he could already see the shores of the land of Middle-earth.
I am not ready...I don't even know what is going on...The people will surely receive a nasty surprise when they hear that I had come back, to do what? The Witch King will certainly try to kill me on sight if I happen to meet him...
I never had a choice. I never had a choice but to turn to Lord Eru, even though I do not desire it. I never had a choice. Sauron tried to convince himself over and over despite what Eru said as the land of Middle-earth got clearer.
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