The Legacy

At the first convenience, Sage left the Museum, urging the driver to make haste. She was still confused and anxious. The closer they neared Liam's underground manor, the more her nerves got to her. As soon as physically possible Sage left the comfort of the car and ran up the garden path to the large double doors, each a half moon shape with a large brass handle. Ever since she could remember, the left had side bore a large deep mark, and though it had been painted over, Liam never had it fixed. He always insisted it held much meaning and was the reason he was in his position, but never explained further.

'Uncle Liam!' Sage hollered as she barged through the unlocked doors and walks into the foyer. 'Uncle Liam!'

She ran from room to room, trying to find the man in the labyrinth of tunnels that made up the extravagant hole in the hill Liam called home, and found nothing but the echoes of her own voice. Soon she came across Liam's study and saw a figure far too tall and slender to be her uncle's.

'Lloyd, where is he?' Sage begged her anxiety levels ready to peak. 'That was a stupid joke, what was he thinking? And at his own party!'

Lloyd sat in the leather business chair, slumped over a book that sat on the vast mahogany desk.

'He has gone, Sage, just as he planned to do.'

'But, the way he'd been talking about it…I never thought he meant tonight.' She resigned. 'He could have at least waited for me to see him off.'

'I think he preferred to slip by unnoticed in the end. As much as he would have wanted to see you again, it would have made it harder on him. And he really could not have delayed his flight any longer.' Lloyd spun around to face Sage and held out a large yellow envelope. 'You will find his will and all other necessary legal documents in here.'

Sage took hold of the envelope but could not bring herself to open it.

'Bag End is now in your name Sage, it is yours, as well as a certain gold ring.'

'The ring! But why would he leave me that? It was from his first dig the pair of you went on, he loved that ring.'

'He left it in your care and expects you will keep it safe and hidden. It is worth more than you and I could fathom, mention it to no one. There are those who would seek it out for their own greed, we cannot let them find it.'

Sage nodded in agreement, still dumbfounded as her newfound knowledge and responsibilities swept over her.

'I'm off to bed, 'til the morn then.' Lloyd patted her shoulder as he passed and disappeared to the wing where the guest bedrooms were kept.

Sage stayed up until the early hours of the morning, pouring through the envelope's contents. She saw Liam had left almost everything in her name, save a few trivial possessions she supposed were there to keep some of her relatives quiet and content. As much as she would have loved to have gone to bed and slept away this nightmare, she could not find her eyelids heavy enough to carry her away. Her mind was racing, wondering what she could have done to change his mind and stay. Sage was afraid to be alone right now. So many big things were about to happen in her life and she couldn't bear to face them alone.

Hours seemed to pass, the darkness of the study lifted as the first rays of light filtered through half open drapes. Soon after, Lloyd appeared his face weary and worried. Sage, still awake stared at the adjacent wall, her eyes glazed over as she leaned back in the black leather chair. In front of her beside the legal documents sat a half drunk and now very cold cup of coffee.

'Do not fret; he will be with friends shortly.' Lloyd offered, distracting her from her stupor.

'Honestly, that's the least of my worries.' She said her eyes ablaze. 'I needed him here; I'm in over my head.'

Lloyd frowned but offered no sympathy.

'I'm afraid I must leave you also, but I will return as soon as I am able. Keep that ring hidden and safe, no one must know it's where about, not even me until the time is right.'

Sage stood from the chair in a rush, banging her leg on the desk in front.

'But you just got here! Can't you stay a while longer?'

'I have many questions that need answers urgently. If it were not such a pressing matter then I would help you if I could.'

Sage raised her eyebrows in question but received a short hug and fleeted goodbye before Lloyd quickly turned and left. With such strange happenings, Sage struggled to put her mind at rest.

22rd September 2011

Cambridge had been exactly what Sage had needed. It gave the drama surrounding her Uncle's disappearance time to settle and security from the press who tried for months to find answers even she could not offer. She ignored them all and for 7 blissful years Sage took on one degree after another, allowing her mind to be filled with anything other than the modern and strange world she now believed it to be.

Now, ten years after the incident, Sage kept herself busy with the beginnings of her first novel, now nearly completed and part time work at the local University near Bag End. It had become her safety net, a place she always felt content.

She kept in regular contact with Perry and Ronen, seeing them a couple of days a week, usually on the weekends. They insisted it kept her young, to go out and leave her nerdy side at home.

As times got tougher and the financial crisis loomed, Sage tried to hold on to her staff but most were of retiring age by this time. Instead, she took on Ethan as primary caretaker of Bag End, ensuring his family security and comfort after all they'd done for her. Secretly she was glad to take him on and over time became close friends.

On this particular night, Sage had been dragged out for a pint or two against her will by her beloved cousins and Ethan. They'd been celebrating since five o'clock for Sage's birthday and slowly their small crowd doubled in size by some of the locals and other friends. Ronen had overheard some of patrons in the pub talk of strange goings on. War seemed to be on the horizon; the enemy on the move in Europe. But of course the threat was far from the borders of England and did not seem to bother him so much as it did Sage.

She was glad when Ethan had offered her a ride home and a chance to escape the awful karaoke that had started up at Perry's request.

'I don't think I could have taken another minute of it myself.' Ethan added with a cheesy grin. 'After half o' his ballad I swear I felt me ears bleedin'.'

Sage let out a loud laugh as the car pulled up outside the front doors.

'It was bad wasn't it? Thanks for tonight Ethan, for dragging me out. I think it did the world of good.'

'Anytime Sage. Have a good rest now.'

Sage waved goodbye and stepped up to unlock the front door when she noticed it wasn't properly closed. Her heart skipped a beat and her breath caught in her throat. She clearly remembered not only closing and locking the door before she left, but also setting the house alarm too and that was still intact. Something strange was going on.

She looked to her left, to the roses growing just off to the side and pulled one of the supporting stakes out of the earth, brandishing it like a weapon. Sage used the musty smelling stake to push the door open before slowly making her way into the foyer in a feline soft footed way. She'd completely crossed the room, not seeing a soul when a hand fell upon her shoulder. Sage let out an almighty scream, spinning on the spot, stake raised high when she saw a dishevelled looking Lloyd standing in front of her.

'Is it secret? Is it safe?' he asked with severe urgency.

'Of course, give me a moment.'

Sage tore off deeper into the house, following the tunnels to one of the rooms hidden towards the back and retuned as quickly as she could, an aged looking envelope clutched firmly in her hand. She handed it to Lloyd who tore it sharply from her grasp and crossed the hall to the parlour. The fire, still alive, its embers still burning brightly caught his attention and without a second thought, Lloyd threw the envelope into the fire.

'Hey! What are you doing?' Sage cried.

The envelope burst into flames and disintegrated in a twirl of smoke leaving behind the golden ring gifted to Sage by her uncle. Lloyd reached into the fireplace and picked it up on the end of the fire poker.

'Sage, your hand. Hold it out, the ring is quite cool.'

Sage did as she was told and gasped when the ring was dropped into her palm. She expected searing heat but found Lloyd to be right. It was barely at room temperature at best.

'What can you see?'

So strange that it was unchanged. Sage had not dared look at it until prompted. It felt fine but as she looked closer…

'Lloyd, there are markings here!'

Sage for a moment thought she heard Lloyd whispering but his lips remained unmoving. She raised her eyebrows in question before looking back to the ring.

'They look ancient, some sort of words. I can't read them.'

Lloyd's face fell and he let out a deep sigh.

'There are few who can Sage. It is a script almost older than mankind itself almost and born of a great evil. Of a land once known as Mordor.'

'Mordor?'

'I have translated it. It says: One ring to rule them all. One ring to find them. One ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.'

Sage tried to speak but the words she chose in disbelief became cold and hard in her throat.

'Mordor is now known as Russia.' Lloyd added to try to ease confusion. 'This ring was forged in a Volcano in the Ural Mountain region once called Mt Doom. It is there that we must send the ring to be destroyed.'

'Did Liam know this? How long have you known about the ring?'

'I don't doubt that your Uncle knew as much as he told you. For some time he was sceptical as any man of his work would be. He has always been a man of cold hard fact over superstition and fancy. But his mind was slowly changed.

'I myself have had my suspicions for some time but there had been no proof. Not until the night of the party. There are few magical rings in this world Sage, and none I know can make a man disappear. The one who made this ring and all those who follow him are on the move. They know Lloyd had the ring and I do not doubt they know you have it now.'

Sage shook her head.

'If I did not know you any better I would very much find it hard to believe and talk of magic. And truth be told, I'm not sure I believe you.'

Sage handed the ring over to Lloyd, her palm open and her eyes begging but Lloyd shook his head.

'No, Sage. It must not be me. With this ring I would have too much power and no control.'

'Too much power? Lloyd, I can't do this.'

'You alone were chosen and you must bear this burden. I will help you where I can but we must act quickly.'

The silence between the two friends drew out for some time with Lloyd frowning as he took drag after drag from a cigar and Sage staring into the embers of the fireplace. Her mind was reeling. So much had passed in such a short span of time and so much to get her head around. She wasn't sure of this whole magic business but if Lloyd so strongly believed that someone was after the ring with not so innocent intentions then she truly believed something had to be done. She did not know what part she would play but she would do what she could, if not solely out of love, respect and loyalty.

'So what say you?' Lloyd finally ventured to ask. It was clear to Sage that he was growing anxious and impatient.

Sage let out a deep sigh.

'Tell me what I must do. I don't know what we're up against and I hope you'll do me the kindness of filling me in, but I'll do what I can.'

Lloyd let out a sigh and nodded.

'It is not with great joy I'm letting this happen, let me assure you Sage. There is a great evil presence in this ring, do not be mistaken and do not let it sway you as I fear it may well try. The one who created it himself is the very vision of evil. He is old and powerful and has many spies and those who devote themselves to his cause.

'While there is much evil in the world we know, He is the cause of it, or as far as I'm aware is its catalyst. He will do what He can to thwart our mission.'

'Ok, so he's not exactly a nice guy I gather. Does He have a name?'

'Indeed. It has changed over the centuries but in our time He is known as Rex Deimos.'

Sage tried very hard not to crack a smile. The name was ridiculous but Lloyd looked so serious.

'Right then.'

'I think it best if you too take on a different guise while abroad.'

'Ok, but let's not make it anything so cliché.'

'That I have already taken care of Sage, here,' Lloyd handed her from his coat pocket and series of papers and a small book. 'Your new passport, Id and other various papers that you may well need. It is all for your protection.'

'You already knew I would go?'

'Much rather I hoped but I knew I couldn't push you Sage. You've never been one to be pushed.'

Sage let out a laugh and nodded.

'It would seems times have long changed though.'

She opened up the passport and smiled.

'Grace Pryor? How unassuming.'

Lloyd let out a laugh also.

'I remember back when you were a child, your favourite doll had been named Grace by yourself. It seemed fitting. Can't be too cliché about these things can we?'

'Definitely not. Let's be honest, it's not fitting for either of us.'

Suddenly Lloyd stilled and stiffened, bringing a finger to his lips and quietly stood, brandishing the fire poker as a weapon. Sage's breath caught in her throat in fear. She'd never seen Lloyd move so quickly and she feared they been found out already. The old man stepped into the hall and swung, missing his target and hitting the wall with a thud. A voice cried out and Lloyd returned with a deep set frown on his face pulling a young man in with him by the collar.