Chapter 8: The other side of the story
Middle Earth
Rivendell
Rivendell, the safe haven of the elves, where boats are departing to the Undying Lands where there is no return once entered. Arwen looked out to the horizon at her balcony, her grey dress and hair were blown a by a gentle breeze from a distance ocean, she watched as the sun turning the clear water of the river into crimson.
"Blood has been shed", said a familiar voice behind her.
She looked back and saw her father walking to her side, she focused back on the setting sun sinking in blood "Yes it has", she said.
"A boat has been prepared for you to sail to the Grey Havens for tomorrow", Elrond said.
Arwen looked down at the boats docking at the harbour "Father, I told you that I have made my decision to stay".
"Arwen the only thing for you here is death and despair…"
"But I know that there is also life, you cannot change my decision father", she said and walked away.
"But I promise your mother that I will protect you at all cost", walking after her.
"But you have father and until the end you will still protect me", she hugged him.
"You're right-Ugh!" he gasped and knelt down.
"Father what is it?"
'What is this growing force that I'm feeling' he thought to himself 'it can't be her she died over three thousand years ago'.
Skyrim
Outskirts of Skuldufun
Nirvana panted, sweat dripped from the tip of her nose 'He's more powerful than before'.
Sauron was impressed that a mortal can make him bleed "This is quite surprising, no mortal has lasted this long but you are no ordinary mortal are you", he used his mace to send another shock wave.
Nirvana managed to side step the wave "Maybe I am maybe I'm not".
"You don't seem to be human yet you need to eat, drink, and rest. Are you an elf?"
She used 'Frost Breath' on him, but he shield himself with his flames "No but I can tell you that I'm half mortal".
The dark lord was getting impatient with the riddles, he held out his right hand and slowly lift it. The ground below Nirvana began to crack and glow she dodged out of the way of the magma spout, but she didn't noticed that Sauron had used it as a distraction. By the corner of the eye his mace send a wave so powerful that she flew across the field like a meteor and painfully crashed on a boulder. Sauron picked up her helmet and melted it with his hand, Nirvana tried to get up but knelt on the ground. She spat blood from her mouth and breathed heavily, her braid snapped off leaving her hair flowing in the wind like a shadow.
She stared at the ground and saw a pair of dark metal boots, an armoured hand grabbed her throat and slowly lifted her, Sauron smiled to have such an opponent "Let me look at your face before I kill, I want to remember the face how stupidly yet heroically tried and stop me".
Nirvana lifted her head all so slowly, but something happened her power had dramatically changed and dark and light aura surrounded her. The grass and trees around them were being blown by her aura, clouds were swirling above them, lightning flashed across the sky and the shadows grew ever so darker. When she looked at Sauron in the eye, he was shocked, both eyes turned black with dark lightning around them. He let go of her and everything disappeared, the sky reverted back to the original gloomy grey and the strange shadows dispersed.
Nirvana coughed and gasped, she wiped her mouth and got up, and most of her wounds were gone leaving scratches making look like all those attacks didn't hurt her. Her eyes turned back to the original thunder grey, Sauron reached her face with his right hand. She was too tired to fend off any more attacks, but instead of a flames burning her face or a mace smashed in her skull, it was just his armoured hand rubbing her cheek. Nirvana was speechless, she didn't know what to say.
"Is it really you?" he asked softly, it has been a while since she heard his voice this gentle, he looked into the thunder grey eyes and hugged her.
She blushed, and her mouth gapped open 'What the?! We're in a middle of a battle here!' She subconsciously she slapped him and stepped back, her hand stung, what do you expect when you slap metal.
He touched his helmet where it was slapped "It is you".
She didn't know how to explain how she felt but knows that it was a mixture of confusion, sadness, anger, happiness and many more.
Over Three Thousand Years Ago
Middle Earth
Mordor
The thick smoke, and ashes flew from the active volcano, also known as 'Mount Doom' in the common tongue, the orcs did what their captains tell them to do, the captains do what the Warchiefs tell them to do and they do what the Black hand of Sauron tells them. Sauron sat in his throne in his dark throne room the Witch King stayed and guard the dark lord, Barzog, one of the Warchief, came in the room with his white Warg.
He dismounted the Warg, and knelt in the presence of his master "My lord", in Black Speech "My scouts have been killed in the mines, the culprit left no trails or anything. I have brought a witness", a scrawny orc came out behind it was shivering.
"Speak slave", said Sauron.
The orc's reaction did not change in the presence of his master nor did he knelt "It was a demon of the shadows and bringer of light".
"What do you mean? Speak!" even with his voice raised but the orc did not flinch.
"Its armour was darkest of the night, light as bright as the stars seeped into it. A weapon of death as deadly as pure malice, faster than anything than anything in the world of the living seen. A phantom, that's what it was, but it was also the most beautiful thing I've seen, a demon in light and dark", he cackled maniacally.
The Witch King couldn't take it anymore "Guards! Take this scum to the dungeons", two Uruks came and bound the orc and took him to the lower levels.
Barzog knelt again "Apologise my lord, but something happened to him in the mines", Sauron held his hand and dismissed the orc.
"My lord, shall I post more guards at the mines?" asked the Witch King.
"Post ten guards and have the Nazguls on watch as well".
"Yes my lord".
(Ten hours later)
It was a massacre at the mines, multiple bloody bodies laid on the ground, and the orcs and Uruks were facing an enemy in black armour and armed with a scythe. They all fled and the so called 'Phantom' seemed pleased and went in to the mines, an arrow nearly pierced its neck but luckily its unnatural agility, it caught the arrow with its hand. It looked up and saw four Wraiths circling above, including the Witch King, their creatures landed on the bloodied ground. They drew their swords and slowly walked forward, the 'Phantom' summoned its scythe and stalked forward.
No one moved, for what seemed like ages and then suddenly the 'Phantom' charged forward, light emitted between the plating's of the armour. The Wraiths barley blocked the 'Phantom's' strikes, one strike after another, again, and again. It stopped attacking but instead it stood at the entrance of the mines, the 'Phantom' crouched in a readied weapon position and dark and light aura began surrounding it. Wind blew hard, the clouds above began swirling and grey darker that before, lightning crashed around the sky like and orchestra with the conductor conducting the music.
It all stopped for a brief moment as if time had froze, then black and white lightning pierced from the sky to the ground, it struck the Wraiths making them shriek in agony. The 'Phantom' nodded in approval, as it turned to walk in the mines a dart assailed it at the space between the helmet and armour. Its vision became foggy and dark, but kept on walking but something hard hit it at the back of the neck. It then passed out.
Okay so there might be fluffy scenes like Nirvana and Odahviing when they were alone or maybe this where Sauron and Nirvana meet for the first time. Hopefully I won't make it too fluffy if you know what I'm saying. Ooh that reminds me, want to hear a dragonball pun? Never mind I'm just Saiyin. Ba-Dum-Dish! XD
Sauron opened a rusted iron door, revealing a woman not much older than twenty chained on the blood stained walls. He closed the door and walked right at the woman, she lifted her head, her long shadow hair covered most of her face but the cold eyes can still be seen.
"Can you speak Black Speech?" he asked in the common tongue.
"I am not some lowly life form", she fluently said in Black Speech.
"That makes things easier", he said in Black Speech, he stepped closer to her "And might your name be?"
"Haven't got one".
"Pathetic, a nameless rebel who is on a quest right now to single handily defeat Mordor".
"I am on no quest of such thing nor am I pathetic, the only thing I'm doing is to survive".
"Well that's a waste of skills. If you join me I will spare your life and if resists you will die in an utmost painful death. Make your choice".
She made an effort to shrug her shoulders, the chains clinked as she moved "What choice do I have, either way will be painful so might as well live to the fullest".
Sauron took his mace and used it to shatter the chains apart "I will send an orc to lead your room- no I will personally bring you to your room".
She rubbed her wrist and followed him, after minute of walking and silence they came by a room which was quiet normal no skulls, weapons, blood or anything. Just a wooden bed layered with hay and fur, a chest, a small pool of water, and a thin rectangular window.
"On the first minute past the witching hour, an escort will come and take you somewhere" she nodded and just sat on the bed "No question then good", he left and shut the door and locked it.
The woman took of the ragged clothes and sat in the pool, the water was surprisingly cold for a place with an active volcano. She got out of the pool and head for the chest, she opened it and inside there was a plain grey tunic, black hunters' pants, leather gauntlets and leather boots. She put them on and sat on the bed, she heard whispers outside the door , and she placed an ear against the door.
"-It was a human female after all".
"I thought the 'Phantom' was a demon or a Wraith but instead it was a man swine but not a man".
She heard enough and laid on the bed and looked up the ceiling 'Phantom huh, I like that name, yes I will name myself as Phantom Malevolence', she began to yawn and then fell asleep. Loud murmurings awoke from her sleep, she got up and combed her hair with a comb made of animal bone. She walked to the window and saw an arena 'What in the world', she looked up the sky and peered past the clouds, it was almost past witching hour. She went to the chest and saw a black cloak lined with scarlet, she took out and it on and ripped a piece of cloth from the ragged clothes earlier and used it to tie a low pony tail.
She heard the door unlock, an Uruk with his face covered by his iron helmet came in with a pair of shackles "Put this on, and follow me", she did as she was told and put on the shackles. He led her through a hallway which was lit by crimson torches, the floor soon became wet and red. It smelled of copper and filth. They soon came by a wide gate with metal grails on it, two guards were posted by the gate, the Uruk commanded them something and they nodded and stepped out of the way.
The Uruk unbound the shackles with one key out of the countless of others "Wait here", it said and left.
Phantom heard loud cheering coming from outside, she frowned "This seems oddly familiar", she whispered to herself. The gate was raised and the sound of cheering came loud to her ear, it was the same arena that she saw from her window.
An orc stood in the middle of the arena held a metal shield which like for rituals rather than protection "We have a special treat tonight!" in Black Speech of course "We bring you the Phantom menace that has slain many of us, from the mines of which it came it is the Phantom!"
The cheering became growls "This really seems familiar", something pushed out causing her to stumble on the ground, the gate behind her closed. She got up and brushed of the dust from her tunic, she looked ahead and paid no attention on the angry orcs and Uruks.
"And her opponent will be non-other than her own kind", the other gate raised from across the arena revealing fifty men in ragged clothes, covered in blood and dirt locked in a cage "Let the blood bath commence!" the orc escape through an iron door as soon as the cage opened.
Phantom wasn't amused 'Well, this is better than nothing', the dark and light aura surrounded her and formed into the same shadow and light armour she wore before, she spread her hand upwards and the shadows gathered to form her scythe. She charged forward and sliced the first one, she easily dodge their attacks with no effort 'Their more animal than human', slid underneath one of them and cut him in half.
The crowd stared in awe as the Phantom killed all her opponents in less than five minutes, Sauron was impressed even the Witch King was speechless. The orc was too stunned to even move an inch.
"Uh… oh yes, we still have more fights to come. The next will be between…" the orc announce but Sauron cut him off.
"The battle will be the Witch King than me", he smiled underneath his helmet.
The Witch King landed on the ground and attacked Phantom in one swift movement, she did an evasion roll to dodge out of the Witch King's sword. She got up and swipe her scythe, sending a powerful black aura to her opponent's direction. The Witch King jumped to avoid getting hit, he then used magic to absorb her power, but she crouched in a runner's position and disappeared. By the time he notice a slight shift in the air behind him it was too late. The Witch King didn't die of course but has sustained many injuries, his sword parried with her scythe their strength were great but Phantoms strength was much greater. She brought her free hand and punched the Witch King all the way to the other end of the arena.
"My turn", said Sauron, he jumped and landed, when he landed the ground beneath him cracked and shattered. Phantom grin under her own helmet, in a blink of an eye they clashed, the sound was so loud that anyone outside of Mordor will mistake it for thunder. Their movement was so fast and powerful that the orcs and Uruks are having a hard time to catch them up. They now stood at the centre of the arena, their weapons realising forces of wind, they back step at the far ends. Both Phantom and Sauron charged their weapons, the wind around them became dense and heavy, the ground shook, and cracked, it all stop then suddenly they send out their own energy waves at each other. The force were so equal that it caused a shock wave so powerful that everyone was lifted of their feet.
Middle Earth
Rivendell
Elrond and the other leaders were discussing on countless of strategies when they heard a low thundering noise from the direction of Mordor.
His eyes narrowed "What was that?"
Middle Earth
Mordor
No one died during the blast but many were injured, all the orcs got to see who had won. The dust of the arena slowly began to settle, the saw a shadow of a figure standing. At first they thought it was Sauron so they cheered but then the dust began to reveal more, it was not but Phantom. She stood in the middle of the arena, they stopped cheering but something, she collapsed on the ground unconscious and Sauron was the only one standing. They began cheering to see their master had won.
Phantom woke up in a bed, she had received a terrible headache 'What happened?' she remembered the battle she had with the dark lord. She placed two fingers on her neck to make sure she was alive, she felt pulses and let out a sigh of relief.
"So you're finally awake", suddenly said a voice beside her.
She yelped and looked at her right, it was Sauron "Why did you let me live?"
"Didn't I tell you, if you join me you will live and if you resist you will die, but I am giving you a promotion", he said.
"I'm listening".
"If you serve me well I will make you my second in command, and you can rule with me once Middle Earth belongs to me, do we have a deal?"
"Yes", she said and gave an evil smile.
"This will be interesting",
The present
Skyrim
Skuldufun
The memories of how she first met Sauron became fresh in her mind, she didn't want to admit it but she missed being his general, causing chaos to those who oppose them. A small tear rolled down her cheek, closed her eyes and took in a ragged breath "I'm sorry Sauron but I must kill you", she felt a hand wiped her tear she opened her eyes.
"But you don't have to", he said softly.
"What do you mean?"
"I can forgive you for all this and then we can take over the world together…" he was going to say something else but a familiar voice from a distance called her name. Aragorn, Gimli, Legolas and Gandalf stopped at the sight of the scene. Sauron recognised the scent of the blood line who nearly wiped him out, he let go of Nirvana's face and turned.
"Step away from her and fight us", said Aragorn, he drew out his sword. Sauron swiped his mace sending a shock wave at the four, they were lifted of their feet and they crashed on the trees. He slowly turned his attention back to Nirvana "Run Nirvana! We will stop him", shouted the Ranger.
Sauron laughed "Why would she need to run from someone she was with before?"
"What do you mean?" Legolas said as he got up.
"Didn't you know, she used to be my most elite general, my second in command".
"But that would make her…"
"Phantom Malevolence? Yes" Legolas had heard of the horrible things that the Phantom had done to his people and Men, he kept quiet for he has no words what to say.
"So?" said Aragorn, he got up "That was in the past, things are different now. We all might have done something that we are not proud of", Nirvana was astounded and touched.
The dark lord glanced back "You, I will deal with later", he looked into Nirvana's eyes which were still streaming with tears, Sauron once again wiped them gently "It is time for you to decide. Will you join me again and rule with as something more than a general or vanquish me like how they wish to do. Which will you choose?"
She was crying so much now, Odahviing landed near them, he had sustained many wounds from the battle between the Balrog. Everyone around them stopped and listened, even the Uruks and orcs stopped. This is the finale hope for good or evil.
Yes I am finally done, phew, that took longer than expected. By the way this might be the second last chapter, so for the last chapter is that I want you guys to vote. (Blew a party horn) that's right you get to decide whether Nirvana (the Dragonborn) chooses to join Sauron or defeat him, so make your choice by clicking the review button which you all know. P.S the orc, Barzog, is technically Azog's (from hobbit) great ancestor, just wanted to tell you all. 0-0 anyway don't forget to vote! ^-^ (kawai face)