Chapter Seven

AN: This takes place immediately after Chapter Seven of Spectrum: Ninniach's Tale by Myth Queen.

My heart almost stopped beating when Ninniach went limp in her seat. I had called her several times, trying to rouse her from her panic before she had passed out. I examined her quickly- she seemed to be unconscious, and I had no idea why. Could Morgoth be attacking her somehow, even confined to a Mortal form, and with the distance between us increasing? The very thought made my blood run cold.

"Is she alright?" The mortal woman's voice- Julia, I remembered Ninniach calling her- was fraught with concern.

I tried to make my reply sound politer than I felt like being. "She has passed out. It may only be due to exhaustion and fear, but not being a healer, I cannot say for sure."

"What was she so afraid of, anyway? She was trembling like crazy a minute ago, and both of you seemed terrified when I picked you up. I don't think you were both scared half to death just because I nearly ran you over. Who or what are you running from?"

I frowned. This mortal seemed awfully curious about us...

"How do you know my sister?" I demanded. "She obviously believes you trustworthy, but she can be too trusting. It suddenly occurs to me that it is rather strange, you having met Ninniach before, then seemingly coming across us by chance. Who are you?" I had been watching her closely as I spoke, and could not shake the feeling that she looked familiar...

Julia opened her mouth to answer my question, but was cut off when Ninniach awoke with a scream.

"Ninniach! What is wrong?" I exclaimed. She was as white as a sheet, and trembling once again.

She spoke rapidly, her voice shaking. "I saw North...as Him again. All the others... Dr Brightman, the nurses...he killed them all. He had blood on his face. Maglor..." Her eyes were wide and petrified. "He knew I was watching. He spoke to me, said he was coming for me."

I pushed aside the horror I felt at her words and wrapped my arm round Ninniach's shoulders to comfort her. She leaned into my shoulder, shivering.

"I will never let anything happen to you, I promise." I soothed, though I did not know what I could do against one such as Him, I meant what I said.

"Uh, would you guys mind explaining what's going on?" Julia was frowning at us in the rear-view mirror. "How could Nin have seen Dr North when he's miles away, why would he need to kill anyone, and what do you mean about him 'coming for her'?"

Ninniach looked up at me. "You can trust her." She whispered. "Tell her the truth."

I shook my head. Even if Julia did believe us, telling her the truth, now that Morgoth was involved, would put her life in danger. I met Julia's eyes.

"This is too dangerous for you, and you are better off not knowing our story. We just need to get to Happisburgh, to the museum. Leave us there, and we will never cause you trouble again."

"That's it? You expect me to leave you in the middle of nowhere, with a supposed murderer after you, and never look back?" Her expression was stubborn. "Not happening." She stopped the car.

"I'm not taking you two anywhere until you explain what sort of trouble you're in."

I gritted my teeth. "I am trying to keep you safe by leaving you out of this, do you not understand that? We do not have time to waste!"

"Then you'd better hurry up with the explanation, hadn't you?" The smug look on Julia's face suddenly reminded me of a young Elrond, when he knew he had won an argument. I began to wonder if she could not be a descendant of his, somehow... I let myself get caught up in that thought, and did not notice Ninniach leaning forward, gazing intently at Julia.

"Do you promise to listen without interrupting, and to keep anything I say secret?" Ninniach's voice was tense. Julia nodded, and waited. I put my head in my hands as Ninniach told Julia a very fast version of our history, her own origin as a jewel, and Dr North's allegiance to the Enemy.

By the end of the story, Julia looked dazed.

"Do you believe me?" Ninniach's tone was urgent now. "Because Maglor and I have to get away from here, soon."

"I- I believe you. This is weird, I know I should think this is all nonsense, but for some reason, I know you're telling the truth. I read Tolkien's stories as a kid, and I always liked them, but knowing they're real..." Julia shook her head. "This is unbelievable!"

"If you are going to help us, can we please get moving again?" I demanded. "We have been in one place for far too long. North could catch up to us at any moment!"

Julia glanced in one of the small mirrors at the side of the car, and her eyes widened. "Uh, speak of the devil..."

Ninniach's face went white. I twisted round in my seat, trying to see what was going on.

North was visible some distance away, walking steadily towards the stationary car. His expression was contorted with fury, and, as Ninniach had said, he had blood staining his face.

"Get us out of here!" I shouted at Julia. "You have no idea how dangerous he is! Go, now!"

Julia started the engine, but as the car began to move, North broke into a run, faster than anything a Mortal could do. I realised then that Morgoth must still be in control, as he kept up with the vehicle's rising speed easily.

Ninniach hunched down in her seat, almost whimpering with terror. Julia drove faster, and at last it seemed that we were getting away.

"YOU WILL NEVER ESCAPE! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? I WILL MAKE YOU WATCH AS I TORTURE AND KILL ALL YOUR COMPANIONS, SILMARIL!" The voice that could be heard over the rising distance was not North's. Morgoth's own voice was coming from his lips now.

Julia's hands tightened around the steering wheel, and she muttered a string of curses under her breath, trying to drive faster. I made the mistake of glancing back at North...

Just in time to see him impossibly leap the distance between himself and the car, landing on his feet just a few inches away from my door, close enough to touch. Julia swerved the car, attempting to hit him, but he seemed able to anticipate what she would do, and avoided being knocked down. He lunged back towards me, forcing the hand of his stolen body straight through the closed window, and caught me by the throat.

Ninniach and Julia screamed- the car was swerving wildly now. I struggled, to no avail. Morgoth's presence in this form must be granting it additional strength- I could not break his grip. He sneered at my efforts, and pulled his arm back towards himself, still holding me so I was dragged out of the window as well, gaining many cuts from the shattered glass.

I heard Ninniach shouting something at Julia, her voice full of panic. I wanted to shout at both of them to get out of here, to leave me and get back to Happisburgh so Ninniach could escape. Rather difficult to do that when you're unable to breathe, though. I heard the vehicle stop, and I mentally cursed both of them for foolishness.

I made an enormous effort, and manged to lift my arm, swinging it towards North's face with all the force I could muster. The impact must have shocked him somewhat, as he lost his grip on me, and I tumbled to the ground, gasping. I did not have a chance to get to my feet however, as he grabbed my hair forcefully, making me cry out in pain. He lifted me a few inches from the ground before casting me back down forcefully, bruising my ribs and winding me again. His foot appeared in my blurred vision, and he kicked me viciously several times. I fought not to cry out, knowing that Ninniach was watching, and not wanting to alarm her. I had had worse injuries before. His gaze drifted to the car, to Ninniach, and I knew He was no doubt enjoying her fear. Apparently Morgoth had tired of beating me, as he suddenly grasped my throat once again, more tightly this time. He lifted me off my feet, tightening his grip still more, so black spots danced across my vision. I could still see his red eyes though, full of malice.

"So you thought you would keep the silmaril from me, did you, Feanorian? Planned to escape back to Valinor, and deliver her into my siblings' hands? I will be sure to send them your regrets when I find my way back there, don't worry. I think it is high time you were reunited with your father and brothers. Enjoy Mandos, fool !" His grip tightened further, and I began to lose conciousness. His free hand struck my chest, and with more strength than I had imagined possible, began to dig into my flesh. Valar, it hurt !

His fist began to clench even as my blood began pouring onto his hand and I realised with horror that he meant to crush my heart. I would be unable to save Ninniach, Julia would likely be killed as well, and then Morgoth would force his way back to Valinor and destroy the Valar. This whole world would end... all because, yet again, I could not protect a member of my family...

'Ninniach, I'm sorry...'

A blinding flash of light filled my vision- was this Mandos?- and I heard Ninniach's voice again, full of fear and anger. She had shouted something... I fell onto a hard surface, and my younger sister's face came into view, briefly. I tried to speak, to tell her to run, save herself, but I could not. She spoke, though I could not hear her, before everything went black.

To be continued...