Darkness Reborn

by I LIKE FEAR 1-2

The wrath of shadow has been reborn. The true Lord of all Darkness has returned to the world, and her greatest servant has returned to her. United by blood, and wrath, the twin shadows shall herald the end of creation. Hail Sauron, the master of Death. Hail Lilith, the lord of Fire, Shadow, and Winter. Evil fem/Morgoth, Evil Jon/Sauron. harem, death, deception, war.

37. Chapter 37

Alright here's the next chapter for you, sorry it took so long to get out. Had to deal with some health issues, work has been a pain in the ass, the possibility to starting a new job, just life in general really being annoying. Happy to get back to this though, and hope you all are having a great time. Let's begin!

Darkness Reborn

Chapter 37: Cleansing the Ilk

"Settle yourself Tar-Goroth, settle." Lilith commanded with a smirk.

Everything had gone perfectly. No it was better than perfect. All it had cost them was a handful of Akul Demonuk and the dignity of one of the Balrogs. Zog had played his part to perfection.

Talion and Celebrimbor were both under the assumption that Zog and the Akul Demonuk had betrayed the Dark Lord. They thought there was chaos in the enemy's ranks. They thought exactly what Sauron wanted them to think.

That was the key to manipulations, a point of focus that you believed was the truth. Talion and Celebrimbor believed that Zog had betrayed the Dark Lord, now anything based around that belief would be more likely to be true in their eyes. It had to be done this way because Celebrimbor knew Sauron so well. Any attempts to manipulate the elf-lord would be difficult so Sauron and Lilith had to clever.

Now that Zog had established himself as a rebel and a traitor, they could use him and his underlings to feed false information to Talion and Celebrimbor. Zog could feign running into them, or lure the two to him, and give them information in the form of boasts or taunts, and because they saw him in a certain way, they would treat the information they received from him, differently than they would if they'd received it from other orcs.

This wasn't just about deceiving Celebrimbor and Talion, it wasn't about fooling their old family members, it was really about fooling the West. The eyes of the Valar were on Mordor and though their gaze could not pierce the veil of shadow over this dark place, they watched it intently, taking the time to study and analyze every movement, and every sound they could discern from within.

Vectors of manipulations, they now had two. Tauriel and Zog. By controlling what these two released to their enemies the Dark Lord's could paint a picture. They couldn't afford an assault by the West at this time. They weren't ready to face the Valar yet, so they needed to assuage some fears, and limit the damage done.

Morgoth's reveal was bound to happen so they controlled it themselves by having Zog plant the seed of it's validity.

The orc chieftain had long been a powerful and cunning operator. Zog was ancient. One of the oldest orcs alive. He had fought for Morgoth during the First Age, and had endured until now. He'd been willing to ally with Sauron, but had never fully submitted to the authority of the Dark Lord, so there was always that bit of tension there, not that Sauron payed it much mind. With Morgoth's return, Zog's allegiance was secured once more, and when he was approached to play a role in this grand scheme, he was more than happy to participate.

The Akul Demonuk that had been sacrificed to make the ruse believable were freshly made, taken from some not so loyal orcs who'd already been disobedient but had escaped punishment. It was a good way to clear away some refuse while making the whole ploy believable. Death tended to have that affect. It made things bigger than what they were.

Being used in this ploy was also Tar-Goroth's punishment. Sauron had no knowledge of the Balrog's presence here in Mordor, but neither sibling doubted his ability to sense what was happening in the world just above his head. The Balrog no doubt knew of Sauron's actions in Mordor, but willingly chose to remain asleep, rather than working with Sauron. The disrespect there, needed to be corrected. Neither expected the Balrog to serve Sauron, but to completely ignore him entirely, to not continue their master's dark work when there was literally no reason not to. The other's had excuses. One was dead, one had escaped to an entirely different world, one was holding Khazad-Dum to keep the Dwarves from reclaiming their lost capitol, one was currently locked beneath Angmar by the Istari and a powerful elf woman, and then their was Tar-Goroth who was sleeping in the lava beneath Gorgoroth and had no reason to not emerge and aid in the war against the west. Had the Balrog chose to emerge he could have easily tipped the scales during the War of the Last Alliance. Yet through it all, he remained passive and uncaring. That was aggravating, especially to Lilith, so she was more than happy to volunteer her old subordinate to this plan, and open him up to the influence of the Others as punishment for his laziness and apathy.

As Lilith settled the great spirit, returning it's control over itself, Sauron recalled the Ringwraiths and pondered their next step. The elf lord would no doubt suspect that the woman he and Talion fought would be Sauron's wife. Tauriel had most likely already shared that part with them, so he'd likely question her again. Tauriel would play a key role in this manipulation as one of the vectors that will be feeding information to the enemy. Right now they trusted her, no doubt moved by the story she was able to tell, but soon, that trust would morph into suspicion.

The twins knew everything that Tauriel knew, they also knew what she could and could not share. Operating under the assumption that she'd try to share everything she could, they were able to plan in accordance with what she told them. This would allow them to lay traps, and manipulate their enemies way of thinking, which gave them power over them.

The illusion of weakness was what was needed now. They needed to make it seem like they weren't as powerful as they were, simply because they weren't ready yet. They weren't ready to face Eru and the West. Sauron had seen the true power of the Secret Fire when Eru sank Numenor. Neither could counter that kind of power yet, so they had to hold off on such an attack. Manipulating their enemies, painting false images was the best answer they had at the moment.

They needed to play games. The twins knew that if he wanted to, Eru could wipe out Mordor with the power of the Secret Fire. Without any warning, he could topple the entire land. That he didn't told them a number of things, the most important one being that Eru wanted things to go a certain way. He wanted this story to unfold his way, and in order for that to happen, someone else had to defeat Sauron, someone else had to topple evil. The twins didn't know who, or why, but they knew it had to be something like that.

So appearing weak was their answer, or more accurate, appearing weaker than they really were. There was no way to appear truly weak, not now, not with how suspicious they were, so the next best thing was to sow the seeds of confusion and possibility. For now at least, this is what needed to happen. Until they found a way to counter Eru's control over the fabric of this world, they couldn't go too far off script, especially since he now suspected Morgoth's return.

An added benefit that came from playing these games was that it allowed them to cull the ranks of the orcs, allowing the Mordor breed which was cruel and vicious and prone to backstabbing and betrayal of one another to slowly be phased out for the equally cruel, and cunning, but far more loyal and subservient Westerosi born orcs.

It was acknowledged long ago by the twins that a decision had to be made in regards to the orcs, the trolls, the goblins, and other creatures like that. The twins had to acknowledge that many of these creatures would have a negative impact on their empire's stability. Yes they would be invaluable in helping to build it. They were useful as weapons and labor, but in the long run, they would be a destabilizing element. So what could they do about that?

The simplest answer was to simply purge them once they were done with them, though Sauron saw that as wasteful, as he did see potential in the orcs. Lilith as well saw it as wasteful especially when she considered the reality that had created them, and anything they made or did, was attributed to her. Admitting that they couldn't be adapted towards the future that the twins were building, would be mark against the longevity of one of her creations, and thus a mark against her. Pride dictated that she search for another answer.

And so the twins began creating the Westerosi breed of orcs and goblins, and trolls. Those born in Westeros were raised on a diet of higher honor and nobility. They were less cruel to each other and others. The orcs in Westeros were more like the Northmen when it came to their civility and culture. They were still rough, and crass, but their was a small element of nobility there. They could form bonds outside of their race, or even with each other. Friendships among orcs were rare, but within the Westerosi born orcs, it was a far more common. In them, the twins saw incredible potential. They saw the opportunity for a future in them, especially if they kept going. If they refined them just a bit further, so that they kept their natural cunning, and aggression, but gained a sense of loyalty, and duty, and could form attachments to others.

This war against Celebrimbor and Talion actually served for the chance to accelerate their plans in that regard. It allowed them to purge the Mordor born orcs, and slowly replace them, and the process of making them with the Westerosi born variant. It was absolutely perfect. It gave them an excuse to kill some of the Mordor orcs, without drawing suspicion or concern from the rest of the orc race. So the duo were more than happy to allow it. In fact they were actively sending the biggest troublemakers and least trustworthy orcs her to Mordor specifically to put them in the line of fire, to either be dominated by Celebrimbor, or to fall in battles against him and his pet ranger.

Always able to find an angle, the dark twins were more than happy to play some games with Sauron's ancient foe.

So now Lilith worked to calm the enraged Balrog, and pull it through the power of the Others, reaffirming her control over it.

As Tar-Goroth began to settle, Sauron turned his attention towards the mountains to the west. He knew that Tauriel was hidden there. He could sense the slave collar's location and knew he could find exactly where she was, with just a bit of looking. Right now she was likely with their parents, along with Sirius and Remus.

It would be so easy to simply go and deal with them. To confront them all and put an end to this game. It would all be so easy, but they simply couldn't. As powerful as they had become, Eru Illuvitar was greater still, and they weren't ready to face him. It was frustrating, but that was how it was, at least for now. In time, they'd find the source of his power, they'd find a way to counter the Secret Fire, and when they did, they could finally bring this world to it's knees. When that day came, they'd finally have their revenge.

Once Lilith was able to draw Tar-Goroth back to his senses, she gave the Balrog the biggest dressing down of his entire life, warning him that the next time he sat back and did nothing while allowing their enemies to win, she'd strip him of his willpower entirely, and reduce him to little more than a living refrigerator to keep beverages chilled.

Properly scared shitless, and reminded of their masters ornery wrath, the Balrog once more submitted to her terrible powers, and was subsequently brought up to speed on what was going on, as well as his unwitting role in this next stage of their plans.

He'd been permanently infected by the power of the Others as punishment, but also as an opportunity to prove himself once more, as he now stood unique amongst the Balrog as a being of ice and shadow, rather than fire. He also gained access to the ability to create Wights, just like the others.

Tar-Goroth swore his allegiance and swore to fulfill Morgoth's will.

Lilith accepted his subservience and joined Sauron as they prepared for their next step.

A week went by, as Talion and Celebrimbor returned to Núrn to continue building their army. Sauron observed from a distance, hiding in the form of a snake. He watched the two, learning of their plans, preparing for his move.

Once he knew about a target that they intended to kill, he made his move. He went to the orc captain and gifted him an enchanted set of vambraces. These braces were enchanted to gift the user a heightened immunity to fire based attacks. He'd seen how Talion and Celebrimbor were looting artifacts off the orcs and uruks they defeated, gathering gear to better survive, so he laid a trap for them. These vambraces would grant the wearer a heightened immunity to fire, but they were also charmed as a listening device.

They were linked to a set of earrings, one that Sauron wore, and one he gave to Lilith's Avatar. Through these earrings they'd hear every word said around those braces.

They just had to ensure their enemy took the bait.

Low and behold, the duo did exactly as Sauron expected them too, taking the artifact after they saw what it could do, and adding it to their arsenal. Without sensing any negative energy, or evil magic from it, the two would just think it some kind of mannish relic from Westeros. Things like listening charms were absolutely alien to the people of Middle Earth. The only ones who'd ever even consider such a possibility would be his old family members, but it would be a good long while before they suspected such trickery, and it would be directed at Morgoth. So long as it was still uncertain if she had her memory back, they wouldn't suspect such things, especially if he kept their concerns on other threats, like what was being done with the Others empowered Balrog that had mysteriously disappeared.

The bracers worked perfectly, allowing Sauron and Lilith the opportunity to spy on Talion, Celebrimbor, and their family. The troop of them discussed often how to move forward, devising plans or ideas to keep Umbra away or even bring him down, because without doing that, they couldn't launch major attacks. In Núrn they'd gathered a large enough army to try and capture the fortress there, but there wasn't really a point to it, if Umbra simply swooped down and burned the fortress to the ground, or just waited outside the fortress to roast anyone trying to leave it, effectively murdering their newly formed army.

It was deeply troubling, as bringing down a Great Dragon was a feat of incredible difficulty. They still believed that Umbra was actually Smaug, as that was the only Great Dragon that was known to be in the service of Sauron, it hadn't yet occurred to Celebrimbor that Morgoth could have begun making new dragons.

In fact, from the sounds of the conversations they'd overheard, the prevailing theory was that Morgoth's return was actually relatively recent, within the last decade or so.

Unfortunately, Tauriel couldn't correct that assumption. They heard her through the listening charm, yelping and groaning as she fought to tell the truth, but she couldn't form words, or indicate what it was she was trying to address. They were smart enough to know that there was something there, something about that belief that Tauriel was trying to address, but they had no way of knowing what it was, and Tauriel couldn't so much as hint to it. Any number of theories sprang up, including the possibility of Morgoth having been around longer, but Tauriel couldn't even so much react when it was brought up. So they were allowed to pass on to another theory and than another, all the while the elf-captain remained lip-locked on the subject, against her will.

They'd gathered that Lily was trying to remove the Slave Collar, to find a way to take it off, or at least undo the restrictions on it. Thankfully the techniques used to make it were an evolution of things that Lilith had created, and because she'd died when they were only babies, their mother would have no knowledge or frame of reference to understand and dissect that kind of magic, meaning she was working from basically nothing.

Neither doubted in their mother's ability to eventually figure it out, and given what a fount of information Tauriel could be, it was something she devoted almost all of her time to.

The time would come when they were forced to deal with the traitorous little elf. She would be tested, and they would see her true worth in that moment.

The time for that coming. One day soon, it would hit her, and they'd see just how she'd react. It would certainly be curious to see, what would she do, what would she choose, when those she bound her last hopes into, turn on her?

A few more days passed, with Sauron and Lilith studying the effects of the New Ring on their forces. Orcs who were branded with the blue hand of the Bright Lord, had their willpower influenced by Celebrimbor's desires. They weren't completely enslaved though, as the two quickly began to learn. By meeting and directly interacting with those enslaved by the power of the New Ring, they could free the victims from Celebrimbor's control.

The power of his creation was not as definitive as they seemed to believe it was. The New Ring was a mighty tool of control and dominion, it had the power to warp minds, and draw the weak willed to your way of thinking, in many ways it was a more refined tool than the One Ring. The New Ring was more like a weapon than a focus of power. What the new Ring could do was more direct, more sudden. It was clear though, upon investigation that there were flaws in place.

The mind, perverted by the power of the New Ring was susceptible to breaking down if exposed to the power too often. Those who clashed repeatedly with Talion and Celebrimbor but managed to escape complete domination, showed signs of mental degradation.

Was that a flaw in the design, or were the duo simply incapable of wielding the power properly? Talion was still human after all. Just a regular old human, sustained by the powers of the elven Wraith. Perhaps with a stronger vessel, Celebrimbor could utilize the power of the New Ring more precisely and deliberately. Or perhaps it was due to how quickly the New Ring dominated it's victims. When Celebrimbor stole the One Ring and wielded it for a time, he did this very same thing, using the One in the exact same way, and the moment he lost the One, control over those he'd dominated transferred back to Sauron. As noted, the New Ring was more like a weaponized variant of the One Ring. Specifically it's powers of dominion. Perhaps the effects they'd seen were simply symptoms of dominating people too quickly. The One Ring was insidious. It took time, and wore down a persons willpower. Those it affected directly and quickly, were driven crazy by it. The same was being seen in the New Ring so that was likely the answer.

Neither knew for absolute certain, but their studies of the afflicted were turning up some interesting questions.

Eventually the time was right to start with their plan. They brought forth a creature from beyond the portal, a Revenant, and took it to the area near to where Talion's group had made camp, they then unleashed the creature to attack Talion's forces.

This drew the ranger in, as he heard about the attacks, and came to investigate what was killing his men. This also drew in the elven woman that had been stalking the Nazgûl, Eltariel was her name.

In the form of a snake, Sauron watched as the Revenant ambushed her.

The towering skeletal knight dove out of some earthen ruins to engage the elf with otherworldly speed and ferocity.

It advanced, armed with a seven foot greatsword that it swung with the ease of a shortsword.

Eltariel blocked the attack, but was sent flying by the awesome strength of the undead creature. She quickly recovered as the monster came after her, the two trading blows, but it was clear she was having difficulties.

Revenants were monstrous creatures. Demonic spirits placed into the bodies of dead soldiers to create these powerful undead abominations. Her elven crafted blades were able to hurt, or even kill the towering creature, but she first had to get past it's armor and speed.

She called upon the Light of Galadriel locked in her hand to keep the undead creature at bay. The golden light was able to hold back the demon, but it remained firm in it's intention to kill her.

Their battle raged on for nearly twenty minutes, with the elf soon showing her growing exhaustion. Thankfully for her, Talion finally arrived.

"What manner of creature is this?" He questioned as he appeared beside the backpedaling elf, the two going on the offensive to try and drive back the attacking undead.

"I do not know. Some foulcraft of Sauron's no doubt." Eltariel responded.

"This being is unnatural. The magics imbued within it, otherworldly. This is indeed some form of defiled sorcery. We must destroy it swiftly, before this creature gets the upper hand." Celebrimbor stated to the both of them.

The two worked in tandem to try and bring down the monstrous creature. They used their athleticism to keep away from it's enormous strength and avoid getting hit by blows that could shatter stone. The longer they fought the creature, the more they felt the drain on their physical vitality.

Neither were prepared for the creatures telekinesis either, as it extended it's massive sword towards Eltariel and pulled her through the air towards the extended blade.

She could do nothing to halt her momentum, not even the light of Galadriel could stop her from flying into the blade.

She was saved at the last second by Talion who drew his bow and fired an arrow at the extended sword, knocking it to the side, causing Eltariel to flying into the Revenant itself, rather than the blade.

She sprung off the creature trying to get her distance once more as the Revenant swiftly rose and stalked towards them with vicious intent.

"This creature is a nightmare. Our assaults barely seem to slow it down. What foul will is driving such a monster?" Talion questioned, his eyes locked on the advancing undead knight, which returned his gaze with fiery red orbs glowing within the sockets of it's skull.

"We need another plan, we should flee for now." Eltariel suggested.

"Aye, you're right." Talion agreed, drawing forth his bow, he fired a charged shot into the Revenant's head, causing it to stumble back. The two immediately made a run for it. Trying to vanish into the surrounding landscape.

The Revenant momentarily pursued before Sauron called it off, letting the two escape.

He knew exactly where they'd be headed.

Sauron quickly apparated to just outside of the cave where he knew his family and Tauriel was hidden. Still in the form of a snake he waited for Talion and Eltariel's arrival.

Some time passed as the two worked to ensure they weren't followed before venturing up and into the cave. Thanks to the enchanted vembraces that Talion still wore, Sauron was able to listen in as the duo described what had just attacked them.

Despite not being in the cave, Sauron knew that all eyes had turned towards Tauriel.

No doubt after hearing the description she had turned white with fear.

"Tauriel, you know what this is?" Lily asked her.

"Yes. What you fought was no creation of Sauron's. It was a beast of Morgoth." Tauriel admitted to them, slightly surprised when the words were formed and expressed without the collar acting up.

"A creation of Morgoth's? What kind?" Celebrimbor questioned.

"I don't know what they truly are, only that I have seen the rituals used to call them forth. On the continent of Essos, in the city of Meereen I saw the Dark Lord call forth spirits of otherworldly power. She offered to them the souls of all those who had perished fighting Sauron in the city. Her offer drew in many of such nightmarish entities. In some she clad in the corpses of fallen soldiers. Nightmarish and evil, they rose as towering knights. Undead creatures of colossal strength and otherworldly speed. Revenants she called them." Tauriel expressed with a frightened shiver as she recalled that day, and the dark rituals her master performed to welcome in the hellish fiends that would become these undead soldiers.

"How do we defeat them?" Talion questioned her.

"You cannot." Tauriel responded quietly.

"Surely there must be some way." Talion pressed her, even as her face twisted in despair and fear.

"You can never truly guess how much I want you to succeed Ranger, but this war of yours will only end one way. They cannot be stopped. The two of you together could not defeat one Revenant, and there were dozens I've seen in service to the Dark Lords. The only reason this one is here is because Sauron wants it to be. He wanted you to face it, and he allowed you to escape." Tauriel told them.

"Sauron's reach will have grown long if you believe he is so infallible." Celebrimbor noted.

"I have seen his power, and his cunning. I was there as he casually manipulated all of the peoples of Westeros, as he played the goodly and noble king that everyone loves. He is a king beloved by his people, beloved by the nobles and small folk alike. The orcs and trolls and goblins born in Westeros are raised to work alongside the men, and the men are encouraged to welcome them as brethren. Long will it be before they can live in harmony, but that appears to be the aim. Men who may call orcs brethren, and orcs with the nobility of men. That is the future they build in Westeros. Mordor is something different. There's a reason why they don't bring their armies here. There's a reason why they don't send forth the Westeros born orcs to populate and spread in Mordor. The reason should terrify you." Tauriel said to the wraith.

"What reason is that, Tauriel?" James asked her, gently.

"They are deceiving you. They don't want you to know that things have changed, are changing. They don't want you to know that the orcs are changing, that the armies of men are being taught to embrace the darkness, as if it were the light. One day, armies clad in silver and gold, flying banners of ancient noble houses will march across Middle-Earth and you will question how these armies could have such tyrants as their masters. They will bare no familiarity to you. Being more a reflection of Gondor than of the Easterlings or the Men of the South. I have seen knights clad in glimmering steel kneel before the Dark Lords with humility and respect. I have seen proud warriors from ancient bloodlines, bend the knee and rise to stand beside their new king. The game that you knew, Lord Celebrimbor has changed. You must see it, you must understand it, or you will fall into their web!" Tauriel pleaded with the elf.

Celebrimbor stared down at her for several long moments, as if reading her face, before turning back to Talion.

"You think he has something planned?" Talion asked the wraith.

"There is always a plan, when it comes to Sauron. He destroyed my kingdom. He brought down the greatest human civilization this world had ever seen. He is the Great Deceiver. We should never underestimate his proclivity for lies and manipulation." Celebrimbor spoke, his words weighing heavy on the air.

"So then what was the purpose of this attack? Why draw us in to fight this creature but then allow us to escape. Despite it's power, surely he didn't think just one could overwhelm us and defeat us with ease." Talion questioned.

"Perhaps it was a test. Or worse, a distraction." Remus suggested.

"Well let's look at both. If it were a test, than what was it's purpose? And if it were a distraction, what could he be trying to hide from us?" James inquired.

As they discussed, Sauron grinned. He reached his mind out, directing it towards Tauriel. He sent forth emotions, passing them into her. A cold feeling of dread, as if something terrible was about to happen. She shuddered, and sank into herself, quaking at that all too familiar feeling.

A few days later, Talion had another run-in with Zog. During their spat, the hybrid made sure that Talion overheard him address some of the other orcs and surviving Akul Demonuk under his command, telling them that the time to move was now. The Dragon had returned to Westeros, and they had to move while the Dark Lord and his servant were preoccupied elsewhere.

The fight was overly brief with Zog and his followers escaping, but what mattered was planting that bit of information.

Talion naturally took it back to the others to discuss it.

Talion and Celebrimbor was naturally suspicious, believing this could be some kind of ruse, meant to lure out Zog and his followers, so that Sauron could find them.

The magicals were inclined to agree, though they did note that they hadn't seen the dragon recently. Eltariel noted the same, as she hadn't seen it either, and the Nazgûl had been suspiciously absent. The last time she saw any of them, it was to create more Chosen, with orders to keep an eye on things. It was possible the Dark Lord had departed Mordor to see to other matters, perhaps even to answer the call from Morgoth.

It was at that moment, that Tauriel spoke up. A memory flashed in her mind, and she felt the urge to speak. She didn't know why it suddenly sprung up, for a moment it felt like inspiration or realization, but it felt unnatural to her, even as she told them.

"You might be right Eltariel. The world on the other side of the portal is split into four great continents that we know of. Westeros, Essos, Sorthoryos, and Ulthos. Only Essos has been captured completely, with a single peninsula is Essos and a single captured city, their foothold on that continent. The Dark Lords spoke often of their plans in the East. I remember hearing of them. It's a very real possibility that Sauron and the Dragon were recalled to aid in those plans. Morgoth may be more interested in the conquest of Essos, than securing Mordor." Tauriel explained to them. That last part she knew was false, yet she'd said it anyway. A part of her thought to correct herself, but the words didn't form. Instead she felt nauseous. Felt the words clog in her throat and never form.

"If Zog was right, this may be our chance." Celebrimbor spoke.

"You know the Dragon will return right? The danger of it burning down the Fortresses is still very real." Remus pointed out.

"Yes, but it gives us the chance to actually prepare. If we take the fortress in Núrn, we can prepare defenses designed to keep the dragon at bay. We can have the orcs build great armaments that could pierce the dragon's hide. Their stomach is their weak point. Their scales are soft there." Celebrimbor stated in response.

"We could work to enchant some of that arsenal. Give us a better fighting chance. We wont be bringing down that dragon without powerful weapons like that, and we can build them with the dragon constantly circling the skies. If we're going to do this, it has to be now." Lily agreed with Celebrimbor.

As the troop started to agree on attacking the fortress in Nurn, Tauriel couldn't help her growing feeling of dread, as if something very wrong had just happened. The cold chill had not gone away, and she could do nothing but tremble.

Two more days passed, when Talion and Celebrimbor unleashed their armies upon the fortress of Núrn. Using coordination, and with the assistance of the four magicals, it was a success.

They took the fortress and captured it in the name of the Bright Lord. Immediately work began on creating weapons that could bring down a dragon.

A few days later, another attack was carried out at Cirith Ungol. This one a lot more difficult, and costly, but Talion was insistent that they don't waste this opportunity as they had no idea when the Dragon would return.

Two fortresses taken. Two provinces of Mordor. That left two more they needed to take, before they marched on Barad-Dûr.

Once the fortresses were taken, the battles between the two sides increased in severity. Mordor became a blood-soaked battle ground, all as the Dark Twins intended.

The old was washed away, and those gems that were worthy of survival, or rising above the failings of their kin, would do so. The rest would be washed away. From the shadows the twins observed, ready to set the next pin in place.

While the heroes turned their attention towards Seregost and Gorgoroth, the twins began to sow the seeds of doubt in them.

While Talion and Celebrimbor ran all over Seregost to build their army, they began to be repeatedly ambushed by the Revenant. They had come up with some interesting plans to try and beat it, but nothing they tried worked. It was almost like it knew exactly what they were going to do before they did it. And that was of course, because it did.

Using the enchanted vembraces on Talion, Sauron overheard all of their plans, even their ideas for how to take down the Revenant.

The demon was informed of all of these plans, and was able to act accordingly in every situation. Every idea that was discussed between Talion, and the magicals, was accounted for and the undead worked to counter or avoid.

Tauriel quickly began growing worried due to the creature's success in driving them back. Even in a five on one, the Revenant put up one helluva a fight. Taking on Talion, and the four magicals before being driven off.

She'd never seen one fight before, but she knew they couldn't be this powerful. If they were, than why would the Dark Lords even bother with anything else? No, this one was special, and the fact that it had a counter to each one of their plans or traps for it, was deeply disturbing.

This was no ordinary Revenant, not that a Revenant could be seen as ordinary but this one in particular contained a very powerful demon of pride, and the body it possessed was that of a powerful Wildling chieftain taken during the early stages of the war against the Wildlings. That coupled with information provided by Sauron helped the demon to overcome the traps and plots that were used against it.

It was in Seregost that they had their next run-in with the Queen of Westeros.

All six of them, Tauriel included as well as some surviving Gondorian Soldiers who'd escaped from the fall of Minas Ithil and had been running a gorilla campaign in Mordor for the last few months, all engaged the Revenant to try and finally bring it down. They entrapped it in some ruins and struck at it from multiple angles. Surrounding it in explosive grog barrels that were then pelted by fire arrows causing them to explode. It was hit with spells from the four magicals, while Talion and Eltariel engaged in at close range. They very nearly killed the Revenant bringing it to it's knees, only for the undead to pulled through the air, up towards a higher part of the ruins. All eyes turned in that direction, only to fall upon Lilith's Avatar who stared down at them all with a cruel grin.

"My oh my, causing trouble are we." Lilith hummed as her eyes scanned the troop of archers, as well as her old family, the elf assassin, Talion, before finally landing on Tauriel.

Tauriel froze at the sight of her, taking a terrified step back upon meeting her gaze.

"Hello Tauriel. It's good to see you again." Lilith hummed, then with a burst of movement, she dropped down to several of the archers above stood. With a wave of her hands, a wall of fire erupted, washing through the air to consume the half-dozen men. Their screams swiftly filled the air, as their comrades below cried out in disbelief and horror.

"It's her!" Tauriel uttered, taking another step back, and dropping her bow as she did.

"Sauron's wife has come to greet us. Why thought? Why is she here?" Celebrimbor questioned as he and Talion advanced, ready to continue the battle and face the sorceress.

"You did well… Tauriel…" Lilith spoke as she stared down at them.

Tauriel blinked at her words, her dread growing, as she felt her body seize. "No! Oh no! I can't...!"

Without a word, Lilith took control over her body.

Lilith's words drew confusion from the troop. Some even glanced towards Tauriel, only to see her frozen in what appeared to be terror, the only movement of her body was the way she trembled.

"We can't worry about why she's here. We need to bring her down, and do it quickly. Sauron can't be far away!" Sirius stated.

"You know this sorceress ranger?" One of the Gondorian soldiers questioned.

"The wife of Sauron. We must defeat her, and we must be swift. The Dark Lord may have finally returned to Mordor." Talion responded, as Lilith hopped down from her perch above. The screams of the burning Gondorian archers having finally dissipated.

"I've come for the ring, give it to me, so that I may present it to my beloved." Lilith lied, the sword Ira materializing in her hand from nothingness as she advanced.

"Sauron will never claim the power of the New Ring. You and your master will be consumed by the light of the Bright Lord!" Celebrimbor roared as he and Talion advanced.

Lilith silently grinned, as darkness began to shadow of the skies.

The four magicals fanned out, preparing to flank the sorceress while she was engaged with Talion.

"Keep an eye out for orcs, or other nastiness. She didn't come here alone, and that Revenant is still out there." James said to the Gondorians as he moved past what appeared to be their leaders, one a young shield maiden, Idril, the daughter of General Castamere, and the other, Baranor a captain of the Gondorian army.

Eltariel also began to move, advancing after Talion to join in the attack. All eyes were off of Tauriel, who still couldn't move, though few expected her to, given her apparent fear.

The trauma of facing her abuser once more, none expected her to join in the fight. At least, not this early on, and none had the time to help her work through it, so that she could help.

That was why none of them saw as she knelt to retrieve her bow, drew an arrow, nocked it, and took aim.

With the speed of an elven huntress, one skilled enough to be named Captain of the guard, she loosed the arrow, drew and fired another, and then another, and then a fourth. By the time the screams were registered, four of the seven remained Gondorian archers, had been struck, arrows piercing their necks with eerie precision.

Eyes turned to find the source of the attack, looking for attacking orcs, only for the fifth to go down, as Remus caught sight of the culprit.

"Tauriel!" He cried out, as she fired another arrow, taking down the sixth archer.

Only one remained as well as Idril, and Baranor. Though that last archer was dispatched by a final arrow from Tauriel.

"No!" Idril screamed as she rushed towards the elven woman. Tauriel turned, drew another arrow and fired it at her, the Gondorian shield-maiden barely escaped death thanks to a shield cast around her courtesy of James, which the arrow broke against.

"Tauriel!" Lily spoke, as Tauriel drew another arrow, this time leveling the bow at her.

She could see the pain in Tauriel's eyes, the regret and sorrow that swarmed there. Tears stained her cheeks as she looked into Lily's eyes.

"Against the power of the Dark Lords, there can be no victory. Submission, is the only way." Tauriel spoke, the words coming out against her will.

"She's working for Sauron!?" Baranor demanded.

"No… she works for me." Lilith spoke with a smile.

"My sweetest love… thank you for doing this. Being away from you… was so very dreadful. I am happy to see you once more." Lilith spoke, her voice to sickly sweet.

"That's not possible." Lily uttered in disbelief.

"She was lying to us! She manipulated us into believing her story! All of it, to lure us into a trap!" Eltariel snarled, her words piercing into Tauriel's heart, even as a smirk spread across her face.

"No! I don't believe it. It has to be the collar, she's controlling her!" Lily countered with a shake of her head.

It seemed that the other wizards were willing to believe that, even Talion seemed to leaning towards that as well. The chuckle from Tauriel and her subsequent actions, dismissed that idea.

Much to Tauriel's horror, her hand reached up to clasp the collar around her neck, and with a forceful yank, it pulled free.

It's removal from her neck was like a breath of fresh air, but that air was toxic. Her skin sung at it's removal, but the control over her body remained, much to her absolute horror. Even without the collar, she felt none of her control return to her. Even as it was dropped to the ground, Lilith's cruel smile still remained spread across Tauriel's face.

"Ah… my dearest Mol… you belong to me. You didn't something as small as a strip of leather was all that bound us together. You didn't think your 'escape' was done of your own volition? You are mine. You've always been mine. And you'll always be mine." Lilith whispered into Tauriel's mind, her words breaking the huntress's spirit even more as she began to question her every action since her 'escape'.

Now she doubted if any of it had ever been real.

Seeing the collar fall to the ground, that proud, pompous smirk spread across Tauriel's face, it broke everyone's heart. Sauron, the Great Deceiver… had fooled them all. Little did they know, the truth of the matter. This was not Sauron, but the work of the one who taught him what deceit and manipulation truly was.

Lilith was the one who first mastered these arts. She was the one who taught Harry Potter what it truly meant to fool someone, to take their hopes, build them up, and dash them against a wall. To strip all sense of control from them, will nothing more than words. She'd taught him these things. By her own admission he had surpassed her. He was most certainly now the master of deception, but that didn't meant she still wasn't a master of the craft.

She'd destroyed all faith in every word Tauriel had ever said to them. They would second guess everything now. Every single thing would be reanalyzed and scrutinized, and it would form a rift between them.

"Damn you!" Eltariel snarled, and made a move towards Tauriel only for Tauriel to draw an arrow and fire another arrow at her. Again, James cast a shield, blocking the arrow, allowing Eltariel to continue charging towards the elven traitor, only for a black wisp to fall from the sky before her. From it, emerged one of the Nazgûl, releasing a monstrous shriek as it slashed out at Eltariel.

Soon more shadows fell from the sky. A dozen more shadows, though from these shadows emerged the red robed Cargûl. In red robes, emblazoned with golden crowns the horde of shrieking wraiths began advancing on the group.

"What foul abominations are these!" Baranor cried out as dread washed over the area.

"It's like a nest of dementors just came crawling out around us." Sirius noted.

"They are Cargûl, those turned by the power of the Witch-King. They are the servants of the Nazgûl, the Red Wraiths, each one bound to the authority of the wraith that created them. This is what becomes of those stabbed by a Morgul blade." Celebrimbor spoke, as he and Talion fended off two of the attacking wraiths.

"There are to many of them, we must retreat!" Idril proclaimed.

Baranor was about to agree with her, when suddenly Lilith appeared before him. The two traded blows but the Gondorian Captain hadn't the strength to match the power of her blows.

Her sword shattered, even as the others turned to assist him. Talion tried to rush to his aid but was cut off as two Cargûl fell in front of him.

"Baranor!" Idril shrieked as her longtime friend and comrade backed away from the advancing Queen.

He clutched his broken blade, refusing to let it go, despite knowing that he was doomed.

"I will never submit to the dark powers! Your reign of darkness will end one day! Gondor will prevail!" He cried out, and thrust the broken blade at her, only for to catch the strike and redirect it, while drive her sword across his gut, the blade caught against his armor, but with a word from Lilith a curse sprang to life, and with vile hate, the blade cut clean through the armor, as well as the soft flesh beneath it. So cruel was the blades malice that it cut clean through him, as if his body was not there at all.

His legs away, and his guts spilled out, he was held up now, only by Lilith who still clutched her arm in her hand to direct his blade away.

"No!" Idril screamed in rage and horror, her cry mimicked by Talion who had just pushed his way through the two red wraiths and was rushing towards Lilith's back.

With a cruel grin, Lilith leaned down and whispered into the Gondorian captain's ear. His eyes went wide and he began to scream.

His screams persisted until Lilith dropped his body, and drove her foot down onto his neck, breaking it.

Talion halted his charge when he saw this, knowing there was nothing more that he could do for the noble Gondorian soldier.

What came next was even more horrifying. With a casual wave of her hand, a dread filled the air, and Baranor's eyes turned an icy blue. A horrifying, gurgling scream ripped out of his lungs, and his body rolled over, targeting Idril it began to crawl towards her.

A sight of pure dread, as he was still very much cut in half, and he held held limply, the bones still broken even as he shrieked and advanced.

"Idril, He's gone, you must focus!" Talion called out to her as he moved past her, cutting down the reanimated wight before charging at Lilith.

The two traded blows, Celebrimbor's spirit emerging to deliver additional strikes, keeping Lilith on the defensive. She allowed them a moment to drive her sword aside as she saw what Celebrimbor was aiming for.

In a sudden movement, Talion grabbed her head, the power of the New Ring slammed into her body, attempting to drive into her spirit, where it met only a wall of darkness.

"SUFFER ME!" Celebrimbor roared.

"Suffer me." Lilith responded, as she brushed aside his grasp, and grabbed Talion's head in the same manner.

He roared in pain at her touch, her flesh singing his own, like she had placed a searing iron on him.

He tore back, dropping to a knee as he did.

Both Talion and the wraith shuddered as they felt the sheer power this sorceress held. It was massive, so very massive. More than any human being should be able to withstand. On her own, her power rivaled or even surpassed their own, even with the New Ring.

She advanced on him, ready to try and take the New Ring, only for a wash of spells to come rushing at her, as James and Lily finally pushed past the attacking Cargûl to assist Talion.

Eltariel was still holding back the attacks from both the Nazgûl and Tauriel who kept her distance and send arrows to keep the assassin off balance.

Lilith batted away their incoming spells, a cruel grin dancing across her face.

As they advanced, a fire erupted from atop the nearby ruins and from it, emerged Sauron.

His arrival filled the air with dread.

"Flee, we must flee!" Eltariel shouted, activating the Light of Galadriel which forced the attacking wraith back, and dropped Tauriel to her knees.

"Kill him and run!" She shouted at the wizards, turning to vanish into the ruins as she did.

"Dammit!" James shouted, his eyes turning to Talion who was still on his knees, seemingly dazed from whatever Sauron's wife had done to him.

Remembering about his skill to revive elsewhere he didn't hesitate, through a blasting curse at the ranger's chest, blowing a volleyball sized hole in him, ending his life for the moment. He and Lily then apparated away. Sirius tried to rush for Idril but was cut off two of the Cargûl, and was pulled away by Remus, the duo forced to leave her behind.

Idril was the last of the noble heroes left standing. She held her blade defiantly against the advancing Cargûl, only for Sauron to appear behind her. She turned to swing at him, but her blade shattered against his armor, and with a touch, he placed her to sleep.

He then turned his attention to the disintegrating body of Talion. He gave it an annoyed look before turning to Lilith who was already walking towards Tauriel.

Tauriel was still on her knees. Unbeknownst to Eltariel, the moment she used the Light of Galadriel and struck Tauriel with it, it pushed back Lilith's control over the elf. That control was maintained due to it being established while the collar was on. Removing didn't break the link that was already active. So long as Lilith maintained active control of Tauriel's body the link would remain. Eltariel's actions had broken it, but she didn't know that.

Lilith stopped where the collar had been dropped and retrieved it before continuing on towards where the elf sit on her knees.

She lowered herself to kneel before the elf, slowly lifting her tearful face to meet with Lilith's.

"Hello my precious mol… well done." Lilith cooed.

Tauriel blinked, unable to even rationalize what was happening for several long moments.

"You didn't really think I would let you go, did you?" Lilith inquired, holding the elf by the chin, causing her to begin trembling.

Lilith smirked, the time for her test had come. Time to see if she would submit, or free herself.

Lilith rose to her feet and offered her hand to the elf.

"It's time you came home." Lilith offered. Tauriel shuddered at her words, her eyes slowly drifting towards where Talion's body had been. Lilith trailed her sight after her, before returning her gaze to the elf.

"Tauriel… do you truly believe that they can make a difference?" Lilith inquired with genuine interest.

"I have to. I have to believe that there's a way to stop you. I have to." Tauriel responded with tears trailing down her face.

"There is no stopping me. They will die. All of them. Your precious Celebrimbor will fall to us. It is only a matter of the time and place." Lilith responded calmly, again causing Tauriel to shudder and lower her head.

In one fell swoop the dark lords had undone everything she had tried to offer to the heroes. Every word she'd spoken to them, every tearful confession would be treated as a lie, a deception now. It was so easy for them. So easy to undo everything she'd tried to do. Now she was alone. She was alone with the Dark Lords once more. Her heart lurched at the feeling.

"I'll make you a wager, my precious mol. How's about it?" Lilith spoke. Drawing Tauriel's gaze back to her.

"A wager?" Tauriel repeated.

"Yes. Celebrimbor is cruel. He will break your faith. Are you willing to wager your life on the honor and nobility of the elves? If Celebrimbor and the assassin hold true to themselves, if they remain unbroken by the cruelty of Mordor, than I will grant you the same freedom I will grant them. You may join them in death. However… if they do break your faith, if they succumb to the evils of this place, and prove to you their true nature, than you will submit to me, willingly, and serve me for the rest of your days. That is the wager I offer you, my dear. You have to have hope in them… I'm going to show you that no elf is free of corruption." Lilith offered to her, once more extending her hand to her kneeling slave.

Tauriel stared up at her for several long moments before reaching out to take her hand.

"I have to believe. I have to." Tauriel responded as she took Lilith's hand.

"I know you do. So I will give you this gift. The chance to lay your life on the line for those beliefs. And if they should fail…" Lilith responded.

"If they fail, if they lose themselves and prove my hopes are for nothing, than I will know there is no hope, no point in hoping. And I will give myself to you. Fully, and willingly. I do not believe they will fail. So long as they hold true to each other, they will remain unbroken by this place." Tauriel responded with belief.

"And if you are right, than they will die for those beliefs." Lilith commented.

"And I will get to die as one of them." Tauriel spoke, with the first ounce of her old conviction that Lilith had seen in a long time.

"We shall see, my dear. We shall see." Lilith responded before turning back to Sauron, the two headed over to him, his smirking visage doing little to calm Tauriel's nerves, but she couldn't dwell on it now. Even if in the back of her mind she questioned how much decision she had in her escape attempt or if this had all been planned from the start. Unfortunately, knowing her masters, it could be either. They were cunning enough to plot such a ruse, as well as countering her escape attempt and rendering it null.

Tauriel went with them willingly, the collar remaining with Lilith for the moment. She knew that even if she wanted to try and escape it was pointless. Lilith could just take over her body at any point so there was no real reason for the collar anymore, at least from Tauriel's perspective on everything.

She just now had to have faith in those people, she had to believe that they could accomplish their mission or at the very least, hold onto themselves. Even if they died, if they held onto who they were, and died for the right reasons, than Tauriel still won the bet, and could die with them. She believed in them. She believed in all of them.

Lilith stopped for just a brief moment to capture the unconscious Idril and take the young shield-maiden with them before departing along with Tauriel to return to Barad-Dûr.

From there, Sauron returned to the magicals hideout and listened through Talion's bracers, as they discussed what had happened.

All of them were naturally despondent, wondering how it was possible they could have been so easily fooled by Tauriel and her sob story.

Now they were openly questioning everything she had said. What was true, and what was a lie. Was any of it true? Were there bits and pieces that held some grain of truth? None of them could say. This betrayal was devastating and it flooded them with confusion and uncertainty.

The loss of their Gondorian allies was also a major blow.

They established new plans, but it was obvious that a bit of desperation was coloring their actions.

They moved swiftly to capture the fortress in Seregost, and then began preparing it for a possible attack from the skies.

In the following days Talion and his company encountered a handful of additional threats as they moved towards taking the last of the four fortresses in Gorgoroth. He had to deal with betrayal within his ranks as a strong-willed troll managed to throw off the control of the New Ring. Forcing him and the wizards to retake the fortress in Nurn after it was overthrown by the troll and his followers. His rebellion triggered further rebellions in other orcs.

These measures were encouraged by Sauron and his servants as he studied the powers and capacity of the New Ring. It became obvious to Sauron that the Ring was an excellent tool, but it needed a more powerful host. Talion wasn't strong enough, hell Celebrimbor returned to life, may not be strong enough to completely dominate the minds of others, making them little more than thralls. No… only someone like Sauron could truly wield such power of domination. The New Ring, much like with the Elven Rings, was crafted from Sauron's methods. It was bound to Sauron, bound to the very nature of his being, even if Celebrimbor believed it otherwise. By forging the New Ring using Sauron's craft, by doing so in Mount Doom, the focal point of Sauron's power in Middle-Earth, the New Ring became bound to Sauron, bound to him so subtly to purely, that not even Celebrimbor could sense the influence of the Dark Lord within his creation.

The New Ring, for all it was, was still subservient to the One, just as it was with all rings, forged from Sauron's craft. Any ring, made from Sauron's teachings, was bound to the authority of the One. Such was the magics of it's creation.

All Sauron needed to do was reach out his hand and take the New Ring, and it would submit to his authority.

That is exactly what he intended to do.

But first, he had a few more troublesome spots to deal with.

The last of his lowest followers were placed in and around Gorgoroth. Those that were weak, disloyal, or overly independent from his leadership were put there to either be turned to the Bright Lord's army, giving Sauron's forces a justification to kill them, or they'd be killed by the Bright Lord and his army, either way, Sauron and Lilith could remove the lowest elements of their army, clearing away the trash without arousing suspicion within their own ranks.

At battle's end, the time of the Mordor Orc would begin to fade, the time of the New breed would be allowed to begin, and that would set the stage for a more cohesive future. One of infinite possibilities.

Though Sauron and Lilith kept their presence sparse, the heroes felt them, in every step they took. Nazgûl and Cargûl hunted for them, and shadowed their steps.

In battles against the Nazgûl and Cargûl, Talion and Celebrimbor would often drive them away using the power of the New Ring. They couldn't dominate them, as they were bound to the authority of the One through their own rings, and the Cargûl specifically were bound to the Wraith that made them, so unless that line of authority was broken, the New Ring couldn't dominate them completely.

Whenever Talion did this though, he got a glimpse of the wraith's past, which included their fall, and in the case of the Nazgûl, Celebrimbor's involvement in some of them ending up with their rings of power. This naturally spurred some animosity between Talion and Celebrimbor with the former questioning the wisdom of making a new Ring of Power despite what had happened before. Eltariel seemed to agree with Talion on that note, while the magicals stayed out of it, not leaning towards either side. Celebrimbor insisted his work was pure, and untouched by Sauron's evil. He was confidant in his work, but recent events had left the others questioning everything.

It looked like this distrust and confusion may stall the heroes plans so Sauron and Lilith gave them some motivation. They had Zog lay the foundations for an assault on Minas Morgul, with plans of seizing it from the Witch King using his undead army of wights. This assault would force the Dark Lord to commit resources to defending the fortress there, which would open the opportunity for the heroes to strike at the last fortress in Gorgoroth and then assault Barad-Dûr.

Once they caught wind of what was happening, and saw the displacement of troops, and even many of the Cargûl, they knew the time had come to strike.

So the group of heroes launched their assault, and managed to take the fortress at Gorgoroth. Everything went swimmingly.

Not long after they took the fortress they immediately marshaled an army upon the highway that led between the fortress and Barad-Dûr. It was time to take the fight to Sauron.

They amassed their best and most loyal followers and commenced their attack, fighting their way down the highway as they made their way towards the tower of the Dark Lord. It was as they neared around the halfway mark that they encountered one of the Nazgûl. This one being the wraith that encapsulated the spirit of Isildur.

Isildur who's body had been pulled from the river after his death and brought to Mordor, where in a final act of revenge, Sauron placed one of the Nine Rings upon him, reviving him, and corrupting him into a slave.

Isildur was not the last host of this wraith's spirit, nor was he the first, but he was the strongest. Because of that, Isildur's nature, his will, colored a lot of this Nazgûl's personality. It made him stronger, more deadly and ferocious.

The third ranked Nazgûl after Khamul the Easterling, and the Witch King.

The Nazgûl fought viciously alongside a small troop of Cargûl. Talion, Celebrimbor, and Eltariel fought the Nazgûl, while the four magicals held off the four Cargûl.

The battle raged on as the surrounding orcs clashed viciously, fighting for the Dark Lord and the Bright Lord.

From above, standing upon an arch staring down at the battle was Sauron, Lilith, and Tauriel. The trio observed the fighting, watching and waiting to see what would happen.

Already a plan had been set. Unbeknownst to the heroes their doom awaited them. Even if they succeeded in making it past the army here, and making it to Barad-Dûr, they would simply meet their end there.

The fight continued, dragging on, and on. One by one, the Cargûl fell to the skill and teamwork of the magicals. They managed to slay two of the four, forcing the remaining two to retreat. It was clear that the Bright Lord's forces were winning, but that was hardly a surprise. The forces they fought were the lowest of the Dark Lord's army. Those they deemed disposable. After all, that is why they allowed this farce to continue for so long, to dispose of those they did not need or want, and allow the truly strong to inherit Mordor.

Unbeknownst to the heroes, even now, as they fought, Zog's army of wights was rushing in behind them, retaking Ghâshgôr the fortress of Gorgoroth. Once done, they would begin swarming up the highway that connected Barad-Dûr to the fortress.

This assault was ultimately doomed, no matter how far they made it.

Darkness had won, it was only a matter of time.

That thought persisted in the minds of the Dark Lords, up until they saw the Nazgûl brought to his knees. In a swift motion, Talion and Celebrimbor seized the Nazgûl by the head, the New Ring blazing with fury.

Their power erupted into the Wraith as they attempted to dominate it's will. A process that would have been impossible because of the Ring of Power the wraith wore. Much to the Dark Lords' surprise though, the power of the New Ring forced the Wraith's own ring from it's hand. In a moment, Celebrimbor had accomplished his goal. Without the ring of power, the wraith was pulled under Celebrimbor's control.

Sauron reacted with surprise, having not expected such a thing to even be possible.

Sauron felt his fury grow, and he was about to leap from their position to drop down and correct this problem, when suddenly, Talion drew his blade.

"Isildur, I release you!" Talion cried out as he cut down the wraith, causing it's form to extinguish before them. "Find peace in death."

Celebrimbor cried out but was unable to stop him from releasing the ancient king.

Though he was uncertain of the damage, Sauron was quite certain that the wraith had been completely destroyed. He felt his anger churn. Thousands of years of careful grooming to empower them with the proper souls, and in a moment it was undone. Yes, he needed to correct this.

Before he hopped down though, an argument began between Celebrimbor and Talion, even as their army swept forward, chasing the Dark Lord's followers down the highway.

"He was NOT yours to release!" Celebrimbor snarled with blinding fury.

"And he was not yours to enslave!" Talion shouted back.

"No he did more than that. He broke Sauron's hold. He dominated one of the Nazgûl." Eltariel stated as she approached the duo along with the four magicals.

"And I will dominate Sauron. His armies will be mine!" Celebrimbor declared, much to the surprise of Talion, and the other humans. Hearing his words was a surprise to Sauron and Lilith, but it also caused them to begin smirking. Between them, Tauriel watched, her eyes widening and her gut beginning to sink. The hope she had for her allies, now beginning to unravel.

"No. We are meant to destroy Sauron!" Talion argued.

"Sauron cannot be destroyed! You've see it yourself. The power he wields, and entities at his command. He is stronger now, perhaps almost as strong as when he had the One Ring. He cannot be destroyed." Celebrimbor countered angrily. Talion shook his head in disbelief, glancing towards Eltariel and the four magicals, silently imploring them to speak some sense to the Elf Lord.

The four magicals seemed thoughtful on his words, gauging the measure of them. All were in agreement with Talion, they had all believed that plan was to try and destroy Sauron, but Celebrimbor did have a point. If he could not be destroyed, than what was the alternative? And beyond that, there was still their mission. They needed to try and lure Sophia out. That was why they were here, that was why they were fighting the Dark Lord at all, to try and draw Sophia out of hiding, to determine if Morgoth had in fact returned and regained her old memories.

"He is right Talion. We fight and fight, but evil always returns. Talion we can end this here." Eltariel spoke, now convinced after what she'd seen that it was possible, that there was hope for their quest.

"We must ensure that Mordor is restored to Light, not Darkness. If Tauriel spoke the truth than somewhere here in these lands is a way to travel from here to Westeros. If we are to have any hope of defeating Morgoth, than finding that access point, and destroy it, and if we cannot, than we must control it. With Mordor as a bulwark, we can hold back the tides of darkness. We can save all of Middle-Earth." Celebrimbor spoke, revealing the depths of his thoughts on the matter, and his plan for facing Morgoth if she truly had returned.

"No. I will not trade one Dark Lord, for another. The evils of this land must be destroyed. This is not the end I have fought for!" Talion declared in response.

"But you are not the only one fighting!" Eltariel snapped at him.

"No, he is not." Celebrimbor agreed.

"Alright, maybe we all need to take a step back." Sirius stated, realizing that a very real wedge was forming within their group. While he could agree with Celebrimbor, he also agreed with Talion, trying to rule over all of this evil was just going to create a new despot. The allure of power was a dangerous thing, and given Celebrimbor's attitude, Sirius didn't doubt that the man would use the power of Mordor for whatever purpose he wished, good or ill.

"This is not about your petty vengeance, Talion. Or mine. This is about restoring order to Mordor. To all of Middle-Earth." Celebrimbor stated, his words, confirming Sirius' belief on the matter, a belief shared by Lily when he glanced at her. Neither trusted Celebrimbor to hold that kind of power. No, even if he were successful, what Talion feared would come to pass. A Dark Lord, for a Bright Lord, and Mordor would still be an enemy of the world.

"The end you fought for? You are but a vessel, and there are others." Celebrimbor continued, turning his gaze to Eltariel.

From above, Tauriel nearly fell to her knees as she watched the Elf Lord turn his back on his longtime ally. After all that they'd done here in Mordor, to so quickly cast Talion aside… she knew in her heart she was about to lose her wager to her master. The very idea, tore her soul to bits, slowly killing the one thing that had kept her going all this time. Her hope.

"Together we can bring Sauron to his knees. We can finish what our people started so long ago. The Lady Galadriel sent you here for a reason." Celebrimbor spoke to the elven assassin, who stared back at him, understanding shining in her blue eyes. He then held out his ghostly hand, and in it, sat the New Ring.

Eltariel took a step back in surprise, her eyes locked on the ring. The magicals glanced between the elves and Talion who watched on with bitter acceptance to what was about to happen.

Eltariel took the New Ring, and placed it upon her finger, binding Celebrimbor to herself. The moment she did, the wound that had long been held shut by Celebrimbor's power, reopened on Talion's neck, causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Talion!" Lily called out, moving to his side as he began to bleed out.

Silence held over the group at it happened, the torrent of emotions that flowed around the four magicals was difficult to describe. While they knew that Celebrimbor had a point, this was too cruel in their eyes. To abandon and betray Talion like this. They knew now, that Celebrimbor, and even Eltariel were not the beacons of light they proclaimed to be.

"Come. Sauron awaits. Let us put an end to this, and finally learn the truth of your daughter." Celebrimbor said to them.

Lily stared down at Talion, sadness etched onto her face. She felt James place a hand on her shoulder, and slowly help her to her feet. She was angry, angry at them for doing this. Angry for being unable to stop it. Angry at having no other option but to keep going. She had to think about Sophia. She had too. That was the thought they all carried as they began to walk away.

For a brief moment, Eltariel stopped and knelt over Talion, offering his some parting words, no doubt as an attempt to balm her own soul from this act of betrayal. "Our sacrifices are not in vain. This is the only way." She said to him, before rising to her feet to continue along the highway. Celebrimbor remained for a scant moment to stare down at Talion, his face unreadable before fading away, leaving Talion alone on the highway to succumb to his wounds, and finally face the death that had long awaited him.

From above, the trio watched the scene unfold.

Tauriel had dropped to her knees, her heart broken. Her master had been right. In the end, not even the strength of the mighty Celebrimbor, nor the light of the Lady Galadriel could hold back the evils of the world. They had turned their back on Talion, on their comrade, their friend. After all that they'd accomplished in Mordor, they just tossed him aside. Victory was all that mattered to them. It didn't matter if they became the very evil they sought to destroy. It didn't matter if they soured their own souls to do it. So long as they won, then any cost was worth paying. So much for nobility. So much for honor. So much for friendship, and camaraderie, and loyalty. All for the Greater Good, right?

Lilith slowly turned her gaze to Tauriel, seeing her slave on her knees, eyes welling with tears, she knew that the girl had seen enough. Just as Lilith had predicted, the forces of 'good' had revealed their true colors.

Sauron's eyes remained locked on Talion's body. From the edges of the highway he spotted movement. Large spiders came crawling up over the edge, across the bodies of the dead. They swarmed around Talion, taking purchase on his body.

Sauron blinked in confusion at the sight, and suddenly the spiders scattered. With a sudden gasping motion, Talion's eyes shot open, drawing both Lilith's and Tauriel's attention.

With great pain, Talion rolled to his side, reaching out, he claimed the fallen Ring of Power that lay where the Nazgûl once fell.

Seeing this, Sauron broke into a grin. A grin which was mirrored by Lilith, and once more, Tauriel heart broke. Her final thought, as Talion made a declaration of his own autonomy and placed the ring onto his finger, was that they would see each other again soon. Bound forever in the service of the Dark Lords.

Sauron glanced down at the One Ring on his finger, as he felt the connection form between him and Talion.

It would be some time before the Ranger completely succumbed to his authority, but so long as he wore the Ring, he would eventually fall into shadow, becoming the newest member of the Nine. Isildurs spirit may have been released, the focal point of this Nazgûl's existence freed unto death, but that power remained, still bound to the Ring. Now that power belonged to Talion, and for a time, it would be his own. That time though, would not last long. In a few years, he would succumb to Sauron's control.

For now, Sauron would observe and see what Talion did with the ring. Perhaps they could keep up this ruse of weakness for a bit longer.

Talion rose to his feet, his wound now healing, though, much to the surprise of the duo, did not head down the highway towards Barad-Dûr. Instead he moved to climb down from the highway, his path leading him somewhere else.

Sauron would keep track of him, make sure he did not attempt to flee into Gondor, but for now, he had bigger fish to fry.

"Well that was certainly surprising." Lilith hummed.

"It certainly was. We'll leave him be for now, but I'll keep an eye on him. The loss of Isildur is an annoyance, though putting Talion in his place is an acceptable replacement." Sauron spoke.

"What was with the spiders though?" Lilith hummed.

Sauron was silent for a moment as he pondered that. He glanced about for a moment before finally turning towards a darkened corner of the upper archway. He stared into it for several long moments before the shadow began to move.

From within, a small swarm of spiders emerged, and from the shadows of their emergence came Shelob.

"Hello old friend. Mind telling me what you're doing here so far from your caves." Sauron questioned her. Immediately, Lilith and Tauriel turned their attention to the spider in human form. Both becoming shocked. Shelob was the spitting image of Lilith. All she lacked were the same colored eyes, and the pointed elf-like ears.

Lilith, through the eyes of her avatar glanced between Sauron, and Shelob in confusion. Why the hell was the spider wearing her face?

Lilith didn't quite get it. She continued glancing between the two as Sauron stepped forward, his eyes on the spider, a curious smirk on his face.

"The ranger is heading for Minas Morgul. He intends to take it, and from there, hold back Mordor from the rest of Middle-Earth. If it is your desire to postpone future plans for the rest of Middle-Earth, I have just given you the pretext to make it so." Shelob answered.

Sauron tilted his head curiously.

"How could she know what it is you desire." Lilith questioned.

"She was listening to us through her spiderlings. She is the mother of most spiders in Mordor." Sauron responded. Lilith conceded to that. While careful with their words, saying things within earshot of the massive host of spiders that inhabited this dreadful land was a common occurrence. Given how stealthy spiders could be, they'd make a perfect information network if you could communicate with them. Only the largest spider, like those of Mirkwood could actually speak, though the Ungol of Mordor were intelligent enough to understand words.

"You encouraged the ranger to take the Ring." Sauron noted. "Why offer such aid to me? Have you come to rekindle our friendship?"

Shelob's cool look seemed to soften at that, and the ghost of a smile touched at her lips.

"My way of apologizing. Had I not interfered, this trouble with the ranger and Celebrimbor would not have happened, and the two would have fallen not long after forging the New Ring. I allowed my anger to get the best of me, and though you used it to your advantage, as you always do, I still regret that part I played out of malice." Shelob admitted, apologizing to him for her interference, and for keeping the New Ring from him after she'd taken it.

Sauron was thoughtful for a moment before offering a nod, and a genuine smile. "Annoying though it was, you are right in that it has provided a benefit to us. A means of dealing with a future problem. Thanks you your effort, we can continue to clear away that problem by continuing to use the Ranger. At least… until he falls. I will send word to the Witch King and order him to feign defeat at Minas Morgul and allow in into Talion's hands. For the moment, he will hold it against us, but the power of the ring, cannot be undone. One day, perhaps in a few years, if his will is strong enough, he will fall, and become one of the Nine. Upon that day, Minas Morgul shall return to us, but until then, we can use Talion to continue weeding out the pillars of the Mordor Orc and begin replacing them."

"And it would serve as a distraction for the eyes of the West. If they see a rebellion from Minas Morgul with active attempts to retake it, they'll be more inclined to not suspect our silence for a few more years. Could work…" Lilith hummed, glancing at Sauron. Was it the best plan? No. Was it something that they could use? Absolutely. If they wanted the forces of the West to back off for a bit, giving the twins more time to prepare than they'd need something. This conflict against the Ranger and the Wraith was about to end, so leaving the door open for a conflict with just Talion could keep things going, with the added caveat that it had a built in timer where it would end. Eventually Talion would fall to the will of the Ring, becoming one of the Nazgûl. Eventually he'd fail, so they could just sit back and send all of their disposable minions at him, getting rid of those they no longer wanted, while replacing them with the newer more efficient versions, all the while, their own armies would never suspect what they were doing.

Their time here in Middle-Earth would come, but they still had more preparations to see to. The twins still wanted to capture Essos, or at least the western half of Essos before they turned back towards plans in Middle-Earth. They also needed to give Saruman time for his own schemes out in the western parts of Middle-Earth. There was also the buildup of their forces at Angmar, all of these things would take time, so the twins were more than happy to stall their plans, and by having a reason for it, their enemies would be less suspicious. Again, projecting an air of weakness, even if it wasn't real.

"It's my hope this helps you in some way. It has indeed been a long time since our falling out, and I admit to my part in it. I pushed you. I pressed upon your boundaries despite your warnings. I knew you well enough to know that in matters such as that you would not lie. Still… I do not regret my feelings, only that I allowed them to convince me that I knew better than you, how you would react to my attempts." Shelob spoke in apology, obvious regret appearing on her face. Her words did earn some surprise from Tauriel and Lilith, though Lilith also began to understand just why the spider was wearing her face and what had driven Sauron to walk away from her.

She had developed feelings for him, but he was bound by a promise he had made to himself, to remain faithful to Lilith until she regained her memories and decided how she felt about him. Until that day he would refrain from bedding another woman. Shelob had taken on the form of the woman he loved and attempted to seduce him, but he'd resisted her attempts until she broke his boundaries.

She knew she was right, even without needing to hear more. Her emotions were split on the matter. A part of her was angry, simply from the sheer audacity of the spider to try and wear her face to steal what didn't belong to her. Another part was flattered to know that wearing that face was part of the reason that could drive Sauron to physically remove himself from their relationship to avoid his feelings. The final part was curious as to just how deeply their feelings for each other had run, since it was obvious that Sauron had felt some sort of affection for her. Had he not, he wouldn't have felt the need to retreat from her, or he would have simply killed her for being a nuisance.

These differing feelings warred within her while Sauron continued to speak with her.

"I appreciate it, your effort to make amends. We can most certainly work with that. I'd very much like to continue speaking with you, however I must go and see to Celebrimbor and his new host. It's about time I claimed the New Ring." Sauron expressed with that typical smirk of his. He turned from her for a brief moment before stopping, he then smiled to himself and turned back to her, "Will you join us?"

Shelob stared back for a long moment before offering a small nod.

The quartet made their way to the top of Barad-Dûr, circumventing the Bright Lord's army. Upon their arrival they found Sauron's Avatar waiting, already shaped into the form of Annatar.

Shelob reacted with curiosity upon seeing it, but Sauron simply gave her a smirk and motioned them all to the shadows where they awaited the arrival of the Bright Lord and his newest vessel.

While they waited, Sauron sent word to the Witch-King, commanding him to put up a fight against Talion when he arrived, but ultimately concede Minas Morgul to him. Afterwards, they simply waited. It took a bit, but the Bright Lord's army began to attack Barad-Dûr, clashing with the fortresses defenders. Meanwhile the Bright Lord and the four magicals scaled the tower, or in the case of the magicals apparated, and snuck inside, finding their way to it's peak to confront Sauron.

Eltariel and the quartet, arrived to find the image of Annatar staring out over Gorgoroth. He turned to face the duo as they arrived, Celebrimbor stepping off of Eltariel's body so the two could fight separately.

"So you have retaken your old form." Celebrimbor noted.

"I wished for this reunion to be special, Celebrimbor. Have you finally chosen to submit to me?" The Avatar spoke, it's voice a deep resonance of darkness, it's eyes blazing a fiery orange.

"No, today is the day you fall. Today is the day, the power of the Bright Lord, comes to dominate these lands. All in Mordor shall know that a new power has risen. Here is where you fall, once and for all." Celebrimbor spoke.

"So be it." Annatar hummed drawing a sword and beginning to advance.

As he did, something dropped from above, the Revenant that had plagued them throughout their journey.

"Damn, this thing again." Sirius swore as he, and the other three magicals turned to face the undead monster.

"Never seems to learn does it." James agreed.

"We'll keep it busy, focus on him." Lily spoke to Eltariel her eyes focused on the advancing Revenant, only to catch sight of eye on them from the shadows.

She turned her gaze, and her eyes widened in surprise.

There in the shadows she spotted them. Aegon, and Lilith's Avatar, along with Tauriel, and Shelob.

"What?" Lily uttered is belief and confusion.

"LILS!" James shouted as the Revenant launched itself at her. She barely recovered and through up a shield to halt it's attack.

As the Revenant engaged the magicals, Annatar fought against Celebrimbor and Eltariel.

The duo called upon the full powers of the New Ring and the Light of Galadriel to withstand Annatar's assault. All the while the real Sauron observed with a smirk. Shelob stood beside him, watching as the battle in her vision played out, just as she'd seen it. She did not understand. That was quite apparently the Dark Lord, but so was the man by her side.

How could he be in two places at once? She knew of no spell of craft that could allow such a thing. Yet here it was before her.

The fight continued, shaking Barad-Dûr itself. As Celebrimbor and Eltariel began to overpower the Dark Lord's avatar, so too did the wizards begin to throw back the Revenant. Now knowing it's tricks and abilities, they had a much easier time fighting it.

Suddenly, Sauron's Avatar was forced to it's knees and as it was, Celebrimbor and Eltariel advanced on it, ready to use the power of the New Ring to dominate the Dark Lord and take command of all of Mordor.

They placed their hands upon Annatar's face, the power of the New Ring rushing into the Avatar's body.

Sauron felt it instantly through his connection to the avatar. He felt Celebrimbor's will seek to dominate it, and it quickly did so, considering the body had no will of it's own. For a moment, the duo felt they had success as the blue light of the Bright Lord flooded the eyes on Avatar. The effect lasted for only a moment as Sauron used the connection to the Avatar through the ring it wore, to reassert his control.

In a sudden movement the avatar grabbed Celebrimbor's and Eltariel's hand, and with a cruel grin, drew a knife and cut off her pointer and middle finger, severing the New Ring from her body, and separating her and Celebrimbor.

She fell to the ground clutching at her wound, while Celebrimbor struggled against the Avatar's grasp.

"You were a fool Celebrimbor, to believe that the power of the New Ring could overcome the will of the One." Sauron declared as he advanced, all attention being drawn to him.

Celebrimbor turned his gaze towards the advancing form of Sauron. The Dark Lord smiled at his ancient foe and held up the hand where the One Ring sat. Despite being little more than blue orbs, Celebrimbor's eyes filled with horror as he recognized the One.

"No!" Eltariel gasped as she too spotted the One Ring upon his finger, instantly recognizing it and knowing it's meaning.

She rolled over and scrambled towards the New Ring, only for Lilith to rush past Sauron to tackle the elven assassin, pinning her, and driving a knife through her hand that carried the light of Galadriel, destroying said light in the process.

"The time of the elves is over. You could see it. That is why you betrayed the ranger. That is why you abandoned him. You took a gamble, and you failed." Lilith whispered to her, as the elf gasped and struggled against the blade pierced through her hand, pinning her in place.

"NO!" Celebrimbor shouted as he struggled against the Avatar's grip, as Sauron knelt over the New Ring and reached down towards it.

Slowly his fingers cupped the ring and he lifted it from the ground. He held it up at eye level, and passed a cruel smile towards his ancient adversary. He then clasped the ring in his palm and began flooding his will into it. Born of his craft, the New Ring quickly began to submit to the authority and dominion of the One. Celebrimbor roared, fighting to escape Annatar's grasp.

In a final desperate attempt to escape the construct's grip, he pulled it into and embrace, flooding the remainder of his power into it, to try and possess the body.

Sauron felt Celebrimbor's spirit pass into the body of the Avatar, attempting to push out Sauron's own spirit and control.

Had he still been in possession of the New Ring, that might have worked. However without it, he could not withstand the might of Sauron.

Sauron shaped his power into a cage around the spirit of Celebrimbor even as the elf fought back. The body of his avatar rapidly began to deteriorate and fall to ashes, leaving nothing but a burning flame of orange and blue light swirling before them. That light rose into the air, and suddenly anchored itself to the closest embodiment of Sauron's power it could find, which just so happened to be Barad-Dûr itself.

In a blinding flash of light, an explosion of fire formed between the twin prongs upon the tower's peak. Shaped like a great eye, Celebrimbor, as well as Sauron's own shadow, remained locked within this flame, visible in it's center like the pupil of a great flaming eye.

Sauron could still feel that extended essence, even as the body of his Avatar broke apart from the force of his and Celebrimbor's internal battle. He could no longer move, yet he still possessed many of his faculties, even in that state.

He hummed in wonderment at the sight, before lowering his gaze back down to the New Ring. Will a dark chuckle he took the ring, and placed it upon his finger, opposite of the One Ring. For now, Celebrimbor would remain shackled within the essence of his own spirit here in Mordor. In time, Sauron would wear down the elf's spirit and consume his memories and essence. Upon that day, Sauron would regain access to his Avatar in full, he'd just need a new body for it. He'd also gain access to all of Celebrimbor's knowledge and skill, which would be added to his own, further improving his already immense skills as a smith and ringmaker.

With the power of the New Ring, it took no more than a thought to end the assault on the fortress. The army of the Bright Lord felt his will pass into them. Once more all of, or nearly all of Mordor was under his control.

"Keep an eye on her." Lilith commanded Tauriel as she rose to her feet, leaving her elven slave to watch over the elven assassin.

Tauriel stared down at the fallen elf, sorrow, anger, and disappointment written on her face. Eltariel moved to try and grab the knife in her hand, only for Tauriel to draw one of her own knives and kneel beside the elf, placing it to her throat.

"It would be wiser to try something. You wont like what comes next." Tauriel said to her, her tone properly conveying the hurt and loss she felt at having to do this. She hated that her masters had been right. She hated that she had put faith in them only to watch them turn on each other and abandon their principles. Eltariel herself had gone further than most. She had come to Mordor to hunt the Nazgûl, to hunt the ringbearers. And yet, despite her insistence to Talion to be cautious with the New Ring, the moment it was offered to her, she took it without question. Seems all of those warning should have been directed elsewhere.

Lilith approached Sauron who had lowered his gaze to the quartet of magicals that were now backing away. Somewhere in the confusion and fighting they'd finally destroyed the Revenant, not that it mattered anymore.

All four had their wands drawn and stared down the duo. Aegon smirked, as did Lilith, she glanced at him and asked the question.

"Do you wish to try?" She wondered.

"Of course. There can be no hurt in it. If it fails, than they will die." Sauron answered, stepping forward, ready to make an attempt with them, knowing full well they'd likely refuse to believe him, and he'd be forced to end them. Regardless though, in honor of the love he'd once held for them he was going to try, at least once. Lilith, it seemed, was in agreement. At least one try, in honor of the past they shared.

The two Dark Lords stared down their ancient family, all the while the confrontation was observed by Shelob and the elves. All curious as to what would happen now.

Words would be shared, and if those words did not cut a path towards success than the blade would end the conversation. That, all knew before the conversation even began. It was time to see just how deep the manipulations of Dumbledore truly ran, and the twins would see for themselves if it was possible to undo his conniving plots, or if they would have to add just one more layer of anger onto him for this plan of his.

Only time would tell, and with that, Sauron began to speak. Little did either of the twins know, this conversation would open the doorway to a future, neither of them could have predicted.

-To Be Continued-

There you guys go. Finally got this one done, it's been a trying endeavor. Took a bit of a hiatus and worked on this sparingly, but I've made it back, and I'm continuing this one. Hope you all enjoy and hope you're ready for more in the coming weeks, Happy Mother's day in a couple of days, hope you all have an enjoyable time.