Prolouge
The suns first rays of light touched and caressed the landscape before her and the world seemed to dwell in a calm not seen in mortal lifetime. As she looked down over the fields and woods below her a cold wind casued her to shiver and she swept the warm blanket tighter around the child in her arms. She lowered her head and whispered soothing words in elvish and the child opend its eyes and looked at her. “Why did this happen to me” she said and kissed the child on its forehead, this was not her child and how well she knew it.
A week had passed since she last met Isilorbor and Lithduel, the childs parents, they had left the child in her care and it seemed that the man who she had hated for so long had forgiven her actions and now trusted her once more. She felt a shamed, she had betrayed her friends so many times yet they always stood there like a rock to hold on to in stormy waters. “Don’t give in to hate as you grow older” she whispered to the child and her memories took her back to the day she let hate control her actions. The army had fought, divided in two groups, to save Isilorbor from the orcs he was captured by that time. It almost cost her her life and the lives of her company, all because of the failed leadership of the one Isilorbor had appointed his second in command. Tired, wet and furious she spoke out to the man and when they finally had gotten Isilorbor back to safety and all but Eowin had left the housse she confronted the badly wounded Isilorbor about his descision. All she got in reply was evil words and even in his bad state he taunted her. Darkness filled her heart and as her thoughts made her remember her lost child, the child the bedridden man infront of her had taken from her, she grasped the dagger at her side. “A life for a life” she had said and brought down the dagger stabbing Isilorbor once in his gut and then left the man to his fate. “Little did I know what was to come of it...” she said to herself as she made her way down the dwindling path, holding the child close. When she had made her way all the way down she saw a body liying behind a dead tree and her memories took her once again back to a time in the army when brothers and sisters fought eachother.
“All I did was to ask a simple question” she whispered as she hurried past the corpse. After her act of stabbing Isilorbor the army started to be divided and it all came from the question she had asked many of her balltebrothers and sisters. In her dark mood she had asked them if they joined the army to fight for one mans path to redemption or if they joined to fight for the helpless and free people of Eriador. The answers was to be expected her and soon more and more of the armys soldiers spoke out and confronted their leader. With Lithduel wanteing to keep Isilorbor away from the army and if possilbe making him leave it she had begged Irmiel to speed up the events and casue the army to shatter iteself. But she did not have to do much as she soon learnt that the rebellion was soon to casue an all out war amognst friends. But as the threat of violance ioncreased Lithduel withdrew her plan and tried to get Irmiel to stop the rebellion and unite the ary once more. With a heavy heart she took it upon her to take leadership and stop the madness her questions had caused.
It was a hard task but she made it through and now the army once more stands united. She sighed once more and she could now see the island of Tinnundir in the horisont and with a deep breath she begun to make her way towards the vast lake. The sun now warming her body and soul caused her heavy heart to stirr and she wondered perhaps if the rangers at the island could help her find what she was seeking. “Time has come to correct the misstakes I have done in this world little one” she said to the child. “I need to find both my lover and the dark shards once more”, she stopped and sat down drying the tears in her eyes and as she gazed at the clear water in the lake she thought she could hear a familliar voice in the wind.
The scroll of darkness
During her stay in Evendim Irmiel searched to old records kept by the rangers and found a badly damaged scroll. It hails from the time of the fall of Arnor and it tells the story of a profecy that the Witch-king laid upon the ancient demon so long ago. But as it is written in the black-speech she had to seek help in getting it translated. She found an old man at the sthores of the lake who the others claimed to be a scholar of old. This is what the old man told her: "Listen carefully as the words I shall speak grow attached to your ever learning mind. The stars are moving in the sky and soon the time for darkness has come and the winged master shall once more be brought into the world. Long ago the witch-king sealded the fate of the last king of Arnor, Arvendui. It is said when his spirit reveals itself to the guardians of the shards the demon is to be awaken. Should the shards fall into the dark hands of the enemy they will seek a pure vessel for the demon. I have translated the writings and the words the witch-king spoke as he left the ancient city in the demons hands."
Find the young and purest soul
And with it you shall grow whole
Your heart gathered in pieces four
Then you shall walk on lifes shore
Amongst the tombs of old
With the revealing of the king
Your enemys shall grow bold
The songs of victory you shall sing
Eyes of blue and hunted by shame
New born shall shatter and fall
His death seals with a sword of flame
With raven hair he shall grow tall
With dark power and darker still
Live and cause fatality
Arise and slay forever will
Unless you loose immortality
Irmiel writes the words down in her notebook and thanks the man for his help. As she makes her way back from the island she is staying on she become witness to a dark and forboding sight...
What lies is faith
“Yes, I killed her.”
Irmiel looked Isilorbor straight in his eyes and calmly spoke once more. A singel tear runs down her cheek as she awaits Isilorbors reply, the time had come sooner then she had hoped for, the time of truth. The ranger had made her tell the ful truth to the army and now she told the truth to Isilorbor as well.
”I am not surprised” he replied with a cold voice. The two locked eyes and the room seemed to shrink and close in on all that witnessed them. Isilorbor leaned forward and rested his hands on the table, still not taking his eyes from her.
“I demand a duel, fallen.”
Irmiel looked at the others in the room, the ranger, Rasheke and Merriadon. She could not refuse this, she had no choice but to accept.
“And I will accept it” she said with a firm voice.
The world around her seemed dim and the cold morning air tok he rmemories back. She had fought one of her truest friends, fought with true hate. And she had killed her. She could hear voices telling her not to go through with this, telling her to run. She ignored them and drew her sword. Isilorbor had insisted they fought over by the Kin House, outside, in the ruined half circle. She looked upon he man whos wife she saw fall down the falls in Rivendell and her heart decided. “To first blood” Isilorbor said and charged at her with grim determination.
”To first blood” she replied and threw her sword at the ground.
Meanwhile in the northern lands of Evendim
Close by the lake, a group of hooded men and women could be seen. They carried amongst them a stretcher and upon it, a small child. Thier vices echoing in dark prayers and at the front of th egroup a man basking in blue light rasied his hand. “Halt! We rest here! The group of men stopped and sat down, one of the women took the child from the stretcher and gave it some food. Some had got to their feet and begun to set upa tent to shield their leader from the rising sun. They had walked for many days now, taking hidden paths across the mountains so the army would not find them. The leader smiled underneath his black hood as he thought of the great shceme he had sat in motion. The army has all been fooled, he thought, they will never get here in time. And even if they did, his eyes fell upon the child now sleeping in the womans arms and grinned. The false rumours and clues scattered amongst the grave robbers of this land would be more then enough to hold the army at bay.
”My lord, it is done” one of the hooded men said.
”Very well, bring the child.” The man in black said and walked into the tent, smiling to himself.
It took some time before the woman entereed with teh child, her eyes filled with something her dark master had not felt in his heart for a hundred years.
”My lord” She bowed her head. “The child, as you ordered” she sat down and placed the child on one of the cusions between her and her master.
The man rose to his feet grasping his bonewhite staff to get some support. As he kneeled over the child he spoke in the dark language of mordor and the veins on the childs head became appearant as they pulsed and slowly the childs skin turend paler and paler for every word spoken. The woman looked on with horror, she had grown affectionate with the child and her heart beat ever so fast. The black hooded man suddenly stopped and the childs skin turned slowly back to normal. He leaned his head to one side and listend, smiling.
“Your heart is beating fast, servant”
The woman quickly looked down at the ground and covered her face with her hood.
”Your heart seems...”, the man thought, “Scared” he then said with a laughter.
The woman hid her hands within her robes gently grasping the thin dagger she had hidden there before she entered the tent.
”No, master. It beats fast of anticipation”
She bowed her head and rose to her feet. The man looked at her and reached out his hand towards her, still smiling.
”Then take my hand, servant, and I shall still your anticipation”
It all happend so fast, the woman lunged her elf at her master with the dagger held high. The child screamed and the hooded man fell backwards as he tried to protect himself. Again and again the woman stabbed him, and the noise outside made it appearant that she had been discovered. She threw the blood drenched dagger to the side, quickly knelt besdie the child and picked it up, but just as she stepped outside the tent a dark laughter echoed from within the shadows in the tent.
The final chapter begins...
Irmiel moved silently around the tents, her steps not giving a single sound. Many of the soldiers vwere asleep and the guards who were awake seemed to have their mind on other things. She made sure the cloak hid her face before she continued. “Why am I doing this?” she tought to herself as she moved even closer to her goal. Infront of her was now the gate to Annuminas itself, all clues and traces had led her hear. She quickly hid in the shadows as three guards past the tent and her heart started to pound like smith pounds on his steel. In all her long life she never had been so scared, not even when she left Mirkwood to search fo rher sister did she feel as she do now.
She slowly sat down, still hiding in the shadows and a sudden memory flashed through her mind. It was of her sister, how they sang and played their intrusments in the halls of the king so long ago. She remembered how they danced and played the tunes of old their mother had tought them. The swirls and the laughter of her older sister, and the joy of being with her. She remembered how she took a wrong step and how she fell on the floor in the hall. The ones who saw the two girls stopped what tehy were doing and they all turned towards them. Irmiel remembered the feeling of guilt and shame as it was not allowed to play in the kings hall. Her sister reached out with a hand for her to help her up. As Irmiel took her hand her sister said: “My dear little Irmiel, what will you do when you do not have your sister to help you up?”
Irmiel shrugged at the memory, her sister had been right. Who had she to reach out to, her lover? No, he was always busy with his own agenda even though he tried once in a while to stay close. And Isilorbor, the man who calls her friend but throws her to the wolves at the slightest chance. No, she was alone, no one would be able to help her with this task. She had made a promise, to Lithduel when she learnt that she still lived. She had promised her to bring Gilendil back. What she did not told her was the plan how to do it. A sound of a horn echoed within the walls of the city and the angmarims outside suddenly all woke and ran around, preparing for something. Irmeil krept even deeper in the shadows and turned her eyes at the large gate of Annuminas. Rows upon rows of soldiers marched out from the gate and in the fron was what seemed to be a captain of some sort, all dressed in black. She saw her chance and moved closer to the gate, the angmarim robe she had taken form an not so alert guard made her look like one of them.
As the last of the soldiers passed the gate she hurried through the gate, mimiking the angmarims around her as she slowly walked the streets of the city. The feeling of hatered and the stench of mortals hang in the air. She frowned and leaned agasint a nearby wall. The city streets were dirty and strange beasts could be seen from time to time wandering the alleys of this once glorious place. Irmiel stood still for what seemed to be an eternity before she decided to continue her plan. The night slowly turned to morning and the rays of the sun seemed pale and weak as they hit the white ruins. Indaylight the chances of success would be slim so she hurried her steps closer to the iron doors before her. Just as she was about to open the heavy door a voice of a man sounded behind her.
“You there, stop!”
A heavy hand was layed on her shoulder and Irmiel froze.
”That door is forbidden for acolytes and servants” the voice continued.
Irmiel slowly let her hands fall to her side and turned around, keeping her head held low.
”I’m sorry, but I seem to be lost” not the wisest of answers she thought to herself.
The man let go of her shoulder and took a step closer and grabbed her by the waist with both his hands. A grin on his face as he spoke.
”Well then, perhaps I can show you the way...”
Irmiel laughed silently and lifted her head and looked straight into the mans eyes and she smiled when the fear spread in the mans face as he realised that this was no mere acolyte or simple woman.
”Y..you are an...” was all he managed to say before Irmiel drove a slender dagger through the side of his throat. The man letting out a gurgling noise before he collapsed on the ground. Irmiel quickly hid the dagger and looked around, no one had seen them. She pushed the man into the running water a few feet away and then walked up to the door once more.
”Foolish atan” she said as she walked through the door and the sound of the heavy iron door echoed in the dark tunnel before her as it slammed shut.
EPILOUGE
”It’s a trap!”
Isilorbor cut down one of the attacking angmarims as he fell back towards the others. There wasn’t much of the army left and the ones that had fallen now lay beneth the feet of their enemies. But still the army fought on, determined to reach teh safe haven of the ranger camp hidden wihtin the city of Annuminas. They had arrived by boat, all acording to plan and there had been little resitance at the docks. But as soon as they entered the twisting streets and fallen ruins further on the enemy fell upon them like a great wave covers the shore. A dark laughter echoed across the city and the fell voice of the demon was heard in every soldiers mind. It told of his victory and how he soon would rise oce more to slay the free souls of the world. But still the army did not falter slowly but surely they made their way through their enemys, cutting them down like a peasant use a scythe to ut down the weat.
The ground sudenly began to shake and as lightning struck one of the high towers a flash of blue light lit up the night sky. The ruins started to tremble and some fall as the ground twisted and bent in anger. The army of Annuminas, their enemys, halted their attacks and withdrew, to the army it was as if something had frightend them. Wounded Isilorbor ordered the army to push ahead, this was their chance to reach the safetyu of the camp and perhaps even the last chance to save his son. Some got crushed by large boulders falling from the ruins and some were shot by the enemys dark crossbows. But as suddenly as the ground ad starte to shake it stopped, and with it a horn signaled the regroupment of the Angmarims.
”We must hurry!” cried Gurnar and grabbed hold to a recruit who had been paralyzed by fear.
But as soon as he grabbed the young mans hand a hail of corssbow bolts rained down upon them, slaying the recruit before his eyes and almost piereced his dwarven armour. He turned back and started to run, stopping only to help Eowin to her feet. As the army passed a narrow street someone yelled at them to take cover, and shortly afterwards arrows came flying, hitting the black angmarims and causing them to falter some. The rangers of Esteldin had heard them and came to their rescue. As many rangers rushed past the army to engage the enemy the army made their final way to the rangers secret camp. There they were quickly shown to one of the tents and they recieved the information that they enemy had found the camp and was preparing to encircle them and slay them all.
”Who is still standing?!” Isilorbor dried some blood from his face and waited an answer.
“Gurnar!” ”Ethelceo!” ”Eowin!”
Their voices seemed tired but filled with determination. Isilorbor nodded and took a waterbottle from the ones given to them by the rangers and drank. They had to press on, time was of the essence but the army had been wittled down to just four brave individuals. Isilorbor threw the waterbottle to Gurnar and nodded in respect at the dwarf. They all seemd to know that this could be their end but when there is still breaths taken, hope lives. ”The gate to the east is safe, for now sir” said a young ranger to Isilorbor before he hurried away. The army, well the small group, got to their feet and readied their gear for one final attempt. And in silence they ran through the east gate. Meanwhile Irmiel staggered back grsaping her right side, blood running down her leg revealed that she was badly wounded. The black hooded man smiled as he saw the fear in the elfs eyes, the two pieces of the shards glowing brightly on his chest. There was no one in the room but him and the cursed elven lady who had managed to sneak pass his guards. They were fighting in the highest floor in one of the great towers.
The light from a circle of braziers in the center of the room danced across the walls and in the middle of the circle layed the child. His eyes black and the veins onn his skull bright purple. Irmiel pushed herself from the wall and and stared at the man as she spoke. ”Release him from your wicked spell atan, and I might let you live.” she raised her sword and spat some bllod on the floor. The dark man laughed at her and stepped outside the circle, grasping the two shards at his possesion. His eyes all black and the grin on his lips showed that he did not take this threat seriously. The child began to twitch and its screams caused Irmiels heart to be even more relentess. As the man raised his hand the two sahrds began to pulse and slwoly they levitated fro his hand and began to cricle over the child. The sounds of the battle in the the crowded streets of the city coul dno tbe heard as a strange silent fileld the room, the child stopped screaming and the circle of braziers went out. All this time IRmiel had not taken her eyes of the child, she had decided what to do lon gbefore she made her way into this tower. The earth beneath the tower began to move and and a rumbling sound made he raware that it would not be long before the tower would collapse. She looked at the two blue shards, now floating over the childs head, and took a deep breath.
”Our lord wished for us to bring the terror of Arnor back into this world. And as I read the last incantation you cannot save the child”
The hooded man laughed and begun to speak in a dark and twisted tounge. The shards begun to pulse faster and the room shook as the raw power of ancient magic was called upon. Irmiel took a step forward towards the summoning circle, laughing.
“It seems you have forgotten something, did you not know?” She spat some more blood on the floor at her side. The incantaions stopped and the dark man looked at her and with a fell voice he asked.
”Know what, she-elf?”
”That the demon cannot be brought back without the other two shards” Irmiel replied with a laughter.
The two shards seemd to fade and theri light grow grow dim as the dark man tried everything in his might to still summon the demon. But as he spoke the last words the two shards levitated even higher in the room and with a sudden flash of blue light they fell down on the floor, dark and lifeless.
”No, it can’t be” the hooded man said an looked at the shards and then at Irmiel.
“What have you done elf!" He screamed and took a step forward grasping a dagger underneath his robe.
“I’ve done nothing atan, now release the child...”she blinked and shook her head as the world seemed to spin around her.
The dark man smiled, quite calm even though he had lost the power of the shards. He looked down at the screaming child and without warning he drew his dagger and threw himself towards the child. Irmiel leapt forwards as she attempted to stop the man by thrusting her blade through his chest. But it was too late, as she felt the sword going through the chest of the man, the childs screams stopped. Her heart froze as the man looked her into her eyes with a smile on his lips.
”Pure or not, the child does not leave with you...”
Irmiel let go of her sword and the man slowly fell backwards and as he landed on the floor the whole tower began to shake, tremours appearing on every wall. Ther was no time, she bent down an dtook the childs lifeless body and ran down the stairs. She did not know were to run, but down it went and all the time tremours caused the tower to slowly fall appart. She threw herself out of the door as she reached the bottom floor and as soon as she was somewhat safe the whole tower collapsed...
