Sarah drummed her fingers nervously on the chair. She didn't like the way the Witch-King had been staring at her for the past hour. He had fed her a fine feast and since she didn't see any orcs about making food, she assumed that the Witch-King could cook. This both surprised and disturbed her at the same time.
"So," she paused, "what can I call you?"
"Witch-King will suffice," he said smoothly.
"Right," she said shifting. "So, Witch-King why am I here?"
"Because it is my will."
"And what of my friends?"
"They are not my concern," the Witch-King said as he walked closer to her.
"But they are mine," Sarah said standing before him.
"I see. . .well, then let me tell you this," he said lightly touching her hair, "you were brought here because you wanted to be here."
"What?!" Sarah backed away.
"Isn't it obvious? We could all sense it from afar. You all craved adventure; you could sense that it was unfinished. Do you deny this?"
Sarah backed into the wall and quietly said, "No, I don't deny this."
The Witch-King extended his hand to her. "You were brought back to serve Sauron, to be mine. Isn't that right?"
Sarah did the only thing she could at the moment to avoid answering the statement. . .she fainted. The Witch-King stared at Sarah's prone form and chuckled. He then lifted her, carrying her to his fell beast, and flew toward Barad Dûr. He would have his fun later, whether she was conscious or unconscious.
Kristi trembled as she looked up to Sauron. She had nightmares of this moment and she could sense that Sauron knew.
Sauron spoke, "kalus, kalors," and then he lightly put a finger under her chin, "kordatar."
Kristi swallowed and in her mind she thought, 'Goth Sauron.'
Sauron chuckled. "Your mind speaks what your mouth cannot my vajaz sharbtur."
"Please," Kristi said in a whisper, "don't call me that."
"It is what you are," Sauron said. "Say you are my servant."
"No. . ."
Sauron chuckled. "Ah. . .so you choose the hard way. The way of. . .mundog."
Kristi trembled more, "please! No!"
The Nazgûl took her by the arms, lifting her to her feet.
Sauron laughed, "Amal shufar, at rrug."
Kristi started to panic and vainly struggled.
Alex rode beside Legolas and Gimli and Merry. She swallowed nervously wondering, 'what the hell am I doing?' Her hands trembled as she held onto the reins and she barely paid attention to her surroundings. She stared in awe at Mount Doom and Sauron's tower. She pictured her friends in there and her heart leapt to her throat.
Sarah opened her eyes slowly and thought, 'what happened? Oh gods. . .did he get me drunk? Wait. . .no. . .I didn't have any alcohol. God, I'm such a girl, I fainted.'
The Witch-King looked to her, "are you enjoying the view?"
Sarah blinked and her jaw fell slack as she received a nice aerial view of Mordor.
The Witch-King chuckled at her silence. "I'll take that as a yes."
Kristi's screams echoed throughout the tower. It did not take a mathematician to conclude that whip plus Nazgûl equals pain. Though Kristi was an English major and loathed math with her very being, she found it ironic that she thought of a mathematical equation. It must mean that they were breaking her down. After a while the strike of the whip became numb as she became weaker. She breathed in pain itself. After a time the Nazgûl tossed her before Sauron and left them alone.
Sauron knelt beside her and lifted her chin. He gently wiped a tear from her cheek. "This is want you wanted. . .revel in it."
She blinked. "What?"
"It was you who opened the dark doorway after all," Sauron said in a silky voice. "You just had to keep searching, to keep wishing. . .this is your fault."
"No. . ."
"Oh yes, but of course it wouldn't have been possible with that creation called friendship. It is powerful isn't it? It's able to travel through the realms. Through you and your friends I will travel to your Earth and I will rule!"
"You will never rule there!"
Sauron lifted her by the collar of her shirt and slammed her against the wall. Kristi let out a cry; she pushed all thoughts of pain out of her mind. It was better her, than her friends. Alex and Sarah flinched from where they were. They could sense that Kristi was in danger. They concentrated their energy on giving her and each other strength.
A strong power pulsated through the air. The fell beasts reared and felt the pull of the Ring. Sarah yelped as the fell beast did a somersault in the air. The Witch-King whipped his head toward Mount Doom. "The Ring. . ." He looked down to the army below and threw Sarah off of the fell beast. He chanted and the fell beast flapped its wings. The air about Sarah caused her to almost float toward the ground.
Merry looked up, "it's a bird!"
Pippin paled, "it's a fell beast!"
Alex nearly fell off her horse, "it's Sarah!"
Eomer dismounted and held out his arms, catching Sarah. Sarah blinked slowly, looked to Eomer, back up to the sky, then back to him. . .and started laughing insanely. It was good to be alive. Though she made a mental note to throttle the Witch-King later, if there ever was a later.
Alex ran over to her. "Are you all right?!"
Sarah nodded. "Yes and I'm surprisingly invigorated." She looked around. "Where's Kristi?"
Alex blinked. "Wasn't she with you?"
Alex and Sarah slowly turned to look at Barad Dûr.
Sauron laughed wildly as he felt the power of his Ring. "Yes! My victory is close at hand! Soon, very soon all shall be mine." He set Kristi down, dragging her over to the window, to look out at Mount Doom. "The Nazgûl will retrieve what is mine."
Kristi smirked knowing that they wouldn't. Sauron turned to her and froze. "No. . .what is happening?"
Kristi quickly backed away from him, but he grabbed onto her. "No! I will not be destroyed alone!"
Alex and Sarah watched as Mount Doom was destroyed. They cheered with everyone as it erupted.
Alex pumped her fist into the air, "We can go back home!"
Sarah grinned, "Sauron is defeated!"
They both stared in horror as the tower started to crumble. "No!"
They went to run toward it, but Eomer and Legolas held them back. They had Sam and Frodo on their minds as well, but they could do nothing about the situation.
The air filled with the smell of volcanic vapors and a wave of heat assaulted their senses. The ground consumed Sauron's army and the fell beasts seemed to be inhaled by the falling tower. Alex and Sarah clutched onto each other as they stared at the wreckage in mute horror.
"Kristi. . ." Alex whispered.
They wanted to dig through the wreckage, but it was obvious to all that they needed their rest. They didn't speak to anyone and were close to tears. They were relieved to hear that Frodo and Sam were saved. That seemed to cheer everyone up around them. . .but it didn't feel right.
Alex quietly sat in a chair in Gondor, staring at Sarah. "It's my fault."
"Stop blaming yourself, it's my fault."
They both sighed, then blinked as a voice said, "no, it's my fault you idiots."
They slowly turned their heads to a very bandaged, yet very alive Kristi.
"Kristi!"
Alex whapped her upside the head. "You scared us to death!"
Sarah gave her a look, "Don't do that again!" She paused, "Wait. . .how did you?
"All will be explained in time," Kristi said cryptically.
Alex and Sarah looked at each other, and then went to give her a hug.
Kristi winced then blushed. "Guys, there's a hobbit orgy going on next door. . .this isn't right."
They all slowly turned to the excited noises from the other room and burst out laughing.
Days later after Aragorn's coronation they all made their farewells, for it was time to part ways. They tried to warn Faramir of Eowyn's cooking ability, but he merely winked slyly claiming, 'I'm not marrying her for her cooking.' They got in a mushroom war with Merry and Pip; the three girls were proclaimed the victors after getting Sam to be their ally. Gimli ended up giving them all hugs, which shocked everyone, especially the girls because they had just taken showers and thus needed to take another. Legolas gave them all a hug and Alex a kiss on the cheek, whispering Elvish to her that made her blush. Frodo shook all of their hands and he lightly touched Kristi's scar, causing them both to share a knowing look. Elrond and Arwen gave them regal nods. . .which frankly was good enough for the girls. Aragorn gave them hugs, after all he didn't want to be outdone by Legolas, of course since Arwen was standing there he was not about to kiss anyone. Gandalf bowed his head to them and went to walk away.
Alex blinked, "wait, aren't you going to send us back?"
Sarah looked confused and wondered why Kristi seemed so calm.
"We don't need his help guys," Kristi said ever so non-chalantly.
Alex turned to her, "Oh?"
"We've earned the power to go back ourselves," Kristi replied. "It was believed that our Earth was a place that lacked magic. But it really doesn't, it was the magic within us that got us here and it is the magic within us that will send us back."
Sarah blinked, "what?"
"It's how I survived the fall of the tower," Kristi said. "I believed, as corny as that may sound. In this place of magic we possess more magic and powers than normal, it fine-tuned our senses and our friendship is strengthened by it. All we have to do is close our eyes and say the first words that come to our mind."
Alex blinked, "That will actually work?"
"Just trust me," Kristi said with a grin.
Sarah hesitated at the grin, but nodded and Alex did the same.
"Aiya vorima nilmë," they repeated in unison. "Hail everlasting friendship."
When they opened their eyes, the sun peeked out from behind the rain clouds and alighted upon them.
"It worked," Alex said with a smile as she opened her eyes.
"Yay for friendship," Sarah said.
They each did an unenthused, Monty Python yay.
Alex and Sarah admired the scenery as Kristi absently rubbed her scar. It would never go away, just as the memories of Middle-Earth would never leave the three. What they didn't know was that Sauron and the Nazgûl were not destroyed. They lived on in her memories and in a way that gave them power, of course never enough power to truly rule. They would become her muses and be an ever-present reminder of their adventure. However, in the end friendship was the ultimate power and that would never die. There is a magic within us and that powers the grandest adventures of them all.
Black Speech Translations (yes, the real Kristi knows Black Speech):
Kalus-archer
Kalors-calvalry
Kordata-swordsman (feminine)
Goth Sauron-Lord Sauron
vajaz sharbtur-maiden servant
mundog-torture
Amal shufar, at rrug-"Where there's a whip, there's a way." ::absently shudders::
Author's Note: The story is now complete, unless of course Alex, Kristi, and Sarah find themselves in another adventure. Of course some would say that their journeys together in life might be considered the ultimate adventure of all. Thanks go out to my friends for providing me with much inspiration and providing reviews (thanks go out to all reviewers). ::Nazgûl clear throats:: Oh yeah, thanks go out to my Muses as well. Please review and may all of you all find adventures in your life. ::poses winningly near the review button::
"So," she paused, "what can I call you?"
"Witch-King will suffice," he said smoothly.
"Right," she said shifting. "So, Witch-King why am I here?"
"Because it is my will."
"And what of my friends?"
"They are not my concern," the Witch-King said as he walked closer to her.
"But they are mine," Sarah said standing before him.
"I see. . .well, then let me tell you this," he said lightly touching her hair, "you were brought here because you wanted to be here."
"What?!" Sarah backed away.
"Isn't it obvious? We could all sense it from afar. You all craved adventure; you could sense that it was unfinished. Do you deny this?"
Sarah backed into the wall and quietly said, "No, I don't deny this."
The Witch-King extended his hand to her. "You were brought back to serve Sauron, to be mine. Isn't that right?"
Sarah did the only thing she could at the moment to avoid answering the statement. . .she fainted. The Witch-King stared at Sarah's prone form and chuckled. He then lifted her, carrying her to his fell beast, and flew toward Barad Dûr. He would have his fun later, whether she was conscious or unconscious.
Kristi trembled as she looked up to Sauron. She had nightmares of this moment and she could sense that Sauron knew.
Sauron spoke, "kalus, kalors," and then he lightly put a finger under her chin, "kordatar."
Kristi swallowed and in her mind she thought, 'Goth Sauron.'
Sauron chuckled. "Your mind speaks what your mouth cannot my vajaz sharbtur."
"Please," Kristi said in a whisper, "don't call me that."
"It is what you are," Sauron said. "Say you are my servant."
"No. . ."
Sauron chuckled. "Ah. . .so you choose the hard way. The way of. . .mundog."
Kristi trembled more, "please! No!"
The Nazgûl took her by the arms, lifting her to her feet.
Sauron laughed, "Amal shufar, at rrug."
Kristi started to panic and vainly struggled.
Alex rode beside Legolas and Gimli and Merry. She swallowed nervously wondering, 'what the hell am I doing?' Her hands trembled as she held onto the reins and she barely paid attention to her surroundings. She stared in awe at Mount Doom and Sauron's tower. She pictured her friends in there and her heart leapt to her throat.
Sarah opened her eyes slowly and thought, 'what happened? Oh gods. . .did he get me drunk? Wait. . .no. . .I didn't have any alcohol. God, I'm such a girl, I fainted.'
The Witch-King looked to her, "are you enjoying the view?"
Sarah blinked and her jaw fell slack as she received a nice aerial view of Mordor.
The Witch-King chuckled at her silence. "I'll take that as a yes."
Kristi's screams echoed throughout the tower. It did not take a mathematician to conclude that whip plus Nazgûl equals pain. Though Kristi was an English major and loathed math with her very being, she found it ironic that she thought of a mathematical equation. It must mean that they were breaking her down. After a while the strike of the whip became numb as she became weaker. She breathed in pain itself. After a time the Nazgûl tossed her before Sauron and left them alone.
Sauron knelt beside her and lifted her chin. He gently wiped a tear from her cheek. "This is want you wanted. . .revel in it."
She blinked. "What?"
"It was you who opened the dark doorway after all," Sauron said in a silky voice. "You just had to keep searching, to keep wishing. . .this is your fault."
"No. . ."
"Oh yes, but of course it wouldn't have been possible with that creation called friendship. It is powerful isn't it? It's able to travel through the realms. Through you and your friends I will travel to your Earth and I will rule!"
"You will never rule there!"
Sauron lifted her by the collar of her shirt and slammed her against the wall. Kristi let out a cry; she pushed all thoughts of pain out of her mind. It was better her, than her friends. Alex and Sarah flinched from where they were. They could sense that Kristi was in danger. They concentrated their energy on giving her and each other strength.
A strong power pulsated through the air. The fell beasts reared and felt the pull of the Ring. Sarah yelped as the fell beast did a somersault in the air. The Witch-King whipped his head toward Mount Doom. "The Ring. . ." He looked down to the army below and threw Sarah off of the fell beast. He chanted and the fell beast flapped its wings. The air about Sarah caused her to almost float toward the ground.
Merry looked up, "it's a bird!"
Pippin paled, "it's a fell beast!"
Alex nearly fell off her horse, "it's Sarah!"
Eomer dismounted and held out his arms, catching Sarah. Sarah blinked slowly, looked to Eomer, back up to the sky, then back to him. . .and started laughing insanely. It was good to be alive. Though she made a mental note to throttle the Witch-King later, if there ever was a later.
Alex ran over to her. "Are you all right?!"
Sarah nodded. "Yes and I'm surprisingly invigorated." She looked around. "Where's Kristi?"
Alex blinked. "Wasn't she with you?"
Alex and Sarah slowly turned to look at Barad Dûr.
Sauron laughed wildly as he felt the power of his Ring. "Yes! My victory is close at hand! Soon, very soon all shall be mine." He set Kristi down, dragging her over to the window, to look out at Mount Doom. "The Nazgûl will retrieve what is mine."
Kristi smirked knowing that they wouldn't. Sauron turned to her and froze. "No. . .what is happening?"
Kristi quickly backed away from him, but he grabbed onto her. "No! I will not be destroyed alone!"
Alex and Sarah watched as Mount Doom was destroyed. They cheered with everyone as it erupted.
Alex pumped her fist into the air, "We can go back home!"
Sarah grinned, "Sauron is defeated!"
They both stared in horror as the tower started to crumble. "No!"
They went to run toward it, but Eomer and Legolas held them back. They had Sam and Frodo on their minds as well, but they could do nothing about the situation.
The air filled with the smell of volcanic vapors and a wave of heat assaulted their senses. The ground consumed Sauron's army and the fell beasts seemed to be inhaled by the falling tower. Alex and Sarah clutched onto each other as they stared at the wreckage in mute horror.
"Kristi. . ." Alex whispered.
They wanted to dig through the wreckage, but it was obvious to all that they needed their rest. They didn't speak to anyone and were close to tears. They were relieved to hear that Frodo and Sam were saved. That seemed to cheer everyone up around them. . .but it didn't feel right.
Alex quietly sat in a chair in Gondor, staring at Sarah. "It's my fault."
"Stop blaming yourself, it's my fault."
They both sighed, then blinked as a voice said, "no, it's my fault you idiots."
They slowly turned their heads to a very bandaged, yet very alive Kristi.
"Kristi!"
Alex whapped her upside the head. "You scared us to death!"
Sarah gave her a look, "Don't do that again!" She paused, "Wait. . .how did you?
"All will be explained in time," Kristi said cryptically.
Alex and Sarah looked at each other, and then went to give her a hug.
Kristi winced then blushed. "Guys, there's a hobbit orgy going on next door. . .this isn't right."
They all slowly turned to the excited noises from the other room and burst out laughing.
Days later after Aragorn's coronation they all made their farewells, for it was time to part ways. They tried to warn Faramir of Eowyn's cooking ability, but he merely winked slyly claiming, 'I'm not marrying her for her cooking.' They got in a mushroom war with Merry and Pip; the three girls were proclaimed the victors after getting Sam to be their ally. Gimli ended up giving them all hugs, which shocked everyone, especially the girls because they had just taken showers and thus needed to take another. Legolas gave them all a hug and Alex a kiss on the cheek, whispering Elvish to her that made her blush. Frodo shook all of their hands and he lightly touched Kristi's scar, causing them both to share a knowing look. Elrond and Arwen gave them regal nods. . .which frankly was good enough for the girls. Aragorn gave them hugs, after all he didn't want to be outdone by Legolas, of course since Arwen was standing there he was not about to kiss anyone. Gandalf bowed his head to them and went to walk away.
Alex blinked, "wait, aren't you going to send us back?"
Sarah looked confused and wondered why Kristi seemed so calm.
"We don't need his help guys," Kristi said ever so non-chalantly.
Alex turned to her, "Oh?"
"We've earned the power to go back ourselves," Kristi replied. "It was believed that our Earth was a place that lacked magic. But it really doesn't, it was the magic within us that got us here and it is the magic within us that will send us back."
Sarah blinked, "what?"
"It's how I survived the fall of the tower," Kristi said. "I believed, as corny as that may sound. In this place of magic we possess more magic and powers than normal, it fine-tuned our senses and our friendship is strengthened by it. All we have to do is close our eyes and say the first words that come to our mind."
Alex blinked, "That will actually work?"
"Just trust me," Kristi said with a grin.
Sarah hesitated at the grin, but nodded and Alex did the same.
"Aiya vorima nilmë," they repeated in unison. "Hail everlasting friendship."
When they opened their eyes, the sun peeked out from behind the rain clouds and alighted upon them.
"It worked," Alex said with a smile as she opened her eyes.
"Yay for friendship," Sarah said.
They each did an unenthused, Monty Python yay.
Alex and Sarah admired the scenery as Kristi absently rubbed her scar. It would never go away, just as the memories of Middle-Earth would never leave the three. What they didn't know was that Sauron and the Nazgûl were not destroyed. They lived on in her memories and in a way that gave them power, of course never enough power to truly rule. They would become her muses and be an ever-present reminder of their adventure. However, in the end friendship was the ultimate power and that would never die. There is a magic within us and that powers the grandest adventures of them all.
Black Speech Translations (yes, the real Kristi knows Black Speech):
Kalus-archer
Kalors-calvalry
Kordata-swordsman (feminine)
Goth Sauron-Lord Sauron
vajaz sharbtur-maiden servant
mundog-torture
Amal shufar, at rrug-"Where there's a whip, there's a way." ::absently shudders::
Author's Note: The story is now complete, unless of course Alex, Kristi, and Sarah find themselves in another adventure. Of course some would say that their journeys together in life might be considered the ultimate adventure of all. Thanks go out to my friends for providing me with much inspiration and providing reviews (thanks go out to all reviewers). ::Nazgûl clear throats:: Oh yeah, thanks go out to my Muses as well. Please review and may all of you all find adventures in your life. ::poses winningly near the review button::