The Price of Life

Chapter 01: Prologue

Almadynis

Long, long, long, long ago…

Death sat on his throne of bones and just stared at the group of fourteen beings before him. They were asking for what many before had asked, bargained, and tried to take: immortality. Not for them, for they were wise enough to realize that Death was inevitable for all, but for their creations. While noble, he was already shaking his head before they had finished the request. "No."

Their leader, Manwe, began to become visibly angry. "We have never asked you of anything! Why will you not grant us this one boon?!"

"Death comes to all," he replied simply, no emotion evident in his voice.

Varda, the main female of the group, placed a calming hand on her husband's shoulder before looking at the shrouded figure on a throne of bones. Shadow eclipsed Death in every way, no light shining except for two points of bright blue that glowed from where eyes should be. The Death before them was a personification of a Universal Law. As direct creations of Eru, they were allowed to change most things, but this was not within their power and so they had to ask. Thus, the universe gave them a piece of itself to interact with. It was an interesting time…she could not imagine how Death must feel, since before they decided to ask this of the universe, he hadn't even existed—his personification hadn't existed, Death itself was forever and had begun as soon as life began. "Arda needs a people to govern, protect, and nurture it. The best way for this to occur is by Awakening a race, but without a long lifespan the Awakening would be pointless. The race would not have enough time to learn what they needed to within their lifetime."

They all could see that nothing said thus far had moved the being. Nienna, the Lady of Mercy, tried another tactic. "Perhaps not true immortality, but just a prolonged life? Please, Arda would benefit much from this."

Death got to his feet and seemed to glide across the black marble floor. He went to a black marble basin with silver swirls running across and through the stone that the Valar had not noticed before, or had not yet existed until Death needed it. Death's hand, both old and young at the same time and never staying constant, came to the surface of the basin and ran a finger across the clear liquid inside, creating swirls, shadows, and a soft fog. As the fog spread out, images flickered across for the fourteen supplicants to see.

Death spoke as the images flickered, "Death comes for all." Children, old, soldiers, animals, trees, all dying in the fog before their eyes. "But the time for Death to arrive can be negotiated." Forests of trees in lush green waves, with a few scattered bare of anything. "Everything has a price. You wish to upset the balance of your Arda with your request." Whole worlds burned in that basin, terrible and cold and dark of all life. "Something must be lost to maintain the balance."

Nienna nodded obediently. Since she had been the only one of the group to get a positive, even if it was only slightly positive, response from the being, she kept going. "Of course. What would be the price for the elves current lifespan to be prolonged to 100 times?"

The dark cowl turned and piercing glowing blue dots cornered her, seemingly looking into her very soul. "Life for life. As Man's shortened life allows them a short gestation for offspring. Balance is maintained. If you wish these Elves to life 100 times longer than the Universe intended, the balance will require 100 times less children to be born. Those Elves alive will be living the lives of the unborn." So simple, but such a drastic choice.

The Lady of Mercy, by Eru's design, was passionate about the innocent, and there were none more innocent than children. She looked helplessly at her brethren is askance. Her very nature would be against making this decision. She could not. She would not.

Manwe understood immediately what the problem was and gave her a smile and nod to show it. Nienna stepped back instantly and he drew forward once again. Calm now that negotiations had begun and were going his way. "Understood. We accept."

Death's head nodded and he waved his hand over the basin again and images of the Elves of Arda resolved, solidified, and focused. A single finger brushed the surface to make a small ripple in the liquid. "It is done."

They moved to leave when Death's voice came again. "The price of the Elves lives has been paid. My price has not."

Manwe froze and slowly turned to face him. "Your price?"

"If you had not asked such of the Universe, I would not exist as anything but a Force of the Universe. I would not have to endure the screams, begging, anger, and life as I Work. I would simply be, without a consciousness. Your desire has forced me into an existence not designed to be felt, seen, or experienced in any way." Death explained in an emotionless tone that made them all flinch slightly. "My price for this forced creation is one boon."

The King of the Valar nodded hesitantly, but firmly. "Agreed. What is this boon?" It was after all, very fair.

Death turned back to the basin and the images changed once again, the race of Man, but not of Arda, floating past in rapid reels. "Death exists at every moment of every world. There will come a time, not yet come to pass, where Death itself will have a Master: a child of Fate and Destiny. When his time is done he will have the burden of living as I cannot take my Master." The image of a child with wavy black hair and piercing almost-glowing bright new-leaf green eyes resolved. "Death is not cruel, but his burden will be." Those pinpricks of blue focused again on Manwe. "You will take him to Arda and give him a life worth the strain of Mastering Death. That is my price."

Once again, it was a simple decision, easily made for the King. "Agreed."

This is my first Lord of the Rings, or Harry Potter fanfic, let alone a crossover. But this idea would not stop bugging me. I had to write it down. Not sure I will ever finish it. Fair warning.

Tell me what you think! Should I even bother keeping it going?

Reviews are love!