7 Fourth Age: something wicked this way comes [MP]

7 Fourth Age: something wicked this way comes [MP]; Faeleth, Hand of Sauron, and Gwenneth.
Topic Started: 25 Mar 2009, 01:17 AM (191 Views)
Deleted User	25 Mar 2009, 01:17 AM Post #1
Deleted User	The journey from her home in Dol Amroth to the White Mountains in Rohan had been a long and tiring one. It was a journey that she needed to make as she had been ordered by her Master to do so. It was her task to set up the place where he would perform the rituals to regain his powers and his youth. He had entrusted her with this duty and it was not in her blood to let others down. She would make sure that this was taken care of, no matter the cost. Faeleth was full of aches and pains. Her horse was tired from the constant travelling with minimal rest periods. Neither of these mattered to her as the White Mountains loomed ahead of her. She was almost there... The last bit of path that she had to travel to reach the Paths of the Dead seemed to stretch on forever ahead of her. Just when it seemed that she was near her journey's end, the path would throw another switchback at her and she would have to continue riding for a little while longer. At least, that is what she kept telling herself. It seemed to be her mantra, something she had to keep telling herself to keep pushing herself to continue on to make it to the end. Just when she thought that she could go on no longer, she was there. It was such a relief to know that she could take a moments rest and tend to her horse before attending to the duties assigned to her by her Master. And once she was finished with her tasks, oh, she would be able to rest a little longer until he and the witch-woman arrived. "There's a rumor that a lieutenant of Barad-dûr has survived. Be careful out there, Faeleth. One can never predict what a man like that will do or where he will show up next." As she dismounted her horse, the last words she heard from her brother played through her head. He was always worried about her like that, but he would be singing quite a different tune if he knew that his little sister was in league with the Lieutenant himself. Berior would not be able to believe that Faeleth was actually helping this man to regain his powers. Besides Berior himself, only the Valar would know what his intentions would be. Ah! But now was not the time for such idle musings! Her Master should be here soon and she had a limited amount of time to prepare things as he wanted them. Her resting period would have to wait until he arrived and after the rituals were complete. It wasn't too long now. Soon her Master would be able to torment the residents of Arda and show them his true power. He will terrorize the people like they have never been terrorized before she thought as she hurried about to have things prepared before the arrival of the Hand of Sauron, her Master.
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Deleted User	8 Apr 2009, 12:59 PM Post #2
Deleted User	The ride across the plains of Rohan had taken longer than Hand of Sauron had expected with a sleeping girl draped over his horse’s back. The animal was strong, but Hand of Sauron had found himself in the position of ensuring the girl didn’t fall. He scarcely cared if she lived or died, except he had some inkling that she was worth more than he’d first assumed. She was not her mother—the fiery aura that had drawn him to a flame—but she was something more than what she seemed. As he guided his horse up the steep road to Dunharrow and then into the Paths of the Dead, he considered the other young Gondorian noblewoman he had known. Celarwen. A twisted smile flashed over his face. They hadn’t found her yet. He didn’t think they ever would. Thoughts of the kidnapped and imprisoned young woman were delightful to dwell on. He had reached the Door of the Dead before he’d expected. Hand of Sauron dismounted and left the girl across the saddle. He would have to lead the animal from here into the blindness beyond. He could not tell if Faeleth was here yet. For her own sake, he sincerely hoped she had done as he’d asked. He was rather fond—if that was the right word—of this loyal servant. It would be such a pity to punish a Lady of the Havens. As he came to the great cavern that had once been the Kingdom of the Dead, his keen eyes saw Faeleth preparing for the ritual. For a reason he could not fully understand, he paused in his steps, as if to give her time to finish. The idea that he was showing compassion lingered in his mind. It unsettled him so deeply that he reached out a hand for the rock wall. He was Hand of Sauron, General of Mordor’s Army, a Lieutenant of Barad-dur. He did not show affection for his servants. Instinctively, he looked around for a mirage of the little girl, but she was not there. He had a fleeting thought that she could not come in here where the dead used to dwell. He had crossed some invisible line, and she could no longer follow. He was free of her haunting. That intuitive knowledge caused him disquiet. He felt it was the little girl he should care for, not Faeleth, and it angered him that he considered himself capable of these weak emotions. His jaw tightened, any trace of empathy for his servant gone as quickly as it had come. “Faeleth,” he announced, leading the horse forward. “I’ve come with the girl who had the jewel. Are you prepared for the ritual? I do not wish to wait anymore.”
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Deleted User	9 Apr 2009, 10:07 AM Post #3
Deleted User	It felt as if she had been working on preparations for the ritual for ages now. Every time she thought she was finished, she would spot something that seemed wrong or out of place. Faeleth would then go through and fix everything again. It was her attention to detail that was keeping her from being completely prepared when her Master arrived. In fact, she was concentrating so hard that she did not even hear the sound of horses hooves approaching the entrance. When he spoke, she jumped only slightly. She was not prepared to hear another's voice in the cave just yet. She thought she was going to have a little more time alone, but that was not to be the case. She knew that the desire to regain his powers was strong and that nothing would stop him. Not even the distance he had to cross to get here to the Paths of the Dead. She couldn't blame him though. She was quite sure she would be doing just as he was right now. She immediately turned to face her Master and curtsied low to him. "Yes, Master. Everything is prepared. I was just looking it over to make sure that I had not forgotten anything," she replied as she straightened. She hurried to stand in front of him and held a hand out for the reins of his horse. "Would you like me to take your horse while you prepare yourself?" The woman took a chance to look at her Master while she patiently waited for his response. For a brief moment, she looked at the figure of the witch-woman draped over the back of his horse. Just as quickly as she looked away, she returned her gaze to him.
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Deleted User	15 Apr 2009, 04:54 AM Post #4
Deleted User	As the darkness began to split, so equally did the sharp pain that probed through her brain. The slow motions of her waking subtle at first as her fingers twitched and her breathing barely broke from the rhythmic pattern of her slumber. Her mouth was parched, her tongue dry as the Harad deserts and little by little Gwenneth was made aware of the aching bruise along the front of her torso caused by a long journey of being slumped over the back of a horse. Licking her lips, the thick curls of her lashes fluttered lightly and broke the darkness. Open and close, her eyelids felt heavy with weary despite having been asleep for so long and the haze of slumber fogged her immediate memories. The slow coming of awareness brought to truth as the drowsy glimpse of her blue eyes swept from side to side. This was not a bed, not a place or a situation she wanted to be in and immediately as her eyes snapped more brightly into attention - her hand cautiously reached into the bosom of her dress for the jewel. Not wanting to attract the focus of the Hand of Sauron just yet. She would listen for as long as she could before she let on that she was awake. Feigning sleep as she hoped, by chance, she might overhear something or anything that would help her survive the night.
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Deleted User	21 Apr 2009, 02:22 PM Post #5
Deleted User	Faeleth seemed jumpy today, either from excitement or anxiety. Hand of Sauron wanted to believe it was the former, but he would not delude himself with hopes. His servants were useful, but he did not pretend they were all loyal. He tested each of them mercilessly, as he had been by his master. “The horse is tired, but he can wait.” He handed the reins to her anyhow. “Check the girl and see that she does nothing stupid, like wander into the darkness and fall into a chasm. It would be a pity for her to die before she’s taken the punishment I intended for her mother.” Hand of Sauron approached the Black Circle and observed the ritual objects laid out on the rock floor. It was precisely as it should have been. He had made the right choice ordering Faeleth to arrange this ceremony. “There is a necklace the girl has,” he said, his voice echoing off the domed cavern. “I will require it during the ritual, but I cannot touch it before. Remove it from her and lay it here.” He motioned to a smooth obsidian bowl filled with sweet smelling herbs. He turned to look at the girl again. If she was a good little prisoner and screamed when he tortured her, then he might be magnanimous and kill her soon. But she had a stubborn streak in her that he thought would be hard to break. If she didn’t bend to his will, then he would let Morion play with her for awhile. And if that psychotic elf couldn’t break her, then she would become Niphredil’s pet. A slow, twisted smile flitted across his lips. He stepped towards her and bent down, black malice in his voice as he brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “Oh, what fate your mother sealed for you, you pretty little witch. Pain … agony … and eternal sleep until you become the opposite of what you are now.” He stood up again and waited until Faeleth had put the Elven jewel in the circle. “Now, we can begin.”
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Deleted User	26 Apr 2009, 06:53 AM Post #6
Deleted User	Once she had the reins in one hand, she held onto them tightly. With her free hand, she searched the form of the witch woman for the necklace that her Master spoke of. After searching for a few moments, she felt what she was searching for in the bosom of the other female's dress. Without a word she removed the necklace and placed it into the bowl designated for it. A small smirk crossed her features as she successfully completed her task. It was getting closer. She could feel herself getting excited for the events to come. Any moment now, the ritual would begin. Hand of Sauron would regain his powers and soon Arda would know true fear. She only hoped that she would be safe. To her knowledge, any and all tasks given to her by her Master were completed successfully and promptly. Faeleth hoped that he saw that. She didn't want to end up being tortured by Morion or become one of Niphredil’s many pets. With that final thought, she returned to her place next to the horse. Her attention, while mainly focused on the man in front of her, was divided between him and the witch. She wanted to be available for her Master, but she also wanted to make sure that the girl did not try to escape. If that were to happen, Faeleth would probably live just long enough to catch the girl and to help out with the ritual. For her sake, she really hoped the girl did not do anything stupid. "I am ready when you are, Master." Continued in something wicked this way comes
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