Dreams of Power [ Lord of the Rings x Silmarillion ]

The Battle Begins

That night Aderthon found himself unable to sleep. He tossed and turned in bed, trying desperately to shake off the combination of anxiety and anticipation that plagued him. His body felt tired after hours of training that day, but his mind bustled with activity. So after several hours of nothing, he stood and dressed in loose clothing.

The night air felt cool as a breeze blew about him. He made his way up the street to the gate to the seventh level. He nodded to the guards as he passed through. Soon he stood at the citadel courtyard. Aderthon did not know why he'd come up here. But soon he saw a dark shape standing at the far end of the jutting spur. Aderthon went to him.

"Lord Aderthon," came the harsh voice of Kir, his thick Rhûnic accent heavy in the air.

Aderthon stood beside him. "Thank you for bringing my sister home."

Kir nodded. "For the first time in hundreds of years, the Coven cannot defeat the evil in Rhûn alone."

"You mentioned that Berúthiel cannot be killed while she bears the ring," said Aderthon matter-of-factly. He turned to face the black ranger. "How then will we win this?"

"I will bind myself to the ring," Kir reminded him.

The other man nodded. Then he spoke again, more quietly and with the utmost level of respect. "How is that done?"

"There is a pair of words in Black Speech that must be said, and blood of the new host needs to touch the ring," Kir told him.

"And the words?" asked Aderthon quietly.

Kir turned to face the commander now. His face was set with seriousness. "They mean 'ring' and 'bind'. Are you sure you wish to know them? The black speech itself is evil."

He didn't hesitate. "Yes."

And so Kir leaned in and whispered the phrase in his ear. Aderthon involuntarily shuddered at the sound. The speech of the Enemy sounded revolting, and yet dripped with power. The men returned to watching the darkness of night over the Pelennor.

"How long have you been fighting the enemies of the free peoples?" Aderthon asked several silent minutes later.

Kir spoke quietly. "I am thirty-two, and was born into the Coven. I became Master four years ago. I have been fighting for Vultur my entire life."

"Vultur? Eönwë, correct?"

Kir shrugged. "I am told that is what the elves call him. He is our god, and his worship commands we eradicate the shadow from Middle Earth."

"Then why not become an ally of the Reunited Kingdom?" Aderthon asked with a frown. "Why the secrecy?"

"In our experience, our methods frighten the other peoples. We do whatever is necessary, no matter the cost." Kir looked at Aderthon closely. "And it is illegal to be a part of the Coven in Rhûn, though many have joined us."

Aderthon nodded thoughtfully. His mind drifted to the battle that would come soon. With a heavy heart, Aderthon turned to look back at the flowering white tree. That tree had stood his entire life and never failed to flower. He hoped that it would continue to do so, for everyone's sake.

The son of Elrohir bid Kir a good night not long after, returning to his house with a few hours till dawn. The fatigue of his body finally conquered his mind. He slept. The following days went much the same as before, with training and council meetings.

When he awoke from sleep several days later, it was to the sound of warning bells. A battalion of rangers north and east had sent word from Cair Andros. The messenger claimed that an army of Easterlings ten thousand strong marched south and came but a half day behind him. Aderthon and Eldarion immediately set about organizing the army, speaking to their captains and arraying the troops out on the Pelennor. They strengthened the walls with a thousand men, using the other four thousand to guard the city.