Fairest Lady

by Eternaleveningstar

Summary:

Sauron has been watching Galadriel for thousands of years. Ever since she came storming into his domain in a desperate attempt to save her brother from his clutches. Now with the Great Tree of Lindon fading, his enemies conveniently creating Mordor for him and stirring up the realms of Men to the brink of war with the Orc, and Galadriel's heart primed for power and love, all of Middle Earth is within his grasp.

Notes:

I would like to thank the continuing efforts of the Saurondriel Tag on Tumbler for their efforts in entertaining the Masses and inspiring this Fic.
Y'all polled for this one first so hope it's what you're excited for. Enjoy.

Chapter 1: Chapter 1

 

This was the most reckless thing she had ever done. 

Why in the Valar she had gone to Tol-In-Gaurthoth, by herself against the wishes of her Elder Brothers. Against every rational sense of thought. But no, here, she was hiding just beyond the view of the castle her Brother had built, now in ruin and taken by darkness. Alone with nothing but a few knives, a Bow and arrow, and that one good spell Yvanna had taught her. 

Magic had not come easily to her in youth. Yavanna said she lacked patience in her years under the trees. How she missed that time. She wished she was anywhere else. But she was here to rescue her Brother and the mortal who had captured Luthein's heart. 

Galadriel was preparing to strike a pair of guards to make her way into the castle when she heard yelling and fierce growls. She saw it then, her brother and the mortal running; they had escaped. With little time to react, she kills the two orc guards. And began running, firing swift arrows at the werewolf's legs.

“FINROD!!” Galadriel shouted. Her brother turned for a moment with pure shock. He stopped himself for but a moment.

“Sister, if it is truly you, make for the forest.” She nodded back to her brother. Firing arrows at any dark force in her path. She made it to the forest line just after her brother. They reunited for but a moment. 

“Brother,” she said, hugging him tightly.

“Sister, what are you doing here?” Her brother had never looked worse, but his concern was only for her. 

“Luthein was injured on our ride here, she is a few miles away with horses.” Finrod nobbed to her and went to check on Beren, who was deeply out of breath, tired as mortals often were.

“We will make it, friend.” He said, helping him to stand. Galadriel heard more growling. 

“Drop,” she said quickly and quietly. Wolves were hunting them and a few orcs. 

“What direction is Luthein?” Finrod whispered.

“SouthWest”

“Okay, Galadriel, give one of your daggers to Beren. We will break and head south. Galadriel head west.”

“Finrod, I have the spell Yavanna taught me, the shattered light orb.”

“I can’t... why would you…Can you fire it off without destroying us in the process?”

“I believe I can you two break off I will plant it and get away, FINROD!!”

One of the wolves had come up and jumped her brother, gnashing its teeth and biting his arm. Orcs came and began to attack Beren, who fought back swiftly as Galadriel loosed arrows into the wolf's side. Another wolf appeared, and Galadriel stepped back slowly, out of arrows, and cornered against a tree. 

She had no other option; at least, that is what she would say for the rest of her time in Middle Earth. She looked at Brother as un pouched the Spell, whispering an I love you.

“GALADRIEL,” Finrod yelled as he just freed himself from the wolf. The shattered light orb tosses in the air. He jumped on his sister, covering her from the burning Glow. 

There was nothing but bright, burning light. 

---

What a Mess. What chaos. 

Sauron walked through the disheveled mess of the forest surrounding Tol-In-Gaurthoth. This had certainly been an interesting few weeks, with the Human and High Elf finally attempting an escape. And then the She-Elf had appeared, giving her dear brother away.

 Finrod Felagund had been here all this time. Explained much of his bravery and his protection of the mortal, who was, in fact, the Beren. Who had made the Lovely Luthein desire Mortality. 

But the She-elf. He had spotted her the moment she entered his domain. A bright light alone in the darkness. 

The carnage she had unleashed in a matter of minutes was rather impressive. Some of his wolves survived the blast and surrounded her and what was left of her brother. 

He moved past them, bidding them to stand down and return to the castle. They would be needed elsewhere soon. 

Finrod Felagund was no more now. Dead and Charred a few feet from his sister's body. Who, by some miracle of the Valar, was still alive. 

Asleep and with a few cuts on her face and burns on her arms, he observed her. Then knelt down beside her. Glimpsing into the unseen, he could see her spirit, bright and whole.  

“Such Bright spirit; you are Galadriel of the Noldor.” He then looked deeply at her hair, picking up a strand between his fingers.

“I never believe a rumor about a being until I see them, but I have seen the Silmarils. And you are truly their muse. The One never made such a beautiful thing as you.” 

He began to swipe her tattered hair off her face, and then he did something he had never done for any other elf. He began to heal her cuts, fixing that which had been harmed. 

He smiled at the completion of his work, she was perfect once again. But it would not last. He wonders if she would blame herself for her brother's death or blame Morgoth or even himself. 

Then his twisted mind began to spin, He had always loved Power and Beauty. In her, he found both. It is an untapped power, but power nonetheless. What fun he would have with her. He found not far from her the knife that her brother had carried. Finest silver and Gold of Valinor. The wheels kept spinning in his mind. 

“ I suppose if you were this much trouble for your Brother, what will the future hold for you? You and I will get to know each other very well in the centuries to come, Galadriel.” He took the knife in his hand and slashed his palm. Uttering ancient words in Black speech. He dropped a single drop of blood into her mouth. She began to wake from her slumber. He shushed her back to sleep. 

“Sleep a few more minutes, my dear. Your friend Luthien approaches. You will be home soon enough. I will visit you soon. Till then, I will be keeping an eye on you.” He eyed her hair again, restraining himself from taking a strain and swiftly leaving his new prize to be found by Luthien. He had work to do elsewhere, but she would sure be a fascinating distraction from time to time. 

Just as Sauron returned to the Castle, he heard the screams and felt the shattering heart of Galadriel.

Chapter 2: Chapter 2

Summary:

A sudden appearance and the stage is set.

Notes:

Hello Friends, Thank you for all the views, Kudos, and Comments, I am currently editing Chapter 3 of this book and decided to post this just to keep the story going along. Note that next chapter Tags will be updated. Thank you, Enjoy

 

Galadriel felt lost, as she had this past few centuries. The opening of this age had brought her people to the brink of ruin. If the Valar had not finally intervened, all of Middle Earth would have been thrust into darkness. But there was hope again. There was light. 

Even if it wasn’t for her. 

She couldn't blame anyone but herself for the death of her beloved Eldest brother. He might have been tortured for weeks, but ultimately, he sacrificed himself to shield her from harm. The spell to bring the sun to darkness had brought burns that, while they had healed, left scars on her spirit. 

Luthein had managed to save Beren and her, but her brother was too far gone. Sent to the Great Hall of Mandos. To rest. She would never know his fate while she remained here. Forgive by the Valar, maybe, but she couldn't forgive herself. Not yet. 

Galadriel spent much of her time now, far from the reaches of politics and battle, far from orcs who had been scattered since the fall of Morgoth. And the recent disappearance of Sauron. 

She often wondered where he was, surprisingly. It is possible he was killed during Morgoth's fall, but it was unlike. He was a snake, she knew this, he was probably in some forgotten cave, plotting. 

---

Little did Galadriel know how close she had been to being right. 

Sauron was indeed plotting. 

Morgoth's defeat had brought a sense of freedom that Sauron had forgotten. To go where he wanted free of the vow of his former Master. He answered to no one. 

When he had seen Galadriel in that dark place, he contemplated using her against the Elves in the final battle. A drop of his blood was spelled enough if he put the effort in. But he found he didn’t want to use her. She was not a puppet, though he used her eyes occasionally to spy on the elves. A quiet observer, nothing more.

She was fascinating; when she slept, he could see her dreams, wishing for peace and order, pain-free. 

She longed for that feeling. He would give it to her, he decided. 

Give her everything, because as she had once been the muse of the Silmarils. She was now his Muse, for his perfect world. Organized, and at peace. And with her light once tapped, oh how it would make Middle Earth shine just as bright as Valinor. 

Looking back on it, he had not intended to have his obsession with her go this far. In truth, she was supposed to be just a tool. A simple plot to infiltrate the Elves from within that he never spoke about nor revealed or utilized. It was an untapped line that, in hindsight, would not have helped stop the defeat of Morgoth. But what did he care now? 

He was the Dark Lord, and she would be his Lady of Light. 

His plans were set in motion to turn the Elves to his new plan when he was betrayed by Adar. The Uruk deserved everything coming to him for that. It took him far too long for his liking to gain a new body, human at first, much like his first face when he served Aule. 

But as he traveled Middle Earth, it seemed that the elves could better help him with his Revenge and his Great plan. And he would start with her.

Sauron at the borders of Eregion where his Lady now resided, changed his appearance, taking on an even fairer form. An Elf and emissary of the Valar he would be. Anything to win her affection and praise.

It was an early morning, the sun had not yet begun to shine when Galadriel left her home to wander outside the city of Ost-in-Edhil. Her dear cousin Celebrimbor had allowed her to join him in building this new kingdom, the Jewel of Elvendom. She found comfort in the day-to-day of it all, but she wanted to be alone more often than not. She felt it was for the best. 

Today, she was simply walking and picking flowers as she once did when Celeborn courted her. She had missed him, they never married, he died before, but she suspected he was planning to ask her. But it didn’t matter anymore. No great love was to be hers anymore, but the memories of her youth brought her comfort on these long days. 

Hours had passed, and the sun was beginning to lower behind the trees of the woods when she felt it again. That feeling of being watched, the strange aura, had come and gone since Finrod's death. She chalked it up to a side effect of the explosion that never quite healed. But it was stronger today. Like the eyes were getting closer. She walked on, starting her way back to the city when she finally heard footsteps getting closer. She hid behind a tree, pulling her dagger to strike. Grabbing and flipping the being to the ground, placing the dagger at his neck.

He was an elf.

Beautiful, handsome, enchanting. Every word one could use to describe beauty, blonde silver hair, and bright eyes. 

“Apologize, my Lady. I come in peace.” The Elf says. Galadriel was spellbound by him but quickly released him from her dagger wrath. Allowing him to stand.

“If you came in peace, why sneak around it the wood, Sir?”

“Regretfully, I got lost off the trail, I am heading to Ost-in-Edhil.”

“Well, then you are certainly heading in the wrong direction.” Galadriel, seeing he was no threat, put her Brother's beloved dagger back in its holster. 

“My luck, I found another Elf to put me back on the right path.”

“Perhaps, come I am returning to the city myself you may follow.” The pair began to walk back together. 

“And by what name is the fairest of maiden called, whom I have to thank for correcting my navigation?”

“Galadriel of the Nolder.” This stopped him.

“Oh, Princess, forgive me.” Giving a deep bow to Galadriel.

“Please, there is no need for that. No one had called me by such a title this whole age. I was commander, I suppose I still am. But Lady Galadriel is fine. And you, Sir”

“Annatar, my Lady, Emissary of the Valar, Lord of Gifts.” She was taken aback by this. His humbleness and beauty made much sense now. 

“Then it is I who would owe you forgiveness, my Lord. But how does an Emissary become so lost? Is it your first time in Middle Earth?”

“No, my lady, but the land, as you know, has much changed this age.” He stopped and bent down to look at a white flower growing off the side of the road, continuing to speak, “Many new beautiful things are growing and happening. Along with much darkness to come.”

“I know of the darkness you speak of, my Lord. Is that why you have come?” He turned as he knelt, smiling at her softly, the way that made her smile back. He picked a flower up and twirled it in his finger for a moment before standing and replying.

“I have come to make sure that the beautiful thing lasts.” He said, tucking Galadriel's hair behind her ear and putting the flower in it. Galadriel lowered her eyes, trying to avoid blushing. Over three thousand years old and a warrior, she should not be this way. 

They said nothing for a moment; Galadriel was just awestruck by him. She had barely known the elf for ten minutes but wanted to know everything about him and wanted to help him. She was inexplicably drawn to him.

“Perhaps we should keep moving, My Lady, the sun is beginning to set.”

“Oh,” she looked and saw much time had passed indeed. “Yes, my. You must be tired from your journey. I forget myself quickly then, I am sure Lord Celebrimbor will want to meet with you.” She quickly led him to the gate. Then to Lord Celebrimbor tower.

Her Lord was indeed excited to hear of the Emissory's arrival. As it turned out, he was a student of Aule, the great forge master. And could help with the new Forge and its planned projects, which excited him and gave hope to Celebrimbor, who desired to start work as soon as possible. 

At dinner that night, Lord Annatar raved about Galadriel's kindness, and as she went to bed that night, she wondered many things about this Lord of Gift. If maybe he could help her and truly do what he said he could make the beautiful things last. 

---

Had he known how easy it would have been to gain entrance and the trust of the elves, he would have done it last age. He always preferred the long game to bring enemies to their knees from the inside rather than a battle.

Lord Celebrimbor had put him up in his estate, with a view of the whole city. Some warmth compared to the Cold he had felt the last few centuries. The city was asleep; he could rest and relax, but it would waste his time. The time he could spend working on one Elf in particular. 

He sneaked down through the shadows to her grand home in the city, gardens and stables and all manner of fine things, made up her home, he observed as he wandered through it to her rooms. 

She had gone to sleep and was a blank canvas for dreams. He sat on her bed as she lay blissfully unaware of his entrance, as she had been unaware of him for all these years.

She had put the flower he had given her on her nightstand. Some seed of longing planted in the heart was a good start.

Pushing a strand of her hair off her face, she softly sighed in her sleep. 

“Well, my dear, you have given me more than I could have hoped for. It was a warm reception and all. One day when all the dust is settled and your heart is healed, I will tell you about this night and how I knew you were going to be the perfect Queen. Warrior, Beauty, Kindness- all the best things. My second chance rests in your hands. The Valar will forgive me if I help you and if you help me….well, there will be plenty for you in it.”

With that, he weaved her a dream of a beautiful kingdom at her feet, a crown on her head, a ring on her finger, and him at her side. 

Chapter 3

Summary:

Seducing begins

Notes:

EDIT 9/6/2025
If you are reading this Chapter has been updated to remove content, while still keeping the spirit of the original. Please Enjoy.

In Sauron’s eye, Celebrimbor was quite clever. He had designed the greatest Forge ever built. Something that could burn as hot as the Sun if there was a need, yet contained to just one location to allow for continuous work without delay. 

The Great Forgemaster was also quick to trust, He almost immediately revealed what Sauron had already felt in the unseen world. The Great Tree of Lindon, which sustained the power of the Eldar in Middle Earth, was dying. Some dark sickness had taken hold, and they were seeking a means by which to save the tree. Something the Dwarves held deep in their Mountains. That the Herald Elrond son of that annoying Mariner and his bird wife had somehow gone a small amount of it. Nothing could be done with it at present. But some ideas just come quicker than others.

“What if we combined it with another ore?” Annatar asked as he held the Mithril in hand, observing it for the first time. 

Quiet a curious metal the potential of Great Light or Dark held within it waiting to be swayed one way or the other. 

“No, we thought of that, but any lesser metal would risk corrupting its unique property.” 

“Yes, but wouldn't combining with the right Ore enhance those same properties?” Celebrimbor thought on this for a moment as Annatar handed the metal back to him.

“An intriguing proposition, my Lord.” It was then they felt the Earth Shake. It was for but a moment, but enough to shake the towers of Eregion. 

“What was that?” One of the Young smiths asked.

“An Earthquake, the source far off, but to feel it here it would have to be quite destructive.” Lord Celebrimbor said. “Guards, send scouts out to see what the sentinels say was the source. Hopefully, there will be no aftershocks.”

Annatar did not say anything, He knew what had happened. He was the one who had designed the water system in the Southlands to make the Mountian explode, even if it went dormant. That Uruk must have finally gotten around to it. He wondered how many centuries that sad being had spent trying to build a home for his ‘children. ’ What a waste.

Speaking of Sad, not long after the quake, Lady Galadriel came up to the forge. 

“My Lord, is everything alright up here?”

 

“All is well, my Lady. Is there any major damage to the city?”

“No, just some shaken nerves and a few damaged windows and pots, nothing that can be fixed in a fortnight. You may need to speak with the people when the Scouts you send out return. And perhaps explain what it is we're planning to do here. Which is??”

“Yet to be determined, my Lady. We might now have a means of using the Material, but there will be much trial and error still to get it right.” Celebrimbor said back to her

“Of course, I am going to make sure the city is well, I will join you all for dinner this evening.” With that, Galadriel left.

He could sense her frustration at being at the whim of another decision. In the few weeks since he had arrived, he barely spoke to her during the day and at dinners with Celebrimbor. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, he told himself. But he loved every glance of her. And while the days might have been separated, her nights, well, those were becoming a different story. 

Sauron had always thought the mind a fascinating place; her mind was a beautiful maze to wander through each night. Some nights, they were sitting in a wooded area, the sun overhead, her resting in his lap while the sound of ancient hymns filled the air. Other nights, he pushed her against the wall and onto sheets, lifting her skirt, waking her up distressed and heated with no way to finish what they had started in dreams because he was not nearby. 

But he was, always watching and more often than not just hidden from her sight, stepping into the unseen world and watching her frustration build. He smirked at the thought of her begging for him to show her all the ways to be pleased and to feel relaxed after a long day of ruling the world.

A few hours after the quake, Annatar began to walk through the city, seeking out his lady. He found her helping a few female elves clear some shattered vases from the streets as children played in the street.  

“Lady Galadriel,” He called for her. She turned from her cleaning with a surprise yet soft smile.

“Lord Annatar.”

“I have come to collect you for dinner.”

“Oh, that is not for a few more hours.”

“Well, yes, but I thought I would take some free time while Celebrimbor is fulfilling his Lordship's responsibilities to speak with you. You are technically the Lady of the city.” He said as he offered her his arm.

“I am, in fact, the highest-ranked elf in the City, My Lord. Since Dinner is a ways off, I will gladly take a turn about with you.” She graciously took his arm, leading him to a small garden area just outside the forge towers. They had walked without speaking, but it was then that Annatar broke the silence.

“You seem to have been avoiding me, my Lady. Did I do something to offend your presence?” 

“It is you who avoids me, my Lord. I am always around.” She said with confidence that she would not be gaslit into thinking it was her who had lost interest in him. She had led them to a large tree, where he let go of her arm. 

“Ah, but you are never in the Forge. The Smiths say you keep to yourself most days. Are you training or just picking flowers?” He said, walking over to the tree and leaning against it, a move of prowess in Galadriel's eyes that spoke more that he likes to show confidence and pride in himself than anything else. He even crossed his arms as he seemed to observe her back.

“I do not train very often anymore, my Lord, and I was feeling nostalgic the day we met, so no, it's not flower picking.”

“Then what does the Fair Lady do with her time?”

“Well I, help the people in their daily tasks, I read, and write letters to my Nephew High King Gil-Galad, or my dear Friend Herold Elrond, Horseback riding, Hunting. ”  She paced in front of him, trying to think of all the things she does to fill her time. He thought it was unbearable and adorable, her attempt to make herself a small and simple elf. When he knew there were grander things in store for her. 

“No, grand deeds or adventures, My Lady.”

“No, no, I am afraid that not for me. Maybe once, but not since…” She seemed to grow quiet within herself as the words fell from her lips.

“Since what?” He could barely contain the knowing look as she looked into the far distance, lost in her memories. He knew what caused her suffering.

“Since Finrod.” She didn’t like talking about what happened. Elf memories did not dim, and Galadriel could recall that day perfectly.

“Ah, yes, the tales of your Brother's bravery are well known. You were with Luthien, correct?”

“Yes, she and I crossed paths and quickly raced after Her Love and my Brother. We were attacked by a small pack of Orcs near that terrible place. When Luthien was injured defending me. She stayed behind while I made my way to the keep where Sauron was holding my Brother's company. My brother died because of me, not Sauron, or Morgoth, or anyone else. Me.” 

Galadriel didn’t realize she was crying until Annatar came and brushed the singular tear from her face. He then cupped her cheek softly. Looking at her softly, it made her heart ache with wanting to be free of the pity. 

“Your deeds were no less brave, despite your failure. And I don’t pity you, you have such enduring strength, Galadriel. You can move past your mistakes; the best revenge is proving your self-doubt wrong.” 

“Why do I feel so safe with you?” She didn’t mean to ask the question out loud; it seemed to fall out of her. Like the feeling she was trying to understand whenever he was near. 

“What do you mean?” He asked as he started petting her hair, an attempt to continue to soothe her. 

“I never talk about it with anyone, I was expected to rise to the occasion after Morgoth's fall and lead the Northern Armies under my command. I wanted to lead and serve my people like my Father and Brothers for a time I did, but it just felt hollow, and empty like I was trapped. But I don’t feel that with you; you seem to see me.” Annatar gave a simple smile to it. But it was clear the blood magic he had used on her all that time ago had left traces on her emotions; the feeling of being trapped was how he felt for all that time in the cave beneath the frozen North. 

“Perhaps you were just waiting for the right person to share it with, one who would not judge you for the darkness of the truth,” Annatar spoke softly at her, slowly guiding her to lean up against the tree herself.  Annatar then leaned over her as he seemed to be nuzzling her hair as she spoke.

“To find the Light, we must first touch the darkness. Finrod would say that when I was young, when I was angry or hurt or confused. I don’t think I understood what true darkness could be till that day. And since then, I am stained by it.” She closed her eyes, feeling him move his face down to her ear to speak directly to it.

“You are not stained by darkness, my lady. Far from it, hurt by it may be, but some wounds take longer to heal or just need the right healer.” She turned to look at him, feeling oddly warm and excited, like a haze veiled over her mind, making the world just the two of them.

“What's happening?” Galadriel asked, feeling like her mind was not her own.

“Oh, you are powerful, aren’t you? You can feel magic, but you can’t control it yet. Did you not study under Yavanna and Melian?” He looked down at her for a moment before returning his face to her hair.

“Yes, but I was never able to touch the unseen. You….you can?” Annatar simply hummed his response, he picked up a piece of Galadriel’s long locks, twisted it in his fingers, “Such untapped Power, such light.” He said, breathing in deeply. “I’d bind it to me being.” It was a whisper, but he said it. 

Galadriel laughed softly at the thought. She could see it binding herself to someone like him; he certainly was clever and handsome enough for her. She felt him hovering over her like he was resisting the urge to steal a kiss. She shifted herself into his space, looking up with the softest of feminine gazes. 

“Dangerous tempting creature you are, Galadriel.” He leaned down, sealing their lips. Pushing her up against the nearest tree to hide away from sight.

He did not let her go not until he noticed that she was struggling against him and the simple spell on her mind, her own long unused magic struggling against his. 

He pulled away to look at her, She was blinking fast, trying to fight the hazy spell, which he slowly pulled back. 

“Did I shock you?” He asked simply, almost to be a gentleman. 

“No, I was surprised. No one ever kissed me like that. It was new, I enjoyed it?” 

“You did?”

“Yes, I think I did……. Can you teach me magic?............ To touch the unseen?” She asked maybe a fool's wish, but she thought she might as well ask. He smiled at her. He began to brush her hair again.

“Perhaps, if my Lady will give me some time of her day.” 

“How much time?” She asked playfully.

“Perhaps one day I will ask for all of it. But for now, how about the hour before the sun sets?”

“I could spare that.” She said with a smile on her face wide and excited. 

“Good. That's when your cousin is most distracted, I have noticed a good chance to sneak away.”

“You are not a slave to the forge, My Lord.” They both laughed as began to lead her to continue their walk.

 

---

What a wonderful day in Sauron's eyes. He expected the Earthquake to come sooner or later. He could see its destruction through the unseen. Leading to the fire-filled mountain. The men of the south would soon rise for war, the dwarves would be forced to seek aid from other locations, and if the elves wanted to remain, they would need the help of the object he would make.

What was unexpected was his side-project. Everything about her was more than perfect. Even to ask her to ask him to teach her was progress tenfold. She would learn, beautiful sorceress she would become under his teaching. And had so many things to teach her. 

Chapter 4: Chapter 4

Summary:

Magic Practice

Notes:

Hello Readers, I have plotted out this Fic and can tell you if all goes to plan it will be 14 chapters. Sauron at this moment seems to be getting everything he wants we will see how long that lasts. And Galadriel is enjoying her magic lessons maybe a bit too much.....
Also from here on out anything in Italics will be spoken in Elvish I am just lazy to find accurate translations for all of it. So just use your imagination, please, and thank you.
EDIT 9/6/2025
This Chapter has been updated to keep with the spirit of the original with milder content.

Elves were a tight upper-lip group. They didn't talk about things that men did, especially as casually as they did. They looked down on it. Galadriel and her family, while royal, were more liberal in their affections to their significant others. 

But while she had the knowledge of things of pleasure, she lacked experience or really practical knowledge. Dreams of her rendezvous with Annatar seem to map out what one could do if given the time and the proper person to be with. 

Sitting in her study writing a missive to King Gil-Galad about Annatar and Celebrimbor's progress, she began to wonder truly why she was so drawn to him. It was like a rope linking her to him had been formed long before she met him. He knew exactly what to do to make her smile or fall to his demands. 

It was not like her brothers or mother had described loving their partners; it was like she was being coaxed and dragged to Annatar. Since arriving, he had truly taken over much of her thoughts, almost like what Melian had warned her of in Valinor: magic to bind. 

But only Blood could bind. She had never had Annatar's blood, nor he had hers. So why was she so tied to him? She was willing to help him, willing to go where he led, not to question his intentions until she was away from him. She would call him a bad influence, except he was sent by the Valar. Nothing bad could come from Valinor, right?

---

Rings.

They had decided on rings. It would be small enough to accommodate the low level of the mithril, as well as be easy to forge. 

The problem was that Celebrimbor was unsure of how to test the idea. They wanted to be sure that it would work to save the tree. 

It just so happened that Sauron had a wonderful idea.

“The Scouts returned this morning, it was the Southlands Volcano that awoke. Perhaps we could test the rings on returning it to sleep.” Annatar suggested. 

“A fire mountain that Orcs now surround does not seem the ideal way to test when we are trying to heal a tree.” Young Herald Elrond returned without more Mithril and a banishment from Kazah Dum. A Disappointment and Setback.

“Perhaps we should focus first on making the Rings before we jump to test their uses,” Galadriel said, trying to be the voice of calm in the storm. An unusual move, but she didn’t like to see her argue. 

“I think you might be right, my lady. Once they are made, we shall come back to this matter,” Elrond stated, looking to Celebrimbor for the final say. With hesitation, he said,

“We will prepare today and start at first light tomorrow. I suggest we rest and prepare. This will not be an easy matter.” 

While Sauron wanted the rings made, he wanted to take their power to a place he could control. And wanted his Favorite Elf to wear one. They had indeed started practicing magic. Galadriel was already familiar with the basics from her time in Valinor but was out of practice and despite efforts could grasp to the unseen here in Middle-earth. But Sauron had a feeling that would change with the rings. 

As everyone began to disperse from the forge, Galadriel glided over to him.

“And what is my Lord going to do with his free day?”

“I am not an elf of lounging about. Does my lady have any suggestions?” Annatar said, leaning up against a table.

“You could come to my house?” Galadriel said, moving into his space. Looking up to him. 

“That’s very direct, Lady Galadriel.” He gave her a sly smile. 

“They all know I spend time with you. Why not make it an extended lesson with Lunch?” Annatar put his finger under Galadriel's chin to lift her face up more to him. Bring her in for a kiss, soft and simple. They had kissed many times now since he started teaching Galadriel, a reward for both of them. 

“Well, when my Lady asks, I am obliged to obey.” That was enough of a yes for her to slip one of her hands into his and lead him back to her home. He had been in it every day since he arrived, but she didn't know that, so her willing inviting him to it was no small matter.

---

Galadriel was a good student when she was patient. She knew this, and why she, even in her many thousands of years, struggled with it was hard for her to explain. Annatar had been teaching her how to use her telekinesis again, which she had excelled at recovering after thousands of years of being dormant. But they were working today on basic spells and enchantments. Something she had done in the past but was hesitant to start again.

“I’m not sure this is wise. Why can’t you teach me how to read minds? I think that is far safer.”

“Galadriel, if you can’t sort out your own mind, it will not be safe to enter others. You are afraid to do this because of what happened in the past, so let me fix that.” Galadriel sighed at his remarks. This didn't feel very safe, but he seemed to always talk her into what he wanted. She stood there in her Garden behind her home and closed her eyes to try the simple spell he asked. 

 “Now, you are strong-willed; use that. You also have a strong connection to water, so turn the water around us in the air colder.” He said, walking around behind her. She tried to just see the water like her elvish connection to the trees, It was working; she could see the vapors of water in her mind's eye and in her spirit. But she couldn’t command it to change its state. 

“I can see it, but I can’t change it.”

“Why not?” 

“It feels like looking through a veil, something is just simple in between me and the water. Not much, but enough.”

“It's not all that different from moving objects, Galadriel, and you excelled at that. Try speaking to it the way you would with me or anyone else. Think about what you would say to it.” Galadriel closed her eyes and began to speak,

“Water of Middle Earth...”

“In Quenya, Galadriel, nature doesn’t care for men’s tongues.”  He said in Quenya. She knobbed in response.

“Water of Middle Earth, Hear my words, make cold the air and frost the water. Water of Middle Earth, Hear my words, make cold the air and frost the water.” She felt the cold air in her breath as she spoke, and when she opened her eyes, she saw the thin, icy layer of frost surrounding her and Annatar in the Garden. She turned around to him, he was looking around at the simple wonder she had made. Then, he looked back at her with pride and his usual glint in his eyes. He then lifts her chin up further to him.

“Some days, I wonder if you are real. Then I see your light, and I just want to consume every drop.” He pulled her into a kiss. Like everything with Annatar, it was intense, determined, a force of nature. She often felt that she would drown in his wake until she found she could match him.

When they broke, she was out of breath, but a curious thought entered her mind.

“Annatar, why do you speak the way you do, both like a servant and like a beast of prowl, you have many contradictions?” He took her arm to hold in his and started walking them through her garden back to the house. 

“I am that. I fear that I am far older than you, but I see the world anew. These Rings we are going to make are going to be a power to change all of Arda. To tie the Unseen and Seen together. A power of Flesh or the flawed and failing. Something made perfect again.”

“Such power. I fear what it could do in the wrong hands. Doom us all.”

“I would trust your hands to it.” She laughed gently at the idea. 

“Mine, my hands saw centuries of War, then sadness, trapped within myself. I would not know what to do with such power if given it.”

“Exactly, you would not abuse it. But if given the needs you would use it. Let's say we make the rings. Celebrimbor suggests two to make sure the power is spread evenly. One goes to High King Gil-Galad, but the second, where does it go?” Galadriel stopped and murmured something for a moment. 

“What?”

“Two divides, that’s unstable. Could we make three to balance it all out? That way, it wouldn’t be just left to one person to potentially stop another, but two to balance.”

“Interesting notion. Where did that idea come from?” Annatar asked, giving Galadriel an inquisitive look.

“Something Yvanna once said to me where there are two divided the world can split. If this is a power that could change the world, we must not break it.”

“The philosophers would envy your mind, My Lady.” The pair had arrived at the back side of Galadriel’s home when she stopped and decided she would ask him a question she had been holding onto for a few days now. Really since the day she met him.

“Annatar,  there is something else I have been meaning to ask you. I know we have only known each other for a few short weeks, but Uhhh, now that I am asking it, I am stumbling and flustered.” He knew what she was going to ask. He ha  d put the thought into her mind days ago while she was asleep, and he was giving her the space to come to the inevitable conclusion. 

“My family, we are not like most other elves. When we find someone we think we want as our Life Partners, we… ask them to be our lover, and I cannot explain this connection I have to you beyond; you are what I want. I think about you even when you are in the Forge or out of sight. You, in such a short time, have healed my heart of such a dark ache.”

“Say it, Galadriel.”

“Be Mine and I shall be yours” 

He didn’t say anything as she felt him push her up against the wall of her home. She looked into his eyes, seeming to forget herself, and she grazed her hand on his smooth jawline, up to his pointed ears. It was then she noticed his hands that once rested on the wall caging her in were now gliding down her skirt, picking up the fabric.

“What are you doing?” she asked. He quickly shushed her into silence. She leaned her head back against the wall, closing her eyes, and began to be overwhelmed by the sensation of her rapidly beating heart. 

Annatar, after gliding her skirt up to her knees, slowly traveled his long fingers up her leg, brushing her hips. 

Galadriel moaned softly at the feeling. Little did she realize that with that moan, she was under his spell. The haziness that had slowly appeared as they spoke completely filled her mind. Annatar began to whisper in her ear.

“Just let go, My Lady,” he said. She only hummed in response.

“Just feel what I am doing for you,” He had said, the haze thickening around them. He brought his lips to hers, and she let him control every movement, every beat.

“If you want control, you must let go, Galadriel.” He spoke to her mind,  pushing her to the edge of something.

“Say you’ll let go, for me, and I'll give you what you desire.” Somehow, with the command of it, she felt able to speak what he wanted to hear.

“I will.” And with that thought, she felt this new, wonderful sensation. She responded to it with shaky breaths and moans, like nothing else in her life.

When the haze began to lift from her mind and her breathing steadied out, the world seemed brighter. Like an ocean of new colors. 

“Is that a Yes?” Galadriel asked breathlessly with a satisfied smile on her face, like weeks of pent-up energy had finally had its outlet. 

“When you asked me to be yours, what did you expect?”

“A simple yes would have sufficed. But that was… that was.”

“Something more?”

“Yes,” Galadriel smiled wider as she lifted her arms to wrap around Annatar's neck, embracing him. 

“Galadriel, this is very important, and you should learn it now. There is always more to me; it will never stop. Someday, when I bind us together, you will see the depth of it.”

“If you want to bind us together, I am going to request a ring as is custom.’’ Annatar knew she was only joking, but he was serious with his reply.

“I will give you a ring like no other.” He leaned down and kissed her.

---

 

Sauron could see through the unseen that the tree of Lindon did not have long left, and his plot against the Uruk was beginning to slip; he needed rings for all the people of Middle-earth for his plan to work. 

In haste, the morning of the work began on the Elven rings, he took rode off to Khazad-dum, to speak with the Dwarven king. 

 

Notes:

Hi, I needed a way to get Sauron out of Eregion for like a week to make the Elven rings, so we will see how that goes over with his Girlfriend. But we are in tight trying times.

Chapter 5: Chapter 5

Summary:

Rings were made and claimed

Notes:

Evening Friends,
New chapter here. So I did a thing where I wrote the 3rd to last chapter before this one and started writing the scenes in other chapters as well. But here is this for you to enjoy.
EDIT 9/6/2025
Content in this chapter has been rewritten.

A letter had arrived a few days after Annatar left for Khazad-dum. It was from High King Gil-Galad. If the solution to the tree fading could not be found by a specific time, the city of Eregion was to be disbanded. 

 

Much to Celebrimbor's disappointment, but with encouragement from Elrond and Galadriel, they decided to forge the rings. Galadriel, knowing that Annatar would be disappointed they had started without him, decided that it would be best to save all the elves. 

 

Galadriel was staring at the dagger she had hidden away, her brother's dagger. Finest silver and gold Valinor had to offer. She had realized in the past few weeks that with Annatar, she could move past what had happened with Finrod. She felt lighter with him. Her brother's spirit was safe awaiting in Valinor, and Sauron and the other servants of Morgoth were whispered into the silence. The Rings would save her people; it would be what her brother wanted, so she offered the dagger to the Rings to Celebrimbor for the future of Middle Earth. 

 

“True Creation requires sacrifice,” Celebrimbor said as Galadriel placed the dagger in the furnace to be melted down. 

 

“It will be worth it, this will save us. I feel it in my fea.”Galadriel turned and smiled at her cousin. She then stepped aside for the Smiths to work and set up. She watched as the molten metal was poured and turned and the Mithril added in. She then watched as the metal was poured into molds and suddenly felt a rush of anxiety, like she needed to be somewhere else, but that place was here. The intrusiveness was almost painful; Galadriel had to step out of the room. 

She walked and walked until she reached the Gate in the distance, charging at full speed. There, she could see an Elf on horseback. 

“Annatar?” She ran up to him, and when he saw her jumping from the horseback, he slowed down.

“You started without me?” He seemed almost angry, more than Galadriel expected. And was swiftly walking to the tower forge. 

“They just finished pouring the metal into the molds. ANNATAR, slow down.” Galadriel tried to grab his hand, but he grabbed it hard and nearly bone-crushing.

“YOU STARTED WITHOUT ME!” Galadriel could not recall a moment she had seen such bitterness and fury in him. He was always composed. Never such extreme emotion crossed his face. 

“Annatar, my love, let go, or I will be forced to fight back. I don’t desire that, and neither do you.” She was firm and stood her ground, surprised by his action as she was she would not be pushed aside for his momentary rage. It seemed to snap him out of whatever was possessing him, and he let go.

“Forgive me, I meant not to harm you, but why Galadriel, did you begin?”

“High King Gil-Galad gave us a deadline of less than a fortnight. We had no choice. You left in such a rush we knew not when you were returning. It will be alright; we have only begun today, and you will see them to the end. Besides, your skills are still needed to shape the rings.”  He seemed to be momentarily defeated. Almost ashamed. 

“I need to be the one to fix this.” He almost whispered.

“Fix what?”

“Middle-earth. That's why I am here. My purpose and task. The rings are that means, I will feel I failed if I cannot be there to lead.”

“My Love, great leaders let others grow by leading from time to time. Celebrimbor is the greatest of Elven smiths. Your inspiration and guidance are of the most value to him. But please show grace to yourself.” Annatar gave a soft smile back to Galadriel. And picked up the one he had injured, gave a kiss, and waved his hand to heal it. An apology He never let his emotions get the better of him; this was a first in a long time. 

“What a miracle you are, my lady. Please forgive me again for my rage and my rush to leave. I spoke with Prince Durin, and I have managed to secure more Mithril for us in the coming weeks.”

“Of course, my Love, I forgive you. That is wonderful, Annatar. How did you manage that when even Elrond couldn’t?”

“I am very good at getting what I want by giving people what they most want.” Something in the way he said that made alarm bells go off in Galadriel's head, but those thoughts were quickly set aside when Annatar offered her his arm to walk back to the forge. 

“Now let us see the rings,” He said, leading them back. 

The Rings in question were still hardening in their molds. Two, when opened, were made of Gold, one Silver. Annatar insisted on working on the silver one himself, leaving the other two to Celebrimbor and the other smiths. Galadriel left to speak with Elrond for a while but returned in the early hours of the evening. Annatar was alone in the forge. Holding the silver rings in one hand with a rag in the other.

“You're still working, I figured you would have finished.”

“I did. I wanted to polish it before I put it with the other two.” He then placed it with the other two rings of gold in the small chest that had been made for them. Galadriel walked over to them, not yet seeing the finished products of their work. 

“They are beautiful. Like stars, small perfect stars.” She looked at them in wonder. They were the most beautiful creations. 

“I was told you gave up your Brother’s Dagger for this project, We will have to find more Metal if we want to continue making these for the other races.” Galadriel could hear Annatar talking, but it was like background noise to her. Far off as she stared at the Silver ring. She felt it calling to her like a new friend or companion had come into her life. Much like how Annatar had appeared. 

She picked it up and studied it. Then, really without thinking, she slid it on her middle left finger. She felt this incredible rush of light through her, felt a strength settle into her she had never felt. 

“What are you feeling, Galadriel?” He asked, his voice suddenly clear and focused. 

“It's like basking in the light of the two trees again. They are perfect.” Her gaze lingered on the ring as she spoke. “Neyna.”

“Neyna??”

“These rings shall have names, for their deeds will be great. Neyna, the Ring of Water or the Ring of Adamant.” She said, looking back at him from the ring. 

“And the others?” Galadriel looked down at the other two and could see their names in them.

“The Red Ring is Narya, the Ring of Fire, and the Sapphire Ring, Vilya, the Ring of Air.” 

“I like those very much.” 

“Will you not wear one, my love?” She asked with curiosity. 

“No. These rings are not for me. They don’t speak to me as they do to you. Perhaps one day we will make one that will, but not now. You are this one wearer now. Let no one take it from you. My equal.” He finished speaking in Quenya. 

“You mean that?”

“Yes, surprisingly to myself, I do.”

He smiled down at her and put his hands on her shoulders and cheek. He pulled her in for a kiss. They were smiling into the kiss when they heard someone come through the door. 

“My Lord, oh my Lady.” It was the young jewel smith, Mirdania. 

“Mirdania, is there something you need?” Galadriel said, moving away from Annatar. 

“Lord Celebrimor told me to ensure the rings were secured for their journey to Lindon tomorrow. The guards will watch them tonight.”

“They are alright,” Annatar said, closing the box in which the other two rings were held. 

“Mirdania, please tell Herald Elrond I will be traveling with him. It seems the rings found their first wearer.” Galadriel said, slightly lifting her hand to show the ring on her finger. 

“Of course, my lady, anything else.”

“No. That will be all, thank you. We will ensure the remaining rings are locked before we leave.” With that, the young Smith left the room. 

“We never find privacy up here,” Galadriel said.

“Well, it is a forge, not a private chamber.” He glanced at the ring box again. “Will you make sure the bearers of these are worthy of them?”

“Of course. Why are you so concerned? What can I do to ease your mind?” She did want to ease it; she liked the way it felt when she helped him solve a problem in his mind. 

“Your presence alone puts me at ease. But your word as well. You set your mind to something, you don’t give up easily.” Annatar said as he held Galadriel's hands in his. 

“No, I don’t. Is that a good quality or a bad one?” She asked with her sassy and confident smile. 

“Sometimes we need a colt at full Gallop to charge, sometimes we need it to be still and wait. So both. I need you to return to me after you deliver the Rings to Lindon.”

“Of course, I will come back. Why would I not?”

He went quiet. It wasn’t normal for him to sit and think about his answer for so long. 

“I fear losing you.” He said, grabbing hold of her hand.

“Lose me?  No, no my love, not when we just found each other.” She kissed him. It was meant to comfort him. But he seemed more lost when she pulled away.

“I can’t do this without you. I don’t want to do this alone.”

“You're not alone. Come my Love, let's go back to my house. You have had a long day.” He interlocked their fingers as they walked back to Galadriel’s home. Like he was scared she would drift away from him. 

---

 

A few hours later, the pair were sitting in Galadriel's chambers, drinking wine on the floor of the room, blankets and pillows laid everywhere, the fireplace roaring, and candles flickering. 

Sauron was holding Galadriel in his arms, their clothes long discarded beside a sheer nightcover Galadriel wore to keep warm, and for a few hours, everything had been perfect. He spent the day crafting and smithing. Mastering a new power. And he had spent his evening with his She-elf pushing beyond the boundaries of what is acceptable for an unmarried elf. A perfect day in his mind. He had only a few of those, but today tops his list. After sitting in basking for a while, he felt it was time to inquire about a question long on his mind.

“My Galadriel.” He spoke into her mind.

“Yes,” she spoke out loud to him and turned her head to look at him. He looked at her sly yet sternly. He wanted her to try to talk back to him in her mind.

“Try again.” Her mouth made an O shape, realizing it was her mind she heard him. She smiled as she replied again.

“Yes, My Love.”

“Better.” He kissed her, quickly, and pulled away. “ Will you miss me on your journey to Lindon?”

“I fear I will despite myself. I wish you had not hastened away to Kazah-dum.” Galadrel interlocked their fingers, pulling him in close.

“I apologize for that again. I am so used to being in control and not sharing. My secrets kept me secure, but I with you, I want to be more open. I want to have you, more than you know.”

“My love,” She turned to face him, messing with the strands of his pale hair framing his face. Looking over his features somberly, almost. “You can share your burdens with me. My Mother’s role in my Father’s Kingdom was to support him, rule when he could not, and love him. I will be that for you, and you need not ask. Let me help you carry you fears, your pain, your will or whatever else you desire. As long as you promise the same in return.”

“I was a being without love for a long time; power is what I craved. But your love, I want it more than Anything, I feel desperate to have it, it consumes much of my thoughts.”

“Love can be consuming, but it is gentle and kind. Freely given and yet earned. You have earned mine, Annatar. In a short time, you have.” He kissed her then. Pulling her in hard and deep.

“Please,” she broke, and he gave her what she wanted. She fought with him. Tugged at his hair and pulled him down, biting so hard that his lips bled, and she still kissed him. 

He returned the favor, biting her lip back. And the hint he tasted of hers was like pure sunlight. He separated them, looked down at her, and smiled. Then he took her hand, still wearing her new ring on it, and he kissed the ring.

“Would you accept this as a ring of my intention to wed you?” He asked as he hovered above her, holding her ring hand in his. 

“I would. But you have yet to ask me such a question.”

“Galadriel of the Golden House. My precious. Will you by my beloved queen.”

“Queen? I didn’t know you had a kingdom, my Lord.” She was serious in her ask and slightly confused but liked the idea of the title.

“Oh, we will someday, where all the great and noble creations of the One live in harmony. That is what I want for us. I think that we could do that, your Light and my Power.”

“What about the Valar task? Will that not be disobeying them?”

“ I was sent to help. No one said anything about staying or not. Or saving further lives beyond this task.”

“So you will stay here in Middle-earth.”

“Yes, I feel more at home with you than I have ever felt. So what say you, my lady?’

“Yes, I will marry you and do all things at your side.” She leaned up and kissed him. When he pulled away, he had a single tear fall from his eye.

“Perfection.” That was all he said. He picked her up and took her to bed. She thought for a moment he would try to be passionate, but he didn’t. He put them under her blankets and held her close. She fell into asleep soon after. He held her till the dawn, for he knew she would have to leave. He had asked her how she would manage, but in truth, he worried for himself. Around her, he could be himself for the most part. But for others, he was a shroud of himself, a mask. 

But there was work to continue to be had. And she needed to go to Lindon for what was coming. 

---

Far in the former Southlands.

The Lady Bronwyn and Arondir of the Elves were leading their people to a refugee camp on the banks of the sea. An old Nuemenor settlement. They had been gathering all the people they could find, raiding the orc camps and leaving them destroyed. Lord Halbrand had gone himself to the region of Eregion and said he would send word soon. 

It had been a few weeks, but news came with a flock of crows. 

“My People. Continue to gather your strength. The Orcs will begin to move to the Lands of Eregion; they have heard that I am here. When that time comes, all of the strongest troops will be needed to guard the Southland's borders and take it back from the enemy.

Arondir, find your way up here; the commander of the Northern Armies will require aid.”

Arondir had found Lord Halbrand suspicious at first, a King of the Southlands that just appeared out of thin air. But the man was helpful and reduced many of the Elves and Men who the Orcs and their Lord Adar had taken. 

He trusted that if He said he was needed in Eregion soon, he would head that way, once the Southlanders were in a position to take back their lands with the other tribes of men.  

Notes:

All answers to questions will be held for future chapters. I am letting Sauron and Galadriel vibe right now.

Chapter 6: Chapter 6

Summary:

Distance makes the gaslighting obvious.

Notes:

Hello, Someone commented this morning asking for more. The coincidence was that I had been working on editing this chapter and doing my final read-through. So here it is. Fair warning no Sauron here other than a lingering presence. To quote Elrond "He never left."

When Galadriel and Elrond arrived in Lindon, a shadow seemed to rest over the city. The beautiful Eldar tree that had sustained them was all but dead, and a sickness festered. The whole city was gathered together in front of the tree. Brought together by the sounds of the mournful king singing. Galadriel and Elrond made haste up to the tree. 

Gil-Galad was speaking about the tree's death and that the city must prepare to be abandoned. 

“WE NEED NOT LEAVE,” Galadriel shouted to her Nephew the King. 

“Lady Galadriel, the tree is dead. We must...”

“No, High King. Celebrimbor has worked tirelessly, and we have found a means to heal this tree and sustain our people. Elrond.” Elrond then presented a small bag to the King. Gil-Galad opened it and pulled out two rings. 

“These Rings of Power are a new power. The finest of Elvendom Smiths and the most powerful of dwarvish ores have met and made these.” Galadriel showed the ring on her finger to the King and the crowd. 

“We need not abandon these shores. When these rings unite, they possess a power not seen since the days of the First Songs. Please, Nephew . We must try.” Gil-Galad looked sternly as always but looked down at the rings and felt different. He reached down for the blue ring when the red one fell to the ground, rolling to the feet of Cirdian, the oldest of all Elves in Middle Earth. The Shipwright picked the ring up off the ground. 

“I have not seen perfection like this since the day I left Valinor.” The Elf then slipped the Red ring over his finger as Gil-Galad slid the Sapphire ring on his. A sudden light descended, and the clouds over Lindon departed. Music seemed to fill the air, and the Leaves of the Great tree grew and were restored. And there was light. 

Galadriel smiled for what felt like the first time in centuries. The peace that filled her heart and hope felt whole and restored. She joined Gil-Galad and Cirdian up in front of the tree. 

As they grouped and marveled at the Rings, Galadriel felt the magic snap into place so that the tree would be sustained as long as the Rings held domain over the elves. 

“New Power indeed, Lady Galadriel,” Cirdian said. “These Rings will sustain us through the next age.”

“Yes, it will,” Galadriel replied, with not a doubt in her mind.

---

There was a great feast that lasted for days. Galadriel sat at the head of the table with her Nephew the King and Cirdian. A new status of Ring bearer was given to her. The status implied wisdom and a voice to the King she had not had in many centuries. 

While Gil-Galad was her Nephew, they did not have an easy relationship. Galadriel was technically in line for the throne of the Noldor, but as a female was passed over. Not that at the time she wanted the responsibility as she was deep in mourning, but now she wondered if she could have done well at the job. 

“My Lady, why don’t you speak of Lord Annatar?”

“Did you not meet him for long, Cirdian? He came from Valinor.”

“Lord Annatar never passed this way. It is possible that the summer storms caused his ship to go off course, and he landed further south, but it seems unlikely.”

“He did come up to the city from the south and professed he was lost. Come to think of it, we haven't discussed it. I will be sure to do that when I return to Eregion.”

“But tell us about him. An Elf of grandeur, I suppose.”

“He is Grand but professes humility. The strangest thing is that He seeks the work of a servant but bears the weight of a leader. He is a master craftsman. He made my Ring Neyna, himself. He is also quite talented with magic, he has been helping me restore some of my long-abandoned abilities.”

“Sounds more like a Maiar than Elf, if I am honest, my lady. Be cautious of him.”

“Why?” It was a curious thought, why should she be cautious of Annatar?

“Remember in Valinor, the Ainur were known to have great magical ability, even the ability to change their appearance, He may well be an Emissary but not an elf, by nature. You knew Melian; she is a perfect example.” Cirdian explained

“He proposed Marriage to me.”

“What?” Her nephew practically choked on his wine to hear this news. Several others in the area turned their eyes to Galadriel. 

“He asked me to marry him. And I have accepted. He makes me feel safe and seen. He adores me. He challenges me, but he also makes me feel worthy of my rank and abilities, which I have not felt since I studied under Melian and Yvanna and lived with my father. I love him and will marry him as soon as I return to Eregion. I will not wait the year.” Galadriel hadn’t spoken any of this aloud before, but her sure foundation in the belief that she loved Annatar decisively. It worried her slightly. But she would not back down from it. She was confident in what she wanted, and it was Annatar and the Kingdom he had promised her. 

“Have you gone mad, Lady Galadriel?” Gil-Galad was used to Galadriel's wild ideas and notions, but this took the cake. 

“No, I suppose you would not know about this kind of love since you have yet to find a suitable match, Nephew. Besides, I have waited a long time to find someone who matches me and gives me everything else I wanted in an Elf to share my life with.” Galadriel didn’t say what she wanted to say, that she hoped that the Valar had sent Annatar for her to help her seek forgiveness as much as much as he was sent to aid to save her people. 

“I don’t approve,” Gil-Galad said stoically.

“Since when have you approved of anything I do, your Highness?”

“ You make things more difficult than necessary. I don’t approve on the grounds I have never met this emissary. As your closest living male relative, I would like to meet him. Why did he not come with you?”

“He is remaining in Eregion to help pay back the debt to the dwarves. He said before I left that King Durin would reach out soon to make it known.”

“A debt to the dwarves. Could be worse.” Gil-Galad said. Ending their conversation and turning back to Cirdian.

“Are you really worried for me, Cirdian?”

“I am. You are back in your old spirits from when your brothers still lived, but it is based on a fixation on one being whom I have never heard of nor met, and I meet all who come to these shores from Valinor.” Galadriel turned back to her plate. She felt a twinge of caution come to her spirits and doubt. 

---

A few days later, Galadriel was sitting in a room with the other commanders and military officials. They were discussing what the Orcs had done in the Southlands and preparing a strategy for retaliation. 

Then, Galadriel was not there. She was back in Tol-In-Gaurthoth; however, she wasn’t alone. Wolves surrounded her then parted, making way for him, Sauron.

His finery was so counter to the lands around her. His red hair and face were beautiful and fair, but the stench of rage and darkness followed him as he approached her. She pulled her sword to prepare to fight.

“Such a bright spirit, the only light in the darkness of this realm.” Suddenly, they were not in Tol-In-Gaurthoth but in Eregion burning. 

Galadriel's face and voice screamed of Horror. As the white towers and forest burned and Elves lay dead around her. 

“I tried to stop it, but you were too late,” Sauron said.

“Only the darkness in you could have done this.”

“No, the darkness consumes us both.” Suddenly, Galadriel felt blood running down her chin from her mouth and nose. She touched it, looking in horror to see it was black. He grabbed her hand, covered in blood, and kissed her palm. Galadriel shudders in fear, looking at his actions.

“Why are you afraid, my queen? You have been mine from the moment you stepped into my domain.” He smiled with a wolf’s grin. 

Suddenly, Galadriel was back in the room facing a painting shifting her ring around on her finger. There were voices behind her speaking about the Orc's movements. A tear fell from Galadriel's eye. She wiped it away quickly and turned back around to face the map on the table. 

“We confirmed with our spies. The being led is one of the Morindor, not Sauron. A few captured Orcs stated that Sauron is dead, killed by this Adar who rules them.” The Western Commander stated.

“We have reports from some of the Human refugees a story of an elf-like being taking them captive and leading them. It would confirm this story.” One of the Southern lieutenants said. 

“So this is not Sauron or another one of the Maiar under his service?” Gil-Galad asked. 

“No, by all appearances, this is a lone Morindor. With thousands of Orcs, sire.” The Commander reaffirmed. Gil-galad's face was frustrated, while the good news that it was someone who was once an elf made things slightly hopeful. The fact that the Southlands were now Mordor and burning didn’t help. There were many things to consider. 

“Lady Galadriel, you have hunted more Orcs than any elf alive. What say you?” Gil-Galad asked. Galadriel looked at the map and thought for a moment.

“We should send aid to the Mortal refugees encamped near Eregion's borders. From there, we can gather more intel from them and see what is happening in Mordor. It might also be wise to prepare for battle and send troops to Eregion as soon as they can be gathered. As a precautionary effort. Until we know what this Orc’s intentions are.” Gil-Galad nodded in agreement.

“The lady is wise. Make preparations.” The high king commanded. Everyone was dismissed at that point. Galadriel gave a quick bow and was turning to leave when Gil-Galad asked for her to walk with him.

“You seem uneasy these last few days. Why?”

“Since the wear of this ring, I have begun to perceive that which is yet to be. Dreams cloud my waking mind.”

“Seeing the unseen.” He gave her a surprised yet knowing glance, then hurried them off to a secluded area. 

“What have you seen, nephew?”

“White towers burning, rivers running dry. Eregion. What of you?”

“Similar but different.”

“How so?”

“I have seen Sauron. And my blood is black as tar.”

“They say the Elves who served Morgoth had such blood. Perhaps you see this, Adar.” She didn’t try to refute him. But she was deeply unsettled by this vision and Sauron's familiarity with her in it. 

“I fear for the future of Eregion. We such make haste, I should have left after the tree was healed. I need to be with him.” Sudden anxiety took hold of Galadriel, and Gil-Galad grabbed her arm as she was clenched by this feeling. It was paralyzing; this need was so sudden. 

“Galadriel? Are you alright?” He asked, holding her up.

“It’s Annatar. I felt this same thing once before when he was angry about being delayed. He is missing me.” She paused for a moment to breathe and steady herself. “I always thought that no one could reach the depth at which I feel. But his emotions are like an ocean compared to my lake. It swallows me whole, yet somehow, he is completely in control of them.”

“Aunt, I need you to be honest with me now. Did you lay with him?”

“We have done many things but not the act. I wanted to wait till we were wed.”

“If you have not consummated then how is it you have such a strong bond with him that you can feel his extreme emotions?” This was the puzzle Galadriel had been trying to solve in the back of her mind since she met Annatar. She had no good answer for it. This wasn’t the first time she had felt him since arriving in Lindon. Part of her had this deep urge to return to him, but she had responsibilities and pushed aside as longing. She missed him, truly, but these feelings were not hers, and it was beginning to make her wonder. And the distance was showing gaps that had not been there in his presence, all-consuming as he was. 

“I don’t know, Artanáro. I wish I did. I am beginning to fear it myself.” Gil-Galad had been holding her hands as she was in her thoughts. He looked down at them for a pause and asked a peculiar question. 

“Lady Galadriel, when did you stop calling your King? Last time we spoke, it was the only term you would use for me.”

“Has your ego inflated so much these past decades, Sire?” Galadriel said with her soft wit. 

“No, I miss the affections of my youth dearly. However, you have been so informal I thought I should ask.” The thought gave Galadriel pause; he was right. It was an odd thing, much about this had been. She had been odd, but if Gil-Galad, who was the High King of the Elves, who was. A glimpse back to her vision earlier of Sauron didn’t bring comfort. 

“I finally got over what happened to Finrod, Thanks to Annatar. I think I was able to forgive your father and your grandfather, my other dear brother. I miss my family, you are all I have left of them. Forgive me if I was rude in my affections.”

“No need. You are right, and it seems we are both seeing it. There is something not right here or in Eregion. Leave at first light with a small party, and take Elrond; we will prepare a host to follow you to Eregion within the fortnight.” 

“Thank you, Nephew.”

---

Galadriel's sleep was no longer happy dreams of a bright future. They were dark and full of blood and ash. Angband and Forowairth are turning to ice. Orcs are stabbing her. And then darkness, emptiness, the feeling of nothing but her mind screaming. 

When she awoke in horror, Galadriel felt in Neyna that these were not the future but the past. Sauron’s past. So what she feared long in her bones and deep in her intuition was true. He yet lived and was returning.

Notes:

Evils afoot in Eregion..........

Chapter 7: Chapter 7

Summary:

The Rings of the Dwarves, aka Sauron, trip down memory lane.

Notes:

Hello all,
I am working hard to get these out to you; truthfully, I have been rewriting other chapters before this one. But I finished it. Also, I did go back and edit out mistakes I found in previous chapters. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for the Kudos and comments.

Sauron listened to Celebrimbor sell the idea of the Rings to Prince Durin and his wife from the background. The young Dwarf prince and his wife were cautious of Annatar's invitation; they were wiser than most dwarves, he observed. Durin did not believe Annatar, but he believed Celebrimbor. So Sauron stood in the corner of the room, simply listening and observing, fanning this smile he had kept on his face since Galadriel had left. 

In the past few days, during the night when all else in Eregion slept, Sauron contemplated on her. He missed Galadriel’s presence and felt the emptiness of her here. The city seemed to notice that she had become such a fixture in the lives of these elves, aiding and working with them, that her sudden departure was greatly felt. He wanted her back; no, he needed her. Sauron did not yet understand this light she saw in the world. Many of the inspirations he had found since arriving here had been because of her. He wondered what made her be such a magnet for this. Her light was spectacular, of course, and the keen eye could see it, but no female alive had inspired like her, and none had since the creation of all things. 

He was looking at the small chest with Mithril in it the Dwarves had brought with them. Convince King Durin only took the right words and promises of simply hearing out Celebrmibor and some minor magic. A sense of urgency to heal the mountain. The Mirthril was proud but malleable, he would use it to control both the race of dwarves and men. 

Celebrimbor was beginning to drone on, and the prince was not as convinced as his wife that they could help. It was time for his input.

“The Rings have already proven their capability to heal, my Lady Galadriel has seen the Great Tree healed with you dear friend Elrond. It seems to me you have two option,s your Highnesses: either you accept the rings now and we ask for nothing in exchange, or we withhold this power from your race, and when you come to your sense that Lord Celebrimbor is right, you come and the price is steep.” The Dwarf prince gave a rather confused expression to him.

“I’m sorry, who exactly are you?”

“I am the one who convinces your father to send you, Annatar, your Highness.”

“Ah, you are as….polished as he said. And what is your role in all of this, Annatar?” Sauron pursed his lips but continued to smile.

“I am here to heal all of Middle Earth. The Volcano eruption in the Southlands triggered the earthquakes that damaged the mountain. The forces of evil are at work. My task is to remove them and heal what is left behind. It is an honor to help your people.” The dwarf seemed to continue grimacing. Then his wife put a hand on his shoulder. 

“My Lords might me and my husband speak in private for a few moments.” The female Dwarf interjected. 

“Of course, Lady Disa,” Celebrimbor said. The female dwarf then began to walk her husband down the tower's stairs outside, out of the elf's ear range. 

“They worry what they will give up with the rings,” Celebrimbor observed as Annatar watched them exit the building from the balcony. Annatar gave only a quick glance.

“The cost will be greater if they don’t.” He said in a monotone.

“Perhaps, but we don’t yet know that. They will come around to the idea, as you said.” Celebrimbor said, touching Sauron's shoulder, and walked back to his desk. The Lord of Eregion was catching up on some paperwork for the moment when a question came to his mind. 

“How do you know the tree was healed? We have received no Letters or messengers from Lindon.”

“What my Lady sees, I see. That is all you need to know.”

“Yes, I suspected as much. You are very fond of her. More than fond, it appears.” This peaked Sauron's ear up. Celebrimbor was looking at his papers, but Sauron's face could kill if he looked up as he walked over to him. 

“Yes, I am what, is it to you, my friend?”

“Lady Galadriel has a long history of being favored for her beauty. I am sure you are aware of this; she was the muse of my Grandfather, Feanor, for the Silmarils. Many great a Prince and Lord have tried to buy her affection all to no end.”

“Perhaps they did not know her true value. Or her desires.” Sauron's soul was filled with a possessiveness he had never felt and jealous rage. 

“Perhaps... she did seem different when she left wearing that Ring. Your Ring….If you think that your affection for her was going unnoticed, you may need to try hard to hide it.”

“I have no intention of such false impropriety when it comes to Lady Galadriel. When she returns and the Rings are finished, we will be leaving to aid the Southlands, We will turn it into a realm of beauty, not unlike this one. But for the Mortals of Middle Earth.”

“A lofty aspiration, if that is your bride price for her.”

“It is no price at all; it is what she desires most: a realm of her own. Such as you want to be the creator of the most important and magnificent creations in all of Arda.To surpass that of Feanor himself.” This final act made Celebrimbor look up from his work to Annatar.

“Is not the desire of all creations to be better than the ones that came before?” Sauron face was impasive yet Judgmental at the comment. He then switched to a soft smile as he heard the dwarves return up the stairs. Celebrimbor felt shaken by the change of mood and stood back up as well. 

Prince Durin was hesitant but spoke with renewed interest.

“How many will you make if we agree to this?”

“As a balance must be maintained among them and there are many more dwarvish kingdoms seven rings would suffice.”

“Seven.” Durin looked back at his wife. “And they would heal the mountain.”

“They will do more in time. But yes, they will.” The Dwarven prince looks back at his wife with a sigh.

“You may prepare for these rings and have the Mithril we brought. We will bring Gold and Jewels from our Mountains to provide for the making of them. We will need something more practical than those dainty elven rings you showed us.”

“We are glad to hear it, your Highnesses. We will begin preparing the work, You may invite King Durin for that Delivery. 

Celebrimbor thanked the Dwarves and hurried onwards after they left to order the smiths to begin preparations. 

Sauron found that without visiting Galadriel every night, the days dragged on. He didn’t need to sleep; the peace of the night only left him still and void of action. Some nights, he would sit and read the history he had missed; others, he would stir eye plans for buildings and cities perfect and beautiful in his mind. He would occasionally slip into the unseen realms to see what Galadriel was doing with her days. He could easily find her out in the world. Her Ring made her already powerful light glow with a further intensity. She was attending Feast at first, but then the mood in Lindion seemed to shift.

 As he predicted, Adar didn’t go unnoticed. His big, brash use of the old water system in the Southlands caught all of Middle Earth's attention, and there would be swift retaliation. Especially if Adar dared to attack an Elven city that Sauron was suspected to be in. 

When Sauron first appeared in the Southlands after gaining a human form, he ran into a group of refugees. The leader was an old man who wore the crest of the Southland kings. He walked with them for a few days before reaching the shore of the Sundering Sea, when he had a clever idea. He stole the crest and a horse, went back to the abandoned villages, and forged a simple set of armor. 

He then went from Village to village, killing Orcs and freeing humans. At first, it was to fulfill a simple bloodlust, but then it became more.  He sent the humans he resueced to an abandoned outpost, where they began to regroup, safe beyond the mountains that surrounded the Southlands. He became their King and soon amassed many followers in his war. He then met a villagers led by an Apothecary and an Elf—an unusual group. After helping them out of their Village to the Sanctuary, as it had been named, he spent much time with the Elf Arondir. A silvian elf of the woods people he was brave and clever. And quite fond of the mortals under his care. 

Halbrand asked about Eregion and the Elves there. He also asked about Galadriel in cryptic terms while sitting by a fire on a night watch.

“ Do you think if we asked the Elves might help us? Specifically the ones in Eregion?” Halbrand asked as he handled the fire.

“Perhaps, Lord Halbrand, Lord Celebrimbor stays out of political affairs. Maybe Lady Galadriel might help,” Arondir said, sitting across from him, sharpening arrowheads. 

“Lady Gladrel?” He said, purposefully mispronouncing her name. 

“Ga-lad-ri-el. She is the only daughter of the former High King Finarfin. Sister of Finrod who helped Beren in his quest for the hand of Luthien. A princess and beautiful as the dawn. Most importantly, she is the Commander of High King Gil-Galad's Northern Armies. She has lived in Eregion most of this age. She is the Lady of the city, serving with Lord Celebrimbor, her Cousin, and has sway with the other Commanders. If Adar and these Orcs are as dangerous as we fear, we are going to need help. She might be the best option.”

“Tell me more of her, anything you heard that might be helpful.”

“She is…. A one-of-a-kind elf. I saw her once when I was a child before my home was destroyed. She visited. I remember her hair; in the sun, it looked white like snow, but then it shifted to silver and then to gold in the shadows. It said her hair had the light of the Two Great Trees of Valinor intertwined in them. I never saw them as I was born here in Middle Earth but the tales people would say.” Arondir seemed to have a nostalgia for a world he had never seen; it was an odd thought to read from an elf, Sauron thought. 

“Fairytales and Legends to me, at least, but this lady you speak of, she sounds as if she could command the world to obey her, if she wished.”

“ I would believe she could. They say, however, that she has become reclusive almost among the city; if you meet her there, it might not be as easy as a pleading heart and a witty smile.”

“Witty smile, that's a new one.” The young Elf soldier chuckled at the comment. 

“If your intentions are really to go to Eregion, I should come with you.”

“No, my friend, that will not be necessary. I trust you to watch over my people. I will send word if I need you and if we will strike. Until then, I trust you to prepare all those who can fight to push back against Adar.”

“I can do that. My Lord, but Elves are going to be wary of you.”

“I can be persuasive, Arondir. But also, if all of this works out in our favor, we will have a new home and kingdom. One where an Elf may marry a human woman if he wished.”  Arondir gave a shocked look, but Halbrand smirked knowingly. “This will be a new Kingdom we build, friend, where light and power will rule. There is hope for the future yet.” 

“When will you leave, then?”

“At first light. It will take a while to get there. It will be the best thing for all of us.” He did leave at first light that morning, but not to Eregion. First, he made his way to the Orc encampment, killing many along the way and calling for Adar. When he was finally taken, he was bound in chains, yet he had never been more in control of these orcs.

“The supposed King of the Southlands. I have heard several tales of you. Why should I not kill you now?”

“Because an enemy that you and I should both fear is rising.”

“Whom should I fear? Certainly not you, mortal.”

“Sauron.”

“What could a mortal know of Sauron?”

“He came to me many months ago when I was but a humble blacksmith. He gave me a crest and my claim. He said that if I killed Orcs and freed humans for him, he would give me that title and realm.”

“You certainly have done that. Why would you come to tell me this if he is your master?”

“I want no master….. but he..he terrified me. I care deeply for these people and wanted to help them, so I did it, but I can feel the power of his will; I want to be free of it. He sent word to meet him in Eregion. That he would be there in when the seasons turned, but I was to go and make alliances with the Elves.” Halbrand tried to speak with guilt and fear. “I will inform you when he arrives in Eregion, I don’t care if you take the rest of these Lands; I simply want the people to be free.” 

He hoped to convey enough sympathy to ignite a shared desire for freedom, just as Adar wished for his kin. 

Adar approached slowly, then punched him in the stomach. Halbrand winced in pain, and then Adar punched his face. Halbrand's face landed in the mud mouth bleeding. Adar then picked him up by the throat. 

“I wonder why he chose you. He was once a smith, too, Pride got to him.” He threw Halbrand back down to the ground. 

“I will free your people once the work is done. I have no use for them, after. I will even direct them to that little sanctuary you have. If your people ever come against mine, it will be war upon you. Go to Eregion, we will give you a horse. Should you betray me to him, I will destroy every mortal off the face of the land. And you know I can.”

“We just want peace and freedom, Lord Adar.”

“All creatures crave such things, boy. This is why I do this for my children. Swear your service, and you can begin your journey to Eregion. 

Halbrand bent his head down slightly, and then Adar knocked him down again, pressing his boot over his head. 

“Swear your Fealty to me as Lord of this Land to be name Mordor. Where the Orcs will reign.”

Halbrand closed his eyes for a brief moment and then swore the oath, “I swear to serve the Lord of Mordor.”

As Sauron made his way to Eregion after leaving Adar camp. He thought of his plans. To heal Middle Earth, he needs steadiness and consistency, as well as beauty. Being alone for thousands of years with only glimmers of a connection to an elf he had seen once made him rather obsessed with her. He hoped she would not disappoint him. 

But he thought of how to pull her to his side, the being he would have to be. Gentle, open, yet commanding and wise. Mysterious enough to entice her interest and assertive enough to tame her wildness. But not overbearing, a guide, an emissary. 

He reshaped himself to her. Blonde hair, steely blue eyes, elven ears. He let his horse lose about ten miles from Eregion and began to walk the remainder of the way. To feign the appearance of being lost. He came up with his story simple enough. He even glanced into the unseen, seeing where Galadriel was wandering today. 

She had barely woken up when the sun was yet to rise, he called her to awaken with the blood bond, the strength of which grew the nearer he was to her. He sent the thought of trees and nature to her mind, and that is where she ended up. 

He saw her far off smiling, flower picking, peaceful. But he knew the chaos underneath her skin, the power and magic that also resided behind the innocent, doe-eyed elf. She would not be innocent soon, he had plans for her. His little elf queen. In some retrospect, he understood Morgoth's lust now for Arien and then Luthien. To own such beauty and power was an intoxicating idea. 

He made his approach towards her stead, but then she disappeared out of sight. His concern was raised, then swept away by suddenly being flipped to the ground. Looking up, he saw her ethereal beauty, holding a knife to his throat. Time stood still for a brief moment; her control over a potential enemy slipped. He could see she was enchanted with him. 

‘Perfection,’ he thought before he spoke, begging her peace and forgiveness. Eventually, she suggested following her back to the city. And best-laid plans were put into action. 

---

Days later, King Durin arrived and brought many fine and pure metals and jewels. Prince Durin remained determined to give side eye and defiant stares as the smith began to separate materials and begin the melting process. 

Annatar's gaze shifted slowly and preciously to the Mithril. Into which he put his sorcery and spells over it. And when he went to mix the metals together, he saw Galadriel through the veil of the Unseen. 

She was wearing her Ring and was speaking with High King Gil-Galad. He saw her and wished she was here more than anything else. ‘Come back to me, be here with me’ He thought into the unseen and then refocused. Allowing the Mithril to melt into the molten metal. 

And thus, the Seven Rings of the Dwarves were made.

Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Summary:

On the Road to Eregion.....

Notes:

Hello believe me I am actaully am writing but not full chapter in order. So this took some time, not really happy with the first half but we can hope the next few come off better.

Galadriel and Elrond had been on the road for days now. The small company they were with were eager to get to Eregion.

Galadriel and Elrond were ahead of the pack, riding along. She had been quiet, too quiet for Elrond's liking. She seemed lost in thought.

“Galadriel, are you alright? You have barely spoken since we left Lindon.”

“I am not sure if I am alright, Elrond.”

“You must be excited to see Lord Annatar again.”

“I am, but something stirs in me a dark cloud of fear. I don’t want to be making a mistake.” Elrond, always kind and generous, reached out for her hand and squeezed it. As he had done since he was a child, newly orphaned with his brother.

“Where there is love, it can never truly be dark, you taught me that.” She smiled at him, how the boy she had helped raise had become so wise was beyond her. But she was pleased for his companionship even now, in what felt like the edge of catastrophe.

Sometime later, deep in the forest, the group had decided to make camp. But Galadriel could not relax. Neyna was pushing at the back of her mind, ever once in a while, it would glow or warm up something to draw Galadriel's attention, but no visions came. Just a nagging feeling to keep moving. Then, when rest had come for a few hours, Galadriel had a dream of a Dark and Fallen Elf. Threatening to kill her love, her city, and her bursting into a sun of pure light. But when the light faded, she saw herself surrounded by the embrace of shadows. And Sauron.

She woke up again with a gasp. Couldn’t keep doing this; she wanted to throw her ring for giving her such a horrible nightmare. But she felt the truth in them. Warnings. She then heard something far off, and the smell gave it away. She quickly woke Elrond and the other elves in their party.

Their fire was put out, and quickly they surveyed the scene.

“They're heading up the Glaundiun. Eregion is that way.” Galadriel sent to all of her party mind. They all turned and looked at her, Elrond surprised most of all.

“Apologize, best to be quiet. Lord Annatar taught me. Just say the thing in your mind, and Neyna can relay the message.” A sudden bunch of loud messages went through the group's minds.

“Focus,” Elrond said. Eyes wide as he was realizing this magic was working.

“Elrond you need to go back to Lindon and tell the High King.”
“I am not leaving you, especially with your ring. The Orcs can’t have that kind of power.”

“I know, but you need a distraction, and they're not going to kill me.”

“Why would the Orcs not kill you?”

“Their leader, I have seen him in a dream, he wants me alive, trust me. I know what I am doing.”

 

An arrow is shot through the air, hitting one of the scouts. The groups duck for cover as their archer fires back. Galadriel covers the wound quickly, and Neyna begins to glow. Soon, the arrow pops out of a wound that should have been fatal. Healing almost instantly.

“My lady, what do we do?” The archer, called as Elrond, looked at her, shaking his head. She removed Nenya from her hand and secured it under her gabersom. Then ran into the Orcs.

Elrond looked on for a while before signaling for a retreat of the company, back into the woods. Far away from the sight of Galadriel's wrath upon the Orcs.

“Gather your horse and supplies, with all speed, we return to Lindon.”

“What of Eregion, sir. We must warn them.”

“There will be nothing left if warn them, we must pray the Valar and Lady Galadriel will find a way out of this.”
—-----------------

Galadriel had been in a cage for a couple of days. She kept her ring hidden in her corset, hoping that the Orcs would not search her down. They hadn’t; she just hoped that the fallen elf wouldn’t notice anything, either. Soon, she felt the encampment stop. Her door was soon opened, and a large group of Orcs surrounded her.

She eyed them back and forth, staring down at the abominations. Two of them grabbed her and brought her to a tent. The tent had candles lit and a table full of food. She was pulled and sat down on a chair at the far end of the tent. They chained one of her arms and swiftly left.

Galadriel was not processing her capture well. She felt rage instead of steadiness, which is what she needed to escape. She had caught a glimpse that they were dangerously close to Eregion.

Soon, the Dark Elf came in and sat across from her.

“I have heard many tales of you, Lady Galadriel. It seems rumors can be true.” Galadriel didn't respond. “ I must admit, when Sauron first described you, he didn’t mention the cold sneer you both had in common.” This took Galadriel aback for a moment.

“I am afraid I never had the pleasure of meeting your Lord. How is it he would know such a thing?”

“Two things, Commander. One I serve no Lord, beside Morgoth. And while he is vanquished beyond the realm of night, I still follow his service. Two, you did meet Sauron in Tol-In-Gaurthoth.”

Galadriel scoffed at the notion, “I think I would remember meeting him. It is the one day I have been unable to forget.”

“Yes, the death of your brother. Finrod Felagund was a notable adversary, and so were your other brothers. Mandos protect their souls. But you did meet him. You were his obsession.” A cold chill seemed to run up Galadriel's spine at the word obsession. Some dark current of fear was in the implication of the idea.

“I don’t believe you. You would say what you think would encourage ire out of me.”

“Sadly for you, I do speak the truth, believe my tale or not. These are his words. When you came storming into Tol-In-Gaurthoth, you were a single light in the dark—easily spotted that you gave your brother and Lord Beren away from the fleeing of the castle. Then you released a spell; the impact killed your brother but somehow left you mostly unharmed. A few cuts and burns, nothing magic couldn’t heal in an instant.” Galadriel was in shock and enraged by this Orc's retelling of her story. “Sauron came to find your brother dead, and you were simply asleep. He was fascinated by you. Saw your potential, as it were. He gave you a few drops of his blood, and blood bound you to him.”

“Lies,” Galadriel said, enraged. “I would know if he would have, would have…”

“Violated you. He finds a hole inside your mind, and the rest of him slithers in. You wouldn’t notice until it was too late. Till you had already given him everything he desired. Ultimately, for you, it would have been yourself and your potential power. Be glad I killed him, and he remained disembodied as long as he has.”

“If you speak the truth, why tell me such things? Why not use it for a better purpose later?”

“Have you heard of a warrior called Halbrand of the Southlands, whom has been hunting my children and rescuing mortals?”

“ We have heard tales of him in passing trade.”

“He came to me many months ago telling me that Sauron had returned and offered him the Southlands in aid of killing my children. He said that Sauron was going to be in Eregion by the autumn. I allowed him to come this way, and I have not heard from him since. Time is up, and I have no choice but to protect my children and the world from his kind of evil.”

“I am the Lady of the city, and I have never met this Halbrand. Perhaps his tale was false.”

“No, after he left, I began to wonder and suspect that I believe Halbrand is Sauron. But to you, perhaps he is known by another name? Perhaps he appeared and seemed to offer something, perhaps knowledge, wealth, or power. Making you all believe what he offered you was yours. That with this power, all your wishes were fulfilled. Power like an ocean of color that makes everything else…”

“A dull gray,” she barely whispered, but this Orc heard it.

“What did he promise you?”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Yes, you do. You know who is. So, again, my lady, what did he offer you?” Galadriel's silence was more telling than she realized.

“When he first spoke of you, now this was at the height of Morgoth’s reign. He spoke of envy for you, your beauty and freedom, your boldness to enter his realm. He would speak of you as Morgoth would speak of Arien. Possessive claiming, He said no other female had enchanted him so, and that one day, you would be his.”

“And how would you be one to know these things? Know of Sauron?”

“Thirteen of us were taken by Morgoth and bound and chained to the top of his darkest mountain. For days, we could not sleep and had nothing to eat, so we stared into the darkness. After what seemed to stretch on for life ages, Sauron came. I tell you, my lady, there is no Maiar more beautiful than him. He came and offered me wine, and I drank it and was consumed. After that, Sauron and I worked together to create the Orcs.”

“Abominations.”

“Yes, you would say that. But there, my children and I will protect them. Sauron hated them from the moment of their creation. Ugly and full of Morgoth's venom and wrath. He likes pretty things like you.” The orc stood up and walked over to her side of the table, stopping at a chest.

“As much as these stories and tales have been fascinating, Orc Lord, what is the point of this? You have your Land of Mordor; the elves were only willing to attack you should you attack us, and that seems to be your plan here. So why risk coming to Eregion even if Sauron is here?” Adar opened the chest to pull out something Galadriel had never seen but recognized instantly, and the fear and power it held shook her core. She could even feel Neyna react to it as well against her chest.

“Morgoth’s Crown.”

“What is left of the Original. After the Silmarils were removed, the majority of it was used to bind Morgoth into the void, Sauron took the shards and forged this, fashioned and suited to his needs.” He dropped the crown on the table before her; it landed with a thud. “I killed Sauron with this at the beginning of the age. I suspect his spirit hid for a long time before it returned to take physical form. Help me kill him. Sauron is as much my enemy as yours.”

“I will say this one time, more Orc. I do not believe Sauron is in Eregion. If he were, I would have killed him on site. Lady, I may be I still be the commander of the Northern armies of High King Gil-Galad, and a Princess of the Noldor. And that is my city, you are threatening. Release me and return to Mordor. We will not have a war with you if you do. But should this be your crusade, it will be the end of the Orcs.”

“If that is what you believe, then you will hear your people beg for mercy, as so many of my children have begged you.” He threw her on the ground. Chaining her to a post. It was not long after she heard war cries and horns that the assault on her city started. All she could do was weep in sorrow for her home.

Chapter 9

Summary:

The siege begins.

Notes:

HELLO ALL. So good news I finished this chapter and the next one. Bad news, I am absolutely not going to be able to write for probably the next two months after this week :(. I work at a summer camp during the summer, and guess what, very little personal time. Also, I am on the hunt for a new job, so that might take up some time. Wish me luck on that front. I will have this one posted today, and maybe the other one on Monday. Thank you for all you support as always.

A party was being held in the tower with the Smiths. Sauron was supposed to attend as Annatar, but he was disillusioned by the situation. He couldn’t take another moment around these Elves. He sought peace in Galadriel's home. She had left word that he was allowed to stay there while she was away.

He was sitting in her study, reading some of her old letters. Her penmanship was beautiful, and the way she looped her letters, the dots, and the dashes of her punctuation were delicately handled. She always wrote as a princess. Her mother must have taken great pains with her education.

He had recently dug through a shelf way in the back and found three distinct boxes hiding on the shelves. They were labeled with each of her brothers' names and crests. Sentimentality like this was a rare thing among elves. They did memorialize their dead, but not like this.

Agnord and Aegnor’s boxes mainly had scrolls and portraits in them. Finrod’s had paper boats folded; some were older than others, and Galadriel must have been adding them over the centuries. It must have been a thing between Galadriel and her brother.

‘Family, what an interesting concept.’ He had seen family, seen love; he had never truly felt it. Well, except with Galadriel. Maybe a family would be good for them. There was the issue of being bound to a single form. As Melian was when she gave life to Luthien. If it were an option one day, maybe he could pick a form to meet his high standards before creating a life.

But for the first time in his existence, he contemplated offspring. An army of half-Maiar children would be a force to be reckoned with. And to have Galadriel as their mother, beautiful and talented, they would be more so than Luthien ever was.

While in the haze of thought, he felt a twinge in his bond with Galadriel. Was she trying to reach out? Then he glimpsed through the unseen. Orcs. Galadriel was fighting Orcs at the edge of Eregion's territory. There was nothing he could do but watch. She landed on the ground, preparing to shoot, when Adar appeared.

Sauron grimaced and watched as Adar took Galadriel away and chained her in a cage. Then, the connection dropped. He tossed the desk in Galadriel's study over onto the floor. Rage boiled in him like never before. Adar knew about Galadriel, he was one of the few he bragged to about her. The rest were dead. He should have been more careful. The value in this was knowing Adar was indeed coming and that he would keep Galadriel alive as a captive to surrender himself. He would not easily give in, especially not to an Orc.

It was late, and the party had been ended for a while when Sauron found Celebrimbor in the forge.

“You missed a wonderful party, My Lord. The Dwarves certainly know how to drink a bottle.”

“We must start the Rings of Men. Now.”

“Rings for Men, Men are too easily corrupted. They could not handle the kind of power this would give them. The Rings of Power are finished.” Celebrimbor said it with such confidence, but that would dwindle quickly.

“Fine, then I will forge them myself. And I will see to it that every living soul in the seen and unseen knows you refused to help them face the coming darkness. That it was you who was the architect of their demise.” He sneered and almost yelled at Celebrimbor. Rage was seeping off him now.

He walked off, practically stormed off, back into the workshop desks. Where hidden, a small dagger remained, and a spell began to brim with the slice of his hand.

“You dare to add to my work and storm off in Anger.”

“It seems one of us has work to do, the other is content to rest on his laurels before the work is done.”

“The Rings were my idea, Lord Annatar, not yours.”

“Then finish them. All the races protected by this power, made stronger by it.”

“These Games you play have become increasingly irritating to me and to my Smiths. Not to mention Galadriel, who I am sure will be displeased to hear of your actions.” Annatar stayed silent; the web he weaved now would soon be at hand.

“You speak only when it suits you as well as your silence. What I can not gather is why? Why do you choose to be useful and a hindrance at the same time?”

“You ask the wrong question, as always, Celebrimbor. You must think like me that all the extra tasks of running a city on top of forging the greatest power that has been too much. If that is how it feels, then return to your city. I will do what needs to be done.”

In a predicted moment of arrogance. Celebrimbor scoffed. “Leave the tower, Lord Annatar. The Rings are mine to finish.” Annatar looked at him and bowed his head.

“If that is what you wish.” He stood up and left in silence. The smirk that was spelled across his face would have sent chills down the spines of all who could have seen it, but it was for him alone. The rings were starting to be the last piece of the puzzle, the race of men.

 

—-------------------------

Several Days later

Celebrimbor had all but confined himself it the forge. When Sauron walked into the forge dressed in dark robes, all the eyes of the smiths seemed to follow him. These past few days, he had taken to hiding out in Galadriel's home. He was working in his mind's eye, spells and craft and plans. He felt Galadriel appear in the area passing the boards of Eregion just this morning, and had gone out to the walls of the city where he sensed her bright light so near. If he had timed it right, Arondir should be here in a matter of days, and Galadriel will be safely by his side.

Celebrimbor was covered in dust and grim. Hunched over his desk, and there was a pile of discarded ring bases sitting on the floor not far from him. There must have been hundreds of rings, so many attempts to do this simple task.

“Your working has not ceased in many days, my friend.”

“Running the city and preparing the rings has caused much tension. I am running back and forth between the two.”

“Perhaps I can be of assistance. I know you want to do the rings yourself, but perhaps I can take over some of the task of governance. I am already filling in for Galadriel in her absence—your work overlaps. Please, friend, let me help in this way.” Celebrimbor was going to deny Annatar’s help when the next ring in his hand broke, practically shattering on his desk. He grunted and hunched over his desk. He was then silent, deeply breathing, controlling his rage.

The exhaustion is clearly bone deep.

“Once these rings are done, you will be the one to deliver them to men. I want you gone for a long time before I see you again.”

“Is my help so intolerable?”

“Your presence, the source of my frustration. It should not weigh on me, yet it does. Take the city, till this work is done if you wish. Leave me to work.”

“As you wish, Celebrimbor.” After informing the high-ranking captains in the city and other officials of the change in leadership. Sauron went back to the forge, hiding in the unseen. The Dwarves had given them more than enough mitheral to use, even as Celebrimbor wasted it day by day.

This mitheral could feel the anxiety of the situation. It was alive and thinking material waiting to be changed into something new and crafted. Out of sight of Celebrimbor, Sauron let his blood spill into the metal, a soft red glow, then he appeared, and he could see the metal; it was bound to him now. This would hold up to Celebrimbors tinkers and now the final piece.
Later that night, Celebrimbor had finally made one ring that resolved itself. It was then he heard what sounded like trees falling in the distance and guards panicking. He stopped his work and approached the windows, only to try to open it to see Annatar slide in, shutting the window.

“How fares your progress?”

“What it going on outside?”

“The rings should be your concern, not outside that mine.”

“ I think I'm over your concern.” He pushed Annatar out of the way and stormed out of the forge. Running down the stairs and throwing open the doors, he saw daylight. Joy on his people's faces. Annatar soon walked down the stairs.

“Your worst fears consume you, friend. Look around.” Celebrimbor's eyes seem to be filled with wonder and joy. Peace.

“You and I have not always seen in agreement. But this I tell you is true. Your work to surpass your forefathers will be realized.” Annatar held out Feanor’s hammer. “You will create something more important, more….Precious, than anything Feanor could ever dream of. Finish the work.” Some weight seemed to be lifted from Celebrimbor’s shoulders; the weight of this work seemed within his reach. He nodded his head and took Feanor’s Hammer in his hands.

“You are right, this is the greatest work in all of Middle-earth. I leave my city in your care, my Lord.” Annatar smiled, and Celebrimbor began to return to his Forge.

Sauron stood in that courtyard for a moment, gazing at the beauty of the elves in this dream. He saw a young elvish couple pass by and thought of Galadriel. She was near. She would need some of his strength for what was to come. He began to walk away, and the vision faded back to the dark and terrible reality.

The Orcs were starting their attack. In one of the high towers of the city, he gazed out to see all that was before him. A plan fulfilled, and all of them played right into his hands. He reached out into the unseen for her, grabbing for her mind that somehow felt distant. She was afraid. Filled with a grief that had only just begun, then he felt it.

The source of great and terrible power. Morgoth’s Crown. He began to whisper to her through the crown. To bring it to Eregion. To take hold of its power. She cringed and wept, curled up in a ball on the floor of the tent where she remained a prisoner.

In truth, he wanted to apologize to her, but she would see that the destruction of the city would be the end of their enemies.
—------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Galadriel had been kept locked up for two weeks now; the smell of smoke cut through the smell of Orc. And every day, she heard the crashing of buildings and the screams of her people. She carved into her mind all the ways she would kill every single Orc. The madness of the captivity was getting to her; she needed to break out. The shackles were tight around her wrists for her to even attempt it.

Adar had come offering her meals and peace, but she refused. At every turn, she wanted to leave, wanted to find Annatar, find Celebrimbor. She wanted out!

It was early in the night, and the Sun had just set. She knew the barrage would pick up again soon. Soon, an Orc shuffled in from the back of the tent. Followed by someone in a hood, then slice.
Removing his hood, it was an elf. Galadriel quickly stood up from her place on the floor.

“Lady Galadriel. I am Arondir of the Silvan elves. I was sent to free you.” He took a pair of keys out from under his clock. And walked over to her.

“Who sent you, Arondir?” She asked, lifting her hands to the elf, and a glimmer of hope crossed her face.

“Lord Halbrand of the Southlands.” Galadriel then gave a surprised and confused face as her shackles were released. Arondir then pulled out a cloak and gave it to Galadriel. He seemed to be pulling her out of the tent. When she remembered something.

“Wait. Grab that bag for me.” Pointing to the distance and Arondir went over to grab it. She walked over to a chest. Opening it up, she saw the crown that had been whispering to her during her confinement. She hesitated but picked it up.

“My Lady is that...” Arondir looked at the crown with fear.

“The Crown of the Dark Lord. Give me the bag. The Orcs should not have this.” She placed it inside, throwing it over her shoulder. Arondir took her out a back way far from the camp. He paused in a patch of bushes near the dwarven tunnels.

“There is a rotation soon. We will wait here for a bit.” Arondir sat, and Galadriel followed next to him.

“How long have you been working to get into the camp?”

“About four days, Orcs are chaotic but predictable.” Galadriel settled on the ground, then reached into her gamberson and pulled out Neyna.

“That is the one of the Rings we have been hearing about.”

“Yes, my beloved Lord Annatar made it for me.” She slid it back onto her finger, feeling the relief of it on her hand again. “Neyna, the Ring of Adament. I couldn’t risk it being taken from me. It is also my Engagement Ring. I suppose it will not matter soon enough.”

“Why, my Lady?”

“Adar, the leader of the Orcs, said something. I fear that this Lord Halbrand and my Annatar are the same. I fear we have been deceived.”

“They may not be the truth, my Lady. The Orc might have lied.”

“There is a saying that best lies have bits of truth. I fear the truth of the lie I have been told. But I more greatly fear what is to become of me.”

“What do you mean, my Lady?” Galadriel only looked at him with sorrow in her eyes. She had only thought of Annatar and the Elves for days now. She hardly knew what to do. If she believed Adar's claims, then she was certainly in danger and had been for longer than she ever suspected. Sauron would know all of her notes to play to fit her just so.

“It doesn't matter, yet. We need to get out of here. How much longer?” Arondir then shushed her. And pointed. It was time, the pair took off in haste into the darkened tunnels.

“I assume you know the way, my lady?”

“I do. I help design them. This way.” The path was straightforward only if you knew the way through. It was also sealed off with a magic door to prevent unfriendly uses. When they reached the door, Galadriel opened it and let the two of them through.

“Clever door. Where will we end up in the city?”

“The city gardens, or what is left of them. My people's suffering could have been prevented if I hadn’t been stubborn.”

“Did Adar offer you something in exchange for the city?”

“He wanted Sauron.” She kept walking, barely believing the words as they came out of her mouth.

“Sauron, no one has seen him this whole age. Why would Adar believe you would know where he is?”

“He thinks he is in the city, supposedly; your Lord Halbrand told him so.”

“That does not make sense. Why would…”

“NONE of this makes sense, none of it.” Anger filled Galadriel's voice. “This whole siege, the forging of the Rings, Annatar and Halbrand, Nothing. There are threads of darkness, and if Sauron is involved, only the Valar know what fate lies in store for us.” She began to tear up. The pair remained still for but a moment to give Galadriel the room she needed to grieve. She quickly pulled herself together. They had no time for grief. “I am sorry, we have not far to go. When we get into the city, find the captains and soldiers who are yet still alive. Tell them I have returned and will find them as soon as I make contact with Lord Celebrimbor and Lord Annatar. Will you protect my city, dear Arondir?”

“My bow and sword are yours, Lady Galadriel.” She had just barely met Arondir, but in him she saw valor and bravery. Loyalty to the elves and to life. Maybe there was hope.

Once the pair exited the tunnels, the air smelled thick with smoke. They saw some Elven women and children hiding in the gardens. They looked frightened at the sight of them, but were relieved to see Galadriel. A child ran up to Galadriel and held her knee, tearfully asking where she had been. She had known this young one and her mother well.

“I mourn with all of you. Arondir, forget what I said. Start getting these people out there, is a second path.” She reached out her hand to his face, show into his mind the way. “It will take you to our Dwarven friends in the Mountains, take them that way. Then return by sunrise.”

“I will do this, my lady.” She watched as the small group departed. She prayed the One would protect her and that she would not find betrayal in this city. But she knew deep down the only true betrayer here was her.

Chapter 10

Summary:

When Betrayal and Love meet.

Notes:

This chapter was the basis for the original writing of this whole thing. I have loved writing it dearly. I wanted a few extra day to keep it to myself. I wanted to show that both these characters have changed somewhat since the beginning and are meeting in this grey area. That Galadriel dreads and Sauron thrieveth. Hope you enjoy.

The city she had once loved was in ruins from the siege. But Galadriel held fast that the forge tower was still intact. She knew what she feared, holding on to the crown of Morgoth in her bag. This was a terrible idea, stealing, but she had to get it away from that Orc.

Climbing up the tower, she saw the room that was once the great forge in wreckage. Her cousin sat at his workbench, humming a strange tune like nothing was going on outside.

“Celebrimbor.” She tried to get his attention and walked over to him. It was like she was invisible to him.
She put a hand on his shoulder. “Cousin, what has happened to you?” He gave no response and continued to work, with no sign that he even recognized that she was there. Galadriel was beyond confused by the sight. But she then felt magic surround her cousin and the room at large.

She backed away from Celebrimbor, feeling the threads of a spell in the air. This magic was familiar.

“What dark magic is this?” she thought. She felt her legs frozen like weights as she shuffled through her thoughts, then gripped with dread, she knew the truth.

“Galadriel.” She exhaled in fear. For the first time, hearing him say her name felt wrong.

“Let him go.” She didn't want to face him, but felt him put a hand on her shoulder.

“No, he has been better off like this. He is almost done with the rings; a few more hours and they will be completed.” He said, leaning over her and nuzzling her hair. She once would have loved that feeling, but she shuddered only in fear now.

“Please, let him go. I don’t want this. I didn’t want any of this.” She pleaded.

“No, I suppose you wouldn’t.” He stepped around her, walked towards the completed ring on the table, and observed them before turning to look back at her.

“These methods are far too grim for your taste, my lady, but that's why I will handle them.” He said it so casually that it infuriated her.

“To Grim,” She sneered and shouted at him. “This is beyond cruelty, I am a warrior of the Noldor, I have seen grim, and blood, and horror, but this is abominable to all the order of nature. You have taken his free will, and you plan to take others.” He slammed down on the table. This made Galadriel jump. Celebrimbor glanced around for a moment but returned to his work.

“I am the one keeping the storm at bay.” He practically growled. “ I am trying to fix everything that He destroyed. But no one listens, no obeys, that's why it must be forced.” He turned back to face her. Glancing at the ring on her finger. The pair was quiet for a moment as Galadriel recalibrated the situation. She now believed everything Adar had told her, so she would use it. She walked up to him slowly, acting as if he were a predator in the forest.

“I don’t want this, I don’t want to fight you or go against you. Despite my anger, you are still the one I choose to love, and some part of me knows that you do love me, twist as it may be. I need you to come back to me.” She stopped right in front of him, only a breath away. “ Let him go, Mairon.” He was surprised to hear her call him that.

“Why this name and not another?”

“Is that not your preferred name? They say you hate the name Sauron.”

“I do because it is not one I choose but thrust upon me. I choose my names with great care.” She was beginning to the threads of the being he was, careful, smart, tactical. She could work with that.

“Please, stop this, stop all of it. I have seen where this leads: to ashes and devastation. That is not something I want for this world, and I don’t believe you want that either.”

“You saw it, your Ring?” He slides his hand over her Ring hand and lifts it up between them. Galadriel simply knobbed to his inquiry. Her thoughts were no longer hers alone. Neyna had a mind of its own; she realized as she began to speak.

“I see glimpses, waking dreams, crowding my thoughts. I am here but somewhere else entirely.”

“Between seen and unseen.” He spoke softly to her, but it was unbearable to match the gentleness with the cruel being she believed him to be. She simply knobbed again. He looked at her and sighed deeply.

“The spell will last till the work is done. I made it so I could not spend so much energy. It will break on its own in a few hours.” The admission surprised her, but that was still a dangerous plan.

“The city will be overrun by then.”

“No, it wouldn’t.” He sounded too confident for Galadriel's liking.

“Why not? Adar has all the advantages.”

“Because of what is carried in that bag.” The bag in question seemed to get heavier as Galadriel glanced down at it and back to him.

“You wanted me to bring this to you, You planned this all from the beginning.”

“I was surprised Adar didn’t throw it into the volcano he awakened. And not even I can see every path, Galadriel. But your ring is new power, I will heed your warning because I love you.” Galadriel stepped back from him then.

“I don’t…I don’t know what is real and what is your illusion.”

“No, no, don’t drift away, Galadriel.” he closed the gap between them and cradled her face in his hands. “I need your light; all of mine was taken from me. You are all that is left. So much of it is real. Those strolls in the garden, every chat and kiss.”

“When I was away, I longed for our tryst.”She didn’t mean to say that; it just slipped out. He rested his forehead on hers now. The room had shifted, Celebrimbor long forgotten as if he was smoke in the air.

“You know me, my love, better than anyone ever has. You are the one who can calm my storms. I am bound to you by my own will; I wish for it all. I want to rule and have you at my side.”

She looked at him. If he could force centuries of darkness alone, what could he do if there was light in the equation? She knew her will was equal to his; otherwise, he wouldn't have chosen her, and he would not have a shrinking violet to be his queen.

Galadriel hesitated but opened the bag, pulling out the crown of the dark lord.

“When this is done, if this world is a land of ash and destruction as it was under Morgoth, I will send you back to the shadows, abandoning you to them, till the end of the world.”

“Is that your warning, sorceress?” The title made Galadriel stand up straight.

“Yes. I will not serve the Dark Lord but marry the Lord of all Middle-earth if he desires.”

“I do desire it.”

He was sincere; Galadriel could feel it. She didn’t want him to be. If he wasn’t, Galadriel could easily kill him for it. But she knew she couldn’t. Whatever he was, she loved him. And that might be her doom. But she wanted it.

Galadriel then took the crown of Morgoth and stood on her tiptoe and placed the crown on Mairon's head. Once on his head, the crown came to life, and a dark shadow of flame appeared around it. The eyes of Sauron, slight and red, appeared, and then his hair shifted from blond to reddish brown, and the crown shrank to be a simple spike circle around his head. Then his eyes flashed to a brilliant green with golden flecks in them.

Galadriel was astonished by the transformation. His face did not change much; even his ears remained pointy, but it was as if the persona of Annatar was simply a mask he wore that slipped into oblivion. Somehow, he was more handsome to her now. Power came from him like light from the sun. His outfit had changed. It was still dark but armored and regal, almost like a king of men. But he was no Man nor Elf. She understood that now. He was more ancient, terrifying, and brilliant than anyone she had encountered this whole age.

Galadriel hadn't realized it, but she had taken several steps back from him until he slowly walked forward to be in front of her again.

“I see you, Galadriel.” His voice was different but the same, rougher. “I always have. And I love every aspect of you, my warrior and sorceress, my elvish princess and queen. I feel your fear of me now, but it is unnecessary.”

“Why?” She asked, not realizing how breathless she was till she asked.

“You have been mine for thousands of years, blood binds, and in you, my power has lived dormant until now.” Galadriel felt pain like never before coursing through her as Sauron wrapped a hand around her waist, holding her up from her legs giving out. The other hand lifted her chin up to look at him. He spoke in black speech then. Spoke of power, and love, and light, and darkness, and binding. He kissed her when he finished speaking. And on her head, she felt hot metal appear and surround her head. Galadriel felt power but also a weakness of spirit. Like she had been ripped to shreds and stitched back up. She collapsed onto Sauron's chest. He quickly picked her up and placed her on a couch in a nearby room that remained undisturbed despite the siege outside.

She felt she was fading, but this was different—the fading was filled with some other kind of power. Her physical form was exhausted, bone-deep.

“What did you do?” she whispered in pain.

“What I wanted to do thousands of years ago, bind you to me. Your light is mine, as my power is yours.”

“Why,... I mean… what…” he shushed her. She was tired and barely forming her sentences; nothing made sense to her anymore.

“Just rest, My Queen. This place is shielded; when you wake up in a few hours, everything will be better. I promise.” Tears fell from Galadriel's eyes as she felt forced by power to slip into unconsciousness.

—--------------------------------------------------
Sauron sat for a moment as his Queen fell into a healing sleep. Now, she wore a dark crown around her beautiful hair. Her bright spirit was truly exhausted, and she felt the weight of the bond snap into place. He was no longer a quiet visitor in her mind but a part of her, as she was a part of him.

After this bloody affair was over, he would take her to a beautiful forest he found near the realms of men, on the other side of the misty mountains. They would live there until the task of the rings of men was done. All the Orcs would be destroyed soon. A cleansing of Middle Earth from their wretchedness, but he would start with Adar.

The fact that the wretched being even touched her offended him. The fact that he had held her captive for weeks enraged his very soul. His only gladness in it was that he was spared having to tell Galadriel who he was. Surely she would have drawn a knife to his throat and abandoned any of hope of his redemption and plan if he had spoken it. Instead, she was able to sit with the realization and arrived at the right stage of her emotions, enough for him to plead his case and regain her faith enough to work his spell over her.

He was saddened by her clear hurt. He would make it up to her, and he would start with those Orcs. Leaving his lady to rest, he marched up to the tower balcony from which he had often gazed out into the distance. Orcs were preparing for the nightly siege when he arrived. His smirk was clear across his new form. Something between elven and human. Powerful and commanding yet still graceful. His hair was now longer and reddish brown. His eyes, were green and golden. And his ears remained at a point. And a healthy tan radiated his skin.

He stood on the balcony, gazing at the city in ruins, a forest conquered, and off far out of sight, Elves racing towards the city on a charge. They would arrive by morning.

If Adar suspected he was here, this would confirm it. Slowly, he reached out, pulling with magic deep into the seen world. Storm clouds began to rage overhead. And lightning crackled in the clouds. Then strike. After strike after strike. Hitting the trebuchets scattered the orcs, but hail and winds came.

He saw Adar running to the front lines from his position and saw the damage, turning to the city and cursing at him.

“SAUROOOON,” he only softly laughed and smiled widely.

“Now, who is trapped, old friend?” He said out loud. It was then he felt the final ring snap into place. And the spell on Celebrimbor is beginning to break.

He walked back at this point to find the rings displayed and Celebrimbor yawning. He slipped back into Annatar form.

“You are nearly finished.”

“Yes, final touches on this one, and they will be complete. Thank you for taking over for these past few days and clearing the staff. It was much easier to do it myself.”

“It was no trouble, and I understand completely.” He walked over to look at the rings, they were indeed magnificent, stable, and completely under his control. Giving them to the Kings of men would be easy enough. He saw Celebrimbor begin to rub his eyes and could see the fatigue in his spirit.

“Lady Galadriel returned.”

“Has she? That’s wonderful. When did she get back?” Celebrimbor said with a yawn.

“Just after sundown. Why don’t you retire, friend? It is late. You will need your strength in the morning.”

“I should greet my cousin.” Celebrimbor tried to stand up but felt his strength leave him.

“She has already retired for the evening; she had a long journey. You will see her tomorrow. I am sure. Rest, Mellon.” It was at that moment that Celebrimbor's eyes seemed to open; he could see clearly for the first time in weeks. He could smell smoke and ash in the air and the destruction around his forge.

He held fast and looked at Annatar. “What have you done?” Fear and anguish filled his soul.

“You sought peace; I gave it to you.” In anger, Celebrimbor pushed past Annatar to the balcony doors. Outside, he saw smoke and the ruins of his city. And the forest is burning and wind-tossed. He fell to his knees and wept for his city.

“You have let my city burn.”

“Your city is paying but a small price for the destruction of the Orc race and the creation of the Rings of Power. By morning, the Armies of your High King will arrive, and the remaining Orcs who survive the night will be wiped off the face of this world.” Annatar spoke inpasively. Celebrimbor stood and turned to him.

“Who are you truly?”

“I am the one keeping the storms at bay. I am the one who has now moved the whole earth to satisfy your need for greatness.”

“WHO ARE YOU, DECIVER?” Celebrimbor yelled, throwing a forge hammer at him. To which Annatar dodged.

“I have many names.” Something clicked in Celebrimbor's mind.

“Sauron.”

“One of many, but that makes the comparison with you and Lady Galadriel clear. She had the decency to call me by my chosen name.”

“You claim her as Morgoth claims Arien.” The weariness that had faded with fear was drawing over Celebrimbor again; he could no longer stand.

“I suppose so, but my lady is far more forgiving than Arien, it seems. Don’t fear for her, Celebrimbor. She is perfectly safe and will be happy. You, Feanor, even that Prince of Dorath she once admired, could never truly see her. I have from the moment I saw her in Tol-In-Gaurthoth all those millennia ago.”

“You will corrupt her, you will corrupt all of us.”

“No, she has and will heal me, and I will heal Middle Earth. You should rest, Mellon.” A thick black fog overtook the room around Celebrimbor, and he gave in quickly to the darkness.

Annatar then summoned some guards to take Celebrimbor to his chambers and to stand guard outside. No need for anyone to bother him for at least till tomorrow evening.

He also informed the guards to begin preparing battlements and shelters, and Lady Galadriel had returned and informed him that more elves would be here by morning. Her name raised joy to the soldiers, and they quickly gained hope and made preparations for this long day and night.

He collected the Rings of Men together in a small, simple pouch from the Forge and slipped back to his new form, something between Halbrand and Annatar. He liked it. It felt right, and the power of the crown on his brow made it feel like all the things he wanted were on the edge of possibility, finally.

Sauron made his way back up to where he had left his Queen to sleep. When he arrived, he simply watched her, lost in her beauty, staring into the depths of her. And when the Sun began to rise in the sky, only then had he realized she was his Silmarils. And he would not lose her as Morgoth had lost the blasphemous stones.