QUICK and QUIET had always been the movement’s of Talion in life– or, moreso, in the place between that and death, aided by Celebrimbor. But this? Nay, this was the work of darkness , no longer recognizable. He had taught her everything he had known, given her every skill she would need to survive in Mordor–
–But he had never prepared her for this.
Her strength was nothing to his- his was limitless, as though he broke no sweat to dodge and parry her sword; she could hardly get close enough, let alone land a hit! The palantir flared to life, as though caught aflame every time their weapons clashed against one another, his eyes glowed against the pitch black around them, through smoke and shadow, as did the ring. The ring.
She had hardly taken her eyes off of him for a second to glance at it before his sword came swinging down upon her, only JUST getting out of the way. The marble beneath them cracked with the incredible force of his blow, and she hit the Panic overwhelmed her, eyes wide in terror as she rolled out of reach. His face held no remorse. No recognition. The ring had done this, and she knew without Celebrimbor nothing kept him ALIVE. This ring…she would have to take it from him. If by life or death she could save him from his fate, she would.
But it was a fight she knew she could not win by strength of arms. Her wounds burned her flesh, blood staining her clothes, nearly blinding her as it poured from above her brow, yet still she held her sword in front of her as he came again. And again she blocked blow by blow, hit by hit, breathing hard as she weakened.
All it took was time; he had all the time in the world now, and like water dashed upon the rocky shores she would be worn down and broken. Her movements were sloppy, her body screaming with every movement, with every slash from his blade and all it took was one mistake, one fearful gaze cast upon his face that left her open. Too late she was to block his sword that gleamed from the darkness, and sparks flew as it grazed across the iron of her own, blade biting DEEP into the flesh of her shoulder, and she screamed in agony at the pain that engulfed her. It twisted, twisted enough to scrape against bone and he relished in it, in her screams as it was shoved in further with a wicked grin on his face. Only when it could go no further it withdrew, blood splattering across the floors as she fell to her knees, clutching her shoulder.
But there would be no reprieve for her, feeling his cold hands constrict around her throat as he lifted her effortlessly above the ground. He could fling her into the wall easily, he could crush her windpipe with just a movement, shatter her spine- but she knew with masters such as his, a quick ending would not be her fate.
He spoke instead, that terrible voice amplified with one not his own, guttural, cracking, cruel, and tears spilled down her face to mingle with blood as his eyes bore deep into her very soul. There had never been a fear she had felt such a this. Not the fear of death- but the fear of FAILURE. Talion’s face came near enough for her to see the sickly, blackened veins pulse slowly against his pale skin, cast in a sickly orange glow. She did not know what he had in mind for her, hands shaking as he spoke. That smile was terrible, not at all the one she remembered that graced his face so rarely. Corrupted, twisted, broken.
He would not want to become the very thing he fought AGAINST! Sauron and his lieutenants had slaughtered his family, his friends, HIMSELF- and her eyes lit up with recognition as she felt the cold metal against her breast, hands shaking as her bloodied fingers reached into her shirt.
“Talion,” she choked out between her sobs, the grip around her throat like iron, “Talion, please, I know- I-I know you’re in there…”
With a slow movement her hand withdrew, and hanging from her neck was a pendant; a small, silver tree with crowned with stars. The White Tree. It glimmered on the chain that held it fast, though now it was stained with blood and years of weathering. It was her last hope. It was a little thing that sparked in her chest, trying not to cry out in pain at the fire in her shoulder grew to overwhelm it, but her vision swam with tears and were locked to his face, watching, waiting…
The Palantir’s light shuddered behind him, and she swore for a moment she saw the unnatural glow of his eyes dim…he had to REMEMBER!
“Do not join the very thing you’ve fought against!”
she was a puppet in his hands, something for him to toy with until there was no fight left in her and she would despair, begging for her life, for him to return. it was all so worthless and she didn’t even realize how it merely fed the DARKNESS that lingered beneath, shining devilishly in his bright orange and red tainted eyes, the wicked smile that spread on his lips filled with malice. there were so many options of slow and long torture —— she knew much of the free peoples, much that could be served to lord sauron and be used in his favor. he would rule over middle-earth once more, bringing naught but pain and destruction, and the world would be covered in darkness once and for all. he was but a humble servant to his dark lord.
with every movement she did, he laughed as amusement laced itself with the sound. talion was screeching inside, witnessing what was happening with his own hands, his voice sounding so twisted but he was unable to break free. the power of the ring was supressing his strength as he laughed and kept on going on, blow after blow, lifting her by the neck and almost cutting her air supply. what a joy. all the blood she lost, the way she wept and begged... it merely fed his malice.
❛ such a pity you are a mere FILTHY human, if only your brittle body could endure all that i have planned for you... ❜ he snarled, displaying those blackened teeth. venom was almost spit with every single word he spoke as shadows lingered and danced around him. ❛ if you think this is torture... ❜ a chuckle followed. ❛ i will rip every piece of talion apart in front of you after you are chained to a wall and forced to witness. i will break him apart, make him suffer, drain his light from the inside out... i will make him hate you, make him believe he is in this situation because of you.❜ the ring glowed with the promises. ❛ i will SHATTER you after i take his will to fight. ❜
her pleas lingered, his eyes glowed, the smirk grew.
talion would never pemit this to happen. he would die countless deaths before any harm befell her, endure even burning alive, being stabbed in his heart or shattered to pieces. ❛ valiant efforts, but he cannot hear you. ❜ a snarl was formed. ❛ talion is no more. ❜
but as those words were spoken and his grip tightened around her neck, he faltered. the strength that gripped his soul and BOUND it to the ring diminished for a moment, and talion saw her. hurt, broken and his own hands gripping her throat. the necklace she was wearing... it had a meaning, he knew it, it brought him back for a heartbeat. the will of the ring was fighting to regain control over him, but talion kept on looking at her, as his eyebrows furrowed in despair, releasing her body. a sob was strangled in his throat, the mere thought of HURTING her, even if he had no control over it, was so overwhelmig that he almost forgot he was fighting for dominance.
darkness engolfed him and he pushed back with all his strength, moving away from her, falling to the ground in the distance.
❛ créa...❜ a whince of pain was released from his lips as a painful expression laced his now corrupted features. ❛ please... forgive me. ❜ her voice was... it was... the very LIGHT he needed, as darkness attempted to regain it’s grip on him, as he felt himself slipping away once more. ❛ you must go, do not linger ! ❜ there was much more he wished he could say to her, but time was not on their side. ❛ leave now ! ❜
