Lillianna awoke to find herself enclosed in an iron cage that was being pulled by one of the accursed horses of Mordor. Many orcs were around her now, as well as four of the six Nazgul who attacked her. She saw they were traveling along the Valley of Ithilien, and then most likely to Cirith Ungol. She kept very still and tried hard not to think about the horrid creatures who tried to intimidate her.
“They mean to cause my strength of will to diminish, and I will not give them that satisfaction. Yet why is it that I am not slain? What evil purpose has Sauron conceived for me?” she asked herself anxiously, yet her face was cold and firm. The orcs, she noticed, kept a safe distance from her.
She searched herself for wounds and was surprised to find all her weapons were still upon her, yet she felt something missing. Her face whitened, for her father’s book was not there. She desperately entertained the small hope that maybe it had fallen off of her and one of her comrades had found it, for the Nazgul fed on the fear of their victims. Indeed they already had, and they mocked her by lying of her friends’ demise and other unspeakable things. Lillianna tried frantically to ward off the gloom. She instead focused her mind on the lovely forest of Lothlorien to build her strength.
“For in no way do these foul folk understand that which is beauty and light.” Yet she wondered how she might overcome this dreadful trial.
Legolas was staring off into the East among the trees of Lothlorien after the burial of Meldon. His eyes had rarely drawn tears before, but now they flowed freely down his fair elven face, for great had been his loss in these recent turn of events. Meldon, who had been like a brother to him, was dead and the very person who he held dearer than his own life was among the hands of the enemy. His heart despaired and grieved for Lillianna with each breath he took. The guilt he felt at her capture was unbearable, and the anguish of possibly never seeing her again pierced him acutely. It was a sorrow like none other he would ever know.
Gandalf and Galadriel found him in this state with their own hearts also heavy at the heralding of these woeful events.
“You have lost much, Legolas.” Galadriel began softly, “Yet even now there is still hope.”
“I do not see it.” Legolas replied bitterly, “Lillianna has only done things to better help this world. Her life has been passionately lived for others and not herself. Yet this is how she is rewarded?” His eyes burned with anger and his frame was weary.
Galadriel felt immense compassion for the confused, torn heart of Legolas as she continued in her kind reproof.
“This may be the catalyst through which she will gain her reward, Legolas. She has not failed before through the aid of Elbereth and her grandmother Ilmare. If there was no hope, I would not come to you with the request I ask of you now.”
Legolas turned his head slowly back and his gaze met that of the wise Galadriel. She was calm and serene amid the sea of his woes. His heart marveled at her strength, and it fueled his own.
“What do you ask of me, my lady?”
Lillianna’s eyes fluttered as they opened to her new place of confinement. She was in a dark room that smelt strongly of orc stench. There was one small window that overlooked the blackened country of Mordor. Its height was far above the ground, indicating that she was held within a tower. Lillianna supposed she was in Cirith Ungol – the dwelling place of the nine Nazgul. She had not been chained, but the door was firmly locked and numerous orcs patrolled the grounds below. She was amazed at how quickly Sauron had accumulated his servants, and she hung her head at her own blindness to it. Almost as quickly as she had done so, she snapped it back high once more, as though she were fighting a civil war inside her soul. She gazed out the window as she spoke,
“What devilry do you plan to inflict on me, Sauron? Haven’t you caused me enough pain?”
She wasn’t expecting an answer, but a dark, raspy voice filled the room.
“He wants you, daughter of Verdan, and he will have you.” She turned her head as the door creaked open and one of the Nazgul stepped in. Her body trembled with sudden fatigue, and her soul struggled to give into the power of those words. As the wraith drew near, she clasped her pendant fiercely and breathed, “Tu amin, Elbereth, tu amin!” Slowly peace came back to her. The wraith hissed at these words and left, telling her that the Dark Lord would have her soon. She refused to listen and instead sang her father’s song of hope, for she had been filled with a new kind of power. For three days she was kept there - a prison it was for her mind, and it would have broken if it weren’t for the endless times she prayed to Eru beseechingly.
On the third day, something that changed her perception and strength of mind happened. Several orcs were quarreling on whether who would take her to Sauron’s throne, and one fell when his leg was badly injured. Lillianna wondered how an orc would respond to her healing. She didn’t hesitate as she approached the fallen orc and placed her hand on its wound. To everyone’s shock, it let out a deafening roar of intense pain at her touch, and Lillianna drew back instantly in wonder at what occurred. The orc’s leg was healing, yet not into the corrupt form of the orc, but into that of a fairer creature – an elf perhaps.
“I am changing it’s entire genetic structure to what orcs used to be before they were corrupted, yet how can that be?” she gasped and she realized that the orc she touched was now dead. The other orcs were equally stunned, and they drew far away from her with their eyes displaying awestruck horror. Never before had they seen what she had done. She realized now the power she had over them, and now she knew that something was being done to allow her to succeed when many others had failed. It puzzled her exceedingly. Yet she stood up and all fear left her. Though she could still not escape, she was not intimidated anymore. She approached the Nazgul with a tone of new-found confidence.
“Take me to your master now.”
Tyrin sat wearily on the throne of the steward as he reflected on the responsibility his new role gave him. The past three days had been ones filled with chaos as he had chosen to stay behind in Minas Tirith while the elves and the wizard went back to Lothlorien. It had been his trial to resolve the panic that had come from the orcs being in Minas Tirith, and he had done it successfully. He exposed the false claims of Fark and told the people of his league with Mordor. Obviously the orcs present were evidence to that fact and so by the will of the people, Fark and his few followers were sentenced to death and a unanimous vote was made for Tyrin to be the Steward. He accepted this with mixed feelings of gratitude and regret, for he did not like to be the center of attention.
“Though I have often grumbled at the way other stewards conduct their affairs so I might as well do it myself.” he chuckled to himself. He calmly listened to the complaints of those who saw the city ruined, and sought to best repair the minimal damage that had been done. He also freed those who were imprisoned wrongly by Fark. One of them was Daeron, who he rejoiced to find still alive.
Even though his days were very full, his thoughts wandered to that of Lillianna and what befell her.
“She was such a pretty, sweet thing. It’s a shame no one trusts the elves anymore. I wonder if her companions will ever come back.” He mused to Daeron one day.
“I think they will, considering what has happened.” Daeron replied “They will probably ask of your help.”
At that moment, a guard came forth and heralded, “Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood with Gandalf the Grey to see the Steward.”
Tyrin nearly jumped out of his chair at these words and turned to Daeron in shock,
“My dear scribe, I think you will find that a prophet will better suit you in a choice of profession.”
Daeron laughed and Tyrin now addressed the guard,
“Show them in at once.” The guard bowed and left. In a few moments he was back with the elf and the wizard. They bowed and were not surprised in his new vocation.
“I see that you have succeeded well in taking back the executive powers of Minas Tirith from the enemy.” Gandalf spoke with amusement.
“Yes, my good wizard though it is trying at times. Let us not converse here, but in my private study. There we can discuss more serious issues. I trust this is the reason for your journey here?”
“It is indeed, Tyrin.” Legolas answered “We come with the greatest of urgency.” he stopped when he noticed that Daeron was also present by Tyrin’s side.
“This is a rare joy indeed, Daeron.” he exclaimed “We all thought Fark had destroyed you for your assistance towards us.”
“Nay Legolas,” Daeron replied “Fark is evil, yet cowardly. He was too afraid to put me to death. But let us not waste any more time.” He motioned for the two to follow him and Tyrin into a back room. There Gandalf and Legolas told all of what had befallen Lillianna and the plan Galadriel had conceived.
“Galadriel believes that Sauron will try to force Lillianna to be his servant, for then he can twist her powers to his own evil purposes. There is still a way in which Lillianna could overcome that choice and be victorious, but it would severely weaken her will and then Sauron could dispose of her. We must not let that happen. We ask that we go to Mordor with some of your men, attack his fortress, and then steal away with Lillianna. Sauron will be confident in the fact that he will dominate over Lillianna, so I feel that he will not know of us coming.”
Gandalf leaned back as he said these things and wondered if the Steward would agree to such a risky plan. Tyrin stroked his beard and thought for awhile. Finally he spoke,
“You have my full agreement to this plan, and I will get whatever man power I can to carry it out. Yet there are many places of uncertainty. What route might we take? How shall we hold up against the terrifying wraiths? And most importantly, what should we do if Lillianna does not hold against the might of Sauron?”
Everyone fell silent at these words and then Legolas spoke slowly,
“We shall have to merely hope it will not come to that. It is the only thing we can do.”
The Mouth of Sauron smiled sardonically at the pale visage of Lillianna. She was before him now, and the demonic presence of Sauron filled every empty particle of his throne room.
“She will not last long.” he thought “She is but a mere weakling.” Then Sauron spoke out loud to her through his servant in a cold, death laden voice.
“Cursed spawn of Verdan, you shall pay with your very soul for what you have done to me in the past. I knew you would come for your father’s life work, and so acted accordingly. You have powers I want. Come to me willingly or give up your life.”
Lillianna clamped her mouth shut and did not utter a word. After a long while of her silently contending with the will of Sauron, she slowly shook her head in refusal of his words and her eyes blazed madly. Then she shrieked a horrible scream of intense pain and dropped to the ground. Sauron smiled as she did so, for the power of his unseen grasp upon her soul was unrelenting. He stopped for a moment, and she struggled to return to her feet. He gaze pierced the inwards of her mind, and she turned her head away in rejection.
“I will not repeat my command. There is no way of your escape.”
Slowly she got up. Her eyes were weary and her frame quivered with exhaustion. She stepped forward - her whole soul appeared to be resigned to Sauron. He smiled in triumph. As she got nearer, her pendant started to glow dimly and an unusual light filled her face. She closed her eyes and her lips moved, as though she was muttering some prayer to an unknown source of help. She stopped when she reached him and opened her eyes.
“A kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and the light cannot co-exist with darkness.”
Sauron was momentarily bewildered for a second, for the voice that spoke was not her own. Lillianna took that second and put her hands around the neck of the Mouth of Sauron. Now it was his turn to feel terrible, soul piercing pain he had not known for a long time. The cry sounded for many miles and instilled instant fear in the hearts of those who heard it. Lillianna held him for but a few seconds before she let go, and her eyes shone with a new resolve.
“You will never have me, Sauron. Your own pride betrays you. Now you are defeated by the might of Ilmare. Never again will you underestimate her descendants.”
Sauron knew what she said was true, and he watched in anger and new-found dread as she turned and fled from his hold. The Nazgul trembled as she ran by them, and the orcs ran in mute terror. She was, however, weak from the battle for her soul, and she wondered if she would yet make out of Mordor alive. Sauron knew this and told his servants to wait patiently until she collapsed. Then he could be rid of her accursed flesh. She ran while as her head spun with weariness and shock, and when she could not take it any more, her soul fell into darkness upon the black soil of Mordor.
It would have been the end of her indeed if Legolas had not spotted her fall with his keen eyes from his lookout spot. He yelled the call and Gandalf mounted the eagle Gwaihir in order to retrieve Lillianna. He did so and Gwaihir flew back to where Tyrin, a score of his men, and Legolas waited for him.
“It would appear we did not need to storm Bara-dur, so your worry, Tyrin, about the number of men you were able to get proved needless. Lillianna has exceeded my expectations, yet it may be that her will was pushed to its edge. I do not know if she will yet survive. I will fly on Gwaihir to Lothlorien so she may receive attention as soon as possible.”
Legolas jumped down from the tree and approached Gandalf, “Please may I take your place, or at least accompany you? This I feel is a result of my near sightedness.”
“No Legolas” Gandalf replied “No one could have foreseen this. Yet you may take her to Lothlorien and I will meet up with you there later.”
A loud crack resounded in the direction of Bara-dur and many orcs they saw came swarming from out its doors.
“Let us not await the tide, please.” Tyrin said nervously to Legolas and Gandalf.
“Ride to Gondor swiftly, steward.” Gandalf said “Thank you for your help and concern.”
Tyrin nodded and wished the best for Lillianna before he rode away with his men. Gandalf turned to Legolas and put his hand on Legolas.
“Until we next meet my friend: may peace be with you!” Legolas nodded solemnly as he tenderly lifted the body of Lillianna upon the eagle and fly away into the dusk.
Legolas struggled to fight the tears that rose up in his eyes and gently kissed the hand of his stricken beloved. Galadriel, Elrond, Celeborn, and Gandalf were also there, and they did not utter any words, though on their faces they clearly were distressed. Lillianna was in the shadow of Sauron, and many times they had watched as she fought the inward battle. She would cry out many times – mostly for Galadriel or for Legolas. That is why they brought him in to her. Their hearts were clouded with the grief that she would not come through.
Legolas asked to be alone with Lillianna for a time, and they granted his request. There he stroked her sweat laden head and whispered softly words of encouragement. He grieved to see her beyond his help, and the thought of loosing her once more he could not bear.
“Lillianna you must not leave. Stay with those who love you and need you. You can not deprive the world of your love and light yet. Please. Lillianna, come back to me.” He buried his face into the sheets of her bed and sobbed as he clutched her hand. Then he thought he imagined he heard her breathe deeply in and press her hand into that of his own.
“No” he thought “My grief mocks me”. But then he heard the dearest, most beautiful sound in the world,
“Legolas? Legolas, my dear, why are you crying?” He looked up and saw that Lillianna was smiling a weak, but very lovely smile. Her eyes were soft and warm at his look of surprise.
“You called for me, though I walked in the depths of despair. I wanted to give in to the darkness. I wanted rest and peace, but when I heard your soft, tender voice calling me back, I found new strength. I could never leave you willingly, even if the hosts of the Valar beckoned me to do so. Not when I love you so dearly.” Legolas was speechless with happiness and all he could do was kiss her beloved brow in immense joy. Galadriel, Elrond, Gandalf, and Celeborn heard his cries of ecstasy and were indeed astounded to find her very much alive. Galadriel embraced her warmly and tears of happiness also fell down her cheeks. Indeed, everyone in the room found it hard to believe what had just happened, and no words could describe their elation. Their Lillianna had been victorious over her greatest foe, and had come back once more.
Galadriel and Celeborn stood facing Lillianna and all the elves of Lothlorien were behind her in a procession. Galadriel told her to kneel and when she did, she blessed her saying,
“You are worthy to be among those who have been faced with unspeakable evil and have defeated it. Grave peril and pain you have endured, and now you may have your reward. May the rest of your life be blessed, Lady Lillianna Moril of Lothlorien.” The elves all bowed and hailed her praise for her amazing strength and courage. She nodded her head in acceptance, but quickly left the celebration in search of Legolas. She found him sitting beside a still pool of water, and he smiled when he saw her coming. She slipped her hand into his and sat beside him. They merely contented themselves with each other’s presence for awhile until Legolas spoke,
“How did you overcome the will of Sauron, Lillianna? You have clearly showed that you have more strength and power than many who have lived before. Everyone’s hope dwindled at the news of your capture.”
Lillianna smiled at his question,
“Then it was clearly not my strength of mind or will that enabled me to succeed. I don’t know how to describe it precisely, but I was ready to give into Sauron until the might of the Valar descended upon me. I was the tool through which their power was shown, and I must not take credit for having alone the might to overcome Sauron. I was afraid of failing before, and indeed I would have, if I had put my faith in myself. And from this, I truly have grown.”
Legolas looked at her in adoration and respect.
“Yet you have always proven yourself beyond the call of duty. And yet you wonder why people admire you as they do.” He said with a tone of pleasant chagrin.
Lillianna blushed slightly before continuing,
“That is all I want. I am not one who will save the world forever of Sauron, yet I am glad of this. Throughout my life I see the mistakes I have made have grown to be good in the end. I do not understand why so many of those I have loved have had to die, yet I know do not need to comprehend. Yet for all I have accomplished or done, I do not desire power, nor do I desire riches. I would lay down all I have if given the chance to have one thing that has yet escaped my grasp.”
“I too have been denied the one thing I have long desired.” he paused and then hesitantly added,
“Perhaps..”
Lillianna looked expectantly into his face as he attempted to continue,
“Well, do you suppose a lady with surpassing wisdom and beauty would condone belonging to a lowly prince? I am afraid to tell you that his love has only grown unhindered ever since she stepped into the forest of his home. He promises he will love and take care of her until the end of time.” He gave a slight smirk as Lillianna laughed heartily at his words, and kissed his brow.
“She would with all her heart! Ai, my heart swells at the thought of having at last that which I love most.” She took his hand, leaned closer to his face, and whispered lovingly in his ear,
“Legolas I am, and always will be….yours.”
And the two souls there pledged their troth under the golden leaves of Lothlorien. Their reward they had long awaited lay just beyond the rising sun.
