Elladan, Legolas, Lillianna, Elrohir, Meldon, Elrond, and Gandalf were seated round a map turned upwards towards the sky. They were pensive and reflective for awhile. None of them spoke, and in each of their brow the mark of concentration was firmly embedded. Lillianna’s deep violet eyes glowed with fiery determination. Her father’s life work lay in the hands of murderers, and the city of Minas Tirith was no doubt left in chaos. Only the confirmation of Glorthar, Elrond’s golden eagle, was needed to cause their actions to take form. Elladan shifted his gaze towards her, and this time an unusual expression of ardor smoldered from beneath them. Lillianna, upon noticing this, nervously sat up from her chair and walked over to the railing which viewed the grand panorama of shimmering waterfalls of Rivendell. Still no sound was spoken and the rush of Glorthar’s wings echoed far away before he came near. Elrond awaited for the bird to come to his arm, while the others seated looked in his direction with impatient apprehension. Elrond turned to them after Glorthar told him of the news they had long been expecting.
“Well I am reluctant to say our fears have been confirmed. It would appear that Fark has gained control of the executive powers of Minas Tirith entirely, abandoning the council which traditionally advises the steward. Sauron, as we also anticipated, has sent orcs who patrol the city at night and who remain hidden during the day so that the people will not rebel.”
Elrond stopped and everyone suddenly felt heavier, but silent still as if the next course of action to be taken was unknown. Lillianna, however, felt there had been enough contemplation.
“I feel now this is the time to materialize the plan I have been conceiving in my mind. I fear that Sauron may try to take my father’s book once more and move it to a more secure location. I cannot give him that advantage.” Gandalf agreed to accompany her on this task, though he said it would be treacherous.
“You do not know how many orcs patrol the grounds for they are concealed by cover of darkness.”
“Yes Gandalf” she replied modestly “But I have means of finding out. We will converge at dawn to discuss our course of action more.” At this Legolas stood up and confronted Lillianna,
“You have mentioned the term ‘we’ several times in that last statement. I understand you are meaning to attend this mission?”
“Yes” Lillianna replied looking somewhat surprised at his question “For I am leading it.” Glorfindol and Elladan upon hearing this protested with Legolas against this. They proclaimed she had endangered herself far too much in past excursions. Lillianna let them speak, and then answered them sarcastically,
“And I suppose that all of you would consider yourself equal to the task for you have also spent a great amount of time among men and have learned their ways. Also, you know very well the layout of the city of Minas Tirith because of your time there, and also have a map in which to navigate the catacombs. Silly of me to overlook such a thing.” And with that she turned towards her chamber, leaving them silent and humbled at the poignancy of her words. Gandalf smiled and chuckled to himself as he lit his pipe,
“A very wise and eloquent maiden indeed.”
That evening, Elladan found Lillianna staring off into the starry heavens alone and silent and he wished once more for the joy that Legolas had in knowing that such a maiden would give her heart to him willingly. He approached her and she gave him a winsome smile, though Elladan could plainly see the nervousness she tried to hide.
“Hello Elladan.” She said warmly “What is it you seek?”
Elladan paused and wondered if he should tell her what was on his heart.
“I have come to apologize for my behavior to you earlier. I did not mean to be impertinent, nor did I mean to suggest that you would be incapable of leading such a mission of such importance.” Lillianna smiled again and shook off his apology,
“You needn’t do such a thing. I know very well you only meant to try to protect me. I appreciate that very much, yet I know what has to be done. I am the only one who can do this, and I feel immense responsibility for it. I have wondered what I should do if I fail and have feared the thought, yet I am comforted to know I will not be alone.” She turned her eyes from him and looked over across the mountains as she spoke,
“I feel for some unknown reason that I will not come back from this mission. My father’s book must be recovered so that I might better help the world, yet I feel that some greater challenge I must face and I may not succeed. What frightens me most is that I will have to face it alone.” Elladan looked at her with growing curiosity and concern, for it was unusual for
Lillianna to talk in such a way. He did not fully believe her, but Lillianna hadn’t been wrong before in her foresight. Though he knew that Legolas would be watching, he grasped her hand and kissed it warmly, putting Lillianna off her guard.
“Elladan” she began hastily in surprise “What has possessed you?” Elladan kissed her hand again and brought it closer to his face,
“Only that which I can not contain. I know that you do not love me Lillianna, nor that you ever will, but have always felt such for you, and I always will for the remainder of my life. You needn’t worry for your safety, and should you ever need help, I shall be there.” Lillianna gasped in shocked and pulled her hand away from him.
“I do not know what has overcome you, but I hope that it will soon pass. Elladan my dear friend how is it that such a thing has happened? Are all of my good friends destined to fall in love with me? I still consider you a friend, but there are boundaries you must not cross.” Elladan looked at her solemnly and stiffened in reproach.
“I am sorry Lillianna once more. I have behaved imprudently. Will this revelation change your mind about my accompanying you?” Lillianna looked up at him mournfully at this discovery, but did not change her mind. But feeling uncomfortable, she left hastily and fled to the security of her chamber. Before reaching to its door, she saw Legolas coming towards her with a worried and grave expression. He had seen her leave hastily, and now wanted to know why. She told him of Elladan’s declaration and he resolved to see her protected.
“Legolas do not worry yourself too much. He has promised to stay silent about it, and I trust him to do so. Please say you will do that as well, and focus on the task at hand.” Legolas agreed to do so and kissed her forehead before he left. In her chamber, Lillianna wearily began her task of planning her strategy for the assult on Minas Tirith.
The next morning the five elves and one wizard sat around the same table they
had been around the day before and there Lillianna told of her plans.
“Glorthar has been a source of valuable information. In the night, he flew to Minas
Tirith (though I did not instruct him to do so) and has given me a rough number of orcs we will have to face. It is a rather large number, but if we do it the way I have planned, I believe the tide will turn in our direction. I have drawn a map of the main part of the city, and through my visits to the stewards’ main room, I have found there are several underground passages. One of them leads to the catacombs. I did not fully know this until Daeron gave me the map of the catacombs. Legolas and I will pose as travelers to get inside the city while Gandalf, Elladan, Meldon, and Glorfindol will create a diversion at the catacombs to draw away attention from us (they will also kill a number of orcs in the process). We will infiltrate the throne room, and confront Fark who will give us unwillingly the location of my father’s book in the catacombs, and who will tell the guards we are friends. We will then have him lead us to the right passage and meet up with the rest of you at the back entrance of the catacombs. We will open it from the inside. There will no doubt be orcs remaining in the catacombs, so we will need all available offensive power. Once my father’s book is recovered, we shall leave from the north side, expecting of course that Fark will be hard upon our heels.”
Gandalf sat back in his chair and pondered these words as he spoke carefully,
“This plan seems to be plausible, Lillianna, yet how are you to know that Fark will show you the correct passage? Treachery and lies define the very core of his being. I think it would be better if I accompanied you to confront him rather than Legolas. It is too perilous.”
“It would be, Gandalf, if I had no allies within Minas Tirith.” Lillianna replied “But my time there as an ambassador was not ill-spent. I have made several friends who belong to the house of the steward, and the steward’s council. However, I do not know if Fark has killed them or merely imprisoned them. One I know for sure – Tyrin is his name – has not been discovered. He is wise and cunning, and will help us should Fark try to deceive us. But if all my other alliances have been destroyed, it will be grave indeed.” Everyone agreed to this course of action and within the hour they had left the comforts of Rivendell for the cold and enveloping darkness that awaited them.
It was the night of the third day and they were within two leagues of Minas Tirith hidden safely among an abandoned shelter. They had rested during the day, for they had ridden long and hard since they left Rivendell, and were now ready to begin their task. The orc centurions were on guard at the catacombs while the city slept, and the poor light from the clouded moon discouraged them.
“I shall have to risk a little more light if we are to accomplish this feat. Though it will most certainly give myself away.” Gandalf said worriedly as they approached the city on horseback. The elves remained silent as he said these things and then Lillianna spoke to Glorfindol,
“This is where we leave you now. Do not attack until I give the signal.”
He nodded and then Legolas and Lillianna proceeded to the gate. They entered without much difficulty and soon approached the second innermost wall where they asked to see the steward.
“The steward sees no one except by a special summons. And I have not heard of any outsiders who would be visiting the city.” The guard replied gruffly as he eyed the elves suspiciously. Legolas and Lillianna were off their guard for a moment, not suspecting this resistance and they glanced at one another nervously.
“But we are ambassadors from Rohan. Surely the steward will see us.” Legolas tried to explain before the guard interrupted him,
“I told you the steward will see no one. And how do I know you are ambassadors of Rohan? Show me your armament first.” Before the guard could call for assistance, Legolas had drawn out his dagger in one swift motion and had pulled the guard into the shadows. The point of the blade pricked the guard’s neck and he was speechless with fear.
“You will escort us to the throne room. Unless by any chance you do not value your life.” Legolas said as he slowly pressed the dagger further into the guard’s neck, drawing a drop of blood from it. The guard winced in pain and agreed to lead them to the Steward and his face was deathly pale as he did so. Legolas and Lillianna followed closely behind him so he would not try to call out for help, and when they were alone with the guard, Lillianna soon had him unconscious and on the floor. Legolas disarmed him and then he climbed up to the rafters of the hall with Lillianna close behind after she had concealed the body in a small armor chamber. They nimbly ran across the rafters to the throne room, being so silent that those who walked underneath them never knew of their presence. They reached the room and found Fark seated at the throne surrounded by many orcs. They were discussing something and Tyrin was among them. Lillianna nearly gasped, and Legolas looked at her with a growing anxiety in his eyes.
“They must have come from the catacombs.” Lillianna spoke softly “Yet what are they doing here?”
“One can only suppose.” Legolas answered. “There are a fair number of them, yet they do not have the advantage of being on high ground.” The ceiling was circled and Legolas and Lillianna – as if they knew each other’s thoughts – moved to opposite ends of the rafters. Slowly they drew their bows and pointed them downward simultaneously. Lillianna glanced up at Legolas for a sign to release and Legolas did so by nodding his head. Two orcs fell down instantly, and Fark cried out in alarm when he saw the two elves above his head. He called for the bows to be brought out, but Lillianna and Legolas were far more swift. Their skill with the bow was nearly inborn, and their hands flashed madly as orcs kept falling down in pairs before they had time to escape. When their quivers were empty, the two elves leapt from the ceiling and finished the work with their knives. Fark stood there gaping, wondering how in less than two minutes all his guards had been killed. Tyrin had stood in the back, and had watched Lillianna and Legolas admiringly and with great relief. Lillianna approached Fark and gave him an icy cold gaze.
“You know why I have come. There is no need to try to play games. I want to know where my father’s book is located in the catacombs, and which of these underground passages leads to them. I know the book is there, for why else would it be guarded so heavily, and why would you have cowardly slain Larthamar when you found I had not been captured by Gwin? You fear what I have become.” Fark stuttered a reply saying that he didn’t know where the book was located, to which Tyrin calmly refuted.
“Oh he knows very well where it is. As do I. I have kept the cover of my alias undetected by this wretched being for quite some time, and have been privy to most of his affairs(to which I often find from those mindless orcs). There is really no need to ask of his assistance.”
Fark grew even more pale, though he had been ashen before, at the news of this betrayal.
Legolas, however, recognized Tyrin’s voice,
“So it was you who received Gwin after he had been following Lillianna?” Tyrin nodded and added,
“Quite so, my good elf, though I did not know you were also there. It was a good raspy evil voice was it not? It wasn’t faked. They were terrible sore throats I kept getting, unfortunately.” Legolas smiled at his words, but then his thoughts returned to Fark who had now started to whine.
“What do we do with this creature?” he asked disdainfully.
“Unfortunately we need him to do one favor for us.” Lillianna replied, and after she had done so, she climbed outside the window to the top of the roof and with her pendant, provided a beacon of light to use as the signal.
Gandalf, Glorfindol, Meldon, and Elladan saw it and charged with full energy at the orc guards. This caused great commotion, and Lillianna after she had climbed back into the room told Fark to call the guards so they would go to the distraction and so leave them free to access the catacombs.. He agreed reluctantly, and ordered them to do as she instructed. When he had done so, they gagged, tied, and hid him in his own closet so he would not draw attention.
“We must act quickly” Lillianna said, “Or it will be ill with Gandalf and the others.”
“Do you think the light has confused them for now?” Elladan asked of Gandalf as they watched the orc guards cry out in pain and alarm.
“It seems to be holding up nicely, but we must not hope that it will last forever. We must find the south entrance and wait for Lillianna to open the door. I hope she has been successful.” Gandalf had barely time to say these things when the door slowly worked its way open. Lillianna peered out and motioned them to come in. She was relieved to find them all safe. Once inside, they followed Tyrin’s lead while they were on the watch for any other orcs.
“I believe we all lead them outside” Meldon said “Though we cannot be to sure. Things don’t always run as planned.” The cruel irony of his words soon became apparent when they were faced with a large troll. How it was able to fit itself inside the tombs was an enigma they did not have time to dwell on. Gandalf acted quickly,
“Lillianna, you and Tyrin go ahead and get the book. We will deal with the problem at hand.” Lillianna was reluctant at first, but she did not have a choice, and so obeyed Gandalf.
“It is not much farther.” Tyrin said encouragingly “How they ever got a troll in here is beyond my comprehension.” He lead them around a sharp corner and then into a dead end. On one of the shelves usually made for the dead was a chest with a lock and key.
“This should be difficult to unhinge. I have forgotten that Fark had the key.” Tyrin said despairingly. Lillianna however took the chest from him and casually broke off the lock with one of her mithril dirks. As she opened the chest, Tyrin reminded himself to one day fashion a mithril weapon for his own use. Lillianna found a large, careworn book inside and took it out lovingly.
“Oh father I have not failed you.” she said as she put it inside a velour pouch. Tyrin was getting uncomfortable about the noise behind him.
“We are not out yet my lady. Let us leave before there is a cave in.”
“We can’t without the others.” but as she said this, the ceiling above the opening which separated the friends collapsed and blocked forever the medium. Lillianna stared in disbelief, but Tyrin pulled her along as the rest of the ceiling was beginning to crumble. They escaped from the north end, and found many of Fark’s men as well as a lot of dead orcs. Lillianna in her fury shot one of them off his horse and mounted it. She lifted up the bewildered Tyrin upon the horse and they rode back to a circle of trees. There she positioned Tyrin for his safety and rode back to look for the others. She found that more of Fark’s men lay dead on the ground, and then saw Gandalf’s staff that blazed with a blinding light. Legolas, Elladan, and Glorfindol were with him fighting valiantly. She breathed a sigh of relief and approached them.
“I thought you had been buried forever when the cave collapsed. My weary eyes rejoice at the sight of you alive.”
“We thought the same had befallen you.” Legolas replied with his eyes mournful “Our hearts were laden with the thought.”
“You have the book then?” Gandalf asked anxiously.
“Yes, but we must hurry.” Lillianna replied “The whole city has no doubt been alerted to us.” She stopped and then noticed Meldon was missing among their group.
“Where is Meldon?” she asked worriedly, and each of them now realized that he was gone, though to where they did not know.
Suddenly, a shrill shriek exploded into the air, and darkness filled the depths of each of their souls. Coming towards them were cloaked, dark figures on horses. They were coming for Lillianna.
“The Nazgul” she said in a whisper. “How…?” her voice trailed off as what she saw caused her heart to quail in fear. An elf on a horse attacked them from the side to try to cut them off and was thrown off his horse. Lillianna screamed and rode towards Meldon, feeling nothing else but the urgency to help her friend. The Witch King stepped down and fought with Meldon, and he endured the witch king’s attacks as best he could. But there were 6 of them, and they soon overwhelmed him. The Witch King lifted his sword and was about to plunge it into the heart of the elf when Lillianna’s horse rammed into the wraith. She dismounted and ran to Meldon, but one of the Nazgul caught her first and wrapped its darkness around her. She felt no more. Gandalf ran furiously after Lillianna, and found that Verdan’s book had fallen off as she had ridden away. He picked it up and secured it in his cloak. He stopped his pursuit when the Nazgul had obtained Lillianna, feeling that it would be useless to try to attack.
“Lillianna!!!!” Legolas called out in misery as he too ran towards her captors, but Gandalf held him back, though his own soul was plagued with weariness.
“Don’t be a fool Legolas. Meldon has already sacrificed himself. Would you do the same and let it be in vain? This is beyond you now. It is beyond any of us. Sauron’s bait has apparently been taken, and his prize has been won.” Their hearts fell to the ground as they watched the Nazgul leave with dear Lillianna. They had got what they had come for, but at a high price. Meldon was lost, and Lillianna was in the hands of the Dark Lord.
