The Forgotten Ring

Disclaimer: All familiar characters of this story belong to the awesome world and works of JRR Tolkien, who is an unparalleled genius of this genre. All unfamiliar and original characters, animals and places are of my own invention. I do not derive any monies from this work and created this story solely out of the love and respect that I hold for all of the works related to this canon.

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The Forgotten Ring
by Sienna Dawn


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Chapter 21 - In the Pits of Durzad'dum

Eridani looked around her. She was alone in the cell. It had no window. She reached out and touched a wall. Instantly, she took her hand away. The stone was cold and sticky. She did not want to think about what it was that coated the walls.

She walked toward the bed, a single low stone bench covered with straw and grass. It looked like it had been changed and was fresh. Still her nostrils picked out several scents and she closed herself to their effect. It would not be a good idea for her to retch inside the cramped space.

Sitting on the bed, Eridani rubbed her calf and then her head, wondering where Ormuil was. She tried to concentrate and perhaps feel him with her mind. She had read that the elves of the Old World were able to speak to each other across vast distances by simply willing their thoughts to a certain place or person. She already knew from personal experience that Haldir possessed this skill, as he had demonstrated that night in the Archives. She had heard his thoughts clearly and was able to respond to him. Yet, she knew elves only fell back on this skill under the most desperate moments. She feared this skill may not have been passed down to the elves born in the new Middle Earth. Yet, she reasoned, she had been born on Valinor and not Middle Earth and had therefore escaped the changes. And so had Haldir. Would she be able to reach him? She tried to sense Ormuil once more.

But the response she received was totally unexpected.

Instead of seeing Ormuil, she saw a vast dark mist, moving over Middle Earth. It was shapeless but it seemed to be moving with intent and will. Below it were Yrch creatures. They seemed to be under the mist's influence, for they moved as the mist directed them to. Concentrating on it, she tried to touch it when it suddenly turned toward her and enveloped her vision. The mist was cold. There was hate and evil inside it. Her spirit recoiled from this contact and she tried to break free of it, pulling her mind away, attempting to place distance between her thoughts and the mist. Suddenly she noticed a bright glow before her and inside her mind she heard a screech and a scream. And she thought she had heard the mist taking on a voice, speaking to her.

Suddenly the vision faded and she was back in her cell. What she had seen disturbed her, and as she tried to make sense of it, she noticed a presence in her cell. At first her eyes could not focus properly, but she was certain a golden glow was beginning to take shape in a corner. As she gazed without fear, the glow began to take form. When it had fully materialized, she sat back and gasped, her eyes widening.

Before her stood a little man. He had a long beard and bright black eyes. He was dressed in an armor of mithril which had runic lettering over the chest area. In one hand he held an axe, which was crossed over his chest, in an almost gesture of defiance. His tunic reached his knees and his legs were covered with leather. But it was his eyes that drew her. Eyes that held intelligence and strength.

Eridani sat very still. What was this? A ghost? Or was her mind playing tricks on her? Strange things had already happened to her after being brought here and she was not certain that this was another trick of her mind.

The vision shook his head as if he could read her thoughts.

"Nay, you are not losing your mind." His voice spoke into her mind. It was rough and hoarse, but kind.

Eridani loooked but said nothing. She waited.

The apparition approached her and stood before her. He looked into her eyes and Eridani heard his thoughts as clearly as if his voice had spoken.

"Your coming to this place was prophecied long ago. But you must try to remember. If you do not remember, then all is doomed and the fate of the World is sealed."

Eridani gazed at this strange little man and frowned. What did he mean by saying that she had to remember? What was it she had to remember?

And as if he had heard her, he answered her unspoken question. "Remember who you are. Remember the stories you heard as a child. Do you remember?" His eyes bored into her.

Eridani shook her head slowly. No, she did not remember.

The little man appeared unmoved by this.

"You shall remember or all is lost." He turned and walked back to the corner where he had first appeared.

Looking at Eridani, he said into her mind, "It was long ago that I died. And longer still that we carried the secret of the Ring. If you are to follow your destiny, then you must remember. Find the ring, Eridani. Find it and wield it, for only you can. Many shadows await to snatch it from you, and there is yet another ring that must not be found by the shadows."

The ghost began to fade, but not before Eridani heard, "Two rings there are, two rings that cannot fall into Shadow."

Then he was no more and she was alone again.


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[To be continued...] Feedback is appreciated!