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 38 - Descent into the Darkness

Slowly and carefully, Eridani and Haldir descended the stone stairway. About them there was nothing but darkness. Their sharp elven eyes unable to pierce the gloom.

Haldir considered turning back to retrieve a candle but thought the better of it. Too many Yrch above them.

His whisper cut through the dark, "Eridani, we must turn back. Even I cannot see what is before us."

In response, Eridani whispered something that Haldir's keen ears heard. It was Quenya and it was simply the name, Manwe.

At once the darkness was repelled by a bright flame. Astonished by the suddeness of it, Haldir turned to the source of the light. It was the ring, Amarya! Softly glowing, it cast a bright light around them so that they could see their way.

Both elves looked around them.

Empty tunnels, hewn roughly from the earth, ran in several directions. There were no markers, no way to tell which way to proceed. The air, although moist and dank, reeked of a strange sweet scent that Haldir recognized at once. Turning toward Eridani, he made to push his way back up the stairs.

"Nay, my love, we must not proceed." he whispered close to her hair. He tried to guide her back, but she resisted.

Eridani's voice echoed in the silence, "Nay, Haldir. We cannot go back. Ronihim came this way." and she pointed toward one of the tunnel entrances.

Haldir frowned. "Does the Ring show you this?" He saw her nod slowly, her eyes fixed on the entrance itself.

"Aye." she whipered. "We must follow quickly."

With dread in his heart, Haldir sighed and nodded. "Then this is the way we go."

They moved off, Haldir in the lead, wielding his sword and watching carefully for signs of Yrch. It was amazingly silent in this underground labyrinth and he wasn't too certain that they should be here at all.

The sweet sickly stench was growing stronger and Haldir knew that was not a good thing.

Suddenly, Eridani grasped his shoulder, "There!" her eyes wide, he followed the direction of her gaze. Haldir's eyes narrowed in response to the implied warning as they both inched slowly past the slabs of human flesh that decorated the tunnel wall.

"Eridani, this is not to my liking..." Haldir began, but his protest was cut short when the Ring's light flared.

Ahead of them there opened a wide room. Walking with careful attention to their surroundings, the elves came to a halt when they perceived they were not alone.

Before them, on a wide throne, sat Prince Ronihim. His eyes looked coldly and haughtily upon Eridani and Haldir.

Haldir quickly came to stand before Eridani, crouching in a defensive stance, holding an arm out and with the other pointing the sword in Ronihim's direction.

Ronihim smiled. "Ever the watchful dog." His eyes, full of malice, surveyed the elves before him. A cold hand constricted the last of rational thought he may have had. Now another lived through him. Ronihim stood.

Eridani made to step past Haldir but he held fast. This was not lost on Ronihim who stared at Haldir with undisguised hatred. "Let her pass, if that be her will. But you will not need that weapon." Ronihim stared down at the sword in Haldir's hand.

At once the weapon was thrust out of his hand and Eridani swiftly pushed past Haldir to block the attack but too late. Haldir was thrown back against the rock wall, his body landing with a heavy thud. He crumpled to the ground unmoving.

Ronihim chuckled. His gaze lingered over Haldir's still form. "Long have I wanted to teach this base-born elf a lesson." He turned his attention to Eridani, who stood rigidly, her face unreadable.

"Roni," she began, "listen to my voice."

Ronihim laughed, "Listen to your voice?" He walked closer to Eridani. "Why my dear Lady, with whom do you exactly believe you are speaking?" Blue eyes turned dark as they bore into the brown eyes that were clouded with a momentary confusion.

But the Valar were watching too, and in her mind's eye a face drifted into view.

Finally comprehending, Eridani stepped back. "Saruman!" she exclaimed. Her eyes covered Ronihim's body, head to foot. Her heart ached for the loss of her kinsman, for she knew he had been taken unwilling and feared now his soul lost. Her mind sent out a query, but in this the Valar were silent.

Saruman's eyes glittered. "Exactly!" he said triumphantly. "Prince Ronihim is no more. I am reborn.....with a little help from this bauble." He held out his hand and Eridani saw that upon it rested a ring set with a brilliant stone. Its light, of myriad colors, twinkled and danced over its surface as if the brilliance of a rainbow were held within it.

Eridani knew she was gazing at the Arkenstone. Her suspicions had been correct.

Eridani turned her full attention to the creature who had once been Ronihim. "Saruman, taking a life unwilling will cost you your own. Your will forfeit yours in payment. Know you this?"

She took a step toward Saruman, but he held his stance, watching her with a smirk on his face. Eridani could see that already Roni's features were beginning to blend with the face of another. Fine wrinkles began to appear on the forehead and eyes, and Roni's once luxurious blonde hair was turning to grey. Blue eyes, already darkened, sparkled with a malice Eridani knew Roni had never possessed. She knew that through the power of the Arkenstone, Saruman had maintained his spirit alive and was now slowly taking on his former self. Haldir had been right, she thought. He had been right all along.

In her mind, she saw the Valar waiting.

Eridani turned her full attention to the creature who had once been Ronihim. "Saruman desist, for even now the Valar act to foil you. You will not escape their judgement." Eridani's eyes glittered.

Saruman's laugh was shrill, eeriely echoing in the chamber. "Look around you." he spread open his hands and swept them past the room. "Here are my weapons, my tools. This is my escape!" His voice was confident and triumphant.

Eridani saw bottles and many other devices she had never seen before nor understood their use, but instinctively knew they had been the instruments of Avonea's destruction.

In a still voice she said, "Although I know not what these are, they will be your destruction."

Behind her, Eridani heard Haldir beginning to stir. Saruman turned and hissed, raising his hand to strike at the elf again. But Eridani attacked first, issuing a bright flame of fire to strike at Saruman.

The flame of Amarya struck Saruman before he was able to to deal a blow to Haldir and he staggered. Bright green fire covered his body, but the power of the Arkenstone broke its hold. Then was Saruman's fury turned toward Eridani.

Hissing, his face a mask of hate and evil, Saruman's Ring flared into being and a light of a thousand colors leapt toward her. But Eridani was ready, and Amarya caught the energy and deflected it back to Saruman. Turning, Saruman used his will to throw a rounded device from a nearby table toward Haldir. Momentarily distracted by his fall, Haldir did not see the attack as the orb made its way toward his head. It was Eridani, commanding Amarya, who halted the device, and returned it back to Saruman.

Seeing the object sailing toward him and knowing its deadly powers, Saruman tried to drain its energy with the Arkenstone. But he was too slow in reacting and the device exploded at his feet, flinging him and Eridani in different directions.

Haldir felt rather than saw the explosion, as its rcourcoursed through his body. His only concern now was for Eridani. Choking on the smoke and dust the explosion left in its wake, he crawled on the floor trying to see in the dim light of the room.

Through the thick smoke he was able to make out two great lights. One, a bright and bold green fire, and the other shining with the flame of a thousand colors. Haldir knew these were the Rings and their bearers, as they fought for dominion one over the other. Scrambling over the debris, and avoiding the small fires around him, he looked for his sword, keeping a careful eye on the swirling flames inside the smoke.

Finding his sword, he gripped it quickly, and came to his feet. Slowly the smoke was clearing. His eyes widened at what was unfolding before him.

Standing inside the fires of the Rings' flames, Saruman and Eridani battled. Bolts of energy coursed from them, some missing the mark and others impacting. Saruman's lifeforce and flame seemed to be waning as the greater strength of Amarya was gaining dominion over the Arkenstone.

Haldir knew there was nothing to be done, except to watch the incredible scene as it played out before him.

As they battled, Haldir noticed a strange rumbling coming from it seemed deep below his feet. At first tentatively and then more fiercely. His face grim and set, he realized finally the Valar's plan was now set in motion. Helplessly, he watched his heart's love battle the evil that had consumed Ronihim.

Abruptly, there came a wail from inside the flames of the Rings. Because their light was so bright, not even his elven eyes could pierce beyond it to discover the source of the sound. Holding his breath, Haldir then saw a flame beginning to dim, the light of one Ring fading quickly. And then he knew....he knew the source of the wail. His sword fell out of his hand, his mind rejecting what he saw.

Saruman had faded, his presence diminished and awaiting whatever fate the Valar had in store for him. The Ring of the Arkenstone lay on the ground, next to Eridani's body.

Rushing to kneel by her side, Haldir lovingly cradled her head on his knee and caressed her face. Her skin was pale, almost translucent and to his horror he could see the thin veins below the surface of her skin. She still breathed, her gasps shallow and labored.

Haldir's heart broke at that moment for he realized the terrible price she was now paying for wielding the Ring. Caressing her hair and cheeks, tears freely coursing down his face, he saw her eyelids move and her eyes open and focus on him.

"Hush, Young One," Haldir whispered, his voice breaking into near sobs. "Do not speak, conserve your strength. I will carry you back."

But Eridani shook her head slowly, her eyes fluttering closed. "Nay, my love. What is begun must now finish...and be set aright..." her brown eyes opened and lifted to his face. As Haldir held her, her body began to glow, dimly at first but then with a greater intensity, so that Haldir was forced to lower her head to the ground and lean back. The light from her body illumined the partially destroyed chamber. Slowly, her body began to lose its form and shape, and as a broken-hearted Haldir watched, she dimmed and faded, and with her so too faded the Rings.

Alone in the room, a cry of anguish, torn from deep in his soul, rose to Haldir's lips. He lowered his head and openly wept.


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{To be continued...}