A number of events occurred from the moment Cardiloc, Iver and Ha'zi seemed to have disappeared.
The recruit Dimitri had attacked flailed in agony on the ground with a broken kneecap, screaming unintelligibly.
"What the fuck!" Someone yelled at the Forochelrim.
"Grambil? You sard!" A Gondorian charged Dimitri with his sword pulled.
Daugo saw what Dimitri had just done. It was happening all over again. Just like on the island.
Eönwë strode up to Sigeric with a darkness to his eyes. "A Silmaril?" He asked, "How did he-No, this is bad. Sigeric, we need to hamper the situation before they all kill each other." The Maia knew the properties of Fëanor's jewels. They would drive the men and elves into a frenzy. Especially the Noldor.
Magath yelled something from far away. He and Celeborn, as well as Glorfindel, were gathering the injured and carrying them into the forest with the Ithilien Rangers aid while madness seized the group of Gondorians and Shifters. Amidst the brewing battle, Marco's unconscious body lay hidden in a bush where Cardiloc had stood next to. Only Daugo saw his boots jutting out from the leaves.
-------------------------------
"Cardiloc-" The voice came from behind the Dunlending, "No." A large hand gripped onto Cardiloc's shoulder and pulled him backward with a strength unknown to any of them.
Cardiloc was tossed between the frozen Iver and Ha'zi. The Dalishman and Haradrim were unable to move but Ha'zi found himself possessing speech while Iver could mouth words slowly. In front of them was the figure. All three recognized the face of Ha'zi but the scars, the rough skin, shaved chin, and clothes all set him apart from the Haradrim boy. Furthermore, this man was as tall as Cardiloc and sizeable enough to be compared to Dimitri. He sighed and opened his mouth, pulling down his scarf.
"You're all probably very confused right about now. I get it. You want to know." He shrugged. "Yeah, it's me. Ha'zi. I'm from another time, though. I'm not your Ha'zi." He pointed his finger towards the frozen Haradrim boy.
"I'm better." Future Ha'zi smiled.
"Now," He slipped his hand into one pocket and pulled out an item, a shiny glowing shard appeared in it, almost a replicant of what Cardiloc was carrying. "This is a Silmaril. Specifically, the Earth Silmaril. It took me over five years to locate it. Hand me the Sea Silmaril. I'll safeguard them. If you keep them in this place then the world will kill itself over in attempting to take it. And Arda needs to be united if we're to win. I'm on your side. If anything, I should be in charge of you lot. But, I have other responsibilities. I'll make this simple." He paused then began,
"I'm from a reality where everything goes to shit. Back there-" he pointed to Mordor's Mountains of Shadow, "We kill Morgoth. Túrin Turambar stabs him through the heart with the Vala Blade. He dies. Yay. Whoopie. The world is saved?" His smile disappeared. "No. No, it isn't. Because then Tulkas takes us back to Manwë who then tries to kill us. Thankfully, we escape with the help of the Trickster and Mandos. But because of that, Ulmo kills Mandos. We lose our strongest ally. You probably have no idea who I'm talking about. He's the one who started this. Who started all of this. I can't really blame him, though, since he tried to stop it. It can't be helped. Anyway, the Trickster trains us. Iver becomes fast, Cardiloc can stop time, Sigeric is able to see others minds, Dimitri becomes like metal, Thoruk can use elements to his control, Daugo has a rather peculiar talent which comes in handy later, and me-Ha'zi, I can use all of your powers at once. I am able to hold them. No." He paused, "Control them. Use your feelings, guys. You'll be able to access them. That's what the Trickster taught me."
"As we trained to fight Manwë, we became stronger. Smarter. We grew older. We also fougth other enemies. We made friends. Remember Miriel? Yeah? Her entire group of people were like us. They had powers too. Some of them joined us. Others ran away. Some even faught against us-" Future Ha'zi scratched a scar on his nose, "But I was able to take most of their powers. I became the strongest. We were all strong. That's when Manwë began his attack on Middle-Earth. Once Tulkas and the other Vala had all submitted to him, he brought fire and fury to Arda. The entire Eriador was obliterated. Millions died. Those that faught back, like us, lost. Dimitri died."
"But that was not the worst part. Manwë came. We faught him atop the Misty Mountains and we nearly won. Until that thing came. An ancient being. More powerful than the Valar. More powerful than even Eru himself. Some forsaken creature that crawled out of the depths of the Void. The literal Void itself. An evil we could not have imagined came. It ate Manwë. Ate him. It killed the Vala, Ulmo. Then the Trickster fought it. They danced upon the skies and he was shattered. The Trickster was annihilated. His body spread across the skies. Iver died with him and so did Sigeric. They both tried to fight it. We all did. But it beat us with a single blow. And it wasn't even trying." Future Ha'zi shook his head.
"The reason that thing came for us was the same reason Manwë came. Because Morgoth was dead. The only one strong enough to kill it is Morgoth. And we killed him. We dug our own graves with that action. Morgoth cannot be allowed to die. Do you understand me?" He asked them, Future Ha'zi's face contorting with anger, "DO YOU?!"
"Because when Morgoth died, we lost our abilities to Giantize. And because of that, we did not have enough power to defeat it. Furthermore, Morgoth was the one who beat this thing the first time. He even beat its kid. Some big ass spider called Ungoliant. He needs to live if we are to win. After our loss on the Misty Mountains, Arda was consumed. Eaten by it. Most of us stayed, fought and died. Some of us like Daugo ran. It made no difference. There were only a few safe havens for us to retreat to. Cardiloc," he paused looking at the Dunlending.
"You have one of the strongest powers. And it broke your neck before you could even contemplate using it. Do you want that to happen? Do you want us all to die? Do you want little Ela to die? What about your mother? Manwë has her. She dies as well. We all do. I'm the only one left now. I came back to stop this. Today," he walked forward to them, "I was the one who saved Morgoth. And I shall be the one to save us. But I can't do it alone. I'm not invulnerable like you. I can't heal because of Morgoth's death in my reality. But you can. You can save Arda!" He shoved a finger at them all, slowly moving to Ha'zi, "You must do it. Now, hand over that damn gemstone and let me rid you of its corruption!"
----------------------------------
"Yes. She slew the Destroyer and absorbed it into herself. You know what that entails, don't you, Mairon?" Morgoth's voice echoed through the chamber.
Aranel dipped her head in response but did not walk forth until they had beckoned her.
-------------------
Miriel twisted as she slept. Evenis was sleeping next to her behind a log. She was having a nightmare.
---
She had watched as Lungorthin, the Balrog, had dragged her dead sister, Laurelos' body out of their dungeon. Master Sauron had not even let her bury her but she was allowed to follow and watch as the Balrog set her body aflame on the precipices of the Thangorodrim. Laurelos' corpse burnt into dust and floated off into the black skies that night. Miriel had wiped away her tears and continued on. Her little sister was dead because of Aranel. She felt a mixture of emotions for her older sister but right now all she wanted to do was hug her.
Aranel had been her saviour. When they were growing up and their father beat them, Aranel had been the one to offer herself up. She had been beaten whilst Miriel and Laurelos were spared. Miriel still remembered the cuts and scars that had been inflicted all across her older sister's back. Their father was an evil man. No. Not evil. Cruel. The Dark Lord was evil. But he was not cruel. Not to them, anyway. And Aranel had fought for them. Defended them. But now. Now she had killed Laurelos.
Miriel was walked back to the dungeon by Lungorthin. She stepped inside willingly as he shut the door behind her. The room had been scrubbed and cleaned but the stench of blood remained. Miriel heard a faint gasping and turned away from the door. There, beside Laurelos' bed was Aranel. She was hanging from a piece of rope attached to an outcropping rock. Her legs dangled above the bed while her hands lay limply to her sides.
"ARANEL?!" Miriel had screamed and rushed to her sister's side, shoved the bed under her feet, jumped up and bite the rope open with her teeth and dropped her older sister's body. Aranel had tried to strangle herself. Her eyes were red and opened slightly, her mouth forming the words as she weakly croaked, "Why?"
"Why?" Miriel had asked in retort, flaring in anger.
"Be-ca-cause-" Aranel's eyes fluttered slowly over to the place where she had bashed in Laurelos' head.
"Don't you ever do something like that again!" Miriel wanted to punch her but kept cradling Aranel in her arms. "You don't get to die! Not while I'm still here!" She had said, "Promise me that you'll never do that!"
"I-Mir-" Aranel croaked.
"PROMISE ME!"
"I-I-I pro-mis-e."
"Good!" Miriel hugged her then and wept. Aranel cried as well.
"Mir-I-I didn't mean to-it's just....I...it made me...I'm sore-sorry. I didn't ki-kill her..."
---
Back then, it hadn't made sense to Miriel. Why Aranel had done it? But as time progressed. When Aranel began to move rocks and objects with her own will. Just like Laurelos had. It hadn't dawned on them then. Perhaps, it was because Miriel was too attached to her. Perhaps it was because she had deluded herself into thinking that Aranel finally had a power. Maybe Aranel and Laurelos both exhibited the same kind of ability but it only showed in Aranel at a later stage.
Or perhaps, Aranel had taken it.
That was when Aranel was seventeen and Miriel had been fifteen. Two years of fighting together before she did it again.
Aranel had opened theirs with her own mind, broke out whilst they slept and entered each of their dungeons, killing them in their sleep. By the time Lungorthin and Master Sauron appeared, twelve of their friends. Some Giants, some not. Were found murdered in their chambers.
Aranel had done it. The trail of blood led back to their room. After that incident, it had never been the same. All of them hated Aranel. And Aranel was taken away by Master Sauron. Then, when the war failed and great dragon fell upon the peaks of Thangorodrim, they had all been put to sleep.
Whilst Miriel slept through her nightmares, Tytus and Berethor watched the moon rise into the sky with Mirecyla. Eventually Berethor stood and picked up the girl, putting her to sleep whether she wanted to or not, then went on to sleep alone. The moon rose over them and passed as their first day of freedom began.
------------------------
Snap.
"He's been deployed." Mandos spoke, appearing in the dark vault. At the oaken table sat the Trickster, eating an apple stereotypically.
"It's not a good idea." The Trickster said between bites, "I don't trust him."
"Pity. He's our trump card. He'll take care of them for now. We have more urgent matters to attend to...." Mandos took a seat across the table from him.
"Like what? Saving the world? Of co-"
"Tulkas is dead." Mandos interrupted him.
The Trickster spat out his apple. "Tul-What?!" He jumped up and slammed his fists onto the table. "WHY?! HE WAS OUR BROTHER?! COULDN'T YOU HAVE PREVENTED IT?! HE MAR-" Mandos slapped him.
"Tulkas was a liability. I'm sorry, brother. But he had to die." The steel cold voice settled over the room. The Trickster remained standing.
"I-wha-how?" He digested this.
"Sauron, naturally." Mandos sighed.
"And you allowed it?"
"It's how I foresaw it, brother."
"What? And if you foresaw my death, you'd allow it?" The Trickster glanced down into Mandos' eyes.
"Naturally." The Trickster swallowed.
"Fuck you. I'm not having your bullshit anymore. I know you mean well but-"
"Then leave. I know you'll come back."
There was a pause as both brothers exchanged views. The Trickster raised his hand and snapped his fingers.
"He'll be back." Mandos mused, remaining in the chair and thinking into the future as he shut his eyes.
------------------------
"So." The Golden Domed city of Valmar beamed with Manwë's voice. "The Champion has fallen?"
"Indeed, my King." Mineltar bowed his head and kneeled before the throne of the Vala.
"And his spawn?"
"Unaware." Mineltar was sweating. A salty droplet slid down his temple and onto his helmet. The Greatest Warrior, Tulkas Astaldo, was dead. According to the Eagles, they had watched as Gorthaur the Cruel stabbed him with his own Vala blade. It was a tragedy for all their soldiers but Tulkas had been a known traitor to the West and his death would likely be celebrated.
"Keep Telimektar under watch. I do not wish to see more insurgents. You may leave, Mineltar."
The Captain of the Scions stood, kept his head bowed, turned and slowly, then swiftly walked out of the throne room and into the halls that led out of the Palace of Manwë.
His thoughts paged about to that of his older brother, Eönwë. Where was he? Surprisingly, the Elder King had not sent out their hunters to capture him. Perhaps it was because he was so weak now. Mineltar felt a pang of pity for the Maia. He was among those who had been deemed worthy not to have his memory altered and because of that, he had remembered it all. He had seen Eönwë in his finest, flying through hordes of Orcs and slaughtering thousands. He had also seen him at his worst, beheading the foes of the Elder King. Mineltar kept walking until he was out of the Palace. So many dead. His siblings. Now Tulkas. Where did it end? With him? With Morgoth? With the King?
After he had captured the familial members of the Eight Karoltai of Morgoth, he too had started to question his orders. That old man and his wife, he had given them to be tortured. That haggard crone from Dunlend, what of her? Did she deserve this? She was blind and the world had been cruel to her. Why had he done that? What of the man from Dale, the woman and her children, the two young hobbits? Did they deserve it? Why was he questioning his orders now? He had butchered all manner of enemies for his King. Women, children, men, orcs, all of them. Why now? Was it because of what Eönwë had said? Was he blind all along?
Mineltar's eyes caught someone passing him. Some small creature. A....hobbit?! In Valinor?! Then he caught sight of the figure next to him. Mineltar's eyes widened.
"Olorin?" The words fell from his mouth as if he had no mastery over them.
The figure wore a pearly white cloak. He had a long white beard and bushy eyebrows that were dwarfed by one of the warmest smiles in Valinor.
"Oh," He spoke with surprise, "Mineltar. Greetings, where are my manners?"
Gandalf offered his hand to the Captain. Mineltar took it and shook. They exchanged a brief swathe of information before passing one another. Mineltar still found himself taken by surprise. Who was that hobbit with him? These were strange times, but seemingly, they were becoming stranger. Mineltar continued walking until he had left the city. He did not know where he was venturing but his feet continued, driving him off into the remote.
--------------------
And so ends Book 1 of Ventures into the Remote, folks. I hope you had a good ride. My heart aches to continue this but time does not appear to be on our side. Stay tuned for Book 2 and have a merry life, Role Players!
[user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/9842Kye/74.png" name="9842Kye"]16315828[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/CluckmanTheDerp/74.png" name="CluckmanTheDerp"]13527980[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/assassiniv/74.png" name="assassiniv"]14628767[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/Szucsclan/74.png" name="Szucsclan"]12519458[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/DeathValley105/74.png" name="DeathValley105"]15756962[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/DimitriP_13421/74.png" name="DimitriP_13421"]8861015[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/KingTraitor/74.png" name="KingTraitor"]13615485[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/UnusualBrit/74.png" name="UnusualBrit"]12700073[/user] [user avatar="https://cravatar.eu/helmavatar/Yiannis123/74.png" name="Yiannis123"]18199471[/user]
