Emerge the Dragonborn | The Hobbit

Chapter 19 - The Will

Trapped.

Anaynah found herself trapped in darkness, the oppressive void of her own mind holding her captive. She tried to move, to wake herself, but it was as if her body was weighed down by an unseen force. Her thoughts became a cacophony, each one louder and more insistent than the last. Desperation clawed at her, and her breathing grew ragged, her chest tightening with panic.

The darkness seemed to whisper to her, feeding her fears.

You will never escape.
You are alone.
You are weak.

The voices of doubt and despair echoed through her mind, growing louder and more menacing with each passing moment.

Anaynah's heart pounded, the sound filling her ears like a drumbeat of impending doom. Her hands trembled, and she wrapped her arms around herself, trying to find some semblance of comfort. But the darkness was relentless, closing in on her, suffocating her.

She sank to her knees, her breaths coming in short, frantic gasps. "No," she whispered, her voice shaking. "I can't be here! I can't- no, no, don't leave me here!"
The darkness swirled around her, the whispers growing more intense, more sinister.

You will never escape.
You will die here.
Alone and forgotten.

The words cut through her like a knife, and
tears streamed down her face as she struggled against the overwhelming tide of despair.

Anaynah's vision blurred through the tears, and she pressed her hands to her ears, trying to block out the voices. But they only grew louder, a relentless assault on her senses. "Stop," she cried out, her voice barely audible over the noise. "Please, stop!"

Just as she felt herself teetering on the edge of madness, a voice cut through the darkness, clear and mocking.

"Anaynah." It was a voice she had heard before, a whisper at the back of her mind that had always been there, but now it was unmistakable.

"Smaug?" She asked in thin air, but no, the voice did not belong to him.

"Try again."

She froze, her breath catching in her throat. "Wh- who are you?" she called out, her voice trembling. The darkness seemed to waver, the whispers momentarily silenced by the new presence.

"Anaynah," the voice repeated, more insistent now. "You are weaker than I expected. Tis pathetic. Struggling so much against the inevitable."

The familiarity of the voice brought a shiver of dread, and she forced herself to stand, her legs shaky but determined. "Where are you?" she asked, her voice tinged with desperation. "What do you want?"

The voice was closer now, a sinister presence that sent chills down her spine. "You are alone, Anaynah. Lost in your mind, trapped by your fears. You will break, or you will fulfil your destiny. Either way, you belong to me."

Anaynah closed her eyes, taking a deep, shuddering breath. She let the voice wash over her, its malevolent strength seeping into her thoughts. The darkness began to press in tighter, and she could feel a sliver of hopelessness piercing through her resolve.

"Who are you?" she asked again, her voice steadier this time, but still laced with fear, "Show yourself!" she demanded, her voice gaining strength despite her terror.

"I would have thought you'd know, we've been so close for so long."

Anaynah gasped at the realisation.

"Ahriman..." her voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes my darling, I must say it is wonderful to talk to you finally."