My Strange Persephone

Part four: rescue

The horse and cart that Galadriel had managed to commandeer was fast, but not as fast as it needed to be. "Come on." Galadriel said, urging the horse to run faster. "Do you have any idea where we're going?" Arondir asked. "Yes." Galadriel said quickly. "The ruins of Eregion. Sauron has Adar in a tower there somewhere. And we all saw he's hurting him." Even Arondir couldn't argue with that.

"Look, for what it's worth, I'm sorry about what I said earlier." Arondir said. "I don't like Adar much, but I saw the whole scene you did. No one deserves that." Galadriel nodded. "I trust that once we get to Adar, you'll do him no harm." She said. Arondir looked almost offended at that. "Of course I won't hurt him." He said. "I'd have shot him dead on the battlefield, but not after this. My wife would have taken pity on him. She was kind like that." Galadriel nodded. That was good enough for her.

"We're about half an hour out." Elrond said, checking the map in his hand. "Once we get there, what's the plan?" He asked. "I go in, split Sauron wide open, and return home with Adar." Galadriel said confidently. Arondir crossed his arms. "I get the sentiment, but that's not really a plan." He said. "I think Elrond and I should create a distraction at the far side of the building, and allow you to sneak in and rescue Adar." Elrond raised an eyebrow. "Why do I have to be the distraction?" He asked. Arondir smirked. "Well, you do happen to be very distracting." Galadriel didn't miss the faint pink blush across Elrond's cheeks.

"For what it's worth, I don't think you should try to fight Sauron now." Elrond said. "This is a rescue mission above all else. If you want to save Adar, you should save him now, and come back to fight Sauron another day." Galadriel looked down. She didn't want to do that. She wanted to tear Sauron limb from limb. "Galadriel. Is your desire for revenge stronger than the love that you feel?" Elrond asked. Galadriel shook her head. "Good." Elrond said. "Then I think we have our plan."

"And where do I come in?" Galadriel, Arondir, and Elrond whirled around at the sound of the familiar voice of the high king Gilgalad. Galadriel blinked in surprise, but when she opened her eyes, the king was still there. He emerged from a pile of potatoes that had been in the cart Galadriel had stolen. Galadriel internally swore. She'd never thought to check for stowaways, let alone runaway high kings.

"Your majesty?" Elrond asked, bewildered. "Uh, may I ask, what are you doing here?" The high king smiled cheerfully. "Well, I'm going to help with the rescue effort." Gilgalad said, as if this was obvious. "Adar was once one of my subjects. I was unable to help him for so long. I think it's only fair that I come through for him now." Galadriel appreciated the sentiment, but as much as she loved the high king, she worried he'd be more of a hindrance than a help.

"We're already practically at Eregion." Arondir whispered. "It's too late to ditch him now." Galadriel sighed. "Okay, fine." She said. "Your majesty, you and Elrond can be the distraction. Arondir, you're with me." Galadriel said. Elrond shot her a look, but said nothing. The citadel of Eregion was already looming tall.

Now it was time to rescue Adar.

*

Adar didn't complain as Sauron laid him down on the bed, then laid down next to him. "You can relax, I'm not going to do anything to you." Sauron said. "I meant what I said about wanting to sleep. Too much melodrama gives me a headache." Adar bit back a smart comeback. He didn't want Sauron punishing any more of his children because of his actions. Sauron wrapped his arm around Adar's waist, and pulled him close, so Adar's back rested against Sauron's chest. "Sweet dreams, dearest." Sauron said, and gave Adar a small kiss on the cheek. No, there weren't going to be any sweet dreams for Adar. There weren't going to be any sweet dreams ever again.

And that was when a massive explosion rocked the side of the castle of Eregion. "What the bloody hell?" Sauron asked, letting go of Adar and sitting up abruptly. Adar didn't dare sit up to see what was going on, unsure of how Sauron would react. "Well." Sauron said coldly. "It seems that some wayward elves are still trying to attack me." Adar felt a flicker of hope. Was it Galadriel?