My Strange Persephone

Part five: not today, Sauron

Everyone in the room was thrown backwards as Sauron exploded, powerful force and white light going everywhere. Adar was the first to be able to stand. "That happened when I stabbed him too." Adar said. "It'll hold him for a little while, but he won't stay dead. He's rather annoying like that."

Galadriel stood up next, wiping blood off her armor. "Then I'll just kill him again." She said. "I'll kill him as many times as it takes." Adar looked down at the small, sleeping baby in his arms. "Now, now." He said teasingly. "Let's not discuss bloody murder in front of the baby." That got a smile out of Galadriel

Adar looked to where two of his bewildered children were standing. "Why don't you two just forget you ever saw this, and head to where the others are." He said. "Galadriel will probably stab you if you attack her, as will her friends. Please just do the smart thing and leave." The creatures talked about it for a few seconds, then ran off. Adar breathed an internal sigh of relief.

"We need to come up with some kind of way to free them from Sauron's magic." Adar said. "No, we need to take you home first, and have someone look at your wounds." Galadriel said. "You were stabbed more than I'd ever seen a person get stabbed before." Adar shrugged. It hadn't killed him, nor had it been particularly painful. Adar didn't blame the Uruk that had taken part, because they really had no choice, but he was getting the impression Galadriel didn't really see it that way.

"Please, let's leave this place." Elrond said, looking over at the still burning bodies of Uruk and elf alike. "My best friend met his brutal end here. I don't want to remain here a moment longer." Adar wanted to stay around to find out how to save his children, but the elves had a point. Suppose Sauron came back sooner than he did the last time. He wouldn't be stabbed so easily the second time around.

"Fine, we can head back to wherever the elves are living now." Adar said sadly. "But only with the understanding that we'll come back to save my people." Arondir looked at Galadriel, and after a minute, she nodded. "Very well." She said. "Now, let's get going. Can you walk, or do you want me to carry you?" She asked. "I can walk." Adar said. "I didn't get hurt that badly this time."

Gilgalad, who had been uncharacteristically quiet the whole time, tried to say something. "All due respect, your highness, but I don't want to hear it." Adar said quickly. "Right now, I really don't have the energy to argue with an elven king when mistakenly believes himself to be my father."

*

The whole ride home, Adar didn't talk much to anyone except Galadriel. He didn't even look at the high king, which Galadriel was sure would lead to no shortages of awkwardness over the coming days. Adar wasn't ready for a father, but Gilgalad was ready to have his stolen child returned. Galadriel could see where they both were coming from. She really just hoped Gilgalad would leave Adar alone until he was ready for a dad. But knowing Gilgalad, that probably wasn't likely.

"What do you think we should call him?" Adar asked, looking down at the sleeping creature baby in his arms. That snapped Galadriel back to reality. "What?" She asked, not really understanding. Like, she understood the words Adar was saying, but she didn't understand why he was asking her to help name a creature baby. Especially one that had apparently belonged to his friends.

"I don't know." Galadriel said. "How do the Uruk usually name their babies?" She asked. "Well, typically, similar names to their parents." He said. "I mean, I was the exception, because my name means something in the old language, so that's what Morgoth called me. For this little one here, his parents were named Glug and Greta, so definitely something that starts with a G."

Gladriel hadn't known Morgoth had been the one to give Adar his name. "Well, something with a G." She said. "Grendel, maybe?" She asked. Adar seemed to think about it. "Like the creature Beowulf fought?" He asked. "It's a name that means something, and sounds like its parents." Galadriel said. Adar nodded. "Then Grendel it is."