The Light Between Our Scars | Adar x Galadriel | Rings of Power

Chapter 1: Nenya

Warm rays of sunshine illuminated the clearing in the woods. The orcs could be heard shouting somewhere in the distance, breaking the silence. No bird singing or insects buzzing were audible, and the peaceful trees seemed unaware of the horrible massacre that was taking place in Eregion.

In the center of the clearing, Adar collapsed to his knees, an immense sense of bliss pervading his body and soul. He grasped the nearby fallen tree, and held his breath.

His hand.

It was white, young. Healthy. The gray tone and scars on his skin had disappeared, and the fingers looked gentle and fine. A ray of sunlight hit Nenya while he was slowly moving his hand, incredulous of what just happened. The ring shone with a new splendor, almost blinding his sight. Adar gasped. Nenya should have given him the power to destroy Sauron, not this. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the flame that used to burn in his chest from a past age. Where had all that pain gone?

His children.

His care and love for them had not disappeared, but was different. He was perfectly aware of what they were. Orcs. Horrendous beasts that inspired disgust and fear in every creature of Middle-Earth. But still his children, his own descendants. A deep feeling of pity and love warmed his heart. He would stop violence and hate; he just had to bring his children to Mordor, where he would create a home for them. They needed peace, and they would not be enslaved anymore. 

Suddenly an image crossed his mind. Urgent, painful. A vision he couldn't see with his eyes but that still felt real. He saw his first attendant Glûg facing him with a dagger, but what was he doing? He seemed to... The noise of a squad of orcs invaded the clearing, detaching him violently from the vision. Adar stayed still, laying on the fallen tree, showing his back to the orcs. They would not understand his Elvish appearance now. 

"Lord-Father. We captured the Elf " the guttural voice of the orc trembled in disgust as he uttered the last word. He would gladly see her nasty red blood flow through the soil, and the burning sunlight of the clearing, after the dark of the forest, heightened his violent impulse.

"I bet you haven't captured her... she turned herself in, didn't she?" Adar felt that familiar feeling of respect that only Galadriel could inspire in him and continued: "Leave us".

The orcs grunted, lowering their heads, but didn't move.

"Leave us" the voice of their Father was peremptory now.

While the orcs walked away into the forest, casting questioning glances at each other, Galadriel stood where they had left her, gazing at Adar's back. The Commander of the Orcs was an enigma to her. She couldn't forget the terrible violence he personally committed in the Southlands before the creation of Mordor. The scared eyes of those tormented humans, the acrid smell of the smoke and the fires after the explosion of the volcano, the death and suffering he left behind. And still... Adar was so strangely respectful with her when she was in his captivity. He offered her dinner, even. It disgusted her; his dark eyes seemed so dangerously aware of each of her deeper thoughts. He has always been one step ahead of her, she painfully had to realize on that occasion. But then... the tears on his face when he saw the fallen orcs were a surprise for Galadriel. Did that Uruk have a heart? Not one of these tormenting thoughts was of help, and she was determined about what she had to do, so she quickly started talking.

"I accept your terms, Uruk. I have what Sauron seeks - the nine Rings to enslave the men. End this slaughter and I will help you destroy him". 

Galadriel's musical voice, still so harmonious after all the torment and violence, was pleasant to Adar's ears. "How do you expect to destroy Sauron without your Ring?" he calmly asked.