Serafina the Grey (Book 3 of the Daughters of Durin Trilogy)

Prologue

The broken figure of a woman thrashed with pain, alone in the dark ambiance of the Shadow Realm. Her stomach was greatly enlarged, which was probably why she laid on her back. It was clear she was very weak from several wounds across her body; her thigh oozed a great deal of substances, and various other gashes were bleeding on her forehead and arms. Those were much more recent, unfortunately, because her captor had not been so lenient with her insubordinate nature. She cried out many times with the pain her abdomen was giving her; her legs grew farther apart from each other as the time wore on.

Clutching her stomach with her hands, she moaned once again, tears streaming down her face. Contorted with pain, her visage showed that she was having great difficulty with her task. Whether from the chains on her shackles or her injuries, the woman was in enough pain for one day.

"She will be the death of me," The woman muttered to herself. "Quite literally."

Crying out again, she had more contractions. The baby was now crowning. Still, no one was there to help her deliver. After all, who would actually reside in the Shadow Realm? She would have to be strong for her child. She would have to do this alone.

Soon after a final fit of crying, screaming, and thrashing, the baby was born. A beautiful baby girl met her eyes, who also wailed it's tragic song. Her eyes were as grey as the moon in the outside world, much in contrast to the mother's own crystal blues. And once their orbs met, they both stopped their crying, and the child looked up to her mother with such wonder and light. She realized that her daughter's eyes had a force within them that she had not felt for a long time; hope. Letting out a light coo, the girl's lips seemed to curl into a smile at the sight of her mother. She laughed at the child softly, resembling a relieved sob, and pulled her closer to her chest.

But then, a dark figure entered the Shadow Realm where the family resided. The smoke around from whence he came fell to the ground, where the bottom of his black robes kissed the earth. His high height of over eight feet towered over the cowering mother, who turned her daughter's face away from the darkness. Upon it's arrival, she had begun to cry again.

"How long has it been since you came last?" The mother choked out. "No help has come from yourself. You did this to me! I deserved some respect during this hour!"

"Then it is such a shame, seeing as I have none to give. Not to you, Aria."

Aria slowly stood with the child in her arms, her small dwarven stature being no match to his own. "What a shame it is that you are her father. What a shame it is that she must suffer with you holding her captive, as you have done to me."

"As long as it seems to have been to you, the days have not passed as they seem to here. The Shadow Realm works in mysterious ways. It has only been three days since I last came to you."

"That is not possible."

"But it is, my dear. For me, anything is possible."

Then, the child turned her head away from Aria's chest, meeting the dark figure for the first time. Her swirling, stormy grey eyes sized up the man, but did not yet see him as a threat. She had stopped her post-labor lament. At this notion, the hooded silhouette walked closer to them, his heavy footsteps echoing throughout the darkness. The child had entranced him.

"We meet at last..." A black, tendril-like finger reached out to graze her cheek. "My child."

"Do not touch her!" Aria had become more than defensive and gripped her child tighter. "You have no right to even gaze upon her! She is too fair, too beautiful and vestal for you, Sauron."

He only laughed at the mother's outburst. "Still resilient as ever, I can see. But, you must never forget... she is my daughter, Aria. I have every right to her."

Whipping his hand upwards with his robes cascading around him, Sauron lifted the baby out of Aria's arms, causing her to scream in anguish. The child settled into his arms, for she did not know of what danger she was in. She remained indifferent and undisturbed, and a ditzy smile still laid on her fragile countenance.

"No. Please, I beg of you, please do not hurt her! I have no more threat to give! Please..." She whimpered, her arms outstretched as if she was still holding her daughter.

"Oh no, Aria, I do not intend to hurt her. My only wish is for her to become great, to live out her true destiny beside me. And that is why I must take her away from you. You will only be a thorn in her side, Aria. She cannot flourish with you. I am her best chance at success. Her and I will be unstoppable together. Won't we?" He directed the last question towards the baby, his bedecked, crowned head lowering to see his child. She giggled and cooed in response, much to her mother's dismay."Yes, my child. Yes, we will."

"No..."

"My little Serafina."

And so Sauron took his leave, disappearing with Serafina in his arms and leaving Aria alone as she once was, sobbing with a great sorrow at the loss of her first child.

...

How's the first part going? Are you enjoying? Vote and comment if so! I will see you all very soon.

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