Anniera was woken early the next day by an ork pounding on her door, yelling for her to meet Saruman immediately. She figured that there was something urgent he needed her to do, so she went to the throne room in her nightgown. When she arrived, Saruman was pacing the floor but he looked up when she entered. "Yes Master, what is it?"
Saruman gazed at her for a moment before answering. "We are going to be hosting a very important guest. While he is here, you are to attend to all of his needs and stay by his side unless he bids you otherwise. I suggest you to show the utmost respect to our visitor. He will be arriving mid-afternoon, but you should probably prepare his room early, just in case." Anniera nodded and ran off to get changed and prepare the best guest room.
Next, she dressed in her newly cleaned black dress and tied back her hair with the same black ribbon. Because Anniera was going to serve an important person from Minas Morgul, Saruman gave her a silver circlet with a black stone in the middle to match the rest of her attire.
This is said circlet.
If ten o'clock was mid-afternoon in Minas Morgul, the visitor was perfectly punctual. Only five hours after Anniera was alerted of the coming guest, he arrived. Thankfully, she had finished preparing the room so there was no need to panick, right? The guest only arrived on Fellbeast shrouded in a dark cloak and heavy metal armor an exceptionally unnerving ... helmet? He dismounted from the creature with ease as Saruman approached and greeted him warmly. The visitor wasn't having any of this 'beating around the bush' business, and instead bowed slightly and followed the Maia into the tower. As he strode into Isengard, Anniera's eyes widened as she noticed that there was a long sword strapped to his waist.
All these things she observed through a window in the tower where Saruman had directed her to stay. Apparently, she was to stay out of site until called for from the throne room. Anniera watched the creature as it was led away to be housed and gasped as it snapped at an unsuspecting ork, eating it in one bite. She hoped that there would be no need for her to go near that thing.
She turned back to the door leading to the throne room when she heard voices coming closer. Her keen elvish ears picked up the sounds, but she dared not ease drop. It was ten minutes later of waiting in nervous anticipation when Anniera finally heard Saruman summon her. She took a deep breath and opened the small servant door to the left of the throne. Anniera did exactly as Saruman had instructed earlier, she kept her gaze on the ground and said nothing as she walked to where the wizard and the visitor stood.
"This is Anniera. Anniera, this is our guest, the Witch King of Angmar." The girl curtsied slightly, looked up at the Witch King for a brief second, then returned her gaze to the floor. Even though Anniera was young in years, she was not ignorant, she knew who the Witch King was. Already, the girl felt the piercing gaze of the Nazgûl as he quietly examined her. "My Lord..." Saruman began. "I will show you where you will be staying." The wraith nodded and followed the wizard out of the throne room, waving a dismissive hand at Anniera when she tried to follow. That was the 'return to and stay in your room until called for' signal. The child obeyed and patiently waited to be summoned. Meanwhile, the Witch King and the Maia entered the quarters and discussed a vague idea of what the Nazgûl would do before Saruman took his leave and the Witch King ordered an ork to send the girl over with a drink.
A few minutes later, Anniera carried a tray with a silver goblet down to the chamber of the Witch King. In the cup was some kind of... red fluid. It has a slightly higher viscosity than wine and smelled rather pungent. The sudden thought that the liquid was blood ran through the girl's mind and she almost dropped the tray. She calmed herself and reasoned that it just couldn't be blood. By now, the shock of discovering that the guest was actually the Witch King of Angmar had gone. It was replaced by a feeling of terror, for this wraith had a less than optimal reputation.
Anniera arrived at his room far too soon and gingerly knocked. In response, the door swung open of its own accord, spooking the girl slightly. The Witch King was sitting in an armchair by the unlit hearth. The wraith looked up as Anniera made her way to him, and she hoped he didn't notice the goblet shake slightly as she trembled in his presence. Slowly, she knelt next to the chair and picked up the cup, offering it to him. He took it, but set it down on the adjacent table instead of drinking from it. Anniera realized that her hand had not moved from where she handed over the drink, but when she began to withdraw it, the Witch King suddenly seized it with his gauntleted hand. The girl froze, unsure of what to do, half risen from the floor.
Anniera's small frame was dwarfed when compared to the Witch King's. He towered above her like Isengard over an ork. Remembering Saruman's advice not to stare, the girl quickly adverted her eyes to the floor, but her gaze was lifted when the Witch King tilted her chin up to examine her face. The Nazgûl's unseen gaze swept over the small child and came to rest at her sparkling violet eyes.
Anniera was unsure of how to react. Obviously, she should not try to remove herself from the Witch King's grasp, but she remained undecided on whether to say something. For now, the Nazgûl seemed determined to study her face, so she made no move or sound to disturb him, fearful of awakening an unwanted wrath. Several minutes of uncomfortable silence past before Anniera was released. She straightened and waited in a corner of the room for further instructions while the ring wraith remained stationary. Finally, he rose and strode to the bed. Sitting on in he began to meditate, clearly communicating with Sauron. Anniera remained where she was, not dating to move an inch, not even to sit down.
The girl waited almost three hours. She was almost falling asleep on her feet when the Witch King rose and left the room. Anniera, acting as his servant, followed a few steps behind, still waiting for some job. She followed the wraith around the tower for ten minutes, before he finally turned to her and said, "Lead me to the throne room."
Anniera was happy for something to do and quickly navigated her way back to their destination. Upon arriving, the girl stopped and stood by the door while the adults spoke to each other. Saruman broke the silence first. "Can you tell if it's true enough to warrant a test?"
"Yes." Replied the Witch King. "A test will be nessasary.
Anniera felt the pit of her stomach drop when both subconsciously turned their gazes to her. By the graveness in the Maia's voice, this test didn't sound like a optimal thing.
YOU ARE READING
Through the Lies
FanfictionAnniera thought she would have a normal life in middle earth. Sure it wouldn't be exciting, but peace was never a bad thing. Her parents were loving and her sister was kind to her. What will Anniera do when she discovers the dark secret that is abou...