I call him father


'Mae govannen Alastegiel' My Ada greets me. I bow my head in respect for him and sit down in wooden chair next to the fire. 'I have a quest for you my daughter' He speaks in the Western-tongue. 'Yes Ada' I say respectfully and cast my eyes to the floor.

'You shall visit Imladris by invitation of Lord Elrond' He explains as he rises from his chair and walks towards me. He takes my chin in his hand, so I have to look at him. But I know this is a test so I lower my eyes. 'You look so much like your mother' He says but I can hear the hatred in his voice. He releases me. 'Go and make yourself useful, until you can go. I have a visitor' He snaps at me. I nod quickly and stand up, the hem of my skirt is stuck under the leg of the chair. I can steady myself before I fall to the floor. I hastily make my way out of his chamber and go up to my own quarter.

When I look down out of the window, I see a horse, riding at full speed towards our gate. I can see a figure with a big hat, a grey hat.

Mithrandir!

Shall I?

I run back at Ada's room and hide behind a massive pillar. I hear the doors of the gate open with a sound and close again. Hastily Mithrandir is making his way up the stairs. When he passes me, I can hear his heavy breathing. 'Smoke rises once more from the mountain of doom ... the Shadow takes shape in the darkness of Mordor; the hour grows late and Gandalf the Grey rides to Isengard seeking my council' Ada says as he walks out of the door. 'For that is why you have come, is it not, my old friend?' Ada asks him with a sweet voice.

Too sweet as you ask me.

Mithrandir moves quickly towards him. 'Saruman!' He shouts and looks around. 'I have something to discuss, only for us to hear'

'My daughter is in her chambers and my servants are nowhere to be seen. Speak Mithrandir'

'I prefer the gardens Saruman' Mithrandir pleads. Ada sighs. 'Alright'

The two of them walk toward the garden. I know I shouldn't. If Ada catches me, my punishment is going to be worse than before. But I have to know, maybe it has something to do with Imladris! 

I sneak after them and hide behind every pillar and rock or tree I see.
Growing up with a father as Saruman learned me to hide in plain site, I have taught to be still and silent and only speak when I am asked to. But it has its advances.

They walk between the blooming flowers and the beautiful trees of my home as Ada looks at Gandalf in disbelief. I was too much in thought to hear the beginning of their conversation. '

'Are you sure of this?'

'Beyond any doubt' Mithrandir says with a heavy voice. 'So the Ring of Power has been found?' Ada says, keeping his excitement in. 'All these long years, it was in the Shire, under my very nose!' 'Yet you did not have the wit to see it. Your love of the Halfling's leaf has clearly slowed your mind' Ada scolds him.

We still have time! time enough to counter Sauron if we act quickly!' Mithrandir points out. 'Time? What time do you think we have?' Ada cries out and he quickly turns around, rushing back to the tower with Mithrandir on his heels.

Valar! He is going to see me!

Luckily I am not that tall and I am agile through the years of training. Quickly I climb in the nearest tree and I breathe out as they walk past. I wait a couple of minutes and then climb down and rush after them.

I take my original place behind the pillar near the door and it is just my luck that the left the door open. I peek inside, but Ada is not sitting in his central chamber, but in the smaller one nearby. Shall I?

I sneak inside and hide behind Ada's chair. 'Sauron has regained much of his former strength. He cannot yet take physical form but his spirit has lost none of its potency. Concealed within his fortress, the lord of Mordor sees all. His gaze pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh. You know of what I speak, Gandalf, a Great Eye, lidless, wreathed in flame.'

'The Eye of Sauron' The grey wizard says softly. 'He is gathering all evil to him. Very soon, he will have summoned an army great enough to launch an assault on Middle earth' Ada explains.

'You know this? How?'

'I have seen it' Ada says and I hear that they stand.

No! No!

I know where he goes! As fast as I can, I run back to the pillar. Just in time, because they are now in the central chamber, walking to the stone plinth where the Palantír lies. 'A Palantír is a dangerous tool, Saruman' Mithrandir warns Ada. 'Why?' Why should we fear to use it?'

'They are not all accounted for, the lost Seeing-stones. We do not know who else may be watching' Mithrandir says a bit annoyed. I hear shuffling and someone sitting down. 'The hour is later than you think. Sauron's forces are already moving. the Nine have left Minas Morgul'

'The Nine?' Mithrandir sounds shocked. 'They crossed the River Isen on Midsummer's Eve, disguised as riders in black' Ada explains further. 'They have reached the Shire?' Now he sounds alarmed.

Ada shrugs. 'They will find the Ring and kill the one who carries it' Now I hear someone running to the door, but the slam shut.

What?

I run to the door and listening carefully. 'You did not seriously think a Hobbit could contend with the will of Sauron? There are none who can' Ada adds. 'Against the power of Mordor there can be no victory. We must join with him, Gandalf. We must join with Sauron. It would be wise, my friend'

'Tell me, friend, when did Saruman the Wise abandon reason for madness?' Mithrandir says on a deadly tone. I hear a loud blast and something slamming against the wall.

They are battling!

No!

'I gave you the choice of aiding me willingly, but you have elected the way of pain!' Ada shouts. I hear a loud blast and then silence.

The doors slowly open.

'Ego!' (Dammit) I curse under my breath as I run on my toes to my own chamber. 'Daughter, how many did you hear?' His voice is hard and sweet like honey. Goosebumps appear on my body.

Please, Ada. I can't lie, because he already knows. I know it.

'I heard everything Ada' I whisper. 'Louder!' He shouts at me. 'Everything, I heard everything'

Ada points his staff at me and mumbles something. Suddenly my feet aren't on the floor anymore but I am flying in the air. He walks back into his chamber, me flying behind him. He sits me down in the chair I sat before this morning.

'Do not move' Ada hisses as he walks away.

The night is fallen quickly and Ada is busy with the Palantír. His hands cupping the massive stone. ]]The power of Isengard is at your command, Sauron, Lord of the Earth' Ada whispers. I can hear a harsh voice, but in a language, I do not understand.

Ada does.

The doors open and a orc approaches.

Seriously Ada, an orc?

How could you sink this low?

'What orders from Mordor, my lord? What does the Eye command?' He asks in his ugly voice. 'We have work to do' Ada turns to me. 'And you. I can't have you running back to Imladris.. you know too much. I wanted to protect you, to send you away. But you were too curious. Just like your mother!' He sneers the last part. He flicks his staff and I am flying again. He walks down, to the dungeons I notice. One orc is guarding an iron door. He laughs at me and I spit on the ground before him.

'foul creature!' I snap, but Ada slaps my cheek. 'Silence'

The orc opens the door and Ada flicks again with his staff and pushes me inside. He mutters something under his breath and my hands are bound with a rope.

'I am curious how long you shall survive this darkness' Ada laughs sinister and the heavy door closes. I pull against the ropes with all my might. "Don't bother" a thin voice says. I look up to discover a thin girl bound with the same rope. Although it was dark, I could see her bruised eyes and bloody wrist.

"I already tried Beatrix"

****
Alastegiel is the elvish name for Beatrix.

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