Slowly, Aradheleth's sleep caked lashes began to flicker, and her hazel eyes burned from the countless days of slumber as she opened them. As she tried to move from the immense discomfort, her body felt stiff and weighted as if it had become one with the bed she had been sleeping on. Indeed, it was a bed and not that decrepit excuse for a cot she had been laying on in the dungeon. She forced herself to rise on her elbows, and though her head spun dreadfully, she managed to keep herself upright. Once the web of her senses and thoughts untangled themselves she haphazardly wiped the crusts from her eyes with her silk sleeves. 'Silk?' her mind raced. Had she now faded from life into the Halls of Mandos? She could discern scents of jasmine and lavender, not the wretching stink of her own rotting flesh and filth. Surely she was dead.

"Well now, somebody took their time to wake up." The voice was snide with cruel sarcasm. Blinking hard, her eyes trailed to the origin of the voice, and she almost recoiled at the sight of her father standing near the end of the bed.

"Wait...wha...?" Her words tangled in confusion.

"Short version: you are not dead. Though that is unfortunate. I would show no such mercy to a brat as spoiled as you are."

Almost instantly she could feel tears of hurt sting at the corners of her eyes.

"I am your daughter. Does that really mean nothing to you?" Her gaze focused on him now as her lower lip began to involuntarily tremble at his harshness.

The Witch King groaned at her in exasperation. "Do you really want an answer to that?"

"Then, why don't you just kill me if I am nothing but a speck of dirt to you?"

"I would have more respect for the dirt as it has more use." His tone was flat, yet his cruel eyes were ever piercing. "You are no longer my property, and thus no longer my problem to deal with."

Aradheleth looked away from him to hide the pain in her expression, and the tears which now streamed down her bronze skin.

"I hate you."

"I do not care." He dismissed her. "You are as worthless as that pathetic creature that pushed you out. I will never be able to fathom as to why our master wanted me to keep the both of you. But here we are. And look at you, senseless and unfit to be his queen."

"Why are you even here? Just to insult me and my mother yet again?" She hissed at him.

"Because you never learn, do you? Nothing ever seems retainable in that thick skull of yours. How is it so difficult for you to be his obedient fucktoy? You have just one purpose and that is to keep your mouth shut and your legs open.

"I have been keeping my legs open, and quite wide for him, in fact. I have not yet once heard any complaint when my mouth has been open around his cock."

"Nor any praises..." Her father bit back. The actual truth in his words stung like a thousand thorns in her heart, and she slumped back against the bed end in defeat.

"I know how you serve him. Yet, he would get more satisfaction and obedience from a common whore."

"If that were the case, father," She hissed through gritted teeth, "I would not still be here, nor would I still hold a title over you."

"A worthless title."

"It is a title nevertheless. And one highly surpassing yours. Now get out before I show you your place in this tower." Came another chilling voice from behind.

The Witch King hitched his breath. "Master..." And he immediately obeyed. As he flung open the heavy-set doors, he glared back at his daughter one last time.

Aradheleth too immediately lowered her eyes as she began to shrink back against the furs and duvets. "Thank you..." Her voice almost choked. She felt a great fear in her heart at the sight of her husband, who now stood before her bed where her father had been. He eyed her with his amber gaze, and his deific features turned callous and cold.

"I must say, he was right that a common whore makes me more satisfied."

Her eyes widened in shock, and any form of brightness that may have remained in them suddenly snuffed out.

"Why would you say such a thing? You know well that I was untouched when you took me as your bride. You made my father even guarantee that."

A wicked smile of amusement crossed his thin lips. "Wife, perhaps one day you will be able to satisfy me as well as a common whore if that is what you wish."

Aradheleth's brow furrowed, and she did not bother wiping away the burning tears that now plagued her. "That is not fair..."

"Life is not fair, my dear."

"Then why do you keep me alive? Why not just be rid of me so you can dally with your damned whores?"

"Because keeping you alive infuriates your father, and I find that so incredibly amusing."

She could not quite comprehend why she burst out laughing then. Only when she felt him sit on the bed beside her did she stop, and it was then that she could feel the immense amount of tears she had actually shed.

"Why did you not let me die down there if I am worth less than a whore to you?"

"I never said you are worth less than a whore, Aradheleth. You just cannot fuck as well as one." Placing a lithe finger under her chin he lifted her gaze to meet his.

"During your preoccupancy, it occurred to me that I do not mind teaching you."

"Truly?" Her answer came to her as his lips caressed hers. The gentleness in it sent her into a warm and contented place; The ruins in Nurn, where they had kissed so passionately, and their bodies had entwined in such heated and fervent passion. Relishing in such memories brought that sweet, deep pooling in her stomach. Yet, no sooner did she feel like she could melt into it did a great agony threaten to rip her asunder. The snarling fangs that had glimmered in the crimson moonlight, those piercing amber eyes...

She yanked away from him then suddenly, shoving him harshly to clamber to the far end of the gigantic bed.

Straightening himself, he smoothed his tunic of onyx silk lined with silver brocades. "This anguish is of your own design. Maybe now you will have learned to do as you are told."

She looked down at her trembling hands as she had begun to wring them in her anxious state. "Why did you do that to me? I just wanted to see the moon and the stars... why was that so grievous?" She began to whimper. "Why did you do that?" Again she burst into tears and hid her face in her hands.

For a long moment, the Dark Lord watched her wail relentlessly without giving her a reply. Folding his hands in his lap, eventually, he sighed. "Do you not understand the gravity of your insubordination; Of how it appears to the hoards beneath us? Do not think that I revel in punishing you, Aradheleth. You need to be put back in your place, just like any other."

"But you mauled me! And not only that you..."

"You are still alive." He interrupted her. "There are many others that have committed far lesser crimes that cannot say the same of their fate. Be thankful that I changed back into this form when I did. Do not cross me again. It is that simple."

"Maybe I do not want to be here anymore..." She grimaced in response.

"Then would you prefer to be in Angband, with your father? For that is where you would be otherwise. And let me tell you, my darling wife, that he would want nothing more than to be rid of you."

"That would be for the best." She glowered, as she looked away from him again with a disdain that now drenched her heart.

The Dark Lord scoffed at her. "Stop being so melodramatic. It does not suit you."

"What do you expect?" She shot back with a fury in her eyes. "I am but a mortal woman! Of course I am fucking melodramatic! How would you feel if your spouse just told you that you do not fulfill even the smallest of his desires? But let us be honest, the concept of feeling and emotion is completely foreign to you!"

"You cannot be more mistaken." He answered, his tone calm.

"Then you better fucking show it." She seethed, her fists white and clammy as they clenched the sheets.

"When I deem you deserving."

"May I at least have my servant back?"

He looked to her plainly. "That may not be possible."

Aradheleth's throat clammed, the bile that raced up her esophagus burned her mouth like the molten lava of Orodruin. "She's... dead?" She finally managed as her mind began to race with panicked thoughts.

"Not yet, but that depends on you."

The wave of relief that rushed over her caused her heart to flutter wildly. She had not realized that fresh tears of joy had formed. "What must I do to gain her back, then?"

"That is yet to be decided." As he spoke, his gaze turned to the door. Aradheleth could discern a flash of anger within them. "Eavesdropping, are we? Then you may as well come back in."

Aradheleth's breath hitched at the sight of her father entering the room once more. She was sure she would not have had to bear his presence again, at least for that day.

Without even turning to her, the Dark Lord spoke without voice. Yet, she could hear.

"Think about the reason as to why I am going to do this, dearest wife." His blazing eyes continued to pierce those of her father, whom now, despite the hidden fear within, held his head up almost defiantly.

"I can hear the depths of Carn Dum calling their master home. It appears that Angmar is missing you." The Dark Lord spoke with a venom lacing his voice.

The Witch King's glacial eyes widened with an unexpected surprise. "Master...?"

"Your queen is tired of your presence. Now be gone."

The Witch King's eyes darted from his master to his daughter and back to his master once more. A snarl began to form on his lips as he glared at his daughter for a last time. "Tired...?"

"You will acknowledge your queen's demand." The Dark Lord corrected cooly.

Her father's nose wrinkled with disgust as his brow furrowed angrily. "As you wish... my queen." He seethed.

With a simple flick of his hand, the Dark Lord dismissed him. Swiveling around on his heels, her father stormed out.

"You are welcome, pinig." The Dark Lord leaned towards her and brushed a soft kiss upon her forehead.

Her heart ceased beating within her chest when he smiled gently at her then, his fingers finding their way to caress her cheek. Every emotion within her threatened to explode at that simple act of affection.

"Get some rest." With those words, he stood to take his leave.

Aradheleth scrambled to her knees and lunged towards him, taking his hand within hers before he had a chance to move further from the bed. Her hazel gaze was reddened once more with tears. "I am sorry I disappointed you... " She sobbed, clinging to him.

He looked down at her, and his expression was still one of surprising gentleness.

"Yilkiz will be with you tomorrow."