Full Circle

WARNING! Please note that the rating of this chapter has increased to "R". This chapter contains imagery that readers may find offensive and repulsive (that’s my goal!) Before you call me some sick twisted pervert, please note that most of these ‘scenarios’ are based on ‘historic accounts,’ and merely have been tweaked to fit the context of this story. This chapter explicitly describes ‘sexually deviant’ and ‘immoral’ behavior, but it is imperative to the story itself. If you are easily disturbed by such imagery, you can skip this chapter and still get the gist of the story, although it will not pack the same punch. I consider you people hereby warned. With that said, I now present for your reading enjoyment:


Chapter Forty-Two: Nightmares



The words of Fingolfin haunted Buffy’s thoughts since her return to the Gap. There was no doubt in her mind that the Doom of Mandos was already at work; someone within the House of Fëanor had to be the saboteur of the war machines. That also explained how Morgoth was able to obtain intimate information regarding the Slayer’s personal life. Until she discovered the identity of the mole, Buffy would refrain from sharing her ‘secrets’ with any save her closest of confidents: Maglor, Olofin, Úrion, Gúrchim and Thranduil.

After Dagor Aglareb, Buffy and Maglor had a heart-to-heart about their son and his promising future as a warrior.

“Indeed Olofin has proved his might in battle,” Maglor had told her one night while they lay in bed. “I didn’t expect to see such skill from our son.”

“I told you,” replied the Slayer, her voice filled with pride. “I was younger than him when I started fighting. Although surprisingly enough, I was bigger,” she added with a laugh. Her tone then turned very serious. “I would die before I let anything happen to Olofin, Káno. There’s no way on Eru’s green earth that I’d ever let anyone hurt him. I love him as I love all my children, and I’d do anything to protect them.

“But you have to keep in mind that he’s the son of a Vala, which makes him more special. Olofin is needed in this world as much as I am. He has a role to play in the great scheme of things, and that means fighting with me when the need arises. And at some point in time, he’s gonna do that on his own, we won’t be able to restrain him. It’s in his nature. He’s a Noldo for god’s sakes,” she said with a smile. “You elves have that whole wanderlust thingy going for you, Olofin will be no different. We must encourage him every step of the way in order for him to reach his full potential.”

“From now on, I shall be more supportive when it comes to our son and his involvement in combative situations,” he answered sweetly. “I guess I’ve been guilty of judging the book by its cover.”

Joy and bliss had returned to the Slayer’s Household once again. One thing that the war did show her was that the pass needed to be more secure; elves were not enough. It was at that time that Buffy suggested that they erect a large stone wall, fifty feet tall, in that most vulnerable spot in Maglor’s realm. The councilors all agreed with her idea, and on the following morning, the Noldor began their labors on constructing a wall that would span over twenty miles.

As the years rolled by, the Slayer continued to flout her sacred duties. She was unwilling to return to Folkvang and indeed turned a blind eye to the rumors that she heard in the east. Every time Buffy thought about returning to her magical realm, a feeling of woe encompassed every fiber of her being. That alone was enough to make her shuck her responsibilities.

It was one hundred years later when Buffy’s dreams were invaded by nightmares. Night after night, she experienced the same horrific visions. It became intolerable on the tenth night; the Slayer found herself wide-awake. She turned to Maglor, who lay on his side; his deep breathing indicated that he was still sleeping soundly. The clock on the wall showed that it was still early, three o’clock. There was no way she would be able to go back to sleep after experiencing such a nightmare.

Later that morning, after sunrise, the Slayer changed into a navy blue gown and a pair of sandals. While Maglor was in a meeting with his counselors, she sat at her husband’s desk, grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill, and wrote him a note stating that she had to leave in order to tend to ‘slayer business.’ She reached out the opened window and cut a single red rose. Before departing, she placed the flower on top of the letter.

Only a moment later, Buffy found herself amid the darkness, standing upon the shoulder of Orocarni, a few miles from a walled city. She looked around anxiously; no one was in sight. As she stood there, savoring the cool summer night, she began to sing softly to herself:


“Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone… ” *


Her song was interrupted by a voice that she wasn’t expecting to hear.

“It’s obvious that you’ve been spending far too much time with that minstrel elf. One would expect you, of all people, to tend to the task that has been assigned to you, instead of singing songs that serve no purpose,” said Sauron with a smirk.

The Slayer turned and faced Morgoth’s lieutenant. “Why did you summon me here?” she queried, the annoyance in her voice was quite obvious.

Sauron approached her, stopping inches from her face. “Since your only concern of late seems to be nurturing your half-elven son, I’ve taken it upon myself to send you visions of what your firstborn has been up to these many years.”

“You sent the visions?” asked a shocked Buffy. “How the hell did you manage to invade my mind?”

He placed a calloused hand tenderly on her cheek. “A kiss is never just a kiss,” revealed the evil Maia. Buffy slapped his hand away.

“Don’t touch me!” barked the scowling Slayer. Sauron merely chuckled. “Why don’t you take the whole Illyria thing up with Melkor and leave me out of it?”

The Necromancer walked a few paces, his hands clasped behind his back, as he looked upon the city below them.

“Once again, my Lord fails to heed the words of his most trusted servant - me! I’ve been watching Illyria closely since she departed Angband, and I’ve dispersed my spies throughout her kingdom in order to be kept apprised of all that transpires here in the east,” revealed Morgoth’s lieutenant before he turned, facing Buffy again. “She is preparing to challenge Melkor for the kingship of Arda, and we cannot allow that… ”

“You’re telling me that Melkor is just gonna sit back and let that happen,” remarked the disbelieving Slayer.

“My Lord chooses not to make war with his only child with you,” retorted a sneering Sauron. “She is his only link with you and he will not listen to reason.”

“And you think that I will?” she questioned.

“After we visit the lands of your firstborn, I deem that you will be able to talk some sense into my Master,” he replied.

“What makes you so sure that I’ll agree with your conclusion?” asked Buffy.

His wicked smile widened. “My dear Inanna, after you witness what I’ve seen, you yourself will rally your armies in order to bring about the end of Illyria’s reign. Wickedness runs rampant in her cities… ”

Buffy cut him off. “Cities? I thought she only had the one,” she remarked with confusion.

Sauron shook his head. “I see that you have given no thought to your beloved daughter in recent years,” snapped the evil Maia. “Yes, Illyria rules two cities: Numeira and Bâb-edh-Dhrâ. The latter is where her citadel, Vahla ha'nesh, is situated.” He pointed to the closest city, just east of them. “That city is Numeira and shall be the first one we visit.”

“What makes you think that I’ll willingly go with you?” she queried with her hands on her hips.

He smiled and walked back over to Buffy. “You desire to see what your daughter has been up to after all these years. In fact, you would love nothing more than to be reunited with her in the flesh,” answered the Necromancer with a sinister smile. A chill crept over the Slayer. Surprisingly, Sauron pulled off his cloak and wrapped it around her shoulders. As he fastened the clasp around her neck he said, “It is important that you come with me… unless you wish to see Illyria bring an end to all humanity.”

Buffy pulled the cloak tightly around her; she was unable to shake off the chill. “Let’s go,” she responded.

Morgoth’s lieutenant smiled. “Stay close to me and no harm shall come to you,” he said as they started walking down the slope. “These folks do not take kindly to strangers, so we’ll need to exercise caution.” The Slayer found his words to be most disconcerting.

“What do you mean by that?” inquired Buffy uneasily.

“You shall soon see, my dear Inanna, you shall soon see,” came his reply.

Sauron took her hand and they both disappeared. They reappeared only a moment later in an alleyway of the city. Buffy had no idea what the time was other than it being night. She assumed that she had experienced something similar to crossing multiple time zones in ‘modern’ times. The chill that she had felt was soon replaced by a feeling of dread making Buffy reluctant to leave the alley. She was frightened at what she might encounter around the corner. Evidentially, the Necromancer noticed her apprehensiveness.

“You have nothing to fear, I swear,” reassured Sauron as he placed his hands on her shoulders. The Slayer locked eyes with her enemy; his eyes were filled with compassion. “Be not afraid, my Lady. We are here merely to observe, nothing else. We do not want to draw any unwanted attention to ourselves.” He rubbed her shoulders encouragingly. “Are you ready?” he queried. Buffy’s mouth felt so dry that she could only nod her head in response. “Come, then,” he added, as he linked his arm with hers. She did not pull away, and as a matter of fact, she felt better knowing that Sauron was with her.

They left the alleyway as the lieutenant explained that there were different neighborhoods within Numeira. They were in the poorest part of the city where the dregs of society reside. The only visible light was from the oil lamps that hung on iron poles along the street, which cast the entire area into eerie shadows. The odor alone were enough to knock the Slayer out, it was a mixture of alcohol, vomit, urine and death. She tightened her grip on Sauron’s arm.

As they made their way along the street, they passed another alleyway from which the muffled cries of a child could be heard. The Slayer could not pass by without helping the youngster. She ran down the darkened alley and nearly crapped herself when she came upon a boy, no older then eight, molesting a girl about the same age. A look of horror was on Buffy’s face. She grabbed the boy from the back of his tunic and pulled him off the girl.

“What the hell do you think your doing?” the Slayer demanded, her disgust apparent.

The little half-naked girl leapt to her feet, kicked Buffy hard in the shin and shouted, “Mind your own business, harlot!” The girl then fell to her knees and began performing oral sex on the boy. The Slayer was appalled. Never, in a million years, had she ever thought that she would encounter something that disturbing.

“You can have a taste too, if you like,” remarked the grinning boy to Buffy. She was absolutely stunned by the youngsters’ behavior.

“Come, Inanna,” said Sauron as he grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the alley. “Let the ruffians continue their acts of depravity.”

“This is normal?” questioned Buffy, her body trembling from the shock.

“You haven’t seen anything yet,” replied Sauron. The sight of those two children fornicating in that darkened alleyway was forever imprinted in the Slayer’s mind. She wished beyond anything to return to the sanctity of her own home, where lewd deeds like that were non-existent. “Are you alright?” questioned her companion with concern. He gently rubbed her back.

“No,” she replied solemnly. Buffy couldn’t imagine seeing anything worse than what they had just encountered, but Sauron was correct when he said that she hadn’t seen anything yet.

“Come,” he said as he took her arm again. “Let us get to Lutz’s home. It is not far from here.”

Sauron led her through the shadows, up one street, through an alley before they headed down another road. She freaked when they passed by the ‘meat market.’ In the storefront windows, young children, bound, hung from the rafters. Not only were they still alive, but chunks of their flesh were missing and some of their arms or legs had been cut off and had been sold as ‘meat.’

“They are considered a delicacy,” remarked the evil Maia when he saw the look of revulsion on Buffy’s face. “You can see where they cauterized their flesh to stop the bleeding,” he continued as he pointed at the dimly lit window. “The mortals prefer their flesh as fresh as possible.”

“We’ve got to do something,” cried out a disheartened Buffy. Her first impulse was to rescue those poor children.

“There is no point,” said Sauron matter-of-factly. “What kind of life can they have? These people cannot afford to visit the healers and already disease runs rampant in these parts. Those children’s bodies are riddled with infection, can you not smell it?”

“That’s beside the point,” argued the distraught Slayer. “We can’t just leave them hanging there.”

“Their fate is sealed, death is imminent,” replied the evil Maia. He couldn’t understand why Buffy wanted to help those people. “Listen to me,” said Sauron as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her, attempting to bring her back to her senses. “Evil is as evil does. The severity of their punishments must fit the crime. There is no hope for these degenerates. Leave them be.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the window. The sickened Slayer broke free from his grasp, ran a few paces, before she vomited in the street. Her body continued to tremble from shock, her face had become pale and clammy. The Slayer’s head began to throb painfully.

Buffy wiped her mouth on the cloak, tears spilling from her eyes. “I can’t do this, Sauron. It’s too much,” she cried.

“You must call upon your strength, Inanna,” instructed the evil Maia. “We cannot go until you’ve seen it all. When you’re ready to tell me it’s time to make war with these people, then we’ll go, but not before.” He took her hand once again. “We must hasten our pace,” he added as he escorted her down another street.

“I can’t believe this,” she mumbled under her breath, shaking her head. They passed very few people, which Buffy found surprising. Before long, they crossed a courtyard and approached a two story stone home.

“We’re here,” informed the evil Maia before he knocked on the door of the house. “Lutz is a servant of Melkor’s; you will be treated with honor here.”

The door soon opened a crack; an eye peered through the gap. “My Lord,” said a voice that was both deep and gravelly. “Please, come in,” the man continued as the door swung open, filling the stoop with light.

“Lutz,” greeted Sauron with a nod as he had the Slayer enter the house before him. When the door had closed, the Necromancer introduced Buffy to Lutz. “This is the Lady Inanna; I don’t believe you have met her before. Inanna, this is Lutz; he is both noble and trustworthy.”

The man fell to his knees, as did the other four people in the house. “My Lady, the Mistress of Angband, I welcome you to my humble abode.”

“I’m not the Mistress of Angband,” declared the Slayer, still reeling from the horrors that she had already witnessed.

“I’m afraid that Inanna is not feeling too well… ” disclosed Sauron to Lutz.

“Oh my, we can’t have that now. Please, have a seat, and we’ll see if we can remedy the Lady’s ailment,” said the man kindly.

The maidens of the house brought Buffy a basin of clean water and a cloth. With quivering hands, the Slayer submerged the cloth in the water, squeezing out the excess before washing her face. She felt feverish.

“Wine?” queried one of the women.

“Oh god, yes. Thank you,” replied the Slayer as she took the silver chalice from the woman’s hand. “Just leave the bottle,” she added before draining her cup in one gulp. Lutz then handed Buffy a dose of tonic to help her headache; she eagerly drank it.

“As you can see, Lutz, Inanna is quite disgusted by what we’ve encountered so far,” remarked Sauron as he refilled Buffy’s chalice. “Give her your report on what’s been going on in Illyria’s kingdom, for she is the only one with the power to put an end to it.”

Lutz then went into a tirade about the goings-on in both Numeira and Bâb-edh-Dhrâ. Buffy sat there with her face in her hands as she listened to those most disturbing tales of woe; each more horrific then the previous. She couldn’t believe that mankind had fallen so far from the grace of Eru. The atrocities that were happening in these cities didn’t even happen in Angband, which Buffy considered Hell itself.

“The seed of Man has been tainted,” started Sauron after Lutz had finished speaking. “As you’ve seen and heard, wickedness rules here from the eldest to the youngest. None are free from it.”

“No,” protested the Slayer with a shake of her head. “There’s gotta be some good here. There’s no way an entire race of people can fall under such a dark shadow.”

“It is all they know; debauchery, cannibalism… ”

“NO!” she interjected. “I can’t believe that.” She continued to shake her head in disbelief. “There has to be some good here. There have to be some righteous people,” contested Buffy, thinking of those from the house of Brolach.

Sauron laughed at her words. “I’ve been watching these lands for many, many years, my dear Lady. I would bet my soul that you cannot find one righteous person in these lands. Not one!” The evil Maia sympathized with the Slayer. He knew that she had never dealt with anything remotely similar to their current situation, but he knew that she needed to know, no matter how much anguish it caused her. “Your daughter allows this to happen. She cares not for the welfare of men as long as they submit to her will,” added Sauron.

“And you’re telling me that you do? You care about mankind?” she queried skeptically.

“I care what they are capable of, yes. As long as they are under the sway of Illyria, they will spread their disease of degeneracy like a plague throughout all of Middle-earth. I don’t want my people behaving in that manner, and I’m evil! We must end this once and for all. We must unite, Inanna. We have no other choice.” Buffy sensed the desperation in the Necromancer’s voice. “Mankind only cares about sating their desires, whether it be their lust for flesh or wealth. It’s an abomination, Inanna; you can see that, can’t you?”

The alcohol was thankfully taking effect on the Slayer. “I hate to say it, but I haven’t seen enough to declare war on these people. I mean, yeah I’ve seen some perverse shit, but I’m afraid that I’m not totally convinced, yet. She took a sip of wine before asking, “Where are the barbarians now? We didn’t see many in the streets.”

Lutz, who was a shape-shifter, glanced at the clock on the mantle. The time read half past one in the morning.

“Well, I deem that most of the city-dwellers are taking part in the nightly ritual referred to as The Offering. It entails sacrifices in the name of… ”

Buffy held her hand up, stopping Lutz mid-sentence. “I… I don’t wanna know,” she stammered. “I’ve heard enough.”

“Enough to make war on mankind?” queried Sauron anxiously.

“We have to find the good people and get them out first,” advised Buffy.

“I’ve already told you that there are no good people here,” argued Sauron, his frustration growing. “There are only degenerates, degenerates of the most heinous kind. They’ve all been corrupted. Death is the only appropriate punishment, Inanna.”

Their conversation was then interrupted by loud banging on the front door. Lutz rose from his seat and peeked outside from behind the curtain. “They’re here,” announced the man worriedly.

“Who?” asked Buffy.

“The townspeople,” he replied as the persistent banging echoed throughout the sitting room. “They must know that you’re here.”

“What do they want?” queried Sauron as he too, got to his feet.

Lutz glanced at both the Maia and Buffy before replying. “They want you both. Can you not hear them?”

Buffy followed Sauron to another window. Both glimpsed outside. The courtyard was filled with nearly two hundred people. Many of the men were either nude or their breeches were pulled down to their ankles exposing their erections. The women’s behavior was no better than the men’s. They were bare-breasted with their skirts hiked up above their waists, revealing their ‘wares.’ The two small kids that the Slayer had witnessed screwing in the alley earlier were among them.

“Bring them out!” shouted the group.

“Let us delight in the pleasures of their flesh,” yelled one.

“I want the fair, dark-haired one,” shouted another fellow, referring to Sauron with that comment.

Buffy’s jaw hung open as she saw a wild orgy unfold before her very eyes. Two women were taking turns performing fellatio on a mule while a man inserted his penis in the animal’s rear. Children were fornicating with each other as well as adults. All the while, the people shouted what they wanted to do with both Buffy and Sauron.

A few women then pushed their exposed breasts against the windowpane, in an attempt to entice the occupants to come out. Men were masturbating themselves and each other. It was the vilest thing that Buffy or Sauron had ever seen in all their lives.

The sickened Slayer retreated into the sitting room just as a brick came flying through the window, striking her on the left side of the head. She fell to the floor, her head bleeding profusely. The overzealous crowd began smashing out more windows as Sauron ran to Buffy’s side. The Maia grabbed the cloth from the basin and pressed it to the disoriented Slayer’s injured head.

“Keep out of my house!” yelled Lutz as he pulled out a club and began beating the people that tried to climb in the window. “I’ll let you have my maidens if you go away,” offered the man.

“We don’t want them. We want fresh meat,” said a woman who was halfway through the window before Lutz knocked her out.

“I’ve had enough of this,” said an angry Sauron as he went to the door. He threw it open and stood there in his most menacing form. “Wicked children of Illyria,” he proclaimed in a terrifying voice. “You have assaulted the mother of the King and shall be punished accordingly. You long for the darkness, then so be it!”

The Necromancer unleashed his powerful magicks upon those depraved people, blinding every last one of them that stood in the courtyard. Chaos ensued outside the doors of the house, most people ran around the courtyard like rabid beasts, while some continued with their sexual deviant behavior until they found their release. Sauron’s spell was successful in that the inhabitants of Numeira no longer harassed those that remained within the house of Lutz.

The evil Maia slammed the door before returning to the Slayer’s side; Lutz had just finished tending to Buffy’s wound. “How are you feeling?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

“I’ll be okay,” replied the Slayer with a sigh. “So much for not drawing any unwanted attention.” They sat there for a few minutes listening to the frenzied cries of the townspeople.

“I deem that the time has come for us to leave Numeira. I think that you’ve seen enough of this city,” proposed Sauron, before turning to Lutz. “Under the circumstances, you and your maidens should return to Angband. Inanna and I must travel on to Bâb-edh-Dhrâ.”

Before Sauron and Buffy left, Lutz provided them with some food and drink for their journey. The Slayer was already hungry, but very anxious to leave that evil place. She longed to come face-to-face with Illyria, and deep in her heart, she knew that that time was drawing near.

Only twelve miles separated the cities of Numeira and Bâb-edh-Dhrâ. Exactly midway between them was a large solitary hill, its sides were steep yet the top was level and barren. Along the bottom were scattered ash trees, and it was there that Buffy and Sauron reappeared as opposed to the city of Bâb-edh-Dhrâ itself.

“Let us rest here and refresh ourselves before we enter Illyria’s city,” proposed the evil Maia. They sat beneath a tree and ate a basic meal consisting of dried pork, bread, cheese and grapes. They spoke very little as they ate. Both were deep in their own thoughts. As the sun rose brightly in the morning sky, Sauron was ready for them to proceed on. Before they left, Buffy removed the bandage from her head. She was dismayed that she had streaks of blood in her hair.

“Let’s walk a while,” suggested the Slayer. “I’m not ready to jump back into the thick of things just yet.” Morgoth’s lieutenant agreed. He knew that Buffy was having a hard time processing all that she had witnessed so far.

When the twosome reached the outskirts of the city, they clasped hands before disappearing. They materialized only a second later within the walls of Bâb-edh-Dhrâ. That city appeared to be more civilized than Numeira. Of course, that was merely an illusion. Sauron assured her that many obscene and immoral deeds took place within the walls of that city. They only difference were the class of people. Here dwelt the hierarchs of Illyria’s kingdom; most of them were former residents of Angband.

Bâb-edh-Dhrâ was quite different from Numeira in many ways. For one, it was fairer. Every building that Buffy could see was wrought from white stone; the facade of many had impressive reliefs, covered in gold or silver. As Sauron and Buffy passed by them, she noticed that many depicted Illyria’s victorious battles with the dwarves. That explained the dwarvish influence on their architecture.

The military presence was extreme. It became clear that Illyria was like her father in one way: she ruled with an iron fist. There were guards stationed every ten feet throughout the city and along the wall that surrounded it. The duo passed by a few wide-open squares where both men and demons were practicing drills. It appeared that the Slayer’s firstborn was indeed preparing for war.

With so much security, it was not long before they were stopped and questioned by a mortal guard. Buffy couldn’t help but notice the five-rayed star on the front of his jerkin.

“I do not recognize your faces,” said the man as he scrutinized them with his dark eyes. He grabbed the Slayer by the arm and looked at her left wrist. “I do not see your identification mark!” barked the guard, squeezing her arm tighter.

“What is this, 1939 Berlin?” mumbled Buffy under her breath.

“You are strangers to Bâb-edh-Dhrâ,” said the guard gleefully, a sinister twinkle in his eyes. “I take it you have not laid on The Bed.”

“Bed?” queried the Slayer nervously. “What bed?” She glanced at Sauron. “What’s he talking about?”

“I’ll take care of this,” the Maia told Buffy before turning his attention to the guard. “This is Inanna Luinil, mother of the King, and I advise you to remove you scummy mortal hands from her person before I snap your neck in two,” warned Buffy’s companion in a contemptuous tone. The fire within Sauron’s eyes caused the man to tremble in fear. His eyes darted from Sauron to Buffy and then back to Sauron again. The guard stuttered an incoherent apology as the evil Maia added, “Take us to the King.”

“Right away, Lord,” said the man before blowing a series of notes on his horn. Soon a dozen armed demon guards arrived followed by a Balrog, whom Sauron had known well at one time.

“Hail, Sauron,” greeted the beast of flame. “Many long years have passed since we’ve last seen each other. How goes it, my old friend?”

“It goes well save in your city, Noreg,” replied the Necromancer with scorn. “One would think that old friends and the mother of the King would be treated with respect instead of enmity.”

“My apologies to you both,” proclaimed the Balrog with a slight nod of his fiery head. “I bid you welcome and greetings from the King. It is with great honor that I accompany both the King’s mother and her noble escort to the mighty fortress of Illyria, Vahla ha'nesh.”

As they started walking down the street, Buffy turned to Sauron and asked, “What’s the deal with that bed thingy that guard was talking about?”

“It’s a torture device used on strangers in these parts,” explained the evil Maia. “It’s somewhat similar to the racks that we have in Angband. One is placed on a platform and stretched to fit what they refer to as ‘The Bed.’ If they are too long, then the legs are cut to the appropriate size. Whatever the outcome, a lottery is held, and the lucky winners get to inflict any type of punishment on the victim.” Sauron smiled at the thought; the rack was one of his favorite torture devices.

Buffy gave the Necromancer a scornful look, but didn’t comment. She had to remind herself that Sauron was the personification of evil; he was no better than Illyria or the people of Numeira. He may have treated her kindly in the past eleven hours, but he was still fighting on the dark side. And the idea of aligning with evil against another evil, seemed evil in itself to the Slayer. She wondered if her people would willingly unite with the forces of Morgoth in order to take out Illyria. It had become clear to her that Illyria needed to be dethroned, but her daughter’s forces were by far greater than any that Buffy could muster. It didn’t help matters any knowing that she would have to depend on Morgoth and his minions. Her gut told her that she couldn’t place too much faith in either of them. The Slayer knew there was a possibility of them turning on her after Illyria’s defeat, that is, if her firstborn could be defeated.

As the group approached the magnificent mammoth halls of Illyria from the east, Buffy couldn’t help but notice a pavilion set up on a swath of green grass that adjoined the citadel. Her jaw dropped and her stomach became queasy when she noticed five human infants on a spit, roasting over an open fire. A man was busily basting their crispy flesh, which actually smelled like pork, making the Slayer even more nauseous.

She averted her eyes to a weird looking contraption that stood just outside of the pavilion. There were two large, heavy wooden poles (that actually went a couple of feet into the earth,) with a large crossbar that ran along the top from one pole to the other. It somewhat resembled a large doorway except for the fact that there were two metal eyelets that hung from the crossbar, to which a thick leather harness was attached. Buffy could not fathom what that device did.

“What’s that?” she asked Sauron in a mere whisper, pointing to the odd contraption. “Is it some kind of torture device?” The evil Maia attempted to restrain his laughter, but with little success.

“You would think so, wouldn’t you,” chuckled the Necromancer. Buffy looked at him blankly; she really had no idea what it was. “Many of the ladies of the court cannot have their lusts sated by man alone, so they turn to the stables for a substitute.” The Slayer continued to stare at the evil Maia with vacant eyes. He sniggered and shook his head before he continued. “You are naive, aren’t you, my dear Inanna. The horse is harnessed into that device so that it’s forced to stand on its hind legs allowing the woman to… ”

Comprehension finally dawned on Buffy. She stopped Sauron mid-way through his explanation. “I don’t want to hear any more,” she said as the blood drained from her face. She couldn’t believe how perverted these people were. And the fact that her own daughter allowed that shit to go on in her land infuriated the Slayer even more. Illyria’s reign had to end, one way or another.

They were climbing the steps of the citadel, when Buffy felt faint; her nausea becoming more pronounced. She fell to her knees and threw up all over the white marble steps. When she had finished retching, she unsteadily got to her feet, her head began to spin, and the Slayer lost her balance. As she started to fall, Sauron caught her in his arms. She had fainted.

“Inanna? Inanna?” Buffy could hazily hear the evil Maia calling her name repeatedly. “Come back to me.” When the Slayer finally opened her eyes, she was laying on a bed within one of the many bedchambers of Vahla ha'nesh. Sauron was pressing a cool, wet cloth to her face and neck. “There you are,” he continued in a soothing voice. “I didn’t mean to make you ill.”

“It wasn’t you… for once,” she replied as she sat up, pushing the hair off her face.

“Here you go, my Lady,” said one of Illyria’s demonic healers as he handed her a cup. “That shall settle your stomach.”

The Slayer eyed the contents warily. “What is it?” she asked as she looked at the green monster that stood there licking his fangs.

“It’s my own concoction,” replied the demon. “It’s mostly water with a little additive that will help you feel better.”

Buffy handed back the cup, it probably contained lymph fluid or something. “Actually, I feel better. Thanks any way.” She looked at Sauron with pleading eyes. “Where’s Illyria?” she asked, ready to get the hell out of that room.

“She’s in the Great Hall,” answered the Necromancer. “Are you ready to meet with her?”

“More like turn her over my knee,” murmured the Slayer as she climbed out of bed. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Good,” replied Morgoth’s lieutenant. He linked her arm in his. “Lead us on then,” he said to another demonic creature.

“This way,” said the huge black figure in a deep voice before they followed him from the chamber.

To Buffy, Vahla ha'nesh seemed like a cross between Khazâd-Dum and Sussrúmnir. It was huge and all the ceilings were at least one hundred feet high. There were no carpets on the floors and with each step, the sound seemed amplified. Even the whisperings of Buffy and Sauron reverberated throughout the long and wide, sparsely decorated passageways.

They came to a halt outside two enormous doors covered in gold. In the center of each door was a five-rayed star inlaid with diamonds. The sunlight from the windows shone on the gemstones creating a rainbow of colors that contrasted with that stark environment. Buffy found it to be rather beautiful.

A moment later, the doors swung open, and there on her throne atop the dais sat Illyria in all her demonic glory.

“Someone’s been eating their Wheaties,” mumbled Buffy under her breath. Sauron looked at her with a confused expression. “Never mind,” she answered off his look. “You’d think that at some point I’d stop making references to things that you people have no clue about.” Morgoth’s lieutenant merely shrugged his shoulders.

“Enter,” bellowed the King of these parts. Illyria was very much how Buffy remembered, only bigger. Much, much bigger. Even seated, the Slayer could tell that her daughter had to be nearly fifty feet tall. She and Sauron looked like ants by comparison. They proceeded into the long narrow room with many squared columns on either side. Armed demon guards were stationed between the columns and were garbed in full military regalia.

Illyria’s brilliant blue eyes remained fixed on her mother as Buffy and Sauron approached her throne.

“Illyria,” started the Slayer, not sure what to say. “So, how’ve you been?” she asked in an attempt to make with the small talk.

The blue demoness continued to stare at her mother, her tentacles moved about her, making Buffy extremely uncomfortable.

“I sense your displeasure at my physical appearance,” said her daughter.

“No, that’s not true,” replied a slightly taken aback Buffy, her cheeks flushing. “You’re just… bigger than I imagined, is all.”

“I would expect that my maternal parental figure would not have the gall to lie to my face within my own halls,” stated Illyria, her eyes still locked on her mother. Buffy felt her face go even redder, she opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. “And you,” she began as she turned her eyes to Sauron. “How dare you bring my mother here in an attempt to oust me from my throne, servant of Melkor!” declared Illyria in a menacing tone as she rose to her claw feet. “Be gone! I do not wish to endure your presence any longer. You may wait for Inanna elsewhere.” The monstrous blue form that was Buffy’s daughter stepped down from the dais, the sound of her claws against the marbled floor echoed in the enormous chamber. “All of you… leave! I wish to speak with my mother alone,” she added as her tentacles continued to flow like waves around her.

Buffy gulped as all the King’s minions and Sauron quickly departed the chamber. The tension in the room was heavy and the Slayer was nervously anticipating a sudden attack by her daughter. Every single synapse in her body was going off simultaneously. Mother and daughter continued to stare at one another as the doors to the chamber slammed closed. A long tentacle then speedily shot out at Buffy, wrapped around her tightly, before lifting her high off the floor. Even though she was trapped within Illyria’s clutches, the Slayer did not struggle to free herself. She did her best to maintain her composure under the circumstances, hoping that her daughter wasn’t about to eat her (the thought did cross her mind.)

“You do not fear me,” declared Illyria as she brought her mother closer to her face. She cocked her head to the side before adding, “You are very small.”

“Yeah, believe me, I feel it at the moment,” remarked Buffy as she looked down at the floor. “Hope you don’t let go of me, looks like a long way down from up here,” she added before turning her glance back to her daughter.

Illyria’s piercing gaze scrutinized her mother carefully. “I do not wish to bring any harm to you,” she said after a few moments of silence. She placed Buffy back on the floor; her tentacle then slithered back and joined the others in waves of motion.

“I appreciate that,” replied Buffy as she smoothed out her dress. “I didn’t come here to fight you,” she added as she craned her neck, looking up at her daughter.

“I could feel no weapon,” answered Illyria. “I do not believe that you are comfortable speaking with me as I am.” As soon as the words came out of her mouth, Illyria’s form changed right before Buffy’s eyes. The Slayer’s mouth fell open when she saw that her daughter looked exactly like her except for the blue streaks in her blonde hair and on her body.

“Wow!” exclaimed a mystified Buffy. “You look so much like me.”

“I can change my shape at will,” answered her daughter, who was even dressed in the same gown as her mother. “Father says that I get that from you.”

“Maybe,” replied a still stunned Buffy. “Listen Illyria,” she started again. “I’ve been throughout your kingdom and let me tell you, it’s kinda creepy out there. Do you have any idea what the mortals are doing?”

Illyria bypassed her mother and walked to one of the tall windows. “They are nothing but vermin. Let them kill each other for the amusement of my court. I care not,” responded the blue Vala as she glanced at the river that meandered west of her Halls.

“See, that’s where we have a problem,” countered the Slayer as she joined her daughter by the window. “My mission is to protect them.”

Her daughter turned to her, studying her intently. “They are creatures of little worth,” argued Illyria.

“Not to me,” answered Buffy firmly. “This can’t go on, Illyria. Man deserves to be free…”

“Man was nothing when I found them,” replied her daughter in a hostile tone. “They are my slaves to do with as I wish, for I am King of Arda.”

“I hate to burst your bubble but Manwë Súlimo is King of Arda,” informed the Slayer. “Not you, nor your father.”

Illyria frowned at her mother. “If Uncle wishes to hold the title of King then he must defeat me first,” declared Illyria. “My forces are greater than any in the world. I have an army of over a million and a half men. Do you?” she queried with a slight grin on her face. “I’ve conquered the east and now I turn my eyes to the west. After all Middle-earth is under my dominion, I shall then unleash my forces on Valinor and end the reign of those who wish to claim lordship over this world.”

Buffy shook her head disappointedly. “It’s not gonna happen. I won’t let it happen,” answered the Slayer, attempting to keep her ire under control. “I brought you into this world, Illyria, and I can take you out of it. The next time we meet, it’ll be war.” The Slayer then turned and started walking off.

“You are abandoning me yet again,” cried out her firstborn. Buffy could hear her footsteps following her. She stopped and faced her daughter. “All I ever sought was your love and approval… and now you desire to thwart my plans for world domination. You should join me, fight by my side as so many of your offspring have already done.”

The Slayer placed her hands on Illyria’s cheeks. “I didn’t abandon you, I fled from your father,” she started. “There’s a difference. I love you Illyria, no matter what form you possess, but I will not stand idly by while you destroy the people of Middle-earth. You behave like a spoiled brat, but that’s not wholly your fault. I wasn’t there to teach you… teach you right from wrong.” She kissed her daughter on the forehead. “My stance will not change, not even for you. Farewell.” Buffy turned to leave once again.

“I will kill you, mother!” shouted Illyria after her. “None will stand in my way.”

Buffy pushed the doors open and made her way out of the citadel. She found Sauron speaking with a group of demons on the steps of the fortress.

“Let’s go,” she said as she continued to descend the stairs.

“I take it that you’re ready to wage war against Illyria,” stated the evil Maia when he had caught up with her.

“I’ve got to muster my forces first. That’ll take me some time, but it shouldn’t be too long,” she replied.

“Come to Angband when all is ready,” advised Sauron. “I will eagerly await your arrival.” He looked at her with empathy in his eyes. “You’re doing the right thing, Inanna.” The Slayer nodded in reply before Sauron disappeared.

Buffy hated the thought of fighting her daughter, but she knew that it had to be done. It was as Sauron had said, the evilness in those parts would spread like a plague over all of Middle-earth. And she couldn’t have that.


*lyrics by Paul Simon