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She was in the middle of struggling to uncuff herself with a chicken bone when she first heard the screams outside the hut, dawn light seeping in through the makeshift walls. She made haste, letting out a sigh of relief when it finally clicked open.
She grabbed the nearest sword and hurried to the open doorway.
That was when she saw him.
It was Halbrand, yet it was not. He was different, yet the difference was not in the long blonde hair, or in his attire. It was in his eyes. He wasn't there. He was distant, cold. He was not the man she had come to know.
And there, in front of a rock with Morgoth’s crown, was Adar, almost smiling, almost glad to see him.
As he unsheathed his sword, Galadriel realized how she had been used. This had all been a ploy. He had used her as bait to get Sauron out of Eregion.
He had seen through her lies.
What did he promise you?
An army.
He had seen through her. He knew how easy it was to get close to Sauron, to give in to his temptations. To fall in— the clash of swords brought her back to herself. Galadriel watched as their swords danced, herself unable to move, as though frozen by Forodwaith ice.
Even if she could have, she would not have attempted to help Adar. It was not worth the risk of him stabbing her in the back at the first chance.
And yet she was going to have to face one of them. Whoever won this duel.
So she watched.
For a while, it seemed like an even playing field. But while Adar became clumsier and slower, Sauron became faster and more aggressive.
Despite herself, Galadriel gasped when Sauron finally struck him down, the sword stabbing Adar through the chest.
Adar fell to his knees, muttering something up to Sauron, something Galadriel could not hear. And yet, she could tell the words were said with love and reverence.
They had both fallen for him.
Sauron rolled his head and shoulders before swiftly turning to meet her gaze. He had known she was there the whole time. She had known it too.
As she stared at him, her mind could not tear the Halbrand part away from him. His eyes had changed. They were familiar now.
Galadriel wondered if he would go in for the attack first. But he did not. Instead, he merely smirked at her, walking to Morgoth’s crown, set on a stone like a pedestal.
That was when she snapped out of it. This was Sauron. This was her only chance. What would Elrond say? The thought finally broke her out of her reverie, out of her frozen state.
She ran for him, lifting her sword for the attack just as he picked up the crown.
It all happened so fast. He was masterful with his sword, using the crown to entangle the swords, rendering both of their attacks useless.
“Galadriel,” he muttered, rolling the r.
Everything broke inside of her. All her defenses, all of her willpower.
No matter how much she fought to hold her emotions back, she could not help her sob. And though she could not stand the thought of him seeing how much he had hurt her, she had not the power to hide it.
She barely put up a fight when Sauron cast the mess of crown and swords away.
When he stepped towards her, she found herself stepping back, tears warm on her cheeks. Don’t give in.
He was looking at her with that tilted head. “You do not fear me Galadriel. Enough with the theatrics.”
I do not fear you, I fear myself.
He smiled. “I know.”
“Get out of my head.” Galadriel could barely breathe. She was face to face with the enemy. And yet also Halbrand. She had no weapon, laid bare and vulnerable like never before. “Why have you done this?”
“Done what?”
Galadriel looked around her. “All of this.”
“The destruction is Adar’s work.”
“You are a liar.”
“That, I am not, Galadriel.”
“You are a deceiver.”
That made him smile. “That, I am.”
“You are a killer.”
He rose his eyebrows. “I am.”
“You are a manipulator.”
“I am,” he stepped up quickly this time, before she could react. “And so are you, Galadriel. You deceive as I do. You kill, as I do. You manipulate as I do. Unlike me, however, you also lie. I am you, Galadriel, mirrored, and you know this to be true in your heart. Just as you know that Halbrand was real. Just as you know that I never promised you an army, but a place at my side, as my queen.”
He paused before leaning back and looking around the barren place. He walked around her and she watched him.
Something was happening. His face was transforming. No.
Look away.
She could not tear her eyes from him.
He is deceiving you. Look away!
The way Halbrand was looking at her, with such reverence.
“When I was at your side, I was satiated. I was enough. I was free. I was free of all burdens. Of my past. I had found my equal, willing to set aside whatever evils I had done. It was you who deceived me.”
“No.”
“I feel it still, Galadriel, and so do you. Do not deny it.” He moved closer, taking her shaking hand in his, placing it upon his chest. His heat spread like flames from her fingers to her heart. “Be at my side.”
Galadriel yanked her hand away. “Never. You are waging war against my people. You destroy all you touch. You will never—”
He grabbed her hair, pulling her head back. He was lightning fast, lips at her ear, almost grazing her cheek.
“Galadriel.” She closed her eyes, feeling his smile. She did not fear death at his soft hands. The only thing she feared was herself. “I have seen your mind, your dreams. The way those memories appear every time you touch the ring. I know what it is you want. You desire. You need.”
Her whisper was quiet but resolute. “My answer will always be no.”
“We'll see about that next time.”
He lingered at her cheek. The temptation to believe in him, to believe in Halbrand was stronger than ever.
She opened her eyes to meet his, close as a hair's width, his hot breath on her face.
“Next time,” he smiled, lips almost grazing hers.
He was gone before she could blink.