Artíre's Revenge by WendWriter

Chapter 11

Artíre stood a short distance away, confused by Beren's behaviour. What was the point of that foolish howling and rocking? If the Man would only listen to him, he would be brought to safety. If nothing else, Sauron would be made to look foolish because one of his werewolves was dead and the weakest of the prisoners was now free. Why would the man not come? Did he want to remain down there, to be devoured by another werewolf?

A strange sound rent the air. What was that? It sounded like Elvensong, a Song of Power. Had another Elf-lord come? The Watcher went to investigate just as the roof of the cavern collapsed.

Lúthien stood on the bridge that led to Sauron's isle, Huan of Valinor, the wolfhound of the Valar, at her side. As she finished her song, she heard Beren sing one in response, a song of challenge he had made in praise of the Seven Stars, the Sickle of the Valar that Elbereth had hung above the North as a sign for the Fall of Morgoth.

When she heard his voice, she sang a song of greater power, and the isle itself trembled. Ceasing her song, she listened intently for the sound of Beren's voice to call forth again, but she heard nothing. Standing there with Huan, she waited for some sign of her lover, but the only sign of life was a wolf approaching her with a menacing growl.

Huan seized it by the throat and flung it over the bridge. Another soon arrived and was dispatched the same way. Wolf after wolf approached, and all were thrown into the gully by the mighty wolfhound.

Artíre the Watcher heard Lúthien's song and trembled. He had no idea who she was, but since the roof had just collapsed, it was clear to him that she was here to challenge Sauron, perhaps to destroy him. He crept up to the bridge to see what was happening, and saw a werewolf tumble down. Huan of Valinor was there. Artíre trembled. Had Oromë the Hunter, Huan's master, come to Tol-in-Gaurhoth to contend with Sauron? Torn between the desire to see what was happening and fear of the wrath of the Valar, Artíre stayed where he was for the moment, making himself as small as he could, straining to hear any indication that he was being hunted, or that more of the Valar were on their way.

Sauron stood at the front window of his tower regarding the scene at the bridge. He had heard of the daughter of Melian. The idea of an Elf siring a child on a Maia was outrageous to him. That Melian would so degrade herself that she would unite with a lesser being appalled him, but when he beheld Lúthien and saw how she and Huan defeated his werewolves, he began to think of her in a different light. The idea of handing her over to Melkor occurred to him - surely his reward would be great!

As the werewolves were defeated one by one, Sauron became more and more enraged. How dare this woman challenge him? He sent Draugluin, the lord of the werewolves, to attack her and to bring her to him dead or alive.

Lúthien stood on the bridge, near the middle. Looking around, she could see the devastation she had wrought with her song. Captives who had been kept in the dark had begun to emerge, fleeing into the night. The Elf-maid remained where she was, for Beren was not among them. She could not bear the thought that any harm had come to him, but her heart told her he still lived.

Another werewolf came towards her, older and more savage than the others before it. Huan crouched ready to spring. The werewolf approached the hound cautiously, as if weighing the likelihood of surviving the encounter. Lúthien stood firm, unafraid of this monster. Huan would dispatch it as before.

The werewolf came to a halt, glaring at them with evil eyes. He looked from the maiden to the hound, apparently waiting for something to happen. They merely looked back at him, waiting for him to move. He growled low and fiercely, hoping to terrify them, but they stood resolutely in their places. Leaning back, he let them see his long yellow fangs, which he snapped together threateningly.

Huan launched himself at the werewolf, snapping as he went for its throat. Lúthien watched anxiously as the two of them rolled around the bridge, growling and snapping, biting each other when they could. The battle raged for more than an hour, with neither combatant gaining the advantage. Finally Huan managed to pin Draugluin down and tear a lump out of his shoulder. Bleeding badly, the werewolf fled.

 Lúthien remained where she was. She knew there was one more foe to face, and she wanted to choose where the confrontation would occur. Surely Sauron would not flee? Would she not make a worthy gift to present to his master? The lady waited for the Deceiver to show himself.

Draugluin dragged his bleeding body into Sauron's audience chamber and collapsed in front of his master. "Huan is here!" he gasped. Shuddering, he died where he lay, his blood spreading in a pool on the floor.

Furious at the defeat of his werewolves, Sauron cast a spell that transformed Draugluin's body into a host for him. He added strength and power to the beast's form, making it larger and stronger than Draugluin had been and went to face the maiden and her dog. He would make them pay for every loss, then he would hand them both over to Melkor for his pleasure. The reward for this would be great, and afterwards, he might be able to study this strange creature who was half Elf, half Maia.

He rushed out towards them and sprang upon Lúthien. Huan leaped aside. The maiden fainted.

As Lúthien fell, a fold of her enchanted cloak fell across Sauron's eyes and he stumbled for a fleeting moment. Huan seized the opportunity to attack him, and they howled and bayed as they snapped and rolled in their violent battle. The Elf-maid quickly recovered and as she stood up again, she beheld the fight between Huan and Wolf-Sauron. It seemed for a while that Sauron might win, but Huan refused to be defeated and eventually seized Sauron by the throat and pinned him down. The Deceiver shifted shape from wolf to serpent, but Huan would not release him. Sauron tried every spell he could think of and switched to every shape he had ever worn, but Huan retained his grip on him.

"Release me, Elf-witch!" Sauron ordered Lúthien. "Else I will call my army of Orcs to destroy you!"

"What army?" the Elf-maid replied, laughing at Sauron's arrogance. He was not in a position to threaten anyone.

"The Watchers on the walls of Ered Wethrin," Sauron retorted. "I will call them and order them to slay you both! Release me at once and I will let you escape!"

Lúthien laughed again. Perceiving Sauron's fear of death, she declared, "Let his ghost be sent quaking back to Morgoth, Huan! There everlastingly your naked self shall endure the torment of his scorn, Sauron, pierced by his eyes, unless you yield to me the mastery of your tower."

The Deceiver hesitated for a moment, apparently weighing his options. Clearly, he knew that the shame of this day would follow him into eternity, but he had no choice. If he was to be killed by Huan, he would be diminished. Sauron's confusion was written all over his face. "So... you have bound me to this form, Witch!" he snarled. "Very well, enjoy your moment of victory - I give you the tower. Take it for all the good it will do you - for you shall not hold it for long!"

Huan released Sauron, who immediately took the form of a vampire, great as a dark cloud across the moon, and he fled, still dripping blood from the wound in his throat that Huan had dealt him.

Taking a moment to savour her victory, Lúthien declared her power and called on the stones that held the building together to collapse. All the pits were laid bare and the gates thrown open. Prisoners long kept in captivity were released and came groping into the moonlight, but Beren did not come forth.

"Beren! Beren! Where are you?" Lúthien called, but there was no answer.