ASHGAZ REUNITED WITH KHAMUL

Narrator: *It is the early morning of March 27.... 9 days after Khamul was wounded. Khamul still sleeps, having nightmares. He lies upon his bed at Lugburz, unseen by mortal eyes but seen by Ashgaz*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz returns from Angmar's court having received permission to see Khamul*
Ashgaz: *He peers into the bedroom*
Khamul: *In the Wraith world he wears white robes and his ring is upon his finger... it is gold with designs of leaves of green and gold stones*
Khamul: *He mumbles in his sleep* Ghaash agh bumbullaum (Fire and thunder)
Khamul: *Over and over he says in his sleep* Fiilu Manwe-ob skaat-izish-ur..... (The eagles of Manwe are coming for me)
Khamul: *The sleep is not the sleep of mortals but a strange sleep that cannot be comprehended by the living.... he is almost in the spirit world completely... his body having suffered so much damage*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz can't help but feel heartbroken at his master's torment*
Ashgaz: *Though he has dreaded returning to Mordor, he has been looking forward to seeing his master and has been worried about him*
Khamul: *His robes in the spirit world cover him completely but if they did not, Ashgaz and other creatures of the spirit world could see a faintly glowing silver mark upon Khamul's thigh*
Ashgaz: *He can't forget the risk Khamul took to deliver him from the Witch King's tortures...right now it blocks out the memory of the Morgul blade
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz walks to the bed*
Ashgaz: Master, wake up! You're dreaming!
Ashgaz: It's only a dream.
Khamul: *Khamul screams in his phantasmagoric sleep* Hon-izg nazg dump-ob... Valinor-ishi... fauth-ulu-izg-ur.... dûmp-izish-ur.... uku....
Khamul: (I can see the Ring of Doom in Valinor... they come for me)
Khamul: (Doom and eternal punishment)
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz recoils, then his eyes begin to sting. He returns to the bed*
Ashgaz: *He calls up to Khamul* It's not real
Ashgaz: It's only a dream. Wake up!
Khamul: *Khamul seems to be beyond hearing anything. He thrashes in the bed*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz wipes his eyes*
Ashgaz: *He pulls a chair over to the bed*
Khamul: *He hears Ashgaz, but cannot reach out through the darkness*
Ashgaz: *He climbs up onto the chair to be at eye level with Khamul as the bed is high*
Khamul: Get away from me, Foul Spirit of Starlight!
Ashgaz: I'm not a Spirit of Starlight
Khamul: I will not go with You! Do not touch me!
Ashgaz: I'm Ashgaz.
Khamul: Stay away, stay away Foul Spirit!
Khamul: You come, you come to take me to Mt. Taniquitel
Ashgaz: No, that's not real!
Khamul: Madurz! Madurz! Where are you!
Ashgaz: It's just a dream!
Ashgaz: *looks around frantically to see if Madurz happens to be nearby*
Ashgaz: *maybe Khamul would be able to hear her*
Khamul: I hear the steed of Orome coming for me in war, and the thundering feet of Tulkas
Khamul: Ashgaz! Why have you left me!
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz is stricken dumb for a moment*
Khamul: Madurz! Madurz! My dearest love! Why have you abandoned me?
Ashgaz: *then he says* Master, I'm here, I'm Ashgaz!
Khamul: And left me to these Powerful Ones who plan my doom!
Ashgaz: Madurz is here in Lugburz too.
Khamul: I see Madurz now, and Ashgaz, through the gloom... They are far away, in Middle Earth
Khamul: They are on the Anduin. Why, why?
Ashgaz: We were looking for you!
Ashgaz: And then we were trying to get back to you.
Ashgaz: But we're here now.
Ashgaz: We made it back.
Khamul: I know You Lady of Starlight! Your Light sears my vision!
Khamul: They drive me mad with their faces!
Khamul: Their eyes shine and are horrible to behold!
Khamul: Madurz, Madurz, Ashgaz!
Ashgaz: Master, there's no one here but me!
Ashgaz: I'm Ashgaz, I'm here
Madurz: *she had been with the witch king for most time and asked for a leave to go to her room..without escorts..she passes the hall where Khamul was and nears his door*
Khamul: *Khamul is rambling... Seeing things that are not there. He thinks he is in Valinor before the Valar*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz wants to do something but doesn't know what to do.*
Khamul: *he stops thrashing in the bed and sits up and looks at Ashgaz*
Madurz: *she hears the voices...they seem tense...uneasy...she opens it with concerned expression*AshGaz! my love?!
Khamul: You are Mandos come for me
Ashgaz: *shakes his head*
Khamul: You wear dark, and have a hood... you come, to take me away to the Ring of Doom
Ashgaz: No, Master, I'm Ashgaz
Khamul: Help me!
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz puts his robe aside*
Khamul: *he trembles*
Madurz: *she rushes to his bedside*
Ashgaz: *Now he looks like Peter Bracegirdle the hobbit in the wraith world*
Khamul: Manwe and The Lady of Stars
Khamul: It is not time!
Khamul: Let me stay
Khamul: *he falls back in the bed, exhausted*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz loses his inner battle and tears up*
Madurz: *to her she sees nothing....she reaches out to feel for his hand*
Khamul: Why am I here in the Ring of Doom to be judged? What crimes have I committed?
Ashgaz: He's there, Madurz...he's lying back now.
Khamul: *And then he sees a circle with all the Valar upon their thrones... pointing fingers at him, stern looks upon their faces*
Ashgaz: *shakes his head despondently* I don't know what to do for him!
Madurz: *her heart feels heavy*
Ashgaz: He's having horrible dreams and he won't wake up!
Khamul: *they can hear him breathing*
Khamul: My leg, my leg, the pain, the pain! Come to me Madurz
Madurz: *she reaches and finds his shoulders and places her hands gently upon them*
Khamul: And save me from these Powers
Madurz: i am here my love..i am here
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz has been wanting to take his master's hand, but he is afraid that Khamul would think the Valar were laying hands on him to take him away*
Khamul: *his breathing becomes slightly more relaxed... He opens his eyes and looks at Ashgaz*
Ashgaz: *Hopes Khamul will actually see him this time*
Ashgaz: *looks back hopefully*
Madurz: *her hands are gentle and warm...she can feel him relax*
Khamul: Do not judge me, Mandos! Do not judge me!
Ashgaz: *sighs*
Ashgaz: I am not Mandos, Khamul
Khamul: *his eyes seem unseeing to Ashgaz*
Ashgaz: I'm Ashgaz
Madurz: Khamul my love its Madurz
Madurz: and Ashgaz
Madurz: we are here
Ashgaz: *sighs and looks at Madurz* I don't know how many times I've told him who I am
Ashgaz: He doesn't see
Khamul: Mandos.... do with me as you will, but I will not change!
Khamul: Though you break my fea into pieces and scatter it into the void, yet will each piece remember my Master Sauron!
Madurz: *reaches her hand out of Ash's*
Khamul: *Then he sees Ashgaz*
Ashgaz: *squeezes Madurz' hand*
Khamul: Ashgaz....?
Ashgaz: *surprised gasp*
Madurz: *smiles*
Ashgaz: Master, do you recognize me?
Khamul: Aye....
Khamul: *But then he stumbles back into the visions*
Madurz: *her eyes well with tears*
Khamul: Mandos! I will not submit my will. I will not change though endless ages pass!
Madurz: no
Ashgaz: *his tears of relief turn to tears of frustration again*
Ashgaz: *He runs his hands over his face*
Khamul: *With his own innner exorcism of the demons that plague him, he realizes once again the face of Ashgaz*
Ashgaz: *and looks back at Khamul with pity*
Khamul: Madurz?
Ashgaz: *notices he is lucid again*
Madurz: my love..yes
Ashgaz: Madurz is here
Ashgaz: *nods toward Madurz*
Madurz: *she takes his hand*
Khamul: *he seems very fatigued, with the inner struggle that he just endured*
Khamul: *he clasps her hand in his*
Ashgaz: And I'm here...do you still recognize me?
Madurz: *she falls to her knees by the bed so that her face is closer to his*
Khamul: Madurz, you have come to me in fell visions but now you come to me as you are
Khamul: I recognize you both
Madurz: *she slowly brings his hand to her lips*
Ashgaz: *lets out such a sigh of relief that he sways on the chair*
Madurz: *tears streak her cheeks*
Ashgaz: *He moves to sit on the bed*
Ashgaz: *He smiles at Khamul*
Khamul: Always my lady, your touch brings comfort
Khamul: *A bare trace of what could be a smile comes over Khamul's features*
Khamul: Ashgaz, bring me some wine!
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz bursts out laughing*
Ashgaz: Right away, Master
Madurz: *smiles against his hand*
Khamul: See you be quick about it
Ashgaz: *Things must be back to normal now!*
Madurz: *kisses it*
Khamul: And some for my lady
Ashgaz: Aye, I'll be right back!
Khamul: I am still weak now
Ashgaz: *is back with the wine in no time, for a change*
Khamul: Ashgaz, hold the wine to my lips for I am weak
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz pours Khamul a glass of wine*
Khamul: *he sits up propping his back against the headboard*
Ashgaz: *then climbs back onto the bed next to Khamul*
Khamul: *His leg pains him and he touches it*
Ashgaz: *He lifts the wine to Khamul's lips*
Khamul: *he sips it weakly*
Madurz: *she sees only indentations on the bed*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz gives him an encouraging smile*
Khamul: *he tries to smile at Ashgaz, though he feels his face would break in shards of ice if he did*
Khamul: *he looks at his hand that rests upon his leg*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz looks too*
Khamul: *He sees his ring*
Khamul: My ring?
Madurz: *she listens*
Ashgaz: The Lord must have given it back to you.
Khamul: Yes, there is only One who could put it on my finger
Madurz: *she smiles*
Khamul: *with the wine he feels better*
Khamul: More wine. I have a great thirst!
Ashgaz: I'm sure you do
Ashgaz: You've been asleep for nine days!
Ashgaz: *gives him more wine*
Khamul: Has it been that long?
Madurz: *nods*
Madurz: too long
Khamul: You have been away from me so long, Madurz
Khamul: And Ashgaz
Khamul: You will have to tell me what has happened in that time
Ashgaz: Madurz has been very worried about you, I'm sure--though I only just returned
Madurz: it has been agaonizing..and we have gone though much
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz gently squeezes Khamul's hand*
Khamul: *Khamul thinks.... ah he shows his hobbit nature once again*
Khamul: *But this time he will not chastize him for his joy is great at being back*
Madurz: my love take my hand..let me touch your face
Khamul: *he reaches out for her hand*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz anticipates that Khamul will want more wine, so he gets another glass*
Khamul: Ashgaz, I will not ask if you missed me for I know you suffer at your servitude
Madurz: *she eases her hand to his face and strokes it and closes her eyes, smiling*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz turns back and looks at Khamul* *sighs* Master, don't say that
Khamul: *If mortal eyes were to see the scene, it would be a strange one indeed. A woman sitting beside a seemingly empty bed... two voices emitting from it*
Ashgaz: I do suffer, but...but I missed you too.
Madurz: he has
Ashgaz: You have made it so much more bearable for me.
Ashgaz: Did you know, the Third just wanted to buy me!
Khamul: Do not expect me to be greatly changed Ashgaz
Ashgaz: *shudders*
Khamul: For I will always be what I am
Ashgaz: Oh, I know
Khamul: I will not sell you Ashgaz
Ashgaz: But when the Third wanted me, I realized that I really preferred to stay here.
Khamul: *he welcomes her touch, he has yearned for it for so long*
Ashgaz: ...than go to him.
Khamul: How much did he offer for you Ashgaz?
Madurz: *orcs search for her in the hall then see her inside..the Witch king requests your presense*
Khamul: Ashgaz, my question. How much did he offer for you?
Ashgaz: First he offered five horses, then he said that was too much
Ashgaz: So he offered three horses
Khamul: *it will be hours before Madurz will be allowed to see Khamul again*
Ashgaz: His price kept going down, and then I spilled his wine and he said I was worthless
Ashgaz: So he sent me away.
Madurz: *she nods...she leans over and brings her lips to his*
Khamul: Just as well. I would not sell you
Khamul: *he kisses her weakly*
Madurz: *she whsipers to him* i love you
Madurz: hûn-izub
Khamul: Come to me again Madurz
Madurz: *she could almost cry*
Madurz: i will my love..i promise
Khamul: the shadows have almost passed
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz struggles again with his conflicting loyalties...he can't help but care for his master...*
Madurz: *she stands and begins to walks away*
Khamul: *He listens to her footsteps*
Ashgaz: *...but the hobbit left in him knows that loyalty to anything of Mordor is a betrayal of everything he comes from*
Khamul: *dreading when he will no longer be able to hear them*
Ashgaz: *He shakes the struggle off, for Khamul needs his attention right now*
Ashgaz: *notices the worried look as Khamul watches Madurz go*
Khamul: *turns back to Ashgaz* If Number Three offered ten horses for you I would turn him down
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz smiles at Khamul*
Khamul: You are too valuable to me
Khamul: You are becoming a good house servant
Ashgaz: *joking* You must be going back into delirium!
Khamul: Now you have started bringing my wine to me quickly. No more the sluggishness that used to vex me
Ashgaz: Well, the truth is, I was worried about you, and I'm glad that you're better.
Khamul: *Ashgaz' words prove true for once again Khamul goes back to the darkness he does not want and he swoons upon the bed... his eyes close and he says no more until hours later when Madurz will come back*
Khamul: *But Ashgaz can see him in the wraith world sleeping more peacefully than he has ever seen him sleep since he was wounded*
Ashgaz: *Ashgaz is happy that Khamul rests peacefully*
Ashgaz: *He stays on the big bed with him and dozes a little waiting for Madurz' return*

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