CHECKMATE
Night of September 30, 3019
Elfhild and Elffled portrayed by Eowyn
Narrator and Angmar portrayed by Wraith
Narrator: *The sun has long since hastened
its westward descent and twilight deepens as the Morgul Lord stands
gazing out the northern window of his tower, his hands clasped
behind his back, facing away from the Rohan maidens.*
Narrator: *Elffled sits quietly in a chair at the side of the
room, looking at woodcut pictures in a large book held in her
lap. Elfhild sits at the table, resting her head upon her cupped
palm and looking towards Angmar.*
Angmar: Elfhild..... it appears.... that you have my king in check
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild replies* so it does, my lord.
Angmar: *He turns suddenly to them* And soon it will be mate!
Angmar: Elfhild, you are an apt learner. Already, you have defeated
me in chess. My compliments to you, fair Maiden of the Sun
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild blushes* thank you, my lord, for
your words, and thank you for teaching me!
Angmar: It was a pleasure... *he says in a soft hiss*
Angmar: Are you sure that you did not know aforetime how to play
the game?
Elfhild and Elffled: *she looks down, the redness in her cheeks
deepening* ...perhaps a little my lord, but not much!
Angmar: Who then taught you, my pretty maiden?
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild says* my brother, eadfrid...
Angmar: I sense sadness in your voice when you speak his name.
Is this true?
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled sits down beside her sister, looking
to her with sympathy and the same sadness. elfhild says* aye,
my lord...still do we grieve for him... he fell at pelennor.
Angmar: Yesss.... he is now among..... the spirits....
Angmar: If he would have it so, his spirit can be called forth.
Would you desire for me to do so?
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild's eyes widen* nay, lord, do not
do such a thing! ...but i thank you, for your offer.
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled says* the thoughts of dwimmer-craft
make us uneasy, my lord.
Angmar: *he laughs, a cold, hollow, hissing sound*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled says* we of the mark would rather
the dead be left in peace, and stay at peace. but thank you anyway,
your majesty.
Angmar: Maids *he says* if your brother's spirit yet wanders abroad,
unsatisfied...... searching..... restless...... I can summon him.....
Elfhild and Elffled: *a tempting offer - what person who was grieving
would not agree? but tis dark and unnatural, a fearsome thought.
they still turn down his offer*
Angmar: *He stands there and looks at them* What is my name, Elfhild?
Do you know?
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild looks to angmar's hooded face. she
ponders for a moment* you are the lord of this city, minas morgul,
and we both sense that you are a being of great power.
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled says* and we have heard other things,
but we do not know if they are true.
Angmar: And what are these things? *he hisses*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled looks down for a moment* do you
know what a dwimmerlaik is, my lord?
Angmar: *He bows his head* Aye..........
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled fiddles with her hands, slightly
nervous* we have heard that you are one - and the other lords...
in our language it means a work of necromancy, a spirit of sorts...
Angmar: *He reaches across the table, puts his hand on Elffled's
hand* is this the hand of a spirit?
Elfhild and Elffled: *she swallows* your hand is cold, my lord...
but i do not know.
Angmar: *He releases her hand and turns away from them both* Then
you shall see Elffled and Elfhild
Angmar: *for a moment he pauses, concentrating upon the rings
that they wear. Then he says* I release you both!
Elfhild and Elffled: *they feel disorientated and look around
with a bit of confusion... then they feel dreadfully cold, and
very, very frightened. they do not move from their seats, and
stare at angmar warily*
Angmar: *He turns back to them, pulls away his hood, and then
they can see his eyes, glowing a faint red, a crown upon his head,
but nothing from robe to rim*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild wimpers. then her body becomes limp
and she slumps to the side of her chair in a swoon. elffled grabs
her arm, to keep her from falling out of the chair*
Angmar: This then..... what you see before you..... is the Lord
of Minas Morgul!
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled's heart pounds, yet she keeps a
tight grip on her sister's arm. she forces herself to turn her
head away from the nazgul and keep her attentions upon her sister.
she shakes her gently*
Angmar: Tonight... *he says* you shall return to your companions.....
Another matter, a pressing one, takes me away
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild begins to stir slightly, shakily
putting her hand to her brow and moaning. elffled looks back to
angmar. she whispers, trying to keep her voice steady* thank you,
your majesty.
Angmar: Thank me for what! *he hisses*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled flinches..then says* for returning
us to our friends.
Angmar: But tomorrow night, fair Elfhild and Elffled, you shall
return to me. I will hold a great feast in honor of our guest.
You will attend
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled says* as you wish, your majesty.
*elfhild, fully aware now for the most part, trembles in her chair*
Angmar: So then, Elfhild..... you do not wish to play chess with
me again? *his voice an angry hiss*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild trembles more* y...yes... my lord...*she
squeaks* whatever...whatever you wish..!
Angmar: *his eyes begin to glow redder* I do not need to force
a game of chess upon you, Elfhild!
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild cringes lower in the chair, wimpering*
Angmar: I will take a glass of wine with you both, and then I
must leave. I go far away, to a place of which perhaps you have
never heard
Angmar: It is called the Shire
Elfhild and Elffled: *cautiously elffled says* we have heard of
it, lord. our master....s..shakh frodo... he came from that land.
and our people know of hobbits, from old legends.
Angmar: I go there to retrieve one of my servants
Angmar: Now Elffled, pour us all three a drink of wine
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled nods, rises from her seat, goes
to angmar's wine cabinet. she finds three goblets, then turns
back to angmar* my lord? what wine do you wish?
Angmar: *he pulls his hood back over his head and sits down* What
I had last night. Can you remember that wine?
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled replies* ah... the red one, lord?
*swallows hard*
Angmar: Aye
Elfhild and Elffled: *she takes the three goblets and a bottle
of flaming hot red wine and a bottle of regular wine and puts
them on a tray. walking over to the table, she puts it down*
Elfhild and Elffled: *she carefully pours angmar's goblet first.
though her hands are trembling, she takes care not to spill any
upon them. then she pours goblets of regular wine for her sister
and herself, then returns to her seat*
Angmar: *He raises his goblet* To the bravery of the horse lords
of Rohan, for they have indeed bested us in battle, as you, my
fair Elfhild have bested me in chess!
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled takes her goblet and participates
in the toast. elfhild, trying to still her constant shaking, takes
the goblet and raises it shakily*
Angmar: *His face is hidden in the darkness of his hood as he
drinks from the goblet, and then turns his face away from them*
Angmar: ...Indeed, the Rohirrim are..... an admirable....people....
*he says slowly, each word issuing forward in a hiss from his
mouth. He drinks again*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled drinks from her goblet, then sets
it down on the table and looks down* thank you, lord. your words
are kind. *elfhild squeaks* t..thank...y..ou...
Angmar: Once I had a..... foreboding..... a sense.... that doom.....
that death.... was close at hand..... *he looks back at them*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled looks up and asks curiously* death...
my lord? i did not...i mean i heard....
Angmar: Do you not know? *he says in a low hiss*
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled babbles slightly* yes..yes! i saw
- i know.... but... i.... i... did not know that you....er...
i thought you were....already...that way...or untouchable by....that.
Angmar: I am..... neither living... nor dead
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled swallows* then...undead, you are..
my lord. truly... a dwimmerlaik.. but my words have no ill intent!
Angmar: Do not say words meant for appology *he grips her hand
intently and looks into her eyes glowering* Is this the hand of
a dead man?
Elfhild and Elffled: *she swallows again, frightened and confused,
unaware if her words even make sense* nay, lord. it is quite whole.
Angmar: My lips, Elffled, which you eagerly took..... were they
the lips of a dead man or spirit?
Elfhild and Elffled: *her face, which had been pale with terror,
brightens as she flushes. she says quickly, a bit curtly* nay,
lord. they were not.
Angmar: Elffled, do not think that I cannot die. The truth of
this has come to me all too clearly of late
Elfhild and Elffled: *elffled swallows, uncertain, scared and
bewildered* i am... sorry, my lord. i never knew... that well...
such beings as yourself could die.
Angmar: Aye, I am not a ghost, Elffled.... remember that.... always
remember that, for I do have a form and a body. Death almost found
me...... and you two most fair Maidens of the Sun..... remind
me of her!
Elfhild and Elffled: *elfhild blinks, her trembling stilled for
a short moment. her, did he say? what... what did he mean? elffled,
equally puzzled, looks to angmar and asks* her, my lord?
Angmar: You fair maidens hold a..... strange fascination for me.....
or perhaps.... it is not you at all..... perhaps instead, I have
a fascination for death itself..... and for her.... the one who
would have brought it to me
Angmar: *angrily he says* Now go! Leave me!
Angmar: Guards!
Elfhild and Elffled: *both girls quickly jump to their feet, elfhild
knocking over the chair. a feeling of doom hits her. she quickly
rights the chair, trembling more*
Elfhild and Elffled: *they bow low to angmar, on their knees,
touching their foreheads to the floor* thank you, my lord. farewell!
*they mumble*
Narrator: *The door is opened and two guards come through, bowing
to Angmar*
Elfhild and Elffled: *the girls quickly stand up, bowing again
to angmar, this time from the waist*
Narrator: *The guards, two hooded figures in black robes, look
to the girls* Come now, follow us
Elfhild and Elffled: *they walk over to the guards and follow
them*
Angmar: *He sits at the table, watching as they go out the door.
Then he rises to his feet*
Angmar: *He opens the ornately carved box that rests upon the
table. He places inside it the chessboard and the pieces, then
closes the lid of the box and walks to a cabinet across the room,
putting the box inside.*
Angmar: *Then he walks back to the window, his figure catching
the torchlight and creating eerie, twisted shadows along the far
wall*