Trapped in Darkness (Canos)

[Andromeda]

Andromeda walked along a road inside of Minas Morgul. She had to leave her horse and her weapons at the gate, but the guards were foolish enough not to check under her black cloak, where her albino snake was, coiled around her arm in a protective manor. She could feel the darkness in the place and all the while, she felt like she was being watched. Of course, there were people in the city, but to her they seemed lost, for the lack of a better term. When they would look at her, it seemed that there was a body there, but they had no soul. They seemed empty. It was an empty that made Andromeda uncomfortable and wishing she had not come into the city.

As Andromeda walked, she noticed that a man was following her. She carefully put her black hood up, masking the fact that she was indeed a woman, but it was to late. The man began to stalk her, not caring if she noticed or not. She took a few turns, to try and loose him, but it was hopeless. Suddenly, she felt his hand grab her left arm as he turned her around to face him. "Where do you think you are going?" He asked as he pushed her up against a building roughly. "Get away from me." Andromeda hissed as she could feel Xantho began to move from her arm. The man smirked slightly as some people stopped to watch what was going on.

"I am not going to let something like you go, not before I bring you to the prisons, where your sorceress soul belongs! There is a reward out for you, you know?" He yelled as Andromeda smirked slightly. "Ah, so you have heard of me then?" Andromeda asked as she reached with her right hand and grabbed his neck. He laughed as he too grabbed her neck and began to choke her. Instead of her choking him, Xantho moved with lightning reflexes out of her robe and onto her right hand, biting the man in the neck and injecting her fatal toxins. He began to make a gurgling sound as he let go of her neck, but she held onto his as he began to get weaker, trying to pull her hand off him. To the people around them, it looked like she was choking him to death. After a few seconds, she let go of the man as he fell to the ground, dead.

Xantho moved back under her robe as she looked around at the people for a few moments. She had to get out of the city and fast. She began to walk back to the gate as people moved out of her way, most of them looking at her in fear. She tried to move faster, but some of the guards had already arrived at the body of the dead man and began to send other guards to try and find a cloaked woman. She could see the gate ahead, but guards were standing in front of it and checking people. She groaned and moved to the left, moving into the shadows of one of the buildings. She gently leaned against the wall, trying to figure out a way of getting out of the city. Xantho once again curled around her arm as Andromeda let out a frustrated sigh. She was trapped in a city that she wished she had never even entered in the first place. Her hand gently went to a covered object that she carried in a large pack, making sure it was there. She had gone to extreme lengths to steal the Palantir of Orthanc and she not about to loose it.

(I have already talk to Elessar and he said it was ok. )

[Canos]

There were not very many civilians in the city of Minas Morgul. Nearly everyone that was in the vacant city was assassins, killers or guards of some kind. Canos made sure that there was no one in his city that was useless. The only problems with having villains in his city was that no one really cared if another killed one of their own. The crime rate of the city was ridiculous and the city was not even really a city. There were maybe fifteen or twenty actual buildings beyond the maze of halls and corridors of the main palace. Eighty percent of the actual city was a palace and the people that lived within the city lived in rooms off of the corridors. Either way, when someone got killed, no one really cared unless it directly involved him or her. Guards hat to take notice because they didn’t want anything to get back to Canos. So they investigated the guard’s death, looking around for anything or anyone that could have killed the man. The only problem was that everyone around could possibly have been a perpetrator. The guards looked down at the man and saw the bite marks. They recognized them as a snake and they looked around on the ground, as if they expected the snake to still be around.

The guards began to look around, but they weren’t looking very hard. Two of them simply took the guard’s body out of the street. They were dispose of it and more than likely; no one was going report this incident. Two guards were walking beside Andromeda and they noticed her. These guards were like any villain and any sort of diabolical person. They saw a pretty woman and they wanted her, as they own. They had no idea that she was wanted or that there was a bounty out on her head. It wasn’t until they both turned to her and turned her to face them did they realize this. They had their blades out in a moment, pushing her against the wall. “Its our lucky day. We get two rewards today…” he said with a smirk and the other man just laughed. One of the men grabbed her arm but felt something strange on her arm. He withdrew quickly and put his blade to her neck. “What is in your cloak?” the man asked firmly. The second man pressed his hand against her neck and shoulder, keeping her against the wall. “Tell us before we turn you in. You still may have a chance to dissuade us.” One said with a sly smirk.

[Andromeda]

Andromeda noticed two guards coming towards her and she tried to walk away quickly, but she was grabbed and turned around to face them. When one of them went to grab her arm, she smirked as she felt Xantho move when she was touched and she began to let out a low hiss. She smirked at the blade that was at her neck and when she felt the mans hand against her neck and shoulder, pinning her against the wall, she began to laugh. "What is in my cloak?" Andromeda asked as she felt Xantho begin to move up her arm and towards the guards hand. Her eyes went to the guard that had his hand to her neck. "Your demise." Andromeda said when Xantho moved out of her cloak and bit him in the hand before retreating back into her cloak.

Andromeda kicked the guard that got bit into the guard that had the blade to her neck, knocking them back away from her. Her eyes went to the guard as the poison began to take effect. Her eyes then moved to the other one who had the blade to her neck. "It is pointless to save him. There is no antidote." Andromeda said with a smirk before she backed away slightly. She had to think of something before the guard hacked off her head. She looked down to the pack that had the palantir in it and she opened it slightly, pressing her hand against it. When she looked into it, she saw a man staring back at her. She quickly let go of it, covering it back up and her eyes went to the guard. "Take me to your lord!" She yelled out quickly as Xantho moved to around her neck, in a possessive and threatening way. "Please." She added, Xantho's red eyes going to the guard's.

[Canos]

The guard that was bitten began to convulse in pain, his body shutting down from the poison and in a few moments he dropped to the ground and rolled over onto his stomach, no longer breathing. The second guard found a foot in his stomach and he backed away, still keeping his sword out and ready to use as he moved towards her again. She reached into her back around the same time as the snake coiled itself around her neck, hissing at him loudly. She reached into her bag and did something. The guard began to move at her before she looked up at him and yelled to be taken to his master. The guard passed for a moment, waiting a few feet from her, sword still in hand and ready to be used. The guard had not heard that particular plea before. Who in their right mind would want to go and meet with Canos? Who in their right mind would want to face the most feared man in Nurn? The guard snarled. He looked down at his dead friend. He could think of nothing better than to have Canos torture her for years for what she did to his friend. It was far better than anything else he could do to her. She would suffer a death longer and more prolonged than he could imagine. It would be justice for the wrong she had done his friend.

The guard smiled and approached her; weary of the snake that was around her neck. He then signaled for another guard and three of them came over in turn when they saw that it was a woman that needed to be escorted. The three men drew their swords and formed a square around her, one of them reaching out and grabbing her ass with a smirk. They would have no fear of this woman. They made sure to keep a nice distance away from the thing around her neck as they began their march towards the palace. They proceeded up the stairs and into the palace. Three more guards came towards her and began to escort her as well. They brought her to a small room, closing the door behind her. “Canos is being summoned, but it will be a while.” One of them said with a smile. “Before you meet with him, you will need to be searched.” One of them men drew a bow and pointed it at the snake, “Without the snake.” The man concluded. Three other men drew closer to her, sheathing their swords. “Undress.” One of the men ordered loudly and firmly.

[Andromeda]

Andromeda watched the other guards come towards her. She felt one of them touch her and she was about to hit him before she noticed them surrounding her as they began to escort her. At least she wouldn't have to face the anger of that guard after seeing his friend die. Still, she was curious as to who she saw looking back at her in the palantir. Never before has she used it and seen someone else looking back at her. Of course, she had not had it very long and had used it a few times, but she it felt like whoever it was, he was watching her. She shuddered at the thought of being spied on.

Andromeda noticed that they began to walk up stairs and into the palace. Her eyes went around the room for a moment as they walked, making sure that her hood was still up as her hand gently caressed Xantho around her neck. Once they arrived at a room and moved her inside of it and then they closed it behind her. She turned around and glared at the guard who had a bow pointed at Xantho. Xantho moved inside of her robe, disappearing from sight as her eyes went to the guard who yelled at her to undress. She smirked slightly as Xantho moved into the pack that had the palantir as she set it down gently. She pulled the hood back, revealing waves of brown hair that cascaded down past her shoulders. She opened the robe and let it drop to the ground, revealing a form fitting violet colored dress.

Andromeda glared at the guards for a moment as she reached down and pulled her dress up, revealing her long legs as she kept pulling it until it was a little ways past her mid-thigh. She pulled out a dagger that was hidden there and she dropped it on the ground. "I will not be some shameless whore to your desires." Andromeda said as she glared at them, letting her dress cover her thigh and leg again. "Touch me and you will end up like your friend back there." Andromeda said, a smirk on her face. Little did they know, that she had coated her fingernails in her snakes poison. All she would have to do is scratch them to send the poison into their bodies. "I have no more weapons on me and if I did, I am sure you would strike me down with no hesitation." Andromeda said as her eyes went to each of the men. She hoped that Canos would arrive soon, so that she could get these guards' eyes off of her.

[Canos]

The guards did not like the idea of her not undressing fully. They liked the little show that she had put on when she raised her dress over her leg, whether it was intentional or not. Either way, they now wanted to see more of this woman and they were determined to do so. They didn’t need to touch her in order to make her undress. Two of them had bows and three of them had spears. The others would just remain in the background. They didn’t need to physically touch her or cause her to touch them to make her undress. It didn’t exactly help her situation that she was wearing a rather seductive outfit. Anything that fit tight to the body like hers was meant to entice men and it did its job all too well. Two of the spearmen raised their spears and pointed them at her, the tip of their spears pressing against her delicate skin, pulling down, cutting some of the fabric off of her shoulder, revealing a bit of the skin on her shoulder and the top of her chest. “You will undress!” a guard ordered. It seemed that they were most determined to see her naked. With odds completely against her, it was more than likely that they were going to accomplish their goal.

Another one of the guards moved his spear towards her thigh in an attempt to rip off another article of clothing, but the door swung open and Canos stood in the frame looking down at the men. They backed away and stood at attention, placing their spear butts on the ground, their swords sheathed. The guards snickered a bit as they thought of what Canos would do to the woman. Of course, they were also a bit annoyed. They had not been given the opportunity to do anything with their prize. Canos snarled as he looked at the men, “Get out…!” he growled and the men all bowed their heads and scurried out of the room. They didn’t want to know what Canos was going to do. Canos walked into the room as the men left, the door swung to a close on its own behind him. Canos looked at her with cold eyes, a blue flame growing within them. Then, as if he was directed by some power beyond his control, his head titled to the back and his eyes flashed once. “What is in the bag?” He asked; however, it wasn’t really a question as much as it was a statement. He walked forward. His steps were loud and hard against the stone. Canos reached the bag and put his hand above it. He closed his eyes for a moment and then shot up a glance at her. “It was you in the stone.” He concluded resolutely.

[Andromeda]

Andromeda glared at the guards as they pointed their spears at her. She felt the tip of one against her shoulder, moving down and cutting her dress. A low hiss came from the bag below her. Andromeda looked down and saw Xantho's head poking a little ways out of the bag, watching her master as the guards tried to cut the dress on her thigh, but her eyes shot to the door as it was opened. She glared at the guards as they snickered and her eyes shot to Canos as he ordered the guards to get out. Andromeda caught his eyes with her's, giving him the same cold glare she was giving the guards.

Andromeda looked down at the bag when he asked what was in it. She watched him walk towards the bag, knowing that Xantho was in it and ready to strike. She smirked as he reached down to the bag, holding his hand above it. When he said that it was her in the stone, her smirk faded away. Xantho moved in the bag and began to strike from out of the bag, but Andromeda moved with lightning reflexes, grabbing the snake out of the air before it could bite Canos. Xantho let out a loud hiss, annoyed that she was stopped from biting Canos, but she moved and coiled around Andromeda's arm, her red eyes staying on Canos.

Andromeda quickly grabbed the bag as she held it towards her. "Yes and I am assuming that it was you I saw back." Andromeda said as she looked at Xantho as she once again moved into the bag. Her eyes flashed back to Canos as she took a few steps away from him, holding the palantir close to her. "I took it from Minas Tirith. The fool of a lord was easily manipulated into thinking I was actually going to use my strategies to help him." Andromeda said, her eyes staying on Canos. "I am Andromeda." She said softly as she felt her back press against the stone wall, not realizing that she had been backing away from the man. "I am a strategist, the best in all of Middle-Earth." Andromeda said. It may have sounded like she was bragging, but it was just a statement of fact. "But now, with the palantir, my plans can be flawless." Andromeda whispered, almost to herself as her green eyes moved to Canos's.

[Canos]

The snake that this woman carried with her reminded him an awful lot of Sharan; his queen’s panther. That creature annoyed him to no end and yet had eluded all attempts at its life. Canos was not pleased with the possibility that there was another woman with a creature that was dear to her. This one was less deadly to Canos however. He did not fear snake venom. He had been immune to certain things after his meeting Khamul and the Morgul blade. Canos hadn’t really been his normal self, but he was more powerful now and there was no mistaking that fact. Canos often found himself pondering his thoughts and his transformation. He often found himself pondering what to do with his new ability, his near immortality. When his war started then he would have plenty of opportunities to show his stubbornness and resilience. He just was waiting for the war now.

She made a bold statement as she proclaimed to be the best strategist in Middle Earth. In was more offensive to Canos because prior to this moment, he had believed that he and his wife were the best strategists in Middle Earth. He had proved that several times in both battles and it diplomacy. He had never heard of this girl who called herself Andromeda. How renowned could she be if he had never heard a thing of her past? She could be bluffing. She could be using that excuse to keep herself alive. Canos had heard well, especially from women. They were witty and deceptive and most knew how to use their bodies. This one, according to what was going on when he walked in, was not willing to share her body with others. A situation that was easily remedied…. later.

So Canos stood about ten feet from the woman. She had backed against the wall now whether out of fear or simple incoherent reaction to his presence and her protection of the stolen palantir. He looked at the stone, knowing far too well that she could not use its full potential like had; considering which he had contacted. “You can not use the stone!” Canos roared. “It will destroy you like it destroyed stronger men.” Canos said, began to circle back and forth in a semi circle around her. “The palantirs are not toys, but instruments used by great ones of power.” Canos paused, looking at her with cold eyes. “A strategist? You proclaim big things, but you have proven otherwise for here you are in my prison soon to be executed. Tell me if that is all part of your plan for it were I would love to know the details and outcome of your plan that doesn’t end in your death and the death of your friend.” Canos said, looking down at the snake. “Truly, someone in your position with you claims would have a way to…” he paused, “remove yourself from this position. For surely your claims alone will not gather my interest.”

[Andromeda]

Andromeda stood against the wall, her eyes staying on Canos. She knew she was playing a dangerous game when she came into this gods forsaken city. It was foolish of her to, but she knew that if she did she would at least be safe from those who were pursuing her. But now, she was in another difficult situation. She knew that her life would never be the same after stealing the palantir, but she needed it. She needed to make sure that she would be free the rest of her life, but by the looks of things, she was anywhere but that. Down in some prison with an angry looking lord glaring at her.

When Canos said that she was not powerful enough to handle the stone, she smirked slightly. "Destroy me? There is nothing left for this stone to destroy. My life is nothing but misery and sorrow. My soul is corrupted beyond saving. What more can this stone do to me?" Andromeda said as she reached into the bag, her snake going around her arm as she lifted the palantir out, the bag falling to the ground. She held the dark stone in her right hand as she looked at him. "I am not a fool. I knew what I was getting myself into the first time I touched the stone." Andromeda said as she glared at Canos.

Andromeda smirked for a moment before she looked into the stone for a moment before picked up the bag and setting it back inside it. Xantho still stayed coiled around her right arm as she looked at Canos. "I came here to get away from those who chase me." Andromeda said as she looked at Canos for a moment. "I offer my services to you, Lord. I have much to offer to you, all which will help you in the end." Andromeda said as she moved away from the wall and she walked towards him. "I have a palantir. With mine and yours, there will be no one that will be able to challenge us." Andromeda said as her green eyes went to his. She knew that he would think about killing her and taking the stone from her, that was something she would not allow. "With me on your side, who can stand against your armies? I am certain that our combined strategies will be the best this world has ever seen." Andromeda said. "Your enemies will fear you once they hear your army is on the move. Let them fear you, mi'lord. In time, no one will be able to stand against your armies." Andromeda said, turning her head towards the door for a moment. "You will be the new dark lord. A dark lord that the Reunited Kingdom will not be able to stop. Let me help you." Andromeda pleaded as she turned her head back to look at him.

[Canos]

“You come here to my palace; to my city….” He paused, looking at her with cold unforgiving eyes. “A city which obviously does not look kindly on attractive women…I think you might have experienced this…” he said with a smirk, stepping forward. If she were afraid of him then he would continue to have her be. She was against the wall and now, instead of circling her, he began to walk towards her. His footsteps were slow and solemn, but they were terrifying in the sense that her death could be coming closer with each step. “And you say that you have come here to help me, voluntarily.” He moved his hands to the handles of his swords. He had two of them and they were short swords. They were very fancy for being swords. They were not very thick, but thin bladed like a rapier. They were very deadly, both sides were sharp. Canos used grace and precision in his fighting rather than brute force like most adversaries. That was why he was so slow to tire.

“ I find this all hard to believe, for you see, when I saw you in the palantir, I saw fear and confusion in your mind, in your eyes. I did not sense a plan or a authority over the object you hold so dear; an object that is not and was not meant for you.” Canos continued, “So this can not be all planned and therefore this is a desperate attempt to save your life.” Canos paused, his hands running from his swords up to his chest, crossing his arms against his armor. “So, to conclude the truthfulness of your statement I will simply test your resolve and what it is that you say you are.” Canos smirked. “You are lucky that I do not have a pressing matter in which I require the assistance of a proclaimed strategist. But be assured that there will come a time when I will test you on your knowledge and your self-proclaimed skill. When I do, he will perform well or you will die in the dungeons of this place.” He paused, his eyes still watching her. He was now a mere two feet from her, “Until that time…your palantir will be under my control so that you stay here.” He said and she felt her hands becoming very warm, almost scolding.

[Andromeda]

Andromeda glared at him as he began to approach her. She stayed against the wall as she watched him as he walked closer and closer, hearing his footsteps ring through her head. She watched his hands as they went to his swords, her green eyes slowly moving back up to his. It was a mistake coming to this city, but that was what she saw in the palantir and she listened to it. Perhaps that was what it thought was safe, since the other palantir was also here. Maybe the stone was right, but there was no way of being sure of that at the moment. By the way Canos looked at her, it looked like he would kill her right there, but he didn't.

"The palantir was meant for me." Andromeda growled as she got off of the wall and walked closer to him, making it so they were only a foot away from each other. She had faced more fearful men then him, her father being one of them. But, lucky for Canos, he would not end up like her father, waking up to find himself being bitten by Xantho and dying moments later. Perhaps that was when her downfall came, but she felt as though she was dying inside everyday that she had to come home. "In time, I will be in control of this palantir. I will become its master." Andromeda said as she felt her hands getting warm and she looked down at them. Her eyes moved up to his, a murderous flashing in her eyes. No one controls me... Andromeda thought angrily. "What are you doing to me?" She hissed as she glared at Canos.

[Canos]

Canos was powerful and he could hardly control the power of the palantir. If someone more powerful than him was on the other end then they could possibly control him. It was how the palantir worked. A greater mind could control a lesser mind when the link of the palantir connected them. She had begun to fear him less and she took a step closer to him, showing that she was no longer as afraid as she once had been. It didn’t matter too much if she feared him or not. He would manipulate her all the same. Canos had the ability to make things warm around him. It was that ability that aloud him to make his swords heated enough to a point where anything they touched that was flammable burst into flame, including human skin. He was also powerful enough to cause that same kind of heat to other people. Granted he could not do this to a great number of people at one time; but one simple person that stood before him would be no small test.

Canos smirked as she could feel the obvious affect of the warming of her hands. He was just getting warmed up as it were. The feeling of warmth continued through her entire body, starting from her hands and running down her arms and through her chest and down to her very toes. Of course, her hands were the things that were most heated. Her hands were becoming extremely hot now. Canos knew that she wouldn’t be able to hold onto the palantir for much longer. She wouldn’t be able to grasp anything with her hands and frankly she wouldn’t be able to do anything but try and diminish the pain. Of course, only Canos could do that. “Just let it go..” He smirked. She was on his turf now. She was in his city and she was at his mercy. He would not so simply release her without putting her through some agony and or attaining something he desired.

[Andromeda]

Andromeda glared at Canos as she stood her ground. She could feel her body began to warm up as the heat on her hands began to burn as she held the palantir. A bead of sweat rolled down her face as she continued to glare at Canos with a murderous and angry look in her eyes. When he said for her to just let it go, she smirked. Andromeda moved the palantir until it was front of Canos's face. "What, this?" She said as she felt the burning sensation spread through her body. Her eyes went into the palantir as the dark clouds inside of it began to swirl. She had to gain control of the palantir, one way or another. There was no way that she was going to let Canos take her prize from her.

Andromeda continued to stare into the palantir for a few more moments, watching as the clouds inside of it swirled slightly. Her eyes moved to Canos as she began to pull the palantir away from him. Although her body felt like it was on fire, she would not give up the palantir to him. "The palantir is mine!" Andromeda screamed as she put it back into her bag and she took a step closer to him. "Put me through whatever pain you desire, but the palantir is not yours. It will never be yours." Andromeda hissed as she glared up at him. "This palantir will stay with me. You have your own and you can use it to contact me." Andromeda said as more sweat beaded on her forehead. She held the bag close to her as she took a step back and pressed herself against the cold stone wall. She didn't back away from him out of fear, but because she felt her body getting hotter and she wanted something to support herself as she continued to glare at him. "I come with the palantir. I will not part from it and if this stone destroys me, you will get it. But until that time comes, if it ever does, the stone will stay with me." Andromeda growled, her eyes going to him.

[Canos]

Canos could see the beads of sweat running down her body. He could see that she was having problems keeping the palantir in her hand and she was having problems remaining standing. The heat was intense and it was very effective. Canos wished that he had the ability to freeze people because that would be every helpful indeed. However, he would simply use what he had at the moment and that included letting her know that he was in charge using fire. Canos smirked as she screamed and put the palantir in her bag. It was not going to save her from the pain she was going to endure. It was not going to save her from giving him the stone. Canos looked down at the bag and it too began to smolder, becoming hotter and the fabric began to burn. Soon the bag burst into flame. The bag would not conceal the stone from him. He couldn’t help but smirk because the snake was inside the bag and hopefully it would be burned just like the bag. It would make things so much easier.

Canos did not relinquish the heat that he was putting through her body. Now that she was not holding the palantir, he equally spread the heat throughout her body. It was not a pleasurable feeling. Sometimes heat was affiliated with pleasure, but this was simply painful. This was simply too hot for anyone to handle. Canos was thankful that this was not happening to him. But it was amusing to watch her struggle with the heat and pain. Canos couldn’t help but smile as he caused her pain. Her pain caused him pleasure. “You will do as I say. The fate of the stone was determined when you entered this city. Like everything else in this city; that stone belongs to me. I will have two if I desire two, just as if I will have you if I desire you.” Canos smiled as she struggled, holding the wall to deal with the pain. "You are in my domain now. You should understand that. You should understand that there is nothing you can do now. You answer to me for only i can offer you mercy, something that i do not give freely." Canos continued.

[Andromeda]

Andromeda continued to glare at him as the heat intesified. She glanced down at her bag and saw that it was on fire. "Xantho." Andromeda whispered as her white snake seemed to shoot out of the bag and onto her arm. Andromeda dropped the bag as she let it burn, her eyes going to the palantir in the burning bag. She was not going to give up this stone to him, it was hers and hers alone. She was not going to share it with this man, whether he liked it or not. She looked down at Xantho for a moment as she let the snake go up to around her neck. She smirked slightly before looking at Canos, another bead of sweat rolling down her face and down her delicate neck.

As much as she was in pain, Andromeda pushed herself off of the wall and she walked towards Canos. "I will answer to you, but the palantir is going to stay with me." Andromeda hissed as she got closer to him. She got closer to him, until their bodies were inches apart. Xantho moved from around her neck and onto her arm as she glared up at Canos. "My life is yours." Andromeda said. She felt the heat intensify inside of her and grabbed Canos's arm, her nails digging into his skin and causing him to bleed. She smirked slightly, knowing that Xantho's toxic poison was on her nails. She knew that it would not kill Canos, but perhaps it will hurt him and cause some type of damage to him so that he would stop. She let go of his arm as she moved back and stood over the stone, so that he wouldn't be able to try and grab it.