Zimraphel [Silmarillion, PG-13]

[winter]

Fandom: Silmarillion/Lost Tales
Pairing: Sauron/Ar-Pharazon/Ar-Zimraphel (yes, you read that right)
Rating: PG-13 probably
Archive: here, Miscellany, maybe HASA if I think it's worth it.

Blamed on: littleshebear, who gave me the pairing.



ZIMRAPHEL

by Beth



There was a spider web on the window, which showed how much attention her quarters merited lately.

But the evening dew on it shone like diamonds in candlelight, so she did not mind.

Jewels. For all that she was the Jewel-daughter, she did not care for them. Not unless they were the scattered glitter of Numenor's lights below.

She heard footsteps, felt a hand on her arm.

"Zimraphel." A greeting, but also much more. He so loved the name he had given her. Over the years, it had come to mean everything from "I love you" to "leave me alone".

He was still as handsome as the first night he almost forced his way into her bed. It took a long time until she welcomed him there.

And now she missed him. "Good evening, husband. I haven't seen you in my rooms for far too long."

A smile told her he shared that opinion. Then he leaned down and kissed her, and she forgot all she wanted to say about abandonment, strife, dark worship of a forbidden god.

"Zimraphel," he whispered as he freed her from her dress. There was only worship for her in his voice.

She let the tide take her as she tore at his clothes. Too long, far too long-

There was a bruise on his hip. A burn.

Fingers much larger from hers, that had held him from behind. And there was only one in Numenor whose touch could burn like this.

"Zimraphel-" he started to explain as she jumped away from him. Too late.

"So he's taken my place in your bed?" Her voice was calm, brittle. "Like he took my place at your side in council, my place at your side on the Meneltarma?"

"Zimraphel..."

That one word broke her. "Send him away! Can't you see he's destroying you? I gave everything for you - my sceptre, my bed, my obedience to the laws of the Valar! Choose now: him or me!"

He was silent for the space of a heartbeat. Then his face turned blank. "Zimraphel."

She could do only one thing to fight the tears rising in her throat.

She ran.

She ran fast and far, not caring that her shift dragged on the unswept floor of the corridors. What then if someone saw the Queen without her dress, maddened and despairing? They no longer cared for what she did, just like him - like him -

She stumbled, then someone caught her. She was pressed against a muscular chest, enveloped in a man's warmth, and for a moment she enjoyed that comfort. Before she looked up into a perfect face, flame-eyed and golden-haired.

Annatar.

He smiled. She could feel his hands burning her arms, the way they had burned their traces into her husband's body.

"You can't run away from it." Dark, warm, deep. So different...

She spat in his face. He didn't seem to notice.

"Join us. There will be less pain."

She let out an animal whimper that meant no, no, no...

Then his lips captured hers, and she knew there was no going back. No redemption, no happily ever after.

She knew she would die.

FINIS

Comments

[littleshebear.livejournal.com]

*nances*

Careful. Numenoreans have a habit of moving into your brain and then refusing to leave. ;)

You actually made this concept tasteful. Kudos for that. :D

[winter]

Thanks. It was an interesting exercise :)

[tehta.livejournal.com]

So that's what you've been up to, hmm? Like it a lot. Love the use of Zimraphel's name, and the sparse prose. Lots of impact with few words.

[winter]

Not exactly "up to", unless you mean for the thirty minutes before posting this ;) And thanks. Glad to see my formal experiments work.

[maggiehoneybite.livejournal.com]

Very nice. Creepy and not over-the-top.

[winter]

Thank you :D

[kalurien.livejournal.com]

Golden-haired? ;P

And also- MUWAHAHAHAHAHA™ Very nice. >:D

[winter]

Thankyou :)

And this stuff writes itself, not my fault the Sauron who showed up in my head happened to be blonde ;)

[lady-celebwen.livejournal.com]

*gives you a gold star*

That was quite wonderful. I like the use of Zimraphel's name and how it could mean different things. :)

[winter]

I'm glad you liked it :) I kept thinking of ways that'd keep it from becoming just a screaming match, and I think this one worked.

[lady-celebwen.livejournal.com]

It most certainly worked.

My miriel is quite amazed how yours managed to hold her temper so well. My Miriel says she most defenitely would have started a screaming match and possibly slapped him for good measure. *pats her* Such a temperament she has.

[bandonbanshee.livejournal.com]

Dunno why I should only have noticed this now but it's wonderful. :)

[winter]

From you that is high praise indeed *blushes* Thanks!

[bandonbanshee.livejournal.com]

*blushes too* I didn't know my opinion counted for that much but trust me when I say it's incredibly well deserved. This two don't get enough goodfic written about them and you've really done them justice.