The cold air bit at my skin as I opened my eyes, the weight of everything pressing down on me. I wasn't the same anymore. We weren't the same. I could feel him now, not as a distant whisper or a fading memory, but as something deep within me, a presence that felt both familiar and foreign.
Celebrimbor. His name echoed in my mind, not as a voice but as a force—an undeniable reminder of the merging that had taken place.
I stood slowly, my limbs heavy with exhaustion and something else. It wasn't just my body that hurt; I could feel his pain, too. His memories and ambitions surged through me like a tidal wave. I wasn't just Talion anymore, Captain of Riverwood. No, I was something far more dangerous.
The world around me was different now, sharper. The shadows seemed deeper, the light too bright. Every sound was amplified, every sensation heightened. I was seeing the world through his eyes now—the eyes of the Wraith.
I tried to hold on to myself, to my own thoughts, but Celebrimbor's will pushed through, filling every corner of my mind with his purpose. His hunger. His rage.
I staggered to my feet, fighting to remain grounded in my own identity, but his memories flooded my vision. I could feel his obsession, his desire to finish what he had started—to craft something greater, something that would challenge the very powers of this world
The ring was not made yet. Not in this life, not in this world. But the ambition still lived inside him—Celebrimbor.
Celebrimbor had failed to forge the perfect ring—a ring that wouldn't bend or twist his mind, a ring truly his own, untainted by darkness. His creation had been flawed, a masterpiece turned against him. But maybe, just maybe, in this world, it could be different.
Maybe this time, with enough strength, we could succeed.
But I was still weak. My body, fragile and broken, could barely contain the memories he once wielded. My soul might be stronger now, more resolved, but it was nowhere near capable of fulfilling his dreams.
His ambition was towering, relentless, but I wasn't ready to carry the weight of it. Not yet.
And then, beneath all the pain and confusion, the anger rose. It simmered at first, then burned hotter, until it threatened to consume me whole. My anger. Not his.
I clenched my fists, feeling my breath quicken as I thought of them—the pirates, those monsters who tore my world apart. They'd destroyed everything I held dear. My village. My family. Ioreth.
I could still see her face—beautiful, gentle, full of life—staring at me in those final moments. The blood, the screams, the way her body crumpled to the ground, I was too weak to save them. Too helpless. That memory would never leave me.
I swore on her name—on Ioreth's memory—that I would avenge her. That I would tear down anyone and anything that stood in my way. I would hunt them down, one by one, and make them pay for every drop of blood they spilled, every life they destroyed.
My anger fueled me. It was the one thing that kept me going. Ioreth, my son… their loss burned deep in my soul
But as strong as my anger was, it still wasn't enough. My body was weak, broken by what had happened, but I would rebuild it.
"I will have my vengeance," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper, though it felt like a roar inside. "I swear it."
I wouldn't rest until those responsible were dead. Every last one of them.
"You're finally awake," someone said, his voice a rough whisper. "You've been unconscious for a week."
I looked around, trying to orient myself. "B-Baren.....Where are they?" I demanded, my voice hoarse. "The bastards who destroyed everything—where did they go?"
Baren's gaze softened with a touch of sympathy. "They left a week ago. They've moved on, but their destruction remains. You've been out for some time."
A storm of rage roared within me. "They think they can just get away with this? They've taken everything from me—my family, my life, everything I cared about. They will pay for this."
Baren's face hardened with a mix of understanding and concern. "I can see you're driven by vengeance. But anger alone won't get you far. Revenge is a powerful motivator, but it can also consume you if you let it."
I clenched my fists, "I don't care. I need to make them Pay "
Baren's expression darkened. "You're being ridiculous. They're pirates with a captain who has a twenty million bounty on his head. They're not just some common bandits. You're talking about people who are not only ruthless but dangerous. They won't just sit idle while you come for them."
I glared at him,with a calm voice "and I am a man who got nothing to lose"
Baren shook his head, his voice rising in frustration. "You're walking into death with that kind of mindset. You need to start over, think wisely. If you let your rage control you, you'll only end up dead and with nothing to show for it."
I looked at the forge in the corner, my focus shifting to the tools . "I need to use the forge," I said firmly. "I have to be prepared. I need to make them pay."
Baren's face turned red with anger. "You think you can just walk in there and start making weapons without any experience? It's not that simple. You need skill, practice, and—"
"I don't care!" I snapped, cutting him off. "Just let me use the forge."
Baren's eyes widened with frustration. "You're being a fool. You're blinded by your anger and it's going to get you killed. The forge is not a magical tool to make your problems disappear."
I turned away from him, my resolve hardening. "I'll take my chances. I'm not asking for your permission. I'm asking for access to the tools I need to exact my revenge."
Baren tried to grab my arm, his voice pleading. "Please, listen to me. You're on a path to destruction. Don't let your vengeance blind you completely."
But I shook him off, walking toward the forge. My focus was set, my mind made up. I would not be swayed by anything or anyone. The rage that burned within me was all I had, and I would use it to fuel my preparations.
As I reached the forge, Baren's voice echoed in the room, a mix of anger and concern. "You're not the only one who's lost everything. We all have our scars. You're not alone in this suffering."
I didn't look back. My only thought was the path ahead, the forge's heat, and the weapons I needed to craft. I was driven by a single purpose: revenge. Everything else was secondary.