Ch.33

I was born Ren, first of the elves made by the Valar in the first year of the Lamps in Arda. I grew to be full elf over the course a century and spent fourteen hundred years fighting all sorts of creatures Melkor created from twisted creatures with his evil. Another twelve hundred years later the Valar captured Malkor and imprisoned him before inviting elves to Valinor, their paradise now that the lamps were destroyed and middle earth was in darkness.

I declined their offer having fought dragons, trolls, orcs and all manor of dark creatures to stay alive for so long. I don't need a reminder that they have it better where they live. Instead I gathered many likeminded elves and headed to what would've been a lake town near the lonely mountain. There I built a forest drying up most of the lake and creating a river paradise like Rivendell would be. I spent centuries building the lonely mountain into a Minas Tirith look alike and digging into the earth for Mithril and gold.

Eventually I found the Arkanstone and kept it in the warehouse while the gold was just a unique substance that made our home beautiful. When light came to middle earth a few centuries later, Galadriel the young female elf, and I, we shared something for a time but it was not meant to be. So I sat on my throne as my people prospered, protected by the age of men coming from the east and the remaining dragons and creatures that remained.

My lands were protected by magics I'd harnessed long ago when I came to this world and the Arkanstone sat on the hilt of my sword, shining like a beacon to my people that I remained ever watchful their protector. Two hundred years later I brought down the wingless dragon Glaurung of Morgoth, formerly known as Malkor while helping the humans for the first time in battle. I took the dead dragon and left after my armies helped them win, without another word.

Some two centuries later the other elf tribes banned together to face Morgoth and I stayed out of it. I told them it was pointless to face an enemy waiting for them to attack in his lands where he's prepared traps no doubt. Still, they faced him and lost horribly which led to him taking over the north of middle earth. When he laid siege to my kingdom his armies were routed and burned, his weapons were gathered and armors forged into the very walls so that the their strength would reinforce the city.

I did send sets of armor and weapons to Claudia and the others in the immortal city who'd appreciate them though. Mewtwo loved the Mithril I sent by the tons. As for Morgoth, with his loss here, he redoubled his efforts elsewhere. Less than seven decades later my kingdom was all that remained, a shining beacon to elves and the free races as Morgoth's armies break against our walls and die in numbers so larger they were left with only the option of retreating.

In truth even with the defenses in the city my people's number dwindled more and more as we held off the repeated sieges. Soon only a thousand warriors remained so I sent them through the tunnels to safe passage where the other elves had fled and I charged Morgoth's armies alone, killing hundreds of thousands before Sauron, Morgoth's right hand, showed himself.

I met him in battle, blow for blow and wounded the bastard so much he sent his men to face me while he fled. I called him a coward and eventually I was overrun. Sauron brought me to the black lands he bred the orcs in and chained me in his dungeons for centuries, torturing me off and on. Over three thousand five hundred years I lived in those dungeons, beaten and tortured daily as I killed many orcs and creatures that came to do so, defiant and ferocious as any animal.

When Sauron fell and the alliance raided the prison, I was found and released by Elrond and spent many years recovering in Rivendell. When Isildur died, I told Elrond not to give up hope as the strength of men may wain, but they are a stubborn race and not every man is so easily judged with the same standards. Being the oldest elf ever, my words were taken seriously. I gripped my sword and sighed. "So long as that ring exists, Sauron will have a foothold in this world. While many elves may leave for Valinor, those that remain must prepare themselves for what is to come. It will be a lasting and final battle to Morgoth's last true allies in middle earth and only then will the age of man come again."

I turned back to the council of elves and sighed. "Elrond is right, the age of the elves has passed in middle earth. But that does not mean that for one glorious moment we cannot shine as bright as we ever did and inspire hope in those that remain. Do what you will, but I will not leave middle earth alive. Such is my fate. I care not for the Valar and their perfect city. They created us here because we belonged to these lands and I was born to them so I will die within them as the first elf to walk Arda and the last elf to die in middle earth!"

I turned and left, seeking meditation until Galadriel came from the council and said she would morn my passing. I told her she will have gone to Valinor by then so she will not know of it. She assured me she would know and I smiled sadly, telling her I will miss her as well being my oldest living friend. She told me the dwarves had taken over my city and the lonely mountain.

I told her I cared not as the city was only a home so long as my people were there so there's nothing worth protecting that remained there now. "Brick and gold means nothing. What is of value is what we carry within us, the memories of those we shared our time with. Rings, coin, jewels-"

I showed her my sword and set it down. "They all mean nothing in the end beyond the value of protecting what is truly precious to us."

She smiled. "It is good to see the sentimental side of you has not wained because of the three and a half thousand years in Sauron's dungeons."

I grunted. "Sauron is a coward who fears death and thinks his enemies do as well. Even chained to the dungeon walls it took an army of his orcs to hold me down because he feared coming near me otherwise. Why else do you think my cell was so big?"

She smiled wryly and shook her head. "I imagine if you'd been free to fight we wouldn't have been in such a dangerous situation."

I huffed and told her now she was mincing words. I told her I was one elf amongst many and while I was old, it didn't mean I was invincible or I'd never have been caught. I waved her off and told her she unlike me, still has her own people to look after. I told her Elrond already informed me my people had all already made the great voyage without looking back.

I put my sword on my back and told her that my sting presence made them weak at heart believing I alone could protect them from anything and the war had cost them all a great deal. A thousand years soon passed as I practiced my sword silently in Rivendell, preparing for war. I'd met Arwen when she was born and saw her grow, still a young elf by the time she, like most elves, watched me practice and tried mimicking my skills.

I moved as if in a choreographed dance, not cutting leaves on trees, but cutting water and stone where my blade passed by. My sword was indestructible and ever sharp so there was no chance it would break, ever. Many elves went on to become master swordsmen just by watching and imitating my moves. Elrond himself fought me on occasion and while he always lost, he also learned a great deal.

In the thousand years I hadn't spoken a word and didn't need to. Almost a thousand years more pass when the Dwarves having named the former city of mine Erebor, found another Arkenstone. Some seven hundred years later they lost it and the mountain to Smaug, the dragon. A hundred and fifty years later I left Rivendell for the first time without saying a word.

I headed to Erebor and found the city in ruins because the dwarves hadn't rebuilt the defenses after Sauron destroyed them with my capture when he ransacked the city. I entered the city quietly and delved into the lonely mountain, finding tons of gold, even in giant statues. I took it all into my painted world, finding Smaug sleeping in an ocean of gold. Even the second Arkenstone was amongst the sea of gold.

Smiling, I made the sea disappear along with the stone and left Smaug there pissed off and grumpy. After a battle that shook the mountain, Smaug lay dead at my feet before I took him into my ring to be preserved. I left dragon bones and goblin weapons, skeletons and other such paraphernalia. I went to Weathertop where I stayed for over a hundred years without a word to the elves.

There I never stopped practicing the sword and I even met several rangers who scouted and found me. I never said a word to them as I practiced the sword constantly and eventually they left. Eventually, Aragorn and the little hobbits came followed by the Nazgûl. Seeing the ring wraiths, I stole coldly. "Leave now. Sauron is not here to protect you and none of you, even you witch king, are my match."

They pointed to the hobbits and I drew my swords, both with Arkenstones and both identical. "Take them if you can then. We shall see what the dogs can do when even their coward master fears me."

I moved like the wind and cut them all down except the witch king in seconds. He and I crossed blades while I snorted. "My blades are spelled to kill even the dead witch king. You have no more allies capable of facing me. Now leave before I break the spells you've placed on yourself and end you."

I Spartan kicked him off Weathertop and sheathed my blades. I took the rings and put them in a pouch, tossing it to Aragorn. "Take those to Rivendell and tell them only the witch king remains. Go now and I will make sure he doesn't follow. Take your friend with the ring. I will follow with the others on foot."

I sang to the wind and wild before an all black horse came. I told Aragorn to tell Elrond that Ren says the final war of the elves is coming. He nodded and thanked me, paying his respects in elvish and even saying my full titled name. I raised an eyebrow and paid him the same respects before smacking Ghost Shadow the horse on the rear and sending them racing off.

I leapt and rolled, coming up clashing with the Witch King. I sang to the trees and stone, burying him alive or undead anyways, temporarily. I told the other hobbits to follow me to Rivendell or stay and die when it gets out. They followed and it was a fast trek running while I sang to them when they tired to give them my energy.

When we arrived, I showed them to Aragorn and Frodo before going to the council. I sat in silence and when the Wizard Gandalf the Grey came, I kept my peace until the men, dwarves and other elves came. When the council began, I stood and spoke. I told them of the Valar and the age before ages. I told them of my birth as the first being the Valar made. I told them of the time before light and of Malkor.

I told them of his name change to Morgoth and his eventual defeat and banishment. I told them Sauron was his right hand even back then and I'd faced him many times. I told them of his sway over the Númenoreans and all of it. I told them everything from the first age to this day before telling them when a snide dwarf asked the relevance. "Sauron is Morgoth's last tie to Arda and middle earth. The ring is Sauron's last tie to this world as well. Only with it's destruction can Arda have peace. If the ring remains his connection remains and anyone who wears it will be corrupted with the first evil to touch this world, Morgoth. Slowly, piece by piece, it will eat at their soul and eventually if they're not careful, they will be consumed while, giving birth to Sauron who seeks to tip the scales. If his armies overrun middle earth Morgoth will be able to return to Arda through their connection."

I turned to the dwarf and then to the humans. "Just so we're clear, there is no one incorruptible by pure evil and no matter your armies or strength of will, your own greed will ensure your own downfall."

I waved a hand to the ring. "Even I dare not wear that abomination that houses Sauron's soul shard, ensuring he cannot die while it remains."

I sat down and told them. "I will not join a crusade to destroy it because I am needed elsewhere. Saruman has been corrupted by the promise of power from Sauron's master using the all seeing eyes created in the void where Morgoth now lay. The spell caster servant of Saruman's named Wormtongue uses magic to sway the king of Rohan and the Steward of Gondor thinks himself king because he's spent his time ruling in the true king of Gondor's place."

I glanced to Aragorn and back to the others. "I will gather an army and help preserve humanity's strength, freeing the Rohan king, setting the Ents loose on Isengard and hopefully rallying the strength of the last races for the final war. My actions will draw the focus of Saruman's gaze so you all may just pass unnoticed, luck willing."

I turned to the Dwarves and asked if their people would fight or if they're too busy fighting goblins over gold they claim to be their own from my old home. The dwarves got pissy and only Gimli took part in the fellowship of the ring while the other dwarf left saying they'd not support a war when they have their own battles to fight. I wished the fellowship Godspeed and told them to be wary of the Balrog and goblins in the mines of Moria.

I told them they killed and chased off the dwarves there. I added to look to the forest elves if they need safety and the lady Galadriel would speed them on their way. I turned to Frodo and offered a blessing in elvish song that glowed around him. Gandalf looked shocked and Frodo asked what I did. It was Legolas who spoke when even Aragorn didn't have an answer.

He patted Frodo on his shoulder and told him. "The lord Ren has given you an elvish blessing so old many of our people have forgotten the words to the song. It is a blessing of protection from the elements and beasts like trolls and Balrogs. To say it is a gift would make a mockery of it for an elf can only give it once in their lifetime. It was used to give to sons and daughters from fathers in the time before light when beasts of darkness roamed the lands freely."

Gandalf agreed. "It is a high honor and a powerful magic I'd thought lost in this world."

I grunted. "Not lost, just rarely used and mostly forgotten by those who didn't live through those times."

I turned to Frodo. "I never had a mate so I never had children to pass it on to. Seeing the insurmountable task ahead of you, I wanted you to know that you will never be alone for in the darkness, there is always light to guide the way for those with the strength and courage to follow it."

I patted the shoulder of the hobbit and took off a ring. I held it to him and told him. "This is Ithildin, meaning Starlight. It is my elf stone, the focal point of all my spells and connection to this world. With it you will be safeguarded against most fatal blows and it will guide and protect you from one certain death blow, transferring the blow to me instead."

He said he couldn't take it and I put it in his hand. "The world cannot afford you to fail. If I die then it will mean it was my time, but if you die then it will mean the end of middle earth and the potential resurrection of the two greatest evils this world has ever seen. Rest assured young hobbit, I've lived a very long life and I am prepared for my death. I do not fear it, but welcome it as an old friend. For death is just the beginning of the next great journey as one song ends, another begins."

Frodo thanked me and put it on, saying it felt warm and comforting. I smiled and wished him luck before telling the others to succeed at all cost or we will all fall regardless of what we do. I left of Ghost Shadow, heading to Rohan and passing through forests along the way, bringing out more and more hellhounds. I traveled fast and hard, letting the army of a hundred thousand hellhounds feed on goblins and orcs along the way.

When I reached Rohan, I killed Wormtongue and freed the king of Rohan. The hellhounds stood down and a day later, I spoke with the Ents and told them of Saruman burning the forests before promising them the memory of the Entwives and their location I had in exchange for their promise of stopping the mad sorcerer.

When they agreed to do so if my words were true, I gave them the memories of the Entwives and told them where to find them. I added that Sauron destroyed the Brown Lands in the last war so it was possible he killed them all and doomed the Ent race as a whole. This in turn pissed the ents off and not at me. I wished them luck in dealing with Saruman and finding their wives, telling them where to go to find the Brown Lands if they choose to gamble that there might be a few survivors.

I told them Sauron had me prisoner for that war and three thousand years besides so I was unclear on the details but he'd need lots of wood to make weapons of war for such large armies. I left them to it and headed back to Rohan, helping to gather the Rohan riders to their king and finding Gandalf running out to help them do so as well. I left him to it and instead led the hellhounds to guarding the Rohan people to Helms Deep. Saruman's scouts all died and were eaten by an army of hellhounds.

When we reached Helms Deep, I made them vanish and told the king I'd bring them out once there was need. Soon a regiment of elves from Rivendell came and with them followed the army of Uruk-hai. When Helms Deep was surrounded except the mountain at our back, I flipped and jumped down, scaling the walls with ease and landing before the army. Smiling, I drew my blades and summoned hundreds of hellhounds.

Soon it'd began and it was a bloody fight. The more space I made, the more hellhounds I released while the archers brought down Uruks, helping a great deal. Still, I was a force unto myself, slaying thousands in an hour and my hellhounds doing the same. By sun up on the fifth day when Gandalf arrived, there wasn't any remaining Uruk-hai left to fight, being dead and all.

I removed their armors so the hellhounds could eat them and collected arrows with weapons. Helms Deep hadn't even been touched yet I was exhausted. On the bright side not even the archers had been killed because the Uruks had been in chaos from my actions. Once the armor, weapons and arrows were gathered, I gave the arrows back to their owners while the hellhounds feasted on Uruks.

Gandalf asked what manner of beast they were. I told him I'd taken inspiration from the Valar and created my own pets long ago. I told them of the hellhounds being part wolf and part water dragon or alligator. I added that they saw better in the darkness so they'd been of help during that time.

We headed back to Rohan and Gandalf asked it's king that if Gondor called for aid, would he send it. I told him I was headed to Gondor now myself to aid them in the coming battles. The king looked to me and said that if an old elf like myself can muster the strength to aid Rohan's allies, it would be a mark on Rohan's honor if they did not. Especially after I'd done so much to aid them so far.

I road out with around seventy-eight thousand hellhounds at my heals since the others had died in helms deep. Rohan had all the armor and weapons they could want to reforge into weapons of their own so I saw no need to stay. I traveled fast and hard to Gondor and Osgiliath. When I arrived it was under siege by the orcs of Mordor.

Luckily the elves of Rivendell came with me and together while riding the largest of the hellhounds, we caught the orcs off guard and slaughtered the army attacking Osgiliath. The humans helped us and soon the orcs were all dead. We met with Faramir while I healed the elves and hellhounds in need. I told them a far larger army of orcs and river tribesmen on elephants would be coming with the witch king and in far greater numbers.

We'd helped them retake and keep their city and now it was time to rebuild and fortify it. I took out a talisman and walked to the river, making hundreds of mud golems, telling them to repair and fortify the city. I gave them a clear mental image of how before armoring them in the dead orc armor and weapons. I told the humans to melt down the rest and use it to reinforce the city with traps along the river.

In the meantime we headed to meet the Steward of Gondor and when he told us to leave, I beat him within an inch of his life. I dragged him out of the citadel and threw him before his men growling. "You are not the king of Gondor, you are not a king at all! You Steward, are a witless fool who sacrifices the armies of Gondor by your stupid whim. You are no more than a man servant in more decent clothes than you deserve."

I shrugged off my cloak and told the humans and soldiers watching. "I watched your ancestors come from the East and gave them aid for millennia before any of you and even Gondor was built. This city was built in honor of my own at the lonely mountain the dwarves took over when it fell five thousand years ago to Sauron."

I stood before the Steward and growled. "I have fought, bled and sacrificed my people too long protecting humanity to let a useless fool like yourself be the end of humans. It was I who slew the dragon Glaurung defending your ancestors and I who held the defenses time and again against Morgoth and Sauron when they would have your people in chains before they could build cities such as these!"

I grabbed the Steward and lifted him up. "Unlike you Steward, I am a king and I will not be disrespected nor pushed aside by one who would see his own people starve and die while he gets fat off their labor."

I shoved him to Baramir's feet before looking at the captain of the Gondor's army. I asked him coldly. "Do you serve Gondor or do you serve the interests of this petty man who doesn't give a rats ass if you live or die?"

He looked to his busted up father and back to me. "I serve Gondor."

I nodded slowly. "Then as the only king here, I claim custody of Gondor until the true heir to Isildur claims his rightful place on the throne. Prepare your men, light the beacons and pray those waiting answer our call. Fortify the city and find a place outside the citadel for that useless waste of cowardly space."

He saluted me and I told the elves to help his men get the women and children prepared while finding every able bodied man who can wield a blade and putting one in his hand. Faramir asked about Osgiliath and I told him to reinforce it before recalling his men. I told him the mud golems would multiply and defend the city after it's fully repaired. I told him Osgiliath is no more than a buffer to defend Minas Tirith and no use beyond thinning the armies that come out.

Soon the beacons were lit and the whole of Gondor was preparing for war. I constructed giant repeating crossbow platforms reinforced the stone walls with magic, fixing the cracks. Soon the city of Osgiliath was fully repaired and fortified so the Gondor riders returned to fortify and defend the city. I did a spell and spoke to the Ents who'd stopped Saruman.

Most came to my call so I left it at that and learned Galadriel was sending all she could spare that weren't already heading to the ships out of middle earth. Elrond had sent all he could so there was only what we had. Within a day Gandalf arrived with one of the hobbits. I told him I'd taken over Stewardship of the city for now since the last one was a greedy prideful fool who was sacrifice the armies of Gondor on whims.

Within three days the city of Osgiliath had fallen to the orcs with the hellhounds and golems guarding it. A great many orcs had fallen, but they'd taken Osgiliath so I had the women and children moved to the most well defended parts of the city. I had oil gathered and boiled while making repeating crossbows both large and small with other anti-siege weapons.

By the time the armies had come, the people of Minas Tirith were ready. The civilians were tucked away safe while the soldiers worked with me to defend the city, starting with bringing the loud ass Nazgûl mounts down. Most of the Nazgûl were dead, but that didn't stop orcs from riding them. They fell quickly thanks to the large crossbows tearing their wings to shreds.

I ordered the large repeating crossbow users to focus on the trolls while the stone throwing catapults did massive damage. I had them throw the bombs I finished making from Helms Deep that the Uruks hadn't gotten to use. Add that to the hand held repeating crossbows and the enemy was out dated technologically. Even the basic soldiers on the walls fired repeating crossbows so thousands of orcs died quickly.

When the orcs made it to the gates, I gave the order and boiling oil was poured down. The orcs screamed and died yet the witch king's mount had crashed int the army below so even he was helpless to stop it. When they tried to bring a giant battering ram, I told the crossbow men to aim for the beasts pulling and pushing it. Soon any possible hope they had of using the towers and battering ram had stalled.

Their remaining armored giants soon died to the mounted giant repeating crossbows. The orcs themselves died trying to push their own devices and in greater numbers than before. Soon it became a slaughter and war of attrition. I told the archers to keep firing and had the rest prepare to mount up excluding the elves.

I told them that when the riders of Rohan come, we would meet the orcs in battle and help break their lines on two fronts. The repeating crossbows really were just too much as it soon reached the point where only long bows could shoot down the enemy lines. Until more charged up thinking we were out of arrows. It gave the catapults time to reload with stones and rubble so I wasn't complaining.

The Orcs own catapults had done a number on the city and there was plenty of rubble to be had. Minas Tirith wasn't nearly as durable as my city had been which was it's own blessing I guess. Soon the catapults and crossbows were back at it while the elven long bows took out numbers farther out of reach of them. My battle strategy had worked with great effect so the elves beside me said they'd wished I'd been free to fight in the last Great War so it'd have been far shorter and less hazardous.

I chuckled and fired my own bow extremely fast and with great accuracy, killing an orc with each shot. "If I had, Sauron wouldn't have a chance for this new war and really, where's the fun in that?"

Even the humans around us laughed before I sighed, saying it was my fate to be captured and tortured for the last age almost in it's entirety. I told them that it was humbling to know that even the last and oldest of the kings could fall in battle to such overwhelmingly great numbers. I told them it was a reminder that a king was only as strong as his people. I added that the kings of Gondor must have Mithril balls because even without him his people seem to be damned strong.

The humans cheered up a great deal as their captain told them. "Do you hear that warriors of Gondor? Even the oldest king in middle earth things we're stronger than our enemies. Let's show him that we are!"

They roared a cheer, boosting their spirits in this war of attrition. It changed only their moods and spirits in the battle of attrition and in such battles it made huge differences. The men lasted longer, fought harder and proved their mettle. Soon ladders came which had them shooting ballistas to tie in ropes. When they did, I had the men back off while the elves fired long bows with me.

When the ropes were in place, I told the men to cut them only when the ladders were standing straight up. This in turn killed many more orcs they landed on and it worked. Every single ladder fell and crusted tens more orcs while those on them died on impact or under the weight of it all. The hooks were dropped and the orcs that went to grab them were boiled in oil.

The crossbow men continued to fire and soon the horns of Rohan came. I ordered the riders to mount up and the crossbows to focus away from the gates. I ordered them only to stop firing when their quivers had run dry and they had no strength to stand. As the riders of Rohan began to charge, the gates of Gondor opened and I led the charge out, using spells on the wind to cut us a clean path to the army, flanking them form the sides and causing even more panic amongst their ranks.

I waved a hand and brought forth the last of the army of hellhounds to ride at our side. A full two hundred thousand against a million not including the armies of the tribesmen coming. We rode out hard and the gates shut behind us as armies clashed, bringing on the bloodiest battle since the age of my kingdom.

When the orc lines broke under our slaughter, we reformed the lines and prepared to charge the tribesmen on giant elephants that had come. I told the men to mount the hellhounds and spare the horses because the elephants were ready for horses. Those of Rohan and Gondor did so as I met with the king of Rohan. I told him that I would not survive this battle, but it would be the greatest of battles I'd fought.

I showed him a glowing wound and told Gandalf my blessings worked and even now Frodo draws strength from me. I sighed and said my power can only stave it off for another hour before I die at most, so let it be such an end that the first elf and first king of middle earth ensures today the age of man does not fall into the darkness I was born in. I told the men that mounted beasts. "I, Ren Parf Edhellen, first of the elves, last of the fallen kings, bless you all with the strength, speed and skills of my people. I give you, men, youngest of the races of middle earth, the blessings my people have so long cherished. As I die, so shall the age of man rise once more!"

I glowed bright in white light as my essence and magic covered them all. I roared. "Let us show the world one last time what man and elf can accomplish as one! To death or victory!"

They chanted my war cry and we charged as one with Gandalf on his horse and the rest on hellhounds. They found them surprisingly easy to ride even without saddles. They were faster than horses and stronger, with more agility, lethality and strength. It didn't hurt that they could jump twenty feet at a vertical incline and latch onto the elephants while the men cut into them.

Very few died by elephant as the elephants were cut down swiftly. The hellhounds were swift and cunning enough to dodge, making it so we faced the humans and orcs on the ground while we still rode hellhounds. We rode into battle and I faded the more I fought, growing weaker as my blessings dimmed and my body grew brighter. Soon the orcs found it painful as they were blinded by my lifeforce.

We chased and slaughtered them all the way through Osgiliath until only the pirate ships remained and they were full of the undead led by Aragorn. I fell with a smile on my face then and my body dimmed as I had one last blessing to give. I blessed Aragorn and through him, Arwen, with the immortality I carried for so very many years. My swords vanished into my ring that vanished as my body fell from the hellhound.

My last words were just. "My song has ended beautifully."

Gandalf the white was there as my vision dimmed and I heard him speak before I lost that as well. "That it has, Ren, first son of Arda. That it has."

I stuck around a shade with the remaining magic I had and watched as the hellhounds roared in mourning. They listened and obeyed Aragorn well enough which shocked him. Gandalf told him I'd given him and Arwen one last blessing, the gift of my own immortality. The dead demanded a war so that they may have their oaths fulfilled and be free.

Gandalf told them that he hadn't imagined they could do so much by the will of the last elf king of the lonely mountain. He told them the humans of Rohan and Gondor not only won, their lifespans had grown to a thousand years or more with the blessings of elves to boot. He told the spirits of the dead they would have their war at the black gates of Mordor if the kings before them agreed.

He looked to Aragorn. "That is, if Gondor has it's king now?"

Aragorn nodded. "It does, though I know not how well that bodes for my people just yet."

Faramir knelt before his king and told him that the house of the stewards have failed him. He told Aragorn that his father covered the power of the king and the ring when Frodo passed through Gondor so I'd stripped the steward of his titles and took custody of Gondor till my end. Aragorn had a funny look on his face before he sighed and told Faramir that he did right by following me and that's all that matters.

He asked if Rohan would ride with him to the black gates and meet the armies of Mordor head on. Theodin agreed and he asked the spirits who agreed so it was decided. Within a day the horses had been gathered, the hellhounds mounted by those without horses and the armies marched out. I watched as they reached the black gates of Mordor and demanded entrance.

When the armies came out and tried to surround them, the armies of ghosts and men overwhelmed them. The orcs and Uruk were overrun very quickly as the spirits were eager to be done with their oaths. The black lands of Mordor were soon wiped clean of enemies except the eye of Sauron. The ghosts returned after the last of the orcs were dead and I whispered to Gandalf to have the men retreat after the spirits were gone.

I told him to send the eagles if he can for once the ring is destroyed Mordor will be sucked into the void by Morgoth. I poured magic into my words and faded a great deal as they entered Gandalf's ears. Once Aragorn told the spirits he held their oaths fulfilled, Gandalf told Aragorn to order a retreat. They barely made it out as the black lands crumbled soon with the tower of the all seeing eye which was destroyed.

Gandalf summoned the eagles and managed to save the two hobbits. I smiled and let myself fade entirely. I soon found myself in the world of chakra loving ninjas and I was not pleased. I was born Ren Hatake, twin brother of Kakashi in every way.

We were identical in looks and body types for a time. At the age of five we entered the academy and stayed there for only a few months before graduating as Genin during the third shinobi war. I quickly made a name for myself having fully developed my lightning blade and rasengan. Hell, I was working on my own version of the flying thunder god jutsu when I butchered a great deal of Kumo ninja and not just with my chakra skills.

My swords and other skills had become a sight to see on the battlefield as I was promoted to Chunin mere months after I graduated. My body even at five was ridiculously strong thanks to the weighted gear and gravity ring. I ended up killing a dozen Jonin and hundreds of Chunin by the time my father committed suicide from shame. I left the battlefield only briefly for the funeral and told him I never blamed him, he did the right thing protecting his men.

I told even the Hokage that my father had nothing to be ashamed of. The council and Danzo begged to differ, but I told them to fuck off because they weren't ninja, they were cowards using ninja to do their dirty work. I told them they can banish me for all I care, but I'd never submit to cowards and I'd never give a shit what cowards think. My rage that day shook all of Konoha because I told each and every one of the old geezers to go fuck themselves.

I returned to the battlefield with new orders and more and more nearly impossible tasks. Still, I survived and so did my team while the enemy suffered great and brutal losses. Maito Dai, my sensei, led my team and we were dumped into one hellish situation after another. On the bright side I learned all his techniques including the eight gates and the Peacock jutsu he favored.

Five years had passed at war and not once had I returned to the village to rest due to orders. I could give a fuck though because I grew strong even if they'd refused to promote me to Jonin rank. With my body strength alone I could demolish an army of Genin and Chunin. I was a monstrous nightmare on the battlefield. The bloody fang of Konoha, they called me.

It was meant as an insult thanks to my father's shame as the white fang of Konoha, but it brought fear in my enemies nonetheless. When I heard of Kakashi becoming a Jonin, I didn't question it and instead focused on what I could do something about. Not long afterwards the seven swordsmen of the Mist ambushed my team and I killed three of them before Dai Sensei arrived.

He told me to leave and I refused, kicking him into my teammates as I took off my weights and told them to run. I released up to the fifth gate and went berserk while they fled. I killed the other seven swordsmen and collected all their weapons along with their heads. By the time I slaughtered the hidden mist ninjas and kumo assholes to get to my team who were fleeing, I was exhausted. A year and a half later I faced the third Raikage on the battlefield alone thanks to Danzo manipulating my team as my punishment for disobeying Might Dai's orders.

Never mind that I killed all of the seven swordsmen of the mist and collected their bingo book bounties, I had to be punished and the third Hokage agreed enough to allow such direct manipulation by Danzo. For three days and nights I faced the third Raikage in brutal open combat and on the fourth morning, I was barely alive when I took his head.

It was Minato himself who repulsed the fourth Raikage and got me away after storing the third's body. When we got back to the village he was given credit for the kill since he brought back the body, but all Jonin that day and in the village knew I'd been the one who did it. The Hokage used it as an example to promote his best student amongst the civilians and younger generation even when the other villages had known and seen the truth.

I'd asked the third Raikage for an honorable battle one on one and I'd been victorious. Still, I was told by Danzo that I should be grateful I'm alive and to leave it at that. I didn't speak out because I didn't care about it. Instead, I stayed silent as Minato was promoted to the position of fourth Hokage and and Kakashi joined the Anbu.

Word of my achievements only existed in the hearts of the Jonin and the whispers and rumors of Chunin. I was the legendary Chunin who'd killed the seven swordsman of the mist and beat a Kage in single combat to the death. Just before Minato's promotion the war ended and the mist only agreed to a truce in exchange for their swords back. The Hokage forced my hand and I gave them up without a word.

Still, I'd planted my chakra marks inside each of the blades so I'd always know where they were. I studied Fuinjutsu in my time as Minato's council he'd appointed me as after giving me the title of Jonin. The elder's council weren't happy about it, but there was nothing they could do about it now. I spent my time improving myself and when I reached the point where it was safe mode or nothing, I asked Minato to allow me to seek out Tsunade so that I might learn to summon slugs and medical ninjutsu.

He agreed and I left the village in search of the legendary unlucky gambler. When I found her, she wasn't happy to see me. Seeing my age, while hair and Jonin jacket, she asked. "Which one are you?"

I told her Kakashi now sported a sharingan in one eye so the answer was obvious. She sighed and said my name before saying that killing the seven swordsman was impressive at a Chunin level. I told her the old bastards hated me so I'd stayed a Chunin so long because they refused to promote me, even when Might Dai was killed by the failed beast. I told her I wished to learn all she knew except her gambling and drinking habits.

I told her I needed to learn to summon slugs and become a healer if I'm able. She looked me over and said I practiced the right gates. It wasn't a question so I just nodded slowly before she sighed. "Fine, but only if you pay my debts and beat me in a game."

I tossed her the receipts showing I'd already paid all her debts in every country. I was practically broke, but it would be worth it now. Honestly it would've been less painful to cash in my own bounty with Kumo who wanted my head in a big way for killing their third Raikage. Still, one game later and I was a student of Tsunade's with Shizune.

Less than a year later I left Tsunade's apprenticeship as a sage. It really wasn't that complicated and once I could feel nature chakra, I could find and expand my own chakra reserves far easier while helping expand the channels in my body and the chakra branches I had access to.

So I spent the remainder of my time with Minato learning his flying thundergod and improving it to the second and even a third step to his surprise. When Naruto was born, I was set to guard Kushina and I defended her well against a freaking Uchiha with broken ass abilities. When the fox got out though, I was stuck fighting it until Minato used the one jutsu he'd refused to teach me. He sealed half of the fox in Naruto and the other half in himself, but I'd taken some of it's chakra as well, a great deal of it in fact, with my ring.

I took a blood core and chakra sample of Naruto before passing him off to the Anbu and third Hokage, giving him my report. It was I who held the fox off when it initially went wild and it was I who kept the village safe at that time. Every shinobi saw the battle and even the third Hokage couldn't deny it, but he gave the credit to Minato and Kushina while he resumed being the Hokage.

I was given a chore job as the captain of the police in the village where I would undoubtedly be hated and reviled. Naruto's heritage became an S class secret and I was under strict orders never to go near him. So I simply had Mewtwo read their minds for all types of jutsu information and began practicing when I wasn't being despised. The Jonin and Chunin didn't hate me though and only the root ninja monitored me with their best tries.

I progressed fast and within a decade I'd surpassed all ninja living or dead besides the main godlike ones. In that time I'd grown close to the Uchiha who were hated and reviled with the same job as myself. I took most of the blame for everything so they weren't nearly as bad off as all that. Though I wasn't allowed to teach or take a team under my wing.

I did learn why Haruzen disliked me. Apparently Danzo was using his inability to control me so smoothly as an example that he was too old and unfit for the job, thus weakening his position. It had been happening ever since I'd spoken out and it wasn't easing up. The Uchiha had still been massacred by Obito and Itachi, but I endured and I was the first on the seen.

I managed to save Fugaku only for Itachi to blind me with an exploding clone as I took Fugaku and Sasuke away. I got us to a hidden area and Fugaku told me as his oldest friend outside the clan he couldn't allow me to suffer for his clan's faults especially by his own son's hands. He gave my shadow clones his eyes and told them to put them in me before their chakra ran out. He apologized that they weren't much having earned the Mangekyo long ago and being mostly blind himself already.

It was enough though to protect myself and for him to send me away with Sasuke as Itachi and Obito caught up. He'd told Sasuke it was his honor for me to carry his eyes and protect the last of his line. I took Sasuke and fled half blind at speeds even Shusui would've called insane. When we made it to the Anbu coming to help, I told them of the massacre by Itachi and Tobi Uchiha, using Tobi's real name.

I told them Itachi blinded me when I took his wounded father and Sasuke away and Fugaku gave me his eyes and asked that I protect Sasuke until he graduates from the academy. Sasuke confirmed my words saying I was only half blind now because his father was nearly blind himself. The Hokage couldn't deny me the right to raise Sasuke and protect him and with my vision nearly gone I was officially retired from the police. I raised Sasuke from then on so the year before he entered the academy he gave me his blood and allowed me a chakra sample when I told him it might be enough to fix my eyes.

It was and more when combined with Naruto's blood. Still, it became our secret that my eyes evolved into the eternal Mangekyo sharingan. I'd raised him like I had grown with weights and knowledge. By the time he was eleven he was already high Chunin material.

I'd beat the Konoha schooling into him from basics to teamwork and more. I'd helped him grow his second tomoe and taught him many jutsu including the lightning blade, rasengan and all the forms of both. I taught him to control his moods and to make friends because the Uchiha become powerful through their emotions. I taught him swordplay and all forms of weaponry along with absolute chakra control which was walking on water with extreme gravity and weights.

The more weight you had to distribute, the more chakra you expelled and the more one needed finer control. He breezed through it and I watched with a leaf headband protector over my eyes. Hiruzen asked when he appeared beside me if I reminiscing and I grunted before leaving. In less than a year they graduated and Sasuke was put on Kakashi's team with Naruto and Sakura.

In that time I'd learned all the secrets of the forbidden jutsu's of Konoha thanks to Naruto being a dumbass. Mizuki was caught and Naruto had graduated, but the secrets weren't so secret anymore. I asked to be given missions again to earn my keep as money was low for a crippled and the Hokage agreed to my surprise. I did thousands of D rank missions for the petty cash, hundreds a day with shadow clones.

When Kakashi and the others got the land of waves mission, I decided to go with them since the Hokage had no use for me. Even Danzo hoped I was killed protecting Sasuke who said I worried too much. I told him I was out for my own benefit because if I stayed longer I'd becoming a missing nin, wanted for killing the old foggies on the council. Naruto asked about me because my eyes and face was entirely covered by a mouth guard cloth and my protector.

Sasuke told the other two who I was and why my eyes were covered. Naruto asked how I walked when I was blind and all I replied was because I am a ninja. Kakashi spoke, breaking the peace. "Ren is an extremely powerful kage level ninja. When he was your age he killed the seven swordsman of the hidden mist village and had been in more battles than even I have currently been in. He was a true genius and rumor says he killed the third Raikage of Kumo in single combat. Never let his lack of sight fool you, he is a Kage level ninja even the Hokage is reluctant to deal with nowadays."

I huffed and didn't comment as we passed the puddles. Kakashi and I were targeted and like him I used a substitution before watching the others fight with my senses. I signaled for Kakashi and gave him the hand signals to tell him one of the current seven swordsman of the most is nearby. When Zabuza's blade came, I caught it and made it vanish.

Even Zabuza was shocked as I took off my protector and told him. "Bad move missing nin Zabuza Momochi. I killed the former owner of that blade long ago and it seems I get to kill the current owner. Your bingo book bounty will make me a pretty penny."

He gasped. "Hatake Ren, the bloody gang of Konoha. How- why-"

My fist already landed and bones shattered as he flew back at ungodly speeds, breaking trees in a line that would impress Tsunade. I dragged him back bloody and broken before stopping the fake hunter nin. I told him to face Sasuke and win and I'd let him take Zabuza away like he wanted. Kakashi asked if it was wise and I waved him off. "This is a keki genkai holder who can manipulate ice. A rare bloodline gift and someone who would be a real challenge for the boy whose become a soldier. If Sasuke fails, he dies. If he succeeds, he might just have a chance to achieve his goal."

I turned to Sasuke with my eyes still closed. "No taking off your weights. Beyond that, all else is fair game."

Haku asked what would happen if he refused. I told him I'd kill him and Zabuza after torturing whatever useful information out of them I needed and had some fun blowing of my own pent up rage. I waved a hand. "Your death would be beyond any agony you think you can withstand, trust me. I can fracture your mind and soul, burning you from the inside out if I want."

He shivered and I put my protector on as I put Zabuza in a scroll and held it while leaning against a tree. Sasuke fought and did damned well, even breaking through to the third tomoe. When Naruto jumped in though, as impatient as ever, Sasuke protected him and suffered for it. Naruto ended up unleashing a bit of the Ninetails fox chakra. After he beat Haku, I sealed him away as well and knocked out Naruto, tossing him to Kakashi while I healed Sasuke back to perfect health.

I carried him and cleaned up the battlefield before continuing. The bridge builder had some explaining to do and I told Kakashi I'd handle the black market asshole. When we reached the village, Sasuke and Naruto woke up fine. I congratulated Sasuke on awakening his third tomoe before leaving Zabuza and Haku with Kakashi.

I went to deal with Gato and ended up slaughtering his regular human bodyguards with ease. I killed Gato only after learning all his secrets and blackmail materials. I took all the money he had and all that was valuable before sending the boats with clones to the village by the bridge being built. I gave the villagers most of Gato's stuff and had clones repair their homes, upgrade them to include showers and sewer systems before moving on to making defenses.

All the weapons of Gato's men were given to the villagers who were mostly hiding Uzamaki clan members. I raided their minds and turned the boats into fishing boats, bringing it quite the haul over the next few days. My clones helped build the bridge and taught the villagers how to fight so they were safe. The bridge became the Great Ren bridge as thanks when it was finished.

My clone had already turned Zabuza and Haku over to T&I so when we returned, I wasn't surprised I was told to return Zabuza's blade and set out for the hidden Mist village with a bunch of chunin and Jonin to free or kill the current Mizukage. It became a whole rebellion thing that ended with the dead Mizukage and a rampaging tailed beast I siphoned a great deal of nature chakra off of before sealing in a special gourd the new Mizukage prepared.

Having easily killed a second kage and beaten a tailed beast, my fame actually grew. I didn't care and instead sold the mist the blackmail material Gato had. I left the village hidden in the mist only to arrive at village during the final exams. I reported to the Hokage about the successful mission while he and the fake Kazikage watched the matches.

When it was time, I had Mewtwo read the minds of all the sand ninja and the resurrected Hokages before watching Hiruzen die. Once that was done I siphoned off the one tail's chakra in great quantities. I had the one, three, eight and nine tails chakra stored away in vast quantities. They were beings of chakra so as long as I don't take more than half they can't be sucked into my ring instead.

Still, it held more than enough natural chakra and my own chakra as well to boost them into reforming like a clone in my ring if I wished. Many Jonin shinobi wished for me to become the next Hokage while Danzo wanted to be Hokage and when I passed, Jiraiya was mentioned and he refused saying he'd get Tsunade to be the Hokage. I'd killed many sand and sound ninja that had come to attack with shadow clones alone so my fame in the village was at an all time high. Jiraiya took Naruto to go find Tsunade and I went back to meditating.

Danzo tried moving against me with his root nun and most were dead in seconds, forcing him to face me himself. I told him that him trying to assassinate me would cause too big of a disturbance so the village would become involved and when I inevitably killed him I'd be punished. He humphed and took those alive while destroying the dead to get rid of the proof. I smirked and went back to meditating peacefully.

Mako eventually showed up and I got distracted. We'd been fuck buddies since Orochimaru became a missing nin. She needed to blow off steam and considering I'd done it years before with Tsunade and Shizune, it was no hardship. Tsunade preferred to get drunk and pretend I was her dead lover while Shizune liked to pretend I was her own older brother, the same dead lover of Tsunade's.

It was a fucked up world, but I didn't care. They were expendable to me and I was the same to them. Hell, half the time Anko wanted me to be her snake sensei when she was drunk. She'd actually lost her virginity calling me sensei.

Yup, my life was complicated in many more ways than most in a magic ninja world.