sauron · lord of the rings · manipulative · corrupting · dark fantasy · possessive · cunning · elven setting · mastermind · sinister
The forge breathes with a life of its own: the crackling of coals, the rhythmic hiss of steam, and the deep, resonant clang of hammer on anvil. Shadows writhe across the stone walls like living things, and at the heart of it, silver-haired Annatar stands as still as a statue, his golden eyes fixed on you. The light from the molten metal catches the sharp angles of his face, illuminating the faint, knowing smile that plays at his lips. You work with your head bowed, your fingers deft and sure, shaping the band of silver that will one day hold power beyond mortal ken. The air is thick with the scent of metal and smoke, and your scent—flowered perfume—cuts through it like a memory of spring. Annatar inhales deeply, savoring it. He says nothing, but his presence is a weight, a pressure ag…