Imperial capital
Anárion leaving the throne room accompanied by his 4 guards. Looking at his Black Numenoreans a feeling of pride invaded the Dark Lord.
Although Numenor's blood was almost extinguished, Sauron used dark magic and ancient curses to resuscitate his faithful elite soldiers. It was not for nothing that he was once nicknamed the Necromancer.
Unfortunately, this act exhausted much of the power he had recovered. Because of this, his physical body became unstable. If he was not wearing gloves, you could see a dark mist coming from his hands.
As long as his soul is incomplete his powers will be limited. Although it had stabilized thanks to the divine source of Melkor, the destruction of the ring had weakened it irreparably.
The ring had an important fragment of its soul, its destruction had dispersed this part of itself. Obviously, he had tried to recover it, but the White Council was faster than him. They sealed these fragments and had the seal protected by a Maiar, Yahweh. Normally this method would have been enough to put him out of the game, but fate had other plans.
They were unaware that Sauron had absorbed the divine source of Melkor and that this had enabled him to regain enough power to interact with this Plan of Existence. Again, his enemies underestimated him, they should have thrown the seal in the Void. Sauron would not fail to exploit this error.
Yahweh had taken up residence in a sub-dimension called High Heavens, there he had welcomed a new race which appeared in the fifth Age, the Angels. The latter are few in number, but they are valiant warriors. They all saw Yahweh as their father because he had taken from them the whole basis of their culture. His teachings had changed the Angels into caring and proud beings.
Some of them were even too proud. The Dark Lord remembered Lucifer, Yahweh's favorite son very well, and he almost matched the power of a Maiar. Lucifer was too proud to see humans other than as a sub-race, but out of love for his father, he suppressed his feeling. This pride, Sauron used it to manipulate he and turn he against his father.
For a long time, Sauron may not have been able to have a personal impact in the world. However there were so many who were corrupted by his power: Saroumane, Hades, Lucifer and finally Kaguya Ôtsutsuki herself and all her lineage.
Lucifer rebelled and during his fall into the sub-dimension called Hell, he took with him the first layer of the seal. From the blood of Lucifer was born a new race, the Devils.
When Yahweh learned of what Lucifer had done with the seal he was protecting, he got into a murderous rage. The two factions entered a terrible conflict, which caused a level of destruction that has not been seen since the Second Age. Another faction, the fallen angels, joined the conflict.
At the end of the war, no faction emerged victorious. Lucifer and Yahweh killed each other and the fallen angels were so few in number that their race was on the verge of extinction. Finally, the survivors signed a peace treaty and the angelic and demonic factions promised to protect the fragment of the seal that each possessed.
Now that his main obstacle was gone, Sauron had to create the perfect moment to break the seal. He could not simply darken on the High Heavens even if Yahweh is died, because the angels were always a dreaded force. Subtlety was the best option. Like everything he had accomplished so far, the wait will allow him to achieve his goal.
During this time of reflection, Anárion continued to work his way through the imperial palace. After a while, he reached the palace gardens where the strongest woman on the continent was located. Seeing the one he was looking for, the general ordered his guards to stay behind and approached her.
No more than a few steps away, she jumped into his arms and kissed him. Indeed, Anárion and Esdeath had a secret relationship. Did Sauron really love this woman? Of course not. He is the Dark Lord not a hormonal young human. Although the Ainurs may feel feelings like love, Sauron had not felt this emotion since the Age of the Trees.
In this case why does it seem to be related to the Ice queen? Simply because it was the perfect way to handle her. His power being sealed, Sauron could not invoke his most faithful servants to lead his armies and manage his domain. So he looked for people with good potential that he could use. His second in command, Saeko, is one of the talents he had spotted.
When he discovered that Esdeath had successfully harnessed the power of Teigu Demon's Extract, he was immediately drawn to her potential. At the time of its creation, he had seen all the hosts of this Teigu go completely mad or succumbed to his power, yet this woman had mastered a power which he believed that no human could use.
For a long time, he had been looking for a way to put her in his service. Most humans were attracted to simple things: wealth, power, lust ... Yet the woman that this country considers to be the most frightening being on this continent, had for goal a purpose that many consider as a pure act. She was looking for someone who would love her for what she is.
After many encounters, several duels and a slight influence of her spirit, the Ice Queen fell under the charm of the Dark Lord. Until Angmar returned to his service, she would lead his armies.
Parting from the kiss they had shared for over a minute, Anárion lifted the young woman's chin slightly.
Anárion: So much affection could draw attention to us. Honest shouldn't learn the truth about us, should he?
Esdeath: Pff! No one would dare to spy on any of us. If someone dares to annoy me, they will end up impaled by an Ice spear.
Indeed, the person who wanted to offend the Ice Queen and the Ash Pheonix did not want to live long. The young woman tried to kiss again the man she loves, however the palm of his hand was found against her lips.
Anárion: Work before pleasure.
Esdeath was slightly upset, but easily obey with his request as she already knew his thoughtful personality.
Anárion: What orders did Honest give you?
Esdeath: Now that you protect the Capital, Honest wants to send me to exterminate the Western tribes. This imbecile acts in anyhow, your base at the border is barely 5 days walk from his savages, yet he preferred to make you come back here and send me instead.
The general reflected on the informations he has just received. It didn't take him more than a minute to understand the Prime Minister's plan.
Anárion: It seems that Honest is trying to eliminate some of the annoying rats.
Esdeath: What do you mean?
Anárion: Even though I came back to protect the Capital, everyone knows that I have to constantly stay at the outside wall to coordinate the legions in the event of an attack. If you go to the West then the palace will be separated from one of its most powerful protectors, this event will undoubtedly attract the Night Raid.
Esdeath: So these assassins, could take the opportunity to try to eliminate Honest or the Emperor.
Anárion: Exactly. Honest is an intelligent man and he knows the risks of sending you far from the palace. I believe that he commits this act voluntarily to eliminate the Night Raid thanks to his son and to Budo.
Esdeath: Should we be involved in this conspiracy? I have a few score to settle with the Night Raid for what they did to my Jaegers
Anárion: Patience. Let our enemies kill each other and we will finish them off when they are down. All this is only the beginning of a much bigger conflict and with much more important stakes than a simple empire.
The Ice Queen's usually azure eyes suddenly became blazing at the prospects of future fights.
Yes. The time approaches when his thirst for conquest will be satisfied