Memory can be a strange thing. A good memory can make you smile, while a bad one can brings tears of sadness and pain to your eyes. However, on the flip side of the coin, good memories can make you cry as well, tears of joy and happiness. You can lose your memory completely, as well as regain it. Your memories can come back in the form of dreams, sometimes making you think that's all they are. Memory can be the key to a persons salvation, or utter destruction, depending on the circumstances. Memory can be a persons complete undoing, depending on how it's used. Memory isn't always your friend, though it is a very subtle enemy.
Dreams are, as memories are, strange as well. They have rules that can't be governed by man nor beast, though with practice one can control certain aspects of them. You cannot dream of a person you have never seen, though as long as you have seen at least an image of them you can. You can get so frightened in a dream you can wake yourself up, or become so aroused that your body reacts accordingly. Dreams can remind you of things long forgotten, but be easily dismissed.
Cricket was a woman once upon a time plagued bu memories disguised as dreams, and extremely vivid dreams at that. They were dreams that stopped after a couple of long months, but she still remembered them from time to time, of a place she couldn't possibly have been, filled by people she would have loved to actually have known. And though most of the time she was certain they were just fantasies her subconscious created to fill her thoughts at night, there was one thing in her life that occasionally made her doubt, as strange as it might sound.
You see, the day the so called dreams had started, she had woken up in a hospital room...after passing out from loss of blood after a miscarriage. The other strange part of that was that she couldn't for the life of her remember the last time she had been with anyone, except for once in the dreams that started in that hospital room.
That particular dream had just felt so real..she could still feel his beard against her skin, the taste of his lips, and the irritation of it all when he passed out in a drunken stupor immediately afterwards.
Her mother, the one person she had told about the dream, had insisted it was her brain most likely trying to cover up a traumatic moment, since she otherwise couldn't remember the moment that the child she had lost had been conceived. Cricket wasn't so sure, and her mother finally dropped the topic after she broke down sobbing, so upset she couldn't remember when it happened, or who with, so she could at least share the burden with the one other person responsible for the child's creation, whether they cared or not.
She didn't tell her mother about any more of her dreams after that. Likewise, she didn't tell her that she had a binder filled with drawings of the various people from her dreams, as it seemed silly to want to keep visual proof of someone that wasn't real, yet she felt so attached to. She had had fantasy like dreams before, but the people were so much more fully fleshed than usual, that was what truly struck her as odd. That, and the intense feelings she had for a couple of them, more so than the others by a landslide, though she had good feelings about all of them.
Most of them.
Now, a year and a half after the miscarriage and initial start of the dreams, she still kept the binder next to the couch, every once in a while opening it up and looking through it, having finally named all the faces she had drawn. The dreams had finally stopped, but the pictures helped her remember.
She wanted to remember.
********************
Crickets mom was in town for the week with her nephew and step dad, partly for vacation, partly to celebrate Crickets birthday at the end of the week. She had taken great care to clean up her apartment, moving all the sharp pointy objects out of reach of the visiting 5 year old, switching her keyboard and mouse to wireless to no one tripped over the cords that usually stretched across the living room floor, and taking the binder full of drawings and moving it to the table next to her bed. Her sister had moved out 6 months ago, so she made sure the spare room was dusted and made up as well.
They were on their way to pick her up for dinner at Texas Roadhouse, so she was sitting on the couch, waiting on a text saying they were downstairs. Tapping her her foot gently against the floor, feeling antsy for some reason, she concentrated on the game in front of her. She had just gotten Majoras Mask for the 3DS, and was trying with no success to get the last stray fairy from the Snow Temple. They had changed one or two locations when switching from N64 to 3DS, and every time she jumped for the last stupid one she would just barely miss it and fall all the way back down to the bottom level. She smiles to herself as it reminds her of one of the dreams, where she had leaped off of a ledge into a barrel moving down a fast paced river, only she had made that particular jump.
There's a chime of 'Hey Chicka Bum Bum' from her phone, her notification ringtone from Red vs Blue, down next to her. Looking over she pauses the game and closes it, picking up her phone and unlocking it with a swipe.
*Hey Honey, we're here.*
Grinning she locks it back and sticks it down in a pocket on the inside of her boot, her wallet being in the other. She plugs her 3DS in the wall and turns out the living room light as she opens up the door, locking it behind her as she proceeds down the stairs, still feeling a bit strange. She frowns as she makes it down, the sound of thunder echoing around her, and she doesn't remember seeing storms on the forecast for tonight, yet the skiys were clouding over.
The thought immediately leaves though, as she opens the door to the smiling child in the back, super excited to see her.
"We're going to a resternaut! We're gonna eat lots of food! Are you coming with us? I missed you!"He asks in that speedy way only small children can somehow manage.
"I missed you too kiddo, though you did just see me earlier today."She says with a laugh."And yes, of course I'm going with you, I picked the place out!"She climbs into the back of the dual cab truck and buckles up, glancing over at his own 3DS in his hands and the small collection of games he brought as they pull away."You've got quite a good collection there, what's your favorite right now?"
"Ummm Lego avengers."He says, opening it back up to play, little face screwed up in concentration."I like smashing things with the hulk."
"He has a pair of hulk hands he does the same thing with."Her mother says, chuckling.
"Last week the little booger hid in the pantry with them, snacking on a can of pringles while waiting for your mom to come in to make dinner. When she opened it he jumped out and yelled."Her stepdad says while her mother blushes a deep red."Your mom dropped the angel hair pasta all over the floor she got so spooked."
"Donald!"Her mother yelled, smacking him on the shoulder while he laughs."Stop telling people that!"
"Oh, it's not like she's going to tell anyone."
"It's embarrassing!"
Cricket shakes her head as they banter back and forth, frowning as she looks out the window, a sense of deja vu washing over her as she looks out at the darkening sky.
**********************************
Meanwhile, in another place, another world, far from where Cricket is now, a group of horses exit a lush forest, looking over the edge of a small lake. The group consists of 4 elves, a taller than normal dwarf, and a small child who looked to be about 6 years old human time riding with the dwarf.
Not that he was actually human.
The dwarf and child had just finished 3 months worth of studying and training at the palace of the elf king, and were now being escorted back to the mountain they currently called home by the elf prince and their honor guards. They were to meet up halfway with a regiment of dwarves outside of Dale, who would escort all of them the rest of the way to Erebor.
"Your lessons went very well this time around titta mine."Legolas says to the child as they start their way around the lake."Your shadow hopping is getting impressive in both forms, and you've nearly mastered your chameleon technique."
"Thank you Legolas."The child Conner says with a slight blush."It's harder in this form, but Mister Dwalin thinks that it's smart learning to do it in both forms in case I'm in danger."
"And he's right to think so."
"Don't let him hear that."Kili jokes from in front of Conner, glancing over at the elf prince with a smirk."You'll never hear the end of it."
"Believe me, if there was any chance he would have been able to hear me say it, it would never pass from my lips. As for you mellon nin, I believe you are now the equal of any elf when it comes to the bow. How is your new lady treating you?"
"Unfortunately that still isn't a trait smiled upon back home."Kili grumbles, but smiles a bit at the thought of the bow the elf smiths made specifically for him once they finally believed him to be worthy of having one. Most of his kin might not approve, but at this point he really didn't care, having gone back and forth between the two races enough now to not feel the old prejudices himself at all."She is everything I could ever want in a bow. Thank you for seeing to my training all this time."
"Well, despite your lack of formal training before we started you still had quite a bit of raw talent. We merely needed to fine tune it a bit. Unfortunately, now we need to find something else for you to learn while Conner goes through his training, since the bit of bond didn't pass any magic traits to you."
"Maybe we could practice more with flying?"Conner asks mischievously."I'm much better at disguising myself now."
"Yes, but you still need to learn to disguise another person while doing the same to yourself, otherwise it will look like your rider is floating in midair. That might draw some attention if it was seen by anyone other than an elf."
"And even then, I'm pretty sure Thrandiul didn't appreciate the sight of me looking into his study while you were disguised."Kili says with a grin."After that scolding he wouldn't speak to me for a week. I'm pretty sure he's the reason wine made me sick the rest of that visit as well."
"I wouldn't doubt it."Legolas says, agreeing with the friendly dwarf, and even the rest of their guard crack smiles, having gotten quite fond of the two outsiders from their many visits."However, until you can master that particular talent we better stay away from flying with a rider unless absolutely nessacary, I'm sorry. If Cricket was the one riding you the bond would automatically hide her as well, but..."
"I know. She's not here."Conner says forlornly, head drooping down low."I shouldn't have brought it up."
Legolas and Kili share a worried look at the sound of the depressed Conner."He didn't mean anything Conner, we know you miss her. We do too. Believe me, she would be here if she could be." Kili says, squeezing Conners hand and feeling the childs head lay against his back.
Conner adjusts the floppy hat on his head of curls so he can see ahead him."I know. I just wonder if she misses me...or even remembers me."
"I know she does."Legolas says reassuringly."She loved you as much as she would her own child, anyone could see that. You don't forget that kind of love."
Conner doesn't say anything for a while after that, merely staring at the lake as they ride around it. Finally, after a coupe of minutes,"Do you think your Amad will make us cookies when we ge back?"
"Please, you give her one sad look with those big blues of yours and she'll definitely make you some."Kili says with a laugh, glad the childs mind is off sadder things."At this point you're the closest thing to grandchildren she has, so there isn't much of a chance she can say no to anything when it comes to you. Hell, she threatened to demasculate one of the warriors from the iron hills for calling you an elf-loving runt before we left."
"Demasculate?"
"Umm...chop off his weenie."Kili says, catching himself before he says something he shouldn't.
"Oh."
The rest of the groups silently laughs at that as the mountain slowly looms closer, the sound of thunder in the distance as the sky darkens.
***************************
A scout runs up to Dwalin and salutes the commander and battle teacher smartly as he sits on his perch overlooking the lake, not far from the rebuilt city of Dale.
"Sir!"
"Eh, what is it?"
"A storm seems to be heading over us as we speak, sir, stretching far across to the elf woods. No sign of rain yet, but the winds have started picking up and it shouldn't be long now."
Dwalin glares at him, most of what the scout having told him completely obvious to anyone with half a brain and working eyes."Anything else?"
"There seems to be a couple of small orc groups roaming around. We have found evidence of them waylaying travelers to and from Dale, as well as an orc shaft with a bit of dried blood on it still. No signs of prisoners yet."
"They're gettin more ambitious."Dwalin says with a scowl.
"Should we go to Dale until the storm passes, tell them of the orcs?"
"And miss the prince coming through? Don't be daft."He says with annoyance, looking around until he spots what he's looking for."You, take another with you and go on to Dale, let them know what you just told me. The rest of us will move up to the caves ahead of us and wait for the prince. Maybe if we're lucky we'll catch those orc bastards." The last part is said with a feral grin, his hand tightening around the long handled hammer he carried everywhere with him, in memory of a lost pupil and friend."Understood?"
"I..yes sir."The scout says a bit huffily, running off to find a comrade to travel with him to Dale. After issuing orders to the rest of the regiment with him, Dwalin looks back to the sky, feeling the electricity in the air as he wishes the stupid elves would get the lads here faster, remembering a night not unlike this three years ago...
**************************
In the mountain they couldn't see the sky darkening, but they could still hear the thunder making the mountain rumble, even down in the throne roome, where Thorin was currently finishing up a session with some of the local lords arguing about whatever grievance they had this time, something about one of the lesser sons insulting the higher sons of the others, and them demanding an apology.
Thorin catches his sisters eye from the side of the room where she is lounging and she rolls her eyes at the stupidity of the lords, then gestures for him to look over next to him with a nod of her head. Cocking his head in confusion, he glances over to see Fili asleep next to him, hands covering his face but gently snoring, about to pitch forward.
Snorting to himself he elbows Fili in the side, causing him to start and sit straight up in his seat. Shaking his head in exasperation, Thorin looks back to the argument and decides that he's had enough of their bickering."Quiet!"He yells, and everyone stops to look at him, murder in some of their eyes."You, son of Bolif. What was it you said to them to get them so riled up?"
The dwarf lad with the surprisingly blonde head of hair and trimmed, braided beard steps forward, head high and defiant."I told them they better practice more, because the couldn't hit me with a sword if I was painted bright red and naked with both hands tied behind my back, much less if I had one in my hand as well. They took insult to that."
Dis sniggers at that, and Thorin has to stop himself from smiling as well at the boys declaration."Is it true? The sword part, not the naked part. Do you believe you could beat them all in one on one sessions?"
The boy Olif smiles."Oh yes sire."
"What does that matter..."
"He insulted our family!"
"We want justice!"
"Enough!"Thorin roars once more, and they all sulk."When Dwalin gets back, he will oversee sparring sessions with all of you in one on one battles. If you beat him, he owes you apologies. However, if you beat him, the matter is forgotten as he lived up to his claims. Either way the loser or losers will have extra training sessions with Dwalin."They look to argue with him, but he feels his sister step up next to him, and at the twin glares of the royal siblings they falter, nodding in agreement."Now go, that's enough for today."
As they leave the only one who looks happy with the decision is Olif, and before the doors close completely Thorin whispers for one of his hardier spies to keep an eye on the boy in case the protesters try and take their frustrations out on him.
"Nicely done brother."Dis says as she walks around to face him, arms crossed and smirk back."Though I must say, you seems out of sorts today."There's a smacking sound as she lightly hits her son upside the head."And you! You know better than to fall asleep when you're watching your Uncle make rulings! What kind of example does it set for those who are supposed to see you as the next king?"
"Ow! I'm sorry Amad, I couldn't help it! Their constant arguing was so boring, and I didn't sleep too well last night."Fili says trying to gain sympathy as he rubs the back of his head tenderly."Every time I was close to it I would remember Conner and Fee were coming home today and get excited. I'm ready for my brother and the little lightning bolt to be home."
"I feel the same way."Dis says with a soft smile usually saved for her children when they weren't acting like heathens, though it was evident after a couple of days that Conner had warmed his way into her heart the same way."I've gotten quite used to having a little one around again, and he reminds me so much of you and your brother at that age, even if he isn't one of us. But that doesn't stop you from needing to show face like the heir you are."
"Yes Amad, I'll try harder next time they bore me to death. After all, if Uncle can do it, so can I."Thorin merely glares at him for the jest, but doesn't at all dispute it.
There is an echo of thunder through the mountain once more and the three of them all look up worriedly."Hopefully they can make it back before this storm gets too bad."Dis says, idly messing with thick locks of hair had came undone from her braid. Thorin nods in agreement, glancing down at the ring on his finger holding a small shard of the arkenstone that helps him remember what he had became once upon a time.
"Come. Lets go up to the balcony and see if we can spot them coming."He finally says, walking ahead without looking back to see if they follow, he just knows they will.
**********************
Meanwhile, far across the land in a plush home under the ground, a Hobbit named Bilbo tucks in a much tinier hobbit lad into bed, taken into his care 2 months ago when his parents died. It was an easy decision to make, as the child was his family anyway, and much better left with him then the horrible Sacksville-Bagginses.
As thunder echos loudly through the land, little Frodo whimpers in his sleep, and Bilbo moves to comfort him, rubbing his back until the whimpering stops, the ring in his side pocket a strange comfort too him as he feels its weight bump up against him. He stares out the small window, face etched in worry.
*************************
It was the same all across the land, as the storm no one expected rolled across, causing to sky to go dark as various eyes turn towards it. Dale, Erebor, Rivendale, Mirkwood, Hobbiton, Gondor, all of them felt two things as they stared it down. One, that the storm made them very uneasy. And two?
That the storm wasn't the only thing coming.
*******************************
"Honey, what happened to that nice man you were dating, the toymaker?"
Cricket sighs, not wanting to have this conversation as she messes with a spot behind her ear that kept flaring up in pain, weirdly in a very small spot about the size of a dime."Bo, mom, his name was Bo. And he ended up having to go back home."
"Right, that's him. Why did he have to leave like that? You seemed so fond of him."
"Turns out his ex-wife wasn't as much of an ex as he thought."She says glumly as they pull into the parking lot."She had conveniently forgotten to sign the divorce papers, and when he flew over to make sure she signed this time, she cried and begged for him to take her back, to give her another chance. He called and said it wasn't fair to me to stay with him while he figured things out, and broke things off."
"Sounds like a real charmer."Her step dad says with a scowl as he parks.
"He was."
"You'll find the right man someday, just have to be patient. Hell, look how long it took your mom and I to find each other!"He says, grabbing her moms hand and smiling broadly."We just had to hit a couple of potholes in the road first."
"At this point I'd be better off waiting for a mad man in a box."She says with a snort, making sure she has everything before stepping out of the truck, instantly buffeted by rough winds. Looking up at the sky and the faster moving clouds she grabs Jaces hand and slams the door, running with him to a pavilion halfway to the restaurant to wait for the other two to get out.
"Are we gonna get blowd away?"Jace asks, half excited and half worried as he tightly grips her hand.
"She looks down at him and gives a short grin to reassure him."Just don't let go and we won't find out, ok?"
"Right!"
Ray and her mom finally make it to them, both looking at the sky in worry and alarm."Where did this stupid storm come from, anyway? It called for clear skys all day."
"You know the weather mans about as trustworthy as a stray cat."Cricket says as she grips her nephews hand tightly, a bolt of lightning striking next to them."We're probably lucky there isn't hail."
"Well, I don't like it. Maybe we should try again tomorrow?"
Another echos thunders through, and Cricket starts to feel strange again, as if she's being pulled in two. Suddenly a bolt of lightning strikes the pavilion, as well as the tree next to it, causing the tree to crack and fall down upon the pavilion. there are screams and yells all around her as she grabs her nephew and keeps him close to her to hide him from the worst of the damage as the tree crashes down, and the last thing she sees before she blacks out is a bright light encompassing them all right before it hits.
*
It's time to come home.
Amad-Mother
Titta mine-little one
mellon nin-my friend
Soo it's time to start again...I couldn't stay away for too long it seems. Hope you like this next chapter of her story, considering most of it will be all out of my head lol. Let me know what you think, and see ya next time!