Title: The Crying Tree
Disclaimer: I do not own TRC or LOTR
Sign in:Warfang
It wasn't supposed to happen again. After the trip through Shara, he always did his best to make sure they were together. Now, he was alone, in a new world, and he was hungry. If Kurogane didn't get here to feed him soon, he didn't know what would happen.
At least the three of them were together. The princess and Mokona would be okay, and he had just finished explaining to a group calling themselves riders of Rohan that they had lost two of their members. He said he didn't know where they were, or when they would arrive. They directed him to the king of Gondor, and supplied them with better clothes, so as to not stand out. He figured Victoria met techno clothing was not something worn in this world.
He wouldn't tell that white pork bun, but having Souhi miraculously with him when he landed had come in handy. He couldn't speak the language, but apparently there were several dialects in this world. And killing those rotten skinned, black clad "Orcs" was a good way to stay with these short warriors and their long beards. But where were the others? Particularly Fai, as he needed Kurogane's blood to survive.
--
Syaoran still couldn't figure out how a trip to Gondor suddenly went through the Shire. True, the people here were hospitable, and Syaoran and princess Sakura could help out, but they were so curious about Mokona. Sakura explained that Mokona was a living creature, and translated the sounds from them to the language everyone could understand, or their version of the 'Common Tongue'. After that, Sakura helped with the baking, and Syaoran helped in the fields.
Time was running short for Fai. He had met an old man by the name of Gandalf in the woods, Mirkwood to be precise, and fell into an elaborate trap. He had been goofing around, staying on the move, with his fake smile to cover his worries….but Gandalf knew just like KuroganePAIN that something was wrong. So Gandalf made dinner, sat down, and waited. Fai eventually settled down, and started talking while the tea water boiled. And, in his defense, Gandalf was doing this for a month, but he was hungry, running out of options, and needed cooperation with locals so he could get to the next world.
He told him about the mission, his transformation and need of Kurogane BLOOD, SWEET BLOOD and how he was here and alone. Gandalf sat there, and eventually Fai said, "Eeeeh? How long does tea usually take?"
"Oh, I must've forgotten to put the water in. So, you say you are a wizard then. What robes are you?"
"We don't use robes," Fai poked the fire. "We see how well we can cast the magic instead."
"Care to give an old man a demonstration?"
Fai gave a cheeky grin. "If you don't mind blatant disregard for how serious the task is, I'll use only magic to make the tea."
Standing up, he wrote signs into the air, watching them unhook the pot, take off the lid, bring a stream of water, put it in, put the lid back on, and hook it back to the fire. Then, he undid the pack's clasps, fetched out mugs, kettle, and packets of tea, and set them down. The packets went into the kettle, with the string hanging out. Fai, used magic to pour the water into the kettle, dunk the tea bag a few times, and let it steep. After a few minutes, he made the kettle float up, tip the tea into the mugs, and sent one to the old man, and waved the other to himself. He set the magic down, and took the mug. Sitting down he said "I haven't done such a simple trick in my whole life before now."
Gimli, son of his father, and of his father, and of his father. Kurogane wasn't bothering to remember all the names. His language was similar to Goblin-tongue, a language the dwarves seemed to have learned because their enemies spoke it. Kurogane didn't care about that, either. He was currently sitting in a room, poring over a map of how big this world was. He snapped out of a daze- worry about the kids and the mage later- and asked Gimli "What is the fastest way to find people you lost on a trip?"
"Send word across the land of Humans, Dwarves, and the Elves, what's left of them."
"And the other lands? Or are the orcs travelers?"
"If your friends meet orcs, I hope they know how to defend themselves."
"Kyaaah!" Crash.
Those seem to be the cue for Syaoran to come running. There was an old man, wearing a multi-colored robe, helping Sakura stand, and there seemed to a cart precariously stuck in the ditch.
"Princess, what happened?"
"I am afraid that when I mentioned that there was a vampire that is in need of assistance in Mirkwood, she ran in front of the cart to get my attention."
"Princess that was-"
"He's talking about Fai! Oh, we never knew how long he can go without Kurogane, and now we need to find the feather, each other, and help Fai."
"Sir, what else can you tell us?"
Gandalf made a surreptitious point to look around at the gathering crowd. Syaoran, noticing the look, announced,
"We can talk in comfort where we are staying. Come, I don't think Mr. Frodo will mind too terribly if I explain there was an accident. And, I think we all can use a cup of tea to settle our nerves and discuss plans."
Walking up the path to Bags End, Syaoran suddenly stopped, whirled around, and bowed from the waist.
"My name is Syaoran, this is Sakura, and Mokona is-"
"Mokona!"
"Well, my name is Gandalf." He tipped his hat to Mokona, and bent over, following the white ball with long ears, stubby arms and jewel into the hill. Syaoran and Sakura followed after, careful to shut the door.
Pain….Pain…..Something…Pain…Coming…
Fai rolled back, staring at the gap from his self-imprisonment. Like everything, the contraption was flawed, but sufficient for what he needed, and disposable UNLIKE OTHERS for when he was done. The clicking noise he had heard was starting to come from several directions, and Fai was slightly nervous. He could deal with anything, and take on nearly everyone, but he also knew it was best to pick a fight when you have the advantage. He was at a major disadvantage. At least Gandalf knew of similar creatures, and provided him with some type of blue crystal before he left. No where as sweet or sustaining as Kurogane but Fai chanced a glance at the crystal at least it will provide nourishment until Kuropipi arrives. Dying still had a slight perk. Clone Syaoran would lose his half of magic, just as he had planned all those….would it be months back there? Time shifted so much in different worlds. It felt like months here.
Two months, a week, and a day. Not that Kurogane was counting or anything. He was not excited that Lord Aragorn had written to Gimli that the kids were safe somewhere in the Shire. He would deny anyone saying that he nearly tore the map room open looking for a map that had the Shire located on it, until Gimli directed him towards the stash, and promised provisions and guards for the trip. He had scoffed at the idea of guards for him. Gimli said that the guards were for the other travelers to be at ease.
"Red eyes, a sword nearly taller than a man, and brute strength that sweeps away your enemies…you would need fast talkers with honorable reputations not to be killed for a half-breed of an Uruk-hai."
"So I 'sweep away' any nuisances-"
"And there is the matter of your language. Many people who learn the goblins' tongue are either skilled fighters or in the circles concerning mercenaries. Someone whose only language is goblin will be highly suspicious, and you seem a natural at blending in. Sticking out rather hinders you, eh?"
"………"
"So, learn some words, while I prepare for a journey and send a message ahead. Start with the Common Tongue, easily understood, used mostly for trading, and nearly everyone speaks it, with very few dialects. Learn words for hospitality, and be able to recognize words that belong to war. We will depart within the week."
"Hmph. I can learn simple languages."
The old dwarf smiled under his beard at the gruff 'thank you'.
Syaoran was packing. For himself, Sakura, and had Gandalf requested three days of provisions rather than the month's required for the trek?
Oh well…at least Strider had come riding up after they had heard stories of all the journeys Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins (he was certain they said he was a burglar and stole from a dragon) had together. And now he thought that maybe Gandalf planned for them to meet up with a bigger force, and then march into Mirkwood forest. It would make sense.
Then there was the matter with Strider. He seemed shady, but Syaoran would bet that he was that King of Gondor, he carried himself as one and everyone respected him on sight.
Syaoran finished packing for himself, and turned to head towards the Princesses' bedroom. She had finished packing clothes, and requested advice for any additional necessities.
Fai was not going crazy. He always had a plan in his head and a mask on his face with a trick up his sleeve, and only Kurowoof-woof could do anything about it. But he was wondering why now of all times the spiders had to relocate. It was annoying how they chattered, and only talked about food. They were sly, but he had them figured out is five minutes, and who was who in two hours.
Talking to them was getting him absolutely no entertainment. He was starting to get bored, but that was not a sign of going crazy, and neither was chiding himself.
They had been traveling for hours, and now the road was blocked. Kurogane huffed with annoyance as he heaved against the rubble. He figured heading to where ever they were going-Gimli still wouldn't tell him- would take a long time, and they had been in this world borderline seventy days. In other worlds, this could be years, or mere seconds. To Kurogane, it was seventy days with no Fai, Mokona, the kids, or word of strange occurrences that a feather may cause.
Strange, that it would cause anxiety. He could not relax-because he did not know if they were safe. Nothing else. Not because he missed them.
"No, you want an oiled blanket for the rain, so pack it near the top."
Sakura looked at the packs.
"Which one? Or should I pack several?"
"Pack them in a bag you know will be close at hand. Including ones you will be personally carrying, I don't think we will be traveling with a pack horse for very far. Also, do NOT pack any food; wild animals can be attracted to them if not properly stored. Carry your own flint in a water proof container, have a few matches too, and keep a small knife on yourself, concealed, unless we enter a peaceful establishment. Inns do not count, as an enemy could sneak in."
"Who taught you that?"
Syaoran jerked and whirled, settling into a crouch, before his eyes recognized Strider, lounging in the small doorway. He rose up, and stared at him for a moment.
Telling him would be best…
Syaoran nodded to Sakura, before motioning for Strider to join him in the room, and shut the door.
They are assisting us in getting back together with the rest of our group.
"You may want to sit down."
Strider settled upon a chair near the fireplace, facing Syaoran and Sakura, who were close to the bed and chest. A window, left open for a breeze on a balmy day, was closed by Sakura at a nod from Syaoran.
Sakura started.
"You know that my friend and I have been separated from traveling companions. Well, we do not only travel these lands. A space-time witch is helping us-"
"Whose name is Lady Yuuko, forgive my interrupting. She told us to help you get back together, especially since we had just finished with our own war. She says that your fight had transcended most of what we could believe."
"I figured that was it." Syaoran interjected. "Gandalf seems to be a wizard; though he is the first one I've met who had a beard."
Strider raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, a lot of people react to Mokona, and need an explanation. He had a certain, lack of reaction to Mokona. This led me to the logical conclusion that they had already met before, or that he was used to ones similar to Mokona."
Strider nodded. It was sound reasoning, and the youth seem capable of taking care of himself, if a little overprotective of Lady Sakura.
"Well, we had a recent change to our group. Several, actually. Fai, who is capable of magic, lost an eye to my clone, or a body double, who is a very well made replica of me. He has a one-track mind, and does everything to achieve his goals, and one of those everythings was to take Fai's magic." Imperceptibly to most, Strider stiffened.
"Of course, you probably already know that should have killed him."
Sakura began talking.
"But it didn't. Kurogane made a deal with Lady Yuuko, and now Fai is not human, and his food is Kurogane. Also, the clone left, and now we have Syaoran instead."
Strider sat still for a long time.
"S-so you see, we do need your help." Sakura was hesitant, Strider still had not moved.
Syaoran sighed. "The answer to your question is Kurogane, he was the mentor to the clone, and now I observe him. Also, people have a nasty habit of following us from world to world- I mean, from one country to the next. We need to constantly be on the move, and we can't leave without our companions. We all made wishes with Lady Yuuko, and we have to be together in order to leave- stay in a group." Lying was extremely hard, but he wasn't lying, just putting their journey into words Strider could understand.
"Well, that's the version that should make most sense to you." Sakura suddenly stood up.
"Why don't I go ask Frodo if there is tea I can serve?" And with that, she left.
Hoo boy, I am going to focus on this party for awhile. I can't move the story along until they hit the road. I do not own Clamp's or Tolkien's works. If I did, I would be living the high life. Oh. And I need to consult a map of Middle-Earth, so excuse me.
Goodness Gracious! I finally got around to fixing those AN in the middle! Deleted all of them, and now maybe people will review. Thank you to the fanfictionalchemist. I forgot about the first chapter.
