A/N Guessie wattie? An updatie! Ignore me. Thank you to those of you who reviewed, I loved reading every one of them! Keep em coming ne?
I do not own FFVII or LOTR!
Warnings: The usual, nothing to bad because this is shockingly T rated. That may change though, so keep an eye on it.
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Cloud groaned from his position on the soft wet ground. Why did he feel like he'd gone a round with the Midgar Zolom, weaponless, armor-less and drunk? He groaned again and lifted his arm to rub his head. "What, and how much did I drink last night?" He thought as he heaved himself into a sitting position and opened his eyes for the first time since waking up. He blinked as his enhanced sight cleared and cut through the darkness he found himself in. He frowned at his boots, then looked up and around. "What the..." he trailed off as he was met with a forest. The trees were everywhere, naturally and he was surrounded by all sorts of vegetation. The grass he sat upon was wet with dew, and so was he for that matter, how long had he been out for? He rubbed his face, wiping off the crystal like droplets of moisture that had gathered on his eye lashes and cheeks. He returned his gaze to his surroundings, glowing eyes easily cutting through the nighttime gloom, the forest floor littered with flickering patches of moonlight. He frowned as he tried to remember how he had gotten all the way out here in this odd forest, which was unlike anything he had ever seen. He'd been in a few forests on Gaia, but this one was different...He paused. On Gaia... He gasped as it all came rushing back to him and he stumbled to his feet, dew sliding down his neck and arms as he span around, taking in the sight of the alien forest.
He wasn't on Gaia anymore, the Planet and Aerith had sent him to another world, Arda? Was this Arda?
He looked around in dazed fascination, sharp ears picking up the hooting of owls and the light pitter patter of small night animals. His keen nose picked up the scent of fresh dew, wild grass, pine and...blood? He frowned and looked around, well aware of the bareness of his back. He sniffed the air and cringed. Blood, definitely blood, but there was something else in the air, something foul, it reminded him eerily of Jenova, the scent so alike the black ooz her limbs secreted. Evil. He shook his head of the unwanted memories that arose at his thoughts and looked around the forest floor for his swords. Did the Planet even send his weapons with him? A glint of silver caught his attention in the darkness, and he hurried in it's direction, stumbling out into a small clearing where sure enough, seven separate swords, all varying in size and shape jutted out of the ground, point down in the soft grass and soil as dew slid down their silver blades, the moonlight causing the swords to glitter. He sighed in relief and quickly moved to collect his blades, combining them all to create First Tsurugi, which he then sheathed in the harness strapped to his back. With the familiar weight at his back, the bareness he had felt disappeared and he felt more at ease knowing he had his trusted weapon to defend himself with.
He jumped and span on his heel as a sharp and piercing scream ripped through the air, the volume and pitch causing him to cry out in pain and grab his head as his keen ears rang with the scream. The air seemed to chill and go silent after the inhuman screech and Cloud rubbed his ears as he gazed around quickly for the source. It had sounded a little ways off, but too close for comfort on his part. He didn't want to meet whatever had made that horrid sound that still had his ears ringing in pain. He shook his head to rid his ears of the ringing and turned, taking off in the opposite direction the scream had come from. He moved easily through the undergrowth of the forest floor, moving like a wraith through the trees, soundless boots effortlessly navigating over rocks, logs and fallen branches. His sword glinted slightly at his back as the polished silver reflected the moonlight. Another shrieking scream ripped through the air and Cloud winced, but didn't otherwise react as he picked up his pace, appearing as a black blur as he streaked through the trees.
A moment later however he slid to a stop as an orange glow drifted between the trees ahead. He inhaled deeply and cringed. Where ever he was, he was heading for the source of the blood and evil smell. He eyed the orange glow, identifying it to be a small fire that moved around through the undergrowth. His eyes narrowed and he slunk forward through the darkness, until he was forced to press himself flat against a tree in the darkness, hand straying towards his swords hilt as a figure shuffled past him, as if searching for something. The figure was obviously male, and armed to the teeth it seemed. Cloud drew Tsurugi and silently crept up behind the kneeling man. He had no intention of harming him, but he was in a strange world with no idea of who was friend or foe, it never hurt to be cautious. Silently, he stood right behind the man, who was about to cut a small weed looking plant and slid Tsurugi right next to his neck, resting the flat side of the blade lightly on his shoulder. The man stiffened visibly and Cloud titled the blade slightly.
"Who are you?" He asked. The man was silent, and Cloud noticed him trying to glance at him over his shoulder, but his sword prevented the movement. Cloud nudged the mans shoulder with his sword. "Well?" The man was still tense.
"I am a mere Ranger." was the reply. Cloud was only dimly surprised that they spoke the same language, as he'd half expected to be met with gibberish. "And who, may I ask are you?" The 'Ranger' asked in return. Cloud tilted his head, eyeing the man.
"A mere swordsman, lost in the woods." he replied. The Ranger finally managed to glance over his shoulder and his eyes widened almost comically at the sight of his massive sword. Weathered grey, almost blue eyes followed the impressive sword up and once again widened at the sight of him. The man exhaled in surprise.
"An elf?" He breathed. Cloud's enhanced hearing easily picked up the words and frowned in confusion. What the hell was an elf? The man took a closer look at him. "No..." he said after a moment. "Not an elf, who are you?" He asked in a gruff, but oddly welcoming voice. Cloud, after a moment, removed Tsurugi from the Ranger's shoulder, but held it aloft at his side just in case.
"As I said, I'm a swordsman lost in the woods. I was hoping you would be able to tell me where I am and direct me to the closest town." He replied. The Ranger, clad in odd dark brown cloth with a bow on his back, sword at his hip and shaggy shoulder length brown, nearly black hair stared at him, suspicion alight in his grey eyes. They stared at each other for a moment, as if sizing the other up, until finally the brunette shook his head and quickly retrieved the weed at his feet before turning on his heel and hurrying back in the direction he had come. Cloud, figuring he was supposed to follow did just that, moving silently after the man, who led him to a small clearing circled by three statues of...what exactly were they? They were large, and ugly, reminding him of the Monster's back on Gaia. He removed his gaze from the hulking slabs of stone and lowered them to the Ranger, who was crouched beside the downed figure of a child. No... He frowned and moved slightly to get a better look at the small figure. He blinked in astonishment. No, not a child...a man for sure...a young one, and a small one, with large feet, how...odd? Upon closer inspection the small man appeared to be deathly ill, gasping for breath and growing paler by the second. His eyes widened at the unmistakable stench of evil surrounding the small wound on the beings shoulder, which was tainted black and oozing a horrid smelling puss even as the Ranger stuffed the ground up weed into it and quickly wrapped it with ripped cloth. He sheathed Tsurugi and stepped to the side, kneeling on the small beings other side. "What happened to him? The wound...it reeks of evil." He said as he looked up to the Ranger, who had just finished wrapping the cloth around the still oozing wound. The Ranger looked up at him, grey meeting glowing blue. After a moment, he finally answered.
"We were attacked by Sauron's forces, the Nazgul. He has been stabbed with a Morgul Blade, the poison will continue to eat away at his soul until he descends into darkness and becomes a wraith... I must get him to Rivendell, the elves will be able to help him." He said quickly as he gently lifted the small being into his arms. Cloud frowned, none of that...made any sense to him. Sure, he got that the small man had been stabbed with a poison blade and this Ranger had friends in this Rivendell place that could cure him. Wait...Cure! He felt in his pockets, then cursed. He didn't have any of his Materia! Any further cursing was halted as the Ranger suddenly froze, a slender silver blade resting at the side of his neck, much in the same way Cloud's had.
"What's this? A Ranger, caught off his guard?" The words were spoken by one of the most beautiful women Cloud had ever seen, long dark tresses, warm, but sharp blue eyes glancing for a moment at him, then back to the Ranger. Then she removed her sword from the mans neck and quickly moved to stand in front of him, moving with a grace that suggested she was something more then human.
She bent over slightly, running a small flawless hand over the pale and gasping mans cheek. "Frodo, I am Arwen. Telin le thaed." she said, her voice gentle but swimming with subtle power. "Lasto beth nin, tolo dan na, ngalad." The language was unfamiliar to Cloud as he watched on in silence, but even to him it sounded natural, flowing and beautiful. Cloud heard the tell tail signs of others approaching and glanced over his shoulder as three more small men came out of the brush and stared at him with dropped jaws, then glanced between him and the inhumaly beautiful woman before him.
"Who are they?" One of them asked. Another gulped as he eyed the blond warrior, then the woman, mouth still wide open.
"They must be elves..."
Cloud rolled his eyes at that word again. What was an elf anyway? And why did people keep mistaking him for one? Cloud turned back to the woman as she spoke again, brushing long fingers through the small mans hair as she gazed up at the Ranger, who still held the ill, practically dying small man.
"He's fading. He's not going to last. We must get him to my father." she said hurriedly. The Ranger nodded and Cloud watched on as he turned and approached a large four legged beast Cloud had never seen before. "I've been looking for you for two days." She continued. Cloud heard one of the small men step forward.
"Where are you taking him?"
The woman turned to the Ranger as she leaned on the large beast that Cloud was still trying to figure out. It had a saddle, so was it meant to be ridden? It didn't look even remotely close to a Chocobo, was it a mammal, it had to be. "There are five wraiths behind you. Where the other four are, I do not know." Cloud frowned. Wraith's? The screaming things maybe? Cloud shamelessly listened in as the two ahead of him leaned in and spoke in hushed whispers that he easily heard, but failed to understand, as it was in that same flowing, lilting language the woman had spoken before. Cloud glanced down at his side as the smallest of the oddly small men shuffled up to stand beside him.
"What are they saying?" the small man asked him as he turned shy and awed eyes up to him. Cloud blinked, the shrugged, folding his arms.
"Your guess is as good as mine." He muttered. The small man blinked at him.
"But, aren't you an elf?" He asked incredulously. Cloud sighed.
"I don't even know what an elf is, so no." He replied. The small being gaped at him, then oddly enough leaned back to look at his ears, then sputtered.
"Your not an elf!" He squawked. Cloud refrained from rolling his eyes. "But, but, you look just like one!" The small being was soon joined by another, the two looked related, both blond.
"How would you know what an elf looked like Pippin? You've never seen one, none of us have!" The other being, 'Pippin' sputtered, then pointed at Cloud, who gave into the urge and rolled his eyes, before returning them to the two normal sized but still odd people in front of him just in time to see the woman mount the large best with the ill being, 'Frodo' he guessed held tightly to her chest.
"I do not fear them." she said, and Cloud frowned. The Ranger spoke.
"Be iest lin. Ride hard, don't look back!" the woman nodded, and Cloud saw the determination shining in her eyes. This seemed important to this whole group, who was this little Frodo?
"Noro lim, Asfoloth! Noro lim!" She said as she reared the large beast back and turned to run off into the forest at a speed that rivaled the standard Chocobo.
"What are you doin'? Those Wraith's are still out there!" Called the larger of the small people. Cloud frowned as his keen sight watched the woman ride away into the forest, something was tugging at him. It wanted him to follow, but he had no idea why. He glanced at the Ranger, who watched the woman ride off with sad, but hope filled eyes. He sighed, then nodded to himself.
"I'll go after her." he said as he stepped forward. The Ranger span around and stared at him oddly, distrust obvious in his eyes.
"What?" He asked. Cloud shrugged and motioned after the trail the woman had taken.
"Somethings telling me I have to follow, so I will." He said as a reply and adjusted his sword harness, readying himself for a run. The Ranger stared at him.
"Even if something is telling you to follow, how would you keep pace with one of the elven bred steeds?" he asked, annoyance in his voice as he stared at the blond stranger. Cloud merely smirked.
"I'm faster then I look. Relax, I'll keep them safe, somethings telling me I have to anyway." he said, then without further adue, he braced himself, then kicked off into the forest, sprinting silently after the fading hoof beats of the beast ridden by the woman. The cool air whipped past his ears as his mako enhanced speed allowed him to catch up with the fast, (but slow compared to his own Chocobo's) steed. He moved silently, running at the four legged creatures side. The woman glanced at him and gasped, reaching for her sword. Cloud fell back and reappeared on her other side.
"Relax, I'm here to help!" He shouted as she took a swing at him with her blade, still clutching her precious cargo to her chest. The woman, Arwen looked ahead then back to him, her eyes wide.
"What kind of man can keep pace with a horse!" She asked in a shocked, but suspicious voice. Cloud smirked while running, absently jumping over a log at the same time Asfoloth did.
"My kind." he said in way of an answer. Arwen stared at him for a moment, but a sudden shrieking scream made up her mind as she nodded and sheathed her sword after eyeing his own.
"Very well, your help will be most appreciated...?" Cloud jumped over a rock, wincing as the screaming continued behind them, drawing closer.
"Cloud." He replied as he glanced over his shoulder, eyes zeroing in on the shifting black figures that appeared through the fog behind them some fifty yards back. He frowned, but decided to save his questions for later.
"Ride on ahead, I'll stall them!" he called as he skidded to a halt and turned, drawing Tsurugi. The black clad figures rode the same manner of steed as Arwen, but theirs were black and reeked of death and decay. He wrinkled his nose at the smell and drew back his blade, which began to glow green. He smirked as he finished charging up his Limit Break and swung Tsurugi forward and down, unleashing a streak of bright green and purple light that split the ground in it's wake and collided with the first and second rider with a crack, the whinnies of the steeds turning into cries as their riders screamed again, the force of the attack throwing them off their steeds and sending them all to the ground in a jumbled mass of flying dirt and tangled limbs. Cloud winced as more screams retched the air, ringing in his ears and filling his mind with despair. He grit his teeth and shook his head violently before sheathing his faintly glowing blade and turned, kicking off into a sprint that quickly turned into powerful bounds as he raced after Arwen, their pursuers effectively stalled for the moment.
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When he finally caught up to Arwen the forest was quickly thinning out until they emerged out into wide open land painted shades or orange and brown from the dried grass and rocks. Cloud's breath came out in heavy pants as he finally took point beside Arwen, who noticed him and gaspd in shock, before exclaiming something like relief in her native tongue. The Screamers, as Cloud had taken to calling them had never stopped chasing them. Many times had Cloud been forced to stop and 'stall' them. Which resulted in at least two of the black riders being reduced to ribbons and therefore absent from the other riders, who emerged from the forest and formed in line behind them. Cloud cursed and turned back to the front, his legs carrying him alongside Asfoloth. Cloud was far from exhausted, hell, he could keep running like this for at least two days without stopping, but it didn't mean he wasn't sore and winded from the constant running at the fast pace.
"We must move faster! Noro lim Asfoloth!" Cloud watched in amazement as the creature next to him drew itself up and, with a powerful kick pulled ahead of him with a whinny. Cloud blinked, a new respect for the four legged creatures blooming. He shook his head with a gasped sigh, then followed after the beast, once again falling into step with it. He looked up and Arwen was staring at him in disbelief. He flashed her a grin, before suddenly stumbling and nearly falling on his face, and at such speeds...well, he probably wouldn't have much of a face left if he landed on it. He shook his head and looked back to the front even as the woman beside him gave a surprised giggle. The screams behind them reminded them of their position, and a wheezed gasp from Frodo had them both once again picking up the pace. Cloud, while trying to steady his panting caught the scent of water, then saw a river up ahead. Arwen raised up in her saddle at the side and smiled in relief.
Cloud didn't fancy getting his boots wet, and instead of plowing through the small river like he would have liked to cool himself off, he crouched mid step and lept, clearing the small river in one jump, much to Arwen's shock. He landed hard and nearly lost his footing as he stumbled to a stop and turned just in time to see Arwen turn her steed around and draw her sword. The Screamers come to a stop on the other side of the river and spread along the bank, their horses puffing and whinnying as they dug at the waters edge. Cloud leaned forward and resting his hands on his knees as he fought to regain his breath, taking the chance to rest. Arwen glanced at him in subdued amusement, then steeled her gaze and turned back to the riders.
"Give up the halfing, she-elf!" The seeming leader Screamer hissed, it's voice grating and hoarse. Cloud raised himself back up and inhaled deeply, then exhaled, eyeing the creatures with disgust as he kept Arwen in his line of sight.
"If you want him, come and claim him!" she declared. Cloud tensed as the riders paused, then moved to do just that, easing their steeds into the rushing water and plowing on towards them. Cloud raised a hand and rested it on Tsurugi's hilt, but didn't draw it. He blinked as the tell tail tingle of magic permitted the air around him, causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end. "Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer. Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulaer." Cloud stepped back as the magic washed through the air, but remained idle. Arwen rose her voice, and Cloud heard something change in the water upriver. "Nin o Chithaeglir, lasto beth daer. Rimmo nin Bruinen dan in Ulaer!" Cloud's eyes widened as a stampede of water horses barrelled around the bend in the river and plowed towards the riders, who where stuck smack in the middle of the river. He watched in awed amusement as the water horses plowed into them head on, sweeping them down river with ease, their screams fading as they were swept further down river. Cloud's sharp ears picked up a wheeze and gasp and he glanced up to the bundle Arwen was still clutching. The woman gasped and dismounted, kneeling on the wet stones and lowered Frodo to the ground. "No! Frodo, no! Frodo- don't give in, not now!" Cloud watched on, then span on his heel and reached for his sword as several armed men jumped out of the woods behind them, all wearing odd armor with bows and arrows pointed at him. Arwen looked up and gasped. "Tampa! He is a friend!"
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What grace is given me, pass on to him, let him be spared, save him.
Lasto beth nin, tolo dan na ngalad...
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A/N Ok, you read it, now see that little button down there? Click it, and review!
P.S Ok, first off, any spelling mistakes? Not my fault, is STILL being retarded!
P.S.S I am in search of a good BETA! Any volunteers? P.M me!
P.S.S.S I like pie!