A/N: I do apologize from my long over due update. I have been going through many life changes but have finally come back to my beloved fanfiction with renewed thoughts of how to proceed. I hope you all will enjoy as this gets a little more interesting and complicated!
Gwestol
Chapter Four:
A New Face
"Jesse, wake up," Boromir called over the fallen girl who had yet to open her eyes. He carried Jessica into the safety of a cave while he tended to her wounds.
He could not help the smirk that crossed over his face, it seemed this girl had a target on her at all times when present in their world.
Settling down next to his wounded friend, Boromir did the only thing he could do ... wait.
"My son," Thranduil whispered from across the table, though Legolas made no indication that he heard his father, the King continued. "It took me many years to live with the loss of your mother. I do not wish to see the same fate befall upon you. Sixteen years of heartache and pain is enough for you or anyone to endure."
"What are you saying?" Legolas whispered, his eyes never leaving the silver ring upon the wooden table.
"Regardless of her fate whether is be living or in death. Cherish but the memory of her and let her go," Thranduil whispered reaching for the ring that had his son so hypnotized.
"You ask of me to turn my back on her without knowing her fate? You ask that I forget everything she went through to save our kingdom and her family?" Legolas questioned, his brow furrowing in question, eyes moving to his father.
"I'm asking you to move on," Thranduil whispered, taking a deep breath before continuing for he knew he would regret his next statement. "She clearly has."
"I…" Legolas whispered as his words left him.
Thranduil watched in sadness as his son slowly came to understand his words and the weight of them began to rest upon his shoulders. Though the King knew there was a chance the children could be his son's and making them his grandchildren. Watching his son he could see that this thought had clearly never occurred to the Prince.
"Leave me, father," Legolas finally whispered, taking the ring from Thranduil to sit back in his seat.
"Call upon me when you are ready," Thranduil whispered, leaving the room to go in search of Aragorn who was surely entertaining their new found guest or perhaps enemies.
He was no fool and could feel the darkness forming at the edges of his forest, an enemy was brewing and it seems that their time of peace had come to an end. A time for an end just as these strangers appeared.
Moving down his long halls, he could hear Aragorn's smooth voice speaking of the great tale which included the formation of the fellowship that long ago went on a mission to save their world from the darkness that once grew in the heart of Mordor.
As he drew closer to the room, he could see that not only was Aragorn in the guest room but Gimli and two teenagers with fair hair and bright blue eyes. With a sigh of relief they solely looked like Jessica and nothing like his son with the exception of eyes and hair. There was no elven skin, no elven bone structure, they appeared nothing more than two human spawns.
'She was unfaithful with my son and carried another man's children. Thank you,' he thought happily.
"So what happened next?" Serena questioned with wide eyes.
"She rushed into battle without a thought or care," Aragorn said proudly as Gimli chuckled.
"Aye, and let me tell you," Gimli laughed. "Tell you mother to not do something and I promise you there is no stopping her from doing it."
Thranduil cleared his throat as he entered the room, deciding now would be a good time to stop story time. All eyes turned to the King of Mirkwood as he entered the large room. Aragorn bowed his head as did Gimli, the two strangers starring at him in complete confusion.
"We-"
"Stop!"
"Halt!"
Shouts outside the window, quickly drew everyone's attention from the teenagers to the warriors outside. Aragorn rose to his feet to cross the room and look out the window to find two of his men's horses rushing into a clearing.
"Gimli, come," Aragorn ordered, leaving the room to go investigate why one horse had a slumped rider and the second holding none.
"You two will stay," Thranduil stated before going out of the room, locking the doors securely to be sure neither attempted to escape.
"What are we going to do?" Serena asked.
"Well, Aragorn, clearly knew mom so I think our best bet is to stick with him until we can find her," Shane said.
"What if we don't find her?" Serena asked.
"Then we will figure that out when the time comes," Shane stated, looking out the window as Aragorn rushed to a soldier that fell from his horse and to the ground, gasping for air.
"I wonder what happened?" Shane wondered as he watched a few more men rush to the fallen mans side to lift him and rush him away.
"He looks pretty bad," Serena commented.
As the twins looked on below, Aragorn's eyes suddenly turned to them before looking back to the forest. The wind began to blow violently causing more eyes to look at the new comers.
"Why are they looking at us?" Serena whispered.
"I have no idea. I have a bad feeling though," Shane said.
"We need to leave now," Serena added.
"Agreed," Shane confirmed.
As they turned to attempt to find a way to escape, their bedroom door slammed open to see none other than Legolas who starred at them with a most solemn look. His hands balled tightly into fist as he took in both of Jessica's children.
"Um…" Serena whispered slowly inching her way behind Shane.
"Hey…you…" Shane whispered with a weak laugh.
"We need to talk," Legolas stated moving over to the chair in the corner, motioning for the twins to sit.
"Ugh…" Jessica groaned as she began to come to. Boromir's hand gave her a gentle push back to the ground.
"Don't move yet," he ordered.
"My vision…" Jessica whispered, as everything seemed blurred around her.
"Drink some water," Boromir whispered holding out his flask of water, his eyes never leaving her face.
"I'm hungry," Indi whined as she marched behind Frodo.
"It is time for lunch," Pippin chimed.
"And tea," Merry added.
"We must keep going if we ever plan to reach Rivendell in time," Frodo stated excitedly.
"Aye that is true," Sam added.
"You would agree with Frodo," Indi huffed.
The small group of hobbits and Indi continued down their path without any worry or care. Making small talk about the years passed and how everything has changed whether it was for the better or not.
"Frodo…" Indi whined.
"Fine let us make camp here then we can continue on afterwards," Frodo said with a bright smile.
The group gave a small cheer of happiness setting about to make their fire so they could all eat. As they came back together to begin arrangements for lunch the forest grew silent.
"Pip…" Merry whispered to the hobbit happily unpacking pans.
"Yeah?" Pippin asked.
"The forest…" Merry whispered.
"It's silent…" Sam added as a violent wind picked up around them creating small leaf like tornados that danced down the road.
"That can't be anything good," Indi said.
"Shh…" Frodo ordered as he moved in front of the group. Indi could tell he was flashing back to the day when he first saw a ring wraith just by his stance alone.
"Frodo, I'm sure it's nothing," Indi tried to joke.
"That's how the last war began," Pippin said.
"There hasn't be any sign that Mordor has reawaken right?" Merry said a little uneasily.
"How can there be when we defeated Sauron more than sixteen years ago," Pippin chimed causing the group to become a little more at ease.
"Yet, last time…" Frodo whispered. "Indi appeared and there was a war that none of us knew was coming that came."
"That is true," the group whispered as all eyes turned to Indi who starred back at them in shock.
"How can you say that?" she gasped.
"It's just a thought," Frodo added.
"Why don't you blame Jessica since she was fighting way before any of us entered battle!" Indi yelled.
The hobbits all looked to one another before nodding in agreement, this was true, and the elder sibling had been riding with Gondor for sometime before meeting up with their group.
"Perhaps that gust of wind was a sign that Kristy just entered the world?" Indi suggested.
"Ahhh…" the hobbits awed before looking back down the road as if to make sure there was no threat.
"Then we must find her," Merry said.
"Of course we will but I bet she is in Rivendell or at least heading that way," Indi said looking at the surrounding forest, still in awe that she was back home. She gave herself a soft smile as she thought about it, looking to the group that settled down to eat.
This was her home, this was her family, and as much as she hated to say this, she prayed that Jessica was not here or if she was she was stuck in a rock and couldn't ruin her happiness for once.
"Indi?"
"Indi?"
"Huh? Oh, what?" Indi gasped, shaking her head out of her thoughts to look at the four hobbits holding a plate out to her.
"Sorry, lost in thought," Indi laughed.
"About what?" Sam asked.
"How I hope that it's just me and Kristy here," Indi confessed. "Jessica never really wanted to live in Middle Earth for some reason."
"Maybe she felt that it wasn't home?" Frodo asked as his eyes became distant.
"Maybe," Indi sighed.
"Anyways! How about a game?" Indi offered.
"What kind of game?" Merry asked.
"Let's play a game from my time! It's called I spy!" Indi laughed as the hobbits looked at her in confusion.
"Okay so let me explain the rules…" Indi began as she took a bite out of her bread and cheese.
"Why are you looking at me?" Jessica questioned as she drank the water offered to her.
"How am I to look at you?" Boromir questioned looking to the ground before the walls of the cave.
"You are looking at me like you are surprised I'm alive," Jessica hissed with narrowed eyes.
"Well…" Boromir began.
"What?" Jessica snapped.
"When you were struck by the arrow…your face…well your body…" Boromir stumbled while turning away from the girl unable to face her.
Jessica sat up completely, grabbing her Gondorian shield to take a look at her reflection.
"I swear if they scarred my face…" she mumbled, eyes focusing on her reflection.
"Oh…my…" she started
"It's not that bad really," Boromir tried to soothe still not turning to look at her.
"God!" Jessica screamed.
"Arwen…" Kristy whispered crawling into Arwen's room as the elf moved around the room packing for the ride to Mirkwood.
"How long will it take for us to get to Mirkwood?" Kristy asked.
"Not long if we do not stop," Arwen answered as she gathered her pack turning to her long lost sister.
"Have you spoken to Elrohir this morning?" Arwen asked.
"No, why?" Kristy questioned.
"I know he was looking for you before the sun peeked over the horizon but I told him to wait patiently while you slept," she responded.
"Well let me know when you are ready and I will go find him," Kristy said as she turned from the elf's room to search for the twin that at one more tormented her.
As she came to the end of the living quarters she turned to enter another long hall that would eventually take her toward the gardens just outside. With a sigh of boredom she began to look at the rooms she passed including the large library the Elrond had constructed.
Stopping in front of the library she continued to look at the thousands of books, looking back down the hall where she should continue then back at the book.
"Arwen, won't be ready for a little bit and I'll see the twins before I leave," she reasoned with herself stepping into the library.
"Wow…" she gawked looking at the floor to ceiling shelves with millions of different books. Walking to the first case she saw, she reached for the first book. Opening the leather binding to peer inside, as the cover had no name.
Kristy,
As I assumed correctly your curiosity cannot stop you from entering parts of Rivendell you have no business in. Place this book on its shelf and return upon the path that you were on before becoming bored with the task you were on.
Elrond
Narrowing her eyes at the note that was written obviously in an attempt to have her not do whatever, Elrond, thought she was going to do. Kristy placed the book on the floor and reached for the next book. Opening the leather binding to find the same little note placed inside.
"Are you kidding me?" Kristy questioned skeptical. Placing this next to the first book, deciding to move to the middle of the bookcase and pick a book from there.
"Surely he didn't put a stupid note in every single book!" Kristy laughed as she pulled out a green leather bound book that was clearly aging. Opening this book she could not stop the sound of frustration that surged past her lips as she looked at that damn note.
"Elrond!" Kristy grumbled while slamming the book back into the wooden bookcase causing the case to rock back and forth.
"Oh no…" Kristy whispered rushing to steady the case, her attempts only causing the case to rock harder and tip. She watched the domino effect as the cases knocked each other over until crashing with the stonewall.
"Crap…" she whispered as the door opened to reveal none other than Elrond, eyebrow quirked high in annoyance.
"All the time I spent trying to prevent such a disaster…" Elrond sighed, placing his face into his palm, shaking it ever so slightly.
"If you didn't put the stupid notes in the books, I wouldn't have gotten so mad and slammed the book onto the shelf," Kristy hissed.
"I put the note there because I feared you would knock the old book cases over or even break them…it appears my fears were rightly placed." Elrond stated.
"Kristy!" Arwen called.
"Looks like my fears were rightly placed," Kristy mocked side stepping Elrond to search out Arwen. She could feel Elrond looming behind her as she walked but her pride would not let her look back.
"You will have to clean the library," Elrond stated.
"Oh you want me to stay here longer? That means there is a chance Indi and Jessica are on their way to search me out," Kristy taunted.
"I'll have Elrohir clean your mess," Elrond corrected.
"We wouldn't want to keep you from your family," he added.
"I had a feeling you would say that," Kristy sighed as they entered the meeting area. She smiled fondly of the memories long forgotten about ease dropping on the fellowship. When everyone thought Jessica was a man…except Legolas.
"Are you ready?" Arwen asked sitting in a chair that once sat her father during the gathering of the fellowship.
"You are going no where, my daughter," Elrond stated.
"Father, I must go. We will ride swiftly and Eldarion will be with us," Arwen argued.
"I will not allow you to leave with her when nothing but destructions follows her family," Elrond snapped.
"Uh…I'm right here you know," Kristy whispered.
"We will ride with her then," Elrohir called coming to join the group.
"There will be no more heroics from this family," Elrond stated.
"Well then…" Kristy huffed turning on her heel. "I'll go alone."
"Good," Elrond sighed.
"If Jessica can do this, then so can I!" Kristy snapped making her way to the horses and the front gate. The twins, Arwen and Elrond following in toe, each wondering how long Kristy would survive out in the forest on her own.
"I will ride with her mother as planned," Eldarion stated coming from the stables with his own horse.
"No, she will not bring the death of my grandson," Elrond snapped.
"My lord, I still need to send word to my father about what we have seen at the edges of Rivendell," Eldarion responded calmly.
"Ever like your father," Elrond commented. "You may accompany this girl but heed my words when I say nothing good follows her."
"What a boost of confidence you offer," Kristy grumbled as she climbed onto her horse that waited patiently.
"Mother, do not fear, I shall return. We will ride fast," Eldarion said as he turned the group of two toward the gates. The half-elven following them to see them off, Kristy glanced back at Arwen who was clearly not happy to send her son alone. She then looked to the twins that had a twinkle in their eyes; she gave a knowing smile. The twinkle she saw could only mean one thing...they were up to something.
It happened in a blink of an eye, as Eldarion's horse passed over Rivendell's borders and into the surrounding forest an arrow shot out, striking Eldarion in the shoulder. The force so strong it knocked him from his horse and to the ground.
"Kristy!" the twins yelled in warning as guards appeared around the family armed and ready to defend their home.
"My son!" Arwen cried out rushing across the bordered to retrieve her falling child.
"Now…now…" Boromir tried to soothe over.
"What happened? How? Why?" Jessica sobbed looking at her reflection in pure horror, turning her worried eyes to Boromir.
"It doesn't look that bad," Boromir tried to explain.
"Boromir…there is nothing okay with my face!" Jessica yelled.
"I mean…you are still you…just different," Boromir reasoned.
"I look like a man!" Jessica cried.
"At least now you don't have to pretend," Boromir chuckled.
"Now is not the time to make jokes!" Jessica whimpered looking at her transformed face. She still had her bright blue eyes and blonde hair but instead of her slender face she had a square manly jaw with stubble coming in. Her mouth was now more masculine which matched her newly transformed nose and ears.
"It's not just your face…" Boromir added eyeing her tunic.
"You can't be serious…" Jessica grumbled lifting her shirt to find a muscular chest with defined abs versus her feminine physic.
"This can't be happening," Jessica groaned.
"At least your scars have healed, all that is left in the arrow wound you received just a few hours ago," Boromir again tried to reason.
"So the arrow was enchanted?" Jessica asked.
"Possibly. Whoever shot you either wanted you hidden or had other plans…" Boromir answered as he pondered this statement.
"Would Gandalf be able to fix this?" Jessica asked.
"We would have to travel to Isengard. I heard word that he was there with the Ents not to long ago," Boromir answered.
"Lets go," Jessica huffed standing up in annoyance.
"You should rest some more before we ride out," Boromir stated.
"I want to go now before I have to pee," Jessica hissed in disgust.
"Ah," Boromir laughed. "That would be something to witness I am sure."
"It's not funny," Jessica snapped. Boromir went to the far side of the cave to grab Jessica's armor, looking at the petite armor made for a woman then back to her more manly form now.
"I do not think this will fit," Boromir said.
"Great, no armor. A mad person out there with gender changing arrows out to me for whatever reason! What else can go wrong?" Jessica snapped.
On queue the weather rolled in outside with a crash of thunder as the clouds opened up to pour rain upon the surrounding forest. Boromir began to chuckle but was silenced by Jessica deadly glare.
"We are still riding out," she ordered.
"At least we do not have to worry about concealing your womanhood this time," he reasoned.
"The only good thing about this situation," Jessica grumbled.
"We are about a days ride from Mirkwood if you would like to still head there before Isengard. We could get Aragorn and Gimli to join us though I do not think it would be wise to let Legolas see you like this for the first time in sixteen years," Boromir offered.
"Valid points. We are stronger with a group," Jessica confirmed. "Especially since someone wants to kill me or whatever they are trying to do."
"The rain may slow us down some but if you are up for the challenge we can press on," Boromir said grabbed there packs, throwing one to Jessica who found it way lighter than when she was a woman.
"Oh my god…I was so weak," Jessica whined, shouldering the pack.
The pair headed into the rain to gather their horses as the bushes moved ever so slightly catching Boromir's eye.
"Who is out there?" he called causing Jessica to stop.
"Speak you name," a voice called.
"I am Boromir of Gondor and this is my companion…" Boromir looked to Jessica for a name.
"Faramir brother of Boromir of Gondor," Jessica called out shocked at the sound of her rough voice. Her hand coming to her throat and she made a pain whine at the horrific events that have befallen her.
"Your name?" Boromir called.
"Scouts of Mirkwood," an elf called coming into sight while his men stay hidden away.
"You are far from Mirkwood," Boromir commented.
"You are even farther from Gondor," the elf stated eyeing Jessica. "I thought the brothers of Denethor shared the appearance of their father."
"Not but a rumor," Jessica chimed in.
"We are on our way to see King Aragorn and Prince Legolas in official matters of Mordor," Boromir stated.
"There has been sighting of riders rushing from Mordor cloaked in black. The Prince sent us to scout out near by," the elf explained motioning for his men to come forth.
"Scout for what exactly?" Jessica asked.
"Two mysterious friends have returned to our Prince's kingdom. King Aragorn states they are not enemies though we have never laid eyes upon these strangers," the elf said to Boromir.
"Kristy and Indi no doubt," Jessica sighed in happiness. At least they were not separated.
"May we join your group back to the palace?" Boromir asked.
"Aye but we recommend you spend the night in the cave. Illness from the cold will not suit friends from Gondor," the elf advised.
"We will heed these words as my brother was wounded not to long ago," Boromir said motioning to the hole and bloodstain on Jessica's left shoulder.
"You were attacked?" the elf questioned.
"Aye," Boromir said. "Our attacked stayed in the shadows and did not follow when he was wounded."
"We will make camp and await daylight," the elf said nodding to his men to sink back to the shadows to take watch over the humans as they went back to their cave.
A/N: I have returned from the grave! I hope this chapter is something you guys will enjoy.
I wonder what Legolas is going to do when he meets Jessica in the next chapter?!