A/N:
Hi, I am back. I never meant to abandon this little piece of mine. I still love these characters and keep track of what they do in their free time. I had finally found some time and inspiration to continue a.k.a. the kids are a little bit more grown up and I can find some spare time for my activities.
I have rewritten some parts of this chapter as well as done some minor changes to it. Hopefully, it is written more consistently. If you still want to help me, write a PM or a review of what you think, how it looks like, what you like and what you don't. Every comment is appreciated.
Love.
Sidi
Chapter VII
- XXVII -
The Elven Lord pierced her with his gaze, stripping away her protective layers of deception. On her cognitive level, Alice knew that her life might be at stake, but the only thing she could focus on was the titillating feeling settling in her guts as his deep voice reverberated through her very core.
"Alice the Hare, could you kindly concentrate and recount - truthfully this time - the sequence of events that led you here?"
Alice the Hare?…sure I would be a bunny for him. She listened to her own thoughts in disbelief, how could the presence of these creatures have such a profound effect on her. Seriously? She held back a sigh and tried to concentrate.
"I was just walking through a forest with my brother and suddenly… the wolves… giant wolves..." her voice started to shake with restrained emotions. It was a close call not to cry or to burst out giggling like a lunatic.
Absentmindedly, Alice pinched the bridge of her nose and breathed in forcefully to calm herself. This was the result of her tattered nerves and all-embracing fatigue. From the moment she stepped through the boundaries of the city of Rivendell, until now, as she was sitting opposite several of the elves in the lavishly furnished room, she felt trapped.
Trapped by her own uncontrollable emotions.
Trapped by the beauty of these creatures.
Trapped… This whole environment was vexing. Calm… she had to remain calm. Alice envisioned herself in another interview. Yes, she should take it as such. Nothing more and nothing less. She visibly tried to relaxed her posture and let her hands fall to her lap.
"You will believe me when I say I am not amused with your antics." the Lord of Imladris furrowed his brows at her behavior. A subtle threat replaced his kindness.
Alice stiffened. For the first time in the presence of the Lord and his court, her heart sped with fear instead of bubbling excitement. Of course, she hadn't behaved as a normal thinking person, more likely worse than a hormone driven teenager. "I apologize." She managed to mutter under her breath, as she thought up lies that would get her out of this predicament.
"I should start from the beginning then." Alice collected herself not moving an inch. It wouldn't do to anger the Lord more. She got a chance to explain herself, so she should use it. This she was familiar with. Use the opportunity. Small truths in a lie, make it more believable. Be poised, like in an interview. Tell them, what they want to hear. Smile politely. Relax. Breathe. Calm.
"We were traveling from the north west, from Norbury. My brother and I were - I mean he was and I am still - scholars. We were on our way to Minas Tirith to further our education when we found out about the peculiar vanishing of the people in this region. He wanted to investigate and I naturally followed. The path led us through the Trollshaws when he was killed. I was left with nothing than his wishes to investigate the occurring disappearances. I honor his memory by the only thing I think is purposeful. " She breathed slowly out to steady herself. Hopefully, she didn't sound too defiant. She had confabulated thousand times before. It wouldn't be a problem now, would it?
"I gathered information and listened in. No one pays attention to a plain serving girl in a small town inn where I resided until the kind rangers took me here. All in all, it wasn't at all complicated to come up to the conclusion. The clues were quite visible to anyone who wanted to know anyway." She straightened her back, willing her hands to relax in her lap. She had to look persuasive but not intrusive or arrogant.
It seemed the Lord listened tentatively to her words. Alice was sure she could pull this off. "It seems a slaver ring has his hunting ground around the lands of Arnor. I have information about the whereabouts of their base of operations. Unfortunately, I am only a woman and the town governance didn't deem it necessary to take their time and listen to what I have to say. Only as the rangers passed by, I saw the opportunity to continue and relate my knowledge to the higher authorities."
"And now truthfully, my Lady", his patience was wearing ever thinner.
"What do you expect me to say? Why would I be lying?" Her composure held. Her voice inquisitive. Good, do not move, do not avert eyes, but do not challenge either. In this you are good. Stay calm. Lie. You became an expert in lying. Is it not true?
"I am guessing you are entirely lost. Indeed, your ignorance is sufficiently profound to astonish even me." His disposition shifted from annoyance to irked curiosity. But the remaining elves seated seemed to be in various states of frustrated antipathy kept in check so far only by the Lord's benevolence.
"Pardon me?"
Elrond smiled, not unkindly this time. His curiosity was piqued.
Erestor sitting next to his Lord, however, frowned, his demeanor growing cold even vexed, as he reprimanded the woman in a steady voice "I am slightly surprised that such a refined Lady doesn't know that the Kingdom of Arnor was destroyed more than 500 years ago? That no cities were reestablished in the North-West after the war and the lands lay barren from thereafter? So how come you came from the North-West of Fornost Erain?"
Instead of replying her eyes went wide. Alice looked like a doe in headlights, poised to run on the first move of a predator.
This was entirely insane. How should she tell them the truth? Hello, I am from … from where anyway? Should she say Earth? What are they? Aliens, her hallucination or what? This was entirely their fault. Why they don't stop to be nosy and accept her version.
She glowered ready to make a curt retort and stopped.
"What is this the first time someone sees through your inept deception?" the Lord pierced her with his gaze, still smiling.
She felt at a loss how to reply. If she bristled, it would only serve to his satisfaction and confirm his theory, if she tried to explain herself, she would look like a fool. So she stayed stubbornly silent.
No one moved, nor spoke.
Finally, she sighed, laying her head on the back of the chair, her emotions firmly locked together.
With the rangers, it was definitely different, easier even.
- XXVIII -
Alice waited in her room, impatiently. It was well past dark and the inn had closed for the night. Was her message unreadable? Maybe the rangers thought it was a trap. But, it would be silly, really - for them she was just a maid, girl, lass. Not even a full grown woman.
She was well aware, that was the impression she has had on the men, even people in general. Her height and her slim built made her look girlish. It didn't help she felt most of the time awkward in her body. Always the highest in her class. Surely, these were the remnant scars of her high school life, she knew that. To overcome the feelings, that was entirely a different story.
A knock and she whirled around to open the door.
There they stood on the darkened background of the hall looking intimidating.
She let them pass into her small room and softly closed the door behind them. There was no time for doubting herself or contemplating her own inability to cope with her own body. The sense of urgentness once again filled her with anticipation. In her restlessness, she didn't sit down, rather walked from wall to door and back to calm her nerves, looking at her visitors who stood calmly near the bed.
"I am glad you came." she stopped in her pacing and finally spoke in a soft voice, afraid to modulate it higher, lest they will discern her frustration, her desire to flee this place and see through her.
"My Lady." the bearded ranger bowed slightly leaving Alice flustered as she hastily covered it with a greeting of her own.
So now it is My Lady. How fortunate, not many people around here can read and write, with her education she had an advantage of that she was now sure.
She caught a movement from the corner of her eye. The other ranger leaned against the wall, his hood covering his face, silent, observing. He would be the judge of her, Alice concluded.
"My Lady, what information do you have for us that you left a message so hastily? Why not approach as earlier?" the bearded ranger caught her attention back from his companion.
"I wasn't sure how to approach such formidable men." Alice smiled shyly, at least she hoped so. Her next moves will decide her nearest future. She couldn't afford to make a mistake. She had to be perfect.
"I presume, you know my story. Of course, for practical reasons and not to let the town people spread it around, I couldn't say that I and my brother were, I took it upon myself, to take the maid's position in the inn, to learn more about the happenings in the region."
"Oh, my Lady is a spy?" the ranger said skeptically.
On this, she laughed heartily. "No, no, of course not. How could I be." She swept her hand at herself as to heighten her denial. Oh please, let them believe. She smiled sadly. "My brother was an apt observer and that had cost him his life", and then she sighed muttering sadly to herself: "The wheel is come full circle."
The hooded ranger arched his brow at her antics.
Stirring herself, like from a sad feeling Alice added more strongly "I am sorry, the memory of him is still fresh in me."
The man, in front of her, was taken aback. "I grieve with you, my Lady, but we came here on your request."
Alice tried to look accordingly sad.
"You were investigating the disappearances, and well, you are well respected and surely could bring me to the authority, where I can disclose the full case, so I approached you. It would sadden me and would do no honor to my brother, if I idly stayed behind, while others suffer when I have some answers to the plight. Is it not true?" Alice looked pleadingly at the face of the bearded ranger.
"Certainly, my Lady." the ranger inclined his head.
"So I ask, I hope, I am not too bold if you are looking at the disappearances?" Alice lowered her voice as if afraid someone would overhear. "I didn't dare to ask anywhere else. My room is at the back, so no one should overhear us talking."
The bearded man looked thoughtful, measuring her with his eyes, assessing. "We are rangers, not law enforcers, my Lady."
Alice was frustrated. "I know that. Yet, you took upon yourself to come here. You want the information, I possess. So, I ask again, are you looking into the predicament or not?"
Instead of replying, the man leaning against the wall countered. His voice curt, but cutting. "What do you know, my Lady? Tell us and be assured, we will do your brother honor."
Oh, they were stalling all her pursuits. As she pushed they pushed back. The impasse drove her crazy. She had to bluff, else they will leave her here.
Alice looked to the man leaning against the wall. "The kidnapper uses a tonic, a horribly smelling draught that he makes the victims to drink. And that's all, what I will disclose now. If I told you everything, you would leave me behind, would you not? I can't stay here. This is not my place, nor my wish. My welcome here is overdue", her voice was soft but steady.
"Take me to the nearest city, and I will tell you or the authority you choose, everything I know" she added almost pleadingly.
The rangers fell silent.
"Nothing?" Her frustration welled up in her like a wave.
"Well then, I will set out on my own. Honestly, I doubt that a duo of indecisive idiots like you could take out a ring of slavers anyway."
The hooded man looked angry. "Insulting will bring you nothing, my Lady." he barked.
"Well, I'm out" she grabbed her belongings and headed out into the night in a huff. This had worked on men every single time before, she hoped, it will work on these two as well. She didn't need to even pretend her agitation.
As she passed the man, a hand grabbed her shoulder, squeezing.
"Unhand me, now!"
"Do not squirm woman." his voice was dangerous and his fingers would leave a bruise on her shoulder come morning. Then he turned her around pushing her into the direction of her bed.
"We are leaving at dawn. Then, you will have a chance to present your knowledge to someone … more competent. Do not dawdle." And the rangers were out of her door, giving her one last gloomy glance over the shoulder.
- XXIX -
Come morning, Alice was ready. Marta and Tom were surprised by her decision, then dumbfounded by her once again invented explanation. Alice expected it, they were kind, but simple people. She liked them very much. In these past two months, they became her new family, yet Alice felt it was time to move on.
"Why didn't you told us?" Marta choked out.
Alice smiled, sadly. "What difference would it make? You took me in, gave me a fair treatment and an opportunity to earn my living. It was more than anyone else would do for me. For that, I am grateful," and she hugged her in gratitude.
"Oh, girl… you can stay here. You mustn't go." Marta breathed out, squeezing her harder.
Collecting herself, Alice straightened, once again thanked for all their kindness and looked as the older woman packed her an extra bread and cheese for her journey. She felt surprisingly unconcerned about leaving these people behind.
Her backpack was light and this added weight hadn't bothered her at all. Extra food is, as she found out the hard way, always welcome. Then it was to a quick goodbye. The rangers, ready, impatiently waited for her to leave the innkeepers sides. As they walked out of the door, through the yard and main gates, at the last moment, she stopped them.
"Can you at least tell me your names?" the rangers turned to her, their cloaks dusting the ground.
"My Lady?"
"It will make the five days journey easier."
"Hador and Breon, now move on. If we want to reach Rivendell by the fifth day, we have to make a good pace." Breon the bearded man with a constitution of a bear answered politely her question. The other one didn't even acknowledge her properly. He seemed to be still insulted. Really, a petty behavior.
Alice would like to ask more. What Rivendell was, where they will sleep and how they had planned their journey, but she could tell - their travel would be a silent one. Hopefully, it would be better than the one with the kidnapper.
Weighing her backpack on her shoulder, she moved on following their steps, never looking back.
- XXXI -
Alice covered her eyes, as the sun set down on the horizon blinding her. She was feeling happy, they were nearing their end of the journey. It was the afternoon of the fifth day and she was expectant, yet somehow uneasy as she felt dirty and sweaty. To be precise, nature got under her skin and not in a good way. The specks of dirt were behind her nails, in her shoes, under her dress. She wanted to scratch her head every five seconds. It was infuriating and even though she wasn't prone to outbursts, she was reaching her limit of endurance.
She needed a shower and a good night sleep.
The first day, her feet had hurt, badly, the second day it had turned to permanent ache and now she thought she would be unable to make another step. Her whole body buzzed with exhaustion, warmth spreading into her muscles every time they stopped for a break.
But this was the minor problem of her existence, right now.
As the horizon had blackened, the first night out, panic had started to settle in. With the dark had come the memories and with the memories had come fear.
- XXX -
They were on their way.
The town was far behind them and the road spread itself in front of them like a snake. She tried to start a conversation few times when they stopped for a quick respite, but it was obviously useless - both of the rangers kept their more or less polite distance. So, she let it slide, listening to the sound of nature. Yet, for her, after living her entire life in the buzzing city, it was like walking through a different kind of silence. It wasn't unpleasant - no, but it left too much space for thinking about her situation and her recent actions.
Alice knew that it was unavoidable. Her thoughts returned in circles to one and the same thought. She was lying - a lot. She knew it. But it saved her, did it not? Maybe it wasn't fair when it came to Andrea, but here in this world she hadn't had any other chance, did she? Before this ordeal, she thought of herself as a decent person. Never lied, not exactly anyway. The white little lies didn't hurt anyone, more likely they helped her to avoid unnecessary unpleasantness. That was the truth. It wasn't like she was hiding or avoiding the confrontation. She just by stepped it.
Andrea, on the other hand, could get from her some explanations, rather than what she had told her, before she ended up here, two months ago. The woman had wanted to help her, hadn't she? Alice frowned returning in her memories back to their conversations:
Andrea opened her door letting Alice in. The morning was still crisp, yet they both felt the weather would be scorching hot in few hours. Coffee in hand, still steaming hot, she delicately sipped on it, feeling content for a while.
"Sit down." Andrea urged her to her round table in her lavishly furnished living room. It looked more like a cozy oriental harem section of one or another famous Sultan's palaces. Cushions of many colors littered the long threaded oriental carpet. A divan in vibrant red was pushed against a wall, in front of it an expensively looking coffee table on curved legs. They sat behind a round ebony table inlaid with a mosaic in the middle of the room. A fragrance of incense wafted to her. It wasn't at all unpleasant.
Andrea sat comfortably opposite her, her turquoise robe bunching around her mid thighs showing her shapely well-muscled legs. She looked like she belonged in this place she created for herself, or to another time past gone. Alice looked at her, lost in her own contemplative mood.
"Alice, if you are tired go rest on the ottoman."
She jerked out of her reverie. "Sorry, sorry. I am still out. I think the pills make me sleepy. The doctor gave me something strong."
"You should talk to him then. " Andrea frowned shuffling her cards. "Now, to the reading. I think we can sort things out for you when you want."
Alice sighed inwardly. She wasn't really into this. More likely she didn't give a damn about the reading, but as she was here, she couldn't tell her outright, could she? Andrea could get insulted and then their friendly relationship would be in jeopardy, wouldn't be? So, let the ordeal begin.
Alice smiled. "Yes, but I have to tell you this is my first time.I have no idea what to do."
"Relax, close your eyes and slowly breathe in, then out. Plant your feet firmly on the ground. Let yourself to be rooted to the earth. Imagine it. And breathe in, and out, feel the connection to the mother earth. Feel the warmth…"
Alice actually relaxed. Andrea's voice was low, hypnotizing, she breathed in, imagining how her feet took root into the earth. Or maybe the pills did the job, she thought distractedly as she listened further in.
"Breathe in, relax, breath out, and now think of a question you want to ask. Think deeply, have it on your mind all the time. Feel it in you. You want to know the answer. Now open your eyes."
Andrea had laid all the cards in front of them. "Do not let your question slip your mind. Do not talk to me. Just concentrate and turn ten cards. Let yourself to be guided."
Her voice lulled her to comply. Alice turned the cards, slowly, one by one. It felt strange, almost as someone had guided her to turn the cards. As she finished, she looked expectantly up.
Andrea was frowning at the cards as she put them into a correct order. "Tell me what your question was?"
Alice hesitated. She couldn't tell her the truth, so she lied. "I was asking about my job."
"Really?" Andrea looked at the cards once again. On the position of her outcome sat Ten of swords and the future occupied King of Wands. "Didn't you ask about your future?"
"Maybe I wasn't that specific about my job." Alice wouldn't get past her lips she thought about the events that happened to her. Andrea would be nosy if anything else.
The woman opposite her didn't look persuaded. The whole reading all together was unclear - great conflict opposite to help. Too many contradictory cards. Her present and future looked turbulent. And the outcome, indecisive or too defined? She would have to think more about it. Maybe a three card reading would be clearer? Alice had to help. She should tell the truth, from the truth they could rebuild her back to her self.
Andrea leaned closer. "So you want to know about your future?"
"Is it so uncommon?"
"Most people ask specific questions. Did you ask one?"
"I asked about the job," Alice answered coolly.
"A second ago, you told me you wanted a future reading?"
"Isn't it the same?"
"These cards don't lie. Do you know what this one means?" Andrea fingered the corner of the Tower card in the slot reserved for goals and destiny. "It warns you, that your goals hang on a thread. Loss and ruin, Alice. If you do not do what is right it will bring destruction to you. So, tell me what was the question. I can help you to find your center. The past few weeks you looked jaded."
Andrea's voice was hypnotic, persuading her, coaxing her to tell her the truth. And then Alice closed herself down., feigning indifference. Yes, she was curious, but she will not allow the woman to use her tricks.
Andrea continued. "Do you want to know the outcome? What about these two kings, could they be your lovers? Good friends?" She teased. "One could be accepting, the other let's say more…."
"I don't want to hear it. I am going back… Alice stood abruptly. In her haste, she overturned the porcelain cup and it's reminding content spilled on the cards.
"No, no, no…." and the next thing she knew, she was under the scorching sun on the plains, here in this strange world.
Now on the path to the city of Rivendell, she came to no conclusion whatsoever. She wasn't that insufferable. Obstinate, yes. But that was expected. She wouldn't tell the truth - not to a neighbor, she knew only casually.
As she thought about it, she wouldn't tell the truth to anyone. Not here, nor back home. They would think she was in serious need of psychiatric counseling. And she didn't feel insane, did she? She had too many questions and no answers. When she had had work to do, she hadn't had time to think these mind exhausting things.
It was too overwhelming.
She stopped thinking about it.
There would be time lat….. wolves.
What if they would come.
What if they would charge when she slept on the ground. Maybe she should climb and sleep in the trees. But the rangers were here. They would protect her. She hoped at least so. And it would be silly, anyway. So she stayed put, wrapping herself into her cloak protectively.
That hadn't helped.
Most of the night, even though the rangers had taken turns by the fire to guard, she hadn't slept at all. The following nights had been long and the days even longer. Thus, it wasn't unexpected she felt run down and that was a mild term to put it.
The roaring of the water returned her to present.
"Bruinen!" Breon exclaimed. "We have to cross the ford to enter the lands of Rivendell."
"Thank God," Alice muttered under her breath. "Is it far to the city then?"
"No, only several hours pass the ford, my Lady."
They began to walk again.
