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I

HOW TO WRECK A MARY SUE

Chapter 7 – Limbo


Days come and go and months pass me by,
And seasons they leave me behind.
Don't have a thought about where I'll be,
I'll be here till the end of all time

-"Waiting For You" Isobel Anderson


"Waiting For You" Isobel Anderson


Kili and Danika noted that the majority of their companions were in a mood, and Kili could understand why. Thorin and Gandalf had already spoken to Beorn extensively about their stay in his house, but the days were wearing on. At least… it seemed like it.

"Just be patient with me," Danika took in a steady breath as she sat on the grass beside Kili. With their backs against a log, the two had been listening to music from Danika's magic while slowly snacking on Beorn's honey-bread. But the bread had long run out and Danika's confusion pressed her questions into their conversation. "I'm sorry, I just don't understand…"

Kili sighed and put his hands behind his head, leaning into the log and scooting his legs out more. "It's just the prompts." He said tiredly. "You've heard them in your head before—the writer plants the idea and you follow it; or resist it, like we're doing."

"No, I understand that, but what I meant was: why is time dragging on? It feels like we've been here for weeks, even though every indication says it's been a few days."

"Because it's probably been weeks," Kili murmured, "since the writer uploaded. They might have forgotten or are having trouble with the next chapter."

"How long do you think it will be?" Danika moaned.

"There's no way to tell," He snorted. "You know that."

"I just thought that maybe there was an average… you'd know it better than I would. Besides," Danika bit her lip, "what do we do while we wait?"

"Until Thorin gets a prompt to leave, we just stay where we are. Normally, we'd be running through a loop, but you and I are aware of the story—"

"—which is why everyone else seems to be doing the same things over and over again." Danika finished for him, nodding her head in comprehension. "Like re-reading an old chapter…"

"Just be glad it didn't happen while we were in the goblin caves." Kili said with a shudder.

"That's for sure," she said, patting his shoulder. "So… what happens if the story becomes unfinished? Like, what happens if the writer stops it right here and never picks it up again?"

"That wouldn't be so bad," Kili said with a smile. "There's really only three things that could happen. Either the readers nag the writer enough for another chapter and they give in, or someone else takes over the writing, or… well, we just continue through the loop like this."

Danika nodded grimly. "If the readers nag enough, do you think the writer would get frustrated and mash everything together in a sudden and uneven final chapter?"

"Eh, sometimes they do," Kili nodded.

"Then I hope someone else takes it up."

"There's a risk in that, too, though. The new writer might have a different writing style and we could be speaking Shakespearean to each other—or they could have a completely different direction for the story…"

"But staying in this loop, indefinitely…?" Danika eyed him nervously.

Kili turned his head to look at her. "Would that really be so bad, though? The safety of Beorn's green, protected lands with no pressing objectives? Honey-bread and milk in great supply? Thorin and the others as company?" He lowered his eyes. "…and me?"

Turning her head away, Danika looked pensive, but then she met Kili's eyes. "No, none of that would be terrible. It would be nice if we could depend on that happening, but we don't know for certain… I had hoped we could reach the end of the story so I could…"

"What?" Kili's eyes twinkled. "So you could what?"

She shook her head, trying to fight a smile and failing. "Things. There were things I wanted to do."

"Like…?" Kili pressed, scooting closer to her and smiling mischievously. "I want to hear about these things. Things you can't do now?"

Danika's face fell. "Yes. As much as I wish it weren't so."

Kili's smile died down and he scanned her face, realizing just how close he was to her. "Why not?"

"Ugh," She moaned, looking away from him. "Because I can't—leave it alone."

Kili was leaning close enough that when she turned her head to look at him again, their noses brushed together. There was a heat in Kili's face that was drawn to the warmth emanating from hers, and he was about to drink from that pool of warmth when Bifur suddenly appeared in front of them, speaking to Kili in Khuzdul.

Pulling quickly away from him, Danika whispered, "What's he saying?"

Kili frowned and wore a disgusted look. "I'm not sure, he's not speaking proper Khuzdul—the writer must have found a mistaken source for dwarf language."

"That's the internet for you," Danika sighed, seemingly in relief, as she rose and brushed dirt from her knees. "Lots of rabbit holes." She looked to be turning her attention to Bifur. "Is Thorin calling for us?"

Bifur nodded in reply and Kili shuffled his boots against the grass to stand, following the two of them back to Beorn's house and finding the rest of their companions preparing ponies. It was time to leave.

"I guess we're off, then," Kili muttered in disappointment.