Author's note: Hello and Happy second month into the new year! I just hope you won't kill me for yet another LONG over due chapter! *laughs nervously while eyeing everything nervously*
I am hereby dedicating this chapter to the wonderful and magnificent you, Ladydoroanne, luneara eclipse, Wing Commander Arnica Vinyaya, Ren, Imaginary-worlds, malikelm, Lover's venom, pretty woman (or whoever you are), rockndasha, Naruvamp, Starrycat05, and Manny Maarie! *give near-fatal bear hugs to each and every one of you* THANK YOU!
Disclaimer: Everything is owned by the amazing and wonderful J.R.R TOLKIEN, he is the giant world and I am a mere speck of an astroid just visiting and using it for a minute, and I'll burn up in his atmospere once I'm done with this! But you know who owns the entire universe of everything and anything? GOD! And HE so owns J.R.R and me! HA HA HA! Beat that lawyers!
*Lawyers stop grinning at me like viciously piranhas for missing the last disclaimer and start looking at their paper work* But God isn't real!
*Puppet crackles* How do YOU know? J.R.R Tolkien believed the same thing.
*Lawyers growl*
Replies:
Ren: Oh, Haldir will be in the future as well as Glorfindel (I made sure just for you and Rockndasha especially)! No, Legolas does not look like Orlando Bloom, because Orlando Bloom (even though he is hot) he is a human. Elves are fairer than humans. :D
Warnings: Some craziness and violent flashbacks. Don't hate me! It'll get better soon!
Chapter eleven
I don't know which one I started with, but it sure felt good. I kept playing as the battle surged on. I could feel people vanish into thin air as I played. I knew that meant they died, but this time the rain was here. So I could only feel a cramping sensation in my back and ribs. It was almost like I was inside of all these people and I feel them going into the Heavens. It was like I was aware of their spirits and everything without actually watching them die. It was weird, very weird indeed. Being a Bonder is hard, but it does have it's advantages… I guess.
Soon dawn came and I squinted my eyes to see if I could spot Gandalf. I stopped playing, and leaned forward. Sure enough there was Gandalf and Éomor! I yelled in excitement. We were actually going to win this! They came charging down and started killing all the Orcs. After playing some more of the flute, the Orcs had enough and the rest of them ran away into the trees.
Gandalf, Aragorn and the others watched them go into the trees. But there was a cracking sound and all of the Orcs started screaming. Surprisingly, I could feel what the trees were doing. Let us just say they are very angry trees, no touchy or messy with them.
Soon they started coming back to the gates, before they entered Gandalf stopped and turned towards me. "Young lady! You get down here this very instant!"
I was leaning against the wall, thinking of and feeling all that died. 124 deaths of our whole army including the Riders of Rohan. Considering Sauron's army has 9,752 deaths. Not bad, in fact that's awesome! But my heart is aches for those who did die. I nodded weakly to Gandalf and slowly made my way to the room I think that Gandalf is in. I was weaker than I thought, my legs were shaking and it was hard to take steps, so I had to take it slow.
I weakly open the door and slide in. I take a deep breath and close the door, turning around I find Gandalf and everyone looking at me with questioning/worried expressions. I slowly make my way over, trying not to make it look too bad. The rain had ended a little while ago, so the pain was getting to me again.
"Why do you look so weak, when you have not fought?" The King asked.
He was clearly tired, but probably not as much as me. "I-I have felt every death that h-happened. I feel their very spirits leave the world, I feel the pain from them. I-I-" My head spins around for a second. "I felt the deaths of everyone that died, them and us. Though their deaths don't hurt as much as ours." My eyes went out of focus for a few seconds. I realized I was holding on to a pillar, and gripped it for dear life.
"Adona! Fight the feeling!" I felt someone pull me off of the pillar and hold me up. Blood started dripping down my nose and throat.
"What feeling?" My eyes came back into focus to find Aragorn holding me up. My knees gave out.
"Adona! Her spirit can leave and she herself can die if she does not shake off this burden!"
"Do not fret? I feel fine…?" It came out as a question, though I did not mean it to.
"Do not sleep!" I heard a pound and I snapped back into focus.
"Exactly! Welcome to the of life and death! In this game, the person with the lowest score wins! Ai! Ai! Ai! Looks like we won! Hee hee hee! It's 124 to 9,752! Ai! Ai! Ha ha ha!" I tilt my head in confusion. "What?"
"Adona I am sorry but this needs to be done." Gandalf started to walk up to me.
"Eh? Ho ho horrrrendous! He he-" I was cut off by a slap. A nice old slap. "Ah, slap me again please?"
Slap.
"Oh, that feels too good! Again!" I laugh.
Punch.
"Oh-I mean- Ai! I said slap, not punch."
Cold water splashed in my face.
"What? What happened?" I stood up weakly, though Aragorn still held me.
"You forgot your mind."
"Oh, yes! Now I remember! That feeling of death really wiped me clean." I smile, though it probably looks pretty painful.
"Yes! Now what did you say before?" Gandalf continued as if nothing happened.
"We have 124 deaths total. Sauron's army has 9,752 deaths, though not including the ones in the forest." I wince as my back cramped for a second.
"You felt everyone's pain?" I heard a man's voice, though I could not recognize who.
"No, I would have died. I felt everyone that is dead's pain." I drag my eyes upwards to find Éomor's eyes. Dang, he is handsome! He is tall with shoulder length blond hair and a fair face, though his expression looked very focused with a hint of pity. "Sei un bel ragazzo." I just said; You are one handsome guy.
"What?" He raised a brow.
"Sei un bel ragazzo." I smiled a tad.
"No, I mean what does it mean?" He said.
I thought for a minute. "I said you are one handsome guy."
He was apparently caught off guard, then blinked a couple of times and smiled nervously. "Um, well, I give you my thanks." I snickered, then moaned.
"Serves you right, Lassie! For not being so modest." Gimli laughed.
"By my world's standards, I am being modest." I grin.
Everyone, except for Legolas and Gimli, widened their eyes in horror. Legolas and I snickered. Of all the stories I have told him, he has finally gotten over the shock of Earth, and Gimli just get the idea clearer than others I guess. "ADONA!" It was Boromir's voice!
My eyes snapped open, I didn't even know I closed them, and I struggled out of Aragorn arms. "Um…I promised Lady Éowyn to help her after all of this." I smile then weakly try to get away, but Aragorn grabbed my waist again.
"Not in your condition. You must stay with either me or Legolas until you sleep and gain your strength back. And what happened to Boromir? I was afraid he might have got hurt." Aragorn lifted his head from my ear to listen to the loud string of cursing.
"Where is that little backstabbing twit? When I get my hands on her…" The rest was a bit muffled.
Aragorn glanced down at me without moving his head. "Mae, what did you do?"
"Umm…" I stared at the door and Boromir came through it.
"Adona! There you are you poor excuse of a Bonder!" I could practically hear his teeth grinding from across the room.
"Hey! Do you like the headache?" I smiled nervously.
"What happened?" Gandalf asked turning to me with a warning glare.
"That little cretin knocked me out right before the battle and tied me up!" He pointed to me.
"Well, that's what you get you suicidal maniac!" I yelled back.
"What are you talking about, Adona?" Gandalf asked.
"He was going to give up during the battle and-and kill himself basically! I didn't want him to die so I knocked him out! Oh, cruel harsh me!" I snapped my head down.
"B-Boromir? Is this true?" Aragorn asked, clearly shocked.
Boromir said nothing, he only looked down.
"I think we need to talk. Legolas watch over Adona." Aragorn pushed me into Legolas' arms. Then everyone, except Legolas, Gimli and the twins, went.
"You did a brave thing, Lass." Gimli said.
"He should not have been thinking of those things!" I shook my head and pushed off of Legolas.
Elrohir coughed and nudged Legolas, forcing Legolas the stammer out an apology. "Oh, umm… I am sorry I snapped at you earlier, I was just under a lot of pressure."
"I should not have pushed you though. I am also sorry." I smiled. "But what was it that was in the prophecy?"
"It did not happen in this battle." He looked at me gravely.
I sighed then thought for a moment. "Let us not snap at each other anymore… let us snap at Orcs!" I grinned evilly.
"Yeah!" Elrohir exclaimed.
"I am really starting to like you." Elladan grinned as well.
"Aye, Lassie! Good idea!" Gimli laughed.
"If you look outside you will see that we already snapped at the Orcs." Legolas smiled.
"Then let us snap again! And let us go all out!" I felt my heart stir. For all the pain and death they caused, I really wanted to get them. For all the hurt and suffering they WILL cause in the future, I wanted to get them! I have a new will, the will to stop it all! Not for just these people but for my friends and for the other people around this world! Never have I been so scared in my life to see Aragorn vanish, this war had made me realize just what was going on! This was no play time, this is war.
"I think you need to visit Irmo's realm." I was snapped out of my stupor by Legolas' worried tone.
"What is Irmo's realm?" I asked.
"Irmo is the Vala of sleep and dreams." Legolas answered softly, like he was trying to make his voice hypnotic so I would go to sleep. Nice job, it's really working, note the sarcasm.
"Ah. Well, I can always visit Irmo's realm when I'm dead." I started to walk off. Willing myself to gather the rest of my energy.
"You are immortal!" Legolas said walking slowly so he could walk right next to me.
"As I said before." I murmured. "Then I do not need to sleep if I am immortal!"
"But you just felt the pain from everyone dying!" Legolas tried to reason.
"So? I'm still alive, aren't I?" I held out my arm to open a door, but Elrohir beat me to it. "Thank you, Elrohir."
"Mmhmm." He said in reply.
Legolas said something under his breath, but I could not hear him. "You need to rest either way."
"I promised Éowyn to help her if she needed anything. And that is what I am planning to do."
Legolas sighed. "Fine, but I am staying with you, so you do not kill yourself."
"Yes, mother." I grumbled.
We all found Éowyn trying to give comfort to a grieving woman and her son. She looked up and saw us, then she said something to the woman and came forward to us. "Is there something you request?" She glanced at Legolas.
"No, I am just following Marthoreth." He smiled.
"Very well." She turned to me. "Are you looking to help?"
"Yes." I answered.
"The healers can use some help." She smiled sadly.
My eyes widened. The last time I was a healer I failed… miserably. I remember what my father did because of that…
§- Flashback -§
"I think I see someone." Joe said for the millionth time.
I squinted my eyes and looked all around. "No! There is nothing you fool!"
"I swear, there is something! You are just too blind to see it!" He exclaimed.
"Well you are hallucinating!" Here I am stuck in the middle of the desert with twiddle dumb and twiddle dumber the only two hunters in the world that don't know how to survive in the wild! Good thing my brothers taught me some how-to tricks.
"How do YOU know, YOU aren't the one who is hallucinating?" Herm asked, he sounded like he was drunk.
"Um, well, maybe, because I'M the one that has the map! That rock over there is called 'The Zebra's mark' that means we are still 20 miles away from the next village." I sighed.
"Then why don't we start moving again?" Joe mumbled.
I growled. Am I the only one with a brain left? I have told them this ten times before! "Three reasons! First reason; We don't have the proper clothes on to walk when it's day, it will just burn us and get us killed faster! Second reason; It takes more energy to walk in the day. Third reason; We are open targets if we travel by day!"
"No need to snap." Herm muttered.
"Yes! I have every reason to snap! What kind of hunter are you if you don't even know how to survive in the wild? And I have had to explain this to you eleven times! I just got attacked by lion and it almost ripped my stomach out! We were betrayed by a psycho who killed my friend and guide! And I am stuck with you two!" I threw a rock in frustration. They, unbelievingly, made a smart decision and did not talk anymore.
I watched the sun sink down into a pool of deep reds and purples. I turned to Joe and Herm to wake them up. "It's time to go." They nodded and we left.
Now, when you are in one of the most dangerous places in the world, what do you want to do? Well, I don't know, maybe, stay quiet! Well, Joe decided the best thing to do in his mind is sing Queen lyrics. 'We will rock you' in particular. He also likes to do air guitar solos. But since we were in the desert and that possibly is the ONLY thing he has left of his sanity, I put up with it. Until…
CRACK!
"What! What was that?" Herm whispered loudly.
"Shhh!" I paused. I squinted my eyes and held still. It was hard to see in the dark, but everything was extremely quiet. So I could hear if there was anything.
"Oh my God, it's a lion!" Joe started to freak out.
"Shhh! There would be growls if it were a lion!" I whispered reassuringly.
"Was that a growl?" Joe exclaimed again.
I listened for a second. "No there is nothing." I whispered calmly.
"No, no, no! I-I heard something! We got to run! Run! Run! Run!" Each time he said run it was softer and softer, like he was running away!
"Joe come back! Come back!" I wailed. I felt an arm around my waist pull me back from trying to run after him.
"Let him go, he is gone." Herm whispered in my ear.
"No…" I whimpered.
"Come on, let us keep walking." He pulled me forward. "Which way do we go?"
I sniffed, then looked up. "The big dipper is pointing that way." I pointed north. "So we have to go that way." I pointed south.
"Okay, let us keep going." He said sadly.
Good thing it was dark, because I felt tears slip down my face, I didn't want him to see my tears. Why had I been so hard on him? Well, maybe he could get found on the way…
Just then I heard a scream from far away. "Joe…"
"We need to go before something catches up with us." Herm reasoned.
"You are right, come on!" I whispered. Despite the scream we just heard, there was still hope for Joe!
We kept going throughout the night and past dawn. "Look! Is that something ahead?"
I look at the map and looked around. "Yes! It's the village! Come on!" I smiled. We both ran.
Once we got to it, people came rushing out of their houses. "Who are you?" One of them asked.
I and Herm told them everything, so they called some people to come and get us. After sorting a ton of things out with the government they sent out a message to my father. And my father is going to meet us at the airport. Herm though, was a little more off kilter than usual. He would probably need some very good therapy when we get back.
We are now in a car driving to the airport, I am fairly nervous. The last time I saw my father was a month ago, and the incident made me realize that life is too short to hate your family. So I am willing to forgive my father and possibly call him Dad again!
Joe on the other hand, has not been found yet. Though, they have only been searching for a few days. I pray every night they find him, I feel as though it is my fault he ran away. If we had been traveling at day, he would not have ran…
Abayomi… h-he was found spread across a field by a lion. But I feel there is more to it than meets the eye. But he saved my life by shooting the lion that was attacking me. After he died I went crazy. Abayomi was a very good person, he was my friend… he was my brother.
Jack, oh Jack. Jack saved my life by distracting the lion that was watching my every move by shooting at the lion from his spot in a tree. We both escaped. He saved me, just to toy with me by killing Abayomi a while later. But I did not let him off the hook. When he was going on a crazy rant I pulled out a pipe and hit him upside the head with it and dragged him to the porch. I left him there and when I came back, I found the wood sucking up some blood but no Jack. I feel no guilt. But I have nightmares. Just because I found blood doesn't mean he is dead…
"Miss Adona?" Asked the driver.
"Hmm?"
"We are here."
"Thank you."
"You are welcome miss."
I got out and found my father standing in the distance. He was in his black uniform, standing in a composed stance. His facial expression was blank and his eyes hidden behind his sun glasses. He was taller than the other military personnel. His short sandy blond hair was blowing in the wind.
I walked up to them, expecting some sort of welcome from my father, but my hopes were dashed when he sneered at me. "Get in the plane." He said coldly.
"No welcome? After all I have been through?" I shook my head.
"No. You of all people should have done SOMETHING to help the people of that town." He growled.
"You of all people should know that not everyone died." I countered.
"Do not argue with me, child. Now. Get. In. The. Plane." I could tell that he narrowed his eyes, because his eye brows went down a little.
"Maybe I should have just let the lions kill me!" I could feel tears gathering themselves in the corners of my eyes, but I start to walk away before HE could see them.
But before I could get far enough and NEVER let my father know I heard it and got very affected, I heard him say one last thing. "Maybe you should have."
Being rejected by the only parent you have left hurts. It hurts a lot. But I didn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me affected, it would make me look weak. I got onto the plane and looked outside my window to find something that hurt me worse. He was smiling and shaking hands with Herm, he also saluted him. I turned away. I could not handle it very well.
Soon everyone boarded the plane. My father did not even look at me as he passed by. He sat as far away as he could from me, and invited Herm to sit with him. Herm looked at me, and I waved my hand. As if to say go ahead, I don't care.
To my surprise, one of father's Sergeants came and sat with me. Sergeant Holms I believe. He sat down across from me and stared at me awhile. "What?" I asked after a few minutes.
"Why did your father say that?" He stared at me while he asked that.
"It's a secret." I leaned in. "It's so secret I don't even know it." I sat back and looked out the window.
"You did a good job. You have brought pride to your country." He said unexpectedly.
I snap my head to him in confusion. "How?"
"You have saved many lives by calling in backup to help the people and for surviving. Since your father won't say it, I might as well say it."
I stare at him for a minute, then look down. "T-thank you, sir."
"Hang in there, kid." He stood up and patted me on the shoulder and walked away. I felt a tear run down my cheek. He cares about me more than my own father. What a life!
§- End of flashback -§
I had asked my father what I did wrong, and he answered: "You could have saved a few lives if you did the medical procedures right. You should know these kinds of vital things!"
"I am not sure I should be doing healer stuff." I sighed.
"You would just be stitching up wounds and those sort of things." Éowyn tilted her head, trying to read my expression.
"I-I am not so good at those things." I said.
"We can help you with that." Elrohir stepped up.
"I guess." I mumbled. "Well, then let us go. Better not waste any time." I waved at Éowyn and headed towards the healing rooms.
"Lord Legolas and Master Gimli, your presence is needed!" A guard came up to them.
"Alright. Elladan, Elrohir could you watch over her?" Legolas asked turning around.
"Yes." Elladan answered.
"Do whatever they say, understand?" Legolas told me.
"Yes." I said looking down. Now that I was thinking of Joe, I felt extremely guilty. If I had just reached out and held him, maybe I could have saved him…
"If you don't mind me asking. Why are you hesitant to do healers work?" Elladan asked.
"The last time I did healers work, eight patients died." I walked a little faster so, hopefully, they would not ask any questions, but that was not the case.
"What exactly was the situation?" Elrohir asked, keeping up with me was no problem to them.
"Bad." I mumbled.
"How bad?" Elrohir pressed.
"Very bad." I answered.
"Why was it bad?" Elladan asked.
"It was bad because it started out bad." I gave a vague answer.
"Do you remember our conversation before the battle?" Elrohir asked.
"You mean the one where you said you hated riddles?" I guessed.
"Yes, that one." Elrohir said
I sighed then stopped and leaned in a little. "Lions attacked our village healing house and I was the only survivor." Then I turned and walked away.
"What?" Elrohir asked, his tone was clearly worried.
"I'm not in the mood for stories." I sighed softly.
"Alright. Just know, this is not in the forest and this is not life or death. We are just doing the little things, so the healers can do the life or death things." Elrohir assured.
"And after you know how to do the minor things, we will do the life or death things." Elladan said.
I heard a grunt and a 'hey!' "But that is only if you are comfortable." Elrohir smiled at me when I turned to them.
"No. Just show me how to do the 'minor things' properly then go do the 'life or death things'. Since you know how to do it, then you should do it." I said.
"Very well." Elrohir said.
Just then we came to a healing rooms and a lady walked up to us. "Do you need any help?"
"No. But I would like to help you, is there any who need stitches?" I asked.
"Yes. There are plenty for you to help,. Come on then." She gestured for us to follow.
After hours of stitching and applying dressing, the healers (doing their job I suppose) told me to get some rest. But I couldn't, I just can't close my eyes and sleep for some reason. So I decided to go outside and watch the clouds roll by. But once I got outside, it wasn't the clouds I was watching. I got a closer view of the battle field.
I felt my heart break again. Just a couple hours ago these people were alive and afraid that they would not make it back to their families. Now their fears have come true. They won't make it back to their families. No more Daddy or no more brother or uncle or friend.
I felt my head swirl and a lump formed in my throat. Guilt swarmed my entire body. What if I could have done something? What if I Bonded with a bunch of animals through the quest? Would that have saved lives? Gee, some Bonder I am! The greatest of them all! The only one who has not Bonded with hundreds of animals by my age! Wow, awesome, fantastic, incredible, amazing, wonderful, marvelous…
I heard moans come from the battle field. Some people were still alive! I saw a person hold up his hand, trying to alert someone that he is, indeed, alive. Someone rushed to where he was and checked him out. Then he stopped and slowly shook his head. The man's injuries were probably fatal. But to my horror the guy took his spear and killed him. At that I had to turn away, there was no way I could watch that. I felt a pain stir in my body, then disappear after a minute. Then another one, then another one, until I counted ten more deaths on our tally, 134 deaths so far.
It was hard, knowing you have a lot of power. But right now you are powerless, just when it counts. Why couldn't I have gotten healing powers, like Aragorn? He seemed to have magic hands, yet I… I cannot help. I can only do defense, and even that's not very strong! We are going up against something that is older than the dirt we walk on! Moreover, he is only a giant flaming eyeball, yet we cannot get a start on him! We won this battle, but does he win the war? As I look around, I see we are stretched thin, yet the enemy always has four armies prepared for battle!
It looks hopeless. It sounds hopeless. It smells hopeless. Yet it does not feel hopeless. It feels like there is hope. Some place, somewhere, somehow there is a speck of hope among doubt. There is no darkness without light. I have read my history, the history of America. My forefathers probably felt the same, yet they did not give up! They found that speck of hope, and they found freedom. Freedom isn't free, and it ain't cheap either, but the price is worth it.
We can win. We will win. We have to win, or else we might as well be dead (and that would mean the movies and books are not true.).
"You seem different." I heard a voice behind me.
Gandalf was behind me. "The world is different."
"Bonders were never warriors, and never will be." Gandalf smiled sadly.
"What happened to me?" I stared down at my hands, and they were quivering.
"Bonders feel life and intertwine themselves with life. Like you and Frodo. You are, unknowingly, helping him by taking his pain. Not only from his body but also his mind. When most people are in pain, they try to look for comfort or release. That is part of the job a Bonder does." He put a hand on my shoulder.
"I feel like a total failure. What would have happened if I did something wrong? What if I do something wrong in the future? I have a nasty habit of getting things wrong, for some reason." I looked down.
"You did really well! You saved more lives then you know. And experience is the best revenge." He assured.
"I thought living good was the best revenge."
"The saying is a bit altered, but it is the same because it is true."
I stared at him for a minute. "How do I improve? How do I help? I need to help…somehow!" I turned and grabbed the railings of the wall; I spied another person having to be killed by the group.
"I…" Gandalf trailed off. "Just be patient, my dear."
I shook my head. "That is the only thing I can do?"
"For now." He gripped my shoulder. "But a time will come when you are needed."
I sighed. "I guess your right… as always."
He laughed. "I am not always right dearest."
"To me you are." I said seriously and looked at him.
His brows drew together. "It is not the best idea to think so highly of me, Maethoreth."
I corked a smiled. "When have I ever made a good decision?"
He chuckled. "Good point. But I may disappoint you in the future."
"I have been disappointed my whole life. I've been disappointed by everyone in my life at least ten times. You have not disappointed me once." I have been disappointed more times than I can count. But what disappointed me the most was when I did not have Gray as a dance partner. When I was eight , I was entered into a dance competition. My Grandma was so excited about this one, because it was the first competition she had won when she was my age and what her mother had won and what my mother had won, this one meant a lot to her. This one meant a lot to me.
§-Flashback-§
From 5 am to 6 pm I would dance. I would dance until my feet started to bleed, but I got over the pain. I wanted to make my parents… proud. The days went by and the weeks trudged on, each day was a challenge, each day was the same. But grandma had always been there to support me, until I woke up. Something told me, you don't want to wake up, you want to sleep until the world's end was near. I thought it was just laziness, so I smiled and got up for another taxing day of practice. I woke up Erwin, who was in a bed across from mine and we got dressed. I sniffed the air, expecting to smell eggs and tea, but to no avail.
Erwin said he was going to find his shorts downstairs and walked out of the room calling for Grandma. But his calls stopped abruptly, then he slowly pushed the door open, his face was an unnatural shade of white as he murmured quietly. "Grandma fell. We need to call 911." I tried to get past him to see if she was alright, but Erwin wouldn't let me, he just grabbed a phone and dialed the emergency line. I'm glad now that my brother never let me see her. I want to remember her as she was when she was alive.
Oh, grandma. I miss you dearly.
I still danced, for her, for mom, for my father and brothers that were fighting for us. I had never been so driven to win before, I had never worked so hard. With every twist I did I thought of grandma, with every step I thought of mom, with every jump I thought of my brothers, with every difficult move I thought of my twin. But with every win I thought of my father. You could say I had the lust to please anyone I loved, for this one I wanted to win for grandma, who went to every one of my dancing competitions, who went to every singing recital for Erwin.
In the end I won. I was presented with the flowers and a trophy, a big golden trophy. I grinned and looked at the girls who had lost, their heads were down in disappointment and tears ran down their faces. The parents came and lifted their daughters and gave them a big hug, telling them how beautiful they looked on stage or how awesome they did. "Come on, let's get some ice cream!" One father said.
"Why? I didn't win." One little girl said.
"You tried your best, and for that I'm proud of you." He said. And they would walk off with their supportive parents.
But me? I stand, motionless, on a floor with words ringing through my ears like a bomb had just gone off. Proud. The winning word that we all drive for. I look down at my winnings and think; did I really win? In a way they had accomplished more than I ever could that day. They get love and I get flowers. Was this worth the drive? I won the trophy… but to what avail? Who do I show it to? I look around and watch the staff clean up and start to put away everything. Now that I don't have my grandma and my mommy and my brothers that are away to war. A pain erupts in my chest as I realize something that no eight year old should realize. I am alone. I lost the bigger prize, and I'm alone. I am the loser here, not the other girls, they have everything they could ever truly want and need. I slowly walk off the big floor while the giant world around me does not even take notice of my presences on the floor still. Tiny tears trek down my face, I lost.
§-End of Flashback-§
A hand on my face tears me away from my disheartening reverie. "Please do not look so sad, my dear."
I looked into his eyes, and saw something that I have not seen directed towards me before. Love, a fatherly love. The one that I have been longing for since I was brought into the earth, the one that only special people can touch. Maybe, just maybe, I am not the loser for once. Maybe I can be the winner! I smile at him. "I am not sad anymore. Thank you." I turn and hug him.
He stiffens for a second, then hugs me back. "Whatever for dear?"
"For coming back when you could have turned away from us." I hugged him tighter.
He then mumbled something so light that I just barely heard him, even though my ear is next to his mouth. "If only everyone was pleased with the slightest details and go on the heavily darkened road with no complaints."
"Huh?" I asked.
"Pay no mind to what I said. Go now, and rest, we have some Hobbits to pick up." He smiled. I smiled brighter as he turned and left.
Sighing I started to walk after him, but a sound made me stop abruptly. It was a small sound, nothing big, but nonetheless I heard it. I slowly walked to look over the wall, the sound grew louder, I looked around to see if anyone else heard it, but everyone just kept walking calmly.
I closed my eyes to hear better, and without a fail a voice was calling for help, but where was it coming from? I leaned in closer and closer until I was on the tips of my toes. The voice sounded muffled, like it was under something. Maybe someone got caught in the explosion and lived!
My eyes snapped opened and I looked down to find the debris from the explosion and I raced down the stairs, taking three steps at a time. Please, please, please let me save this person! Oh Lord I need to save this person! I can't let another one die!
I immediately started to pick the debris away, but the exhaustion from the battle was taking it's toll on me, so I had limited strength. Then another plea for help came from the pile, and all of the sudden I felt like I had renewed strength. I yelled for people to come help me, and in a moments notice five people came to help.
With everyone there it took only a minute more to get the man out from underneath the rubbish. There was dirt and blood marks all over his face, his expression was one of relief in that moment.
"Can you stand?" I asked.
He nodded, and tried to stand, but he fell into me. "Take it easy, yes, slowly." Another man said as the injured man was carried out to the healing room, I followed.
One man turned around and smiled brightly at me. "You just saved a man today, in fact you have saved many of us! Maethoreth the kind, your name shall ever be known, milady!" He said out loud so everyone could hear. Everyone cheered and clapped.
I blushed fiercely, but smiled until it hurt. Then I felt arms around me hugging me, I turned to find the girl who was my maid before. She smiled up at me and said. "You have just spared my brother from death! Thank you so much!" She said loudly.
I saved someone today… it felt good to save people!
o0o
"Ado- I mean- Mae! Do you feel anything?" Legolas whispered from his horse, which was RIGHT next to me. If I even move a quarter of an inch to the left I would bump into Legolas. He had a sort of a break down earlier, he was spooked by the trees, who are very angry right now. But not at us, they are angry at the Orcs and Sauron. Gandalf had to calm him, so he told him that I could feel the anger in the trees, so that helped calm him down a bit. Until the Ent popped out of nowhere, and everyone is on the edge. But Legolas the most, ever since then he has been asking me every three minutes if I feel anything wrong or different.
"Stop your worrying, Master Elf! And leave the poor lass alone!" Gimli shook his head.
"Well, all I want to know is if the trees are going to kill us like the Orcs!" Legolas hissed.
"Yes, but I see no difference in the trees because it has only been about three minutes! Now rest your nerves, for you are making the horses think the same way as you!" Gimli said in a gruff voice. I smiled evilly. Gimli is on the same horse as Legolas, so if Legolas goes mad, then the horses go mad, what happens to poor Gimli?
Legolas sighed and rubbed his horses neck. "Sorry, Mellon nin."
"Were you saying that to Gimli or the horse?" I asked.
"All three of you." Legolas answered.
"If it helps any, there is no difference in the trees." I offer.
"Thank you. Now hopefully I can be at peace…" He said taking a deep breath. I look at Gimli with challenge in my eyes. I hold up my hand and make a ten minute sign, Gimli signals fifteen minutes and we wait.
-Ten minutes later-
Legolas is fidgeting every ten seconds. And it has been ten minutes, let's see if he asks… he is fidgeting again then he sneaks a glance at me. I smile nervously then look away quick, hoping he would get suspicious so he would ask. But I hear him take a deep breath. Darn.
-Two minutes later-
"Mae? Do you feel anything?" Legolas asked all of the sudden.
I slowly turn my head to him. "No." Then I turn to Gimli. "I win."
"Nay, Lassie. You didn't get it right, we both lost." Gimli chuckled.
"Nay, Master Dwarf. I am closer to the truth because I am closer to the timing! You are three minutes off, where I am two minutes off." I smiled.
"Wait. Did you two just bet on how long I was going to keep quiet?" Legolas asked with a shocked expression.
"Yes." I answer plainly.
"Aye." Gimli said after me.
"You two are hopeless." Legolas shook his head.
"So are you." I say.
"How?" He asked.
"You're friends with us, aren't you?" I half asked.
He laughed. "I see your point."
All of the sudden I can smell a certain pipe-weed. "They are near!" I whisper under my breath.
Legolas stopped laughing at once. "Who? What? Where?" He looked around nervously.
"Not that silly! I'm talking about the Hobbits!" I smile at him.
"Finally!" He let's out a breath he had been holding.
"Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!" Merry said bowing low. "We are the door wardens. Meridoc son of Saradoc is my name, and my companion, who, alas! Is overcome with weariness." He nudged Pippin with his foot. "Is Peregrin son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Far in the North is our home. The Lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honorable guests."
I frowned at the name; Saruman. He's the idiot that made us change our directions many times, leading us to the Mines of Moria (I shiver at the thought of going through those again.), betrayed his allies, killed many people in Rohan and allowed Sauron to take over his mind like a puppet! I don't like him very much. "Doubtless! He would!" Gandalf laughed. "And was it Saruman that ordered you to guard his damaged doors, and watch for the arrival of guests, when your attention could be spared from a plate and bottle?"
"No, good sir, the matter escaped him. He has been much occupied. Our orders come from Treebeard, who has taken over the management of Isengard. He commanded me to welcome the Lord of Rohan with fitting words. I have done my best." Merry answered.
"Merry! We were so worried!" I yelled.
He stared at me. "Adona?"
"No, I'm Galadriel. Who did you think I was?" I rolled my eyes.
"Adona!" Pippin jumped up from his laying position.
"Why does everyone call you Adona, when your name is Maethoreth?" Éomor asked.
"Because I have two names, I like to be addressed Maethoreth at first meetings though." I smile then turn back to Merry and Pippin. "Looks like we missed the party."
Everyone laughs. "Aye, I agree with the lass. What are we celebrating?" Gimli asked.
"We are celebrating the defeat of Isengard and the downfall of Saruman!" The Hobbits say together.
Afterwards, we exchange more words and they explain what happened. Then we talk to a giant tree-I mean Ent-named Treebeard. After that Gandalf and King Théoden talked to Saruman. And let me tell you, that dude is messed up. But the thing that was the most messed up was at the end, where he turned to me.
"Ahh, so you are the one that Sauron wants." He smiled wickedly. "He says you cannot hide anymore. He has been waiting for you for a long time, Lintamelissë." He pauses dramatically, waiting for me to react.
I raise a brow. "What kind of name is Lint-ame-liss-ai? Is Sauron renaming me or something? And why has he been waiting a long time for me for?"
Saruman just stared at me. "So you do not remember? How interesting…" He stroked his beard.
I glance at Gandalf for a second then looked back at Saruman. "What is there to remember? I'm sixteen!"
He was taken back. "Impossible."
Soon he changed the subject to something else. Then Wormtongue came up behind him and threw a black ball thingy. And… well… it missed us. Then he started talking about other thing that I have no understanding of, so I looked around to find anything interesting. Wait! What is that?
I leaned a bit off my horse to get a better look at it. It was a purple book! Just like the green one I have! I glanced up as the King spoke venomously to Saruman, and everyone had their full attention on them, so I slid off my horse and grabbed the book. It sort of sparkled in the sun, but it felt like leather. I stared at the book then flipped through the pages quickly, and it had the same writing as the green book so I painfully shoved it in my shirt with it's companion. I stop to think for a moment though.
Why do I bother to carry these books when I have no idea why I carry them? Am I turning into a hoarder? Or just an obsession with interestingly coloured books? Whatever reason, it's painful. Let's hope that it's not all for nothing.
o0o
Gandalf's POV
After that puppet Saruman slithered back into his pit, I turned to find Adona off her horse with a painful expression on her childish features. I was tempted to ask what was she doing, but then again who REALLY knows why she does things. So I turn back to the black ball, covered of course, in my hands. Such a dangerous thing to have, but what to do with it? One cannot just give his enemy such a thing, yet he cannot keep it himself. Perhaps we could hide it until, hopefully, Sauron's reign diminishes?
So many mistakes we have made, and yet we still live. How is that? Does Sauron make more mistakes than we, and just shields them from our eyes? Oh, life can be very complicated at times.
"Mae, what on Arda are you doing?" Legolas asks Adona.
She looks up at him with pain brightly shining in her eyes. Oh, her eyes remind me of something, if only I could remember! "I thought I saw something interesting." She attempted to smile.
"Why do you look like your in pain?" Legolas crossed his arms.
"I stepped on something." She is lying, as innocent as a child caught with his hand in a sugar jar.
I sigh. "You did not just step on something, just get back on your horse and away from the filth that lies within these waters."
She does as I say quickly, then she smiles at me. Who does she remind me of? This is giving me a headache! I have been trying to figure this out for a while now, but to no avail! Before the blue hair incident, her hair used to be black, and the bells were ringing rapidly, but now it just stays at the tip of my tongue!
"Gandalf, it looks like we have a dilemma." Aragorn whispers to me.
I take one last glance at Adona before I turn to Aragorn again. Maybe later I will be able to place her.
o0o
"Come on, Lassie, just a sip!" Gimli said, trying to get Adona to drink some ale.
"Fine! But just one sip." She took the ale and sipped it. She raised her lip up in disgust and moaned. "That was awful!"
I chuckled. "In time you will probably learn to enjoy it."
"Doubtful." She replied.
"One would be surprised at what the future might bring, and do not underestimate that." I tapped my nose and chuckled as she frowned and shook her head.
"Are you always spewing out wisdom?" She asked.
"No. Only about half the time." I answer.
She laughed, though she sounded a bit tired. Not a sleep deprived tired, but a worn-out-by-the-world tired. One should not experience war at such a young age, especially for a Bonder. The poor dear doesn't know that when she turns to the age of 22, the world will never be the same. When she turns 22 her feeling of pain will surpass anyone of any race by ten times. Her past will catch up to her and she will find no comfort. Medicine will not be able to cure her sicknesses and pain. There is no way we can help her, so I give her my attention when I can spare it the most.
"Ah, I will miss this once it disappears, for more battles are probably in our future." She sighed.
"Aye, but don't think of that now, Lassie! What we need in our future is more ale in our cups!" Gimli laughed.
"I'll go get it!" She got up and trotted off to the kegs of ale near the wall.
"Gandalf?" I heard Legolas' soft voice near my ear.
"Hmm?"
"What did Saruman mean by calling Adona; Lintamelissë? The language is in Quenya, and I understand little of that language." He asked in a concerned tone.
"It means; swift lover. I do not know why he named her that, but I have a feeling that it's something that we should keep an eye on." I sighed.
"Swift lover? That does not sound too good." He shook his head.
"No, it does not." Aragorn came up behind us.
"I see someone has her eye on you, lad." Gimli said, implying the Lady of Rohan.
"Yes, I can see that too." Aragorn said distantly.
I glanced around the room and found the lady in question staring at Aragorn with cloudy eyes. "Be careful, Lord Aragorn, you may be in trouble later." I laughed and patted him on the back. He just sighed and took a large swig from his half pint. Speaking of half pint where are the two half pints themselves?
o0o
Adona's POV
"Aye, I agree. Two Sams could probably take down Boromir." Pippin said taking a rather big gulp from his ale.
"Depends if Boromir had a sword or not. But Sam IS pretty fierce with his pans." I said taking an equally large gulp from my water. Other people might disagree but water is definitely better than ale. Ale makes me feel like a warm poison is entering my body, but water makes me feel refreshed and ready for anything. Kind of like when a desert gets rain.
"Sam could take Boromir down -with or without a sword-with his bares hands." Merry slurred slightly.
"How?" I asked.
"One time, Sam, Merry, Fatty and I were running down a hill, to get to some mushrooms that were rumored to be down there. And sure enough, there were mushrooms, but some rabbits were eating them!" Pippin hiccupped.
"But these weren't any ol' rabbits. These were Farmer Proudfoot's rabbits, specially trained to find mushrooms and truffles." Merry leaned forward a little.
"More muscle on them too." Pippin added.
"And more aggressive, they can bite pretty hard. All of us stopped, 'sept for Sam. He marched right up to them and brushed them away like they were mice!" Merry continued.
"Did he get bitten?" Rabbits can carry rabies disease!
"Once, but he didn't care, he walked right past us with an arm full of mushrooms." Merry answered, taking a big swig of his ale.
"Then Farmer Proudfoot pounced on him!" Pippin piped up.
"No he didn't! Pippin stop telling tales." Merry shook his head.
"It's true! He came bouncing out of a bush and tackled Sam, then he took out a carrot and tried to beat him with it, then the carrot broke so Sam pulled out a needle and started licking it, then he drove it into the carrot and Farmer Proudfoot ran away crying!" Pippin said in a fast pace.
Merry and I stared at him. "Um, Pippin? Are you alright?" I finally asked.
"Me? Oh, yes, I'm fine." Then he passed out.
"Well, that answers that question." Merry said shaking his head.
"I didn't know he drank THAT much.." I blinked several times then drank from my water.
"Well, we WERE singing and dancing on a table."
"Your right…" I sighed. "What should we do with him?"
Merry shrugged. "We'll leave him until the night is over, just keep an eye on him, I reckon." He drank some more ale then looked down it. "Well would you look at that! No more ale! You stay here, I'll be back." He got up and left.
I sighed again. The noise is incredibly loud, and it's giving me a headache. Oh, so much stress! But I'm not as stressed as Aragorn and Gandalf are. Gees! They must have several billion things going through their mind right now, and here I am complaining about the noise! I am THE most selfish person ever!
I opened my eyes before I noticed they were closed, and saw Pippin still sleeping. After a while, Merry didn't come back, I looked around and couldn't find him among everyone, so I took Pippin, and put him into a chair and covered him with some blankets. I glanced out the window that was behind Pippin's chair, and saw a sky filled with dancing stars, yet I do not see them with the same peace of that I saw them a week ago. The cold voices of the dead still haunt me as a ghost, when do I be rid of them? Will they ever go away?
It is like someone breathing down your neck with an ice-cold breath. Like Goosebumps that keep coming with wave after wave of shivers, it never stops pulsing.
But then I hear the people that are still living, and I not only hear these people talk, but I feel them do so. I feel their hearts pound, I feel some sort of dim light around them, they are all still blue. But there were four purple. The blue felt like they were only visiting, but the purple felt as if they are tied down to this world as like a boat that has an anchor, when the others pass by with no captains. They are merely floating away as the seconds pass, but those four stay forever, they are the ones that have to fight wave after wave. But then I realize, it's Gandalf, Legolas, Elladan and Elrohir, they are all immortal.
And then I realize; so am I.
I will see Aragorn and Gimli and Frodo and-and Merry and Pippin and Sam and Boromir fade into the distance while I am stuck anchored to this world no matter what happens! I will have to face wave after wave and watch all the boats pass by. And I am doomed to love them all. I will wish to go with them, yet I cannot. I hate that I love everyone here, dirty beards and all. I cannot hate them, even when I focus closely on their imperfections and faults, I cannot see any. Like I am looking through the eyes of Eru himself, I would jump in front of an arrow for all of them. My chest burns, I want to scorn them, but then I see them laugh. I want to tell them to go away, but I know I will follow them wherever they turn. I don't want to face this pain that I know I will feel, but I have no choice. If I feel this kind of pain for complete strangers, then what will I feel for the ones I know and love? Will I be able to survive the pain? Doubtful, very doubtful.
Oh, I can't even bare the thought of losing the ones I love! What makes me think when I see them fade into the distance I will live? There will still be Elladan and Elrohir and Gandalf and Legolas, but is that enough?
"Adona? Are you alright?" Aragorn asked.
Only now do I notice the tears pouring down my face. I glance down. "No."
"What is wrong?" He asked standing next to me.
"I just realized that I am immortal." I mumbled.
He took my shoulders and guided me out of the room and hugged me. He let me cry on his shoulder until I stopped. "You are sad that you will see everyone pass." He said after a while.
"Yes. I will see all mortals pass, leaving me behind in the middle of nowhere." I say scornfully.
He withdrew and held both my arms so he could get a better look at me. "There are no words of comfort that I can say about our passing in the future. But that is why after this, whether or not we win, you will go to Rivendell or Lothlorien, there you shall find some means of comfort."
"But what if it is you I want?" I slouch a bit. He smiled sadly, but said nothing. Then I realized something. "Go on! Stop worrying about me, I'll be fine. I just need some time to think is all."
He sighed. "There are times when I need time to think as well." He squeezed my shoulder and I felt a wisp of a kiss on the top of my head before he left slowly, but before he left he turned and whispered something that I barely caught. "I am sorry." He disappeared after that.
Oh, he doesn't need to be sorry! Did he really think he was at fault about this? I groaned then started to walk to my room.
I pushed the door open and entered, lighting a few candles I turned and gasped. A dark figure was in the corner of my room, behind a chair. "Boromir?"
The figure shook it's head.
"Amarian?"
This is what really scared me, it shook it's head again. "W-who are you?"
It stepped forward and I took a step back, I tried to open the door, but it would not budge. It was tall and it had a cloak, it was also very thin and completely straight, kind of like a stick. "I am Daylon, Servant of God." His voice was soft but deep at the same time, with just a hint of amusement.
I relaxed. "So you are an angel?"
"What else would I be?" He chuckled as one would chuckle at an animal that did something amusing, like scratching it's butt.
"Why are you here, Daylon?" I asked softly.
"I am the Angel of darkness, and no. I am NOT a demon." He said the last word with an incredible amount of disgust.
"Angel of darkness?" I tilted my head.
"I am your shadow, I am your fear. The same fear you have for Eru." He answered.
"His wrath? You are Eru's wrath?" My eyes widen.
"You catch on quickly, yes." He chuckled humorlessly.
"What does that have anything to do with you being here though?" I asked, getting to the point.
He stepped forward and pulled back his cloak. He had short black hair that went everywhere, some pieces of hair went to his jaw-line and some only went to his eyes, but it looked neat somehow. He had pale skin and very thin lips. But the thing that made him creepy was his eyes, they were red. Extremely red, like cherry red. He smirked at me before I realized that I was staring at him. Even though he is creepy looking, he is absolutely handsome. Drop dead gorgeous in fact. He rivals Glorfindel and Amarian (those are two most handsome people I have seen on this {or any} planet), but of course not Eru. No one can surpass him. "Had enough?" His smooth voice enters my ears.
I blush deeply. "Continue."
"I want you to deliver a message to my… acquaintance in the white city of Gondor." He tilted his head a bit.
"What is his name?" I asked.
"You need not know his name. He will come to you, and I want you to give him this." He gracefully pulled out a scroll that had three scarlet red laces tied to it with a golden seal that had a unicorn horse on it with impeccable detail in the muscle and hair on it.
"I-is that the symbol of Eru?" I ask gently taking it from him, as if it would break at any wrong movement.
"Yes. The unicorn is a symbol of Eru. For it's endurance, strength and purity." Daylon said slowly.
"Why me?" I ask.
"That is a good question, but I'm afraid I cannot answer it."
I look up to see him watching me. "No offence, but you look sort of evil." It slips from my mouth before I can think.
He raised his brow. "As you know, I am a different kind of angel. So wouldn't that make my appearance look different? Demons can come as light and angels can also fool people. Do not try to think about it though, it would be a terrible waste of effort. No one can understand the Great Creator and this was just the way I was made, so no. I am not a demon. You most likely don't even know what a demon looks like, maybe I do not look like a demon at all. As I said before, demons can come as light, what if the thing you think is good is not good at all? Jesus said himself that my people died from lack of knowledge. And you cannot know all the knowledge that there is to know. The only thing you can do is trust in the Great Creator himself." Throughout his speech he leaned a little towards me with each sentence.
"I guess that makes some sense." I glanced at the scroll in my hand. "But how will I know that it is the right person to-" I looked up and found him gone. "Well, that was… weird." I sigh and carefully placed the scroll somewhere safe. I wonder why he told me to do it?
o0o
"Adona!" I heard Legolas' voice wake me up.
"What?" I mumble through the pillows.
"Pippin got into some trouble last night."
"What? Did he dye Merry's hair green? Did he drink all the ale once he was alone with it?" I smile at the thought of it.
"No. He looked into Palantír and was attacked by Sauron."
I snapped up and jumped out of bed. "Is he alright?"
"For the most part, he is pretty shaken though."
"Where is he? I have got to see him!" I pulled off my night shirt and pulled on a dress without thinking of Legolas, who was standing behind me.
I turned to find him turned away from me. After I got dressed I told him he could turn around again, then we raced to where Pippin was. He was in a room with Gandalf, the King, Éomor, Éowyn, Aragorn, Gimli, Boromir (who is in the shadows, because now I'm sure he hates me), Merry and some guards.
I knelt down to Pippin. "Are you alright?"
He nodded sullenly. "He'll be fine." Gandalf stated. "He did not say anything to Sauron that would be of use, there is no doubt in that. But we must ride to Gondor with all haste, there is business to attend to there."
I thought on that. I have to go to Gondor to deliver that scroll, but I want to stay here with Aragorn and the rest of the Fellowship. Oh, I guess we don't always get what we want. "I'll go too." I looked at Gandalf.
He stared at me for a minute. "Why?" Was all he said.
"I have a feeling it will do good." I answered.
He stared at me again then sighed. "Very well. Pack lightly for we must leave in two hours." He said walking away.
I jumped to my feet and quickly raced back to my room again. I quickly packed and Merry helped me do it. "Will you keep an eye on him?"
"Yes. I give you my word I will do so." I said.
"Good. And will you try to stay safe?" He asked.
"I'll try." I answered after a moment.
He sighed. "Why did he have to do it?" From his tone I guessed that he was saying that more to himself than anyone.
"All fools have to do it. It's not that we want to, it's just that we have to." I sighed too.
He chuckled. "We? Hmm, now that I think about it…"
"Hey! Aren't I one?" I asked teasingly.
"Yep, but never underestimate fools. They can be a real handful." He said smiling.
"You hear that, Sauron? You have fools for enemies! You had better watch out, you better not shout, you better not pout, I'm telling you why, because Pippin and Adona/Maethoreth are coming to town. They destroy everything of yours when you're sleeping, they know when you plan on attacking, they destroy any chance of a surprise attack because they surprise you first by pulling out your diary (without knowing they had it), so don't attack at all for goodness sake! Because Pippin and Adona/Maethoreth are coming to town!" I sang in a bright, cheery voice.
"You need help." Merry concluded shaking his head.
"I know." I smiled.
"Hey, what's that?" Merry pointed to the scroll that was in the dresser that they gave me, I must have left it open when I was getting Aragorn's tunic!
"Um, just something I was drawing!" I smiled nervously. Good thing they don't know I'm dyslexic!
"Where did you get that seal?" He asked looking at it with curiosity shining in his eyes.
"Ah, Éomor let me borrow it."
"Adona, you're an awful liar. So don't try to do it." He raised a brow at me.
"Fine. A guy gave it too me to deliver it to someone at Gondor. That is the seal of Eru though, so it must be extremely important." I whispered the last part. "That is why I must go to Gondor!"
"Whoa, the seal of Eru!" He whistled.
"Shh!" I put my finger to my mouth.
"Oh, right!" He smiled sheepishly.
Just then I heard Gandalf's voice talking to Pippin. "I hope my little Bonder-in-training is ready to leave! My patience is wearing thin."
I squealed by accident and grabbed the scroll to shove it into my bag, but it wouldn't fit. And as if on que it started to glow, making it impossible to hide anywhere on me without anyone noticing. So I wrapped it in a tunic the people of Rohan gave to me, then shove it in my bag and try to fit the flap on, it poked out, but it fit just barely.
I jumped when I heard Gandalf knock on the door and say, "Adona! You had better be ready!"
I grabbed my bag and took Merry's hand (he had been laughing the entire time I tried to put the scroll in my bag). "Ready!" I smiled brightly when I opened the door.
"Good, now come along!" Gandalf mumbled the first part.
I had to jog in order to keep up with him, but Pippin and Merry had to run. We came to everyone who had been waiting for us outside, near the stables, and we said our goodbyes. It was a little emotional to me, because I would be leaving so many that I love! But it has to be done…
"You will be given a different horse, because you are going a great distance at great speeds and the one you were using is a bit old. So you will be given this one." The stable master told me and lead me to a black horse with a white star burst pattern on it's muzzle and white on it's hooves. It-I mean-he nickered and threw back his head as a sign of a spirited horse. The stable master chuckled. "He is a bit spirited, but he is also very fast. Will he do?"
"Yes. I once had a horse that was spirited, so I'm used to them." I smile then held out my hand so he could sniff it, he did so and tried to nibble on it too! I grinned and patted the horse, giving him an apple the stable master handed to me. The horse took the apple in one bite and nickered happily. "Will you let me ride you?"
The horse eyed me for a second then shook his head up and down. I laughed. "What is his name?"
"Mist. He is so fast, he seems to disappear like mist." The stable master smiled.
"What a lovely name you have, Mist." I grinned.
Mist nickered and nuzzled my hand. He already had a saddle on, so I mounted him and secured my pack. "Maethoreth! We must leave now!" Gandalf shouted.
"Coming!" I shouted back. I thanked the stable master and spurred Mist lightly.
Merry came into view as well as Gandalf and Pippin. They all turned to look at me. "Come now! The day grows late and we must ride with all haste!" Gandalf said and took off.
"Goodbye, Merry!" I yelled while passing him.
He waved back at me. I spurred my horse into a gallop to catch up to Gandalf. The wind made my hair whip in my face, but I loved it! The stable master was right this horse does go really fast!
Adona?
Frodo? Is that you?
Yes. I-I need help.
What is it? Did Sam get hurt?
No. Sam is fine, quite happy in fact.
Really? Well, that's good to hear. What did you need help with though?
We are lost, and we cannot find a good path.
Don't you have Gollum for that? I mentally laughed.
Gollum is dead.
My heart stopped beating and I almost fell off my horse. You're joking… right? Please tell me you're joking! Please! Please! Please!
No, I am not joking. Gollum was killed by an arrow by one of Faramir's soldiers.
Author's note: Oopsy! Looks like I'm evil... again! Ha ha ha! Just when you think I'm out of them another cliffy pops up! PPWACOT review? Please? Please? Come on! Don't be as evil as me! And I know there are a lot of you who don't review! Hee heee hee!