Like I said reviews help me want to update, so here is the next chapter rather sooner than I thought I would have it done, but don't worry it's not rushed I just felt more motivated to put thought to print or rather type sooner.
Alanna woke the next morning after spending her first true day in Lothlorien exploring the city, today she had decided would be a more productive day. She was still tired from her journey here which she realized had taken nearly two day, the first being occupied completely by the path through the mountain and the second was split between her arrival to the outskirts of Lothlorien and her visiting the city. Today she dressed in more practical clothes wearing once again her green tunic which thankfully had been washed and pulling her hair once again in a braid out of her face.
She grabbed her sword and bow and went over to James's room to see if he wanted to train with her. He however did not answer his door which meant he was either asleep or somewhere else. She left the building in the trees she was staying in and headed into a clearing she thought would be good to practice some archery. She was however presented with the problem of not having real usable target. Sure she could have used one of the trees, but she knew the forest here was of great importance and did not want to seem rude and harm it for an unnecessary reason.
"If you wish I could bring you a target, we have a few the younger elves uses for practice." Said a voice from behind her. She however was not startled as much as she used to be, she was starting to get used to how quiet the elves were. She turned to see Haldir standing in the clearing as well.
"Yes, thank you." She said with a polite smile. "How did you know I was out here?"
"I was just finishing up my patrol duty and was heading back into the city, and you make a great deal of noise when you walk, especially when you put your sword down on the ground." Said Haldir looking over at the weapon Alanna had just tossed to the ground a moment ago.
"Well, I suppose it was a good thing too otherwise I would not have been able to practice my archery." She said noticing he looked as though he was about to say something but instead opted for silence. "What? You looked as though you were about to say something."
"I have heard Prince Legolas is quite skilled with the bow, I was just curious as to how you yourself were."
"Well both Legolas and I have been using a bow since we were six; however he is nearly 4,000 and I 25, so he is clearly better than I. It is safe to say for my own skill that I am neither the best nor the worst person with a bow."
"A very humble thing to say for someone so young, for what I hear from your friend James you are rather skilled in archery."
"If you already knew they answer why did you bother to ask me?"
"I have learned over the years, Lady Alanna it is best to judge a person by their own actions and words, rather than those of others. I suppose as well I should apologize for the behavior of my colleague a while ago, he should know better to say such things"
"I do not hold a grudge. In a perfect world everyone would just accept one another for whom they are, but no world is perfect even one as beautiful as this." She said looking up at the great trees for a moment before looking back at Haldir. Haldir nodded in agreement and then went to fetch one of the targets for her to use. The two spent most of the day talking while Alanna practiced. It became no mystery to him why someone would want to spend time with Alanna once they talked with her further. She had a surprising wisdom that came only from truly studying those of the past and learning from their mistakes, yet at the same time the world was still very new to her and she treated each moment with appreciation that many did not take the time to do. He also noticed she wore not ring showing she was betrothed to Legolas, and he wondered if perhaps that had something to do with the fact she was mortal, he however though it might be a sensitive subject and did not want to ask.
While Alanna and Haldir started to form a new friendship. James had gone for a walk to think about some of the problems that he was going to have to face in the near future. One that was currently on his mind was the fact that the people tracking him must have know he had found Alanna and he wondered why they had yet to take them from this world. He though however perhaps it was a good thing because it seemed Alanna had no intention of returning home. While he was walking he ended up finding himself in the presence of Galadriel who seemed to know what was bothering him.
"The reason they have yet to find you is because you are under the protection of these Woods." She said out loud.
"So once we leave the Woods they can find us?" He said wanting to clarify the statement.
Galadriel just nodded and then said. "If you wish for them not to find you, the only way to hide is to renounce your tie with that world."
"But if I destroy Alanna's chip they will know something happened to her and they will send me back, how can I stay if that will happen? Unless…but then I can't go back." Said James thinking more out loud than actually talking with Galadriel.
"Would you like to see, what might come to pass for it may ease your decision?" said Galadriel walking towards the stone basin full or what appeared to be water. James looked hesitant for a moment but eventually decided he would try it. What he saw troubled him greatly and in fact made his decision even more difficult.
"Could it be fixed, could it stop someone from dying if I just had them take us both back?" He said trying to find some way around the future he had just seen.
"To be separated forever from the one he loves would put too great a strain on his heart, no matter which path you chose one will die because of it"
"Right…well I've never been good at thinking much through so I'm going to go with what just came to mind now." Said James with a sigh. Galadriel just nodded and looked at him with those knowing eyes. James knew he could not tell Alanna about this at all for he did not want to worry her; she had enough on her mind as is. He knew however what he had to do and it would not be easy but first he would have to tell Alanna about the chips and where they were located. He did his best to push away thoughts of the future so as not to look troubled.
Alanna did not come back into her room until evening and it was then that James came to find her.
"Well, I spent the day with Haldir who is very nice, and before you say anything I would only like him as a friend I promise. How was your day?" She said turning to look at him.
"Haldir, dies in the movie doesn't he?" Said James thinking about what he saw earlier that day in the water.
"Yes, I was kind of hoping it would not happen. Is something troubling you James?" She said with concern noticing he did not look himself.
"Sort of." He said with a shrug. "I was just thinking about something the agents told me, it's just well we have these sort of chips, right at our hairline in the back of our necks. It's what they use to send us back and if they realize I've found you they would bring us back to Earth." Said James pulling out a knife from his knapsack. "If you want to stay we have to get rid of it."
"Once it is gone, I would not be able to come back, would I?" said Alanna looking at the knife.
"No, you wouldn't. And taking this thing out will probably hurt a bit." He said looking at her and knowing her mind was already made up, he could tell by the look of determination on her face.
"Alright do it." She said turning around and holding her hair above her head so he would have better access to her neck. James approach slowly and held the knife firmly in his hand. When Alanna felt the blade prick the back of her neck she said. "Wait. Are you sure you know what you're doing here?"
"Trust me, as long as I do this you will be fine." He said with a sigh.
"Alright, go ahead." She said trusting this statement completely. She felt the blade dig into her skin a bit and felt a stinging feeling that thankfully did not last long for the chip was not very big nor was it very deeply placed beneath the skin. She clenched her teeth in a effort to forget the pain and felt her eyes water slightly. When it was over she felt James press what seems like a Band-Aid over the wound.
"Yeah, I wasn't quite as authentic about the first aide as you were." He said explaining and holding up a pack of Band-Aids. He then handed her the knife. "Now, take out mine."
Alanna looked at him in disbelief. "I thought you wanted to go home, and write you book and stuff."
"I do, but I also need to stay here and look out for my friend. Plus I mean I know you can spend a year without me but after that it would be way to long and you would miss me too much." He said with a cocky grin. Though Alanna noticed sadness to his eyes that did not match the otherwise cheerful expression.
"I suppose not." She said taking the knife and beginning to cut out the chip. Once it was removed and she placed a Band-Aid over the wound she said with a smirk. "I could always ask Arwen or Legolas if they know any nice, elves of half elves we could set you up with since you're going to be here long term now."
"I don't think elves are really my type, Alanna." He said with a laugh. They paused for a moment and looked down at the bloody chips in their hands. James dropped his to the floor and put his boot over it and Alanna did the same but neither of them put any pressure on it yet.
"Well…" Said James looking at her for a moment. "No turning back after this is there?"
"No I suppose not."
"To no regrets then?"
"No regrets." Said Alanna before crushing the tiny chip with the heel of her boot. James paused for a moment before doing the same. Silence fell between the pair as they both thought about what this action meant. They could never return to Earth now, their home had become Middle Earth, it was the last time they would see any of their family or old friends. At first Alanna felt as though she was throwing away a lot of hard work by not continuing to pursue her PhD in history. She realized however that yes, she would not be able to write her book like she had planned, but instead of being know in history she was truly living it. She was going to participate in battles that shaped the very nature of Middle Earth, she would be able to understand how all those people in the past must have felt fighting for the causes they believed in.
What worried her thought was that James, had decided to stay was well, when he had nothing but her to really tie him to this world. Bilbo, and many of the friends he had made during his time here were old and dying, their stories had been told. She also noticed he had done so with slight reluctance. James later left the room not saying much else and Alanna was alone once again and decided she would try and get some sleep.
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It was their third day travelling through Moria the pathway that Gandalf had chosen that would eventually lead them to the dwarf city was for now just a narrow cave passageway. The reason they had not reached the city by now was because they were currently resting because Pippin had claimed he was starving and although usually Aragon would have pressed on, he thought given resent circumstance it might be a good idea for them all to rest.
"Take this time to rest as well." He said to his elfin friend looking at him with concern.
"I do not need it, and every if I wanted to my mind is not at ease."
"It would do you good to think of happier times." He said in a tone that meant it was more an order than a suggestion. Legolas thinking perhaps his friend was right and complied and soon found himself thinking of the time when he was just getting to know Alanna.
He could easily picture it and felt as though he was actually standing beneath the tree they took shelter under when it was raining. He could also see Alanna standing beneath the rain but instead of looking up at the sky she was looking over at him. She approached him quickly and soon he found she was hugging him and resting her head on his chest. He too put his arms around her.
"This is a dream." He said out loud as though to remind himself.
"Yes, it is." She said agreeing with him. She took a moment to look up at him with a confused expression before she said. "Though I don't usually have people in my dreams telling me such things."
He could not help but laugh at how accurately he imagined her for his was very much a response she would have. "That's because it is not your dream, nin na lhach." He explained.
Now it was her turn to laugh and she looked up at him once more and said. "No, this is my dream. If I recall correctly I'm in my bed at Lothlorien."
"You cannot be in Lothlorien…" He said with a sigh once again reminded of her death.
"Legolas, I'm not dead. I was just trapped on the other side of the wall. I met an old friend and went to Lothlorien…" Explained Alanna looking somewhere behind him. He turned and looked as well and noticed a great light and Galadriel standing beside it.
"Perhaps now you can both rest easier." Said The Lady in his mind. He had been told she could do this but he was startled none the less.
"I think I'm supposed to go now." Said Alanna leaving his embrace and he let her go with some reluctance. He soon felt everything around him fade away and he was once again staring blankly at the cave wall and Merry who was not there before but was looking at him with his head cocked to the side.
"That's just creepy. You sleep with your eyes open." Said the hobbit.
"No, elves do not sleep, I was merely resting."
"Whatever you call it, it was still creepy." Said Merry before getting up and joining the rest of the group.
Aragon offered a hand to Legolas to help him up from where he sat. "Did you rest well?"
"Yes… I think Alanna might still be alive." Said the elf with a puzzled expression.
"How?" said Aragon with interest.
"I'm not sure." Said the elf as they walked faster to catch up with the rest of the Fellowship. Aragon looked at his friend still with concern but this time it was for a slightly different reason.
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Alanna too woke from her dream noticing it was still night out. She was slightly confused but if for it seemed like more than just a dream. She went next door to where James was staying to talk with him about it.
"James, I need to talk with you about a dream I had." She said inviting herself in.
"Sure, come in." he said sarcastically and sat down on what Alanna noticed was a still made bed. She looked around the room and also noticed the candle there was burning low suggesting that it had been lit most of the night.
"Have you not been sleeping?" she asked with concern.
"Just wasn't tired." He said with a shrug. Though Alana got the feeling there was something she was not telling her. "What was your dream about?" He said changing the subject. Alanna then proceeded to tell him all about the dream she had just had. When she was finished he said. "And you said Galadriel was there?"
"Yes, not really sure I want to analyze what that means."
He comment caused James to smirk and say "Like I said you just have a thing for elves. But in all seriousness, isn't she like telepathic maybe she noticed you were troubled and did some sort of weird mind thing."
"So what your suggesting is that it wasn't a dream and that Galadriel did something to link our minds together, if only for a moment."
"Yeah, like a said weird mind thing." Said James getting up and starting to usher her out the room.
"Hey, did you ever thing I wanted to talk more?" She said once she was outside the door.
"Trust me, I've heard enough about you and your elf to last me a lifetime, what more could you possible want to talk about involving him?" Said James rolling his eyes.
"Firstly that's not all I talk about, secondly he's not my elf we're not every betrothed. And today I hardly thought about Legolas, I was talking with Haldir"
"Yeah and guess what he is?"
"An elf."
"Exactly all you talk about is the damn elves. Goodnight Alanna." He snapped rather harshly before closing the door in her face. This outburst had in fact confirmed her suspicions that something was bothering James, and she got the feeling it had something to do with her.
Yes, I know it's evil of me for not telling you what James say but you will find out in the end. :P Also please don't forget to review feel free to rant about the James thing.
