Ah yes, better late then never on this chapter huh? Well here goes the
drill. We don't own any LOTR characters or anything like that such. So
please enjoy this chapter is in Bri's PoV, but written by Beth and then
Beta'd by Bri.
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*Oh no! Not that anything but that!* I thought, staring at the calender on the wall. The next day was looking to be the worst day of my entire stay at camp. Why you ask, well tomorrow would be my birthday, my 17th to be exact. I turned from the wall, and made my way cross the cafeteria to the front door. But I was stopped along the way.
"You ok Bri?" Beth asked, sitting at the table with Julie and most of the fellowship.
"Yeah, I'm just tired, gonna go to bed." I replied and walked out.
*********************
"Is she gone?" Julie asked, looking towards the door.
"I think so." Beth replied.
"Ok so how's this thing gonna go down?" one of the girl scouts asked as they all gathered around the table.
"Well were gonna need a diversion, something to keep her busy while we decorate the cabin tomorrow." Julie said as everyone settled down.
"Now we've already talked to Bob and he's agreed to make a cake for her, and arrange a special dinner. The younger girls, those under 15, will have to leave the party at 8:00, no arguments." Beth said, hearing the grumbles from some of the girls.
"Thats the way it has to be." Therese said, and the complaints stopped short.
"Now, decorations, Gandalf, do you think you could enchant some of the old fireworks we have?" Beth asked.
"Why, I would be delighted." he said, giving a small chuckle.
"Ok, so does anybody have an idea for a diversion?" Beth asked, looking at the faces around her.
"Oh, the lake!" one of the girls shouted, and Beth recognized her as Bekah.
"Good, ok everyone, lights out, go back to your cabins." Therese said, putting an end to the meeting. Beth and Legolas were one of the last ones to leave the hall.
"Hey Jules, I'll be back to the cabin in a while ok." she said and Julie nodded, heading out to the cabin. Then they made their way out, and walked down the path that led to the Fire Pit.
*****************
I closed the door to the cabin and stood looking at two doors, the one that led to the room I shared with Beth, or the one with Tawneys old bed in it, now being occupied by Gandalf and Aragorn.
"Decisions, decisions." I muttered. *oh what the hell, I'll play my nice cards and let them have some time to themselves, He'll be leaving soon anyway.* I thought and walked into the other room, my stuff still being in there from last night. ******************
"Are you sure you are alright Gandalf?" Aragorn asked, helping the old man up.
"I assure you, I am alright, just a small stumble. I'm not a young man anymore, so don't worry, a spill now and then is expected." Gandalf said.
"Is Mister Gandalf ok?" Sam asked.
" I think so, I hope so.' Frodo said, a twinge of worry in his voice.
"Merry?" Pippin said in a hushed tone, as the two hobbits walked far in back of the others.
"What is it?"
"What's going on between you and Bri?"
"I dunno. Perhaps I'll talk to her about it at the party." ******************* I settled down on the top bunk and placed my headphones securely around my ears, hoping tomorrow would just slip by unnoticed. I doubted it. I heard the door open to the cabin and listened to the footfalls all around. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I just didn't feel like being bothered at the moment ya know. As hard as I tried I couldn't relax and fall asleep, too many thoughts were coming unbidden into my head. When I heard the snores coming from the bunks below me I crawled down, put on my slippers, and then made my way outside. Once again I didn't notice some one follow me. I walked quickly to the large rock formation, hugging my jacket closer to me as I did. I sat down on one of the boulders and looked at the moon, now high in the sky.
"Milady?" a voice asked. I jumped and turned around.
"Merry? What are you doing out here?" I asked.
"I was just about to ask you the same. I could not sleep and cam out here to clear my head." he replied.
"Me too." I said and motioned to the boulder next to me, so he sat down next to me.
"What troubles you so?" he asked.
"Well, its just, tomorrow's my birthday. Its never been a really happy occasion for me and I'm just really not looking forward to it. I'm just hoping that everyone will have forgotten and leave me alone about it." I said and sighed.
"Well if it makes you feel better, I haven't heard any talk of it." he lied.
"Good." I stated. We sat there for a while, each in our own relative thoughts. Then I saw two forms walking back from the fire pit. I took a wild guess and thought that Beth and Legolas had gone for a little midnight make out session.
"I'm glad for them." I said. Merry reached over in a bold move and took my hand in his. I looked at him as the moonlight hit his face, then moved closer. After a while we went back to the cabin and I went back into my room and finally went to sleep.
I peeked one eye open as I woke in the morning, have dreading to see decorations on the ceiling above me. But none were there. Instead it was Beth's face.
"Are you getting up?" she asked.
"Yeah, give me a minute." I said and then we walked down to the bathrooms to get showered and changed.
"Hey Bri, we got a free today, you wanna go down to the lake?" Beth asked, pulling the towel off of her hair and brushing it out.
"Sounds fun." I mumbled as I put on my eyeliner in the dirty mirror in front of me.
"Ok, we'll go after lunch then." she replied.
"Come on, we're gonna be late for the freaking play." I said and ushered her out the door.
We made our way to the small stage erected outside and sat down in the seats the Fellowship had saved for us. Beth of course sat next to Legolas, but then I noticed that Gimli and Boromir were missing.
"Hey, where's Gimli and Boromir?" I asked Sam, who had been sitting to my left.
"They didn't want to see the play, neither did Gandalf. Gimli and Boromir are at the target field and Gandalf's in the cabin, meditating as usual." he replied.
"Thanks." I said and he nodded, turning his attention to the stage where the actors had come on. *****************************
"Well that was a waste." Beth muttered as the play ended. It was a bit of a bomb, but what can you expect from a bunch of pre-teens who only had a week and a half to get it ready.
We walked back to the cabin to get our swim suits and I thought about what we would do for trunks for the guys, cause they couldn't swim naked, not with little kids around.
Our problem was solved as Beth came back from an excursion to the boys camp. She had borrowed some trunks and then gave it to the men.
"Good idea." I said as we walked to the lake.
Beth took off her shirt first, revealing her black knitted bikini.
"Hot Mama!" one of the girls called out teasingly and some one else wolf whistled. Beth blushed then walked out the small dock and dived into the water.
"Come on guys, water's perfect!" she called and started to swim out to the middle. A few other girls stripped down to their suits and I followed and dived into the water, feeling the cold spread over my body as I splashed in. I came up and wiped some of it out of my eyes. I swam to where some of the floating chairs and such were and grabbed one. It was bright pink but I didn't care. I climbed on and felt the water move me out to where ever the wind sent it. I needed to work on my tan so I closed my eyes and wished for my cd player.
"Bri! Bri!" Beth called me and I opened my eyes, wincing at the bleached look everything had to it.
"What?" I yelled back.
"I'm going back, I got a sudden migraine attack, stay here and watch the girls ok?"she said and I waved her away. ****************************
"Ok we've got about 3 hours to get this stuff done. Cause thats when dinner starts." Beth said to the group in front of her. Legolas had walked her back to the cabin to make her excuse seem more realistic, plus he also was on the little committee she had assigned.
"Now, you three, go to the mess hall, there should be some streamers and stuff on the table. Bring that back and some tape, Therese will have it." Beth said. She ordered a few more things from some other people and when they got back she put a cd in the boom box, pressed play and everyone got to work.
Julie was having a particularly hard time getting the streamers to stay in the middle of the roof, especially since the ladder she was on was quite unsteady, so Beth told Legolas to go and help her. The streamers were then put up in no time flat. By the time six rolled around everything was set up and everyone was quite tired.
"Ok everyone, good job, lets go on back to the cafeteria now, and remember not one word to Bri!" Beth stated and then left. **************** By the time I left the lake, the sun was setting and a chill was coming in. I grabbed my clothes from the pile on the ground and went to the bathrooms so I could change. When I entered the cafeteria, the lights were out and I knew what was coming.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled as the lights were flipped back on and I saw cheap tissue paper spread out on the tables and I groaned inward.
"Oh come on Bri, at least look a little happy." Beth muttered as she ushered me to a table.
"Fine." I said, a little surprised at this all but chiding my self for not knowing better. But it wasn't all that bad, the food was really, really good, and I had a feeling Beth had asked Bob to create something special for me. After dinner though I feared what else was in store for me.
"Don't worry Bri, this was all we had planned, honest." Julie said.
But again, when I opened the door to the cabin , I saw decorations, except this time they were exceptionally better. Gandalf had bewitched some fireworks so that they stayed and sparkled around the ceiling.
"Wow!" I breathed and moved inside. I saw the cake that Bob had made for me, surrounded by a bunch of wrapped gifts.
"What do you think?" Beth said.
"This is great." I replied and heard music starting up.
"Well come on then birthday girl. Its time to cut the cake." Aragorn said.
"Sure thing." I replied. After cake had been doled out to all the girls we all went into our separate groups and talked, some people danced but not many. When 8:00 rolled around the party became a lot thinner. The younger girls having to leave for their Lights out.
"Wow, Beth this is great. Did you plan all of this?" I asked, taking a sip of my drink.
"Well I had help from Julie, but yeah most of it I planned. We didn't mean to lie to you, but we know how much you despise your Birthday, but we couldn't help ourselves. After a couple of songs the party began to thin out some more, everyone wishing me a Happy Birthday before they left to their own cabins and by Midnight it was empty except for us and the Fellowship.
"Before everyone goes to bed, I have a bit of an announcement to make." Gandalf said, standing up in the middle of the room.
"What is it Gandalf?" Boromir asked hopefully, wishing for what was next to come.
"Well, I have finally, after much meditation, remembered the Incantation to get us back to Middle Earth." he said and a cheer went up between Boromir and Gimli, the rest however looked rather sad, they didn't wish to leave this place where the War of the Ring wasn't going on. I turned to look at Beth, and saw she was almost near tears, and Legolas was holding onto her like he was going to lose her, which he was since they would be going back soon.
"Well thats wonderful news Gandalf, lets leave now then shall we?" Boromir said, and for the first time they had seen a smile on his face.
"No, no we cannot leave yet Boromir, we are not ready, we don't have any food supplies left, nor have we said our Proper Goodbyes to those who have let us stay here these past two weeks. Don't worry, we shall leave soon." Gandalf said and once again Boromir looked crestfallen.
I had enough of that conversation and was heading back to my room, and Merry had followed me, like he always seemed to do.
"Yes Merry?" I asked.
"I don't want to leave." he said bluntly and I looked at him, not sure what he was really getting at.
"What do you mean, you'll be going back to your home. I know it might not be all that nice right now but you certainly don't want to stay here. We're gonna be leaving in two days anyway and you wont be able to stay here."
"Yes, but I don't want to leave you. Bri, you've been such an impact on me, and I don't want to leave you, I have these feelings I can't describe when I'm around you. I hate not being near you, and I don't know if I'll ever see you again." he said and his words nearly moved me to tears, no man had ever talked to me that way.
"You will." I said, moving nearer to him. "Legolas has to come back for Beth, so you can come back with him. I don't want to be with out you either Merry but you can't stay here, you're needed back in Middle earth more that you can imagine. Finish the quest and then come back for me. I'll wait forever, if thats how long it takes." I said and we enveloped in a tight embrace. **************************************************************************** *
*sniff.* sad ending huh, but none the less touching. Tell us what you think by hitting that little review button down there at the bottom.
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*Oh no! Not that anything but that!* I thought, staring at the calender on the wall. The next day was looking to be the worst day of my entire stay at camp. Why you ask, well tomorrow would be my birthday, my 17th to be exact. I turned from the wall, and made my way cross the cafeteria to the front door. But I was stopped along the way.
"You ok Bri?" Beth asked, sitting at the table with Julie and most of the fellowship.
"Yeah, I'm just tired, gonna go to bed." I replied and walked out.
*********************
"Is she gone?" Julie asked, looking towards the door.
"I think so." Beth replied.
"Ok so how's this thing gonna go down?" one of the girl scouts asked as they all gathered around the table.
"Well were gonna need a diversion, something to keep her busy while we decorate the cabin tomorrow." Julie said as everyone settled down.
"Now we've already talked to Bob and he's agreed to make a cake for her, and arrange a special dinner. The younger girls, those under 15, will have to leave the party at 8:00, no arguments." Beth said, hearing the grumbles from some of the girls.
"Thats the way it has to be." Therese said, and the complaints stopped short.
"Now, decorations, Gandalf, do you think you could enchant some of the old fireworks we have?" Beth asked.
"Why, I would be delighted." he said, giving a small chuckle.
"Ok, so does anybody have an idea for a diversion?" Beth asked, looking at the faces around her.
"Oh, the lake!" one of the girls shouted, and Beth recognized her as Bekah.
"Good, ok everyone, lights out, go back to your cabins." Therese said, putting an end to the meeting. Beth and Legolas were one of the last ones to leave the hall.
"Hey Jules, I'll be back to the cabin in a while ok." she said and Julie nodded, heading out to the cabin. Then they made their way out, and walked down the path that led to the Fire Pit.
*****************
I closed the door to the cabin and stood looking at two doors, the one that led to the room I shared with Beth, or the one with Tawneys old bed in it, now being occupied by Gandalf and Aragorn.
"Decisions, decisions." I muttered. *oh what the hell, I'll play my nice cards and let them have some time to themselves, He'll be leaving soon anyway.* I thought and walked into the other room, my stuff still being in there from last night. ******************
"Are you sure you are alright Gandalf?" Aragorn asked, helping the old man up.
"I assure you, I am alright, just a small stumble. I'm not a young man anymore, so don't worry, a spill now and then is expected." Gandalf said.
"Is Mister Gandalf ok?" Sam asked.
" I think so, I hope so.' Frodo said, a twinge of worry in his voice.
"Merry?" Pippin said in a hushed tone, as the two hobbits walked far in back of the others.
"What is it?"
"What's going on between you and Bri?"
"I dunno. Perhaps I'll talk to her about it at the party." ******************* I settled down on the top bunk and placed my headphones securely around my ears, hoping tomorrow would just slip by unnoticed. I doubted it. I heard the door open to the cabin and listened to the footfalls all around. I quickly closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep. I just didn't feel like being bothered at the moment ya know. As hard as I tried I couldn't relax and fall asleep, too many thoughts were coming unbidden into my head. When I heard the snores coming from the bunks below me I crawled down, put on my slippers, and then made my way outside. Once again I didn't notice some one follow me. I walked quickly to the large rock formation, hugging my jacket closer to me as I did. I sat down on one of the boulders and looked at the moon, now high in the sky.
"Milady?" a voice asked. I jumped and turned around.
"Merry? What are you doing out here?" I asked.
"I was just about to ask you the same. I could not sleep and cam out here to clear my head." he replied.
"Me too." I said and motioned to the boulder next to me, so he sat down next to me.
"What troubles you so?" he asked.
"Well, its just, tomorrow's my birthday. Its never been a really happy occasion for me and I'm just really not looking forward to it. I'm just hoping that everyone will have forgotten and leave me alone about it." I said and sighed.
"Well if it makes you feel better, I haven't heard any talk of it." he lied.
"Good." I stated. We sat there for a while, each in our own relative thoughts. Then I saw two forms walking back from the fire pit. I took a wild guess and thought that Beth and Legolas had gone for a little midnight make out session.
"I'm glad for them." I said. Merry reached over in a bold move and took my hand in his. I looked at him as the moonlight hit his face, then moved closer. After a while we went back to the cabin and I went back into my room and finally went to sleep.
I peeked one eye open as I woke in the morning, have dreading to see decorations on the ceiling above me. But none were there. Instead it was Beth's face.
"Are you getting up?" she asked.
"Yeah, give me a minute." I said and then we walked down to the bathrooms to get showered and changed.
"Hey Bri, we got a free today, you wanna go down to the lake?" Beth asked, pulling the towel off of her hair and brushing it out.
"Sounds fun." I mumbled as I put on my eyeliner in the dirty mirror in front of me.
"Ok, we'll go after lunch then." she replied.
"Come on, we're gonna be late for the freaking play." I said and ushered her out the door.
We made our way to the small stage erected outside and sat down in the seats the Fellowship had saved for us. Beth of course sat next to Legolas, but then I noticed that Gimli and Boromir were missing.
"Hey, where's Gimli and Boromir?" I asked Sam, who had been sitting to my left.
"They didn't want to see the play, neither did Gandalf. Gimli and Boromir are at the target field and Gandalf's in the cabin, meditating as usual." he replied.
"Thanks." I said and he nodded, turning his attention to the stage where the actors had come on. *****************************
"Well that was a waste." Beth muttered as the play ended. It was a bit of a bomb, but what can you expect from a bunch of pre-teens who only had a week and a half to get it ready.
We walked back to the cabin to get our swim suits and I thought about what we would do for trunks for the guys, cause they couldn't swim naked, not with little kids around.
Our problem was solved as Beth came back from an excursion to the boys camp. She had borrowed some trunks and then gave it to the men.
"Good idea." I said as we walked to the lake.
Beth took off her shirt first, revealing her black knitted bikini.
"Hot Mama!" one of the girls called out teasingly and some one else wolf whistled. Beth blushed then walked out the small dock and dived into the water.
"Come on guys, water's perfect!" she called and started to swim out to the middle. A few other girls stripped down to their suits and I followed and dived into the water, feeling the cold spread over my body as I splashed in. I came up and wiped some of it out of my eyes. I swam to where some of the floating chairs and such were and grabbed one. It was bright pink but I didn't care. I climbed on and felt the water move me out to where ever the wind sent it. I needed to work on my tan so I closed my eyes and wished for my cd player.
"Bri! Bri!" Beth called me and I opened my eyes, wincing at the bleached look everything had to it.
"What?" I yelled back.
"I'm going back, I got a sudden migraine attack, stay here and watch the girls ok?"she said and I waved her away. ****************************
"Ok we've got about 3 hours to get this stuff done. Cause thats when dinner starts." Beth said to the group in front of her. Legolas had walked her back to the cabin to make her excuse seem more realistic, plus he also was on the little committee she had assigned.
"Now, you three, go to the mess hall, there should be some streamers and stuff on the table. Bring that back and some tape, Therese will have it." Beth said. She ordered a few more things from some other people and when they got back she put a cd in the boom box, pressed play and everyone got to work.
Julie was having a particularly hard time getting the streamers to stay in the middle of the roof, especially since the ladder she was on was quite unsteady, so Beth told Legolas to go and help her. The streamers were then put up in no time flat. By the time six rolled around everything was set up and everyone was quite tired.
"Ok everyone, good job, lets go on back to the cafeteria now, and remember not one word to Bri!" Beth stated and then left. **************** By the time I left the lake, the sun was setting and a chill was coming in. I grabbed my clothes from the pile on the ground and went to the bathrooms so I could change. When I entered the cafeteria, the lights were out and I knew what was coming.
"Surprise!" Everyone yelled as the lights were flipped back on and I saw cheap tissue paper spread out on the tables and I groaned inward.
"Oh come on Bri, at least look a little happy." Beth muttered as she ushered me to a table.
"Fine." I said, a little surprised at this all but chiding my self for not knowing better. But it wasn't all that bad, the food was really, really good, and I had a feeling Beth had asked Bob to create something special for me. After dinner though I feared what else was in store for me.
"Don't worry Bri, this was all we had planned, honest." Julie said.
But again, when I opened the door to the cabin , I saw decorations, except this time they were exceptionally better. Gandalf had bewitched some fireworks so that they stayed and sparkled around the ceiling.
"Wow!" I breathed and moved inside. I saw the cake that Bob had made for me, surrounded by a bunch of wrapped gifts.
"What do you think?" Beth said.
"This is great." I replied and heard music starting up.
"Well come on then birthday girl. Its time to cut the cake." Aragorn said.
"Sure thing." I replied. After cake had been doled out to all the girls we all went into our separate groups and talked, some people danced but not many. When 8:00 rolled around the party became a lot thinner. The younger girls having to leave for their Lights out.
"Wow, Beth this is great. Did you plan all of this?" I asked, taking a sip of my drink.
"Well I had help from Julie, but yeah most of it I planned. We didn't mean to lie to you, but we know how much you despise your Birthday, but we couldn't help ourselves. After a couple of songs the party began to thin out some more, everyone wishing me a Happy Birthday before they left to their own cabins and by Midnight it was empty except for us and the Fellowship.
"Before everyone goes to bed, I have a bit of an announcement to make." Gandalf said, standing up in the middle of the room.
"What is it Gandalf?" Boromir asked hopefully, wishing for what was next to come.
"Well, I have finally, after much meditation, remembered the Incantation to get us back to Middle Earth." he said and a cheer went up between Boromir and Gimli, the rest however looked rather sad, they didn't wish to leave this place where the War of the Ring wasn't going on. I turned to look at Beth, and saw she was almost near tears, and Legolas was holding onto her like he was going to lose her, which he was since they would be going back soon.
"Well thats wonderful news Gandalf, lets leave now then shall we?" Boromir said, and for the first time they had seen a smile on his face.
"No, no we cannot leave yet Boromir, we are not ready, we don't have any food supplies left, nor have we said our Proper Goodbyes to those who have let us stay here these past two weeks. Don't worry, we shall leave soon." Gandalf said and once again Boromir looked crestfallen.
I had enough of that conversation and was heading back to my room, and Merry had followed me, like he always seemed to do.
"Yes Merry?" I asked.
"I don't want to leave." he said bluntly and I looked at him, not sure what he was really getting at.
"What do you mean, you'll be going back to your home. I know it might not be all that nice right now but you certainly don't want to stay here. We're gonna be leaving in two days anyway and you wont be able to stay here."
"Yes, but I don't want to leave you. Bri, you've been such an impact on me, and I don't want to leave you, I have these feelings I can't describe when I'm around you. I hate not being near you, and I don't know if I'll ever see you again." he said and his words nearly moved me to tears, no man had ever talked to me that way.
"You will." I said, moving nearer to him. "Legolas has to come back for Beth, so you can come back with him. I don't want to be with out you either Merry but you can't stay here, you're needed back in Middle earth more that you can imagine. Finish the quest and then come back for me. I'll wait forever, if thats how long it takes." I said and we enveloped in a tight embrace. **************************************************************************** *
*sniff.* sad ending huh, but none the less touching. Tell us what you think by hitting that little review button down there at the bottom.