In the Blink of an Eye

by Alatariel Singollo

Text in italics is thought from the character being told about.

Disclaimer: See chapters 1 and 2

Chapter 14: Demonstrations

Fuck! My head hurts! was Adriane's first thought upon waking up. She gingerly opened her eyes, only to be greeted with 3 pairs of eyes looking back at her, and others were clustering to get a look at her. One pair was Aragorn's, another's were Boromir's, and the last was Legolas's. All three pairs held a look of worry or concern in them. Wait, hold on, the last thing I remember is changing back into a human...um, Vanwagûl...form. Ack. I fainted. Now I remember.

"How long have I been out?" she asked.

"About six hours, I would guess." reckoned Aragorn.

Just then Gimli and the Hobbits started shoving the three out of the way so they could get a look.

They all started speaking at once. "Miss, are you alright? We were worried so when they brought you back!" Sam cried.

"Yeah, how did you knock yourself out this time?" inquired Pip. That earned him an elbow in the ribs from Merry. "Ow."

"Lass, are you quite alright? Legolas tells me you used your powers a wee too much." said Gimli.

Adriane couldn't help but smile. The Hobbits were ever so childish, and she loved Gimli's accent and way of speaking. "I think I'm okay, but my head hurts like hell."

She then thought to find out where she was. She moved to sit up, and was immediately helped by Boromir and Aragorn. She smiled at them gratefully, but winced as she moved her head. She looked around and saw that she was at the campsite, and the sun was going down. Dammit! I was out all day, practically!

"I can't believe I was out all day!" she whined, "I wanted to do some more practicing!"

"I think you have done quite enough practicing for today, sister," said Boromir. This shocked Adriane into silence. That was the first time he had called her that. And it meant a lot to her. She beckoned him over to her. he grinned as she beckoned him. As soon as he was close enough and had knelt, she threw her arms around his neck from where she was sitting on the ground.

"Your calling me that means a lot to me, Boromir," she whispered, "Brother."

Aragorn looked on as they hugged, and couldn't help but notice the jealous look that was on Legolas's face. Aragorn assumed that Legolas, too, had some sort of feelings for her and was jealous that Adriane had realized her feelings, unromantic though they may be, for Boromir first.

Adriane felt the same way for Aragorn as she did for Boromir, so she decided to express it. She waved him over, and hugged him, as well. "You are as a brother to me, as well, Aragorn."

"Thank you, Adriane, I hold you ever as the sister I never had."

At this Adriane grew quiet. "I had a brother, once. Though now I probably won't see him ever again. Heck, he wasn't even a blood brother, as I thought he was..." She got a sad look in her eyes. "I have no blood kin, now that I think of it."

"You have us to be your family, lass, and we shall not forget it," comforted Gimli. Adriane smiled .

"Thanks, Gimli. You are ever protective over me. But I assure you, I can take care of myself."

"One must always have someone there to watch their backs, Rhavaniel. As it is in battle, as well."

Adriane looked thoughtful. "I suppose you're right, Legolas. You, too, will always be close to my heart."

Legolas was pleased to hear her say this, and when she gestured for him to hug her, he did so. She gives good hugs he observed. And her hair smells like...roses. Wait, why am I thinking these things? he asked himself. He mentally shook his head to get these unusual thoughts out of his head.

When they pulled away, there was a moment when they locked eyes, but Adriane looked away from his piercing gaze. She had promised herself never to accept love again...unless she was absolutely sure. She hated and loved the thought of love. Hated because...well there was a poem she wrote once, let us look back in her journal:

Someone Like Me

Someone like me
Can never tell
If someone else
Is telling the truth.
Because someone like me
Is too scared that they're not
Even though you want to
Believe them.

Someone like me is cautious of
Of everyone, even ones who
May be true friends
Because someone like me is
Scared that even true friends
Will betray her.

Someone like me has problems
Trusting others.
Because no matter how
Sincere they seem,
They could be lying to you.
Or tricking you.

And someone like me
When I finally get the courage
To trust someone,
Gets betrayed.
Just as she feared.

And so
It makes even harder to trust.
Because now she never
Wants to feel it again.

(A/N: This is from my own personal journal, something I wrote from the heart in a time of despair. It is, in actuality, very true to form. Please do not make me regret putting it in here. I know it doesn't rhyme, but not all poetry has to. –Alatariel)

And that is why she has given up on love, because she has been hurt too many times, and is sick of it. But part of her...deep inside...holds onto hope that there is someone out there for her.

Legolas felt a strange feeling when Adriane looked away from him. He assumed it was protectiveness of her, just as the others felt. He let go of her and Adriane spoke:

"Do Elves have anything to help headaches? I think I just overdid myself, I don't think I'm physically injured."

Just then Haldir had walked into earshot. "We do, Rhavaniel, and I have sent for some, as I figured you would have a headache."

"Aww, how thoughtful, Haldir. Always the gentleman, are we?" she said sarcastically.

Haldir just smirked at her, and then looked over his shoulder as a servant brought in a cup of something steaming. Adriane hoped it wouldn't taste foul, but you can never be sure with medicine. She took the cup and sniffed it. It smelled like apple blossoms mingled with a bit of mint. Can't taste that bad she figured. She took a sip. It didn't taste GOOD, by any means, but neither did it make her gag. She drank it all and the pounding in her head receded. Suddenly she was hungry.

"Anything to eat, or have the Hobbits eaten it all?" she asked playfully.

"No indeed, for it is only 6:30, and dinner is at 7. Do you feel well enough to join us?" asked Haldir.

"Yes, I think so," Adriane replied, "Let's go, then."

/3 days later, at breakfast/

"Adriane," Galadriel beckoned from across the table, "I have heard that you have been practicing your powers. Can you demonstrate you control of it after lunch, so we may have an idea as to how you have come along?"

Adriane, not so shy about her powers as before, after what Haldir said to her, nodded. "I would love to, my Lady."

Galadriel nodded. "And fear not, for it will only be the Fellowship and my husband and I. And Haldir, if he wishes and you approve."

"That's cool, my Lady, Haldir can come."

Galadriel made a odd face at her use of the word 'cool' but could take a guess as to what it meant. She nodded. "I will set aside some time for it, then. An hour, maybe?"

"Yea that sounds good." said Adriane distractedly. She was busy eating. And having a conversation with Aragorn, Boromir, and Gimli. The Hobbits were listening politely, and Legolas would offer his opinion every once in awhile. They truly were at ease with one another except for maybe Legolas and Gimli, who still held a sort of grudge against one another.

/After lunch/

Adriane stood in the middle of a field, with the Fellowship and the Lord and Lady sitting on tree stumps around her. She began by speaking:

"Okay, now you all know I have power over Earth and Fire. The Fellowship has already seen the fire part well enough, and I don't want to shoot any fireballs because that would cause destruction. But I CAN demonstrate Earth so you better understand my capabilities. I have here with me," She took out of her pocket something small, a seed, it looked like, and placed it on the ground before her, "A seed for a Mallorn tree. It will be weird to have it growing in the middle of a field, but for demonstration's sake, it must be. Please keep your silence until I am done."

She knelt before the seed, cupped her hands over it, and closed her eyes. To those who could see and hear well, they noticed her move her lips and whisper a chantment, which seemed to aid her magic. She moved her hands away, and underneath them was a yearling shoot of a Mallorn tree. But she was not done. She kept her magic flowing, and the tree grew bigger, until it was as the ones that surrounded Caras Galadhon. By the time it was half as big, her chant had increased in volume to a voice that all could hear clearly. She kept raising her voice as the tree grew, and finally, as it reached it's full height, she stopped.

She took a deep breath. "That was my power over plants. Now for the animal part," she grinned, "This is my favorite thing to do with my magic."

She stood in front of the tree and sang in a soft but clear voice. No one could understand what she sang, but all of a sudden there was a rustling from the bushes, and a large silver wolf padded out to meet her. But she kept singing, and they heard neighing from the pastures where the horses were kept, and galloping, silence while the horse jumped the fence, and a landing 'thump' and then more galloping until it reached Adriane and slowed down. Birds of all different kinds came to perch on her.

Adriane stopped her song, and greeted the animals. She spoke to each of them, it seemed although the onlookers could not hear her. She patted the silver wolf on the head, kissed his muzzle bade him to leave with a swish of her hand. She calmed the horse, who had been wary of the wolf, and sent it back to it's stable. She then lifter her arms and let the birds fly free.

"Was that good enough? And now, the last thing, healing." She took out her dagger, and the audience look horrified as she slashed her arm. I was not a deep cut, but enough to draw blood. "Um. Whoops. I forgot, I had figured out I can't heal myself. Oh well." She ripped a piece of cloth off her shirt and wrapped it around her arm. It was only a minor injury. "Is there any that would alow me to demonstrate on them? I only hurts for a second and it will not scar.

Legolas had been amazed by everything she could do, and wanted to see her heal, but he didn't think anyone else would volunteer, so he did. "I will, Adriane."

"Okay, come here then, Legolas."

He walked over and with out warning, so it would be less painful, she cut his arm in the same fashion she had cut hers. She held his arm up to show everyone, and then she placed her finger at the beginning of the cut, and drew it down. Her finger left behind clean, healed skin, and as she said, there was not a scar. When she was finished, she held up his arm again to show them, and her friends cheered. She thanked Legolas, and, thinking nothing of it, kissed him on the cheek. She often did that with her band mates when they did something honorable or pleasing.

It surprised Legolas when she kissed his cheek, but he was not unhappy. The whole experience had been extraordinary. The cut had barely had time to bleed before she healed it. And when she did, her felt the same thing Frodo said he had felt. Except she had healed him with her eyes open, so she must be getting better at it.

"Alright, feel free to cheer and what else, but I'm tired, now, I must rest. We leave here in 13 days, correct?"

"Correct." said Galadriel.

"Well, better get in as much fun, and sleep, as I can before we leave, eh?" And with that, she walked towards the camp, the rest of the Fellowship following her.

Ok, people, read and review! And I am asking for opinions. I guess it is sort of a vote. Do you think I should keep it in third person, or should I put it in 1st person, as I did in chapter 3? Let me know through a review.

Namarie, (no time to put accents, dad yelling)

-Alatariel