DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters or happenings of middle earth. They belong to J. R. R. Tolkien and sometimes Peter Jackson's stuff might fall in too. I only own my OC. Please, feel free to leave any comments and questions. Follow the story in which ever way you would like, but make your thoughts known. Thank you!
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
CHAPTER 35
The temperature drops dramatically despite the heat of the kitchen as Gandalf grows to fill the room and I struggle not to cower from his frightening form. A clueless Ori comes wandering around the corner, only to stop short at the sight. He looks confused at the wizard's back before shifting his eyes to me in open wonder. All it takes is a slight jerk of my head and the dwarf wisely high tails it out of the vicinity.
"You are sure?"
"Yeah but a little confirmation wouldn't hurt."
I do not fear the wizard, even now, but I am overwhelmed with the need to exercise caution. 'Even wizards aren't immune to this thing's power but the effects seem to be lower when I wear it; lucky me.' I watch attentively as Gandalf virtually glides over to me and reaches forward to take my hand. Bringing my fingers up to his face, he examines the ring closely while ignoring me all together. His eyes glaze over with fascination, uncertainty, and inquisitiveness but I only snatch my hand out of his own when he tries to tug the band off.
"That's enough looking for now." I tuck my hands behind my back and twirl the ring around my finger to settle it back into place "What do you make of it?"
"You possess his ring." he states plainly as he tries to recover from his momentary brush with an evil lust of power "How... Do you know the weight you carry?"
"I vaguely know of it's importance." my eyes begin to burn again and I painfully spout that which I know that I didn't know moments before. "It was forged in SA 1600 in the fires of Mount Doom by Sauron in order to control the 19 rings created before hand. Those 19 were divided up:" Suddenly I begin violently coughing aound my words "-Shre nazg golugranu kilmi-nudu, Ombi kuzd-durbagu gundum-ishi, Nugu gurunkilu bard gurutu.-"
"Miss Malcolmson-"
"-Ash burz-durbagu burzum-ishi, Daghburz-ishi makha gulshu darulu.-" It's like blades running up and down my throat but I can't stop "-Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul-"
"Miss-"
"-Ash nazg thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatul. Daghburz-ishi makha gulshu daru-"
"SILENCE, YOUNG SEER!"
Gandalf's hand covers my mouth before the vile words can finish pouring out. It feels as though my very soul was being emptied out with each word I spoke and yet I couldn't stop them. The wizard continues holding my face as he mutters under his breath some kind of incantation. I doesn't lessen the burn in my eyes but my scorched tongue cools slowly so I am thankful for whatever he is doing. It takes a few minutes but soon the wizard is able to remove his hand without the pain returning.
"I-I don't know what that was about..."
"Something, or someone, was attempting to use your gift as a way to speak forgotten things back into existence."
"Gandalf, I-"
"A worry for another time, my dear." settling himself back at the table tiredly, the sorcerer inclines his head for me to do so as well. Drained, I comply without much of a fuss "Now, continue."
"But-"
"This is your gift, Miss Malcolmson. Harness it. Control it. Do not let it control you."
"... It... The ring... holds Sauron's power; it is him and he is it." Unlike before, I do not feel overwhelmed though there is a sense of urgency to get the words out "It was borne to him for 92 score and ten years before being taken by Isildur."
I bite my tongue as I feel whatever sight I'm supposed to have try to take over again. Before now, I'd not known a 'Score' to represent 20 years, merely a way to decide a winner. Standing; I pace the floor nervously. Reigning in my breath, I press forward while trying to remain in control of a gift that apparently has been inside me this whole time
"F-for 2 years he held the band before he lost it and lost it remained for 123 score and 1 year until the Stoore hobbit, Déagol, found it. He bore it for mere minutes before his cousin Smeagol killed him to possess it. Smeagol held it for 23 score and 18 years- mmmmm... 478 years before it was recovered by Bilbo Baggins who held it for-"
I slam my hand over my mouth to stop the fountain of information from pouring out, even as Gandalf tries to assure me that it is different than last time. The force causes me to stumble back and nearly sink my other hand into the pan of hot oil. Quick reflexes on Gandalf's part saves me from an untimely injury. I continue to choke on the words that have yet to stop bubbling out of my throat and the wizard guides me back to my chair where we wait for the tornado of information to pass. I keep my hand firmly in place but the knowledge filters into my mind nonetheless, though this much... this part I already knew. 'I also know I'm going to have a major headache when this is over.' I finally stop gagging on my words and rest my forehead against the cool table top.
"You will become accustomed to it in time, as did a great seer before you. A good friend of mine, Lady-"
"Galadriel. Yes... Still haven't met her yet..."
"Yes well... perhaps you would want to brush up on your definition of 'vague' before you do, hm?" Gandalf raises an amused eyebrow and I can only shrug in exhaustion "It is of the utmost importance that you keep this new information to your self. You are a deep pool of knowledge and I can not decide how the future will be affected by you."
"I know, Gandalf." I lift my head and try not to sound too pathetic but it's pretty difficult when you're a newly appointed glorified fortune teller "I am well aware of how dangerous I am, even more so now. I will be careful."
"See that you are, my dear." he reaches out to pat my hand but shifts to my shoulder instead "... Why did you not include yourself on the list of ring bearers?"
"I don't think I ever really held it." the old wizard tilts his head in confusion and I return the expression "I'm working on a theory. Would you assist me?"
"...Alright."
"Tell me what you see." I hold out my hand and allow him to see the ring
"My dear, you know-"
"Describe what you see, please."
"If you insist." he turns his attention to my hand "I see a plain gold band, secretly harboring great evil."
"What you see is the ring of power." I retract my hand and look down at my ring finger "I do not see that."
"What then, do you see? Your sight is a valuable asset."
"I see a thin gold ring with delicate diamonds chips." I place my hand on my lap, mentally laughing at the irony of it all. My purity ring is meant to invoke impure events "I think we aren't seeing the same thing, because... it isn't the same thing."
"I'm not sure that I understand."
"I am from a different world, as I maaaay have previously mentioned when we met. There is no One ring where I am from. How can I see or be affected by something that doesn't exist? I can't." I wait for the wizard to nod before continuing "I carry it, but at the same time I don't. You must understand that this whole world is... a make believe story in my home. One thing you learn about a story is that it is always current, regardless of when you read it."
"A story that runs on a separate time line then your own." I nod at his comment liking how fast he is catching on "So our world's coexist in the same, yet different times."
"Yes and by that definition, I was born before, after, and during the total combined existence of this world. Stay with me, I'm going up another level." The wizard furrows his brows and leans forward as I run inception all over this kitchen "In a way I possess this ring, I have always possessed this ring and I will always possess this ring. I am the true owner but I am not he who made it. Nor does my power reside in it."
"When you entered this world something must have shifted. The one ring and your ring are both one and the same as well as two separate entities." He catches on, stroking his beard at the insane logic of it all. I could be wrong. I could be 1000 miles in the wrong direction but worse case scenario... is that I'm right "You control an immeasurable amount of power."
"Yet, I can never use it. I think this is the gift given to me by Yavanna; To protect." I upturn my hands in a half shrug, having no other way to describe whats going on "I am the carrier of the ring. This way, I can actually protect the whole of middle earth without endangering myself."
"I see. As long as you remain in possession of the ring..."
"Sauron's power is safely contained and limited." I bounce in happiness
"What will happen once ye leave to go back to yer world?"
Oh boy, oh boy. I just couldn't have a nice quiet conversation about the fate of the world as a whole between me and a wizard without being interrupted by a busy body. Is it too much to ask for people to just mind their own business around here? Nori leans against the doorway and intrudes on our conversation, clearly having come to investigate what sent his brother running for the hills. I slowly turn my head away from him to talk myself out of teleporting him into Mirkwood and leaving him there. I am not nearly calm enough when he saunters over and slams his hands on the table.
"What will happen to this world once ye grow tired of playin' 'little miss useless adventurer?'"
"My job is to get you guys to Erebor in one piece." A lie; my job is too make sure they stay in one piece after they get there "I'm not a guardian of this world, or even a resident. Are you so incapable of fending for yourself, useless little son of Korin?"
I can not help but return the barb he threw at me. I have no need to explain myself to the dwarf, nor should I feel insecure by his dismissal of my usefulness. 'Like he's one to talk. He's a thief and can't even be the burglar of the group!' He growls lowly in his throat and I thumb my nose at him. He rounds the table and stands before me in anger, pointing a finger in my face and shouting.
"Ye know nothin' of my position, girl!" he waves his hand in my face as though he were drawing a very vengeful picture in the air "The only reason yer here is because His Majesty is interested in what ye have between yer legs. Ye've lain on yer back enough. Leave! If it-"
"Shhhhhh." reaching out I place my hand over his mouth, as is the habit in this room, and a finger to my own "No."
"Wha-"
"Excuse us, Gandalf. Nori and I have an appointment to make."
I 'jump' myself and Nori far into the sky above Beorn's house. The dwarf struggles behind my hand before he snatches his face away from me. We fall a few dozen feet before I 'jump' us higher and higher until we are falling up instead of down. This is the most control I've been able to exhibit over this gift and the more I do it now, the easier it is. The dwarf begins hollering his head off with a colorful symphony of curses and I smile cruelly. Dwarves seem to bring out the... not nice side of me.
"What's the matter, Nori?" I ask, mockingly singing his name "Is this too much of an adventure for you?"
"You're insane!" he struggles away from me and I let him
"Well gee wiz, buddy. If that's how you feel, I'll leave you to it." I cross my hands over my chest, totally nonchalant about the force of gravity pulling me towards the earth. Ah... I remember my first time hurtling towards the earth. Kind of how I met Thorin. And Azog. Shivering, I toss a glance to the dwarf "Find your own way down. See you at the bottom."
The dwarrow immediately understands my meaning and makes an attempt to air swim back to me. It's hilarious watching a dwarf do the butterfly stroke in midair. I think everyone has a mean streak but mines always include someone potentially dying. 'Am... Am I a psychopath?' Lord, protect my future husband. Nori's face is the picture of pure terror and I feel bad until I remember his words. I wave goodbye sweetly before 'jumping' back to the kitchen.
"It was really good to talk to you Gandalf." I walk over and turn off the stove before grabbing Ori's chips "I have to go now though, I want Ori to have some of the chips I made."
"What do you mean?" He asks from his spot " What did you do?"
"Who? Me? Nothing... I just thought Nori would like to try sky diving." I say walking out the door "I forgot to give him a parachute though."
I walk out the house and peer into the sky. I see Nori slowly hurtling toward the earth but he's still just a speck. Taking my time, I walk over to Ori and Dori and provide them with the gift. They dig in, totally oblivious to the extreme fear their brother is experiencing right now. Gandalf hobbles out the house and searchers the sky, much like I did and upon finding the dwarf, he looks at me disapprovingly.
"Miss Thia..."
"Alright alright alright." I throw my hands up in the air because I just don't care. Which is a lie... I do care "I'll get him."
I 'jump' to the screaming dwarf and as soon as he notices me, he attaches himself to my side like a leech. His face is streaked in tears running the wrong way and his hair is whipping me in the face violently. His closeness makes me want to push him off but I don't really want the guy dead. I allow us to fall a little while longer before 'jumping' into the entrance of the house. 'I always wanted to go skydiving but back home... no need to tempt gravity.' As soon as our feet touch the ground, Nori collapses and throws up all over the floor. Bending down, I pull the hair out his face like a good friend and rub his back soothingly. Once he finishes, I make sure he understands.
"Now, what have we learned?"
"That ye are a crazy bi-"
"What was that?" I hold my hand over my ear "Did you say you want to go again?'
"NO!" he cries out before quieting down "I-I... I said I was sorry."
"Fooor?" I prompt as if he were a child
"...Bein' rude. Don't send me up there again... please."
"Now was that so hard?" I smile at him "I feel better. How about you?"
"Ugh."
"Great!" I grin as he looks about to barf again before I drop my act of excessive joy and lean into his face "If you ever make a reference to any part of my body in a way that isn't respectful, I'll make this fall seem like a trip on a pebble."
"Ye can't..."
"I will." Standing up, I crack my spine "Get it?"
"...Got it."
"Good. I'll do my part in all this for the greater good but it's not my responsibility to save the world, Nori." That's someone else's job and I'm not going to steal their thunder. I turn and strut out the house again to visit the wizard "See, Gandalf? I can be nice."
"You can not 'sky dive' all the people who insult you." he lectures
"Of course I can't." I agree wholeheartedly "But I can make sure at least one person won't do it again anytime soon."
"Hm..." the grey pilgrim seems unconvinced, giving me a side glance "Dwarves are a stubborn bunch."
"Then I'll fit right right in."
Nori walks out the house a few minutes later and takes a seat near his brothers. To the plain eye, he looks just as aloof as ever but I can see the shaking of his limbs and the paleness of his face. I smile brightly when he glances in my direction, before he quickly averts his gaze. 'You know what they say; If you can't make them love you, make them fear you.' I'll apologize later though, I don't want it to be spread around that I dump guys out of the sky. Especially after I punched Fili in the jewels back in Rivendell. And got accused of bumping uglies with Beorn. And after I locked the group outside and made them think they were going to die. 'I may have some issues...' This should probably stay between us...
"What did you do to Nori?"
"Ah, Fili!" I flinch at the sudden appearance of the blonde dwarf, quickly raising my hands like a ninja. He just stares at me, seeming to not care that I nearly karate chopped him the throat "W-what makes you think I did something?"
"You're grinning and he is cowering." Kili answers from my other side. This time I do chop the guest in the throat, not that he even falters in his statement "It makes us wonder what you did to him."
"He disrespected me." I answer holding my head up befor rolling it to the side in a half shrug "So I... made him regret it."
"What did he do?" the two ask simultaneously, crowding me from both sides
"He... Well...Its between he and I, so back off."
"Ohhhh, a secret." Kili opens his mouth in a large 'O' form
"We wouldn't want to make you give up any secrets, now would we brother?"
"No, not in the least." the brunet strokes his peach fuzzed chin "But if we were to simply find out..."
"Then there would be no harm in that." Fili finishes
My assault of a fellow company member becomes a game and it spreads quickly that I have done something to the thief. It only gets worse when neither of us will tell what has occurred. Bets are taken and shouting matches begin; It's a lovely affair but I wish I wasn't in the middle of it. I ignore all the hubbub and slowly make my way around to each member as Beorn brings the mead and the party commences.
~~~~~~~~~~Shishi~~~~~~~~~~
*Three Rings for the Elven-kings under the sky,
Seven for the Dwarf-lords in their halls of stone,
Nine for Mortal Men doomed to die,
One for the Dark Lord on his dark throne
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them,
One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.*
Hello my people and merry Christmas! Couple of things going on in this chapter.
1) You may remember, you may not, but Thia has a temper when it comes to respect. If you disrespect her, you should grateful if you live to regret it. I thought Nori would be the perfect person to exercise this out on. She also has a self awareness, so she does know that sometimes she goes overboard.
2)Her ring is the ring. How? Two different universes that run on two different time lines. By the time Thia was born, the entire series of Middle Earthy stuff was written so time does not apply the same. It can't since everyone is long dead. At the same time, literature is always read as if it were present, because it is in fact timeless. Now, this begs the question: How did she get it in the first place?
3) Something, or someone, made Thia use Black speech. Basically reached inside her and yanked the words out. 3 guesses as to what... or who.
Howdyou feel about it? If you are confused, ASK. I'll be more than happy to clear things up. This chapter was written to the annoying buzz a light makes, which is probably why it's so violently passively aggressive. Until next time!l next time!