I DID PROMISE MORE MIDDLE-EARTH SHENANIGANS, DIDN'T I? XD ANYWAY, LET'S GET REVIEWS REPLIED TO BEFORE I GET TO THE STORY.
Me and Not You 1001: Yes, poor Lucy has it rough. Next Priest AU chapter deals with Luke and Lizzie meeting Peter again, after Lizzie's transformation and Peter failing to save Luke from a vampire hive on a mission a year or so previous to the start of the movie. Needless to say, it doesn't go well. ;)
Lucy is about 18, I think.
IKR! I saw Hela, and I was like 'DANNGG! Guess that's what would have happened if Galadriel took the Ring, huh?' XD I LOVE it and CAN'T WAIT TO SEE IT! I'm hoping to go opening night, but need money. :(
Anyway, here's the 'requested' scene we talked about in our PMs.
HOPE YOU ALL LIKE!
GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!
~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER
"What kind of forest is this?!" I growl under my breath as I stumble over intertwined roots that nearly completely obscured the pathway.
Again. Seriously, what is this place? It's fricking cold and the sun doesn't even seem to exist here. I know what it seems like, but...that's impossible- -right? There was no way I was in The Hobbit, right? I shake those thoughts out of my head and keep moving. Eventually, this path would lead me out, so all I had to do was keep walking. I sigh, check my water canteen-thing (made of skin or something) to find that, yes, it was still empty and, yes, I was still dehydrated.
Ah, well. I just gotta hope this forest ends soon.
Like I've been doing for the past two days straight! To distract myself, I sing the first song that comes to mind.
"Keep walking, but you won't knock down our wall! Keep walking, but she isn't going to fall! It's plain to see, your brains are very small! So, keep walking, but you won't our wall!" It was a song from Veggietales, a silly little kid's show my folks let us watch when us kids were younger. The veggies acting out bible and other stories with funny little twists to teach kids life lessons was one of my favorite shows when I was about 6, up til maybe 11, then Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles took over. Regardless, I laugh at myself and then have to stumble back as I nearly fall off a destroyed bridge across a small, sluggish river. I groan, roll my eyes, but start heading down the bank to cross over. Just as I am about to touch the water, I am hauled up and find myself face to face, on the ruined bridge, with what appears to be a male human. I blink.
"Crossing the stream that way would be most foolish." He lets go of my arm and steps back. "These waters erase memory, identity, everything if you drink or otherwise expose yourself to it." I frown, adjusting the satchel I'd had since I arrived...wherever this is.
"What are you talking about?" The man tilts his head. It's then I notice the ears. Honest-to-goodness Elf ears. What the frick?!
"The waters of Mirkwood are not for touching, drinking, or bathing." He repeats. I blink. Mirkwood...guy with Elf-like ears…I pale as realization slams into my gut.
Crud. I'm in the Hobbit?! How?!
"O-oh." I stammer. "Right." The Elf frowns.
"Are you well, milady?" He asks. I nod.
"I'm fine." I reply, forcing a smile. The Elf's frown has not disappeared.
"I do not believe that." He replies, easing me up with a grip that told me I was not going anywhere except where he wanted me. "I believe it would be wise to take you to King Thranduil." I blink.
"Uh...no, thanks. I'm- -" The elf merely tugs me along behind him, my arm still gripped tightly in his hand. "Ow!" I protest to deaf ears as we continue walking. "Let go!" I protest, squirming. His hand does not ease up as he all but drags me along the path.
=#=#=#=#=
Nearly half an hour later, we came to the very same entrance to Thranduil's domain as featured in Desolation of Smaug.
Fantastic! I'd now have to deal with Lee Pace's cynical, salty Elf King. My Elven kidnapper does not break grip or stride as we make our way to the platform/throne room Thorin and Thranduil had their verbal fistfight in the movie. I gulp. When was I in the movie? Before? After? During? Regardless, I had a feeling this would not end well.
Within minutes, I was thrust in front of the throne to face whatever Thranduil had in store for me. He was even hotter in person, I gotta say, sitting regally reclined on his throne.
"Well." He states simply, sitting a little straighter and looking me over down his nose. "I thought the patrol was toying with me, but here you are." It was my turn to frown.
"What?"
"Did you think your presence in my forest these past two days would go unnoticed?" The King asks coolly. I draw myself up, brushing the past two days' dust off my shoulders.
"Honestly?" I reply, shrugging. "I had no idea where I was. Two days ago, I was running around a lake when it started storming really hard- -"
"There have been no storms in the area recently." Thranduil snaps. I roll my eyes.
"Calm down. I was getting to that." I reply airly, waving aside his interruption. "Anyway," I continue without waiting for a response (something told me fighting fire with fire might be the way to go here), "I fell down the bank of the lake Loch Ness, in Inverness, Scotland, and woke up here after getting struck by lightning."
"Lies!" Thranduil growls, standing and moving to stand not two feet away. I glower at him, crossing my arms for good measure.
"It's the truth, buddy. Like it or not." I reply. Thranduil glares at me, drawing himself up.
"I do not know or care why you are hiding the truth. But know this; I will find out the truth." He then makes a discreet motion to his guards. "Take her to the dungeon." I blink in shock.
"I'm telling the truth!" I bark angrily, backing up from the guards. "I swear!" The guards grab me. "Stop!" I protest, to deaf ears. I wrench my arms free suddenly. "You're making a mistake, Thranduil!" I growl without thinking. Thranduil whirls on me and is suddenly mere centimeters from my face.
"How do you know my name?" He hisses testily. I huff.
"I told you!" I snap. "I'm not from this world. In my world, this is a story, a play to entertain people. I myself have seen and read it a few times, so I know your name." Thranduil stands, frowning.
"And you know what is about to occur?" He asks. I shrug.
"In the story, there isn't a girl that appears seemingly out of thin air, so I have no idea if that'll affect things, but yes. I- -"
"Then tell me of the Dwarves, or are they not characters?" Thranduil interjects smoothly.
"I...what about them?" I ask tentatively, a distrustful, confused frown furrowing my brow.
"Their quest." Thranduil clarifies. "Does it succeed?" I lick my lips, taking a step back.
"I...don't think that's a good idea. It'll change everything even more if I tell you." I explain. Thranduil studies me for a few moments.
"You hold a certain wisdom, for all your eccentricities." He muses. I cock a brow.
"...Thanks?" I reply, unsure if that was a compliment. "Anyway, are we done? Cus I'd like to leave and head to Laketown, then…" I pause, unsure of what I was planning to do after Laketown. "Figure it out from there." Thranduil considers this.
"I insist you stay the night, at least." He finally says. "After all, Mirkwood is no place for a maiden, even one as...capable as you appear to be. At night in particular." I sigh.
"Well, in that case, my name's Rowena. Rowena O'Neil." I say, extending a hand to him.
"Oh. You shake it." I prompt when Thranduil only appears confused as to what I was doing with my hand. He awkwardly does and that's that.
"Since you already know my name, I shall simply have my guard escort you to your temporary housing and bring you anything else you require." I nod.
"I appreciate it, Highness." I reply and head out.
"You are fortunate." The guard muses. Tauriel, I realize. "He does not take to newcomers and strangers that easily." I shrug, grinning.
"What can I say? I've got a natural charm about me." She laughs, and continues down the hallway.
"You remind me of one of our prisoners." I raise a brow. "The dark-haired archer." She clarifies upon seeing my expression, remembering I knew these characters.
She was already talking about Kili. Oh, my.
"I see. Well, I shall take it as a compliment." I reply, nudging her side teasingly. She is blushing slightly.
"He is so...different than I thought Dwarves to be." She muses, almost without even realizing it was out loud. I nod.
"They all are." I assure her. Tauriel sighs.
"Their king is as stubborn and arrogant as hir-nin described." She replies. "I heard his discussion with the Dwarf and Thorin claims my king abandoned the Dwarves to Smaug." I sigh.
"Well, in the plays, it does appear that way." I muse. Tauriel huffs.
"All our king desires is the safety and protection of his people. He did not think fighting a dragon served that end." I shrug.
"Well, in any event, what's past is past. Anyway, I'd love to wash Mirkwood off and eat something. I've only had what little provisions were...sent with me." I reply, patting my empty stomach, which promptly rumbled, as if it had heard me mention food. Tauriel laughs.
"Indeed. Right this way."
=#=#=#=#=
Within an hour, I was sitting, cleaned and in a borrowed simple off-white dress, in my loaned quarters, Tauriel and I chatting as I satisfied my hunger. Soon enough, she had to return to her duties and I bid her farewell.
It wasn't until about an hour of trying and failing to sleep that I feel a hand on my shoulder. I leap up and whirl, but no one was there. Then, as suddenly as the hand tapped my shoulder, a shorter Martin Freeman was suddenly facing me.
Bilbo Baggins?!
"Shh!" He premtively hisses, classic finger to his lips. I frown. "Listen, I heard you talking to Thranduil and Tauriel earlier and I think I need your help."