Let me begin by saying that this is the director's cut of chapter 15. I wrote the first one in something of a rush and was never very pleased with it. Not sure why I put it up. Some of you have indicated that you liked the original. Others have claimed I jumped to the S.S. Mary Sue. Others still think I've lost the realism that made the preceeding chapters better. I would have to agree with all of you. Although not completely Mary Sue, having Lin as the hero just didn't work for me. And I think I wrote a couple people OOC. Fantasy still has to fit within the world an author creates, which I don't think I did. In other words, I hope you like this one better. I'll keep both up just for those who like the original.



Disclaimer: let's see, how else can I say that I don't own Tolkien's ideas, characters or settings and that anyone outside of that is my own? Huh, guess I just did. Oh, I'm not making any form of currency on this little ditty either. Enjoy.

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Time and Space

Chapter 15



I was sure that I was physically able to move. I was also sure that any such movement would bring about a new wave of pain. Breathing was extraordinarily difficult.

Opening my eyes, I found that I was in some sort of large hall. The walls were stone and the floor felt cold, a welcome relief to my burning skin. Just able to tilt my head a little, I could see Aragorn, Legolas, Arwen and one other, I presumed to be Gimli. Had I been able to chuckle, I would have. Aragorn had been right about the Dwarf's appearance.

But this was not the time for humour. All of them were in danger, that was evident upon their faces. Aragorn's sword was drawn and Legolas held his knives in a defensive posture. A flash of light blinded me once more and when I could see again, Gimli was gone. Moments later, Aragorn and Arwen had disappeared and Legolas was now prostrated on the floor. And then he was no more.

I felt rather than saw the form come towards me. Its terrible power reverberated throughout my body. Struggling to rise, I was able to see the form. My eyes widened in horror. What I saw was pure terror and demonic.

"How..." I croaked, now on my elbows.

He grinned evilly. "You wished to know what was going on. Now you've first hand experience of it. Was it everything you hoped?" He cackled.

I shook my head, still confused. "I don't understand," I managed to gasp out, now on my hands and knees.

"Come, come, Kaitlin, you are not a fool. I have brought you here to see and feel what the others went through." He loomed above me.

"Why?"

He knelt down, his breath hot on my face. "Because I can."

Seconds later, I was back in the forest in a tumbled heap.

"I will not let you do this again!" Aragorn exclaimed. "This ends now." He held Legolas' knives in attack position. I assumed it was attack as I'd never been in a fight like this before.

"You believe that you can hurt me?" Lausona cried. "I am invincible!" Even lying on the ground at an awkward angle, I could see him seem to grow larger.

Looking over at Legolas, I had hoped that he would have been brought back to us, but he remained as lifeless as ever. Those vacant eyes haunted me. Not even in the hospital did they lack any glint of life. Gimli had meant more to him than I could have imagined.

Course right now, I was in more pain from my trip than I could have imagined. I struggled to sit up, all the while watching the interplay between Aragorn and Lausona. The two seemed to be playing some sort of waiting game, neither making the first move. The woods were strangely quiet.

And then Aragorn attacked. His yell echoed through, the blades shimmering in the moonlight. He moved to slash Lausona, but was repelled with a flick of the creature's wrist. The former king flew back and landed with a heavy thump.

"Too easy," it whispered. His body then shifted towards mine, his eyes flaming. "And as for you, I can no longer let my little secret be exposed."

For the first time in my life, I was afraid, terribly, terribly afraid. I had ignored the warnings in my head and now it was going to cost me my life and probably Aragorn's and Legolas' as well. I shut my eyes, resulting in the brimming tears to fall. His oncoming footsteps felt like earthshattering quakes, each one louder and harsher than the last. Opening my eyes to glance behind him, I couldn't see Aragorn anywhere. Part of me hoped he had saved himself, another part hoped he wouldn't leave us. I was such a coward.

The footsteps were very close now. I chanced a final look at Legolas, hoping for something. My heart fell when I saw him no different. "I'm sorry, Legolas. I couldn't protect you." I reached my hand to him, barely able to touch his when a rough hand jerked me up, very nearly dislocating my shoulder.

Face to face with the monster, I couldn't help but wonder if Mike was somewhere inside. Lausona may have stolen his form, but could he have destroyed Mike's soul? Having so little time left, I couldn't dwell on the subject. That and the pain now shooting out of my shoulder as he hauled me up, my feet no longer touching the ground. He pulled me to within inches of him.

"You couldn't leave well enough alone?" he spat. "He would have suffered an eternity in that place, but you had to worm your way in. Bah. Pathetic." His grip tightened, sending more pain out. "Your suffering will not be as long, but more painful. You ruined my plan."

And then he stumbled. Whirling around, he spotted Aragorn with only one knife, the other now lodged deeply in his chest. He looked down then back at Aragorn. "Do not worry, foolish king, your time shall come soon enough." Removing the knife, he tossed it aside. His attention back to me, he began to inflict his pain. Placing his palm over my heart, a searing pain burned through. I could begin to smell my flesh burn as it was driven in. I wanted to get away. I wanted to punch or kick or squirm or anything to get out of that anguish, but I was paralysed. My body would not co-operate with my mind. I was helpless and powerless.

He stumbled forward once again. And again. His hand broke away from my chest, but I barely felt any change I was so fixated on my own horror. He turned to see Aragorn standing once more, knives ready.

And the Elf with bow drawn.

The creature grabbed the arrow in his thigh and broke it off, casting it aside with indignance. He lunged forward only to be momentarily halted by another arrow in his arm. "You think such things can hurt me?"

Another arrow.

"These mean nothing to someone such as I." He pulled it out.

I was now starting to black out. He thrust me in front of him, not as a shield, but to prove his strength. "Attempt to hurt me and she will die." Neither man nor elf made any move. "That is your weakness - compassion."

My awareness of the situation was dangerously unsteady. The cause of my pain may have momentarily ceased, but the results lingered. I could barely breathe.

I then dropped to the ground. Landing awkwardly on my shoulder, I cried out. I was now unable to focus on anything. The fight next to me was nothing more than a grouping of fuzzy shadows. My breath came in short gasps. I was dying.

And then I saw her.

The brilliant light behind her blinded me, but I couldn't turn away. She strode evenly to me and knelt down. She was not fuzzy, but clear. Pure.

I tried to speak, but she hushed me. "Rest. This will soon be over." She did not smile, but I felt comfort. Her entire demeanour exuded calm. She was soothing. I could understand Aragorn's love for her and how no other woman could compare. She lightly touched my forehead. "Do not worry. Everything shall be as it should."

Did that mean that I had to die?

Turning behind her, I followed her gaze to the battle. The shadows remained, but I could see one now looking small and not offering any resistance.

"What is happening?" I struggled out.

Her soft face looked on mine once more. "That battle draws to a close." She smiled. "It is time."

She stood, her power and beauty mesmorising. Walking away from me, her light faded. I couldn't see anything from then on.

Guess I was dead.



That I felt any touch on my skin surprised me. That I was surprised at all further surprised me. I heard Aragorn and Legolas close to me, not fully understanding their whispers. Something about waking and it's done. Finding the strength to open my eyes, I saw the blurred images of Aragorn and Legolas peering down at me.

"She is awake!" Legolas turned to Aragorn.

"Quickly. We must bring her inside." He moved to lift me.

"What of Lausona?" the Elf inquired.

"Do as Arwen instructed." I felt myself pulled up and lie limply in Aragorn's arms. I was then aware of lying in a bed, Aragorn once again at my side, checking my injuries. "Can you hear me?"

Licking my dry lips, I answered yes. A glass of cool water then met my lips. God how good that felt!

"Rest easy." He stood and spoke quietly with Legolas. Moments later, he left the room. Legolas remained at the foot of the bed, his arms crossed.

"Did you win?" I croaked, trying vainly to push myself up.

He was then there, pulling the pillows up for me to lean against. I looked him straight on. "Legolas, tell me."

"Yes, Kaitlin," he whispered, "we won."

For some reason, I felt him holding back something. We held the moment a little longer. "I am glad that you're not a vegetable anymore."

He blinked several times. "I am sorry for that. I should not have worried you so." He sat back on the bed. "Grief comes hard to elves." He sighed deeply.

"What's wrong?" Besides the death of his best friend and having fought a horrible evil?

He waited a seeming eternity before responding. "I must go."

The simpleness of the statement through me for a loop. Either that or I was still reeling from the torture I endured. "I don't under..."

"Return home." He rose, his back to me. "The death of Lausona will reverse all of his actions." He stood in front of the window once more.

Somehow, somewhere, I knew this was going to happen. It was foolish of me to expect that he would remain with me forever. At the very least, he would have returned with Aragorn to England. Still, I was stunned. He had grown on me, all of his quirks, naivite, his way of being. I was going to miss him.

"Elessar wanted you to know how grateful he is to you for assisting us. Had you not withdrawn me from that hospital, we may never have met here. May never have gone home." He turned to me one last time, a light smile on his fine features. "I am indebted to you, Kaitlin of Men." His eyes briefly glazed over. "I shall miss you." His hand reached for mine, gripping it tightly.

"My journal," I interrupted the moment.

Legolas cocked his head, unsure of what I meant.

"If Lausona dies and that reverses everything, that will mean that you won't have come here and we wouldn't have met. But will we remember this?"

He shook his head. "I do not know."

"There must be some way that we will." I frantically searched the room. "If I give you my journal, then maybe you won't forget. Maybe it will survive. Maybe..."

He placed his other hand over top ours. "Kaitlin, there is no time. Elessar has only given us but a few moments. He has allowed us a farewell that Lausona denied. Please, let us just enjoy eachother."

"But..." Looking at him, I knew he was right. If we did remember this, then I wanted it to be memorable. If not, well, then it really doesn't matter. I sighed heavily. "You've opened my world up to new possibilities. Thank-you."

He nodded.

"Go to him." I pulled my hand from his grasp. "Go home."

Without saying a word, he made for the door, briefly looking back before stepping through.

I shut my eyes hard, not wanting to think of anything.

And then it was over.



To be continued...?



A/N: if you liked this, let me know. I may be encouraged to write an epilogue for this little story. I also hope you liked this version better than the original. I did. ;) Constructive feedback is welcomed.