When pushed to the limit of human capability an emotional breakdown leads
to salvation for more than just the one intended. Often when one can learn
to save themselves, they inadvertently save more than just their own souls.
The council was already in progress when she wandered into the shady grove. Tucking her hair behind her ears, (a nervous habit), she stepped foward close enough to just overhear. Leaning forward just slightly behind a tree, Anya moved in to hear better. Still finding it to difficult to spy successfully, she tried to position herself closer behind the bush.
"OW!" a voice peeped loudly, followed by a kick to Anya's shin sending her limping backwards into the circle of important individuals not pleased with the intruders entrance. As she failed to steady herself, Anya fell backwards barely escaping a run in with the cold hard ground under her feet. A pair of arms blocked her fall. An elf with a stern and annoyed look on his face lifted her up to a standing posistion before seating himself back into his chair. Anya felt all eyes upon her. Not quite knowing what to do wtih herself, she stood, fidgeting with the belt of her sweater.
"I see you have decide to reject the clothing offered to you by the lord" an elf spoke, seated in one of the baroque, overly ornate chairs. His comment was met by a few sharp glares, not just from Anya, but even Lord Elrond himself.
"Had it not occured to you Auirlein, that our guest may not be used to the clothing of the elves, and may feel more comfortable in her own attire?" Elrond questioned raising an intimidating eyebrow.
The elf sneered, but quieted down. Anya, feeling completely in the spot quickly looked for a way to divert the attention off herself. Instantly she remembered the reason WHY she was put in this position in the first place... hmm* now where ... Anya glanced towards a shrub that seemed just a little shaky. Sighing she pulled the hobbit from its branches.
"he he... heh.." Merry laughed nervously "Sorry about that.."
"It seems intruders have become more welcome that actual members" Boromir snickered to himself, glancing at Auirlein.
Anya glanced around the circle, vivid images of cinematic ventures and fairytale reading flooded back to her. She knew where they all sat, and the positions they sat in. A sinking feeling rose through her, tingling up her spine and turning her veins to ice. This was slowly beginning to feel less and less like a dream and more and more like some perpetual disillusion, forever bound to grow in her mind. Even if she was in some way trapped in her own mental neurosis, she still felt like she was in this "middle earth", and you know what they say about your dreams. Dreams can become your reality, and if you die in your dream you die period. Anya almost laughed at the irony of the whole situation. In REALITY she had already tried to die, and yet, it was in this dream where it was actually a threat.
"Come come, let us get back to business, lady do have a seat" Elrond motioned to his throne like chair. Many raised eye brows flew, including Aragorn's. This was a severe change of paace, the girl had to hold a title of importance. Even less concerned with her place was a nagging suspician of nostalgia, a familiarity that nearly consumed him. Looking up her met her gaze. Anya was, in turn consumed with a familiar sense, a deja vu, if you will. Legolas saw this glance and took notice to the look on their faces. He felt something then, he felt a hope.
"It must be destroyed"
"We must use this ring" Boromir countered back.
"It doesn't work like that" Anya casually replied not even realizing she was doing it.
Silence over took the group and all eyes intently focused on this mystery girl who possessed such audacity to argue with a man, let alone a man of Boromir's standing.
"What.." Boromir began is slight disbelief
Anya rolled her eyes and stood up. "I said, it doesnt work like that, the ring is clearly innately evil, things possessing so much power usually are, who are you , a man, to think yourself able to control it? Theres no way, the ring needs to be destroyed and everyone here knows it, so lets just cut the crap and get to the part where we decided who has the balls to go and do it."
Anya, deciding she was finished, relinquished back into her seat and leaned back bored and playing with her nails. The fire in her spirit caught Legolas's attention. He carefully looked at her. The strange clothes, strange hair, bold attitude, he could not absorb it all fast enough, or in satisfying enough quanities.
"Why you wench, How dare you.."Boromir stood up menacingly, at the sight of this Aragorn flew up
"Boromir! sit, this is enough, the girl, as perhaps, out of order as she is, has a point."
"How does she know so much of this Gandalf?" Frodo questioned from his corner. Gandalf glanced at Legolas, then to Elrond, and patted Frodo's knee.
"In time dear frodo, in time"
Legolas glanced at Gandalf and offered him a look of rue.
"Yes, Anya, is it?" Aragorn stood approaching her "How is it you have come to know of this subject which so few dare speak?"
Not knowing exactly how to answer the question, Anya just looked down.
"Lets not worry of this matter now, we have other affairs to speak of"
And so the conversation renewed itself, from Boromir's protests to Gimli's attempted assassination of the ring.
"I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor" Frodo's tiny voice barely penetrated the arguments of those so greater in size, but smaller in spirit. If it were not for the severity of the statement, no one would have paid any attention. But those words stung, they stung deep. Gandalf closed his eyes in silent, yet accepted fear. The reality of the situation tore harshly into Anya's soul. There is a barrier between her world and this one not only devised by astoral planes, but also by character. Never, in her whole life, had she expierianced so much purpose, so much general goodness.
"by my life or death, if I can, I swear to protect you, you have my sword" Aragorn leaned down putting a comforting hand on Frodo's small shoulder.
"and you have my bow" Legolas stood forward
"and my axe!" Gimli, threatened by the elf's haste to aid in the battle , jumped in to join as well.
Anya, who'd been viewing the scene from a step or two back sighed in her own silent defeat. This was her chance to actually accomplish somthing, even if it was delusional.
"And you have my... well you have my... presence!" she offered herself to Frodo
"well, thats an odd ofference" pippin remarked and merry nodded in agreement.
"absolutley not" Boromir sneered. "what makes you think your presence would be wanted, let alone needed" his sneer turned to a snicker at the thought of a mortal woman doing any good to such a fellowship.
Anya glared and stepped forward "Well, at least I wouldn't turn on them in the aspirations of power due to internal weakness"
Everyone stared at her for a moment, not sure how to handle what she was telling them. Could Boromir really turn against the fellowship?
"what pathetic nonsense" he attempted to laugh it off
"Everyone settle down" Elrond moved to break up the quarrel
"Lady Anya, what Boromir means, through all the indolence, is simply that, although your offer is generous, it is too dangerous for a lady. We will have too much to worry about to be able to watch out for you milady. It is meant as not insult" Aragorn shot Boromir a look that could freeze hell.
"uh huh..." Anya, arms crossed, bit her bottom lip and appeared to carefully consider his words, "well, thats very... hallmark moment of you, but just so you know, I dont NEED to be babysat just because I don't play with swords and fire, clearly you are stuck in a tradition way too far away from being altered for me. Look, I'm going, I can help. Trust me, you are going to need me." Anya flipped her hair.
"Now, I'm going to get my bag, and then we can be off" Anya quickly exited the circle before any further arguments could take place.
The group of men just looked at each other in silent defeat.
"Never in my life..." Boromir began
"aye, yet, tis not such a bad thing Boromir, tis not such a bad thing" Legolas tilted his head upwards to Anya's room. He could see her shadow move on the balcony and he smiled.
The council was already in progress when she wandered into the shady grove. Tucking her hair behind her ears, (a nervous habit), she stepped foward close enough to just overhear. Leaning forward just slightly behind a tree, Anya moved in to hear better. Still finding it to difficult to spy successfully, she tried to position herself closer behind the bush.
"OW!" a voice peeped loudly, followed by a kick to Anya's shin sending her limping backwards into the circle of important individuals not pleased with the intruders entrance. As she failed to steady herself, Anya fell backwards barely escaping a run in with the cold hard ground under her feet. A pair of arms blocked her fall. An elf with a stern and annoyed look on his face lifted her up to a standing posistion before seating himself back into his chair. Anya felt all eyes upon her. Not quite knowing what to do wtih herself, she stood, fidgeting with the belt of her sweater.
"I see you have decide to reject the clothing offered to you by the lord" an elf spoke, seated in one of the baroque, overly ornate chairs. His comment was met by a few sharp glares, not just from Anya, but even Lord Elrond himself.
"Had it not occured to you Auirlein, that our guest may not be used to the clothing of the elves, and may feel more comfortable in her own attire?" Elrond questioned raising an intimidating eyebrow.
The elf sneered, but quieted down. Anya, feeling completely in the spot quickly looked for a way to divert the attention off herself. Instantly she remembered the reason WHY she was put in this position in the first place... hmm* now where ... Anya glanced towards a shrub that seemed just a little shaky. Sighing she pulled the hobbit from its branches.
"he he... heh.." Merry laughed nervously "Sorry about that.."
"It seems intruders have become more welcome that actual members" Boromir snickered to himself, glancing at Auirlein.
Anya glanced around the circle, vivid images of cinematic ventures and fairytale reading flooded back to her. She knew where they all sat, and the positions they sat in. A sinking feeling rose through her, tingling up her spine and turning her veins to ice. This was slowly beginning to feel less and less like a dream and more and more like some perpetual disillusion, forever bound to grow in her mind. Even if she was in some way trapped in her own mental neurosis, she still felt like she was in this "middle earth", and you know what they say about your dreams. Dreams can become your reality, and if you die in your dream you die period. Anya almost laughed at the irony of the whole situation. In REALITY she had already tried to die, and yet, it was in this dream where it was actually a threat.
"Come come, let us get back to business, lady do have a seat" Elrond motioned to his throne like chair. Many raised eye brows flew, including Aragorn's. This was a severe change of paace, the girl had to hold a title of importance. Even less concerned with her place was a nagging suspician of nostalgia, a familiarity that nearly consumed him. Looking up her met her gaze. Anya was, in turn consumed with a familiar sense, a deja vu, if you will. Legolas saw this glance and took notice to the look on their faces. He felt something then, he felt a hope.
"It must be destroyed"
"We must use this ring" Boromir countered back.
"It doesn't work like that" Anya casually replied not even realizing she was doing it.
Silence over took the group and all eyes intently focused on this mystery girl who possessed such audacity to argue with a man, let alone a man of Boromir's standing.
"What.." Boromir began is slight disbelief
Anya rolled her eyes and stood up. "I said, it doesnt work like that, the ring is clearly innately evil, things possessing so much power usually are, who are you , a man, to think yourself able to control it? Theres no way, the ring needs to be destroyed and everyone here knows it, so lets just cut the crap and get to the part where we decided who has the balls to go and do it."
Anya, deciding she was finished, relinquished back into her seat and leaned back bored and playing with her nails. The fire in her spirit caught Legolas's attention. He carefully looked at her. The strange clothes, strange hair, bold attitude, he could not absorb it all fast enough, or in satisfying enough quanities.
"Why you wench, How dare you.."Boromir stood up menacingly, at the sight of this Aragorn flew up
"Boromir! sit, this is enough, the girl, as perhaps, out of order as she is, has a point."
"How does she know so much of this Gandalf?" Frodo questioned from his corner. Gandalf glanced at Legolas, then to Elrond, and patted Frodo's knee.
"In time dear frodo, in time"
Legolas glanced at Gandalf and offered him a look of rue.
"Yes, Anya, is it?" Aragorn stood approaching her "How is it you have come to know of this subject which so few dare speak?"
Not knowing exactly how to answer the question, Anya just looked down.
"Lets not worry of this matter now, we have other affairs to speak of"
And so the conversation renewed itself, from Boromir's protests to Gimli's attempted assassination of the ring.
"I will take it! I will take the ring to Mordor" Frodo's tiny voice barely penetrated the arguments of those so greater in size, but smaller in spirit. If it were not for the severity of the statement, no one would have paid any attention. But those words stung, they stung deep. Gandalf closed his eyes in silent, yet accepted fear. The reality of the situation tore harshly into Anya's soul. There is a barrier between her world and this one not only devised by astoral planes, but also by character. Never, in her whole life, had she expierianced so much purpose, so much general goodness.
"by my life or death, if I can, I swear to protect you, you have my sword" Aragorn leaned down putting a comforting hand on Frodo's small shoulder.
"and you have my bow" Legolas stood forward
"and my axe!" Gimli, threatened by the elf's haste to aid in the battle , jumped in to join as well.
Anya, who'd been viewing the scene from a step or two back sighed in her own silent defeat. This was her chance to actually accomplish somthing, even if it was delusional.
"And you have my... well you have my... presence!" she offered herself to Frodo
"well, thats an odd ofference" pippin remarked and merry nodded in agreement.
"absolutley not" Boromir sneered. "what makes you think your presence would be wanted, let alone needed" his sneer turned to a snicker at the thought of a mortal woman doing any good to such a fellowship.
Anya glared and stepped forward "Well, at least I wouldn't turn on them in the aspirations of power due to internal weakness"
Everyone stared at her for a moment, not sure how to handle what she was telling them. Could Boromir really turn against the fellowship?
"what pathetic nonsense" he attempted to laugh it off
"Everyone settle down" Elrond moved to break up the quarrel
"Lady Anya, what Boromir means, through all the indolence, is simply that, although your offer is generous, it is too dangerous for a lady. We will have too much to worry about to be able to watch out for you milady. It is meant as not insult" Aragorn shot Boromir a look that could freeze hell.
"uh huh..." Anya, arms crossed, bit her bottom lip and appeared to carefully consider his words, "well, thats very... hallmark moment of you, but just so you know, I dont NEED to be babysat just because I don't play with swords and fire, clearly you are stuck in a tradition way too far away from being altered for me. Look, I'm going, I can help. Trust me, you are going to need me." Anya flipped her hair.
"Now, I'm going to get my bag, and then we can be off" Anya quickly exited the circle before any further arguments could take place.
The group of men just looked at each other in silent defeat.
"Never in my life..." Boromir began
"aye, yet, tis not such a bad thing Boromir, tis not such a bad thing" Legolas tilted his head upwards to Anya's room. He could see her shadow move on the balcony and he smiled.