Disclaimer: We don't own anything but Salum, Camellia, Laer, and any other
characters we decide to throw in that wasn't in Lord of the Rings. Please
don't sue us if you find this offensive. On with the fic!!
~SpottedTree
Saruman's Revenge
Chapter 3
They set up camp, having the girls sleep in one tent, the guys in another. As soon as everything was set up, Laer promptly set herself against one of the great trees of the forest. It was nighttime out, and she'd set herself next to one of the trees slightly in the shadows. Legolas, Gandalf, and Frodo stared at Laer as she settled herself next to the tree. Camellia just went on as if this were a normal thing. The boys suddenly saw Laer go rigid, her eyes seemingly staring at nothing. Legolas started toward her but Camellia's voice stopped him: "Don't worry about her."
"What?" he asked, turning around.
"Laer does this thing on a nightly basis," Camellia said, while cooking supper. When she noticed the guys staring at her in confusion, she continued. "It's her way of learning things from far and wide. She says it's her way of slipping away from reality for a while. She took me with her once. Boy, was it ever -BORING-!! Yeesh!!! I mean, trees can talk forever about absolutely nothing!!" Camellia noticed them staring at her in shock. "What?"
Legolas and Gandalf looked at Camellia, then at each other, then at Laer, and back to each other again. They suddenly heard muffled sounds, and looked to Laer.
She had tears streaming down her face, and she was shaking. She still had the faraway look in her eyes, though. She suddenly cried out and fell forward, her hands helping to catch her fall. She clasped her hand to her mouth, and quickly got up, running into the forest. Even the hobbits could faintly hear her retching.
"Laer," Camellia uttered softly, sympathy in her voice.
Legolas looked at Camellia for a moment, before heading in the direction Laer went.
~~~
He found her on her hands and knees near a stream, crying and throwing up the contents of her stomach. He reached a hand towards her shoulder. "Laer," he said softly.
She gasped and stood up quickly, turning to face him.
Looking into her eyes, Legolas could tell something was wrong. Her eyes had a frightened look about them. She suddenly shut her eyes tight and leaned towards him. He caught her, and held her petite frame to him. They stood there for many moments, him just holding her, her crying into his shoulder.
"Are you alright, now?" Legolas asked, when her crying had subsided.
Laer nodded, and stepped back from his shoulder. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I was never properly introduced to you, Master Elf."
Legolas smiled warmly. "My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil, prince of the Silvan Elves of Mirkwood."
Laer smiled back. "I am Laer, of the Elves of Fangorn."
Legolas's eyes widened. "Fangorn?" he asked incredulously.
Laer's smile widened. "Yes, one of the hidden tribes."
Legolas just shook his head. "I've never known there were Elves in Fangorn…"
Laer just smiled. "Well, we'd better head back to camp. Cam might start worrying about me."
Legolas nodded. He turned around, and, taking Laer's arm because she was still a little shaky, headed back towards camp.
~~~
Camellia and Frodo were sitting next to each other eating supper, when Laer and Legolas came back. They both seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, and Gandalf was just sitting across from them, looking amused by the two hobbits.
"Laer!!" Camellia exclaimed, running as best she could with her sprained ankle towards the two elves from her position next to Frodo. "Are you ok? What happened?"
Laer smiled. "I'm ok, Cam. Just a bad vision, is all."
Camellia looked into Laer's eyes, almost unbelieving. "You were throwing up," she stated.
Laer looked down. "Cam, do you still have it?" she asked, looking straight into Camellia's eyes.
Camellia stared at Laer for a moment, before answering: "Yes, I still have it. Why?"
Laer just shook her head. "No reason… I… I'll explain later. Just keep it safe."
Camellia nodded.
~~~
Camellia lay awake in the tent. She couldn't fall asleep. She was confused as to why Laer had asked her about it, earlier. She hardly ever even mentioned it. Laer suddenly entered the tent and sat down cross-legged on her bedroll.
"I still have it," Camellia said, sitting up.
Laer nodded, and smiled slightly. "Good," she said softly.
Camellia reached into her rucksack and took out a large jade marble stone. She then took out "Mr. Stone," and set it by the marble. "Mr. Stone" looked similar to the jade one. Both were spheres, but Mr. Stone was a grayish color, while the jade marble was… well, jade green. "There's some sort of resemblance between the two of them," she said.
Laer nodded. "Yes, and there's a third one."
Camellia looked up suddenly at Laer. "A third one?" This was interesting.
Laer sighed and nodded. "Yes, a third one. However, this one will be the hardest to get. We'll need to get it as soon as possible, because Salum's looking for it, as well."
Camellia nodded. "Do any of the others know about these stones?"
Laer shook her head. "No, I don't think so. But, they might."
Camellia nodded again. "Will the third stone be in the village?"
"No," Laer answered. She sighed. "We'd better get to sleep. We still have about twenty miles until the village."
Camellia nodded, and put the two stones back into her rucksack. She then promptly fell asleep.
~~~
It was early morning when the group started towards the village. Camellia was still riding in front of Legolas on Arod, with Frodo and Gandalf on Shadowfax. Laer walked beside Legolas and Camellia, listening now and then to Camellia's idle chatter, and paying attention to her surroundings. They had been traveling for quite some time now, and had made some good progress when Laer suddenly stopped and sniffed the air.
"Do you guys smell smoke?" she asked.
Legolas, too, sniffed the air. "Now that you mention it, I do."
Laer stood still for a minute. They were only about two miles from the nearest… village… Her eyes widened. "The village!!" she exclaimed, and without waiting for the others to say anything, she immediately started running towards the village.
"Laer!! Wait!!!" Legolas and Camellia yelled at the same time.
Arod and Shadowfax started running as fast as they could to catch up with Laer. Shadowfax kept the same pace as Arod, so as not to leave him behind. However, even at their fastest gallop, the two horses could not quite keep up with the female elf before them. And suddenly, before their eyes, she vanished.
"Keep going!" Camellia shouted before they could stop their horses.
When the group got to the village, they saw that, indeed, it was on fire. They saw the figure of Laer in the smoke of a stable on fire, letting a horse free from the flames. They then saw the most peculiar thing: Laer stopped in the midst of the flames and smoke. She just stood there. Then she looked up and around. The four of them then saw the most astonishing thing of all: the trees were carrying pails of water and dousing the flames of the massive fire. The four of them just stood in astonishment, and saw Laer suddenly run further into the village.
"Laer!!" Camellia yelled, trying to stop her companion. However, her tiny voice was drowned out by the action around her.
Legolas and Gandalf urged their horses on, trying to stay out of the way of the trees' efforts. When they found Laer, she was facing off against the peculiar wizard they'd met the day before.
"Salum!" Camellia gasped, her eyes widening.
No words were spoken between Laer and the wizard. However, they sprung towards each other at the same time, Salum's staff already out and coming down towards Laer, with Laer rolling away just in time. She backflipped and landed a few feet from her adversary. She reached under her cloak and produced two short sticks, and twisted them together, creating her own staff.
Gandalf gasped, as his and Legolas's eyes widened in shock. Frodo and Camellia just looked on in awe. Camellia had been traveling with Laer for awhile, now, but she had never seen Laer use her staff.
Laer twirled her staff in her fingers, watching Salum. She was aware of the fact that the others had arrived, however she had placed her full attention on Salum. She glared at him while he just smirked back at her. He threw a flame spell at her, which she blocked with a shield, and threw one of ice back at him. While he was busy deflecting her ice spell, she suddenly jumped at him, using her staff as a physical weapon. He was unprepared for the physical attack, and let his shield down too soon. He grunted with pain as he fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.
"Tell me, Salum: Why did you burn this village?" Laer asked as she landed from her back flip over his prone body.
Gasping for breath, Salum answered: "Because I knew this was where you'd come next, my love."
Laer just glared even harder at the downed wizard. She quickly chanted a lightning spell and threw it at him. He screamed in agony, and fell silent when the spell was over. He then got up, and turned to face Laer and the others standing in the background. Laer tightened her grip on her staff, ready for anything.
He smirked evilly, and then disappeared.
"Laer!" Camellia's voice sounded behind her.
Laer turned to see Camellia running as fast as her ankle would allow her. She smiled and caught the hobbit in a hug.
"That was so cool, Laer!!" Camellia squealed.
Laer just laughed.
"You're… a wizard…" Gandalf stated, in a state of half-shock.
Laer nodded. "Yes, I am."
~~~
It was night, and the group was camped just outside the burned village. Gandalf and Legolas were chatting quietly, with Frodo giving his input every now and then. Laer and Camellia were sitting across from them on the opposite side of the fire, with Laer teaching Camellia Elvish.
The guys stopped their conversation and looked at the two girls. Laer was teaching Camellia some simple phrases. She stopped when she felt their eyes on her. When she looked at them, she found Legolas and Gandalf studying her, and Frodo staring at the cooking food.
Camellia, sensing the tension between the two older males, and her female companion, joined Frodo at the pot of stew, and attempted to finish cooking supper.
"May we have a word with you, milady?" Gandalf asked, looking at Laer.
Laer nodded, and followed the Elf prince and the white wizard into the woods a little ways from camp.
"Now, would you please explain just who the Hell is this Salum wizard person?" Legolas asked.
Laer took a deep breath. "Salum is a powerful wizard. He is the cousin of Saruman, and he has lusted after me for quite some time, now. He is also after Camellia, because she wields something of great power that is one of the few things that can destroy him. Salum is very deadly, and now that he knows you're with Camellia and myself, he'll be after you too. I suggest you start watching your backs a bit more."
Legolas and Gandalf were staring at Laer in shock.
"How long has he been after you?" Gandalf asked, the first to recover from his shock.
"Um, about…." Laer stopped to count in her head. "About two years now, I'd say."
Legolas stared at the girl before him. She had a strength about her that was incomparable, yet she still had an inner innocence about her that made her seem like a child. Though, he supposed she still was, judging by the way she acted around Camellia. Motherly, yet at the same time childish. And here she was, being chased after by a crazed wizard. Related to Saruman, of all wizards. He suddenly admired her very much.
"Laer, guys, supper's ready," Camellia's voice sounded.
"We're coming, Cam," Laer answered. She then looked at Legolas and Gandalf. "Anything else?"
Legolas and Gandalf shook their heads, and headed back to camp.
Laer followed, her stomach grumbling.
Legolas turned around, hearing her stomach. Laer smiled and blushed. Legolas smiled back and took her hand, pulling her up to where he and Gandalf were. Together, the three of them went back to camp, where Frodo and Camellia were staring at the stew hungrily.
"Let's eat!!" they shouted in unison once the three were sitting down. The others laughed.
Camellia looked at Gandalf and Legolas. Since she didn't know their names, she asked, "So, who are you guys, exactly?"
Gandalf took a moment to answer her question. "I am Gandalf the White, and this is Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood."
Camellia nodded. "Ok." She then resumed eating.
~~~
After supper, the five companions sat around the fire, just talking and sharing stories. When Laer was about to head to her tent, she came across Frodo and Camellia, who had fallen asleep together near the fire. She smiled softly, and covered them both up with a blanket, and went to bed.
Please review this chapter. Reviews make me feel loved. And don't forget to check out Tree's fic Smokin' Pipeweed with Frodo and other Adventures. It kicks ass, man!! It kicks ass!
~SpottedTree
~SpottedTree
Saruman's Revenge
Chapter 3
They set up camp, having the girls sleep in one tent, the guys in another. As soon as everything was set up, Laer promptly set herself against one of the great trees of the forest. It was nighttime out, and she'd set herself next to one of the trees slightly in the shadows. Legolas, Gandalf, and Frodo stared at Laer as she settled herself next to the tree. Camellia just went on as if this were a normal thing. The boys suddenly saw Laer go rigid, her eyes seemingly staring at nothing. Legolas started toward her but Camellia's voice stopped him: "Don't worry about her."
"What?" he asked, turning around.
"Laer does this thing on a nightly basis," Camellia said, while cooking supper. When she noticed the guys staring at her in confusion, she continued. "It's her way of learning things from far and wide. She says it's her way of slipping away from reality for a while. She took me with her once. Boy, was it ever -BORING-!! Yeesh!!! I mean, trees can talk forever about absolutely nothing!!" Camellia noticed them staring at her in shock. "What?"
Legolas and Gandalf looked at Camellia, then at each other, then at Laer, and back to each other again. They suddenly heard muffled sounds, and looked to Laer.
She had tears streaming down her face, and she was shaking. She still had the faraway look in her eyes, though. She suddenly cried out and fell forward, her hands helping to catch her fall. She clasped her hand to her mouth, and quickly got up, running into the forest. Even the hobbits could faintly hear her retching.
"Laer," Camellia uttered softly, sympathy in her voice.
Legolas looked at Camellia for a moment, before heading in the direction Laer went.
~~~
He found her on her hands and knees near a stream, crying and throwing up the contents of her stomach. He reached a hand towards her shoulder. "Laer," he said softly.
She gasped and stood up quickly, turning to face him.
Looking into her eyes, Legolas could tell something was wrong. Her eyes had a frightened look about them. She suddenly shut her eyes tight and leaned towards him. He caught her, and held her petite frame to him. They stood there for many moments, him just holding her, her crying into his shoulder.
"Are you alright, now?" Legolas asked, when her crying had subsided.
Laer nodded, and stepped back from his shoulder. "Thank you," she said quietly. "I was never properly introduced to you, Master Elf."
Legolas smiled warmly. "My name is Legolas, son of Thranduil, prince of the Silvan Elves of Mirkwood."
Laer smiled back. "I am Laer, of the Elves of Fangorn."
Legolas's eyes widened. "Fangorn?" he asked incredulously.
Laer's smile widened. "Yes, one of the hidden tribes."
Legolas just shook his head. "I've never known there were Elves in Fangorn…"
Laer just smiled. "Well, we'd better head back to camp. Cam might start worrying about me."
Legolas nodded. He turned around, and, taking Laer's arm because she was still a little shaky, headed back towards camp.
~~~
Camellia and Frodo were sitting next to each other eating supper, when Laer and Legolas came back. They both seemed to be enjoying themselves immensely, and Gandalf was just sitting across from them, looking amused by the two hobbits.
"Laer!!" Camellia exclaimed, running as best she could with her sprained ankle towards the two elves from her position next to Frodo. "Are you ok? What happened?"
Laer smiled. "I'm ok, Cam. Just a bad vision, is all."
Camellia looked into Laer's eyes, almost unbelieving. "You were throwing up," she stated.
Laer looked down. "Cam, do you still have it?" she asked, looking straight into Camellia's eyes.
Camellia stared at Laer for a moment, before answering: "Yes, I still have it. Why?"
Laer just shook her head. "No reason… I… I'll explain later. Just keep it safe."
Camellia nodded.
~~~
Camellia lay awake in the tent. She couldn't fall asleep. She was confused as to why Laer had asked her about it, earlier. She hardly ever even mentioned it. Laer suddenly entered the tent and sat down cross-legged on her bedroll.
"I still have it," Camellia said, sitting up.
Laer nodded, and smiled slightly. "Good," she said softly.
Camellia reached into her rucksack and took out a large jade marble stone. She then took out "Mr. Stone," and set it by the marble. "Mr. Stone" looked similar to the jade one. Both were spheres, but Mr. Stone was a grayish color, while the jade marble was… well, jade green. "There's some sort of resemblance between the two of them," she said.
Laer nodded. "Yes, and there's a third one."
Camellia looked up suddenly at Laer. "A third one?" This was interesting.
Laer sighed and nodded. "Yes, a third one. However, this one will be the hardest to get. We'll need to get it as soon as possible, because Salum's looking for it, as well."
Camellia nodded. "Do any of the others know about these stones?"
Laer shook her head. "No, I don't think so. But, they might."
Camellia nodded again. "Will the third stone be in the village?"
"No," Laer answered. She sighed. "We'd better get to sleep. We still have about twenty miles until the village."
Camellia nodded, and put the two stones back into her rucksack. She then promptly fell asleep.
~~~
It was early morning when the group started towards the village. Camellia was still riding in front of Legolas on Arod, with Frodo and Gandalf on Shadowfax. Laer walked beside Legolas and Camellia, listening now and then to Camellia's idle chatter, and paying attention to her surroundings. They had been traveling for quite some time now, and had made some good progress when Laer suddenly stopped and sniffed the air.
"Do you guys smell smoke?" she asked.
Legolas, too, sniffed the air. "Now that you mention it, I do."
Laer stood still for a minute. They were only about two miles from the nearest… village… Her eyes widened. "The village!!" she exclaimed, and without waiting for the others to say anything, she immediately started running towards the village.
"Laer!! Wait!!!" Legolas and Camellia yelled at the same time.
Arod and Shadowfax started running as fast as they could to catch up with Laer. Shadowfax kept the same pace as Arod, so as not to leave him behind. However, even at their fastest gallop, the two horses could not quite keep up with the female elf before them. And suddenly, before their eyes, she vanished.
"Keep going!" Camellia shouted before they could stop their horses.
When the group got to the village, they saw that, indeed, it was on fire. They saw the figure of Laer in the smoke of a stable on fire, letting a horse free from the flames. They then saw the most peculiar thing: Laer stopped in the midst of the flames and smoke. She just stood there. Then she looked up and around. The four of them then saw the most astonishing thing of all: the trees were carrying pails of water and dousing the flames of the massive fire. The four of them just stood in astonishment, and saw Laer suddenly run further into the village.
"Laer!!" Camellia yelled, trying to stop her companion. However, her tiny voice was drowned out by the action around her.
Legolas and Gandalf urged their horses on, trying to stay out of the way of the trees' efforts. When they found Laer, she was facing off against the peculiar wizard they'd met the day before.
"Salum!" Camellia gasped, her eyes widening.
No words were spoken between Laer and the wizard. However, they sprung towards each other at the same time, Salum's staff already out and coming down towards Laer, with Laer rolling away just in time. She backflipped and landed a few feet from her adversary. She reached under her cloak and produced two short sticks, and twisted them together, creating her own staff.
Gandalf gasped, as his and Legolas's eyes widened in shock. Frodo and Camellia just looked on in awe. Camellia had been traveling with Laer for awhile, now, but she had never seen Laer use her staff.
Laer twirled her staff in her fingers, watching Salum. She was aware of the fact that the others had arrived, however she had placed her full attention on Salum. She glared at him while he just smirked back at her. He threw a flame spell at her, which she blocked with a shield, and threw one of ice back at him. While he was busy deflecting her ice spell, she suddenly jumped at him, using her staff as a physical weapon. He was unprepared for the physical attack, and let his shield down too soon. He grunted with pain as he fell backwards, hitting the ground hard.
"Tell me, Salum: Why did you burn this village?" Laer asked as she landed from her back flip over his prone body.
Gasping for breath, Salum answered: "Because I knew this was where you'd come next, my love."
Laer just glared even harder at the downed wizard. She quickly chanted a lightning spell and threw it at him. He screamed in agony, and fell silent when the spell was over. He then got up, and turned to face Laer and the others standing in the background. Laer tightened her grip on her staff, ready for anything.
He smirked evilly, and then disappeared.
"Laer!" Camellia's voice sounded behind her.
Laer turned to see Camellia running as fast as her ankle would allow her. She smiled and caught the hobbit in a hug.
"That was so cool, Laer!!" Camellia squealed.
Laer just laughed.
"You're… a wizard…" Gandalf stated, in a state of half-shock.
Laer nodded. "Yes, I am."
~~~
It was night, and the group was camped just outside the burned village. Gandalf and Legolas were chatting quietly, with Frodo giving his input every now and then. Laer and Camellia were sitting across from them on the opposite side of the fire, with Laer teaching Camellia Elvish.
The guys stopped their conversation and looked at the two girls. Laer was teaching Camellia some simple phrases. She stopped when she felt their eyes on her. When she looked at them, she found Legolas and Gandalf studying her, and Frodo staring at the cooking food.
Camellia, sensing the tension between the two older males, and her female companion, joined Frodo at the pot of stew, and attempted to finish cooking supper.
"May we have a word with you, milady?" Gandalf asked, looking at Laer.
Laer nodded, and followed the Elf prince and the white wizard into the woods a little ways from camp.
"Now, would you please explain just who the Hell is this Salum wizard person?" Legolas asked.
Laer took a deep breath. "Salum is a powerful wizard. He is the cousin of Saruman, and he has lusted after me for quite some time, now. He is also after Camellia, because she wields something of great power that is one of the few things that can destroy him. Salum is very deadly, and now that he knows you're with Camellia and myself, he'll be after you too. I suggest you start watching your backs a bit more."
Legolas and Gandalf were staring at Laer in shock.
"How long has he been after you?" Gandalf asked, the first to recover from his shock.
"Um, about…." Laer stopped to count in her head. "About two years now, I'd say."
Legolas stared at the girl before him. She had a strength about her that was incomparable, yet she still had an inner innocence about her that made her seem like a child. Though, he supposed she still was, judging by the way she acted around Camellia. Motherly, yet at the same time childish. And here she was, being chased after by a crazed wizard. Related to Saruman, of all wizards. He suddenly admired her very much.
"Laer, guys, supper's ready," Camellia's voice sounded.
"We're coming, Cam," Laer answered. She then looked at Legolas and Gandalf. "Anything else?"
Legolas and Gandalf shook their heads, and headed back to camp.
Laer followed, her stomach grumbling.
Legolas turned around, hearing her stomach. Laer smiled and blushed. Legolas smiled back and took her hand, pulling her up to where he and Gandalf were. Together, the three of them went back to camp, where Frodo and Camellia were staring at the stew hungrily.
"Let's eat!!" they shouted in unison once the three were sitting down. The others laughed.
Camellia looked at Gandalf and Legolas. Since she didn't know their names, she asked, "So, who are you guys, exactly?"
Gandalf took a moment to answer her question. "I am Gandalf the White, and this is Legolas Greenleaf of Mirkwood."
Camellia nodded. "Ok." She then resumed eating.
~~~
After supper, the five companions sat around the fire, just talking and sharing stories. When Laer was about to head to her tent, she came across Frodo and Camellia, who had fallen asleep together near the fire. She smiled softly, and covered them both up with a blanket, and went to bed.
Please review this chapter. Reviews make me feel loved. And don't forget to check out Tree's fic Smokin' Pipeweed with Frodo and other Adventures. It kicks ass, man!! It kicks ass!
~SpottedTree