Chapter 13: Human Culture gets everywhere
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'Xandra, just take a stick, they're all the same!' Shouted Scarlet Webb.
Xandra was now at the bottom of a pile of various long sticks and staffs on the edge of Isengard
'It's just that.. they aren't the same as my old staff!' she cried out.
'Xandra, we've been here for two hours!' said Sais Queen yawning,' Just take a stick and come with us!'
'Look, you can either be logical, or you can help me. You can't do both.' Xandra threw a stick into another pile. Then she picked out a stick, which seemed exactly the same as the others in the pile. She looked at it and sighed. Then she held it in her hands for a moment, with her eyes closed.
Sai Queen and Scarlet Webb felt a slight change in the air as Xandra genuflected to the staff, then, it was all over. Then Xandra straightened up and walked over too them.
'Well, I've got my new staff. Let's go.'
'Xandra, before we get to the havens, don't you think you should change?' Asked Sais queen. They both looked at Scarlet Webb and then at Xandra. Scarlet Webb was wearing big combats and a tight T-shirt with the logo "porn star" on it. Xandra definitely needed a new top.
She then looked at Sais queen in her black polo neck and flared jeans with some armour over the top of it.
'Well, time to see if it works.' Xandra turned to Sais Queen and Scarlet Webb,' Turn around and shut your eyes. This isn't going to be nice.'
They did so. There was a shift in the air and then Xandra said, 'Have a look.'
She now wore a pair of dark blue grunger trousers, a blue corset top and long black gloves. Her hair was now tied back with a black scrunche and she wore a nervous smile on her face.
'Nah.' Said scarlet Webb shaking her head, 'Not really the sort of thing for the havens.'
Xandra sighed and they turned around. When they turned back she was wearing blue traditional robes, but kept the black gloves and hair tie. Xandra didn't really like it.
~
'I spy with my little eye something beginning with.. Gee.'
Sais queen gave Xandra a look of desperation. 'I dunno, Maybe,' she said sarcastically, 'GRASS? It's been grass, fields and cows for the last few miles Scarlet Webb, maybe we should stop playing I spy!'
'I wonder how Estel is.' Xandra wondered aloud. The both looked at her, mortified.
'Estel?' asked Sais queen, 'You go out with a guy called Estel?'
'What did you expect, a vegetable?' asked Xandra.
'Xandra, you've finally got a boy friend!' said Sais queen excitedly, 'All I need to do is find Legolas and we can have a triple marriage!'
Xandra's face went pail. Then, delicately she asked, 'You never got over Legolas did you?'
'Got over him? Never! I haven't dated since I last met him. He said that she would marry me, just before he went off with the fellowship.' Then she seemed crestfallen,' I never saw him again.'
Xandra suddenly developed an interest in her feet. There was a very uncomfortable silence.
'I spy with my little eye.' started scarlet Webb.
'Shut UP!' said Sais Queen and Xandra together. Then, they all laughed.
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'Froda, you're sharing the compartment with me and Mr Gimli today.' Shouted Mr Greenleaf as he piled the bags on top of the cart.
Froda sat far away from everyone else, shivering. She was trying to read a book, but she was white and pail. As Mr Greenleaf said this she swallowed and looked up at him, even her head shaking slightly.
Froda felt dizzy and nauseous. She hadn't felt like this for a long time, since her first year at the school in Bree. She had been ill, and anyone could tell to look at her, but she still had to go to school. Mum couldn't take the time off and she wasn't allowed to stay in the house on her own. She had to throw up in front of the whole hall of people within an hour of reaching school. She had from then on been known as "Vomit girl." She felt as if she were going to vomit again. She had been thinking so much about this that she had barely noticed that they were all waiting for her.
'Froda, are you coming, or am I going to have to carry you?' shouted Mr Greenleaf jokingly from the truck.
That's the sort of thing that dad would have said, Froda though, am I would have said no, and he would have carried me. For some reason, all the worst things in her life were coming back to her. She remembered all of her schools, the segregation and the first time she had come home with a cracked rib. Even worse was her memories of the best of times. They made all the other times even more unbearable.
She got up, still trembling, walked towards the cart. She got in as Mr Greenleaf helped her in. She felt as if her sense of reality had been compromised, as if her stomach could still be in the shire, and she could be in this cart.
She looked out of the window as Mr Gimli suddenly decided to sit outside with the horses. At the cart gently rocked they both stayed silent for a few minutes longer.
Then, Froda plucked up her courage. 'Mr Greenleaf, I'd like to thank you for what you did last night.'
'Froda,' Suddenly Mr Greenleaf went serious, 'Do you know how much trouble you were in just then? Do you really understand the dangers of that ring you wear?' Before Froda could speak he interrupted,' No, I don't think you do. I can tell that you haven't been listening in my classes.'
'You know what I saw,' she said quietly. Every word she said hurt her, as if she had a cheese grater rubbed through her brain.
'What?'
'A Man. A man with red hair and red robes and evil glint. He told me that he could give me what I wanted in my life, just for the ring.' She looked at him meaningfully, 'Y'know, just for a second, I could have taken it. For a second there I decided that I could give it up. But I couldn't give it to him. I knew that he was evil. I knew I had to make sure he didn't get it.'
'What did he offer you Froda?'
She refused to answer.
'Froda, what did he offer you?' he asked more seriously again.
She looked away from him and said in a small voice 'A loving family.'
This remark made Legolas think. Why would Sauron offer anyone that? Power, money and sexual fulfilment was more his thing, why a loving family?
'Oh.' He said. Then he wondered,' Froda, why did you leave your tent last night?'
'No reason' she interjected quickly.
'Froda, you were crying.'
'No reason.' Even though smiling made her head throb, she gave him a wide glassy grin, 'Nothing wrong with me.'
'Froda, are you..'
'Yes!' she said with desperate brightness, 'I'm fine!'
Legolas couldn't stop himself. This was stupid. How could she deny everything to him? Legolas knew when Frodo was trying to hide something, and he could tell the same in Froda. They were almost the same in many ways. He grabbed her wrist and pulled up the sleeve of her jumper. Legolas had killed orcs in bloody manners before and never blinked an eyelid, but this was horrendous! The red, sore arms like a patchwork quilt of blood, blotchy skin and congealed scabs.
He let go. His eyes were wide in fear. He swallowed. Froda rolled down her sleeves and glared at him. Legolas had been told about this, but he never thought that it would be like this. This was horrible. Froda tucked the horrible arms into her body and lent over them. Legolas though that she looked pretty bad as she was. The while, blood drained skin, the eyes swelling up in tears of pain and the down turned mouth trying to hid something. She looked like she was about to be sick.
Froda closed her eyes and looked out of the window. She could hear the noise of people laughing in the compartment behind her. They just made her feel worse. She felt as if the nausea and pain was flooding from her shoulder, no matter how stupid that sounded. Her head thumped. What Froda wanted was a glass of water, and to lie down. She held her shoulder and squeezed it, increasing the pain, but making it feel better. Less a dull throb to something she could actually relate to. She swallowed again. She breathed in though a gap in her teeth.
'What is it?' Asked Mr Greenleaf with concern.
'I don't mean to worry you, but last night, the rider you set on fire stabbed me with a knife on my shoulder. ' She rolled up her sleeves again, showing were the cutting stopped except for the slightly bloody wound on her shoulder.
He couldn't take being the concerned teacher any more. He became the angry elf. He went onto the top compartment and grabbed the reins off Gimli.
'Hey, What do you think you're doing Legolas!' he said as Legolas made the horses run faster.
'I just found out that Froda been stabbed with a morgal blade and she's go some left in the wound.' He passed the reins back to Gimli, then he went back into Froda's compartment. ______________________
'Are you sure we can hitch a lift Sais Queen?' asked Scarlet Webb, 'because, I don't mean to be a worry wossy, but we've been here for the last few hours an no-ones come a long the road.'
'Shut up Scarlet Webb.'
Xandra suddenly saw a cart hurtling towards then at high speed.
'Guys, pick up your bags, we're about to get a lift.' Sais Queen and Scarlet Webb took their bags off Shadowfax and pulling the horse along, waited by the edge of the road.
The cart kept moving, not slowing down to pick them up. Xandra gave up. She pointed her staff at the road, and with an earthquake, made the road shake. The road separated in two.
'There!' she said, 'They'll have to stop for us now!'
As the cart came closer Xandra recognised the driver. 'Hey! That's my sports teacher! They must be going the same way as us! To the havens.'
'Sports teacher?' asked Scarlet Webb.
'I've been in high school for that last three years. Humour me.'
'Weren't you meant to be on a school trip?' asked Sais Queen.
'Yes! With Estel.'Suddenly Xandra stopped. 'Please Scarlet, whatever you do, don't ask him if we've done it yet and try not in embarrass me. We both love each other, and I don't want you guys ruining my chances with him.'
'Since when have I ever tried to embarrass you?' asked Scarlet Webb.
Sais Queen and Xandra both looked at her.
'Ok then,' said Scarlet, rethinking her strategy,' when have I tried to embarrass you in the last.. Five minutes?'
'Went you attached some cans to the end of my robe.' Answered Xandra.
'And when you replaced my armour polish with vasiline.' Said Sais Queen.
Scarlet Webb was quiet for a minute. Then, as if she were telling them some philosophical question she said, 'Fuck you guys.'
Just the look on her face was enough to make them laugh.
The cart came to a stop and Gimli shouted to Legolas, 'Their a hole in the road, we'll have to turn back.'
Legolas jumped out of the cart. 'Right, I'll see this hole, then I'll.'
As he came out and jumped onto the road he saw Xandra, Sais Queen and Scarlet Webb. His mouth opened at the sight of Sais Queen waiting beside the road.
'Legolas?'
'Sais Queen?'
'Mr Greenleaf?' asked Xandra.
'Xandra?'
'Legolas?'
'Sais Queen?'
'Mr Greenleaf??'
'Xandra??'
'Legolas?!?'
'Sais Queen?!?'
'Mr Greenleaf?!?'
'Xandra??????'
'Legolas??????'
'Sais Queen??????'
'Mr Greenleaf??????'
'Xandra????????'
'Scarlet Webb????????' They all turned to look at her. 'Sorry, but that was getting tedious.'
'What's going on?' asked Xandra.
'A little one got stabbed with a morgul blade. I need to get her to the havens as fast as possible.' Explained Legolas.
'Legolas, since when did you go into teaching?' asked Sais Queen.
'There is no time for that now!' Exclaimed Legolas, ' I need you to put the road back so I can get there!'
'No need Legolas,' said Sais Queen, 'I am a swift rider.' She winked at him, 'And I shall get that young hobbit to the Havens faster than you ever could.'
'All right Sais Queen. Do you have a steed?'
'Yes, our horse Shadowfax.'
'Yes. Well, I shall give her to you. But be careful. She already suffers.'
'NO!' shouted Xandra, 'Is this Froda you talk about? She needs to ride with someone she knows. I shall go.'
'WHAT!' said Scarlet Webb, Legolas and Sais Queen together.
'You will ride to the sea?' said Legolas, 'And sail across it alone?'
'Sorta.' Said Xandra, 'Actually, we sent a message to the havens a bit ago. They'll be expecting those two and me. I don't think they'll mind if I turn up with Froda.' And Frodo's going to be there, she though, it'll be a shock for him.
'Well, if you're sure..' The Legolas ran into the cart.
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'What's going on?' asked Froda.
'Come on Froda, you're going to the havens.' He lifted her out. For a hobbit she was quiet light he though, but he ignored the thought and pasted her to Xandra.
Xandra put Froda on the horse and then jumped on herself. Then she lifted her staff and created another horse.
'Sais Queen, come with me. This needs both of us.'
'But.'
'GET ON THE GOD DAMN HORSE!' She shouted at Sais Queen. Sais Queen got gingerly on the horse. Then Xandra fixed the hole she had made in the road, and they both rode off.
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'Why didn't you let me stay with Legolas Xandra? I want an explanation!' shouted Sais queen as they galloped across country.
'Because I wanted you to come with me!' lied Xandra badly,' And I'm not sure if I can go on much longer on my own.'
'Xandra.'
'Sais queen, we'll be at the coast in under and hour, now shut up and ride! I don't know how long Froda's got.'
Froda was only half awake as she listened into the conversation. For most of the journey they had been bickering and talking, like old friends. Why would a human know an elf? Froda had assumed that Xandra didn't have any friends outside of school, but now she knew she was wrong.
'Froda will be fine! Elrond is on that boat, he can heal anyone.'
'Sais Queen that isn't the point!'
'Yes it is! Why wouldn't you let me stay with Legolas?'
'To be honest Sais's, I didn't even recognise him, he's changed loads. I mean, the first time I met him, he was a Nobel elf trying not to be killed.'
'And you were Gandalf's nervous apprentice.'
'And Gandalf's changed. I don't want you to get hurt, that's all.'
'So what if he's different? Legolas is still the same elf who I fell in love with.'
Xandra sighed,' But did he fall in love with you?'
Sais Queen narrowed her eyes,' What. Are. You. Implying' she said in a voice so menacing that she felt Xandra shrink back.
'Nothin' ' said Xandra, 'I just don't know if after all this time things have changed..'
'Changed? How could things cha..' Sais Queen would have finished this sentence, but she saw a flicker of black.
Xandra turned white as she saw the two black riders coming up behind her. Suddenly she shouted, 'COME ON SAIS QUEEN, WE'VE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!' then to her horse, 'HO! SHADOWFAX!'
The horse began to gallop as Froda felt herself being bopped up and down. There were more black riders coming, more and more surrounding them, until it was the fateful nine. Sais Queen sped up her horse, trying to keep up with Shadowfax.
Then, Xandra stopped. Sais Queen caught up and looked at her. Then she shouted, 'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!??'
'Sais, take Froda. Don't argue, just go'
'But.'
'JUST GO! Wait for me at the boat. If I'm not there in five minutes, or the ring wraiths come, forget you ever saw me. I never existed.'
'Xandra.'
'JUST GO!' she shouted back. There was a flash of blue in her eyes and Sais Queen automatically took Froda and tried to ride out of there as fast as possible.
The ring wraiths stopped and looked at her. They had never come across anyone who just stood in the road waiting for them. This was a strangely un- nerving experience.
'Okay Wraiths,' she said in a voice, faaaaaaaaaaaaaar to calm,' You can either turn back and pretend you never saw us, or I'll have to flame you, and I don't like having to flame you.'
The ring wraiths looked at them as best as they could through the black hoods. If they had faces, a smile, no, a smirk would have crossed them as they tried not to laugh.
The ring wraiths laughed at her. The laughter sounded like several birds having a fight, but Xandra sat smiling on the horse. 'So are you going back, or will I have to flame you?'
The witch king raised his hand and stuck up his middle finger at her. Xandra smiled, and then, in a sea of calmness, held up her staff.
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'I can't believe I'm doing this!' muttered Sais as she got off the horse and put Froda over her shoulder, 'This is worse than the time with the snakes........'
Sais Queen turned around as she saw something move in the shadows next to the shore. Sais Queen turned around again. She saw something at the edge of her eye. Then, she saw it again. She reached down into her belt and turned around slowly. She saw it move again..
WHOOSH!
The Sai in her belt whizzed through the air like a demented firework. There was a twang as whatever she had thrown it at was pinned to the ground. She turned around yet again to see Frodo pinned down to the ground, writhing slightly as he tried to get the Sai out of his cloak.
He looked up, panicking slightly into Sai Queen gently brown eyes as she herself took a breath.
'Hello Sais,' said Frodo cheerfully, 'it's nice to see you again. Maybe next time you could try NOT to throw the Sai at me. '
'Oh, hullo Frodo.' Said Sais, ignoring the irony in his voice. She took the Sai out of his cloak and said to him,' Where the boat? I've got a potential death on my hands here.'
'Who is that anyway?' asked Frodo, 'I don't think I've ever seen her before.'
'She bears another ring. Like the one you did.'
Frodo looked at her in horror, but then regained his composure. 'Lets see this young bearer then' he said, motioning for Sais to put Froda on the floor where he could see her. Sais did so.
Froda stirred a little as Frodo swept some of her hair out of her face. 'Human culture gets everywhere these days doesn't it?' he said, laughing a little at what both of them were wearing, 'Uncle Bilbo would have laugh to see how the young ones dress nowadays.'Where is Scarlet Webb? And Xandra?'
'Xandra is fighting off some ring wraiths, and Scarlet.. is where ever we left her.'
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I'm afraid I'll have to leave you with that cliff hanger for the time being. I know it's taken a long time for me to update, and I have no excuse.
Well, I hope you enjoyed that.
Thanks for reading
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'Xandra, just take a stick, they're all the same!' Shouted Scarlet Webb.
Xandra was now at the bottom of a pile of various long sticks and staffs on the edge of Isengard
'It's just that.. they aren't the same as my old staff!' she cried out.
'Xandra, we've been here for two hours!' said Sais Queen yawning,' Just take a stick and come with us!'
'Look, you can either be logical, or you can help me. You can't do both.' Xandra threw a stick into another pile. Then she picked out a stick, which seemed exactly the same as the others in the pile. She looked at it and sighed. Then she held it in her hands for a moment, with her eyes closed.
Sai Queen and Scarlet Webb felt a slight change in the air as Xandra genuflected to the staff, then, it was all over. Then Xandra straightened up and walked over too them.
'Well, I've got my new staff. Let's go.'
'Xandra, before we get to the havens, don't you think you should change?' Asked Sais queen. They both looked at Scarlet Webb and then at Xandra. Scarlet Webb was wearing big combats and a tight T-shirt with the logo "porn star" on it. Xandra definitely needed a new top.
She then looked at Sais queen in her black polo neck and flared jeans with some armour over the top of it.
'Well, time to see if it works.' Xandra turned to Sais Queen and Scarlet Webb,' Turn around and shut your eyes. This isn't going to be nice.'
They did so. There was a shift in the air and then Xandra said, 'Have a look.'
She now wore a pair of dark blue grunger trousers, a blue corset top and long black gloves. Her hair was now tied back with a black scrunche and she wore a nervous smile on her face.
'Nah.' Said scarlet Webb shaking her head, 'Not really the sort of thing for the havens.'
Xandra sighed and they turned around. When they turned back she was wearing blue traditional robes, but kept the black gloves and hair tie. Xandra didn't really like it.
~
'I spy with my little eye something beginning with.. Gee.'
Sais queen gave Xandra a look of desperation. 'I dunno, Maybe,' she said sarcastically, 'GRASS? It's been grass, fields and cows for the last few miles Scarlet Webb, maybe we should stop playing I spy!'
'I wonder how Estel is.' Xandra wondered aloud. The both looked at her, mortified.
'Estel?' asked Sais queen, 'You go out with a guy called Estel?'
'What did you expect, a vegetable?' asked Xandra.
'Xandra, you've finally got a boy friend!' said Sais queen excitedly, 'All I need to do is find Legolas and we can have a triple marriage!'
Xandra's face went pail. Then, delicately she asked, 'You never got over Legolas did you?'
'Got over him? Never! I haven't dated since I last met him. He said that she would marry me, just before he went off with the fellowship.' Then she seemed crestfallen,' I never saw him again.'
Xandra suddenly developed an interest in her feet. There was a very uncomfortable silence.
'I spy with my little eye.' started scarlet Webb.
'Shut UP!' said Sais Queen and Xandra together. Then, they all laughed.
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'Froda, you're sharing the compartment with me and Mr Gimli today.' Shouted Mr Greenleaf as he piled the bags on top of the cart.
Froda sat far away from everyone else, shivering. She was trying to read a book, but she was white and pail. As Mr Greenleaf said this she swallowed and looked up at him, even her head shaking slightly.
Froda felt dizzy and nauseous. She hadn't felt like this for a long time, since her first year at the school in Bree. She had been ill, and anyone could tell to look at her, but she still had to go to school. Mum couldn't take the time off and she wasn't allowed to stay in the house on her own. She had to throw up in front of the whole hall of people within an hour of reaching school. She had from then on been known as "Vomit girl." She felt as if she were going to vomit again. She had been thinking so much about this that she had barely noticed that they were all waiting for her.
'Froda, are you coming, or am I going to have to carry you?' shouted Mr Greenleaf jokingly from the truck.
That's the sort of thing that dad would have said, Froda though, am I would have said no, and he would have carried me. For some reason, all the worst things in her life were coming back to her. She remembered all of her schools, the segregation and the first time she had come home with a cracked rib. Even worse was her memories of the best of times. They made all the other times even more unbearable.
She got up, still trembling, walked towards the cart. She got in as Mr Greenleaf helped her in. She felt as if her sense of reality had been compromised, as if her stomach could still be in the shire, and she could be in this cart.
She looked out of the window as Mr Gimli suddenly decided to sit outside with the horses. At the cart gently rocked they both stayed silent for a few minutes longer.
Then, Froda plucked up her courage. 'Mr Greenleaf, I'd like to thank you for what you did last night.'
'Froda,' Suddenly Mr Greenleaf went serious, 'Do you know how much trouble you were in just then? Do you really understand the dangers of that ring you wear?' Before Froda could speak he interrupted,' No, I don't think you do. I can tell that you haven't been listening in my classes.'
'You know what I saw,' she said quietly. Every word she said hurt her, as if she had a cheese grater rubbed through her brain.
'What?'
'A Man. A man with red hair and red robes and evil glint. He told me that he could give me what I wanted in my life, just for the ring.' She looked at him meaningfully, 'Y'know, just for a second, I could have taken it. For a second there I decided that I could give it up. But I couldn't give it to him. I knew that he was evil. I knew I had to make sure he didn't get it.'
'What did he offer you Froda?'
She refused to answer.
'Froda, what did he offer you?' he asked more seriously again.
She looked away from him and said in a small voice 'A loving family.'
This remark made Legolas think. Why would Sauron offer anyone that? Power, money and sexual fulfilment was more his thing, why a loving family?
'Oh.' He said. Then he wondered,' Froda, why did you leave your tent last night?'
'No reason' she interjected quickly.
'Froda, you were crying.'
'No reason.' Even though smiling made her head throb, she gave him a wide glassy grin, 'Nothing wrong with me.'
'Froda, are you..'
'Yes!' she said with desperate brightness, 'I'm fine!'
Legolas couldn't stop himself. This was stupid. How could she deny everything to him? Legolas knew when Frodo was trying to hide something, and he could tell the same in Froda. They were almost the same in many ways. He grabbed her wrist and pulled up the sleeve of her jumper. Legolas had killed orcs in bloody manners before and never blinked an eyelid, but this was horrendous! The red, sore arms like a patchwork quilt of blood, blotchy skin and congealed scabs.
He let go. His eyes were wide in fear. He swallowed. Froda rolled down her sleeves and glared at him. Legolas had been told about this, but he never thought that it would be like this. This was horrible. Froda tucked the horrible arms into her body and lent over them. Legolas though that she looked pretty bad as she was. The while, blood drained skin, the eyes swelling up in tears of pain and the down turned mouth trying to hid something. She looked like she was about to be sick.
Froda closed her eyes and looked out of the window. She could hear the noise of people laughing in the compartment behind her. They just made her feel worse. She felt as if the nausea and pain was flooding from her shoulder, no matter how stupid that sounded. Her head thumped. What Froda wanted was a glass of water, and to lie down. She held her shoulder and squeezed it, increasing the pain, but making it feel better. Less a dull throb to something she could actually relate to. She swallowed again. She breathed in though a gap in her teeth.
'What is it?' Asked Mr Greenleaf with concern.
'I don't mean to worry you, but last night, the rider you set on fire stabbed me with a knife on my shoulder. ' She rolled up her sleeves again, showing were the cutting stopped except for the slightly bloody wound on her shoulder.
He couldn't take being the concerned teacher any more. He became the angry elf. He went onto the top compartment and grabbed the reins off Gimli.
'Hey, What do you think you're doing Legolas!' he said as Legolas made the horses run faster.
'I just found out that Froda been stabbed with a morgal blade and she's go some left in the wound.' He passed the reins back to Gimli, then he went back into Froda's compartment. ______________________
'Are you sure we can hitch a lift Sais Queen?' asked Scarlet Webb, 'because, I don't mean to be a worry wossy, but we've been here for the last few hours an no-ones come a long the road.'
'Shut up Scarlet Webb.'
Xandra suddenly saw a cart hurtling towards then at high speed.
'Guys, pick up your bags, we're about to get a lift.' Sais Queen and Scarlet Webb took their bags off Shadowfax and pulling the horse along, waited by the edge of the road.
The cart kept moving, not slowing down to pick them up. Xandra gave up. She pointed her staff at the road, and with an earthquake, made the road shake. The road separated in two.
'There!' she said, 'They'll have to stop for us now!'
As the cart came closer Xandra recognised the driver. 'Hey! That's my sports teacher! They must be going the same way as us! To the havens.'
'Sports teacher?' asked Scarlet Webb.
'I've been in high school for that last three years. Humour me.'
'Weren't you meant to be on a school trip?' asked Sais Queen.
'Yes! With Estel.'Suddenly Xandra stopped. 'Please Scarlet, whatever you do, don't ask him if we've done it yet and try not in embarrass me. We both love each other, and I don't want you guys ruining my chances with him.'
'Since when have I ever tried to embarrass you?' asked Scarlet Webb.
Sais Queen and Xandra both looked at her.
'Ok then,' said Scarlet, rethinking her strategy,' when have I tried to embarrass you in the last.. Five minutes?'
'Went you attached some cans to the end of my robe.' Answered Xandra.
'And when you replaced my armour polish with vasiline.' Said Sais Queen.
Scarlet Webb was quiet for a minute. Then, as if she were telling them some philosophical question she said, 'Fuck you guys.'
Just the look on her face was enough to make them laugh.
The cart came to a stop and Gimli shouted to Legolas, 'Their a hole in the road, we'll have to turn back.'
Legolas jumped out of the cart. 'Right, I'll see this hole, then I'll.'
As he came out and jumped onto the road he saw Xandra, Sais Queen and Scarlet Webb. His mouth opened at the sight of Sais Queen waiting beside the road.
'Legolas?'
'Sais Queen?'
'Mr Greenleaf?' asked Xandra.
'Xandra?'
'Legolas?'
'Sais Queen?'
'Mr Greenleaf??'
'Xandra??'
'Legolas?!?'
'Sais Queen?!?'
'Mr Greenleaf?!?'
'Xandra??????'
'Legolas??????'
'Sais Queen??????'
'Mr Greenleaf??????'
'Xandra????????'
'Scarlet Webb????????' They all turned to look at her. 'Sorry, but that was getting tedious.'
'What's going on?' asked Xandra.
'A little one got stabbed with a morgul blade. I need to get her to the havens as fast as possible.' Explained Legolas.
'Legolas, since when did you go into teaching?' asked Sais Queen.
'There is no time for that now!' Exclaimed Legolas, ' I need you to put the road back so I can get there!'
'No need Legolas,' said Sais Queen, 'I am a swift rider.' She winked at him, 'And I shall get that young hobbit to the Havens faster than you ever could.'
'All right Sais Queen. Do you have a steed?'
'Yes, our horse Shadowfax.'
'Yes. Well, I shall give her to you. But be careful. She already suffers.'
'NO!' shouted Xandra, 'Is this Froda you talk about? She needs to ride with someone she knows. I shall go.'
'WHAT!' said Scarlet Webb, Legolas and Sais Queen together.
'You will ride to the sea?' said Legolas, 'And sail across it alone?'
'Sorta.' Said Xandra, 'Actually, we sent a message to the havens a bit ago. They'll be expecting those two and me. I don't think they'll mind if I turn up with Froda.' And Frodo's going to be there, she though, it'll be a shock for him.
'Well, if you're sure..' The Legolas ran into the cart.
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'What's going on?' asked Froda.
'Come on Froda, you're going to the havens.' He lifted her out. For a hobbit she was quiet light he though, but he ignored the thought and pasted her to Xandra.
Xandra put Froda on the horse and then jumped on herself. Then she lifted her staff and created another horse.
'Sais Queen, come with me. This needs both of us.'
'But.'
'GET ON THE GOD DAMN HORSE!' She shouted at Sais Queen. Sais Queen got gingerly on the horse. Then Xandra fixed the hole she had made in the road, and they both rode off.
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'Why didn't you let me stay with Legolas Xandra? I want an explanation!' shouted Sais queen as they galloped across country.
'Because I wanted you to come with me!' lied Xandra badly,' And I'm not sure if I can go on much longer on my own.'
'Xandra.'
'Sais queen, we'll be at the coast in under and hour, now shut up and ride! I don't know how long Froda's got.'
Froda was only half awake as she listened into the conversation. For most of the journey they had been bickering and talking, like old friends. Why would a human know an elf? Froda had assumed that Xandra didn't have any friends outside of school, but now she knew she was wrong.
'Froda will be fine! Elrond is on that boat, he can heal anyone.'
'Sais Queen that isn't the point!'
'Yes it is! Why wouldn't you let me stay with Legolas?'
'To be honest Sais's, I didn't even recognise him, he's changed loads. I mean, the first time I met him, he was a Nobel elf trying not to be killed.'
'And you were Gandalf's nervous apprentice.'
'And Gandalf's changed. I don't want you to get hurt, that's all.'
'So what if he's different? Legolas is still the same elf who I fell in love with.'
Xandra sighed,' But did he fall in love with you?'
Sais Queen narrowed her eyes,' What. Are. You. Implying' she said in a voice so menacing that she felt Xandra shrink back.
'Nothin' ' said Xandra, 'I just don't know if after all this time things have changed..'
'Changed? How could things cha..' Sais Queen would have finished this sentence, but she saw a flicker of black.
Xandra turned white as she saw the two black riders coming up behind her. Suddenly she shouted, 'COME ON SAIS QUEEN, WE'VE GOTTA GET OUTTA HERE!' then to her horse, 'HO! SHADOWFAX!'
The horse began to gallop as Froda felt herself being bopped up and down. There were more black riders coming, more and more surrounding them, until it was the fateful nine. Sais Queen sped up her horse, trying to keep up with Shadowfax.
Then, Xandra stopped. Sais Queen caught up and looked at her. Then she shouted, 'WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING!??'
'Sais, take Froda. Don't argue, just go'
'But.'
'JUST GO! Wait for me at the boat. If I'm not there in five minutes, or the ring wraiths come, forget you ever saw me. I never existed.'
'Xandra.'
'JUST GO!' she shouted back. There was a flash of blue in her eyes and Sais Queen automatically took Froda and tried to ride out of there as fast as possible.
The ring wraiths stopped and looked at her. They had never come across anyone who just stood in the road waiting for them. This was a strangely un- nerving experience.
'Okay Wraiths,' she said in a voice, faaaaaaaaaaaaaar to calm,' You can either turn back and pretend you never saw us, or I'll have to flame you, and I don't like having to flame you.'
The ring wraiths looked at them as best as they could through the black hoods. If they had faces, a smile, no, a smirk would have crossed them as they tried not to laugh.
The ring wraiths laughed at her. The laughter sounded like several birds having a fight, but Xandra sat smiling on the horse. 'So are you going back, or will I have to flame you?'
The witch king raised his hand and stuck up his middle finger at her. Xandra smiled, and then, in a sea of calmness, held up her staff.
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'I can't believe I'm doing this!' muttered Sais as she got off the horse and put Froda over her shoulder, 'This is worse than the time with the snakes........'
Sais Queen turned around as she saw something move in the shadows next to the shore. Sais Queen turned around again. She saw something at the edge of her eye. Then, she saw it again. She reached down into her belt and turned around slowly. She saw it move again..
WHOOSH!
The Sai in her belt whizzed through the air like a demented firework. There was a twang as whatever she had thrown it at was pinned to the ground. She turned around yet again to see Frodo pinned down to the ground, writhing slightly as he tried to get the Sai out of his cloak.
He looked up, panicking slightly into Sai Queen gently brown eyes as she herself took a breath.
'Hello Sais,' said Frodo cheerfully, 'it's nice to see you again. Maybe next time you could try NOT to throw the Sai at me. '
'Oh, hullo Frodo.' Said Sais, ignoring the irony in his voice. She took the Sai out of his cloak and said to him,' Where the boat? I've got a potential death on my hands here.'
'Who is that anyway?' asked Frodo, 'I don't think I've ever seen her before.'
'She bears another ring. Like the one you did.'
Frodo looked at her in horror, but then regained his composure. 'Lets see this young bearer then' he said, motioning for Sais to put Froda on the floor where he could see her. Sais did so.
Froda stirred a little as Frodo swept some of her hair out of her face. 'Human culture gets everywhere these days doesn't it?' he said, laughing a little at what both of them were wearing, 'Uncle Bilbo would have laugh to see how the young ones dress nowadays.'Where is Scarlet Webb? And Xandra?'
'Xandra is fighting off some ring wraiths, and Scarlet.. is where ever we left her.'
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I'm afraid I'll have to leave you with that cliff hanger for the time being. I know it's taken a long time for me to update, and I have no excuse.
Well, I hope you enjoyed that.
Thanks for reading