Half Answers
Victoria opened her eyes and fumbled. Her face was pressed against something rocky and prickly. She let go of Gandalf's staff and sat up, dusting off her face. What was that, dirt?
" What the hell?" She looked up and found that she was sitting out in an open field. The sun was high and the forest was a little distance off. It looked like gold…
Her eyes grew wide and she jumped to her feet. The Fellowship was just awakening now, looking completely unfazed, and dusting themselves off casually.
" May I ask, what is going on?!" Was it just her, or did that question heard one too many times? " Where am I?" She turned around, looking at her surroundings. Despite her shock and slight fear, she was able to enjoy the view of snowy mountains and grassy hills. Behind her was another forest, but as green as an emerald, unlike the gold one before them.
" Where am I?" she repeated in a whisper, but rhetorically. She knew exactly where she was.
Gandalf picked up his staff and stood beside her. " Welcome to Middle-Earth. Or should I say, welcome back to Middle-Earth."
" I've never been here…and I never strayed away from it."
" You misunderstand," said Legolas. " Is it not clear to you?"
" Apparently not," replied Boromir before Victoria could open her mouth.
Over her shoulder, she gave him a glare, but it was clear she didn't mean it. " If you're implying that I'm some-"
" I was just jesting!" said Boromir. He laughed and she smiled.
' Hm, I suppose he doesn't die,' she thought and looked at the ground. ' But then again, Sauron does have his Ring.' Her head turned to Gandalf. " Where is Frodo? And Sam?"
Gandalf frowned, and so did everyone else. " They have been captured. We do not know what fate awaits them."
Victoria gasped. " Why can't we look for them? I mean… are they still alive?" She looked at the ground again. That seemed to be her favorite thing to do that day.
" Sauron would keep them alive," replied Aragorn. " He has no immediate reason to kill neither Frodo nor Sam."
There was silence for a while.
Gandalf was the first to break it. " We should enter the forest of Lothlorien and seek rest there. It has been a long day." He made a move to leave, but Victoria just looked at him.
" You mean I am to stay here? For how long? What… what am I going to do? Why am I here" Her eyes stung with tears, and she sank to her knees on the ground. Staying in Middle-Earth might sound great, but how long could she stand to be away from the world she loved? What is she exactly sacrificing by being here?
" There, there," Legolas knelt beside her and placed a hand on her back. She huddled to the ground as though she were kneeling, and cried. She may not be the emotional type in the way her friends or family saw her, but when it came to separation, she was very sensitive.
" Let us go on to Lothlorien," urged Gandalf. He sounded almost hasty. " Everything shall be explained there."
Victoria stayed huddled on the ground for a while, trying to collect herself. Sometimes she was very stubborn, and did not believe everything she heard, or even accepted it. What was she going to hear there? How could they reassure her? Comfort her? Or even give her some ounce of happiness besides the knowledge of what was to come?
" Come, on your feet." Legolas gently pulled her up, and she complied, wiping her tears and bangs away from her face. She flashed a grateful smile at the Prince, and trudged in the direction of the Golden Woods.
The sun was slowly sinking, and dusk came by. Geez, Lothlorien was farther than it looked, but at the line of vision, the bottom of the trees could at least be seen. It was sight amazing though. No wonder why she thought Peter Jackson was such a genius. He was able to capture what he could from the books, and transform it into something so real. He wasn't far. It's just that the real thing was more beautiful than anything man or technology could make.
A breeze picked up and she wrapped her jacket closer around herself. Just moving in from a warm climate, the cooler one didn't seem so pleasant. It was only spring at home, and snow never fell there.
" Are you cold?" asked Boromir beside her. He must have walked to surprise her as she thought that everyone was behind her.
" I'm fine, thanks." She crossed her arms.
" You truly do not know why you are here?"
Victoria looked up at him " I don't. I just touched his staff. I didn't pray to show up here. No offense." She added if she insulted him.
" If you had known that you would come, would you have taken the staff?"
She looked down at the ground, watching as her feet crunch on the fresh grass. Good question. Would she? " Perhaps, if only I could have spoken to my family and friends."
The Man fell silent beside her. " There is a reason for everything. I do not think you would go near Gandalf if you knew. Even after you have consulted with your loved ones."
" Why? What awaits me, Boromir?" She looked up at him, and he returned her gaze evenly. She tried to search those eyes, but she was never a good mind reader.
" More than you would like, I am sure." He looked away and ahead.
Why does everything have to be in freakin' riddles?! It's either yes or no, not " use your head and observe what I said". Life was too short to ponder about every moment.
" Couldn't you just please answer me?" Somehow she wished she weren't so short compared to the Man so that she may actually get him to respond.
" It best be left unsaid." His strides seemed to have slowed down, and Victoria was once again walking by herself.
Why was everything such a big secret anyway? Were there just eyes everywhere? You turn to your left and there's someone staring at you like they had no life within them... She actually looked. Eek! Flashbacks from scary movies…
The sun was covered by the dark clouds in the West by the time they reached the edge of the glimmering forest. The Mallorn trees were incredibly tall, like four stories at the least. And their trunks were so wide and the branches above so thick and rich. Perhaps staying here wouldn't be so bad.
They entered, and blonde Elves swiftly greeted them, their bows and arrows out of their hands. Their expressions were grieved, yet relieved; somehow happy, yet filled with sorrow. Maybe it would have been an unpleasant sight to Victoria if she understood Elves better. For the others did not like their appearance.
" We take a great risk, bringing her in for refuge," said a tall Elf, whom Victoria suspected to be Haldir. He looked somehow different.
" There is no other choice, Haldir," said Gandalf. His next phrase was spoken in Elvish.
The Lothlorien Guardian also said something in Elvish, and he looked at her with slight disapproval. Too bad she didn't know anything in another language other than English: Westron for them. The urge to look at him with the same reproach was repressed with difficulty.
Aragorn hissed somethings in Elvish and Haldir seemed to look at him in wonder. So did everyone else who understood what he said. Boromir and Gimli were lost. Victoria stole a glance at Legolas, who returned her gaze with an unreadable. She turned away and wondered what Aragorn had said
" Speak of that later," said Gandalf, cutting off Haldir before the Elf could speak. " We are weary, and I believe that Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn would have matters to discuss."
Haldir looked at Aragorn speculatively, then at Victoria, and slowly turned away. He led them into the heart of the Golden Wood, where there were beautiful flets on which the Elves lived upon. Victoria tried to take in as much of the sight as she could, wondering how a place like this could actually EXIST.
They came to the tallest tree and began to climb it's long, winding staircase. As in the movie, they truly went on forever. This one was particularly high. It must be a total drag to go down, and then walk back up again. Victoria winced. So many steps… she became dizzy just looking at them as she moved.
Her eyes were glued below her and she bumped into Haldir when he paused. She looked up when he turned and smiled.
" Heh, heh, sorry."
The Guardian must have been pissed because he just raised an eyebrow and continued. They were already on level flooring. Victoria followed him, scowling.
' I didn't mean to freakin' do that, ya know,' she thought and faced ahead. ' It's not like I like you either.' The lights were brighter here, and there were several steps up a higher platform. She vaguely wondered how a tree could hold such, and how they could build such a thing with marble.
Two beaming figures slowly approached them and Victoria saw that they were Galadriel and Celeborn. This really must be some parallel universe, as everyone looked SO MUCH, like 98% of the way the movie characters did. She just stood, her eyes fixated only on the Lord and Lady as they halted in front of them.
Galadriel's eyes swept over them and they settled on Victoria, who tried hard not to fidget or look away. She whispered something in Elvish.
" Does it change your views of her, my Lady?" asked Gandalf, almost irritably. " She obviously is just a child. However, she is capable." He briefly glanced at her. " And she will change."
" She has no memory of this place, then?" spoke Celeborn. His drawl had caused no humor within Victoria, as she and Serena would often imitate it. " How can she do this task, Gandalf?"
Geez, they spoke as though she were not there. Her gaze lowered. What freakin' task? Why couldn't they choose someone else since they thought she was too freakin' young and too freakin' naïve, and freakin' incapable of doing anything?
Galadriel said something in Elvish, and suddenly spoke in Victoria's mind.
` You will regain your memory when you return to your powers.`
` Powers from what?` asked Victoria, looking up at the Lady. ` I don't understand. There are too many riddles, and too many half answers. Why is everything hidden from me?` Funny… she never spoke with such… Old English-ness.
Galadriel's eyes softened. ` Nothing is hidden, perhaps retained, but not hidden. You will soon know of everything in the morning.` She smiled and looked at the others. " Evening is upon us. Dine and find your rest. Tomorrow will be a new day, and everything will be answered." She gave Victoria one last gaze before she left with Celeborn.
Victoria's room was quite spacious and luxurious. What did they need all this for? The canopy bed was at least queen sized with soft beige drapes. The marbled floor was slashed with green here, as were the walls and beams. She realized that there were no windows, but just a large balcony with glass doors to the right. She either slept with them open or shut. Oh well, this place was secure enough.
The bathroom was even better, completely in green this time. Soaps and oils were everywhere. It looked like a spa. Victoria went back out to the room and saw that there were clothes on the bed, and they were completely red. Geez, it reminded her of Sixth Sense. How red was a warning for terrible things to come.
She brought it in to the bathroom and prepared for dinner.
Where the Dining Hall was, she had no idea. Was she just suppose to wait in her room for someone to call her? Oh damn it. She'd only had been wandering around aimlessly for about ten minutes. Who would've though that this place would be so big?
When she stepped out and looked into the full sized mirror in her room, she couldn't believe who she saw. It was as though she stepped into a new life, or maybe someone else's, as that person. She looked different somehow, completely covered with Scarlet. It was a long sleeved blouse with three emerald buttons at the top, and slacks. A thinner material like a coat overlapped everything. Who was this? She thought at that moment. Who am I?
" Victoria?"
She turned to Legolas. " Oh, hello. I think I'm lost." She laughed nervously and then stopped. He seemed to be at a loss of words. " Are you all right?"< /P>
The Prince looked at her and just smiled. " Yes. I have been looking for you. Supper is ready."
Victoria followed him from the direction that he came from. Their trip was silent, and it wasn't the pleasant silent. Legolas seemed to be thinking about something, and Victoria was just nervous. Why? Well, she didn't know, but her heart hammered against her chest like a swords maker with steel. Ok… a very strong simile there.
The doors were wide open and the light and music from the Dining Hall could be heard. The two made their way in, and somehow, the noise level reduced, and whispers in Lothlorien's native tongue broke out. Legolas and Victoria continued to walk to the first table where she sat at the edge next to Galadriel and Gandalf. Her gaze was kept to the table so that she may not meet the looks of others.
The Lord and Lady stood, and everything stopped. They spoke of things in their tongue, and merriment broke out again. Cooks came in with their meals and placed them on the table. Supper had begun.
" Why am I dressed entirely in red?" she asked finally and reached for corn and a dinner roll. " Why not blue or even," her gaze settled on Aragorn, who wore dark green. "… green…" She turned away and flushed. Oh damn it, oh damn it…
If being a attracted to an older man was illegal, she might as well have already been kicked out of Middle-Earth.
" Do you feel any different?" Gandalf beside her wore white from head to toe, as he should anyway. He was Gandalf the White.
" Well, yes, I do." She began to eat. " Too different…"
" Good."
Victoria raised her eyebrow and glanced at the old man, but he was simply just eating, a little too innocently.
" You will be dressed in Scarlet from now on," added Galadriel. " For what purpose? You will find out."
Victoria sighed and returned to her meal.
The Merriment after supper was wonderful. There were entertainment, music, and dancing. Victoria was new to all this, and participated very little in it. Though, she couldn't say that she did not have a good time. She almost forgot about everything… almost.
What would she be doing right about now, hm? Back at home with her family, and chatting with ther friends online. Watching Lord of the Rings on DVD and watching the special features disk just so that she could see Sean Bean, or Viggo Mortenson looking like Aragorn. Or, getting frustrated with her dog or teasing her cat. How long…?
She ate the stem of grapes on her plate and looked outside at the balcony across from her. The stars were pleasant tonight. She could see the top of the lower Mallorn trees and their lights, knowing that other Elves had their own meals.
" Are you well?"
She sighed. " I miss my home, Boromir. And I know that I will have to endure without it for some time," the words flowed out easily from her mouth, sorrowfully, but easily. Her speech had changed. Maybe not the grammar of her childish thoughts, but certainly of the words she spoke. Forget it. Let whatever happen, happen.
" I understand, as I miss my own home as well." Boromir picked at the green grapes. " I long for my homeland. She is in danger, no doubt. Mordor is so close. Most of the lands have already fallen. Sauron is only biding his time so that he may overtake Gondor in one attack. I hope my father is doing well." Boromir brushed his hands though his hair.
Victoria could feel his anxiety and lowered her eyes to her hands on her lap. She did not know the full details of Annil's Ring. But she knew of what it could do.
Would Boromir desire that Ring, more than that of Sauron's, if he ever did want it? Victoria closed her eyes and stood. " Excuse me. I wish to take a brisk walk." The Man nodded and she left, taking herself wherever her legs willed to go.
The grass was so soft by the river. After some time looking for it, she found Nimrodel splashing in the moonlight. Living in the city really gives you appreciation for nature when you come across it.
Victoria sat with her legs out in front of her, staring into the dark blue water. It was indeed wonderful here. The night was cool and comfortable, and she just sat there, thinking.
Time passed. How much, Victoria wasn't sure. The moon was high and she found that she was on the ground, but it wasn't the type of soft grass that she encountered. It was hard, and the soil from which it grew was quite dry. This wasn't Lothlorien…
TBC
A/N::::::::: I hope it was interesting enough. Please review. ^.~