Camille woke up to the feel of sunlight on her face, and to the sound of birds twittering outside her window. She grinned, and rolled over in her bed, nuzzling her face against her soft fluffy pillows. Looks like it's going to be a beautiful day. After a few moments of simply lying in her bed (which felt like heaven, after so many months of making do without one), she got up, and proceeded to change into a comfortable white linen dress, with a hem that reached only to the middle of her calf, and a pair of white doeskin shoes.
As she sat down in front of the mirror to comb her hair, there was a knock on the door that joined her room and Eli's. Knowing immediately who it was, she grinned, and yelled, "Door's open Eli!"
The door creaked open, and Eli's familiar face with its familiar hazel eyes framed by dark brown hair appeared in the mirror. As Camille looked at the reflection of her best friend, she noticed something…different. Is it just me, or does she look a little more…pepped-up today than normal? And where the heck did that HUGE smile come from?! "Hey, what's up with the smile? It's like Christmas, Easter, and your birthday all came together on one day."
For that comment Eli gave her a small whack to the back of the head, but her best friend's smile only became wider. "Something happened last night."
Now Camille was curious. She raised an eyebrow. "Really? What? Did you have a good dream or something?"
Eli sighed, and moved towards the bed, flopping down on it. "You know, now that I think about it, I'm not really sure if it was just a dream or if it was real. It's almost too good to be true."
Camille turned away from the mirror to look at Eli, who was still lying on the bed and grinning like an idiot. "You know, I'm starting to think that those ghosts made you go completely crazy, or if they didn't, that maybe you took a blow to the head during the battle yesterday. What is UP with you?!"
Eli sat up, and stared at her best friend, hazel eyes glimmering. "I've made up my mind about Elladan and Elrohir. And I realized that…it isn't Elladan I love…but Elrohir."
Camille's mouth fell wide open at that moment, and her eyes very nearly bugged right out of her skull. "You…and Elrohir?"
"Yeah." Eli's face fell slightly. "Why, what's wrong?"
Camille sat silent for a moment, then she squealed, jumped up, and hugged her friend. "AND IT'S ABOUT TIME, ELI!!!! Ooh, do tell me what happened, and don't leave out one single juicy detail!!"
She listened carefully while Eli told her everything that happened last night. She smiled when Eli told her about Elrohir admitting to tricking her. "Amazing that you didn't drown him right there and then because of that."
Eli raised an eyebrow at that. "What makes you think I'd drown him?"
"Everyone knows that you've got a worse temper than I do. I was fully expecting you to blow up in his face when he told you that."
"Why would I blow up at my boyfriend for being honest? And why would I blow up in front of HIM, of all the people in the world?"
At the word "boyfriend", Camille suddenly got a very wicked idea. She grinned evilly, and stood up, heading towards the door. Seems like nobody knows yet…hmm, wonder what Aragorn and Legolas will say when they find out?
Eli was looking at her warily. "I know that look in your eyes, Camille Selvitar. What are you planning on doing?"
Camille grinned, and opened the door that led into the hallway. "Nothing. I just plan on announcing to the entire world that you and Elrohir are together already." And with that she sprinted into the hallway, laughing when she heard Eli yell, "DON'T YOU DARE DO THAT, CAMILLE SELVITAR!!!"
But Camille just laughed, and ignored Eli's threats. Hehehe, wonder what Gandalf will say when he finds out?
* * *
Legolas walked down the halls with a brisk and light step, eager to see Camille once again. They hadn't really gotten the chance to spend time together the previous day, and now that there was going to be a short break in all the fights of this war, he fully intended to spend what he felt to be his last few waking hours with her. Should the end come, as so many believe, then I, just like her, would rather face it with her in my arms.
As he rounded a corner, a white streak suddenly came hurtling at top speed towards him. Slightly surprised, Legolas braced himself just in time to prevent himself from falling over backwards when the streak collided with him.
"OW!"
Legolas smiled at the familiar voice, and realized now that he held in his arms a slim figure clad in a simple white dress. "What is so important that you would come running out the way you did, my love? Did you sense that I was approaching?"
Camille grinned up at him. "Oh, Legolas!" Standing on her tiptoes, she brushed a fond kiss on his lips before continuing, "I just got a FANTASTIC bit of news this morning!"
"And what would that be?" Legolas asked, amused by the sudden excited state of his fiancée.
There was a wicked grin on Camille face as she whispered, "Did you know? Elrohir and Eli are together already!"
Legolas' eyebrow quirked upwards when he heard those words. "Indeed? And she told you this morning?"
"Uh huh. Along with every juicy, sappy detail of the confession."
He laughed. "Would you tell me those details?"
Camille smiled, and shook his head. "Nope, I won't go THAT far. I'll only tell you that she and Elrohir are together already. Say, can you tell me where Aragorn and the others are? I want to tell him and Gandalf."
"I think they are in the Houses of Healing, looking into the condition of Faramir, Eowyn, and Merry," Legolas answered.
Camille nodded. "Oh, that so? I'll go over there right now." She started down the hall again, but before she rounded the corner, she looked back, grinned, and blew him a kiss. With a girlish giggle, she disappeared around the bend.
"So she told you, eh?"
Legolas turned again, and found Eli standing behind him. Her arms were crossed over her chest in irritation, and there was a small, irritated smile on her face. He nodded. "Aye, she did." He smiled at her then. "But I believe that it is all for the best. It is indeed 'about time', as Camille would have put it."
"Yeah, well, I suppose she's right," Eli said with a conceding nod. She huffed then. "But that doesn't give her the right to declare it to everyone, right? I mean, I'M the one who's supposed to be doing that, not her!" She shook her head, and started off after her best friend. "Sorry, but I really got to go for now, Legolas. I need to find Camille before the entire population of the White City finds out about Elrohir and me. It's kind of something I'd like to keep in our circle."
Legolas waved his hand. "Please, do not let me be a cause for delay." And with that Eli dashed off after Camille, looking quite ready to strangle her best friend. He shook his head, amused. He decided that now would not be a good time to speak with Camille, seeing as she was off doing something else on her own. He shrugged, and walked off in another direction. Now then, where would Gimli be at this hour?
* * *
Eli peered around the corner as she looked for her best friend. She had heard from a servant that Camille was seen heading towards the Houses of Healing, intent on finding Gandalf and Aragorn. She smiled slightly when she thought of it. Well at least she hasn't gotten the mind to tell Pippin yet. If she does, then the whole of Minas Tirith will know what's going on with Elrohir and I.
She reached the Houses of Healing then, and walked towards the House where Faramir, Eowyn and Merry were, knowing full well that that was where she would find Aragorn and Gandalf. True enough, she spotted them sitting on chairs around Camille, who was occupying a window seat, and they were all silent, as if they were contemplating or waiting for something.
Eli entered the room then, her gaze puzzled. "Hey, what's up with you guys? Why are you all so serious?"
Gandalf was the first to acknowledge her presence. He smiled slightly, and said, "Ah, you have arrived. Please Eli, sit down. There is something we must discuss."
Eli looked from Gandalf, to Aragorn, to Camille, a wary expression on her face. Slowly, she approached the window seat, and sat down beside her. "Okay, what's up? Has this got to do with what happened to Elrohir and me?"
Aragorn chuckled, and shook his head. "Nay, it has nothing to do with that." He quickly became serious again. "However, it may indirectly involve him… Eli, Camille, do you not miss your home? Your family? Your world?"
Camille smiled slightly. "Sure we do Aragorn. I miss my parents and my little sister like hell. And it it's just my family, but the conveniences and familiarity of my world as well. It's been much too long since I sat in front of a television, or went shopping in a mall, or used a telephone, or surfed the Internet."
"I agree," Eli said with a nod. "I miss my uncle's face, my aunt's cooking, and even the general bratty attitude of my little sister. And, like Camille said, there are some things in our world that just CAN'T be had in this one…particularly where technology is concerned." She eyed the Wizard and the Ranger critically. "Why'd you ask that question all of a sudden?"
Aragorn bent over to retrieve a cloth-covered ball, and he held it out to them. "We all need to make our farewells at one point or another…but the fact that you were brought here to Middle-Earth with such suddenness left no time for you to bid a good-bye to the loved ones you left behind. I have spoken of this matter with Gandalf, and he says that he knows of a way by which you may return to your world temporarily, but long enough for you to bid farewell to your families."
"And what would this method be?" Camille asked, her eyes focused on the ball.
Gandalf cleared his throat slightly, and then said; "We shall use the Palantir of Orthanc as a method of…projecting you to your world. I have recently discovered a spell that will allow us to do this, but I must warn you: while you are in that world you will have no substance. Your body will appear the way it does here in this world, but it shall not be solid. All that other eyes will see is a semi-transparent shape, but it cannot be touched or held." His eyes flickered towards them. "Do you understand what I am trying to say?"
Eli nodded. "Yeah, we do. Very well, actually." She turned to the sphere that Aragorn held, knowing then that it was the Palantir that was spoken of. "Just a question though. If my memory serves me right, all the Palantirs are 'connected' to each other, right? We all know that Sauron probably has THREE of these babies with him in Mordor. How sure are we that he won't be able to interfere? I certainly wouldn't want to be caught up in the space between dimensions, if you get what I'm saying…"
"Aye, I have thought of that as well, and I can assure you that there is nothing for you to worry about," Gandalf said reassuringly. "That is why Aragorn is here. As he may have told you, he has already wrested control of the Orthanc Palantir from Sauron, as he is the lawful master of the Stone. He will make sure that neither Sauron nor any outside elements threaten us while we do this." He stared at them for a long while. "Are you ready?"
Eli glanced at Camille, and noticed the slight apprehension in her best friend's eyes, but also the excitement and sadness at getting so see their families again. She sighed, and nodded. "Yeah, I guess we are." She grinned at Camille. "You go first."
Camille sighed, and nodded. "Fine." Glancing at Gandalf, she asked, "So, what am I supposed to do?"
Gandalf reached for her two hands, taking one in his own, while the other he placed on the now-revealed Palantir that Aragorn held in his hand. This done, Gandalf then continued to explain, "Now then, close your eyes, and think of your world, your home, and your family. Concentrate on those things, particularly the last one."
Camille did as Gandalf told her, and the Wizard started to mutter a soft spell under his breath. Eli sighed, watching the entire affair as Camille started to slowly slip into a trance-like state…
* * *
Camille didn't dare open her eyes, even as she continued to hear Gandalf's soft chanting from somewhere nearby. Like Eli, she feared getting caught in a time/space continuum, knowing full well that if it happened, there was probably no way she would be able to get back. She concentrated on thoughts of her family, of getting to see her parents and sister again one last time before she left them forever…
Gandalf's soft voice intruded gently on her thoughts. 'It is safe to open your eyes now, child…'
Obediently, Camille did as she was told, and gasped. Holy… She was now standing directly in front of her house, and it looked like no time had passed at all since the time she and Eli had disappeared. The afternoon sun was still spilling its golden rays on the stone and tiles of her house, making the light lacy curtains inside turn a tawny yellow. Speaking to Gandalf in her mind, she asked, 'Gandalf, did any time pass here in my world at all?!'
'I am afraid so, child,' answered the Wizard. 'The same amount of time you have spent in Middle-Earth is also the same amount of time that has gone by here. Though I am somewhat certain that in your world you measure time differently, I would say that it has been a little over a year since your disappearance.'
A little over a year… Camille gulped as she walked slowly towards the house. The gate was left slightly open, and she slid in easily through the crack. But she stopped the moment she got to the door. It was closed, and knowing her parents, they would lock the door as soon as the entire family was inside. 'How am I supposed to go in?'
Gandalf chuckled. 'One of the advantages of the insubstantial form you have is that you may pass through anything, be it wood, glass, or solid metal. I believe that you can use that to your advantage at this moment.'
Knowing what he meant by that, Camille walked back a few steps from the door, then ran into it full-tilt. She expected to crash headlong into the wood and receive a resounding whack to the head, but it didn't happen. Instead, she went right THROUGH the door, and stumbled to a stop in the hallway of the house. She blinked, her eyes wide as she looked from the door to the hall and back again. Whoa, that was creepy. Too creepy. She turned to Gandalf's rather comforting presence in her head. 'Okay, what now?'
'I believe that is up to you, my dear,' Gandalf said. 'You know the interior of your home more than I do.'
Camille rolled her eyes at her own stupidity. Oh yeah, right. She walked down the hall quietly and into the living room, and then into the family room. She looked fondly at the TV, the computer, and the telephone. After doing so, she moved towards the small library that her family maintained. With a nostalgic sigh she fluttered a hand over the wide comfy sofa that she had claimed for herself when the library was made up, turning her attention then to the shelf that housed her books. Grinning, she looked at the titles and the authors. Anne Rice, Alexandre Dumas, Dante, Homer, Michael Crichton, C.S. Lewis, James Gurney… "The Vampire Chronicles", "Lives of the Mayfair Witches", "The Narnia Chronicles", "The Iliad", "The Odyssey", "The Divine Comedy", "Lost World", "Dinotopia"… Dang, I'm going to miss these guys…
After looking at the library one last time, she left the first floor, and decided to go up to the bedrooms. She slowly climbed the stairs, and the first door she went to was her room. Now she walked instead of ran through the door, and soon found herself standing in the familiar confines of her bedroom. Everything was the way she had left it: her bed still had the same sheets, blankets and pillows, all done up in the same sun-moon-star design that she so loved. Her shelves were still there, filled with all the strange knickknacks she had collected over the years. The scent of her room was the same too: still smelling like vanilla and lemon.
She shook her head. Enough reminiscing. She went out the door, and headed towards her sister's room. From inside, she could hear the sound of pages turning and paper crackling loudly as it was crumpled, and she knew that her sister was home. Well, since Mom and Dad aren't home yet, I guess that I'm just going to have to leave a message with Max. With this thought in mind, she sucked in a deep breath, let it out, and walked through the door and into the room.
Maxine, her little sister, didn't notice it at all when she entered. Well, Camille didn't open the door, so naturally Max wouldn't know about her entrance. She was sprawled on the bed, apparently working on some homework from school. Camille sighed. Looks like I'm going to have to get her attention. She strode over to her sister, leaned over, and whispered, "Yo Max."
She stood back, and watched with amusement as her little sister shrieked in surprise and jerked to look at her. When she saw her, another shriek tore itself from her throat, and she backed up against the bed. "Ohmigod, Cam's come back to haunt me…"
Camille shook her head. "No I haven't, stupe. I'm still alive!"
Max laughed nervously. "Yeah, right. Then what're you doing in a white dress and white shoes standing in front of me if you're still alive? And what's up with the glassy-spirit-like thing? All that's missing is the angel wings and halo!"
Camille grinned. "I always thought you considered me as a candidate for Top Usurper for the Leadership of Hell, but let's not go there. I'm still alive, but…I'm in a different world at the moment. My physical body isn't here, but somewhere else." She narrowed her eyes. "Do you get what I'm saying?"
Max nodded. "Oh yeah, sure I do! What you're trying to tell me is that you're dead, but you're alive technically cause your spirit is up in heaven, right?"
Camille resisted the urge to whack her sister on the head – even if she tried she wouldn't be able to do it anyway, since her insubstantial hand would go right through Max's head. "Max, chill, okay? I have quite a bit of explaining to do, but let me remind you that I – am – not – dead. Do you understand me?"
Max nodded, but eyed her warily, finally relaxing somewhat, but not enough. "Okay, I get it, but if you're still alive, what happened to you? Do you have any idea how long it has been since you and Eli went missing?!"
Camille sighed, and proceeded to explained everything to Max, who listened with dumbfounded amazement at the tale that poured from her older sister's lips.
"And that's the whole story," Camille concluded, turning to her little sister.
Up until that point, Max had been staring at her in utter surprise, but now she seemed to have collected herself, and managed to ask, "So you're in the middle of a war right now, a war that you and Eli are trying to fight, and that you've got these wicked magical powers." She grinned then. "Mind giving me a demonstration?"
Can I do it here, Camille wondered. Turning to Gandalf's presence in her mind, she asked, 'Hey Gandalf, can I do that here?'
'No you cannot, my dear,' Gandalf replied. 'In your world, your powers to do not exist. They only exist here in Middle-Earth. Thus, you cannot use your magic in your own world.'
Camille shook her head then at Max. "Sorry, no can do."
"Oh." There was slight disappointment when she said that, but she immediately perked up. "So, are you really getting married to this Legolas person?"
Camille blushed. Oh jeez, I KNEW she was bound to ask that! "Yeah, if we survive the war, that is. No certainties yet."
"I hope you remember that you're still under-aged. By law, you can't get married without parental consent, and I sure don't know how Mom and Dad will react when they find out that you're getting married to a guy who isn't even of the human race to begin with."
"Shut up Max. And as for being under-aged, we settled for a long engagement. We're getting married AFTER I turn eighteen. And if they got to meet Legolas, I don't think they'd have anything bad to say about him: he's handsome, he's smart, he's awfully sweet, AND he's a prince to boot! What more could they want for their darling daughter? Also, even if they didn't approve of him getting married to me, I don't think there's a lot they can do about it, since an entire dimension separates us, as you may have noticed."
Max laughed, and waved her hands around. "Okay, okay, relax Cam! I was just teasing you!" Her smile faded then as she looked at her older sister. "So I guess that means you're going away for good now, huh?"
"Yep, I am." Camille smiled comfortingly at her little sister. "Hey, don't you worry so much about it, okay? Think of it this way: wherever I am, you can be sure I'm happy. Things are a little uncertain as of the moment, but I'm going to do my very best to make sure that I make it out alive and in one piece."
"Hey, don't be so defensive!" Max exclaimed with a half-hearted laugh. She sighed, and brushed away a couple of tears. "I only wish Mom and Dad were here. They've been so worried about you…"
"And it's your duty to tell them that I'm okay," Camille said, and she felt the tears start falling. "I know it's going to make you sound crazy and all that, but it's the truth, right? Tell them everything I told you, tell them not to worry anymore and tell them…tell them I love them, and that I miss them so much. And I missed you too, Max. I'll always miss you."
Max nodded, her expression solemn in spite of her tears. "And I missed you too, Cam. I always will. Yeah, I'll tell Mom and Dad about your story, you can count on it." She paused for a moment, then, swallowing, she said, "Take care of yourself, okay? And be happy…with Legolas."
Camille choked back a sob, and nodded. "Yeah, I promise." She stepped back, willing Gandalf to take her back to Middle-Earth. "Goodbye, Max."
"Goodbye, Cam." Those were the last words Camille heard before she was whisked back into the darkness, and when she opened her eyes, she found herself sitting in the Healing Houses again, with Gandalf, Aragorn and Eli, and her hand slipped off the Palantir that Aragorn held. She touched her cheek, and smiled wryly when she felt that it was wet. Well, that's it, my goodbyes are over and done with… Max, I'll miss you forever… She turned to Eli then, and smiled halfheartedly. "Your turn."
* * *
Eli's eyelids shut, her eyes flickering behind them as she struggled to focus on her family. She smirked involuntarily. Family? What family? The only family I've ever had is Camille and my uncles and aunts and my little sister. No Daddy, no Mommy, and no Big Brother to turn to… Just me and Camille and Julie and Max. They're my family.
'Eli, you may open your eyes now,' said Gandalf in her head.
Eli did as she was told, and found herself standing in front of a huge, sprawling mansion, with high wrought iron gates and a huge lock on the gate itself. 'Eh, Gandalf, how am I going to get through HERE? The security at my house is top-of-the-line; not even a rat could get past that without getting noticed.'
Gandalf sighed. 'Your form is insubstantial, as I said. You may walk right through anything without any trouble. Now, try and see it for yourself.'
Eli rolled her eyes. Right. She took a deep breath, and strode forward in quick steps towards the gate, closing her eyes and waiting for the impact. When it didn't come, she stopped, and opened her eyes. She realized that she was now standing inside the expansive courtyard that led towards the main part of the house. She looked back, and saw that the gates were still there, untouched. Whoa, spooky. She turned then towards the main entrance of the mansion, walking down the courtyard on much-too-quiet feet. When she got to the door, she walked right through it, and entered a massive foyer with a high ceiling and some elegant gilt furniture here and there. High above her head dangled a massive crystal chandelier, and the light of the afternoon sun streaked through the faceted glass and left glimmering rainbows across any surface nearby. Right in front of her was a large staircase that arched upwards towards the second floor.
But she ignored the staircase for the meantime, and headed towards the living room. She smiled slightly when she entered it, remembering all the good times she had spent there when her family was still whole, when her father hadn't gone abroad to work, when her mother hadn't been so interested in her charity work, and when her older brother hadn't been so caught up with his girlfriend. They had been the vision of the perfect family then. She shook her head, and turned away. Good things don't always last, not in this world, at least. And even in Middle-Earth, everything that I know and love is being threatened.
However, she had the power to stop the thing that was threatening to take away everything she had in Middle-Earth, and that heartened her. She looked around the ground floor again, walking past her father's study, the library, and the massive garden behind the house. Now she proceeded back to the main hall, going down the Picture Corridor, as she liked to call it. On the walls were hung many old portraits and paintings, most of them pictures of her ancestors on her father's side. She looked at their faces as she passed. Everything that I know I'm leaving behind for good, she mused. But I guess that doesn't matter. If I survive the war, then I'm going to live a new and better life in Middle-Earth. And if I don't, then I guess it doesn't matter, since I'm going to leave all this behind anyway.
She had now exited the Picture Corridor, and had started to go up the staircase. She considered going to her room and having a last look around, but decided against it, heading instead to her little sister's room.
Julie… Though the two of them were always getting on each other's nerves for many various reasons, they could not deny that they were still similar in many ways. They both had the same acidic tongues that they applied to almost any situation; the same piercing hawk-like hazel eyes; and the ability to sense if the other was nearby. Their tie to each other was strong, and could not be broken even, perhaps, in death.
Eli floated through the door of Julie's room, and found it the same as always: huge curtained four-poster bed in one side of the wall; soft springy carpet beneath her feet; the elegant dressing table to one side of the room; and the light lace curtains that Julie so loved.
"I figured you'd come along sooner or later."
Eli turned to the sound of the voice, and found Julie staring at her from her study table with a half-smile on her face. "What do you mean, you figured out I'm come along sooner or later?"
Julie gestured to the phone that stood on the smooth wood surface of her desk. "Max called me a while ago, said something about Cam coming back to visit her, and she kept on babbling something about you and her going to another world and all that. Now that you're here, could you please explain everything to me?"
And so Eli launched into the story of everything that had gone on with her while she was in Middle-Earth, describing all that she could in the best way she knew how. Julie just listened, nodding every now and then whenever she thought it proper. She got a particularly worried look in her eyes when she heard of Eli's ordeal in the Paths of the Dead and of her nightmare, but was relieved when she heard about Elrohir.
At the end of it all, Julie smiled. "Seems to me like you got yourself a pretty fine catch of a man – I mean, Elf. That's the first time I've seen you fall in love."
"You didn't see it cause you weren't there," Eli threw back. But she smiled as well. "Yeah, I have to admit, this is the first time I've ever fallen this hard. I never thought it'd be possible, but…hey, there's a first time for everything, right?"
"Got that right." Julie sighed, and stared at her older sister wistfully. "I wish I could come with you, Eli. I want to see all the things that you've told me about – Rivendell, Lothlorien, even Moria. I want to meet Elrond, Legolas, Gimli, Merry, Pippin, Gandalf, Aragorn, Galadriel, Arwen, and most especially Elladan and Elrohir. I want to find out how the hell that last guy managed to get to you in the end."
Eli threw glared at her sister. "Shut your trap about my boyfriend, Jules."
"Boyfriend?! Is that all he is to you?! From the way you talk about him, I thought he was your fiancé!"
Eli rolled her eyes. "You're starting to talk like Camille."
"Oh yeah, she's getting married already, right? To that Legolas guy!" Julie exclaimed, remembering. "Lucky girl…gets married to a Prince! And what's Elrohir's rank?"
"Son of Lord Elrond Peredhil and one of the heirs of Rivendell," Eli answered. "Being one of Elrond's kids is a high-enough honor in itself. And don't talk about him like that! If anything he's got a higher position than Legolas. Just because he's got the title 'Lord' instead of 'Prince' doesn't mean that he's lower in rank than Legolas. And besides, rank doesn't matter to the Elves anyway!"
Julie raised her hands defensively. "Okay, okay, I get the point! Jeez, you didn't have to be so defensive about it!" She sighed. "I'm going to miss that, you know. You and me arguing all the time."
"Yeah, I sure will, too," Eli said quietly. "I'm going to miss everything about you – in spite of the fact that you are my little sister and thus have a natural tendency to hate me."
Julie smiled slightly. "Yeah, same here. Though there are times when I just want to strangle you, there are times when I simply adore you as well." She bowed her head, and swiped her hand across her eyes momentarily. "Dang it, you're the only older sister I've got! The only family I ever had…"
"You've got to be strong, Jules," Eli said, her voice coming out a little hoarsely because of the lump that was starting to form in her throat. "We don't exactly have a Mom and a Dad and a Big Brother to turn to anymore, do we?"
"And that's why losing you is going to hurt all the more! I mean, I don't have my parents and my brother anymore, and then I'm going to lose you, the only person I ever considered to be my true family?!"
"That's why you've got to be strong. And besides, you aren't alone, right? Max will be there, and so will Uncle Jessie and Auntie Susan and Grandma Akiko and Grandpa Kenji… You still have someone to turn to. Maybe not our parents or our older brother, but at least they can do better." Eli smiled a little, the tears coming down now. "And I'm not dead yet, Jules. I'm still alive…just in another place. Maybe someday, somehow, you'll go to Middle-Earth and see what it's like here…but not now. You just have to be patient."
Julie laughed slightly, and looked up, her own cheeks tear-stained. "Well, I just hope it happens in THIS lifetime." She looked at Eli sadly. "I wish I could hug you, but I guess I can't, judging from the way you look."
Eli shook her head. "Nope, you can't, unfortunately." Damn the Palantir and Gandalf's spell! Couldn't he have done something that would let me turn solid when I wanted to?! She stepped away from Julie, and smiled sadly. "I don't have a lot of time left anymore, Julie. I have to go back now."
"Oh. I guess this is it, then." Julie smiled slightly, in spite of the tears that came falling down her face. "Take care, Eli! And…please…be happy."
Eli nodded, nearly choking when she spoke. "I promise, Jules. I'll be happy…for the both of us." She lifted a hand slightly. "Bye Julie."
"Bye Eli. I'll miss you." And with that, Eli closed her eyes, and felt herself being pulled out of the world and back to Middle-Earth.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself staring at Aragorn and Gandalf through tear-misted eyes. She sighed, and pulled her hand away from the Palantir. She gazed at it for a while before Aragorn replaced the cloth over it. "I'll miss you too, Julie."
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Erm…was this pointless? I don't really know if it was or not. But one thing's for sure: it's definitely DRAMATIC!!! Sorry, I'm a sucker for these tearful farewell things. Always get to me, ya know? Oh well, for those of you who don't exactly appreciate this sort of thing, I'm sorry. I just thought that it'd go pretty well with the rest of the story. ANYWAY, let's move on with this already long tome! The hosts of the Captains of the West ride out of Minas Tirith to Mount Doom, bent on challenging Sauron for the fate of Middle-Earth. Watch what happens as they head to Mordor for the final battle, the battle on which rests the fate of all. See you there!!