Disclaimer and notes in the Prologue.
These notes are UBER long, so bear with me!
First of all, sorry for not updating sooner, uber cold been totally driving me bonkers. (I'm so sick.. I can't see TTT this week!! *cries*) Anyway.. In my quest of never ending silliness I have done the following with some friends..
Got a LiveJournal? Well go on and get one!
http://www.livejournal.com
Why? Well guess who has one? Well everyone's Bitter Sue can now be seen there.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/miss_lacey/
My friends and I have also created a small RPG/Round Robin Community spun off Confessions here.
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=thornhold
It's based upon the events on a possible ending to this arc. (Possible, meaning I probably won't use it. lol)
Anyway, just read the user info if you're curious for more.
On to the feedback!!
GreyLadyBast: Lol, lack of shame is never a bad thing. *cackles and skips away to work on her innocent look again*
Weirdbard: ROFLMAO BRO!! France eh? I dunno.. It's been done. Although.. The fun things I could say are customary for French while teaching him things.. *coughs* Hee.. *eg*
Curious: B is over! A is not!
Lil' Odd Me: As of the Epilogue, B is now done.
Kayli: Lacey's sarcasm isn't going anywhere. It'll still be in A, believe me.. *shudders* I don't want Tolkien anywhere near me.. Err Lacey. He'd kill us!! lol
Eirate: As if they wouldn't. Mary and Sue are evil evil wenches. Of course she got to kiss Legolas. She IS a Mary Sue after all. Lol. And the gift.. Read the Epilogue and it also plays a part in Thornhold. (The RPG/Robin Comm above)
Opaque: Technically 12B isn't the end. Lol, but I think I probably should have made it so.. Lol
Xandzabar: Hee. *gives uber hugs* I'm not the bestest!! But I like to pretend, as you know so well, *bap* AND IT'S NEVER OVER!!!!! NEVER!!! *cackles*
Starbrat: Don't worry. I'm sure there will be plenty for you to flame as I keep going. Lol
Leisha: I hope you didn't get lost. ^_^ The 2 different endings are mostly to keep ME happy.. Rofl. My personalities decided that would be best.. Boromir as a reward? *giggles* He IS yummy.. As for guys back home? *smile* Is the world ever that nice?
Chicory Tee: Carry on? Well, that's what Thornhold is.. Lol..
KoUsagi: You aren't the only one who needs a boyfriend.. Rofl. Ahh to seduce the poor elf in fics is wrong wrong wrong! Of course people like us will still do it. BECAUSE WE ARE EVIL!! In a good way. ^_^ Embrace the evil.. It is good.
Pellagolloien: Will Lacey go home in A? In the Thornhold verse she did.. But in A itself, we'll just have to see.
Talagand A.K.A The Nameless One: Why thank you. And of course I would respond. I won't ignore anyone if I can help it!
Shadow975: You'll find out why they put up with her. When? Just have to see.. Always remember, everyone has a purpose in life.. Big or small..
BookCrazy77: I think it's evil. Lol
Arcade: Yup. I'M evil that way. Lol
My lord that was a lot! *gives everyone great big uber hugs* Thank you again!!! I hope you continue to read/enjoy what I dish out. It's always wonderful to know that someone besides me is enjoying themselves!!
Hope to see some of you reading Thornhold when it gets started!
ON TO THE UPDATE!!!
------
Chapter 13A - All the Pretty Horses
I wish I was in an Andromeda fic. I could be on a nice ship with technology, cool clothes, fun weapons, and best of all..
Plumbing.
I hadn't complained about that until now, mostly because I had been camping when I was kid, so it wasn't so bad.
But when you're the only female with three macho warriors on the trail of Uruk-Hai and barely stopping, you tend to get cranky.
Three days. THREE FUCKING DAYS. Tracking. Running. Nibbling on Lembas. A couple hours of sleep here and there.
I'm not cut out for this shit. I wanted to scream which direction to go, but I held my tongue. No more interaction. No more anything for me. No way. I'm going to hide out with the refugees of Rohan. Then I couldn't ruin the story, and I wouldn't have to deal with the looks I KNOW Legolas has been giving me.
Did I mention that?
Apparently the elf is worried about me. You'd think I'd be happy about that, but I'm not. Complete 180 from my fan girl urges.
I've heard Aragorn and Legolas talking when I'm supposed to be asleep. It's usually in Elvish, but I know it's sometimes about me.
I'm causing more problems then I'm worth.
~So just die already. You have Mary's sword. It's in your bag with your staff. Use it.~
I ignored the voice. I'd been doing that a lot. I hated that voice. I hated me.
I really hated all this god damn walking.
There was silence in the fields around us, and I realized where we were.
"Here we go," I muttered under my breath.
"Riders!" called Aragorn, springing to his feet. "Legolas."
"One hundred and five." Legolas replied. "Rohan, armed with spears." He nodded in the riders' general direction. "Their leader is tall."
"Keen are the eyes of elves." Aragorn said.
Legolas shook his head. "They are no more then five leagues away."
Gimli grunted. "It does not matter. We can not escape them in this bare land. Shall we wait or go on our way?"
"We wait." Aragorn said.
They started talking again and I fell onto the grass with a sigh of relief. I lay on my back and stared at the blue sky. Out of restlessness and boredom I began quoting lyrics to a song. I was NOT singing.
"Always before, the spring returned.
The bright world it's cycle spun.
In air and flowers, grass and fern,
Assured and cradled by the sun
Always before, you could explain
The turning darkness of the earth,
And how that dark embraced the rain,
And gave the ferns and flowers birth.
Already I forget those things,
And how a vein of gold survives
The mining of a thousand springs,
The seasons of a thousand lives.
Now winter is my memory,
Now autumn, now the summer light--
So spring from now on will be
Another season into night."
I felt the ground rumble as the riders grew closer. I got to my feet just as they came into view.
Yay.
Soon enough we were surrounded by the tall blonde men on horseback. They pointed their spears down at us and I struggled to behave.
Eomer rode forward. "What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?"
Oh I see, completely ignore ME again. Then again, maybe he didn't know what I was. I mean, I did have the hood of my purple cloak covering me. Oh shut up, it kept the sun from burning into my skull, lets see you go for three days in it with black hair that loooooves to soak up the heat. God I wanted some Tylenol.
"Speak quickly." Eomer said.
I remained calm. I did not giggle. I wanted to say "Hi Cupid!" or "It's Caesar! Run!!" But I didn't.
Blame myself for my Hercules knowledge. Blame my sister for the Xena stuff.
"Give me your name, horse master." Gimli said. "And I shall give you mine."
Eomer glowered at him and hopped off his steed. With a strong step, he walked over to us. He was really PMSing. "I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
In a blink of an eye, Legolas had an arrow fitted in his bow and aimed at Eomer. "You would die before your stroke fell."
Ok, I couldn't hold it any longer. My crankiness had taken more then enough.
"Will you lower the testosterone levels already for god's sake?" I snapped at them, one hand on my hip and the other pushing my hood down. "If you're going to kill each other at least let me find an audience to sell tickets to."
Eomer turned his glare on me. "A woman as well?"
"No, I'm a fucking tree." I rolled my eyes. "Aren't you wonderfully brilliant. Should I give you a gold star now or wait until your head explodes from your next blatantly obvious observation?"
Before Eomer could spit out a reply, or just spit at me, Aragorn forced Legolas to lower his bow.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn." The ranger introduced. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin, he is Legolas of the Woodland Realm, and she is Lacey."
I frowned. Just Lacey. Ugh.. I needed a title. Lacey the Bitter Mary Sue. Lacey, Lady of Laziness. Oh fuck it. Just Lacey is fine.
I glared at Eomer, cause he was such a rude ass, and folded my arms across my chest.
Aragorn continued. "We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king."
Eomor's face was still bitter, but his tone lessened. "Theoden no longer recognizes friend nor foe." He removed his helmet. "Not even his own kin."
At that, the riders pulled their weapons away and I rolled my eyes. Damn macho bastards.
"What business do you have here?" Eomer asked us, or rather Aragorn.
"We have come in search of Orcs that have carried off our friends." Aragorn replied. "What news can you tell us?"
"That you need not pursue them further." Eomer said. "The Orcs are dead."
"And our friends?"
"We found none but Orcs."
I sighed and tuned them out. They were going to go on about the hobbits and such. Frankly I just wanted to go to sleep, so I allowed my mind to drift.
Bad move.
~Sleep would be nice. An eternal sleep would be better.~
I'm not listening to you.
~Oh really? Then why are you replying?~
It's better then listening to a conversation I can't contribute to.
~Exactly. So there's plenty of warriors. Do something to scare them. They'll kill you and you'll be free.~
You'd like that wouldn't you.
~YOU'RE the one who would like it. No more mind games from the Powers That Be. No more CPD. No more MS. No more wanting things you can't have.. No more guilt for the blood on your hands.~
The voice echoed in my head, suggesting the many ways I could go.. And a part of me wanted to obey.
Oh so badly did it want to.
~Do it. Give in. Listen to yourself.~
"GO THE FUCK AWAY!!!!!"
I found myself staring at Aragorn, Eomer, Legolas, and Gimli. The other riders had left them alone to talk already. I must have been completely out of it.
"Lacey?" Aragorn stared at me.
"Is she all right?" Eomer asked in a low voice.
"I'm fine." I said in a forced tone. "Just.. The walking. Tiring. I'll be fine." I forced a smile. "See? Feeling better already."
Aragorn nodded, but gave me one of those 'we'll discuss this later' looks, before resuming his conversation with Eomer.
I closed my eyes. "I'mokayI'mokayI'mokay. I'mnotcrazyI'mnotcrazy."
"Are you sure you're all right?" Legolas asked quietly.
I jumped, I hadn't heard him come over. Damn Elvish skills. I stared at him, about to lie, but his eyes narrowed. He wanted the truth. I should lie anyway, just to spite him, but I didn't. "I don't know."
"What is wrong?"
I shrugged. "Dunno. Doesn't matter." I looked up at him. "I'm very confused right now, so if you don't mind, I'd like it if all of you could stop pretending to care. It doesn't help any and it makes me feel worse."
The elf frowned. "We are not pretending."
"Then that's the worst thing ever." I whispered and walked away from him and towards the others.
Eomer had loaned us horses. Thank you god.
Yes, that's right, I CAN ride a horse. It's been about a year since I last rode, but I used to love it.
My neighbors growing up had horses, and were nice enough to teach me. I spent more time with them then I did my friends from school.
Bet you think I'm a great rider. Guess what? I'm not. I'm average at best. But at least I don't have to be all school girlish about it.
I ran my hand down the horse's mane I was to ride. He was a dark chestnut brown and strong looking. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"His name is Maeglin." Eomer told me with a curt nod. "You do know how to ride."
I held my head up high as I pulled myself onto the saddle. "I can ride as well as you can form sentences." I gave Maeglin a soft pat.
After a farewell to Eomer and the Riders of Rohan, we were off in search of our hobbits.
***************
The song Lacey quotes is not mine. It's the Kender Mourning Song from Dragonlance. Which is owned by TSR etc. It's not mine. Kay?
These notes are UBER long, so bear with me!
First of all, sorry for not updating sooner, uber cold been totally driving me bonkers. (I'm so sick.. I can't see TTT this week!! *cries*) Anyway.. In my quest of never ending silliness I have done the following with some friends..
Got a LiveJournal? Well go on and get one!
http://www.livejournal.com
Why? Well guess who has one? Well everyone's Bitter Sue can now be seen there.
http://www.livejournal.com/users/miss_lacey/
My friends and I have also created a small RPG/Round Robin Community spun off Confessions here.
http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=thornhold
It's based upon the events on a possible ending to this arc. (Possible, meaning I probably won't use it. lol)
Anyway, just read the user info if you're curious for more.
On to the feedback!!
GreyLadyBast: Lol, lack of shame is never a bad thing. *cackles and skips away to work on her innocent look again*
Weirdbard: ROFLMAO BRO!! France eh? I dunno.. It's been done. Although.. The fun things I could say are customary for French while teaching him things.. *coughs* Hee.. *eg*
Curious: B is over! A is not!
Lil' Odd Me: As of the Epilogue, B is now done.
Kayli: Lacey's sarcasm isn't going anywhere. It'll still be in A, believe me.. *shudders* I don't want Tolkien anywhere near me.. Err Lacey. He'd kill us!! lol
Eirate: As if they wouldn't. Mary and Sue are evil evil wenches. Of course she got to kiss Legolas. She IS a Mary Sue after all. Lol. And the gift.. Read the Epilogue and it also plays a part in Thornhold. (The RPG/Robin Comm above)
Opaque: Technically 12B isn't the end. Lol, but I think I probably should have made it so.. Lol
Xandzabar: Hee. *gives uber hugs* I'm not the bestest!! But I like to pretend, as you know so well, *bap* AND IT'S NEVER OVER!!!!! NEVER!!! *cackles*
Starbrat: Don't worry. I'm sure there will be plenty for you to flame as I keep going. Lol
Leisha: I hope you didn't get lost. ^_^ The 2 different endings are mostly to keep ME happy.. Rofl. My personalities decided that would be best.. Boromir as a reward? *giggles* He IS yummy.. As for guys back home? *smile* Is the world ever that nice?
Chicory Tee: Carry on? Well, that's what Thornhold is.. Lol..
KoUsagi: You aren't the only one who needs a boyfriend.. Rofl. Ahh to seduce the poor elf in fics is wrong wrong wrong! Of course people like us will still do it. BECAUSE WE ARE EVIL!! In a good way. ^_^ Embrace the evil.. It is good.
Pellagolloien: Will Lacey go home in A? In the Thornhold verse she did.. But in A itself, we'll just have to see.
Talagand A.K.A The Nameless One: Why thank you. And of course I would respond. I won't ignore anyone if I can help it!
Shadow975: You'll find out why they put up with her. When? Just have to see.. Always remember, everyone has a purpose in life.. Big or small..
BookCrazy77: I think it's evil. Lol
Arcade: Yup. I'M evil that way. Lol
My lord that was a lot! *gives everyone great big uber hugs* Thank you again!!! I hope you continue to read/enjoy what I dish out. It's always wonderful to know that someone besides me is enjoying themselves!!
Hope to see some of you reading Thornhold when it gets started!
ON TO THE UPDATE!!!
------
Chapter 13A - All the Pretty Horses
I wish I was in an Andromeda fic. I could be on a nice ship with technology, cool clothes, fun weapons, and best of all..
Plumbing.
I hadn't complained about that until now, mostly because I had been camping when I was kid, so it wasn't so bad.
But when you're the only female with three macho warriors on the trail of Uruk-Hai and barely stopping, you tend to get cranky.
Three days. THREE FUCKING DAYS. Tracking. Running. Nibbling on Lembas. A couple hours of sleep here and there.
I'm not cut out for this shit. I wanted to scream which direction to go, but I held my tongue. No more interaction. No more anything for me. No way. I'm going to hide out with the refugees of Rohan. Then I couldn't ruin the story, and I wouldn't have to deal with the looks I KNOW Legolas has been giving me.
Did I mention that?
Apparently the elf is worried about me. You'd think I'd be happy about that, but I'm not. Complete 180 from my fan girl urges.
I've heard Aragorn and Legolas talking when I'm supposed to be asleep. It's usually in Elvish, but I know it's sometimes about me.
I'm causing more problems then I'm worth.
~So just die already. You have Mary's sword. It's in your bag with your staff. Use it.~
I ignored the voice. I'd been doing that a lot. I hated that voice. I hated me.
I really hated all this god damn walking.
There was silence in the fields around us, and I realized where we were.
"Here we go," I muttered under my breath.
"Riders!" called Aragorn, springing to his feet. "Legolas."
"One hundred and five." Legolas replied. "Rohan, armed with spears." He nodded in the riders' general direction. "Their leader is tall."
"Keen are the eyes of elves." Aragorn said.
Legolas shook his head. "They are no more then five leagues away."
Gimli grunted. "It does not matter. We can not escape them in this bare land. Shall we wait or go on our way?"
"We wait." Aragorn said.
They started talking again and I fell onto the grass with a sigh of relief. I lay on my back and stared at the blue sky. Out of restlessness and boredom I began quoting lyrics to a song. I was NOT singing.
"Always before, the spring returned.
The bright world it's cycle spun.
In air and flowers, grass and fern,
Assured and cradled by the sun
Always before, you could explain
The turning darkness of the earth,
And how that dark embraced the rain,
And gave the ferns and flowers birth.
Already I forget those things,
And how a vein of gold survives
The mining of a thousand springs,
The seasons of a thousand lives.
Now winter is my memory,
Now autumn, now the summer light--
So spring from now on will be
Another season into night."
I felt the ground rumble as the riders grew closer. I got to my feet just as they came into view.
Yay.
Soon enough we were surrounded by the tall blonde men on horseback. They pointed their spears down at us and I struggled to behave.
Eomer rode forward. "What business does an elf, a man, and a dwarf have in the Riddermark?"
Oh I see, completely ignore ME again. Then again, maybe he didn't know what I was. I mean, I did have the hood of my purple cloak covering me. Oh shut up, it kept the sun from burning into my skull, lets see you go for three days in it with black hair that loooooves to soak up the heat. God I wanted some Tylenol.
"Speak quickly." Eomer said.
I remained calm. I did not giggle. I wanted to say "Hi Cupid!" or "It's Caesar! Run!!" But I didn't.
Blame myself for my Hercules knowledge. Blame my sister for the Xena stuff.
"Give me your name, horse master." Gimli said. "And I shall give you mine."
Eomer glowered at him and hopped off his steed. With a strong step, he walked over to us. He was really PMSing. "I would cut off your head, dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground."
In a blink of an eye, Legolas had an arrow fitted in his bow and aimed at Eomer. "You would die before your stroke fell."
Ok, I couldn't hold it any longer. My crankiness had taken more then enough.
"Will you lower the testosterone levels already for god's sake?" I snapped at them, one hand on my hip and the other pushing my hood down. "If you're going to kill each other at least let me find an audience to sell tickets to."
Eomer turned his glare on me. "A woman as well?"
"No, I'm a fucking tree." I rolled my eyes. "Aren't you wonderfully brilliant. Should I give you a gold star now or wait until your head explodes from your next blatantly obvious observation?"
Before Eomer could spit out a reply, or just spit at me, Aragorn forced Legolas to lower his bow.
"I am Aragorn, son of Arathorn." The ranger introduced. "This is Gimli, son of Gloin, he is Legolas of the Woodland Realm, and she is Lacey."
I frowned. Just Lacey. Ugh.. I needed a title. Lacey the Bitter Mary Sue. Lacey, Lady of Laziness. Oh fuck it. Just Lacey is fine.
I glared at Eomer, cause he was such a rude ass, and folded my arms across my chest.
Aragorn continued. "We are friends of Rohan and of Theoden, your king."
Eomor's face was still bitter, but his tone lessened. "Theoden no longer recognizes friend nor foe." He removed his helmet. "Not even his own kin."
At that, the riders pulled their weapons away and I rolled my eyes. Damn macho bastards.
"What business do you have here?" Eomer asked us, or rather Aragorn.
"We have come in search of Orcs that have carried off our friends." Aragorn replied. "What news can you tell us?"
"That you need not pursue them further." Eomer said. "The Orcs are dead."
"And our friends?"
"We found none but Orcs."
I sighed and tuned them out. They were going to go on about the hobbits and such. Frankly I just wanted to go to sleep, so I allowed my mind to drift.
Bad move.
~Sleep would be nice. An eternal sleep would be better.~
I'm not listening to you.
~Oh really? Then why are you replying?~
It's better then listening to a conversation I can't contribute to.
~Exactly. So there's plenty of warriors. Do something to scare them. They'll kill you and you'll be free.~
You'd like that wouldn't you.
~YOU'RE the one who would like it. No more mind games from the Powers That Be. No more CPD. No more MS. No more wanting things you can't have.. No more guilt for the blood on your hands.~
The voice echoed in my head, suggesting the many ways I could go.. And a part of me wanted to obey.
Oh so badly did it want to.
~Do it. Give in. Listen to yourself.~
"GO THE FUCK AWAY!!!!!"
I found myself staring at Aragorn, Eomer, Legolas, and Gimli. The other riders had left them alone to talk already. I must have been completely out of it.
"Lacey?" Aragorn stared at me.
"Is she all right?" Eomer asked in a low voice.
"I'm fine." I said in a forced tone. "Just.. The walking. Tiring. I'll be fine." I forced a smile. "See? Feeling better already."
Aragorn nodded, but gave me one of those 'we'll discuss this later' looks, before resuming his conversation with Eomer.
I closed my eyes. "I'mokayI'mokayI'mokay. I'mnotcrazyI'mnotcrazy."
"Are you sure you're all right?" Legolas asked quietly.
I jumped, I hadn't heard him come over. Damn Elvish skills. I stared at him, about to lie, but his eyes narrowed. He wanted the truth. I should lie anyway, just to spite him, but I didn't. "I don't know."
"What is wrong?"
I shrugged. "Dunno. Doesn't matter." I looked up at him. "I'm very confused right now, so if you don't mind, I'd like it if all of you could stop pretending to care. It doesn't help any and it makes me feel worse."
The elf frowned. "We are not pretending."
"Then that's the worst thing ever." I whispered and walked away from him and towards the others.
Eomer had loaned us horses. Thank you god.
Yes, that's right, I CAN ride a horse. It's been about a year since I last rode, but I used to love it.
My neighbors growing up had horses, and were nice enough to teach me. I spent more time with them then I did my friends from school.
Bet you think I'm a great rider. Guess what? I'm not. I'm average at best. But at least I don't have to be all school girlish about it.
I ran my hand down the horse's mane I was to ride. He was a dark chestnut brown and strong looking. I couldn't help but smile at him.
"His name is Maeglin." Eomer told me with a curt nod. "You do know how to ride."
I held my head up high as I pulled myself onto the saddle. "I can ride as well as you can form sentences." I gave Maeglin a soft pat.
After a farewell to Eomer and the Riders of Rohan, we were off in search of our hobbits.
***************
The song Lacey quotes is not mine. It's the Kender Mourning Song from Dragonlance. Which is owned by TSR etc. It's not mine. Kay?