Author's note:
Hey all!! C'est moi on her utterly creative streak. Bob is working wonders on me right now *huggles Bob* !! It's amazing. I have all these ideas just flowing like nothing before. It's pre Melbourne excitement I think. But the only thing spoiling this is stupid Edward who is making up all this stuff about me devil worshipping by practising Wicca... ok, all I did was read a book on personality traits that had two chapters on Astrology and numerology. Anyway a big hi to Finnov - thanks for the lovely review!
Disclaimer:
I don't own LOTR. I wish I did.
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Chapter 8
The days slipped by and night was falling on the 13th of February. How interesting. Another unwelcome presence viewed its surroundings. Lothlórien. Fantastic. He was having an inner battle with himself about a daughter he hadn't seen in a good 500 years. Oh well. He flitted through the forest unseen into Caras Galadhron. After following the nine through Moria he learned of his daughter's presence in Lothlórien. Not that he remembered who she was straight away, but in his mind he managed to vaguely picture his child. He had had an affair with her mother whom he remembered with great clarity. She was an elf with corn-silk hair and gorgeous green eyes. He made his way up to the chamber where he had heard she was and peeked through the window. A picture of himself! It was all the confidence he needed. He manoeuvred himself into the window.
"Who's that?" She stammered. "Who's there?"
"It is us!" He rasped. "Us is your father."
"Sméagol..." She whispered into the darkness. "You! You are my father!"
"Yesss yesss!" He crooned. "Sméagol... we was called that! Weren't we preciousss?"
"You're not supposed to be here," She hissed.
"Precious knows, preciouss knows," Gollum burbled. "Worry not Nwayla daughter, precious knows!"
"You're crazy," She disdained. "And my name is Devon."
"Dee-von," Gollum repeated. "Nice name issn't it precious?"
"Oh shut up," Devon muttered, bored. "Why have you come back after all this time anyway? Why are you so shrivelled up?"
"Shrivelled up!" Exclaimed Gollum. "She must speak for herself, precious, when saying she is shrivelled!"
"Hey!" Devon cried. "Get out of here, or I'll wake the whole of Lothlórien."
"Precious iss knows when she's not wanted," Gollum mumbled disappointed. "Precious will go to the stream to look for fish." And with that he limped off, to Amon Hen to watch for the ring bearer's departure.
Alice awoke with a start. She felt her senses flare and heard hushed voices in the room next to her. Who and what was that? Legolas, had felt an unwelcome presence before he was to leave her room and had decided on no uncertain terms she should be alone. So, he had decided to keep watch. Fully clothed, one might add. But, even elves get fatigued and it seemed that Legolas had fallen asleep beside her. But, as Alice noted, his arms were encircling her torso protectively. Now though, those arms were moving, in a reaction to Alice's jump when she awoke. She turned over to face him. When he saw her face, he jumped.
"Hey," Alice murmured. Legolas relaxed, and sent one hand up to stroke her hair.
"Greetings," Legolas replied, grinning.
"Do you hear someone talking in the next room?" Alice whispered. Legolas lay still.
"Yes," He replied. "I do."
"We should investigate," Alice suggested. Legolas nodded. Before she could get on her feet, she discovered Legolas was lifting her up. Alice tensed then relaxed. Protesting against such an action was completely pointless as well as completely stupid. Legolas's arms were just too hard to resist anyway. They peeked in through the crack in Devon's door.
"She is sound asleep," Legolas noted.
"Odd..." Alice remarked. "I'm sure I heard something." Legolas looked down at her, his blue eyes full of concern.
"We must bade you rest," He murmured, carrying her back to bed. "It could be the effect of the wound."
"Oh I doubt it," Alice scoffed but yawned. Legolas grinned.
"Come," Legolas said softly. "You need your rest. I will protect you."
"Legolas?" Alice asked.
"Yes meleth nín?" He replied.
"What's the date tomorrow?" She wanted to know. "I know it's like February, but what date is it?"
"The four and tenth day of Feburary," Legolas replied. "I feel that we are to leave soon."
"But hey look on the bright side," Alice chided cheerfully. "It's Valentine's day tomorrow."
"Valentine's day?" Legolas inquired, completely confused.
"Yeah," Alice trailed off. "A day for the Catholic Saint of Love, Valentine, where you celebrate love for your significant other i.e. in your case, myself."
"Love is to be celebrated every day bain nín," Legolas told her. "It is but a gift."
"True," Alice agreed. "I hated the mass production of it anyway." Legolas chuckled and laid her down on her bedstead and pulled the covers over slender figure before getting in himself and holding her to him. Legolas's mind eased. She was safe.
Gina burst into Alice's room very early that morning.
"IT'S VALENTINES DAY!!" She cried, jumping up and down. Legolas was the first to rouse himself. "Oh Legolas... I didn't know you were here." Gina suddenly had a very silly grin on her face.
"Morning," Alice mumbled.
"Well," Gina began. "I'm glad you've still got your clothes on. Sleeping in the same bed..."
"It wasn't my idea," Alice countered quickly, trying not to blush. "Legolas just wanted to protect me."
"Oh sure," Gina drawled sarcastically. "Why couldn't he sit by your bed or stand at the door?"
"I wanted to be certain she did not come to harm," Legolas protested. "It was the only way in which it could be done." Gina's silly grin returned.
"If you don't want to say what happened it that's fine," She said.
Mental note Alice thought. Kill her later.
"But anyway up you get, you lazy buggers," Gina burbled. "I need to go give a big Valentine's day hug and kiss to Orophin and I want to see you two out of bed before I do it." Alice raised an eyebrow and exchanged glances with Legolas.
"You do realise that Valentine's Day doesn't exist here," Alice informed her.
"WHAT?!" Gina exclaimed. Alice and Legolas covered their ears.
"Calm down," Alice mumbled. "I've got heightened hearing you know. Well, you could always orient him to it."
"True," Gina considered. "Well. That's what I'm off to do. See you both later!" When she was out the door Alice sat up straight.
"I'm getting up today," She announced. "I feel fantastic."
"I can concur that you are visibly better," Legolas agreed.
"Hand me a piece of cloth so I can make a sling," Alice demanded. Legolas did so and Alice went to work. It took her 5 minutes, with Legolas's help, until it was finished.
"Are you able to walk meleth nín?" Legolas asked. Alice got up, took a few steps and tottered another few, almost falling flat on her face. Legolas dashed fourth and held her arm, holding her upright.
"Thanks," She breathed. She had caught Legolas's gaze again. Sticky situation. Not that they both minded however, and shared a long, soft kiss before Legolas righted himself, yet still holding her in his arms.
"What do you desire to achieve today?" Legolas asked in soft tones.
"Well, I'd really like to see my hobbit friends..." Alice said meekly. Legolas nodded and helped her down the rope ladder to the pavilion which held the remaining seven in the Fellowship of the Ring.
Peregin Took, affectionately referred to as Pippin, sat under the pavilion, simply relaxing with his kinsman, Meriadoc, referred to as Merry. The trip had been hard on the young hobbit and it had been harder still losing Gandalf to shadow. He was glad to spend some time in these fair woods with Sam, Frodo and Merry. Sometimes they walked and spoke of Gandalf, as if to let go of the grief, although it didn't really help. The elves didn't make it any easier by singing morbid laments that were seemingly about the dead wizard.
"Greetings Master Peregin, Master Meriadoc," He called. "I have brought you a fair visitor." Pippin looked up in spite of himself. There stood a very pale and drawn elf with her arm in a sling.
"Hey Pippin and Merry," She said. "Remember me?"
"You're Lady Lindelë! Hullo! You gave us chocolate," Pippin recalled, grinning. "It was delicious." Alice laughed.
"Yup and do you remember what I said about it?" She asked.
"That it's the cure to all emotional ailments?" Merry guessed.
"A man after my own heart," Alice teased. "Well done."
"You introduced young and impressionable minds to chocolate?" Legolas spluttered.
"Chocolate is good for you," Alice countered tartly. "It produces endorphins, which make you happy." Legolas shuddered. Gimli appeared.
"Where have you been Master elf?" He asked gruffly, rather irritated. "I have been waiting to do more trekking in the woods of Lórien." Legolas laughed, making Alice want to melt into a little puddle on the floor.
"Patience Master Dwarf," Legolas told him. "Come now, we shall go." He turned to Alice. "I will return."
"I know," she whispered. Legolas kissed her forehead.
"Farewell," He said, and wandered off, following Gimli, and nonchalantly hooking his bow and arrow set over his arm.
"I wish we had some of that chocolate now," Pippin complained when Legolas had left. Alice bowed her head.
"I heard about Gandalf," She said. "I'm sorry. He was a pretty neat guy." Tears began to roll down Pippin's face, while Merry stood alone, looking solemn.
"I miss Gandalf!" Pippin sobbed. Alice went over and gave Pippin a hug with her one free arm. "If I hadn't put a stone down the well he'd be still here."
"Pip-pin," Alice admonished. "Don't blame yourself. You're lovely." When Pippin refused to shut up, Alice tried another approach. "You'll be one of the most talked about hobbits back at your home. I bet they'll put you in stories and tales and everything." Pippin sobs subsided.
"Do you really think so?" He asked, his cute (in a non romantic way) eyes lit up. Alice nodded. Pippin's tiny little arms latched around her middle, crushing her solar plexus, causing asphyxiation. "Thank you Lindelë."
"Don't mention it," She rasped, but managed to struggle out of Pippin's grasp. Merry still stood looking solemn. "And I bet you'll be put into just as many stories and the like too." Merry stepped forward and gave her another asphyxiating hug. Alice patted his head awkwardly. Eventually, Merry got the point that Alice's stomach was being crushed and continued to burble about his adventures with Pippin chipping in every here and there. As cute as the two hobbits were, by the time Aragorn turned up half an hour later, with a very dour-looking Boromir in tow, Alice's patience was tried to the point of receiving stretch marks after it deflated to normal size.
"Greetings Lady Lindelë!" He said in surprise. "It is pleasant to see you dwelling in the woods of Lórien. What brings you here? Any news of the Lady Arwen, your fair aunt?"
"Arwen's fine," Alice reassured him. "Last time I checked."
"Excellent tidings," Aragorn replied, grinning in spite of himself. Boromir simply grunted.
"Hello to you too, Boromir," Alice called, waving. He nodded, not giving more than a word of response. Alice was rather taken aback by this. He could've just said hi.
"Boromir is troubled," Aragorn muttered to her. "Do not hold him in low regard."
"Thanks for that," Alice said dryly. "I'll keep it in mind." She kept calm, however much she wanted to kick Boromir and tell him to get a life. Typical male. Soon, Frodo turned up looking far too pasty in Alice's silent opinion. He was one critically ill hobbit. Penicillin was in order Alice decided, until saw the One Ring that she realised what Frodo's ailments were, other than losing Gandalf.
Elrond did say that carrying that tacky piece of jewellery couldn't be good for a person, Alice thought. Some sort of fettish through the evil origins or something. It'd have to be. It's one tacky ring.
Frodo simply sat around with a sad look on his face. While all the other hobbits looked like preschoolers, Frodo looked more bedraggled and old. Alice blamed the tacky piece of jewellery. Although she could feel a slight temptation toward the ring. Powerful little bugger, so it seemed. She also noticed someone else was vouching for the Ring too, that Boromir guy. Another typical trait of that guy. Misguided and many other words like sprang to mind. But before she could say anything Beth managed to appear. The look on her face read suicide.
Shit... Alice thought.
"Hey guys," Alice piped up. "I'm going to go, so I'll see you all later. Tell Legolas when he gets back that I've gone back to talk to my friends."
"Goodbye Lindelë!" Pippin and Merry chorused.
"Yes, Farewell cousin," Aragorn regarded and Alice would wonder why he called her cousin until much later, when she found out they were distantly related. "I will inform Master Legolas of your departure when he returns."
"Thanks," Alice said grinning and ran after Beth.
Beth sat on a rock, on her own, sobbing.
"Bethie!" Alice exclaimed, using Beth's primary school nickname. "What's wrong?" Beth hadn't been in this sort of mess since her heart was torn to shreds by Nick 'Playing the Field' Johnston in Year 7.
"G-g-g-galadriel," She rasped as sobs racked her chest.
"Huh?" Alice said, utterly confused. What was this about Galadriel? Alice was her great granddaughter and she'd only seen the Lady of the Golden Wood only once.
"Her mirror!" Beth cried to try and make Alice understand. "It showed faces and... and people and it just freaked me out!" Alice stepped forward awkwardly and gave her hysterical friend a fairly awkward hug. Beth, however, clung onto Alice for dear life.
But she made up her mind.
She had to find out what the mysterious mirror was.
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The plot takes a turn!! Ha ha yeah right. But anyway. I hope you enjoyed it. I'm back from Melbourne, and I had a WONDERFUL time!! Everything was fantastic!! If you ever get the chance go to go to Melbourne - GO! Everyone's really friendly and there are shops galore. Also go to Torquay, Aussie's surfing capital, and get a surf lesson with Westcoast surfing school - they've got one hot surfing instructor. But yeah - it was fantastic. I'd recommend it. Anyway must go - school's starting soon =( and I have to get my bloody uniform ready!! Toodles noodles!!