Chapter 12 : Mischief Brings Anger

Zayn taps Aragorn on the shoulder, and when he turns his head, she steps on her tip-toes to talk quietly to only him. "How do we know we can trust him?"

"Do you have any better plans?" Aragorn whispered back, giving her a resigned look, and turned back around. Zayn made a face at the back of his head in frustration, then turned her attention toward Vywien on her right. "Come on, I don't want to fall into a trap. Let them figure it out for themselves! If they get caught we can rescue them, but we can't rescue them if we all get caught! Let's go find our own resting spot!"

Vywien's eyes went wide. "But Gandalf and the others will be angry with us if we just...wander off."

Zayn rolled her eyes like it wasn't a big deal, but inward her heart was pumping with excitement at the new adventure. She couldn't explain where they were, but she was at least going to find out what this place had to offer. "They won't take it so bad! We'll be back before they even know we're gone! Come on! Show that elf spirit you guys are known for!"

Vywein looked confused for a second. "But we aren't known for our spirit in wandering off and getting into trouble. Grace, beauty and ears are what we're known for."

"Come on!" Zayn grabbed Vywein's wrist, and dragged her away from the group. Vywein didn't offer much resistance...none actually. She had wanted to explore this new world as much as Zayn did, she was just more reserved in her feelings...all she had needed was the budge that Zayn had offered...besides if they did get in trouble later, she could say that she hadn't come willingly.

The rest of the group continued on into the double glass doors, and into the large building...as the two females of the group snuck off to explore. "What is this strange substance?" Legolas asked, last in line, tapping the glass door with the tip of his finger. His Elven ears picked up a slight ring whenever his finger connected with the glass. He glanced forward and noticed everyone was leaving him behind, and hurried to catch up.

"Merry!" Pippin exclaimed in awe. "Look at those fixtures hanging from the ceiling!" Merry gaped open-mouthed at the tall ceiling, and the lights extending from it. He was so transfixed that he stopped walking, and Gandalf bumped into him, not even realizing.

"This is what we call the Trojan Center." Kevin explained, and did a sweeping motion with his hand to show it off. Everyone looked around in silent awe at their surroundings. There was so much to see, so much to explore! Kevin was the only one that was unimpressed. He adjusted book bag over his shoulder, and nodded. "Yep."

"Vywien, come here!" Legolas said in awe, facing forward. "Never have I seen anything so awe inspiring...except maybe in Fangorn Forest the first time. Vywien?" He asked, motioning his hand for her to come forward. There was silence behind him, he turned and glanced around behind him, his eyes scanning the empty area behind him. "Aragorn!" Legolas exclaimed, turning back around. Aragorn turned around, awe still in his eyes. "Vywien and Zayn! They're missing!"

"What?!" Aragorn turned around his eyes showing his emotions: awe-to-surprise-to-anger-to-worry. He looked all around him, his heart starting racing. How could they do this?! Thinking quickly he turned to Gandalf. "Gandalf!" Aragorn said in a rush. "Zayn and Vywien are gone! Stay here with the hobbits and Gimli. Legolas and I will go find them. Stay here, and we'll know exactly where to find you...after we find them!"

Gandalf nodded gravely, knowing Aragorn's urgency to find their friends. He could read more in people's eyes then many people would admit. "Wait just a minute!" Gimli exploded. "I'm not staying here, I'm coming with you guys." He looked down at his kilt in disdain. "Besides, maybe I can find some more suitable clothing."

"Alright." Legolas agreed. "But we must hurry!" Gimli and Aragorn nodded, and the hobbits and Gandalf blinked and the trio were gone.

* * *

"This place is beautiful!" Zayn exclaimed excitedly, practically skipping down the road. They had both been very alarmed when they saw these things with four wheels passing them, and one of them almost hit Vywien. After much thought, the two women came to the conclusion that they were some new kind of wagon.

"I'm thirsty." Vywien said suddenly, and started looking around.

"Look!" Zayn pointed. "There's a stream!" They came up to a small park, with a bunch of huge stones creating a staircase, and rocks that led right up to the water. They hurriedly went down to the water's edge, and Vywien dipped her hands into the water for a cooling drink. "Wait!" Zayn almost screeched. Vywien stopped with the water practically to her lips. Zayn pointed to something that as floating by in the river, it was a milk jug, and various other pieces of trash.

"It's contaminated." Vywien concluded, and dropped the water disdainfully. She stood back up and looked at Zayn with sorrowful eyes. "Their whole water supply is bad. How do they survive?"

Zayn shrugged, then gasped loudly when they saw a man in jogging clothes run by, with something covering his ears. Vywien's ears perked up, and she wrinkled her brow in disgust. "What is that horrid noise?!"

* * *

Aragorn growled slightly to himself. With the hard paths, and roads...he couldn't follow their tracks! He wasn't sure where they were...they could be anywhere! He then turned to Legolas, "Use your sensitive ears to try and hear them." The elf nodded and looked around their surroundings, focusing all this senses on his hearing. After several minutes the elf looked back at Aragorn, "I believe the scream I just heard, was Zayn's. If I am correct, they are this way," he points. The trio set off running as fast as they can, unsure if the scream was a cry of horror or for help.

After watching the weird man run down the street, the two girls had kept walking in search of some drinkable water. They had taken a wrong turn and ended up on someone's lawn, which wouldn't have been so bad had there not been a large furry animal prepared to kill them. Zayn screamed reactively, quickly without thinking Vywien shot an arrow through the things chest. Several minutes later, as the two girls stood there wondering what to do, a very angry ranger, elf, and dwarf was running toward them. Aragorn looks at the two with a disapproving eye, "Where did you two rush off to, we are on a quest. There is no time to run off and explore!" The two girls sigh and pretend the annoying ranger isn't present. "What should we do this animal?" questioned Vywien. "Might as well put it in my bag and save it for later. Won't have to worry about finding supper now."

By now Aragorn was livid, verging on wrath mode prepared to reach for his sword Legolas, deciding not to risk bloodshed addressed the girls quickly, "Now that supper is caught, perhaps we should join the others in the "Trojan Center". Zayn shakes her head, "Nuh uh, we are going to explore. This is a new place to us! Who knows wha--" Before she can finish Aragorn knocks both girls unconscious, puts the large furry creature in Zayn's bag. "You carry Vywien, and I'll carry Zayn." And so the two walk back with the two girls on their backs, toward the weird flat building they had left. Gimil was shaking his head, "We'll have to keep an eye on these two."

Back at the Trojan Center Gandalf, Pippin and Merry were being escorted to an area where they could rest their weary feet. Kevin kept shaking his head, "Weird." They then passed through a door with a bright sign Trojan Marketplace above, the entered a very large room with tables and chairs everywhere. Some very strange contraptions, that looked like a variation of tables were lined up along the walls. "This is the Marketplace, where you eat and rest." Pippin and Merry looked at each other, "Food! I haven't eaten in four hours!" Pippin commented. "I know, I am soo hungry my stomach could pop." Gandalf smacked them on the head with his cane, "You two! Behave yourselves we know not where we are! Be on your guard!"

With a confused expression Kevin walks on toward a group composed of two girls, and three guys. "Follow me." Gandalf grabs the two "kids" and follows their guide. One of the girls sitting at the table with shoulder length light brown hair and brown eyes looks over, and blinks twoice. "Oh my gosh!! It's GANDALF!! MERRY AND PIPPIN!!!!"", the girl waves her hands in the air. The others at the table turn and notice it is indeed those of the Fellowship.