I couldn't resist it! My thirst was overwhelming! I drank all the water, without a moment of thinking. Strangely enough, it was fresh and cold, as if somebody had just put it there. But there was nobody around and the place seemed to have been deserted for a long time. The drink refreshed me for a moment, but then I found myself yearning for sleep. I had no idea whether it was the water, or the long road there that wore me off, but I fell asleep right there, on the cave floor. When I woke up, the day was sunny and the lights in the cave were pale and dim. I got out into the sunlight. As I stepped outside, I felt a sharp pain in my right shoulder. Like something was burning me. I checked myself and felt fear falling upon me: there was a serpent burnt in my skin, on my left shoulder. The pain only lasted a second, but it was enough for me to remember it. Suddenly, the ground began to shake. The cave collapsed behind me in a cloud of dust. Only the lions were left standing. Their shiny stone turned grey at first, then black and finally it began to crack. Before they fell into a thousand pieces, there was a loud cry, like a dying animal. A cry of pain, but still it was frightening and spread chills through my bones. As sudden as it began, it all stopped. I sat down and stood there in terror for a while. Didn't even dare to move. Couldn't stop thinking I had done something out of the ordinary. That water was no ordinary water, but I had no idea of what it could be. I knew I had to get out of there. And soon. The glade seemed cursed and evil all of the sudden. I got up and ran back to the path. Rushing back the same way I came, I remembered all the Indiana Jones movies I had seem at home. I know I wouldn't want to be in his shoes!

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The forest ended when I least expected it, without any warning. How long had I been running? Minutes, hours, days? I couldn't tell, for I felt nor hunger, thirst or sore feet. All I wanted was to put that damned place as far behind me as I could. So I reached the edge of the forest. For a moment, hope grew in my heart, but it faded quickly as I looked before me. The sight was gloomy. grey. cold. A vast, rocky plane laid before me. Lonely. Desolate. She wore the scars of evil and war. Every here and there, smashed boulders were blocking the ruins of what must have been once a road. I followed it reluctantly. Black pools covered the land. Bottomless pits they seemed and I didn't dare to get too close to them. Far away, a chain of mountains rose to the sky.. so far they almost seemed transparent. Somehow I remembered the description of Mordor. But this couldn't be it. Whoever heard of a forest in Mordor? But what if I really was in Mordor? Then I would have to cross the mountains to get out! Oh!!

The night had fallen when I reached the mountains. The silence.the dreadful silence was driving me crazy! Something strange had happened to me. I could feel it. I ran the whole day, but still no sign of being tired! It was a very unusual thing, since I used to collapse after the first half-hour of running! But it's all for the better! If I'm not tired, I can go on through the mountains. Somewhere on my right side, there were the ruins of something. it looked like a very tall building. maybe a watchtower. The moon went up. It looked pale and diminished. Like it was sick or something. The whole road was filled with ghastly moonlight and looked really creepy. I kept going and going, never daring to stop. My speed seemed to have increased as well as my resistance. This land had a strange effect on me!

It was sometime past midnight when I got close to the other side of the mountains. Then I saw it! And I felt my blood freezing! The white city! The city of Minas Morgul! It just hit me! It had to be it! So beautiful, yet so frightening! The whole place was a ruin, but it still had a majestic aura, revealing its noble origins. I remembered the Black Knights used to dwell here.. and may still. Suddenly, fear came upon me. A fear so great it kept my feet from listening to me! They stopped moving right in front of the town gates. My whole body was shaking. my teeth were chattering and for a moment I lost control of myself! I expected to see a black shape reaching out and grabbing me! Couldn't move an inch! I tried really hard to drive my thoughts away from that awful gate. .. Legolas! The kiss. his lips. Legolas' bright image grew in my mind. I hadn't thought of him at all since I arrived in the forest some days ago. A warm feeling embraced me, bringing me back to my senses. I felt like waking up, but fear was still strong upon me. I turned away from the gate and rushed down the road, faster and faster. further and further away from the menacing city and its pale walls. I didn't dare to look back until I reached a safe distance. The ruins seemed so unreal! The ghost of a city!

The scene soon changed around me as I reached a fork in the road. My memory told me I had to keep the same road if I wanted to find people. humans. maybe even elves! The war of the ring seemed to be over a long time ago. I hoped it would all turn out all right as soon as I would find inhabited areas.

Grass! I haven't seen grass for days! And trees! Green, in blossom! Spring! The scent of fresh leaves filled my senses. It was all so beautiful I just had to sit down and enjoy it for a while. I guess I got tired after all, because I fell asleep even before I touched the ground. I was in lovely Ithilien..

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To a all my reviewers :thanks for the support.Even the critics are good.By the way: this story is not ment to be very original.Just something i would like.Nothing more.The original work is still to come. Please keep reviewing!