Now quoting directly from book. Sorry, hyper.
My GN was having a bad day and used the right curse word at the right time, setting it up so that it conveyed the most feeling for the moment in the least amount of words…er, word…one potent blue-tinged four-letter beauty, the BIG ONE the F--- one (to quote A Christmas Story), which strangely sounded almost German…. This is the one that you only get about once in a lifetime, twice if you're really in the mood. You never know when it comes, but it will come, and when it does you will know. Now she's hyper and wonders where such feeling, such power, such Phileas-Fogg-from-'The Secret Adventures of Jules Verne'-angst, came to be without the added after-effect of the writer's block "DAMNIT!" dam being burst and a flow of images and words to course down onto a page or a computer. Instead it gets me to write this. Go figure.
Misdirection of energy? Probably.
Do I mind? No, but she does! Bwahaha! (evil laughter, then GN laughs like a stuttering hyena and I back away slowly…)
GN: I can't believe how that one word changed my mood. I suppose I'm just one of the people who sounds absurd when I curse.
(An incident not stated here turns GN back to original 'I hate the world/Die, bastard' leather bitch with a 9mm state)
A moment' s pause.
Me: Curse again.
No sensible conversation for about five minutes, both are in states of hysterics and red-faced, rolling on the floor and unable to control the laughter.
Okay, back to the story. Thanks to all my reviewers, even those who would've been late if they kept reading the story.
BTW: Elven Cherry Blossom, what do you need confirmed?
Part 8: Wonderful Tonight…
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light. I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight…"
--Eric Chaplain
They rode towards Isengard, those in front watching for the mist with a blue tint that Elenaithil had warned them about. Diana continued to be on top of Legolas' head, though sometimes she would go over and visit with Theoden before returning to her spot, and she did sleep in Gimli's beard.
It was as they passed the odd forest, Legolas suddenly gave out a cry. "There are eyes in the trees!" The sudden turning of the horse gave both Gimli and Diana a start.
"Go there without me on the horse, you stupid elf!" Gimli yelled out as Diana, instead, jumped down to Legolas' hand and got prepared to bite when Legolas stopped. The kitten looked up to him as he turned, his eyes still on the forest. Diana also looked, her eyes worried, but the elf didn't make for the forest again as they continued to move forward towards Isengard, expecting a fight.
Instead, they found walking trees, and a little further, a small Hobbit jumping up and bowing to them. "Welcome, my lords, to Isengard! We are the doorwardens. Meriadoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and one of my companions, who is (alas!) overcome with weariness," at this he quickly kicked the reclining figure in the ribs, "is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Our other companion, Mizuno Ami, called Elenaithil, and also the Lady of the Water, Mistress of Ice and Knowledge, or Sailormercury, is taking a swim and will be back shortly. Far in the North is our home, though where Elenaithil comes from we have no knowledge. The lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honored guests."
"Doubtless he would!" Gandalf laughed. Nearby, something moved out of the water, but it was too far for anyone to really make out the form. Gandalf continued to talk to the hobbit. "And was it Saruman that ordered you to guard his damaged doors, and watch for the arrival of guests, when you attention could be spared from plate and bottle?"
Merry answered gravely as the figure moved closer, "No, good sir, the matter escaped him. He has been much occupied. Our orders came from Treebeard, who has taken over the management of Isengard. He commanded me to welcome the Lord of Rohan with fitting words. I have done my best."
"Oh, guests?" the female voice made everyone turn and quite a few men (including, mostly, Legolas) have their jaws drop. Her hair was slightly damp, and she wore no shoes but showed no discomfort around the new grass that was growing on the ground. She wore a one-piece suit of light blue that matched her hair and eyes, and fit perfectly to her figure, the suit being cut off with almost spaghetti straps holding it up and no stockings or leggings. To Aragon (who, incidentally, didn't have his jaw drop as far as most men…) it looked like her outfit, only without the flaps, the shoulder pads, or skirt and shoes…and no mark upon her forehead.
"Mercury-sama, I'm glad to see you're well," Diana said from atop Legolas' head as the rest of the group tried to get themselves under control and Gimli said to the two hobbits, "Well, a fine chase you led us on! We go through fen and forest, battle and death, to find you lounging around and smoking! Smoking! Where did you come by the weed, you villains? Hammer and tongs, I am so torn between rage and joy that if I do not burst, it will be a marvel!"
"Well," Pippin finally spoke up now, "one thing you didn't find while hunting was your wits. Here we are sitting on a field of victory, amid the plunder of armies, and you wonder how we came by a few well-earned comforts."
Before Gimli could say more, Ami laughed. "It's good that you're all together again, now my life will have a few more laughs then the one Toutou was providing. Now stop bickering, Gu-tachi, Gandalf-tachi, and I'll come back once I have better suited clothing on to receive the King and others. Diana, come on, I need to speak with you."
The gray kitten jumped down from the top of Legolas' head and raced over to follow Ami as she left, leaving the men to recover their wits as Merry told Gandalf where to find Treebeard, the company left with the exception of Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas. They were led off to get some food for a picnic, and encountered Elenaithil/Ami in a gray traveling dress and with Diana on her lap, the food already there. The group sat down, Legolas next to Ami, and spoke of the Hobbit's adventures since they reached Fangorn Forest. Elenaithil told them that she ran into only a small piece of darkness, but it was easily overthrown. Diana slept on her lap, purring as she did. When the men of the Mark and Gandalf the White returned, everyone had eaten their fill and were ready to meet up with Saruman.
**
The way to Orthanc's only door was slightly wet, but for the fact that, since Elenaithil found haste to get there, she moved the water with a single note from her lyre. The group rode to the gate and Gandalf dismounted. Aragorn came with him, as did Theoden and Eomer. Both Legolas and Gimli felt they should come, as representatives of their races. Merry and Pippin sat dejectedly on the steps, wishing they had some excuse to go. Elenathil smiled at them, then placed Diana down between the two. "Watch over Gu-tachi for me, ne?"
"Hai!" Diana nodded, jumping onto Pippin's shoulder and purring as the two Hobbits took their attention off their feelings of being abandoned to petting the kitten. Elenaithil walked with the six up to the gate and looked up as Gandalf knocked on the hollow-sounding door. For a moment, no one came to answer, and the mounted horsemen began to shift in their saddles when a window opened and a voice asked, "Who is it? What do you wish?"
"I know that voice, and I curse the day I listened to it!" Theoden said, getting a comforting hand on his shoulder from Elenaithil.
"Go and fetch Saruman, since you have become his footman, Grima Wormtongue, and do not waste our time!" Gandalf yelled up. The window with no figure closed for a moment, and the next sound from it was a low voice, one that seemed to come with much enchantment. Elenaithil stiffened at the sound, and Diana's fur ruffled and she turned to look up and see the wizard above them. He did look like Gandalf in some respects, but for black hair in his beard and hair, as well as the fact that his robes were slightly different.
"Well? Why have you disturbed my sleep? Will you give me no peace by night or day?" the men around them shifted again, their minds being drawn to the voice of the old man standing above them. Elenaithil and Diana, though, seemed to shrink away, Diana's tail fully bristled and her fur standing on end, Elenaithil seeming ready to scream at some unbidden memory that entered into her mind, something twisted that she never wished to remember but had within her nonetheless.
"But come now," the voice said, "Two at least of you I know by name. Gandalf I know too well to have much hope that he seeks help or counsel here. But you, Theoden Lord of the Mark of Rohan, are declared by your noble devices, and still more by the fair countenance of the House of Eorl. O worthy son of Thengel the Thrice-renowned! Why have you not come before, and as a friend? Much have I desired to see you, mightiest king of the western lands, and especially in these latter years, to save you from the unwise and evil counsels that beset you! Is it yet too late? Despite the injuries that have been done to me, in which the men of Rohan (alas!) have had some part, still I would save you, and deliver you from the ruin that draws nigh inevitably, if you ride upon this road which you have taken. Indeed, I alone can aid you now."
Theoden opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out and he seemed confused. Gimli, having seen the effect the voice was having on Elenaithil and angered at the look of horror that the old wizard had put in her eyes and the uncertainty that had entered into King Theoden's mind, he yelled out, "The words of this wizard stand on their heads. In the language of Orthanc, help means ruin, and saving means slaying, that is plain. But we do not come here to beg."
"Peace! I do not speak to you yet, Gimli, Golin's son," Saruman spoke to the dwarf with some venom only for a moment before the same soft voice returned. "Far away is your home and small concern of yours are the troubles of this land. But it was not by design of you own that you became embroiled in them, and so I will not blame such part as you have played—a valiant one, I doubt not. But I pray you, allow me to first speak with the King of Rohan, my neighbor and once my friend."
Diana's body began to grow rigid as the wizard continued to speak, and finally she raced over to Eomer and jumped onto his shoulder, a small scratch helping him speak to his hypnotized uncle and lord.
"Lord, hear me!" Eomer said, turning with the kitten on his shoulder, "Now we feel the peril that we were warned of. Have we ridden forth to victory, only to stand at last amazed by an old liar with honey on his forked tongue? So would the trapped wolf speak to the hounds, if he could. What aid could he give you? All he desires it to escape from his plight. But will you parlay with this dealer of treachery and murder?"
Saruman's voice spoke to Eomer, and Diana suddenly hissed and spat, her spine curving and her eyes glaring at the wizard.
"We will have peace," Theoden said thickly, but held up his hand as some Riders let out a groan. "We will have peace, when you and all your works have perished---and the works of your dark master to whom you would deliver us. You are a liar, Saruman, and a corrupter of men's hearts. You hold out your hand to me, and I perceive only a finger of the claw of Mordor. Cruel and cold! Even if your war on me was just—as it was not, for were you ten times as wise you would have no right to rule me and mine for your own profit as you desired—even so, what will you say of your torches in Westford and the children that lie dead there?"
Saruman let out a low growl, and his eyes fell upon Elenaithil's deep blue ones. She looked up, a look of horror in her face as they met, and she yelled out. "Ie! [1] Akusen no tashoku, hentai! You will not speak to me, or I shall drown you!" at that, the water around them began to slowly rise, swirl, and seemed to almost reach the place when Gandalf told Elenaithil sharply, "Elenaithil, enough!"
The water hit the side of the great tower, none touching Saruman or the ledge he was on, and slowly it returned to surround them all. Still, Elenaithil glared at the wizard, as if daring him to try and look at her again, to look as if he would speak to her.
Gandalf and Saurman spoke, and though Saruman wove an strange fantasy in the minds of men, it disappeared when Gandalf laughed, then broke Saruman's staff and sent him out of the council. A black ball of some sort was lobbed out, cracking a stair just behind Gandalf and barely missing the White Wizard. Pippin raced and grabbed the dark crystal ball, and the group departed, Legolas and Gimli giving Diana and Elenaithil curious looks as the two went together and kept council by themselves in their native tongue.
**
The group met up with Treebeard, who let Diana climb on him for a moment before the little kitten came down and looked slightly dizzy. "So tall…" the kitten muttered, climbing onto Gimli's shoulders before sighing, "Ah, much better!" the group laughed, and for a moment Treebeard noticed Elenaithil looking out towards the water.
"Water-child, what harms you so? Hoom, I doubt that I would see such as you in my long life. How bears the beautiful Queen of yours, and her Princess-daughter, hoom?"
Elenaithil turned, a little shocked, then smiled, "I am sad to say that the Kingdom was gone, and all that was left was gone in a flash of the Earth Goddesses Glaive by the Bearer of Silence and Ruin. The Princess, though, was reborn and I protect her once more. We have faced death and destruction so many times, I sometimes wish that it was a dream, a nightmare that I will wake from. But I serve her with all my heart still, and will gladly die again for her."
"Hoom, she had that effect, and still does? Yes, I see. Well, I hope that you do not fail in whatever quest you have here, Water-child. We will set up a watch around Orthanc, and your element will help in that."
"Arigato, Treebeard-sama."
"Please, hoom, simply call me [2] Kyobuko Katari. It is what she called me, and I feel it would be nice to hear it again."
Elenaithil smiled at him happily as she said, "Hai, Kyobuko Katari. Arigato."
**
They all slept, but Ami tossed and turned. She seemed to be in the middle of a horrible nightmare as Legolas slowly moved over to where she was, alerted to her movement by his keen ears and Diana coming over to talk with him before going to sleep on Gimli's beard again.
The hall was long and golden-colored, and she stood before the Shadow Galactica leader, Sailorgalaxia. On her wrist was one of the same bracelets that Galaxia-sama had on, and in some of the shine, Sailormercury and the others could see that their eyes were dead-looking and full of malice and evil.
"She comes," Sailorgalaxia said, "go, now, my puppets. Get her Sailor Crystal for me."
The group moved over to hide behind the pillars of the entrance to the castle, watching as Eternal Sailormoon, SailorStarChibimoon, a new Senshi with red hair (…ChibiChibi…), and another Senshi they didn't know fight. The other Senshi died, the little red-haired girl left, the only ones being the Moon family and the Asteroid Senshi. Sailorvenus' hand moved out as the group walked out, the Sailor Crystal of the fallen Senshi coming into her hand and disappearing into Sailorgalaxia's great collection.
"Your next opponent," Sailorvenus said, "is…"
"Us, Sailormoon!" the rest said. Everyone watched with cold eyes as the look of hope came into Eternal Sailormoon's eyes, and then a look of love as Endymion (…Mamoru, Tuxedo Kamen, our Prince…) appeared before saying, "Kill Sailormoon and take her Sailor Crystal!"
Sailormoon's world was shattering, and Sailormercury stepped up with Sailorjupiter. They attacked Eternal Sailormoon, others getting in the way or protecting her until finally, she threw her attack at Sailorvenus.
"This is the power of the ginzuishou? It's a soft as the wind." The look of horror and pain on Sailormoon's face didn't register as they all attacked her, her wings now gone, her rod smashed. She looked up at them, and something within her stirred. The staff appeared, and she yelled out her attack.
The pain as they were all torn apart by the attack, and for a fleeting moment, Sailormercury saw Saruman's eyes there, looking down at her. "I know what you did to your princess, little child. Do you think that treachery doesn't know where other's are as well? You are one who attacked your Princess, and she will forever mistrust all of you for it."
No…no…no…
Far away, a gnagly thing showed some sign of hope, but it vanished, and a huge shadow attacked Jisannin, poisoning him. Instead of the creature, though, the face and body of Sailormercury stood next to a fallen Eternal Sailormoon…
"Usa-chan!" the firm arm with arm-guards on gave her something to cling to as her eyes adjusted to the night and she found Legolas kneeling next to her, his arm being held by her and his eyes concerned and curious.
"[3]Elenaithil, mani marte lle? You speak of death, and yet that dream, I think, was not only on death. Who is Usa-chan and why do you not tell us what is wrong?"
Ami turned to look to the slightly-distant forms of others asleep, one moving slightly, then told him. "The last battle was tough, tougher then we could have expected. I and Jupiter were the first…well, second, to die. Our Prince died in front of his Princess, and she blocked the memory. I and Sailorjupiter were killed, then I hear it was Sailormars and Sailorvenus. Sailorpluto and Sailorsaturn, Sailoruranus and Sailorneptune were taken by surprise, and that left only our hime and a few that came from another galaxy. When she reached the palace of Galaxia, our foe, it was only herself, her daughter, her daughter's protectors, and a young girl called ChibiChibi. She witnessed so many deaths, I sometimes wondered what brought her so far, then I realize that she must have thought she could defeat Galaxia and gain our Sailor Crystals, our souls, and have us be reborn though her power to live with her once more, to fight with her once more. Instead, she reached just the entrance and saw her next opponents. Us. We attacked our hime, we were intent on killing her when she destroyed us. I cannot think of how it must have made her feel, to kill off her friends and the ones she thought of as her family."
"I wasn't always fighting for love and justice. I was fighting for my friends and loved ones."
"I sometimes wonder how she forgave us," Ami continued, thinking of the quote and where it came from. They had spoken with her afterwards, and found out what she had said to ChibiChibi, who had turned out to become a version of herself from the future, Sailorcosmos.
"Elenaithil," Legolas said, slowly moving and enfolding her in his arms. "[4]Oio naa elealla alasse'. Lle naa vanima, lle naa belegohtar. Vanimle sila tiri. Cormlle naa tanya tel'raa. Poikaer Mercury."
"Nani?[5] Sumimasen, wakarimasen."
Legolas smiled at Ami, "Well, I don't understand half of what you said, or any of it. Its better that way, I suppose."
Ami smiled at him and moved closer. "Shashu means 'archer'. I named you 'archer of the woodland'. Though, in a moment, I will name you Shitawashii no Mercury, Shashu Saiai no Ami-chan."
"And that means?"
"Beloved or dear of Mercury, Archer beloved of Ami."
Legolas smiled as the stayed close. "A'maelamin Elenaithil. I don't care about your past, only what you do now and that you share my feelings."
Ami smiled and put her head on his chest before her eyes closed and they lay back on the grass, Legolas' arms comforting her from the nightmare and keeping her warm as she sighed. So this is how Usagi and Mamoru feel. I envied them in some ways, but I want this forever. To just forget all and to be like this forever.
"Hai, Shashu Saiai. You are beloved and I share your feelings."
Only a cry was what awoke the two from their blissful sleep, each holding the other.
**
The two raced over to where Pippin lay on the ground, and Elenaithil moved her way to him as he cried out, "Gandalf! Forgive me!"
"Gumoriyaku, what have you done now, my Gu-kun?"
Pippin explained to both how he had looked into the palintir, the stone from Orthanc, and saw an odd sight, heard a horrible voice, and answered only a few things to the voice.
"But after that, something else…oh, I don't want to remember! It was so dark, so…"
Elenaithil touched Pippin, and frowned before she blinked and the symbol for Mercury glowed on her forehead only faintly, showing on Pippin's forehead as well before she let go and the image disappeared from both. "It was Chaos, what I fight, but it did not hurt or touch you, Pippin. It was spying on the Dark Lord, but could find no reason to chase after you. It is good when such things show some distraction and also some stupidity and arrogance. You will be fine, Gu-kun."
The day afterwards was long, Diana staying with Legolas as they rode, but a rider approached.
"Nazgul! The Nazgul have crossed the river!"
Gandalf, with Pippin upon Shadowfax, was about to race off, leaving the stone with Aragorn, when Elenaithil came up and onto the horse.
"What do you do, Elenaithil?"
"I ride with you, Gandalf-sama. Diana can take care of Aragorn. The threat is at Gondor's white city, and where the Nazgul are. I can feel it. The forces of darkness turn to Gondor, as do the ones I fight. I will be there to protect all, Gandalf, when the being of Chaos comes. Now we must ride fast, for we will lose much time just debating my place!"
Gandalf nodded, and with the other two riders, both light on Shadowfax, they rode off, with Legolas and Diana watching, Legolas' eyes looking longingly at the blue-haired girl that went with Gandalf and his new charge.
**
Haldir took a sharp intake of breath right before he remembered something. He had died. He was dead. Was this death?
"The storm is coming closer," a girl's voice said.
"ParaPara doesn't like this."
"No one does, Para, but we have no other choice. We must protect the princess and others. At least now Bor-kun has a friend to help him with watching over Ami-sama."
Haldir opened his eyes and looked over at the girls who were looking out of the window, all of them dressed oddly. A pink-haired girl turned to him and smiled, her hair done up in small buns with long ponytails coming from it. "Konbanwa, Haldir-san. I'm Chibi-Usa."
"Where am I? Is this Death?"
A nearby snort caused him to see the man, Boromir of Gondor, who had died a little while before Haldir's own death. "No, this is Time, though it's guardian isn't here."
"Hime, the storm!" a girl with green hair said, causing the girl called Chibi-Usa to go over and look out the window of the small cottage as well. Boromir smiled slightly and walked over to sit next to Haldir as the elf sat up and looked around. "Time? But…"
"I don't understand it all, but what I know I will tell you. Those girls are warriors with powers blessed by the gods and by stars. They come from a future that is far from when we lived, to visit a woman named Sailorpluto, the guardian of this place. They found me and a staff that Pluto carried, but no Sailorpluto. They believed that something happened to their friend, and asked me when I awoke. Instead, I have some control over the staff and watch over the Fellowship, since I cannot join them."
"Cannot?"
"We did die, Haldir, and cannot go back to Middle-Earth for that reason. All we can do is watch and help the girls. The storm only just started, but Chibi-Usa told me that last time a storm came to the Fourth Dimension, it was due to a piece of Chaos, which they fight. Without someone to lead them to the time of Chibi-Usa's mother, when she was young and fought as a warrior called Sailormoon, they cannot tell the others of Pluto's disappearance. Our way to see what is happening at the time is blocked, and we suspect that bad things are occurring there."
"What do I have to do with this, Boromir?" Haldir was curious about this whole thing, and wanted to know why he was here.
"Chibi-Usa heard about the Undying Lands, and wished to know more about them from you. She thinks that, if she knows more about the elf's land across the sea, she could help Ami…Elenaithil…find Legolas after all of this."
Haldir looked at the girl, then back to Boromir. "How can that help?"
Boromir sighed at all the questions, but then remembered his own first few days (if you call them days…) there, and told Haldir, "Chibi-Usa and the others believe that Valinor is near Crystal Tokyo, their city, and that if Legolas travels there, they can meet him there and have Ami…Elenaithil…marry him."