Stacey>
It was difficult for me to sleep. I kept thinking about the kiss we shared earlier and of how I felt like I was betraying the love I still had for Darrax. But I couldn't help but think that we were never really going to be together no matter what. Society would never have accepted us as a "couple". Legolas was the closest thing to a human as I could get. I, in a way, loved him but I loved Darrax and I had just met Legolas. My mind argued with itself throughout the night.
You know you like him, admit it.
I can't, I'm still in love with Darrax, it wouldn't be right.
He dumped you. You deserve better.
Leave me alone.
Come on, he loves you. Why else would he have kissed you?
I realize that, but-
You enjoyed it, didn't you?
Yes...
Thought so. Just go for it.
Shut the hell up, I'm tired.
I finally got settled and fell asleep. Aragorn gently shook me awake. I had only been asleep for a few hours, so I was a bit grumpy. Celeborn presented each of us with a cloak. Galadriel gave each one of us a different gift. Legolas received a bow and Merry and Pippin were given daggers. Sam got elven rope. Gimli didn't ask for much but to look upon Galadriel's beauty one last time.
"What would you ask for?" she asked me.
"I wouldn't know."
"You already have a gift, yet you have no hope." She pulled a ring from her finger and handed it to me. "May it give you hope in the darkest of moments."
"Thank you." I slipped the ring on my finger.
We rowed down the river in some boats provided by the elves. My stomach began to growl, I hadn't eaten that morning and I was starting to get hungry. I took a piece of bread out of one of the sacks. I was about to take a bite when Legolas grabbed it from me.
"Hey!"
"You might want to be careful. This is elvish whey bread." He broke off a piece and handed it to me.
I raised an eyebrow. "Who are you trying to feed a canary?"
"It only takes one small bite of lambas to fill a grown man's stomach."
I looked at him like he was crazy. "If you say so." I swallowed the tiny morsel and immediately felt my hunger go away. "Wow."
He smiled. We passed two tall statues representing two kings. A while later we pulled the boats onto shore and began to set up camp. Aragorn said to wait until dark before we crossed the eastern shore. Legolas tried to persuade him to leave now, but Aragorn insisted we wait. Aragorn noticed Frodo and Boromir were gone and went looking for them. I heard the roar of Orcs in the distance.
"Come on!" Legolas shouted.
We arrived in time to see an army of Orcs surrounding Aragorn. Frodo was nowhere to be seen. Legolas and Gimli attacked. I looked around for Frodo, I saw him running away from the battle. I followed.
"Frodo!" I called.
He stopped and turned toward me. "Leave me alone!" I approached him and he backed away slightly.
"What's wrong?" I asked him. I knelt down and put my hands on his shoulders.
"This ring is nothing but trouble! I wish I didn't have anything to do with it, that someone else would carry it's burden!"
I looked at the ring that was strung around his neck. It was mesmerizing. I moved my hand toward it and touched the golden band.
"Let me take it," I said. "Let me use it to free my father."
"I cannot do that."
"That is all I ask. Please Frodo, I beg you to give me the power to save my world."
"No!" he pulled away from me and began to walk away.
Anger swelled inside me and I tackled him to the ground. I was going to get that ring, by force if neccessary.
"Give it to me!" I shouted.
He slipped the ring on his finger and disappeared. Invisible to the human eye.
I smiled mockingly. "So you think you'll be safe now?"
I morphed to Iguadon and picked up his heat signature. He was only a few feet in front of me.
I see you!>
I bounded after him and pinned him to the ground. He reappeared and tried to fight free. I clawed at the chain around his neck. I would have that ring at any cost. I lifted him off the ground by his throat. With my strong hands I could easily snap his neck. He gasped for breath.
"Stacey... please."
What was I doing?! I snapped back to reality. The ring's power had engulfed me and was turning me against Frodo. I released him and demorphed.
"I'm so sorry Frodo," I said. "Please forgive me."
"It is the Ring. Do you now understand why it must be destroyed?"
I nodded. "Yes. There is nothing good about it's power."
A horn sounded in the distance. The others needed my help. I looked at Frodo.
"Go," I told him. "Complete your quest. I have my own to complete as well."
Frodo hugged me. "Maybe we will see each other again."
"Maybe. Now go and be careful."
He ran off towards the river and I hurried to help everyone else. By the time I arrived I found Aragorn kneeling next to Boromir, who was dying. Merry and Pippin had been captured. Boromir's body was sent over the falls in a boat. Legolas hurried to another boat and began pushing it into the water.
"Hurry! Frodo and Sam have reached the eastern shore." Aragorn stood in silence. "You mean not to follow them."
"Frodo's fate is no longer in our hands."
"Then it has all been in vain," Gimli said. "The Fellowship has failed."
"Not if we hold true to each other," Aragorn said. "We will not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be spared behind. We travel light. Let's hunt some Orc."
Legolas and I looked at each other, a smile played across his lips.
We ran after the army of Orcs, going to rescue Merry and Pippin. Hopefully
Frodo would find a way to destroy the ring and free Middle-Earth. And hopefully
I would find a way back home, but for now I had to help the Fellowship
with their war until then.
To be continued...