D uh, they're not mine

I really wish they were

S o I could really earn some

C ash to help me through

L ife's long

A nd perilous road

I n this earth we

M ust travel together

E veryone of us

R ight forth together.

And now that special section:

Trintula: Yeah, that pretty much sums up the thoughts of myself and my readers. Now all I need is a creative way to pull it off . . .

Lady Silence: Hey, admittance is the first step to a cure! I'm glad you appreciate my rather odd brand of humor . . . sarcasm is a lost art or something. I hope you continue to read!

Cynda-chan: I know, pathetic, isn't it? Though not as bad as "Lostlauren". . .

Katakanadian: Aw, thanks! It means a lot to be put on people's favorites lists. As for your story, I promise I'll get to it. I'm trying to catch up while I'm home . . . "Plageristic paraphrasations"? Well, at least I cite my paraphrasing at the end, so you can't kill me, ha ha! Anyway, enjoy!

Akamu: Yeah, a love, um, decagon would be a trifle hard to keep up with, wouldn't it? Yeah, torturing Katie is pretty interesting? I have to keep thinking of new and interesting things to do to her. Mwahahaha . . . but it's the best part of the job!

The Soup Nazis: Like your name, I'm sure there's an interesting story behind it! I intend to keep writing, and I'm pleased you chose to read and review!

Eirtae: I like pronouncing your name, it's pretty. And yes, I am off on totally random thoughts this morning! Hey, it's Christmas Eve and I'm home! Anyway, back to you . . . wow, I didn't realize myself how long it takes to get through the entire story so far, but thanks for sticking with it! Glad I can hold my audience's attention, and thank you for reviewing.

Earendil: Hey, I remember you! I think you're due a dedication around here sometime in the future. I'll make a memo to myself for a chapter coming to websites near you sometime next week . . . or a few weeks after, depending. Thanks for your confidence and positive comments.

GreyLadyBast: Well, yeah, it's always bound to get interesting when pain and torment enter the scene. Nice to know you're still with me! Don't let me forget to visit your fics while I'm home. Send me hate mail or something, ha ha!

Katie Tann: You, m'dear, I like! Rarely do I ever get such an imaginative review, and I keep rereading it for some strange reason. I too enjoy tripping over lovely little gems on FF.net, and if you ever need a recommendation, I know of several archives that have stories with plots! And you'll have to tell me what you thought of my other fics, since most don't receive much attention. I look forward to hearing more from you!

Phoenix Flight: Well, you'll have to see how I had it turn out . . . I'm not *quite* satisfied, but at least there's some insight as to the feelings of the Fellowship. Enjoy!

Rabia: I think I know you from somewhere, your name sounds familiar . . . I got attacked by rabid roommates and then got temporary amnesia from the purple alligator that lived in the shower, and . . . okay, so I had exams. I like the other excuse better. I'm still mulling over the sequel idea . . . I may have to do a quickie survey at the end of the next chapter, when I've had some more time to think about it. But the thought is definitely there. Never fear, the update is here!

Zurizip: Well, we could have a love square going . . . nah. Poor Haldir! I felt so bad when he died . . . (yes, I'm still in denial over the fact, and I've seen TTT twice . . .) Galadriel would find Katie an interesting mental study, I'm sure . . .

Lady Moon: Hiya! I'm pleased to hear that you like the whole thing, even though it takes awhile to get through and is likely confusing in some places. Mwahaha . . . I am pleased to do your work, Lady. Hmm . . . "Minion of the Moon" has an interesting ring to it . . .

Cat: Sad that there's so much stupid stuff in the Lord of the Rings section, isn't it? I'm glad this was a welcome change for you. Also, if you have questions and leave me an email address, I try to do my best and respond to any confusion my fanfictions have raised. Don't be afraid to ask!

Rhikat: Keep reminding me about the email. Send me hate mail or something. I respond well to that. (ShererCrew@aol.com) He he he . . . I think Bromir might have fun with you . . .

Laura W.: I see what you mean about it being a mite confusing . . . I have to do my best to keep it all straight myself! I always have this nagging fear that somehow I've totally contradicted myself . . . well, this chapter wasn't soon, but it's still here!

Laura: I didn't know I had two Lauras, go figure. Ha ha, you're the first person I've heard who actually didn't want Katie to win and go home. I've had one request for a sequel, as TTT just was released, and a whole new flood of fanfics will soon enter our already besieged fanfiction continuum. I shudder at the thought. I haven't quite decided what I'll do yet. I may take a poll for general opinion, so be on the lookout for that!

Mizalaye: Boy am I happy to see you! It feels like I haven't talked to you in forever! (Maybe that would be because we don't really talk . . . but hey, go with what you've got!) Your reviews always crack me up (right now my little brother is giving me odd looks) and make my day! So here's the next chapter, as an obligatory thank you (or something like that.)

Europa: Inventing weapons is always fun. Like a six-triggered cross-bow, for example. Each trigger kills a different way . . . anyway, things should be interesting later on, with the mace and everything.

Morruniel: I'm so happy you are enjoying my fanfiction! I most cordially invite you to keep reading!

Star Queen: Hey, as long as Meri-Sue gets sufficiently injured, I don't care how it's done! Toss her into the Harry Potter continuum and let them rip 'er apart! Ha ha. Personally, I think Beleghir wants to marry Lothiriel out of political convenience . . . or maybe he's insanely jealous or something . . . men are fickle creatures, aren't they? Mwahaha . . .

Dazzle: Okay, keep reading and I'll keep writing, ha!

This chapter (with much applause and fanfare) is dedicated to ALL MY REVIEWERS! A thank you from one author who feels really, really special to be worthy of all this attention. Merry Christmas to you all!

Thanks to all who have read and reviewed "Penance". Your comments are valuable, and I treasure your criticism and praise. For those of you who do not know of what I speak, "Penance" is the sequel of "The Haven" which is the sequel of "One Moment, Untainted". Isn't it interesting how my one stand-alone has developed such a list following it?

TRAPPED AS A MARY SUE

Chapter Fifteen

Boromir came to himself rapidly, blinking in the harsh sunlight outside Moria. He looked around him for a brief moment, unsure as how he had come to be there. Then the memories came flooding back to him, and the strong man of Gondor shuddered. Gandalf had fallen, Meriweather had taken hurt, but what of the others?

He quickly scanned the hilly terrain, counting the remaining members of the Fellowship. They were all present, and their number yet included Katie, who was saying something to a nearby Merry in a tone of voice that belied great strain. Boromir repressed an unnerving shiver and carefully began to pick his way towards them.

Merry Brandybuck was staring with a shocked expression on his face at the orc dart firmly embedded in the girl's thigh. Her hands were wrapped around it, as if she thought she could keep him from seeing her injury. "You must tell Strider," the hobbit insisted, but Katie was being mule- headed. Her every movement told of the pain she suffered, but her eyes held a haunted look that spoke of her fear of Aragorn.

"Tell me what?" Unseen, the Dunadan had circled to the opposite side of Katie. Before he could see the wound, she began circling with him.

"Nothing," she replied, her tone not fooling the Ranger one bit.

Aragorn exchanged glances with Merry, who crossed his arms and dutifully reported, "She's got an arrow in her leg." The hobbit averted his own eyes from the painful-looking wound.

"You have an *arrow* in your leg?" Aragorn demanded, his expression turning to one of alarm. "Is it of orcish make?"

Reluctantly Katie turned so he could see the wound, unsteadily keeping her balance, though she wanted to collapse. The Ranger drew back a little, but his resolve hardened and he set his jaw. He advanced toward Katie, one hand unslinging his pack.

With a startled exclamation she stepped back and tripped over a boulder, landing hard. Gathering herself quickly the girl tried to crawl backwards on all fours, but a solid body behind her stopped her retreat. Before she could react, someone's strong arm pinned her back against their chest, immobilizing her arms.

"Legolas!" Katie gasped. "Let me go! It is not as bad as it looks." Her struggles grew more feverish as Aragorn moved closer.

In a silent response the kneeling elf simply grasped her tighter until she gave up, breathing heavily in exertion and panic. Daggers of pain lanced up her leg as Aragorn knelt beside the injury with a small bag of medical herbs. He carefully examined the arrow and probed the incision, eliciting a whimpering noise from Katie.

"It is barbed," he said quietly, looking first at Legolas, then at Katie. The elf tensed, his expression of coolness wavering. He would likely have his hands very full in a moment. He could sense the girl's fear in her rapid heartbeat and the way her white-knuckled hands gripped his restraining arm across her.

By that time the remainder of the Fellowship had gathered around, forming an unwelcome audience. Aragorn ignored them all as he slipped a knife from its sheath. Directing once more gaze at the elf, he said, "Hold her, Legolas. Boromir, stand ready to help him. Sam, see if you and Gimli can kindle a quick fire to boil some water. Hurry, we cannot lose much time. These hills will swarm with orcs soon enough." With that, he bent to his task.

Katie sucked in a breath and winced, willing herself not to make a sound. She fought the urge to cry out as the Ranger maneuvered the arrow back and forth, sending greater waves of agony shivering through her. She squeezed her eyes shut tightly, willing for it to end, for the pain to leave her.

She longed for some sort of comfort, but she was alone. The presence of the elf at her back was cold; Legolas was only doing his duty as he saw it. Aragorn was a seasoned healer, and though his ministrations were as gentle as he could make them, he was also acting out of a sense of duty. Unbidden, tears that Katie could not push away began to leak out of the corners of her tightly closed eyes. As independent as she pretended to be, the only thing she wanted at that moment was her mother. Someone with compassion and comfort, to tell her all would eventually be well.

But to ask that of any of the Fellowship . . . wasn't that the same as Meriweather? To desire that they pity her and comfort her?

No, it's not the same. Her voice was calm, and surprisingly devoid of any sarcastic humor. She forces it from them, and you do not do that. You cannot do that, for here they will offer their own feelings at their own will. They do not trust you yet enough to open up. And after what they have suffered, do you doubt their reasons?

No, Katie did not doubt their motives. After all, had she trusted Aragorn with her healing? Did she trust any of the Fellowship with her own feelings or thoughts? She knew she didn't.

A particularly vicious twist of pain caused her to groan aloud through clenched teeth, and she jerked back, causing Legolas' firm embrace to tighten as she cowered against him. Being brave wasn't working, and Katie didn't want it to go on any longer. She could not hold her agony inside any more and each breath seemed to be a sob. Never so badly had she wished to be home.

Legolas kept his gaze firmly on Aragorn, watching the man's movements with a focus that would have made his teachers in Mirkwood proud. He guessed from the Ranger's expression that the news would not be good. Likely the arrow had been poisoned. The girl, for her part, was remarkably controlled. The elf had half-expected to have to ask Boromir's assistance, but Katie had given him no cause.

He wondered if she and Meriweather were different. They appeared nearly similar, but from the beginning Legolas had felt a shadow lurking around Meriweather and the evil she represented. He had tried to avoid her at all costs, and so far had mostly succeeded. There had been few moments when he had not been himself, but they were relatively few, and involved usually moving somewhere, but never speaking.

Yet the feeling Legolas had guarded himself against with Meriweather was not present in Katie. And her actions spoke more that she was afraid of the Fellowship than blindly attracted to them. She rarely spoke or asked anything, and preferred being alone to intruding on their conversations. It was as if she had a foreknowledge that she did not belong and was afraid to ruin what she knew would happen.

Such philosophizing was not typical of Legolas, but he realized that there was but one question that needed answering, could Katie be trusted? His thoughts were interrupted as the girl in question let out a sharp yelp, wrenching to one side, away from her wound.

"Be still!" Aragorn cried. "I nearly have it." He looked grimly at Legolas, and the elf understood: the Ranger would need to pull the arrow out the rest of the way and then cleanse the gash of the poison.

The Mirkwood elf returned his gaze to Katie and found her looking at him with an anxious gleam in her eyes. "Do not worry," he said. The girl studied him, then nodded. Legolas realized that she trusted him to tell her the truth. He saw Aragorn tense, and without knowing quite why he did it, Legolas began to hum softly, an ancient tune that had never ceased to put him to sleep as a child.

Some of the tightness left Katie's body, even as her eyes closed once more at the Ranger's movements, though the worst was yet to come. Aragorn yanked swiftly and the girl recoiled, pressing one fist to her mouth and biting down hard on one of her knuckles. Yet no sound escaped her except ragged breathing.

Legolas was well into the second verse when the Ranger finished mixing his healing herbs with the boiling water Sam and Gimli had managed to appropriate. Aragorn applied them deftly, purging the wound to the best of his ability with his meager resources. Then he swiftly bound it with a length that he had torn from some piece of dark clothing.

"The sooner we reach Lothlorien, the better," he said grimly. "I would feel better knowing I had proper herbs to work with. Can you stand?" Strider asked Katie, who felt that his ministrations had ended none too soon.

"Yes," she replied, doing so to prove her point. She glanced back at Legolas and smiled slightly at him in silent thanks before turning her back. Whether or not I can, I will so that I am not forced to use someone like Boromir for a crutch, Katie thought to herself, doing her best not to limp. The pain she felt now was nothing compared to what she had endured only moments before.

"Good. Come. We have a long road, and much to do." He gathered all the Fellowship together, and they stood looking over the landscape. Aragorn spotted their path, a worn track that had long since been overgrown by the passage of time and many weeds. They pressed on, until Gimli came to Durin's stone. The dwarf regarded it with reverence, before begging leave to look at the wonders of the dale, taking Frodo with him. Sam followed. Upon their return all three seemed awestruck, and when Pippin questioned them as to what they had seen, they did not respond.

Katie trudged near the rear, a few paces ahead of Boromir, as was her usual tradition. Yet she made no move to engage in conversation, too caught up in trying to place one foot in front of the other. Her limp was steadily becoming more pronounced, but she refused to accept any help. A few moments before she had looked to her shoulder, only to see a quarter-sized bloodstain spreading across the white fabric of Sam's loaned shirt. Not wishing to attract any more attention to herself, Katie merely pulled Boromir's cloak around her shoulders, though it was not cold.

Eventually the road began to descend, and the company passed a well, which Gimli warned them all against drinking from it, due to its icy temperatures.

"Soon it becomes a swift river, and it gathers water from many other mountain-streams," said Aragorn. "Our road leads beside it for many miles. For I shall take you by the road that Gandalf chose, and first I hope to come to the woods where the Silverlode flows into the Great River - out yonder."

Gandalf. The sorrow the name struck into the company's hearts was palpable. They had not had much time to dwell on their emotions, and they could not afford to start now. Katie pitied them, for she knew of the outcome of the whole tale, and she could not tell them to offer comfort. She dared not open her mouth and even give them sympathetic words, lest she put something in motion that could not be stopped or repaired.

Instead she looked out over the landscape, in the direction that the Ranger pointed. The stream wound through a lush valley and was lost in a golden haze, at the very limits of Katie's limited vision. Yet she had a good idea of what the haze was.

Legolas confirmed her hunch. "There lie the woods of Lothlorien! That is the fairest of all the dwellings of my people. There are no trees like the trees of that land." The members of the Fellowship barely suppressed tolerant smiles as the elf went on to embellish in detail the beauty of the trees and the stateliness of the forest.

Katie steeled herself as Aragorn directed them onward. Many miles away, he had said. She only prayed that she could hold up that long.



[A/N: The end of this chapter is full of paraphrasing and quotes from the book. I do not own these quotes, and if I knew how to properly cite a source in a fanfic, I would. My pathetic attempt is as follows:

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. New York: Ballantine Books, 1954. Pages 373-75.

Sorry this chapter is not as full as fun and laughter as they usually are, but I wanted a bit of seriousness. Don't worry, we'll be back into mental conversations and mispronunciations before you know it!]