The Voice (Spooky Syah?)

Sorry for the extremely long delay. I think I would have never finished this if it wasn't for some rather mad reviews who 'encouraged' me to continue… with the usual threats of course. Thanks everyone, love you all:).

Italicised font- The Voice

Normal font- Joari's thoughts.

It was way past mid-night by the time they had gotten back. Legolas had been thinking about Joari, Joari had been thinking about Trestar, Aragorn had been thinking about what the elves would say if they found out how late the lady Joari had come back to the palace, and the hobbits, well, they were just trying their best to stay awake on horseback. All in all, the ride back had been a quiet one. As they dismounted from their saddles, Aragorn said, "Gimli and I will bring the hobbits back to their rooms. Legolas, would you please escort the lady back?" Legolas nodded, and walked over to Joari. Together they left, as Aragorn and Gimli herded the nodding hobbits to their rooms.

Legolas and Joari walked back in silence, the night air cool around them. When they reached her room, they looked at each other, somewhat awkwardly. "Thank you, for that dance. I had a good time with you." Joari said softly, feeling shy all of the sudden. Must be the beer… He smiled, "As it was, for me. Lady Joari," a hint of hesitance crept into his voice, "Who was it you were dancing with before we left? Did you know him by any chance?" "He's Trestar. Some apprentice loremaster. I got him to inquire for me whether I could learn some elf magic." "Trestar? I think I've heard of him. He's reputed to be rather unconventional." "Oh really?" she raised an eyebrown, "I really liked him. I'm meeting him tomorrow for his answer." "Oh, I see." Actually Legolas's heart was plummeting downwards, but it wasn't like that really showed. Just a little tightening around the eyelids, but hey, who's to say? They just stared at each other, not really knowing what came next. Then Joari spoke up, "You know, earlier in the woods, you, I, we…never really finished did we? And I…" she didn't know how to finished, so she leaned over and lightly kissed him on the lips.

Legolas was taken by surprise. Nevertheless, he gently responded, deepening the kiss. For a moment, he felt any remaining yearning for the sea cease entirely, as he was slowly drawn into the rupture. A split-second later, Joari drew back. "I'll see'ya tomorrow," she whispered, before entering her room, closing the door behind her. Legolas stared at the door for a moment, before walking away to his room, his thoughts atumbled.

Inside, Joari tore about the room, looking for her wardrobe. When she finally found it, heaved a sigh of relief and pulled out a nightgown. She stepped out of her gown and put it on, walking to the bathroom as she did. Good thing Araya isn't around, she thought, as she splashed water on her face, she would probably tire herself out fussing around the room. She lay back in her bed with a contented sigh…

Great. Are you done yet with all that? A voice shot out of the blue. "What? Who's there?" she bolted upright. No one. Will you loosen up? It's just me. Who are you? She queried in her mind. If you'll just shut up and let me explain, all will be made known. Now for the moment, just listen. You don't have to be so rude you know, she sulked inwardly. Okay fine, I'm sorry now. You happy? No, I'm not. How would you like talking to yourself and trying to convince yourself you're not going nuts because you can hear voices in your head. Voice, there's only one of me you know. Gee, thanks a lot, I feel soooo much better. You should be, after all the alcohol I'd to drain. You mean that there was actually alcohol in that beer? Of course, except over here you don't find all that many people trying to drink themselves into stupidity. Now that's pure craziness. Are you going to preach or what? She demanded. No, I won't. I have better things to do than that. The reason I'm here is to brief you on your role in the council tomorrow. What's the council gotta do with me? Joari, listen up. All the orc sightings are happening because of you. Don't you think that makes you a little more important? What do you mean? The orcs, or let's just say evil, are drawn to you. That's why they're surrounding Rivendell. Explain, she demanded, a little creeped out over that statement. Geez… Imagine being an evil magnet.

It's like this. You know the story of Sauron and all that don't you. Legolas explained it to you. Anyway, in the very beginning, there are always two carnal forces, to put it simply, good and evil. Now there are many different realities, and in them, these forces are always apparent, balancing each other. One day, there was a problem. The evil tipped the balance when Sauron created the ring. Actually, it was the concentration of the evil awareness that was augmented and divided into two: the instrument and the master. Now to balance out this evil, the universe cried out, and an opposite awareness was formed. I was around here at that time, and when I augmented, and that awareness formed in me. Wait, wait. What were you to begin with? I was Sauron's opposing force before he created the ring. Rings are, in reality, nothing more than rings, and their elf-makers knew that. It was the stones containing the power that really mattered. I had chosen to place small parts of my power into those rings belonging to the elves, for I knew that they would keep it wisely. Unlike my other, who had placed of his concentrated into the ring. Now you know why he was so desperate to get it back.

So what's this gotta do with me? Be patient, I was getting to that. The spirit of the Maia were also infused with my power. When the awareness came, I had already no use for it. For I had a plan to diffuse the other. So I sent out parts of the awareness to the fellowship, extremely tiny doses, yet enough for their destinies and purposes to meet. Yet I still the powerful remaining purpose to take care of. And I decided to hide it. Yes, hide it. But not on Middle-Earth.

You mean… yes, I hid it in another reality, another time. I hid it in a pure heart that it could tame. I hid it in you. But that's not possible! The ring and I are like ages, eons, apart! The times passed differently in the different realms. Besides, what is time to me? How could you? Anyway, I'm not pure! Look at the way I talk, I dress, even the songs I listen to! True, but none of them came from malicious intent did they? But my whole life! How could you just snatch it away just like that? What life? It is your fate. Tell me, are you really that sorry to leave it all behind? No, but still…

No more. I have to brief you for the council tomorrow, where all will be revealed. Now sleep.

And try as she might, that was all she was able to do.

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Uncompleted, but hey, who would've thought? Reviews please. I'm waiting for the list to hit 60 before I update… so don't disappoint me!!!! BTW, a poll. Who do  you think she's more interested in? Legolas or Trestar?