"Torn"

chapter 4: The sunrises and the pinecone falls

Author's notes: hello again! Here's chapter 4! (I'm really getting these chapters out quickly lately). I thought of a fun game that we could all play! Now, this isn't an interactive story, but it's just a fun thing to look for in the stories. In every chapter (unless I say otherwise) I'll have a quote from another well known book, or movie (not usually a song, but I have one that I'm going to do a song with). You won't get anything but a "congratulations to _____ _____ for finding the hidden phrase last chapter! It was _____ from _____" but it'll be fun right? Well I thought so. Anyway, the song on this chapter is absolutely perfect! It's almost like it was written especially for me to put into this chapter. Think of it from Williams POV.

Disclaimer: I don't own lord of the rings, but I do own a computer, a copy of the lord of the rings trilogy, the 4 disc DVD special edition set of "the fellowship of the ring" and my very bad handwriting! Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

I am

Little bit of loneliness

A little bit of disregard

A handful of complaints

But I can't help the fact

That everyone can see these scars

I am

What I want you to want

What I want you to feel

But it's like

No matter what I do

I can't convince you

To just believe this is real

So I let go

Watching you

Turn your back like you always do

Face away and pretend that i'm not

But i'll be here

'Cause you're all I got

I can't feel

The way I did before

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

Time won't heal

This damage anymore

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

I am

A little bit insecure

A little unconfident

'Cause you don't understand

I do what I can

But sometimes I don't make sense

I am

What you never want to say

But i've never had a doubt

It's like no matter what I do

I can't convince you

For once just to hear me out

So I let go

Watching you

Turn your back like you always do

Face away and pretend that i'm not

But i'll be here

'Cause you're all I got

I can't feel

The way I did before

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

Time won't heal

This damage anymore

Don't turn your back on me

I won't be ignored

No

Hear me out now

You're gonna listen to me

Like it or not

Right now ~"faint" Linkin Park (or I like to call it "William's song")

~*~*~*~*~*~*~ William lay and watched the whole scene between Kaiti and Legolas take place. He had woken up when Kaiti got up, but for some reason, didn't let anyone know he was awake as well. When he listened to their conversation, William realized just how much Kaiti was keeping from him.

'Nightmares?' he thought. She had always blamed her constant lack of sleep on insomnia. 'Why wouldn't she tell me something like that? And why would she tell Legolas? She hardly even knows him!' He watched her break down in tears. 'She's crying? I've never seen her cry!' Actually, other than at Tim's funeral, he'd never even seen her sad, and even then she didn't CRY. In fact, the only time she didn't look her normal, happy, perky self was when she would zone out. And thinking back on it, it seemed to happen more than people seemed to notice. It was worrying.

William felt a surge of jealousy run through him when Legolas hugged Kaiti. Just hearing about the elf everyday at school was enough to make William envious, but this set him on fire! He was NOT going to let Legolas take away the only thing he had.

~*~

Legolas looked out across the horizon. The suns rays were just beginning to shoot up into the sky. His gaze fell on Kaiti, who still slept in his arms. Not the tormented sleep she had earlier, but peaceful.

His thoughts rested on the events that occurred earlier. She had brought up old memories. Memories Legolas had spent the last 70 years trying to forget. But he still remembered. He would always remember; every scream, every shock of pain, every excruciating detail. It was all burned into his mind.

Legolas shook his head, as if to rattle the thoughts away. He glanced down at Kaiti again. He didn't want to wake her. Actually he'd be quite content to stay there all day. But it would not do to have the others see them in such a controversial position. 'She looks so beautiful when she sleeps.' He thought as he listened to her soft steady breathing. He reached up and gently traced the outline of her face with the tip of his finger, then whispered softly in her ear,

"Kaiti, you must awaken. The sun is rising, and the others will be up soon." Slowly she lifted her head and opened her eyes. She smiled slightly, then loked suddenly shameful.

"Oh no! Did I sleep on you all night? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean-" Legolas put a finger to her lips silencing her apologies.

"Do not be sorry. It was only a few hours. I honestly did not mind." He said. She smiled at him again. "Are you feeling better this morning?" Kaiti blushed slightly then answered,

"Yes." After a brief pause she leaned over and gave him a hug.. He gladly welcomed the embrace. She whispered, "Thank you." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek, to Legolas' surprise, then sat back. Legolas smiled at her, but before he could say anything they heard someone shifting. They looked over and saw William get up.

"Good morning William!" Kaiti said brightly, "Come over here and watch the sun rise with us!" William walked over to the two on the log, glaring at Legolas on the way. Legolas gave Kaiti a puzzled look, but she just shrugged. William sat on the other side of Kaiti. "How are you this morning?" She asked him.

"Fine." He replied shortly, not even looking at her when he answered.

"How did you sleep?" she persisted.

"Obviously not as well as you." He said coldly.

"Well SOMONE'S grouchy this morning!" William glared at her and was about to say something, but was cut off by Aragorn, who had just gotten up.

"Well you certainly are early risers." He said coming to the, now, three on the log.

"We're watching the sunrise!" Kaiti said, throwing her arms out to the side and giggling when she almost knocked out William and Legolas.

"Do you mind if I join you? It has been long since I last sat and watched the sun." Aragorn asked.

"Find a spot!" Kaiti replied nodding. Aragorn sat next to Legolas and they watched the sun peak over the horizon. They were shortly there after joined by Boromir and Gandalf. But soon the sun was fully in the morning sky and all the spectacular colors were gone.

Gandalf looked down at Gimili and the hobbits, who were still sleeping soundly, and said "If we wish to be on our way then we had better wake them."

"I'll do it!" Kaiti volunteered, jumping to her feet. Gandalf nodded. She knelt beside the sleeoing members of the fellowship and whispered, "Tic, toc, tic, toc." then as loudly and high-pitched as she could, "BRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!" The hobbits and Gimili jumped up, startled, and smacked into each other, and Kaiti fell over in a fit of histeric giggles.

"Is she always like that?" Boromir asked William.

"Worse." He replied.

~*~

As the group began walking Legolas approached Kaiti.

"I couldn't help but notice," He said softly to her, "That your friend seemed to give me a rather nasty look this morning. Have I done something to offend him?" Kaiti sighed and answered,

"No, you haven't. But he is acting way out of line. I'm gonna talk to him about it later."

~*~

The group was quickly approaching the tree line, and soon it would be nothing but snow, so they decided to stop and rest for a little while. Kaiti found the whole uphill excursion completely pointless, because she knew they would just turn aound and go back down. But she dreaded going into the mines. First, because she hated caves. Ever since she was a little kid and she went on a cave tour with her family and the tour guide turned off all the lights to show them what total darkness was like, she had feared going into caves. It always left a sinking feeling in her stomache and the odd tingling on her neck, like something dreadful was watching her. And second, because she knew Gandalf would fall. Of course she also knew that she couldn't stop him from falling, because in the end it would work out for the best. But she still didn't want to see her new friends hurt, and she feared they would all blame her for the loss of their leader.

Kaiti used the break as her opportunity to talk to William. He was sitting at the base of a tree. Kaiti walked over to him and asked,

"What is your problem lately?" William looked up at her and replied,

"what problem? You mean the fact that I'm trapped in a place that isn't real with people who don't exist? Or that I'm trapped here with you?"

"And exactly what is THAT supposed to mean?"

"What do YOU think? Just look at how you've been acting!" He said, each statement louder than the one before. The argument was slowly gaining the attention of the fellowship.

"How I'VE been acting?! YOU'RE the one shooting death glares! No one's even done anything to you!"

"Is that so? Well did you ever think there might be a reason for that? Maybe it's because I have to sit and watch while you're off oogling the gayest gay elf this side of reality! Which, by the way, is NOT the side I would like to be on!" The fellowship all thought about william's comment. Legolas was trying to figure out what he meant by "oogling" and "gay", because they all figured he didn't mean happy.

"That was low! Even for you! And he is NOT gay!"

"well I suppose you would know, wouldn't you? After all, you two seemed pretty cozy last night! You know it's funny how you seem to trust him so much, but you hardly even talk to me!"

"Wait! You were spying on me?"

"Yes, I SAW you. Though I wouldn't call it spying. I was just trying to sleep and you kept me awake. And you know what? I think you're scared to go back home! You want to stay here in your little fantasy world and ignore all your problems back in the real world!"

"That's NOT true! You don't know what it's like for me back home! I-" William stood up and interrupted Kaiti.

"You know what else? You act like you were the only one affected when Tim died. Well he was my friend too! And it hurt when he died, but that was months ago. I've moved on, so should you!"

"How can you just say that? Tim was the best friend I ever had, and probably ever will have! He died in my hands! Do you understand? I watched him die! How can you expect me to just move on?!"

"You're victimizing yourself Kaiti! You're only looking for attention and sympathy. Well you know what? He's dead! Get over it!" Kaiti glared at William for a a long moment in shock and anger, not knowing what to say next, but then yelled,

"I HATE YOU!!!" And tackled him. Kaiti continued to beat William while he attempted to fight back. "You mock my pain! I hope someday you hurt like I do! Then you'll be sorry!"

"Those are big words for a little girl!" he yelled back, which earned him a hard punch in the face. It took both Legolas and Boromir to pry Kaiti off of William, each getting bruises in their efforts.

"I don't know what happened here, but fighting amongst ourselves will not aid our journey!" Gandalf boomed, "We will continue on now. William you will walk in front with Aragorn and I, and Kaiti, you will be in back with Boromir and Legolas."

The group began walking again. After a few minutes Kaiti picked up a good sized rock and pulled back to throw it at William. She received disapproving looks from Legolas and Boromir.

"Oh come on guys! I was wasn't really.gosh, you take all the fun out of things!" she complained. When the two men looked forward again she grabbed a pinecone and nailed William in the back of the head. Everyone that saw turned and looked, or, in William's case, glared, at Kaiti.

"What?!" she asked defensively, pointing at Boromir, "It wasn't me!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

ok, I lied, this chapter isn't much longer. But this chapter and the last one were supposed to be together, but I split them up. Anyway, did anyone find the hidden phrase? Well, anyway, I'm still looking for an elvish translator (I need one soon) and someone who can make me a layout (kiwiboxers only), so REVIEW!!!