What Good This Deafness
by Leafy
Rating: PG-13 for scary imagery, violence, bad attitudes, and tense situations.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien or Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
For additional writer's schtuff, see the first chapter. :o)
Thanks for all the reviews, everyone!
Alklachion: Hi there! Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like the story so far. :o) Hope you like this new chapter, we're in for a plot twist soon. :o)
Mariana Nimeneth: Thank you for the ice cream! In the commute to the new place, we still managed to bring the walk-in freezer along, as well as a hot-tub sized ice cream dish. I just need to run out and get some more spoons. Groak keeps biting the ends off...still, he's working hard on this story, so I won't say anything to him. :o) Thanks for the review, I hope you like this new chapter. Ooh! The beach! I love the beach! I just think the sun doesn't like me...sunburn...I'm getting better now, though. Thanks again!
Anarril: To think, you apologizing to me for late reviews?? :o) You must be the most patientest person under the sun, the amount of waiting you're doing for me. I put up a review of WoW, and your fp.net stuff will get a review from me shortly, too. Oh, being stuck underwater is scary, yeah. I've been moving into my new place in La La Land, and a summer class has been sucking time up as well, but I'm back for good, now. :o) Thanks for the review! Hope you like this new chapter!
LatestSin: Yeah, lots of action to begin with! Some of the stories in the middle aren't going to be quite as much though, so these will sort of balance them out. :o) I reeeeeeeeally want to see POTC too. I'm going as soon as it opens. I like Johnny Depp and Kiera Knightly, and of course, Orlando Bloom. :o) I'm listening to the mtv.com Pirates of the Carribean radio station right now. :o) Thanks for the review, hope you like this new chapter.
Meirelle Emeraldeyes: Hehe, thanks for the review! Glad you like it so far, hope you like the rest. I'm trying to make the chapters longer, too, so there's more to read with each update. Hope you like this new chapter!
*****************************
Chapter 2
'Up and Away'
Frodo struggled in a panic as he felt his ascent come to a forced stop, fighting against the cold darkness. The rocks that had pinioned his lower half to bottom of the deathly reservoir weighted painfully against his legs and lower ribs as he twisted this way and that, trying vainly to free himself. He needed help! He wasn't alone here, either…
Aragorn had fallen directly beneath him, and must then be here. But he wasn't in the water, that was quite evident. Frodo whipped his head around, mostly in protest, but partly in searching the black-as-night tides for Aragorn.
"He must be up!" Frodo thought desperately, feeling as if his lungs would tear.
The shifting rocks settled further, one of them sliding down the pile and striking Frodo's upper back. A burst of stale air was freed from his lunges as the wind was noiselessly knocked out of him. He looked up at the ghostly form of the larger bubbles soaring upwards, like little balls of light in the void. Perhaps Aragorn would see them, perhaps…but how could he see anything in all the blackness? Frodo's eyes stung with the cold, filthy water, he could no longer see the coveted air.
**********
"Frodo!" Aragorn chanced, louder this time. He knew Frodo had fallen down here, where was he? Aragorn backed up, calling the halfling's name again, stepping towards the water's edge again, trying to get a better look at the opposite bank.
"Frodo--!" the ranger gasped in surprise as he slipped on the damp periphery, almost taking in a mouthful of fetid water as he slid into the deep tarn.
Though long in the vertical aspect, the horizontal facet of the water was actually rather mere, as it turned out. The entire rock pile (which granted, was large) wasn't more than three feet from either side of the bank, Aragorn was rudely enlightened to as his feet slammed painfully into the side of it. The pile quailed with this stimulus, shifting and sliding towards the far bank, flattening until the whole bottom of the thing was covered with impressive rocks. Aragorn hovered in the water, recovering from the shock and twinge of sliding into the pool and a pile of enormous rocks, looking down at the faint shapes of the rocks. Suddenly, a little white rock slipped from between its bigger mates and shot up towards the surface with such power as to suggest that it had pushed off from the bottom. Aragorn turned in shock, looking up as he saw a little halfling form roll towards the bank in the water above him.
"Frodo!" he coughed, breaking the surface of the water in seconds, pushing towards the bank again as the hobbit weakly pulled himself up onto reasonably dry land. "Are you alright?"
Frodo did not respond right away, still gasping in the air that had seemed so far, when it was within sight but not reach, a few seconds ago. He turned his head, sitting up and scooting as Aragorn climbed onto the bank as well, gently nudging Frodo so that he wasn't sitting in the slick algae.
"Yes," Frodo said finally, wiping the hair out of his eyes and squinting at the man in the dimness that had resulted from the rocky blockage being removed. "Now."
"I'm sorry I didn't help you--" Aragorn began.
"You did," Frodo interrupted him. "You moved the rocks, didn't you?" his voice held a hint of confusion. Hadn't Aragorn seen his air bubbles and jumped in, seeing him and overthrowing the imprisoning tower of rocks? It had been a brilliant, if a little risky idea, Frodo thought. He was sure that he was covered in bruises and scratches under his tattered clothes, but he was simply grateful to be free now.
"Well--yes," Aragorn said. "Though, I didn't realize--"
Just then there was another rumble from above, louder than any Aragorn had yet heard. He looked up, leaning to the side to see up to the opening in the cavern.
"We must return," he murmured, then refocused on Frodo. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," Frodo repeated, getting to his feet and looking where Aragorn had looked. "How are we to get up there?"
"Climb," Aragorn said simply, turning and placing his feet back in the water. "I'll swim out under there and boost you up, then follow you."
"Can you really do that?" Frodo asked, worriedly gauging the space between the surface of the water and the hole in the ceiling.
"Yes," Aragorn replied, though of course he had no way of knowing.
The ranger dove gracefully (now that he had advance warning) into the water, floating next to the bank.
"Come Frodo," he said softly, turning back to the hobbit.
Frodo took in his breath, stepping unwillingly into the water that had been his prison just moments before.
**********
Gimli grunted, opening his eyes in the dark as he sat up, quickly turning his helmet, which had slid to the side on his head. He looked around, the greyish atmosphere of predawn flowing before his eyes in the cloudy sky.
He looked around at his rocky surroundings. He first thought might have been that he was still on the perilous mountain, were it not for the scraggly green plants that plunged out of some of the cracks on the ground here. He stood, looking at his side, noting with slight happiness that the axe had not left his belt.
Gimli looked down and then up, trying to ascertain where he was now. Below him were the bushy faint tops of trees in what looked like a crowded forest. Above him was the flattish top of a moutain, which he supposed was the very mountain they had been on when last he was awake. He must have been thrown from it, and landed on his new plateau.
Gimli looked doubtfully at the slippery surface of the rocks in front of him. He probably couldn't climb these, and they looked loose in all different places. Still, the only way he could see going now was up. The way down didn't look any easier, as the wall drew back under the edge Gimli now stood on. And, Gimli thought disconsolately, if any of the others were around and alright, they would most likely not have fallen. He reached forward, placing his gloved fingers into the cracks in the rocks in front of him. He'd just have to be careful.
He hoisted himself up, quickly lodging his foot into the rocks below him as he rearranged his hands again. The rocks were sharp, sticking at the toughened leather of his gloves. Though Gimli could barely feel the rocks beneath his hands, and was taking no notice of the deepish scratches they were leaving on the leather, he found himself wishing that some of those emaciated plants had found it in their hearts to grow up the side of the mountain as well. Their trunks seemed like they could withstand some strain.
Closer to the top than he was to the bottom now, Gimli reached higher for rocks to grab, in hopes of speedily ending the climb. Gimli stepped up, dislodging a fragile stone with his foot, turning it painfully against the stones. He bit back a cry, clutching harder at the rocks in his hands. His feet searched frantically for lodging, but the rocks seemed to have come out from under him, leaving nothing but his arms on the jutting stones to keep him up.
"Help," Gimli spoke as dignifiedly as he could in a strained voice, hoping that the others of the fellowship--the very people he was meaning to find--were still actually up there, and might hear his cry.
Instantly, the Steward of Gondor's upper body appeared over the edge of the rocks, surprise emerging quickly in his face as he thrust his arms over the side. Gimli let go of the rocks with one hand, extending the free arm shakily, straining to boost himself higher on his one arm as Boromir leaned further and further out, until he had a firm grasp around Gimli's whole hand, enough to do as he pulled the dwarf up.
***End of Part 2***
by Leafy
Rating: PG-13 for scary imagery, violence, bad attitudes, and tense situations.
Disclaimer: I own nothing Tolkien or Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
For additional writer's schtuff, see the first chapter. :o)
Thanks for all the reviews, everyone!
Alklachion: Hi there! Thanks for the review! I'm glad you like the story so far. :o) Hope you like this new chapter, we're in for a plot twist soon. :o)
Mariana Nimeneth: Thank you for the ice cream! In the commute to the new place, we still managed to bring the walk-in freezer along, as well as a hot-tub sized ice cream dish. I just need to run out and get some more spoons. Groak keeps biting the ends off...still, he's working hard on this story, so I won't say anything to him. :o) Thanks for the review, I hope you like this new chapter. Ooh! The beach! I love the beach! I just think the sun doesn't like me...sunburn...I'm getting better now, though. Thanks again!
Anarril: To think, you apologizing to me for late reviews?? :o) You must be the most patientest person under the sun, the amount of waiting you're doing for me. I put up a review of WoW, and your fp.net stuff will get a review from me shortly, too. Oh, being stuck underwater is scary, yeah. I've been moving into my new place in La La Land, and a summer class has been sucking time up as well, but I'm back for good, now. :o) Thanks for the review! Hope you like this new chapter!
LatestSin: Yeah, lots of action to begin with! Some of the stories in the middle aren't going to be quite as much though, so these will sort of balance them out. :o) I reeeeeeeeally want to see POTC too. I'm going as soon as it opens. I like Johnny Depp and Kiera Knightly, and of course, Orlando Bloom. :o) I'm listening to the mtv.com Pirates of the Carribean radio station right now. :o) Thanks for the review, hope you like this new chapter.
Meirelle Emeraldeyes: Hehe, thanks for the review! Glad you like it so far, hope you like the rest. I'm trying to make the chapters longer, too, so there's more to read with each update. Hope you like this new chapter!
*****************************
Chapter 2
'Up and Away'
Frodo struggled in a panic as he felt his ascent come to a forced stop, fighting against the cold darkness. The rocks that had pinioned his lower half to bottom of the deathly reservoir weighted painfully against his legs and lower ribs as he twisted this way and that, trying vainly to free himself. He needed help! He wasn't alone here, either…
Aragorn had fallen directly beneath him, and must then be here. But he wasn't in the water, that was quite evident. Frodo whipped his head around, mostly in protest, but partly in searching the black-as-night tides for Aragorn.
"He must be up!" Frodo thought desperately, feeling as if his lungs would tear.
The shifting rocks settled further, one of them sliding down the pile and striking Frodo's upper back. A burst of stale air was freed from his lunges as the wind was noiselessly knocked out of him. He looked up at the ghostly form of the larger bubbles soaring upwards, like little balls of light in the void. Perhaps Aragorn would see them, perhaps…but how could he see anything in all the blackness? Frodo's eyes stung with the cold, filthy water, he could no longer see the coveted air.
**********
"Frodo!" Aragorn chanced, louder this time. He knew Frodo had fallen down here, where was he? Aragorn backed up, calling the halfling's name again, stepping towards the water's edge again, trying to get a better look at the opposite bank.
"Frodo--!" the ranger gasped in surprise as he slipped on the damp periphery, almost taking in a mouthful of fetid water as he slid into the deep tarn.
Though long in the vertical aspect, the horizontal facet of the water was actually rather mere, as it turned out. The entire rock pile (which granted, was large) wasn't more than three feet from either side of the bank, Aragorn was rudely enlightened to as his feet slammed painfully into the side of it. The pile quailed with this stimulus, shifting and sliding towards the far bank, flattening until the whole bottom of the thing was covered with impressive rocks. Aragorn hovered in the water, recovering from the shock and twinge of sliding into the pool and a pile of enormous rocks, looking down at the faint shapes of the rocks. Suddenly, a little white rock slipped from between its bigger mates and shot up towards the surface with such power as to suggest that it had pushed off from the bottom. Aragorn turned in shock, looking up as he saw a little halfling form roll towards the bank in the water above him.
"Frodo!" he coughed, breaking the surface of the water in seconds, pushing towards the bank again as the hobbit weakly pulled himself up onto reasonably dry land. "Are you alright?"
Frodo did not respond right away, still gasping in the air that had seemed so far, when it was within sight but not reach, a few seconds ago. He turned his head, sitting up and scooting as Aragorn climbed onto the bank as well, gently nudging Frodo so that he wasn't sitting in the slick algae.
"Yes," Frodo said finally, wiping the hair out of his eyes and squinting at the man in the dimness that had resulted from the rocky blockage being removed. "Now."
"I'm sorry I didn't help you--" Aragorn began.
"You did," Frodo interrupted him. "You moved the rocks, didn't you?" his voice held a hint of confusion. Hadn't Aragorn seen his air bubbles and jumped in, seeing him and overthrowing the imprisoning tower of rocks? It had been a brilliant, if a little risky idea, Frodo thought. He was sure that he was covered in bruises and scratches under his tattered clothes, but he was simply grateful to be free now.
"Well--yes," Aragorn said. "Though, I didn't realize--"
Just then there was another rumble from above, louder than any Aragorn had yet heard. He looked up, leaning to the side to see up to the opening in the cavern.
"We must return," he murmured, then refocused on Frodo. "Are you alright?"
"Yes," Frodo repeated, getting to his feet and looking where Aragorn had looked. "How are we to get up there?"
"Climb," Aragorn said simply, turning and placing his feet back in the water. "I'll swim out under there and boost you up, then follow you."
"Can you really do that?" Frodo asked, worriedly gauging the space between the surface of the water and the hole in the ceiling.
"Yes," Aragorn replied, though of course he had no way of knowing.
The ranger dove gracefully (now that he had advance warning) into the water, floating next to the bank.
"Come Frodo," he said softly, turning back to the hobbit.
Frodo took in his breath, stepping unwillingly into the water that had been his prison just moments before.
**********
Gimli grunted, opening his eyes in the dark as he sat up, quickly turning his helmet, which had slid to the side on his head. He looked around, the greyish atmosphere of predawn flowing before his eyes in the cloudy sky.
He looked around at his rocky surroundings. He first thought might have been that he was still on the perilous mountain, were it not for the scraggly green plants that plunged out of some of the cracks on the ground here. He stood, looking at his side, noting with slight happiness that the axe had not left his belt.
Gimli looked down and then up, trying to ascertain where he was now. Below him were the bushy faint tops of trees in what looked like a crowded forest. Above him was the flattish top of a moutain, which he supposed was the very mountain they had been on when last he was awake. He must have been thrown from it, and landed on his new plateau.
Gimli looked doubtfully at the slippery surface of the rocks in front of him. He probably couldn't climb these, and they looked loose in all different places. Still, the only way he could see going now was up. The way down didn't look any easier, as the wall drew back under the edge Gimli now stood on. And, Gimli thought disconsolately, if any of the others were around and alright, they would most likely not have fallen. He reached forward, placing his gloved fingers into the cracks in the rocks in front of him. He'd just have to be careful.
He hoisted himself up, quickly lodging his foot into the rocks below him as he rearranged his hands again. The rocks were sharp, sticking at the toughened leather of his gloves. Though Gimli could barely feel the rocks beneath his hands, and was taking no notice of the deepish scratches they were leaving on the leather, he found himself wishing that some of those emaciated plants had found it in their hearts to grow up the side of the mountain as well. Their trunks seemed like they could withstand some strain.
Closer to the top than he was to the bottom now, Gimli reached higher for rocks to grab, in hopes of speedily ending the climb. Gimli stepped up, dislodging a fragile stone with his foot, turning it painfully against the stones. He bit back a cry, clutching harder at the rocks in his hands. His feet searched frantically for lodging, but the rocks seemed to have come out from under him, leaving nothing but his arms on the jutting stones to keep him up.
"Help," Gimli spoke as dignifiedly as he could in a strained voice, hoping that the others of the fellowship--the very people he was meaning to find--were still actually up there, and might hear his cry.
Instantly, the Steward of Gondor's upper body appeared over the edge of the rocks, surprise emerging quickly in his face as he thrust his arms over the side. Gimli let go of the rocks with one hand, extending the free arm shakily, straining to boost himself higher on his one arm as Boromir leaned further and further out, until he had a firm grasp around Gimli's whole hand, enough to do as he pulled the dwarf up.
***End of Part 2***
