Disclaimer: I don't own Tolkien characters, and I never will L . I am just borrowing them for my own pleasure…
A/N: Thanks again to those who reviewed! Here is a shorter chapter that serves as a link to the chapters that follow.
Dy: Yes, you were right!!
danceingfae: Hope you like this…
~ 4. Bound ~
Tension and restlessness haunted my steps for the rest of the day.
This tumult of emotion had nothing to do with the fact that I had decided to leave Lothlorien. Staying was out of the question. Galadriel had put it plainly enough. Whether it was healing or answers that I sought, I had to believe they would be somewhere out there.
The feeling I got from everyone around me was that they would rather I left. Besides I got the distinct impression that 'my purpose', as they called it, was known to them and it was up to me to discover it in my own time.
The one clear thing was that, though not expressed in words, whether I stayed or not, I would be under the careful scrutiny and watchful eyes of either the Lorien elves or their trusted allies. Either way, I could not stray very far without their knowledge. I needed them in order to survive.
I doubted they found me, a human female, dangerous in any way. It was what I could represent that troubled them. Not an evil presence, but something unknown.
Evil in my world had a totally different meaning. I thought of drug lords, murderers and child molesters and evil came to mind. It was the unknown that scared the people in my world more than anything. And I was beginning to learn that the creatures of Middle Earth feared it just as much.
I walked on the spongy ground, strolling amid the colossal ancient trees, trying to think and to relax, but most of all striving to give some meaning to what was happening to me.
I must have wandered farther than I thought and I glanced around to find any familiar landmarks, when the fresh air was torn by a shriek so fierce it froze my blood. Never in my life had I heard something so feral and agonized. Whatever creature was making that sound must be enduring terrible torture, I thought.
Yet this tranquil environment was the last place where I thought anything like this could happen. Or was it?
I tried to track the direction of the noise. No other cries resounded but as I got close, I heard whimpers and hisses. Fear gripped me as I suddenly realized that I wasn't too keen on discovering what had made that terrible sound. But my curiosity was stronger.
'Be still, in Eru's name!' I heard the enraged command before I saw Aragorn, his back turned, standing over what appeared to be a creature shrinking on the ground.
I wanted no part of whatever was going - no need to arouse further suspicion - so I quickly turned to leave. Too late. Aragorn spun around, his cross features softening a little as he spotted me.
'My lady…' he began but never finished.
In the fading daylight I saw something scrawny and skeletal leaping off the ground in my direction. Its skin was a sickening shade of gray and was slick with water. Before I could get a proper look, it was hiding behind my legs. I couldn't be sure if it was a dog, a giant frog, a monkey or all of the above. Whatever it was, it stank and my stomach turned as it pawed at my ankles.
'Gollum!' Aragorn bellowed as he yanked what appeared to be a rope binding the creature's hands. Gollum hit the ground hard with a formidable thud for one who appeared so emaciated. I cringed as I almost heard the ribs snap from the violence of the impact.
'Aragorn!' the cry of protest left my lips before I could bite it down. Violence against animals revolted me, and the yelp that escaped Gollum reminded me of a beaten dog.
'Forgive me, Mel. I thought he was going to attack you.' Aragorn said using my name and forgetting all courtesy. It was obvious see that this small but feisty creature was giving him real trouble. 'This is Gollum. He's quite a handful, as you can see' he said, glancing disgustedly at the creature writhing at his feet, tugging at the rope.
'Yes, I can certainly see that' I replied, trying to remember why the creature's name sounded so familiar. He was...I struggled to remember, but I could not…not a thing…strange, I thought. What was Gollum's story? I should be able to remember later, I told myself.
Aragorn fastened the rope to a high branch, leaving Gollum hissing and spitting and jerking the rope that seemed to bother him a great deal.
'I was trying to get him to eat something' Aragorn explained 'but clearly he is not interested in elvish food.'
'What does he eat?'
'Fish, for the most part, I think…he's been refusing to eat for quite a few days now. But if he wishes to starve himself to death, that is his choice' he said. ' Can I walk back with you, my lady?'
Courtesy had returned to him, I noted. Also, I had the distinct feeling that he wanted me out of there as quickly as possible.
It was the faintest of whispers and my first reaction was to believe that my ears were playing tricks on me. Yet somehow the mutter reached me as we were walking away.
'Help..'.
'Is this the prisoner that you must deliver to Mirkwood?' I asked pretending I had not heard anything and hoping Aragorn had neither. But I couldn't be sure because Aragorn halted for a split second as if wanting to turn around but then resumed walking beside me.
'Yes, my lady' Aragorn replied formally as he led the way.
'Please call me Mel' I said, 'I am not used to being called my lady. We are a lot more informal in my world, you know. It helps.'
He smiled in acquiescence and seemed to be at ease. There wasn't much suspicion in his eyes now. If I had looked more attentively, I would have probably found curiosity.
'As you wish, Mel' he said kindly, nodding his head.
I needed Aragorn on my side. That meant I had to gain his trust, or if that proved impossible, at least stay close enough to him to watch and learn as much as I could.
As I lay on my bed that night, still afraid to go to sleep, I tried to remember anything about Aragorn from he books I had read years ago. It was no use. Nothing came to mind. In fact, as I went over the faces I had met that day, I could not recall a single thing about them. It was more than a little frustrating since it was hard to accept that while my body was functioning perfectly, certain areas of my brain could have been affected by the recent events. In the absence of any information on my condition, I decided to put my forgetfulness down to the after effects of shock.
I drifted off to sleep trying to remember…
I woke several times during the night, not because of dreams, but because I was worried by my lack of reminiscence. Every time I would urge myself "This is the last night you are going to spend in a soft bed, enjoy it!" and try to fall asleep again.
It was early morning when I fell into a deeper sleep but it only seemed like I dozed for a few seconds when I heard urgent yet discreet knocking at my door.
I sat up, startled. We were set to leave at dawn and in all likelihood, I was late.
Elriniel entered the room carrying a tray of cakes and milk.
'Am I late?'
'No, my lady' the answer came. 'There is still time.'
In fact, the time proved to be just enough for me to have a quick bath and for her to give my hair a good brush and more plaits, to make my hair more manageable while traveling. Being pampered and her fussing over my hair was relaxing since I was not used to it.
I made an effort to finish the food. I didn't usually have breakfast until much later in the day, the only thing I ever had in the morning was coffee. And for the first time since I had woken up, I thought about coffee and craved it. Instead I drank the milk, desperately trying to remember how coffee smelled and tasted.
The elves had given me more comfortable travel gear to wear. It consisted of a pearl-gray shirt of a silky texture, a dark-green leather overcoat, knee-length and beautifully embroidered with silver fiber around the sleeves and collar and a grayish, full-length cloak made of a woolen material, light and soft to the touch. A pair of close fitting leggings and soft leather boots completed this outfit. I had never considered green to look good on me but I could hardly complain about their choice of garments. I assumed I looked as elvish as they came, even without the help of a mirror.
I quickly slipped into the outfit while Elriniel explained that a pack had been prepared for me with fresh clothes and that it was waiting for me downstairs where the horses were. I was glad to hear we were going to ride. Like all workaholics, I used to drive everywhere, hardly using my legs excepting to surf, which was the only form of exercise I allowed myself as a break in the hectic life I led. Surfing was how I kept my skin tanned all year round, which explained the shock I had when I realized that my skin had lightened a few shades. I presumed that my face was as pale as the rest of my body.
I quickly glanced around the room that had been my home for the past two days, since my life had been irrevocably changed. I looked out the window one last time, hoping to lock the feeling of peace and completeness somewhere in my memory to retrieve it later when I might need it. I had no doubt that it was the last time I would ever see these enchanted woods.
Then I began the long descent to the ground.
~~
Tamara sat close to Mel's bed oblivious to the monotonous beeping of the heart monitor. Mel's breathing was even and had it not been for the medical equipment piled around the bed and the drip protruding from her arm, one could have thought she was in a deep sleeping. Tamara watched her friend's still face closely. The ward night-light threw shadows on Mel's face and accentuated her dainty, lean features.
Much to her chagrin, Tamara had noticed that Mel's sun kissed skin tone was giving way to a slight tinge of gray. The doctors said, nothing to worry about, it was normal in coma patients.
What is normal in a coma patient? Tamara thought bitterly.
They had assured Tamara that Mel's vitals were fine, she was breathing on her own and that her condition had not worsened, or improved for that matter.
'I wish I could be in there with you.' Tamara sighed.
She remembered being with Mel inside the game, after she had learned the terrifying truth. How she had gripped Tamara's hand with crushing strength borne of despair and had finally drifted off into an uneasy sleep but not before sighing 'Why me?'. Searing pain had ripped through Tamara's heart and had not really faded away since. And now there was an even lesser chance of getting Mel back.
The minute she was out, she had asked Jerry, the programmer 'You have to try and plug me back into the game.'
Jerry' fingers were flying across the keyboard frantically, and he did not pause for a second, punching the keys furiously even as he spoke to Tamara. He had been awake for the past seventy hours but he knew that if he spent the next seventy days in front of his computer, it would still make no difference.
'I can't.' Jerry had said, helplessness evident in his tone. ' I tried to run a patch but it's no use. The game is not responding and…'
'What…' Tamara gasped. Surely after all this there could be no more bad news.
'Even if I can get the game to respond, it will be useless…'
'What do you mean?' Tamara tensed all over, instinctively bracing herself for what would follow.
'I mean that I can't control it any longer. And Mel is not in the game anymore.'
'Then where is she?'
Jerry shrugged dismally and utterly defeated.
'I honestly don't know, Tame. She's disappeared…'
To Be Continued…
