Random Orcs, or We Fell to Middle Earth
Chapter Eight: Midnightmares
by Galadriel Tolkien
I had been delighted to find out that my guess about age and experience had been rather true. We had spent several hours making love, until we ended in a sweaty exhausted pile, still in front of the table. Most of the food had either been eaten, or used for more interesting tasks.
We drifted off, a nearby cloak used as coverlet, since neither of us had the energy to look for anything more substantial.
Hours later, I drifted awake. I felt rested and comfortable. The sweat had dried from our skins, evaporating into the atmosphere around us, and someone had been thoughtful enough to place another blanket over us. I shifted, a sudden restlessness catching me. Gandalf was holding me loosely, so I slipped slowly out of his arms. He murmured softly and I chuckled, smoothing a hand across his face. He settled back down, and I stood up, shivering slightly in the night air.
I was slightly wobbly as I searched for something quick to pull on. The after-orgasm languour still had a great hold on my body, and I was also slightly sore. It had been a LONG time.
A gentle voice touched my mind. ::I wish to speak with you.::
Galadriel. Why did this not surprise me. ::Don't suppose you have an extra robe on you?::
She appeared in the doorway, her lips twitching in the moonlight. ::Here.:: she held out a dark silken thing, that turned out to be a nicely serviceable robe.
I raised an eyebrow, and she left the doorway, me following. We took a meandering path through the trees, ending up at the top of a hollow. A set of stairs were carved into the very stone, curving gently down to the floor. We stepped down them, the only sounds to be heard the swish of silken robes and a slight tinkle of falling water. A small stream cascaded from the roots of the tree, collecting in a small basin near the bottom of the hollow.
Directly in the centre of the hollow, stood a small bowl upon a pedestal. I studied it, curious.
"This is Galadriel's Mirror." She said softly, "Often have I looked into it and seen things I did not understand." She looked at me, her eyes suddenly troubled. "Lately, I have seen visions of places that have not been and will not be--and you are there. You are fighting, always fighting. At times the only thing you seem to do is bleed and die and live for life."
"And?"
"I wish for you to tell me--who are you?"
"Would you believe me?"
She chuckled, "I have seen many things I should not believe, yet do. Too, I hold one of the Three. Many strange things fall within my purview." She raised her left hand, and I saw a slight glimmering there, then it was gone, hidden again.
I looked at her for a long time, then nodded, "Very well. But I ask that you not reveal what I say to anyone save Lord Celeborn."
"As you wish."
"You might want to have a seat. This could take some time." She shook her head, and I began. "I am Marya Louisa Susanna DeZorga. I was created to serve as a sort of Cosmic Ace in the Hole..."
--
Galadriel and I talked until dawn. We covered many things, she filled me in on much of the political situation of Middle Earth, and I told her of dancing among the stars and flying through firey mountains. The conversation eventually got around to Gandalf, and I blushed at the approval she radiated.
"I..."
"You're going to be very good for him."
"Good." I blushed again, "He's a wonderful man. Lover, warrior, poet, wizard, and that brain. 'Driel, dear, he's like a puzzlebox that you have to open in layers." I sighed, "I love it."
"And, considering the, uh, emotional emanations earlier tonight..."
"Sorry about that." I blinked, suddenly alarmed, "We weren't broadcasting, were we?"
A chuckle escaped her, "Some of the young ones found themselves inexplicably drawn to procreate, but nothing harmful."
"Ye gods." I hid my face in my hands, "It's been way too long. It's my only excuse." I looked at her ruefully, "I normally dampen any projections so as not to bother anyone around myself. I do apologise."
"No harm was done, save a few bruises on those who were overly zealous in performing their...duties."
I chuckled, sensing the amusement she had. "And yourself?"
"I'll have you know the Lady Galadriel has loftier barriers than most."
"But you were still affected." I guessed, lips twitching.
"Yes." She smiled, "Thank you."
It was the smile I'd had much much earlier, right before I'd fallen asleep. I laughed, "You're as bad as I am."
She sniffed, "My lord is a wonderful lover, when he remembers to put his mind to it."
"I'll leave him to you, 'Driel."
With another small chuckle, she held out her hand to me, "I am glad that my son named you elf-friend. Although I would have liked to do it myself. Not that it matters." She paused, "I hope you realise how much I approve of you and Mithrandir, Luthien."
"...thanks." I felt like blushing again.
"He is going to need you in the coming battles." Darkness coloured Galadriel's eyes. "There will be so many."
"Too many."
"Indeed." She shook her head, smiling again, "The dawn is approaching, my friend. So let us end on a happy note and return to our lovers, refreshed and looking for arms to hold us gently."
"Good plan. I like that plan." I stood, stretching as she did the same. "And to think I wanted sleep." I sighed.
--
I'm not quite sure how long Gandalf and I spent in Lothlorien. It's a timeless place, given to long afternoons, and late nights. Mornings spent curled around your lover, with maybe some hot cocoa nearby. No coffee, sadly, but I was getting over that. Sort of.
Some of the time was spent in council with the others, but we had hashed and rehashed everything, and Gandalf had long decided that our parts to play didn't include chasing the Fellowship to Mordor. He was more concerned with Saruman, and I became convinced he was right.
When Gandalf adopted white, instead of grey, I knew he'd passed into his new life as the strongest of the wizards. Galadriel dubbed him Gandalf the White, one night, and it stuck.
Darkness was falling in the forests to the south and west of Lorien, and the Lady worried that it might not be stoppable.
My nightmares agreed with her. They started nearly a month after we'd arrived, when I was rested and whole, my hair growing back in. I now sported a cap of rainbow-coloured curls, and several of the elves were calling me Lady Rainbow, as Pippin had once done so, and I realised I missed the lad. He featured heavily in my nightmares, he and Merry, and I cried out as I awoke, soaked in a cold sweat.
Gandalf caught me as I shivered, "Shhh."
"No... Something has gone horribly wrong. We must go to Fangorn, my love." I gasped out, not knowing where this place was, but knowing I was called. I twisted away from his hands, tumbling out of bed and landing on my knees heavily.
"In the morning."
"We must leave then." I stood, and began rummaging through the room, searching out my weapons and dragon mail. I hadn't worn it since that first night, when Gandalf had peeled me out of it. I found them in a small stack upon a shelf, cleaned and gleaming.
He still watched me from our bed, concern in his gaze, "The dream was that strong?"
"Yes." I held out a hand, wincing as it shook. "I'm full of adrenaline, right now."
"Come sleep."
"I have to do something to burn this off, or I won't be able to."
He smirked, "I can think of a way..."
I blinked at him, "You dirty old man."
"That's your own fault, my dear. I was content to stay a sexless, ancient wizard."
I snorted as I walked back to the bed, "I'm sure."
He caught me as I fell back in, pulling me against him. "No. I am sure. You are wonderful."
--
Galadriel was unsurprised. "Your dreams echoed in my own last night."
I blinked, "Odd. They didn't touch Gandalf, and he was sleeping rather closer."
She smiled slightly, "I am the Lady of the Wood. My mind is in everything."
"Ah." I blinked, then widened my eyes, "Of course."
She handed me several small bags, I checked in them, discovering the elvish waybread lembas wrapped in the leaves of the mallorn, and several water skins, as well as more practical things, like a tin pot and fire-starting flint. There were also several changes of trousers and shirts for me, and a few small elven knives. I looked at her, surprised. "My thanks, my Lady."
"You lost much in the dark of Moria. I would not see you leave my domain with less than you need."
I stood and hugged her. She stiffened, shocked at my familiarity. Then she tentatively hugged me back. "'Driel, we're going to need what you've given us." I pulled back and smiled, surprised to find a tear sliding down my cheek. "I don't want to leave, but we must."
"The world will go on without you."
"But it will end a darker place without us." I moved away, pulling the last of our belongings together. I'd dressed earlier, in the half-light of dawn, pulling on the dragon mail and knives as an old friend and defense against the world. Gandalf had watched me in silence, a sadness in his gaze.
"Are you so sure?"
I turned to her, eyebrow raised, "You've seen visions of me in your Mirror, and you have to ask?"
"Then you shall go with the luck of Galadriel." She caught my head in her hands and kissed my forehead. "And may it bring you comfort in the dark times to come."
I caught her hand, "May you find comfort as well. Don't despair in Celeborn. We woke him, I rather doubt he'll remain locked in himself again."
She smiled, it was almost lascivious. "We shall see."
I watched her leave, almost floating as she strode majestically out of the set of rooms we'd been given. "Yes, we shall..."
--
We walked south, following the river for a time before slowly stepping into the woods to our west. Lothlorien seemed far behind us by the end of the first day. By the end of the second, I was wishing we'd never left. Gandalf had seemed not himself the moment we left Lorien, and he had slipped further into odd mutterings and ruminations. He drew away from me, sleeping on his own, robes wrapped tightly. I let him, since it was his life, not mine. But I missed curling up to sleep at night with him.
After the third day, we descended into grass-plains, where a horse awaited us. Or, rather, a herd of them. At their head was a tall, proud white stallion. Next to him stood a pale green mare. She wore a small saddle, its girth still snug under her belly, and no bridle.
::Nice of you to join the party.::
I raised an eyebrow at her, ::And what are you doing hanging out with His Studlyness?::
Alayna snorted, swishing her mane about. Gandalf walked towards the white stallion, pleased. "Marya, I'd like you to meet Shadowfax, the stallion of the plains whom only I have tamed."
I nodded to the stallion, then pointed at the green horse. "I'd like you to meet my companion, Alayna. She's an idiot."
Alayna snorted, glaring at me. ::I'll get you for that.::
::You can always try.::
Gandalf bowed to Alayna, then called Shadowfax over. The stallion strode proudly to him, sleekness and smugness in every line.
::How come you don't come when I call?::
::Busy.::
I looked at her suspiciously as she came towards me and let me attach the packs to the saddle. ::With what?::
::Oh... This and that.::
::Sending me nightmares.::
::And, well.... Shadowfax is a NICE piece of ass.::
I choked. ::What? I've been off getting killed, and you've been boinking the King of the Horses?::
::Priorities, dearest.::
::Y'know,:: I mounted, letting her follow Shadowfax and Gandalf as we trotted across this lip of plain, heading for the darkness of a forest. ::I thought Companions avoided horses, like humans avoid idiots.::
::Well, he's not just *any* horse. He's the King of the Horses. Besides, wouldn't you still be jumping Gandalf's bones if he were stupid?::
I pondered. ::Maybe.::
::And might I note that thanks to you, several of the herd are now in heat.::
::ME?::
::What, you didn't think lust would echo down our bond? It had to go *somewhere*::
I snickered, ::I've just thought of something, O Wise One.::
::Yeah?::
::Birth control.::
::Horses don't need it--well, not naturally, anyway.::
::Oh, I wasn't talking about horses.::
::Then--oh. Oh, fuck.:: She blushed, her coat turning a sort of appley-red. Luckily, no one seemed to notice.
::I hope we're not in the middle of some battle in nine months.::
::This is all your fault.::
::I beg to differ. You were boinking the King long before Gandalf and I did the horizontal mambo.::
She snorted, and shut me out, irritated. Probably because I couldn't get pregnant. Not my fault, really, I just was Immortal, and the whole reproductive systems of Immortals sort of got shut down. Oh, we could have sex to our hearts' content, but children there never were.
Night fell as we entered the forest, and we almost immediately set up camp. Alayna and Shadowfax went off, frisking through the edge of the forest and the plain. ::Back tomorrow, sometime.::
::Wench.::
::We're bored with the whole sleeping thing, human.::
::Riiight.:: I offered to take first watch, and Gandalf curled into his now-white cloak and slept immediately.
I was betting I wouldn't get any sleep. Nightmares, or something else, would keep me awake. And so I decided to let Gandalf have the whole night to snooze in.
Something in the forest rustled, and I decided to take a look. Setting a quick trip-spell that would alert me should something disturb the camp, I slipped into the trees.
They welcomed me, not as Lorien had, but with a watchfulness that threatened certain malice if I misbehaved. I wasn't planning to.
I walked for some time, skirting within the tree line, sensing that I was suddenly required somewhere. The trees were beginning to rustle in agitation, and I sped up, wishing I'd thought to wake Gandalf. The urgency deepened, and I was running, trusting to my spatial sense to dodge around anything that might get in the way.
Firelight from ahead distracted me, and I slowed, watching it. Three were seated around it, but it wasn't them I was being drawn to.
A fourth man sat on my side of the fire, his clothing white. I sensed a massive amount of malevolence from him, and knew I'd found the reason the forest was upset.
I waited, and he suddenly left the fireside, heading back towards me. The moment he was out of sight of his fireside companions I jumped him. Probably not the most finesse-worthy approach, but I was irritated, and bored.
He squeaked before my fingers closed on certain nerves, then went limp, and I dragged him away from the fire and the three (who felt familiar, but now wasn't the time to deal with that), heading further into the west.
Eventually, I stopped, dumping him into a hollow, and covered him over with bracken and other things, including some squirmy bugs. I couldn't kill whoever this was, but irritating the hell out of him was on my To-Do list.
I felt tired, then, having spent half the night tromping through the woods. With a yawn, I worried about Gandalf, then decided he could take care of himself. I wandered away from the unconscious wizard and found a nice tree to climb, curled up in the branches and fell into a doze.
--
I awoke to sunlight dappling the forest in gold, and yawned, completely refreshed. The air of Fangorn seemed invigorating, and I entertained very naughty thoughts before I remembered that I had left my lover far away.
"Damn..." With a sigh I dropped from my tree and pondered where to go. I had apparently gotten myself lost, or at least slightly stranded, so I decided to head for high ground, maybe suss out where I was over the treetops.
For a while I walked, trying to find a sense of height with my spatial sense. Eventually, I spotted one, and turned north. As I neared it, I realised that others had been this way. Unless my tracking skills were failing, two hobbits, and a few others. I frowned. And someone with a staff.
Gandalf had been given a lovely staff by Galadriel, but he wouldn't have made it this far, would he have?
Unless he was looking for me. I blushed slightly, then headed for the hill I'd sensed.
There were people talking, about halfway up, and to my right. I headed towards the voices, realising they were familiar.
Apparently, three people were confronting Gandalf. I recognised the voices of Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas quickly, and started to say something, then stopped, deciding to wait.
They were telling Gandalf of his meeting them last night at their fire, and I realised I'd dragged off what had to have been Saruman. Pity I hadn't realised it before, I wouldn't have minded returning some of the pain he'd given Gandalf. Even if Fate would have been irritated.
"You must be Saruman, you're wearing white." Gimli decided, starting forward again with his ax.
"Actually, he's Gandalf the White now." I announced from where I stood behind them all.
They whirled to stare at me, shock and surprise on their faces. Gandalf cast me a reproving look, but I ignored it for the questions about to come.
"You fell." Aragorn noted, "The roof took the both of you into the abyss."
"We..." I looked at Gandalf and shrugged, "We survived. Barely. I'm sure Gandalf will tell you more if you wish."
"My Lady Rainbow!" Gimli caught my hand and kissed it, "I was fraught with sadness at your loss, and I see your hair has been sundered as a result."
I touched the cap of curls and smiled, "Sort of."
Legolas clasped my arm, smiling, "My bow and heart are glad at your coming."
"But what of the others of the Fellowship?" Gandalf demanded, "What has become of them?"
"Pippin and Merry were captured by orcs. Boromir fell defending them." Aragorn replied sadly, I caught something in his eyes when he mentioned Boromir, but didn't press him. "As for Frodo and Sam, they have taken the ring to Mordor."
"The Fellowship has broken." Legolas said softly.
I snorted, "Only bent. At least we are alive. And, come, tell us of Pippin and Merry."
"They were captured three days ago, we have followed their trail across the plains of Rohan. It ended at the edge of the forest, where the Rohirrim destroyed the orcs. Of the hobbits, there was no sign." Aragorn sighed, "We hoped they might have come into the forest, but we have been unable to find them."
"If they're in torment," Gimli began.
"They are not." I said, concentrating. "They are alive, yet... Distant." I frowned, trying to decipher what I was getting through the slight bond I had with the two hobbits. I have a tendency to collect mental bonds with the people I travel with. They're usually not noticeable and only aid in finding someone when lost. But emotions could travel them, and I sensed nothing bad from the two.
"Either way, it does not matter," Gandalf announced, "I have long felt that there was a need to remove Saruman from Orthanc. We must travel to Edoras, and gain the help of the Rohirrim, if we are to succeed."
"We had a report from one of the Riders, one Eomer, that the King has ordered you banished from his land, Mithrandir," Legolas reported.
"Then we'll have to change his mind, won't we?" I replied with a smile.
--
Chapter Eight: Midnightmares
by Galadriel Tolkien
I had been delighted to find out that my guess about age and experience had been rather true. We had spent several hours making love, until we ended in a sweaty exhausted pile, still in front of the table. Most of the food had either been eaten, or used for more interesting tasks.
We drifted off, a nearby cloak used as coverlet, since neither of us had the energy to look for anything more substantial.
Hours later, I drifted awake. I felt rested and comfortable. The sweat had dried from our skins, evaporating into the atmosphere around us, and someone had been thoughtful enough to place another blanket over us. I shifted, a sudden restlessness catching me. Gandalf was holding me loosely, so I slipped slowly out of his arms. He murmured softly and I chuckled, smoothing a hand across his face. He settled back down, and I stood up, shivering slightly in the night air.
I was slightly wobbly as I searched for something quick to pull on. The after-orgasm languour still had a great hold on my body, and I was also slightly sore. It had been a LONG time.
A gentle voice touched my mind. ::I wish to speak with you.::
Galadriel. Why did this not surprise me. ::Don't suppose you have an extra robe on you?::
She appeared in the doorway, her lips twitching in the moonlight. ::Here.:: she held out a dark silken thing, that turned out to be a nicely serviceable robe.
I raised an eyebrow, and she left the doorway, me following. We took a meandering path through the trees, ending up at the top of a hollow. A set of stairs were carved into the very stone, curving gently down to the floor. We stepped down them, the only sounds to be heard the swish of silken robes and a slight tinkle of falling water. A small stream cascaded from the roots of the tree, collecting in a small basin near the bottom of the hollow.
Directly in the centre of the hollow, stood a small bowl upon a pedestal. I studied it, curious.
"This is Galadriel's Mirror." She said softly, "Often have I looked into it and seen things I did not understand." She looked at me, her eyes suddenly troubled. "Lately, I have seen visions of places that have not been and will not be--and you are there. You are fighting, always fighting. At times the only thing you seem to do is bleed and die and live for life."
"And?"
"I wish for you to tell me--who are you?"
"Would you believe me?"
She chuckled, "I have seen many things I should not believe, yet do. Too, I hold one of the Three. Many strange things fall within my purview." She raised her left hand, and I saw a slight glimmering there, then it was gone, hidden again.
I looked at her for a long time, then nodded, "Very well. But I ask that you not reveal what I say to anyone save Lord Celeborn."
"As you wish."
"You might want to have a seat. This could take some time." She shook her head, and I began. "I am Marya Louisa Susanna DeZorga. I was created to serve as a sort of Cosmic Ace in the Hole..."
--
Galadriel and I talked until dawn. We covered many things, she filled me in on much of the political situation of Middle Earth, and I told her of dancing among the stars and flying through firey mountains. The conversation eventually got around to Gandalf, and I blushed at the approval she radiated.
"I..."
"You're going to be very good for him."
"Good." I blushed again, "He's a wonderful man. Lover, warrior, poet, wizard, and that brain. 'Driel, dear, he's like a puzzlebox that you have to open in layers." I sighed, "I love it."
"And, considering the, uh, emotional emanations earlier tonight..."
"Sorry about that." I blinked, suddenly alarmed, "We weren't broadcasting, were we?"
A chuckle escaped her, "Some of the young ones found themselves inexplicably drawn to procreate, but nothing harmful."
"Ye gods." I hid my face in my hands, "It's been way too long. It's my only excuse." I looked at her ruefully, "I normally dampen any projections so as not to bother anyone around myself. I do apologise."
"No harm was done, save a few bruises on those who were overly zealous in performing their...duties."
I chuckled, sensing the amusement she had. "And yourself?"
"I'll have you know the Lady Galadriel has loftier barriers than most."
"But you were still affected." I guessed, lips twitching.
"Yes." She smiled, "Thank you."
It was the smile I'd had much much earlier, right before I'd fallen asleep. I laughed, "You're as bad as I am."
She sniffed, "My lord is a wonderful lover, when he remembers to put his mind to it."
"I'll leave him to you, 'Driel."
With another small chuckle, she held out her hand to me, "I am glad that my son named you elf-friend. Although I would have liked to do it myself. Not that it matters." She paused, "I hope you realise how much I approve of you and Mithrandir, Luthien."
"...thanks." I felt like blushing again.
"He is going to need you in the coming battles." Darkness coloured Galadriel's eyes. "There will be so many."
"Too many."
"Indeed." She shook her head, smiling again, "The dawn is approaching, my friend. So let us end on a happy note and return to our lovers, refreshed and looking for arms to hold us gently."
"Good plan. I like that plan." I stood, stretching as she did the same. "And to think I wanted sleep." I sighed.
--
I'm not quite sure how long Gandalf and I spent in Lothlorien. It's a timeless place, given to long afternoons, and late nights. Mornings spent curled around your lover, with maybe some hot cocoa nearby. No coffee, sadly, but I was getting over that. Sort of.
Some of the time was spent in council with the others, but we had hashed and rehashed everything, and Gandalf had long decided that our parts to play didn't include chasing the Fellowship to Mordor. He was more concerned with Saruman, and I became convinced he was right.
When Gandalf adopted white, instead of grey, I knew he'd passed into his new life as the strongest of the wizards. Galadriel dubbed him Gandalf the White, one night, and it stuck.
Darkness was falling in the forests to the south and west of Lorien, and the Lady worried that it might not be stoppable.
My nightmares agreed with her. They started nearly a month after we'd arrived, when I was rested and whole, my hair growing back in. I now sported a cap of rainbow-coloured curls, and several of the elves were calling me Lady Rainbow, as Pippin had once done so, and I realised I missed the lad. He featured heavily in my nightmares, he and Merry, and I cried out as I awoke, soaked in a cold sweat.
Gandalf caught me as I shivered, "Shhh."
"No... Something has gone horribly wrong. We must go to Fangorn, my love." I gasped out, not knowing where this place was, but knowing I was called. I twisted away from his hands, tumbling out of bed and landing on my knees heavily.
"In the morning."
"We must leave then." I stood, and began rummaging through the room, searching out my weapons and dragon mail. I hadn't worn it since that first night, when Gandalf had peeled me out of it. I found them in a small stack upon a shelf, cleaned and gleaming.
He still watched me from our bed, concern in his gaze, "The dream was that strong?"
"Yes." I held out a hand, wincing as it shook. "I'm full of adrenaline, right now."
"Come sleep."
"I have to do something to burn this off, or I won't be able to."
He smirked, "I can think of a way..."
I blinked at him, "You dirty old man."
"That's your own fault, my dear. I was content to stay a sexless, ancient wizard."
I snorted as I walked back to the bed, "I'm sure."
He caught me as I fell back in, pulling me against him. "No. I am sure. You are wonderful."
--
Galadriel was unsurprised. "Your dreams echoed in my own last night."
I blinked, "Odd. They didn't touch Gandalf, and he was sleeping rather closer."
She smiled slightly, "I am the Lady of the Wood. My mind is in everything."
"Ah." I blinked, then widened my eyes, "Of course."
She handed me several small bags, I checked in them, discovering the elvish waybread lembas wrapped in the leaves of the mallorn, and several water skins, as well as more practical things, like a tin pot and fire-starting flint. There were also several changes of trousers and shirts for me, and a few small elven knives. I looked at her, surprised. "My thanks, my Lady."
"You lost much in the dark of Moria. I would not see you leave my domain with less than you need."
I stood and hugged her. She stiffened, shocked at my familiarity. Then she tentatively hugged me back. "'Driel, we're going to need what you've given us." I pulled back and smiled, surprised to find a tear sliding down my cheek. "I don't want to leave, but we must."
"The world will go on without you."
"But it will end a darker place without us." I moved away, pulling the last of our belongings together. I'd dressed earlier, in the half-light of dawn, pulling on the dragon mail and knives as an old friend and defense against the world. Gandalf had watched me in silence, a sadness in his gaze.
"Are you so sure?"
I turned to her, eyebrow raised, "You've seen visions of me in your Mirror, and you have to ask?"
"Then you shall go with the luck of Galadriel." She caught my head in her hands and kissed my forehead. "And may it bring you comfort in the dark times to come."
I caught her hand, "May you find comfort as well. Don't despair in Celeborn. We woke him, I rather doubt he'll remain locked in himself again."
She smiled, it was almost lascivious. "We shall see."
I watched her leave, almost floating as she strode majestically out of the set of rooms we'd been given. "Yes, we shall..."
--
We walked south, following the river for a time before slowly stepping into the woods to our west. Lothlorien seemed far behind us by the end of the first day. By the end of the second, I was wishing we'd never left. Gandalf had seemed not himself the moment we left Lorien, and he had slipped further into odd mutterings and ruminations. He drew away from me, sleeping on his own, robes wrapped tightly. I let him, since it was his life, not mine. But I missed curling up to sleep at night with him.
After the third day, we descended into grass-plains, where a horse awaited us. Or, rather, a herd of them. At their head was a tall, proud white stallion. Next to him stood a pale green mare. She wore a small saddle, its girth still snug under her belly, and no bridle.
::Nice of you to join the party.::
I raised an eyebrow at her, ::And what are you doing hanging out with His Studlyness?::
Alayna snorted, swishing her mane about. Gandalf walked towards the white stallion, pleased. "Marya, I'd like you to meet Shadowfax, the stallion of the plains whom only I have tamed."
I nodded to the stallion, then pointed at the green horse. "I'd like you to meet my companion, Alayna. She's an idiot."
Alayna snorted, glaring at me. ::I'll get you for that.::
::You can always try.::
Gandalf bowed to Alayna, then called Shadowfax over. The stallion strode proudly to him, sleekness and smugness in every line.
::How come you don't come when I call?::
::Busy.::
I looked at her suspiciously as she came towards me and let me attach the packs to the saddle. ::With what?::
::Oh... This and that.::
::Sending me nightmares.::
::And, well.... Shadowfax is a NICE piece of ass.::
I choked. ::What? I've been off getting killed, and you've been boinking the King of the Horses?::
::Priorities, dearest.::
::Y'know,:: I mounted, letting her follow Shadowfax and Gandalf as we trotted across this lip of plain, heading for the darkness of a forest. ::I thought Companions avoided horses, like humans avoid idiots.::
::Well, he's not just *any* horse. He's the King of the Horses. Besides, wouldn't you still be jumping Gandalf's bones if he were stupid?::
I pondered. ::Maybe.::
::And might I note that thanks to you, several of the herd are now in heat.::
::ME?::
::What, you didn't think lust would echo down our bond? It had to go *somewhere*::
I snickered, ::I've just thought of something, O Wise One.::
::Yeah?::
::Birth control.::
::Horses don't need it--well, not naturally, anyway.::
::Oh, I wasn't talking about horses.::
::Then--oh. Oh, fuck.:: She blushed, her coat turning a sort of appley-red. Luckily, no one seemed to notice.
::I hope we're not in the middle of some battle in nine months.::
::This is all your fault.::
::I beg to differ. You were boinking the King long before Gandalf and I did the horizontal mambo.::
She snorted, and shut me out, irritated. Probably because I couldn't get pregnant. Not my fault, really, I just was Immortal, and the whole reproductive systems of Immortals sort of got shut down. Oh, we could have sex to our hearts' content, but children there never were.
Night fell as we entered the forest, and we almost immediately set up camp. Alayna and Shadowfax went off, frisking through the edge of the forest and the plain. ::Back tomorrow, sometime.::
::Wench.::
::We're bored with the whole sleeping thing, human.::
::Riiight.:: I offered to take first watch, and Gandalf curled into his now-white cloak and slept immediately.
I was betting I wouldn't get any sleep. Nightmares, or something else, would keep me awake. And so I decided to let Gandalf have the whole night to snooze in.
Something in the forest rustled, and I decided to take a look. Setting a quick trip-spell that would alert me should something disturb the camp, I slipped into the trees.
They welcomed me, not as Lorien had, but with a watchfulness that threatened certain malice if I misbehaved. I wasn't planning to.
I walked for some time, skirting within the tree line, sensing that I was suddenly required somewhere. The trees were beginning to rustle in agitation, and I sped up, wishing I'd thought to wake Gandalf. The urgency deepened, and I was running, trusting to my spatial sense to dodge around anything that might get in the way.
Firelight from ahead distracted me, and I slowed, watching it. Three were seated around it, but it wasn't them I was being drawn to.
A fourth man sat on my side of the fire, his clothing white. I sensed a massive amount of malevolence from him, and knew I'd found the reason the forest was upset.
I waited, and he suddenly left the fireside, heading back towards me. The moment he was out of sight of his fireside companions I jumped him. Probably not the most finesse-worthy approach, but I was irritated, and bored.
He squeaked before my fingers closed on certain nerves, then went limp, and I dragged him away from the fire and the three (who felt familiar, but now wasn't the time to deal with that), heading further into the west.
Eventually, I stopped, dumping him into a hollow, and covered him over with bracken and other things, including some squirmy bugs. I couldn't kill whoever this was, but irritating the hell out of him was on my To-Do list.
I felt tired, then, having spent half the night tromping through the woods. With a yawn, I worried about Gandalf, then decided he could take care of himself. I wandered away from the unconscious wizard and found a nice tree to climb, curled up in the branches and fell into a doze.
--
I awoke to sunlight dappling the forest in gold, and yawned, completely refreshed. The air of Fangorn seemed invigorating, and I entertained very naughty thoughts before I remembered that I had left my lover far away.
"Damn..." With a sigh I dropped from my tree and pondered where to go. I had apparently gotten myself lost, or at least slightly stranded, so I decided to head for high ground, maybe suss out where I was over the treetops.
For a while I walked, trying to find a sense of height with my spatial sense. Eventually, I spotted one, and turned north. As I neared it, I realised that others had been this way. Unless my tracking skills were failing, two hobbits, and a few others. I frowned. And someone with a staff.
Gandalf had been given a lovely staff by Galadriel, but he wouldn't have made it this far, would he have?
Unless he was looking for me. I blushed slightly, then headed for the hill I'd sensed.
There were people talking, about halfway up, and to my right. I headed towards the voices, realising they were familiar.
Apparently, three people were confronting Gandalf. I recognised the voices of Gimli, Aragorn and Legolas quickly, and started to say something, then stopped, deciding to wait.
They were telling Gandalf of his meeting them last night at their fire, and I realised I'd dragged off what had to have been Saruman. Pity I hadn't realised it before, I wouldn't have minded returning some of the pain he'd given Gandalf. Even if Fate would have been irritated.
"You must be Saruman, you're wearing white." Gimli decided, starting forward again with his ax.
"Actually, he's Gandalf the White now." I announced from where I stood behind them all.
They whirled to stare at me, shock and surprise on their faces. Gandalf cast me a reproving look, but I ignored it for the questions about to come.
"You fell." Aragorn noted, "The roof took the both of you into the abyss."
"We..." I looked at Gandalf and shrugged, "We survived. Barely. I'm sure Gandalf will tell you more if you wish."
"My Lady Rainbow!" Gimli caught my hand and kissed it, "I was fraught with sadness at your loss, and I see your hair has been sundered as a result."
I touched the cap of curls and smiled, "Sort of."
Legolas clasped my arm, smiling, "My bow and heart are glad at your coming."
"But what of the others of the Fellowship?" Gandalf demanded, "What has become of them?"
"Pippin and Merry were captured by orcs. Boromir fell defending them." Aragorn replied sadly, I caught something in his eyes when he mentioned Boromir, but didn't press him. "As for Frodo and Sam, they have taken the ring to Mordor."
"The Fellowship has broken." Legolas said softly.
I snorted, "Only bent. At least we are alive. And, come, tell us of Pippin and Merry."
"They were captured three days ago, we have followed their trail across the plains of Rohan. It ended at the edge of the forest, where the Rohirrim destroyed the orcs. Of the hobbits, there was no sign." Aragorn sighed, "We hoped they might have come into the forest, but we have been unable to find them."
"If they're in torment," Gimli began.
"They are not." I said, concentrating. "They are alive, yet... Distant." I frowned, trying to decipher what I was getting through the slight bond I had with the two hobbits. I have a tendency to collect mental bonds with the people I travel with. They're usually not noticeable and only aid in finding someone when lost. But emotions could travel them, and I sensed nothing bad from the two.
"Either way, it does not matter," Gandalf announced, "I have long felt that there was a need to remove Saruman from Orthanc. We must travel to Edoras, and gain the help of the Rohirrim, if we are to succeed."
"We had a report from one of the Riders, one Eomer, that the King has ordered you banished from his land, Mithrandir," Legolas reported.
"Then we'll have to change his mind, won't we?" I replied with a smile.
--