Over the next few days, Legolas's condition only worsened. Nothing the
Elves, Dwarfs, Hobbits, or any other race of Middle Earth could do seemed
to have any effect.
Christine was devastated. How would she ever get Legolas back now? Tears stung her eyes and she cried, not caring that her bedroom door was wide open. All the pain of the last few days washed over her, consuming her. Christine's body shook with the intensity of the emotions she was feeling at that moment.
Just then, she heard a loud thump. Startled, Christine nearly fell off the bed. Gathering herself together, she looked around for the source of the noise. That's when she saw it. It was a large, old, leatherbound book. Curious, she picked it up, wondered just how it had wound up in her room.
The title of the book was, surpisingly enough, written in english so she could actually read it.
" 'May You Find This When You Are In Need.' " Christine read aloud. Sniffling, she opened the book. To her amazement, it began flipping pages on it's own. It stopped once it came to a page that said 'To Heal Your Heart, Read This.'
Below the title, was the transcript of the very curse that had befallen her and Legolas. Her heart raced as she continued to read.
'Only the medicine of the outsider will stop the pain. Find it within a month of the first day of the curse. Only in this time can you cure it.'
Hurriedly, she ran out of her room and desparately searched for Gandalf. She found him sipping tea on one of the many royal stone-made decks of the palace.
"Gandalf!" Christine shouted excitedly. He turned and eyed her with a curious expression.
"Yes?"
"I found the cure to the curse!" Beaming, she handed him the book.
Gandalf read it over and smiled. "Ah! so you did, my lady! Excellent! Just how did you manage?"
Christine relayed the entire weird but wonderful occurence to the wizard.
Gandalf grinned and adjusted his glasses to look over it once again. "I think it would be safe to assume that the 'outsider' they are referring to is you. Which means that we need some of your world's medicine."
Christine frowned as a thought occurred to her. "How are we going to get it if I'm here and it's...well, back home?"
Gandalf stroked his beard as he contemplated her question.
"Ah...I know just how to do that."
Christine looked up at the wizard with rapt attention. "How? please tell me!"
"We must take you back to where you first appeared here. Only there can you be sent back."
Christine set a determined look on her face. "Let's do it."
And with that, she and Gandalf headed out. They found the clearing after about an hour's ride.
"Here we are." Gandalf announced.
The two of them dismounted and set to the task of sending Christine home.
"Judging from Legolas's symptoms," Christine said, "I think he has the flu."
" The 'flu' ?" Gandalf asked, puzzled.
" Influenza. It's a severe respiratory infection. My sister was recently diagnosed with it. Thankfully though, it can be treated and cured." The wizard was giving her an even blanker look than before. Sighing, she simplified it a bit more.
"Your respiratory system basically includes your lungs, nose, and throat." Gandalf nodded in understanding now.
"Okay good. Now I can fully concentrate on getting my lover back." Christine said, and got herself ready to get transported home.
Once she was ready, Gandalf gave her some final instructions. "Now, you must retrieve this medicine as quickly as you can. Once you do, stand in the same spot that took you here in your world. I will know once you are there and I shall send you back here."
Christine nodded her understanding. And with that, Gandalf gave a mighty wave of his staff and she was gone.
Christine was devastated. How would she ever get Legolas back now? Tears stung her eyes and she cried, not caring that her bedroom door was wide open. All the pain of the last few days washed over her, consuming her. Christine's body shook with the intensity of the emotions she was feeling at that moment.
Just then, she heard a loud thump. Startled, Christine nearly fell off the bed. Gathering herself together, she looked around for the source of the noise. That's when she saw it. It was a large, old, leatherbound book. Curious, she picked it up, wondered just how it had wound up in her room.
The title of the book was, surpisingly enough, written in english so she could actually read it.
" 'May You Find This When You Are In Need.' " Christine read aloud. Sniffling, she opened the book. To her amazement, it began flipping pages on it's own. It stopped once it came to a page that said 'To Heal Your Heart, Read This.'
Below the title, was the transcript of the very curse that had befallen her and Legolas. Her heart raced as she continued to read.
'Only the medicine of the outsider will stop the pain. Find it within a month of the first day of the curse. Only in this time can you cure it.'
Hurriedly, she ran out of her room and desparately searched for Gandalf. She found him sipping tea on one of the many royal stone-made decks of the palace.
"Gandalf!" Christine shouted excitedly. He turned and eyed her with a curious expression.
"Yes?"
"I found the cure to the curse!" Beaming, she handed him the book.
Gandalf read it over and smiled. "Ah! so you did, my lady! Excellent! Just how did you manage?"
Christine relayed the entire weird but wonderful occurence to the wizard.
Gandalf grinned and adjusted his glasses to look over it once again. "I think it would be safe to assume that the 'outsider' they are referring to is you. Which means that we need some of your world's medicine."
Christine frowned as a thought occurred to her. "How are we going to get it if I'm here and it's...well, back home?"
Gandalf stroked his beard as he contemplated her question.
"Ah...I know just how to do that."
Christine looked up at the wizard with rapt attention. "How? please tell me!"
"We must take you back to where you first appeared here. Only there can you be sent back."
Christine set a determined look on her face. "Let's do it."
And with that, she and Gandalf headed out. They found the clearing after about an hour's ride.
"Here we are." Gandalf announced.
The two of them dismounted and set to the task of sending Christine home.
"Judging from Legolas's symptoms," Christine said, "I think he has the flu."
" The 'flu' ?" Gandalf asked, puzzled.
" Influenza. It's a severe respiratory infection. My sister was recently diagnosed with it. Thankfully though, it can be treated and cured." The wizard was giving her an even blanker look than before. Sighing, she simplified it a bit more.
"Your respiratory system basically includes your lungs, nose, and throat." Gandalf nodded in understanding now.
"Okay good. Now I can fully concentrate on getting my lover back." Christine said, and got herself ready to get transported home.
Once she was ready, Gandalf gave her some final instructions. "Now, you must retrieve this medicine as quickly as you can. Once you do, stand in the same spot that took you here in your world. I will know once you are there and I shall send you back here."
Christine nodded her understanding. And with that, Gandalf gave a mighty wave of his staff and she was gone.