"Krystal," someone murmured quietly. Krystal continued snoring quietly, her eyes closed peacefully, the persistent chirping of birds going by unnoticed as she swam through the waves of sleep. "Krystal!" He repeated more forcefully. "Come. The sun rides ahead of us; we have much to do today 'ere it retires."
Krystal blinked. What the hell? Who did she know who talked like that? None of her friends, surely. Not her parents--oh. wait. Legolas.
"Go away, Legolas." She murmured, turning over in her bedroll and burying down into her blanket. She heard him sigh exasperated and inwardly, she smirked. "Elladan!" Legolas complained, and Krystal could hear the sounds of horse's stamping on the ground nearby. "She won't get up!"
She could picture Elladan rolling his eyes as he called, "Krystal! You wanted to be here! You must be up with the sun!"
She heard Annore snort. "That is no way to get a woman up," he counseled to Elladan, who scoffed. "As if you are so experienced." Annore let out a laugh like a bark, and Krystal heard the swoosh of water, her eyes closed tightly.
"Let's not go there," Annore counseled and Krystal snorted in laughter, the sounds of footsteps giving her a slight feeling of misgiving. "What are you doing--!" Elladan exclaimed, but Annore didn't reply, and Krystal, with her eyes closed, couldn't see his reponse. Elladan's tone warned her however, and she bolted up, her eyes snapping open just to catch a peek of Annore sneaking up behind her, a large bucket of freezing mountain water in his hands. "No!" she exclaimed, squirming out of the way. But she was tangled in her bed roll, and couldn't get out in time, and a wave of icy cold water hit her smack in the face, soaking her hair and shirt. It was like icy knives pricking at her skin as she gasped, the water dripping into her mouth with unmericful cold. "Why--you--I--UGH!" She sputtered furiously, wiping the water out of her eyes to see a grinning Annore laughing so hard he was doubled over. She looked to Legolas for sympathy, but even the reserved Prince had his smile out in full force.
"I told you to get up," Legolas informed her, shaking his head. She looked at Aragorn and Elladan, who were mounted on their horses already, sure the two brothers would share equal disdain for Annore, but Elladan let out a bark of a laugh. "Oh, is that how it's done?"
Krystal's eyes widened and she scowled furiously. "Elladan!" she complained, as she got to her knees, hurriedly packing her bedroll and grabbing her things. Her horse was already tacked and waiting, and she was, of course, the last to be ready. "It's not funny!"
Elrohir grinned boyishly. "On the contrary," he informed her as he swung into the saddle. "I assure you, it's quite hysterical." "You look like a drowned rat," one of the men, Tharros, told her unhelpfully. She scowled at him. "I live for your compliments," she told him dryly as she stood up. He shrugged. "I call it as I see it."
Annore nudged his horse in the side, and his mount headed to the front of the party as the man shook his head, still smiling. "Now, Tharros, that is no way to talk to a Lady."
"Yea!" Krystal agreed forcefully.
Tharros smiled. "No, it is not." He agreed. "But that the moment, she does not fit the discription of one."
Krystal rolled her eyes, smiling still, knowing his teasing was all in good fun. "Well," she countered as she reached for her mounts reigns, "You do not fit the part of a gentlemen,either."
Elladan let out a tiny chuckle. "And what does a gentlemen look like?" he asked as she swung her dark hair out of her face and tied it up, out of the way. "Oh, you know." She said lightly. "Tall, dark and handsome. Hot body, sense of humor, buys me presents." She grinned at their surprised glances, then shrugged, her eyes innocently wide. "The usual."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged looks, shaking their heads. "I'm not even going to ask," Aragorn annoucened. His handsome face turned towards the moutain in the distance, it's proud face raised to the early morning sun. "We should start out," Glorfindel advised. "The way over the Mountain is long, and strenuous, espically for the beasts, elven and non alike."
Annore arched a brow, and Krystal's posture tensed as she fixed her eyes on the man, knowing whatever he said wouldn't be good.
"Over the mountain." Annor repeated, his voice polite but his tone strained. "I thought we had agreed to go under, using the mines of Moria."
"I was not aware we made such an agreement," Elladan countered dangerously, his eyes gleaming as he exchanged a fleeting look with his twin.
I knew this was coming, He told Elrohir telephatically. Elrohir shrugged as he glanced down at his horse's mane, gently smoothing a stray strand, his face pained as if this conversation bothered him.
"I assure you. A descion was reached. None of you have been in the mines before--" Glorifindel's head raised slightly but still he said nothing. "--and we all have. Thus, we are the wiser of the two groups."
Legolas snorted in sarcasm. Annore turned to him, brows raised. "You have something to say, Prince Legolas?"
If Legolas noticed the intenional use of his title, he didn't comment on it, or adjust his tense facial position. "Nay. I have nothing to say, only something to laugh about. To think that you three foolish men harbor any knowledge is entertaining, but to think that you are wiser then any elf, who has walked the ground--"
"Before I was born," Annore finished dryly. "Ah, yes, but have you walked the ground in question? Have you walked the Mines of Moria? I do not think so, my friend. I do not think so."
He paused, as if seriously considering something. "If you're that adament about it, I suppose the two camps could simply meet up on the other side."
"Preposterous." Glorfindel snorted. "We are to stay together."
"How do you suggest we do that, Lord Glorifindel?" Annore answered politely, but there was a mischevious gleam in his eyes. "Both of us are adament in our own descions. I see no problem, as we are both confident we will make it to the other side of the Mountain alive and well; why not simply split it?"
Krystal, atop her horse, was steadily growing paler. She could suddenly see where this was all going, and knew what Annore was planning as he continued with this. "Oh..damnit." She murmured softly, but both sides were too busy glaring at each other to notice.
"We are to support each other in case of a distaster or some foregin evil approaching--"
"Are you afraid you won't make it, Lord Elladan?" Annore said pleasently. "Are you that unconfident in your abilities?"
Krystal groaned. Annore knew Elladan too well -- he knew the elf's weak spots and could use it to his advantage.
Elladan's face flushed with fury. "How dare you--" he hissed furiously. "Fine. Do not come running to us when the mountain caves in over your head and the stench of orcs fills your last breath! We shall see you on the other side of the mountain!" With a swift kick to his horse's side, Elladan turned and started down the path, Elrohir and Aragorn close behind him. Glorifindel was shaking his head slightly, but tugging on his reign, his horse slowly began to turn. But Elladan suddenly stopped dead, his horse throwing up his head in protest at the sharp tug on the reigns. "Krystal," he called behind him, turning slightly around. His voice was sounded calm, but those who knew him well could tell he was paniced and Krystal knew that he too had reached the same conclusion Krystal had come too. "Let's go!"
But Krystal looked helplessly from Annore, who was smirking triumphantly, to Elladan's furious face. A look of dawning comprehension flashed across Legolas's face and he cursed under his breath. Elrohir and Aragorn swung around, confused. "I don't understand," Aragorn interjected. "We'll split up, and meet on the other side. Let us go!"
But Elladan shook his head. "We cannot." He said angrily.
"Why?" qurried Elrohir. But Krystal frowned and answered this one for him. "Me," she told him unhappily. "None of you claimed responsobility for me. I have to go with Annore."
Elrohir paled. "You are not going into those mines with h-him! W-without us!" Aragorn sputtered and Elladan sighed, furious. "We know."
Annore grinned crookedly, holding up a unlit torch. "Grab your matches boys," he said smiling slightly. "And prepare to face the long dark of Moria."
Krystal blinked. What the hell? Who did she know who talked like that? None of her friends, surely. Not her parents--oh. wait. Legolas.
"Go away, Legolas." She murmured, turning over in her bedroll and burying down into her blanket. She heard him sigh exasperated and inwardly, she smirked. "Elladan!" Legolas complained, and Krystal could hear the sounds of horse's stamping on the ground nearby. "She won't get up!"
She could picture Elladan rolling his eyes as he called, "Krystal! You wanted to be here! You must be up with the sun!"
She heard Annore snort. "That is no way to get a woman up," he counseled to Elladan, who scoffed. "As if you are so experienced." Annore let out a laugh like a bark, and Krystal heard the swoosh of water, her eyes closed tightly.
"Let's not go there," Annore counseled and Krystal snorted in laughter, the sounds of footsteps giving her a slight feeling of misgiving. "What are you doing--!" Elladan exclaimed, but Annore didn't reply, and Krystal, with her eyes closed, couldn't see his reponse. Elladan's tone warned her however, and she bolted up, her eyes snapping open just to catch a peek of Annore sneaking up behind her, a large bucket of freezing mountain water in his hands. "No!" she exclaimed, squirming out of the way. But she was tangled in her bed roll, and couldn't get out in time, and a wave of icy cold water hit her smack in the face, soaking her hair and shirt. It was like icy knives pricking at her skin as she gasped, the water dripping into her mouth with unmericful cold. "Why--you--I--UGH!" She sputtered furiously, wiping the water out of her eyes to see a grinning Annore laughing so hard he was doubled over. She looked to Legolas for sympathy, but even the reserved Prince had his smile out in full force.
"I told you to get up," Legolas informed her, shaking his head. She looked at Aragorn and Elladan, who were mounted on their horses already, sure the two brothers would share equal disdain for Annore, but Elladan let out a bark of a laugh. "Oh, is that how it's done?"
Krystal's eyes widened and she scowled furiously. "Elladan!" she complained, as she got to her knees, hurriedly packing her bedroll and grabbing her things. Her horse was already tacked and waiting, and she was, of course, the last to be ready. "It's not funny!"
Elrohir grinned boyishly. "On the contrary," he informed her as he swung into the saddle. "I assure you, it's quite hysterical." "You look like a drowned rat," one of the men, Tharros, told her unhelpfully. She scowled at him. "I live for your compliments," she told him dryly as she stood up. He shrugged. "I call it as I see it."
Annore nudged his horse in the side, and his mount headed to the front of the party as the man shook his head, still smiling. "Now, Tharros, that is no way to talk to a Lady."
"Yea!" Krystal agreed forcefully.
Tharros smiled. "No, it is not." He agreed. "But that the moment, she does not fit the discription of one."
Krystal rolled her eyes, smiling still, knowing his teasing was all in good fun. "Well," she countered as she reached for her mounts reigns, "You do not fit the part of a gentlemen,either."
Elladan let out a tiny chuckle. "And what does a gentlemen look like?" he asked as she swung her dark hair out of her face and tied it up, out of the way. "Oh, you know." She said lightly. "Tall, dark and handsome. Hot body, sense of humor, buys me presents." She grinned at their surprised glances, then shrugged, her eyes innocently wide. "The usual."
Elladan and Elrohir exchanged looks, shaking their heads. "I'm not even going to ask," Aragorn annoucened. His handsome face turned towards the moutain in the distance, it's proud face raised to the early morning sun. "We should start out," Glorfindel advised. "The way over the Mountain is long, and strenuous, espically for the beasts, elven and non alike."
Annore arched a brow, and Krystal's posture tensed as she fixed her eyes on the man, knowing whatever he said wouldn't be good.
"Over the mountain." Annor repeated, his voice polite but his tone strained. "I thought we had agreed to go under, using the mines of Moria."
"I was not aware we made such an agreement," Elladan countered dangerously, his eyes gleaming as he exchanged a fleeting look with his twin.
I knew this was coming, He told Elrohir telephatically. Elrohir shrugged as he glanced down at his horse's mane, gently smoothing a stray strand, his face pained as if this conversation bothered him.
"I assure you. A descion was reached. None of you have been in the mines before--" Glorifindel's head raised slightly but still he said nothing. "--and we all have. Thus, we are the wiser of the two groups."
Legolas snorted in sarcasm. Annore turned to him, brows raised. "You have something to say, Prince Legolas?"
If Legolas noticed the intenional use of his title, he didn't comment on it, or adjust his tense facial position. "Nay. I have nothing to say, only something to laugh about. To think that you three foolish men harbor any knowledge is entertaining, but to think that you are wiser then any elf, who has walked the ground--"
"Before I was born," Annore finished dryly. "Ah, yes, but have you walked the ground in question? Have you walked the Mines of Moria? I do not think so, my friend. I do not think so."
He paused, as if seriously considering something. "If you're that adament about it, I suppose the two camps could simply meet up on the other side."
"Preposterous." Glorfindel snorted. "We are to stay together."
"How do you suggest we do that, Lord Glorifindel?" Annore answered politely, but there was a mischevious gleam in his eyes. "Both of us are adament in our own descions. I see no problem, as we are both confident we will make it to the other side of the Mountain alive and well; why not simply split it?"
Krystal, atop her horse, was steadily growing paler. She could suddenly see where this was all going, and knew what Annore was planning as he continued with this. "Oh..damnit." She murmured softly, but both sides were too busy glaring at each other to notice.
"We are to support each other in case of a distaster or some foregin evil approaching--"
"Are you afraid you won't make it, Lord Elladan?" Annore said pleasently. "Are you that unconfident in your abilities?"
Krystal groaned. Annore knew Elladan too well -- he knew the elf's weak spots and could use it to his advantage.
Elladan's face flushed with fury. "How dare you--" he hissed furiously. "Fine. Do not come running to us when the mountain caves in over your head and the stench of orcs fills your last breath! We shall see you on the other side of the mountain!" With a swift kick to his horse's side, Elladan turned and started down the path, Elrohir and Aragorn close behind him. Glorifindel was shaking his head slightly, but tugging on his reign, his horse slowly began to turn. But Elladan suddenly stopped dead, his horse throwing up his head in protest at the sharp tug on the reigns. "Krystal," he called behind him, turning slightly around. His voice was sounded calm, but those who knew him well could tell he was paniced and Krystal knew that he too had reached the same conclusion Krystal had come too. "Let's go!"
But Krystal looked helplessly from Annore, who was smirking triumphantly, to Elladan's furious face. A look of dawning comprehension flashed across Legolas's face and he cursed under his breath. Elrohir and Aragorn swung around, confused. "I don't understand," Aragorn interjected. "We'll split up, and meet on the other side. Let us go!"
But Elladan shook his head. "We cannot." He said angrily.
"Why?" qurried Elrohir. But Krystal frowned and answered this one for him. "Me," she told him unhappily. "None of you claimed responsobility for me. I have to go with Annore."
Elrohir paled. "You are not going into those mines with h-him! W-without us!" Aragorn sputtered and Elladan sighed, furious. "We know."
Annore grinned crookedly, holding up a unlit torch. "Grab your matches boys," he said smiling slightly. "And prepare to face the long dark of Moria."
Author's notes:Short and boring, I know, I know. But at least you get a glimse of Annore's true intentions now..how perfectly handy that Krystal has to go with him, wherever he chooses to roam. Heheheh. The drama continues. Lmao -- ANYWAY. Sorry for the wait, I promise next chappy will be quicker cuz I have ideas now, mmhmm, yes I do lol. I'm a bit hyper cuz i go back to school this afternoon, so forgive me lol. Anyway, REVEIW! they remind me to update :) See you for the next chappy my friends!