Next chapter, yay!
I crouch in the tree, cradled by its branches. It whispers to me, telling me to return to the company of the Elves. I strain to catch my breath, to calm down. I peer downwards at the two groups. Blonds and browns, and they don't seem to be getting along. Wait a minute, the second group doesn't have bows. They're carrying swords, and large round shields. They're on horseback too. The two groups are arguing. I climb down slowly, wanting a closer look.
"I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, and I do not have to explain myself to a group of misbegotten Men!"
"Really, Elf? I am Boromir, son to the Steward of Gondor, and I want to know who you were chasing."
"It is none of your business! What are you doing here in Rivendell?"
"Lord Elrond invited us." As they continue to yell at each other, I creep along a branch that juts out between the two groups. I swing down over it, holding on with my legs, upside down.
"Hi. I'm the one Legolas was chasing." I stick my tongue out at Legolas, and look at the man who called himself Boromir. "My name's Caitlyn, and I am the daughter of Phillip, also known as Points. You can call me Cat, by the way. That's what all the people I like call me." Legolas looks like he's about to have a stroke. It's probably not good to have such a short temper for an Elf, but I can be extremely aggravating. Boromir smiles at my tone, and Legolas' rage.
"I am pleased to meet you, Lady Caitlyn. May I ask what you are doing in the woods of Rivendell?"
"I don't know. Magic was involved. I was running away from a very persistent guy, and then I turned up here in Middle Earth. I need to see Gandalf, but I object to Legolas' arrogance, so I ran away from him too." I waggle my fingers at Legolas. "Can I go to Rivendell with you instead?" Boromir nods. "Good, I feel safer with Men, I'm not used to Elves, despite Legolas insisting that I am one."
"And why does he say that?" I flip back up on the branch so I'm the right way up.
"I have pointy ears." I lower myself down by my arms, and then I drop onto bent knees between the two. Legolas grabs my arm. "Let go. I will not tell you twice." He doesn't. I shrug, and then kick him in the balls. If it works, why change a winning combination? Guys are so weak. He lets go and now the Elves have drawn their bows and are pointing sharp things at me. I step away from the writhing Legolas and go stand next to Boromir's horse. I scratch its ears and it whickers in delight. "I will tell Lord Elrond of your inexcusable rudeness when I reach Rivendell. Take your. Prince and go. I did not know that it was the custom of Elves to attack helpless women. Or perhaps it is merely those from Mirkwood?" I stare them down. The Elves return their bows to their backs and pick up Legolas. They withdraw, Legolas glaring at me with surprised pain. I told him to let go, and he didn't. Simple. I would rather travel with the guy that didn't try to grab me. Still, I feel a small squirm of shame.
"Well, my lady, you fight dirty. I have never seen any one scold an Elf before either." Boromir sounds amazed. He shuffles backwards in his saddle and gestures to the vacated space. "Care to ride?" I nod, and grasping the saddle horn, swing upwards into the saddle. I take off my backpack, and hold it in front of me. I sit and pat the horse's neck.
"I am from another world and have no qualms about kicking a Prince in the balls if he touches me and I tell him to stop. What's more, I have never met an Elf before. They don't exist in my world." Boromir's arms encircle my waist as he grasps the reins, and kicks the horse gently in the sides to start it walking. "I've never ridden a horse before either. We have vehicles we use, made of metal that we use instead of animals. We've mostly done away with need for them, making machines that do their work instead. I have never been able to rationalize if that's a good thing. Machines are cold, and animals are nice, aren't you?" I coo at the horse and scratch its neck. Its ears twitch.
"Another world.Truly things are changing quickly." I hear the other Men and their horses start to follow us. "Men of Gondor are summoned to council with the Elves, and I heard that Dwarves were as well."
"Well, I think that one of the wizards had something to do with my appearance on Middle Earth. Maybe Gandalf, maybe Sarumon, maybe another I have not read of."
"Read of?"
"There are tales of Middle Earth on my world. One of the Hobbits, particularly the one named Bilbo Baggins, one of the history of the Elves and one that is about current events. Except that it is in the past there. This is part of the book, and you are in it, and so is Legolas. Your actions will shape this world." I feel like a seer. What can I tell them that won't change events? I must try and warn Boromir of what the Ring will compel him to do. He will try to possess the Ring, and take it from Frodo and he will die. Shot by the Uruk'hai of Sarumon. But if I change that, will they still succeed in destroying the Ring? What can I do? Have I already changed events, by merely being here?
"Interesting. What happened just before you arrived here?"
"I'd decided to go for a walk in the bush around my house. The bush is different there. Less grass, and it's not as green because there's a drought. Different types of trees, not many birds. A guy that I'd rejected tried, but failed to rape me." I shudder as I remember Greg's attack. "He was drunk, otherwise I'm not sure I would have gotten away. Fucking dickhead with balls for brains. He thought with what was in his pants, not with what was in his head. So obviously, if I said no, and kneed him in the crotch, it just meant he'd have to convince me. That I was being a tease. That was the reason I never went out with any of the guys back home. All so fucking macho." I brood on the unfairness of life. Stupid men. Maybe Boromir is different, if I remember the Tolkien books correctly, all the men are gentlemen. Knights in shining armor, of a sort.
"If you look ahead, through the trees, you will catch your first glimpse of glorious Rivendell, which few Men has seen for over three thousand years. Behold, the city of the Elves." He gestures with one hand, the other holding the reins. As the horse ambles through the last of the true forest, I see Rivendell. It is beautiful, more beautiful then the movie. Harmonic with nature. It calls to me, whispering to my angry spirit. The trees sing in welcome to one that was lost, and beckon me to commune with them. I can see the Elves below, and a party comes to meet us.
I crouch in the tree, cradled by its branches. It whispers to me, telling me to return to the company of the Elves. I strain to catch my breath, to calm down. I peer downwards at the two groups. Blonds and browns, and they don't seem to be getting along. Wait a minute, the second group doesn't have bows. They're carrying swords, and large round shields. They're on horseback too. The two groups are arguing. I climb down slowly, wanting a closer look.
"I am Legolas Greenleaf, Prince of Mirkwood, and I do not have to explain myself to a group of misbegotten Men!"
"Really, Elf? I am Boromir, son to the Steward of Gondor, and I want to know who you were chasing."
"It is none of your business! What are you doing here in Rivendell?"
"Lord Elrond invited us." As they continue to yell at each other, I creep along a branch that juts out between the two groups. I swing down over it, holding on with my legs, upside down.
"Hi. I'm the one Legolas was chasing." I stick my tongue out at Legolas, and look at the man who called himself Boromir. "My name's Caitlyn, and I am the daughter of Phillip, also known as Points. You can call me Cat, by the way. That's what all the people I like call me." Legolas looks like he's about to have a stroke. It's probably not good to have such a short temper for an Elf, but I can be extremely aggravating. Boromir smiles at my tone, and Legolas' rage.
"I am pleased to meet you, Lady Caitlyn. May I ask what you are doing in the woods of Rivendell?"
"I don't know. Magic was involved. I was running away from a very persistent guy, and then I turned up here in Middle Earth. I need to see Gandalf, but I object to Legolas' arrogance, so I ran away from him too." I waggle my fingers at Legolas. "Can I go to Rivendell with you instead?" Boromir nods. "Good, I feel safer with Men, I'm not used to Elves, despite Legolas insisting that I am one."
"And why does he say that?" I flip back up on the branch so I'm the right way up.
"I have pointy ears." I lower myself down by my arms, and then I drop onto bent knees between the two. Legolas grabs my arm. "Let go. I will not tell you twice." He doesn't. I shrug, and then kick him in the balls. If it works, why change a winning combination? Guys are so weak. He lets go and now the Elves have drawn their bows and are pointing sharp things at me. I step away from the writhing Legolas and go stand next to Boromir's horse. I scratch its ears and it whickers in delight. "I will tell Lord Elrond of your inexcusable rudeness when I reach Rivendell. Take your. Prince and go. I did not know that it was the custom of Elves to attack helpless women. Or perhaps it is merely those from Mirkwood?" I stare them down. The Elves return their bows to their backs and pick up Legolas. They withdraw, Legolas glaring at me with surprised pain. I told him to let go, and he didn't. Simple. I would rather travel with the guy that didn't try to grab me. Still, I feel a small squirm of shame.
"Well, my lady, you fight dirty. I have never seen any one scold an Elf before either." Boromir sounds amazed. He shuffles backwards in his saddle and gestures to the vacated space. "Care to ride?" I nod, and grasping the saddle horn, swing upwards into the saddle. I take off my backpack, and hold it in front of me. I sit and pat the horse's neck.
"I am from another world and have no qualms about kicking a Prince in the balls if he touches me and I tell him to stop. What's more, I have never met an Elf before. They don't exist in my world." Boromir's arms encircle my waist as he grasps the reins, and kicks the horse gently in the sides to start it walking. "I've never ridden a horse before either. We have vehicles we use, made of metal that we use instead of animals. We've mostly done away with need for them, making machines that do their work instead. I have never been able to rationalize if that's a good thing. Machines are cold, and animals are nice, aren't you?" I coo at the horse and scratch its neck. Its ears twitch.
"Another world.Truly things are changing quickly." I hear the other Men and their horses start to follow us. "Men of Gondor are summoned to council with the Elves, and I heard that Dwarves were as well."
"Well, I think that one of the wizards had something to do with my appearance on Middle Earth. Maybe Gandalf, maybe Sarumon, maybe another I have not read of."
"Read of?"
"There are tales of Middle Earth on my world. One of the Hobbits, particularly the one named Bilbo Baggins, one of the history of the Elves and one that is about current events. Except that it is in the past there. This is part of the book, and you are in it, and so is Legolas. Your actions will shape this world." I feel like a seer. What can I tell them that won't change events? I must try and warn Boromir of what the Ring will compel him to do. He will try to possess the Ring, and take it from Frodo and he will die. Shot by the Uruk'hai of Sarumon. But if I change that, will they still succeed in destroying the Ring? What can I do? Have I already changed events, by merely being here?
"Interesting. What happened just before you arrived here?"
"I'd decided to go for a walk in the bush around my house. The bush is different there. Less grass, and it's not as green because there's a drought. Different types of trees, not many birds. A guy that I'd rejected tried, but failed to rape me." I shudder as I remember Greg's attack. "He was drunk, otherwise I'm not sure I would have gotten away. Fucking dickhead with balls for brains. He thought with what was in his pants, not with what was in his head. So obviously, if I said no, and kneed him in the crotch, it just meant he'd have to convince me. That I was being a tease. That was the reason I never went out with any of the guys back home. All so fucking macho." I brood on the unfairness of life. Stupid men. Maybe Boromir is different, if I remember the Tolkien books correctly, all the men are gentlemen. Knights in shining armor, of a sort.
"If you look ahead, through the trees, you will catch your first glimpse of glorious Rivendell, which few Men has seen for over three thousand years. Behold, the city of the Elves." He gestures with one hand, the other holding the reins. As the horse ambles through the last of the true forest, I see Rivendell. It is beautiful, more beautiful then the movie. Harmonic with nature. It calls to me, whispering to my angry spirit. The trees sing in welcome to one that was lost, and beckon me to commune with them. I can see the Elves below, and a party comes to meet us.