|DISCLAIMER: I own nothing of anything that is mentioned here. |
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|Chapter 16 |
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|Rhiannon's POV |
|~~~~ |
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|"Anything interesting we should know about? Like, say, what did she |
|want?" I had been bugging Legolas for a while now, trying to get him to |
|tell me (or anyone for that matter) what the old woman ( I believe her |
|name was Velveeta...no, that's a cheese. Veldeera!) had said to him. |
|Every time I or Armoron would ask, he would shake his head and reply |
|"Nothing you should concern yourself over." With the long pause he was |
|taking this time, I had a glimmer of hope that he would tell me. |
|He opened his mouth to say something, but immediately closed it. He |
|shook his head and walked off to the waterfall. |
|"You should stop pestering him. He'll deck you before you even know it."|
| |
|I turned around to face Megami. "Aren't you even the least bit curious |
|about what she said?! And where did she go, huh?! I want to know what's |
|going on! Don't you?" I was a bit aggravated at Legolas but I did seem |
|to get my point across to Megami. |
|Instead of saying "Yeah, you're right.", as I was expecting, she merely |
|smirked at me. |
|"Some things are best left to be guessed." She turned to go but |
|something about what she said made me curious. |
|"Wait! What is that supposed to mean!?" |
|"Don't worry yourself over it all. It had nothing to do with you." She |
|tried to wave me off, but I was captivated by this secret. |
|"How do you that? Were you there!? You listened in on them, didn't you!"|
| |
|She smirked again. ""Now why would I do that? If I was to know what they|
|were speaking of, I would have been invited or informed by Legolas." Her|
|tone changed, as she answered my other question. " It is only common |
|sense that it had nothing to do with you, for you, neither, were invited|
|or informed, correct?" |
|I nodded. "I suppose your right." |
|"Good. Now drop the subject. I wasn't kidding before when I said he'd |
|deck ya." She winked and went off somewhere. |
|"Strange one, she is." Armoron came up behind me and handed me some |
|firewood. "Here, go put these in a pile near the pit. I'll go collect |
|some more." |
|"What do you mean she's strange?" |
|"Well," he paused. "She thinks too much. Too smart for her own good. |
|Doesn't care about the little details., either. I'd of never thought |
|about being invited or informed âE"- I'd just want to know. Maybe she's |
|hiding something!" He shrugged and went back off into the forest. |
|His last comment was meant to be a joke, but it wasn't to me. Maybe she |
|was hiding something. After all, she did answer a little too quickly |
|when I asked her about eavesdropping. |
|I ran through the leaves, each crunching under my weight. As I ran, I |
|realized that the elf would here me coming....Wait, did I just call her |
|âE~the elf'! She's my best friend and all I call her is âE~the elf'! I |
|think I need to rest one of these days! |
|"Lookin' for me blondie?" A voice called to me, but it wasn't who I |
|expected. |
|"Armoron, oh. No. I was just looking for Megami. You know, what you said|
|before kinda sunk in. I just want to be sure that she isn't hiding |
|anything. You know, cautious ol' me." |
|"I said such a thing about Lady Megami?" |
|"Yeah." I looked at him quizzically. "You said it not five minutes ago. |
|Remember?" |
|"I would never accuse a lady of such a thing behind her back. That is |
|quite rude. Your memory must be slipping. Did you eat something |
|foreign?" |
|"I eat foreign things every day, Armoron! I'm fine! You said what you |
|said, only you don't remember saying what you said because.....well, you|
|said what you said and I'm sure of it!" |
|"What is all the shouting about?" Legolas came for the shadows, |
|practically scaring me out of my boots. |
|"Rhiannon's mind has taken a vacation, I'm afraid. She is hearing things|
|that aren't there!" |
|" I always knew you were crazy, Rhi!" The person I wanted to speak to |
|ends up making an appearance last. Figures. |
|"I know what I heard!" |
|"Alright, alright. You heard what you heard, Rhiannon. I believe you." |
|Legolas, the peacemaker. "Everyone just calm down ad go do what you were|
|told to, okay?" |
|With that. He walked off once again to the waterfall. Armoron headed |
|towards the fire pit, and Megami and I were left standing in the same |
|spot. |
|"So what'd you hear?" |
|"Armoron said some things, that's all." |
|"Like what?" |
|"Nothing! It was nothing! Okay!" I stormed off into the forest alone. I |
|should have realized my mistake. |
|~~ |
|The forest was dark, the sun would be setting soon.. The lush vegetation|
|blocked out most of the sun's rays, so not only was it dark, but it was |
|cool. No wild creatures were in sight, so the feeling that you were |
|being watched weighed heavily on the air. Every time a twig snapped |
|under my foot, I'd jump and/or look around frantically to see if anyone |
|or thing heard me. I was being a little too cautious, but rightfully so.|
|I mean, there were deadly creatures out for my head, and I was starting |
|to worry about my sanity. Maybe my mind was playing a trick on me. |
|*SNAP* |
|I jumped. I had stepped on another branch. Wait. No I hadn't. That sound|
|was further away; further behind me. |
|My head whipped around, surveying the forest. I walked faster and faster|
|until I found myself in a full-fledged sprint. Behind me I could hear |
|something following me. And it was gaining. |
|~~~~~ |
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|Armoron's POV |
| |
|~~~~~ |
|"There is enough firewood, Armoron. I collected some this earlier out of|
|boredom." Megami spoke to me as I went to dive back into the forest. |
|"Why thank you, Megami." |
|"No problem. I wouldn't want you to go into that dark forest for |
|nothing." |
|She smiled and we started to walk toward the fire pit once again. "You |
|really didn't say anything to Rhiannon, did you" |
|"Did she put you up to this? It is defiantly something she would pull." |
|She smiled and let out a small laugh. "Guilty." |
|"As I told her before. I did not speak to her previous to our |
|conversation about what I said âE" which I didn't say." |
|She nodded. "Rhi tends to go a bit weird when she's under pressure. I |
|wouldn't be surprised âE"." |
|A shrill scream fille the air. It's source was Rhiannon âE" she was the |
|only other female in our group. |
|"Rhiannon's in danger! Stay here, I'll shall tend to her."I started |
|again for the forest. |
|"No you shall not." Megami voice startled me a bit. Not only what she |
|said, but the calm, cold way she said it made me stop in my tracks. |
|I turn to her to protest, but a was silenced by her fist. |
|~~~~~ |
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|Rhiannon's POV |
| |
|~~~~~ |
| |
|I ran faster and faster until my legs could carry me no more. I now |
|found myself in a dense forest. It was practically night. The lush |
|plant-life blocked out the small number of rays that found their way |
|here. |
|Listening to the silence all around me, I guessed I was alone. The thing|
|chasing me must have given up. |
|*SNAP* Another branch. |
|I whirled around to the source of the noise and stood staring at the |
|black eyes of a follower of Maldorc. With no weapon in hand, I was left |
|with no other option than to scream. And so I did, as it slowly inched |
|towards me, sickly smiling wider and wider with each step. |
|"Rhiannon!" |
|I opened my eyes to see Legolas standing between me and the creature, |
|bow and arrow ready in his hands. |
|"Rhiannon, get out of here! I shall deal with this vile creature!" |
|I didn't need another second to heed his words. I ran the opposite way, |
|seeking the path from which I came. Just to be on the safe side, I |
|grabbed a thick branch from the ground to use as a club in case I was |
|attacked again. |
|I ran steadily until I came to Armoron âE" an unconscious Armoron. I |
|dropped to the ground to tend to him. Not knowing exactly what to do, I |
|shook him violently, shouting his name. |
|"Armoron! Armoron! C'mon, get up!" |
|I felt a hand seize my wrist. Armoron was now awake and obviously not |
|liking my shaking of him. |
|"What in the name of Middle Earth is going on here!" He bolted up looked|
|around. "Where is she!? Where is Megami?!" |
|"I...I don't know. I haven't seen her since about a half hour ago. Why? |
|Do you think something happened to her?" |
|He chuckled with anger. "Oh something happened alright. Something quite |
|wrong." He said through clenched teeth. |
|"WhaâE"," I started to question further but I was interrupted by |
|Armoron. |
|"SHE WAS THE CAUSE OF ME BEING KNOCKED OUT COLD! SHE ATTACKED ME!" |
|I backed away from Armoron's rage. "Are...are you sure. That doesn't |
|sound like Megami to me." |
|"Oh I am quite sure, young lady. That she-elf stopped me from rescuing |
|you from whatever attacked you in the forest." Though his volume was |
|down, you could still hear the tension in his voice. |
|"Hello all! How are you feeling, Armoron?" Megami walked over form |
|wherever she had been, a damp cloth in her hand. |
|"Here, for you." She handed Armoron the cloth. "You've got quite the |
|bruise there. You should be more careful where you step." |
|"Oh no you don't! This facade cannot fool me!" Armoron pointed an |
|accusing finger at Megami. "You do not mean well, Megami! Please leave |
|us or fear for your life!" |
|Megami laughed. "You must have hit your head pretty hard! I mean very |
|well, Armoron." |
|"Where were you then? Why were you not with Armoron?" I questioned |
|quietly. |
|"Oh, Rhiannon! You startled me! I didn't see you I guess. I am glad to |
|see you were unharmed by your assailant." |
|"You didn't answer her question." |
|"I was getting the cloth for your wound!" |
|"What is all the commotion about?" Legolas entered the clearing, |
|battle-scarred. |
|"Legolas, your wounds ----," |
|"Are nothing more than scratches, melomin. Now could someone tell me |
|what all of the shouting was for....again." |
|"Megami attacked me!" |
|"You tripped on your own two feet!" |
|Legolas creased his blond brows in confusion. "Rhiannon, can you give me|
|the story?" |
|"Um..well... No, not really. You see, I just found Armoron like this, |
|then Megami comes over and tells me a different story, so.... no. I |
|cannot tell you what has happened." |
|"I see." |
|"Great! So you're all against me! You think that I attacked someone who |
|is trying to keep me alive!" |
|" I would have never done so, had I know your true intentions!" |
|"Which are?!" |
|Armoron was silent. |
|"Ugh! I'll be at the waterfall if anyone decides to believe me!" With |
|that, Megami stamped over in the direction of the waterfall. |
|"I'll shall see what is the matter. Rhiannon. You talk to Armoron, |
|alright?" |
|I nodded. |
|"Good. Start the fire. We shall be needing it for light soon." |
|When Legolas was out of sight, Armoron spoke. "You do believe me, |
|right?" |
|I looked up from the pile of wood that was not going to be on fire any |
|time soon. "Huh? Oh....maybe. I trust your word. It is just that...it's |
|a bit hard to believe." |
|"I see." He looked up, noticing my failing attempts to start the fire. |
|"Here let me help you." |
|Sure enough, within a few seconds, a warm fire was blazing in front of |
|us. |
|"I hate you." |
|He smiled at my remark. "Your just jealous." |
|I looked over to him to say something back, but I was stopped b what I |
|saw behind him. "Armoron. Um.." I pointed my finger in the basic |
|direction of the stalkers. |
|He looked puzzled at first, but then immediately realized I was pointing|
|behind hm. As he turned around to face the creatures, they spoke in |
|their harsh voices. |
|"Hello there." |
|"Time to play." |
|~~~~~ |
| |
|Legolas's POV |
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|~~~~~ |
|When I heard what Armoron accused Megami of, the words of the old woman |
|came to mind. "Appearances can be deceiving....know who to trust." Could|
|this possibly mean something? Was Megami really plotting against us? |
|I came up from behind her. I went to put my hand on her shoulder, but |
|she grabbed it and flung me to the ground in one fluid motion. |
|She immediately let go, however, when she saw who I was. "Oh! I'm so |
|sorry! I did not mean to....Are you okay?" |
|She offered me her hand and I took it. Now that I was off the ground, I |
|asked her the question I had come to ask. |
|"Megami. I..." |
|"Let me guess. âE~Did you attack Armoron?'" |
|I sheepishly nodded. It did seem like a rather silly question I knew the|
|answer. |
|"Yes. I did." |
|My head flew up in shock. I was afraid that my eyes would fall out of my|
|head. Had Megami just said those words!? |
|"You..did?" |
|A burst of laughter broke the uncomfortable silence. "Of course I |
|didn't!" |
|"But you just admitted it." |
|"I was joking." She came face-to-face with me, hers within inches of |
|mine. "Do you really think I would do such a thing. Look at me. I am the|
|Megami that would easily sacrifice herself before seeing another die at |
|her cause." |
|Her eyes pleaded with me to understand. |
|"Than why does Armoron believe in his lies." I whispered, but I knew she|
|could hear me. |
|"That is not the question. The question is, why do you fall for her so? |
|What is it about this girl that makes you so vulnerable?" Her voice had |
|drastically changed. Before I could question further, I glanced at her. |
| |
|Her eyes flashed a bright yellow as her hand swiftly moved to stab |
|something into my abdomen. I doubled over from the pain and utter shock |
|of what had just happened. |
|"Oh dear. Little Prince Legolas had a little accident. Oops." |
|I looked up at her...or what I thought was her. Her eyes practically |
|glowed that fierce yellow I had seen only seconds before. Her wicked |
|smile sent chills up your spine. I scrambled to get up to my feet, but |
|the pain was unbearable. I reached for the dagger that was plunged |
|within me. |
|"I would not do that, your highness. Nor would I move. That only makes |
|the poison travel faster. I'm hoping for a slow and painful death, you?"|
| |
|I was in shock once again. I could not believe what was happening. I |
|should have heeded the wise woman's words. |
|She shoved me to he ground and knelt over me, her knees pinning my arms |
|to the ground. I tried to struggle, but once again, the pain inhibited |
|my movements. |
|"Poor little Prince." Her hand went to my hair, toying with it like a |
|sick-minded child would. Her face was pale, a perfect contrast the |
|vividness of her eyes. With the sick smile she wore, you could see her |
|teeth behind her lips. Fangs greeted whomever's eyes looked there. Her |
|hands were ice-cold and her nails had grown to talon-length âE" and they|
|were just as sharp. |
|"I wouldn't want you to miss this." |
|Her hand went to my throat, but instead of choking me, as I thought she |
|might, she directed my gaze to the sky. "Behold the blood red moon, |
|hero." |
|Her hand released my throat and slowly sought the dagger. "When the moon|
|shines a blood red, hero's blood shall be shed." She said this in a |
|sing-song type of voice. I froze from the sound of it. This was not |
|Megami. |
|She lowered herself so that, one more time, her face was within inches |
|of mine. Her sick smile was still plastered on her. "When the stars |
|flee, evil shall shout with glee." |
|Not only was the moon a blood red, but the stars were nowhere to be |
|found. Tears filled my eyes as, who I thought was my love, my life, my |
|everything, took hold of the metal weapon nestled in my gut. |
| |
|~~~~~~~~~~ |
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|Chapter 16 complete! Nice ending if I do say so myself! Look forward to |
|Chapter 17 coming soon to a fanfcition.net near you! Brought to you by |
|the nice reviews on the convenient review page. More are always welcome!|
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Megami
Megami