Hey ya'll! So it's finally come to this. Chapter 13! *scary music* Well,
even though I am entirely superstitious, (Yes, Panda I am) I will not be
calling this 'Chapter 14' because no matter what I do this will always be
chapter 13, so if this chapter really really really really sucks, I'm
sorry, just remember the number 13 *scary music*.
Disclaimer: "I do believe in spooks I do believe in spooks, I do I do I do believe in spooks!" Yeah, sorry, I just had to let out a lil cameo from Wiz of Oz. Oh, I don't own Lotr!
Chapter 13: *scary music* Girl Talk
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Merry had not seen Darla since the elven woman had carried her out of the greeting room. It was strange but this was the most time, since their journey had began, that Merry had ever spent away from her. It was a terrible feeling, but not as bad as the feeling he got when she found out about his love for her.
Merry stared at the table in front of him. Aragorn and Pippin were saying something, but he couldn't concentrate on it. All he could do was think about Darla. He was used to this feeling. He knew he was plagued to feel this way for the rest of his life, and he would just have to accept it. He had never known a love like this before in his life, and now, he wouldn't. She would never love him. She had made that clear, by the way she had treated him the entire journey to Gondor.
Merry felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see the elven woman standing behind him.
"I know what it is you are feeling," she whispered dreamily. Merry could not respond.
"Your strength has been tested to its limits, and still you persevere," she smiled, "But you shall not have to hold out much longer. I see a bright new dawn in you future and a new life!" Merry tried to speak but no words came out. The woman floated away and he was alone again, with his thoughts.
----------------------------------------
"So she does not love him after all that they've been through?" asked Aragorn very puzzled.
"Yep!" answered Pippin, "She's pretty dense when it comes to knowing love, but she's a bright girl other than that."
"Well, Merry has quite a chore ahead of him, if he wants to get her to love him," Aragorn mused.
"I think it will all come together in it's own good time," Pippin remarked lighting his pipe.
"Yes, but if we were to, say give her a nudge out of the door a bit?" Aragorn began.
"Are you saying that we-"
"Yes!"
"I always thought you were mad!" Pippin said shaking his head, "Let's do it!"
----------------------------------------
Darla had never felt so refreshed in her life! She had never noticed how sticky and wiry her hair had gotten on that long trip. Now it was soft, and smooth, and she couldn't begin to explain the feel of her skin. She was really beginning to like this Gondor place.
Arwen came in and led her to a large room with a flock of women with yards of cloth around them.
"What is this place?" asked Darla pulling a string off her once yellow smock.
"This is a fitting room, this is where we are going to fit you for some gowns that you will wear while you stay here. Your own smocks are barely clinging to your body, so it is time that you are given some new clothes." Darla had no idea what to do, but after some time she was cooperating nicely and could let her thoughts drift.
And drift they did, but to a most unlikely place. She thought of the trip to Gondor, and how much it had pained her not to be able to feel the same way around Merry as she once had. She had missed his smile, his touch, his very being. It had been eating her away. Merry had been the one hobbit that could make her laugh no matter what. It was he who had been with her through the most dreadful days of her life. But now, he wasn't. She could not force herself to get anywhere near him.
She knew that it was partly because of the awkward feeling that she got inside of her when she thought of the night he had last kissed her. But it was also partly from the sound of her mother's voice drifting in her ear. But she had never heard her mother whisper these words before. It came mostly at night, as she was about to fall asleep. The voice would whisper, "You're blind to your love, love and be blind." Over and over it would repeat these words, until she drifted off at last into a strange and uneasy sleep.
Arwen laid a hand on her shoulder; she looked up at the touch.
"I know what it is you are feeling," she whispered dreamily. Darla looked at her puzzled
"You battle in your mind every day and yet you are still blind to the one thing that could set you free," she smiled, "But do not worry, for all shall be well soon. You shall sleep without whispered voices in your ears before you leave this place, and you will smile, like you've never smiled before." She looked off into the distance and then floated away.
Darla could say nothing. How could Arwen have known what she was thinking? It was unreal. Was it magic? Darla had not seen very much magic her trip, but could this be it? Darla looked behind her to see Arwen, very much herself now, laughing with one of the servant girls. Or was it more than magic? Darla shivered, causing a pin to be stuck into her arm. She bit her lip, but said nothing, and went back to her thoughts.
--------------------------------------
"I think that if we position the beam here it will work out," Aragorn thought aloud.
"Yes, but if it's there, don't you think that it will be a bit to noticeable?" asked Pippin his pipe between his teeth but unlit.
"Yes, but if you place a table cloth on top of it, you won't notice," he answered.
"Yes you will! There's a giant beam with a table cloth on it in the middle of a room, who isn't going to see that?"
"Do you have any better idea's, Mr. Took?"
"Yes, I do in fact, Your Highness," he smiled and bent over the table whispering so that his companion could not hear.
--------------------------------------
Merry sighed. He was bored out of his wits. He had been sitting in one place for far too long. He got up and excused himself, bringing Pippin and Aragorn out of their fevered conversation. They didn't seem to mind so he went walking off down the many corridors.
He had not been walking for long when he heard a loud chorus of giggles come from a near by door. He quickly went over to it and listened to what was going on.
"That's when Aragorn lifted up the chair and promptly dropped on his own large head!" laughed a deep elven voice. The other girls began to giggle too.
"For a king, he sure is clumsy," laughed a familiar voice. Merry's heart skipped a beat. It was Darla!
"Yes, but I love him!" Arwen said dreamily. The other's sighed, he could see the room look off dreamily at the thought of being in love. The cliché made him sick.
"I was in love once," Darla remarked breaking the silence.
"Oooh, do tell us Darla," the girls asked eagerly.
"Well, it's really quite pathetic, because it's the only reason I shall never love again."
"We're women, we love pathetic stories," a deep woman's voice said monotonously.
"Well," she began, "It all started one day when I went over to Rosie Gamgee's to see if she could let me have some carrots." Merry listened as Darla told the story of their meeting, she even told of the 'perfect day.' She went on about Frodo and how she had loved him for no reason at all. She explained the sad moment when he told her he could never love her. And then, she told them about the day after, when Merry had comforted her.
"I asked him why every one I love leaves me? And he told me the most wonderful thing ever, 'Two very wise women once told me something, Darla. It is only by death that there can be true life. These two women were our mothers who are both gone. I also know that Frodo is leaving us for the Gray Havens, and I am just as torn, but he is going to where there is no hurt. Just like your mother, this is the only place he can truly be happy. The people you love do not leave you, they just have to go on their journey, just like you are going on yours."
Merry smiled. She had remembered that day just as well as he had. He heard all the girls sigh contentedly.
"This Merry chap is so dreamy," said one girl.
"He's so romantic," said another.
"It's a wonder you didn't fall in love with him," Arwen said.
He could almost hear the gears in Darla's head turning. He held his breath not knowing what she was going to say, but just waiting for her to tell them that she could never love him.
"I've wondered that myself, these past few nights," she answered quietly. Merry gasped. Had he heard correctly?
"If you realize how wonderful he is why don't you tell him?" asked yet another girl.
"I can never fall in love again," Darla said sadly, "I know that the next time I fall in love this person will just leave me too. Just as all that I get close to do."
"That's so sad," said a new voice.
"It's not true is what it is," Arwen said briskly, "I bet Merry would never leave you."
"You can't keep a person from dying," Darla replied darkly. He felt a shiver go up his spine at the sound of her voice.
"No, but he's a healthy young hobbit, who seems to love you too," she replied, he could hear the smile in her voice.
"I know for a fact that he loves me, but I cannot return his love. You don't understand if you had seen what I had seen-"
"I've seen much of what you have seen. I myself almost went over the sea to the gray havens, forsaking those who I loved. I wouldn't like to see you travel down a similar path." There was a long silence. "Come let's show off your new gown to your companions, I doubt they have left where I last saw them."
Merry quickly ran down the hall and around a corner. He had only just gone around when he heard the door open. A large group of girls and women went down the hall. He could not pick Darla out through the crowd but decided to follow at a distance.
------------------------------------------
"And just like that, she'll see that she can love again!" Pippin exclaimed happily.
"It sounds rather complicated," Aragorn replied furrowing his brow.
"Yes, but that's what makes it brilliant!" Pippin smiled manically.
"You are insane!"
"Yes, but there is a fine line between genius and insanity," Pip smiled.
At that moment a large flock of women, led by Arwen burst into the room. They arranged themselves in a very nice formation as if hiding something behind them. Arwen smiled lovingly at her husband. She was just about to open her mouth as Merry came in through the door.
"What's this?" he asked pretending not to know what was going on.
"This is the unveiling of the beautiful Darla Duklemyer of Hobbiton in the land of the Shire," Arwen answered, "I am pleased to present to you, friends of the Shire and king of Gondor, Lady Darla, the lost soul."
The large group of girls parted and there before them stood a creature that none had ever seen before. Darla had been looking to the ground at her bare feet. Merry's eyes looked over the beauty. She had on a cream dress of silk, which flowed to the floor, so that you could barely see her toes poking out at the bottom. The top was a beautiful laced white corset with long sleeves that went on past her fingertips. Her hair flowed on past her waist in the long raven waves that it always had. And on top of her head say a golden crown of flowers. They were violets, the exact same color as her eyes.
As she looked up Merry could see that in her eyes shone more beauty than could ever be seen in any piece of fabric
"This'll work," murmured Aragorn, and Pippin just nodded.
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Hmmm. Not a bad job for a 13 chapter if I do say so myself. I even got a slight cliffie in there for ya! Now it's your turn time to review while I go right on to chapter 14, not even pausing to read your reviews. Laterz- DB:D
OH BTW, Sorry but there will be no return of Leggy and Gimli, sorry!
Disclaimer: "I do believe in spooks I do believe in spooks, I do I do I do believe in spooks!" Yeah, sorry, I just had to let out a lil cameo from Wiz of Oz. Oh, I don't own Lotr!
Chapter 13: *scary music* Girl Talk
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Merry had not seen Darla since the elven woman had carried her out of the greeting room. It was strange but this was the most time, since their journey had began, that Merry had ever spent away from her. It was a terrible feeling, but not as bad as the feeling he got when she found out about his love for her.
Merry stared at the table in front of him. Aragorn and Pippin were saying something, but he couldn't concentrate on it. All he could do was think about Darla. He was used to this feeling. He knew he was plagued to feel this way for the rest of his life, and he would just have to accept it. He had never known a love like this before in his life, and now, he wouldn't. She would never love him. She had made that clear, by the way she had treated him the entire journey to Gondor.
Merry felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see the elven woman standing behind him.
"I know what it is you are feeling," she whispered dreamily. Merry could not respond.
"Your strength has been tested to its limits, and still you persevere," she smiled, "But you shall not have to hold out much longer. I see a bright new dawn in you future and a new life!" Merry tried to speak but no words came out. The woman floated away and he was alone again, with his thoughts.
----------------------------------------
"So she does not love him after all that they've been through?" asked Aragorn very puzzled.
"Yep!" answered Pippin, "She's pretty dense when it comes to knowing love, but she's a bright girl other than that."
"Well, Merry has quite a chore ahead of him, if he wants to get her to love him," Aragorn mused.
"I think it will all come together in it's own good time," Pippin remarked lighting his pipe.
"Yes, but if we were to, say give her a nudge out of the door a bit?" Aragorn began.
"Are you saying that we-"
"Yes!"
"I always thought you were mad!" Pippin said shaking his head, "Let's do it!"
----------------------------------------
Darla had never felt so refreshed in her life! She had never noticed how sticky and wiry her hair had gotten on that long trip. Now it was soft, and smooth, and she couldn't begin to explain the feel of her skin. She was really beginning to like this Gondor place.
Arwen came in and led her to a large room with a flock of women with yards of cloth around them.
"What is this place?" asked Darla pulling a string off her once yellow smock.
"This is a fitting room, this is where we are going to fit you for some gowns that you will wear while you stay here. Your own smocks are barely clinging to your body, so it is time that you are given some new clothes." Darla had no idea what to do, but after some time she was cooperating nicely and could let her thoughts drift.
And drift they did, but to a most unlikely place. She thought of the trip to Gondor, and how much it had pained her not to be able to feel the same way around Merry as she once had. She had missed his smile, his touch, his very being. It had been eating her away. Merry had been the one hobbit that could make her laugh no matter what. It was he who had been with her through the most dreadful days of her life. But now, he wasn't. She could not force herself to get anywhere near him.
She knew that it was partly because of the awkward feeling that she got inside of her when she thought of the night he had last kissed her. But it was also partly from the sound of her mother's voice drifting in her ear. But she had never heard her mother whisper these words before. It came mostly at night, as she was about to fall asleep. The voice would whisper, "You're blind to your love, love and be blind." Over and over it would repeat these words, until she drifted off at last into a strange and uneasy sleep.
Arwen laid a hand on her shoulder; she looked up at the touch.
"I know what it is you are feeling," she whispered dreamily. Darla looked at her puzzled
"You battle in your mind every day and yet you are still blind to the one thing that could set you free," she smiled, "But do not worry, for all shall be well soon. You shall sleep without whispered voices in your ears before you leave this place, and you will smile, like you've never smiled before." She looked off into the distance and then floated away.
Darla could say nothing. How could Arwen have known what she was thinking? It was unreal. Was it magic? Darla had not seen very much magic her trip, but could this be it? Darla looked behind her to see Arwen, very much herself now, laughing with one of the servant girls. Or was it more than magic? Darla shivered, causing a pin to be stuck into her arm. She bit her lip, but said nothing, and went back to her thoughts.
--------------------------------------
"I think that if we position the beam here it will work out," Aragorn thought aloud.
"Yes, but if it's there, don't you think that it will be a bit to noticeable?" asked Pippin his pipe between his teeth but unlit.
"Yes, but if you place a table cloth on top of it, you won't notice," he answered.
"Yes you will! There's a giant beam with a table cloth on it in the middle of a room, who isn't going to see that?"
"Do you have any better idea's, Mr. Took?"
"Yes, I do in fact, Your Highness," he smiled and bent over the table whispering so that his companion could not hear.
--------------------------------------
Merry sighed. He was bored out of his wits. He had been sitting in one place for far too long. He got up and excused himself, bringing Pippin and Aragorn out of their fevered conversation. They didn't seem to mind so he went walking off down the many corridors.
He had not been walking for long when he heard a loud chorus of giggles come from a near by door. He quickly went over to it and listened to what was going on.
"That's when Aragorn lifted up the chair and promptly dropped on his own large head!" laughed a deep elven voice. The other girls began to giggle too.
"For a king, he sure is clumsy," laughed a familiar voice. Merry's heart skipped a beat. It was Darla!
"Yes, but I love him!" Arwen said dreamily. The other's sighed, he could see the room look off dreamily at the thought of being in love. The cliché made him sick.
"I was in love once," Darla remarked breaking the silence.
"Oooh, do tell us Darla," the girls asked eagerly.
"Well, it's really quite pathetic, because it's the only reason I shall never love again."
"We're women, we love pathetic stories," a deep woman's voice said monotonously.
"Well," she began, "It all started one day when I went over to Rosie Gamgee's to see if she could let me have some carrots." Merry listened as Darla told the story of their meeting, she even told of the 'perfect day.' She went on about Frodo and how she had loved him for no reason at all. She explained the sad moment when he told her he could never love her. And then, she told them about the day after, when Merry had comforted her.
"I asked him why every one I love leaves me? And he told me the most wonderful thing ever, 'Two very wise women once told me something, Darla. It is only by death that there can be true life. These two women were our mothers who are both gone. I also know that Frodo is leaving us for the Gray Havens, and I am just as torn, but he is going to where there is no hurt. Just like your mother, this is the only place he can truly be happy. The people you love do not leave you, they just have to go on their journey, just like you are going on yours."
Merry smiled. She had remembered that day just as well as he had. He heard all the girls sigh contentedly.
"This Merry chap is so dreamy," said one girl.
"He's so romantic," said another.
"It's a wonder you didn't fall in love with him," Arwen said.
He could almost hear the gears in Darla's head turning. He held his breath not knowing what she was going to say, but just waiting for her to tell them that she could never love him.
"I've wondered that myself, these past few nights," she answered quietly. Merry gasped. Had he heard correctly?
"If you realize how wonderful he is why don't you tell him?" asked yet another girl.
"I can never fall in love again," Darla said sadly, "I know that the next time I fall in love this person will just leave me too. Just as all that I get close to do."
"That's so sad," said a new voice.
"It's not true is what it is," Arwen said briskly, "I bet Merry would never leave you."
"You can't keep a person from dying," Darla replied darkly. He felt a shiver go up his spine at the sound of her voice.
"No, but he's a healthy young hobbit, who seems to love you too," she replied, he could hear the smile in her voice.
"I know for a fact that he loves me, but I cannot return his love. You don't understand if you had seen what I had seen-"
"I've seen much of what you have seen. I myself almost went over the sea to the gray havens, forsaking those who I loved. I wouldn't like to see you travel down a similar path." There was a long silence. "Come let's show off your new gown to your companions, I doubt they have left where I last saw them."
Merry quickly ran down the hall and around a corner. He had only just gone around when he heard the door open. A large group of girls and women went down the hall. He could not pick Darla out through the crowd but decided to follow at a distance.
------------------------------------------
"And just like that, she'll see that she can love again!" Pippin exclaimed happily.
"It sounds rather complicated," Aragorn replied furrowing his brow.
"Yes, but that's what makes it brilliant!" Pippin smiled manically.
"You are insane!"
"Yes, but there is a fine line between genius and insanity," Pip smiled.
At that moment a large flock of women, led by Arwen burst into the room. They arranged themselves in a very nice formation as if hiding something behind them. Arwen smiled lovingly at her husband. She was just about to open her mouth as Merry came in through the door.
"What's this?" he asked pretending not to know what was going on.
"This is the unveiling of the beautiful Darla Duklemyer of Hobbiton in the land of the Shire," Arwen answered, "I am pleased to present to you, friends of the Shire and king of Gondor, Lady Darla, the lost soul."
The large group of girls parted and there before them stood a creature that none had ever seen before. Darla had been looking to the ground at her bare feet. Merry's eyes looked over the beauty. She had on a cream dress of silk, which flowed to the floor, so that you could barely see her toes poking out at the bottom. The top was a beautiful laced white corset with long sleeves that went on past her fingertips. Her hair flowed on past her waist in the long raven waves that it always had. And on top of her head say a golden crown of flowers. They were violets, the exact same color as her eyes.
As she looked up Merry could see that in her eyes shone more beauty than could ever be seen in any piece of fabric
"This'll work," murmured Aragorn, and Pippin just nodded.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^^*^*^*^*^
Hmmm. Not a bad job for a 13 chapter if I do say so myself. I even got a slight cliffie in there for ya! Now it's your turn time to review while I go right on to chapter 14, not even pausing to read your reviews. Laterz- DB:D
OH BTW, Sorry but there will be no return of Leggy and Gimli, sorry!