Quote of the day: "There were just some things in life that required violent, filthy words to adequately portray the depths of frustration and helpless anger a person felt when they had been pushed beyond any limit they had ever known."
--Ookami-chan, Turnabout Is Fair Play

"SHIT!" The sound reverberated and echoed throughout the rocks. Laughter could be heard echoing shortly after the word was yelled.

Erin picked herself up from the ground and dusted off the small bits of rock that clung to her clothes.

"Emyn Muil sucks!" she said while adjusting the pack on her shoulders.

"It only sucks because you're clumsy," Esgalan said, casting her a sideways glance over his shoulder as he continued to walk.

"Oh bite me Elf boy!" Erin yelled at him heatedly, her face turning red from embarrassment.

Legolas laughed and fell into step beside Erin. "Would you like to rest, Erin?" he asked.

Erin felt her tension melt away. "No, it's all right, it's just all of the damn rocks sticking out all over the place, that's all."

"It's not the rocks, it's just you......................" Esgalan said, not even turning around, but Erin could hear the smile in his voice. She smiled evilly as she picked up a small rock on the ground and chucked it at Esgalan's head. It hit him and threw off his balance enough to make him fall.

He pushed up from the ground with his face bright red. "I'll get you back for that one...................." he said, a smile working its way onto his lips.

"I look forward to it," Erin said, tilting her chin up in a haughty way.

Esgalan turned back around and stomped off ahead of the rest of the group. Legolas looked at Erin.

"You know, one of these days you're going to end up getting into trouble and I'm not going to be there to save you."

"You're not going to be there to save!................." Erin said, her face turning bright red. "Who says that I need YOU to save ME? Hmm?"

Legolas laughed and kept walking. "Come, Erin, we will be stopping soon for the night, so let us get as far as we can."

Erin crossed her arms and continued to walk. Elves could be so frustrating.

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It was an hour after nightfall that they finally stopped and made camp. After nearly a week of being in Emyn Muil Erin was growing quite tired of sleeping in this place. It gave her the creeps....................

Tonight she had watch duty for the second shift, so she would go to sleep for a few hours and then Esgalan, who had the first shift, would wake her up so that she could take his place.

Erin snuggled down next to Legolas and closed her eyes. He wrapped his arms around her waist and she was asleep before she could even tell him good night.

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"It seems that you are coming to me after all," a woman's voice said.

"Alotica?" Erin's mind asked.

"I see you recognized my voice this time, little one. You recovered from the poison quickly."

"Yes, but why are you here? I'm not sick this time."

"I must speak with you. Someone is searching for you. Luvair has been made aware of who you are, but by whom I do not know. You must be careful. They are seeking you even now and will catch up to you if you do not make haste. If you are not within the Firien forest by sunset tomorrow you will be killed."

"Why do I have to be in the forest?"

"I can protect you there."

"Who is seeking me?"

Alotica laughed her light, merry laugh. "Calm down, little one. You are indeed excitable. It is no wonder that Luvair did not recognize you, you have changed so.................."

"But we're days away from the Firien Wood, how can we..................."

"That is why I have come to you. There is a secret way through Emyn Muil, one that not even Sauron himself knew about."

"A secret way?"

"Yes. There is a tunnel that goes down, it is a shortcut through Emyn Muil, it was built by us."

"Us?"

"Yes, the Eleven. We needed it so that we could travel unseen and quickly." Alotica seemed to stop for a moment and began to think. "I am so glad that I could talk to you, Efalu."

"There you go calling me Efalu again. What is going on." Erin could practically feel Alotica brushing off her question.

"I never wanted them to send you."

"Who? Send me where?"

"To Legolas, of course. I knew that you heart was not ready for the task, that you would fall in love with him, but I suppose that it was all meant to happen this way."

It slowly dawned on Erin what Alotica was talking about. Ladhwen, Luvair, the whole situation.

"I also have to warn you of another thing, little one."

"What else is there?"

"You will begin to regain your memories, as I have done, of you time."

"What time?"

"When you were one of the Eleven."

Erin felt shock rip through her body. So it was true; it had not been induced by her fever. She had been one of the Eleven. She was Efalu.

Erin heard sadness in Alotica's voice when she spoke. "I am sorry to have to shock you so, little one, but it must be told. We will talk more once you reach me, but quickly, my time is waning. The tunnel, I must tell you its location. Only you will be able to locate it, for it is hidden so well that not even an Elven eye could detect it."

"Then how am I supposed to-"

"There will be a symbol in the rocks that only a person with the blood of one of the Eleven can see. You will feel it as you approach it. When you finally see it, it will seem to glow, but only you will notice it, so you must lead your companions there."

"They won't follow me."

"They will, you must have more faith in yourself. Your leadership skills used to be superb. Although your personality has changed somewhat, I'm sure that your abilities have not. You must lead them there or you will die."

"But I-"

"I must go now."

"Wait!"

The presence faded from Erin's mind and she woke up with a start. Erin panted as she looked around herself. It was still dark and Legolas was sleeping soundly beside her. She lifted shaking hands to her face and rubbed her temples. This was too much.

Erin's eyes fell on the form of Esgalan, sitting at the edge of camp. She stood and walked over to him, sitting down beside him.

"What are you doing up already?" Esgalan asked.

Erin debated whether or not to tell him. "I had a weird dream."

"Again?"

"Yeah, but it was nothing."

Esgalan studied her for a moment, she was hiding something, but he would let it go for now.

"Well, your watch doesn't begin for about half an hour, so you should go back to sleep."

"Nah," Erin shrugged. "I'm wide awake now, so it won't do any good for me to try to sleep again. There was a silence as they sat there, each looking out into the darkness.

"Esgalan?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you have a girlfriend?"

Esgalan gave Erin a sideways glance. "Why do you ask?"

"Well, it's just that, sometimes you seem lonely. I was just wondering is all. Was there ever anybody?"

"Yes, once."

"Who?!"

Esgalan turned to Erin fully. "I thought that you would've realized by now Erin." Esgalan's face got very close to Erin's and his eyes became very gentle. Erin's found herself turning red for a reason she did not know.

"K-know what?"

Esgalan's face moved closer. "Why, that it's you."

Erin felt like she was going to pass out with all the blood that rushed to her face. It was a moment before she realized that Esgalan's face was getting steadily closer to hers.

"E-Esgalan? What are you-"

Esgalan closed his eyes as his lips moved towards hers.

"Ah, um.............." Erin stuttered, her face brightening. Just when Esgalan's face was a mere inch away from hers he burst out laughing.

Erin blanched. "Huhn?"

"Oh Erin! AHAHAHAHA! I told you I'd get you back!!!! AHAHAHA!"

Erin's face, if possible got even brighter than before. "You asshole!" she cried, smacking him upside the head. Esgalan rubbed his head as his laughter died down. Erin could practically feel the steam coming out of her ears.

Esgalan looked back into the darkness. "Nope, never."

Erin looked up at him curiously. "Never? Why not?"

"I've just never found anyone that could really keep my interest."

"Keep you interest?"

"Yes. Most women are too boring. They just want to sit and home and embroider."

Erin laughed. "Not in my time they didn't......................."

"There was a time when I thought I liked you," Esgalan said, looking down. "But then I realized that what I felt for you was friendship and nothing more."

Erin smiled at him. Sometimes Esgalan could be sweet.

"Besides you're far too obnoxious."

And other times...........................

Erin whacked him over the head again.

Esgalan laughed at her flustered look. "I don't know. I want someone who can take care of herself, who doesn't need me to tell her what to do. Someone who could fight just as well as me and had a mind of her own."

"Ooh, I know the perfect person!" Erin cried.

"Really?" Esgalan asked, shocked. "Who?"

"There's this guy..........................."

Esgalan's eyes bugged out. "GUY?!"

This time it was Erin that got whacked over the head.

"I was just kidding Esgalan. But anyway, it's my watch now, so you should go to sleep."

Esgalan nodded, got up, and walked over to his bed, leaving Erin to her thoughts. What was she supposed to do about tomorrow? Would she really be able to find the tunnel? Was there a tunnel? Was she really one of the Eleven? Erin sighed and rubbed her temples. It was too much to think about. She should just try to think about something else.

'I know! I'll think about what I'll make everybody for breakfast tomorrow!' And so Erin began to work out a plan for everyone's food since they didn't have much. If she just kept her mind off of it, everything else would be all right, wouldn't it?