A/N: And one new chapter, one!! And a long one, aren't you all lucky blokes! At some point I even considered splitting it in two and post the parts seperately, but I changed my mind, and I'm sure you'll be happy to learn that everything I've written so far is featured in this chapter.

Here are also answers to my great, great reviewers!

Alklachion: Stop watching crappy TV? And how am I supposed to survive without it? Oh, right, there's still internet and fanfictions... *g* Well, I kinda stopped watching crappy TV lately... Actually I even managed to survive whole evenings without switching the TV on at all... To make sure I wouldn't get distracted, I even went to the park to write - though pigeons are quite distracting too. Wrote three whole pages of this chapter there. Also got a sunburn. And it's all your fault if I'm in horrible pain now :-p
About the Animorphs series, I don't think I've ever heard about it, though the name sounds strangely familiar. So any similarities were *not* intended! (but I'm glad you find my story better! *blushes*)
As for Cindra knowing about it or not... You'll find out soon... Very soon... *eg*

eck: Well, I think you reviewed every single chapter... And it's really great to have you around. Actually I always look forward to your comments, I really appreciate them. So keep the reviews coming! *wink* Oh and thanks for answering my question about 'OC', that's what I thought but I wanted to make sure... lol

Blue Topaz How I could leave it there? Well, because I'm eeeeeeeevil! Bwaaahaaahaaa!!!! Besides, did I update soon enough for you? I did my best anyway.

And also thanks to those who added me to their favorites! Even if some of those didn't review (tsk tsk... :-D), it really means a lot to me.

My biggest thanks though will go to Candice who beta'd this chapter and she did a really amazing job. I'm sure that through this chapter you'll enjoy her work as much as I did.


Ok, enough babbling... Here is the new chapter!

One last thing though: the few sentences in Elvish you will find in this story are very approximative, and at best literal translations. So if anyone around knows Elvish grammar (I'm sure a lot do, you've certainly *all* chosen Elvish as foreign language in high school... *g*), I'd be glad if you could help and correct the mistakes... Thank you!


Chapter 8
The Plan of a Friend

Gimli was fuming while harshly picking up dead wood. How could he have not noticed it before? Days had passed, days during which the being he considered his best friend had been acting oddly and he had not noticed? Aragorn had his men to deal with, it might have been why the King had not remarked the strangeness of the Elf's behavior. But *he*, Gimli thought, should have noticed.

The Dwarf cursed himself. He had been such an idiot.

And what of the Elf's lack of wit and strange answers? He had dismissed them, one after the other, while he knew they were not usual for Legolas.

When the cramp was mentioned, he should have understood immediately. Firstly, Elves could not have cramps - or if they could they would certainly not let a Dwarf know about it. And secondly - well, seriously, a cramp? Gimli had fought countless battles at Legolas' side and never had he heard him complain about his well being, even when wounded. A cramp… Did the creature think that would have fooled him? Although he had to admit that he had been foolish enough not to have understood right then.

And now, all he could think of was the fear in those Elven eyes and despair in his tone. He had to find a way to -

"Gimli?"

Gimli glared at Cindra, annoyed that she had interrupted his thoughts. Why had she volunteered to accompany him anyway? He would have preferred to go with Legolas, so that he could test his thoughts before wrongly accusing the Elf.

"Aye?" he eventually said dryly.

"You and Legolas are close friends, is that correct?"

Every time that kind of question was raised, Gimli went into automatic mode and recited without really thinking: "Me? Befriend an Elf? Ah! This is the craziest thing I have ever heard! You must really come from a faraway land to not know that Dwarves and Elves have always held grudges against each other. Legolas and I are no exception to the rule. I have barely managed to stand his presence along the journey."

Cindra's skeptical gaze and raised eyebrow stated that he had not fooled her. "Whatever you say, Master Dwarf…" She resumed picking up the wood in silence.

He concluded that even a complete stranger could figure out that they were friends. What was the point of their verbal games? Gimli thought, a tad vexed. He felt, however, that the young woman had not just been trying to find out whether they were friends or not.

"Is there a particular reason why you asked?" he inquired, his tone as casual as possible.

Cindra turned to him, hesitant but looking as if she had hoped he would ask. "Have you noted… something unusual in his behavior of late?"

Gimli blinked. So she had noticed as well. Relieved that he had not made it all up, the Dwarf was no less annoyed that a stranger had seen what he had almost failed to notice. "Why would I have?" he asked cautiously.

"Well… I think… Maybe the creature…" she stammered, unsettled by the fact he did not confirm anything.

"You think the creature has possessed him?" he finished for her.

"Aye. So…" she paused, "Have you noticed something? You would have noticed if he behaved strangely, correct?"

Gimli smiled bitterly. "Aye, I would have. And no, I did not notice anything unusual."

Cindra looked disappointed. "But… Well, it seemed…"

Gimli shook his head. "You are mistaken. Had you known Elves better you would have never made that accusation. Firstly, while I hate having to admit it, they have stronger minds than any other race on Middle-earth. Legolas would have never been fooled by this creature." While saying those words, Gimli thought completely otherwise. How in Aulë's name had Legolas been tricked? "Secondly, Elves have great senses. And at this moment, while we have moved away from the campfire, we are still within Elven earshot."

The colour suddenly drained from Cindra's face as the few wood sticks she was holding escaped her hands and fell to the ground. She turned round to look at the campfire and there she saw him, standing casually but looking at them from the corner of his eyes - those eyes, the same hatred that he had shown her during the last couple of days.

"Oh Eru…" the young woman murmured as she realised her mistake.

Indeed, Gimli thought. While Cindra had already revealed her knowledge, there was no point in letting the creature know *he* knew as well. Better to let it think the opposite, in fact. "Do not worry. There is nothing to fear. The creature is not among us." He paused. The Norean was still very pale. "Now come, walk with me further into the forest, where the wood is more abundant."

Aye, farther, he thought. Someplace where Legolas would not be able to hear them…

* * * * *


The creature kept its eyes on the two silhouettes walking deeper into the wood.

The Dwarf was so stupid. He pretended to be its host's best friend… It smiled. If even the dwarf had not noticed, it was safe. The Norean was still a problem though. Not for long, it thought. It would take care of her soon before she had a chance to arouse too much suspicion from the others.

It was tired of staying here, doing nothing but pretending to seek 'the creature' as they were calling it. Having to comply with its former human host's needs had considerably drained patience from it but having to wait was worst than anything.

Maybe it could speed up things a little…

It walked towards the King of Gondor, preparing arguments that its host could have likely come up with.

"Why not continue our way north?" it finally said. "We are too few to cover the area. The Elves of Mirkwood could give us precious help."

"I know," Aragorn admitted, unable to resign himself to give up the hunt. He hesitated a few seconds before sighing. "I'll give us two more days. If we have found naught during that delay, then we will on to Mirkwood."

Aragorn turned round, hence he did not see Legolas clench his fists impatiently behind him.

* * * * *


Gimli glanced back. A few more yards, he thought. Better safe than sorry.

He could not help thinking about his friend's distress, considering himself responsible for it - maybe not responsible for it but at least responsible for its possible duration.

A sudden thought occurred to him. Legolas was an Elf Lord. The son of Thranduil, King of Mirkwood. An immortal Prince of one of the last Elvish communities on Middle-earth. The fact that Legolas neglected to acknowledge his title made it easy for one to forget.

Gimli then remembered it was Legolas who had first suggested going to Mirkwood, a few days before. It was after the Orcs attack, hence it meant it was the creature's suggestion.

It wanted to go to Mirkwood and use its host's identity to its advantage.

He had to prevent that, Gimli thought. While for a long time he had not held the Mirkwood Elves very high in his esteem, he did not wish that to anyone. And his motivation redoubled if he added the fact that it was his best friend that was the main protagonist in this affair.

There was one way he could think of. It could be dangerous but he did not care putting his own life at stake if he could save his friend. The main problem was that he needed someone else to help him achieve his goal. Someone that would not doubt his conviction in thinking that Legolas was the creature's host.

He could not ask that of Aragorn, he was King of Gondor and it was wiser to keep him as far from the creature as possible. There was no need to give it another pportunity to reach someone powerful.

His gaze found Cindra, picking up dead wood and seeming deep in thought. She already knew about the creature. But she was young and inexperienced, it would put her into a risky position.

Yet it could work. Better than with anyone else, actually, at least for the first part of his plan… The second one would be a different matter…

"Cindra?" the Dwarf began.

The Norean looked back at him, a tad surprised to hear him call to her.

"It is all right, we are far enough now to be able to talk freely." Seeing she was a bit puzzled, he added: "I did notice Legolas' strange behavior."

"Oh," she just said after a few seconds, looking relieved.

"I have a plan." he said.

"You have a plan…" she repeated slowly, waiting for him to go on.

"And I need your help," confessed the Dwarf.

"My help? My help to do what?"

Gimli chose his words carefully. "I need to get Legolas away from the camp. Away from everyone else. Once isolated I should be able to detain him while the creature can not switch to someone else."

Cindra's eyes narrowed. "Once isolated, say you… So you want me to… to play the bait?"

"I know this will put you into a dangerous situation but you are already in danger. The creature knows you suspect Legolas, so it will try to get rid of you. Probably like it did with your father."

The young woman nodded. She knew he was right. "But, wait… You want to take him to where the creature cannot switch to someone else. But that will not apply to you or I. We will be close, very close…"

"I have reasons to believe it will not. It is power it seeks and none of us can bring it any. Plus if we manage to take it by surprise… It will not be given the chance…" He paused. "Once that is done, we will tell the others but in the meantime they must not know. As you know now anything said near the campfire could potentially be heard by the creature. So is it a deal?"

"A deal? What deal?" asked Cindra.

"You bring Legolas away from the campfire. I follow you discreetly and tie him up," explained Gimli.

"I… I am not sure. I need to think about it," stammered Cindra.

Gimli gazed at her earnestly. Being hesitant was understandable but time was precious. He sighed, "All right. Do not be long in your decision, time is short," he warned while beginning to walk back to the campfire.

* * * * *


Legolas drowned farther and farther from the painful world outside. All he wished was to get away from it. No more pain. No more turmoil. No more fights. No more deaths. No more grief. He was tired, so tired of all that…

Unconsciously he was led to a warm and quiet place. A place the creature did not seem to have access to. A place that had not been tainted by the creature and the chaos it generated.

He remained there a little while, simply enjoying the bliss of feeling at peace. After a moment though, a silhouette appeared next to him. Nothing more than an indistinct cloud at first but it slowly became an outline and finally a corporeal body.

It was an Elf Lady, her stance noble, her eyes full of love and affection, her long golden hair waving faintly around her visage.

Valar, he had almost forgotten how beautiful she was…

"Naneth…" he whispered, his voice catching in his throat under the weight of emotion. (A/N: "Mother…")

A bright smile lit her face at his words.

A part of him knew it was not real. Knew *she* was not real. It could not be, she had sailed into the West centuries before… Those were all memories… Pleasant ones but still no more than memories… Yet all he wanted to do was ignore that logical part of him.

The last straw was given when she held out a pale white hand towards him. "Tolo, nín tithen pen…" (A/N: "Come, my little one…")

He allowed her to take his hand in hers and meekly followed her.

* * * * *


Gimli did not sleep very well that night. The next day was not much better. Like the previous one they spent it searching for the creature and he could feel that even Aragorn was beginning to loose hope. He wished he could tell his friend what he knew, tell him that the creature was already among them and that all this was unnecessary. But he could not if he wanted his plan to have a chance to succeed.

And as for his plan, he wondered why it was taking the Norean so long to take her decision. Could she not see the urgency of the situation? He kept casting enquiring looks at her, hoping for a nod, a sign, anything that would indicate an agreement. But every time she met his gaze she would avert her eyes in a refusal to answer.

He had noted that all day she had carefully avoided getting close to Legolas or him, preferring the company of the other men. It was probably better that way anyway, so as not to wake the creature's suspicion about him.

As the end of the afternoon came, he tried once more but his look was again ignored by the young woman. Stifling an annoyed grumble, Gimli settled next to the soon to be prepared fire.

If she did not hurry, the creature would have more than enough time to kill them all slowly, one by one before she even made her decision.

* * * * *


Cindra was getting more and more tense. And Gimli's insistent looks were not helping. If only it was the only thing, she might not have minded as much. But there were also Legolas' hateful looks, constantly reminding her of her precarious situation.

She felt kind of trapped between those two's gazes, she tried to avoid them as far as possible. She preferred to stay around King Elessar's men but even those were becoming annoying. Two of them spoke coldly to anyone and most of the time they just ignored her. Only Niyan was somewhat courteous but even he was beginning to be affected by the general unrest.

A break. She needed a break. If only she could have a few minutes alone to think everything over and make her decision…

* * * * *


This was leading them nowhere. Aragorn was beginning to consider bringing the two day delay down to one. If they still had not found anything by the end of the day, it meant that the creature was likely far away and that they were too late. But for his own peace of mind he needed to keep searching, to make sure he had done everything he could before withdrawing.

He could feel the tension growing among his traveling companions. Even Gimli and Legolas had begun to behave awkwardly around each other, which he did not consider as a good sign.

Aye. The next day they would go to Mirkwood and seek the Silvan Elves' help.

As he turned to tell the good news to Legolas - he was sure the Elf would be glad to learn he had eventually taken his advice - Aragorn was surprised to see Cindra walking toward him.

"King Elessar? Could I please have a word with you?" she asked.

"Of course," Aragorn replied.

"I have a request. I… I would like to get away from the campfire for a few minutes. Alone," she added.

Aragorn stared at her, half amused and half disbelieving. "You what?"

"I need to be alone a little while. Everyone is getting so tense, and… And I would like a few minutes to myself to clear my thoughts," rephrased Cindra.

Aragorn firmly shook his head. "No. It would be too dangerous."

"I… I will not be long. And I will not go far," the young woman insisted.

"Cindra, you must understand that moving away from the campfire alone would be too risky. And not just because of the creature. I thought you would have realized that considering what happened the last time you did so."

"I know, but -" started Cindra.

"I will go with her, Aragorn." Legolas offered with what looked like a warm smile to the King of Gondor. On the contrary, that smile looked terribly ironic to the paling Norean, though it worsened when the Elf gently patted her shoulder.

"Alright." Aragorn eventually said with a nod, assuming that the look in the young woman's eyes was nothing more than disappointment. She might not be going to be alone but Legolas was the most discreet of them all. Plus he knew she would be safe with the Elf.

As the pair moved away, Aragorn made a mental note to tell Legolas about going to Mirkwood the next day later. Preoccupied by other thoughts, he did not see Cindra almost frantically looking round for Gimli and giving the slightest nod to him when she finally found him. Nor did he see Gimli nodding back.

* * * * *
Where was a Dwarf when one was needed? Cindra wondered nervously. How long could it possibly take him to catch up with them? They had not hurried. On the contrary, they had dawdled. So where was he? The creature could attack her at any moment. Actually she was surprised it had not already done so.

If that Dwarf did not arrive soon, she would… Well, she would not do anything, since technically she might be dead but she really wished she could -

"Are you alright?"

Cindra almost jumped when hearing the Elf's voice. "Aye, I am alright." she lied.

"You can go further if you wish. I will watch you from here," assured the Elf.

Oh no, she was certainly not going to go further from him. He had that bow, going further was the best way to give him an opportunity to shoot her. Better stay close. Well, he had those twin knives as well… Hmm… She had to find a compromise between close and far. "No, it is fine." she answered.

She resumed her casual walk, always making sure to keep an eye on Legolas. A rather difficult task since the Elf seemed to prefer following her. She was sure her gait was extremely abnormal.

"What are you afraid of?" the voice behind her asked.

She turned round to face him. "Me? Nothing."

"Your hands are shaking…" Legolas pointed out.

Cindra looked down at her agitated hands, quickly she hid them behind her back.

"Looks like it is me you are afraid of…" the Elf suggested with something that looked like a satisfied smile. He took a few arrogant steps forward. "Really, why, I wonder…"

The Norean simultaneously took steps backward, breathing heavily. She had to keep a distance between them.

A smirk appeared on Legolas' lips. "It is useless. You know it. Make things easier for me and I will make your death less painful than your father's." Seeing she kept moving back, he shook his head. "Tsk tsk… All right, as you wish… Slow and painful then…" he concluded, unsheathing one of his long knives.

As he weighed his weapon in his hand, Cindra drew her own dagger and held it out in front of her menacingly - at least she hoped it looked menacing, though she feared her clumsy handling might betray her inexperience. Which it did.

"Ha," Legolas snorted, "do you really think you will be any match for me? It is obvious you have never used that weapon."

He took one more step forward but suddenly froze, a frown on his forehead. It seemed the Norean was alternately looking at him and at something behind him. What the -

The crack of a twig.

He only had the time to do an half turn but it was already too late as the full weight of a Dwarf knocked him down to the ground, making him loose his grip on his knife in the process.

* * * * *


He was quiet. At peace, at last. Legolas turned to his mother, and she smiled at him he smiled back. Her presence made him feel completely safe.

He did not know how much time he had already spent there, all he wished was that it would last forever.

His wish was not granted, though.

As he looked once more at his mother, everything unexpectedly faded around him, turning into a swirling and dissonant chaos until there was nothing left of it.

Legolas was suddenly painfully aware of his face violently hitting the ground. Of his hands being dragged behind his back. Of someone's weight upon him as a familiar voice whispering at his ear.

"I am sorry Legolas but we do not really have the choice."

Gimli. Why was Gimli doing that? Why had he dragged him away from his peacefulness? He had the right to be at rest, why denying him his respite?

All the late events suddenly came back flashing to him. The creature, and all the suffering that came with it.

But Gimli was there and he knew - he had to know, why else would he be trying to hold him still? A wave of relief washed through him. It was going to be over soon.

He could not see exactly what was going on but his other senses were almost fully alert. He could feel that Gimli was holding his hands behind his back and twisting rope around his wrists. All he wished was to let him do that but it was probably not to the creature's liking as it was making his body try struggle free.

He felt another pair of hands attempting to hold his ankles down. Aragorn maybe? No, the grip was too weak. As if to attest his guesses, one of his legs broke free and his foot connected with something - or someone as the cry of hurt he heard suggested.

Had he been able to turn around, he would have seen Cindra taking one step back, holding her bleeding nose.

"What are you doing? Hold his feet!" Gimli's voice ordered.

"Well believe it or not, I am trying!" snapped Cindra.

Cindra. Cindra?? Why was she the one there with Gimli? Legolas did not have the opportunity to wonder any longer since he was once again pulled into the darkness.

* * * * *


Legolas slowly came back to his senses. He was quick to notice he was still not in control but he was fully conscious. Which he considered as a good thing - taking refuge in memories of his mother was not a solution. When Gimli 'attacked' him, the creature had probably lost some of its control on him, its full attention being required to fight free. Fortunately, Legolas thought, it did not succeed.

He was sitting on the ground, his back against the bark of a tree with both his hands and feet tied tightly. If the rope cutting into his wrists' skin and the unpleasant flow of half dried blood down his palm was any indication, the creature may have been trying to free itself for a good while - and was still trying from what he could tell.

He suddenly realised there were people around as he heard two familiar voices. He focused on them. Gimli and Cindra. It probably meant not much time had gone by since the 'attack'. The two of them seemed to be in the middle of a heated argument. Why was Cindra pacing nervously? And Gimli glaring at her impatiently?

"This is not what we agreed on, Gimli." the young woman stated, pointing an almost menacing finger at the Dwarf.

"We did not agree on anything, remember? You wanted to 'think about it'." Gimli pointed out.

"This was *not* part of the plan you told me about!" Cindra exclaimed.

"This is part of the plan I am telling you about *now*," retorted Gimli.

A plan? What plan? Legolas wondered.

The Norean let go an exasperated sigh. "This is nonsense…"

"It needs to be done, be it by me or someone else," reasoned Gimli.

"We should stick to the initial plan, and tell the others. I am going to warn King Elessar."

As she moved back towards the campfire, Gimli grabbed her arm to stop her. "He will not approve."

"Of course he will not approve. And I do not approve either. Now let go of my arm."

What were they talking about? Legolas wondered. Something Aragorn would not approve was most likely a bad idea. Then why was Gimli insisting so much? It was obviously important to him, as he did not release Cindra's arm.

"I need someone to be there while I do it."

"You… You do not even know how to do that. Or even if it is possible," Cindra pointed out.

"I will find a way," Gimli said determinedly, finally freeing the Norean's arm.

She hesitated. "Look, it is -"

"Cindra, you know I will do it whether you stay or not. And you also know it might go wrong if you do not."

The young woman sighed again, slightly shaking her head. "This is suicidal."

Suicidal? Now Legolas wished he could jump out of his body and shake them both until one told him what it was all about. And he would do no more than that to them, only thanks to his Elven patience.

"Look at me in the eyes and tell me you never considered doing something similar when it was *your* friend that was in his position."

Cindra managed to stand the Dwarf's gaze a few seconds before looking down. "The situation was different," she muttered, betraying the fact that the answer would have been positive.

"Different? How much different, do tell me! Ederis was your friend and Legolas is mine, I do not see any difference here!" Gimli exclaimed angrily.

"It was *different*," the young woman insisted, giving the Dwarf a long look.

"Honestly Cindra, I do not understand how it could possibly -," Gimli began until he eventually got it. "Oh." The two of them had been more than just friends. But what Crireth said… "Your father did not know, did he?" Gimli assumed.

Cindra slightly shook her head.

Gimli let go a long sigh. "All right. So it was a bit different. But you certainly understand what I am trying to do and why I am doing it."

By Elbereth, if the Dwarf did not come clean soon Legolas was going to torture him badly. If he could, that is - and truth was he could not.

"I do understand. Actually, I kept pondering over it during the first days of our journey, until he…" Her voiced trailed off and she swallowed uneasilyb but she needed not to finish her sentence for Gimli to understand.

"Then why would you not help me do it?" questioned Gimli.

"Because I had more time than you to think about it. This would be a very noble act, Gimli, but also a very egotistical one," Cindra responded.

All right. They knew he was conscious and they were deliberately playing with his nerves, Legolas was sure of it.

"Egotistical, really?" Gimli snorted. "Trying to pull someone out of a painful situation? And how so?"

Cindra sighed for the umpteenth time. Even Legolas, from his hindered position, could feel the stress between the two of them.

"Do you think he will enjoy being in your position more than you do? Especially since he would know in vivid details what you would be going through? If he cares for you half as much as you care for him, I do not think so." reasoned Cindra.

Had Legolas been his normal self, he would have frowned. What did she mean exactly by him being in Gimli's position? And what about the vivid de -… Oh no. Oh Eru no. Gimli wanted to have the creature switch to him. If that was the 'plan' they had been talking about since the beginning, then Legolas thoroughly hated it. While he would have gladly welcomed any way to get rid of this creature, cursing Gimli with it was not an option. Being in pain was one thing but having one's best friend in pain was another, and if he had a say in it he preferred the first to the latter.

Gimli was not seriously considering doing this, was he?

"I did not think about that," the Dwarf confessed. "But that does not change anything."

So he was…

"Gimli, this will only move your grief from your shoulders to Legolas'. And I am sure you do not want that," pleaded Cindra.

Bright girl, Legolas thought. Keep trying to convince Gimli to change his mind. As stubborn as the Dwarf can be, she may well succeed, if the slight flinch in the Dwarf's eyes was any indication.

"There are other considerations to take into account," reveled Gimli.

No. There were no other considerations, he had better not do it if he did not wish to experience the wrath of an Elf.

"What other considerations?" questioned Cindra.

"Legolas is an Elf Lord. He is immortal and has a lot of influence, through him the creature is powerful. We cannot leave the situation as is, it is too dangerous. I, on the contrary, am a mere mortal Dwarf from the Lonely Mountain. I am nothing, I would be of no use to the creature."

Nothing? He dared say he was nothing? He was son of Glóin, one of the thirteen Dwarves of the Quest of Erebor. He was one of the Nine Walkers, a warrior of great valor that fought bravely in the War of the Ring. And above all the Dwarf was his friend. Yet he dared say he was nothing?? Well he certainly was not nothing to him.

He would not let him do that. He could not.

"I need someone to be there during the process," Gimli continued. "First to tie me up before beginning, so that once the creature has switched to me I will not be any danger. Then to make sure everything worked correctly. And eventually, free the one that is not possessed - be it Legolas or myself." He paused. "What do you say, Cindra? Do you agree or not?" he finished, holding out the last of his rope to her.

----------------------------------
End of Chapter Eight...

As I previously said, I love cliffies... And again, if anyone wonders why it's because I'm E.V.I.L.
Besides, I don't know how long it will take me to write the next chapter. I really enjoy writing this story, and while I have several chapters already planned in mind, I have other fanfictions projects I'd like to work on (a post-Buffy fanfic (BtVS is over... *snifle*) as well as a Gimli romance (yes, you read well, a GIMLI romance) if anyone wishes to know)(a Pippin angst as well, now I think about it...). My co-writer has been harrassing me for weeks now, and since she's evil too and wouldn't mind tearing my limbs apart if I delayed too much, I think I should consider giving those projects some attention as well.
So if it takes time before seeing a new chapter, don't worry, I have *not* forgotten about this story!

Anyway, you're still more than welcome to review!

Next chapter: "Freedom at last... or not?" (title might sound a bit stupid right now, but should sound (I hope) a bit less stupid once the chapter is posted and read, you'll see...)