Disclaimer: Boo! Regular Routine! Muahahaha!
A/N: Ooops! A tad delayed, is this? Sorry, I hadn't the energy to think about the story and then I tried to hurry, because I'm going on a 10 day trip real soon, so if this is crap, tell me, and I'll re-write it! I'll be gone from November 28th until December 7th, so a further update may take even longer since I won't be writing much while I'm gone. So put up with me, I'm trying! I'm also terribly sorry to all of you who love my story, I'm being a horrible author. *whimpers* And an even worse reviewer *double whimper*
Oh! And all you people seem to think you know where this tale is headed! *shakes head while laughing* Uh uh! I told you, I'm screwing this up! Changes galore! Elli and Caitlin are making everything go nuts, all because they magically fell into Middle-earth! So ha, I am god! I am changing the story, so I hope you're all up for this!
The last chapter was cute, huh? You all seemed pleased with the taste of romance I handed you. This chapter doesn't have much (sorry to those of you who a suckers for romance! I'll make it up to you all later!), but this chapter does have Treebeard! Lookie at the title! Damn right it has Treebeard! He makes no further appearances after this. . . at least to my knowledge. So here's the next chapter, right where we left off, as usual. *hands cookies to all my reviewers.*
And the reminder: Stay tuned in early January for my next fanfic! Love to the masses! *Muahs*
CAITLIN'S POV
"I don't like this place," I mumbled to Legolas who was walking in front me. I picked a large vine out of my way and laid it on the ground next to me. I knew that Fangorn was a creepy place with talking trees, but hearing them creek and groan like that was just making me twitch.
"They are speaking to one another," Legolas reasoned. "Do not be alarmed."
I nodded, but it was still strange to here the trees "speak". I just kept my head up and plowed ahead. I didn't even know what time of day it was anymore. It could have been three in the morning and I wouldn't have realized! It didn't matter, for the thought of Elli kept me going. I worried about her, and it didn't completely have to do with the fact that she knew the story and I didn't. She definitely was the stronger out of the two of us. She was fearless and optimistic. She was also brutally honest, and had a lot more hope than I did about this trip. I needed her at my side to calm my stupid nerves. She made me feel better. . . even if she was a lot littler than me.
I heard a creak right behind me, and saw Boromir eyeing a tree suspiciously. He looked like he wanted to poke it, but thought better of it, as if it might bite his fingers off.
"They are living?" he suddenly asked out loud.
"All trees are living. These trees here just happen to be walking, talking, moving ones," I remarked somewhat sarcastically. I didn't care how rude I sounded in my answers.
Boromir only gave a disapproving scowl at my answering him in such a manner. He said nothing more for a while.
I took a good look around me. There was a stream we were following that ran to our left. Aragorn said that the hobbits tracks were seen closer to the riverside, so we traced it as well. I couldn't notice a thing, but then again, Aragorn was a spiffy ranger. So I let him do the leading.
Legolas was hanging around my side, seemingly afraid of leaving me all alone in the big, bad talking forest. I couldn't blame him. I had freaked out so many times in the short amount we were in here. No wonder he was afraid of leaving me! But I was better now, if not for a few little jitters here and there.
Gimli gave a short snort, and looked as if we wanted to whack a tree with his axe.
"Easy, Gimli," Legolas crooned. "They are harmless, they are only trees. Keep the axe lowered at your side, master dwarf."
"Do not jest at me, your royal elfness. I know how to keep myself in check." And with that, the plump little dwarf lowered the axe and walked with dignity through the hot, stuffy, forest.
ELLI'S POV
"Feed me!" screamed Pippin.
"We haven't any food!" Merry screamed back.
"But I'm hungry, and we haven't eaten for days. How haven't we any food?" Pippin whined.
"We just don't," argued Merry. "If we did 'ave food you'd probably have eaten it all by now!"
"Hush you two!" I joined, keeping my voice fairly lower than theirs. "You know better than to start screaming in strange and possibly evil places. No shut your traps and trample on. There ain't no food and I don't when we'll find food."
They mumbled apologizes under their breaths, driving their chins into their chest as they lowered their heads in slight shame. I smiled, feeling like a lousy mother. But they had to be quiet; I wasn't quiet sure what we'd find here. I had to keep hoping that Treebeard would pop up any second.
We kept walking, our tiny bodies having to climb over protruding roots, or in Pippin's mind, crawl under half of them. At one point he'd gotten himself stuck, wedged beneath a fairly large root and the leafy ground. Merry and I had taken pity on him, but first we'd laughed a moment at the poor lads predicament. Then Merry grabbed his shoulders and pulled, while I pushed his legs through. Afterwards, we'd told him to never to that again. He didn't.
"What was that noise?" Pippin suddenly asked.
"What noise?" Merry and I asked simultaneously. The three of us stopped. I looked around for a moment. All I saw was the swaying of tree branches. It didn't bother me, until I realized that the air was stuffy, humid, and there was absolutely no breeze. So how did that branch move like that?
Out of nowhere came this horrible creaking noise. All three of us jumped.
"THAT noise! What was that noise?" Pippin shrieked again.
We huddled closer, waving our heads around like rag dolls. The branches were still now. Nothing moved. Only the creepy sounds kept us huddling like we were. I wondered if that was Treebeard, but highly doubted it, on account that Treebeard was a nice fellow. But that could have changed as well. Who knew? I sure as heck didn't!
We finally got our wits together and continued, although at a much slower pace. I became curious to know what would happen to us if Treebeard weren't about. Or if Gandalf wasn't in here, lurking and looking for us. Did we just walk into a scary wood and expect to travel through and make it out on the other side AND then find a way home? Were we crazy!? What the heck was I doing? We had run in here to avoid uruk-hai capturing, yet we might die in here if the story changed!
A low, yet ground shaking sound reverberating through the forest floor. The braches swayed, sending some heavy leaves down upon our heads. Pippin gave a small shriek, and lunged at Merry and me. My eyes winded, and I looked to my right to see a few branches swaying in the rumble. I stared wide-eyed, trying to see better in the faint light of the forest. The air was thick, filled with the heaviness of the trees breath. But then I saw more leaves move, and the rumbling of the ground grew so much that Merry and Pippin hugged each other in terror and even screeched softly. Their constant "Eeep! Eeep!" didn't bother me, it was the sight of a huge tree with legs and swaying arms for branches come strolling along that got me.
He was tall, with little twigs poking out of the top of what I guessed to be his head. His body didn't bend, so he wobbled from side to side when he walked, for his long, long barked legs didn't bend or curve when he walked among his fellow trees. I stood, mounted in my place with my mouth hanging open as if I was gawking at this creature.
Very slowly he made his way towards the three of us, the hobbit lads on their knees facing each other, their faces turned towards this thing that walked, their arms wrapped around one another. Their eyes were wide, their voices gone, and their mouths flapping. I gazed up at this monstrosity, curious to find out if he was still a friend, or had he been altered into a foe.
He amiably made it over to us, then looked down at what had appeared in front of his huge tree legs, as if we hadn't been standing there but a few minutes ago.
He grumbled, a deep roaring in his tree trunk that sounded like an ancient car revving up. Then with that thunder-some boom, he spoke to us.
"Grummmm. . . Who are you that wander through my woods? Are you little orcs perhaps?" he asked slowly, his deep voice resounding through the other trees to echo in out ears.
I turned around and took a peek at Merry and Pippin. They didn't look like they were saying anything anytime soon. So I took a step forward and opened my mouth.
"We're halflings, little Shire folk out of the north and then west of here. We are hobbits." Then I added, "and who are you?"
Bold, yes. But my knees were knocking.
Another grumble, but softer this time. "Hobbits? Never heard of a hobbit before. . ."
"We really are hobbits," remarked Pippin, finding his voice for once and climbing to his feet as he pulled Merry up with him. The two brushed the leaves and pine needles off of their coats and then looked up towards this mighty tree that was using common speech.
"Hobbits," Merry squeaked. "That's what we are."
I placed my hand of his shoulder, trying to reassure him that things would be ok for now. This tree was nice. I hoped.
I let Pippin keep talking, since he had found his courage to speak up. "Hobbits are little people that dwell in the lands of the Shire. We mean no harm to anyone. We've just . . .umm, gotten' a bit lost from out companions and escaped into your forest for safety. But you look like a good lad, not mindin' just three little people in here, do you?"
Another rumbling was made deep within the huge tree, and if he could have, I'm sure he would have leaned down to get a closer look at us, just to see if we meant what we said.
"Not orcs, hmmm? Maybe you are right about what you say," he remarked. He seemed to be stuck trying to consider what he should do with the three of us. Then he began talking again. "Come, there is one way to be sure. Climb up into my branches little ones. We will find out if what you say is true."
I looked at Pippin who looked at me. Then I looked at Merry who looked at both of us. Then I took a step forward and climbed my way up the tree's bark to sit not very comfortably upon his shoulders. Merry and Pippin followed my lead, although somewhat skeptical of course. But I had to let them know that this tree wasn't going to bite. None of these trees were going to! But they still weren't too keen on the idea of trusting this strange creature.
CAITLIN'S POV
"These are strange tracks," remarked Aragorn.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I interjected. I stood over his shoulder, looking down at the marks he had pointed out on the ground. Legolas was leaning over my shoulder, and Gimli and Boromir were on the other side of the Ranger.
"I do not know," Aragorn answered. His voice gave no sway either to it being good or bad. So I let it drop.
We'd been wandering for a while now when suddenly Aragorn noticed strange things around the area we were in now. Nothing looked out of the ordinary to me, except maybe the entire forest looked creepy in my opinion, but who was I to say anything?
"Aragorn, do you ear that?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn stood up and looked at Legolas. He seemed to be listening as well.
"The only thing I hear is something familiar to a thunderstorm," I said. And I did. The noises I heard sounded like a huge and long thunderstorm way off in the distance.
They both looked at me now. "You hear it as well?" Legolas asked.
"Hear what? The thunderstorm? Yeah," I said
"That is not a thunderstorm, I'm afraid. It is shaking the ground ever so slightly and it's rumbling is not that of the clouds. It comes from within the forest."
"What?" I squeaked. Then I remembered the movie, and the sounds the trees made. And I relaxed, and prayed a million in one times in a millisecond that Elli knew what she was doing.
(A/N: Kinda short, and I apologize profusely for that. And I apologize that I'll be gone for ten days and won't be able to post dilly-squat for you kindly reviewers! I hope this chapter was at least decent. I did go back and reread it for errors, and I knew it could have been better. But I hit major writers block on this chapter and had such limited time on this. And I apologize to those of you whose stories I read. I haven't had time to read or reviewer your stories, which will be even worse when I get back. Hopefully I'll have time on my trip to write the next chapter. Anyway, I hope you somewhat enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you all when I get back!)
A/N: Ooops! A tad delayed, is this? Sorry, I hadn't the energy to think about the story and then I tried to hurry, because I'm going on a 10 day trip real soon, so if this is crap, tell me, and I'll re-write it! I'll be gone from November 28th until December 7th, so a further update may take even longer since I won't be writing much while I'm gone. So put up with me, I'm trying! I'm also terribly sorry to all of you who love my story, I'm being a horrible author. *whimpers* And an even worse reviewer *double whimper*
Oh! And all you people seem to think you know where this tale is headed! *shakes head while laughing* Uh uh! I told you, I'm screwing this up! Changes galore! Elli and Caitlin are making everything go nuts, all because they magically fell into Middle-earth! So ha, I am god! I am changing the story, so I hope you're all up for this!
The last chapter was cute, huh? You all seemed pleased with the taste of romance I handed you. This chapter doesn't have much (sorry to those of you who a suckers for romance! I'll make it up to you all later!), but this chapter does have Treebeard! Lookie at the title! Damn right it has Treebeard! He makes no further appearances after this. . . at least to my knowledge. So here's the next chapter, right where we left off, as usual. *hands cookies to all my reviewers.*
And the reminder: Stay tuned in early January for my next fanfic! Love to the masses! *Muahs*
CAITLIN'S POV
"I don't like this place," I mumbled to Legolas who was walking in front me. I picked a large vine out of my way and laid it on the ground next to me. I knew that Fangorn was a creepy place with talking trees, but hearing them creek and groan like that was just making me twitch.
"They are speaking to one another," Legolas reasoned. "Do not be alarmed."
I nodded, but it was still strange to here the trees "speak". I just kept my head up and plowed ahead. I didn't even know what time of day it was anymore. It could have been three in the morning and I wouldn't have realized! It didn't matter, for the thought of Elli kept me going. I worried about her, and it didn't completely have to do with the fact that she knew the story and I didn't. She definitely was the stronger out of the two of us. She was fearless and optimistic. She was also brutally honest, and had a lot more hope than I did about this trip. I needed her at my side to calm my stupid nerves. She made me feel better. . . even if she was a lot littler than me.
I heard a creak right behind me, and saw Boromir eyeing a tree suspiciously. He looked like he wanted to poke it, but thought better of it, as if it might bite his fingers off.
"They are living?" he suddenly asked out loud.
"All trees are living. These trees here just happen to be walking, talking, moving ones," I remarked somewhat sarcastically. I didn't care how rude I sounded in my answers.
Boromir only gave a disapproving scowl at my answering him in such a manner. He said nothing more for a while.
I took a good look around me. There was a stream we were following that ran to our left. Aragorn said that the hobbits tracks were seen closer to the riverside, so we traced it as well. I couldn't notice a thing, but then again, Aragorn was a spiffy ranger. So I let him do the leading.
Legolas was hanging around my side, seemingly afraid of leaving me all alone in the big, bad talking forest. I couldn't blame him. I had freaked out so many times in the short amount we were in here. No wonder he was afraid of leaving me! But I was better now, if not for a few little jitters here and there.
Gimli gave a short snort, and looked as if we wanted to whack a tree with his axe.
"Easy, Gimli," Legolas crooned. "They are harmless, they are only trees. Keep the axe lowered at your side, master dwarf."
"Do not jest at me, your royal elfness. I know how to keep myself in check." And with that, the plump little dwarf lowered the axe and walked with dignity through the hot, stuffy, forest.
ELLI'S POV
"Feed me!" screamed Pippin.
"We haven't any food!" Merry screamed back.
"But I'm hungry, and we haven't eaten for days. How haven't we any food?" Pippin whined.
"We just don't," argued Merry. "If we did 'ave food you'd probably have eaten it all by now!"
"Hush you two!" I joined, keeping my voice fairly lower than theirs. "You know better than to start screaming in strange and possibly evil places. No shut your traps and trample on. There ain't no food and I don't when we'll find food."
They mumbled apologizes under their breaths, driving their chins into their chest as they lowered their heads in slight shame. I smiled, feeling like a lousy mother. But they had to be quiet; I wasn't quiet sure what we'd find here. I had to keep hoping that Treebeard would pop up any second.
We kept walking, our tiny bodies having to climb over protruding roots, or in Pippin's mind, crawl under half of them. At one point he'd gotten himself stuck, wedged beneath a fairly large root and the leafy ground. Merry and I had taken pity on him, but first we'd laughed a moment at the poor lads predicament. Then Merry grabbed his shoulders and pulled, while I pushed his legs through. Afterwards, we'd told him to never to that again. He didn't.
"What was that noise?" Pippin suddenly asked.
"What noise?" Merry and I asked simultaneously. The three of us stopped. I looked around for a moment. All I saw was the swaying of tree branches. It didn't bother me, until I realized that the air was stuffy, humid, and there was absolutely no breeze. So how did that branch move like that?
Out of nowhere came this horrible creaking noise. All three of us jumped.
"THAT noise! What was that noise?" Pippin shrieked again.
We huddled closer, waving our heads around like rag dolls. The branches were still now. Nothing moved. Only the creepy sounds kept us huddling like we were. I wondered if that was Treebeard, but highly doubted it, on account that Treebeard was a nice fellow. But that could have changed as well. Who knew? I sure as heck didn't!
We finally got our wits together and continued, although at a much slower pace. I became curious to know what would happen to us if Treebeard weren't about. Or if Gandalf wasn't in here, lurking and looking for us. Did we just walk into a scary wood and expect to travel through and make it out on the other side AND then find a way home? Were we crazy!? What the heck was I doing? We had run in here to avoid uruk-hai capturing, yet we might die in here if the story changed!
A low, yet ground shaking sound reverberating through the forest floor. The braches swayed, sending some heavy leaves down upon our heads. Pippin gave a small shriek, and lunged at Merry and me. My eyes winded, and I looked to my right to see a few branches swaying in the rumble. I stared wide-eyed, trying to see better in the faint light of the forest. The air was thick, filled with the heaviness of the trees breath. But then I saw more leaves move, and the rumbling of the ground grew so much that Merry and Pippin hugged each other in terror and even screeched softly. Their constant "Eeep! Eeep!" didn't bother me, it was the sight of a huge tree with legs and swaying arms for branches come strolling along that got me.
He was tall, with little twigs poking out of the top of what I guessed to be his head. His body didn't bend, so he wobbled from side to side when he walked, for his long, long barked legs didn't bend or curve when he walked among his fellow trees. I stood, mounted in my place with my mouth hanging open as if I was gawking at this creature.
Very slowly he made his way towards the three of us, the hobbit lads on their knees facing each other, their faces turned towards this thing that walked, their arms wrapped around one another. Their eyes were wide, their voices gone, and their mouths flapping. I gazed up at this monstrosity, curious to find out if he was still a friend, or had he been altered into a foe.
He amiably made it over to us, then looked down at what had appeared in front of his huge tree legs, as if we hadn't been standing there but a few minutes ago.
He grumbled, a deep roaring in his tree trunk that sounded like an ancient car revving up. Then with that thunder-some boom, he spoke to us.
"Grummmm. . . Who are you that wander through my woods? Are you little orcs perhaps?" he asked slowly, his deep voice resounding through the other trees to echo in out ears.
I turned around and took a peek at Merry and Pippin. They didn't look like they were saying anything anytime soon. So I took a step forward and opened my mouth.
"We're halflings, little Shire folk out of the north and then west of here. We are hobbits." Then I added, "and who are you?"
Bold, yes. But my knees were knocking.
Another grumble, but softer this time. "Hobbits? Never heard of a hobbit before. . ."
"We really are hobbits," remarked Pippin, finding his voice for once and climbing to his feet as he pulled Merry up with him. The two brushed the leaves and pine needles off of their coats and then looked up towards this mighty tree that was using common speech.
"Hobbits," Merry squeaked. "That's what we are."
I placed my hand of his shoulder, trying to reassure him that things would be ok for now. This tree was nice. I hoped.
I let Pippin keep talking, since he had found his courage to speak up. "Hobbits are little people that dwell in the lands of the Shire. We mean no harm to anyone. We've just . . .umm, gotten' a bit lost from out companions and escaped into your forest for safety. But you look like a good lad, not mindin' just three little people in here, do you?"
Another rumbling was made deep within the huge tree, and if he could have, I'm sure he would have leaned down to get a closer look at us, just to see if we meant what we said.
"Not orcs, hmmm? Maybe you are right about what you say," he remarked. He seemed to be stuck trying to consider what he should do with the three of us. Then he began talking again. "Come, there is one way to be sure. Climb up into my branches little ones. We will find out if what you say is true."
I looked at Pippin who looked at me. Then I looked at Merry who looked at both of us. Then I took a step forward and climbed my way up the tree's bark to sit not very comfortably upon his shoulders. Merry and Pippin followed my lead, although somewhat skeptical of course. But I had to let them know that this tree wasn't going to bite. None of these trees were going to! But they still weren't too keen on the idea of trusting this strange creature.
CAITLIN'S POV
"These are strange tracks," remarked Aragorn.
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I interjected. I stood over his shoulder, looking down at the marks he had pointed out on the ground. Legolas was leaning over my shoulder, and Gimli and Boromir were on the other side of the Ranger.
"I do not know," Aragorn answered. His voice gave no sway either to it being good or bad. So I let it drop.
We'd been wandering for a while now when suddenly Aragorn noticed strange things around the area we were in now. Nothing looked out of the ordinary to me, except maybe the entire forest looked creepy in my opinion, but who was I to say anything?
"Aragorn, do you ear that?" Legolas asked.
Aragorn stood up and looked at Legolas. He seemed to be listening as well.
"The only thing I hear is something familiar to a thunderstorm," I said. And I did. The noises I heard sounded like a huge and long thunderstorm way off in the distance.
They both looked at me now. "You hear it as well?" Legolas asked.
"Hear what? The thunderstorm? Yeah," I said
"That is not a thunderstorm, I'm afraid. It is shaking the ground ever so slightly and it's rumbling is not that of the clouds. It comes from within the forest."
"What?" I squeaked. Then I remembered the movie, and the sounds the trees made. And I relaxed, and prayed a million in one times in a millisecond that Elli knew what she was doing.
(A/N: Kinda short, and I apologize profusely for that. And I apologize that I'll be gone for ten days and won't be able to post dilly-squat for you kindly reviewers! I hope this chapter was at least decent. I did go back and reread it for errors, and I knew it could have been better. But I hit major writers block on this chapter and had such limited time on this. And I apologize to those of you whose stories I read. I haven't had time to read or reviewer your stories, which will be even worse when I get back. Hopefully I'll have time on my trip to write the next chapter. Anyway, I hope you somewhat enjoyed this chapter. I'll see you all when I get back!)