Okley Dokley! Howdy's all's. Just wanted to let's ya's kno that I am a bit
out of it right now. I'm on DayQuill and it makes me a bit funny, so sorry
if the Chapter ain't up to par!
Disclaimer: Can I just trust ya'll to understand and skip this part? Lawsuit? Oh, then I don't own it!
Chapter Five: Where Once Was Light
"Watch out!" Merry ordered, "Step up! Duck down!" Jericho tried her best to follow each order, but she had managed to fall more times than she had bothered to count now.
"There's a hole here, let me help you across," he offered taking both of her hands, "Step forward, okay down a little," Jericho obeyed each command, "You'll be steppin' up a little, that's it, Okay we're out." He released her other hand and went back to their brisk pace.
They had lost Tom some time ago and were wondering if they were ever going to find his house in this massive place. Jericho sensed that it must be close to dusk by the musty smell in the air. She beamed brightly and opened her eyes again.
"I'm glad to see you've changed your mind about your eyes," Merry teased. She could imagine a large smile on his face. She beamed in his general direction and sighed happily.
"You're also in a much better mood than earlier, too!" he added.
"Things are starting to look up," she answered simply smiling at her sad sense of humor. He chuckled.
"I'm glad you're a lot happier now, I didn't think I could live with someone that gray till we reach Rivendell!"
"Well, either way, Mr. Brandybuck, you'd just have to either way."
"Oh my luck," he answered sarcastically.
"Will you two lovebirds hurry up, we're almost there!" Pippin yelled from in front.
"Pippin, you best be takin' that back, boy!" Jericho threatened laughing. She heard Merry's booming laugh close by and it made her feel even more elated. No drug could give her this kind of high.
()
Merry grasped Jericho's hand tighter and helped her up the last few yards. They stood before a beautiful house that must have been Tom Bombadill's because of the wonderful woodland décor all around.
"What does it look like?" asked Jericho excitedly.
"It's-It's," he stammered, not knowing what to say.
"Merry, this is the perfect time for you to be lost for words," she scoffed grasping his arm.
"Well," he began, "It's a house."
"Duh, Merry."
"And, it has many beautiful woodworking's," Merry looked over at her to see that she had closed her eyes and was trying to imagine what he was saying, "And here comes Tom around the corner of the house, from the barn where our ponies are."
"We have to go in now don't we?" she whined opening her eyes once more. He looked into those pale milky spheres and sighed. Why was this happening? Why was she becoming even more like 'her' with every passing moment.
"Yes, Jericho, we do," he answered smiling and led her inside.
As they came inside Merry saw a beautiful woman standing before him. Frodo must have also thought so because he broke out into a song at her sight.
"Frodo's baggin' on Tom's woman," Jericho whispered under breath, she began to snicker.
"What are you laughing about?" Merry asked. Jericho covered her mouth and was now laughing so hard that the other's stared at her sharply.
"It's too hard for you to understand," she gasped not noticing the other's stares. He looked at her inquisitively. There were a few things that were definitely NOT like 'Her.'
"Please sit down and we shall prepare the table," Goldberry sang. They took seats in a small sitting room across from the dining room. Merry watched as Tom and Goldberry danced about the table, laying a platter here and a fork there. Jericho sat next to him with her eyes closed silently humming. He would glance at her occasionally to see that she was also engrossed in the dance, only she did not see it.
"What are you humming?" he finally asked.
"Nothing, just the melody," she answered quickly and joined back into the symphony.
"What melody? They appear to be dancing."
"Yes, but the sound of their feet are creating a rhythm, and all rhythms need a melody," she answered stopping completely this time.
"It's so odd not being able to know this stuff. I feel so helpless," she mused.
"You aren't," he assured her.
"Yeah sure, I came here all by myself with out any help," she rolled her milky eyes.
"That can't be helped, you're blind," he answered.
"Don't remind me," she scoffed.
"Well if it's any consolation, you remind me of a very strong woman."
"Is it your Grandmother?" she asked leaning toward him.
"Uh... yes," he answered slowly. She didn't seem to notice his pause and went back to her humming. It didn't last long because Tom and his bride were soon finished and had called them to wash.
()
Jericho went toward the basin slowly, her arms stretched out far in front of her. She felt the cold edge of the stone basin and grasped the edges tightly. She reached in to feel the cool water on her grimy fingers. Jericho smiled; she wasn't that helpless after all. She splashed the water on her face and scrubbed vigorously with her hands and dried off with a towel. She turned around and began to walk back to the door.
"Okay, where'd ya go door?" she asked. There was no response. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. She refused to ask for help, though. As she shuffled further her foot caught on the stone floor and she began to fall.
Her decent seemed to last for a lifetime. First she lost footing, the heels of her feet rising into the air while her toes gripped at the floor trying to keep any traction. Her hand instinctively went out in front of her to cushion the fall. As she braced her self for the sting of the hard floor she felt, instead, a pair of strong arms. The familiar sent of pipe weed floated into her nostrils.
"Are you okay?" Merry asked helping her stand up all the way. Jericho scrambled to stand on her own; she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.
"I-I guess I hit a slick spot on the floor," she mumbled.
"Well, where there's one there's another, I'll help you back," he offered grasping her hand.
As they sat down to eat Jericho found that it was very messy eating without being able to see your food. She remembered how her Nannie wasn't able to see the other half of the plate and was always asking where the potatoes were. She felt like some sort of invalid that needed to be kept in a nursing home.
The company were making merry long after they all finished eating, and many had burst into song spontaneously. Jericho felt that the mood was becoming contagious.
Frodo had just finished a long ranting song about a speckled cat when suddenly Jericho belt out a tune.
"Where once was light, now darkness falls, Where once was love, love is no more, Don't say good bye, Don't say I didn't try, These tears we cry, Are falling rain, For all the lies you told us, The hurt, the blame, And we will weep to be so alone, We are lost, we can never go home, So in the end, I'll be what I will be, No loyal friend was ever there for me, Now we say good bye. We say you didn't try, These tears you cry, Have come too late, Take back the lies, The hurt, the blame, And you will weep, When you face the end alone, You are lost, you can never go home, You are lost, you can never go home."
There was a long beat of silence, as Jericho shifted nervously in her seat.
"What was that mournful moaning?" asked Goldberry. Jericho cocked her head towards the sound of her voice.
"Uh... It's just a song that I really like a lot," she explained. There were scattered mumbles of estrangement, but the others went back to their merry making soon afterwards.
()
Merry noticed Jericho nodding not much after her 'song.' He had thought it very impressive. It was like a death; only it rang with his truths and lies he could not untangle.
Tom must have seen how weary they were all, and he insisted on rest soon enough.
He was lying in his bed waiting for sleep to find him when he heard a small voice whisper.
"Who said that?" he asked.
"Merry?" asked Jericho.
"Oh," he sighed, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I was just seeing if I was the only one awake," she sighed sadly.
"Are you sure, you sound as if you are sad," he asked suspiciously.
"I guess..." she mumbled, "I just wish that, that I wasn't holding you guys back."
"How are you holding us back?"
"I don't know. It just seems as if I'm extra baggage. I really feel like I'm not needed, you would be just fine without me."
"Don't say that!" he sat up on his elbows, "The other's may not see your worth, but I know that somewhere along the road we'll be so glad that we took you."
"Really?"
"Really. And besides, we're going to get you to see again, remember?" he smiled knowing that she couldn't see him, but hoping she could hear the joy in his voice.
"I just hope you're right about the elves, Merry," she sighed. He heard her move in her bed, "Goodnight Merry, sweet dreams!"
"Good night Jericho," he yawned. As he lay trying to sleep yet again he couldn't help but see a face in his minds eye. It was 'Her' and she was not smiling.
Panda was sayin' that she wants to know who 'Her' is... Hmmm... now isn't that interesting. I have a mystery in this fic!!! OoooOOoo! Spiffiness! Okay, have fun reviewin'-DB:D
Disclaimer: Can I just trust ya'll to understand and skip this part? Lawsuit? Oh, then I don't own it!
Chapter Five: Where Once Was Light
"Watch out!" Merry ordered, "Step up! Duck down!" Jericho tried her best to follow each order, but she had managed to fall more times than she had bothered to count now.
"There's a hole here, let me help you across," he offered taking both of her hands, "Step forward, okay down a little," Jericho obeyed each command, "You'll be steppin' up a little, that's it, Okay we're out." He released her other hand and went back to their brisk pace.
They had lost Tom some time ago and were wondering if they were ever going to find his house in this massive place. Jericho sensed that it must be close to dusk by the musty smell in the air. She beamed brightly and opened her eyes again.
"I'm glad to see you've changed your mind about your eyes," Merry teased. She could imagine a large smile on his face. She beamed in his general direction and sighed happily.
"You're also in a much better mood than earlier, too!" he added.
"Things are starting to look up," she answered simply smiling at her sad sense of humor. He chuckled.
"I'm glad you're a lot happier now, I didn't think I could live with someone that gray till we reach Rivendell!"
"Well, either way, Mr. Brandybuck, you'd just have to either way."
"Oh my luck," he answered sarcastically.
"Will you two lovebirds hurry up, we're almost there!" Pippin yelled from in front.
"Pippin, you best be takin' that back, boy!" Jericho threatened laughing. She heard Merry's booming laugh close by and it made her feel even more elated. No drug could give her this kind of high.
()
Merry grasped Jericho's hand tighter and helped her up the last few yards. They stood before a beautiful house that must have been Tom Bombadill's because of the wonderful woodland décor all around.
"What does it look like?" asked Jericho excitedly.
"It's-It's," he stammered, not knowing what to say.
"Merry, this is the perfect time for you to be lost for words," she scoffed grasping his arm.
"Well," he began, "It's a house."
"Duh, Merry."
"And, it has many beautiful woodworking's," Merry looked over at her to see that she had closed her eyes and was trying to imagine what he was saying, "And here comes Tom around the corner of the house, from the barn where our ponies are."
"We have to go in now don't we?" she whined opening her eyes once more. He looked into those pale milky spheres and sighed. Why was this happening? Why was she becoming even more like 'her' with every passing moment.
"Yes, Jericho, we do," he answered smiling and led her inside.
As they came inside Merry saw a beautiful woman standing before him. Frodo must have also thought so because he broke out into a song at her sight.
"Frodo's baggin' on Tom's woman," Jericho whispered under breath, she began to snicker.
"What are you laughing about?" Merry asked. Jericho covered her mouth and was now laughing so hard that the other's stared at her sharply.
"It's too hard for you to understand," she gasped not noticing the other's stares. He looked at her inquisitively. There were a few things that were definitely NOT like 'Her.'
"Please sit down and we shall prepare the table," Goldberry sang. They took seats in a small sitting room across from the dining room. Merry watched as Tom and Goldberry danced about the table, laying a platter here and a fork there. Jericho sat next to him with her eyes closed silently humming. He would glance at her occasionally to see that she was also engrossed in the dance, only she did not see it.
"What are you humming?" he finally asked.
"Nothing, just the melody," she answered quickly and joined back into the symphony.
"What melody? They appear to be dancing."
"Yes, but the sound of their feet are creating a rhythm, and all rhythms need a melody," she answered stopping completely this time.
"It's so odd not being able to know this stuff. I feel so helpless," she mused.
"You aren't," he assured her.
"Yeah sure, I came here all by myself with out any help," she rolled her milky eyes.
"That can't be helped, you're blind," he answered.
"Don't remind me," she scoffed.
"Well if it's any consolation, you remind me of a very strong woman."
"Is it your Grandmother?" she asked leaning toward him.
"Uh... yes," he answered slowly. She didn't seem to notice his pause and went back to her humming. It didn't last long because Tom and his bride were soon finished and had called them to wash.
()
Jericho went toward the basin slowly, her arms stretched out far in front of her. She felt the cold edge of the stone basin and grasped the edges tightly. She reached in to feel the cool water on her grimy fingers. Jericho smiled; she wasn't that helpless after all. She splashed the water on her face and scrubbed vigorously with her hands and dried off with a towel. She turned around and began to walk back to the door.
"Okay, where'd ya go door?" she asked. There was no response. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all. She refused to ask for help, though. As she shuffled further her foot caught on the stone floor and she began to fall.
Her decent seemed to last for a lifetime. First she lost footing, the heels of her feet rising into the air while her toes gripped at the floor trying to keep any traction. Her hand instinctively went out in front of her to cushion the fall. As she braced her self for the sting of the hard floor she felt, instead, a pair of strong arms. The familiar sent of pipe weed floated into her nostrils.
"Are you okay?" Merry asked helping her stand up all the way. Jericho scrambled to stand on her own; she could feel the heat rising in her cheeks.
"I-I guess I hit a slick spot on the floor," she mumbled.
"Well, where there's one there's another, I'll help you back," he offered grasping her hand.
As they sat down to eat Jericho found that it was very messy eating without being able to see your food. She remembered how her Nannie wasn't able to see the other half of the plate and was always asking where the potatoes were. She felt like some sort of invalid that needed to be kept in a nursing home.
The company were making merry long after they all finished eating, and many had burst into song spontaneously. Jericho felt that the mood was becoming contagious.
Frodo had just finished a long ranting song about a speckled cat when suddenly Jericho belt out a tune.
"Where once was light, now darkness falls, Where once was love, love is no more, Don't say good bye, Don't say I didn't try, These tears we cry, Are falling rain, For all the lies you told us, The hurt, the blame, And we will weep to be so alone, We are lost, we can never go home, So in the end, I'll be what I will be, No loyal friend was ever there for me, Now we say good bye. We say you didn't try, These tears you cry, Have come too late, Take back the lies, The hurt, the blame, And you will weep, When you face the end alone, You are lost, you can never go home, You are lost, you can never go home."
There was a long beat of silence, as Jericho shifted nervously in her seat.
"What was that mournful moaning?" asked Goldberry. Jericho cocked her head towards the sound of her voice.
"Uh... It's just a song that I really like a lot," she explained. There were scattered mumbles of estrangement, but the others went back to their merry making soon afterwards.
()
Merry noticed Jericho nodding not much after her 'song.' He had thought it very impressive. It was like a death; only it rang with his truths and lies he could not untangle.
Tom must have seen how weary they were all, and he insisted on rest soon enough.
He was lying in his bed waiting for sleep to find him when he heard a small voice whisper.
"Who said that?" he asked.
"Merry?" asked Jericho.
"Oh," he sighed, "What's wrong?"
"It's nothing, I was just seeing if I was the only one awake," she sighed sadly.
"Are you sure, you sound as if you are sad," he asked suspiciously.
"I guess..." she mumbled, "I just wish that, that I wasn't holding you guys back."
"How are you holding us back?"
"I don't know. It just seems as if I'm extra baggage. I really feel like I'm not needed, you would be just fine without me."
"Don't say that!" he sat up on his elbows, "The other's may not see your worth, but I know that somewhere along the road we'll be so glad that we took you."
"Really?"
"Really. And besides, we're going to get you to see again, remember?" he smiled knowing that she couldn't see him, but hoping she could hear the joy in his voice.
"I just hope you're right about the elves, Merry," she sighed. He heard her move in her bed, "Goodnight Merry, sweet dreams!"
"Good night Jericho," he yawned. As he lay trying to sleep yet again he couldn't help but see a face in his minds eye. It was 'Her' and she was not smiling.
Panda was sayin' that she wants to know who 'Her' is... Hmmm... now isn't that interesting. I have a mystery in this fic!!! OoooOOoo! Spiffiness! Okay, have fun reviewin'-DB:D