Light filters into the jail cell as I write this. I don't have much time.
I'll be making my escape soon. If you don't hear from me for a few days,
then... I might be dead. You see... I'm on death row for... well that's not
important. What is important is this story. I present to thee chapter 15.
Disclaimer: Just like my opening statements the idea that I own LOTR is a lie!
Chapter Fifteen: Giving In
It was now well past midnight, no one was asleep. Merry looked around the group; Jericho's warnings had made everyone restless. She sat apart from them, her block in her hands. She was playing with it, idly passing the time.
Merry couldn't stand the silence any longer. It was driving him mad. He cleared his throat loudly. The entire company jumped, except Strider he wasn't there.
"What are we waiting for?" he asked rather frantically. He glanced at Jericho who went back to playing with her block.
"We aren't waiting for anything Merry," Frodo answered, "Are we?" He turned toward Pippin who shrugged and began inspecting something on his foot.
Suddenly a screech went up through the forest. They all picked up their Barrow daggers, except Jericho she didn't have one. The small dell was soon filled with the sounds of Black Riders. Merry was distracted by the creatures, and didn't notice that they were all heading towards Frodo.
"Don't let them get to Frodo!" Jericho screeched running up to one of the Riders. It pushed her aside. She came at it again, but it pushed her harder. The third time it shoved it's blade into her abdomen. She fell over silently and the Rider moved on.
Merry quickly ran to her side, forgetting about Frodo, evil rings, and Sandy.
"Jericho? Are you alive?" he asked frantically. She looked up at the sky blankly.
"You stupid freak!" she moaned, "Help Frodo!" At that moment a cry went up from Frodo who had vanished just moments earlier.
Strider blazed into the dell, with fire at hand. He chased the Riders off and soon all that was left was the sounds of Frodo's whimpers and Jericho's heavy breath.
()
Strider saw to Frodo first. Jericho wouldn't let him see to her first, she insisted that she would be fine. She smiled and mumbled that 'it was mere flesh wound.'
A morgul blade had in fact stabbed Frodo. Strider ran off to find him the herbs needed to heal his wound. He was afraid that Jericho's lack of treatment would make her seem all the more agitated. When he returned she was laying in the same place with Merry hanging over her. The hobbit had refused to leave her side, even when she urged him to go.
Strider brewed the herb and then bathed Frodo's wound in it. It was well into morning before Jericho even allowed him to get near her. Her forehead was drenched in sweat and she seemed ready to swoon. He looked at her wound fearing that a Morgul blade too had stabbed her. A quick inspection told him otherwise, though.
"She was lucky," he murmured, "It was a blade she was stabbed by nothing more."
"Then she'll be fine?" Merry asked looking at him with concern.
"Yes, soon." The hobbit exchanged a relieved glance with his fellows.
"Well, that's reassureing..." she mumbled, "How's Frodo?"
"I'm fine now," he croaked from nearby, "But you should worry about yourself and not I."
"I agree," added Strider, "You have wounds of your own to attend to, now rest we are to be off within the hour."
()
Jericho stood up gingerly. Her side ached. The Rider had stabbed her in the gut and it hurt like hell. She felt a hand grasp her arm to help her stand. She didn't have to even smell the air about her to know it was Merry. Pain flooded all the thoughts of hate and suspicion out of her mind. Jericho just allowed herself to fall into the arms of someone who cared.
"Where's my pack?" she asked.
"I'll carry it, there's no need for you to. You can barely manage your own weight." She didn't argue. She'd argued enough just so they'd get Frodo treated. Jericho knew that it was more important for Frodo to make it than her. She was the 6th wheel, the character that wasn't meant to be. No one would miss her.
It was a fortnight to Rivendell. Whatever that was. Jericho guess it was quite a long time because Frodo seemed disheartened when he learned the news. The days wore on and Jericho healed slowly. She was able to walk without help after the 3rd day, her steps were slow and Merry's hand helped to guide her along the way. Her gratitude towards him grew with each passing day. The anger she had felt coming up to Amon Sul slowly faded.
Her menstrual cycle ended the 5th day and soon after Pippin found a path. The group followed it down out of the steep mountain slopes. Jericho knew where they were and fished into her pockets for her block. She wanted more than anything to see the trolls. Their puzzled faces wrought in stone. She reached into the pocket and found it empty.
"Merry?" she asked, "My block, it's gone!"
"What do you mean it's gone?" he asked stopping.
"I can't find it! It's not in my pocket," Jericho said sadly. She heard Pippin's feat patter up to them.
"Merry, Jericho! TROLLS!"
Jericho smiled.
"They are but sleeping," shouted Strider from ahead.
"Sleeping?" asked Merry. He led Jericho forward and she listened as he gasped.
"Mr. Frodo! It's Bilbo's trolls!" Sam breathed.
"I thought it was just a story," Frodo murmured distantly. Jericho freed her hand from Merry's and limped away. She tripped over something and landed hard upon it. She touched the object. It was cold and hard as stone, but a life breathed under it. She felt the cold from the stone turn to warmth. The heat swelled and grew and her whole hand was as warm as a cool flame. She listened as a deep rumbling quivered throughout her body and spoke words to her heart. It sang to her songs of knowledge and of the years it's seen standing there forever. All the hate and malice that it once had held dear died over time and now it was a gentle part of the forest. Jericho withdrew her hand after what seemed like years. She turned and heard it was only a few minutes. She patted the stone troll and smiled towards it and crawled over to rejoin the group.
()
Strider led them back on to the road shortly after their encounter with the trolls. Merry grasped Jericho's warm hand. He wondered what had made it so warm and sootheing. She was beaming like he'd never seen before. It was as if those terrible days back before Weathertop had never happened. He couldn't explain the happiness that was radiating off her. Nothing was said, but he felt that she was passing on her joy.
That evening as they were looking for a good shelter, the sound of hooves erupted in the evening silence. He felt Jericho's body flinch at the sound and a sudden fear come to her face. Strider quickly led them into the foliage and they sat and waited for the Rider to pass.
A white horse leaped around the bend with a fair white figure on top. Jericho gasped. Merry looked to see her eyes go wide.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I can see him! I can see Glorfindel!" she whispered as Strider stepped out to halt the rider.
"Who-"but he was cut off by the elf introducing himself as Glorfindel. Merry looked at Jericho whose eyes were wide and shining with a childlike wonder.
The elf conversed with Strider for a moment and they were urged forward again. The hobbits had many questions but Jericho remained silent and just starred in wonder at the beautiful elven prince.
()
"Do you realize what it means?" asked Glorfindel as the hobbits slept. Strider shook his head; he didn't understand what the elf was hitting at.
"A hobbit, who is blind, but she can see the creatures of the other world," he explained, "Few elves posses this power, and here a tiny halfling has it!"
"But, that's just the problem," Strider explained, "She isn't a halfling, she claims that she's like me, a 'big person' the hobbits say. I think she's right. There are differences between her and the rest of them. I think that she wishes to be herself again."
"Nothing the healers of Rivendell can't fix," Glorfindel reassured.
"What about her sight? The only reason she came was to see if her sight would be regained."
"A bit tricky, but possible." Strider sat in thought.
"She also has a hindsight that is immeasurable."
"What do you mean?"
"She knew that Frodo was going to be stabbed at Amon Sul, and she also knew who you were before you even introduced yourself."
"Amazing," he mused. The elf looked toward the hobbits who were so sound asleep that it looked like death.
"Aragorn," he said seriously, "If she is what she seems to be this whole business with the ring could end up being a lot easier than it set out to be."
"Would she even wish to be apart of it though?" he asked his gaze settling on the sleeping lass.
"Who would not wish to be? She's a woman who's never been anywhere else in her life, if I were her I would leap at the chance!"
"But you aren't, I'm still skeptical, but-"
"We will cross that bridge when we come to it," Glorfindel finished and got up to rouse the hobbits. They were to set off again towards Rivendell.
()
Jericho ignored all pain that she felt. Her feet ached, her side was giving off a burning sensation and she was tired beyond all imagine, but she felt nothing. Jericho stared at the back of Glorfindel, the elven prince from the Undying lands, a walking ghost. The one good thing she had ever seen since her accident. She had always been able to see the evil in the world, Frodo with his ring, the Wrights, and the Ringwraiths. In her anger she had begun to despair that any special traits she may have were only for the use of evil. Never had she been able to see beauty on her own. Only with the help of her block could she have seen anything that was not of evil. A tear fell down her cheek.
"Jericho?" Merry asked his hand grazing where her tear had fallen. She jumped slightly at his touch.
"Oh, sorry," she mumbled wiping her eyes quickly.
"It's nothing to apologize for," he assured, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm just fine," she said, "Just a little overwhelmed that's all."
"I know, just think we're almost to Rivendell! It'll all be over soon!" Jericho smiled to herself and just nodded.
Time passed and they came closer to the ford with every minute. Jericho felt her pulse quicken as dusk fell, she knew that action would come soon and that they would soon be moving. Suddenly a screech came up behind them. Time played out in fast-forward.
Glorfindel called his horse on and she heard Frodo ride away and the Ringwraith behind her speed on. They all raced after them, knowing they were not far from the ford. What seemed like minutes passed and then she saw Glorfindel's radiant glory shine out as he bid the riders into the swirling waters.
()
Merry waved his sword toward a cowering Wraith as it fled into the raging ford. He watched it scream and disappear beneath the waves. A triumphant smile lit up his face as they celebrated and waited for the waters to die down so they could cross. He took Jericho in his arms and held her, telling her that all would be fine now, they were at Rivendell, he loved her. She smiled at him and tears came into her empty eyes.
"I love you too Meriadoc," she whispered kissing his cheek, obviously missing his lips. He just hugged her not wanting to ruin the moment.
Merry stared down into a face he had only first seen what seemed like moments ago. The journey he'd spent with her flashed through his mind. This moment stood out vibrantly against all others and he smiled. Smiled because he was loved, and because he loved her in return.
Hey guess what... I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!-DB:D
Disclaimer: Just like my opening statements the idea that I own LOTR is a lie!
Chapter Fifteen: Giving In
It was now well past midnight, no one was asleep. Merry looked around the group; Jericho's warnings had made everyone restless. She sat apart from them, her block in her hands. She was playing with it, idly passing the time.
Merry couldn't stand the silence any longer. It was driving him mad. He cleared his throat loudly. The entire company jumped, except Strider he wasn't there.
"What are we waiting for?" he asked rather frantically. He glanced at Jericho who went back to playing with her block.
"We aren't waiting for anything Merry," Frodo answered, "Are we?" He turned toward Pippin who shrugged and began inspecting something on his foot.
Suddenly a screech went up through the forest. They all picked up their Barrow daggers, except Jericho she didn't have one. The small dell was soon filled with the sounds of Black Riders. Merry was distracted by the creatures, and didn't notice that they were all heading towards Frodo.
"Don't let them get to Frodo!" Jericho screeched running up to one of the Riders. It pushed her aside. She came at it again, but it pushed her harder. The third time it shoved it's blade into her abdomen. She fell over silently and the Rider moved on.
Merry quickly ran to her side, forgetting about Frodo, evil rings, and Sandy.
"Jericho? Are you alive?" he asked frantically. She looked up at the sky blankly.
"You stupid freak!" she moaned, "Help Frodo!" At that moment a cry went up from Frodo who had vanished just moments earlier.
Strider blazed into the dell, with fire at hand. He chased the Riders off and soon all that was left was the sounds of Frodo's whimpers and Jericho's heavy breath.
()
Strider saw to Frodo first. Jericho wouldn't let him see to her first, she insisted that she would be fine. She smiled and mumbled that 'it was mere flesh wound.'
A morgul blade had in fact stabbed Frodo. Strider ran off to find him the herbs needed to heal his wound. He was afraid that Jericho's lack of treatment would make her seem all the more agitated. When he returned she was laying in the same place with Merry hanging over her. The hobbit had refused to leave her side, even when she urged him to go.
Strider brewed the herb and then bathed Frodo's wound in it. It was well into morning before Jericho even allowed him to get near her. Her forehead was drenched in sweat and she seemed ready to swoon. He looked at her wound fearing that a Morgul blade too had stabbed her. A quick inspection told him otherwise, though.
"She was lucky," he murmured, "It was a blade she was stabbed by nothing more."
"Then she'll be fine?" Merry asked looking at him with concern.
"Yes, soon." The hobbit exchanged a relieved glance with his fellows.
"Well, that's reassureing..." she mumbled, "How's Frodo?"
"I'm fine now," he croaked from nearby, "But you should worry about yourself and not I."
"I agree," added Strider, "You have wounds of your own to attend to, now rest we are to be off within the hour."
()
Jericho stood up gingerly. Her side ached. The Rider had stabbed her in the gut and it hurt like hell. She felt a hand grasp her arm to help her stand. She didn't have to even smell the air about her to know it was Merry. Pain flooded all the thoughts of hate and suspicion out of her mind. Jericho just allowed herself to fall into the arms of someone who cared.
"Where's my pack?" she asked.
"I'll carry it, there's no need for you to. You can barely manage your own weight." She didn't argue. She'd argued enough just so they'd get Frodo treated. Jericho knew that it was more important for Frodo to make it than her. She was the 6th wheel, the character that wasn't meant to be. No one would miss her.
It was a fortnight to Rivendell. Whatever that was. Jericho guess it was quite a long time because Frodo seemed disheartened when he learned the news. The days wore on and Jericho healed slowly. She was able to walk without help after the 3rd day, her steps were slow and Merry's hand helped to guide her along the way. Her gratitude towards him grew with each passing day. The anger she had felt coming up to Amon Sul slowly faded.
Her menstrual cycle ended the 5th day and soon after Pippin found a path. The group followed it down out of the steep mountain slopes. Jericho knew where they were and fished into her pockets for her block. She wanted more than anything to see the trolls. Their puzzled faces wrought in stone. She reached into the pocket and found it empty.
"Merry?" she asked, "My block, it's gone!"
"What do you mean it's gone?" he asked stopping.
"I can't find it! It's not in my pocket," Jericho said sadly. She heard Pippin's feat patter up to them.
"Merry, Jericho! TROLLS!"
Jericho smiled.
"They are but sleeping," shouted Strider from ahead.
"Sleeping?" asked Merry. He led Jericho forward and she listened as he gasped.
"Mr. Frodo! It's Bilbo's trolls!" Sam breathed.
"I thought it was just a story," Frodo murmured distantly. Jericho freed her hand from Merry's and limped away. She tripped over something and landed hard upon it. She touched the object. It was cold and hard as stone, but a life breathed under it. She felt the cold from the stone turn to warmth. The heat swelled and grew and her whole hand was as warm as a cool flame. She listened as a deep rumbling quivered throughout her body and spoke words to her heart. It sang to her songs of knowledge and of the years it's seen standing there forever. All the hate and malice that it once had held dear died over time and now it was a gentle part of the forest. Jericho withdrew her hand after what seemed like years. She turned and heard it was only a few minutes. She patted the stone troll and smiled towards it and crawled over to rejoin the group.
()
Strider led them back on to the road shortly after their encounter with the trolls. Merry grasped Jericho's warm hand. He wondered what had made it so warm and sootheing. She was beaming like he'd never seen before. It was as if those terrible days back before Weathertop had never happened. He couldn't explain the happiness that was radiating off her. Nothing was said, but he felt that she was passing on her joy.
That evening as they were looking for a good shelter, the sound of hooves erupted in the evening silence. He felt Jericho's body flinch at the sound and a sudden fear come to her face. Strider quickly led them into the foliage and they sat and waited for the Rider to pass.
A white horse leaped around the bend with a fair white figure on top. Jericho gasped. Merry looked to see her eyes go wide.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"I can see him! I can see Glorfindel!" she whispered as Strider stepped out to halt the rider.
"Who-"but he was cut off by the elf introducing himself as Glorfindel. Merry looked at Jericho whose eyes were wide and shining with a childlike wonder.
The elf conversed with Strider for a moment and they were urged forward again. The hobbits had many questions but Jericho remained silent and just starred in wonder at the beautiful elven prince.
()
"Do you realize what it means?" asked Glorfindel as the hobbits slept. Strider shook his head; he didn't understand what the elf was hitting at.
"A hobbit, who is blind, but she can see the creatures of the other world," he explained, "Few elves posses this power, and here a tiny halfling has it!"
"But, that's just the problem," Strider explained, "She isn't a halfling, she claims that she's like me, a 'big person' the hobbits say. I think she's right. There are differences between her and the rest of them. I think that she wishes to be herself again."
"Nothing the healers of Rivendell can't fix," Glorfindel reassured.
"What about her sight? The only reason she came was to see if her sight would be regained."
"A bit tricky, but possible." Strider sat in thought.
"She also has a hindsight that is immeasurable."
"What do you mean?"
"She knew that Frodo was going to be stabbed at Amon Sul, and she also knew who you were before you even introduced yourself."
"Amazing," he mused. The elf looked toward the hobbits who were so sound asleep that it looked like death.
"Aragorn," he said seriously, "If she is what she seems to be this whole business with the ring could end up being a lot easier than it set out to be."
"Would she even wish to be apart of it though?" he asked his gaze settling on the sleeping lass.
"Who would not wish to be? She's a woman who's never been anywhere else in her life, if I were her I would leap at the chance!"
"But you aren't, I'm still skeptical, but-"
"We will cross that bridge when we come to it," Glorfindel finished and got up to rouse the hobbits. They were to set off again towards Rivendell.
()
Jericho ignored all pain that she felt. Her feet ached, her side was giving off a burning sensation and she was tired beyond all imagine, but she felt nothing. Jericho stared at the back of Glorfindel, the elven prince from the Undying lands, a walking ghost. The one good thing she had ever seen since her accident. She had always been able to see the evil in the world, Frodo with his ring, the Wrights, and the Ringwraiths. In her anger she had begun to despair that any special traits she may have were only for the use of evil. Never had she been able to see beauty on her own. Only with the help of her block could she have seen anything that was not of evil. A tear fell down her cheek.
"Jericho?" Merry asked his hand grazing where her tear had fallen. She jumped slightly at his touch.
"Oh, sorry," she mumbled wiping her eyes quickly.
"It's nothing to apologize for," he assured, "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm just fine," she said, "Just a little overwhelmed that's all."
"I know, just think we're almost to Rivendell! It'll all be over soon!" Jericho smiled to herself and just nodded.
Time passed and they came closer to the ford with every minute. Jericho felt her pulse quicken as dusk fell, she knew that action would come soon and that they would soon be moving. Suddenly a screech came up behind them. Time played out in fast-forward.
Glorfindel called his horse on and she heard Frodo ride away and the Ringwraith behind her speed on. They all raced after them, knowing they were not far from the ford. What seemed like minutes passed and then she saw Glorfindel's radiant glory shine out as he bid the riders into the swirling waters.
()
Merry waved his sword toward a cowering Wraith as it fled into the raging ford. He watched it scream and disappear beneath the waves. A triumphant smile lit up his face as they celebrated and waited for the waters to die down so they could cross. He took Jericho in his arms and held her, telling her that all would be fine now, they were at Rivendell, he loved her. She smiled at him and tears came into her empty eyes.
"I love you too Meriadoc," she whispered kissing his cheek, obviously missing his lips. He just hugged her not wanting to ruin the moment.
Merry stared down into a face he had only first seen what seemed like moments ago. The journey he'd spent with her flashed through his mind. This moment stood out vibrantly against all others and he smiled. Smiled because he was loved, and because he loved her in return.
Hey guess what... I'M BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!-DB:D