Hey all you loyal fans out there^-^! Sorry it took so long to get this
chapter up, I've just been REALLY busy with a ton of stuff. (School, 'dad',
'mom', Joe, friends, 'dad' wanted to take me and my brother somewhere for
my Spring Break (How many times am I going to have to tell him that I
DISPISE car shows and that if he must go to one leave me at home?) (Spring
Break takes a week off my computer typing time) and there was something
else, but what was it? Oh yes, FPS. ((Future Problem Solving)) Anyway, I
hope you like it^-^! As always, PLEASE REVIEW! It makes me feel
appreciated, and I like the way you express yourselves. Your constructive
criticism is welcome, along with your compliments (Thank you for all of
these, I find them quite flattering). I do not consider your ideas of
improvement flames. It makes me proud that an individual is taking the time
to evaluate my work and cares to make me a better writer. My definition of
a flame is an uncalled-for insult, people raving about how much a story
sucks because it's a Mary-Sue, people impolitely criticizing a story on how
someone is not acting the way they personally think they should. (If you
think Legolas or Thranduil or someone else is, feel free to tell me but
don't act like I caused the end of the world) Other than that, I don't
believe I have any other criteria for flames, and hopefully I won't have to
worry about them. Thankfully I haven't had to so far^-^!
Some of you said in your reviews that you didn't know who Spock was. Spock is the weird Vulcan (I think that's how you spell it) guy from 'Star Trek'. His big thing is this weird hand signal and then he says, "Live long and prosper," got it? Sorry I wasn't anymore specific. Anyway, enjoy^-^!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY LORD OF THE RINGS PLACES OR PEOPLE. THEY BELONG TO TOLKIEN. I ONLY OWN RAVEN, KASSEENDRA, AND ROAIN. ARIEN IS 'BASED' ON A FRIEND OF MINE.
"Raven? Are you awake?" Legolas asked as he tapped on the door, "Raven?"
The green-eyed girl groaned and squinted in the light of her room. She glanced at her wrist, forgetting that this was Middle-Earth and watches didn't exist, "Legolas, go away. It's too early. I'm sleeping. I'll get up later," she said sleepily.
Legolas raised an eyebrow, "If you are sleeping, then how are you talking to me?"
"I dunno; I can talk in my sleep, can I?"
"You sound very awake to me."
Raven groaned in frustration, "Fine. I'm getting up."
"Anymore sleep and the day would be gone and there would be no time for your training."
Raven's eyes snapped open, "Training? What do you mean training?" She asked very confused, but at least she was fully awake.
Legolas smiled on the other side of the door, "Yes, Raven, training. I have decided to make you my apprentice in the ways of archery and swordsmanship," he said enjoying her every reaction.
"Don't I have to AGREE to become you tyro?" Raven replied in an aggravated voice. After all, what do you need me for? You ARE a warrior and all."
"Well, my dear Raven, did you not your self need to defend us against those spiders when we first met? If you hadn't fought, I would be dead. Don't you see? Everyone must learn how to do basic combat in this day and age even with Aragorn on the throne."
Raven blinked a few times, "Oh. Right. Fine. I'll be your student or whatever you wanna call it just to make you happy," she added the last part with a hint of sarcasm.
"Excellent! Get dressed! We start in half an hour!" Legolas exclaimed brightly.
"Half an hour? What about breakfast?" Raven asked while her stomach growled; she hadn't gotten to eat last night.
"I have brought breakfast up to you," Legolas said with smug pride.
"Well aren't we special. Thanks Legolas," Raven said as she through some casual clothes on and opened the door.
Legolas stepped in and handed the silver tray to Raven with a smile.
"That is, I'll be your apprentice so long as I don't have to do anything outrageous like standing on my finger under a waterfall for six hours," Raven said quickly as she sat down with the tray.
Legolas raised an eyebrow at the she-elf next to him, "Of course not! Well, not yet anyways," he added with a grin.
"That's not funny," she said as she took a bight out of some toast.
Legolas sighed, "It seems you're fitting in here quite nicely," he smiled.
"What do you mean?" Raven asked as she swallowed some water.
"Don't tell me you have forgotten about Arien! She seemed to like you!"
Her eyes widened instantly, finally remembering last night's encounter, "Oh my god! I have to talk to Arien! Legolas, I'll meet you outside in an hour!" Raven said quickly and bolted out of the room, leaving him with her half eaten breakfast.
The elf blinked. What had just happened? He shook his head, "Women . . ." Legolas sighed to himself and proceeded to take a bight out of an apple she had left in her hurry.
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Raven ran down the hallway and only stopped when she nearly knocked over a passing elf, who jumped back in surprise, "Sorry!" She called over her shoulder and continued at a brisk pace. She had to speak with Arien. Was she from Earth, too? How long had she been here? Raven needed to know.
"Well I must say, aren't we in a hurry?" Kasseendra's loathsome voice sounded and put her hands on her hips, "It's not polite to push passed others in the halls."
Raven's eye twitched at the sound of her voice and stopped dead, not believing her luck. Of all people to run into it had to be the one she hated, "I don't have time for this Kasseendra," she said struggling to hold her temper.
Ignoring Raven's attempt to evade the situation, Kasseendra began, "Don't get so used to Legolas asking you to dance. He probably simple feels sorry for you. He often asks ME to be his partner," Kasseendra licked her lips, "Any minute now he'll be down on his knees begging me to take him back. He's probable longing for me now! Soon he'll forget all about YOU. You where just the flavor of the week I bet. Has he kissed you yet? His kiss is . . ." Kasseendra made a yearning moaning sound that could easily be mistaken for the mating call of a sick walrus, " INDESCRIBABLE!" Kasseendra abandoned reality and zoned off into her pretend fantasyland.
Raven rolled her eyes and quickly started back down the hall, leaving the dithering elf to spout her imaginary intimacies of Legolas by herself, "Legolas, I pity you," she said truthfully.
Minutes later, she arrived on the first floor and took it for granted that Thranduil's room was the one with two guards by the entrance. She passed by them and smiled with a nod, "Hello," she said softly. Raven glanced into the second guard's eyes and almost stopped; it was the same elf from the night before, "Who are you?"
The strange elf gave her a sly grin, "I am Roain," (Pronounced row un) "and do you remember me from before, last night I mean?" He asked and held the grin.
"Vaguely," she answered simply; she didn't like the smile on his face, and those eyes . . . They reminded her of someone, but she just couldn't put her finger on him . . . "I must be going now, goodbye," Raven finished and continued down the hall.
"Oh, leaving so soon Raven?" Roain said with a playful frown.
She turned, "How'd you know my name?"
"Everyone knows you name, Raven," said he as his grin returned.
She nodded slowly, "Oh," her voice almost quavered; those black eyes where impossibly dark, as if hiding something deep within . . .
"I believe you know my sister."
Raven blinked, "I do?"
"Yes, don't you know Kasseendra?"
Raven's heart jumped in her mouth, 'Jesus, just like his sister,' she thought as she fought a grimace, "Oh yes, how could I forget Kasseendra?" She said her eyes involuntarily squinting and having to force every syllable.
"I thought so. I would like to see more of you Raven," Roain added. The green-eyed girl felt it was more of a demand that a request.
"Oh, I don't think that will be possible. You see, I'm going to be very busy, and one day I might just have to leave, being the wander I am. So sorry, bye! Nice meeting you!" She finished quickly and took off at a walk that was right next to a run, desperately trying not to scream.
"Don't worry," he said quietly with an evil grin growing on his face, "I'll have my fun."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven quickly knocked on Arien's door impatiently -for good reason- awaiting it to swing open, "Hey, it's me, Raven! Open up!" She rapped on the door again.
"Come in," came the answer from the other side.
She immediately pushed the door open and slammed it shut as soon as she entered.
The room looked basically like Raven's, but Arien's had articles of clothing -most of which where muddy and slightly worn- lying on the bed and in heaps on chairs. Possibly hundreds of leather-bound books lay piled in stacks under the bed, while one or two others where placed sloppily facedown and open on the desk, along with several papers in messy piles or else lying with corners sticking off and threatening to fall to the floor. Other papers had been crumpled into balls and thrown into corners and a couple others had fallen cast aside on the floor near the table. A muddy cloak was hung on the dresser's handle and had a belt with sheathed daggers hanging from it. In the corner near the balcony, a bow stood against the wall with a quiver of bloodstained arrows propped up beside it. Next to the quickly made bed, Arien's unsheathed sword leaned against the arm of a chair in which Arien sat. "Hello Raven. I was wondering when you'd come find me," she said finally.
Raven didn't say anything. She slowly walked over to the side of the bed facing Arien and sat down, "Are you-"
Arien finished her sentence and cut her off, "from Earth? No, but I'm not from Middle-Earth either. What world are you from?" she asked with excitement.
The blonde elf narrowed her eyes in confusion, "What do you mean, 'what world am I from'? Earth of course!"
Arien looked taken aback, "You mean, you can't Myst?"
"Not that I know of! What the hell is 'Myst'?"
The strange woman looked thoroughly perplexed, "You know, MYST! You can travel through universes!"
"No I can't," Raven said, her eyes growing wider and wider every second, "Can you?"
"Of course I can! If you can't then how are you here?" She demanded and there were several emotions that in her voice, and Raven was confused why she had heard them. Arien had sudden hope, desperation, and a tone that seemed to be caused by an agonized wait for the answer.
"I, I died . . . I think," she said slightly taken aback.
It looked like the hope had shattered in Arien's eyes, "Oh," she said flatly, almost sadly.
Raven ignored it and immediately asked, "What, where, how," she struggled to put her question into words.
"You mean, 'What's my story?' Right?"
Raven nodded slowly, her mouth still open.
Arien sighed and pushed the shattered bits of hope out of her mind, "I don't know how long ago it was now, but it all began when I was born many long years ago. My first home was in the universe in the center of the Space Time Continuum. This place could be considered 'perfect'. Anyway, one day I realized that 'perfect' was just 'not perfect', if you can understand that, and the next thing I knew I wasn't at 42 Perfect Lane. I had jumped, if you will, universes."
Raven was trying her best not to look confused.
"I spent all my conscious hours perfecting my skill and eventually gave my ability the title, Mysting, mostly because it sounded cool," she added with a smiled.
Raven snickered quietly at Arien's choice of words.
"I began 'Mysting' to as many different universes as I could trying to see it all. I would stay in one world for a few years and then move to another. Eventually I came to your old world, Earth. It was very bad timing thought. I visited the World Trade Center, and I guess you where in the middle of a war or something, but I saw a huge plane fling towards one of the buildings, and I thought it must have been an air show or something. Or at least I did until it slammed into the side of one of the Twin Towers. The building began to collapse and I knew I couldn't run fast enough to evade the chunks, so I prepared to Myst. An instant before I faded out, an enormous section of the tower came crashing down and I was crushed beneath it."
Raven cringed at the mental image flashing through her mind.
"Anyway, somehow I must have done something to get me here because when I opened my eyes, I was standing on the outskirts of Rivendell. I met Elrond and lived happily in his home for many years. One day though, I was training in the forest and Gandalf the Grey saw me and sensed that I was no ordinary elf. He could feel my 'magic' properties and took me in as his apprentice. It was only a few days ago when my life style changed yet again when he sent me here to assist King Thranduil, and now I'm here," Arien finally completed her tale.
Raven tried to swallow all she had just heard. She was having a hard time comprehending that she was in the presence of a being from another universe all together. The discussion that had just gone on was not the type of thing a narrow-minded person could believe, maybe even WOULD believe for that matter, but Raven was beyond that, despite her difficulties understanding what she had just heard. The room was silent for only a few moments, but to the silver-blonde-haired elf it felt like hours. Finally she said the only thing that sounded halfway intelligent, "Are there any others like you? You know, that can Myst?"
Arien sighed, "No sadly. I had hoped maybe you could, or at least found another way to travel in-between worlds."
"Why would you hope that I could?"
The other looked into Raven's eyes, "Because I can't."
The elf's green orbs where filled with shock and confusion, "What do you mean you can't?"
"I've tried hundreds of times, but since I landed in Middle-Earth I haven't been able to. I have a feeling it's because I died and in my reincarnation or whatever, I lost my ability. I'm stuck here forever."
Raven stared with her mouth open and didn't know what to say, but thankfully, she didn't have to.
Arien saw the confusion in her friend's eyes, "I know it's kind of hard to swallow all that at once, you can just imagine the shock when I found out I could do it!" she said with a chuckle, "You're the only soul I've ever told, except one other that is, but he died."
Sympathy grew on the elf's face, "I'm so sorry, what happened to him? Who was he?"
The other smiled, "As soon as I tell you who he is, you will instantly know his fate. Gandalf the Grey was his name," she paused to watch Raven's face light up with an expression that said 'Oh' before she continued, "When he was reincarnated as Gandalf the White, he did not remember that little detail about my life, but it was all for the best I suppose. He did remember enough about me that he remained my instructor, though. I'd appreciate it if you didn't go around saying anything about this, if you please," she said firmly, almost like a warning.
Raven nodded, "I wouldn't dream of it! Think how Leg- I mean everyone would react if we went around saying we come from a world where everyone and everything they know is nothing more that a movie and a kid's story!"
Arien's head cocked to one side and sent Raven an amused smile, "They made a movie out of it? Cool!" a moment of silence passed, "Raven, I don't want you to think any different of me, alright? Or, at least any different from last night after the ball. Even thought I'm from another world I'm still the same. We all have our pasts. Some are stranger than others," she looked directly into Raven's eyes as she said the next part, "and some have darker ones."
The blonde-haired girl unknowingly leaned backwards and a faint blush crossed her face, 'Does she know something?' she asked herself.
Arien looked taken aback, "Hey, why are you giving me that look? Did I say something wrong?" she asked with concern.
Raven shook her head and lost all suspicion, "No, I'm sorry. I just remembered that I Legolas wants to give me private training lessons. I think I'm gonna die. Wanna come with me? You could give me some tips! Plus, you could make sure that he doesn't end up killing me by accident," she smiled, "How 'bout it?"
The other raised her eye brow, "I don't think Legolas is gonna kill you. Speaking of him, what did he want last night?"
Raven's face turned a brilliant scarlet and she could feel the heat radiating off, "Um, he uh, that is, he-"
Arien cut her off, "No more need be said. I saw the whole thing with Kasseendra," she smiled playfully, "Someone has the hots for you!"
As unbelievable as it sounds, Raven's face managed to get even redder but soon died down to almost its normal pale color, "The sad part is I don't have the same feelings for him. I don't WANT to have feelings for him, or any other guy for that matter."
Arien looked confused, "Why? Most women would love it if the Prince of the elves offered them his heart."
"I know, but I'm scared. I, I just don't want to be hurt . . . I've been hurt so many times in my life and I don't think I could bear another heart break," her eyes glazed with tears, "I'll die. I'll kill myself before reliving my life. Hell must have been better! And now Legolas screwed my life up again by falling for me! I don't want to love, but if I don't, he might die! What should I do?"
Arien saw the misery and torment in her friends face, and could feel the curiosity creeping onto her own, but decided that this was no time to be asking such questions of the elf's past, "I don't think I have any advice to give but this; learn to trust people. What happened to you on Earth means nothing here, because this is MIDDLE-Earth. If you don't start tearing down those walls around your heart, which your must have had reasons to put up in the first place, you will not just be putting Legolas's life on the line, but you will also have your own despair to worry about. An elf cannot live without love. No matter how hard they fight it, if they don't give in to their desirers, they will no longer be able to stand the grief of their lonely hearts and fate into darkness."
"But if what you say is true, then how is it that an elf can live thousands of years and never love, yet still live a wonderful life free from this despair you speak of?"
"Because they didn't refuse to love."
Raven exhaled and slumped her back down onto Arien's less-that-neat bed, "So are you saying I should give Legolas a chance? 'Cause if you when through what I went through, you wouldn't be advising me to!"
"And I'm not doing so, am I? Do what you think is best. Use your judgment, but don't stereotype others from something that someone has done to you in the past. After all, you don't know Legolas all that well, except from those books right? From them you can plainly see that Legolas has a beautiful soul. Where those not your words?"
Raven smiled a dreamy smile, "Yes, they where . . ." she quickly snapped out of her trance, "But it doesn't matter!" 'Does it?' she asked herself. She was getting so frustrated with herself. How could such a short period of time with Legolas weaken her defenses so drastically? "Are you coming with me to Legolas's torture sessions or not?" she asked agitatedly.
Arien smiled, "I'll try to stop by later, that's not a promise, you hear me? I have a lot of things to, hmm, how should I state this, 'take care of'," a sly smile emerged from the previous friendly one.
Raven nodded as she remembered the fact that Arien was a trained assassin along with many other specialties, she guessed, from her friend's choice of words that she was referring to the darker area of her expertise "Oh. Anyway, I suppose I should be going before Legs comes lookin' for me. Thanks for your advice. Good-bye," she waved off her friend and exited the room.
Arien smiled as the other left in search of Legolas. Soon the smile changed to a grin. 'Your fighting a loosing battle to your emotions Raven; I can see it in your eyes.'
Some of you said in your reviews that you didn't know who Spock was. Spock is the weird Vulcan (I think that's how you spell it) guy from 'Star Trek'. His big thing is this weird hand signal and then he says, "Live long and prosper," got it? Sorry I wasn't anymore specific. Anyway, enjoy^-^!
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY LORD OF THE RINGS PLACES OR PEOPLE. THEY BELONG TO TOLKIEN. I ONLY OWN RAVEN, KASSEENDRA, AND ROAIN. ARIEN IS 'BASED' ON A FRIEND OF MINE.
"Raven? Are you awake?" Legolas asked as he tapped on the door, "Raven?"
The green-eyed girl groaned and squinted in the light of her room. She glanced at her wrist, forgetting that this was Middle-Earth and watches didn't exist, "Legolas, go away. It's too early. I'm sleeping. I'll get up later," she said sleepily.
Legolas raised an eyebrow, "If you are sleeping, then how are you talking to me?"
"I dunno; I can talk in my sleep, can I?"
"You sound very awake to me."
Raven groaned in frustration, "Fine. I'm getting up."
"Anymore sleep and the day would be gone and there would be no time for your training."
Raven's eyes snapped open, "Training? What do you mean training?" She asked very confused, but at least she was fully awake.
Legolas smiled on the other side of the door, "Yes, Raven, training. I have decided to make you my apprentice in the ways of archery and swordsmanship," he said enjoying her every reaction.
"Don't I have to AGREE to become you tyro?" Raven replied in an aggravated voice. After all, what do you need me for? You ARE a warrior and all."
"Well, my dear Raven, did you not your self need to defend us against those spiders when we first met? If you hadn't fought, I would be dead. Don't you see? Everyone must learn how to do basic combat in this day and age even with Aragorn on the throne."
Raven blinked a few times, "Oh. Right. Fine. I'll be your student or whatever you wanna call it just to make you happy," she added the last part with a hint of sarcasm.
"Excellent! Get dressed! We start in half an hour!" Legolas exclaimed brightly.
"Half an hour? What about breakfast?" Raven asked while her stomach growled; she hadn't gotten to eat last night.
"I have brought breakfast up to you," Legolas said with smug pride.
"Well aren't we special. Thanks Legolas," Raven said as she through some casual clothes on and opened the door.
Legolas stepped in and handed the silver tray to Raven with a smile.
"That is, I'll be your apprentice so long as I don't have to do anything outrageous like standing on my finger under a waterfall for six hours," Raven said quickly as she sat down with the tray.
Legolas raised an eyebrow at the she-elf next to him, "Of course not! Well, not yet anyways," he added with a grin.
"That's not funny," she said as she took a bight out of some toast.
Legolas sighed, "It seems you're fitting in here quite nicely," he smiled.
"What do you mean?" Raven asked as she swallowed some water.
"Don't tell me you have forgotten about Arien! She seemed to like you!"
Her eyes widened instantly, finally remembering last night's encounter, "Oh my god! I have to talk to Arien! Legolas, I'll meet you outside in an hour!" Raven said quickly and bolted out of the room, leaving him with her half eaten breakfast.
The elf blinked. What had just happened? He shook his head, "Women . . ." Legolas sighed to himself and proceeded to take a bight out of an apple she had left in her hurry.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven ran down the hallway and only stopped when she nearly knocked over a passing elf, who jumped back in surprise, "Sorry!" She called over her shoulder and continued at a brisk pace. She had to speak with Arien. Was she from Earth, too? How long had she been here? Raven needed to know.
"Well I must say, aren't we in a hurry?" Kasseendra's loathsome voice sounded and put her hands on her hips, "It's not polite to push passed others in the halls."
Raven's eye twitched at the sound of her voice and stopped dead, not believing her luck. Of all people to run into it had to be the one she hated, "I don't have time for this Kasseendra," she said struggling to hold her temper.
Ignoring Raven's attempt to evade the situation, Kasseendra began, "Don't get so used to Legolas asking you to dance. He probably simple feels sorry for you. He often asks ME to be his partner," Kasseendra licked her lips, "Any minute now he'll be down on his knees begging me to take him back. He's probable longing for me now! Soon he'll forget all about YOU. You where just the flavor of the week I bet. Has he kissed you yet? His kiss is . . ." Kasseendra made a yearning moaning sound that could easily be mistaken for the mating call of a sick walrus, " INDESCRIBABLE!" Kasseendra abandoned reality and zoned off into her pretend fantasyland.
Raven rolled her eyes and quickly started back down the hall, leaving the dithering elf to spout her imaginary intimacies of Legolas by herself, "Legolas, I pity you," she said truthfully.
Minutes later, she arrived on the first floor and took it for granted that Thranduil's room was the one with two guards by the entrance. She passed by them and smiled with a nod, "Hello," she said softly. Raven glanced into the second guard's eyes and almost stopped; it was the same elf from the night before, "Who are you?"
The strange elf gave her a sly grin, "I am Roain," (Pronounced row un) "and do you remember me from before, last night I mean?" He asked and held the grin.
"Vaguely," she answered simply; she didn't like the smile on his face, and those eyes . . . They reminded her of someone, but she just couldn't put her finger on him . . . "I must be going now, goodbye," Raven finished and continued down the hall.
"Oh, leaving so soon Raven?" Roain said with a playful frown.
She turned, "How'd you know my name?"
"Everyone knows you name, Raven," said he as his grin returned.
She nodded slowly, "Oh," her voice almost quavered; those black eyes where impossibly dark, as if hiding something deep within . . .
"I believe you know my sister."
Raven blinked, "I do?"
"Yes, don't you know Kasseendra?"
Raven's heart jumped in her mouth, 'Jesus, just like his sister,' she thought as she fought a grimace, "Oh yes, how could I forget Kasseendra?" She said her eyes involuntarily squinting and having to force every syllable.
"I thought so. I would like to see more of you Raven," Roain added. The green-eyed girl felt it was more of a demand that a request.
"Oh, I don't think that will be possible. You see, I'm going to be very busy, and one day I might just have to leave, being the wander I am. So sorry, bye! Nice meeting you!" She finished quickly and took off at a walk that was right next to a run, desperately trying not to scream.
"Don't worry," he said quietly with an evil grin growing on his face, "I'll have my fun."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Raven quickly knocked on Arien's door impatiently -for good reason- awaiting it to swing open, "Hey, it's me, Raven! Open up!" She rapped on the door again.
"Come in," came the answer from the other side.
She immediately pushed the door open and slammed it shut as soon as she entered.
The room looked basically like Raven's, but Arien's had articles of clothing -most of which where muddy and slightly worn- lying on the bed and in heaps on chairs. Possibly hundreds of leather-bound books lay piled in stacks under the bed, while one or two others where placed sloppily facedown and open on the desk, along with several papers in messy piles or else lying with corners sticking off and threatening to fall to the floor. Other papers had been crumpled into balls and thrown into corners and a couple others had fallen cast aside on the floor near the table. A muddy cloak was hung on the dresser's handle and had a belt with sheathed daggers hanging from it. In the corner near the balcony, a bow stood against the wall with a quiver of bloodstained arrows propped up beside it. Next to the quickly made bed, Arien's unsheathed sword leaned against the arm of a chair in which Arien sat. "Hello Raven. I was wondering when you'd come find me," she said finally.
Raven didn't say anything. She slowly walked over to the side of the bed facing Arien and sat down, "Are you-"
Arien finished her sentence and cut her off, "from Earth? No, but I'm not from Middle-Earth either. What world are you from?" she asked with excitement.
The blonde elf narrowed her eyes in confusion, "What do you mean, 'what world am I from'? Earth of course!"
Arien looked taken aback, "You mean, you can't Myst?"
"Not that I know of! What the hell is 'Myst'?"
The strange woman looked thoroughly perplexed, "You know, MYST! You can travel through universes!"
"No I can't," Raven said, her eyes growing wider and wider every second, "Can you?"
"Of course I can! If you can't then how are you here?" She demanded and there were several emotions that in her voice, and Raven was confused why she had heard them. Arien had sudden hope, desperation, and a tone that seemed to be caused by an agonized wait for the answer.
"I, I died . . . I think," she said slightly taken aback.
It looked like the hope had shattered in Arien's eyes, "Oh," she said flatly, almost sadly.
Raven ignored it and immediately asked, "What, where, how," she struggled to put her question into words.
"You mean, 'What's my story?' Right?"
Raven nodded slowly, her mouth still open.
Arien sighed and pushed the shattered bits of hope out of her mind, "I don't know how long ago it was now, but it all began when I was born many long years ago. My first home was in the universe in the center of the Space Time Continuum. This place could be considered 'perfect'. Anyway, one day I realized that 'perfect' was just 'not perfect', if you can understand that, and the next thing I knew I wasn't at 42 Perfect Lane. I had jumped, if you will, universes."
Raven was trying her best not to look confused.
"I spent all my conscious hours perfecting my skill and eventually gave my ability the title, Mysting, mostly because it sounded cool," she added with a smiled.
Raven snickered quietly at Arien's choice of words.
"I began 'Mysting' to as many different universes as I could trying to see it all. I would stay in one world for a few years and then move to another. Eventually I came to your old world, Earth. It was very bad timing thought. I visited the World Trade Center, and I guess you where in the middle of a war or something, but I saw a huge plane fling towards one of the buildings, and I thought it must have been an air show or something. Or at least I did until it slammed into the side of one of the Twin Towers. The building began to collapse and I knew I couldn't run fast enough to evade the chunks, so I prepared to Myst. An instant before I faded out, an enormous section of the tower came crashing down and I was crushed beneath it."
Raven cringed at the mental image flashing through her mind.
"Anyway, somehow I must have done something to get me here because when I opened my eyes, I was standing on the outskirts of Rivendell. I met Elrond and lived happily in his home for many years. One day though, I was training in the forest and Gandalf the Grey saw me and sensed that I was no ordinary elf. He could feel my 'magic' properties and took me in as his apprentice. It was only a few days ago when my life style changed yet again when he sent me here to assist King Thranduil, and now I'm here," Arien finally completed her tale.
Raven tried to swallow all she had just heard. She was having a hard time comprehending that she was in the presence of a being from another universe all together. The discussion that had just gone on was not the type of thing a narrow-minded person could believe, maybe even WOULD believe for that matter, but Raven was beyond that, despite her difficulties understanding what she had just heard. The room was silent for only a few moments, but to the silver-blonde-haired elf it felt like hours. Finally she said the only thing that sounded halfway intelligent, "Are there any others like you? You know, that can Myst?"
Arien sighed, "No sadly. I had hoped maybe you could, or at least found another way to travel in-between worlds."
"Why would you hope that I could?"
The other looked into Raven's eyes, "Because I can't."
The elf's green orbs where filled with shock and confusion, "What do you mean you can't?"
"I've tried hundreds of times, but since I landed in Middle-Earth I haven't been able to. I have a feeling it's because I died and in my reincarnation or whatever, I lost my ability. I'm stuck here forever."
Raven stared with her mouth open and didn't know what to say, but thankfully, she didn't have to.
Arien saw the confusion in her friend's eyes, "I know it's kind of hard to swallow all that at once, you can just imagine the shock when I found out I could do it!" she said with a chuckle, "You're the only soul I've ever told, except one other that is, but he died."
Sympathy grew on the elf's face, "I'm so sorry, what happened to him? Who was he?"
The other smiled, "As soon as I tell you who he is, you will instantly know his fate. Gandalf the Grey was his name," she paused to watch Raven's face light up with an expression that said 'Oh' before she continued, "When he was reincarnated as Gandalf the White, he did not remember that little detail about my life, but it was all for the best I suppose. He did remember enough about me that he remained my instructor, though. I'd appreciate it if you didn't go around saying anything about this, if you please," she said firmly, almost like a warning.
Raven nodded, "I wouldn't dream of it! Think how Leg- I mean everyone would react if we went around saying we come from a world where everyone and everything they know is nothing more that a movie and a kid's story!"
Arien's head cocked to one side and sent Raven an amused smile, "They made a movie out of it? Cool!" a moment of silence passed, "Raven, I don't want you to think any different of me, alright? Or, at least any different from last night after the ball. Even thought I'm from another world I'm still the same. We all have our pasts. Some are stranger than others," she looked directly into Raven's eyes as she said the next part, "and some have darker ones."
The blonde-haired girl unknowingly leaned backwards and a faint blush crossed her face, 'Does she know something?' she asked herself.
Arien looked taken aback, "Hey, why are you giving me that look? Did I say something wrong?" she asked with concern.
Raven shook her head and lost all suspicion, "No, I'm sorry. I just remembered that I Legolas wants to give me private training lessons. I think I'm gonna die. Wanna come with me? You could give me some tips! Plus, you could make sure that he doesn't end up killing me by accident," she smiled, "How 'bout it?"
The other raised her eye brow, "I don't think Legolas is gonna kill you. Speaking of him, what did he want last night?"
Raven's face turned a brilliant scarlet and she could feel the heat radiating off, "Um, he uh, that is, he-"
Arien cut her off, "No more need be said. I saw the whole thing with Kasseendra," she smiled playfully, "Someone has the hots for you!"
As unbelievable as it sounds, Raven's face managed to get even redder but soon died down to almost its normal pale color, "The sad part is I don't have the same feelings for him. I don't WANT to have feelings for him, or any other guy for that matter."
Arien looked confused, "Why? Most women would love it if the Prince of the elves offered them his heart."
"I know, but I'm scared. I, I just don't want to be hurt . . . I've been hurt so many times in my life and I don't think I could bear another heart break," her eyes glazed with tears, "I'll die. I'll kill myself before reliving my life. Hell must have been better! And now Legolas screwed my life up again by falling for me! I don't want to love, but if I don't, he might die! What should I do?"
Arien saw the misery and torment in her friends face, and could feel the curiosity creeping onto her own, but decided that this was no time to be asking such questions of the elf's past, "I don't think I have any advice to give but this; learn to trust people. What happened to you on Earth means nothing here, because this is MIDDLE-Earth. If you don't start tearing down those walls around your heart, which your must have had reasons to put up in the first place, you will not just be putting Legolas's life on the line, but you will also have your own despair to worry about. An elf cannot live without love. No matter how hard they fight it, if they don't give in to their desirers, they will no longer be able to stand the grief of their lonely hearts and fate into darkness."
"But if what you say is true, then how is it that an elf can live thousands of years and never love, yet still live a wonderful life free from this despair you speak of?"
"Because they didn't refuse to love."
Raven exhaled and slumped her back down onto Arien's less-that-neat bed, "So are you saying I should give Legolas a chance? 'Cause if you when through what I went through, you wouldn't be advising me to!"
"And I'm not doing so, am I? Do what you think is best. Use your judgment, but don't stereotype others from something that someone has done to you in the past. After all, you don't know Legolas all that well, except from those books right? From them you can plainly see that Legolas has a beautiful soul. Where those not your words?"
Raven smiled a dreamy smile, "Yes, they where . . ." she quickly snapped out of her trance, "But it doesn't matter!" 'Does it?' she asked herself. She was getting so frustrated with herself. How could such a short period of time with Legolas weaken her defenses so drastically? "Are you coming with me to Legolas's torture sessions or not?" she asked agitatedly.
Arien smiled, "I'll try to stop by later, that's not a promise, you hear me? I have a lot of things to, hmm, how should I state this, 'take care of'," a sly smile emerged from the previous friendly one.
Raven nodded as she remembered the fact that Arien was a trained assassin along with many other specialties, she guessed, from her friend's choice of words that she was referring to the darker area of her expertise "Oh. Anyway, I suppose I should be going before Legs comes lookin' for me. Thanks for your advice. Good-bye," she waved off her friend and exited the room.
Arien smiled as the other left in search of Legolas. Soon the smile changed to a grin. 'Your fighting a loosing battle to your emotions Raven; I can see it in your eyes.'