Disclaimer: I don't own LOTR and I don't get any money for this. Yet.
Hey, sorry it has been so long! My muse has taken a vacation, but didn't bother to inform me first! Plus, my teachers have ganged up and given us about a million hours of homework! So, this chapter is dedicated to: Senora Ginsbach, Mr. Silby, Ms. Bobeck, Mr. Callender, Mr. Kellenberger, Mr. Mullen, and Ms. Young. Thanks so much! (Not!) And real thanks to Ms. Rizzotto, who proofreads my stuff!
WARNING!!!: This chapter will be slightly repetitive, especially in thoughts!! And rather boring in places, but PLEASE bear with me!!
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Chapter 16: Comence una Vida Nueva
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The first thing that came back to Calime was the heat, the terrible heat that made her feel like she was lying in a fire. Then came her hearing, but even that seemed to be jumbled between her worlds.
"Bacterial meningitis*. We need antibiotics-"
"Calime, can you hear me? Don't give in. You can fight this, little- elf!"
Random utterances blended in with wild colors like a disco ball, mixed in with long spells of blackness when she could not hear or see anything. 'It's like being on a really weird trip,' she thought in a brief moment of clarity.
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*A/N: For those of you that don't know, bacterial meningitis is the swelling of the meninges. The meninges are the tissues that surround your brain. When you get meningitis, and it comes in many degrees of severity, you usually get a stiff neck and headache, fever and some people get a really sore throat, and most people feel more tired than usual. Just thought I'd explain. Also, there is no record of 'colors and voices' in people who have had meningitis. This is simply my artistic license at work.
Also, from here on until (probably) the next chapter, everything will be from the view of Legolas, Aragorn, other Fellowship members, and people from her 'alternate' existence. I'll tell you who's who when we get there. Enjoy!
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Fellowship POV:
The Fellowship 'lost' its second member in Lothlorien. After Calime fell, she was taken to the House of Healing. Three days later, the Fellowship sat restlessly in their area. They had not heard anything, and at nightfall, they would have to leave to finish their mission. Merry and Pippin had tried, to no avail, to lighten the tense mood, and were now sitting dejectedly on a bench. Frodo sat on another bench, brooding, with a worried Sam next to him.
When Turin finally entered the area, a few minutes before dusk, the tension was near to the breaking point. They had finished packing their belongings and now had no excuse to delay any longer. Turin looked exhausted and terribly sad.
"What is it, Turin? What news do you have?" Aragorn asked. Turin shook his head somberly.
"My daughter has an infection that she got from her other world. Without the medicine of that world," he broke off, then cleared his throat and began again. "Without the medicine of that world, it is not likely that even the best Elven healers can help her."
The Fellowship stared in shock. The news they had dreaded was the next thing Turin said. "Without that medicine, it is doubtful she will last through the night."
The stunned silence seemed louder than the cries of a thousand orcs.
"Go now. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn wish to speak with you before you leave." With that, Turin left the clearing and hurried back to the House of Healing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maja's POV:
My sister lay in a coma, and all I could think about was how much I wished Nick were there. Nick was Sunni's boyfriend, a stable hand at Wind Dancer Farm, but I had had the most awful crush on him ever since he had given me a daisy on my birthday, so I wouldn't feel left out. He had given the other 11 to my sister, and that's when I realized that he was the nicest guy I had met in a long time. That's also when I realized that I couldn't have him. He loved Sunni. And I couldn't hurt my sister like that. But as she lay unconscious in a sterile, bland hospital room, I couldn't tear my thoughts from him. Did that make me a horrible person?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Fellowship POV:
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes," Celeborn said. As the others headed to the three boats waiting in the river, Celeborn turned to speak to Aragorn. He handed him a curved dagger. "Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures bearing the mark of the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so. You are being tracked. By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy of the Falls of Rauros."
With that note, the Fellowship set out down the river.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
POV: Turin and the Healers:
Together, Turin and two other Healers worked for many hours, using every Elven medicine they knew. Cold water for the fever, blankets for the chills, pillows around her head for the terrible pain that kept her from being comfortable. Many of their efforts were futile: elves rarely got sick, never died from it. None of the medicines they had would compare with what Turin could get at the hospital where his office was, but that was in another world, and he would not allow himself to think of that.
Two days after the Fellowship had departed, the Healers had resigned themselves, and now only Turin sat at Calime's bedside, waiting until the end came.
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*
Fellowship POV:
Frodo and Sam had gone, gone to find Mordor and Mount Doom alone. Pippin and Merry had been captured by Uruk-hai. Boromir had passed into the other world, never to partake of life again.
"Three of our number dead in less than a week. And who knows if we'll ever see the Hobbits again," Aragorn said. "It hardly seems possible. But we'll not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be left behind here. We travel light. Let's hunt some orc."
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*
Calime's POV:
'I am going to die. I know I am going to die, and Papa will not know that I still love him. I will never say good-bye to Maja, and Legolas will never know how much I like him. All aboard the Shadow Express. Gandalf, you're getting some company.' Then her thoughts stopped swirling, and in a brief moment of absolute clarity, she felt a single tear slide down her cheek. Then the darkness returned, and she took a solitary, shallow breath.
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Reviewers:
Latanya: Muchas gracias for reviewing! Keep reading!!
Dark-phoenix-angel13590: I'm glad you like it! Did you have fun in Nashville? Amma is a Thai variation on "Mom" or "Mama." Here, she is saying that she wants her mother. Anyway, thanks for your review!
Legolas's Bride: ::wink:: I am addicted to Legomances, too. There haven't been any good ones up in a while, though. I am happy that you like the elf father part. I wasn't sure about that one. ;) Hope you keep reading and reviewing!!
Elvinscarf: Thanks for reading and reviewing!!! Now go to sleep! And keep reading!
Eamane-elf: I'm writing, I'm writing!! ::I love ice cream!:: Unfortunately, I am broke. But I can give you a new chapter!!!
Kimbly: Thank you so much! Reviews like yours make my day! The reason I try to make my stories easy to read is because reading is not my best subject, and I want to share this with everyone. Thanks, though! Keep reading!!
Hey, sorry it has been so long! My muse has taken a vacation, but didn't bother to inform me first! Plus, my teachers have ganged up and given us about a million hours of homework! So, this chapter is dedicated to: Senora Ginsbach, Mr. Silby, Ms. Bobeck, Mr. Callender, Mr. Kellenberger, Mr. Mullen, and Ms. Young. Thanks so much! (Not!) And real thanks to Ms. Rizzotto, who proofreads my stuff!
WARNING!!!: This chapter will be slightly repetitive, especially in thoughts!! And rather boring in places, but PLEASE bear with me!!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 16: Comence una Vida Nueva
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The first thing that came back to Calime was the heat, the terrible heat that made her feel like she was lying in a fire. Then came her hearing, but even that seemed to be jumbled between her worlds.
"Bacterial meningitis*. We need antibiotics-"
"Calime, can you hear me? Don't give in. You can fight this, little- elf!"
Random utterances blended in with wild colors like a disco ball, mixed in with long spells of blackness when she could not hear or see anything. 'It's like being on a really weird trip,' she thought in a brief moment of clarity.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*A/N: For those of you that don't know, bacterial meningitis is the swelling of the meninges. The meninges are the tissues that surround your brain. When you get meningitis, and it comes in many degrees of severity, you usually get a stiff neck and headache, fever and some people get a really sore throat, and most people feel more tired than usual. Just thought I'd explain. Also, there is no record of 'colors and voices' in people who have had meningitis. This is simply my artistic license at work.
Also, from here on until (probably) the next chapter, everything will be from the view of Legolas, Aragorn, other Fellowship members, and people from her 'alternate' existence. I'll tell you who's who when we get there. Enjoy!
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Fellowship POV:
The Fellowship 'lost' its second member in Lothlorien. After Calime fell, she was taken to the House of Healing. Three days later, the Fellowship sat restlessly in their area. They had not heard anything, and at nightfall, they would have to leave to finish their mission. Merry and Pippin had tried, to no avail, to lighten the tense mood, and were now sitting dejectedly on a bench. Frodo sat on another bench, brooding, with a worried Sam next to him.
When Turin finally entered the area, a few minutes before dusk, the tension was near to the breaking point. They had finished packing their belongings and now had no excuse to delay any longer. Turin looked exhausted and terribly sad.
"What is it, Turin? What news do you have?" Aragorn asked. Turin shook his head somberly.
"My daughter has an infection that she got from her other world. Without the medicine of that world," he broke off, then cleared his throat and began again. "Without the medicine of that world, it is not likely that even the best Elven healers can help her."
The Fellowship stared in shock. The news they had dreaded was the next thing Turin said. "Without that medicine, it is doubtful she will last through the night."
The stunned silence seemed louder than the cries of a thousand orcs.
"Go now. Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn wish to speak with you before you leave." With that, Turin left the clearing and hurried back to the House of Healing.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Maja's POV:
My sister lay in a coma, and all I could think about was how much I wished Nick were there. Nick was Sunni's boyfriend, a stable hand at Wind Dancer Farm, but I had had the most awful crush on him ever since he had given me a daisy on my birthday, so I wouldn't feel left out. He had given the other 11 to my sister, and that's when I realized that he was the nicest guy I had met in a long time. That's also when I realized that I couldn't have him. He loved Sunni. And I couldn't hurt my sister like that. But as she lay unconscious in a sterile, bland hospital room, I couldn't tear my thoughts from him. Did that make me a horrible person?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Fellowship POV:
"Never before have we clad strangers in the garb of our people. May these cloaks help shield you from unfriendly eyes," Celeborn said. As the others headed to the three boats waiting in the river, Celeborn turned to speak to Aragorn. He handed him a curved dagger. "Every league you travel south, the danger will increase. Mordor orcs now hold the eastern shore of the Anduin. Nor will you find safety on the western bank. Strange creatures bearing the mark of the White Hand have been seen on our borders. Seldom do orcs journey in the open under the sun, yet these have done so. You are being tracked. By river you have the chance of outrunning the enemy of the Falls of Rauros."
With that note, the Fellowship set out down the river.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
POV: Turin and the Healers:
Together, Turin and two other Healers worked for many hours, using every Elven medicine they knew. Cold water for the fever, blankets for the chills, pillows around her head for the terrible pain that kept her from being comfortable. Many of their efforts were futile: elves rarely got sick, never died from it. None of the medicines they had would compare with what Turin could get at the hospital where his office was, but that was in another world, and he would not allow himself to think of that.
Two days after the Fellowship had departed, the Healers had resigned themselves, and now only Turin sat at Calime's bedside, waiting until the end came.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*
Fellowship POV:
Frodo and Sam had gone, gone to find Mordor and Mount Doom alone. Pippin and Merry had been captured by Uruk-hai. Boromir had passed into the other world, never to partake of life again.
"Three of our number dead in less than a week. And who knows if we'll ever see the Hobbits again," Aragorn said. "It hardly seems possible. But we'll not abandon Merry and Pippin to torment and death. Not while we have strength left. Leave all that can be left behind here. We travel light. Let's hunt some orc."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
*
Calime's POV:
'I am going to die. I know I am going to die, and Papa will not know that I still love him. I will never say good-bye to Maja, and Legolas will never know how much I like him. All aboard the Shadow Express. Gandalf, you're getting some company.' Then her thoughts stopped swirling, and in a brief moment of absolute clarity, she felt a single tear slide down her cheek. Then the darkness returned, and she took a solitary, shallow breath.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Reviewers:
Latanya: Muchas gracias for reviewing! Keep reading!!
Dark-phoenix-angel13590: I'm glad you like it! Did you have fun in Nashville? Amma is a Thai variation on "Mom" or "Mama." Here, she is saying that she wants her mother. Anyway, thanks for your review!
Legolas's Bride: ::wink:: I am addicted to Legomances, too. There haven't been any good ones up in a while, though. I am happy that you like the elf father part. I wasn't sure about that one. ;) Hope you keep reading and reviewing!!
Elvinscarf: Thanks for reading and reviewing!!! Now go to sleep! And keep reading!
Eamane-elf: I'm writing, I'm writing!! ::I love ice cream!:: Unfortunately, I am broke. But I can give you a new chapter!!!
Kimbly: Thank you so much! Reviews like yours make my day! The reason I try to make my stories easy to read is because reading is not my best subject, and I want to share this with everyone. Thanks, though! Keep reading!!