Faulkner: I know i've been an ass by taking such a long time with this
chapter, BUT I FINALLY SAW THE MATRIX RELOADED!! 100 AGENT SMITHS!! FREAKY
TWINS!! Keanu Reeves has a nice ass.
Pinky: MASTER!
Faulkner: Did I say that outloud? Ooops. Read and enjoy!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When Ratchet awoke, she was surprised to find herself in a different spot than from where she had originally fallen asleep. She looked around and found that the rest of camp was already awake and just finishing their ration of lembas.
Haldir came over to her and handed her a wafer of the stuff.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Still a bit tired, but fine." she answered, taking the wafer and starting to munch on it.
Haldir nodded and called out orders in Elvish to his troops. "Come. We are leaving." he said to her before heading over to the horse that was lent to him. Ratchet just nodded to no one and grabbed her backpack from where she left it the night before. It, at least, hadn't moved.
The days march was the same as the day before's. It was quite dull, and Ratchet resorted to using her CD player again. 'The batteries'll run out anyway. Might as well use it as much as possible' she reasoned with herself.
The calming music flowed out of the earphones and into her ears. Ratchet turned up the music until it was loud enough for the Elves to hear clearly.
"Love is tragic
Love is bold
You will always
Do what you are told
Love is hard
Love is strong
You will never say that you were wrong
I don't know when I got bitter
Love is surely better when it's gone
'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live
You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there
Love is color
Love is loud
Love is never saying you're too proud
Love is trusting
Love is honest
Love is not a hand that holds you down
I don't know when I got bitter
Love is surely better when it's gone
'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live
You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there
I got to pick me up when I am down
I got to get my feet back on the ground
I got to pick me up when I am down
I don't know when I got bitter
Love is surely better when it's gone
'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live
You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there
You wanted more
More than I could love
More than I could offer
The harder you would shove
You wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live."
After that song, all the others were mostly rock and pop rock. Ratchet always kept the volume high and annoyed the heck out of the Elves when Crawling by Linkin Park was played. Especially since she hummed along to the song slightly off key, in her toad-like voice.
But she couldn't hear herself, so she didn't know.
The rest of the five day march to the Golden Wood became routine.
Every morning the small host of Elves and one woman would wake and eat their ration of lembas. Then they would march along at an easy pace until noon. They would then stop for a break and another lembas wafer. After about fifteen minutes, they would get up and march until an hour or so after nightfall and sleep for the rest of the night.
Haldir had been declared healed after the second day of marching and had reverted to walking along with his troop. The horse was turned into a pack animal and carried most of the rations and packs that had been brought along.
But one thing besides Ratchet's music that bugged him was her nightmares.
She had them every night only minutes after she had fallen asleep. And only minutes after the nightmare started, Haldir would come and comfort her. Once she got a hold of him, she wouldn't let go until early in the morning.
It soon became a ritual to the Marchwarden. And little did he know that two Elves so much like him watched this with growing interest.
And so the days and nights passed and they soon came upon the border of Lothlorien.
They were welcomed as heroes and praised for their bravery as they passed by Elves. And when they reached the city, it was announced that their would be a feast held in their honor in two days time.
Ratchet, Haldir, and a few other Elves were presented to the Lord and Lady in the throne room and listened to their formal thanks and all the royal pleasantry crap. Ratchet pretty much just zoned out and acted like she was paying attention.
She was lucky that no one talked to her during the whole ceremony. If they had, they wouldn't have gotten an answer.
After all the formality stuff was over, Ratchet was led to the healing ward.
"The Marchwarden informed us that you have had a sickness on the way back." a healer approached Ratchet and said.
"Yeah." She silently cursed Haldir and his interfereing. "But i'm fine. It went away a few days before we got here."
"Be that as it may, I would like to check you over just in case. Can't be too careful." and Ratchet had to let the healer give her a check up and make sure nothing was wrong.
The healer stood back after that and looked Ratchet over one last time before nodding to himself. "You are well. Though I am curious about the scar over your wrist. W-"
"An orc caught me off guard. Simple mistake, that won't happen again since it is dead and I have learned my lesson." Ratchet quickly lied. She had always been good about making up lies on the spot. Teachers always needed some kind of excuse to not put you in detention for not doing your homework.
The healer looked like he was going to say something about it, but changed his mind. Instead he said, "I will have someone show you to a room where you can rest. Quel re, my lady." The healer bowed and almost instantly a maid had replaced him and showed her to a small flet closer to the royal ones.
(AN: What DO people call Celeborn's and Galadriels talan? It isn't exactly a palace or a talan.)
"Peace at last." Ratchet sighed and fell onto her bed. Her things were on a small table a few feet away. "Sleep time..." she mumbled before doing just that, without bothering to change from her traveling clothes.
~*Two Days Later....*~
Ratchet scrubbed at her face quickly and took another sip from the wine goblet in her hands. She wished fervently for some caffeine, but knew that they didn't have any coffee, coke, or the kind of tea that was rich with the stuff.
"You haven't been sleeping?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"I'll be fine Haldir. Stop worrying so much." Ratchet told him.
"When you are not sleeping, there is a reason to worry." he replied.
The two watched form the secluded corner as Elves danced and chattered amongst themselves. It was such a happy occaison, but also a sad one. All the Elves that had died would always be remembered and their memories cherished. Ratchet was stricken when she had found out that the two Elves that had particularly like her singing were with the ones that had traveled to Mandos.
"It's just all the events of late. It happens sometimes." Ratchet took another sip of wine and continued to watch the gracefully dancing Elves. "I'll get back up to par soon. I'll need to be at full strength for the upcoming fight." Ratchet suddenly turned to face Haldir and looked him in the eye. "Did they tell you i'm leaving five days from now?"
Haldir didn't need to ask who the 'they' were.
"Yes." he said reluctantly. "I wish you would stay a little longer to regain your strength."
"I can't. I've felt this battle coming for a while now. I have to go. I'm part of the Fellowship also and I will not abandon them. If it hadn't been for Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli's urgings..." Ratchet grinned slightly. "..demands then I would have went with them."
"I do not know if you should even go to this next battle. It will be much bigger than the one at Helms Deep, and an ever greater chance of your death." Haldir whispered fervently. "I wish you would stay here where it is safe."
Ratchet shook her head. "I will go Haldir, no matter what you or anyone else says. I will not abandon them. I will not fail."
The Elf sighed and shook his head. It was practically suicide to go. But then again, maybe that's what she had wanted. After he had heard of her attempt to kill herself, he had watched Ratchet like a hawk. And when he couldn't, he made sure someone else did.
Haldir sighed again and shook his head at his brother. I do not wish to dance Orophin. Besides, you know i'm terrible about it.
Ratchet watched the three Elves discuss something in their native language and grinned slightly. All she could tell was that the two new Elves were pestering Haldir about something.
I like living right where I am thank you very much Rumil. Go find some Elf maid to flirt with. Same to you Orophin.
Orophin and Rumil sighed and grinned at their brother.
and the brothers slipped off into the crowd before Haldir could wring their necks.
"What's got your underwear all in a bunch?" Ratchet asked.
Haldir turned to her and had a slight look of murder in his eyes. "My brothers are making something out of nothing."
Ratchet shrugged and turned back to watch the dancers. "Whatever."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Faulkner: Yay! Summer! No more school for THREE MONTHS!! ::does happy dance:: Cookies and brownies to all who have reviewed for me so far! I thank you all!
Pinky: I like the particular song in this chapter! It's All You Wanted by Tonic.
Pinky: MASTER!
Faulkner: Did I say that outloud? Ooops. Read and enjoy!
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
When Ratchet awoke, she was surprised to find herself in a different spot than from where she had originally fallen asleep. She looked around and found that the rest of camp was already awake and just finishing their ration of lembas.
Haldir came over to her and handed her a wafer of the stuff.
"How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Still a bit tired, but fine." she answered, taking the wafer and starting to munch on it.
Haldir nodded and called out orders in Elvish to his troops. "Come. We are leaving." he said to her before heading over to the horse that was lent to him. Ratchet just nodded to no one and grabbed her backpack from where she left it the night before. It, at least, hadn't moved.
The days march was the same as the day before's. It was quite dull, and Ratchet resorted to using her CD player again. 'The batteries'll run out anyway. Might as well use it as much as possible' she reasoned with herself.
The calming music flowed out of the earphones and into her ears. Ratchet turned up the music until it was loud enough for the Elves to hear clearly.
"Love is tragic
Love is bold
You will always
Do what you are told
Love is hard
Love is strong
You will never say that you were wrong
I don't know when I got bitter
Love is surely better when it's gone
'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live
You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there
Love is color
Love is loud
Love is never saying you're too proud
Love is trusting
Love is honest
Love is not a hand that holds you down
I don't know when I got bitter
Love is surely better when it's gone
'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live
You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there
I got to pick me up when I am down
I got to get my feet back on the ground
I got to pick me up when I am down
I don't know when I got bitter
Love is surely better when it's gone
'Cause you wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live
You wanted more
More than I could bear
More than I could offer
For a love that isn't there
You wanted more
More than I could love
More than I could offer
The harder you would shove
You wanted more
More than I could give
More than I could handle
In a life that I can't live."
After that song, all the others were mostly rock and pop rock. Ratchet always kept the volume high and annoyed the heck out of the Elves when Crawling by Linkin Park was played. Especially since she hummed along to the song slightly off key, in her toad-like voice.
But she couldn't hear herself, so she didn't know.
The rest of the five day march to the Golden Wood became routine.
Every morning the small host of Elves and one woman would wake and eat their ration of lembas. Then they would march along at an easy pace until noon. They would then stop for a break and another lembas wafer. After about fifteen minutes, they would get up and march until an hour or so after nightfall and sleep for the rest of the night.
Haldir had been declared healed after the second day of marching and had reverted to walking along with his troop. The horse was turned into a pack animal and carried most of the rations and packs that had been brought along.
But one thing besides Ratchet's music that bugged him was her nightmares.
She had them every night only minutes after she had fallen asleep. And only minutes after the nightmare started, Haldir would come and comfort her. Once she got a hold of him, she wouldn't let go until early in the morning.
It soon became a ritual to the Marchwarden. And little did he know that two Elves so much like him watched this with growing interest.
And so the days and nights passed and they soon came upon the border of Lothlorien.
They were welcomed as heroes and praised for their bravery as they passed by Elves. And when they reached the city, it was announced that their would be a feast held in their honor in two days time.
Ratchet, Haldir, and a few other Elves were presented to the Lord and Lady in the throne room and listened to their formal thanks and all the royal pleasantry crap. Ratchet pretty much just zoned out and acted like she was paying attention.
She was lucky that no one talked to her during the whole ceremony. If they had, they wouldn't have gotten an answer.
After all the formality stuff was over, Ratchet was led to the healing ward.
"The Marchwarden informed us that you have had a sickness on the way back." a healer approached Ratchet and said.
"Yeah." She silently cursed Haldir and his interfereing. "But i'm fine. It went away a few days before we got here."
"Be that as it may, I would like to check you over just in case. Can't be too careful." and Ratchet had to let the healer give her a check up and make sure nothing was wrong.
The healer stood back after that and looked Ratchet over one last time before nodding to himself. "You are well. Though I am curious about the scar over your wrist. W-"
"An orc caught me off guard. Simple mistake, that won't happen again since it is dead and I have learned my lesson." Ratchet quickly lied. She had always been good about making up lies on the spot. Teachers always needed some kind of excuse to not put you in detention for not doing your homework.
The healer looked like he was going to say something about it, but changed his mind. Instead he said, "I will have someone show you to a room where you can rest. Quel re, my lady." The healer bowed and almost instantly a maid had replaced him and showed her to a small flet closer to the royal ones.
(AN: What DO people call Celeborn's and Galadriels talan? It isn't exactly a palace or a talan.)
"Peace at last." Ratchet sighed and fell onto her bed. Her things were on a small table a few feet away. "Sleep time..." she mumbled before doing just that, without bothering to change from her traveling clothes.
~*Two Days Later....*~
Ratchet scrubbed at her face quickly and took another sip from the wine goblet in her hands. She wished fervently for some caffeine, but knew that they didn't have any coffee, coke, or the kind of tea that was rich with the stuff.
"You haven't been sleeping?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"I'll be fine Haldir. Stop worrying so much." Ratchet told him.
"When you are not sleeping, there is a reason to worry." he replied.
The two watched form the secluded corner as Elves danced and chattered amongst themselves. It was such a happy occaison, but also a sad one. All the Elves that had died would always be remembered and their memories cherished. Ratchet was stricken when she had found out that the two Elves that had particularly like her singing were with the ones that had traveled to Mandos.
"It's just all the events of late. It happens sometimes." Ratchet took another sip of wine and continued to watch the gracefully dancing Elves. "I'll get back up to par soon. I'll need to be at full strength for the upcoming fight." Ratchet suddenly turned to face Haldir and looked him in the eye. "Did they tell you i'm leaving five days from now?"
Haldir didn't need to ask who the 'they' were.
"Yes." he said reluctantly. "I wish you would stay a little longer to regain your strength."
"I can't. I've felt this battle coming for a while now. I have to go. I'm part of the Fellowship also and I will not abandon them. If it hadn't been for Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli's urgings..." Ratchet grinned slightly. "..demands then I would have went with them."
"I do not know if you should even go to this next battle. It will be much bigger than the one at Helms Deep, and an ever greater chance of your death." Haldir whispered fervently. "I wish you would stay here where it is safe."
Ratchet shook her head. "I will go Haldir, no matter what you or anyone else says. I will not abandon them. I will not fail."
The Elf sighed and shook his head. It was practically suicide to go. But then again, maybe that's what she had wanted. After he had heard of her attempt to kill herself, he had watched Ratchet like a hawk. And when he couldn't, he made sure someone else did.
Haldir sighed again and shook his head at his brother. I do not wish to dance Orophin. Besides, you know i'm terrible about it.
Ratchet watched the three Elves discuss something in their native language and grinned slightly. All she could tell was that the two new Elves were pestering Haldir about something.
I like living right where I am thank you very much Rumil. Go find some Elf maid to flirt with. Same to you Orophin.
Orophin and Rumil sighed and grinned at their brother.
and the brothers slipped off into the crowd before Haldir could wring their necks.
"What's got your underwear all in a bunch?" Ratchet asked.
Haldir turned to her and had a slight look of murder in his eyes. "My brothers are making something out of nothing."
Ratchet shrugged and turned back to watch the dancers. "Whatever."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Faulkner: Yay! Summer! No more school for THREE MONTHS!! ::does happy dance:: Cookies and brownies to all who have reviewed for me so far! I thank you all!
Pinky: I like the particular song in this chapter! It's All You Wanted by Tonic.