*Disclaimer* Guess what?! I don't own LotR! Alert the media!
A/N: Wow...lotsa reviews! I like that! Things are getting a little angsty for Rose in the future, you've been warned. Read on!
Chapter 18-The Situation Worsens
She didn't sleep as long as she wanted to, only an hour or two. She stood up, facing the facts that she wouldn't be getting any sleep, threw on her robe, and decided to go help Dam with breakfast. Dam looked surprised to see her, to say the least.
"Oh, you're up early, aren't you, Rosie? Is anything wrong?" She shook her head.
"I'm just fine, Dam. I just couldn't get back to sleep. Bad dream." Dam nodded sympathetically. Rose only wished it had been a bad dream.
"Well, I'm sorry. Would you like to help me with breakfast?" She nodded pleasantly, her fake smile on her face.
"Sure. That sounds good. What can I do?" She kept her mind off the previous night's events by focusing all her attention on preparing the food. When they were done, Meira and Ellie still hadn't woken up yet, so she ate her breakfast while it was still hot, then went back to her room to change.
"Thank you for helping, dear. Are you going outside after you get dressed?"
"I guess so."
"I know you're going into the forest. Excersize caution. Those Riders might still be there." She sighed.
"I wish you didn't know me so well. I'll be careful, I promise."
"Thank you." She went to her room and dawdled, wondering where to go. She hadn't been to Linka and Awaren's place since the rebuttal; it didn't interest her in the slightest. She couldn't go to Tracie's, for fear of finding Legolas. If she went anywhere else around the Glade, chances were more than great of running into Benvenue. Neither option appealed to her in the slightest. So, into the forest it would have to be. But where to go? She considered her options.
There was a large oak she always went to when she was little. That would be a good place; it was an easy climb, and secluded. There, she could be alone. Satisfied, she began to actually productively change. Since she was going to do some climbing, she discarded her dresses and began choosing from her more athletic clothes. Nothing fancy; just a white shirt and a pair of forest green breeches. Then, she climbed down the steps and slipped into the forest, hoping that none of the Elves walking around saw her.
It occured to her, as she struck out east, that she was taking the long way around. But the shorter route took her right next to Legolas's house. Besides, she mentally reasoned, the fresh air and excersize would do her good. ~You're the last person on earth who needs excersize. Besides, you're over-rationalizing. Whenever someone over-rationalizes, it means they're worried.~ She rolled her eyes. -Brilliant. Of course I'm worried. Just be quiet.- For once, Della obeyed.
Reveling in the silence, she continued on. Fifteen minutes later, she stood at the base of the old oak, patting the bark fondly. The first branch was closer to the ground than she remembered. Then again, when she was 900, so was she. She swung up on the branch, then another, then another, until she was back in her familiar element. When she finally got up to the broad forked branch that served as her perch, she felt a lot better, more peaceful.
She watched the breeze stir the leaves slightly, letting her mind go blissfully blank. This was perfect. So what if she had lost the love of her life, who was also her best friend? So what if Benvenue thought she and Legolas were a couple, even though she wished with all her heart that they were?
Okay, so it wasn't so perfect. Feeling a little less happy, she turned slightly on her side, inspecting the carvings she had made on the branch. "Rosellyn, age 846." "Traceheart, age 834." "Rosellyn, Tracie, and Forest forever!" She gave a sad smile. She doubted that Tracie remembered their old hideout. Forest never knew about it to begin with. Despite her feelings now, she knew that one name still belonged here. She drew Diamondsong, the only knife she had with her today, and started carving. "Rosellyn and Legolas for-never." She felt saddened, but it was the truth.
"Hey," said a voice, slightly out of breath, "you want to give me a hand up, here?" Surprised, she hadn't heard anyone come, she peeked between the fork of the branch.
"Forest?!" She was sure she had seen wrong. Forest didn't know about this tree, she was positive. But apparently wrong, because her friend was pulling himself up the tree. Startled, she automatically obeyed, reaching out a helping hand and pulling him up. Then, she tried to causually cover her latest carving with a hand, as if she was supporting herself. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you knew about this tree." He snorted.
"Ha! Give you a clue about being a twin: no matter how hard you try, you can never keep a secret from your sibling. I used to follow you two, when you tried to sneak up here." She looked at him sharply. She'd made a lot of confessions in this tree, some more embarrassing than others.
"Did you spy on us?" He shook his head nonchalantly, apparently oblivious to the fact that he nearly caused her to have a heart attack.
"Nah. I just wanted to see where you were going. Never really wanted to hear what you two talked about. Hey, look at these carvings! Tracie made this when she was 834? Wow. It seems like such a long time ago, now. We've all changed, haven't we?"
"Some more than others," she said truthfully. He smiled, and a thought occured to her: if Forest knew about everything Tracie did, what if he knew about the spying?
"I know. Speaking of which, are you mad at Legolas?" ~Well,~ thought Delaney, ~Speak of the devil, and he might show up.~ She didn't bother to inquire what the devil was, because she had to answer Forest.
"What makes you think that?" she asked, schooling her features into innocent nonchalance. When he smiled wryly, she knew he wasn't fooled. But, being Forest, he didn't say anything about it.
"Because Tracie said you two got into a fight over something last night. Don't know how she would know, but I wanted to hear it from you."
"Have you talked to him yet?" she inquired.
"No. But I thought that if you got into a fight with any of your friends, this is where you'd go."
"Are all my instincts written down somewhere? Yes, I suppose you could say we had a fight. It was really more of a disagreement of character, with perhaps a few uncalled-for words being exchanged..."
"It was a fight," said Forest, cutting her off. She hung her head.
"Yes. A fight."
"I won't ask what about, even though I want to know. If you want to tell me, I'll listen. If you don't, I won't ask."
"Thanks, Forest." He smiled crookedly.
"What are friends for? Say, do you think I can come with you when you spy tonight?" Surprised, she almost lost her grip.
"What? How did you-?"
"The twin thing, remember? I was listening at the door this morning. That's how I knew you and Legolas had your 'disagreement of character'."
"But...but I thought you didn't approve..."
"I don't. But I'm not so callous as to turn in my own sister and my friends, and I'm not conservative enough to want to miss out on all the fun you seem to have. So, what do you think?"
"Ask Legolas," she said bluntly, "or Tracie. I'm not going."
"What? Why? This is so important to you!"
"Was," she corrected, "it was important to me. I'll find some other way to pass the time, whether it be doing chores, sleeping, or twiddling my thumbs. But I won't be going tonight." He shook his head.
"You're lying," he said flatly, "you're lying and you know it. This is important to you, and the only reason you're not going is because of Legolas." She didn't deign it necessary to answer. "I see. Well, I will make sure you go, if I have to drag you kicking and screaming through the woods to do so!" She shook her head stubbornly.
"I'm not, and nothing can make me. You go, have your conservative fun. I don't care anymore. If Awaren wants to bring ruin to Mirkwood, so be it. He's only doing what he thinks is best!" He shook her roughly by the shoulders.
"Did you actually hear what you just said? That's not true, Rose, you know that's not true! I never thought I would hear you say that!" She pulled away roughly.
"Oh? Well, you thought wrong!" she yelled, and half-climbed, half-fell down the tree. She stomped off without looking back. Forest watched her go, saddened. He shifted his weight slightly, and put his hand down. He felt something that was not treebark. Puzzled, he lifted his hand and traced the carving, fresh, if the wet sap was any judge, with a finger. His eyes widened, and his head shot up.
"Rosellyn! Wait!" But she was already gone.
A/N: Not doing too well in the friendship department, is she? I hope this doesn't strike you as melodrama, but hey. War can do that to a person, I suppose.
A/N: Wow...lotsa reviews! I like that! Things are getting a little angsty for Rose in the future, you've been warned. Read on!
Chapter 18-The Situation Worsens
She didn't sleep as long as she wanted to, only an hour or two. She stood up, facing the facts that she wouldn't be getting any sleep, threw on her robe, and decided to go help Dam with breakfast. Dam looked surprised to see her, to say the least.
"Oh, you're up early, aren't you, Rosie? Is anything wrong?" She shook her head.
"I'm just fine, Dam. I just couldn't get back to sleep. Bad dream." Dam nodded sympathetically. Rose only wished it had been a bad dream.
"Well, I'm sorry. Would you like to help me with breakfast?" She nodded pleasantly, her fake smile on her face.
"Sure. That sounds good. What can I do?" She kept her mind off the previous night's events by focusing all her attention on preparing the food. When they were done, Meira and Ellie still hadn't woken up yet, so she ate her breakfast while it was still hot, then went back to her room to change.
"Thank you for helping, dear. Are you going outside after you get dressed?"
"I guess so."
"I know you're going into the forest. Excersize caution. Those Riders might still be there." She sighed.
"I wish you didn't know me so well. I'll be careful, I promise."
"Thank you." She went to her room and dawdled, wondering where to go. She hadn't been to Linka and Awaren's place since the rebuttal; it didn't interest her in the slightest. She couldn't go to Tracie's, for fear of finding Legolas. If she went anywhere else around the Glade, chances were more than great of running into Benvenue. Neither option appealed to her in the slightest. So, into the forest it would have to be. But where to go? She considered her options.
There was a large oak she always went to when she was little. That would be a good place; it was an easy climb, and secluded. There, she could be alone. Satisfied, she began to actually productively change. Since she was going to do some climbing, she discarded her dresses and began choosing from her more athletic clothes. Nothing fancy; just a white shirt and a pair of forest green breeches. Then, she climbed down the steps and slipped into the forest, hoping that none of the Elves walking around saw her.
It occured to her, as she struck out east, that she was taking the long way around. But the shorter route took her right next to Legolas's house. Besides, she mentally reasoned, the fresh air and excersize would do her good. ~You're the last person on earth who needs excersize. Besides, you're over-rationalizing. Whenever someone over-rationalizes, it means they're worried.~ She rolled her eyes. -Brilliant. Of course I'm worried. Just be quiet.- For once, Della obeyed.
Reveling in the silence, she continued on. Fifteen minutes later, she stood at the base of the old oak, patting the bark fondly. The first branch was closer to the ground than she remembered. Then again, when she was 900, so was she. She swung up on the branch, then another, then another, until she was back in her familiar element. When she finally got up to the broad forked branch that served as her perch, she felt a lot better, more peaceful.
She watched the breeze stir the leaves slightly, letting her mind go blissfully blank. This was perfect. So what if she had lost the love of her life, who was also her best friend? So what if Benvenue thought she and Legolas were a couple, even though she wished with all her heart that they were?
Okay, so it wasn't so perfect. Feeling a little less happy, she turned slightly on her side, inspecting the carvings she had made on the branch. "Rosellyn, age 846." "Traceheart, age 834." "Rosellyn, Tracie, and Forest forever!" She gave a sad smile. She doubted that Tracie remembered their old hideout. Forest never knew about it to begin with. Despite her feelings now, she knew that one name still belonged here. She drew Diamondsong, the only knife she had with her today, and started carving. "Rosellyn and Legolas for-never." She felt saddened, but it was the truth.
"Hey," said a voice, slightly out of breath, "you want to give me a hand up, here?" Surprised, she hadn't heard anyone come, she peeked between the fork of the branch.
"Forest?!" She was sure she had seen wrong. Forest didn't know about this tree, she was positive. But apparently wrong, because her friend was pulling himself up the tree. Startled, she automatically obeyed, reaching out a helping hand and pulling him up. Then, she tried to causually cover her latest carving with a hand, as if she was supporting herself. "What are you doing here? I didn't think you knew about this tree." He snorted.
"Ha! Give you a clue about being a twin: no matter how hard you try, you can never keep a secret from your sibling. I used to follow you two, when you tried to sneak up here." She looked at him sharply. She'd made a lot of confessions in this tree, some more embarrassing than others.
"Did you spy on us?" He shook his head nonchalantly, apparently oblivious to the fact that he nearly caused her to have a heart attack.
"Nah. I just wanted to see where you were going. Never really wanted to hear what you two talked about. Hey, look at these carvings! Tracie made this when she was 834? Wow. It seems like such a long time ago, now. We've all changed, haven't we?"
"Some more than others," she said truthfully. He smiled, and a thought occured to her: if Forest knew about everything Tracie did, what if he knew about the spying?
"I know. Speaking of which, are you mad at Legolas?" ~Well,~ thought Delaney, ~Speak of the devil, and he might show up.~ She didn't bother to inquire what the devil was, because she had to answer Forest.
"What makes you think that?" she asked, schooling her features into innocent nonchalance. When he smiled wryly, she knew he wasn't fooled. But, being Forest, he didn't say anything about it.
"Because Tracie said you two got into a fight over something last night. Don't know how she would know, but I wanted to hear it from you."
"Have you talked to him yet?" she inquired.
"No. But I thought that if you got into a fight with any of your friends, this is where you'd go."
"Are all my instincts written down somewhere? Yes, I suppose you could say we had a fight. It was really more of a disagreement of character, with perhaps a few uncalled-for words being exchanged..."
"It was a fight," said Forest, cutting her off. She hung her head.
"Yes. A fight."
"I won't ask what about, even though I want to know. If you want to tell me, I'll listen. If you don't, I won't ask."
"Thanks, Forest." He smiled crookedly.
"What are friends for? Say, do you think I can come with you when you spy tonight?" Surprised, she almost lost her grip.
"What? How did you-?"
"The twin thing, remember? I was listening at the door this morning. That's how I knew you and Legolas had your 'disagreement of character'."
"But...but I thought you didn't approve..."
"I don't. But I'm not so callous as to turn in my own sister and my friends, and I'm not conservative enough to want to miss out on all the fun you seem to have. So, what do you think?"
"Ask Legolas," she said bluntly, "or Tracie. I'm not going."
"What? Why? This is so important to you!"
"Was," she corrected, "it was important to me. I'll find some other way to pass the time, whether it be doing chores, sleeping, or twiddling my thumbs. But I won't be going tonight." He shook his head.
"You're lying," he said flatly, "you're lying and you know it. This is important to you, and the only reason you're not going is because of Legolas." She didn't deign it necessary to answer. "I see. Well, I will make sure you go, if I have to drag you kicking and screaming through the woods to do so!" She shook her head stubbornly.
"I'm not, and nothing can make me. You go, have your conservative fun. I don't care anymore. If Awaren wants to bring ruin to Mirkwood, so be it. He's only doing what he thinks is best!" He shook her roughly by the shoulders.
"Did you actually hear what you just said? That's not true, Rose, you know that's not true! I never thought I would hear you say that!" She pulled away roughly.
"Oh? Well, you thought wrong!" she yelled, and half-climbed, half-fell down the tree. She stomped off without looking back. Forest watched her go, saddened. He shifted his weight slightly, and put his hand down. He felt something that was not treebark. Puzzled, he lifted his hand and traced the carving, fresh, if the wet sap was any judge, with a finger. His eyes widened, and his head shot up.
"Rosellyn! Wait!" But she was already gone.
A/N: Not doing too well in the friendship department, is she? I hope this doesn't strike you as melodrama, but hey. War can do that to a person, I suppose.