WOAH!!! I had almost forgotten about this!!! =S Ok, I apologise for my lack of updates! *dodges objects thrown* Nyah! Ya missed! *gets stunned as a pillow hits her full on in the face* What the-?! Oi! You wanna new chapter or not?!
Look, sorry for keeping you lot waiting- I've had important things on my mind... *takes a look at review count* O_O' 53 Reviews?!?!?!?!?! Oh my... Maybe I should go away more often... *blanches at glares and knives being drawn* I'M JOKING, I'm joking! Sheesh, some people! I'll reply at the end of this chapter, ok?! ^_~ So, sit back, relax, and enjoy... or rather, hang onto the edge of your seat again by your bare fingernails as some of you are prone to doing...
Disclaimer- Not mine unfortunately. I'd love to own it, but it's a little too expensive to buy the rights... if you sued me you'd only get a Legolas pencil-case, a ROTK writing set, 2 50pence postcards of Legolas, a TTT Top Trumps card game, a Legolas/LOTR ring binder folder and 3 posters of him anyway... oh yeah, and some fluff under the bed... THAT'S IT!!! And I suppose you could have my little bro too but I don't think Mum would be too happy about that... =S
~*~*~*~
"How?!" cried Merry desperately. "He was right here, we were together! This makes no sense! How did none of us notice him being taken?!" Hot tears were dripping down his cheeks; he had come to care deeply about both the Man and Elf, two of his protectors, and now they were gone, taken by this fearsome thing.
"Hush Master Meriadoc, hush," soothed Boromir, putting a strong arm around the Hobbit's shoulder. "We'll find them... we have to."
In truth, this grief that nested deep inside the Man of Gondor was on the verge of ripping him apart. He now *knew* that it was the thing he heard; and it had taken both of the missing companions. A voice inside his head tormented him; "It's all your fault... you let them down... you've failed them, and all the others... you miserable excuse for the Steward's son..."
Gandalf looked up, straining his eyes to see through the thick wall of trees. Through the woods, he was able to pick up a barely perceptible image. A dark shape slowly shuffled through the undergrowth, struggling as though dragging a dead weight behind. Its back was bent in more than exertion; as it passed through a shaft of moonlight the wizard could see the bumps and lumps of the creature's spine as they attempted to push through its skin. Hideous gnarled fingers twisted around its prize; a certain future King of Gondor.
"All of you head back to camp, and for Eru's sake stay together! Do not come looking for me; this foe may well be beyond either of you two," he said, looking pointedly at Gimli and Boromir. "...and almost certainly above any of you," he added, meaning the Hobbits. "Now go!"
"Come young Master Hobbits, we'd best be going," Gimli stated matter-of-factly. The four Shire folk ran ahead, the strong sturdy Dwarf hot on their heels. As he watched them head away, Boromir hesitated.
"Go Boromir," pressed Gandalf. The creature was getting away- he had to make haste.
"I can help you. No one should be alone, you just said it yourself!" protested the Man. He felt it was his duty as the son of the Steward of Gondor to protect and fight for those who had been taken.
"No!" cried Gandalf suddenly. Boromir started at the sudden change in temper from the old man and flinched slightly. "No," repeated the Istari, more softly this time. "Please leave. I cannot have you here. Even I do not know who this new enemy is."
The pleas seemed to have more of an impact on the young Man's heart than orders or commands. "Very well Gandalf," replied the Gondorian. He looked into the old man's deep darker eyes; dark not with the corrupt blackness of evil, but with the knowledge of a possibly grim and uncertain future ahead of him. He could only hope this was not the last time he'd see those eyes; that they would twinkle and dance like stars again soon.
He turned away and began treading the small path the Hobbits had left through the leaves.
"Boromir," Gandalf sighed. The Man looked back with slightly hopeful eyes, hoping this was his moment in which he could shine and show his true quality. The Grey Pilgrim exhaled noisily again. "Look after them. I fear they may need you before this is over. Do not let anyone try any heroics either- you must stay together."
Boromir nodded slowly and uncertainly. "Yes Gandalf," he replied wistfully. He had a new duty to undertake. The form of the wizard gradually grew smaller and smaller until being swallowed up by the dark trees completely...
~*~*~*~
Gandalf turned and drew in a deep breath. His eyes narrowed as he hefted his staff up high, swiftly making his way towards the creature...
~*~*~*~
Boromir stumbled into camp as another high-pitched wail echoed through the woods-
"SCREEEEE!!!"
Frodo was terrified. Curled up in a blanket to keep out the bitterly cold air, a gnawing dread chewed away at the base of his stomach. He knew there was something wrong... then it hit him. A great friend was missing...
"Boromir, where is Gandalf?!" questioned Pippin, his voice wavering slightly as another shriek pierced his ears.
Boromir glanced up sadly. "He battles now, to keep us from harm and to rescue our comrades. Do not fret young Master Baggins..." Gandalf was fighting the thing, that was definitely true, yet what was happening, and who would emerge the victor, he could not say. Cries and the noises of scuffles had followed him as he tore back to camp, haunting his footsteps eerily until at last he had seen the warm glow of the fireplace before him.
~*~*~*~
The wizard blocked a vicious attack from it as slashing claws tore at him. Unimaginably pointy teeth were bared, another screech emanating from the mangled throat of the beast. Gandalf gave it an almighty strike atop its head, sending it rolling backwards towards the limp body of Aragorn lying in a heap on the floor.
As it sat up again, it shook its head, fuzzy images swirling in front of his eyes...
Then suddenly, just as it all seemed to be going the Istari's way, it all went horribly wrong...
As those sharp teeth dug deeper and deeper into his neck and shoulder, warm blood trickled down his grey robes, and he felt it pool between his fingers before he succumbed to the warm welcome that was unconsciousness, succumbing to Legolas and Aragorn's barely known fates...
~*~*~*~
"We shall sit here and wait for him to return," said Gimli. Pausing for a moment he added; "Hopefully with our flighty Elf and Ranger friends in tow..."
They all stayed awake that night, watching the moon ride high over the sky until the stars slowly blinked out one by one, as the golden sun began to creep over the hills, heralding the red dawn.
And they watched.
And they waited.
Yet no grey bearded Istari, nor Elf or Man emerged from the forest...
~*~*~*~
He he he... 3 down, 6 to go... =D I understand this is a bit short, but I'm trying to get this chapter out of the way so I can get to the juicy bits... only about another 5 or 6 chapters to go...
Reviewer replies!
Irish QT- LOL! 'The Great Star-Stallion'?! That's a bit much, isn't it?! ^_^ Not that I'm complaining... =D Yup, you truly are my devoted reader! Thanks, hope you enjoyed this, admittedly short chapter- better action coming soon though!
Lefty- Yeah, ARAGORN'S GONE!!! See, I had to get him and Legolas outta the way first because they're my favourite characters and I was worried I'd focus a little too much on them. Yeah, if they're still alive... he he he...
Estel Elven Enchantress- You're mad Jo... ^_~
Jodie- Your blood pressure?! Are you sure you should read these?! LOL, don't exert yourself deary...
Anya Midnight- You think I'm original? ^_^ Ooh, that's nice of you! Eh, I might not kill them... at this precise moment, I'm not so sure... =D Hey, if you like death, I killed Legolas in a rather nasty way in my recently completed fic 'A New Shadow'. You might like to check that out... ^_~ Thanks for your review!
Kawaii Elf Girl- WOAH!!! Alright girl! Sheesh... THE FLYING HAMSTER OF DOOM!!! LOL I love that! I'll be honest with you- I'm taking you up on your advice, you know, for the plot ideas. Eeep, not my plot device!!! *tugs hard on plot device* I NEED THAT!!! *yanks it outta Elf Girl's hands* MINE! I mean, if you want your love back, you'd leave it ALONE and let me FINISH!!! And I suppose you can shoot this freaky thing when I'm done too...
Lady Lenna- Thanks! Like I said, sorry for not updating soon! =S And they might be dead... might not be... I honestly haven't decided yet...
Coolio02- Thanks! ^_~
XM6- Good question! I'd like to know that myself... this isn't quite finished yet btw... O_o'
Eowyn Greenleaf- A baby dragon?! You know what? I'm not even gonna ask... thanks!
SailorGirl4- You disturb me with the whole "eat a crayon" thing... would you really do that?! Oh boy, you must have gone through Crayola's entire stock waiting for me to update this... =S Sorry! No, screeeee isn't a real word- I made it up! I couldn't think of or find the right word to describe the noise in my head, so I though, "I know, I'll use a new word that'll let people have their own ideas!" So that is how Screeeeeee came about! ^_~
Darcy Took- Eeep, sorry Darc!!! =S Thanks for your review!!!
Menthol- I'm back! And I've been on another 2 holidays since! *blushes deeply* =S Sorry!
ElizabethBlack4- Woah Amy! That poem is just sadistic! And not to mention weird... lets show everybody else!
Right, Amy just wrote this for no apparent reason in her review...
When one of the fellowship keels over and dies
the other one looks for the killer dies
when another of the fellowship keels over and dies
the other one looks for the killer and dies
and we'll never no what happenned
cos Amanda's pure evil!
There's no need to be like that!!! I'm not evil!... erm... well, not PURE evil anyway... ^_~
Elvan Oracal- Ooooooookkkkkkkaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! ^_^
Shadow Lancer- Thanks!
Sparrow Greenleaf- Ah, lilies and roses for our missing two! Well, three now... he he he... =D
Shadowwill- I have to admit, everybody should thank you for reminding me this existed!!! So THANKS!!! I'm sorry you felt hurt... ='( It's not my fault! ... ok, well, it is, but you know what I mean!
Starlit Hope- Thanks! Your new name is cool too btw! ^_~
So, R&R!!!
~*~ Star-Stallion ~*~