Yeah yeah yeah – I know bad me, no chapters for a while. What can I say? No excuses that are worthy except that my job is even harder than I thought it would be and I'm drained when I get in. Saw Two Towers. Bad Peter! Killing off you know who and making Frodo go you know where. That wasn't in the books. And hello? What's with the whole love triangle thingy? That's wrong diddly wrong wrong, yknow. LOTR isn't mine – but if it was I wouldn't be happy. The rest of the film was good tho….

Walking Away.

Climbing out of the window was easy. Part of me wondered exactly why it was so easy, but the other part pointed out that as I was hanging onto a sheet quite a way from the ground I should ignore why I thought it was so easy and just finish climbing the damn thing. Finally I managed to get to the ground safely.

***

I decided my first task was to get out of the palace grounds. Easier said than done. Seemed that for every ten steps I took away from it, it would only take one step to get me back to the palace. Not a good thing when you're trying to escape.

After several hours of attempts to reach the edge of the forest I realised I needed help. Fortunately for me help was on its way.

"Owen!" I shouted joyfully as I recognised the Gucci wearing orc heading my way.

"Fangirl." He observed disdainfully.

"Look Owen I need a favour…" I trailed off seeing the expression on his face. I paused and then began again. "You see I've got a little lost." I laughed nervously, "And was wondering if you could tell me the way to…"

"Mirkwood Palace is that way." He interrupted, pointing off into the distance.

"Err yeah," I said, frowning. "Well actually I was looking for umm the edge of the forest. Trying to learn my way…" I offered seeing him quirk a sceptical but beautifully sculpted eyebrow at me. "You know, the whole Princess thing," I said jovially, "Gotta know where everything is don't I?"

"Hmm." He paused for a moment. "Very well fangirl, I will show you the edge of the forest. It is this way."

Hah! I thought gleefully to myself. Not only do I find out where the edge of the forest is but I also get my own guide to show me! I'm well on my way now!

***

"The edge of Mirkwood forest." Owen announced as we reached the edge of the trees. "Now shall we?"

"Shall we what?" I queried as I gazed upon the open land outside the forest.

"Return to the palace of course." Owen stated, as thought he was talking to a particularly stupid person.

"Ahh yes, well you see about that…" I paused trying to think up a decent excuse. Then it hit me. Sindy! "You see the thing is, I'm getting married yes?"

"Yes." Owen said.

"And well, the thing is, I need to get my dress and bridesmaids and stuff y'know?"

"Yes."

"So I'm going to see Sindy about it." I paused. "And Legolas too of course. I desperately need their advice." I saw the look of disbelief on his face and immediately did my 'helpless, giggly and stupid female voice' "I JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT TO WEAR!"

"And you can't discuss this with the King or the Prince?" He asked still wearing his disbelieving expression.

"Oh please!" I snorted at the suggestion. "They're men. What do they know?" Owen looked offended at this so I hurriedly said, "Besides which the whole dress is SUPPOSED to be a secret and I can't ask for my father-in-law or my husband now can I?" I saw that he understood where I was coming from and inwardly rejoiced.

"Very well, I shall take you to see them. Although I get the feeling I'm going to regret this." He said as he looked me up and down and shook his head. "We need to go this way."

I grinned. Go me! I had found a willing creature to take me out of Mirkwood and off to find Vebby. Ok he didn't know about the Vebby hunt yet, but what the heck? I was out of the forest and into the open.

Or perhaps that should be out of the frying pan and into the fire.

Idiot.

************

Will write more when I get the time! R&R please!