Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Slowly, Willow found herself swimming back to consciousness. She felt herself lying on a soft, but firm bed with a pillow under her head. She opened her eyes. Tara's face, etched with concern, hovered over hers.
"Willow, I'm so glad you're awake. You scared me sweetie. No more passing out."
"Promise" Willow murmured. "Did I dream that we were in another dimension or is that real?"
"It's real." Tara said gently. "Do you remember what happened?"
Willow nodded, tears coming to her eyes. "Gandalf killed the demon, and then he fell. I tried to help him."
"Shh sweetie, He did fall. You passed out then and we came here. We're in Lothlorien woods. The others went to see some leader called The Lady of the Wood."
Willow sat up and wiped away a few tears. "How are we going to get home now?"
"We'll work that out later. Here, eat something." Tara handed her some Lembas bread and water.
As she ate Willow looked around the room she was in. She peered out a window and noticed lots of tree branches and little squirrels scampering around.
"Tara, don't think I'm insane or anything. Maybe I hit my head. But.....are we in a tree?"
Tara laughed. "Yes, the elves live in trees. I think they called this a flat, or maybe a flet. Or a talon.....I'm not quite sure."
After she ate and took a bath in the small tub they'd provided, Willow decided to head down and see the other members of the Fellowship. As she and Tara approached the Fellowship, most of them stood and greeted her.
"Lady Willow, It pleases me to see you well again. I was dreadfully worried." Legolas took her hand and made her sit by a small fountain.
"Thanks, I'm fine really. Using my power's so much at one time just made me more exhausted than I realized."
"Lady Willow, When you slayed the cave troll, your eyes turned black as night." Aragorn said carefully. "Does this occur often?"
"I-I don't think so. I mean, it was probably just a side effect of having to call on very dark magic's to kill such a big thing."
"It was frightening." Pippin put in. Willow wrapped him in a hug and ruffled his hair. "Sorry, I'll try not to do it again."
After a bit, one of the Lorien elves approached the Fellowship.
"The Lady Galadriel desires to speak with the Lady Willow." He said shortly.
Willow cast a questioning glace at the Fellowship, but they did not reveal anything about this Galadriel or why she would want to see Willow.
She was lead into a small garden.
"Where is she?" Willow questioned. But she found the elf was gone and she was alone.
"I was told Gandalf was to help you get home." A smooth, elegant voice carried through the garden. Willow turned to see Galadriel. She was a tall, almost ethereal, elf. And Willow could sense a good amount of power in her as well.
"Yes, he was." Willow responded. "My friend and I, we kind of help people in our world too. So we can't stay away too long."
'What if you weren't going to be helping?' Willow heard those last words in her head. Galadriel could speak in her mind!
'What do you mean? We're the good guys, the white hats.' Willow thought back.
'Your power grows. More than even you realize. Stray from your true nature and you will fail.'
Willow was indignant. 'Fail at what? Can we stop thinking in riddles? It's really not my thing.'
'Look into the mirror' Galadriel motioned to the small monument in the middle of the garden.
"Is this like a Harry Potter thing? I'll see what I desire most?" she chucked aloud.
"Even the wisest do not know what is to be seen. It shows things that are, that will be, that has been."
Sighing, Willow leaned over and looked into the mirror.
"Forget"
"That fight you guys had about magic and stuff?"
"I'm under your spell
God, how can this be?
Playing with my memory"
"I don't think this is gonna work"
"Don't worry, it only hurts for a second."
"You taste like strawberries."
"Can you just be kissing me now?"
"Mmm, I forgot how good this could feel. Us. Together."
"You think you can just do that to me? You think I'd let you get away with that?"
Bang!
"Your shirt."
"Tara?! Baby? Baby, come on! Get up!"
"I need power!"
"Bored Now"
"One Down"
"I have to end the pain"
"She's going to drain the planet's life force, and funnel its energy through Proserpexa's effigy and, and burn the Earth to a cinder."
Willow jumped back, shocked by what she had seen.
"I-Is that what's gonna happen? Tara? She's gonna.. A-And I'm gonna, with the magic's and the...oh god."
"Do you still wish to return home?"
Willow looked up, shocked. "You want me to answer that? You show me that Tara is gonna die and ask me If I want to go back there so she can?"
Galadriel said nothing.
"Of course not!" Willow began to pace. "Can I stop it? I mean, If we go back, I can change things. I won't hurt Tara, I'll make sure Warren stays away from the weaponry, and I most certainly won't go all Darth Vader and destroy the world!"
"Some fates can not be averted. Destiny has its ways. These events may occur for the greater good."
"Good?!" Willow was practically shrieking. "H-How is that good? Murder, Mayhem, World Destroying? Not good in my book. And as far as not averting it, we can just stay here. I mean, if we're aren't there. Tara won't die and I won't be all evil."
"Your wishes are selfish. Staying here will not help things."
"Oh what do you know anyway?" Willow snapped and stomped off back to the Fellowship.
Legolas jumped up as he saw her approach. He noted the distress on her face and tears in her eyes and walked up to her.
"Milady, what is wrong? You look alarmed. What did Galedriel say to you?"
She moved into the woods, away from the group, and rested against a tree.
"Only that if I return home someone I love is going to be killed and I am going to turn to dark magic and end the world."
"It cannot be as bad as all that. I cannot imagine such a beautiful creature as you doing anything that horrible, even in grief."
"Well I'm pretty horrid when I'm cranky, and, hey you called me beautiful." She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I meant it." He smiled at her. It was a charming smile, and paired with those baby blue eyes and sweet voice, Willow found herself wanting to giggle like a schoolgirl.
'Hello, Gay Now', she mentally reprimanded herself.
"Well, I, That's very, um, flattering." Willow stumbled over her words, trying to think of something that would tell him she wasn't interested without being too mean.
"I do not jest. When I first saw you, I thought you an elf. Such lovely, vibrant hair and pale, soft skin." He brought his hand up to her face as he spoke.
Before Willow could protest, he dropped his head down and pressed his lips to hers. It was a fervent kiss. His tongue ran along her lips and he brought his hands up behind her head to press their lips further together. Willow was dumbstruck at how he seemed to have the perfect combination of force and gentleness. She closed her eyes and felt as if she were simply going to melt right into him.
He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against hers, a lazy smile across his face.
"You taste like strawberries." He mumbled softly.
Willow pushed him away violently and her eyes flew open with fright.
"Y-you, and, and that guy, i-in the mirror, and the magic's. I-I was all happy, too happy. And he had his hands on me and w-was all "you taste like strawberries." a-and why in the frilly heck did you just kiss me?"
Legolas's brow furrowed in confusion. "Milady, I do not understand."
Willow calmed herself down so she could form coherent sentences. She had be clear if she was going to tell him be better not ever kiss her again.
"Well, as for the first part. When I looked into Galadriel's mirror, there was this guy, a sort of warlock-err, wizard, I think. He had his hand on my chest, a-and it was like he was sucking energy from me. O-or maybe sucking my soul out. And when he was done, he said "You taste like strawberries. I-I kinda freaked. Sorry."
"If you would identify this wizard, I will slay him for you. To suck souls is a very foul deed."
"Heh, thanks. He was in my world though. But as to the kiss. I-I don't want to sound mean or like an old maid, but could you just not do it again?"
He looked even more confused, but he nodded. "My apologies, milady. I was merely showing my affections for you and trying to offer a bit of comfort. Your meeting with Galadriel seems to have touched you deeply."
He likes me, Willow thought. Just great. How am I supposed to tell him I am not interested without telling him why?
"Yeah, I mean she showed me the person I love is going to die and I'm going to take revenge in the form of ending the world. Pretty deep. And it's not that you're not a great guy, err great elf. But I don't think in the middle of a quest is the best time to be all smoochy and lovey."
"You are right. It is unwise to begin a relationship when we have greater tasks at hand. But I for one look forward to this quest ending then." He kissed her hand and walked back to camp.
She pouted and stood there a moment. "Oh...damn"