Author Jade Elf

Title Intrepidity

Rating pg (for now)

Disclaimer Now hold on to your seats, this may come as a shocker, but I do not, I repeat, do not own Lord of the Rings

Last time

You don't have any problems with your house do you, because if you do there is always a place for you in New York." Leafs mother said bewildered.

"Oh no I am perfectly happy here. As a matter of fact I just had the house inspected and it meets every single code and regulation." Leaf held up the certificate. "You see I am perfectly legal to stay here." Leaf said getting tired of the little game, cut to the chase.

"Oh I do see," said Cassandra more then a little angry.

"Well mother why don't we go in for some tea, I just but the water on to boil," Leaf said with resignation knowing that the battle would never be over.

Chapter three, FIGHT

The two of them danced around with words for a while, Cassandra trying to find someway to get her daughter back to New York and Leaf trying to not go. But like all battles this war of words had a climax. "Elisabeth, I want you to have the world."

"Mother I don't want the world. I just want my books and the forest and time to figure out what I want to do," Leaf replied with just as much feeling in her voice.

"You can't live your whole life hiding away in the forest, there is so much out there that you could have," Cassandra said

"I am not hiding," she retorted. "I just prefer living the old ways, rather then living in the city," Leaf said starting to get louder.

""You are blind to the world and would live your life in the forest thinking you are superior to everyone," Cassandra said loudly.

"I don't believe that my way is better. It is just what I prefer. You know 'to each their own.' This is what I love, why can't you understand that? This is what makes me happy." Leaf said frustrated.

"You can't know what makes you happy. You are but a child, who knows nothing of the world, living her whole life hiding away in books. You are blind to what this world has to offer, the technology, the power to be held." Cassandra said back with all the tone of a mother scolding her child, but there was a hint of lust for power as well.

"Mother I love you more then any person but when will you get it. I am an adult. I am 36 years old. I can choose to live on my own and kick you out of my life entirely. Either chose to accept the choices I have made about my life or leave my life. Mom, if you dislike the way I live, to the point of hate, is it fair to ask me to love your way of life?" Leaf said her voice like ice.

"You are but a child and you need guidance before you can decide how to live your life."

"Mom I am 36, that is 18 years older then the age of adulthood I am hardly a child," Leaf replied.

Cassandra looked mad and said, "You need to return with me to New York. I mean look at this... this... hovel. You have books and that's it. I mean look, the bookshelves are crocked I got splinters from the seat, and the cushions are lumpy. This is complete nonsense you need to come home."

"So what if it's not perfect it's mine" Leaf replied with passion, sure it wasn't perfect but what was.

Cassandra looked around the room desperately looking for more evils. "What is up with this tree? It is ridiculous to have a tree in your home! You make your home out of them or have then in the park not in the living room." Her voice was reaching hysterical tones now and she was oblivious the slowly growing more and more anger Leaf. "And what is this?" She said grabbing a bundle of herbs from over the door.

Leaf lost it, "Don't touch those. It's a delicate spell!" Silence fell like a thick blanket, but instead of comfort it brought pain and suffering.

After a few moments Cassandra bock the silence, "Spell? You clearly need to come back with me. I don't know what you are doing out here but clearly it isn't healthy for your mental health."

Leaf called out in the up most rage. "Don't you dare!" She hissed out. "Don't you dare question my mental health? Because I believe in magic does not mean I am crazy."

Cassandra responded with equal anger "Clearly you are if you believe that you can do magic. Your turning out just as crazy as grandpa and grandma."

"And how am I supposed to know about that really, I have never even met them, because you locked them up in some insane asylum, because you couldn't handle him. Maybe they both knew magic and you were to afraid to accept it."

"God! When well you learn MAGIC isn't real. There are no elves or fairies. No witches in cottages or heroes in shining armor. There are no kings or princesses. When well you get it."

"Mother magic is real it just that you are to blind to see it. There are mythological creatures just not many. There are fairies, gnomes and so many other magical beings. If you ever got out of the city you would see them. They just hate the cities. You are the one who needs to open their eyes," Leaf said with satisfaction at finally telling her mother what she had always felt.

"There...is...no...such...thing...as...magic!" Cassandra said with finality. "There never is and never well be magic, you are deluding yourself you fool. There are no elves! No orcs! No nothing! You are a pitiful child who needs some common sense beaten into you."

At each word Leafs face fell like a child having its favorite toy taking away. She looked down at the ground in sadness.

Cassandra looked triumphant. "You well not need to pack. I well have everything that you need." Cassandra said thinking that she had won and Leaf would return with her.

Leaf looked up with sadness in her eyes. "Mother I wish that you would understand, but now I see you never well understand. Goodbye," Leaf said with finality.

"What are you talking about," Cassandra said with confusion. "You are coming with me."

"No you don't get it, so go." Leaf said.

"No you are coming with me," Cassandra said with a little desperation getting into her voice.

"Leave." Leaf simple said.

"Elisabeth?" Cassandra said with wondering. In all of their years together Leaf had never done anything like this. The two would fight and Cassandra would win. The first time this hadn't happened was when Leaf decided that she was going to move out of her mother apartment and leave the law firm that Cassandra owned. That time was the only time that she hadn't won except for now it seemed.

"Goodbye." Leaf said once again. "Don't worry about the dishes I will clean up."

Cassandra slowly got up and started walking to the door. She was half way there when she shook herself and turned around. "No! I wont leave I am your mother and I wont leave until you come with me."

"I really with it wasn't this way mother, but if you insist." Leaf said with sadness.

"Who once was dear

Now brings fear."

At the back of Leaf's mind Shadow joined in the spell.

"Before I moan

Leave me alone.

By the words I say

GO AWAY"

With the last word a great wind came up and Cassandra was pushed out the magically opened door and into her car where the wind pushed it down the road. And that was that.