A/N: Yesh! I am alive! Camp was a blast, and I miss it a lot. Lots of cute counselors too ^_^ Anyways, onto the fic! And please, review for every chapter, so I know what to improve on, and so I don't get confuzzled. @_@
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Chapter Three: Acquaintances and a Midnight Crisis
Meryl's eyelids twitched. There were voices. They seemed to be deep in conversation. She opened her eyes to reveal that she was in another room. She was in a large bed with a beautifully carved headboard and windows with no glass. There was a statue in the corner, being both mysterious and beautiful.
{What happened? Was it all a dream?} she asked herself. {Or am I back in the hospital?}
Without moving her head, she surveyed her surroundings. She noticed that she was in different clothes. Instead of her shirt, sweater and pants, she was now in a simple silk nightgown. In addition to her cast, she now sported many bandages on her left shoulder. Memory flooded back to her, as she remembered that was where the arrow had pierced her.
A noise made her eyes dart around. Two men were in the corner, talking too much to notice that she was awake. One was tall and dressed in gray. The other was short and stout, dressed in heavy armor. The shorter one had a large helmet on his head, which covered his forehead. The taller one had long hair that reached to his shoulders.
"What will come of her after she heals?" asked the shorter one in a gruff voice. Meryl realized that they were talking about her.
The taller one answered, "We will have to return her to her home. I'm sure that her family is worried about her."
"But she doesn't look like her heritage is from Gondor, or Rohan."
"She must come from somewhere around here. She just didn't come from nowhere!"
The door opened and someone walked in, along with someone who jingled when they walked. Meryl quickly closed her eyes, and slowed her breathing. She wanted them to think that she was still asleep.
"Is she awake yet?" asked a voice that reflected wisdom and grace.
The two men stopped talking. "No," said the shorter one.
Meryl heard the jingling come closer. She calmed herself down, praying that they wouldn't know that she was awake. Why was she here? And where was "here"?
She felt something land on her bed. There was now a familiar weight on her feet. She realized that the jingling came from Dae. She relaxed a little.
"Shouldn't we get him down?" asked the shorter one. "Lord Elrond may not want dog hair all over the bed.
The new voice replied, "We shouldn't. He's worried, and he wants to be with her."
"Legolas, if you weren't an Elf, I'd think that you were going crazy, thinking that you can understand dogs."
Legolas. Elrond. Those names. Now Meryl was even more confused. Was she?... no, she couldn't be. Middle-Earth doesn't exist. Or does it?
{I guess that this would be the best time to wake up,} she figured.
She scrunched up her face and took a deep breath. Giving a slight groan, she turned over to her right side and opened her eyes, blinking a few times.
"She awakes!" cried the shorter one.
Dae barked and jumped off of the bed. He ran around the bed so that he stood in front of Meryl. He put his front paws on the bed and began licking her face.
"Dae, NO! Down boy," she said weakly, but firmly. The dog quickly stopped licking her, but he didn't go back on all fours.
"Is that his name?"
Meryl turned over and faced the speaker. He had long white-blonde hair that reached the middle of his back. He was dressed in green and gray clothes. But the most distinguishing feature he had were his pointed ears. No doubt about it, this was Legolas, the Elven prince of Mirkwood.
"Excuse me?" she asked.
"The dog. You called him Dae, is that his name?"
Meryl blinked and nodded. "It's Sindarian-"
"-for "shadow." How fitting," the Elf nodded as he spoke. "He really seems to care about you."
Meryl smiled weakly. She didn't need Legolas to tell her that.
"I think that the better question is who the girl is," said the taller form as he stood up. Meryl recognized him straight away. Dark hair, and grey eyes. It could only be Aragorn, son of Arathorn.
Meryl was silent. If she told them where she came from, they would try to get her to leave; to find her family. That would be impossible, because she isn't even from this world. But if she feigned amnesia... she might be able to stay for a while longer, and not explain where she came from.
"My name is Meryl," she said. "Although I confess that is all that I remember, aside from Dae that is."
"So you're saying is that you only remember your name? And your dog's?"
Meryl nodded. "I'm afraid so," she replied coldly. "I don't understand why you need to interrogate me like this."
She watched as Aragorn sighed and sat back down. "Can you at least tell me what I'm doing here?" she asked.
"You tell us," said the shorter man as he stood up from his chair. Meryl already knew who he was, for he was Gimli, the Dwarf.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
The Dwarf stepped forward. "What would a group of Uruk-Hai want with a young girl and a dog? Were you kidnapped from your home and your dog followed?"
Meryl shook her head weakly. "You've got it wrong," she said, her voice softening a bit. "I was asleep, or unconscious. When I woke up, one was about to slit my throat. I screamed and Dae came out of nowhere and killed some. I killed one with an arrow, that an archer had shot at Dae. I had leaped in the way and it hit my cast," she said as she looked down at the item that encased her arm. "Then the archer shot again, and hit my shoulder. And that's all that I remember, and I remember nothing from before that."
"But what would cause your amnesia?" questioned Aragorn. "Surely not an arrow wound."
Meryl thought fast. "I must have hit my head when I collapsed," she replied. "For I don't remember anything before that. How long have I been out?"
"It has been six days since we brought you in, which includes the day we found you," replied Aragorn.
Meryl was stunned. Six days? "Oh my," she whispered.
Legolas nodded. "We will leave you alone now," he said. "You must catch up on your rest, and see if you can remember anything later."
Gimli started to protest, but Aragorn fixed him a piercing look. He sighed and nodded. "It is best."
They quietly left the room, with Legolas and Aragorn bowing before stepping outside. Meryl waited a few minutes, to be sure that they were gone, before bursting into tears. They were so kind, it reminded her of Brian. And she had to be so cold to them, but she couldn't reveal her emotions. She would most likely be hurt again; she would most likely lose another loved one. She shall not get close to them. It's the only thing to do. She turned over in bed and stuffed her face into the pillow, stifling her sobs. Although it was the only thing to do, she didn't want to do it.
Dae leaped onto the bed, and settled himself down at her feet. He was a comforting weight, and Meryl slowly drifted back into sleep.
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Meryl stood on a hill overlooking her hometown. Below, it was the usual. Cars drove by noisily, with some of her classmates riding on their bicycles. There was Mrs. Ferguson with her prissy poodle, rightfully named Princess, walking down the sidewalk.
"Meryl!" called a voice behind her.
She turned around to see Brian jogging up the hill. The sunlight shone behind him. She shielded her eyes, smiled and said, "Looks like you found me."
He grinned back, with his hair falling in front of his eyes. He pushed it back and replied, "I guess I did."
They stood grinning at each other until Meryl's smile was suddenly wiped way when a car sped up from behind Brian. "Brian watch out!" she shrieked.
He turned around too late. Meryl closed her eyes as she heard the sickening thump of his body hitting the car. She opened her eyes and saw that he lay on the ground, grotesquely. "Brian!" she cried as she rushed to his side.
He was facedown, so Meryl turned him over. His eyes were wide and unseeing, staring out into the big blue sky. Meryl yelled his name, but he didn't answer. He kept on staring. She hugged his body to herself, weeping into his hair.
"You killed him."
Meryl's head shot up, wildly looking around. "Who's there?" she asked tearfully. "Show yourself!"
A figure materialized in front of her. Meryl was surprised to see that it was Brian, only different. His double had darker hair, and black eyes. He smiled evilly. "You killed the one you love. Such betrayal."
Meryl shook her head. "You're wrong."
"Am I?" the other Brian glanced at her.
Meryl nodded. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt him. Nothing."
His double smirked. "Did you see who was driving the car?"
There was a noise behind Meryl. She slowly turned around to see the car speeding towards her. Her eyes filled with horror as she saw who was behind the wheel. It was herself, grinning maniacally and a wild glint in her eyes. She screamed and closed her eyes, hearing the roar of the car's engine coming closer and closer until there was silence, and Meryl was plummeted into darkness once again...
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Meryl sat up in bed screaming, awakening her Labrador. Dae instantly leaped from the bed, snarling at nothing. Footsteps came from down the hall and the door was thrust open. Legolas and Aragorn stood in the doorway.
"My lady," said Aragorn. "What has happened?"
Meryl began sobbing. "I killed him," she whimpered. "It's my fault."
"Killed whom?" asked Legolas.
Meryl began crying even harder. Dae fixed his eyes on the two. They were upsetting his mistress. He growled at them.
"It's alright Dae," said Legolas. "We're here to help." He tried to take a step forward, but Dae barked. They would come no closer.
As the Elf was trying to calm the dog down, Aragorn watched Meryl. She was certainly shaken over something, but what? Had some of her memory returned?
Meryl glanced up and saw that Aragorn was watching her from the doorway. Their eyes met for a brief moment, before her green eyes rolled to the back of her head, and she fell backwards onto her bed.
Dae barked and ran to her side. He put his paws on the side of the bed, and licked her face reassuringly and he whined. Legolas and Aragorn rushed over. Aragorn began examining her, with Legolas helping.
"She is feverish," the Elf said when he felt her forehead. "See if you can find a cold compress that we can use."
Aragorn nodded and hurried away. Legolas turned back to Meryl. Her face was flushed with fever, and beads of sweat began gathering at her forehead.
Dae whined and nosed his mistress's face. A moan escaped her lips. Legolas opened her eye with his thumb and forefinger. Her eye stared blankly back at him. And then-
Meryl's body suddenly went into convulsions. She was shaking so hard, her arms and legs were thrashing everywhere. One of her fists went flying, and hit Legolas in the cheek. The Elf quickly realized what was happening. Yelling for Aragorn, he put his palms on her shoulders and held them down. If she moved like this for any longer, she would hurt herself. He ignored the throbbing pain in his cheek.
Meryl's body shook violently, even with Legolas holding her down. He needed more restraint; more weight.
Dae leaped on the bed and whined. Legolas saw this as a golden opportunity. "Dae, SIT!" he cried. He turned to Meryl's pale face and began whispering to her in Sindarian.
The dog quickly sat down, conveniently on Meryl's legs, forbidding them from moving even an inch. Aragorn ran into the room, with a bowl partially filled with water and a piece of clean cloth. He was surprised at he scene at which he saw.
"Aragorn," yelled Legolas, "help!"
The King of Gondor nodded, threw down the cloth, and hurried out of the room, still carrying the bowl. Legolas cursed under his breath. Where was that idiot going? Couldn't he see that the problem was here?
Aragorn returned moments later with a plant in hand, along with the bowl of water. Legolas realized that it was athelas, also known as kingsfoil. Aragorn went to Meryl's bedside and quickly shredded the leaves of the healing plant. He threw them into the bowl of water and held the bowl to the girl's lips. There was no time to make the concoction into a healing tea, so he slowly tipped the drink through her mouth and down her throat, until it was completely gone.
Meryl's struggles slowly stopped, before her body went completely limp. Legolas took his hands from her shoulders, and told Dae to jump off of the bed. The dog obeyed reluctantly.
Legolas swooped in on Aragorn. "What happened?" he said angrily. "She nearly broke my cheekbone!"
Aragorn was surprised. "I have not even the foggiest idea what caused that."
"I thought that you were supposed to be a great healer!"
"I am," said Aragorn gently. "But I have never seen anything like this before. Maybe Lord Elrond has, or maybe the Lady Galadriel."
"What could it be then?"
Aragorn shook his head. "I do not know, it may be many things. It could be... Wait."
He hurried over to Meryl's bedside and took out his knife. He slashed at her bandages, saying, "There must be something in the wound. What's happening to her is infection- or poison."
"Are you saying that Uruk-Hai are tipping their arrows with poison?"
Legolas went to Meryl's bedside and watched as Aragorn began pulling the bandages away. "Legolas, go and get some more clean cloth. I'll have to reopen the wound," said the king of Gondor.
Legolas nodded and ran out of the room. Aragorn glanced down at the girl. She lay unresponsive to the world. If it was poison, it was taking effect quickly. Dae whined.
Legolas quickly returned, arms laden with clean white linen. As soon as Aragorn saw that the Elf was back, he quickly cut the wound open. Blood started leaking out, and Aragorn pressed a cloth to the wound. He stripped it off later, bloodsoaked, and quickly stuck a finger into the wound, probing around.
"It's a good thing that she's out cold," remarked Legolas. "This would be extremely painful if she was awake."
Aragorn pulled his finger out. "There is something in there, but I can't get it out." He pressed another cloth against the open wound. "You have slender fingers, I need your help. If I try again, I'll only push it even deeper in the wound, and I don't have my dagger handy. You don't even have your knives with you."
Legolas nodded and went over to Aragorn. He rolled the sleeve on his shirt back and said to Meryl, "I apologize my lady. Please forgive me." He thrust his fingers in the wound. In no time flat, he felt what Aragorn had told him was in the wound. "I've found it," he announced. With an expert twist of his fingers, he pulled out a bloody splinter of wood. "From the arrow shaft no doubt," he said as he examined his find.
"Let's take it to Lord Elrond," suggested Aragorn. "He'll know what to do. But first..." He went over to the linen and began ripping strips off. "We need to rebandage the wound."
Legolas nodded and helped Aragorn tie the strips to Meryl's arm. Her face twisted in pain as they tied off the final knot. Dae barked to catch their attention and growled at them and walked out of the room. He stopped at the doorway and turned to look at them. Legolas saw what the dog was implying.
"He wants us to leave," he told Aragorn.
The King of Gondor shook his head. "That is a very intelligent dog. I've never seen its like."
"I agree," said Legolas.
"The lady should never know that this happened."
Legolas nodded and acknowledged that fact. Dae growled and began to walk down the hall.
The glanced at each other, and followed Dae out of the room. Aragorn closed the door softly behind himself, leaving Meryl with her haunting dreams.
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So, what did you think? Press the little blue button in the corner and tell me. And for you lovely silent readers: PLEASE REVIEW!! And remember, flames will be used for the campfire back at camp. –glances at Lij- Right Lij? –Lij is roasting a marshmallow over a flame that Leo had received for her Yu Yu Hakusho fic-