Well... now that the prologue is done, and I have (hopefully) hooked you guys onto my story... I shall continue. Oh... and for those of you who don't know who Nimrodel is... well... read... The Fellowship of the Ring, book two, chapter 6 (Lothlorien), page 355 (in my book...)
Pixie: do they care?
Ami: one person thought they recognised the name
Pixie: yeah well... ur idea was jus... screwed.
Ami: i know =D oh, and this time, after awhile, dere'll be Pippin's POV too... oh, and does anyone know what color Merry's eyes are?
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A Little Blood to See a Friend... isn't Much.
-
It had been a little less then five years since Nimrodel saw Pippin on the hill. She saw him three or four more times after that, and then she had left the Shire. She didn't want to burden the young hobbit, and soon enough, he had been going around talking about his 'new friend'.
As she thought, everyone thought that she was some imaginary friend that he made up. So she left. He had probably forgotten her... which would of been a good thing for him.
So here she stood... standing at the top of the hills... looking down at the Great Smials. Sighing, she sat down, and let her golden locks drift over her shoulder.
Just a few inches below her shoulders, they turned as black as the midnight sky, and were streaked with deep reds. That had slowly happened as black magic started to consume her... control her...
But now she was under control... there was only one thing left that had to be done before her hair and the mark on her shoulder were the only scars marking that she had ever been evil...
But she dared not think of the destruction of the Ring. It would prove no good at all to hope for something that could never happened...
She had felt the ring many times. It was in the hands of a hobbit in the Shire... the reason why she had first come there actually.
She had spoken to him once. His name was Bilbo. He had put the ring on... Nimrodel had warned him to take it off, and to not wear it too often. Needless to say, he heeded the warning, if only slightly. He didn't wear it as much, and she never had chance to speak to him again.
But here she was... looking down at the Great Smials...
Then she heard voices far off, behind her. She turned her head, and saw Pippin, taller then he was before, and smilling, running away from Merry. They were both laughing, and running as fast as they could.
Nimrodel stood up and stepped out of their way as they ran, and then followed them. Merry caught up to Pippin near some trees, and tackled the smaller hobbit. With an 'eep!' they both fell to thr ground, and Merry started tickling him, until Pippin was scream and laughing, and couldn't breathe.
Nimrodel watched, leaning on a tree. Over the past year, she had learned to distinquish one shadow from another a little better then before, and though her sight was still has shadowy as ever, the picture was clearer.
She smiled a little, and then heard Pippin's mother, Eglantine, calling them. They did not hear her. After another call, Eglantine came out, and called them again. They snapped up, sitting on the grass and smiled up at her.
"Look at you two!" She yelled at them. "Grass stains and everything! I thought that you wanted to go to Cousin Frodo's Peregrin!"
"I do Mum!" Pippin pouted cutely. "I'm sorry..."
"And you," then she rounded to Merry. "I told you to make sure that he didn't get dirty before tea!"
"I'm sorry Aunty Eglantine..." Merry bowed his head.
"Don't worry..." Eglantine sighed. "Your only a Teenager, and Pippin is only a child... but you had both smarten up when your older!"
"Yes Mum!" Pippin nodded.
"Yes Aunty Eglantine," Merry nodded as well.
"Good..." Eglantine sighed. "Well... go get cleaned up and then come down for Tea." With that, she went back inside. Pippin and Merry didn't move yet, instead, collasped onto the grass and looked up at the clouds.
"Will I really have to smarten up?" Pippin asked cutely.
"Yes Pip," Merry answered. "It's different being a teenager... I'm possitive that It'll be even worse when I'm a Tweenager..."
"I don't wanna grow up," Pippin sat up again, and scowled.
"Neither do I Pip," Merry laughed. "If I could have it my way, you and I could be young forever, always making mischief together."
"Really Merry?" Pippin looked down at him.
"Really really," Merry smiled, and sat up too. "Now... let's go back inside."
"Alright," before Merry could stand up, Pippin leaned forwards, and kissed him on the cheek. "Race ya!" And then he was off like a shot.
Nimrodel stayed behind, watching as Merry sat there, and slowly his hand went up to his cheek.
"He's just a kid..." she heard him muttering to himself. "He doesn't know what he just did... he had no clue what he's doing at all..." And with that said, he stood up, and walked in at a much slower pace inside.
Nimrodel followed closely, but headed to Pippin's room once she was inside. She first looked both ways, to make sure no one was there, and then knocked softly.
"Just a minute!" A voice called within. The door opened to reveal Pippin, who looked confused as he looked down the hallway, and then smiled. "Nimrodel?"
"Tis I," Nimrodel said soflty.
"Come in!" he moved to the side. Nimrodel walked it, and stood in the corner. "It have been awhile since you last came!" He said as he closed the door. "I was begining to think that you had forgotten about me."
"You have grown up so much yet so little in the past year," Nimrodel said with a smile. Pippin smiled too.
"Yes," Pippin nodded. "But I have to be good... today is my birthday! And if I'm good, then Mum is going to let Merry take me to Cousin Frodo's house."
"What a wonderful present..." Nimrodel whispered. "I fear I don't have a present for you."
"That's alright," Pippin smiled. "But I have to get ready for the party! You must stay! A nice party it shall be. My sisters promised to dance with me."
"I will stay," Nimrodel nodded, though he could not see. "But no one can see me."
"Oh you always say that," Pippin said, as he fumbled through some clothes. "People can still HEAR you..."
"Not if I don't want them too," Nimrodel said simply.
Pippin didn't answer that.
-
Nimrodel stood in a corner of the room, watching everything. Her keen hearing could pick up every wood that she wished, but she wished not to hear anything. Then Pippin sat down beside her, knowing that she would be there.
"I want Merry..." he said softly. "He's the only one around here that isn't boring... no offence 'Ro'." he used a nickname he had given her. Nimrodel smiled a little, and looked around the room. She found Merry dancing with young Melilot Brandybuck.
"He's dancing," Nimrodel answered simply. "Would you like to go for a walk amung the stars?"
"Sure," Pippin smiled, and then stood up. "Not like they's notice I'm gone. Not like this party was thrown for ME or anything..." Nimrodel sighed, and followed him. Once they were outside wondering the grasses, she spoke again.
"I did not know it was in your custom to kiss another when parting," Pippin blushed a little.
"You saw dat?" Pippin looked down, and Nimrodel smiled, knowing he was probably blushing.
"Well?" Nimrodel continued to ask. Pippin looked away.
"Um... well, er, you see... no...?" He refused to look at her. "Why is your voice like that?"
Nimrodel blinked a few times. It took her a minute or two just to resgister the questions, let alone understand why he was suddenly changing the subject.
"Like what?" She asked finally. Pippin jumped a little, not expecting her to answer.
"All... well... shadowy and muffled and everything," Pippin shrugged a little, and finally looked up at her. Nimrodel stopped and stood where she was.
'Shadowy?' She thought to herself. 'Muffled?' She looked down at him, and then tried to think about all the differences about her and him. 'He's a hobbit... I'm an elf... he's pure and innocent... I'm innocent, but I've been tainted...' Then a thought hit her. 'I'm faded... he's not...'
"It's complecated," Nimrodel said at a length.
"Well... tell me," Pippin said, sticking his chin up a little, looking up at her.
"I'm... not completely part of your world..." she said slowly.
"Okay... that is complecated..." Pippin blinked a few times. "How do I become part of your world?"
"Wh-what?" Nimrodel stared at him.
"How do I become part of your world," he said again. "It would be nice to hear you properly."
Nimrodel thought of the ring.
'It would be easy to manipulate hi- NO! That is NOT you thinking... that is the ring... I thought I gained control long ago...' she took a breathe.
"I don't think it's wise-" She started.
"Do you know a way?" he asked. Nimrodel bit her tongue, and forcing the ring out of her mind. One or two dark spells came to mind... mostly performed on those bleeding to death, but... maybe she could alter them a little?
"Maybe..." she bit her tongue a little. "But... it's dangerous..."
"Oh well," Pippin shrugged. "I don't care..." Nimrodel bit her lip harder, until she tasted blood. "Please? For my birthday?" Nimrodel sighed, and sat down silently.
"It will hurt..." Pippin looked suddenly down, not knowing she had sat down.
"So?" Nimrodel could imagine a puppy dog look she was probably recieving.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Nimrodel said simply.
"I'll be fine!" Pippin pleaded, and plopped down as well. Nimrodel looked at the blades of grass...
She could still taste blood.
"Fine..." she sighed. "I'll be back in a few minutes, alright?"
"Alright," Pippin nodded, and Nimrodel stood up. She walked back silently to the Great Smials, and then went to the kitchen. She looked both ways down the hall way first, and then put her ear to the door, and closed her eyes to listen.
No one was inside.
Opening the door, she checked around quickly, before entering. Seeing there wasn't anyone there, she looked around the room quickly. She found some salt, a rag, and a sharp knife... she got the rag wet, and then left the kitchen.
She had to stop and step behind the door when two hobbits walked in. She put the salt, rag and knife up her sleave, and looked at them.
"I wonder where the birthday boy got to?" One of them asked.
"Who cares?" the other said. "He'll turn up sooner or later... he's probably just doing another one of his pranks. He wouldn't miss his own party after all."
Anything else that they said, Nimrodel didn't hear. She slipped out quietly, and started down the halls. Before, she hadn't seen a soul... now she was running into hobbits left and right. A few were drunk, and several couples seemed to be heading to back rooms... Nimrodel passed by them, being silent, though most of the time she was sure that they wouldn't notice if she banged pots and pans in their ears...
Then she came across Merry...
He was struggling a little, but it was hard to tell since he was kissing someone... that someone being Everard Took. Nimrodel was a little shocked, and stopped dead. A hobbit lad kissing another hobbit lad? Yes... she had HEARD of boys kissing other boys, but she had never seen it.
Merry finally pushed Everard away, and glared at him.
"For the millionth time, NO," Merry glared at him.
"Come ON Merry!" Everard took a step towards him, and Merry stepped back, bumping into the wall. "You know it was an accident..." Merry glared at him more. Everard started leaning in for another kiss...
Nimrodel knew how much Pippin respected Merry... Merry was, after all, Pippin's best friend. And Merry didn't like that situation. So, she closed her eyes, and muttered a few dark, evil words. A light mist appeared... but with the lighted halls, it was barely noticable, and set aside as being too drunk.
"Merry!!" She called, throwing her voice slightly; it wasn't nessisary. Her words had been chosen carefully, and her voice sounded like Pippin's. She remembered when she had been tricked to immitate voices... she had thought it was a game... she didn't know people had died... "Merry! Where are you!"
"Comming Pip!" Merry looked visibly relieved to have an excuse to leave. "Sorry Everard... I've got to go." With that, he ran down the hall to where he thought he heard Pippin. Nimrodel watched Everard for a moment, and saw him start to follow Merry slowly. Nimrodel paid them no mind, and started to head down another hall to where Pippin was waiting for her outside...
Upon arriving, she sat down next to him, and chuckled a little at his huddled form, rubbing his arms. He snapped up at the slight sound, and then looked back down again, mumbling.
"Hearing things again..."
"Is that so?" She asked; he jumped, startled, and Nimrodel knew that his face was probably white.
"Don't scare me like that!" He snapped at her.
"Sorry," Nimrodel smiled. "Now... are you sure you wish to do this?"
"Yes," Pippin nodded.
"Alright..." Nimrodel sighed. "Lay down, it will be easier for you." Pippin nodded, and laid down. "Now... where do you want your mark?"
"M-mark?" he sounded a little afraid now.
"Yes," Nimrodel nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her. "Your mark... where do you want it?"
"Um..." Pippin bit his lip, but untucked and pulled up the front of his shirt, revealing his hip. "There I guess... no body will see it there."
Nimrodel nodded, and made a circle of salt, upon which she placed the knife in. She then placed the rag on Pippin's forhead, incase he needed it. She made sure it covered his eyes, and then looked down at the knife.
She leaned down over it, and started to whisper harsh, silent words in the black tongue, over and over again, slowly, ever so slowly, getting nearer...
Finally, she got near enough that her lips just brushed over the tip steel of the blade... she paused her chanting for a moment, and let her tongue dart out, still droughted with her blood from earlier, and tainting the blade red. Then, sitting up, she continued to murmur the evil enchantment...
She picked up the knife, and then poised it at Pippin's hip. Giving him no warning, she started to carve and iraticate design there. Pippin yelled out a little, but then clamped down on his own hand to stop himself. His breathing was ragid and uneven, and Nimrodel had to force herself to continue, reminding herself that he wanted this...
The blade was slowly turning black and evil, and as it did so, the darkness flowed into the blood... she hoped that she could finish the design before too much had spilled.
Controlling her breathing, she lifted the dagger for a moment, and then started to twist it on the skin, making little holes going around and around... There were many of them, and of different sizes.
Once she was done them all, she went onto the last part, still ever chanting.
Lying the blade flate against his skin, she pushed it down until itsliced through... then dragging it along, she removed the bit of skin that she had drawn on...
The skin she immediately removed, and placed on the salt. She took more salt, and put it all over the wound, still muttering, this time something different...
"Pippin!" Nimrodel froze... she was done now, so it didn't matter. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Merry, shocked. He was looking at Pippin, who wasn't looking back up. "Pippin!!" He ran up to Pippin, and Nimrodel had to move out of the way.
Merry fell to his knees, and looked him over. More preciesly, the wound over. Grabbing the rag off of Pippin's eyes, he pressed it to the wound; Pippin flinched, and opened his eyes.
"Merry?" he whispered, removing his hand from his mouth; it had reddish purple teeth marks on it.
"Why did you do this Pippin?" He asked, still applying pressure to the wound.
"I didn't do it," Pippin answered. "I asked Nimrodel to... I just wanted to hear her properly for my birthday."
"You still on about Nimrodel!" Merry glared at him a little. "She's imaginary Pippin! She's not real!"
"Real or not..." Pippin yawned a little, and even curled into Merry's touch; this amused Nimrodel slightly: he was in pain, yet he showed affection. "At least she cares..."
Then he drifted off to sleep...
"I care Pip..." Nimrodel heard Merry whisper. "More then you'll ever know..."
Then he picked up Pippin, and started to carry him back to his room... Nimrodel quickly said a burning spell for the skin, and followed.
-
Pippin awoke the next morning to burning light and sheering pain. He bit his lip, and rolled over onto his pillow, and cried out into it, until the pain resided. Then he pushed himself up onto his hands. He watched the sweat dripping off of his dark auburn curls onto the sheet, until the moisture was heavy enough to fall. Then he whipped it back.
"I was having the nicest dream too..." he muttered, and sat up right.
"About what?" He jumped a little; not because of the voice. He had heard the voice many times, and knew it was Nimrodel. He jumped because it was so much clearer now... Looking up, he saw a maiden on the end of his bed, sitting there, looking at him.
"Nimrodel?" he blinked a few times, and rubbed his eyes. "Is that you?"
"Yes," she smiled at him. "You know... you look much better in color then you do in shadow."
"Does this mean I'm part of your world now?" he asked, smiling.
"Maybe," Nimrodel said with a little smile. "But then you can't live with Merry." Pippin paled; life without Merry?
Then Nimrodel laughed.
"What's so funny!" Pippin asked her.
"Your expression," she smiled at him warmly. "Did you think that I was serious? No... you are not a part of my world, not enough of the magic went into you. But you can see into my world at will... I can teach you to see it at will in time."
"What else might I see?" he asked.
"Well..." Nimrodel's expression went sober. "For the moment, your vision might change suddenly from color to deep shadows and faint lights. Don't be alarmed if that happens... and expecially don't let people know. You'll get used to it. Until you learn how to see at will, you'll see the shadows a lot."
"Is that all?" Pippin asked, blinking.
"No..." Nimrodel said slowly. "But... its not likely that you'll see anything else other then me and shadows."
"Alright..." Pippin smiled a little. Then the door opened. Nimrodel put a finger to her lips, stood up and walked over to the shadows. Pippin looked to the door to see Merry... he was in a mixture of colors and shadows, but he could still see his stunning blue eyes as beautiful as ever...
"Peregrin," he said in a serious tone, and the smile disappeared from Pippin's lips. "What were you thinking!"
"What do you mean?" Pippin asked innocently. The ammount of colors and shadows changed constantly, until Merry was completely shadows... except for his eyes.
"You cut yourself!" Merry said in a hushed tone, as if someone might be listening; he was quiet right, but he didn't know that.
"I told you I didn't," Pippin said simply.
"Stop it with the stupid fairy tale!" Merry demanded. "Nimrodel is NOT real! Now... WHY did you do it?"
"You wouldn't believe me," Pippin looked away from him.
"Pip... look at me..." Merry said in a softer voice, sitting down on the bed and raising his head to look at him. "Please tell me?"
"I told you the reason," Pippin said. "And it's not like I was trying to kill myself... I completely trusted Nimrodel."
"And who is Nimrodel?" Merry asked a little harshly. "Does she where a black cape and go around trying to pursue people into dying willingly? What about ME? Don't cha trust me?"
"I trust you Merry," Pippin said. "And Nimrodel wears white. She doesn't pursue people to die willingly."
"I give up..." Merry sighed. "Just promise you won't do something so foolish again, okay?"
"Okay," Pippin smiled. "I promise."
"Good..." Merry ran his hand through his bangs. "You gave me quiet a scare, you know that?" Pippin shook his head. Merry smiled a little, and ruffled his hair, and then placed a kiss on his brow. "Get some rest... I told you mother and everyone else that you snuck into the wine cellar..." Pippin groaned a little, and knew he was going to get a lecture, but let himself fall backwards. Merry smiled at him fondly, and left.
When Pippin opened his eyes again to find Nimrodel, she was gone.
Pixie: do they care?
Ami: one person thought they recognised the name
Pixie: yeah well... ur idea was jus... screwed.
Ami: i know =D oh, and this time, after awhile, dere'll be Pippin's POV too... oh, and does anyone know what color Merry's eyes are?
-
A Little Blood to See a Friend... isn't Much.
-
It had been a little less then five years since Nimrodel saw Pippin on the hill. She saw him three or four more times after that, and then she had left the Shire. She didn't want to burden the young hobbit, and soon enough, he had been going around talking about his 'new friend'.
As she thought, everyone thought that she was some imaginary friend that he made up. So she left. He had probably forgotten her... which would of been a good thing for him.
So here she stood... standing at the top of the hills... looking down at the Great Smials. Sighing, she sat down, and let her golden locks drift over her shoulder.
Just a few inches below her shoulders, they turned as black as the midnight sky, and were streaked with deep reds. That had slowly happened as black magic started to consume her... control her...
But now she was under control... there was only one thing left that had to be done before her hair and the mark on her shoulder were the only scars marking that she had ever been evil...
But she dared not think of the destruction of the Ring. It would prove no good at all to hope for something that could never happened...
She had felt the ring many times. It was in the hands of a hobbit in the Shire... the reason why she had first come there actually.
She had spoken to him once. His name was Bilbo. He had put the ring on... Nimrodel had warned him to take it off, and to not wear it too often. Needless to say, he heeded the warning, if only slightly. He didn't wear it as much, and she never had chance to speak to him again.
But here she was... looking down at the Great Smials...
Then she heard voices far off, behind her. She turned her head, and saw Pippin, taller then he was before, and smilling, running away from Merry. They were both laughing, and running as fast as they could.
Nimrodel stood up and stepped out of their way as they ran, and then followed them. Merry caught up to Pippin near some trees, and tackled the smaller hobbit. With an 'eep!' they both fell to thr ground, and Merry started tickling him, until Pippin was scream and laughing, and couldn't breathe.
Nimrodel watched, leaning on a tree. Over the past year, she had learned to distinquish one shadow from another a little better then before, and though her sight was still has shadowy as ever, the picture was clearer.
She smiled a little, and then heard Pippin's mother, Eglantine, calling them. They did not hear her. After another call, Eglantine came out, and called them again. They snapped up, sitting on the grass and smiled up at her.
"Look at you two!" She yelled at them. "Grass stains and everything! I thought that you wanted to go to Cousin Frodo's Peregrin!"
"I do Mum!" Pippin pouted cutely. "I'm sorry..."
"And you," then she rounded to Merry. "I told you to make sure that he didn't get dirty before tea!"
"I'm sorry Aunty Eglantine..." Merry bowed his head.
"Don't worry..." Eglantine sighed. "Your only a Teenager, and Pippin is only a child... but you had both smarten up when your older!"
"Yes Mum!" Pippin nodded.
"Yes Aunty Eglantine," Merry nodded as well.
"Good..." Eglantine sighed. "Well... go get cleaned up and then come down for Tea." With that, she went back inside. Pippin and Merry didn't move yet, instead, collasped onto the grass and looked up at the clouds.
"Will I really have to smarten up?" Pippin asked cutely.
"Yes Pip," Merry answered. "It's different being a teenager... I'm possitive that It'll be even worse when I'm a Tweenager..."
"I don't wanna grow up," Pippin sat up again, and scowled.
"Neither do I Pip," Merry laughed. "If I could have it my way, you and I could be young forever, always making mischief together."
"Really Merry?" Pippin looked down at him.
"Really really," Merry smiled, and sat up too. "Now... let's go back inside."
"Alright," before Merry could stand up, Pippin leaned forwards, and kissed him on the cheek. "Race ya!" And then he was off like a shot.
Nimrodel stayed behind, watching as Merry sat there, and slowly his hand went up to his cheek.
"He's just a kid..." she heard him muttering to himself. "He doesn't know what he just did... he had no clue what he's doing at all..." And with that said, he stood up, and walked in at a much slower pace inside.
Nimrodel followed closely, but headed to Pippin's room once she was inside. She first looked both ways, to make sure no one was there, and then knocked softly.
"Just a minute!" A voice called within. The door opened to reveal Pippin, who looked confused as he looked down the hallway, and then smiled. "Nimrodel?"
"Tis I," Nimrodel said soflty.
"Come in!" he moved to the side. Nimrodel walked it, and stood in the corner. "It have been awhile since you last came!" He said as he closed the door. "I was begining to think that you had forgotten about me."
"You have grown up so much yet so little in the past year," Nimrodel said with a smile. Pippin smiled too.
"Yes," Pippin nodded. "But I have to be good... today is my birthday! And if I'm good, then Mum is going to let Merry take me to Cousin Frodo's house."
"What a wonderful present..." Nimrodel whispered. "I fear I don't have a present for you."
"That's alright," Pippin smiled. "But I have to get ready for the party! You must stay! A nice party it shall be. My sisters promised to dance with me."
"I will stay," Nimrodel nodded, though he could not see. "But no one can see me."
"Oh you always say that," Pippin said, as he fumbled through some clothes. "People can still HEAR you..."
"Not if I don't want them too," Nimrodel said simply.
Pippin didn't answer that.
-
Nimrodel stood in a corner of the room, watching everything. Her keen hearing could pick up every wood that she wished, but she wished not to hear anything. Then Pippin sat down beside her, knowing that she would be there.
"I want Merry..." he said softly. "He's the only one around here that isn't boring... no offence 'Ro'." he used a nickname he had given her. Nimrodel smiled a little, and looked around the room. She found Merry dancing with young Melilot Brandybuck.
"He's dancing," Nimrodel answered simply. "Would you like to go for a walk amung the stars?"
"Sure," Pippin smiled, and then stood up. "Not like they's notice I'm gone. Not like this party was thrown for ME or anything..." Nimrodel sighed, and followed him. Once they were outside wondering the grasses, she spoke again.
"I did not know it was in your custom to kiss another when parting," Pippin blushed a little.
"You saw dat?" Pippin looked down, and Nimrodel smiled, knowing he was probably blushing.
"Well?" Nimrodel continued to ask. Pippin looked away.
"Um... well, er, you see... no...?" He refused to look at her. "Why is your voice like that?"
Nimrodel blinked a few times. It took her a minute or two just to resgister the questions, let alone understand why he was suddenly changing the subject.
"Like what?" She asked finally. Pippin jumped a little, not expecting her to answer.
"All... well... shadowy and muffled and everything," Pippin shrugged a little, and finally looked up at her. Nimrodel stopped and stood where she was.
'Shadowy?' She thought to herself. 'Muffled?' She looked down at him, and then tried to think about all the differences about her and him. 'He's a hobbit... I'm an elf... he's pure and innocent... I'm innocent, but I've been tainted...' Then a thought hit her. 'I'm faded... he's not...'
"It's complecated," Nimrodel said at a length.
"Well... tell me," Pippin said, sticking his chin up a little, looking up at her.
"I'm... not completely part of your world..." she said slowly.
"Okay... that is complecated..." Pippin blinked a few times. "How do I become part of your world?"
"Wh-what?" Nimrodel stared at him.
"How do I become part of your world," he said again. "It would be nice to hear you properly."
Nimrodel thought of the ring.
'It would be easy to manipulate hi- NO! That is NOT you thinking... that is the ring... I thought I gained control long ago...' she took a breathe.
"I don't think it's wise-" She started.
"Do you know a way?" he asked. Nimrodel bit her tongue, and forcing the ring out of her mind. One or two dark spells came to mind... mostly performed on those bleeding to death, but... maybe she could alter them a little?
"Maybe..." she bit her tongue a little. "But... it's dangerous..."
"Oh well," Pippin shrugged. "I don't care..." Nimrodel bit her lip harder, until she tasted blood. "Please? For my birthday?" Nimrodel sighed, and sat down silently.
"It will hurt..." Pippin looked suddenly down, not knowing she had sat down.
"So?" Nimrodel could imagine a puppy dog look she was probably recieving.
"I don't want you to get hurt," Nimrodel said simply.
"I'll be fine!" Pippin pleaded, and plopped down as well. Nimrodel looked at the blades of grass...
She could still taste blood.
"Fine..." she sighed. "I'll be back in a few minutes, alright?"
"Alright," Pippin nodded, and Nimrodel stood up. She walked back silently to the Great Smials, and then went to the kitchen. She looked both ways down the hall way first, and then put her ear to the door, and closed her eyes to listen.
No one was inside.
Opening the door, she checked around quickly, before entering. Seeing there wasn't anyone there, she looked around the room quickly. She found some salt, a rag, and a sharp knife... she got the rag wet, and then left the kitchen.
She had to stop and step behind the door when two hobbits walked in. She put the salt, rag and knife up her sleave, and looked at them.
"I wonder where the birthday boy got to?" One of them asked.
"Who cares?" the other said. "He'll turn up sooner or later... he's probably just doing another one of his pranks. He wouldn't miss his own party after all."
Anything else that they said, Nimrodel didn't hear. She slipped out quietly, and started down the halls. Before, she hadn't seen a soul... now she was running into hobbits left and right. A few were drunk, and several couples seemed to be heading to back rooms... Nimrodel passed by them, being silent, though most of the time she was sure that they wouldn't notice if she banged pots and pans in their ears...
Then she came across Merry...
He was struggling a little, but it was hard to tell since he was kissing someone... that someone being Everard Took. Nimrodel was a little shocked, and stopped dead. A hobbit lad kissing another hobbit lad? Yes... she had HEARD of boys kissing other boys, but she had never seen it.
Merry finally pushed Everard away, and glared at him.
"For the millionth time, NO," Merry glared at him.
"Come ON Merry!" Everard took a step towards him, and Merry stepped back, bumping into the wall. "You know it was an accident..." Merry glared at him more. Everard started leaning in for another kiss...
Nimrodel knew how much Pippin respected Merry... Merry was, after all, Pippin's best friend. And Merry didn't like that situation. So, she closed her eyes, and muttered a few dark, evil words. A light mist appeared... but with the lighted halls, it was barely noticable, and set aside as being too drunk.
"Merry!!" She called, throwing her voice slightly; it wasn't nessisary. Her words had been chosen carefully, and her voice sounded like Pippin's. She remembered when she had been tricked to immitate voices... she had thought it was a game... she didn't know people had died... "Merry! Where are you!"
"Comming Pip!" Merry looked visibly relieved to have an excuse to leave. "Sorry Everard... I've got to go." With that, he ran down the hall to where he thought he heard Pippin. Nimrodel watched Everard for a moment, and saw him start to follow Merry slowly. Nimrodel paid them no mind, and started to head down another hall to where Pippin was waiting for her outside...
Upon arriving, she sat down next to him, and chuckled a little at his huddled form, rubbing his arms. He snapped up at the slight sound, and then looked back down again, mumbling.
"Hearing things again..."
"Is that so?" She asked; he jumped, startled, and Nimrodel knew that his face was probably white.
"Don't scare me like that!" He snapped at her.
"Sorry," Nimrodel smiled. "Now... are you sure you wish to do this?"
"Yes," Pippin nodded.
"Alright..." Nimrodel sighed. "Lay down, it will be easier for you." Pippin nodded, and laid down. "Now... where do you want your mark?"
"M-mark?" he sounded a little afraid now.
"Yes," Nimrodel nodded, forgetting he couldn't see her. "Your mark... where do you want it?"
"Um..." Pippin bit his lip, but untucked and pulled up the front of his shirt, revealing his hip. "There I guess... no body will see it there."
Nimrodel nodded, and made a circle of salt, upon which she placed the knife in. She then placed the rag on Pippin's forhead, incase he needed it. She made sure it covered his eyes, and then looked down at the knife.
She leaned down over it, and started to whisper harsh, silent words in the black tongue, over and over again, slowly, ever so slowly, getting nearer...
Finally, she got near enough that her lips just brushed over the tip steel of the blade... she paused her chanting for a moment, and let her tongue dart out, still droughted with her blood from earlier, and tainting the blade red. Then, sitting up, she continued to murmur the evil enchantment...
She picked up the knife, and then poised it at Pippin's hip. Giving him no warning, she started to carve and iraticate design there. Pippin yelled out a little, but then clamped down on his own hand to stop himself. His breathing was ragid and uneven, and Nimrodel had to force herself to continue, reminding herself that he wanted this...
The blade was slowly turning black and evil, and as it did so, the darkness flowed into the blood... she hoped that she could finish the design before too much had spilled.
Controlling her breathing, she lifted the dagger for a moment, and then started to twist it on the skin, making little holes going around and around... There were many of them, and of different sizes.
Once she was done them all, she went onto the last part, still ever chanting.
Lying the blade flate against his skin, she pushed it down until itsliced through... then dragging it along, she removed the bit of skin that she had drawn on...
The skin she immediately removed, and placed on the salt. She took more salt, and put it all over the wound, still muttering, this time something different...
"Pippin!" Nimrodel froze... she was done now, so it didn't matter. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Merry, shocked. He was looking at Pippin, who wasn't looking back up. "Pippin!!" He ran up to Pippin, and Nimrodel had to move out of the way.
Merry fell to his knees, and looked him over. More preciesly, the wound over. Grabbing the rag off of Pippin's eyes, he pressed it to the wound; Pippin flinched, and opened his eyes.
"Merry?" he whispered, removing his hand from his mouth; it had reddish purple teeth marks on it.
"Why did you do this Pippin?" He asked, still applying pressure to the wound.
"I didn't do it," Pippin answered. "I asked Nimrodel to... I just wanted to hear her properly for my birthday."
"You still on about Nimrodel!" Merry glared at him a little. "She's imaginary Pippin! She's not real!"
"Real or not..." Pippin yawned a little, and even curled into Merry's touch; this amused Nimrodel slightly: he was in pain, yet he showed affection. "At least she cares..."
Then he drifted off to sleep...
"I care Pip..." Nimrodel heard Merry whisper. "More then you'll ever know..."
Then he picked up Pippin, and started to carry him back to his room... Nimrodel quickly said a burning spell for the skin, and followed.
-
Pippin awoke the next morning to burning light and sheering pain. He bit his lip, and rolled over onto his pillow, and cried out into it, until the pain resided. Then he pushed himself up onto his hands. He watched the sweat dripping off of his dark auburn curls onto the sheet, until the moisture was heavy enough to fall. Then he whipped it back.
"I was having the nicest dream too..." he muttered, and sat up right.
"About what?" He jumped a little; not because of the voice. He had heard the voice many times, and knew it was Nimrodel. He jumped because it was so much clearer now... Looking up, he saw a maiden on the end of his bed, sitting there, looking at him.
"Nimrodel?" he blinked a few times, and rubbed his eyes. "Is that you?"
"Yes," she smiled at him. "You know... you look much better in color then you do in shadow."
"Does this mean I'm part of your world now?" he asked, smiling.
"Maybe," Nimrodel said with a little smile. "But then you can't live with Merry." Pippin paled; life without Merry?
Then Nimrodel laughed.
"What's so funny!" Pippin asked her.
"Your expression," she smiled at him warmly. "Did you think that I was serious? No... you are not a part of my world, not enough of the magic went into you. But you can see into my world at will... I can teach you to see it at will in time."
"What else might I see?" he asked.
"Well..." Nimrodel's expression went sober. "For the moment, your vision might change suddenly from color to deep shadows and faint lights. Don't be alarmed if that happens... and expecially don't let people know. You'll get used to it. Until you learn how to see at will, you'll see the shadows a lot."
"Is that all?" Pippin asked, blinking.
"No..." Nimrodel said slowly. "But... its not likely that you'll see anything else other then me and shadows."
"Alright..." Pippin smiled a little. Then the door opened. Nimrodel put a finger to her lips, stood up and walked over to the shadows. Pippin looked to the door to see Merry... he was in a mixture of colors and shadows, but he could still see his stunning blue eyes as beautiful as ever...
"Peregrin," he said in a serious tone, and the smile disappeared from Pippin's lips. "What were you thinking!"
"What do you mean?" Pippin asked innocently. The ammount of colors and shadows changed constantly, until Merry was completely shadows... except for his eyes.
"You cut yourself!" Merry said in a hushed tone, as if someone might be listening; he was quiet right, but he didn't know that.
"I told you I didn't," Pippin said simply.
"Stop it with the stupid fairy tale!" Merry demanded. "Nimrodel is NOT real! Now... WHY did you do it?"
"You wouldn't believe me," Pippin looked away from him.
"Pip... look at me..." Merry said in a softer voice, sitting down on the bed and raising his head to look at him. "Please tell me?"
"I told you the reason," Pippin said. "And it's not like I was trying to kill myself... I completely trusted Nimrodel."
"And who is Nimrodel?" Merry asked a little harshly. "Does she where a black cape and go around trying to pursue people into dying willingly? What about ME? Don't cha trust me?"
"I trust you Merry," Pippin said. "And Nimrodel wears white. She doesn't pursue people to die willingly."
"I give up..." Merry sighed. "Just promise you won't do something so foolish again, okay?"
"Okay," Pippin smiled. "I promise."
"Good..." Merry ran his hand through his bangs. "You gave me quiet a scare, you know that?" Pippin shook his head. Merry smiled a little, and ruffled his hair, and then placed a kiss on his brow. "Get some rest... I told you mother and everyone else that you snuck into the wine cellar..." Pippin groaned a little, and knew he was going to get a lecture, but let himself fall backwards. Merry smiled at him fondly, and left.
When Pippin opened his eyes again to find Nimrodel, she was gone.