Title: The Road is Destiny
Author: Firefly Lantern
Rating: PG-13 for language and violence

Author Note: [kind of mean, but I'm making a point here] Okay, here it is. I openly admit
I have written a Mary Sue type story ::gasp!::. And you know what? I don't care what any
"Tolkien Purists" have to say about it. Whine all you would like, but please, if you are going to
tell me this story isn't HARDCORE Tolkien or whatever belittling tidbits you'd like to throw my
way, please email me instead of taking up space on the review board. Thankies. ^.^. This story
is for FUN. I am not trying to create a masterpiece in the style of Tolkien, I prefer creativity
and originality to redundancy. Okies? An open mind is a wonderful thing!
Have fun on the journey. Hang in with me here! This chapter gets swinging into a little romance.

Disclaimer: JRR owns the LOTR characters. Any other modern things mentioned here
belong to the makers, etc.

Oh, and P.S. I know not all Elves work for Santa...that's the less-entangling thing to mention.
Thank you for all the positive reviews and constructice suggestions! I was really
expecting an "eew Mary Sue!" back lash. Moonstone-Tears, a Mary Sue is basically a story where
the author SHAMELESSLY self-inserts himself/herself into the story. It's usually to make the
"made up" character appear wonderful and perfect in every way. Hey, I don't think there is
anything wrong with writing stories like that, it's a great ego boost. A person has to be
wary though in letting other people read it, because usually Mary Sues are soooo cheesy
and over done. ^.- I am having a blast writing this story and thinking up things to
put in here... Writing is such great 'therapy'! hee hee. Cheers! Pardon typos... they will
get fixed soon enough.


_The Road is Destiny_


Julie kept mostly to herself as the group made their way onward through the forest. She often lent
a hand to the Hobbits when the terrain became steep or if a fallen tree blocked their way.
Surprisingly, her broom made an excellent walking stick. It was also helpful in shooing annoying
insects from her face.

"That's an odd shirt you're wearing... What kind of material is it?" Pippin poked
at the snuggly-soft sleeve of her black hoodie.

"It's called a hoodie, and it's made out of... fleece. See?" She flipped the flap of material
over her head. "Hoooodie. Kind of like a cloak. But not really."

"I like it."

"Groovy!"

"Groovy?"

"Yes, it's a word you can use to say you like something."

"Groovy!" He tested the new word, loving the way it rolled smoothly from his lips. She placed her
cold hands inside the kangaroo-pouch pocket and marvelled at the awesome engineering of Old Navy
polar fleece. She hummed to herself and watched the scenery as the group sang songs--many many many
songs--to pass the time. They didn't sound half bad, she bemused. She had taken voice lessons since she
was 12 and had a pretty darn good voice since singing was one of her life's passions. As they began a
song about the sun and the sky, a mental picture of Legolas singing LOW bass flashed through her mind.
The Elf's voice was anything but bass... A light barritone perhaps? The thought of him croaking out
a kickin' "Swing low, sweet chariot!" put a quirky smile on her face that wouldn't go away,
even after she covered her mouth to conceal it.

Legolas happened to glance back and see the mischievious smile the young woman was trying to
hide. When he turned his head to look fully at her, her amusement grew. That smile was for him.
Why would she laugh at him? The thought was uncomfortably unsettling.

"Lady Julie, your braclet--" He fell back until they walked side by side. He offered the trinket;
she refused it.

"No, keep it. It belongs to you now."

"Thank you." He blinked and slid it onto his slender wrist. Julie noticed the long, tapered
fingers of his hand. Those were musician hands, the kind which moved mastefully across piano keys
and glided skillfully over strings of a violin. Did he play any instruments? "What did you say
it is made of?"

"Tiger's Eye. It's named after the eyes of a furry beast on Earth. Some people believe wearing
it will help boost courage and deepen perception of things. It's also said to provide protection
for the wearer." She personally thought it was a bunch of fancy talk to get people to buy braclets.

"Thank you." He echoed his gratitude. Her open kindness made him want to smile, but he knew
not what to say. So he said no more. He walked back to Sam who lead Bill the Pony by the reins.
He asked for an apple... The Hobbits laughed and wouldn't give one to him until he said it was
for Julie. He knew they were only teasing... but they found his predicament far too amusing.
"Here?" He returned to her side, tossing a chilled face at Pippin, who stuck out his tongue.

"Oh! An Apple! Thanks! Wait, you didn't have breakfast either. Why don't we share it?
It's big enough."

"Okay." The pride of using an Earth word glowed in blue eyes... Those eyes! Julie
instantly recogized them from her meditation. No no. There was no way... She brushed off the
thought as he used a dagger to slice the apple in twain.

"You have a dagger ... ... ?" Her eyebrow quirked accusingly in reference to the night
before, when he made her believe he only carried a bow and arrow! The nerve! She felt like
hiting him on the shoulder. Good thing he was a man...er sprite? of his word.

"Two, actually." He said nonchalantly and he gave her half of the sweet fruit. Was he
teasing her? She couldn't tell. She murmured her thanks and took a bite.

"Legolas, are you an Elf?" She let her eyes wander to his ears. It was more subtle
than a 'HEY! Yer ears are pointy! H'yuck!'. She didn't want to offend him.

"What do you know of Elves?"

She blushed at the expectant attention he gave her.

"Ah, on Earth, Elves are only a myth. They're legends that only exist in books. I had
*no* idea Elves are so tall! Usually they stand this high," Her hand went to her hip, "And they
wear pointy shoes, have pointed ears, and wear jingle bells. Cute, little jingle bells that sound
like the laughter of children..."

"Pointy shoes?" A dark eyebrow rose in wry disbelief. Oh wow, he was teasing her. She could have
slapped her head at the obviousness.

"Yeah, it's a rough life for them." Don't be offended! Your shoes are non-pointy boots,
and you are taller than me!" Yeah, Julie! Babble some more! Damn, if all Elves resembled
Legolas in the slightest, she was moving to the North Pole when she got home. She had never
seen a person move with the grace and poise which Legolas carried himself. His feet, she
swore, didn't even make the slightest sound when he walked over dry leaves or twigs.
It was wicked cool and yet it made her feel like a noisy clutz in comparison. No wonder he
had been able to sneak up on her so easily... Maybe that's why Elves on Earth wore bells,
so you could hear them coming!

Julie bit off another chunk of apple. It was absolutely delicious, she almost purred.
Extra points for Legolas, she took a mental note. Oh NO! She was starting to develop
a crush on him! She groaned inwardly. Now wasn't the best of times to try and mack out
Middle-Earth. Besides, he probably had a wife or at least a 'lady fair' waiting for him.
She talked herself out of any attraction to him. He had given her an apple slice. And unless
the courting customs of Elves were 'a female accepting an offer of food from a male
was actually promising to marry him' instead of simply accepting a dang piece
of fruit... THEN she would have a reason to spaz out. It was an apple half, not an overture
of love! Woah, girl, chill! She calmed herself. She hadn't had a boyfriend since 6th
grade. That explained her googlie eyes for the nearest attractive, sexy male [it was just Legolas,
but she had to convince herself it wasn't him alone] which paid attention to her,
she snorted in disgust. Outloud. Legolas looked at her suddenly, and
she glanced away so quickly she almost fell over a startled Samwise.

"Woah! Sorry there!" She patted his head. He was a welcomed distraction.

"Are there ponies in Ohio, Miss Julie?"

"Yes, and none are as pretty as Bill." She said in all sincerity. The love Sam had for the animal shone
in his eyes, as well as in the way he proudly carried the reins. The pony snorted as if it
didn't want to be called 'pretty'. Sheesh, boys...

The group continued their travels at a steady yet comfortable pace. To Julie, the forest
was calming, she always liked Nature when big bugs or poisonous snakes weren't involved.
The sun filtered through the canopy like light refracting through the panes of a stained glass
window. Birds sang in short chirps and long warbles, filling the air with happy sounds.
She was beginning to like this world... Almost. The Hobbits sang of their home in the Shire,
it sounded like a lovely place. It sure beat traffic jams and noisly cities.

When asked questions about her home, Julie told them stories about cars, roads, and electricity.
Boy, was she proud she paid attention in science class! She had babbled on about
electrons, neutrons, and atoms to a bunch of blank, glazed faces. They were enthralled yet
so utterly confused. She changed the subject to the weather.

Hours later, after they had walked away the morning and hiked through the afternoon, they
stopped to rest before another stretch of travel.

"Thaaaaank Heaven." Julie sighed, smoothing out a blanket and lying down like *the* queen
of camping out. The Hobbits spread a blanket beside her and Frodo ended up scooching
onto her blanket since four Hobbits were too large to share a single blanket. It was deja vu
all over again. She closed her eyes to rest for a few mintues as Merry and Pippin bickered
over who was entitled to eat the largest apple in the sachel. After several minutes of
hearing them fight, she said, "Why don't you give the largest apple to Bill, since he's the one
who has to carry the bag?"

"Oh! I likes that, I do!" Sam piped up. Julie heard shuffling noises, then a chorus of:

"That's mine!"

"No, MINE!"

"It's Bill's now! Ahaha!"

Forget rest... She was too worked up and restless to try and sleep. She dug into her
purse and found the ultimate boredom buster: an awesome neon blue and orange Nerf Ball of DOOM!
It was the one she stole from Patrick because he kept thowing it at the television when she was
watching a movie a few days ago.

"Hey, guys. Wanna play catch?"

"Catch? Is that where we run and you chase after us, until you can catch us?" Pippin
unclamped his teeth from Merry's arm.

"No! It's where you throw a ball to someone and they catch it, and throw it back to you."
She tossed it into the air and caught it as she spoke.

"Let's play!" Sam cheered. For the next twenty minutes, the five played catch. The soft,
mutant foam skin of the of the ball was pefect for little Hobbit hands. The others were
thankful for a moment's peace, though Gimli finally gave in to their pleas for him to
join in the game. He gruffed and swatted at the ball before he learned how to properly
"snag up a Nerf" as Julie put it.

Laughing, Merry meant to throw the ball to Julie but it wailed over her head and rolled under a
clump of bushes.

"Time out! I'll get it!" She waved them off. She couldn't see over the bush so she bent down
on her hands and knees. Ooooh, shoot, it was really far under there. She stretched her arm
until her shoulder joint ached. It was to no avail. Slightly annoyed though not daunted,
she picked up her broom and used the handle to roll the ball forward until she could reach it.
"Got it!!!" She stood proudly, coming face to chest with an evil-looking creature.
She screamed as it tried to jab at her with a sword. She ducked and used the straw end
of the broom to lance it in the face. The beast wailed in pain as the sharp bits of spiked
straw scratched it's vulnerable eyes. Julie stepped back and cried out as an arrow flung past
her head, hitting the beast directly between the eyes. Hands wrapped around her arms, pulling
her away. Numbly, she saw Sam and Pippin latched onto her elbows.

"We'll protect you, Miss Julie." Sam promised. "Frodo, stay close!"

Frodo at once became the hub of the commotion. He became the immediate center of attention.
They were protecting him, first and foremost. Julie scrambled to her purse and found the small
can of potent pepperspray as more creatures invaded the camp. Aragorn and Boromir used swords.
Gandalf cracked a mean lighting bolt. Legolas carried a bow, arrow, and daggers. Gimli was a
madman with an ax. Even the Hobbits bravely brandished blades. Oh, to have something sick like a
warhammer, she wished. She had a broom and pepperspray! All of her friends who role played would
cackle and scoff at this moment, she thought.

One of the uglies made its way toward Frodo. Instantly, a wall of Hobbits formed, blocking
the path, They were ready to die for the safety of their friend.

"Frodo, behind you!" Sam shouted.

Julie screamed as eight more creatures emerged from the bushes. There were already six here!
Ah! Fourteen of them! She shivered in fear. She felt dizzy and ill, but bit her tongue
and forced herself to get a grip. Pepperspray sprayed up to a distance of ten feet. It would
burn their eyes like molten fire. GOOD.

"Stay away from him!" She yelled as Merry intervened and cut the beast's leg. Unfortunately, her
high-pitched, girlie voice caught the attention of two other nasties. Okay, try this again.
"Back!" She shouted in a voice any warrior princess would be proud of. Of course, it helped
nothing but her ego. They ran for her, their swords poised to battle. "Fie!" She
screamed, letting loose some spray into one of the creature's eyes. She quickly sprayed
the other. It dropped to the ground and thrashed blindly, howling in pain. It's sword
waved an inch or so away from her neck when Frodo jumped on its back and stabbed it until
it lie dead. Go, Frodo, go!

"Thank you!" She swept him into her arms and kissed his cheek. She was so happy to be
alive! In the next instant, she put him down and pushed him behind her as another creature
leapt at Frodo. "Run!" She jabbed at its face with her broom, but it growled and took at
stab at her. She twisted her body sideways to avoid the blade. She watched in horror as it
cut directly through the kangaroo pocket of her hoodie. She felt the blade glide
over and back across her flesh. Oh God, had he cut her? She froze and arched her back,
trying to distance herself from the sword, although it was stuck in her shirt. She cried
out in pain and frustration.

"Julie! NO!" Someone cried, she didn't know who. It felt so far away . A bright flash
sparked and the creature went to fall on her! She used the broom handle to push away its
body. It was too heavy for her keep from toppling over, so she grabbed its hand and pulled
the sword as gently and as quickly as she could. Her own blood stained the metal like rain
sliding down a clear pane of window glass. Oh, damn! The world began to spin violently as she
threw the sword away from her. The creature fell on top of her, pinning her to the ground
under the mass. She gasped for breath, her lungs couldn't expand for air.

"You...suck." She coughed, using her last puff of air to insult the creature.
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