Chapter 1 - Ain't Goin' Down 'Til the Sun Comes Up
A/N: IMPORAATNT! If you have not read Book of Blue by Amaya Rayne, the portions with Legolas and Aragorn may not make sense. For those who don't know, Legolas was in love with Blue, whom he called Aluhin. The Elf saw a sword go through Blue's belly and thinks her dead, though she is anything but. Legolas also had an encounter with Black a few years before he knew Blue, where Black had been a prisoner, but escaped by exchanging an Elven guard's life for her freedom. Before she left she gave the guard a scar along the edge of one of his ears where she had burned the skin. Then when Blue was stabbed, Black, or Aegnor as Legolas called her, showed up and took Blue away. Naturally, Legolas has a strong dislike for
Black.
Also, the portion with Legolas and Aragorn was written by Amaya Rayne, and is part of Blue II. I just edited it slightly to fit it in.
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"You!" Legolas' eyes grew wide in recognition of Aragorn's companion. He had not realized fully who she was until now. "You!" he shouted as hatred shown in his eyes and he began striding toward her. Aragorn stepped in his friend's path. The Elf tried to side step him many times until Aragorn held him steady in his place, giving him a stern look. "Why are you protecting her?"
"She is joining us."
"Joining us! Aragorn, what madness has corrupted you?" Legolas' hatred turned to astonishment. "You know what she has done. She is more likely to take the Ring for herself than destroy it!"
"Who wants an inanimate object whispering their name? Too creepy if you ask me," the woman said from behind Aragorn. Legolas' attention turned to her and his brown eyes bored into her.
"She has abilities and knowledge which could aid our quest," Aragorn answered in a calm voice.
"I do not believe this!" Legolas yelled as he stepped back from Aragorn. He looked from the woman to Aragorn and the anger diminished. "Very well, Aragorn. If that is your wish, then so be it. But I bid you a fair journey for I will not join you with that murderer in our company. Aluhin's death is too near to me."
Aragorn's face fell, "Legolas--"
"That, is where you are wrong," the woman spoke. "If you remember, it was not I who killed your bonnie lass, but your father." Legolas showed no changed in expression. "Oh come, now. Could you forget your father's shiny sword sinking into the flesh of her abdomen while you lay out of reach?"
Legolas grimaced and looked like he was going to lose his composure. "But you took her away from me," he whispered. He opened his mouth, but a sob escaped not allowing him to continue. His fight for equanimity was clear, but he did not appear to be succeeding.
"Aye, but -" said the woman. Legolas looked at her, eyes shining with unshed tears and a look of confusion on his face. "She's not dead."
Tears fell from the Elf's eyes. "This is why I cannot travel with you. I cannot listen to your lies. I cannot...every time I look at you I think of her."
"Oh, yes, because I look so much like her," muttered the dark woman.
"The quest cannot have distracted thoughts," Legolas went on. "Forgive me, Aragorn, I bid you a safe and successful journey. I would have followed you into Mordor."
"You still can!" Aragorn yelled, stepping toward Legolas, but Legolas stepped back.
"Nay, I cannot. My heart would not endure, for I do not know if I will live much longer." It was then Aragorn noticed how pale and frail his friend looked. "Farewell, Aragorn son of Arathorn. May the Valar aid you on the quest before you."
"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled.
But he was gone.
"That went well," a voice said from behind Aragorn.
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"Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up; ain't givin' in 'til they get enough. Goin' 'round the world in a pick-up truuuck!"
"Red!" Blue yelled, massaging her temples. "Please, I beg you, just stop singing!"
"Sure," Red said happily. The woman dressed in the red cloak closed her mouth and began to bounce up and down on the bench seat of the wagon. "Hmm hmmm hm hm hm..." she hummed.
"Ugh," Blue groaned as she hung her head in her hands. "Doesn't she ever shut up?"
"No," answered Green.
It was dusk, and the three women were riding down the old dirt path through Mirkwood in a wagon heavy with stolen gold and mead. The woman in green was on the left, driving the two pack horses, Red was bouncing along on the right, happy in her own little world, and Blue was stuck in the middle.
"I wonder what it would be like to meet a Warg," mused Red. "I bet it'd be fun. They're just like giant puppy dogs."
"No, they're not," Blue said, "trust me. They're giant, killing, eating...monsters. Not at all friendly."
"I bet they are," Red went on, "they just have gotten a bad rap is all. You just got to know how to treat them."
"No, it doesn't work that way," Blue insisted.
"You just gotta be nice to 'em. Pet 'em, scratch 'em behind the ears and they'll roll right over," Red continued joyfully. "I bet they're all really cute, cuddly little doggies."
"Have you ever met one?" Blue demanded.
"No..."
"Well I have. And they are not, in any way, cute, cuddly or remotely nice to play with!" Blue said in a raised voice.
"I'm not so sure," Red said.
"No! You can't say that!" Blue yelled.
"Yes I can," Red said matter-of-factly.
"No! You can't!"
"Maybe the one you met was mean, but that doesn't mean they all are."
"Fine! If you ever run into one go right on up to it and scratch it behind the ears! See if I care when it bites your head off."
"Why would it do that?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"About what?"
"Ugh," Blue groaned.
"Ugh? Is that Elvish?" questioned Red.
"No," Blue said, extremely irritated. "Antolle ulua sulrim," she mumbled.
"Oh! Was that Elvish?" said Red excitedly.
"Maybe," Blue muttered.
"What did it mean? Can you teach me Elvish? Black never wants to teach me anything. She says I have the attention span of a gnat," Red rambled. "A gnat's a kind of bug, isn't it? I tried turning into a fruit fly once. When I was really hungry and no one would let me touch the fruit bowl. But then Black tried to squash me. Could you teach me to say 'idiot' in Elvish? Black's always calling me an idiot. She calls me lots of things. Most of the time I don't even know what she's saying, so I just like to think she's complimenting me on my hair. Speaking of hair, there was this really funny thing where..."
"For the love of Arda, shut up already!" Blue yelled.
"Who's Arda?"
"Aaaahhh!" Blue screamed. Red had been going on like this for days without stopping, and Blue's nerves were beginning to fray. She was yanking on her hair and glaring spasmodically at Red. How was it physically possible to talk so fast? How was it possible for one person to be so empty-headed?
Red quickly forgot that she had asked any sort of question and went back to bouncing in her seat and humming some nonsensical bar tune.
Green leaned over and whispered in Blue's ear.
"Perhaps now you understand Black a little bit better."
Blue glanced over at Green, calm and relaxed. "How do you put up with it?" she asked. "You never seem to be bothered by Red's absurdity."
"She has her moments," Green replied, "but she's not a complete air-head. I think that's the only reason Black's put up with her as long as she has."
"How long have you three been together?" asked Blue.
"Well, Black came to me about seven, I think, years ago. She was at the end of her rope with Red. Black kept mumbling about trying to get away from her, but somehow she kept following her."
"I was under the impression that Black organized this entire thing," Blue admitted.
"After a while she began to form a plan, yes, but I got the impression that that was not the way it was in the beginning," Green laughed. "Black was traveling around somewhere, doing only she knows what, when she ran into Red. I don't know the whole story, but apparently when Red was leaving some bar, she tripped and hit her head. Black was the first person she saw when she came to, or the only person that looked familiar when she woke up, something like that. Anyway, Red just started to follow Black around. Black tried as hard as she could, but everywhere she went, Red was there.
"Black eventually discovered everything about Red, and started to get the idea of creating a small band of thieves. She came to me because she wanted someone to dump Red off on when she needed to go out on her own."
"Why on earth did you agree?"
Green shrugged. "I owed her a favor. And I had just lost my ship. It seemed like a good offer at the time."
"Do you ever regret joining Black?"
"I don't think 'regret' is the right word. I miss the ocean at times, of course, but..." she trailed off.
"But what?" Blue insisted.
Green shrugged again. "Nothing."
They were silent for a while. The only sounds came from the wind, crickets, and Red's soft humming.
"There's still something I don't understand," Blue said. "If Black never wanted Red around in the first place, and if Black really can't stand Red, then why were they laughing and singing together when I first met you?"
"I think Black realized that Red isn't so irritating after a few mugs of ale."
A/N: IMPORAATNT! If you have not read Book of Blue by Amaya Rayne, the portions with Legolas and Aragorn may not make sense. For those who don't know, Legolas was in love with Blue, whom he called Aluhin. The Elf saw a sword go through Blue's belly and thinks her dead, though she is anything but. Legolas also had an encounter with Black a few years before he knew Blue, where Black had been a prisoner, but escaped by exchanging an Elven guard's life for her freedom. Before she left she gave the guard a scar along the edge of one of his ears where she had burned the skin. Then when Blue was stabbed, Black, or Aegnor as Legolas called her, showed up and took Blue away. Naturally, Legolas has a strong dislike for
Black.
Also, the portion with Legolas and Aragorn was written by Amaya Rayne, and is part of Blue II. I just edited it slightly to fit it in.
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"You!" Legolas' eyes grew wide in recognition of Aragorn's companion. He had not realized fully who she was until now. "You!" he shouted as hatred shown in his eyes and he began striding toward her. Aragorn stepped in his friend's path. The Elf tried to side step him many times until Aragorn held him steady in his place, giving him a stern look. "Why are you protecting her?"
"She is joining us."
"Joining us! Aragorn, what madness has corrupted you?" Legolas' hatred turned to astonishment. "You know what she has done. She is more likely to take the Ring for herself than destroy it!"
"Who wants an inanimate object whispering their name? Too creepy if you ask me," the woman said from behind Aragorn. Legolas' attention turned to her and his brown eyes bored into her.
"She has abilities and knowledge which could aid our quest," Aragorn answered in a calm voice.
"I do not believe this!" Legolas yelled as he stepped back from Aragorn. He looked from the woman to Aragorn and the anger diminished. "Very well, Aragorn. If that is your wish, then so be it. But I bid you a fair journey for I will not join you with that murderer in our company. Aluhin's death is too near to me."
Aragorn's face fell, "Legolas--"
"That, is where you are wrong," the woman spoke. "If you remember, it was not I who killed your bonnie lass, but your father." Legolas showed no changed in expression. "Oh come, now. Could you forget your father's shiny sword sinking into the flesh of her abdomen while you lay out of reach?"
Legolas grimaced and looked like he was going to lose his composure. "But you took her away from me," he whispered. He opened his mouth, but a sob escaped not allowing him to continue. His fight for equanimity was clear, but he did not appear to be succeeding.
"Aye, but -" said the woman. Legolas looked at her, eyes shining with unshed tears and a look of confusion on his face. "She's not dead."
Tears fell from the Elf's eyes. "This is why I cannot travel with you. I cannot listen to your lies. I cannot...every time I look at you I think of her."
"Oh, yes, because I look so much like her," muttered the dark woman.
"The quest cannot have distracted thoughts," Legolas went on. "Forgive me, Aragorn, I bid you a safe and successful journey. I would have followed you into Mordor."
"You still can!" Aragorn yelled, stepping toward Legolas, but Legolas stepped back.
"Nay, I cannot. My heart would not endure, for I do not know if I will live much longer." It was then Aragorn noticed how pale and frail his friend looked. "Farewell, Aragorn son of Arathorn. May the Valar aid you on the quest before you."
"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled.
But he was gone.
"That went well," a voice said from behind Aragorn.
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"Ain't goin' down 'til the sun comes up; ain't givin' in 'til they get enough. Goin' 'round the world in a pick-up truuuck!"
"Red!" Blue yelled, massaging her temples. "Please, I beg you, just stop singing!"
"Sure," Red said happily. The woman dressed in the red cloak closed her mouth and began to bounce up and down on the bench seat of the wagon. "Hmm hmmm hm hm hm..." she hummed.
"Ugh," Blue groaned as she hung her head in her hands. "Doesn't she ever shut up?"
"No," answered Green.
It was dusk, and the three women were riding down the old dirt path through Mirkwood in a wagon heavy with stolen gold and mead. The woman in green was on the left, driving the two pack horses, Red was bouncing along on the right, happy in her own little world, and Blue was stuck in the middle.
"I wonder what it would be like to meet a Warg," mused Red. "I bet it'd be fun. They're just like giant puppy dogs."
"No, they're not," Blue said, "trust me. They're giant, killing, eating...monsters. Not at all friendly."
"I bet they are," Red went on, "they just have gotten a bad rap is all. You just got to know how to treat them."
"No, it doesn't work that way," Blue insisted.
"You just gotta be nice to 'em. Pet 'em, scratch 'em behind the ears and they'll roll right over," Red continued joyfully. "I bet they're all really cute, cuddly little doggies."
"Have you ever met one?" Blue demanded.
"No..."
"Well I have. And they are not, in any way, cute, cuddly or remotely nice to play with!" Blue said in a raised voice.
"I'm not so sure," Red said.
"No! You can't say that!" Blue yelled.
"Yes I can," Red said matter-of-factly.
"No! You can't!"
"Maybe the one you met was mean, but that doesn't mean they all are."
"Fine! If you ever run into one go right on up to it and scratch it behind the ears! See if I care when it bites your head off."
"Why would it do that?"
"You've got to be kidding me."
"About what?"
"Ugh," Blue groaned.
"Ugh? Is that Elvish?" questioned Red.
"No," Blue said, extremely irritated. "Antolle ulua sulrim," she mumbled.
"Oh! Was that Elvish?" said Red excitedly.
"Maybe," Blue muttered.
"What did it mean? Can you teach me Elvish? Black never wants to teach me anything. She says I have the attention span of a gnat," Red rambled. "A gnat's a kind of bug, isn't it? I tried turning into a fruit fly once. When I was really hungry and no one would let me touch the fruit bowl. But then Black tried to squash me. Could you teach me to say 'idiot' in Elvish? Black's always calling me an idiot. She calls me lots of things. Most of the time I don't even know what she's saying, so I just like to think she's complimenting me on my hair. Speaking of hair, there was this really funny thing where..."
"For the love of Arda, shut up already!" Blue yelled.
"Who's Arda?"
"Aaaahhh!" Blue screamed. Red had been going on like this for days without stopping, and Blue's nerves were beginning to fray. She was yanking on her hair and glaring spasmodically at Red. How was it physically possible to talk so fast? How was it possible for one person to be so empty-headed?
Red quickly forgot that she had asked any sort of question and went back to bouncing in her seat and humming some nonsensical bar tune.
Green leaned over and whispered in Blue's ear.
"Perhaps now you understand Black a little bit better."
Blue glanced over at Green, calm and relaxed. "How do you put up with it?" she asked. "You never seem to be bothered by Red's absurdity."
"She has her moments," Green replied, "but she's not a complete air-head. I think that's the only reason Black's put up with her as long as she has."
"How long have you three been together?" asked Blue.
"Well, Black came to me about seven, I think, years ago. She was at the end of her rope with Red. Black kept mumbling about trying to get away from her, but somehow she kept following her."
"I was under the impression that Black organized this entire thing," Blue admitted.
"After a while she began to form a plan, yes, but I got the impression that that was not the way it was in the beginning," Green laughed. "Black was traveling around somewhere, doing only she knows what, when she ran into Red. I don't know the whole story, but apparently when Red was leaving some bar, she tripped and hit her head. Black was the first person she saw when she came to, or the only person that looked familiar when she woke up, something like that. Anyway, Red just started to follow Black around. Black tried as hard as she could, but everywhere she went, Red was there.
"Black eventually discovered everything about Red, and started to get the idea of creating a small band of thieves. She came to me because she wanted someone to dump Red off on when she needed to go out on her own."
"Why on earth did you agree?"
Green shrugged. "I owed her a favor. And I had just lost my ship. It seemed like a good offer at the time."
"Do you ever regret joining Black?"
"I don't think 'regret' is the right word. I miss the ocean at times, of course, but..." she trailed off.
"But what?" Blue insisted.
Green shrugged again. "Nothing."
They were silent for a while. The only sounds came from the wind, crickets, and Red's soft humming.
"There's still something I don't understand," Blue said. "If Black never wanted Red around in the first place, and if Black really can't stand Red, then why were they laughing and singing together when I first met you?"
"I think Black realized that Red isn't so irritating after a few mugs of ale."