~ An- Carla: Hey hey all! Well, we're back!
Jane: And Niori is still under the delusion that she is queen of the universe
Niori: I AM NOT! I say one thing once, as a slip of the tongue, and you won't let me live it down!
Carla: You're just so fun to annoy
Niori: STOP PICKING ON ME!
Jane: You're the one who hogged the whole last chapter!
Niori: Well sorry! I get this entire one too! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES!
Carla: So we're going to tease you forever!
Niori: If you don't stop I'll sick Elf-boy on you!
Chapter 26
They rode out from the trees ab into Isenguard, which was all ruins and a knee-deep puddle (all except the little part of land on the other side where the ground raised up to a little hill and a deeper portion of water ran below it (An- you will need to know this for later)!).
Just as they entered, Jane looked up and let out a small audible gasp. On a big piece of rock, there sat Merry and Pippin, eating and smoking!
" Welcome my lords and ladies, to Isenguard!" Merry cried out happily, standing up and smiling at them.
" You young rascals!" Gimli cried, his voice full of mock annoyance.
Jane started to laugh. After all this time, they had FINALLY found the two they had started out looking for! Niori and Carla soon joined in with Jane's laughter.
" A fine chase you've led us on!" Gimli continued with a chuckle, " and here you are, feasting and smoking!"
" We are sitting on the field of victory! Enjoying a few well-earned comforts!" Pippin told them all with a laugh.
" I never ever thought I'd say this," Niori said with a small laugh and smile, " but you two are a sight for sore eyes,"
That got a laugh out of Pippin " Those are surprising words coming from your lips, my dear Niori! But they are much welcomed, and the feelings go both ways!"
" Man," Carla laughed, " I thought you two would be a pile of bones by now! Geez, Hobbits are tougher than I thought! Hell, you two are even tougher than Niori! You haven't even been hurt!"
" Hey! I survived didn't I!"
" What happened to you?" Merry asked, his eyebrows tweaking with interest and curiosity when he finally noticed the warp around her stomach.
" She decided to play hero," Legolas answered for her, looking back at Niori with a small smile.
" And it got her stomach cut open," Jane finished simply.
Both Merry and Pippin were silent for a moment, but then Merry spoke.
" Anyway, we are under orders! From Treebeard, who has taken over management for Isenguard!"
Gandalf gave a slight nod, and the riders continued to ride into Isenguard. Merry and Pippin jumped down from their rock and scurried along side them.
Finally, they reached Orthanc tower, and Treebeard was on his way to greet them.
Something shimmering under the water caught Pippin's eyes. He went over to it and pulled the beautiful orange-ish globe out of the water.
He looked at it with wonder filled eyes, and then Gandalf saw he had it, and snatched it away. Gandalf wrapped it in a robe and hid it away in his robes.
Just then, Treebeard arrived, greeting them all with a cheerful 'hello'.
" Welcome to Isenguard my friends!"
" Tell me Treebeard," Gandalf asked as they all dismounted, " what has happened to my old friend Sauraman?"
" Saruman has locked himself in his tower," Treebeard told Gandalf.
" And it is most likely the best place for him," Gandalf replied, " but I must speak with him,"
Gandalf walked up to the giant door and beat on it with his staff.
" That's one hell of a way to knock," Carla muttered under her breath.
" Who is it?" a husky familiar voice asked from inside. It was Wormtongue's voice (which got a growl from both Theoden and Niori).
" Get Saruman!" Gandalf cried. " For you have seemed to become his slave, Wormtongue! Do not waste our time!"
Minutes later, a sweet sounding voice (it only sounded sweet because it was a spell) spoke " Will you give me no peace? Well?"
All of them looked up, from where the voice had come from. There was Sauraman, standing out on a balcony looking down at them.
" Saruman, do not try to cast your spells here!" Gandalf commanded, " Will you not come down?"
A dark shadow fell over Saruman's face " I will not come down Gandalf, for I know I shall be slain! Does an unarmed man come to the door to greet the robbers at the door? NO!"
Gandalf gave a small chuckle " I do not wish to kill you! I am giving you your last chance. Leave Orthanc free-if you choose to,"
Saruman sneered " I would not be free, so I see no reason to leave!"
" We are so going to be here awhile," Niori mumbled and sighed heavily.
Saruman looked down sharply when he heard the girl's quiet voice. He had not yet noticed the three girls, for they had stayed back. He studied them for a moment, and then smirked.
" I never did find out the results of the spell I sent you and your companions. So tell me Gandalf, did you acquire the three women from wherever I sent you?"
Gandalf looked back at the three and then back to Saruman.
" Saruman you fool, your plan to destroy us only caused us aid. You have given us four new allies-fighters from a different world. They have helped defeat your hoards,"
Saruman looked at the three girls and glared.
" I still give you leave to go Saruman, either and your fool of a footer leave now or shall be trapped in this tower for all time,"
Saruman pushed away from the balcony, and minutes later, the door creaked open.
" We come unarmed!" Wormtongue's voice split the air.
" And none shall cause you harm!" Gandalf cried, and Wormtongue, followed by Saruman, exited, " Now go!"
The two turned and fled, but as they passed the three girls, Niori stepped in Wormtongue's path.
" Remember me?" She asked, and then quickly brought her fist into his stomach.
He gasped in pain and almost fell over.
" That is so for calling me a whore!" Niori growled and then turned back to the others, whom were all glaring at her.
" What?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders, " I couldn't resist!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Saruman and Wormtongue were gone, and Gandalf had chosen to let the company rest overnight in the ruins of Orthanc.
Sometime in the night, Niori awoke from a restless sleep and without telling anyone where she was going, strolled around the ruins (ankle deep in water).
Finally, she came to the dry landed place with the river-like body of water running beneath it. A pale crescent moon hung over head, casting an eerie glow over the water.
Shedding her blood stained and dirty clothes and removing the bandage from around her stomach (Aragorn had informed her that the wound was closed thinly, but as long as she didn't put too much strain on it, it would be totally healed in about a week), she slowly edged herself into the water.
Uneasily, she swam around for a while, trying to get the lingering fears from an unremembered nightmare from her mind.
" Are you sure you should be exposing your wound to water?" asked a voice from the land.
Niori's head whipped to the shoreline and she sunk her body deeper into the water. There was Legolas, leaning against a rock and smirking.
" How long have you been there!?" Niori demanded angrily, not wanting a repeat of what had happened last time she had decided to go fro a swim.
" I just arrived,' he smirked, " is this something females from your world do often, swim without their clothes?"
" Well, it's not like I have a bathing suit here!" Niori snapped, " And how do you always show up when I'm skinny-dipping?! Are you slaking me or something?!"
" Defiantly not," Legolas laughed, " it must just be good timing,"
" Whatever," Niori muttered under her breath.
" I've been meaning to ask you," The Elf's smirk grew wider, " Last time he four of you went....skinny-dipping you called it, were you so mad at me afterwards because I saw you without your clothes on, or because I looked at the others?"
Niori's mouth dropped open " you egoistical, stuck up, conceited son of a bitch! I'm not even going to talk to you anymore!" With that, she swam that her back was to him and the shore.
A minute later, there was a low splash, and then Niori felt a hand on her shoulder.
" I'm waiting for an answer!" Legolas's voice, which was right behind her now, spoke amusingly.
Niori turned sharply around and felt a blush travel up her face. Legolas was in the water with her (and with no clothes on!)!
" Am I making you nervous?" Legolas asked her with a smirk, swimming a little closer to her.
Niori had no idea how to answer. Without answering, she splashed water at him.
" Hey!" he cried with a laugh, splashing her back.
Laughing now, Niori continued to slash at him, while treading backwards. After a few moments, they were both shrieking with laughter while they fought a water fight.
Still laughing, Legolas reached out and grabbed Niori's arm in an attempt to stop her from splashing, and pulled her towards him.
Suddenly, both their laughter died as she was pulled only inches away from him. A deathly silence settled over the pair as they stood still and stared into the other's face, uncertainly. There was almost no room between them, and it made both their hearts race.
" Hey Niori!" Carla's voice suddenly ripped through the silence from the tower, " Where are you!?"
" I..." Niori stuttered, breaking away from Legolas's grasp, " I have to go!"
Without another word, she swam towards shore, wrapped a blanket she was using for a towel around her, grabbed her clothes from the shore and rushed back towards the tower.
Filled with confusion, Legolas swam back to shore, re-clothed himself and VERY slowly started to walk back to the tower, praying to the Valar that Niori would already be asleep by the time he got back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As the sun rose, the company got ready to travel again back towards Rohan.
Just as they were mounting, Niori shyly walked over to Legolas, her eyes cast to the ground. Since the night before, neither had spoken or even looked at each other. They were way too embarrassed about what had happened.....or had almost happened.
" Are you ready to mount?" Legolas asked her softly, but Niori cut him off.
" Actually, I'm going to ride with Carla today," Niori spoke, looking up at Legolas, only to see his face fall.
" Oh,"
Without another word, Niori walked away and climbed up behind Carla.
They rode for a while, and then suddenly, as Legolas (Gimli behind him) rode past Niori and Carla, Niori called out to Legolas.
" Legolas!" She cried, causing him to look at her, " It's because you looked at the others, OK!"
Legolas at first looked confused, but then realized what she meant and nodded with a smile before riding past them.
~*~*~**~*~*~***~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~
~An- Carla: Well now...
Jane: That was.......
Carla: Ok, when did Niori become such a slut? Niori *Just coming into the room * what did I miss?
Jane: We were just wondering when you became such a whore?
Niori: I'm not a whore!
Carla: Did you not read the chapter!
Niori: * big blush * Oh...that......
Jane: Yeah that!
Niori: *Whiny voice * I didn't do anything!
Carla: You would have if I hadn't called your name!
Niori: *Under her breath * No comment
Jane: OH MY GOD!
Carla: That was so wrong!
Niori: Just leave me alone! OK! It was his fault! He's the one who snuck up on me!
* Legolas enters the room *
Legolas: You realize that the AN has to be over now right? What are you talking about for so long!
Carla: GET OUT OF HERE YOU STUPID ELF! BEOFRE I KICK YOUR ASS FOR TRYING TO SLEEP WITH MY COUSIN!
Legolas: What?! * Glances over the chapter above * Oh.....
Niori: *Slowly sneaking away while Carla and Jane are screaming at Legolas * Bai bai all! I AM NOT A WHORE BY THE WAY! See you next chapter!
Jane: And Niori is still under the delusion that she is queen of the universe
Niori: I AM NOT! I say one thing once, as a slip of the tongue, and you won't let me live it down!
Carla: You're just so fun to annoy
Niori: STOP PICKING ON ME!
Jane: You're the one who hogged the whole last chapter!
Niori: Well sorry! I get this entire one too! HOW DO YOU LIKE THEM APPLES!
Carla: So we're going to tease you forever!
Niori: If you don't stop I'll sick Elf-boy on you!
Chapter 26
They rode out from the trees ab into Isenguard, which was all ruins and a knee-deep puddle (all except the little part of land on the other side where the ground raised up to a little hill and a deeper portion of water ran below it (An- you will need to know this for later)!).
Just as they entered, Jane looked up and let out a small audible gasp. On a big piece of rock, there sat Merry and Pippin, eating and smoking!
" Welcome my lords and ladies, to Isenguard!" Merry cried out happily, standing up and smiling at them.
" You young rascals!" Gimli cried, his voice full of mock annoyance.
Jane started to laugh. After all this time, they had FINALLY found the two they had started out looking for! Niori and Carla soon joined in with Jane's laughter.
" A fine chase you've led us on!" Gimli continued with a chuckle, " and here you are, feasting and smoking!"
" We are sitting on the field of victory! Enjoying a few well-earned comforts!" Pippin told them all with a laugh.
" I never ever thought I'd say this," Niori said with a small laugh and smile, " but you two are a sight for sore eyes,"
That got a laugh out of Pippin " Those are surprising words coming from your lips, my dear Niori! But they are much welcomed, and the feelings go both ways!"
" Man," Carla laughed, " I thought you two would be a pile of bones by now! Geez, Hobbits are tougher than I thought! Hell, you two are even tougher than Niori! You haven't even been hurt!"
" Hey! I survived didn't I!"
" What happened to you?" Merry asked, his eyebrows tweaking with interest and curiosity when he finally noticed the warp around her stomach.
" She decided to play hero," Legolas answered for her, looking back at Niori with a small smile.
" And it got her stomach cut open," Jane finished simply.
Both Merry and Pippin were silent for a moment, but then Merry spoke.
" Anyway, we are under orders! From Treebeard, who has taken over management for Isenguard!"
Gandalf gave a slight nod, and the riders continued to ride into Isenguard. Merry and Pippin jumped down from their rock and scurried along side them.
Finally, they reached Orthanc tower, and Treebeard was on his way to greet them.
Something shimmering under the water caught Pippin's eyes. He went over to it and pulled the beautiful orange-ish globe out of the water.
He looked at it with wonder filled eyes, and then Gandalf saw he had it, and snatched it away. Gandalf wrapped it in a robe and hid it away in his robes.
Just then, Treebeard arrived, greeting them all with a cheerful 'hello'.
" Welcome to Isenguard my friends!"
" Tell me Treebeard," Gandalf asked as they all dismounted, " what has happened to my old friend Sauraman?"
" Saruman has locked himself in his tower," Treebeard told Gandalf.
" And it is most likely the best place for him," Gandalf replied, " but I must speak with him,"
Gandalf walked up to the giant door and beat on it with his staff.
" That's one hell of a way to knock," Carla muttered under her breath.
" Who is it?" a husky familiar voice asked from inside. It was Wormtongue's voice (which got a growl from both Theoden and Niori).
" Get Saruman!" Gandalf cried. " For you have seemed to become his slave, Wormtongue! Do not waste our time!"
Minutes later, a sweet sounding voice (it only sounded sweet because it was a spell) spoke " Will you give me no peace? Well?"
All of them looked up, from where the voice had come from. There was Sauraman, standing out on a balcony looking down at them.
" Saruman, do not try to cast your spells here!" Gandalf commanded, " Will you not come down?"
A dark shadow fell over Saruman's face " I will not come down Gandalf, for I know I shall be slain! Does an unarmed man come to the door to greet the robbers at the door? NO!"
Gandalf gave a small chuckle " I do not wish to kill you! I am giving you your last chance. Leave Orthanc free-if you choose to,"
Saruman sneered " I would not be free, so I see no reason to leave!"
" We are so going to be here awhile," Niori mumbled and sighed heavily.
Saruman looked down sharply when he heard the girl's quiet voice. He had not yet noticed the three girls, for they had stayed back. He studied them for a moment, and then smirked.
" I never did find out the results of the spell I sent you and your companions. So tell me Gandalf, did you acquire the three women from wherever I sent you?"
Gandalf looked back at the three and then back to Saruman.
" Saruman you fool, your plan to destroy us only caused us aid. You have given us four new allies-fighters from a different world. They have helped defeat your hoards,"
Saruman looked at the three girls and glared.
" I still give you leave to go Saruman, either and your fool of a footer leave now or shall be trapped in this tower for all time,"
Saruman pushed away from the balcony, and minutes later, the door creaked open.
" We come unarmed!" Wormtongue's voice split the air.
" And none shall cause you harm!" Gandalf cried, and Wormtongue, followed by Saruman, exited, " Now go!"
The two turned and fled, but as they passed the three girls, Niori stepped in Wormtongue's path.
" Remember me?" She asked, and then quickly brought her fist into his stomach.
He gasped in pain and almost fell over.
" That is so for calling me a whore!" Niori growled and then turned back to the others, whom were all glaring at her.
" What?" She asked, shrugging her shoulders, " I couldn't resist!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Saruman and Wormtongue were gone, and Gandalf had chosen to let the company rest overnight in the ruins of Orthanc.
Sometime in the night, Niori awoke from a restless sleep and without telling anyone where she was going, strolled around the ruins (ankle deep in water).
Finally, she came to the dry landed place with the river-like body of water running beneath it. A pale crescent moon hung over head, casting an eerie glow over the water.
Shedding her blood stained and dirty clothes and removing the bandage from around her stomach (Aragorn had informed her that the wound was closed thinly, but as long as she didn't put too much strain on it, it would be totally healed in about a week), she slowly edged herself into the water.
Uneasily, she swam around for a while, trying to get the lingering fears from an unremembered nightmare from her mind.
" Are you sure you should be exposing your wound to water?" asked a voice from the land.
Niori's head whipped to the shoreline and she sunk her body deeper into the water. There was Legolas, leaning against a rock and smirking.
" How long have you been there!?" Niori demanded angrily, not wanting a repeat of what had happened last time she had decided to go fro a swim.
" I just arrived,' he smirked, " is this something females from your world do often, swim without their clothes?"
" Well, it's not like I have a bathing suit here!" Niori snapped, " And how do you always show up when I'm skinny-dipping?! Are you slaking me or something?!"
" Defiantly not," Legolas laughed, " it must just be good timing,"
" Whatever," Niori muttered under her breath.
" I've been meaning to ask you," The Elf's smirk grew wider, " Last time he four of you went....skinny-dipping you called it, were you so mad at me afterwards because I saw you without your clothes on, or because I looked at the others?"
Niori's mouth dropped open " you egoistical, stuck up, conceited son of a bitch! I'm not even going to talk to you anymore!" With that, she swam that her back was to him and the shore.
A minute later, there was a low splash, and then Niori felt a hand on her shoulder.
" I'm waiting for an answer!" Legolas's voice, which was right behind her now, spoke amusingly.
Niori turned sharply around and felt a blush travel up her face. Legolas was in the water with her (and with no clothes on!)!
" Am I making you nervous?" Legolas asked her with a smirk, swimming a little closer to her.
Niori had no idea how to answer. Without answering, she splashed water at him.
" Hey!" he cried with a laugh, splashing her back.
Laughing now, Niori continued to slash at him, while treading backwards. After a few moments, they were both shrieking with laughter while they fought a water fight.
Still laughing, Legolas reached out and grabbed Niori's arm in an attempt to stop her from splashing, and pulled her towards him.
Suddenly, both their laughter died as she was pulled only inches away from him. A deathly silence settled over the pair as they stood still and stared into the other's face, uncertainly. There was almost no room between them, and it made both their hearts race.
" Hey Niori!" Carla's voice suddenly ripped through the silence from the tower, " Where are you!?"
" I..." Niori stuttered, breaking away from Legolas's grasp, " I have to go!"
Without another word, she swam towards shore, wrapped a blanket she was using for a towel around her, grabbed her clothes from the shore and rushed back towards the tower.
Filled with confusion, Legolas swam back to shore, re-clothed himself and VERY slowly started to walk back to the tower, praying to the Valar that Niori would already be asleep by the time he got back.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
As the sun rose, the company got ready to travel again back towards Rohan.
Just as they were mounting, Niori shyly walked over to Legolas, her eyes cast to the ground. Since the night before, neither had spoken or even looked at each other. They were way too embarrassed about what had happened.....or had almost happened.
" Are you ready to mount?" Legolas asked her softly, but Niori cut him off.
" Actually, I'm going to ride with Carla today," Niori spoke, looking up at Legolas, only to see his face fall.
" Oh,"
Without another word, Niori walked away and climbed up behind Carla.
They rode for a while, and then suddenly, as Legolas (Gimli behind him) rode past Niori and Carla, Niori called out to Legolas.
" Legolas!" She cried, causing him to look at her, " It's because you looked at the others, OK!"
Legolas at first looked confused, but then realized what she meant and nodded with a smile before riding past them.
~*~*~**~*~*~***~*~**~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*~**~
~An- Carla: Well now...
Jane: That was.......
Carla: Ok, when did Niori become such a slut? Niori *Just coming into the room * what did I miss?
Jane: We were just wondering when you became such a whore?
Niori: I'm not a whore!
Carla: Did you not read the chapter!
Niori: * big blush * Oh...that......
Jane: Yeah that!
Niori: *Whiny voice * I didn't do anything!
Carla: You would have if I hadn't called your name!
Niori: *Under her breath * No comment
Jane: OH MY GOD!
Carla: That was so wrong!
Niori: Just leave me alone! OK! It was his fault! He's the one who snuck up on me!
* Legolas enters the room *
Legolas: You realize that the AN has to be over now right? What are you talking about for so long!
Carla: GET OUT OF HERE YOU STUPID ELF! BEOFRE I KICK YOUR ASS FOR TRYING TO SLEEP WITH MY COUSIN!
Legolas: What?! * Glances over the chapter above * Oh.....
Niori: *Slowly sneaking away while Carla and Jane are screaming at Legolas * Bai bai all! I AM NOT A WHORE BY THE WAY! See you next chapter!