4

I scrambled up, but wearing the boots I was, I couldn't get a very good purchase with my feet, so I once again fell in the hot spring. Thank all the stars that at least it WAS a hot spring so I didn't freeze to death. I stood slowly, feeling very carefully with my feet. The stones beneath my so far waterproof boots shifted every time I put weight on them. And now I was uncertain on what direction to go in.

But that icky green light was getting stronger, giving me a better view of my surroundings.

In the center of the pool, a-a…shape of something was rising. It was the same acid green as the light around me. Actually the light was coming from it. It slowly took on a vaguely human form until it stopped rising from the water. Of course, then it started to come towards me.

Well, not really wanting to deal with this thing up close and personal, I tried to back away, but found my feet were sort of rooted to the spot. Dang! I must have gotten them jammed between rocks or something. The green thing came up to me and stopped about three feet away. I could see a sort of face at what would be head level. "Who are you? What are you?" I shouted fearfully, hating the fact I was not being too calm and rational.

It was if the sound of steam escaping filled the air and then I realized it formed words. But words telling me what, I didn't know.

I asked again in the little Quenya I knew.

Minnnnnneeeeee the phantasm hissed. And I wasn't sure if it meant the pool or the cave or the fungus or all of the above.

I tried to pull my feet out of the water but I still couldn't and a creeping feeling of numbness was crawling up my legs. "I am stuck. I cannot get free." I tentatively waved my hands in front of me trying to be placating. "I shall leave the fungus here, I swear."

The green being drew closer to me. Minnnnneeeeee it said in strangely accented Quenya. I looked about and then realized the shape of some of the strange stalagmites and stalactites looked familiar. The being came closer to me before I could make out the forms of the stones. I was suddenly swallowed in the green light and a burning pain swept through me and then utter numbness.

And then it was dark.

I could only scream in my head. Nothing but darkness surrounded me. I screamed and shouted. But no one answered. There were flashes of green. And then, my mind went dark.

Pretty weird, huh? I had no idea what was happening, or why. I had not felt any overwhelming evil like I had with the Nazgul or with Yko. Just something utterly alien.

When I came to, I was still in the same predicament I was earlier. It was completely dark, I was completely numb and could not move.

I yanked at my feet but they wouldn't move; nothing on me moved. I could not move my arms or hands. I could not even feel myself blink. It was horrible: My whole body felt numb, wooden-like. The only thing "alive" as it were, was my mind. I screamed. Like that was going to do any good. But it was so terrifying to NOT feel or move! Nobody knew where I was. Heck, I didn't know where I was. I could have been moved somewhere else: How would I know?

Of course, I started thinking of the elf lord. I just wanted to get him a special gift; something useful. And now I was in this terrible predicament. Had I been poisoned? Kidnapped and given some foul brew? Ensorcelled? What about Carenloth? And the deep winter outside? And that poor winter-thin stallion.

Obviously, one can only think this way for so long before a headache becomes your constant companion. And I easily got a whopper.

So I tried to think of other things. Okay; okay: Happy thoughts. I thought happy thoughts. Because if I didn't, I would be a gibbering idiot, raw with fear and terror. I pictured how beautiful Rivendell is in the winter. The delicate stone tracery of the architecture dusted with snow and icicles. How beautiful the elves were riding through fresh powder, the horses' characteristically long winter manes sometimes touching the snow drifts, The tinkling of silver bells on the horses' equipage, the elves themselves wrapped in dark grey and silver cloaks lined with fur, the hoods surrounding their gorgeous faces. Elves, skating across the lake above the house, the wind blowing back their hair, moonlight illuminating their graceful intricate moves as they danced across the ice in flowing motion. The warmth of the Hall of Fire, the firelight and candles glowing in intense elvish eyes and picking out the gold thread or silver filigree worn by my dear elf lord.

Oh, damn, now I began thinking of him, which just made me feel sad. He was injured and bedridden, he'd lost his favorite stallion. How chaffing it must be for him to be unable to get up and do things he normally did: keeping in order the day-to-day life of Rivendell, reading and writing, indulging in a little silverwork when he got time. Taking walks with a talkative human guest, especially in the gardens. Or maybe even a ride down along the Bruinen.

Um, you know, and the very occasional times he needed to be a healer. But not too often, just when the odd…accident happened every now and again. And really, it isn't TOO frequent. Rare. It's a rare event when he needs to use his healing skills.

You all know that: Right?

Oh Lord Elrond! I shouted mentally. Was I lost and hidden away from you for good?

I had no idea how much time went by. I neither felt thirst nor hunger. Sometimes, my mind would fall silent and I could not think of anything else, so maybe I slept/dreamed. Sometimes I dreamed I was back in Rivendell, in my room. Sometimes, unexpectedly, I dreamed of my 21st Century life. Job, computers, freeways and all.

But my mind would dodge all that quick as a wink, because I didn't want to find myself back in the world from which I came.

I kept picturing Elrond's face. Sometimes Glorfindel or Erestor, even Cerwal's. At one point, I pictured Lord Elrond, looking out off the roof of the high north tower, where he frequently watched the stars. It was late afternoon and I could see his face, lit by the westering sun, frowning slightly as he looked over the rooftops of Rivendell, his eyes tracking the course of the Bruinen as it made its way westward.

"Lord Elrond!" I called out as I watched him. "Lord Elrond! I wish you could help! I am lost and frozen like a block of ice or a rock! I can't get to you! I am in the cave of halenmyr fungus." At least, I thought I was.

He turned his head as if listening to something, and then I saw Lord Glorfindel come into view, his blue eyes serious as he joined the elf lord to stand at his side, also scanning the landscape.

I wanted to jump up and down and shout: "Here I am! I wish you could see me."

I felt as if I was a ghost, trying to contact the living, my words a soundless breath of nothing, unable to disturb a drifting tuft of goose down, much less contact anyone.

I got number, if that makes sense. My mind was beginning to think in starts and stutters. I could not complete a thought without effort. And that frightened me, so I fought harder for clarity. I focused all my thought on Lord Elrond, the best thing to happen to me here in Middle Earth. My best friend in Middle Earth. Okay, well one of my few friends in Middle Earth, truth be told.

I concentrated very hard, pouring out all my affection and love for him, before my mind was unable to function.

Before it went utterly silent.

I kept seeing his beloved face. Those great stormy grey, midnight intense eyes filling my vision, topped by those wonderfully expressive eyebrows of his. That ever-knowing, warm smile.

"Oh Lord Elrond, I wish you could hear me," I thought for the hundredth time. "I really just wanted to get you a simple gift," I added sadly.

But I was slowly falling mute, my thoughts, my energy slipping away.

I took a big mental breath and screamed "Dear Iluvatar! Lord Elrond! Hear me! And save me from this swallowing darkness."

I stopped and then, there was nothing.