There and back again

Pairs: Salene/Pride/Ryan (or we're going out there this time)

Words: trumpet, doggrel, ale, smeagol, balrog

Lines: The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known. (1)

When the black breath blows
and deaths shadow grows
and all lights pass
come athelas come athelas
life to the dying in the kings hand lying (2)

Alas for she was pitted against a foe beyond the strength of her mind or body. And those who will take a weapon to such an enemy must be sterner of steel. (3)

Challenge by: Lian and Angelic Madness (both of which shall pay with death)

Rating: Up to PG13

Disclaimer: I don't own anything it belongs to Cloud Nine and whoever else owns it

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(End of S3, Not exactly S4- AU)

Salene had found her husband and brought him back to the city. Things were going well at first until Pride entered the picture. His romance with Salene was taking off under Ryan's nose. Until one particular day when Ryan found out all about it.

Hours of shouting later- the two men found themselves at first fighting- and then talking. Then, the perhaps the strangest agreement in history was made- they both would date Salene. Both decided she meant too much to loose her. So, the truce under arms was set in place. They would work to avoid time where she'd be caught with the other man- so neither would have get upset or ill. Then, there were times when it could not be avoided.

One particular day, Salene and Pride were reading "Lord of the Rings", and Ryan was on his way down to the kitchen for some ale.

"Oh- I should-" Ryan began noticing them at the kitchen table.

"No! It's okay were just reading take a seat," Salene pressed him.

"You sure?" Ryan said.

"Yea," Pride added.

He could handle a simple reading thing with Ryan without wanting to get away from him- they could do this. Ryan was a bit more nervous but made no move to run.

"So where were we?" Pride said turning to Salene.

"We just finished the part about Smeagol," Salene said.

"Right and the- yea… the next bits aren't that good-find something interesting," Pride said to her.

"Just randomly pick something," Ryan added.

"Okay- here," she said grabbing a random spot.

"Read away"

"When the black breath blows, and deaths shadow grows, and all lights pass come athelas come athelas, life to the dying in the kings hand lying," Salene said reading the first thing she saw.

Both men looked at each other, "I've never read it- don't look at me," Ryan said.

Pride shrugged, "Skip around some more," he said finally.

"Okay- fine," Salene said after a second with a bit loud tone than the last time, "The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known?" she said hopefully as she selected another page.

Ryan and Pride looked at each shaking their heads.

"Alright! I'll look again," she said feeling the frustration, "And the trumpets…" she began.

"Wait! Stop. That's no good," Ryan said to her.

Salene looked at Ryan, "But you said you've never read it," she protested.

"I haven't but trumpets are- it's a long story- can we try another page?" he said hopefully.

"Fine," she said again this time feeling the snip coming, "Alas for she was pitted against a foe beyond the strength of her mind or body. And those who will take a weapon to such an enemy must be sterner of steel?" Salene demanded reading the text now somewhat hostile.

"That works," Ryan said to her.

"I don't like it," Pride said after a second.

"What? Why not?" she demanded crossly.

"Too long- I don't want to be here all night besides that entire part has way too much doggrel in it," he said finally.

Salene looked at the two men threw her hands up and tossed the book against the wall, "You two are impossible together- never again," she said walking off and shoving herself past May.

May walked in as Salene left, "What's her problem?" she said to both guys.

"Uh…." Ryan began.

Pride looked at her, "Not enough time with the outdoors is slowly turning her crazy," he said.

"Oh. So what's that?" she said pointing to the book.

"Lord of the Rings," they men said in unison.

"Oh I've never read that- Pride can you?" May asked him sweetly (a little too sweetly)

"Sure- so what part?" He said taking the book.

"The part that mentions balrog," she said.

"And what page is that on?" Pride said turning to look at them.

"Got me," May and Ryan said, "We've never read it".

"Now I get why Salene was stressed".

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The end

Total words: 915

AN: For Cherish- good luck tomorrow on that interview! To everyone else- thanks for reading. Finally, to a certain someone named Alan- thank you for taking Slade. You rule.