The Manic Adventure Of Sam, Zee, and Jackie
Chapter 11: The White Council
Sam was hardly paying any attention to Zee's angry mutterings about what an ass Lindir was compared to his movie self. She was far too busy replaying the conversation she had in the library to care what her friend was doing.
"You can't leave the room," Thorin explained what her house arrest would be like, "your meals will be brought to you and Fili will have to marry a princess as well as only be with her."
"So then I'm nothing more than a trinket?" Sam felt so utterly heart broken which was something she had felt before and thought she could guard herself from. "A spare basically."
"A last resort mostly."Balin sighed, he truly didn't feel like they should be telling her this. "If it seems like Fili will not last with you like this, they might release you."
Sam had stormed out of the room in absolute outrage, she figured that they were only warning her but still! She could have totally done without that! Now she was left to contemplate her future with the blond prince, one she wasn't sure she could handle. Sam always preferred to lock herself up in her house but that was of her free will and she could leave if she wanted to.
"You okay?" Jackie asked as she got fed up with Zee's cursing. "You look so sad."
Sam sighed and waved Jackie off, "Don't worry about it, I'll tell you once I get it sorted out myself."
Jackie didn't like that but nodded, "Promise?"
Sam nodded back, "I swear, cross my heart." Sam crossed her heart and stood up from the lounge chair she was in. "I think I'm gonna go see Gandalf, see how bad everything is."
Jackie gave her a half smile and let the brunette go off while she continued to babysit Sam's almost twin sister. It was bound to be a hassle but better she do it or Zee would go elf hunting again.
Sam headed over to where she saw the grey wizard admiring the starry night sky, he was also puffing on his pipe rather leisurely.
"I sense confusion in your aura." He said to Sam without ever turning toward her, "I take it the talk didn't go well."
"As if I ever thought it could..." Sam sighed, joining the wizard, "How's Lindir?"
"Alive but wounded terribly so." Gandalf sighed as he made a ring of smoke, "I did not expect such hostility from Zee."
Sam shrunk away a small bit, "Well, he shouldn't have acted so weird with Zee nor should he have cornered me."
"Ah yes," Gandalf gave her a short chuckle, "I heard about that."
Sam didn't say anything, she decided to just watch the stars and let Gandalf start a conversation with her. Luckily, she didn't have to wait long.
"The Valar will be rather pleased with how you girls are progressing." He commented offhandedly as he leaned against a pillar.
"Huh?" Sam asked, "The Valar...?"
Gandalf chuckled when he saw the utterly confused look on her face, "You did not truthfully believe that you three came here by chance did you?"
Sam, for only a minute, did not understand what the wizard was saying, when she finally caught on to what he was implying she 'bout nearly slapped herself. "You mean the Valar are the ones who brought us here!?"
"Of course." Gandalf began to put out his pipe as he spoke, "It was something they had been worried over for many years, particularly when Thorin first started to wonder about the Lonely Mountain."
"And you knew?" Sam knew he did but she had the slightest of feelings that he played a big part in them coming here.
"I merely encouraged the idea and possibly hand chose the three of you." He smiled down at Sam and added, "I'll admit, among the three of you, you had the most knowledge of what to expect and do."
"Me?" Sam asked, "What are you talking about?"
"Those stories you read," He smirked, "The ones where girls enter this world and change the story. You read them a lot and also you look into the characters of the original tale more than your friends. You know some of the dwarves better than you know your friends."
Sam blushed a bit, she did spend a lot of time reading the character biographies on the LOTR Wiki. "But what about the fan fiction part? How does that work here?"
"Those stories are alternate realities, they're happening in another timeline as we speak."
"They are?" That made Sam feel no better than she did when she came to the wizard, "So then there truly is a timeline where someone is changing the story huh? Which means Stirring The Leaves and The Great Perhaps are real then."
"They are." Gandalf agreed, "And now you're one of them and you need to change this story as well."
Sam just felt weights settle on her shoulders, when they started this journey Sam never really took in the dangers. Like she said herself, it was going to be the adventure of a lifetime and since they knew what was going to happen it didn't matter that there was danger. Now they had to actively take part in the story, it wasn't going to be the one way street she had originally intended.
"You weren't brought here to just have fun." Gandalf said as he caught on to her gloom. "But, there is something more."
"Can I guess?" Sam asked with dry humor, it was reaching the end of their stay.
"If the council truly sees it fit, they can stop us at anytime." Gandalf explained, "I need you to join me."
"And what would you need me for?" Sam asked, "Obviously, you know how the story ends as much as I do."
"I do." Gandalf agreed, "But as you also know, Saruman will do anything to prove otherwise."
Sam thought about that, Gandalf did have a huge point there. "Alright, I get it." Sam did not like the idea of seeing the council but it had to be done. Hopefully Zee doesn't get all mad at her. "So then I won't be joining the others."
"I've informed Thorin already." Gandalf told her, "I will come for you when it is time."
Sam just gave him a blank look, she was so not looking forward to this. Not one damn bit. "Oh, I'm shaking with anticipation."
"Sarcastic as usual." Gandalf laughed while Sam only groaned and slouched like a sad, lonely puppy.
It was hard for Sam to convince the girls to leave her behind, Zee was going to wring the wizard's neck had Sam not reminded Zee that the council needed to be convinced to stay out of their adventure.
"You know I'll catch up." Sam told Zee as the other brunette calmed down, "In fact, I probably would be more help with the goblins if I'm with Gandalf."
"Still!" Zee complained like she was a five year old, "Why do you have to stay?"
"Because the company still needs you two." Sam said as she decided to double check the girls' bags,she was forced to help pack and hadn't slept yet because of it. "Now, just roll with it."
Zee continued to complain, much to Sam's annoyance, when a knock was heard on the door. It sure wasn't time to leave so no one should be bothering them.
"Sam..." Fili's voice came from the other side, "May I speak with you?"
As if revenge for Sam staying behind, Zee started wooing as Sam headed toward the door.
Sam blushed in embarrassment, she left the room with cheeks that looked liked she been burned under the sun. Not that she wasn't already. "S-Sorry about that..." Sam silently promised that she'd let one goblin give Zee a nasty scratch for that.
"Kili was no better." Fili chuckled at Sam's flustered face, "May we go to the garden?"
Sam nodded and followed Fili to the near by garden, they both took a seat on a marble bench. "Whatcha wanna talk about?" Sam had a feeling that he wanted to talk about what happened in the library but wasn't gonna ask just in case.
"I heard that you were staying with the wizard." He sighed and looked up at the sky, "I was hoping to clear the air a bit, I don't want to leave knowing you're still upset."
"Really?" Sam sighed as she leaned back on her hands, "Look, I'm not sure I really want to talk about this."
"We need to." Fili said as he snaked his arm around her waist, "Uncle Thorin and I discussed an arrangement that could prevent the council from having a say in our relationship."
"Really..?" Sam was not all that convinced but she listened.
"Uncle believes that proving the unworthiness of the other royals will allow you and I to marry." Fili explained horribly, "If the council sees that the princesses are not suitable to rule nor able to win approval from the people, we can be together."
Sam was lost, she didn't follow what Fili was saying one bit. "Okay...And how would I do that..?"
"Thorin suggested taking more action." Fili seemed reluctant to tell her that, "I don't approve..."
Sam smiled sympathetically, she didn't want to do any fight either but she had to. "I promise, when I come back I'll stay by your side so that way you know I'm safe."
Fili smiled a bit, "I guess that works."
"You should go pack," Sam said as she noticed that the moon suddenly seemed a bit too bright, "who knows when you're leaving."
"Kili and I were already packed this morning." Fili shrugged, they sat in silence for a minute to enjoy each other's presence. After that minute, Fili broke the silence."I was wondering something."
"And what is this something?" Sam asked, looking at him lazily.
Fili gathered some of Sam's hair and toyed with it. "May I finally braid your hair?"
Sam gave a look but sighed, "Sure but be gentle. I hate having my hair pulled."
"Okay." Fili combed her hair with his fingers before setting on braiding her hair. "Don't move okay?"
Sam just hummed and let Fili play with her hair, enjoying the relaxing feeling. One thing she loved was having her hair played with, so long as it wasn't getting pulled. It took a good minute for Fili to do the braid, when Sam heard the clasp click she felt sad to have the braiding end.
"There." Fili smiled with pride at his wonderful work.
Sam touched the braid, "I should let you play with my hair more often." She twirled that braid and asked, "Don't I have to give you one?"
"Traditionally, yes." Fili nodded, "But since you're not a dwarf, you will have to mark me by your standards."
"I see." So then she needed to get her hands on a wedding ring, that's fabulous. Sam noticed Kili looking around at a distance. "I'll see you when we catch up?" She pointed at the brunette dwarf.
Fili turned and saw his brother, "Yeah, be safe Âzyungâl." Fili stood and, before leaving, kissed Sam's hand.
"You too Fiwi." Sam grinned as she so innocently said the name a bit louder than she needed to. Kili happened to hear the name and started laughing while Fili was only smiling but still embarrassed. When the brothers were out of sight, Sam decided to relax on the bench so she could take a small nap. She was capable of properly functioning with only an hour's sleep and she didn't want to appear before the Council all sleep deprived.
Sam was nudged awake by Gandalf's staff, "You know it's rude to wake someone up with a stick." Sam mumbled as she pushed away his staff.
"As is being late for a meeting." Gandalf countered, Sam had pushed herself up rather slowly when he decided to start dragging her away. "We must hurry."
"Did they leave?" Sam asked quietly, she had hoped they did so some time ago.
"They did." Gandalf assured her, "But do not make mention of it."
Sam nodded with a small smile as Gandalf led her to where Elrond was waiting for them both. She truly felt so small but she was trying her best to not seem all that bothered.
"You will need to try harder if you're wanting to seem confident." Gandalf told her as they approached a corner to reach Elrond. "You look ill."
"Well jeez!" Sam groaned, she was starting to feel like Zee with all her groaning and complaining. She almost wanted to just stop and sit on the ground and strike.
"You're bringing the girl?" Elrond asked when he saw Sam following Gandalf. "Are you sure you need her here?"
Gandalf nodded and continued to go up the stairs to where the meeting will be held. They were so quiet that it just grated at Sam's nerves. It was beyond awkward and absolutely horrible. It felt like the stairs went on forever and ever before they reached the flat surface.
"...Or for that matter am I." Sam heard Gandalf say, so there was conversation but she wasn't listening. That surely wasn't a first.
"It is not me you must answer to." Sam immediately felt her heart begin to pound madly as she and Gandalf saw the beautiful Galadriel. The movie's description of the elf was such an understatement, Sam felt so entranced and enraptured by the blonde's beauty.
Gandalf spoke to the elf witch in elvish, to which she replied all the same. Gandalf turned to Elrond and so did Sam, "I had no idea that Lord Elrond had sent for you."
"He didn't." Sam felt the hairs on her neck stand as she followed the voice to where the white wizard stood in the shadows. "I did."
The wizard removed himself from the shadows, he looked at Gandalf with fake kindness Sam had seen many times from the movie. Gandalf followed suit as well. Sam didn't follow either, she merely stood there wishing that Zee, or at least Jackie, could have joined her. Maybe things would not be the least bit awkward.
"My friend." Saruman said with fake pleasantry, he casted a dark scowl at Sam but said about her company.
Gandalf and Sam sat down at the end of the stone table, last time Sam sat down at a conference like table she and her older brother were playing in her father's old office. Not as fun as she remembered when in this environment. To make matters worse, Galadriel and Elrond paced around the table, making the atmosphere so much more suffocating.
"Tell me Gandalf," Saruman scolded the Grey wizard, "did you think these plans and schemes of your's would go unnoticed?"
Gandalf seemed a bit offended that Saruman would make his actions sound so shifty. "Unnoticed? No, I-I am simply doing what I feel is right."
Galadriel was quick to catch that partial lie, "The dragon has long been on your mind."
Sam just looked at Gandalf, she sure as hell was not about to answer for him. After all, Saruman was just mean-mugging her so she was just gonna be a good girl and keep quiet.
Gandalf nodded at Galadriel, "It is true my lady." Gandalf seemed to only answer without hesitation when it came to the elf witch. "Smaug owes allegiance to no one, but if he should side with the enemy the dragon could be used for a terrible fate."
Sam caught the twitch of Saruman's lip, "What enemy?" Sam could totally see through the albino bastard's lies. "Gandalf, the enemy is defeated. Sauron is vanquished, he can never regain his full strength."
"Wait," Sam suddenly blurted out loud, "never regain? You mean he still is alive?"
Gandalf looked at Sam and then at Saruman, "I do believe that could be assumed with how you worded your statement Saruman."
Saruman truly gave Sam a death glare but brushed off what had been said. Elrond took his turn in speaking to ease the conflict, "Gandalf, for four hundred years we've lived in peace. A hard won, watchful peace."
Gandalf was quick to counter Elrond, "Are we? Are we at peace?" he looked at Sam like he was surprised that they had the audacity to say that to him. "Trolls have come down from the mountain, they are raving villages, destroying farms. Orc have attacked us on the road."
Elrond walked toward Gandalf, "Hardly a prelude to war."
"Always you must meddle." Sam was actually insulted that Saruman would make it seem like Gandalf just pokes his nose into everything for no reason. "Looking for trouble when none exists."
Galadriel seemed to a bit offended as well, "Let him speak." she ordered as she walked behind the white wizard.
"There is something at work beyond the evil of Smaug, something far more powerful." Gandalf leaned forward and Sam felt inclined to do the same. Talk about a copycat. "We can remain blind to it but, it will not be ignoring us that I can promise you."
Sam sighed looked toward the rising sun, it did not feel as wonderful and welcoming as it when she and the company were on the road. It felt like something more utterly wicked was beginning to play.
"A sickness lies over the Greenwood, the woodsman who live there now call it Mirkwood. They say..." Gandalf seemed hesitant to continue on.
"Well?" Saruman insisted, "Don't stop now, tell us what the woodsmen say."
"They speak of a necromancer living in Dol Guldur, a sorcerer who can summon the dead." Sam sighed, here comes the argument.
"That's absurd. " Saruman argued, "No such power exists in this world, this Necromancer is nothing more than a mortal man. A conjurer dabbling in black magic."
"And so I thought too, but Radagast-" Gandalf was cut off by the albino.
"Radagast? Do not speak to me of Radagast The Brown, he's a foolish fellow." Sam saw the darkening gaze in Saruman's eyes, something about Radagast seemed to set Saruman off.
"Oh well, he's odd I grant you, lives a solitary life." Gandalf tried to stick up for his fellow wizard but Saruman wasn't moved.
"It's not that, it is his excessive consumption of mushrooms." That didn't sound superficial, not at all. "They've addled his brain and yellowed his teeth."
Saruman continued to speak but Sam noticed that Gandalf was not listening to the albino anymore. Turning toward Galadriel, Sam realized that the two were speaking privately. She had forgotten that Galadriel could speak to others with her mind.
Just then, Gandalf lifted up something covered in a tattered, dirt color cloth, he payed no mind to Saruman's rambling and neither did Sam.
"What is that?" Elrond came toward the object when Galadriel made her comment.
"A relic of Mordor." she said with fear in her voice, as she spoke Elrond had reached to uncover the item but stopped in hesitation. Taking in a breath, Elrond removed the cloth and all eyes fell upon an old sword. It was not shaped like any sword Sam had seen before, it looked like it was made to pierce through someone's heart.
"A Morgul blade.." Elrond slightly backed away and even Sam could feel the darkness emitting from it.
Galadriel came closer to them, "Made for the Witch King of Angmar and...buried with him." Galadriel gave Elrond a perplexed look as they both gazed upon the weapon. "When Angmar fell, the men of the north took his body and all that possessed and sealed it within the High Fells in Rhudar. Deep within the rock they buried him, in a tomb so dark...it would come to light."
Lord Elrond leaned against the table, "This is not possible, a powerful spell lies upon those tombs. They cannot be opened."
Sam rolled her eyes, "Then explain this." Sam extended her hand toward the Witch King's sword.
"What proof do we have that this weapon came from Angmar's grave?" Saruman asked, even in his calmness Sam could see that he was a bit panicked.
Gandalf sighed, he found his fellow wizard's denial annoying as did Sam. "I have none.."
"Because there is none." Saruman truly was doing a lot to cover his own ass in Sam's opinion. "Let us examine what we know, a single orc pack has dared to cross the Bruinen, a dagger from a bygone age has been found and a human sorcerer who calls himself the Necromancer has taken up residence in a ruined fortress. It's not so very much."
Sam was completely insulted by his dismissal of the events, "And a wizard is trying to pass off all these events as coincidence." The two briefly glared at each other but Gandalf prevented Sam from saying anything else
Again Saruman ignored Sam, never granting her an answer. "After all, the question of this dwarvish company, however, troubles me deeply. I'm not convinced, Gandalf. I do not feel I can condone such a quest. If they had come to me, I might have spared them from this disappointment..."
Galadriel slowly turned and smiled at Gandalf, again in their own private conversation, Sam knew what they were talking about, by now the elves realized that the company had long since left their city.
"I will not leave her!" Zee screeched as they entered the wilderness, Dwalin held Zee's torso while Kili held her legs. With all her squirming she looked no different than the girl from the Exorcist. "Let me go!"
"Zee calm down!" Kili grumbled as he readjusted his grip on the girl, "You make it sound like we've left her to die."
"Because you have you idiots!" Zee screamed angrily, "She's not with me, you have no idea what they could be doing to her!"
Jackie gave a small smile and asked, "What makes you think she'd let them do anything to her?"
Zee stopped her thrashing, "That is beside the point Jacquelina!" She started thrashing around again, much more violently, "We are one Musketeer short damn it! There fore I am pissed, now let me go you-you half bald dwarf!"
Dwalin only ignored Zee and continued to carry the girl as they headed toward the Misty Mountains. He greatly hoped that Zee would chill out by the time they reached the mountains, it would mean a whole lot if she did.
"We need to hurry." Thorin called to them from the front of the group, "we must get as far away as possible or the elves will stop us soon enough."
"I want Samantha!" Zee complained, the dwarves were just annoyed with Zee at this point. When they see Sam again they were going to insist that she stay with Zee at all times. "I want my Samantha Michelle Kathryn Anderson now, now, now, now!"
While the dwarves brushed off Zee, Fili took in the full name of his One. Sam had never told him her full name and now he knew, he was a bit curious now to know Zee's and Jackie's full names. He wondered if their's were as long as Sam's.
"Brother," Kili called to Fili, "Mind you give me some assistance with this little, squirming wolf."
"Little!?" Zee barked at Kili as Fili also grabbed her legs, "How dare you, I am at least three inches taller that you!"
Fili shook his head as he brother countered back, "You sure don't act like it!" That helped no one at all.
Zee gave him an exaggerated gasp, "How dare you insult my height! And while I am still in distress over the separation between my sister and I!" Zee darkly glared at the brunette dwarf, "You sicken me!"
"I feel it wouldn't take much to do that." Fili laughed as he tightened his grip in Zee's legs so that she wasn't kicking him nor Kili in the ribs. "I'm sure Sam is fine and expects the same out all of us."
Zee just grumbled and groaned as she was carried away by the company, everyone, including Bilbo and Jackie, were grateful that Zee finally quieted although no one dared to say it out loud. Not unless they wanted to hear the unending ranting all over again.
Yay! We're heading to the Misty Mountains and now the girls are gonna have to become full participants. Also, I do love Stirring the Leaves and the Great Perhaps, they are really my favorites and they both gave me inspiration for how to roll with this story. They truly deserve credit where credit is due, I really suggest reading them if you haven't already.
Btw, I know that in Stirring The Leaves Lizzy and Gandalf have the same conversation about how she got there and the whole Fanfictions are alternate realities. From my understanding, Gandalf tells her they were possibilities, one of many outcomes, but not alternate worlds really. That's where we differ, here all fanfictions involving people of our world, girl or boy, are alternate universes. They are happening based on the character's choices, the same for these girls. What makes this universe different from others will be seen a while from now, so enjoy my attempt at giving you suspense. I probably failed too.
See you guys next chapter! Bye! ~ Michelle Lacie Kat