A/N: Man, this is really starting to piss me off! I have all of these fantastic ideas for where this story could go, but I am just too damn lazy to actually sit down and pound them out onto the computer! This just really isn't working for me.
I also have about fifty million things going on in my life right now, so no fear! I did not forget this story and its really not likely that I ever will. I mean holy cow! I have over seven hundred reviews! And to think, this whole idea came when I went running one day...
Story time!
*~*~*
These Rohannians sure as hell could party!
I had been winding through the ever-growing crowd of drunk people for the past hour and a half. Quite frankly, it was getting a bit old. I mean you can only take so many men vomiting practically on your shoes and equally drunk men trying to cop a feel. My hand hurt from dealing out so many slugs for getting too close.
I was also getting sick of Éowyn calf-eyeing Aragorn. Every time I looked over at her she was either talking to him or looking at him with devotion in her gaze. I was about to go the way of some of the formerly mentioned drunk men-and I'm not interested in groping anyone.
I was walking towards the door, when I happened to pass by a group of men, who, amazingly were managing to talk about the city's defense while being smashed. If that isn't admirable, I don't know what is...
Just as I passed, I heard one of them say, "We need not worry ourselves with the forces of Sauron. He would not dare to attack the Rohannians!"
I just could not help myself. I stopped and turned to them, "Oh, that's right, Helm's Deep was just a horrible misunderstanding. All the men that were killed was really no big deal. Sauron just had wrong directions. I mean everyone knows that Rohannians shit roses, who would want to deal with that?"
They just sat there staring at me, mouths agape. Then one managed to find his voice, "You dare to speak to your betters, woman? I shall have your tongue for that!" He started to stand, but I got to him before he could get anywhere.
"Woman, eh? So now, after saving probably half of the asses in this room, I am just a lowly woman? I bet my right hand that I and all the women in this room are worth at least two of you. Sauron doesn't care if you are the Queen of England at a tea party, he is going to come after you, your family, even your damn dog! He does not care! Nothing, and I enunciate this very clearly, nothing will stop him, least of all you, a worthless coward getting sloshed. So do not talk to me about betters." With that I walked out of the room, followed by the women's applause. I had gotten progressively louder as I was ranting and the entire room heard me by the time I was finished.
Actually, luckily for me, since it was so late, there really were not that many people left in the hall. Otherwise, I have a feeling I would have gotten one hell of an ass whooping for what I had said. The price for an opinion these days...
I hadn't seen any of the guys for quite a while now, not even the Hobbits. But then again, they were probably going the way of the other men, getting drunk off their asses. Oh well, I wasn't going to be the one with the killer hang over tomorrow.
Just the thought of sharing a corridor with all the drunk skunks was enough to turn a stomach of steel, so instead of turning left, to my room, I headed right. I happened to walk by the so-called 'laundry room.' I saw a pair of leggings and swiped them up. I wasn't staying in this dress any longer than I had to!
Soon I came to a long winding staircase. I was guessing that it lead to the roof, or the balcony, hey, if it lead outside I was happy. I had to get outside, the walls were starting to stifle me.
I slowly climbed the stairs, the leggings clutched in my hands, and low and behold, there was a balcony/ledge thingy. I went to the edge and looked down, just to see how far up I actually was. I gave a very girly shriek and leapt back. Yeah, I was that far up.
I just stood there watching the stars twinkling, gazing out into nothingness, twisting the pants around my left wrist. A light breeze picked up and blew my dress and my hair around me. I glanced around and took off the dress and replaced it with the leggings and undershirt I had had on to begin with.
I finished and seeing that no one else was around, I walked over to the overhang of the roof and started to climb up it. I was feeling a bit reckless, so after I finally hauled myself up and over the edge, I sat only about six feet from the edge. Up here, the breeze had turned itself into a wind, but it helped with my emotions. I had started to feel way to trapped down there will all the people celebrating. I never was much of a party person.
I sitting there just letting idle thoughts wash over me when it finally hit me, if I would scoot down the last six feet, all of this could be done and over with. I wouldn't have to worry about Sauron, or Saruman, or the Orcs, or the guys, or Frodo, or Sam, or, or, or...
I just wasn't really thinking clearly and with all that had been happening lately, I think I was getting depressed. No, you think... But even when I realized I had no real urge to slide down the last few feet, I couldn't break my fascination with the edge. It was almost like there was something or someone actually pushing me to make that final move.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and started to sing under my breath to gain control of myself again.
"Please come now I think I'm falling
I'm holding on to all I think is safe
It seems I found the road to nowhere
And I'm trying to escape
I yelled back when I heard thunder
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
I'm looking down now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
Sad eyes follow me
But I still believe there's something left for me
So please come stay with me
'Cause I still believe there's something left for you and me
For you and me
For you and me
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking."
It was a bit creepy how much this related to me right now, but it also had an amazing comforting effect. Just as the last note faded, a cloaked and hooded figure came into my line of view. He, and I'm assuming here, walked to the low wall and just stood staring out into the night.
Then, he spoke to me, "It is not safe up there, Emily. You may fall."
I jerked and then just rolled my eyes, "Legolas, you have no idea how close I was."
He turned slightly and then smiled thinly, "Aye, I do. Elf ears."
"Oh, right."
You idiot! Of course he would have heard you singing, he's a bloody elf!
"So..." I said to break the silence.
"So..." he repeated with laughter in his voice.
"Dude, you are not helping right now. What are you doing up here, anyway?"
"The same thing that you are, thinking," he said but with no laughter this time.
"Penny for your thoughts."
He turned fully and looked quizzically at me, "Penny? I do not grasp your meaning."
I sighed, "Never mind, just tell me what you are thinking about, elf boy."
"Sauron. The Hobbits. Middle-Earth."
"That works..."
We stayed like that for a long time, sharing a companionable silence while both lost in different but strangely the same thoughts.
Suddenly I smelled the faint scent of smoke and Aragorn moved up to stand beside Legolas.
"Put out the pipe, Ranger."
He jerked and looked up at me. I waggled my fingers at him, "Hi. Don't ask."
He just nodded slowly and turned back around. We fell back into silence again.
I felt that weird pulling again. It was deep inside of me, but instead of telling me only to fall off the roof by myself, it was telling me I should take the other two with me. I was horrified with my thoughts and was just going to have a serious heart-to-heart with myself when I heard Legolas.
"The stars are veiled."
I looked up to see what he was talking about when I felt a thickness covering me. I blinked and cleared my throat, but it was still there. Weird...
"Something stirs in the East...A sleepless malice."
Aragorn and Legolas turned and looked at each other then at me. I really paid no attention because of the heaviness that was covering me, consuming me.
Just as Legolas spoke I knew what was happening.
"The Eye of the enemy is moving."
Sauron was here!
We stayed and looked at each other a moment longer before we all broke and ran. I rolled to my right and swung down from the roof. I landed hard and managed to scrap my knee badly but I was up and moving again. Legolas and Aragorn were close on my heels.
At first I didn't even realize where I was rushing to, but then it hit me where I had to be. The Hobbits' room. I mean I know they had Gandalf rooming with them, but I had a gut instinct that whatever was happening, he had no clue.
Finally after much winding around and racing through the corridors, we made it to their room. Legolas and Aragorn elbowed past me and shoved their way into the room and found Pippin writhing on the floor in pain, clutching the funky glass orb. I knew there was a reason that I had a bad feeling about it.
Aragorn reached over and snatched it out of his hands and then immediately fell to his knees gasping. Legolas was holding him upright, but was smart enough to touch the Palantir.
As I was watching in shock, I felt a little voice at the back of my mind whining at me to go and grab Aragorn's dagger and plunge it into his back. I shook my head and looked to where Aragorn was holding the orb in pain. Then, I knew what I had to do.
I strode over to him and grabbed it and held on tight. Dimly I heard Gandalf's voice shouting at me to let go, but I refused, I knew who that voice was finally.
It was Sauron and it was coming from the orb.
'KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!'
It thundered in my mind, bouncing off the crevices and amplifying more and more. I had sunk to my knees and was huddling in a ball to protect the orb from any reaching hands.
'YOU ARE TO FUFILL YOUR QUEST. KILL THE HALFLINGS! KILL THE WIZARD! KILL ALL THAT ARE IN YOUR WAY! YOU ARE NOTHING! DO AS I BID! DO IT NOW!'
He screamed the last command in my mind. I saw that I was rushing towards a giant fiery eye on top of a tower. I saw a long knife magically appear in my hand and then I was back in the room. I was huddled with the orb still, with the voice thundering in my inner ear, but I refused to move.
'MOVE! KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM YOU WORTHLESS WOMAN!'
I got shakily to my feet, with the Palantir under my arm and the knife in my hand.
"I will NOT!" I screamed.
Instantly it felt as if my head would shatter into a million of pieces. My feet started moving on their own, in the direction of a terrified Merry. I could see the horror in his face and he was slowly backing away from me.
I looked deep into his eyes and could see that he thought he was finished. With my last reserve of strength, I turned the knife in my hand so it was pointing at my own chest instead of Merry's. With one last look I started the knife in a downward plunge towards my heart.
The world went black.
*~*~*
Slowly the world spun back into focus and I noticed I was propped up on the wall. I looked around in a daze and saw that everyone was looking at me with fear. Gandalf reached down and smoothed my hair from my face and looked deep into my eyes.
"She has returned."
"Would anyone mind telling me exactly what happened here?"
Pippin stepped forward slightly and explained in a shaky voice, "A knife appeared in your hand and you started to approach Merry. Then there was this gleam in your eyes, they had clouded over, but deep inside you could see it. There was this gleam and then you turned the knife on yourself. Just before you would have plunged it into your breast, the knife shattered and you were flung against the wall. A wind appeared and a scream was audible, then you awakened."
"So I have only been out a few minutes?" I asked groggily.
"Aye, child. You were under the spell of Sauron. He found you here," Gandalf said.
By now, I was feeling fine so I stood up and leaned against the wall. I was a bit shaky and disoriented but all right. Go me...
Then what he said registered in my mind, "What do you mean, 'found me here'?" I demanded.
Gandalf sighed wearily and sank down onto his bed, "Sauron has a hold upon you, child. He can trace you at will."
"So you mean that he knows where I am at all times and he knows what I'm doing? What I'm seeing?"
"Aye."
"Oh, God," I moaned. I cupped my hands in my head and then jerked upright again.
"Oh, God!" I repeated. "I have to get out of here!"
"Child, he can find you anywhere," Gandalf said, misunderstanding my meaning.
"No, you idiot! I know that! I mean that he knows what you guys are doing! What you are planning. With the thingy!"
They all just looked at me.
"The Ring, you dumbasses!"
Every eye widened with realization. Shit, we were in trouble.
I started for the door and brushed past Aragorn as he tried to block my path. I had to get my stuff together and get out of here as soon as possible.
'Babes! Get yourself together! We are outta here in three minutes!'
'Yeah, I kinda figured. I heard everything. You scared the hell out of me there, Emily.'
I just raised and eyebrow and broke into a run. The longer I stayed here, the more danger I put everyone in.
*~*~*
I was standing on the steps of the keep, trying to explain to the king why I had to leave when I felt that heaviness again.
"Oh, shit," I moaned. "It's coming back!"
I wheeled around and raced to where Babes was standing. I leapt onto her and I just managed to yell back, "Take care, everyone!" before we were off galloping.
The gates opened just as we reached them and squeezed through. Babes was moving for all she was worth and I was leaning down, clutching her mane with tears leaking out of my eyes, wondering what was going to happen now.
It didn't look good, at the moment I was trying to outrun an enemy that was deep inside of me.
Nope, not good at all.
*~*~*
A/N: There! I finished. This time it only took me two months to update. I just wanna warn everyone, I am having a hell of a time getting this story out, so it could be a while before the next chapter. I will try very, very hard though. I just seem to be hitting a bit of a road block.
The song was "One Last Breath" by Creed. Someone told me it was about a man thinking about suicide, so I kinda thought it fit the moment. Emily is going to come out of her emotional slump eventually, but I just have to work at it, otherwise she would end up a manic depressant!
Happy Easter to everyone that celebrates! (Think of this as a present)
~A~
I also have about fifty million things going on in my life right now, so no fear! I did not forget this story and its really not likely that I ever will. I mean holy cow! I have over seven hundred reviews! And to think, this whole idea came when I went running one day...
Story time!
*~*~*
These Rohannians sure as hell could party!
I had been winding through the ever-growing crowd of drunk people for the past hour and a half. Quite frankly, it was getting a bit old. I mean you can only take so many men vomiting practically on your shoes and equally drunk men trying to cop a feel. My hand hurt from dealing out so many slugs for getting too close.
I was also getting sick of Éowyn calf-eyeing Aragorn. Every time I looked over at her she was either talking to him or looking at him with devotion in her gaze. I was about to go the way of some of the formerly mentioned drunk men-and I'm not interested in groping anyone.
I was walking towards the door, when I happened to pass by a group of men, who, amazingly were managing to talk about the city's defense while being smashed. If that isn't admirable, I don't know what is...
Just as I passed, I heard one of them say, "We need not worry ourselves with the forces of Sauron. He would not dare to attack the Rohannians!"
I just could not help myself. I stopped and turned to them, "Oh, that's right, Helm's Deep was just a horrible misunderstanding. All the men that were killed was really no big deal. Sauron just had wrong directions. I mean everyone knows that Rohannians shit roses, who would want to deal with that?"
They just sat there staring at me, mouths agape. Then one managed to find his voice, "You dare to speak to your betters, woman? I shall have your tongue for that!" He started to stand, but I got to him before he could get anywhere.
"Woman, eh? So now, after saving probably half of the asses in this room, I am just a lowly woman? I bet my right hand that I and all the women in this room are worth at least two of you. Sauron doesn't care if you are the Queen of England at a tea party, he is going to come after you, your family, even your damn dog! He does not care! Nothing, and I enunciate this very clearly, nothing will stop him, least of all you, a worthless coward getting sloshed. So do not talk to me about betters." With that I walked out of the room, followed by the women's applause. I had gotten progressively louder as I was ranting and the entire room heard me by the time I was finished.
Actually, luckily for me, since it was so late, there really were not that many people left in the hall. Otherwise, I have a feeling I would have gotten one hell of an ass whooping for what I had said. The price for an opinion these days...
I hadn't seen any of the guys for quite a while now, not even the Hobbits. But then again, they were probably going the way of the other men, getting drunk off their asses. Oh well, I wasn't going to be the one with the killer hang over tomorrow.
Just the thought of sharing a corridor with all the drunk skunks was enough to turn a stomach of steel, so instead of turning left, to my room, I headed right. I happened to walk by the so-called 'laundry room.' I saw a pair of leggings and swiped them up. I wasn't staying in this dress any longer than I had to!
Soon I came to a long winding staircase. I was guessing that it lead to the roof, or the balcony, hey, if it lead outside I was happy. I had to get outside, the walls were starting to stifle me.
I slowly climbed the stairs, the leggings clutched in my hands, and low and behold, there was a balcony/ledge thingy. I went to the edge and looked down, just to see how far up I actually was. I gave a very girly shriek and leapt back. Yeah, I was that far up.
I just stood there watching the stars twinkling, gazing out into nothingness, twisting the pants around my left wrist. A light breeze picked up and blew my dress and my hair around me. I glanced around and took off the dress and replaced it with the leggings and undershirt I had had on to begin with.
I finished and seeing that no one else was around, I walked over to the overhang of the roof and started to climb up it. I was feeling a bit reckless, so after I finally hauled myself up and over the edge, I sat only about six feet from the edge. Up here, the breeze had turned itself into a wind, but it helped with my emotions. I had started to feel way to trapped down there will all the people celebrating. I never was much of a party person.
I sitting there just letting idle thoughts wash over me when it finally hit me, if I would scoot down the last six feet, all of this could be done and over with. I wouldn't have to worry about Sauron, or Saruman, or the Orcs, or the guys, or Frodo, or Sam, or, or, or...
I just wasn't really thinking clearly and with all that had been happening lately, I think I was getting depressed. No, you think... But even when I realized I had no real urge to slide down the last few feet, I couldn't break my fascination with the edge. It was almost like there was something or someone actually pushing me to make that final move.
I shook my head to clear my thoughts and started to sing under my breath to gain control of myself again.
"Please come now I think I'm falling
I'm holding on to all I think is safe
It seems I found the road to nowhere
And I'm trying to escape
I yelled back when I heard thunder
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
I'm looking down now that it's over
Reflecting on all of my mistakes
I thought I found the road to somewhere
Somewhere in His grace
I cried out heaven save me
But I'm down to one last breath
And with it let me say
Let me say
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking
That maybe six feet
Ain't so far down
Sad eyes follow me
But I still believe there's something left for me
So please come stay with me
'Cause I still believe there's something left for you and me
For you and me
For you and me
Hold me now
I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking."
It was a bit creepy how much this related to me right now, but it also had an amazing comforting effect. Just as the last note faded, a cloaked and hooded figure came into my line of view. He, and I'm assuming here, walked to the low wall and just stood staring out into the night.
Then, he spoke to me, "It is not safe up there, Emily. You may fall."
I jerked and then just rolled my eyes, "Legolas, you have no idea how close I was."
He turned slightly and then smiled thinly, "Aye, I do. Elf ears."
"Oh, right."
You idiot! Of course he would have heard you singing, he's a bloody elf!
"So..." I said to break the silence.
"So..." he repeated with laughter in his voice.
"Dude, you are not helping right now. What are you doing up here, anyway?"
"The same thing that you are, thinking," he said but with no laughter this time.
"Penny for your thoughts."
He turned fully and looked quizzically at me, "Penny? I do not grasp your meaning."
I sighed, "Never mind, just tell me what you are thinking about, elf boy."
"Sauron. The Hobbits. Middle-Earth."
"That works..."
We stayed like that for a long time, sharing a companionable silence while both lost in different but strangely the same thoughts.
Suddenly I smelled the faint scent of smoke and Aragorn moved up to stand beside Legolas.
"Put out the pipe, Ranger."
He jerked and looked up at me. I waggled my fingers at him, "Hi. Don't ask."
He just nodded slowly and turned back around. We fell back into silence again.
I felt that weird pulling again. It was deep inside of me, but instead of telling me only to fall off the roof by myself, it was telling me I should take the other two with me. I was horrified with my thoughts and was just going to have a serious heart-to-heart with myself when I heard Legolas.
"The stars are veiled."
I looked up to see what he was talking about when I felt a thickness covering me. I blinked and cleared my throat, but it was still there. Weird...
"Something stirs in the East...A sleepless malice."
Aragorn and Legolas turned and looked at each other then at me. I really paid no attention because of the heaviness that was covering me, consuming me.
Just as Legolas spoke I knew what was happening.
"The Eye of the enemy is moving."
Sauron was here!
We stayed and looked at each other a moment longer before we all broke and ran. I rolled to my right and swung down from the roof. I landed hard and managed to scrap my knee badly but I was up and moving again. Legolas and Aragorn were close on my heels.
At first I didn't even realize where I was rushing to, but then it hit me where I had to be. The Hobbits' room. I mean I know they had Gandalf rooming with them, but I had a gut instinct that whatever was happening, he had no clue.
Finally after much winding around and racing through the corridors, we made it to their room. Legolas and Aragorn elbowed past me and shoved their way into the room and found Pippin writhing on the floor in pain, clutching the funky glass orb. I knew there was a reason that I had a bad feeling about it.
Aragorn reached over and snatched it out of his hands and then immediately fell to his knees gasping. Legolas was holding him upright, but was smart enough to touch the Palantir.
As I was watching in shock, I felt a little voice at the back of my mind whining at me to go and grab Aragorn's dagger and plunge it into his back. I shook my head and looked to where Aragorn was holding the orb in pain. Then, I knew what I had to do.
I strode over to him and grabbed it and held on tight. Dimly I heard Gandalf's voice shouting at me to let go, but I refused, I knew who that voice was finally.
It was Sauron and it was coming from the orb.
'KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!'
It thundered in my mind, bouncing off the crevices and amplifying more and more. I had sunk to my knees and was huddling in a ball to protect the orb from any reaching hands.
'YOU ARE TO FUFILL YOUR QUEST. KILL THE HALFLINGS! KILL THE WIZARD! KILL ALL THAT ARE IN YOUR WAY! YOU ARE NOTHING! DO AS I BID! DO IT NOW!'
He screamed the last command in my mind. I saw that I was rushing towards a giant fiery eye on top of a tower. I saw a long knife magically appear in my hand and then I was back in the room. I was huddled with the orb still, with the voice thundering in my inner ear, but I refused to move.
'MOVE! KILL THEM ALL! KILL THEM YOU WORTHLESS WOMAN!'
I got shakily to my feet, with the Palantir under my arm and the knife in my hand.
"I will NOT!" I screamed.
Instantly it felt as if my head would shatter into a million of pieces. My feet started moving on their own, in the direction of a terrified Merry. I could see the horror in his face and he was slowly backing away from me.
I looked deep into his eyes and could see that he thought he was finished. With my last reserve of strength, I turned the knife in my hand so it was pointing at my own chest instead of Merry's. With one last look I started the knife in a downward plunge towards my heart.
The world went black.
*~*~*
Slowly the world spun back into focus and I noticed I was propped up on the wall. I looked around in a daze and saw that everyone was looking at me with fear. Gandalf reached down and smoothed my hair from my face and looked deep into my eyes.
"She has returned."
"Would anyone mind telling me exactly what happened here?"
Pippin stepped forward slightly and explained in a shaky voice, "A knife appeared in your hand and you started to approach Merry. Then there was this gleam in your eyes, they had clouded over, but deep inside you could see it. There was this gleam and then you turned the knife on yourself. Just before you would have plunged it into your breast, the knife shattered and you were flung against the wall. A wind appeared and a scream was audible, then you awakened."
"So I have only been out a few minutes?" I asked groggily.
"Aye, child. You were under the spell of Sauron. He found you here," Gandalf said.
By now, I was feeling fine so I stood up and leaned against the wall. I was a bit shaky and disoriented but all right. Go me...
Then what he said registered in my mind, "What do you mean, 'found me here'?" I demanded.
Gandalf sighed wearily and sank down onto his bed, "Sauron has a hold upon you, child. He can trace you at will."
"So you mean that he knows where I am at all times and he knows what I'm doing? What I'm seeing?"
"Aye."
"Oh, God," I moaned. I cupped my hands in my head and then jerked upright again.
"Oh, God!" I repeated. "I have to get out of here!"
"Child, he can find you anywhere," Gandalf said, misunderstanding my meaning.
"No, you idiot! I know that! I mean that he knows what you guys are doing! What you are planning. With the thingy!"
They all just looked at me.
"The Ring, you dumbasses!"
Every eye widened with realization. Shit, we were in trouble.
I started for the door and brushed past Aragorn as he tried to block my path. I had to get my stuff together and get out of here as soon as possible.
'Babes! Get yourself together! We are outta here in three minutes!'
'Yeah, I kinda figured. I heard everything. You scared the hell out of me there, Emily.'
I just raised and eyebrow and broke into a run. The longer I stayed here, the more danger I put everyone in.
*~*~*
I was standing on the steps of the keep, trying to explain to the king why I had to leave when I felt that heaviness again.
"Oh, shit," I moaned. "It's coming back!"
I wheeled around and raced to where Babes was standing. I leapt onto her and I just managed to yell back, "Take care, everyone!" before we were off galloping.
The gates opened just as we reached them and squeezed through. Babes was moving for all she was worth and I was leaning down, clutching her mane with tears leaking out of my eyes, wondering what was going to happen now.
It didn't look good, at the moment I was trying to outrun an enemy that was deep inside of me.
Nope, not good at all.
*~*~*
A/N: There! I finished. This time it only took me two months to update. I just wanna warn everyone, I am having a hell of a time getting this story out, so it could be a while before the next chapter. I will try very, very hard though. I just seem to be hitting a bit of a road block.
The song was "One Last Breath" by Creed. Someone told me it was about a man thinking about suicide, so I kinda thought it fit the moment. Emily is going to come out of her emotional slump eventually, but I just have to work at it, otherwise she would end up a manic depressant!
Happy Easter to everyone that celebrates! (Think of this as a present)
~A~