Disclaimer: I do not own Lord of the Rings or any of the languages spoken in the books or movie. I do own Nicole, Susan, Jake, their parents (Howard and Lara Lawson, Tom and Elizabeth Daniels, Fred and Angelina Nox), Matt Thompson, and Bill.
Chapter 6
"So then what did you say?"
"I said, 'I'm not good with my own reality, so I sure as hell can't handle a fantasy.'"
"Ooo, that's deep."
"No it's not, it's honest."
"True."
Susan and Nicole were currently in the kitchen gathering supplies. Nicole was leaning up against the counter, twirling a wooden spoon in her hand.
"Where are the pots and pans in this place?" Susan asked, opening and closing cupboards.
"Susan!" Nicole sighed.
"What?"
Nicole gestured vaguely into the air, indicating her predicament.
Susan closed the cupboard and walked over to Nicole. "Look, we're obviously stuck here for a while, and this elf guy has it out for you. Just ignore him like you have every other man in the world."
Nicole glanced down at the spoon. "Why do you think we came here?" Not 'how', but 'why.'
Susan shrugged her shoulders and resumed her search. "Whatever the reason, we should make the most of—AH HA! Found one!" Susan held up her discovery, causing Nicole to grin.
BANG BANG BANG BANG!
"AAAAGGGGHHHHH!"
Jake shot out of bed breathing heavily, with his fist up in the air, ready to attack. He searched the room with a fierce stare for the creator of the deafening noise, only to find Susan and Nicole, still dressed in their shear white night gowns. They were giggling uncontrollably and holding a wooden spoon and metal frying pan.
"Oh, you're so dead!" Jake yelled, jumping out of bed. Nicole and Susan screamed, and began to run for the door, Jake nipping at their heels. The girls skidded across the hallway, and the sprinted down it. Jake, whose strength was more than his speed, skidded so hard that he fell onto the stone floor.
"Morning Elrond!" the girls cheered in unison, barely missing him as they turned a corner.
Elrond thanked the Valar for his hearing, as he pressed himself up against the wall as Jake turned the corner in pursuit, or else he would have never heard them coming.
Yet despite the chaos, he smiled gently. Middle Earth had certainly changed the troubled three. He had seen their past, and was greatly sorrowed by their parent's actions. He would make it up for them, for despite their past, there was a bright light that shone among them, especially in Nicole.
He had awoken her early in the morning to give her the medicine for her heart. Powders from the soft stones of the Ford were mixed with crushed Athelas leaves. She reluctantly drank the thick, bland powder with her water. Elrond had never encountered an illness like hers, so he didn't know how long the concoction would last. However, her running and laughter was well worth the risk.
The girls raced down the hallway where many of the guests where staying. Nicole, for the first time in her life, was in the lead. She looked over her shoulder at the laughing Susan and the scowling, but smirking Jake.
THUD!
Nicole had collided with something or someone, and fell down. She felt strong arms wrap around her and a stern, but soft voice sound.
"Are you all right, Lady Nicole?"
Nicole opened her eyes, only to widen them more. She had collided into Legolas. Chest to chest, nose to nose, they looked into each others eyes. With an ice cold stare, Nicole pushed against him and rose.
"I'm fine," she hissed, while Susan and Jake backed her up. Legolas slowly got up, and with an emotionless and indifferent look, he bowed to the three and walked down the hallway.
Nicole sighed deeply as they headed back to their rooms to change for the council. To think she touched that prick! Nicole shuddered and began to rub her bare arms. He was so stiff, and cold, like a piece of steel. And they look he gave her made her wonder if he cared about anything.
Legolas was also quivering, but not from disgust. As soon as he turned the corner, he leaned up against the wall to steady himself. Her body was warm and soft against his that he had to put his arms around her, just to make sure she was real. She was so small, yet she molded against his frame perfectly, like she was meant to be. Her skin was smooth and beautifully pale, and her eyes were dark and mysterious, shining like the moon. And that nightgown! He could feel every bit of her burning against his body.
No, NO! He must stop these thoughts. For one, he is an elf, and she is a human. And she has already shown distaste for him; he would not want to displease her more. Straightening himself, he calmly walked to awake his companions.
Susan walked calmly out of her room wearing black dress of Arwen's wardrobe. Her hair was still messy and bleached white, and her eyes were still hidden beneath her dark eye makeup, but she didn't care. And neither did her secret admirer.
"Susan!" she heard a voice call out. She turned to face the regal and handsome looking man she saw yesterday. Outside she was calm, but inside she was jumping for joy.
"What? Not 'Lady Susan'?" she quipped. Her insides twisted in knots because they were both alone in an outside staircase that wound around a column.
The man just smirked. "I have heard you do not like being called that."
Susan smiled and continued walking. "What do you want?" she snapped playfully. The man just smirked again. He was pushing all the right buttons, and he knew it.
"I would like to introduce myself. I am Boromir of Gondor," he said with a slight bow, taking her hand and giving her a light kiss on its back.
"And I am Susan of Unavailable. Please, I've heard this before, and you're not being original," she retorted, looking him up and down with indifferent eyes, but forgot to retrieve her hand.
"And you're being difficult, which I find intriguing," he commented arrogantly.
Susan scowled, and crossed her arms. Who does this guy think he is? And why isn't he cowering like all the other guys she has come across?
"Who do you think you are? Do you know I could squash you and ruin those fancy clothes of yours?"
"I would like to see you try," he scoffed.
Susan's eyes flamed as she pulled back her fist. She launched her right hand at the man's face, but he quickly dodged it and moved to his left, grabbing her wrist and twisting her around until her arms were pressed against his chest in a tight embrace.
"Let me go you f—" Susan was quickly cut off by a pair of rough lips. She could feel the scratchy beard on his chin and above his lip. As quick as the kiss came, it left, leaving Susan stunned. That was her first kiss. She had hated other boys so much that she, and Nicole, had never dated.
Boromir smirked at her shock and released her, and then continued his walk to the council area. Realizing and coming to grips with what just happened, Susan chased after him.
"Why did you do that?" she asked in anger, punching him in the shoulder.
Boromir turned quickly around, and gave a light laugh. "I told you. You intrigue me. I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"NO! Of course not!" Susan yelled. Like a boy could hurt her!
"Good." Boromir swooped down again to give her another kiss. Susan's arms stay at her side as she went stiff with surprise. Boromir kissed her top lip, then her bottom, and desperately tried to get her to respond. Second by second, Susan eased up, and she finally kissed back. Boromir raised his hand to lightly trace her cheek with the tips of his fingers. He broke off the kiss to find Susan no longer in shock, but in a total state of peace.
"Then you won't mind if I do it again," he quipped.
Susan went frightfully mad and stomped her foot. "I hate you!" she growled at his retreating form.
"No, you don't!" he laughed and continued to laugh as he walked away. Susan huffed and stomped her foot again in anger.
"What was that all about?"
Susan turned around to see Nicole standing behind her with curious eyes.
"Did you see what he did?" she yelled.
"Yeah… He kissed you… How was it?"
"IT WAS… well… okay I guess… I don't really have anything to compare it to."
Nicole just gave a light laugh at her friend's loss for words.
"Come on," she said, linking arms with Susan, "The council is about to start."
As they entered the outside council area, Nicole looked around. Elrond was seated at the front with his sons, Elladan and Elrohir, on either side of him. They had just returned from the north to join the council. The rest of the chairs encircled around Elrond. On one end, the man named Strider sat next to Erestor, Glorfindel, and one other elf, Galdor, from the Grey Havens Nicole was told. On the other end, two hobbits, one called Frodo and the other Nicole didn't know, sat next to an old man in grey. Next to them were Legolas and his companions. Six empty seats that were on the other side of Legolas cause Nicole to laugh on the inside.
"Excuse me, lass." Nicole was pulled out of her thoughts by a rough voice. She looked down to find the dwarves to whom she and Susan had tried to introduce themselves.
"Are you feeling any better?" the white haired one asked.
"Yes, and I must thank you. Susan told me you kept the noisy elves at bay."
They both puffed out their chests in pride. "You're most certainly welcome. I am Gloin, and this is my son, Gimli. We are at your service."
"Thank you Gloin and Gimli. My name is Nicole, this is Susan, and this is… where's Jake?"
"I'm right here."
Nicole and Susan both gasped, and turned around to find a grinning Jake.
"Got ya," he said, while Nicole and Susan laughed.
"… And this is Jake," finished Nicole, as an idea popped in her head. "Would you two like to sit next to us?" The two dwarves nodded as the five moved over to the empty seats. The trio sat the farthest away from Legolas, while the dwarves grunted and sat next to him. Nicole and Susan tried to hide their laughter as Legolas sneered in disgust at Gimli.
Boromir was the last to enter the council, smirking playfully at Susan. Her eyes widened when she saw that the last seat was next to her. She groaned as Boromir calmly sat next to her, not paying a bit of attention to her, but obviously laughing on the inside.
Legolas was not laughing at Nicole's little joke. He turned his glance from the dwarf to Nicole. She was wearing a beautiful, light brown dress trimmed in gold. The top half of her black hair was braided into several braids and pulled back. To some; it looked ugly and stiff. To Legolas; it was beautiful, wild, and untamed, like her. Her eyes shone a dark brown, almost black radiance that caught his breath in his throat.
Nicole could feel something burning into her side, and turned her head. She saw Legolas's emotionless stare at her. She merely scowled at him, and then turned her attention to Elrond.
"Strangers from distant lands, friends of old. You have been summoned to answer the threat of Mordor. Middle-earth stands upon the brink of destruction. None can escape it. You will unite, or you will fall. Each race is bound this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the Ring, Frodo."
The small hobbit with jet black hair rose and placed a small gold ring on the center table. Murmurs and gasps where made among the people, but Nicole did not hear them. At the sight of the ring, a sharp pain in her heart occurred and she jerked, gripping the arms of her chair. This did not go unnoticed by Elrond or Legolas.
As Bilbo, the other hobbit next to Frodo, explained how he got the ring, and then Frodo talked of how he brought it to Rivendell, the three outsiders stared at the simple thing in awe in wonder. Nicole felt a chill to her bones as she breathed, but could not look away. It scared her. She felt as if she was back at home, in her house, and her father had just returned from work.
Susan narrowed her eyes at it, as if to pounce. It challenged her, beckoning and daring her to attack. Memories of old came back to her mind.
"Mom! Dad!" Susan yelled as she slammed the front door. She dumped her backpack on the nearest chair, and sprinted up the stairs with a tiny piece of paper in her hand. She ran to her parents' room and flung the door open.
"Mom! Dad! Guess—oh…" Her parents were not in the room, but rather the maid, vacuuming the carpet. The maid smiled and turned it off to listen to Susan.
"Hola, Susan," she said in her sweet voice, "Como estas?" The family maid did not speak English, but Nicole had taught Susan a little since Nicole's father was half Spanish and half French, and insisted that Nicole learn both languages.
"Hola Maria, umm, donde…umm… donde estan mis… umm… parents?"
"Tus padres?"
"Si."
"No estan aqui. Estan en Chicago. Tienes hambre?"
"No, I'm not hungry…" muttered Susan as she shut the door.
She walked into her room, and slammed the door behind her. Her parents left her with the maid again, this time to go to Chicago. Last week it was Atlanta, and the week before that it was New York. Sure, the maid was nice to her, but it wasn't the same. This week they had promise to stay.
Tear drops began to fall on the paper in her hand. She had gotten an A+ for her social studies test, and she wanted to show them that. In her fury and sorrow, she ripped the paper to shreds and threw it in the waste basket. Screaming at the top of her lungs, she shoved the contents of her desk off onto the floor.
After crying and screaming her hear out, she picked up her weak body and climbed down the tree that stood outside her window. Walking down the sidewalk to Nicole's house, she saw a group of kids playing with a ball. She ran over to them, snatched the ball, and threw it into the street, hitting a passing car's window. Despite the yelling from the driver and the cries of the children, Susan kept walking with a scowl on her face.
Susan was brought back to the present when Boromir shifted uneasily. He too was staring at the ring with a passion.
"So it is true…" he muttered.
"What's true?" Susan asked in an agitated voice, louder than it should have been. Everyone turned to look at her with questioning eyes. Susan, at realizing her blunder, snorted and sneered in defiance, while Nicole shook her head and Jake buried his head in his hands.
"I understand, Lady Susan," said Elrond, "that you and you companions do not know of our history. So let me recount the Last Alliance." Elrond recalled the last battle that both elves and men fought together, against the evil of Sauron. He told of the creation of the rings, and the fall of Gil-galad and Elendil.
All the while, Jake stared at the ring. It spoke of love, and comfort that he missed for so long. The ring whispered about his mother; their savior. One of the hardest days of his life came back to life.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Howard yelled at his only son. Jake sat in the middle of his father's office with his head bowed; taking it like the man his father was not.
"You were suppose to study, but obviously, YOU DIDN'T!"
"But Dad, I…"
"Don't give me your excuses! What does this say? WHAT?" Howard had shoved the test paper in Jake's face. Jake got a B- on the social studies test, but he had studied all night long.
"…B-…"
"And what were you suppose to get?"
"…"
"WHAT WERE YOU SUPPOSE TO GET?"
"…A…"
"A+ YOU IDIOT! YOU ARE GOING TO GO UP TO YOUR ROOM, AND STUDY UNTIL DAWN!"
Howard stormed over to the door and opened it. Jake slowly made his way over to the doorway. When he got there, he looked up to his father's face. His father wasn't even looking at him! Stone cold, and jaw set, his father was looking out the window. Jake trudged out of the room, and the door was slammed behind him.
Jake looked to his left and saw the picture of his mother sitting on the hallway table. He gently picked up the picture and caressed it with his fingertips. He then slammed his fist into the glass. His knuckles were torn, and his mother's face was covered in his blood, but he didn't care. She left him. She left him with that man.
"Do you understand what's going on?" Nicole whispered in his ear. Jake's thoughts came back to the council. Gloin had just spoken of the black riders' offers, Gandalf, the man in grey, spoke of his journey for Gollum and his escape from Isengard, and now it was Legolas's turn to speak.
"The tidings that I was sent to bring must now be told. They are not good, but only here have I learned how evil they may seem to this company. Smeagol, who is now called Gollum, has escaped."
"Way to go, sport," muttered Nicole as she rolled her eyes. Legolas and all the other blonde elves shoot her a dirty look.
"You can not comprehend the death that went with his escape!" stated Legolas, his voice empty and cold. Nicole felt the ice of his words wash over her, but the came and left quickly.
"What I don't comprehend is how a wedding band can cause so much trouble!" she shouted, silencing their tongues, but igniting their furies. What Nicole lacked in physical strength, she made up in her wicked tongue.
Nicole began to stare at the ring. It called her name over and over again, in a soft, calm voice that reminded her of Lara.
"I mean… it's just a ring!" she whispered. She began to twist her own rings on her, and Susan rubbed her arm in comfort. Out of the corner of her eye, Susan looked to Boromir, who honestly looked concerned.
"Of course you don't comprehend," said Legolas. Boromir, Gimli, Gloin, Susan, Jake, and Nicole looked at him with the utmost anger. "You are just a mortal woman." Uh oh, now he was going to get it. Boromir stood up, and approached where Legolas sat.
"You should know not to speak so to an honored guest of Lord Elrond."
Legolas bowed his head, and Susan beamed proudly at Boromir and Legolas.
'That guy kissed me! That guy kissed me!' she sang to herself. Nicole was not so happy. She had let her mouth run off again. Too many times her mouth got her in trouble.
"In a dream, I saw the eastern sky grow dark. But in the West a pale light lingered. A voice was crying: 'Your doom is near at hand. Isildur's Bane is found.'" Boromir stared intently at the ring, and then reached for it.
"Isildur's Bane," he muttered once more. Elrond stood in a hurry, and so did Jake. But it was Gandalf's words that stopped Boromir in his tracks.
"Ash Nazg durbatulûk Ash Nazg gimbatul. Ash Nazg thrakatulûk agh Burzum-ishi krimpatul!"
The elves stopped their ears, the men and dwarves quivered in fear, and Nicole felt her heart contract. A dark shadow fell over them, Boromir and Jake retreated to their seats, and Nicole somehow sensed a cold aura of déjà vu.
"What was that?" Susan asked, breathing like she just ran a marathon.
"Never before has any voice uttered the words of that tongue here in Imladris," snapped Elrond at Gandalf.
"I do not beg your pardon, Master Elrond," Gandalf said in a voice of weary and exhaust, "For the Black Speech of Mordor may yet be heard in every corner of the West! The Ring is altogether evil."
"It is a gift. A gift to the foes of Mordor," pleaded Boromir, standing once again. "Why not use this Ring? Long has my father, the Steward of Gondor kept the forces of Mordor at bay by the blood of our people are your lands kept safe. Give Gondor the weapon of the enemy. Let us use it against him!"
The entire time he spoke, Susan looked on him curiosity. He obviously cared for his country and his family, which was the complete opposite of her. She wondered if she would be that way if Lara had never died, for Boromir and she had the same passion in their hearts.
"You cannot wield it," said Strider. His voice was not as strong as Boromir's, but filled with wisdom. "None of us can. The One Ring answers to Sauron alone. It has no other master."
"And what would a Ranger know of this matter?" snapped Boromir. At that moment, Legolas swiftly stood up. Nicole could see in his eyes that he was angry, whether from Boromir's previous remarks, or his current.
"This is no mere Ranger. He is Aragorn, son of Arathorn. You owe him your allegiance." Boromir's and Nicole's eyes widened.
"Aragorn? This is Isildur's heir?" scoffed Boromir.
"Allegiance? You're not some leader, are you?" questioned Nicole, while the three gave him strange looks, for they too wondered this.
"Yes, a king, heir to the throne of Gondor," finished Legolas proudly.
"Havo dad, Legolas," whispered Aragorn. As Legolas reluctantly sat down, Nicole stood up in a hurry.
"Why are you not on your throne? It's clear from these people's stories that a leader is needed!" she shouted, scolding Aragorn like a little child.
"You do not know the responsibilities of a king!" he shouted back.
"I know when a person inherits responsibilities, he should do them without question!" she yelled above his voice. "He should do them like a man, and not a coward!"
Aragorn bowed his head in anger and shame, for Nicole was right, but he would still not take that path. Nicole was passionate about inherent responsibilities, yet she was a hypocrite for not fulfilling hers at college. But she had her reasons.
"Why are you never home?" a female voice shouted out.
"That's none of you business!" a male voice retorted.
"Are you having an affair?" A long pause filled the air, as the shuffle of feet passed by Nicole's bedroom door.
"Answer me Fred!"
SLAP!
"Don't talk to me that way!"
"Fred, don't!" The slapping continued, and Nicole's mother's shrieks would not stop. Finally Nicole burst out of her room.
"NO! PLEASE DON'T HIT HER!" she screamed, grabbing her father's arm. Fred simply turned around and began to hit Nicole across the face.
"Daddy," she cried, "Stop it! Please, you're hurting…"
"Shut up! Just shut up!" he yelled. She shouldn't have asked. Once again, she let her mouth get her in trouble. He hated it when she cried and yelled. Nicole looked at her mother, who was crouched by her bedroom door.
"Mommy! Help!" she cried. Angelina just stared at her daughter as she was beaten. Nicole cried as part of her blood was split on the pure, white carpet floor.
"Mommy!"
Several hours later, and after Fred left the house to get drunk once more, Nicole quietly crept out of her room to her parent's bedroom. Her back and neck ached, but she made the journey none the less. She found her mother lying face down on her silk-covered bed with a bottle of scotch in hand. Her eyes were closed as if sleeping, so Nicole gently shook her.
"Mommy?"
Angelina opened her eyes slowly. "What do you want?" she snapped.
"Why does Daddy hit us?" Nicole asked with those innocent eyes of hers.
Angelina snorted and took another swig of scotch. "Cause he's a coward and he doesn't want to take responsibility for us!"
Nicole looked at her bedside table that was covered with drug bottles and tissues, and pondered her mother's answer.
"Why didn't you stop him like I did for you?" she whispered. Her mother's eyes became writhed in flame and her voice was like ice.
"CAUSE I DON'T WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A STUPID, UGLY GIRL LIKE YOU!" she shouted. "GET OUT! GET OUT!"
Nicole ran for the door, and quickly shut it behind her. She heard a large crash, and the door moved slightly. Her mother had thrown the bottle against the door, and was now crying.
Nicole began to back away from the door, sobbing. Why did they hate her? What did she do? Why?
Nicole heard the doorbell rang. As she walked down the stairs to open it, she wiped her tears to hide any evidence. She opened the door, and gave a sigh of relief. It was Susan.
"Can I stay here for awhile?" she pleaded, and Nicole immediately nodded her head. Susan looked her best friend up and down.
"Did they hit you again?"
Nicole nodded one more time.
"Did you do what the teacher said, and asked them politely?"
Nicole and her class were learning about manners that week, and the teacher said to always ask nicely with "please." The teacher was wrong.
Nicole nodded her head again, and flung herself into Susan's arms. As she sobbed, Susan stroked her hair, and began to cry as well.
Nicole's tears were stopped from welling up by a soft hand on her shoulder. Boromir gave her a smile in thanks, and then went to address Aragorn.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." He guided Nicole back to her chair, and Nicole quickly glanced in Legolas's direction. For a second, she thought she saw a bit of concern in his eyes, but they currently showed nothing; no emotion what so ever.
'He must not have a heart,' she thought, as she took her seat. Susan wrapped her arms around Nicole's shoulder, for she had heard Nicole's little speech before. She had dared to say it to her parents once. That day was the day that changed their lives, and sent Nicole to the hospital. Susan shuddered at the memories, but turned her eyes to Gandalf.
"None the less, Aragorn is right. We cannot use it," he said.
"You have only one choice. The Ring must be destroyed."