I love all my loyal fans! I hug you all! I'm trying not to screw this fic up. Am I doing an okay job?
Marie slowly came into the realm of consciousness to the harsh glare of sun. "Sunlight equals BAD!" she screamed to the world. She opened an eye to gain her bearings. She was half on and half off a small pile of linens in a room with smooth stone floors and open to the air and elements. She tried to push herself to her knees but frowned as she began to remember where she was. She craned her neck to see her horse half. The chestnut colored hair was matted with blood in a few lines on the Belly, and there was a large bandage wrapped around her right hind leg. She moved onto her human half, examining for any wounds. She find a few bruises and scrapes, she also found her hair (which has turned the same coarseness and color of her horsehair) had been braided. She chuckled to herself. 'Elves.' She thought before trying to stand up. She was shaky, but she managed to stand and take a few tentative steps. She smiled. She could do this! She took a large step and crash landed to the floor with an undignified shriek. Rubbing her bruised chest and jaw, she let out a steady stream of curses and looked around for something she could lean on. She settled on the windowsill and managed to clamber up again.
She noticed her bag she had left with Aragorn and the other Hobbits was in the room on a stone table, along with her sword and a small plate of food. So Marie leaned against the wall and ate, staring at all the beauty of Rivendell.
Marie was meandering about Rivendell. She had found a large stick which had enough strength that it would not break in half if she suddenly needed support. She was taking a leisurely stroll around the Ancient Elf city, admiring the beauty and craftsmanship of this mystical place. She hadn't run into anybody, which saddened her slightly, she had been hoping to find some elves t talk to. It seems they were taking steps to avoid her. "Aw come on! It's not like I have a plague or anything!" She shouted to the empty halls.
"I should hope not." A voice behind her caused her to jump.
"AUGHABAHGADAGA! 1." Marie screamed and whirled around to face Gandalf. "Never….again…Gandalf…" She managed to wheeze out as she took several deep breaths while the Wizard chuckled to himself.
"Do you have a reason why you almost caused the shutdown of all my major organs, or did you feel particularly malignant this morning Gandalf?!" Marie asked very quickly and angrily at the elderly wizard.
The Grey wizard raised a furry brow at her extremely long remark and leaned on his staff. "I was going to inform you that all the elves have either left to the undying lands, or are going to see the arrival of the Prince of Mirkwood, Legolas-" He didn't finish as Marie got a look in her eyes, a look that seemed reminiscent of Bilbo with the Ring and made Gandalf shiver slightly.
"L-Legolas…Legolas you say….where will he be arriving from?" She asked, swallowing and keeping her cool, her voice rising in pitch slightly at the end.
Gandalf looked at her, his mouth quirked in amusement. "That way my dear, would you like it if I accompanied you?" Marie nodded. Legolas did not need a one ton horse woman glomping the daylights out of him, and Gandalf would keep her in check. She hoped.
(1. pronounced: A-GAH-BAH-GA-DA-GA, an illiterate scream of surprise and alarm)
AT THE COUNCIL
It had been several days since the last members of the council arrived, and the meeting was about to begin. Marie walked in with Gandalf, still in her centaur form, luckily in nicer clothes then her old human shirt from Bree. She now had a lovely sapphire blouse and her hair had been re-braided with blue ribbon in it by a few giggling elf-maids. Everyone was staring, and Boromir had even tried to attack her. She yelped and backed away from his sword, using her staff to defend herself slightly. "Boromir, you cross the line. Surely you know she is a part of the counsel?" Elrond reprimanded the young Gondorian.
'I am a part of the counsel?' Marie thought gleefully while Boromir frowned. "This beast is one I have never set eyes on before, and I have traveled throughout this land." He said suspiciously while poking her with his sword.
Marie batted the sword away from her irritated. "I am not some monster you need slay Boromir of Gondor, you have no evidence to suspect me of foul play. Now I do believe we are keeping this meeting from occurring, so let us stop this quarrel." She stood to the left of Gandalf and Boromir made his way back to his seat, his eye not wandering from Marie's.
"Strangers from distant lands friends of old. You have been summoned here 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 to this fate, this one doom. Bring forth the ring Frodo." Elrond said to all the members of the counsel. Frodo brought forward the ring, set in on a stone table in front of them all and sat back down. As soon as he did, murmurs went through the air.
Marie took a good long look at the ring. It held nothing for her but the idea of an evil that must be destroyed. She could take the ring to Mordor without any chance of it consuming her soul; however she knew that was the job of Frodo and Sam to take on. Besides, if she took it she would have no earthly idea which way to go or how to evade the Orcs of Mordor, or how to keep Gollum at bay, or how to- 'Yep,' she cut herself off, 'Definitely not my job to do.'
She had been so lost in thought; she had completely missed Boromir's little speech and Legolas' retaliation.
"Gondor has no king. Gondor needs no king." Boromir said contemptuously, before seating himself again.
"You have only one choice: the ring must be destroyed." Elrond proclaimed to the group.
Gimli then got up, and asked, "What are we waiting for?" He took his axe to the ring, and got thrown backwards when it did nothing whatsoever to mar the miniature evil on the stone column...
"The Ring cannot be destroyed Gimli son of Gloin, by any craft that we here possess…" Elrond began to explain how it needed to be destroyed and how one of them must do it. Marie began tuning him out looking at a bluebird above her head. She wiggled her fingers at it in Greeting and it chirruped at her. She suddenly remembered she should be paying attention to the counsel and focused back in just as Gimli stood.
"I will be dead before I see the ring in the hands of an Elf!" Gimli yelled. That broke the dam and they all stood, fighting and arguing with heated insults and gestures. Marie stood also, and began shouting along with them, trying to break up the feud, but probably making it even worse. The din grew louder and more rowdy until one voice broke over the raging swirl of testosterone...and a small dose of PMS.
"I will take it! …..I Will Take It!" Frodo yelled to the crowd and everyone quieted.
Frodo repeated his offer, "Though… I do not know the way." He admitted to the group, eyes down.
"I will help you bear this burden Frodo Baggins… as long as it is yours to bear." Gandalf told him softly, placing a hand on the Hobbit's shoulder affectionately.
Aragorn then stood and said, "If by my life or death, I can protect you… I will. You have my sword."
"And you have my bow." Legolas said coming over and kneeling slightly.
"And my ax." Gimli put in. At this Legolas looked around the area with disappointment and a hint of despair.
"You carry the fate of us all, little one. If this is indeed the will of the council…then Gondor will see it done." Boromir muttered to Frodo.
"HAYTHERE!" Sam yelled as he ran up next to Frodo "Mr. Frodo's not going anywhere without me."
"Yes it is hardly possible to separate you even when he is summoned to a secret council and you are not." Elrond told him with amusement in his voice.
Then Merry and Pippin ran in yelling, "We're coming too!"
"You'll have to send us home tied up in a sack to stop us!" Merry said as he raced over to the group. "Anyway, you need people of intelligence on this sort of... Mission… quest... thing!" Pippin said as Merry told him, "well that rules you out Pip!"
Marie stepped forward before bowing slightly. "I will aid you to the fullest of my ability Frodo Baggins."
"Ten companions… So be it. You shall be the fellowship of the Ring!" Elrond proclaimed to the group.
"Great! Where are we going?" Pippin asked.
Alright, the next one should be coming up soon. Until then read and review!