Sorry I haven't updated in a while. I've had this chapter written for sometime, but I felt as if it might need some tweaking. Then, I got a message from a very determined person. I appreciate it though, because now I think it's okay enough to post. So with no further ado and no more blabbing, here's the next chapter.
"Lady Anna." a voice broke through the haze of Anna's slumber. It was followed by a gentle shake on her shoulder. "Lady Anna, it is time to rise."
"Five more minutes." Anna muttered her protest and rolled over.
"We have no time for this." another, irritated sounding voice spoke. Anna recognized that one. It was Glorfindel; and, as always, he didn't sound happy. "Lady Anna, it is time to rise." his voice seemed closer now and was followed by a not so gentle shake to her shoulder.
Anna sighed, knowing that he wouldn't let her sleep anymore. If there was one thing she had figured out about Glorfindel, it was that he was a very commanding person and he didn't take to kindly to people not following his demands. "You must be an only child." Anna muttered as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes.
No comment followed hers and when she opened her eyes to look around she found out that it was still quite dark out. "Oh, come on." she moaned.
"Come where, my Lady?" Amrod asked curiously.
She sighed again and rolled her eyes, "The sun's not even up yet." she complained to a very non-impressed Glorfindel who at present was standing over her. She couldn't see much, having just woken up, but she somehow knew that he wasn't smiling.
"As I have said before, we have much earth to cover." he stated. He turned and began walking away from her but threw over his shoulder, "We must make up for lost time. You had us stop much yesterday."
Anna rolled her eyes again, "Oh sure, blame the girl." She stretched and yawned, "Men. So typical." She laid on her pallet for a few more seconds and then rose to her feet slowly. "One night on the ground and already I miss my bed." she nodded her head, "I've gone soft." she said to no one in particular.
She felt someone looking at her and turned to the person standing beside her. The small amount of light in the sky was enough to detect dark hair so she knew then it was Amrod. "Good morning." she greeted but didn't sound to happy about it, "Did he shove you too?" she asked.
"Nay." Amrod nodded.
Anna nodded, "Good to know he reserves the special treatment for me." she muttered darkly as she began stumbling off to find privacy.
A few minutes later, with the sky a little lighter, she returned to find that all the 'elves' had cleaned up camp and those would were not already mounted were preparing to. All except Galrod who was packing up her bed roll. "You didn't have to do that." Anna said to him as she walked over. She realized that she might have sounded ingrateful, and even if she was tired, it was no excuse to be impolite to someone who was helping her. Well... sort of. As far as she knew he was still a kidnapper. But he was also nice to her when others weren't. And manners dictated that she thank him for his kindness. "I mean, I do appreciate it, but I could have done it." she explained in a nicer tone.
Before Galrod could respond, Glorfindel cut in, "Gain, your mount, Lady Anna, we will be leaving shortly."
Anna refused to even acknowledge that command with a response. She smiled slightly at Galrod in show of thanks and took her now rolled up bed and personal belongings. She strode over to her horse and looked around briefly for a something to gain a boost from. She spotted a tree stump and led the horse to it. She gained her mount after only two tries. She smiled triumphantly when she was finally able to gain her seat. She turned to look at Glorfindel, "See, I am smarter than the average bear." she couldn't help but say with a grin.
He said nothing and turned his horse to the front of the company and started out.
Everyone had a certain place, it seemed. Anna had figured this out yesterday, because every time they had stopped, when they resumed traveling in was in the same order of which they had started. Glorfindel led the pack, followed by Maglor, then Amrod. She took up residence in the middle, followed by Glarod, Orophin and last but not least Caranthir.
She wondered if this were done purposefully and decided it must have been. What better way to keep her from running? When the trail was wide enough she noticed that Amrod and Galrod would ride on either side of her. It was a good tactic, she had to admit.
As the morning wore on, the trail did in fact get wide enough for Amrod and Galrod to join her in the middle. Not having spoken in several hours to anyone, mostly because she was not a morning person and didn't wish to speak unless it was necessary after waking, she thought momentarily about what question she wished to ask first.
"Galrod?"
"Yes, my Lady?" his response was spoken softly.
Anna found that for the most part these guys spoke softly. Unless of course they were Glorfindel and angry at her. She unknowingly mimicked the volume of his voice when she responded, "I forgot to ask yesterday, but what is this horse's name?" she asked gesturing towards her mount.
"Baran." Galrod responded with a smile.
"Baran?" Anna asked.
"Named so because of her color." Amord explained. When Anna continued to look confused he went on, "It means golden-brown in elvish, my Lady."
Anna nodded, unsure of the language again, "Baran." she spoke. The horse's ears perked at her name but did not stop moving along with the company. "It's a good name." Anna assured her mount by giving her an affectionate pat.
After she got over her initial fear of horses she began to open up to the one they assigned her. She really was beautiful, Anna mused. And gentle, which was good.
Anna took in her surroundings again. She had been scanning her surroundings since she had woken up enough to do so this morning. She was still hoping to see a road. A real one. Made of asphalt. She really hoped that they weren't just going in circles but she somehow knew in the back of her mind that they weren't.
"The trees are beautiful." she couldn't help up whisper in awe.
"You speak as if you have never seen trees before, my lady." Amrod said with a smile.
"Not like these." Anna said while looking up at them. The trunks of the trees were wider than she had ever seen. This forest they were in must have never been cut down. Ever. Anna smiled, she liked the thought of that. Too many trees were cut down in her opinion. Oh, she knew that you needed wood for certain things and was not such a conservationist that she didn't enjoy a nice roof or a piece of paper, but needlessly cutting trees was what bothered her. She liked them too much to see them sacrificed for nothing. Her aunt had always told her that you could never know how high a tree would ever be if you cut it down.
Her aunt had a lot of pearls of wisdom like that.
"I take it you like trees." Galrod smiled as he watched Anna's awe.
She smiled back, "Oh, yes. Very much. In fact, when I was little I wanted to live in a tree house." she grinned and laughed lightly, "In fact, a part of me still does."
"Tree house?" Amrod asked.
"Yeah." Anna nodded and then realized he was trying to comprehend what she was saying, "You know a house built in a tree."
"Oh, a talon." he nodded with understanding.
"A what?" Anna asked curiously.
"A talon." Amrod said again. It was his turn to explain it to her, "A tree house in elvish." he smiled.
"Ah." Anna nodded. "Wait a minute." her head snapped up and she looked at Amrod questioningly, "Elves live in trees?" she asked almost hopefully.
He nodded, "Some do. Mostly the wood elves." he said matter-of-factly.
Anna tried, but could not help the giggle that burst forth. She knew that she had completely gone mad but couldn't help it. Especially when she pictured Glorfindel completely decked out in Keebler gear and pulling cookies out of the oven. Her giggle turned to a laugh then.
Glorfindel turned on his mount to stare at her and just made her laugh harder.
"What is going on?" he questioned.
Amrod answered, "I informed her that some elves dwell in talons." he shrugged. And while he didn't understand the reason for Anna's laughter, he still smiled somewhat as he glanced at her.
Anna's laughter started to slow and she realized that her mount had stopped and all the elves were watching her. "I'm sorry." Anna stated once she had gotten control of herself. "I know that you think I'm completely insane, and to be honest I would have to second that opinion." she told them.
Glorfindel looked as if he were about to say something but instead shook his head and faced forward again. He was about to nudge his mount into movement when he heard something out of place.
All the elves perked up on their mounts as they heard the same.
Anna looked around at them and sensed the danger, "What is it?" she asked Galrod in a tiny whisper. He did not answer her, but motioned for her to be quiet.
Not understanding what was going on, Anna decided to take his advice.
At first she didn't hear anything unusual. Straining her ears, she tried to pinpoint what had made the company go into stealth mode. She was just beginning to think they were a jumpy group when she heard it. Something was coming towards them.
Glorfindel signaled to the company. Caranthir dismounted and moved quietly into to forest. Anna would have never believed he had gone had she not seen him move herself. A few seconds later Orophin followed.
She waited on pins and needles, knowing that something was coming but unsure of what it was exactly.
It could be a bear.
She knew that bears were common in Tennessee, she'd even seen a few wild bears but never stuck around long enough to find out what they wanted. Maybe it was just a little black bear, seeking food.
She was trying to convince herself of that even though she was scared out of her mind. She sat perfectly still and tried hard not to breathe as the thing got closer.
Suddenly a noise unlike the others broke through the company. It was the most horrible noise Anna had ever heard in her life. It sounded as if something were trying to scream but started choking and gurgling instead.
Anna's fear was very real now and she was contemplating turning her horse and running like hell when something broke through the trees.
A yell sounded from the forest as the thing advanced. The elves immediately drew their weapons and Glorfindel's arrow found it's mark between the thing's eyes.
It was unlike anything Anna had ever seen and it happened so fast that she was sure had she blinked she would have missed it. Staring at the thing she noticed that while it was clothed, she knew it was not human. It's skin held a grayish tone that was unnatural. What little hair it did have was unkempt and fell in dirty clumps over it's head. She knew that it was dead from it lack of breathing.
Orophin and Caranthir returned to the troop and strode over to Glorfindel. The other elves dismounted to hear what was being said.
Anna knew all this but could not, for the life of her, take her eyes off of the thing.
Being of a curious nature, she slowly dismounted and stepped closer to where it lay lifeless on the forest floor. She stared at it hard trying to rack her brain to understand what it was. Something was off about the creature. For one thing the ooze seeping from the fatal wound was black, not red. She stepped closer and saw that it's eyes were still open. She peered into them cautiously, still half afraid that it would jump out at her. Lifeless orbs stared back, unblinking and unseeing.
She was just leaning down to for a closer inspection when another sound greeted her ears. It was the same as before only it sounded heavier. She looked up in time to see another of the things, but on a much larger scale heading for her at a fast rate.
It was almost upon her when six arrows came from behind her. All found their mark and embedded themselves into the creature. It fell forward and landed a scant foot from her feet.
Anna's fear took hold with a vengeance. She couldn't move but her breathing was labored, as if she'd run for hours. Eyes wide, she stared at the dead thing with terror.
She didn't know what to make of all this. Her brain was trying to absorb everything at once and caused an overload of information. She was just trying to get her breathing under control when the thing twitched.
Suddenly, immobility was not an option. Anna turned and took flight, unknowing where she was going, but knowing that she had to leave.
She didn't make it very far. Glorfindel's hand snaked out and caught her. Her terror had taken hold and she screamed and began fighting the hands that held her.
Glorfindel immediately ended her fight by enfolding her in his arms and murmuring soothing words in elvish to her. She slowly calmed down but her breathing was still labored.
After a few minutes she stepped back, "What was that?" she asked looking up at Glorfindel with wide eyes.
"Orc." was his short reply.
Anna stood still for moment, trying to take all of what had happened in before looking back up at Glorfindel, "What's an orc?"
"That, my lady." Amrod pointed to the fallen creature helpfully.
Suddenly it was too much for Anna. She had convinced herself since she began this journey with the 'elves' that they were just play acting. That none of this was really real. But after seeing the elves swiftly and efficiently do in, not one, but two of those creatures she was sure she wasn't where she thought she was.
"This is insane!" she yelled to no one and began to pace. "I must have really hit my head when I fell. Yes, that's it." she said latching on to the idea, "I'm not really here." she told the company, who were all watching her cautiously. "I hit my head and knocked myself stupid and now I'm in some hospital room. Some nice hospital room where my eyes are closed and the only sound is the constant beeping of that stupid heart machine to let people know I'm still alive. I've slipped into one of those comas that are so popular on soap operas and any moment I'm going to wake right on up and this will all be a dream." she decided. "That is the only explanation. Because those," she motioned toward the dead orcs, "are not real. They can't be."
She kept her pacing up as she ranted, "This whole thing is just an elaborate day dream that I have concocted in my subconscious mind to entertain myself while I'm out cold. Well, I'll tell you something, self, I am not entertained in the least." Her hands moved with every word she spoke and her voice got louder as she said, "Wake up, dammit!"
She closed her eyes and opened them slowly. When she still found the same scenery she nearly screamed, "That's it, somebody pinch me." she demanded as she marched to stand in front of Glorfindel, "Pinch me."
He stared at her as if she had grown another head. "You don't believe I'm asleep, do you?" she asked him.
"No, my lady, I do not." he stated.
"Well, you wouldn't, would you?" she bit out, "Because you're apart of this elaborate dream too. Of course you wouldn't believe that you're not real. But you can't be real." she told him. "Your an elf for God's sake! Elves aren't real. They just aren't. They're like unicorns and dragons and government intelligence, they just aren't real! They don't exist. They can't exist." She pointed her finger at the entire company when she said, "None of you are real."
They all looked at her with confusion written on their features. She stared back at them daring them to say something. "Y'all think I'm crazy don't you?" Amrod was the only elf brave enough to nod. "Well I'm not!" At their looks of disbelief she started in again, "I'm not crazy! I am the only sane one here. I'm not the one who pretending to be an elf!" she marched towards Amrod, "And do you know why I'm not pretending to be an elf?" she didn't give him time to answer, but instead yelled, "Because they aren't real!!" She continued her pacing, "I mean all of this," she motioned to the surrounding forest, "It's not real. Trees don't get this big. They can't; people won't let them. They're cut down to be used for other things. And that," she pointed at the orcs again, "There is no such thing as an orc. There can't be. That is just some stupid monster from the dark recesses of my mind that I have apparently conjured to add some sort of drama to the situation." she told the elves.
No elf dared say anything so she continued.
"This can't be real." she stated again, "It can't be because if it was it would mean that either I have gone stark raving mad," a few cautious nods from some of the elves caught her eye, "Or that I really did fall down a rabbit hole." she stared at them waiting for an answer. But none came as the elves did not know what to say. They were still trying to understand her behavior.
Suddenly it was all to much again and Anna did something that she hadn't done in front of anyone since she stopped wearing her hair in pigtails. She began to cry. "I want to go home now." she stated and realized that she sounded pathetic. She had finally come to the end of her rope and didn't know what else to do. "I don't want to journey to Gondor. I want to go home and take a hot shower and sit on my couch with a box of cookies and watch tv." she slid down the trunk of a tree and bawled. "I don't want to be here anymore. I don't like this. I have to wake up." she murmured to herself.
"Oh God." she suddenly moaned, "I'm doing it."
The elves looked at one another before Galrod asked softly, "What is it that you are doing?"
She looked up at him and with tears rolling down her cheeks said, "I'm having a mental break down." she told him. She continued in a softer voice, "I always knew I'd be one of those people to have them, I just thought that it would happen when I was older. But a girl can only take so much." she explained up at the elves again. She grew quiet as she stared at her surroundings.
After a few moments, Glorfindel approached her, "Have you finished then?"
She stared up at him, "Finished having my mental break down?" she shook her head, "No, I'm not finished. I suppose it will take a long time to drag myself out of this one." she said as she looked back towards the ground.
Glorfindel turned to other elves and began instructing them in elvish. They all began following the orders he gave them, but Anna didn't care. She sat staring at a fallen leaf on the ground and allowed her mind to go blissfully blank.