The track music "Dwarven Tavern" and "Elwynn Forest", from the first "World of Warcraft" game, play when Melissa Snowberry listens to them.
Chapter Twenty-Nine:
Hastened Measures
The Previous Afternoon…
The afternoon waned against dimmed rays of sunlight. Merry and Pippin passed two Hobbits before they entered Melissa's tent. Inside, they found Melissa listening to some music, blasting from her headphones. Frustration crossed Merry's thoughts as he tore the headphones off of Melissa's head. The force of the pull caused Melissa to turn and glare at Merry for several seconds.
Shocked, followed with annoyance, Melissa cried, directly at Merry, "Give me those!"
"What are you listening to?" asked Merry, pretending to be sarcastic.
Melissa demanded, furiously, "It doesn't matter what I listen to." She told him, sharply, "Let's be reasonable. Give me those headphones – right – now."
"What were you listening to, Melissa?" asked Merry, attempting his hardest to be calm.
"It's nothing," said Melissa, returning her focus to the lit television screen.
"Maybe we should leave her be, Merry," said Pippin, muttering low to his elder cousin.
Merry told Pippin in low murmurs, "No, let me handle this, Pippin." Facing Melissa, Merry said, "You realize Coral thought you were a villainess, too."
Melissa sighed. "Why am I not surprised? I've been told for years I'm a 'trick master'. Now, everyone's telling me I'm a villain, or villainess per say?" Facing the two hobbits, Melissa asked, concerned, "Why would anyone think I'm the one to blame for all sorrows and suffering? I didn't do anything!"
"I know you didn't. You're not responsible for what the villains do," said Merry.
"Merry, what are you doing?" asked Pippin, stunned to hear his cousin say those words.
"Trust me, Pippin," muttered Merry.
"Is it safe to trust her?" asked Pippin, muttering back.
"I am not a threat to either of you," admitted Melissa, trying to be reasonable.
Merry paused to think. He eventually asked, "Why do you hate my cousin Frodo? You threatened him today."
"A steep price on a Ring-bearer's life," answered Melissa, hotly. She sighed. Then she said, gravely, "I just don't want my future daughter… tainted by him."
"Tainted?" asked Merry, stunned. "Look, I know you don't like Frodo, but he is not a threat to us – or to you."
"You don't know what he will become!" cried Melissa, enraged. "He'll – do something to her. I just know he will. Until future events come, he will be a threat to me. I promise you that," She added, "And I guarantee you both this: watch your eldest cousin, very closely."
"This is why Coral didn't trust you, or Frodo?" asked Pippin.
"Frodo doesn't know, yet, nor should he. If he knew – if he found out – I would be in huge trouble," said Melissa, turning away with a doubtful expression across her face. In a serious tone, Melissa told the two, "Now go! Don't return unless I say so."
Pippin admitted, "You are pretty bossy. You know that-"
"Just do as she says. I'll speak with her alone," said Merry, dragging Pippin out the tent through the front curtains. Before he did this, however, Melissa snatched the headphones, right from Merry's hand.
o-o-o
Pippin was two feet away from Melissa's tent when he was stopped by Sam. The look in Sam's eyes was filled with distraught.
Concerned, Pippin asked, "Sam, what happened? Did you find Rosie?"
Sam hurriedly explained, "Pippin, I'm worried about her. She came up to me, complaining about Mr. Frodo. I think he's in danger and-"
"Sam," said Rosie, approaching the two hobbits from behind. As they faced her, Rosie asked in confusion and concerned, directly to her fiancée, "Are you all right? What's wrong, Sam?"
Bewildered, Sam told her, "I thought I told you to stay in my tent-"
Further confused, Rosie asked, "What? Sam, I've been at the Terrabay Camp's garden for the past two hours."
"That's where I last left her," admitted Pippin.
Sam, stricken and nervous, rushed off in search of his tent. Rosie and Pippin followed with all haste. When the two found Sam, they also found his tent tarnished and the curtains slashed open in a clean manner. Most of Sam's belongings were scattered, while other items remained missing. Sam searched everywhere for his elven rope, but he could not find it. In the heat of the situation, Sam realized the Other Rosie was gone.
That Same Morning…
Dawn pressed on the horizon. While taking his early morning flight, Iago noticed a bright light still shining from a smaller tent. He glided down to investigate the burning light. Once he landed on the rocky ground, Iago poked his head through the open curtains, only to find Amor playing a game on his control panel, or so the animals claimed the screens and complicated keyboard was called altogether.
Before he could investigate further, Iago poked his head out, only to find Aslan bellowing a loud roar that stretched on through the Evenshire Camp. Most of the heroes fled from their tents in time to hear Aslan's speech. Others remained in bed, still asleep but also dreaming of hopeful times, or sad defeats.
Once he had most of the heroes' attentions, Aslan announced, showing a grave look across his face, "Everyone, I bring the gravest of news. Terrabay Camp has been attacked. There have been reports spreading, as we speak, of a massive raze, which occurred right after our nine heroes left the camp. I fear for the worst, as should we all." He ended his speech in almost mid-sentence. After letting the speech sink in, Aslan told the heroes present at the wide circle, "I hope you all have a good morning. Until we can straighten this out, let us hope we are not overrun with heroes." With that, he approached the white, sandy beach.
Ron, wondering what the speech meant, told Hermione in low mutters, "I call that a load of wallop."
Hermione shook her head.
Lucy, still confused, asked the two, "What did Aslan mean?"
Hermione, unable to avoid an explanation, answered, "It means the villains are now working underground. Quite literally, I might add. I'm afraid the Camps won't be safe for much longer."
"Let's hope there isn't an ambush here, Hermione," said Ron, almost jokingly.
"This isn't funny, Ron. This is serious," barked Hermione. "Since the villains razed the Terrabay Camp, then it's only a matter of time before they find a weakness in our camp."
Afraid to say anything further, Ron retreated back inside his tent for the rest of the early morning. Hermione, unable to face another argument with Ron, stormed back to her tent. Lucy, on the other hand, stayed out a little longer. She worried about Edmund's safety, but was more fearful that Frodo had already been captured by villains, or by scarred lions and lionesses.
That Same Late Afternoon…
News of the Terrabay Camp being razed spread like wildfire throughout the Merswold Camp. The three battalions of scarred lionesses and lions returned to the camp with an expected "Welcome Back" celebration. The victory party was short, but the memory stuck in the villains and villainesses' minds.
Inside the sickly green-lit stone room, Maleficent worked hard on brewing another potion. She once more used the Black Cauldron, in hopes of raising another villain from the Netherworld. Only after the potion was complete did she see the cauldron sizzle and hiss. Climbing from the cauldron came two hands and arms, followed by a head covered with horned spikes, a menacing face with red-and-black tattoos, a body covered in all raven colored robes, legs covered in black trousers, and feet covered in leather-black boots. The Dark Jedi, or Sith, that walked down the stone steps was Darth Maul. His body still showed the deep gash, now a reddened scar, which he received after being sliced cleanly in half by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Approaching Maleficent, Darth Maul bowed and addressed her in a deep, velvety voice, "I hear you are the Mistress of All Evil."
"Why yes. That is my rightful title, Darth Maul. Your master wanted me to reawaken you, as I have done. The fact you stand before me proves to me that you are alive yet again," said Maleficent, coolly.
"Tell me where can I find the Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi? I have unfinished business to settle with him," said Darth Maul, testy.
"And you shall receive that business in good time, my loyal Sith," said Maleficent. "First, I have another matter that concerns you." She went on to explain, "There is a Jedi following a Halfling of great importance. I am told this Halfling Ring-bearer will be the doom of us all, who claim evil should triumph over good."
"I am told that good is merely a point of view," said Darth Maul.
"Yes, and that is why I am giving you this new assignment. Find the Jedi, after he arrives at the Merswold Camp – this camp – and stop him, using any means necessary." Maleficent asked, "Can you achieve this task?"
"I will, and then I will take care of Obi-Wan Kenobi. This I promise, milady," said Darth Maul. He bowed, and then approached a stairway that led out into a stone passage.