Author's Note:
Well, the next chapter is up. Hopefully the characters are not OOC that much. To all the daily reviwers I thanked you for your advices and comments as always. To the daily readers, thank you for joining Jacqueline's journey in LOTR. Will do my best to make it as interesting and enjoyable as possible.
Chapter 18 is up!
Disclaimer: Tolkein owes LOTR
Chapter 18 - A challenge made
"Jacqueline! Open the door! What's wrong?" I could hear Marthia's voice coming from behind my door, but I did not answer it. I closed my swollen eyes as my mind continued to race for memories of my family.
I could still remember Canthini's face and some of my friends and my polytechnic, for I had some images in my handphone taken before I stumbled here, easing my panic mind slightly, but…
"Forgive me, but I am coming in…"
I looked up to the door from my seat, hearing the jingling of the keys and a turn of the knob. I sighed and wiped my tears away. I slapped both cheeks to perk myself before hearing the door opened.
"What's the matter Jacqueline…? Where are Boromir and Faramir? I thought they are showing you around Minas Tirith?" Marthia asked concernedly as she walked towards my bed and sat down, facing me.
"I felt tired and… I had decided to come back. The two men will be alright by themselves…" I gave a weak grin before placing down the journal and ran my hand through my hair, trying to keep myself calm. Just then, I felt a cool hand touching my forehead.
"You are not having a fever… and your eyes are swollen and red," said Marthia, "Do you wish to tell me what's wrong Child?"
I looked into her eyes and it promised assurance that whatever I tell her will be kept secret, and she will listen. But I could not burden her… it's best… if I did not tell her anything… for she was not meant to be pulled into my matter. None of them…
"It's okay… just missing Gandalf that's all," I lied smoothly and gave a weak grin. Marthia looked at me doubtfully but said nothing before she patted my head.
"You know you can always find me to talk to Jacqueline, don't keep things to yourself, alright?"
I gave a small nod and with that, she left my room, leaving a last glance at me and the door closed with a soft thud.
"Thanks Marthia, for worrying…" I whispered before I lay on my bed and fell into the darkness of my mind.
It was cold… and dark. Very dark… so much that I could not see my surroundings.
I was walking aimlessly in a direction, not knowing where my body was taking me. Somehow, all this becomes too familiar… as though I had been here before…
"Hello?" My voice echoed through the darkness, but received no answer. I sighed and continued to walk through the darkness. This was getting to no where.
Just then, the scenery changed and within a blink of the eye, I found myself in my room, I was standing in front of my table a few steps away, and I saw a person sitting at the office chair, her back bent and her hands moving, as though she's writing something. I gulped and began to walk closer, my heart thumped with curiosity and yet doubt.
"Jacqueline? Dinner is ready, come out and eat!" A motherly voice said from through the closed door and my heart panged in remorse.
Mum…
"Alright! I just need to finish my assignment a little more, I have to hand this up by tomorrow…" The girl said and with a few swift movements, she closed her book before standing up from her seat and was about to turn to the door to open it…
"You miss your world a lot Child… I can see it in your heart… and mind…" I widened my eyes as the girl suddenly disappeared and the whole place disintegrated like sand and instead of my room, I was currently standing on a tower, a tall black tower. Surrounding it was a great vast rocky black plain that went miles and a great natural wall of black mountains surrounding the entire place. 'This place...'
"You are in my realm… girl from another world… the realm of Mordor." The voice said, cold and malicious. I turned my head and found myself face to face with the Eye.
"Holy shit…" I exclaimed as I backed away slowly, my eyes remained fixed on the lidless eye despite my attempts to turn my gaze away from it.
'What's going on? It's like as though my body is not listening to me!' I thought in panic as my body began to move forward on its own.
"What… what do you want from me?"
"I am here… to make a proposition… I believe you never thought that a dark lord would do such a task, unlike in the books and the movies you saw of me Child…" The cold laughter rang in my ears as I winced.
"What proposition… I have no need of dealings with you Sauron," I said finally, glaring at the eye, "Get the fuck out of my dream and leave me alone!."
The eye 'rolled his eye', and I mean literally rotated itself one time before giving another malicious laugh. "What if I can bring you back to your world? What if… you can return to your family whom you so dearly yearn for in your lonely mind?"
I stared at the eye disinterestedly, though my heart pounded harder at each and every word.
"Of course, for this to be done it requires a great deal of magic and wizardry… and I have the powers to do so… once I have back what's mine… and I know you knew of this. I can fulfill your wants… if you join me…"
"I don't think you need me with more than just my knowledge Sauron… there's something more… something more that you didn't reveal to me." I said, shaking slightly while the eye stared at me intently.
"You have a sharp mind Child," the voice laughed, "indeed you have something that I need besides my One Ring… but I am giving you a chance… a chance to join me at your own free will…"
"Jacqueline…" A familiar voice said softly from behind and I turned around only to find my family standing in a row, their eyes staring at me with familiar love and warmth.
"Mum… Dad… Jonathan… Jarret… but how…"
My family smiled at me upon hearing my recognition.
My eyes watered as I moved closer to them only to see them disappear before I could even touch them.
"Join me Jacqueline… Come to me… and you can go back to your family, without being involved in my war against Middle Earth… without having to suffer through the pain and the loneliness here without your kind…" The voice said in a sweet yet sickening tone, and I could feel my body going to its side.
'What if… what if Sauron can help me…? What if Sauron can bring me back, and not be in this war but be with my family and friends… I don't belong here… I can never be… But what about Middle Earth? And… and Gandalf… and Frodo…'
A vision of the Shire, the place I had stayed for nine months, with precious memories of the hobbits, burning and destroyed, and Edoras and Minas Tirith gone flashed across my mind as I clenched my eyes shut. An image of Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry's smiles, followed by a content Bilbo before leaving the Shire, then Eowyn, Eomer and Theodred's lilting laughter...
'Could I be this selfish to let these people who have become a 'family' to me to suffer a worse ending of the story? Just for me to go home… into the real world?'
I could hear my other self chanting to accept the dark lord's proposal, to ignore Middle Earth, for its fiction, unreal. Tears streamed down my eyes as I felt my heart growing heavier and heavier each minute.
"No…"
"Come join me Jacqueline, you do not need to fight this battle…"
"No..."
"Your family… don't you want to return? This could be your only chance in returning. For after this, it will take me many years to regain back the power to do so again…" The voice said tauntingly and I froze.
"Your dear, loving family… oh how much they missed you now in your world… and your friends… they must be searching for you…"
I shut my ears with my hands and I fell onto my knees, in remorse and confused. "Stop talking!" I screamed as I could not stop the growing yearning for my home in my heart.
'Canthini…. Betsy… Tell me what I should do… I am so confused… help me…'
'Sometimes… in life, we have to make a life long decision Jacqueline, and this decision can change your entire path you are going. One thing is for sure; don't regret what you have chosen. No matter what happen, I will always support you, be it in your studies, career path or even love…'
'Even if we are apart, as long as we have each other in our hearts, we will always be friends. I will support you in whatever decision you make… be happy always like you always have…'
"Be happy… don't regret…" I murmured as I recalled two most memorable phrases said by my family and friends. My mind was in a mess…
Just then, a great streak of light burst out from the dark sky and illuminating the entire place. The eye screamed as my vision was burnt by the brightness. I shut my eyes tightly, wondering what was going on. I felt someone gripping my left hand and another at my right.
"Jacqueline!"
Suddenly my heart was at peace and I knew what I should do… what I truly wanted.
"Sauron," I said loudly, "I will never join you. I will not let you use me to bring Middle Earth quicker to its end. If you want me, you would have to come and claim me yourself. No matter what temptations you have given to make me join you by force, I will make sure I will fight with you and die before your very eye before you can even touch me…
Go to Hell."
And before I knew it, I was surrounded by light, just then, I head his voice... saying,
"Fight with me all you want... Jacqueline... for soon even you cannot resist me... for don't you forget... I brought you here and you are mine...
I gasped for breathe as I opened my eyes, perspiration running down my forehead. My eyes met coal black comforting ones.
"Welcome back Jacqueline." Gandalf said warmly as I gave him a strained smile.
"You always pull me out at the last minute Old Man," I said weakly, and noticed both of my hands were gripped tightly. I raised my eyebrows and turned my head left, surprised to see a relieved looking Boromir and on my right, Faramir.
"Boromir! Faramir! Why…"
Gandalf laughed as the two men blushed slightly and let go of my hands hesitantly. "You are lucky you know Child. Faramir and Boromir went to find me at the libraries with great effort, telling me of your strange behavior and I rushed here immediately to check on you… but it seems that I arrived just in time…" he said, with a grim smile and he placed his warm large wrinkled hand on my forehead.
"I sensed the same evil presence here in the inn when I reached, and I found you glowing, just like that time outside Bag End… what did the dark lord…" Gandalf trailed off, realizing that Faramir and Boromir were listening to our conversation with widened questionable eyes.
"Confound it all! You two, get out of the lady's room, I wished to speak to her privately. Wait for me at hall and I will explain all your questions," Gandalf boomed and the two men nodded and left the room, not before leaving me a second concerned and cautious glance.
I sighed and sank further down into the bed, rethinking of the 'dream'.
Great, I made a challenge with Sauron himself. I am such an idiot… and I am going to die… I groaned mentally.
"Tell me Jacqueline, of your dream," Gandalf said with a strained smile as he sat on my bed beside me, his back hunched and his looks older and wearier.
There was a great silence hanging in the air as I ended, and Gandalf looked out of the window with a small smile.
"Sauron proposed a deal… that's indeed is another unexpected thing. If you accepted it, indeed Middle Earth will be move to a quicker end… But…" he turned to me with curious eyes, "why did you not accept his proposition? I am quite interested to know. After all, I confessed, he has the means to send you back."
I flushed slightly. "Well… well… ever since I am here in Middle Earth, you, Frodo, the hobbits have become like… a 'family' to me… you all have welcomed me in and accepted me so readily… and helped me to adapt here with great difficulties…… Somehow… Middle Earth has become a part of me I guess… and my heart does not wish to see it lose its beauty to evil…"
My face went hotter as Gandalf looked at me amusedly. "Hey, this is my first time I have said such… mushy… yes mushy things to an old man about family and stuff, so yeah…" I protested, receiving a hearty laugh from the old wizard.
"So what am I to you Child?"
"… a father... and a mentor perhaps…" I trailed off, before giving a smile. "… You have helped me a lot and given me many advices... I thank you Gandalf… in case anything happens to me."
The wizard ruffled my hair and chuckled. "You are welcome… and don't say as though you will pass into the halls of Mandos the next day. I will make sure nothing will happen to you and Frodo…I also promised that I will find a way to bring you back to your world right child?" He ended seriously, as though making an oath to me. I smiled gratefully.
'Fight with me all you want... Jacqueline... for soon even you cannot resist me...' I shook my head, pushing the words at the back of my mind as I shivered slightly.
"So… how's the research on the One Ring coming along?" I asked and Gandalf sighed.
"There are far too many books and scrolls to go through in the secret library of Gondor, I might need a year at least to cover through all of them and find the desired information… I should be doing all right with the pace I am working on."
"Don't over work yourself old man, and make sure you have to at least eat something during your finding, I don't want to find a stick-like old man entering the inn," I grinned, receiving another chuckle.
"I will be. I don't need a child to worry of an old man's health; I will be perfectly fine… and I am quite amused on how Valar had let you meet the sons of Denethor, and how close you three are within such short time," He said, looking at me. I laughed and agreed, "You can never believe it… I have spent quite an effort just to convince the elder son that I am not an enemy spy from Mordor…" Gandalf looked at me before looking away thoughtfully, as though he had realized something.
I grimaced at the memory with the sword on my neck. Just then, I remembered something.
"Oh yes Gandalf?"
"Yes Child?"
I paused, trying to organize my words in my mind. "Well… besides the dream I had today… I have another dream… of Frodo."
Upon hearing nothing from Gandalf, I continued, "you see… I had somewhat… 'talked' to him… face to face in that dream… just like how I managed to talk to Sauron just now…"
Gandalf looked at me intensely. "I see,… then, what did you two talked about?"
"well… about the latest happenings in the Shire, you, my trip… that's all."
"I see…" He said. I pulled the quilt up further, gathering more warmth from it, feeling nervous.
"Gandalf… why am I experiencing all this? Do I have some kind of power here?"
"Jacqueline, it seems that perhaps, you may be right… a power of some sort… close to Lady Galadriel of the Golden Woods and Lord Elrond of Rivendell... but that I cannot confirm yet."
So which means I am telephetic of some kind huh? Great…
"I am glad you told me of this Child… do you have anything more to tell me? Something that I should know?"
I hesitated slightly before shaking my head. "No more…"
Gandalf nodded and stood up, before walking to the door and opening it. "Then I shall talk to the two boys… they are utmost worried for you… though they had known you for a short time. They have stayed beside you while I was trying to bring you back."
"Tell them that I am thankful and sorry," I said softly and he smiled.
"Rest now… and you know that you can always find me to talk to Jacqueline… to a father perhaps?"
I gave a grateful smile and the door closed in front of me.
"Why did you not tell the wizard of me?"
I turned to my left, and saw the same pale girl sitting at the top of the desk, her bottomless black eyes staring intently at me. I let out a breathe which I held unconsciously and sat up straight.
"You have been here all the while?" I asked, only to receive a creepy giggle. Suddenly she was in front of me, her black eyes never leaving my gaze.
"Of course. After all, I said that I am a witness of events unfolding here, such poor memory you have," she said in a teasing voice and I rolled my eyes. "You are no longer afraid of me…"
"You said you're a spirit, not a ghost, so yeah… I can get used to you appearing out of no where… and to your question… Gandalf is burdened enough… with Frodo… I cannot let him worry over me too much."
"You loved him a lot… but be careful, for this may become a weakness… especially that hobbit Frodo…" she giggled and she moved her face away from me, floating down the bed to the ground noiselessly.
"You may face great perils from now on Jacqueline… since you refused to accept the dark lord's offer. He will use what ever means and force to bring you to him once the time is ripe…."
"Why? Why does he need me? What's my purpose here?"
"You mean he did not tell you?"
I shook my head and the girl laughed. "Soon… soon…" she sang and I shivered at the high pitch. Just then I remembered that I did not know her name.
"Come to think of it, what's your name?" I asked and the girl stopped singing and turned her head to me, cocking to one side.
"My name…?" she asked curiously before looking thoughtfully at the ceiling. "I don't know… I'm nameless ever since I was made the guide of the Dimension… what's my name…."
"Then do you remember who your parents were?" I continued only to receive silence from the other. So… perhaps she's just created from no where… I thought and looked at the child, who remained quiet, her black eyes looking at the ceiling. My eyes softened.
Well… even if she is a spirit… perhaps… I can befriend her somehow… it's easier that way to communicate to her as a friend rather than… you know just speaking…
"How about… I give you a name?" I said finally and the girl looked at me with surprise on her pale face, "in return, I can be your friend perhaps?"
The girl laughed. "You? Giving me a name? And becoming my friend? This is funny… I told you that I am not taking your side or the dark lord's…""
"I am not joking with you spirit," I said seriously, "I know you won't take either sides… but you will have to stick with me all this while to oversee my actions right? So… it is best if we just you know be friends and communicate. An acquaintance is a better word… "
The girl looked at me emotionlessly and a deathly silence filled the room. After a few minutes, she suddenly just vanished from the room, like as though there's no one n the room with me to begin with.
I sighed and combed my hand through my head weary. So she refused my friendship…
"… Yuna…" I whispered softly out the name I have chosen for the spirit, letting it run through my tongue. I smiled, thinking how suitable the name suits her. It means moon in Japanese which I saw in some animation a long time ago. Cold, pale and yet beautiful, just like her.
"…Yuna… I liked it…"
I looked up abruptly only to find no one. I smiled and lay on the bed, closing my eyes wearily.
"Glad you like it… Yuna…"
I woke up the next day, feeling refreshed and energized.
"Good morning Jacqueline," Marthia greeted warmly as I walked down the stairs to the dining hall in my normal attire and my hood.
"Morning Marthia… I apologized for my behavior last night…"
"It's alright. I am glad to see you have returned to your normal self, I see Gandalf's visit has comforted you somehow. You should thank Master Boromir and Master Faramir for that." Marthia smiled and I laughed knowingly.
"Indeed… but where can I find them? And where's Gandalf?" I asked.
"We are just behind you Milady."
I turned around, surprised to see Boromir and Faramir looking at me in concern.
"Gandalf have returned to the libraries. He sent his greetings and said that he will visit you soon." Boromir announced with a slight smile.
"I see…"
"How are you feeling Jacqueline?" Faramir asked as he took my hand. I nodded. "I am feeling much better now… thank you for finding Gandalf and bringing him to me…" if not I will be Sauron's soup for dinner that day… I thought and grimaced.
"You had us worried when you left us in such a hurry and with such intense emotions… but to see you glowing on your bed?! That's quite absurd for a mortal to do such wizardry," Boromir said grimly and I gulped.
"Need not worry Milady," Faramir said, his eyes softened, "Gandalf revealed to the both of us… that the dark lord is still present on Middle Earth… and that… you are … in fact wanted by him because… you might have something valuable to him. Just now, he attacked through your dream and Gandalf brought you out of it with much effort."
"You must have been through quite a lot then…" Boromir said, his eyes sympathetic, "but why will the dark lord needs a large girl in his plans besides her origins? That I want to know"
I rolled my eyes at that. Even I wonder why me… can't he choose other prettier and beautiful and SKINNIER and smarter girls in my world? Besides, I bet they all wanted to come here and have a fling with the Mirkwood prince, or even Boromir and Faramir!
"Well… thanks for everything… I guess I owe you two a favor then," I said at last, reaching for my pouch and opened it to check the content. I guess I can treat them to something…
"Are you two free now? I mean have nothing on for the next few hours?" I asked curiously and the two brothers looked at each other.
"Well… we are free for the next few days…" Faramir answered and I grinned.
"Then bring me to a place where there are nice foods. I want to treat you two to a meal." I said sincerely only to receive furious refusals from the two men, who said that a woman should not treat a man to a meal, it was quite ungentlemanly.
"Oh please. Stop saying about what a woman should or should not do. I am treating you two and that's final. Come on! We have much to sight see of Gondor!" I cried in excitement as I ran out of the inn after saying goodbye to Marthia. The two men looked at each other and shook their heads in submission before following my steps.
I turned my gaze up at the clear blue sky, careful not letting my hood to drop behind and smiled sadly.
"Please watch over me everyone… I will return to you all soon… I promised, after all this is over…" I wonder how am I going to survive now on... with Sauron promising me much danger ahead...
I turned behind to noticed the two brothers waiting outside the inn.
"Milady! Come on! We have much to cover. You better prepare your large body for the walk of your life." Boromir said impatiently and recieved a jab on the ribs by Faramir.
"Boromir! Watch yourself." the younger man said disapprovingly as I laughed at their actions.
"Haha… its okay Faramir. Well Boromir, I am already prepared. I will not let anything pull me down. LET'S GO and SIGHTSEE AND EAT!!!"
That day, well… just say that I indeed had the walk of my life, with the two sons of the Steward of Gondor.