Le gasp! Another updated chapter! Yep… already workin' in the next one. :D
Disclaimer: I own nothing LOTOR or any other big copyright awesome thing I have used in reference of! This is strictly for fun and no money making crap ideas here! Just fangirling up in here.
It is all strictly First POV. I DO NOT BETA AT ALL! One day I will go over this. Beware, there will be fragments. After all, a person's thoughts are usually jumbled about and around and incomplete! :D
Elvish Words:
Gwedeir Glorfindel and Gwethil Elena' (Brother by associate Sister by associate.)
Mellon – Friend
POV orders: Elena, Legolas, and the rest Elena.
Enjoy! This author loves reviews… bitches love reviews! XD
Chapter 12: Onward! Gawd Damn it…
Yep. Fuck My Life.
It's really happening… It really is happening.
Tomorrow morning I'm leaving for this fucking journey…
I barely work up this morning after a day's rest… I slept good mind you. And I'm hella sore, otherwise I'm fine.
Arwen is chillen in my room explaining to me that she has already packed up my stuff for me and Aragorn helped her in what I needed too. Fuck. Fuck… just fuck it all…
I zoned out in what she was saying. Be careful she says. Believe in yourself she says. Don't be afraid to ask for help she says.
"And do not perish. I will be very angry with you if you perish. I will drag you out of the Hall of Mandos to give you a good beating if you were to die." That's what snapped me out of it.
I sigh. I was on my bed in the last dress I'll ever wear for a long time. Wearing all these dresses got me in touch with my feminine side too. Trust yo. These dresses are way better than those ugly ass "high fashion" ideas I see on the runway in … well a lot of runways! The cobalt blue dress with silver flower embroidery along the edges and long bell sleeves will always be my favorite.
I felt good as new this time around since the wing popped out of my back again. First time I was hella sore, but this time… it feels as though it has never happened. I get up from the bed and walk over to where Arwen was pacing back and forth and brought her into a hug.
"Thank you. Thank you for always believing in me that I am a good person. Thank you for always taking care of me here. Thank you for all of your dresses and thank you for defending me." I broke the hug and gave her a sad smile. I'm really going to miss her.
"Elena. Thank you. You have been such a light here in Rivendell. Your energy and your personality… so unique and needed. Please take care of yourself." She shared her sad smile too.
"And you too." I wave my hands in front of my eyes trying to dry up the tears that are coming out. "Oh here it comes! Here they come I should say! OOOOOOO!" I smack my lips together "Ahhhh… okay. I'm good. I'm good."
Arwen sheds a tear or two and giggles. "Oh Elena, it is alright to shed a tear or two. I will miss you too." We hug again.
"I'm gonna miss this bed too!" And I bring her along with me to flop on the bed and we share a laugh. "I mean come on! I'm gonna be in a group of all boys! No one is going to understand me!"
"Oh the torture you are going to put yourself through to be cured of your ailment!" She places the back of her hand on her forehead to over exaggerate my pain. The drama!
Then it got serious again…
Arwen made that face when something stings her. More like the dark energy I harbor that stings her… She brings her hand to the temples of her head.
"Go on. Take a break. You've been here for hours already." She has a motherly look… she doesn't want to leave me alone. "I'll be fine. I'm just going to stay here anyway. Maybe go to the platform closest to here for a breath of fresh air. I'll see you later." I nudge her with my head to give her the okay signal.
"Alright. I'll be back to give you a hug goodnight at least." She slowly turns and heads for the door and leaves.
"Guess that's not changing any time soon." I flop back on my bed and I think back earlier today when I woke up. Gandalf was by my side again.
"Gandalf?"
"I'm here. Glad to have you back with us."
"Thanks. Is Lord Elrond here too?"
"No. He is with Aragorn right now."
"Ah."
"Don't get up right away. Be still until you are certain you are able to get up."
"Good. I don't have to be a show off then."
"Elena. Be serious. Do not overexert yourself. We leave tomorrow."
"Christmas already, huh?"
"What is Christmas?"
"Nothing. Just a holiday back in my world. The supposed birth of my world's savior. Lots of controversy to the actual date he was born though, but the world accepted it as December 25th."
"I understand. Have you already foreseen our departure date?"
"Yeah. I've been counting the days until I find myself sleeping on the ground and pissing off Boromir to no end."
"Elena, use better language from now on. Boromir doesn't understand, and I'm afraid he never will, but he is loyal."
"I know, but he's still human and he still hates me. He's the only one out of the Fellowship that still hates me."
"He fears you. He believes you will bring danger to us all and all this land."
"I don't blame him. I don't even want to think about what he might think of me if he finds out about my wing, my black eye, and now my new little friend, the fang. Fuckin' thing almost pierced my tongue when it was coming out."
"Elena, language please."
"Sorry."
"Now, we must keep this a secret amongst the others as well."
"So who officially knows about my wing?"
"Myself, Lord Elrond, Aragorn, and Frodo."
"Good. I don't want any elves to know about this. I know technically Glorfindel knows only about my eye, but I trust him not to say anything anyway. He asks me questions sometimes from the first time it happened, but he doesn't talk about it. I think I sorta freak him out now… like it's more real to him of what I've been turning into."
"Yes. He hasn't said anything and I trust him as well. He has fought evil before and I know he can do it again, but it would be much harder for him to fight you."
"I know. I like him too."
"Elena, do you love Glorfindel?"
"Oh my gawd no! He's just a really good friend. He's the only elf so far that has accepted me even after the eye thing. If he already freaks out like this though from just looking at my black eye… I just don't want to put him, Legolas, Arwen, under so much stress and anxiety you know?"
"Ah. You are both platonic then. Then it won't pain the both of you so much when it is time to separate. And yes, very true… we do not know how the other two will react. Elves are so prone to energies of good, evil, and nature."
"Yeah. Let's just keep this as a secret for as long as we can."
"Of course. Arwen will be coming soon to help you with your bandages and fetching you fresh clothes to wear. Please rest today. Tomorrow is the start of this journey."
"Yes Sir."
Then the hobbits came in asking if I was alright. They were very worried about me. I mean I did unleash screams I never knew I had in me until I came to this world. Gawd damn it all…
We ate lunch together and chatted about the Shire, some bits from my land about all food of course. Even Frodo was curious about what my favorite food was… PIZZA! OH MY FUCKING GAWD PIZZA! The way I described it to them, they desperately want to try it. Frodo and the hobbits had left and then Arwen came in, and now she left.
I heard a knock at my door.
"Come in!" I shouted, not getting up from my bed.
"You never change. Lazying about as always when you can." I smiled and I turned my head to see my number one buddy here.
"Oh Finney, that's how I happen to go about life. All work and no play… makes me angry." We laugh. Glorfindel waltzes right though my room after he closes the door and sits on my bed.
"I am never going to escape such a horrible alias am I?" He smirks and squeezes my cheek. I swat his hand away and laugh. "Tell you what? I'm the only one who will call you that." I sit up quickly… too quickly and had a dizzy spell. He places a hand on my back and rubs it in circles. Quite soothing really.
"Thanks. That helps." I smile to him.
"I'm glad it does."
"Are you still scared of me?" I asked out of the blue.
"No. I mainly worry about you now." Wow. He was quick to answer that one. I guess he means it.
"Really?" I really stared at his face. I really want to know that he is still on my side. I know he is, but I want to hear it.
"Yes. I worry for you, and I will worry about you. You get into so much trouble and I won't be there to help you." He brings me to his chest by swinging his arm around my neck and kinda gives me a noogie.
"Hey! Watch the hair!" I laugh. I wrap my arms around his waist and he just sways me back and forth. "You have become a little sibling to me Elena. I just want to make sure you are taken care of." Fuck my life. I'm tearing up again. He stops swaying me and kisses the top of my head.
"I know. Trust. You're a real bro to me. Remember our first fight?"
"What fight? We've been honest about everything. I'll let you know if you don't look very flattering in your sparring uniform."
"Oh my gawd I know! I just wanted to throw the shield I had right at your stupid graceful face!"
"You have said quite a few insults to me as well."
"Ya well, your hair looked really stupid a couple of times with all those twigs and leaves you had."
"I was scouting!"
"Well ya. Scouting on how to be ugly."
He pulls me away from himself and pretends he's in a huff with his hands on his hips. "I never…"
"Had such an awesome friend like me?"
"Yes… I have never had such a unique mellon like yourself."
"That means friend right?"
"Very good." He was sarcastic, but it made us laugh.
Once our laughter quieted down he asked me, "Are you going to be alright?"
"I honestly don't know." I shrugged my shoulders and gave him a sad smile.
"You have to be. I want to tease you whenever I can."
"Can't guarantee it Finney." He reaches for my hand and takes it into his.
"You must. You must survive. You have trained for this to defend yourself, to dodge attacks, to run away, to hide, and to attack when necessary to escape your enemy's grasp."
"But I don't know if I'm good enough. I'm clumsy as Hell, I will make mistakes, I will get hurt, and there is a giant possibility that I will die, or the energy of Lord M will take over me."
"You must fight it. Fight anything that will hurt you."
"But it gets worst. I cannot control it at all. I don't know if it's because I am not full elf or if because this energy really just uses me to animate what it wants."
"Then make it your own. If by chance you are threatened to be taken over… make it your own. Make it obey you. Obey your feelings, obey your words, obey your mind."
"What?"
"I cannot foresee what can happen to you. It is too clouded. Even Lord Elrond cannot see what can happen to you and his foresight is much greater than mine, but if it is not set in stone, and you know of the events that were to come to pass if you are not in it, then you can create it yourself if you can just fight your way through it."
"Glorfindel…" He cups my cheeks into his hands.
"Yes? Did I just say something inspiring to you?" I snort and lightly chuckle.
"I mean it Elena. Promise me you will always keep fighting. Promise me you will always keep dreaming." I nod in his hands.
"Good." He takes into the pocket of his pants and pulls out something. "Here. I had made this for you for your journey." He takes my hand again and ties a leather bracelet with tassels as ties. The words I couldn't recognize since it was in Elvish. I feel like I can understand it, but I cannot read it. It's weird. It's like my brain is divided because it's like… it knows but it doesn't know that it knows and it's logical for it to not know if I never learned it, ya know?
"What's it say?" I outstretch my arm so I can see the brown leather bracelet on my wrist. Has a stone in the middle that I recognize as garnet, gorgeous red stone, but a tinge lighter than a ruby.
"It says 'Gwedeir Glorfindel and Gwethil Elena'. We are not by blood, but we view each other as brother and sister. The stone being garnet represents passionate devotion to friends, family, yourself and your own purpose in life. I hope it will bring you the extra energy it can provide you, or perhaps at least motivation to keep you moving." He tapped my hand right on the bracelet which then I brought it down to my lap.
"Glorfindel… Thank you. This is so very precious. I will safeguard it." Then it hit me. He gave me such a wonderful gift and I don't have diddly jack shit for him! QUICK! LAST MINUTE GIFT!
Ah! Lightbulb!
I scramble to my satchel that has the stuff that transported with me here to Middle-Earth. I pull out a blue ribbon. I show it to him all excited. He gives me a pretty good wtf look. I sit back down on the bed and I wrapped the ribbon a few times around his wrist and tied as a bow.
"I know. This is last minute. I feel bad. But this will do for now. Promise I'll find you a better gift when this journey is over. I'm inspired to come back alive to give you your gift!" He chuckles. The ribbon was about ten inches long and about an inch wide. "Take this with you. I was wearing this ribbon on my corset when I first got here. The corset I was wearing had to be thrown away because it was burned by the fires of the Dark Lord. See, at the ends of the ribbon there are some burn marks and burnt off the ends a bit. It was just dangling of the side of my corset to give me some flare really. The other one completely disappeared or burned away, but not this one. This one stayed. So it can stay with you. Until I can find you something better anyway."
He just shakes his head and he chuckles. "No. This is perfect. This ribbon being from your world and you entrusting me with it is completely enough. Keep your inspiration. Stay alive." We relaxed a little bit finally. I know he can't come because he has to stay behind as one of the warriors to defend Rivendell if necessary.
"Good. Take care of mine and I'll take care of yours." We raised our wrists with our new family symbols and touched them together. Coincidence, they are on opposite wrists. Hm… can be like a new handshake for us. Right wrist to right wrist.
After a few more minutes of mindless chatting, he started to feel the sting like Arwen did earlier. It was getting late anyway. The sun went down and I wanted to be by myself for a while. So we embraced one last time and he ruffled my hair one last time. We kissed each other's cheek and he left.
"I'm gonna miss that motherfucker." I sigh and I flop back onto my bed.
Am I seriously ready for this?
Reminder… I am an executive assistant. Administrative assistant of awesome. I miss Google and Bing. I miss my car. I miss chocolate. My family, friends… I purposely failed P.E. cause I hated running and I hated the teachers… Now I'm here doing everything I don't like and fucking going crazy without the internet or the whereabouts of Layla.
I'm gonna find that bitch. I'm gonna find her so hard she's gonna wanna run away from me. I can't find her if I just stay here. I have to do what Glorfindel said.
"Always keep fighting. Always keep dreaming. If you have to, make it your own." I said aloud. I've been here for two months and I'm pretty much still fucked. But I won't get fucked. I'm too scared to die. Plus, I think I'll be okay… bodyguards and all…
I'm just worried once… Gandalf…
Lothlorien…
The kidnapping of Merry and Pippin… so much growing up they are going to have to do. I know I did a lot of growing up here… but…
Damn… another knock at the door. If it's Aragorn, I'm going to yell at him to be with Arwen and- "You can't come in Aragorn! If it's the hobbits! Go spend time with Bilbo!" The knocking sounds continue. "Ugh! Who is it?!" I shouted.
"It is I. Only Legolas."
"Coming Leggo My Eggo." That's a surprise. I roll off the bed and land in an ungraceful squat position. Some of my hair is in the way of face, but eh. It's only him.
What does he want? I'm gonna see him in like… probably less than 10 hours anyway…
Let's open the door and what do you get?
"Hey Leggo My Eggo? What can I do for ya?" Hm. Her appearance seems exhausted. Perhaps this isn't such a good idea to see how she is fairing.
"Oh, were you already asleep? My apologies, I shall be on my way." I was about to turn to go until I heard her laughter.
"Hey now. Don't bail on me just yet. Nah. I wasn't asleep, I was just lazying about on my bed before we have to sleep on the cold hard ground once we head out." She smiled and I could she stuck her tongue out in between her teeth.
"Yes of course. That is how most journeys are when you need to venture out." Was all I could say. She seemed a bit tired anyway with her hair in front of her face and her dress seemed a bit wrinkled as well.
She yawns as she gestures me to come in. "Come on. Don't be shy. Have a seat on the chair by the bed while I lay over here." I take a seat and I sit erect with my hands on my knees patting away some dirt I had spotted. I do see her lie down on her bed, but she just faces me with her feet in the air crossed and her face in her hands. "So what's up?" she says. I remember this greeting from one of our previous chats. It means how I am fairing.
"I am doing well. I wanted to see how you were doing. I had heard from Aragorn and Lord Elrond that you were awake today." She shrugs her shoulders and uses her hand to comb her back away from her face. "Eh. I feel sore all over, but other than that… I'm fine. It's just something I have to go through."
"But I witnessed blood, your blood, on Aragorn's clothing on his chest when he came out of your room to meet Frodo and I. What happened?" She rolls her eyes and looks away. Why is she being this way? She tells me so many things from her world. All she has said is things that are not about her. The only thing that I do know about her is she loves and misses things from her world and she had a husband whom she no longer loves and had left. But her family? Friends? What she had like to do? I know she likes to attend musical festivals, but the way she described are nothing compared to here in Middle-Earth… I don't know her feelings, her burden, and more… I know nothing of it.
"Listen, it's just the curse thing. It's probably gonna happen sometimes while we are walking, sleeping, climbing… I'm prepared for it. Let's not talk about it." She then sat up and moved toward the headboard of her bed and sat upright with her legs extended.
"Why can't you just tell me what happened? Why can't I know?" I move my chair closer to her and I see her shoulders begin to tense. She rolls her eyes again and crosses her arms.
"Okay listen. Really listen to me. I'm fine. You're an elf. I'm literally half of one. I'm going through things that probably the rest of your race shouldn't even know. And-"
"Don't you trust me? Are we not friends?" This is making me feel very worrisome. I know I have scorned her before, but I have taken the chance to speak her, listen to her, see her in her light, I do not believe she will ever turn toward the darkness. Ever.
Her eyes wide. Concern? Worry? Fear? Anxiety? She fixes her hair again by running a hand through it and closes her eyes. She sighs and looks at me.
"Legolas. We are friends. I do trust you. But I don't tell you things… not even Arwen and Glorfindel know… I'm just not ready to share with you lot yet."
"But you have even told me of your book of 'incidents'. Why tell me that you have a log book if you won't tell me what's in it?" Why say something of that nature, but not explain as to the reason of its existence?
"I did tell you. I use it as to keep a record of how many times I have my illnesses or incidents as I call them because of this curse. That's it. You've caught me once remember? Coughing blood? The Fever?"
I bury my face in my hands and pick my head straight back to see her face. "Of course I remember. I do admit it was a little frightening. I didn't know what to do until I took you to see Gandalf."
"Right? Crazy. I was nutty that night. Sorry for my paranoia. It happens when the suggestion of offing me is on the board of ideas." She nervously rubs the back of her neck.
I merely give her a weak smile. "Quite alright. I didn't even want you to come on this journey with us. And here you are." I closed my eyes tight. Perhaps that wasn't the right thing to say.
"Yeah. I still don't want to go. But I have to and I will come back alive." She smiles softly this time and looks at her bracelet. A leather bracelet with the Elvish writing for Brother Glorfindel and Sister Elena by association.
"Glorfindel gave you this?" I shifted my eyes to gesture the bracelet.
She looks down on it a spins it around her wrist. "Yeah. He was the first elf to accept me besides Arwen. He teases me, helps me, trained me the best he could… gave me advice, and he would look out for me whenever someone would talk shh-bad about me. Heh heh…" She gave a nervous laugh. She was about to say another curse word. "He'd punish me too like a thump on my head or shoulder if I let a curse word escape my mouth." She stuck her tongue out in amusement.
"And good reason too. A lady should not be uttering those words of distaste."
"Tough. That's how I am and I change for no one. I have been lessening it though which is good I guess… in the long run." I nodded in agreement and she only shrugs her shoulders. "It's just so much to swear!" She stuck her tongue out in amusement.
Silence then joined the conversation.
"I still won't tell you anything." She became serious with sadness expressed. I could only sigh.
"Alright. If you are still so strict with your secrets, I will respect them. I know these incidents of yours are more than illnesses and I will find out. I will prove you wrong that it will not drive me away."
"I can only hope. " She shows me her hand that she is crossing her fingers. She yawns. "I'm getting tired and I hate to kick you out."
"Not to worry. I forget that mortals need sleep than the elves. Please continue to rest and recover to be ready for our departure." I stand to place back the chair and I start to walk over to the door.
"Hey Legolas?"
I turn to face her and my hand is already on the door knob. She is already in bed looking comfortable.
"Hmm?"
"Thanks for worrying about me. And don't worry about this journey. We're going to be fine. I can feel it. Have hope. We will succeed." Ah. She has sensed my worries and fears.
I somehow breathe a sigh of relief. Though I may not know what the future holds, but I can believe in the faith that we will complete this mission.
"Goodnight Elena."
"Goodnight Leggo."
I could not help but sigh in defeat whenever she calls me by that name.
Already morning…
This is the last time I get to have an elvish posh morning…
A warm bath in Arwen's private bathroom…
Brushing my hair in front of a mirror… no compact mirrors are around here sadly…
No more putting on comfortable dresses like I'm supposed since Lord Elrond, Arwen, and Gandalf had said they strongly recommended it when I first arrived in Rivendell…
Ah well, at least I have pants, a tunic, boots, a bow and arrows, a shield that's pretty big and heavy… my right shoulder cannot support it for very long, but my left… it can probably go on for days. Most likely cause it's the elven side.
I bring my little purse and heave it to my left. Carries my wallet, my mp3 player, my sunglasses, my cellphone, headphones, charging cables, and my little portable charger… I haven't turned anything on since I got here. I only want to save the juice off of these things if I really need to hear the music. Like desparately… plus, not sure how the others will react to it. Gandalf just pulled the headphones right off. It was a slow jam song by Monica! I loved Angel of Mine!
I'm just so happy for these little things… it's amazing what you leave in that little thing the night before a rave… Raves… Bass, music, laser shows, fireworks, DJs, PLUR, drinks, and dancing…
And your PLUR buddy… "I'm gonna find you Layla. I'm going to find you."
I gather the rest of my things and trust Arwen and Aragorn that they gathered everything that I needed for this. Again, so happy I haven't gotten my period since I've been here… I really didn't want to find stuff that could help it…
Aragorn is probably cleaning up his mom's grave right now and talking to Lord Elrond at this moment. I'll probably meet everyone by the entrance.
I head over there and really drink in the last bits of this amazing city. The trees, dirt paths, stone paths, the stairs, the gazebo designs… I run my hand on the walls one last time…
I reach my destination and I see Boromir, Gimli, and the Hobbits. Oh horse! So cute! I kinda cringe though… I'm not used to horses…
We exchange morning greetings and the Hobbits come closer to me. I hear Boromir scoff to the side and purposely ignore me. I'm fine with that.
"Are you ready to do this Elena?" Gimli asked me. He's just too cool. "Never Gimli. I will never be ready, but I can only move forward and take one what comes at me… or run and hide." He only laughs because it's true. I'm not a warrior.
"We'll be right here for you Elena. We can battle anything for you!" Merry cheered and Pippin' crossed his arms and leaned on him.
"You needn't worry. Gandalf and Aragorn are here for you as well." Frodo grabbed my hand and gave it a good squeeze. "You're right."
"I brought this for you as a quick breakfast Elena. We missed you in the dining hall earlier." Sam gave me some sweet bread and a handful of grapes on its vine from a napkin he just pulled out from the inside of his vests. "Hey thanks Sam! Sorry about that. I overslept." I didn't want to get up to face to music really. I wanted longer bath time and be a girl time. Heh who knew I could ditch the tees and jeans. I chowed down and he gave me some water.
"Totally hit the spot." I let out a small burp that lasted a second or two and pat my chest. "Yep. That was awesome." The Hobbits laughed and Gimli said it was a relief to see a woman do that for a change.
"Come on. You totally seen me do better when we had our drinking nights!"
"Aye tis true. We should have one again to celebrate a great victory."
"You're so on! And I'm gonna win."
"Only air is seeming to come out of your mouth…"He said haughtly.
"Oh thems fightin' words!" I pat his back and we all share a laugh.
We laugh a lot here. I try to make everyone laugh. It's what I do make sure everyone is comfortable around me. Boromir is gonna like me. Cause I decided…
I'm gonna try to save his life. I don't care. Damn this book's timeline and fate.
I hear footsteps and coming down the stairs headed toward us. I turn around and it was Legolas. I smiled to him. "Good morning Legolas."
"Good morning Elena. Good morning everyone."
Every exchanged pleasantries and chatted. Going over things that we may have forgotten and what to prepare for.
Legolas places a hand on my shoulder. "How are you feeling this morning?" I turn to face him. "I'm okay. I can move with no sore feelings. I just want this journey over with. I just want to find my friend."
"And we will. We will find her. If not on this journey, then we will find her after we destroy this evil." Aww Leggo…
"That's if I actually survive." I laughed a little darkly. I see his face with worry and I can sense his anxiety again. Damn. I said that on reflex too. "I mean… uh."
"You will survive." I hear another voice. I turn to the source and I see Finney.
"Finney!" I run up to him and embrace him. "You came to see me off?"
He ruffles my hair… this is the last time… I giggle and he fixes it for me… "Yes. I cannot let you go without seeing you one more time."
"Finney?" I hear Legolas snort. I guess others beside Gandalf and Aragorn know about the nickname. Glorfindel sighed and nodded. "This one here gave me this name. Only she may call me that. I don't think I can hear it from another's mouth."
"Understood. She calls me Leggo My Eggo or only Leggo."
"Pfft. That's because your names are so much fun." I stuck my tongue out and smile.
We both hear footsteps and behind Glorfindel we see Arwen, Aragorn, Lord Elrond, Gandalf, Erestor, and others come down the steps. I see everyone take position toward the horse. Aragorn and Gandalf are next to me, Frodo in the front, Boromir next to the other hobbits. Legolas next to Aragorn. Gimli in front of me. Glorfindel takes Lord Elrond's and Arwen's side.
Lord Elrond speaks with such seriousness and looks hella serious!
"The Ring-bearer is setting out on the Quest of Mount Doom. The Half-elf sets out to seek her purpose in her existence. On you who travel with them, no oath nor bond is laid to go further than you will."
I look around and I see Arwen is just locked onto Aragorn's gaze. Yep. He's locked onto her too.
Separation of lovers just fucking kill me… I look at Glorfindel and he just bows his head slightly and I do the same.
"Farewell. Hold to your purpose. May the blessings of Elves and Men and all Free Folk go with you."
"The Fellowship awaits the Ring-bearer." Gandalf said. You see Frodo's nervous self going in between us to go to the arch a little slower. Then I giggle to myself as I hear Frodo asking Gandalf if it's left or right… hehe…
Aragorn and I stayed a little behind… I see him and Arwen give each other one last glanceand he smiles a smile he only shares for her. If I look carefully she sneaks one off her lips too. "Elena?" he calls to me.
"Screw it! One more!" I rush up to Arwen and give her one last hug. Then to Lord Elrond, Erestor for shits and giggles, and then to Glorfindel. I whispered into his ear, "When I get back, I'm going to ruffle your hair for once! Promise!" He then takes me into his arms and picks me up and puts me down. "Challenge accepted." He lets go of me and he shows me his right wrist that he still has the blue ribbon tied and I show him my right wrist and I have his present tied to me. We lightly tap it and I rush to Aragorn's side.
"Bye!" I waved and Aragorn bowed. I didn't even leave them time to see them react… I walk under the arch and go right. I didn't even notice Aragorn wasn't next to me.
"Elena. Mordor is this way."
I embarrassingly laughed. "Oh ya! Yep. That way. Just testing you Aragorn." We walk side by side and we catch up with the others. Passing by the arch to go the correct way I can hear some groans and moans and Finney saying "By the Valor Elena. You better come back." And Arwen giggling and Lord Elrond saying, "Did the dark lord really choose her?" Ha, he has a dark humor too… thank whoever gave the Elvish hearing because I heard it all! Oh right… it was Morgoth/Sauron or whatever…
Fuck my life…
We catch up to them and time is just rolling on. Crossing so many terrains and in just a day. I caught up to Gandalf's side and hold onto his robe. No one has really said anything. Weird. I remember more chit chat in the book. I guess in real life, they just want to concentrate on the hiking part and save their stamina and breaths…
I'm still not in shape for this. It is already the afternoon when we finally take a break.
"Finally a break… we haven't walked this much since we traveled, huh Gandalf?" He sits on a boulder as well and makes himself comfortable and puts a pipe to his lips and I plop next to him. It's nice to see him with his hat off too. That's when you know a wizard is relaxing. I sit next to him and let my legs dangle and swing and outstretch my arms.
Sam making food for everyone. Boromir is already teaching Merry and Pippin sword play, Frodo is on a boulder watching them and Sam gives me a plate of food and then joins him.
"Yes. It has been some time now. Perhaps you'll do better now since you have had some training."
"I hope so too."
"We must hold to this course, west of the Misty Mountains, for forty days. If our luck holds, the Gap of Rohan will still be open to us. From there, our road turns east to Mordor." He said.
"Oh my gawd… that's more than a month! And we still have a long ways to go too. Plus it would be fun to see King Theoden again… ha I'm gonna annoy him so bad. It would also be nice to see Eowyn." I didn't see his son or Eomer last time. Though at this point, I won't see his son at all… depressing…
"Yes and you may convince him this time that you are a well-mannered young woman this time around with all ettiqute you have learned from Rivendell."
"Nah. Not gonna happen. Why change?" I smile and just eat the bread and sausage and carrots Same gave me. "So good!"
"If anyone was to ask for my opinion, which I know they're not... I'd say we were taking the long way 'round." I turn to Gimli who is standing sturdy ground in between rocky terrain below Gandalf and I. "Gandalf, we could pass through the Mines of Moria. My cousin Balin would give us a royal welcome." I get sad at that mention. I remember Balin from The Hobbit book and movies… "Oh Balin…" I couldn't help but whisper low enough and good thing Gimli didn't hear it. Gandalf knew what I meant because I just sadly lean onto his shoulder and uses his free hand to pat my knee.
He knows that I know. I am a seer after all… to everyone else.
"No, I would not take the road through Moria unless I had no other choice."
Gimli was about to reply something until we got distracted by Legolas jogging it from one side of our camp to another to stand on another rock. Damn he does look good.
Then I got distracted hearing the "distraught" sounds of Pippin getting "hurt" by Boromir's sword and kicking him. Seriously. SOOO much funnier in person! Merry joining in the fun fight and Aragorn laughing with his pipe in hand. It's nice to see Boromir having fun too.
You cannot save him.
Piss off.
You cannot save him.
Watch me.
"What is that?" That got my attention now. Sam is looking toward the distance.
"Nothing. It's just a wisp of cloud." Wait a minute. I remember this part…
"It's moving fast. Against the wind." Boromir can see it…
"Crebain from Dunland!" Legolas yells out.
I gasp! Those black flying little shits! I turn to Gandalf and he looks at me. "Cover your eye! Those things are from Saurman's lair!" he whispered.
"Hide!"
"Hurry!"
"Take Cover!"
Gandalf hovers over me and covers me with his cloak since the builder we were sitting on couldn't give me enough cover. He said a minor chant and it was all dark under his cloak. No light seeping through. They pass us by and those things sound nastier than bats! And I like bats! We slowly come out of our hiding places and see them fly away from us.
"Spies of Saruman. The passage south is being watched." He helps me off the ground. "Are you alright? How do you feel?"
I just nod my head without opening my eyes. I cover my left eye and I reveal it only to him. He nods and I let my hand down. I'm trembling… I was scared… I'm scared of everything!
I stared down at my hands and looked at my attire. My outfit is already covered in dirt and my cloves I was patting them together to get the dirt off. I hate being dirty!
Everyone starts to gather around Gandalf. "We must take the Pass of Caradhras."
"But it's so cold! I don't have anything to keep me warm except for this light cloak on me! Same with the Hobbits!" I whined I know. We have to go there to keep up with the timeline, but this whining is involuntary.
"We must endure."
"Unless you deem to bring more spies about!? Were those spies yours?" Boromir eyed me.
"Excuse me?" My inner ghetto fabulous attitude is coming out. "Listen Bubu, if I wanted flying little shits to come here and spy on us, I wouldn't be here alright? If you wanna fight let's do this!" I was about to march over to him, but Aragorn came over and was pushing me back with a hand to my chest. Why I reached for my ears to take off earrings I didn't have on was beyond me. That's involuntary too. But nobody said anything about it.
"None of this please. Boromir, now is not the time. She is one of us and on the side of the Ring-bearer."
First things he said to me since this journey started… or ever that is.
"Let us be off."
"I can be of assistance to guide us through the snow." Thanks for your offer Legolas… cause I'm gonna want to see your prissy ass just walk over all that snow.
I hate the sun, I hate the rain, but most of all I hate the snow*… FUCKING COLD!
I don't like sun either. I'm a hermit. Just give me a desktop computer, Netflix on my PS4 and I'm set… I love the internet…
I want my TARDIS blanket… why couldn't I be in the world of Doctor Who?!
I wrap my cloak tighter to me and tug my hood to make it stay on my head. Aragorn is behind me minding the back of the line of our group.
I didn't want to slow down Gandalf since he's leading the expedition.
"This is so hard! Whoa!" I almost fall backward but Aragorn caught me. "Be careful Elena. Are you alright?"
I straighten myself out and get my balance. "Yeah. This is just a lot of snow… I'm not used walking in this much of it."
"Keep going. I'll be here to help you." I nod to him in thanks. I take off my leather gloves for a while and I really start to feel the cold. It feels nice to my skin though. It's actually not that bad on my hands. I guess since all this hiking it's making me sweat and the cool air feels nice.
Frodo looked like he was struggling too. I hear him huffing and puffing and trying to catch up to everyone else.
Then he stumbles and rolls back. "Frodo!" Aragorn and I catch him and he stands Frodo up. We pat some of the snow away and Frodo reaches for the ring that should be hanging on his neck under his shirt… should be…
Fuck… that's right… this part…
I look up and Boromir already has the ring in his hands. Just watching it dangle.
Everyone in the line stops and just looks at him.
"Boromir." Aragorn calls to him.
"It is a strange fate that we should suffer so much fear and doubt over so small a thing."
Take me Boromir.
Oh no you don't you piece of gold shit ring!
"Such a litt-"
"Boromir! Drop it!" I rush up to him and whack the ring out of his hand! But in doing so… the actual ring made contact with my bare palm and it burned…
"AHHHHHHHH!" I clutch my right hand and see the ring hit the snow. I was shaking by how much it hurt me. "God! FFFFF! AHHHH!"
I see Frodo quickly pick up the Ring of Power and put it around his neck. Gandalf came rushing down along with Legolas. I turn to Aragorn and Frodo. "Keep your eyes closed!" They whispered and I shut them tight.
This is the first time that I had actually made a physical contact with the ring and it burns me. I feel something wrap around my head to cover my left eye. Fuck. It went black again.
"Elena! What happened?!" Gandalf asked.
"Boromir was eyeing Frodo's ring in his hand and I slapped it out of his grasp. It burned my hand a little bit."I showed it to him and you can see a backwards "C" shape. I only hit half of it. It's a burn alright. Stinging annoying little shit. I grab some snow and hold it tightly into a fist. I hiss in pain. "I'm okay though. Just a small burn. Nothing serious."
"Then why is your eye covered?" Legolas looked at me questioningly. Make something up!
"My left eye started to get dizzy due to the overwhelming sense of dark power from the ring. To cover it, I won't use my elvish sight." Please buy that.
"Alright…" Fuck. He didn't buy that.
"Are you sure you are alight?" He really looked at me as if my mother would ask me twice. Jeeze. I'm not hiding drugs… I'm just lying to you a little bit.
"I'm fine. I will be fine." I smiled and Gandalf only nodded. "Good girl. Stay strong." He made his move to be in front of the party. Legolas gave a look back to me and followed him.
I turn back to Aragorn and Frodo, "Is it gone?" they nodded. While I spoke though, I felt something prick my tongue. I traced it and it was my fang… fabulous… this is gonna come out too now with my black eye? Then I feel it shrink away back into a normal tooth… Word. It didn't last very long this time. Another incident in the log book. Hopefully I'll remember to enter it when we camp again. I take the cloth from my face, put more snow into my hand and wrap it around. "Let's keep going then."
Boromir just stood there. I forgot he was there. "It had spoke to me…"
"I know... I heard it." I just walk past him.
I know I shouldn't take it personal. It's completely understandable. Maybe because Boromir had the ring in his hand first…
But even when it burned me…
Aragorn wouldn't let go of the hilt of his sword…
The Cerbain Spies have returned to inform me of the path the travelers are taking. They bring the vessel with them. I overlook everything here in Isengard and things are going according to plan. She will realize the power within her and I know she will accept what is inside her.
So Gandalf, you try to lead them over Caradhras. And if that fails, where then will you go? If the mountain defeats you, will you risk a more dangerous road?
Moria. You fear to go into those mines. The Dwarves delved to greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dum: Shadow and flame.
I march up to a leader of orcs that know those mines best. "They have the vessel. Harm her if you must, but bring her back to me alive. She is ever closer to the darkeness."
"Understood."
We trudge through the mountains. Aragorn with Sam and Frodo in his arms while Boromir has Pippin and Merry. Gandalf uses his staff to move away as much snow as he can for the rest of us.
Legolas is walking on the snow next to me while I'm trying to go all Incredible Hulk through it.
Light-footed motherfucker…
This snowstorm isn't helping either…
"Stupid. Stupid. Stupid snow!" I push more of it away as I try to heave my legs, one by one through it. It's just up to middle of my stomach for crying out loud! This is ridiculous! LA… no snow… I want to go back to LA…
"Let me help you."
"No it's okay. You'll be affected by the dark energy remember?" I waved my hand "no".
"I'm not being affected right now. It will be fine!" Then we heard voices in the air. "Be careful. I sense something." Once I heard the voice though, I didn't look at him. It was Saruman's voice, that I knew, and whenever there is dark energy around, I know my black eye returns. "Go to Gandalf and let him know!"
"There is a fell voice on the air." I can hear him with my Elven ear.
"It's Saruman!" Gandalf yells.
We heard rocks falling right above us and he comes back to me and uses himself as a shield. "Legolas?"
"Are you alright?" He uses his eyes to check over me, I tug my hood on the left side of my face to hide my eye. "Yes I'm fine. Thank you." I look back and Bill the Pony is acting like nothing ever happened. "You are just too chill."
"He's trying to bring down the mountain! Gandalf, we must turn back!" Aragorn shouted.
"No!" I know what you mean Gandalf.
Gandalf then starts shouting his magical chants to try and counter Saruman's spells to bring down more rocks. Then lightning strikes the mountain and we get a mini avalanche on our hands.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh!" We become buried. "No no no no!"
"You are fine! You are alright!" Legolas is shouting to me. He acted as my shield again and pushed away the snow from us. He has his arm around me and I actually felt protected.
I look around and I see everyone popping their heads out of the snow.
"We must get off the mountain! Make for the Gap of Rohan, and take the west road to my city!" Boromir shouted his suggestion.
"The Gap of Rohan takes us too close to Isengard!" Aragorn countered.
"We cannot pass over a mountain. Let us go under it. Let us go through the Mines of Moria." Gimli said.
"No! We can't!" I'm not ready. I'm not ready to lose Gandalf! I'm trying to help everyone else within an arm's reach around me to move snow away from them.
My teeth start chattering and Legolas holds me closer. I instinctively leaned closer to his hold trying to get warm. My human side is freezing!
"Let the Ring-bearer decide." Putting this on Frodo. Of course.
"We cannot stay here. This will be the death of the Hobbits." Boromir. You have grown so fond of them. Especially Merry and Pippin. I look at Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin… they look like me… well half of me… they're turning pale and blue…. Teeth chattering and all…
"Frodo?" Gandalf asked.
"We will go through the mines." He is so sure of his decision. He probably had us in mind.
"So be it." I know Gandalf…
"Damn it…"
"What is the matter?" Legolas looked down at me, but I dare not risk him seeing my black eye if it's still there.
"I'm afraid what we will see underground."
"We all are." Was his only response as we keep trying to move the snow away from me.
Pain and loss are expected…