Disclaimer: Still don't own LOTR. Just Missy and Aerona
Bluelibellule13: you don't know how happy it makes me that you review every chapter! Please don't stop!
Lintered: I think all of us girls have done it glad you like it!
I'm sorry if Legolas is coming off as a douche but I purpose for all this I promise!
Her footsteps were silent as she padded across the grass towards to beautiful elf. Galadriel was pouring water from a pitcher into what Missy thought was a bird bath.
"Come Artemis, looking into the mirror." She gave her a slightly puzzled look and then moved towards the basin, not expecting to see anything but her own reflection. Indeed that was what she saw at first, just her own pretty face staring back at her, but then the water changed.
Fire raged through cities, people were crying out in pain and begging for mercy. Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli were fighting in a terrible war against orcs and strange looking gypsy men. Suddenly she was standing there, her hair pulled back from her face and a extravagant black crown upon her head. Aragorn was on his knees before her, two orcs holding his arms so he could not escape. She held a dagger in one hand and a leash in the other. The long chain led back to her little pet, who was beaten and bloody. Pippin whimpered as she gave the chain a jerk. Her lips were moving but she could not hear her own words and then she drove the dagger into Aragorn's heart.
Missy flew backwards, her breath coming out in short burst as she looked up at the Lady of the Light with wide eyes.
"That was terrible! Why would you show me something like that?" She asked and Galadriel only watched her carefully as she made her way towards the fallen girl. Missy couldn't tell what was going through her mind but she didn't feel safe any longer.
"That is one possible future in this war." Galadriel finally told her.
"You're insane! Why would I ever kill Aragorn? And Pippin, I would never be so cruel to the little guy!" Missy scrambled to her feet and took a step away from her. The truth was the images had scared her, she had felt like she was looking at someone else and not herself.
"You're purpose here child is a dark one. You're existence is for evil."
"Just send me home!" It was a plea.
"I can not, no one can. The only one with the power to send you back is the one that called you forth. For Aerona to be stopped she must never reach her full power." Missy stared at her unblinking. The message was loud and clear, she was never going home.
"This Aerona person called me here…and only she can send me back… but if she gets the power to send me back she'll keep me anyways?" Galadriel nodded her blonde head slowly and Missy placed her palm against her forehead.
"So what am I suppose to do? What does she want with me? I'm no one powerful, just a rich girl from Beverly Hills! Unless she wants a shopping buddy or her own personal cheerleader I'm pretty much useless to her!" Galadriel gestured to the mirror and the dark haired girl swallowed back her next rant. She had seen herself do those things, but it wasn't her.
"Oh… she wants…my body."
"I do not know why but you are the vessel." Missy set a glare upon her features, and then stopped her foot down on the ground in frustration.
"Well she can't have my body, I'm still using it!"
"There is still a chance, if you can find the inner strength to fight you can keep her from complete control. It will not be easy, you must find something so powerful to hold onto that the meer thought gives you strength." Green eyes met blue ones and the human tried to ease through her confusion. Something powerful? Love was the most powerful thing right? What did she love?
"So… something I love will give me strength… like the bracelet daddy gave me? It's beautiful and I love it so much I hardly ever wear it because I'm afraid I'll ruin it." Galadriel cupped the girls face and smiled a weary smile.
"You must look beyond material possessions, for like the ring they will corrupt your heart." Her eyebrows came together in confusion because she did not know what ring she spoke of.
"Go now, rest." She ran away quickly, having a lot to absorb and so little time to figure out what was really going on. Aerona and vessels. Why her? What was so special about her that she had been chosen? Who did she love? Her father and Troy, that was it, there was no one else on that list. She found herself back where the Fellowship was sleeping instead of her own private quarters. They were her only friends in that place, and they meant to leave her.
"Lady Artemis? Are you alright?" She looked over to see Merry was sitting up in his bed. She didn't want to cry again, it seemed silly even to her.
"I'm okay." Her voice cracked and she was suddenly tearing through the forest, not wanting to be near any of them. They didn't care about her after all; they wanted to dump her with the elves. When she finally stopped she found herself at some kind of training ground. Two elves with swords were there sparring each other.
"My lady." They greeted her and she gave them a small smile before marching over to a rack of swords. She determinedly picked one up and turned towards them.
"Show me how to use this." The two of them looked confused and then a voice rang out and saved them from having to answer.
"To what purpose?" She looked over at Legolas sharply.
"I'm stuck here, and if I'm going to be abandoned by the only people I know then I'll just have to learn how to defend myself." He gestured to the sword in her hand and laughed.
"You don't even know how to hold it right." She let out a frustrated shriek and for the second time that night stopped her foot.
"That's why I asked them to show me!" The stubborn elf grabbed her hands and rearranged them on the hilt. All she noticed was how heavy it was, she was oblivious to the fact that Legolas had pulled out his own sword.
"Block." He demanded and swung at her. She moved her blade in the way of his but, as with the orc, it simply went flying out of her hands. The vibration that the clashing blades had caused made her hands hurt and she looked up at him with sad eyes.
"I can't do this…" She fell back against the nearest try and hung her head. She wasn't a warrior, and she was terrible at everything. The only things she excelled in were fashion and shouting to a beat.
"Not if you quit so easily." Legolas grabbed her arm and pulled her to her feet.
"Choosing a weapon is like choosing a mate, it has to suit you." He explained while dragging her towards a staircase. She stumbled along in his vice grip, not knowing exactly where they were going. For all she knew he would take her to the top and then push her off. When they did reach the tree house at the top she was surprised to find wall to wall weapons. Swords, daggers, bows and every type of weapon she could imagine.
"Look at them all carefully, and decide which one has the most appeal. You know yourself therefore you know which weapon you would be best at." She glanced at him before returning her eyes to the shinny metals on the wall.
"You are helping me, but you don't like me." The statement was thrown over her shoulder as she passed the swords and moved on to the bows. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe.
"I believe that even the most pathetic creatures should be able to defend themselves." She didn't want Legolas to have the satisfaction of seeing her cry so she swallowed back her emotion and continued down the line. She was surprised when she found nun chucks.
"I can't believe you guys have these here! I could totally be Michaelangelo!" She swung them around twice before whacking herself on the elbow.
"Ow! Ok, not a ninja turtle." Legolas just watched her as she replaced them and kept moving. She stopped at a table, her hands reaching out to grab a tiny metal star.
"Throw stars… I think I could do this." She said softly and noticed that there were five or six sets on the table. They had different designs on the stars but she found herself drawn to one set of silver stars with a blue outline of elvish words across the center.
"Those will only be well for longer range and surprise attacks, you should pick a short range weapon as well." She looked up at her battle Yoda and nodded before turning back to the wall. She didn't think she would do well with a blade, and shooting a bow would be too hard. She knew if she threw the stars her target would be much closer and she had a better chance at hitting it.
"Pefect!" She cried out and moved to the far corner of the room where a basket full of staffs sat. She pulled one out and held it in her hands.
"This I can do!" She was confident and Legolas only nodded.
"Collect you stars and tomorrow I shall see how good you are with both." He began to leave and she called out to him. He didn't turn around but he didn't move either so she continued with her comment.
"Why are you helping me? You don't like me." He was silent for a while before he glanced back at her.
"As I said before lady, even the most pathetic creatures should be able to protect themselves." He was gone. ~ * ~
She was by no means pleased when the entire Fellowship showed up to see her train with jerk face. Aragorn had to show her the proper way to hold the staff but at least it felt better in her hands than a sword had. Legolas rolled his staff around his hands and even threw it in the air and caught it, all the while intimidating her.
"Get in your stance." Aragorn commanded and she simply held the staff in front of her.
"No, widen out your stance. Feet apart, bend the knee slightly. Good." She felt silly but had no time to think as Legolas was suddenly swinging at her. She was blocking quickly, her face showing panic as she retreated. She didn't get hit though so Aragorn was optimistic.
"That was good Artemis." He complimented her and she beamed at him. Her eyes were shinning as she watched his face for any other signs of praise, not noticing Legolas cast an annoyed glance at them.
"Really? I had to do some stick choreography ba-" THWHACK! Missy hit her knees, hands gripping Legolas' staff that was still across her belly. A horrid noise came out of her throat as she attempted to suck in air.
"Legolas!" Aragorn yelled and the elf just glared at him.
"She needs to be alert." The man was beside her instantly, pressing against her ribs to make sure they were intact. Legolas was precise though and had missed all bone deliberately. The man and elf were suddenly toe to toe.
"I think you've shown her enough." Legolas knew better than to challenge Aragorn and dropped his staff. He only glanced back once, in time to see Aragorn lift her tunic and expose the bruise that had already formed. His face softened and his eyebrows came together. He hadn't meant to hit her that hard.
"Artemis…" He was at a loss for words as she climbed to her feet.
"It's okay Legolas, I get it… pathetic creatures and all." He nodded and then turned from the group and walked off quickly. The four hobbits shared a look and then glanced back to see Aragorn still examining her stomach. Frodo sighed and gave a nod towards the two.
"I think I'll bet on Aragorn."