Hah, get what I did there with the title? I love that song. Anyway, I've been focused on plot this week so not so many words in this chapter, but I think you'll like it. Anyway so on with the story~
Review my story~ I'm always looking for pointers and such. ~ENJOY~
Ann thought herself to be a fairly efficient person. But obviously no one else thought of her like that.
"Please explain to me who the phantom seventeenth person coming on our trip with us is?" Jane scowled at Ann. "We have forty five minutes Ann, I hope you know what you're doing."
Ann opened and closed her mouth then placed a pack back on the shelf. "Okay, to the kitchens then, I guess?"
Adilyn was really fast, and graceful, and even Jane found some empowerment by the fact that the company may or may not leave without them if they weren't at Thorin's room in a half an hour. Ann found it horribly distracting.
Ann had always performed bad under pressure, that's why she was bad at free shots, and taking huge really long tests. She had once missed a really obvious question, because she over thought it to the point where she was able to convince herself that the opposite was true.
Just like now, in fact where she was trying to fill up the sacks with food, and provisions.
"Ann, why aren't you filling everything up?" Jane turned to her.
"Well, that, sister dearest, is because we need to fit hiking supplies in too." Ann was getting mildly annoyed at Jane, she worked well under pressure, extremely well perhaps. But the side effect was brusque rudeness.
"Good idea, but still fill them up a bit more." Adilyn smiled kindly at her.
"Alright." Ann set to work again and soon they were done.
"Now for the hiking supplies." Jane started to grab a pack.
"I will go get them, you two know not what to get, and you need to get your own belongings." Adiln took the pack gently. "Entrust me, I will get them to you in no more than a half an hour."
"Thanks a ton Adilyn." Ann took Jane's arm. "Let's go."
They walked out of the kitchen and Ann started jogging back to the rooms.
"What if she needs help?" Jane asked Ann. "What happens if we don't leave in," Jane checked her watch, "thirty five minutes?"
"That hour was only an approximation Jane." Ann turned and walked back toward her. "And could you not tell that we were only slowing her down?" Ann chuckled "I think that she might have gotten annoyed at my incompetence."
"No, I was the one who tripped and spilled a whole thing of food." Jane chuckled and followed Ann to the rooms.
"Meet you here in ten?" Jane grabbed her door handle.
Jane and Ann stood outside of their rooms, which were right next door to each others.
"Nah, I think I might need a couple of hours, to get the three belongings that I haven't broken yet." Ann grinned, glad she had gotten Jane out of her shlump.
"Alright, last one out is a rotten egg." Jane opened her door.
Ann burst through the broken door, and went immediately to her closet, where her bag was sitting neatly inside. She grabbed her cloak, now cleaned back to it's royal blue color, and fastened it around her neck. She grabbed multiple jackets and pairs of pants from the closet, but really was surprised that they didn't have tops.
"What do they expect me to wear a dress on a mountain path?" Ann paled. She had forgotten about the fact they would be taking a mountain path. That meant heights. She absolutely hated heights. That was why they took the boat instead of flying to New Zealand.
Ann shivered and threw random shirts into her bag, hey, if it covered 90% of her it was good.
She searched through the back of the closet, no knives weapons, anything. Unless you counted the needle and thread that laid on one of the top shelves.
Ann actually looked at the wardrobe for a moment, not at the clothes inside it, but actually at it. She took a step back and looked at the doors.
It was very ornate, with engravings that all seemed to be useless, well if you didn't value such things. Ann ran her hand over the letterings, they were probably some elvish runes.
Ann felt rather than saw a little abnormality in the wood. It was like the lines and curves didn;t quite match up.
Ann ran her fingers over it again, it was the spot in the very left corner of the front, right where the hinge was. She pressed on it and there was a click.
Ann's mouth opened, she really couldn't believe this, she was discovering a hidden compartment, doorway, something! It was almost like she was living a book!
Ann opened the closet again, and ran her hands along the cracks, to see what that clicking had been.
She pressed on the back wall, and it fell away to reveal a rack of weapons. There was a bow and quiver of arrows, which Ann took immediately, then there were an assortment of knives. She took three. Two for her bag, and another for her sleeve. The two she put in her bag were quite large about the length of her forearm. The one she tucked in her sleeve however was small, just barely the size of her hand.
Ann grinned and looked down at the last thing. It was a bottle about the size of her thumb. It was filled with blackish purple liquid, that looked like the colors were morphing and changing every second. It was rather useless to leave it, Ann supposed. Or else some one could use is to harm you later. She shoved the bottle in her bag too, and then she was off.
It was chaos in the hall. Everyone was running from room to room grabbing things.
Fili was telling Kili something. Ann thought Fili might have been ridiculing Kili, but Kili stormed inside his room before Ann could ask him what had happened.
Bofur had found some wine and was trying to convince Dwalin that it was absolutely necessary that they take it.
Thorin was nowhere to be seen. But Bombur had gotten stuck in a doorway, and Ori was trying to smuggle some elvish books into his pack, but Balin had one in his hand, and did not seem happy.
Adilyn was behind her. "I have your supplies." She looked really odd, carrying sixteen packs and a staff. "Where do I put them?"
Ann took one look down the hallway and nodded. She looked over her shoulder and sighed. "One moment please." She looked down the hall and waved her hands, it got the attention of Bilbo, who came scuttling over to her.
"What am I supposed to do?" He squeaked.
"EVERYONE LISTEN UP!" Ann shouted. "Get over and get a pack from Adilyn." Ann motioned to behind her. "Don't lose it, this is all the rations you get to make it through the mountains." Ann held up a hand as the dwarves took a step towards her.
"And I would suggest for those of you who are thinking about taking extra supplies, don't." Ann deadpanned "They will do nothing but weigh you down or get lost on the mountain pass." Ann lowered her hand.
She grabbed a pack and made her way to Balin, who was staying at the back of the twelve dwarves surging up to get a pack of food.
"Where is Thorin?" She asked. "I have to talk to him about how we are getting out of the valley undetected."
"I believe that is what is trying to do at the moment lass." Balin shook his head. "I would not bother him." Balin gave her a pat on the shoulder and then strode away to make final preparations.
"All right then." Ann sighed frustratedly. "I guess I have to find him myself."
Jane walked out of her room and grabbed Ann. "Has Adalyn come with the packs yet?"
"Yeah, go get yours." Ann nodded over to the end of the hall, where a confused Adalyn was standing holding two packs.
"Adalyn, come on." Ann waved her over.
"Thanks." Jane accepted a pack and they wandered down the hall.
"You wouldn't happen to know which room is Thorin's, do you?" Ann asked Adilyn nonchalantly.
"Yes." Adilyn stepped in front of Ann and Jane and led them to a room on the right.
Jane went to knock, but before she got a chance, Ann opened the door and walked in.
Thorin was leaning over a table, his hands on either side of the map of the homely house and mountain pass around it. He looked up as they walked in.
"Have you figured out a way to get us unnoticed out of here?" Ann plopped down in a seat.
"No." Thorin looked at her reproachfully.
"Fun. I bet you're glad that I walked in." Ann grinned and steepled her hands.
"Quite the opposite." Thorin stood back and turned the map so that Jane and Adalyn could see.
"Burn." Jane pulled out a chair and sat.
"We have guards stationed here," Adalyn tapped the spot by where they had eaten dinner, "here," she pointed to the spot where the house led to the mountain pass, "and here." She tapped the mountain pass.
"The problem is going to be getting out of the house, as that is where reinforcements will be closest." Jane nodded.
"How many elves guard the place right at the first station that we have to pass?" Ann looked at the map intently. "We might be able to draw them out with a distraction."
"Three." Adalyn nodded.
"It would have to be minor enough for them to not call for backup." Jane thought out loud. "Yet big enough for all three of them to come."
"I already played the I'm lost card."
"What?" Adalyn. "What do you mean, you already played it?"
"Well I'm going to be the one causing the distraction right?" Ann looked at them quizically. "Because when it comes to mischief I can manage it."
"We need to figure out how to get out before we figure out who is going to cause the distraction." Jane watched Thorin open his mouth imperiously.
"We call the first ones away with what kind of distraction?" Ann closed her eyes and flashed through all the different scenarios.
There was a pregnant silence.
"I know, this always works in the movies." Ann jumped up.
"We aren't in a movie." Jane sighed.
Ann raised an eyebrow, and Jane caught her eye and sighed.
"We call them away with fake orders." Ann told them. "When I say we, I mean Adalyn."
"Alright that takes care of that." Jane nodded.
"We will need to be quick, the guards will soon figure out the mistake and tell their superior." Thorin stared off broodingly.
"True, we will need to be quick anyway." Ann put her hands to her temples.
"Second station." Jane looked at Ann with a warning in her eyes.
"Since this is outside, we lead them off with a wild goosechase." Ann pointed to the map. "The company will need to hide though."
"We won't have that luxury at the third set of guards." Thorin said gravely.
"We can disable that trio." Ann waved her hand at Thorin.
"But not kill them." Jane gave everyone in the room a fierce stare. "We needn't lose the goodwill of those here."
Thorin nodded.
"I go up to the third set of guards and lead two of them off." Ann had already formulated a plan. "And disable them one by one."
"What do you mean?" Adalyn looked horrified.
"Divided they fall, but united they stand." Jane nodded. "But no permanent injuries."
"I know." Ann rolled her eyes.
"No," Thorin shook his head. "A girl will not-"
"What?" Adalyn looked offended
"Excuse me?" Jane crossed her arms
"Do you want to rephrase that prick?" Ann raised an eyebrow.
"Three to one are not the best odds." Thorin realized he was in a room with only girls. "Two to one would be much better."
"Ann to three are great odds." Ann looked at Adalyn, "Plus Adalyn will join me once she's done with the first set."
"Alright." Thorin nodded. "Now leave so I may get my supplies packed." He crossed his arms.
"Alright but I'm taking this." Ann grabbed the map of the mountain pass.
Thorin's face remained passive, but Ann thought she saw a little bit of an eye roll.
Ann met Jane and Adilyn in the hall.
"Don't tell Fili I'm going to be the one who deals with the second stop." Ann bit her cheek. "He will most likely pull a Katniss."
"What?" Adalyn gazed at Ann and Jane confusedly.
"It's a reference to a girl who volunteered to get herself killed for her-"
"Why would she do that?" Adalyn covered her mouth.
"Because it was that or someone she loved." Ann put a hand on her shoulder.
"A valiant sacrifice." Adalyn smiled.
"But she didn't actually die, so don't worry." Jane smiled.
"Oh." Adalyn looked perturbed.
"Just don't tell Fili." Ann grabbed her pack from outside Thorin's door.
"Which one is he?" Adalyn looked to Ann.
"The handsome young blond one." Ann looked down the hallway. "He's that one." Ann waved to Fili, who saw her and walked over.
"What are we going to do next?"
Thorin stepped out of his room, and silence fell over the hall.
"Everyone's ready?" Thorin had a bag over his shoulder and his hood was on.
Everyone nodded.
"Aye." Balin nodded.
"Wait five minutes before following me Ann." Adalyn tapped the side of her nose. "But I'm telling them ten."
"Alright." Ann nodded and put on her straight face.
"I will go to the first set." Adalyn told Thorin. "Wait ten minutes before following."
Thorin nodded and set to work making sure everyone was ready. He checked Dwalin's hood, Oin's books, and Fili's cloak.
Ann waited, and waited. Really she hated waiting. Once when her mother had tried to force her to take a nap, back when she was six and hated taking naps, she had taken a pencil and written a story about a dragon and a knight.
It would suffice to say that many erasers were used getting the huge six year old hand writing off the wall, and that her arm was sore for more than a couple days.
Then there was the one time, where she had taken a half an hour to convince Jane to come out to the pool with her, and their mom thought they had run away. She had been about to call the police when she found a riddle under Jane's pillow leading her to the pool. Ann had taken the heat for that, and still remembered how hot it was the week she had been grounded from the pool.
Ann chuckled as she remembered time and time again taking the heat from her parents whilst Jane sat in her armchair reading. Ann remembered how Grandma had given Ann the ornamental sword that was still hanging up on her wall, but she had given Jane her favorite armchair. Ann nostalgically thought of how Jane and her would wrestle the other off of it, and see who could stay on it the longest.
Ann looked at her watch.
"Seems about time to go." Ann grinned and waltzed through the hall where there was no sign of the first set of guards. Adalyn must have already lead them off, perfect.
Ann looked back at the company who was following her trying to be inconspicuous. At which they were failing. Ann sighed and turned to check the two guards.
They weren't that intimidating, just one was massively decked in muscles. Ann bit the inside of her cheek and thought about how the hell she was going to distract the guards.
Ann looked across the hall. The bathroom, of course.
The perfect distraction.
But what would she have to act like to not arouse suspicion? A weak human girl. Ann thought about who acted like that. Jane. Jane slouched and dragged her feet, that's what she would do.
Ann slouched and trudged over to the elves, fiddling with her hands.
"I think there might be something wrong with the bathroom?" Ann tried to sound nervous. But that wasn't a problem, as she naturally felt that way at that point in time.
"Damn dwarves." The shorter one said vehemently. "If they ruined the plumbing they're going to have to fix it."
"Can you check it out, because they haven't returned yet." Ann tried to think of what Jane did when she was nervous.
"Fine, but dwarves are a tricky bunch." The elf eyed her curiously. "One might ask what a human is doing traveling with them?"
Ann felt a surge of annoyance, which in a usual situation she would have voiced loudly. But now wasn't the time. "They are helping me return home." Ann looked at the floor and shifted from foot to foot.
"I am Vaerin." The shorter elf nodded. "I will go then."
Ann almost cheered. "Okay."
They walked across the corner, and the elf strode into bathroom. Ann waited a moment, praying that there wouldn't be any men in there, and walked in.
There was no men, except for Vaerin.
Ann watched him check one room, then a second, Ann walked to the last. "Vaerin." Ann said with a small voice. "You might want to take a look at this." Ann pointed a shaky finger into the small room like urinal.
Vaerin walked over slowly, drawing his sword. "What is it?"
Ann crept behind him. She rolled her shoulders and pulled herself to her full height. She put her hood up.
Vaerin looked into the stall, lowering his sword.
Ann drove her clenched fist into his neck. As he didn't fall to the floor unconscious, she drew her sword.
Vaerin dried out in pain, dropped his sword, and spun around. He looked confused for a moment, before glancing around and looking less calm. "What have you done with the girl?"
Ann frowned as she looked up at him, and put the point of her sword to his throat.
An idea popped into Ann's head. "That girl is not of this world." Ann faked an evil laugh.
The elf put a step forward, but stopped as cold steel was pressed into his neck.
Ann was a little panicked, that blow to the neck was supposed to have taken him out. But he still looked conscious, well as conscious as any elf.
"What did you do, with that girl?" Ann saw Vaering glance at his sword then back at her.
"Turn around." Ann ordered smoothly.
Vaerin slowly did so.
"What do you see, with your elf eyes?" Ann grinned a bit and stepped closer to him.
"A toilet." Vaerin replied.
"Nothing else?" Ann took another step forward. "And you call yourself an elf?"
"What do I not see?" Ann positioned herself so this would work.
"Everything." Ann brought the hilt down on his neck, and he crumpled to the floor.
Ann winced at the bruise that was already forming. "I hope you have some ice, because that is going to hurt when you wake up."
Ann sheathed her sword and pulled down her hood, she stood for a moment with her hands on her hips. Then, setting her jaw, she grabbed ahold of Vaerin's legs. She tried to pull him into the stall put it didn't work.
"Oh my god." Ann dropped his legs and panted slightly. "Are you made of one hundred percent muscle? Damn you're heavy."
Ann slowly dragged Vaerin into the stall. Eventually it was done.
Ann trudged outside and leaned against the wall to catch her breath. It was harder than you think to drag a six three, maybe six four man, that probably weighed two fifty pounds into a stall.
Ann put on her scared face, and walked toward the one elf that was left.
"Where is Vaerin?" The elf looked at her immediately.
"That's why I came back." Ann looked down at her feet trying not to smile. "He hasn't come out of the bathroom."
"What? It's been so long…" The elf looked in the direction of the bathroom thoughtfully.
"I know I waited, but he didn't come out." Ann looked away.
"Come on Ann!" Ann thought "Your pet just died, even though you don't have one."
"I can't leave my post…" The elf kept looking from the hall to behind him.
"But what about Vaerin?" Ann panicked. "What if he's hurt?"
"I know." The elf said harshly. Ann thought it was time for some reverse psychology.
"I'll go." Ann took loud deep breaths.
The other elf looked dubious, as if he should stop her.
"Although," Ann shivered "I don't know, if Vaerin couldn't handle it, how could I?"
"You can't." The elf smirked. "If you go in there then you would be walking to your death."
"I thought that elves were supposed to be honorous." Ann frowned. Nothing, it seemed, was working. "What if your partner is hurt?" Ann almost grinned. "The dwarves would go and see if their friends are alright." Ann paused and put a finger to her chin. "Maybe I should get one of them?"
Ann grinned, this had most definitely affected him.
"I will go." The elf said. "But know this, your dwarven friends wouldn't last a moment."
Ann waited and smirked as the elf walked past her. "But neither will you." Ann whispered, and turned and followed him.
The elf walked into the men's, and Ann followed.
"So this is what a men's bathroom is like." Ann said quietly. "I thought it would smell nicer."
The elf didn't even spare her a glance.
Ann drew her sword, and dropped it.
The elf turned sharply and stared at her.
"Sorry, I'm not good at this sort of thing." Ann shrugged and smiled apologetically.
"Don't hurt yourself." He turned around and started looking inside the stalls.
Ann rolled her eyes at him, made a face at his back, and stuck her tongue out.
Ann crept up brought her sword up, and was about to hit him when he turned to look at the other stall. Ann realized he had a collar, so if she had tried to knock him out a moment ago, she wouldn't have, and it would have been bad. Ann almost sighed in relief.
Ann repositioned herself. "Where did Vaerin go?"
"I don't know." The elf was really annoyed. He opened the stall and saw Vaerin. A small noise that sounded like surprise came from the back of his throat.
Ann brought her hilt up, and smashed it into the back of his head.
He fell with a thud. Ann felt mildly bad.
Ann hurried out to the hall, and looked around the corner where the dwarves where. "Go, it's clear for now."
The dwarves hurried past. Ann looked down the hall, there was the blond elf from her and Fili's expedition to the kitchens.
"What are you doing?" He hurried toward them.
"Wandering, and nothing in particular." Ann grinned as the last dwarf jogged out of sight.
"No you're not." He drew his sword too.
"I'm not doing anything wrong." Ann inched toward the corner, if she hurried she might be able to lose him.
"What drawn, and talking of peace?" His lip curled into a sneer.
"I do but keep the peace." Ann grinned at her punniness.
"What are you up to?" He lifted his sword. "Where are your friends now? Have they abandoned you?"
"No." Ann glanced at his sword. She couldn't outrun him, she couldn't lose him, who was she kidding, he probably knew the house better than she would ever hope to. She had to out talk him.
Ann sheathed her sword. "What are you doing here? Hopefully not lost." Ann grinned innocently
The elf set his sword down. "No, I'm to replace my fellow elf in guard duty."
"In this hall?" Ann swore inside her head. "How coincidental. We meet again."
"Nothing is a coincidence." The elf narrowed his eyes at her.
"That's rude." Ann glared at him. "Well if you don't want me, then I get it, I've taken the hint, I'll leave." Ann stormed off, convincingly, she hoped.
"My lady, your rooms are not that way." The elf sounded slightly amused.
"I don't need your help." Ann hurried, if she sprinted she might be able to find the dwarves before they got to the third station.
"Wait, where are Vaerin and Druindar?" The elf was seriously suspicious now.
"Quit following me!" Ann turned back to face him. "You're being creepy."
Ann hurried off, leaving the elf standing there confusedly.
Ann had just gotten outside when horns sounded. Ann looked over her shoulder, soon elves were going to be looking for her, and that wasn't good. Ann sprinted down the path, trying to follow the white rocks, she hoped the dwarves were way farther along, and had already passed the third station, or else they would be caught.
"Wait." An elf shouted.
Ann pumped her arms, her cloak, pack, and sword weighed heavily on her.
She definitely heard a clopping of hooves behind her.
Ann sighed and quickly made a decision. Throwing her pack to the side, she strung an arrow onto her bow.
Pulling the string back, she turned and pointed it the nearest elf. "Stop or I'll shoot." Ann said hoarsely.
The elves didn't stop, but instead circled around her, their horses moving in sick, Ann now was turning.
"Why have you taken off? What are you doing running away from the homely house?" One called.
"It's because elves are dishonorable lying, thieving, jerks." Ann let down her bow. "And because you all smell."
"What are you up to?" Ann saw the elf speaking now, he had blond hair, and green eyes.
"I'm making my way away from here." Ann thanked the heavens none of them were continuing up the path. "Or is that not allowed?"
One of the elves opened his mouth to speak, but Ann cut him off. "Does your Lord Elrond take prisoner anyone that comes into his house, or is it just because Saruman, Gandalf, and Galadriel are here, discussing the fact that the dwarves going on an adventure to take back their home."
"What, how do you know about that?" The elf questioned.
"No wait, I'm not done yet." Ann took a step toward where her pack lie. "What if this house was burnt to the ground, and orcs overtook it. Would you, one of the only survivors come and take it back, or would you let yourselves be stopped by dwarves?"
"No dwarf could stop the revenge of the elves." One yelled out, and there was a murmuring of 'yes's' and 'of courses.'
"That is what I'm saying, the dwarves are trying to find their home, because they have none." Ann stomped. "And who are you to stop them?"
There was silence, and the horses stopped.
"Now let me pass." Ann picked up her pack and strode through the line of horses.
"But Lord Elrond said that the dwarves aren't to leave."
Ann turned, but continued walking backwards. "But the dwarves are already well into the mountains, I just came back because I forgot something." Ann shrugged. "So you're not going to catch them anytime soon."
Ann walked for about a minute before the horses started riding away. "And check the bathroom for Vaeren!" Ann yelled. "And tell him I'm sorry!"
Ann didn't wait for their reaction but sprinted away, then she realized instead of riding away, the horses were coming toward her.
Ann kept sprinting, not caring that she wouldn't make it into the mountains, but wanting them to not have the pleasure of seeing her give up.
"Wait!" It was Adalyn.
Ann stopped and turned around.
"What?" Ann watched as Adalyn stopped and jumped off her elegant brown horse.
"What did you say about Vaeren?" Adalyn asked.
"Wait, you know him?" Ann glanced at the horse, and took a step toward it.
Adalyn opened and closed her mouth, and a pink tinge appeared to her cheeks.
"Oh my God, are you two dating?" Ann grinned patting the horse's mouth.
"Well, it's past that, he and I are to be wed." Adalyn grinned.
"Congratulations!" Ann beamed at her.
Ann swung up on the horse.
"Wow it's high up here, I'm used to riding ponies."
"What did you say about Vaerin? And what are you doing on my horse?" Adalyn looked a bit suspicious.
Ann closed her eyes and slumped forward, breathing in the smell of the horse's mane. "If there ever was a time for you to run fast as the wind, do it now." Ann thought.
Ann spurred off the horse, and called out behind her to the confused Adalyn. "Check in the men's, the last stall to the left."
"What did you do to him Ann?" Adalyn sounded terrified.
"Nothing, he's just asleep." Ann laughed in what she hoped was a carefree and happy way.
"Ann come back!" Adalyn was too far behind Ann to catch up now, Ann was free.
As free as she would be for a while.