Elrond took the seated company in with a raised brow as they argued over the One Ring Frodo had placed upon the small table that sat in the center of the gathering. It wasn't what he had hoped for when they all gathered here.
His attention was called back when the dwarf drew himself up and prepared to strike against the ring with his ax, the others already in the process of standing and calling out to him. But something happened, the table shook as if by itself. As if a weight had been tossed against it.
The entire group hushed and watched with wide eyes as a ghostly image quickly appeared and their voice echoed around them, sounding as if they were from far away.
The ghostly image was that of a young woman that seemed slouched against the small table, but was curled forward awkwardly forward, long black hair covering her face. Elrond moved forward and around the table to get a better view of this ghost.
She wore strange clothing, that of which resembled something a male would wear. And when she struggled to pull herself up, moving her head slightly, it was revealed that her right hand was tightly grasped around an arrow.
-That's smarts...- her eyes opened to slits as she hissed, taking in the weapon that pierced her.
-Lady Kagome! Are you alright?-
She turned away and faced forward, a slight grimace of a smile offered to whomever she was speaking to, and soon two more ghostly images rushed towards her. A man dressed in black and purple robes, his own dark hair pulled back at the nape of his neck allowing the others to notice small golden loops in his ears. And in his hand a wooden staff with a golden headpiece where small golden rings chimed through the air.
Next to him was a woman wearing strange black armor, her hair pulled up high and away from her face, a single blade at her hip. Her kind face was drawn in worry as she took in the obvious, Lady Kagome.
-How many times have I told you to stop calling me by that ridiculous title, Miroku?-
The two figures relaxed some, seeing that their friend was alright. Perhaps.
-Enough times to stand yet another round of saying such it would seem.- he bent down to take in the wound from the front as the other woman took it in from the side, seemingly trying to see the exit.
-It looks like it went clean through, though it's pinning you to this tree.-
-That's good to know, but doesn't make it hurt any less. Think you can remove the head and pull the shaft out... I think there might have been some poison on the arrow head.-
They watched as she tried to get a look over her shoulder to see it. She gave up with a sigh and let her head fall back, obviously against the tree she was pinned to but they couldn't see that.
-I don't see why you allow her to continue walking around like that!-
-Sango... it's because he needs her. We all understand that. Besides the fact that she's only after my life, she's actually helping us trying to get rid of Naraku. I'm all for getting as much help against him. Cause we're going to need it.-
-But she has half...!-
-Sango, it is Lady Kagome's decision. Although I don't agree with it. The dead are not meant to be brought back.-
-Well I didn't bring her back. That witch...!-
Her tale ended when the other woman, Sango, suddenly ripped the arrow shaft out. Kagome immediately slouched as she curled forward, letting out a pained hissing groan. The others winced, as if feeling the phantom pain themselves.
-...warn me next time please... damn it that hurt... I think I felt it actually brush against my heart...- she shivered slightly and pushed herself up and glance at the piece of wood in the other woman's hands.
The man stood up and took what was left of the weapon and brushed some blood away. His brows furrowed as he closely observed the wood before quickly tossing it away with an angry glare.
-I know that look... that's not a good look.- Kagome grunted as she stood up, swaying lightly clutching to the 'tree' behind her.
-I fear that the arrow was not dipped in poison, but was rather drenched in darkness.- he sighed and turned to the still slightly bleeding young woman. -I fear that your wound my take a long time to heal properly, if at all.-
-So... it was cursed?-
-In a way. It was meant to steal your soul... and obviously give it to Kikyo... leaving you in a... undead state of being. But you're stronger than her and stopped that from happening. But it will scar, and will most likely there will be remnants of pain for the rest of your life because of the curse that was placed on the arrow.-
-Joy.- Kagome pushed herself to stand her full height, which was rather tiny compared for them, but still taller than the Hobits. She took a stumbling step forward, which so happened to be in Fordo's direction.
Elrond noticed how the halfling was absently rubbing at his own recent recovery from his own near brush with such a fate.
-Kagome... don't take this the wrong way, but... I think you should go home, and stay, stay.-
-I'm not offended, but...- Kagome turned around and offered the two with her a bright smile, as if she hadn't just been pinned to a tree or had an arrow ripped out of her. -Despite all of this being thrust upon me; the needing to destroy both Naraku and the Jewel before Naraku tries to use it to... oh I don't know, control the world maybe, I got to meet you and everyone else. And for that I'm grateful.-
-What about your family? Don't you miss them?!-
-Constantly.-
-Then go home!-
-But that would mean giving up. And it's for them, and everyone I care for that are the reason I'm fighting! Like I said, at the beginning it all may have been thrust upon me, but I choose to continue this quest of ours and see it through. Destroy Naraku and the Jewel and bring peace, freedom and... happy sunshine and rainbows to the land!-
-Happy sunshine and rainbows?- the man leaned in towards the woman, whispering his question in her ear.
-Perhaps the blood loss has gone to her head?-
As if to answer their question, Kagome wavered slightly on her spot, raising a hand to her brow and let out a quiet groan. When she brought her head up and opened her eyes again, they realized that she was actually taking -them- in when she was taking her surroundings in.
Her strange blue eyes took each and every one of them in, widening slightly before they centered on the One Ring. Her eyes narrowed on it slightly, causing a slight glow to enter at the corner of her eyes that started not only them, but her companions as well.
She was about to say something, but wavered again.
-Perhaps Sango is right. The blood loss has gone to my head, so we should head over to Grandma Kaede's.-
-Oh?- Miroku raised a brow as he placed a steadying hand on Kagome's uninjured shoulder.
-I'm seeing and sensing things, so let's go.-
-Care to share with us.-
Already, the two were at her sides, and slowly leading her away.
-If I had to describe them... some looked elves, a few dwarves... maybe a wizard some other men... and a really small man?- she leaned heavily against Miroku, her description had them all freezing in their seats wondering if such a thing were possible.
-And then there was a stupid ring sitting on a table too.-
-Whatever you say, Lady Kagome. We'll see Grandmother Kaede, get your wound seen too and then you can have a nice hot bath.-
-That sounds great! But you're not welcome to join!- she tossed a look at her support.
-I'm wounded you would think such of me Lady Kagome!-
-Whatever. And if that hand moves any lower in an attempt to cop a feel, I will hurt you...-
-MONK!-
-It's my cursed hand! I swear!-
The three ghostly figures disappeared, but an echoing sound of a slap still lingered and a faint 'It was worth it' before all traces of the scene disappeared.
The air around them seemed alive with their buzzing minds. What had just happened? What did it mean? Such questions, though not shared, rang loud and clear through the air.
Elrond turned and began to move to where he had origionally stood, only to stop short just before the table. There, next to the One Ring, was a bloody arrow head with a short piece of arrow shaft laying in a small puddle of blood.
Stepping aside, he glanced towards Gandalf, who also quickly took notice of the only piece of evidence to what had just happened laying on the table. Said 'wizard' stood up and moved forward and picked up the small piece of arrow, a few drops of blood dripping onto the ground.
"Curious. The arrow head is shaped like none I've ever seen before, and completely drenched in darkness. But the blood itself... is the purest I've ever felt." Gandalf twisted and turned the arrow head between his thumb and forefinger, taking it in from all angles, a few more drops of blood falling to the earth.
The others soon stood up to also observed what Gandalf held in his hand, Elrond furrowed his brow, also taking it in, but refusing to tough such a... tainted weapon. It displeased him greatly that such a dark thing was in his lands to begin with. But he could not fault the young woman. Not when she thought their world was images brought on by blood loss. He had seen many humans suffer such during battle.
Frodo himself was amazed that there -really- was someone else that understood what he was going through, went through. He moved to stand and also approach Gandalf to see this arrow head, but something caught his eye. Looking down to see what it was, his brown eyes widened when he saw a drop of blood land on the ground adding to a small gathering of drops there. It wasn't the blood itself that drew his attention, but what happened when they dripped down into a crack between the stone that did.
A first it was small, a simple green leaf. But it grew quickly and blossomed into a sprig with small white bell-like flowers.
"Gandalf... look."
Catching the wizards attention who looked to where Frodo was pointing, he knelt down to take in the small sprig of fresh life. He carefully plucked the flower and brought it up to his face for closer inspection.
"Very interesting. But sadly, we do have more important things to worry about." with that said, Gandalf stood his full height with both the arrow and flower sprig in hand and turned to Elrond.
Both gave a nod and indicated for the others to return to their seats to continue with the reason they were there to begin with. Planning the destruction of the One Ring.
AB: Not a continuation of my first Inu/LOTR possibility. I really have no idea where this one came from, but the idea, among others, have been in my head for the longest time. This one I just managed to type up. Other than that; read, enjoy, and review.