Cheesecake-and-Pengins - I love that you review to all of my chapters. :) It really means a lot, and I can't thank you enough. Just to answer your question about Maerwen... From what I've gathered from reading way too many fanfictions and from the bit of research I've done on elves, they fade away and die whenever something really bad happens and they become depressed. Basically with the loss of loved ones. In this case, James! :D I'm terrible at explanations, so I hope that does the trick!
Well, I'm in a writing mood today, so I'm gonna get all of these ridiculous ideas out here! :) You know, I have to fight brutally with myself to refrain from putting smileys randomly throughout the story. I feel like they add character, don't you? I vote we put smileys everywhere!
Oh, and I watched Return of the King yesterday... For the first time in forever... and I hated the feeling! I've read so many Boromir fanfictions, I feel like it's only right if he's alive throughout the whole thing!
Ohhhh I need to take a break from my Boromir obsession...
Anyhoo. I don't own Lord of the Rings. And the song that Collin sings is called Forest, by Twenty One Pilots. It's the acapella version. I love that band. :)
(Sophie)
"Bree, Bree, Bree... Why are we going to Bree?" Gandalf found it necessary to escort Aragorn to the poop town on our way to the Shire. I don't see why, though. Aragorn's a big boy, he can fend for himself.
Collin was rather sad to see him go, though. I'm telling you, it's like those two were never apart. Whenever Aragorn's without Collin, he's regular old Aragorn. Whenever he's with Collin, it's like he's an entirely new person. He smiles a lot more, he's more light-hearted about things, and likes to joke around. Collin brings out the best in everyone.
"Don't get too comfortable here, Strider." Gandalf handed Aragorn some of his stuff from inside the wagon. "I will need you to lead Frodo to Rivendell, safely, should I be delayed. I must seek council with Saruman, first."
The ranger nodded. "I will wait for him at the Prancing Pony." Aragorn then turned to Collin. "Are you sure that you would not wish to stay here with me, and continue your training?"
Aragorn had offered Collin a chance to train to be a ranger, and he turned it down without a second thought.
"No thank you, Strider." He clapped his arms around Kristy and I, a big smile on his face. "I've got all I need, right here."
Our ranger smiled at us, and waved us a farewell. "Then I hope to see you again, soon!" With that, we were off, again.
Gandalf was in a bit of a hurry, like always. That means, no potty breaks! But don't worry. It's not like I'm too eager to wipe my butt with a leaf, anyways. That's the one thing that I haven't gotten used to; the lack of plumbing.
"Down in the forest, we'll sing a chorus, one that everybody knows..." Collin began to sang, on-key, and with a beautiful tone. "Hands held higher, we'll be on fire. Singing songs that nobody wrote." Such a pretty voice for a lovely song. He was singing away happily, as he wrote in his secret journal that he still refused to let me see. Over the five years we've been here, Collin's been dedicated to writing his journals and videotaping everything imaginable. Yeah... His camera's battery is still going strong...
He's lucky we love him, or that camera would be long gone.
Collin's become quite the warrior, since we've come here. His passion and dedication for the art is remarkable; he practices and practices until he gets it right, and then he practices some more. I can actually go walk around in the woods without Gandalf or Strider, anymore. As long as I've got Collin, I know I'm safe. I trust that man with my life.
He's also got this whistle that he intends to blow if he gets into trouble. Kind of like a rape whistle, only for orcs.
Would orcs try to rape Collin?
I hope not.
.
.
The forest opened up into the big, bright, beautiful Shire. Kristy seemed to brighten up considerably. Although she tries to hide it, we all know that she's been homesick for the Shire. Even though she's established herself quite well in Rivendell, this wondeful place with its funny little people will always have a special place in her heart. Kind of like how Rohan will always be a special place for Collin and I.
Speaking of Rohan, Eowyn's gonna kill me if I ever go back. Kill me. I told her I wouldn't be long, and here we are, well over five years later, and I've still yet to go back.
Whoops!
It's kind of hard to keep in contact with the outside world when you're in Rivendell. The elves kind of keep to themselves. A bunch of stuck-up pretties, those people. They've got this mean stereotype going on when it comes to men. Then again, I guess I can't blame them. I've got a stereotype for them, too.
But Kristy likes them. She also likes hobbits. And from what I remember, she's got quite a few hobbit lads vying for her heart.
As we pulled up to Bag-End, Gandalf decided to play the role of daddy.
"Wait here." Our old wizard friend then hopped out of the wagon and began his trek up the steps.
"What do you mean, wait here?" Kristy was expecting to see her friends, and now she was going to have to sit outside in this creaky old wagon? Preposterous!
Unfortunately, Gandalf was in one of his cranky moods, and turned to give my friend a look that made me think that Kristy would soon be a frog. Odd. Gandalf never glared at Kristy!
"Must be that time of the month." Collin shrugged.
"You're lucky he didn't hear that, Collin." I wouldn't want to piss off a wizard. I've tested his limits, and they aren't that hard to surpass. Gandalf might be older than shoulder pads, but he is not one to be messed with. He's his own kind of super hero.
The wagon shook and creaked as Kristy rolled out the back.
"Where are you going?" I assumed that she was going off to pee. Remember, Gandalf hadn't given us a potty break all day. That man has the bladder of a camel. If that even makes sense at all.
Doubt it.
Kristy didn't answer. She just began climbing the steps to Bag-End, without so much as a look back.
Collin shrugged once more. "Must be that time of the month."
This time, I could actually agree.
(James)
"Ada!" A tiny form pounced on my sleeping form. My favorite little person in the whole world (sorry, Sophie), my daughter, Faelwen.
"Ohhh!" She landed right on my sore gut. Mr poor... Sore gut... Note to self: punch Legolas in the gut as hard as you possibly can the next time you see him.
... Ow...
Luckily, my lovely daughter always cheers me up.
"Careful, careful... Daddy's hurting." I carefully lifted her off of my bruised ribs.
Faelwen, now four, looked up to me with her beautiful blue eyes. "Ada, why are you hurting?"
Because Legolas is a douche. "Because uncle Legolas doesn't know how to lose." The darn elf and I had been sparring, and he was about to get his butt whupped. He's such a sore loser, though, that he resolved to kicking me where the sun don't shine, then nailing me in the gut.
When I'm done with him, he's not gonna know what hit him.
But little Faelwen shook her head, her innocent smile warming my heart. She looks so much like her mother. "Uncle Legolas said that you did not know how to lose."
Her baby voice is so stinking adorable. "Legolas said that?" I'm gonna kill him. "When'd he tell you that?"
Faelwen pointed her little finger towards our sitting room. "In there. He's talking to momma."
Momma. Maerwen. The absolute love of my life. We got married as soon as possible, those years ago, and I can remember it like it was yesterday.
- Flashback -
I felt like a girl. I had looked into the mirror about a million times in the past hour, and Legolas wasn't doing much to help my self-concious thoughts.
"Adan!" He exclaimed when he walked into the room. "You look terrible! Ainion, were you really going to let him get married looking like this?"
Our good friend was sitting in a very un-elf like manner, strumming on an instrument that was very similar to a guitar. He shrugged. "I think that he looks fine."
Legolas shook his head and began to correct the imperfections in my clothes and hair. "Ainion, you are the least elf-like elf I've ever met." So true. Our Ainion was something else.
I was a nervous wreck. My heart was racing, my hands were shaking, and I could hardly bring myself to breathe. Maerwen was my dream girl, and this was the happiest day of my life. But I was freaking out. My heart was on a happy high, and I thought that I might throw up.
"You guys..." My mind was racing. "What if she changes her mind?"
Immediately after asking my question, Legolas flicked me, and Ainion chucked a candle stick at me.
"No, Adan!" Legolas pointed his finger at me in a very motherly way. "You're worrying about things that you shouldn't be worrying about."
Ainion stood, still strumming on his guitar. "Well, it's now or never, Adan." He strolled out of the room, whistling and playing his music.
Legolas put a comforting hand on my shoulder. "Maerwen loves you, Adan." He gave me a smile. "She's yours forever."
With a deep breath, I followed Ainion out of the room, and into the hall where Maerwen stood, waiting, with her friends and family.
I had no one, and I suddenly wished that Collin was here to be my best man, and to video-tape it. Sophie would be singing praise to the elves for their open-bar policy, and Kristy... She'd be the one singing as Maerwen and I were married. She's got the most beautiful voice, and I miss her more than I can bear. I miss them all.
But if I want to move on, I have to let them go.
I looked down the aisle, and came eye-to-eye with the woman I love. A smile broke out on my face, and all of the nervousness melted away. She looked completely beautiful, dressed in a white dress, with beautiful flowers braided into her hair. I could practically hear Collin's words of encouragement in my ear. 'You've got this.'
Maerwen smiled at me, and I was ready.
I knew that there was no one else for me. I'm in love with her, and I always will be.
- Flashback Ends -
"Ada?"
My daughter's small voice brought me out of my thoughts, and back to reality.
Reality, at that moment, was the fact that Legolas was in my house, and in severe need of a butt-kicking.
I lifted my daughter up off of my lap and carried her to her room. It was well after her bed time, and that little girl can be cranky if she doesn't get her sleep. That's the human coming out of her. She looked like an elf, pointed ears and stunning beauty combined to make a little angel. Just like her momma. She did have a lot of my human tendencies, though. She's a daddy's girl, no doubt.
"Go to sleep, sweetie." With a kiss on her forehead, I blew out her bedside candle and left to go pay my princely friend a visit.
Quietly, I stalked through my house. I know that it's hard to sneak by an elf due to their super hearing abilities, but I'd actually gotten pretty good at it. Living with elves for years can do that to you.
And there he was, his back turned to me, speaking to Maerwen in our sitting room.
Perfect...
I sprinted out from my hiding place, heading straight towards Legolas. Unfortunately, I underestimated my elf friend, and he skillfully moved to the side, allowing me to fly by and ram my head into the wall.
"Why hello, Adan!" I wanted to punch that smirk right off his face. "It's good to see you, too!"
"What do you want, Legolas?" My head was throbbing, and a lump was quickly forming on my skull.
Maerwen laughed at me. "Why did I marry a mortal?" she's so pretty when she's making fun of me...
Legolas helped me up, and dodged a blow to his stomach. "Adan! I come here to see my dear friend and this is how you greet me?"
"I shall have my revenge!"
The prince chuckled. "Of course you will. Now, we really must be getting to the point. I need you to accompany me to Rivendell."
"Rivendell?" That's kind of random. "Why?"
"Because you are one of my most trustworthy men, and it is about time you've done something useful."
I looked to Maerwen, who looked completely unconcerned. "And you're okay with this?"
She shrugged. "Of course."
Ouch! She won't even miss me?
"We're leaving in the morning!" Legolas declared, and took his leave.
It's nice to know that I have a say in all of this...
(Kristy)
Stinking wizard. Thinking he can keep me from seeing my friends. Ha! Yeah right. I do what I want! I haven't traveled around in a creaky old wagon with a cranky old wizard for nothing!
Of course, I know where to find one of my old, dear friends...
"Sam!"
"Shhh!"
Well! That's no way to greet an old friend.
Sam was crouched down in Frodo's gardens, underneath the kitchen window. He pulled me down to the ground beside him and placed a hand over my mouth to keep me quiet.
Gandalf's voice wafted through the air from inside Bag-End. Frodo's voice followed soon after. It was then that I realized that Sam was eavesdropping.
Sam! My darling, sweet little Sam! What have Merry and Pippin done to you, since I've left! I kept quiet, knowing that Gandalf would not appreciate eavesdropping, especially when he and Frodo were arguing about the ring. Yeah, I kind of figured that that's the reason why we came back to the Shire. That's all anyone ever cares about, these days.
Without warning, Gandalf's hand reached out of the window, grabbing poor Sam, and pulling him back through the window. It took all I had not to scream; it was just like a scary movie!
Quickly, I stood up to run, but Gandalf already had a hold on me, and he pulled me through the window within seconds.
Sam was rambling on, begging Gandalf to spare him, and I wasn't far from that point. That wizard is terrifying.
"What are we going to do with the two of you?" Gandalf spoke with authority, but there was a twinkle in his eye that betrayed him.
Frodo's eyes opened wide at the sight of me. "Kristy? What are you doing here?" He rushed me, and attacked me with a hug. "I have missed you! You did not write to us! Merry's been missing you like no other; the poor hobbit's heart was all tore up when you left!"
For a hobbit, Frodo's pretty strong, and he had a strangle-hold on me.
"Frodo... Can't... Breathe..."
He quickly released me, muttering his apologies, a happy smile still showing on his face.
Gandalf watched the hobbits and I share our happy little reunion, a small smile on his lips. Finally, he got back to business. "I think I know precisely what to do with you three..."
(Sophie)
Collin thought it over for a while, before finally coming to a conclusion. "I don't know, Soph. I think that I'd probably eat my arms before hacking off my legs..."
"But you need your arms to do stuff!" I protested.
"And you need your legs to walk!" Collin argued. "How can you get out of the forest if you can't walk?"
I rolled my eyes. "We've already established this, Collin. It's a never-ending forest!"
He slammed his fist down on the side of the wagon. "Impossible! They are cutting down the rainforest at lightning speeds! I'm sure that they've already gotten to this forest, too!"
Fortunately, an approaching Gandalf kept us from arguing any further. He was followed by Kristy and two little hobbits; Frodo and Sam.
"Visitors!" Collin cheered.
But Gandalf quickly put a damper on that party.
"These three will not be coming with us." He said quite simply.
"... Excuse me?" I stared at the wizard as he handed Kristy her things.
"Don't worry, dear Sophie. We will be seeing them again soon."
Kristy shrugged and gave Collin and I a sad smile. "I'm just gonna help Frodo and Sam get to Bree, is all. Nothing to worry about."
With only a wave goodbye, Gandalf kicked our wagon into gear once more.
... What just happened?
My face must have revealed my shock, because he wrapped an arm around me and pulled me into a hug.
"Not to worry, m'dear! Like Gandalf said, we'll see her soon." He gave me a warm smile. "It'll be just like old times. You, me, and Gandalf. Hey, Gandalf!" He called up to the front of the wagon. "Where are we goin, now?"
"To Rohan, and Isengard."
Collin turned back to me, his smile even brighter. "You see! Maybe we can stop by Edoras for a night. Nothing to worry about."
Yes, something to worry about. I've got an angry Eowyn back at Edoras, ready to run me through with her sword.
I'm pumped for the next chapter... Just sayin. :)
Review, please?