From this point on, the story will be structured differently, as I said in the Prologue. This time, we have the first-person perspective told from my point-of-view. We'll return to the third-person perspective on the other characters, depending on who's talking. As for Maleficent, the wings came from the 2014 Disney live-action film remake "Maleficent".

Before reading the chapter, if you the readers want, feel free to play the trailer music "World Collapsing" by Riptide Music and Danny Cocke.

Chapter Fourteen:

A Cordial of Flowers

Twenty-Four Years Later…

Evil looked out the window. Her dark tower had survived from the last couple of battles laid. She had seen deserters from the scarred lions and lionesses. Those that were captured were sent to the dungeons. They wouldn't escape as Ronnie Buckley did, but those that did were killed on the spot. The scarred lion Tack managed to keep his place, but he was sent down to the deeper dungeon just in case. Evil's thoughts were interrupted by a familiar scarred lioness, who looked exhausted.

"I thought I told you to stay with the others, Scar-ra," said Evil.

"Maleficent wants a word with you," said Scar-ra.

Evil looked at her now. "If it's important. I heard a rumor her power is waning. Tell me if that's incorrect."

"I don't know what you mean," said Scar-ra.

Evil sighed. "No, I figured you wouldn't." She left the top room, storming off.

Scar-ra followed the woman down to the ground floor. "Evil, are you sure about this? Maleficent may not be in the mood…"

"Quiet," said Evil. She approached Maleficent, who looked like she had brown wings perched across her back. Maleficent did not look in the mood to speak to her. "Well Maleficent, word is you've gone soft."

"I can assure you, I haven't," said Maleficent.

"Really? Then how do you explain your injuries?" asked Evil. She grabbed one of Maleficent's wings in a fiery manner. Maleficent screeched in pain. Evil threatened, softly, "If I have to hear one more word about you and Jareth, I might assume you weren't doing your job. We were supposed to get rid of the girl, when there was still a chance. You were supposed to take care of her, as was Sauron."

"Oh, she got away?" asked Maleficent, openly mocking.

"Oh, don't play games with me. Her betrothed, Frodo Baggins, is also missing. Thankfully, I found the girl, even though she's still a tween," said Evil.

"I can assure you, I will find the girl," said Maleficent.

Evil shook her head. "I doubt you will. You and that bird Diablo. You won't risk it."

"Have you ever considered this whole quest for vengeance is wrong?" asked Maleficent.

"See? I told you… you've gone soft," said Evil. She turned to Scar-ra, ordering her, "Scar-ra, send your best battalion of scarred lionesses, and bring your sister Katrina. I think it's time to give Malinda the message… oh wait, her name is now Aria. Get there first before Sauron."

"First?" asked Scar-ra, confused.

Evil said, "Sauron may be after Frodo Baggins, but he's also aware of the girl of the prophecy. If he gets his hands on her, we won't. Now move." After forcing the scarred lioness out of her dark tower, Evil glanced at Maleficent. "Your services are no longer required."

"If the Ring-bearer and his dame are going to stop all evil, then let them," said Maleficent.

Evil huffed. "And destroy any chances for revenge, I don't think so. The time to stop that girl is now. I don't care if I have to send an entire regiment. That girl is mine, as is her muse." She walked away, ordering a soldier to come with her.

Maleficent looked on. True, since the last battle, things had changed, but so had she. Maleficent witnessed so many villains killed, but was surprised at how Frodo had given mercy to one of her goons. How could she fight him? She was merely observing him now, seeing what else the Ring-bearer was capable of doing. She was still a villain through and through, but something in her led her to belief there may be hope for villains to become heroic. She just needed to find it.

ARIA'S POV

So far, I've had a plain life. I got along with my parents fine. I even did my best to show that I was normal, even though I've seen a thing or two in my life that some would consider only a dream. Well, that's what happened on one particular morning.

When I awoke from another vivid dream, I felt someone holding onto me. I knew that it was Frodo, but somehow this time it felt more real. As I turned, he moved, but this time I caught sight of him. This made me gasp, and for a brief time I didn't speak. Then, just as my mind thought it wasn't real, I spoke:

"Frodo… you… you're here. How?"

"Now that is a long story to tell," said Frodo. "At least you're talking to me now."

Even after all this time, the fan side of me returned, ripe and renewed. Finally, after feeling like I was worn down from The Lord of the Rings, this experience felt refreshing. I knew Frodo existed, but it was only a matter of time…

"Yes," was all I could say.

"Do you want to hear the story or not?" asked Frodo. I could feel an invisible barrier surrounding me and him. It was the same barrier I felt when I had seen this fortune teller machine, but I was a child back then.

"Please do… go on," I said. "I'd like to hear it."

Before Frodo had the chance to speak, I saw Sam peering out the window. A lioness roar could be heard in the near distance. Sam spoke then, "How is it they found us?"

"Who found us?" I asked, bewildered.

"I'll tell you later," said Frodo.

"You can tell me now. It's not like we're going anywhere," I said, confused.

Merry and Pippin moved to the closet door.

"We're not, right?" I said.

As Pippin pressed his ear against the wood, Merry listened while knocking on the door's surface. He made three slow rasps, just as a booming drum could be heard on the other end. Frodo and Sam dragged me out of bed, moments before Merry turned the knob and opened the door. On the other end was a forest, filled with an assortment of wild flowers. I looked timid at the four hobbits, but they encouraged me onwards.

And so I did, heading through another invisible barrier. The force of the barrier made me trip on a root, causing me to stumble forward. I had just walked down the path a ways when I looked back. My dad was calling me. Before I could head back, Frodo grabbed hold of me. His friends closed the closet door.

"I have to go back. He needs to know I haven't run away again," I said.

"There isn't any going back, Aria. Try as you might, it won't do going back. That time is past," said Frodo. "Now come on." He dragged me on down the path.

I had no idea where I was. All I could remember was the smell of pine and fresh spring grass. The dirt path led ever closer to the flowers. My feet were in pain from stepping over the rocks. I wasn't used to going barefoot, so I could imagine the pain very easily. Eventually, and with little words, Frodo released me and ran off into the woods with his friends. I looked back, seeing the closed closet door now a near distance away from me. I wanted to go back, but temptation to see what lay in the forest lied ahead.

Should I follow Frodo or return to the safety of my bedroom? Instinct told me to see where Frodo was; so, like my curiosity, I decided to trek on. However, Frodo's words were getting to me. I couldn't return home, then where could I go? Maybe I was afraid of the unknown, but that was only because I wasn't used to that fact.

When I finally reached the nearest tree, I checked the soles of my feet. They were already bruised and a little bloody. As much as I wanted to cleanse the wound, I knew I wasn't anywhere near civilization. The forest was unfamiliar to me… and yet I remembered it from my dreams. Planting my foot on the ground, I continued on down the path.

How beautiful, I thought, taking a good look at the flowers.

The flowers were very spring-like, yet there was something about them that made me want to keep looking at them. Thoughts of home crossed my mind. My family was back there, as were the animals. I missed them, now that I was away from them. Still, the flowers were making me forget home. Something about their scent made me transfixed on them. Just as I heard a feminine voice, a vine pushed me to the grassy ground, where I was caught in the flower's web. I screamed in pain as the flowers tore at my pajamas, my skin and my hair. Then, out of nowhere, an elvish short sword hacked at the flowers. I opened my eyes as I saw Frodo land on the ground next to me.

"It's you! It's you!" said a couple of voices, coming from the flowers themselves.

"Aria," said Frodo, catching my attention. I was in a bewildered state. "Keep calm. We'll make it out of this." He cringed as one of the flowers' thorns scratch his arm.

A unicorn call broke the silence. A bright flash reached the flowers, sending them in a disarray. The flowers squeezed further, the vines digging into my arms and legs. The unicorn called out:

"Let them go, or I swear I will make you pay. Do not disturb these travelers. They are our guests here. Be gone," said the unicorn, lowering her horn and causing another flash to spell at the flowers.

The flowers soon released me and Frodo. Just as Frodo was free, he pulled me up from the ground. My hair was in a further mess, but now it seemed my body was scratched up pretty good. I wondered when I would ever get back to civilization. Frodo led me straight to the unicorn. He helped me up on the unicorn first, before climbing on the unicorn's back.

The unicorn galloped down the path for a time, eventually coming to what appeared to be a vast white city in the middle of the forest. My wounds still pained me, as they did to Frodo, but it was lessened a bit. I'll admit it was harder for Frodo and me to get down from the horse, but we succeeded with help from the unicorn.

"The council is expecting you both tomorrow, but… maybe you two ought to have someone take a look at those wounds," the unicorn added, "and a change of clothes." She looked at me. "You look filthy."

I felt offended, but let it pass. "So do you."

The unicorn chuckled. "Well, I would expect as much from a newcomer."

"Come on. The healer's house isn't too far away from here," said Frodo, taking me by the hand.

"Where are we?" I asked, confused.

Frodo turned to me. "Welcome to Glamïre."

"The city of Elves, if one has ever seen them," said unicorn.

"Come on. I'll take you to your quarters," said Frodo, putting his hand across my back.

"My quarters?" I asked, stunned.

"We've been waiting a long time for you to come," said Frodo. He led the way to the healer's house.

FRODO'S POV

Frodo and Aria's wounds were healed and bandaged. They spent the rest of the week at the healer's house. Frodo promised Aria he would show her to the housing area of Glamïre when they were both healed. Eventually, during one afternoon, Frodo managed to meet with Aria in the dining room.

"You look beautiful," said Frodo, watching Aria.

"Thanks," said Aria, casually. "You were going to tell me the history I missed."

"How much do you remember?" asked Frodo.

Aria stared blankly into space.

"Do you remember what happened after you left us?" asked Frodo.

"I remember falling in space and landing on Earth. I didn't look in a mirror then," said Aria. "No, I don't remember anything further back."

Frodo sighed. "I was afraid this would happen."

"I don't understand," said Aria. "Although, I do miss home. Couldn't we head back?"

"What?" asked Frodo, stunned. "Why would you head back?"

"Why would I not? I don't understand why I'm here. I don't understand why you dragged me out of my room, when I was clearly safe there," said Aria. "I miss home. I want to go back."

Frodo paused. "Then why did you want to leave in the first place? For a while, I thought it was best that you stayed, but of course there were issues you had back on Earth."

"Which were resolving themselves, Frodo," said Aria. "Things were finally starting to fall in place." She added, "Look, if you must know why I had thoughts of leaving, it was due to these vivid dreams I had that told me I would leave. I just didn't know when, but I knew it would be unexpected. Those dreams continued even after my life started to become good."

"I worried about you, for a time. I still do," said Frodo. He held onto Aria's hand as he spoke: "You're the best that's happened to me. I don't want to lose you."

Aria told the truth then, "Frodo… when I was eighteen, my mind… I mean, I had this thought and it kept persisting. I thought you were something you're not. It hurt my heart and my heart's changed. I thought… for a time, I was over you and your story. But now, I'm sick of the story and have to wait a while before I read it or watch it again."

Frodo said, softly, "And what of me?"

Aria said, "I thought I was over you. I'm having a hard time finding a way to love anyone again. It's just hard. When my heart hurt, I was devastated. My depression nearly killed me. I've never experienced that before. So, it makes me wonder if we're destined to be together. I guess the pain can lead to those revelations."

Frodo was shocked. He didn't say anything for several minutes. As Aria got his attention, looking at him with a worried glance, Frodo finally spoke: "Look, you don't remember what happened in the past. I'm willing to catch you up on what you missed. So, why don't we make a deal? You come with me to the Wall of Memory, see what they can do from there, and you can return to your father's house without delay."

"You're serious," said Aria.

"I wouldn't be wrong otherwise. You get your memories back, you get to leave," said Frodo.

"Aren't you mad? I mean, I just told you that I'd fallen out of love," said Aria.

"With me," said Frodo. "Aria, I trusted you. How could you do this?"

"Because I was naïve when I was eighteen. I didn't know any better, but I do now," said Aria. "I was hoping you would forgive me."

Frodo said, calmly yet tense, "I'm glad you told me, but I'm still offering. You said you wanted to return to your home, even if it's not the Shire."

"All right. Deal," said Aria, shaking Frodo's hand. "What is the Wall of Memory, exactly?"

"It's a hedge that can be found further in the forest. We'll have to travel soon, once we're both healed," said Frodo.

"Okay," said Aria. "Frodo, I can't help that I'd fallen out of love."

"Don't worry. I wouldn't expect you to forget. Although, it's not like you to fall out of love. It changes you into something you're not," said Frodo.

Aria spoke, hard, "Well, some things can't be helped."

"I know," said Frodo. "Excuse me." He stood up and walked out of the diner.