A/N:...not my best work, sorry.
Sorry for vanishing, down with the sickness, not a pun.
So here we are, two updates to make up for time I was gone. More to follow.
Site is still bugged with notifications/email alerts and its driving me stark-raving mad.
Between this, my allergic reaction, getting sick, and my impending vacation, its effectively RUINED my update schedule for the month.
Two weeks of no notifications, no response from the admins, and the problem is getting progressively worse.
But hey, the app works right? Only problem is, some of us can't us the app, or don't wish to. That's a lot of people not getting alerts.
Its driving me batty.
With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.
And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.
Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Feels like everyone's lost their minds sometimes. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.
So here we go. The fate of this story depends on you, the reader. Your feedback determines the fate of this tale, and many others.
I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.
Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as that.
"Nice, eh? See, that's the thing. He seems nice. Most of the time he is.
...until you piss him off. Just ask that Elf and the Gravewalker.
You wouldn't like him when he's angry."
~And so it continues...
Super Effective
Galadriel was slow to anger most days.
Perhaps that was a failing of hers; something of a character flaw on her part, a mistake. She was a being of Good after all, and not often prone to fits of pique. in her older years. She had matured over the ages, indeed she liked to think she might've "mellowed out" as the saying went among the younger generation. She had a temper, yes, but she had mastered it long ago...
.
..
...
...and yet she found her ire roused now as it hadn't been in centuries.
Because of that braying blond bufoon. How dare he.
How DARE he.
That...that infernal Orc Lord, Orange Lord, whatever it was he called himself! He had no idea what he he'd wrought. But she did. Her mind had brushed his during his clash with Eltariel and she had seen him, brief though their contact was. He had broken her Blade, she who held her Light. Broken her, beaten her, branded her; leaving her in such a state. There could be no greater disgrace for one of her people. Why, she had half a mind to go down there herself and show him what for...but she could not. For her power waned in Sauron's lands and she knew she would be much weakened were she to set foot there. But she was not without her means.
For he had taken her Blade. Broken her. Shattered her.
And when -if!- Eltariel awoke again, she would never be whole...because of him.
Doubtless that wicked whiskered warrior was plotting the next move in his wretched campaign...
(.0.0.0.)
"THE ELF'S AWAKE!"
Naruto rose from his cot to regard the messenger with a bleary sigh. Little Shelob whined a bit as she yanked the blankets over head and tucked herself into his side, refusing to meet the day. He spared her a bemused glance before he finally sat up and ran a hand through his hair. Only then did the messenger's words catch up with him. A quick blink and a splash of -relatively clean!- water on his face set him to rights before he dared to face the one who brought him such ill-timed news.
He looked their way. "And she hasn't stabbed anyone?"
"Nah," Bruz managed to look absolutely harassed despite his smile. "But she...best if you see for yourself, boss."
Did he have to? He gave his pillow a long, lingering look. Sleep sounded awfully nice right about now.
"You know you're the only one capable of subduing her twice."
Leave it to Kurama to be the voice of reason.
.
..
...fiiiine.
Eltariel was finally awake, was she? That alone should've been cause for concern. It was, really, but said concern was somewhat overshadowed by the fact that he had to rouse a sleepy Shelob from her slumber -easier said than given she loved her naps-make her look presentable, drag her outside after Bruz, then shove, push, and otherwise ELBOW his way through a small army of orcs just to reach the barracks and find their erratic elf. Even then he wasn't deaf to their words:
"Think he'll kill her?"
"Dunno. Boss might wear her skin as a cloak.
"Naw, mate. I saw the look in her eyes. She's cracked."
"Shows what you know! All elves are cracked in the head. Its the ears, I tell you."
"What's that mean? We've all got ears like that."
"Need I say more?"
Naruto stifled a smile behind one hand as he reached the barracks proper.
A slender Orc with one eye and a wicked metal hook serving as his right hand stood guard at the main door. Unlike the rest of his brethren he was clad in fanciful red cloth with a hat to match. Indeed, he looked every bit a pirate. All he needed was a peg-leg to complete the ensemble. At the sight of him, the ghost of a smile touched the corner of his mouth.
"At ease, captain Hook.
The orc swordsman saluted. "Aye!"
"Our elven friend isn't causing any trouble, I trust?"
A shake of the head. "Aye."
Right, sometimes he forgot that was all he could say.
Mordor really did have all kinds of Orcs.
...keep up the good work."
"Aye-aye!"
...I'll just wait out here," Bruz temporized. "Don't wanna deal with her twice if I can help it.
.
..
...well, didn't that just sound peachy.
Clapping him on the shoulder, he nudged the door open and walked inside, Shelob skipping after him.
The barracks were...well, barracks. Little more than a bunch of cots he and some clones had stacked together. Some were even bunk beds. Anything was better than sleeping in the rough. Thy were still working on that last bit. The lads deserved that much at least.
They found Eltariel there, sitting up, looking about herself curiously as a curious might. She saw them and looked their way, two stark red handprints standing out across her cheeks, the thumbs of which hooked just under her eyes. Naruto winced despite himself. It was one thing to act in anger; another entirely to see one's handiwork after the fact.
Now if Kurama would just stop laughing...!
"Finally, someone who isn't an Orc." she granted them a pleasant, if somewhat confused smile. "Who are you?"
Oh, no, no, no. It was entirely too early for this.
"Its gone past noon, brat.
STILL TOO EARLY!
"You don't remember anything?" he regarded her warily, Shelob and his elbow even moreso.
An innocuous blink. "No, nothing."
On a whim, he flicked a knife toward her. Eltariel parried it, then looked quite surprised she had.
"Still have your combat instincts at least." he lowered his arm, smiling. "That's good.
"But who am I? she practically pleaded.
"Dunno." he shrugged one shoulder. "You attacked me."
Her lips pursed in a thin line. "Whyever would I do such a thing?"
"That's what I'm sayin!" His temper slipped its leash and flung up his arms in utter exasperation. "There I was, mindin' my own business, conquering this fort, fair an square, when you showed up out of nowhere and tried to do me in!
She touched a finger to her chin, looking quite flummoxed. "Well, that doesn't sound like me at all. Did you do something to wrong me?"
"No!" Was this an elf thing? Did they just run up and stab the first person that looked at them funny?
"An elf with no memories." Shelob hid a giggle behind her palm. "Oh, this is just priceless."
Eltariel looked her way. "And who are you? His daughter?
Shelob sputtered. "Impudent elf! Know your place!"
"What? It was an honest question."
Honest, she said. She certainly seemed the sort now. All that anger and spite was nowhere to be seen. She was...dare he say harmless?
.
..
...he'd best not regret this.
"Well," he hazarded, "If you can't remember who you are, maybe you should stick with us.
Her eyes lit up." "That sounds nice. You've been quite kind to me."
Moment of truth. "How do you feel about working with Orcs?
...If they do me no harm, I shall do them none.
"Great, welcome aboard then, I guess."
"Of course, I live to serve."
Shelob nudged him with a scowl. "A word."
He'd expected as much; of course she wouldn't take kindly to this.
He let her tug him aside into a darkened alcove. "What? She's harmless right now."
"For now," the little spiderling corrected, giving him a smack on the arm. "What if she recalls her memories?"
"I'll burn that bridge when we get to it."
She frowned. "I believe the term is cross, Naruto.
He crossed both arms before his chest. "I know what I said."
And he did. If this was a trick, if Eltariel turned on them...it would end for her.
...good to see you're not prone to idiocy like the rest of this lot." She fought down a yawn, covering her mouth quickly with the back of her hand. "Can we just leave her here for now? There are other matters to which we must attend, least of all an amnesiac elf!"
Naruto quirked a blond brow her way. "Still sleepy, are you?"
Her face went red. "No!"
Another yawn.
"Yes...
A/N: Aaaand scene.
Once more, we're sticking with the "Embers" rule for this particular story, and others.
If folks don't like this, it won't be continued. Meaning that if the story itself ain't popular...well, I'll not continue it. I'm working two jobs -might need a third soon!- so I barely have time to write; as such, I cannot afford to write something folks don't enjoy. So by all means, speak up! Your voice matters! Make yourself heard! As ever, reviews are the fuel that sustain me. Without them I cannot write a single word. Simple as that. Working nearly all hours of the day keep me absurdly busy, and I can't bring myself to write something folks don't like.
Aaaand there we go. As ever, reviews keep me alive. Without them, I cannot write. So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly? T_T
Here have your previews, wild though they are.
As ever:
WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!
READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
SPOILERS AHEAD!
(Previews)
Oi boss, we caught these two on the outskirts.
A giant Olog and a yellow Orc. They made for a rather curious pair.
We don't want no trouble." the smaller of the two raised his hands. "Mercy, m'lord? I mean, we was fixin' to take over this place yourself, but then you came along...
"Tough. Promised it to Bruz. Put the two of them to work. We need people to fix the walls.
T-T-Too damn cold up here! How are you not freezing?!"
Shelob wriggled her fingers at him. "Spider-silk cloak. Its quite warm."
"Ch-Cheeky little...!
"Oh, great. Lava. Of course there would be lava. Nothing screams dark lord like lava...
"Question! Are female orcs a thing?"
Bruz and Kruk exchanged a long, baffled look. "Now that you mention it...
"Nazgul, ha!" as Kruk looked on, the boss chuckled softly. Blue eyes pulsed red. "That's cute."
He caught the ringwraith by the throat. Held him in the air.
"Give your master a message...
"Kaboom?"
Naruto slapped his forehead. "Yes, boys, kaboom."
Flint and Tinder cackled.
The Nazugl stared at him. "...you are beginning to irritate me."
"Am I?" Naruto beamed back. "Great! Got a joke for you, Witch King. What did the fist say to the face?"
"What-
"Nope. PAWNCH!"
An almighty crack rattled the world.
EDIT: Hope you have a great day~!
R&R~!
