Inspiration for Chapter 6: ABC's show, "Boy Meets World". Because my OMC Ronnie Baggins is also inspired by Eric Matthews, from "Boy Meets World". :)

Inspiration Music for Chapter 6: "The Phantom of the Opera" song, "The Phantom of the Opera".

Song for Chapter 6: World of Warcraft' song, "Elwynn Forest".

Warning! This chapter is Rated T for mild sensual content.

*.*.*

Ronnie Baggins played the tune, "Elwynn Forest" on a boom box. There he was, wearing all black, and looking positively depressed. The candlelight flickered in front of him.

Oh, he couldn't take it! This is what he chose: to wait at the Ivy Bush Inn, next to the bar, for his beloved Bethany to come running to him.

Well, the front door opened, with Bethany returning with Elijah Molvaro. Oh, this was lovely!

Ronnie's eyes widened in disdain. This was not what he wanted. "Elijah, I told you not to come in here unless you—oh, here she is." He said, fear creeping over him. He returned to moping in front of the candlelight.

"Ronnie? What's wrong?" Bethany asked, approaching him cautiously.

"Isn't it obvious? He's been waiting for you!" Eliza said, getting Bethany's attention. "Apparently, the poor hobbit's been meaning to ask you something."

"Oh really? What?" Bethany asked, staring at the hobbit in black.

Ronnie said, while his fingers touched the candle's flames. "Ow!" He chuckled, moving his fingers away from the candle's flames. He turned to Bethany, asking her, "Bethany, I love you! You make my world spin! I couldn't ask for a braver hobbit—human. Whatever." He looked at her, determined, "So look. Let's just drop everything and ride out into the sunset. Bethany, be my wife. Be the best handmaiden my eyes have ever set on."

"Oh no! Here he goes," Elijah said, disgusted.

"Quiet Elijah!" Ronnie shouted, returning his fiery gaze to Bethany. "You know I love you, and secretly, I know you love me. So, I want us to be husband and wife. It's only natural that we do so. So, Bethany, let us be man and wife and spend the rest of our lives with a crook on our backs." He kneeled before her, extending his hand to her. "Bethany, will you marry me?"

"Uh…" Bethany turned to Elijah, who was completely embarrassed.

"I don't know. Go for it, Bethany," Elijah said, hesitant.

"Ahh!" Bethany screamed, lunging at Ronnie. The two collapsed. Bethany huffed and puffed, pointing her index finger at Ronnie, saying, "Ronnie, you're a nice hobbit, but I'm already married. And no, you cannot have me like that. I'm sorry. It's over."

"Not that it didn't start," Elijah said, worriedly.

"But still," Bethany said, facing Ronnie, "Ronnie. We're friends, not lovers. I'm sorry. I cannot marry you." She stood up, helping Ronnie on his feet.

"You're a wild woman. You know that. Frodo often calls you that, you know," Ronnie said.

"Yes, I know," Bethany said, remembering what Frodo said to her, before he became amnesiac.

"Well, we can say that this whole matter was pointless. I will be in my room," Eliza said, taking off.

"So, did you find what you were looking for?" Ronnie asked, calming down.

"Yes, me and Frodo are talented as vampires, merfolk, pirates, and of course, hobbits and humans. I don't know what else there is," Bethany said, perplexed.

"Well it's a start. Let's be clear about that," Elijah said, pleased. He looked at Ronnie, asking, "Speaking of which, where did Jane and Seraphina go? Seraphina, the talking cat, not Seraphina the spirit mermaid."

"Oh, who knows? If Jane finds Seraphina, I'll be pleased," Ronnie said, hesitant. "If Cooper finds her, well," he chuckled, "Seraphina will be in for a big surprise."

Bethany nodded. Well, things couldn't get any worse, could it?

.

Braxton awoke to the sound of clanking metal. He stretched, taking a look at his surroundings. Yes, he was inside a quaint house with so much furniture and a wooden ledge.

He smiled, wondering what else could be more thrilling.

He looked up, grinning as Jane brought him over some tea.

"Thank you," Braxton said, sipping his tea. A tear shed down Jane's face. Uh oh! "What is it?"

"We need to find Seraphina. She's the only one whose had a close connection to Darth Ordar," Jane explained. "I don't know why, but we need her."

Braxton huffed, angrily. "After what she did to our home…"

"I know!" Jane said, shocked. "Braxton, I know. But it's the only way to make sure that she's safe. You understand, don't you?"

Braxton nodded. "Yeah, sure I do. She's your friend."

"I might as well come with you," Belle said, joining them. Braxton pointed to Belle, confused. Belle introduced herself, fast, "Oh! I'm Belle. We met yesterday."

Braxton stared at her as she shook his hand, shell shocked by the whole experience.

"What?" Belle asked, curiously.

"Nothing," Braxton said, drinking his tea. He couldn't stop staring at Belle, only to give her a knowing expression. It was for the best, even as he looked back at Jane with a smile on his face. "So, where do we start?"

Jane smiled back. "I knew you'd say that.

"Well, you learn from the best," Braxton said.

"I'm sure we do," Jane said, amused by him.

.

A storm brewed outside.

Even though Seraphina wanted to run, Cooper wouldn't let her. Instead, they took shelter inside an old mill house, filled to the brim with hay and livestock.

Yes, it was the perfect cover for anyone willing to go into hiding, especially from someone like Darth Ordar. Seraphina feared Darth Ordar might returned. He was interested in her and she in him.

Seraphina and Cooper shook off the water from their fur, as soon as they entered the mill. They were in a safe spot right now. At least, that's what Cooper hoped for. Seraphina feared the worst.

"We should be safe, for now!" Cooper said, checking the windows and seeing everything was all right.

"Hopefully, safe from Darth Ordar," Seraphina said.

"Oh, I doubt it," Darth Ordar's voice rang out. Seraphina turned around, glimpsing at Darth Ordar's red eyes and his malevolent smile. "Hullo Seraphina! Long time, no see." He chuckled, enjoying himself.

"Listen, whatever you want, it has nothing to do with me!" Seraphina said, taking a step back.

"Why?" Darth Ordar asked, curious. "You make me whole again. Without you, we would never have burned your city. In fact, that was the one thing I'd felt sure you would do. And you did. Good job, Seraphina. Good job."

"Who are you talking to?" Cooper asked, serious.

"Oh, don't worry," Darth Ordar asked, getting Seraphina's attention. "He can't see me, and frankly, he can't hear me."

"What do you mean?" Seraphina asked, worriedly.

"Come on. It's time for you to see my city," Darth Ordar said, picking Seraphina up and carrying her out of the mill house.

Cooper looked around, not knowing where Seraphina was. "Seraphina? Sera? Sera? Sera! Oh no!" He had an inkling who took her, where she might have gone. "Darth Ordar, how could you? So, he is real. Oh great!" He snarled, beside himself with worry. "Sera, what did you do?"

.

Darth Ordar led Seraphina into a cave, deep in the earth. The cave led to an underground tunnel network, below the Second Seven Realms. In this underground lair were dwarves, gnomes, and goblins working diligently on whatever they were mining.

Darth Ordar led her to another part of the tunnels, right into his watery lair, where a brown stone ledge led up to his workplace, as well as his bed, where Darth Ordar would sleep under red covers. Seraphina couldn't believe this. While Darth Ordar's lair seemed similar to the Phantom of the Opera's lair, they were entirely different. Beyond that lair was a hidden bedchamber, where Darth Ordar would sleep, in case he had company.

Following that was another tunnel leading up to the surface. So really, Darth Ordar had one long tunnel interconnecting to other rooms, including where dwarves, gnomes, and goblins worked in the mines.

It truly was a splendor.

"Do you like it? It looks the same as the Phantom's lair. Though, he did leave me some pointers," Darth Ordar said, as he and Seraphina entered his lair.

"It's wonderful," Seraphina said, observing everything. She looked at the hidden music room and the study, wondering what more this cat had to offer her.

"You can sleep here if you want," Darth Ordar said, just as his wispy voice sent Seraphina into a trance. Darth Ordar caught her, making his way over to the guest room, allowing her the chance to sleep in this guest room bed. He looked at her, as she drifted off to sleep, before he wandered off to check on everything else.

*.*.*

References:

The underwater lair is inspired by the Phantom of the Opera's lair, in the 2004 film, "The Phantom of the Opera".