Chapter Six Disclaimers: Frodo Baggins comes from J.R.R. Tolkien's book trilogy, The Lord of the Rings. The Old Man from Scene 24 | The Bridgekeeper and the Bridge of Death come from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Maleficent comes from the Disney movies, "Sleeping Beauty and "Maleficent." The Sith Temple comes from Bioware's "Star Wars: The Old Republic." Swan Tavern, Paravane Trepess, and the Unending Forest belongs to me. Parker Dooley | Maranguan is my OMC Dragonoid. My self-insert is me.

Chapter Six Clips: "The Bridge of Death," clip from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Chapter Six Summary: Frodo and Parker leave the town, Paravane Trepess, for the Unending Forest. Along the way, they run into some obstacles, driving them closer to Aria than ever before!

Sorry for the long delay. This chapter was tricky to write, mainly due to the Bridgekeeper encounter Frodo and Parker end up partaking in. The tricky part of this chapter was the third question the Bridgekeeper asks Parker, but luckily it worked itself out. Hopefully, it works! :)

This chapter was also written at the same time I wrote and rewrote the next chapter. So, the end of this chapter stays consistent with the next chapter. :)

That said, enjoy! :)

Chapter Six:

The Unending Forest

Frodo rested by the door to Swan Tavern. He sighed, laughing up a storm over what just occurred.

Yes, he loved his admirers. He loved anyone who was his fan. That much was clear. So, why wouldn't he love Aria just the same?

Aria! The very thought of her upset him. A single tear shed down Frodo's face, followed by four more tears. He couldn't help it. The wounds Aria carried must have been very great. And that ruined him. It ruined Frodo to think that one of his fangirls cared so much about him was wounded.

He didn't deserve her. He didn't deserve Aria. So, why was she so broken? And how could he help her? Surely, there must be a way to save her, even if Frodo had to go out looking for her now.

"Come on, Frodo," Parker said, closing the tavern door. "We don't have time to waste."

"You know I love all my fans, right?" Frodo asked, curiously.

Parker shrugged. "It's who you are. You're so kind and caring. Anyone would love you."

Frodo gave a small smirk. "I'm not entirely sure. I'm glad my fans love me and I love them, but still…"

"…I know," Parker said, calmly. He sighed, grimacing, "You can't please everyone." He sighed, telling Frodo, "Come on. Let's look for Aria."

Frodo nodded. "Right. Let's go." He said, following Parker away from Swan Tavern and back to their steeds. Frodo looked on at Parker with curiosity in his eyes. "So, where's your wife, Eliza, and your brother, Turen?" He mounted his pony then and there, as Parker did the same mounting his horse.

Parker looked on in wonder at the sight. Yeah, Eliza and Turen were missing. Strange.

"Um… I'm sure we'll meet up with them soon. Come on, Frodo. Oh! And we can't bring our steeds into the Unending Forest, also known as the Silent Forest. Hopefully, Maleficent won't muddle your mind while we're in there," Parker said, already foreshadowing what was to come.

Frodo stared, quizzically, at Parker as they rode through town. "Why would she do that?"

"Just a guess. There it is!" Parker said, as he and Frodo reached the edge of town, straight towards a dark green, grassy hilltop, not too far from the dark, deciduous forest looming over their heads.

Fortunately, there was a post meant for Frodo and Parker's steeds, as well as a wooden bench for them to sit on.

How convenient.

"Come on. We'd best hurry! You coming," Parker said, setting his horse's reins by the post, as Frodo did the same for his pony's reins.

"Yeah. I am, but Parker, what awaits us inside this forest?" Frodo asked him, joining him up the hill and entering the forest, with no doubt in his mind that they would find Aria.

"I don't know, but I… wait! Frodo, stand back!" Parker said, huddling next to Frodo, as a dark grey smoke overwhelmed them.

.

Frodo opened his eyes. He looked at Parker in confusion, wondering what just happened.

Parker hissed, ready to attack whoever had sent the smoke their way. He looked on at the spot where the smoke had formed.

There! Standing before them was Maleficent, brown wings and all, even wearing a brown dress and dark brown boots.

Maleficent smirked, admitting to them, "So, you two wish to find Aria Breuer. I'm afraid she's occupied at the moment. The only way to find her is to cross that bridge over there! But remember: you have three chances, each one of you does, to answer the questions the Bridgekeeper asks you. If you fail, you will either die or flee. It's up to you." She vanished in a puff of grey smoke, leaving Frodo and Parker confused.

"Oh, come on! Don't let Maleficent scare you!" Parker told Frodo, agitated.

Frodo looked on in confusion, wondering what he was experiencing. He looked back at Maleficent, who blew a speck of dust at him. Frodo hurtled to the ground, unconscious for hours.

.

Frodo awoke on the ground, his head throbbing. It was dark. The memories… they flooded back to him… and not just memories of Aria, but of other places, places and timelines he hardly knew about. Was Maleficent trying to recall lost memories?

"Frodo, come on! We have to move!" Parker said, grabbing him and helping him stand up. "Aria's close now."

"What?' Frodo asked, his mind muddled.

"Come on!" Parker told him, guiding the poor hobbit over to a tree.

Just as Frodo dived past the tree, Parker grabbed him fast, "Wait!" Parker said, pinning Frodo to the tree.

Frodo struggled to break free. "Doh! What is it, Parker?"

"Shh!" Parker shushed him. Frodo moved Parker's arm, forcing the light red dragonoid to release him, as they gazed out at an oncoming bridge, standing between them and a Sith temple.

Frodo knew who was inside. He could feel her. "Aria's in there! What's she doing in there? She's in danger! I must go to her!"

"Shh! Stop!" Parker shushed him.

"Parker, I can't wait. I can't…!"

"Shh! You can. Look who's on that Bridge, guarding it," Parker said, pointing out an elderly man wearing tattered clothes, hunched over, and holding onto a wooden staff. Parker recognized the elderly man. "It's the Old Man from Scene 24. He's back."

"What?" Frodo said, encountering flashbacks from his time in the Alternate Timelines. His legs shook. This wasn't good. "This all looks familiar to me. Is this the Silent Forest? Oh, no. Not again."

"Shh! Let's go! And… you first, Frodo," Parker said, cheekily.

Frodo snickered, sarcastically. "I didn't sign up for this mess. No, not once did I do this." He walked out towards the bridge, hardly hearing Parker's voice as he approached the Old Man from Scene 24.

The Bridgekeeper.

"Stop!" the Bridgekeepr stated, getting Frodo's attention. "Who approaches the Bridge of Death must answer me these questions three, ere the other side he sees."

Frodo trembled. He didn't want to do this. What if he lost to any of the questions? Oh, his very life depended on this task. "Go ahead, Bridgekeeper. Ask your questions. Oh, I do hope things will turn out all right."

The Bridgekeeper snickered. He loved his job! "What is your name?"

"Frodo Baggins," Frodo answered, not liking this task.

"What is your quest?" the Bridgekeeper stated, enjoying himself.

"I seek my love, my true love, Aria Breuer!" Frodo stated, speaking timidly, but truthfully.

The Bridgekeeper readied himself for the third question. "Who is your cousin who is twice removed?"

"Bilbo!" Frodo stated, knowing right away what to say. "His name is Bilbo Baggins."

"Right then. Off you go," the Bridgekeeper said, plainly, shooing Frodo away.

Frodo's eyes widened in interest. It was too easy. "Oh! Right then. Thank you. Thank you so much," Frodo said, wondering if he had a bit of Arthurian Legends' Lancelot in him, from what he recalled reading in an old text at the Animal Headquarters.

Okay, Frodo really was recalling his time in the Alternate Timelines now! How did that happen? Maleficent! Of course!

Frodo gazed back at Parker, as soon as Frodo got off the Bridge of Death.

He was determined to see his dragonoid friend pass his test, as Parker approached the bridge.

"Come on, Parker. You can do it. You did it last time," Frodo whispered, cheering Parker on.

The Bridgekeeper looked on at Parker's cheeky grin. He remembered Parker well from their last encounter at the Alternate Timelines. No way was the Bridgekeeper getting fooled again by this silly, little dragonoid creature!

"Stop!" the Bridgekeeper stated, getting Parker's attention. "I see you've returned! But you'll never pass this test."

Parker smirked. "That I will, Bridgekeeper. You can't stop me!" He chuckled, gazing at Frodo's weary face. Parker sighed, asking the Bridgekeeper, "Ask away, Bridgekeeper. I can assure you, I will win this one!"

"What is your name?" the Bridgekeeper stated, eager to get this over with.

"Parker Dooley, formerly known as Maranguan, a Dark Lord no doubt," Parker stated, enjoying himself.

"What is your quest?" the Bridgekeeper said, getting determined to settle the score.

"To find Aria Breuer, Frodo's lover," Parker said, clearly getting excited about this.

The Bridgekeeper asked fast, hoping to trick the dragonoid creature, "What is the average height of a draconic creature?"

Parker blinked his eyes in confusion. Why did he expect from him? Intolerable. "Which average height? Which draconic creature are we talking about? Are we talking about dragons, dragonoids, drakes? Come out with it, man!"

The Bridgekeeper's smile faded. This wasn't good. "I… I don't know that. Whoo!" He flew into the air, landing in the gorge several feet down. A light grey mist overwhelmed him.

Parker caught a glint of the Bridgekeeper running. He was still alive! The old geezer. And Parker was still at the top of the cliff with Frodo across from him on the other side of the Bridge of Death.

Parker shrugged, making his way across the bridge in no time at all. He looked on at Frodo, as the poor hobbit grabbed his arms. He smirked, patting Frodo's arm, before letting him go. "Come on! Aria awaits us! Here!"

Parker stopped in front of the Sith Temple's rather tall grey doors. There was no going back.

Frodo looked on at the temple doors, feeling Aria was close. His heart lit up with anticipation. It was now or never.

Frodo gazed at Parker, nodding to him with anticipation in his eyes. "Well, here we go."

Parker looked at him, nodding, as he approached the doors. "Do you want to help me?"

Frodo nodded, joining him. "Here we go." He repeated, as he and Parker opened one of the doors. They took a few steps in, approaching a wide stone hall.

Aria was there, and she wasn't alone. Someone else was with her.

How was that? The bulk of this chapter is the Bridge of Death sequence Frodo and Parker endured, but it seems to have worked out. :)

Next chapter, we're going back to Aria's storyline and her adventures inside the Sith Temple. Hopefully, Frodo, Parker, and Aria will reunite.

Thanks for reading. :) More to come. :)

~Aria Breuer