Falling In Love is Hard on the Knees | By : sarahjean Category: Lord of the Rings Movies > General Views: 3149 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0 |
Disclaimer: I do not own the Lord of the Rings book series and movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story. |
All the many times, what seemed like a memory
I've searched and found the ways, you used to lure me in
Oh, I've found a way, of why it had to be
Mired in denial and so hard to break
- Guns N’ Roses, Madagascar
We left Rivendell early next morn. Elrond allowed us the day to prepare and be ready to embark on the extremely dangerous mission. One which my brothers and I had been dragged into.
Tommy was always one for the gung-ho experiences in life, so he actually seemed quite eager. When I reminded him of Kimberly and Reiss, he said that Reiss he would miss, but that Kimberly would just be pleased to get his bank account. I thumped him on the arm for that one.
Jack was his usual stony self. He had heard of his mission, he didn’t like it, but he accepted it and kept silent about it. I both admired him and got annoyed at him for this. Did he think he wasn’t human? Well, he was, and so were the people he was hurting. Namely, me and Tommy – and my parents, back in my world. Oh, how they had worried over him.
Me, I was close to shitting a brick, and not only did that image in itself make me scatty, but I also realised just how important my role was. I was a fairly young girl with hardly any battle experience aside from in the playground, going against Sauron’s armies of Orcs, Uruk-Hai, and possibly Saruman’s might. Armed with a pen-knife and a lighter. Well, I could finally see what it was like to set something on fire.
I spent that evening packing. I was half hoping I could avoid dinner, and asked Tommy to tell Elrond I was sick. So I stood in my fairly dark room, one candle lighting my progress, as I packed the clothes the Elves had given me, including a pair of knee-high Elvish boots from Arwen. I tried them on when she gave them to me, and they were so comfortable it felt like I was wearing nothing on my feet, or at least wearing socks. I asked her how I could thank her, and she just said to take care of myself and the others was thanks enough. Elvish sentimentality and values really put my own into perspective. I also made sure my tarot was in my pouch with my two weapons. I couldn’t leave those behind.
All the while, I wondered what was happening at home – were my family missing me? Or were they just missing Jack and Tommy? I know I can be one of the biggest pains around because I can be stubborn and tyrannical.
What I was feeling at that moment can’t really be put down in words – I was always good in English, had a good grasp of vocabulary and punctuation, but I could never put any of those skills to work when it came to myself. How I was feeling was…have you ever been alone, feeling like your back was pressed against the wall, and that there were several figures, mere silhouettes to your eyes, leering down at you, giving off the most powerful waves of danger, treachery, and any other negative feelings, and you can’t defend yourself – all you can do is back yourself further into a corner and hiss out harsh words, hoping that any who hears will stay away, whilst your only friend was your mind, your sanity – or insanity – and a blade? That’s what I felt like, only a few years ago, every day of my life. I lost those feelings for a while, whilst my life was picking up, but I never forgot them. And they were back. Only this time, behind the silhouettes, I could see a fiery eye watching me, waiting. Waiting…
“Arwenamin?”
I jumped. Legolas was standing in the doorway, dressed in the same way as he had been in the Trollshaws. “Oh, Legolas, wow. You’re so quiet it made me jump.”
“Forgive me,” he smiled. Then he turned serious. “You weren’t at the luncheon.”
I shrugged slightly, folding a shirt. “I haven’t been feeling well. It’s pointless to eat food if I’m only going to puke…er, regurgitate it anyway.”
Legolas took my hand a placed something wrapped in a fabric-like paper Elvish-style napkin. “Lembas bread,” he explained. “It will give you strength. You must eat something, you need your strength for the quest.”
I nodded. “Thanks.” I smiled gently. His concern was sweet, but I was wondering if it was his. Maybe someone had asked him to come here?
“Did you know what was going to happen at the Council?” Legolas asked.
His question shocked me momentarily. I wondered what the best way to answer that question was. “When Elrond asked me and my brothers to join the Fellowship…no, that I wasn’t expecting – or at least, if I was expecting it, I didn’t believe it would happen, if you get my meaning. Naivety is the word. But the rest…yes, I knew you and others would offer your services, I knew Frodo would rise to the task.”
Legolas was silent, and the contemplative look made me want to kiss him. But, of course, I restrained myself, and busied myself by continuing to pack, trying not to appear too upset.
“I have something else for you,” he said softly.
I glanced up. He turned towards the slightly ajar door, and brought in a sword in a scabbard. He drew it out, and I gaped. It was long and powerful, with Elvish inscriptions along the edge.
“I thought you might need this, arwenamin. No offence, but I thought that perhaps your own blade would be inefficient against Orcs.”
“You read my mind,” I chuckled, accepting the sword and testing it in my hands. I swung it a few times, rotating it circular wise in my hand.
“You have experience with a blade?” Legolas asked, sounding rather surprised.
“I took Ken Do lessons in my world,” I said gently. “I had a swordstick – a sword disguised as a walking stick. I got it after my dog – my animal companion – died of old age and could no longer protect me.”
Legolas nodded.
“Thank you,” I said. “At least now I have a good chance of being useful in a battle.”
“Your brothers were given blades as well,” Legolas said. “However, this one is from my collection. It seemed to suit you.”
I was surprised, but merely smiled. “I wish I could give you something in return,” I said gently.
“Do not let it concern you, melamin, it is not important,” Legolas said.
I raised an eyebrow. “Melamin?”
He seemed to blush.
“You can call me Carrie, you know,” I smiled. “I don’t mind.”
He smiled too; relieved I hadn’t pressed the issue further. Melamin? What was that? Probably Elvish for ‘You Demented Bitch’.
I attached the scabbard to my belt, testing it. “Not bad,” I said with a grin. “Now I’ve just got to make sure I haven’t forgotten my lessons.”
Legolas stayed for a while, making sure I ate the Lembas and we talked about small things, but things that were important to us – he spoke of his family and his archery skills, and I spoke of my family and some of the things in my world. He looked both awed and horrified at the idea of cars. He guessed that while they were a good way to travel, surely the pollution would kill the inhabitants of the world. I decided not to tell him just yet of the toxic waste, the ozone, and global warming.
After he left, I had been feeling less stressed. I allowed myself to fall into bed and sleep straight away. Dreams plagued my sleep, full, detailed, horrifying dreams.
However, when I woke up the next morning, all I could remember was hearing masculine screams, fire, gold glints and an old, important looking book, its pages blowing as though invisible hands were turning them.
----------00ooo0000ooo0oo----------
We left early, refreshed and rather energetic. Well, some of us were anyway. I was feeling normal, but more alert than I had been in a long time. The other Lembas bread Legolas gave me that morning helped me become more alert and less sleepy than I had been in a long time. I found myself walking in my fabulous boots, taking healthy strides and admiring the landscape. I was a country girl, and I fully appreciated the peaceful decadence of the landscape.
Tommy and Jack, both decked in Elvish garb with their swords and essentials, were taking big, strong strides, and after a while of walking, Tommy and Gimli discussed good battle strategies while Jack forked off and seemed to actually be having a laugh with Merry and Pippin. I was half jealous, half comforted – I hadn’t seen him smile or laugh in a long time.
Legolas seemed to be conversing a lot with Gandalf, Frodo and Sam stayed with Bill the pony, and Aragorn seemed to purposely keep his distance from any conversation whatsoever. However, Boromir seemed his normal self, and sidled over for a conversation. It was actually quite refreshing in many ways – he seemed enthusiastic to talk, and I hadn’t spoken to someone like that in a long time. He told me of Gondor – and I’ve gotta admit, aside from the lack of women’s rights, it sounded like a cool place. I told him snatches about my own home, spoke of my sister, brothers, parents, etc. – but I didn’t share too much, in case he didn’t know where I was from. I kept my mouth shut about that. I was still fighting with the knowledge that Boromir was going to die. It was while I was agonising over that that something struck me like gas tends to strike my cousin. I was here to change things. Maybe I could prevent Boromir’s death! Yes, the idea of that was very appealing, and the fact that it hadn’t crossed my mind before made me feel pretty stupid.
Not too long later, Gandalf called for me to join him. I jogged up to the front, slightly worried about why he would want to speak to me. Had I said too much about something?
“What lies directly ahead of us, Carrie?” Gandalf asked.
I frowned. It was hard to remember, since I didn’t have a good head when it came to place names. “We’re going to stop somewhere for a break,” I said. “I can’t quite remember where, but when we stop, Saruman’s spies will be upon us, and we’ll be forced to change direction.”
Gandalf nodded, and didn’t look too worried that I knew all about Saruman and his spies. “That is all I wish to know for now,” he said, and then, “How is everything?”
“Fabulous,” I said. “I always wanted to throw an evil ring into a volcano.”
He didn’t do anything, but fell silent for a moment. “You hide yourself behind snide comments. Why?”
I groaned inwardly. Gandalf the psychologist. “People have asked me that before, you know,” I said.
“And?” He asked.
“I gave them the finger,” I replied. At his questioning look, “It’s what the people of my world consider a rude gesture. It involves sticking up the middle finger, sometimes some people stick up two, and it represents the most powerful curse word – well, it means ‘fuck off’.”
Gandalf was silent for a little longer. At last, he broke the awkward silence by saying, “The Fellowship needs you, Carolina. You can laugh at it and scorn it if you wish, but it needs you. You alone – except for maybe your brothers – can help us get through this quest safely. Snide comments and rude gestures will not help you protect Frodo, as you promised you would do.”
I almost felt ashamed. Almost. Instead, I felt angry. “Maybe if I knew why I was here, I could deal with that instead. I feel like I’m being pulled along on wheels whilst I’m wearing a blindfold.”
Gandalf sighed. “Why you are here remains a mystery, Carolina. But I hope – as does the rest of the Fellowship, I’m sure – that you will help us get through this so that we can return to our families and our homes.”
“Great,” I muttered, more to myself than him. “Pull on the fucking heartstrings.” I glared at him. “I said I would help, and I will. Just don’t expect me to shut the hell up in the middle of blowing a gasket, because I need to, in case you haven’t noticed the sulking git back there that is my brother, oh, and the insane girl saying this who’s from another world!”
Gandalf merely smiled. “I understand.”
Oooh, now that was actually frustrating. I knew he was trying to reverse things on me to trick me into trapping myself, so instead, I said, “Is that all?”
He nodded, and I dropped back until I was next to Tommy. “Who would have thought trekking through this fantastic landscape to throw a ring into a volcano would be so exhilarating, so fantabulous, so fucking frustrating,” I finished my sentence on a growl.
“Who lit your bitch-fuse?” Tommy asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Does it really matter? No one is telling me anything. I’d at least like to know why we’re here. I mean, Gandalf is acting as though it’s normal for a girl to be tipped out of her bed in her world and onto a forest floor in another.”
“You aren’t the only one,” Jack said, deciding to join the conversation.
“I never said I was, did I?” I snapped in reply. “I’m just saying that they’re acting as though three people from some other world entirely is normal – Elrond seemed the most confused, and for that, I like him. I personally suspect foul play.”
“Er, I’ve suspected that all along, sis,” Tommy said, scratching his head.
“Foul play? By whom?” Jack asked.
“There’s any number of possibilities,” I replied. “Saruman, Sauron himself, Voldemort – oops, no wait, that’s Harry Potter. Darth Vadar, oops, there I go again!”
“I thought you were the one proclaiming the reality of the situation,” Jack glared.
“I’m insane, you imbecile, what more do you expect?” I hissed back. “For all I know, Gandalf could have brought us here!”
“Gandalf? Why would Gandalf do that?” Jack asked, frowning.
Grrr, that boy! “Why should I know these things?!” I snapped, quite loudly too. “Do you know these things?!”
I noticed that everybody had stopped walking and they were all staring at me. Tommy was looking impressed – probably the whole ‘the mouse the roared’ thing.
“Sor-ry.” I said, blushing scarlet off their looks. I was off to a great start.
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