Meet the Cast

Disclaimer: No, we don’t own Lord of the Rings. Tolkein does. We’re just borrowing. Suing us wouldn’t get you anywhere, anyway. We’re broke.

{ Expresses thoughts }

[ Translated Elvish ]

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Hope seemed to disappear as the girl noted the distress in Legolas’ eyes. Suzanne, who was standing between Figwit and Legolas during the intense conversation the father and son were having, could sense the tenseness of it all. She grasped her friend’s hand, troubled by this new situation. { To have come so far it now seems all to end. If they take us from here we stand no chance in this world. } She continued to grasp Laura's limp hand, seemingly for hope. Suzanne attempted to hide her flinch as Thranduil exclaimed that the guards were to remove them from the woodland realm.

The Elven prince was beginning to despair as he saw how Thranduil was bent on removing the human girls from Mirkwood. He felt the guards begin to tear the chestnut-haired girl from his grasp. Struggling against their pull, he fails as she is taken away to a distance. Two guards came up behind the shorter girl and took a wrist in each hand. { I can't let this happen! }

"Wait!" she exclaimed as a last resort. Struggling fiercely against the strong elvish guards she finally manages to free herself momentarily. "Please, my lord, do not sentence us to be removed from your kingdom! We do not quite understand how we are here, much less how to survi-," but she was cut off as the guards again gained control of her. This time they held her securely, clenching her wrists and her waist.

Laura’s hazel eyes fluttered open momentarily, awakened by the harsh yelling and jostling. She feels herself being traded from the arms of the Prince to that which was somewhat rougher. Hearing Thranduil yelling the voice registers within her head but not as his, as her mothers.

"What now? Five more minutes, mom. Please?" she mutters and rolls her eyes. Seeing her friend regain consciousness, the blond-haired girl whispers.

"Hold on, Laura!" She sees her eyes rolling back into her head yet again, knowing that she was lost for another time.

Legolas, seeing both girls flinch, again begins to plea with his father.

[“Father, you must not banish them from this province! The taller one, she is still in need of healing! I found them on the outskirts being overwhelmed by one of those beasts, spiders. She was crushed and I fear the other one may be harmed as well. Please, to send them away is to condemn them to death!”] He finishes, allowing his words to hang ominously within the air. Thranduil sighs quietly, wondering why his son was so bent on keeping these mortals.

[“My son, I cannot expect you to understand as of yet the extent of all this. They must not stay. We know not who they are and weather they are friend or foe. Again I say it! Guards, take them to the boarders!”] Legolas’ gaze quickly became a glare.

[“Then let us heal them and then determine that. You would condemn someone who is possibly an ally to death? They are little more than children!”]

Upon his command the girls are led out of the throne room and out into the commons. Half-walking and half being carried, the smaller girl looks up at one of the guards leading her. Sighing she struggles to regain any memory of the acute amount of the Elven tongue that she knew. She smiles as she recalls one phrase that might be helpful.

"Lle wethrine amin." [ You deceived me. ]

Not knowing if this would register to the guard, or even make sense as she pronounced it, she awaits for an answer. The guard looked down momentarily, seemingly surprised that the mortal knew any Elvish at all, but he just shook his head and continued to lead her.

Finally, after what seemed like miles, they finally stopped to rest. Releasing their hold on her, the guards stood in a circle around their 'prisoners'. As soon as Suzanne was free she rushed to her friend who they had placed against the trunk of a large tree. Cradling her head gently in her arms she begins to weep silently, knowing that now that they were to be abandoned on the borders there was no hope left to ever revive her friend. In her depression, randomly a song from one of the trilogy comes to mind. Slowly and quietly she begins to sing. Not knowing why or how she was remembering the words she recognizes the lyrics from something the elves would sing in "The Fellowship". Gradually she got louder and noticed she was gaining strange glances from the guards.

“Snow-white! Snow-white! O Lady clear!

O Queen beyond the Western Seas!

O light to us that wander here

Amid the world of woven trees!

Gilthoniel! O Elbreath!

Clear are thy eyes and bright thy breath!

Snow-white! Snow-white! We sing to thee

In a far land beyond the sea.

O stars that in the Sunless year

With shining hand by her were sown,

In windy fields now bright and clear

We see your silver blossom blown!

O Elbreth! Gilthoniel!

We still remember, we who dwell

In this far land beyond the trees,

Thy starlight on the Western Seas.”

She stopped as the identifiable sound of hooves approaching could be heard. A bright light suddenly blinded her as a figure come into view. The light faded and the undeniable figure of Gandalf had appeared.

The Istari glanced from the group of Elves to their prisoners, expecting to see some orcs or other malicious creature. Instead, there were two young women. One was unconscious and obviously injured, as the other tried to comfort her. He noted their attire. They were strangely clad in blue pants and t-shirts, certainly not the usual dress for ladies. The wizard was wary, having felt a huge explosion of power the day before.

Gandalf dismounted from Shadowfax and walked over to one of the Elves.

[“Where are you taking them?”]

The elf looked at the wizard suspiciously, but answered his inquiry.

[“We are taking them to the edge of the forest, and then returning to the kingdom.”]

Gandalf’s blue eyes traveled to the two again, wondering why Thranduil would sentence them to certain death. Their appearance might have some connection with the powerful force he felt earlier, making them prey to others who would be sensitive to such things. Sauron and Saruman might decide that they would want the women in attempt to gain that power.

[“Take them back.”]

The elf looked at him incredulously, not believing that this stranger expected him to follow his orders.

[“Take them back.”] The voice was harsher, causing the elves to flinch in slight fear. The group stood up, taking their prisoners in tow once more.

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The group reached Mirkwood’s halls once more, Gandalf leading the procession. Legolas sat beside his father’s throne, sulking at his failure to protect the two girls. His eyes traveled to the gray wizard before him.

“Mirthrandir!” His gaze traveled to the two women once again, pleased to see that they were not harmed.

“Maer erin, Legolas.” [Good morning, Legolas.] The Istari noticed the golden-haired elf’s improved demeanor, but said nothing about it. His attention turned to Thranduil. “Hail Thranduil, king of Mirkwood.”

Thranduil eyed the wizard suspiciously, noticing that the two were once again back in his kingdom.

“Hello Mirthrandir. You had no need to return those two to me, they are banished from my realm.”

“Why would you sentence two young girls to death?”

“They either slipped past our defenses or simply appeared. Those two mortals are a threat that I will not permit to stay in Mirkwood!” Gandalf tossed an amused look back towards Suzanne and Laura, before looking once more at Thranduil.

“Two young children are a threat? Thranduil, that does not speak very highly of your kingdom.” Thranduil looked enraged.

“You have no right to insult either my land or me! I hold no obligation to hear your argument. Take them from my presence.” Gandalf spoke in a lower tone, angered by the Elf’s insolence.

“They will stay here, under the charge of Legolas. He will then accompany me to Rivendell in five days.”

Thranduil appeared slightly frightened, tossing an angry glare toward both his son and the two human women before lowering his head in consent. Legolas quickly stood from his seat and walked to where the two were. The guard handed Laura back to him. He looked to Suzanne. “Follow me.” The blonde followed the Elven prince to the medical area, where healers looked at both Laura and her.

Gandalf looked at Thranduil once more, disgusted, before removing himself from the halls to think on the girls’ purpose here.

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A/N: Alright. This is when I (the real life Suzanne) began helping with the story. Be nice, it was my first ever FF chapter to write. I edited it some, it looks better now. Please review!