Five - Pt. 2 -

Chapter 5 in which Sarah encounters some hostile inhabitants..

Omg, omg, omg, omg!
I was actually in the presence of THE flipping LEGOLAS.
Prince of the golly dang Mirkwoods!
An amazing archer, excellent fighter, heroically developed--
overall just a pretty epic character. Dude, I mean, he was a total part of my childhood.
I wanted to fangirl so hard, but, y’know. Obvious reasons.
If only the Legolas groupies could see me now.


Legolas


Quite unfortunately, the first time of meeting him was rather unpleasantly spoiled by the fact he currently wanted me executed. yayyyyy..

“Just what do you think you are doing in my woods?” Questioned the elf prince.
His lackey still had a blade to my throat.
I was trying to come up with an appropriate answer- a crafty excuse- something clever as to why I was there… but inevitably, I just wound up telling the cold hard truth.
“Umm, well, yes, see, I actually crashed here with those  four.”
I nodded at the said trouble heathens.
“Our ship freaked out and crashed down here. We had to repair it, but whilst trying to do so, I ventured outside. That’s when the spiders attacked us. And, y’know, you  happened”
“..Hm.” I might’ve been going on a hunch, but I thought Legolas seemed unconvinced.
“Your story doesn’t sound anything similar to the one your comrades invented.”
I eyed the four. DARN VILLAINS, YOU HAD ONE JOB.
Always refusing to actually be clever and tell the truth.

“Those four? Well, I wouldn’t trust them to spit properly, let alone be truthful. The scoundrels kidnapped me, you see. And were also going to desert me, if I might add, on our ship that was apparently BROKEN.”
I gave them the most scolding stare.
“How humorous..there was no trace of any ship when we got to them.”
My eyes enlarged. “Come again?!”
“Looks like your only evidence has happened to scurry off.”
crap crap crap crap crap crap
“There’s no way!!”
“Tell me, how did you get here?”
“Through the ship!”
“Stop lying! Tell me or I will start killing your comrades one at a time, ending with you!”
“I’m NOT lying! I heard them screaming, so I ran back after dealing with one of the spiders who was chasing me-“ “You expect me to believe you, unarmed and a mere girl, took down one of the creatures all on your own?” “I outsmarted him! For crying outloud, stop thinking every little thing I do or say is impossible! I ran back, I saw them in trouble, then jumped on a spider leg to distract the rest of them, so they could get away! – but as I was struggling, I heard our ship take off. Distracted myself, the spider managed to knock me off, and they were gonna EAT me.”
“You honestly expect me to believe all that?”
“UGH! This is what I get for being honest! It figures, you tell the truth, they don’t believe you; you tell lies, they don’t believe you. Either my luck completely and utterly SUCKS, or one just absolutely can  not reason with elves!”

Keep in mind, all this was being said while I still had the armed elf behind me.
That’s when Legolas nodded at him- yes, the one holding the knife to my throat- and I was released from my death hold. I rubbed the irritated area, giving Legolas a grumpy poochy face.
“You’re too kind, your majesty.”
He lifted his head up.
“A woman like you must be treated with respect…to an extent. But I still have no doubts you are using a dark deception to lead these men to their doom. Perhaps in order to pass through these woods with no one else to share your finds with!”
Life was cruel.
“ARGH, I wish I was 12 again!!” “You think being a child will help you?” “Why, would it any?!”
“Absolutely not.” “Oh, well, never mind then..”
I deflated. I now felt even more sorry for the dwarves, due to Legolas’ unreasoning.
But at least I was trying  to reason with him and I was  telling the truth.
That lot didn’t even attempt to explain themselves, not once.

That’s when a female elf showed up. My head lifted. A gal pal! I frantically began to jump up and down.
“TAURIEL, TAURIEL! YOU’RE HERE, YOU’RE HERE! Please help, I’m being kidnapped a second time in one day, wrongfully mind you, and I need assistance! Reason  with this man!”
I pointed to ol’ blondy pointy-ears himself…well….it all makes sense now.
Tauriel gave me a strong look of bewilderment, no doubt because I was speaking to her so casually,
but also because maybe I was wearing pretty darn foreign garbs. oops.
They’d probably wind up accusing me of being a witch, too. They always do.


Tauriel

She stepped over to Legolas’ side and spoke into his ear.
“Is this not the one who is in league with the spiders?”
“It is..she can not be trusted.”
“But she is only a girl…”
“Do not be fooled, Tauriel..I made her to believe I thought she was only a woman—
but I believe she is in truth a creature of darkness, disguised as a young girl to deceive us.”
Any respect for Legolas left in me popped like a balloon.
“Oh, for pete’s sake…” I muttered to myself.
I looked back up at them, chuckling a little. “Actually, I am  just a girl.”
They jolted and eyed me with alert.
“YOU!” He instantly lunged forward and thrusted his sword at my face.

“How do you know the ancient language of the elves?!”
My face dropped. oops.
“Speak quickly, spy!”
“SPY?! Dude, someone should award you for most paranoid conspirator of the year!”
“Answer me, vermin!”
“Bozo, I am not  a spy—nor am I a flipping ‘creature of darkness’!....Well, depending on who you ask…I’m just a 19 year old chick who was kidnapped by those  four goons, crashed here and was attacked by your  spiders—that YOU should’ve been taking CARE OF!”
“Enough of your lies, I tire of them!”
“I ALREADY TOLD YOU. A THOUSAND TIMES, GOSH DARN IT. I’m not telling you again, you can just slice me and dice me! Nothing is going to change my story, because it’s the only version there is! I’m not repeating myself!” With that, I folded my arms and huffed.


Unexpectedly, Tauriel came forward and lowered Legolas’ arm.
I watched her, carefully, but still made sure to keep my slightly irritated expression.
She took a closer step towards me and tilted her head,
“Why did you side with the spiders and ruin our hunt?”
Ah, there it is. I was hoping that’d pop up.
“Dude, I was only trying to stop them from eating me! And I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to ruin anything, honest, but look, they’re just  hungry. They’re only animals, they need food! I merely promised them I’d point them to the correct food source, that’s  all. It was absolutely nothing against you guys, I was only attempting to turn the tables. And besides…I basically got them off your backs, cuz with them targeting something else, they won’t be bothering you anymore. You don’t have to kill them..and vice versa. Plus, they made me their queen, so they’ll do whatever I tell them to.”
I stood back and waited for a response, biting my lip.
Tauriel seemed to believe me..in fact, she was taking everything I said rather well, and actually looked hopeful. Legolas, on the other hand, as usual, seemed to be a little less easy to please.
ugh.


He stepped closer. “If that is the truth.. how did you manage to tame them?”
He tilted his head and raised his brow. “Through witchcraft?”
I made a frown. ugh again.
“I….spoke their language.”
They all jolted.
I shrugged my shoulders and flopped my arms up in the air.
why
There goes my chance for survival. Bring out the stakes, bring out the fire.
I was about to be burned as a witch like a roast turkey.


It took the two a minute….then… "So she has a talented tongue…and ear.”
I lifted my head to the prince with a renewed hope, eyes widened.
He looked to Tauriel, who was beaming adorably.
“She must be the ‘queen’ he spoke about…take her to my father!”


~ ~ ~


Son of a mongoose.
I was on my way to see the king of Mirkwood.
And if I thought Legolas was bad, it was about to get a whole lot worse.

Even though I wasn’t executed, Legolas still didn’t seem all too convinced I was on the right side and therefore did not trust me…and therefore, my hands were bound, as well as my villainous companions, and we were being escorted through the forest, 10 elves (Legolas and Tauriel included) in the front and 10 elves in the back. About one to two elves walked between each of us as we were placed in the middle of the parade march.
The two elves walking behind me kept pushing and shoving like jerks.
I huffed. “YOU KNOW…if SOMEONE had the gull to come BACK for me--- then we would’ve gotten back to the T.A.R.D.I.S. and gotten away…and we wouldn’t BE in this situation!!”


Of course…I didn’t say anything…I just kept all those words to myself…
that’s what I would’ve liked to say. 
I think a lot of things that go unsaid.
Alas, it is my life.

No, I just resorted to kicking Jim in the legs, who had been placed infront of me.
“Oww!” He exclaimed, throwing his head at me. “What was that—“
“That’s for trying to leave me behind!”
Jim quickly looked away. I scowled at him, even so.
“You lot made such a big deal of bringing me along—and whatta ya do? YOU TRY TO DESERT ME.
Unless there’s a secondary Character Queen I’m not aware of, you four would’ve been in quite a pickle without me.”
I shook my head. “So what, the elves somehow stopped you in your tracks?! How did that even work?!”
“Actually, we were GOING to leave…” Master explained.
“Bane was the only one against it, and said we should come back for you.”
“-And when we tried to refuse, he used force.” Joker rubbed his arm.

I looked at Bane, who was being his usual serious self, and smiled, mouthing a ‘thank you’.
He saw this and bowed his head in response.
Least I could count on ONE villain.
---
It was apparently a long way to the palace.
It was an hour past Legolas and Tauriel capturing us and we were still  deep in the woods, trailing along in silence.
(movies and books just kind’ve skip these things—one moment you’re in one place, and the next you’re just kind’ve…there.)
I felt uncomfortable, not saying anything for so long.
I’m usually always real talkative, unless I’m distracted by something.
Which at this current point of time, I was not.
So I did what I always do…simply, I did something.


“Yo, blondy!” I yelled across the line. His elven guards merely looked at me in awe.
Of probably my strange manner of speaking…and also, why wasn’t I British?
“I do not know what ‘yo’ means…but do not address me so freely.” He said in a half mumble.
Well, at least it was an answer.
“Lego-my-Eggo!” This time, he did not  respond.
“BOY!” nope.
“LEG-O!!” He hates me.
“Lego-lost-a-green-leaf!” “Be quiet.”
*not gonna give up* “Oh, pretty boyyy!!” “Quiet.” “LEGOLAS!”
“Be silent!!” He got louder.
“BLONDY!” “WHAT?!”
At this point, he swung around, putting a stop to the march, and he looked mad.
I grinned like a child. “I have to go to the bathroom.”


He rose an eyebrow, keeping quiet for a moment.
I believe he was trying to decipher what he thought  I meant and what I actually  meant by ‘bathroom’.
“…Wha—“ He had a look of utter confusion, which is precisely what I wanted.
“Where are we going?”
He blinked. “To the palace, to see my father.”
I wiggled my mind’s eyebrows. “How much farther is it?”
He was about to speak, when some jerk stepped up and interrupted him.
“Sire, if I may—“ “No, you may NOT!” I yelled.
The elf jumped and slowly stood back.
I continued. “How far?” “Not far at all, for the waterfall is sounding closer.”
“Listen, Lego, you need to hear me out-”
“Lord Legolas, I must suggest-“ “Shh.” “I-“ “SHH.”
The elf widened his eyes and looked down in shame.


I looked back at Legolas just as quick.
“Please listen—you’ve gotta let us go. We didn’t do a thing wrong, so you honestly have NO reason to detain us…that means to keep in custody.”
“I know what it is!”
“Look, I know we have problems, and believe me, we do—you being one of them-“
He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes.
“But this is the absolute opposite of what we wanted. We might be suspicious, but we’re not THAT bad…danger wise, I mean, the boys got me just to help them to kill certain people, and well, you know—but not you, they’re not after you, so it’s all good, but apart from that, we are REALLY not that bad. Look at us, we’re, we, y’know, look like, traveling types, innocent angels, purity in it’s purest, we like, it’s, what would YOU think?” “Spies.” “I mean, that too, but…..” I shrugged.
I was losing this one. He, just like that, snapped back to an unimpressed expression and pivoted his body around, whipping his long blonde hair. “Move on!"
Like that, the elves marched once more to Legolas’ fife.
I groaned, tossing my hands up in the air. The elves behind me pushed me on.
See, though, the problem was, was just…I really did  have to go to the bathroom.
~ ~ ~


Sure enough, the castle or palace or whatever royal junk it is was not far off from where we stopped.
Quite frankly, after walking around in a deep dark forest for what felt like an eternity, seeing the huge bright palace, glistening almost as much as Legolas, it hurt my eyes.
Blinded by the new location, I shot my arm up to shield my vision.
While awful pretty and certainly worthy of a fangirl moment, I was too distracted with making sure I would be able to see anything again – that and the roaring waterfalls on opposite sides of the bridge were dreadfully deafening.
I looked back at the boys and spoke in what I thought to be a normal tone,
“NOD YOUR HEAD IF I’M YELLING.”
It didn’t take long at all for them to do so.
“THANK YOU.”
I turned my head to the front of the row.
“LEGOLAS, I’M GONNA HAVE TO SEE A DOCTOR IF YOU HAVE ONE.”
“We’re here!” Legolas yelled, as if it wasn’t obvious, and the company halted.
He waved at a random elf, who ran to him hurriedly and handed him something.
Legolas then passed some of the items to other elves and they started walking off behind me.
I was more than curious, especially when Lego started approaching ME.
“What—“ He went behind me and fiddled with something, and before I knew it, my eyes were covered.
“What’s this?!”
“A precaution. If you aren’t what we assume you to be, I don’t want you knowing your way in my palace.” “And yet, you showed us the way to  your palace. You, sir, are an absolute genius.”
He tightened the eye-coverer, which pulled my hair, and I quite justifiably wanted to punch him.
I tried to sway my ponytail, but it was bound.
That’s it. I hated him.
“FREE THE PONY.”
I assumed he eyed at me. “I beg your pardon?”
“My hair, blondy, free it, or there will be consequences.”
I yelled over my shoulder, “I WILL FEAST ON YOU ALL.”
But he chuckled. “You think I care about your hair?” I assumed he shook his head.
“The putrid little goblin thinks she is worth something.”
I gawked. “DUDE. RUDE. Uncalled for!”
I assumed he made a snooty face. “Oh yes…I forgot…you spoke my language.”
He chuckled again. “What a pity.”
IIIIIIII wanted to physically hurt him.
“You know what, bro?! I was under the impression you were only like this with the dwarves, but no, you, you’re just.. a jerk! You’re not racist, you’re just--- you’re just specist!!”



I thrashed my head around. “I get lost in your crummy forest, attacked by YOUR spiders, and you’re all up in my face! Y’know what? SCROOGLE YOU, PRETTY BOY. I’ve got rights! No wonder the elves died out.”
I looked up at him—er, I mean, I think  I did. I pointed my head at his assumed direction?
For all I knew, I could’ve been facing some random bird or worm or ant and made them feel bad about themselves.
“And you, you have no respect! It doesn’t matter if I’m a no-do-gooder or not, I’m a girl! I’m not a privileged sort, but you should be nice, especially coming from your time! I mean really, you’d think I’d have been captured by a pack of orcs or trolls, but no, it’s the elves! Majestic creatures of sparkly beauty and just a kind nature - - no, you people have given me quite the horrible first experience in Middle Earth, and I hope you’re proud! I should tell your dead mama, unless she’s just as cruel as the lot of you - -
in that case, I’ll hold!”
Well. I had a good tell-off and I felt good. You know, cuz he shut up. Until I heard an abrupt unsheathing-sound and something sharp suddenly poke my back. I’ll be honest, I jumped.
“MOVE!” He yelled, prodding me to go forward.
Whoa. Ok. Note to self; do not discriminate Lego’s mama in the future.
. . . If I even had one.
~ ~ ~


We went past the waterfalls, and everything became hollow and distant, so that only meant we were now inside the palace. I was getting a bit concerned of the state of my companions. They hadn’t said much since our capture, so I knew they were up to something…and that’s what I was worried about.
As much as Legolas killed my nerves, I didn’t want him or any of the others to be dead.
I’d seen enough of my beloved characters die over the years and I wasn’t about to see it happen again…especially where it wasn’t even supposed to be.
I decided, for the sake of concern, to do a head-count.
So yes, I started yelling. “Joker, you there?!”
“. . . .” “JOKER.” “..here?”
“Master!” “Right here, love.”
“Bane!” “What are you doing, miss Demens??”
I kept quiet.
“. . . . . . . . . . I’m also here!” piped Jim.
“Well, I honestly wanted you gone, so..”
“So what was that for?” Curious Legolas was curious.
I smirked. Like a fly to a spider web.
“Just making sure my companions are still around. In case, you know, you were planning to lead us away individually to execute us or something. Cuz you’re just so dang devious. I dunno what kind of evil plan you’ve got up your sleeve.”
“Evil?! You believe me to be EVIL?”
“Uhhh, yeah dude? You captured us for no reason. You bullied us for no reason. And then you BLINDFOLDED us for no reason!” “Only because-“ “Come  on! You don’t honestly expect me to believe you did it because of secrets, do you?! I know you’re smarter than that. Why else would you blindfold us other than to kill us?”
“STOP!”
I don’t know about the others, but I froze.
I heard footsteps move around me, the sharpness in my back removing itself.
“I swear to you, girl, my purpose for this is only meant to ensure the safety of my-“
“Can I make a suggestion?”
He went silent.
“For the love of holiness, boy, call me SARAH. We are given names for a reason! A girl is what I am, not WHO I am! There you go being rude again!”
He went silent once more. “…….forgive me, Sarah.”
I tilted my head. “Eh?”
“It seems the stress of the situation has taken its toll on me. It’s getting harder for me to trust anyone.”
I wanted to cheer him up, because he really DID sound sad and sincere..
for I know with myself, I can be a real badger when I’m  stressed
- - - but I was still holding a grudge against him about entrapping my ponytail.
So I held my tongue. I just couldn’t forgive him. Not so soon.

I then heard footsteps approach Lego and I.
“May I?” It was Tauriel. I gulped.
But unexpectedly, not too long after, the darkness was removed from my eyes and I could see again.
The two stood in front of me, looking quite interested in what I might do.
I gave Legolas a serious stare.
“Look at me…do I look like a villain to you?”
He glanced at the others, but that was not acceptable.
“Not them, look at me.”
He looked back at me.
“Trust your gut. Do I look like I’m about ready to obliterate the entirety of your species? Have I posed any threat at ALL so far? Has anyone who is against you come to you in peace before? Say no.”


Legolas’ posture changed after studying me for a short while. He looked somewhat…relieved.
“No…you don’t.” I breathed my own sigh of relief.
He gestured for me to lift my hands up and I obeyed; he proceeded to untie me.
I smiled and rubbed my wrists, bowing my head in gratitude. “Thank you, your highness.”
He actually smiled at me, my direction, right after I addressed him.
Tauriel smiled, too, and patted my shoulder.
“Impressive work,” she said, quietly.
“If you had’ve given me just a little more time, however, I would’ve softened him up enough for you.” “Yeah, but then YOU would’ve looked like the good guy. I think Lego and I bonded there, honestly.”
She chuckled and shook her head, walking away.
Well. . . .
“Oy! What about us?!”
I smirked. Knew that  was coming.
“Keep quiet!” Legolas yelled.
“I trust Lady Sarah, not you! And obviously, your companion feels the same!”
Honestly, I couldn’t get past the fact he called me Lady Sarah.
Like whoa, there’s the manners I knew he had! I shrugged my shoulders.
“You can at least untie Bane - - him I trust. He was the only one who wanted to come back for me, after all.”
He jerked his head at an elf to do as I said and Bane was untied and unblindfold-i-fied.
Yes . . . yes, I liked this side of Lego much better. Quite so.

~ ~ ~

We proceeded onwards . . . even if we were all friends now, it was clearly mandatory that we went to see Legolas’ dad. I couldn’t help but be nervous. Thranduil was made famous for his racism and obstinance .. what’s to stop him from offing me? Like…in a flash?
He was a jerk..but never mind him.
The palace was absolutely stunning- everything glistened! There was so much detail and complicated structure, one would guess creation of this place would have taken months, if not years; granted that elves have such long life spans. I was gawking like a fish, eyeballing every little thing we passed.
The boys seemed less interested. They took a few glances, then looked either at the floor, in front of them or just started to look at themselves.
This was all the more proof to me that they were up to something.
…… Legolas had their blindfolds taken off, by the way.
I don’t know…he’s blonde. They think differently from me.
But one thing was for sure…the palace was beautiful.
“Don’t take this the wrong way, Legolas, but your place is gorgeous. You grew up here, yeah?”
“Indeed…I was born here, raised here, trained here…into a man.”
“Is that  what you call yourself?” The Master interrupted.
I casted him a glare, a most scolding look of disapproval. He just grinned at me.
Legolas seemed to ignore him.
I suddenly heard a ‘Psst!’ and looked behind me.
Jim winked at me. “So, love, where are we off to?”
“To see his father.” “Who is?” “Thranduil. King of Mirkwood.”
“So that means old goldilocks is prince here, huh?” Joker chimed in.
“Well in that case, he’s a ROYAL pain in the *beep*!” Cue Joker laughter.
I wanted to smack him for using language, but I couldn’t help but snicker.
Everything that man said never got old..


“You really are a curious company,” I heard Tauriel say, quietly.
“Tell me about it.” I said aloud. She looked at me with an unsettled expression.
I winced. Whoops. Did it again. Dang language diversity.
“It’s…curious, indeed.” She looked away for a moment, then back. “How much do you know?”
“About?” I said, with piqued interest and a raised brow.
“About….” She took a minute to do what I would pass as a shrug. “…Everything?”
“Heh…I wouldn’t say I know so much about everything.”
I shrugged myself and formed a smirk.
“…but close to it.”
She smiled a little. “I…I am truly sorry for the way my people, including myself and the prince, treated you. We…well…don’t take too kindly to strangers anymore. Although, we don’t get many to begin with, I’m afraid to admit. And the situation with the spiders is quite grave. They come in waves and…well, I have my own suspicions.” “Suspicions?”
She glanced at me, “About where they come from.”
I looked to the floor and sniffled. “Hm….and..that is..??”
Well, I sure didn’t wanna freak her out even more by revealing that I already knew the answer to the question.
She gave me an uneasy glance, inching a bit closer to me.
There, she proceeded to whisper - - “I believe…it’s Dol Guldur.”
I expected creepy sound effects at any minute, like a screech or frightening whispers, or chilling winds,
a candle going out, something, to react instantaneously with the said dialog.
But nope. I was left disappointed.
Fred, you darn good-for-nothing sound effects guy, you’re fired.


Just to be clear, Dol Guldur was quite the important place.
It’s a frightful tower far off in the middle of nowhere where Sauron began raising an army of beasties that apparently towards the third Hobbit  movie part thing were sent off to crush the dwarves and the people of Laketown and everyone.
If Sauron was currently preparing for such a thing, I did not know.
But judging by the fact that there were spiders running around, Tauriel, Legolas and the gang were all present, and there was no sign or slightest mention of Bilbo or the dwarves, my guess was, I was brought rather early in the Hobbit  movie timeline. Perhaps going with, end of an Unexpected Journey  to a little before the beginning or the middle of Desolation of Smaug. Sweet! That means I didn’t miss much!
(Note to self; see third Hobbit movie as soon as we find the T.A.R.D.I.S. to know what in the heck.)


I eyed Tauriel seriously, pretending to be clueless in the matter.
“…Where’s…that? Sounds spooky.”
“I believe I agree. It’s a terrifying, dark place..but it’s presumed to be abandoned.”
“Yeah, see, it’s definitely terrifying and dark. Abandoned places are always sketchy back where I come from.”
She blinked, and continued.
“It hasn’t been occupied in hundreds—no, thousands, of years. It’s cursed, however. It’s master might’ve been extinguished, but I sense something has returned there. And those creatures are being manifested by a terrible power.” She then sighed, looking away. “I have explained this to my people…but…”
“They don’t believe you?”
She shot me a glance. I shrugged. “Who cares? Whatta they know? You’re right.”
“How do you know?”
“Well, I, uh, it…sounds logical enough! And besides, what other theories are you hearing floating around otherwise?”

She gave it a moment to consider. “I..I suppose you are correct.”
“So…what about blondy?” “You mean..the prince?”
“Yeah, yeah, you told him yet?”
“Actually…no. I have not.” “Why not?”
“I …I do not know…I do not want him to think..that I’m..”
“Crazy?” She looked at me once more. I looked away.
“You’re very perceptive..for one so young.” I gave her a look of offensiveness.
“Great Scott, how old do I look?!” “At least….well…..13?”
My body deflated at that point.
“…Why, how old are you really?”
I crinkled my eyebrows. "19. Well, at least I should be..I think.”
“My, you look very young! Wait—what do you mean?”
“Well…it was supposed  to be my birthday. I think today..or tomorrow?...to be honest…I’ve lost track.”
“That’s quite an important event to 'lose track' of.”


Tauriel and I both looked beside us to see Legolas walking along, quietly.
He might’ve been there the entire time, who knows?
I would normally expect his statement to be one of snark. But he actually did sound rather concerned.
I lifted my chin up at the sparkly elven prince. “Things have been busy…very busy. A lot’s happened.”
“Such as?” “….Well, the four louts, for one. They kidnapped me, remember?”
"And yet you returned for them?” “..I couldn’t just let them die.”
“That’s rather bold of you.” Tauriel remarked. No doubt impressed, given her smile.
She’s rather easy to please.
Legolas looked away, sternly. “So, those scum are criminals. Kidnapping an innocent girl.”
“It’s not quite like that. You see…they needed me..or STILL need me..because of..you know..what I am.”
I felt terrible. I finally got them to trust me and here I was lying my soul away to them.
Then again, me being the supposed Character Queen was the very reason I was here..
and not dead on the dirty forest ground filled with worms, yuck.
“They’re rather villainous, but I swear they only have the best of intentions for me.”
“You can easily get out of this. We can set you free..run away. They’ll never have a chance to follow you.” What noble characteristics old goldilocks had.
“I appreciate the offer, but for the time being, we’re on good terms. And besides…I owe them. I made them a promise and I intend to keep it.” I looked to Tauriel.
The very word ‘promise’ reminded me of her and Kili’s conversation in the cell.
The moment the two actually started to bond.
And I had to look away..knowing Kili’s fate….it was too painful.


“A promise…very moral of you.” Lego remarked. “I wasn’t expecting such loyalty. But it is unfortunately wasted on such filth. They have dark intentions..not just for you, but for many others. I can feel it.”
Well, he wasn’t wrong there. I am aware…or at least was…that they wished revenge on all three the Doctor, Sherlock and Batman. And they were using me to obtain it.
But I had a strong gut feeling tell me Lego was referring to much more than that.
And honestly, that scared me.
I sensed the four were upto something and I still didn’t know what. They were wicked, ruthless men who didn’t know the meaning of the word ‘no’ and they wanted something—
wanted something so bad, they were fully prepared to kill anyone and anything to get it.
And they were my traveling companions. What ill luck I have.
After this, I didn’t say anything further.
Therefore the conversation between the three of us ended.

I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I wanted to pull over and let it all loose, but that would’ve been inconvenient for the poor elves and the party. I didn’t wanna be rude just when I won their affection.
I didn’t just feel sick, though. My head seriously ached, my body temperature was rising and I had a bad taste in my mouth. What the Pikachu? What had happened to me?
I was falling apart and there was no reason behind it.
Only moments before I was a perfectly healthy little penguin!
Now what? I was a hot mess. Literally.
Legolas suddenly turned his head to the rest of us.
“Have caution! We’re approaching my father’s throne room.”
Oh boy. I was not prepared for this.
He would probably have me executed just for looking at him the wrong way, let alone being a sickly hot mess. I panicked. “Can we reschedule?”
The two looked at me funny.
“I’m afraid…” Tauriel said, slowly. “..I do not understand..??”
"You know..reschedule. In other words, do this later?!”
Legolas rose an eyebrow. “Why?”
“Cuz I ain’t feeling well, bub.”
Tauriel made the group pause and she reached in and gently touched my forehead.
Her fingers surprisingly felt warm. A look of concern came over her.
“Oh dear…it’s true, she feels very warm. She doesn’t look well, either. Her eyes are losing their color.”
“Something seems to have bewitched her.” A random elf guard summed up from behind.
Thank you, random elf guard. No one asked you.

Legolas did look concerned, but conflicted. He kept sighing as he met Tauriel’s worried gaze.
“…..Nothing our medicine cannot cure. We’ll attend to her soon enough. Please, let us first see my father.
I am told he is growing impatient.”
I was screaming internally and not in a good way. Exactly what I didn’t want.
please please please
My head was growing hotter and more pained by the minute.
I was so stressed, I wanted to cry.
Thranduil was the most racist goblin ever, I was gonna die.

° ° °

 Unfortunately, the trip wasn’t very long at all.
Less than a minute later, we were entering the throne room.
I wanted to throw up NOW to have a good excuse, but my body wasn’t listening.
And the idea of it was still rude.
But boy, the room was gorgeous…and so shiny, it hurt my eyes.
The sparkles were stunning and the elegant decorating was simply breathtaking. I loved every bit of it.
Honestly, it STILL felt like I was in a dream. Everything…and I mean everything.. even myself..felt so surreal. And that’s when it happened.
“Tell me . . . oh Queen.”
Well, that gave me a jerk. I halted, instantly, and bumped into an elf.
I didn’t even realize anything about anyone.
I looked dead straight ahead and saw….him.
King Thranduil.
My hearted pounded. No, not from attraction.
I had no interest in him. From fear.
He was standing in front of his throne, hands behind his back, and was gazing across the row of elves directly at me. This man…this one, stupid, sparkly man had the power to instantly end me.


Thranduil


I gulped so loud, I’m sure everyone heard me.“crap.” I said under my breath.

He lifted his chin up. So much like his son. Or vice versa.
“…Your majesty.” He then bowed his head.
I was speechless and my lips were quivering, so I bit them. Dratted things.
“….How….exactly….”
He started walking, slowly, towards my general direction…and then suddenly appeared right in front of me. “---did you come to enter my realm so secretly?”
I flinched. He narrowed his eyes and leaned back.
He really had no intention of letting me answer. “Don’t bother…a spy is a spy.”
I wanted to throw in a Middle-Earth quote so, SO badly.
But no..I was still speechless.
He gave the others judgmental examinations and stuck up his nose at them.
“How petty…revolting garments and repulsive faces to match. You mortals are such a withering folk.”
Told you he was racist, the grumpy old wiener.
“Father, please, allow me to..” “Hold your tongue, Legolas.” Thranduil interrupted, holding his hand up.
The King didn’t even look at his son and walked back around to behind me.
Lego snuck me a glance, as if out of guilt for even taking me there.
“…She doesn’t feel well.” Tauriel cut in. Thranduil shot her a look.
She looked his way. “She needs medicine, my lord.”
“She will get no such thing.” he said with those dead-lock emotionless eyes of his.
Tauriel’s facial expression changed. She looked relatively taken back.
I, myself, knew it was coming.
As soon as I entered that very room, I knew the boys and I were doomed.


“Father, please!” Legolas pleaded. “We truly believe she is the Queen that he spoke o-“
“THERE IS no Queen…..”
Lego deflated, with utter disgust for his father. Tauriel looked pretty ticked herself.
“That is simply a rumor, nothing more. This girl would have us to believe she is of noble blood, but her trickery will not work on ones so pure as us. Therefore, we will extinguish her advances...”
He backed away a little, his arms still behind him, and he stared at me from 10 feet away.
“--Lock her and her companions up for the night and tomorrow, we shall execute them… to cast her in the fire!”
“FATHER!”
“My lord, PLEASE!”
“WUT.”

Like that, as if waiting for it, an elf grabbed me from behind and started to drag me away, along with the other four. I swung my head around to see Lego grab his father by the arm.
“You can’t do this!”
Thranduil then coldly shrugged him off, for lack of a better term, and roughly, but with strange ease, escaped his son’s hold. “I believe I can….and just did.”
He then walked off, leaving Legolas to stare at the floor. Tauriel, on the other hand, was staring the King down as he walked back to his throne, her fists clenched at her sides. She looked so  mad.
What worried me most about the situation was the boys hadn’t made a single peep the entire time.
In fact, they were perfectly calm.
Perfectly, unsettlingly, calm.

~ ~ ~

The elven guards led us to the prison area.
The boys, no longer blindfolded, were being removed of their bounds. I, on the other hand, was having various spices and leaves thrown at me, mostly finding their way directly into my face.
The ones throwing the contents were assumably speaking in some sort of elvish chant, which thanks to the T.A.R.D.I.S., I could now hear. And it went something like..
“REMOVE THIS UNHOLY MONKEY FROM OUR LAND & CLEANSE US WITH YOUR RAINBOWS”
… there are many different reasonable reasons of why I am certainly sure to have gotten that wrong.
“What’s he jabbing at?” I muttered, whilst giving the chanter a scolding stare.


He threw the stuff at my chest, not meaning to I’m sure, and it fell down my shirt.
There will be payment in blood for this.
“You’re not hearing him?”
Believe me, I didn’t want to admit what I heard.
“It’s merely protection. We can’t be too careful, after all.”
“Oh, no, of course not.” “Who knows what dark abilities you are capable of conjuring…”
“-Which I haven’t used once since I got here.” “…..as I said, it’s merely protection.”
The elves in charge of ‘cleansing’ or rather ‘cursing’ me or whatever finished up and walked away.
It was now that the guards proceeded to check me thoroughly for anything up my sleeves.
So thoroughly, I had to hurt a few of them.
Let’s just say, my searchers ended up with quite a few bumps and bruises.
I think one even ended up getting punched in the nose at one point.
There are certainly pro’s and con’s to getting captured and locked up.

 They wound up taking my Leatherman away and I was sad. I sighed as they, too, finished.
Then was once again approached by yet another elf.
“What now?!” “I’ll be needing to take a trinket to keep, as proof of your execution.”
I gawked. “Are you serious?”
Legolas and Tauriel, I noticed in the corner of my eye, were helplessly standing away from the scene, both obviously ticked to the curb about the elven king’s decision.
That’s when the elf in front of me spotted something he very much liked and he snatched my hand.
I didn’t even get a moment’s warning before he ripped something right from my finger.
He held it up as my arm lifelessly fell back to my side.
"This will do, nicely!” It was my ring.
I gasped, eyes growing wide. “NO!” I lunged in to grab it, but two guards held me back.
“No!! Not that! Please! Anything but that! It’s mine!”
“It was, and now it is mine.” He kissed it and smiled, then began to stroll off, laughing like a jerk.
I couldn’t believe that just happened.
“Wait!!!”
But it was hopeless. He was gone….it  was gone.

I let down my head, absolutely crushed and defeated. The elves let me go and I stood perfectly still.
There was nothing I could do….so I shook it off. I didn’t wanna spend the last moments of my life moping like an idiot. I looked at the others and the realization that they were up to something came back to me.
“Can I bunk with Bane? I don’t trust those other three, but especially  those other three!”
“Oy!” Master protested.
“You’re all untrustworthy!” I called, just seconds before I was pushed sideways into my cell.
~

Well, I could now be called a jailbird. This was an absolute first for me.
Don’t wanna toot my own horn, but I was a pretty good kid. Or, you know, am, or whatever.
I stay out of trouble as much as I can. So to be placed in a cell like a cold hard criminal made me feel cold hard guilt. All I could do, after giving the cell door a good hour’s worth of tugs, pounds, slams, insults and banging-of-the-heads, was proceed to sit down and feel sorry for myself in my pitiful solitude.
“ow…” I muttered, holding on to my head. The headache was back and with a vengeance.
Eventually, the rest of the symptoms returned, as well.
what the fraggle.
Well…the first hours of being in a fictional world were going pretty well.
And now I was gonna be executed. Fabulous. That  was short-lived.
That wasn’t even on the first ten of my places-to-go list, Middle Earth.
There were a million and one people and locations I wished to see.
Now it looked like that wasn’t gonna happen.
You know how people start missing loved ones and regretting things in life on death row?
Well, I was scolding myself for leaving my baby beetle in the parking lot.
Poor beetle. I hoped someone decent enough stole him.


I sat there in silence, or as much silence as one can have with a waterfall blasting in the background, when a voice interrupted my boring thoughts.
“What kind of music do you like, daaarrrling?”
…..Jim…..It was Jim..in case you didn’t notice.
I lifted my head up. “What?”
“I just thought I’d get to know you a little before you were executed.”
I blinked, staring at the wall, for that was all I could do. “…..Jim, we’re being executed together.”
“You love pop, wasn’t it?” “Oh dear god, no!” “Then?”
I made a grumpy expression, one that he could not see thankfully, cuz I could tell it was very ugly.
And I let my head flop against the wall as I rested sideways atop the stone seat, in my little crammed-space corner.


“I guess I’m a rock lover. But honestly, I just love whatever pleases the ear. Kinda like how I am with movies and junk.” I shrugged. “So…no real genre, really.”
“You’re very pretty, y’know.” “Excuse me?!” “Like a little pretty rose in a little pretty garden of weeds.”
That high-pitched Irish voice he was doing was agonizing, and he really needed to continue it, cuz it was seriously attractive in a very creepy way.
“I am no weed, thank goodness.” Well, that made no sense.
“I’m definitely a rose with thorns…I mean all roses have thorns, it’s just—ugh, bleh.”
“Death row jitters, I get those.” “I’m so confused.” “I’m always confused.”
“Honey, correction, you’re always creepy. Dang auto correct.”
“Do you have a boyfriend?” “WOW, personal much?!”
“If you do, I can kill him for you..” “…….and thankfully, I do not have a boyfriend.”
“♪ More for me! ♪” “♪ None for you! ♪” There goes that high-pitched voice again.
“Soooo….. how many kids you want?”
“..100.”
“You look 12 or so.”
“Thanks, I’m actually turning 57 next month.”
“Do you like apples?”
“This is the worst date ever.”
“How about balloons?”
“Why can’t I be executed now?”
“Are you afraid of clowns?”
“Bane!”
“How about potatoes?”
“What’s going on with the others?”
Yes, I was changing the subject as quickly as possible.
I turned in my stone seat, despite it not mattering at all. “Bane, are you there?”
“So, you like guys with masks?”
“No, I like loyalty. Bane!” “Yes, miss Demens?”
“Miss  Demens?” Joker just had to.

“That’s a lot of loyalty for a simple crumpled down mercenary.”
“And no, Jim, I’m not afraid  of clowns, I hate  them. It’s not a phobia when you simply don’t like something, there’s a difference.” “…I take it that was directed at me.”
I rose my eyebrows with sassiness. “It could’ve been, perhaps.”
“But, gee, I thought we were the best of pals.” “Until you lot tried to ditch me, we were.”
“….We were coming back!” “Oh no, Jim, you keep your mouth SHUT!”
“May I have a moment of input?” “No.” “Push off!” “Go ahead, old boy.”
I felt judgmental gazes burn into me through the stone walls.

“Miss Demens, you have knowledge of this place…is there any way out of these cells and a safe route out of the palace?” “Unfortunately, without the key, we’re doomed.”

I went over to the cell door and held on to the bars, pointing at nothing.
“With the key, we could’ve made our way to the barrel room and left out of here via the waterway that leads to Laketown.” “Laketown?” “It has lots of people.” “I see.”
“And then we would’ve backtracked and then….well, skip that part.” “What?”
“You guys lost the T.A.R.D.I.S.” “We did not!” Jim protested.
I stifled a chuckle. “Then where is it?” “. . . .” “Uh huh.” “The Master would know.”
“Where is  old blondy, anyway?” “Bet he’s sleeping.” “Or dead.”
My heart leaped. “He better not be! He controls the T.A.R.D.I.S. stuff!”
“Always a privilege to hear such concern  from my queen for my well-being..”

I smiled. “You’ve been holding out on us, Mr. Saxon.” “I told you not to-“
“Call you Harry, as I remember, which I didn’t.” He kept quiet.
“Well, I can’t go around calling you Master all the time as if you meant anything to me, can I?”
I wiggled my eyebrows a bit. “Besides…I’m a queen. I’ll call you whatever I wish!”
“Ooohhh.” “Burn.” “Oh, you two shut up.” Master snipped.
I stifled another chuckle.
“I just love them domestics.” “Hey now, we aren’t having a-“
“-But Sar and I do it better.” “..I can’t keep up with you.”
I tapped the bars as I leaned against them. “I just realized we have the exact number of companions as there are in the Wizard of OZ. Jim, you can be Todo.”
“….She just called you a dog.” “Double burn.”
Jim kept quiet.
I snickered. “Still confused on the exact roles of the Master and Joker...which one is Scarecrow and which one is the Cowardly Lion? Bane is undoubtedly the Tinman.”
“Funny, Sarah, I thought YOU’D be the lion, since you ran away from the spider!”
“Um, excuse me? Who braved the same spider, after successfully outwitting AND losing it, while  risking the wrath of the forest, just  to come back and save your sorry butts?”
Quiet again.
“……Bane is a kiss-up.” “So are you.” “..I flirt with you.” “You flirt with everything.”
“OOOOH!!!” “Could you stop doing that?!” Master retorted.
“Make me.” “Believe me, I will.” “He will! He’s got electric hands!”
“How ‘bout a magic trick?” “This is madness.”
“SILENCE!”

I flinched. Heck, we all did.
I peeked at the patrolling guard and made a face. “No one asked you!”
I looked around, bored out of my mind.
“…..Dude, as a matter of fact, this is way too much like the Wizard of OZ - - we crash down into a strange land, me being from another world – we get ganged up on by the local inhabitants and I even get accused of being a witch by a magical blonde figure – you all want something and you tag along with me to get it, and now we’re captured and locked away in a palace, OMG!” I sprung up.
“Quick, give me some water! I need to melt Thranduil!”
With this, the boys chuckled. I joined in. Least we were laughing about something.
“. . . Seriously, though, Sarah…” Master cut in. “I don’t understand why you don’t  have a bloke. You sure have some humor.” “Eh, well…it’s not like I don’t get offers. Guys ask me a lot…I just…chose not to get into that sort’ve thing…to wait.” “But why? You’re young, pretty, smarter than us- -” “Sometimes.”
“All  times.” “-Why not just be with who you please, live in happiness?”
“. . . Well . . I figured I didn’t wanna bother with having a line of baggage chuck full of angry ex’s who would just make my current all jealous-like and cause me problems. I don’t wanna create a life full of regrets just for five short minutes of pleasure. Besides…being single is rather fun. I can flirt with who I want with no judgments.” I smirked.


“You truly are wise beyond your years.” Bane muttered, quietly.
“Making the right decision, really…” Master enlightened. “Love is…poisonous.”
I shrugged. “Not really…only when you pick poorly. To me…love is hard work. It’s not ordinary, so it shouldn’t be treated as such. It’s something that isn’t casual - - it’s more powerful than any other force in this universe. It saves lives, redeems lives, keeps lives going. No matter what anyone or anything does, it can’t die. It’ll outlast everything. People really under the hold of love would give their life for the very person they, themselves, love.” I sighed. “…Like with you guys. I could’ve left you behind and never come back…but I didn’t. And even after you  left me, you  came back.”
“That’s just business.” “It would  be business, if there was money involved.”
I leaned against the wall, arms folded. “Which there isn’t…..and hey, don’t go getting ideas! I’m not a mushy chick. I just know what’s up when it’s up.”
There were a few moments of silence. I wondered if I put the others to sleep with my preachy sermon.
I was talking to villains, what things did I expect?

That’s when Bane chimed in,
“Miss Demens…what was that trinket the elf guard stole from you? The one you were quite distressed over losing?” “Yeah, I’m pretty nosy about it myself.” Joker joked.
“Do tell.” “I’m alllll ears.”
Well…..rude.
I looked down, feeling an abrupt sadness about the subject.
“….My purity ring….my sister gave it to me. Back when I was 9 or 10…I’ve been wearing it ever since. Every single day…and it’s pretty much--- or was --- the only thing I had of my family, since being here…and now it’s gone.”
I rubbed the area it used to be and I sniffed, trying to keep from tearing up like a wuss.
“…I feel weird, not having it on…and sort’ve guilty.”
“Question.” Joker cut in. “What the *beep* is a purity ring?”
“Language.”
He said nothing. I rolled my eyes. “…Basically something you wear until marriage. You know—“
“Ahhhh, I’m getting ya.”
. . . .
This was awkward.

“Where’s the fun in that?!” “All part of the waiting process, boys. You wouldn’t understand.”
“What does one expect from a kid staying grounded in religion since birth..”
I cleared my throat. “Actually. . . I did  have my own time of ‘freedom’.”
“Really?!” “Do tell!” “How did it feel?”
“Heh, I was pretty stupid. Rotten as a rotten little apple. I cursed my head off, got into all sorts of dark, creepy things..befriended all sorts, not a care in the world…”
“And?! Then what happened?!”
“…it changed me. It was consuming me. I was starting to lose the very things that made me me. All the good things. I lost my charm, my happiness, my child-like personality. I was losing myself and the people around me. Crying every night, hating myself. . until one day, I finally cracked. I had enough. Changed things around. Went back to being…me.” I tapped the bars once more.
“It was him. He brought me back…and he’s as real as you guys are…without him…I don’t know what would’ve happened.”
“Wow..that’s some story.”
“Yeah…and as you can imagine, one I don’t tell to too many people. Not unless they ask or really need to know… but… I’m not ashamed of it. It’s part of me. It’s helped make me who I am today. And unlike then, I’m actually a little proud of who I’ve become. Not that I care for me…I just at least made the right choice.”

The air grew quiet and awkward again and I wished someone would say something.
“….Sarah?” I perked up. “Yes, Jim?”
“…Do you believe if you  could come back…anyone could?”
I paused for a moment, staring at the floor. Didn’t expect such a sincere question would come from him, of all people. “Honestly…not everyone. There are some things you just can’t come back from. . . not everyone can be saved. I mean, yeah, I fully believe in second chances…but to an extent.”
He went quiet again and this made me uncomfortable.
In this particular circumstance, I didn’t want to be the last one speaking.
It’s like one posting on social media to 3 million people and not one likes or comments & you feel pointless. The struggle is real.
With nothing further to do or say, I retreated back to my corner and curled up into a little ball atop the stone seat. My head hurt again, so holding it was mandatory.
Sleeping was always a great thing to do while on death row.
NOT.
I only had two options; mope like a wimp or pray.
What else could I do? There was nothing else to say or feel.
So I began to quietly pray to myself. Most of it I don’t even remember. It was more like tired babbles.
I caught myself dozing off a few times. . then slowly, my eyes started to defeatedly close.
My vision switched from staring at a plain, ugly stone wall, to inky, empty blackness . . .



. . . . . . . .
“Lady Sarah. . . . . .“
“Lady Sarah. . . . . .“
“Lady Sarah!”
I shivered awake.
My eyes widened as they tried to adjust back to reality from a dreamless sleep.
It was so chilly and damp, I wanted to cry.
How I wished to be back in my comfortable blanketed bed, not  in danger for two seconds.
Not that I mind cold and danger, but there are certain needs and privileges when you wake.
Plus I much prefer to face danger with my own free will, rather than to be placed in a cage like a rat, waiting to be exterminated.
My head and the rest of me felt better, hallelujah, but I knew it would eventually be back.
I looked behind me, still drowsy, to a blurry face hovering on the other side of the bars.
Oh, yeah. I was gonna be executed. Joy.
“Does it HAVE to be now?! Sheesh!” “Please wake up!”
“Least gimme five more minutes, ugh!” “No, no, please, you don’t understand! You must hurry!”
I whipped my body half way, staring alertly.
That’s when it occurred to me what was going on and I leaped to my feet, fully awake.
“Legolas! What are you doing?!”
He looked to the side, then back at me, talking close to the bars.
“Correcting my father’s mistake.”
It was here I heard the sweet jingle of something that sounded similar to keys.
I hurried to the door and grabbed the bars. “But—but if your dad finds out, he’ll—“
“Never mind him, Sarah..” I looked and spotted Tauriel come around next to him.
She held onto a bar, tightly, slightly smiling. “This  is the right thing to do.”

Within seconds, the door was swung open. And ahoy, sweet freedom!
Yes, with just Legolas, I MIGHT have thought this to be a trap…but with Tauriel being a part of it, it just wasn’t in her character. She was too honest. These two were legit setting me free.
I dashed out.
“You must make haste,” urged Lego. “There’s no telling how much time we have.”
When I didn’t hear the immediate sound of more doors opening up, I turned around to the cells, where I realized the others were not set free yet.
“I’m not going anywhere, unless you free them, too.”
He gave me a general look of utter shock. “Those villainous brutes?”
“Please, I know what they are—but I’m not gonna leave without them!”
The two looked at one another, as if to consider it.
Didn’t matter, though. I made up my mind.

Luckily, they looked back at me and with an edge of reluctance, nodded their heads.
They proceeded to unlock the doors.

The noise gave alert to the boys, whom had all been sleeping. Master was the first to run to the door (more like confusedly stumble with squinted eyes) and he grabbed the bars.
“What the bloody *beep* are you doing?!”
He actually did look pretty taken back. The others soon came to their doors, as well, and all gave similar expressions. Almost as if they were disappointed with this outcome.
Poor bad guys. No one to kill.
Master looked at me and I did nothing but wink. “They be setting us free, boy-o!”
Jim widened his eyes. “What?! Why?!” He watched Tauriel pass him by.
“That’s the thing about good character. It surprises and pays off for you all at once.”

Once Lego swung open all the doors, the boys cautiously stepping out, I went ahead and waved for them to speed up, even pushing a couple to move things along.
“Hurry, we don’t have much time!” Tauriel urged. She was the first to take the lead.
The boys, still bewildered, obediently followed (probably cuz I kept pushing them from behind).
They kept looking around and then at me, with very much confused expressions on their faces.
I guess this act of good character from the two elves threw the boys and their plans off guard.

They led us beyond the waterfall that was next to our cells and hurriedly sneaked us past the patrolling guards. They obviously didn’t trust their own people to keep a secret such as this.

We abruptly came to a dead end, which made my companions look to one another curiously, but they said nothing. I, of course, watched one too many things that involved there being a secret exit at a suspicious dead end. So it was no surprise when Lego glanced at us shortly before he pounded the wall with his fist and a part of the wall pushed itself backwards in the shape of a door, which swung open, slowly. I was getting goosebumps. An elven prince, his loyal captain of guards, were leading my fictional villain traveling companions and I out of our jail cells through a secret passage to avoid execution.

This was so cool.

“Here are your belongings. Put them on, quickly!”
Tauriel handed the boys their jackets/coats, the key to the T.A.R.D.I.S. and all of Joker’s knives.
I got back my Leatherman. *insert smiley face*
Lego then turned to me and without any warning, flicked something in my direction.
I caught it with both hands and peeked inside, even though I know straight off what that weight and jingly sound would be from anywhere. My ring.
I shot my head up at him. “But how did-“ “We overheard you all talking.”
I rose my eyebrow. “The whole thing?” "The whole thing.”

Tauriel smiled my way, “Through your conversation, it was confirmed to us that you do not mean our people any harm..and that your wrongful execution is most certainly a poor decision.”
“A poor  decision. Poor. Execution is poor. I love this place.”
I slid on my ring after shutting my eyes a bit, holding it tight against my chest, not being able to stop myself from smiling. I looked back at the others, who weren’t paying all too much attention…besides Bane, of course. He gave me a good watch for a moment, as if he were savoring my reaction of getting back what was mine.

Lego left us for a moment, leaving Tauriel to approach the boys, who flinched a little as she popped up right infront of them. “I don’t trust any of you…..but….you’ll have to do.”
She was greeted by a returned Legolas, who handed her a clothy thing, which she in turn handed to the Master, whilst giving him a stern look. “Protect her with your lives.”

He looked a little deterred at first, looking all serious. . . then nodded his head, which lifted my spirits.
He took away the cloth covering the object, and it turned out to be a sword.
The others were handed their own and they all inspected them, with huge grins on their faces
(from what I could tell). Boys and their toys. I couldn’t help but smile.
“The road might be dangerous ahead. Use these for protection.”
Legolas then handed me a sword of my own . . . . or, you know, two.
“TWO?!” “Of course! You and I might be warriors, but our bodies disagree with us.”
Tauriel then snuck me a dagger that I hastily tucked away inside my boot.
“..So we need a little something more, yes?”
She grinned. “Besides…one for each hand!”
I snickered and inspected them.
They were so sparkly and flawless, one might assume they were brand new.

“How are you feeling?” “I’m fine right now. I think I slept away whatever was bothering me.”
“Well…if and when it starts to effect you again—“
She handed me a clear bottle with a greenish elixir-looking liquid inside that almost glowed.
I eyed it as I handled it, carefully.
“—Drink this as soon as it starts and you will be cured. This can also heal any other injuries or illnesses that you might receive. Use it well and wisely.”
I nodded my head in agreement. “Thanks..”
She pointed to the door. “Take this passage. . . follow the stream straight from here. It is low and can be crossed, leading into a river, which in turn leads you into Laketown. You must stay there where it’s safe; no harm will come to you, I assure you.”
“That’s dandy and all, but we’re not  staying.” Joker remarked.
“You’re off to find your Targus?” Legolas questioned.
Master rose his finger up to correct him. “It’s T.A.R.D.I.S., mate.”
“Yes. Hopefully it’ll be easy enough to repair so we can get back..well, wherever it is we’re going next.”
“The best of wishes to you,” said Tauriel as she went to check and see if the coast was clear.
“Listening to you, Lady Demens, I truly believe you coming here was no accident. There is a reason you were brought to us…as if it were an act of fate. You are meant for many great things. . .”
She looked at me and smiled. “I can feel it.”
I gulped. Yeah, like being a BIG FAT CHEATING LIAR- - who would most likely die for her crimes.

“Hurry, you need to go!” Legolas rushed us, grabbing me by the arm and shooing us through the exit.
“You guys are gonna get creamed for this; come with us!”
“We can not!” Tauriel exclaimed. “Do not worry about us, worry about yourselves!” Lego urged.
I felt terrible for doing so, but I had to leave them. I had no other choice.

 I nodded, giving out a fingered salute, “Thanks, you two. I dunno how I’ll ever be able to repay you.”
I went to turn, when,
“Lady Demens!”
I stopped and looked behind me.
Lego bowed his head at me. “. . . . I am sorry . . . for all the trouble I caused you.”
I smirked, trying not to hold grudges. “You’re a prince, Lego. You’re supposed to be a royal pain.”

With that, I spun on my heels and dashed through the pathway alongside the boys,
the passage door closing behind us.
“That joke  was royally painful..”
“Please! The things you  come up with aren’t exactly masterpieces!”
I gave it a minute to register, when I realized,
“WAIT A MINUTE, you MADE that joke when we GOT here!”

~ ~ ~

It wasn’t long before we were finally back outside.
I felt like I could breathe again as we entered the cool, breezy comfort of the great outdoors.
We paused and looked around. So…which way did we go?
There was forest from all sides…always a thrill, especially when trying to find a single blue box smack dab in a random spot in a freaking forest that goES FOR MILES!!

I tossed my arms up in the air. “Well, Harold, where the bloody heck is the porta-potty?!”
“The T.A.R.D.I.S. is….well….” “WHERE, man?!”
He looked at me, cautiously. “…I don’t know.”
My already big eyes grew larger than saucers. “You don’t KNOW?!”
“I programmed it to go somewhere safe, so those bloody elves couldn’t use their magic to get inside,
but I don’t know where it went—I was in a hurry!”
“YOU IMBECILE.” I slapped my forehead, wanting to just drop down and die.
“Well that’s lovely, Harry, real lovely - - now WE  CAN’T BLOODY GET INSIDE, CUZ WE  DON’T BLOODY  KNOW WHERE IT BLOODY  IS!”
“Watch your tongue, girl!”
“Bloody, bloody, bloody!” I kicked dust, angrily.

What an infuriating spaceman he was!

“So there’s absolutely  no way we can track it?!”
“None at all.” “KILL ME NOW.”
I wondered if murder was technically still against the law.
“So what now?” Joker muttered, sitting down against the short wall of the stone bridge.
Bane leaned against the wall and held his head, while Jim and Master wandered about the walkway.
I, meanwhile, had fallen down to my knees in despair.
“We stay and we perish! We might as well just go back inside and let them proceed to execute us!”
“I do  hope you’re joking..” grumbled Jim.
I shot him a narrowed-eyed glance. “Of course I’m joking, you dope.”
I rose up and stressfully rubbed my temple in thought, beginning to pace.
“Ok…ok….…..I think our best bet is to do as Tauriel said and follow the stream to Laketown. We do that, we’ll be able to stay in town, then maybe start combing the area and what not from there..”
I looked at the others. “I mean, after all, it would be going to a safe place, right? That’s what you told it, Master..” He nodded. “Aye, I did.”
“So we’re pit-stopping at Watertown, after all..” Joker remarked.
I chuckled….Watertown.

“Well, in that case, we need to skedaddle our way to the water!”
“So helpful of those bloody elves to point us in the right direction…” groaned Jim.
“Quit whining, lucky charms. We got this.”
“Did you just-“ “Yes, I did.”
Jim gave me a disapproving glare.
I ignored him, and ran ahead of the four.
They all readied themselves to follow me, Jim and Master stumbling my way, when I came to a halt.

I noticed in the corner of my eye a small trickle and looked towards a thin row of water flowing down deep into the forest, going on and on, the end out of sight.
A plan came into play.

I couldn’t whistle, yelling would be silly, clapping and snapping my fingers would be pointless.
I turned to the ground and picked up a thick piece of wood I could handle easily enough.
“So you plan to escape Thranduil’s clutches….with a stick?”
“Uhhhhh….” Joker peeked from behind Bane. “..didn’t you just get, like…two  swords?”
Yet again, I ignored my villainous companions.
With that, I swung the wood and gave a nearby tree (out of hundreds) a good, hard knock.
That sucked.
The noise barely traveled past 20 feet. I did it again. Same result.
I backed off and glared at the others, who in turn were looking questionably at one another.
I growled to myself and threw the wood away from me.
Putting my hands on my hips, huffing and puffing, I eyed around me, trying to come up with a plan fast.
“What are you doing?”
“I do agree..” Bane cut in. “We really must leave this place at once before the guards find our location.”
“Breathing barrier has a point.”

Ignoring them apparently crept its way into becoming a hobby of mine.
I spotted it. Our ticket out of there.
I ran over to the same tree and elevated myself up, then gently, for it was delicate, plucked at a piece of spider web, that covered all over the roof tops of the trees.
I didn’t bother with seeing what the others were doing, they wouldn’t understand.
I plucked once more and watched as the vibrations traveled all the way down the webbing and was sent out of sight.

For some reason, the boys began to bicker behind me and the air became consumed by confusion.
I couldn’t intervene. I had to hurry.
I did it a third and final time, silently praying it would work.
At last, something caught the corner of my eye and I looked to see eye shine far in the distance.
I smirked, jumped down and wiggled my finger for the owner of the eye shine to get closer.
Like clockwork, it obeyed my command and began to approach me from within the web.

It crawled all the way until it was directly above me, the boys meanwhile being completely oblivious, and it dangled off just a few feet above my head.
I leaned in and whispered to it.
It giggled, then crawled back up and left the scene to carry out my order.

I looked to the others, who were still oblivious..until I started to hear distant chatter and scuffling noises, which slowly caught their attention. They stared behind me, with frightened expressions, and began to back away. I looked back myself and what I saw delighted me.
My newly faithful little band of spiders. ♥

I grinned and waved to them—the boys no doubt were thinking the worst of me.
“Have you gone bloody bonkers?!?!” Jim exclaimed. “You’re summoning the exact things that tried to kill us?!” “Well, if you hadn’t have abandoned me, you would’ve known why  and how.”
I really was enjoying shutting him up.

Within seconds, the spiders had arrived.
They climbed their way down to us, making the boys all jump back, one of whom screamed like a girl (looking at you, Jim) as a spider or two snuck up right behind him. The leader of the pack approached me as I stood perfectly still, hands on my hips, and it bowed it’s head.

“My Queen.”

“BLOODY *BEEP*, THE SPIDER IS TALKING.”
“Of course it’s talking, it’s not an a- - - well, it is  an animal, but it’s a smart  one!”
I peeked at the others, then back at the spider, and grinned.
“And they’re our ride out’ve here.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“So when the bloody *beep* were you going to tell us you were a spider queen?!”
I couldn’t hear him so clearly over riding my awesome new pet spider along the webs of the treetops, so I elected to ignore him. Can I just say real quick how freaking amazing it is to ride a giant spider, cuz like, wow? Yeah. But seriously, wow.
Until then, I never had that much fun.

Traveling on spider back was a heck of a lot faster than running or walking the way there.
What would’ve taken us probably an hour took only under 10 minutes.
Walking is so overrated.
“Sarah, I’m talking to you!”
I searched down below, scanning the area for any sign of water or anything.
“SARAH!!”
Still no sign, we continued on.
“SARAH!!!!!”
“What?!”
“THANK you! Now, I want you to tell me what in the—“
“I see the stream!”
I pat my spider on the back. “You can land us here!”
My spider complied and trilled to the others- they all trilled in response and like a flock of birds, coordinated together their way down. Well….yeah. We had been right above the stream, but they kind’ve brought us quite a ways back. Not over the stream or right before it, just…back. . . . .Oh, well. Exercise.


The horde of arachnids brought us back to ground level, stringing all the way until their front legs touched the bottom, then they snipped the line and we all landed with a bit of a thud.
Here is where we dismounted and huddled back into a group, me in the front.
My spider faced me and I nodded, gratefully.
“Thank you. I owe you guys one.”

“Whatever you command, my Queen. So it shall be done.”

Joker nodded at the lot, pointing.
“You boys turned out to be pretty nifty! I say keep them close, Demens.”
“You guys have your own free will. Come and go as you please. I’ll try to keep any requests I have..minimal.” I then cocked my head to the side and gave a little smirk.
"And might I suggest a new diet…there are plenty of orcs down there where you came from…Dol Guldur? And I hear they taste pretty good. Lots of juice. Plenty of them, too, so…yeah.”
My smirk turned into a mischievous grin.

The spiders all giggled. Mine started to back away.

“Thank you, my Queen…until next time, your Excellency.”
“QUEEN!”
“EXCELLENCE!”
“SPIDER LOVER!”
 “FRIEND OF SPIDERS!”
“DELICACY!”

“Thaaaatttt’s creepy.” Jim sung as they crawled away into disappearance.
I turned to him, raising an eyebrow, then started towards the stream.
“You’re one to talk.”

~

We made our way to our previously visited location.
The scenery was rather beautiful from afar, but the speed of the water sounded a little too…..fast.
“There it is!” Master called and ran forward. But then he stopped right in front of it, staring below.
We ran to catch up to him, but ultimately wound up doing exactly the same.
My eyes grew.
The water wasn’t just going fast, it was rushing like a flood.
And it really wasn’t a stream now, it was a river on a rampage.
There were also large, sharp-looking rocks scattered about the pathway.
And worse…there was no way across. I gulped.
“…Uhh…hate to be the essence of negativity here….” Joker dared.
He looked to the rest of us. “..But I think we can’t cross.”
We all gave him judgmental glances.

We looked away and tried to find some kind of way out of this.
“There has to be another way…another stream to follow..”
“Another stream, indeed. But that’s assuming we even find a way across….without  dying.”
Master gestured at the water. “--Since this stream isn’t people-friendly at all.”

We were stuck and couldn’t do anything more except look around.
That’s when I spotted something a way’s away. I pointed, “Guys, over there!”
They turned their attention to it.
It was a giant leafless tree, laying across the stream, its middle partially broken and touching the water.
Bane nodded at the idea. “It is possible.”
“Looks suicidal.”
I looked back at Jim, with a judging smirk placed on my face to make him feel stupid.
You know…the ‘are-you-serious right now’ and sarcastic look I’m sure you’ve given someone by now in your life. “It’s safe.”
I turned my head and pat Bane on the shoulder.
“Well then, let’s hop to it, boys. The T.A.R.D.I.S. is waiting.”


I ran toward the tree with the boys in tow, the size of it growing the closer I got.
And well, it was indeed looking to be more and more dangerous. I stumbled in front of it.
I looked down at the water and was wondering just why I  had to be the one to have these ideas.

The boys all gathered around me and looked to the path in front of us.
“This is sooo unsmart.” “I’m gonna throw up.” “…I might join you.”
Bane said nothing, only stood beside me, staring the tree down like it was a King Cobra.
“I’ll go first.” “Nope! Ladies first.” “Demens, you can’t be.”
“Me.” “It is unwise.” “Doesn’t matter which one goes first, Bane.” I told him as I glared.
“Any one of us could fall and it would still be the same outcome…not good.”
I laid a hand on the pointy bottom of the tree, its roots all covered in dirt and moss.
“I’m going first…I’m the smallest and lightest, making for a great guinea pig.”
“But if you—“ “Come now, don’t start sounding all concerned for my well-being all of the sudden, Harry boy.” I looked over at him. “Just stay back and let your queen handle it.”
I gave a wink and without any words, jumped up and started to cross.
Number one is to look straight up when crossing something. Number two is to hold your arms out.
I don’t know why, just do them both.


“- - - You know one of the many reasons why I love spiders above other bugs? There’re lots more boys! They’re not in large colonies of girls like ants and bees and what not…makes me happy since I kind’ve hate my own gender.” I stumbled a little, but quickly regained my balance.
I was nearing the middle.
“- - That’s funny.” Joker let out. “I thought chicks loved one another.”
“Yeah, well, not me. . . I’ve had enough bad experiences with them not to like them. . . they’re always stabbing me in the back. . . not all, but most. . . lost so many friends because of it. . . but ya know how many guy friends I’ve lost? Not one! . . . Me and the boys. . .we get along better. . .”
I stumbled again and almost slipped.
I lost my breath at this point and my eyes enlarged as I got back my balance.
I was now right at the middle, where the partially broken parts of the tree were touching the water.
My breathing became shaky as I froze in place.
The water was going incredibly fast, if not faster than before.
“The stream’s picking up speed!” Master called.
“You must be more careful, Miss Demens!” Bane added.
“Hang in there, darling!” I wanted to punch Jim.
I had to pull it together. I took a deep, shaky breath, then gulped and brought my unstable leg up to cross the open area. I succeeded and touched the other side.


Next I sucked up my breath and brought the other leg in - -
“Please don’t…” I said to myself.
….but you guys already know my luck.
Just as I had my other leg in…the tree snapped.
The already broken piece crumbled beneath me and I fell right in, screaming.
The boys all screamed after me, but just as they begun, my hearing and their voices were cut short and distorted, completely stifled as my body sunk into the water faster than you can blink.
And the water can only be described in one word…ice.
The impact felt like I was getting hit with a million hammers.
I couldn’t breathe as water got sucked up into my ears, nose, mouth and into my lungs and I was screaming whilst thrashing around.
I did everything I could to kick to the surface, and it was enough.
My head popped back up and I gasped for air like a fish.
I swung my head to the others, unable to see clearly, all of my body’s feeling completely shut off.
They were calling after me, but I couldn’t hear them, nor the sound of the rushing water.
Just the ringing in my ears.
But the weird part was, I was facing them from the opposite – complete opposite – direction.
The water had freaking changed course.
I officially hated this forest.


Soundless, the boys desperately called out to me as they became more and more distant, scattering in my direction, but I was being carried further and further away.
Sooner than expected, I went back under, having absolute no control over my body.
It carried me to God knows where.
I was helpless.
And eventually, I lost air.
And the nightmare violently came to a sudden close as I let my head back and all activity in everything ceased, as it became too difficult to even keep my eyes open.
Was this the end?
- - - to be continued - - -