Outside the Domain

Spring Break

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 03:47:51 GMT

My day:
9:00. Wake up when Mom calls. Take shower.
9:40. Go downstairs to let parents in. Get dressed.
10-something. Pack and leave the dorm.
11 or so. Get home. Greet the dogs. Dusty's not doing well. Hasn't been for a long time. T-Bone has worms. I hate being slightly germ-phobic. Take a long nap while they walk.
2:00. Mom wakes me up. They're headed to the Vet to pick up meds, and to put Dusty to sleep. Yeah, I'm coming with.
2:35. Get there, meet all the other patients. A poodle that got in a fight with a neighbor, a ShieTsu (?) with an ear infection, an airdale with a bleeding paw. Camaraderie.
around 3: Brought to room. They take her out to put an IV in her. We wait. When she comes back, spend some time with her. When she was finally injected, it was... she fell fast. We thank the doctors and leave.
I forget what time. We pick up some food at the market. Head home. I curl up on the couch; have weird dreams about Laurel and Hardy, trick houses, and rope ladders. All in all, very creepy.
8-something. Mom wakes me for dinner. We watch a movie during it. I get back on the computer.

It... either hasn't sunk in yet, or I'm just not... I feel like I could have done more, or comforted her more, or been a better judge of how well she was actually doing. Dusty couldn't take stairs, and even her walks, the highlight of her day, were getting too difficult for her, from what I hear. When she wasn't doped into a stupor, she was in pain. It's amazing, in a good way, that she made it this long, but it was probably time.
- We adopted her and Baby from HART in 2000. She'd apparently been rescued by Baby's family from a kennel as the "scrawny, dirty, dusty dog." She and Baby were inseparable, until Baby died.
- She had an incredibly soft coat. We thought she was a German Shepherd/Border Collie, though we eventually found pictures of a Finnish Herder that looked just like her.
- T-Bone was not the ideal companion for her. And I'm probably going to regret that for a long, long time. When we first got him, she could stand up to his bullying, even gave him a scar at one point. But as she got older... I wish I'd done something to make things easier for her.
- She and Baby didn't much like the pet rats. Found them interesting, though. The day we brought Cassie home from surgery and left her in the little carrying cage, we left for dinner. We came back to trash strewn all over the kitchen (Dusty was the reason we got a hefty wooden case for the trash bucket), and Cassie's cage knocked down and open. Claw marks all over the wooden desks and cabinets. We eventually found poor Cassie hiding behind Dad's bureau. We still refer to it as "The Night of the Bad Dogs."
- I remember coming home from school and letting Dusty into the backyard, and she would just stand there, staring at me. Didn't understand it, at least not until a few years later when we learned that dogs could get Alzheimer's. Strangely, those times in the backyard kinda felt like special moments.
- Dusty loved her walks. We used to call her and Baby "the Yanker and the Anchor." When she walked, her back legs moved so fast, and kinda criss-crossed in front of each other. It was always a wonder she didn't trip herself up.
- We used to call her Dusty Spooky Eyes.

It's late, and I should get going. Hope everyone's doing well, and I will talk later. Hopefully the gap will be short. Tah, ありがとう.

While I'm here: http://www.unicreatures.com/profile.php?id=11364

From where I'm standing, is it really almost January?

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 21:45:04 GMT

I get to the public library, go through my Friends List for the first time in half a week, then realize I’ve got ten minutes before they kick me off and I’ll be without internet for the rest of the year O_O. Oh, and the next two days or so ^_^;

So, Happy New Year, everyone! Hope it’s going well for all of you. To update, I’m spending this week in Key Largo on a scuba-diving trip. *ahem* BWEEE.
I can’t believe I’m ending my year like this. It’s fantastic! Lovely weather, beautiful scenery, nice people, fun place, good amount to do (if you have a car or can mooch effectively). I'm also writing a bit, when and where I can. Only downside is that the library is my only net access. Woe. *eyeroll* ~~Maybe it’s a sign of my lack of life that I crave constant Internet.~~
But honestly, the dives are amazing. We’ve gone to a couple reefs, a shipwreck, seen porcupine fish, lobster, someone saw an octopus, there are fish everywhere, it’s beautiful. And my underwater camera WORKS. SO. HAPPY. I’ve taken over 500 pictures so far, and it’s only been 4 days. As soon as I sort through them, I’ll figure out how to post them here; I’ll show you the good ones.
We’re doing a night dive tomorrow, and a deep dive (80-100 feet) on Friday. Then on Saturday we head back to the cold and frigid north :P Not complaining though, I’m looking forward to coming home. But I’m so glad I came here.
I'll say more about it later ^_^

It’s been an interesting year. I survived as a freshman in college. Came home to Massachusetts. Got into and lost sleep over the Naruto fandom, among others. Started learning Japanese. Made some of the best friends I’ve ever had. Went to my first cons. We elected the first black President of the US. I took up scuba-diving. Traveled to places I never had before. And man, much more happened than I can remember right now. If I can, I’ll do a more comprehensive list, maybe like the memes I’ve been seeing on others’ journals lately.
Wow, it’s been way longer than 10 minutes ^_^ Anyway, Happy New Year guys! Love you all, and see you in 2009!

I've been saying "good night and good luck" a lot lately.

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 07:44:50 GMT

So I'm home and the semester is over. Though I probably shouldn't post this until I'm done with the paper ~~Ohhhhh paper~~, but I figured I should get this down while I could.

It's been three semesters I've spent at Smith, and only now do I understand why all the upperclassmen hated Finals week. I don't know if I branched out too far with the courses this semester or just general increase in difficulty sophomore year or what, but last year was not nearly as stressful as this.
This intro biology knocked me on my ass, and I have no idea what grade I'll get out of it. The final didn't make me cry, but... Right now I hope I pass, period.
And history... the sheer amount of reading and research is something I might learn to handle if I were sufficiently motivated, but I'm not. Not sure about that grade, either. I'll tell you how the paper goes.
~~Japanese is Japanese, and the least of my problems. Kinda amazing.~~
Bottom line is, I'm not going to pursue a major in either of those fields. I'm not even sure how much information I'll be able to take away from these courses.
So on that note, let me say what I have learned from this semester.

Things to take away from this:
1) If the teacher is using a powerpoint to accompany the lecture, I should take notes on the copy on moodle, or just on the computer. Typing. Works. Stop Forgetting This.
2) I should use that cheap little voice recorder to record the lecture if the teacher goes too fast, and actually listen to the recording to supplement my notes.
3) Writing is fun. I can't forget this when there's a paper to work on. If I meet it head-on, and it could turn out fantastic.
4) For the love of sleep, I must get the hell off Livejournal. At least I shouldn't leave it open and refresh the F-list every hour.
5) Going to bed at 5 and waking up at noon doesn't count as a decent night's sleep. Not when my "days" are now technically at night.
6) Prioritizing my free-time activities is a good idea. Decide what's worth spending time on: "Shall we actually write a background story for our cool new character, or flounce around on LJ? Your call."
7) I am not cut out for high-level biology. The part of me that wanted to be a vet is sad, but this is probably better. Sigh.

I also learned this week that my kitchen is the freaking matrix with its lack of spoons, but that's not really connected. On the other hand, that study break was great. She is a good kid.

The list is pretty complete. And now I should probably head out. Talk later, all ^_^ And Happy Holidays!

Quick thing. And NaNo News

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 06:58:02 GMT

Gah, I should work. This is the sound that will echo through my head for the next few nights.
Oh did my Nano go strangely this year. 21,15~ words, about the same I got on my first attempt in 2006. Not so bad, ne? Not great, but considering the workload this semester, I count it a success. And I had fun.
The strange thing was more how many stories I had bopping around that file. A couple excerpts from reviews and other projects I was working on aside, I had a total of five different stories I was working on at the same time. Is that a failure or just too-frequent inspiration?

The initial project was my little baby from about last April. Naruto fandom AU, Itachi-centric, really fun, if difficult (I think part of the problem is that the part that I most want to work on takes place 6 years down the road. Sigh). In this story, Haku and Zabuza have a fairly significant role, and that led me to explore the nature of their relationship a little. And so I ended up dreaming up a smutty oneshot that still baffles me and makes me giggle. It's about half-way done now, but before I even put finger to keyboard on that idea, my brain was literally hijacked by a bunny that I put on the back burner, god, months ago, who suddenly demanded that I stop ignoring it. The premise was another Naruto AU, beginning during the Zabuza saga. It's essentially a branch-off inspired by my friend, commenting on how she would have been much more impressed with the canon had Kishimoto knocked off Naruto's teammate within the first 30 chapters. So it explores how the story would have gone had Sasuke been killed by Haku. All the present canon concepts are there, it just explores how the road would have diverted.
And then, two more bunnies came hopping along, courtesy of LJ. WTF self. WTF.
During a lull at one point (a lull in writing NaNoWriMo? Blasphemy!) I was browsing Ronsard's ficlets and stumbled upon Part of Your World. And suddenly I'm planning out the corresponding characters and their bios, having fun with Hidan as the frogman who terrorizes the interns and Deidara the score composer sniping at Sasori the screen editor, and researching bull sharks. Eventually I'll figure out exactly what I want to do with this ~~and maybe get Ronsard's opinion on it ><;~~. Until then, it's for my own amusement only.
The other bunny came up in a conversation I had in badlubeday. A_mael commented on my icon of Kyou and Yuki, we started talking about how they could ever get together... and now I'm writing a Fruits Basket AU. It's fun, angsty, but I find myself hitting walls when I try to make it a longer story. I'll keep working on it, but I'm also tempted to just trim the later scenes and focus all the introspection and fucked-up aspects into one single sex-scene oneshot. Time will tell. In the meantime, I have to reread certain points of the canon.

Somewhere during all that, this excerpt came at me from out of nowhere:
"How can I live and believe in the good in this world," her voice cracked over a stifled sob, "when this exists?" Her arms suddenly gave way, falling to the sides like sodden rags, revealing the object she clutched. A head. The head of a child. And the body was near - was it attached? I couldn't tell, from what had been done to it. I understood the bile she was forcing to stay down.
"What do I do now?" I heard her murmur. "What...?" Her wings had wilted, I could see. Wilted, possibly died. Too soon to be sure. "Please..."
Should I have answered? Mere seconds of agony forced her head up, and her eyes blazed with a righteous, furious, half-crazed light I had never seen before. "Tell me!"
Would that I scoffed. I was the wrong person to ask, and she knew that better than I. Better than anyone. What did she think I would say?
...Unless, that was what she wanted.
"Well." Suddenly my role fit her vision. And that was all it took. She waited on my answer with bated breath. I waited to see if she'd flinch. Shudder. Show remorse, guilt, anguish, loss.
It was all there, and yet not in that blameless face.
"You are an optimistic creature," I said. I may have accused her, I may have been gloating. How high a fall it was. "But," I leaned in, "you are also a just creature. And what would you say justice demands of you now?"
Her dawning comprehension sent a shiver down my spine.

O_O?

How like me to take anything I can get, inspiration-wise ^_^ Well, it worked out. I'm happy with this. This year's attempt was good.
I'm proud.
And now I must work again, because if I don't I'm so fucked.

Hahhhh - I feel better.

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 20:18:53 GMT

It was snowing about two hours ago. Just a few little flakes, but definitely the first noticeable snow of the season. Winter's here, kiddies.
In other news I still haven't met my sleep quota - think I'm getting into a bad habit. But I'm gonna try to hit the sack early tonight; I don't have to get up early like I usually do.
And Friday's my birthday. Woo. More like Wow. Not that I didn't think I would make it this far, but being two decades old is still kinda hard to believe. The fact that I understand what mabaliciousness says about feeling her maturity regressing doesn't help much. Maybe we're just more relaxed now? I wanna be optimistic.
On the upside, got the package from Arin ~~I love you so much thank you tell me what to get you in return!!~~ and now I'm debating whether I should open it now or wait until the day. I don't usually, but I feel like I should savor this.
Oh, joined the community fanficrants last night - it has already sucked up a few hours of my life. Woo hoo. It's honesty really fun to bounce opinions off other people, or just observing. That was what appealed to me about TV Tropes. Also, ranting humor is cathartic.
About the last post - thanks, everyone. It was a bad moment, and I'm sorry to have pitched that rage on your unsuspecting selves ^^; Thanks for the support.
I think that's about it for now. Wait, registered for classes this morning:
1) Japanese 221 - of course.
2) Writing for the Theatre - if I get his permission after submitting the writing sample. Think I can afford to be optimistic?
3) BIO 154. Woot.
4) A Film Studies course on Screwball Comedy - oh am I gonna have fun with that.

Now my only worries are Study Abroad Applications, this new project BIO 152 just sprung on us, the writing sample (shall I post it here? I'm kinda proud), and various homeworks. Wish me luck!

Did I fucking do something here?

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 06:48:51 GMT

ETA:
Whether I have a right to be or not, I'm fucking pissed.
Now, I don't think the parties involved actually read this (if they do, feel free to talk to me reasonably ~~it won't end well because I can't say what I mean for shit, but I appreciate it anyway~~), but to clear first, here are factors to consider:
1) I have not had a decent meal all fucking day. A slice of pizza does not count.
2) for the past week I have functioned on at most 5-6 hours of sleep a night.
3) It is my monthly time.
4) School has me stressed to no end with classes and Study Abroad shit.
So.
Day starts nicely. I talk to my friend in Japan ~~times like this I miss her so much it's not even funny.~~ Then I write and email in the paper I was too brain-dead to finish Friday. Unfortunately, that combined with my shower makes me late for the bus to get to the mall for my weekly game. I am late, I have to wait for about an hour because everyone's paired up in one-on-ones. No biggie, I learn how to play Pokemon (guh). Lose both games, but by a small margin. Honestly, it was fun. But there is something seriously wrong with me when it comes to competitive games.
Take the bus home (on time for once yay) and get to Changeling. The night is eventful, things happen, it's fun, but a few things over the course of the game bother me.
1) maybe it was Rozer recuperating from the flashback, maybe it was my chemical balance at the moment, but I got really pissed about the glamour harvest. We went to a bar. Both my companions pick up dates and proceed to get energy off them, then leave, then I'm stuck floundering with the GM as Rozer tries to flirt with some kid and fails miserably ~~because I FORGOT THAT HER PERSUASION SPECIALTY IS FUCKING SEDUCTION WHY DO I NOT THINK THESE THINGS THROUGH~~. It would also have gone a little bit better if the GM had not decreed there was only one decent-looking human in the bar and that one went off with my friend. And deliberately sent some creepy hairy boy my way ~~What the shit? I didn't make a pull on this.~~
At times like these I seriously consider dropping Changeling like a plague-ridden rodent and focusing only on Deadlands. But I can't because I've got people who do depend on Rozer and enjoy my company. Besides, as long as PMS is a factor, I can't make decisions, period.
So Rozer was gloomy for a good portion of the night. Then good stuff happens, the game ends on an interesting note, I'm psyched for the diner so I can get some food finally and then NO ONE CAN GIVE ME A RIDE. So I back out. Fine. Whatever.
"What time's the Campus Cafe close?"
"Eleven-thirty." Over an hour ago.
"Go to town."
SCREW. YOU. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Was he actually not being ironic and snide, because it sure as hell came off that way. And to make matters worse, I probably sounded really sore and now they think the worse of me for this garbage.
So. I walk home. I get to my house. I eat cookies, because that's what's immediately available because I don't have the energy or patience to cook. And I'm out of oatmeal. I can't wake or deal with my roommate, can't go to the living room because they're listening to someone get stabbed gruesomely on the telly. Finally the study's unoccupied after 15-20 minutes. I try for a goddamn half-hour to get an internet connection. No one's online. I do not cry. It is not worth crying over ~~fuck this PMS I KNOW BETTER~~. And I write this. It is stupid and insipid.
I don't have an outlet. I really... I don't. Not that I can think of. I can't rage or cry because people see and I come off the worse for it. If they care. Which they probably don't but I'm paranoid that way.
I know it's a stupid petty kid problem, but I just... sometimes you have to just rant, right? Sorry.

Look it's a dragon. Pet the fucking dragon.

If I weren't so tired, I might be violent...

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:25:11 GMT

The third or fourth night in a row when I haven't gotten more than 5 hours of sleep. I wonder how long I'll go before I start getting ulcers.
I honestly don't have much to say right now, but thought I should still share ~~because that damn dragon egg can't click itself I don't even know why I care~~ what's going on, what I still need to go through, and general mehmph.

I went to my pre-major adviser about course registration for next semester. Overall it went well, but I still feel weary. Nothing is going to get any easier from here, and I still don't know what I want to do. I don't even know if the Film Major's a good idea, it was one of my weaker subjects both past semesters ~~granted I "scraped through" with an A-, but I think my point still stands~~ and I don't even know if that's where my future's taking me. I want a job I can do on my own schedule. I want to write, I want to translate manga, I love film, I suck at analysis, nothing I like is likely to yield a well-paying job unless I get incredibly lucky... And I have slight dreading flashes of ending up like what's-her-name in Outrageous Fortune, who spent years in acting school to end up a sales girl still mostly living off her parents.
Then I get moments where I remember "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)," which is basically "Don't worry be happy for college students." Yeah, the major isn't everything, but it's supposed to be a decent indication of what the hell you want to be, at least a little bit.
If only I were interested in more about Japan than the language. Seriously, with my Study Abroad Plans, the abstract translation dream, and anime love, a Japanese Major would be the simplest thing. I just don't want it.
Yeah, where is the special interest I never ever thought about to sweep me off my feet and show me where my future lies? At this point, it better not do what it did with my Dad and show up second semester senior year. If it does, I shall pitch a bitch fit. I've seen way too many lost opportunities lately.
It's 3:02. That's enough emo.

ETA: My computer sprung an update on me and restarted seconds before I was gonna post. I now have new affection for LJ, which is capable of auto-saving drafts.
Also, my IM group Family has duplicated into a group labeled Orphans. WTF.
It is now 3:23. If I weren't so tired, I would be violent.

Click my egg!

Um.... Yay dragons. And things with little or no point.

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 03:17:00 GMT

I do think this is the shortest time I've had between posts that were not actually related. Huh.
This is gonna be pretty short, since it's spur of the moment, I don't actually have very much to say, and I should be devoting my time to Study Abroad research, emailing a request to my potential major advisor, checking out classes for registration next semester, my NaNoWriMo project (I'm at little less than 4,000 words. *faceplam*), various homeworks, or hell, even catching up on the LARP for tomorrow (in other words, SHOOT ME). So. Yes. Short. Point:

Thanks to my lurking around and not actually watching Askerian's journal, I came across the semi-meme of ~~getting people to click on~~ raising dragon eggs.
Click and help me with mine?

In other news: Election YESSSSSSSS. This is the dawn of a new era, a hopeful one. I do have a more coherent response, and I will post it soon. Poke me if it's not up by Sunday.

I've alive!

Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:44:28 GMT

I won't even bother with the same refrain about how I should stop neglecting my blogs. I must be a lurker by nature, so the occasions when I actually write and post are something of a celebratory occasion.
It's been almost a year. I finished my first year of college. DARK KNIGHT fucking rocked. I started reading the Batman comics. I discovered that being stuck at home does something to me mentally. I visited a friend in Arizona and then New York, and treasured both occasions. Naruto stole my goddamn soul (the canon train-wreck and the fandom bliss). Bunnies bred.
I became a sophomore. I sprained my knee getting into my bunkbed two days before classes. I started drowning in homework. I'm still battling Study Abroad plans. I dropped Philosophy and took up Scuba Diving. I started LARPing Changeling and DeadLands. I have made new friends. I think I am bi.
And now I am starting NaNoWriMo again with no prospect of actually finishing, but with a project that's been strange and dear to my heart since May. Yes, I should go back to the first one, and I do occasionally. But prospects are low ^^; Warui.
And now for a crass crashing reentry into blogdom: a meme.

Taken from ronsard's journal (which I read through entirely in one or two stints. READ HER NARUFICS NOW. Go!) Anyway, figured I should post this soon:

1. Put your music player on shuffle.
2. Press forward for each question.
3. Use the song title as the answer to the question even if it doesn't make sense. NO CHEATING!
4. Tag 10 people to play this game too.

1. How are you feeling today?
Fiske and Herrera - Bad Dream. No, not quite... Hectic crap has been piling, but I haven't been moping like I've just been dumped.

2. Will you get far in life?
Judy Collins - Cat's in the Cradle - O_O; it depends on how you define far. I will have a successful job, but o god my hypothetical child shall become my clone lost in the same soul-sucking workforce.
I must change this now.

3. How do your friends see you?
Josh Groban - So She Dances. If that's the case, I need to seriously reassess how I look at myself, how I treat others, and my relationships in general. But I wouldn't mind much ^_^;

4. Will you get married?
Phantom of the Opera - The Point of No Return. ....If I do, the relationship will be built on mindgames, lust, destroyed chances... and chandaliers falling, cathedrals burning... I don't wanna get married, I don't think.

5. What is your best friend's theme song?
Christine Lavin - Ten O' Clock in Toronto. *jaw drops slightly at how well this actually fits her* My favorite folk singer and Arin-chan... this is a match of the good. ~~And I can't think of a wording that does not include innuendo right now...~~

6. What is the story of your life?
Blue October - Amazing. Attention-seeking, slight self-loathing, desperate for validation... In a way that's actually fitting. Then again, that could be my hammer talking, but that just proves the point, doesn't it..... I do, however, tend to overthink things.

7. What was high school like?
Placebo - Every You + Every Me. Man, suddenly I feel lusty, hostile, and yet nostalgic. That fen, where we're all figuring out who we are, throwing ourselves at each other with rough abandon, and of course everything is serious business.
In other words, everyone in highschool is a bitch.
~~Is it bad that I only observed this behavior, and was myself too busy geeking to interact?~~

8. How can you get ahead in life?
The Goops - Build Me Up Buttercup (in a KareKano AMV) - Well. Taking Miyazawa's route of insanely hard work would do, I just don't have the drive... Or, going from the song, I'm supposed to forge a serious relationship with a guy who frustrates me and keeps leading me on? Screw that.

9. What is the best thing about your friends?
Nina Gordon - Number One Camera ....The memories? The transience? The crazy shit we'd do together that now sits as blackmail material and embarrassing anecdotes? "Thank God for Facebook"?

10. What is today going to be like?
Sally Fingerette - Lovely Mistake. Ah. I'm gonna finally pick myself up by my bootstraps, and shit may happen, and my foot may get shot at, but things will be good in the end? Sounds like a plan.

11. What is in store this weekend?
Fuel - Won't Back Down. (going scuba diving) Am I gonna be drowned by a vengeful spirit, or just going to battle with angst?

12. What song describes you?
Vitamin C - Graduation (People Talking). Granted, this song has been iconic for me ever since 6th grade, I apply it to every scholastic escapade, and would love the opportunity to put it to a fandom, but am I really this weepy and nostalgic and optimistic?

13. What song describes your grandparents?
Taking Back Sunday - There's No I in Team. Oh. My God. I think both grandmothers would pass out if they just listened to this screamo monster... Or did someone have a huge TetsuKaneda / NaruSasu blowout in their younger days? I shudder to ask, but now I'm kinda curious ><;

14. How is your life going now?
Rammstein - Keine Lust. O_O I think it's trying to tell me something about my horrible horrible indecisiveness in procrastination and apathy... Didn't think I was doing that badly...

15. What song would they play at your funeral?
Sins of Alchemy, a Fullmetal Alchemist AMV to the trailer for Se7en... I'm gonna get murdered gruesomely in a bad part of town, but the investigation will be led by guys I respect ^_^;;

16. How does the world see you?
Firefly Soundtrack - River's Perception, Saffron. A little crazy in the head, sometimes a feisty (manipulative?) bitch. Or maybe as a lovely, original, funny and hardcore little thing that never stood a chance against the harsh world of corporate America, but still earns respect from a wide and varied group.
Did I really just write something that ego-stroking?

17. Will you have a happy life?
Feist - 1234. Seems like. If I simply make a change.

18. What do your friends really think of you?
Santamaria - Es minha magia. ~~It figures I would get one of the few songs on my playlist that I can't find a translation for~~ I think it's a love song... "My magic," maybe? "Magic to me"? I need to hunt down my Portuguese friends. So as of now, I have no idea what people think of me ^^; ~~Can't at least one of my anime soundtracks come up?~~

19. Do people secretly lust after you?
Gackt - Last Song. ~~Wow, my prayer was answered.~~ I guess they do. *reads translation* ... My ex? I sincerely hope not, I want him to be happy with a sweet little anime fangirl steady by now...

20. How can I make myself happy?
Jewel - Morning Song. Get a lover, have lovely lovely sex, and sleep in, not worrying about all the little piling duties. Nice, delicious and temporary. Sounds like a method I would use.

21. What should I do with my life?
J. Geils Band - Centerfold. ROFLMAO O dear god, there was no better place for that song to come in.... I dunno, I doubt I've got the body for Playboy... I think I'm attractive in a non-sexy way. But thanks for the encouragement, cosmos.

22. Will you ever have children?
John Mayer - No Such Thing. Huh. I think I'll be too busy ~~still living out my childhood~~?

EDIT: I think I misread Rule #3, but I don't care at this point, I think it's better to interpret the song.
I also forgot to tag people, but honestly, how many people read my LJ? So I guess if you read this, you should try it out ^_^

I think that went well. So think well of me, have a fantastic Halloween, and we shall talk things soon!

TERMINATOR: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. WOO

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 19:52:50 GMT

Listening to the Terminator theme on repeat to keep my thoughts straight.
I remember years ago the great thrill I felt in the movie theatre as the Theme kicked and the mercury on the screen assembled into a T3. Then I remember seeing T3 and, while liking it, being really distraught at the fatalist message. It turns out the future is set and we can't change jack. Not happy-making. And I thought that was the last hurrah for the Terminator fandom. I'm glad it wasn't.
I saw the preview for the Sarah Conner Chronicles while Christmas shopping at Best Buy. Didn't think too much of it at first (thought T3 inspired them to milk a little more out of the franchise, whoop-de-doo), but then I saw the character Cameron. Summer Glau. River Tam. In another kick-ass role. That sold me.
Here's a recap for the first episode (which I saw a little over a week ago on Fox's preview. (Thanks Mutant Reviewers for the heads-up)). Forgive me for being spasmodic. I think I watched the file a total of four times, so maybe that makes up for missing the actual premier. I don't know if I'll be able to watch the rest of the show, but I will eagerly await the DVD release.

It opens similar to the way the second movie ended (according to the show, T3 is not canon. Good decision!), on the highway as we hear Sarah's voice-over. "They say the baby in the womb shares its mother's dreams," and it goes into a poignant soliloquy about nightmares and mother-son strife and danger that is very moving and theoretical and fitting to Sarah Connor's character. We see her drive to a school, run in and emerge with John, only to be confronted by 500 cops outside. Arrested, shoved in separate cars, she sighs and looks up significantly, and sees a man in sunglasses striding towards them. We all know what that means.

We see that her skirt (Sarah, wear a skirt?) has ridden up around her legs, and that the cop next to her is a lech. She takes advantage of this to pummel him while he's distracted by her crotch, just as Sunglasses arrives and blows a bunch of cops to hell. Sarah gets to John, tells him to run away, and unintentionally gives the Terminator (as we see clearly after she puts a few rounds through its head) a clear shot at the kid. She keens over her son's lifeless body and asks it to kill her. Then the Terminator goes into this eloquent and kinda uncharacteristic soliloquy which was my first hint that this was a dream (or maybe it was John dying, not sure which occurred to me first). The second was everything blowing up behind him. The third was her waking up. Next to a guy. Huh.

(Or maybe my first hint should have been the skirt.)

Guy wakes up and establishes that they are engaged. Huh. He looks suspiciously like the dreaminator, but I can't really be sure it's the same actor. They banter and flirt and kiss, and it would be cute, but this is Sarah Connor. Either this is another military man she's shacked up with in order to train John and does not actually care about, or he's cannonfodder. She says "I love you... always remember that," which to me translates to "we shall be parted very, very soon." He goes off to work, and she sits on the bed, looking grieved. Because this is Sarah Conner. Cut to main titles.

Intertitles establish they're in Nebraska, year 1999. She wakes up 15-year-old John and tells him they need to leave, and he argues with her that the only people they're out-running now are the cops, who have no idea where they are, you're running because you found a great guy who wants to marry you, you're scared, etc. etc. "We're safe!" he finishes, to which she grabs him by the scruff and responds "Don't ever think that, no one is ever safe." I think this is a key line. She then says, "Half an hour. One bag. Plus the guns. I'll make pancakes." and I'm sitting here grinning like an idiot while my Dad proclaims that that is such a Sarah Connor line. The casting is great, btw.

They drive over the opening credits as Sarah's voice-over establishes the rules of laying low. Things like don't stick out, blend in, always have an escape route. "Resist the urge to be seen as important or special" I found interesting, in a "makes sense, but how unfun" way.

Josh Friedman is the one who adapted the story for television. He's also written a few other things... this may be a good guy to watch for.

Poor Dickson (fiance) finds her gone, picks up the ring he gave her, and immediately goes to the police. He's met there by an FBI agent, who apparently is chasing Sarah. Aw, she was charged with Dyson's murder? Dammit! This seems a bit much for poor Dickson, and we don't really see him for the rest of the episode. In the meantime, FBI-guy establishes everything we, the audience, should know about Sarah's position among her fellow man, in case we have not see the movies. But then, if someone hasn't seen the movies, what are they doing watching this show?

At least they got rid of that ass Silberman.

FBI-guy is opening files on his computer, and we see that Sarah and John are going by aliases now. Sigh. Changing their last name to Reese makes sense, but that's a really poor strategy, considering that everyone who's after them would know about Kyle REESE, soldier from the future and father of John. I mean, his name and story have gotta be somewhere on Sarah's record!

Cut to another room (somewhere, abandoned) where a computer monitor lights up with the same file that FBI-guy is looking at. We see a man sit down in front of it, and the red death light from his eyes reflects on the screen. So there is a Terminator tracking her too, because if there wasn't, there would be no story here, ne?

Cut to poor John's new highschool in New Mexico. The camera angles around him to reveal Summer Glau (squee!) - I mean Cameron behind him, who follows him to his locker and they banter (in John's case, lie) about their parents and she's clearly interested in him and he's kinda curious, but makes some excuse about class to get away. I guess to establish he is shy? Awkward? Things that younger John would not have been, but he has become in order to remain hidden? We next see him crash on his bed at home, listening to some rock band. Then he complains to Mom about "hick town that they've moved to" #212. He also mentions the computers, and she freaks that she warned him not to get caught hacking. "I wasn't hacking! I know the rules, Mom! They're burned on the inside of my eyelids!" A pause, then she asks in a hopeful, comforting voice if he met any pretty girls, whom he will probably have to break up with next time they leave town, and he replies "No," and I beg to differ. So does his Mom as she reads very subtle facial expressions (I think?). She smiles, he smiles. It is sweet.

Somewhere nearby, FBI-guy meets up with a cop in New Mexico, just to keep us in the know.

Next day, John turns to Cameron and explains that everything he said yesterday was a lie, and then spills his guts to this strange girl. His dad is a dead soldier. His mom is uptight, "like really uptight." They move around a lot. Cameron's only reply: "Thank you for explaining." Though she has been charismatic and talkative up to this point, the audience should know by now that this is not a normal girl.

Suddenly a young and handsome substitute teacher strides in. "Mr. Ferguson has had his heart yanked out through his nose. My name is Terminator model NEW." At least, that's what the audience hears. Actually he introduces himself as Cromartie, so let's compromise with "the Crominator." At first I thought this actor was the lead from Species, but turns out not. He's actually primarily a stuntman, which makes total sense for this role. As he starts role-call, we see him carving open the side of his leg with a letter opener, and I don't know about anyone else but my parents and I all flinched and tried very hard to not look away. Yick. But as he reaches John on the list, we see him yank a gun out of his leg and suddenly the whole concept goes from very, very gross to very, very effective. It's honestly a good hiding place.

And now that I've had time to think about it, it's a good way to bring weapons back from the future. My only question is: why didn't he bring back something more effective than a pistol???

He shoots and Cameron leaps up to shield John, who looks on in horror as she drops and turns her head. Then he scrambles up and leaps out the window. The Crominator walks forward after him, and the entire class huddled under their desks see the robotic bones in his leg. He looks back at them and quips "Class dismissed." You know, these cyborgs have a surprising amount of humor and emotion. Yay.

Anyway, outside. John gets up from his fall and runs like the Dickens through the parking lot while Cromanator just strides after him, firing his pistol. He's a surprisingly lousy shot for an automated system. We quickly cut to Sarah waitressing in a diner. She hears an urgent news report, drops the plate she's carrying and runs offscreen. Back to John. He keeps running, hiding behind cars, and the Cromanator keeps coming, like the inevitable Skynet future. I think at one point he shoves a bus onto its side, just to show that he means business. Then John falls down, and gets up to find Cromanator right in front of him. But before the *computer* can take advantage of this absolutely clear shot that it will never get again, it gets dead from oncoming truck.

Miracle truck backs up and opens the door to reveal Cameron, his pretty and not-dead classmate. "Come with me if you want to live." And the way she delivers the line makes me want to die of happiness. Glau is absolutely perfect for this role! John scrambles into the car and she drives off. He glances at her, the bleeding bullet holes on her chest, her perfectly healthy condition, and he sighs. Another one.

After a fadeout (did I mention the version I saw didn't have commercials?), we see Sarah scouting out the school, and suddenly she gets pinned down by the not-dead-from-truck Cromanator. John calls her phone and it uses her voice to meet him at his and Sarah's house. At this point, I'm thinking "Don't you people have codewords by now? You know the Terminators can mimic voices!" John turns off the phone and sighs. "Let's go."

The Terminator arrives at the house first and dumps Sarah on the couch. John shows up in a hoodie that completely obscures his face. You know it's Cam pulling the same voice-trick Cromie did ^_^ They then fight, but unfortunately, Cam is having as tough a time with this guy as the Schwartzenator did with the T-1000, which is kinda strange, considering she should be more advanced than either. But maybe not, 'cause she is from a new timeline (Skynet starts later, the technology should develop at the same speed, but at later dates). While they throw each other through the walls, Sarah grabs John (scolding him "Why don't you run for your life like I keep telling you too?!") and they make for the truck. Eventually Cameron manages to electrocute Cromanator with this gigantic sizzling wire and catch up with their speeding vehicle. "He's gonna reboot in two minutes. Step on it." Or something like that.

That night, they're camped. Cameron is topless (seems a lot of roles require this of Glau), pulling the bullets out of her collar bone with pliers. Sarah: "You might wanna put those back in the holster." I had no idea what she meant until Cameron picked up her bra. Hehe. They're apparently on their way to the Mexican border. Because when in doubt, that's where Sarah goes. Cameron explains that she is from 2027, which I find odd because that's even earlier than when Reese was sent from (2029). Eh. Anyway, this time the war starts in 2011, April 19. And Skynet is still the bad guy. I thought it might be Microsoft this time, but their software trips over itself too much to launch that kind of assault on humanity. Microsoft is more the "slowly-suck-out-your-soul" type.

Cameron continues that she doesn't know exactly *who* builds Skynet this time around (which is surprising) because "she wasn't sent here for that." Well, neither was the Schwartzenator in T2, but he had trillions of data files! Then again, we need a trail for the show to follow, so fine! Also, to my great pleasure, Cameron points out that Sarah should have changed her alias. Sarah snarls "Go to hell!" and glares at the impassive machine for a good minute, because she will never overcome her hatred and fear of the Terminators. I am in love with how they've kept and adapted these characters.

Back with FBI-guy, because it's been a while. They're searching the crumbled ruins of the Connors' house, and the cop tells him what the kids in the classroom saw: "a shooter with some kind of robot leg." I wonder if Sarah'll be able to convince people this time around. I hope so, anyway. This guy seems smarter than Silberman. Plus, he's in a lot of the show's promotional photos.

And we cut to said shooter, who is patching his robot leg up with duct tape. For some reason this really amuses me.

Back at camp, getting ready to jump the border. Sarah and John have a heart to heart over the lousy hand fate has dealt them. "Why is this happening to us again?" My dad: "Because Skynet is scared of you. Be happy." But Sarah has no answer and John angsts a bit, then asks her to stop it. Huh? "I can't keep running, I'm not a messiah, I'm a teenager with confidence issues etc etc. You have to stop it please!" And amazingly, she agrees, and there is stirring string music that is not the Theme, but will make me hunt for this soundtrack in the stores. Then Sarah tells Cameron "change of plans," they're going to fight Skynet. I guess from this scene we are meant to understand that it is really Sarah's war this time around, not John's. I'm kinda disappointed, but not by much. I'm sure he'll come into his own after a few episodes.

Apparently a few hours have passed, and they're outside a gas station. John offers Cameron a potato chip, and she says she should probably apologize to him for lying on that first day. He shrugs and adds something about how he should have known a hot girl wouldn't approach the weird new kid. (Yeah right, you handsome man.) They banter (as well as a cyborg can banter) a bit more and are clearly meant to have romantic tension in the future. I wonder how that will work between the human and machine (Yay for plot!). He asks what model she is, she "seems different." "I am." Then she eats a chip, to which I say: "Terminators eat?" Well, while we've never seen the other Ts eat, they could have been perfectly capable. And we don't get any clearer answer about her, but it will probably (hopefully) come up in future episodes. Only time (and good writers) will tell.

They quickly stop off at the Dysons' for information on whoever would have picked up his work. It's not a happy reunion, and they glean nothing from it, but at least Mrs. Dyson seems willing to believe that Sarah didn't kill Myles. Suddenly we/Cameron realize that the Cromanator is outside. Though I didn't see it, apparently Mrs. Dyson gave them her car, because that's what we see explode out of the garage and run over the Cromie. I find it interesting how every time this machine is confronted with something, it just cocks its head, and then gets smacked. Not that it can really die. Cromanator comes charging after the new car, which passes their old car, which Cameron explodes with a detonator as soon as the Cromanator is within range. He is a bit more mangled than he was, but sadly still trucking. But hey, Cameron is a smart Terminator!

Somehow I missed it, but one of the bullets Cromie fired at the car hit Sarah. She stops the car outside some store and sends John, whose hands are soaked in her blood from putting pressure on the wound, inside to get rubbing alcohol and bandages. She and Cameron then pull into the conveniently nearby abandoned garage/warehouse/something and Cameron stitches the wound. As she works, Sarah reflects on her situation, that she can't keep running, or John will just leave her. It made more sense in the context than it does in my summary.

Around this point, my Dad wondered whether she should have sent John off under Cameron's protection and just gone after Skynet herself. But where would the story be then, so nevermind.

After Sarah wakes up the next day, Cameron takes them to a bank where she has apparently had a safety deposit box since '63. As soon as they walk in, she grabs the guard's gun out of his holster and shoves him down. "Everybody on the floor! Please." She is a force to be reckoned with ^_^ As the teller leads them to the vault, Cameron tells her to lock them in. Strange request, and I kept wondering what she has in here. A time machine? A powerful weapon? It's apparently not money, since "pieces" of it are locked in separate boxes.

As the three are unpacking and compiling pieces of something, cops start piling up outside the bank. They even got FBI-guy's attention. Darn.

John asks if the vial Cameron is holding is from the future, and she reminds him and the viewers that you can't bring anything dead through time (darn), so you send someone back to build it. OF COURSE! Why did that not occur to me (it occurred to Dad)? This series was written by a fan ^_^ So what is it? he asks. "Hope." I look at Dad: "Is HOPE an acronym for something that makes sense?"

Meanwhile, this squealing white car has emerged from somewhere in my movie memory and expelled Cromanator, who looks very, very chewed on. The cops he passes notice this. We get a nice shot in his POV as he scans over them and all their weapons, "Threat: none." He proceeds to smash glass and make his way into the bank.

Back in the vault, John hears something alarming, but God knows how, because the locked vault door is really thick. Either way it is quickly established that Cromanator is tearing said door apart. Cameron pays no mind, but hands Sarah this bulky weapon with a bunch of spinning cylinders in it. She says something about an isotope but assures Sarah that it's "not really" nuclear. Okay...?

Outside, Cromanator is tossing away pieces of the vault door, one after the other. I can't imagine what's going through the heads of the bank personnel watching this.

Cameron mentions that their engineer got a job building this vault so that "we'd always have a way back home." So there is a time machine! WOOT! But this leaves me with questions: does it have a "self-destruct after use" mechanism, or are people going to find this after they leave? Is it this, like the Terminator in the hydraulic press, that plants the seed for Skynet? I hope not, because if so, our entire cast of heroes needs a collective dope-slap.

Sarah starts objecting to Cameron's plan for some reason, and Cameron tells her, "You want to fight Skynet? Shut up and trust me!" "You don't know who built it!" "Yeah, but we know where and when! You can stop running, you can fight. Chill!" That's not word-for-word, but it's equivalent. The scene is stirring.

Eventually the Crominator manages to create a hole in the wall and fires a few rounds, but he can't see to aim, and starts pummeling the wall in frustration. In the meantime, the isotope has turned red, which means it's ready to fire. I wonder if this is the weapon the Terminator mentioned in the first movie, in the gun shop: "Phased plasma rifle in the forty watt range." Maybe? It would be pretty cool if it was. Anyway, the Time Machine activates just as Crominator breaks through the wall, Sarah fires a giant wad of something at him (and he's presumably down for the count) and suddenly the three of them are crouched in the middle lane of a highway. Naked. How unfortunate. They scurry off, but not before some lewd kid takes pictures with a camera phone. Cameron explains that they're in the same place, but now it is September 3, 2007. Yay. But by "same place," does she mean "the viscinity"? Or did the bank suffer the same fate as Arthur Dent's house? Then again, if the machine did have a self-destruct... Nevermind.

Cameron goes off to get them some clothes, meaning get the attention of a bunch of drunk punks and kick the snot out of them. It's always amusing when Summer Glau does this. I think she's even earned Sarah's respect. But personally, I don't think these are the people I would want to take clothes from. Just me.

Now clothed, they establish that Skynet is being created now, "somewhere around here." Wonderful. Why not show up a few months before they make the beta version? ...Sorry. Anyway, Cameron adds, "You're safe now," to which John and Sarah reply simultaneously: "No one is ever safe." Thought they'd come back to that.

Sarah soliloquizes as Cameron drives them to a safe-house, which has a swing in the backyard and is too pretty to have been abandoned, to be honest. Did another guy from the future buy the mortgage? Meanwhile, the evening news has aired with the story of the 60-car pile-up our heroes' arrival caused, aided by the kid's camera phone pictures, and we see that both FBI-guy and poor Dickson see Sarah, alive and well (and nude). I think both these men will be in future episodes. Sarah's soliloquy is much a reflection of the first one, talking about fate changing and whether Sarah has the strength to destroy Skynet once and for all. Gah, most of it has vanished from my memory, and I am a moron, but the last line is: "It's gonna be one hell of a dogfight."

Fantastic first episode, and I can't wait for the next one (but I'll probably have to wait for DVD >_<). I like that they brought it into (very) modern day, where Sarah and John not only have to fight Skynet, but they're going to have to catch up with almost a decade's worth of advanced technology. Granted, maybe not technology that will help them, and they already know about cell phones, but it'll still be interesting to watch. And I'd like to see how John changes. He has to become a leader, I know he has to! He's gotten used to following Sarah and laying low, but maybe some of his younger self will come back. Not the delinquent, but the skilled, sarcastic kid? Time will tell.

And that's all I can really say at this point. The future is theirs now. Hope they make it good.

Yar! Break!

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:18:51 GMT

Just finished off my last final (sob, self-pity, self-loathing at its lack of goodness), took a shower, and am waiting for my parents to pick me up and take me home. I'm tired, but happy at the same time. It'll be so good to have some time off. To write (god, projects! YAY!), to organize my decks, to read (memo to self: find Moon Called), to draw and upload my stuff (much stuffs), and just to meet up with everyone again. It should be good.
You know, it's exactly one month since my birthday, and it is again the day break starts. Something about the 21st *shrug*
One month as a 19-year-old. I worry for myself.

Livejournal is a strange beast to me. I keep trying to think of good things to do with it, or a way to keep it ~~organised~~ organized (why do I keep spelling that with an s instead of a z? I kept doing it while speed-writing my paper, too) so people can actually find what they want out of it. I guess tags will work well enough.
But I was thinking that I should try to have some purpose to each entry, so here's this one: a movie response. Not good enough for a movie review, but I just saw Moulin Rouge and felt I should tell this story.

Some years ago, my friend tried to show me the movie Moulin Rouge, but it didn't go well. The first problem was that it was a musical. Musicals are special movies, in that they have plot, and frequent plot interruptions where the characters suddenly burst into song. I did not realize it was a musical. The sudden burst into song really threw me off.
The second problem was that it is not a musical with original songs, it's an homage to the musical genre and to popular music of the last century. Seeing films without context is a bad, bad thing. I recognized Nature Boy and raised an eyebrow, but when they're working on their play, I just thought "WTF! They've ripped off the Sound of Music!" And Elton John. I thought they stole Your Song. I was upset.
I really didn't get it. The early scenes, like Satine's ~~shrill~~ ~~over-acting~~ "smoldering temptress" and the play pitch just put me off, so eventually I got up to leave. My friend fast-forwarding to the "Like a Virgin" scene made me flee in absolute terror. She was saddened.
So years later, when my college film class showed it as an example of a post-MTV musical, I thought I was in for a night of pain. But now I finally had context for the movie; I understood the musical (and spectacle) aspect, got through the pitch (hiding my eyes. I dunno, it just scares me) and then it got good. Tear-jerkingly good. McGregor and Kidman really have chemistry. And talent. Acting and singing. They're not the only ones, either. Everyone here is great (the Duke is creepy like nobody's business, especially because I first saw this guy as Dracula in Van Helsing. But he plays a good creep) (I loved David Wenham's role, even though he's onscreen for all of five minutes. I knew he was somewhere in the movie, but I had no idea who "Audrey" was. When I finally did recognize him, I laughed out loud. What a switch!) (so that's Jim Broadbent. Lissa is right, he is skilled!).
I eventually just bought the movie, and spent a lot of the next week screening through the good scenes:
- the first scene at the Moulin Rouge. Overloading the senses is actually a good thing.
- Your Song - she's shrieking on the ground and everything feels really squicky, then he cuts her off with a burst of song and suddenly everything's beautiful. I love her expression of surprise.
- One Day I'll Fly Away - she really does have a nice voice.
- The Elephant Love Medley - for obvious reasons, but also because the fact that they managed to cram that many songs into this context is amazing. A nod to history's best pop love songs. Plus, McGregor suddenly sounding like Elvis ("I was made for lovin' you, baby!") is very awesome.
- Gorecki - (If I should die this very moment...) "A force darker than jealousy and stronger than love..." is one of my favorite lines. This movie is truly and utterly sad.
- Come What May - the one(?) original song, and absolutely beautiful. Here you really *get* Christian and Satine.
- Roxanne - I knew the song by the Police, and it sounds so much better in this version. Feelings reflected here. Well done!
- It All Ends Today - not sure if that's the actual title, or whether it's another original song, but it's moving.
- The Show Must Go On - one of my favorite numbers in the entire movie. Just the emotion, grand cinematography, and the song itself is powerful.
- the actual play - great spectacle, emotion, and the reprisal of Come What May almost brought me to tears (ditto the curtain call. She is Christian's tragic muse).
I have to find the originals of all these songs. I think a comparison would be cool.
And that is my reaction to Moulin Rouge. I laughed, I cried, and I owe my friend an apology.

One more thing: FreeRice is for a good cause, it's fun, and I think it will help writers everywhere. Click it now.
And with that done, now I should really get dressed and throw the rest of my stuff into the suitcase. Happy Holidays, all!

I've been itching to write something for days...

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 04:06:37 GMT

but didn't know what to write. Meager inspirations, and I didn't want to get deep into any of my current projects in the middle of finals week, so all I have is a few unconnected snippets. Scavenges from a notebook, or sommat. True, throwing everything together into one entry doesn't make sense, but some things are better that way. Boy, does that sound familiar.
Maybe I should take photos of my notebook. It's kinda cute, little snatches and scenes weaving in and around old math homework notes.

First, Winter:
This time of year is marked by the scaldings on my tongue. In winter, most people just shiver and moan about the snow, but I myself survive on hot drinks. I've gotten very attached to the taste of Caramel Cider.
And bad handwriting. My class notes are absolutely horrible, so finals were winged. Or wung? Is "wung" a word? Either way, you know what I mean.
I imagined meeting Dominic Monaghan today. Wishful thinking. And why am I writing this down for people to read? Not a bloody clue. I just wonder if Lost will exceed my expectations.
Have one final left to finish: Logic. Must do. Must do now.
Odd thing: it's late December, one week from Christmas, and I've heard... maybe ten carols, max. Except for the snow, I've practically forgotten it's the holiday season, what with finals and packing and such. Makes me a little sad ~~that we won't~~ not to hear them. I actually asked Mom to send me some Andy Williams a few days ago. I don't even like his medley, yet it made me happy.
Ever had a moment where you zone out in the middle of writing a sentence, but keep writing, so you end up with a sentence that emerges from the depths of your brain and you have no idea what inspired it?

Random, but kinda sweet:
He tried his hand at dancing occasionally, but was sure he felt more graceful than he looked. On this particular occasion he swayed to an abrupt halt at the sound of clapping. She was slightly taller than him, her hair tied back in a fluffy bun, and her legs kicked out from under her dark robe as she fought for balance atop the railing. She hadn't been sitting there long.
A pale flush crept across her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for you to stop."

I really love Bagenders. This is a weak contribution.
"Dear God, woman! He just dreamt he was axing you to bits and now you're blaming him for something he didn't do? You're going to die!!"
The next scene having already started through his companion's ranting, Merry hit the pause button and leaned back in the giant recliner, eyes closed. "Pippin, I've known you since we were children. We've always been together, understand each other, can even finish--"
"--each other's sentences," his cousin supplied.
"Indeed, we can," Merry sighed. "We know almost everything about each other, but I will never, in all my years, get used to you screaming at the telly."
They were watching The Shining, a well-reputed horror film with an editing style so distinct that it had ceased to frighten Merry and instead inspired him to play a drinking game with Sam: toss a shot every time an eerie scene gets interrupted by another bloody inter-title. Merry was feeling a satisfactory buzz; Sam had disappeared to look after Frodo, who couldn't watch through the first twenty minutes.

"The elvish aphrodisiac. Leather," Aragorn pressed his palm against his head as he answered into the mouthpiece, "No, I honestly can't imagine, Sam."

I have no idea where this came from:
SPOKEN INTO A PHONE: You know, there is more to life than tire irons.

Something I've observed over the last few months:
You never have much of a feel for your own weight until you walk through an old creaky dormitory. Running down the hall makes you pray for more graceful footfalls.

Why does the wireless infrastructure hate me? Just a general question that I repeat again and again.

Random little snippits. Well done, L, you've lost another night you could have used on your final. I'm really restless right now. Good night.

Oh, I forgot: the Dark Knight trailer. Bloody. Hell. Whoever thought Heath Ledger would make a good Joker needs recognition as a genius. Ledger's barely recognizable, and so convincing. Granted, he also sounds like he's watched Jack Nicholson one too many times, but still looks great! I am so psyched!

The Last Part!

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 05:07:56 GMT

...of the story so far. It's still really, really in the works, but I hope you like it so far.
Though I hate to admit it, I had to combine some assignments into this to reach the required wordcount. Ignore the first thing about the film Memento and the second logic assignment (they are labeled). But I would like your opinion on the beginning of a Sherlock Holmes story I'm working on for a class.

And now it is time to polish, so I bid thee good night. Thank you very much for your time, and please give me your opinions. Do you think this will work, or is it insane? Whatever you think, I'd truly love to know.

Eowyn rides Windfola, a beautiful grey mare. Merry rides James the deer. Aragorn gets Brego, who did belong to the fallen Theodred, Eomer rides his own horse, Remus rides with Eowyn. Lucky young man.
They go about a dozen miles before James slows, transforms back, and collapses in a heap. "I have never, ever, run that fast in my life. And I don't think I ever want to do it again."

As they continue traveling, they notice a large portion of Fangorn Forest is moving. Huh. They meet Treebeard, who is caring for the injured Lily and Severus, and the three other hobbits, who all feel better than ever.

Regarding Eowyn's feelings for Aragorn, Remus asks, "Should one of us just happen to drop the fact that you're taken?"
"Taken?"
"You love Arwen. You're... loyal to another woman, and so cannot return Eowyn's affections."
Aragorn sighed and leaned back against the tree, considering. "I think not. It would not dissuade her. The man she loves is not me, but only the idea, the man she imagines me to be. That is what she must understand."

"It's just in our nature, isn't it? We fight to know the future, and when we do, we fight to change it. We know this future, this fate, and we are incapable of standing by and watching our companions suffer through wrong decisions. We fight and scream and resist that fate with all our mights because we think that, overwhelmingly, we know a better path to take."

As they arrive in eastern Gondor and first spy the fortress of Minas Tirith. "It's bigger than Hogwarts!"
It towered over the landscape, a monument to the glory and strength of the realm of Gondor. Ageless beauty and such. Lily smiles and shakes her head at its splendor. "I should have paid more attention to the descriptions, I suppose."

"My Lord Denethor passed on, just four days ere your coming, Sir."
That would be the day the Ring was destroyed. "Where did he die?" she asked. "In his tower room?"
"Aye, my lady."
That was a bad sign.

Would Sirius swear fealty to Boromir as Steward? I think they would warn him against it, at least Severus would tell him what a stupid idea it is. Maybe Faramir would talk about repercussions. Maybe you should stop throwing yourselves pell-mell into the fray, and certainly stop dragging your comrades with you. Of course, Boromir, guilt-ridden over trying to take the Ring, would probably be very careful in regards to Sirius (who saved his guilt-ridden life), and warn him about the duties himself.

Severus threw his eyes to the heavens. "Of all the hobbits that could help me, I get the dunderhead." Pippin's ears twitched and he seemed to shrink a little into his cloak. Severus sighed and grabbed hold of his tiny hand. "Come on. I know I'll find some use for you."
Snape and Pippin find the palantir hidden in the tower room.

"Mr. Snape! Thank goodness, there you are!" Merry stopped short, gasping for breath. "Denethor's body is alive again, along with all the past kings in the crypt. They're marching through the citadel. They're slaughtering everybody they see!"
"Inferi." Severus' blood went cold.
"It's horrible. The guards and staff have gone completely mad with fear, they think it's the end of the world!"
"Well, what else would it be?"

In the meantime, the way was shut.

Remus shook his head as Eowyn passed him, "You're like a Valkyrie."
Remus admires the White Lady, is grateful to her for saving them. He worries for her. Wormtongue said many things to her over the course of his stay in Rohan, while he poisoned the king's mind. She may very well have given everything up. but if that were the case, she would never have had the courage to save her brother, and the others. She sees hope in them. "Moony, old friend, I do believe you fancy this lady." James paused. "You are aware that she's about ten years older than you?" "Yeah." "And that we, meaning you, me, Sirius, Evans, and Snape, are going to go back home eventually. After all this is over, we're not going to stick around much." "Right."
"You can't just go tearing off into the battlefield like this, dammit! Wait, my lady, wait," Remus held his hands on her arms, stopping her advance. She was slightly taller than him, and stared down at him as though he were a harrying dog.
"Please," Remus hesitated. "My lady, Eowyn, don't leave. There are people here who need you still. Who care for your safety and happiness. You can't just throw their cares aside like this. Please. Please stay."
Eowyn regards him almost as a younger brother, with friendship, possibly pity. People in this world know what werewolves are. Servants of the Dark Lord Sauron, ancestors to the vicious Wargs the Orcs ride. Remus' friends have to work hard to make the people of Middle Earth understand. He cannot help it. They have to guard him, for his safety as well as their own.

Silence reigned. This was absolutely typical.
Maybe it was this way? Or that path... Oh, sod it. Just run!

I bid you stand. We are not going to lay down and die here. We will face what is to come, and we will fight with every power left to us. It will be the greatest fight in your lives, and none of us may live to tell the tale. But we cannot go quietly. I bid you stand, Free People of Middle Earth!

"We have retrieved Glamdring, Foe-Hammer, and Gandalf's staff. We thought it best that you should carry them in his stead."
(Lily Remus, since he lost his wand) held her hand to her mouth, completely taken aback. Give the weapons of Gandalf to him? "Why me?" he choked out. "I can't-- I am not fit to wield these."
"If you do not, then no one can. You have that strength, whether you realize it or not.
"You will make the best use of them."
With shaking hands she accepted the tokens, drawing them to her chest. "With honor I accept these. I will fight
Shadowfax accepts him.

After receiving the sword, (Lily/Remus) throws him/herself into learning to sword-fight.

There are things worth dying for here!
"What would you die for?" he asked suddenly.
Sirius hesitated, examining the straps of his boots. "My friends. My comrades. A noble cause. A chance to do good."
Boromir smiled and clapped his hand on the lad's shoulder. "You're not that far off the mark."

It's only a few scraps of paper, not a divine authority. Lily learns that no matter what you believe his destined, it can always be changed. The future is what you make of it. Corny, but true.
It makes all the difference in the world to choose whether to be dragged down the path to your destiny, or to stand and face it with all the pride and courage you can muster.

Wingardium Leviosa. The boulder rumbled ungainly across the plains, flattening all in its path. The Orcs broke rank left and right and fled, screeching, out of its way. Those that were not fast enough were ground up beneath the solid hulking mass. A long stretch of landscape was already black with their blood and guts. Pippin made a meek sound in his throat and Severus rolled his eyes to the dark sky above them.
"It's called evening our odds, Peregrin Took," he explained in a voice dripping with disdain. "We have no chance of winning by strength of numbers. But if you want to fight those monsters in hand to hand combat, by all means you deserve to die valiantly."
"In truth..." The little hobbit took a deep, steadying breath and turned to Severus. "In truth, I was about to suggest you aim at an Orc captain or two. You see them there, trying to force them back to rank?"
Severus nearly dropped his wand in shock, and fixed his companion with a look of utter wonder. "Well-observed, hobbit. Maybe you aren't completely useless. I'll do that."
Pippin flinched as he watched the rock roll its way over a battalion of warg-riders. War does change you, he reflected, none too sadly. He took a sidelong glance at the young Wizard, who was now raising the rock to strike a particularly tall Orc trying to pull his frantic troops together. Perhaps it is just the company.

"Alohamora!" The iron bars flung open and Remus jumped past them into the fray of screaming captives.

Lily and James take Sam and Frodo back to the Shire, to warn them of what was happening.
Lily sank to her knees, staring out at the barren wasteland. They were too late. This was all that was left of the Shire.

"What of my son, Peregrin?"
It was the master Thain Paladin Took. "He is still fighting in Gondor with our allies."
"And Merry?"
She sought the source of the soft voice, and saw a young hobbit lass standing close beneath her, clutching the pudgy hand of Fredegar Bolger. There was fear shining in her eyes. "What of Meriadoc Brandybuck? He left with you didn't he?"
"Estella." Frodo nodded, and tried to look reassuring. "He is there as well. With the people of Rohan."
"Why did you not bring them back as well?"
"You want us to think they are not dead!"
"Rohan, Gondor. Where are these places? They could be on top of the moon, for all we know!"

"Well. no wonder your people are dropping like flies!" Severus stormed forward, tugging the pouch off from around his neck. As he approached the table, he tipped it, and out spilled a veritable mountain of leafy plant stalks. "Here's all the kingsfoil I have. Now grind them, boil them, and give some to every ailing man in this House. We have to have some live out the day, don't we?"

James asks Lily to marry him. "No, really! I honestly think we're going to get out of this. I think we'll win this war, go home heroes, breeze through our OWLs and-- and we'll live on. And I think that, once we've kicked You-Know-Who's arse, then you and I are going to grow old together. At least," he shrugged, "if you'll have me."
She gaped at him, wand lowering slowly. "You're serious."
"No, I'm James. With the glasses."
Much to his relief, Lily laughed out loud.
She laughed a little at the quip, and he got up the nerve to take her hand. "But I do mean it."

"It's like in those old tales you hear, that you told. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And at times you didn't want to know how they would end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was after so much bad had happened? But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow. Every darkness must pass. A new day will come--"
"And when the sun shines it'll shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why..." "They never gave up."
"I'm sorry. You've heard this before--"
Lily laughed and scooped the little hobbit into her warm embrace. "You're my hero, Sam Gamgee." And she kissed the top of his curly head.
He turned to Frodo in utter bemusement, the red blood blushing in his face, and muttered inarticulately. Frodo shook his head at him, beaming.
"Hero."

He could feel blood dribbling down the side of his face, smearing as he tried to wipe it away. Sod it, he'd handle it later. Severus staggered to his feet and looked around. The rock had blasted a huge chunk in the fortress, and had knocked him from his place along the wall above, landing him on the stone road about thirty feet below. The fact that he had lived through the fall brought a surprised smile to his face, despite the giant gaping hole now present in one of the city's outer defenses. And what happened to Pippin? He searched around.

"Peregrin Took! Oi, Took! Oh, where the hell did you go? Took!"
, Peregrin, where are you?"
From far off he heard a tortured scream as shadows passed overhead. He leapt out of the way, crashing into a grocer's cart, as several missiles came plummeting to the ground. The screams multiplied in volume and terror, and as Severus extricated himself, he found he was face-to-face with a severed head.
"Bloody fuck!" He leapt back, tripping over another one as he went. The walled streets of Minas Tirith were now littered with them. All were ghastly, the crusted blood made more terrible against the drained and whitened skin. And each one bore the starred helm of the soldiers of Gondor. Slowly the shock faded and he realized what had happened. The Orcs had released their prisoners. They had lobbed the heads of the fallen soldiers back into their city. He groaned. These bastards knew how to demoralize an opponent. These bastards certainly knew how to kill morale. He sucked in a breath and stood, wavering slightly, and continued his search. Civilians ran past him, shrieking in terror or crying in grief as they recognized their friends among the fallen.
He found Pippin a little further off, dropped against one of the stone walls, staring in horror at one skull lying in a puddle before him. Tears were spilling down his face and along the hands clapped over his mouth. Severus put a hand on his shoulder. "Took." He gave him a shake. "Oi, Took! Look at me!"
Pippin flinched and gave him a glassy stare, still weeping. He brought one hand down from his mouth to point at the poor head in the street. "I knew him," he said weakly. "I saw him among the guards when Beregond brought me--"
"And we'll hold a funeral for him later," Severus assured him. "But listen to me, we have to get everyone back--"
Another sob caught his attention and he looked around. Everywhere people were falling to their knees. God, they were doomed at this rate. He got an idea.
"Took, listen," he said, his eyes boring into the little hobbits', "I need your help here. You have to help me gather up all the heads."
"What can you possibly be asking?"
"Well, do you want them to get desecrated any further? Come on!"

"SERPENTSORCIA!"
The tower emitted a long ribbon of smoke, which churned and rumbled as it made its way to the ground. Severus stared as the black mist started to coalesce, becoming thicker, greener, and shining as with moisture. The surface solidified into linked blocks, thousands of giant glittering scales leading up to an enormous flat head with sharp ridges about the face. The creature gave a mighty hiss and reared up as if to strike.
There was only one snake in the magical world that could reach that size. Severus averted his gaze from the beast and screamed out to the battlefield. "COVER YOUR EYES! DO NOT LOOK INTO THE SNAKE'S EYES!"
The basilisk glanced down, and an entire troop fell dead at its feet. Severus swore and raised his wand, wondering frantically what to do. A basilisk. A god damned basilisk! How did he conjure a basilisk?
Severus made another mental note to blast Sirius if they lived through this.

The Steward of the City of Gondor greets Aragorn, then turns and faces the people. "Here is Aragorn son of Arathorn, cheiftain of the Dunedain of Arnor, Captain of the Host of the West, bearer of the Star of the Norht, wielder of the Sword Reforged, victorious in battle, whose hands bring healing, the Elfstone, Elessar of the line of Valandil, Isildur's son, Elendil's son of Numenor. Shall he be king and enter into the City and dwell there?"
Severus rolled his eyes and hissed, "What does he think they're going to say? 'No, tell him to go away, we like the ineffectual line of Stewards better'?" Lily nudged him in the gut. "It's a ceremony, Sev. Shut your trap."

"Fizzin?" She raised an eyebrow. "Sorry, Sev. I thought you knew Professor Binns knocks me out." She fully expected to Troll her History of Magic OWL.

Lily tries to go by the book, not so much because she thinks it will hurt their chances of getting home, but because she's scared of destroying the Fellowship's chances of success. But Severus and the others just... keep interfering. Sirius saves Boromir, Severus destroys the Ring early (and wipes out a good portion of the forest near Cair Anduin), Gandalf never becomes Gandalf the White, in fact, he gets killed and does not come back. And so Lily has to hold everything together, even when the story has fallen out of her knowledge and control.

The feast is in the Hall of Fire.

He looked about. He looked round for a sword.

If there was ever a man who ever deserved a Leek Hex, it was that one.

James laughed out loud. "Hobbits conquer a foreign land? Well, on the other hand, if they even had the power or will to invade something, all they'd want would be the food and beer."
"And the pipe weed," Sirius added. "Don't forget the pipe weed."

Pippin tells Severus something like, "Stop picking on me. I have talents, too." Severus speaks to Pippin, voice dripping with irony. "All right, Peregrin Took. It is true that you are nothing if not diminutive."
Pippin could not tell if that was a good or bad thing to be.

"Severus, son of Tobias--" "Don't call me that."

"You know, I believe an Imperturbable Charm or two would work absolute wonders right now."
"Too right."

Sirius has a problem with the idea that a bloodline decrees who rules the land. "Sirius," James whispered in his ear, "We live in England."
Should still be a leader chosen by the people.

"Dear lord, do these people love to talk!"
"A little slow on the uptake, aren't you?"

"Oh, stow it, Sam-witless!"

James loses his pouch in Moria (or somewhere), and so Sauron's servants pick up his six textbooks, his mirror, the Snitch, and everything else he was carrying.
Sirius uses his mirror and almost dies. Boromir saves him. Yay. They debate what to do with the remains of the mirror.
They have to keep the pieces together, otherwise he gets a view of whatever's happening. It's kinda nanotechnology. Little shards will be like little cameras. Toss it into the fiendfyre, or just hide it in a box.

reckon, bloody,

"Stay calm! We can't panic! The absolute worst thing we could do right now is go tearing off in every direction but the right one."
Of course, by the time he'd finished speaking, everyone had already fled. He chewed on his knuckles for a moment, deciding to give up and wander back down to the boats.

"Oh, bloody brilliant! What was your next plan, use the Elf rope to trip it?"

The Patronuses may work well against the enemies, at least to balk them. Remus conjures a husky, or wolfhound. Sirius's patronus is a giant newfoundland dog. Oh we love our Newfies. James has a stag patronus. Lily's is... a falcon, or a tiger, a rabbit, or something. I have not established. Severus has either a cobra or a shark, bat, treefrog, or something. A creature that is kick-ass, but has a poor reputation.

Maybe I should have Sam take out Sauron. Or at least have him help. He and Frodo can both use wands. I have to figure out a way for Sam to be able to follow Frodo to the Grey Havens.

"Dear god, I can't take you lot anywhere! You are incapable of entering a realm without offending every being in it! Why must you always pick fights with the natives?"

description
The Chronodox is an extremely rare creature with several unusual properties associated with time. Its eyes, seven or twelve in all, are very valuable for certain types of potions and can run for quite a pretty penny, unless you know where to go. Severus wondered idly what kind of favor Slughorn would be expecting in exchange for this wondrous gift. eye of chronodox - seven or twelve
rare, slughorn lent, endangered
favor?
kinda like the pensieve
concerted
permanent
distract
when does Sirius turn human?
halfling
Sev fascinated by dark arts. Wonders how the Ring works.
elaborate more on why to steer clear
--don't screw up these people
James should hit on her more - be a good guy
Whomping Willow incident was a few weeks ago

ask why forest made them sleepy. Lily hesitant to voice her own fears. Later, they ask again. "It's part of Old Man Willow's spell, I think." "By the way, where was Old Tom Bombed-off-his-ass, or whatever his name was?" "Personally, I think it was better that he didn't find us."
ask how they met the irate tree "Do I even want to know what you did?" "We were minding our own business when the tree decided to eat me!" Snape raised an eyebrow, and glanced up at the tree, whose tendrils rustled softly in the wind. Wait, there was no wind here. He backed away slowly.

Sirius - Sarplaninac, newfie, groenendael Belgian Shepherd,
Severus calls him a poodle

I beg you to ignore this next bit. It is a report on my movie-viewing for a class. I wrote it, it is word count. The next bit with the X's and A's is for a logic assignment. It probably makes no sense. Please ignore it.

L. R.
Teaching Assignment
I had never seen the film Memento before viewing it in our film class, and afterwards I was so struck by it that I thought I had to show it to my parents. But perhaps I should have chosen a more linear film to view while teaching my mother about film.
My mother was certainly more used to classical continuity editing, and long after the movie ended, I was still helping her organize the storyline. One of the things we both eventually understood was that the color scenes and the black and white scenes are edited as different storylines. The black and white scenes progress in a linear fashion, eventually progressing to the "end" where Leonard kills Jimmy and starts off the color scenes, which have progressed from most recent further back into time. So the whole chronological timeline progresses through the black and white scenes in the hotel, to the climax with Jimmy, and then backwards through the color scenes to the very beginning, where Leonard has just shot Teddy. Eventually we cleared that up.
The opening sequence running backwards sets the viewer up for what is to come, how the rest of the movie is going to present itself; my mother understood that much. Also the mise-en-scene of the blood and the dead body warned her more of the noir aspects of the film that I did.
At one point while watching the movie, my mother indicated Leonard's shirt and asked: "Is blue significant?" To be perfectly honest, I don't know whether the color was symbolic of anything, but the clothes themselves (along with the car) are a plot device. They are originally Jimmy's clothes, which carry the message that brings Leonard to Natalie, who helps Leonard on his mission. The clothes could also work as a symbol of how Leonard has changed since he lost his ability to make memories. After he kills the man, he changes his clothes and we see him morph into a completely different person.
During one of the scenes where the audience sees Leonard's tattoos, my mother and I talked about the significant ones - "Remember Sammy Jankis" and the backwards one across his collar. Those two are his most significant reminders of his mission, the ones that drive him the most. When he is talking about Sammy on the phone with someone, he mentions to the person that Sammy "had no drive to make it work." As he listens and answers a question, the camera focuses on that one tattoo, "John G. raped and murdered my wife," before Leonard answers. "Yeah, I got a reason." The editing had a greater emotional impact than it would have otherwise.
Another thing I pointed out that heightened a part of the mystery is that during the black and white scenes while he's talking on the phone, the audience cannot hear who is on the other side of the line. The lack of voice helps keep the audience identified with Leonard in his condition - he has no idea who he is talking to, either. I think I said to Mom, "if we could, we would recognize the voice and then it would be no fun."
As Leonard reveals Sammy Jankis' story, I mentioned to Mother that one could look at this as some kind of karma. Leonard's advice and decisions doomed the Jankis couple, and now he has to deal with the same problem.
One of the things that really makes this movie work is Leonard's inner monologue. It shows his isolation and inability to trust anyone else with his mission. Also, having him narrate everything helps clarify his situation and actions to the audience. It keeps them from getting lost in the storyline (as my mother and I experienced.)
The most entertaining scene to my mother was when Leonard wakes up and realizes there's a guy tied up in the closet. He opens the door, stares, then closes it on the guy. His friend Teddy comes by and he opens the closet door again, Teddy starts, then gets up and closes it again quickly. This little bit doesn't have much dialogue, just Teddy's chattering, but it works so well with just the characters' expressions and the whole situation. At this point, we were not supposed to know that Dodd was a bad guy, so part of the humor was thinking, "This poor guy!"
During the scene where Leonard is writing the note on the back of Natalie's picture ("She has also lost someone and will help you out of pity."), we realized that he probably couldn't remember when she told him about Jimmy (it must have been at least an hour or two before this scene). So how did he know to write that? Did he just assume it? Or is it a tiny plot hole?
None of the characters in this film are particularly likable. They are complicated, neither saints nor demons, but their motives are certainly questionable. The two scenes with Natalie, the first where she returns to her house beaten up, and the next scene where she gets beaten up, really surprised Mom. Though she did notice during the first scene, "She's still walking, she can't be beaten up that badly."
The main impression Mother came away with at the end was amazement that Leonard was manipulated by everyone around him, even by himself. In one moment of anger, Leonard writes himself a note, knowing that it will kill the one man who has been helping him all this time. Granted, he can't fully understand that without all of his memories, but it really shows his demoralization that he can just make that kind of decision to kill a man. Leonard is a pitiable character, mainly because he is in such an easy position to be manipulated.
When my mother started asking me afterwards about the chronology, I realized that a person seeing this movie has to have a good memory. Or at least the DVD option of watching it in chronological order (which we both will when we get the chance). If a viewer forget the early scenes, he or she will not know what comes after the current one, and become totally lost. I wonder if the director considered that as well when editing this film?
It's likely. It helps the audience think about the film.
I think we may have spent more time talking about the non-linear editing that the frequent over-the-shoulder two-shots this director uses, but it was still a good experience. I showed a great movie to my mother, and helped her from becoming utterly confused. Maybe after a second viewing, we can focus more on other techniques the film uses.

*this is a special case of a more general problem

X. We should feast on Thanksgiving.
A. Considering how families live off turkey for the entire week after Thanksgiving, less food and packaging is wasted on this holiday than any normal day of the year. It is an efficient way to feed a group, and people are conscious of their consumption during this meal.
B. Feasting is a natural human inclination, and if we are able to feast not at the expense of others, then there is no reason to feel bad about feasting on Thanksgiving.
C. The point of Thanksgiving is to appreciate what you have, your bounty. The tradition started with people who did not have plenty. They were celebrating the fact that they had survived and gotten a decent harvest. Today we are honoring them.
D. Being at the beginning of the season of 'good will towards men,' Thanksgiving inspires people with plenty to share it. Many more people donate during this holiday, and many needy people get fed on Thanksgiving who otherwise would not at any other time of the year.
E. Thanksgiving stimulates our economy, not only by signaling Black Friday, but by anticipating the feast and supplying for the demand for food. It also saves money by being a more efficient method of feeding large amounts of people.
X. We should not feast on Thanksgiving.
A. The way we overindulge on Thanksgiving encourages waste of resources, especially in agriculture and transportation.
B. Anticipating Thanksgiving meals causes farms to overproduce. This often leads to the food animals being mistreated, and to more cropland being occupied. Also, transporting the food goods to the supermarkets prior to Thanksgiving puts more pollutants into the atmosphere.
C. Thanksgiving uses resources that could benefit a more needy cause, like a homeless shelter, or elementary school lunches.

This, however, I would greatly enjoy if you would look over. Maybe give me some ideas as to how to continue, motives, etc, hint hint I need help. It's Sherlock Holmes fanfiction, and is tremendously fun, but I've hit a bit of a roadblock.

Watson stumbled and slammed his knee into the rock face. Muttering an oath he adjusted his grip and slowly lowered himself down the wall. Holmes and various members of the local police force were already at the bottom of the gorge, shining their torches in the fading light.
"All right, Watson?" Holmes called over his shoulder. He was kneeling at the bank of the river, examining something with Chief Inspector Ross. Watson smiled weakly and assented, rubbing his knee gingerly. Not the best way to open a chapter.
This gorge was unusually small, Watson thought. Only fifteen feet deep, couldn't have been longer than fifty, and twenty across at its widest. The river that had cut through the earth was wide but fairly shallow, so left only a light gouge on the surface. The water was running now, its current too swift to have been frosted over. A bit nearer Watson there lay a long white tarp, almost glowing in the darkness. Watson shoved his hands into his pockets and approached the tarp.
"So this is the poor fellow," he murmured.
"Quite." Holmes came up behind him, pulling on thin gloves. "Shall we take a look, then, Inspector?"
"I think so," Ross replied somberly. He knelt down and peeled back the tarp, revealing the dead body of a young man.
Holmes took only a moment to scan over the corpse, over the dark hair cropped close to the scalp, over the clothes and sluffing skin. His eyes gleamed slightly as he looked up to ask Watson, "So what do you see, Doctor? I must say, this is probably more your area of expertise than mine."
Watson sighed. "Cadavers haven't been my expertise since I left medical school." He knelt down to get a better look as Ross raised his light higher. "He's been in the water, two, maybe three days. Possibly longer, given the cold temperature."
"When those lads found the body, he'd caught up against those rocks there," Ross pointed to a slight bend in the river's flow. "The current couldn't push him out again, so he could have been there for some time."
Watson swallowed and continued his observations. The man wore a flannel shirt, white undershirt, black pants, and massive brown boots etched with various scuff marks. The clothing was light, insufficient for the December weather, and when removed revealed that the body was covered with many cuts and bruises--
"--Most likely obtained shortly before his death," Watson finished.
Holmes smiled at Watson before looking back at the body. "He must have been planning on a short excursion to not even have a coat with him."
"Then he must live somewhere around here. Or, have lived," Watson corrected himself.
"There are a few townships around," affirmed Ross. "It's not a rare occurrence for locals to come out here. It's quiet, secluded. My guess is the poor bloke fell in the dark while taking a walk, got banged up on the way down, and his body landed in this here river."
"Perhaps," Holmes replied. Watson thought he detected a faint hint of disdain in his voice. The detective picked up the hand of the corpse and turned it over slowly. "This man had once had a fair fortune, though no longer. He was in the military, some time in the past - probably five, ten years ago," Holmes sniffed a moment, "and of late has more busied himself with farming and - Hallo!" Holmes grinned in surprise and ordered a pair of pincers and a small plate off the nearest officer. He readjusted his grip on the hand and started to scrape lightly underneath the index and middle fingernails.
Watson hesitated to ask while his friend was so engaged. "Military?"
"The tattoo on his wrist. Here we are!" A large piece of grit fell out from under the middle nail and landed with a clink on the plate. Holmes held it up to the light. The grain was cubic, no larger than a bread crumb, and glittered like a shard of glass.
"I thought so," Holmes murmured. "Galena."
"What is that?" asked Ross.
"Lead ore. The mineral of lead sulfide." Holmes secured the grit in a small bag and looked over the body once more, then suddenly stood, staring out at the landscape. "How far are we from Odin Mine, do you suppose?" he asked.
Ross shrugged. "It's in the area. Why?"
Holmes threw his eyes to the heavens at the Inspector's lack of perception. "Because this man, whoever he was, dealt daily with hay, dirt, and livestock. You can see for yourself, there are traces on his clothes and boots that are too deep for the water to have completely washed out. However, I only see galena on his hands. This man is not a miner, yet the only spot in this area of the Queen's England where he could have come in contact with galena would have been in a lead mine. And to my knowledge, Odin Mine is the only lead mine in the area."
Watson was just as surprised as Ross, but for a different reason. Holmes was rarely this straight-forward about his reasoning. He must have been near his conclusion. Of course, if what he was saying was true...
"The fact that the lead is only under his fingernails is particularly telling. This man did not die in the gorge. He was moved, after his death, from Odin Mine to this river. To make it plain," Holmes finished, looking Inspector Ross dead in the eye, "this man's death was murder, not accident."

A prostitute comes to Holmes to ask him to find her worker. Holmes knew a friend who became involved in prostitution. Drugs? Friend became involved in crime. Faked his own death. Holmes hunts him down. Trafficking?

Plot Summary, of sorts

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:58:17 GMT

This starts with a timeline and the main summary for the, er, middle part of the story, because everything coming after this is samll, disconnected scenes that make little sense together without summary, and it occurs to me now that a lot of the story I still have in my mind, I haven't written down here. At all. In fact, some of this summary contradicts my current plans. This portion even contradicts itself. Anyway, if anyone reading this has paid enough attention to become very, very confused, please tell me, I'll be glad to explain. Hell, I'll just be glad someone's reading this.

November the Twenty-Ninth - Frodo in Bree
October the Third - Gandalf fights on Weathertop
October the Sixth - Frodo stabbed
October the Twentieth - Ford
October the Twenty-Fourth - Frodo wakes up
October the Twenty-Fifth - Council
December the Twenty-Fifth - the Fellowship leaves Rivendell
January the Eleventh - Caradhras (few days)
January the Thirteenth - wolves, Moria
January the Fifteenth - Bridge of Khazad-dum, Nimrodel that night
January the Seventeenth - Caras Galadhon
January the Twenty-third - Gandalf pursues Balrog to peak of Zirakzigil
January the Twenty-fifth - Gandalf defeats the Balrog and dies
February the Sixteenth - leave Lorien
February the Twenty-sixth - Breaking of the Fellowship (Eomer heard the orcs were leaving Emyn Muil)
Boromir tries to take the Ring from Frodo, but Severus stops him. He asks Frodo for a chance to try to destroy the Ring. At first, Frodo refuses out of suspicion, but Severus tells him again and again, he doesn't want the ring. All he wants is a way to get home. He swears on the Ring that he will not take it. He tries Fiendfyre, one of the few substances that he knows will destroy a Horcrux. The Ring is destroyed, sending a shock wave out through the forest. It's finished.
The Fellowship is attacked. Lily, Sam and Pippin are captured by the Orcs. Boromir, after trying to protect them, is badly wounded, and Sirius saves him. When Severus learns Lily was captured, he demands that they follow, but no one else thinks they have a chance, with their injured. Sirius reminds him about the Rohirrim and Fangorn, and Severus settles for a slow pursuit. When they realize the wounded have no chance of surviving the trek, Severus gives up and tells them to head back to Minas Tirith. He'll go alone. Pippin escapes to Fangorn, but Lily and Sam are taken to Isengard. There, Saruman demands to know who among them could destroy the Ring. Lily and Sam have no idea, they weren't present. Saruman tortures Sam with the Cruciatus Curse until Lily tells him what she knows. She leaps at the Wizard and he catches her with his mind. She realizes this has to be Sauron. He possessed his servant the moment he looked in the Palantir, and when the Ring was no more, moved fully into this new host. He remembers from his travels that he needs to complete a ritual for the effect to be complete. Blood of the enemy, bone of the father, flesh of the servant. He knows their Wizarding magic.
As Aragorn and the others make it out of the tunnel, Gandalf meets them at the peak with his Eagle friend, and asks them to accompany them to Rohan. They arrive there, possessed Theoden casts the Killing Curse on Gandalf. The others flee, but are captured. Eowyn summons the courage to break them and her brother out, and together they flee across the plains, Remus leading the way from the map.
Severus realizes that Lily and Sam are already in Isengard, and the Ents will flood it out. He goes off on his own, reluctantly taking Frodo along. They find Pippin and together rouse the Ents, and using the diversion, fly into Isengard and rescue Lily and Sam.
Taking shelter in Fangorn, which is now moving slowly across Rohan, they meet up with Sirius, Boromir, Gimli, and Legolas, who in turn have met up with Aragorn, Remus, James, Merry, Eomer and Eowyn. Lily explains about Sauron, Aragorn about Gandalf, Severus about the Ring (and gets blamed for destroying their trump card). They decide the best route to take is to Minas Tirith, where they may be able to round up allies, or at least warn them that they now have three battlefronts to contend with.
Denethor has died, the day the Ring was destroyed, in fact. Warning bells. Severus and Pippin find the Palantir in his tower room. In the meantime, Boromir goes to visit his father's tomb, and suddenly the body moves. All the bodies move. Sauron has turned them into Inferi. Again, Sirius and Boromir fight together, while Merry seeks Severus for help. He knows all the dark things.
Lily and James take Frodo and Sam back to the Shire, hoping to prevent its scouring. They meet the patriarchs of the Took and Brandybuck clan, as well as many other leaders. They explain the war, and ask them either to flee or to fight. They start back for Isengard with fifty hobbits in tow, mostly from Merry's and Pippen's families. They meet up with Elrond's company south of Rivendell. His people have also heard the news, and have decided to stand beside men for one last battle. James finally meets Arwen.
Aragorn takes Gimli, Legolas, and Remus to the Paths of the Dead.

Frodo is fifty, an only child, a bachelor, and perfectly happy to live alone. Sam grew up among a lot of siblings, the youngest son. He's thirty-eight, responsible, easily content. Simple is not the right word. He speaks plainly, but has a fair amount of common sense, and is shrewd. Merry is another only child, growing up with his extended family in Buckland. He is thirty-six. Pippin is twenty-eight, turns twenty-nine, and grew up with three older sisters. He and Merry practically grew up together, exploring and getting into trouble.
Frodo has dark brown hair, and pale skin. He's taller than a lot of Hobbits. After meeting the Ents, he's going to shoot up like a tree. Sam has sandy hair and tanned skin from work. Merry has brown hair and fair skin, from his Fallowhide blood. Pippin has goldish blond hair, also due to Fallowhide ancestry.

"I am not a coward. You're just an idiot! At least I can calculate a decent plan of attack, or recognize when we need to retreat! All you Gryffindors do is charge blindly into enemy territory and hope to make it out with your guts still intact! Just because I have a brain doesn't mean I have no bravery."

"Your anger towards him is understandable, as he seems to inspire little else."
"I should have gone with them. I should have listened to Remus back then. I'm such an idiot."

Discussing whether to go to Gondor or Mordor. I can't understand how you brave, reckless gits can be hesitating. Do the right thing, and charge off into certain death? Weren't you saying something about forming a good plan of attack and figuring out how not to die for no reason?
They're a brave lot, but I question their judgment. Very often. Practically every day, in fact.

"Oh for God's sake, I don't want the bloody ring!" If I cannot destroy it using my methods, then I pledge, on the One Ring, that I will help you take it into Mordor to melt it in the volcano. I swear I will not take it for myself. Ever."
The Ring tempts him with visions of Lily. He could have her. It would give him that power. He could take them home, be a hero.

The sound of his heart hammered in his ears. Frodo breathed slowly and raised his head from the ground. Brushing a leaf out of his hair, he looked around warily. Severus lay sprawled on his back like a great dead bat, wand lying on the leaves near his open hand. Frodo stumbled forward. "Severus? Severus, are you all right?"
When he hears the Uruks come charging, he grabs the wand and drags Severus bodily behind a tree. He hopes to whatever powers that be that they will hide, and inadvertently casts a concealment charm. First hint of his powers.

Find the Stick-wavers! And the halflings! Charge, you maggots!
Stick-wavers? How articulate.

"Sam!" Lily raised her wand at the beast, blasting him with a Stinging Hex. As the monster scratched at the boils blooming on his foul face, she saw Sam jump aside and run to her. "Are you all right, Sam?"
"Yes, Miss. Come on!"
He took her hand and sprinted down the slope, dodging two Uruks and slashing a third open with his sword. She sent Stunning spells left and right, but they kept coming. There was no end to them. They wouldn't make it to the river.
Suddenly her wand arm was snagged in a vice-like grip and she screamed as she fell back. Sam stumbled and lunged at the one holding her, but out of nowhere a club swung down and knocked him aside. Lily struggled to reach his still figure, screamed his name as she wrestled with the creature holding her.
She felt a cracking blow to her gut. All her breath had left her, and she flopped forward over the shoulder of the Uruk, who hoisted her like the result of a day's hunt. Her mind beat against her listless body, willing herself to move, but the last sensation she felt was that of her wand slipping from her fingers and becoming lost among the leaves as her captor fled down the hill. She'd been captured.

Sirius sprang through the forest, dodging Orc arrow and tree bough, wand pointing hexes in all directions. The Horn of Gondor had stopped sounding long ago, but he kept running in the same direction. He had to find Boromir. Boromir!

"Hang on, I'll get these out." Sirius aimed his wand tip at one of the arrows sunk into his chest.
"Leave it!" Boromir grabbed his hand, pushing it away. "There is no point. It is finished."
"Oh, stow the fatalism, damn it!" Sirius shoved off his hand. "Relashio! Diffindo!" The arrows all fell to the ground as a seam ripped along the jacket. Sirius pulled back one side gently, watching the blood flow from the wounds. This was going to take some healing.
Boromir sighed and dropped his head against the ground. "You should not do this for me. I have paid for my treason, let me rest."
"No way in Hell." Sirius tried to blot the wounds. "You're not going to die on us now. Just stay quiet and give me a moment to heal this!
I'll have this healed in a-- in a minute."
"The world of men will fall," he whispered, "and my city to ruin. Where is Frodo?"
"How should I know?"
Boromir clutched his shoulder with a sudden fury effort. "Where is he? You must find him! He--"
"He's here."
Sirius whipped around. Severus was coming down the hill, the Ring-bearer hurrying after him. They both had black smudges on their clothes and faces, and Severus had a fierce welt on his arm, but they were walking, at least.
Severus looked Boromir over, no emotion on his face. "He's still alive?" he murmured.
Sirius glowered. "He is. Give me a hand, he's bleeding badly!"
Severus' look shifted into slight bemusement. "Isn't he supposed to die?"
"Where's everyone else?" he asked.
"They've been taken!" Gimli pounded into the glade, breathing heavily. Legolas followed swiftly after him, clutching his right arm, from which blood was flowing freely. "We fought them down the ridge, and saw another group fleeing to the west. They carried one of the little ones, and the girl."
Sirius paled. "Lily, captured?"
"WHAT?" Severus tore off the bag around his neck and yanked out the map. The Dwarf was right. He saw a cluster of black dots charging west and slightly north, carrying the dark green dot and two of the gold dots off with them. Two hobbits. And Lily.
"We're going after them." He folded the map quickly and crammed it back into the pouch. "Come on, they're not that far yet!"
"Wait a moment! We can't go anywhere right now. We've still got injured here!"
"Leave them!"
Sirius leapt up and grabbed his arm. "We're not going anywhere," he hissed. "Not until we've got everyone. We're not leaving anyone behind."
Spoken like a true Gryffindor. "The git's supposed to die," Severus whispered back, shoving out of his grip. "Lily said it was in the book, remember? Just let him go already!"
"What about our quest, then?" Gimli asked. "There's still the matter of going into Mordor and destroying the Ring, is there not?"
"That quest is finished," Frodo answered. Everyone stared at him. "Severus destroyed it in his own fire."
A sly angry gleam entered Sirius' eye. "Now who's changing the course of events?" he asked. Severus did not answer, but stalked away, heading upstream. Sirius scowled. "We're not going to abandon them, but we have to fix our own problems first.
(WHAT?)
Severus gritted his teeth and knelt down beside Boromir, shoving Sirius aside as he did so. "Move over, you can't heal anything for shite!"
"Follow when you can!"

"Oi! Where d'you think you're going!"
They froze as the Uruk guard charged toward them, hand axe raised. Damn it! One has to get free... As he came within a yard of them, Lily suddenly threw herself at his knees.
"Take him, Sam!"
The blow had the desired effect - the beast toppled forward over her, his axe flying out of his hand. Just as he tried to right himself, there was a heavy, solid crack to his head, and he dropped onto his stomach in the dirt. His bruised hands shaking, Sam crawled forward to help Lily wriggle out from under him, but she shook her head.
"Get the axe! Pippin, find the axe! You two cut yourselves free!"
Sam rolled over and finally gripped the axe between his hands, but halted. "But what about you, Miss Lily?"
Lily could hear the bellows and shouts of the battle above them. "You first! You two have to get out of here! Cut!"
Sam obliged, steadying the axe while Pippin ran the bonds on his wrists back and forth over the blade. Soon he could chop through the ones on his feet and was free. Pippin took the axe. "Now you, Sam!"
The thunder of horse hooves was coming closer. Or perhaps it was the pounding of feet. "Hurry!"
The rope on Sam's hands snapped apart and they worked on his feet. Suddenly an arrow whizzed over the hill and landed right next to them. Pippin jumped back and Sam yelped as the blade made a clean slice along his shin. Lily urged them to hurry as she looked up at the hilltop. Her heart almost stopped. Seven Uruks were rushing down towards them. She summoned all her courage, and turned to the hobbits, who were fumbling with the blade in their panic. She stared into Pippin's eyes and said in the calmest voice she could utter: "Pippin. Run. Run as fast as you can."

The hobbit flew as fast as his feet could carry him. Past fallen bodies. Past patches of grass stained black with blood. Aiming for the trees. She said to aim for the trees. He could hear Urks pursuing him, shouting and cursing, and blades slicing through the air. They didn't seem to remember the order to bring him alive. The forest was getting closer. He sucked in breath and made for a final sprint, praying that the Uruks would not have the strength to follow him. The branches creaked, seemed to reach out for Pippin as he leapt over one bough and disappeared among the leaves. He'd made it in.
He did not stop running for another hundred yards, until his foot caught on a great root and knocked him to the leafy floor, where he lay gasping for a solid minute. He'd made it. He'd shaken off the pursuers. He'd escaped Isengard.
He'd left Lily and Sam. Pippin took a raspy breath and huddled in to himself. He'd probably left them to die.
Pippin shuddered and buried his head in his hands. What would he do now?

"Sam! Sam, can you hear me?" She brushed her hand across his brow, searching, praying for some kind of response. The Cruciatus Curse was known to drive people mad at times. She shivered and kept whispering to him, almost shaking him. His brown eyes were blank, staring open like those of a corpse. She fought down the fear. No, he was still breathing!
"Sam! Sam, please wake up! Please!" She shook his shoulders again gently, fighting the tears she felt stinging the corners of her eyes. "Please..."
She pulled her friend in a tight embrace and prayed with all her heart to save him. "Revive," she whispered. "Wake up, Samwise."

"You really love him, don't you, Sam?"
Sam looked to the ground and nodded. "He and I've know each other for most of our lives, ever since he moved into Bag End. I was still a child, he'd just 'come a tween. He looked after me at times, taught me my letters. Sat with me while Mr. Bilbo told his stories. We always enjoyed each others' company. He is everything to me."

"Sev?" Lily gave him an incredulous glance. "Sev and I aren't in love. Whatever gave you that idea?"
"My apologies, Miss Lily. I- I didn't mean to offend."
"You didn't."
He seemed heartened. "It was just... some glances that would pass between you. The way he looks to you. You are the only one he seems to pay any heed to, of our companions."
"We're old friends." She leaned back against a splintery old barrel, resting her head against its rim. "Never been more or less. We look out for each other, but as far as... love goes..." She blushed. "Of course not."

"'Where there's life, there's hope,' as my Gaffer used to say, 'and need of vittles'."
Lily laughed, watching his face as he spoke. He was so hopeful. So sweet. Or just very skilled at staying cheerful. More so than she was, anyway.
"Do you think Frodo is all right?" he asked after a moment.
"I wish I knew." She thought that Frodo must be on his way to Mordor right now. He is trying to take the Ring to its destination, but he will fail. Without Sam there to help him, Frodo will either give up, or die, or be taken. He was doomed.
Sauron said the Ring was destroyed. Was it true? Did that mean Frodo was alive, and still with the company, freed from his burden? She didn't dare hope.

Severus rolled uncomfortably onto his side. How utterly stupid were these people? Of course Lily and Sam weren't on top of Orthanc, just look at what happened the last time Saruman put someone there. Gandalf had escaped pretty easily, pretty quickly, so unless the Head of the Order of Wizards was more of a sap than was implied, he'd have learned from his mistake. Did Boromir honestly think Saruman was enough of an imbecile to imprison his next important prisoner in the exact same place? Of course not! The Wizard would keep her in another chamber, probably in his underground laboratory and facilities, which--
Severus sat bolt upright. Which those trees are going to flood out soon.

"You're going to follow the Orcs, aren't you?"
"I'm going with you."
Severus nearly leapt out of his skin and drew his wand in a second. The light emanating from the tip revealed Frodo, sitting with his arms crossed on top of one of the bags of supplies. Severus sighed and debated whether to talk to him or just shove the little bloke off.
"I'm going with you," Frodo repeated.
Severus knelt down and yanked one of the pouches out from under the hobbit's hairy foot. As he started rummaging, he responded, "What makes you think I'm going anywhere?"
"You're going after Miss Lily. To Isengard." Frodo's pale face clouded over as he chewed his lip in distress. "Are you not?"
"No. Go back to sleep."
To Frodo's credit, he recognized a lie when he heard one. "If you don't take me with you, I'll wake up everyone else."
"As though they'll stop me." Severus found what he was looking for, and with some effort, extricated James' makeshift broom from the bag. After another hunt, he found the gossamer cloak. It would definitely help this time. "I'm going alone, hobbit. Just because I helped you before doesn't mean I'll help you again."
As he struggled to find the hood, the little hobbit nabbed the broomstick and held it aloft in his two tiny hands.
"I'll break the broom. Take me with you."
Severus rolled his eyes. "And what, pray tell, could you do if I did take you? Distract an Orc or two while I sneak into Isengard? Be a shield for arrows?" The hobbit was not daunted. "Why do you want to go, anyway? I thought I just made it so you didn't need to die heroically."
"They took Sam and Pippin."
Oh right, his beloved gardener.
"You would die for them?"
Frodo gave him a helpless look. "They will die for me before long if I do not do something."
Severus gave him a very hard stare, then sighed and hoisted the broom over his shoulder. Turning around he said, "Slow me down and I leave you behind."

"You always say playing the hero is what will get us all killed."
Severus heaved a great aggravated sigh as he glanced toward the sky, which was darkening steadily. "Yeah, well, look how many times I've been proved wrong."

"If you want to that badly, then go to Minas Tirith. I've done everything I can, but these wounds will need more than my patching. Have fun, get off your face, save the people if you can. In the meantime, I'm going to Isengard, and you will not stop me."
Legolas can at least travel in that condition, but Boromir doesn't have a chance. He has to stay under the care of a healer, he couldn't possibly follow across Rohan. I mean, if one of us could mix a blood-replenishing potion, maybe, but there's no way with him like this.
"Right, as though I'm going to quietly follow the lead of the poodle."
Sirius' voice was dangerously even as he responded, "Well, it looks like everyone else would rather follow a poodle that a slimy git like you, whether you like it or not, we're not budging from this spot."
"Elrond said we were all bound to go only as far as we were willing. If you want to go to Minas Tirith and leave the others to die, that's your choice. As for me, I'm going to Isengard, and you're not going to stop me. I don't care whether you come or not, but I'm going."

Sirius is pissed that Severus took one of the brooms, but is more concerned with getting his companions to safety to worry over it.

Severus kicked off from the ground and gasped as it lurched up and to the left, almost leaving behind his stomach. He recalled bitterly that even if this were a professionally made broom, it would still buck under him. He forced the stick still and leaned forward slightly, urging it to progress forward.

"Is that Isengard, Frodo?"
They were circling steadily, the broom stuck in a looping spiral that Severus was afraid to alter, in case it decided to veer and suddenly drop them. The little hobbit fumbled with the map and looked down under the Invisibility cloak to compare with the landscape. "I think so," he called back.
Severus nodded. The giant circle of stone, surrounded by a short fence of stone, and marked by a gigantic black tower in the center. All round the monument belched flames and smoke. He took a deep breath and angled the broom down slightly. It lurched and plummeted about a hundred feet, but both Severus and Frodo were quite used to it by now. And now that he had a closer view of the fortress Severus concluded that there was no way they would be able to get in there without a distraction.
"Only Sam and Lily are in there, right?"
"Yes. Pippin managed to escape."
Into Fangorn. On the broom's next cycle, he saw the vast green expanse of the forest. Well, there was nothing for it but to speed those Ents up.

On the broom, Severus flies it while he has Frodo search the map. They find Isengard nie impregnable, but realize that Pippin is already in Fangorn. They search the forest.
"Pippin! Pippin, can you hear me? It is Frodo! Come out!"
"Peregrin! Peregrin Took! Come out here, you little blighter--" He caught a harsh glare from Frodo. "We're trying to rescue you!"

Voices. Pippin moaned and raised his head slowly and glanced around. He was surrounded by green, fanning leaves and tree bark. He was in a tree, sleeping in the crook between two thick branches. He struggled to remember how he had ended up in a tree. The Orcs. Miss Lily. Sam. He'd fled into the forest. Found a hollow. He'd never climbed a--
"So you are awake, young creature."
Pippin almost fell off his perch in surprise. At almost the same moment, he realized the tree was moving. Lumbering up and down, as though it were taking giant steps. Pippin almost fell out of the tree again when he realized it was.
"Hrooom! You are awake, are you not? I thought I heard you move."
The voice was deep and strong, like a gigantic pan pipe. The tree was talking, too. Pippin had hardly decided whether to freeze where he was or jump down and bolt when he saw a large, rough treeish hand reach up to grab him. He cried out in fear and stumbled backwards, landing on in its other bark-covered hand. The tree grasped him gently but firmly and brought him up to its face.
"Hroom. Who are you?" it asked. "You are neither Orc nor Elf nor Man nor Dwarf, but I have never seen your like in this forest before."
"I- I am a hobbit," Pippin answered, slowly struggling to a stand. "A halfling, or Perian. I am Peregrin Took, of Tookborough, one of the Shire-Folk. Wh- Who are you?"
"I am an Ent. I am the Ent Fangorn, or Treebeard as some call me."

While waiting for the Ents to reach their foregone conclusion to wage war against Saruman and his orcs, Severus has no choice but to listen to Pippin and Frodo talk. Eventually they get onto the subject of their family relations. Snape can't help asking, "So you're cousins." "Yes." "And Merry's your cousin, too." "My first cousin, Frodo's second removed on his mother's side or some such I don't remember." They go into long lines of their hobbit ancestry, mentioning more than one relative in different relationships to each one multiple times. Severus pondered this a moment. "Is Sam your cousin as well?" "No, the Gamgees are old family friends." "Ah, so it's just the gentry, then." "What is just the gentry?"

Severus and the hobbits plunged down one of the factory shafts, his Shield Charm protecting them from the uprising blast of steam. He angled the broom towards a high walkway overlooking the main floor and they skidded to a stop. "Where to, now?" Frodo asked.
Zooming in on the map, he could see that Lily and Sam were celled together, directly east of them. According to the Four-Point spell, that put them directly at the end of one of two passages before them. Already water was creeping across the dirt and rock floor before them. He sucked his teeth, thinking, then turned to Frodo. "You two take the left path, I'll take the right. If you find her, come back here and-- damn it, wait." He fished in his leather pouch and brought out Lily's willow wand, slightly bent, but still perfect. "Take this with you," he told the halflings. "If you find Lily, she can use it to escape. I'll watch on the map for you. When we find them, we'll all meet back here. Do you understand?"
Both hobbits nodded. Frodo took the wand and secured it in his belt, next to the blade Sting. Severus fought down the doubts screaming in his ears and turned down the right path. "Go now!"

Frodo sat on the floor, wide-eyed, the willow wand trembling in his tiny fingers. "Was that... me?" His voice was weak with shock.
Pippin caught his breath and ventured forward to examine the smoldering hole the orc had disappeared into. A low whistle escaped his lips as he scuttled back to his cousin. "Well, if it wasn't you, then someone just did us an incredible favor. I expect to hear him ask for payment any second now."
"Oi, down this way!"
"But we can not wait to find out!" Pippin grabbed Frodo by the sleeve and they sloshed down the corridor as fast as they could.
we've hit an incredible stroke of luck, which I doubt, offhand."

Her face was wet. Lily forced open her heavy eye-lids. She was lying on her side on the cold floor of the cell, her arm around Sam, who lay like he was still asleep. The floor was covered with water, and its level was rising quickly. She started and shoved herself up off the floor. Isengard was flooding. The Ents had come and gathered the waters of the Isen, and were flooding out its factories and orcs and trapping Saruman in his tower--
And drowning her and Sam. The Ents had no idea they were down here.
The water crept slowly and silently across the floor,

When Lily realizes who Frodo meant by "he helped us come here." "Sev?" He gave her a look. "Who did you think, that stupid tosser Black? Come on!"

Long 7

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:43:19 GMT

This is a longer piece, and very bullet-point-ish, but it has the first hints of slash and comraderie, so I hope that makes the reading worth it. Though the Legolas/Gimli scene seems a little out of place... anyway, opinions are always (sought for) welcome.
Please scan through (use Ctrl-F if TL;DR) for the scene on "the clean snow glittered." I'm kinda proud of that one.

DECEMBER 25
"I think this is Christmas day."
The Fellowship and the Five, as they so aptly came to be called, were standing outside.

Now there are thirteen in the fellowship, rather than nine to match the riders. Granted, being of an equal number as the riders was a dumb idea, but is anyone here superstitious?

Traveling under the cover of night. "Isn't that when these creatures like to stalk?"
Boromir describes and then gives a blast from his horn. "For the love of Merlin's pants! Do the words 'traveling under the cover of darkness in secrecy' mean nothing to you?"
"Always I let my horn cry at setting forth. Though we may walk in the shadows, I will not go forth as a thief in the night."
Severus groaned in exasperation and started marching off in the opposite direction. "You were right about those chances. This will be the shortest secret mission ever."
"Oh yes, a crack team of warriors, this lot."

"It's a world of bloody Gryffindors."

You leave him alone, or so help me
Lucky Snivellus, to have her to fight for him!
I don't need help from her!
Lily scoffed in disgust and stared up into his face. "You are an arrogant, bullying toerag, James Potter. Always have been, and always will be."

For the first two weeks, they travel south along the mountains' feet, bitter cold and generally miserable, for the wind is strong, and they don't dare light a fire. Legolas, with his Elvish eyesight, takes the rearguard while Lily leads, holding her map six inches from her face. She trips a lot. Before leaving, she asked Gandalf if he could fill in some spots on the map for her, such as the gate to Moria, and the pass of Cahradras.

"Because the last think we need is a bunch of beer-addled idiots making all of our decisions."

The next evening as they were making camp, Lily took out the map to check their one day's progress. She stared for a long moment before stashing it back in her bag. The lack of movement only added to the general glum mood of the group.
Sirius wrapped his cloak more closely about him, yet he still sat shivering. "S- So how long is this going to take?" he chattered through his teeth. "This whole trip, I mean."
"The mountains extend south for thirty days or more, as the crow flies," Aragorn answered. He was sitting a little off from the campfire, standing watch over their camp. "We have a long ways until we reach the Gap of Rohan."
"What?" James looked at LIly. "I thought we were heading to Moria."
Lily gave him a "what the hell are you doing that's later in the plot" look, but before he could repair his mistake, he realized the others were looking at him.
"Moria? While that is a concern, our first priority is to secure the safety of the Ring-bearer on his passage into Mordor."
"Wouldn't Moria be a bit of a shortcut, though?"
Lily dropped her hand onto her palm. Leave it to Potter.

Gimli tells the story of the Hobbit, from the Dwarves' point of view. Legolas interjects a little. "Thorin was right furious with Bilbo for taking the Arkenstone."
The five tell snatches from their History texts, tales of Beetle the Bard, some songs. Pippin and Merry sing some various drinking songs, and James and Sirius offer their own that they've heard over the years. They range from baudy to distasteful.
We could try the Ball of Kerrymuir. "If you've never been out on a Saturday night, you've never been out at all." Lily gets ready to kill them both. They tone it down a bit. They also try a sea shanty or two. Remus has a fair voice.
Lily starts telling fairy tales from The Brothers Grimm, and Remus admits that he knows a few of the stories. "My mother's Muggleborn," he explained. "So I grew up with both sets of folklore. Never heard of The Lord of the Rings, but she told me stories like The Prince and the Pauper, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty." He smiled grimly. "It's been a long time since I've heard any of them, though."
Pippin had to have been the most annoying hobbit in the history of Middle Earth. When he wasn't asking endless questions about life, the universe, and everything, he was blathering on about his time in the Shire, his and his cousins' adventures, and how good the beer was at The Greed Dragon. On the bright side, it gave Severus a chance to practice his lang-lock jinx, at least until Lily cottoned on and told him to stop harassing her beloved halflings.
Gimli talks about Dwarf women - plump and lovely. And they choose one mate for themselves, for life. What of widows? Do Dwarves not remarry after their spouse's death? A Dwarf man would not be able to, for competition. And a Dwarf woman would choose not to, by nature. We be stubborn beings, I suppose."

"Move your feet! It's not enough to know how to block a blow. You have to move fast to be able to dodge it. Again!"
Sirius heaved a breath and held the sword level with his eyes. He swung it down just in time for Boromir's blade to come crashing into it. Just as he was about to make a counter-strike, Boromir dived forward and brought his elbow to Sirius' shoulder. The force of the blow knocked him backwards and he swore as his sword fell from his hand. He clutched his shoulder. "When were you going to teach me that?"
"Now seemed a fine time." There was a keen gleam in Boromir's eyes as he picked up the sword and handed it back. "Just as you should live and breath by a particular style of sword-fighting, you must remember that it is not the only one. In battle, anticipation is key, for your enemies will always have something to surprise you with, and you must be prepared.
"Street-fighting," Sirius muttered in assent. "I get it." He swung his arm around a few times before accepting the sword again. "I'll move my feet this time."
He moved again but landed flat on his back within a minute. He'd raised the sword too high and ended up being forced down under the weight of his own weapon.
"Be thankful you didn't cleave yourself," were Boromir's words as he helped him up. "If you want to swing that high, I would say keep the blade over your enemies."
"I would say this damn sword's too heavy," Sirius complained. "If I could--" He paused mid-sentence and looked down at the sword, considering. As he picked it up again, he drew his wand from his pocket. He held the two items together, his eyes lit with a creative glint. "Let me try something."
become familiar with other in battle you
Sirius, James, and to some extent Remus learn how to handle a sword. Sirius tries lightening his, but has to work a few times to get it right. The first time makes it so light that he can't use the weight to his advantage, and has to work harder to hack into enemies. Eventually he reaches a fair balance and startles Boromir with how fast he can work. Lily and Severus don't bother, believing their wands are enough to protect them.
"What about when they get knocked out of your hand?" asked James. "I mean, I know it's happened to you, Sni- Snape."
Severus glared daggers at him, but said nothing. Potter and his friends had disarmed him before, but he didn't expect Orcs to be able to do the same.
"Just because you can disarm with spells doesn't mean other means would work."
James shrugged. "Suit yourself. Me, I'd like to have more than one way to defend myself."
"Yes, given your performance earlier I'm sure, were you to lose your wand, that you would hack at your enemies very bravely and die very suddenly."
"And all you'd need to take would be one arrow to the head," James sniped back.

The fire crackled merrily. Sam stirred the stew as the others sat around the campfire, swapping old tales and songs. Sirius started telling a story about his third day at Hogwarts, when his parents had apparently learned he'd been sorted into Gryffindor.
"At first I thought she'd sent me a Howler - a letter that explodes if you don't open it, and screams at you if you do - but she just likes red parchment." He looked up, shaking his head in wonder at the memory. "Mum always was the melodramatic sort. She said it was an utter mistake and it wasn't my fault that I was thrown to the rabble and that she would write our headmaster Dumbledore and have him re-sort me into Slytherin, because my parents are completely mental and they think that's the way to go. I wish I could have seen her face when she read my reply. I asked to be put in Gryffindor."
"You can choose?" Severus looked up, dropping his stand-offish attitude in surprise. He glanced at Lily.
"Well, first I asked for Hufflepuff, but the hat turned me down," Sirius joked. "I think sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't."
("Yeah, like how you'd never get into Ravenclaw," Lily said to James.)
"Yeah, like if one of you lot wanted to get into Ravenclaw," Lily offered.
"Or if you wanted to go to Gryf-- wait." James sat back. "Never mind."
The others laughed and Pippin asked what the differences between the houses were.
(the time he and James)

Merry chuckled and laid his bread down. "I can remember when I would visit Buckland as a child, and I would see Pippin here fleeing out of his house, dressed in some rosy nightmare his sister had forced him into."
"Oh, you had to remind me," Pippin moaned, dropping his head into his hands. "Pervinca was an absolute monster before she became a tween. No, even after she became a tween. No, even now when she's got her own husband to harass. Always seemed to think I was her own personal doll, just because I was five years younger."
"Or perhaps because you could never run fast enough."
"It was terrifying. Remember the dog, Merry?"
James cocked his head. "Dog?"
"You mean that giant one she and her beau found but couldn't keep, so she made you look after it because you said something about wanting a pet?"
"I'd meant a bird! Or a fish or something. I did not mean a wolf that could literally bite my head off!"
Lily laughed. "My sister did something like that once. She'd taken one of our neighbor's cats, and before Dad could come around asking about it, she decided to hide the yowling beast in my room." She shook her head. "There was cat dander all over my bed, and I had to clean the sheets."
Pippin gave her a commiserating look and turned to Merry. "What about that time she broke you mother's flowerpot and blamed it us?"
Merry smiled. "That actually was us, Pip."
"No it wasn't! She was watering the flower and we were out playing in the yard."
"And our ball flew through the window, shattered the flowerpot, and she went squealing to Mother before we could stop her."
Pippin sat back. "Oh."
Lily giggled and glanced at Sirius, who was lost in thought over his bowl of stew. "What about you, Black? You've got a brother somewhere, right?"
He glanced up and shrugged. "We used to prank each other, but it got a little tiring with Mum always taking his side. We just ignore each other, now. He went into Slytherin," he added to explain.

Sirius explains his family's fascination and long history with the Slytherins, even mentioning his great-great grandfather, who became one of the few Hogwarts headmasters out of Slytherin House.

Severus twisted the leaf between his fingers, watching it crumble and flake into the bowl of water. It was clean and soft, had a sharp, almost minty smell, like some roots he'd seen in Slughorn's storeroom. He sniffed the water hesitantly and started back. It certainly could clear your head! He stuck his finger in and tasted it. It was faint, but reminiscent of licorice. He sat back again. This was the Middle Earth miracle drug?

"What are these things on your face?" "My glasses? They help me see."

"Hello, James. What's the matter?"
"Did you find Legolas and Gimli?"
"Yeah, I found them."
Lily cocked her head. "And?"
James made several vague gestures and halting attempts at explanations. Finally he dropped onto the ground and fixed his eyes on the ground as he murmured, "They were snogging."
They were silent for a long moment, each contemplating this development. Lily 's mouth quirked into an inexplicable smile as she finally asked, "Each other?"
"No, a tree. Yes, each other! I think that would be implied by the general grammar rules of English."

"Yes, indeed," Lily tried to hide her sniggers under a straight face. "For shame, James Potter. What were you doing, spying on your comrades?"
"You told me to help them find firewood!"
"Did they find any, at least?"
"I saw a whole pile gathered next to them. But considering everything else I saw, I can't really trust my vision anymore."

They are all gentle-hobbits, from well-established and well-off and well-respected lines. Sam is the only one who's ever had to work for a living. Not that he minds it - he loves gardening - but it's a true distinction.

Lily, during her turn guarding the camp, watches Frodo and Sam as they sleep. They are truly cute. "My dear heroic hobbits."

I wonder if they will ever tell stories of us. Of Lily the Valiant, Severus and the Fire of Doom,

Sirius and Severus both think that taking the Ring may not be a bad idea. Lily stared at them coolly for a few moments, then abruptly turned and nudged Pippin's shoulder. "Pippin? Pippin, I'm sorry, but could you please wake up a moment?"
The littlest hobbit snirked and stirred. "What?"
"I need you to guard camp for a moment. We will be right back."
Sirius looked surprised. "We will?"
Lily lowers the barriers and leads them out to the greenery beyond. She listens, then lunges, her wand drawn. The others hear a hissing screech and soon Lily has produced Gollum, bound in thick cords and scorching them all with malevolent glares.
The creature was vile. A faint smell of fish and decay rose from the film coating his body. His sparse hair was long and scraggly, and his gigantic lamplike eyes stared at them with utmost hatred and fear. Around the gag, Severus could see several broken, jagged yellow teeth grinding into the rope.
"What is that?" Sirius asked, horror in his voice.
"That," answered Lily, slowly lowering the creature to the ground in front of them, "is Gollum."

"I wouldn't use Dark Magic on my worst enemies."
"Oh, really? So you'd rather hunt a creature for food by scaring the thing out of its mind, chasing it down, and mauling it rather than giving it a quick, painless death before it even realizes what has happened to it? That makes perfect sense."
Sirius sulked as he ate the stew Sam prepared.

Sirius stared at him mulishly. Sirius' expression was mulish, but he did not argue.

The clean snow glittered under the bright sun, covering the entire mountainside in a gleaming white light. And, of course, making the trek that much more slippery. The Fellowship made their slow ascent in relative silence.
Aragorn says something.
Aragorn turned away and resumed his march. They followed in silence for a few meters when, out of nowhere, the ranger was knocked off his feet by a snowball to the back of the head. Brushing himself off, he rounded on Remus, who pointed at Sirius, who jerked his thumb towards Frodo, who blinked and looked at James, who pointed down to Merry, who pointed at Sirius again, who looked around before blaming Lily, who rolled her eyes and pointed back to James and Sirius, who both indicated Pippin, who shrugged and nudged Sam forward, who shook his head in helpless bewilderment.
He sighed under his breath. They were stuck watching over children.

"Out of curiosity, when did Khazad-dum earn the name Moria?"
"Why?"
"Well, when I was looking through this dictionary I found, I read that the prefix 'Mor-' implies something is bad. You know, Mordor, Morannon, Minas Morgul. I'm guessing Moria means something along those lines, and I'm just wondering when that was adopted."
Lily shrugged. "Ask Gimli if you really want to know."

"Before we consider Moria, I should ask: does anyone here know of a creature called a Balrog?"
"It is Durin's Bane."
Lily nodded. "The Dwarves accidentally awoke a Balrog in Moria. I believe it is still asleep, but if we go that route, we must be very careful not to wake it up. Because if we do, we are all likely to die."

"How do they get it to glow like that?" Remus asked. He ran his hand down one of the grooves. A faint silver dust came away on his fingers.
"It's some kind of Mithril compound, I think." Lily stepped back to look at the inscription above the door. "Can you read this, Legolas?"
The elf nodded and scanned over the Elvish characters. "Ennyn Durin Aran Moria: Pedo mellon a minno. Im Narvi hain echant: Celebrimbor o Eregion teithant i thiw hin."
Severus, on Lily's other side, raised a prompting hand, "And translated...?"
Legolas added, slightly irritated, "The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria. Speak, friend, and enter. I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin - or Eregion - drew these signs."
"Hantalye, Legolas." Lily smiled and folded her arms across her chest. "Any thoughts?"
"I think we should just open the door, since you obviously know the answer," Severus murmured in her ear. She quirked a mischievous smile at him. He raised his voice, "It's a riddle."

"Come to think of it, why didn't the doors open when Legolas recited the words? I mean, he said 'mellon' somewhere in there..."
"You have to say it as though you know that's the password," Lily suggested. "Otherwise, anyone who could read it could get in."
"Wasn't that the whole point of the riddle's simplicity."
"They didn't want to make it that easy."

They travel for a few days through the mines, wands held lit and aloft. She warns them to be as quiet as possible, and to not set off anything. She specifically warns Pippin and keeps an eye on him. Book accuracy or not, she would rather not have to face the Balrog if she doesn't have to.

After the watcher in the water, Sirius asks him about dark magic. "For Merlin's... I am keeping us safe the best way I know how. And if some mad fit inspires you to show your enemies mercy, then Heaven help you, because I sure as Hell won't.

Flames: In which Severus is a hero for all of fifteen seconds.

"There is no way out. They are coming." Gimli hung his head and closed the book, unable to read any further. Lily reached out to put her hand on his shoulder, but he shook his head. "I was prepared for this."
"Drums in the deep," James mused. "Did he really hear that, or..."
"That's how the orcs communicate here. They were war drums. They send signals out with news, or when they hear of intruders--"
Something fell with an almighty crash behind her. Pippin left out of the way as rocks and debris flew in all directions from a crumbling pillar that had tipped over and was now tottering precariously above the mouth of a large, deep well. The bangs and clatter continued as most of the fallen debris made its way down the well, probably hitting every single surface and object it met on the way down.
Pippin stared at the spot he had just escaped; the entire company stared at the tipping pillar as the sounds reverberated across the walls and presumably all the passages throughout Moria. Lily clutched her hands to her face, eyes wide with horror. That was so much worse than a little stone down a well.

"BAR THE DOORS!"
They could hear the drums sounding deep within the caverns. Aragorn and Boromir forced the heavy doors shut and started jamming it with broken axe handles and heavy debris. They were safe for the moment from arrow fire, but at the same time trapped, unless...
Lily wracked her memory. There was a back way, another door leading out of Balin's tomb. They follow that route down to a lower level to a great hall of the Dwarven city, and then to the Bridge of Khazad-dum. If they could just find that door--
Pippin was babbling almost incoherently, following Lily as she followed the line of the wall. "I'm so sorry, Miss Lily! Even after you warned me! I tried to be careful, not to touch--"
"Will you stop whining? Try to do something useful during our last few seconds of life!"
"It's not your fault, Pippin! Personally, I blame fate for this."
"It's fate that he's a little git that is going to get us all killed?"
"Sev, you are NOT HELPING!"

Sirius had never seen a troll before, Cave, Mountain, Pit, River, Forest or otherwise. But it was nice to know the book's descriptions were accurate. It towered over all of them, its rock-like head leering down at them, its jaw hanging open to reveal broken teeth as large as Sirius' fist. He'd read in Fantastic Beast and Where to Find Them that trolls had a tough skin that made it difficult to cast spells on them. What kind of spells could attack a troll's thick hide?
He saw Aragorn leap forward and slash at the monster's gut. Oh, sword to the stomach. Right.

He saw Sam stumble and Frodo grasp him by the hand. They were falling behind. Before he even realized what he was doing, Sirius moved out of Gimli's path and back to the hobbits, landing on all fours as though positioned for a sprint. "FRODO! SAM! GET ON!"
"On wha--" Sam's question died in his throat as both he and the Ring-bearer were pulled onto the back of a giant black Newfoundland dog, which then bolted forward, moving back to the head of the pack.

The cavernous hall suddenly widens and they realize how close they are to reaching the bridge. Sirius with the two hobbits are the first to cross the bridge of Khazad-dum, followed by Legolas and Gimli, Boromir and Pippin, then Snape. Lily waits for the rest to pass before turning around to cast a Sealing Charm, or an Imperturbable Charm, or some type of shield spell on the high opening of the tunnel. The Balrog is too quick for her, however, and arrives before she can finish. The shield is shattered by the Balrog's sword, and the five go flying. Remus recalls that this is the point where Gandalf fell, and Lily had said there was a huge reservoir of water underneath the bridge. If he could bring some of that up...
Severus rushes back to save her, and casts Fiendfyre. Both spells work together to smite the Balrog, but they leave the company badly hurt.

"PROTEGO TOTAL--"
The sword of flame crashed down through her forming Shield Charm, scattering the companions across the bridge. Remus and James clutched to the one side, Aragorn and Merry hung off the other. None were close enough to be rescued without drawing the Balrog's attention. Lily lay still at the great demon's feet; Severus could just see her arm reaching out feebly.
Remus, Aragorn, Merry, James, and Lily get knocked by the Balrog's whip. All hanging off the side of the bridge except her.

Merry tumbled through the air, buffeted by rubble and wind. (Something something something)
And suddenly he felt nothing. He was floating. He had died. It felt like ice water.
Merry flailed to the surface and turned around in the water. He was in complete darkness, foundering - he had forgotten how to swim - he could see nothing--
He forced himself to take a breath and ignore the fact that half of what he swallowed was water. Really thick, ashy water. He could not panic. He could swim, at least enough to stay afloat. He treaded the water lightly, closing his eyes and imagining that he was back home in the shallows of the Brandywine, playing with his cousins. He spat out the silt in his mouth and opened his eyes again. He could see a weak light shaking a little further off, and started paddling for it. A voice called out, strained and thin.
"James! Aragorn! Sirius? Can any of you hear me?"
"Remus!" Merry swam faster, treading his way around the floating forms between him and the light. "Remus, I'm here! Help me!" He grabbed at one floating mass to shove it aside, and in his horror realized he was holding the arm of a dead orc. "Help me!"
"Accio hobbit!" Merry suddenly felt himself lurch forward and was pulled through the water at great speed. Then an arm was around him and he was raised slightly out of the water. "Are you all right, Merry?" he heard in his ear. He nodded, sputtering and shaking. The light from Remus' wand was almost blinding in the pitch black of the... where were they? A cave? A lake? How long did they even fall?
"Reemuuss! Remus, over here! Aragorn's hurt!"
Remus pulled Merry around. "Hang on to me. I'll take you."
The little hobbit felt too weary to argue. He clung on to Remus' shoulders as the young man pushed through the water. Well, at least he was a faster swimmer.
The wand light wavered and seemed to pulse as it passed in and out of the water. Merry tried to see how large the cavern was, but the weak light revealed nothing. They eventually saw James foundering, waving his lit wand in one hand and trying to hold up Aragorn with the other. They both looked very close to sinking. Remus grabbed Aragorn's other arm and raised his wand. "He's unconscious. Locomotor mortis!"
Aragorn's body rose out of the water as though hoisted by invisible strings. It dangled above the surface like some giant doll. Merry shivered. Blood was dribbling from a wound in his neck. Remus flicked his wand and the body started moving slowly into the darkness.
"Where are you sending him?" Merry demanded before he could stop himself.
"It's okay!" Remus assured him. "If just keep swimming forward, we'll find the edge of the water soon. Let's go." He paddled forward, keeping his wand arm aloft, James swimming by his side.
Within minutes they were lying on a muddy shore, gasping and coughing. Remus struggled to his feet as Merry slid off his back and lowered Aragorn gently to the ground. The man was much paler. He knelt by the wound and shone a light on it. It looked light, but a lot of blood had already flowed out of it.
"I tried Episkey a few times, but it didn't look like it was working." James knelt beside him, wiping his wet hair out of his face. He put his ear to Aragorn's chest. "But it looks like he's still breathing."
Remus held the tip of his wand to the wound and tried to recall the spell Severus used.
They could hear another voice calling from far off. Remus urged Merry onto his back and swam toward the source. Merry clung on to him,
"How did we survive that, by the way?"
"Cushioning Charm," answered James, wringing out his cloak. "I think Evans would be proud, don't you?"

The cavern was vast.
Remus reached into the pouch around his neck, paused, then pulled it off and turned it upside down to let the silt pour out. James, seeing this, sighed in exasperation and did the same for his own.
"You think any of it's ruined?"
"The map is." Remus dropped his copy onto the wet dirt; it made a heavy flopping sound as it fell. He rummaged again and pulled something else out. "On the other hand..."
He turned around and walked on his knees towards Merry, who was huddled in his now-dry cloak, and broke off a piece of chocolate. "Try this. I think it will help."
James looked up. "Why do you have chocolate?"
Remus shrugged, avoid his friend's eyes. "I always have some chocolate. You know that."
"Why didn't you mention this chocolate when we went through all our supplies?"
"Because I knew that if I did tell you I had chocolate, you and Padfoot would have ended up eating it all." He held the bar in his hands as he talked. "Chocolate should be saved for when we really need it, Prongs."
"And that's now?" James was eyeing the hobbit with envy.
"We just fell five thousand feet, cut him some slack."
"We," James repeated. "We fell down. Therefore, we need chocolate."
"Relax, James." Remus broke off another two pieces and tossed them to him. He wrapped up the rest of the bar and tucked it back into his bag. "Offer one to Aragorn."
Merry looked significantly more perky. "It is very good," he offered, trying to get every bit off his fingers. "You say you are going to save it?"

"Sam calls Frodo his master because he is in Frodo's employ, right?"
Merry glanced over his shoulder. "Yes. Frodo is Master of Bag End. Would there be another reason?"
"I'm not sure, that's why I asked."
"Well, it's not to say that Sam only sees Frodo as his employer. They have known each other for some years, old Sam and Frodo, and are close friends. You remember how quickly Sam volunteered as a companion when he realized Frodo's task. I think it's safe to say that dear Frodo is one of the most important things in the world to Samwise Gamgee. And him to Frodo."
"Are they in love?"
Remus could not stop himself from blurting out the question. Aragorn seemed to quicken his pace. Merry gave Remus a quizzical look. "What do you mean by that?"
Oh great, now he had to explain it? He fumbled for a way to phrase his question.
"In Middle Earth, is it... known for a man to have the same relationship with another man as he could with a woman?"
Merry's mouth dropped open, struggling to believe what he was hearing. "What?"
Aragorn walked for a moment in silence before contributing to the conversation, "Was this question at all brought about by certain companions of ours?"
"Er... yes?" So he wasn't the only one who noticed. "I guess it's not unheard of, then."
"It is true that men, when out on a long journey, cut off from comforts, and from women, at times will begin to quest among their comrades." Aragorn stared at the ceiling of the cavern as he talked, looking slightly uncomfortable.
"And it's condoned?" Remus asked.
"Yes. If it's between two consenting adults, and not shouted from the rooftops. Not encouraged, but not discouraged either. It's just understood that--"
"What happens in camp, stays in camp?" James supplied, trying to keep a straight face.
"I imagine so. Truth be told, some of the men I commanded among the Rangers had such relations. I never... understood it, but one of the first things I learned was that for a leader, to earn respect one has to show it first. And so I let the matter lie."
Remus nodded. "It makes sense." He glanced down to Merry, whose face was red as an apple, and considered for a moment. Maybe I shouldn't ask...

I have led many men over the course of my lifetime, and if I have learned nothing else, I now know that it is best to let such matters lie.

Merry laughed. "Well, I love my cousin dearly, but there are some things he has just never cottoned on to. Love is one of them. I can remember once when I was fairly young, and he was about... thirty? Yes, thirty, I believe. I remember one of the Hobbiton maidens inviting Frodo out to a festival. He enjoyed it, he told me later, but did not, as he put it, 'understand her fascination for the flower garden.'" Merry grinned as though at the musings of a naive child. "A flower garden is a very secluded spot, a very good place for speaking privately, or of sweet nothings. Even at the time, I knew that, and I was not yet a tween! So Frodo was..."
"A little dense
"Dense as a box of lead?" James offered.
"Or (just not interested ) he held no feelings for her. He's never spoken of wanting to marry or anything of the sort. he seems perfectly content with himself and occasional visits from friends."
"How often does Sam work there?"
"Every day."
"Right."
"So he either has no interest in sex, or is just closeted and not willing to take risks."
Merry mouthed the words to himself, thinking. "If I interpret what you said correctly, then yes."

"I've been wondering," began Remus. "Can people from the different races have children together? For example, could an elf and a dwarf crossbreed?"
Elves and Men certainly can, though I have not heard of any other instances. Elves and Men are very similar, except for the life expectancy - maybe the other races are too different. Or they just keep to themselves and there's never been anyone who wanted to try.

"If you wish to win her heart, then your object is to charm her, not vex her. You will never get anywhere by playing the fool and antagonist."
"Since we're delving so deep into my personal life," James said with an edge to his voice, "Who is the girl you keep alluding to? The same one who gave you that?" He gestured to a small pendant around Aragorn's neck, glinting slightly in the dim light from Remus' wand.
"Her name is Arwen Undomiel. Arwen Evenstar, noble maiden of her people."
James was trying to remember whether Lily had mentioned her when Aragorn added, "She is the daughter of Lord Elrond."
"Oh, I remember," Merry exclaimed. "She sat by his side during the feast, the night before the Council. You were speaking to her afterward."
James remembered vaguely, he'd been too busy keeping his eye on Sirius and Celewen at the time. He tried to picture the woman Aragorn had been with.
"Long, dark hair, right?"
Aragorn smiled fondly. "Yes. And pale skin like the petals of a flower. Her eyes sparkle, she has a queenly radiance about her, as fair as her ancestor Luthien the Fair. And she is worthy and honorable, more so than many I have met in my life."
"Wow, I think I'd fall in love with her, too."
"Many would. Many have. She is revered among her people." Aragorn sighed. "But she has chosen me, and I fear the end that will bring to her."
"Why?"
"She is of the Half-Elven, blessed with immortal life. I-- However long I live, it will pass in the blink of an eye compared to the ages she will endure. Death is a thing her people have no fear of. I do not know if she has the strength to endure it. Were I a better man, I should tell her to let go, to take a ship to the West and forget this place. Especially now. She should go with her kind, and live the happier for it."
"Are you mental?"
Aragorn did not recognize the word, but clearly understood its meaning. His eyes narrowed as Remus caught his outburst and struggled to justify himself.
"I- I mean, er, why can't you just enjoy the time you have? I mean, just because something won't last forever doesn't mean it's not worth pursuing! If you two love each other, you should be together!"
"If we are together, I condemn her to death. To marry a mortal she must choose immortality."
You have to cherish every moment that you have together. Should never take a second for granted. It's a gift, a blessing. If you have it, you're lucky.
"Well, tell her that, then, but make it clear that it's her choice to make. She probably understood when she accepted your proposal. You did propose to her, right?"
"I did. But right now, the decision is moot. I cannot marry her unless I reestablish the Kingdom of Gondor. And Arnor. And become King of both."
"Blimey. Who's brilliant idea was that?"
"Her father's."
James thought for a moment. "Makes sense, I guess."
"He fears for her for the same reasons I do, more so, I am sure. She is his youngest child, and he does not revel in the idea of losing her."
"That's understandable."
Aragorn nodded. "I do not enjoy the idea, either. And I do not resent Elrond's conditions. He has been like a father to me, and I respect his judgment."
James thought for a moment, his mouth quirking in a smile. "Wouldn't that make her a bit like your sister?"
Remus shot him a exasperated look. "Why do you have to--"
"Elrond's brother was my ancestor, the first king of the Numenor."
James's smile faded. He'd not been expecting that reaction.
"So she's... your cousin?"
"Very distantly."
"Ah." Another concept condoned here.

Sixth Chunk

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:29:14 GMT

"Chunk" being a very apt word for this portion, and all the parts afterwards. This contains the Council of Elrond (which will be a pain to finish, thank you) and plot summary of what will happen over the next month. I still haven't worked out what will convince Lily to join the Fellowship, which is a problem, but I know what happens after. I apologize for the haphazard form of this entry, but it's a major draft, so not much I could really do. I think I worked on this after the halfway mark, so from here the whole story has a kind of panicked look. Lots of chunks of plot with an occasional actual scene in the midst. I hope you can manage.
Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!

OCTOBER 24
After Frodo wakes up, Elrond holds a grand feast in his honor. Lily can't resist going, and doesn't bother stopping the others. Sirius spends most of his evening with the Elven girl, Celewen. "Honestly," Lily muttered. "He's a dog in every sense of the word." Lily looks striking in the dress provided for her, with her hair loose, except for one braided strand along her right temple. Severus gets as cleaned up as possible. They speak with various guests, trying not to become too familiar. Merry meets Remus, much to their mutual chagrin.

Sirius finally manages to get the Elf maiden alone. He asked permission to visit with her when the feast came about.
"My name is Sirius." He put his hand over his heart, trying to indicate himself. "Sirius."
She smiled in understanding and nodded. "Siri-ous." The maiden turned to face him and pressed her hand to her own heart and spoke slowly. He had no idea what she said, but her voice was beautiful. She looked at his face and gave a soft melodic laugh, then repeated simply: "Celewen."
"Celewen," he felt the sound of it and beamed. "It's beautiful. Does your name mean anything? I mean, I heard that a lot of Elven names translated into something in High Elvish and I was just wondering... I'm sorry, you have no idea what I'm saying. Disregard last message."
The Elf's eyebrows had traveled further and further up her forehead as he spoke, and as he waved his hand for her to ignore it, she relaxed. He would just have to look it up later, he thought as he glanced back to the main hall. The music had started again, and he saw large groups moving around in unison through the partly-closed doorway. He pointed. "Dance?" She gave him another look of complete incomprehension, and he improvised with a swift turn on his heel and a flourish of his arms which made her burst out in melodic laughter. Having made a fool of himself, he asked again, and she nodded so enthusiastically that he knew it had been worth it.

OCTOBER 25
Light slanted into the room, a silent but bright and strong beam. Sirius shielded his eyes with a groan and turned over. With his other hand he fumbled for the cord that would close the four-poster. He never slept with the curtains open! What was going on? He could hear a bell sound somewhere far off in the distance.
A sharp rap at the door jolted Sirius awake, and he almost tumbled out of his bed. The giant bed the Elves had provided for them. Oh. Right. He groaned and hoisted himself back upright as Lily shouted through the door, "Potter, Black! Lupin! It's the bell for the Council! We're going to be late!"

The terraces and halls of Rivendell gleamed in the autumn light of early morning as Lily and her companions pounded down one after the other. They finally arrived at the porch where the Council of Elrond was held just as Elrond was finishing introductions.
"Here is Boromir, a man from the South. He arrived in the grey morning, and seeks for counsel. I have bidden him to be present, for here his questions will be an-- You, what is your business here?"
Lily caught her breath, trying to use her cloak to hide Sam, backing quietly further in the corner behind her. "I apologize, my lord--"
"I bade them come," Gandalf supplied for her. "For they also have some stake in this matter."
"I see." Elrond nodded at Gandalf, and soon Lily found herself sitting at the old wizard's side, opposite the hobbits Bilbo and Frodo. The younger hobbit looked thin, and worn, but heartier than she would have expected. There were no visible bruises, at least, so Black's little stunt hadn't caused irreparable damage. She sighed and sat back.
Lily scanned over the faces of the other guests, some familiar, others whose identities she could probably surmise. Several Elves, Glorfindel among them, watching his lord attentively. There was one Elf clad in different cloth from the others - green and brown, to make hiding easier among trees and forest cover. That had to be Legolas, the messenger from Mirkwood. She saw two Dwarves, one whose hair and beard where white, the other whose beard was a reddish-brown. Gimli and presumably his father Gloin. Aragorn son of Arathorn was sitting alone in one corner, dressed in travel garb; he faced Elrond as he spoke, but Lily could see him watching the five out of the corner of his eye. A little near him, but also apart from the group sat another dark-haired Man wearing rich yet travel-stained clothes, a large white horn on his lap. Boromir, son of the Steward of Gondor. Lily gulped. The man who will try to take the Ring.
Severus nudged her and whispered in her ear, "Which man is which, again?"
"So, which one is Boromir and which one is Aragorn?"

Oh, the joys of plot exposition. Severus sighed and settled as best he could on the hard stone bench. (This was going to take a while.) He hoped that this wouldn't take as long as he feared it would. But he reflected bitterly that his hopes tended to be almost always in vain.
For the first twenty minutes or so, the Council talked of nothing but inane events from various corners of the continent. The people of Dale were prospering. Wonderful. The Elves of Rivendell were composing more songs, including a few about Frodo's adventures thus far. Brilliant. Four of the Nazgul bodies had been accounted for. Well, at least their cloaks, their naked, ghost-ish bodies were practically immortal and so they would be coming back. Severus closed his eyes so no one could see them roll up. Did it not occur to anyone else that they should start addressing the serious matter at hand?
At last the Dwarf Gloin stood, and spoke of the troubles clouding the minds of the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. Get on with it!
"Words began to be whispered in secret: it was said that we were hemmed in a narrow place, and that greater wealth was to be gained in a wider world. Some spoke of venturing back to Moria, the mighty works of which we call in our own tongue Khazad-dum. They thought that we now had the power and numbers to return there. Alas... Moria, the wonder of the Northern world. But we delved too deep there, and so woke the nameless fear."
He could see Lily nod out of the corner of his eye and whisper to a questioning Remus, "The Balrog. That huge fire demon I told you about."
Gloin went on to explain that his people had been driven out of Moria many generations ago, and while they yearned to return, they also feared the place. The last dwarf who ventured there perished. "At last, Balin listened to the whispers, and resolved to go; and though Dain did not give him leave, he took with him Ori and Oin and many of our folk." That had been thirty years ago.
Severus listened as Gloin continued his sermon, noting only the bits that seemed key. Balin' and the others' plans at recolonization seemed to work at first, but after a while the Lonely Mountain Dwarves realized years had gone by and they had heard nothing from the troop. In the meantime, they had to fend off an emissary from Mordor, who asked them about a little old hobbit named Baggins. Apparently Baggins had stolen a "small trifle" from the Dark Lord. Severus wondered how plausible that story was to them, but out of desire to finish this meeting quickly, he decided not to ask.
"And so I have been sent here by Dain to warn Bilbo that he is being sought by the enemy, and to learn, if it may be, why he would desire this ring. This least of rings, as he says. Also, we crave the advice of Elrond, for the Shadow grows and draws ever nearer. Messengers have also come to King Brand in Dale, and that he is afraid. We fear he may yield, for war is already gathering on his eastern borders. If we give him no answer, the Enemy may move Men of his rule to attack Dale, and our own people also."
Elrond told Gloin that they had done well to come, for now they would hear all they would need to understand. Their troubles were a small part in the matter that was now threatening every kingdom and land of the West. The One Ring. "That is the purpose for which you are called hither. I say called, though I did not call you to me, strangers from many distant lands. But you have come here and met in the very nick of time, chance as it may seem. Yet it is not so. Believe now that it is now the task of we who sit here to find counsel for the peril of the world."
He went on to describe the history of the Ring, and all the history of Middle Earth, as it seemed. Severus stared up at the clear sky for several minutes as Elrond prattled on, pretty confident that Lily had laid this all out for them the night they landed outside Bree. How Sauron made the Ring because he was a git and wanted complete mastery over this little universe, how the Elf Celebrimbor fled when he figured out his teacher was completely power-mad, how the last people on Sauron's "to conquer" list managed to gather together under the command of Elendil and his two sons, Anarion and Isildur, and wage war against Sauron as The Last Alliance of Elves and Men.
Severus heard someone interrupt at one point; he glanced down to see Frodo ask Elrond how he remembered the last battle at the foot of Mount Doom (Do the words "immortal elf lord" mean anything to you and your curls there, halfling?) and to see Sirius sneak a pack of cards out from the small leather pouch hanging around his wrist. He didn't seriously think he could play something right in front of the council, did he? Then again, maybe he had the right idea.
Finally Elrond told them about how Isildur used the broken blade of some heirloom sword to hack off Sauron's hand, somehow killing the Dark Lord of terror and firepower, and taking the golden shiny for his own. The first in a series of very bad plans, apparently.

"So that is what became of the Ring.."
The new voice caused Sirius to drop his card deck on the ground, where it landed with a smack. He flinched and avoided Lily's gaze, distinctly hearing a snicker behind him. Greasy git. He looked back to the source of the voice. The stand-offish Man was leaning forward, his eyes full of wonder. This was Boromir, right? Right, Aragorn was sitting next to him. Travel clothes versus rich clothes. Right. "Isildur took it. That is serious tidings indeed."
"Isn't that why the Ring is called Isildur's Bane?"
Sirius started, hardly realizing he was the one who had spoken. The rest of the council stared at him, and he felt his face redden as he tried to come up with an explanation. "That-- that is one of its many names, right?"
"It is called that here in the North," Elrond agreed, saving the situation, "but I don't wonder that the word never reached Gondor. Isildur spent the remainder of his days near here, until he was slain by a company of Orcs." He continued his story. He recalled how Isildur had decided not to cast the Ring into the fire, and then went on and on about the fall of his people, the Westernesse. Gondor was the last remnant, but even that is now decaying. Some city became an evil city that housed the Ringwraiths. The rule of men is failing, blah, blah, blah. Evans enjoyed this? On the other hand, it did offer a few explanations for Boromir's actions later. As well as a few other things.
It was Boromir who tried to take the Ring from Frodo, right? Sod it. Sirius tuned out and worked on retrieving his card deck from the ground.
It was Boromir's turn to speak. Well, he took the opportunity, anyway. He defended Gondor's honor and glory, and bemoaned the fact that they'd spent almost half a year under attack from three different enemies. Troops from the south and east, not to mention the initial carnage wrought by the Black Riders back in June. Boromir then recalled a recurring dream that his brother had had, and recited a passage that sounded for all the world like a sphinx riddle. Seek a broken sword in Imlandris. Sirius recalled just in time that that was another name for Rivendell. A token will reveal doom, and Isildur's Bane has been found. "I think one of my questions has already been answered." And a halfling shall stand. Deep.
Sirius looked around, thinking to himself. The sword was the one Aragorn carried. The token is the Ring. And that poor halfling was sitting three seats down from him, and hanging his head a little.
One by one, the pieces of the puzzle were solved.
Aragorn unsheathed his sword and held it before him. It was far shorter than the scabbard, and sawed awkwardly at the end. "Here is the Sword that was Broken."
Boromir turned to look at this scruffy stranger, and said in a somewhat dignified manner, "Who are you and what have you to do with Minas Tirith."
"He's toured it," James muttered sarcastically. Sirius snickered and Lily shot them both a glance of annoyance. "Shh!"
revealed himself to carry the sword, an heirloom from Isildur, his ancestor. He was the heir to the Throne of Gondor. La di da. It was clear from Boromir's expression that this was the last answer he had been expecting. His response would have been no kinder, but he was interrupted by Frodo.
"So it belongs to you, and not to me at all!"
Sirius snickered as Aragorn assured the hobbit it was not so, and Elrond segued into the third part of the lecture. Or fourth. Or eighth, it was really hard to tell by now. Sirius wished with all his heart that they had gotten up in time for breakfast.
Elrond bade Frodo present the Ring. Sirius watched Boromir's expression as he watched the little hobbit step forward and place the trinket on the plinth before them. All were silent for some moments.

first speak of random events of the outside world. All except Lily zoned out.
Gloin told the tale of Moria, or Khazad-dum in the native tongue, which the Dwarves had abandoned many generations ago, fleeing from the nameless fear.
"The Balrog," Lily whispered before Remus could ask.
Gloin continued to explain the events of thirty years before, when Balin left with Oin and Ori, and many other Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain, to go to Moria to recolonize it, after fleeing from the nameless fear generations ago. Khazad-dum had been a great Dwarven kingdom before they had delved to greedily and too deep; they wanted to reestablish that power. But unfortunately, nothing had been heard from Balin's company since. Recently, an emissary came from Mordor, asking about Bilbo Baggins, whom he claimed had stolen a small trifle from the Lord Sauron. The Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain were troubled, and came to Elrond for advice, and to warn their old companion.
"Already war is gathering on the eastern borders. If we make no answer, the Enemy may move Men of his rule to assail King Brand, and Dain also."
"You will learn that your trouble is but part of the trouble of all the western world." Elrond tells of the origin of the Ring, of the flight of Celebrimbor when Sauron activated the one Ring, and the original war against Sauron, led by Elendil and his sons Anarion and Isildur, and the Last Alliance of Elves and Men.
Elrond mentioned that he remembered that last battle, of Dagorlad before the Black Gate, and the last stand at the foot of Mount Doom, where Isildur finally used the broken blade of Narsil to cut the Ring from Sauron's hand, and then took it for his own.
Boromir murmured, "So that is what became of the Ring. Isildur took it. That is tidings indeed."
"That's why it's called Isildur's Bane, isn't it? At least here?"
Went on and on about fall of the Westernesse. Gondor lasted, but for how long? Minas Ithil became Minas Morgul, and the Ring fell out of all knowledge.
Boromir speaks of Gondor, how they fight to keep the other lands safe. Talks about the attack back in June from the Nazgul, Haradrim, and Easterlings. He then left to seek Rivendell for counsel. On the eve of the attack, Faramir had a dream, which then recurred. Lily recites,
"Seek for the Sword that was broken, in Imlandris it dwells; There shall be counsels taken stronger than Morgul spells. There shall be shown a token that Doom is near at hand, for Isildur's Bane shall waken, and the Halfling forth shall stand."
Aragorn explains the sword that was broken - Narsil, which he carries with him. "And who are you, and what have you to do with Minas Tirith?" Heir of Isildur. Bit of a power struggle, eh?
"Then it belongs to you..." Frodo shows the ring
Doom and great deeds are indeed at hand. Boromir doubts him. What a surprise.
Aragorn reminds them that the Rangers have done their part in keeping others safe.
Boromir doubts it's the Ring. James and Sirius agree with Bilbo that it's really time to eat. Bilbo tells his tale as quickly as he can.
"Lily, why are we even here." Shrugs helplessly. They certainly weren't helping things.
Frodo tells his story, from Hobbiton to the Ford. It is entertaining. He still doesn't quite get Sirius saving him. Who are you?
Gandalf tells of the Necromancer, who turned out to be Sauron, and his banishment back to Mordor. But then he just declared himself and started gathering an army. And Saruman was a bastard and threw the Order off the scene because Sauron already bought him. At Bilbo's parting he became suspicious, hunted down Gollum with Aragorn's help. Then he went to Minas Tirith and found Isildur's scroll. "It is precious to me." "Precious," murmured Lily. "That would clinch it for me." Probably the most significant line on that page.
Gollum was taken into Mordor and interrogated. Gandalf tested the ring in fire.
Ash nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.
Lily shivered and wrenched forward, a bleak howl reverberating in her skull. It truly did have an effect.
"If that tongue is not soon to be heard in every corner of the West, then let all put doubt aside that this thing is indeed what the Wise have declared it.
One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.
Legolas sees this is the moment to pass his message. Mrikwood is evil again, and Gollum has escaped from the Elves. "Hail the Wise and Powerful Wood Elves." We took pity on him. "You were less tender to me," Gloin pointed out, glaring daggers at the young Elf. The young Elf glared right back. Gandalf waved their anger aside. "If all the grievances between Elves and Dwarves are to be pointed out now, we shall never get anywhere."
What of Saruman? Met Radagast dwells near Mirkwood. Thank goodness we didn't try to find him, thought Lily. She listened as Gandalf the Wise told his story. He'd met Radagast on a road outside the Shire. He warned Gandalf that the Nazgul had been seen abroad, and were asking for news of a place called "Shire." He passed a message on from Saruman, which turned out to be a trap, of course. Though, Gandalf's trust did make sense. Saruman had studies the arts of the Enemy himself, and was one of the only reasons why they weren't all speaking the Black Speech of Mordor. Lily wondered when exactly Saruman had been bought off.
Told Radagast to send him messages. Stayed at Bree and left message for Frodo. As Gandalf recounted his exchanges with Saruman, she reflected on what a relief it was that they had not gone to him. What a jerk. Hmm. She'd forgotten the part where Saruman had become Saruman of Many Colors.
"I liked white better." Snicker.
"Precious. Sounds like something you'd call a high-maintenance girlfriend."
talks about the transformation in Isengard. Eagles are friends of Radagast's. Gwahir the Wind Lord, swiftest of the Eagles. takes him to Edoras, where he steals Shadowfax. "If Saruman has become evil, as you say, then their doom cannot be long delayed." Aragorn and Boromir dismayed that Rohan pays tribute to Mordor. From Rohan to Shire, words with old Gaffer. "Worst is a bad word, and I hope you do not live to see it." Bree, Weathertop, story done. "But we have not yet come any nearer to our purpose." "No, really?" "What shall we do with it?" It being the Ring.
talk about Bombadil for a while. Sirius almost falls out of his seat.
no one has the strength to overcome Sauron if he chooses to act. Either send the ring over the sea, or destroy it. They who dwell across the sea would not take it; for good or ill, it belongs to Middle Earth. In the Sea, it would be safe. For how long? Both hiding it and making it are beyond our power! The path West will be watched. Now at this last we must take a hard road, a road unforseen. To walk into peril - to Mordor. We must send the Ring to the Fire."
Boromir actually suggests they use the ring. Let the Ring be your weapon, if it has such power as you say. Take it and go forth to victory!
We cannot use the Ruling Ring. belongs to Sauron, is altogether evil. strength too great for anyone to wield at will, save those who already possess great power. but for them it is deadlier, it corrupts. As long as the Ring is in the world it will be a danger even to the Wise. I fear to take the ring to hide it. I will not take the Ring to wield it.
something about the seven and the three. Elves rings will diminish if one is destroyed. but that is a risk they are willing to take.
Bilbo assumes they want him to take it back. Boromir starts to laugh, but stops - others show little hobbit respect. "Senile little house elf, isn't he?" Lily stomps on his foot. "Can't we think of some names now?"
only lasts until noon? Lily watches Frodo as everyone considers. Goes through a range of facial expressions, from curious, to somber, to anxious, yearning, to unwilling frustration at the inevitable. He sighed and finally spoke in a small, soft voice. "I will take the Ring, though I do not know the way." Lily's heart felt a twinge of pity. Fate, anyway. Sam jumps to help him.

The Council droned on. Gandalf, Elrond, and everyone else present advised each other on the history of the Ring, the fall of Gondor, how the monster Gollum was captured, and how the brilliant and powerful Elves of the Wood managed to lose the creature to a bunch of Orcs, how Gandalf escaped from Saruman's tower... Severus wondered after a while whether it was a long, intricate, drawn-out technique of Gandalf's to brainwash the five into helping him.

"Perhaps this is not the best time to ask, but just exactly how does one use the ring? What does it do? Does it enhance the magical power of its wearer, or allow anyone to perform magic, or act as a bomb or..."

"My lord Gandalf, do you not have friends among the Eagles, whom we might ask a favor of? Gwahir said he could bear you many leagues. How far could he fly unburdened?"
He'd heard of devices that could hold a Wizard's soul from falling beyond the grave. Perhaps that was what this was - a particularly powerful and versatile Horcrux.
"You know," he said after a while, finding a break in Gandalf's narrative. "I think I know an easier way to do this."

Behold! The Lighthouse of Mordor!

Gandalf cocked his head as he came side to side with Lily. "You did not ask your question, my young friend."
"It didn't seem a good idea to interrupt. Though my friends did enough of that, certainly."
Remus understands Gandalf the most out of the five.
Because they are here, and because they came into contact with one of the Nine, Gandalf has to see how much Sauron knows of their presence. Must investigate to protect them all. So he cannot come with Frodo on his quest. He leaves the Fellowship in Lily's charge.

Lily paused and found herself gravitating toward the low window, flattening herself against the wall right beside it. Within the room she could hear voices speaking very familiar words.
"We have come a long way with you and have been through some stiff times. We want to go on."
"That's what I meant! We hobbits ought to stick together, and we will. I shall go, unless they chain me up! After all, there must be some persons of intelligence in the party."
Severus frowned and whispered in a displeased voice. "Is that who I think it is?"
Lily's mouth broke into a smile. This must have been Bilbo's room, where Merry and Pippin were speaking with Frodo after the Council. Then, in about five seconds--
"Then you certainly will not be chosen, Peregrin Took!" Gandalf entered from the door on the opposite side of the room. Lily backed away slightly as she saw the Wizard approach the window, though she was fairly sure that no one inside could actually see her. Come to think of it, it was a lucky thing this corridor seemed deserted. "But you are all worrying yourselves unnecessarily. Nothing is decided yet."
"Nothing decided!" she could hear Pippin cry, and nearly laughed aloud. "But then what were you all doing? You were shut up for hours!" Severus, who held the same opinion, stifled an exasperated groan.
Lily grinned from ear to ear as she mouthed Bilbo's familiar and absolutely accurate response: "Talking." She saw Severus staring at her as though she had a flower growing out of her nose. She smiled at him and shrugged as Bilbo continued. "There was a deal of talk, and I think everyone had an eye-opener. To think someone could suggest another way to destroy the Ring. Those young friends of yours, Gandalf, are a curious bunch."

Among these people women and men are equals. Women and men are equal among Elves. You will find no reason to hide yourself here.

"So tell me again, why we're doing this?"
"What, shielding the cloaks?"
Severus slammed his hand on the oak work table. "Try going into a situation where we need bloody Shield Charms on all our cloaks."
Lily shook her head, not looking up from the heap of cloth she was tracing over with her wand. "I really wish I could say, Sev."
There was a yell and a loud crash from outside. Lily banged her head on the desk and groaned.
"For the love of Merlin's sagging left--"
She stood up and ran her hand through her hair distractedly as she yanked open the door and stormed out into the courtyard.
"Potter! Elrond warned you, Gandalf warned you, I warned you: if you crash into the Elves' azaleas one more time, one of the gardeners is going to shoot you, and I'm not going to stop them!"
Potter was kneeling on the ground, either in pain or trying to hide the flattened flower bush. She could see Remus and Sirius a little farther off, trying to coax a giant stick down from the branches of a laurel tree.
"I'm so sorry, Evans," he snapped. "I've been trying to get it to throw me into the fountain, or somewhere a little softer. If only the damned thing were more considerate. But if that were the case, it wouldn't be throwing me at all, would it?"
It was kind of hilarious how he kept blaming the broom, she thought to herself as Remus and Sirius came back. He'd gotten the idea the previous evening, probably inspired by the prospect of more walking: "Why not make brooms for ourselves?" She'd wished him luck and left him to it, and he'd been working on one since early that morning. The surprising thing was that it actually seemed to be able to fly.
"May I see it?" she asked. Remus handed it to her without question, and she looked it over. It was clearly a homemade broom, not nearly as smooth as the Nimbuses, or even a Shooting Star. But it was light, and fairly slipstream. She traced her wand along the handle. "Huh. You know, Potter, for such a hot-shot flyer and Quidditch player, you know remarkably little about broomsticks."
He straightened up, massaging his lower back. "How so?" he asked guardedly.
"Well, for starters, the seat almost always has a Cushioning Charm on it, so you don't hurt yourself riding it. And, considering the way it keeps bucking you, it probably wouldn't hurt for you to add a Gripping Charm."
"Thanks so much." He plucked the broom from her hands and walked back to the other side of the fountain, where he fished his wand out of the bushes. She threw her eyes to the heavens and stalked back into the study.

He stared at Snape in disbelief. "How the hell do you know healing magic?"
the incantation slows the blood flow and knits the wounds. At least, wounds inflicted by dark magic. While working on something, studying various curses and hexes, it occurred to him that he should have at least a basic understanding of counter-curses and methods of undoing injuries. The power to heal helps balance the power to hurt. Lily asks him to teach them healing spells. Do I have to? "Must I really?"
It first occurred to him when he was inventing Sectumsempra. He needed a way to stop the bleeding.

The cloaks they bring from Rivendell are imbued with shields. The fabric is still maleable, airy, light, but slam an axe blade against it and the opposing force is as solid as steel. Nothing could pass through, though of course, something could pass around it.

"You are sixteen, yes?" Boromir's smile was plain and sincere, though Sirius thought he could almost see condescension in it. "That is a remarkable age, to be sure. You have all the knowledge that makes you a man, or at least, you think you do, yet you still retain the sense, caution, and courtesy of an infant. You think you know the right path to take, and so you scorn those who would offer guidance. You think you cannot die, so the decisions you make almost ensure death. Only by some grace of the Valar are you saved, and only then do you begin to grow. It is a truly remarkable age, sixteen."
Sirius bristled.

Between the day of the Council and the actually departure, Sirius and James wreck absolute havoc on Rivendell. They're just a few harmless pranks, but it makes the Elves very eager to see them leave. While not wrecking havoc, Sirius spends a lot of time with Celewen, teaching her a little English, and other things with her tongue. Elves, living forever, rarely form serious attachments to mortals, so a short fling is not by any means out of the question. Sirius is very happy to hear.
Celewen is a skilled dancer and sword-player. She calls Sirius some Elvish translation of "Dog Star," Huangil. Gilohuan. Remus' name is... what, Guarian? Wolf Son, or wolf light or something. Severus' name would probably have something to do with a snake. I need to learn Elvish.
At the end of all things, or the final battle, the Elves of Rivendell come for one last stand. Celewen is among them, and Sirius is blown away by her prowess. Still not sure what would develop from it. A fling with an elven maid is not a bad thing.

Bit 5

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:19:40 GMT

And here we meet Gandalf. I hope I wrote him well.

OCTOBER 20
In the early morning they broke camp again and resumed walking.
The woods lightened as the trees thinned, and after a time they came to the edge of a deep gorge. Their sight was obscured by the plant life, but they could hear water running at the bottom.
"I think this is the ford," Lily ventured. She stuffed her bag into a pocket of her tunic and stepped off the edge of the ridge onto a steady rock a little further down. "Tread lightly, and be careful at the bottom."
"Why?" asked James, who'd started to follow her down. "What's at the bottom?"
"The ford's enchanted by Elrond, and river-horses will flood the entire area if we trigger them."
Sirius paused, foot inches from the foothold he was aiming for. "Then why are we going down there and triggering them instead of calmly waiting up here, in safety?"
"There'd be nothing to wait for. The flood's a precaution Elrond and Gandalf set up, to protect Frodo from the pursuing Nazgul. They'd have no reason to come out here. Now, chances are--" she cried out as the rocks slid out from under her boot. "Ow! Damn. Chances are, that we won't trigger the flood, but we should still be careful."
Severus yanked his boot out of the gravel pit it had fallen into. "That's an understatement."
They made their way slowly down the ridge. The water below was three or four feet deep and swift, sloshing over the rocks along the banks. It looked as though it was in a dry season; the water level was much lower than it should have been, compared to the wide area of the gorge. Lily stopped at the edge, picked up a good-sized rock, and pitched it toward the middle of the stream. It landed with a splashing clunk.
"No flood horses," Remus observed. Lily still looked hesitant. They all glanced up and down the river, considering.
"Do you think we could outrun a flood?" Sirius suggested.
"You mean swim thirty yards in however many seconds?" James answered. "We could certainly try it."
Remus held his hand out to block his friend's crossing. "I don't think we will need to."
He was gazing up at the line of trees along the opposite bank, among which they could just discern a slender blond figure, who had his bow and arrow fixed on them. Then they saw another figure, hiding a few yards to the left. And another.
"I guess the river wasn't the only precaution, eh?" Sirius murmured. He reached for his wand, but Lily caught his eyes and shook her head.
"Wait a moment," she whispered to the four. She squared her magically-broadened shoulders and called out to the Elven archers in a deep voice:
"Hail, Elves of Rivendell. We are travelers, seeking shelter and guidance only. We bring no harm or danger to your people. We believe that you are housing the Wizard Gandalf the Grey in Rivendell. We seek his audience and counsel. We would also wish to speak to thy lord Elrond the Halfelven, if he would deign to see us."
"Why are you talking like that?" James asked out of the corner of his mouth.
Lily tried very hard not to scowl in annoyance. "It's how they speak, Potter. Shut it!" She cleared her throat and called out again. "May we have passage to your realm?"
Sirius waited thirty seconds before observing in a low voice, "They're not moving..."
Lily swallowed. This was not working well. "We come in peace, and ask only for some aid. Would your lord deign speak with us?"
The archers still did not move. They noticed a seventh, high on a southern peak, draw back his arrow. The movement was slight, but significant.
"Okay," Lily breathed. "Now take out your wands. Very slowly." She brought her own out and pinched it between her index and middle finger as she raised her hands in a submissive gesture. The boys followed suit, their resentment and apprehension clear on their faces. "We bring no harm to you," she repeated.
"Do they even understand you?" Remus asked. "Elf language is different, right?"
Lily sighed. "Yes, and I don't know any of it."
"Can you understand us?" James called out.
"We understand, children of Men," called one Elf back. "And have sent word to our lord."
Sirius smiled in surprise. "Oh, thank you! Does that mean you're not going to shoot us?"
Lily threw her eyes to the heavens and groaned inwardly. Don't tempt them.
They heard a harsh cry from behind them and the crashing of brush. All the archers redirected their arrows as the five whipped around and stared up at the ridge.
"That sounds like a horse coming!"
"Oh bloody hell, they're early!"
Hoping the others would follow, Lily sprinted upstream out of the way as a white horse came charging down the embankment, neighing and kicking gravel everywhere. On its back, she could just make out a small figure clutching the horse's mane for dear life. Frodo, injured from the Nazgul's blade, and sent ahead on Glorfindel's steed Asfaloth.
No sooner had she thought it than the Ringwraiths came up behind the white horse and surged down the slope, swords drawn and waving. Their shrieks chilled her to the soul and Lily stumbled, unable to move any further. As she fell to her hands and knees, she suddenly felt the rumbling, and saw the water slowly rising, flowing toward her on the dry bank.
Oh, damn!
"Go back to the Land of Mordor and follow me no more!"
Lily looked back. Asfaloth and Frodo had made it to the far shore, and turned to face the Black Riders, halted before the water. Remus was less than ten feet from them, rooted to his spot on the ground, but they paid the companions no heed. The head Wraith leered at Frodo and hissed at him to come back. The little hobbit looked cowed for a moment, which the Wraithes took as an opportunity. As the leader spurred his steed into the river, Lily felt its icy waters flow over her hand. The level was rising.
"By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair," Frodo raised his small sword. "You shall have neither the Ring nor me!"
"Evans! James! The river horses! Watch out!"
There they were, storming down the gully, a baying, crashing mix of foam and water. Lily snatched up her wand and staggered backwards into James, who pulled her to the other side of him as he slashed at the air.
"PROTEGO!"
All went dark as the wave crashed over them. Lily tried to shield herself from the roars and shrieks in her ears, closing her eyes and waiting for the blast to hit and overcome her. She felt the water rising up around her legs.
"L-Lily. Lily, we're all right."
The noise had died. She opened her eyes, breathing shakily. She'd buried her face in Severus' chest. She pushed back from him roughly, face bright red. "I'm sorry." He shrugged as if indifferent, but he looked even more embarrassed than her.
She looked around, turning sluggishly in the river's flow. The water was flowing swiftly down the channel, now back to its natural level. There was no sign of the Ringwraiths; the river had washed them away. On the far shore, the Elves were calming Asfaloth, who was neighing and thrashing, despite his obvious exhaustion. But where was Frodo?
James grabbed her shoulder from behind. "Are you all right?"
Now she understood. His Shield Charm had protected them from the flood. She couldn't help but smile at him as she nodded. The cocky flyer could be almost heroic.
"Sirius! Sirius, what the hell are you doing?"
James sloshed past her to join Remus, who was almost up to his chest in the water and in danger of being washed downstream. She could see Sirius on the opposite side of the river, a giant black dog paddling its way upstream, something clutched delicately in its mouth.
"Dear God, he's got Frodo!" Lily lunged forward.
"Daro!"
She halted immediately, sensing the weapon aimed at her back. She'd forgotten - Glorfindel and the others were the ones who pushed the rest of the Ringwraiths into the river. They were now watching the strangers warily, ten paces down the bank. She raised her arms as her companions raised theirs, and slowly the Elf warrior approached them, bow and arrow ready, followed by the three torch-wielding hobbits and a tall, dark-haired man. Aragorn.
She halted immediately, sensing the weapon aimed at her back. Glorfindel and the others had caught up, and were watching them from the lower side of the bank. She raised her arms as her companions raised theirs, and slowly the Elf warrior made his way down the embankment, bow and arrow trained on them, followed by a tall, dark-haired man. Aragorn.
"You speak the Common Tongue, yes?" she asked as the men approached. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sirius reach the opposite bank, now carrying Frodo in his arms. An old man wearing a gray robe came running down followed by two more Elves, probably servants of the house, by their dress. The man took the hobbit from Sirius swiftly, and said something to him. Lily couldn't make out his expression as he said it.
"I do. And you've saved me the trouble of asking the same. Who are you and what is your business here?"
"We are travelers, seeking counsel from Gandalf the Grey," she repeated. She wondered whether that statement was helping or hindering their cause.
"And it looks like he owes us a favor," James added, indicating the opposite shore, where Gandalf and Sirius were still speaking. Lily gently kicked back against his shin.
One of the hobbits following Aragorn stumbled as he dropped his torch and ran toward the river, across which he could see the Elf servants taking Frodo up to the house. Gandalf was about to follow them when Sirius called something to him and waved his hand to point at his companions on the opposite shore. Gandalf nodded and turned, and Lily could see a relieved smile on Sirius' face as he turned to them and waved.
"You've been granted passage." Glorfindel lowered his bow and arrow and shot Lily a curious glance. "We will lead you across and you shall join your friend in our hall. You will wait, for no one will be idle for some time."
Lily and the others nodded. "Understood." She remembered it would take three days for Frodo to recover.
Glorfindel nodded in turn and went to gather the hobbits. Aragorn looked the students over for a long moment; his expression was intrigued, yet wary. James smiled in an attempt to appear friendly, but it did not soften his look as he guided them down the riverbank to a small bridge hidden by the tree line. And so they passed into Rivendell, the Last Homely House east of the sea. They had not arrived in the way that she'd hoped, but Lily admitted it was better than not arriving at all.

OCTOBER 23
"I never thought I'd be so happy to get cleaned up!"
James toweled off his hair and pulled on the fresh tunic the servants had laid out for him. It was soft and warm - a vast improvement over the itchy rags they'd picked up in Bree. Everything the Elves did seemed to overshadow Bree. The room they now occupied was spacious and well-lit by the wood panel windows. There was a shelf along one wall stacked full with old tomes, beneath which was set a small chestnut table and two sturdy wood chairs, smooth and golden in the light. The three beds were not large, but luxurious, covered in linens of a rich bronze color. They were even softer than their four-posters back in Gryffindor Tower. Even the wash basins were impressive. James felt revitalized, purer, as he pulled on his clean clothing. He stretched in general contentment and put back on his glasses to see Sirius sitting on one of the massive beds, shirtless and shaking himself off.
"I've got one question, Padfoot," began Remus as he pulled on his own new clothing. "I mean, I know you told Evans that you saw the horse pitch Frodo and ran to save him, but--" he leaned forward, a mischievous, knowing look in his eye, "-- you didn't happen to help Frodo off the horse, did you?"
Sirius looked up in surprise, then shrugged. "Maybe a little." Remus smacked him over the head.
"Ow, what? It was the only way they wouldn't shoot us! We saved him, so they should be grateful!"
"Oh, that's true. There's nothing wrong with your plan, inherently, but if the poor little bloke gets a concussion as well, we'll know who to blame."
Sirius groaned. "God, are you still mad at me for that?"
Remus' eyes narrowed. "I wasn't until you brought it up."
James cocked his head. He'd never seen Remus snap at his friend like this. "Er-- did I miss something? Moony, what--"
There was a sharp rapping at the door. They halted and Remus called, "Yes?"
A young Elf woman poked her head into the doorway. She was very comely, with silvery blonde hair and pale blue eyes. She smiled cautiously and stepped into the room, saying something in a flitting, musical language. James smiled back and as he saw her headed to collect the bedclothes he picked them up and handed them to her. (handed her the bedclothes she was walking towards.) She thanked him and stepped back out. The last thing he saw was her white skirt swishing along the floor.
"Evans was right," Remus commented. "Elves are beautiful."
Sirius nodded, unaware that his mouth was open. One look at Sirius' face told James he was smitten.
After the Elf left, Snape poked his head in. James flinched and muttered, "Beauty versus the beast."
Sirius snickered and peered forward in mock wonder. "Merlin's pants, Snape. Did you actually wash your hair?"
"One of the Elves told us Frodo's getting better. Gandalf will be able to talk to us soon." He shut the door again and they could hear him walking back to the room next door. James frowned after him. Evans still had her disguise on, so no one had thought anything of it when she and Snape ended up in the same room. What. the. hell.
Sirius tugged on his trousers and shirt, brushing his hair out of his eyes. "Guess we should get going, eh?"

"So, you have sought my audience."
Gandalf sat by the fire in one of the many halls of Rivendell, watching the five young men as they joined him by the fire. They looked much better than they had entering the city. They looked to be no more than eighteen, possibly younger. Handsome lads, to be sure. Well, most. He leaned forward as the leader, a lithe boy with a braid of striking red hair, sat down in the chair across from him.
"It is an honor, my Lord Gandalf." The lad's look was sincere, and there was a glimmer of wonder deep in his green eyes. Gandalf wondered at his his voice, which was surprisingly high and soft. The boy continued in a tone of concern, "How is the hobbit?"
"He is mending well. I've very thankful that he came in time, for he would have been beyond aid in a few more hours. I suppose, we also have you to thank for his safety." Gandalf nodded towards one of the dark-haired boys, who brought his gaze up from the fire and smiled.
"Well, I couldn't leave him there," the lad stated. "Any prey of the Black Riders is our friend, as far as I'm concerned."
Gandalf raised an eyebrow. "You seem to treat your friends strangely, knocking them off their steeds before saving them," he commented. It was amusing to see the boy pale and his leader turn on him with the speed of an eagle. He stretched his hand forward, "May I see the device which you used?"
The hesitated for a moment, then untucked his shirt and brought out a thin, straight twig. Gandalf turned it over in his fingers. It didn't look sufficient to use as kindling, but it was obviously powerful. He could feel magic pulse under its curved, smooth, polished surface, and there were indications of age and much use.
"I think it works similarly to your staff," one of the other boys offered.
"Ah, I see." He handed it back to the lad, who tucked it back into his tunic. "So you are Wizards. But no Wizards that I have ever heard of in Middle Earth. Where do you come from?"
The red-haired boy took a deep breath, ran his hand through his bangs, and leaned forward to divulge. "I hope that you will believe us. We--"
"Wait a moment. Before a tale is told, we require an introduction. I would prefer to know exactly who I am speaking to."
The boy smiled slowly, a look like that of affection flitting through his eyes. He pointed his wand at his face and incanted, "Finite Incantatem."
Gandalf felt his mouth open slightly as he watched the transformation. The shadow along the boy's jaw vanished as the bone structure itself became smaller and curved. The shoulders grew slighter, her forearms thinner, the hair on them receded. As she undid her braid and let her hair fall across her shoulders, he smiled in wonder and nodded. "Now I am ready to listen."

"My name is Lily Evans. These are my fr-- companions: Severus Snape, James Potter, Remus Lupin, and Sirius Black. We are Wizards, as you've guessed. But we're not from Middle Earth. We live in a country called England; it's a completely different 'world' from this one. Unlike Middle Earth, Wizards where we come from live in private communities. Witchcraft and magic faded out of the human conscious some centuries ago, and most Men now from have no knowledge of Wizards or magic."
"Too much backstory," Severus whispered in her ear.
Lily sighed and took a deep breath. Gandalf was still watching her with an encouraging smile. Or maybe he was just amused, it was difficult to tell. She continued, "The five of us are currently students at a school of magic. And while working on an experiment, I mixed a few things up, and took us to Middle Earth by mistake. We hoped that you would be able to help us find a way back to our own world."
His expression did not change as he listened, but his eyes glittered with interest. "The first thing, I would like in inquire," he started, "was how you knew to come to me, if this land is completely foreign to yours."
Lily gave a nervous laugh. "Well, that's the truly unbelievable part."
"Your story is still in the realm of believable."
"I know Middle Earth because I read about it in a fictional book called The Lord of the Rings. It described the quest of Frodo Baggins the hobbit to destroy the One Ring of Sauron, and the War of the Ring that engulfed Middle Earth."
Gandalf's smile faded, replaced by a look of shock and fear.
"I swear on everything I have, I'm telling the truth. I know Middle Earth from the plot of a story book. I know it sounds like madness or lies, but I'm telling you the truth! I think I could prove it if you ask me a question."
"I believe you."
Lily looked up at him, and searched the face for a hidden jest or lie. He smiled apologetically. "When you mentioned the young hobbit, I feared for a moment you were spies of the Nazgul, but now I believe I am starting to piece the puzzle together. Tell me about this school of yours."
Lily glanced at her companions, who looked just as bemused and apprehensive. After a long moment of silence, Remus answered for her. "It's called Hogwarts. It's the best in England, and probably one of the most famous in the Wizarding World."
"And probably very old by now." Gandalf smiled and leaned back in his chair. "Hogwarts. An unusal name, and therefore memorable. There wouldn't happen to be a woman called Ravenclaw who is somehow associated with the school?"
All five jaws dropped.
"Raven-- Rowena Ravenclaw?"
"She was one of the school founders."
"How do you know her name?"
The old man cocked an eyebrow. "You think you're the only ones who have been taken from their homes and whisked away to a strange new world?" He looked nostalgic for a moment as he explained. "A very long time ago, early in my existence, I spent some time in your world of England. Perhaps it is just my recollections, but I do not recall the secrecy of magic that you describe."
"It was a progressive thing."
"I came in contact with many renowned names and people during that time, but none struck me so singularly as the witch Ravenclaw. She had a light about her, and always a riddle to tell. She used to speak to me of a project she was conducting with three other names of the day, and one day occupied me for hours with a long monologue about their quarrel over the name. She had, apparently, been very enamored with the name PhoenixWings, and was sorely disappointed."
So their worlds were connected. Lily rested her chin on her hand, wondering at this strange turn of events. Maybe it would be easier to get back than she thought.
"So does that mean there are stories of our world being told in this one?" asked Remus with interest.
Gandalf leaned forward, hand on his knee. "I am no lore expert, but I am sure some outlandish tales of your wizards has found itself in the imagination of one being or another. We enjoy fiction as much as the tales of old."
Severus looked up from his own musings. "Do you know a way to cross the worlds, then?"
Gandalf looked at him and shook his head sadly. "Alas, I do not. My wanderings were... not bound to the worlds, and so were beyond my control. One day I found myself back in Minas Tirith, and I never saw the lady Ravenclaw again."
"I'm sorry," Lily said automatically.
"You should not be. Sadness at having something end does not lead us to regret its beginning. That time is a precious memory, and now I am only sorry for your sakes in that I cannot help you."
Lily's heart sank. "At all?"
"Do you think Elrond could? Or the Lady Galadriel, or someone?"
Gandalf pursed his lips, thinking. "You know of Frodo's quest from a book, yes?" he asked Lily. "Then you know of the plan to send a group of warriors to Mordor."
"I did not think it was yet in motion."
"It is not, but I fear that is what this matter will come to. Saruman's treason limits our options greatly."
"I remember. You must take the Ring out of Rivendell before his Uruks take it by force."
He nodded gravely. "And you know the result of the Ring-bearer's quest?"
She didn't like the way this was going. "Yes."
"Do you think you know it well enough to navigate Middle Earth by it?"
"She brought us here from the Old Forest," assented James. "We also got maps as a precaution."
As she left a pink bruise on her companion's shin, Gandalf leaned back, satisfied. His eyes wandered up to the ceiling as he spoke.
"If there's one thing I've learned in all my years, it is that everywhere you are, there is something to be done." He pondered in silence for a long moment, his thoughts probably bent in a direction that Lily had been avoiding ever since they'd landed in Middle Earth.
"War is brewing, and I am needed... but Frodo must be guided on his quest... possibly--"
"Wouldn't that change things too much?"
His eyes moved back to Severus, brows raising in curiosity.
"What he means is," Lily clarified, "I was afraid that if we became involved with Frodo, our presence would change the course of events."
"Perhaps the reason you have come here is to do exactly that."
That was a daunting prospect.
Severus shook his head. "We're here because of an accident, and there's sure to be a perfectly logical method to getting home, as long as we keep out of the way and let the events run their course."
"Then why did you approach me?"
"Because approaching Saruman sounded like a bad idea."
"We had no choice," Lily corrected. "I don't know of any artifact or spell in this world that could help. You were our best hope."
"I see." Gandalf considered. "Then, as your best hope, I think the best thing you could do would be to help the Fellowship reach Mordor."
Lily sat, stunned, "What?"
"But if we interfere, we'll never get out of the book!"
"What can your audience with me be called but interference?" He meant nothing against them, but it was a valid point. He settled back and explained, "A book is a tale, all of which have many varying details and endings. You know one version, one ending. You can use it to anticipate, to judge, to form a new and better path."
"Or get the entire fellowship butchered alive by not remembering enough."
"Wait," Severus held up his hand. "Are you truly handing total control of this delicate mission over to a bunch of teenagers you don't even know?"
Gandalf's clear eyes pierced Lily's as he replied kindly, "I think I know you well enough to know that you will do all that you can."
She swallowed, not daring to look away. She knew him as Gandalf the Wise, and had always respected him for it. He was a leader and great counselor. But what he was proposing now sounded utterly mental. He seemed to read her thoughts, and as he looked away, there seemed some of her hesitancy reflected in the old Wizard's eyes.
"Of course, I cannot charge you completely with this task. If I may ask, what shall you do instead?"
Severus perked up. "Do you know of any unicorns in Middle Earth?"
Gandalf blinked.
"I do not know what we will do," admitted Lily. "Perhaps venture to Lorien, or seek your friend Radagast the Brown."
Gandalf chuckled to himself, as though at a private amusement. "Well, ere you go, I would request that you stay and attend the Council. Many of our allies have come to Rivendell, the great Lords of Middle Earth. It is bound to shed some light on this dark matter, is it not? It is even possible that someone will have heard something that could help you on your journey home."
That was a trap. The old man was betting on her own interest to involve her in the fellowship. Well, it would be truly amazing to actually meet Sam, and Merry and Pippin, and Gimli and the others -- No! The chances of the Fellowship's triumph were already so slim. If she altered even one event, the whole thing could crash down on them all. Granted, maybe she had already done that. Still, it was an incredibly bad idea!
Lily shook her head as Severus argued something about them not knowing enough and Gandalf countering with the presence of the maps and her own acknowledged readings of Middle Earth. Gandalf wanted them to guide the Fellowship. Wanted her to guide the Fellowship. They had no choice now. All they could do was wait for the Council of Elrond.

That evening passed rather uneventfully, most likely due to Lily's insisting that her companions stay in their rooms and keep to themselves as much as possible. "I'd like as few people as possible to know us here. When we show up at the Council, we can probably just pass off as some of Gandalf's many allies and no one would be the wiser. I'm begging all of you. Don't talk to anyone. Don't draw attention to yourselves. Let's just lay low, find out what we can, and then get the hell out of here."
That girl truly worried too much. Sirius leapt off his bed and made it to the door in one bound. He gripped the polished wooden handle.
"Padfoot? Where are you going?"
"Out of this room." He glanced at Remus, who was lying on his stomach on his bed, reading one of the massive books from the shelf. He had said its title was something like "The Glorious History and Language of the Sindarin Elves." He said it was out of effort to stay conscious, but Sirius thought it was a wonder his eyes didn't keep sliding out of focus. He considered for a moment. "Do you want to come?"
"Do you have a specific destination, or do you just want to wander around and infuriate Evans?"
"Actually, I was thinking about finding that girl who brought us fresh clothes."
Remus closed his book. "Fine, I'll play chaperone." He rolled off his bed, being careful not to wake James, who'd fallen asleep on top of his own book on Sindarin poetry, and followed Sirius out the door.
Lights glimmered softly from small lanterns placed along the open halls of Rivendell. Every window space was open, letting in the night air, the scents of the woods, the murmur of the Bruinen, and the occasional hoon of an owl. As they passed a third one, Sirius wondered vaguely how much effort it would take to catch one, domesticate it, and send it with a letter back to Hogwarts. Probably a lot.
"We're allowed out here, aren't we?" Remus asked. He was glancing round at the elves they met, who were staring out at them curiously and accumulating in the offshooting passages as they marched down the hall.
"I think Gandalf vouched for us." He could hear singing further down, and quickened his pace. "Come on!"
A gigantic door of red wood stood at the end of the passageway. Its panels were gilt with a type of golden paint, brushed on in intricate shapes and patterns. Remus stared upwards as they approached it; Sirius cocked his head to hear. Grinning, he took one of the door handles and pulled back.
The hall they came upon was vast, awash with red glow from the fire blazing at the far end. It was far from full, occupied by only a small gathering of native elves, dancing together to a gentle song in their own tongue.
A Elbereth Gilthoniel, silivren penna miriel o menel aglar elenath! Na-chaered palan-diriel o galadhremmin ennorath, Fanuilos, le linnathon nef aear, si nef aearon!
As the singers began again, Sirius stood frozen in the doorway, enchanted by the melody. The Elves spun and slowly swayed, moving to the tune in perfect harmony. He caught the swish of a familiar white skirt and a mane of silvery hair - there she was.
"Hmm." He remembered Remus standing beside him. Glancing over, he saw his friend with his hand over his mouth, thinking to himself. "Elbereth... I know I just read about that. What was it?"
"Was she. This is a song to Elbereth, the Lady Varda, Vala and Queen of the Stars."
Both boys spun around, and after a split second, looked down. The figure addressing them was another hobbit, dressed in a dark cloak, but not one of the four from the Ford. His curly hair was white and fine, and he seemed to hold himself up with some effort - he was elderly, but not frail. His bright eyes glinted in amusement as he stared up at them.
"So you are the ones Gandalf told me about," he continued. "'Young Men of fair face and unusual manner.' His words, not mine," the hobbit added as he saw Sirius start. He stepped past them into the hall, keeping close to the high wall. "There have been two stories buzzing throughout Rivendell of late: the success of my nephew at the Ford, and your surprising arrival at the same time."
Nephew? Did he mean Frodo? "You must be Bilbo Baggins," concluded Remus.
"At your service and your family's," the old hobbit bowed, "And it seems I am in your debt for your aid to Frodo."
Sirius smiled sheepishly. "No, you're really not."
"It was really just luck," added Remus.
Bilbo smiled. "As you like." He carried with him a small stool, which he set down against the wall and then seated himself upon. "I was about to settle down and write more verses to this song I am working on. Perhaps you would care to listen and tell me what you think?"
Sirius thought he would be better off pursuing the Elf maid's attention, but wasn't sure how to put it to this kind old hobbit. Remus, on the other hand, nodded and knelt down beside him. "That would be fine, Sir."
Thank you, Remus. Sirius shrugged in apology. "I really wish I could," he said, his words lacking all and any kind of sincerity. "But I have a previous engagement."
The old hobbit looked surprised, but not slighted, so Sirius saluted him and his friend and trotted out toward the center of the Hall of Fire, where the Elven dancers were gathered.
The next tune was more lively, and as they sang together the maidens turned together in unison, their arms whipping about, the white sleeves flashing in the firelight. One by one they became aware of Sirius' approach and slowed, their mirth turning to curiosity; in a few faces he thought he could see some fear. He stopped about ten feet away and after an awkward pause, decided that a bow was the way to go. They seemed to relax at this show of respect, and as he straightened again, he even saw one of the elves give him an amused smile.
(The dancing circle had paused at the wrong time, so the silver-haired elf stood toward the back, furthest away from Sirius.)
"Hello. I'm sorry to interrupt." He spoke to the group, but his eyes found the silver-haired Elf as he continued. "I've never seen dancing like that." His silver-haired Elf raised her thin brows in bemusement. (gave him a bemused stare as she)
"You must not see enough dancing," answered another Elf, a fair-faced man with dark hair tied on many thin braids. "Our performance here is simply merriment. Come the great celebration, you shall see movement far superior to this."
That had come out of nowhere. He nodded and responded, "You probably know better than I," which was a much better response than "You lot understand me? Damn, I was going to try to impress her with my mysterious dark stranger appearance!" He struggled to figure out what to say next.

The last scene is cut, and I apologize. Please tell me what you think of the development between Sirius and this Elf, because I have no idea where it's going to go. Technically, I'm still conflicted over how straight Sirius is. Anyway, tell me what you think ^_^

Part 4, of probably 10

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:12:56 GMT

Oh, character-assassination. I hate these scenes between Lily and Sev, but I really wanted them to come out, and I didn't know where they would, so I think I forced them. I imagine they will be pretty much gone or moved when I finish the story.
This also has the first, well, gap that I made in the narrative. I couldn't figure out how to write the rest of their journey to Rivendell, so I just left it here. Forgive me.
Also, about a week after I wrote this, I looked through the book and realized it took two weeks to get from Bree to Rivendell. I think I went back to edit some, but I don't think I did it well, so it probably contradicts somewhere in here. Just to warn you.

"This is an absolute hames."
Severus turned around to look at her. "What?"
Lily sighed as she quickened her pace. "A hames. A mess. A disaster!"
She saw Severus smile out of the corner of his eye. "Well, I was right--"
"I know! I know you were right! I can't say 'I'm sorry I didn't believe you', but I will at least acknowledge that you were right."
Severus flinched at the outburst. She stopped walking, and they stared at each other for a long moment.
"So what you said last week... Black did..."
Try to kill him. He nodded, his mouth tight.
"Now I'm sorry."
They continued walking. Lily gave a frustrated sigh and again caught her hand in her tied hair.
"I can't believe he was that stupid!" she burst out. She turned around. "If that idiot can pull a prank like that, there's no way we can trust him with Lupin!"
"Wait a minute!" Severus grabbed her arm. "Yeah, it's an absolutely insane thing to do. I agree with that. But personally, I'd rather have them both all the way back there than tripping us up." He looked down and hurriedly took his hand off her.
"We can't let them die," she said.
"The way my luck's going, they'll be absolutely fine." She glared at him, but saw his eyes were fixed on the sky above them. The clouds had cleared, and the sun was sinking low fast. "We'd better hurry up."
The road looked endless from where they stood, one small line dividing a rolling sea of countryside. Occasionally they spotted a small copse of trees in the distance, or a long flat plain, which Lily supposed were part of the Midgewater marshes. The map showed they were making a slight bit of headway against Potter and his friends.

She looked down at the map to see if they were making much headway against Potter and his friends, and stopped abruptly. They were barely out of Bree. Their dots were practically next to the other three dots. She pressed her wand tip to the parchment and focused. The image gradually became larger, zooming in on their location on the map.
"I underestimated the scale," she said in a dead voice. "Did Butterbur or anyone happen to say what the date was?"
Severus searched his memory, but shook his head. "Early October?"
"Earlier than I thought," she agreed. "At this rate, it will take almost two weeks to reach Rivendell."

"If we don't make it in time to catch Gandalf," Severus said after a while, "where should we go next?"
"Ask Elrond," was her automatic response. He was, after all, in the same place.
"And then?"
"Let's just hope we can catch Gandalf."
"How can you even be sure he'd believe us?" he persisted.
"I can't, but he's my best bet. Sev, we've gone over this."
Severus held up his hands. "Right, sorry." They lapsed back into silent marching. He glanced at her again, "Are you sure we're safe on this road?"
"Severus, is there something specific bothering you, or is it just me?"
Severus shut his mouth and walked a little ahead of her. At least the path was clear. She looked skyward for a moment, watching a bird flit back toward the West. "Sev?" she asked after a moment.
"Yes?"
"I'm sorry I brought you here."
"Sorry that I am here, or sorry that your potion put us here?"
"The latter!" she assured him. "It's my fault, and I'm really sorry--"
"Lily, you've been apologizing for two days," he cut her off. "It's done. And, well..." She noticed his face was redder. "I know I've been complaining, a lot, but it's not because of you, really." he replied. His smile was weak, but it was there. "We're at least together."
She had a hard time interpreting that. "Meaning it's a good thing we can work as a team, and no one's wandering around by themselves, being eaten alive by midges?"
His flush deepened and he looked away. "Exactly!"
She laughed silently to herself. There was the Sev she knew. By God, he was so much easier to talk to by himself. Except when working together, the only times she'd seen him was with his Slytherin friends - if one could call them that. Lily flinched as she recalled the recent incident with Mary MacDonald and Mulciber. Her friend had ended up going to the Hospital Wing to re-attach her fingernails while the bully had gotten off with one Saturday detention. She'd been so furious, and told Severus so the next time she ran into him. They'd gotten into a long fight which they never did resolve, but Lily had rather let the matter die. She had the distinct impression that whatever she said, he would only be half-listening. Maybe she was a coward.
"What's the matter?"
She looked up to see Severus staring at her. "What?"
"You're..." He awkwardly gestured, and she slowly realized her eyes were wet. She rubbed them quickly.
"Wow. How did I not notice that?" she laughed. "Thanks."
He looked utterly confused, but took her hint and continued walking. She chewed her lip.
"Severus," she asked hesitantly. "Why do you hang around with Mulciber and Avery?"
He shot her a wary glance. "Didn't you ask me this a few weeks ago?"
"You never answered."
He shook his head. "Is this the best time?"
"When would be better?" She swallowed a breath. "I mean it, Sev, what do you see in them?"
"Well, what does everyone else see in Potter?" he muttered.
"You played that card last time."
"I- what do you mean what do I see in them? They're my friends."
"They're creepy!"
"Potter's a git, but that hasn't stopped anyone."
"It stopped me," she replied automatically. "Wait. Sev, how does Potter have anything to do with this?" He halted mid-speech and considered, then clamped his mouth shut and stomped off. She sighed. "They really bother you, don't they."
The look on his face scorned her for pointing out something so obvious. True, she had known this since that first day on the Hogwarts Express, but it still amazed her. The sky was getting dark now.
"Is that why we're leaving them back there?" she asked, keeping her voice steady. Severus didn't answer. She sighed at his stubbornness and glanced at the map again. At least they're not still sitting on that wall, she thought.
A violent shriek pierced the air and they both dove to the side of the road. Rolling onto her knees, Lily huddled for a moment, shivering, listening to the echo off the plains. It was strange, she'd never felt that scared before. She tried to move, but her arms were too weak to push her upright. After a long minute, she found the strength to raise her head. The road was clear.
"Think that was Lupin?" she heard Severus ask. His voice shook almost imperceptibly, but was still calmer than she could manage. She looked to the sky.
"The moon's not out. It's n-not nearly dark enough." She struggled to her feet, pulling him up by the arm. "I think it was one of the Nazgul."
"You mean, you hope?" he asked. She gave him an annoyed glance and unfolded the map.
"They're walking off the road. Very fast." Oh dear.
She thought she heard thunder rumble in the distance as she shoved the map into her bag, grabbed Severus' arm, and ran as fast as she could down the long road.

"Well, this is a pretty place, isn't it?"
"Oh, certainly, Padfoot," James agreed. "It's really too bad."
He was watching Evans and Snape progress down the East-West Road on the map. They'd been walking as slowly as possible, to give the two a good head start, but it almost looked like Evans had the same idea.
"Are they really that close?" Remus was looking at the map over his shoulder, and his voice showed his fear.
"It's really really large-scale," James assured him.
"Hey."
Sirius was walking ahead of them, hand shielding his eyes from the bright sky. He stared out at the vast expanse of hills rolling away to the north. "First one to that rocky bluff gets an extra roll tonight!"
"Wait a minute!" James grabbed his mate's shoulder before he could charge off. "I think the hobbits are that way."
Sirius cocked his head. "And?"
The look on his face made James smile unwillingly, but he forced his face into neutral as he answered. "I'm not actually sure whether Evans is right or not about not altering the plot, but if we go anywhere near them, chances are she's going to know."
"And she's going to scream at us again," Sirius finished, rolling his eyes. "Fine." He abruptly shifted into his black, bear-like dog form and loped off to the hills south of the road.
James looked skyward and ruffled his hair in frustration. Sirius had never really expressed his opinion of James' feelings for Evans, but he was sure they included words like "infatuation," and "bitchy shrill." Well, sod him. He didn't expect Sirius to get it. It was all well and good for him to flirt with every girl in the house. James, personally, was getting tired of it.
"Feel sorry for the hobbits right now," Remus was saying as he stared at the map. "I remember Lily describe the Midgewater Marshes. What?" Remus shrank back when he saw the look on his face.
James looked back at the sky, watching the clouds float apart. "How much time have we got to kill?"
"Er- Four hours? I'm not sure."
Far too much time. James sighed and took a step off the path. The grass was scrubby and gray, and appeared to spread out forever, speckled with occasional pebbles - Oh, wait - giant boulders. The place never ended. He looked down at the map again. "Maybe we should stay close to the road. Do you remember what Weathertop is?"
"I think that's where the Witch King stabs Frodo."
"Okay, avoid that spot." He started marching forward, vaguely following Sirius' loping form. He cupped his hands around his mouth.
"Oi, Padfoot! Come back a minute!"
They continued together in silence, walking out of sight of the road, but not so far as to become totally lost. As the sun was setting, they heard a terrifying shriek from behind them, and in their flight almost broke their necks running down a steep hill.
James lay flat on his stomach, hands over his ears. He shuddered, and tried to calm his breathing before he looked up. Flushed with embarrassment, he reflected on how glad he was that it was just Sirius and Remus with him, and no one else had seen his very un-Gryffindor panic.
Of course, as he looked up, he saw the others had reacted the same way. Sirius was curled into a giant furry ball, quivering and pressing his paws over his ears. The curse of a keen sense of hearing. James smiled in relief and reached over to scratch him behind the ears.
"Ringwraith?" Remus asked, rolling onto his knees. He'd turned very pale, and was looking wildly about him for something. He raised his wand. "Accio Map."
"Thanks, Moony," James caught it as it zoomed up the hill and straightened his glasses as he read it. He squinted. "Maybe Ringwraiths? There are three things traveling on the road, going fast."
"Definitely Ringwraiths, then," Sirius shook himself and brushed off his sleeves. "Think they can see us?"
"Doubtful." Remus helped him up. "They're gonna meet the others at Weathertop, I think."
Sirius' eyes lit up for a moment, but then he sighed and turned away. James understood his feelings. No fighting the evil immortal creatures tonight.
"It's about to come out."
Remus was gazing at the eastern sky, the sun setting behind him. James hastily scanned over their plot on the map. The closest things to them were the Ringwraiths, steadily moving away up the road. They were alone, the only beings around for nearly two miles in any direction.
"This spot seems fine, Moony," James remarked. A thought occurred to him. "Should we carry your stuff for you?"
Remus smiled awkwardly and handed his bag to Sirius. Animagi could carry all their belongings in their form, but werewolves changed only their body. At least, that's what one of their books on shape-shifting said. Something about the concept of wizarding space...
He, Sirius and Peter had only been animagi for five months, meeting with Remus under the Willow after he'd changed and tentatively exploring the grounds. They'd never actually seen or heard Remus transform before.
He was right. The sounds were truly horrible.

"What do we do if they accidentally catch up?"
Lily turned around to look at him. "What?"
"What do we do," Severus repeated, "if we suddenly see a werewolf bearing down on us?"
She stood for a brief moment, then shuddered and continued marching.
It was close to midnight. The wind whistled over the plains, and the moon lit everything in a strange ethereal glow. It reminded Severus of a tomb, in an abstract way.
"They're to the south. Close to the South Downs." She put the map back in her pouch. "We're safe for now."
"How comforting."
She pulled her traveling cloak closer as she gazed out at the vast ghostly countryside.
"Reminds me of the Lands of the Dead," she murmured to herself. She caught Severus' confused look. "It's a story I heard a long time ago. I think it's pretty obscure."
"From the Annals of Fizzen who wandered the weird?"
She looked completely baffled. "Who?"
"Obscure childrens' stories," he said simply. "I think I've seen copies in Diagon Alley."
Lily shook her head. "I'm remembering a Muggle myth," she explained.
"Of course." He mentally reprimanded himself. Of course, she's Muggle. How had he forgotten that? They walked together in silence, listening to the wind flow.
"I'm kinda surprised, Sev," she commented after a moment. "You never struck me as much of a story-reader."
What? Oh, yeah, Fizzen. "I found a copy of it buried in our attic one summer. I think my mother meant for me to read it, but just never got around to giving it to me."
"I'm sorry."
Severus shrugged his shoulders. "Doesn't matter now." He stared out at the landscape, contemplating. "I have a similar question for you."
"Oh?"
"Why did you like Lord of the Rings so much?"
She stood in surprise for a few seconds, then smiled self-consciously. "I guess the easiest answer is 'it was an escape.'"
"What do you mean?"
She stared at the ground as she walked, lost in her memories. "I said my family and I were fascinated by magic and fantasy worlds. So when I was a child... I don't know whether I sensed it in me, or what, but I think that I always felt an affinity for magic. Or at least a yearning for something out of the ordinary."
He smiled. She'd certainly gained that, in many ways.
"Dad read it to us when I was five, and I was fascinated by the different races, and Gandalf, and the-- the determination of all the characters, banding together to save their world. You don't see things like that in a Muggle town, except in a child's imagination. Actually," she added, laughing softly to herself, "speaking of which, Lord of the Rings helped bring out my magic. The first time I ever used it was while acting out book scenes with Petunia; when I fought the Balrog as Gandalf, I created a bright shining light in the back yard." She gazed skyward with a wistful face, as though in painful nostalgia. "I wanted to be part of that, to fight for the fate of Middle Earth."
"And what do you want now?" What she said made some sense, but Severus was not yet satisfied. He would have thought her affection for the story would have faded after she'd entered Hogwarts and found real magic. In comparison, The Lord of the Rings would have just stood as a Muggle child's naive daydream.
Lily nodded, as though she knew what he was thinking. "I did forget about Middle Earth for a long time, until I found the books again. I was mostly rereading them for the memories, but now that I think about it, I was probably trying to escape again."
"What?" Severus was confused. "Escape from what?"
His friend laughed derisively. "The magic world."
He stared agape at her as the laughter subsided into a sigh. "I know it sounds ironic, but it makes more sense than you think."
"Enlighten me."
She chewed her lip, not looking at him. He almost thought she'd forgotten the question when she responded, "My friend's mother was killed."
This thoroughly caught Severus off his guard. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to react to that.
"Did you just change the subject?"
Probably not like that.
Her eyes were cold, her voice oddly calm. "She was killed because she was Muggle-born, married into an old Wizarding family. Jane says the 'final straw' was when she spoke out against the Death Eaters. Emma Aarons' father is an Auror, and has been in St. Mungo's for weeks. Christopher Parson's family pulled him out of Hogwarts last week - Mary, his girlfriend, reckons they've fled the country."
Severus had heard different versions of these stories, but from the other side of the issue. He focused all his energies on keeping his mouth shut.
"Do you get it?" Lily asked now, and his heart sunk to see her eyes were wet. "It's easier to read about a war you're not involved in. Watch people who are in the same situation, but who can actually do something. And you know that they'll win - that they will vanquish the evil and live on. It's almost inspiring, watching their conflicts, triumphs, and failures play out, and makes you forget about your own uncertainties."
Something clicked as Lily turned and her eyes met his own. "That's why you wanted the potion. You wanted to know?"
"It really hurt to finish the book and have to read the Daily Prophet again. People are dying, and those who aren't are either panicked and powerless or just fanning the flames. It didn't help that Mary was attacked the next day." He caught her shoot him a hard look. "I think what bothers me more than anything about this war is not knowing what will happen next."
He nodded. "So you wanted to see the future. Your own future?"
"If I wanted to know just one thing, I wouldn't have altered the potion," she reminded him.
He nodded in agreement and they subsided back into silence. Well, that answered a few questions. But still...
He hadn't realized how anxious she had been over the last few months. He thought her eagerness to finish the potion had just been to prove that she could. But, as he looked back, he had to admit that there were a lot of things that they'd both kept from each other. He thought back to Avery, sitting on the couch in the Common Room, laughing off his detention with descriptions of MacDonald's fingernails bouncing down the corridor, and fought the nausea growing in his stomach.
At least now he knew what she was scared of, he thought as he looked off into the distance. He stopped. "What is that?"
She looked to where he pointed. There was a high peak in the distance, standing like the last tree after a forest fire. The only reason he could see it were the bright flashes at the top, that burst forth intermittently, each accompanied by the faintest sound of thunder.
"Oh my god." Lily's eyes were wide. "I think it's Gandalf battling the Nazgul at Weathertop."
"You mean he's right there?" Severus' heart leapt. "But I thought you said he was at Riverdamm."
"Rivendell. I did. I forgot, beforehand the book said Frodo and the others could see bright fire flashing off of Weathertop. Later in Rivendell, Gandalf admitted that that was him fighting the Nazgul."
"Then, let's go!"
Without waiting for assent, Severus took her hand and pulled her down the road, keeping his eyes on those brief flashes on the peak.
"Wait a minute! Severus! It's too far, we're not going to make it in time. Severus, we can't leave without the others! Severus! Sev, listen to me!"
"What?" he slowed to a halt and turned around. "Lily, if we catch him now, we won't need to beat the hobbits to Riverdamm--"
"Rivendell."
"Whatever! You know what I mean. Lily, if we meet him now, it will be so much easier!" He stared at her impassive face and slumped his shoulders. "What? How is it interfering? We can wait 'til the Nazgul take off, if you want. Is it the wolf? Okay, we'll catch Gandalf before he leaves, explain our situation, and if it really bothers you, then we'll wait for wolf-boy to catch up before he sends us home. How's that."
She wasn't looking at him, but over his shoulder. Severus felt something sink in his heart as he looked back at Weathertop. The fires had died.
"Fuck it!" He picked up a rock from the ground and pitched it as hard as he could as far away as he could. The peak was still dark; it would have been invisible if he did not know it was there. "I don't bloody believe this!"
Lily flinched and clutched the hem of her cloak in her hand. "Severus."
He flushed. He shouldn't have lost his temper. He took his pouch off the crook of his elbow and looked inside it, putting off having to meet her gaze.
"Are you tired?"
Huh? He considered for a moment, still looking into the dark abyss that was his baggage. "Er- Yeah, I guess." Now that he said it, he felt a numbing weariness in his limbs. "Why?"
"We should probably get some sleep. We'll both be better off in the morning."
"Do you think it's safe to stop?" He paused, remembering his original question.
"I think I can make it safe." Lily's smile was weary, but her eyes had that familiar glitter of mischief. She brought out her wand. "How many protection charms do you know?"
He shook his head. "Not many."
She tapped the tip of her wand against her lips, considering. Suddenly she turned to him. "Let's get off the road a little."
He moved to the spot she indicated, at the bottom of a slope about ten yards from the East-West Road. Immediately she began to move around him, creating a circle about ten feet wide in diameter. As she walked around him, he could hear her whispered charms.
"Protego Totalem. Salveo Hexia. Repello Sentientum. Cave Inimicum. Protego Horribilis."
Protection charms; Severus smiled at her ingenuity and brought out his own wand. "Muffliato," he added.
She took a deep breath as she finished and looked questioningly at him. "What does that do?"
"If someone tries to eavesdrop, all they hear is a nasty buzzing noise," he explained. With a hint of pride, he added, "I invented it."
She laughed. "That sounds like something you'd do," she remarked as she sat down on the scrubby grass.
What was that supposed to mean?
He sat down next to her as she wrapped herself up in her cloak. It wasn't the first time he'd noticed, but her disguise was very disturbing. She looked like a bloke, remarkably like that one Ravenclaw, O'Hara, but as she huddled against the brisk cold wind, hiding her altered visage, then he could see Lily.
"Do you want first watch, or should I take it?"
He snapped out of his reverie to find her bright green eyes questioning him. "Watch?" he asked. "Stand watch! Right. I'll take it."
She beamed as she handed him her pouch with the map inside. "Thank you. Wake me in an hour or two." And without hesitation she rolled onto her side, tucking her cloak in all around her. The cloak was a light grey, so in the moonlight it looked for all the world like a hill covered with snow. A peaceful look.
He sighed, tugged the map out with a Summoning Charm, and settled down for a long and silent vigil.

He pounded across the plain, watching the quick stag disappear over the next hill. The wolf galloped beside him, panting hard.

The three caught up with Lily and Severus at the Last Bridge, on the edge of the Trollshaws. The sun was just rising over the mountains, but the two were awake and waiting.
"Good morning, you three," Lily smiled, rebraiding her hair. "You look none the worse for wear."
"Blimey, are you kind," Remus chuckled. He was fully aware that all three of them looked in desperate need for a bath. He picked a dried grass blade out of his hair and brushed off his cloak. "So how much time have we got?"
She opened her copy of the map. "Aragorn and the hobbits are in Trollshaw now. It looks like..." Her brows drew together and she looked grave as she folded the map again. "Glorfindel's riding out of Rivendell right now."
"That's the Elf messenger, right?" Severus asked. Remus was amazed he could still remember.
Lily nodded. "I think it will take a while before he finds them, though. So if we're lucky, and walk fast, we'll arrive in Rivendell at least a day before them."
"Oh,what a relief," Sirius said, stretching. "I was worried that we were ahead of schedule and had time to relax."
"We are ahead of schedule." There was no humor in her voice as she tossed her braid over her back and pulled up the hood of her cloak. "Let's go."

Block 3

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:05:26 GMT

For anyone interested, the icon's from Movies in 15 Minutes. A LJ community. Absolutely wonderful.

"Okay, Moony, what's wrong?" Sirius asked once they'd gotten past the crowded company and were standing in a small nook near the inn doorway. His head ache would never go away at this rate. "I told you earlier, you've still got almost three weeks until the next moon."
"No, I don't!" Remus whispered. He turned Sirius around and pointed to the night sky, where the moon was hanging luminous and just shy of full. "Look at that!"
Sirius blinked. "I thought it would have waned more than that..."
"It's not waning, you git! That's waxing!" Remus hissed. He sounded almost hysterical. "Didn't you notice it last night? It's bigger now! I've got two days!"
"All right, all right," Sirius put his hands on Remus' shoulders. "Well, can you be sure it's only two?"
"Who knows the lunar cycle better than me?" Remus snapped. "That moon is two days from full, if that. And when it gets full... Sirius, what am I going to do?"
"It'll be fine!" Sirius insisted, though in his mind he was starting to wonder the same thing. He took a deep breath and smiled.
"You're too dependent on the Willow, Moony. There are plenty of places to hide, at least for a little while. And Prongs and I can stay with you. We know that now. We'll just hide out together, and then continue on when you turn back."
"What about Snape and Evans?" Remus asked hesitantly. "What do we tell them when we can't go anywhere for two days?"
"Well, we don't really need to stay put for two days, as long as we keep away from people--"
"Are you mental?" demanded Remus. "Of course I need to stay put! I can't depend on being with other animals to keep me calm. I could get away from you and attack someone! We don't know this place like we do Hogwarts, there could be people anywhere on the countryside!"
"Don't worry! We'll steer you clear of it!"
Remus glared at him angrily. "Like you did last week?"
Sirius grimaced and looked away. "The git did deserve it."
"What about me, you bastard! Did I deserve to kill him?"
A young hobbit nearby jumped at the sound of the outburst. Remus gave him an apologetic look and tried to move them to a more secluded spot. Before he could speak again, Sirius help up his hands in a surrendering gesture.
"Look, I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. Again," he added, anticipating Remus' retort. "But it worked out all right."
"James went to the hospital wing!"
"It still worked out all right," he insisted. "And it's past. And I won't..." He didn't bother continuing, the way Remus was still glaring at him. "How did you know, anyway? James said he didn't tell you."
"He didn't. Dumbledore did." Remus glanced away, focusing intently on the woodgrain of the wall beside him. "He called me to his office as soon as I'd changed back. He'd already talked with Snape, and then with James. He told me everything he knew about what happened, because 'it was only fair,' he said." Remus looked up at him as he added, "He asked me whether you should have been expelled."
Sirius felt something cold fall in the pit of his stomach. Dumbledore had spoken with him that same day, making his only punishment Saturday detentions for three months. He'd complained about the sentence at the time, but if what Remus said was true...
"Thank you," he said before he could think about it. Remus gave a shaky laugh and put his hand over his eyes.
"Don't thank me, Padfoot. I was very, very tempted."
Sirius laughed and patted him on the shoulder. "Back to your first question," he said as he looked up at the moon, "Let's see what Prongs thinks, then decide. Evans knows this world best. Maybe we can trust her."
Remus nodded. "She might know some pit I can stay in."
Sirius wasn't sure whether he was joking or not. "And as for Snape," he couldn't really hide the disdain in his voice, "we can deal with him."
They started making their way back to the Prancing Pony, but nearly stumbled over a tiny hobbit coming from the opposite direction, running as fast as he could toward the same inn.
"I'm truly sorry," the little man apologized hurriedly, and in his second's pause, Sirius saw it was the same hobbit whom Remus had startled earlier. His face was pale, framed by golden brown hair. The hobbit recognized them too, and he gave Remus an especially apprehensive look before scurrying off again. As he disappeared inside the Prancing Pony, Sirius and Remus exchanged a glance.
"Do you think that's--"
"I hope not."
By the time they entered the inn the little hobbit had disappeared, along with much of the evening's crowd. Remus glanced again at Sirius, who shrugged and headed silently back up to their room.

It was very late when they finally had a chance to talk to James in private. The three were hiding from Lily and Severus in the washroom, a cramped little chamber with two large wooden tubs taking up half the floor space. They sat on the floor under the window and spoke in whispers.
"So the furry little problem's returned," James said as he glanced toward the bright night sky. "I thought at much, but I guess 'keeping quiet and hoping it goes away' never works, eh?"
"Tah, mate." Remus sighed and took another piece of meat from the very cold dinner plate he'd brought with him.
"Sorry, Moony."
"Think Evans would go off her head?" Sirius asked.
"I don't know," answered James. "She seems pretty calm, in general. I mean, she handled us changing well enough."
"Yeah, because you can at least refrain from ripping her throat out." Remus muttered bitterly.
Sirius rolled his eyes. "Moony, you're our best mate, but could you please stop wallowing in self pity for a moment? We need to think this through."
James nodded. "Because the more serious question..."
Was what to do with Snape. The three looked at each other uneasily. None of them were completely sure of how much Snape already knew, but it was a grim prospect to arm their worst enemy with this dangerous secret. Of course, if he already knew, he had had an entire week to tell every single Slytherin in the school. The fact that he had not yet done any such thing was truly rather heartening.
Remus sighed and set his plate down. "I say tell them both."
James stared at him. "Are you sure, Moo--"
"As Lily said earlier, all of us need to work together to get out of here," Remus explained, staring down at his knee. "She's smart, and as far as I know her, she's always been kind. I guess we're just testing the limits on that."

Lily spent several candles working that night, but after three hours of eating ink bottles, changing colors, and at one point belching purple flames, the pouches were finally able to hold one hundred times their natural capacity. She was ecstatic.
"It worked! I can't believe it worked!"
"Evans, it's after midnight! Why are you conscious?"
Severus was rubbing his eyes open as Lily flopped down next to his bed and held one of the pouches under his nose. Her hair was awry, but her eyes shone with energy and pride. It occurred to him that he was sitting in his old, graying undershirt, and was unsure whether to feel embarrassed or relieved. Face reddening slightly, he took the bag and look inside; it looked like a factory storage shed.
"Right star of a charm," he murmured. "Well done, Lily! You're right, we could pack everything into these. Into just one of these!"
"Could the celebrations wait until the sun's up?" James was scowling at them from beside his bed, arms folded across his chest. Severus glared back and Lily's eyes darkened as she stood.
"Excuse me. To think I woke you up. After all, you were sleeping so peacefully. I was only working. Alone. For hours. On a spell that is vital to our upcoming trip. But you must be so tired. And hung over. I'm so sorry."
She had moved back to her bed and started shoving random items into her pouch, each one landing with an oddly sonorous clang. James sat back down, visibly cowed. He looked to Sirius, but his friend just shrugged sympathetically. Lupin was feigning sleep, hiding until it blew over, as usual. This was so stupid.
Severus found his robe, climbed out of bed and tapped Lily on the shoulder. He handed her the other bag as he asked, "What can I do?"
"You can go back to sleep," she answered without looking at him. She glanced back at the other three and lowered her voice to a whisper. "I wasn't implying against you, Sev. You helped enough earlier."
Right, by making one of the pouches sprout metal teeth. "General Charms aren't my strength," he sighed, leaning against the wall. He saw James glaring stonily at him, but pointedly ignored him. He kept his voice low. "I'm sorry I couldn't help."
"Don't worry, it's a one-person task anyway," Lily responded. She flashed him a quick smile. Get some rest, Sev. We'll be getting up fairly early."
"How early?" called Sirius from the opposite corner of the room. Severus flushed brick red. They could hear them.
"Sun-up, if we can," Lily answered, similarly annoyed. "We need to change clothes and pack. Also, I think Frodo and the others are leaving fairly early. I want to wait until they're gone before setting out."
Severus' brow furrowed in bemusement. "Wouldn't it make more sense to leave before them?"
Lily shrugged. "I'd like to, but I don't remember when exactly they left Bree in the book. It may have been as late as noon, but I think watching and waiting would be better, under the circumstances. I don't--"
Suddenly they heard a terrible shriek from outside. Severus instinctively dropped to the floor, pulling Lily with him. The others also bolted out of bed; James edged over to the window and cautiously looked out.
"What was that?" Remus stared at Lily, eyes wide.
"The Nazgul attacking Frodo's room," Lily answered. Her eyes were fixed to the window, unfocused as she searched her memory. "I think they just discovered the decoy Nob made. At least, I hope." She struggled to her feet. "At least we don't need any ponies for our trip. The Nazgul scare them all off tonight, and the only one left in Bree is old Bill, who becomes Sam's."
Severus followed her to the window. Standing beside James they scanning the entire square, searching for the smallest trace of cloak or armored boot. But the town streets were awash with moonlight, and utterly empty. But Severus could almost sense the dreadful creatures' presence, knew that they were somewhere nearby. Most likely in the hobbits' room, which must have been right beneath them.
The same thought must have occurred to James. "Do you think, maybe, we should try to take them now?"
Lily stared at him for a full ten seconds, before shoving him back away from the window.
"Are you mad? What in the name of Merlin for?" she hissed.
"Well, why not? It'd solve a lot of problems for--"
"Listen to me," she cut across him, holding her wand under his nose. "I'll give you three reasons why not. One, because in the book, the Nazgul are a constant presence and danger to Frodo and the others. They get their comeuppance eventually, but if you kill any of them off, the story will be changed, and we won't get home."
"Can you really be sure--"
"Second, the Nazgul don't even know we're here. They are not targeting any of us right now, and I'd like to keep it that way because, three, there's very little chance that you can kill a Nazgul. I don't think even the Killing Curse would work, and frankly, I don't think we can afford to experiment, either."
James held up his hands. "You don't need to panic, Evans, it was just a suggestion!"
"This is not panicking. This is making you aware that suggestions like that are just the kind that will get us all killed!"
They all jumped as another screeching moan rent the air, followed by the faint galloping of hooves. Lily's shoulders slumped and Severus saw her glance at her bed with what looked like yearning. For the first time that night, she was showing her exhaustion.
"If they're gone, we should go back to sleep," she said. "We'll have a lot to do come morning, and it's already very late."
"That's an understatement," Sirius commented. But there was humor in his tone.
Without another word, they all climbed back into their beds and started pulling up the covers. With luck, they'd still get a decent amount of sleep before the sun came up. Severus glanced at Lily. She was just sitting on her bed, looking in the direction of her companions as they settled in, but not focused on any of them. Her face was indignant, malcontent. She ran her hand through her bangs again, as though debating something.
"I'm not panicking," she said at last. Her voice was so quiet, Severus could hardly make out her words. Severus sat up slightly, trying to hear better. "I'm not panicked, it's just... God, I hope I know what we're getting into...!"
"Lily."
She glanced up, her eyes slightly moist. "Sev?"
Severus' mind went blank. He didn't know what made him speak to her, or what in the world he could say. Merlin's pants, it was horrible when she cried. He gulped and glanced towards the other three boys; they were already lying like sacks, breathing softly and evenly. Bloody wankers, the lot of them. He looked back at Lily, who still stared at him, waiting. He took a deep breath.
"I think you're right."
She blinked. "About what?"
"Everything. What we should do, what to look out for, I--"
Dear god, stop! You sound like an idiot!
Severus sighed and put his hands over his eyes, trying to sort out what exactly he meant. He heard a soft chuckle and took out his wand.
"Muffliato!" he hissed before turning back to Lily. She was still watching him, her eyebrows raised high, as though wondering what he'd do next. Severus sighed and put his wand back down.
"You don't sound panicked," he said simply. It was the best he could think of. He heard Lily laugh slightly.
"I'm touched, Sev," she answered. He heard a trace of the sarcasm she'd used against Potter, but her voice was warmer, and her eyes showed her appreciation. She pulled back the covers on her bed and climbed in, and Severus only remembered at the last second to not watch as she took off her robe. "First one awake gets the rest of us up, all right?"
"Of course," he answered. He took a chance to glance over at her one last time, and as she leaned forward to blow out the candle on the table, he had a glimpse of her lean silhouette, in a soft undershirt, her hair tinted like fire in the light. Then it was gone.
His face burned as he rolled over to face the window, and his eyes landed on the patch of bright moonlight on the floor. In a second his mind's eye flashed back to Lupin, standing in that same spot while looking out the window. Severus swallowed again and groped silently for his wand on the mattress beside him. They would have a lot to do, come morning.

The next morning they woke to find, not Nob, but a lively little halfling woman laying out dishes on their table. She had a cute round face and large brown eyes, and gossiped like there was no tomorrow. From her they heard all about the missing ponies, and the general interest that Frodo had inspired in the Breelanders, after his vanishing act the night before.
"And then he just vanished right off the table. But they didn't find him on the floor, then, did 'ey?"
"I have no idea," Sirius answered blandly. Honestly, she prattled like the Jorkins girl from Hufflepuff. There was no choice but to feign ignorance about Frodo and hope that eventually the hobbit woman would go away.
"Right, they didn't find 'im! Barley was right surprised to have that happen! We haven't had a guest create such a stir as that since--"
"Sorry to interrupt, but what's in this?" James indicated the plate of thick liquid from which he was eating.
"It's porridge, Sir. With flavors mixed in. Cinnamon and a dash of honey, with a tiny bit of mint from the garden." She lowered her head slightly as she asked, "Is it not to your taste?"
James laughed. "No, it is! That's why I asked."
Sirius rolled his eyes as the hobbit beamed and started regaling James with the history of porridge in Bree. He knocked lightly on the door to the washroom. "Evans, are you alive in there?"
"I'm busy!" she called, rather out of temper. "I'll be out in a minute."
She'd said that twenty minutes ago. Girls spent an extraordinary amount of time preening themselves, but they did it for the sake of looking pretty, and god help you if you complained. He'd learned that while dating Erin. And Kendrah. And Susanna. And Ally. He supposed Evans was just like them, in that respect.
A few minutes after James had subtly convinced the hobbit woman to leave, the washroom door opened at last. There was a young man standing in the entry.
Sirius scanned over the apparition. He was dressed in black pants of a tough fabric under knee-high boots, and a light tunic under a gray traveling cloak. His fiery red hair was tied in a tight long braid, which hung over his shoulder, and Sirius could see a faint shadow of beard on the angular jaw.
"Blimey. Who are you and what have you done with Evans?"
The youth's green eyes flickered slightly as he smiled. "Do you think it's convincing?"
"Convincing? What are you dressed like that for? I almost hexed you!"
"That's impressive," Sirius admitted, ignoring James. He gave her a closer inspection. "I didn't think grooming spells were that advanced. Changing your jawline was a nice touch, by the way."
"Thanks," she smiled. She strode to her bed and picked up her bag, which had been packed two hours before. "Maybe you didn't see it," Lily began. "But I was hassled quite a lot yesterday. Don't worry about it," she cut across James before he could speak. "Anyway, I realized that as a women, I would naturally attract attention here, so our journey would go a lot easier and more unnoticed if I traveled as a man." She held up her hands in indifferent helplessness. "Hate to say it, but it's true."
Sirius smiled at her in amazement. And here he thought she'd just been doing her hair. She glanced back at him with a cheeky smile. "So, washroom's free."

As he halted in his morning bustle to hail his late-rising guests, Master Butterbur stopped and stared. The five young Men coming down the stairs had greatly changed since he'd last clapped eyes on them. Their foreign robes had disappeared, they were instead clothed in local garments, thick hooded cloaks and plain tunics of cotton. One of them, presumably the lass, had her hood up, and was looking around nervously as they neared the bar door. They also seemed to have shed those cumbersome bags they'd arrived with. Where were they off to, he wondered?
"Went to the merchant off the high street, eh?" he asked as one of the lads approached the counter, the one with the strange devise on his face."Well, don't feel that she's robbed you. I know she charges a pretty penny, but she's fitted you all well. And those cloaks will surely be a blessing in the days to come. The winter is brisk and unforgiving in these parts."
"Thanks for the advice," replied the lad as he signed their party off the roster. "Take care, Sir."
"Aye, you too, young Master." He watched as the youth turned to catch up with his departing comrades. Strange folk they were, indeed, he thought as he rested his elbows on the counter. But not sinister. However, as he went back to filling ales for patrons, he couldn't help wondering over them. Where were they going, and what happen before they came there?
That question was going through their minds as well.

Remus felt sick. The sky was cloudy but bright; it couldn't have been later that eleven. He watched Lily march ahead, Snape following closely, and was struck by something: women and men really do walk differently. Lily truly did look like her own twin brother, but there were still some mannerisms and movements that were inherently different from how a bloke would move. Remus wondered why he would suddenly notice such a thing.
Because he liked delaying the inevitable. Right. But better to do it now, before they got too far into the middle of nowhere.
"E-Evans?" he called. She turned around. "How long until we reach Rivendell, again?"
She pulled her copy of the map out of her pouch and examined it. "About five days, I think. Aragorn and the hobbits took about a week, if I remember correctly."
No time to stop, then. He glanced at James and Sirius, both of whom looked uncharacteristically grave. Snape's expression was unreadable, but he looked slightly paler. Remus struggled for an explanation.
"I think I might - er -"
"Are you that sick?" Lily's face showed concern.
"Sick?" Well, that was one way to put it...
"He certainly has a little problem to deal with," James offered.
"Oh, bloody hell!" Snape muttered. He'd gone back to his belligerent scowl. "You need to find a place to be caged, don't you?"
Lily glanced at her friend like one watches the insane, but Remus nodded, staring down at his brown cattle-hide boots. "Just for tonight and tomorrow. I can catch up--"
"We'll catch up." James corrected him. Sirius agreed.
"But what for? 'Caged'? Why--"
Lily froze as something occurred to her, and she turned back to Snape. "You--"
"Told you. Every month at the full moon."
So he did know. Remus nodded, still unable to meet her eyes. "I'm a werewolf."

Things keep going from bad to worse.
Severus sat on the cobblestone wall that followed the road out of Bree, tearing apart blades of grass and half-listening to Lupin's whining explanation. At least he'd had the nerve to tell them before sunset.
So having animals around calms a werewolf. Never heard that before.
"You mean to tell me you travel the grounds in wolf form?" Lily looked absolutely outraged. "Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?"
"Yes, we do. And we--"
"And you do it anyway!"
"And we take precautions, believe me. Besides, no one's ever out at night. School rules."
"Says the number one school rule-breaker!" Lily glared at Potter. "And what about Hogsmeade?"
"We haven't gone that far yet."
"Yet! You three are unbelievable!"
"Thank you, we try."
Lupin was sitting on the grass, knees pulled toward his chest, probably wondering whether his friends were helping him or not. Judging by Lily's reaction, decidedly not. Severus smirked to himself. Maybe Lily would take what he said a little more seriously next time.
"Do you know of any place I can hide?"
The werewolf had finally cut through the argument. His expression was close to desperate, and Severus could see Lily soften. She sighed and accidently snagged her hand in her braid.
"I can't think of any," she said. "And I don't think we can afford to stop, if we want to get there before Aragorn and the hobbits."
"You don't have to."
"Well, we can't split up!" she exclaimed.
"We'll have to, whether we're moving or not," said Sirius.
Remus nodded. "James and Sirius are fine as animagi, but if you two are anywhere near... it would be dangerous."
Severus wondered optimistically for a moment whether this conversation would result in the wolf valiantly sacrificing his life to guarantee their safety. It would certainly be the Gryffindor thing to do. But he doubted it.
"If we need to split up, we have to have some way of keeping in touch, or at least knowing where we all are."
"We have three copies of the map," offered Severus.
Lily gave him an icy look over her shoulder. "And if we had something to show where we were on the map, that would be useful. But until then--"
"Wait a minute! I actually think we could do that!"
They all turned to look at James, who instinctively straightened his glasses. "It's something we," he gestured to his two friends, "and Peter were talking about a few weeks ago. We wanted to design a map of Hogwarts, something that would help our future generations."
"Of delinquents?"
"Be nice or we won't tell you about the secret passageway behind the crone."
"Anyway," James pressed, "Peter told us that an uncle of his liked to travel a lot, and was working on a diary shaped like a globe, which would eventually trace a line to show the path he'd traveled during his life. It required a whole mess of spells, including a Tracer, which can lock on to a subject's location at any time within a certain field."
Lily's eyes lit as she saw what he was getting at. "Do you know the incantation?"
"I've got it written down!" Sirius reached into his pouch, looked at the bag in bemusement for a second, then reached in further, extending his arm all the way to the shoulder. That spell was incredible. In another moment, he'd yanked out his school bag and dumped it out, spilling a mess of books and papers onto his lap.
"Maybe I should reconsider how I packed," he murmured, and grinned sheepishly as he opened his Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook. Between the last page and the back cover was a small tear of flattened parchment, which he showed to Lily. "Here."
Severus read it over her shoulder. The magic involved in a map trace was rudimentary, but incredibly effective and versatile. "You could focus the map to either show every person in a certain area, or target certain people to locate them anywhere. Which way should we try it?"
"Neither one sounded easier than the other," James supplied. "Maybe we should try the 'certain area' approach. Then we'll know if anyone comes near us."
"The map would look like it was sprayed with something."
"Only in the densely populated areas."
"We've got three maps," said Lily. "If we have time, we should try both and see which works better."
Sirius and Remus worked on the "certain area" map while the other three sat together on the wall with the "target" map. Severus tried to subtly elbow Potter out of the group, but it literally backfired when James countered his toenail jinx with a Stinging Curse to his knee. Lily ended up working alone. It was mid-afternoon when the map finally worked.
"Here we are," Lily said with a flourish. She'd even managed to make each of their dots a different color, which was good because the map scale was too large for the name labels to be legible.
"I wish I knew where we were," Sirius muttered. His and Remus' map was well-done, but looked, as Severus had predicted, like someone had sprayed it with something. Lily pointed her wand at a small cluster of speck outside of Bree, and instantly the five specks were the same colors as her five specks.
She cocked her head as she examined it. "Maybe that's the way to go about it." Soon both copies of the map were sprayed with black dots, except for a small cluster of red, green, blue, dark yellow, and silver. Back to the larger question at hand.
"So where should you go while you're transformed?" Lily mused. She'd calmed down significantly while working on the spells. "Well, the map says there aren't many people on the plains right now, so if you two," she gave Sirius and James a hard look, "can watch this map and steer him away from any danger, then I think we'll be all right. But you'd better steer away from anyone you see on the map!"
James grinned confidently as he pushed the point of her wand away from his face. "We will, Evans. We know how serious it is."
Sirius perked up, "Wait, this has something to do with me?"
James laughed as he reached into the leather pouch around his neck. He fished around for a moment and then brought out something thin and square. "You might want to take this, too." It was his two-way mirror, the twin of Sirius'. "We'll use it to contact you when Remus is back. Keep it safe, okay?"
Lily nodded and tucked it gently into her own bag.
Remus breathed a heavy sigh of relief. "I'm sorry, again," he said to Evans. "Thank you."
She gave him an odd look, some mix of fear and pity lost in a general expression of concern. "It's not your fault," she said at last, handing him the map. "Be- be careful. All of you."
Severus felt a slight wave of nausea. She had to be joking. Let a full-grown werewolf run free across her beloved fantasy-book countryside? Maybe he'd been wrong earlier. Maybe this actually was a dream - an endless, maddening, character-assassinating dream.
"I'll keep the map with me," Sirius was assuring her. "I'll check it, don't worry. I'll check it a lot."
"Should we take your things ahead?"
"Animagi magic allows for that. How do you think we shape-shift and still keep our clothes?" The familiar cocky smile flashed across James' face as he stood up. "You two should start walking now. Keep to the road; we'll stay off it."
Severus nodded, keeping his expression neutral. He saw James glance at him for a fraction of a second. The look in his eye was odd - contempt, which Severus mirrored, but there was also something else this time. Something that looked vaguely like trust.
Guard her.
It finally clicked, and for a moment, Severus was completely taken aback. Guard her? Lily? Of course he would, but what the hell did Potter have anything to do with that? He flushed and turned around, starting off in the opposite direction. He heard Lily shout some last warnings as she hurried to catch up with him.

Lily green Sirius blue S James red J Remus dark yellow Severus silver
Frodo Sam yellow Pippin Merry Boromir Aragorn Gimli Legolas Gandalf grey
red orange yellow green blue purple gold silver brown grey white
You know what, just make all the major characters some bright color, like silver.
Gold for hobbits, Brown for Dwarves, Light Green for Elves, Silver for Men,

Ignore the weird disjointed stuff at the bottom. They were just notes to myself about the dots on the map, and I didn't have the heart (or wordcount, look at it however you like) to erase them.

So, they're in Middle Earth

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 04:00:39 GMT

As this is a draft, I haven't figured out how to divide it well, so I'm just posting these in ~5,000 word blocks. Good? It's not that long, I promise.

Block 2:
"My family's always been fascinated by magic, even before I came to Hogwarts. I remember Dad would read stories to my sister and me about dragons and sorcerers. One book that always stuck with me was The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien. Massive thing, was published in three parts, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. Anyway, last Christmas I found the books in our attic, and started reading them again in school. So they've been on my mind a lot lately, even when I was working on the potion. So when it finally reacted..."
She saw Severus slap his hand across his face before he could stop himself. Granted, she knew she would have done the same thing, so she bit back the injured remark.
Sirius was sitting cross-legged on the grass, his hand on his chin and his eyes fixed on the dirt road before them. "So you accidently put us into a Muggle story book?"
Her head jerked with a nervous nod. "Right."
Sirius was silent for a while longer, then suddenly laughed. "Well, if this isn't a reprieve from OWLs, I don't know what is!" He stood and brushed off his robes. "So what do you recommend we do first?"
"Are you truly as stupid as you look?"
She saw all three boys bristle as Severus jumped up. He looked paler than ever and his black eyes flashed with anger, maybe fear.
"The potion we made completely depleted itself in order to get us to this... world. And unless Muggles have more imagination than I give them credit for, half the ingredients we need to remake the potion don't even exist here! Also, it's not a dream-inducer, where the subjects suddenly wake up a few hours later. We really moved into another world, and now we have no way of moving back! If we can't remake the potion, then we can't get home!"
He cottoned on quick. Lily cradled her head in her hands, trying to ignore the sniping that ensued. They were really here. In Middle Earth. Stuck together. And the Nazgul were still hunting around the Shire, meaning that Frodo hadn't made it to Rivendell yet. He and the others were probably on their way now...
"If you hadn't decided to be more of an arse than usual and distract her while she was mixing--"
"How was I supposed to know? She's always like that when she's working."
"And what were you doing, Sniv? Admiring the scenery?"
"You sona--"
"Listen to me."
The boys fell quiet immediately. Lily then took a deep breath and pointed down the road heading East. "If I remember correctly, this is the main road that leads to a village called Bree. It'll be a long walk, but I know there's an inn there. We can get food, and find a place to sleep. From there, we can figure out a way to get home."
None of her companions argued, but she could still see spiteful glares passing between Severus and the others. Lily folded her arms across her chest, and straightened herself to her full height. She almost came square with Remus.
"It's my fault we're stuck here," she began, "but we're all stuck together, and we're going to have to work together if any of us are going to get home alive. Very soon, all of Middle Earth will be at war, so we'll have enough to worry about without fighting each other too. So, please... please, stop provoking each other. Don't hex each other. As long as we're here, we have truce. Agreed?"
She thought she heard something like, "Yes, Mommy," before James elbowed Sirius in the stomach. They both nodded along with Remus. Severus looked like he wanted to argue something, but finally shook his head and gave her a curt nod.
"So, can you tell us a bit more about this place, on the slight chance that we will have to spend a lot of time here?"
Lily gave a grim smile and led them off down the eastern road, wondering where to begin. "Well, the story of the book, in detail, would easily take an hour or two..."
"Are you joking?" James asked, incredulous. "Our textbooks aren't that long!"
Lily broke into a laugh. "Well, Lord of the Rings is a complicated story." She cast her gaze around at the rolling hills of what must have been on the east edge of the Shire, and up to the moon that was not quite full. "And I think it technically begins a few thousand years ago, with the Dark Lord Sauron."

Severus watched the sky as they walked. At about two in the morning it started to rain, then let up some time after four, and the parting clouds were just turning pink with the sunrise as the troop passed through yet another grotto of thin trees. The area was growing more wooded, but all these were harmless, lacking the wrath of the Old Forest. They passed the grotto and paused at the edge of yet another steep downward slope that this main road seemed so fond of traversing. Lily was still explaining the plot of Lord of the Rings.
"So," he asked, trying to catch his breath, "the fate of this world rests in the hand of a hairy, whingey, house elf?"
"A hobbit, and he's not whingey!" Lily snapped indignantly. "It's his quest. I mean, disregarding the fact that all hobbits are by nature homebodies - no matter how much the Tooks like adventure and long journeys - Frodo has to go to the most dangerous and terrifying country in Middle Earth, climb to the top of a volcano, and find the will to throw down a ring that during the course of his journey has been eating its way into his soul. He knows he will probably die on the quest, but he's determined to see it through anyway. On the whole," she added after a moment, "I'd say Frodo is very brave."
"Didn't you just say that Frodo was eventually corrupted and decided to take the Ring for himself, and it was in fact the monster Gollum who destroyed the Ring by biting it off Frodo's finger, and accidently falling with the Ring off the cliff into the volcano?"
Lily quirked her mouth in irritation. "Frodo's still brave."
Sirius shrugged. "I still can't believe the ultimate weapon here is a tiny piece of possessed costume jewelry."
Severus rolled his eyes and sat down on a log. It was strange, this book didn't strike him at all as something Lily would enjoy. It was grim. And long and complicated. It certainly wasn't to his taste. Long meandering trek with a self-important, emotionally unstable hero who for some unexplainable reason can never relinquish his task to one of his companions, who are always in different ways leaps and bounds more intelligent and capable. He hoped absently that they would be able to avoid Frodo and his motley crew.
"Oi, look!" James was staring down the road, his hand blocking the sun from his glasses. "Is that it?"
Just peeking over another clump of forest they could see tall planks of wood, held fast together in a wall that could easily defend a castle. To the south and north of the wall Severus spotted ribbons of what could have been more roads stretching into the distance.
Lily's mouth spread into a smile of vast relief, as she picked up her pack again and started sliding her way down the dirt road. "It's not much farther! Just think food and bed, mates!"

"Children? What be your business here in Bree?"
Sirius bristled. What children? Where? Lily brushed her hair out of her eyes and straightened her shoulders, trying to appear an authority.
"We're traveling. We wish to to stay at the inn, and gather some supplies for our journey."
The door warden looked them over again, smiled in bemusement, and pulled open the door. "Mind your way, then, travelers. There's been talk of strange and dangerous folk abroad."
The town was surprisingly busy for that hour of the morning. Sirius dodged a harried-looking man carrying a bleeding goat and glanced back to see if anyone else had noticed. Fearless-Leader Lily was marching fast, looking around for something. Remus tapped her shoulder and asked what the inn was called.
"The one they stay in is called The Prancing Pony."
"Are you joking?"
She laughed. "Its name is odd, but the service is good, I hear." She perked up. "There it is!"
Inside, the inn had a close atmosphere that probably should have felt cozy, but was more like a cave in its own lack of light. Everyone in the tavern seemed to be plotting something. Sirius tucked his book bag under his arm and followed the others to the counter, where a round-faced man was already polishing glass tankards. He must have been the innkeeper - what was his name - Butterbur.
"Hello! And what may I do for you this morning?" he asked. He addressed James, who was standing next to Lily, but looked surprised when she was the one who spoke. He stared at her curiously as she explained their need for a room.
"And if you know of any, we need to find a map, as well as some other supplies."
The innkeeper blinked and addressed James again. "There are some nice rooms available. The largest I have hold four beds, but I can have another one moved in, if you like."
James turned to Lily. "Good idea?"
"It's not necessary," Sirius cut across her. He could easily sleep on the floor. Lily raised a brow, but shrugged and turned back to the keeper. "A four-bed room is fine. We've been out all night, and need to rest for a bit."
"Understood," Butterbur smiled graciously, still staring in bemusement at Lily. "That's two gold pieces for the night."
He could see Lily pale. Money hadn't even occurred to any of them. Sirius exchanged a look with James, who sighed and groped in one of his pockets. Could always count on him to have five or six galleons on hand for emergencies, or to pay someone he owed money to, or if he happened to wander into Zonko's. He plunked two of them down on the counter. "Will these do?"
The keeper picked them up and examined the coins closely. "Never seen coinage such as this. Where are you coming from, lads?"
"We'd rather keep to ourselves," Lily replied a little heatedly. "Can these pay for the room or not?"
The keeper looked a little put out, but took the coins with a nod. "Nob! Come take these guests to their room. Third floor, end of the hall. Come out, slow-coach!"
"Yes, sir!" A young man stumbled out of a door, still blinking with the early morning. Sirius's jaw dropped. He was tiny! Somewhere between three feet and four, but didn't look stunted like Professor Flitwick or the goblins at Gringotts. He was a little, portly, but cheerful man, and moved a quickly as anything. Sirius felt Remus elbow him and he closed his mouth.
The little man's smile was friendly as he led them up the stairs. Sirius leaned close to Lily and whispered, "That's a hobbit?"
"That's a hobbit." Lily's expression could only be called unmitigated glee as she watched the little man bob down the hallway before them. Sirius shook his head and wondered whether she was truly as mental as she sounded at that moment.
The sky was growing brighter outside and flooded their room with warm light. The chamber was airy, with a slanted, wood-paneled ceiling, an old dresser underneath the single window, and two beds on either side of the room, facing the rug on the center walkway. Severus moved down it and pulled the curtains together, throwing the room back into semi-darkness. Lily explained to Nob, "We need sleep at the moment. Could you please wake us a little after noon?"
Nob still had his head tilted as he stared after Severus. "Absolutely, miss. Shall I bring you some food as well?"
"That would be wonderful!" She sent the hobbit on his way and closed the door. Seconds later, she collapsed on the closest bed. "Black, does what you said earlier mean you'll take the floor?"
"It does." He stashed his bag under the dresser along with Remus' and James'. "Actually, I probably need to elaborate on that."
He watched Lily's face as he abruptly shifted to his giant, shaggy canine form, and thought to himself: that look is absolutely priceless.

We need to explain this now, why?
James sighed, though he did get some satisfaction at seeing Snape jump about three feet in the air when the bloke next to him suddenly sprouted fur. Remus was sitting on the bed opposite Lily, probably trying to camouflage with the walls. Lily herself seemed at a loss for words.
Sirius changed back as James came to stand next to him. "We're animagi," he explained.
"We only figured out how to perfect it a few months ago." Sirius continued.
"But, as you can see, it works pretty well."
"So I can easily sleep on the floor."
The only word Lily could force out was, "How?"
James shrugged. "Four years independent study," he quipped. Snape was crouched between a bed and the window. God it was funny to watch him squirm. "It'll be useful here, don't you think?"
Lily sat forward, shock being rapidly replaced by interest. "Did Professor McGonnagal help you?"
James and Sirius exchanged a look. "Not intentionally. Otherwise, we'd never be able to do it."
"Of course, because experimenting with transfiguration is so dangerous! How could you even attempt it?"
Sirius shrugged. "Because we're brilliant?"
James glanced at Remus again, who looked like his was torn between running away before Lily noticed him and staying until she noticed him. True, if they continued going on about the animagi, she'd eventually ask why Remus wasn't one...
"Anyway, we should probably get some sleep. We've got five hours, right?"
James sat on the bed near the window as Sirius the dog settled on the rug in the center aisle. He glanced at Remus, who mouthed 'Thanks.' Snape had taken the bed across from him, and was now trying to construct some sort of wall around it. Weird git. Lily still looked shaken, but after a moment, took off her heavy robe. Her hair was still wet from the rain, and glistened slightly as she moved to hang the robe on the bedpost. As an afterthought, she picked up her wand and flicked it at the quilt on the bed. It flew up immediately and wrapped itself around the four bedposts, encasing her in a giant cloth box. Maybe she missed the four-posters in the dorms. Snape had given up trying on his barricade and settled for indignantly burying himself under the covers. They were all too tired to do any more.

At about two-o'-clock Nob returned with a tray heaped high with bread, butter and sweet mead. They ate quickly, in near silence, then discussed their next move.
"Before we do anything, we need to find a map. Middle Earth is huge, and if we just walk in a random direction, we'll never get anywhere."
"There are also other things we should get," Remus added. "Traveling clothes, food."
Lily nodded. "What all have we got with us?"
Everyone dumped out their book bags. Sirius reluctantly started listing off his things. "Eight of my textbooks, a pack of Exploding Snap cards, five galleons, eight sickles, a two-way mirror - James has the other one - my penknife, and a biscuit from dinner."
"My glasses case, six textbooks, er-" James paused and laughed sheepishly, "the Snitch from last Quidditch match, the other mirror, ten galleons, oh, and..." He pulled aside a gauzy cloth that shimmered slightly like water. His mouth spread into a proud grin, "an Invisibility Cloak."
"Did you nick that out of a classroom too?"
"It was my father's," he replied in a cold voice. "He gave it to me when I entered Hogwarts."
"That'll be useful," Lily admitted. "I have... my potions and DADA books, the potions bowl, a mortar and pestle, and of course, my wand."
Remus sighed. "All I have is my wand."
Sirius and James both raised theirs as an afterthought.
Severus laid out, one by one, his potions book, the potions instructions, the silver cutting knife, and twelve sickels. He kept his wand in his hand.
Lily rocked back and forth on the bed, considering. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. She rolled over and grabbed her robe. "First stop, map. Who's coming with me?"

"Hail fair lassie! What 'choo with 'im for? 'E can't be a man o' yourn!"
Severus reached for his wand, but Lily took his wrist and pulled him through the square. "Well, that certainly explains something," he heard her mutter bitterly. She paused beneath a sign outside a small hole-in-the-wall shop which read "Farminde Maps of the World."
"What's with these miserable buggers?" he asked as he looked around at the sound of a wolf-whistle.
"They're drunk," Lily said dismissively. "Come on."
"Most likely," Severus pushed open the door, "but what the hell are they bothering you for?"
Lily sighed and looked heavenward, thinking. "I always did wonder why there were so few women mentioned in the book. I guess it's because most of them are confined to homes. A woman traveling abroad must be rare." Her tone was bitter as she added, "I guess that means I'll have to find some other things before we move on."
Severus didn't ask what she meant. They moved together through the shop, avoiding stacks of papers and boxes of scrolls. Toward the back was a thin man with dark hair, scribbling something on a skein of thick paper. He looked up at their approach.
"How may I help you?"
"I'd like the most detailed map of Middle Earth that you have," started Lily, hesitating slightly, "that covers from the Shire to the edge of Mordor."
To both their great surprise, the man smiled warmly at her. "Traveling, are you? I hope you enjoy it." He chewed his lip as he scanned the shelves of his shop. "Large maps would be this way," he eased himself off his chair and moved towards a large barrel full of scrolls. He moved his hand slowly over the lot before clasping one and yanking it out. "Perhaps this one will do?"
The map was thick like fabric, difficult to tear, and spanned from the edge of the sea west of the Shire down to South Gondor and the very edge of Mordor. Severus recognized some key cities, such as Rivendell and Osgiliath, but had no way of telling how useful the map would be until Lily pointed out the small dot that marked Bree, and the Old Forest about a centimeter west of it. For the first and not the last time, Severus felt an appreciation bordering on horror for the sheer size of this Middle Earth.
Lily was grinning as she rolled up the map. "This will be perfect, thank you."

Remus was lying on his back on the bed, chewing his lip and considering how he'd gotten himself into this mess. James and Sirius were unconscious on the next bed, still exhausted from the night-long walk. He was tired as well, but it was too late in the day to sleep any more. And...
He walked to the window and looked out at the town. People flitted between doors and booths, much like they would in Diagon Alley in August. They didn't seem to pay any heed to the walls, or what they signified, that there was a threat somewhere out there. Remus wondered how long ago the walls had been put up, and why.
This place worried him. The way Lily had described the coming war, he might have thought it just some epic adventure, if she hadn't emphasized every danger in gruesome detail. Didn't she say Bree would be burned to the ground? Well, maybe he was imagining that.
"We're back, Lupin!"
Remus jumped to get the door. "Welcome back, Evans. Snape." They exchanged another awkward nod and his eyes landed on the bags in their arms. "What in the world did you get?"
"Everything I thought we'd need," Lily quipped as she and Severus dumped their parcels on the nearest bed. "Are they sleeping? I shouldn't be surprised. Anyway, bought a great map and extra copies, some clothes - I think we should really keep our robes packed, we want to blend in here - plain traveling cloaks, a lot of waybread, and these." She pulled out five small leather pouches.
"What are those for, knick-nacks?"
Oddly, she was smiling. "There's a spell in the back of The Standard Book of Spells level V called the Undetectable Extension Charm. It can add a huge amount of internal space to whatever container you cast it on, with no weight added. It's easy as anything to carry or conceal."
Remus picked up one of the pouches. It was tough, maybe leather. And if they could cram all their supplies into these...
"Do you know how to work the spell?"
Lily's expression turned sheepish. "Not quite. But we'll test it. Don't worry."
"We should get ready soon," called Severus. He was watching the sky through the window change as the light faded. "And figure out where to go. The less time we spend here, the better."
"I've been thinking about that, actually," Remus said as he put the pouch back down. He addressed Lily, "You said Gandalf the wizard was powerful. Do you think he could help us?"
Lily replied, "It's something to consider," but she didn't look very hopeful.
"Excuse me."
They all looked up to see Nob knocking against the open door. "I thought you should know that dinner is ready. I can bring it up any time you like, or if you prefer, you can sup downstairs with the company. We don't often get travelers from distant parts, and would love to share news, or stories, or the like."
Lily shook her head. "That's kind, but I think we'd prefer to sup here, if it's not too much trouble."
"Oh, no trouble at all!" Nob replied. He glanced toward James and Sirius sleeping on the far bed as he added, "I actually expected that. Your two companions there - begging your pardon - didn't seem the type to walk off a pint that easily."
"Pint?" Lily bolted up and looked round at the two boys. She turned back to the little hobbit, who instinctively stepped back. "Of what?"
"Our E-Eastfarthing Ale, Miss."
Lily's eyes flickered from Nob to Remus, who shook his head vehemently. "I have no idea! I was asleep most of the time, I didn't even hear them leave or come back!"
"None of us should really be surprised," Severus echoed from the window. He pulled out his wand. "Should I wake them, Lily?"
She sighed and ran her hand through her bangs again. "Thank you, Nob," she sighed. "Could you please bring our meal up?" As the hobbit nodded and retreated down the stairs, she pulled out her own wand. "I'll do it."

They could hear the crowd downstairs singing something as they ate their meal in silence. Remus and Nob had pulled out a small round table hidden behind the door, and soon it was laden with cold meats, soup, bread, cheese, even a large blackberry tart. For the first time, James could close his eyes and imagine that he was just back in the Great Hall at Hogwarts, and not in fact lightyears from home, sleep-deprived, slightly hung over, and fighting the urge to scratch the livid Itching Hex Lily had used to wake him up. As he drained his water glass, he watched Remus pull one of the maps out from under his bed and lay it awkwardly across the center of the table. The edge nearest James was hanging precariously over the butter dish. "So, where to now, Evans?"
"I think we'll need to fold these," Lily murmured. "Okay. Well, I told you the book plot earlier, but maybe you should try to forget most of it. I think we should try to avoid Frodo and his group as much as we can."
"Then what the hell did you tell us the story for?" complained Sirius. He'd scratched at the welts on his arm, and was now fighting the urge to itch his hand. The screaming dehydrated headache was also not helping his mood.
"Because I thought you should know," Lily replied, snagging her hand in her bangs. "But now that I think about it, Lord of the Rings is a book. It's already written down. Recorded history, if that makes sense. So if we get involved, and change the course of events in the book-"
"-then we might jeopardize our chances of getting home," Severus finished. "Though it's not like we have much chance anyway."
Lily ignored the last remark. "So I think we should travel on our own, staying well away from the Fellowship. That being the case, I think we all should have more of a general knowledge of Middle Earth. Good plan?"
Remus pointed at a mountain range running down the middle of the map. "Is Moria somewhere along here?"
Lily nodded. "The Misty Mountains. And you can see Rivendell and Lorien on either side of the range, as well as Isengard down on the southern end."
"Who did you say lived there, again? Sour-man?"
"Saruman. The White Wizard who ends up working under Sauron."
Sirius sighed to himself, "Ten to nothing one of us is going to mix those two up. Who lives in Lorien, again?"
Someone knocked at the door. Remus opened it to find another hobbit, blond and barely on level with his elbow. "Evening, friends. Is there anything else you need ere you retire?"
Lily shot Sirius and James a look as though daring them to ask for more ale. Did she think they were truly that stupid? "Could we have some more water, please?" James asked.
When the hobbit had gone, Lily leaned back, indicating them to pay attention. "Okay, general knowledge of Middle Earth," she began. "There are seven races here that we all should know: the Elves, Dwarves, and Men are the three main ones, then Hobbits, Wizards, Orcs and other Mordor denizens, and Ents."
"The Elves are... well, the fair people. Strikingly beautiful, skilled warriors, especially in archery. They love dance, song, good food, wine, etcetera, etcetera. They didn't really strike my fancy. Their main distinction is that they're immortal. Well, they can be killed in battle, but don't age, so don't die 'natural deaths.' They also know certain types of magic. The main Elf areas on this map are Rivendell, Lorien, and Mirkwood, to the northeast.
"The Dwarves prefer to live underground, like under the mountains, and more often than not they earn a living by mining. They're taller than Hobbits, but not by much. They're stocky, usually have beards, and use axes as weapons. At least, Gimli does. In battle he's absolutely terrifying."
Sirius rolled his eyes. Lily cleared her throat and continued. "The race of Man... well, they're essentially humans, with all the powers and vices that implies. Very few know magic, but they're wise enough to recognize its uses. The two biggest countries of Men are Rohan and Gondor, though you can probably find settlements everywhere." She pointed to the floor beneath them, from where they could vaguely hear calls for a new song to start.
"That brings me to Maia, or Wizards, who are very similar to Men, like back home. I think they're actually disciples of the Valar, but I don't think the book ever really said. They live a lot longer than most. They're also the only race that really use any magic like us, though it seems more to control environments than to conjure or curse. They use staffs instead of wands. The only Maia I know of are Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, Sauron, and the Balrog, who's a 'lesser' Maia."
James' eyes were starting to glaze over. Lily took a sip of water and continued.
"Hobbts, as you see, look like very short humans, except for the hair on their feet. They like their comforts and as a race generally keep to themselves in the Shire, but there are some among them who are more adventurous. More often than not, those are from the Took or Brandybuck clans."
Severus raised an eyebrow. "Frodo's name is Baggins, right?"
Lily smiled wryly. "He's Brandybuck on his mother's side. And Pippin Took's his cousin, so I think he has some of that blood in him."
Before he could start to wonder if this at all implied inbreeding, James cleared his throat and pointed to Mordor on the map. "What about the Orcs, and other creatures Sauron uses?"
Lily's eyes darkened. "Orcs are Middle Earth's version of goblins. They're slightly shorter than humans, very strong and savage fighters, though I think they prefer sneak attacks. They have problems with sunlight, and I think they tend to stick to underground routes, or just lurk under the cloud in Mordor. What we need to worry about on this side of the mountain range are the Uruk-Hai."
Lily pressed her finger against the southern tip of the Misty Mountains. "The book was never clear on how, but Saruman somehow managed to create a stronger breed of Orc in Isengard. They're taller, faster, even stronger, and can travel during the day. I don't think they'll bother us, their target is Frodo, but they're something to keep an eye out for."
"As are those black riders," Severus reminded her. "What are they, again?"
"The Nine, Nazgul, Ringwraiths. I told you at the beginning, right? Sauron gave three rings to the Elves, seven to the Dwarves, and nine to the human kings." She shrugged. "That's what happened to the kings. Their lives were drained, and now their ghosts are bound to Sauron as his most powerful servants. Well, I'm not sure they're technically ghosts, they're more similar to dementors--"
"We get it," James assured her. Maybe it was the nonchalant way she was saying it, but something about this topic made his blood go cold. He watched Lily count on her fingers and he prompted her: "Ents?"
"Right! They're sentient trees. They - I think - are shepherds for normal trees. Their forests are their flocks, in a way. And apparently an Ent can grow dormant and treeish, while a tree can become more active, like an Ent. Unfortunately, there are few Ents left, because all the females wandered off some time ago." She started smiling as she spoke, and now just stared absently down at the map, probably at Fangar, or whatever it was called. "I think the Ents were my favorite part of the book. The Ents and the Hobbits."

Severus watched Lily's face as she described the beings of Middle Earth. Even before, while they trudged down the East Road to Bree, there was laughter, intensity, even affection in her looks and words. She really loved this world, what she knew of it, anyway. He leaned back slightly, fighting down his unease, and glanced at the potion instructions hidden in his hand under the table. If by chance they could locate a unicorn and help it die, so as to use parts of it without being cursed, as well as find everything else on that list, maybe he should mix the potion next time.
"Back to the main question," he said, "Where should we go from here? Do you think someone here could help us, or could we actually find everything we need for the potion?"
He didn't mean to sound so sardonic. Lily looked stonily at him, then down at the map.
"The only people I can think of that would have the power are the wizards or the elves. Elrond in Rivendell, Galadriel in Lorien, Gandalf, Saruman, Radagast, and Sauron. Actually I think Gandalf's in Rivendell right now, so our best bet would be to take the main road there. If that fails, we could plead neutrality and go south to Saruman, but it would be dangerous to tangle with him. He'd either completely ignore us, or make us work for him in the war. Galadriel's magic... is actually very similar to the potion we made, in looks, so that may work. Mordor's certainly out of the question. Maybe Radagast the Brown could tell us something, but I don't know enough about him to be sure."
Lily leaned back in her chair, having lapsed into musing to herself, rather than communicating. "Now that I think of it, Gandalf's probably the only one who would believe us."
"So make for Rivendell?"
"But wouldn't that mean not avoiding the hobbits like you wanted to?"
She considered. "Well, Aragorn takes the hobbits on a roundabout route to Rivendell. If we take the main road and get there before them, we might be able to consult Gandalf and move on without ever crossing paths with them." She was met with skeptical stares. "Well, can you think of anything better?"
A new song floated up from the floor below, something about a small inn and a cat. Severus rested his head on his palm, refusing to add his misgivings. From everything Lily had said, Gandalf was their best bet. He looked up as Lupin walked over to the window. Lupin, who hid in a tunnel under the Whomping Willow during every full moon. Lupin, whose best friends had become animagi while he apparently had not. Lupin was looking out the window now, straight ahead toward the skyline. His face was etched with misgivings, but he kept silent while Lily took out the pouches to start experimenting. Severus could see pale moonlight on his face. Shite.
Suddenly there was a commotion from downstairs. Lily bolted out of her chair and went to the door. Severus rose to follow, but James beat him to it. She opened it and listened for a moment, then closed it again and walked slowly past James back to the table.
"Damn! That was Frodo singing downstairs. We have to hurry." She threw herself down into her chair and poked her wand into one of the little bags. "We set out tomorrow, and if we're lucky, we'll reach Rivendell in two or three days. There's a washroom behind the door there, if you want to get cleaned up. And change your clothes."
"Great," Sirius muttered, rubbing his forehead. "I think I'm spending time in dog-form this time." Remus tapped him on the shoulder and whispered something in his ear. Sirius looked at his friend, then nodded. "Evans, we'll be back in a minute."
"Where are you going?" She was still angry about the ale.
Remus smiled uneasily. "Not to the bar, and nowhere near Frodo. I - er - just need some fresh air. I'm not feeling very well right now. I'm sorry."
Oh, horseshite, thought Severus. But Lily's eyes softened and she nodded. For all she knew, he was just sickly. Remus thanked her and pulled Sirius out the door. James watched them leave and then sat back, looking slightly sullen. He picked up one of the bags and tried to read the incantation from Lily's open Charms textbook.

Yes, I know the title's lame. That's why it's a draft.
Hope you like how it's going, anyway.

My NaNoWriMo Project, World. World, my NaNoWriMo Project

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 03:34:36 GMT

Hello. For all of you who are not familiar with National Novel-Writing Month, it is a past-time for writers during November where they aim to write down 50,000 words of a story in the space of 30 days. I succeeded, and this is the result. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I did it as well as I could have, but this is what came out. Hope you enjoy.
Chapter 1 of my draft. I am going to say, over and over again, this is a draft. Especially around portion 6 when things get very weird and disjointed.
Note: this REQUIRES the reader to either have read both all of the Harry Potter series and Lord of the Rings, or just not care about spoilers. If you haven't read "The Prince's Tale," you're going to wonder why Severus Snape is hanging around with Lily Evans. And some of the Lord of the Rings references are not in the movie, so, you should be prepared.
Enjoy.

This is a draft of my story, the result of my effort at National Novel-Writing Month. Even this disclaimer/introduction, because I am that cheap. I say again, it is a draft. Towards the end, it gets very scattered and full of random notes. It shifts from actually story to plot summary at random intervals. I believe I repeat myself many times over. Also, I fear the characters are a little assassinated. Severus Snape is not enough of a bastard (don't get me wrong, he's an understandable and somewhat admirable anti-hero, but I like poor Neville better. Let's call a bastard a bastard), Lily has been possessed by Hermione (Muggle-born who knows everything and is unstoppable with magical spells), Remus has more angst and trepidation than he should (I apologize), and James and Sirius are indistinguishable from Biggs and Wedge. Don't get me started on the Lord of the Rings characters. But I hope you can enjoy it, and please give me your opinion about the characterization and where it seems to be headed. Cheers!

"Heads up, Snivellus!"
Severus Snape ducked and whipped out his wand as something exploded on the wall to his left. Peter Pettigrew was already halfway down the corridor, his shrill giggle echoing slightly off the walls. Interesting that he'd had the guts to do that without Potter or Black around. Severus scowled as he straightened up and examined the smear on the wall, ignoring the other students now hurrying away. Bubotuber pus. How nice. And since most of the school believed that James Potter had "saved his life" the previous week, Severus couldn't complain to anyone without appearing, as Lily had put it, "ungrateful." He swore under his breath as he scooped up his fallen book bag and continued down to the Great Hall.
He sat down at the edge of the Slytherin table, declining the seat Avery offered with as much politeness as he could manage. He'd been in a bad mood for most of the week, ever since Potter had dragged him out from under the Whomping Willow, kicking and cursing. Potter had gotten bashed in the head by a swinging branch and landed a night in the hospital wing. Severus had gotten detention and an even worse reputation that he had already. He sighed and pulled out his potions textbook. He just couldn't deal with people right now.
"Something got you down today?"
"Lily!" he smiled in surprise and slammed his textbook shut. It was rare for her to seek him out at lunch. "How are-- Hello."
She smiled warmly at him, ignoring the several nearby Slytherins who were giving her icy stares. Severus hesitated a moment, then gathered up his things and headed out of the hall with her.
"You didn't need to do that," she said that in a tone of concern. "I wasn't going to stay, I just wanted to ask you something."
"Don't worry about it, he assured her. "What is it?"
"Well," she hesitated, leaning against the stone wall of the corridor, "remember a few weeks ago I was worrying about my Divination O.W.L.?
I said not to, because Divination's a waste of time. You either have the gift, or you don't. Why do you ask?"
"Because," Lily started, and then lowered her voice, "after that you mentioned the Potions O.W.L--"
He laughed in disbelief. "How can you possibly be worried about Potions?"
"I'm not!" She blushed slightly. "I know you and I are both well-prepared for that." She was referring to the hours they'd spent practicing and quizzing each other in Slughorn's classroom every evening. "Actually, this would give us a break from studying."
Severus smiled, intrigued. "Go on."
"Well, Divination and Potions got me thinking: what if you could brew a potion that let you divine the future?" She paused, looking at him expectantly. "Well?"
He blinked, and steepled his fingers together out of habit as he considered. "A draught that mimics Seer properties..."
"Or a divining glass," Lily added. She was never eager to drink a potion, even one that hadn't come out of the classroom. "But do you know of anything like that? Something that we could make?"
"I've heard, vaguely," he put great emphasis on this word, "of such things. But those potions would be beyond anything we've tried before."
"How beyond?"
"So beyond that you only learn about them when you're studying for a career in potions. After Hogwarts." Severus shook his head. "We couldn't attempt any of them at the level we are now. I'm sure Professor Slughorn knows the methods, but I can't see him letting fifth-years try them out, because magic dealing with time can be disastrous if done wrong."
Lily hesitated for a moment. "It still wouldn't hurt to ask." Severus gave her a suspicious look but she continued doggedly.
"You're the best in our year at Potions, Sev. You know it, I know it. Maybe Professor Slughorn would be willing to make an exception, maybe even help us. Come on, Sev." She grabbed his elbow as he started to turn away. "I know you're curious, too."
Damn. He tried to avoid her gaze, a reluctant smile on his face. Through a lot of their time at Hogwarts, the only thing that had kept them together as friends had been their common passion for potions. Severus had straight skill and intuition, the sense of timing and method imperative to delicate mixtures. Lily had this same intuition with ingredients, combined with sheer nerve. She took risks with her potions, always having a rational explanation on hand. And as his Potions partner for nearly every Gryffindor/Slytherin class for nearly five years, she knew he'd never leave a question like this one unanswered.
So it didn't surprise Severus in the least when he found himself seeking out Professor Slughorn later that afternoon to ask his advice on potions that revealed the future.

"I've never tried anything like this."
Severus emptied his arms and, as several jars clattered and rolled across the surface of the desk, snatched up an old, heavily creased piece of parchment. He held it a foot from his face and slowly leaned back against the desk behind him.
Slughorn had been hesitant when he first asked, but when Severus mentioned it was Lily Evans' idea, the professor gladly relinquished instructions to a "simple" potion called the "Liquid Looking Glass." It didn't sound very difficult to make - all ingredients they'd handled before, and only a week to brew - the tricky part, as far as Severus could see, depended on the will and discipline of the mixer.
"You need an idea of what you want to see in the mirror. And you need to keep that idea fixed in your mind as you're making it. This potion is designed to show you anything, from what's inside there," he pointed to an old, weather-beaten trunk in the corner of the room, "to what Shaw's aunt did last Friday at 7:00." He saw Lily nod absently, fiddling with her wand almost unconsciously. He cleared his throat and continued. "So if you want to see your own future, you have to be specific. But not extremely. You could say 'What will I be doing five years hence?' or something like that. Or you could say, 'Show me my ten greatest achievements."
Lily smiled, leaning on the side of the desk. "I love it when they're flexible like that." She suddenly frowned. "So does that mean each potion is only good for seeing one thing?"
Severus nodded. "That's why it's not insanely complicated. The mixture loses its potency within minutes, after the images fade. You only have time to answer one question. That's partly why it's important to know what you want to see." He paused, considering. "And since it's so maker-oriented, you should be primary mixer. I'll just be here to help."
Lily nodded in agreement but her frown deepened and she pulled down Severus' hand to angle the parchment toward her. "Do you think there's a way to make it last longer?"
Her putting her hand on his was unusual, and a little unsettling. Severus had deemed it none of his business to ask if Lily had a reason to want to see her future, but as she examined the parchment, he couldn't help but feel a bit concerned.
He shrugged off this feeling and handed the paper to Lily. "You're the primary mixer."

A week later, the potion had reached a luminous periwinkle blue. It lacked the faint silver tint it was supposed to have at this point and Severus was quick to point this out.
"I think it's because of the unicorn parts. I crushed the horn instead of powdering it, and decreased the amount of blood needed by one-twentieth." Lily wiped the back of her hand across her brow. "The way I see it, it's still evenly distributed, but longer-lasting. What do you think?"
"I think we should ask the professor's advice before we go any further."
Lily rolled her eyes, but nodded. The classroom door opened loudly behind them. "Ah, Miss Evans. Mr. Snape. How is it coming along?"
Severus turned around. "It's fine, Professor, but I think we need your advice--" He stopped short as he saw Professor Slughorn stroll into the room, followed by James Potter and Sirius Black. They both returned his look of distaste and it took all his concentrated efforts to turn his head back to his teacher. "We experimented a bit. I'd like to know what you think before we continue."
"Evans!" James brightened considerably and held his hand up in greeting. "Don't tell me you're in detention too?"
"I'm not you, Mr. Potter," said Lily haughtily. To the Professor, she explained, "I changed a little in the procedures, but all the ingredients are the same." He gave her a questioning look, and she handed him the instruction sheet, with various annotations that Severus had scribbled in. "I tried to adjust the potion to make it last longer. But do you think it would have other effects?"
Severus watched Slughorn as he sat down at his desk to examine the list. In his own mind, there were undoubtedly some effects that he and Lily wouldn't have counted on. But of the three of them, only Slughorn had enough experience to be able to say what they were.
He heard a snicker and glanced behind him. James and Sirius were sitting at a desk at the back of the room, whispering together and laughing. Sirius caught him watching them and waved. He immediately looked away, and could hear them both laugh a little louder.
Slughorn came back and handed the list to Lily. "Well, Miss Evans, these adjustments will certainly make the potion more long-lasting. In fact, if you do this final step alternating clockwise and then counter-clockwise stirs, I believe you could make the potion's effects permanent."
Severus' jaw dropped. Lily beamed. "Thank you, sir! That had occurred to me, but I'm glad you could confirm it."
"I wasn't quite finished," Slughorn's expression looked hesitant. "I cannot be sure that the potion's active time is the only thing you've changed. Potions are very tricky that way. So my advice is to be very careful on this last step. I take it you have an idea of what you want to see, yes?" Lily nodded. "That image is most important during the final phase of the brewing. Do not let it waver, do not let yourself be distracted from that idea. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir."
"Good." Slughorn smiled, reassured. "I trust your judgment, Miss Evans. Also," he glanced behind him to look at James and Sirius, who seemed to have started a game of Exploding Snap. "Those two have detention this evening until nine. If they will distract you here, I can send them to scrub out my store room instead."
Severus pictured James kneeling on the grimy floor of the store room, moaning over the filth on his robes, and smiled to himself. By the look in her eye, Lily was obviously envisioning something similar, but she shook her head. "That won't be necessary, Sir. Thank you."
Severus blinked in surprise, but said nothing. He bent his head over the potion, watching the fluid slowly coax itself around the cauldron. He vaguely heard Slughorn speaking behind him to the miscreants. "Two hundred lines, 'I will not disrupt my professor's class.' And you will get these back at nine." He snatched up their cards and put the deck in his pocket.
"Sev," Lily tapped his shoulder. "Can you hand me the ladle?"

They worked diligently for an hour or so in silence. Lily was so focused on her stirring that her sleeve caught on the silver knife and knocked it to the floor. Severus stumbled a bit to catch it, and heard soft clapping behind him. James and Sirius were beaming, long finished with their lines, and now just sitting there, whispering to each other. Severus flushed and shoved the knife in his pocket.
"Professor?"
Everyone except Lily glanced toward the door as a boy appeared in the doorway. Severus recognized him as the Fourth Year Regulus Black. The boy nodded towards him, and to his brother Sirius, before approaching Professor Slughorn at his desk. "Professor McGonagall asked to see you, Professor. She said it's urgent."
Slughorn raised his brows in surprise, then glanced at Severus, who looked at Lily, who had her face so close to the potion they could see her reflection. "Do you two still need my assistance at all?" When Severus shook his head, Slughorn smiled and followed Regulus out, dropping James' and Sirius' card deck in front of them as he passed.
As soon as he was gone, Sirius put his feet up on the desk and swooped up the cards. "Well, that's benevolent of him, isn't it?" he said in a loud voice, "But couldn't he at least dismiss us too, before he left?"
"Must have slipped his mind, Padfoot." James glanced down at his watch. "Like the time. We've still got five minutes."
Severus heard Sirius groan loudly as he turned back to Lily. She was standing now, beckoning him to come closer. "I think it's almost done!"
He rushed forward and stared into the potion, which had become as clear as water, but gave off flecks of brilliant silver. The mixture swirled and gleamed, and Severus' face broke into a broad smile. "It's beautiful," he murmured.
"I just need to add a fraction of dragon claw, and then I can look." Lily moved closer, her long red hair flowed down off her shoulder. She bit her lip slightly, watching the liquid as if transfixed. "Interesting," she said, almost to herself. "It looks a lot like Galadriel's mirror."
"What?"
Lily smiled. "Never mind. So, you'll monitor the potion while I prepare the claw, all right?" Severus nodded, still confused about the reference.
The classroom door opened again and they looked up. Severus' eyes darkened as he recognized Remus Lupin, who, he remembered, was a Gryffindor prefect.
"Evans, Snape." Remus halfheartedly lifted his hand in greeting and cautiously moved forward to where his friends sat. "Sirius, James. Professor Slughorn was caught up in something, so he told me to tell you you're dismissed."
"Perfect!" Sirius sprang up and started gathering his and James' affects. "Come on, P-- Prongs? Where'd you--?"
"'Ello, Evans."
Severus hadn't even seen James come up behind them. The boy had sidled up to Lily, who was now grinding the claw with a mortar and pestle, and leaned very close to her ear. The spoon in Severus' hand snapped in half and he heard a faint simmering noise.

"I really don't get it," Sirius sighed as he dropped the bags and folded his arms. "I mean, nothing against Evans, but when any girl in the school would give her own wand to be his girlfriend, why bother with the one that doesn't?"
"I think it's part of the appeal," Remus replied dryly. He flipped open one of the school bags. "Do you often carry all of your textbooks at once?"
"We didn't have much off-time today." Sirius laughed as he watched James' futile attempts to even make conversation with Lily. Not that he liked watching his friend get shot down, but the look on Snape's face was priceless.
Sirius stopped smiling. The classroom suddenly felt very chill. Not cold as in wintry, but it felt like all the heat had flowed out the door in the space of a second. Neither Evans, James, or Snape seemed to notice, but he looked at Remus, whose expression was just as bemused.
"Do you feel that?"
"Potter, honestly!" Lily's voice was raised. "Don't bother me right now!"
"I'm bothering you? I'm sorry." James withdrew a bit and she turned back to the bowl. He took a glance at the parchment of instructions. "'Liquid Looking Glass'? Is that as unimpressive as it sounds?"
"Ai Iluvatar!" Lily whirled around to look him in the eyes and Sirius saw her dump the whole pestle of dragon claw into the glowing mixture. "Potter, I have to concentrate! And if you mess this potion up for me--"
"Lily!"
Snape was staring in horror at Lily's mixture, which was sloshing and foaming violently. The ceiling above was washed with sky blue and silver lights flickered everywhere, almost blinding in their brightness. The entire potion vaporized and everything vanished in the mist. Sirius felt Remus' hand grab at his wrist and pull him out of the door, heard Lily's voice from a distance urging them to get out, heard James yell something, but it sounded so far away. Then the stone floor beneath him was gone, and everything seemed to fall.

Severus stopped in his tracks, nearly pulling Lily off her feet. The mist had cleared in an instant, but it did not reveal Slughorn's classroom. They were surrounded by towering old trees, and leaves dropped from long gnarled branches. The wan light gave everything a lurid hue; the air felt stifling and cold.
"Is this... the Forbidden Forest?" He'd never actually been there, so it was hard to be sure. But this was certainly how the rumors described it. Maybe even more so. Deliberately unfriendly.
"I hope so," he heard Lily whisper. She had her hand on her forehead and was turning slowly, taking everything in. Severus saw her eyes grow wider with every step.
She suddenly leapt forward and scooped up one of their school bags, almost buried under leaves. Severus knelt down beside her and found the instruction parchment, their other school bag, Lily's mortal and pestle, and the overturned silver bowl which had, up until that moment, contained the potion.
Lily groaned softly as Severus picked up the bowl and examined it. Completely dry, with no traces of any of the mixture left. The potion had been used up and had vanished as completely as though it had never existed. He handed the bowl to Lily, who clutched the rim as she struggled to find words.
"Somehow," she murmured, "I think I buggered it up."
"I think so, too," Severus admitted as he folded and pocketed the instructions. There was no point in lying to comfort her. This was not what they'd been trying to do. "Either way, we should find our way out of here." She took his hand and shoved the bowl into her bag, then shouldered it. Severus took the other and took out his wand.
"Point me." The wand whipped off to the left, North. "The Forest is west of the castle, right? So let's go this way."

"Hallo? Anyone here?"
James looked in every directed, and found nothing but giant looming trees. As soon as the potion reacted he'd grabbed Lily and sprinted for the door, but she'd fallen out of his grip and he'd found himself alone. How alone? Where in the hell was he? This couldn't be the Forbidden Forest - he'd spent enough time there to prove that. The gloom here was different, difficult to describe. Tangible. Like the very trees were hostile. James suppressed a shiver as he crept over a thick root.
He heard a voice echoing over a rise. He sprinted over the hill and through the trees almost without thinking, fixed on finding the source of that voice.
"James! Evans!"
"Moony!" It was him! James leaped over a fallen log and slipped down an embankment to land facedown on the ground. The first thing he saw as he raised his throbbing head was a giant lowering willow tree, balanced precariously above a shallow streambed. He saw Remus and Sirius beneath it. "Are you all right?"
"Yeah, we're right dandy." Sirius was sitting on one of the willow's massive roots, soaking wet and massaging his ankle. "Considering we landed in that stream there and nearly broke our necks." Sirius shook his head like a dog and James grinned at the familiar gesture.
"Did Evans or Snape tell you what that potion was?" asked Remus. He was also soaked and had a few leaves stuck in his hair. "I think that's what landed us here." He looked around and added, "Wherever here is."
"It was called a Liquid Looking Glass." James soured as he thought back to his latest defeat. "I didn't get the impression it was supposed to do this, thought." He looked around at the trees, one of which gave an ominous creak. "It's not the Forbidden Forest, is it?"
Remus and Sirius both shook their heads. James sat down next to them and considered their best course of action. It was getting visibly darker, and cold. He wondered vaguely whether Evans and Snape had landed somewhere nearby, and whether Lily was angry. She'd probably been serious when she said he was distracting her.
James blinked and shook his head. Why was he suddenly so tired?
"Sun's set. We should probably find a road or something," Remus said. He stood and looked around, squinting in the growing dark.
"Maybe we should stay here instead," Sirius countered. The other two looked at him and he shrugged. "What? It's not the Forest, so we have no idea what's out here. And it's too late and too dark to try moving now. We'll fall off a cliff or something. We should probably just make camp for tonight and try in the morning."
"Sirius, shouldn't we at least find out where we are first?" Remus glanced at James for support. "I mean, since we don't know what's out here, shouldn't we explore a little, find out what's here, and then find adequate cover?"
James had to admit that a rest sounded very good right now, but Remus had a valid point. A nagging doubt finally brought him to his feet. He lit his wand and turned around. "Come on, Padfoot. Let's see what we can find."
Sirius seemed not to have heard him, but instead had changed to dog form and curled up at the base of the tree. James frowned in indignation.
"Padfoot."
Remus suddenly gripped his arm. "James!"
James looked up quickly, raising his wand. Several of the willow's thin branches were snaking down toward them as the root under Sirius started to move.

Lily sighed as she picked another snagging thorn out of her robes. The trees were growing thicker with every step, obscuring their path and pushing them in every direction they didn't want to go. They picked their way gingerly, avoiding the trees that seemed more sinister, but even with their caution, their cloaks were caught in branches too often for either's liking.
"Do you think using incendio could make a difference here?" Severus asked. His tone was calm, but Lily could tell he was getting frustrated.
"Let's not risk it, she answered. Who knew what would happen? She yelped as another tree root knocked her feet out from under her, and prayed that her mounting suspicions were wrong. Please let us be lost in the English countryside. Please don't let us be where I think we are...
"Lily, do you hear that?"
Shouting voices. They took off in the direction of the noise, but the trees cut them off, heaving their branches across the path. They pushed and shoved but the thick wood was solid as stone and wouldn't budge.
"They're consciously blocking the way!" Severus murmured in astonishment. The light from his wand-tip was shaking slightly.
"Please let us through!" Lily called to the trees in desperation. "We mean you no harm! We only want to pass through! Do you understand? Please!"
"Lily!" She felt Severus yank her backwards just as one large, claw-like branch fell from the treetops onto the spot she'd been standing a second before. The branch crackled as it tightened into a fist and ascended back among the leaves. She swallowed hard, thinking. What do you do if you can't negotiate with a tree?
"I wonder..." Severus helped her into a standing position and stared up into the lowering foliage. "Remember the charm Shreck taught us a few weeks ago?"
She blinked. "The Patronus?"
This year's Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher was Professor Shreck, a researcher of Dark creatures and artifacts. Instead of spending the year reviewing basic spells for OWLs, like most of the other teachers, Professor Shreck had assembled a curriculum of advancing defensive magic, reasoning that if the students could pass his class, the OWLs would be a doss. Not the most popular teachers of the year, but Lily enjoyed the challenge immensely.
This was hardly the time to bring up classes. "What about it?"
"If you can conjure one, I think it would help right now."

Fire shot from James' wand and smoldered several of the willow's leafy tendrils. Sirius let out another yell of pain as the tree roots clamped more tightly on him, despite Remus' attempts to pry them open. Blood was flowing freely down his arm, where the willow's vine had grabbed him. He'd only just had time to cut himself free before James pulled out his wand.
"Prongs, stop burning the bloody tree! Stop!"
The flames immediately vanished as James jumped back to avoid the tree's tendrils. "The knot!" he suddenly exclaimed as he dived around to the other side of the tree. "Find its secret knot!"
"This is a Whomping Willow?" Remus muttered in disbelief. He tried Relashio on the roots again and Sirius gasped as the roots dug into his rib cage. "Secret knot! Right!" Remus looked around wildly for a knot on the tree. "Hang on, Sirius!"
"There's no bloody knot!" he heard James shout, then heard what sounded like a whip crack and a cry of pain. Remus looked around for James but didn't dare leave Sirius' side. He tried every spell he could think of on the root, but to no avail. Sirius' struggling became weaker as Remus used a Severing Charm on another tendril snaking around his middle. It was getting harder to move. He almost could hear the tree's anger, if that voice wasn't the onset of delirium. There was another voice, too, but it wasn't coming from the tree. It was coming from the same direction as a shining white light...
And suddenly the tree relaxed. The tendrils drooped, lifeless, as the tree straightened itself up to its natural posture. The roots opened and Sirius scrambled out, shaking and gasping, his robes torn and slightly bloody. Remus jumped forward and grabbed his shoulder before he collapsed. "Are you all right?"
"What the bloody hell was that?" he shuddered. Remus patted him awkwardly, not knowing how to answer. They both looked up at the sound of footsteps on the grass.
"Are you three all okay?"
"Evans!" James slipped on the wet leaves as he came out from behind the willow, being careful not to touch its roots. He wiped at the bloody gash on his cheek. "So you are here."
"That's a relief," Remus admitted as he pulled Sirius up to stand. "Now we'll at least--"
He saw Snape come down the slope behind Evans, looking more sour and pale that usual in the feeble wand light. Remus felt James come up behind him, and the five settled into an uneasy silence, watching each other and waiting.
He knew James and Sirius were both staring at Snape, as they did every time they saw him. He glared back, clutching his lit wand tightly. Evans was watching the three of them with some hesitancy, probably worried her interruption would provoke a fight. Remus looked skyward for a moment before addressing her.
"Evans, do you know where we are?"
She blinked at him in surprise and considered. "I think it's the Forbidden Forest. Isn't it?"
"No, it's not," replied Sirius.
"How do you know that?" asked Snape.
"Detention," James answered quickly. "Hagrid sometimes needs some help out there."
Not technically a lie, Remus reflected. They all jumped as the willow behind them emitted an irate creak.
"Better question: how do we get out of here?" asked Sirius. He hesitated and gave Evans an awkward nod, "Thank you, by the way."
Evans smiled. "We used the Patronus Charm," she answered, and Remus wondered bitterly why he himself hadn't thought of using that spell.
"Great! Could we use it again?" James sounded chipper, but Remus could see his eyes darting back and forth between the looming trees.
Snape sneered. "What, can't famous Potter cast one himself?" he asked icily.
Fighting was the last thing they needed. Before James could retort, Remus waved his wand. "Expecto Patronum."
His familiar white wolfdog bounded forward, then paused to look back at him expectantly. He saw surprise flit across Lily's and Snape's faces as he turned to look at them. "Which way should we go?"

If they were not in the Forbidden Forest, then there was no longer any reason to head east. Lily sighed heavily and suggest they follow the Four Point Spell North, claiming that they were bound to reach the edge sooner or later. No one else had any desire to challenge this. The bounding Malamute took off down the visibly widening path, Remus close behind, followed by James and Sirius. Severus and Lily hung slightly behind.
"If the fearless heroes have their own way of conjuring a Patronus, then is there any reason for us to stay with them?" Severus muttered.
"Do you honestly care?" Lily shook her head in amazement. "Listen, Sev, we're all stuck out here together. D'you think you can just... swallow your pride until we get out of the forest?" He set his jaw tightly and she gave him an exasperated look. "It is our fault they're here, you know."
He raised an eyebrow. "And?"
"...You're a piece of work, Sev."
He opened his mouth to retort but she trotted ahead out of whispering range. He sighed in disgust and hurried after the others, unable to ignore the way the trees shuddered and creaked as the Patronus passed them.
Soon enough the trees began to thin, and moonlight shone down in brilliant patches. Severus heard James whoop and he threw his eyes to the heavens. Suddenly they were past the trees, staring out at a wide, grassy plain. The Patronus seemed as happy as its master, barking silently and chasing its tail. Remus beamed as they watching it disappear. Sirius said something to James that Severus didn't catch. Lily was out of breath, her bag hanging off the crook of her arm, some wayward leaves in her hair. She glanced back at him and he smiled despite himself. They'd actually managed to get out.
Severus looked around at their surroundings. The moon was high in the sky - it must have been past midnight - but there was no castle in sight. Plain hills rolled off in every direction, with the occasional white spots signaling sheep or some such, but no Hogwarts. Anywhere. The only sign of civilization he could see was a long, wide dirt road, about a hundred paces off. It went east and west, disappearing into the distance in both directions. There were no signs or markers anywhere along it. He didn't try to kid himself that it was the road from Hogsmeade - if it was, it would have been curving around the Lake.
He looked at Lily, who looked at the other three, and they started walking. Maybe they would see something from there.
"So which way should we follow?" mused Sirius as they stood on the road fifteen minutes later. Hills still rolled off in every direction. There was no sign of Hogwarts, or any other castle, or any town, or crossroads, or signs, or any sort of landmark absolutely anywhere. "I mean, I doubt that making camp here would be a good idea, so--"
"Look out!"
Lily grabbed his shoulders and forced him off the path. The other boys followed after, looking around wildly for whatever she had seen.
"Are you mental, Evans? What--"
Severus felt it before he saw it. A sudden chill down his spine. Something was flying up from the eastern path. As it drew nearer, he could make out a black hooded cloak in the wind, and his sense of dread grew as it came closer. Severus' instinct said "Dementor," except when he looked more closely...
Sirius had frozen at the sound of hoofbeats. "A horse?" he whispered.
The cloaked figure was riding a horse, decked out in armor. Severus could even see metal glinting off the rider's hands. It wasn't a dementor, then. But something in his gut told him not to lower his wand.
They watched as the rider cantered to a halt almost on top of them. Severus noticed Lily take a stumbling leap backwards. She looked absolutely terrified. He shifted to put himself between her and the rider, who was now leering down at them from under its hood. It was impossible to see the rider's face in the dark, but under the bright moonlight he thought he could see dark wet stains on the fabric. And the horse's hooves. Severus was just starting to debate whether this rider could be a type of dark faery he'd read about when it suddenly uttered a raspy hiss.
"Shire..! Baggins...!"
Severus felt his mouth drop open slightly. Could that possibly be Parseltongue? Before he could speak, Lily shoved her way past him and stood before the dark rider. Her hands were trembling, but her voice was clear.
"The Bagginses live in Hobbiton. I heard they were headed West."
The rider let cry an ear-splitting screech and kicked his mount. It charged down the road and within a few moments was gone. The four wizards stared after it for a long time, then one by one turned their heads to look at Lily.
She was biting her lower lip, eyes wide and fearful, as though she knew something they didn't, and dreaded it. She turned to the road, running her hand distractedly under her bangs.
"The East Road... that had to be the Old Forest... a Nazgul... Oh my dear god, what the hell did I do?"
"Evans."
James had finally found his voice. She stopped short, and it took a moment for her eyes to focus on him. Severus' blood went cold; she looked on the verge of tears. He saw James step forward to her cautiously, obviously trying hard to not upset her further. "I just have two questions," he said with forced calm. "Where are we, and how do you know?"
The witch sighed heavily and dropped her hands to her sides. "I think I just zapped us into Middle Earth."