Middle Earth

Lalaith

Nyxe answered me vaguely, her head drooping back as sleep overcame her. I left her where she was, then wandered out into the camp. A few elves were out, doing miscellaneous tasks. Now that Nyxe was asleep, and the alarm of the distant smoke was quelled, and the mystery of the human girl was figured out, I really had very little to do. Everything in this camp was so boring.

Mumbling to my cousin that I was going for a walk, I nimbly leapt down the rock mountainside, heading back to the forest. It seemed that everything was going on there. Once in the cool shade of the trees, I took a deep breath, hoping that in the forest, I could escape my boredom. Creeping along between gnarled brown trunks, as I seemed to have done a lot recently, I heard a faint noise in the distance. It sounded like human voices, but I couldn't be sure. They were too far even for me to hear distinctly. Hurrying quietly across the leafy ground, I caught snatches of raised voices as I got nearer. And one of them I recognized as Constances'. Moving towards them, I began to think how I always had join in on other peoples' interesting happenings, because I could find none of my own. I really had to get away more.

Constance-

He was an enemy of the king... that awarded merit. But he still blew my bow up and tore up my arms.

"Well I'm not used to having strangers in my forest."

"Your forest?" Mikael asked. I knew what he meant. The forest belonged to the trees and the ents, not to humans. But it was still my home.

"Never mind."

Rey:


The man nodded at Kaida's command, then sat up and rubbed his eyes. Rey noticed that his wrists were chaffed and bleeding and wondered why Kaida's healing thing hadn't done anything to that. It must have been because of her half-elf heritage. He looked tired as well and Rey wondered exactly what this man had been through. The man looked at Rey, who was kneeling next to him.

"Listen," said the stranger. "What just happened was not of my will. It... well, normally I wouldn't do something like that. I wasn't... thinking clearly. Can we start over?" Rey nodded and shook the hand that was extended to him.
"My name is Ballow," he said. That name was vaguely familiar but he dismissed the notion.
"I'm Rey,"he said. "This is," he glanced up at Kaida and saw a shadow of distrust still in her eyes. "Kaida," he finished. Ballow nodded at both of them then attempted to stand. Rey, small though he was, helped him up. Ballow sighed and put his hand on his stomach.
"You got anything to eat around here? I'm starving." Rey nodded and the four of them, Kaida, Ballow, Trace, and Rey headed over to thier campfire.

*Sorry it's been so long since I've posted!*

** remember, Meer is a very shy character. He doesnt like conflict and he isnt necessarily the first to talk but when he has something to protect he will fight for it. Just please, he's a hard character to screw up, so let not XP. **

Meer

"I dont trust you," Meer stated lightly, his voice unsure. "... you hurt Constance."

"Dont be so imparsial," Mikael murmured through clenched teeth. "I only did so for my own protection. I'm sure you would arm yourself if someone was to point an arrow at you, reader to fire at point blank."

"I..." Meer was to befuddled to speak as he searched for the right words to retort.

"Either way, this is not your business," Constance turned her back on him. "We have our own problems. You go."

"Oh, but that would be no fun at all," Mikael smirked. "I'm sure you both understand the dire need there is of skilled warriors to fight against the king. You seem to both be skilled in archery."

"And we shall do our part to take down the king on our own," she chuckled. "Why should we follow you?"

"Because of ask it of you, not as someone who needs followers, but of someone who needs comrads," he raised his hands in a mock surrender. "But if you wish of me to leave.."

"We'll think about it," she cut in quickly.

"Thats a better answer then the one I received beforehand," he turned his back on them now. "How long must I wait till I may recieve my answer?"

"As long as it takes."

"Ah, well arent you the snippy one," Mikael chuckled smoothly.

"P-Please dont speak of Constance that way," Meer stepped infront of Constance in a protective manner. "I do not wish to hurt you."

"I highly doubt you could do much damage even if you are an elf," Mikael yawned. "Being as you seem to have quite the stuttering issue and a nervous disposition. I'm sure those arrows wont fly as straight as they do without a threat."

"They shall fly straight enough."

Mikael

"They shall fly straight enough."
"Are you blind, Sir?" I asked Meer
"No. I see more c...clearly than you can imagine." He replied proudly
"Then you saw me destroy your lady friends bow without touching it. Without so much as lifting a finger."
"Y...yes." He looked slightly worried
"Well then do you really want to test your inhuman reflexes against my magic?" He backed away until he was slightly behind Constance. "I didn't think so. Now listen to me both of you. Toghether you may be able to do enough to become a thorn in the kings side, but why become a thorn when you could be the spear that ends his tyranny once and for all?"

Meer

He felt like such a coward and knew that if it came down to it he would jump in front of her to save her life. Still... the other alternative was starting to sound tempting.

"And side with a magic user?" Constance grumbled. "What an awful situation."

"It's an offer," Mikael raised his hands again. "Take it or leave it, but I'm sure you both want this war to end."

"Yes, that is true," Constance murmured.

"How do I know we can t-trust you?" Meer asked worriedly. "Whats not to say that you've been working for this king this whole time and will slit out throats in our sleep?"

"I give you my word of course," His smirk grew. "I'm sure you'll realise that you need me more then I need you. I'm just asking for your skills are quite... endearing."

"Maybe... Maybe we should..." Meer turned his eyes towards Constance, the curiosity so evident it was almost strangely so. "Maybe it would be the best idea for us and maybe... maybe we could be happy if we did..."

"And why is that?" she asked casually, although her words still sounded awfully guarded.

"Because there will no longer be war, and no need to hide ourselves any longer."

Constance-

I did not like the idea of leaving the forest. It was the reason I didn't go with Lalaith and the reason I was speculating the possibilities now. The end of the war sounded like a good motive... but... I need Treebeard's opinion.

"I wonder if it would be possible to speak to a friend about this matter. He is wise in counsil."

"How long would it take to ask?"

"Hopefully not too long. I ask for a day or two, no more."

"I don't have that much time."

"Then you lose an archer. It means nothing to me," I answered and then turned to Meer.

"You owe me nothing so you may go as you wish, but if you choose to come then I must speak to this friend alone."

He nodded and gave another look Mikael.

Meer

"You sh-shall lose two archers for I go where she goes, sir," Meer bowed his head a little towards him then turned towards Constance. "I keep my word. I will follow you till there is no need of my presence any longer, then I shall go."

"Wait, let me get this straight," Mikael cut in. "No need of you any longer... your only with her for a short amount of time?"

"I asked if I could follow her, and she said I could till a point, so I will," Meer stood very still, his words rushed.

"When you could follow me and have no fear of being left behind at some point in time?"

"I keep to my word sir," he bowed his head then turned. "Now if you'll excuse us, I believe it is time to make our exit."

"You're a fool," Mikael chuckled. "Truly a fool."

"Call me whatever you wish," Meer smirked now, his eyes staring down at his feet, but there was some sort of happiness hidden in them. "But I am but merely and elf of my word. It is all I have to offer so I will always keep that. Please do not try to understand me if you dont know me for you wont get far enough. Now if you'll excuse us..."

Rey:

They sat around the fire once again eating the stuff Trace had concocted. Ballow had decided to rest, or rather, Kaida and Rey had decided. He was lying down next to the fire with his back to them. Rey was looking at him thoughtfully and Kaida was staring into the fire. "So what do you make of him?" she asked, jolting Rey out of his thoughts. Rey sighed and looked at her.

"Honestly, I don't know. I don't think it was his will to hold me hostage like that. Something was... controlling him." Kaida looked doubtful, always protective of her friends. "Didn't you see how disoriented he was when he woke up? He was confused and as far as I could tell, extremely regretful of the whole thing." Kaida grimaced and sighed.

"I don't know," she said, "Maybe you're right. We'll ask him when he wakes up." Rey nodded, his mind doing a flashback to the scene. Suddenly, he gasped.

"Kaida, when we first got up from the campfire to see what the movement was, I recall thinking that Ballow was from a different direction than the original movement! Kaida, I think someone else is still out there."

Lalaith

Constance and the other elf had turned away, walking off into the forest. Watching them leave was a tall man wearing dark clothes. From what I had heard of their conversation, the man had asked Constance and the elf to fight against the king with them. But why hadn't they said yes right away? I mean, of course they had to wonder whether or not they could trust the man, but it was a chance at adventure, and bravery. I myself would have seized the chance.

Sighing for what felt like the millionth time that day, I turned away, heading over the to creek. The sound of running water always calmed me, and helped me think.

*sorry it's not that long*

Constance-

Mikael agreed to give us the day and so Meer and I left. I needed to speak with Treebeard. He always knew what to do.

But this decision is your own.

I didn't care. I couldn't make my decision right now, and whatever choice I made would probably reflect on Meer. I wasn't good with hard decisions.

I knew it took a few hours to reach the Entmoot near the center so we needed to walk now and fast.

"May I know who this friend is?" Meer asked. I shook my head.

"No."

Ballow

I wasn't sleeping, I knew better than that. Once again in my disoriented state I had let my real name slip, it was only time before my escape was made news to the public. How unhappy father would be then.

I listened to their conversation, eyes shut.

"Kaida, when we first got up from the campfire to see what the movement was, I recall thinking that Ballow was from a different direction than the original movement! Kaida, I think someone else is still out there."

Hoody? Were they talking about Hoody? If I knew anything about this guy, and I didn't, he didn't like companions. Hoody was decidedly anti-social.

My wounds ached as I rolled over to face the fire, my back was now thoroughly warm. It was nice to be once again in control of my body.

I could feel them watching me, like probes on my body. I swallowed and pretended to be asleep more, I heard the half-elf whisper something, "Where do you think he got those wrist chafe marks from?"

The other person's reply was thus: "I'm not sure, but I noticed they were still there after you healed him. Couldn't you heal the chafe marks?"

I could sense the shameful blush on the girl's face, more than see it and I felt bad for her, the wounds had more than likely been inflicted by anti-magic iron which had bound my wrist within shackles. And the anti-magic-matter had probably seeped into my wirst wounds.

I heard the brush of her hair against her neck as she shook her head and replied, "They just . . . didn't heal, I don't know if it was my fault, like something's wrong with me, or if something's wrong with him. . ."

The guy nodded and once again I could feel their gazes. I couldn't take it anymore, I had to wake up . . . well, show them I was awake. I began to roll around slowly then I let out small moan.

I moaned and pretended to force open my eyes. The light of the fire scorched my sight for a second, and after blinking rapidly I managed to get rid of the little dancing small dots.

I stretched and sat up. The guy smiled, "Have a nice sleep?"

I nodded with a lazy smile, "It was warm."

The half-elf sitting next to him smiled as well, it was a sort of cautious smile, a smile that said "we don't really trust you yet, but we're willing to try". I wondered momentarily if they really knew who I was, would they still act the same way?

The guy, I suddenly remembered his name, Rey. he had told me it before I had dozed off for a few seconds and the girls was . . . Kiada? No, Kaida? Yeah, Kaida sounds right. I heard Rey say it a few moments ago.

Half-eaten bowls of food sat in their laps and as I caught sight of them my stomach lurched forward and began to growl as loudly as a lion. The smell drifted over and my stomach performed back flips.The mocking smiles on Rey's and Kaida's face made heat rush to my face.

I hadn't eaten food for a while. The last food I had eaten had been . . . the food that had poisoned me. The thought of the poison I had just escaped the clutches of gave me goosbumps even though I was dangerously close to the fire.

Kaida stood and gave me this small tight smile, "I'll got get you some before your stomach eats itself."

"Thanks." I replied as I watched her retreating form.

I turned to Rey and asked the question that had been lingering on my tongue for this very moment, "So, why did you decided to help me?"

Constance-

We continued walking through the woods and it was soon nightfall. Good, our conversation could be made under the cover of darkness. We were approaching the clearing where the Entmoot gathered and I knew Treebeard would be near by.

"Meer, this is where you must stop and I go on alone."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, but I will come back so as to give my answer to Mikael. My choice should not effect yours."

I left Meer and walked into the clearing and then left the clearing. "Treebeard?" I called.

"... young Lady Constance... what important business... do you have here?"

"I need to speak with you and... and ask your advice."

"My advice... broohoom... on what matter?"

"On a matter of alliances."

**It's a good thing I'm not needed for a very small bit.. I'm a little grounded but should be able to post a reply later on.. sorry for the inconvieniance.**

Mikael

I sat down in the centre of the clearing and emptied my head of everything but the flow of magic through me. I lay one hand on the mossy earth and another on my metal pole. Slowly i began to draw power from the wind and put it into the earth. Around me plants grew and blossomed and soon i was engulfed in a beautiful glade. Slowly i felt the plants around me notice my presence. Soon i felt magic flow through me and into my staff which to my eyes glowed with stored power. So the stories are true, Fangorn does have multiplying capabilities. I'll have to remember that. I lay back and waited for their return.