Middle Earth

Rey:

He studied Ballow as Kaida walked away. Once again, he wondered what had happened to make him so tired. Ballow met his eyes and, embarrased, Rey turned away and stared into the fire. He felt his eyes still on him and was slightly surprised when he spoke.

"So why did you decide to help me?" he asked. Rey looked at him, surprised at the question.

"I don't know, you would've died. Anyway, I could tell after you asked for help that taking me hostage wasn't something you'd normally do." Ballow seemed satisfied with his answer.
"Where'd you meet the elf?" he asked, making small talk. Half-elf, Rey thought, but he didn't say anything about that.
"We met in Edoras. I was training to become a rider of Rohan and she a shield-maiden. We sparred once in the stables and we've been friends ever since. You ever met an elf?" he asked.

~Kaida~

I stood silently in the shadows. Sure it was a bad thing to be eavsdropping, but I didn't trust this guy. It was hard for me to trust anyone that had threatened a friend of mine. I'd saved him because Rey wanted him saved.

Him having the knowledge that I was part elf didn't help my circumstances at all. Being an elf wasn't good for your health. Having people KNOW you were an elf was even worse.

Lalaith

Sitting by the creek, collecting my thoughts, I felt something brush my hand. Giving a start, I noticed that it was a flower. A flower that had not been there before. Turning around, I noticed that there was a smattering of new foliage around me, lush and green. Puzzled, I took a few steps, gazing between tree trunks to the clearing where I had seen Constance and that elf talking with the man. Constance wasn't there anymore, nor was the elf, but the man was lounging on the ground. And he was surrounded by plants. Throwing all caution to the winds, I stepped into the little oasis of green and stood only a few yards from the man.

Only when he turned to look at me did I realized how foolish I was. What should I say? I had nothing to tell this man, or ask him. Flustered, I stood still for a moment, before saying, "Hello."

Constance-

"So... brohoom... this one wants your help in over throwing the king of men."

"Yes, so what should I do? I don't trust him at all after what had happened (even if it was an accident) and I can't help but want to join just to see the king fall."

"Revenge should not be... your reason for battle..."

"But it's all I have."

"That is not true. There are many... broohoom... other moral reasons to join his fellowship. Justice, Peace, Safety, to prtoect Fangorn."

"Are you saying that you want me to join his fellowship?"

"I am saying... broohoom... that you must choose your own path and it must not be for revenge against men."

I thought about this for some time. It was the ents way to take things slowly and deeply think things through, but with each minute I knew I didn't have much time to make it back to Mikael.

"I'll go... for Fangorn."

Ballow

Small talk had never been one of my strong points, father had insisted I learn. I hated it when he had made me do stuff like that. I realised that Rey had asked a question, "Ever met an elf?"

Oh, yes, I had. I wondered if I should reply truthfully, or if I would be found out. If I told them I had met elves who had been murdered afterwards would they still be so pleasant? I figured the half-truth was always best, "A few."

He nodded, "Great people, huh?"

I wouldn't know. I had only managed to once steal a conversation with one before he had been . . the thought froze and I didn't want to think the rest. I think Rey realised my hesitation and spoke over it, "So, where do you come from?"

I felt sort of bad, I hadn't answered a single of his questions without dancing around it. And this was no exception. I had let slip my real name. If he were to know where I came from he would know my exact identity. I took a deep breath and once again told a half-truth, "Oh, here and there."

The chafe marks on my wrists suddenly began to get itchy and I scratched at them irritably. Rey was eyeing them curiously, his gaze then flicked up to mine and I met it, "How'd you get them?"

Finally something I could answer the WHOLE truth too, "I was imprisoned for something I didn't do."

It felt like a weight off of my chest. I let out a long sigh of relief. Rey was frowning, "Why didn't they heal when Kaida healed you?"

Damn, another question I couldn't answer truthfully. I knew the answer, but anti-magic-matter wasn't just used on any lowly criminal. Anti-magic-matter was only used for the rich crims who could actually escape, the dangerous ones. I didn't want Rey to be thinking bad of me after I had just assaulted him and nearly died.

I shook my head silently. I had no way to respond to this without lying. I disliked lying, my father had encouraged it. I hated him. I hated him with such a fiery hatred that it burnt me inside out. Instead of answering I made a comment about the weather, "Nice day isn't it?"

Rey was staring at me now, as if he couldn't believe that I had just answered his question with a question about the weather. I met his gaze, and he looked away. That was the second time he had. I wondered why. Maybe I wasn't the only one with secrets.

"Nice and cool." was his reply.

An awkward silence grew between us. It made it seem like we were on totally different sides of the world. Maybe we were. Maybe this was a dream. Maybe a poison intoxicated dream where I was being written like some character in a book. Panic seized me, what if I wasn't real?

What if nothing were real? What if my whole life was nothing but a fabrication of words on parchment?

I froze.

What was I going on about? Maybe I was going insane. What a stupid thought. I hadn't realised in my panicked state that I had crept closer to Rey and and grasping his shoulder very tightly. Like it was somehow an anchor to the real world. I use to ge these before, but I thought they had stopped when I had escaped the prison. I had been wrong.

I let go, and flashed Rey an apologetic smile, not meeting his gaze. Then I shuffled to the other side of the fire. Wow, that was embarrassing. I don't think I had ever thought like that. Ever. Maybe the poison had side effects.

Because ever since I had awaken had seen small little lines connected everything. I had tried to ignore it, thinking they would go away. But they were still there. Rey shattered my thoughts, "What was that about?"

I turned my head his way and stared at his feet, "Panic attack. Sorry."

"A panic attack? Seriously?' he asked, incredulously.

I gritted my teeth and my jaw locked, "Yes. I thought they had stopped."

Rey sat in silence as if contemplating something. He opened his mouth and began, "Let me get this straight, you thought they had sto-"

The Kaida came back with food. For once I think I enjoyed being interrupted in the middle of a conversation.

~Kaida~

I'd started walking back and now regretted it. Panic attacks? This was definatly something I wanted to know about; and I blew it. I gave the man his food and then stood.

When I sat down, I stared into the fire, thinking. He knew about me. What should I do?

My question was answered when cold metal touched my neck. This just wasn't my day.

"You're an elf?" It was Trace. I'd completly forgotten he was there; oops. That's a few too many mistakes made in one day.

Hey guys,
Listen, I'm not going to be able to post for at least a week, probably more. You can control my character, do whatever, while I'm gone. So sorry!!!

Vet

Constance-

I said goodbye to Treebeard and thanked him before walking back through the clearing and back to Meer.

"You're back?"

"We don't have much time. We need to go back to Mikael."

"And what would your answer be?"

"I-I will join. Peace would be nice in Fangorn. No more men trying to come and chop the trees down."

"Then I will join as well, though I don't know if I will ever trust the sorceror. He seems too shifty for my taste."

"You will do as you wish. I don't want you coming along just because I am."

"It is my choice, and like you said... peace would be nice for a change."

Meer

When they returned, Mikael was still there, but now leaning casually against a tree, sighing restlessly. Meer eyed him suspiciously, obviously not liking the tone in which he seemed to have taken, but said nothing for he knew nothing he could say would change anything.

"So I believe I shall be recieving your answer now?" The man raised his eyes towards them, hint of challenge in his voice.

"I will join this fellowship, but as a comrade, nothing more. Dont expect me to follow your orders for surely I will not. I am going only in the name of Fangorn and to protect my forest. Nothing more."

"Once again your being fairly guarded," Mikael raised his finger to his lips inquisitively. "And Meer, I suspect you will be following the young lady wherever she goes?"

"It's Willow," he hissed. The normally shy persona was now being taken over by his overprotective side due to the fact that Constance was now involved. "Only friends call me by my first name."

"Well, we are now apart of the same fellowship," The amusement was clearly evident in Mikael's voice. "Calling you Meer would be a crime? I'm sure in time we'll be good friends."

"Call me Willow and nothing more," he stated before lifting his bow off his shoulder and holding it out before him. "I would ask you to state your hand. The girls life is now mine."

"And what gave you that sort of idea?" she asked turning her eyes on him confused.

"I swore to protect you," Meer smirked at the girl. "Might as well make it official. If this man hurts you, I will make it my personal mission to kill him."

"Like you could," Mikael rolled his eyes again. "What a way to start of a fellowship. Already so much fuss in our little group. You'll both learn to trust me. No need in speaking your wooish vows to her now elf. I'm sure we'll all have time for sweet nothings after the war is over."

Meer turned red at this comment, slinging his bow over his shoulder. "You know that is not what I meant when I said that."

"Who are you trying to fool, kid?" Mikael raised an eyebrow, the smirk only widening.

Meer was about to retort but Mikael started to walk away, briskly.

"Well come on!" He yelled over. "The kingdom is a long way off. We better start now or we'll never get there."

Lalaith

When the strange man had not responded, I had turned away, knowing I had come off sounding childish. How was it that after hundreds of years I could still be so foolish sometimes? Deep in thought, I wandered aimlessly around, running my fingers over thick patches of moss and lichen on the trees. The forest was so peaceful, so quiet.... And sometimes, so dull. I felt a pang of longing for my old home Loth Lorien, and for all the places I had yet to see.

*Sorry it's short. Not sure what else to say, but I figured I might as well post.*

Constance-

I was slightly offended by Meer's action. I did not need defending, rather it was probably the other way around. We both ran to catch up to Mikael and started marching through Fangorn.

When we reached the outside border, smoke could be seen from a nearby camp. It was a men's camp, pretty close to the last one I had burned. Anger flared up and I grasped my sword's hilt. Mikael raised a hand.

"There's no need for that. The men will get what they deserve once the king is gone."

"Aren't you a man?"

"You too are human yourself. I don't see why you lust to kill your fellow kin."

"I lust for nothing. I just wish for Fangorn's protection."

"When the king is dead, Fangorn will be well protected."

**Kind of gives room for Ballow, Kaida, and Rey to join here**

**Good idea **

Meer

Meer had become terribly edgy since the vow he had made in the forest. Stating that her protection was top priority was something that was now becoming the most important thing but she obviously didnt like the idea. He was curious as to why, but he still felt the need, the desire to protect her. Her life was now his and she would make sure that if anything, he would die before she would. He would die protecting her.

"Let's attack them!" Constance looked obviously terribly annoyed and a little on edge. Something must have angered her prior.

"Like I said before, they will get their just deserts," Mikael then turned his eyes on Meer. "You should learn to control you lady friend, elf. She's a little too spirited for a human. That mouth will get her killed."

"Like he could ever control me," she hissed, her eyes flaring. "You obviously have no idea who you're dealing with."

"And you obviously have no idea what creature stands behind you, protecting you," Mikael raised his fingers to his lips as if to silence them a little. "To defeat an elf is not an easy feat by far. The strength of three men lies within him, eyes like a hawks. Elves are a different species entirely. I am not belittling you abilities, and Meer is not quite the valiant fellow, but he is still classified as an elf. One of the strongest and most ancient bloodlines runs within his veins."

"He's too quiet and meek to do anything but hide though," she stated with an air of annoyance as if she had in fact been belittled. "If anyone is going to be doing to protecting, it would be me."

"You'll see soon enough," Mikael smiled wickedly. "When it comes to battle, that elf will show you just how useful he can be. Of course, right now, neither of you will be protecting anything. I believe my magic shall do the trick just fine. Not even the elf could stand up to such a thing."

Constance-

I knew Meer was an elf and I understood that their abilities were above a human's, but Meer he just... I don't know. I appreciate his want to stay with me for sometimes it gets lonely in the woods. But trust was something that I had very little of, next to patience, and after the belittling words... I just felt very annoyed with both of them. Maybe I am a bit headstrong, but I do not like being talked down to, and that all the more intensed my annoyance.

I glared at the men's camp as we past when something wrong happened. Four galloped out on horses, three men and a woman. I looked at Mikael and saw him glare hard.

"What is he doing?" he hissed. Obviously he knew one of the party.

~Kaida~

"Yes." I said quietly. The sword was pressed harder against my throat. There was pain and the warm sensation of blood trickling down my neck. I felt the need to swallow but didn't; that could kill me.

"A elf being a Sheild-Maiden..." Trace scoffed. It reminded me of the prejeduce...and how much I loathed it. "A spy more likely."

"For Rohan, yes." I said, "I bring information to the king. I wouldn't ever betray Rohan."

Meer

"The woman's from Rohan..." Meer's eyes widened in shock, his body leaning forward. Constance looked at him, the sour grimace still visible aross her face, but the curiosity was evident in her eyes. "A messenger... and they're killing her..."

"Oh I forgot about the ears," Mikael chuckled. "They're so big it just seemed obvious."

"Shush," Meer raised his hand as his eyes stared down at the area below, everything detailed and visible. "I dont understand the scene... I've never been to Rohan but... but I dont feel right about what those men are doing."

"Then let me go and find out for myself," Constance unsheathed her blade, eyes alight with fury. "I'm sure my blade will talk for itself."

"This is not the time Constance..."

"She's an elf!" Meer's voice cut off Mikael's, his teeth clenching. "My kin..."

"Are every single elves worth saving in your books?" Mikael asked, raising an eyebrow. What if that ladyelf down their turned out to be on the enemies side?"

"She's about to be slain," Meer crouched down, about to pounce forward. "And she is my kin. I will rescue her."

Before he could jump though, Constance rested her hand again his shoulder as if to shush him of such ludicrous ideas.

"I think there's more then meets the eye in this situation," Constance murmured. "Mikael. Tell us what you know."

Meer looked up at the man who was now leaning against a tree trunk lazily.

"Ah, truly this fellowship is already off to a rough start if you cant even trust your own comrade," Mikael raised his hands surrenderingly, but there was an edge of mocking and amusement in his voice. One that furthur angered Meer.