Wild Blue Yonder
folder
-Multi-Age › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
51
Views:
3,240
Reviews:
87
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Category:
-Multi-Age › General
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
51
Views:
3,240
Reviews:
87
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
0
Disclaimer:
I do not own the Lord of the Rings (and associated) book series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.
A Surprise in the Making
Fic title: Wild Blue Yonder
Authors: DBZ Vegeta/Stace
Rating: PG-13/R
# of Chapters: 49/?
Category: Angst/Action/Adventure/Romance/Suspense
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.R.R. Tolkien, various publishers including but not limited to Ballentine Books. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author Note: Well, this chapter is finally done. I swear this new job that I have is gonna get the best of me for my writing. I just got back from a three week long school and I barely had anytime to write whatsoever. I am only home for the next six weeks and then I am off again. I think that I am going to have enough air miles for a free ticket soon….
~*~
Chapter 49 – A Surprise in the Making
Rain ignored Elrohir’s smirking grin as she and Legolas crossed the cavern the next morning to join him, Gandalf and Gimli. They sat down together on the long bench across from the bemused trio, before picking up their plates to fill from the variety of dishes placed on the table.
“Sooo...,” trailed off Elrohir, whose grin widened even further from the look that was shot in his direction by Rain, “Did you get much talking done last night?” he said suggestively.
Legolas choked on the drink he had been taking and eyed Elrohir over the rim of cup as Rain spoke.
“ ‘Ro, shut up.”
“But Rain, the light was on so late last night, I only wondered...,” Elrohir teased.
“ ‘Ro, run,” Rain said shortly.
“Huh?” he said, before he looked up and saw the evil glint in her eye. He bolted up from the table, Rain hot on his heels. Nanook, barking and nipping happily at their feet, as he chased after the pair.
“Did I miss something?” Gimli asked, a confused expression lighting his face.
“I take it that all has worked out between the two of you, Legolas?” inquired Gandalf, a twinkle in his bright eyes.
“Yes, it has.” Legolas said, his smile broadened as he watched Rain catch Elrohir and started to knuckle his head that she had trapped under her arm. Their shouts of laughter rang merrily through the cavern, as they watched on.
“Could someone please clue this poor, confused dwarf in on what’s going on?” Gimli complained as they watched Rain release Elrohir, laughing happily, as the pair staggered their way back to the table, still poking and prodding at each other.
“Just something that was a long time coming,” Gandalf remarked mysteriously as he watched Rain and Elrohir approach. Elrohir’s hair was tangled and mussed, his tunic askew. Rain obviously faring better since she only had a few stray wisps of hair that had escaped from her tight braid.
When Rain sat down next to Legolas, he slipped his arm about her waist and pulled her close against his side. Gimli’s eyebrows shot up to disappear into his browline as Legolas leaned over and whispered something into Rain’s ear, causing her to sit back and smack him playfully on the arm. He leaned back slightly and watched the pair interact for the remainder of the meal. Their behavior was totally opposite that what he had observed the night before. Leaning forward again, his brows furrowed in concentration as he peered intently at his long-time friend, studying him quietly. Just then he noticed a small dark bruise barely hidden by Legolas’ collar and as he was about to comment, Gandalf spoke up.
“Gimli, given your knowledge of the passageways, how long do you think it will take us to get to the key room as indicated on the map?” Gimli looked up, startled slightly for a moment, but heeding the look of warning in Gandalf’s eyes before he replied.
“It should only take us about a day to get there and a day to return. However, I am unsure as to how you are going to open this room. In all our recorded history, no one has been able to enter that room and there is no documentation on what is contained within that room,” he said, his shoulders shrugging with his apology.
“I have the feeling that once we are there that shall not be a problem,” Rain remarked, fork held suspended in mid-air as a thoughtful look crossed her face. “I am not sure how I know that, but I just do.” She lowered her fork to her plate as a frown began to take over the thoughtful look. “Gimli,” she said, turning towards the dwarf, “do you have any idea as to why your people have not been able to enter this room.”
“It’s protected by magic,” Gandalf said suddenly. All eyes slid to the old wizard as he continued, “Elvin magic.”
“How would you know that Gandalf?” Legolas asked softly, his fingers involuntarily tightening on Rain’s waist. She shifted away from his tight grip as she looked between Legolas and Gandalf, her green eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“There is a great many things that I know and many that I have long since forgotten,” quipped the aged wizard humorously, his levity belied by the serious expression in his eyes.
“If it’s protected by Elvin magic that could be the reason why the dwarves have been unable to access the room,” commented Elrohir.
“But the main question would be; why would Elvin magic be protecting a place within the Dwarven realm?” Rain said, asking the very question that hovered in all their minds.
*~*~*
Rain grumbled to herself about the Dwarven penchant for digging dark, rocky holes as she stumbled over one more unseen obstacle. Why couldn't they live on top of the mountain, instead of tunneling under it? Even with all her military training, her combat skills and her confidence in her abilities, the yawning mouth of the entrance had given her pause, with its enveloping blackness. Moreover, she hadn't been the only one to get the willies.
Out of the corner of her eye, she'd seen both Legolas and Elrohir stiffen visibly as the party had stood briefly at the entrance. But then they'd gritted their teeth and plodded on with steely determination. Although she'd already respected them a great deal, her pride in both the elves had swelled as they'd fought against their innate dislike of anything underground. Even now, their discomfort was a physical presence, as the normally joyful, exuberant Elrohir tread quietly in the consuming darkness.
Rain grimaced as yet another bead of sweat slowly trickled down her already damp back. How the heck did the Dwarves stand the interminable heat, with their stocky bodies, heavy leather clothing, and thick bushy beards, moustaches and mane's of hair?!
Rain wiped a dirty hand across her sweaty brow, unintentionally leaving behind a streak of black dust. She had removed her vest and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, before untucking it to knot beneath her breasts exposing her midriff. The heat had increased exponentially the farther they traveled downwards, instead of cooling as she had thought it might. Even the elves had not fared well with the heat, their long hair matted and sticky with sweat and dirt. Only Gandalf and Gimli looked relatively comfortable, and she would not have put it past the old wizard to have conjured some type of cooling spell for himself, if it was possible.
‘Damn, it was hot,’ she thought grumpily. Even the time that she had spent deployed to the desert hadn’t been this bad, of course that had been mainly a dry heat as opposed to this humid dampness.
“How in the hell can you look so cool when the rest of us are boiling here?” she grumped caustically to Gandalf, the edges of her temper frayed by the looming darkness and stifling heat. She rolled her eyes as she was given a look that said, “As if you didn’t already know.”
“We’re here,” Gimli’s voice cut through her thoughts. She looked up to see Gimli paused in front of a large archway, the heavy double stone doors firmly shut and illuminated hazily by his torch. Gandalf strode forward and held up his staff, the light from the crystal intensifying to dip along ancient elvin runes carved along the curving arch. Each of the stones double doors also carried runic inscriptions that surrounded a pair of parallel slits that were about three inches in length and ¼ inch in width, one to each door. Rain stepped forward, her fingers tracing lightly along the edges of the runes nearest the slits, her eyebrows coming down as a puzzled expression took residence on her face.
“There’s something familiar about these,” she said softly, her fingers tracing across the runes and to the slits.
“Familiar, how?” Gandalf asked, as he leaned on his glowing staff.
“I’m not sure, but something tells me that I should be able to read this,” she replied, the look of puzzlement deepening on her face. Her fingers continued to trace the runes as her eyes studied the doors and archway. The men of the group stood back, watching Rain closely as she stepped back and dropped down to squat on her heels. She sat unmoving, staring at the runes as they quietly moved behind her to settle in for the wait.
For hours, they watched her, her body never moving other than the shallow lift of her breathing. Nanook whined restlessly and nudged at Legolas’s hand, who automatically threaded his long fingers through the thick hair on his head. Legolas turned as he felt Elrohir sit down next to him and smiled softly as Elrohir held out a small leaf-wrapped package.
“No, I’m not hungry,” Legolas said, shaking his head slightly before he turned back to watch Rain.
“Do you think she will be able to decipher the symbols?” Elrohir said as he took a small bite and then rewrapped the Lembas bread into its packaging. “I’ve never seen anything like them before. Even with father’s extensive library.”
“I am not sure, we can only…” his voice trailed off as Rain suddenly stood and stepped forward towards the doorway. He stood and quickly walked across the area until he stood directly behind her, the others on his heels. Rain’s hands raised and traced lightly over the runes centered between the deep slits on the door. A soft glow began to emanate from the runes and began to fill the tunnel with its light. Legolas reached out a hand to pull Rain back, concerned for her safety as her voice began to fill the tunnel.
“The one from time to come shall hold the fate of the two. Join forever to preserve the march of time for both, else woe be to both and all shall be lost.” Rain stepped forward as she spoke her voice carried a foreign quality to it, almost mystical. They watched cautiously as her hands dropped to her waist to pull the twin blades from their sheaths and suddenly plunged them into the two slits on the door.
Legolas and Elrohir both took a quick step forward, their hands outreached to snatch Rain back as a grating sound filled the tunnel. Dust billowed up as the doors began their slow inward motion propelled by a gust of air blew out from the opening pushing them back a step, causing the men to throw up their arms to protect their faces from the grit. A bright and brilliant light burst forth from the opening doors, blinding in its intensity. Then, just as suddenly as the light and dust appeared, it disappeared. Legolas dropped his arms from his face and stepped forward.
“Where’s Rain!” he said, his voice cracking with his anxiety. The place that she had stood only moments before was empty, he pushed forward stepping into the opening of the doors and looked around. The room was round, the smooth walls devoid of decoration and directly in the center stood a raised dais, but Rain was no were to be seen.
She had disappeared completely.
~*~
Authors: DBZ Vegeta/Stace
Rating: PG-13/R
# of Chapters: 49/?
Category: Angst/Action/Adventure/Romance/Suspense
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by J.R.R. Tolkien, various publishers including but not limited to Ballentine Books. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Author Note: Well, this chapter is finally done. I swear this new job that I have is gonna get the best of me for my writing. I just got back from a three week long school and I barely had anytime to write whatsoever. I am only home for the next six weeks and then I am off again. I think that I am going to have enough air miles for a free ticket soon….
~*~
Chapter 49 – A Surprise in the Making
Rain ignored Elrohir’s smirking grin as she and Legolas crossed the cavern the next morning to join him, Gandalf and Gimli. They sat down together on the long bench across from the bemused trio, before picking up their plates to fill from the variety of dishes placed on the table.
“Sooo...,” trailed off Elrohir, whose grin widened even further from the look that was shot in his direction by Rain, “Did you get much talking done last night?” he said suggestively.
Legolas choked on the drink he had been taking and eyed Elrohir over the rim of cup as Rain spoke.
“ ‘Ro, shut up.”
“But Rain, the light was on so late last night, I only wondered...,” Elrohir teased.
“ ‘Ro, run,” Rain said shortly.
“Huh?” he said, before he looked up and saw the evil glint in her eye. He bolted up from the table, Rain hot on his heels. Nanook, barking and nipping happily at their feet, as he chased after the pair.
“Did I miss something?” Gimli asked, a confused expression lighting his face.
“I take it that all has worked out between the two of you, Legolas?” inquired Gandalf, a twinkle in his bright eyes.
“Yes, it has.” Legolas said, his smile broadened as he watched Rain catch Elrohir and started to knuckle his head that she had trapped under her arm. Their shouts of laughter rang merrily through the cavern, as they watched on.
“Could someone please clue this poor, confused dwarf in on what’s going on?” Gimli complained as they watched Rain release Elrohir, laughing happily, as the pair staggered their way back to the table, still poking and prodding at each other.
“Just something that was a long time coming,” Gandalf remarked mysteriously as he watched Rain and Elrohir approach. Elrohir’s hair was tangled and mussed, his tunic askew. Rain obviously faring better since she only had a few stray wisps of hair that had escaped from her tight braid.
When Rain sat down next to Legolas, he slipped his arm about her waist and pulled her close against his side. Gimli’s eyebrows shot up to disappear into his browline as Legolas leaned over and whispered something into Rain’s ear, causing her to sit back and smack him playfully on the arm. He leaned back slightly and watched the pair interact for the remainder of the meal. Their behavior was totally opposite that what he had observed the night before. Leaning forward again, his brows furrowed in concentration as he peered intently at his long-time friend, studying him quietly. Just then he noticed a small dark bruise barely hidden by Legolas’ collar and as he was about to comment, Gandalf spoke up.
“Gimli, given your knowledge of the passageways, how long do you think it will take us to get to the key room as indicated on the map?” Gimli looked up, startled slightly for a moment, but heeding the look of warning in Gandalf’s eyes before he replied.
“It should only take us about a day to get there and a day to return. However, I am unsure as to how you are going to open this room. In all our recorded history, no one has been able to enter that room and there is no documentation on what is contained within that room,” he said, his shoulders shrugging with his apology.
“I have the feeling that once we are there that shall not be a problem,” Rain remarked, fork held suspended in mid-air as a thoughtful look crossed her face. “I am not sure how I know that, but I just do.” She lowered her fork to her plate as a frown began to take over the thoughtful look. “Gimli,” she said, turning towards the dwarf, “do you have any idea as to why your people have not been able to enter this room.”
“It’s protected by magic,” Gandalf said suddenly. All eyes slid to the old wizard as he continued, “Elvin magic.”
“How would you know that Gandalf?” Legolas asked softly, his fingers involuntarily tightening on Rain’s waist. She shifted away from his tight grip as she looked between Legolas and Gandalf, her green eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
“There is a great many things that I know and many that I have long since forgotten,” quipped the aged wizard humorously, his levity belied by the serious expression in his eyes.
“If it’s protected by Elvin magic that could be the reason why the dwarves have been unable to access the room,” commented Elrohir.
“But the main question would be; why would Elvin magic be protecting a place within the Dwarven realm?” Rain said, asking the very question that hovered in all their minds.
*~*~*
Rain grumbled to herself about the Dwarven penchant for digging dark, rocky holes as she stumbled over one more unseen obstacle. Why couldn't they live on top of the mountain, instead of tunneling under it? Even with all her military training, her combat skills and her confidence in her abilities, the yawning mouth of the entrance had given her pause, with its enveloping blackness. Moreover, she hadn't been the only one to get the willies.
Out of the corner of her eye, she'd seen both Legolas and Elrohir stiffen visibly as the party had stood briefly at the entrance. But then they'd gritted their teeth and plodded on with steely determination. Although she'd already respected them a great deal, her pride in both the elves had swelled as they'd fought against their innate dislike of anything underground. Even now, their discomfort was a physical presence, as the normally joyful, exuberant Elrohir tread quietly in the consuming darkness.
Rain grimaced as yet another bead of sweat slowly trickled down her already damp back. How the heck did the Dwarves stand the interminable heat, with their stocky bodies, heavy leather clothing, and thick bushy beards, moustaches and mane's of hair?!
Rain wiped a dirty hand across her sweaty brow, unintentionally leaving behind a streak of black dust. She had removed her vest and rolled up the sleeves of her shirt, before untucking it to knot beneath her breasts exposing her midriff. The heat had increased exponentially the farther they traveled downwards, instead of cooling as she had thought it might. Even the elves had not fared well with the heat, their long hair matted and sticky with sweat and dirt. Only Gandalf and Gimli looked relatively comfortable, and she would not have put it past the old wizard to have conjured some type of cooling spell for himself, if it was possible.
‘Damn, it was hot,’ she thought grumpily. Even the time that she had spent deployed to the desert hadn’t been this bad, of course that had been mainly a dry heat as opposed to this humid dampness.
“How in the hell can you look so cool when the rest of us are boiling here?” she grumped caustically to Gandalf, the edges of her temper frayed by the looming darkness and stifling heat. She rolled her eyes as she was given a look that said, “As if you didn’t already know.”
“We’re here,” Gimli’s voice cut through her thoughts. She looked up to see Gimli paused in front of a large archway, the heavy double stone doors firmly shut and illuminated hazily by his torch. Gandalf strode forward and held up his staff, the light from the crystal intensifying to dip along ancient elvin runes carved along the curving arch. Each of the stones double doors also carried runic inscriptions that surrounded a pair of parallel slits that were about three inches in length and ¼ inch in width, one to each door. Rain stepped forward, her fingers tracing lightly along the edges of the runes nearest the slits, her eyebrows coming down as a puzzled expression took residence on her face.
“There’s something familiar about these,” she said softly, her fingers tracing across the runes and to the slits.
“Familiar, how?” Gandalf asked, as he leaned on his glowing staff.
“I’m not sure, but something tells me that I should be able to read this,” she replied, the look of puzzlement deepening on her face. Her fingers continued to trace the runes as her eyes studied the doors and archway. The men of the group stood back, watching Rain closely as she stepped back and dropped down to squat on her heels. She sat unmoving, staring at the runes as they quietly moved behind her to settle in for the wait.
For hours, they watched her, her body never moving other than the shallow lift of her breathing. Nanook whined restlessly and nudged at Legolas’s hand, who automatically threaded his long fingers through the thick hair on his head. Legolas turned as he felt Elrohir sit down next to him and smiled softly as Elrohir held out a small leaf-wrapped package.
“No, I’m not hungry,” Legolas said, shaking his head slightly before he turned back to watch Rain.
“Do you think she will be able to decipher the symbols?” Elrohir said as he took a small bite and then rewrapped the Lembas bread into its packaging. “I’ve never seen anything like them before. Even with father’s extensive library.”
“I am not sure, we can only…” his voice trailed off as Rain suddenly stood and stepped forward towards the doorway. He stood and quickly walked across the area until he stood directly behind her, the others on his heels. Rain’s hands raised and traced lightly over the runes centered between the deep slits on the door. A soft glow began to emanate from the runes and began to fill the tunnel with its light. Legolas reached out a hand to pull Rain back, concerned for her safety as her voice began to fill the tunnel.
“The one from time to come shall hold the fate of the two. Join forever to preserve the march of time for both, else woe be to both and all shall be lost.” Rain stepped forward as she spoke her voice carried a foreign quality to it, almost mystical. They watched cautiously as her hands dropped to her waist to pull the twin blades from their sheaths and suddenly plunged them into the two slits on the door.
Legolas and Elrohir both took a quick step forward, their hands outreached to snatch Rain back as a grating sound filled the tunnel. Dust billowed up as the doors began their slow inward motion propelled by a gust of air blew out from the opening pushing them back a step, causing the men to throw up their arms to protect their faces from the grit. A bright and brilliant light burst forth from the opening doors, blinding in its intensity. Then, just as suddenly as the light and dust appeared, it disappeared. Legolas dropped his arms from his face and stepped forward.
“Where’s Rain!” he said, his voice cracking with his anxiety. The place that she had stood only moments before was empty, he pushed forward stepping into the opening of the doors and looked around. The room was round, the smooth walls devoid of decoration and directly in the center stood a raised dais, but Rain was no were to be seen.
She had disappeared completely.
~*~